Stella on McLaren gaining access to Mercedes simulation tools
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says the team are now able to run Mercedes power-unit simulation tools ahead of race weekends and are already seeing the benefit, after previously being “on the back foot” as a customer outfit. Stella said: "I think I've been clear right from the start of the season that we were a bit on the back foot in terms of having this availability. We worked together to make sure that they had become available as soon as possible, and as a matter of fact, now they are starting to be available, and we are definitely taking great benefit."
How access to new tools has given McLaren a boost
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Norris on McLaren having Belgian Grand Prix podium pace
Lando Norris said McLaren’s pace was “easily good enough” to fight for a Belgian Grand Prix podium after finishing seventh. Norris said: "It should have been a lot better today, honestly. The pace was easily good enough for a potential podium. I mean, we just had a terrible pit stop. We were unlucky with the VSCs as well."
Norris vows his pace ‘was easily good enough' for Spa podium
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Antonelli on turnaround from 2025 Belgian Grand Prix low at Spa
Kimi Antonelli says he “reached rock bottom” at last year’s Belgian Grand Prix and could not have imagined being in his current position 12 months later, after winning at Spa on Sunday for Mercedes to extend his lead in the drivers’ championship. Antonelli said: "No, absolutely not. Last year here, I probably reached the bottom, so it was a very difficult weekend for me mentally. But this year was definitely a lot better. If you had asked me last year at this moment, I probably would have said no."
'I reached rock bottom' - Antonelli admits shock as title charge accelerates
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Wolff on Mercedes power issue behind Russell's Belgian GP exit
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says George Russell’s lap-one retirement at the Belgian Grand Prix was “100%” Mercedes’ fault after a power issue left him vulnerable before contact with Lewis Hamilton. Toto Wolff said: "It's two situations here. First is the racing, the accident that happened. It was unfortunate for us, we lost a lot of constructors' points and George [lost] drivers' points. And then we had an issue with all Mercedes engines, where we lacked power on the straight. And that bit him badly. It 100% goes on us."
'100% on us' - Mercedes shoulders blame for George Russell's Spa GP heartbreak
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Hadjar on Belgian GP charge being his best race
Isack Hadjar said his charge from 21st on the grid to sixth in the Belgian Grand Prix was “probably my best race” for Red Bull. Hadjar said: "Today I think is probably my best race. Race pace-wise. I'm right up there with the leaders, so I'm very glad with my first ten races. To be honest, I'm really looking forward to the race, because there are a lot of things we need to tidy up as a team – in a good way. I think there's a lot more to come."
Rise from 21st to sixth “probably my best race” – Hadjar
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Verstappen on holding his line after battery issue at Spa
Max Verstappen said he held his line on the Kemmel straight because moving could have caused an “aeroplane shunt” after he ran out of battery in the opening stages of the Belgian Grand Prix. Verstappen said: "Yeah well clearly too much deployment from Turn 1 to Turn 2. Then I went through Eau Rouge, I looked at my battery status like 'well that's going to be a difficult run to Les Combes!' I expected, of course, Kimi to come by and then I look in my mirror and I just saw a red rocket coming. I was like 'oh I'll just hold my line because if I move here we're gonna have an aeroplane shunt'!"
Max Verstappen details ‘aeroplane shunt' fears in battery-affected Belgian GP
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Lawson on Racing Bulls' lack of pace and PU issues at Spa
Liam Lawson said Racing Bulls were “way too slow” in the Belgian Grand Prix, with energy-saving measures and suspected power unit issues leaving him vulnerable to what he called “accidental” overtakes as he dropped from ninth on the grid to 12th at Spa. Lawson said: "We were way too slow, all race, and it was apparent pretty quickly as well. We had some issues with the PU and trying to optimise it, but with a track like this, you have no idea, there is so much lap-time in where you are using your energy. We were trying to save energy through Eau Rouge down towards Turn 5 - Les Combes -, but we were losing so much time that people were accidentally overtaking me."
Liam Lawson cites Racing Bulls issue after 'accidental overtakes'
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Piastri on 2026 battery deployment concerns in qualifying
Oscar Piastri says the battery deployment under Formula 1’s 2026 power-unit rules is making qualifying feel like it is being decided by computers, calling it “a pretty crap way of going racing” after drivers raised concerns about straight-line speed at Spa. Piastri said: "It sucks. I can't really say it any other way than that. When you've got qualifying grids decided by computers behaving or misbehaving, it's a pretty crap way of going racing."
Oscar Piastri declares F1 2026 ‘pretty crap way of racing'
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