Ferrari trials Mercedes-style lift-off trick
Ferrari has started trialling Mercedes’ qualifying “lift-off” energy deployment trick, which The Race first revealed, as it looks for pole-position gains. Telemetry from the Hungarian Grand Prix showed Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton using it in Friday practice, but Ferrari concluded the Hungaroring offered too little benefit to justify deploying it in qualifying and dropped it for Saturday. The technique exploits a rule allowance on ramp-down rates if the driver lifts before the battery reaches 0%, but carries the risk of disqualification if mistimed.
Ferrari's begun trial of Mercedes F1 qualifying trick
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Hamilton on Ferrari's straight-line deficit to Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari can have a stronger second half of the season if it can reduce a straight-line speed and power deficit to Mercedes as Formula 1 heads into the summer break. Hamilton said: "With the first half [of the season], it has been amazing given I think we've been probably like three or four tenths down on the straights in pace and power for the first half of the season. I know the guys [at the factory] are pushing hard to bring upgrades for that. We've got a bit more to come in the second half, and we just keep on pushing. I think the second half will be stronger."
Lewis Hamilton eyes stronger second half of F1 2026 as Ferrari chase power
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Lawson on Racing Bulls sustaining form after moving ahead of Alpine
Liam Lawson says Racing Bulls now need to sustain their current level of performance for the rest of the season after he finished eighth at the Hungarian Grand Prix and the team moved above Alpine in the fight for fifth in the constructors’ championship. Lawson said: "Yeah, this was definitely one where we thought they would be the strongest [team in the midfield], and so to be on top of them here is very, very positive. Obviously, going into the second half of the year, it's put us in front of Alpine as well, which is what we wanted to do before the break. Now we need to try and sustain it for the rest of the year."
Liam Lawson issues Racing Bulls target after 'very positive' development
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Wolff on McLaren's Hungary advantage and Mercedes form
Toto Wolff says McLaren were always favourites to win the Hungarian Grand Prix and has urged against overreacting to Mercedes’ recent drop-off after Lando Norris took victory from pole in Budapest. Wolff said: "When you ask the artificial intelligence who are the favourite in Budapest, the artificial intelligence is going to say McLaren. They were the dominant team here in the last few years. We need to be careful not to swing from everyone is suddenly competitive to a team is suddenly not competitive."
‘Even AI would have predicted McLaren's Hungary GP win' - why Mercedes isn’t worried
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Alonso on Aston Martin progress after B-spec upgrade
Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin is “in the mix now” after the team introduced its substantial ‘B-spec’ upgrade in Hungary, but added it needs more engine performance from Honda to maintain that progress. Alonso said: "I think it was good to feel competitive again. And I think, especially at the beginning, we had the pace to more or less follow the midfield. That was good, and hopefully a good baseline to work with, with this new car. Especially on the engine, we are looking forward to Zandvoort and trying to get a little bit more competitive in terms of straightline speed, which in the race, we're in the mix now, we need that extra speed on the straight."
“We're in the mix now” - Fernando Alonso’s bullish Aston Martin F1 claim
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Brundle on Verstappen's car degradation remark in Hungary
Martin Brundle says Max Verstappen’s “car degradation” remark at the Hungarian Grand Prix was a reference to how aero damage on the Red Bull can quickly cost downforce and grip. Brundle said: "It was explained to me that if the Red Bull has any damage on the aero parts particularly underneath the car, on an aggressive kerb for example, this has a disproportionate effect on the overall downforce and so grip. Hence Max's aero degradation comment."
Martin Brundle delivers insight into peculiar Max Verstappen 'car degradation' remark
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Coulthard on blue flag handling at the Hungarian Grand Prix
David Coulthard said Formula 1 drivers’ handling of blue flags at the Hungarian Grand Prix was “not good enough”, after a system failure stopped the blue flag signal from appearing on lapped cars’ dashboards. Coulthard said: "So, you can't ever factor in qualifying on somebody coming out of the pit lane. But in a grand prix, when people are circulating at pace, you can usually tell. Well, not usually – you absolutely can tell! It just wasn't good enough."
David Coulthard slams F1 drivers' blue flag behaviour ‘not good enough’ in Hungary
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Doubts over Qatar and Abu Dhabi races
Doubts are growing over whether Formula 1’s season-ending Qatar and Abu Dhabi grands prix will go ahead after the World Endurance Championship cancelled its planned trips to Qatar and Bahrain, relocating its final two rounds to Barcelona-Catalunya and Monza because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the championship had explored “every option” to keep the events but that “the safety of our teams, colleagues and motorsport fans remains our highest priority”. If F1 needs replacements, Portimão and Imola have been mentioned, with Gazzetta dello Sport reporting Imola is now the frontrunner.
Qatar and Abu Dhabi finale fears grow after WEC cancels Middle East races
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