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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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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How 'new' F1 game has included big 2026 quirks
“This is actually an opportunity”: How McLaren answered drivers' calls to abandon tyre gamble
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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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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Round-up: Norris ‘wants to try things outside F1' after Indianapolis visit, and more
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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Leclerc on studying Hamilton's data after difficult Canadian GP
Charles Leclerc says he will study Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton’s data from the Canadian Grand Prix to understand why he struggled in what he called “the most difficult weekend” of his Formula 1 career, despite finishing fourth behind runner-up Hamilton. Leclerc said: "It was a horrible, horrible weekend. I had already said [post-qualifying on Saturday] it was probably the most difficult weekend so far of my Formula 1 career. I've finished the race now and I can definitely say it's the most difficult weekend of my Formula 1 career so far. The good thing, the only positive of the weekend, is that I've got Lewis in the same car and I can look at what he did this weekend and try to get answers on why I was just struggling so much."
How Charles Leclerc will recover from "most difficult weekend" of F1 career
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Colapinto on pit exit slide into wall in Canada
Franco Colapinto said he was relieved to escape with only minor damage after sliding into the wall on the pit exit in Montreal during the Canadian Grand Prix, before going on to finish sixth for his best Formula 1 result. Colapinto said: "I also had a scary moment exiting the pits after my stop, where I hit a wet patch, then went on the white line and drifted towards the wall. Thankfully I hit the wall side on and got away with a small amount of damage, which didn't require repairs or impact the performance."
Colapinto career-best in F1 almost ended in tears in Montreal
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Brundle on Antonelli needing calming after Russell clash
Martin Brundle says Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli is “lucky” to have Toto Wolff and race engineer Peter Bonnington to calm him down after he “lost his head” during a sprint clash with team-mate George Russell at the Canadian Grand Prix. Brundle said: "Kimi lost his head a bit for the duration of the sprint, such that the headmaster Toto Wolff even intervened on the radio. Kimi is lucky to have the wisdom of Bono and Toto at these moments; the rest of us would have just gone straight to the scene of the contact or accident, and recriminations post-race."
Kimi Antonelli 'lucky' to have 'headmaster' Toto Wolff after Montreal tantrum
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Daniel Valente 🏎️
@F1GuyDan
🤯 McLaren's race results in 2026:
• 50% chance of top 5 finish (5/10)
• 50% chance of DNS, DNF or no points (5/10)
There is no in-between.
1d ago
The Race
@wearetherace
Charles Leclerc reckons his poor performance led to the worst weekend of his career so far in an extraordinary, self-deprecating interview in Canada 😬
1d ago
Daniel Valente 🏎️
@F1GuyDan
🚨 Max Verstappen is the 8th driver in F1 history to have a podium in 11+ straight seasons:
• Lewis Hamilton (18)
• Michael Schumacher (15)
• Sebastian Vettel (14)
• Nigel Mansell (12)
• Gerhard Berger (12)
• Fernando Alonso (12)
• Alain Prost (11)
• Max Verstappen (11)
1d ago
Formula 1
@F1
Just two legendary rivals talking through another epic battle 🤝
#F1 #CanadianGP
1d ago
Daniel Valente 🏎️
@F1GuyDan
😳 Only one driver that started the Canadian GP on intermediate tyres ended up scoring points ...
Carlos Sainz.
22h ago
Daniel Valente 🏎️
@F1GuyDan
🚨 Charles Leclerc now holds the longest points-scoring streak in F1 currently after George Russell's retirement.
Charles Leclerc - 8
Lewis Hamilton - 6
Kimi Antonelli - 5
21h ago
Daniel Valente 🏎️
@F1GuyDan
🚨 Franco Colapinto now holds the longest streak of time without a DNF after George Russell's retirement.
It's been well over 500 days since his last DNF at the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP.
20h ago
Russell on Antonelli's championship lead after Canada retirement
George Russell says the Drivers' Championship is Kimi Antonelli's "to lose" after a battery failure forced Russell to retire from the Canadian Grand Prix and left his Mercedes team-mate 43 points clear. Russell said: "Right now, it's his to lose. So many points ahead. It's almost like the gods don't want me to be in this fight... But you know pressure's off, go out, enjoy every single race, try and win every single race, and I've got nothing to lose... Hopefully, the luck turns."
George Russell says title is Kimi Antonelli's ‘to lose’ after Canada DNF
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Tech: How Mercedes and McLaren have locked horns on crucial F1 battleground
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