In 75 years of the F1 world championship, fatal accidents have driven an ongoing safety crusade involving some big-name stars

Perez and Bottas are a safe pair of hands, plug-in-and-play drivers, who also still both have a point to prove after their respective departures last year. They can also get to work immediately and start being part of what will still be a very formative operation by the time the first race rolls around in Australia next March, when both will be 36.

By Alan Baldwin LONDON (Reuters) -Formula E could expand to four rounds in China as the all-electric championship chases growth in the world's biggest market for electric vehicles, according to series founder and chairman Alejandro Agag.

Since Liberty Media took ownership of Formula 1, the sport has grown exponentially. Audiences who might once have overlooked the racing action are not eagerly engaging with it, much to the delight of both Formula 1 and its teams.

McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris return from Formula 1's summer break to re-engage in the battle for the drivers' title at this weekend's Dutch Grand

The first race of the 2026 season is the Australian Grand Prix in March. Bottas and Perez will hit the track in January, testing out the new car before its official debut in early February. Towriss noted that both men signed multi-year deals with Cadillac. Graeme Lowden was named team principal last December.

Not only will McLaren auction off the 2026 Formula 1 car, according to the reports, but the lot will also include the 2026 Arrow McLaren Indycar, which will be raced at the Indianapolis 500 next May, and McLaren's 2027 World Endurance Hypercar that will compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Cadillac F1's move to tap the two proven race winners shows it is prioritizing experience in its driver lineup as it prepares to join the sport in 2026.

According to reporting from F1 insider Chris Medland, IndyCar driver Colton Herta is in discussions to join Formula 2. Herta lacks the necessary Super License points for a Formula 1 seat, although he could earn enough points if he performs well during a season in the F1 feeder series.