Sainz on Williams not yet reaching expected level
Carlos Sainz said Williams is “not where we want to be”, as he pointed to the end of the year as the target for the team to get back to its expected level after finishing ninth with Alex Albon 10th in Miami. Sainz said: "Still, I expect everyone at home to know that this is still not where we want to be, even if it feels to everyone that it's a bit of a relief because of getting two cars in the points. Even if it's on merit, it's definitely a good step, but we need to keep on pushing because it's not where we expected to be at the end of last year when we were hoping for 2026. Hopefully, by the end of the year, we can get back to where we want to be."
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Sainz on 2026 energy rule tweaks for qualifying
Williams driver Carlos Sainz says the FIA’s latest tweaks to energy harvesting and deployment under Formula 1’s 2026 regulations still do not go far enough for qualifying, even though he plans to be less negative about it in public. Sainz said: "Not for qualifying. I think for quali there's still a long way to go. As I said, I'm not going to criticise it anymore. I'm just trying to be productive to keep insisting that this is not good enough for F1. But it seems like at least the racing was a bit better. We need to keep improving."
Carlos Sainz isn't “going to criticise it anymore” – but still says 2026 F1 rules are “not good enough"
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Stella on Mercedes still being faster than McLaren in Miami
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says Mercedes still has the faster car than McLaren despite the upgrade package the team brought to the Miami Grand Prix. Stella said: "I think there's a few indications of a different nature, but all quantitative, that tell a picture that Mercedes is a faster car. I think qualifying [on Saturday], we saw that Mercedes don't have any problem with deployment, like they had in sprint qualifying and, on average, if we see the behaviour of the cars in the corners, they are faster than us. The corners in which they are mainly faster than us are the high-speed corners."
McLaren identify key F1 deficit to Mercedes
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Leclerc on criticism of F1's 2026 engine regulations
Charles Leclerc says he is "a bit of an outsider" over criticism of Formula 1's 2026 engine regulations, with the Ferrari driver arguing the racing has not changed as much as some of his rivals suggest. "I've always disagreed a little bit with that," Leclerc said. "For at least the fights I've had with the guys in front, when you've got cars that have a system and use it in a similar way to yours, actually, the overtaking is really good. It's a bit more strategic than last year, but last year was also strategic with the DRS... so I don't think it has changed significantly."
Charles Leclerc makes startling 'outsider' admission over controversial F1 rules
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Rushbrook on talks over Verstappen racing a Ford at Le Mans
Ford Racing boss Mark Rushbrook said the manufacturer would “love” to see Red Bull driver Max Verstappen race the Le Mans 24 Hours in a Ford hypercar, after confirming the two sides have held talks about a possible future entry. Rushbrook said: "We would love to see that. A lot of things need to align for that to happen, but that would of course be incredible for us, for the sport. Depending on the schedules, it could be during [his F1 career] or both [during and after his F1 career]. Discussions go back three-plus years. It’s just looking for the right opportunity with the right programs.”
Max Verstappen in confirmed talks over potential Le Mans 24 Hours entry
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Leclerc on Hamilton's preparation at Ferrari
Charles Leclerc says Lewis Hamilton’s approach to preparation is the foundation of his record-breaking success after studying “every single thing” his Ferrari team-mate does. Leclerc said: "Since the day Lewis arrived in the team, for me, it was a huge opportunity to learn from him. I analysed every single thing he does as a preparation, all the way to when he jumps into the car. But I think the approach is what made him have all the success that he's had in the past."
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Perez on Cadillac's push to find performance in debut season
Sergio Perez says Cadillac are “in a massive hurry to find performance” in their debut Formula 1 season after battling Aston Martin at the Miami Grand Prix, because he expects their rivals to improve and does not want Cadillac to be left behind. Perez said: "Still a long season, but obviously we are in a massive hurry to find performance because we know Aston is going to be improving and we don't want to be left behind."
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Mekies on Red Bull recruiting externally if needed
Laurent Mekies says Red Bull will “happily” recruit from rival teams if it needs specific skills or experience, while still aiming to promote internally as it plans for Gianpiero Lambiase leaving to join McLaren. Mekies said: "If and when we need to go and get a specific set of skills or experience from some of our dear competitors around the pit lane, we will do it. We go and give the best chance to our talents and if we need to go elsewhere to inject, we will do it happily."
Mekies insists Red Bull will 'happily' poach talent
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Vesti on completing close to 1,000 simulator laps before Miami
Mercedes third driver Fred Vesti said he completed close to 1,000 laps on the simulator during the five-week break between the Japanese and Miami Grands Prix. Vesti said: "Closer to a thousand, I think, before Miami. And also, after. I flew straight back here to Brackley, straight back into the sim."
Fred Vesti reveals huge Mercedes F1 simulator push before Miami GP
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Sainz on active aero creating DRS train racing in 2026
Carlos Sainz says Formula 1 and FIA bosses need to address “DRS train” style racing created by the new active aero system in 2026, after he felt overtaking was effectively impossible when the car ahead was in “straight mode” in Miami. Sainz said: "I think we just need to find a solution to when the car in front is in [straight] mode, as overtaking is impossible. It is very similar to the DRS train, and maybe we could find something, but the racing has never really been the problem of these regulations."
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Hamilton on tyre blankets for full wet tyres
Lewis Hamilton says Pirelli should use tyre blankets on full wet tyres, after asking for them to be fitted during a “painful” wet-weather tyre test at Ferrari’s Fiorano track. Lewis Hamilton said: "Fiorano was painful because it was 300 laps over two days. They've made a change to the blankets for the intermediates, and that's something I suggested and pushed for it and it was amazing. It was great to see them take a step, and I've also said that they have to put the blankets back on the extreme [wet] tyres when it is the slipperiest of conditions."
Lewis Hamilton reveals F1 demand after 'painful' experience
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Mekies on Red Bull's step forward in Miami qualifying
Laurent Mekies says Red Bull have made a “definitive step forward”, pointing to a much smaller gap to pole position in qualifying at the Miami Grand Prix compared with Japan and China. Mekies said: "Yes, there is a definitive step forward. We left Japan 1.2 seconds away from pole, China 1.0 seconds away from pole. So to see us this weekend qualifying six tenths away from pole on Friday and less than two tenths away from pole on Saturday is a big indication of the size of our progress. What number is the correct one? We don't know, but compared to where we were, it's something much better than anything we have been able to show this year."
Laurent Mekies pinpoints 'big indication' of Red Bull F1 recovery
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Mekies on Red Bull's work to improve car consistency in Miami
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said the team’s stronger pace in Miami was helped by work during the five-week break to give Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar a more consistent car they could push with confidence, alongside its usual development upgrades. Mekies said: "After Suzuka on Sunday night, we said, look, regardless of our performance deficit overall in terms of development, compared to where we were late last year, regardless of that, we do not give, at the moment, a consistent car to our drivers, a car they can push with confidence, lap to lap, corner to corner. That was most of the work that has been done in these five weeks' break, in addition to the normal development."
Red Bull reveals how Miami breakthrough came from more than RB22 upgrades
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Wolff on Antonelli's best race so far in Miami
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says Kimi Antonelli’s Miami Grand Prix victory was the Italian’s best race so far and reminded him of his junior-category success, with a “faultless” performance. Wolff said: "I know track limits are on the mistakes. It's easier to calm someone down that is wild, because you won't be able to accelerate a donkey. So for me, that was his best race so far, and it reminds me of his karting days or Formula 4. There were no mistakes."
Kimi Antonelli's F1 Miami victory a flashback for Toto Wolff
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Alonso on Aston Martin delaying small upgrades
Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin are right to hold off on bringing small upgrades during their struggling 2026 campaign because marginal gains would not change their position until the team can unlock a much bigger step with its Honda-powered AMR26. Alonso said: "I'm at peace because I understand the situation. The team explained to me that if we bring one or two tenths every race, it doesn't change our position, we are P20 or P19 and the next car is one second in front. So, even if we bring two tenths every race, it doesn't change our position and it's a huge stress in the system, in the budget cap and things like that. Until we don't have one second and a half or two second improvement, it's better not to press the button in production because we waste money."
Alonso ‘at peace' with Aston’s ‘wait for big gains’ upgrade strategy
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Hinchcliffe on Russell ending Antonelli's winning streak in Canada
F1 TV presenter James Hinchcliffe says Mercedes driver George Russell could end team-mate Kimi Antonelli’s winning streak at the Canadian Grand Prix because Russell has been “very competitive” at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Hinchcliffe said: "Nothing lasts forever in Formula 1, right? And we're going to a track next that we know George Russell is very competitive at. He won there last year. It'll be interesting to see how he handles it if George goes there and is able to get the momentum back on his side. How does he handle that wave ebbing and flowing?"
Kimi Antonelli sent George Russell warning ahead of Canadian GP by F1 presenter
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Herta on unusual pedal technique before Cadillac FP1 debut
Colton Herta says he has a “weird” cockpit habit of pushing the pedals with his toes rather than with his heel planted, which is why he does not like using a heel rest as he prepares for his Cadillac Formula 1 debut in Barcelona FP1. Herta said: "The only thing that's weird about me is I don't like to run a heel rest, and that's because when I push the pedal, instead of going on like this, I actually push with my toes, and so my heel comes up. And so if I run a heel rest, then I can't get forward with my heel. It kind of stops it."
Colton Herta reveals ‘weird' pedal habit ahead of Cadillac F1 debut
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Pin on Formula 1 becoming a goal after Mercedes test
2025 F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin says racing in Formula 1 is now a goal rather than a dream after testing a Mercedes F1 car. Pin said: "But from when I was nine until a few years ago, it was a dream - Formula 1. And now it's a goal. It's a bit different. And now I have proved to myself that I can be fast in a Formula 1 car, I don't know what to say to my nine-year-old Doriane, but I think that it's important to follow what is inside your heart, and your gut."
Doriane Pin says F1 dream is now a goal after Mercedes test
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Steiner on time limit for post-race penalties
Guenther Steiner says Formula 1 should introduce a time limit for post-race penalties after stewards at the Miami Grand Prix took about two and a half hours after the chequered flag to begin issuing verdicts. Steiner said: "The stewards because I was sitting in the airplane already going back home when I heard that there was still penalties going around. So I'm just thinking, we need to decide it after the race, but I think there needs to be a time limit. If you don't know, guess what? Don't give a penalty."
Guenther Steiner hits out at Miami GP stewards as he calls for time limit on post-race penalties
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Wolff on possible V8 return with hybrid electrification
Toto Wolff says Mercedes is open to a future return of V8 engines in Formula 1 as long as it keeps a meaningful level of electrification, with the Mercedes team principal setting out a hybrid “mega-engine” idea. Wolff said: "From a Mercedes standpoint, we are open to new engine regulations. We love V8s, that has only great memories, and from our perspective, it is a pure Mercedes engine. It revs high [but] then how do we give it enough energy from the battery side to not lose a connection to the real world? Because if we swing 100% to combustion, we might end up looking a bit ridiculous in 2031, or 2030. So we need to consider that and make it a mega-engine. Maybe we can extract 800 horsepower from the ICE and put 400 on top of it, or more, in terms of electric energy."
Wolff: Mercedes ready for V8 revival with 1,200 bhp ‘mega engine'
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Mekies on Red Bull support for future V8 or V10 engines
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies says the company would welcome Formula 1 switching from turbo hybrids back to normally-aspirated V8 or V10 engines for the next engine cycle, after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the change could happen in 2030 or 2031 with battery systems in place. Mekies said: "As Red Bull Powertrains, we are pretty cool with it. So we are quite excited to have another challenge, and we are probably a bit more flexible and independent. We don't have the background history, but we are quite excited about the new challenge."
Red Bull declare stance over looming radical F1 rule change
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