🏁 Gossip & Paddock Headlines
◼︎ Red Bull unveils RB22 2026 car; Verstappen calls new rules ‘step into the unknown.’
◼︎ Red Bull & Racing Bulls launch 2026 liveries with Ford power unit partnership debut.
◼︎ Ferrari shakes up Lewis Hamilton’s engineering crew with race engineer reassignment.
◼︎ Alpine and Jack Doohan part ways; Doohan exits the team ahead of 2026.
◼︎ Mercedes’ George Russell admits contract talks ‘unsuccessful.’
◼︎ Criticism mounts as fans shut out of Barcelona pre‑season activity.
◼︎ Legendary F1 venue could return to the calendar after an extended absence.
◼︎ Lewis Hamilton’s father announces new merit‑based motorsport series outside F1.
◼︎ Hamilton linked with Ferrari stalwart protection amid early-season speculation.
◼︎ Cadillac reveals its 2026 pre‑season livery ahead of first official tests.
📍 Regulation & Technical Politics
◼︎ F1 power unit loophole controversy over compression ratios to be discussed by FIA & manufacturers.
◼︎ Private Barcelona shakedown kept off‑limits to public — teams cite reliability concerns.
◼︎ Teams’ 2026 launch and test calendar taking shape with multiple events across Jan–Feb.
📍 Paddock Market & Transfers
◼︎ The driver market is quiet, but ongoing chatter around contract dynamics and future positioning.
End of brief.
