Mekies on Verstappen's Monaco qualifying and race unknowns
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said Max Verstappen was “very impressive” in qualifying at the Monaco Grand Prix, but that it is impossible to know what the Dutchman could have achieved in the race after a power unit failure forced his immediate retirement. Mekies said: "I think it's a path we will never know. Everything I would say is complete speculation. Whether or not Max would have been able to challenge that pace again, we will never know. But certainly, the level at which Max was running in qualifying — not just on one lap, but in Q2 and his two attempts in Q3 — was very impressive."
Max Verstappen handed 'very impressive' praise as major unknown remains
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Verstappen on Red Bull's unknowns in hotter Barcelona conditions
Max Verstappen says Red Bull still have “so many unknowns” about how their car will perform in the hotter conditions expected at this weekend’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Verstappen said: "Great memories here in general but at the same time, there are still so many unknowns for us that we first have to see how it goes in practice. I have no idea at the moment how these tyres are going to operate with the hotter temperatures. That's why I think in practice it's important to get a basic understanding of what's going on, what we need to do. I think at the moment it's still a little bit unknown."
Verstappen coy on Red Bull's Barcelona chances
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Norris on McLaren seeking reassurance after Monaco weekend
Lando Norris says the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix weekend should give McLaren “reassurances and some confidence” after what he called a “shocking” Monaco weekend that ended with him retiring because of a power unit issue. Norris said: "I think [this is] a weekend where it'll give us some reassurances and some confidence. I think we're being harsh on ourselves because Monaco was that bad. It wasn't even just a poor performance, it was a shocking performance. Montreal was not a bad weekend. Miami was a pretty great weekend."
Norris seeking ‘reassurances and confidence' in Barcelona
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Everything we've learned at the Barcelona GP so far
Antonelli on lessons from his 2025 rookie-season slump
Kimi Antonelli says he is “very grateful” for the difficult mid-season slump he went through during his rookie Formula 1 campaign in 2025 because it helped him grow and learn more about himself. Antonelli said: "Last year was definitely a big feature. I would doubt a lot about myself, especially during that period, that difficult period in Europe. I think also last year, during the difficult period, I got to know myself better. So definitely, considering how bad it was in the moment, actually, I'm very grateful that it happened because it made me grow a lot and it taught me a lot about myself as well."
Why Kimi Antonelli is "grateful" for mid-season slump in F1 2025
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Hamilton on Ferrari's title hopes through car development
Lewis Hamilton says “never say never” about challenging Mercedes for this year’s Formula 1 title, as he believes Ferrari can still make gains through car development ahead of this weekend’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Hamilton said: "In terms of the title, I think we can still out-do people in terms of how we develop the car. Our car is very good, the downforce package that we have is really good. We're going to have to double up, make sure that we're always one step ahead of everyone in terms of advancing so we can go through the corners quicker and catch up the deficit we may lose down the straights. We can improve efficiency, so we can maybe improve on drag to try and close that gap in speed. So never say never."
'Never say never' – Hamilton gives verdict on title chances
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Hamilton on Ferrari moving in the right direction in 2026
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari are “moving in the right direction” but their current level in 2026 is “not it”, as he prepares for this weekend’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Hamilton said: "It's going to be tough to beat Mercedes and we're just working on trying to focus on ourselves and improve each weekend. But this is just the beginning really for us as a team. Obviously from a difficult year [in 2025] seeing the changes into this season it's just really positive and I think we're moving in the right direction. But this is not it. We've got more to come; we've got more improvements to make."
'This is just the beginning!' Hamilton sees 'magical place' for Ferrari
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Leclerc on standing by Monaco brake comments
Charles Leclerc says he stands by the remarks he made after crashing out in Monaco, when he blamed a “borderline dangerous” brake issue and prompted a response from Ferrari’s official brake partner Brembo. Leclerc said: "No, but yeah, again, I don't want to speak too much about what happened. I rarely speak quickly, but if I do, it's because I've checked beforehand, so I don't have much to add."
Charles Leclerc doubles down on contentious remarks that triggered Ferrari partner statement
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Gasly Monaco penalty review due Friday
Pierre Gasly and Alpine will not learn until Friday the outcome of their right of review over his two five-second Monaco Grand Prix penalties for pitlane speeding, which dropped him from third to seventh. The FIA stewards ruled Alpine’s request admissible after the team produced new evidence, including F1 management data indicating the pitlane distance measuring system was “inaccurate and overestimated the speed” of Gasly’s car, with a decision now expected on Friday morning in Barcelona. Gasly said: “I don't want to say too much until the hearing is done,” adding: “It's fair to say this was the hardest day I've ever had in F1, and in my sport career, sporting wise.”
Pierre Gasly's Monaco GP penalty review outcome expected on Friday
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🔵 Verstappen: 2027 engine changes are heading in 'the right direction'
"I do think that it was nice to see that changes are being made, of course, already this year, but then also for next year. Of course, I would have hoped that next year would have been already, let's say, what we get in 2028. But I also understand that there is sometimes politics involved for that. But at least the changes that they are making are heading in the right direction. So I guess that's it. Yeah, that's a good thing."
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Russell on seeking a smooth weekend in Barcelona
George Russell says he is “dying to have a smooth weekend” at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix after what he described as an up-and-down start to the 2026 season, including a Monaco race in which pit-lane speeding penalties cost him a podium. Russell said: "It's like I said in Monaco, I'm just dying to have a smooth weekend. I'm not asking for the world to give me luck, I just want neutral luck. That's how it goes in racing sometimes. I've had six races. Monaco and Miami, honestly speaking, my performance wasn't strong enough. The other four, I think my performances have been very strong. I didn't need any good fortune, just normality."
Russell ‘dying for a smooth weekend' in Barcelona
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Russell on Monaco Grand Prix drive-through penalty
George Russell said there was “no turning back” once he served his Monaco Grand Prix drive-through penalty, after his original five-second sanction became a harsher punishment when Mercedes failed to serve it correctly. Russell said: "It was kind of why I was pleading with the FIA and the red flag to not serve that drive-through penalty and to at least penalise me after the race if they feel it was justifiable because once you serve the penalty there's no turning back."
Russell makes key admission about Monaco F1 penalty nightmare
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Hadjar on potentially losing Monaco podium after Alpine review
Isack Hadjar says it would be “a shame” but he would not be too bothered if he was stripped of his Monaco Grand Prix podium, with Alpine seeking a review over Pierre Gasly’s two pit-lane speeding penalties that dropped Gasly from third to seventh. Hadjar said: "That would be a shame for my history in Monaco because it would just look good that I signed my contract for Red Bull in Monaco after winning a race and having my first podium for Red Bull in Monaco. It just sounds good. The only downside would be the three points taken away from me, the podium I had, the emotions were there, so it would be three points less."
Isack Hadjar responds to potentially losing Monaco GP podium
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Leclerc on Monaco retirement that still hurts
Charles Leclerc says his Monaco Grand Prix retirement “still hurts” as he heads into the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, after a brakes issue sent the Ferrari driver into the barriers while running in the final podium position. Leclerc said: "Monaco hurts, but it's the way it is now. I cannot change that anymore and I've got to look forward. It still hurts, Monaco. I'm pretty good normally at moving on, but I think this one hurts because it's also home."
Leclerc admits Monaco retirement ‘still hurts'
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Six months on, Formula 1 returns to Barcelona
Verstappen on Red Bull confusion over FIA ADUO rankings
Max Verstappen says Red Bull are “confused” by the FIA’s initial ADUO rankings that put the team’s new power unit at the top and therefore limit further development, with Red Bull asking the FIA to take another look at the data. Verstappen said: "We just feel surprised because we don't feel like we are the best. So yes, in a way of course we are proud. We're just a bit confused with suddenly being portrayed as the best because we don't feel like that."
Max Verstappen “confused” by FIA verdict that makes Red Bull engine F1's benchmark
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F1 - 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Thursday Press Conference Transcript
Antonelli on remaining questions despite championship lead
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli says there are still "questions" about how far he can go, despite opening a 66-point championship lead after six races. Antonelli said: "There are questions that still need to be answered on my side - how much further I can go in a short period of time, how much I can push myself even further and how much I can grow and how big is the potential?"
Antonelli says he still has questions to answer
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Antonelli on enjoying weekends and driving without self-doubt
Kimi Antonelli says enjoying every Formula 1 weekend and driving without self-doubt has been a “big factor” in his performances this season, ahead of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Antonelli said: "One thing I said to myself at the start of the year is try and enjoy as much as possible all the weekends, all the times I go in the car. I feel like when I do so, I'm able to extract and maximise my performance so it's been a helpful factor. Also [it] helps me drive relaxed and not as tense as I was last year. That's definitely playing a big factor."
Antonelli names 'big factor' in his performances so far
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Hamilton on Red Bull Powertrains topping FIA engine evaluation
Lewis Hamilton said it was “definitely a surprise” to hear Red Bull Powertrains had been judged as Formula 1’s best engine in the FIA’s ADUO evaluation process, after he discussed the outcome in Monaco before any official FIA announcement. Hamilton said: "It is definitely a surprise, because the Red Bull and Mercedes engines are very, very close. Red Bull has done an amazing job with their engine, but so has Mercedes, and I heard there was someone who went from Mercedes to Red Bull. They've done something that no one thought they'd do in such a short space of time as a new engine manufacturer, and fair play to them."
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Leclerc on brake disc switch to address braking confidence issues
Charles Leclerc says he will switch to the Carbone Industrie brake discs Lewis Hamilton has been using as he tries to solve the braking confidence issues he has been battling at recent races ahead of this weekend’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Leclerc said: "I think it's clear now that we are probably going to change a little bit the configuration. How much it will change? I still have to test it and to see how much it will change. I don't expect a revolution, however, in some particular cases, I expect it to be easier to manage. I will see tomorrow and see how it feels."
Charles Leclerc confirms major Ferrari brake decision for Barcelona
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Hulkenberg on Russell's Monaco restart backing up the field
Nico Hulkenberg said George Russell backing up the field at the red-flag restart in Monaco created the “chaos” that led to his contact with Carlos Sainz, for which he was later given a 10-second penalty. Hulkenberg said: "I watched the replay. For me, it all starts with George backing up the whole field, trying to create a gap for his penalty, which obviously creates a mess and chaos and, especially Monaco, cars are tripping over each other."
Nico Hulkenberg raises George Russell factor in Monaco GP penalty controversy
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