8:29 AM ET ESPN staff Last week, Charles Leclerc answered the question we posed after the Australian Grand Prix — specifically, how long would he be willing to play second-fiddle at Ferrari — by promptly ignoring a team order to stay behind Sebastian Vettel in Bahrain. We want to see if we can predict the

5:56 AM ET Fernando Alonso was back inside the cockpit of a Formula One car this week, but the Spaniard has a point to prove before contemplating a full return to the series. In an exclusive interview, Fernando Alonso gives his reasons for leaving F1 and explains why he has no plans to come back.

1:11 PM ET It might be a while until we next see Daniel Ricciardo’s shoey — in Formula One, that is, with one of his fellow countrymen planning his own if he wins one of cricket’s premier tournaments this summer. Australian cricket Andrew Tye has vowed to do the celebration if his team, Kings XI

7:19 AM ET ESPN staff Lewis Hamilton has defended Sebastian Vettel’s mistake at the Bahrain Grand Prix, saying the German’s great performances out-weigh his recent errors. Sebastian Vettel apologised to Ferrari for the spin Sunday that ultimately cost him at shot at winning the Bahrain Grand Prix, but insisted the mistake had nothing to do

11:58 AM ET SAKHIR, Bahrain — George Russell topped the second day of this week’s in-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit after switching from his regular team Williams to world champions Mercedes for the day. Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time champion Michael, made his debut for Ferrari on Tuesday in Bahrain and made

7:35 AM ET Formula One has more than doubled the prize money for this year’s esports world championship and will include more races and live events on the calendar. Under a different title sponsor in New Balance, the total prize pot will be £500,000 when the esports Series begins on April 8, a big increase

11:24 AM ET ESPN staff Formula One has announced a new collaboration with the content studio owned by Hollywood A-lister Will Smith. The deal, which will start in 2020, will see Smith’s Westbrook Studios and Apollo World Touring put A-list celebrities through various pre-filmed stunts and challenges at race weekends. From F1’s perspective, the idea

4:56 AM ET SAKHIR, Bahrain — As debut tests go, they don’t get more high-profile than Mick Schumacher’s in Bahrain on Tuesday. Most drivers on the fringe of Formula One make their debut with a midfield or backmarker team; they get a chance to acclimatise to the level of engineering, the sheer speed of the

2:58 AM ET Mick Schumacher’s first test of a Formula One car was always going to attract attention. The fact he’s driving a Ferrari only adds to the level of intrigue around his appearance at Bahrain’s F1 circuit on Tuesday. The German’s surname means he has always been the centre of attention whenever he has

2:23 AM ET Maurice Hamilton Close • Veteran F1 journalist, covering the sport since 1977• Motor racing correspondent for the Observer for 20 years• Has written several books and covered F1 for BBC Radio 5 Live Whatever may or may not happen to Mick Schumacher during his first F1 drive this week, it will not be a patch