Verstappen on Red Bull's crucial Austrian upgrade package
Max Verstappen says Red Bull’s upgrade package at this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix is “crucial” for the team’s push to improve performance, after being asked how important it is to his decision over his Formula 1 future. Verstappen said: "I think it's just crucial for us as a team. We want to improve from where we started the season to where we want to end it. We know that we are lacking performance. It's more about trying to improve the car. I think that's what everyone wants."
Max Verstappen addresses Red Bull upgrade significance in F1 future decision
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George Russell on potential Mercedes team orders:
“The win for the team is the priority, it doesn’t matter which driver. We need to be smart as teammates & the team wants to win the race - it doesn’t matter if it is myself or Kimi.”
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The Race
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🤔 Fernando Alonso is surprised by the amount of upgrades rival teams appear to be bringing to their cars so far while the AMR26 is in a holding pattern currently:
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Lando Norris’ first season as reigning champion
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You can’t make this up.
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Lewis Hamilton has told us more about the neck injury he suffered at Barcelona last year, having revealed after winning the Barcelona GP that he had hurt himself:
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Norris on McLaren being three months behind on development
Lando Norris says McLaren are “three months” behind rivals on development as he prepare to give the team’s “Macarena” rear wing its first on-track run in Friday practice in Austria. Norris said: "It’s not an easy project, takes time to figure out such a complicated wing like this, but it’s cool, it’s innovative, it’s nice to see. I wish we had it three months ago already. So this is where I say we’re three months behind on developments, and this is included in that. So it’s a test project, that’s it for this weekend, and hopefully in a few weeks we can introduce it again."
'I wish we had it three months ago' - Lando Norris on McLaren’s latest F1 innovation
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Everything we learned on day one of F1's 2026 Austrian GP
Anthony Hamilton's £3million classic car collection heads to Silverstone auction
Russell on racing for Mercedes in 2027
George Russell says he will be racing for Mercedes next year, playing down speculation linking his seat with Max Verstappen ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix. Russell said: "There is no announcement this weekend. But I'll be racing here next year. One hundred per cent. It hasn't even been discussed. We don't need to discuss it. It's not even a question mark. I don't want to go into any more detail, but I will be here next year and that's the fact of it."
George Russell shuts down Max Verstappen rumours: 'I will be here next year'
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Leclerc on Ferrari's upgraded power unit and Mercedes advantage
Charles Leclerc says Ferrari are “pushing like crazy” to introduce an upgraded power unit for this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, but he still believes Mercedes have “a big advantage”. Charles Leclerc said: "First of all, the team is doing an incredible job in pushing like crazy on every single component of the car. There's the development of these pieces, but there is also the production of these pieces and everybody is just pushing to the maximum. I think this is the result of it. How much of a difference it will make is a bit more of a difficult answer to get, but surely it goes in the right direction. Mercedes have got a big advantage so that's not the only thing we need."
Ferrari ‘pushing like crazy' on updated power unit – Leclerc
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Verstappen on Red Bull's Austrian Grand Prix upgrade package
Max Verstappen says Red Bull’s upgrade package for the Austrian Grand Prix will “hopefully” bring more performance to the RB22 after a difficult weekend in Barcelona. Verstappen said: "Hopefully of course it will be a bit better – that's what we are aiming for. We hope that it brings a bit more performance to the car, and then we'll see where that lines us up against the others. But that's been the story of the season – one week, one team brings upgrades, and then the next week, someone else. It's just a normal process, I guess."
Verstappen on hopes for Red Bull's Austria upgrades
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Krack on Aston Martin sticking with summer upgrade plan
Aston Martin chief trackside officer Mike Krack says the team has to stick with its decision to target one major upgrade package around the summer break, even as rivals bring new parts almost every race. Krack said: "It is a fact that people have moved on. I think especially at the beginning of such a regulation cycle, there are more gains to be found, and we have seen that. We are always checking our relative competitivity. I repeat, we have committed to this – and we have to stick to our strategy, and not complain about it, once we have committed to it."
Why Aston Martin are committed to a bold upgrade schedule
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Bottas on Cadillac's Austrian GP upgrade step
Valtteri Bottas says Cadillac’s upgraded sidepod and floor for this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix should be a “decent step” in performance, with the team still searching for its first point of the 2026 season. Bottas said: "I think we're talking a region of 10 points of downforce, which is a decent step. And that combined with the reliability updates for the cooling. Yeah, hopefully we can be a bit closer again."
Valtteri Bottas delivers hope for big Cadillac gains with F1 upgrades suite
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Valtteri Bottas puts a figure on Cadillac's major Austria upgrade
FIA posts strongest result in decade
The FIA has posted its strongest operating result in a decade, recording an operating profit of €6.7 million for FY2025, up 43% year-on-year, on operating revenue of €191.7 million. The federation said the results include an exceptional €20 million gain from a long-term contract extension with Formula E Holdings Limited. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “I remain committed to ensuring a profitable and financially sustainable operation,” adding that the FIA has delivered its “strongest operating result in ten years”.
FIA reveal decade-high financial results
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Antonelli on Mercedes team orders when under pressure
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli says Mercedes will introduce team orders when he and George Russell are fighting while “under pressure” from rival teams, after their battle at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix led to a meeting with team principal Toto Wolff. Antonelli said: "There was a meeting on the matter, and Toto was very clear. If we find ourselves in a situation like Barcelona again, under pressure from our rivals, there will be a team order, especially if one of the two cars is showing better pace. If, on the other hand, we're fighting each other without pressure from another team, we'll be free to race, just as we were in Montreal."
Kimi Antonelli and George Russell set for Mercedes team orders
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Antonelli reveals Mercedes' intra-team rules in Austria
Russell on racing Antonelli without costing Mercedes wins
George Russell says he and Mercedes team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli must be “smart” about racing each other so they do not hand wins to their rivals, after the time they lost fighting at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix played a part in Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari ending Mercedes’ unbeaten run. Russell said: "It's clear that the win for the team is the priority. It doesn't matter which driver. You saw in Canada, Kimi and I fought really hard, but we were pulling away from everybody else. But then you look in Barcelona and suddenly you have another driver who's in the fight... That is when we need to be smart as team mates and it's very clear the team wants to win the race."
Russell says he and Antonelli must be “smart” about fights to avoid throwing wins away
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Mercedes duo to 'race each other differently' amid Hamilton threat
Hamilton on Ferrari's 2026 title chances against Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton says the "opportunity is there" for Ferrari to mount a 2026 title challenge but warned Mercedes remain the team to beat, after taking his first Grand Prix win for Ferrari at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Hamilton said: "I think the opportunity is there, but it's one thing being there and it's another thing galvanising the troops and developing. You can hit plateaus in terms of development, so all we can do is take it one day at a time. Still, Mercedes are the team to beat, they've won everything else and they've been just incredible this year. So, we have a real battle on our hands... but I don't think it's impossible."
Hamilton rates chances of title push after first Ferrari win
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Mercedes brings updated battery spec
Mercedes has brought an updated battery specification to the Austrian Grand Prix in a bid to address the reliability problems that have cost it and its customers major points this season, according to The Race. Kimi Antonelli said the new spec has “updates to improve the durability and reliability of the package”, adding: “It’s not really about performance.”
Mercedes brings F1 battery upgrade to Austria after reliability woes
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Mercedes to introduce F1 engine fixes in Austria after Kimi Antonelli's Barcelona GP retirement
Gasly on rivals' sense of injustice over Monaco penalty reversal
Pierre Gasly says he “completely understands” why rivals feel a sense of “injustice” after the stewards cancelled his Monaco Grand Prix pit-lane speeding penalties and restored him to third place, with McLaren and Red Bull appealing the decision. Pierre Gasly said: "From McLaren, Oscar, George's situation, I completely understand that for their own performance – I've got nothing to do with their results – but they probably feel some sort of injustice from what's been done to them. But I do think if you can correct a mistake which was done, it's the right way of approaching it, to [go] back on it."
Gasly “completely understands” rivals' sense of “injustice” over his cancelled penalty
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Alonso on Aston Martin speculation amid difficult period
Fernando Alonso says speculation about him moving to another team is “normal” in a difficult period for Aston Martin, insisting his commitment to the project goes beyond how long he keeps driving for them. Alonso said: "There are always rumours. We've been very badly treated by the outside world and it's normal. We are underperforming, we are in a bad moment and when the summer break comes, there are always rumours. There are rumours in the top teams, there are rumours also in our case because we are underperforming. But, as I said, my commitment with Aston Martin is beyond my driving time. I believe in this project and we have the right people."
Alonso addresses speculation linking him to other teams
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Hamilton on not getting carried away by 2026 title talk
Lewis Hamilton said he is not getting carried away by talk of a 2026 title challenge and believes his experience will help him keep focused as Ferrari look to take the fight to Mercedes. Hamilton said: "In terms of the championship, I'm not letting that stuff... I've been here before, I know what I have to do. There's a long way to go. We're not arriving at this weekend thinking about the championship. We're thinking about this weekend, executing the best we can."
'I've been here before, I know what to do' - Hamilton makes title statement
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Hamilton on neck disc injury after 2025 Barcelona test crash
Lewis Hamilton says he suffered a neck disc injury after hitting the wall “very hard” in testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last year. Hamilton said: "It is private, but I hit the wall very hard last year in testing. I knocked out one of the discs in my neck, protruding into the nerve, so I couldn't do a lot for like nine weeks. I was having chiropractors every day, physio every day, I couldn't sleep, a lot of painkillers, had to get injections, I did everything I could to try to fix it, so that's what I was trying to live with, basically, which is not easy in a seated position that you're sitting in."
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Piastri on McLaren's Austrian GP rear wing test
Oscar Piastri says McLaren will not race an “experimental” rear wing at the Austrian Grand Prix, with the part set to be trialled in Friday practice only. Piastri said: "No, we won't race it. I believe it's on Lando [Norris'] car tomorrow. It's to test out; it's not ready to race at the moment. Obviously we've seen some of the creative solutions [from rival teams], and they don't come without their challenges, clearly. It won't be raced, but useful to try it out."
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Wolff on Mercedes' Barcelona reality check
Toto Wolff says the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix was a “reality check” for Mercedes and that the team need to respond at the Austrian Grand Prix if they want to win both championships. Wolff said: "Barcelona acted as a benchmark for our current performance and, having won the first six races, offered a reality check. Others have gained ground quickly and we need to respond. We are in a fight for both championships, but must improve if we want to come out on top come the end of the season."
Toto Wolff calls Barcelona GP a 'reality check,' Mercedes aim to bounce back in Austria
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F1 - 2026 Austrian Grand Prix - Thursday Press Conference Transcript
Russell on Hamilton and Ferrari as Mercedes title threat
George Russell says Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari are a “huge threat” to Mercedes’ hopes of winning the 2026 Formula 1 titles after Hamilton beat him to victory at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Russell said: "It's beautiful and that's where he is at the moment and for sure, he is a big threat. Ferrari are a huge threat. Kimi is still very much the driver out front and is performing really incredibly and consistently, but Ferrari feel like they're coming and Lewis is at the forefront of that."
George Russell: Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton a "huge threat" to F1 2026 title bid
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Piastri on McLaren needing upgrades to catch Mercedes and Ferrari
Oscar Piastri says McLaren have “a bit of a deficit everywhere” and need to bring upgrades to close on Mercedes and Ferrari, after the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Piastri said: "I think for us as a team, we know that we're lacking performance and I think Canada in the race and especially Monaco kind of highlighted where some of our struggles lie, which we're trying to fix, but we have a bit of a deficit everywhere. We don't really have any clear strengths, but we're not kind of terribly bad anywhere either. To catch Mercedes and we'll see whether Ferrari maintain their form as well, we need to put some new bits on the car. We need to make it faster."
"No real strengths" McLaren F1 car waiting for updates, opportunities - Oscar Piastri
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What does the Austrian GP ‘heat hazard' declaration mean?
Antonelli on battery glitch behind Barcelona retirement
Kimi Antonelli says his Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix retirement was caused by a sudden temperature spike in a component that triggered a battery glitch. Antonelli said: "It's true that a component suddenly experienced a sharp temperature spike, which caused the battery to glitch. But in Canada the conditions were completely different, much cooler."
Antonelli explains Barcelona DNF, confirms fresh PU for Austria
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Antonelli on battery glitch behind Barcelona retirement
Kimi Antonelli says his Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix retirement was caused by a sudden temperature spike in a component that triggered a battery glitch. Antonelli said: "It's true that a component suddenly experienced a sharp temperature spike, which caused the battery to glitch. But in Canada the conditions were completely different, much cooler."
Antonelli explains Barcelona DNF, confirms fresh PU for Austria
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Alonso on deciding his 2027 F1 future after summer break
Fernando Alonso says he has not yet decided whether he will race in Formula 1 next year and expects to make that call around the summer break, while insisting his commitment to Aston Martin will remain even if he stops driving. Alonso said: "I have not taken any decisions. I will wait until probably summer break, which is August. And after summer is Zandvoort, Monza. I think around that time I will probably decide what to do next year. But I still love Formula 1. I'm committed to this team also. So even if I don't race, my commitment with the team and with the project is the same."
Fernando Alonso casts impassioned career verdict amid conflicting F1 future speculation
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Alonso on rivals' pace of upgrades
Fernando Alonso says he is surprised by Formula 1 rivals’ pace of upgrades this season as Aston Martin waits to introduce a bigger package for its AMR26 rather than bringing regular smaller changes. Alonso said: "But apparently there is no money to bring upgrades, unlimited upgrades like the other teams do! It is surprising to see the FIA page on Friday every race - because maybe they [other teams] have the money machine in the minus one [floor] in the factory."
Alonso's surprise at rivals' 'money machine' upgrade pace
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