Stella on Piastri-Leclerc contact at Spa
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says the contact between Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc at the Belgian Grand Prix shows drivers need to leave enough space when running side by side, warning an uncontrolled touch could lead to a “very big” crash. Stella said: "I think in any case, when the cars are staying alongside for such a long time, I think we should make sure that the car that is not on the racing line, because it's defending the inside, does leave enough space. Because if there's a contact that is not controlled, then the crash is going to be very big. So I think there's possibly some learning to be taken out of this case."
McLaren issue 'very big' crash warning after Oscar Piastri hit by Charles Leclerc
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Verstappen on his radio exchanges with Red Bull
Max Verstappen says his pointed radio exchanges with Red Bull during the Belgian Grand Prix are part of keeping the team sharp, and that he “demands the most and the best” from those around him. Verstappen said: "Well, all the things that you mentioned were not related to each other. The tyres were cold, and looking at the laptop was about other stuff. I just like to keep people on their toes. I know that everyone is doing their best, but we are not here for fun, so we have to keep being sharp at every time during the race. I demand the most and the best because that's also what they expect from me."
Max Verstappen 'keeping people on their toes' with Red Bull 'demand'
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Resta on Russell's Belgian GP energy deployment deficit
Mercedes deputy technical director Simone Resta said the team is still struggling to understand the causes of George Russell’s energy deployment deficit at the Belgian Grand Prix. Resta said: "We've had some problems with the deployment on George's car that we really need to understand and bottom out going to the next event. George studied that quite a lot and was able to change it and adapt going into Spa, but still, we can still see some difference in the deployment between these two cars."
Mercedes "still struggling" to understand George Russell's deployment issues
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Wolff on Mercedes rejecting team orders in title fight
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says the team will not use team orders to back Kimi Antonelli’s Formula 1 title bid, despite Antonelli leading team-mate George Russell by 50 points after the Belgian Grand Prix. Wolff said: "Since Barcelona, we would in any case always give preference to the race victory. And if it meant that Kimi or George were ahead, this is what we would do. This is a constructors' championship as much as a drivers' championship. We would never take a victory away from any of the drivers. So if it is George who is ahead, even though he's behind in the championship, at that stage of the season, we wouldn't do that."
Mercedes rejects team orders despite Kimi Antonelli's 50-point lead
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Vasseur on Hamilton's Belgian GP penalty
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said Lewis Hamilton’s five-second time penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix was harsh after his first-lap contact with George Russell at Les Combes, which left Russell in the gravel and out of the race. Vasseur said: "Yes, because so far this season all of the incidents of Lap 1 were considered as racing incidents and, on this one, the person [Russell] had far enough space to not close on the right and go on the left. At the end of the day, it's not me who is making the decision, but it seems tough."
Fred Vasseur disagrees with Lewis Hamilton Belgian GP penalty after George Russell clash
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Wolff on new Mercedes engine issue at Belgian GP start
Toto Wolff says the loss of power George Russell suffered on the opening lap of the Belgian Grand Prix was caused by a “new” Mercedes engine issue that would not have been spotted on the simulator. Wolff said: "When it comes to [the race], all Mercedes engines had a lack of energy out of Turn 1, so it wasn't only George. It was a new thing. It was something that we wouldn't have identified on the simulator because you need to look for it, and so it was a new issue."
Toto Wolff reveals 'new issue' behind mysterious George Russell Mercedes engine problem
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Leclerc on recent Ferrari step forward and remaining limitations
Charles Leclerc says he is still not performing at the level he wants despite a recent step forward with Ferrari, after winning the British Grand Prix and finishing second at the Belgian Grand Prix. Leclerc said: "I'm confident in saying that I made a step forward. Whether I'm at the level where I want to perform, not yet. There are still things in the car that I need to drive around. I cannot drive completely naturally, and that is slowing me down in some parts of the race. But surely it was a step forward, and for that I'm happy."
Charles Leclerc makes Ferrari declaration despite surprise F1 turnaround
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