Drivers expect Silverstone energy problems
Formula 1 drivers are bracing for Silverstone to expose the weaknesses of the 2026 cars, with simulator running suggesting they will run out of battery energy well before the Hangar straight and lose speed dramatically through Maggotts-Becketts. Drivers expect the fast section to become less rewarding, with some warning they may need to drive counter-intuitively by lifting in high-speed corners to recover energy for the following straights. Fernando Alonso said Becketts has become a “charging station”, adding: “The simulator lap… is going to be quite sad.” Max Verstappen said after sim laps: “I just started laughing. It felt like a different track.” Sergio Perez said Silverstone is “the biggest tests we are facing with these new regulations so far.”
F1 drivers expect Silverstone to bring out the worst of 2026 cars
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🗞️ Latest Stories
Sainz to raise GPDA penalty proposal
Carlos Sainz says he plans to raise a new GPDA proposal that would give drivers a three-place grid penalty if they cause a yellow or red flag in qualifying, arguing it would deter drivers from “earning a position by not letting others do a better job than you”. His comments followed the reaction to Max Verstappen’s Austrian Grand Prix qualifying crash, where a single yellow was shown initially and George Russell still completed his lap to take pole. Charles Leclerc said he could see the logic on certain tracks but not as a blanket rule, while Verstappen said deliberate incidents “should be an even bigger penalty” but his bigger concern was that Russell was still allowed to keep his lap under yellow flags.
3-place grid penalty? Sainz proposes new F1 red flag rule
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New Adrian Newey strategy explained in ‘same questions' Aston Martin quip
Aston Martin chief trackside officer Mike Krack said Adrian Newey has been more open in a new team interview because people kept asking “the same questions” after a period of limited media interaction. Krack said: "Because you will keep asking the same questions, and we thought we need to be a bit more open!"
Hamilton on possibly skipping LEGO drivers' parade car at Silverstone
Lewis Hamilton says he may opt out of driving a LEGO Formula 1 car during the British Grand Prix drivers’ parade at Silverstone, describing it as the “most dangerous part” of the weekend. Hamilton said: "It's the most dangerous part of the weekend. So I let Charles [Leclerc] drive last time, and it was just hilarious watching everyone crashing into each other. So I don't know whether or not I'll be in the LEGO car this year."
Lewis Hamilton could withdraw from LEGO F1 race at British Grand Prix
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Hamilton on building trust at Ferrari over 2026 car changes
Lewis Hamilton says he had to build trust at Ferrari so the changes he wanted for the team’s 2026 Formula 1 car would be acted on, after what he described as a difficult start to life with the team. Hamilton said: "Each weekend was a really difficult weekend last year. So, naturally when you're having that, people tend to listen to you less. Like 'why are we going to listen to you when you are getting these results?' So, that's taken a long time to build that trust. And I think that trust is now there and things that I ask for get done. It's a two-way street naturally. We're we're really pushing each other along, and the collaboration is finally there."
Lewis Hamilton details battle to gain trust for Ferrari car changes
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Norris on Verstappen's McLaren link
Lando Norris joked that “a lot of drivers want to come to McLaren” and played down speculation about Max Verstappen being linked with the team after exploratory talks between Verstappen’s manager Raymond Vermeulen and McLaren CEO Zak Brown. Norris said: "To be honest, a lot of drivers want to come to McLaren. So I don't know why you just highlight Max! It's a good thing that a four-time world champion wants to come on board and wants to - potentially! - join the team. I don't know how much of it's true, but it's a cool thing. But it's not a thing for now. It's not a serious thing."
Norris's reaction to Verstappen's McLaren links
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Hamilton on 2026 power unit concerns at Silverstone
Lewis Hamilton says Formula 1 drivers are worried about how little power they will have at Silverstone because the 2026 power units rely heavily on battery deployment, with few chances to recharge on the fast circuit. Hamilton said: "It's an unprecedented weekend in terms of the power deployment. All us drivers have been talking on the drivers' chat just how poor the power is going to be through this track. We run out of battery power there's only a few corners to charge the engine. So the [MGU-]K will be switched off for a large portion of the lap."
F1 drivers all talking about “how poor the power” will be at Silverstone – Hamilton
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Alonso on Silverstone being very different in 2026 cars
Fernando Alonso says Silverstone will be “very different and not fun to drive” in the 2026 Formula 1 cars because of the energy requirements of the current regulations. Alonso said: "I think the next two races are going to be a different experience than what we've been used to driving in Silverstone and Spa. This year is going to be very different and not fun to drive the cars. Looking at the simulator laps and things like that it's going to be quite sad, I think, for the drivers, but also for the spectators."
Fernando Alonso: Silverstone will be "very different and not fun to drive" in 2026 F1 cars
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Hamilton on missing Roscoe and Coco at Silverstone
Lewis Hamilton says he misses his dogs Roscoe and Coco “every day” as he prepares for his first British Grand Prix at Silverstone without a pet accompanying him. Hamilton said: "It's kind of crazy. I mean, for all those that have dogs and I miss him every day. So, I miss both of my dogs every day. I still have them on my other phone. I have, a picture of him. But yeah, it's kind of crazy."
Lewis Hamilton says he 'misses Roscoe every day' ahead of first Silverstone race without beloved dog
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Perez on confidence returning at Cadillac
Sergio Perez says his confidence is “fully back” at Cadillac after he lost it in the final six months of his time at Red Bull. Perez said: "The confidence is fully back. I'm really happy and confident. It's like the confidence that I lost in the last six months of my previous team is all fully back and I do believe that I'm operating at a very high level."
Sergio Perez delivers ‘lost confidence' dig at Red Bull amid newfound F1 form
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Vowles on Williams' upgrade plan through to Baku
Williams team principal James Vowles says the FW48 will be “almost a completely new car” by the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, as Williams rolls out a sequence of upgrades starting with a medium-sized package at the British Grand Prix. Vowles said: "We've got what I call a medium-sized for Silverstone, and then there'll be small bits for Spa. Budapest, small bits as well. Then really for us, it's almost a completely new car for Baku. So that's really the time period that we're waiting for."
Williams reveals timeline as ‘completely new' FW48 takes shape
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Silverstone redemption: How Kimi Antonelli bounces back and manages F1 pressure
Facts, stats and trivia ahead of the British Grand Prix
🇬🇧 More Press Conference Highlights
🔴 Lewis Hamilton on Ferrari's current deficit to Mercedes: “We need to score as many points as we can until we can close that [straight-line] deficit.” On racing at Silverstone with Ferrari: “It’s always very, very special. It’s being here in red, last year was the first year in red. Now those who have been with me a long time, as much as it was hard for them to covert, those who have been with Mercedes a long time might be in red. So we should see more red caps. I never thought I’d get a chance to drive for Ferrari, so it is even more special.” On his title chances: “Other than me going into the Mercedes garage and undoing the bolts… What they have done this year is mighty, it will be hard for anyone to close them down. Red Bull have made a step, so undoubtedly Max will be a factor and he has the power to match the Mercedes. As a team we have to continue to believe, keep working and extract everything we can from every weekend. It’s not over until it’s over.” ⚪ Valtteri Bottas on racing at Silverstone: “The podium here is very epic, so very lucky to have stood on it a few times. It’s just a great track, feels more like a festival so always love coming here.” 🔵 Arvid Lindblad on his first home race: “I’m extremely excited, it is going to be a very special moment for me. I remember being here in 2013 when I was five, sitting in Maggotts and Becketts and asking my Dad if I could make it. I have lots of sketches on my helmet of the moments that helped me get here, along with phrases like ‘Dream big.’” On his long-term ambitions: “I’ve always dreamed of wanting to achieve a lot in the sport, so we’ll see what happens. It is my rookie year so I have lost to learn, but for sure winning a World Championship is part of my dream.” On Racing Bulls’ Austria team orders: “It was something we sorted together after the race, so all sorted now.”
🇬🇧 Press Conference Highlights
🟠 Lando Norris on returning to Silverstone as World Champion: “It's pretty damn cool. It is pretty cool to drive in front of friends and family, I’ve always loved it since first driving here in 2019. [My stand] is a lot bigger, a lot brighter than last year. I’ve got an extra tinted visor for when I’m driving through Stowe. Every year you spend in F1, things get cooler and better and you have more fans. This is really the place that makes you feel like you belong. It’s hard to not go out and see all this and feel like you want to be here forever.” On life as World Champion: “[As a World Champion] you get noticed in the streets more and stuff like that. If I win one, or five, or ten, I want nothing to change - I live an incredible life and I’m very lucky with the life I live already.” On McLaren’s car and future prospects: “The car itself, I’m optimistic - I know the team I have behind me, I know what McLaren is capable of. I don’t even need to know what’s on paper, as I know I have a team around me that can turn things around and win World Championships. We have things in the future that will certainly help boost our confidence in terms of podiums and wins, and [those] will come back to us later in the season. We are realistic about where we currently stand, but we are optimistic about the future.” 🟢 Lance Stroll on Aston Martin’s home race: “Always a special race for us as a team, we are just across the road.” on Aston Martin’s upcoming upgrades: “We’ll find out with aero in Hungary and engine in Zandvoort. It is supposed to go a lot faster.” 🔴 Gabriel Bortoleto on Audi’s near misses: “Three P11s in a row, it is so close to the points and I want to score for the team, it is so important. But we have progressed from the beginning of the season, we are having so many less issues.” On Audi’s Austria upgrade: “[Austria] was a decent upgrade, it was quite a bit better. We put the car in a more consistent way, with less unpredictable snaps or things happening.”
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Alonso on retirement decision over the summer break
Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin's planned upgrade package for the Hungarian Grand Prix is "not really connected" to his decision on whether to retire from Formula 1, with the two-time champion planning to think about his future over the summer break. Alonso said: "I don't know. As I have said, I will think over the summer break, but yeah, I don't know. I cannot say that it's really connected, you know, because if the car is good or bad, you know, there are other factors that I need to think about."
Will Aston Martin upgrade impact Fernando Alonso F1 retirement decision?
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Norris on Verstappen facing a different vibe at McLaren
Lando Norris says Max Verstappen would face a “different vibe” at McLaren, warning there are some things Red Bull allow the reigning world champion to do that would not be permitted if he joined Norris at the Woking team. Norris said: "It would certainly be a different vibe for him. Philosophies and mentalities are certainly different between what Red Bull are and what we are. And there's certain things that he would not be able to do at McLaren that he feels like he can do in Red Bull."
Lando Norris explains why Max Verstappen would face different rules at McLare
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Bearman on Haas being out-developed by midfield rivals
Oliver Bearman says Haas have been “out-developed and overtaken” by their midfield rivals, after calling the team’s form at the Austrian Grand Prix a “punch in the face” despite feeling the car was behaving better than it had all season. Bearman said: "There's no answers. The answer is that we've been out-developed and overtaken by our competition. So it's not that we've left anything on the table in terms of what we could have done in Austria, it's that we've not brought as much performance to the car since round one as everybody around us, and that's been very clear last weekend."
Bearman admits Austria form was a “punch in the face” as Haas struggles emerge
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Mansell on the British GP, Antonelli vs Russell and Hamilton
The growing battle for a 2027 F1 seat: What you should know
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the build-up ahead of Silverstone
Sainz on assessing his F1 future at the summer break
Carlos Sainz says he is “not really” considering his Formula 1 future beyond Williams until the championship’s summer break, with his contract at the Grove team running to the end of 2026. Sainz said: "Not really. I'm not, seriously. I'm not because I have so much work to do here in Williams right now. I've also told my team to leave me a bit on my own until the summer break, just to try and help Williams and improve the situation as much as possible. And then in the summer break, it will be obviously time to think about it, look at the options."
Carlos Sainz “not really” considering F1 future beyond Williams until summer break
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Russell on tyre-pressure rules affecting racing
George Russell says Formula 1’s current tyre-pressure rules make the tyres feel like “big balloons”, because teams have to run two to three psi above Pirelli’s minimum to account for the risk of Straight Mode failing. Russell said: "There's a strange rule that they have to take into consideration. If a team's SM fails and then there's much more downforce on the car, then they need to take compensation by two or three psi for this. But for all of us, it's like you have big balloons you're driving on. And if they could make that step, I think it would be much better for the drivers, much better for racing, less overheating. We could fight even closer."
George Russell issues unusual 'big balloons' complaint over 'strange rule'
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Hamilton on Ferrari's progress through small steps
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari’s progress this season has come through months of “small steps” and collective hard work rather than any “magic fix”, ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix. Hamilton said: "There's no magic fix in racing. It's a lot of small steps, built through months of hard work, commitment and belief from everyone involved – and that's what I've been seeing at Ferrari. I'm proud of this team and the journey we're on together. I've seen a group of people who are committed, hardworking and really collaborative, and that gives me a lot of confidence."
Lewis Hamilton addresses Ferrari journey as belief intensifies
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Lewis Hamilton Austrian GP joke reveals Ferrari difference with Charles Leclerc
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