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Tag: Italian GP

  • Pierre Gasly Beats George Russell Twice in One Afternoon to Claim Monza Pole After Chess.com

    Pierre Gasly Beats George Russell Twice in One Afternoon to Claim Monza Pole After Chess.com

    Pierre Gasly Claims Shock Maiden Pole at Monza, Beating George Russell After Pre-Session Chess Match

    Pierre Gasly delivered one of the most stunning moments of the Formula 1 season on Saturday at Monza, securing a shock pole position at the very circuit where he claimed his sole grand prix victory back in 2020. The French driver edged out pre-session favorite George Russell by a mere 0.060 seconds in the closing minutes of qualifying, earning the first pole position of his nine-year F1 career.

    Chess Rivalry Adds Narrative Twist to Qualifying Battle

    The on-track duel carried an intriguing subplot: the pair had just finished an online chess game minutes before the session began. Russell revealed the lighthearted rivalry during the post-qualifying press conference.

    “Massive congrats to Pierre because that’s an incredible performance,” Russell said at the post-qualifying press conference. “We were actually finishing a game of chess about 15 minutes before qualifying and he beat me there, and I thought, ‘Well, I think I’ll beat you in qualifying,’ and here we are, he’s ahead of me again.



    “So, yeah, huge congrats to him. Of course, I was disappointed not to get the pole position.”

    Drivers Discover Shared Chess Obsession

    Gasly explained that the two drivers only discovered their mutual passion for chess during Friday’s drivers’ briefing. They quickly exchanged profiles on Chess.com and played multiple games leading up to qualifying.

    “Well, I mean, since the [drivers’] briefing last night, I figured out that he’s obsessed with chess,” Gasly said. “I am obsessed with chess. We have a few in the paddock, a few drivers, to be obsessed with it. So, we’ve just exchanged our IDs on Chess.com and we’ve had a little game going on, one yesterday, another one that carried on to today.”

    Gasly entered qualifying with confidence boosted by his chess performance, though his performance coach Ben Thorne offered a prescient warning.

    “And I must say, before the quali, I felt pretty confident because I was picking piece after piece. And, yeah, again, for the fun story, Ben [Thorne, performance coach] told me, ‘Well, you’re getting George here, but he’s going to get you in a few minutes.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, fuck off.’



    “Turned out that, yeah, it worked out well. So, yeah, it’s been fun. I think we are very competitive and, whether it’s on the track or off the track, we do need to find our little battles everywhere we can.”

    Chess Growing Popularity in F1 Paddock

    The chess rivalry between Gasly and Russell reflects a broader trend in the Formula 1 paddock. Ferrari teammates Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are known to regularly play against each other, while Carlos Sainz is also recognized as a keen player.

    Pierre Gasly with his performance coach Ben Thorne. Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

    Gasly’s pole position at Monza marks a significant career milestone and sets up a fascinating Italian Grand Prix, with the Alpine driver starting from the front of the grid at a circuit that holds special memories from his 2020 victory with AlphaTauri.

  • Monaco GP Appeal Ruling Fails to Motivate Pierre Gasly for Monza F1 Pole Bid

    Monaco GP Appeal Ruling Fails to Motivate Pierre Gasly for Monza F1 Pole Bid

    Pierre Gasly says he could have done without the FIA’s International Court of Appeal decision to strip him of his Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix podium, especially after securing a shock maiden pole position at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.

    ICA Overturns Monaco Stewards’ Decision

    The ICA overruled the Monaco stewards’ call to overturn Gasly’s pit-lane speeding penalties from the Monaco race after the pit-lane measurements were found to be inaccurate. After crossing the finish line in third, being demoted to seventh and then recovering third, the Alpine driver has eventually been classified seventh in the final classification of the race.

    Gasly Reacts to ICA Ruling

    A little over 24 hours later, Gasly took a shock maiden F1 pole at the Italian Grand Prix, outpacing Mercedes’ George Russell by 0.060s. Asked if the ICA’s decision was providing “a bit of extra motivation,” the Frenchman was circumspect.

    “I don’t think I can say much about this and all I can say is it’s not a nice situation, not ideal,” the Frenchman replied. “Obviously, I try to use everything I can into something positive and extra motivation, but I think I could have dealt without it this weekend. Yeah, that’s all I’ll say.”

    Qualifying Masterclass After Tough Practice

    After missing Free Practice 1 for Alpine reserve driver Paul Aron to fulfil rookie requirements, Gasly was just 14th in FP2 and ninth in FP3, but leapt forward in qualifying with first in Q1, fourth in Q2 and the fastest time in Q3 – a performance he attributes to “perfect execution” from the team.

    “We knew that there was a bit more on the table in the practice sessions,” Gasly commented, “and then I think it was a very good execution from the team, always putting me in a great position on track, managing the gap as best we could, really.”

    “My last lap, managed to target slightly over 2.5 seconds behind Lewis [Hamilton] when he was going to be fast and sort of drag me with him. So, I think it was perfect execution.”

    “The car balance is probably one of the best I’ve had so far this year, really. Again, gave me the confidence to attack all these corners and sliding around and playing around with the car, and we managed to make it work in that last run when everything mattered.”

    Race Outlook: Front-Runners Behind, Antonelli Starts 20th

    Winning will be a tall order for Gasly, with most frontrunners right behind him on the grid – except championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who will start from 20th after exceeding his power unit allowance.

    “It’s going to be obviously great. I’m in the best position, right?” Gasly insisted. “I’m starting first, got no one ahead of me. I just got to focus on my driving and, you know, I know what it looks like having no one around this track, so that’s a good advantage and probably the best place to do it.”

    Six years ago, a fortunately timed safety car intervention vaulted Gasly to the front of the pack; he led for the last 26 laps, withstanding Carlos Sainz’s pressure on his way to a maiden – and so far only – victory.

    “But then, yeah, it’s going to be a long race,” he pondered.

    “I actually felt quite good. Obviously not to the pace of these guys around us, but we seem to have picked up more pace from yesterday to today. So, we’ll obviously give our best shot and see what we can get out of it. But, yeah, I’m excited.”

  • F1 Italian GP: Sunday Schedule, Weather Forecast & How to Watch

    F1 Italian GP: Sunday Schedule, Weather Forecast & How to Watch

    Gasly Claims Stunning Pole for Alpine at 2026 Italian Grand Prix

    Formula 1 arrives at Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix with Pierre Gasly on pole position after a remarkable qualifying performance for Alpine at Monza. The French driver edged out George Russell by a mere 0.060 seconds to secure his first career pole position, capitalizing on a strategic tow from Lewis Hamilton during the final Q3 runs.

    Grid Penalties Reshape Starting Order

    The provisional grid faces significant changes due to penalties. Oscar Piastri qualified third for McLaren but will drop three places after impeding Liam Lawson, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli’s seventh-place result at his home race becomes largely academic due to an engine penalty that will relegate him to the back of the field. Lando Norris lines up eighth after missing the benefit of a slipstream from teammate Piastri in the closing stages of qualifying.

    Race Day Factors: Speed, Slipstreams and Heat

    Sunday’s 53-lap contest at the Temple of Speed promises to be shaped by a combination of straight-line velocity, slipstream tactics, energy management, and extreme temperatures. Monza’s long straights and heavy braking zones place a premium on aerodynamic efficiency and power unit performance, while the forecast heat adds another layer of complexity to tyre degradation and brake cooling strategies.

    Italian Grand Prix Sunday Schedule

    The 2026 Italian Grand Prix starts at 3:00 PM CEST on Sunday, September 6. International viewers can tune in at the following times:

    • United Kingdom: 2:00 PM BST
    • US Eastern Time: 9:00 AM ET

    How to Watch the 2026 Italian GP

    Broadcast arrangements vary by region for the 2026 season:

    • United States: Apple TV serves as the primary broadcast partner, with all sessions available on the platform. F1 TV remains the global subscription streaming option.
    • United Kingdom: Sky Sports holds exclusive live rights throughout 2026, with streaming via Sky Go and NOW. Free-to-air highlights air on Channel 4.

    Motorsport.com will provide live text coverage and updates throughout the race weekend.

    Weekend Timetable Recap

    All times local to Monza (CEST):

    • Friday, September 4 — Free Practice 1: 12:30 PM
    • Friday, September 4 — Free Practice 2: 4:00 PM
    • Saturday, September 5 — Free Practice 3: 12:30 PM
    • Saturday, September 5 — Qualifying: 4:00 PM
    • Sunday, September 6 — Grand Prix: 3:00 PM

    Sunday Weather Forecast

    Monza is set for hot, mostly sunny conditions on race day. Temperatures are expected to reach approximately 30°C by midday, making tyre life management, brake temperature control, and engine cooling critical performance differentiators. While a passing shower cannot be entirely ruled out, the primary weather influence will be heat rather than precipitation.

    Circuit Profile: Monza

    Circuit: Monza
    Location: Monza, Italy
    Event: Italian Grand Prix
    Circuit Type: Permanent road course

    Known as Formula 1’s Temple of Speed, Monza features long straights, demanding braking zones, and low-downforce requirements that prioritize efficiency, power, and driver confidence under heavy deceleration.

    Driver Changes for the Weekend

    Isack Hadjar is sidelined by injury for the Italian GP. Liam Lawson replaces him at Red Bull, with Yuki Tsunoda stepping up to Racing Bulls for the event.

  • Red Bull Confirms Key Aston Martin Engineer as Gianpiero Lambiase Replacement

    Red Bull Confirms Key Aston Martin Engineer as Gianpiero Lambiase Replacement

    Red Bull hires Aston Martin engineer Tom McCullough as head of racing

    Red Bull has confirmed the appointment of long-time Aston Martin engineer Tom McCullough as its new head of racing, replacing McLaren-bound Gianpiero Lambiase.

    Lambiase is due to join McLaren in 2028 as its chief racing officer, reporting to team principal Andrea Stella. He currently combines his role as Max Verstappen’s race engineer with the broader “head of racing” position at Red Bull.

    Verstappen’s former performance engineer, Tom Hart, has already decided against moving to Williams and will instead take over as Verstappen’s race engineer from 2027. Red Bull has now also secured Lambiase’s successor in McCullough, who will join the Milton Keynes team at the beginning of 2027.

    “We’re delighted to welcome Tom to the team at the beginning of 2027 and look forward to the wealth of experience and expertise he will bring to the role,” the team said in a statement.

    Gianpiero Lambiase is set to depart Red Bull by 2028 at the latest
    Gianpiero Lambiase is set to depart Red Bull by 2028 at the latest. Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images

    Tom McCullough’s Formula 1 career

    McCullough was a long-serving member of Aston Martin through its Force India and Racing Point eras. He spent four seasons as chief race engineer before becoming the team’s performance director, a position he held until the end of the 2024 season.

    Following a restructuring at Aston Martin in early 2025, former team principal Mike Krack assumed McCullough’s responsibilities. McCullough subsequently moved to a senior leadership role working on non-Formula 1 projects at Aston Martin Performance Technologies, a position he is now set to leave.

    The 50-year-old began his career with chassis manufacturer Reynard and later held roles at Sauber and Williams.

  • Pirelli Unveils Unique Trophies for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix

    Pirelli Unveils Unique Trophies for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix

    Pirelli has unveiled the trophies for this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, continuing its multi-year collaboration with the Pirelli HangarBicocca Museum of Contemporary Art, now entering its sixth year.

    Designed by Italian artist duo Vedovamazzei, comprising Stella Scala and Simeone Crispino, the trophies are titled “FRAGILE”. They were created using 3D-printed nylon powder and are shaped to resemble an unstable stack of small bowls and cups.

    The artists said the design draws inspiration from the tradition of passing a celebratory glass from one person to another.

    Fans react to Pirelli’s unusual Italian GP trophies

    The unconventional design has prompted a mixed reaction among fans. “I get what they are trying to do but it doesn’t seem appropriate for a trophy. Seems like something that might belong in a modern art museum,” one fan commented on Reddit.

    “Love em. Pretty creative. I know I’m in the minority but I like those artful trophies as long as they still resemble trophies in essence. And these do, they look great,” another fan wrote. A third added: “As a designer, I love them! But maybe cause I’m a designer.”

    Others joked that the fragile-looking trophies could be at risk around Lando Norris, recalling the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix. During the podium celebrations, the McLaren driver accidentally knocked Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s winner’s trophy over, breaking it.

    “I hope Lando wins, but please keep him away from these lol,” one fan wrote. Another commented: “That’s the most Lando-breakable trophy yet… they better be praying that he doesn’t make the podium.”

    Further reactions included: “Better make spares in case Lando gets on the podium,” and “Lando will break at least one.”

    The Italian Grand Prix will be held at Monza from 4-6 September. Home driver Kimi Antonelli enters the weekend 59 points clear of his Mercedes team-mate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who are level on points.

  • McLaren to Run Rotating F1 Rear Wing in Italy, Calls It an H-Wing

    McLaren to Run Rotating F1 Rear Wing in Italy, Calls It an H-Wing

    McLaren will debut its H-Wing, the team’s version of a rotating rear wing, at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

    The Formula 1 team has been developing its own interpretation of the upside-down rear wing after Ferrari introduced the concept during winter testing. The device rotates 180 degrees between cornering mode and straight-line mode, helping reduce drag on high-speed sections.

    McLaren commits H-Wing to both cars at Monza

    McLaren first brought a prototype to the Austrian Grand Prix but decided not to test it in free practice after an issue arose in the garage. The Woking-based team later ran a revised version during FP1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix, with the intention of introducing it at a low-drag, high-speed circuit.

    Monza provides the first such opportunity, and McLaren has committed to running the H-Wing on both cars.

    The name is not a reference to Star Wars. Instead, it comes from the letter H in the Etihad logo displayed on the rear wing of the MCL40. The H runs along the centreline, where the H-Wing’s straight-mode actuator is positioned.

    The naming convention follows the tradition of McLaren’s famed F-duct from 2010, which took its name from the F in Vodafone’s logo near the nose of the car, where the duct was installed.

    McLaren introduces new low-drag rear wing

    “This weekend, we have brought what we believe is needed to be competitive, including a new low-drag rear wing specification, including the first use of our H-Wing, alongside some small aerodynamic and low-drag options that we will evaluate before deciding the final specification for qualifying,” said McLaren’s technical director Neil Houldey.

    “Overall, we know there is still more performance to unlock from the MCL40, both through maximising the package we already have and through further upgrades planned for the races ahead.”

    McLaren will also run a tweaked livery at Monza and next week’s Spanish Grand Prix to promote its partnership with cryptocurrency company OKX.

  • Haas Updates Car for Monza as Oliver Bearman Remains “sceptical” About VF-26 Performance

    Haas Updates Car for Monza as Oliver Bearman Remains “sceptical” About VF-26 Performance

    Haas has admitted that its rivals have overtaken and out-developed the team during the 2026 Formula 1 season, despite a strong start. Team principal Ayao Komatsu and driver Oliver Bearman remain confident that Haas can close the gap “soon”.

    Haas traditionally begins each season strongly, and it maintained that trend in 2026 by scoring points in the opening three races. That run included a fifth-place finish for Bearman at the Chinese Grand Prix.

    However, the team has since been caught by its rivals as it struggles with an inconsistent car and a slower development rate than midfield competitors Alpine and Racing Bulls.

    “2025 was really the first year for us, or one of very few years, where we seemed to have good pace throughout the year,” Bearman explained ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix. “We actually improved our relative performance as the year went on.

    “Now, 2026 is more of what we’ve seen from Haas in the past, of starting incredibly strong with a really quick car as a base, but not being able to improve like the others have.

    “Quite frankly, we’ve been overtaken right now. We are the 10th-best team. It really hurts, myself and all the others. We were working really hard to make that not be the case, but that’s the reality of where we are right now.”

    Haas has not scored points since the Monaco Grand Prix in June, when Esteban Ocon finished ninth. Since then, inconsistency has limited the team’s ability to extract the maximum performance from its 2026 car.

    Haas will not abandon its 2026 Formula 1 car

    Komatsu remains hopeful that Haas can find solutions to the problems affecting its car. The team principal said the organisation has demonstrated over the past two seasons that it has the technical capability to develop its machinery.

    “So, the last two years, I think we proved to ourselves and the outside world that we can develop the car. We’ve got the people, the technical department is functioning,” Komatsu said ahead of the Zandvoort race.

    “For us to have any remote chance of keeping up with the others, because of the size of our team, everything has to be perfect. But that’s just not realistic in anyone’s life. And the Montreal upgrade wasn’t perfect. Some bits worked, some bits made the car faster, but some bits wasn’t perfect. Actually, [it] made the drivability more difficult as well.

    “So, we’re learning from those lessons. And what’s the objective for the rest of the season? For me, it’s the same as the last two years. We’ve got to prove to ourselves that we can identify the key issues, we can solve the issues and then put it on the car to move forward.”

    Haas’s struggles have prompted questions about when the team will stop developing its 2026 challenger and switch its resources to next year’s car. Komatsu said that is not an option, insisting that Haas must unlock the performance of the VF-26. He believes that process will also benefit the team over the longer term.

    “If you say, OK, fine, ‘26, we started well, but tail off, it’s the first year of regulation. Fine, let’s move on, start ’27. We haven’t solved the fundamental issue. If we do that, it doesn’t give confidence to people,” the Japanese engineer explained.

    “They’ve got to believe in themselves. One of the main driving factors in the way they’re tackling now, together as a team, is the confidence and togetherness they’ve gained from the last two years. That’s why we are developing out of it.”

    Haas confirms Monza upgrades for the Italian Grand Prix

    Haas will bring new parts for the VF-26 to Monza this weekend for the Italian Grand Prix as it attempts to develop its way out of its current performance problems.

    “This weekend, we’re bringing another upgrade package to the car,” Komatsu explained in a statement shared by the team. “So again, it’s critical we maximise our practice time, evaluate our data comprehensively, and strive to keep pushing in the midfield.”

    Bearman cautioned, however, that new parts do not always result in an immediate improvement on track. He said Haas has seen significant differences in downforce from one race to another, meaning that improving the car’s consistency could be as valuable as introducing an upgrade.

    “We have new parts coming,” the Briton said. “But we’re very sceptical in some ways. We have discrepancies in a race like Budapest. We have discrepancies of downforce equivalent to the size of an upgrade. If I have the car that I had in Spa, here [in Zandvoort], it’s like putting an upgrade on the car.

    “An upgrade, I don’t know how much it costs, but many millions. If we can figure out how to get our car to work, it’s for free. If we get the upgrade but it doesn’t perform, then it’s like not getting it. There’s many factors at play, it’s a big challenge.”

    Looking ahead to the Italian Grand Prix, Bearman believes Haas can move up to ninth in the Formula 1 constructors’ order. Aston Martin has recently introduced a major overhaul of its AMR26 and moved away from the back of the field, but Bearman expects Haas to hold an advantage at Monza because of the circuit’s power-sensitive layout.

    “We expect to beat [Aston Martin] in Monza, where it’s a power track,” Bearman said. “But in Hungary, they were faster than us, or at least more consistent. Those are the facts in terms of that. That’s where we are.

    “It really hurts to be sitting here saying that, but that’s the case.”

  • Rivals Copying Ferrari’s F1 Aero Designs Is “a good reward” for Maranello

    Rivals Copying Ferrari’s F1 Aero Designs Is “a good reward” for Maranello

    Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur believes rival Formula 1 teams copying the SF-26’s innovative aerodynamic concepts is a “good reward” for the Maranello-based team.

    Ferrari entered the 2026 regulations cycle with a striking car featuring several notable areas of technical innovation. At winter testing in Bahrain, the team added a winglet to the structure behind the exhaust. Internally known as Flick Tail Mode (FTM), the device generates additional rear downforce at the cost of a small increase in drag.

    Ferrari introduced another concept the following day: a rotating wing nicknamed the Macarena wing, which flips 180 degrees between cornering and straight-line configurations.

    Ferrari’s exhaust wing copied by rivals

    The exhaust wing has been widely copied by Ferrari’s rivals, although the Scuderia’s design has proved difficult to fully reverse engineer because Ferrari developed parts of the rear of the SF-26 around the concept. The FIA has since banned the exhaust device for 2027 by closing the relevant loophole in the technical regulations, preventing similar designs from becoming increasingly extreme.

    Red Bull has also adopted the upside-down wing, while McLaren has tested its own version. McLaren began work on the project after seeing Ferrari’s design during testing, whereas Red Bull independently pursued a different concept.

    “We were disappointed not to pick that up as quickly as Ferrari did and then Red Bull,” said McLaren technical director Neil Houldey. “As soon as we saw it, we realised there was an opportunity there.”

    Speaking exclusively to Motorsport.com, Vasseur said Ferrari’s aerodynamicists and designers had received a boost from leading the development race. He has encouraged the team to embrace innovation and take greater risks.

    Asked whether rivals copying Ferrari’s exhaust wing and rear wing represented a compliment to Maranello, Vasseur replied: “I’m not there to have compliments. I’m there because I want to win. The best compliment for me is to go on the podium.

    “But yes, it’s true that for the guys in the team, to see Red Bull coming with the wing, and I think probably Red Bull started before seeing our wings, but the others starting to copy [it], or even the device on the exhaust, for the guys in the team who had the idea it’s a good reward.”

    Ferrari’s SF-26 emerges as a leading F1 chassis

    Despite Ferrari’s well-documented power unit weakness, the SF-26 can arguably be regarded as the strongest chassis in Formula 1. After a series of upgrades, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have both won a grand prix, at Silverstone and Barcelona respectively, while Ferrari sits second in the championship standings.

    The SF-26 was the first Ferrari designed under technical director Loic Serra. He was signed in 2023 but joined the team from Mercedes only at the end of 2024 after an extended gardening leave period.

    Vasseur said Serra’s delayed arrival and the time required to develop the 2026 car illustrated why it takes so long to transform an F1 team.

    “The frustration that you can have sometimes in F1 is that on the technical side the process is mega long, because you have a lot of inertia,” he explained.

    “For example, we started to discuss [with Loic] mid ’23 and he joined the team at the end of 2024. Then he’s focused on the car of ’26, and he’s still recruiting people to help him. It means that this process is about years, when on the other hand we want to get results next week.

    “I’m very, very pleased with the choices that we made, with the set-up that we have, and the collaboration that we have in the team. The team is strong. The collaboration is mega strong.”

  • Toto Wolff Says Kimi Antonelli’s 2026 F1 Progress Is One of the Biggest Surprises of His Career

    Toto Wolff Says Kimi Antonelli’s 2026 F1 Progress Is One of the Biggest Surprises of His Career

    When Toto Wolff met with the Dutch press at Zandvoort a year ago, Kimi Antonelli was enduring the difficult stretch that defined much of his European Formula 1 rookie season. The young Italian had shown flashes of brilliance in Miami and Canada, but those performances were followed by several challenging race weekends.

    At the time, Wolff described Antonelli’s first season in straightforward terms:

    “Sometimes there are brilliant moments that leave our mouths open, and sometimes we are pulling our hair out. But that is all in line with expectations.”

    Many paddock observers expected Antonelli’s 2026 campaign to follow a similar pattern. Instead, the Mercedes driver has combined his natural speed with a major improvement in consistency.

    Antonelli has finished on the podium at every grand prix so far except Barcelona and Silverstone. He also leads the Formula 1 championship by 59 points over Mercedes team-mate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.

    Asked by Motorsport.com whether Antonelli’s progress ranked among the biggest surprises of his long career, Wolff gave a clear answer.

    “Definitely,” he said.

    However, Wolff said Hamilton and Max Verstappen had already warned him last year that Antonelli possessed the potential to make such a breakthrough.

    “I think the great ones, they know,” Wolff explained. “You say it needs one to know one. And I think that when you listen to Lewis or to Max last year, they already said that he has the potential.
    “And that’s what we felt in the team too, looking at his previous records in karting and the junior formulas.
    “Nevertheless, to come out after the winter and just nailing it pretty much every single race is one of the big surprises in my professional racing career.”

    From ‘parachuted into F1’ to no longer being a ‘deer in the headlights’

    Wolff believes Antonelli’s rapid development is the result of more than technical factors. Although the 2026 car may suit his driving style better than the previous ground-effect machinery, Wolff also pointed to the driver’s personal development and ability to process information.

    “When I analyse it and ask myself what are the reasons that he had such a good reputation in the junior formulas and karting, I think it’s his processing power.
    “I think he just needed the winter to process it. Why was it good? Why was it bad? What do I need to do?”

    Wolff also credited the greater stability within Mercedes. Antonelli entered the new season in a familiar environment, with less uncertainty surrounding the travel, accommodation, team procedures and circuits.

    “And then to come into an environment that he already knew. He knew that flying to Melbourne would look that way. He knew the hotel. He knew the set-up. He comes to the track, and everything is as last year.
    “And that means that it just comes down to driving and preparation, rather than being a deer in front of the headlights, like in 2025, thinking what’s happening? But yeah, it’s still one of the very nice surprises.”

    The same factors help explain Antonelli’s inconsistent 2025 rookie season, Wolff said. The combination of established technical regulations, limited experience and intense external pressure created a difficult introduction to Formula 1.

    “What happened to Kimi last year is just what we predicted,” Wolff added.
    “You’re being parachuted into Formula 1. He was 18 under a set of regulations that was very mature. Most of the drivers were racing those cars for a long time and Kimi didn’t know some of the circuits.
    “And then there was this avalanche of media requests and pressure. Suddenly everyone who was part of your journey felt they needed to be with you or close to you. The demands were enormous.”

    Kimi Antonelli’s 2025 struggles were “what we predicted”, the Mercedes boss said.

    The 54-year-old Austrian said he faced widespread criticism for placing Antonelli in a Mercedes seat so early in his career. Wolff compared the decision with Helmut Marko’s choice to give Max Verstappen an early Formula 1 opportunity at Red Bull, saying both men had seen enough talent to justify taking the risk.

    “Everyone and their dog said to me that it was too early, that I shouldn’t have put him into Mercedes and that I should have done a smaller team.
    “Spa was probably one of the worst moments, but for me, I stood strong with him because I felt that it was exactly the year we needed,” Wolff said.
    “We’re only making the assessment after the second year. And the way he’s come out of the blocks this year is a surprise to everyone, and yes, to me as well.”

    Beyond Antonelli’s speed and performance on track, Wolff said the driver’s enthusiasm is now having a positive effect across the Mercedes team.

    “He is authentic, very open-minded, not political at all. He completely lacks that negative kind of thing. For him, it’s just all about performance on the track.
    “And he’s made all the English mechanics hug each other now, which is also new for us!”

  • How Ferrari Can “push until the end” With F1 2026 Upgrades

    How Ferrari Can “push until the end” With F1 2026 Upgrades

    Ferrari will continue developing its 2026 Formula 1 car until the end of the season, team principal Fred Vasseur has confirmed, dismissing suggestions that cost-cap restrictions could force the team to reduce its upgrade rate.

    The team has introduced a steady stream of incremental updates for its SF-26, helping Ferrari remain second in the constructors’ championship and enabling both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to win a grand prix this season.

    Ferrari’s development programme will continue at its home race in Monza this weekend. The team is expected to bring smaller aerodynamic improvements, along with its second engine update following the latest ADUO ranking.

    Ferrari maintains its 2026 F1 upgrade plan

    The performance gap between teams has narrowed significantly, particularly at circuits where the 2026 power units have less influence. Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari were separated by just one tenth of a second in sprint qualifying at Zandvoort, while three tenths has regularly been the difference between pole position and the third row of the grid.

    Teams that can continue adding performance late in the season therefore retain an opportunity to make substantial progress in the championship. However, they must balance wind-tunnel development with cost-cap restrictions and the resources needed for the 2027 car project.

    Speaking exclusively to Motorsport.com, Ferrari chief Vasseur said the Scuderia had no concerns about the cost cap and would continue its aggressive development programme.

    “The strategy is that we will continue to push until the end,” Vasseur said. “We have a plan. We have no issue with the cost cap, we are following the plan and will continue like this.

    “It’s true that you have different strategies. You have McLaren coming each three or four races with a big package on the car, and we are more trying to bring upgrades each race but much smaller. But at the end, in terms of cost, it’s the same.

    “What is challenging, probably, is that we are still developing with 11 races to go, and I think a crash like Max [Verstappen] in Zandvoort is huge in terms of cost cap [for Red Bull]. It’s difficult to anticipate the number of crashes that you could have until the end of the season.”

    Ferrari explains its frequent smaller upgrades

    Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull have all introduced significant updates this season, while Mercedes has fallen behind in development. Mercedes’ next major package is scheduled for October’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, with rival teams having closed the gap in recent weeks and months.

    Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said the team “hasn’t got the money to put developments on the car” beyond its current plans. However, he also suggested Ferrari and other rivals could eventually have to slow their development after bringing so many new parts to the track.

    Vasseur declined to assess Mercedes’ strategy without a full understanding of its approach. He did, however, explain how Ferrari has efficiently delivered such a high number of upgrades.

    “I don’t want to speak about Mercedes because I don’t understand, but with McLaren it’s a bit linked to how you develop in the wind tunnel and the capacity of production,” the Frenchman said. “We found our best approach by almost bringing upgrades each race. One week it’s mechanical, one week it’s aero, and we are continuing like this. It’s fitting with our capacity of production, with our wind tunnel capacity, and it’s going well.

    “Now, if McLaren want to do things differently, it’s because they have good reasons to do it. The set-up of the teams is different; the configuration is different. But at the end of the day, over a season we are almost following each other in terms of development.”