Italian tax authorities are understood to be leading a clampdown on tax enforcement - which could impact F1 drivers.

Specifically, they are looking into whether taxes were properly paid on income generated during races held on Italian soil. The situation appears poised to cause significant legal complications for both teams and athletes.

According to Italian tax laws, foreign athletes participating in sporting events within Italy are required to pay tax on the income earned there. The practical enforcement of this provision has been inconsistent; consequently, an Italian lawyer, identified by the paper as Alessandro Mei, recently requested a thorough investigation into the tax compliance of foreign athletes.

While this theoretically affects athletes across all sports, F1 has become the focal point due to its popularity and the high salaries of its drivers.

The tax authority has contacted drivers by letter, requesting that they submit tax returns for the 2025 tax year and contact the authorities, either personally or through a representative, to discuss further steps.

The FIA describes the agreed proposals as:

Qualifying - promoting performance

• Adjustments to energy management parameters, including a reduction in maximum permitted recharge from 8MJ to 7MJ, aimed at reducing excessive harvesting and encouraging more consistent flat-out driving. This change targets a maximum superclip duration reduced to approximately 2-4 seconds per lap.
• Peak superclip power increased to 350 kW, previously being 250kW, further reducing the time spent recharging, and reducing driver workload on energy management. This will also be applied in race conditions.
• The number of events where alternative lower energy limits may apply has been increased from 8 to 12 races, allowing greater adaptation to circuit characteristics.

Race - improved safety and consistency of performance

• The maximum power available through the Boost in race conditions is now capped at +150 kW (or the car’s current power level at activation if higher) limiting sudden performance differentials.
• MGU-K deployment is maintained at 350 kW in key acceleration zones (from corner exit to braking point, including overtaking zones) but will be limited to 250 kW in other parts of the lap.
• These measures are designed to reduce excessive closing speeds while maintaining overtaking opportunities and overall performance characteristics.

Race starts - enhanced safety mechanisms

• A new “low power start detection” system has been developed, capable of identifying cars with abnormally low acceleration shortly after clutch release.
• In such cases, an automatic MGU-K deployment will be triggered to ensure a minimum level of acceleration and mitigate start-related risks without introducing any sporting advantage.
• An associated visual warning system is being introduced, activating flashing lights (rear and lateral) on affected cars to alert following drivers.
• A reset of the energy counter at the start of the formation lap has also been implemented to correct a previously identified system inconsistency.

There are also tweaks to the regulations when it comes to wet weather running, with an increase in tire blanket temperature, a reduction of maximum ERS deployment, and simplified rear light systems for visibility improvements.

Wolff said: "We need to see the Bearman accident for what it was. It was a misjudgment of a situation. It's like pushing the boost button and not braking on a kink where you're supposed to brake.

https://archive.is/nLJIF

His first FP1 outing comes in Barcelona in June.

If he finishes at least P10 in F2 this year and does these FP1 outings as planned, he'll have enough superlicense points to be able to drive in F1 in 2027.

The Qualifier weekend at the Nürburgring is unlike anything else in motorsport. Two races, one enormous goal: earning a place in the Top Qualifying shootout that decides who starts at the front of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. --How the Nürburgring qualifiers work to 24h

As always: Free to watch on YouTube

Take a hike, Max Verstappen. You're not on until next week, Kevin Magnussen.

Tomorrow (11 April) on "Who needs F1 in April when we can have this" is future F1 World Champion Lance Stroll in GT World Challenge Europe at Paul Ricard.

He'll race the #18 Comtoyou Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo with his Spanish team mates Mari Boya and Roberto Merhi.

Other cars to keep an eye on:

#50 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO with Arthur Leclerc (Charles' brother), Lilou Wadoux (world class female racer), and Sean Gelael (of meme fame but genuinely good in sportscars).

#48 Mercedes AMG Team MANN-FILTER with Lucas Auer, Luca Stolz, and Maro Engel in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.

There are overall four classes: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Pro.

Broadcast is free on YouTube:

• 11:50 CEST Qualifying

• 17:30 CEST Race

The YouTube pages will show you the times matching your local time zones. There are also streams in other languages, such as German.

More details at https://www.gt-world-challenge-europe.com/watch-live

Austrian media is reporting that despite Marko leaving RBR/RB, he still holds an ambassador position at his home race.

At the end of June, Marko will be on site at the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg. The home race takes place on June 28 in Styria. He is also scheduled to attend the MotoGP’s new September event at the Red Bull Ring in his capacity as an ambassador.

Source (in Dutch): https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/autosport/red-bull-raakt-rechterhand-max-verstappen-kwijt-gianpiero-lambiase-gaat-in-op-astronomisch-aanbod-van-mclaren/145448070.html

Via Deepl:

Lambiase (45) is under contract with Red Bull Racing through 2027. Until then, the English engineer—who also serves as Head of Racing at Red Bull—will not be going anywhere. He is expected to join rival team McLaren in 2028. This has been confirmed by multiple sources following earlier reports by De Limburger.

By bringing in Lambiase—scheduled for 2028—McLaren is already preparing for the possible departure of Andrea Stella. The current team principal is well-regarded internally at the Woking-based team, but has been linked with a return to Ferrari. For Lambiase, therefore, a significant promotion—both financially and in terms of position—lies ahead.

Having reviewed the reaction online and on social media after the Japanese Grand Prix, as a team, we feel we owe it to our fans to address certain points and questions being raised, and also once again speak out against the hate and abuse being aimed at not just one of our own drivers, but also aimed towards our racing counterparts and other members of the Formula One family.