Tag: Dutch Grand Prix

Alex Albon Explains Why Williams Cannot Afford Team-Mate Secrets in F1

Alex Albon has explained why he and Williams teammate Carlos Sainz share setup information rather than keeping performance gains secret on their respective sides of the garage.

Williams has endured a difficult 2026 Formula 1 season. The Grove-based team is ninth in the constructors’ championship with 11 points, while Sainz and Albon sit 16th and 17th in the drivers’ standings with six and five points respectively.

Although teammates naturally compete against each other, Albon believes the current limitations of the Williams car make collaboration essential. Speaking on The Fast And The Curious podcast after the Dutch Grand Prix, he explained that drivers at other teams may withhold useful information to gain an advantage, but said that approach would not benefit Williams.

“What happens in some teams, and I know this, is that you will find something on your car, but it won’t be something the other car can’t find,” Albon explained. “It could be a line into a corner, it could be a gear choice, it could be a set-up direction, it could be the way that we implement the electronic system into the car.

You could find something good, but you just won’t mention it. You can keep it quiet to your side of the garage.

Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon, Williams. Photo by: Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 / Getty Images

“Realistically, for us, at least I don’t do it, so maybe Carlos does it, I don’t know,” he laughed. “But because of the limitations of our car, we kind of work together on it.

“It’s almost like we both have the same feedback with the same problems, and then we can split the cars,” he said. “One car might go, ‘Yes, this is working,’ so the other car joins onto that. Sometimes it’s like, ‘Oh, this works, and this works, so we’ll take a bit of both.’ You kind of chop and change sometimes.

“Oh, this is the wrong way, so now the other car’s gone the other way, so now it’s that way. But there is a balance.

“I remember that happened a lot more when you have two rookie drivers and you’re kind of fighting for the same [position]. You can imagine it becomes a little bit more [elbows out],” Albon added.

08/28/2026
Alex Albon Opens Up About Burnout Amid Growing Formula 1 Demands

Alex Albon has revealed that the demands of Formula 1’s expanding championship calendar and relentless commercial schedule left him suffering from severe burnout during the 2025 season.

The Williams driver spoke about the difficulty of balancing racing with off-track commitments from Monaco, days after retiring early from the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.

Albon reveals impact of F1’s commercial demands

Appearing on The Fast And The Curious podcast, Albon said his additional responsibilities, particularly around races in the United States, had taken a significant toll on him the previous year.

“I find myself so drained, especially when we go towards our American races because that’s clearly where we’re more in demand, whether it’s through partners or content, whatever it may be,” Albon explained when asked how he manages his commitments as an introvert in a championship that attracts more attention than ever.

“I’m happy to be my authentic self in these situations, but at the same time, I don’t know what it is, it just drains me. And so for me to get away, prioritising myself and spending maybe one or two nights back at home and then flying off again or whatever it may be, I put much more attention on that. I felt like I got burnt out last year quite badly.”

How Albon recovered after Dutch Grand Prix retirement

Albon said he adopted a deliberately quiet routine to recover after his retirement at Zandvoort.

“Yesterday was literally… What did we do? Nothing. We woke up, we got brunch with Carlos. We literally came back, did nothing. Went for dinner, came back and watched more of nothing and then went to bed early.

“Today is kind of a little bit like that, very normal, sitting on the couch doing your house chores, cleaning up the apartment. After this we’re just going to do some food shopping.”

Alexander Albon, Williams
Photo by: Eric Le Galliot

Even during race weekends, Albon said it was important to escape the “melting pot” of the Formula 1 paddock. He sometimes travels 30 minutes from the circuit to find quieter restaurants, while noting that fans have consistently respected his privacy when he has gone out for dinner.

“It’s no fun to be stuck in a hotel room all day,” he added. “Even if I’m introverted, I still find myself needing to get out there, just going for a walk or grabbing coffee.”

08/27/2026
Fred Vasseur Identifies Ferrari’s Next Target After “Stronger Than Mercedes” Zandvoort Pace

Ferrari had the race pace to challenge Mercedes at the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix, but a difficult qualifying session and imperfect race execution prevented the team from achieving the strongest possible result, according to team principal Fred Vasseur.

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finished directly behind George Russell at Zandvoort. Vasseur believes Ferrari was faster than Mercedes over race distance, but both Ferrari drivers started outside the top two rows after qualifying, while slow execution during the race cost the team further opportunities.

“I think the pace was strong, I think at least stronger than Mercedes,” the Frenchman told Sky Sports, “but it is like it is, that we have to now have a deep look on what we did and what we did wrong.”

Ferrari lost ground through starts and pit strategy

Leclerc also endured a slow getaway at the second start, allowing Oscar Piastri to pass him around the outside at Turn 1. The overtake was particularly notable because Piastri was running hard tyres while Leclerc had softs.

Ferrari later made a slow pit stop with Leclerc and missed an opportunity to move ahead of Russell after Leclerc had cleared Piastri. Vasseur said the Ferrari’s performance was “not an issue” in the Netherlands, but the team failed to unlock its potential during Saturday’s qualifying session.

“I think the pace this weekend was good, at least, in both races,” he noted, speaking to the media after the race. “If we missed something this weekend it’s more the quali first. Not in the sprint quali, but in the [main] quali, we had a poor preparation with an out-lap and so on.

“And the execution [in the race] was not that good, because we had a very strong start in the first start, and in the second start we lost position with soft compared to some hard competitors, and this is unexpected. And then we had a poor pitstop and then it was difficult. But the pace itself was decent, it’s not an issue at all.”

Tyre preparation hurt Ferrari in qualifying

Leclerc qualified third for Friday’s sprint race, only 0.055 seconds behind Russell, while Hamilton was sixth, 0.624 seconds off pole position. However, both Ferrari drivers struggled to generate enough tyre temperature in Saturday’s qualifying session and ultimately qualified fifth and sixth.

Ferrari had even used an additional preparation lap compared with its main rivals in Q3. Hamilton identified tyre performance as the key problem after qualifying.

“I think the tyres were the biggest culprit today, just really struggling to get the tyres to work,” he commented after qualifying. “They’re not really in in the first sector, that’s where we lost most of our time, and then they get better through the lap. Just do an out-lap and a prep lap, and the tyres are still not ready for Turn 1, it’s just nuts.”

Asked whether Ferrari should focus on upgrading the car or wait for its new power unit before targeting improvements in qualifying, Vasseur said the team first needed to understand how to prepare its tyres more effectively for flying laps.

“For sure, it’s always better to have a better aero, better suspension, better engine, it’s always helping,” Vasseur said. “But I think if we miss something in quali… but it was not true all the season. We had some races like Spielberg where we did a better job in quali than in the race. We were in the first row, we were second and third and we struggled a bit more in the race.

“The issue is that in quali, it’s a lot about the out-lap preparation, tyre management. But it’s a different approach of the tyre management in quali than in the race. You can be good on one side and not on the other one, from one weekend to the other. This weekend, I think we had a decent approach for the sprint quali, a bit more difficult [on Saturday] with cold conditions. And it’s so tight that on the sprint quali you have four cars in six-hundredths of seconds.

“You saw Lewis on the first day. He had to slow down a little bit after Turn 10 [on his outlap], because he had two or three cars in front of him and he lost [time in] Turn 1. It cost him two or three tenths and in this case you are losing four positions and it’s becoming a poor quali. It’s true for us, but it’s true for everybody, that you have to put a lot of effort in the preparation of each lap.

“If we have to learn something from the weekend, it’s not about the pure potential. It’s more about execution these two days. We were able to be there in terms of performance at some stages of the weekend, but we have to be there always.”

Ferrari remains second in the standings

Ferrari leaves Zandvoort second in the championship standings, 87 points behind Mercedes. McLaren has won the last two races with Lando Norris and reduced its deficit to Ferrari to 75 points ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.

08/27/2026
Marc Marquez Explains Why He Told Injured Isack Hadjar to Miss the Dutch Grand Prix

Marc Marquez has explained why he advised Isack Hadjar not to compete in Formula 1’s Dutch Grand Prix while recovering from a wrist injury.

The Red Bull driver had been keen to race at Zandvoort last weekend, despite injuring his wrist the previous week while working out in a gym. However, the 21-year-old ultimately decided to sit out the race after discussing the situation with team principal Laurent Mekies and former Red Bull athlete Marquez, who both urged him to prioritise his recovery.

Reigning MotoGP world champion Marquez has now revealed that Hadjar contacted him after suffering the injury to ask for advice on how to manage his recovery.

Having seen his own career disrupted by an arm fracture at Jerez in 2020, Marquez advised the French-Algerian driver not to rush his comeback and warned him about the possible consequences.

“Hadjar contacted me,” Marquez told MotoGP.com. “I’m not a doctor, of course, but just for advice.

“Because sometimes for a rider, or a driver in this case, it’s super difficult because sometimes you feel that OK, maybe you can. But it’s difficult to accept that, ‘OK, I will skip this race and I will prepare myself in a better way for the next one’.

“And it’s just what I said. I learned in the past that missing one race will not change your life. Missing, or worsening your injury because you ride too early, can change your life.

“My life changed a lot since the Jerez injury. So yeah, I just tried to give that advice to Hadjar, and I think he took the correct decision because he has a long career in front [of him].”

Marquez reflects on his own injury experience

Marquez’s comments highlight a significant change in his mindset. The factory Ducati rider has repeatedly admitted in recent years that he has learned to accept his physical limitations.

The Spaniard’s MotoGP career nearly ended when he broke a bone in his arm during a heavy highside at the 2020 season opener in Jerez. After undergoing immediate surgery, he attempted to return just days later at the Andalucian GP, but the additional strain placed on his body weakened the plate attached to his arm.

After withdrawing midway through the weekend, Marquez missed the entire season. It was not until a fourth operation in 2022 that he regained much of the mobility he had lost in his arm.

When will Isack Hadjar return to Formula 1?

Hadjar’s absence from the Dutch GP saw Liam Lawson promoted from Racing Bulls to replace him at Red Bull, while Yuki Tsunoda took Lawson’s place at the sister team.

It remains unclear when Hadjar will return to action. The next Formula 1 Grand Prix is scheduled to take place at Monza on 6 September.

Isack Hadjar — Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

Source: www.motorsport.com

08/27/2026
James Vowles Reveals Carlos Sainz’s ‘Unique’ Trait Aiding Williams Amid Struggles

Williams Racing team principal James Vowles has praised Carlos Sainz’s “unique” competitive mindset, crediting the Spaniard’s unwavering approach as a critical asset for the squad during a challenging 2026 Formula 1 season.

Sainz Delivers Podium Before Williams’ Downturn

Sainz guided Williams back to the podium last season, yet the team experienced a sharp reversal of fortune in 2026. After establishing themselves as the “best of the rest,” they found themselves battling toward the rear of the grid. The driver has been outspoken about the team’s struggles, citing delayed development and an overweight car as primary factors. Despite those setbacks, Sainz signed a multi-year contract extension, signalling his confidence in the project’s long-term trajectory.

Vowles Highlights Sainz’s Consistent Mindset

Vowles expressed his delight at retaining both Sainz and Alex Albon — who is also committed through 2027 — and reflected on Sainz’s demeanour during the Dutch Grand Prix weekend.

“He is immensely good,” he said.

“His attitude and approach doesn’t change irrespective of whether he’s fighting for 18th or a podium, and that’s quite unique.

“Normally, you’ll see a change in persona from individuals – the more frustrated they are, the more emotion kicks into it, and Carlos doesn’t have that at all. He’s just driven by constant performance improvements. Fundamentally, that is what you need to be driving yourselves forward with.”

Williams Targets Recovery Amid Regulatory Shifts

Both the team and its drivers share the ambition to return to fighting for points, victories, and eventually championships. However, the timeline has been recalibrated following an unexpected performance drop under the current regulations. As rivals such as Aston Martin close the gap with substantial upgrades, pressure is mounting on Williams to demonstrate progress when their own updates debut at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Vowles, however, has cautioned that meaningful gains will require patience.

“When we look at where the grid is right now, we are too far away,” he summarised. “So a lot of our focus is really going into next year, especially since there is a power unit change and an aerodynamic regulation change, in order to sort of get back onto, let’s say, a solid foundation.

“It’s a team that’s hurting, there’s no doubt about it. We’re not where we want to be.

“This is not what we planned for, so to have the news that two of your leaders are by your side and growing with you and believe in the journey you’re on is incredibly powerful for an organisation, especially when we’re asking what we are of them.

“It isn’t just about what they bring on track, it’s about the leaders they are behind the scenes. An example of that is when this winter went pretty poor, both flew to the UK and spent time with the team to effectively just support them in every way that they could do, which is unusual, but it’s an indication of who they are as characters.”

08/27/2026
How Lando Norris Has Improved Since Winning His F1 Title, According to McLaren

McLaren’s Formula 1 title defence looked increasingly unlikely just over a month ago. Ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli led the 2026 championship with 204 points, while McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri had scored 103 and 92 respectively.

McLaren then introduced a major upgrade package at the Hungaroring, targeting the front and rear corner bodywork and adding a new floor and rear wing. The impact was immediate. Norris converted pole position into victory in Hungary before winning again at Zandvoort, where he passed Antonelli around the outside at Turn 1. The reigning champion is now 83 points behind the championship leader.

Although the results suggest McLaren’s upgrades transformed its performance, team principal Andrea Stella believes Norris is also extracting the maximum from the MCL40—and may even be outperforming the car.

“Lando is driving and operating at a very high level, in absolute sense, in relation to a Formula 1 world champion,” Stella commented following the Dutch Grand Prix. “He’s driving at the level of a world champion.

“And like I always say for Lando, what I like the most of his journey in Formula 1 is that he keeps improving. And especially after the start of the 2025 season, something clicked, which is not only a single click, but is a way of working with Lando, for Lando, and that we are adopting also on Oscar’s side now in particular. And this approach has led Lando to continuous improvements.

“So it’s almost like I see Lando stronger and stronger race by race. Because this weekend was nowhere near a weekend in which we could fight for the victory for granted, especially after having seen the performance in the sprint.

“But we invested in trying to understand where was the opportunity from a tyre exploitation point of view, and car improvement. Actually, both drivers improved from this point of view, but unfortunately a question mark remains as to the behaviour of the second stint of Oscar.

“So there’s overall a positive trajectory for both, but at the moment Lando is capable of maximising the performance in qualifying trim. If we think the start of 2025, this had become a bit of a concern that he overcame. And then, when you have conditions in which the car slides in the race, there’s not much grip, he is the master in this kind of conditions.”

Norris has gained the edge in qualifying

Qualifying performance has become a key indicator of Norris’ recent advantage over his McLaren team-mate.

Throughout the 2025 season, Norris and Piastri were evenly matched over one lap, sharing a 15-15 qualifying head-to-head record when sprint qualifying sessions are included.

After Formula 1 introduced new machinery in 2026, Norris initially trailed Piastri 3-1 before the unexpected April break. Since then, however, the reigning champion has dominated the comparison, beating Piastri 12-1. Piastri’s only qualifying victory in that period came in Monaco.

The average gap remains relatively small at 0.128 seconds, but it has consistently favoured Norris as Piastri continues to search for his best form.

Stella believes Norris’ improved mindset, rather than technical gains alone, has helped him develop more effective racecraft.

“If you want to look at Lando from another angle, I would say that definitely he is now expressing a higher level of assertiveness as he drives,” the Italian pointed out. “You know, the manoeuvre to pass Antonelli today is a really good demonstration of that. He’s demonstrating more self-confidence.

“This is interesting, and I quite like it – the self-confidence sometimes is not demonstrated by being the most aggressive. Sometimes you are self-confident when you think like, ‘You know what? I’m not going to have a fight now because I may lose in this fight. It’s a very long race. See you at the end of the race.’

“It’s this confidence in your means, in your strength, that I quite like. Which means that sometimes you are actually the one backing off when the situation becomes too risky.

“We need to remember that in the last couple of races that he won, he didn’t defend the pole position. He was actually second at the end of the first lap. But I did not hear or perceive any decay in his confidence, as to the fact that he was fast and he was just preparing his opportunity to then cash in on his competitiveness. So I think assertiveness and confidence are probably the two characteristics that he has improved the most from a non-technical, non-operational point of view.”

Source: www.motorsport.com

08/27/2026
Alex Albon Dismisses Carlos Sainz Tension at Dutch GP After “Clear-the-Air” Breakfast

Alex Albon has dismissed suggestions of lingering tension with Williams team-mate Carlos Sainz after their collision at the Dutch Grand Prix, revealing that the pair discussed the incident over breakfast on Monday.

Sainz accepted full responsibility for the intra-team clash at Zandvoort and received a 10-second penalty. The Spaniard was defending on old hard tyres into Turn 1 when he hit a bump on the inside line, locked up and slid into Albon’s car.

The collision damaged Albon’s floor and forced him to retire, while Sainz finished 16th. However, Albon said there was no bad blood between the Williams drivers during an appearance on The Fast And The Curious podcast:

“We grabbed breakfast on Monday. Carlos offered to pay. I allowed him to pay.

“All chill. I think people like to make it out [to be] more than it really is, but at the same time, it was no Max and Daniel [Verstappen and Ricciardo at Baku in 2018]. For me, that was important. You can tell in the media pen as soon as you go after the race, you feel like the interviewer is like licking their lips, they’re getting so excited.

“So you just have to kind of like shoulder it and be like, ‘No, we’re not going to go down that road.’”

Albon joked that the collision had left Sainz owing him a free hit in the name of team equality. Asked whether he was allowed to “bump off” Sainz once as payback, Albon replied:

“I think that’s a good one. I’m not sure the team would agree with this,”

He then added:

“I shouldn’t say this because it’s going to write its own script.”

Albon also offered an insight into the pair’s Monday debrief in Monaco, describing the breakfast they shared:

“I kid you not, Lily had scrambled eggs with caviar. I had just classic avocado toast and then Carlos and I shared some protein pancakes.

“Carlos is way too confident about his pancake game. He has a confidence that I’ve never seen anyone have around pancakes. The way he talks about how he makes pancakes, you’d think he’s Gordon Ramsay’s coach.”

08/27/2026
F1 Fans Divided Over Lewis Hamilton’s Frustrated Team Radio Message

Formula 1 fans have delivered their verdict on Lewis Hamilton’s “sassy” team radio messages during the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, where the Ferrari driver openly expressed his frustration with the team’s strategy.

The seven-time world champion complained that he was being held up by Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, despite the Monegasque driver running on a different strategy.

Hamilton later questioned whether he was being used as a “guinea pig” after asking to pit and change his hard tyres, only for Ferrari to keep him out on track.

Although Hamilton has since apologised for his comments and admitted that he did not show the best version of himself during the race, fans debated the incident on social media.

“Ferrari pitwall is the one who should apologise; either they should clearly tell Charles to ‘box or swap with Lewis’ 1 lap before,” one fan commented on Reddit.

Another added: “I’ve been saying this from Hungary, Ferrari want to play fair to their drivers, but they need to realise each race they need to prioritise which one has better strategy.”

A third fan criticised Ferrari’s approach, writing: “Why bother having your drivers on different strategies if you aren’t going to use team orders to maximise results… F***ing Ferrari man. It’s like they want us all to think they’re playing 3D chess, problem being they showed up with checkers pieces,”

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari. Photo by: Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images

“Loving sassy Lewis,” another fan posted. However, one commenter argued that Hamilton should have kept his criticism for a private post-race discussion.

“I hate to see this slander broadcast. It’s just disrespectful towards his team. The team that provides him with the second-best car on the grid. Save it for face-to-face, when the cameras are not on you, Lewis.”

Hamilton accepted responsibility for his comments in a post-race message to fans.

“I’ve listened back to some of my radio and TV comments. In the heat of the moment, frustration can come out, especially when you care as deeply as I do. But that wasn’t the best version of me.

“I take responsibility for that, and I’ll be better. That passion comes from believing in this team, the people in it, and what we’re building together. The direction is clear. The belief is there. And the fight is absolutely still on.”

Source: www.motorsport.com

08/27/2026
Alex Brundle Calls Arvid Lindblad’s Dutch GP Penalty “Harsh”

F1 TV analyst Alex Brundle has described Arvid Lindblad’s drive-through penalty at the Dutch Grand Prix as “harsh”, arguing that drivers should not be punished for making a secondary overtake while taking evasive action.

Why Arvid Lindblad was penalised at Zandvoort

The race at Zandvoort was disrupted on the opening lap when home favourite Max Verstappen crashed at Turn 14. Lindblad was one of the drivers behind the four-time world champion and, while avoiding the incident, passed Pierre Gasly’s Alpine on the approach to Turn 1.

The stewards classified the move as a yellow-flag infringement and issued the Racing Bulls rookie a costly drive-through penalty.

Speaking on F1 TV’s post-race show, Brundle sympathised with Lindblad’s position.

“I think it is harsh. The accepted way to go about it as a driver is if you’re effectively avoiding the crash, you avoid the crash and you do everything that you can to make sure that you don’t become part of the accident,” Brundle explained.

“It’s difficult to then add in extra things that the drivers have to be aware of during an incident to make sure that they don’t then pass a car secondarily to that.

“It depends how far you are away from the incident. But if you haven’t actually passed a yellow flag and if you’re actually trying to get around the incident, I think it’s harsh then to penalise you for passing another driver while you’re actually taking evasive action.”

Lindblad explains Dutch Grand Prix incident

The 19-year-old Racing Bulls driver discussed the incident from his perspective after the race.

“Max lost it, then he came across the track, and there was debris everywhere. I couldn’t really see anything,” Lindblad told F1 TV. “I tried to avoid making contact. I think I almost hit one of his tyres. Then I was just holding my line and trying to just go straight to not have any incident or anything.

“Then I passed Pierre into Turn 1. But I didn’t see any flags or anything. So it was a bit of a shame. I also think the penalty is a bit harsh. I think we can all be honest. It took me out of the race, basically. It was quite extreme for such an incident, but fine. It is what it is.”

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Photo by: Eric Le Galliot

Source: www.motorsport.com

08/27/2026
‘We’re not in any rush’ – Ayao Komatsu Updates Haas’ 2027 F1 Driver Plans

Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu Downplays Driver Line-Up Urgency Amid Development Struggles

Haas Formula 1 Team Principal Ayao Komatsu has stated the team is in no hurry to finalize its 2025 driver lineup, emphasizing that the immediate priority is maximizing the performance of current drivers Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon. The comments come as the American-owned squad endures a difficult mid-season slump following a promising start to the campaign.

Strong Start Gives Way to Points Drought

Haas opened the season with competitive form, highlighted by Bearman’s impressive fifth-place finish at the Chinese Grand Prix. However, the team’s trajectory has since reversed sharply. A run of six consecutive rounds without scoring points has seen Haas slip down the constructors’ order as midfield rivals—most notably Racing Bulls and Alpine—have outpaced them in the development race.

The downturn has intensified speculation regarding the team’s plans for the 2027 regulatory cycle and beyond. While neither seat has been officially confirmed for next season, paddock consensus suggests rookie Bearman is more likely to retain his drive than the experienced Ocon. Potential candidates such as Ferrari junior Rafael Camara and Red Bull-affiliated Yuki Tsunoda are widely viewed as waiting in the wings should a vacancy arise.

Komatsu: Focus Remains on Current Duo

Speaking ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix—where Haas ultimately suffered a double DNF—Komatsu was reluctant to engage with the driver market speculation.

“We’re not in any rush. We’re focused on our two drivers, Ollie and Esteban, trying to get the best out of them. They’ve got the tough challenge, right?

“You know what they’re capable of. You know, Ollie has shown it repeatedly. Esteban, when he is happy with the car, you know what he can do.

“So we need to really just focus on providing them with the best possible car, best set-up adaptation, and get the best out of them. And then both of our drivers are fully focused.”

The points disparity between the teammates is stark: Bearman has accumulated 18 points to Ocon’s three. However, the rookie recently cautioned that the standings do not accurately reflect their on-track rivalry, citing apparent “inconsistency” between the parts fitted to their respective cars.

Smallest Team Faces Biggest Regulation Challenge

Komatsu acknowledged the scale of the challenge facing Haas, the smallest operation on the grid, under the current regulatory framework.

“This is the biggest regulation change ever. So us being the smallest team, we expect that we’re going to really be struggling to keep up with the other big boys in the development race.

“We started the season extremely well, much better than anyone can think of, and then from that moment I think that’s the reality. With our constraints, we’re trying to develop the car as fast as possible, but the other guys are putting performance on the car faster than us. That’s the reality.”

The team principal was quick to defend his personnel, stressing that the deficit is a resource issue rather than a capability one.

“Then, to be fair, honestly, it’s nothing against the guys in the team – they’re doing a fantastic job, they’re working together, and then for us to have a chance to keep up with the other guys, everything has to be perfect, right? Everything. In life, that’s not something you can ask for all the time.

“I really do think I need to provide them with a better environment, facilitate it, so that they can show what they’re capable of. I’m sure of that. But the good thing is those tough times show the character, right? And then there’s no blame culture.”

Engineering Focus: Downforce and Drivability Deficits

Komatsu outlined the specific technical areas where the VF-24 is underperforming, confirming the engineering group has a clear diagnosis of the car’s shortcomings.

“We looked at the problem: what’s the issue, where are we lacking downforce, why the drivability is not great, what are the drivers struggling with? We’re all on the same page, trying to fix the issue, trying to put performance on the car. But of course, again, that takes time.”

He concluded with a message of resilience, drawing on the team’s recent history of overcoming adversity.

“Lots of things we’re putting in place will take time for it to materialise, but we’ve just got to believe in ourselves, the teamwork, support each other, and we’ll get through it like we did the last two years.”

08/27/2026