Leclerc on car optimisation versus upgrades in 2025 performance battle
Charles Leclerc says the performance battle in Formula 1 this season is more about “optimising” the overall car package than simply which team brings the most upgrades, after Ferrari introduced 11 updates at the Miami Grand Prix without appearing to make the same step as rivals McLaren and Red Bull. Leclerc said: "I think a lot about these cars is optimising. Taking a step back on the performance of each team, I don't fully believe that it's all down to the upgrades that each team has brought, the step that we've seen. I really think that, for example, if we look at Red Bull... as soon as you are not exactly optimised, you lose a lot of performance. So I think it's very difficult to have a good picture of how much the upgrades are doing."
Charles Leclerc identifies crucial factor in F1 upgrade fight
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Lawson to see stewards over CDS issue
Liam Lawson is due to see the stewards before sprint qualifying at the Canadian Grand Prix after his car stopped 12 minutes into FP1 and triggered a red flag. FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer referred the case because the clutch disengagement system did not function when marshals tried to recover the car, stating: “When car 30 stopped on the track during FP1, the marshals pressed the CDS button at 12:41” but “the CDS was not working as required by the F1 Regulations, Article C9.3.”
Liam Lawson facing FIA investigation after red flag incident
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Everything that happened in messy Canadian GP practice
Kimi Antonelli led a Mercedes 1-2 amid three red flags in the sole practice session at the Canadian Grand Prix
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F1 Canadian GP: Kimi Antonelli dominates practice session amid three red flags
Antonelli quickest in Canada practice as Albon collides with groundhog
Kimi Antonelli crushes red-flag-hit Canadian GP practice as Alex Albon kills wild animal
Antonelli tops Canada F1 practice after Albon strikes groundhog
⏱️ FP1 Results
P1) Kimi Antonelli - 1:13.402 P2) George Russell: +0.142 P3) Lewis Hamilton: +0.774 P4) Charles Leclerc: +0.953 P5) Max Verstappen: +0.964 P6) Lando Norris: +1.397 P7) Oscar Piastri: +1.561 P8) Arvid Lindblad: +2.050 P9) Nico Hulkenberg: +2.296 P10) Fernando Alonso: +2.461 P11) Gabriel Bortoleto: +2.812 P12) Isack Hadjar: +2.851 P13) Esteban Ocon: +3.095 P14) Alexander Albon: +3.240 P15) Carlos Sainz Jnr: +3.258 P16) Pierre Gasly: +3.407 P17) Lance Stroll: +3.576 P18) Liam Lawson: +4.029 P19) Oliver Bearman: +4.368 P20) Valtteri Bottas: +4.466 P21) Sergio Perez: +4.524 P22) Franco Colapinto - -
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Canadian Grand Prix F1 practice results 2026
2026 F1 Canadian Grand Prix - Free Practice results
Alex Albon suffers Canadian GP practice crash after killing a marmot
A second red flag has been flown in practice ahead of the Canadian GP, sadly with the loss of a marmot.
Stricken Liam Lawson causes costly Canada practice red flag
A huge blow for Liam Lawson right at the start of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend!
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Formula 1
@F1
⚠️ VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR ⚠️
Liam Lawson has stopped at the side of the track, and gets out of his Racing Bulls car! ❌
#F1 #CanadianGP
1h ago
Formula 1
@F1
🟡 VSC ➡️ RED FLAG 🔴
We are now under Red Flag conditions in order to retrieve Lawson's car, which has caught Hamilton and Ferrari out in the pit lane!
#F1 #CanadianGP
1h ago
FIA to trial new rear-light system
The FIA has confirmed it will trial a new colour-coded rear-light system for power unit derating during the sole practice session at the Canadian Grand Prix, following driver feedback. For the Montreal test, different MGU-K states will be shown as “no longer at full power” in blue, “fully cut” in purple and “super clip” in yellow, instead of all three being covered by the current flashing red-light pattern.
FIA confirm Canada practice trial after F1 driver feedback
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Lewis Hamilton can't resist taking cheeky swipe at Jacques Villeneuve ahead of Canadian GP
Mercedes brings its first big 2026 upgrade to Canadian GP
Chris Medland
@ChrisMedlandF1
Get ready for a few extra colours in FP1 due to an FIA test. The derating lights on the rear of the car will flash:
- Blue (when the MGU-K is no longer at full power)
- Purple (when the MGU-K is fully cut)
- Yellow (when the MGU-K is in recharge mode)
#F1 #CanadianGP
1h ago
Chris Medland
@ChrisMedlandF1
It's all a test to make it more clear to drivers what a car ahead is doing to alert them to potential speed differences. Previously all were a flashing red pattern, but they were deemed tricky for drivers to notice and interpret #F1 #CanadianGP
1h ago
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LIVE COVERAGE: All the action from FP1 in Canada
LIVE: F1 Canadian Grand Prix updates - Montreal's sole practice session set to begin | Live text | Motorsport.com
Canadian GP: Mercedes to unleash first big upgrade in sole practice LIVE!
Komatsu on opposition to raising F1 cost cap
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu says Formula 1 should not raise the cost cap as stakeholders discuss more significant changes to the power unit regulations for 2027. Komatsu said: "This is the problem. I don't want to increase the budget cap. Already this year's budget gap is a lot higher. And then to have another reason to, again, increase another two million, another five million, then it's not a budget cap anymore."
Haas warns against raising F1 cost cap to fix 2027 power unit issues
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Bearman on not yet earning the right to race elsewhere
Oliver Bearman says he has not yet “earned the right” to race in other categories, after being asked if he would follow Max Verstappen into events such as the Nurburgring 24 Hours. Bearman said: "But what Max has shown is that every category has its own nuances and fun parts. And I think endurance is something really, really cool and unique inside of motorsport. However, Max has won four world titles and is one of the best drivers, if not the best driver on the grid. So I think you need to earn it – earn the right to go and explore other categories and that's not something I've done."
Why Oliver Bearman says he must “earn the right” to follow Max Verstappen's example
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Colapinto on Alpine upgrades boosting confidence for Canada
Alpine driver Franco Colapinto says the upgrades and set-up changes the team ran in Miami have given them more confidence heading into the Canadian Grand Prix. Colapinto said: "It shows that what we did [upgrade and set-up wise] paid off, so I think generally it's been a part of a good weekend, because we scored points with both cars; it was a much better weekend because of how strong we were, so I think definitely it gives us more confidence coming into Canada."
Franco Colapinto points out crucial reasons for optimism for rest of F1 season
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McLaren reveals second part of major upgrade at F1's Canadian GP
Jonathan Wheatley Aston Martin confusion explained after Canadian GP paddock sign error
Sainz on proposed 2027 power-unit rules
Carlos Sainz has urged the FIA and Formula 1 to stand firm on the proposed 2027 power-unit rules, with manufacturers split over whether to introduce a 60:40 split between internal combustion and electric power in 2027 or delay it until 2028. Sainz said: "If anything, from here, I can ask the FIA and FOM to be tough with what they believe is the right thing for the sport, and even if you need to vote, and I don't know how the system works in the F1 Commission, but that they stand firm and believe in what is right for the sport."
Carlos Sainz issues plea to the FIA and F1 over major fear
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Norris on McLaren's Miami upgrades at low-grip Montreal
Lando Norris says McLaren should not assume it will be able to take the fight straight to Mercedes at the Canadian Grand Prix because it is still unclear how the team’s Miami upgrades will perform on Montreal’s lower-grip tarmac. Norris said: "I don't want to get ahead of ourselves just yet because we know how good Mercedes has been. They also have their upgrades, and we need to see how the upgrades that we had in Miami translate to a much lower grip tarmac. Miami is very high-grip. The tarmac here is much lower grip, so we just need to understand how well the car will translate between those two worlds."
Lando Norris raises key McLaren question as Mercedes fight resumes
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Piastri on Red Bull links and McLaren future
Oscar Piastri says reports linking him with a future move to Red Bull are “news” to him and that there have been no discussions, adding he is happy at McLaren. Piastri said: "It is news to me, yes. There's obviously not been any discussions or anything, but it's flattering and there's not really much more than that, really. I think, hopefully, it proves my stock as a driver, which is a nice thing, but I'm very happy with where I am."
‘It's flattering’: Piastri responds to Red Bull rumors
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Oscar Piastri responds to Red Bull link as Verstappen future under scrutiny
FIA lowers qualifying energy limit in Canada
The FIA has set a new season-low qualifying energy limit for this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, cutting maximum harvestable energy to 6.0 MJ per lap for qualifying and Sprint Qualifying in a bid to promote more “flat-out qualifying laps”. The lower figure, down from the 7.0 MJ used in Australia and below Miami’s 8.0 MJ, is intended to reduce the need for lift-and-coast and other energy-harvesting compromises, while the Sprint and Grand Prix will still run at 8.0 MJ, rising to 8.5 MJ in Overtake Mode.
FIA cuts Canada qualifying energy limit to new season-low in Montreal
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F1 drivers react to Max Verstappen's Nurburgring 24 Hours near-miss
The steps Antonelli and Mercedes have taken to solve his F1 start problem
Lewis Hamilton GT debut? Max Verstappen Nürburgring exploits fail to inspire
Verstappen on regulation changes and staying in Formula 1
Max Verstappen says changes to Formula 1’s regulations to lessen the reliance on electrification are “very positive” and could persuade him to stay in the sport, speaking ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix. Verstappen said: "Yeah, definitely. I just want a good product in Formula 1, and that will, for sure, improve the product... Like I said before, it will make the product better, so that means that I'm happier, and that's what I want, to be able to continue in Formula 1. I see the team really progressing, and that's also very exciting to see."
Max Verstappen drops major update on future ahead of F1 Canadian GP
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Hamilton on not considering F1 retirement
Lewis Hamilton says he is not considering retirement from Formula 1 and plans to race “for quite some time”, after being asked ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix about his situation for next season. Hamilton said: "Yeah [I'm content with my situation for next season]. I'm still in contract so everything is 100% clear to me. I'm still focused and motivated. I'm going to be here for quite some time so get used to it. There's a lot of people that are trying to retire me and that's not even in my thoughts. I'm already planning for the next five years."
‘Get used to it' – Hamilton determined to stay in F1
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Gasly on Pirelli full-wet tyre test at Magny-Cours
Pierre Gasly warned his fellow Formula 1 drivers they are "going to be shocked" by wet running after he took part in a two-day full-wet tyre test at Magny-Cours for Pirelli, before refusing to expand on what he found. Gasly said: "You guys are going to be shocked. I'm glad I've done these two days, yes. It's going to be interesting for you guys... You don't want me to answer that question."
Pierre Gasly shuts down F1 question: 'You don't want me to answer that'
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Tech: Huge Mercedes upgrade package raises interesting George Russell question
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