Williams have announced that reserve driver Luke Browning will take part in FP1 at the Italian Grand Prix, stepping for Alex Albon.
The Briton joined the Williams Driver Academy in 2023 and has made multiple appearances for the team as part of their mandated rookie running, beginning with FP1 at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Since then, he has driven in a further four practice sessions and was promoted to the role of reserve driver at the start of 2026, balancing his team duties with a campaign in Japan’s Super Formula.
Browning was initially scheduled, to get behind the wheel of FW48 in both Barcelona and Austria this season, and while an electrical issue forced him to sit out of the former, he place P18 in FP1 at the Red Bull Ring with a deficit of three-tenths to Albon.
Under F1’s regulation, every full-time driver is required to step aside for a rookie – defined as someone who has started no more than two Grands Prix – in two practice sessions across the season.
The 24 year old has completed important work on the simulator in what has been a tough year for Williams, with late development and a distinct lack of pace causing them to linger towards the back of the field.
I’m thrilled to have another chance to drive an FP1 session with Atlassian Williams F1 Team. It’s a great opportunity to get invaluable laps in the FW48 while building my understanding of the car and helping to bring useful data and feedback back to Grove. Each session teaches you something new, and I want to take every bit of learning I can from this to keep pushing my development and the team forward. For this weekend, it’s about supporting Williams to help maximise the result here in Monza. Browning on the news.
Alpine have confirmed that reserve driver Paul Aron will participate in another Free Practice 1 outing for the team at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.
Aron has previously been in action during three practice sessions so far in 2026, with the first in Barcelona and Austria being with Audi as part of an agreement between the two teams.
The Estonian went on to drive for Alpine in Hungary and will again get behind the wheel of the A526 when Friday’s track running kicks off in Monza, sitting in for Pierre Gasly.
From there Aron will embark on a busy weekend, as he will head back to the team’s Enstone base for simulator work in the evening after his FP1 run in order to help with fine-tuning the car’s set up.
I am looking forward to driving again in Free Practice 1 with the team this weekend. I am grateful to the team for giving me the opportunity to get back behind the wheel so soon. I was very pleased with my session in Budapest, and I hope to build on it this time around, particularly helping the team compare our latest upgrade package which I have driven in the simulator. It’s going to be a busy weekend for me as I’ll be on the simulator at Enstone on Friday night to further help the team fine tune the set-up before returning to the track on Saturday. I’ll give it my all to hopefully assist the team in having a successful weekend. Aron on the FP1 appearance.
Red Bull has confirmed that Liam Lawson will again replace Isack Hadjar at Red Bull for the Italian Grand Prix weekend as the Frenchman continues his recovery from a wrist injury.
Lawson stepped in at the Milton Keynes based outfit last time out in Zandvoort, where he took home points for the team in P7 on race day.
Now the New Zealander will get a second opportunity with the the team as Hadjar is set to sit out another round while his rehabilitation continues.
Yuki Tsunoda, meanwhile, is set to fill Lawson’s Racing Bulls seat for a second weekend, giving the Japanese driver another outing after losing his spot on the grid at the end of 2025.
Tsunoda spoke positively about his experience after returning to action at the Dutch Grand Prix having only just missed out on a point in P11.
Liam will drive alongside Max Verstappen at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, while Isack continues to make encouraging progress following the wrist injury sustained during the summer break. The team is closely monitoring his rehabilitation and will take no unnecessary risks with his return to competition and wishes him a speedy recovery. A statement from Red Bull.
Ferrari have presented a special one-off livery for their home race at Monza, paying tribute to seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher.
It is now 30 years since the German joined the Scuderia, and 20 years since his final victory with the team – scored at the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix.
As well as claiming five of his world titles with the Maranello-based team, Schumacher bagged five Monza wins in red (1996, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006).
Heading into the weekend, Ferrari revealed bespoke race suits that will be worn by current drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, featuring Schumacher’s logo and the seven stars he used to carry on his helmet to signify his seven titles.
Ferrari explained that this week’s wide-ranging tributes are inspired by Schumacher’s “impact on the racing world” and “his enduring mindset”.
Cadillac have announced that former Alpine boss Marcin Budkowski will become the new Team Principal of the American team.
Budkowski previously acted as Executive Director of the Alpine team until his exit in 2022, having previously joined from the FIA in 2018. He has since been working as a television pundit in his native Poland.
As well as holding roles with Alpine and the FIA, Budkwsoki also worked with teams including Prost, Ferrari and McLaren, with his experience spanning engineering and leadership.
Now Budkowski will return to the paddock in his new position, marking a change in leadership for Cadillac as the team prepare for the second half of their maiden campaign in Formula 1.
Graeme Lowdon has previously acted as Team Principal at the team. The appointment comes as part of a “planned leadership transition” Cadillac have said, as the organisation “evolves from its initial build phase into the next stage of racing performance”.
Marcin’s appointment marks another important step in the continued evolution of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team. From the beginning, our goal has not been simply to participate in Formula 1, but to build a next-generation team capable of competing at the very front. As we enter this new era for the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, Marcin brings exceptional F1 experience, technical expertise and strategic leadership that will strengthen our organisation and help us develop the winning mindset, tools and processes required for long-term success. We’re grateful to Graeme Lowdon for his leadership and the role he played in forming the Cadillac Formula 1 Team from the ground up. His contributions helped establish a strong foundation in our build-up phase, and we thank him for his commitment and wish him well. Dan Towriss, CEO of Cadillac.
Cadillac Formula 1 Team has an extraordinary foundation and ambition. This is a phase of huge opportunity for the team, one that will be defined by a clear objective: maximising car development within the cost cap and turning every team function on to compete. That means building an elite organisation with a winning mindset – driven, relentless in the face of setbacks, obsessed with detail and process, and able to execute with precision on race day. My focus will be on aligning our people, tools and information flow so the right decisions are made quickly, and the performance of the car improves every time we go racing. It is a privilege to be leading Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s on-track efforts, starting in Zandvoort next weekend. Budkowski on the news.
Lando Norris has taken his second consecutive victory of the season during an eventful Dutch Grand Prix, the Briton beating Kimi Antonelli to the win while home favourite Max Verstappen suffered a dramatic crash that resulted in the race being red-flagged.
After Norris initially led away from pole position at the start, the race was halted just one lap later when Verstappen lost the rear of his Red Bull and hit the wall heavily. The Dutchman fortunately reported that he was okay.
When the action resumed, Antonelli made a flying start to overtake Norris for P1 and from there stretched out a lead – but as the race entered its final third, Norris made ground and retook the position from the Mercedes.
A late Virtual Safety Car – called due to Esteban Ocon’s Haas stopping out on track – resulted in a number of drivers pitting including Antonelli, setting up for a potential chase to the end as both Norris and George Russell in front of him had not stopped for fresh tyres.
While the Silver Arrows inverted their cars to release Antonelli into second, Norris would prove unbeatable at the front and crossed the line with an 11.536s margin over the championship leader. Russell, meanwhile, just sealed the final spot on the podium, having fended off that chasing Ferrari’s to the very end.
The full top 10 are- P1: Norris, P2: Antonelli, P3: Russell, P4: Hamilton, P5: Leclerc, P6: Piastri, P7: Lawson, P8: Hulkenberg, P9: Alonso and P10: Gasly.
What a result for Lando Norris! Fresh off summer break and started exactly how he would want! Makes it even more sweeter having the win before summer break. He really did no wrong in the race, so great to see him up on the top step. As for his teammate, not such an amazing race, Piastri finishing in sixth, but when your teammate wins, nothing will match up to that unfortunately.
Double podium for the Mercedes duo, Antonelli seemed to have some pace it wasn’t enough compared to the McLaren. The same for Russell, he seemed to be putting right foot forward all weekend and then he couldn’t match up either.
Good haul of points for the Ferrari’s, 4th & 5th. A shame they didn’t get on the podium, but was great to see a bit of fighting with Mercs and staying with them for a long period of the race.
P7 for Liam Lawson in the Red Bull – a great race for him in the points, that drive may have just secured his future on the grid… Talking of Red Bull, Max Verstappen out on the first lap. First and foremost, so glad to see he was okay as it looked like a nasty crash but also I really can’t believe how he didn’t collect someone after the initial hit into the barriers. It was definitely not the home race he was expecting.
P8 for Hulkenberg, a good race for the Audi man, little mention of I don’t know how he didn’t hit his teammate when he spun at the same time as Max…
P9 for Fernando Alonso! Points! A good race for him and Aston Martin, there upgrades are finally getting somewhere and making it worthwhile.
Rounding out the top 10 is Pierre Gasly, another point for the Frenchman.
Now we have another week off! As we head to Itallyyyy, for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza from the 4th to 6th September.
Red Bull has announced that they have appointed Gwen Lagrue as Director of the Red Bull Junior Programme for the 2027 season.
Lagrue will join the team next year having spent more than a decade with Mercedes, and will essentially replace Helmut Marko who left Red Bull at the end of 2025.
Red Bull’s Junior Programme has become one of the strongest on the Formula 1 grid over several decades, with the likes of Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon come through the ranks.
More recently, Arvid Lindblad was promoted to Racing Bulls this season, while F2 championship leader Nikola Tsolov is expected to move into the top tier of single seater racing in future.
Gwen is one of the very best talent developers in F1 and I know first-hand the expertise, leadership and passion he brings to developing young drivers. The Red Bull Junior Programme has always been a cornerstone of Red Bull’s success, and having Gwen lead it soon reflects the importance we continue to place on developing the next generation of F1 talent. We want to recognise another time today the extraordinary contribution Helmut Marko has made over more than two decades creating and leading the Junior Programme. The Junior Programme has become the benchmark in F1 because of his vision, commitment and ability to identify and develop exceptional talents and he deserves enormous credit for that. As we continue to build the next chapter of Oracle Red Bull Racing, attracting leaders of Gwen’s calibre is fundamental to achieving our ambitions. We’re strengthening our high-performance organisation with outstanding people in every part of the business, and Gwen is an important addition of that journey. Together, we will build on an incredibly strong foundation while continuing to evolve the programme for the future. Laurent Mekies, Team Principal.
Joining Oracle Red Bull Racing marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for me. After eleven memorable years at Mercedes, I felt this was the right moment to take on a new challenge and continue growing personally and professionally. The Red Bull Junior Programme is one of the most respected and successful driver development programmes in motorsport. It has produced some of the greatest talents F1 has ever seen, and it is a real honour to have the opportunity to lead such a talented group of people and help shape its next chapter. I’m looking forward to working closely with Laurent as well as the entire team and I am very thankful for this opportunity. Together, we have a fantastic framework to build on the programme’s remarkable legacy, continue to evolve it for the future, and identify, develop and prepare the next generation of F1 race winners and World Champions, following a pattern Oracle Red Bull Racing has successfully repeated over the past 20 years. Lagrue on the news.
Formula 1 and the FIA can confirm that Malaysia will host the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit from October 2nd – 4 2026, between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grand Prix.
The event, which is subject to final agreements and official sign-off, including the approval of the World Motor Sport Council, will become the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
This agreement, reached between Formula 1, the FIA, the Government of Bahrain, and the Government of Malaysia, allows Formula 1 to preserve a Grand Prix that would otherwise not have happened. The rest of the schedule for 2026 remains unchanged.
Sepang – which made its debut as an F1 venue in 1999 – is one of Formula 1’s most iconic and challenging circuits, known for its passionate fans, exciting racing and unpredictable weather.
We are delighted to confirm that Malaysia will host the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2026. Once again, the sport has demonstrated its ability to adapt, find solutions, and deliver, creating an exciting moment for everyone who follows Formula 1. I would like to express our sincere thanks to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, as well as their respective governments for making this extraordinary outcome possible through their vision, commitment, and decisive action. Of course, I would also like to thank FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem for his partnership and collaboration throughout the process. Most importantly, this is fantastic news for our fans. They will continue to enjoy a full and exciting Formula 1 calendar, while also seeing the sport return to a great venue. Malaysia is an incredible country, and Sepang holds a special place in Formula 1 history. It will provide a spectacular setting for racing and an unforgettable experience for fans at the circuit and watching around the world. Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1.
I am incredibly proud of the collaboration that will enable Malaysia to host the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix at the iconic Sepang circuit later this year. Throughout this process, the FIA, Formula One Management, and our partners in Bahrain have worked tirelessly to explore every option, with the safety and wellbeing of the teams, volunteers, officials, our colleagues, and fans remaining our highest priority. Malaysia has long held an important place in the history of Formula 1 and the return of the Championship to Sepang is testament to our close relationship with the Motorsports Association of Malaysia, the continued commitment of the Malaysian Government, and the strength of international cooperation within our sport. My sincere thanks to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain, for their vision and support in making this possible. We look forward to welcoming the global motorsport community back to Sepang. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of FIA.
Red Bull have confirmed that Isack Hadjar will not take part in this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson stepping up to the top team as his replacement.
The Frenchman has sustained a wrist injury ahead of the season-resuming event at the Circuit Zandvoort – where team mate Max Verstappen will compete in his home race – thereby ruling him out of the round.
Hadjar, who currently sits eighth in the standings and was on a run of seven Grands Prix in the points, will be substituted for Lawson. The New Zealander previously had a stint at Red Bull for two rounds at the beginning of 2025 before he was demoted to their sister team – he has become a start of the midfield there and is ‘best of the rest’ in terms of points won.
His temporarily vacant seat will subsequently be filled by Yuki Tsunoda, another former Red Bull racer who lost his full-time drive at the end of last season and was reassigned to the role of test and reserve driver for both teams.
Hadjar has sustained a wrist injury during summer shutdown that will prevent him from racing at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. We will be welcoming back Lawson who will replace him in RB22 this weekend. The Team wishes Isack a speedy recovery and thanks Liam for stepping in on short notice. Red Bull’s Statement.
Formula 1 will continue racing in Las Vegas, the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World, through to 2037, following a 10 year extension.
Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc, Clark County officials, and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), have all commited to the long-term future of one of the standout evens on the global sporting calendar.
Held in the heart of the destination, and racing down the iconic Strip, the Las Vegas Grand Prix has become synonymous with world class hospitality, entertainment, and fan experience. It brings together leaders and audiences from across sport, entertainment, culture and business, redefining what a Grand Prix can deliver as a full-scale destination experience in the US.
The race, which also featured in the world’s biggest ever sporting film, the F1 the movie, takes place on the 6.2km Las Vegas Strip Circuit, where drivers exceed speeds of 322 kph while passing iconic landmarks including Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Wynn Las Vegas and the Venetian Resort Las Vegas.
On track, Max Verstappen has claimed victory twice (2023 and 2025), with George Russell winning in 2024 – the same year the event witnessed an incredible 113 overtakes and Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive World Drivers’ Championship.
We are thrilled that Formula 1 will continue racing in Las Vegas for many years to come. Since its debut in 2023, the event has been extraordinary, rapidly establishing itself as a premier destination for great racing, world-class entertainment, global business leaders, A-list celebrities and influencers. It has delivered a strong and lasting impact on the local economy and community. We always believed that Las Vegas would become a cornerstone of our presence in the United States, and this extension, together with the success of recent years, reinforces our long-term commitment to this important market. I would like to thank Las Vegas Grand Prix, Clark County, and the LVCVA [Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority] for their continued support, passion, and vision. The future is incredibly exciting, and we look forward to taking this event to even greater heights. Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1.
Securing a 10-year extension through 2037 is a defining moment for the Las Vegas Grand Prix and a reflection of the strength of our local partnerships. I’m incredibly proud of the team we have built in Las Vegas and of our shared commitment to supporting the Southern Nevada community. We’re deeply grateful to the Clark County Commission, LVCVA, our resort partners and the broader Las Vegas community for their continued collaboration and support in bringing this event to life. Las Vegas is unlike anywhere else in the world, and its energy, hospitality, and scale have played a major role in shaping what this race has become. This long-term extension allows us to continue delivering a world-class experience for our fans. Emily Prazer, President and CEO of Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen’s future with Red Bull and in Formula 1 continues to be the subject of huge speculation.
In recent weeks rumours surrounding Verstappen’s fate has only intensified after it emerged ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix that the four-time world champion’s representatives had met with McLaren to hold “preliminary talks” about a possible deal.
Speculation about a potential bombshell announcement regard Verstappen has been rife ever since, particularly as F1 enters a key period of time when it comes to the driver market for 2027 and beyond.
So… what is actually going on? Here is everything we know about Verstappen’s future and the McLaren rumours.
Why did the meeting take place?
The meeting took place amid the backdrop of a hugely frustrating campaign for Verstappen. It has been a difficult season for Red Bull, leaving the 28 year old Dutchman currently out of contention for wins in a car that has largely been fourth best.
On top of Verstappen’s disappointment with Red Bull’s lack of competitiveness, he has been the biggest critic of F1’s new cars and engine regulations for 2026. Verstappen’s fierce attacks on the new rules left his future uncertain, though changes for 2027 and 2028 have led to him softening his stance after several threats to quit the sport altogether.
While reports of the meeting have sent the F1 rumour mill into overdrive, it is commonplace for drivers and their management to assess the market as they weigh up their next move. Verstappen could simply be testing the waters, and using Red Bull’s struggles as leverage as a bargaining tool to strengthen his own position within the team.
Alternatively, he could be seriously interested in a move and putting the early groundwork in place. Verstappen is under contract to Red Bull until the end of 2028 but has a performance clause in his exiting deal that could allow him to leave at the end of this year if he so wished.
However, it has recently come about that the clause in question does not come into effect until October, but Verstappen is on course to be in a position to trigger it based on his current position in the world championship and deficit to the top two.
Following the meeting, Red Bull took an encouraging step forward with a major upgrade at its home race in Austria. But two rear wing failures in the space of nine days have done little to improve the Dutchman’s mood.
After ending the British Grand Prix stuck in the gravel at Stowe, Verstappen was at his most annoyed to date, stating he is “fed up” with the ongoing woes.
How has McLaren responded?
McLaren, meanwhile, has been doing everything possible to downplay the rumours linking Verstappen with the team, though it has not gone as far as denying the reports.
In several interviews, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has stressed he is happy with his current driver line-up and has no plans to make any changes, with both reigning world champion Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri holding long-term contracts with the team.
Could a move to McLaren work?
There are two things to consider here. Firstly, and arguably the most important, is the fact that both Norris and Piastri are tied down to big deals with McLaren.
To facilitate a move for Verstappen, Brown would have to remove one of his drivers. It is hard to imagine he would let the reigning world champion go, leaving Piastri as the more likely candidate to be moved on in most people’s eyes.
Many have suggested that Piastri could be used as part of a direct swap with Verstappen and replace the Dutchman at Red Bull. But there is no indication from Piastri that he is looking to leave, or move to Red Bull.
It is generally accepted in F1 that driver contracts are not worth the paper they are written on. At the end of the day, if a team wants a driver badly enough, and has the financial might to make a deal happen, it will.
And if a four-time world champion and the driver of Verstappen’s calibre is available, a team would be foolish not to explore the possibility.
But McLaren must weigh up the pros and cons. It currently boasts a harmonious and successful driver pairing. Bringing Verstappen onboard would risk destabilising that, as well as threatening the policy of fairness that McLaren prides itself on.
Lando Norris claimed his and McLaren’s first Grand Prix victory of 2026 in Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix, taking the chequered flag ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli – after mid-race drama and a late retirement for team mate Oscar Piastri.
Polestitter Norris spent the first half of the race in Piastri’s mirrors, having been jumped at Turn 2 on the opening lap – the latter doing just enough to hold onto the lead thereafter, and McLaren resisting Norris’ calls to be ushered through.
However, the intra-team battle was flipped on its head just after the midway point when Piastri – fresh from his second pit stop – encountered traffic in the form of Carlos Sainz in the first sector, and dramatically made contact with the Williams.
That moment, added to Norris’ sublime place in clear air ahead of his own second stop, swung the race in the reigning World Champion’s favour, before Piastri’s day ended in despair thanks to an apparent gearbox problem.
A Virtual Safety Car triggered by Piastri’s stoppage led to more pit lane action, with Verstappen and Antonelli staying out to take second and third respectively, ahead of three-stopping Ferrari pair.
Hamilton had initially emerged from that final stop ahead of Antonelli, only to cede the position after replays showed he had reached the relevant VSC white line at the end of the start/finish straight just behind the Mercedes.
A five second penalty for speeding in the pits ended any hopes Hamilton had of finishing on the podium even if he pressed on and harried Antonelli to the flag, with Leclerc also edging ahead for P4 once the sanction was applied.
The full top 10 are- P1: Norris, P2: Verstappen, P3: Antonelli, P4: Leclerc, P5: Hamilton, P6: Hadjar, P7: Russell, P8: Lawson, P9: Hulkenberg and P10: Lindblad.
What a result for the reigning World Champion! If they said at the beginning of the season that McLaren would’ve got a win before the summer break I think everyone would’ve laughed, but they did it! What an effort from Norris, he got the job done when it mattered the most, now they can go into summer break somewhat happy! As for his teammate, a BIG shame for Piastri, it looked like it was going to be a podium for him, but it will be interesting to see how he comes back from this after the summer break.
A great result for Verstappen! Made up a couple of spots, in the race and finished the first half of the season. Two podiums in two races, he will be looking forward to the summer break and re-group with the team. As for Hadjar, another P6 for him! His been consistent so far this year, it’s been good to see.
3rd for Antonelli, a decent result for him considering he didn’t have the best of weekend’s like his had previously. He also benefited from the Ferrari’s pitting when the VSC was out – in the end damage limitation. As for his teammate, Russell, not the best of races for him. A terrible start which saw him drop all the way down to back of the grid, he then had the battle of coming through the field – in the end he finished 7th, good result considering what happened, but it could’ve all been avoided and had a much better result.
4th and 5th for Leclerc and Hamilton, obviously pitting under the VSC wasn’t worth it in the end, as they threw away a podium spot and then Hamilton ended up with a penalty again – so if they didn’t pit it all would’ve been avoided but you live and you learn.
P8 for Lawson, another good race for him in the books, he will be happy with his performance so far this season. And the same goes for Lindblad, who finished in the final points position.
P9 for Hulkenbergggg, points for Audi again and Hulkenberg’s first points again with no penalty added! The team have now jumped ahead of Williams in the standings with just 1 point between them.
Another disappointing weekend for Cadillac – a double DNF for the team – they will be wanting this summer break now to gather all their information from the first half of the season and look at where to go from here.
As for the next race, it is now the summer break, so we have a couple of weeks off due to the shut down – but we will be returning to the Netherlands for the Dutch Grand Prix on the 21st – 23rd August for Round 12!
McLaren have announced that Leonardo Fornaroli will make his second F1 practice outing in Hungary this weekend, with the team also set to run a batch of upgrades on the MCL40.
A back-to-back F3 and F2 champion, Italian racer Fornaroli first appeared over an F1 weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last month, building on several private tests in older machinery by taking to the wheel of Lando Norris’ car through FP1.
Fornaroli, 21, will this time replace Oscar Piastri for the opening 60 minute session around the Hungaroring, giving the McLaren Development Driver some more valuable mileage as he grows into the role.
McLaren’s latest development including a new floor and other aerodynamic parts, which will be assessed throughout Friday practice.
Meanwhile, during FP1 only, the team will trial a developed version of the experimental rear wing that was due to be tested on the Friday of the Austrian Grand Prix. However, it is not scheduled to be introduced fully in Hungary or the following race in the Netherlands.
I’m looking forward to driving the MCL40 in this weekend’s Free Practice 1 at the Hungaroring. Every session is a chance to learn more, gain confidence and contribute to the team’s programme for the weekend. I’ve been very busy in Woking over the past few weeks preparing this session in both the simulator and at the Optimum Nutrition McLaren Performance Hub, to make sure I’ll be ready as I can. I’m really grateful to everybody at the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team for all the support they’ve given to me so far. I can’t wait to get out on track on Friday, have fun and make the most of every lap to help the team. Fornaroli on the news.
Heading to Hungary, we’re looking forward to a very different challenge at the Hungaroring and the final race before the summer shutdown. It’s a circuit that demands a high-downforce package and rewards confidence under braking, strong corner entry and good traction, while the combination of hot temperatures, relentless corners and limited straights makes tyre management a key factor. As always this season, we’ll also be focused on getting the most from our power unit deployment across the lap and understanding how the revised overtaking characteristics influence strategy. We have an upgrade package arriving this weekend too, and in such a competitive season every development is important so it will be great to gather further understanding on how those parts perform throughout Free Practice. Our aim is to maximise everything we have available, carry positive momentum into the shutdown and put ourselves in the strongest possible position for the second half of the championship. Randy Singh, Senior Director of Racing at McLaren.
Ferrari have announced a multi-year agreement with Charles Leclerc that will see the Monegasque race in red for the “coming seasons”.
Leclerc joined the Scuderia for the 2019 campaign after stepping up to F1 in 2018 with Sauber, which followed Formula 2 title success in 2017.
Over his years with Ferrari, Leclerc has given the Tifosi plenty to celebrate – including famous Monza victories in 2019 and 2024 as well as an emotional home win in Monaco in 2024 – and he is second on the leaderboard for most appearances with the team, behind Michael Schumacher.
The new deal marks the latest chapter in a decade long relationship between the team and Leclerc, with the 28 year old joining the driver academy back in 2016, and also emphasises the faith the Monegasque has in one day bringing a World Championship back to Maranello in the near future.
I couldn’t be happier to continue this journey with Scuderia Ferrari HP. It has always been so much more than just a team to me. It’s the team I’ve loved and dreamt of being part of since I was a child, and after all these years it has become a second family. Together we’ve shared incredible moments and some tougher ones, but I believe in this team more than ever, and I’m deeply grateful that we will keep pushing side by side toward our shared goal of bringing the World Championship back to Maranello. Being a Ferrari driver is a dream, but it’s also a responsibility I never take for granted. I’ll continue to give absolutely everything I have to bring this team back to where it belongs, at the very top, for everyone in Maranello, and above all for the tifosi, whose passion is the heartbeat of this Scuderia. Leclerc on the news.
Charles has been part of the Ferrari family for many years now and this renewal feels like something very natural for us. Over these seasons we have seen him grow, to become not only one of the strongest drivers in Formula 1, but also a person who is completely at one with the team and everything Ferrari represents. We appreciate his talent, we love his determination and the way he approaches every day with the people in the Scuderia, both on and off the track. We know how much this project means to him and we are happy to continue working towards our shared goals. Fred Vasseur, Team Principal.
He’s here to stay ❤️ We are delighted to confirm that Charles Leclerc has agreed a new deal with Scuderia Ferrari HP pic.twitter.com/Lp8BSr458c
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) June 3, 2026
Kimi Antonelli returned to glory with victory at a closely contested Belgian Grand Prix, narrowly beating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc as Max Verstappen settled for his third podium of the season in P3.
The Dutchman got off to a sublime start as he stormed past Antonelli on the opening lap at Eau Rouge, but couldn’t quite stay ahead of the Mercedes driver and quickly gave up the lead.
While Antonelli clung on at the front, there was heartbreak for his team mate who fell behind both Ferrari’s and made early contact with Lewis Hamilton, spinning George Russell into the gravel and bringing his race to an end, with far-reaching implications in the title battle.
The Italian resisted the pressure of a Safety Car restart as well as a late challenge from Leclerc after retaking the lead to take the chequered flag by 1.9s, securing his sixth race win of the 2026 season and first since the Monaco Grand Prix.
The full top 10 are- P1: Antonelli, P2: Leclerc, P3: Verstappen, P4: Hamilton, P5: Piastri, P6: Hadjar, P7: Norris, P8: Bortoleto, P9: Lindblad and P10: Colapinto.
What a result for Antonelli! This weekend is exactly what he needed, his first win since Monaco – it was his to run away with when the first Free Practice started and he kept it cool all weekend. As for his teammate, another weekend to forget – DNF for Russell and on the first lap too, he will be waiting for the summer break to come along quicker than anything!
P2 for Leclerc! Another great result for the Monegasque – his turned a corner and something’s switched in him this year and he is getting these great results and consistently too – a shame he couldn’t get the win. As for Hamilton P4! A pretty decent result considering everything which was thrown at him – if he didn’t get the 5 second time penalty it might’ve been a podium but still a great result.
Third for Verstappen, a great result for him – much better than Silverstone which he will be happy with! He will be looking to replicate that at the Hungarian Grand Prix. As for his teammate, a great race for Hadjar, from starting at the back to getting all the way to 6th a great result for him.
5th and 7th for the McLaren’s not amazing but still a decent result – especially with Norris having his penalty.
P9 for Lindblad, another race in the points and as well for Colapinto in 10th!
As for the next race weekend, it’ not long as we head to Hungary for Round 11 this weekend and our last before summer break!
It’s great to be back on the top step after obviously a few difficult rounds. Was a hard-fought race. We lost first place with a VSC but then we managed to make our way back. Was a tough win because Charles was quick and we had to hold onto that. Antonelli on the win.
Kimi Antonelli has added a sixth pole position to his season tally after setting the fastest lap in Qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, fending off challenges from Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.
The Mercedes driver took time to find a rhythm during the hour-long session, but his final effort of 1m 44.361 was enough to seize P1 by three-tenths from Verstappen, who suffered a near miss with Isack Hadjar on his last lap, having been given a tow by his Red Bull team mate.
Norris – who will drop to P13 thanks to a 10 place grid penalty for exceeding his power unit components allocation – had initially set the fastest time after the opening runs in Q3, but could not find enough to beat Antonelli.
The full top 10 are- Pole: Antonelli, P2: Verstappen, P3: Norris, P4: Russell, P5: Leclerc, P6: Hamilton, P7: Piastri, P8: Lindblad, P9: Bortoleto and P10: Hadjar.
However with Norris’ penalty taking effect everyone moves up one. As well Hadjar will be tumbling back to the end of the grid due to his 20 place grid penalty.
A great result for Antonelli, exactly what he would want going into this weekend, now he will be looking for the win! Antonelli has not won since Monaco back on the 7th June! So he will be looking to get those 25 points over his teammate. As for George a good result for him, he will be wanting to go for the win, his had a couple of good race weekends in a row now and will be carrying that momentum.
A good result for Verstappen! He will be very happy with a front row start and he will be wanting to go for the win, his not a four time World Champion for no reason! A little note, that Hadjar done a great job giving the tow to help Verstappen to P2!
A semi decent result for the Ferrari’s, great for the team to get Hamilton out for Qualifying after his crash in FP3 – a really good job. They can do a lot from starting 4th and 5th – battling for the win won’t be out of the question for these two drivers.
A shame for Lando to have the 10 place grid penalty when he qualified so well – but the reason they did it at this track is because you can overtake here. As for his teammate an okay result for Piastri, starting 6th but qualified 7th.
A really good effort by Bortoleto, he seems to be getting more and more comfortable with the car and putting these results in – which sometimes seem to be going unnoticed.
It’s great to be on pole. Was not a very straightforward session, the track changed a lot but we were able to improve lap by lap and bring home pole which was nice. Of course, tomorrow is another day. I have Max starting next to me so it’s going to be important to get a good start and then try to be ahead into Turn 5. Antonelli on pole position.
Lando Norris will face a 10 place grid penalty at the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix, with McLaren opting to fit a new power electronics unit to his car in an attempt to tackle their reliability struggles.
Mercedes’ engines have been subject to criticism in recent rounds due to retirements that were out of drivers’ control, such as Kimi Antonelli’s in Barcelona. As one of their customer teams, McLaren haven’t been able to avoid enduring similar problems.
Norris has been held back on multiple occasions by issues with the power unit, which cause his failure to start the Chinese Grand Prix and further complications in Japan and Monaco.
As per the regulations, if a driver uses more power unit elements than the permitted allocation, a grid penalty will be imposed at the first event where each element is used. In this case, McLaren are hopeful that the overtaking opportunities at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps make this weekend the best time to suffer the setback.
McLaren’s numerous upgrades have helped Norris recover some lost ground in the Drivers’ standings, where he now sits in fifth place with 97 points, but they are still eager to use their refreshed power unit and continued development to take the fight to Mercedes and Ferrari.
McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team will fit car Number 1 with a fourth power electronics [unit] this weekend in Spa, exceeding our permitted number of allocated power electronics units and incurring a 10-place grid penalty. Car Number 1’s first power electronics unit suffered a terminal issue in China, which meant Lando was unable to start the race. Lando’s second power electronics unit, fitted in Japan, needed to be withdrawn for remedial work after suffering issues in Free Practice, which necessitated moving to a third and final power electronics unit within the permitted allocation. While the second power electronics unit was able to be repaired after the Japanese Grand Prix, it suffered a terminal issue in FP2 in Monaco, and was withdrawn from our allocation once again. McLaren’s statement.
Aston Martin have confirmed that their third driver, Jak Crawford will participate in another Free Practice 1 outing for the team at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
Crawford has made two FP1 appearances so far in 2026 – having gotten behind the wheel of Fernando Alonso’s car in Japan, before driving in place of Lance Stroll more recently in Austria – while he also experienced two runs for the team in the latter stages of the 2025 season.
For the American’s third session of the season – which will also fulfil Aston Martin’s third rookie practice run of the four that each team is required to complete during the campaign – Alonso will step aside to allow Crawford to drive the AMR26.
Crawdord has also taken part in testing for Aston Martin, which included a recent Pirellli tyre test in Barcelona during June.
Prior to taking on his third driver role at the team, Crawford ended the 2025 Formula 2 Championship in second place, having collected four wins and eight podiums with DAMS Lucas Oil.
Gucci has been announced as title partner to the Alpine team for 2027, with the squad set to race under the name of Gucci Racing Alpine Formula One Team from the start of next season.
As part of the collaboration, the luxury fashion house is creating Gucci Racing, which they have stated will be “a new business and experiential platform built around the values of performance, precision, discipline, and excellence at the intersection of luxury and sport”.
The new era will also see the team compete in Gucci colours, marking a step away from their current blue and pink livery.
Partnering with a prestigious brand of Gucci’s calibre in Formula 1 as title partner of Alpine Formula One Team is something I am incredibly proud of. Not only that, but I am also excited about the possibilities the partnership with Gucci brings and the great things we can achieve together at a global level. The Enstone Team has a history of doing things differently to others and has previously shown that fashion can finish first in Formula 1. With the improved performance on track, and Alpine having its best-ever points total to start a season, this new collaboration with Gucci shows the growing momentum behind the team. I would like to thank Luca [de Meo] and Francesca for their trust and dedication in the project and helping make this partnership come to life. Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s Executive Advisor.
This partnership with Alpine Formula One Team writes a new chapter: Gucci becomes the first luxury fashion house to serve as Title Partner in Formula 1. That reflects our ambition for the brand and the role we want Gucci to play on this stage. Formula 1 represents today a unique convergence of performance, culture, and global reach, and Alpine Formula One Team is the right partner to bring this vision to life. Gucci Racing is more than a presence on the grid. It is an expression of who we are and where we want to take the brand. And there is much more to come. We are grateful to Alpine and the entire Renault Group for sharing this ambition with us. Francesca Bellettini, President & Chief Executive Officer of Gucci.
Charles Leclerc has claimed victory in dramatic British Grand Prix, with Kimi Antonelli dropping backwards due to a car issue in the latter stages while a crash for Max Verstappen triggered a late-race Safety Car.
Leclerc made a lightning start, the Monegasque and team mate Lewis Hamilton getting ahead of Antonelli off the line. While Antonelli eventually caught Hamilton for P2, Leclerc remained steady ahead, only losing the lead when he made his pit stop.
That handed P1 to Antonelli, who stretched out his stint before eventually pitting on Lap 36. The Italian promptly went on the chase of Leclerc – but this came undone when he experienced an issue with his car on Lap 41, which the team suggested was a left front wheel shield failure.
After two further pit stops, Antonelli managed to continue on but had dropped to P10, as well as receiving a five-second time penalty for track limits. Further drama then followed when Verstappen spun off into the gravel trap on Lap 48, resulting in the Safety Car being deployed.
With the race then ending under the Safety Car, Leclerc crossed the line to claim his ninth career win ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell – who, in staying out on track while others pitted during the Safety Car phase, managed to leapfrog Hamilton.
The final spot on the podium went to Hamilton – a position he retained after being investigated post-race for a yellow flag infringement, with the stewards handing the seven time World Champion a reprimand.
The full top 10 are- P1: Leclerc, P2: Russell, P3: Hamilton, P4: Norris, P5: Hadjar, P6: Lawson, P7: Lindblad, P8: Bortoleto, P9: Colapinto and P10: Gasly.
What a result for Leclerc! His first win since October 2024 at the United States Grand Prix. His drive was absolutely perfect! Nothing to fault at all, Ferrari had the right strategy even when the Safety Car came out. As for his teammate, a home podium for Lewis! A shame he couldn’t battle for the win, but a very good result considering he had a 5 second time penalty, the team will be walking away from this weekend in a very good mindset!
P2 for Russell, kind of damage limitation for the Brit, wasn’t a great weekend overall but he brought it back with a home podium, but at the end of the weekend, he would’ve been happy with that. As for his teammate, Antonelli, a weekend to forget for him, he started well with the Sprint victory and then getting pole position, it all looked great… until he reported something was broke, dropping him to 6th, to then pit again and dropped down to 10th by Lap 45, he then also received a five second time penalty. After the chequered flag it dropped the young Italian to 16th.
A decent result for Norris, a shame he didn’t have more performance, as that would’ve been an entertaining battle, but still great for him to get a podium! As for Piastri, out of the points, in P11, not a good weekend at all.
5th for Hadjar, a good performance from him, this is what Red Bull wanted in their second seat, someone who can score decent points, when Verstappen doesn’t. Talking of the World Champion, a DNF for the Dutchman, a weekend to forget for him, it’s his 3rd DNF of the season so far.
6th and 7th for the Racing Bulls! They’ve consistently scored points in the last 5 rounds now and only one weekend so far of this season they haven’t! The amount of work they’ve put in is so consistent – this will count towards the end of the season as they will be battling for 5th with Alpine. Special shoutout to Lindblad, his first home Grand Prix and some great points to see out the weekend.
Points for Bortoleto! P8, a really strong showing for the Audi driver. Audi’s best point scoring position so far this season.
A double points finish for Alpine, Gasly 9th and Colapinto 10th, another good result for the team, like I said earlier this will make a difference at the end of the season, with their fight with Racing Bulls.
It feels incredible. Unfortunately the end was maybe not the one I will have dreamt of but to win after the last few weekends that have been particularly difficult, all the work that we put into trying to get the feeling back in the car. I felt like I had found something yesterday between the Sprint and Qualifying, but I had to confirm that today. And today, the feeling was back where it needs to be. I’m so incredibly happy. Leclerc on the win.
As for the next race weekend, Round 10 of the 2026 Formula 1 season and we head to Belgium, on the 17th – 19th July!
Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position in Sprint Qualifying ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix, the Ferrari driver snatching top spot on home soil by just 0.011s from Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli.
Hamilton had set the pace in Sprint Qualifying at Silverstone throughout Friday afternoon, having gone fastest in Free Practice before leading the way in both earlier segments prior to a one-lap shootout in SQ3.
The seven-time World Champion posted a 1m 28.376s lap, leaving him just fractionally quicker than Antonelli, as the pair headed Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in third.
The full top 10 are- Pole: Hamilton, P2: Antonelli, P3: Verstappen, P4: Leclerc, P5: Russell, P6: Norris, P7: Piastri, P8: Hadjar, P9: Lawson and P10: Lindblad.
What a result for Hamilton! If you told him that at the start of the week, he might’ve had a different response but his definitely going to take it! It will be interesting to see how the rest of this weekend is going to go! A decent result for his teammate, Leclerc, he can do a bit from 4th and get a decent result!
A good result for Antonelli, keeping the results consistent which is very important in a Championship fight! As for his teammate, Russell, an okay result, he definitely could’ve had a better result, but its still a very long weekend ahead.
Third for Verstappen, a very good result for him! It seems like Red Bull have made an improvement on their side and are more consistent than the few bad results they had. As for Hadjar, 8th, a good result for him, an opportunity to score points there.
6th and 7th for McLaren, not the best result for the team, but like I said earlier it’s a long weekend and they have an opportunity to try something different for the actual qualifying and race.
Another good result for Racing Bulls, in the top 10 again, 9th for Lawson and 10th for Lindblad who is having his first home race in his debut season! They will be ones to watch this weekend.
I love this place, I love this crowd. I can’t express to you how big a dream it is, still to this day, when you’re building up to this race and you think about every corner and kind of the flow that you can get into at this track if you get the set-up right, and if you’ve got the right team behind you. The car’s felt really great today, thanks to everyone back at the factory, just continuing to push. We brought tiny little bits here – every single weekend we’re showing up with something, and everyone’s pushed to the max, so I’m really grateful to get that pole. I was quick through all the session, but still it was only 10 milliseconds or something like that, so it’s very close to these guys and the team really deserves it. A big, big thank you to everyone here. Hamilton on Sprint Qualifying.
McLaren have unveiled an eye-catching livery for this weekend’s British Grand Prix, paying homage to their history with a heritage-inspired design.
The team will switch out their usual striking papaya for a primarily white livery, as first seen on the McLaren M2B when they joined F1 in 1966 – in the same season, founder Bruce McLaren scored their maiden point at the British Grand Prix.
Highlighting how much the team have evolved over the last six decades, the new look also builds on their milestone 1000th Grand Prix earlier this year in Monaco, where they ran a special orange and black colour scheme.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will both be in white race suits for the weekend, too, with a ‘Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Team’ sticker added to the MCL40 in honour of the team’s founder.
Our Silverstone livery is a celebration of where we began and everything we have built since. The McLaren M2B represents the start of a journey defined by relentless innovation and a belief in possibility, and this design brings that spirit to life. Our partnership with Google Gemini is grounded in those same principles. Louise McEwen, McLaren’s Chief Marketing Officer.
Williams have revealed a one-off livery for this weekend’s British Grand Prix, where the team will celebrate their home race with a Union Jack inspired design across their cars, race suits and team kit.
Since Frank Williams set up the team in 1977, they have won at Silverstone on eight occasions and are set to mark their British heritage with splashes of red,white and blue across the nose cone and chassis side of the FW48.
Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz will wear unique race suits with a similar design, while team members working trackside will also show off takeover kits as the Grove team look back on some of their greatest memories from their home race, including their 100th win at the hands of Jacques Villeneuve in 1997, and crowd favourite Nigel Mansell’s three victories.
They will also be hoping to add to their tally of 11 points by returning to the top 10, especially after Sainz was forced to retire from the recent Austrian Grand Prix.
We are proud to be flying the flag for the British GP this week. From our first win to our 100th, Silverstone has played host to some of Atlassian Williams F1 Team’s most iconic moments – and there is nothing on the F1 calendar quite like the atmosphere of the home crowd here. Whether watching in the grandstands, supporting at the Fan Zone or cheering us on from home, we really feel the energy of the fans and will be carrying it with us all weekend. Team Principal, James Vowles.
George Russell has boosted his title bid by seizing victory in the Austrian Grand Prix, the Mercedes driver taking his seventh career win ahead of a chasing Max Verstappen and championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
Russell made a smooth getaway from pole position when the lights went out, while Verstappen also bounced back from the disappointment of his crash in Qualifying to make gains in the early laps. Antonelli did not have an entirely smooth start, the Italian running wide on several occasions.
While Russell held a solid lead for much of the following laps, Verstappen – after engaging in more than one feisty battle with Lewis Hamilton along the way – made his way up to P2 as the race progressed, resulting in the Dutchman putting increasing pressure on Russell later on.
A tense end to the Grand Prix followed as, after his final pit stop, Verstappen set about cutting into Russell’s lead – just as Antonelli was also trying to chase down the Dutchman from third. But Russell ultimately crossed the line by 1.611s from Verstappen, the Briton also moving back up to P2 in the standings in the process.
The full top 10 are- P1: Russell, P2: Verstappen, P3: Antonelli, P4: Piastri, P5: Hamilton, P6: Hadjar, P7: Norris, P8: Leclerc, P9: Lawson and P10: Lindblad.
What a result for George Russell! He needed this result massively, especially as his teammate has been flying away with it! He kept it out of trouble with a cool, calm and collected drive. As for his teammate, a great race for Antonelli, third for the Italian.
A great result for Verstappen! Especially since he crashed out in qualifying, it was a great way to bring it back for his team’s home race. A good result for Hadjar, always scoring points which is needed at the end of the season.
A great result for Piastri! But didn’t really see much from him, but he was in a position if anything happened he would’ve benefited from that. As for Norris, not the best race for him, at one point it was unsure if he was even starting the race, so from that aspect a great day for him.
As for the Ferrari’s a decent race for the team, Hamilton with the better strategy again and he had some very entertaining battles! As for Leclerc, he was kind of in no mans land in eighth.
Double points finish for Racing Bulls! A good race for them again, they have made some great improvements, and are being consistent every race.
A weekend to forget for Cadillac, they are not having a good time at the moment, Bottas with his brakes on fire and then Perez with overheating brakes.
Incredible to be back on the top step. It’s been a little while so I’m definitely going to enjoy this one this evening. A lot of hard work from my team to get us back on track. Obviously there was a tricky run of form at one point. Max and Red Bull were incredibly quick this weekend, so kudos to them but thanks to everyone, thanks to the fans. It was pretty toasty out there, so looking forward to a drink now. Russell on the win.
Aston Martin have announced that their third driver, Jak Crawford, will take part in his latest Free Practice 1 session at the Austrian Grand Prix.
It will mark Crawford’s fourth FP1 appearance for Aston Martin and his second of the 2026 season, after Japan, while ticking off the second of the team’s four mandated rookie practice runs for the year.
Off the back of a Pirelli tyre test with the team in Barcelona earlier this week, Crawford is due to take over Lance Stroll’s AMR26 for the opening one-hour session at the Red Bull Ring – a circuit he knows well from his F2 and F3 campaigns.
It comes two year after the American’s first experience in an Aston Martin F1 car, when he tested the AMR22 in June 2024.
It’s great to have another opportunity to drive the AMR26 during a race weekend. Austria is a circuit I know well and it’s quite special to be returning to the Red Bull Ring with the team, almost two years after my first test in an Aston Martin F1 car. I’ve spent a lot of time in the simulator this season supporting the team and recently completed the tyre test in Barcelona, so I’m looking forward to applying that work on track. Every opportunity in a Formula 1 car is valuable, and I’ll be focused on delivering useful feedback and maximising the session for the team. Crawford on the opportunity.
Jak continues to play an important role as Third Driver and this FP1 session is another valuable step in that process. He has been heavily involved in our simulator programme throughout the season and recently completed productive running during the Pirelli tyre test in Barcelona. Austria provides another opportunity for us to evaluate his progress in a race weekend environment while gathering valuable data for the team. Mike Krack, Aston Martin’s Chief Trackside Officer
Lewis Hamilton secured a magnificent maiden Grand Prix victory for Ferrari in Barcelona to bring Mercedes’ 2026 winning streak to an end, beating George Russell and Lando Norris while Kimi Antonelli failed to finish the race.
Although Ferrari’s initial choice to start the Briton on soft tyres didn’t help him take the lead on the opening lap, they gambled on a three-stop strategy which played out flawlessly as Hamilton gained a free stop under a Virtual Safety Car.
He delivered a series of stunning laps to gradually increase his advantage over the Silver Arrows and claim his first win in nearly two years, cutting down Antonelli’s lead in the Standings at the same time.
The full top 10 are- P1: Hamilton, P2: Russell, P3: Norris, P4: Verstappen, P5: Piastri, P6: Hadjar, P7: Gasly, P8: Lawson, P9: Lindblad and P10: Colapinto.
What a result for Hamilton! It was coming, I could feel him getting these good results and that the first win in Ferrari was coming and he had a superb race! He had an excellent drive, and everyone thought at first with being on the soft tyres and basically confirming a three stop it wasn’t going to work – but the VSC helped and it put all the pieces of the puzzle together! As for Leclerc, another weekend to forget, crashing out in the race due to going through the gravel as his power steering was broken.
A decent result for Russell – but seeing as he started on pole I did think he’d run away with the win but he was too busy fighting Antonelli for position which then allowed Lewis to get involved and take that from them. As for Antonelli a weekend to forget for him – I think he would’ve taken the DNF hard as his done superb this season and was on a streak of 5 wins and then to not finish due to a mechanical issue it’s not nice – but what I will say is even if he did finish he wouldn’t of been on the top step!
Back on the podium for Lando Norris – a great result for him in the end. Being there around the top four matters because incase of a retirement or a penalty being added, you need to be close enough and that’s what Lando did. 5th for Piastri – a decent result, overall a good points haul for the team, which they have been missing.
4th for Verstappen – a bit in no mans land this weekend, not really much pace compared to the Ferrari’s and Mercedes but a good damage limitation from the Dutch driver. As for his teammate, Hadjar finished in 6th – a good points haul for the team again.
Double points for both Racing Bulls and Alpine! Quite a strong showing from both teams and drivers.
Now we have a break for a week and then we have another double header but our first stop is the Red Bull Ring for the Austrian Grand Prix on the 26th – 28th June!
First I have to start and say a huge grazia to everyone here, my team here at Ferrari, everyone back at the factory, Fred for believing in me and bringing me to this team. I started out a dream last year which seemed almost impossible during my time last year, but we never gave up hope and the team just continued to lift me up. We made so many changes and we made so many improvements, and on top of that I’ve got the greatest fanbase a sportsman could ever ask for. Thank you, thank you to everybody. Hamilton on the win.
George Russell has secured pole position for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in a close fought Qualifying hour, beating Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli after Charles Leclerc crashed out of the session.
Bouncing back from a frustrating round in Monaco, the Mercedes driver was consistently one of the quickest throughout Qualifying and his spectacular effort of 1m 14.679s was unbeatable, earning him a third pole position of the season.
Hamilton made his return to the front row in style with a last-gasp attempt, demoting Antonelli to third place to make the Italian’s lowest Grand Prix Qualifying result so far this season.
The full top 10 are- Pole: Russell, P2: Hamilton, P3: Antonelli, P4: Norris, P5: Verstappen, P6: Hadjar, P7: Piastri, P8: Lawson, P9: Hulkenberg and P10: Leclerc.
What a result for Russell, back on pole position, he definitely needed that after the disaster of a weekend last week, now to get the win surely??!! As for his teammate, another great result in third! Antonelli is always lurking around ready to pounce.
Another great result for Hamilton, for a minute it looked like he was going to get pole position! But still an excellent result for the Ferrari driver. As for his teammate, not a good qualifying session, Leclerc will be looking at staying out of trouble at the start of the race.
A good result for Norris! Makes up for an awful weekend last weekend, hopefully he can turn it into a decent result and get those points he missed out on last weekend.
5th and 6th for the Red Bull boys, a semi decent result – Verstappen was looking like he couldn’t really hook the car up when it mattered, will be interesting to see how they get on in the race and what there strategies are going to be.
Another good result for Liam Lawson in 8th, he will be looking for another points finish.
Hulkenbergggg in the top 10! We love to see it, hopefully the Audi driver can turn it into a decent points finish for the team.
It’s been a great weekend so far – I kind of feel like my old self again, where every lap I’m doing my job and always fighting in those top positions. Obviously the last few races, for numerous reasons haven’t quite been on our side, but I came into this weekend with just a clean slate, felt good and, yeah, just good to be on pole. Russell on pole position.
Pierre Gasly’s Monaco Grand Prix podium has been reinstated after Alpine’s Right of Review request proved successful.
After starting ninth on the grid last weekend in the Principality, the Frenchman had improved to P4 throughout a race that included two Safety Cars and a red flag before gaining another position as Mercedes’ George Russell served a late drive through penalty.
However, Gasly had been penalised for speeding in the pit lane twice during the race and was handed two separate five-second time penalties which were added to his time, demoting him to seventh at the chequered flag.
Following the race, Alpine requested a Right of Review into that decision that cost Gasly his first podium of the season, with the initial hearing taking place yesterday during the start of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix weekend.
The Enstone based team were successful in the initial hearing, having successfully provided new, significant and relevent evidence.
We welcome the decision made by the FIA to deem our Right of Review as admissible following the final classification of last weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix. As a result, the Stewards have rescinded the two five-second penalties imposed on Car #10, which reinstates the team’s third place finish. We would like to thank the FIA and Formula One Management for its transparency and co-operation throughout the Right of Review process and for reaching this decision. The team’s focus is now very much on this weekend’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix and striving for the best possible result with both of its cars. Alpine’s statement.
This means that Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar will lose his podium result, with the Frenchman being demoted to P4 while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and the two Racing Bulls cars of Lawson and Lindblad will also drop a position.
Racing Bulls have unveiled a bold football-inspired livery that will adorn both their cars across the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix weekend.
Drawing inspiration from the “visual language of football culture” the VCARB 03’s new look ties in with the start of the FIFA World Cup – while also honouring the city of Barcelona and its love of the sport.
As well as the livery, Racing Bulls will also have accompanying teamwear on display this weekend, while a custom VCARB FC crest brings together the chequered flag and three stars, paying tribute to the World Cup’s three host nations – Mexico, Canada and United States.
The campaign also feature three creatives from the Racing Bulls’ Creator Platform: fashion designer Hattie Crowther, graphic designer Florence Burns and photographer Ezra Alexander.
Formula 1 and Football are two global sports with incredibly passionate communities, united by a shared sense of identity, creativity and culture. With VCARB FC, we’re celebrating that crossover, bringing together the energy of both sports. We’re also proud to give emerging talent the opportunity to help shape campaigns like this, bringing fresh perspectives that continue to push the boundaries in the world of F1. Peter Bayer, Racing Bulls CEO.
After an intense start under the new regulations that made every lap in the new cars extra valuable for their full time drivers. Formula 1 teams have started to fulfil their required rookies outings at this weekend’s Barcelona Grand Prix.
Here are the drivers who have already been announced as participating in FP1 in the seventh round.
Leonardo Fornaroli – McLaren Replacing: Lando Norris
Back-to-back Formula 3/ Formula 2 Champion, Fornaroli, was picked up by McLaren as its reserve this year – and is now getting his first practice outing.
He could’ve hardly have done more in F3 and F2, but given he’s not racing this year, he faces the unenviable task of staying at the forefront of F1 teams’ minds, through impressing in practice will undeniably help.
Frederik Vesti – Mercedes Replacing: Kimi Antonelli
Vesti was the F2 runner-up three years ago, and his racing future now clearly lies in the endurance racing instead – where he has been forging a career with Cadillac.
He has established himself as a significant player in Mercedes F1 programmed, described by Toto Wolff, as “an important part of our development work with the W17”.
Ayumu Iwasa – Red Bull Replacing: Isack Hadjar
The 24 year old is increasingly becoming Red Bull’s go to practice driver across its two teams having had considerable success racing in Red Bull colours in various category – but never truly entering the frame for an F1 call-up.
He is the formal Racing Bulls test and reserve driver, and is currently working to defend his maiden title in the prestigious Super Formula category in Japan.
Dino Beganovic – Ferrari Replacing: Lewis Hamilton
Sixth – but only 20 points down on the standings leader – in F2 this year, 22 year old Beganovic will carry out his third practice outing with Ferrari in Barcelona.
Ferrari has two juniors on the cusp of F1 readiness in Beganovic and Rafa Camara but it’s line-up doesn’t appear likely to change in the immediate future.
Luke Browning – Williams Replacing: Alex Albon
Williams reserve Browning, will be in Albon’s car at Barcelona and then in Carlos Sainz’s car at the Red Bull Ring.
An outside F2 title contender last year in his rookie season, Browning has now switched to Super Formula this year and has been competitive.
He is clearly the F1-readiest prospect on Williams’ books, but will need to make a big impression in FP1 sessions to be first in line for a future seat.
Paul Aron – Audi Replacing: Nico Hulkenberg
Aron, is an Alpine reserve – but was already loaned by the English-French team to what was then Sauber for a pair of practice outings last year. This arrangement will continue again, at the Red Bull Ring.
After making waves as an F2 rookie in 2024, Aron didn’t race last year and has no full-time programme this year either – instead supporting Alpine’s efforts.
His prospects of an Alpine seat look far from straightforward given this would likely require Alpine to move on from Franco Colapinto – who has been on a good run of form.
Colton Herta – Cadillac Replacing: Sergio Perez
Ex-Indycar star Herta, will dovetail a first F1 practice outing with the full F2 round at Barcelona.
Cadillac and Herta have made no secret of their ambition to get him into an F1 seat, with the experience-gathering Indycar to F2 switch for this year aimed at no other goal but acquainting him with the tracks, the paddock and topping up his superlicence points tally.
Adjusting to F2 has proven tough – not unexpectedly so given Herta had left the European single-seater scene in 2026 and he is only 13th in the Standings at present.
Jordan's Track Talk 