Leclerc on pace gap to Hamilton at Canadian Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc said his pace gap to team-mate Lewis Hamilton at the Canadian Grand Prix weekend was not caused by car set-up, but by his own lack of feeling and confidence in the car. Leclerc said: "There's none of the performance we are seeing today down to a set-up. You can say there's one-tenth in a setup, but at the end of the day, it's not that much. In F1, now we are speaking about such small details. It's more about my feeling and just the way I drove [on Sunday]. By not having confidence on a day like this, I just didn't push hard."
Charles Leclerc reveals cause of Canadian GP pace gap to Lewis Hamilton
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Antonelli on battling Russell for the lead in Canada
Kimi Antonelli said his battle with Mercedes team-mate George Russell for the lead at the Canadian Grand Prix was “on the edge”, but added it was entertaining to watch. Kimi Antonelli said: "I think a couple of times was maybe a little bit on the edge, but we were going at each other. We were both pushing and we both wanted to win. And it was, I think, for everyone watching, pretty entertaining. So definitely I think the stint was a lot of fun because we were both pushing on the limit and going for it."
"On the edge" - Kimi Antonelli's verdict on frantic F1 battle with George Russell
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Russell on Antonelli leading the title fight
George Russell says Mercedes team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli is the Formula 1 title favourite and that it is “his to lose” after Russell’s retirement from the Canadian Grand Prix helped Antonelli extend his lead to 43 points after five rounds. Russell said: "Right now, it's his [Antonelli's] to lose. So many points ahead. I don't want to be stood here talking like that. It is, of course, frustrating, and I want to be in that fight. Hopefully, the luck turns."
George Russell hands Kimi Antonelli F1 title favourite status as standings gap widens
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Krack on Aston Martin operational errors in Canada
Aston Martin chief trackside officer Mike Krack said the team needs to “get its act together” on basic operations after a weekend of incidents at the Canadian Grand Prix. Krack said: "We have done better in the past, and we will do better in the future, but we had a few glitches this weekend that we need to get better at. [There was] the wheel cover that Lance lost, and we also had to start from the pit lane in the Sprint race. That is obviously not ideal, and we will have to regroup and work on these issues so that they do not happen again."
Aston Martin boss admits team must ‘get its act together' after Alonso pain
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Piastri on collision with Albon after locking up in Canada
Oscar Piastri says he was "caught out" by a lack of grip when he locked up and collided with Alex Albon at the 2026 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix. Piastri said: "I thought it was going to be a bit tricky but possible. Just the level of grip out there was like nothing I've driven before, really. Just caught myself out, and obviously very sorry for Williams and Alex, because I wasn't really trying to overtake him. Just locked up, and that was it."
Oscar Piastri explains cause of Alex Albon collision in F1 Canadian GP
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Oscar Piastri apologises to Alex Albon as he reveals crash cause
Rushbrook on Ford's flexibility over possible F1 V8 return
Ford Racing global director Mark Rushbrook said a potential move back to V8 engines in Formula 1 would not be an issue for Ford, amid FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s push for a return to V8 power units with reduced electrification from 2030. Rushbrook said: "The way that we look at it as a sport, there are a lot of stakeholders, and those stakeholders need to be able to share their opinion, but, at the end of the day, somebody needs to make a decision and move the sport in that direction. We've got a lot of flexibility in what works for us now. If you look at the products that we have, the different power trains that we have, there's a wide range."
Ford delivers verdict on Formula 1 V8 engine return push
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Gasly on Alpine's work to improve its car
Pierre Gasly says Alpine have “a lot of work ahead” to get their car back into a good place after struggling again in Canada, despite recovering into the points from 14th on the grid. Gasly said: "Overall, it's a really good team result and strong points for the championship. In general, though, I have struggled with the car again and, as a team, we need to see why that is and aim to fix a few areas. There is a lot of work ahead of us to get the car into a good place again and that is our target between now and Monaco."
Alpine have 'a lot of work ahead' despite ‘fantastic' Canada
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Leclerc on Ferrari horsepower deficit and ADUO hopes
Charles Leclerc says Ferrari are “quite down” on horsepower and hopes the FIA’s Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) process could help the team close some of its straight-line speed gap to rivals. Leclerc said: "It's probably a bit of both. But surely in terms of horsepower, we are quite down. So I hope we are into the ADUO, then this will help us to close a little bit the gap."
Ferrari ‘quite down' on horsepower but Leclerc accepts there’s more to the SF-26’s deficit
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Hamilton on working with new Ferrari engineer Carlo Santi
Lewis Hamilton says he is “really loving working” with new Ferrari race engineer Carlo Santi after an off-season change following a difficult first year working with Riccardo Adami. Hamilton said: "I chose a different set-up this weekend through just ciphering through the data, working really well with my engineer. He's absolutely awesome and I'm really loving working with him."
Lewis Hamilton gives verdict on new race engineer after off-season swap
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Brundle on Hamilton's bittersweet second in Canada
Sky F1 pundit Martin Brundle said Lewis Hamilton’s second place at the Canadian Grand Prix was “bittersweet”, because he passed Max Verstappen for the position but was beaten by Kimi Antonelli in the Mercedes Hamilton left for Ferrari. Brundle said: "I think it's sort of bittersweet for Lewis, isn't it? Because Antonelli wins the race in the car Lewis stepped out of to go to Ferrari. But to get a second place there in such a competitive way… For Lewis to get that by overtaking his old rival in Max Verstappen, he'll be thoroughly satisfied with that."
‘Bittersweet' – Martin Brundle poses Lewis Hamilton theory after Canadian Grand Prix
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Mekies on Verstappen racing outside F1 after Nürburgring 24 Hours
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies said the team were “a little bit relieved” to see Max Verstappen come through the Nürburgring 24 Hours unscathed, while backing the four-time Formula 1 champion’s racing outside F1. Mekies said: "Of course, we are a little bit relieved when the race is over, and we know he's going to jump on the plane and join us back. But overall, it's very positive for the sport, for motorsport as a whole, for Max and for the team."
Red Bull express 'relief' after 'spectacular' Max Verstappen exploits
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Mekies on Mercedes leading powertrain pecking order
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies says Mercedes is “ahead of the field” on powertrain performance as Formula 1 waits for the FIA to announce the results of its first ADUO evaluation after the Canadian Grand Prix. Mekies said: "And today we think the pecking order is Mercedes, in terms of the powertrain, ahead of the field. And that means eight cars, so it is very significant. We think behind them there is a group where we see us, Ferrari, Audi — don't ask me to quote the numbers because it will be gaming — but we certainly see a consistent gap compared to the Mercedes-Benz-powered cars."
ADUO gamesmanship question as FIA evaluates F1 power units
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Norris on Ferrari as Monaco favourites
Lando Norris says Ferrari are likely to be the team to beat at next weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, even though Mercedes have taken pole position and won all five races so far this season. Norris said: "Honestly, I think the Ferrari will be on pole next weekend in Monaco. Their low-speed performance is far better than everyone else."
Lando Norris hands Mercedes fierce warning as F1 streak predicted to end
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Column: George Russell suffered hammer blow - but still holds vital edge in F1 title fight
Gucci to become Alpine title sponsor
Gucci will become Alpine’s title sponsor from 2027 in a multi-year deal, marking the Italian fashion house’s first move into Formula 1 and replacing BWT as the team’s main backer. Alpine said the team will be renamed the Gucci Racing Alpine F1 Team, with a new black-and-gold Gucci Racing identity unveiled and Gucci branding set to feature prominently on the 2027 car, alongside bespoke paddock and performance products for team personnel. Gucci said it is joining F1 now because it sees the championship’s audience and reach as a strong fit for the brand, with president and CEO Francesca Bellettini saying: "F1 represents today a unique convergence of performance, culture, and global reach, and Alpine is the right partner to bring this vision to life."
Alpine brings Gucci into F1 as new title sponsor
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Domenicali on contingency plans for Qatar and Abu Dhabi races
F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali says Formula 1 has “a contingency plan” if the season-ending Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix cannot go ahead amid ongoing instability in the Middle East. Domenicali said: "I can confirm that we have a contingency plan. And if the two end-of-year races cannot take place because the war is not over, we will have other alternatives."
F1 confirm 'contingency plan' for 2026 grand prix calendar
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Domenicali on support for V8 engines with sustainable fuels
Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali says he supports the proposed return to V8 engines, after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said he is keen to reintroduce them for the next cycle of regulations while keeping sustainable fuels. Domenicali said: "1,000%, I've always said so. I fully support the vision of the FIA president. With sustainable fuel, lighter cars, and V8 engines, we rediscover the pure essence of motorsport. That's what I've always loved."
F1 issue clear stance on return of V8 engines
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Hamilton on managing battery use to keep Verstappen behind
Lewis Hamilton said he was relieved to keep Max Verstappen behind after passing him for second place late on in the Canadian Grand Prix, as he managed Ferrari’s battery use because of what he described as a power deficit on the straights. Hamilton said: "Even if we have the overtake, even in overtake [mode] they still have more power in the straights. So, finding a way, I was just having to do these calculations, trying to figure out how to maximise the amount of power on my battery bar each straight and make sure that I have enough at that particular point. Thank God I managed to pull it off. And it's a great feeling when you overtake as well. So, these cars are awesome to be able to follow."
Lewis Hamilton relief after intense Max Verstappen 'hunt': 'Thank God'
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