Mercedes technical director James Allison says Formula 1 teams are seeing an “enormous” rate of progress under the new regulations, with wind-tunnel aerodynamic gains “six or seven times greater” than last season. James Allison said: "One of the defining characteristics of this regulation cycle is just how immature the regulations still are. Development rates are enormous compared to previous years. On the aerodynamic side, the gain rate we're seeing in the wind tunnel is roughly six or seven times greater than it was last season. It's roughly half a second every couple of months."


Incoming Cadillac team principal Marcin Budkowski says he will look at whether the team is getting the most out of its Ferrari power unit, including any performance that can be found through energy management. Budkowski said: "We've seen this year... that there's a lot of performance to be unlocked in understanding the intricacies of the energy management mostly, and that's a performance differentiator. I think that's something we need to look at in the team as well. Are we making the most of the hardware we are getting? There's always going to be an element of the supplier will not necessarily share all the tricks of the trade for how to extract the maximum performance. That's a fair game."
Lance Stroll says Formula 1’s 2026 power-unit rules should allow drivers to get the power they ask for, with the current battery management contributing to “yo-yo” racing. Stroll said: "Then we do an overtake, and we have to recharge for two laps, or things like this, and I think proper racing should be: you put your foot down for a certain amount of power, that's what you get. If you put down 50% power, you get 50% power, and if 100%, you get 100%, that's what I think it should be."

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says he has been relieved to see Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri working “even stronger” together this season, after concerns their relationship could suffer following their 2025 title fight. Stella said: "It wasn't a given that, after last year – when they found themselves battling for the world title right up to the final race – the harmony they'd built would remain intact. Yet not only has this not changed, but the relationship between them and with the team has actually become even stronger. And whilst this might, in a sense, have been expected of Lando… it was not quite so predictable for Oscar."

Gabriel Bortoleto says he has a long-term contract with Audi that will keep him at the Formula 1 team for the next few seasons. Bortoleto said: "As far as I can say, because it's something confidential, let's just say there are no clauses. I have a long-term contract with Audi. I've already said it: I'll be with Audi next year, and not only next year, but for the following years as well."




Lewis Hamilton says seeing Ferrari deliver the innovations and changes he asked for after his 2025 struggles has left him feeling “released” to do what he “does best”. Hamilton said: "It’s nice to be in a period where, for example, last year one of the things I was like was: 'Where is our innovation?' Ferrari should be the innovators; they should be the ones that all the teams are trying to copy. This year you see us arrive with innovative things that other people have followed, and there is a lot more innovation coming, which is really exciting."

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