Wolff on containing Antonelli hype and media demands
Toto Wolff says Mercedes must "contain" the hype around 19-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli and limit the demands on his time after the Italian’s strong start to the 2026 Formula 1 season. Wolff said: "The bigger problem is the Italian public. Now that they are not qualified for the football [World Cup], it's all about [Jannik] Sinner and Antonelli. After Sinner won in Madrid, it's the two that are superstars, and that's something that we need to contain. There are so many requests for his time from the media, from sponsors, and it's on us to keep the handbrake on that. That is the risk, that he is being carried away too quickly."
Why Wolff wants Mercedes to put the 'handbrake' on Antonelli F1 hype
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Lando Norris says F1 drivers are often "blindsided" to the business and cost factors behind rules and regulations, as he backed Lewis Hamilton’s suggestion that drivers should have a greater say after regulation changes were approved for Miami without them being involved. Norris said: "Sometimes I think we have to accept, as drivers, we're very blindsided to the externals from a business side of things, how teams work, how all of that is organised. We have to accept that we're maybe not always completely correct, but I think the majority of things that we think of as drivers and what we want for the sport is a win-win. It's just how some of those things are done and not always able to be easily implemented."
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Stella on defending McLaren's Constructors' title
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says the reigning Constructors' champions “definitely” want to defend their title, but warned it is too early to focus on championships with the 2026 season only four races old. Stella said: "If we now start to consider championships at the end of the season, then I think we need to be a bit careful because we are just at the fourth race... We have said already before Miami that the championship is not a sign-off, so our logic is to look at the long term, try and defend the championship... but definitely we want to defend the championship."
No backing down: McLaren ‘definitely wants to defend' its world title
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Formula 1
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Two from two for 81 ✌️
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Garcia Abad on Madrid Grand Prix going ahead as planned
Spanish Grand Prix general director Luis Garcia Abad insists there is “no doubt” this year’s race at the new Madring circuit in Madrid will go ahead, rejecting rumours Formula 1 could replace the event on the calendar because of construction delays or FIA homologation concerns. Garcia Abad said: "It is not possible in terms of the contract. Rumours are rumours; every day, everywhere in the F1 paddock. But it's not the case... No doubts about that. The FIA, FOM, and ourselves, we don't have any problem in terms of delivering the event properly."
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Hulkenberg on criticism of Formula 1's 2026 regulations
Audi driver Nico Hulkenberg says critics of Formula 1’s 2026 regulations should stop watching if they do not enjoy the racing, adding that the sport has always had to move with the times as technology changes. Hulkenberg said: "To be honest, it's always been like that in F1, hasn't it? F1 is about leading in technology, and you have to go with the times. I think when you look at the racing now, the first three races we've had [in 2026], it's been entertaining. It's been good to watch with plenty of on-track action. And I mean, if you don't like it, you don't have to watch."
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Wolff on Russell returning as a threat from Canada
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says George Russell will “return” as a serious threat from the Canadian Grand Prix and be ready to “make life difficult” for his rivals after a challenging weekend in Miami. Wolff said: "Russell hasn't done as well, in some cases due to team problems, or bad luck, and in Miami due to his own mistakes. That said, we know George's value, and we know he'll return, starting from Canada, very competitive and ready to make life difficult for his opponents."
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Alonso on deciding his F1 future after the summer break
Fernando Alonso says he expects to decide on his Formula 1 future after the summer break, with the Aston Martin driver in the final year of his contract. Alonso said: "I'm open to everything. Until probably after the summer break I will not really sit down with the team and make the decision. We need to see also how the car improves and how we see things into next year."
'It does change your thinking' - Alonso sets timeline for F1 future decision
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Dodds on Verstappen privately testing Formula E's Gen4 car
Formula E chief executive Jeff Dodds says he would like Max Verstappen to privately test the series’ new Gen4 car so he can give his feedback, after the four-time world champion described Formula 1’s latest machinery in pre-season testing in Bahrain as “Formula E on steroids”. Dodds said: "If Max were to jump in this car, he would have never driven anything like this. Max wouldn't have driven anything that can accelerate 30 per cent faster than his Formula 1 car, not that I'm aware of anyway, with permanent all-wheel drive. It would be pretty exciting for us, privately, to hear his feedback in driving something like that, to see what the sensation is for someone who is a generational talent."
Max Verstappen 'private feedback' called for from unique opportunity
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Sainz on Williams upgrade delays and Alpine benchmark
Carlos Sainz says Alpine is still “clearly” ahead of Williams despite the team’s improved Miami Grand Prix, after revealing its upgrade package was meant to be on the car for the opening race in Australia but only arrived in Florida. Sainz said: "We finally put the upgrade on the car that was supposed to come to race one, because of all the delays we had at the beginning of the season. Now it's on the car, it's performing at least at the level of the midfield cars. Clearly, this weekend, we were I think sixth fastest, but then Alpine is 20 seconds in front of us. So we need to put our heads down and, from here, make this the new baseline and start improving."
Carlos Sainz sets sights on Alpine after ‘delayed' Williams upgrade arrives
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Alpine on 2027 title sponsor rumours
Alpine has issued a brief response to PlanetF1.com amid rumours that Gucci could replace BWT as its title sponsor for the 2027 F1 season. The team said it is “constantly looking for new partnership opportunities” and is in contact with a wide range of potential partners, but added that discussions are kept confidential and only disclosed once “confirmed and agreed by all parties”.
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Brown on growing Formula 1's US TV audience
McLaren CEO Zak Brown says Formula 1’s next big challenge in the United States is to grow its TV audience, with viewership still “relatively small” compared with major American sports despite having three grands prix in the country. Brown said: "I think it's going to be TV ratings. I think TV ratings are still relatively small compared to the NFLs of the world. I think that's the biggest area of growth, getting the TV ratings up."
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Norris on drivers having little say over F1 rules
Lando Norris says Formula 1 drivers do not have much say over the sport’s rules because decisions have to balance the interests of manufacturers, partners and teams. Norris said: "What we want as drivers is also what will be better for the fans to see. It's a business at the end of the day, so you have to balance the business side, which is obviously where we don't have a lot of say."
"It's a business" – Lando Norris explains why drivers don't have more say in F1's rules
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Hamilton on Ferrari examining rivals' front-wing concept
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari need to examine a front-wing concept he believes Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull are using to make gains, after Ferrari’s upgrade package underwhelmed at the Miami Grand Prix. Hamilton said: "The others have also taken a step. I heard McLaren brought a step and it was worth much more than they had anticipated. That's not how we have experienced ours. They - Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull - are doing something different with their front wing [compared] to us. So we need to look into that to see whether or not there's something we can improve on."
Hamilton suspects F1 rivals gaining from trick Ferrari has missed
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No Saturday box office ticket sales
ADAC has announced there will be no ticket sales at the box office on Saturday for this weekend’s ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, citing unprecedented demand linked to Max Verstappen’s debut in the event. ADAC said day tickets for Thursday, Friday and Sunday remain available online and urged fans not to travel without a valid ticket.
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Sainz on Williams turnaround timeline after Miami upgrade
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."
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Antonelli on racing Russell cleanly in title fight
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."
Mercedes' stern instruction to its title-fighting F1 drivers revealed
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Alonso jokes about retiring if he finishes fifth
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 jokingly sets F1 2026 retirement condition
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Alonso on Aston Martin being stronger next year
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."
Fernando Alonso delivers clear Aston Martin prediction after struggles
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Verstappen on winning target for Nürburgring 24 Hours debut
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."
Verstappen sets high bar for grueling Nürburgring 24 Hours debut
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