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Formula 118d ago

Oscar Piastri has been “too clean” for 2026 F1 cars – Andrea Stella

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has attributed Oscar Piastri’s current struggles to a driving style that’s incompatible with Formula 1’s new-for-2026 machinery.It may seem remote, but just seventh months ago, Piastri was a contender for the world title in the Abu Dhabi finale. But F1 has since…

Formula 118d ago

Lewis Hamilton hailed as a "legend" after emotional fan interaction at F1 Belgian GP

Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton has once again drawn widespread praise from fans after footage of a wholesome interaction with one of his avid supporters during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend surfaced online.The video, which recently gained traction on social media, shows the British…

Formula 118d ago

James Vowles details how Williams maintains Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon's trust

Williams team principal James Vowles has revealed that absolute transparency is the cornerstone of how he maintains trust with drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon.Vowles was asked how he handles difficult conversations with his driver line-up amid a challenging rebuilding phase during a live…

Formula 118d ago

Damson Idris teases "exciting conversations" over "F1 The Movie" sequel

F1 The Movie star Damson Idris has confirmed that "exciting conversations" are already taking place regarding a potential sequel for the Formula 1-based blockbuster.During an appearance on the F1 Beyond The Grid podcast, the British actor, who portrayed rookie driver Joshua Pearce alongside Brad…

Formula 118d ago

Lando Norris earns emotional praise from MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi has revealed his immense pride in Lando Norris following the British driver's Formula 1 championship victory.The motorcycle champion reflected on the F1 driver's journey during a joint appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.Norris, who has openly idolised the…

Formula 118d ago

McLaren on Max Verstappen: ‘We’d need a third car for him’

There may be no concrete evidence that Max Verstappen is seriously considering joining McLaren for the 2027 Formula 1 season, but team principal Andrea Stella failed to unequivocally deny it on Saturday at the Belgian Grand Prix.Reports of mere informal talks between Verstappen and McLaren emerged…

Formula 118d ago

‘Only Oliver Bearman’s car works as it should’ - Esteban Ocon explains another Q1 knockout

For the fifth time in the last six Formula 1 grands prix, Esteban Ocon failed to make it through Q1 in qualifying, setting the 18th-fastest time – penalties will see him start from 17th on the grid.At the Belgian Grand Prix – the race that marked his Formula 1 debut just under 10 years ago, with…

Formula 118d ago

“Serious issue at play” – Why George Russell changed his mind about deficit to Kimi Antonelli

Well, at least Mercedes Formula 1 driver George Russell no longer needs to engage the services of a professional art forger.On Thursday at Spa, he described having to emulate his team-mate’s driving style, rather than follow his own instincts, in these terms: “It’s like if somebody asked you to…

Formula 118d ago

"F3 car with F1 downforce" — Why Max Verstappen and McLaren say Spa is so different in 2026

Ahead of the Spa-Francorchamps Formula 1 race weekend, the Ardennes circuit was already expected to be one of the most demanding tracks in terms of energy management. According to many drivers on the grid, qualifying – which delivered pole position for Kimi Antonelli – confirmed exactly…

Formula 118d ago

Explained: How yellow flag error cost Charles Leclerc in Belgian F1 qualifying

Ferrari Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc was incorrectly shown a yellow flag at the end of Belgian Grand Prix qualifying, which cost him a place on the grid.In the dying seconds of qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps, Leclerc was 0.070s up on his first run when he entered the Bus Stop chicane.But as…

Formula 118d ago

Carlos Sainz queries F1's support of 2026 rules after early simulations: "How can we even accept that?"

Carlos Sainz has delivered a withering assessment of the 2026 Formula 1 cars' performances at the Belgian Grand Prix, questioning how the rules could be accepted as-is from the simulations first produced a few seasons back.Complaints about the energy management aspect of the current cars have not…

Formula 118d ago

Max Verstappen: I wouldn't be on Belgian GP front row without Isack Hadjar's help

Max Verstappen praised Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar for delivering him "a tow and a half" in Formula 1 qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix, which he credited with helping him towards his front-row start for tomorrow's race.With Hadjar consigned to starting at the back of the grid on Sunday…

Formula 118d ago

This is the starting grid for the 2026 F1 Belgian GP

While Kimi Antonelli sailed to pole position at the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix, there is a raft of changes to the order behind the Mercedes driver. Engine changes up and down the grid mean that Lando Norris, Lance Stroll, Isack Hadjar and Fernando Alonso will all take grid penalties for…

Formula 118d ago

F1 Belgian GP: Kimi Antonelli beats Max Verstappen to pole by 0.317s

Kimi Antonelli clinched his sixth Formula 1 pole position of the year with the fastest lap in Belgian Grand Prix qualifying, beating Max Verstappen by 0.317s.The Italian continued Mercedes' lock-out of pole positions despite having to chase Verstappen's second lap, as the Dutchman made use of a…

Formula 118d ago

F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head: Belgian GP

After every F1 qualifying session, Motorsport publishes each team's qualifying record in terms of team-mate battles.This record is based exclusively on qualifying results so that grid penalties don't alter the statistics.When a driver can't put in a representative lap time due to a technical issue…

Formula 118d ago

Lando Norris reveals 'violating' 40-minute paparazzi pursuit in London

Lando Norris has spoken out against the intrusive nature of the paparazzi, detailing a recent incident in London where he was followed for 40 minutes, an experience the 2025 Formula 1 champion described as leaving him feeling "violated".The Briton opened up about his shifting lifestyle, the…

Formula 118d ago

Guenther Steiner delivers brutal verdict on Aston Martin's upcoming F1 upgrades

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes that Aston Martin will need an absolute "miracle" for its impending upgrades to move it towards the front of the grid.Steiner suggested that merely catching Williams is the Silverstone outfit's most realistic scenario.During an appearance on The…

Formula 118d ago

F1 Belgian GP: Kimi Antonelli fastest as Lewis Hamilton crashes at session's end

Kimi Antonelli concluded the final Formula 1 practice session at the Belgian Grand Prix on top, as Lewis Hamilton crashed at the end of the session on the exit of Turn 13.Antonelli had set a 1m45.990s with his opening soft-tyre run of the session, laying down the gauntlet for his challengers at the…

Formula 118d ago

Why Cadillac abandoned its split F1 livery

As it tried to make a splash as Formula 1's latest entrant, Cadillac made its debut with a bold black and white split design livery. But following the success of a series of one-off colour schemes, the US-owned team has now moved to a more conventional design.Cadillac launched its first-ever livery…

Formula 118d ago

Red Bull faces F1 driver headache after academy talent surge, says James Hinchcliffe

Former IndyCar Series driver James Hinchcliffe has pointed to the irony of Red Bull's current Formula 1 driver market predicament, noting that the Milton Keynes outfit has rapidly gone from having too few drivers in its pipeline to too many.Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast alongside former F1…

Formula 119d ago

Max Verstappen right to explore F1 options beyond Red Bull, says Naomi Schiff

Max Verstappen is completely justified in evaluating his Formula 1 options outside of Red Bull, according to Sky Sports F1 pundit Naomi Schiff.Speculation regarding Verstappen's long-term future at the Milton Keynes outfit remains a major talking point. The 28-year-old has repeatedly been linked to…

Formula 119d ago

Aston Martin braced for one more weekend of pain in F1 Belgian GP

Aston Martin is counting the days until next week's arrival of its long-awaited B-spec Formula 1 car in Hungary. But before it heads to Budapest, the beleaguered Silverstone squad is having to grind through its toughest weekend yet at high-speed Spa-Francorchamps.Having been well off the pace with…

Formula 119d ago

Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes ‘still the team to beat’ at Belgian GP alongside McLaren

Lewis Hamilton has tipped Mercedes and McLaren to impress at Formula 1’s Belgian Grand Prix, after Ferrari seemingly struggled in Friday practice at Spa-Francorchamps.Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli was fastest in 1m45.944s yesterday, leading McLaren’s Lando Norris and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by two…

Formula 119d ago

Lewis Hamilton has Michael Jordan mentality, says "F1" movie star Damson Idris

British actor Damson Idris has likened seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton to basketball icon Michael Jordan.Idris, who starred as rookie driver Joshua Pearce alongside Brad Pitt in F1 The Movie, recently appeared on the F1 Beyond The Grid podcast. Having spent two years immersed in the…

Formula 119d ago

Arvid Lindblad shares driving test update ahead of F1 Belgian GP

Arvid Lindblad joined the Racing Bulls Formula 1 team in 2026 at just 18 years old, but he has yet to pass his driving test.Speaking to beIN Sports ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, the British driver shared an update on his progress towards gaining his driving licence after completing his first…

Formula 119d ago

Long-run analysis: Can anyone beat Kimi Antonelli in Belgium?

Championship leader Kimi ended Friday’s practice sessions in Belgium at the top of the timesheets. With a lap of 1:45.944, he finished 0.190 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, while Red Bull driver Max Verstappen was 0.472 seconds adrift in third. The Italian also set the benchmark during the…

Formula 119d ago

"We're not getting ahead of ourselves" - Why Lando Norris was downbeat despite Belgium F1 practice pace

Practice pace on Friday at Spa-Francorchamps presented a more muddled picture than you would normally expect at what has traditionally been a ‘power' circuit. Nearly a full second separated the top six cars during their soft-tyre qualifying simulations during the second practice session, and only…

Formula 119d ago

Alpine explains Pierre Gasly crash that red-flagged FP2

Alpine and Pierre Gasly have weighed in on the Frenchman’s crash at the end of Free Practice 2 ahead of Formula 1’s Belgian Grand Prix.The incident occurred in the final stages of Friday’s second session, as Gasly experienced a snap of oversteer at the exit of the Les Fagnes section. This narrowly…

Formula 119d ago

Mercedes "chasing" George Russell improvement after messy Belgian GP Friday

Mercedes says it has identified clear areas of improvement for George Russell to bounce back after a low-key start to his Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix weekend.Kimi Antonelli led the way at Spa-Francorchamps with a 1m45.944s lap set one-third into second practice. Team-mate Russell had a less…

Formula 119d ago

F1 Belgian GP: Saturday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch

Formula 1 heads into Saturday at Spa-Francorchamps with Kimi Antonelli back on top after leading a disrupted second practice session at the Belgian GP.The Mercedes championship leader beat Lando Norris by just under two tenths in FP2, with Max Verstappen third and Lewis Hamilton fourth. The session…

Formula 119d ago

Guenther Steiner explains why Max Verstappen joining McLaren makes no sense

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has firmly dismissed the recent speculation linking four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen with a shock move to McLaren.Steiner addressed the mounting rumours regarding Verstappen's long-term future during an appearance on The Red Flags Podcast ahead…

Formula 119d ago

Max Verstappen explains Spa radio message and delivers early verdict on Red Bull's pace

While Red Bull had expected a very challenging weekend at Spa-Francorchamps due to the strong emphasis on energy management, Friday’s Formula 1 practice sessions proved surprisingly encouraging. Max Verstappen even went fastest of all in the first practice session, although, in his view, that…

Formula 119d ago

Franco Colapinto "much more" nervous for World Cup final than F1 Belgian GP

Franco Colapinto has revealed he will be significantly more nervous watching Argentina in the World Cup final than competing in his own race at the Belgian Grand Prix, following his nation's emotional semi-final victory over England.After the Argentine driver arrived at the Formula 1 paddock…

Formula 119d ago

Red Bull expects its ‘Macarena’ wing to return at next F1 race

Red Bull intends to re-introduce its rotating rear wing on the RB22 at next week’s Hungarian Grand Prix, technical director Pierre Wache has announced.Pioneered by Ferrari amid Formula 1’s new ruleset, the rotating wing – which improves straightline performance in straight mode – was adopted by Red…

Formula 119d ago

How Racing Bulls let a driver shootout decide who got its Spa F1 cooling upgrade

With Racing Bulls duo Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad both delivering consecutive points finishes in recent races, surfing on an uptick in form for the Formula 1 team following an effective Canada upgrade, neither driver has needed any additional motivation to beat the other side of the garage.But…

Formula 119d ago

F1 Belgian GP: Kimi Antonelli headlines FP2 over Lando Norris as Pierre Gasly causes red flag

Kimi Antonelli vaulted to the top of the timesheets in Formula 1's second practice session at the Belgian Grand Prix, just under two tenths clear of Lando Norris in a twice red-flagged session.The first red flag was innocuous enough and called out for gravel on the circuit; the second was produced…

Formula 119d ago

Martin Brundle reveals "gut feeling" on Max Verstappen's Red Bull future

Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports analyst Martin Brundle has offered his verdict on the speculation surrounding Max Verstappen's future, revealing his "gut feeling" is that the four-time champion will remain with Red Bull next season.As rumours continue to circulate regarding the Dutchman's…

Formula 119d ago

Kimi Antonelli admits he sometimes wishes he could go unrecognised as he opens up on rising fame

Mercedes Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli has admitted that he sometimes wishes he could go "unrecognised" as he learns to cope with his newfound fame in Italy.Speaking during the drivers' press conference ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Antonelli was asked how he is dealing with the attention in…

Formula 119d ago

Esteban Ocon unveils special "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" helmet to Tom Holland

Haas Formula 1 driver Esteban Ocon, who is famously a huge Marvel fan, has revealed a special Spider-Man: Brand New Day-inspired helmet to actor and star of the film franchise Tom Holland.The special edition helmet, which the Frenchman will wear for two races in Belgium and Hungary, pays homage to…

Formula 119d ago

Juan Pablo Montoya says Kimi Antonelli is his own biggest F1 title threat

Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes current championship leader Kimi Antonelli's biggest obstacle in the title race is his own mindset, urging the Mercedes garage to shield the teenager.Antonelli still leads the drivers' championship heading into the Belgian Grand Prix, but his…