Damon Hill – 30 Years as a Formula 1 World Champion
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Stripped of the fanfare and anticipation that surrounded the Australian Grand Prix championship-opener in Melbourne, Formula One settled into its new era in Shanghai with plenty of talking points on- and off-track.
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS continued its winning formula with Kimi Antonelli claiming the plaudits ahead of his team-mate George Russell. Antonelli became the youngest ever pole sitter in Formula One on Saturday before converting that into his maiden victory in the sport. Tears flowed in his post-race interview with David Coulthard, showing just how much the result meant to the youngster, who picked up Driver of the Day for good measure.
There was undoubtedly crying elsewhere in the paddock but for less jubilant reasons. Four cars failed to start the Grand Prix – including both McLarens - as F1’s new regulations continue to pose technical challenges up and down the grid. Three additional cars retired from the race, including Max Verstappen, with seven drivers finishing one lap behind Italy’s first F1 winner in 20 years. For some teams, the positivity of pre-season launches, and sponsor announcements, are already a distant memory.
The cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Grands Prix, due to the Middle East conflict, leaves a significant gap in the April F1 schedule. This may offer teams an invaluable opportunity to regroup but it will also leave sponsors hastily reshaping their activation plans.
The Chinese Grand Prix proved the ideal opportunity for national car manufacturer BYD to drop hints of its interest in joining F1 in some capacity. Manufacturer involvement in F1 has steadily ramped up in recent seasons with the addition of Audi and Cadillac to the 2026 line-up, and the re-emergence of Honda, Toyota and Ford. Interesting to note the myriad forms in which manufacturers are getting involved, almost like its own hybrid model, from fully fledged works outfits to engine manufacture, to collaborative technology partnerships and even title sponsorship.
Manufacturer interest helps to change the commercial landscape of the sport, too, with new brands coming into Formula 1, as we’ve seen with Revolut and Audi, TWG and Cadillac. With so few Chinese brands in the sport, attracting interest from BYD would be a real boost, notwithstanding the growing popularity of the Chinese Grand Prix that recorded a 20-year attendance high, with 230,000 spectators estimated at this year’s event.
China also saw the first races of the 2026 F1 Academy championship, with Alpine’s Nina Gademan claiming victory in race one and Audi’s Emma Felbermayr taking the honours in race two. F1 Academy is opening new opportunities for the next generation of women in motorsport, and is, at the same time, bringing unique commercial partnerships into the sport.
LEGO have forged a partnership with Esmee Kosterman; beauty retailer Sephora are on the grid with Natalia Granada, while Disney has expanded its involvement in F1 with an F1 Academy partnership. Arguably the ultimate storytellers, Disney will be using Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck to empower the next generation of women through racing. F1 Academy is enticing new brands into motorsport by offering authentic stories that resonate with target audiences on a platform that drives messages of equity, diversity, ambition and creativity.
