Houldey on McLaren expecting a longer-wheelbase 2027 car
McLaren technical director – engineering Neil Houldey said the team expects to run a longer wheelbase on its 2027 car after opting for a shorter design this season to help meet the new minimum weight limit. Houldey said: "We put a shorter car together because it's lighter, and we knew that the regulations on weight were going to be a big, big challenge. For next year we'll end up with a longer car because aerodynamically you give yourself a little bit more plan area on the floor. Do we think the wheelbase is a game changer? Absolutely not. It's small stuff, but when you're looking for small stuff everywhere, you take it."
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Allison on when Mercedes should switch focus to 2027
Mercedes technical director James Allison says the team must decide when to stop developing its current car and switch focus to next year, warning that calling time too early can make the final part of the season “very uncomfortable”. Allison said: "Every Formula One team faces the same dilemma at some point in the season: when do you stop developing the current car and switch your focus fully to next year? The difficulty is that development rates are still exceptionally high. If you stop too early and your competitors continue finding performance, the final part of the season can become very uncomfortable. Our job is to judge that moment correctly."
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Vesti on Mercedes' confidence-inspiring 2026 car
Mercedes reserve driver Frederik Vesti said Mercedes’ 2026 car “is special” and gives drivers confidence, after recalling Lewis Hamilton warning him in 2022 that he was about to drive the “worst car” the team had built. Vesti said: "I remember the first time I jumped into Lewis Hamilton's car, and he looked at me five minutes before jumping in, and he was like, 'Oh, you're unlucky! You're driving the worst car we've built,' in '22. We've only become better since then. Then to finally drive it, I can really feel that it is special, and it does give confidence, especially in high speed. It's a great car."
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Alonso on power-unit battery deployment algorithms
Fernando Alonso says Formula 1 needs to make fixes and improvements to the power-unit algorithms that control battery energy deployment under the current regulations. Alonso said: "But yes, I think with these current regulations and the battery deployment, there is something that has to be fixed and improved [with the algorithms]. There are things moving forward, and it's well understood by the sport, by the teams and by everyone. I'm optimistic for the future that it will get better and that it will be better understood what the rules are and what the cars need to be."
Fernando Alonso seeking complex F1 change after algorithm impact
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Leclerc on why 2026 F1 cars are hard to adapt to
Charles Leclerc says adapting to Formula 1’s 2026-generation cars is not as simple as changing driving style because the data no longer gives clear answers, with performance depending on how different systems interact. Charles Leclerc said: "I think it really depends also on the power unit and the way everything is set up. That's why it's so difficult with these cars. There are so many different variables that it's not like in the past where you could look at the data and say, 'This is clearly where I'm losing, this is clearly what I've got to change with my driving.' If you are changing your driving, but the programming is going the other way, you end up being a lot worse than what you were at first."
Leclerc: Data no longer gives simple answers with F1's new-era cars
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Binotto on Sainz interest in Audi's F1 project
Mattia Binotto says reported interest from Carlos Sainz underlines the credibility of Audi’s Formula 1 project and shows it is “going in the right direction”. Binotto said: "I think, in the end, it is bringing credibility to our project. If people are interested in our team, I think it means people perceive that the team is doing seriously whatever we are doing at the moment, and they perceive that our project has a clear ambition and is going in the right direction."
Carlos Sainz interest proves Audi's Formula 1 project is ‘heading in the right direction’
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Tombazis on improving the FIA's ADUO balancing system
FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis said the governing body needs to look at improving its ADUO performance-balancing system, despite insisting its first checkpoint measurement was “very accurate”, after Red Bull were surprised to be rated as having the best internal combustion engine. Tombazis said: "I think our measurement, in my opinion, has proven to be very accurate. With that said, has everything worked fine? No, because obviously people are not happy and so on. Do we need to think about improvements in the future? Yes, I would say so."
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