Stella on revised McLaren 2026 development direction for Hungary
Andrea Stella says McLaren should see the first results of a revised development direction for its 2026 car at the Hungarian Grand Prix, after admitting the team currently has a “decent gap” to Ferrari and Mercedes. Stella said: "During the development I think we adopted some directions from a conceptual point of view, that as we learn more about the 2026 regulations, I would say that we are redirecting. And this, like everything, especially from an aerodynamic point of view, is not something that you can get to converge in the space of a week. It normally takes one or two months. So we should see in Hungary the first results of this approach, and then hopefully more and more upgrades for the rest of the season."
When McLaren should see first results of new upgrade approach
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Verstappen linked with McLaren move
Multiple paddock sources cited by PlanetF1.com, alongside reporting from Dutch outlet De Limburger, suggest Max Verstappen may be nearing a decision on whether to pursue a move from Red Bull to McLaren. The claims remain speculative and unconfirmed, with talks described by those sources as advanced and a potential initial three-year deal reportedly viewed by some as “imminent”. The report says Verstappen’s alleged escape clause could become relevant after Silverstone left him mathematically unable to be in the top two of the Drivers’ Championship by the summer break. It also notes that a sabbatical year, or even retirement, “cannot be fully ruled out,” though this too is presented as speculation rather than confirmed intent.
Max Verstappen closes in on alleged McLaren decision in rumoured Red Bull exit
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Ben Sulayem on refuelling return
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says the governing body is “studying” a return of refuelling in Formula 1 and has floated the idea of an “FIA-selected engine” supply for customer teams to reduce manufacturer leverage, according to Reuters. “The refuelling we are studying as we speak… Nothing is being done yet,” he said during the British Grand Prix weekend. On an independent engine supply, Ben Sulayem said: “If it is affordable, then we will have one engine for the rest of the B-teams, so nobody can leverage them and tell them to ‘vote this way, or we are not going to give you a good engine’.”
Mohammed Ben Sulayem proposes refuelling return and independent FIA engine supply
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Verstappen on speaking to Horner after Red Bull exit
Max Verstappen says he speaks to former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner “almost every week”, after Horner was seen back in the Formula 1 paddock at Silverstone following his departure from the team after the 2025 British Grand Prix. Verstappen said: "I speak to Christian almost every week. I saw him on the camera walking around, but I haven't had time to meet anyone, to be honest. It's just been busy."
Max Verstappen reveals weekly Christian Horner talks
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Mekies on Red Bull keeping Verstappen on the Silverstone grid
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said the team decided against breaking parc ferme to start Max Verstappen from the pit lane at Silverstone because it believed keeping his grid position offered a better chance of a result, even with an “imperfect” car balance. Mekies said: "After qualifying, it was clear we were not very happy with the balance of the car, to say the least. And changing the set-up of the car will simply mean starting from the pit lane. And whilst we knew it wasn't going to be pleasant to go with a very imperfect balance into the race, we still felt that it will give us a better result than starting from the pit lane, with perhaps something better."
Red Bull boss defends decision to ignore Max Verstappen's British GP demand
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Bearman on Haas lacking pace at Silverstone
Ollie Bearman admitted Haas were “not quick enough” and that the team’s lack of pace in the British Grand Prix was “painful”, after he recovered to finish 12th at Silverstone following contact with Alex Albon on the opening lap. Bearman said: "After that I was running at the back and then after that, we were just slow, we were not quick enough to overtake. Struggled a lot in the dirty air and then I managed to have a bit of clean air and show some good pace, but still, not quick enough. It's painful."
Bearman reflects on 'painful' British GP for Haas
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Drivers join FIA anti-abuse campaign
All 22 Formula 1 drivers joined FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem at the British Grand Prix to launch the first ‘United Against Online Abuse Day’, a UAOA initiative aimed at tackling online abuse in sport. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali also took part, with UAOA branding displayed across Silverstone’s media and fan areas. Ben Sulayem said: “Online abuse undermines our competitions and endangers our athletes, officials, and fans.” Haas driver Esteban Ocon, who was subjected to death threats after an incident involving Franco Colapinto at the Chinese Grand Prix, urged people not to normalise it: “Be disruptive in this space, don’t be afraid to call stuff out.”
F1 drivers join FIA president in project against online abuse
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More Sprint weekends planned for 2027
Formula 1 is set to increase the number of Sprint weekends in 2027, with the full calendar due to be announced “very, very soon”, according to F1 president Stefano Domenicali. Speaking to Sky Sports at Silverstone, Domenicali said the sport should be “brave” and that expanding Sprints again is “the way to go”. Sky Sports understands the 2027 Sprint total is likely to rise to nine or 10, up from six this season.
F1 to feature more Sprints in the 2027 season
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FIA in talks over rear-wing safety
The FIA is in discussions with Red Bull and Ferrari about the safety of their ‘Macarena’ revolving rear wings after Max Verstappen’s British Grand Prix crash, which followed an earlier rear-wing-related off in Austria. The Race reports the governing body is seeking a better understanding of the two designs and may decide whether extra safeguards are needed, or whether it must step in. Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies said the team would do “whatever is necessary to be on the safe side” for Belgium, including a potential return to a conventional wing.
Ferrari and Red Bull subject to safety talks over 'Macarena' wings
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Mekies on Verstappen being let down by RB22 issues
Red Bull team principal Mekies said Max Verstappen was right to be unhappy after being “let down” by the RB22 in high-speed corners in two consecutive races, with a rear wing issue contributing to Verstappen losing out on a podium at Silverstone after he spun off the track. Mekies said: "He's right not to be happy. It is very unpleasant for drivers to be let down by the car in the high-speed corners in two consecutive races. It is also extremely unpleasant for us as a group to send our drivers to the gravel trap, so he's right to be unhappy."
Red Bull boss reacts to Max Verstappen unhappiness in ‘let down' admission
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Sainz on Williams' car development issues
Carlos Sainz says Williams has “serious issues” developing its car, with its gap to the front increasing despite bringing upgrades and shedding weight. Sainz said: "Concerning and frustrating, because it starts to be a bad trend this year that we don't seem to really find a lot of lap time when the upgrades are coming. We've shed a lot of weight out of the car by now, but the gap to the front is increasing. It's clear to me now that we're having serious issues with developing this car, and we are not bringing the performance that we thought we were."
Carlos Sainz fears Williams has ‘serious issues' as development concerns grow
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Alonso on overtaking with battery deployment in modern F1
Fernando Alonso says drivers need “no talent” to overtake in modern Formula 1, after the sprint at Silverstone featured repeated passes on the straights. Alonso said: "You saw it in the sprint, people overtaking in the middle of the straight with more battery, so there is not any driver input or driver talent needed to overtake a car in front of you. You don't need to outbrake anyone, you don't need to overtake on the outside, you don't need to take any risk, and just press one button and you overtake if you have a better power unit than the car in front."
'No talent needed' - Fernando Alonso's verdict on British GP sparks debate
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Vasseur on Ferrari staying focused after recent wins
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur says he does not want to hear talk of championship chances and wants the team focused on Spa, after wins at the Barcelona-Catalunya and British Grands Prix either side of a difficult Austrian Grand Prix weekend. Vasseur said: "After Barcelona, I had the comment 'Ah, Ferrari is back in the championship'. I said no. The week after you told me Ferrari is nowhere. I said no. I will have exactly the same approach with everybody at home. To say: 'Guys, we had a good weekend. Now let's be focused on Spa. It's not that we are champions. We are [also] not nowhere. We are improving step by step.'"
Fred Vasseur dismisses Ferrari F1 title talk: "Let's focus on Spa"
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Russell on Antonelli outperforming him so far this season
George Russell says Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli has “done a better job” so far this season and that being 25 points behind him after nine races is a fair reflection. Russell said: "However, based on my performances and based on his performances over the course of these nine races, I think probably a 25-point gap in his favour is probably correct. He has done a better job than me this year to this point, so he deserves to be ahead of me. I think anywhere from 10 to 30 points behind is probably about fair."
George Russell admits Kimi Antonelli ‘done a better job' for ‘correct’ points deficit
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Stella on McLaren's half-second gap to Ferrari and Mercedes
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said Lando Norris’ fourth place in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone was an “overachievement”, with McLaren still showing a gap of “around half a second” to Ferrari and Mercedes. Stella said: "Overall, the race confirmed that our performance today was in line with qualifying. So we still exhibit a decent gap to Ferrari and Mercedes – probably around half a second. But definitely there's work to do, and I think this is in the measure of half a second. P4, I think it's an overachievement. [It was] not on our own merit, it's more because other people had trouble."
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Stella on McLaren's upgrade timing at Silverstone
McLaren boss Andrea Stella says the team being out of sync with rivals on upgrades is the "biggest single factor" behind McLaren falling behind Ferrari and Mercedes, after a difficult weekend at Silverstone. Stella said: "I think the fact that we are out of sync with upgrades is probably the biggest single factor. We see that everyone bringing upgrades improves their lap-time potential by three tenths or something, and definitely this would not close the gap that we have to Ferrari and Mercedes, because I think it's more in the area of half a second, but definitely it will be very helpful."
McLaren name 'biggest factor' in falling behind F1 rivals after Silverstone letdown
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Hamilton on Mercedes battery situation and possible grid penalties
Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes may have to take grid penalties later in the season because of its battery situation, while praising Ferrari’s reliability and race-weekend execution in 2026. Hamilton said: "Massively impressed. You're seeing engines in general have had more issues this year than they normally would have, and I don't know what the situation is with the battery side of this for George and for Kimi, but at some point there must be a penalty, I would imagine, in the sense that we only have two battery cells or something like that. But it's going to be key for us just holding onto this, maximising the points, executing to the best of our ability, even when it's the case that we can't win."
Lewis Hamilton expecting Mercedes penalty as Ferrari strength highlighted
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Vasseur on Hamilton's British GP false-start penalty
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur says Lewis Hamilton’s five-second penalty for a false start at the British Grand Prix was “a bit harsh”, because Ferrari’s sensors did not detect movement on the grid despite video footage suggesting otherwise. Vasseur said: "From the sensors we don't see the car moving on the grid but it's true that on the video you see the sticker on the tyres moving a little bit. It's not me judging if it's a false start or not. I think it's a bit harsh when the sensors are not moving."
Ferrari confirms Lewis Hamilton findings after ‘harsh' FIA punishment
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Brown denies Verstappen talks
Zak Brown has dismissed speculation that McLaren has held talks with Max Verstappen about a 2027 move from Red Bull, insisting he has had “no conversations” and that the team is “very happy” with its current line-up of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Brown told PlanetF1.com at Silverstone: “They’re rumours. No conversations… I’ve got my two drivers, so there’s nothing to report.” Verstappen would not be drawn on whether his management had spoken to McLaren, saying: “I’m not going to involve myself in that… If there’s something new… you will hear it from me and not from someone else.”
McLaren grilled on Max Verstappen as F1 2027 rumours enter overdrive
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