Tag: Spanish Grand Prix

Nico Rosberg Stunned by Kimi Antonelli’s “Unbelievable” Maturity Amid 2026 F1 Title Fight

Rosberg Astonished by Antonelli’s Maturity as Mercedes Rookie Extends 2026 Title Lead

2016 Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg says he has been left astonished by Kimi Antonelli’s composure during the 2026 season, after the Mercedes rookie secured his eighth victory of the year at the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix held at the Madring circuit.

The win extends Antonelli’s commanding lead atop the Drivers’ Championship to 81 points over teammate George Russell, who sits second in the standings. The Italian entered the season as a title contender alongside the experienced Russell but has rapidly established himself as the class of the field.

Rosberg Draws Parallels to 2016 Title Pressure

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the Madrid race, Rosberg compared Antonelli’s current mindset to the intense psychological burden he carried during his own championship-winning campaign.

“We are all human. He’s not superhuman,” Rosberg said. “I was absolutely terrified that it was hard to drive properly. The nearer I got to the end of the season, it was impossible for me to win races or get pole because my brain capacity had so much fear of losing my dream with a stupid mistake or with something which can easily happen.

“At some point he will have to feel that a little bit. But it’s unbelievable so far how solid and mature he is. Even Toto can’t believe it.”

Rosberg’s reference to fear paralyzing performance late in a title fight underscores the rarity of Antonelli’s consistency. Despite being only 20 years old, the Italian became the youngest driver ever to lead the championship following back-to-back wins at the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix, and has only strengthened his grip since.

Wolff: Antonelli is “Cool as a Cucumber”

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff echoed Rosberg’s amazement, describing his young driver’s demeanor as almost preternaturally calm.

“I think he’s cool – sometimes an inch too cool! When he brushes the wall five laps from the end and comes on the radio ‘check the car’, you’re like ‘really, again, white lines, walls’ but maybe that’s how he keeps himself in the zone,” Wolff said.

“Almost his youth helps him a lot because he’s 20. He could stay in this sport for 20 years with so many opportunities. He’s so above all of our expectations and his own. He’s just going with the flow.

“I think there is also a genetic factor. You are born cool as a cucumber or you’re not. You can see this in junior formula or karting – taking pressure easier.

“He’s taken this to another level. We are talking about Formula 1. You see junior drivers crumbling in Formula 2.

“He’s just doing his thing. We told him ‘this is a race where we need to bring it home, need to score points whether it’s P2 or P5, we don’t care, just drive it home’. He does that and goes fast.”

Wolff’s assessment highlights a maturity that defies the typical rookie trajectory. While many questioned when the pressure would finally affect the young Italian, Antonelli continues to deliver race-winning speed alongside the discipline of a veteran.

Championship Momentum Builds for Mercedes Phenom

With eight victories already secured and a substantial points cushion over a proven race-winner in Russell, Antonelli’s maiden title appears increasingly inevitable. The Madrid weekend served as further evidence that the Mercedes driver possesses not only raw pace but the psychological resilience required to close out a championship—a trait that even a former champion like Rosberg finds remarkable.

09/14/2026
What We Learned From Formula 1’s First Visit to the Madring

The debut of a new circuit always injects a mix of adrenaline, curiosity, and trepidation into a Formula 1 weekend, and the Madring in Madrid delivered on every front. The inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at this venue offered immediate lessons on driver adaptation, tyre strategy, and the shifting dynamics of the 2026 title fight.

How drivers tackled a fresh challenge

While factors like weather swings and split‑second strategy calls always influence a race result, drivers usually rely on intimate knowledge of track layouts honed over years of simulator work and muscle memory. The Madring reset that familiarity. Despite extensive virtual preparation, the reality of a freshly laid surface, the proximity of the walls, and the electric atmosphere of the Spanish capital could only be absorbed once Free Practice 1 began on Friday afternoon.

Home favourite Fernando Alonso described the layout as “very technical” and “attractive”, while several drivers drew parallels to Jeddah’s high‑speed, narrow character. Like its Saudi Arabian counterpart, the Madring showed its teeth early: Arvid Lindblad, Lewis Hamilton, and Ollie Bearman all ran into trouble during Free Practice. As the field found the initial limits, lap times tumbled dramatically — plummeting by more than two seconds between FP1 and Lando Norris’s stunning final qualifying effort.

Tyre management proved decisive

The ability to nurse tyres remains a cornerstone of race success, extending stint options and preserving grip for stability. At the Madring, that skill was tested severely. George Russell admitted after qualifying, “as the track has got faster, I’ve been struggling to get the most out of the tyres”, a deficit he believed cost him a shot at pole position and left him sixth on the grid.

In the Grand Prix, Nico Hulkenberg secured just his third points finish of the season as Audi continued to close the gap to midfield rivals Racing Bulls and Alpine. The German highlighted that “managing the tyres and making sure you get to the end” made the difference on a day when the three teams showed “identical pace”. Lando Norris also excelled in tyre preservation — until a poorly timed Virtual Safety Car unravelled his race. He remained proud of his performance, stating: “The way I drive, the way I can look after the tyres and get lap time out of it, it’s giving me a lot of opportunities and I can do a better job than the others.”

La Monumental lived up to its name

Few corners punish Pirelli rubber as severely as La Monumental. This 550‑metre arena‑style section, flanked by up to 45,000 passionate fans and featuring a banking gradient of up to 24%, became a defining feature of the circuit. The variety of racing lines through the corner sparked heated moments, especially as it leads into a blind crest that demands immense courage to attack flat‑out.

Another twist in the title fight

It is rare to hear an F1 driver — among the most ruthless competitors in sport — concede that a rival deserved victory more than they did, yet that is exactly what unfolded in Madrid. Kimi Antonelli claimed his eighth win of the season, extending his Drivers’ Championship lead to a commanding 81 points. Despite the triumph, he remarked: “It’s good to win, but it doesn’t feel as good because I think Lando today deserved to win. But overall, you know, we’ll take it.”

Antonelli’s assessment undersold his own drive: starting second, he overtook Norris during the pit stops and inherited the lead from Charles Leclerc after the Ferrari driver’s long opening stint ended with fewer than ten laps remaining. The 20‑year‑old then resisted pressure from both Norris and Max Verstappen to secure the most comfortable championship position of his career so far.

The weekend also revealed a shift in mindset within the Mercedes camp. Team‑mate George Russell declared he is no longer “in the fight for the drivers’ title” after finishing fifth. Team principal Toto Wolff disagreed, stressing that anything can happen over the remaining rounds and that a “nice buffer” can evaporate quickly after a couple of crashes or retirements. With Norris on a scintillating run of form, Ferrari consistently close, and Russell operating with reduced pressure, the battle for the 2026 crown remains wide open.

09/14/2026
Liam Lawson assesses Red Bull outings: ‘Overall it’s been a strong three weekends’

Liam Lawson Reflects on Strong Red Bull Return After Spanish Grand Prix Points Finish

Liam Lawson believes “overall it’s been a strong three weekends” with Red Bull since replacing the injured Isack Hadjar midway through the 2025 Formula 1 season. The New Zealander made his third start for the senior team at last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, securing his best result since swapping his Racing Bulls machinery by finishing sixth.

Overtaking Challenge Defines Madrid Debut

Lawson was one of the few drivers to execute an overtake on the Madring street circuit, before a late pit stop secured his second points finish with Red Bull—following a seventh-place result in the Netherlands. Speaking to F1 TV about the challenges of Formula 1’s newest venue, Lawson said:

“Hard to overtake is really the biggest thing. We started on the hard [tyre] as well and with the Virtual Safety Car, it didn’t really help us,”

He elaborated on a key moment during the race:

“Made quite a risky pass on Franco [Colapinto] earlier on and felt like it was going to be really important for our race but then the VSC came out and they boxed anyway, so it didn’t really make a difference.

Was quite fun to do but this track is very difficult to pull it off [an overtake]. I didn’t nearly make the corner and you do track limits you have to give the place back. Tough race.”

Contrast with Early Season Struggles

Lawson’s current performances with Red Bull stand in stark contrast to the start of the 2025 season, where he competed in just two races before being demoted back to Racing Bulls. Prior to his temporary move back to the senior team, Lawson had scored points in eight out of 11 races this season—form that earned him another call-up.

Although Hadjar was present in the Madrid paddock over the weekend, the Frenchman’s return from a wrist injury sustained over the summer break remains unknown, with Baku the next race in two weeks.

Lawson Proud of Maximising Opportunities

When asked if he was proud of his performances with Red Bull so far, Lawson responded:

“I think so,”

He expanded on his approach:

“I’ve just tried to maximise each weekend. Honestly, a lot of things coming into it were just driver specific that I knew were going to be challenging about this car, and just really tried to prepare as much as I could but it’s been a very busy few weeks to be honest.

Probably this coming week will be busy as well to be honest, I’ll probably be doing prep for both cars again. It’s just been a busy time trying to put everything together, but it’s been good.

I would have loved to have scored in Monza as well, but I think overall it’s been a strong three weekends.”

09/14/2026
McLaren Won’t Blame F1 Race Control for Spanish GP Loss
Key Highlights
- Lando Norris lost a near-certain Spanish Grand Prix victory after a Virtual Safety Car triggered by Lance Stroll’s brake failure cost him approximately 20 seconds relative to rivals who pitted under the neutralisation.
- McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella refused to criticise race control, stating the race director’s sole focus must be safety and that regulatory changes require a lengthy process through the Strategy Advisory Committee and F1 Commission.
- Norris acknowledged the misfortune was part of racing but noted this was likely the first time he had lost a race win specifically due to VSC timing, having previously benefited from similar scenarios.
Norris Dominates Early Before VSC Cruelly Intervenes

The 2025 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring circuit appeared destined for a McLaren victory after Lando Norris converted pole position into a commanding early lead. The Briton quickly pulled away from Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli and reigning champion Max Verstappen, exploiting the clean air that is critical on a layout where overtaking proved exceptionally difficult across F1, F2, and F3 support races throughout the weekend.

That narrative unravelled when Lance Stroll suffered a brake failure on his Aston Martin, forcing the Canadian to stop at the side of the track. Race control deployed a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) at the precise moment Norris had just passed the pit entry. By the time the McLaren driver completed the additional lap required to reach the pits, the track had already gone green again. Meanwhile, Antonelli, Verstappen, and the chasing pack had all dived into the pits under the VSC, swapping tyres at a significantly reduced time loss. Norris emerged from his eventual stop having surrendered roughly 20 seconds to his principal rivals, effectively handing the race lead—and ultimately the win—to Antonelli.

Stella Defends Race Control, Points to Governance Process

Despite the bitter disappointment, McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella was unequivocal in refusing to apportion blame to the race director or FIA race control. Speaking after the Grand Prix, the Italian emphasised that the official’s mandate during a live incident is strictly limited to safety management.

“Like all the times in which a safety car or a virtual safety car timing or duration has a large influence on a race, we have an opportunity to review whether we can do things differently,”

Stella said.

“But this is not under the jurisdiction of the race director. The race director applies the guidance and the regulations at the moment of the race that he’s directing. And I think that when there’s a situation like the one that caused the virtual safety car, the attention of the race director, and rightly so, is on when the conditions exist to turn the virtual safety car on and when they exist to turn it off. I don’t think he takes a look at what’s happening in the race. It would be a big distraction.”

Stella confirmed the team had absolutely no comment on the race direction of the Spanish GP, adding they had done a good job according to what is present. However, he conceded there was scope for wider reflection on maintaining fairness.

“I’m puzzled myself as to what’s right,” Stella continued. “Is it correct to give enough duration such that everyone will be subject to the same track conditions? So, for instance, the virtual safety car lasts at least one full lap. Or, you just keep it in the hands of the gods? And sometimes you are lucky, sometimes you are not. I’m not sure myself.”

The McLaren boss outlined the formal pathway for any regulatory adjustment, noting it must originate in the Strategy Advisory Committee (SAC), progress to the F1 Commission, and ultimately be written into the Sporting Regulations—a relatively lengthy process that precludes any immediate change.

“But in general, there’s the right place to have this sort of conversation which is the Strategy Advisory Committee, the famous SAC. And this is a topic that may be added to the agenda and discussed over there. But if it’s a change, it will have to be a change that goes through the SAC, then the F1 Commission, and then we have to go at some stage to the Sporting Regulations.”

Norris Takes Philosophical View on Cruel Timing

For Norris, the loss was particularly stinging because it occurred while fighting for a victory rather than mere points. In the post-race press conference, the 25-year-old articulated a balanced perspective, recognising that the fickle nature of safety-car timing has swung both ways during his career.

“I was the only one, the only one on the whole grid that didn’t get the chance to do the pitstop,” Norris said in the post-race press conference. “That’s just unfortunate. It’s happened in races and there’s been plenty of times where I’ve gained from it in the past and times where I lost from it.”

“It’s racing, but never when fighting for a win. So, I think it’s probably one of the first times a win has been lost simply because of it.”

Why This Matters

The Spanish Grand Prix episode has reignited a long-standing debate within Formula 1 regarding the sporting equity of Virtual Safety Car and Safety Car deployments. Because the VSC freezes gaps at the moment of deployment, any driver who has not yet passed the pit entry when the signal is given gains a massive advantage over those who have just missed it. The Madring circuit’s layout—where track position is paramount and overtaking is at a premium—amplified the consequence to a race-deciding level.

Stella’s reference to the Strategy Advisory Committee underscores that any solution—whether a mandatory minimum VSC duration, a “pit window” guarantee, or a red-flag-style reset—must navigate F1’s multi-layered governance structure involving teams, the FIA, and commercial rights holders. Until such a mechanism is ratified, the sport must accept that the timing of neutralisations remains, in Stella’s words, in the hands of the gods. For Norris and McLaren, the focus now shifts to recovering the championship momentum lost on a Sunday where pace was never the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Lando Norris lose the Spanish Grand Prix?

Norris lost the lead when a Virtual Safety Car was deployed moments after he passed the pit entry. He was forced to complete an extra lap at reduced speed before pitting, while rivals including Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen pitted immediately under the VSC, gaining roughly 20 seconds on the McLaren driver.

Is McLaren protesting the race director’s decision?

No. Team Principal Andrea Stella explicitly stated McLaren has absolutely no comment on the race direction and believes the race director’s sole responsibility during a live incident is safety, not sporting equity.

Could the rules be changed to prevent this happening again?

Any rule change would need to be proposed at the Strategy Advisory Committee (SAC), approved by the F1 Commission, and written into the Sporting Regulations. Stella described this as a relatively lengthy process, meaning no immediate fix is expected.
09/14/2026
His Worst Races Would Be Enough: Remarkable Stats Behind Kimi Antonelli’s Title Hopes

Kimi Antonelli’s Commanding 2026 F1 Title Lead: Can Anyone Catch the Mercedes Rookie?

With 14 rounds complete, the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship resembles a coronation more than a contest. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli holds an 81-point advantage over team-mate George Russell, 101 points over Lewis Hamilton, and a staggering 106-point buffer to Lando Norris.

Historical Context: No Precedent for a Comeback This Late

In absolute terms, the largest deficit ever overturned was Max Verstappen’s 46-point gap to Charles Leclerc in 2022 — but that was after only the third race in Melbourne. Verstappen went on to clinch his second title comfortably, finishing with 454 points to Leclerc’s 308.

Relatively speaking, James Hunt’s 1976 charge — immortalized in the film Rush — was arguably more impressive. Hunt faced a 35-point deficit to Niki Lauda when a grand prix win was worth just nine points, compared to 25 today. Scaled proportionally, that 35-point gap equates to roughly 97 points under the current system — still smaller than Antonelli’s lead over Norris.

Calendar Uncertainty: Eight or Nine Rounds Remaining?

The exact number of remaining race weekends is unclear. Geopolitical tensions cast doubt on the Qatar Grand Prix on 29 November and the Abu Dhabi finale on 6 December. Growing indications suggest one or both could be cancelled, with Imola lined up as a potential replacement season finale.

If the calendar shrinks to eight rounds, Antonelli’s rivals would have a theoretical maximum of 208 points available: eight grand prix victories (25 points each) plus eight sprint points from the Singapore event.

Verstappen on Antonelli: “He Should Not Stress About It Too Much”

Max Verstappen, who turned a seemingly hopeless 2025 campaign into a genuine title fight with a winning streak, offered his assessment after Antonelli’s Spanish Grand Prix victory in Madrid.

“Kimi just needs to do what he’s doing. I mean, it’s fantastic”, Verstappen said after Antonelli’s latest victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. “So, it’s working really well. He should not stress about it too much, which I don’t think he is. He’s just delivering, he’s confident, he’s getting more and more experience.

“He’s still young, he’s still very early in his career, but he’s flying and it’s just working. So he shouldn’t overcomplicate things. He’s not doing that. He has a lot of good people around him that know what he needs. So, it’s all working well.”

The four-time champion is likely referring to Antonelli’s support structure: father Marco, who travels to every round; team principal Toto Wolff, managing expectations; and race engineer Peter Bonnington, whose years with Hamilton bring championship-winning calm to the garage.

Form Guide: Is Lando Norris the Only Real Threat?

If any driver can pressure Antonelli, it is defending champion Norris. The McLaren driver won in Budapest before the summer break and again at Zandvoort, finished fourth at Monza, and — but for an ill-timed Virtual Safety Car — would have claimed a third win in four races at Madrid.

Yet even a perfect 208-point haul for Norris — an extreme hypothetical — would only require Antonelli to score 103 points across the remaining rounds to secure the title. For context, Antonelli’s eight worst grand prix results this season have still yielded 116 points.

Can Lando Norris chase down Kimi Antonelli? Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Norris: “He’s Doing a Scarily Good Job”

“He is more than likely to go on and win the championship,” Norris admits.

“He’s leading by 80 points because he’s doing an incredible job. You know, he’s beating a much more experienced team-mate, and a decent team-mate, so I don’t want to give him any advice because he’s doing a scarily good job at, you know, just turned 20. So yeah, pretty phenomenal. I think it’s cool to see someone so young doing such an incredible job.

“He’s been impressive since the first race this year. Very few mistakes. He’s, you know, he’s just not driving like it’s his second year in F1, that’s for sure. So yeah, it’s cool to see and, yeah, I don’t want to… There’s going to be many, many more years of us battling and, yeah, I’m excited for more, hopefully this year, and I’m excited for all of us to race more in the future too.”

Russell All But Concedes: “Exceptionally Unlikely”

Earlier on Sunday evening, Russell — Antonelli’s closest challenger in the standings — offered a blunt assessment after finishing fifth in Madrid.

George Russell has all but conceded defeat to his team-mate. Photo by: Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty Images

“I’m not going to say it’s over”, Russell said after finishing fifth in the Spanish Grand Prix. “But it’s exceptionally unlikely that I’m in this fight.”

Whichever way the numbers are sliced, the conclusion remains the same: Antonelli’s championship coronation appears a matter of when, not if.

09/14/2026
George Russell Told to Focus on 2027 After Title Bid Branded “a Write-Off” at Spanish GP

Former IndyCar Series driver and current F1 TV analyst James Hinchcliffe has urged George Russell to treat the remaining rounds of the 2026 season as an extended test program for 2027, declaring the Briton’s championship challenge a “write-off” following the Spanish Grand Prix.

Spanish GP Deals Blow to Russell’s Title Hopes

The inaugural race at the Madring circuit in Madrid delivered a significant setback for Russell. While his Mercedes team-mate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli capitalised on a well-timed virtual safety car period to secure his eighth career victory, Russell endured a frustrating afternoon to finish fifth.

The result extended Antonelli’s advantage in the drivers’ standings to 81 points. Although the 28-year-old Russell could still mathematically claim the title, he admitted after the race that his title aspirations are effectively over.

“Realistically, I’m not in the fight for the drivers, and that just allows me just to focus on race-by-race and trying to focus on just getting some good results,”

Russell told F1 TV.

Hinchcliffe: “2027 Starts in Baku”

Reviewing Russell’s comments on the F1 TV post-race show, Hinchcliffe suggested the Mercedes driver should immediately shift his focus toward 2027 and diagnose the performance deficit relative to his team-mate.

“I’m going to be honest, most people are [realistically out of the championship] at this point. So, it’s probably best that he takes that mentality and just takes it race by race. Focus on finding what it is that is holding him back from matching the pace of Kimi. He’s now got this next string of races before the end of the season to really dial in so that way he can hit the ground running in 2027. This year is a write-off from a championship standpoint for him. You’ve just got to use these years as learning and for him, in a sense, you can almost argue 2027 starts in Baku.”

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit, scheduled for 24-26 September, represents the next opportunity for Russell to begin that preparation.

09/14/2026
Red Bull’s Laurent Mekies Explains Why Max Verstappen Was Ordered to Return Positions in Madrid

Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies has defended the team’s decision to order Max Verstappen to surrender positions during the opening lap of the Spanish Grand Prix, a move that ultimately paved the way for a strong recovery drive to second place at the Madring circuit.

First-Lap Clash Triggers Team Order

The incident occurred immediately after lights out in Madrid. Verstappen, starting third, tangled with Lewis Hamilton as the Ferrari driver moved ahead into Turn 1. Verstappen maintained his grid slot only by cutting the corner, prompting an immediate investigation from race control.

Over team radio, Verstappen protested that Hamilton “almost shunted him” and initially resisted instructions to concede the position. The Dutch driver had since passed Kimi Antonelli for second place, raising the stakes of a potential time penalty.

Strategic Compliance Avoids Heavier Penalty

Verstappen eventually complied, allowing both Antonelli and Hamilton to repass. The strategy shifted rapidly when Hamilton suffered a brake failure and retired shortly after. A subsequent Virtual Safety Car period played into Red Bull’s hands during their pit stop cycle, enabling Verstappen to finish runner-up to race winner Antonelli.

Mekies: “Better to Take the Pain at That Moment”

Speaking to F1 TV after the Grand Prix, Mekies acknowledged the decision was unpopular in the cockpit but necessary for the broader race outcome.

“We would have simply been penalized either five seconds or ten seconds at their discretion,” he told F1 TV. “So that’s what would have happened. And of course, if you can imagine race scenarios with a Safety Car or other circumstances, it can cost you a lot more than a position or two.”

Mekies emphasized that the team anticipated Verstappen’s frustration but backed his ability to recover.

“Luckily Max gave away the position before Lewis retired and ultimately continued to fight the race from that point,” he continued. “Of course it is frustrating but, in fairness, I think P2 was the absolute best we could have achieved today.”

Verstappen Accepts “Nature of the Track”

For his part, Verstappen characterized the opening skirmish as a product of the new Madrid layout. After the enforced position swaps, he focused solely on maximizing his race pace, a mindset that delivered a damage-limitation podium.

Championship Standings Update

The result leaves Verstappen sixth in the Drivers’ Championship with 145 points. Teammate Liam Lawson scored sixth place on his return to the seat, lifting Red Bull to fourth in the Constructors’ standings ahead of the next round in Baku.

09/14/2026
Romain Grosjean Apologizes to McLaren Over Controversial, Unfounded Comments

Formula 1 pundit and former driver Romain Grosjean issued a public apology to McLaren and team principal Zak Brown on Sunday after misrepresenting Brown’s comments regarding Oscar Piastri during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend at the Madring circuit.

Grosjean’s Initial Criticism Sparks Controversy

While covering the race live for Canal+, Grosjean sharply criticised remarks he believed Brown had made following Saturday’s qualifying session, where Lando Norris secured pole position. Grosjean suggested the McLaren boss had undermined Piastri’s morale.

“I saw a statement from Zak Brown about Lando Norris’ lap, he cut Oscar Piastri to pieces with a pair of scissors and a chainsaw right there”, Romain Grosjean initially said, after reigning world champion Norris had taken pole position at the Madring the previous day. “If Piastri had any morale left, he doesn’t have any anymore.

“The harshness, the violence of that statement… The question was that Norris had done a good qualifying and he was asked how to explain the difference. Basically, he said that Lando was world champion and that he was better than Oscar.

“He kind of forgot that last year, Oscar was leading the world championship, that at Monza they asked him to let Lando past and that perhaps wasn’t necessarily the thing to do at that point. It was surprising, very surprising, and it left me speechless when I heard that statement.”

What Zak Brown Actually Said

The controversy stemmed from a misunderstanding. Brown’s actual comments, made during an F1 TV interview after qualifying alongside Juan Pablo Montoya, Jolyon Palmer, and Grosjean himself, praised Norris’s lap without disparaging Piastri.

“The whole lap was amazing and Lando’s just getting better and better and better”, Brown had said. “When you see a lap like that put down, you just go, ‘he’s a world champion’.”

When asked by Montoya about the performance gap between the two McLaren drivers, Brown added:

“I think a) you got Lando on his A-plus game, right? So, I don’t think there was anything left laptime-wise there. So, he found that.

“Oscar’s been right there with him all weekend and just didn’t get that same extra lap. We’ll continue to look at it. He’ll look at the data and probably do what we all did and go, ‘wow, what a lap’ as well.”

Social Media Reaction and Swift Correction

Grosjean’s on-air remarks were widely clipped and debated across social media platforms, prompting the French broadcaster to clarify his error on Sunday evening.

Grosjean Apologises for Misunderstanding

In a statement released Sunday night, Grosjean acknowledged he had misinterpreted Brown’s words during the live F1 TV session he attended.

“Today, I made a comment on Canal+ regarding Zak Brown’s comments about Oscar Piastri during an interview yesterday on F1 TV, which I was part of,” he wrote.

“I completely misunderstood his words and want to apologise for that. I know how important it is to Zak and the entire McLaren team to respect their drivers and treat them fairly and equally.

“McLaren had the fastest car today and were unlucky with the VSC. I’m sure both Lando and Oscar will have another chance to fight for the win in Baku.”

09/14/2026
‘Clearly it’s in him’ – Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff on unlocking George Russell’s potential

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has outlined the team’s approach to unlocking George Russell’s performance after the British driver suffered another championship setback at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. The result saw rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli outscore Russell once again, extending his Drivers’ Championship lead to 81 points.

Russell Struggles with Tyre Degradation in Madrid

Russell was candid about his difficulties managing tyre degradation throughout the weekend at the new circuit. The issue hampered his qualifying performance, leaving him sixth on the grid. Mercedes opted for a two-stop race strategy, switching Russell onto medium tyres under the Virtual Safety Car before moving him to a second set of hards later in the Grand Prix. While Russell initially questioned the call, he later conceded the strategy did not materially affect his final fifth-place finish.

Despite finishing close to Charles Leclerc, Russell trailed race winner Antonelli by nearly 30 seconds. The result effectively rules the Mercedes driver out of the title fight, with Lewis Hamilton now 101 points adrift following his retirement in Spain.

Wolff: “We Have to Unlock It”

Addressing the pace discrepancy, Wolff highlighted Russell’s raw speed but admitted confusion over the post-stop performance drop.

“You can see the pace he had towards the end when he was catching Leclerc,” Wolff said. “You know that he was fastest out on track but after the tyre changes, the pace wasn’t there and I just don’t know where it is. We have to analyse it because clearly it’s in him, it’s in the car and we just have to unlock it.”

Backing a Proven Winner

Wolff emphasized Russell’s extensive pedigree, citing his dominant run through the junior categories as evidence of his elite capability.

“When it comes to George, you can have good races, bad races, good years and bad years, but we’re talking about the driver that has won everything that you could have potentially won before.

“Every single karting championship, Formula 3 in his rookie year, Formula 2 in his rookie year, went into the Williams. I mean, we’re talking about a top driver.”

Psychological Factor and Championship Perspective

The Team Principal acknowledged the mental toll of a difficult season but expressed confidence in Russell’s resilience.

“We need to find out what it is for him to be able to unleash that potential, and of course there’s the psychological side. If you have a run like him this year you’re taking a beating but the great ones, they recover and I think that George has all he needs to fight for championships.”

Despite the seemingly comfortable buffer for Antonelli, Wolff refused to concede the championship battle with nine rounds remaining.

“It’s a mechanical sport,” the Team Principal explained. “You can DNF, you can crash out and it happens two times in a row and then suddenly what looked like a nice buffer is not anymore because you have six races to go.

“So in my opinion, we just need to ignore the points until it is mathematically not realistic anymore, or not real anymore for them to win, and until then just concentrate on each and every weekend, try to bring your best game.”

2027 Development Unaffected by Current Standings

Wolff confirmed that Mercedes’ long-term technical trajectory remains on schedule regardless of the 2025 championship situation.

“2027 [development] started a while ago already, long before the summer. We switched resources into the next year and that continues as per the plan, independent of where we’re standing in the championship.”

09/14/2026
“My race could have been over” – Max Verstappen on first‑lap clash with Lewis Hamilton

Verstappen Secures Second Place at Spanish Grand Prix, Admits Red Bull Lacks Race-Winning Pace

Max Verstappen extracted the maximum possible result from the inaugural Formula 1 race at the Madring circuit in Madrid, claiming his fifth podium finish in seven race weekends. The Dutch driver finished second behind Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, a result the four-time world champion admitted was better than his car’s performance deserved.

Verstappen: “We Maximised the Result” Despite Pace Deficit

Speaking in the post-race press conference, Verstappen was candid about Red Bull’s competitive position relative to the frontrunners.

“We maximised the result and probably had a bit of luck with, of course, the unlucky situation for Lando [Norris, who missed the opportunity to pit under the VSC]. I didn’t have the pace of Kimi and I definitely did not have the pace of Lando,”

Verstappen said.

“So yeah, we’re here on the podium and I think that’s great, but we still lack a little bit to really fight for the win.”

Early Race Controversy: Giving Back Positions to Hamilton

The result raises questions about whether Verstappen could have challenged for victory had he not surrendered positions in the opening laps. The Red Bull driver was instructed by race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to return a place to Lewis Hamilton. With Antonelli sandwiched between them, the directive effectively cost Verstappen two positions.

Verstappen expressed frustration over team radio but acknowledged the strategic necessity of compliance.

“Yeah, what am I supposed to do? If they tell me that I have to do it, then I will do it,”

the Dutchman said.

“If I hadn’t done that, then I would have received a penalty. No chance.”

Despite complying, Verstappen maintains his maneuver was justified. He explained that Hamilton lost control of his car over the kerbstones, forcing Verstappen off track to avoid a collision.

“I would have had damage at the start if I would have stayed on track, so then the win was also not on. It’s as simple as that,”

Verstappen explained.

“I just did my own thing in Turn 1, but Lewis went for a move on the first two [drivers] and bottomed out on the kerb. He just jumped back onto the track and that’s why I had to go off the road.”

“If I would have stayed there, I would have definitely had contact. Then my race could potentially have been over in Turn 2, and that’s why I think I’m happy to be where we are now.”

Red Bull “Slightly Overperforming” Relative to Pure Pace

Verstappen assessed that second place was the realistic ceiling for his machinery, suggesting that on pure pace, a low podium finish was more representative.

“We sometimes profit a little bit from some misfortune of others, but we are also trying to really maximise and sometimes, maybe, yes, slightly overperform. And that’s good,”

he said.

“That is the only thing that we can do at the moment. Now we rely on making our package, our overall package, a little bit stronger to really be in a potential fight for the win.”

Closing-Stage Battle “Misleading,” Verstappen Says

Although Verstappen ran within a second of race leader Antonelli for several laps in the closing stages, he dismissed the appearance of a genuine fight for victory.

“It might have looked a little bit like we were in a fight for the win, but that was more because Kimi was getting held up by Charles.”

“As soon as he had clean air, he just drove away from me again and I was busy with Lando behind me. But around here, if you just drive a little bit in the middle, then yeah, you can’t pass.”

Development Constraints and 2027 Focus

Red Bull’s ability to close the performance gap is limited by budget cap restrictions. Team principal Laurent Mekies has acknowledged that the financial regulations prevent maintaining the aggressive development rate seen in the first half of the season.

Verstappen confirmed that while some updates will still be introduced for the 2026 car, the organization’s primary engineering focus has already shifted toward the 2027 regulation cycle.

09/14/2026