Briatore admits mistake in managing Alpine’s F1 driver line-up

Alpine chief Flavio Briatore admits he may have put too much pressure on the Formula 1 team’s second driver Franco Colapinto, as the Argentinian has yet to get off the mark for the squad.
Colapinto was brought in from Williams as Alpine’s reserve driver and swapped places with fellow rookie Doohan after his six races, with the Australian demoted following May’s Miami Grand Prix.
But thus …Keep reading

Wolff reviews Mercedes’ “maximum pressure” approach to Antonelli in F1 debut year

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has conceded that the team has put Andrea Kimi Antonelli “under maximum pressure” in his debut Formula 1 season – but says the 19-year-old remains a long-term hire.
Antonelli has enjoyed the highs of a maiden podium and a sprint race pole in 2025, but has endured some more difficult moments; since his podium in Montreal, he has scored just one point.
Some of that …Keep reading

Ecclestone, Horner and Briatore at Alpine F1 would be like ‘mafia reunion’, says Wolff

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has joked it would be like a ‘mafia reunion’ should Christian Horner, Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore combine for an ownership stake in the Alpine Formula 1 outfit.
Horner was sacked as Red Bull team principal in July and his next step is not yet known, but paddock rumours have suggested the 51-year-old is looking to invest in an F1 team.
Alpine has been …Keep reading

Russell confident Mercedes will have the best F1 2026 engine – but is wary of customer teams

Formula 1 will undergo a major overhaul next year with new engine and chassis regulations. It’s a leap into the unknown for all teams and manufacturers, although some teams including Red Bull have suggested that Mercedes appears “very confident” about its engine project.
That belief was based on paddock chatter – reliable or not – and the fact that Mercedes opposed some further …Keep reading

F1 Dutch GP: Norris tops McLaren 1-2 in FP1 as Antonelli causes red flag

McLaren driver Lando Norris edged team-mate Oscar Piastri to lead Friday’s first free practice at Formula 1’s Dutch Grand Prix.
Following several heatwaves that scorched Europe’s summer, the second leg of the season got underway in cool conditions in the Netherlands
There was little time to waste at the start of the one-hour session as all 20 drivers sampled the windy conditions at …Keep reading

F1 team boss’ amazing memories of working with Alonso: “Jenson couldn’t do” what Fernando did

20 years ago, Fernando Alonso was engaged in a thrilling championship run-in with Kimi Raikkonen, and a young tyre engineer with a bright future was about to join Alonso’s Renault team.
Ayao Komatsu had got his F1 break working for BAR-Honda’s test team in a high-spending era where leading manufacturer-backed organisations had two windtunnels running continuously and fully manned test …Keep reading

McLaren will keep driver strategy options open after Hungary F1 split

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have given their blessing for split strategies to continue at the team as they battle for the 2025 Formula 1 title, but both feel Hungary was something of an outlier.
Norris was running third during the Hungarian Grand Prix and took the plunge to switch to a one-stop strategy – which put him out ahead of the two-stopping Piastri and offered him the …Keep reading

Alonso: Failed Aston Martin F1 upgrades “should never have happened”

Performance gains have become harder to find as F1’s second ground-effect aerodynamics era matures, but for some the process has been more challenging for others. Aston Martin has noticeably struggled to unlock more relative pace from its cars ever since making a strong start to the 2023 season.
This has not been for want of trying since the Silverstone-based team has been among the most …Keep reading

Will 2026 F1 cars really reach 400km/h? – Wolff’s comments explained

Suggestions from Toto Wolff that 2026 Formula 1 cars could get near top speeds of 400km/h have caused a stir, but both the real picture and what the Mercedes chief actually meant are more nuanced than that.
As is well documented, F1 is facing a radical regulations shake-up in 2026, driven by a desire to obtain a near 50/50 split between energy derived by the V6 turbo engines and a much expanded …Keep reading
Mobility Innovation Across the Americas: FIA Announces Regional Innovation Challenge Champions

Mobility Innovation Across the Americas: FIA Announces Regional Innovation Challenge Champions

Mobility news

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motorsport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has announced the regional champions of the FIA Innovation Challenge 2025 for Region III (North America) and Region IV (Central and South America).

Launched in 2024, the Challenge recognises innovative projects from FIA Mobility Members that drive growth, showcase new approaches, and enhance Club services.

Six Member Clubs have been honoured for high-impact and scalable initiatives that showcase the power of creativity and collaboration across the FIA community.

FIA REGION III CHAMPIONS (NORTH AMERICA)

  • CAA Atlantic (Canada): Watt’s Up with EVs – The Infomercial Series

Acceleration of zero emission adoption and EV awareness through a multi-part video series. Broadcast across TV and social media, it reached over 7.3 million viewers.

  • CAA – BCAA (Canada): Defending Against Wildfires (DAW)

With increasingly severe wildfires in British Colombia, DAW supports communities through strategic partnerships and advanced technology, raising awareness and acting as community protection.

  • JMMC (Jamaica): RoadReach – Your Personal Roadside Guardian

A real-time roadside safety and emergency response platform, it is designed to ensure drivers are never alone in critical moments, providing on-demand visibility and communication.

FIA REGION IV CHAMPIONS (CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA)

  • AAB (Brazil): Innovative Mobility for Indigenous Health – Supporting Communities in the Brazilian Amazon

Improved healthcare and cancer care access for over 43,700 Indigenous people in the Brazilian Amazon by providing solar-powered and electric vehicles for telemedicine, diagnostics, and vaccination.

  • ACA (Argentina): We Are One Team – The Strength of Unity in Action

Transformed employees into a nationwide sales force, gaining 25,000 new members in nine months via this low-cost programme which fostered internal culture.

  • ANETA (Ecuador): Comprehensive Drivers Assessment Project – Certifying Safe and Responsible Drivers

Enhanced road safety standards by evaluating drivers’ knowledge, technical skills, and physical and psychological aptitudes and created a scalable model for safer roads.

FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, said: “The Innovation Challenge is a powerful showcase of how our Mobility Clubs are driving progress, not only for their members but for society as a whole. These Regional Champions demonstrate that innovation, when paired with collaboration, can deliver real impact. I congratulate each of them for their leadership and vision, and I look forward to seeing their projects inspire others across our global network.”

FIA Region III President, Frank Fotia, said: “In Region III, our Champions are showing how purposeful initiatives can make a real difference in people’s daily lives. Whether its improving roadside safety, helping drivers understand electric vehicles, or building resilience against wildfires, these projects reflect the value of innovation focused on community needs.”

FIA Region IV President, Ricardo Morales Rubio, said: “The projects of our Region IV Champions strengthen communities, bring more value to Club members, and improve safety. They demonstrate how targeted innovation can rapidly deliver meaningful and lasting change. By showing what can be achieved when people work together toward shared goals, these projects set a compelling example for the entire region.”

Secretary General for Automobile Mobility and Sustainability, Willem Groenewald, said: “The entries we’ve had in this challenge highlight the creativity and determination of our Mobility Members to tackle today’s most pressing challenges across multiple sectors including road safety, automotive technology, and even healthcare. FIA Regions III and IV Champions show how scalable solutions can transform mobility and deliver tangible value to people’s lives. Their achievements set a benchmark for our entire community.”

The Regional Champions will advance to the global final of the FIA Innovation Challenge 2025 in December, where they will compete for the title of Global Winners.

 

ENDS

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About the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile 

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) is the governing body for world motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations globally. It is a non-profit organisation committed to driving innovation and championing safety, sustainability and equality across motor sport and mobility. 

Founded in 1904, with offices in Paris, London and Geneva, the FIA brings together 245 Member Organisations across five continents, representing millions of road users, motor sport professionals and volunteers. It develops and enforces regulations for motor sport, including seven FIA World Championships, to ensure worldwide competitions are safe and fair for all.

FIA INNOVATION CHALLENGEFIAMobility1MobilityFIAFIA INNOVATION CHALLENGE00Thursday, August 28, 2025 – 11:08pmThursday, August 28, 2025 – 11:08pm