Russell on learning Mercedes W17 sweet spot
George Russell says he is still learning how to consistently get Mercedes’ 2026 W17 into its “sweet spot” as he heads to his home British Grand Prix at Silverstone after winning the Austrian Grand Prix. Russell said: "The game plan is just to be as fast as possible. I think I've got 100% confidence in myself but I'm still gaining confidence of how to get the car in the sweet spot. Last year, if you were to ask me ahead of a session how confident are you that the car is going to be in a good place and you're going to nail the lap, that confidence level was far higher because I understood the car and tyres much more than I do this year but it's improving every race I do."
Russell still seeking “sweet spot” of Mercedes W17
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Verstappen on Russell's pole lap under yellow flags
Max Verstappen says George Russell did nothing wrong by completing his Austrian Grand Prix pole lap under single-waved yellow flags after Verstappen’s Q3 crash, but believes it should not have been possible to finish the lap in that situation. Verstappen said: "Now you can read the rules really well and you complete your lap and you're allowed to keep it. But I think, first of all, it should not have been a single yellow. That is at least double yellow or a red. That the driver then of course optimises around it, I think that's fair play. I probably would have tried to do the same - that's just how it goes."
Max Verstappen on George Russell's Austrian GP pole: 'I would have done the same'
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Norris on belief he can beat any driver
Lando Norris said he believes he can beat “any driver” after being asked whether he could beat Max Verstappen in the same car, amid reports of informal talks between McLaren and Verstappen’s camp during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend. Norris said: "I do believe I can… but I think we have to just word it carefully. I do believe I can beat any driver."
"I believe I can beat any driver" – Lando Norris would welcome Max Verstappen as McLaren team-mate
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Norris on McLaren closing its development gap
Lando Norris says everyone at McLaren must “do a better job” than their Formula 1 rivals if the team is to close its development gap after his seventh-place finish at the Austrian Grand Prix. Norris said: "Every single individual in McLaren needs to do a better job than every other person in Formula 1, and I believe it's possible. I have a very good faith in my team. I think the fact we can be so close when we know that there's so much more potential that we have is still a good sign for the future. So, I'm still optimistic. We just need to get it going."
Lando Norris launches fiery McLaren war cry
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‘Not where we want to be': Norris cautious on Silverstone prospects
British GP set for attendance record
Silverstone says this weekend’s British Grand Prix will set a new Formula 1 attendance record, estimating around 565,000 fan visits across the three days (counted per day), with a record 175,000 expected on Sunday. Silverstone CEO Stuart Pringle attributed the growth to demand for the sprint, “thoughtful” Friday pricing and added off-track entertainment, saying: “This year there are two chances to see a Formula 1 race in Great Britain.”
British GP claims 2026 event will smash F1's attendance record
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🚩 F1 drivers should get grid penalties for causing red and yellow flags in qualifying - at least, that's what Carlos Sainz reckons:
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Orihara on Honda's Dutch GP power unit upgrade
Honda trackside general manager and chief engineer Shintaro Orihara said the upgraded Honda power unit targeted for the Dutch Grand Prix will not be enough to catch Mercedes or Red Bull Powertrains in a single step. Orihara said: "There is no magic in Formula 1, so I don't think we're going to catch up with, let's say, Mercedes or RBPT by one step. The performance development is step by step, so Netherlands is a first step, to do a reasonable step, but we need another further step for the future."
Honda makes Mercedes and Red Bull admission in new engine ‘target'
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Leclerc on Ferrari backing Hamilton amid title contention
Charles Leclerc says there has been no shift inside Ferrari towards backing Lewis Hamilton, despite Hamilton moving into title contention this season. Leclerc said: "I don't think there's been a particular shift in the garage. A performance swing can happen. Last year it was one way, this year it's another way. And as a driver, you just focus on your side. Of course, teams come first, but I don't really want to think about it as of now."
Leclerc insists there's no shift towards backing Hamilton over him at Ferrari
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Hamilton on advising Ferrari engineers on Silverstone setup
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari’s engineers have been asking for his advice on how to set up the car at Silverstone, with the British Grand Prix being a Sprint weekend that leaves teams with only one practice session. Hamilton said: "My engineers, they have been asking me like, 'How did you do it? What did you do? How do you normally run the car?' And so, I hope that I've steered them in the right direction. But we only have one practice session, so it's going to be definitely a challenge throughout."
Lewis Hamilton gives Ferrari crucial Silverstone set-up edge before Sprint challenge
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Sainz on Williams front wing upgrade at Silverstone
Carlos Sainz says he does not “expect any miracles” from Williams’ new front wing upgrade being run at Silverstone. Sainz said: "I'm optimistic. I think everyone in the team is hopeful that we can help and improve the situation. We obviously know it's not going to be a game changer in terms of we're not going to be suddenly the leaders of the midfield with this upgrade, but just get to try to get us back in the fight. This front wing should hopefully try and bring us closer. But I also don't expect any miracles."
Sainz doesn't “expect any miracles” as Williams runs new upgrade at Silverstone
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Hamilton on Silverstone fan support boosting his motivation
Lewis Hamilton says the support he gets from fans at Silverstone has an immediate impact on him at the British Grand Prix, lifting his motivation as soon as he heads out on track. Hamilton said: "There's something incredibly special about racing at home, at the track I grew up watching, in front of family, friends, and the fans who have supported me for so many years. From the moment you leave the garage, you can feel the energy, see the flags, hear the noise; it creates an incredible atmosphere and it lifts you straight away! That support means so much, and it absolutely adds to my motivation."
Lewis Hamilton reveals 'incredibly special' immediate Silverstone impact
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Hamilton on Ferrari's straight-line deficit at Silverstone
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari’s straight-line deficit to Mercedes could be “twice as big” at this weekend’s British Grand Prix because of the power deployment demands of the 2026 cars at Silverstone. Hamilton said: "It's not that I'm not confident, it's the fact that we've got long straights. I think this is going to be the most unprecedented weekend in terms of the power deployment. All us drivers are talking, have been talking on the driver's chat [about] just how poor the power is going to be through this track. We run out of battery power, there's only a few corners to charge the engine, so the K will be switched off for a large portion of the lap. That's where we will struggle probably the most. The deficit could be twice as big."
Ferrari deficit to double? Lewis Hamilton braced for ‘unprecedented' British GP
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Russell on Silverstone racing under 2026 energy management
George Russell says Silverstone should produce better racing at the British Grand Prix, even if increased energy management with the 2026 cars means slower single-lap qualifying. Russell said: "I think Silverstone will be great. With these regs, we knew there were going to be some tracks that are more difficult than others for 22 drivers to experience. On the flip side, the tracks that are most challenging for the energy such as Melbourne, China, they have so far produced better racing than we've seen in the past of those tracks. There's no doubt the tracks that are energy starved the racing will be better. But for sure, a single-lap qualifying is not going to be as fast as we've seen in the years gone by."
George Russell: Energy-starved Silverstone will have better racing – like Australia and China
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Leclerc on tough Silverstone and Spa races for Ferrari
Charles Leclerc says the next two races at Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps will be “very tough” for Ferrari, even though the team believes it has pinpointed what caused his lack of performance in the Austrian Grand Prix. Leclerc said: "I think we pinpointed a few things that played a big role into the lack of performance on Sunday. We'll change that. It's also fair to say that the next two races will be, I think, very tough for the team. The best thing I can do is to keep my head down and keep pushing no matter where we are fighting."
Leclerc bracing for ‘very tough' F1 run for vulnerable Ferrari
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Newey on time with Alonso and Stroll at Aston Martin
Adrian Newey says he has been “guilty” of not spending enough time with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll as Aston Martin works towards an upgrade package it hopes will be ready for Hungary. Newey said: "I think if people don't feel as if they're being heard, they get very frustrated – it's a human reaction, so I've absolutely been guilty of not spending enough time with Fernando and Lance back here, so I'm going through exactly what we are trying to achieve with the upgrade package, and as I say, going into next season."
Adrian Newey admits to feeling of ‘guilt' over Aston Martin error as F1 upgrade nears
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Piastri on Verstappen-McLaren talks and his contract reassurance
Oscar Piastri says reported talks between Max Verstappen’s management team and McLaren do not concern him because he has received reassurances that the team are happy with him. Piastri said: "It doesn't really mean much to me. I think Max doesn't need to be spoken about much in terms of his talent. I've got a contract in place, multiple reassurances that the team are very happy with me and I'm very happy with the team."
Piastri on the reported talks between Verstappen and McLaren
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Alonso on factors in his post-2026 decision
Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin’s major upgrade package, due to arrive at the Hungarian Grand Prix, will not be the only factor in his decision on whether to continue racing beyond 2026, with his contract up for renewal at the end of the season. Alonso said: "It will not be just that. I think it's a combination of things. Also how the sport is and, as I said, the next two races are going to be tough in terms of energy management and [whether it is] fun to drive, so that also has to be in the equation. It will not only be how fast we are in Hungary, there are more things on the table."
Alonso plays down upgrade role in Aston Martin future
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Hamilton on extracting more from Ferrari at Silverstone
Lewis Hamilton says he is hoping to “squeeze more juice” from his Ferrari at the British Grand Prix, with the Sprint format leaving only one practice session to fine-tune the car. Hamilton said: "It's huge. It ultimately puts more emphasis on simulations. It's just all about being as adaptive as you can be. So I'm hopeful that we've done the best prep possible for this weekend, both in setup and in our aero package. But I'm sure through the free practice session, we'll just have more and see if we can squeeze any more juice out of this baby."
Lewis Hamilton hoping to 'squeeze juice' ahead of 'huge' Silverstone challenge
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Russell on yellow flag handling after Verstappen's qualifying crash
George Russell admitted his pole-winning lap in Austrian Grand Prix qualifying should have been ended by double yellow flags after Max Verstappen’s crash, but said the FIA have been applying a driver-backed approach that usually keeps incidents under single yellows. Russell said: "So that was kind of the rule of thumb that has been taken forward, that whenever there's an incident in qualifying, it would be a single yellow. So, should that incident have been a double yellow? Of course it should have been. But there are many times in the past where drivers say it shouldn't have been a double yellow, and single yellow is sufficient, so it's not an easy job they have."
George Russell makes honest admission over Austrian GP pole controversy
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