The Ringer F1 Show Max Gets DQ'd, New Liveries, and Looking to Japan
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Mar 25, 2026 They unpack a high-profile team executive exit and the ripple effects across paddocks. A win turned to disqualification for Max is broken down, plus why sim racing and GT3 matter. Suzuka gets a detailed preview with key corners and energy management challenges. The latest crop of bold Japan-themed liveries also gets a lively roundup.
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Wheatley Exit Signals Big Shakeup In Team Leadership
- Jonathan Wheatley is leaving Audi amid reports he will join Aston Martin and will likely serve a long gardening leave before starting the new role.
- Spanners and Megan highlight England location, money, and internal Aston Martin turmoil with Adrian Newey as likely drivers of the move.
Verstappen DQ Shows Small Procedural Errors Can Erase Big Wins
- Max Verstappen won the Nürburgring four-hour race on track but the team was later disqualified for using seven tire sets instead of the permitted six.
- The infringement happened during qualifying as a procedural mistake while the race pace and Verstappen's stint dominance remained impressive.
Wing Transition Timing Could Affect Race Results Retroactively
- FIA is investigating Mercedes' wing transition timing from corner to straight mode after China, where video suggests the wing took ~0.8s instead of the allowed 0.4s.
- Spanners argues tech rules are black-and-white and such a breach could merit disqualification, while Megan expects a clarification instead.