Daily News 19

Tag: Max Verstappen

  • Winners and Losers from F1’s Memorable Italian Grand Prix

    Winners and Losers from F1’s Memorable Italian Grand Prix

    Antonelli Triumphs at Monza as Ferrari Stumbles in Front of Record Crowd

    Whether you embrace Formula 1’s 2026 regulations and the resulting yo-yo racing dynamic or not, the Italian Grand Prix delivered no shortage of talking points. In a stunning reversal of expectations, championship favorite Kimi Antonelli produced a comeback drive for the ages — earning the adulation of the Ferrari tifosi — while the Scuderia itself faltered badly on home soil.

    Antonelli Claims Historic Monza Victory

    Sunday unfolded as a day of conflicting emotions for the passionate Italian supporters. They arrived in record numbers, setting a new attendance benchmark at the Temple of Speed to cheer on Ferrari, only to witness their national team deliver a deeply disappointing performance.

    Any tears shed after Charles Leclerc’s violent accident on lap 2 quickly turned to joy and pride when Antonelli secured a maiden Italian Grand Prix victory — the first by an Italian driver at the country’s home race since 1966. Post-race broadcasts captured a telling image: scarlet-clad Ferrari fans holding an Italian flag adorned with Antonelli’s name, signaling a swift pivot from revering their national institution to celebrating a new homegrown hero.

    Antonelli’s masterclass earned him the ultimate reward — a hero’s welcome on Monza’s historic home straight as he stood atop the most glorious podium in Formula 1. In a twist on the Michael Schumacher era, the German and Italian national anthems played in reverse order. With the Monza box checked, the world championship surely beckons next.

    Russell Concedes Psychological Blow

    Antonelli’s comeback was as spectacular for him as it was humbling for George Russell, who effectively waved the white flag when championship odds were mentioned after the race. Russell drove a near-flawless weekend; were it not for Max Verstappen’s qualifying antics, the Mercedes driver would have started from pole position. The stark reality, however, is that he appears to have met his match in his younger teammate — and merely matching Antonelli may no longer suffice.

    “Kimi is deserving to be in control of it,” Russell said. “I’m not even thinking about a fight or a comeback or anything. It’s going to be exceptionally challenging to overcome that gap, so I’m just sort of accepting that is what it is.”

    Much can change across the remaining ten races, but if Antonelli wasn’t already in cruise control, Monza delivered a decisive psychological hammer blow.

    Verstappen Salvages Podium Against Odds

    Leave it to Max Verstappen to rescue a podium from a race he had little right to contend, battling with one hand tied behind his back against the superior energy deployment of the Mercedes-powered cars. How Verstappen sustained a fight with Russell for as long as he did remains something of a mystery.

    Securing third place — ahead of both McLarens and despite clear issues with the RB22’s rear axle — represented the best possible damage limitation. For a driver who has openly criticized the battery-led yo-yo racing format, a part of him must have relented the on-track jousting.

    Ferrari’s Home Race Nightmare

    Ferrari arrived at its home round armed with a fresh aerodynamic package designed for Monza’s high-speed demands, plus a second permitted power unit upgrade believed to have reduced its horsepower deficit by 30–40%. Friday practice offered encouragement, but when the dials were turned to maximum, the gains proved insufficient — though a two-tenths qualifying gap on a power-hungry circuit suggested the progress was genuine.

    For a team targeting improved race-weekend execution, the result was another bruising episode with Leclerc at the center. After being challenged by teammate Lewis Hamilton on the inside of Turn 1 at the start — which became the outside for Turn 2 — Leclerc drifted toward the exit, forcing Hamilton off track. Leclerc insisted he tried to “make Turn 2 as tight as I possibly could,” yet not tightly enough to leave Hamilton racing room, dropping the Briton to ninth. Whether a simple racing incident or evidence of Leclerc racing his teammate harder than anyone else remains a question only he can answer. His afternoon ended abruptly moments later when he lost control at Parabolica and slammed hard into the barriers on lap 2.

    Ferrari was never likely to defeat the Mercedes-powered cars on home turf — Hamilton himself was powerless to match the frontrunners — but the tifosi surely expected better than a sixth-place finish and a DNF.

    Alpine Leads Midfield Despite Gasly’s Fade

    Following a sensational maiden pole on Saturday, Pierre Gasly could not maintain the pace on Sunday despite a spirited defense against Russell at the start. Dropping from first to seventh appears underwhelming in isolation, yet Alpine topped the midfield — a result the team would have gladly accepted pre-weekend.

    Franco Colapinto was left in tears after a bizarre error at the first Lesmo cost him a chance to challenge Gasly, though eighth place was likely his realistic ceiling. Regardless, Alpine departs Monza with a significant morale boost as it fights to reclaim fifth place in the constructors’ standings amid pressure from Racing Bulls.

    Aston Martin–Honda Alliance Exposed at Monza

    Aston Martin may have made significant strides in Hungary, but Honda’s in-season development has been modest at best, leaving the Silverstone-based squad thoroughly exposed at Monza — even falling behind Cadillac. Neither Fernando Alonso nor Lance Stroll reached the checkered flag: Alonso retired with suspected car damage, while Stroll succumbed to a hydraulic failure. For this partnership, 2027 cannot arrive soon enough.

  • Max Verstappen: Red Bull Felt Like a “turtle” Against Mercedes at Monza

    Max Verstappen: Red Bull Felt Like a “turtle” Against Mercedes at Monza

    Max Verstappen secured a hard-fought third place at the Italian Grand Prix, reaching the iconic Monza podium a day after describing his Red Bull RB20 as fragile. Despite the strong result, the four-time world champion emphasized that the fundamental handling issues plaguing the car persisted throughout the race.

    Rear Axle Issues Continue to Hinder Performance

    Verstappen revealed that the rear-end instability he flagged on Saturday—referring to a phenomenon he calls “car degradation” where rear components deteriorate during a session—remained a significant factor on Sunday.

    “It was still there, nothing changed. It’s just not good. You struggle on the bumps, the kerbs, and especially in the low-speed,”

    the Dutchman said in the post-race press conference.

    “It’s still like the rear axle is just not very compliant. So, for sure, it was again not ideal today and costing us performance, but it is what it is.”

    Mercedes Power Unit Efficiency Proves Decisive

    Beyond the chassis issues, Verstappen identified a straight-line deficit caused by the Mercedes power unit’s superior energy deployment compared to the Red Bull Ford Powertrains unit. This disadvantage was amplified at Monza’s high-speed layout.

    “I think it was quite clear during the race that we just can’t keep up with the deployment of the Mercedes-powered cars, and that is, of course, very tough on a track like Monza,”

    he said.

    The power deficit forced Verstappen into aggressive defensive driving, particularly at the second chicane where he repeatedly re-passed rivals around the outside after losing positions through Curva Grande.

    “[I didn’t enjoy it] a lot when people just drive by you like you’re a turtle,”

    he said.

    “But, yeah, just send it back around the outside. The car is good on the brakes, so that helps. I had good confidence to attack the braking zones. Two times I managed to do that in Turn 2 and 4. That is enjoyable, but at the same time also frustrating. I just try to maximise everything that I can.”

    Overtake Mode Masks Deficit Temporarily

    Verstappen noted that the additional energy deployment available when running within one second of the car ahead allowed him to stay with the leading Mercedes cars longer than expected. However, once the gap exceeded that threshold, his challenge faded.

    “Of course, with the overtake mode it looked quite promising, but as soon as I got in the lead, it was very hard to defend. And that has been my problem a bit throughout the whole race,”

    he said.

    “Even when we had the VSC, we boxed, had better tyres, I’m overtaking cars, but as soon as they can hang in that overtake mode, it’s just too powerful for us to actually defend that, even on better tyres. So, it took me a while even to clear the McLarens.”

    Positive Turnaround After Difficult Zandvoort Weekend

    Despite the ongoing limitations, Verstappen framed the Monza podium as a significant recovery following a crash at his home race in Zandvoort and a difficult Friday practice session in Italy.

    “For us to be on the podium after a very difficult weekend in Zandvoort, where the car was not really to my liking, [is positive],”

    he concluded.

    “We managed to have a strong turnaround from Friday to Saturday and the car was definitely in a better window. But we still have a few bits and areas that we know we need to be better at, plus, the obvious deployment on the straights.”

  • Red Bull Hire Aston Martin Engineer Tom McCullough as Head of Racing

    Red Bull Hire Aston Martin Engineer Tom McCullough as Head of Racing

    Red Bull have appointed former Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullough as their head of racing from 2027.

    The 50-year-old Briton will replace Gianpiero Lambiase, who is set to join McLaren as chief racing officer by an unspecified date in 2028.

    Red Bull said they “looked forward to the wealth of experience and expertise he will bring to the role” when McCullough joins at the start of 2027.

    McCullough returns to a senior Formula 1 role

    McCullough is a highly respected figure in Formula 1. He spent more than a decade with the team now known as Aston Martin, working through its previous identities as Force India and Racing Point. Before joining the team, he held roles at Williams and Sauber.

    In January 2025, a restructure moved McCullough away from Aston Martin’s Formula 1 race team and into its performance technologies division.

    His new position at Red Bull will effectively oversee all aspects of the race team under team principal Laurent Mekies.

    It remains to be seen whether McCullough’s appointment will help Red Bull and McLaren negotiate an agreement allowing Lambiase to leave earlier than currently planned.

    Lambiase is widely known as Max Verstappen’s race engineer, as well as for the direct and unfiltered relationship between the pair during their team radio exchanges.

  • F1 Q&A: Piastri on Norris Deal, Antonelli’s Italian GP Penalty, Ferrari and Zandvoort

    F1 Q&A: Piastri on Norris Deal, Antonelli’s Italian GP Penalty, Ferrari and Zandvoort

    Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli will look to strengthen his grip on the Formula 1 drivers’ championship at his home race, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, this weekend.

    The 20-year-old faces a growing challenge from resurgent McLaren, particularly Lando Norris, who has won the past two Grands Prix. Monza is also home territory for Ferrari, although the circuit’s long straights may not suit the characteristics of their car.

    BBC Sport F1 correspondent Andrew Benson answers the latest questions ahead of round 13 of the 2026 season.

    What does Lando Norris’ contract extension mean for Oscar Piastri?

    There is clearly some tension behind the scenes, and Piastri’s performance and development have dipped this season.

    Oscar Piastri has not started the campaign as strongly as he did last year. In 2025, the Australian appeared on course to challenge for his first world title for much of the season, before his campaign unravelled during the final third.

    This year, team-mate Lando Norris has won two races and should have won a third in Miami. Piastri has looked capable of victory only in Japan, where he was leading before being unlucky with the safety car, and Hungary, where Norris took his first win of the year.

    Piastri took the lead in Hungary after Norris made an error on the opening lap. However, he was delayed while lapping Carlos Sainz’s Williams, allowing Norris to retake the advantage. Piastri acknowledged that it would have been difficult to keep Norris behind even if he had retained the lead because his pace on the hard tyres was poor. The issue ultimately became irrelevant when he retired with a broken gearbox.

    The qualifying head-to-head statistics are uncomfortable for Piastri, with Norris leading 12-4. However, their actual one-lap pace is much closer, with Norris only 0.08 seconds faster on average.

    Norris has nevertheless been the more convincing race performer, which explains the 55-point and three-place gap between the McLaren drivers in the championship.

    Why has Piastri struggled against Norris?

    Several factors may be contributing to the difference between the two drivers.

    Piastri has traditionally been strong through high-speed corners. However, fewer of those corners are grip-limited this year because the engines often use them to charge the battery, reducing one potential area of advantage for the Australian. All the drivers have complained about this change.

    The cars also have less downforce than last season, and Piastri is less comfortable than Norris in low-grip conditions.

    There is also no doubt that Norris consistently raised his performance level during the second half of last season on his way to winning the world title. He has continued to improve this year and is unquestionably one of the drivers of the season so far.

    McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said at the most recent race in the Netherlands: “Last year, we had seen already with Oscar that, from a technical driving point of view, when the car has this low level of grip, like we saw last year for instance in Mexico or in Austin, he needs to adapt the way he drives, the way he thinks, the driving, his expectations.”

    “This requires a bit of mental effort, which gets him to lose a couple of tenths of a second because you sort of have to process rather than drive through pure instinct because what happens is what you expect.”

    “So it’s one of those cases in which you have to adapt your natural driving style to the demand of the car. So it stays in the space of driving and in the space of the technical side of things. I don’t think it has anything to do with any psychological kind of opportunity. This is purely technical.”

    Stella also stressed that the leading three teams are closely matched, meaning, as he put it, “as soon as things are not optimised, then you may have a very significant positional loss – it’s very brutal from this point of view”.

    Could McLaren still pursue Max Verstappen?

    McLaren and Piastri reject suggestions that there is tension in their relationship. However, McLaren did try to sign Max Verstappen this summer, and it is virtually certain that Piastri would have been replaced if the deal had gone through.

    That possibility has receded for now following Verstappen’s new contract with Red Bull. However, the agreement includes performance clauses. If Red Bull continue to struggle next year, McLaren may make another attempt to sign Verstappen.

    For now, Piastri is under contract until at least the end of 2027. His focus will be on returning to the level of performance he knows he can deliver.

  • F1 Nation: Will Kimi Antonelli or Ferrari Be the Home Heroes at Monza?

    F1 Nation: Will Kimi Antonelli or Ferrari Be the Home Heroes at Monza?

    Lando Norris heads to the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in outstanding form after winning the last two Formula 1 races at the Hungaroring and Zandvoort.

    The reigning World Champion now faces a different challenge at Monza’s low-downforce “Temple of Speed” circuit. The key question is whether the track will expose any weaknesses in McLaren’s package—or allow Norris to strengthen his title challenge with a third consecutive victory.

    Italian Grand Prix talking points

    Norris could receive further assistance from championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who will serve a grid penalty at his home race. If Antonelli is to claim his seventh Grand Prix victory of the season, he will therefore need to fight his way through the field.

    Ferrari will also be under pressure in front of its passionate home crowd. The Scuderia has gone two races without a podium for the first time this season, leaving fans to wonder whether the team can rediscover its form and give the Tifosi a race to remember.

    Max Verstappen will be aiming to respond after crashing on the opening lap of his home race last time out. The Monza circuit could offer him an opportunity to bounce back, given that he has won three of the last four Italian Grands Prix.

    Tom Clarkson is joined by former Renault F1 driver Jolyon Palmer and IndyCar winner James Hinchcliffe on this week’s F1 Nation podcast. The panel previews the Italian Grand Prix, reacts to Franco Colapinto extending his Alpine contract through 2027 and recalls the time Jolyon Palmer upset Fernando Alonso at Monza.

    Listen to the latest episode using the audio player above or click here to hear it on your preferred podcast platform.

    Want your question answered by the F1 Nation team on a future episode? Record it as a voice note and email it to F1Nation@F1.com.

    Source: www.formula1.com

  • Italian Grand Prix at Monza: Best Pictures from the Race

    Italian Grand Prix at Monza: Best Pictures from the Race

    The Italian Grand Prix takes place this weekend at Monza, widely regarded as the most historic circuit on the Formula 1 calendar.

    Monza has hosted more Formula 1 races than any other venue, staging a Grand Prix in every season since the inaugural championship in 1950 except 1980, when the circuit was undergoing renovations.

    Monza: Formula 1’s cathedral of speed

    Set inside a royal park and surrounded by woodland, Monza is known as the “cathedral of speed”. It is also the spiritual home of Ferrari and the devoted tifosi who passionately support the Italian team.

    It is almost impossible to imagine Formula 1 without Monza. The circuit hosted the race where the first world championship was decided 76 years ago. Last year, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen set the fastest lap in Formula 1 history during qualifying at the track.

    Across the decades, Monza has witnessed thrilling finishes, Ferrari victories, championship triumphs, controversy and tragedy. Its history is inseparable from the story of Formula 1. Here is a selection of images from through the years.

    Source: www.bbc.co.uk

  • Poor Red Bull comeback could have ended Liam Lawson’s F1 career, says former F1 TV pundit

    Poor Red Bull comeback could have ended Liam Lawson’s F1 career, says former F1 TV pundit

    Formula 1 broadcaster Will Buxton believes Liam Lawson’s career at Red Bull could have been over if the New Zealander had struggled during his return at the Dutch Grand Prix.

    Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar missed the race weekend at Zandvoort after suffering a wrist injury during the summer break. Racing Bulls driver Lawson was brought back into the Red Bull seat alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen, while reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda replaced him at the sister team.

    The weekend represented a major test for Lawson, who had been dropped by Red Bull after only two race weekends in 2025. Speaking on the Up To Speed podcast, Buxton outlined the pressure facing the driver.

    “I don’t think you can underestimate or undervalue the pressure that would have been on him, that he would have been putting on himself to step back into a team where he had turned up and tried everything but had been fired after two races,” Buxton explained.

    Liam Lawson, Red Bull

    Photo by: Eric Le Galliot

    “If he turned up there and qualified at the back of the grid and was nowhere all weekend, that’s pretty much career done.”

    Lawson qualified eighth, one place behind Verstappen, and finished the race seventh after the Dutchman crashed on the opening lap.

    “So to turn up and drive the way that he did, to race the way that he did, qualify the way that he did, I was really happy for him,” he continued. “His radio message after the race was very sweet and there was a lot of honesty in that.

    “It was a weekend of catharsis to put all that horrible experience behind him and move on and show the world and show Red Bull, ‘Look at what you could have had.’ It was nice.”

    Source: www.motorsport.com

  • F1 Driver Contracts: How Long Is Each Driver Signed For?

    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

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

    “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.

    Lewis Hamilton arrived late in Singapore after the fashion shows
    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.

    Lewis Hamilton repaid Toto Wolff's trust in Singapore
    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.

  • Isack Hadjar Shares Injury Update as He Targets Red Bull Return at Italian GP

    Isack Hadjar Shares Injury Update as He Targets Red Bull Return at Italian GP

    Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar is “hopeful” of returning to the Formula 1 grid for the Italian Grand Prix after a wrist injury ruled him out of the Dutch Grand Prix.

    Hadjar suffered the injury during Formula 1’s summer shutdown. Although he missed the final F1 race at Zandvoort, the driver said he was “healing fast” while filming with the Milton Keynes-based team last weekend.

    Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson replaced Hadjar alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen, but Hadjar remained at Zandvoort to support the team.

    “Actually, it’s my first injury ever in my whole existence, career, whatever,” he told Red Bull in a behind-the-scenes video from the Dutch Grand Prix.

    “It’s weird to be on the bench and I’m not happy about it, for me and for the team. Obviously, I want to be there every lap.”

    Hadjar targets Monza return

    Pointing to his braced wrist, Hadjar added: “It’s not swollen, which is very good. It’s a good sign. So, actually, it’s healing fast. Every day I have a bit more mobility and I’m hopeful for Monza.”

    Lawson scored six points for Red Bull while standing in for Hadjar, finishing seventh at Zandvoort.

    “As for Liam, it’s never easy to jump from one team to another,” team principal Laurent Mekies said. “Today he took the points that we were able to take. Yesterday, he did a very good job in qualifying, being very close to Max and we thank him for having been able to adapt so quickly to the team.”

    The Italian Grand Prix at Monza is scheduled to take place from 4-6 September. Neither Red Bull nor Hadjar has officially confirmed whether he will return to the cockpit in Italy.

    Hadjar currently sits eighth in the drivers’ standings with 68 points, while his team-mate Verstappen is sixth with 112 points.