Leclerc on recent Ferrari step forward and remaining limitations
Charles Leclerc says he is still not performing at the level he wants despite a recent step forward with Ferrari, after winning the British Grand Prix and finishing second at the Belgian Grand Prix. Leclerc said: "I'm confident in saying that I made a step forward. Whether I'm at the level where I want to perform, not yet. There are still things in the car that I need to drive around. I cannot drive completely naturally, and that is slowing me down in some parts of the race. But surely it was a step forward, and for that I'm happy."
Charles Leclerc makes Ferrari declaration despite surprise F1 turnaround
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Komatsu on Haas upgrades and VF-26 handling limits
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu said the team’s recent upgrades have delivered the downforce it expected, but the VF-26 still has fundamental handling characteristics that mean the performance is not always usable. Komatsu said: "We brought new parts in Montreal. They have delivered mostly on the areas we expected. The issues we have, when you talk about under-delivery, that's not linked to the upgraded package. It's from race one, Bahrain testing. I think the upgrades have delivered the performance, but the issue is something else, the characteristics. The downforce itself is delivered. But is it a usable downforce or not? Not really, depending on circuit."
Haas upgrades are working but the search for performance continues
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Colapinto on Alpine needing to improve a too-slow car
Franco Colapinto says Alpine are “too slow” and need to improve their car, despite him scoring a point at the Belgian Grand Prix to keep the team level with Racing Bulls on 61 points in the midfield battle. Colapinto said: "We need to improve the car a lot, we are too slow at the moment. Even though we maximised the weekend with a good Quali and a good race, the car needs to be quicker and we are just losing quite a lot of lap time in some corners compared to the Audis and the [Racing Bulls]."
Alpine holds midfield lead but drivers admit: “We're too slow”
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F1 drivers have become hostages to AI
Fornaroli, Hirakawa and Aron in FP1
McLaren junior Leonardo Fornaroli will replace Oscar Piastri in FP1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix, marking his second grand prix weekend outing of 2026. Haas will also run a rookie in first practice, with Toyota's Ryo Hirakawa driving Oliver Bearman’s car, while Alpine reserve Paul Aron will stand in for Franco Colapinto for his third FP1 session of the season. F1 teams must field rookies in four FP1 sessions per year, split two per car.
Piastri, Colapinto, Bearman to skip FP1 as rookie drivers join F1 Hungary weekend
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Verstappen on his radio exchanges with Red Bull
Max Verstappen says his pointed radio exchanges with Red Bull during the Belgian Grand Prix are part of keeping the team sharp, and that he “demands the most and the best” from those around him. Verstappen said: "Well, all the things that you mentioned were not related to each other. The tyres were cold, and looking at the laptop was about other stuff. I just like to keep people on their toes. I know that everyone is doing their best, but we are not here for fun, so we have to keep being sharp at every time during the race. I demand the most and the best because that's also what they expect from me."
Max Verstappen 'keeping people on their toes' with Red Bull 'demand'
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Resta on Russell's Belgian GP energy deployment deficit
Mercedes deputy technical director Simone Resta said the team is still struggling to understand the causes of George Russell’s energy deployment deficit at the Belgian Grand Prix. Resta said: "We've had some problems with the deployment on George's car that we really need to understand and bottom out going to the next event. George studied that quite a lot and was able to change it and adapt going into Spa, but still, we can still see some difference in the deployment between these two cars."
Mercedes "still struggling" to understand George Russell's deployment issues
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Wolff on Mercedes rejecting team orders in title fight
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says the team will not use team orders to back Kimi Antonelli’s Formula 1 title bid, despite Antonelli leading team-mate George Russell by 50 points after the Belgian Grand Prix. Wolff said: "Since Barcelona, we would in any case always give preference to the race victory. And if it meant that Kimi or George were ahead, this is what we would do. This is a constructors' championship as much as a drivers' championship. We would never take a victory away from any of the drivers. So if it is George who is ahead, even though he's behind in the championship, at that stage of the season, we wouldn't do that."
Mercedes rejects team orders despite Kimi Antonelli's 50-point lead
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How F1 drivers have become hostages to AI in 2026
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