2018

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown remains confident the decision to cut ties with former engine partner Honda was the right decision for the team’s long-term future, saying its 2018 struggles were not rooted in its power unit.

Red Bull junior driver and former Mercedes factory racer Lucas Auer will prepare for his full-time Super Formula campaign in 2019 by taking part in the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand over the winter.

With the holiday season now in full swing and racing on hold for a few weeks at least, it is the perfect time to take a look back on the year that has been and pick out some of the highlights of the year.

Lewis Hamilton has been voted the best driver in Formula 1 this year by his peers in a poll run by the sport's official website.

The FIA has tweaked the Formula 1 sporting regulations ahead of the 2019 season in order to encourage drivers with engine penalties to take part in more of qualifying.

M-Sport Ford has formally confirmed its three-car entry into the 2019 World Rally Championship, while long-time boss Malcolm Wilson brings in Richard Millener as new team principal.

Despite the future of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone remaining unclear, the race continues to attract the biggest fan figures in the sport while over four million spectators attended at least one F1 race in 2018, according to race promoter data from FOM.

Racing Point F1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer says regardless of the financial backing from the Lawrence Stroll-led consortium the team must not lose its efficiency produced under its former Force India guise.

The opening MotoGP test at Sepang in January took place without a Malaysian rider and certainly no sign of a Malaysian team.

Co-founder Nicolas Todt has sold all his shares in ART Grand Prix to current shareholders within the company to cut his ties to the French squad.

“Negativity and envy” is denying Lewis Hamilton full recognition of achievements, according to his Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff – Reuters

Formula 1 motorsport boss Ross Brawn predicts a trickier driver dynamic at Ferrari from 2019 with Charles Leclerc less “accommodating as Kimi” for Sebastian Vettel.

The addition of a 19th round allowed MotoGP to build its trackside audience to 2,884,242 spectators during the 2018 season.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner wants to “reserve judgement” on the 2019 Formula 1 rule changes until the results become clear in the opening races of the year but he fears the performance gaps between teams could grow rather than shrink.

When Johann Zarco shot from fourth on the grid to lead after just a few corners of his very first MotoGP race, many had to pinch themselves to believe what they were seeing.

Dean Harrison will return for a second season in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship with the Silicone Engineering Kawasaki squad for 2019.

McLaren will commence its testing programme for the Indianapolis 500 next April after receiving delivery of its cars in January as preparations for its return to the IndyCar paddock continue.

Renault has become the latest team to confirm the date for its 2019 Formula 1 season launch, with an event set to take place on February 12 next year.

Citroen has confirmed a ‘temporary conclusion’ to its partnership with Abu Dhabi Racing in 2019 as it prepares for the brand’s 100 th anniversary with a special livery.

Aaron Zanotti Racing’s Team 64 squad has signed Sam Coventry for his rookie campaign on the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike championship grid.

The FIM Grand Prix Commission has released clarification for its rules on interrupted MotoGP races following the changes confirmed earlier this month.

A documentary on Dani Pedrosa’s career titled  El silencio del samurá i (Silence of the Samurai)  has been released – Marca

Pietro Fittipaldi concedes he made his return to racing "a little too soon" after breaking both of his legs in an LMP1 crash at Spa in May, having spent less than three months on the sidelines before hitting the track again.

Fernando Alonso is "very open" to the idea of testing McLaren's 2019 Formula 1 car as part of his continued role with the team, according to Zak Brown.