McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are probably the strongest driver pairing on the grid, but that McLaren needs to make its car faster to take advantage in the constructors' championship. Stella said: "When we look in particular at the Constructors' championship, I think we are from a driver's point of view probably the strongest pair. We want to capitalise on this strength that we have at McLaren, but we need to make the car a little bit faster."

Carlos Sainz says Williams’ turnaround will take “some months” and may not be clear until the last third of the 2026 season, even after the team made progress with its Miami Grand Prix upgrade to address its overweight FW48. Sainz said: "It's going to take some months to finish the turnaround. I think we're going to need to get to the last third of the season to see a proper turnaround. But at least the upgrade worked. The weight of the car came a bit off but we still know there's a bit to go. We have a few bits and pieces coming for the next couple of races. So we're going to keep the positives and make sure we keep focusing on the negatives."

Kimi Antonelli says Mercedes has told him and George Russell they are free to race each other in this year’s title fight, but must do so cleanly and with the team’s interests in mind. Antonelli said: "So obviously me and George are very well aware that we can race each other, but with respect and without trying to do any stupid things."

Fernando Alonso joked he would retire from Formula 1 if he manages to finish fifth in a race for Aston Martin this season. Alonso said: "If I finish P5 in some race, I will probably retire that afternoon."

Fernando Alonso says he has “no doubt” Aston Martin will be in a stronger position next year after a slow and unreliable start to the 2026 season. Alonso said: "100%, I have no doubt. If not, we go backwards. Next year, in year two, I have no doubts that the project is going to be more prepared than it has been in year one."

Max Verstappen says “success would mean winning” as he prepares to make his Nürburgring 24 Hours debut this weekend in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 entered under the Verstappen Racing banner. Verstappen said: "Success would mean winning. That's very simple, that's why we are here. I know it's not going to be easy, but that's the target for everyone."




Charles Leclerc is closing in on Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari record for race starts, with 154 Grands Prix for the Scuderia in 2026 – 26 fewer than Schumacher’s 180 from 1996-2006.


Aston Martin chief trackside officer Mike Krack says the team still has “a lot to extract” from its current package after arriving at the Miami Grand Prix without any aerodynamic upgrades. Krack said: "You have to acknowledge, 'what is the strategy?', and 'what is the plan?' And our job at the track here is to get the maximum out of what you have... So we have a lot to extract from this package, the way it is at the moment. It's important that we keep everybody motivated to work on that, and then wait for the big steps to come."





Toto Wolff says Red Bull were a “big surprise” at the Miami Grand Prix after making what he described as a huge step forward in performance. Wolff said: "I have to say that Red Bull was a big surprise because they made a huge step forward, going from more than a second behind the leader to being right there at the front, fighting with Verstappen."

Max Verstappen says he is taking his time over a decision on his long-term Formula 1 future, and insisted he did not use F1’s enforced break after the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were cancelled to reflect on it. Verstappen said: "Nothing new, to be honest, on that side [his F1 future]. In those weeks, I was busy with other things. But I still have time, and I'm taking my time."
George Russell says he would like the next Formula 1 regulation change to include a return to V8 engines and lighter cars. Russell said: "Going back to V8, I think that would obviously be pretty cool. The sustainable fuel topic is a fantastic one, and I think would be great for Formula One. Lighter cars.I think we need to find ways to reduce the cars even more, because I think the weight of cars even more, because I think that has been a positive impact in terms of the racing and the drivability, being able to fight close with one another, but still keep in a way that we can have these overtakes."



Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari need to cut drag on the SF-26 to address its straight-line speed deficit after a disappointing Miami Grand Prix weekend. Hamilton said: "I'm looking forward to it [Canada]. But we need to see if we can cut some drag before the next race, because in a straight line. We've got that deficit, and so we want to have a look into that."






George Russell says he would love to race the Nürburgring Nordschleife and has held talks with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff about a possible lap-record attempt. Russell said: "I did once try having a conversation with Toto about putting the F1 car around there and breaking the all-time lap record. Right now, I'm focused on trying to win an F1 world championship. Hopefully, when I've got four under my belt, I'll go and race at the Nordschleife during my F1 season!"

Toto Wolff says it is "not correct" to criticise Ferrari for failing to sign Andrea Kimi Antonelli when he was a kart racer, insisting Mercedes’ junior programme has been crucial to the Italian’s development. Wolff said: "I hear people saying things like: 'Ferrari should have discovered him when he was young.' But that is not correct, because the true value of our Mercedes junior programme has been creating the right environment for him to grow, giving him the best tools and supporting him through difficult situations. Talent is only the starting point."

Lando Norris said driving his McLaren 750S on the Nürburgring Nordschleife was “the most fun” he has had all year, after taking the road car around the track during the spring break. Norris said: "Honestly, it was the most fun I've had all year. It was also so much fun because it's a track I've driven a lot in Gran Turismo and iRacing. I've known the Nordschleife from the simulator for years. It's one of those tracks that everyone wants to drive. Whether you're a racing driver or not – it's always cool to do it because it's so unique."

RacingNews365 reports Christian Horner is now free to return to Formula 1 after his non-compete clause expired on 8 May, ending a 10-month period in which his Red Bull Racing contract barred him from joining a rival team.



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