Tag: Formula 1

Bernie Collins Issues Stark Warning to Williams After Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz’s Dutch GP Crash

Williams cannot afford the financial and development consequences of the collision between Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon at the Dutch Grand Prix, according to Sky Sports Formula 1 analyst Bernie Collins.

Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Show, Collins highlighted the serious impact of the intra-team crash on the Grove-based team, which is already dealing with an overweight car, delayed upgrades and budget-cap constraints.

Williams entered the Zandvoort weekend after announcing contract extensions for both drivers. However, its race quickly unravelled when Sainz and Albon made contact. Albon retired from the race, while Sainz received a 10-second penalty and eventually finished 16th.

“The first rule within a team is do not hit your team-mate,” Collins said. “That is like the P1 rule. Particularly [for] a team who are struggling to bring upgrades, struggling for money. Their car is overweight and underperforming.

“We hear Mercedes saying they don’t have enough money to bring upgrades. You just can’t lose the parts, the performance, the knowledge. So I think that’s something that they’re going to have a big discussion about.

“Whether it comes out of their pay packet or not doesn’t matter because it’s already out of the budget. You can’t put it back into the budget and say, ‘Oh, the drivers have subbed this bit of the budget.’ It doesn’t work like that. So that was a difficult weekend for them.

“And whether they did or didn’t do the right strategy, it was only [Fernando] Alonso who did the other strategy. So, they had very similar strategies to those around them. But the performance was lacking, and it just seems the car wasn’t the right weight, and it wasn’t delivered on time, and it didn’t have the right performance. So, there’s lots going on in the background of Williams there.”

08/30/2026
Kimi Antonelli Credits 2025 Struggles for Stronger 2026 F1 Campaign

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli says the difficulties of his rookie Formula 1 season in 2025 helped him become mentally stronger for the 2026 championship.

The Italian currently leads his Mercedes team-mate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by 59 points in the drivers’ standings. After back-to-back victories in China and Japan, Antonelli became the youngest driver to lead the championship in his second season in Formula 1. He then added four more Grand Prix wins before the summer break.

Antonelli’s Formula 1 progress

Antonelli has made a significant performance improvement compared with the same stage 12 months ago, when he scored points in just two of nine European races. He finished his rookie season seventh in the standings with 150 points, recording podium finishes in Canada, Brazil and Las Vegas, alongside four retirements in Emilia-Romagna, Spain, Austria and Great Britain.

“Experience is playing a massive role,” the 20-year-old explained to F1.com as he reflected on the changes from 2025 to 2026.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Antonelli said that although his 2025 campaign was challenging, he “needed” those difficult moments to become stronger “emotionally and mentally”.

“Of course, I still have a lot of experience to make, but I think last year, despite all the bad moments, the difficult periods, I think that was what I needed because that helped me to grow even more than what I anticipated. It made me stronger emotionally and mentally.”

Antonelli prepares for the Italian Grand Prix

Since Antonelli took the championship lead in Japan, there has been considerable discussion about when the pressure of a title fight might affect the young driver. So far, that pressure has yet to slow him down.

Antonelli now heads into his home race at Monza hoping for better fortunes than he experienced in 2025, although he will serve a power unit penalty. The Italian Grand Prix will take place at Monza from 4-6 September.

08/30/2026
McLaren Tipped to Become Mercedes’ Main Rival by the End of the 2026 F1 Season

Former Alpine Formula 1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer expects McLaren to emerge as Mercedes’ closest rival by the end of the 2026 season.

Speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast with broadcaster Jake Humphrey, Szafnauer discussed the changing competitive order at the front of the Formula 1 grid after Lando Norris secured consecutive victories at the Hungarian and Dutch Grands Prix.

McLaren upgrades could transform the F1 title fight

McLaren has introduced significant upgrades at recent races. With the team’s development package now fully integrated ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Szafnauer believes the Woking-based outfit can overtake Ferrari in the constructors’ championship and mount a stronger challenge to Mercedes.

“Monza will be very important because [McLaren] brought an upgrade that did work in Hungary. I think they continued with that upgrade from what I read in Zandvoort, and now the upgrade’s complete. Let’s see how they go in Monza,” Szafnauer explained.

“I still think they’re going to be Mercedes’ closest competitor at the end of the season. I said that at the beginning, but it seemed like it was Ferrari. And I think it’s ebbing and flowing, the relative performance due to the fact that not all of the upgrades are coming at the same time, and the upgrades are significant.

“In a year where the regulations are new, you find a lot, right? So your learning curve is very steep. So when you bring that upgrade relative to those who haven’t, you make a step. And I think we saw that with Alpine as well. After Racing Bulls had their upgrade, they were significantly quicker than Alpine. It looked like they were going to get them. And now they’re there or thereabouts.”

Lando Norris, McLaren. Photo by Eric Le Galliot.

Mercedes upgrades limited by the cost cap

Szafnauer also addressed why constructors’ championship leader Mercedes has spread its upgrades across the season instead of introducing new components more frequently. He attributed the team’s cautious approach to Formula 1’s cost cap.

“Cost cap. They have upgrades now that they could bring, but once you start making those parts, it costs you, and they’ll go over the cap,” he said. “So what they’re going to do, my guess is, one more upgrade, Malaysia/Singapore timeframe.

“That doesn’t mean the learning stops. The learning continues in the background. You’re still doing CFD work. You’re still doing wind tunnel work. You’re still making wind tunnel parts. All that’s planned.

“It’s just a question of when you stop to actually bring that upgrade package. And that’s where the money is. When you make realised car parts, they cost: new wings, new floors, new bodywork. And I predict they’ll have one more big upgrade as opposed to a lot of little ones because they can’t afford it. They’re at the cap.”

08/30/2026
F1 Driver Contracts: How Long Is Each Driver Signed For?

F1 Driver Contracts: When Each Formula 1 Deal Expires

Details of Formula 1 driver contracts are closely guarded, although the length of many deals is eventually made public. Here is how long each current F1 driver contract is believed to run, along with the potential moves that could shape the grid in the coming seasons.

McLaren

Lando Norris — 2030

The reigning F1 world champion recently announced a new four-year contract with McLaren, keeping him at the team until at least 2030. The agreement is also believed to include clauses that could extend the deal beyond that point.

Norris joined McLaren as a junior driver in 2017 before stepping up to its F1 team in 2019. He became world champion in 2025.

Oscar Piastri — 2028

Oscar Piastri signed a new McLaren contract at the start of 2025, tying him to the team until the end of 2028.

The Australian made his F1 debut with McLaren in 2023 after a hearing before the FIA Contract Recognition Board settled a dispute between Alpine and McLaren.

Mercedes

George Russell — 2027

Despite Mercedes’ previous pursuit of Max Verstappen, George Russell remains confident in his place at the team. The British driver is contracted through the end of the 2027 season.

Russell joined Mercedes in 2022 after three seasons effectively on loan at Williams, where he made his F1 debut in 2019.

Kimi Antonelli — 2027

Kimi Antonelli is also believed to have a Mercedes contract running until the end of 2027.

The Italian replaced Lewis Hamilton in Mercedes’ driver line-up after Hamilton left for Ferrari in 2025.

Red Bull

Max Verstappen — 2030

Max Verstappen and Red Bull announced a new contract at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. The agreement runs until at least the end of 2030.

Verstappen became a Red Bull junior in 2014 and made his F1 debut with sister team Toro Rosso in 2015 at the age of 17. He was promoted to the Red Bull team midway through the 2016 season.

Isack Hadjar — 2026

Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull contract is set to expire at the end of 2026 after he joined the senior team from Racing Bulls the previous winter.

The French driver made his F1 debut with Racing Bulls in 2025 and immediately impressed, highlighted by a podium at the Dutch Grand Prix. His performances led to a rapid promotion to Red Bull for 2026.

Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton — 2027

Ferrari has often declined to reveal the precise length of its drivers’ contracts, but all parties have confirmed that Lewis Hamilton’s deal runs until at least 2027. With contract clauses taken into account, he signed a three-year agreement when he joined in 2025.

Hamilton made his F1 debut with McLaren in 2007 and won his first world title in 2008. He moved to Mercedes in 2013 and won a further six world championships during his 12 years with the German manufacturer.

Charles Leclerc — 2028

Ferrari announced that Charles Leclerc had agreed to a new contract on the eve of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, saying he would remain with the Maranello team “for the coming seasons”. The deal is believed to keep him at Ferrari until at least the end of 2028, with an option for additional years.

Leclerc was a Ferrari junior and made his F1 debut on loan at Sauber in 2018. He joined Ferrari’s driver line-up in 2019 and has remained a permanent fixture ever since.

Williams

Alex Albon — 2027

Alex Albon signed a contract extension with Williams ahead of the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, keeping him at the team until the end of 2027.

The Anglo-Thai driver made his F1 debut with Toro Rosso in 2019 before switching to Red Bull midway through the season. Red Bull dropped Albon at the end of 2020, and he spent one year away from F1 before returning to the grid with Williams in 2022.

Carlos Sainz — 2028

One day after Albon’s renewal was announced, Carlos Sainz’s future was confirmed with a multi-year Williams contract at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. The deal is believed to run until the end of 2028 and include contract clauses.

Sainz has raced for almost half of the F1 grid since making his debut in 2015 with Toro Rosso. He switched to Renault in 2017, joined McLaren in 2019 for two seasons and then moved to Ferrari for four years. Sainz joined Williams in 2025.

Racing Bulls

Liam Lawson — 2026

Like many Red Bull youngsters, Liam Lawson has largely worked on one-year contracts, and 2026 is no different. The New Zealander responded well after being demoted to Racing Bulls following just two rounds as a Red Bull driver and secured his short-term future with the team for the season.

Lawson made his F1 debut in 2023 as an injury replacement for Daniel Ricciardo. In 2024, he permanently replaced Ricciardo at Racing Bulls from the United States Grand Prix, leading to his ill-fated promotion to Red Bull and subsequent return to Racing Bulls in 2025.

Arvid Lindblad — 2026

F1’s only rookie on the 2026 grid was handed a one-year contract to prove himself at Racing Bulls.

The British driver has impressed during his debut season and appears set to retain his place on the grid for 2027.

Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso — 2026

The biggest remaining question surrounding the 2027 F1 grid concerns Fernando Alonso. The 45-year-old agreed to a contract extension in 2024 that will keep him at Aston Martin until the end of the 2026 season.

Alonso made his F1 debut with Minardi in 2001. After spending one year away from the grid as a Renault test driver, he returned in 2003 for a four-year stint that produced two world titles. Following an unsuccessful 2007 season with McLaren, Alonso returned to Renault for 2008 and 2009 before joining Ferrari for five years. He later had a second spell with McLaren amid its crisis with Honda and left both the team and F1 at the end of 2018. Alonso returned to F1 with Alpine in 2021 before switching to Aston Martin for 2023.

Lance Stroll — 2026

Lance Stroll is in the unique position of arguably having a timeless contract because his father, Lawrence Stroll, owns Aston Martin. He could therefore continue racing for the team for as long as both decide.

A contract announced in 2024 covering “2025 and beyond” guarantees Stroll a place at least through the end of 2026, but the agreement is expected to continue indefinitely.

The Canadian made his F1 debut with Williams in 2017 and spent two seasons there before joining Racing Point, which was rebranded as Aston Martin in 2021.

Haas

Esteban Ocon — 2026

When Esteban Ocon joined Haas for 2025, the deal was described as multi-year, with options believed to cover 2027. However, neither the driver nor the team has so far indicated that an agreement extending beyond this season is in place.

Ocon made his F1 debut midway through 2016 as a Mercedes junior with Manor. After the team folded, he joined Force India but lost his place in the line-up during Lawrence Stroll’s takeover at the end of 2018. After a year away, Ocon returned to F1 with Renault in 2020, remaining there until 2024 before moving to Haas.

Oliver Bearman — 2026

Oliver Bearman became a full-time Haas F1 driver in 2025, and his current contract is believed to expire at the end of 2026.

The British driver made a surprise F1 debut for Ferrari as a substitute for Carlos Sainz at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. He made two further appearances that year with Haas, driving at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix for the banned Kevin Magnussen and again for Magnussen at the Brazilian Grand Prix when the Dane was unwell. Bearman became a permanent Haas driver in 2025.

Audi

Nico Hulkenberg — 2026

Nico Hulkenberg joined Sauber in 2025 ahead of its transition to Audi on a multi-year contract. The agreement is expected to carry him into 2027 if both parties agree.

Hulkenberg’s F1 career began with Williams in 2010. After a year away, he returned with Force India in 2012, joined Sauber for 2013 and reunited with Force India the following year, staying until the end of 2016. Two seasons with Renault ended with Hulkenberg failing to secure a full-time seat for 2020 and 2021, although he made five substitute appearances for Racing Point and Aston Martin. He returned to a full-time F1 seat with Haas in 2023, spending two seasons there before joining the Sauber-Audi project.

Gabriel Bortoleto — 2026

Gabriel Bortoleto made his F1 debut with Sauber in 2025 ahead of the team’s transition to Audi. Like Hulkenberg, his contract is described as multi-year and is expected to be extended into 2027.

Alpine

Pierre Gasly — 2028

Pierre Gasly signed a new multi-year contract with Alpine in 2025 that will keep him at the team until at least the end of 2028.

Gasly made his F1 debut with Toro Rosso as a mid-season replacement in 2017 before completing a full season with the team in 2018. A brief spell at Red Bull in 2019 ended with his demotion back to Toro Rosso, where he remained until the end of 2022. The French driver joined Alpine in 2023 and has stayed with the team since.

Franco Colapinto — 2027

Franco Colapinto emerged as one of the biggest winners in a stable 2026 driver market, as limited movement elsewhere gave Alpine the opportunity to assess him. The Argentinian driver has consequently been retained by the Enstone team for 2027.

Colapinto made his F1 debut with Williams midway through 2024 but found his path to a full-time seat blocked. He switched to Alpine for 2025 and again joined as a mid-season replacement, this time doing enough to secure a full-time contract from 2026.

Cadillac

Sergio Perez — 2027

Sergio Perez secured an F1 comeback with the new Cadillac team on a multi-year contract that will keep him there until at least the end of 2027.

Perez began his F1 career with Sauber in 2011, impressing enough to earn a McLaren seat for 2013. He moved to Force India in 2014 and played an integral role in saving the team from administration before joining Red Bull at the end of 2020. After a promising start in Milton Keynes, Perez was dropped at the end of 2024 before his contract expired. He spent 2025 away from F1 before returning with Cadillac in 2026.

Valtteri Bottas — 2027

Valtteri Bottas also returned to F1 with Cadillac. The Finn has a multi-year contract that is set to run until the end of 2027.

Bottas made his F1 debut with Williams in 2013 before unexpectedly joining Mercedes in 2017. He helped the team win five constructors’ world championships before moving to Alfa Romeo in 2022. His three-year spell at Alfa Romeo and Sauber ended in 2024, followed by one season away from the grid before he joined Cadillac for 2026.

Source: www.motorsport.com

08/30/2026
Ralf Schumacher Requires Surgery After Jet Ski Crash

Ralf Schumacher will undergo shoulder surgery after crashing during Stefan Raab’s celebrity jet ski world championship in Duisburg on Saturday.

The former Formula 1 driver was injured during the team competition after partnering with television entertainer Stefan Raab. Schumacher was driving the jet ski, with Raab seated behind him, when the pair crashed at a buoy.

Both men initially climbed back onto the jet ski, but Schumacher accelerated before Raab had fully regained his position. The celebrity duo fell into the water for a second time, initially prompting laughter from the crowd.

Schumacher’s condition appeared more serious when he tried to climb back onto the jet ski.

“My shoulder was dislocated when I tried to turn the jet ski around so quickly,” Schumacher explained during the live broadcast on RTL+.

Ralf Schumacher
Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images

Raab said he did not immediately realise how serious the injury was.

“At first I thought nothing had happened, and then the jet ski kept going,” he said. “I was like, ‘Ralf, what’s wrong?’ He said he’d dislocated his shoulder. Then I quickly started waving for help.”

The accident ended the Schumacher-Raab team’s involvement in the competition. Schumacher had earlier reached the grand final of the individual Speed Duel, where he was beaten by German circus performer and Ninja Warrior athlete Rene Casselly.

Although the current Sky pundit was competing outside his usual environment, his speed remained evident. He ultimately missed out on the event’s golden inflatable ring but won the sympathy of the crowd.

“It almost happened the first time as well,” Schumacher said. “I hope nothing is broken. Thank God. A huge thank you to the team who got me out of there so quickly. And thanks to the doctor who put my shoulder back in place.

“It’s not exactly pleasant, I have to admit. But at the moment I’m OK.”

Schumacher posted a video on Instagram on Sunday morning, again thanking the medical team and the hospital in Duisburg.

“team on site who put my shoulder back in and pulled me out of the water. It all happened incredibly quickly, so thank you very much. And a huge thank you to BG Klinikum Duisburg as well.”

Ralf Schumacher and Juan-Pablo Montoya
Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

Schumacher underwent an X-ray late on Saturday evening and an MRI scan on Sunday morning. The tests showed that the shoulder dislocation had also caused a bone fracture.

“It was only a shoulder dislocation, or a dislocated shoulder, but unfortunately a piece of bone broke off as well,” Schumacher said.

The six-time grand prix winner will therefore require “a small operation”. Despite the injury, he expects to work as a Sky Germany pundit at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.

“The operation will be over quickly and then I should be back in Monza as well,” he said. “I only have to hold my microphone with my left hand!”

Schumacher said he had no regrets about taking part in the celebrity jet ski event.

“It was an amazing event and a lot of fun. […] If they do it again, I’ll definitely be there. It was a great event. Sorry we couldn’t win the team competition like that. But next time we’ll definitely be better.”

Ralf Schumacher, Williams FW25
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Schumacher joked that he still could not understand how the accident had caused such a serious injury.

“Pulling it out of the water, turning the jet ski around and dislocating your shoulder in the process – you’ve got to manage that first,” he joked. “But maybe I’m simply too old for this crap.”

He also defended the event organisers.

“In any case, the organiser is absolutely not at fault.”

08/30/2026
Lewis Hamilton “Didn’t Help Himself” With Ferrari Radio Messages, Says Guenther Steiner

Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner believes Lewis Hamilton made Ferrari’s Dutch Grand Prix tensions worse with his frustrated team radio messages.

The seven-time world champion repeatedly questioned Ferrari’s strategy during the race at Zandvoort, urging the Maranello team to let him pass team-mate Charles Leclerc, who was running a different strategy. When Ferrari eventually brought Leclerc into the pits, Hamilton complained that the team had lost too much time.

Hamilton later sarcastically asked whether Ferrari was using him as a “guinea pig” after leaving him on old hard tyres.

Steiner compares Ferrari and Mercedes strategy planning

Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner compared Ferrari’s handling of team orders with Mercedes’ preparation and said Ferrari had not organised the situation as effectively.

“Obviously, it was not as well organised as the silver people. They were well organised,” Steiner said during an appearance on The Red Flags Podcast, comparing Mercedes and Ferrari.

“They had the discussion before and obviously that discussion was not as heated as that one after for Ferrari because when you go into the drivers before the race and tell them what is what.”

Steiner said Ferrari’s pre-race discussions should have been more detailed.

“I think that one was not done in the detail Mercedes stated, and that caused what happened.”

Hamilton criticised for Ferrari team radio messages

Although Steiner argued that Ferrari could have prepared its drivers more thoroughly for possible team-order scenarios, he also said Hamilton’s criticism of the team was counterproductive.

“I don’t think Lewis helped himself being so critical because when you’re sitting on the pitwall and you hear that, it’s like, ‘Oh this guy’s actually trying to vouch too much for himself. He doesn’t see the team anymore here.’

“You could say, ‘Hey, would it not be better if he lets me pass, I’m faster,’ instead of saying, ‘Oh you made me lose time here.’”

Hamilton later addressed his Dutch Grand Prix team radio comments on social media, accepting responsibility for his frustrated reaction.

“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,” he posted on Instagram.

“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.”

08/30/2026
Bradley Cooper Transforms Monaco for 1962 Grand Prix in “Ocean’s Eleven” Prequel Shoot

Bradley Cooper and a major film crew spent five days filming in Monaco for Warner Bros.’ upcoming Ocean’s Eleven prequel, with production taking place from 24 to 28 August.

1962 Monaco Grand Prix recreated for Ocean’s Eleven prequel

Parts of Monaco were transformed to recreate the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix, including the famous street circuit and replica vintage Formula 1 cars. Filming took place at several of the principality’s most recognisable locations, including Port Hercule, Avenue Princesse Grace, Place du Casino, Portier and Larvotto.

The untitled film is being shot under the working title Sandcastles. Cooper, a three-time Grammy Award winner known for A Star Is Born, Silver Linings Playbook and The Hangover, is directing, writing and starring in the project.

Cooper and Margot Robbie play the parents of Danny Ocean, the character famously portrayed by George Clooney in the Ocean’s franchise. The cast also includes Wagner Moura, Monica Barbaro, Josh Gad, Vicky Krieps, George MacKay, Lauren Ridloff, Jack Holden and Omar Sy.

“Before Danny Ocean ever stepped foot in Vegas, two masterminds taught him everything he knows — his parents,” Robbie teased during a Warner Bros. preview reel at CinemaCon.

“You’ll see them in their prime, pulling off an epic heist at the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix.”

Film revisits historic Monaco Grand Prix

The 1962 Monaco Grand Prix was won by Cooper driver Bruce McLaren. Lotus driver Jim Clark started from pole position but retired on lap 55 because of a clutch problem. Ferrari drivers Phil Hill and Lorenzo Bandini completed the podium.

Additional filming locations have included Paris and Nice. The film is scheduled to be released on 25 June 2027.

Source: www.motorsport.com

08/30/2026
“How can you allow this?” Toto Wolff Reveals Niki Lauda Story Behind Lewis Hamilton’s Iconic F1 Pole

When Toto Wolff met a select group of Dutch journalists for his annual media session at Zandvoort, one topic was how Formula 1 teams can get the best performance from their drivers—and how much freedom a team principal should give a star competitor.

Max Verstappen is the most prominent current example. Red Bull allows him considerable freedom away from Formula 1, including involvement with his own racing team and endurance events such as the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

The Dutchman competes in those events with a Mercedes-AMG GT3, raising the question of whether another F1 team, including Mercedes, would offer a driver like Verstappen the same latitude.

Wolff said the answer depends on understanding each driver as an individual and identifying the conditions that allow them to perform at their best.

“I think every team is different, but I think what I am trying to do is to identify what it is that makes the driver fast within our structure,” Wolff said.

“What kind of framework do we need to provide to extract the best performance of the driver, and part of that is obviously the well-being. And that is something that I am very keen on as well.

“I have never put drivers in a box and have never said this is how you need to be.”

Max Verstappen, Mercedes-AMG GT3. Photo by: Miguel Reis / NurPhoto via Getty Images

“Toto, how on earth can you allow this?”

In Verstappen’s case, that freedom includes competing in other racing series. Wolff recalled an earlier example from his time as an F1 team principal: Lewis Hamilton’s passion for fashion, particularly around the 2018 Singapore Grand Prix.

“I remember Lewis Hamilton with his fashion collection back in the day and there was this Singapore race. I remember it was 2018 or 2019, when he launched his Tommy Hilfiger collection,” Wolff recounted.

“He had a fashion show in Shanghai where he FaceTimed us. He was grateful that Mercedes changed from Boss to Hilfiger to allow him to have his own collection. He showed everything and said, look at this, this is my catwalk, this is my collection. I can’t believe it!”

The fashion show in Shanghai took place on 4 September, but Hamilton still had another commitment before travelling to Singapore: New York Fashion Week, where he was scheduled to present his collection in the United States.

“And then he flew from Shanghai to LA or New York, and did it there,” Wolff recalls. “Niki Lauda said to me back in the day, I cannot comprehend why you allow this. We are racing in Singapore next weekend, so how is this even possible?”

The criticism grew when Hamilton’s journey to Singapore was delayed, leaving him due to arrive late for the first engineering meeting.

Hamilton arrived late in Singapore after the fashion shows, but Wolff defended his driver against criticism. Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

“Lewis said that he needed to do another stopover in London or so, I don’t even remember. He calls me on Wednesday and says that it will be touch and go, arriving on Thursday for the first engineering meeting.

“I replied, do me a favour, because I’m already getting lots of shit here for you doing a 360 around the world in funky clothes!

“But then he called me again and said, I’m late, the flight has been delayed. So Niki says to me, I really can’t believe how you can allow that.”

“Lewis, please don’t let me down this weekend”

Hamilton’s performance in Singapore demonstrated both Wolff’s willingness to protect his drivers and the way Hamilton repaid that trust on the track.

“When he arrived, I said, ‘Lewis, do me a favour. I’ll take it from you here, I’ll take all the criticism from everyone, but just don’t let me down this weekend.’

“Understood, he said, and this is when he had this unbelievable pole position. There was that sensational lap and then he won the race, disappearing in the distance.

Hamilton repaid Wolff’s trust in Singapore and went on to clinch his fifth world title just over a month later. Photo by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Images

“After the race he came back to me and said, that was a good deal, no?”

Wolff said Lauda eventually accepted Hamilton’s activities away from the circuit, provided they did not affect his performance during a race weekend.

“Niki said to me afterwards, ‘I’m never going to criticise it anymore, even if he flies to the moon before a race!’”

Hamilton took pole position in Singapore by more than three-tenths of a second over Verstappen and six-tenths over title rival Sebastian Vettel. The Mercedes driver won the race by almost nine seconds from Verstappen and secured his fifth world championship just over a month later in Mexico.

08/30/2026
Lando Norris Gives His Verdict on McLaren’s 2026 F1 Title Fight

Lando Norris remains confident that McLaren can make the necessary improvements to its current Formula 1 car and challenge for the 2026 world championship.

Speaking to Sky Sports after announcing a contract extension with McLaren through the end of 2030, the British driver assessed the team’s prospects in the current championship campaign.

McLaren endured a difficult start to the season but has made a significant performance gain following the introduction of upgrades. Norris has since claimed consecutive victories at the Hungarian and Dutch Grands Prix, moving himself into title contention.

“Well, we’re trying to change that. That’s one thing I’m certain of,” Norris explained when asked if the car is in a position to fight for the championship.

“The team is working better than they’ve ever worked before. I think they’re working in a more efficient, harder way, even than the last couple of years. And that level was world championship-winning level. So, it’s not that I don’t think we can win it.

Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Eric Le Galliot

“I’m confident we have a lot of what we need in place. It’s just certain areas on the car that we need to improve. And I believe we can. It’s just a race against time, as always, within Formula 1. But we proved over the last few weekends that we can still win races, and we have very good momentum.

“I always want that little bit more, and I want to be confident that we can improve the car enough to easily say, ‘Yeah, we can fight for this world championship.’

“So, we can easily fight as a team. We just need to improve some things with the car, and I’m still confident we can do that.”

McLaren currently sits third in the constructors’ championship with 263 points, 162 points behind leaders Mercedes. Norris is fourth in the drivers’ standings with 159 points, 83 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

Source: www.motorsport.com

08/30/2026
F1 Icon Jack Doohan on Why He Values Childhood Neighbor and Seven-Time Champion Michael Schumacher

Not many people can say they grew up next door to a seven-time Formula 1 World Champion. Haas reserve driver Jack Doohan can. Michael Schumacher was a close friend of Doohan’s father, five-time motorcycle World Champion Mick Doohan, and gave the young Jack his first go-kart—an early gift that helped launch his motorsport career.

In the latest edition of F1 Icons, Doohan explains why Schumacher remains his Formula 1 idol and why his admiration extends far beyond the German driver’s records and championships.

My father and Michael Schumacher were very close friends. After 1994 they both won their first world championships and somehow were neighbours – one winning on two wheels and one on four wheels. The relationship started there and all my very early years were crossed over with Michael.

I would spend time around the house so, on four wheels, Michael has never been out of the equation for being my idol. I also received my first go-kart from him – for me and my sister – and that was really the start to getting where I am now.

Even if we don’t touch further on what he’s done in the sport, or how successful his F1 story is, I’m incredibly grateful for having such a close relationship with him.

The magnitude of him as an athlete definitely didn’t hit early on. I was a three, five, seven-year-old kid coming home from school and he was just with my father – whatever it might be. When these people are close to you, they’re just another good human like we all are. That’s the basis that gets lost sometimes in the F1 paddock.

At the end of the day, drivers are just normal people. I always say that – apart from being a performer, which essentially we are right? Athlete performers, no different to the circus!

You’re just another Joe Blow. You’ve got the same routine, you wake up, you have your coffee, you do your stuff, you go to work and you come back home.

I always wanted to stick so true to those values of being no different to anyone else no matter where on the schedule you are in life. With Michael, I was sort of embedded in that and I really wanted to carry those values in myself.

On track he carried himself with confidence. Obviously, he had good people around him, but he had the right amount of aggressiveness. His calculated tolerance was very assertive and the way he placed the car on track, what he would do with it on track, was extremely strong.

He was always there, you know? Even when things weren’t flowing – whether it be gearbox issues or failures – and he was very, very passionate on and off the track from what I’ve heard from my father.

So, the values are very similar. Especially correlating that between other drivers that my father knew around that time compared to Michael, and hearing the lengths and extent that he worked away from the track, it’s clear to see why he was as successful as he was.

The standouts were being physically fit and being mentally fit. Both him and my dad, instead of getting two hours of work done and saying, ‘I did my deed’ they were consistently going tail for tail and pushing one another. They weren’t just doing what was needed and then moving on.

It’s difficult to put his legacy into words, right? And it’s going to vary from person to person.

It really comes down to statistics. You can be the most successful Formula 1 driver of all time because in the 1960s, you might have jumped in for one race and won. On a spreadsheet they might have a 100% success rate but are you better than Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher or Sebastian Vettel?

That’s an argument to be said because there will be different perspectives on statistics. Arguing what’s going to be right or wrong really varies from person to person.

For me, regardless of winning seven World Championships over two different decades – with different machinery and different types of vehicles – it’s incredibly inspiring to keep so strong for so long. And then to rejoin in a different time again with a new team fresh off the bat.

There are multiple aspects to praise him, but for me there is so much more beyond his performances inside the car that make Michael Schumacher my F1 idol.

08/30/2026