LawVS - The Ladder Man

Kimi broke records, Hadjar had a horror and Max was back...albeit dramatically! Join the VS Posse today! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKXm93J-6YEUEBs8WlLagrA/join The 2026 Formula 1 Miami GP was a race to remember...in that it was worth remembering. For a track not held in high regard, this was the place where Formula One test its new patches to the regulations...and they produced a good race....

Lance Stroll just said what F1 management wanted buried. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs Yesterday, the drivers spoke up for the first time in this magnitude on the new tweaks and rules Formula 1 and the FIA have cooked up for the 2026 Miami Grand Prix and beyond. However, the mood isn't rosy. Yes, Max Verstappen has had his say as well as others...but Lance Stroll p...

Williams are improving...but not fast enough to be comfortable. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs Dorilton Capital, the owners of the Williams F1 team, have been a very patient lot. Willing to wait years for the Formula 1 team to come good and to hire James Vowles to do the job. What's become clear is that as long as the 2026 FW48 was a good car, then all would be well...

We all talk about Max leaving Red Bull...but what if he just...doesn't? Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs Nobody outside Max Verstappen's inner circle knows the answer, but it's worth trying to figure out. Martin Brundle of Sky Sports F1 reckons that should the Formula 1 champion leave Red Bull (or even the whole thing) it would be hard to find a route back into Formul...

We're back and what feels like a soft reset. There are plenty of changes to be had with these Formula 1 cars. The 2026 regulations may not have been upended, but there could be enough changes to at least reduce some of the major concerns F1 fans...as well as those who felt qualifying was getting a little "silly". Meanwhile, Franco Colapinto revelled in the home crowd showing off a classic Enstone...

The tide is turning in F1 already. 2027 looks different. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs Just days before Formula 1 kicks off again in Miami, there is greater talk of major changes coming for 2027...and McLaren is calling them out against their own supplier! Meanwhile, the commercial arm of Formula One claims there are no problems...yet even the FIA suggests the chan...

The F1 CEO just put his OTHER foot in it. On camera. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs Just hours after the FIA and other parties met to fix the F1 regulations for 2026, its CEO Stefano Domenicali came out and said there was nothing to fix. No problems here. And in terms of lessons learned, only two. That the manufacturers had too much influence on the Formula 1 engine...

Fernando Alonso stopped defending his team weeks ago! Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs A quote from the F1 driver during the Chinese Grand Prix has resurfaced from Fernando Alonso...and it completely adds new complexity to the story between Aston Martin and Honda. The Spanish Formula 1 driver recalls how back in 2015, when Honda were also in trouble, many looked to hi...

Seems like being a world champ has less impact these days. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs Another day, another Guardian journalist involved with an F1 driver. This time around, Lando Norris was asked about his thoughts on the F1 2026 regulations and he was prevented from doing so by his own managers. Why? In a twist, that encounter was published along with the origi...

Well, well! A rarity. All parties AGREED on changes to F1 2026. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs In a very unexpected twist, every party involved agreed to "refinements" to the Formula 1 2026 regulations in a vote managed by the FIA. Even Toto Wolff and Mercedes agreed to changes which do affect energy management quite a bit more than the team hoped for. Why? Because...

The FIA president finally speaks out about F1 2026. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs Just hours before a crucial vote on Formula 1's 2026 roadmap for the Miami Grand Prix and beyond, the FIA's main man Ben Sulayem spoke up about what he had been up to and what his governance is striving for the most: safety. This is after a very productive meeting with drivers and rig...

Schumacher's Ferrari journey didn't start with romance, but politics. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs In a fascinating interview with the High Performance podcast, former Ferrari team boss Jean Todt revealed some fascinating tidbits regarding the relationship between the Scuderia and two of F1's most powerful drivers of the 1990s: Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna....

As F1 scrambles for a quick fix to their 2026 cars, Formula E's about to throw a party! Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs It's clear that Formula 1 in 2026 isn't quite sure what it wants to be, after massive consumer backlash and concerns from its own drivers. Meetings are being held to figure out how to pivot away from the 50-50 split in due course, back to more focus...

Oliver Bearman just brought up his crash again. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs In an interview with F1 podcast Up To Speed, Haas Formula 1 driver Oliver Bearman recalled the actions of Franco Colapinto and deemed them "unacceptable". His interview started to show me a pattern forming. One which we saw with Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson and Lance Stroll last year. Driver...

F1 built the WRONG future and nobody will admit it Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs In a shocking interview, FOM and F1 commercial boss Stefano Domenicali went on a crusade AGAINST Formula 1's critics; calling the sport's 2026 season so far a success...whilst also passing the buck onto the Formula One engine manufacturers. In an elegant fashion, the Liberty Media rep...

Kimi Antonelli has already won. No matter what the FIA does to his team. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs As the FIA closes another loophole Mercedes used, this time in F1 qualifying (at times), Toto Wolff's team's advantage gets smaller and smaller. With two less races to win before an effective second start to Formula 1 one this year in Miami, George Russell and Kim...

The case for Oscar Piastri to arrive Schumacher-esque at Red Bull in 2028 is compelling. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs Seeing the Australian F1 driver NOT at McLaren in the future continues to gather pace despite many denials and contract extensions...but this one? This version is interesting. Mark Webber's absence from the Formula 1 paddock is notable...could he b...

Lance Stroll's weekend should worry F1 considerably. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs The FIA has said changes WILL be made in time for Miami...but not to expect anything major. Instead of overhauls to the Formula 1 regulations for 2026, expect a steady phased approach with plenty of consultation with teams, stakeholders and manufacturers. The drivers? Maybe, maybe no...

Toto Wolff really should've secured GP before trying for Max. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs In a stunning coup, McLaren secured the right hand man of Max Verstappen. Gianpiero Lambiase has secured the role of Chief Racing Officer for the F1 team by the time 2028 rolls along, maybe even earlier! What does this all mean? Especially given the Verstappen camp gave him...

Mercedes helped build rules that would invite (and humble) manufacturers. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs Years ago, Toto Wolff and Mercedes sought to secure their domination into the next era of Formula 1, after the turbo hybrid era had run its course. For 2026, two teams would arrive with Audi and Honda power in F1. One would struggle immediately and prove the Aust...

Nobody cares about Liam Lawson. They should. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs Of course, you may remember the guy who didn't wanna make friends...but right now? He's putting in a lot of work for Racing Bulls, just behind Max Verstappen in the championship. However, it's gone by without much notice. Sure, F1's got a lot on its plate right now but this fact is probably...

V8 turbos with carbon neutral fuel? Maybe...but we don't get to say. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs Word is that the FIA and teams realise these rules were too much, too soon. A 2.4 litre V8 turbo with synthetic fuels is currently the favourite amongst paddock gossip to replace the current hybrid setup for 2031...and yet that might not be good enough for some fans?...

Christian Horner made Toto Wolff untouchable...oops. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs In this current arc of F1, the Mercedes team principal has made plenty of moves to get a type of Formula 1 that his group could thrive under...and with nobody powerful left to stop him politically, within the rules provided from the sport and the FIA. In hindsight, did Christian Horn...

Toto Wolff's grand master plan for 2026 could be about to unravel. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs Upon reflection, Mercedes' plan to dominate Formula 1 in the long term was conceived back in 2019 with their entry into Formula E...where none of their current rivals back then were competing. From there, a series of actions set in motion their political moves to frame...

George Russell may wind up having kept Hamilton's throne warm instead of claiming it. Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs Russell might still win this championship. He’s good enough... but if 2026 keeps making him look like the complicated one while Kimi Antonelli looks like the natural future of Mercedes, then George’s biggest fight may not be with his team-mate at all....