Daily News 19

Tag: McLaren

  • Norris Beats Antonelli to Spanish Grand Prix Pole in Close Madrid Qualifying

    Norris Beats Antonelli to Spanish Grand Prix Pole in Close Madrid Qualifying

    Norris Claims Pole for Inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at Madring in Dramatic Finish

    Lando Norris delivered a spectacular final lap to secure pole position for the first-ever Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring circuit, edging out Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli and reigning World Champion Max Verstappen in a thrilling Q3 shootout. The McLaren driver stopped the clock at 1m 31.824s to claim the 19th pole of his career, displacing Lewis Hamilton who had set the provisional benchmark on the opening runs.

    Q3: Norris Strikes Late to Deny Hamilton and Antonelli

    The final segment began with high anticipation after a weekend heavily disrupted by red flags. Antonelli set the early pace before Hamilton responded with a blistering 1m 32.079s to bounce back emphatically from his FP3 crash. With the first runs complete, Hamilton led Antonelli, Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and the two McLarens of Norris and Oscar Piastri.

    On the decisive final attempts, Antonelli improved to retake P1, but Hamilton could not find further time. Norris then produced a lap he later described as “one of my best”, crossing the line just 0.011s clear of the Italian. Verstappen also extracted a late gain to lock out the front row in third, ahead of Hamilton, Leclerc, and George Russell in sixth. Piastri settled for seventh, with Liam Lawson, Franco Colapinto, and rookie Arvid Lindblad rounding out the top ten.

    Key Quote: Norris on His Pole Lap

    “I’m shocked, I’m a little bit surprised to be here now, but my god it was probably one of the best laps I’ve done ever in my career,” Norris said. “Very, very happy, very proud, very happy for the team. It was just one of those laps where everything came together. I had a good idea of what I wanted to do, but it was whether my brain let me do it on the last lap and everything pretty much worked perfectly. I’m just very happy – one of those laps where you look at the lap time at the end and you’re like, ‘Oh, s*** that was pretty good’.”

    Q2: Audi Miss Out as Verstappen Leads the Way

    After a brief reset, the 16 remaining drivers returned for Q2. Antonelli again set the initial reference (1m 32.603s), but Verstappen immediately undercut him by 0.046s to signal Red Bull’s intent. Lawson kept the sister car in the mix in fourth.

    A late flurry saw Colapinto climb to seventh, but both Audis fell short. Nico Hulkenberg qualified 11th ahead of teammate Gabriel Bortoleto. Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly (who complained of a lack of grip), Yuki Tsunoda, and Alex Albon also failed to progress. Lindblad and Piastri squeezed into Q3 with identical lap times, while Verstappen held onto the provisional pole position heading into the final session.

    Knocked out (Q2): Hulkenberg, Bortoleto, Ocon, Gasly, Tsunoda, Albon.

    Q1: Home Heartbreak for Sainz and Alonso

    Qualifying began with 18 cars after Ollie Bearman’s Haas was deemed unrepairable following his FP3 crash, while Lance Stroll sat out with a suspected water pressure issue on his Aston Martin. Antonelli topped the early timesheets on softs (1m 33.566s), with Verstappen close behind on mediums.

    Audi continued their strong weekend form as Bortoleto ran third early on. Lawson eventually set the Q1 benchmark, while Russell survived a brush with the barriers—mirroring Albon’s FP3 incident—to advance comfortably. In the closing minutes, both Spanish drivers fell victim to the tight circuit and traffic. Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso were eliminated in Q1 to the dismay of the home crowd. Sainz was also noted by the stewards for allegedly impeding Valtteri Bottas in the Cadillac.

    Sergio Perez and Bottas filled the next positions, ahead of the absent Bearman and Stroll.

    Knocked out (Q1): Sainz, Alonso, Perez, Bottas, Bearman, Stroll.

    What’s Next

    The 2026 Spanish Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 15:00 local time on Sunday. The Madring layout has proven treacherous all weekend, promising a demanding race where track position will be at a premium.

  • F1 Spanish GP: Lando Norris Claims Stunning Pole Position at Madring

    F1 Spanish GP: Lando Norris Claims Stunning Pole Position at Madring

    Lando Norris Claims Pole at Inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at Madring

    Reigning world champion Lando Norris secured his third pole position of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Spanish Grand Prix, edging out championship leader Kimi Antonelli by a razor-thin 0.011 seconds on F1’s first-ever visit to the Madring circuit near Madrid.

    Norris Strikes in Final Moments at Madring

    The 5.4km Madring layout, a challenging blend of street sections and a high-speed purpose-built loop with minimal runoff areas, hosted its maiden qualifying session without the major incidents or traffic chaos many had predicted. Despite the circuit’s demanding nature, the hour-long session ran smoothly.

    In the decisive Q3 shootout, Lewis Hamilton set the early benchmark for Ferrari with a 1m32.079s lap, leading the Mercedes duo of Antonelli and George Russell, along with teammate Charles Leclerc. Max Verstappen had shown strong pace for Red Bull throughout qualifying but slipped up on his first flying lap in Q3, settling for fifth behind the two McLarens.

    Antonelli moved to the top of the timesheets with a 1m31.835s effort on the second runs, a time that seemed destined for pole. However, Norris, heading out first among the frontrunners, delivered a stunning final sector—drifting wide out of the final corner—to snatch the top spot with a 1m31.824s.

    The result hands Mercedes its fourth consecutive qualifying defeat.

    Verstappen Recovers for Third; Ferrari and Mercedes Fill Top Six

    Verstappen recovered to claim third place, a surprisingly competitive result for Red Bull after a difficult start to the weekend. Hamilton and Leclerc locked out the second row for Ferrari in fourth and fifth. Russell could only manage sixth in the second Mercedes, followed by Oscar Piastri in the sister McLaren. Liam Lawson, Franco Colapinto, and rookie Arvid Lindblad rounded out the top 10.

    Midfield Battle Sees Lindblad Shine, Gasly Struggles

    Q2 produced a fierce midfield fight. Nico Hulkenberg and Lindblad secured provisional Q3 spots early, putting teammates Gabriel Bortoleto and Yuki Tsunoda under immediate pressure. Both Alpines struggled initially; Pierre Gasly and Colapinto failed to complete clean first runs. Colapinto survived a massive moment through the high-speed Monumental banking but recomposed to qualify eighth. Gasly, lamenting a “radically different car balance compared to FP3,” could only manage 14th.

    Lindblad’s progression to Q3 came at the expense of the two Audi entries. Esteban Ocon qualified 13th for Haas, with Tsunoda and Alex Albon in 15th and 16th respectively.

    Sainz Misses Q2 by 0.005s; Bearman and Stroll Sidelined

    Earlier in Q1, Russell led the way, pipping teammate Antonelli by 0.056s despite a light tap against the wall. Red Bull looked potent, with Lawson third on soft tires and Verstappen fourth on mediums—a strategic move saving a set of softs for later. Ferrari mirrored this strategy with Hamilton and Leclerc.

    At the bottom of the timesheets, Williams’ Albon grabbed the final Q2 spot in 16th, beating teammate and home favorite Carlos Sainz by a mere 0.005s. Albon’s performance was a strong recovery after a wall strike in FP3 forced him to miss most of that session. Fernando Alonso qualified 18th for Aston Martin, while Cadillac’s Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas propped up the field. Bottas was unable to set a clean lap after being impeded by Sainz.

    Qualifying began without Oliver Bearman. A “gutted” Bearman suffered a heavy crash at the end of Saturday’s delayed third practice session, leaving Haas facing an impossible repair timeline. Lance Stroll also did not set a time due to what Aston Martin described as a suspected water pressure issue; the Canadian is already set for a back-of-the-grid penalty for exceeding his Honda power unit allowance.

    Spanish Grand Prix Qualifying Results – Top 10

    1. Lando Norris (McLaren)
    2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
    3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
    4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
    5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
    6. George Russell (Mercedes)
    7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
    8. Liam Lawson (Red Bull)
    9. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
    10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
  • McLaren confirms gearbox issue as Lando Norris misses FP2 ahead of Spanish Grand Prix: ‘A big setback’

    McLaren confirms gearbox issue as Lando Norris misses FP2 ahead of Spanish Grand Prix: ‘A big setback’

    McLaren have confirmed a gearbox issue sidelined Lando Norris for the entirety of Free Practice 2 at the Spanish Grand Prix, with Technical Director for Performance Mark Temple describing the lost running as “a big setback” for the reigning World Champion.

    Norris Limited to Two Laps in FP2

    Drivers and teams sampled the new Madring layout for the first time on Friday. The circuit’s hybrid configuration—part street circuit, part purpose-built facility—presented an immediate challenge, making every minute of track time critical for data gathering. Norris completed only two laps in the second session before pulling his MCL39 into the garage with a mechanical problem that the team could not resolve before the checkered flag.

    McLaren Response: Focus on FP3 Recovery

    Speaking after the session, Temple outlined the scale of the deficit and the plan for Saturday’s final practice hour.

    “Gearbox problem for Lando, that’s obviously a big setback for him,” said Mark Temple, McLaren’s Technical Director for Performance, after the session. “Going into FP3 we’ll be trying to do as much as we can to give him back track time.

    “It was as expected, a very technical, tough track for the drivers, trying to find their way and learn the track. Deal with the very hot temperatures on the tyres. For sure track time for Lando will be very important tomorrow.”

    Mixed Friday for McLaren

    The British driver had shown competitive pace earlier in the day, finishing sixth in FP1—just under nine tenths adrift of George Russell’s pace-setting Mercedes. By contrast, team-mate Oscar Piastri completed a full programme, ending the day seventh and eighth across the two sessions as he worked to master the new venue.

    Piastri Highlights Balance and Tyre Management Struggle

    The Australian identified car balance and thermal management as the primary hurdles on a layout that demands a compromised set-up for both straight-line speed and high-speed corners.

    “I felt like we got a bit closer in FP2, which was good, but we’re still lacking a bit of pace it seems,” he said.

    “We’ll try and improve, it’s been an interesting day learning a new circuit. It’s certainly tough to get on top of but it’s been a day full of learning. Hopefully we can find a bit more tomorrow.

    “Trying to extract the performance on a street circuit like this is pretty challenging. That’s the biggest thing for us at the moment. Hopefully tomorrow we can make things a bit easier and find just a bit more consistency and a bit more ability to get that time out of the car.”

    With Norris facing a compressed preparation window in FP3, McLaren’s priority shifts to maximizing his limited running ahead of qualifying, while Piastri’s data will be crucial for refining the baseline set-up on a circuit where tyre temperature and consistency are proving decisive.

  • Lando Norris Assesses Title Chances Against Mercedes Duo Ahead of Spanish Grand Prix

    Lando Norris Assesses Title Chances Against Mercedes Duo Ahead of Spanish Grand Prix

    Reigning Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris has admitted his McLaren machinery is not currently strong enough to defend his title, tipping Mercedes driver George Russell as the primary challenger to championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

    Norris Concedes Title Defense Unlikely Amid Points Deficit

    Heading into the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring circuit in Madrid, Norris sits 96 points adrift of Antonelli in the Drivers’ Championship standings. Despite securing back-to-back victories in Budapest and Zandvoort, the British driver acknowledged the performance gap following a difficult weekend at Monza, where he and teammate Oscar Piastri finished fourth and fifth respectively.

    Speaking to media on Thursday, Norris highlighted the points reality facing his campaign.

    “[Russell] is 30 points ahead of me,” Norris told media on Thursday in Madrid. “So George, I think, is still the one who has the best chance of trying to take the challenge to Kimi. Hamilton is still many points ahead of me as well.”

    McLaren Pace Inconsistent Across Circuits

    Norris explained that the team’s showing at Monza exposed fundamental limitations with the MCL39 package.

    “We have two wins in a row, so the car is good in some places,” he said. “It’s just, like I said, not as good as it needs to be everywhere. And the only person that has a car that’s the same as Kimi is George. So I wish George the best in trying to fight Kimi.”

    Drivers Face Unknown Challenge at New Madrid Venue

    With Formula 1 making its debut at the Madring street circuit, every driver heads into Friday practice sessions with limited real-world data. Norris compared the layout to Jeddah but emphasized that suitability for the McLaren remains an open question until track running begins.

    “I think the whole track is quite challenging with how the corners are laid out — uphill, downhill, off-camber, camber,” he said. “The whole track looks pretty exciting.”

    Despite the unknowns, Norris expressed optimism about the circuit’s character after simulator preparation.

    “It was okay, it took maybe three, four laps, I think, to know what to do in most places. Of course, then you figure out the smaller details. But I thought it would be harder, so it was actually okay, to be honest.

    “It’s always different when you get on track and actually feel everything. The sense of speed is quite a big difference compared to a simulator.”

    Piastri Warns of High-Stakes Street Circuit Demands

    Teammate Oscar Piastri shared his perspective on the Madrid layout, noting the specific challenges posed by a high-speed street circuit configuration.

    “Obviously there are quite a few high-speed corners, which on a street circuit is always… there are always just massive consequences with that,” he said.

    “The banking as well, I think, will be a big challenge, and then also just the compromise of what you need from the car.

    “I think there are a lot of different types of corners here, a lot of kerbs you seem to need to use. So I think getting the compromise of things as well is going to be tough.”

    As the paddock prepares for the first competitive sessions at Madring, both McLaren drivers face a weekend where maximizing the car’s narrow performance window will be critical to closing the gap to the leading Mercedes and Antonelli’s championship-leading machinery.

  • Race Week: 5 Storylines to Watch Ahead of the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix

    Race Week: 5 Storylines to Watch Ahead of the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix

    Formula 1 Arrives at Madrid’s New Madring Circuit for Spanish Grand Prix

    The European leg of the Formula 1 season concludes with a historic debut as the championship visits the brand-new Madring circuit in Madrid. Following Kimi Antonelli’s stunning victory at Monza, drivers and teams face a completely different challenge at the 3.365-mile venue located at the IFEMA Exhibition Centre northeast of the city center.

    A Unique Hybrid Circuit Layout

    The Madring combines street-circuit characteristics with permanent facility sections, creating a distinctive test unlike the high-speed temple of Monza. The layout features tight, twisting complexes, flowing high-speed sections, and the heavily banked La Monumental corner where cars turn through more than 180 degrees with fans lining both sides of the track.

    Proximity to walls throughout the circuit means mistakes will be severely punished. The track places a premium on slow-speed corner performance, traction, and a car’s ability to handle bumps and kerbs. Teams face a steep learning curve from the moment Free Practice 1 begins on Friday.

    Antonelli Extends Championship Lead After Monza Masterclass

    Kimi Antonelli arrived at Monza already in a commanding championship position, but his remarkable win from 19th on the grid—while serving a power unit penalty—has dramatically expanded his advantage. The Italian now leads George Russell by 66 points, Lewis Hamilton by 76, and Lando Norris by 96 with ten rounds remaining.

    While Antonelli’s drive was exceptional, the season has demonstrated how quickly reliability issues or race circumstances can swing points totals. Russell has shown more consistent form since the summer break but must extract additional performance to pressure his teammate regularly. The chasing pack will aim for an immediate response in Madrid.

    McLaren Target Return to Winning Ways

    Given recent form, Lando Norris represents the most significant threat over the coming races. The McLaren has proven most competitive on higher-downforce circuits like the Hungaroring and Zandvoort, where Norris secured victories. The Madring layout should suit the MCL38 better than Monza’s low-downforce demands.

    Despite tempered expectations before Italy, both McLaren cars contested podium positions until the closing stages. Oscar Piastri delivered a strong weekend, outqualifying Norris for the first time since Monaco and battling his teammate to the flag. While Mercedes dominated spells at Monza, McLaren anticipates stronger relative performance at this venue type and will target a return to the top step.

    Red Bull and VCARB Driver Situations

    Isack Hadjar continues his recovery from a wrist injury sustained in training after the summer break. The Frenchman missed the Dutch Grand Prix, and Red Bull elected not to rush his return at Monza. Despite positive progress reports, the team confirmed an unchanged lineup for Madrid rather than risk Hadjar’s comeback on a demanding street circuit.

    This grants Liam Lawson another opportunity alongside Max Verstappen after a difficult Monza weekend. Lawson’s power unit penalty relegated him to the back, and damage necessitated an extra pit stop that ended his points hopes. He did score at Zandvoort and will target a repeat in Madrid.

    Yuki Tsunoda has also found form since returning to VCARB, finishing just outside the points at Zandvoort before securing tenth place at Monza to deliver a double-points finish for the Faenza-based squad.

    Formula 3 Title Decider Headlines Support Bill

    While Formula 1 ends its European swing, the entire 2026 Formula 3 championship concludes at the Madring this weekend. The postponement of the Bahrain Grand Prix earlier this year created a compressed schedule featuring back-to-back Qualifying sessions on Friday, a Sprint Race Saturday morning, the first Feature Race Saturday evening after F1 Qualifying, and the decisive final round Sunday morning.

    Audi-backed rookie Freddie Slater arrives with a 15-point lead over American Ugo Ugochukwu after a season-long battle. Slater appeared poised to extend his advantage at Monza after starting the Feature Race from pole while Ugochukwu languished at the rear following a grid penalty, but a dramatic reversal saw Slater retire while Ugochukwu recovered to eighth.

    A maximum of 67 points remains available across the weekend—25 for a Feature win, 10 for the Sprint, plus fastest lap points in each race and two points for pole position per Feature. Ernesto Rivera and Theophile Nael remain mathematically eligible but require highly improbable result combinations. The championship will likely be decided between Slater and second-year driver Ugochukwu, with the winner joining Rafael Camara, Oscar Piastri, and Gabriel Bortoleto as Formula 3 champions.

  • Max Verstappen Interview: Red Bull Driver Discusses McLaren Talks, ‘numb’ Cars, and Why He Speaks His Mind

    Max Verstappen Interview: Red Bull Driver Discusses McLaren Talks, ‘numb’ Cars, and Why He Speaks His Mind

    Max Verstappen sat down for an exclusive interview with BBC Sport on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, offering his most uncompromising assessment yet of Red Bull’s 2026 campaign and his decision to extend his contract with the team.

    Contract extension offers stability but no guarantees

    The four-time world champion signed a two-year extension earlier this year that theoretically runs through 2030, though performance clauses remain in place. The deal keeps Verstappen at Red Bull but leaves the door open for a departure if the team cannot return to championship contention next season.

    Verstappen arrived for the interview in sweltering conditions, with temperatures in the mid-30s Celsius and the team’s hospitality unit struggling to cope. “It’s too hot in here,” he said, briefly adjusting a fan before dismissing the need for a break. “No, no. I’m good. It was just that it was super-hot in the corner when I was doing the print [media].”

    Season assessment: learning for 2026

    When asked where his head is at regarding the season so far, Verstappen was blunt. “Of course it’s not where I want to be, but as a team we’re trying to just learn and understand a lot of things for next year. We are not in a title fight. We are just trying to find more performance.”

    He emphasized that fundamental changes are needed for next year’s car. “Changes need to happen to the car for next year. We will not be able to change that for this year, but we just need to try and get a lot of learnings to do better next year.”

    On the specific deficiencies, Verstappen pointed to inconsistent balance through corners. “Overall we’re just lacking a bit of performance. The car is not where I want it to be feeling-wise, and the through-corner balance is too hit and miss between entry, mid and exit.” He added, “It’s just fundamentally something in the car that we need to try and work on for the next year.”

    Recurring issues across regulation changes

    The Dutchman acknowledged this has been a theme extending beyond the current season. “That’s exactly that. There’s also things that we talk about within the team, like how can that happen, how can we fix it? That’s basically what we are doing now and trying to do now.”

    Personnel changes are part of the response. “Some people have left, new people have come in. With the new people, we are discussing what we can do about it. Is that just some changes, a different philosophy? All these kind of things.”

    Why he stayed: family, belief, and broader projects

    On his decision to extend, Verstappen cited emotional and practical factors. “It comes down to also feeling well within a team. This is like a second family to me.”

    He expressed confidence in the team’s ability to rebuild. “The belief that you can turn things around, you can build towards hopefully a better future with other people, new people. And at the end of the day, it’s not only Formula 1 for me. There are a lot of things that I’m doing next year that Red Bull is involved in as well.”

    “I feel good here. So this, for me, is the right place to be.”

    No hard sell required

    Verstappen said the decision did not require extensive persuasion. “I always said to them: ‘Don’t stress about it, just work on the car.’ Because the faster the car goes, the easier the decision is anyway.”

    He acknowledged the team’s anxiety but remained focused on his own role. “I can understand, of course, maybe sometimes they were a little bit worried. But at the same time, for me, I was just worried about here, what was going on.” Outside commitments also limited his engagement with other options. “At the same time, I was very busy with my stuff also outside of Formula 1. So I never really spent a lot of time talking or doing different things or trying to go somewhere else.”

    Loyalty over convenience

    Addressing the perception that Red Bull had little leverage, Verstappen framed his stance as a matter of principle. “I don’t mind the challenge also. I don’t have that desire or need to show in another car that I can win it, or whatever.”

    He rejected the idea of chasing the fastest machinery. “It’s easy to run to the fastest car and then do it all again. But it’s not how I am. You cannot be the captain of the ship and as soon as there is something not working, you jump off the ship.”

    Verstappen even welcomed the rebuilding process. “It’s been a bit downwards from the dominant years, but I don’t mind also rebuilding it. It’s another challenge as well.”

    Talks with Mercedes and McLaren

    Verstappen confirmed discussions with rival teams but downplayed their significance. “Of course, any kind of chat you take seriously. They’re all very respectful chats. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

    His decision ultimately came down to instinct. “I felt that staying was, for me, the right choice. You have to follow your heart. I could have run away very early on in my Red Bull career and gone somewhere else to try and win. If you have a little bit of patience, you do end up winning. I feel like that’s my approach now as well.”

    Highlight of the year: Nürburgring 24 Hours

    Asked about his most enjoyable race this season, Verstappen pointed to his endurance debut. “Probably the Nordschleife [Nurburgring 24 Hours]. It was super-cool to be able to do an endurance event with my team-mates, the guys that won with the car throughout the main season.”

    Despite a mechanical retirement, the experience stood out. “We knew that we were going to be really strong. We peaked at the right time, but unfortunately the car retired. It was an incredible experience. And pure. Pure motorsport.”

    Simulator preparation paid off

    Verstappen’s opening stint, where he climbed from tenth to first in treacherous conditions, drew particular praise. He credited extensive simulator work. “I was enjoying it. Not easy conditions. It started to drizzle. The track was slippery. Crashes. Code 60s [when a stretch of track is limited to 60km/h after an incident].”

    He dismissed suggestions he might be out of his depth. “Some people were like: ‘Let’s see how he will do in the race under pressure with all these kinds of scenarios that he has never done before.’” Instead, “But I have done them a million times on the simulator. I have done so many laps and 24-hour races on the simulator. I never felt out of depth or whatever. I was fully zoned in. I just had a great time.”

    The intensity of the race brought a familiar focus. “Once I was in the race, you switch to another level. I was just in a zone. It’s really enjoyable.”

    Endurance ambitions on his own terms

    Verstappen confirmed a desire to return to the Nürburgring and pursue other endurance events, including the Hypercar class in the World Endurance Championship. “All the endurance races. Eventually, of course also Hypercar [the world endurance championship]. I don’t want to rush it. I want to do it in the right environment. On my terms. And competitive.”

  • Lando Norris: Oscar Piastri Move Complaint Made “in the heat of the moment” at Italian GP

    Lando Norris: Oscar Piastri Move Complaint Made “in the heat of the moment” at Italian GP

    McLaren driver Lando Norris described his intense wheel-to-wheel battle with teammate Oscar Piastri during the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix as “fair” after initially feeling he had been pushed onto the grass at high speed.

    Norris and Piastri Trade Positions in Closing Stages at Monza

    The intra-team fight unfolded over the final laps of the 53-lap race at Monza’s Temple of Speed. Piastri, defending fourth place from Max Verstappen, and Norris, who had passed Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari for fifth, converged on track with the checkered flag approaching.

    Norris made his first move on lap 48, sparking a protracted nip-and-tuck duel characterized by battery-driven overtaking. Piastri reclaimed the position on the following lap. With three laps remaining, Norris attempted a second pass into the second chicane. Piastri covered the inside line, prompting Norris to move into a closing gap on the left. As track limits ran out, the reigning world champion placed two wheels on the grass, suggesting over team radio that Piastri had “pushed me off.”

    Norris Concedes Piastri Drove Fairly After Review

    With the benefit of hindsight and a lower heart rate, Norris quickly conceded after the race that his teammate had done nothing wrong.

    “No, it was okay,” Norris explained. “I still need to review things, but I think it’s just the perception of when you’re in the car, when someone’s kind of opening the gap a bit and then kind of goes straight. You get that perception when you’re going at 200 miles an hour, so that’s all.

    “But I think what he did was fair, so it’s just when you’re in the moment and you’re half on the grass, you realise how quickly things can end pretty badly, so just in the heat of the moment. But no, from that side it was fine and it was a good battle and a good result from a tough race.”

    Team Orders Call for Clean Racing on Final Lap

    The McLaren intra-team battle continued onto the final lap, with both drivers receiving instructions from the pit wall to ensure “clean racing.”

    Norris bided his time for a decisive move, using the slipstream and preserved battery energy from running behind his teammate to make the pass stick into the Variante Ascari. Piastri attempted to retaliate on the run to the finish line but corrected a significant slide exiting the final Parabolica corner, settling for fifth as the two papaya cars crossed the line in formation.

    “It was a good battle,” Piastri reckoned. “It was a lot of back and forth and the last lap, you never really know what to do with the energy. I think we went for different strategies with that and he got past, and I thought I’d have a chance to get back past again but ultimately I just didn’t quite get there.”

    Additional reporting by Stuart Codling and Ronald Vording

  • Five Quick Takeaways from the F1 Italian Grand Prix

    Five Quick Takeaways from the F1 Italian Grand Prix

    Antonelli Delivers Statement Win as Monza Exposes Championship Fault Lines

    Kimi Antonelli delivered what may be the most decisive blow yet in his intra-team championship battle with George Russell, storming from the back of the grid to claim a commanding victory at the Italian Grand Prix. The Mercedes rookie’s performance at Monza signaled not just a coming-of-age moment, but a potential shift in the team’s hierarchy.

    Antonelli’s Masterclass Overwhelms Russell’s Home Advantage

    Monza was framed as Russell’s prime opportunity to reclaim ground in the standings after Antonelli took a power-unit penalty and started last. Instead, the 18-year-old Italian needed barely 15 laps to slice through the field and settle into second behind his teammate. A pit stop briefly interrupted his charge, but Antonelli reclaimed the lead with authority. His first overtaking attempt was slightly ragged, but once he found clean air, his pace was simply unmatchable.

    McLaren’s MCL40 Fails the Temple of Speed Test

    After back-to-back wins in Hungary and the Netherlands, McLaren arrived at Monza knowing the circuit’s long straights and tight chicanes would test the MCL40’s low-drag efficiency. Team principal Andrea Stella had warned that replicating recent form would be “executed at the level we should have,” and that caution proved prescient.

    Qualifying execution fell short of the team’s standards, but the race told an even clearer story: neither Oscar Piastri nor Lando Norris could mount a serious challenge on Sunday. The characteristics that made the MCL40 dominant through medium-speed corners at the Hungaroring and Zandvoort became liabilities at the Temple of Speed, leaving McLaren searching for answers before the next round.

    Ferrari’s Internal Tensions Surface Under Home Pressure

    As Lewis Hamilton remains mathematically in the title hunt, the cordial facade at Ferrari is showing strain. Hamilton questioned why the Scuderia isn’t maximizing its chances to support his championship bid—a barely veiled request for preferential treatment. Charles Leclerc’s response on track was pointed: at the start, he gave his seven-time world champion teammate minimal room at Turn 2, forcing Hamilton wide and momentarily dropping him to ninth.

    While Leclerc’s defense was within the rules, the optics of two Ferraris racing each other so aggressively—while Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren pulled away—did not play well in front of the tifosi. Leclerc’s own race ended in a crash at the end of Lap 2, turning a potential team crisis into a solo disaster. Team principal Fred Vasseur faces a delicate management challenge heading into Madrid.

    Leclerc’s Speed Undeniable, But Costly Errors Persist

    No one questions Charles Leclerc’s raw pace. His Achilles’ heel, however, is becoming a pattern: high-profile crashes at critical moments. Monza 2024 joins a list that includes Monza 2020 and Monaco, even as he has won at both circuits this season. The inconsistency is costly—especially as the gap to Hamilton in the standings widens beyond what Ferrari anticipated. Leclerc will deliver more brilliance, but the mistakes remain a championship-limiting factor.

    Alpine’s Pole Dream Ends in Constructors’ Reality

    Pierre Gasly’s shock pole position was entirely earned—no mixed conditions, no red-flag luck, just a sensational lap amplified by a well-timed tow. Yet Sunday’s race laid bare the performance gap to the top four teams. Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren drivers streamed past the Alpine, leaving Gasly seventh—a result that would normally delight Enstone, but felt hollow from pole.

    The silver lining: seventh place secures valuable points in the tight fight for fifth in the constructors’ championship, keeping Alpine ahead of rivals in the midfield battle.

  • 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.

  • 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.