Vowles on Williams' Miami upgrade delay after failed crash tests
Williams team principal James Vowles says the major upgrade introduced in Miami was originally planned for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, after failed crash tests left the team behind schedule and forced it to prioritise getting a car ready. Vowles said: "As we started to fall further and further behind, frankly we just needed to get a car together. So we had to forego this [Miami] update, which was the Melbourne update. It's often difficult to fully understand why we couldn't just turn it around. But at the point where you start to fall late, by a few weeks, things catastrophically fall apart. Now though there's a backlog of performance items that we have to deliver in a timely fashion."
Williams's race one upgrade was two months late
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Aston Martin and Honda address vibration issue
Aston Martin and Honda say they have made clear progress in addressing the vibration and reliability problems that blighted the start of their 2026 works power unit partnership. Honda Racing Corporation trackside general manager Shintaro Orihara said “countermeasures from both sides” were required because the issue spread into the chassis. Those measures were introduced for the Miami GP after one AMR26 stayed in Japan for analysis following Suzuka, and Orihara said they worked well, with both cars completing the sprint and the grand prix without “any major reliability issue”. Fernando Alonso reported no vibrations in the race, while Lance Stroll said there were “less vibrations”. Aston Martin chief trackside officer Mike Krack said the team was happy with the current state, while Orihara added the next focus is optimising energy management and drivability, noting “a lot of room to improve” on the power unit.
Aston Martin, Honda provide update on F1 power unit progress
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Wolff on managing Antonelli's hype and demands in Italy
Toto Wolff says the bigger challenge with Kimi Antonelli’s rise is shielding the 19-year-old from the hype and demands in Italy, with the Mercedes driver currently leading the World Championship. Wolff said: "The bigger problem is the Italian public. Now that they are not qualified for football, it's all about Sinner and Antonelli. So it's the two that are superstars, and that is something which we need to contain. There's so much requests for his time, from the media, from sponsors, and it's it's on us to keep the handbrake on that."
Toto Wolff names ‘bigger problem' facing Kimi Antonelli’s rise in F1
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Brown on rotating grands prix within a 24-race limit
Zak Brown says Formula 1 should lock in 20 permanent grands prix and use a further eight events in a rotation system, as he argues the sport cannot race more than 24 times a year because of the “brutal” schedule. Brown said: "There are countries lining up for grands prix. We can't... we're now having to get into alternating some grands prix. So, I think we need to, and I would be a fan of, locking in 20 permanent grands prix and then having maybe eight that rotate every other year. It's a way to expand geographically into 28 markets, but we can't race more than 24 times a year; it's a pretty brutal schedule."
Zak Brown devises solution to solve 'brutal' F1 problem
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McLaren “cost themselves” Miami GP win with "hesitant" strategy call, says Jolyon Palmer
Martin Brundle hails Max Verstappen's "genius" Miami GP save after rare spin
Wolff on public reaction to Antonelli making mistakes
Toto Wolff says he is scared of the reaction Kimi Antonelli could face when he starts making mistakes, as the Mercedes driver continues his strong start to the season. Wolff said: "That's exactly what scares me. Kimi is young, he's charismatic, a little big star... but after a great start, he could have some bad moments, and I don't want the public to start saying, 'Oh, what's happening? We were wrong about him?' It will all be part of the growth process but the response from the public, especially in Italy, scares us a little. We have to treat him like a rough diamond."
Toto Wolff reveals what 'scares' him about 'rough diamond' Kimi Antonelli
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Russell on FIA collaboration over power unit rule changes
George Russell says the FIA’s work with the drivers on recent rule changes has been the most collaborative he has seen, after meetings in April to discuss possible changes to the new power unit regulations. Russell said: "I think there's been some really good conversations, to be honest, with the FIA and a number of drivers, and I think they have listened to the concerns. It's definitely the most collaborative they've ever been in this regard, which is positive. I think we concluded that they want to include us more when it comes to future regulations as well."
George Russell hands FIA extraordinary praise after F1 rule changes
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Leclerc on Hamilton's approach at Ferrari
Charles Leclerc says Lewis Hamilton’s past success in Formula 1 has been driven by the “approach” he brings to his work, after closely watching his team-mate since Hamilton joined Ferrari. Leclerc said: "Since the day Lewis arrived in the team, for me, it was a huge opportunity to learn from him. I analysed every single thing he does as a preparation, all the way to when he jumps into the car. And then I would say the driving, it's more specific from track to track. We've got our own strengths and sometimes I will look at him on a particular corner and I will analyse that, but that's more specific track to track. But I think the approach is what made him have all the success that he's had in the past."
Leclerc uncovers key behind Hamilton's historic success in F1
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Albon on Williams not relying on strong starts for points
Alex Albon says Williams must stop relying on strong starts to score points after the team’s first double points finish of the season at the Miami Grand Prix. Albon said: "I want to wait and see. Last year, I think I finished fourth in the Sprint race and fifth in the main race. We know this track goes well for us, let's see in Canada. If we can get a little bit higher up in qualifying and not rely on good starts, we might be able to score in the points a bit more regularly."
Alex Albon makes Williams F1 warning after double Miami points
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Alonso on limited impact of 2026 power unit rule tweaks
Fernando Alonso says Formula 1’s tweaks to the 2026 power unit rules have not made the step forward in qualifying that was hoped for, and believes the cars will still be “rewarded for going slow in the corners” despite changes introduced by the FIA ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. Alonso said: "I don't think that if we go to Suzuka again, we would see as big a change as we were expecting. So let's see. We need to give it a bit more time. But these power units will always reward going slow in the corners. With whatever strategy and clipping you have, you need the energy on the straights, and you need to save it on the corners."
'Rewarded for going slowly': Fernando Alonso's grim assessment of F1 qualifying tweaks
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Brundle on Wolff managing a Russell-Antonelli title fight
Martin Brundle says Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has shown he can manage a potential title fight between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli if this season turns into a two-horse race between the pair. Brundle said: "They're both protégés of Mercedes-Benz. They've been brought through the system together. But is Toto one of those team bosses... We know a few of them who can only love one driver at a time. I think he's shown that he can handle two fast drivers in the team, even if they run into each other every so often."
Toto Wolff backed to share the love as Mercedes fight intensifies
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Brown on rivals' Macarena rear wing concept being beneficial
McLaren's Zak Brown says the team has looked at the rotating 'Macarena' rear wing used by rivals and thinks the concept could be beneficial. Brown said: "We have. As you can imagine, all the teams look at what each other do. It's clever and we think it could be beneficial, so not surprised to see another team using it."
McLaren teases next big MCL40 upgrade after Red Bull joins latest trend
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Sargeant on Verstappen in Ford's future Hypercar programme
Logan Sargeant says Max Verstappen would dominate the World Endurance Championship if he joined Ford’s Hypercar programme, which is due to launch in 2027, after the Ford LMGT3 driver was asked about the prospect of sharing a car with the four-time Formula 1 world champion. Sargeant said: "Well, he's the quickest driver in the world. He's going to most likely kick everyone's ass. I'd rather that be in my car than the other. It goes so much beyond just driving style, seeing what he's doing with the tools, lap in, lap out, how he's making adjustments."
Max Verstappen backed to 'kick everyone's ass' in WEC by Logan Sargeant
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Hamilton on drivers needing a seat at the table
Lewis Hamilton says Formula 1 drivers need “a seat at the table” in discussions with the FIA and F1 about changes to the sport. Hamilton said: "All the drivers, we do work together, but the fact is that we don't have a seat at the table. We do engage with the FIA and Formula 1. Formula 1 is more often a little bit more responsive, but being that we're not stakeholders, we don't have a seat at the table currently, which I think needs to change."
Lewis Hamilton issues ‘work with us' plea to FIA over F1 changes
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Bortoleto on Audi's varied technical problems in Miami
Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto said the team did not have “a single issue that was similar” during a point-less Miami Grand Prix weekend that included technical problems on both cars. Bortoleto said: "I don't think we had a single issue that was similar. We had many, if I'm very honest, this weekend. But we haven't had one that was the same. Things like this, they are going to happen. We are a new manufacturer of engines. We only have two cars. So, we just need to be patient. And when it is fixed, I'm sure it will be good."
Audi's nightmare Miami F1 weekend: ‘Every single problem was different’
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Vowles on Williams' planning and software mistakes before 2026 season
Williams team principal James Vowles says mistakes in new planning and software systems helped create a “messy winter” and contributed to the team’s slow start to the 2026 season. Vowles said: "I think we have made some mistakes on some of that software that we've been using. It was our first proper go at planning a completely new regulation car from start to finish. When we effectively went through a global review of all of that, it's tiny, small details but hundreds of them starting to add up. So, there were just inefficiencies across the board that weren't taken into account and only came to light once you started stressing the system."
Vowles explains the mistakes behind Williams' stumbling start to 2026
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Stella on McLaren's title focus after Miami weekend
Andrea Stella says McLaren “definitely” want to defend the championship, but warned it is too early to focus on titles after the team’s best weekend of the season so far in Miami. Stella said: "If we now start to consider championships at the end of the season, then we need to be a bit careful because we are just at the fourth race. We have just delivered our first upgrade, we are in Miami and McLaren looks like they traditionally have done very well in Miami, so we will have to see more. But definitely we want to defend the championship."
McLaren ‘definitely want to defend' the title – Stella
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Isola on validating Fiorano wet tyre test at Magny-Cours
Pirelli motorsport boss Mario Isola says the company will validate the wet-weather tyre solutions tested by Lewis Hamilton at Fiorano with another test at Magny-Cours because Fiorano is a “particular” circuit. Isola said: "We tested several different prototypes, including the new tread patterns we are planning, and for sure we had good feedback, but we need to pay attention because Fiorano is quite a particular track. We have a test planned for Magny-Cours in mid-May, and we are going to validate some of the solutions we tested with Lewis in Fiorano. It is not because we don't trust Lewis, Lewis is a fantastic driver, but it is important for us to test on a different track."
Lewis Hamilton set for key examination as vital F1 test planned
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GM and Ford back V8 return
General Motors and Ford Racing have both indicated they would welcome a return to V8 engines in Formula 1, after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said in Miami that the FIA was “ready to deliver” V8 power by 2031. Ford Racing boss Mark Rushbrook said Ford would “love to see a V8 here”, while stressing respect for the investment already made in the current V6 hybrid era. He added that if F1, the FIA and the teams decide to return to V8s, “we’ll be ready”.
Ford and Cadillac deliver verdicts on F1 V8 plans: ‘We'll be ready’
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Wache on Red Bull's planned weight-reduction step for Austria
Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache says the team is expecting another weight-reduction step “maybe” by the Austrian Grand Prix as it works to bring the RB22 down to the FIA minimum weight of 768kg, having already cut its excess weight from 12kg to 6kg in Miami. Pierre Wache said: "Yes, I think there will be another step. I don't know when, but we will have a weight reduction happening for maybe Austria."
Red Bull aims to hit F1 weight limit at Austrian Grand Prix
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Wolff on Russell continuing title fight after Miami
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says George Russell will “never stop fighting” in the title race and expects him to bounce back in Montreal, after a difficult Miami weekend left him 20 points behind team-mate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Wolff said: "George is a killer. What makes him so good is he never stops fighting or attacking. I've seen him throughout his career in junior formulas and karting and here (in F1). He's going for this and won't leave a stone unturned. I have no doubt the two of them will fight for points throughout the season."
'He never stops fighting!' - Wolff backs Russell to respond to Antonelli
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