Formula 1: Articles & News Reports.

[Fortitude]

No surprise about Zandvoort F1 departure: 'Verstappen was a temporary hype'.
The Grand Prix of the Netherlands will take place two more times at Circuit Zandvoort. After 2026, the pinnacle of motorsport will definitively say goodbye to Max Verstappen's home race. Does this surprise F1 analysts? Not if it's up to Ralf Schumacher, at least.
28 Aug 2025
Kevin Doldersum
GPblog.com

"Yes, it's a pity, but that's just the way it is. Fair is fair: Max Verstappen has become a lot calmer over the years. This is because the fans get used to it and because he doesn't win as much anymore," judges the German analyst in the Backstage Boxengasse.”

The underlying cause is clear, according to Schumacher: "This means that a hype like this is always only temporary. You also notice this in the revenue from the sponsorship." The worries about the profitability of the Grand Prix at Zandvoort led to the organization deciding to say goodbye to Formula 1 after 2026.

Schumacher came up with a fitting statement for those who might criticize this decision. "We mustn't forget that we have to look at ourselves before we criticize others. If I want to sell my bike and a nice person offers me 200 euros, but someone else comes with an offer of 400 euros, you know yourself what you would choose. And that's just Formula 1," he said somewhat frustrated.

'Verstappen was a temporary hype';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/no-surprise-about-zandvoort-f1-departure-verstappen-was-a-temporary-hype


Zandvoort deluged by thunderstorm as Dutch GP weather fears grow
The weather forecast earlier this week indicated rain would strike Zandvoort over the race weekend. Those predictions have already come true in a big way.
28 Aug 2025
RacingNews365

Large pools of water collected throughout the paddock, whilst an access tunnel underneath the circuit was completely flooded. The downpour rendered the tunnel impassable on foot, forcing organisers to use golf karts to transport people from one side of the track to the other.

The heavy shower will undoubtedly raise concerns about what is to come over the remainder of the weekend. While a degree of rain can often add an element of unpredictability to a grand prix, too much could threaten its running altogether, as was painfully demonstrated at the 2021 Belgian event.

‘Zandvoort deluged by thunderstorm’;

https://racingnews365.com/dutch-gp-paddock-under-water-after-major-thunderstorm-hits-zandvoort


Bring Inters: Zandvoort’s Weather Could Detonate Dutch GP
Aug 28, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
Fastest Lap

Friday – Practice
FP1 (12:30 local): Overcast and cool, with the first raindrops threatening. The FIA forecast pegs the chance of rain at around 40%, air temperature near 18°C. Not much grip to start with, so any early running matters.
FP2 (16:00): That’s when the tap could really turn. An 80% chance of rain, with 5–10mm expected before potential thunderstorms roll in Friday evening. Teams may split programs: bank dry laps early if there’s a window, then pivot to intermediate and full-wet data. If you’ve brought new bits, you might not learn much.

Saturday – Final practice and qualifying
FP3 (11:30): Still unsettled. Another 80% chance of rain in the morning with gusts around 15–25 kph. It’s one of those sessions where the clock is as important as the car — catching the driest five minutes could determine your read on tyres for qualifying.
Qualifying (15:00): The outlook eases but doesn’t clear. Showers remain a threat at around 40%, with air temp nudging 19°C. If it’s stop-start wet, we’ll see that familiar Zandvoort tension: brave early laps on the crossover, or wait for the track to come to you? Either way, traffic management will be everything on a narrow, evolving surface.

Sunday - – Race
Grand Prix (15:00 local; 14:00 UK): A soggy morning should wash away most of the rubber laid down, resetting the surface for the main event. The afternoon trend looks kinder, with conditions improving as the race approaches, but there’s still a 40% chance of rain during the Grand Prix itself. Air temperature around 20°C.

‘Zandvoort’s Weather Could Detonate Dutch GP’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/bring-inters-zandvoorts-weather-could-detonate-dutch-gp/


Verstappen’s private jet makes a stop in another country on the eve of Dutch GP
26 Aug 2025
Tobia Elia
Cas van de Kleut
GPblog.com

This week, Max Verstappen and his fellow Formula 1 drivers are preparing for the Dutch Grand Prix after a four-week break. On Tuesday afternoon, his private jet made a stop in England, as revealed by the X account VerstappenJet. Before heading to the Netherlands, Verstappen’s aircraft was picked up on radar over England. The Red Bull Racing driver landed near Milton Keynes, home to the team’s factory. It seems likely that a quick visit there was the reason for the detour just days before the Dutch Grand Prix.

‘Landed near Milton Keynes, home to the team’s factory’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verstappens-private-jet-makes-a-stop-in-another-country-on-the-eve-of-dutch-gp


Key Fred Vasseur Ferrari ally is ‘under pressure’ amid ‘deteriorating’ relationships at Lewis Hamilton’s team
28 Aug 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Ferrari will hope to come out of the summer break at the 2025 F1 Dutch Grand Prix able to record a strong end to the year, but they are enduring turmoil in Maranello. The pride of Italy travel to Zandvoort this weekend for round 15 of the 24 due in the 2025 F1 season. But while Ferrari sit in second place in the F1 constructors’ championship before the Dutch GP, they trail McLaren by 299 points and are still without a Grand Prix win this season.

Ferrari chassis technical director Diego Tondi is now ‘under pressure’. Now, RMC Motori reports that Ferrari’s rear suspension upgrade is the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’ in Maranello, having cost them €1m (£862k) to design. Ferrari are pointing the finger at their chassis technical director Diego Tondi, as well, and he is now ‘under pressure’.

Ferrari think Tondi, who has worked for the Scuderia since 2007 and took his current role in September 2024, is ‘unable to react’, which has led to ‘deteriorating personal relationships’. Two key figures even left Ferrari during the summer break as they were ‘at odds’ with Tondi. Ferrari think Tondi, who has worked for the Scuderia since 2007 and took his current role in September 2024, is ‘unable to react’, which has led to ‘deteriorating personal relationships’. Two key figures even left Ferrari during the summer break as they were ‘at odds’ with Tondi.

‘Deteriorating relationships’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/key-fred-vasseur-ferrari-ally-is-under-pressure-amid-deteriorating-relationships-at-lewis-hamiltons-team/


McLaren set to match very special record at Zandvoort this weekend
28 Aug 2025
Tobia Elia
Estéban den Toom
GPblog.com

McLaren could match a very special record at Zandvoort during the Dutch Grand Prix. For that to happen, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will need a bit of luck and every ounce of performance from their car. And of course, Max Verstappen can’t be the one to ruin the party on Sunday—otherwise, the record will have to wait.

If Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secure another one-two finish—regardless of the order—McLaren will draw level with Mercedes and Ferrari. The record stands at five consecutive one-two finishes. Ferrari first set the benchmark early in Formula 1 history, all the way back in 1952. For sixty years it remained out of reach for every other team in the sport’s top category, until Ferrari themselves matched it again in 2002.

It wasn’t until 2014 that Mercedes had their turn, with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg finishing first and second in five straight races to equal Ferrari’s record. Mercedes even had the chance to claim the record outright, but fell just short. This Sunday, McLaren could once again draw level with that milestone—and if they succeed, the opportunity to break the record would come at Monza, with the Italian Grand Prix set for early September.

‘One-two finish record’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/mclaren-can-match-a-very-special-record-at-zandvoort-in-formula-1


Leclerc highlights one unique Zandvoort trait when thinking about Dutch GP
28 Aug 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

The highly anticipated Dutch Grand Prix, the fifteenth round of the season after the summer break, is just around the corner. Charles Leclerc spoke about his connection to Zandvoort and the first thing that comes to mind when he thinks about the Dutch race.

Several drivers have spoken highly of the Dutch circuit, but what exactly connects Leclerc to Zandvoort? ''At the Dutch Grand Prix, the first thing that comes to my mind is the orange army,'' the Ferrari driver stated. ''It's really nice to see so much passion and to be completely honest, there's always so much respect also for all the teams and all the drivers. And I think that's what we all enjoy at the Dutch Grand Prix, mostly because there's respect as well.''

Hamilton, on the other hand, focused more on the characteristics of the circuit, which he considers unique in the F1 calendar: “It's got lots of imperfections. I think the undulations really give it a huge amount of character as well. A lot of tracks are built on flats, whereas it's built in a time where they didn't have that technology and it's aged. There's bumps from like things on the ground all over the hills moving so that just creates for me one of the best tracks that we get to race on.''

‘Unique Zandvoort trait(s)’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/general/leclerc-highlights-one-specific-zandvoort-trait-when-thinking-about-dutch-gp

[Fortitude]

Dutch GP: Norris leads Piastri in messy FP1 session.
Lando Norris set the pace in the opening practice session for this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, leading McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri in a strong showing at Zandvoort.
29/08/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

The session unfolded under cool, windy conditions, a stark contrast to Europe’s recent heatwaves, as the Formula 1 season resumed after the summer break. The one-hour work-out saw immediate action as all 20 drivers tackled the beachside circuit. Championship leader Piastri initially topped the timesheets, followed by home hero Max Verstappen and Norris.

Verstappen briefly led before yellow flags waved 11 minutes in due to off-track incidents. Yuki Tsunoda spun at Turn 12 but continued, while Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli understeered into the gravel at Turn 9, triggering a red flag. The session resumed after an eight-minute delay, only for Carlos Sainz to slide off at Turn 12, highlighting the track’s challenges.

Despite the messy running, McLaren asserted dominance as Norris posted a blistering 1m10.278s on soft Pirelli tyres, with Piastri close behind at 1m10.570s, narrowing the gap to 0.292s. The pair’s pace went unmatched, with other front-runners like Verstappen focusing on varied run plans.

‘Lando Norris set the pace’;

https://f1i.com/news/546860-dutch-gp-norris-leads-piastri-in-messy-fp1-session.html


Dutch GP: Free Practice 1 Results
Full results from Free Practice 1 for the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix.
29 Aug 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

POS. NO. DRIVER TEAM TIME / GAP LAPS
1 4 Lando Norris McLaren 1:10.278 34
2 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.292s 31
3 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +0.501s 24
4 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.563s 24
5 23 Alexander Albon Williams +0.893s 32
6 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.940s 23
7 63 George Russell Mercedes +1.108s 28
8 55 Carlos Sainz Williams +1.180s 32
9 5 Gabriel Bortoleto Kick Sauber +1.231s 29
10 10 Pierre Gasly Alpine +1.335s 29

‘Full results from Free Practice 1’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-dutch-grand-prix-zandvoort-free-practice-1-fp1-results/


FP1: Norris sets the pace from Piastri and Stroll during first practice in Zandvoort as Verstappen suffers late off
Lando Norris has kicked off the second half of the season by going quickest in Free Practice 1 at the Dutch Grand Prix.
29/08/2025
Formula One - Official Site

Lando Norris has set the pace during the opening practice session at the Dutch Grand Prix, the McLaren racer going fastest from team mate Oscar Piastri and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll. After a few weeks without racing during the sport’s summer break, the drivers were greeted by dry but windy conditions as the session got underway at Zandvoort, with Nico Hulkenberg leading a queue of cars out of the pit lane when the green light appeared.

Most of the field had bolted on the medium compound for their opening runs, on a weekend in which Pirelli are celebrating their 500th World Championship Grand Prix. Amid a busy start – with potentially heavy rain forecast for later in the day – Lewis Hamilton was the first to suffer a big moment, the Briton experiencing a 360-degree spin that triggered the yellow flags. “I’ve got flat spots all round,” Hamilton subsequently reported.

‘FP1: Norris sets the pace from Piastri and Stroll’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/fp1-norris-sets-the-pace-from-piastri-and-stroll-during-first-practice-in.1kyvSHvZ9d8fH7BZHLRBgj


Verstappen finishes FP1 in the gravel for Dutch GP
29/08/2025
Fastest Lap

‘Action photograph’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/news-summaries/verstappen-finishes-fp1-in-the-gravel-for-dutch-gp/


F1 fans tell Max Verstappen to ‘relax’ after ‘close call’ for Red Bull at the Dutch Grand Prix
29 August 2025
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer

F1 fans tell Max Verstappen to ‘relax’ after ‘close call’ for Red Bull after Dutch Grand Prix practice. Verstappen ‘isn’t better’ than Ayrton Senna or Alain Prost, according to Jacques Villeneuve, who doesn’t think he would stand out in their era.

Unfortunately, he was standing out for all the wrong reasons after FP1 at the Dutch Grand Prix, where he found the gravel following a practice start. On X (formerly known as Twitter), it has led to quite a response from fans, warning him after the silly incident. “Close call, Max should relax,” commented one individual, while another agreed, saying, “That was close, even the best can have a shaky moment. Shows how tricky these cars can be.”

Red Bull told what Laurent Mekies must do to create success for Max Verstappen. Verstappen is now on his longest run without a podium for seven years, dating back to the final year of Red Bull’s partnership with Renault in 2018. Since then, he has always been at the front, reaping the fruits of an excellent Honda deal, which helped to transform them into regular title contenders.

‘Relax’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/f1-fans-tell-max-verstappen-to-relax-after-close-call-for-red-bull-at-the-dutch-grand-prix/


Verstappen causes confusion with unusual off, after the chequered flag in FP1
29 Aug 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen found himself in the Turn 1 gravel, but after the chequered flag fell in the opening practice session for the Dutch Grand Prix. He was left to walk away from his beached Red Bull in what was a very unusual moment.

It was a better session for Verstappen, who was sixth fastest, although he was still 0.940s slower than Norris. However, he was made to walk back to the pit lane after a very unusual off that took place after the chequered flag. Joining his rivals on the grid for a practice session, Verstappen got away cleanly only to go straight on at Turn 1. “And keep up the pace Max,” said his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase. “Oop…”

Walking around the rear of his Red Bull, Verstappen began to dig the gravel away from the front of his RB21’s rear right tyre. Sky F1’s Karun Chandhok explained: “He doesn’t want them to damage the floor when they are picking the car up.” That was about the only thing in the incident that made sense.

‘Verstappen causes confusion’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-verstappen-causes-confusion-with-unusual-off-chequered-flag-fp1-dutch-gp


Clarity on Verstappen's update: This is what has changed on the Red Bull
14:26, 29 Aug
Norberto Mujica
Cas van de Kleut
GPblog.com

On Friday morning, it was reported that Red Bull had updated the front wing for the Dutch Grand Prix. The team's chief engineer, Paul Monaghan, for Max Verstappen's squad, has explained the adjustment to the car.

In the presence among others GPblog, Monaghan was asked whether it is a specific update for Zandvoort, or a part of the car's development. "It's not a whole new front wing," Monaghan said. "It's quite literally just a flap extension. We're struggling a little bit for balance, so you just extend the chord.”

"It's nothing unusual: you glue it onto the existing one and off you go.” Monaghan continued: “So yes, it's not quite as dramatic as you think. It's very similar to what we did in Hungary, just slightly further because we've had the time to make some more bits.”

‘Clarity on Verstappen's update’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/clarity-on-verstappens-update-this-is-what-has-changed-on-the-red-bull


Minimal upgrades as teams unveil car changes for the Dutch Grand Prix
29 Aug 2025
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com

Upgrades are few and far between as F1 resumes from its summer break with just three teams making any alterations. The summer shutdown, which enforces no work to be done at the factory, plus an increasing focus on 2026 suggested it was always likely there would not be a huge amount of changes for this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix and that has proven to be the case.

‘Minimal upgrades’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/upgrades-teams-unveil-car-changes-dutch-grand-prix

[Fortitude]

Dutch GP: Norris edges Alonso in FP2 – heavy crash for Stroll.
Norris’ consistency signals McLaren’s strong form, while Alonso’s pace hints at Aston Martin’s potential despite Stroll’s setback.
29/08/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

McLaren’s Lando Norris continued his dominance at the Dutch Grand Prix, topping the second practice session with a commanding performance on Zandvoort’s 4.226km seaside circuit. The session was disrupted early on when Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll suffered a heavy crash at Turn 3’s high banking. Carrying too much speed, the Canadian slammed into the outside wall, wrecking the front and rear right-side of his AML25, triggering an immediate red flag.

At the time, Haas rookie Oliver Bearman briefly led with a 1m11.113s lap on soft tyres, ahead of Norris and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto. The session faced further chaos when Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar stopped on track due to a power loss, prompting a Virtual Safety Car with only half the session remaining.

With interruptions limiting data collection, teams face a challenging setup for Saturday’s sessions. Verstappen, sitting fifth, remains a threat on home soil as Red Bull aims to close the gap.

‘Norris’ consistency signals McLaren’s strong form’;

https://f1i.com/news/546890-dutch-gp-norris-edges-alonso-in-fp2-heavy-crash-for-stroll.html


Dutch Grand Prix Free Practice 2 - Results
29/08/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Full results from Free Practice 2 for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, round 15 of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship.
2025 Dutch Grand Prix - Free Practice 2 results
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:09.890s 27
2 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.087s 19
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.089s 28
4 George Russell Mercedes +0.384s 24
5 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.588s 22
6 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.848s 21
7 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull +0.905s 25
8 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.944s 22
9 Franco Colapinto Alpine +1.067s 25
10 Nico Hülkenberg Sauber +1.190s 24

‘Full results from Free Practice 2’;

https://f1i.com/news/546888-dutch-grand-prix-free-practice-2-results.html


Lance Stroll crashes heavily in Dutch GP practice as Aston Martin destroyed
Stroll unharmed after heavy Zandvoort crash but Aston Martin left with overnight repairs
29 August 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

Lance Stroll brought out the red flags during Free Practice 2 at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix after a heavy crash at Turn 3 in Zandvoort, leaving his Aston Martin badly damaged but escaping without injury.
The Canadian lost control coming out of Turn 2 and carried too much speed into the banked right-hander, locking up before slamming into the barriers. His car sustained significant damage on the right-hand side, bouncing back onto the track before coming to a halt.
“I’m okay,” Stroll confirmed over the team radio, easing concerns after the impact. He was able to climb out of the wreck unaided and quickly returned to the garage with his team. The incident forced an immediate red flag as marshals cleared debris and recovered the Aston Martin. The stoppage lasted several minutes before the session resumed, though there was little track activity at first as teams reassessed their run plans.

‘Aston Martin destroyed’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-dutch-gp-2025-lance-stroll-crash-fp2-aston-martin/


What happened in second Dutch GP F1 practice session
Aug 29, 2025
Ben Anderson
The Race

Lando Norris kept McLaren on top in second practice for the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix, but only narrowly from Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin in a session that featured crashes for Lance Stroll and Alex Albon and a high-speed spin for Lewis Hamilton. Russell ended the session fourth quickest for Mercedes, just under four tenths off the pace, with Max Verstappen’s Red Bull fifth and Lewis Hamilton sixth for Ferrari, despite a high-speed spin exiting Turn 9 after touching the grass.

Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull, Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, the Alpine of Franco Colapinto - which set its best time later in the session than the rest - and Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber rounded out the top 10. This didn’t look like an easy session for the Ferraris, which were almost a full second off the pace in FP2, and even though Verstappen enjoyed one of Red Bull’s calmer Fridays, he was still almost six tenths off the pace.

‘What happened’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/what-happened-in-second-dutch-gp-f1-practice-session/


Lewis Hamilton suffers second costly error as messy Dutch GP start continues
Things are going from bad to worse for Lewis Hamilton at Zandvoort...
29 August 2025
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

Lewis Hamilton has completed his second 360-degree spin of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, with a pirouette on the exit of Turn 9 in FP2. The seven-time F1 drivers' champion made a similar mistake during FP1 at Zandvoort on the exit of Turn 2, but has managed to avoid crashing his Ferrari on both occasions.

In trying to find the limit of his SF-25's capabilities, the 40-year-old has endured a messy start to proceedings, but was able to go fourth-fastest soon after his second incident, quicker than team-mate Charles Leclerc, who encountered traffic on his run. His spin came between red flag crashes for Lance Stroll and Alex Albon, in what is becoming a heavily disrupted second free practice session.

‘From bad to worse’;

https://racingnews365.com/lewis-hamilton-suffers-second-costly-error-as-messy-dutch-gp-start-continues


WATCH: Stroll suffers heavy crash in FP2 at the Dutch Grand Prix
Lance Stroll crashed in the opening stages of Free Practice 2 at Zandvoort.
29 August 2025
Formula One - Official Site

Lance Stroll’s Free Practice 2 at the Dutch Grand Prix came to an abrupt end with a heavy crash at Turn 3. With rain on the horizon, drivers were keen to set their timed efforts early in the session and gather the maximum amount of data early on.

Running on medium tyres, Stroll – who’d gone an impressive P2 in Free Practice 1 – appeared to misjudge his braking point, locking his front-left tyre before understeering his Aston Martin into the barriers.

‘Stroll suffers heavy crash’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/watch-stroll-suffers-heavy-crash-in-fp2-at-the-dutch-grand-prix.4Ki7nyfwLwkHAk3mTMa6dJ


Norris Sweeps Friday; Alonso Splits the Papaya at Zandvoort
August 29, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
Fastest Lap

Dutch GP FP2: Norris completes Friday sweep as Alonso splits the orange, Stroll walks away from Turn 3 hit McLaren kept the hammer down at Zandvoort, Lando Norris topping FP2 to complete a Friday clean sweep at the Dutch Grand Prix. The gap shrank, though: Fernando Alonso muscled his Aston Martin between the papaya pair, just 0.087s shy of Norris, with Oscar Piastri third as 0.089s covered the top three.

The session had a little of everything Zandvoort likes to throw at you—brooding clouds, a packed pit exit, and a couple of hard reminders that the banking bites. With rain threatening, the queue at the end of the pit lane looked like rush hour. Norris laid an early 1:12.615 on mediums before Carlos Sainz (hards) and then Alonso (mediums) had a go at the top.

Tensions surfaced early too. Alonso was left fuming after feeling impeded by Kimi Antonelli through Turn 7, while Yuki Tsunoda earned a radio rebuke from Charles Leclerc coming off the final corner. It was that kind of scrappy, elbows-out practice hour. The first big jolt came at Turn 3, where Lance Stroll smacked the wall on the banking and brought out the red flags. “I’m fine,” came the immediate radio call, which will have soothed Aston Martin as much as the green cars’ pace. When the session resumed with just under 40 minutes to go, radar updates suggested the heavier rain would skim by rather than drench the place.

‘McLaren kept the hammer down’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/norris-sweeps-friday-alonso-splits-the-papaya-at-zandvoort/

[Fortitude]

Lando Norris completes free practice clean sweep for F1 Dutch GP.
The Brit’s 1:08.972s saw him top the timesheets for the third consecutive session at the Zandvoort circuit, with team-mate Oscar Piastri propping a McLaren 1-2.
30 August 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Lando Norris completed a clean sweep of free practice first place finishes on Saturday afternoon ahead of qualifying for Formula 1‘s Dutch Grand Prix. Piastri was two tenths behind Norris, with George Russell’s Mercedes third, a further sixth tenths back. Carlos Sainz placed his Williams fourth with a 1:09.913s, with home favourite Max Verstappen fifth.

Charles Leclerc was sixth for Ferrari, with Alex Albon in the sister Williams seventh. Lance Stroll recovered well from his huge FP2 shunt to go eighth fastest. Isack Hadjar was ninth for Racing Bulls, with Fernando Alonso rounding up the top 10.

Liam Lawson was 11th, followed by Yuki Tsunoda in 12th, the Japanese four tenths adrift of his team-mate’s time. Gabriel Bortoleto was 13th, with Lewis Hamilton 14th, the Brit hoping for a more positive finish in qualifying.

‘Free practice clean sweep’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/08/30/lando-norris-completes-free-practice-clean-sweep-for-f1-dutch-gp/


F1 2025 Dutch GP – Free Practice 3 Results
Norris completes clean sweep of Dutch GP practice sessions as rivals struggle to keep up
30 August 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 Dutch GP 2025 FP3 results
Check out the full Dutch GP 2025 Free Practice 3 results from the third and final practice session in Zandvoort below.

Pos Driver Team Time
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:08.972
2 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.242
3 George Russell Mercedes +0.886
4 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.941
5 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.953
6 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.966
7 Alexander Albon Williams +1.127
8 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +1.131
9 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +1.194
10 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +1.260

‘Free Practice 3 Results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-2025-dutch-gp-free-practice-3-results/


Dutch GP: Norris secures practice hat-trick as Alonso and Russell face post-FP3 investigation
30 Aug 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Lando Norris secured the practice hat-trick at the Dutch Grand Prix as he beat Oscar Piastri by a quarter of a second with George Russell third fastest. The Mercedes driver is off to see the stewards after the session after a scary moment with Fernando Alonso that almost saw the Aston Martin driver crash into the pit lane entry wall.

Overnight rain meant that while the rain had abated ahead of FP3, it was declared a wet session as there were damp patches around the circuit. As such there were no immediate takers when the light went green, Ferrari still working on the setup of the SF-25s. The battle at the front, though, was all about the McLaren team-mates as Piastri nipped ahead of Norris, who was over four-tenths clear of third-placed Hamilton.

There was bit of drama late in the session as Alonso came up on the right side of Russell only for the Mercedes driver to suddenly pull to the right as he wanted to pit. The two narrowly avoided what could’ve been a big crash. Race Control noted the incident, which will be investigated after the session. The session ended with Norris fastest of all ahead of Piastri, with Russell third.

‘Could’ve been a big crash’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/dutch-grand-prix-2025-fp3-report


WATCH: Russell and Alonso have a close call in unusual incident during FP3 in Zandvoort
There was a dramatic moment for Mercedes' George Russell and the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso during third practice at the Dutch Grand Prix.
30 Aug 2025
Formula One - Official Site

George Russell and Fernando Alonso had a very close call that saw them narrowly avoid contact in an unusual incident during third and final practice at the Dutch Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver was in front of Alonso heading out of the final corner but, as they approached the pit entry, the two-time World Champion had to take evading action when Russell suddenly moved over as if about to pit, only to then continue on for another lap.
Alonso, left with nowhere to go, dived into the pits himself, leaving the Aston Martin man to remark: “They don’t look at their mirrors.”
The incident was investigated after the session, with Mercedes handed a €7,500 fine and Russell a warning.

‘Close call’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/fp3-norris-dominates-practice-again-from-mclaren-team-mate-piastri-ahead-of.2nBOMcXMqk9hwxSIJ2GYRf


FP3: Norris dominates practice again from McLaren team mate Piastri ahead of Dutch Grand Prix
Lando Norris finished fastest again at Zandvoort as McLaren dominated proceedings in Free Practice 3.
30 Aug 2025
Formula One - Official Site

Lando Norris completed a clean sweep of fastest Free Practice times ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, finishing more than two-tenths clear of McLaren team mate Oscar Piastri in the third session. The duo stamped their authority on proceedings ahead of Qualifying on Saturday afternoon, finishing well clear of the rest of the field, which was headed by George Russell and Carlos Sainz.

Heavy overnight rain left the track damp at the start of the one-hour session, with drivers in no rush to head out on to the Zandvoort Circuit for several minutes. Isack Hadjar was eventually the first to venture out, the Racing Bulls driver keen to make up for a lack of running in FP2 after coming to a stop on track with no laps under his belt.

But the Frenchman completed just one lap on the intermediate tyre before pitting, stating over the radio that "the track is very green" as Kimi Antonelli was the next to explore the circuit but on medium Pirelli rubber. Antonelli moved back to the top with a 1m 13.740s and times began to tumble with the majority of the field performing installation laps approaching the 10-minute mark, with Franco Colapinto and Gabriel Bortoleto both jumping to the head of the standings on the hard tyre.

‘FP3: Norris dominates practice’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/fp3-norris-dominates-practice-again-from-mclaren-team-mate-piastri-ahead-of.2nBOMcXMqk9hwxSIJ2GYRf


Orange Shock: Verstappen Fears Zandvoort Fight Just for Top Five
30 Aug 2025
Fastest Lap

Max Verstappen’s home weekends usually come with grandstand expectations and a sea of orange waiting for the inevitable. Not this time. After a muted Friday at Zandvoort, the three-time Dutch GP winner says even making the top five in qualifying could be a stretch. McLaren set the tone early. Lando Norris topped the times on Friday, and Verstappen ended FP2 in fifth, just under six tenths off the McLaren.

He was beaten by both MCL60s across the day, with Fernando Alonso slipping his Aston Martin ahead and George Russell keeping Mercedes in the conversation. Lance Stroll’s hefty crash in FP2 interrupted Aston Martin’s program, but on pace alone they looked lively enough to spoil a Red Bull recovery. Zandvoort hasn’t always been hospitable to anyone not named Verstappen. Since the Dutch GP returned in 2021, he won three straight and turned 2022–23 into home coronations.

The streak snapped last year when Norris ran away with it and Red Bull had no answer. On early evidence, 2025 might rhyme with that. Verstappen sounded resigned rather than rattled after FP2, describing a car he’s been unable to unlock. He and the team tried plenty of setup directions on Friday without shifting the underlying weakness. The headline issue is front grip. At Zandvoort, with its long, loaded corners in the middle sector, that understeer costs lap time and confidence, and there’s no instant fix from the garage overnight. “A massive turnaround” isn’t on his bingo card.

‘Verstappen sounded resigned’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/orange-shock-verstappen-fears-zandvoort-fight-just-for-top-five/


F1 driver's future plunged into doubt on the eve of Dutch GP
The 2025 Formula 1 season continues in Zandvoort.
30 Aug 2025
Marcus Chan
SPORTbible

Since then, the 22-year-old has largely struggled; he is yet to score this season and sits 20 points behind teammate Pierre Gasly. Speaking ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, Alpine's de facto team principal, Flavio Briatore, expressed his disappointment in Colapinto's performances. The Italian said: "I've seen everything already, so I don't think I need to see anything more. I think for this driver, it is very difficult to cope with this car as they are very, very heavy and very, very quick for a young driver in Formula 1.”

"Maybe it was not the [right] timing to have Franco in Formula 1, and maybe he needs another year to be part of F1." Briatore continued: "I'm not happy with the result; this is what is important, and he tries very hard, we try very hard with the engineering [team], but it is not what I expected from Colapinto. We changed Doohan with Colapinto, and maybe Colapinto had the same problem - too much pressure to be in F1.”

“Last year, he had two or three good races, but maybe to be in the team with a good driver like Pierre, and always to be in competition with him, maybe we put too much pressure on him." Under the current rules, Alpine can make one more driver change in 2025, and Colapinto could be looking over his shoulders very soon.

“Maybe too much pressure to be in F1”;

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/dutch-grand-prix-f1-driver-news-078363-20250830

[Fortitude]

Piastri stuns Norris in incredibly close Dutch GP qualifying.
Oscar Piastri overturned his deficit to McLaren team-mate and Formula 1 title rival Lando Norris when it mattered to claim a narrow pole position for the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
Aug 30, 2025
Ben Anderson
The Race

Norris had the edge on Piastri throughout practice, particularly through sector one, but Piastri did “the definition of peaking at the right time” in Q3, outpacing Norris by just 0.012 seconds in what turned out to be the crucial first runs, as neither could improve in the final stages when many drivers struggled to find time on a windy circuit. Defending F1 world champion Max Verstappen was one of those who did find time on his final run, but it was only good enough to be a closer third, 0.263s off pole in his Red Bull.

Rookie Isack Hadjar delivered another stunning Saturday performance to qualify a season’s best fourth for Racing Bulls, beating the Mercedes of George Russell and the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Hadjar’s team-mate Liam Lawson was eighth quickest in the other Racing Bulls, ahead of Carlos Sainz’s Williams and Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin, which lacked the impressive pace that split the two McLarens on Friday but was still good enough to mix it in the top 10.

Tsunoda suffers Q2 elimination at hands of Lawson. Tsunoda was hanging on to a top-10 spot before the driver he replaced at Red Bull, Lawson, pumped in a lap good enough for eighth. That put Mercedes rookie Antonelli on the bubble, but he too fell after Alonso jumped up to seventh with a last-gasp lap just 0.053s down on Russell’s Mercedes.

‘Piastri stuns Norris’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/dutch-grand-prix-f1-qualifying-report-2025-piastri-norris/


F1 2025 Dutch GP – Qualifying Results
Piastri edges Norris as McLaren dominance continues in Zandvoort qualifying
30 August 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 Dutch GP 2025 Qualifying results
Check out the full F1 Dutch GP 2025 Qualifying results from Zandvoort below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:08.662
2 Lando Norris McLaren +0.012
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.263
4 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.546
5 George Russell Mercedes +0.593
6 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.678
7 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.728
8 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +0.838
9 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.843
10 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.968

‘F1 Dutch GP 2025 Qualifying results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-2025-dutch-gp-qualifying-results/


McLaren details how Oscar Piastri has turned the tables on Lando Norris at F1 Dutch GP
30 Aug 2025
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week

Explaining how Piastri seized the initiative when Norris had looked in control, Stella attributed the Australian’s progress to finding incremental gains over the weekend. “In reality, even yesterday, when at times Oscar might have been a little distant from Lando, I think the distance was not large at all,” Stella told media including Motorsport Week.

“We knew, the drivers knew, that what we were saying in our debriefs that the situation was very close between the two drivers, and each of them had some corners in which there was a margin to improve. And like I’ve said several times, having two competitive drivers makes the whole team and the car look better because they can pick from one another.”

“So I think what Oscar has done, likewise Lando has done, they have seen where there was the opportunity to go a little bit faster, adjust the driving input and, I would say that for both Oscar and Lando, this is the way in which both have found some performance more than some set-up adjustments. So it was more in the driving and in adapting to the wind rather than finding some relevant solutions with car set-up or car specification.”

‘How Oscar Piastri has turned the tables’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/08/30/mclaren-details-how-oscar-piastri-turned-the-tables-on-lando-norris-in-f1-dutch-gp-qualifying/


Zandvoort showdown: Orange roar or papaya repeat?
30 Aug 2025
Fastest Lap

Summer break’s done, the dunes are awake, and Zandvoort’s grandstands are about to turn a very loud shade of orange again. The Dutch Grand Prix returns this weekend, with Max Verstappen carrying the weight of an entire nation’s expectation — though last year, it was another shade of orange (papaya) that stole the show when Lando Norris nicked the win.

Here’s everything you need to know to catch the race live, wherever you are. When does the Dutch Grand Prix start? The Dutch GP gets underway at 3:00pm local time on Sunday 31 August 2025. That translates to:

‘Orange roar or papaya repeat?’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/zandvoort-showdown-orange-roar-or-papaya-repeat/


Mekies after qualiffying in Zandvoort: 'Max did an incredible job'
30 August 2025
Julien Lemmen
Verstappen.nl

Laurent Mekies, team principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing, said after qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix: "I think P3 was the absolute best Max could have done today, there were a lot of teams competing for P3, Mercedes, Ferrari and probably Fernando in the Aston as well. Max did an incredible job to have such a strong Qualifying and so did the Team. It has been no secret we have struggled with car balance all weekend and the Team kept trying things out on both sides of the garage, which ultimately put the car in a better window, so credit to them."

Mekies continues: "We unlocked some performance in the car and are extracting just about everything we can from it. Generally, the car has improved from where it was for most of the weekend and with that, we should be able to see performance in the race. It will be similar to Quali and a big fight behind the McLarens with four or five cars on very similar pace. Yuki has had a weekend where he has again shown progress, he has been at a reasonable gap to Max on a difficult track. He didn’t improve on his second set in Q2 and missed out by just one tenth, so it is still close and he is still building up.”

'Max did an incredible job';

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5924/


Jacques Villeneuve spots crucial Lewis Hamilton change after ‘strange’ observation
31 Aug 2025
Elizabeth Blackstock
PlanetF1.com

A major topic of conversation for the Sky Sports F1 team after Dutch GP qualifying. Former driver turned pundit Jacques Villeneuve pointed out that Ferrari is “not far off” the pace, and that with “a tenth or two,” they could have been P4.

“It’s not as bad as it looked earlier,” the Canadian pointed out. But he then contrasted the perspectives of both Ferrari drivers. “It’s funny, and it’s weird to see how different the two drivers are,” Villeneuve said. “Like, Charles is really upset and berating himself, beating himself up — and Lewis actually super happy, like ‘Oh, that’s quite good.’”

“If you look at the last race, and now, he’s on par with his teammate. He’s had a good weekend. It’s up here. He’s changed his mindset, and it’s affecting his driving.”

‘Ferrari is “not far off” the pace’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-hamilton-mindset-jacques-villeneuve-dutch-gp


David Coulthard has spotted a surprising change in Lando Norris at the Dutch Grand Prix
31 August 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

David Coulthard was reporting from the Dutch Grand Prix for Channel 4 and explained: “It seems to me that there seems to be nothing between the drivers other than brilliance. It could have gone either way. Just at the start of the weekend, I had a chance to talk to Lando. I felt quite nervous going into the interview, because I’m thinking, this guy could be world champion, or he could finish second. And I don’t want to state the obvious, but I came out of the interview feeling very relaxed. It’s like he’s taken a chill pill during the summer.”

Lando Norris ‘a little disappointed’ with Dutch Grand Prix qualifying result.
Norris lamented his luck running out in qualifying but also admitted that Piastri drove well to take pole position. He said in an interview that he ‘wasn’t as fast as he needed to be’ in several corners, but it felt as though he was seeking perfection with those comments, something Piastri is far more accepting of that fact that it’s almost impossible not to make small mistakes when you’re pushing right at the limit.

Speaking in his official post-race interview, Norris said: “I’m pleased to be starting on the front row, but I’m a little disappointed to not be on pole. “It was close – it’s been close the whole weekend, and I had decent laps, so it’s not the end of the world. We’re in a good position to fight. It’s a long race with a lot of laps, and we’ll see what the weather holds. We’ll have some fun tomorrow.” The change Coulthard and Brown have noticed in Norris could prove pivotal in the final races of the season.

“He’s taken a chill pill during the summer’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/nervous-david-coulthard-has-spotted-a-surprising-change-in-lando-norris-at-the-dutch-grand-prix/

[Fortitude]

Piastri wins Dutch GP as Norris's race goes up in smoke.
ZANDVOORT, Netherlands - Oscar Piastri won the Dutch Grand Prix to take a mighty 34 point lead in the Formula One championship on Sunday as McLaren teammate and title rival Lando Norris suffered a smoky retirement in a significant setback to his title hopes.
31 August 2025
The Straits Times

On a dramatic afternoon at Zandvoort, with Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc crashing out in separate incidents, McLaren were heading for a record-equalling fifth successive one-two win when Norris suffered late despair. After saying he could smell smoke in the cockpit, the Briton slowed and retired from second place on lap 65 of 72 with visible evidence then seen coming out of the back of his stricken car as he pulled over.

Norris did his best to deal with the disappointment after sitting slumped in the sand dunes near the seaside track with his helmet on. "I just want to go have a burger and go home," the despondent winner of three of the four previous races told Sky Sports television. "It was a positive race but it didn't mean anything. I couldn't get past. Oscar deserved it today. Just not my weekend. That is life, I just take it on the chin and move on."

‘Mighty 34 point lead’;

https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/formula-one/piastri-wins-dutch-gp-as-norriss-race-goes-up-in-smoke


F1 2025 Dutch Grand Prix – Race Results
Piastri takes control as Norris retires and Hadjar celebrates first podium finish
31 August 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 Dutch Grand Prix 2025 Results
Check out the full F1 Dutch Grand Prix 2025 race results from Zandvoort below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Oscar Piastri McLaren Leader
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull +1.271
3 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +3.233
4 George Russell Mercedes +5.654
5 Alexander Albon Williams +6.327
6 Oliver Bearman Haas +9.044
7 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +9.497
8 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +11.709
9 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull +13.597
10 Esteban Ocon Haas +14.063

‘Dutch Grand Prix 2025 Results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-2025-dutch-grand-prix-race-results/


'Long way to go' – Piastri cautions title talk after pivotal Dutch Grand Prix victory and Norris retirement
With his seventh win of the season and Lando Norris retiring, Oscar Piastri now sits with a 34-point lead in the Drivers' Championship.
31 August 2025
Formula One - Official Site

Dutch Grand Prix winner Oscar Piastri claims "there is a long way to go yet" in his quest for a maiden Drivers' title, having taken a substantial points lead over McLaren team mate Lando Norris after his retirement.

"I controlled the race when I needed to and obviously incredibly unfortunate for Lando at the end, but I felt like I was in control of that one and just used the pace when I needed to," he said. "It was a bit of a different race to 12 months ago so very happy with all the work we've done to try and improve around here. Very satisfied to come out on top."

'Long way to go';

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/long-way-to-go-piastri-cautions-title-talk-after-pivotal-dutch-grand-prix.3yt9UGl8CIMLYdN3fDjzNk


Dramatic DNF for Norris as Piastri wins Dutch GP
Aug 31, 2025
Matt Beer
The Race

Norris had lost out to a bold Max Verstappen opening lap - in which Verstappen brilliantly caught a wild slide as he completed his move into second - but didn't need long to repass the Red Bull, which was just not on the McLarens' pace at Zandvoort, and start to chip away at the gap to Piastri.

Safety cars twice brought them back together, first when Lewis Hamilton had a solo crash straight after his first pitstop during light drizzle, then when the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc bounced off the barriers after being tapped into a spin by Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes as they battled on Leclerc's out-lap.

Norris's eventual retirement handed second to Verstappen, who couldn't challenge Piastri in the final dash to the flag despite being on soft tyres to the McLaren's hards, and an outstanding third to Racing Bulls' rookie Isack Hadjar - who had run an unflustered 'best of the rest' behind the McLarens and Verstappen all day.

‘Dramatic DNF’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/dramatic-dnf-for-norris-as-piastri-wins-dutch-gp/


Dutch GP: Piastri clinches Zandvoort win as Norris retires, Ferrari suffers double DNF
31 Aug 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Oscar Piastri once again put distance between himself and Norris at the restart as the McLaren teammates dropped Verstappen only for Norris to report “smoke” in his cockpit. Moments later he ground to a halt on the side of the track due to an engine failure. “I’m out.”

The Briton’s DNF elevated Verstappen to second and Hadjar onto the podium with the action underway again on lap 69. Piastri once again pulled away from the chasing pack while Russell hounded Hadjar for the podium with Alex Albon the big winner, up to fifth.

Piastri held on to win the grand prix ahead of Verstappen and Hadjar, with Russell and Albon. Antonelli was sixth at the line but faced a 15-second penalty that dropped him out of the points. Bearman, Stroll, Alonso, Tsunoda and Esteban Ocon completed the points. Piastri leads the Drivers’ standings by 34 points ahead of his teammate.

“I’m out”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/dutch-grand-prix-2025-report


Lewis Hamilton left stunned after rare Dutch GP crash ends Ferrari progress
The seven-time world champion reflects on his first DNF of the season after a rare mistake
31 August 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 Dutch Grand Prix unravelled on Lap 23, when the Ferrari driver lost control at Turn 3 and crashed into the barriers, bringing an abrupt end to what had been one of his more encouraging weekends of the 2025 Formula 1 season. For a seven-time world champion with a reputation for consistency, the rare retirement left Hamilton both disappointed and reflective, even as he tried to focus on signs of progress.

“It was a bit twitchy, the car. I think we made real progress this weekend. My pace was looking pretty decent,” Hamilton explained. “I was catching George [Russell] and I think I had the pace of a few cars ahead of me. Very unusual to not finish a race and to go out so early, it’s definitely not great, but it is what it is.”

‘Lewis Hamilton left stunned’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/lewis-hamilton-dutch-gp-crash-reaction-2025/


Red Bull may now ignore Isack Hadjar’s wishes after first F1 podium at Dutch Grand Prix
31 August 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Red Bull may promote Isack Hadjar after Dutch Grand Prix heroics – contrary to his wishes. A recent report revealed that Hadjar is ‘highly resistant’ to joining Red Bull in 2026. He’s seen former teammate Yuki Tsunoda struggle enormously this season, just as Liam Lawson, Sergio Perez, Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly did before him.

Hadjar’s preference would be to stay at Racing Bulls for another year so he can continue his development. That way, by the time he makes the step up, he’ll know he’s ready. But given that Red Bull manage his career, he could be ‘compelled’ to become Verstappen’s teammate.

And writing on X immediately after the race, ESPN journalist Nate Saunders suggested he was now a ‘shoo-in’ for the seat. Tsunoda, who is out of contract at the end of the season, did at least end his scoreless run with a P10 finish. However, Hadjar is now 27 points and eight places above him in the standings.

‘Hadjar is ‘highly resistant’ to joining Red Bull’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/red-bull-may-now-ignore-isack-hadjars-wishes-after-first-f1-podium-at-dutch-grand-prix/

[Fortitude]

‘Big day for Australia’: Webber hails Piastri’s Dutch GP win.
Mark Webber called Oscar Piastri’s Dutch GP victory “a big day for Australian motorsport” after his ninth F1 win put him 34 points clear in the title race.
1 Sep 2025
Ben Waterworth
Channel 9's Wide World of Sports

Mark Webber, who manages Piastri, praised both his driver’s execution and the work of McLaren. “Oh magnificent. He drove so well today,” Webber told Sky Sports. “I think today, a big day for Australian motorsport. We’ve had Daniel [Ricciardo] win plenty, obviously Jack and AJ [Alan Jones], Oscar now having his success so early. This is really a credit to him. He’s put a huge amount of work in executing beautifully. The team have done such a good job as well.”

“[There’s a] long way ago,” he said. “We’ve got races like Brazil where it rains. We’ve got Singapore, Azerbaijan, which are street circuits where anything can happen. We’d rather have the runs on the board than not, but you’ve got to jag the points when you can. He’s had a few misses this year out of his control, so good that he doubled down today.”

“Long way ago”;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-mark-webber-oscar-piastri-dutch-gp-comments-celebration-australian-motorsport-championship/


[B]Piastri still not comfortable with 34-point lead
31 Aug 2025
The Straits Times

ZANDVOORT, Netherlands - McLaren's Oscar Piastri played down his 34-point lead in the Formula One championship on Sunday and said he still did not feel comfortable. "There’s still a long way to go. I need to keep pushing and trying to win races still. I wouldn’t say it’s a very comfortable margin," Piastri told reporters at seaside Zandvoort.”

"As we saw today, it can change with one DNF (non-finish) very, very quickly. So this far out from the end of the year, it’s not a comfortable gap. I controlled the race when I needed to and obviously it was incredibly unfortunate for Lando at the end, but I felt like I was in control of that one and just used the pace when I needed to," said Piastri of his day's work.

"The start of this weekend was looking like a difficult one and (I) managed to get it together in qualifying. I was happy with the pace I had today. Very, very happy. A couple of safety cars spiced it up a little bit, and we weathered it all."

“I need to keep pushing and trying to win races still”;

https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/formula-one/piastri-still-not-comfortable-with-34-point-lead


Piastri vows no let up in Formula One title race
Zandvoort (Netherlands) (AFP) – Formula One world championship leader Oscar Piastri vowed Sunday to keep his foot firmly on the accelerator in his battle with McLaren teammate Lando Norris after opening up a 34-point lead at the Dutch Grand Prix.
31 Aug 2025
France 24

Norris suffered a mechanical failure in the closing laps Sunday as he was chasing down his Australian teammate, his retirement possibly proving crucial in the overall race to the title.

Asked whether opening up a 34-point lead might allow him to race more strategically, Piastri said there would be no let-up from his side. "There's still a long way to go. I need to keep pushing and trying to win races still," said the 24-year-old Australian after claiming his sixth chequered flag this season.

He said the misfortune suffered by Norris showed how quickly fortunes can swing in the fast pace of Formula One. "I wouldn't say it's a very comfortable margin. As we saw today, things can change very, very quickly," he said.

‘Keep his foot firmly on the accelerator’;

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250831-piastri-vows-no-let-up-in-formula-one-title-race


Mark Hughes: Piastri gets payback he deserves in Dutch masterclass
September 1st 2025
Mark Hughes
Motor Sport Magazine

Oscar Piastri finally saw fate swing his way at Zandvoort, as Lando Norris' retirement gave the Australian's championship chances a major boost. Mark Hughes analyses the Dutch GP

Big picture: a dramatic swing of fortune in Oscar Piastri‘s favour after team-mate and title rival Lando Norris retired his McLaren from second with a late-race engine failure, turning what was looking like a seven-point loss to Piastri to one of 25 points. Plus the nine by which he already trailed Piastri, making it a 34-point deficit with nine races left. Against a team-mate who can seem to do no wrong.

Piastri’s performance was calm and resolute throughout the weekend. He turned an initial pace disadvantage around to sneak pole by hundredths and made the perfect conversion of that. Each of the three safety car restarts was brilliantly judged, and he was helped in this by the McLaren, which can get even its hard tyres straight up to temperature just fine even versus Verstappen on a set of softs.

‘Fate swing his way’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/mark-hughes-piastris-zandvoort-luck-brings-overdue-payback/?nowprocket=1


Oscar Piastri pinpoints the ‘hardest part’ of his Dutch Grand Prix victory, ‘didn’t work…’
1 September 2025
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer

Oscar Piastri responds to Andrea Stella’s comments after Dutch Grand Prix win. It was a dominant weekend for Piastri in which he was quick in practice and fastest in qualifying, something that is becoming a trend this season, according to McLaren team principal Andrea Stella. “It’s happened a few times this year where it started a bit slow and then gotten better as the weekend’s gone on. The difference from this year to last year is last year, those weekends that started slow, the middle was slow, and the end was slow,” said Piastri.

“It’s just been good to actually find the time as the weekend’s gone on. Is it an ideal way? Am I doing it on purpose? Not always. I’m trying to build up to things, of course, but was hoping to build up a bit quicker than I did this weekend. I got there just in the end in Q3, but I didn’t go into qualifying the most optimistic. So maybe a little bit slow to get there, but I felt very happy with where I was going into qualifying, not expecting the world, just trying to do my best and see what happened. And in the end that was enough, and a similar thing today. Very happy from that side of things, and I think that part is probably the ‘Oscar-like weekend’.”

‘It started a bit slow and then gotten better as the weekend’s gone on’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/oscar-piastri-pinpoints-the-hardest-part-of-his-dutch-grand-prix-victory-didnt-work/

[Fortitude]

‘Have a burger and go home’: Norris responds to F1 disaster as McLaren reveals what went wrong.
Lando Norris: “F***, I’m out, I’m out ... unlucky, boys” on team radio.
September 1st, 2025
Dane Heverin from Fox Sports
Fox Sports (Australia)

An Australian F1 great has hailed Oscar Piastri’s victory at the Dutch Grand Prix as a “big day for Australian motorsport”, while Lando Norris said “it hurts” to lose 25 points in the title race after he did not finish for the second time this season. Norris was ruled out of the race with only seven laps remaining as an oil leak and engine failure left him to disappointingly say, “f***, I’m out, I’m out ... unlucky, boys” on team radio.

“I just want to go have a burger and go home,” a dejected Norris told Sky Sports post-race. “It’s frustrating, it’s not like I’m happy about today. It hurts and to lose, 25 points outright, it would have been seven points, it would have been smaller. I just have to keep fighting, keep doing what I can. I was quick today. I thought I could fight for a win. If you’re fighting for a win around here, that’s normally just a good job already. “I take the positives, I look on, I’ll try to bounce back. I’ve got tough competition, so it’s never going to be easy, but really make sure I do everything I can.”

‘Have a burger and go home’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/have-a-burger-and-go-home-norris-sheds-light-on-cruel-blow-as-piastri-rewrites-records/news-story/d5a2c49fb0f2112f71816c4f151528a8


Lando Norris comes to F1 title realisation after McLaren heartbreak
Lando Norris now finds himself 34 points behind team-mate Oscar Piastri following his Dutch Grand Prix heartbreak.
2 September 2025
Jake Nichol & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365

Reflecting on his situation, Norris (said) "The only thing I can do now is win every race," Norris told media, including RacingNews365. "That is going to be difficult, but I'll make sure I give it everything I can. "I didn't lose out by much in qualifying and felt on top of things, and the pace looked strong [in the race], so there are many positives.”

"It is just close, I have a good team-mate, he's strong and quick in every scenario and situation, but this was a different situation, it is just unlucky, it's not my fault, and sometimes, that is just racing. It's only made it harder for me and put me under more pressure, but the gap is big enough now that I can just chill out about it.”

"The team and HPP have done a very good job over the two years, and this might be the first [engine failure] I can remember that has cost us points. It is not inevitable at this point, because everyone works to such high standards, we don't expect it, so that's why it is just unlucky. It is not like the olden days when you pretty much blew up every other race, so we don't expect it, and it it just really unlucky."

"Win every race";

https://racingnews365.com/lando-norris-comes-to-f1-title-realisation-after-mclaren-heartbreak


Norris discloses his in-race reaction to Verstappen’s start: ‘Knew he’d go for it’
2 Sep 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

At the start, the Briton got a better launch than the Australian. Nevertheless, an error from Norris ended up costing him, he stated to media including GPblog. “My situation with like a decent start, I had a dodgy upshift into third, I think, which cost me my momentum. Otherwise, I think I had a slightly better one than Oscar. And then I was just on the inside, I couldn’t really get left. Oscar then drifted high so I could come inside.”

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen on softs saw the door open up and went for a daring two-wheels-on-the-grass move that nearly saw him lose control of his Red Bull, which he managed to retain. Norris had predicted from the moment he learned of Verstappen’s starting tyre choice that the Dutchman would be going for the overtake. “I mean, as soon as I knew Max was on the softs, I knew there was a good chance he was going to come past. I knew Max would go for it in Turn 2. It was a close one,” he added.

‘Ever-present threat that is Max Verstappen’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/norris-discloses-his-in-race-reaction-to-verstappens-start-knew-hed-go-for-it


Alex Brundle did not have one ‘wild’ Lando Norris prediction on his ‘bingo card’ in 2025 F1 title battle
1 September 2025
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer

Alex Brundle did not think McLaren power unit failure would be on 2025 ‘bingo card’. Although McLaren appeared to be immune to these issues, Norris was forced to retire from the race after a suspected power unit-related problem while running in second place, something Brundle did not think would be possible in 2025. “I’ve been harping on, on air and on podcasts all year, about one race where one of those McLaren duo, that are clearly the class of the field now,” said Brundle.

“There was going to be a race at some point this year, I honestly believed they were going to have a crash with someone like a Charles Leclerc or someone like a Max Verstappen, a wheel-to-wheel thing, but where they didn’t finish. What I didn’t have on my bingo card in a 2025 Formula 1 car was a power unit failure. It was absolutely nowhere near that in terms of a prediction. It’s wild in one of the most, if not the most reliable eras of F1 car ever, that that could easily be the deciding factor of this championship.”

“Didn’t have on my bingo card in a 2025 Formula 1 car was a power unit failure”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/alex-brundle-did-not-have-one-wild-lando-norris-prediction-on-his-bingo-card-in-2025-f1-title-battle/


McLaren hint Zandvoort heartbreak could unlock a ‘new Lando Norris’ in title fight
McLaren boss Andrea Stella believes Norris’ Dutch GP retirement could ignite a stronger title fight against team-mate Oscar Piastri
1 September 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

The sight of Lando Norris climbing out of a smoking McLaren with just eight laps to go at Zandvoort might have looked like the moment his title challenge slipped away. But according to Andrea Stella, that cruel Dutch Grand Prix retirement could be the catalyst for Norris...

“He’s a very mature person,” Stella told the media, including Total-Motorsport.com. “He’s one of the most fair, balanced – in a way I would almost say trustworthy – individuals, before being so as a driver. So when he says he’s going to be full commitment or whatever he said, it just means that if anything, he will try to extract out of himself even more from his incredible potential.”

Stella expects the Briton to thrive under that challenge. “I look forward to seeing what Lando will be conditioned to express because we know that his talent is immense and I’m sure this situation in the championship will give him extra motivation to try and extract it,” Stella explained.

‘Unlock a ‘new Lando Norris’ in title fight’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-2025-dutch-gp-lando-norris-mclaren-title-fight-stella/


McLaren identify cause of painful Lando Norris retirement
McLaren has accepted fault for Lando Norris' crushing retirement at Zandvoort, which at first appeared related to the Mercedes power unit in the back of his MCL39.
1 September 2025
Samuel Coop & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365

Team principal Andrea Stella explained late on Sunday evening that the Woking-based squad had "identified an issue on the chassis side" of the British driver's MCL39. The terminal problem on Norris' car had initially appeared to be power unit-related, an educated assumption predicated on various factors.

However, that expectation was before Stella's revelation, which provides the most concrete indication yet that it was a rare fault with the McLaren itself. "We’ve identified an issue on the chassis side, and we will do a full review before we go racing again in Monza," the Italian said. "This is the first technical problem for the team after a long run of faultless reliability."

"Reliability has been a strong point at McLaren for a long time," Stella told the media, including RacingNews365. "We have had what looks like a technical reliability problem, which is always disappointing. The whole team will process this, try to take the learning, reviewing the problem, fixing it, and making sure that this is not a factor anymore for the future, not only for the remainder of the championship, even if, obviously, this is the main focus for the moment."

"Reliability has been a strong point at McLaren for a long time";

https://racingnews365.com/mclaren-identify-cause-of-painful-lando-norris-retirement


International media sounds alarm on Norris, Hamilton after 'dark Sunday' at Dutch GP
1 Sep 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

The Hungarian Grand Prix was one to forget for several British drivers, including Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris. Both drivers failed to finish their respective races, and this is how the International media has reacted to their respective outings.

Daily Mail: The British outlet opened its note with an SOS call for Norris, stressing it could be defining on his season. “SOS of the day, perhaps of the season. It could have been for Houston. ‘I might be on fire,’ declared Lando Norris, smelling trouble in his cockpit.”

“No ball of orange flame lapped at him, but the mind-bending horror was just as vivid. His McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri was on his ice-cool path to winning the Dutch Grand Prix and extending his championship lead to 34 points. Now we will find out of what metal Norris is made,” it concluded.

“SOS of the day, perhaps of the season”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/general/international-media-sounds-alarm-on-norris-hamilton-after-dark-sunday-at-dutch-gp

[Fortitude]

Gazzetta Dello Sport: Focus on the outing of Lewis Hamilton, labelling it as a ‘dark Sunday’ before further likening it to some Frankenstein movie.
A thunderstorm immediately breaks out. Frederick and Igor have taken on the guise of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton at Zandvoort,” it wrote.
International media sounds alarm on Norris, Hamilton after 'dark Sunday' at Dutch GP
1 Sep 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Gazzetta Dello Sport: “Have you seen Mel Brooks's masterpiece, "Young Frankenstein"? When Frederick and Igor go to the cemetery to dig up a recently buried body, Frederick exclaims, "What a crappy job!" "It could be worse," replies Igor. "How?" "It could rain." A thunderstorm immediately breaks out. Frederick and Igor have taken on the guise of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton at Zandvoort,” it wrote.

'Dark Sunday';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/general/international-media-sounds-alarm-on-norris-hamilton-after-dark-sunday-at-dutch-gp


Italian media unanimous in 'disastrous' Lewis Hamilton verdict: 'Inexcusable'
The Italian media were particularly vocal about a poor Dutch GP for Ferrari, and in particular, Lewis Hamilton.
1 September 2025
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

Gazzetta dello Sport: "Ferrari is shattered. Kimi Antonelli pushes Charles Leclerc off the track, Lewis Hamilton is disastrous. Leclerc additionally battled with bad luck once again, while Hamilton made a big, unusual mistake. Leclerc's overtaking manoeuvre [on George Russell] was like Valentino Rossi's overtaking move on Marc Marquez at Assen 2015.”

Corriere della Sera pulled no punches. "Despite Hamilton not going very badly over the weekend at Zandvoort, he comes up just a little short at the crucial moments," it wrote. "He is hungry, but with a 5-place penalty already in his pocket for Monza, the dream already seems to be over. Hamilton's mistake was also inexcusable."

“Lewis Hamilton is disastrous”;

https://racingnews365.com/italian-media-unanimous-in-disastrous-lewis-hamilton-verdict-inexcusable


Italian media 'slams' Ferrari after Dutch GP: 'Endless suffering on track’
1 Sept 2025
Samson Ero
Estéban den Toom
GPblog.com

La Gazzetta dello Sport shared its rating after the race weekend, and Lewis Hamilton was not spared by the newspaper. The seven-time world champion received a five as an evaluation of his weekend. The newspaper wrote the following about his painful weekend in the Dutch dunes. "Difficulties in qualifying, starting from the fourth row. He started seventh, but remained seventh. Until the mistake, going off the road: truly unlike him," was the verdict passed on Hamilton for his outing.

Hamilton also received a five-place grid penalty following the conclusion of the Dutch Grand Prix. Corriere dello Sport understands the pain the Ferrari team has caused its fans lately."Ferrari endless suffering: Hamilton penalized after the Dutch GP," the newspaper headlined above the article revealing the Englishman's grid penalty. "Ferrari disaster in the Dutch GP: Hamilton crashes into the wall," was the title of its other piece discussing both men's crashes.

The crashes of Leclerc and Hamilton were also the main focus at the media outlet Tuttosport. "Ferrari, nightmare in the Netherlands: Hamilton and Leclerc retire. Piastri wins," was the headline of the article. "It's also a dark night for Ferrari, which, a week before the Italian Grand Prix, is dealing with the retirements of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. The Reds' double zero also weighs heavily on their chances of securing second place in the Constructors' Championship," was written in the article.

'Endless suffering on track’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/italian-media-slams-ferrari-after-dutch-gp-endless-suffering-on-track


Ferrari told two drivers would have done a ‘better job’ than Lewis Hamilton next to Charles Leclerc
3 September 2025
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer

Peter Windsor has told Ferrari that two current drivers would have done a better job than Lewis Hamilton next to Charles Leclerc in 2025. Peter Windsor believes that Haas’ Oliver Bearman and Williams’ Carlos Sainz would have delivered a higher level of performance than Hamilton in 2025.

“I never saw the point of it from Ferrari’s perspective, and I don’t see the point of it now,” he said on his YouTube channel. “They could have Oliver Bearman in that car, they could have Carlos Sainz in the car again. They could have any number of drivers who would probably be doing a better job than Lewis now.”

“I never saw the point of it from Ferrari’s perspective, and I don’t see the point of it now”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ferrari-told-two-drivers-would-have-done-a-better-job-than-lewis-hamilton-next-to-charles-leclerc/


Lewis Hamilton could have his ultimate F1 dream ended by nemesis as bombshell claim made
3 Sep 2025
Connor Andrews
talkSPORT

Lewis Hamilton may again be looking over his shoulder at Max Verstappen, but not defending a corner, instead his seat. In a brief interview with Dutch broadcaster ViaPlay, the Dutchman’s father and adviser was asked about transfer speculation that dominated the first half of the season.

He then dropped a bombshell, adding: “But we are also talking about Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull. It is logical. Max and I are discussing the possible options, and it is the three big teams, apart from McLaren, that can welcome him." Naturally, it would be assumed that Hamilton is at greater risk should Verstappen want to head to Italy, given that he’s now in his 40s.

‘Nemesis’;

https://talksport.com/motorsport/3526409/lewis-hamilton-f1-dream-ended-max-verstappen-ferrari/


Lewis Hamilton has lost what won him seven F1 titles after what Guenther Steiner saw at the Dutch Grand Prix
2 September 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Hamilton’s Dutch GP-ending crash also sparked a serious concern for Guenther Steiner, who wonders if the 105-time Grand Prix winner has lost his ability to make the fewest “mistakes”. He feels it was a vital part of the Briton’s skill set that yielded his vast success in Formula 1. Steiner also questions whether Hamilton’s crash was in part caused by feeling the pressure from Charles Leclerc, who has “always outperformed” the Stevenage-born star. Leclerc has outscored (151-109), outfinished (11-2) and outqualified (11-4) Hamilton so far this season.

“Normally, Lewis is known to make the least mistakes,” Steiner told GPblog. “That is how he won so many championships. He was so consistent. I don’t know, is it the pressure [that led to his crash in the Dutch GP]? Whatever it is, it was a weird mistake, in my opinion. It was very weird how it happened. I don’t know what happened, but I think the pressure can get to all of us, even to Lewis Hamilton. There is pressure now at Ferrari, because he’s always outperformed by Charles.”

“It was a weird mistake”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/lewis-hamilton-has-lost-what-won-him-seven-f1-titles-after-what-guenther-steiner-saw-at-the-dutch-grand-prix/


Hamilton headlines Monza press conference in Ferrari's homecoming
3 Sept 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Lewis Hamilton will be present at the FIA press conference ahead of his first Monza weekend with Ferrari. The FIA has announced the press conference schedule for the race weekend at the Temple of Speed. Thursday and Friday will see drivers and team officials carry out their media duties as the weekend gets underway.

Thursday will feature the young duo of Kimi Antonelli and Franco Colapinto, accompanied by former Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso, kicking off the press conference at 14:30 local time [13:30 BST]. The second group of drivers at the presser will include Yuki Tsunoda, Carlos Sainz, and Ferrari’s newest acquisition, Lewis Hamilton.

On Friday, 5 September, between the two practice sessions, team principals will face the media, with Ayao Komatsu of Haas, Frederic Vasseur of Ferrari, and Red Bull’s new team principal, Laurent Mekies, concluding the line-up.

‘The Temple of Speed’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/hamilton-headlines-ferraris-monza-press-day-in-italian-gp

[Fortitude]

Jacques Villeneuve pours cold water on Ferrari’s Monza hopes: “Won’t cut it”.
Jacques Villeneuve worries for Ferrari as the team approaches its home race in Monza.
Sep 4, 2025
Alex Harrington
Motorsport.com

1997 Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has poured cold water on its Italian Grand Prix hopes as it longs to perform in front of the Tifosi. With a damning assessment of its performance ahead of Monza, the former driver believes its usual home advantage won't be enough this weekend. Speaking on The F1 Show podcast by Sky Sports F1, Villeneuve discussed the Scuderia's chances.

"Normally they have a special engine, special car, but I don't expect that this year. They are way off. The car is not working. Normally the car is kind of working. It's in the battle and then they get a little extra for Monza. A little extra won't cut it right now. Charles is frustrated because he's probably starting to understand that he will never be world champion. It's gone bad, it's gotten worse. Next year is a whole new set of regulations and normally that's not when Ferrari is at its best, so it's a difficult situation for him.’

"He's been there for a long time and his star has fallen a little bit. At least Lewis can rely on the fact that he's a multiple world champion so it doesn't matter if the star falls a little bit. He will always be that big global star anyway, that goes beyond F1. They might finish second in the constructors' championship, but they actually are the fourth horse. They are simply lucky that in Red Bull, there's only one driver scoring points and the same thing with Mercedes."

“Probably starting to understand that he will never be world champion”;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/jacques-villeneuve-pours-cold-water-on-ferraris-monza-hopes-wont-cut-it/10756088/


Vasseur: Ferrari “must be flawless” to achieve Monza targets
4 Sep 2025
Last Word On Sports

Fred Vasseur has emphasised that Ferrari must put together a clean weekend to deliver results on home soil. Ferrari left Zandvoort empty-handed, with retirements for Leclerc and Hamilton bringing their races to an end prematurely. This weekend is a chance for an immediate response, with the Maranello squad preparing for their home Grand Prix in Italy.

Leclerc claimed his second victory at Monza last year, with intelligent strategy defeating the superior pace of the MCL39’s. Repeating this result will be more difficult this weekend, as Vasseur explained in his race preview. “We are aiming to give our very best to repay them for their constant support. However, in order to do that, we need to put emotions aside.’

“And focus on ensuring that we execute the weekend to the best of our ability. “From the very first lap of free practice, right through to the final lap of the race. Over the course of this season, we’ve made progress in terms of competitiveness. But with such a closely matched field, we must be flawless to get the results we’re aiming for.”

“Execute the weekend to the best of our ability”;

https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsports/2025/09/04/vasseur-ferrari-must-be-flawless-to-achieve-monza-targets/


Lewis Hamilton issues ‘incredible’ rallying cry to Ferrari fans ahead of home race at Monza
4 September 2025
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

Hamilton saw firsthand the true devotion from the Ferrari fans when he and Leclerc made an appearance at the Royal Palace in Milan. Thousands gathered to cheer on their heroes, and the seven-time world champion had just one message.

He said via Sky Sport Italia, standing on the balcony of the Royal Palace: “It’s incredible, we need your support.” Teammate Leclerc then added: “I’ve had the privilege of being a Ferrari driver since 2019, you’re the best.”

While signing autographs for fans in Milan, Hamilton proclaimed that racing in red is truly a special feeling. “It’s wonderful to be here, in such a wonderful place. Being a Ferrari driver is the most special thing ever,” he said. Ferrari fans will absolutely love this from the Brit, but they will want to see a strong weekend.’

“It’s incredible, we need your support”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/lewis-hamilton-issues-incredible-rallying-cry-to-ferrari-fans-ahead-of-home-race-at-monza/


Hamilton looks forward to seeing the 'unique Tifosi support' in Monza
3 Sept 2025
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

Lewis Hamilton is looking forward to seeing the Tifosi at Ferrari's home weekend in Monza. "I don’t really know what to expect. Obviously, I experienced what I saw in Imola, which was incredible," the Briton began to GPblog among others.

"I’ve been to Monza and seen how Ferrari has been perceived there. I’m always excited to see the Tifosi. The support this team has around the world from the Tifosi is unmatched. I’m sure it will be a unique experience," the seven-time world champion shared.

'Unique Tifosi support';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/hamilton-looks-forward-to-seeing-the-unique-tifosi-support-in-monza


Lewis Hamilton told 'next year has to work' after more Ferrari misery
Lewis Hamilton has been told next season at Ferrari has to work out for the Brit as he won’t be afforded as much leeway despite being the "only true global superstar driver" in F1
4 Sep 2025
Cameron Winstanley
Daily Star

Lewis Hamilton has been told he must step up next year at Ferrari by former world champion Jacques Villeneuve. Speaking to Comeon Sports following the Dutch Grand Prix, Villeneuve was adamant that Hamilton would not leave Ferrari, but stressed that next season can’t be as bad.

The 1997 World Champion said: “No [Hamilton won’t leave Ferrari], not now because 2026 is a new car, new engine, a whole new package and everybody's waiting for was cheap for them, really. They’ve got so much value out of getting Lewis into the team that it cost them nothing to do it. He is still the only true global superstar driver out there.”

“You don't want to do too many seasons like this because then your value does go down at some point. There's the thing. First season there, new regulations next year, and so on and so on. That gives a little bit of leeway but that's it. Next year? Next year it has to work.”

‘Hamilton won’t leave Ferrari’;

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1/lewis-hamilton-staying-ferrari-2026-35848549


Lewis Hamilton told he doesn’t have ‘a leg to stand on’ despite ‘painful’ blow for Monza
4 September 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Lewis Hamilton does not have ‘a leg to stand on’ for his Dutch GP yellow flag infringement. But another “painful” blow awaits Hamilton at Monza, as the seven-time F1 champion must serve a five-place grid penalty in the Italian GP after failing to slow for double-waved yellow flags before the Dutch GP. And Jolyon Palmer feels Hamilton has no defence for the penalty.

Hamilton drew a five-place grid penalty for the Italian GP as the FIA’s stewards at Zandvoort only investigated the Ferrari driver after the Dutch GP over not respecting the double-waved yellow flags when he wrongfully practised attacking the pit entry with personnel on the grid. “The drivers were warned about this,” Palmer said in his F1 TV analysis. “You’ve got a yellow flag on the outside and then you’ve got even more critically a flashing panel coming through the final corner. You pretty much can’t miss that as you’re coming in, but Lewis stays pinned.”

“The drivers want to get a gauge for how quickly they can attack the pit speed limit line, but it’s just dangerous to do on this circuit. It’s narrow, and you’ve got all of the people coming onto the grid. These people are just metres away from Hamilton, who’s flying in. This is not the behaviour that you should have under double-waved yellows. So, Hamilton really without a leg to stand on at that point.”

‘Doesn’t have a leg to stand on’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/lewis-hamilton-told-he-doesnt-have-a-leg-to-stand-on-despite-painful-blow-for-monza/

[Fortitude]

Hamilton leads Ferrari 1-2 at Monza - 2025 Italian Grand Prix FP1 results.
Ferrari enjoys a dream start to its home race, with Hamilton leading Leclerc in FP1.
September 5th 2025
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc set the pace in opening practice for the Italian Grand Prix, raising Ferrari‘s hopes for its home event.

Hamilton, who is facing a five-place grid penalty for the race, made a promising debut as a Ferrari driver in front of the tifosi by setting the quickest time.

Leclerc, last year’s winner at Monza, finished less than two tenths behind Hamilton in second in the opening hour of running.

‘Hamilton leads Ferrari 1-2’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/hamilton-leads-ferrari-1-2-at-monza-2025-italian-grand-prix-fp1-results/?nowprocket=1


2025 F1 Italian GP – Free Practice 1 Results
Hamilton and Ferrari delight Tifosi with dominant start at Monza
5 September 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 Italian GP 2025 FP1 results
Check out the full Italian GP 2025 Free Practice 1 results from the first session at Monza below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:20.117
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.169
3 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.533
4 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.575
5 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.823
6 Lando Norris McLaren +0.904
7 Alexander Albon Williams +0.956
8 George Russell Mercedes +0.993
9 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.997
10 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +1.041

‘FP1 results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/2025-f1-italian-gp-free-practice-1-results/


HIGHLIGHTS: Relive FP1 for the Italian Grand Prix as Hamilton delights Tifosi with Ferrari 1-2
5 September 2025
Formula One - Official Site

As practice began at one of F1’s most evocative venues, it was Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton who took the spoils in Free Practice 1 at the team’s home race of Monza. Ferrari gave their loyal Tifosi plenty to cheer about in Free Practice 1 for the Italian Grand Prix, with new signing Lewis Hamilton heading team mate Charles Leclerc for a Scuderia 1-2.

Hamilton stopped the clocks with a 1m 20.117s lap around La Pista Magica, 0.169s quicker than Leclerc. Carlos Sainz was an eyebrow-raising P3 for Williams at a track where they traditionally run well, ahead of the Red Bull of Max Verstappen and local driver Kimi Antonelli – 12 months on from his FP1 debut with Mercedes, which had ended with him in the wall at Parabolica.

A red flag flew for gravel midway through the session, while George Russell stopped out on track in the closing moments of FP1, bringing out a Virtual Safety Car – curtailing the competitive running of FP1 drivers Paul Aron at Alpine (in for Franco Colapinto), who spun at the second chicane 20 minutes into the session, and Alex Dunne at McLaren (in for Oscar Piastri).

‘Ferrari gave their loyal Tifosi plenty to cheer about’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/highlights-relive-fp1-for-the-italian-grand-prix-as-hamilton-delights-tifosi.72yPwFDIM8CNgw3DqBXKtr


Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton told why he’s ‘lucky’ with his Monza grid penalty by Martin Brundle
5 September 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Martin Brundle thinks Lewis Hamilton is ‘lucky’ with a five, rather than a 10-place Italian Grand Prix grid penalty. F1 and the FIA decided against allowing drivers to practice their pit entry during their laps to the grid due to the narrow working area for the personnel already on the grid. But Hamilton remained flat through the final turn, and he only lifted by 20kph (12.4mph) nearing the pits.

“It was a slam dunk penalty,” Brundle said on Sky Sports F1 (05/09, 12:19). “[He] broke two regulations, because also the entry speed into the pit lane itself. I do believe that [penalty] should have been applied in the race to give them a chance to cycle that penalty through. But two wrongs don’t make a right in that respect. I think the team have to take some responsibility.”

“If you read the sporting regs, and the technical regs, and the international sporting code, and then the race director’s notes on any given weekend, as well, you can’t expect the drivers to absorb all of that. We struggle to absorb it. You just keep reading, reading [and] reading all of the stuff. But he should have been reminded by the team, if he wasn’t, not to charge through the final corner. But I don’t think they can complain about the penalty. In fact, I think they’re lucky it wasn’t a 10-place grid drop.”

‘Lewis Hamilton is ‘lucky’ with a five’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ferrari-driver-lewis-hamilton-told-why-hes-lucky-with-his-monza-grid-penalty-by-martin-brundle/


Another blow for Verstappen incoming? Dutchman facing changes in Monza
5 Sep 2025
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen faces another potential blow in his increasingly difficult task to chase down the McLaren pair of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris at the Italian Grand Prix. Engine changes incoming for Verstappen and others. However, a potential step back could be on the way for Verstappen after a promising P4 start to his weekend in Monza in the first free practice session. The Dutchman will see a brand new engine put into his RB21 for the race weekend around the iconic Italian track.

However, it is not yet clear if a penalty will be given to the 27-year-old and Red Bull, as this will be the fourth new engine for Verstappen in 2025. It is not just a new internal combustion engine that is being replaced for Verstappen on his RB21; a new turbocharger, motor generator unit-heat (MGU-H), motor generator unit-kinetic (MGU-K), and exhaust system will all be added.

Esteban Ocon, Alexander Albon, Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will also have all these changes made to their respective machines. Pierre Gasly and his Alpine will have all but one of these changes, with a brand-new MGU-K not being added for this weekend.

‘Another blow for Verstappen incoming?’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/another-blow-for-verstappen-incoming-dutchman-facing-changes-in-monza


Wolff admits to bigger problems for Mercedes than Russell’s DNF at Monza
5 Sept 2025
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

Toto Wolff admits there may be more than just George Russell's DNF from the first free practice session to contend with at the Italian Grand Prix for Mercedes at Monza. The Brit didn't see the start of his race weekend get off to the greatest of starts in Monza, with an issue for his W16 forcing him to pull over and bring out the VSC, confining him to a P7 finish, while teammate Antoinelli could only come two places higher up in P5.


"It was a hydraulics issue for George, and the engine shutdown to protect everything," Wolff explained while speaking to Sky Sports after the end of the first practice session that saw Ferrari take a one-two in front of their adoring Tifosi.

However, for Wolff and Mercedes, other concerns have arisen after the first free practice session that could be quite significant for the rest of the weekend. "We are lacking a bit of straight line speed, that's what I've just seen on the overlays," continued the Austrian, a concern that the German team will want to conceal before a vital qualifying session takes place tomorrow.

‘Wolff admits to bigger problems’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/wolff-admits-to-bigger-problems-for-mercedes-than-russells-dnf-at-monza

[Fortitude]

Norris P1 in FP2 at the Italian Grand Prix ahead of Leclerc and Sainz.
Lando Norris topped the timing sheets in FP2 at the Italian Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz rounding out the top three to end Friday's proceedings.
5 Sept 2025
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

After Ferrari earned a fine one-two finish in the first free practice session of the race weekend in Monza, McLaren and Norris answered back. The Brit was the fastest come the end of the soft tyre running at the 'Temple of Speed', with Leclerc taking his second P2 of the day by finishing just +0.083 off the pace of Norris.

Sainz rounded out the top three with another brilliant P3 finish, with Oscar Piastri taking P4 in his first session of the weekend after the Australian made way for F2 driver Alex Dunne during FP1. Lewis Hamilton took fifth place after his P1 finish in front of the Tifosi in FP1 to show Ferrari's speed is to be respected at their home Grand Prix, just seven-thousandths of a second ahead of Max Verstappen in P6.

Alex Albon and Nico Hulkenberg found some great pace to take P7 and P8, respectively, while Yuki Tsunoda and George Russell rounded out the top ten. There was the need for an early red flag after just ten minutes of the second session of the day, with Kimi Antonelli spinning out and beeching his W16, resulting in FP2 ending prematurely for the 18-year-old in his home weekend.

‘Norris P1 in FP2’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/f1-full-results-norris-p1-in-fp2-at-the-italian-grand-prix-ahead-of-leclerc-and-sainz


2025 F1 Italian GP – Free Practice 2 Results
Norris leads McLaren charge as Ferrari impresses in front of home crowd
5 September 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 Italian GP 2025 FP2 results
Check out the full Italian GP 2025 Free Practice 2 results from the second session at Monza below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:19.878
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.083
3 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.096
4 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.181
5 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.192
6 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.199
7 Alexander Albon Williams +0.301
8 Nico Hulkenberg Sauber +0.363
9 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull +0.391
10 George Russell Mercedes +0.398

‘FP2 results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-2025-italian-gp-free-practice-2-results/


Italian GP: Norris edges Leclerc in messy FP2 at Monza
05/09/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Lando Norris set the pace in a lively but once again messy second practice session for the Italian Grand Prix, edging Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by the slimmest of margins at Monza.

The McLaren driver clocked a best lap of 1m19.878s, underlining his intent to close the 34-point deficit to team-mate Oscar Piastri in the championship battle.

The result gave McLaren an early edge heading into Saturday, while Ferrari showed signs of a home resurgence, much to the delight of the tifosi packing the grandstands.

‘Norris edges Leclerc’;

https://f1i.com/news/547676-italian-gp-norris-edges-leclerc-in-messy-fp2-at-monza.html


Norris quickest in Italian GP FP2 at Monza, ahead of Leclerc and Sainz
SEPTEMBER 5, 2025
in Motorsport
Racecars

McLaren’s Lando Norris went quickest in the second practice session for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc just eight tenths of a second off the Briton as Williams’ Carlos Sainz took P3 ahead of championship leader Oscar Piastri. After handing his car over to McLaren test driver Alex Dunne in FP1, Oscar Piastri was one of the first on track at the start of the session and the Australian was quickly into the groove, despite reporting that one of his mirrors was cracked.

The championship leader posted a time of 1:21.212. Team-mate and title rival Lando Norris went quicker, however, and he took top spot with a time of 1:21.012. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso slotted into third place ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell with Max Verstappen in P5.

Norris, then, held on to top spot ahead of Leclerc, Sainz and Piastri, with Hamilton in fifth ahead of Verstappen. Albon finished in seventh place ahead of Hülkenberg and Tsunoda finished the session in ninth place, just ahead of Russell.

‘Norris quickest’;

https://www.racecar.com/news/102505/motorsport/norris-quickest-in-italian-gp-fp2-at-monza-ahead-of-leclerc-and-sainz


Why Piastri avoided grid drop for Italian GP practice infringement
Sep 5, 2025
Josh Suttill
The Race

Oscar Piastri has escaped with a reprimand for an infringement during FP2 at Formula 1’s Italian Grand Prix as the stewards made an important distinction to a penalty issued earlier in the season. Piastri and McLaren faced the Monza stewards after FP2 for entering the fast lane in the pitlane prior to the restart time for the session, following a red flag for Kimi Antonelli’s off.

The stewards found Piastri was released from his McLaren garage at 17.13.50, but the restart time wasn’t confirmed by race control until 19 seconds later. This was “clearly in breach of item 22.2 of the race director’s event notes” which states “if the free practice session or qualifying session is suspended, cars may only enter the fast lane after the re-start time is confirmed via the official messaging system”.

“The stewards acknowledge that, in contrast to prior incidents of a similar nature happening in qualifying, no significant sporting advantage could potentially be gained as this happened in free practice and therefore consider a reprimand to the competitor to be appropriate.”

‘Important distinction’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/why-oscar-piastri-avoided-grid-drop-for-italian-gp-practice-infringement/

[Fortitude]

Lando Norris has Italian GP pole in his sights again as Lewis Hamilton calls for 'more juice'.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished just 0.021s behind Norris, to bring the Tifosi to their feet. Team-mate Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, was left calling for "more juice" from his SF25 - as Leclerc found - as the seven-time F1 champion was only seventh quickest.
6 September 2025
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Lando Norris goes into qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix as the man to beat for the second successive weekend after setting the leading time in practice at Monza. Interestingly, the two McLaren drivers ran different front-wing specifications, with Norris' a higher downforce version compared to Piastri, providing him with greater performance through the chicanes, whilst losing out a little on the straights.

The Ferrari fans had to wait until the closing minutes for Leclerc and Hamilton to emerge on the softs, and the first flyer from the former saw him make a mistake out of the second Lesmo, doing enough to avoid losing the car. At a point when Piastri grabbed the second fastest time, 0.165s behind Norris, Hamilton set the sixth best lap of the session, only to drop a place courtesy of Leclerc's late run that elevated him from 11th to second.

Behind the top three, Verstappen had to settle for fourth, and ahead of Mercedes' George Russell and Gabriel Bortoleto in his Sauber, followed by Hamilton and Hadjar. Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli was ninth quickest, a third of a second down, with Williams' Alex Albon completing the top 10.

‘Bring(ing) the Tifosi to their feet’;

https://racingnews365.com/lando-norris-has-italian-gp-pole-in-his-sights-again-as-lewis-hamilton-calls-for-more-juice


2025 F1 Italian GP – Free Practice 3 Results
Norris beats Leclerc by 0.021s in tense final practice ahead of Italian GP qualifying
6 September 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 Italian GP 2025 FP3 results
Check out the full Italian GP 2025 Free Practice 3 results from the third and final practice session at Monza below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:19.331
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.021
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.165
4 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.167
5 George Russell Mercedes +0.184
6 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber +0.227
7 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.267
8 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.272
9 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.365
10 Alexander Albon Williams +0.389

‘Free Practice 3 Results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/2025-f1-italian-gp-free-practice-3-results/


Lando Norris pips Charles Leclerc in FP3 at F1 Italian GP
6 September 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Lando Norris went fastest in FP3 for the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix, pipping Charles Leclerc with qualifying at Monza just hours away. The McLaren driver’s 1:19.331s was enough to secure top spot in the final practice session of the weekend, just two hundredths of a second ahead of the Ferrari.

Oscar Piastri put the second McLaren in second place, a further tenth-and-a-half behind, with Max Verstappen fourth. George Russell was fifth for Mercedes, with Gabriel Bortoleto an impressive sixth ahead of Lewis Hamilton in seventh.

‘Lando Norris went fastest in FP3’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/09/06/lando-norris-pips-charles-leclerc-in-fp3-at-f1-italian-gp/


Italian GP: Norris pips Leclerc in closely contested FP3 session at Monza
6 Sep 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Lando Norris set the pace in FP3 at the Italian Grand Prix, but Charles Leclerc in second wasn’t far behind in a session in which the entire field was separated by less than a second. Oscar Piastir was third fastest ahead of Max Verstappen and George Russell.

Heading into the final 20 minutes, more drivers moved onto the soft tyres including the championship-leading McLaren teammates. Lando Norris hit the front with a 1:19.331, 0.247s ahead of Oscar Piastri before Verstappen split the McLaren teammates with Isack Hadjar up to fourth in the Racing Bulls. Piastri made it a McLaren 1-2 by 0.165s behind Norris.

Verstappen, running the soft tyres, upped his pace to a 1:19.688. Leclerc’s efforts to get into a top position were hindered by a mistake at the second Lesmo as the Ferrari driver put wheels in the gravel. He bounced back on his next, and last, flying lap to go second behind Norris by 0.021s.

‘Closely contested FP3 session’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/italian-grand-prix-2025-fp3-report


Italian GP: Norris ups the pace, tops FP3 from Leclerc
06/09/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Lando Norris set the pace in the third and final practice session for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, narrowly outpacing Ferrari’s home hero Charles Leclerc and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. With qualifying looming, the session at Monza’s iconic Temple of Speed showcased a fiercely competitive field, with McLaren and Ferrari emerging as frontrunners for pole position.

Norris’ benchmark time of 1m19.331s on soft tyres underscored McLaren’s pre-weekend favoritism, but Ferrari’s late surge and Red Bull’s resurgence suggest a tight battle ahead. With McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes all within striking distance, the 2025 Italian Grand Prix qualifying promises to be a nail-biter.

Norris, chasing Piastri’s 34-point championship lead, will aim to convert his FP3 pace into pole, but Leclerc’s late heroics and Verstappen’s resurgence ensure a fierce fight. As teams fine-tune their setups, the battle for supremacy at Monza is set to captivate fans under the late summer sun.

‘Lando Norris set the pace in the third and final practice’;

https://f1i.com/news/547825-italian-gp-norris-ups-the-pace-tops-fp3-from-leclerc.html


Lando Norris leads 2025 Italian Grand Prix FP3 as Charles Leclerc keeps Ferrari hopes alive
6 September 2025
Rebecca Braybrook
F1 Oversteer

Norris once again demonstrated his skill by topping his second timing sheet of the weekend, although focus turns to whether the Brit can keep the position in qualifying.

Charles Leclerc saw two massive snaps of oversteer during the session, managing to save the Ferrari from a nasty crash. His first snap came at the Parabolica during the early part of FP3, before another at the second Lesmo saw him dip the car into the gravel.

‘Ferrari hopes alive’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/races/lando-norris-leads-2025-italian-grand-prix-fp3-as-charles-leclerc-keeps-ferrari-hopes-alive/

[Fortitude]

Max Verstappen smashes F1 record at Monza as Lando Norris makes late qualifying recovery.
Max Verstappen smashed another F1 record at Monza, taking ownership of the fastest lap in the series' history en route to pole position for the Italian Grand Prix.
6 September 2025
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Max Verstappen stormed to pole position at the Italian Grand Prix, setting a new F1 record for the quickest lap in the championship's history. Judged on average speed, the Red Bull driver's 1:18.792 averaged 264.7 kph and 164.47 mph, bettering Lewis Hamilton's pole late at Monza from 2020.

The Dutchman beat Lando Norris by almost a tenth of a second as the pair secured their places on the front row of the grid. Oscar Piastri was third-fastest at the Temple of Speed, ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in fourth and fifth, respectively.

‘Smashed another F1 record’;

https://racingnews365.com/max-verstappen-smashes-f1-record-at-monza-as-lando-norris-makes-late-qualifying-recovery


2025 F1 Italian GP – Qualifying Results
6 September 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 Italian GP 2025 Qualifying results
Check out the full Italian GP 2025 Qualifying results from Monza below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:18.792
2 Lando Norris McLaren +0.077
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.190
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.215
5 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.332
6 George Russell Mercedes +0.365
7 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.408
8 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber +0.598
9 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.632
10 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull +0.727

‘F1 Italian GP 2025 Qualifying results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/2025-f1-italian-gp-qualifying-results/


Max Verstappen denies McLaren with superb pole position for F1 Italian GP
6 September 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Max Verstappen took pole position for the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix, denying both McLarens top spot in a thrilling qualifying session at Monza. The Dutchman stormed to pole with 1:18.792s at the very end of Q3, with Lando Norris looking set to take pole.

Oscar Piastri could only settle for third spot, with Charles Leclerc maintaining Ferrari interest with fourth. Lewis Hamilton will start 10th, serving his grid penalty having qualified in fifth place. For Verstappen, it was a perhaps unexpected pole position, and with an average speed of 264.681 km/h, it was by mean speed, the fastest ever lap in F1 history.

It also threatens to shake up the race with the title protagonists just behind Verstappen, promising excitement and drama at the Temple of Speed.

‘Max Verstappen denies McLaren’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/09/06/max-verstappen-denies-mclaren-with-superb-pole-position-for-f1-italian-gp/


Verstappen upstages McLarens to steal Italian GP pole position
Sep 6, 2025
Matt Beer
The Race

Max Verstappen upstaged the McLarens to put Red Bull on pole position for Formula 1's 2025 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Verstappen's first Q3 run benefitted from a tow from team-mate Yuki Tsunoda, but he went even better by himself at the end, and after very briefly losing provisional pole to Lando Norris Verstappen snuck back ahead by 0.077 seconds.

Norris had a fraught session in which he was at serious risk of going out in Q2 having locked up entering the first chicane on his first run, changed his run plan and then underperformed on his next attempt. He was down in 11th until a massive final lap on used tyres got him through, and he then managed to beat McLaren team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri to second on the grid.

Provisional starting grid
1 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2 Lando Norris (McLaren)
3 Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
4 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
5 George Russell (Mercedes)
6 Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
7 Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
8 Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
9 Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
10 Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

‘Verstappen upstages McLarens’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/verstappen-upstages-mclarens-to-steal-italian-gp-pole-position/


Verstappen beats Norris and Piastri to pole for Italian GP in Qualifying thriller
A pulsating Qualifying session at Monza ended with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen beating the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to pole position.
Sep 6, 2025
Formula One - Official Site

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen pulled another lap out of the bag to claim pole position for the Italian Grand Prix, pipping McLaren rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in an incredibly close Qualifying session at Monza. Following their “very tough” weekend at the Temple of Speed last season, Verstappen and Red Bull have looked much more competitive at this year’s event, with the Dutchman emerging as a genuine threat to McLaren’s supremacy.

As a heart-stopping Qualifying hour drew to a close, Verstappen initially led the way in the decisive Q3 phase, before being overhauled by Norris but then fighting back with a blistering lap of 1m 18.792s to seal P1 by 0.077s. Piastri was 0.190s back in third, from the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who could not quite deliver enough for the front row – the seven-time World Champion nonetheless losing five places with his pre-event grid penalty.

‘Pulled another lap out of the bag’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/verstappen-beats-norris-and-piastri-to-pole-for-italian-gp-in-qualifying.7j6Ls1jDJUp67EqfCoQhiN


Max Verstappen sets the fastest lap in F1 HISTORY at Italian GP as he snatches pole from Lando Norris - while Lewis Hamilton vastly improves
6 September 2025
JONATHAN MCEVOY
MailOnline

Lando Norris found a toe-hold of hope in his faltering world championship bid when he outqualified his rival Oscar Piastri ahead of the Italian Grand Prix – but Max Verstappen took pole by dint of his own genius. Norris overcame a trying afternoon to set the second quickest time at Monza, 0.077sec back from the Dutchman. Piastri was more than a tenth further behind in third.

Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton fifth, though the Briton will start 10th when his five-place grid penalty from last weekend in Holland is applied – a cruel handicap on his first Italian Grand Prix in red. George Russell qualified fifth for Mercedes, a place above his fellow Silver Arrow driver Kimi Antonelli, competing on home soil.

Verstappen’s pole was his first since Silverstone in July and was a personal achievement, rather than a team one, given that the other Red Bull of Yuki Tsunoda was only 10th fastest. Verstappen set a track record – of 1min 18.792sec – in the process. To do so, the Dutchman averaged an astonishing average speed of 264.682km/h throughout.

‘Ffastest lap in F1 HISTORY’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-15072441/Max-Verstappen-sets-fastest-lap-F1-HISTORY-Italian-GP-snatches-pole-Lando-Norris-Lewis-Hamilton-vastly-improves.html

[Fortitude]

Verstappen dominates Italian GP as Piastri gives Norris second under orders.
Max Verstappen scored his third victory of 2025 with a dominant performance from pole position at Monza.
7th September 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

The Red Bull driver lost his lead to Lando Norris twice during the race but regained it each time to claim his first grand prix win in four months. Norris followed him home in second place as McLaren tried an alternative strategy as they strived to take the lead. While Verstappen ran a fairly conventional one-stop strategy, albeit with a shortened final stint on hards, McLaren waited until late in the race before switching to softs.

However the team inadvertently triggered a change in positions between their drivers by summoning Oscar Piastri in first. The team reassured Norris they would not allow Piastri to ‘undercut’ him. They reckoned without a slow pit stop for Norris, however. He rejoined the track behind his team mate whom McLaren swiftly instructed to yield second place. He did, albeit reluctantly, and followed Norris home in third place.

‘Verstappen dominates’;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/09/07/verstappen-dominates-italian-gp-as-piastri-gives-norris-second-under-orders/


2025 F1 Italian Grand Prix – Race Results
Verstappen triumphs at Monza as McLaren team orders shape podium
7 September 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

Full F1 2025 Italian Grand Prix Results
Check out the complete Italian Grand Prix 2025 race results from Monza below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Leader
2 Lando Norris McLaren +19.207
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren +21.351
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +25.624
5 George Russell Mercedes +32.881
6 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +37.449
7 Alex Albon Williams +50.439
8 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber +57.913
9 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +59.762
10 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +63.350

‘Full F1 2025 Italian Grand Prix Results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/2025-f1-italian-grand-prix-race-results/


Italian GP: Max Verstappen wins at Monza amid fresh McLaren team orders controversy
7 Sep 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

After a few laps of fighting Lando Norris for the lead at the Italian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen took control of the race to secure his third win of the season. The McLaren teammates joined him on the podium with Norris ahead of Oscar Piastri after a brief moment of team order controversy late in the race.

The McLaren mechanics were out on Lap 46 for Piastri, who went with the soft tyres. Norris clarified with McLaren that they would swap positions if his teammate got the undercut on him. A slow stop for Norris with the front left, four seconds, meant Piastri was ahead after the Briton pitted. Verstappen was back up in P1.

And then came the message, “let Lando pass and then you’re free to race.” Piastri made his case to the team, and then moved over for the Briton. Norris quickly moved out of DRS range of his teammate. Verstappen raced to the victory, his third of the season, ahead of Norris and Piastri whose lead was reduced to 27 points.

‘McLaren team orders controversy’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/italian-grand-prix-2025-report


Verstappen charges to Italian GP win over Norris and Piastri
Max Verstappen claimed his third win of the 2025 season with a commanding display at Monza on Sunday.
7 Sep 2025
Formula One - Official Site

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen converted pole position into victory during Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, leading home McLaren pair Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri after a dramatic start and end to proceedings at Monza. Verstappen and Norris went wheel-to-wheel almost immediately when the lights went out, getting close to each other down the start/finish straight before the Dutchman skipped the first chicane to keep the lead.

While Verstappen gave up the position to Norris at the start of the second lap to avoid a potential penalty, he was soon back on his rival’s tail and took only a couple more tours to reclaim P1 and surge clear. From there, Verstappen appeared to have everything under control, managing the gap back to both McLarens across their opening stints, pitting earlier than Norris and Piastri to strengthen that advantage and then cruising to the chequered flag.

‘Verstappen charges to Italian GP win’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/verstappen-charges-to-italian-gp-win-over-norris-and-piastri.6J7R9E9tzOI9Asy6HBmoVf


Italian GP: Verstappen defeats McLaren with Monza masterclass
7 Sep 2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Max Verstappen was in a league of is own in Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, the Red Bull charger claiming his 66th career win in F1 with a dominant display at Monza. The Dutchman resisted early pressure from Lando Norris before stretching clear to seal a 19.2-second winning margin, as McLaren’s afternoon was complicated by team orders and pitstop drama.

The opening lap set the tone for a lively race. Norris made the better getaway from second on the grid and went wheel-to-wheel with polesitter Verstappen into Turn 1. The McLaren driver felt he was forced towards the grass as Verstappen held the inside line and then skipped across the first chicane to keep the lead.

‘Verstappen defeats McLaren’;

https://f1i.com/news/548020-italian-gp-verstappen-defeats-mclaren-with-monza-masterclass.html


Michael Schumacher’s Monza record shattered as Max Verstappen makes F1 history
Red Bull star delivers stunning performance in Italy to set fastest race time ever
7 September 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

The Italian Grand Prix has always been synonymous with speed, but on Sunday Max Verstappen raised the bar to a level never seen before in Formula 1. The Red Bull driver stormed to victory at Monza with a relentless display that not only secured his third win of the 2025 season but also smashed a record once held by Michael Schumacher.

Verstappen crossed the finish line in just 1 hour, 13 minutes and 23 seconds, completing the 53 laps at an average speed of 264.681 km/h – making it the fastest race in F1 history. The milestone eclipsed Schumacher’s iconic benchmark of 1 hour 14 minutes and 19.838 seconds from the 2003 Italian Grand Prix

For much of the season, Verstappen has found himself locked in a fight against the McLaren pairing of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, but at Monza the Dutchman left no room for doubt. After briefly handing the lead to Norris following a controversial Turn 1 tussle, Verstappen reclaimed it just three laps later and never looked back, gradually building a gap of almost 20 seconds by the chequered flag.

‘Stunning performance’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/max-verstappen-fastest-f1-race-ever-italian-gp-michael-schumacher/


Monza masterclass earns Verstappen another award after Grand Prix win
7 Sep 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen has been named the Formula 1 Driver of the Day following his outing at the Italian Grand Prix. The Red Bull Racing driver clinched the race in dominant fashion against the McLarens. The 27-year-old, who had earlier set the record for the fastest qualifying lap in the history of the sport, led the Grand Prix for most of the race. Verstappen’s impressive outing culminated in a 19-second gap to second-placed Lando Norris.

The Driver of the Day award, which is voted for by the fans, marked the fourth time throughout the 2025 campaign that the Dutch driver has clinched the prize. With his performance in Monza, Verstappen also cut down the lead at the top of the Drivers’ Standings held by Oscar Piastri. The Red Bull Racing driver will now shift focus to replicating his impressive form as the F1 grid heads to the streets of Baku for Round 17 of the 2025 season.

‘Monza masterclass’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/monza-masterclass-earns-verstappen-another-award-after-grand-prix-win

[Fortitude]

'Needless and silly'? Our verdict on McLaren's Piastri team order.
A slow pitstop for Norris meant Piastri jumped him late on at Monza, with Piastri subsequently asked to drop back behind - a request the championship leader was unimpressed with but ultimately followed.
7 Sep 2025
The Race

Needless and silly, Ben Anderson: I think it would have been interesting to see what Piastri would have done had he not just benefitted from a huge points swing thanks to that broken oil line on his team-mate's car at Zandvoort.

What happens if this is repeated?, Scott Mitchell-Malm: Judging this one solely on those circumstances, it's a tough thing for McLaren to ask and not a good thing to do, but I can see why it was reluctantly asked of Piastri.

McLaren must take this to the logical extreme, Valentin Khorounzhiy; In the next race, it must send out Piastri with a faulty engine to make up for what happened at Zandvoort. But Melbourne wasn't very nice also, and hardly Piastri's fault, so it needs to order Norris to go off into the grass at some point from a top-two position. Piastri got screwed by strategy in Hungary, so McLaren has to make that right, though I can't quite come up with a mechanism yet.

‘Piastri got screwed by strategy in Hungary’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/needless-silly-our-verdict-on-mclaren-oscar-piastri-lando-norris-team-order/


Lando Norris booed on podium after McLaren team orders at Italian Grand Prix
07/09/2025
BreakingNews.ie

Lando Norris was booed after McLaren ordered his team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri aside as this season’s world championship battle took a controversial twist at Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix. Norris was jeered by the Tifosi gathered underneath the podium as he collected his trophy for crossing the line in second, a place ahead of Piastri.

“I heard them, but I don’t know what I am meant do,” Norris said. “The cheers were louder than the boos, and that is the most important thing.” A week after Norris’ engine failure in Zandvoort saw him leave the Netherlands empty-handed, McLaren called on Piastri to trade positions – a decision that did not sit comfortably with the Australian.

“We said that a slow pit-stop was part of racing, so I don’t really get what changed here,” he said, before adding: “But I will do it.”

‘Jeered by the Tifosi gathered underneath the podium’;

https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/lando-norris-booed-on-podium-after-mclaren-team-orders-at-italian-grand-prix-1804094.html


Nico Rosberg predicts McLaren ‘talks’ after team orders take centre stage
07 Sep 2025
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com

“Pit stop times are just a part of racing, and what goes around, comes around,” Rosberg said on Sky F1. “Sometimes one has a faster [stop] than the other. So it’s, it’s a really difficult one internally, and that will require some talks, because I think Oscar is not going to be happy with that.”

“Of course, you look out from outside and you think ‘okay, that’s the only way to do it fair, because Lando deserves second place because he just did a much better weekend.’ But it’s not straight cuts, Rosberg was joined on the broadcast by Jamie Chadwick who said McLaren “put themselves in these awkward positions” ,having done similar last year in Hungary.

“It is an uncharacteristic mistake [from the pit crew] but I think if you look back to Hungary last year, they do put themselves sometimes in these awkward positions,” she said. “It is credit to the drivers that they react the way that they do but the harmony in that team seems to be very good, despite the fact they’re going head to head for a world Championship.”

‘Nico Rosberg predicts McLaren talks’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/nico-rosberg-predicts-mclaren-talks-team-orders-take-centre-stage


Nico Rosberg drops warning after McLaren controversy at Italian GP
Former champion says Oscar Piastri won’t forget Monza team orders as Norris gains crucial advantage
7 September 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

“Pit stop times are just a part of racing,” Nico Rosberg said on Sky Sports F1. “Sometimes one driver gets lucky, sometimes the other. That makes it a really difficult one internally, and it will require some talks, because I don’t think Oscar is going to be happy with that.”

Few drivers are better placed than Nico Rosberg to comment on such scenarios. The German endured one of the most infamous team rivalries in modern F1 when he went head-to-head with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes between 2014 and 2016. Their battles often spilled beyond the track, testing the limits of team harmony.

“From the outside, you think it’s the only way to do it fair, because Lando had the better weekend,” Nico Rosberg added. “But it’s not so clear cut when you’re the one who has to give up the position. That leaves a mark, and I’m sure Oscar will remember it.”

‘Nico Rosberg drops warning’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-mclaren-team-orders-italian-gp-rosberg-warning/


McLaren team politics spark controversy at Italian Grand Prix as Oscar Piastri is forced to give up place for world title rival team-mate Lando Norris - but Max Verstappen tops the podium at Monza
7 September 2025
JONATHAN MCEVOY
MailOnline

If Lando Norris goes on to clinch his first world title this year, he should send a cheque with plenty of noughts to Mr Andrea Stella, c/o McLaren, Woking. That is because his team principal’s even-handed decision-making, bordering on saintliness, allowed Norris to finish runner-up at the Italian Grand Prix, a crucial place ahead of Oscar Piastri.

The choreography – which resulted in Norris being booed by the Tifosi on the podium – meant the British driver narrowed his deficit to his Australian team-mate to 31 points rather than fall 37 in arrears. Stella’s crucial call followed the McLaren pair’s late pit stops. Piastri was in on lap 45 of 52, when lying third; Norris was in a lap later, from second. Fine so far.

But, as we know, the switch was made, the instruction conveyed to Piastri by his race engineer Tom Stallard. Piastri hardly hurried to burble ‘wilco’, instead protesting: ‘A slow pit stop is part of racing. I don’t really get what has changed here but I will do it.’ Verstappen was informed what had happened and snorted: ‘Ha, just for a slow pit stop.’

‘McLaren team politics’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-15074577/McClaren-team-politics-spark-controversy-Italian-Grand-Prix-Oscar-Piastri-forced-place-world-title-rival-team-mate-Lando-Norris-Max-Verstappen-tops-podium-Monza.html


Oscar Piastri ordered to let Lando Norris past as Max Verstappen wins in Monza
Piastri was bitterly disappointed with the decision.
7 Sep, 2025
Philip Duncan
Irish Examiner

Lando Norris’ world championship bid was controversially kept alive by his McLaren team, despite a poor pit-stop threatening to deal the British driver another title blow.

Norris had been on course to finish as runner-up to runaway winner Max Verstappen until he dropped behind title rival Oscar Piastri following a slow change of tyres with seven laps remaining.

However, Piastri was ordered by McLaren to move aside for team-mate Norris, which the Australian did on the 49th lap of 53 at Monza’s Temple of Speed.

‘Piastri was bitterly disappointed’;

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/othersport/arid-41701064.html


'I don't really get what's changed': Oscar Piastri fumes at team order to let teammate past at Italian GP
September 7, 2025
Simon Brunsdon
Channel 9's Wide World of Sports

Aussie F1 driver Oscar Piastri was fuming when ordered to let his McLaren teammate Lando Norris past to claim second in the Italian Grand Prix. Piastri had jumped into second place when Norris underwent a slow pit stop, but team radio later told Piastri to let the Brit past. The Aussie was clearly not impressed.

"I mean, we said a slow pit stop was part of racing," Piastri responded to his team. "So I don't really get what's changed here, but if you really want me to do it then I'll do it." Team radio then said, "Appreciate that was pretty painful in a way, but you've done the right thing".

'I don't really get what's changed';

https://www.nine.com.au/sport/motorsport/f1-news-2025-max-verstappen-wins-monza-italian-gp-from-lando-norris-oscar-piastri-20250908-p5mt4x.html

[Fortitude]

McLaren savaged by the international media after Monza team orders.
Monza was “another monumental stuff-up by McLaren”, a “clanger” and Lando Norris has been told he should “send a cheque with plenty of noughts” to Andrea Stella if he goes on to beat Oscar Piastri to this year’s World title.
8 Sep 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

And no, that’s not all coming from the Australian media, with the British press also unimpressed with McLaren’s use of team orders at the Italian Grand Prix. Under the headline “‘Shameful’: F1 world convinced ugly Piastri conspiracy theory is true”, the Daily Telegraph called Sunday’s events “the smoking gun Oscar Piastri’s legion of fans have been waiting for after months of speculation about favouritism inside the McLaren garage.”

“The move,” added the Australian newspaper, “has definitely got tongues wagging. It has also poured a considerable amount of fuel on the burning suggestions Norris receives special treatment at Piastri’s expense.” The Herald Sun labelled it “another monumental stuff-up by his [Piastri’s] McLaren team that has sent Australian Formula One fans into meltdown.”

The Telegraph claimed McLaren “dropped a clanger” and that “Piastri should have disobeyed instructions”. The Mirror also called out McLaren’s need for “control”, but that “in motorsport, as in life, the best-laid plans of race strategists and drivers often go awry. Luck, fate or whatever you want to call it intervenes. S*** happens. It was, however, the Daily Mail who landed the most brutal blow. “If Lando Norris goes on to clinch his first world title this year, he should send a cheque with plenty of noughts to Mr Andrea Stella, c/o McLaren, Woking.”

‘McLaren savaged by the international media’;

https://www.planetf1.com/features/what-savage-international-media-saying-mclaren-monza-team-orders


‘Filthy’: Tony Jones fires up over Oscar Piastri controversy at Italian Grand Prix
8 Sep 2025
3AW

Tony Jones has fired up over the controversy surrounding McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris at the Italian Grand Prix overnight.

Piastri was controversial given orders by his own team to let Norris finish ahead of him, and Jones admitted he was “filthy” about the situation. “It’s becoming really annoying, the commentary is effectively a cheer squad for Lando Norris,” Jones told Tom Elliott on 3AW Mornings.

‘Filthy’;

https://www.3aw.com.au/filthy-tony-jones-fires-up-over-oscar-piastri-controversy-at-italian-grand-prix/


'Utterly bizarre': F1 world divided over call that hurt Aussie championship leader Oscar Piastri
September 8, 2025
Zachary Gates
Channel 9's Wide World of Sports

The Formula 1 world is divided after McLaren ordered Australia's Oscar Piastri to give position two back to teammate Lando Norris late in the Italian Grand Prix due to a pit-stop blunder. One leading F1 journalist has argued it was "the completely obvious" call — explaining doing otherwise would have reignited tensions between Norris and the engineers, and saying Piastri was not going to be particularly fazed anyway.

But a popular F1 YouTuber and podcaster has branded McLaren's decision "utterly bizarre" and said the sport's fan base was growing tiresome with the "nicey-nicey-fairness BS". Matt Gallagher, the popular F1 YouTuber and podcaster, took aim at McLaren. "We have the scenario play out ... and Oscar is put in a difficult position, we all get flashbacks to Hungary 2024 again, which we all didn't want to go back to," Gallagher said in a race review on YouTube.

"Utterly bizarre, to be honest with you," Gallagher added, commenting on the Italian Grand Prix controversy. "Oscar quite rightly says you had a slow pit stop, that's part of racing. That's not just a normal undercut. Norris had a difficult pit stop, and Piastri got through — that is racing. I think why people perhaps are finding it hard to get fully invested into this championship fight because of this nicey nicey fairness BS that we are currently watching." Meanwhile, top F1 journalist Nate Saunders wrote on social media that Piastri "has every right to be pissed off".

'Utterly bizarre';

https://www.nine.com.au/sport/motorsport/f1-news-2025-oscar-piastri-lando-norris-mclaren-team-order-radio-reaction-peter-windsor-matt-gallagher-20250908-p5mtc5.html


F1 conspiracy theory erupts as Oscar Piastri is 'ripped off' by own team - but the Aussie wins praise for his amazing response
Piastri clearly wasn't happy. 'We said that a slow pit-stop was part of racing, so I don't really get what changed here – but I will do it,' he grumbled over the team radio.
8 September 2025
IAN CHADBAND FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
MailOnline

Fans were also left fuming, accusing McLaren of conspiring to elevate Norris over Piastri. 'When will McLaren simply ask Oscar to hand Norris the championship?' one asked on social media. 'Any other sport it would have been match fixing. Since when do you rig the result?' questioned another.

Several fans likened the incident to match fixing, with another one raging on social media: 'Manufactured results. Sometimes you have bad luck, sometimes good luck. Let the drivers fight it out on the track. It's basically match fixing telling the drivers what position they should finish in.'

'So glad the rest of the teams are now laughing at the obvious favouritism, McLaren are a joke,' fumed another fan. 'At least Oscar can say he has won every single point on pure skill alone. Unlike Lando who will forever know he had his points given to him on a silver platter,' posted another.

‘McLaren are a joke';

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-15075577/F1-conspiracy-theory-Oscar-Piastri-team-orders-McLaren-Lando-Norris-pit-stop-Italian-Grand-Prix-Monza.html


McLaren's team orders make an appalling mockery of F1 racing
Max Verstappen’s wry chuckle said it all
September 08, 2025
Kevin Garside
i News

Oscar Piastri was right, a slow pit stop is part of racing. Manipulation of results ought not to be, however, and McLaren’s instinct to do right by Lando Norris did an appalling wrong to the sport and to his team-mate. McLaren’s decision to swap the positions of their drivers was intended to compensate Norris for the bad luck he suffered during a slow pit stop late in the race caused by a misfiring wheel gun.

Whilst Norris was down for several seconds, Piastri, stationary for just 1.9 seconds, made up the deficit to his team-mate to claim second place. What was looking like a three-point loss to Norris before the stops suddenly became a three-point gain. Had the positions stood, Piastri would have extended his championship lead to 37 points. Instead he goes to Baku next week with a lead of 31 points.

Verstappen gave a wry chuckle when he was told by his pit wall of the swap. “Ha, just because he had a slow stop?” Verstappen’s reaction echoed about the paddock, a sense of incredulity that a team should want to interfere with the laws of nature in this way. Michael Schumacher needed no help from Rubens Barrichello to establish himself as an all-time great, yet received it at the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix when the Ferrari hierarchy ordered the Brazilian to give way on the final lap to hand the championship leader victory.

‘An appalling mockery of F1 racing’;

https://inews.co.uk/sport/formula-one/mclaren-team-orders-f1-3904344?ITO=newsnow


Oscar Piastri Radio Message Speaks Volumes After Controversial McLaren Call Costs Him at Monza
McLaren's decision cut Oscar Piastri's championship lead...
8 Sep 2025
Tom Jenkins
SPORTbible

Oscar Piastri couldn't hide his frustration over team radio after he was ordered to swap positions with championship rival Lando Norris at the Italian Grand Prix. "I mean, we said that a slow pitstop was part of racing, so I don't really get what's changed here, but if you really want me to do it, I'll do it," the 24-year-old said. "A bit of a tough one," he added following the race. "Once the rear calmed down a bit then it was all right. Bit lively through the race. Thanks for the effort. Not the easiest of weekends. Yeah."

McLaren's decision to force Piastri to relinquish the position in a championship fight has received huge amounts of criticism, with even race winner Max Verstappen baffled. "Ha! Just because he had a slow stop?" Verstappen said over team radio after hearing the news. The result cuts Piastri's lead to 31 points, however, a second place finish would have put him 37 points ahead of his teammate.

‘Oscar Piastri couldn't hide his frustration’;

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/oscar-piastri-lando-norris-radio-monza-588179-20250908


Team Orders Row: Did McLaren Manipulate Monza’s Podium?
Alex Albuquerque
September 8, 2025
Fastest Lap

David Coulthard calls out McLaren over Monza swap: “It felt like the result was manipulated” Coulthard, speaking on Channel 4, didn’t mince words. He acknowledged McLaren’s logic — the team believed Norris had earned track position before their own error flipped it — but didn’t love the optics.

In his view, a rare fumble in the box is part of racing’s rough edges, just like engines blowing or elbows-out duels. Restoring a pre-stop order felt, to him, like shaping the result rather than letting it breathe. “I get why they did it,” the former McLaren driver said, pointing to the team’s clear focus on the Constructors’ Championship. “But it still feels like the result was manipulated, and that sits uncomfortably.”

“Manipulated”;

https://fastestlap.com/news/team-orders-row-did-mclaren-manipulate-monzas-podium/

[Fortitude]

‘We’re not idiots’: Lando Norris explains McLaren’s ‘fair team order strategy at Italian GP.
“Every situation is different, so I think it’s pretty stupid just to assume that kind of thing and just say that’s the precedent you set. We’re not idiots, and we have plans for different things.”
September 8, 2025
Sports Desk
Indian Express

The race also saw the decision-making of McLaren — who asked their drivers to swap places just a few laps before the end — being questioned for the rather controversial decision. McLaren ordered world championship leader Piastri to cede second place to Norris with four laps remaining after a slow pit stop had seen the Briton fall behind his team-mate.

“Today was not my fault. If I came flat out into my box and hit all my mechanics out of the way, I also don’t expect to get the position back, but today was out of my control. In the end, I don’t want it to win this way through getting given positions or anything like that, and the same thing with Oscar. We don’t want to lose or win like that, but we do what we think is correct as a team, no matter what you say or what your opinions are, and we stick to doing it our way,” Lando Norris added.

‘We’re not idiots’;

https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/motor-sport/lando-norris-piastri-explain-mclaren-team-strategy-italian-gp-10237802/


Damon Hill lands ‘give it back’ quip after McLaren’s Italian GP team orders
9 Sep 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Damon Hill recalling his 1993 Italian Grand Prix win. In a race of attrition, Hill moved up to second at Monza when Michael Schumacher’s engine failed, and 26 laps later he was leading when his Williams teammate Alain Prost’s Renault engine also failed. Hill, who clinched his third win of the season, jokingly said on social media that he’s worried that he’ll have to give that win back to the Frenchman.

“In 1993 I won the Italian GP (in part ��) because Alain Prost’s Renault engine blew up,” Hill wrote. “I’m now worried Renault will ask me to give the result back to him! �� What do you make of McLaren’s policy of instructing a driver to sacrifice a guaranteed result in favour of his rival?”

Running a poll in his post, 61.8 per cent of Hill’s followers were ‘not happy’ with McLaren’s actions, while 17.8 per cent were ‘happy enough’ and 20.4 per cent were sitting on the fence. While Hill wasn’t the only one joking on social media about McLaren’s fairness, several posts pondering whether Piastri would have to crash if Norris did or if he would be sent out in Baku with faulty engine to make up for Norris’ Zandvoort retirement…

“Now worried Renault will ask me to give the result back to him!”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/damon-hill-lands-give-it-back-dig-after-mclarens-italian-gp-team-orders


Booed Norris denies team order was Papaya rules
SEPTEMBER 8, 2025
GrandPrix.com

On the podium, Norris was jeered despite moving a few points closer to Piastri in the title fight. “I don't know why”, he said. “I heard them. I hear the cheers louder than the boos, and that's the most important.”

Norris also dismissed the notion of special papaya rules benefitting him. “There are no papaya rules anymore”, he smiled to DAZN. "We never had them. The main thing is fairness.”

“We don't care what's been done in the past - we do what we think is right.” Asked how long McLaren's 'rules of engagement' document is, he replied: “One page - I don't think it's even one page.”

‘On the podium, Norris was jeered’;

https://www.grandprix.com/news/booed-norris-denies-team-order-was-papaya-rules.html


McLaren 'Broke Oscar Piastri Contract Clause' With Lando Norris Swap at Italian GP
McLaren swapped Piastri and Norris in the closing stages of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
8 Sep 2025
Ryan Smart
SPORTbible

McLaren's controversial decision to swap Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris during the Italian Grand Prix could yet have ramifications beyond this year's Drivers' Championship. Although Piastri was diplomatic post-race about McLaren's decision to swap him with Norris, his radio message at the time appeared to suggest he had his own doubts. The Australian told race engineer Tom Stallard: "We said that a slow pit stop was part of racing, so I don't really get what's changed here. But if you really want to do it, I'll do it."

Piastri signed a new long-term contract with McLaren at the beginning of 2025. Although contract details were not disclosed by McLaren - as a general rule, most other teams do likewise - 1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve claimed in April that Piastri's deal contains a specific clause relating to the Drivers' Championship battle.

He told CardPlayer: "They cannot give Lando priority over Oscar because of the contract. He has a contract that protects him. As long as both drivers can win the championship, there won't be team orders unless there's something significantly big for the constructors' title or if one of them is having an issue in a race like last year." For now, though, it appears that there not be too much fallout heading into the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

‘Ramifications’;

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/oscar-piastri-lando-norris-clause-mclaren-italian-gp-635729-20250908


Why McLaren have gone too far with their boring nicey-nicey 'Papaya Rules' - and what's at risk if this farce continues, writes JONATHAN McEVOY
8 September 2025
JONATHAN MCEVOY
MailOnline

Lando Norris claimed that he did not know why the Tifosi booed him on the Monza podium. Which is either a case of wilful ignorance or extreme naivety.

It is clear from a distance as long as the Temple of Speed’s back straight that his finishing position, whatever else it might represent for good or bad, was a distortion of sport’s natural order.

“What's at risk if this farce continues?”

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-15077351/McLaren-Lando-Norris-Oscar-Piastri-Papaya-Rules-Monza.html


Oscar Piastri Nine-Word Remark Not Broadcast on TV Emerges after Lando Norris Incident
After a controversial Italian Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri made his feelings known.
8 Sep 2025
James Taylor
SPORTbible

Oscar Piastri's nine-word remark that was not broadcast on TV has emerged after the incident involving Lando Norris at the Italian Grand Prix.

In the post-race press conference, Piastri was asked about McLaren's decision to enforce team orders. He replied: “I think the radio call kind of says enough. I’m sure we’ll discuss it again”.

‘Oscar Piastri Nine-Word Remark’;

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/oscar-piastri-lando-norris-mclaren-italian-grand-prix-350675-20250908

[Fortitude]

Wolff Warns McLaren: Monza Team Orders Will Haunt You.
The line that will follow McLaren into the flyaways: “You set a precedent that is very difficult to undo.”
8 Sep 2025
Alex Albuquerque
Fastest Lap

Toto Wolff warns McLaren: Monza team orders set a template that’s hard to roll back. One sticky wheel nut, one calm radio call, and a championship fight nudged onto a knife-edge. McLaren’s decision at Monza to instruct Oscar Piastri to hand back position to Lando Norris after a slow stop has already become the weekend’s most argued moment, and Toto Wolff didn’t miss the significance.

Norris had been ahead of his teammate and chasing Max Verstappen for second when a sluggish front-left cost him track position. McLaren stepped in. Piastri was told to move aside — a repeat of last year’s Hungary logic — and after a brief pushback, he did. Later, the Australian called it a fair request given Norris lost out through no fault of his own. Fair? Many will nod along. Simple? Not even close.

“There’s no right and no wrong,” Wolff said at Monza, before landing the line that will follow McLaren into the flyaways: “You set a precedent that is very difficult to undo.” Wolff knows this world better than anyone — and also knows how badly it can burn. He lived the Hamilton–Rosberg civil war up close, a political thresher that churned through 2016. He doesn’t see that playing out at Woking. “We had two very different animals back then,” he said, contrasting his pair’s all-out, take-no-prisoners mentality with McLaren’s calmer dynamic.

‘Monza Team Orders Will Haunt You’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/wolff-warns-mclaren-monza-team-orders-will-haunt-you/


“Very good Kimi, get them!”: Wolff’s unheard mid-race encouragement to Antonelli
8th September 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Antonelli made his pass on Tsunoda after the Red Bull driver briefly fell out of range of the cars ahead. Wolff and race engineer Peter Bonnington praised his move.
Lap: 18/53 ANT: 1’23.979
Bonnington Five ahead and behind. Overtake still available.
He passes Tsunoda
Bonnington Overtake to defend. Nice work Kimi, so gap 1.0 behind, you’ve got 1.8 ahead, so let’s get the brakes under control, let’s chase Alonso, put Bortoleto down.
Bonnington Gap 1.9 ahead, 0.8 behind. Alonso, Bortoletto doing 24.2 ahead of them Lewis, 23.7.
Lap: 19/53 ANT: 1’23.940
Wolff Very good Kimi, get them.
Bonnington Bearman has pitted, currently 2.8 safe to him. Gap 1.7 ahead, 1.4 behind.
Lap: 20/53 ANT: 1’23.746
Bonnington Tsunoda in. Just keep your head down Kimi, let’s have the pace you’ve got.
Lap: 21/53 ANT: 1’23.688
Bonnington It’s very low deg. Target lap on Plan A, so still Plan A target lap.
Lap: 22/53 ANT: 1’23.295
Antonelli Update on pace.
Bonnington Stand by, waiting for Alonso to complete. All those cars that have pitted are sat right on our pit window. Main loss last lap was turn eight, min speed, that’s to George. George doing 23.4.

“Very good Kimi, get them!”;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/09/08/very-good-kimi-get-them-wolffs-unheard-mid-race-encouragement-to-antonelli/


Toto Wolff delivers stinging ‘underwhelming’ Kimi Antonelli Italian GP assessment
8 Sep 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff still has faith in Kimi Antonelli, but gave a damning assessment of his performance at Monza. Wolff was not impressed. “Underwhelming this weekend, underwhelming,” he told PlanetF1.com’s Thomas Maher and other media outlets of Antonelli’s performance. “He can’t put the car in the gravel bed and then to expect to be there. All of the race was underwhelming.

“Doesn’t change anything on my support and confidence in his future, because I believe he’s going to be very, very, very good. But, today was underwhelming.” Put to him that Antonelli seems to be struggling for a clean weekend, Wolff replied: “I think a clean weekend also means almost, not to carry too much trauma of previous mistakes into the next session or into the next weekend, because that is luggage.’

“You’re not going to attack the corner hard if you’ve been off there before and it finished your session, or maybe you’re not attacking a driver that should not be in your way, like Gasly, because we had this situation with Leclerc. I mean, Kimi shouldn’t lose even a second with Gasly.”

“That is luggage”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-wolff-kimi-antonelli-underwhelming-italian-grand-prix


Mercedes boss Wolff issues ‘silly’ verdict after Verstappen destroys field at Monza
Wolff says Mercedes must improve after Verstappen exposed their weaknesses in Italian GP
7 September 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

Toto Wolff left Monza in no doubt about the scale of the challenge facing Mercedes after watching Max Verstappen dominate the 2025 Italian Grand Prix. While the Red Bull driver cruised to a near-20-second victory over Lando Norris, Mercedes struggled for competitiveness, leaving Wolff to brand the result “frustrating” and acknowledge that his team simply did not have the pace to fight at the front.

“Today, one driver made everyone else look silly,” Wolff told Sky Sports F1, reflecting on Verstappen’s performance. “Overall, we weren’t competitive over the weekend. A fifth and an eighth place are absolutely not satisfactory. I don’t think, with our current set-up, we have a car that we can consistently drive onto the podium.”

“Today, one driver made everyone else look silly”;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-2025-toto-wolff-italian-gp-silly-reaction-mercedes-verstappen-monza/


Red Bull facing ‘Mount Everest’ F1 engine challenge in Wolff warning
9 Sep 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Red Bull has not sought out a new supplier. Instead, it is building its own engine, in partnership with Ford. The last time Formula 1 revamped its engine regulations, Mercedes emerged as the class of the field. Between 2014-21, the team went on a run of eight straight Constructors’ title wins, an achievement never before seen in Formula 1.

The man at the helm of that success, Toto Wolff, suggests Red Bull has its work cut out as it embarks on its expanded effort. “This project is like climbing Mount Everest,” said Wolff about Red Bull Powertrains, when speaking with De Telegraaf.

“They are taking on manufacturers with decades of experience. But everyone joked when Red Bull entered the sport too. It was like an energy drink manufacturer taking on Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren. Well, they’ve won quite a lot. But given the complexity of the engines, I do think it will be a huge challenge for them.”

‘Mount Everest’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-wolff-red-bull-f1-engine-project-huge-challenge

[Fortitude]

Red Bull told Max Verstappen’s Monza win proves ‘fundamental’ change since sacking Christian Horner.
Laurent Mekies gives Red Bull the engineering expertise they were ‘lacking’ since Adrian Newey left.
9 September 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Gary Anderson even thinks Verstappen’s Italian GP win at Monza last Sunday has proven the fundamental change that Mekies replacing Horner has offered Red Bull. He claims Mekies is now able to plug the technical gap that Adrian Newey created when he left Red Bull in 2024. Anderson told The Telegraph: “I believe something has changed fundamentally at the team since Christian Horner departed and Laurent Mekies arrived.”

“Horner spoke a good game when it came to engineering, but he was not an engineer – Mekies is. He appears to be driving the team like Andrea Stella is at McLaren, with a sound engineering background and a focus on facts. It is a whole different world for the team because the man at the top can help to understand why the car was quick and not just celebrate that it was quick. Red Bull had been lacking in this area since Adrian Newey left last year.”

“It will be interesting to see if they can keep this thought pattern and direction going because last year, and earlier this year, they seemed to be lost and unable to understand their car. This win, and the manner of it, suggests they are on the road to changing that.”

“Mekies is now able to plug the technical gap that Adrian Newey created”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/red-bull-told-max-verstappens-monza-win-proves-fundamental-change-since-sacking-christian-horner/


George Russell Struggles to 'Comprehend' Max Verstappen's Win at Monza
September 10, 2025
Saajan Jogia Newsweek
The Fresno Bee

McLaren has been delivering superior performances on most race weekends, but the race at Monza marked a significant difference in terms of the competitive order as Verstappen crossed the finish line nearly 20 seconds before Norris, leading Russell to highlight the significant shift in performance. Speaking to the media, he said:

"It's difficult to understand the sport at the moment. When you look at Verstappen finishing 40 seconds off the win in Hungary and then winning by 20 seconds here, I struggle to comprehend that swing of performance.”

"We finished 12 seconds behind McLaren in a normal race. That's a pretty successful race. Ferrari is strong right now, and Saturdays are really close as well. So one-tenth faster or one-tenth slower on Saturday can be one or two positions on a Sunday."

“I struggle to comprehend that swing of performance”;

https://www.fresnobee.com/sports/article312058236.html#storylink=mainstage_card


Verstappen's 'super cool' handling of Norris at Monza leaves Schumacher impressed
11 Sep 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Ralf Schumacher shared his thoughts on the opening-lap battle at the Italian Grand Prix between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. The only moment Verstappen’s dominant win at Monza last weekend was even slightly in question came in the opening two laps, when he and Lando Norris engaged in a battle for the lead, ultimately claimed by the Red Bull driver.

Verstappen, who had started from pole, ran wide at the first chicane, cutting it and rejoining the track still ahead of the Brit, who complained over the radio about being forced onto the grass at high speed on the straight. The Austrian team then instructed the Dutchman to give the position back to his rival to avoid a penalty, which Verstappen did. On lap four, after exiting the final corner very closely, Verstappen drew alongside Norris on the outside into Turn 1, overtaking him and reclaiming the race lead.

As a guest on Sky Deutschland’s Backstage Boxengasse podcast, Ralf Schumacher shared his thoughts on the duel: ''It was completely fine that he kept the position. I knew he was going to try. He’s bold enough, but he also realized, okay, that was maybe a bit too much.''
''Especially the approach—he kind of pushed Norris aside there. Of course, the race control and the stewards see that. And I think he handled it like a true world champion, didn’t make a fuss, and took the position back.''

‘Verstappen's 'super cool' handling of Norris’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verstappens-super-cool-handling-of-norris-at-monza-leaves-schumacher-impressed


McLaren’s ‘big secret’ was exposed at Monza and it explains Red Bull’s conspiracy theories
10 September 2025
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer

Red Bull made key learnings at Zandvoort that enabled them to exploit their car’s potential at Monza, while team principal Laurent Mekies was praised for his ‘common sense’ approach by Verstappen. McLaren’s Lando Norris finished 19 seconds behind Verstappen and while much of that could be down to their strategy, which was waiting for a safety car, it also highlighted the main strength of their car.

Nelson Piquet Jr believes Monza exposed the ‘big secret’ of McLaren’s MCL39 when speaking on the Pelas Pistas, which perhaps put some of Red Bull’s conspiracy theories into perspective. “We never expected that, right? Red Bull is doing so well. It was clear that the Red Bull car was better this weekend, but it’s a totally different configuration from the other tracks. Just straights, there are a few long radius curves, so it’s a very atypical track,” said Piquet Jr.

“I think the whole issue is that when you get into a more technical part, with these tracks like Austria and more traditional tracks that heat up the tyres a lot, everyone has a problem heating up the tyres. That’s why there were stories of water inside the tyre to try and cool so it lasts longer. Monza isn’t a track that heats up the tyres very much, so this is the advantage that McLaren has. The big secret is that they can push harder without overheating the tyres, and Monza doesn’t have it, that’s why it was better for Red Bull.”

‘McLaren’s ‘big secret’ was exposed’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mclarens-big-secret-was-exposed-at-monza-and-it-explains-red-bulls-conspiracy-theories/


Red Bull boss sets damning 2026 expectation: 'We don’t expect to be winning'
Laurent Mekies is confident in Red Bull's power unit project, but maintains the team is not "delusional" ahead of the 2026 F1 season.
11 September 2025
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies does not expect to be "winning" next F1 season, claiming the Milton Keynes-based squad is not "delusional" about the size of the task ahead of it. Nonetheless, Mekies insists Red Bull knows how to tackle the monumental task facing it, stating the team has all it needs in place to eventually succeed.

"It is indeed an Everest, but we are facing it the Red Bull way," he told Autosprint. "Our company knows how to climb them. We have everything we need to cover the path as quickly as possible, though we are not delusional: we don’t expect to be winning already in 2026"

The 48-year-old is, however, adamant that there is no timeframe for the team to have achieved further success in F1 by. "Only Red Bull in modern times has managed to build a team from scratch and win world titles, and only Red Bull could build a power unit independently," the Frenchman added. "I mean, there is no deadline, but we are capable of anything."

"It is indeed an Everest… …Our company knows how to climb them”;

https://racingnews365.com/red-bull-boss-sets-damning-2026-expectation-we-dont-expect-to-be-winning


Why Max Verstappen alias Franz Hermann is no more
Franz Hermann left his mark on motorsport, but as Max Verstappen works towards his GT debut, there is good reason his popular alias will hang up his helmet.
10 September 2025
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

Not long ago, the motorsport community was taken by surprise as an unfamiliar driver, Franz Hermann, set a blistering track record on the Nurburgring Nordschleife, widely considered the world's most challenging circuit. The intrigue surrounding this mysterious German driver was palpable. Hermann, as it turned out, was none other than Max Verstappen.

The four-time F1 drivers' champion was testing his skills in a Ferrari 296 GT3. Despite initial intentions to cloak his identity, the secret didn't survive long. Racing fans were quick to uncover the truth behind the alias. As Verstappen advances towards obtaining a Grade A Permit for the Nordschleife, the conditions necessitate him racing under his real name.

This requirement means that should he decide to register for any official racing events, he will have to compete as himself, thereby retiring Franz Hermann from the racing scene. Yet, should Verstappen decide one day to explore another racing class, the story of Franz Hermann might experience an unexpected revival.

‘Franz Hermann, set a blistering track record on the Nurburgring Nordschleife’;

https://racingnews365.com/why-max-verstappen-alias-franz-hermann-is-no-more


The Legend of Franz Hermann (Max Verstappen)
May 17, 2025
Perspective

@F1BastiPH; Verstappen’s alter ego is now my favorite driver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0-FynEnQ1I


The Many Victims of Max Verstappen
Jun 21, 2025
revved up

@laurenz4528: I wouldnt call them Victims, rather collateral damage, its not like he kills them on purpose, Max is just a force of nature, immovable object if you happen to be in its path.... You are done.... Nothing personal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbgwfvAdlwA

[Fortitude]

Luca di Montezemolo saddened by what he’s heard Fred Vasseur say about Ferrari.
Seeing Ferrari’s plight persist saddens former Scuderia chairman Luca di Montezemolo, who has now hit out at Vasseur for issuing bold declarations about title bids without the results to justify his claims. Di Montezemolo even feels Ferrari have “no leadership” under Vasseur.
12 September 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Di Montezemolo told Sky Italia: “The thing that saddens me today is to see a Ferrari [team] that has no leader. There is no leadership and, above all, I see that they lack a strong, determined soul. Announcements are made that often create excessive expectations. First, we get the results and then we make the announcements.”

Di Montezemolo left his role as chairman of Ferrari back in 2014, but he is still yet to see the Scuderia add to the titles they won under his watch from 1974. Vasseur came close to taking the constructors’ title back to Maranello in 2024, but McLaren beat Ferrari by just 14 points. The 2024 season was supposed to act as a springboard for another title bid in 2025, aided by the arrival of Hamilton from Mercedes. But Leclerc scored Ferrari’s only pole position yet in 2025 in Hungary, and they are gaining from Red Bull and Mercedes being one-man teams.

Fighting for second place was not what Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur had in mind back after pre-season testing in Bahrain. The 57-year-old stated that both titles would be Ferrari’s objective in the 2025 F1 season, as the Scuderia have two drivers who “can do it” this term. But Vasseur has conceded the 2025 F1 constructors’ title to McLaren, who can win the title in Baku if they leave next week’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix with a 346-point lead over Ferrari. It will continue Ferrari’s wait to add to their last teams’ title in 2008, and drivers’ title in 2007.

‘Bold declarations about title bids without the results to justify his claims’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/luca-di-montezemolo-saddened-by-what-hes-heard-fred-vasseur-say-about-ferrari/


Ferrari believes Hamilton’s arrival helps Leclerc to his best level yet
10 Sep 2025
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

Team principal Frederic Vasseur believes Charles Leclerc has improved in various aspects this season. Vasseur considers today’s Leclerc the best version so far, he explained on the Beyond the Grid podcast, and that can also be attributed to the arrival of Hamilton.

"Probably, yes [this is the best we've seen from Leclerc]. And clearly, I think this (Hamilton's arrival, ed.) helped also a little bit to release some pressure from Charles," he began.
"He did a very good job from the beginning of the season. I think Charles also improved in terms of approach, structure, he's more mature. I don't know if it's a part of the contribution of Lewis, but it's coming from the maturity of Charles."

‘Improved in various aspects this season’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/ferrari-believes-hamiltons-arrival-helps-leclerc-to-his-best-level-yet


Eddie Irvine says Lewis Hamilton hasn’t learned the most important lesson from Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari move
9 September 2025
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer

Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari has so far not delivered on the hype that was generated throughout the pre-season, with the seven-time world champion yet to finish on the podium. It was a poor start to the second half of the season when Hamilton crashed out of the Dutch Grand Prix, then he was handed a five-place grid penalty for a yellow flag infringement at Ferrari’s home race in Monza.

Discussing why Hamilton has struggled to find his feet at Ferrari in an interview with Sky Sports F1, former driver Eddie Irvine thinks the seven-time world champion has not learned from what Michael Schumacher faced when he made the move in 1996. “There is always a price. Michael gave up a lot, probably two or three world championships to leave Benetton to go to Ferrari. In the first few years, nobody had any idea how bad it was at Ferrari,” said Irvine.

“Michael knew there was no point for him because he was so much better than everyone else, he just decided, ‘I’m going to go there’ and it was amazing. People forget it took him four years. He was always in the vicinity, but he was driving the wheels off the thing to be there. So it was very easy for it not to happen. I would love Verstappen to come to Ferrari, I hope he doesn’t leave it too late like Lewis did.”

‘Not learned from what Michael Schumacher faced when he made the move in 1996’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/eddie-irvine-says-lewis-hamilton-hasnt-learned-the-most-important-lesson-from-michael-schumachers-ferrari-move/


How Ferrari mechanics privately felt about Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s results at Monza
8 September 2025
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

Ferrari mechanics felt Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc produced the ‘maximum’ they could at Monza. Ferrari’s results move them 20 points clear of Mercedes in the constructors’ championship. But the Tifosi did not get to see their heroes stand on the podium as Max Verstappen claimed the win ahead of the McLarens.

But that did not seem to faze the Ferrari mechanics. Journalist Aaron Deckers noted that they felt Hamilton and Leclerc produced the ‘maximum’ they could in the SF-25 and that they could not do anymore. “Well, of course. It all looked a lot better, actually. Also the free practice on Friday, Saturday morning,” said Deckers via RacingNews365. “Only in qualifying they were suddenly, well, maybe a bit exaggerated, but they were actually beaten well by Verstappen and by the McLarens.’

“And in the race pace, they just really came up short. So it was mainly a bit of disappointment, especially from the Ferrari drivers. The team was still quite optimistic actually, as we just spoke with some mechanics and also within the team. There was a bit of feeling of, ‘OK, this was the maximum we could do, and yeah, what more could we do than that?’” Optimism was high in Maranello ahead of their home race as they believed that they could make a step up on home soil. ‘Everyone’ at Ferrari felt they could challenge McLaren at Monza, but no one dared to admit it. Ultimately, they would come up short…

‘Mainly a bit of disappointment’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/how-ferrari-mechanics-privately-felt-about-lewis-hamilton-and-charles-leclercs-results-at-monza/


Ferrari Eye Shock Hamilton Replacement With F1 Star on Radar
Lewis Hamilton has had a tough start to life at Ferrari.
10 Sep 2025
Marcus Chan
SPORTbible

Ferrari have reportedly identified their top target to replace Lewis Hamilton. At the start of the season, all eyes were fixated on seven-time Formula 1 world champion Hamilton after his high-profile move from Mercedes to Ferrari. However, the 40-year-old has so far struggled to perform at his best as he continues to adapt to his new surroundings. Currently, Hamilton is sixth in the standings with 117 points, 46 behind teammate Charles Leclerc.

As Hamilton's poor form continues, doubts over the Stevenage-born star's future in the sport have grown massively. Recently, it has been reported that Ferrari could look to McLaren when choosing Hamilton's successor. According to Mundo Deportivo journalist Fabio Marchi, the Scuderia are keeping a close eye on McLaren star and championship leader Oscar Piastri. He said on the Cortito y al Pie podcast: "The other day I spoke with an Italian journalist who was certain Ferrari is keeping a close watch on Piastri."

‘Ferrari have reportedly identified their top target’;

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/ferrari-lewis-hamilton-replacement-f1-news-840842-20250910

[Fortitude]

Rosberg to Hadjar: Reject Red Bull’s Poisoned Chalice Now.
“If I am Isack, I’m saying no,” the 2016 World Champion told Sky F1, stressing that a late-season move next to Verstappen can be a career booby trap. That seat is a benchmark from hell. You step in midstream, barely any setup history, up against a driver who can drive around the car’s quirks and is wired into the team — and you’re judged immediately.
September 14, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
Fastest Lap

It’s a warning born from a long, uncomfortable list. Red Bull’s second seat has dealt out harsh lessons for talented drivers in the Verstappen era. The RB21 is quick in the right window but a narrow one, and Verstappen has built the window around himself. Anyone arriving at short notice will be fighting the car, the clock and the comparisons. Jamie Chadwick, on pundit duty, agreed with the risk assessment — just not the practicality. In her view, if the boss calls, Hadjar can’t really say no.

She’d want to keep learning in the car he knows, especially with unfamiliar tracks like Las Vegas and Singapore still to come, but admits the word “no” carries limited currency in that situation. She also called it what it so often becomes at the wrong time: a poisoned chalice. Here’s the thing: Hadjar doesn’t need the chaos. He’s got momentum, he’s banked a signature result, and he’s earning the kind of trust that makes winter decisions easier, calmer and more deliberate. Racing Bulls have been clear they want the season to run its course.

Red Bull know better than anyone that yanking the wheel mid-season can spook a young driver and muddle the data. There’s also the Yuki question. Tsunoda’s form at the senior team is under the microscope, and that pressure doesn’t ease with every Verstappen win-or-bust weekend. But if Red Bull really want to evaluate options, they’ll get a far cleaner read by waiting for a reset — new parts, new tyres, new baseline, new calendar. Not by throwing a rookie into the hottest seat in the sport with eight races and no testing.

‘That seat is a benchmark from hell’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/rosberg-to-hadjar-reject-red-bulls-poisoned-chalice-now/


Podium To Probation: FIA Warns Hadjar After Monza Shortcut
06 Sep 2025
Alex Albuquerque
Fastest Lap

The glow of Zandvoort didn’t last long. Seven days after banking his first Formula 1 podium, Isack Hadjar’s Italian Grand Prix weekend veered off script with a formal warning from the FIA for failing to follow the race director’s instructions — for the second time in Monza. The flashpoint came in final practice. Hadjar, in the Racing Bulls RB01, missed Turn 4 and cut to the right of the gravel at the second chicane without using the prescribed escape road at Turns 4/5.

That shortcut is one of Monza’s most rigidly policed procedures, spelled out in the race director’s event notes. Stewards called in Car 6, reviewed footage and team radio, and accepted Hadjar’s account that it happened at low speed on an out-lap after a left-front lock-up while he was warming tyres. With no cars nearby and no danger created, the panel opted against a sporting penalty — but they didn’t mince words about the pattern.

“Although this is the driver’s second offence of such nature during the weekend and repeat offences regularly warrant more severe penalties,” the stewards wrote, they would stop short of escalating this time. The sting in the tail: the team and driver were told a similar misstep before the chequered flag would “draw a more severe penalty.”

‘The glow of Zandvoort didn’t last long’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/podium-to-probation-fia-warns-hadjar-after-monza-shortcut/


Isack Hadjar slams Carlos Sainz after Monza qualifying clash
The Racing Bulls rookie accused Williams driver Carlos Sainz of disrupting his rhythm and costing him a chance at Q2
7 September 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

The 2025 Italian Grand Prix qualifying session delivered its usual share of drama, but one of the most heated storylines came not at the sharp end of the grid, but in the mid-pack. Isack Hadjar, fresh from his maiden Formula 1 podium at Zandvoort, endured a miserable Saturday at Monza after being eliminated in Q1. The French rookie accused Carlos Sainz of “playing around” on their out-laps, disrupting his tyre preparation and contributing to his early exit.

“We actually were really fast, the car was really good,” Hadjar said, visibly exasperated. “I mean the out-lap was a mess with Carlos, he was just playing around a lot to then let me by. I don’t know why we even went out on track in the first place on new tyres to just cruise around.”

Hadjar admitted he made an error on his flying lap, but was adamant the situation with Sainz had left him unsettled at a critical moment. “It’s my first mistake in quali in a while, so it happens,” Hadjar added. “I was on new tyres, Carlos was on used. He was playing around, trying to make my lap difficult on my out-lap and then not really letting me by properly. I just don’t know what he was doing.”

‘Isack Hadjar slams Carlos Sainz’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-italian-gp-2025-hadjar-sainz-qualifying-clash/


Isack Hadjar takes aim at ‘super annoying’ Carlos Sainz after F1 career first
6 Sep 2025
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

The French-Algerian rookie cut a frustrated figure after the session, with Hadjar heard expressing his annoyance over team radio having suffered a wide moment at Lesmo 2 on his final lap. Speaking to media including PlanetF1.com, Hadjar – who confirmed that he is set to take an engine penalty for Sunday’s race – pointed the finger at Sainz for compromising his outlap.

Hadjar told PlanetF1.com’s Thomas Maher and other publications at Monza: “He was just super annoying on the outlap. He was not going to push anyway. “I don’t know why he was fighting so hard for track position and then just let me by on my lap, so I compromised the outlap for nothing. And later on, I made a mistake. But honestly, all of that doesn’t matter because I’m starting last tomorrow.”

‘Super annoying’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/carlos-sainz-isack-hadjar-liam-lawson-annoying


What has triggered the latest spat between Racing Bulls and Williams at the F1 Italian GP
07 Sep 2025
Fleur Rogerson
WilliamsF1 Supporters

“Why does Sainz have to be so annoying? Who the hell does an out-lap, a warm-up? I mean, what was he doing?”, Hadjar said on the radio. “He’s just playing around to just let me by like s**t.” The issue ultimately was the run plan that Williams had chosen to use, with Sainz being put through an out-lap and a warm-up lap prior to attempting a timed run.

The peculiar run plan garnered confusion from Hadjar even after the session. “He was just super annoying on the out-lap,” Hadjar told told media including Motorsport Week. “He was not going to push anyway, so I don’t know why he was fighting so hard for track position and to then just let me buy on my lap.So I’m compromised on the out-lap for nothing, and yeah, later on I made a mistake.”

‘The latest spat’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/09/07/what-has-triggered-the-latest-spat-between-racing-bulls-and-williams-at-f1-italian-gp/


Isack Hadjar issues sombre assessment ahead of Azerbaijan GP
13 Sept 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Isack Hadjar has weighed in on what to expect ahead of the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Racing Bulls driver has cast a gloomy verdict on his team’s chances at the Baku street race. “I think it’s strong on every layout — it’s just a quick car. But on some surfaces, with weird tarmac or heavy graining, we’ve struggled. In Bahrain and Canada, for example, we were nowhere. So yes, there will be tougher weekends. Baku will be very challenging,” Hadjar said to GPblog.

Speaking with GPblog during the Italian Grand Prix, he stated: “The hardest thing is not to think about it too much. Whether it’s a good result or a bad one, you put it behind you, get back in the car and do your job. It’s actually very easy.”

Hadjar indeed has proven to be a driver with resilience – considering the sort of start he had to his Formula 1 career. The former F2 driver crashed on the formation lap of the season opener in Australia and has since risen from the lows of the incident to claim his first F1 podium finish for the Racing Bulls outfit.

‘Gloomy verdict’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/isack-hadjar-issues-sombre-assessment-ahead-of-azerbaijan-gp

[Fortitude]

‘It’s a complete change’ – Vasseur suggests Ferrari ‘underestimated’ the factors around Hamilton’s move.
Vasseur, though, is not concerned, underlining the various factors Hamilton has been getting used to in an appearance on F1’s Beyond The Grid podcast.
15 Sep 2025
Formula One - Official Site

“I don’t know if we underestimated the importance of the change,” said Vasseur. “Probably, because he spent 10 years at McLaren, then 12 with Mercedes, but it was a kind of continuity – two teams based in the UK with the same engine, same environment.”

“[Joining Ferrari] is a complete change for him, in his life, the culture of the team and everything. To do it in three test days in the winter period is quite difficult – and I think also the expectation was huge. We have to put everything in place, and it’s taking time. We have to also manage expectations and manage the noise around the team.”

“If we are not able to put everything together from the preparation of the weekend, the adaptation to the simulator, blah, blah, blah, until Sunday, you can miss one-tenth there or one-tenth there. This is making a huge difference in terms of pure results.”

“It’s taking time”;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/its-a-complete-change-vasseur-suggests-ferrari-underestimated-the-factors.32nvPi7un6DUU0UiBAZaJX


Schumacher’s Stark Warning: Hamilton’s Ferrari Honeymoon Is Over
Alex Albuquerque
September 14, 2025
14 Sep 2025
Fastest Lap

Lewis Hamilton got through Monza without tripping over himself. That’s the good news. The bad news, according to Ralf Schumacher, is that Ferrari’s new signing is still making mistakes that don’t belong on a driver of his experience — and they’re starting to cost. Hamilton arrived in Italy carrying a five-place grid penalty for failing to slow under double yellows on the formation run to the grid at Zandvoort. Zandvoort was where it unravelled. Hamilton twice looped the car and then lost it for good after putting a wheel on the painted white line into Turn 3 in mixed conditions.

Post race, the stewards added that penalty for the Monza weekend. For Schumacher, watching on for Sky Deutschland, that’s a pattern Ferrari can’t afford. “He needs to be a bit more professional,” Schumacher said. “With his experience, that really shouldn’t happen. He has to be careful with things like that so the fans continue to support him — that could also annoy the Tifosi.”

Schumacher’s broader point is hard to argue. Before the summer shut off, Hamilton’s season sagged under two bruising rounds: back to back Q1 eliminations at Spa across sprint qualifying and the main session, followed by a recovery drive to seventh; then Hungary, where he fell in Q2 and ended up a lap down and out of the points after a skirmish and an off while dicing with Max Verstappen. Hamilton didn’t sugarcoat it, calling himself “useless, absolutely useless” and joking “they probably need to change driver” given Ferrari’s one lap form.

‘Honeymoon Is Over’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/schumachers-stark-warning-hamiltons-ferrari-honeymoon-is-over/


'Lonely' Vasseur's Ferrari slammed as 'soulless' by Scuderia icon
15 Sep 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Former Ferrari President Luca Di Montezemola believes the Scuderia currently lacks 'soul' and 'stability'. Ferrari's former President, Di Montezemolo, has issued his verdict on the team's current form and believes the lack of sporting achievements is a reflection of the Scuderia's internal state. "Today there is no leadership," he said in an interview with La Gazzetta Dello Sport, "and above all there is a lack of soul.”

"I don't know Vasseur and I don't criticise him but I see a lonely man. Too many changes, we need stability in the team." These comments come after Ferrari's 2024 promise shown by nearly snatching the Constructors' championship from McLaren was unable to be carried over into 2025.

“Lack of soul”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/scuderia-icon-issues-scathing-criticism-of-soulless-ferrari


Ferrari's Leadership Under Fire Amid Winless Season
September 14, 2025
Nelson Espinal Newsweek
The News Tribune, Washington

Former Ferrari leader Luca di Montezemolo called out the current race team's leadership during their winless campaign. Despite entering the season with much hype and anticipation, the Scuderia has failed to deliver a race win.

While the team appears united around Vasseur, Di Montezemolo has expressed concerns about the current decision-makers, given the run of disappointing results. "I saw the beautiful images of the fans and then a team that, despite so many announcements on the eve of the race, has not won a single race to date," he told Sky Italia. "And even if it had won a race, Ferrari after so many years must win the World Championship.”

"I think today's Ferrari has even more responsibility towards them. And even if it had won a race, Ferrari after so many years must win the World Championship. The thing I regret today is seeing a Ferrari that has no leader, there is no leadership and above all I see that it lacks a strong, determined soul. Announcements are made that often create excessive expectations. First, we do the results and then we make the announcements."

“Lacks a strong, determined soul”;

https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/article312104607.html#storylink=mainstage_card


'It was a very sad weekend for Ferrari fans", F1 insider claims
15 Sep 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Dutch F1 pundit Robert Doornbos shared his thoughts over Ferrari’s performance in the Monza home race weekend. Analyzing Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton’s fourth and sixth-place finishes in Italy on The Pit Talk podcast, the former Red Bull driver said: ''There's a lot of pressure on Ferrari. And coming to their home event, they have basically two home races. They have Imola, but Monza is the real one, and they know it, so they have to deliver for the Tifosi.''

''It was a very sad weekend for Ferrari fans. The whole season hasn't been great, to be honest, but I think the Dutch Grand Prix was a definite low, with Lewis Hamilton making a driver error, the seven-time world champion going off on his own and destroying the car. I mean, that's not the Lewis we all like to see, and particularly not Ferrari.' 'Then there was also Charles Leclerc, who crashed out of the race, basically, not to his own mistake, but they just didn't have it.''

''He then added: ''I think coming in Monza, in the Temple of Speed, where they had to show their true pace. They had the set -up, the balance, the speed, and in qualifying it looked reasonably promising with a third place for Charles. Then come the race, they didn't really have the speed anymore.' 'In the opening laps it looks exciting and then they drop back. So fourth and sixth, it's better than crashing out with two cars, for sure. But it's still not where Ferrari wants to be.''

“They have to deliver for the Tifosi'';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/f1-insider-claims-italian-gp-was-a-very-sad-weekend-for-ferrari-fans


Hamilton convinced Ferrari struggles ‘preparing us for better days’
15/09/2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Hamilton conceded that the transition has not gone entirely as planned, citing both technical and cultural hurdles. While he had a year to prepare for his move to Maranello following the bombshell announcement in February 2024, the F1 veteran says there were aspects of the change that caught everyone off guard.

“I don’t remember every single season, to be honest, so I don’t really want to compare it to others, but I'm sure there have been plenty of seasons that have felt difficult,” Hamilton explained in Monza last time out. “I remember 2009 was difficult; I remember 2010, 2011 wasn’t great, and 2012 was a pivotal moment for me, and obviously 2022 and 2023, so there’s been plenty of others that were just different. But I was in a different place in my life.”

“There’s been a lot of adjustment, both from my side and the team’s side. They’ve really moved heaven and earth to accommodate me,” Hamilton said, acknowledging the team’s commitment to his integration. “Obviously, there are cultural differences,” the Briton admitted. “Fred made a comment that perhaps they underestimated me joining the team and the year we’ve been faced with in terms of the problems with the car, so it's a combination of all those things. But honestly, the harder it is, the better it can make you. This year has been tough for everyone in the team, but it has prepared us for better days.”

‘Preparing us for better days’;

https://f1i.com/news/548467-hamilton-convinced-ferrari-struggles-preparing-us-for-better-days.html

[Fortitude]

Ferrari have now removed photos of one prominent Fred Vasseur critic from their F1 museum.
Ferrari are no longer displaying Luca di Montezemolo photos in their museum. Luca di Montezemolo is one of the most significant figures in Ferrari’s history. Enzo Ferrari invited him to be his assistant and made him the F1 team sporting director.
16 September 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

After overseeing two titles for Niki Lauda in that role (F1 team sporting director), Luca di later became the Ferrari president. Together with Jean Todt, he acquired Michael Schumacher and turned them into a historically dominant force – they won five titles in a row at the start of the century, an unprecedented feat that hasn’t been replicated since.

Di Montezemolo was part of the set-up until 2014, when he was replaced by Sergio Marchionne. But despite his contribution to the team’s success, Gazzetta dello Sport say there are no longer any pictures of him on display at their Maranello museum. The relationship between the 78-year-old and his past employers is described as ‘broken’. When filming a recent documentary about his career, he wasn’t allowed to shoot any footage at the factory.

Asked about the dispute, he said: “I also say it in the film: jealousy of the past is a bad thing.” It’s unclear whether or not Di Montezemolo’s omission has anything to do with his strong criticism of Fred Vasseur. But one suspects it has contributed. In an interview earlier this month, Di Montezemolo said Ferrari had ‘no leader’. He feels they lack a ‘strong, determined soul’. And during the summer, Di Montezemolo ruled out Lewis Hamilton winning the title for the Scuderia. Ferrari will not appreciate their former president dialling up the already-intense pressure.

‘No longer displaying Luca di Montezemolo photos’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ferrari-have-now-removed-photos-of-one-prominent-fred-vasseur-critic-from-their-f1-museum/


Ferrari jealous of the past says Montezemolo.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2025
GrandPrix.com

Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has accused the fabled Maranello marque of trying to erase him from its history. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport while promoting a new documentary about his life, the 78-year-old lamented that Ferrari has distanced itself from his ultra-successful era of leadership.

There's something broken that still hasn't been mended between you and Ferrari, the interviewer suggested, noting that Montezemolo was not permitted to film at Maranello and that photographs of him have disappeared from the company museum. I also say it in the film - jealousy of the past is a bad thing, Montezemolo replied.

Today there's no leadership and, above all, there's no soul, he said. "I don't know (Frederic) Vasseur and I don't criticise him, but I see a lonely man. Too many changes - the team needs stability. I remember when Fiat wanted me to fire Todt, but I refused. I said, 'If he leaves, I'll leave too.' Ferrari has not responded to Montezemolo's latest remarks.

‘Tying to erase him from its history’;

https://www.grandprix.com/news/ferrari-jealous-of-the-past-says-montezemolo.html


Ferrari lacks leadership, says Montezemolo
14/09/2025
GrandPrix.com

Di Montezemolo was personally appointed sporting director by Enzo Ferrari in 1974, subsequently overseeing Niki Lauda's title wins in 1975 and 1977. Though he headed off to lead various factions of the Fiat empire he returned to Maranello in 1991 as president of Ferrari, which was still seeking to recover following the death of its founder in 1988. As well as putting the road car division back on its feet, Montezemolo gradually put in place the various factors that would lead to the Scuderia's domination of the sport in the early to mid-2000s.

Having led such a full and colourful life it is only natural that, like so many others, a documentary has been put together and it was at the premiere of Luca: Seeing Red, that the 78-year-old expressed his concern for the team that clearly remains one of the loves of his life. "It's sad to see a Ferrari without a leader," he said. "It lacks a strong, determined soul. One of the things I learned at Ferrari, and that I've always tried to apply, is that when you win, you have to work even harder,"

He continued. "Today, when we are not winning, this is even more true. It is crucial to choose the right people," he insisted, "in my day, I had highly valuable collaborators, number ones and number twos." The Italian is particularly concerned at the numerous management changes over the years, believing that stability at all levels is vital. He particularly feels that losing Mattia Binotto - now with Sauber - was a mistake.

"It's sad to see a Ferrari without a leader";

https://www.pitpass.com/81061/Ferrari-lacks-leadership-says-Montezemolo


Stop Promising, Start Winning: Montezemolo’s Ferrari Ultimatum
September 14, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
Fastest Lap

Luca di Montezemolo throws down gauntlet: “Ferrari has no leader — results first, announcements later” The banners and smoke flares were back in force. The Tifosi flooded Milan’s “Drive to Monza” and then the Autodromo itself, singing for a team that once made winning feel inevitable. What they got was a fourth for Charles Leclerc, a sixth for Lewis Hamilton, and the unmistakable sound of a Ferrari season drifting off-key.

Luca di Montezemolo, who presided over the most ruthless stretch of Ferrari dominance in modern Formula 1, didn’t dance around it. He called it what he thinks it is — an absence of leadership. “I saw the beautiful images of the fans and then a team that, despite so many announcements on the eve of the race, has not won a single race to date,” he told Sky Italia. “Even if it had won a race, Ferrari after so many years must win the World Championship. Ferrari has not even reached the last race for many years with a driver who can win.”

Di Montezemolo’s words cut because of the history behind them. He was the figurehead when Michael Schumacher rattled off five straight titles from 2000 to 2004. He knows what it looks like when Ferrari is more than fast — when it’s relentless. He’s also lived the flip side, where pressure multiplies and patience evaporates. Because for all the smoke and songs, the Tifosi came for one thing. And the most Ferrari thing of all would be to stop promising it and start doing it.

‘Luca di Montezemolo throws down gauntlet’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/stop-promising-start-winning-montezemolos-ferrari-ultimatum/


Di Montezemolo slams Ferrari: ‘Sad to see a team without a leader’
13 Sep 2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Stability lost after Binotto; Montezemolo was particularly critical of Ferrari’s revolving door of leadership, pointing to the departure of former team principal Mattia Binotto as a costly misstep. “If Binotto could have continued, it would have been better,” he argued. “Constant change means losing one of the most important elements: a team’s stability. Every time you change, you have to start from scratch, and there’s a lot of work to do. Announcements are often made that create excessive expectations: you should achieve results first and then communicate them.”

Montezemolo contrasted Ferrari’s pre-race optimism at Monza with the continuing wait for victories and titles, offering a blunt reminder of the Scuderia’s obligations to its passionate fanbase. He concluded with a stark warning for those in charge at Maranello: “For too long, Ferrari hasn’t even been able to fight for the title at the last race with a driver in contention. I hope things change, first and foremost for those who were at Monza and who continue to show unwavering faith. “Ferrari today has even more responsibility towards them.”

Montezemolo’s words carry weight given his history of leading Ferrari back to competitiveness in the 1990s and overseeing the dominant Michael Schumacher era. But for today’s Scuderia, the former president’s message is clear: leadership, stability, and responsibility to the tifosi must once again become non-negotiable values.

‘Di Montezemolo slams Ferrari’;

https://f1i.com/news/548412-di-montezemolo-slams-ferrari-sad-to-see-a-team-without-a-leader.html

[Fortitude]

How McLaren can win its 10th F1 title in Baku.
Poised with a commanding points lead, McLaren is on the brink of securing the 2025 title in Baku.
September 15th 2025
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine

McLaren stands on the threshold of securing its 10th constructors’ championship in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this week. Having dominated in most of the first 16 races of the 2025 season, its sensational run — 12 victories and 27 podium finishes — has left it 337 points clear of Ferrari following Monza, and just a small step away from the title.

Clinching the title in Azerbaijan would set a new record for the earliest title win by number of races left — seven. The previous benchmark was set by Red Bull in 2023, when it clinched the championship with six rounds to spare.

‘Commanding points lead’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/how-mclaren-can-win-its-10th-f1-title-in-baku/?nowprocket=1


Oscar Piastri spies Azerbaijan GP 'advantage' over title rival Lando Norris
Oscar Piastri is seeking back-to-back wins at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend.
16 September 2025
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365

Oscar Piastri has suggested he has an “advantage” heading into the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend over title rival Lando Norris. “I’ve got extremely fond memories of Baku last year,” he said.

“I regard that as one of my favourite races ever and it’s always an advantage coming back to a track where you’ve had a big result. My only focus is achieving more of the same this weekend. I am leading the drivers' championship and I am very happy with where my driving is.”

“Street circuits bring a different challenge, and I can't wait to get out there and put myself to the test,” he said. “I’ve been back at MTC [McLaren Technology Centre], working hard to be in the best position to go for another win."

‘Seeking back-to-back wins’;

https://racingnews365.com/oscar-piastri-spies-azerbaijan-gp-advantage-over-title-rival-lando-norris


Mercedes reveals formula to end drought ahead of Azerbaijan GP: ‘We can fight’
14 Sep 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

The Mercedes team have not had the best of outings in recent runs of races, but the German team have their sight set on an improved performance in Baku. Trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, has revealed what the team must do to clinch a podium at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

“For a team like ourselves, that’s always the objective. But we have to be mindful that McLaren has been strong the whole year in almost all the conditions. And also recently, Verstappen has been quite strong as well. So it’s going to be tough. It’s going to be difficult. And we’ll have to make sure that we maximise our one lap performance, and operationally we execute at the best without any error. And then we can fight for it.”

Mercedes’ W16 well-suited to Baku? The Mercedes engineering chief also touched on the W16 machinery being well suited to the demands ot the Azerbaijan street track. Showlin referenced the impressive showing the team had with George Russell during the 2024 race, expressing optimism that a repeat could be on the cards. “It's a good question. Last year, it was a good showing from us with George on the podium. Like I said, the competition is very tough at the moment with all the teams. So it could be a good track, but we have to do everything at our best.”

‘We can fight’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/mercedes-reveals-formula-to-end-drought-ahead-of-azerbaijan-gp-we-can-fight


Toto Wolff drops key insight on what could make or break Mercedes in Baku
16 Sep 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Toto Wolff has weighed in on Mercedes' chances ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Austrian motorsports chief stressed a few fine details would prove pivotal to his team’s success at the Baku street race.

Wolff, who spoke via the Mercedes team press release ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, detailed how he expects the final stretch of the campaign to be pretty intense. The Mercedes team principal also stressed how his team lost points to their rivals last time out in Monza.
“It will be an intense run to the flag in Abu Dhabi, with three teams in the fight for second in the Constructors' Championship. We lost some ground to our competitors in Monza and know we need to perform better in the closing eight races than we did in Italy if we are to come out on top.”

Wolff: Small margins will make the difference. Toto Wolff further highlighted his belief that the little details could largely make or break his team’s outing in Azerbaijan. The 53-year-old old however, concluded by stating that if his team delivered the way they expect to, they should leave Baku with a positive result. “It is a good test for both the car and the driver. The grid is tight, and once again, small margins will make a big difference. If we deliver in the way we know we can, then we can be hopeful of a strong weekend fighting near the front of the field.”

“Small margins”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/toto-wolff-drops-key-insight-on-what-could-make-or-break-mercedes-in-baku


Matt Bishop: Alonso & Stroll are about to make mind-boggling F1 history
September 16th 2025
Matt Bishop
Motor Sport Magazine

On one side of the Aston Martin garage is one of F1's most devastatingly effective drivers. On the other is one who's frequently lacklustre. And yet Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are about to hit a historic benchmark

As the late-summer sun glints off the Caspian Sea this coming Sunday, September 21, the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix will deliver an arcane, yet oddly evocative, piece of Formula 1 history: the first time that any one team’s two drivers will have driven a combined total of 600 F1 grands prix. Yes, really. Six hundred.

The team is Aston Martin. In Baku this weekend Fernando Alonso will start his 418th F1 grand prix – a magnum opus that is becoming so gargantuan that it is beginning to feel mythological – while Lance Stroll will notch up his 182nd. Pause for a moment. Let those numbers settle in your mind. Six hundred F1 grands prix in one two-driver team.

‘Mind-boggling F1 history’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/matt-bishop-alonso-stroll-are-about-to-make-mind-boggling-f1-history/?nowprocket=1


Hamilton sees Baku challenge: 'Expecting to start on the back foot'
12 Sep 2025
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

A pessimistic Lewis Hamilton expects that he and Ferrari will be "starting on the back foot" at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Brit has had a challenging start to his Ferrari career after making the move from Mercedes, with the 40-year-old yet to step onto the podium in a Grand Prix.

There have been a couple of bright sparks for Hamilton in his first year with the Scuderia, with a sprint race win at the Chinese Grand Prix and a sprint race podium at the Miami Grand Prix being the best performances of the season. However, there has been some criticism of the seven-time world champion, with former Ferrari driver Eddie Irvine saying the Brit "came [to Ferrari] a bit too old".

Hamilton hoping for more in Baku. At Monza, there was some promise shown from Ferrari, with Hamilton moving up from P10 on the grid to P6 with some lovely moves at the 'Temple of Speed', with the track characteristics at Baku similar. "I think I'm going to go there again, I'll be starting at a track that I've raced with a different car for many years," Hamilton started by saying to GPblog at Monza.

‘Couple of bright sparks for Hamilton’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/pessimistic-hamilton-expecting-to-start-on-the-back-foot-in-baku


2025 Azerbaijan GP Schedule and F1 Session Times
Full schedule and session times for the Azerbaijan GP in Baku
17 September 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

2025 Azerbaijan GP Session Times
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend will run on an earlier timetable than many European races, due to the time difference (GMT+4 local time). Below are the key session start times for the race weekend.
Date Session Baku (Local) UK (BST) US (ET) US (PT) Australia (AEST)
Fri, Sept 19 FP1 12:30 – 13:30 09:30 – 10:30 04:30 – 05:30 01:30 – 02:30 18:30 – 19:30
Fri, Sept 19 FP2 16:00 – 17:00 13:00 – 14:00 08:00 – 09:00 05:00 – 06:00 22:00 – 23:00
Sat, Sept 20 FP3 12:30 – 13:30 09:30 – 10:30 04:30 – 05:30 01:30 – 02:30 18:30 – 19:30
Sat, Sept 20 Qualifying 16:00 – 17:00 13:00 – 14:00 08:00 – 09:00 05:00 – 06:00 22:00 – 23:00
Sun, Sept 21

‘Schedule’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-2025-azerbaijan-gp-schedule-session-times/

[Fortitude]

Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Thursday Press Conference Transcript.
PART ONE – Pierre GASLY (Alpine), Nico HÜLKENBERG (Kick Sauber), Oscar PIASTRI (McLaren).
17 Sept 2025
FIA (Press Release)

Q: Oscar, perhaps we could start with you, please. Now this could be a monumental weekend for McLaren. They can clinch the Constructors’ Championship this weekend, which would be with seven races still to go. It’s been a phenomenal season. Just how different has it felt on the inside to last year’s title success?
Oscar PIASTRI: I think very different, because this year has just looked very different to last year. I think, you know, last season went down to the final race, and a pretty eventful final race as well. So I think this year, clearly the car has been a step better, the team has been performing very well. So there’s much more of a sense of inevitability about this year, which is an amazing position to be in. It’s a testament to all the hard work from everyone at the team. And, you know, I’m the lucky guy that gets to drive the car at the end of the day. So, yes. A testament to everyone’s hard work and very, very proud of everyone.

Q: Nico, if we could come to you now, and we'll throw it back to Monza as well, which was a very, very frustrating Sunday for you. Does the team fully understand why you couldn't make the start there?
Nico HÜLKENBERG: Yeah, of course we did. Obviously, pretty frustrating and bad at the time. But it is what it is. We found the root cause and obviously put some measures and things in place so that this should not happen again in the future.
Q: Let's bring it onto this weekend then. Do you think the low-downforce nature of Baku will suit the car, suit the package?
NH: I think in Monza, we were competitive. Obviously here it’s a little bit similar but also different at the same time. But if you look across the last five, six weekends and different tracks, I feel we have a competitive package and car beneath us. Nothing that suggests here should be different. I think we will be competitive within the midfield. It remains very close with tight margins from P10 all the way to the back. You’ve just got to be good and clean in the execution. I feel there are opportunities.

Q: Pierre, coming to you now. The last couple of races really have been quite difficult for the team. What are you expecting from this weekend?
Pierre GASLY: Yeah, I mean, I think we are aware that it hasn't been as good as we would have liked, and the remaining part of the year is probably going to be also pretty difficult for us. So it doesn’t really change our approach into the weekend. Still trying to do the best we can. But for sure, in terms of performance, we seem to be more consistently struggling to make our way into Q2 and getting close to the top 10. So, yeah, we know it's not going to be an easy task, but still we're going to give it our best.

‘Monumental weekend for McLaren?’;

https://www.fia.com/news/azerbaijan-grand-prix-thursday-press-conference-transcript


Ecclestone warns 'embarrasing' Hamilton: 'People will forget him'
17 Sept 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Bernie Ecclestone, former F1 Supremo, believes Ferrari partnering Lewis Hamilton's most embarrasing aspect is the fact the Briton can't "deliver" what the Italians thought he would. Lewis Hamilton's first year at Ferrari has not been anything to write home about, and Ecclestone even brands the partnership as "embarrasing."

“The most embarrassing thing, in my opinion, for Lewis and Ferrari is that they thought he could do all the things that were necessary,” he told Sport.de. “You must be disappointed that what was supposed to be delivered was not delivered,” he continued, opining from what he believes could be the Scuderia's point of view.

Reaffirming his stance on the matter of Hamilton's future in F1, Ecclestone once against voiced his thought that the seven-time World Champion would do well to call it a day. “He should stop,” the former F1 Supremo stated, issuing a warning to the Ferrari driver that his legacy in the sport might depend on it. “The danger that – if he continues for another year or a year and a half and hasn’t gotten better by then – people will forget him and his achievements.”

“He should stop”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/ecclestone-warns-embarrasing-hamilton-people-will-forget-him


Hamilton expects Ferrari’s “softer” car will suit Baku better than Mercedes did
18th Sept 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Lewis Hamilton is hopeful his Ferrari will suit the Baku City Circuit better than Mercedes’ cars did because its ride is softer. “It’s a much different car than I’ve ever driven here before, so I’m excited to see how that feels and what I can get from it,” Hamilton told the official Formula 1 channel. “It’s got more mechanical grip,” Hamilton explained. “It’s a lot softer than the cars I’ve driven in the past.”

Hamilton competed in all eight prior races at Baku when he was at Mercedes. He won the 2018 race and was leading the year before when he was delayed by a pit stop to fix a loose headrest. However he doesn’t expect to challenge for victory again this weekend. “A win is a bit far-fetched considering I’ve been sixth, seventh and eighth for most of the season,” he said.

“I would love to get a podium for the team at some stage. Charles [Leclerc] has had four or five of them. I feel optimistic coming into the weekend. I feel like I’ve found a couple things and now I need to work on extracting them. So I really hope that this weekend can be the start of that.”

‘Lewis Hamilton is hopeful’;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/09/18/hamilton-expects-ferraris-softer-car-will-suit-baku-better-than-mercedes-did/


Gary Anderson is ‘sure’ Red Bull have made one secret change to give Max Verstappen a McLaren-beater
18 Sept 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Gary Anderson expects Red Bull will replicate Max Verstappen’s Monza set-up in Baku. Verstappen won the Italian GP from pole position, after he denied Lando Norris in qualifying by just 0.077 seconds and utilised the straight-line speed of his Red Bull RB21 to pull away in the race. The Dutchman ultimately won by 19.207s, as McLaren tried an alternative strategy.

Red Bull trimmed downforce off Verstappen’s rear wing at Monza, too, unlike on teammate Yuki Tsunoda’s car, to further improve his straight-line speed advantage. But Gary Anderson expects Red Bull also made changes to Verstappen’s floor to help him beat Norris at Monza. Given F1 teams also use low-downforce set-ups for the city streets of Baku, albeit not to the same extreme levels as for Monza, Anderson expects Red Bull will try to mimic Verstappen’s Italian GP-winning set-up for the Azerbaijan GP. He has previously won once in Baku in 2022.

Anderson told The Race: “I’m sure there were other developments in the underfloor that might mean that the aerodynamic centre of pressure from the actual underfloor moved more rearwards with speed. “If that happens, it will give you more front grip in the lower- and medium-speed corners and more rear grip in the fast corners. This allows you to run a less draggy rear wing, meaning you also get the benefit of increased straight-line speed.”

‘A McLaren-beater’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/gary-anderson-is-sure-red-bull-have-made-one-secret-change-to-give-max-verstappen-a-mclaren-beater/


Max ahead of Azerbaijan GP: 'Important to have stable weekend.'
18 Sept 2025
Stefan Meens
Verstappen.nl

“Monza was of course an incredible result. It really gave everyone in the team a boost. I’m looking forward to seeing how competitive we’ll be around here, but it’s difficult to predict. We made progress, but this circuit is very different compared to Monza.”

The Dutchman continued: “Every circuit has different demands. Baku has a lot of slow corners and a lot of 90-degree corners; that’s never been our strong point. It’s a challenging track with not much grip. Usually, the track surface is pretty green but improves rapidly through the weekend. Like Monza, we need to have a stable weekend and not go to in wildly different directions set-up wise. We’ll try to achieve the same as in Monza.”

After his win in Italy, Max visited the Red Bull Powertrains facility in Milton Keynes. “It was great to catch up and show my face. The facilities are incredible. All that’s needed for this project is available, it’s impressive”, said the reigning champion. “We know it’s a huge challenge to develop our own power unit, but it’s great to see how everything is coming together for when it starts in about six months. It’s not that far away.”

'Important to have stable weekend';

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5946/


Why Red Bull resurgence could be real - What to watch at 2025 Azerbaijan GP
Sept 17th 2025
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine

From Red Bull's potential resurgence to McLaren's title duel, tyre strategy gambles, Bearman's race-ban threat and renewed scrutiny on driving rules, Baku promises another weekend of intrigue. Formula 1 swaps the high-speed sweeps of Monza for the unforgiving city walls of Baku this weekend, as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix hosts round 17 of the 2025 season.

The championship fight remains finely balanced, and the streets of the Caspian capital have a history of providing unexpected twists. At the top of the agenda is whether Red Bull‘s Monza breakthrough was the start of a genuine revival or just a one-off flash of form.

‘Why Red Bull resurgence could be real’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/why-red-bull-resurgence-could-be-real-what-to-watch-at-2025-azerbaijan-gp/?nowprocket=1

[Fortitude]

Azerbaijan GP: Norris leads McLaren 1-2 in disrupted first practice.
Norris dominated the early stages of practice, outpacing on Pirelli’s soft compound Mercedes’ George Russell, Leclerc, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
19/09/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

With only 21 minutes left after the restart, teams scrambled for data. Verstappen briefly closed the gap to Norris, clocking a time just 0.043s shy. But Norris responded emphatically, shaving a second off his earlier best to secure top spot.

Piastri, on new softs, climbed to second with a 1m43.014s, three tenths behind Norris, while Leclerc took third, half a second off the pace. Russell and Williams’ Alex Albon rounded out the top five, with Albon impressing on the rapidly improving track.

Yuki Tsunoda shone for Racing Bulls, finishing sixth, narrowly ahead of Verstappen, who abandoned his final run after a mistake at Turn 14. Carlos Sainz took eighth for Williams, followed by Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar. Lewis Hamilton narrowly escaped disaster, grazing the Turn 5 wall but avoiding significant damage to his Ferrari.

‘Norris leads McLaren 1-2’;

https://f1i.com/news/548665-azerbaijan-gp-norris-leads-mclaren-1-2-in-disrupted-first-practice.html


2025 F1 Azerbaijan GP – Free Practice 1 Results
Lando Norris leads Oscar Piastri as McLaren dominate FP1 in Baku, while Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes face mixed fortunes
19 September 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 Azerbaijan GP 2025 FP1 results
Check out the full Azerbaijan GP 2025 Free Practice 1 results from the first session in Baku below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:42.704
2 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.310
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.552
4 George Russell Mercedes +0.553
5 Alexander Albon Williams +0.859
6 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull +1.034
7 Max Verstappen Red Bull +1.086
8 Carlos Sainz Williams +1.155
9 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +1.199
10 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +1.271

‘FP1 results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-2025-azerbaijan-gp-free-practice-1-results/


Lando Norris On Top Ahead Of Oscar Piastri In Opening Baku F1 Practice
An in-form Lando Norris set the pace ahead of McLaren team-mate, title rival and championship leader Oscar Piastri in Friday's eventful and red flag-punctuated opening practice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
September 19, 2025
Agence France-Presse
NDTV.com

An in-form Lando Norris set the pace ahead of McLaren team-mate, title rival and championship leader Oscar Piastri in Friday's eventful and red flag-punctuated opening practice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The 25-year-old Briton, who trails by 31 points in the drivers' title race, clocked a best lap in one minute and 42.704 to top the times, beating his 24-year-old Australian rival by 0.310 seconds. A similar 1-2 outcome in Sunday's race would clinch a second consecutive constructors' championship success for McLaren and leave the duo to fight for the individual title without the spectre of team orders.

‘Lando Norris On Top’;

https://sports.ndtv.com/formula-1/lando-norris-on-top-ahead-of-oscar-piastri-in-opening-baku-f1-practice-9306672


Azerbaijan GP: Norris sets the pace in FP1 as Piastri is momentarily sidelined with PU issues
19 Sep 2025
Michelle Foster
F1i.com

Lando Norris topped the timesheet in the opening practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix while his teammate and title rival Oscar Piastri was momentarily sidelined with an engine issue. The upside for Piastri, the bulk of his time in the garage coincided with a red flag as track marshals set about fixing the Turn 16 kerb that had been lifted.

After a 10-minute delay, Race Control green-lighted the session only to throw the yellow flag as it turned out to be a bigger issue than expected. The good news for Piastri, McLaren were able to work on his MCL39 without him losing track time compared to his rivals. The team revealed: “We’d identified a PU issue, which we believe we’ve rectified. Now planning to get Oscar back out when we get going again.”

Back on track with 20 minutes remaining in the session, a busy track and traffic had Isack Hadjar complaining about one of the Williams drivers, Verstappen went second behind Norris only for the McLaren driver to up his pace and put a second between himself and the Red Bull driver. Piastri was up to third.

‘Norris sets the pace’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/azerbaijan-grand-prix-2025-fp1-report


Lewis Hamilton escapes with minor damage after Azerbaijan GP scare
Lewis Hamilton suffered a minor scare in the first practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
19 September 2025
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

Lewis Hamilton suffered a minor scare during Azerbaijan Grand Prix practice, breaking his Ferrari front-wing against a wall. With the session heavily delayed due to a separate incident involving a loose kerb at Turn 16, it resumed after a delay of nearly 30 minutes, leaving the field just over 20 minutes of running.

Rounding the left-hander at Turn 5, Hamilton clipped the inside wall, breaking off the left-hand endplate of his car as he crawled back to the pits. Fortunately, the car was otherwise undamaged as he made his way back to the pits for a new front-wing, rejoining to finish 13th overall in the session, with team-mate Charles Leclerc third, behind a Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri one-two for McLaren.

‘Minor scare’;

https://racingnews365.com/lewis-hamilton-escapes-with-minor-damage-after-azerbaijan-gp-scare


George Russell still unwell after ‘sounding terrible’ in Azerbaijan GP FP1
A difficult weekend ahead for George Russell at the 2025 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
19 Sep 2025
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

George Russell continues to battle illness after he “sounded terrible” over team radio in first practice for the 2025 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver was ruled out of Thursday’s media day in Baku due to feeling unwell.

Mercedes said in a statement: “George is unwell so unfortunately won’t be at the track today, as he’s resting up ahead of tomorrow’s track action.” Russell returned to action on Friday as first practice got underway. It was a fairly encouraging session for the British driver, setting the fourth-fastest time of the day.

Russell was just over 0.6s off Lando Norris’ impressive pace for McLaren. Russell also reported a “serious amount of bottoming” on the long straight in Baku. “There’s a serious amount of bottoming on the straight,” Russell said over team radio in FP1. Russell’s radio message was difficult to hear and it was clear he was struggling.

‘Sounding terrible’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1082021/1/george-russell-still-unwell-after-sounding-terrible-azerbaijan-gp-f1-fp1


Norris quickest in interrupted FP1 - 2025 Azerbaijan GP practice results
September 19th 2025
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine

Norris leads McLaren 1-2 at Baku as a red flag cost drivers plenty of track time. Lando Norris went quickest in opening practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a session interrupted by lengthy repairs to a kerb.

McLaren driver Norris posted a best time of 1:42.704sec to top FP1 by over three tenths from team-mate Oscar Piastri, second fastest. Piastri’s weekend started off poorly after having to return to the pits slowly before managing to complete a lap.

‘Piastri’s weekend started off poorly’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/norris-quickest-in-interrupted-fp1-2025-azerbaijan-gp-practice-results/?nowprocket=1

[Fortitude]

Lewis Hamilton sends message to Ferrari after topping Azerbaijan GP practice.
Put to him that it looked like a positive day out there, Hamilton replied: “It really has, yeah, thank the Lord”.
19 Sep 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Lewis Hamilton thanked his Ferrari team for their “patience” and continued efforts after he set the pace on Friday at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. While Hamilton was keen to keep a lid on talk of just how significant that result was, Hamilton said the “progress” being made by he and Ferrari has really started to “come through”, as he headed a one-two result.

Hamilton’s 1:41.293 was enough for him to end Friday practice at the Baku City Circuit on top. He was 0.074s up on team-mate Charles Leclerc, with Mercedes’ George Russell in third almost half a second off the ultimate pace.

That performance marks a continuation of the positive trend which Hamilton has been on since returning from the summer break. With a fresh breakthrough in Baku, Hamilton feels that progress is now being displayed clearly.

“It really has, yeah, thank the Lord”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-hamilton-grateful-ferrari-azerbaijan-gp-progress-showing


2025 F1 Azerbaijan GP – Free Practice 2 Results
Hamilton sets the pace in Baku as Norris crashes and Ferrari dominate FP2
19 September 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 Azerbaijan GP 2025 FP2 results
Check out the full Azerbaijan GP 2025 Free Practice 2 results from the second session in Baku below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:41.293
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.074
3 George Russell Mercedes +0.477
4 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.486
5 Oliver Bearman Haas +0.598
6 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.609
7 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +0.696
8 Esteban Ocon Haas +0.874
9 Alexander Albon Williams +0.884
10 Lando Norris McLaren +0.906

‘Free Practice 2 Results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/2025-f1-azerbaijan-gp-free-practice-2-results/


Hamilton tops FP2 as McLarens hit the wall - 2025 Azerbaijan GP practice results
September 19th 2025
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine

Hamilton tops second practice from Leclerc as Piastri and Norris finish down the order. Lewis Hamilton led a Ferrari 1-2 in second practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as McLaren‘s drivers failed to set a competitive time.

Hamilton used the softest compound to outpace team-mate Charles Leclerc, who has been on pole at Baku for the past three years, by less than a tenth of a second. Hamilton stayed on top of the times for most of the session thanks to a medium-tyre run before Leclerc beat it late on with the soft tyres.

‘Hamilton tops FP2’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/hamilton-tops-fp2-as-mclaren-struggle-2025-azerbaijan-gp-practice-results/?nowprocket=1


Blow for Lando Norris as both McLarens crash in second Baku practice
19 Sep 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Lando Norris suffers setback with crash in Azerbaijan Grand Prix second practice. Lando Norris has suffered an early blow to his Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend with a crash in second practice. The Briton, who is 31 points behind McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri arriving in Baku, touched the wall at Turn 4 after losing the rear of his car while on a flying lap on soft tyres.

“What an eventful day we’ve had here in Baku, with Oscar Piastri starting with an engine problem. That was fixed quite quickly,” Sky Sports F1’s pitlane reporter Ted Kravitz said. “By contrast, I’m not sure the broken suspension at the back of Lando Norris’s car is going to be fixed before the end of the season. Never say never, the fact that it’s on stands doesn’t mean it’s impossible.”

“But I can see the car being taken apart in various other ways that they would normally do between practice two and practice three. The effect of not having the long runs, we saw it with Kimi Antonelli at Monza, how much will it effect Lando? A more experienced driver but in with a chance of the title.”

‘Blow for Lando Norris’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1082042/1/blow-lando-norris-both-mclarens-crash-second-f1-azerbaijan-grand-prix-practice


Jolyon Palmer ‘can’t believe’ what he heard Oscar Piastri say about McLaren team orders at Azerbaijan Grand Prix
19 September 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Oscar Piastri should have said he was willing to give up Monza win to Lando Norris? Early in the presser, host Tom Clarkson asked Piastri whether he would have given the place back had he been leading. There’s a seven-point difference between first and second, but only three between second and third.

Piastri, who still has a comfortable 31-point lead, replied: “But it wasn’t, Tom, so, I don’t know. I wasn’t in that scenario. Would it have made it a bit more difficult? Probably, yes. But I don’t know if the outcome would have been different. I’m not planning on finding myself in that position.”

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Chequered Flag podcast, Jolyon Palmer questioned why Piastri was so hesitant. It was an opportunity to score some points with the McLaren management, without making any firm commitment. After hearing the aforementioned clip, Palmer said: “I can’t believe he didn’t just say, ‘Of course I’d have given the place back, of course I would have done’. Don’t even try and make it tricky! It’s not a case that’s come up. I don’t think I would have given up a Grand Prix win for that.’

‘Can’t believe’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jolyon-palmer-cant-believe-what-he-heard-oscar-piastri-say-about-mclaren-team-orders-at-azerbaijan-grand-prix/


Marko makes Red Bull prediction in Max Verstappen Baku boost
19 Sep 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen was forced to settle for sixth at the end of Friday practice, but has no reason to fear, as per Helmut Marko. Red Bull’s senior advisor believes a top three grid slot will be secured, which will put Verstappen in the hunt for back-to-back victories. However, Marko does not see such an alarming gap in need of addressing for qualifying. “The long runs, we are promising,” he began.

“I think we are in a position to fight on the front. On the qualifying lap, we must find one tenth, one tenth and a half. But that’s possible with fine-tuning.” Clarifying that “roughly half a tenth” of the deficit can be explained by the engine mode which Verstappen was using, Marko added: “So that means also in qualifying we are not so far off.”

‘Verstappen Baku boost’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/helmut-marko-max-verstappen-red-bull-can-fight-azerbaijan-gp-win


Brakes Fixed, Beast Unleashed: Hamilton Leads Ferrari’s Baku Blitz
September 19, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
Fastest Lap

Lewis Hamilton’s 1:41.293 put him at the head of the sheet after FP2, 0.074s clear of Charles Leclerc, with George Russell half a second back in the Mercedes. It wasn’t just the headline; it was the way it came together. Ferrari found something between sessions, and Hamilton—still learning the SF-25 at new circuits—clicked with it.

“It really has [been positive], thank the Lord,” he said. “It started out, it wasn’t so positive. FP1 was a bit of a mess. And this is a circuit where you have to have mega confidence in the brakes. I had some problems with the brakes.” Baku punishes hesitation. It’s all long stops and razor-edged walls, the kind of place where if your middle pedal isn’t perfect, your lap isn’t either. Ferrari addressed it between sessions, and Hamilton felt the car come to him.

“We made some changes going into P2 and the brakes finally were working perfect,” he added. “I was able to really make some quick big advantage in terms of gaining on the brakes. So really happy to see the progress.” There’s been a gentle but noticeable reset since the summer break. The rhythm, the feel, the confidence—call it what you like—has crept back into Hamilton’s weekends. And in Baku, with Ferrari showing clean, repeatable speed across both cars, he let the gratitude flow.

‘The rhythm, the feel, the confidence’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/brakes-fixed-beast-unleashed-hamilton-leads-ferraris-baku-blitz/

[Fortitude]

Azerbaijan GP: Norris edges Verstappen in final practice.
Norris’ late-session benchmark on softs not only secured him the top spot but also signaled McLaren’s strong form heading into what promises to be an unpredictable qualifying session at 16:00 local time.
20/09/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

With the wind, low grip, and Baku’s tight walls creating a perfect storm of challenges, FP3 set the stage for a thrilling qualifying session. Norris’ pace gives McLaren a slight edge, but Verstappen’s consistency and the potential for mistakes in the worsening conditions keep the fight wide open.

Ferrari, Mercedes, and Williams will look to capitalize on any errors from the frontrunners, while drivers like Bearman and Antonelli aim to maintain their momentum. As the clock ticks down to qualifying, all eyes will be on whether Norris can maintain his edge or if Baku’s unpredictability will crown a surprise polesitter.

‘Signaled McLaren’s strong form’;

https://f1i.com/news/548798-azerbaijan-gp-norris-edges-verstappen-in-final-practice.html


2025 F1 Azerbaijan GP – Free Practice 3 Results
Norris leads Verstappen in windy FP3 as McLaren stay on top in Baku
20 September 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 Azerbaijan GP 2025 FP3 results
Check out the full Azerbaijan GP 2025 Free Practice 3 results from the third and final practice session in Baku below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:41.223
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.222
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.254
4 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.276
5 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.653
6 George Russell Mercedes +0.741
7 Alexander Albon Williams +0.760
8 Oliver Bearman Haas +0.762
9 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +0.923
10 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.986

‘Free Practice 3 Results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/2025-f1-azerbaijan-gp-free-practice-3-results/


Azerbaijan GP: Norris sets the pace in FP3, FIA stewards busy with yet another investigation
20 Sep 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Lando Norris set the pace in the final practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix where he was over two-tenths up on second-placed Max Verstappen. Oscar Piastri was third ahead of Lewis Hamilton, while Franco Colapinto is off to see the stewards in the latest yellow flag infringement.

Heading into the final 10 minutes, Norris overhauled Verstappen by half a second. Alex Albon complained that the “wind is picking up a lot” as he went off at Turn 4. Verstappen upped his pace but remained second by Norris, two-tenths down, with Piastri also going quicker but not enough to challenge his teammate as he went P3 ahead of Antonelli, Albon and Russell.

Hamilton put in a late charge to go third, 0.276s down. His former teammate Russell wasn’t as happy with his performance as he reported that he was locking up everywhere. The session ended with Norris quickest of all by 0.222s ahead of Verstappen with Piastri third ahead of Hamilton. Franco Colapinto was noted for a yellow flag infringement.

‘Norris sets the pace’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/azerbaijan-grand-prix-2025-fp3-report


AS IT HAPPENED: FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION FROM FINAL PRACTICE FOR THE AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX
Follow our live coverage of the third Formula 1 practice session for the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.
20 Sep 2025
Becky Hart
Formula One - Official Site

Four teams in the mix
A better start to Saturday for McLaren after their difficult Friday then, but they do not have this one all to themselves one bit. Traffic, the tow, the wind, yellow flags - it could be down to who can nail a lap later, and who can get some luck as well.

Verstappen has found something overnight - he might have been two tenths back, but he didn't set his time on fresh tyres.

Hamilton was fourth, Antonelli fifth so Ferrari and Mercedes cannot be discounted today either.

‘AS IT HAPPENED’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/live-coverage-third-practice-in-azerbaijan-2025.4MfaRoqFK85HBkDYuQ0No0


What happened in final F1 practice at Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Sep 20, 2025
Ben Anderson
The Race

Lando Norris answered the big question over McLaren’s pace coming into final practice for Formula 1’s 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix by emphatically setting the fastest time in FP3. Norris and F1 championship rival Oscar Piastri both endured a difficult Friday at Baku, losing valuable track time to wall strikes and struggling to hook laps together.

They weren’t much of a factor in the early stages of final practice either, as Norris complained his car was “sketchy” everywhere. Piastri didn’t really hook a single lap together cleanly until the closing moments of the session. Piastri didn’t look as comfortable as Norris in the later part of the session, where the McLarens were clearly working much better after some earlier setup changes, but was briefly up to second thanks to a tow from Franco Colapinto’s Alpine before Verstappen reasserted himself.

Piastri then managed to hook up a decent enough lap at the end to go third, without the aid of a tow and just 0.032s down on Verstappen’s ultimate best. Hamilton managed to get Ferrari back up to fourth in the closing seconds, but Leclerc found an escape road on his final flying lap so failed to improve and ended the session 10th.

‘What happened’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/what-happened-final-f1-practice-at-azerbaijan-grand-prix/

[Fortitude]

Max Verstappen roars to stunning Azerbaijan GP pole after SIX qualifying red flags.
Max Verstappen will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on pole for the first time as McLaren imploded in Q3 in a record-breaking session.
20 September 2025
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

In Q3, Sainz initially set a 1:41.595 on mediums to go fastest as one of the first laps, but Leclerc crashed at Turn 15 moments later, bringing out the red flags with 7:07 remaining. However, during this delay, rain began to fall, with the session resuming before Piastri crashed at Turn 3. Getting too deep on the brakes, he slammed into the wall, leaving a door open for Norris once the session resumed with 3:41 on the clock.

However, Norris could only go third at the time, dropping to seventh, only two places ahead as Verstappen roared to a fifth pole of the season. His time was 1:41.117, with Sainz settling in for Williams as Lawson claimed the best qualifying result for a New Zealander since Chris Amon's third at the 1976 Swedish Grand Prix.

It is Verstappen's first pole in Baku, the 26th different circuit he has set a pole position at. Kimi Antonelli was fourth for Mercedes, ahead of George Russell and Yuki Tsunoda, with Isack Hadjar the lowest-placed Red Bull-backed driver in eighth.

‘McLaren imploded’;

https://racingnews365.com/max-verstappen-roars-to-stunning-azerbaijan-gp-pole-after-six-qualifying-red-flags


2025 F1 Azerbaijan GP – Qualifying Results
Verstappen triumphs in dramatic Azerbaijan GP qualifying
20 September 2025
Adriano Boin
Total Motorsport

F1 Azerbaijan GP 2025 Qualifying results
Check out the full F1 2025 Azerbaijan GP Qualifying results from Baku below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:41.117
2 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.478
3 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +0.590
4 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.600
5 George Russell Mercedes +0.953
6 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull +1.026
7 Lando Norris McLaren +1.122
8 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +1.255
9 Oscar Piastri McLaren —
10 Charles Leclerc Ferrari —

‘Qualifying Results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/2025-f1-azerbaijan-gp-qualifying-results/


Liam Lawson had to 'fight his brain' during staggering Azerbaijan GP qualifying
A quite astonishing result for Liam Lawson. What can he do from there? It won't be easy.
20 September 2025
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Assessing the nearly two-hour session, the New Zealander said: "I can't even remember what happened, it was so busy. "I said it would be, but I didn't expect it to be like that, honestly, but the car has been good all weekend, and when we needed it to be in qualifying, it was good. So a massive thanks to the guys and girls. The team has been amazing this week so far, but tomorrow is the important day."

Reflecting on the conditions in the final minutes, Lawson added: "It's always sketchy. You can see the rain coming on your visor, and you can feel it, and you can see the gloss on the track, but because the tyres are still warm, you have grip. So you're trying to fight your brain to not back off and keep pushing, but it was definitely tricky."

As to his hopes of a strong result, he said: "It's going to be a very hard race, for sure. We've a great starting position, but we're aware of who we're fighting around us, and that's what we'll be focused on."

'Fight his brain';

https://racingnews365.com/liam-lawson-had-to-fight-his-brain-during-staggering-azerbaijan-gp-qualifying


Chaos at Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying sees a record SIX red flags as Charles Leclerc and title contender Oscar Piastri hit the wall - and Lando Norris starts SEVENTH
20 September 2025
JONATHAN MCEVOY
MailOnline

Chaos in Baku. Six red flags. And then Max Verstappen banged his Red Bull on pole, which is an act filed under ‘G’ for genius. In the wet, his car stuck to the road like glue during a chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix that lasted two hours – and which Lando Norris flunked.

Norris should have been up at the front of the grid, but instead Williams’ Carlos Sainz starts second and Racing Bulls’ Carlos Sainz third. Don’t adjust your glasses. The Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell come next. Norris’s chance came as Piastri thudded into the wall at Turn Three during the closing stages of the pole shootout.

Rain intensified at this stage, having been no more than spots before. Sainz joked he wanted a rain dance, for his name led all the rest at this stage, pre-Max’s unfurling of splendour. Norris could not improve his time, so will start eighth, only a place above Piastri, who leads Norris by 31 points with eight races including Sunday’s remaining.

‘Grand Prix qualifying sees a record SIX red flags’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-15117013/Chaos-Azerbaijan-Grand-Prix-qualifying-sees-record-SIX-red-flags-Charles-Leclerc-title-contender-Oscar-Piastri-hit-wall-Lando-Norris-starts-SEVENTH.html


Verstappen snatches pole from Sainz after six red flags in crash-strewn session
20th September 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

When Q3 started for the third time there was just three minutes and 41 seconds left on the clock. Williams could taste their first pole position for over a decade – and they came remarkably close to taking it. Norris almost clinched pole for Sainz when he understeered wide into the barrier at turn 15. The McLaren driver kept going but he failed to beat the Williams driver’s time. Nor could Russell take it off him.

Sainz went quicker in the first sector but couldn’t sustain the improvement to the end of the lap. Verstappen, however, immediately found more time, and took pole off his former team mate by over four tenths of a second. Lawson took a strong third while Antonelli comfortably beat Russell to fourth place. Tsunoda took a strong sixth, but the size of the opportunity Norris had missed became clear as he fell to seventh, just two places ahead of his team mate.

‘Verstappen snatches pole’;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/09/20/verstappen-snatches-pole-from-sainz-as-six-stoppages-disrupt-qualifying/


Max Verstappen keeps his cool to bag Azerbaijan GP pole in crash-filled session
Six red flags and rain could not stop Max Verstappen from taking 2025 Azerbaijan GP pole, edging Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson in Baku
20 September 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

Max Verstappen mastered the chaos in Baku to take pole position for the 2025 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, surviving six red flags, changeable conditions, and late pressure from rivals to put his Red Bull on top of the timesheets.

The Dutchman delivered his decisive lap in the dying minutes of qualifying, edging out Carlos Sainz, who had looked set to secure a shock pole for Williams. Rising star Liam Lawson continued his impressive season with Racing Bulls, sealing third on the grid after holding his nerve in the mayhem.

For title challengers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, however, qualifying proved costly. Piastri crashed in Q3 while Norris failed to extract pace from his McLaren, leaving the pair seventh and ninth respectively heading into Sunday’s race.

‘Keeps his cool’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-2025-max-verstappen-keeps-cool-azerbaijan-gp-pole-crash-filled-session/


Carlos Sainz makes Williams declaration after stunning Azerbaijan qualifying result
20 September 2025
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

Reflecting, Sainz felt the result showed his qualifying prowess was not in doubt. "Honestly, we've nailed qualifying today, every time we were on the right tyre at the right time, and put together some very strong laps," Sainz explained.

"Obviously the top cars were going to put a lap together and we were going to be those four or five-tenths behind, but it was only one of them, which was Max, and for the rest, we managed to beat them, so we are P2 which is great news. I've been putting good laps together in qualifying, that hasn't been my weakness at all, and today, we proved the speed in this car and this team is there. I'm delivering in qualifying when it counts.”

"The races and points are not going the way we want, and I'm not worried. The plan for tomorrow is to try and stick it on the podium, I'm going to give it my best to give Williams a first podium. If it is possible, great, and if it is not, we will see."

‘Williams declaration’;

https://racingnews365.com/carlos-sainz-makes-williams-declaration-after-stunning-azerbaijan-qualifying-result

[Fortitude]

Carlos Sainz eyes turning shock front-row into first Williams podium.
The former Ferrari driver was on course for a stunning pole position after crashes for Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri disrupted a chaotic final part of a drama-filled qualifying in Baku.
20 Sep 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Carlos Sainz is eyeing a first podium for Williams after securing a shock second place on the grid at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. "Very happy, We've nailed the qualifying today. Every time being on the right tyre at the right time and putting together some very strong laps,” Sainz said.

"Of course the moment that a top car put a lap together we were always going to be those four or five tenths behind, but it was only one of them, and it was Max - no surprise. For the rest, we managed to beat them. We're in P2, which is great news. I've been putting good laps together this year in qualifying; it hasn't been an issue or my weakness at all.”

“Again we proved that there is speed in this car and delivering in qualifying when it counts. "Unfortunately, the year in races and in points is not going the way we want but as long as the speed is there, like today proves, the good races will come and I'm not worried.” On Sunday's race, Sainz added: "I'm going to give it my all to give Williams a first podium. We'll see.”

‘Eyeing a first podium for Williams’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1082145/1/carlos-sainz-eyes-turning-shock-front-row-first-williams-podium


Ferrari reveal Baku 'confusion' after disastrous F1 qualifying
Charles Leclerc crashed in Q3 and will start 10th, Lewis Hamilton eliminated in Q2, starting 12th.
21 Sep 2025
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

Fred Vasseur has revealed Ferrari's confusion in a disastrous Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying after Charles Leclerc's crash and Lewis Hamilton's early exit. Ferrari had shown strong pace throughout practice in Baku, topping FP2 with Hamilton ahead of Leclerc, and reinforced that in FP3, but things went wrong in qualifying.

The team split tyre strategies in the second segment, with Leclerc taking mediums and Hamilton softs, but a mistake at Turn 1 from Leclerc brought out yellow flags, which forced Hamilton to abort. Eventually, Hamilton was eliminated in 12th with Leclerc knocking his team-mate out, as the Monegasque continued his bid for a fifth straight pole.

‘Ferrari's confusion’;

https://racingnews365.com/ferrari-reveal-baku-confusion-after-disastrous-f1-qualifying


Sainz Defies Baku Chaos, Parks Williams on Front Row
Alex Albuquerque
Sep 20, 2025
Fastest Lap

Carlos Sainz didn’t just survive Baku’s madness — he steered straight through it and parked a Williams on the front row. In a qualifying session that was repeatedly torn up and restarted — six red flags, a record for an F1 quali — Sainz owned the moment until the final minutes, when Max Verstappen did what Max Verstappen tends to do. Pole to the Red Bull. P2 to a beaming Sainz and a resurgent Williams. This was a session that kept thinning the herd. Lewis Hamilton fell in Q2. Championship leader Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc both found the wall in Q3. Lando Norris clipped Turn 15 and limped out of the fight. Through it all, Sainz played the game Williams needed him to play: out early, banker lap in, head down while the others blinked. For a solid stretch, he was sitting on provisional pole for good reason.

“Very happy. Honestly, we’ve nailed qualifying today,” Sainz said afterward, his voice more satisfied than surprised. “Right tyre, right time, strong laps. When a top car threaded it together, we knew we’d be a few tenths off — and it was Max. But we beat the rest. P2 is great news.” It’s no secret Sainz has been sharper over one lap than his race results have shown this year, and he didn’t shy away from that contrast. “I’ve been delivering in qualifying when it counts. The races and points haven’t gone the way we want, but the speed is there. The good results will come. I’m not worried.”

The target now is simple: podium. The opportunity is real. Track position in Baku can swing a Sunday, particularly with a car that’s tidy on the straights and obedient in the braking zones. And Williams has a subtle ace up its sleeve: Sainz kept back two fresh sets of hard tyres, the compound that’s expected to be the day’s workhorse. Team principal James Vowles, who’s spent much of the season chasing tyre preparation gremlins in qualifying, credited the garage for a clean execution at a circuit that punishes hesitancy.

‘Baku’s madness — he steered straight through it’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/sainz-defies-baku-chaos-parks-williams-on-front-row/


Lewis Hamilton Reveals What Went Wrong in Ruined Baku Qualifying
Sep 20, 2025
Nelson Espinal Newsweek
Rock Hill Herald

Hamilton looked to get his season going in Baku, aiming for his first potential podium finish with the Scuderia. Instead, he is once again on the back foot for the start of the race, though this time it was the tire choice that cost him.

"The medium tire was just much quicker," Hamilton told the media after qualifying. "The team chose to run me on the medium in Q2, and Charles was meant to run it second run in Q2, but then, because everyone else wasn't out on them, [we] opted to keep it, and then all the top 10 basically had three mediums.”

"We knew that the medium was quicker by, they said it was about three-tenths or something like that, and it felt great, and we should have run it in Q2. One of the things that kind of factored into it was a bit of direction the team were pushing for us to go with some of the setup, that didn't feel as good as [F]P2," the seven-time champion added.

‘What Went Wrong’;

https://www.heraldonline.com/sports/article312193643.html#storylink=mainstage_card


Carlos Sainz sets clear Azerbaijan GP target as ‘huge advantage’ emerges
20 Sep 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

“Plan for tomorrow, try and stick it in the podium,” he confirmed. “I think I’m going to give it my best to give Williams that first podium [sic]. If it’s possible, great. And if it’s not, we will see.”

Reacting to Sainz’s front row achievement, Williams team principal James Vowles told Sky F1: “What I’m happy about is the team’s done brilliant work over the last 10 days. We have not been good in qualifying, getting the tyres ready and working.”

“And this weekend, the standout for me is that every time we’ve gone out, [F]P1 to qualifying, first lap, we can get that tyre working. So quick car and good result, and well done to Carlos. You saw out there how tricky it is. Brilliant, brilliant driver.”

“Plan for tomorrow, try and stick it in the podium”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/carlos-sainz-azerbaijan-gp-podium-target-two-hard-tyre-huge-advantage


Things that led to Hamilton's horrendous day at Baku following his pace-setting performance on Friday
21 Sep 2025
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

On the back of a highly encouraging practice day at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton endured an incredibly tough day at Baku, to start from the midfield on Sunday.

The British and the Monegasque driver posted impressive lap times in Q1, but their session started to go wrong in Q2. On their initial runs Leclerc went wide, wrecking his lap but also his team mate’s as Hamilton was forced to abort thanks to the resultant yellow flags.

Coming back out as the clock ticked down, Leclerc did enough to make Q3 on Pirelli's medium tyres. However, Hamilton was left out on his worn soft tyres, and the seven-time world champion was unable to make it out of Q2. All eyes were set on Leclerc, but the Monegasque, who always goes well at Baku, crashed just as the rain started to fall in Q3, bringing out the red flags and failing to set a lap time.

‘Hamilton was left out on his worn soft tyres’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/27807


Sainz will ‘give it my all’ in Baku to claim maiden Williams podium
20 Sep 2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Even as he started his final lap, Sainz sensed the potential for a remarkable result. “I think our simulation said at the time maybe only Max and Lando could beat us. So I was thinking about a P3. In the end, it was only Max… It had to be Max!” he said with a wry smile.

“But, in general, I thought as soon as I started my lap at the end, I was actually coming very quick. I was like three or four tenths up on my lap. In one way, I was thinking, great, because this might even confirm or achieve pole, but then I was thinking the leaders are going to be even quicker, no? And that’s exactly what happened.”

Now, with a prime starting position, Sainz is laser-focused on converting his P2 into a podium, a feat Williams last achieved – in normal circumstances – in Baku with Lance Stroll’s third place in 2017. “I'm going to give it my all to give Williams a first podium. We'll see,” he vowed.

‘Give it my all’;

https://f1i.com/news/548900-sainz-will-give-it-my-all-in-baku-to-claim-maiden-williams-podium.html


Charles Leclerc blames Ferrari tyre call for 2025 Azerbaijan GP qualifying shocker
Four-time polesitter at Baku City Circuit crashed out on Saturday
20 Sep 2025
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport

Charles Leclerc blames a Ferrari tyre call for his qualifying shocker at the 2025 Azerbaijan GP by criticising a decision to run the medium, as he crashed out at the Baku City Circuit on September 20.

‘Ferrari tyre call’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/charles-leclerc-blames-ferrari-tyre-call-f1-2025-azerbaijan-gp-qualifying-shocker/

[Fortitude]

Verstappen claims dominant Azerbaijan win over Russell and Sainz after Piastri crashes out.
Max Verstappen was never challenged on Sunday in Baku, while Lando Norris brought the gap down to title rival Oscar Piastri after the Australian’s dramatic opening lap crash.
21 September 2025
Formula One - Official Site

Max Verstappen claimed a lights-to-flag victory in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, while Lando Norris closed the gap to title rival Oscar Piastri to 25 points after the Drivers' Championship leader crashed out on the opening lap.

Verstappen was never headed on the streets of Baku, leading all 51 laps and winning by over 14 seconds from Mercedes' George Russell and Carlos Sainz, who claimed his first podium for Williams having just lost out on pole position.

Kimi Antonelli narrowly missed out on the final step of the podium, having run well all day, but was well clear of a fierce battle for fifth, which was headed by Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson, who claimed a career-best result.

‘Max Verstappen was never challenged’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/verstappen-claims-dominant-azerbaijan-win-over-russell-and-sainz-after.gT4fbKTwpl3dI79nDmrHS


2025 F1 Azerbaijan GP – Race Results
Max Verstappen led from start to finish in Baku as Oscar Piastri crashed out on Lap 1
21 September 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 Azerbaijan GP 2025 Race Results
Check out the full F1 2025 Azerbaijan GP results from Baku below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Leader
2 George Russell Mercedes +14.609
3 Carlos Sainz Williams +19.199
4 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +21.760
5 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +33.290
6 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull +33.808
7 Lando Norris McLaren +34.227
8 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +36.310
9 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +36.774
10 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +38.982

‘Race Results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/2025-f1-azerbaijan-gp-race-results/


Max Verstappen dominates F1 Azerbaijan GP as Oscar Piastri crashes out on opening lap
21 September 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Max Verstappen dominated Formula 1‘s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, completing a lights-to-flag victory, as Oscar Piastri crashed out on the opening lap. The Dutchman cemented his pole position advantage at the start and never looked back, as George Russell, battling illness, took second.

Carlos Sainz fulfilled his ambition of a first podium for Williams with third. Team-mate Lando Norris had a a big chance to close the gap in the Drivers’ title, but yet another McLaren pitstop issue condemned him to a disappointing seventh place.

‘Max Verstappen dominated’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/09/21/max-verstappen-dominates-f1-azerbaijan-gp-as-oscar-piastri-crashes-out-on-opening-lap/


Formula 1: Kiwi Liam Lawson finishes fifth in Azerbaijan Grand Prix
21 September 2025
Grant Chapman
Radio New Zealand

Kiwi Liam Lawson has notched up his best result in the 2025 Formula 1 season so far, finishing fifth in Azerbaijan. Lawson started third on the Baku City Circuit, but fell several positions after pitting early, although he held off several contenders for his place in the final laps. Lawson, 23, clocked the third-fastest time of Q3, covering the 6km circuit in 1m 41.707s.

Reigning F1 champion Max Verstappen won the race, leading from start to finish. George Russell took second place, with Carlos Sainz rounding out the top three.

Sep 21, 2025 1:40 PM
RNZ Live
Finish: "Unbelievable race, guys," Verstappen tells his team.
"Super job, George," Russell's team tells him.
Sainz is voted driver of the day and he is jubilant.
Great day for Lawson, not the podium he wanted, after his third in qualifying, but progress, as he tries to secure his drive for next year.

'Kiwi Liam Lawson finishes fifth ';

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/573688/formula-1-kiwi-liam-lawson-finishes-fifth-in-azerbaijan-grand-prix


Max Verstappen takes easy Azerbaijan GP win as F1 title battle takes another twist with Piastri crash in Baku
Verstappen wins Azerbaijan GP after Piastri’s Lap 1 crash, with Russell second and Sainz scoring an emotional podium for Williams
21 September 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

The streets of Baku once again delivered high drama as Max Verstappen stormed to victory at the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, capitalising on Oscar Piastri’s opening-lap crash to spark new life into the Formula 1 title battle. The Red Bull driver controlled the race from lights to flag, pulling clear of George Russell’s Mercedes and Carlos Sainz’s Williams to underline his growing momentum in the second half of the season.

For championship leader Piastri, it was a nightmare that could reshape the fight for the crown. After jumping the start, stalling, and tumbling to the back, the Australian lost control into Turn 5 and hit the barriers at the Baku City Circuit, ending his race before it had truly begun. His first major error of 2025 left him watching helplessly as title rivals fought to chip away at his 31-point cushion.

But Lando Norris failed to make it count. Despite McLaren’s offset strategy and fresher tyres late in the race, the Briton was unable to climb higher than seventh. The net result was only a six-point gain on his team-mate, trimming the championship gap to 25, while Verstappen sits 69 points adrift but suddenly with renewed hope.

‘Another twist with Piastri crash’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/max-verstappen-wins-red-bull-azerbaijan-gp-f1-2025-piastri-out/


2025 F1 championship standings after Azerbaijan GP at Baku
Check out the full F1 championship standings after the 2025 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix – held at the Baku City Circuit
21 September 2025
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

F1 championship standings.

Oscar Piastri McLaren
McLaren F1 team 324

2 Lando Norris McLaren
McLaren F1 team 299

3 Max Verstappen Red Bull
Red Bull Racing 255

4 George Russell Mercedes
Mercedes AMG F1 212

5 Charles Leclerc Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari 165

6 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari 121

7 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes
Mercedes AMG F1 78

8 Alexander Albon Williams
Williams Racing 70

9 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls
Racing Bulls 39

10 Nico Hulkenberg Stake
Stake F1 Team 37

‘Check out the full F1 championship standings’;

https://racingnews365.com/2025-f1-championship-standings-after-azerbaijan-gp-at-baku

[Fortitude]

Piastri and Norris have let Verstappen back in the title fight.
Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris respective failures in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix have allowed Max Verstappen to rejoin the F1 Drivers' Championship fight.
21 Sep 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Given the excellent form McLaren has shown since the beginning of the season, and judging Red Bull's inability to put in consecutive performances, it is almost inexplicable that Verstappen sits 69 points away in the Drivers' Standings after 17 rounds. A trait that characterises Verstappen is his ability to deliver. Weekend after weekend, the Dutchman poses a threat on the timesheets, usually being classed as either the best of the rest, or the leader of the session when his machinery, and others' mistakes, will allow him.

When his car is good enough for pole, he usually claims the first spot on the grid. When his potential and grid position suggests he should win a race, he more often than not does. This is a level of consistency that neither McLaren driver have been able to live up to on a regular basis. In two race weekends McLaren have left the door open, and twice has Verstappen drawn blood, cutting Piastri's lead in the championship standings by 35 points, a third of what it was after the Dutch Grand Prix.

Seven Grands Prix to go and it seem like too short an amount of time to turn the championship around. After all it would require McLaren to lose every race left on the calendar, and Verstappen, on the contrary, would need to win nearly every race, if not all, to secure his fifth consecutive World Championship. An impossibility? One merely needs to look back at the 2023 season to know that he has the potential to do it.

‘Ability to deliver’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/analysis/have-mclaren-opened-the-door-for-verstappens-title-comeback-charge


Piastri crashes out in Baku to end calamitous weekend
21 Sep 2025
The North West Star

Piastri has been left blaming himself for a calamitous weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after he crashed out on the first lap and then had to watch forlornly from a plastic chair at trackside in Baku as his world championship lead was cut.

‘Watch forlornly from a plastic chair’;

https://www.northweststar.com.au/story/9071332/piastri-crashes-out-in-baku-to-end-calamitous-weekend/


'It's just impossible': Disbelief as critics round on Lando Norris' failure to cash in on Piastri crash
September 22, 2025
Emily Patterson
Channel 9's Wide World of Sports

While Oscar Piastri's retirement in Azerbaijan gave McLaren teammate Lando Norris a golden opportunity to gain ground in their championship battle, the Briton could only manage a seventh-place finish, narrowing the gap by just six points. His race was hampered by a slow pit stop and heavy traffic, leaving him stuck behind Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda and Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson despite a long stint on his medium tyres. A slow pit stop also hurt Norris' race at the Italian Grand Prix earlier this month. Speaking afterwards, Norris pushed back against the idea that he failed to seize big moments across the weekend.

"I don't know why everybody says that [it was an opportunity missed]," he said. "I did the best I could yesterday and the best I could today. Of course, today I wanted more. So it was not a good result. But I couldn't do anything more today. It was lost yesterday because of going out a bit early. Not doing the best lap. Maybe you could've gained a couple of positions, but I don't think it really changes anything today. It's just impossible to overtake."

'It's just impossible';

https://www.nine.com.au/sport/motorsport/f1-news-2025-mclaren-oscar-piastri-lando-norris-world-championship-title-fight-azerbaijan-grand-prix-20250922-p5mwyo.html


McLaren must improve F1 pitstop hardware after Azerbaijan GP setback - Andrea Stella
Lando Norris suffered slow pitstops for consecutive races after further troubles with wheel guns at the Azerbaijan GP
Sep 22, 2025
Ed Hardy Oleg Karpov
Motorsport.com

McLaren team boss Andrea Stella reckons his Formula 1 squad needs to improve its pitstop hardware after further struggles in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Lando Norris was the only McLaren driver to score points in Baku as he finished seventh while championship leader Oscar Piastri crashed out on lap one.

But Norris’ bid to progress through the pack was halted by his slow, 4.1s pitstop on lap 38 after a problem with the front right wheel gun. That released him into eighth right behind the cars of Charles Leclerc and Liam Lawson with Norris only able to overtake the Ferrari across the final 13 laps.

“In terms of pitstops, that's an area in which we have already concentrated our efforts,” said Stella. “But as a matter of fact, we need to keep working because there's some important performance that is available through pitstops and we have seen that the racing, if anything, is getting tighter and tighter.”

‘Must improve F1 pitstop hardware’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mclaren-pitstop-hardware-azerbaijan-gp-setback/10761472/


Piastri slammed after 'absolutely ridiculous error' in Baku GP
22 Sep 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

F1 analyst Peter Windsor commented on McLaren’s disappointing weekend in Baku, marked by Oscar Piastri’s retirement and Lando Norris finishing only seventh. Windsor slammed Oscar Piastri’s weekend, pointing out that the Australian not only crashed into the wall twice between qualifying and the race, but also made a false start—what he labelled as a serious mistake.

"Two virtually identical accidents, one on Saturday, one on Sunday. His race began right behind Lando on the grid. He was P9 by jumping the start. In these days where you do nothing but watch the lights, it was an extraordinary mistake. And I guess because of that, flustered at the back of the field now, Oscar just went for it. An absolutely ridiculous error, particularly after doing virtually the same thing the day before."

“Absolutely ridiculous error”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/piastri-slammed-after-absolutely-ridiculous-error-in-baku-gp


Did Norris’s slow pit stop really ‘make no difference’ to him? Azerbaijan GP data
21st Sept 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella was quick to deny Lando Norris’s race suffered as a result of his slow pit stop on lap 37. Was he right? Compared to the quickest standard pit stops, Norris lost around two seconds. He rejoined the track immediately behind Charles Leclerc, with Liam Lawson ahead of them.

In a best-case scenario for Norris he would have rejoined between Lawson and Leclerc, immediately used his DRS to pass the Racing Bulls car, and then been able to attack Tsunoda without the Red Bull driver having the benefit of DRS. But it’s far from certain this would have happened.

Moreover, the slow pit stop was only the last in a long line of things which went wrong for Norris over the weekend. There was the questionable qualifying strategy, the error on his Q3 lap, losing positions at the start and restart. Given that, it’s hardly surprising Stella doesn’t want to focus on the pit stop alone. However it’s also true that this was the second race in a row in which a slow pit stop compromised Norris’s race, and McLaren know they need to get on top of that.

‘Azerbaijan GP data’;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/09/21/did-norriss-slow-pit-stop-really-make-no-difference-to-him-azerbaijan-gp-data/


'A silly, simple error': Piastri crashes out at Baku as F1 championship lead dwindles
21 Sep 2025
The Roar

Oscar Piastri has been left blaming himself for a calamitous weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after he crashed out on the first lap and then had to watch forlornly from a plastic chair at trackside in Baku as his world championship lead was cut.

But while Max Verstappen drove away to a masterful victory in his Red Bull on Sunday, Piastri could at least reflect the damage hadn’t be too bad to his title hopes as his main contender, McLaren teammate Lando Norris, could only finish seventh.

For the third race in a row, Norris had wretched luck, suffering another poor pitstop that ensured he couldn’t get among the big points, and he ended up gaining only six on Piastri to trim his lead to 25 points.

'A silly, simple error';

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/09/22/a-silly-simple-error-piastri-crashes-out-at-baku-as-f1-championship-lead-dwindles/


Norris fails to capitalise on Piastri crash as Verstappen wins in Baku
Norris could only finish seventh after title rival Piastri crashed out on the opening lap in Baku
21 September 2025
Scott Hunt
The Independent

Oscar Piastri’s F1 title charge survived a first-lap crash at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix without major damage as rival Lando Norris could finish only seventh.

A second crash of the weekend for Piastri ended his 34-race streak of finishing a Grand Prix within five corners and threw the door wide open for McLaren team-mate Norris to make major inroads into his championship lead.

But Norris started sluggishly and overtaking was at a premium during the 51 laps on Baku’s windy streets, meaning he could only take six points out of Piastri’s title lead, which stands at 25 with seven rounds remaining.

‘Could only finish seventh’;

https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/f1-azerbaijan-gp-result-piastri-norris-verstappen-b2830804.html


Who slept worst last night: Oscar Piastri
Sep 22, 2025,
Christian Nimmervoll
Motorsport.com

‘Who slept worst last night: Oscar Piastri’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/who-slept-worst-last-night-oscar-piastri/10761524/

[Fortitude]

Stella Warns Verstappen Still a Title Threat Despite Piastri Lead.
Andrea Stella insisted Max Verstappen remains a serious championship contender, saying he would “WRITE IT IN CAPITALS.”
September 22, 2025
Media
F1 Chronicle

Despite McLaren’s dominance, Verstappen’s six pole positions this year are more than any other driver. But with seven races remaining, he still trails Piastri by 69 points and Norris by 44. Stella warned that the situation is complicated by McLaren’s two drivers competing against one another.

“Of course, of course,” he said when asked if Verstappen was still a danger. “We don’t have to forget that first of all he’s Max Verstappen – world champion for the last four years – in a fast car. Like I said before, there are races where McLaren may not enjoy any advantage from a competitiveness point of view. And Lando and Oscar are always there, so they won’t necessarily be maximising the points available.”

“Sometimes it will be a little bit more points for Lando and a little bit more for Oscar, so they may take some points away from each other. We are very aware of this aspect, but we let them race because they both deserve to pursue their aspirations. Therefore, yes, Verstappen and Red Bull in contention for the drivers’ championship.”

“WRITE IT IN CAPITALS”;

https://f1chronicle.com/stella-warns-verstappen-still-a-title-threat-despite-piastri-lead/


Helmut Marko sets Red Bull target ‘to make McLaren nervous’ in F1 title race
22 Sep 2025
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Red Bull’s improved competitiveness, combined with more frequent errors from the McLaren pair, means Verstappen has an outside shot at a fifth world title. Marko believes what happens in Singapore will decide whether Red Bull “can start dreaming” about a fifth title for Verstappen.

“What Andrea said is very optimistic, but I hope he’s right,” he told De Telegraaf. “The gap is still big, and it’s not often that a McLaren doesn’t finish the race. But we’ll see. If we’re competitive in Singapore in two weeks’ time, maybe we can start dreaming.”””

“Not only is it a different circuit, but it’s also boiling hot. Our car doesn’t always like that either. Singapore will be the benchmark for where we really stand. And we’ve always said: we have to be as close as possible to McLaren to make them nervous.”

‘Make McLaren nervous’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1082243/1/helmut-marko-sets-red-bull-target-make-mclaren-nervous-f1-title-race


Wolff Warns: Verstappen’s Long Shot Just Got Dangerous
September 22, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Toto Wolff: Verstappen’s still in this title fight — but it’ll take a swing. Max Verstappen left Baku with something more valuable than a trophy: momentum. Two wins on the bounce have trimmed Oscar Piastri’s championship lead from a chunky 104 points to 69, and the conversation has shifted from “when does McLaren wrap this up?” to “hang on, are we sure?” Toto Wolff isn’t committing to the plot twist just yet, but he’s not ruling it out either.

“You always need to stay with your feet on the ground and humble,” the Mercedes boss said after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. “He’s had a good run, the car is good and with Max Verstappen, you always need to be wary of what he can achieve. What’s the gap? Sixty-nine points. That’s the long shot. Things need to work in his favour. But you can see a DNF for the championship leader, Max scoring 25 points — it can swing quickly.”

Wolff has reasons to mind the Verstappen resurgence beyond the drivers’ standings. Mercedes are locked in a hard-nosed scrap for P2 in the Constructors’ Championship — a target they haven’t hit since 2023 — and the “point machine” in the Red Bull is the fly in that ointment. “It’s a tough fight,” Wolff said. “They’ve got some solid points today and Max is a point machine.” As it stands, Mercedes hold second place by just four points over Ferrari, with Red Bull only 18 further back. That’s the kind of margin that evaporates in a single rough weekend.”

‘More valuable than a trophy: momentum’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/wolff-warns-verstappens-long-shot-just-got-dangerous/


Red Bull boss addresses shock Max Verstappen F1 title bid
Max Verstappen took a big bite into Oscar Piastri's title lead following a run to victory last weekend in Azerbaijan.
23 September 2025
Fergal Walsh & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has downplayed a potential title push for Max Verstappen following his victory in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Mekies insisted the Milton Keynes-based squad is not placing focus on the gaps in the championship. "I tell you how we look at it - we really take it race by race, so we don't look at the championship positions,” he told the media, including RacingNews365.

“We don't even look at it from a constructors’ perspective. Yes, it's nice to look at the battle for second place in the constructors’, but we take it step by step in terms of understanding of the car, in terms of unlocking lap time of the car. We got some good answers in Monza, of course,” he said. “We got some good answers here [in Baku]. We are equally conscious that these are two very, very specific tracks.”

“The way we look at the next race is not by looking at the gap to whoever. Singapore is going to be a different challenge. How do we tackle it? How do we apply learnings to that? How much of that we think can be tested there and how much risk do you want to take? At the moment, we try to have a high-risk approach to try to learn as much as we can before the end of the season and [see if] that prevails in championship discussions.”

‘Big bite into Oscar Piastri's title lead’;

https://racingnews365.com/red-bull-boss-addresses-shock-max-verstappen-f1-title-bid


Out of nothing, Max Verstappen is back in F1 title race – here’s why
Analysis: A series of McLaren mishaps in Baku and a revitalised Red Bull car has, suddenly, given Verstappen an outside chance of an unprecedented comeback in the F1 championship fight
23 September 2025
Kieran Jackson
The Independent

It was always likely that a moment of DNF-inducing fallibility from leader Oscar Piastri was needed to reignite this season’s F1 world championship. And, on the typically unpredictable streets of Baku, we got just that. Piastri’s abnormal crash on lap one of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix opened the door for title rival Lando Norris to slice into the Australian’s 31-point advantage.

This was the moment Norris, and his fans, had craved. But by the chequered flag, it wasn’t the Briton who was the main beneficiary, having only managed to finish seventh and cut the gap to 25 points. Instead, it was Max Verstappen. You didn’t forget about him, did you?

Where other frontrunners toiled and trudged in heavy winds on the shores of the Caspian Sea, Red Bull’s four-time world champion oozed composure. A dominant lights-to-flag victory – his fourth win of the season and second in a row – suddenly sees the Dutchman just 69 points off Piastri. With seven races to go, it no longer looks like an insurmountable deficit.

‘Outside chance of an unprecedented comeback’;

https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/max-verstappen-f1-2025-title-piastri-norris-b2831239.html


The biggest gaps overturned in modern F1 history shows the improbable task for Verstappen
23 Sep 2025
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen is attempting to create history as he looks to overhaul a 104-point gap and win a fifth Drivers’ title. We are focusing solely on the current points system, introduced in 2010, which awards 25 points for the winner, 18 for second, 15 for third, 12 for fourth, 10 for fifth, eight for sixth, six for seventh, four for eighth, two for ninth and one for 10th.

The biggest gaps overcome in F1 title history since 2010
2017 – 25 points (Lewis Hamilton)
2014 – 29 points (Lewis Hamilton)
2010 – 31 points (Sebastian Vettel)
2012 – 44 points (Sebastian Vettel)
2022 – 46 points (Max Verstappen)
2025 – 104 points (Max Verstappen)?

‘Improbable task for Verstappen’;

https://www.planetf1.com/features/the-biggest-gaps-overturned-in-modern-f1-history-shows-the-improbable-task-ahead-of-max-verstappen


Verstappen Smells Blood: Is the Title Race Back On?
22 Sep 2025
Alex Albuquerque
Fastest Lap

That “high-risk approach” is the tell. This is Red Bull pivoting from survival mode back into development aggression — willing to trade setup certainty for speed if the data says it’s there. The question now is whether their Monza/Baku step is circuit-specific, or real enough to travel.

Verstappen isn’t pretending otherwise. “I don’t rely on hope,” he said. “It’s seven rounds left. Sixty-nine points is a lot. I just go race by race, what I’ve been doing basically the whole season — try to do the best we can, score the most points we can. After Abu Dhabi, we’ll know.”

Next stop: Singapore. It’s a venue that’s never quite bent to Verstappen’s will. No wins. No poles. The car will run high downforce, the tyres will cook, and it’s a night race that exposes any weakness in traction and balance. He knows the score. “I’ve never won there,” he shrugged. “We’ll see. It’s completely different… A lot of deg on the tyres. I really don’t know at the moment.”

“I don’t rely on hope”;

https://fastestlap.com/news/verstappen-smells-blood-is-the-title-race-back-on/

[Fortitude]

‘You’ll be behind Sainz’: Russell stunned Mercedes’ strategists with banzai pit entry.
Russell enjoyed the fastest complete pit stop time of the entire race. Thanks to those gains Russell rejoined the track narrowly ahead of Sainz.
22nd September 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Russell’s radio messages from his pit stop
Lap: 39/51 RUS: 1’48.001
Dudley And now we’ve got Tsunoda in the pit lane.
Dudley So George we’ll be box, box this lap. One second behind Sainz on exit. Preset diff entry, diff mid.

Lap: 40/51 RUS: 2’00.578
Dudley Russell rejoins ahead of Sainz
Overtake available on exit. Watch the white lines.
Russell I thought you said they’d be a second behind?
Dudley Yeah, it was a very good pit stop. Gap 1.7 behind.

It was an especially impressive performance for the Mercedes driver as he had been unwell for much of the weekend and considered withdrawing on Friday. Team principal Toto Wolff congratulated him after the race, saying: “George, really well done. Well driven. Flu does good for you.”
“Yeah, not bad considering I felt like ass all weekend,” Russell replied.

‘Banzai pit entry’;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/09/22/youll-be-behind-sainz-russell-stunned-mercedes-strategists-with-banzai-pit-entry/


Uncovered: Russell’s rise from the sick bed to the podium in Baku
22 Sep 2025
Uros Radovanovic
PlanetF1.com

George Russell, alongside Max Verstappen, was the only driver within the top five to start the race on hard tyres – a strategy that later proved to be much stronger. One of the main reasons for this was that, apart from the opening lap, we did not have a single incident that would bring out the Safety Car. This allowed the drivers who had started on hards to stay out longer, with equally good pace, and later have greater freedom in choosing the timing of their pit stop.

In a race with such low grip as this one in Baku, overtaking was difficult, meaning that track position was much more valuable. Despite being on the harder tyres, Russell had a better restart in Lap 5 after the Safety Car, compared to his teammate ahead. This gave him the chance to attack into T1, but the rookie defended excellently and kept his place. George braked harder than usual into T1, even though his teammate had left enough room, which Tsunoda behind took advantage of to steal P5.

George Russell was, alongside Max, the fastest on track. If we compare the lap times from Laps 29 to 39, when Sainz had the advantage of much fresher tyres, Russell was still on average a tenth quicker per lap. And this is exactly what allowed him to constantly increase his gap to Sainz. When the gap was large enough, the team made the call and brought their driver in. A quick pit stop and Russell came out just 1.3 seconds ahead of Sainz, now officially in P2.

‘Rise from the sick bed’;

https://www.planetf1.com/features/uncovered-george-russell-rise-sick-bed-to-podium-baku


Sick, Slick, and Second: Russell Benches Bottas in Baku
Alex Albuquerque
September 21, 2025
FastestLap.com

Sick, slick, and second: Russell guts out Baku podium as Mercedes readied Bottas. Mercedes very nearly called Valtteri Bottas back into service in Baku. By Friday morning, George Russell’s respiratory illness had left the team weighing up a late switch. By Sunday evening, Russell had dragged a bruising weekend into a polished P2 — the sort of salvage job that makes a team’s debrief room go quiet for a minute. The first sign it was serious came on Thursday when Mercedes excused Russell from media duties to help him recover. Even then, Toto Wolff admitted the situation was “touch and go” the following morning.

“It was George himself that said, ‘I’m not sure I can do it,’” Wolff revealed after the race. “Then every day he grew stronger, and to do a one-and-a-half hour race here in Baku without putting a foot wrong — that was a super-merited P2.” Russell qualified fifth on Saturday, and when the grand prix settled into its typical Baku rhythm — quick straights, slower brains — he leaned on the oldest trick in the Caspian playbook: stay out of trouble, manage the rubber, wait for the race to come to you.

An early shuffle dropped him to sixth, but he refused to burn up his tyres in the traffic, stretched his first stint long, and made the overcut bite. When he finally stopped, he came back out second on the road and never cracked. “It was about just staying out of trouble,” Russell said in the press conference. “I don’t think we had a spectacular weekend, to be honest. Carlos did an amazing job, and Liam as well yesterday. But the cars we ordinarily fight made mistakes or underperformed, and we picked up the pieces. The cooler temps helped a little bit, too.”

‘Sick, Slick, and Second’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/sick-slick-and-second-russell-benches-bottas-in-baku/


Mercedes casts positive take on Kimi Antonelli after ‘important’ F1 result
23 Sep 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has cast a positive verdict on Andrea Kimi Antonelli‘s Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix performance, after a summer of discontent for the Italian. “It was a really good rebound after Monza,” Wolff told the media, including Motorsport Week.

“He had such a difficult spell with the European races, and coming here with a solid P4 and running at the front, in the front group, is something to continue to build on and consolidate, and then have more good weekends until the end of the year. I think we always speak very openly with each other; there is no such thing as holding back.”

“He was not meeting his own expectations with what happened in Monza, where the driving just wasn’t what he expected or wanted it to be. Maybe a bit was missing in ultimate performance that maybe made the difference between a podium or not, but it was such a good consolidation, and in my opinion, it was important to score that result.”

‘Positive verdict’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/09/23/mercedes-casts-positive-take-on-kimi-antonelli-after-important-f1-result/


Wolff Explains Context Behind 'Lucky Ba**ard' Comment to Williams Chief
September 23, 2025
Saajan Jogia Newsweek
Bellingham Herald

Mercedes AMG Formula One team principal Toto Wolff has opened up on his "lucky ba**ard" remark… "Lucky ba**ard! Congrats on your first podium as a TP."

Now, Wolff has elaborated on the friendly but "jovial" message and addressed Vowles' leadership capabilities. He told the media: "The lucky ba**ard is more jovial. As team principals, we get lots of the criticism, but also the glory, when others are doing a great job.”

"And I'm 100 per cent convinced that James is a great contributor to the team's success, and to the long-term thinking. Everybody delivered. The driver delivered. The pit stops were good overall. It's a trajectory that I enjoy seeing with him and for the team."

‘More jovial’;

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/sports/article312234771.html#storylink=mainstage_card


Toto Wolff ‘in two minds’ over latest Mercedes customer success in F1 2026 nod
23 Sep 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

George Russell’s P2 in Baku was not the only Mercedes-powered podium result, as Carlos Sainz delivered an impressive drive to third in his Williams. Add that to the success of McLaren, which is on its way to clinching back-to-back Constructors’ titles as a Mercedes engine customer, and it is a great advert for Mercedes in Formula 1. Yet, the other voice in Toto Wolff’s head hopes Mercedes customers will not be “harming us” in F1 2026.

After Baku, Wolff was asked whether, having seen the performances of McLaren and Williams, he is concerned that a good Mercedes engine in F1 2026 could allow those two teams to mix it up with the Mercedes squad. “Or Alpine. You never know,” he responded. “So the thing is, I’m in two minds. First of all, we represent Mercedes-Benz, and I’d rather have a customer team with Mercedes-Benz engines winning than any other manufacturer.”

“But on the other side, I’m thinking, hopefully they’re not harming us, our campaign, too much. So, I’m happy for them and happy for the brand.” Wolff joked that he may need to take action on the Mercedes engine front. “On the other side, I’d like to take the engines away next year,” he said as laughter broke out. “Maybe they fail a few times!”

‘Toto ‘in two minds’ Wolff’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-wolff-in-two-minds-mercedes-customer-success-f1-2026-competition

[Fortitude]

Guenther Steiner makes stunning Lewis Hamilton claim as ‘some’ Ferrari staff seek Carlos Sainz reunion.
Guenther Steiner says ‘some’ Ferrari staff regret Lewis Hamilton replacing Carlos Sainz.
25 Sept 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Steiner was asked on the Red Flags Podcast if Ferrari regretted bringing in Hamilton to replace Sainz this season and said: “I think some people in the team do. I think obviously management cannot feel regret because you would be admitting that you did something wrong, and you cannot do that, because I’m sure that some of the guys there, the feeling I get, because Ferrari finished eighth and ninth in Baku. Carlos Sainz, now with Williams, finished third, so it’s like, I guess the guy feeling best about it is Carlos Sainz.”

Later in the podcast, Steiner was asked during the Gas or Brake segment whether Sainz’s podium proves that Ferrari made the wrong choice in signing Hamilton. “Gas!” Steiner said, “I mean, Carlos was doing a good job. They wouldn’t have all the interference from outside of Lewis not performing, so the team could focus on going racing, making things better, instead of always trying to find out why Lewis doesn’t like the car.”

“They had a known quantity with Carlos; he could deliver, and Lewis obviously, I mean, I respect Lewis, but in the moment, for the unrest he brings into the team and around the team, is it a worthwhile investment? Maybe not. Also, the investment money-wise, I’m pretty sure it’s a lot higher with Lewis than with Carlos.”

‘The unrest he brings into the team’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/guenther-steiner-makes-stunning-lewis-hamilton-claim-as-some-ferrari-staff-seek-carlos-sainz-reunion/


The mascot that spurred Carlos Sainz and Williams to best F1 result of 2025
23 Sep 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

“You have a new mascot on the back of your helmet, Carlos?” Verstappen asked his former Toro Rosso stablemate in the cool down room after the race. “It’s a unicorn!” he replied. “A fan sent us this, I said I would wear it this weekend,” which prompted Verstappen to urge Sainz: “You have to keep it now!”.

Team Principal James Vowles also noted the mascot’s appearance, saying on a video posted by Williams: “There’s one more thing that is actually quite special, I’m pretty sure either Sparkles or Sprinkles had something to do with this as well at the same time. So, that’s staying, I assume, for a little while.”

In last week’s pre-race edition of Williams’ in-house social media series ‘Call Carbono’, a young fan posed an important question to Sainz: what should she name her toy unicorn? Whilst undecided between the choice of ‘Sparkles’ or ‘Sprinkles,’ Sainz did agree to her request of wearing a unicorn sticker on his helmet for the remainder of the season. And with the unicorn adorning his lid in Baku, Sainz completed a momentous moment for the team by completing the podium alongside race-winner Max Verstappen and George Russell.

‘The mascot’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/09/23/the-mascot-that-spurred-carlos-sainz-and-williams-to-best-f1-result-of-2025/


Carlos Sainz has clear Lewis Hamilton stance after beating him to historic podium
24 Sep 2025
SPORTbible

After the race in Azerbaijan, Sainz was asked for a comparison between himself and Hamilton, but he refused to be drawn in.

He said: “What everyone else does is not my business, to be honest. What I care about is that the first opportunity that I had to score a podium with Williams, and the first opportunity Williams had to score a podium, we took it, we scored it, and there it is.”

“What everyone else does is not my business, to be honest”;

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/carlos-sainz-lewis-hamilton-formula-1-williams-ferrari-899684-20250924


Sainz snatches Baku podium; Ferrari’s Hamilton still waiting
Alex Albuquerque
Sept 24, 2025
FastestLap.com

Carlos Sainz didn’t just put Williams back on a grand prix podium. He did it before Lewis Hamilton managed one in Ferrari red. That’s a neat headline for the season’s biggest driver swap — the man Maranello moved on picking up silverware with Grove while his replacement waits for a Sunday rostrum — but Sainz isn’t interested in the comparison. He’s too busy making Williams relevant on merit.

Baku can make anyone look like a hero or a passenger, and qualifying was the full circus: gusting winds, a spitting track, six cars in the wall and red flags thrown around like confetti. In the chaos, Sainz threaded a lap between stoppages and rain to bag a front-row start, only Max Verstappen finding more when the session rebooted. The real test was always going to be Sunday. Track position is currency in Azerbaijan, and there were faster cars queued up behind the blue-and-white FW47. It didn’t matter.

Sainz managed the afternoon with the poise of a driver who’s been here before — because he has — and carried Williams to third place at the flag, the team’s first podium in a full-length grand prix since this very race in 2017. “I always said to the team from the beginning that whenever a first big opportunity of fighting for a podium comes, as long as we have everything under control and nothing goes wrong and we prove to everyone what we’re doing… then I’ll be OK,” Sainz said, smiling the kind of smile that comes with relief and a little vindication. “It’s exactly what ended up happening today.”

‘He did it before Lewis Hamilton managed one in Ferrari red’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/sainz-snatches-baku-podium-ferraris-hamilton-still-waiting/


Lewis Hamilton not on Sainz’s mind after landmark Williams podium
24 Sep 2025
Elizabeth Blackstock
PlanetF1.com

By snagging third in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz secured a podium with Williams before Lewis Hamilton — who took over his seat at Ferrari — could accomplish the same feat with his newest squad. Carlos Sainz’s landmark front-row start with Williams at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix had many wondering if a strong performance was possible in the race, or if Sainz had simply gotten lucky in an unpredictable qualifying session.

Qualifying is not race pace, and Sainz’s true test was to come on Sunday afternoon. Yet, despite the fact that multiple top-tier cars had qualified behind him, he was able to hold onto third come the chequered flag, giving Williams its first podium in a full-length grand prix since the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. It was a triumph for Sainz, and his team.

“Probably, if you asked many of us yesterday, we didn’t believe the podium was actually achievable with so many fast cars behind. But I think we’ve had good pace this year, we just didn’t have many opportunities to show it. Today we had a very good opportunity to show our very good pace, and we managed to stay on the podium.”

‘Carlos Sainz’s landmark front-row start with Williams’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-hamilton-not-on-sainzs-mind-after-landmark-williams-podium


Carlos Sainz Shrugs Off Lewis Hamilton Comparison After Baku Podium
Sept 24, 2025
Saajan Jogia Newsweek
Macon.com

Williams Racing Formula One driver Carlos Sainz has shrugged off the comparison with Lewis Hamilton after securing his first podium with the team this year at last weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Sainz's milestone in a midfield team is a stark contrast to Hamilton's results in a strong team like Ferrari, as he has yet to deliver a top-three finish this season. Hamilton's Ferrari signing last year meant Sainz had to look elsewhere for a premier class racing seat. Eventually, he signed with the Grove-based outfit, impressed by team principal James Vowles' long-term goal of making Williams a championship-winning outfit.

Quite naturally, moving from a team where he won many races and several podiums last year to a team where scoring points would be a challenge was a difficult pill for Sainz to swallow. Hamilton, on the other hand, was expected to be in top form, given his wish to secure an eighth title with Ferrari. However, he has faced significant challenges in adapting to the SF-25 F1 car, often reporting his dissatisfaction with the car's rear end. Notably, his best result with the Maranello-based outfit was his Chinese Grand Prix sprint race victory.

‘Hamilton, on the other hand, was expected to be in top form’;

https://www.macon.com/sports/article312249700.html#storylink=mainstage_card


Ralf Schumacher suggests Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari should go their ‘separate ways’ if they can’t fix one problem
24 Sept 2025
Ashley Hambly
F1 Oversteer

Speaking on a post-Baku podcast for Sky Sport Formel 1, former F1 driver turned pundit, Ralf Schumacher, voiced his opinion on the dynamic between Hamilton and his current employers, suggesting a dramatic end to their highly anticipated partnership after just one season together.

“The way they treat each other isn’t good. Then there’s Lewis’s criticism of the team. I’m sceptical of the combination,” Schumacher told viewers. “And then there’s this failure to swap back with Leclerc before the finish line. Ferrari has to do its work internally, otherwise it’ll tear itself apart from within. A thunderstorm clears the air; that’s a thing of the past. We simply need to talk openly with each other. The limits and expectations need to be defined. If Lewis no longer has trust in the team, and vice versa, that would be a great shame. Because if mistrust develops, then it’s better to let it go and go our separate ways at the end of the year.”

“The way they treat each other isn’t good”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ralf-schumacher-suggests-lewis-hamilton-and-ferrari-should-go-their-separate-ways-if-they-cant-fix-one-problem/

[Fortitude]

Tsunoda, Lawson, Hadjar - Who should join Verstappen in 2026? Our verdict.
Red Bull‘s long-running dilemma of who should partner Max Verstappen shows no sign of ending as the 2026 Formula 1 season approaches.
Sept 25th 2025
Motor Sport Magazine

With just four months to go until testing begins in Barcelona, the team appears uncertain of its choice, as it continues to focus on its own pool of drivers.

The three candidates currently in F1, Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar, each bringing a different mix of speed, experience, and potential, but also their own drawbacks.

‘Red Bull‘s long-running dilemma’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/tsunoda-lawson-hadjar-who-should-join-verstappen-in-2026-our-verdict/?nowprocket=1


Has Lawson’s Baku charge helped to secure his Racing Bulls future?
SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 · 10:33 AM
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog

It’s not been an easy season for Liam Lawson, demoted from Red Bull Racing and then largely overshadowed of late by his Racing Bulls team mate Isack Hadjar… …a strong performance from Lawson in Baku that saw him held off a train of cars led by none other than Tsunoda came with perfect timing, and his fifth place will have done him a lot of good. A great lap in Q3 saw him briefly second on the grid behind Carlos Sainz before Max Verstappen pipped them both.

In the end Lawson lost out only to the two Brackley cars as George Russell and Kimi Antonelli pushed him down to fifth. It was a decent result, and the confident way in which he kept a pack of potentially faster cars at bay would have done him a lot of good in the Red Bull camp. “I don’t think we had the speed today to finish on the podium, as much as I would have loved it,” he said when I asked about his race.”

“And when you start there, obviously part of you tries to make it possible, or feels like it’s possible, and we tried everything today. I think we made the right call on pit stops. Tried to cover Kimi, but we just didn’t have the speed today. Part of it’s frustrating, but I think looking at it as a big picture, it’s a great result to finish fifth, and we’ll take that going forward.”

‘Lawson’s Baku charge’;

https://adamcooperf1.com/2025/09/25/has-lawsons-baku-charge-helped-to-secure-his-racing-bulls-future/


Red Bull in no rush to make 2026 driver decisions after strong weekend in Baku
24 Sep 2025
Alan Baldwin
Reuters
The Japan Times

Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda celebrated personal bests in Baku last weekend but both will have to wait for news on their Formula One futures.

Sunday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix was the first race since Russia in 2020 where the energy drink brand's two teams — Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls — had all their drivers score points.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen won for Red Bull, with Racing Bulls' Lawson finishing a career high fifth after starting third, the highest F1 grid position by a New Zealander since Chris Amon in 1976.

‘Red Bull in no rush’;

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/09/24/more-sports/tsunoda-lawson-red-bull-future/


Tsunoda explains why he avoided ‘hero’ move on Lawson
22 Sep 2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Yuki Tsunoda celebrated a career-best finish with Red Bull Racing in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, securing sixth and eight valuable points – his best result in F1 since his fourth-place finish in Abu Dhabi way back in 2021. However, Tsunoda admitted that he had to temper his instincts to avoid a risky “hero” move on his rival that could have jeopardized the team’s strong showing.

“I had a lot of emotions that I wanted to overtake, and so some hero thing, some hero stuff in overtaking, but yeah, [I told myself to] slow down,” he said. “I couldn't do some aggressive manoeuvre and lose position to Lando, it matters for Red Bull as a team being ahead of McLaren. The most important thing is to be ahead of McLaren, and both cars were in front.”

Reflecting on the race, Tsunoda acknowledged he could have attempted a bolder move on Lawson just after his tyre change. “In the second stint, unfortunately, if I was able to rejoin two metres faster, probably I would have been able to keep Liam behind,” he said.

‘Temper his instincts’;

https://f1i.com/news/549146-tsunoda-explains-why-he-avoided-hero-move-on-lawson.html


Liam Lawson ridicules Racing Bulls 'easy' theory: 'How can you know?'
Liam Lawson's fifth place in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix helped elevate Racing Bulls to sixth in the constructors' championship.
23 Sept 2025
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Following the race at the Baku City Circuit, it was put to Lawson that "a lot of people say that the Racing Bulls is the easiest car". Asked whether he agreed with the theory, speaking to the media, including RacingNews365, the New Zealander gave the idea short shrift.

"Unless you drive every single car on the grid, how can you know what each car is like to drive?" responded Lawson. "It's a consistent car. It's something that we can definitely say, and be proud of, that across the board, at all sorts of different tracks, it's consistently fast.”

"That doesn't mean it's easy to drive, but the speed is in the car, and that's been something we've been able to utilise across the season so far." Describing what unfolded in Azerbaijan as "extremely positive", Lawson added: "The main thing is, as I say, our car has been consistently good across the board at all sorts of different tracks, so that's very positive for us.”

‘Racing Bulls 'easy' theory’;

https://racingnews365.com/liam-lawson-ridicules-racing-bulls-easy-theory-how-can-you-know


‘Team’ orders for Lawson with Tsunoda behind? ‘None at all’
23 Sep 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Liam Lawson’s fifth place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was never under threat from the Red Bull pit wall despite the Racing Bulls driver keeping Yuki Tsunoda at bay, says Alan Permane. One thing was certain, though, there wouldn’t be any instructions between the two Red Bull-owned teams.

“There were none at all,” Permane confirmed to DAZN. “We weren’t going to let him through, of course. Liam did a great job keeping behind a faster car. Yuki had fresh medium tyres and Liam did a great job holding him off with elbows out.”

“Liam is very tough mentally, very strong. He’s been focused all weekend. He drove perfectly. He’d never raced here in F1, yes in F2 but that’s very different. He kept progressing from FP1, FP2, FP3. Qualifying was extraordinary and the race exceptional.”

‘None at all’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/team-orders-liam-lawson-yuki-tsunoda-behind-none-baku


Liam Lawson reveals hidden issue behind his best F1 result in Baku
The Racing Bulls driver finished a career-best fifth in Azerbaijan but admitted a costly mistake left him powerless in a key fight
21 Sept 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

Lawson ran strongly in the opening phase of the race, holding third behind Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz. But once the pit stops played out, the 23-year-old found himself locked in a duel with Antonelli. Emerging ahead of the Italian after stopping on Lap 21, Lawson thought he had covered the undercut — only for his rival to blast past him on the following lap, exploiting DRS and a drained battery.

Antonelli pulled away to finish fourth, while Lawson regrouped to withstand fierce pressure in a DRS train to secure fifth at the flag. After climbing out of the car, Lawson admitted the incident had been a turning point in his race. “I ran out of energy, it was so frustrating,” Lawson told the press, including Total-Motorsport.com.

“I saw the bar and got to the straight, and I knew halfway down that I was going to have nothing left. It’s something I learned from. When the next pack of cars came, I made sure it never happened again, and I always had the energy to defend.” The rookie conceded that Antonelli would likely have got by anyway, given Mercedes’ superior pace, but stressed that the moment had been a valuable lesson.

‘A turning point in his race’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/liam-lawson-reveals-hidden-issue-behind-best-f1-result-baku/


Red Bull’s 2026 Purge: Will Tsunoda, Lawson Survive?
Sept 26, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Red Bull’s youth squeeze: Schumacher says Tsunoda and Lawson still on the bubble for 2026. That’s the blunt read from Ralf Schumacher, who believes the senior team and junior squad are lining up a fresh reset that could leave both men without a chair when the music stops.

In Azerbaijan, both finally showed some teeth. Lawson stuck his car third on the grid and turned it into a career-best fifth, stonewalling a train that included Tsunoda, Lando Norris and both Ferraris. Tsunoda, on much fresher mediums versus Lawson’s ageing hards and with DRS to boot, couldn’t crack the door — but still banked P6, his best result in Red Bull colours. It felt like a corner turned. Schumacher isn’t so sure.

“Before Baku, I would’ve said both Tsunoda and Lawson were out,” he said on the Backstage Pit Lane podcast, arguing that even with a strong Sunday, the problem is less about form and more about Red Bull’s conveyor belt. The Austrian system looks primed to promote Isack Hadjar to the senior team with Verstappen for 2026, while F2 livewire Arvid Lindblad is widely tipped to step into Racing Bulls. That leaves one RB seat — and, in Schumacher’s eyes, a very real chance McLaren junior Alex Dunne gets it.

‘Red Bull’s 2026 Purge’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/red-bulls-2026-purge-will-tsunoda-lawson-survive/

[Fortitude]

Lewis Hamilton asks for 'love and support' as dog Roscoe in coma.
The seven-time world champion said: “Please keep Roscoe in your thoughts. I want to keep you all updated. Roscoe caught pneumonia again and was struggling to breathe.
26th Sep 2025
David George
National World

Roscoe, who is 12 years old, was diagnosed with pneumonia in April and has been on medication ever since. But this week, the bulldog has suffered a second round of pneumonia and his heart stopped as vets rushed to his aid. Roscoe is now in a coma after what Hamilton, 40, described as a “scary few hours”.

Lewis Hamilton: “He was admitted into hospital and sedated to calm him while they did checks on him and during the process his heart stopped. They managed to get a heartbeat back and now he’s in a coma. We don’t know whether he will wake from this. Tomorrow we’ll try to wake him up. I’m by his side and want to thank you all for your prayers and support.”

Speaking to the Mercedes-Benz F1 team’s YouTube channel in a Q&A session, Hamilton said: “I remember being online, looking online for rescues. There’s some page I found that had like 1,000 bulldogs and I just went through all of them and then I came across this one picture and I was like, ‘That’s him!’ That was like one of the best decisions I ever took in my life.”

“Please keep Roscoe in your thoughts”;

https://www.nationalworld.com/sport/formula-1/lewis-hamilton-dog-roscoe-in-coma-when-did-ferrari-star-adopt-him-and-how-long-is-a-bulldogs-lifespan-5335633


How Lewis Hamilton's Dog Roscoe Shot to Fame With More Than 1M Followers
September 26, 2025
Saajan Jogia Newsweek
Rock Hill Herald

Hamilton adopted Roscoe in 2013, the same year he joined Mercedes, before going on to secure six world titles and play a key role in the team’s eight Constructors’ Championships over the following 12 years. Roscoe accompanied the seven-time world champion at Grand Prix venues, stealing the limelight as he became one of F1’s most loved stars. His Instagram profile features some adorable and hilarious updates of him, often accompanied by Hamilton himself, which boosted his popularity. Shared below is a post of Roscoe’s first trip to the Ferrari garage:

Hamilton shifted Roscoe to a vegan diet in 2020 in a bid to improve his health. Sadly, Roscoe slipped into a coma yesterday after doctors got his heart beating again. The 12-year-old dog is suffering from pneumonia. Hamilton revealed in a post today that it is uncertain if Roscoe will wake up again. Newsweek Sports reported his comments:

“Please keep Roscoe in your thoughts. I want to keep you all updated. Roscoe caught pneumonia again and was struggling to breathe. He was admitted into hospital and sedated to calm him while they did checks on him and during the process his heart stopped.

‘More Than 1M Followers’;

https://www.heraldonline.com/sports/article312277934.html#storylink=mainstage_card


‘Don’t know whether he will wake from this’: Hamilton pulls out of Ferrari tyre test to be with sick dog
September 27th, 2025 8:05 am
AFP from Afp
Fox Sports (Australia)

Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton withdrew from a tyre test with Ferrari in Italy to be with his sick dog, he revealed on social media. Posting on Instagram, Hamilton said his 12-year-old bulldog Roscoe had been hospitalised with pneumonia and was now in a coma.

“Roscoe caught pneumonia again and was struggling to breathe,” the 40-year-old British driver wrote. “He was admitted into hospital and sedated to calm him while they did checks on him and during the process his heart stopped. They managed to get a heartbeat back and now he’s in a coma. We don’t know whether he will wake from this.”

‘Don’t know whether he will wake from this’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/f1-2025-lewis-hamilton-withdraws-from-ferrari-tyre-test-to-be-with-sick-dog-roscoe-update/news-story/6d9806fd2a234afc5fea292ff2b7e88c


Lewis Hamilton Backs Out of Ferrari Show: ‘I Need to Be With Roscoe'
September 27, 2025
Geca Flores Parade
The Kansas City Star

Lewis Hamilton is prioritizing his dog Roscoe's health above everything else. Amid the 12-year-old doggo's battle with pneumonia, the Formula 1 star is once again stepping away from the spotlight.

In an Instagram Story, he announced skipping another high-profile event, this time Milan Fashion Week, to be with his fur baby, who currently needs medical attention. I was supposed to be in Milan for the Ferrari Fashion Show tomorrow and was really excited about it. But as you know, I need to be with Roscoe right now," he wrote.

Despite the unexpected changes, the 40-year-old racer assured that he will continue to support the upcoming show. "I'll be watching the show on @ferraristyle and want to send my love and support to Rocco and the whole team. I'm sure it's going to be amazing – enjoy the livestream on Saturday at 9:30am Milan time and see you very soon!" he added.

‘I Need to Be With Roscoe';

https://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/article312283160.html#storylink=mainstage_card


Hamilton Sidelined by Roscoe Scare; Zhou Steps In for Ferrari
September 26, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Hamilton steps aside from Mugello tyre test as Zhou steps in for Ferrari. Ferrari will field Zhou Guanyu alongside Charles Leclerc in Friday’s Pirelli tyre test at Mugello after Lewis Hamilton withdrew late on, with the decision coming in the wake of a health scare involving the Briton’s beloved bulldog, Roscoe.

Pirelli confirmed the revised line-up on Thursday evening, naming Zhou in the SF-25 mule car for the final day of running. No official reason was given for Hamilton’s absence, but it followed an emotional post from the seven-time World Champion, who shared an image of 12-year-old Roscoe in an incubator and wrote: “It’s been a scary few hours. Everyone please keep Roscoe in your thoughts and prayers.”

Ferrari hasn’t offered further comment, but the change is understood to be for personal reasons. It’s a compassionate call in a week that was already light on low-hanging positives for Hamilton, who’s still hunting his first Ferrari podium in a season that’s proven more spiky than smooth. Ferrari and customer team Haas are at Mugello to support Pirelli’s development push for the 2026 tyres, using a mix of adapted machinery and “mule” cars tuned to mimic next year’s active-aero era.

‘Hamilton Sidelined by Roscoe Scare’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/hamilton-sidelined-by-roscoe-scare-zhou-steps-in-for-ferrari/


Lewis Hamilton skips Pirelli F1 test after dog Roscoe’s health scare
Lewis Hamilton will not be in action for Ferrari in the Pirelli tyre test at Mugello
26 Sep 2025
Connor McDonagh
Crash.net

Reputable Italian journalist Rosario Giuliana has since reported Hamilton will not take part in the Pirelli 2026 tyre test later today. Hamilton was due to drive alongside Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc at Mugello.

However, the seven-time world champion will be replaced by reserve driver, Zhou Guanyu. Giuliana reported: “For understandable reasons, Lewis Hamilton will not take part in tomorrow’s Pirelli test, with Zhou joining Leclerc in his place.”

The latest Pirelli test will give teams another chance to try out the new rubber for next year. The 2026 tyres are still 18 inches in diameter, but the front tyre width has been reduced from 305mm to 275mm.

‘Roscoe’s health scare’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1082454/1/lewis-hamilton-skips-pirelli-f1-test-after-dog-roscoes-health-scare

[Fortitude]

Newey's shocking working hours: 'He didn't come to retire'.
"It’s because he sees the team’s potential. Newey is working... not 24 hours a day, because he sleeps. But he sleeps very little, I can guarantee you that. And it’s amazing” de la Rosa told the Dura La Vita podcast.
26 Sep 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Aston Martin ambassador Pedro de la Rosa highlights the level of Newey’s dedication to Aston Martin. “Any day you go to the factory at any time, you look and he’s in his office.”

"Any time, I can even tell you at two in the morning. I’ve gone there at that time to pick up things and leave. The Adrian Newey effect isn’t just a marketing hype. It’s a work effect, an inspiration effect, and it’s stretching and inspiring new generations. Everyone is very excited to work and learn with him.”

According to de la Rosa, Newey’s commitment is tied to Aston Martin’s long-term investment in the team. “Newey came to the team because he sees the potential. Because of the investment, which takes many years to materialise in wind tunnels, CFD testing, etc, the potential is there. But we’re going to prove it in 2026. All of this is fine words, but a lifeline speaks volumes.”

"Any time, I can even tell you at two in the morning”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/neweys-shocking-working-hours-he-didnt-come-to-retire


Alonso and Newey Plot Aston Martin’s 2026 Coup
September 28, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Inside the glass-and-carbon corridors at Silverstone, one of F1’s most intriguing partnerships is taking shape. Fernando Alonso finally has Adrian Newey on his side, and the pair are already deep in the weeds, sketching out Aston Martin’s answer to the sport’s 2026 reset. Alonso, never shy about the scale of his ambitions, sounds energised — and a little humbled — by the process. Speaking in-house at Aston Martin, he admitted you sometimes need “full brain capacity” just to keep up when Newey starts connecting the dots. The punchline? In those moments, Alonso says Newey’s only using “five percent.”

Where does the driver instinct meet the design intent? What trade-offs will help the guy in the cockpit extract more on a Sunday? What’s the effect on technique if the car goes this way, not that? That feedback loop matters. The 2026 regulations promise sweeping changes to both chassis and power unit philosophies, and the teams that marry concept with usability will surface first. Newey, Alonso hints, is probing those intersections, seeing how his directions might change braking points, rotation, traction — the real on-track stuff. And when the questions come, they’re deceptively simple. The answers, even simpler — at least to him.

“He’s always in his room, at his drawing board,” Alonso said, painting the classic Newey picture. Focused, direct, deliberate. The message: the details will come when the car’s more mature. For now, it’s about the compass, not the map. All of this lands as Aston Martin stands at a fork. The team has built the infrastructure — the wind tunnel, the talent pipeline, the upgraded campus — but step-changes in F1 don’t arrive by courier. They’re built across seasons. Newey’s presence accelerates the learning curve. Honda’s works deal completes the ecosystem. Put simply, Aston Martin won’t just be fitting someone else’s engine; they’ll be building a grand prix car with the power unit as a central design pillar. That’s a different game.

“He’s always in his room, at his drawing board”;

https://fastestlap.com/news/alonso-and-newey-plot-aston-martins-2026-coup/


Alonso’s ‘brain capacity’ challenged in Adrian Newey F1 2026 progress update
28 Sep 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Opportunity knocks in a major way for F1 2026, with sweeping changes coming to the chassis and engine regulations. Aston Martin has Newey on its side, an icon of F1 design, having contributed to 26 world championship wins. The Silverstone squad also has a works engine deal with Honda from next year, as the Japanese brand migrates over from Red Bull.

With Aston Martin, Alonso is chasing a long-awaited third World Championship. F1 2026 will mark two decades since his second and latest title triumph. “Yeah, he’s an incredible person, the best designer in the history of our sport, and everyone in the team is learning a lot from him,” said Alonso.

“Everything Adrian does, you try to understand why he is doing that, why he chose that direction, or why he’s answering in that way, because there is always something to learn from him. Even from a simple answer that he can give to you in response to a question, that simple answer can be so clear to him, but why is it not for others?”

‘Aston Martin has Newey on its side’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernando-alonso-adrian-newey-f1-2026-progress-update


Alonso’s Bold Bet: Aston Martin Title “Guaranteed”
September 27, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Fernando Alonso doubles down: Aston Martin title fight is “more or less guaranteed”—it’s just a matter of when… Fernando Alonso doesn’t do half-measures. Not on track, not in interviews. And in Baku, he cut through the noise with a blunt assessment of Aston Martin’s trajectory: a title fight is coming. The only unknown, he says, is timing. “I’m pretty convinced,” Alonso told Aston Martin’s official website. “The only thing is when. That’s probably my only question mark from this project.”

On paper, it’s a bold call. Aston Martin sits seventh in the 2025 Constructors’ standings, a long way from the sharp end Alonso craves. But the team has bet big on the reset arriving in 2026: a new regulations package, a Honda works power unit deal, a brand-new wind tunnel and expanded factory, and, crucially, the Adrian Newey-led design effort aimed squarely at the first year of the new rules. Alonso, contracted through 2026, sees the pieces arranged. Now they need to click.

“Aston Martin Aramco fighting for and winning the World Championship is more or less guaranteed in the future,” he said. “We have everything that is needed to fight for a World Championship. Then, to execute the job and to win it, you need some external factors as well: you need a little help from the competitors; you need a little bit of luck; you need to execute every weekend well.” It’s classic Alonso: conviction laced with pragmatism. He’s never been shy about setting the bar, and he’s smart enough to add the caveats that keep you honest in a sport where the margins are a science and the unknowns pile up quickly under new regulations.

‘Alonso’s Bold Bet: Aston Martin Title “Guaranteed”’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/alonsos-bold-bet-aston-martin-title-guaranteed/


Alonso's first F1 title, 20 years later: 'He was just another level'
Sep 25, 2025
Nate Saunders
ESPN.co.uk

WIDE-EYED, CRAZED, TRIUMPHANT. Fernando Alonso climbed onto the front of his blue and yellow Renault. Pumping his fists into the sky, a high-pitched shriek tore out of his mouth, followed by, "Come on! Come on!" It created an iconic image at what was a landmark moment in Formula 1: Twenty years ago, on Sept. 25, 2005, Alonso was king of the world. With two whole races to spare, a 24-year-old from Oviedo, Spain had shattered the sport's status quo.

In his duel with McLaren's Kimi Räikkönen, one familiar name had been missing: Michael Schumacher, whose run of five straight drivers' titles -- and Ferrari's six straight constructors' -- had come to an abrupt end without so much as a whimper. Third place at Interlagos had been enough for Alonso to clinch it. Two decades later, he insists it's that scream -- not the trophy, not the parties that night in São Paulo or back in Europe -- that he remembers.

"That was an incredible moment and emotion," Alonso told ESPN. "From the inside, it was just like a relief. A weight out of the shoulders of so much pressure in the months before Brazil, because the championship was getting closer and closer, but you're never 100% sure until it happens. So when it did happen, it was maybe 20 years of my life concentrated in those 10 seconds of celebration."

"Come on! Come on!" That scream -- not the trophy, not the parties that night in São Paulo or back in Europe -- that he remembers;

https://www.espn.co.uk/racing/f1/story/_/id/46378188/fernando-alonso-first-f1-title-20-years-later-was-just-another-level


Yuki Tsunoda lifeline emerges as Andretti confirms major signing for 2026 season
27 Sep 2025
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Rumours that Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda could secure a Formula 1 lifeline with the Aston Martin team are set to intensify ahead of the F1 2026 season. Reports have indicated that Drugovich is set to cut ties with Aston Martin at the end of the F1 2025 season, likely creating a vacancy in the team’s driver ranks.

Tsunoda is widely expected to be replaced by Isack Hadjar at Red Bull Racing for F1 2026 having struggled since becoming Max Verstappen’s teammate after two races of this season. Tsunoda has been persistently linked with a future role with Aston Martin since the team confirmed more than two years ago that it would enter a technical partnership with Honda, Tsunoda’s long-term backer, at the start of the F1 2026 season.

Speaking to media including PlanetF1.com at last year’s Monaco Grand Prix, Tsunoda admitted that Aston Martin could “maybe” emerge as his long-term destination due to the team’s burgeoning relationship with Honda.

‘Honda, Tsunoda’s long-term backer’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/yuki-tsunoda-red-bull-aston-martin-andretti-lifeline

[Fortitude]

Max Strikes Back: Red Bull’s Late-Season Revolt.
Tsunoda throws weight behind Verstappen as Red Bull smells a late-season swing.
Sept 28, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Max Verstappen has turned the 2025 title fight from a cruise into a chase over the past two weekends, and the mood inside Red Bull has changed with it. Two commanding wins in Monza and Baku, aided by a sharply effective new floor, have chopped 35 points out of Oscar Piastri’s lead. The Dutchman still sits 69 points back, but after a flat mid-season, this is the first time the pendulum looks like it might budge.

Yuki Tsunoda, fresh off his best result since stepping up to the senior team with P6 in Azerbaijan, says Red Bull aren’t filing this year under “move on to 2026” just yet — and he’s ready to play wingman if the chance presents itself. “I think definitely, we are more confident in the coming races to perform better,” Tsunoda said. “I’m sure we’re not giving up with this season, especially securing the Drivers’ Championship for Max. I’ll try to extract performance as much as possible from the car that I have and, if I can support him, that would be good.”

The floor package introduced at Monza looks like a genuine step. Verstappen’s speed through the medium- to high-speed stuff was the story in Italy, while Baku underlined the car’s improved range as Red Bull handled the traction and braking-heavy street circuit with poise. It’s a combo that’s been missing at various points this year, and the effect has been immediate: Verstappen looks like Verstappen again.

‘Verstappen looks like Verstappen again’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/max-strikes-back-red-bulls-late-season-revolt/


Tsunoda: Red Bull and Verstappen ‘not giving up’ on F1 2025 title battle
28 Sep 2025
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

Yuki Tsunoda has said he is sure Red Bull is “not giving up with this season”, especially looking to mount a title challenge with Max Verstappen. “I think teams are pushing a lot in terms of this, upgrades and everything, and trying to secure some milliseconds on every corner, which is very important,” Tsunoda said.

“I think definitely, we are more confident in the coming races to perform better, so I’m sure we’re not giving up with this season, especially securing the Drivers’ Championship for Max, so I’ll try to extract performance as much as possible from the car that I have, and also at the same time for some races, if I can support him, that would be [good].”

‘Not giving up’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/yuki-tsunoda-red-bull-f1-2025-title-fight


Verstappen ready for shake-up, eyes Singapore glory
28 Sep 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen has weighed in on the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix. The Red Bull Racing driver also highlighted several factors that may need to align to deliver a strong outing at the Marina Bay circuit. Verstappen highlighted the unique characteristics of the Marina Bay circuit, while also touching on the uncertainty surrounding tyre degradation. “It’s completely different. High downforce. A lot of degradation on the tyres, so we’ll see what happens. I really don’t know at the moment.”

Discussing what would be required to achieve his maiden win at the circuit, Verstappen also detailed how the car needs to feel right throughout the race weekend. “Depends on a lot of things. If the car is shocking to drive, yes, it’s really hard to keep it in a straight line. But if the car is nice to drive, then it’s more about just the physicality of it. At the same time, if everything’s going well, you can relax a bit more, and then naturally it’s less physical as well.”

Verstappen on preparation for Singapore: “Let’s wait and see. I mean, it’s always hot, and you’re sweating a lot, so you have to prepare for that. But I guess we’ve all done that — heat training and stuff — preparing for these kinds of races. Basically, it’s about getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. I don’t mind it. It’s a cool track. Of course, I’ve never won there, but it’s a cool feeling to drive, and I hope this year we’ll be a bit more competitive.”

‘Eyes Singapore glory’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verstappen-ready-for-shake-up-eyes-singapore-glory


Why Red Bull has ‘more equations’ to solve despite back-to-back Verstappen wins
29 Sep 2025
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has explained the different characteristics of the Marina Bay Circuit in Singapore means the team’s “equations” will “move a bit” to find the optimum setup. Having visited two low-downforce circuits in Monza and Baku, however, Mekies explained how Singapore represents a completely different challenge in almost every way. “You go to Singapore, you move a bit your equations. You keep the slow speed corners, but you go to maximum downforce, [where] we have been struggling quite a lot, [in] Budapest, and before Budapest, and also a much hotter track, probably compared to that.”

“We know how sensitive not only us, but the whole field, is to the aspect, so we take it step by step. We take the challenge of Singapore. It’s a track that’s been challenging for the team for many, many years, and in the context of what we are trying to see, it’s very important to see what suddenly doesn’t work there anymore, or whatever.”

“After trying to take it to the next step, you will be back to tracks with medium speed corners, where we were killed by McLaren two races ago in Zandvoort. You know, the gap was very significant. Also in Spa, we left Spa thinking that they were half a second faster than us, even though Max won the sprint. So that’s the next sort of set of answer we will be chasing.”

“You go to Singapore, you move a bit your equations”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/red-bull-equation-solving-singapore-gp


Why Red Bull is under pressure to deliver ‘fantastic story’ for Max Verstappen
29 Sep 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Red Bull is under pressure to deliver a “fantastic story” to ensure Max Verstappen completes his Formula 1 career with the team, according to his agent. Verstappen’s manager Raymond Vermeulen will be keeping a lookout on what is best for his man once the dust settles and it becomes apparent which team has interpreted the rules best.

“Everything could change next year with the new regulations,” he told De Telegraaf. “So it’s better to wait and see how things develop and who is where. Based on that, you can then look further ahead. This is nothing new, you know. In 2016, we moved from Toro Rosso to Red Bull, and later from Renault to Honda in terms of engines.”

“Those are all moments when you think: ‘What’s going to happen now?’ Those are developments that the three of us – Max, Jos [Verstappen] and I – are constantly monitoring. And Max ultimately has the final say. It would be a fantastic story if he drove his entire Formula 1 career for Red Bull. But that will only happen if he has the equipment to win.”

'Red Bull is under pressure';

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/09/29/why-red-bull-is-under-pressure-to-deliver-fantastic-story-for-max-verstappen/


Max Verstappen admits to having Red Bull doubts amid F1 slump
Max Verstappen admits to having doubts that Red Bull could turn around their fortunes in 2025.
28 Sept 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Max Verstappen has admitted he wondered whether Red Bull would be able to turnaround their 2025 F1 season. “In the end you always go through certain difficult moment,” the Dutchman said. “And of course, sometimes you do think, ‘Is this going to be okay, can we still turn things around?’”

“But on the other hand, there’s no point to keep thinking like that. You always have to look for solutions, talk to people inside the team, and exchange ideas in a positive way. At the end of the day, that what it’s all about and that's what we have done.”

‘Having Red Bull doubts’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1082492/1/max-verstappen-admits-having-red-bull-doubts-amid-f1-slump


What Made Max Verstappen Commit to Red Bull for 2026? Manager Reveals Truth
Sept 28, 2025
Saajan Jogia Newsweek
The Wichita Eagle, Kansas City

In an interview with De Telegraaf, Raymond Vermeulen (Max Verstappen’s Manager) revealed the logic behind the four-time world champion’s decision to stay. He said: “Everything could change next year with the new regulations. So it’s better to wait and see how things develop and who is where. Based on that, you can then look further ahead.”

“This is nothing new, you know. In 2016, we moved from Toro Rosso to Red Bull, and later from Renault to Honda in terms of engines. Those are all moments when you think: ‘What’s going to happen now?’ Those are developments that the three of us – Max, Jos [Verstappen] and I – are constantly monitoring. And Max ultimately has the final say. It would be a fantastic story if he drove his entire Formula 1 career for Red Bull. But that will only happen if he has the equipment to win.”

When asked about the possibility of Verstappen being unable to be successful next year, he said: “Yes, that’s possible. But that could also apply to others. It would have been a huge gamble if he had signed a contract somewhere else for next year. There are no guarantees whatsoever. Everyone is making predictions, but they are all assumptions. Next year, it’s not just about the engine, but also about the chassis. And which people will be recruited here, what impact will that have? It’s a kind of puzzle you’re putting together. Hence the conclusion that it’s better to stay for at least another year.”

‘What’s going to happen now?’;

https://www.kansas.com/sports/article312300502.html#storylink=mainstage_card

[Fortitude]

Hints of McLaren ‘anxiety’ after Verstappen Azerbaijan GP win.
McLaren mistakes highlight Verstappen pressure. Cracks are already starting to appear for McLaren after Norris clipped the wall in qualifying and Piastri crashed into the barrier in Sunday’s race, believes F1 journalist Brandon Sutton.
26 Sep 2025
Joe Krishnan
Total Motorsport

F1 journalist Ewan Gale thinks it would be very unlikely that Verstappen wipes out the deficit in the remaining seven races, but his return to prominence is giving McLaren a headache.

“For me, I think it’s a stretch to say he [Verstappen] is in the title race. But what he will be doing is he’ll be causing anxiety to the McLaren drivers. They’ll be starting to look over their shoulder a little bit more rather than focusing on themselves,” he said.

“A lot has to happen for Verstappen to be in the title race. It needs McLaren to have another probably two off races. He probably needs Norris and Piastri to get into each other and take each other out of one of the races. But, as it stands, Piastri pretty much needs to finish third in every race and every sprint at the moment and he’ll still be ahead of Verstappen.”

‘Giving McLaren a headache’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-expert-mclaren-anxiety-verstappen-azerbaijan-gp/


Montoya: “Piastri’s Baku Errors Show He’s Feeling the Heat in F1 Title Fight”
30 Sep 2025
James Rees
F1 Chronicle

Oscar Piastri’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix performance was “terrible,” according to former McLaren driver Juan Pablo Montoya, who fears the Australian is beginning to crack under championship pressure. “Piastri lost his temper,” Montoya said. “I’ve been telling you, ‘Wait and see,’ and it was noticeable. For a while, when he was under direct pressure from Lando regarding the points, he was still performing well. But in Baku, the race was terrible.”

Montoya suggested the Australian misjudged his rivals in the opening laps. “Apart from jumping the start, the start itself was terrible. Then he thought he would pass people quickly. He calculated his braking based on those around him, but they braked late, so he braked later—and bang. Welcome to a street circuit. The mental problem for me is more complicated now, because you’re going to another street circuit, which is 100% a Lando track,” Montoya explained.

“You’re not in a position to attack Lando, because if you make another mistake, you’re going to create a world of unnecessary headaches. He has a big advantage, but as we’ve seen, that can change in a week. What he has to do is finish second or third, avoid mistakes, and create stability. Because another crash at this moment…”

“Piastri lost his temper”;

https://f1chronicle.com/montoya-piastris-baku-errors-show-hes-feeling-the-heat-in-f1-title-fight/


Villeneuve counters Norris' comments: 'That's not true'
29 Sep 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Jacques Villeneuve has responded to Lando Norris’s comments about his indifference to criticism. "That’s not true. There's not one driver, not one sportsman that says that. It's a way of trying to keep the pressure away. Everyone knows what's being written. Everyone gets affected even when you don't want it to. It’s somewhere at the back of your mind because it makes you think. Lando says that to try and minimise it. You have to because you don't want it to affect you too much. Just saying that means it's affecting him.”

In post-race comments following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Norris admitted Red Bull’s dominance at Baku. The Brit suggested that the Austrian outfit operated on “another level” through much of the weekend. Norris also acknowledged a troubling reality for McLaren, revealing that the team had been off the pace compared with Verstappen and Red Bull all weekend. With his seventh-place finish in Azerbaijan, Norris managed to gain six points on his teammate in the championship battle, but lost another 19 to Max Verstappen...

‘Norris acknowledged a troubling reality for McLaren’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/villeneuve-counters-norris-comments-thats-not-true


Golf analogy made as Oscar Piastri’s F1 title ‘jitters’ scrutinised
Oscar Piastri's mistake-ridden weekend in Baku has been examined.
30 Sep 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Oscar Piastri suffered from “jitters” amid the pressure of the F1 title fight hotting up, according to former driver Jolyon Palmer. “I think we saw, just purely, a chink in the armour,” Palmer told the F1 Nation podcast. “We just saw a driver making a really basic human mistake. I can’t see anything other than he just got jittery. He must have got jittery.”

“I was trying to relate this across sports. I was thinking something like The Masters, you play four rounds of golf. Rory McIlroy has played golf for years and years and years, he knows how to put from three yards. But suddenly you are on the back nine on the final day and basic shots become really tricky and you tense up. You start swinging in a weird way, and I think that’s what happened to Oscar.”

“He starts ninth. So he’s a bit tense. You are starting from the mid-pack in Baku. It’s really narrow, especially at Turn 2, Turn 3, Turn 4. The amount of time someone has been bundled into the wall there at the start is pretty high. And he’s got his championship rival ahead of him. I think he’s simply got a bit twitchy. That’s just pressure, it’s jitters and the rest of it was compounded by the first mistake.”

“A chink in the armour”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1082954/1/golf-analogy-made-oscar-piastris-f1-title-jitters-scrutinised


The key McLaren weakness that recent F1 races have exposed
29 Sep 2025
Lena Ferle
Motorsport Week

McLaren boss Andrea Stella: “From a performance point of view, if you had asked me, ‘What is the most difficult weekend?’, I would have said it would be Baku or Las Vegas,” Stella told media including Motorsport Week.

“We know very well that the characteristics of our car mean that it is very competitive in long and medium speed corners, of which there are none in Baku, likewise in Las Vegas. The car is not particularly effective in straight line braking, of which there is a lot [in Baku and Vegas], or when you have to go through prescribed trajectories. The car really wants to roll in the corners, like Turn 1 at Zandvoort is a McLaren corner, of which you have none in Baku or Vegas.”

“But having said that, the car was fast enough to compete for pole position [in Baku], which is a credit to the engineers who have designed a pretty versatile car, even when not operating within the strengths of the car itself. So, Baku and probably Las Vegas, it will definitely not be a surprise that there are cars as competitive as McLaren.”

‘Key McLaren weakness’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/09/29/the-key-mclaren-weakness-that-recent-f1-races-have-exposed/


McLaren in a hurry to fix Norris' recent bane in title fight
26 Sep 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has admitted that recent pit stop issues remain a concern as the championship closes in. The spotlight fell on Norris once again after a slow 4.1-second stop in Baku, following a similar problem in Monza where a front-left wheel issue cost him nearly six seconds.

Andrea Stella has stated, “The pit stop itself didn’t make any difference because we would have ended up pretty much in the area of Leclerc... For me, the most important takeaway was that the car wasn’t fast enough. With a fast enough car, I think we would have been able to overtake and then have some free air and in free air actually use the full potential.”

Stella added McLaren are committed to improving. “We have seen that the racing, if anything, is getting tighter and tighter, so the impact of a pit stop now gets more and more important,” he said. “It’s an area in which we have already concentrated our efforts, but we need to keep working. Every tenth counts for the championship.”

‘Pit stop issues remain a concern’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/mclaren-in-a-hurry-to-fix-achilles-heel-its-getting-tighter


McLaren told to take immediate action to avoid looking ‘dumb’
McLaren have been offered some advice heading into the closing stretch of the 2025 F1 title fight.
26 Sep 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Guenther Steiner has urged McLaren to back Oscar Piastri over Lando Norris in the F1 2025 title race. “In the end, you want to win the drivers’ championship as well, not only the constructors’,” Steiner told The Red Flags podcast. “The team is more important than the driver, and the drivers are, as I always say and not diminishing, just part of a team.”

“And both cannot win, so instead of having two fighting and lose it all, you get somebody to win. As much as Lando is the face and the favoured son, I think McLaren needs to be above that, and will be above that. It is crazy, but you have to do it. In my opinion, you have to do it to win.” Steiner added: “I think they will take the decision, because otherwise, if they lose it because of that decision, how dumb do they look?”

With Verstappen lurking, Steiner is adamant that the time has now come for McLaren to throw all their weight behind Piastri. Asked when he would make the call to back one driver over the other, Steiner replied: “I would make it now. “I would do, because I just want to make sure I win the championship. I said I think Max cannot get near, but if I already get the feeling there is a risk, why would I take it?”

'Avoid looking dumb';

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1082495/1/mclaren-told-take-immediate-action-avoid-looking-dumb-f1-title-race

[Fortitude]

Giedo van der Garde adamant that Max Verstappen will win 2025 F1 title because of one McLaren weakness.
“I don’t think Piastri or Norris will become world champion, but I think Max will,” van der Garde declared. “His car has become much more competitive. If you think about it, there are actually only two Grands Prix that are going really well for McLaren.”
25 September 2025
Ashley Hambly
F1 Oversteer

Former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde believes his compatriot will surely replicate Michael Schumacher’s feat of five consecutive drivers’ titles this season, referencing the mistakes of McLaren as the main catalyst. “I don’t think Piastri or Norris will become world champion, but I think Max will,” van der Garde declared. “His car has become much more competitive. If you think about it, there are actually only two Grands Prix that are going really well for McLaren.”

“They are Singapore, where Lando Norris is really good, and Qatar. But what about the others? I bet Max will win Abu Dhabi, Mexico, Brazil, and the United States. He’s 69 points behind Piastri, which is a lot, but we mustn’t forget that Lando and Oscar have never been world champions. So they too will have nervous moments. They too will make mistakes. They too will end up off the track. And Max? He has nothing to lose; he’ll give it his all. Believe me: he’ll become world champion.”

The biggest weapon in the Dutchman’s arsenal is the fact that he doesn’t have anything to lose. At Monza, Verstappen couldn’t care less about the McLarens behind him as they squabbled for position through the use of team orders. Now pinned as the underdog in the 2025 title fight and equipped with a more manageable car than before, Verstappen can unleash some of the best drives of his F1 career to try and claw his way back into the battle.

‘Max doesn’t have anything to lose’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/giedo-van-der-garde-adamant-that-max-verstappen-will-win-2025-f1-title-because-of-one-mclaren-weakness/


Why McLaren sees Max Verstappen as a ‘disruptor’ to F1 ambitions
30 Sep 2025
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has admitted that Max Verstappen still poses a threat to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s 2025 Formula 1 title ambitions. “I think you have got to pay attention to Max,” he told Bloomberg while calling the 27-year-old a “disruptor”. “We have got to keep doing what we’re doing. The constructors’ is looking very good. We had a chance to wrap it up in Baku, but let’s not talk back at Baku. Hopefully we can get the job done in Singapore.”

“What we want to do is we want our two drivers and Max – but we’d like to kind of get him out of there – to fight for the championship and just give them equal opportunity, equal equipment, which is what we’re doing,” he added. “May the best man win. That’s what we want to do. We’d like to not play a role, if at all possible,” contemplated Brown.

“Lando had a mechanical [failure, at Zandvoort] and things can happen, safety cars and things of that nature. Our goal is to just set Lando and Oscar up to be competing for the championship down to Abu Dhabi, and may the best driver win.”

‘Max Verstappen as a ‘disruptor’’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/09/30/why-mclaren-sees-max-verstappen-as-a-disruptor-to-f1-ambitions/


Verstappen pushes McLaren into impossible sacrifice, sees Steiner
26 Sep 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Guenther Steiner believes Max Verstappen can still play a role in shaping the 2025 championship battle, and that McLaren may be forced into a tough call between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, the former Haas team boss argued that even if Verstappen has the best car at this stage, he won’t win every race. What matters, he said, is the pressure Verstappen’s presence puts on McLaren.

“I think even if Max has got the best car, he still can just make, you know, he will not win them all anyway, in my opinion. And so, but it could open up, that it gets competitive and that McLaren has to change the papaya rules and support one driver actually supported to win,” Steiner said.

‘The pressure Verstappen’s presence puts on McLaren’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verstappen-prompts-mclaren-to-pull-the-trigger-on-favoured-son


Oscar Piastri ‘isn’t invincible’ as Australian racing icon drops Norris claim
25 Sep 2025
Elizabeth Blackstock
PlanetF1.com

David Brabham, son of the legendary Australian Formula 1 champion Jack Brabham, has pointed out that Oscar Piastri no longer looks invincible following his errors at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Australia’s first Formula 1 World Champion, Jack Brabham, secured titles in the highest form of motorsport in 1959, 1960, and 1966. Since then, only one Australian driver, Alan Jones, has managed to bring WDC honors back home to the country — but in 2025, Oscar Piastri appears to be on track to achieve the same feat.

So out of character was Piastri’s poor weekend that David Brabham, son of Jack Brabham, told RacingNews356 that “it was a surprise to see Oscar make such mistakes. “I think this could give Lando hope; it shows that pressure is starting to build and that Oscar can be cracked after all.”

“Oscar has made mistakes now,” Brabham argues. “Maybe that was even necessary. Now he can regroup, focus, and come back stronger for the rest of the season. It’s going to be interesting, because we’ve seen that Oscar isn’t invincible,” Brabham summed up. “If Lando seizes his moments, everything can change.”

‘Oscar Piastri no longer looks invincible’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/oscar-piastri-not-invincible-as-australian-racing-icon-drops-norris-claim


Oscar Piastri handed 'weakened' defence as McLaren prediction delivered
Guenther Steiner does not envisage Oscar Piastri's poor Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be detrimental to his confidence as the F1 drivers' championship enters its closing stages.
1 October 2025
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Oscar Piastri will not have "weakened his confidence" through his calamitous weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, according to former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner. "Oscar, up to now, has made very few mistakes in his career.

"Baku was one where he did, but I think he’s one of those guys who can say: 'I made mistakes, I get over it, I get back to being my normal self.' I don’t think it weakened his confidence. Now, going back to what I would call more normal circuits, I think McLaren will be stronger again."

"The races Max won were on high-speed circuits, with the Max factor involved — like Baku, where that guy can just pull it off sometimes," Steiner said. "But he cannot do it consistently, because his car is not as good as the McLaren." He added: "You can never write Max completely off... if everything goes as it should, he cannot win it anymore. He’s just too far back, and the McLarens at the moment are the better car."

"You can never write Max completely off...”;

https://racingnews365.com/oscar-piastri-handed-weakened-defence-as-mclaren-prediction-delivered


[B]Oscar Piastri feeling positive ahead of Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix
30 Sep 2025
Michael Doyle
ABC Online

Formula 1 drivers' championship leader Oscar Piastri has said he is "very keen" to go racing again after his worst weekend of the season. Piastri crashed out on the first lap of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, after crashing out of qualifying a day earlier.

"I'm very keen to get back in the cockpit," Piastri said in the lead-up to the weekend. "On paper, and with the temperatures involved in Singapore, our car has been proven to be comfortable in the past, and with that in mind, I'm looking forward to a really positive weekend."

"Very keen";

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-01/oscar-piastri-formula-1-singapore-grand-prix/105831828


Toto Wolff reaches verdict over stunning Max Verstappen F1 title upset
Toto Wolff has reached his judgement on whether Max Verstappen can launch a stunning F1 title upset.
1 October 2025
Jake Nichol & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365

Toto Wolff believes it is a "long shot" for Max Verstappen to pull off a stunning F1 title upset and defeat McLaren. "I think you always need to keep your feet on the ground and stay humble," Wolff told media, including RacingNews365.

"He is on a good run, the car is good, and with Max Verstappen, you always need to be wary of what he can achieve, especially if he sees that the [title] is back on the cards. But 69 points is a long shot, things need to work in his favour, but a DNF for the championship leader, and Max scoring 25 points, things can swing quickly."

"Long shot";

https://racingnews365.com/toto-wolff-reaches-verdict-over-stunning-max-verstappen-f1-title-upset

[Fortitude]

F1 paddock rallies with sympathy for Lewis Hamilton after death of Roscoe.
“After four days on life support, fighting with every bit of strength he had, I had to make the hardest decision of my life and say goodbye to Roscoe,” Hamilton wrote.
01 Oct 2025
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

Hamilton’s Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc sent a heart, while erstwhile Mercedes stablemate George Russell replied: “I’m so sorry for your loss mate.” Pierre Gasly, who owns Simba, a Toy Poodle responded: “So sorry for your loss.” Esteban Ocon wrote a similar message of support for Hamilton: “We are all thinking of you Lewis. We will miss you Roscoe, RIP.” Mercedes said: “Our thoughts are with you, Lewis. Roscoe brought so much joy to those who met him and he’ll always be a part of our family.”

Hamilton’s new home Ferrari shared: “So sorry for your loss, Lewis. Roscoe was an amazing dog, and he will never be forgotten.” McLaren, his first team in F1 back in 2007, added its own poignant message: “Our thoughts are with you, Lewis. Roscoe was a star of the paddock and will be missed.” Red Bull commented: “Really sorry for your loss, Lewis,” Sauber adding: “He’ll be so missed in the paddock! Sorry for your loss, Lewis.”

Williams posted: “All of our thoughts are with you Lewis. So sorry for your loss,” as boss James Vowles added: “My deepest condolences Lewis. Thinking of you both.” Alpine also shared its own message of sympathy. “So sorry for your loss, Lewis. We’ll miss seeing Roscoe around the paddock.” F1 concluded: “Rest in Peace Roscoe Hamilton, a true star in his own right…. The FIA also posted a message: “The FIA family is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Roscoe. Our thoughts are with you Lewis.”

‘F1 paddock rallies with sympathy’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/10/01/f1-paddock-rallies-with-sympathy-for-lewis-hamilton-after-death-of-roscoe/


Tributes Pour in From F1 Paddock After Lewis Hamilton's Dog Roscoe Dies
September 30, 2025
Nelson Espinal Newsweek
Bellingham Herald

F1’s official account: “Rest in Peace Roscoe Hamilton, a true star in his own right.
“Lewis Hamilton's beloved Roscoe brought smiles to the paddock and warmed the hearts of fans all over the world. Our thoughts are with Lewis during this difficult time.
“Rest easy Roscoe, from paddock pup to Dogue icon, thank you for the pawprints you left on all of our hearts.”

The seven-time World Champion adopted Roscoe in 2013, and the pair have been inseparable ever since. In fact, both the driver and Rosce were on a vegan diet. The new diet allowed for Roscoe’s health problems to be minimized until recently, when the dog battled through issues that he had always battled throughout his life.

Roscoe became a social media icon, with 1.4 million followers on Instagram in an account dedicated to the dog. There were several shots of him living his best life alongside Hamilton. Roscoe was a true star in the F1 paddock and around the world. His presence will be missed.

‘Tributes Pour in’;

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/sports/article312320069.html#storylink=mainstage_card


Lewis Hamilton pays touching tribute to “amazing friend” who cared for Roscoe
“While I was travelling, she would take care of him and loved him as if he was hers. She was there every day, all day.”
01 Oct 2025
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Lewis Hamilton has paid a heartfelt tribute to his friend Kirstin, who cared for his late dog Roscoe while he was away racing in F1. On Monday, Hamilton confirmed that Roscoe had passed away following a battle with pneumonia.

In a post on his Instagram story, Hamilton thanked his “amazing friend,” Kirstin, lauding her as a key reason why Roscoe had such a long life, exceeding the typical lifespan for a Bulldog. Hamilton wrote: “I want you to take time to uplift my amazing friend Kirstin. She trained both Roscoe and Coco and treated them like family. She helped look after their health and it is really through her that Roscoe lived so long.”

“While I was travelling, she would take care of him and loved him as if he was hers. She was there every day, all day. Even with a family and other dogs to look after, she never missed a day. We stood together when letting Roscoe go. I am so grateful to have had her in my life and Roscoe’s life. There is nobody like you Kirstin. Thank you.”

“It is really through her (Kirstin ) that Roscoe lived so long”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1082964/1/lewis-hamilton-pays-touching-tribute-amazing-friend-who-cared-roscoe


Lewis Hamilton's dog Roscoe dies in F1 star's arms as he shares devastating news
The driver's beloved pooch passed away last night.
29 Sep 2025
Daniel Moxon and Rachel Cronin
Daily Record

Lewis Hamilton has confirmed the tragic news of his beloved bulldog Roscoe's death today. The seven-time Formula 1 champion had remained at his faithful companion's side since last Wednesday, when he rushed the bulldog to a vet clinic following a "scary few hours" where his pup's condition rapidly declined.

However, matters took a turn for the worse on Friday, September 26, when Hamilton revealed his dog had slipped into a coma, reports the Mirror. He told followers on social media: "Please keep Roscoe in your thoughts. I want to keep you all updated. Roscoe caught pneumonia again and was struggling to breathe.

‘Lewis Hamilton's dog Roscoe dies in F1 star's arms’;

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/lewis-hamiltons-dog-roscoe-dies-35985733


‘Hardest decision of my life’: Hamilton’s heartbreak after death of beloved dog
September 30th, 2025
AFP from Afp
Fox Sports (Australia)

Lewis Hamilton has revealed he made the “hardest decision” of his life to put his 12-year-old bulldog Roscoe to sleep. The British former world champion missed a Formula One tyre test in Italy on Friday to be with his sick pet, who had been hospitalised with pneumonia.

The 40-year-old Ferrari driver said Roscoe had died in his arms on Sunday. “After four days on life support, fighting with every bit of strength he had, I had to make the hardest decision of my life and say goodbye to Roscoe. He never stopped fighting, right until the very end,” Hamilton wrote on Instagram.

“I feel so grateful and honoured to have shared my life with such a beautiful soul, an angel and true friend. Bringing Roscoe into my life was the best decision I ever made, and I will forever cherish the memories we created together. It is one of the most painful experiences and I feel a deep connection to everyone who has gone through the loss of a beloved pet.”

‘Hardest decision of my life’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/formula-1-2025-lewis-hamilton-puts-dog-roscoe-down-after-pneumonia-battle-instagram-post-tribute/news-story/6ef1e2c21e4fea50abb460ddbc45bf36


Jeremy Clarkson offers sympathy to Hamilton following Roscoe’s passing
30 Sep 2025
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson also reacted to the passing of Roscoe. Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson also reacted under one of Ferrari driver's posts. The Briton wrote: "Really sorry to hear that. It's hell."

‘Jeremy Clarkson offers sympathy’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/jeremy-clarkson-offers-sympathy-to-hamilton-following-roscoes-passing

[Fortitude]

How McLaren can win the F1 constructors’ in Singapore.
With seven rounds remaining, including Singapore, McLaren need just 13 points from the Marina Bay race to secure their second consecutive constructors’ crown and 10th overall.
2 Oct 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

A single podium finish from either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri would be enough to confirm the title. The team’s dominance this season has been striking. With 12 wins and seven one-two finishes, McLaren has rarely been challenged at the front, bar the occasional one-man effort from Max Verstappen at Red Bull.

Even if Mercedes were to claim a 1-2 in Singapore with a McLaren on the podium, the points gap would remain too large for the title fight to continue, given the 303 points still available after this weekend. Ferrari would need to outscore McLaren by 35 points to keep the championship alive beyond Singapore — an outcome that is highly improbable.

‘A single podium finish’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-how-mclaren-can-win-constructors-championship-singapore-grand-prix-marina-bay-points-permutations/


How McLaren can seal F1 2025 constructors' championship this weekend
Oct 2, 2025
The Race

As it stands: F1 2025 constructors' championship (17/24 rounds)
1 McLaren 623
2 Mercedes 290
3 Ferrari 286
4 Red Bull 272

Mercedes is 333 points behind McLaren and must end the weekend 302 points behind or closer (owing to McLaren's superior tally of wins in the event of a countback) to take the constructors' championship fight to the US GP later this month. That means Mercedes must outscore McLaren by 31 points or more. Even a 1-2 finish in Singapore would not guarantee the title fight was prolonged; in that scenario, Mercedes would need McLaren's drivers to score a combined 12 points or fewer.

Ferrari is 337 points behind McLaren and like Mercedes must end the weekend 302 points behind or nearer to keep its hopes alive. That means it must make up 35 points or more on McLaren. It can only do so by winning the race and having its second car finish fifth or higher. If Ferrari does not win the Singapore GP then there is no scenario in which it can catch McLaren, regardless of what Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri manage.

Red Bull is only 14 points behind Ferrari but is already out of the running for this particular title. Despite Max Verstappen (third in the drivers' championship and an increasingly ominous threat) winning the past two grands prix, Red Bull is 351 points behind McLaren - so is already five short of the maximum score available for the remainder of 2025.

‘As it stands;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/how-mclaren-can-seal-f1-2025-constructors-championship/


McLaren hopes to double down on dominant 2024 Singapore GP win
1 Oct 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

McLaren will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing result in Baku with a strong weekend in Singapore, a venue where the team proved unbeatable last year.

Speaking on the eve of the Singapore weekend, Lando Norris said: “I’m looking forward to racing under the lights again in Singapore. It was good to be back in Woking after Baku, resetting with the team and spending time in the sim. I’ve got good memories here - a podium and a win last year - so I’m ready to go for it again.”

Piastri, meanwhile, is aiming to make amends after his disastrous DNF in Baku: “I’m very keen to get back in the cockpit. On paper, and with the temperatures involved in Singapore, our car has been proven to be comfortable in the past, and with that in mind, I’m looking forward to a really positive weekend.”

‘Bounce back’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/mclaren-hopes-to-double-down-on-dominant-2024-singapore-gp-win


The race that will reveal Verstappen's true F1 title hopes - What to watch for at the Singapore GP
October 1st 2025
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine

Max Verstappen arrives looking to extend his winning streak and maintain momentum to find out if he can really become a contender despite a huge gap to Oscar Piastri.

Max Verstappen‘s dominant back-to-back victories at Monza and Baku have reignited his season, but Singapore presents a litmus test of whether he can truly convert this momentum into a genuine title challenge.

‘Verstappen's true F1 title hopes’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/the-race-that-will-reveal-verstappens-true-title-hopes-what-to-watch-for-at-the-2025-singapore-gp/?nowprocket=1


Bold Verstappen claims 'unfinished business' ahead of Singapore GP
1 Oct 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda look ahead to the Singapore Grand Prix, a crucial race and potential turning point in Red Bull Racing's season.

Verstappen arrives at Singapore fresh off the back of two back-to-back wins in Italy and Azerbaijan which have helped him close the gap to Oscar Piastri down from 104 to 69 points. "The last two races have been great for the Team," Verstappen said. "We have made really strong progress, found a positive set up with the car and are heading in the right direction."

Of course, Red Bull's revival comes with a caveat. "Both were low downforce tracks that we performed well at," and "the Singapore circuit is quite different, so will be more of a test," Verstappen acknowledges. "It is quite a physically demanding track for all drivers and in this race it is about really getting comfortable with the uncomfortable."

'Unfinished business';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/bold-verstappen-claims-unfinished-business-ahead-of-singapore-gp


Max Verstappen has already told Red Bull what they must ‘improve’ to win the Singapore Grand Prix
1 October 2025
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer

To achieve the improbable, the 28-year-old needs to find a way to win in Singapore. Speaking after finishing second in last year’s race, Verstappen has already told his team where they must ‘improve’ if they want to do better. That point remains key in 2025.

It’s unrealistic to expect Verstappen to win the next seven races in a row, which means that McLaren are going to need to make mistakes or retire at some point for him to have a realistic chance. It’s a big reason why Jacques Villeneuve’s only Verstappen worry is Singapore, because if the gap is extended once more, his chances of the title may be over just as they start again.

‘To achieve the improbable’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/max-verstappen-has-already-told-red-bull-what-they-must-improve-to-win-the-singapore-grand-prix/


Charles Leclerc identifies Ferrari trait that could see an F1 Singapore GP resurgence
1 Oct 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Charles Leclerc has identified a key attribute in his Ferrari package that could see the team compete for victory in this weekend’s Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. “We are stronger in hot conditions. I hope Singapore will give us that.”

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/10/01/charles-leclerc-identifies-ferrari-trait-that-could-see-an-f1-singapore-gp-resurgence/


Lewis Hamilton names Singapore desire key to ending long Ferrari drought
1 Oct 2025
Jake Nichol & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365

Lewis Hamilton's desire could aid Ferrari's bid to snatch back second place in the F1 constructors' championship. "I mean, there are going to be races where if we qualify much better, we're going to be in a much better position to race."

‘Singapore desire’;

https://racingnews365.com/lewis-hamilton-names-singapore-desire-key-to-ending-long-ferrari-drought

[Fortitude]

F1 2025: Singapore Grand Prix preview, Max Verstappen eyes victory at bogey track, world title race with Oscar Piastri…
Verstappen has never passed F1’s toughest test. Succeed and he blows title race WIDE open.
01 Oct 2025
Michael Lamonato
Fox Sports (Australia)

Max Verstappen has won 67 grands prix across 26 different circuits. Singapore is not one of them. F1’s first night race has long been an outlier on the Formula 1 calendar, but for Verstappen it’s the ultimate aberration: it’s the only current track at which he’s never recorded a victory.

To put that into historical context, Singapore is one of only six circuits in all of Verstappen’s career at which he hasn’t tasted success. Four of them are pandemic specials that appeared only during 2020 and 2021. The fifth is Sochi in Russia, where the sport no long races.

Verstappen’s record is so bizarrely bad that he’s only ever led three laps in Singapore. Antonio Giovinazzi, veteran of three campaigns for the current Sauber team, has led more laps (four) in Singapore than Verstappen has. “You could say there is unfinished business,” Verstappen acknowledged ahead of the weekend.

“Unfinished business”;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/f1-2025-singapore-grand-prix-preview-max-verstappen-eyes-victory-at-bogey-track-world-title-race-with-oscar-piastri-lando-norris-analysis/news-story/83a11a9acf558a4ab3331a6bc187724e


Verstappen assesses chances of overturning ‘big gap’ to McLaren drivers in 2025 title race
Max Verstappen will be looking to make up further ground on the McLaren drivers in the championship standings at the Singapore Grand Prix.
02 Oct 2025
Formula One - Official Site

Asked for his thoughts arriving in Singapore, and how significant the event could be for the title race, with the Dutchman never winning at Marina Bay before, Verstappen replied: “It’s like any other, I just try to do my best. “Of course, I know in the past this has not been particularly our strongest track, plus sometimes a bit unfortunate to [not] get a better result around here.”

“I’m relaxed, just having fun, here and outside of F1. In that sense, [it’s been] a good season.” Pushed on whether he feels winning the title is a possibility, he added: “I’m not really thinking about that, to be honest. It’s a big gap, but for me I just see it race by race.”

“I try to do the best I can, and I know that if the car is capable of winning, we will win the race – it’s as simple as that. At the same time, if we’re not able to win the race then that’s it as well. I’m not too worried or stressed about anything.”

“I just see it race by race”;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/verstappen-assesses-chances-of-overturning-big-gap-to-mclaren-drivers-in.6REtVZtoG83IGEOBlfP9JE


Norris says Verstappen still title contender ahead of Singapore GP
October 02, 2025
By PA
TSN

Lando Norris believes Max Verstappen is now a "genuine" contender for the world championship but insisted McLaren will not have to make teammate Oscar Piastri their No. 1. "He is genuinely a challenger," said Norris of the four-time world champion. "If you go back to the beginning of the season they were challenging us for the first six or seven races for wins, then we brought some upgrades and improved a little bit.”

"But then they brought a couple of upgrades and that has put them on the same level. We are still expecting to dominate and we come to these races with the goal and ambition of winning and wanting to dominate and continue the form we have shown all season. But in Baku we had the car to win and we didn't. We had the chance to fight Max. At the round before in Monza they were too quick for us.”

“And if there are some races coming up where he is too fast, which is very possible, because I expect them to be quick for many of the races this season. We will go to Las Vegas and other low-downforce tracks where we don't expect to be as great as we have been - so that is an opportunity for Red Bull -but we are just focusing on ourselves and maximising our performances."

‘Max Verstappen is now a "genuine" contender for the world championship’;

https://www.tsn.ca/motorsports/formula-1/article/norris-says-verstappen-still-title-contender-ahead-of-singapore-gp-n1-46462761/


Yuki Tsunoda reveals double motivation to build on Red Bull breakthrough
Yuki Tsunoda heads into the Singapore Grand Prix weekend after his best result for Red Bull in Azerbaijan.
2 October 2025
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Reflecting on his achievement in Baku and the "fun" ahead in Singapore, Tsunoda said: "Last time out was super positive for the team and me. It feels like I’m moving in a positive direction with the car, and the hard work we have all been putting in is paying off across the race weekend.”

"Baku is obviously quite a unique circuit, and Singapore will be very different for us and could pose some challenges. There’s so many things that come into play there, the humidity, the night race, the street circuit - it’s one of the biggest tests we have as drivers. But that’s what makes it fun, and I enjoy preparing for it and racing there."

“Moving in a positive direction”;

https://racingnews365.com/yuki-tsunoda-reveals-double-motivation-to-build-on-red-bull-breakthrough


Piastri: ‘Can’t afford’ Baku repeat ahead of Singapore GP
October 02, 2025
Nate Saunders
TSN

After losing 35 points to Verstappen at the past two races, Piastri said the Baku weekend served as a reminder of how quickly his championship lead can disappear. "I think even disregarding who won the race, we don't want to have weekends like Baku and we know we can't afford to have weekends like Baku," Piastri said.

"Certainly, from my side of things there were some tough lessons to take, but I think as a team we recognized a few opportunities from the weekend to try and improve. That's always an important thing.”

"I think Baku was quite a good reminder of firstly how quickly everything can change, but also on some of the things that have made the season so successful for myself and the team. I think just trying to stay focused on that will naturally take care of the championship picture."

“Good reminder of firstly how quickly everything can change”;

https://www.tsn.ca/motorsports/article/piastri-cant-afford-baku-repeat-ahead-of-singapore-gp-n1-46464607/


George Russell picks surprise Singapore GP contenders
The Brit backs Ferrari to bring the fight to McLaren on Sunday, October 5.
3 October 2025
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport

George Russell picks Ferrari to be surprise contenders to McLaren at the F1 2025 Singapore GP, tipping Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to likely be ahead of Mercedes and Max Verstappen.

“I think the last two years, we’ve been reasonably good,” Russell said to media of Mercedes’ prospects, including Total-Motorsport.com. “Ferrari are often very strong here. They were on pole two years ago, and last year they were looking really strong until Q3, which sort of ruined their weekend.”

“And of course, we know McLaren at the hot races, high tyre degradation circuits, are exceptionally strong. So I expect McLaren and Ferrari to be the two teams out in front.”

“Ferrari are often very strong here”;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-2025-george-russell-picks-surprise-singapore-gp-contenders/


Hamilton shuts down talk of Leclerc fallout after team order drama
3 Oct 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Lewis Hamilton again touched on the team order drama involving Charles Leclerc ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. The British driver appeared to ignore a request to let his teammate through last time out at the Azerbaijan GP.

Hamilton detailed that he spoke to Leclerc following the incident and how the Scuderia Ferrari team are working on communication to avoid a future scenario. Sharing his thoughts during the Singapore GP media day, he said: “I spoke to Charles. Everything’s fine. Charles has been great, and we’re working on communication to make sure that it doesn’t happen again. It won’t happen again.”

Lewis Hamilton also weighed in on his expectations for the Singapore Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion explains how he expects to carry the positive momentum from Azerbaijan to the outing at the Marina Bay circuit. “Every weekend it’s difficult to say because, I mean, this is the first time driving a Ferrari around Singapore. The car felt really great starting the last Grand Prix, and we just didn’t carry that through the weekend.”

“Everything’s fine”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/hamilton-shuts-down-talk-of-leclerc-fallout-after-team-order-drama

[Fortitude]

Fernando Alonso tops Singapore Grand Prix FP1 timings as Max Verstappen outperforms McLaren.
Fernando Alonso surprised many by placing his Aston Martin at the top of Singapore Grand Prix FP1 timing sheets, as McLaren struggled for pace.
3 October 2025
Rebecca Braybrook
F1 Oversteer

The session is known for not being an accurate representation of pace for the race, due to the changing conditions later in the day, but Alonso’s performance will be an encouraging result for Aston Martin. Ferrari also had a strong start to the weekend, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in P2 and P4 respectively, being split by the Red Bull of Max Verstappen.

Red Bull have brought upgrades to the RB21, with a new front wing design, to help with the higher downforce circuit. The Red Bull have notoriously struggled around the Marina Bay Street Circuit, with the track being the only one on the 2025 calendar that Verstappen has never won at.

‘Fernando Alonso surprised many’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/races/fernando-alonso-tops-singapore-grand-prix-fp1/


2025 F1 Singapore GP – Free Practice 1 Results
Alonso edges Leclerc and Verstappen in FP1 at Marina Bay
3 October 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 Singapore GP 2025 FP1 results
Check out the full Singapore GP 2025 Free Practice 1 results from the first session in Marina Bay below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 1:31.116
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.150
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.276
4 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.364
5 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.365
6 Lando Norris McLaren +0.582
7 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.639
8 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.696
9 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull +0.744
10 Esteban Ocon Haas +1.012

‘Free Practice 1 Results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-2025-singapore-gp-free-practice-1-results/


Singapore GP: Alonso surprises, tops FP1 from Leclerc
03/10/2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Singapore Grand Prix Free Practice 1 - Results. Multiple lock-ups occurred in the opening stages, underlining just how tricky Marina Bay can be in the first run of a weekend.

Aston Martin opted for a different opening strategy to the majority of the field, sending Alonso out on medium tyres while the rest of the grid started on hards. The Spaniard initially set a 1m32.592s to lead after the opening 15 minutes, showcasing the car’s early pace.

The session was not without drama. Alex Albon suffered a brake fire in the opening 10 minutes, forcing urgent attention from his Williams crew to quell the smoke and prevent further damage. Fortunately, the issue was contained, allowing the rookie to continue running later in the session.

‘Alonso surprises’;

https://f1i.com/news/549725-singapore-gp-alonso-surprises-tops-fp1-from-leclerc.html


Alex Albon suffers dramatic pitlane fire in F1 Singapore GP FP1
03/10/2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Williams is confident that Alex Albon will be free to take part in FP2 for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix after a dramatic pitlane fire in FP1.

“Alex has experienced a rear brake hardware problem which we are investigating,” a statement read. “He will not join the remainder of FP1 but we are confident we can resolve the issue for FP2.”

‘Dramatic pitlane fire’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/10/03/alex-albon-suffers-dramatic-pitlane-fire-in-f1-singapore-gp-fp1/


Alonso surprises with fastest time in Singapore GP FP1
Fernando Alonso began his Singapore Grand Prix weekend in style, surprising the field by setting the fastest time in first practice at Marina Bay.
3 Oct 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

Encouragingly for Aston Martin, Alonso’s speed was evident across all tyre compounds, with competitive runs on both the hards and mediums. His performance was also underlined by the gap to teammate Lance Stroll, who finished 18th and nearly two seconds adrift. Ferrari looked competitive as well, with Charles Leclerc ending second, just 0.150s behind Alonso, and Lewis Hamilton fourth, 0.364s back. The pair were split by Max Verstappen in third, 0.276s off Alonso’s time.

McLaren finished best of the rest after a challenging start. Oscar Piastri, who complained of understeer early in the session and brushed the wall at the final corner, recovered to set the fifth-fastest time — just one thousandth of a second behind Hamilton. He finished two tenths clear of teammate Lando Norris in sixth, giving the Woking outfit encouragement despite their struggles for outright pace.

‘Began his Singapore Grand Prix weekend in style’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-fernando-alonso-tops-singapore-grand-prix-practice-marina-bay-fastest/


Alonso quickest from Leclerc, Verstappen - 2025 Singapore GP FP1 results
October 3, 2025
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine

Fernando Alonso was the surprise pace-setter in the first practice session of Formula 1’s Singapore Grand Prix. The Aston Martin star shot to the top of times late in the session as drivers started doing soft-tyre runs, Alonso posting a 1:31.116sec to outpace Ferrari‘s Charles Leclerc by 0.150sec.

FP1 takes place during the day, so laptimes are not hugely significant, as qualifying and the race will take place at night and so in very different conditions. Max Verstappen, the winner of the last two races, was the fastest of the championship contenders in third, nearly three tenths off Alonso’s benchmark.

Red Bull is the only team bringing some updates for its car this weekend, having introduced a revised front wing and engine cover, the latter aimed at improving cooling.

‘Fernando Alonso was the surprise pace-setter’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/alonso-quickest-from-leclerc-verstappen-2025-singapore-gp-fp1-results/?nowprocket=1

[Fortitude]

Singapore GP: Piastri tops crash-strewn FP2 as Norris, Leclerc crash in the pits and Russell at T16.
Oscar Piastri set the pace in the second practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix, beating Isack Hadjar by 0.132 seconds under the lights at the Marina Bay circuit.
03 Oct 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

The session ended with Piastri quickest of 1:30.714, putting him +0.132 ahead of Isack Hadjar with Verstappen a further 0.011 down.

There were two red flags as George Russell crashed at Turn 16, breaking the nose of his Mercedes W16, before Liam Lawson hit the wall. Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc had a crash in the pit lane, but that one didn’t bring out the reds. There was chaos in the pits as Leclerc hit the McLaren of Norris. Leclerc left his garage at speed, the Ferrari released into the path of the McLaren and hitting him.

Norris’ MCL39 suffered front wing damage as he also hit the pit wall. McLaren changed Norris’ front wing and nose cone and sent him back out. Race Control announced that Leclerc would be investigated for an unsafe release.

‘Piastri tops crash-strewn FP2’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/singapore-grand-prix-2025-fp2-report


2025 F1 Singapore GP – Free Practice 2 Results
Piastri leads surprise star Hadjar and Verstappen under the lights at Marina Bay in FP2
3 October 2025
Adriano Boin
Total Motorsport

F1 Singapore GP 2025 FP2 results
Check out the full Singapore GP 2025 Free Practice 2 results from the first session in Marina Bay below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:30.714
2 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.132
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.143
4 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.163
5 Lando Norris McLaren +0.483
6 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +0.508
7 Esteban Ocon Haas +0.584
8 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.585
9 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.752
10 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.777

‘FP2 results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/2025-f1-singapore-gp-free-practice-2-results/


Oscar Piastri tops Singapore Grand Prix FP2 as Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc collide
3 October 2025
Rebecca Braybrook
F1 Oversteer

Oscar Piastri found himself back on top during the Singapore Grand Prix FP2 session, after a difficult weekend last time out in Baku. Piastri needs a recovery weekend after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he found himself in the Turn 3 barrier on the opening lap.

Despite earlier struggles in FP1, the Aussie found himself back at the top of the time sheets, leading from Isack Hadjar and Max Verstappen. Lando Norris appeared dejected towards the end of the session, falling back from Piastri by almost half a second. The Brit has struggled for pace all day, with his race engineer Will Joseph offering ways that he could speed up in the remaining few minutes.

Norris appeared to refuse McLaren’s running plan, saying: “But my car’s not half a second off, is it? My driving’s half a second off”. It’s a vital weekend for Norris’ championship push on his teammate Oscar Piastri, who leads the drivers’ title by 25 points.

‘Piastri needs a recovery weekend’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/races/oscar-piastri-tops-singapore-grand-prix-fp2-as-lando-norris-and-charles-leclerc-collide/


Leclerc–Norris F1 Singapore GP Pitlane Crash Triggers Steward Inquiry
October 3, 2025
Alex Harrington Newsweek
The News Tribune, Washington

Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris will face the race stewards at 10.30pm EST time after a pitlane collision that saw Leclerc's Ferrari released into the path of the papaya McLaren. The incident, which happened as the session was restarted after George Russell’s bodywork was cleared from the track, has since started an investigation. The stewards confirmed the that this would be reviewed after the session, with both drivers called to give their sides of the story. A financial penalty for Ferrari appears the most likely outcome.

Sky Sports F1's Ted Kravitz was annoyed by the clash: "That was ill-judged and badly executed by everybody,” he shouted during the broadcast. “In this scramble to get out ahead of everyone else, let’s try and get out without crashing into anyone. That was entirely unnecessary. They have checked Lando Norris’ front suspension but Lando had to feel the car at 10mph going down the pit lane to see if it was OK."

Former F1 driver and analyst Anthony Davidson added: "Lando even tried to speed up to get out of the way. We need to see Charles’ onboard. It’s a tell tale sign that the Ferrari mechanics pushed the McLarens back."

“That was entirely unnecessary”;

https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/article312368864.html#storylink=mainstage_card


Red Bull’s best Friday of the season? 2025 Singapore Grand Prix practice data
3rd October 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

McLaren headed the times at the end of practice on Friday in Singapore, as they have often done this year. But Red Bull and Aston Martin had the most to be pleased about at the end of the first day of running at the Marina Bay circuit.

But Red Bull also had an encouraging day. The key question facing the team as they arrived in Singapore was whether the gains they have made in recent races on low-downforce tracks would transfer to this high-downforce layout.Previously this season Red Bull have tended to lag far off the pace in Friday practice, then close the gap drastically on Saturday. However in Singapore they have begun the weekend much closer to their rivals than usual. Verstappen was third, 0.143s off the pace, compared to his previous best of 0.199s off at Monza, where he was sixth.

‘Red Bull also had an encouraging day’;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/10/03/red-bulls-best-friday-of-the-season-2025-singapore-grand-prix-practice-data/


Max Verstappen finds mirror-image hope after strong Singapore GP start
Max Verstappen got off to a strong start in Singapore as he seeks to add the track to his F1 win list.
3 October 2025
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365

The Dutchman ended the second practice session in Singapore third on the timesheet, just over one-tenth down on pace-setter Piastri. “FP1 started quite nicely, just getting up to speed with things,” Verstappen reflected. “But the car was not too bad.”

“It was a bit like the last two weekends, where there were no major problems. In FP2, there were a few things that we tried, some good [things], so we just need to try and optimise that a bit more. Overall, quite satisfying. Definitely need a bit more pace to fight up at the front tomorrow.”

‘Max Verstappen finds mirror-image hope’;

https://racingnews365.com/max-verstappen-finds-mirror-image-hope-after-strong-singapore-gp-start

[Fortitude]

Singapore GP – FP3: Verstappen tops incredibly tight final practice.
Max Verstappen topped a fiercely competitive final practice session at the Singapore Grand Prix, setting the pace in a red-flag-interrupted hour that ended with the top five drivers separated by just 0.089s!
04/10/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

The Dutchman’s 1m30.148s lap for Red Bull narrowly beat McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by 0.017s, underscoring the razor-thin margins gripping the grid this weekend. With qualifying looming under the floodlights this evening, the session's daytime glare offered a sneak peek at the one-lap showdowns to come.

McLaren’s Lando Norris was the early benchmark in the session, setting a 1m31.021s on medium tyres in the first quarter of the session. His lap stood for much of the opening phase as teams dialled in one-lap pace on the evolving circuit, with Verstappen and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton coming closest to dislodging him on the yellow-walled compounds – the pair clocking 1m31.358s and 1m31.448s respectively.

George Russell recovered from his “weird” FP2 crash to post the third-fastest time, just 0.049s off Verstappen, though the Mercedes driver admitted he was still lacking confidence in Turn 16. Behind him, Antonelli and Norris remarkably shared identical lap times of 1m30.237s to fill fourth and fifth.

‘Incredibly tight final practice’;

https://f1i.com/news/549881-singapore-gp-fp3-verstappen-tops-incredibly-tight-final-practice.html


2025 F1 Singapore GP – Free Practice 3 Results
Max Verstappen leads the way for Red Bull at Marina Bay as the fight for pole intensifies under the Singapore lights
4 October 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 Singapore GP 2025 FP3 results
Check out the full Singapore GP 2025 Free Practice 3 results from the final practice session in Marina Bay below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:30.148
2 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.017
3 George Russell Mercedes +0.049
4 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.089
5 Lando Norris McLaren +0.089
6 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.244
7 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.341
8 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.411
9 Nico Hulkenberg Sauber +0.489
10 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.503

‘Free Practice 3 Results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/2025-f1-singapore-gp-free-practice-3-results/


Max Verstappen sets benchmark in FP3 for F1 Singapore GP
4 October 2025
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

Max Verstappen set a blistering pace in final practice for the F1 Singapore GP, with the top three drivers split by just one tenth of a second. Track evolution and driver confidence were key in FP3 ahead of qualifying for the F1 Singapore GP, as drivers felt confidence around the Marina Bay Circuit, while grip proved elusive until the closing stages.

The final 15 minutes saw all drivers drain the fuel tanks and head out on qualifying runs, with Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris and and Max Verstappen all had stints at the top of the standings. Verstappen’s time of 1:30.148 was unbeatable, Oscar Piastri putting in a last gasp effort to place second at the chequered flag after a quiet session.

‘Max Verstappen sets benchmark’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/10/04/max-verstappen-sets-benchmark-in-fp3-for-f1-singapore-gp/


What happened in ultra-close final F1 Singapore GP practice
Oct 4, 2025
Josh Suttill
The Race

Max Verstappen topped an ultra-close final practice session before qualifying at Formula 1’s Singapore Grand Prix. While FP3 does take place in the daytime compared to the nighttime conditions of qualifying, based on the evidence of the 60-minute session, the margins in qualifying are going to be very tight.

Red Bull’s hopes of continuing its back-to-back race-winning form were boosted by Verstappen setting the fastest time of FP3, a 1m30.148s. Oscar Piastri who went quickest on their final soft tyre runs, coming just 0.017s shy of Verstappen’s time, which was set earlier in the session.

Oscar Piastri’s lap was just 0.032s quicker than George Russell, who claimed third for Mercedes, having lost Friday running to his “annoying” FP2 shunt. Team-mate Kimi Antonelli backed up a strong start to Saturday for Mercedes in fourth place, just 0.089s slower than Verstappen.

‘Ultra-close final practice session’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/singapore-gp-third-practice-fp3-report/


‘Surprise’: Gary Anderson stunned by what he’s seen on Max Verstappen’s Red Bull at F1…
4 October 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Red Bull are not resting on their laurels in a bid to keep Max Verstappen in the 2025 F1 drivers’ title fight, having brought upgrades to the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend. Verstappen is third in the F1 drivers’ championship ahead of the Singapore GP. But his back-to-back wins in Monza and Baku have cut the 28-year-old’s 104-point deficit to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri from 104 points before the Italian Grand Prix to 69 points prior to round 18/24.

Verstappen made the most of the front wing upgrade that Red Bull have brought to Marina Bay to rank third in the first and second practice sessions for the Singapore GP. But the four-time reigning champion’s decision to run without a Gurney flap “surprised” Gary Anderson. Red Bull claim that their new front wing features locally increased cambers to extract more load, with Anderson noticing changes to the location of the slot gap separators. The tweaks are minor, but might have let Red Bull give Verstappen a car that does not have understeer.

He told The Race: “It’s difficult to pick up those subtle profile changes. But what is very clear is that Red Bull have moved the two slot gap separators further outboard. The rear flap trailing edge trim line is from the same family as it was at Zandvoort, Monza and Baku. However, interestingly, there is no Gurney flap added to the trailing edge of the rear flap, as there was for the Zandvoort wing. It’s a surprise, given Max is a driver who hates understeer, that he’s not using the Gurney flap.

‘Gary Anderson stunned’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/gary-anderson-surprised-by-what-hes-seen-on-max-verstappens-red-bull-at-the-singapore-grand-prix/


Gary Anderson's verdict on crucial Verstappen-only Red Bull upgrade
Oct 4, 2025
Gary Anderson
The Race

Max Verstappen will be gunning for race wins, with the evidence suggesting Red Bull has turned the corner on its mid-season slump and the new front wing introduced in Singapore building on that. There will be many changes hidden under the bodywork and floor that we can’t see, but the front wing has been the subject of a fair amount of attention.

Red Bull started to turn the corner at Zandvoort at the end of the summer break. Below is the front wing specification used for that event and even though he didn’t win and lacked the pace of the McLarens, Verstappen was fairly complimentary about the performance and had good feelings about the car. At Monza and Baku, Red Bull ran a front wing assembly derived from the same rear flap trim line. This meant the flow to the underfloor stayed reasonably consistent.

That, together with a low downforce rear wing assembly allowed the car to have a balance that Max was happy with. The result was two wins from pole position, and even though Azerbaijan wasn’t McLaren’s best weekend, I’m sure Verstappen was on track to win whatever McLaren did. The key question after those races was would Red Bull be able to carry that level of performance into the higher downforce tracks, making Singapore the big test.

‘Evidence suggesting Red Bull has turned the corner’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-what-red-bulls-latest-upgrade-for-verstappen-reveals/

[Fortitude]

Martin Brundle surprised by Toto Wolff’s instant reaction to George Russell’s Singapore Grand Prix pole.
David Croft suggested that Russell could increase his salary demands in light of that performance.
4 October 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

George Russell delivered a fabulous pole position at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday. Martin Brundle found the reaction of team principal Toto Wolff intriguing. Russell wasn’t seen as a contender coming into the weekend, but he delivered two laps good enough for pole position in Q3. In one of the most impressive qualifying performances of the year, he finished almost two-tenths clear of Max Verstappen.

It was only Mercedes’ second Grand Prix pole of the year, following on from Russell’s effort at the Canadian GP in June. It’s also just their eighth pole of the ground-effect era. The result comes amid negotiations over a new contract for 2026. With only seven races remaining, one of the grid’s highest-rated drivers still doesn’t have a confirmed seat.

After Russell sealed pole, the world-feed cameras cut to Wolff looking rather unmoved in the Mercedes garage. Teammate Kimi Antonelli qualified on the second row, making it one of their best qualifying sessions collectively. “You’d have thought Toto Wolff would be smiling a bit more!” he (David Croft) said. “”He wasn’t as excited as I thought he would look,” co-commentator Brundle replied. Croft added: “He hasn’t signed up for next season yet and maybe he’s thinking, ‘Damn, that might make the contract negotiations a little bit more tricky!’”

“You’d have thought Toto Wolff would be smiling a bit more!”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/martin-brundle-surprised-by-toto-wolffs-instant-reaction-to-george-russells-singapore-grand-prix-pole/


2025 F1 Singapore GP – Qualifying Results
George Russell storms to pole position for Mercedes at Marina Bay as Verstappen and Piastri complete the top three in a tense Singapore qualifying
4 October 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 Singapore GP 2025 Qualifying results
Check out the full Singapore GP 2025 Qualifying results from Marina Bay below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 George Russell Mercedes 1:29.158
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.182
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.366
4 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.379
5 Lando Norris McLaren +0.428
6 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.530
7 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.626
8 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.688
9 Oliver Bearman Haas +0.710

‘Qualifying results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/2025-f1-singapore-gp-qualifying-results/


Russell beats Verstappen for surprise Singapore pole position
4th October 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Russell was the first of the front-runners to set a time in Q3, but if missing the opportunity to benefit from track evolution hurt him, it didn’t show. Through turns 16 and 17, where he crashed yesterday, he was fabulously committed, skimming the barriers on the way in and out.

The result was a 1’29.165, more than a third of a second faster than his team mate could manage when he crossed the line shortly afterwards. The McLaren pair fell short too, though Piastri split the Mercedes pair. That left Verstappen, who beat Russell’s time in the final two sectors, yet still fell short by 0.175 seconds at the line.

Russell again made sure he was among the first to run at the end of the session while Verstappen went out last after the McLaren drivers. While Russell couldn’t improve on his time through the first sector, he gained in the second. He reached the line just seven thousandths of a second quicker than he did on his first lap however.

‘Surprise Singapore pole position’;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/10/04/russell-beats-verstappen-for-surprise-singapore-pole-position/


Mekies reacts after Norris ruins Verstappen’s shot at Singapore GP pole
4 Oct 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Laurent Mekies has reacted to Max Verstappen’s botched final qualifying lap during the Singapore Grand Prix. The Red Bull Racing team principal also praised the work of the team back in Milton Keynes. The 48-year-old, who spoke to Sky Sports F1 following the conclusion of qualifying, admitted that Verstappen would have been much closer to pole-sitter George Russell if not for the incident with Lando Norris.

Mekies also opted against stating that the Dutch driver would have beaten the Mercedes star to the top starting spot, had it not been for the slow McLaren. He said: "It was a strong qualifying from Max and the team again. It's good to see some long faces when you're on the front row, and we would have been quite a lot closer to George without that traffic. But that's life.”

“I won't say we would have been in front, but for sure, Max would have been there or thereabouts. We are not on pole, but we can fight. On these types of tracks, we were not within range of pole, so it's a testament to all the hard work." Verstappen, who spoke to the media following his second-place finish during qualifying, hinted the incident involving Lando Norris would not be forgotten. Red Bull Racing's chief advisor Helmut Marko did however hold Norris accountable for what he dubs an 'incomprehensible' move that 'blocked' Verstappen's last fast lap attempt.

‘Max Verstappen; The incident involving Lando Norris would not be forgotten’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/mekies-reacts-after-norris-ruins-verstappens-shot-at-singapore-pole


‘I don't know what we've done to find this performance’ – Russell admits shock after taking Singapore pole
George Russell was left surprised to have taken pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix.
4 Oct 2025
Formula One - Official Site

Mercedes' George Russell admits "I don't know what we've done to find this performance" having taken a sublime pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix.”

"If I were to put my money on the circuits we had a chance of being on pole I reckon this would have been in the bottom three to be honest," he said.

"I don't know what we've done to find this performance. I think we've all been a little bit surprised by McLaren's lack of performance as we were expecting them to fly here but I'll take it."

‘Russell admits shock’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/i-dont-know-what-weve-done-to-find-this-performance-russell-admits-shock.lOnffKMofyw06qUv2ahmR


Oscar Piastri baffled by McLaren’s pace struggles in Singapore
Oscar Piastri confused by McLaren's lack of pace in Singapore Grand Prix qualifying.
4 Oct 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Oscar Piastri has been left perplexed at McLaren’s lack of competitiveness in qualifying at the Singapore Grand Prix. Championship leader Piastri took third place behind Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen as he missed out on pole position by 0.366 seconds.

“I think there was a little bit left but not enough to get pole,” Piastri said. “We seemed to be good through practice, we seemed pretty good in Q1 and then we found a little bit of time and others found a lot of time.”

“A little bit kind of surprising that we couldn’t find more, but ultimately I don’t think the car had enough in it for pole. I’m pretty happy with the job I’ve done. Was it perfect? No, but I feel like it’s been a good weekend and been close to the limit of what the car’s been able to do.”

‘Oscar Piastri confused’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1083446/1/oscar-piastri-baffled-mclarens-pace-struggles-singapore


Singapore GP disaster for Williams as Albon and Sainz disqualified from qualifying
Post-qualifying scrutineering revealed both Williams cars broke DRS regulations, forcing them to start Sunday’s race from the back
4 October 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz have been disqualified from qualifying for the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix after their Williams cars were found to be in breach of the FIA’s technical regulations. According to a statement from the FIA, the issue concerned the uppermost rear wing element on both cars, with the adjustable positions exceeding the permitted limits.

“The uppermost rear wing element adjustable positions were checked on car numbers 23 (Albon) and 55 (Sainz),” the FIA report stated. “Both cars exceeded the maximum limit of 85mm on both sides of the rear wing outer area.” read statement continued. “During post-Qualifying scrutineering, the rear wing of the car was found to be non-compliant with the Technical Regulations,”

“At the hearing, the competitor admitted that, although their own measurement prior to the Qualifying had shown the component to be within tolerance, the measurement subsequently conducted by the appointed FIA officials revealed a larger gap than permitted and therefore the rear wing did not conform with the required dimension.”

‘Disaster for Williams’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-2025-williams-alex-albon-carlos-sainz-disqualified-singapore-gp-qualifying/

[Fortitude]

McLaren duo collide on opening lap before George Russell wins Singapore GP.
MERCEDES’ GEORGE Russell won the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, as McLaren clinched the Formula One constructors’ championship.
5 Oct 2025
The42

Russell’s Mercedes was on pole and got away cleanly from Verstappen’s Red Bull at the start, but the drama all happened behind. Norris, from fifth on the grid, darted past Antonelli and dived up the inside of Piastri, who started third, at turn one.
Norris was flying and clipped the back of Verstappen on the way to barging his way into third place in a wheel-to-wheel clash with teammate Piastri. The championship leader was not impressed. “So are we cool with Lando just barging me out of the way there? What’s the go there?” Piastri complained on team radio.

His anger was not appeased by the team saying they would discuss the incident after the race and not order Norris to swap places. “That’s not fair. I’m sorry, that’s not fair,” Piastri said. After pitting for hard tyres, the leading four emerged in the same order, though Verstappen was reporting downshift problems with his gearbox that felt “like a handbrake”.

“That’s not fair”;

https://www.the42.ie/mclaren-duo-collide-on-opening-lap-before-george-russell-wins-singapore-gp-6835741-Oct2025/


2025 F1 Singapore Grand Prix – Race Results
George Russell delivered a masterclass in control to win the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix, holding off Max Verstappen and Lando Norris under the lights of Marina Bay.
5 October 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 Singapore GP 2025 race results
Check out the full Singapore GP 2025 race results from Marina Bay below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 George Russell Mercedes Leader
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull +5.430
3 Lando Norris McLaren +6.066
4 Oscar Piastri McLaren +8.146
5 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +33.681
6 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +45.996
7 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +80.251
8 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +80.667
9 Oliver Bearman Haas +93.527
10 Carlos Sainz Williams +1 Lap

‘Race Results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/2025-f1-singapore-grand-prix-race-results/


Russell dominates as McLaren drivers clash - Singapore GP results
Russell dominates the Singapore Grand Prix as McLaren clinches constructors' title amid controversy
October 5, 2025
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine

George Russell took a commanding win in the Singapore Grand Prix as championship contenders Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris made contact at the start. Russell dominated the race from pole position and, although Max Verstappen looked like a threat in some stages, the Mercedes driver was never really challenged in a race that was rather processional until the final laps.

It was Russell’s and Mercedes’ second win of the season after their victory in Canada. Verstappen, the only driver in the top eight to start on soft tyres, managed to retain second place despite late pressure from Lando Norris, who completed the podium.

‘Russell dominates’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/russell-dominates-as-mclaren-drivers-clash-singapore-gp-results/?nowprocket=1


Piastri fumes after crashing into Norris in the Singapore Grand Prix
5 Oct 2025
Ben Hunt
GPblog.com

Oscar Piastri has been left frustrated after colliding with McLaren teammate Lando Norris in the Singapore Grand Prix. The two tangled over the opening corners as Norris forced his way through and overtook Piastri, who was forced to bail out and lose position.

Piastri, who was forced to give up his position in the Italian Grand Prix when Norris had a slow pitstop, was upset with his team not swapping the drivers around. He said over the team's radio: “So are we cool with Lando just barging me out of the way or? What’s the go there?” Piastri was told by his Race Engineer Tom Stallard, “We’re looking at it. Let me get back to you.”

The Aussie, who currently leads the championship, was then told there would be no further action from the stewards. He snapped: “That's not fair. I'm sorry, that's not fair. If he has to avoid another car by crashing into his team-mate, then that's a pretty **** job of avoiding."

‘Piastri fumes’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/breaking-news/piastri-fumes-after-crashing-into-norris-in-the-singapore-grand-prix


Singapore GP: George Russell dominates race as McLaren win Constructors' Championship but Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris make contact
George Russell won the Singapore Grand Prix and McLaren sealed the defence of their Constructors' Championship but there was drama between the team's drivers; Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri made contact on the opening lap to the frustration of the championship leader
5 Oct 2025
Nigel Chiu
Sky Sports

George Russell dominated the Singapore Grand Prix as Lando Norris trimmed Oscar Piastri’s championship lead after the McLaren pair made contact early on.

Norris had a storming start but lightly collided with team-mate Piastri on the opening lap to take third where he would finish the race, behind Max Verstappen following a hard-fought battle for second.

Piastri had to settle for fourth and sees his advantage over Norris cut to 22 points in the title race but McLaren sealed the defence of their Constructors' Championship with six rounds to go - a joint-record for the earliest that title has been won.

‘Drama between the team's drivers; Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’;

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13444943/singapore-gp-george-russell-dominates-race-as-mclaren-win-constructors-championship-but-oscar-piastri-lando-norris-make-contact


Russell dominates Singapore GP ahead of Verstappen and scrapping McLarens
5th October 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

George Russell claimed his second victory of the season with a commanding drive from pole position in the Singapore Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver kept his lead as the race began, despite Max Verstappen alongside him opting to start on soft tyres while most others chose mediums.
As the threat from Verstappen failed to materialise over the opening laps, Russell drew steadily clear of his pursuers, building a lead of over eight seconds.

Lando Norris took up pursuit of Verstappen after barging his way past his team mate at the start. The championship leader was clearly unhappy with Norris’s driving, and prompted McLaren for their views on the situation, but the team left the running order unchanged. As Verstappen’s soft tyres began to fade, he opted to make an early pit stop. McLaren gave Norris the option to pit after Piastri, but he chose to come in first. That potentially proved beneficial, as Piastri suffered a slow pit stop which cost him precious seconds.

As Verstappen’s soft tyres began to fade, he opted to make an early pit stop. McLaren gave Norris the option to pit after Piastri, but he chose to come in first. That potentially proved beneficial, as Piastri suffered a slow pit stop which cost him precious seconds. Over the second half of the race, Verstappen increasingly struggled with his car’s handling, which allowed Norris to draw within range. The McLaren driver got close enough to have a look at his rival on the outside of turn seven once, but was unable to make a move stick, while Piastri behind drew within range.

‘Scrapping McLarens’;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/10/05/russell-dominates-singapore-gp-ahead-of-verstappen-and-scrapping-mclarens/


McLaren win 2025 F1 constructors' title at Singapore GP and equal Red Bull record
McLaren have confirmed back-to-back Formula 1 constructors' titles after securing the 2025 crown at the Singapore Grand Prix, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finishing third and fourth respectively
5th October 2025
WILL SCHOFIELD, DANIEL MOXON
Daily Star

Team boss Andrea Stella, who called that 2024 victory "a great surprise and joy", revealed his emotions about this season's commanding performance have been quite different. The Italian grinned: "This year, we realised relatively soon that the car was very competitive and that we were in condition to win races, so it was more about keeping concentration and focus, and maximising the potential available."

McLaren find themselves positioned to challenge the all-time points tally, established by Red Bull in 2023 when Max Verstappen propelled them to both championships. The Milton Keynes outfit accumulated 860 points that campaign.

"A great surprise and joy";

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1/breaking-mclaren-win-constructors-championship-36017040

[Fortitude]

McLaren meltdown grabs international media attention after Singapore GP.
Piastri skips McLaren’s Constructors’ title celebrations.
6 Oct 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

La Gazzetta dello Sport highlights McLaren’s Constructors’ Championship triumph but also points out the team’s third consecutive race without a win — not an ideal trend in terms of the Drivers’ Championship battle. “McLaren was clearly faster than Red Bull,” wrote La Gazzetta dello Sport. “The papaya duo took some risks at the start, with Norris — who finished third — attacking teammate Piastri, damaging his front wing and leaving the Australian, who ended up fourth, furious. Woking can celebrate the Constructors’ title, but a third race without a win is still a warning sign.”

Marca. the Spanish newspaper: “Norris did exactly what was asked of him — aggressive, committed, and focused. He saw the gap Piastri left at the first corner, went for it, and made slight contact with his teammate’s car. He managed to get ahead, leaving the Australian with front-wing damage after Turn 3 — and a fair amount of anger. Piastri was clearly frustrated. ‘This happens because there are no clear rules,’ he complained to his engineer. Still, McLaren insisted there was no fault on Lando’s part, as he had avoided a potential collision with Verstappen. More fuel to the fire for a season finale on the edge between the two teammates. McLaren will have to decide through its internal regulations — but the controversy is very much alive.”

BILD, on the other hand, points out that yesterday should have been a day of celebration for McLaren, but the contact between the two drivers instead created tension within the team, leaving little room for a festive mood. “It should have been a reason to celebrate, but there was little festive mood among the ‘Papayas,’ as the team is nicknamed for its orange car livery — least of all for Oscar Piastri!” While the team led by Andrea Stella and Zak Brown gathered on the podium — with the entire crew, including Lando Norris — to celebrate their second Constructors’ title, the Australian chose instead to focus on his media duties, sending a clear message after already switching off the radio while Zak Brown was speaking to him post-race.

‘McLaren meltdown’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/mclaren-meltdown-grabs-international-media-attention-after-singapore-gp


Singapore GP: 'I tried to puncture your tyre!' | Lando Norris jokes at Max Verstappen battle
5 October 2025
Sky Sports

Lando Norris poked fun at Max Verstappen, joking he'd tried to 'puncture' the Red Bull driver's tyre in their battle for second.

'I tried to puncture your tyre!';

https://www.skysports.com/f1/video/33726/13445238/singapore-gp-i-tried-to-puncture-your-tyre-lando-norris-jokes-at-max-verstappen-battle


Norris defends first lap move on Piastri: ‘If you fault me, you shouldn’t be in F1’
5th October 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Lando Norris firmly rejected any suggestion he dealt unfairly with his team mate Oscar Piastri on the first lap of the Singapore Grand Prix. “The start was good,” he said after the race. “The right-hand side of the grid was good, I think it was a good launch as well, so I got across and put myself in a good position to not get checked up out of turn one and into turn two.”

“I just had a big [move] up on the inside of Oscar. It was very close [and] so slippery because it was still damp in places and drying out. I think I just clipped the back of Max’s car, and that just gave me a little correction, but then that was it.” Norris pointed out he is at a disadvantage compared to his team mate in the championship, as he remains 22 points behind after this weekend’s race. But anyone on the grid would have done exactly the same thing as I did. So I think if you fault me for just going on the inside and putting my car on the inside of a big gap then I think you shouldn’t be in Formula 1.”

“I’m the one that can’t afford anything compared to him,” he said. “I would [have] put myself at risk just as much if that kind of thing happens. So I’ll see what I can do with it next time. But the FIA obviously thought it was fine, and the team did too, so that’s it.”

‘Lando Norris: “If you fault me, you shouldn’t be in F1”!’;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/10/05/norris-defends-first-lap-move-on-piastri-if-you-fault-me-you-shouldnt-be-in-f1/


Papaya Civil War: Norris-Piastri Spark at Singapore’s First Corner
October 5, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Norris shrugs off Turn 1 brush with Piastri as McLaren keeps the big prize in sight. Lando Norris didn’t flinch. He rarely does. Third place in Singapore was tidy business for McLaren on a night where overtaking was rationed, but the story lived in the first 200 meters: Norris muscling up the inside, glancing off Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, and then ricocheting into Oscar Piastri’s papaya. Cue a sharp intake of breath on the pit wall and a spiky radio message from the other side of the garage.

Piastri’s complaint was quick and clear — “not fair,” “not very team-like” — after he had to catch a slide and flirt with the wall, surrendering the podium place he’d earned on Saturday. But Norris, speaking later, insisted there was nothing dirty in it. The move, he argued, was opportunistic on a damp, low-grip inside line and only looked spicy because his front wing brushed Verstappen first.

“I hit Max, so it wasn’t aggressive on my teammate,” was the gist from Norris, who also leaned on the drivers’ code that’s older than parc fermé: if there’s a gap at lights out, you go for it.

‘Papaya Civil War’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/papaya-civil-war-norris-piastri-spark-at-singapores-first-corner/


Lando Norris brushes off incident with Oscar Piastri: “It was good racing”
Lando Norris gives his view on his Lap 1 overtake on Oscar Piastri at the Singapore Grand Prix.
05 Oct 2025
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Lando Norris has downplayed his incident with Oscar Piastri on the opening lap of the Singapore Grand Prix, labelling it as “good racing”. “Yeah, I mean, it was slippery [and] still wet in a lot of places, but it’s racing,” Norris said. “I put it on the inside, I had a small correction, but nothing more than that. It was good racing.”

“And like I said, I wish I could have given a little bit more. I wish there were a few more overtaking opportunities today, but I feel like I did everything I could today, and I’m happy with that. I’m happy with today, I got forward two positions. We won as a team, the constructors’, once again. So I’m most happy about that,” he added.

“I mean, it was a tough race. Max didn’t make any mistakes. Whether I was feeling good or not, I gave it my all today, and got close, a few chances where we were side by side, and some good little bits of battling. But just too difficult to overtake, which is a shame, because the pace was very strong today, and I would have loved to try to catch George and given him a little bit more pressure.”

‘Lando Norris brushes off incident’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1083634/1/lando-norris-brushes-incident-oscar-piastri-singapore-gp-it-was-good-racing


F1 LIVE | Piastri skips podium celebrations, Hamilton's love declaration to Ferrari
6 Oct 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Piastri absent from McLaren's podium celebrations. As Norris dived into Turn 3, he made contact with Verstappen, damaging his front wing's left endplate, before clashing with his teammate in an incident that left Piastri frustrated and calling for team intervention.

Piastri’s radio messages reflected clear irritation after his request for a position swap was denied. Despite the early collision, both McLaren drivers recovered to secure the points required, sealing back-to-back Constructors’ titles for the team. While Norris celebrated on the podium, Piastri was noticeably absent from McLaren’s post-race celebrations, a telling moment after the on-track battle that clouded what should've been a cohesive championship triumph celebration.

‘Piastri skips podium celebrations’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/live/f1-live-piastri-skips-podium-celebrations-hamiltons-love-declaration-to-ferrari


McLaren boss takes action after Oscar Piastri dudded by own team in Singapore Grand Prix
Piastri was clearly frustrated by the incident with his teammate in Singapore.
6 October 2025
Andrew Reid
Yahoo! Australia

McLaren team boss Andrea Stella downplayed suggestions it could lead to further tensions between the teammates. The McLaren team boss said there would be "good conversations" between the drivers and the wider team, but backed their handling of the incident and indicated no subsequent punishment would be forthcoming.

Those comments are unlikely to appease Piastri or quell suggestions from critics that Norris enjoys favouritism from McLaren. The Aussie had further cause for dismay when a slow pit stop effectively ruined his chance to make a late charge for the podium. The 5.2sec stop may have made all the difference as Piastri ended up just two seconds adrift of Norris.

‘McLaren boss takes action’;

https://au.news.yahoo.com/mclaren-boss-takes-action-after-oscar-piastri-dudded-by-own-team-in-singapore-grand-prix-001513384.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9jLm5ld3Nub3cuY28udWsv&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADYoMBoK7Ip1CZnZSHp2S-fqM6lCphplCeFUmR3EfdzEpqgSuB-OgK2tF19r0YrI_4YUxpwjJNVT8KOoA5YKEG2CPiMq5ux3PnQn5 bM3_Ya0hKydhaQi2WX00dSQsfq1ieY0kjVGrhkQqoiRlVfWI2p Qf5gH77gf1sxAtdoL1KyU

[Fortitude]

Oscar Piastri 'Sets Sights' on Leaving McLaren For F1 Rival After Singapore Drama.
According to Swiss outlet Blick, the championship leader has begun 'setting his sights' on potentially moving away from McLaren.
6 Oct 2025
Ryan Smart
SPORTbible

Oscar Piastri is considering whether to leave McLaren for a Formula 1 rival, according to a new report. It was reported by Italian outlet RMCMotori last week that the manager of current Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc had held preliminary talks with other teams ahead of 2027. And Lewis Hamilton is under contract with the Scuderia for 2026, with an option for the seven-time champion to extend his stay with the team into 2027.

Hamilton will be 42 when that season gets underway, however, and it remains to be seen whether he will trigger that option. That could therefore open the door for Piastri - who does already have some loose connections with the Ferrari team.

'Sets Sights';

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/oscar-piastri-mclaren-singapore-gp-future-971673-20251006


Oscar Piastri has ‘already set his sights’ on leaving McLaren for £3.8bn-valued F1 team in 2027
6 October 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Oscar Piastri has ‘already set his sights’ on swapping McLaren for Ferrari in 2027. A report from the Swiss outlet Blick has shared more details about the Formula 1 driver market. The report suggests that both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are considering their futures at Ferrari beyond next year.

Leclerc has recently been linked with Red Bull among other teams, while Hamilton could retire after 2026 unless he activates an extension in his contract. This potentially opens up two seats at Ferrari, although the Singapore Grand Prix highlighted the current problems Fred Vasseur’s team are facing. What Lewis Hamilton has said about Oscar Piastri’s 2025 season at McLaren.

“I think the job he’s doing is fantastic. It’s mega for me to see McLaren doing so well, because that’s where I started, and also to see them so close, him and Lando, two great drivers, the pressure on both of them will be unimaginable, I would say, for most people who are not experiencing it, and who have not experienced it. We’ve seen both, and obviously, particularly Oscar, doing a great, great job weekend in, weekend out, delivering, qualifying, and everything you need to do to win a world championship.”

‘Already set his sights’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/oscar-piastri-has-already-set-his-sights-on-leaving-mclaren-for-3-8bn-valued-f1-team-in-2027/


Piastri was right to be angry - 2025 Singapore GP takeaways
October 6, 2025
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine

A tense Singapore Grand Prix mixed team rivalries, redemption drives and F1's ongoing battle to make races less predictable. The Singapore Grand Prix didn’t offer the most exciting of races, but it exposed tension at McLaren and resurgent form from Mercedes.

McLaren’s night was defined by intra-team friction, as Oscar Piastri was right to feel aggrieved after being muscled aside by Lando Norris. McLaren may be counting its blessings that the season isn’t any longer, with Max Verstappen‘s Red Bull now looking like a genuine threat again.

‘Exposed tension at McLaren’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/piastri-was-right-to-be-angry-2025-singapore-gp-takeaways/?nowprocket=1


McLaren slammed after papaya clash: 'It was a complete and utter mess'
6 Oct 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

F1 analyst Peter Windsor has broken down the incident between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the start of the Singapore Grand Prix. Analysing the incident between the two McLarens on his YouTube channel, Windsor agreed with Piastri that Norris’s overtake was not “fair,” as the Australian repeatedly said over the radio.

“I totally get it. I think he was quite right to say that because when you give a teammate room and the teammate then basically runs wide and touches wheels with you because he's misjudged the speed of the car in front, and has to avoid Max Verstappen in this case. That is not on. It's not on when it's a teammate. If it's another driver from another team, but two teammates? It's not on.”

He then added: “If they were not teammates, you could say 'this is normal motor racing first lap'. But this was teammate stuff between the McLarens. And there was a moment when Oscar gave room to Lando Norris, much as Lando Norris gave room to Oscar Piastri at the start of the Hungarian GP last year, but that's another story.”

‘McLaren slammed’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/mclaren-slammed-after-papaya-clash-it-was-a-complete-and-utter-mess


Why Oscar Piastri’s behaviour after the Singapore Grand Prix suggests he’s ‘on his own’ in F1 title fight
6 October 2025
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

Lando Norris is now less than a race win’s worth of points behind his teammate, which has prompted rumours of favouritism within the team. People in the paddock believe McLaren are favouring Norris in the title fight. It can be argued that the Woking outfit’s team orders in Monza and Singapore prove that theory, as Norris was clearly prioritised. Piastri’s behaviour after the race at Marina Bay highlights that there is more division than ever at McLaren.

James Hinchcliffe noted that Piastri was absent from the team’s constructors’ title celebrations on the podium in Singapore. He questioned whether the Aussie’s mentality was that he is now ‘on his own’ in the title fight. “He was very salty after the contact. And we can actually see live pictures there. That was Oscar Piastri in the media pen, fulfilling media duties,” he said via F1 TV’s Post-Race Live Show.

“He’s not on the podium, cheering with the rest of the race team. Is that an indication, Ruth, that his mindset is: ‘The constructors’ is done. The drivers’ championship is on. I feel wronged in turn three and the team did nothing about it. I’m on my own now.” Of course, drivers are contractually obligated to fulfil media duties at race weekends, which Piastri was doing in Singapore. But given his frustration over McLaren’s decision in his clash with Norris, it adds fuel to the fire that the 24-year-old is fighting alone in this title battle.

‘On his own’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/why-oscar-piastris-behaviour-after-the-singapore-grand-prix-suggests-hes-on-his-own-in-f1-title-fight/


‘Good race. Tough race. Thank you. Uh...’: Piastri’s icy act for McLaren boss after Norris clash
October 6th, 2025
Tyson Otto and James McKern from News.com.au
Fox Sports (Australia)

Oscar Piastri has shown how ugly things are getting inside his team’s garage after a cold act towards McLaren boss Zak Brown following the drama-charged Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday night.

The 24-year-old disconnected his radio hook-up while Brown was in the middle of a sentence. “Oscar, back-to-back champions,” Brown was heard saying with a congratulatory tone. But his final words will never be known because Piastri cut him off. “Good race. Tough race. Thankyou. Uh...” Brown said before the radio went dead.

Separate versions of the clip have gone viral on social media. One F1 content producer shared a video viewed more than one million times with a caption: “Yeah, he’s f***ing done”. The incident left Norris with damage to his front wing and left Piastri seeing red.

"Uh...";

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/good-race-tough-race-thank-you-uh-piastris-icy-act-for-mclaren-boss-after-norris-clash/news-story/7baa7c941e1f4329df8f137555fd0234


‘Beyond a joke’: Tony Jones fires up after McLaren controversy at Singapore F1 Grand Prix
6 Oct 2025
3AW

Tony Jones has angrily reacted to the controversy overnight at the Singapore F1 Grand Prix involving McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Norris hit Piastri during the opening lap, pushing his car into the wall, and Jones thinks the Australian driver is being treated like an “absolute fool” at the moment. “It’s beyond a joke now … his patience is really being tested now by this bias towards his McLaren teammate,” Jones said on 3AW Mornings.

‘Beyond a joke: treated like an absolute fool’;

https://www.3aw.com.au/beyond-a-joke-tony-jones-fires-up-after-mclaren-controversy-at-singapore-f1-grand-prix/

[Fortitude]

How George Russell reversed Mercedes’ Friday misery with F1 Singapore GP pole.
“…it doesn’t matter what happens on Friday, it’s Q3 when it counts.” George Russell.
4 Oct 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Speaking to media including Motorsport Week after qualifying, Russell hinted he wasn’t considering pole as a prospect until late in Q2. “Yeah, it’s been a challenging weekend, to be fair,” he said. “I’ve not been comfortable with the car, not been comfortable with myself, and yeah, it just sort of all came towards me in Q3, to be honest, even the end of Q2.”

“That was my first good lap of the weekend, and probably the first lap where I felt semi-reasonable, but I knew I had a bit of margin to go further, and then my lap one in Q3 was really strong, and then obviously matched it on the second lap, so pretty pleased with that.” When asked why it had taken so long to dial the W16 in on the tricky Marina Bay track, Russell was left searching for a definitive answer.

“I don’t know, to be honest,” he admitted. “I mean, sometimes, some weekends you just hit the ground running a bit sooner, other times you don’t. I’ve found this weekend quite strange. The grip has been really high from the tarmac, but the cars have been sliding quite a lot, and it feels a bit reminiscent of Miami, where it’s really high grip, but the car is sliding, and I just didn’t have much confidence in myself.”

“It’s been a challenging weekend, to be fair”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/10/04/how-george-russell-reversed-mercedes-friday-misery-with-f1-singapore-gp-pole/


Russell shocked by Singapore win: 'Don't know where it came from'
05/10/2025
James Fiorucci
F1i.com

Speaking after the 62-lap event, Russell admitted that his latest win felt especially good after his heart-breaking crash in the final few laps on the brink of victory at the same circuit two years ago. He said: "It feels amazing, especially after what happened a couple of years ago. That was a bit of a missed opportunity, but we more than made up for it today.”

"Just so grateful for the team. They did an amazing job this weekend. We don’t really know where this performance came from, but really, really happy," stated Russell. He continued: "If I was to make a list of all the races I thought we could win at this year, this would probably be right at the bottom.”

"We need to sit down on Monday and Tuesday to sort of understand why the performance was so good. I hope we can carry this through to the rest of the season," added the Mercedes driver. He concluded: "But I think realistically, Lando looked incredibly fast. He was within a second of Max the whole race and around this circuit, that's not easy. We’ll take the performance for today and celebrate it. I won't think too much about Austin yet."

'Don't know where it came from';

https://f1i.com/news/550113-russell-shocked-by-victory-dont-know-where-this-came-from.html


How Mercedes staff privately reacted to George Russell’s Singapore Grand Prix win
6 October 2025
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

Mercedes staff were taken by ‘surprise’ by George Russell’s win at the Singapore Grand Prix. Wolff said after the race, as per AMuS: “Singapore has never been a good track for us. If someone had told me that we would dominate here, I wouldn’t have believed them.” Russell echoed those statements, saying Singapore was ‘bottom of the list’ of tracks he felt he could win in 2025.

Yet, the Brit dominated the race, only temporarily losing the lead during the pit stops. He maintained a strong pace to secure victory, much to the ‘surprise’ of Mercedes’ technicians. Singapore has not been a good track for the Brackley outfit in the past, having not won there before 2025 since 2018 with Lewis Hamilton. But Mercedes’ engineers had a ‘hunch’ that this year might go better, and they would be proved right.

“I wouldn’t have believed them”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/how-mercedes-staff-privately-reacted-to-george-russells-singapore-grand-prix-win/


Why Mercedes remains baffled by F1 Singapore GP dominance
6 Oct 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

When asked about how the team optimised its package, which has not shown much consistency during the middle-to-latter part of the season, Wolff was at a loss for words. “You tell me,” the Austrian told media including Motorsport Week. “That [Singapore] was never a nice place for us in terms of car performance. And if you would have told me that we were dominating in the way we did today, I would not have believed it.”

However, Wolff was also happy to acknowledge that even the quickest teams this year, including Constructors’ Champions McLaren, have found difficulties in some races. “These cars are just a surprise box,” he voiced. “If you ask McLaren why the last three races haven’t gone at all, they would probably struggle for answers.”

“And the same way, Max coming back and then lacking performance again today, and the same with the Ferraris oscillating between success and failure.” Wolff recognised the fine margins in optimising the most from any package this year, but indicated that once the right balance was struck in Singapore, the W16 was looking like it could achieve what it eventually did.

“These cars are just a surprise box”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/10/06/why-mercedes-remains-baffled-by-f1-singapore-gp-dominance/


Track surface changes key to surprise Singapore GP win – Russell
5th October 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

After taking pole position in qualifying yesterday, Russell said he expected Singapore would not suit their car. He went on to score a commanding victory in the race, pulling out a clear lead in the early stages. The Marina Bay track was resurfaced in eight places ahead of this year’s race. Russell thinks that was the change which made it suit their car better.

“There’s been less tyre overheating this year compared to years gone by,” he said. “I think it’s a track that in the past had major overheating, but with some of the corners having new Tarmac, it’s a bit smoother. The tyres seem a little bit more robust this year. It was all just in a bit of a nicer window, but nevertheless, it was still quite a surprise.”

“But the opening laps were really strong and I know Max was probably managing those softs more than I was managing my mediums.” Russell admitted the last-lap crash which cost him a place on the podium in 2023 played on his mind during the race. “Pulling a 10-second gap in 20-something laps was really great,” he said. “From that moment on, I just knew it was [about] bringing it home and watching out for the wall at turn 10.”

‘Track surface changes key’;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/10/05/track-surface-changes-key-to-surprise-singapore-gp-win-russell/


“The pace he and the car had was surprising,” claims Wolff after Russell’s dominant victory
8 Oct 2025
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Commenting on Mercedes' second victory of the season, team boss Toto Wolff noted: "That was an amazing drive from George this evening. He controlled the race from lights out to the chequered flag to take a brilliant win.

“The pace he and the car had was surprising but strong and that was the winning formula today. It was also great to have PETRONAS represent our team on the podium with Tengku Muhammad Taufik receiving the trophy. They are a brilliant title partner, and it is sweet to win at what is the closest race on the calendar to Malaysia.”

Signing off with a word for McLaren’s constructors’ title, Wolff said: “On that note, congratulations to McLaren as they secured the Constructors’ crown this evening. They have been the best team this year, so it is well deserved. Congratulations also go to our team-mates at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains who secured a 10th Mercedes-powered Constructor’s title in the past 12 years."

"That was an amazing drive from George”;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/27877


'He's been formidable this year' – Wolff praises Russell after 'in control' Singapore GP victory
George Russell's performance on Sunday in Singapore won him praise from team boss Toto Wolff.
6 Oct 2025
Formula One - Official Site

"I think we've seen George in the past with these moments, but not recently, and that's the step-up that he has made also this year, that these things don't happen again," said Wolff. "He was in control of the race today, eking out an advantage, managing it when Max was a bit closer, and there was not at any moment a doubt that there was any risk in his driving.”

"He's been formidable this year. I haven't seen mistakes. There were weekends that he himself said I could have done more, that it wasn't a good race. But this happens with any driver. You can see when it merges, the car being in a perfect space, and the driver being on top of things, that becomes the dominant formula, and that is what we've seen here."

'He's been formidable this year';

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/hes-been-formidable-this-year-wolff-praises-russell-after-in-control.68Ie3mMBy420FRYaKKAKVA

[Fortitude]

Analyst sees Verstappen with stronger title shot after Singapore.
Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes Max Verstappen has a better chance to win the drivers’ title after the Singapore GP.
8 Oct 2025
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

The Dutchman finished second to George Russell at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, but ahead of two McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. F1 TV analyst Palmer thinks Singapore proved Verstappen can still battle for this year's title. He said: "I have to say yes, there is [a chance]. More than I thought before Singapore. I think the fact that Red Bull were competitive on a very different circuit to Baku and Monza does speak now that they have found something on the car."

Jolyon Palmer: "So if they're fighting for a victory here, I think they can now fight for wins everywhere else, and it should be a chance for Max to get himself towards the championship fight." On the other hand, he noted that in order to overtake both Piastri and Norris in the standings, the two Mercedes and Ferrari drivers will need to take points away from them. Palmer also concluded that, had Verstappen been on pole position, he would have won last Sunday. "The pace on race day was actually very even," he argued.

‘Stronger title shot’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/analyst-sees-verstappen-with-stronger-title-shot-after-singapore


Verstappen’s Poker Face: Mekies’ Red Bull Eyes Late Heist
8 Oct 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Red Bull is a different beast these days, and Max Verstappen isn’t fighting it. The quadruple World Champion says he’s clicking with new team boss Laurent Mekies, praising a straight-shooting style that “fits” how he likes to work. There’s a different strategy in play with Mekies steering the ship now, Verstappen admits, but no one’s erasing the past. The Dutchman still talks about the Christian Horner era with clear fondness — memories of that first title in 2021 still doing laps in the back of his mind.

The mood music at Milton Keynes has changed since summer and, on track, so has the momentum. Verstappen has been steadily clawing back ground on McLaren over the last run of races, yet he’s keeping the lid firmly on any title talk. In Singapore, he felt Lando Norris had the outright pace advantage; the layout did him a few favours in keeping the papaya car parked behind. Pragmatic as ever, Verstappen’s read is simple: the speed is there in patches, but it has to be there everywhere if he’s going to make this a late-season heist. No bold predictions, just the familiar focus on execution.

‘Poker Face/ Late Heist’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/verstappens-poker-face-mekies-red-bull-eyes-late-heist/


Brundle's warning: Verstappen 'smells an outside chance of the title'
6 Oct 2025
Luke-John Buckle
GPblog.com

Martin Brundle is adamant that Max Verstappen is on the McLaren driver's radar with an outside chance of winning the world championship. The former Formula 1 driver said: "We know how good Max is. The team seems calm. They seem relaxed. He’s driving beautifully. They certainly have improved the car.”

“And you know why, he just smells an outside chance of a championship. A lot of things have got to work in his favour between now and then. But he’s now, I believe, he’s now living in the heads of the McLaren players.”

'Smells an outside chance of the title';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/brundles-warning-verstappen-smells-an-outside-chance-of-the-title


How Max Verstappen Can Still Win F1 Title Without Any McLaren DNFs
The Red Bull star is still in the world title fight after Singapore GP
7 Oct 2025
James Taylor
SPORTbible

Max Verstappen can still win the Formula 1 world title without any McLaren DNFs. With six race weekends remaining, including three sprint races, drivers still have plenty of opportunity to rack up points. And now Formula 1 fans are beginning to speculate whether Verstappen can complete a remarkable turnaround to retain his world title.

On X, F1GuyDan wrote: "Who needs hopium: Max Verstappen didn't win in Singapore but he can still become drivers' champion without any McLaren DNFs if the final 6 GPs play out like this. Do you believe?" He accompanied the post with a graphic showing the results Verstappen would need to lift the world title. According to the scenario, Verstappen would need to win every remaining race, while Norris and Piastri alternate between finishing second and third.

Under this outcome, Verstappen would finish the season on 447 points, ahead of Piastri with 445 and Norris on 428. Although it is highly unlikely that no other driver will finish in the top three for the remainder of the season, the scenario shows that Verstappen's title fight is still alive.

‘Without Any McLaren DNFs’;

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/max-verstappen-oscar-piastri-lando-norris-formula-1-554033-20251007


Brundle: Verstappen living ‘rent free’ in rivals’ heads, à la Senna
07/10/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Speaking on the grid ahead of last weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, Brundle painted a vivid picture of Verstappen’s psychological edge over his competitors. “I think Max, because he’s so aggressive, especially when he finds some grip that others don’t believe is there in the first few corners of the opening lap, I think he sort of lives in their heads rent-free.”

“A little bit, because they don’t know what he’s going to do next. And that is entirely intentional. It’s exactly what Ayrton Senna used to do, and people like that. Michael Schumacher was another one. Whether it was Formula 3 or Formula 1, Ayrton would steam up the inside of you and leave you to decide whether you wanted to crash on that day in history or not.”

Brundle’s comparison underlines the mental warfare Verstappen brings to the grid: it’s not just about speed or strategy – it’s also about planting doubt and hesitation in the minds of his opponents.

‘Mental warfare’;

https://f1i.com/news/550336-brundle-verstappen-living-rent-free-in-rivals-heads-a-la-senna.html


Red Bull have “improved a lot over the last few races,” claims Verstappen
6 Oct 2025
Balazs Szabo
F1technical.net

Max Verstappen: “I think over the last few races we’ve definitely improved a lot. A few things that we have done throughout the weekend, that’s what we have to probably look at again for the coming races.”

“But it’s nothing shocking or that we are lost about why maybe some pace has disappeared compared to what we would have liked. It’s just some stuff that we need to analyse, and hopefully next weekend we can do a little bit better,” said Verstappen. Verstappen opted to start the 62-lap Singapore race on Pirelli’s soft tyres in the hope that he could overtake George Russell at the start. “The track only just got dry , and starting on the dirty side of the grid... Yeah, well, we just opted to try something different because normally, if you just cross or pass Turn 1, you just stay there without anything crazy.”

“So we tried. It didn't really work out. So, then the first stint was always about just surviving on the tyres, trying to make it long enough to then pit for the Hard tyre. I think that worked out, but unfortunately, I think the whole race was quite difficult — more difficult than I hoped — for a lot of different reasons, let’s say it like that. So a few things we need to understand, why these things went wrong today. But even then, around here, even if you have more pace, you can't pass without anything crazy happening. So I think, for us, second was the maximum result,” Verstappen said.

“Definitely improved a lot”;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/27870


[B]Red Bull's 'good news' for Verstappen firmly rekindle title hopes
6 Oct 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Laurent Mekies expressed his satisfaction with the progress made by the RB21, pleased that the team was able to fight for victory in Singapore GP. “For sure, for us being able to fight for the win here means a lot,” the Frenchman said after the race. “After Monza, Baku was very different — you never know until you come to a high-downforce track. We’ve been able to be in the right rhythm from Friday. We were in the right rhythm in qualifying — it was very, very close to pole — and we were in the right rhythm in the race.

“We finished just a few seconds behind Russell. This is good news; it means that what we have unlocked is not only low-downforce specific.” However, Red Bull will continue to take things one race at a time and draw conclusions only at the end of the season: “We will not change our approach. We will continue to take it race by race. We’ll continue to take the learnings. There are probably quite a few lessons we can take from this race, on some small pockets of performance that we may be able to unlock for the future.”

Finally, shifting the focus to the upcoming races, Mekies added: “Austin will be a very different equation. Again, it’s back to the famous mid-speed corners where McLaren was also very strong here. They have been very, very strong all weekend against us, and you have a lot of them in Austin and in Mexico. So we take it race by race, and then we’ll see.”

‘Satisfaction with the progress made by the RB21’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verstappen-handed-brilliant-news-from-red-bull-after-singapore-gp

[Fortitude]

Sainz’s Sunday Save Can’t Mask Williams’ Saturday Chaos.
The frustration, though, isn’t just about a scrutineering slip. Sainz has been blunt for weeks: Williams’ single-lap form isn’t where it needs to be.
October 8, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Carlos Sainz left Singapore with a point, a shrug, and a message: no hard feelings, but Williams has to stop tripping over its own feet on Saturdays. Both Sainz and Alex Albon were thrown out of qualifying at Marina Bay after the FW47’s DRS flap was found beyond the legal limit — the FIA measured the gap at over 85mm in the deployed state on both cars’ outer sections. Williams accepted the finding, noting that its own pre-qualifying checks showed the wing within tolerance, but the stewards’ gauges did not. Disqualified from the session but cleared to race, Sainz started 18th. Albon, after Williams broke parc fermé to make changes, went from the pit lane. Alpine did the same with Pierre Gasly.

A long, patient first stint — Sainz ran roughly 50 laps on the mediums — set up the salvage: P10 at the flag, one point prised from a weekend that had threatened to unravel. For a driver in his first year at Grove, it was the tidy recovery you’d expect from a four-time Grand Prix winner. “It’s definitely not hard feelings between any of us,” Sainz said afterwards. “The team acknowledges we’re still making mistakes in these kind of things which can happen. We are in a building year of trying to become a better team and definitely yesterday we all did mistakes.”

“I did mistakes in my quali lap that cost us a Q3. The team did a mistake with the legality of the rear wing on both cars. A mistake with Alex in FP1 with the brakes. As long as we don’t repeat mistakes and we keep learning, that’s the key for us.” The frustration, though, isn’t just about a scrutineering slip. Sainz has been blunt for weeks: Williams’ single-lap form isn’t where it needs to be. Even with a more stable rear in race trim and gentle tyre use that lets the FW47 stretch a stint, the car doesn’t switch on in qualifying the way it should.

‘Williams’ single-lap form isn’t where it needs to be’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/sainzs-sunday-save-cant-mask-williams-saturday-chaos/


Vowles claims Williams will be "urgently investigating how this happened" after double disqualification
4 Oct 2025
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Following the confirmation of the disqualification, Williams Team Principal James Vowles issued a statement saying: "During FIA scrutineering after Qualifying, the rear wings on both our cars failed DRS slot gap checks. As a result, Alex and Carlos have been disqualified from Qualifying for tomorrow’s Singapore Grand Prix.”

"This is bitterly disappointing for the team and we are urgently investigating how this happened. At no point were we seeking a performance advantage and the rear wings had passed our own checks earlier in the day, but there is only one measurement that matters and we fully accept the FIA ruling.”

"We have a car capable of scoring points here this weekend and will do everything we can to fight from the back of the grid tomorrow, and will immediately review our processes to make sure this doesn’t happen again."

"Urgently investigating how this happened";

https://www.f1technical.net/news/27858


Singapore GP disaster for Williams as Albon and Sainz disqualified from qualifying
Post-qualifying scrutineering revealed both Williams cars broke DRS regulations, forcing them to start Sunday’s race from the back
4 October 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

According to a statement from the FIA, the issue concerned the uppermost rear wing element on both cars, with the adjustable positions exceeding the permitted limits. “The uppermost rear wing element adjustable positions were checked on car numbers 23 (Albon) and 55 (Sainz),” the FIA report stated. “Both cars exceeded the maximum limit of 85mm on both sides of the rear wing outer area.”

The FIA confirmed that this constituted a breach of Article 3.10.10 (g) of the Formula 1 Technical Regulations, which relates to the operation of the Drag Reduction System (DRS). The rule specifies that “at all points along the span, when the DRS is in the state of deployment, the two sections of the rear wing profiles must have a minimum gap of between 9.4mm and 85mm.”

“During post-Qualifying scrutineering, the rear wing of the car was found to be non-compliant with the Technical Regulations,” read statement continued. “At the hearing, the competitor admitted that, although their own measurement prior to the Qualifying had shown the component to be within tolerance, the measurement subsequently conducted by the appointed FIA officials revealed a larger gap than permitted and therefore the rear wing did not conform with the required dimension.”

‘Both Williams cars broke DRS regulations’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-2025-williams-alex-albon-carlos-sainz-disqualified-singapore-gp-qualifying/


Disqualified, Then Cleared: Williams Plots Singapore Shock Comeback
October 5, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Williams clears Singapore start for Sainz and Albon after DRS disqualifications. Carlos Sainz will race in Singapore after all. So will Alex Albon. Hours after both Williams drivers were thrown out of qualifying for a rear-wing infringement, the FIA has granted permission for the pair to start today’s Grand Prix from the back. Saturday night ended awkwardly for Williams. Sainz and Albon had parked their FW47s in 12th and 13th, only for post-session checks to find their DRS slot gaps exceeded the 85mm limit when opened. That’s a straight technical breach and an automatic exclusion from the results.

Because their qualifying times were nullified, the duo also fell foul—technically—of the 107% rule, forcing the team to ask the stewards for permission to race. The stewards said yes. Citing Article 39.4 b) of the FIA Sporting Regulations, they ruled that both drivers had set “satisfactory” lap times in practice and could therefore start the race. In line with Article 42.1, they’ll be placed at the back of the grid. It’s a messy start to a weekend that had quietly promised more for Williams. Sainz, who joined from Ferrari for 2025, looked sharp through practice around Marina Bay’s bumpy, heat-soaked streets. Albon’s long-run pace wasn’t shabby either. Both will now have to convert that into progress from Row 10.

Team principal James Vowles didn’t sugarcoat it. Bitterly disappointing, he called it, insisting there was no intent to gain performance and that both rear wings had passed internal checks earlier in the day. Williams has launched an internal review to understand how the parts later failed the FIA gauge. The DRS infraction itself is simple: open the flap too wide and you hand the rear wing a little less drag than the rules allow. It’s why the tolerance is policed so tightly. Williams maintains the overage was unintended. Intent doesn’t matter in scrutineering; measurement does.

‘Team principal James Vowles didn’t sugarcoat it’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/disqualified-then-cleared-williams-plots-singapore-shock-comeback/


Carlos Sainz reveals the ‘key’ to Williams improvement after F1 Singapore GP comeback
7 Oct 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Speaking to media including Motorsport Week post-race, Sainz noted the impressive pace of his car to help him move through the field. “From 13th I was hopeful of points, from 18th probably less,” he remarked. “To be honest, all of our simulations said we needed Safety Cars at the right times to get points but the pace was so good today that we managed to extract a point out of a difficult Singapore.@

“Boring one because it was a one-stop that nothing really happened, but we had such a strong pace and such a good overtaking at the end that I think we were one of the only midfield cars to be able to make it through the field. I think an ideal weekend would have been a P7 or P8. Realistically speaking in the race we had a lot of pace,” he addressed.

“Again maybe a bit like in Baku we could have been mixing it up with [Andrea Kimi] Antonelli, maybe possibly if we would have started next to him. But the reality is that we have a weakness in qualifying that we are trying to address. We keep criticising the tyre preparation.”

“I think an ideal weekend would have been a P7 or P8”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/10/07/carlos-sainz-reveals-the-key-to-williams-improvement-after-f1-singapore-gp-comeback/


Williams launches ‘urgent investigation’ over Sainz, Albon DSQ as FIA issues update
05 Oct 2025
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

The FIA has granted permission for Williams drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon to start today’s Singapore Grand Prix. It comes after the pair were disqualified from Saturday’s qualifying session due to a technical breach, with Williams holding an “urgent investigation” over the matter.

A stewards’ report on Sainz read: “The Stewards have received a request from Atlassian Williams Racing to allow car 55 to start the Race despite being disqualified from Qualifying. “In accordance with Article 39.4 b) of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, the Stewards grant permission for car 55, Carlos Sainz, to start the Race, as the driver has set satisfactory times in practice at this Competition.

“The car will be placed on the grid in accordance with Article 42.1 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.” An identical statement was issued for Albon, who was previously disqualified from qualifying at last year’s Dutch Grand Prix.

‘Urgent investigation’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/fia-williams-update-carlos-sainz-alex-albon-singapore-grand-prix-dsq

[Fortitude]

Has Ferrari really gone ‘downhill’ since Sainz left? Villenueve thinks so.
In explaining what Sainz brings to a team, Villeneuve added that the trend of teams going “downhill” after his departure has carried on with Ferrari.
30 Sep 2025
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

Villeneuve said of Sainz to a betting platform: “He’s always been a very mature, strong driver. He’s often been criticised for lack of pace which is not the case. If you look at his career, when he’s joined a new team, it has taken him a while, half a season maybe, to get up to speed. He works at it. But in that period, he makes the whole team go better.”

“That’s what happened in every team he’s joined. And at some point, he’s often had a teammate that maybe was just a few hundredths quicker. But that teammate was quicker also thanks to the work that Sainz was doing.”

“But then Sainz became quicker than his teammate. Even when you look at Leclerc, Leclerc wasn’t ahead of Sainz at Ferrari like a lot of people want to think. And every time he left a team, that team went downhill. Every time. And it’s the same with Ferrari now.”

‘The trend of teams going “downhill” after his departure has carried on with Ferrari’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/jacques-villeneuve-carlos-sainz-ferrari-downhill


Carlos Sainz reveals how former Ferrari colleagues reacted after he scored his first podium for Williams
26 Sep 2025
Ashley Hambly
F1 Oversteer

Carlos Sainz’s former colleagues at Ferrari were ‘very proud’ of him for his heroics in Baku. Sainz was forced to find greener pastures following Ferrari’s acquisition of Lewis Hamilton for 2025, which was announced before the beginning of last season. The 31-year-old left the team on good terms, revealing the Scuderia’s sentiment towards him during his exit, as well as their joy for him in Baku.

“I must say Ferrari was really happy for me, we had a really good goodbye, and a really good end to the year last year,” Sainz told listeners. “Honestly, I just felt like I left a lot of good friends and a lot of good people. I think it was just the circumstances of Lewis being a seven-time world champion, wanting to finish his career in Ferrari, and I had to leave, and in that case, this is where I found Williams.”

“Now that I’ve scored my first podium at Williams, all of the people from Ferrari, and everyone was congratulating me, everyone seemed to be very, very proud and happy.” Over the Ferrari team radio at the chequered flag, former teammate Charles Leclerc congratulated Sainz for his impressive result after expressing his frustration with how his own race went with the Scuderia on the streets of Baku.

‘Carlos Sainz’s former colleagues at Ferrari were ‘very proud’ of him’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/carlos-sainz-reveals-how-former-ferrari-colleagues-reacted-after-he-scored-his-first-podium-for-williams/


Sainz Sprays, Hamilton Waits: Steiner Says Ferrari Regrets
29 Sep 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

‘Some in Ferrari already regret it’: Steiner pounces as Sainz hits Baku podium while Hamilton waits. Guenther Steiner has never been shy with a verdict, and he’s not starting now. In the wake of Carlos Sainz’s Baku podium — delivered in Williams blue — the former Haas boss says there are people inside Ferrari who already regret swapping Sainz for Lewis Hamilton. Steiner’s take, on The Red Flags podcast, was as blunt as you’d expect: some at Maranello “feel regret,” he said, even if management won’t admit it.

His reasoning? Sainz was a known quantity who delivered without fuss. Hamilton, still finding his feet at Ferrari, has brought noise, scrutiny, and questions the team’s had to spend precious energy answering. “They wouldn’t have all the interference from outside of Lewis not performing,” Steiner argued, suggesting Ferrari could’ve kept heads down and chased performance rather than fielding constant why-doesn’t-he-like-the-car queries. He also pointed to the obvious: Hamilton isn’t cheap. “Is it a worthwhile investment? Maybe not,” he added, implying the return so far doesn’t match the outlay. It’s a stinging comparison because the backdrop is so stark. Sainz left Ferrari expecting to stay — he’d said he was “99% sure”...

‘Steiner Says Ferrari Regrets’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/sainz-sprays-hamilton-waits-steiner-says-ferrari-regrets/


Guenther Steiner makes stunning Ferrari ‘regret’ claim about Carlos Sainz
28 Sep 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Guenther Steiner believes some people within Ferrari will regret the team’s decision to part ways with Carlos Sainz. “I think obviously management cannot feel regret because you would be admitting that you did something wrong, and you cannot do that, because I’m sure that some of the guys there, the feeling I get, because Ferrari finished eighth and ninth in Baku. Carlos Sainz, now with Williams, finished third, so it’s like, I guess the guy feeling best about it is Carlos Sainz.”

In a later ‘Gas or Brake’ segment of the podcast, Steiner was asked whether Sainz’s podium proves that Ferrari made the wrong choice in signing Hamilton, who has endured a disappointing debut campaign with the Scuderia. “I mean, Carlos was doing a good job. They wouldn’t have all the interference from outside of Lewis not performing, so the team could focus on going racing, making things better, instead of always trying to find out why Lewis doesn’t like the car.”

‘Regret’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1082502/1/guenther-steiner-makes-stunning-ferrari-regret-claim-about-carlos-sainz


What Fred Vasseur has now said ‘off the record’ about Carlos Sainz returning to Ferrari one day
25 Sep 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Fred Vasseur said ‘off the record’ that the ‘door wasn’t closed’ for Carlos Sainz to return to Ferrari. A report from the Spanish outlet MARCA has shared more information about Vasseur’s feelings towards the four-time race winner. Vasseur admitted that ‘the door wasn’t closed’ on Sainz ever returning to Ferrari. At an ‘off the record’ breakfast for the Spanish media ahead of the British Grand Prix, Vasseur made this claim for the first time. Although a return is ‘not on the table’ right now, anything could happen in the future. Hamilton controls a clause in his Ferrari contract that would see him extend his stay at Maranello into 2027.

Whether he wants to activate that clause if he and the team aren’t winning is another matter, which could pave the way for a return for Sainz if Ferrari aren’t interested in promoting Oliver Bearman. The talk surrounding Mercedes’ 2026 power unit might make it a more difficult decision for Sainz to leave Williams to return to Ferrari. But Vasseur doesn’t want to rule out any potential options in the driver market, as he will know that Ferrari are going to need a replacement for Hamilton at some point in the future.

‘The door wasn’t closed’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/what-fred-vasseur-has-now-said-off-the-record-about-carlos-sainz-returning-to-ferrari-one-day/


Ex-Ferrari F1 chairman hints he would have kept Carlos Sainz alongside Charles Leclerc
26 Sep 2025
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo has hinted he would have retained Carlos Sainz alongside Charles Leclerc, praising the pairing as a “very good couple” for the team. Montezemolo was keen to point out that Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were a very strong driver pairing. Ferrari narrowly missed out on the constructors’ championship last year, finishing 14 points behind McLaren.

Ferrari decided to replace Sainz with Lewis Hamilton for this season. “Sainz and Leclerc was a very good couple. But no question, Verstappen is by far the best in my view. By far,” he added. Montezemolo didn’t mention Hamilton or current Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur.

“If tomorrow morning I will be obliged to go to work in Ferrari, in one week I have clear in my mind who to put in different positions,” Montezemolo explained. Montezemolo also praised ex-Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto. “I am happy now for Binotto… he is investing in the future with a good Brazilian young driver looking ahead,” he concluded.

‘Ex-Ferrari F1 chairman hints he would have kept Carlos Sainz’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1082531/1/ex-ferrari-f1-chairman-hints-he-would-have-kept-carlos-sainz-alongside-charles


Sainz Strikes First: Did Ferrari Bet On The Wrong Star?
Alex Albuquerque
Sep 30, 2025
FastestLap.com

The head-to-head scoreline, then? Not decided. Not close. Not even the right way to think about it in May. If Sainz and Williams nick another big result, the drumbeat will get louder. If Hamilton strings together clean Saturdays and Ferrari unlocks a little more balance, the podium will come and the noise will turn. Neither narrative is permanent in a 24-race championship.

What will decide the story is the stuff we don’t see on TV: how fast Hamilton and Ferrari converge on a common language; how Williams sustain development without wobbling; which team executes better when the margins are only tenths wide and one slow stop costs you everything. It’s prosaic. It’s also how this sport works.

So, by all means enjoy the intrigue. Sainz wearing blue and standing on a rostrum before Hamilton does it in scarlet is not nothing. It’s just not everything. The bar for Ferrari and Hamilton isn’t P3 anyway. It’s wins. It’s a title challenge. If Sainz and Williams get to either of those first, then we’ve got a different conversation on our hands. Until then, one snapshot doesn’t make a portrait. It just makes a great headline.

‘Not decided’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/sainz-strikes-first-did-ferrari-bet-on-the-wrong-star/

[Fortitude]

Ferrari’s 2026 Deadline: Deliver, or Lose Leclerc.
Nicolas Todt has put Ferrari on notice! Todt turns the heat on Ferrari: deliver in 2026 or risk losing Leclerc.
October 12, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Speaking to the Straits Times in Singapore, Charles Leclerc’s long-time manager made it clear the Monegasque won’t wait forever for a title-worthy car. “He’s not a kid anymore,” Todt said, a line that landed with the thud of a ticking clock in Maranello. Translation: if Ferrari don’t show up for the 2026 rules reset with a genuine championship contender, Leclerc’s future becomes an open question.

This isn’t idle chatter. Leclerc’s been with Ferrari since 2019, a period that’s delivered eight wins and a near-miss in 2022 when he finished runner-up in the World Drivers’ Championship. It’s also been a seven-season reel of bright Saturdays and too many bruising Sundays. After another tough Singapore Grand Prix, Leclerc’s post-race debrief was unvarnished. McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes have all found steps, he said, while Ferrari have been left playing catch-up. “And then there’s us,” was the sting. Taken alone, it’s frustration. Taken with the tone of his recent radio messages and Todt’s public temperature check, it starts to sound like groundwork.

The driver who once arrived as Ferrari’s future now wants Ferrari to meet him in the present. Todt didn’t sugar-coat it. Ferrari’s car is “good,” he said, but not good enough to win a World Championship. The ask is simple and enormous: build a 2026 machine that can go toe-to-toe with the class of the field from round one. The stakes are obvious. Leclerc signed a multi-year extension in early 2024, widely understood to include options that give both sides wiggle room. In other words, there are escape hatches if performance doesn’t align with ambition.

‘Deliver, or Lose Leclerc’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/ferraris-2026-deadline-deliver-or-lose-leclerc/


Charles Leclerc angers Ferrari engineers with blunt Singapore comments – report
10 Oct 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Charles Leclerc gave an alarming assessment of Ferrari and where they stand versus rivals after a challenging Singapore Grand Prix. Leclerc’s outlook for Ferrari was not a positive one, with a report since emerging from Italy that Leclerc’s comments did not go down well with a section of the Ferrari crew. Leclerc had given little hope for an improvement in Ferrari’s fortunes following Singapore.

According to respected Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, some of the Ferrari engineers have been left far from impressed with Leclerc’s comments. Unfortunately, we don’t have the race car to fight with the guys in front,” said Leclerc after the race in Singapore. “McLaren always had the same gap on us compared to the beginning of the year. Red Bull did a step from Monza and are the same level of McLaren. Mercedes now is at the same level of McLaren and Red Bull. And then there’s us.”

“It’s not easy, obviously, because you want to fight for better positions. But at the moment, it just feels like we are passengers to the car and we cannot extract much more.” He added: “The picture we’ve seen this weekend is going to be what the rest of the season looks like for us.” La Gazzetta dello Sport state that Leclerc’s comment ‘paint a discouraging picture of the entire Maranello environment’, and that ‘relations between the various departments of the team are strained.’

“And then there’s us”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-engineers-angry-charles-leclerc-singapore-criticism-report


'Not a baby anymore': Leclerc's camp 'hopes' Ferrari deliver in 2026
10 OCT 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Charles Leclerc's manager Nicolas Todt has ramped up the pressure at Ferrari deeming the Scuderia's efforts "not enough to win the title." He said to the Strait Times: “A lot of drivers are waiting to see how well each team will have worked, and how good their car will be to say ‘I want to stay in my team’ or ‘I want to go to another team because they are doing a better job’.”

He added: “Charles is one of the best talent of his generation, with Max and a few of the drivers. He’s not a baby any more because he has done a lot of seasons with Ferrari and of course, I think that we still need to have a winning car. Today, we have a good car, but not enough to win the title... We hope it will happen and we hope next year Ferrari will have a very good car with the new regulations,” he concluded.

Reports in Italian media speak of a growing discomfort in Ferrari's ranks, with team principal Frédéric Vasseur apparently going into a heated argument with a Ferrari trackside personnel following the Singapore GP qualifying. Reports also indicate that the team's mechanics and engineers would be looking rather unkindly at Leclerc's consistent criticism of the SF-25 given the pressure that is already on the team to achieve better results. Furthermore, recent rumours have put Vasseur under pressure again, despite his recent contract extension, linking Horner as a potential replacement to the Frenchman.

‘Ramped up the pressure at Ferrari’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/not-a-baby-anymore-leclercs-camp-hopes-ferrari-deliver-in-2026


Ferrari face ‘never-ending crisis’ within several departments amid Charles Leclerc exit rumours
9 October 2025
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

Ferrari are in turmoil on and off the track as they risk a poor end to the 2025 season and losing their star driver Charles Leclerc. The Maranello outfit are still without a win in 2025 as they struggle to find the right balance with the SF-25. The Singapore Grand Prix was another disappointing weekend as Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton could only bring home 12 points.

Leclerc lamented Hamilton’s ‘very difficult situation’ as Ferrari again struggled to maximise their weekend. The team are falling further behind their rivals as they battle for second in the constructors’ championship. Leclerc says Ferrari are the fourth-best team at the moment; a bleak admission that comes amid reports that he is considering his future in Maranello. The whole atmosphere around the team appears to be in crisis.

With no wins and just five podiums in 2025 – all courtesy of Leclerc – Ferrari have planned ‘serious’ meetings behind the scenes with key personnel. Little has worked for the team this season, from operational decisions to upgrades and development. Ferrari ‘ignored’ Leclerc and Hamilton’s wishes for aerodynamic upgrades, instead focusing on the rear suspension to solve their problems with ride height. However, this has now caused the car to not respond to setup changes. Leclerc is losing patience at Ferrari, referring to the team as ‘passengers’ in Singapore…

‘Never-ending crisis’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ferrari-face-never-ending-crisis-within-several-departments-amid-charles-leclerc-exit-rumours/


'Tension at Ferrari': Rumour of intrateam conflict emerges
9 Oct 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Italian journal Corriere dello Sport reports turmoil in Ferrari after their lowly outing in Singapore, with a conversation involving Fréderic Vasseur escalating into a tense discussion, and resentment from a portion of the engineering staff toward Charles Leclerc.

According to the Italian publication it seems that after what was another poor outing in Singapore where the Scuderia failed to deliver on their car's potential, a conversation between someone who is described as "a very capable head of track engineering," and team principal Frédéric Vasseur, escalated into a tense discussion.

The Italian journal also states that there is growing discontent from the engineers' side toward Charles Leclerc, for "his uncompromising criticism" of the Ferrari SF-25 car. After the race, Leclerc said that Mercedes was right up there McLaren, who'd also been joined by Red Bull at the top. Regarding Ferrari, Leclerc ended with a crushing: "And then there's us."

‘Turmoil in Ferrari’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/tension-at-ferrari-rumour-of-intrateam-conflict-emerges


Charles Leclerc delivers bleak Ferrari prediction after Singapore struggle
Charles Leclerc finished sixth in a difficult Singapore Grand Prix for Ferrari.
9 October 2025
Jake Nichol & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Charles Leclerc has delivered a bleak prediction that Ferrari will not be able to turn around its F1 form in the remainder of the season. In Singapore, the SF-25's performance was affected by a request to lift and coast from early in the race, which meant Leclerc could not make forward progress to challenge for a podium.

Leclerc believes the Scuderia's fortunes will not change between now and the end of the season, as it chases a first grand prix win of the year. "I don't think there will be anything special. I think the picture we've seen this weekend is going to be what the rest of the season looks like for us," Leclerc told media, including RacingNews365.

"I think every time you don't fight for wins, it is difficult, but obviously, coming from a year like last year, where you are fighting for the world constructors' championship, you come with high expectations. You then lower your expectations from the beginning, and you don't even see progression throughout the year; that is not easy.”

‘A request to lift and coast from early in the race’;

https://racingnews365.com/charles-leclerc-delivers-bleak-ferrari-prediction-after-singapore-struggle

[Fortitude]

Horner and Max to Aston? The Coup F1 Fears.
Riccardo Patrese has thrown a log on the autumn rumour fire, and it crackled loudly: Christian Horner and Max Verstappen, reunited at Aston Martin to build a “new Red Bull” in Silverstone.
Alex Albuquerque
13 Oct 2025
FastestLap.com

It’s a provocative thought from a six-time grand prix winner who calls himself a friend of Horner’s. And it arrives just weeks after Horner’s split from Red Bull was finally inked, with multiple reports suggesting a hefty settlement in the region of $100 million and no long-term non-compete to keep him on the sofa. In other words: if Horner wants back in, the door’s open sooner rather than later.

Patrese’s logic leans on F1 history. He sees shades of the great migration that powered Ferrari’s renaissance in the late ’90s: Michael Schumacher leaves Benetton, Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne follow, the Scuderia becomes a juggernaut. In his scenario, Aston Martin plays the part of Ferrari; Horner arrives with know-how and gravitational pull; Verstappen, the sport’s dominant force of the last few years, is the crown jewel. “I can see something similar,” Patrese suggested, noting that top operators tend to plant their flag and bring the right people with them. Translation: assemble the band, write a new dynasty.

There are, of course, realities to navigate. Verstappen’s four titles have all come under Horner’s stewardship, but 2025 hasn’t followed the familiar script. With the 2026 rules reset looming — new chassis, new power units, and a grid-wide retooling — the Verstappen question naturally bubbles up again. If Red Bull’s own engine project doesn’t light up straight away, he’ll have options. And Aston Martin, laden with resources and ambition at its Silverstone campus, would be mad not to ask the question if the stars align.

‘The Coup F1 Fears’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/horner-and-max-to-aston-the-coup-f1-fears/


Max Verstappen and Christian Horner reunite in ‘new Red Bull’ exit theory
13/10/2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

The sport enters a new era from 2026, as the chassis and engine regulations undergo major change. Verstappen’s Red Bull future could therefore become a talking point once more, if Red Bull does not make a successful start with their own engine, developed in partnership with Ford. “The Aston Martin speculation with Christian Horner reminds me of when Michael Schumacher left Benetton and went to Ferrari,” Riccardo Patrese, the six-time grand prix winner and “friend” of Christian Horner told a gambling platform.

“He took all the best pieces from Benetton to go to Ferrari to build a winning team and then become a world champion. Ross Brawn, Rory Byrne, all these guys that were Benetton with him and he took to Ferrari and then they built a team where he was five times world champion. I can see a similar situation happening with Verstappen. They talk for sure. If this is what he thinks it could happen, probably yes, Horner could certainly go there and make a new Red Bull team at Aston Martin!”

However, Patrese – likening Horner and Jos to a divorced couple – does not believe relations between the duo would be a barrier to this Aston Martin scenario. “If you divorce a wife, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to have constant aggravation,” said Patrese. “Maybe after two, three, four years, Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen become friends again. And of course, if there is this possibility to build a team that can go for the championship and Max could be the guy that wins again, I think Jos would stay to one side a little bit.”

‘New Red Bull exit theory’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-verstappen-christian-horner-reunite-aston-martin-new-red-bull-riccardo-patrese


Aston Martin’s Cardile sets the tone: ‘Failure is not an option’
10/10/2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

When Enrico Cardile walked away from Ferrari earlier this year, it sent shockwaves through the Formula 1 paddock. A seasoned engineer steeped in Maranello’s traditions, his move to Aston Martin was more than a career change – it was a statement of intent. For Cardile, it’s both a technical challenge and a philosophical one – an opportunity to shape Aston Martin’s destiny. And as he tells it, failure simply “isn’t an option”.

Asked in an interview published this week on Aston Martin’s website whether leaving Ferrari after an entire career there represented a culture shock, Cardile doesn’t hesitate to draw the distinction. “I think there is a difference in culture,” he said. “The targets are the same: everyone is focused on winning, but the F1 team at Ferrari has a very long and stable history, with established processes and tools.”

“Here, we're still building up these things. We have the new CoreWeave Wind Tunnel, the new simulator, and we need to work to exploit the potential of these things. We also need to develop the processes within the company for the way we work, building a lean organisation that avoids waste. It's one of the first messages I gave to my team when I started: we need to find our identity and use our vision to shape the organisation so that it works the way we want it to work. It's fine to take inspiration from other places, but copying the way it has been done elsewhere is not the thing to do.”

‘Failure not an option’;

https://f1i.com/news/550448-aston-martins-cardile-sets-the-tone-failure-is-not-an-option.html


Cowell hails ‘exciting’ Aston Martin-Honda shift as works era nears
12/10/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Team boss Andy Cowell: “Yeah, Honda’s going great. They’re an engineering-led organisation, just like Aston Martin,” he said. “They’re innovative, their sense of passion and commitment and courage is huge. I’m flying to Sakura on Monday, spending a couple of days with them after the race on Sunday.”

“It’s an exciting time for the team to take that transition from a customer team, where you have very little say in what goes on at the rear of the car, to having all the debates about what the front of the power unit should look like, how do we do the cooling, how do we integrate with the transmission, how do we pull it all together,” he explained. “I guess that’s where Adrian being on board since March is really helpful,” Cowell noted.

“Going great”;

https://f1i.com/news/550535-cowell-hails-exciting-aston-martin-honda-shift-as-works-era-nears.html


Why Adrian Newey is crucial in Aston Martin’s 2026 transition to Honda F1 power
11 Oct 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Adrian Newey has himself described the challenge of interpreting next year’s radical new regulations as “scary,” with F1 priming itself up for a myriad of changes that will alter racing experiences for both the drivers, teams and the fans alike. Andy Cowell, “I guess that’s where Adrian being on board since March is really helpful. He’s got experience working with Honda, so there’s a natural understanding there already as to what can be pushed and what can’t. So yeah, exciting times. Yeah, it’s a big challenge for all the teams,” he addressed. “Lots of new technology – power unit, advanced sustainable fuels, aerodynamics, materials development, chassis design, transmissions – it’s the whole car.”

“And it’s exciting. It’s an exciting challenge. None of us can move that first test date or the first race date. We’re all pushing as hard as we can to innovate and create performance. But we all know that you don’t get any points unless you finish, and we’ve got that eternal balance to make. I think it’s going to be exciting racing, exciting testing compared with the last few years where you do a few days. It’ll be interesting to see how it all unfolds, but we’re certainly looking forward to it.”

‘Adrian Newey is crucial’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/10/11/why-adrian-newey-is-crucial-in-aston-martins-2026-transition-to-honda-f1-power/


Round-up: Aston Martin “going to get it right next year”, insists Cardile
10 Oct 2025
Will Wood
RaceFans

''We're going to get it right next year. I just don't know if we're going to get it right for the first race, the second, the seventh, or whatever. What we have is commitment, focus, and the confidence that it will be right. We have all we need to do a great job. Failure is not an option.''

https://www.astonmartinf1.com/en-GB/news/feature/undercut-enrico-cardile

https://www.racefans.net/2025/10/10/round-up-10th-october-2025/


Stroll opens up on criticism in rare interview
13 Oct 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

In a rare and candid interview on Aston Martin’s website, the Canadian spoke about the mental challenges of competing in F1, learning to keep perspective amid constant scrutiny. “I like to see it as just noise,” Lance Stroll said. “If I buy into it, it bothers me, for sure, but that’s where I am fortunate. I have good people around me that I love, that I trust, and I put my attention and value their opinions. I try and live in my world, not the world in that sense.”

Stroll said he’s learned not to let it affect him. “There’s always going to be criticism. People are very short-minded,” he added. “You have a couple of good races, you’re great. You have a couple of bad ones, you suck. That’s never going to change. That’s why being surrounded by important people and valuing the opinion of people that you care about, that you value, that you really know their opinion, is what matters. Don’t take criticism from someone you wouldn’t take advice from.”

‘Stroll opens up’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-lance-stroll-online-criticism-defence-career-interview-aston-martin/

[Fortitude]

Martin Brundle reveals sole condition Christian Horner is seeking for F1 return.
Former F1 driver Martin Brundle has stated Christian Horner has informed him of the conditions he is seeking to return to the F1 grid.
14 Oct 2025
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365

Christian Horner will only return to the grid if he is a shareholder with a team, according to Martin Brundle, akin to Toto Wolff's set-up at Mercedes. “He made it absolutely clear to me when I spoke to him that he will only come back if he’s got a skin in the game, if he’s got a share of the team and is building something, rather than being a manager as he was with Red Bull,” Brundle said.

“He couldn’t get any shareholding in that. Toto Wolff is a good example of how to do that as a one-third shareholder in Mercedes. I’m not surprised Christian is knocking on doors, seeing what is available out there. There are not many available doors to knock on, in that respect."

‘Sole condition’;

https://racingnews365.com/martin-brundle-reveals-sole-condition-christian-horner-is-seeking-for-f1-return


Bombshell Horner rumour as axed Red Bull boss linked to return with F1 supergiant
14 October 2025
Dane Heverin from Fox Sports
Fox Sports (Australia)
Former Red Bull boss Christian Horner is reportedly in talks with Ferrari about a shock F1 return. The Daily Mail reports that Horner has been touted to potentially take over as Ferrari’s team principal following a turbulent season for the famous Italian team, and his sacking by Red Bull earlier this year.

The 51-year-old Englishman was at the helm of Red Bull for 20 years, overseeing four world titles each for Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen as well as eight constructors’ championships. But his time in charge ended off the back of discontent within the organisation as McLaren raced past Red Bull on the track, and accusations of being involved in “coercive behaviour” towards a female employee, which Horner denied and was twice clear of by internal hearings.

‘Return with F1 supergiant’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/axed-red-bull-boss-linked-to-shock-return-to-paddock-with-f1-giant/news-story/b82ce69448ac46bae0d3c408123b5317


'Horner prepares F1 comeback' as talks with Ferrari 'revealed'
13 Oct 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Christian Horner is said to be in talks with Ferrari regarding a role in the Scuderia. Throughout his career Horner has often been linked to Ferrari. But up until now those rumours were shut down by the former Red Bull boss given his commitment to the Austrian team. However, those ties have now been severed and the future lays itself wide open for the 51-year-old.

After Horner and Red Bull reached an agreement on the terms of his termination, the Briton was issued an approximately £52 million payment for the services rendered and put on a gardening leave which extends into the spring of 2026. After that period, Max Verstappen's former boss may return to F1 in any capacity he so desires. According to the Daily Mail, though, Horner is in talks with Ferrari at the moment, since, as reported in Italian media, the Scuderia's President John Elkann would've supposedly lost faith in Frédéric Vasseur's leadership of the Italian marque's F1 project.

The British tabloid further claims that Ferrari are 'wooing' Horner, who, on the other hand, is keeping communication lines open with other Formula 1 teams who would like to add Horner's sterling résumé and capabilities to their ranks. The other teams, however, remain unnamed in the report.

'Wooing Horner’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/rumors/christian-horners-f1-comeback-is-on-hes-in-talks-with-ferrari


'Ringing up every team principal': Sources claim Christian Horner is on path to re-joining F1 great
October 14, 2025
Sophie Wisely
Channel 9's Wide World of Sports

Previous Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has been linked with a shock re-entrance into the Formula 1 paddock, just six races after he was sacked by his longtime team. Members of the paddock are claiming that Horner has been on the fringe looking for a team to bring him back and that he may have found his partner in the sport's mainstay icon, Ferrari.

Speaking at the Singapore Grand Prix, Aston Martin team principal Andy Cowell joked that he was one of many being reached out to. "It looks as though Christian is ringing up every team owner at the moment," said Cowell. Ferrari is struggling under the leadership of Fred Vasseur, the team desperately looking for an inkling of pace as they sit third in the standings.

According to the Daily Mail, several sources say that Horner is being "wooed" by the Scuderia. In the 2025 season, Ferrari has only scored five podiums with driver Charles Leclerc and a sprint victory in China with Lewis Hamilton. They last won a drivers' championship with Kimi Raikkonen in 2007. In a season marred by technical difficulties and lack of performance, Ferrari could look to Horner to turn things around.

‘On path to re-joining F1 great’;

https://www.nine.com.au/sport/motorsport/f1-news-2025-christian-horner-ferrari-talks-aston-martin-paddock-reaction-20251014-p5n2fc.html


One F1 team must u-turn on their Christian Horner stance as ‘falling down’ factory issues emerge
13 October 2025
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

Horner could set up his own F1 team, with the sport allowing for 12 teams to be on the grid. It would be a costly project to try to find sponsors and even get approval, but Horner’s marketing expertise at Red Bull may make it an attractive option. Haas are not interested in a sale, having previously been linked with Horner. However, the latest information coming out of the team may make them want to rethink their stance on the 51-year-old.

According to journalist Nate Saunders, their factory is ‘falling down’, emphasising the work that needs to be done. He said via Unlapped: “The one I think is fascinating is Haas. I’m stunned that Gene Haas just kind of dismissed Horner out of hand. That’s a team that really hasn’t done a huge amount in Formula 1. When you really look at it, they’ve been the smallest team in the sport for a long time. They’ve got a factory that’s falling down. They just built a new motorhome that’s two stories. Apparently, now they’re going to build another story on top of that just because they’ve realised it’s not big enough.”

‘Falling down factory’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/one-f1-team-must-u-turn-on-their-christian-horner-stance-as-falling-down-factory-issues-emerge/

[Fortitude]

How Mark Webber feels behind the scenes about McLaren’s treatment of Oscar Piastri.
Piastri’s manager, Mark Webber is ‘definitely advocating’ for Oscar Piastri behind the scenes at McLaren.
14 Oct 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Commentator James Allen has shared how the Australian will be feeling about this season’s intra-team battle. “I wouldn’t say Mark is irate, but I would say that he’s definitely on the case. He’s definitely across this, and he’s definitely advocating, as you say, because that’s his job to do that, right? And he does it, as you also mentioned, from the background of having been on the wrong side of this when he was at Red Bull with Sebastian Vettel.”

“And perhaps he didn’t have anybody, maybe arguing his case, and maybe he wasn’t as strong as he wishes in retrospect that he had been against Vettel. So he’s kind of making sure that… I mean, Oscar’s pretty strong in the head anyway, but I think he’s just making sure that the stuff that Oscar doesn’t know about, which is how you can manage these team games, these relationships, he’s making sure that Oscar’s on the A-game and his case is being put as much as possible.”

“But there’s a limited amount that he can do. I mean, he can only affect things so much at the end of the day. It’s down to Zak and Andrea, the management of McLaren, to decide if they’re going in any way to intervene.”

‘Definitely on the case’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/how-mark-webber-feels-behind-the-scenes-about-mclarens-treatment-of-oscar-piastri/


Why F1’s latest Piastri obsession is total madness as truth behind McLaren conspiracy exposed
15/10/2025
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports
Fox Sports (Australia)

It was the third weekend in a row and the fourth from the last five that Piastri has lost points to Norris in the title fight. More pertinently, it was the third time in the last five rounds that Piastri and his team have fallen on the wrong side of a contentious McLaren call. There was the alternative strategy granted to Norris in Hungary after his poor qualifying and poorer start that saw him pinch victory from Piastri, who wasn’t given the choice to use that same strategy.

There was the team order in Italy that cost Piastri second place after Norris had a slow stop. Now there is Singapore, where Norris broke the golden rule — don’t hit your teammate — and wasn’t so much as warned over team radio about it. For some it was simply too much. Led by Ralf Schumacher — who’s never short of an opinion — there’s a small but supposedly growing group of people who believe Piastri should now leave McLaren. It wasn’t just the incident itself in Singapore, which immediately agitated already polarised fans spoiling for a fight.

There was Piastri’s supposed snub of CEO Zak Brown, apparently cutting his radio feed just as the boss was congratulating him on his role in winning the team the constructors championship. And then there were scenes of McLaren team members, including Brown and principal Andrea Stella, partying on the podium in celebration of the title victory while Piastri languished despondently downstairs. It’s quite the rap sheet.

‘Simply too much’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/theres-a-lot-at-stake-how-mclarens-latest-friction-could-alter-piastris-future/news-story/cdb51a1ccbd4c090bd98002a66833b3e


Zak Brown Issues Statement on Oscar Piastri amid McLaren Exit Rumours
14/10/2025
James Taylor
SPORTbible

McLaren team principal Zak Brown has issued a statement on Oscar Piastri amid growing rumours that the world championship leader could be set for a shock exit. The team's so-called 'papaya rules' came under scrutiny last time out in Singapore when Norris banged wheels with Piastri. Tensions escalated further last week, when IndyCar champion Alex Palou claimed that Brown never wanted to sign Piastri in the first place. McLaren are currently locked in a legal dispute with their former driver Palou.

Alex Palou, hen asked to explain why he was not fulfilling his McLaren deal said: "I went for dinner with Zak at Beaverbook near MTC. Zak told me it was not his decision to hire Oscar. He said it was the decision of the team manager Andreas Seidl. “Zak told me Piastri’s performance would be evaluated against mine for 2024. Zak said that, from his point of view my chance of getting the F1 seat was not affected by Oscar."

Speaking to Reuters ahead of this weekend's US Grand Prix, Brown hit back at those claims, McLaren CEO Zak Brown said: "I’m not sure which allegation amused me more. The notion that I would not be the one making a key decision about our driver line-up, or the suggestion that I wasn’t on board with signing the hugely talented Oscar Piastri. Both allegations are clearly ludicrous, and anyone who follows our sport will see straight through them.”

“Which allegation amused me more!”;

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/formula-1-oscar-piastri-mclaren-norris-united-states-642044-20251014


Jolyon Palmer makes ‘paranoid’ Oscar Piastri claim as he questions McLaren’s fairness this season
14/10/2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Jolyon Palmer was addressing Piastri’s position within McLaren on the F1 Nation Podcast in the build-up to the United States Grand Prix. He said: “The other thing, though, is if you imagine it from Oscar’s point of view, I still don’t think in any of these moments, engagement issues, he’s ever come out favourably. I’m just thinking again, top of my head stuff, but you’ve got the Silverstone one, he got a penalty, felt it was harsh, asked for the team to swap back if they thought it was harsh, they would have done had it been, you know, Max, they would have thought it was an outrageous penalty.”

“But, because it was between the two McLarens, they kept the order. Lando wins. You’ve then got the Budapest strategy where Oscar was the lead driver, kind of got a bit done by his own team on strategy there, with Lando winning the race. You’ve got Monza, where he’s actually had to give up a position. And then you’ve got Singapore, where Lando’s wheel banged his way through and not had the swap around.”

“I know in all of this, you’ve got Lando’s lost points with a DNF in Zandvoort. Lando’s had sort of slower pit stops on average, even if Oscar got one in Singapore. But it must be a little bit grating for Oscar to think, flipping hell, can I just have one rub of the green here in terms of the teammate dynamics?”

“I still don’t think in any of these moments, engagement issues, he’s ever come out favourably”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jolyon-palmer-makes-paranoid-oscar-piastri-claim-as-he-questions-mclarens-fairness-this-season/


Steiner sounds Piastri alarm as sudden departure theory addressed
13/10/2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Guenther Steiner issues advice for world championship leader Oscar Piastri as theories of a sudden McLaren exit emerge. According to Steiner the Aussie driver should not leave the Woking-based team since by his year's season finale in Abu Dhabi his F1 goal will have been fulfilled. “First of all, he’s going to win the world championship this year," Steiner said in the Red Flags podcast. "So that’s why he should stay there."

Furthermore, the uncertainty that 2026 brings provides yet another reason to remain in place. “Next year, wherever you go — first of all, there is no seats in the next year. And wherever you go, you wouldn’t know where you’re going, and I think McLaren at the moment is doing a pretty good job.”

According to the Italian-American former F1 boss, McLaren's competitiveness prospects plus his ability to beat Norris, make a compelling case for choosing to continue to defend the papaya colours in the future. “Obviously he can beat Lando. If he can beat him this year, I think his hope should be to beat him in the future as well."

‘Guenther Steiner issues advice’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/steiner-sounds-piastri-alarm-as-sudden-departure-theory-addressed


McLaren fears over Max Verstappen obvious after worried 'very competitive' comments
Max Verstappen has closed the gap to Oscar Piastri in the Drivers' Championship to just 63 points, with McLaren team principal Andrea Stella showing concerns about the Red Bull star's resurgence
14/10/2025
Harry Smith, Cameron Winstanley
Daily Star

Prior to the Singapore Grand Prix, Helmut Marko suggested that Red Bull's performance at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, would indicate whether they are genuinely in contention with McLaren in the upcoming six races. Verstappen's RB21 passed the test with flying colours.

"They were competitive in Monza, very competitive," McLaren's team principal Andrea Stella commented ahead of the Austin race. "And then they were competitive in Baku. We thought, 'Let's see whether this [competitiveness] depends on using a low level of drag, small rear wings, and [if] it can be repeated at high level drag and big rear wings'. Here in Singapore, they might have struggled a bit in the past, and the evidence is that they might have resolved both of these high-drag and Singapore factors.”

“But this is not a surprise. It's Red Bull. They are extremely capable. Max is a driver who is just Max Verstappen. I don't think we need to make any further comments, so it's no surprise that they are in the game. It's tight, and it's interesting; obviously, we would like to make Formula One boring. We have done it sometimes, at some of the events, but normally, Formula One is competitive and tight. You have to accept the fight, and that's what we are doing."

“But this is not a surprise. It's Red Bull. They are extremely capable”;

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/max-verstappen-mclaren-world-championship-36066337

[Fortitude]

63 Points, Six Weekends: Verstappen Smells Blood.
Red Bull and Max Verstappen are back in this title fight. Andrea Stella isn’t one for hyperbole, but even he couldn’t downplay what’s become obvious over the last month.
October 12, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Verstappen’s deficit to championship leader Oscar Piastri has shrunk from almost triple digits to 63 points thanks to a four-race run that reads like a statement: wins at Monza and Baku, second at Zandvoort, and another second on Sunday night in Singapore. And that last one mattered. Marina Bay has been a Red Bull bogey for years; this time, Verstappen chased George Russell to the flag and beat both McLarens on outright pace.

“They were competitive in Monza, very competitive. And then they were competitive in Baku,” McLaren team principal Stella said in Singapore. “We thought, let’s see if that depends on low drag and small rear wings, and if it can be repeated with big wings at high downforce. Here in Singapore, where they’ve struggled in the past, the evidence is they might have resolved both of these factors.

The timing is not subtle. Red Bull has fed a steady stream of upgrades onto the RB21 across these last races, ironing out the balance quirks that left Verstappen fighting the car through the first half of the season. Early spikes of form — think Suzuka and Imola — have become a consistent platform. Meanwhile, McLaren’s MCL39 has been relatively static as Woking’s gaze shifts increasingly to 2026. That’s not a criticism; it’s a championship reality. But it has given Verstappen a foothold with only six race weekends to go.

‘Verstappen Smells Blood’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/63-points-six-weekends-verstappen-smells-blood/


MAX PREVIEWS AUSTIN GP: 'WANT TO KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM'
15 October 2025
Niels Hendrix
Verstappen.nl

Max Verstappen is looking forward to the Grand Prix of Austin in Texas in the United States of America, the upcoming weekend. The Dutch Oracle Red Bull Racing driver says: “We made a positive step in Singapore. We have had a strong run of races recently and want to keep up the momentum and hopefully this weekend we can do a bit better. I have been back at the factory this week preparing on the sim and the team has been pushing really hard and we have been analysing where we can improve.”

Max adds: “This circuit is about finding the right compromise in setup between straight-line speed and downforce for the fast-sweeping corners and the bumps can always make things tricky too. Austin is a cool city and has great food so always a fun place to race at. It’s another sprint weekend, so we’ll have to get on top of things quickly as there is less time to fine tune things, but this will be a challenge for everyone.”

“Back at the factory this week preparing on the sim”;

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5975/


Villeneuve backs title outsider Verstappen for 'best championship yet'
14 Oct 2025
Ben Winship
GPblog.com

Jacques Villeneuve has backed Max Verstappen to win the 2025 Drivers Championship after closing the gap to the McLaren drivers in recent weeks. Speaking at a 75th anniversary event for F1 held in Italy, the 1997 world champion claimed Verstappen will overcome a 63 point gap to Oscar Piastri in the remaining six race weekends.

When asked who would win the 2025 Drivers Championship Villeneuve was quick to shout ‘Verstappen!’. He said: “And so it will be his best World Championship yet. Because the two McLarens are suffering too much under the pressure. They need to wake up.” With back-to-back wins in Italy and Azerbaijan, four-time world champion Verstappen has cut the gap to championship leader Oscar Piastri down from 97 points to 63 in the space of just four rounds.

‘Villeneuve was quick to shout “Verstappen!”’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/villeneuve-backs-title-outsider-verstappen-for-best-championship-yet


Juan Pablo Montoya thinks Max Verstappen is playing a ‘terrifying’ game in 2025 title fight
13 October 2025
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

Red Bull were disappointed Verstappen did not win in Singapore as he came home second behind George Russell, who dominated the race. The 27-year-old was gunning for pole position, but he abandoned his final lap by the pit entry. Verstappen claimed that Norris impeded him with dirty air while entering the final two corners. For Juan Pablo Montoya, this is a ‘terrifying’ game that the Dutchman is playing to unnerve the McLaren drivers and create ‘tension’ amongst them.

“It’s terrifying that Max is playing that game and the only reason Max is playing that game is because he wants to pit the two McLaren drivers against each other and he’s very strategic,” he said via AS Columbia. “He’s not stupid. So he’s perfect and saying it in front of Oscar, right? Well, you weren’t a McLaren driver, the other one was the one who made me uncomfortable, do you understand me? To create that tension.”

“It wasn’t even visible, and it wasn’t even there. I’m telling you, if Lando was driving fast, opening up a gap very quickly, all the gap he’s opening up, because he’s going full speed, one says, ‘No, but he wasn’t even close enough for it to affect anything’. Well, where it would have affected Lando, he wouldn’t have been able to get as close as he got to Max in the race. Until Lando had problems when he got to a second or 1.3, something like that, but until then Lando had no problems and was much faster than Max. So, if you look at that and say, let’s say it’s not 1.3, but 2 and a half, 3 seconds, 3 seconds. Lando was ahead by 3 seconds, if you know what I mean.”

“It’s terrifying”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/juan-pablo-montoya-thinks-max-verstappen-is-playing-a-terrifying-game-in-2025-title-fight/


Schumacher predicts bleak future for McLaren, tips Verstappen for win
13 Oct 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Ralf Schumacher has shared a grim prediction regarding the situation unfolding at McLaren, while also tipping Max Verstappen to take victory at the United States Grand Prix. The 50-year-old, who spoke on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, was asked whether Zak Brown would soon have to decide who the team’s lead driver should be amid their title fight. Schumacher, however, stressed that while the McLaren CEO is unlikely to favour anyone, there might soon be a need for a decision as Verstappen closes in on both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

“I don’t think Zak has the kind of character that would make him prefer one driver over the other. I’ll put it this way – if Max really comes up again, really close, then you’d have to get involved. Otherwise, they’ll just let them race. I just hope it doesn’t come to a final bang. Somehow, I have the feeling that soon, the two of them might not make it out of the first corner.”

Ralf Schumacher continued stating that Verstappen could clinch another win at the Grand Prix in Austin, adding that McLaren’s dominance appears to be slipping away. “Then it becomes a problem, and Max Verstappen just wins there [in Austin]. The next race in Texas will be very good for Red Bull again, and it could be difficult once more for McLaren, who also seem to be slowly getting tense. Anyone who knows Andreas Stella knows that. I’d say the dominance is really gone now, and that’s something they don’t understand at all and can’t afford at this stage of the season.”

‘Grim prediction regarding the situation unfolding at McLaren’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/schumacher-predicts-bleak-future-for-mclaren-tips-verstappen-for-win


Verstappen sets sights on Austin: 'We’re pushing hard to improve'
16 Oct 2025
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

Red Bull's Max Verstappen hopes that his recent "strong run of races" will guide him towards the front at the United States Grand Prix. Coming into the sprint weekend in Austin, Verstappen sits on 273 points and P3 in the world championship, 63 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri on 336 points.

After his P2 at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Verstappen tempered expectations after bringing himself back into the title discussion, warned his team that they "need to dominate" for the rest of the season if there was any chance of winning the title.

However, there is still a belief from some that the Dutchman will win his fifth world title in as many years, with 1997 champion Jacques Villeneuve backing the 27-year-old to finish top of the standings.

‘Verstappen sets sights on Austin’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verstappen-sets-sights-on-austin-were-pushing-hard-to-improve

[Fortitude]

Stella opens up on McLaren 'repercussions' after Singapore fallout.
McLaren deemed Norris responsible for the incident, as he went slightly deep into Turn 3 and made contact with Verstappen’s rear, triggering a chain reaction that ultimately caught his teammate as well.
17 Oct 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella revealed how the team handled the incident between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris once the Singapore weekend was over. "We reviewed the case, we identified that Lando was responsible for the contact because he was a little long in corner 3, touched Verstappen and then he oversteered onto Oscar.”

"Obviously there was no malice in this move but both drivers accepted the review and we now head into the rest of the season like after Canada, even more united and stronger as a team. This is something that both drivers were keen to have in the racing framework. For me, it was part of leading the review — to discuss this without the drivers. They’ve been accepted, and we are now ready to focus on maximising the performance of the car and finding our winning ways again.”

‘McLaren deemed Norris responsible’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/stella-reveals-behind-the-scenes-details-after-norris-piastri-clash


Oscar Piastri’s engineer reveals the ‘dangerous’ mood on his side of the McLaren garage
16 October 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

It may only be Piastri’s third season in F1 – no driver has won a title so early since Lewis Hamilton in 2008 – but he has worked for around ’10 years’ to be in this position. Back in August, Juan Pablo Montoya said Piastri was starting to realise this could be his only chance. And Stallard says that reflects the mood inside his McLaren camp right now.

The Woking outfit will race with the highly-rated Mercedes engine next year and appear to have all the personnel required to sustain their dominance. But nothing is certain in F1, particularly in the context of major regulation changes. Stallard told ESPN: “Hopefully, we’ll be in the same position next year, but we definitely have that Olympic-every-four-years kind of feeling, that feeling that this is our chance. And that’s always a slightly dangerous thing to feel, because very much handling pressure is about doing what you’re good at, rather than delivering some magic.”

“And normally, when it looks like magic to the rest of the world, it’s actually just because you went out and did your thing. So we’ll be trying to do that. I think we’re both quite well placed to handle that pressure. You’re right in that the pressure is going to ramp up, but people say pressure is a privilege. That pressure is something that he’s worked for, for let’s say 10 years, arguably more, in order to be in a position where he can have that pressure. And it’s very rare that you get to be world champion without being able to ride that pressure. So, I think it comes with the territory, and we’re in the territory we want to be in.”

“Doing what you’re good at, rather than delivering some magic”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/oscar-piastris-engineer-reveals-the-dangerous-mood-on-his-side-of-the-mclaren-garage/


Max Verstappen unfazed by new F1 position as world title fight heats up
For the first time as world champion, Max Verstappen is the hunter rather than the hunted in F1.
17 October 2025
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

Max Verstappen is unfazed by acquiring a new position in the F1 title race, being the driver hunting rivals down as opposed to the hunted. Analysing the new situation, the Dutchman explained that he would simply do his best and try to achieve the best possible results for his Red Bull team.

Asked for his chances of winning the title, Verstappen told media, including RacingNews365, "50-50, you either win it or you don’t. This car is a bit different to the previous one, so it’s not a guarantee that it works everywhere. I prefer to just look at it race by race. We’ll try to do our best here and then move on and see what we get."

‘Max Verstappen unfazed’;

https://racingnews365.com/max-verstappen-unfazed-by-new-f1-position-as-world-title-fight-heats-up


Can Verstappen catch McLaren duo? He rates his chances
17/10/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

With the 2025 Formula 1 season hurtling toward its climax, Max Verstappen is clawing his way back into the Drivers’ Championship fray, rating his shot at dethroning McLaren contenders Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris as a straight "50/50" gamble.

Just four races ago, the Red Bull ace trailed Piastri by a daunting 104 points, but a blistering resurgence –capped by successive wins in Monza and Baku, plus a strong P2 in Singapore – has slashed the deficit to 63 points behind Piastri and a more manageable 41 from Norris. With 174 points still dangling over six nail-biting rounds, including three Sprint weekends, the Dutch maestro heads to Austin's Circuit of The Americas brimming with calculated optimism, while taking his task one race at a time.

“We’ll try, for sure,” he said, when asked about his prospects of overhauling his papaya rivals. “The last three weekends have been very nice – some a bit better than others. I still think that in Singapore we didn’t maximise the potential of the car, but you analyse everything and try to do better. That’s what we’ll try to do again here. It’s a great track to drive, a Sprint weekend is always a bit hectic… I’m just curious to see what we can do.”

“We’ll try, for sure”;

https://f1i.com/news/550803-can-verstappen-catch-mclaren-duo-he-rates-his-chances.html


Charles Leclerc fires back at Ferrari F1 exit rumours with blunt response
Charles Leclerc rebuffs speculation linking him with a Ferrari exit after 2026, calling the rumours “annoying” and insisting his focus is on winning
17 October 2025
John Smith

Charles Leclerc has shut down mounting speculation that he could leave Ferrari when his contract expires in 2026, describing reports about his potential exit as unfounded and “annoying.” “What I can say is what I’ve always said, and that’s very clear,” Leclerc told the media, including Total-Motorsport.com. “I’ve always loved Ferrari so much and my only obsession at the moment is to win in red, whether it’s now or in the future. And I want to bring back Ferrari to the top.”

“There are lots of speculations around me, but just in general around the team for whatever reason,” Leclerc added. “I feel like there are too many people speaking things not coming from actual facts, and it’s just a little bit annoying. It’s always been like that. And I think as a driver, but also as a team, we’ve just got to focus on our things, which is what we are doing. It’s not super nice to see all these things around the team all the time.”

“It’s definitely not a situation we want to be in, in a way that the performance is not at the level where we want to be,” Leclerc said. “But we are all focused on trying to turn that situation around. Whenever the results aren’t there, there are always those rumours that come back — but what I say today is what I’ve said in the past six or seven years with the team.”

‘Blunt response’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/charles-leclerc-ferrari-f1-exit-rumours-response/


Russell on lucrative Mercedes deal : ‘Toto could have been tighter’
17/10/2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

“I'm really happy to be continuing,” George Russell said in Austin on Thursday. “The truth is if every single seat was available for next year and I could choose any single team to race for, I believe Mercedes is my best chance of winning the championship next year. And for me, it's more about winning than it is about money or sponsor days or anything. I want to win and this is what I'm fighting for, so that is the long and short of it.”

“I think it always just comes down to performance, I think, for any driver,” he said. “At least for myself, what allows me to sleep well at night is knowing that my performances are strong and that is what will keep you in the sport as any driver. Our intention and my goal is to continue with Mercedes indefinitely, and we're here to focus on winning in 2026.”

“But I think he really recognises that you need to reward those who are delivering, who are putting in the effort and delivering those results on track. That's why I'm sort of here with a smile on my face because I'm very happy with the offer. That's the bonus, but the main goal for me is a fast race car.”

Toto could have been tighter’;

https://f1i.com/news/550799-russell-on-lucrative-mercedes-deal-toto-could-have-been-tighter.html

[Fortitude]

Lando Norris tops United States Grand Prix FP1 as Nico Hulkenberg splits McLaren duo.
McLaren appear to have the upper hand once again, although speed trap data has shown that Verstappen is stronger in the medium speed corners. This could make for an interesting United States Grand Prix weekend, as this is normally where the Woking-based team have an advantage over Red Bull.
17 October 2025
Rebecca Braybrook
F1 Oversteer

The drivers took to the Circuit of the Americas for the only practice session of the United States Grand Prix weekend, ahead of Sprint qualifying later tonight. Lando Norris topped the FP1 time sheets during the later qualifying practice runs, with Nico Hulkenberg causing surprise as he split the McLarens with his Sauber. The German driver wasn’t the only surprise of the session, with Fernando Alonso sitting in fourth between Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen in third and fifth, respectively.

‘McLaren appear to have the upper hand once again’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/lando-norris-leads-united-states-grand-prix-practice/


2025 F1 United States GP – Free Practice 1 Results
Lando Norris tops FP1 for McLaren at the 2025 United States GP as the title battle intensifies at the Circuit of the Americas
17 October 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 United States GP 2025 FP1 results
Check out the full United States GP 2025 Free Practice 1 results from the first and only practice session at COTA below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:33.294
2 Nico Hulkenberg Sauber +0.255
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.279
4 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.345
5 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.354
6 Alexander Albon Williams +0.626
7 George Russell Mercedes +0.637
8 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.671
9 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.861
10 Oliver Bearman Haas +1.039

‘FP1 results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-2025-united-states-gp-free-practice-1-results/


Norris on top in sizzling Austin GP practice
17/10/2025
France 24

Austin (AFP) – Title-chasing Lando Norris topped the times ahead of Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg and his McLaren team-mate and series leader Oscar Piastri in Friday's opening practice at the United States Grand Prix. The 25-year-old Briton, bristling after being disciplined internally by McLaren, clocked a best lap in one minute and 33.294 seconds to outpace Hulkenberg by 0.255sec and Piastri by 0.279sec as he bids to close a 22-point gap in the drivers' title race with six events remaining.

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso was fourth for Aston Martin ahead of four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull, Alex Albon of Williams and Mercedes' George Russell. Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was eighth for Ferrari. All of the leading drivers clocked their best laps on soft slick tyres in the closing minutes except for Alonso, on hards, and Russell, Hamilton and rookie Isack Hadjar, who all used mediums.

The action began with Verstappen leading the way on a hot and sunny day at the sweeping Circuit of the Americas with an air temperature of 33C, enough for the 'heat hazard' rule to be executed, enabling drivers to wear cooling vests in their cars. Not everyone chose to take a vest, the Dutchman going without because he found it to be uncomfortable and flawed.

‘Bristling after being disciplined internally’;

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20251017-norris-on-top-in-sizzling-austin-gp-practice


US Grand Prix: Lando Norris strikes back as Nico Hulkenberg springs a shock in FP1
17 Oct 2025
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

McLaren has set the pace in the first and only practice session at the Circuit of the Americas, courtesy of Lando Norris, while there was surprise in second place… Lando Norris and McLaren have started the US Grand Prix weekend in strong fashion, with the British driver enjoying a quarter-second advantage in first practice, as he was joined at the front by Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg.

With track temperature at 43 degrees celsius as the drivers lined up to peel out on track for the one and only practice session of the weekend, it was Red Bull’s Max Verstappen who led the cars out onto the Circuit of the Americas for the first laps of the weekend.

Hard tyres were the order of the day for the first 30 minutes of the day as the teams sought to get a good understanding of the C1 compound, and it was Red Bull who found its feet in the early stages as Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda went first and second ahead of Norris.

‘Lando Norris strikes back’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/united-states-grand-prix-2025-fp1-report


Everything that happened in only F1 US GP practice session
Oct 17, 2025
Josh Suttill
The Race

Lando Norris led Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber in the sole Formula 1 practice session before sprint qualifying at the United States Grand Prix. Norris emerged quickest in a late flurry of soft tyre sprint qualifying simulations in Austin, setting a 1m33.294s, 0.255s faster than surprise runner-up in the session, Hulkenberg.

Hulkenberg hasn’t scored a point since his Silverstone podium but did earn his best grand prix qualifying result of the season (11th) last time out in Singapore. Piastri was third, 0.279s slower than Norris, who is facing as-yet-undetermined ‘consequences’ for causing their Singapore GP opening lap clash.

Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest for Aston Martin ahead of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and Alex Albon’s Williams. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton were seventh and eighth and set their fastest times on the medium tyres - the mandated tyre for SQ1 and SQ2.

‘Lando Norris led Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/everything-that-happened-in-only-f1-us-gp-practice-session/


Full Results | Norris tops FP1 for McLaren at COTA ahead of Hulkenberg
17 Oct 2024
Luke-John Buckle
GPblog.com

The one and only practice session ahead of the United States Grand Prix has just been completed at Circuit of the Americas. Lando Norris tops the timesheets in first practice at Circuit of the Americas for McLaren, as Nico Hulkenberg set the second fastest time. At COTA, the British driver set a 1:33.294 as Hulkenberg went two tenths slower as the track continued to get faster towards the end. Oscar Piastri is leading the world championhip standings and set the third best time in FP1, just under three tenths behind his teammate.

Aston Martin can be very good on Fridays, and Fernando Alonso did enough to go fourth quickest ahead of reigning world champion Max Verstappen. Alex Albon went sixth quickest for Williams on a mixed day for the team, as his teammate Carlos Sainz slumped to P19 after a gearbox problem.

George Russell set the seventh best time for Mercedes, ahead of his compatriot Lewis Hamilton who led for much of the hour. Isack Hadjar and Oliver Bearman are both racing at Circuit of the Americas for the first time and went ninth and 10th quickest. Charles Leclerc didn't have the opportunity to run the soft tyres at the end as his Ferrari developed an issue, costing him valuable track time.

‘Lando Norris tops the timesheets’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/full-results-norris-tops-fp1-for-mclaren-at-cota-ahead-of-hulkenberg

[Fortitude]

'Not impossible': Max Verstappen takes US GP sprint pole but Helmut Marko admits 2025 title will require 'help' from McLaren.
Red Bull's four-time world champion Verstappen took sprint pole position, with McLaren's Lando Norris and Piastri completing a familiar top three.
18 October 2025
Emily Patterson
Channel 9's Wide World of Sports

Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko has conceded that securing a fifth-straight drivers' championship is "not impossible", but admitted that driver Max Verstappen will need "some help from McLaren". "Since Zandvoort, we were always fighting for P1, P2. So the direction is okay. Unfortunately, this turnaround came a little bit late," he said.

"All this [discussion about] medium speed, the temperature and all these stories, they don't count anymore. We are there. And if in one corner we may be [off the pace], it's going within thousands of a second. It's not like it was before, half a second or so in some sectors.”

"It shows that our car made a big step forward, and Max, of course, is using it to the maximum. If we had made this turnaround earlier, the championship would look different. I think we can't do it on our own. We need some help from McLaren. It's not impossible."

“We are there”;

https://www.nine.com.au/sport/motorsport/news-2025-lando-norris-fastest-in-us-grand-prix-practice-max-verstappen-takes-sprint-pole-helmut-marko-reaction-drivers-championship-battle-20251018-p5n3g0.html


2025 F1 United States GP – Sprint Qualifying Results
18 October 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 United States GP 2025 Sprint Qualifying results
Behind the top three, Nico Hulkenberg delivered a standout performance in fourth, ahead of George Russell, Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton, who secured seventh after a scrappy session for Ferrari.
While Alex Albon impressed once more in ninth and Charles Leclerc rounded out the top ten after narrowly surviving elimination in SQ2, as his one-lap struggles in Texas continued.
Earlier, both Ferraris flirted with an early exit before Leclerc salvaged progression to SQ3, while rookies Isack Hadjar and Kimi Antonelli missed the cut.
Check out the full United States GP 2025 Sprint Qualifying results from COTA below.
Pos. Driver Team Gap
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:32.143
2. Lando Norris McLaren +0.071
3. Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.380
4. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber +0.502
5. George Russell Mercedes +0.745
6. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.767
7. Carlos Sainz Williams +0.768
8. Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.892
9. Alex Albon Williams +0.956
10. Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.961

‘Sprint Qualifying results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-2025-united-states-gp-sprint-qualifying-results/


Mark Hughes: McLaren 'consequences' may have cost Norris pole
Oct 18, 2025
Mark Hughes
The Race

If the infamous internal ‘consequences’ McLaren has imposed upon Lando Norris for his Singapore contact with his team-mate is the timing of his final qualifying runs relative to Oscar Piastri, it just might have cost McLaren the sprint pole to Max Verstappen’s Red Bull here.

Red Bull – just as in Singapore – waited until the very last moment to send Verstappen out on track in an attempt at maximising the track grip. He was the last car out. The penultimate car out was Piastri. Norris took to the track a full 40s+ earlier than Verstappen and 20s earlier than Piastri.

With the track cooling and the line rubbering up, there was potentially significant laptime difference between Norris’ slot and Verstappen’s. Norris lost pole by 0.071s. Might the track grip difference have feasibly been as much as that? Absolutely, it may have been. Not a certainty, but definitely a possibility.

‘Infamous internal consequences’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/mclaren-consequences-may-have-cost-lando-norris-pole/


Verstappen cautious of ‘tough’ McLaren challenge in United States GP Sprint
Red Bull's Max Verstappen snatched Sprint pole from Lando Norris with an impressive last-gasp effort at the Circuit of The Americas.
Oct 18, 2025
Formula One - Official Site

Max Verstappen has warned of the “tough” threat he faces in Saturday’s Sprint from McLaren after securing Sprint pole at the United States Grand Prix. “It’s been a nice qualifying,” said the Red Bull driver after hopping out of the cockpit.

“Throughout all of the segments, we were quite close. It was just about putting it all together at the end, when it matters most, which is not easy because you go to the soft compound with no reference.”

“It worked out well. I still expect it to be a tough battle tomorrow with the Sprint, but that is exactly what we want to see, right? So yeah, I’m excited for tomorrow and happy with today.”

‘Verstappen cautious’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/verstappen-cautious-of-tough-mclaren-challenge-in-united-states-gp-sprint.14pm5qyy9nNSuItSatnEaA


Marko is certain: Verstappen can now win anywhere amid Sprint pole
18 Oct 2025
Updated: 02:53, 18 Oct
Tim Kraaij
GPblog.com

Pole position for the Sprint in Austin confirms that Red Bull Racing can once again contend for the victory everywhere according to Helmut Marko, especially with Max Verstappen behind the wheel. Immediately after sprint qualifying in the United States, Marko spoke to GPblog. Asked about Verstappen's pole lap, the Austrian said: "Super. In Sector 3, he took the pole. Turn 1, he went sideways, but was even so quicker. Even so, he was sliding a bit too much, I guess. But unbelievable lap in Sector 3."

Verstappen won in Monza and Baku, after which he finished second in Singapore in front of the two McLarens. When asked if the pole for the sprint race in Austin shows that the RB21 can now contend for pole everywereh, Marko smiled: "Definitely." He continued: "All this medium speed, the temperature, and all this stories, they don't count anymore. We are there. If in one corner, it's going within thousands of a second. It's not like it was before, half a second or so in some sector.
"It shows that our car made a big step forward, and Max, of course, is using it to the maximum," the Red Bull advisor concluded.

"Definitely";

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/marko-is-certain-verstappen-can-now-win-anywhere


Verstappen excited to fight Norris in United States GP Sprint Race as title chance beckons
18 October 2025
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport

“It’s been a nice qualifying,” Max Verstappen told F1 TV. “Throughout all the segments we were quite close, just about trying to put it all together when it matters at the end, which is not easy because you go to the soft compound with no reference really.”

“It worked out well, but I still expect it to be a tough battle tomorrow in the Sprint, but that’s I think exactly what we want to see. I’m excited for tomorrow and happy with today.”

“The wind was coming up and down, very gusty,” Verstappen continued. “The track is very bumpy as well, so the cars can easily step out on you in the high speed. In a qualifying like that, you have to leave a few margins here and there, but for us this has been a very good day”

“It’s been a nice qualifying”;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/verstappen-excited-to-fight-norris-in-united-states-gp-sprint-race-as-title-chance-beckons/

[Fortitude]

Fuming McLaren boss responds to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri crash – “That was terrible”.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were both taken out of the United States Grand Prix Sprint race on the first lap after a collision with Nico Hulkenberg
18 Oct 2025
Daniel Moxon
The Mirror

McLaren boss Zak Brown has cleared both his drivers of any fault for the crash that saw them both bow out of the United States Grand Prix Sprint race on the first lap. Nico Hulkenberg collided with Oscar Piastri at the first corner, causing the Aussie to spin into his team-mate Lando Norris.
Norris was instantly out of the race due to severe damage. Piastri initially managed to carry on but soon reported suspension damage and was instructed to stop the car. "That was terrible," he said. "Neither of our drivers were to blame there.”

“That was some amateur hour driving from some of the drivers up there at the front and wiped our two guys. I want to see the replay again but, clearly, Nico drove into Oscar and he had no business being where he was and went into his left-rear tyre."

“That was terrible”;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/fuming-mclaren-boss-responds-lando-36091431


2025 US Grand Prix – Sprint F1 results (Circuit of The Americas)
18 Oct 2025
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com

F1 results: US Grand Prix Sprint race
• 1. Max Verstappen | Red Bull
• 2. George Russell | Mercedes | +0.395s
• 3. Carlos Sainz | Williams | +0.791s
• 4. Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +1.224s
• 5. Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +1.825s
• 6. Alex Albon | Williams | +2.576s
• 7. Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | +2.976s
• 8. Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +4.147s
• 9. Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | +4.804
• 10. Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +5.126s

‘Sprint F1 results’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-results-2025-united-states-grand-prix-circuit-of-the-americas-sprint


Max Verstappen raises McLaren warning after US GP sprint triumph
“If we want to win tomorrow we definitely need to be stronger.”
18 Oct 2025
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Oscar Piastri’s switchback attempt resulted in carnage at the first corner, putting both McLarens out of the race. It means Verstappen is now 55 points behind Piastri with six races (and two sprints) to go. Despite an important victory, Verstappen believes Red Bull still need to improve the handling of his RB21 ahead of qualifying.

“The start was good,” Verstappen said to Jenson Button in parc fermé. “Then, of course, there was a safety car because of that Turn 1 incident. It took a few laps after the safety car to have decent pace. So we need to figure out what was going on there. But nevertheless, we won the sprint, which is, of course, the most important.”

“But of course, already looking at for tomorrow, I do think we need to be a bit better in race trim to be able to fight the McLarens, because we haven’t seen anything of them. Of course, we have some ideas what we can do. And then hopefully we’ll just, yeah, stick a bit better tomorrow.”

“If we want to win tomorrow we definitely need to be stronger”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1084558/1/max-verstappen-raises-mclaren-warning-after-us-gp-f1-sprint-triumph


Max Verstappen escapes McLaren chaos to win United States GP Sprint and close title gap
Max Verstappen extended his Formula 1 title hopes with victory in the 2025 United States GP Sprint Race
18 October 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

Max Verstappen extended his late-season Formula 1 title resurgence with victory in the 2025 United States Grand Prix Sprint Race, taking full advantage of a chaotic opening lap that wiped out both McLaren challengers. The Red Bull driver crossed the line ahead of George Russell and Carlos Sainz, cutting further into his championship deficit after surviving early drama at the Circuit of the Americas.

“I knew you don’t get many opportunities with Max so I sent it,” said Russell. “P2 was better than we could have expected.” Despite the effort, the Mercedes driver soon dropped back as his tyres began to fade, while Verstappen complained of instability with his rear suspension over COTA’s notorious bumps.

Verstappen took the chequered flag ahead of Russell and Sainz, followed by Hamilton, Leclerc, and Alex Albon, who capped off a strong showing for Williams. Tsunoda secured seventh, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli inherited the final point after Oliver Bearman was penalised 10 seconds for exceeding track limits in an earlier battle.

‘Max Verstappen escapes McLaren chaos’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-2025-max-verstappen-escapes-mclaren-chaos-win-united-states-gp-sprint/


Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri react to United States Sprint Race crash: Who is to blame?
The McLaren pair collided on Lap 1 at the Circuit of the Americas.
18 October 2025
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport

A poor start for Norris saw him send a big move up the inside of Piastri into the corner in a bid to remain ahead of his teammate, but he championship leader was wise to it and attempted a switch back. Norris arguably caused the entire incident with the lunge on Piastri in a bid to make up for his own poor start, forcing his teammate to have to hesitate on the turn to the first corner of the lap.

However, the 25-year-old was not in a mood to accept any responsibility in Austin as he laid the blame at the feet of those behind who arrived into Turn 1 in a hurry, describing himself as unlucky.

“I just got hit, right? I did nothing wrong,” Norris said, reflecting on the incident. “Further back things happened and I just got unlucky and got hit because of it. I need to look a bit more carefully. It’s more people further back just being a bit careless and we are the consequence of that.”

‘Norris arguably caused the entire incident with the lunge on Piastri in a bid to make up for his own poor start’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-lando-norris-oscar-piastri-react-2025-united-states-sprint-race-crash/

[Fortitude]

Verstappen Masters Austin: Norris Stunned, Ferrari Smell Blood.
Max Verstappen turned Austin’s bumps into stepping stones and walked away with his seventh pole of the season, a clinical 1:32.510 that left Lando Norris and the rest of the field reaching for answers under a hot Texas sky.
October 18, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Red Bull’s lead man was untouchable when it mattered in Q3, ripping almost four tenths out of Norris’s early benchmark before the final runs fizzled without a proper response. Charles Leclerc salvaged third for Ferrari despite a lurid spin at the final corner on his first flyer, while George Russell led Mercedes’ charge in fourth. Lewis Hamilton, now in red, lines up fifth alongside a subdued Oscar Piastri, who never quite found the rhythm and will start sixth.

McLaren made the story interesting before a lap had been set. Both papaya cars underwent precautionary gearbox changes after Sprint-race bruises and missed the early pit-lane scrum, but once they were on track the pace looked good—albeit more so on Norris’s side. Piastri, who came into the weekend with the points advantage, fought rear-end grip and timing all session and couldn’t get close to Verstappen’s orbit.

‘Subdued Oscar Piastri’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/verstappen-masters-austin-norris-stunned-ferrari-smell-blood/


2025 F1 United States GP – Qualifying Results
Max Verstappen storms to pole at Circuit of the Americas as McLaren and Ferrari battle closely behind in an ultra-tight qualifying session
18 October 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 United States GP 2025 Qualifying results
Check out the full United States GP 2025 Qualifying results from COTA below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:32.510
2 Lando Norris McLaren +0.291
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.297
4 George Russell Mercedes +0.316
5 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.402
6 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.574
7 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.604
8 Oliver Bearman Haas +0.629
9 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.640
10 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.650

‘Qualifying results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/2025-f1-united-states-gp-qualifying-results/


HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the best action from Qualifying as Verstappen takes pole for the US GP
Max Verstappen will start the United States Grand Prix from pole position after dominating the session.
19 Oct 2025
Formula One - Official Site

Max Verstappen secured pole position for the United States Grand Prix, backing up his lights-to-flag victory in the Sprint, despite a timing error from Red Bull denying him a second timed effort in Q3.

The four-time World Champion set a 1m 32.510s with his first effort in Q3 to position himself at the front of the field for the second time this weekend, seeing off Lando Norris by 0.291s. Championship leader Oscar Piastri will start from sixth, after struggling throughout the session.

Q1 provided a frantic start to the action, with Isack Hadjar crashing at Turn 6 and causing the red flags to fly. Bookending the drama in the opening phase, both Lance Stroll and Alex Albon saw their times deleted for exceeding track limits, relegating them to the rear of the grid.

‘HIGHLIGHTS’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/highlights-watch-the-best-action-from-qualifying-as-verstappen-takes-pole.53AZJ291cSR0vXY2zL7duQ


Verstappen on pole for USGP, Piastri only sixth
Max Verstappen has picked up from where he left off earlier in the day in the Sprint by claiming pole position for the United States Grand Prix, as Oscar Piastri struggled down in sixth.
19 Oct 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

Verstappen claimed his seventh pole of the season and the 47th of his career with a time of 1m32.510s, 0.291s ahead of Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris. Piastri, who was kept in the garage right up until the opening minutes of Q1 as McLaren seemingly finished repairs on his car after his earlier crash in the Sprint, never looked on the pace throughout the entire session, finishing more than half a second behind Verstappen’s pole time. It is the Australian’s second-lowest start of the season and gives him extra work to do in the race tomorrow as he aims to stop the run from both Norris and Verstappen in gaining on his championship lead.

Verstappen, meanwhile, was delighted with his pole lap, which came on his opening run in Q3 after his final push lap didn’t take place, with the Red Bull driver not making it across the line in time to complete a final run. “It was good,” Verstappen said of his qualifying. “I think every segment the car was very strong.”

The Dutchman also commented on the tricky conditions, as well as his near miss at the end for his final push lap. “It’s very hot and very strong winds as well,” he added. “In that first sector the tail wind is challenging. I couldn’t do my final run as it was a bit messy with the out lap, but luckily I didn’t need it.”

“I think every segment the car was very strong”;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-max-verstappen-oscar-piastri-qualifying-united-states-circuit-of-the-americas-pole-position-reaction-result/


Marko knows why Verstappen took such dominant pole in Austin
19 Oct 2025
Tim Kraaij
GPblog.com

Helmut Marko believes Max Verstappen could have secured pole position by an even wider margin, as he revealed in a post-qualifying conversation with GPblog. Following the conclusion of the qualifying session, GPblog spoke exclusively with Marko, who watched his star driver claim the pole again.

''We have adjusted the car and what we have done has improved the car,'' the Austrian said after the session in Austin. After the sprint race, Verstappen had expressed his concerns about the car. According to the Dutch driver, adjustments had to be made to the car, which Red Bull subsequently did.

''Yes, it was better. In the second run, there were drivers who were so slow that we missed it (to be able to drive another round). Fortunately, it was enough. With a second set, I think we would have been even faster.''

''We have adjusted the car and what we have done has improved the car'';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/exclusive-news/marko-knows-why-verstappen-could-take-such-a-dominant-pole-in-austin


Verstappen's charge continues with commanding US GP pole
Oct 18, 2025
Matt Beer
The Race

Max Verstappen's charge towards the McLarens in the 2025 Formula 1 championship fight continued as he took a commanding pole position for the United States Grand Prix. While Verstappen's Red Bull was fastest in all three qualifying segments and ultimately took pole by nearly three tenths of a second, championship leader Oscar Piastri could only manage sixth fastest.

The McLarens seemed out of sorts throughout the session, labouring over setting quick laptimes and having scares such as Lando Norris running very wide on his first Q1 run and spending quite a while in the drop zone. But Norris did pull things together when it really mattered to claim second behind Verstappen, four places and nearly three tenths of a second ahead of Piastri.

Ferrari showed much more encouraging form than it had in Friday's sprint qualifying as Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton took third and fifth, sandwiching Mercedes' Singapore winner George Russell. The Ferrari drivers secured those grid spots with just one proper flying lap each as they'd both lost time in the final segment with errors on their first runs - in Leclerc's case a complete 360-degree spin.

‘Verstappen's charge’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/max-verstappen-f1-2025-charge-continues-commanding-us-gp-pole/


F1 - Verstappen takes imperious US GP pole ahead of Norris and Leclerc
19.10.25
FIA (Press Release)

Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen took his seventh pole position of the season at the Circuit of the American, beating McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to the front of the grid for the US Grand Prix by over three tenths of a second. Championship leader Oscar Piastri is set to start the race from sixth place.

Norris took an early provisional pole at the start of Q3 with a lap of 1:32.904 that put him ahead of Rusell and Antonelli, but Verstappen then powered past all three, posting a lap of 1:32.510 to take top spot almost four tenths of a second clear of Norris.

‘Imperious US GP pole’;

https://www.fia.com/news/f1-verstappen-takes-imperious-us-gp-pole-ahead-norris-and-leclerc


Max Verstappen reflects on ‘very tricky’ United States GP qualifying in Austin after securing pole position
Red Bull's Max Verstappen praised his car after grabbing pole position in the USA.
19 October 2025
Euan Burns
Total Motorsport

Shedding some light on the singular run in Q3, Verstappen said: “The first run in Q3 was good. Just managed to improve a little bit from Q2. Unfortunately I couldn’t do my final run. It was a bit messy with the out-laps, but luckily, we didn’t need it.”

The main concern for Verstappen when Sunday’s race begins will be the first corner, as the car that starts in P2 often ends up leading into Turns 2 and 3 at the Circuit of the Americas due to the favourable line.

‘Red Bull's Max Verstappen praised his car’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/max-verstappen-reflects-very-tricky-qualifying-austin-pole-position/

[Fortitude]

US Grand Prix: Verstappen blows title wide open with dominant victory.
The Red Bull driver led every lap from pole while Norris finished second after a thrilling scrap with Charles Leclerc as Oscar Piastri could do no better than fifth.
19 Oct 2025
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com

An utterly dominant display from Max Verstappen has moved him to just 40 points of the world championship lead following the United States Grand Prix. It was a clean start, unlike Saturday’s Sprint, the opening lap ending with Verstappen 1.4s clear of Leclerc from Norris, Lewis Hamilton, Piastri, Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, Carlos Sainz, and Yuki Tsunoda in the top 10.

The Dutchman duly took the flag to win for the seventh time in the United States. Norris was second, having pulled comfortably clear of Leclerc, with a fading Hamilton, nursing a suspected puncture, fourth ahead of Piastri, Russell, Tsunoda, Hulkenberg, Bearman, and Fernando Alonso to round out the top 10.

‘Verstappen blows title wide open’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/united-states-grand-prix-2025-race-report


2025 F1 United States Grand Prix – Race Results
19 Oct 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 United States Grand Prix 2025 race results
Check out the full F1 2025 United States Grand Prix results from COTA below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Leader
2 Lando Norris McLaren +7.959
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +15.373
4 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +28.536
5 Oscar Piastri McLaren +29.678
6 George Russell Mercedes +33.456
7 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull +52.714
8 Nico Hulkenberg Sauber +57.249
9 Oliver Bearman Haas +64.722
10 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +70.001

‘Race results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-2025-united-states-grand-prix-race-results/


Our verdict on Verstappen's Austin dominance
Oct 19, 2025
The Race

Does a dominant United States Grand Prix victory make Max Verstappen the new 2025 Formula 1 title favourite? He's now 40 points adrift of leader Oscar Piastri, with Lando Norris now 14 points behind Piastri after clinching second late on at Austin.

Scott Mitchell-Malm: Not the favourite but I'd back him. The point at which a driver becomes a proper title threat is subjective and I always felt last year Norris never crossed that threshold, despite what others wanted to force us to think. Verstappen's done it though. He had been working his way into the picture slowly but still had a lot to do. This weekend leaves me with no doubt at all.
Jon Noble: McLaren needs a proper reset. Favourite, no? Firmly in the hunt? Absolutely.

Gary Anderson: Piastri has another problem now. I don't think Verstappen could have done more at Austin - two poles and two wins, so maximum points from this event - but I still wouldn't say he is the favourite.
Gary Anderson: Piastri has another problem now. I don't think Verstappen could have done more at Austin - two poles and two wins, so maximum points from this event - but I still wouldn't say he is the favourite.

‘Verdict on Verstappen's Austin dominance’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/is-verstappen-f1-new-title-favourite-our-verdict/


Verstappen’s warning as title fight ignites - 'We must be perfect'
20 Oct 2025
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen tempered expectations by saying he and Red Bull need to be "perfect until the end" if they are to take the drivers' championship. "I think we need to be perfect until the end to have a chance," Verstappen stated after a fourth career win in Austin.

"We have caught up a lot, but at the same time, the gaps are very small. I think every weekend, you need to try and be perfect, and that's what we'll try to do till the end. It's been a perfect weekend for us. Today, I think what was crucial was the first stint where I could build a bit of a gap, because I think after that, it basically stabilised pretty much after the pit stop until the end."

'We must be perfect';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verstappens-warning-as-title-fight-ignites-we-must-be-perfect


Verstappen Turns the Screw in Texas; Norris Breaks Through
October 19, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Max Verstappen didn’t so much win the United States Grand Prix as manage it with a quiet sort of menace. From the moment the lights went out at the Circuit of the Americas, the Red Bull driver covered the inside into Turn 1, slammed the door on Lando Norris, and settled into that brisk, unsentimental rhythm he’s made a habit of. It was the sort of afternoon where the stopwatch did all the talking: a 10 second cushion built while those behind argued about the order of the chase.

Ferrari rolled the dice at the start, Charles Leclerc lining up on the softs and using the extra bite to pinch second from Norris up the hill. Norris could sit in DRS but not step past, and as he flirted with the track limits—three warnings, one misstep from a penalty—his best chance at an early strike evaporated. Verstappen, out front and unbothered, simply cleared off. Only when Leclerc’s softs inevitably cried enough on Lap 22 did the picture change. Norris finally broke free into second, but his afternoon became a damage limitation exercise against the four-time champion up the road, who had already done the heavy lifting.

The texture of the race belonged to the middle phase—Norris holding station, Leclerc nursing grip, Verstappen slipping away by tenths per lap—but the crucial moment was McLaren’s late call and Norris’ clean, no nonsense move to get it done. It salvaged the maximum from a day that threatened to trap him behind red paint. It also underlined where the title fight is right now: McLaren can bloody noses, Ferrari can disrupt the script, but Verstappen still controls the pace of the story. If you’re keeping score, that’s momentum. In this phase of a championship, momentum is currency.

‘Quiet sort of menace’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/verstappen-turns-the-screw-in-texas-norris-breaks-through/


Truth behind Oscar flop and what now; ‘extraordinary’ title race shift explained — F1 Talking Pts
October 20th, 2025
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports
Fox Sports (Australia)

We’re witnessing something quite extraordinary. That’s Red Bull Racing boss Laurent Mekies’s opinion after Max Verstappen’s total domination of the United States Grand Prix weekend slashed his title deficit to just 40 points with five rounds remaining. After five rounds of being dared to believe that the championship fight is on, Red Bull Racing no longer needs convincing.

Verstappen’s title defence, his shot at a fifth world championship, is very much alive. The electricity of this moment is undeniable. “Near domination today,” Red Bull Racing boss Laurent Mekies told Sky Sports. “Max has been driving at an incredible level. We have to admit we’re witnessing something quite extraordinary, and it has produced this turnaround.” Five races remain, and among them are some Verstappen classics.

Perfection is still required, but with momentum totally with the Dutchman and his formerly down-and-out team, you’d be brave to discount a late title twist. “The focus and the intensity is still on this weekend, on learning whatever we can still learn on this weekend and on bringing the best possible car to Mexico,” Mekies said. “We’re going to keep that approach. We’re not looking at the big numbers. We’re looking at what we can learn every session, how we can get the best possible car on the ground in Mexico in a week’s time.”

“Witnessing something quite extraordinary”;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/quite-extraordinary-verstappen-cuts-deficit-again-explanation-for-piastris-woe-talking-pts/news-story/8b7e914a9841353da732a245862ee62b


David Croft shares what Mark Webber is privately saying about Oscar Piastri’s F1 championship hopes
20 October 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Commentator David Croft has now shared what Webber told him about Piastri’s mindset behind the scenes, and what he needs to do to win the title this year. Croft was following Piastri while on commentary for Sky Sports F1 (19/10 9:10 pm) as he struggled to keep up with Lewis Hamilton and had to worry about George Russell behind him.

He said: “I was talking to Mark Webber, Oscar Piastri’s manager, earlier today. He said there was nothing wrong with Oscar, his head’s up, his chin’s up. Yeah, he’s lost a few points in his lead, but he’s got a very healthy lead out in front. As another race goes by, you’ve got to reverse the trend at some stage. There’s still an awful long way to go in this season, and I think it’s going to give us an absolutely blockbuster finish this year.”

“Yes, I think Oscar Piastri has absolutely got the mental capacity to cope with this fight. If you remember back to F3, his championship-winning F3 season, his lead got whittled down there, and he coped very well there, with the pressure.” Martin Brundle replied and said: “Yeah, and Oscar needs a solid weekend again, doesn’t he? He has to go next week.”

“His head’s up, his chin’s up”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/david-croft-shares-what-mark-webber-is-privately-saying-about-oscar-piastris-f1-championship-hopes/

[Fortitude]

McLaren won’t bring more upgrades to counter growing Max Verstappen F1 championship threat.
McLaren not tempted to replicate Red Bull upgrade push. “When it comes to new upgrades, new parts, then this will not happen for the rest of the season,” McLaren boss Andrea Stella concluded.
20 Oct 2025
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week

While Verstappen remained untroubled in the race, McLaren boss Andrea Stella is convinced that Norris retained the pace to challenge had he not lost out to Charles Leclerc at the start. “Well, first of all, I think in terms of the trend, today is a relatively reassuring race because I think without having to fight with Charles, which was certainly an entertaining fight itself, I think Lando had the pace to win the race today,” Stella told media including Motorsport Week.

“Obviously, he needed to gain the position on track, which is never easy with Max, and with a one-stop strategy, not necessarily we would have had many opportunities from a strategic point of view, but performance-wise, I think we are reassured that the pace was sufficient to fight for the victory. Like I have explained to some of your colleagues as well, I think not having done the Sprint Race left us a little bit on the back foot from a set-up point of view. And in hindsight, we can see already that there was more performance that we could have extracted from the car.”

‘McLaren won’t bring more upgrades’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/10/20/mclaren-wont-bring-more-upgrades-to-counter-growing-max-verstappen-f1-championship-threat/


Unleashed Verstappen causes historical implosion at McLaren
20 Oct 2025
Co-author:Kada Sárközi
Tim Kraaij
GPblog.com

The seemingly invincible McLaren team appears to be imploding from within. How is the best team on the grid slowly losing control? "Is there a very real danger now that neither of your drivers could win this title?" That question was asked of McLaren team principal Andrea Stella after the United States Grand Prix. A question that perfectly covers the increasing cynicism inside the paddock.

The catalyst behind it all has been McLaren’s team orders. The so-called 'papaya rules' provide amusement for many in the paddock. Max Verstappen has already suggested that McLaren is simply making things too hard for itself, because you can't script a championship. It's a widely shared opinion inside the paddock. The cynicism isn't solely within the media but also among competitors and fans. Competitors smirk at McLaren's mishandling of their drivers. Especially the fact that the drivers must fully comply with the team, thereby becoming obedient team players, is viewed by some as 'character assassination' of the two.

It can also be heard among fans. Yes, Max Verstappen was booed here and there, but that was after he won everything for an entire year. That the dominant factor in a sport is less loved by the public than the underdog is a common phenomenon. However, McLaren has not had a long period during which they won everything. On the contrary, the public now seems to be siding with Verstappen because they see that the McLaren drivers aren't getting everything out of their car. The fact that McLaren has repeatedly tried to script races with team orders also does not benefit their image.

‘Historical implosion at McLaren’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/analysis/unleashed-verstappen-causes-historical-implosion-at-mclaren


British media have a strong reaction to Max Verstappen winning the US GP over Lando Norris
20 Oct 2025
Alex Worth
Give Me Sport

The British media were seriously impressed by Max Verstappen's bold claim after his dominant win at the United States Grand Prix this past weekend. The 'chance is there' quote stood out to British journalists who were in attendance at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin over the weekend.

The BBC reflected on his recent resurgence, writing: “Even when Verstappen started winning races in September, the points gap to the McLaren drivers was so big that the four-time champion refused to entertain the idea in public, even if he might have been thinking about it in private. He was taking it race by race, he said, and not thinking about the championship.

"For sure, the chance is there," Verstappen said of the title battle. "We just need to try and deliver these weekends until the end. We will try and do whatever we can. It's exciting." The Guardian wrote: “The disillusioned and dissatisfied driver who felt his title defence was long over has, against all the odds and indeed his own expectations, restaked his claim as a genuine contender in a deliciously tight Formula One world championship battle.

"For sure, the chance is there";

https://www.givemesport.com/british-media-strong-reaction-max-verstappen-winning-us-gp-over-lando-norris-f1/


Nervous McLaren can no longer win the easy way
Max Verstappen's charge back into title contention is forcing McLaren to confront a growing internal dilemma - whether to let Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri continue fighting freely, or impose team orders as the stakes rise.
OCTOBER 19, 2025
GrandPrix.com

The tension has been building for some time, now culminating in McLaren's chaotic sprint race double-DNF in Austin - which left Red Bull and Verstappen sensing weakness. “They're under pressure, of course,” Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko told Viaplay. "They can't win the easy way anymore. We'll keep pushing. We're making them nervous, and that seems to be working.”

Sky Deutschland's Timo Glock agreed that McLaren's management now faces its biggest challenge of the season. “These are all issues they have to deal with now,” he said. “And Max Verstappen is only concerned with annoying them.” Inside McLaren, both the pressure and the parallels are clear. Team CEO Zak Brown acknowledged that the current scenario bears resemblance to the infamous 2007 campaign, when McLaren's own title duel between Fernando Alonso and rookie Lewis Hamilton allowed Kimi Raikkonen to snatch the championship at the eleventh hour.

“Repeat 2007? It's a risk, yes,” Brown said. "If you have two drivers like in 2007, when they were tied on points and Kimi was just ahead at the end of the season - but that's just how McLaren wants to race. We want two drivers capable of winning the championship. On the other hand, if you split the drivers into number 1 and number 2, it jeopardises your participation in the Constructors' Championship. It's a difficult sport. We're racing. We want to race. Our desire is to give both drivers a chance to win the title, and that comes with a certain risk, like in 2007.”

‘Nervous McLaren’;

https://www.grandprix.com/news/nervous-mclaren-can-no-longer-win-the-easy-way.html


Why McLaren’s ‘papaya rules’ don’t mean equality for Norris and Piastri
19 Oct 2025
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com

There really is only one rule: don’t hit the other orange car. In Singapore, Norris broke that rule. But because it happened between teammates, it broke the underlying rule of ‘no contact’. It wasn’t an egregious or deliberate act, as Brown has pointed out: it was marginal. However, it still happened and therefore had to be addressed. While the team isn’t saying as much, it’s believed Piastri will be treated as the primary car through qualifying for the remainder of the season.

Allowing its drivers to race freely without consequence incentivises behaviour contrary to the team’s broader goals. And while the Constructors’ Championship is wrapped up for another year, both Norris and Piastri have to share a garage next year. Allowing the seeds of animosity to be planted now would only lead to far bigger problems down the line.

The whole saga is unusual, even unprecedented; hence it is both foreign and confusing at times as we look in from the outside. The key is that McLaren’s efforts at fairness do not overstep in the eyes of its drivers. The perception externally is irrelevant.

‘Whole saga is unusual’;

https://www.planetf1.com/features/mclarens-lando-norris-oscar-piastri-papaya-rules-repercussions-singapore


Norris sounds the alarms: Unexpected McLaren weakness claims
19 Oct 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Lando Norris has revealed that the situation at McLaren is so dire that he was fighting the car all along, and as such an early Q1 eliminationn wasn't necessarily off the table. Norris still doesn't have an answer for the issues stemming from the once dominant MCL39, but he admits new ones arose every lap, an alarming claim.

He continued: "I don't know why. It's quite a bit more tricky than it was yesterday. I see some conditions change, the wind changed a little bit, things like that. But yeah, it was tough. And I don't have a delta on my dash, so I felt my first two sectors were a bit meh on the final lap. I mean, you try and do the same as the lap before because it was good, but you have just different problems every single lap, which is part of our issue.”

"I didn't know if I was up, down, what. So I knew I had to just hit and hope for the last couple corners and try put it together and I made, I think, some good improvements to my previous. I'm happy to be p2 because it quite easily could have been a lot worse today. It felt worse so I'll definitely take it for that reason," Norris concluded.

‘Norris sounds the alarms’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/norris-sounds-the-alarms-unexpected-mclaren-weakness-claims

[Fortitude]

‘Insecure’ Piastri and ‘nervous’ McLaren called out as Verstappen closes in.
Dropping points to Max Verstappen in four successive race weekends, Oscar Piastri is “insecure” and McLaren as a team is feeling “the nervousness”.
20 Oct 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Oscar Piastri’s lead has been slashed by Verstappen 104 points to just 40 with five race weekends remaining. It had been as much as 104 after the Dutch Grand Prix, the last time Piastri stood on the top step of the podium. Max Verstappen has since gone on a charge, winning in Monza and Baku before bringing his RB21 home in second place at the Singapore Grand Prix.

He then dominated in Austin, winning the Sprint and the grand prix from pole to flag. That’s 101 of the maximum 108 points that were in play from Monza to Austin. Former F1 driver Glock believes he’s feeling the pressure that comes with a first World title title. “He’s insecure,” the German said. “In his third year in Formula 1, he is in a situation where the pressure is growing. The free driving from the beginning of the year is no longer so easy.”

“The nervousness is there for the whole team,” he said. “The problem is that there are race tracks where Mercedes is suddenly there, Ferrari was strong here. That’s the problem for Oscar and Lando, that there can be other teams that take points away from them. For me, Max Verstappen is too dominant for anyone to put him under pressure.”

‘Verstappen closes in’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/oscar-piastri-nervous-mclaren-called-out-max-verstappen-closes-in


Piastri Makes Startling Comment after US GP That Will Delight Verstappen
Max Verstappen continued to cut the gap in the world title fight
20 Oct 2025
James Taylor
SPORTbible

Oscar Piastri made a surprise comment following the United States Grand Prix that will give further encouragement to Max Verstappen in the title race. Piastri still leads the standings with a 14 point advantage over Norris, while Verstappen is now just 40 points behind the Australian. With five races remaining, the Dutchman has publicly stated that he believes a record-equalling fifth consecutive F1 drivers' championship is still possible.

After the race, the McLaren driver was asked how he plans to turn around his dip in form. Oscar Piastri said: "I don't have any great ideas at the moment. Qualifying was clean from my side; it was just that the pace wasn't there, and it was honestly a pretty similar story in the race. This layout is quite interesting; there are a lot of very high-speed corners with a lot of ride content, there are a lot of very low-speed corners, so you need to be good at both ends of the spectrum. Actually, there's not a whole lot [of corners] in that medium-speed range; there are a few, but more outside of it, so for me, it's not been a particularly happy hunting ground my whole F1 career.”

“So in some ways, I can't say I'm shocked that this has been a tough weekend, but obviously I was hoping for better." Piastri added: "Max has had a good run in the last few races, but ultimately, if we can find our way again, find our pace, and certainly for me, find the pace again, then I don't have any major concerns. There is still a long way to go in the championship. And for Max, he's chased it down pretty quickly, but it is not exactly a small gap with four, five rounds to go. So if we can find our pace again, things will take care of themselves."

‘Further encouragement to Max Verstappen’;

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/oscar-piastri-max-verstappen-formula-1-us-gp-561775-20251020


Stella: Norris and Piastri admit shortfalls but team remains hopeful
20 Oct 2025
Ben Winship
GPblog.com

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella revealed Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have admitted they have not maximised their performances in previous races. He added that the team has not exploited all of the MCL39’s potential as Max Verstappen closes the deficit to championship leader Piastri to just 40 points. Speaking after Verstappen’s imperious United States GP victory, Stella appeared hopeful despite acknowledging the team’s shortfalls in recent times.

He said: "The fact that there are five races and two sprints [remaining] means that we can also increase the gap to Max. That's how I see things. I think we have good tracks coming for our car and I think we have more that we could have exploited out of our car and to some extent the drivers themselves, I think they recognise themselves that they could have done a better job at some of the previous races.
“So I think we look at the next five races as opportunities to increase the gap to Max.”

‘Verstappen’s imperious United States GP victory’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/stella-norris-and-piastri-admit-shortfalls-but-team-remains-hopeful


As Verstappen closes on McLaren in title fight, is Piastri feeling the pressure?
20 Oct 2025
Owen Bradley
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen took a dominant victory at the U.S Grand Prix. Closing to Piastri and Norris in the championship standings. Verstappen came into the U.S GP with a 63-point deficit to championship leader Oscar Piastri, however the Dutchman has closed that gap down to a 40-point deficit after dominating the Sprint weekend, which also saw McLaren score a double DNF in Saturday's 100km race.

Is Oscar Piastri beginning to feel the pressure? This is the Australian's third season in Formula One, and he has been leading the championship since April. However, despite leading the championship for most of the season, Norris is as close as ever with Verstappen bringing himself back into the title fight decisively.

As the season's drawing to a close the stakes are as high as ever, and it is up to Piastri to step up and rack up the results his car can provide and seal the title. It's a defining moment for the championship leader and perhaps he knows it too.

‘The stakes are as high as ever’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/features/as-verstappen-closes-on-mclaren-in-title-fight-is-piastri-feeling-the-pressure


The final stretch: Comparing Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s 2024 final five races
Toby Coxon
Sporting News

The 2025 Formula 1 Drivers' Championship battle between McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri is heading into its tense final phase, perfectly mirroring the highly competitive conclusion of the 2024 season. With the title race now on a knife-edge, the key to predicting who will emerge victorious lies in analysing how both drivers handled the pressure in the final five races of last season, when the competitive margins were at their narrowest.

While Norris finished 2024 as the clear momentum leader, it is Piastri’s newfound consistency in 2025 that has given him the critical advantage, a reversal that provides a fascinating psychological layer to this year's fight. The irony of the current situation is that the momentum has completely reversed for the 2025 title fight. While Norris was the strong finisher in 2024, it is Piastri who has demonstrated the consistency needed to lead the 2025 championship, holding a 22-point advantage over his teammate.

Piastri has been more clinical in converting pole positions and has made fewer visible errors than Norris. The Australian is now capitalising on the performance advantage of the McLaren car by minimising his mistakes and maximising his points haul, while Norris has been plagued by minor errors and poor luck. As the 2025 season heads into its final six races, the psychological edge belongs to Piastri, who has turned his rival's momentum into his own advantage, proving that in a title fight, consistency ultimately trumps late-season form.

‘The final stretch’;

https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/formula-1/news/final-stretch-comparing-lando-norris-and-oscar-piastris-2024-final-five-races/54b53287950b04fb7edb837f


Oscar Piastri still not thinking clearly as Norris and Verstappen close in
21 Oct 2025
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Oscar Piastri held a 34-point lead over McLaren driver Lando Norris and a 104-point lead over Max Verstappen following his most recent victory of the F1 2025 season at the Dutch Grand Prix. Of greater concern to Piastri, perhaps, is the pace deficit between himself and Norris at the Circuit of the Americas, consistently hovering at around 0.3s – sometimes smaller, sometimes larger – across both qualifying sessions on Friday and Saturday.

Maybe this was just one of those weekends Norris is capable of from time to time, blowing his teammate away at a circuit where he has performed well (and Piastri has struggled) in the past and revelling in the extra feel offered by the upgraded front suspension he first ran in Canada. And it did not help Piastri – so adept at applying the lessons from the data across the three practice sessions on a standard race weekend – that this happened to be a sprint event, denying him the opportunity to gradually chip away at the gap on Friday and Saturday.

Yet Norris’s comfortable advantage over him in the United States will only add to the doubts threatening to derail Piastri’s season. The only silver lining? If Verstappen – the winner of three of the last four races – keeps this up, soon enough McLaren will be forced to abandon its policy of total fairness and throw its full support behind one driver. If (when?) that time comes, Piastri must make sure the high ground still belongs to him.

‘Pace deficit hovering at around 0.3s’;

https://www.planetf1.com/features/oscar-piastri-mclaren-united-states-grand-prix-2025-sprint-mistake

[Fortitude]

McLaren's 'repercussions' for Lando Norris have been leaked. The result is a crucial leg-up for Oscar Piastri.
"But I asked Red Bull, and they said, 'We think the repercussions are they're going to give Oscar Piastri the priority in all the qualifying sessions coming to the end of the season'” Ted Kravitz.
22 Oct 2025
Sophie Wisely
Channel 9's Wide World of Sports

Sky Sports presenter Ted Kravitz has lifted the lid on what he believes are the repercussions facing Lando Norris for the first-lap incident at the Singapore Grand Prix between the two McLaren teammates. Although McLaren carefully kept all mouths shut on what the specifics of the repercussions were, Kravitz revealed that rival team Red Bull believed it had the inside word on the resulting penalty. According to Kravitz, Oscar Piastri will be prioritised in qualifying for the remaining races of the year. "Oscar will be effectively treated in the qualifying sessions as the number one driver", Ted Kravitz.

French F1 broadcaster Canal+ firmed that reporting up further, claiming that Piastri will have the option to choose whether he goes out before or after Norris in every qualifying session for the remainder of the year. Qualifying has been the crux of any driver's success in 2025, Max Verstappen's dominance in qualifying led him to a perfect United States weekend where he brought home 33 points.

‘Piastri the priority’;

https://www.nine.com.au/sport/motorsport/f1-news-2025-lando-norris-repercussions-oscar-piastri-qualifying-advantage-ted-kravitz-comments-20251022-p5n4eu.html


Norris sounds the alarms: Unexpected McLaren weakness claims
19 Oct 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Lando Norris has revealed that the situation at McLaren is so dire that he was fighting the car all along, and as such an early Q1 eliminationn wasn't necessarily off the table. Norris still doesn't have an answer for the issues stemming from the once dominant MCL39, but he admits new ones arose every lap, an alarming claim.

He continued: "I don't know why. It's quite a bit more tricky than it was yesterday. I see some conditions change, the wind changed a little bit, things like that. But yeah, it was tough. And I don't have a delta on my dash, so I felt my first two sectors were a bit meh on the final lap."

"I mean, you try and do the same as the lap before because it was good, but you have just different problems every single lap, which is part of our issue. I didn't know if I was up, down, what. So I knew I had to just hit and hope for the last couple corners and try put it together and I made, I think, some good improvements to my previous. I'm happy to be p2 because it quite easily could have been a lot worse today. It felt worse so I'll definitely take it for that reason," Norris concluded.

‘Unexpected McLaren weakness claims’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/norris-sounds-the-alarms-unexpected-mclaren-weakness-claims


Max Verstappen says McLaren ‘absolutely’ favouring Lando Norris over Oscar Piastri
Verstappen insists it won’t affect his Red Bull championship fight
17 Oct 2025
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport

The Singapore drama has sparked claims that McLaren are favouring Norris and Verstappen says this is ‘absolutely’ the case. “Absolutely! Someone… I don’t know, I heard something…,” Verstappen said sarcastically to media, including Total-Motorsport.com. “Does it help me? I don’t know. I mean, I honestly don’t know.”

“I don’t care also, because it has nothing to do with me—what they decide, of course, within the team—how they operate as a team. “I mean, they do whatever they think is right, and they’re doing a very good job at it being this quick and what they’ve done over the last few years. For me, what’s important is that when we get to the racetrack, we just maximise our potential."

‘McLaren ‘absolutely’ favouring Lando Norris’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/max-verstappen-mclaren-absolutely-favouring-lando-norris-over-oscar-piastri/


The two factors that ruined Norris's US GP win chance
20 Oct 2025
Mark Hughes
The Race

Ferrari and Leclerc were figuring that actually the softs may have got them the lead from the second row and with the clean air this would have facilitated their pace would be so much better. He came close to doing it, but not quite, and like that Verstappen was released. Turns out that Ferrari starting tyre choice was absolutely the right one. The change in wind direction meant a tailwind in those slow corners requiring a lot of mechanical grip…

So not only was Norris stuck behind Leclerc as Verstappen ran away, taking life out of his tyres as he diced with the Ferrari and ran in its dirty air, but he was stuck there for a long time as he couldn’t afford to try to undercut too early.

It took until lap 21 until Norris found his way by, by which time Verstappen was almost 11s in the lead. Norris would lose further time in the second stint as he had to find his way past Leclerc all over again, as the Ferrari had got ahead by virtue of its much earlier stop. Although Norris had stopped 10 laps later than Leclerc, the soft tyres he’d had fitted had already done six laps of qualifying. Therefore compared to Leclerc’s new mediums, there was only a four-lap offset.

‘Two factors’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/the-two-factors-that-ruined-norris-us-gp-win-chance-mark-hughes/


Norris reacts to McLaren's U.S GP strategy in revelatory remark
21 Oct 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Lando Norris’ McLaren could have fought for victory in Austin. “I mean, I regret not putting in a perfect lap and going purple, purple, purple yesterday in qualifying. So, you know, you can’t ask these questions.”

“You could do many different things. You never know what’s going to work out. I don’t think our strategy was wrong. I think we did a good job.” Although there might have been a chance to get ahead of Leclerc earlier, that approach would have carried significant risk, something Norris and McLaren chose to avoid, a decision the Briton says he stands by.

“Potentially, we should have. We’ll look back and see if we should have just boxed as soon as we got ahead of Charles or tried an undercut and seen if that worked out. But it was a long way to go on the softs, and then you put yourself under Safety Car risk. So, you know, there are many different things that can go your way. Otherwise, I think we did a good job. I think we took the correct amount of risk for the position we’re in, and I’m happy and satisfied with the result, as much as I would have loved to be further up,”

‘Revelatory remark’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/norris-reacts-to-mclarens-us-gp-strategy-in-revelatory-remark


Jolyon Palmer spotted one ‘big’ mistake Lando Norris kept making during the United States Grand Prix
19 Oct 2025
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer

Lando Norris’ ‘big’ mistake was repeating the same moves in Charles Leclerc battle at the US GP. Martin Brundle believes McLaren are doomed to fail because they have two competitive and hungry drivers. They’re contracted for the next few seasons, meaning that it could pose a few difficulties for them down the line. Norris has more experience, and it might pay dividends over the next few weekends, particularly at the flyaway races that Piastri will have been to a handful of times. In his battle with Leclerc in Austin, he repeated one ‘big’ error that Jolyon Palmer spotted straight away.

“I think you’ve got to brake later on the initial brake at [turn] 12 to threaten to maybe go around the outside, or to force Charles to go deep as well, and then you can get a chance to get more of a look on the outside,” Palmer said on F1TV. “It is difficult with the sequence of corners that you’ve got. If you’ve got a left-hander into a left-hander, the switchback works so easily, because then you have the inside and then ‘See you later mate, you’re out and I’m through.’”

“But when you go left-hander, so you get the switchback and now you’re on the outside for the next right-hander, then you’re like ‘He’s gone in deep, I’ll get the switchback again.’ but then it’s another left-hander, you just get shuffled out,” he continued. “So, you’ve got to start mixing it up.

‘Big mistake’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jolyon-palmer-spotted-one-big-mistake-lando-norris-kept-making-during-the-united-states-grand-prix/


Wolff: Verstappen holds key advantage over McLaren drivers
22 Oct 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes Max Verstappen has the psychological advantage over both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris as the Formula 1 drivers’ championship battle heats up. The Mercedes team boss, who spoke to GPblog, recounted how he had experienced a similar scenario with former Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel before adding that the psychological edge is tilted towards Verstappen due to the odds being against him.

“I’ve been in a similar situation with two drivers fighting for a championship, and the threat of another one catching up. Back in the day, it was Max, I believe, and then it was Sebastian [Vettel] in that hunt. The underdog always has a little bit of an easier psychological advantage because of the probability. The odds are definitely against Max. If you look at the probability, that’s very low, one DNF can change everything, and I think that affects the driving as well.”

“How aggressive can you actually go for an overtake? You can see Lando [Norris] today; he managed it at the end, but at times it was tricky to decide whether to keep your nose in or not.”

‘Key advantage’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/wolff-verstappen-holds-key-advantage-over-mclaren-drivers

[Fortitude]

Verstappen wants perfection ahead of Mexico Grand Prix.
“We need to keep having perfect weekends to fight for the Championship, so it is important to hit the ground running in Mexico." - Max Verstappen.
23 Oct 2025
Drew Murphy
GPblog.com

Both Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda are raring to begin racing in Mexico City. Verstappen has shortened the gap between himself and Championship leader Oscar Piastri to just 40 points. The Dutchman knows he needs more perfect weekends like in Austin to claim his fifth World Drivers Championship.

He said: "We have gained a lot of positive momentum over the past few races, and we want to keep pushing and extracting as much performance out of the car as we can, and the Team have been working hard to do this. We need to keep having perfect weekends to fight for the Championship, so it is important to hit the ground running in Mexico."

After achieving a seventh-place finish at the United States Grand Prix, Tsunoda is hoping to showcase his talent ahead of Red Bull’s driver line-up decision for next year. Tsunoda said: “I’m coming to Mexico ready to fight for the points again. I had a good few days between Austin and Mexico, visiting Los Angeles, a place I had never been before. The aim is to have a consistent weekend overall and if I can do that I put myself in the position to score better points for the Team and be racing nearer the top of the grid, where we should be."

‘Raring to begin racing in Mexico City’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verstappen-wants-perfection-ahead-of-mexico-grand-prix


Another Verstappen stronghold? The recent history of the Mexico City GP
10212025
Ben McCarthy
Sporting News

A Verstappen stronghold: Max Verstappen has won this race five times, regardless of whether the event was labelled the 'Mexico' or 'Mexico City' Grand Prix. Yet only one of those wins has come from pole position. In 2017 and '18, he passed the polesitters of those races, Sebastian Vettel in the former and Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo in the latter, by the first braking zone and never looked back.

In 2021, he did the same thing, but with an outrageous late-braking overtake on the two Silver Arrows, including his then-championship rival Lewis Hamilton. And 2023 was no different; he started from third but passed the two Ferraris in a heartbeat. In fact, Verstappen has led this race after the first lap every time since 2021, and has led the first tour in six in the last seven races at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Although he seized the lead on the first tour of last year's race, the worrying pace of the RB21, coupled with two 10-second penalties, set him back to sixth place.

‘Verstappen has led this race after the first lap every time since 2021’;

https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/formula-1/news/another-verstappen-stronghold-recent-history-mexico-city-gp/7454c2556a1fab9f75e8e47f


Max previews Mexico Grand Prix: 'Tends to suit our car'
23 October 2025
Niels Hendrix
Verstappen.nl

Max Verstappen has travelled from Austin, where he won the race, to Mexico City for the upcoming Grand Prix. The Dutchman says: “We have gained a lot of positive momentum over the past few races and we want to keep pushing and extracting as much performance out of the car as we can and the team have been working hard to do this.”

Max adds: “We need to keep having perfect weekends to fight for the championship, so it is important to hit the ground running in Mexico. The circuit tends to suit our car and it will be all about managing our tyres and the grip. Of course, the high altitude always brings unique challenges, decreasing the air density, which will be affecting everyone. Mexico is always a fun party atmosphere, so it will be exciting to round up the double header there.”

'Tends to suit our car';

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5986/


Verstappen tight-lipped looking ahead: 'That's the beauty of it!'
22 Oct 2025
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

While Max Verstappen did not go into details, Lando Norris shared more about his expectations for the Mexico City Grand Prix. The Dutchman remained tight-lipped about the upcoming event. He said: "Well, the beauty of it is we'll find out next week. I don't really think about it. We'll find out next week. We could speculate, but I don't like that."

Norris expects a close battle between McLaren and Red Bull, though he believes other teams could also be in the mix. The Briton added: "Probably the same as here. I don’t think it’ll change that much. It’s close between us and Red Bull — one weekend they're a little bit quicker, the next we’re a little bit faster. You know, Mercedes was quickest in Singapore. So, yes, you can have many different things here, but we’re going to see."

'That's the beauty of it!';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verstappen-tight-lipped-looking-ahead-thats-the-beauty-of-it


Start time for the 2025 F1 Mexican Grand Prix - Mexico City
The F1 season continues this weekend with the 2025 F1 Mexican Grand Prix. Don't miss any of the action and check out all the session start times for the weekend here.
23 October 2025
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

The schedule for the 2025 F1 Mexico City GP is automatically adjusted to your time zone.
F1 schedule Mexican GP
Session
Date Time
Free practice 1 Friday 24 October 20:30 - 21:30
Free practice 2 Saturday 25 October 00:00 - 01:00
Free practice 3 Saturday 25 October 19:30 - 20:30
Qualification Saturday 25 October 23:00 - 23:59
Race Sunday 26 October 21:00 - 23:00

‘Start times’;

https://racingnews365.com/start-time-for-the-2025-f1-mexican-grand-prix-mexico-city


Will the rain impact the title fight? Full Mexico GP weather breakdown
22 Oct 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Formula 1 heads to Mexico City for the next stop on the 2025 calendar. The title race is finely poised, but could the weather conditions influence the outcome? Here is the weather forecast for the race weekend.

Friday, October 24 – FP1 & FP2
Friday will witness the first round of on-track action and is expected to be dry, albeit with a 40% chance of rain. The temperature for the first practice session is forecast at 23°C, while the second practice session is expected to reach 25°C.

Saturday, October 25 – FP3 & Qualifying
The second day of on-track action will feature a temperature of 24°C for the third practice session and 25°C during qualifying, with a 20% chance of rain.
Sunday, October 26 – Grand Prix
Sunday’s race is expected to be drier, with a 20% chance of rain. The race temperature is forecast at 25°C.

‘Weather forecast for the race weekend’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/will-the-rain-impact-the-title-fight-full-mexico-gp-weather-breakdown

[Fortitude]

McLaren holds thorough Oscar Piastri car checks ahead of Mexican Grand Prix.
…checking that Oscar Piastri’s car was not hamstrung by an unidentified problem over the United States Grand Prix weekend.
23 Oct 2025
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Andrea Stella, the McLaren team principal admitted that identifying the cause of Piastri’s poor pace was a priority after the United States Grand Prix weekend, with McLaren holding a thorough check of his MCL39 to rule out a potential car issue.

He told PlanetF1.com and other media outlets: “This is certainly one of the most important points that we need to review, which is the fact that Oscar, in qualifying and in the race, seemed to have a couple of tenths that he was not able to fully realise and that possibly was available in the car.

“We are actually now checking that we are completely happy with the setup of the car, the setup of the floor, that everything is as intended from a car point of view.”

‘Thorough Oscar Piastri car checks’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclaren-oscar-piastri-mcl39-max-verstappen-alarm-bells


Mekies expects wide-open battle for Mexican GP victory
23 Oct 2025
Ben Winship
GPblog.com

Red Bull Racing Team Principal Laurent Mekies believes four teams will potentially be in with a chance of winning the Mexican GP this weekend. Mekies expects Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari all to be in and around the podium positions as F1 heads to Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Red Bull have enjoyed a significant turnaround in form in recent times and Max Verstappen dominated the United States GP weekend last time out with a maximum haul of 33 points across both the sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix. In spite of Red Bull’s form, Mekies has underplayed the chances of another Verstappen whitewash when speaking after the United States GP.

“You know, we certainly feel three or four teams can win the race.” He continued: “And today, they [Ferrari] were battling with us. They were battling with McLaren. They took some points out of McLaren. They could have taken some points out of us. So yes, we see them in the game, absolutely.”

‘Wide-open battle’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/mekies-expects-wide-open-battle-for-mexican-gp-victory


‘Don’t crash into each other’—Piastri reveals plan ahead of crucial Mexico City Grand Prix
23 Oct 2025
Peter Maniaty
Sporting News

Asked if his ‘clean slate’ comment meant the repercussions given to Norris after their lap one incident in Singapore had been lifted, the Australian nodded. “Yes, the consequences on Lando’s side have been removed, there were a lot of factors involved, but ultimately that’s what’s been decided,” Piastri said, explaining McLaren’s much talked about ‘papaya rules’ are still in play.

“For us it’s pretty clear what those rules are—don’t crash into each other,” he added. “Regardless of what scenario you’re in, that’s how you’re expected to race as teammates.” As for the increasing title challenge of four-time reigning world champion Verstappen, Piastri acknowledged the Dutchman’s improved consistency was driving his rapid climb up the rankings.

“Clearly over the last few race weekends, Red Bull and Max have certainly found consistency more than anything,” he said. “There were flashes of that kind of performance earlier in the season, but I think the last few weekends it’s been very consistent. I’m sure that they’re going to be a threat again this weekend and we’ll try our best to get the most out of our car and see where we end up.”

‘Don’t crash into each other’;

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/formula-1/news/piastri-crucial-mexico-grand-prix-norris-mclaren-verstappen/a775bbca461eb74a62db7ae6


Max ahead of Mexico GP: 'Keep the momentum'
24 October 2025
Stefan Meens
Verstappen.nl

“It’s obvious we’ve been doing well recently”, said Max. “I definitely enjoy it more this way and we’ll try to maintain the momentum. I want to try and keep winning races until the end of the season. But we also know we have to be perfect if want to have a chance at the end.” At Thursday’s press conference, the Dutchman was asked about the level of risk he is willing to take into turn one. “I don’t think about until I get there on Sunday. Every situation is different, it’s never the same, so there’s no point planning in advance.”

The remainder of the season plays out across racetracks all featuring different characterises. As such, Max is not sure if he can predict where his RB20 will be best suited. “I don’t think you can always go on past results. Some circuits will suit us better than others and I’ve won here a lot. But then again, last year was a disaster, so we’ll look at it race by race.”

“It’s a tricky circuit, with low grip. We have won here, but every year is different so we’ll see what happens. I’m expecting a fun weekend. The fans are always great and full of passion… …I always give everything I’ve got, on both the good and bad days. I’ve always been like that. I don’t think I’m all of a sudden quicker; I just have a more complete car to fight at the front.”

“I always give everything I’ve got”;

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5987/


Everything we learned already at F1's Mexican Grand Prix
Oct 24, 2025
The Race

At last weekend’s United States GP Red Bull got a €50k fine, half of which was suspended, after a team member ignored pit marshals’ instructions to go back through the opening in the pitwall at the start of the formation lap. Andrea Stella and Laurent Mekies, the two team bosses, have discussed the matter this week. Stella and Mekies are both understood to be keen that a line is drawn under it before it escalates or becomes a distraction.

The two McLaren drivers have a “clean slate” for the rest of the season after Oscar Piastri took “some responsibility” for their crash in the United States Grand Prix sprint race. That means the mini-saga and mystery over Lando Norris and his “consequences” for hitting Piastri in the Singapore Grand Prix has ended after just one weekend. McLaren’s post-event review concluded that Piastri could have been more careful in how he cut back across the track at the start of the sprint, which led to a multi-car crash that wiped out Piastri and Norris.

Max Verstappen is not only benefitting from a faster Red Bull in this title chase - he is also able to set it up more as he likes it now. “Naturally It gives me more confidence and it allows us to set up the car a little more aggressive, a little more on the nose without losing the rear for example. And that's exactly what you want.”

‘Everything we learned already’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/everything-we-learned-already-f1-mexican-grand-prix/


Mexican Grand Prix revs up for 10th anniversary celebration
Oct 24, 2025
The Straits Times

MEXICO CITY - After a decade of roaring engines and sold-out grandstands, the Mexican Grand Prix will celebrate its 10th anniversary this weekend as a major economic driver and international showcase for the country. Federico Gonzalez, director of the Formula One Mexican Grand Prix, outlined plans this weekend to mark the milestone while reflecting on the event's journey since returning to the F1 calendar in 2015.

"Every year we make an effort to improve the experience for attendees. We get into the smallest details and the biggest coordination efforts with the city," Gonzalez told Reuters on Wednesday. "This project is a platform for promoting tourism in the city and country to the world," he said, noting how the event fills Mexico City's hotels and restaurants while showcasing the nation as vibrant and industrious.”

The race operates through a trust fund established with private contributors rather than public money. "We all recognise that it is an economic windfall for the city, which is important because of the image it projects to the world. This weekend, the hotels and restaurants are full you can feel the vibe. It's not easy to move this city," he said. "The opportunity to be part of an event of this travelling nature is very good because year after year we are in the eye of the world with a presence and an image of the amazing things that happen in Mexico, of how hard-working Mexicans are," he said.

‘10th anniversary celebration’;

https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/formula-one/Mexican-Grand-Prix-revs-up-for-10th-anniversary-celebration

[Fortitude]

Charles Leclerc tops Mexican Grand Prix FP1 as Arvid Lindblad beats Yuki Tsunoda.
Yuki Tsunoda was beaten by Red Bull Junior Lindblad by one hundredth of a second, during an FP1 session that could prove vital in the team’s driver decision next year. Team principal Laurent Mekies revealed post-session that the two cars were running slightly different plans, which could have aided the young Brit.
24 October 2025
Rebecca Braybrook
F1 Oversteer

The dusty circuit caught out a couple of drivers, including Paul Aron in the early part of the session and then Hadjar with 20 minutes remaining. The Racing Bulls driver bailed out at Turn 12, heading down the escape road, before reversing back onto the track. The dusty circuit caught out a couple of drivers, including Paul Aron in the early part of the session and then Hadjar with 20 minutes remaining. The Racing Bulls driver bailed out at Turn 12, heading down the escape road, before reversing back onto the track.

Championship contenders Max Verstappen and Lando Norris were forced to miss the first running around the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as the teams participated in one of their four mandatory rookie runs. Oscar Piastri, who is leading the drivers’ championship by 14 points, was the first driver to start soft tyre runs at the midway point of the session, setting a time nearly a whole second faster than Isack Hadjar on the mediums.

‘Charles Leclerc tops Mexican Grand Prix FP1’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/charles-leclerc-tops-mexican-grand-prix-fp1-as-arvid-lindblad-beats-yuki-tsunoda/


Mexico City GP: Free Practice 1 Results
Full results from Free Practice 1 for the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix.
25 Oct 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

Charles Leclerc topped first practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix with a 1m18.380s, the Ferrari driver leading Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli by 0.107s and Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg by 0.380s.

Pos. No. Driver Team Time / Gap Laps
1 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:18.380 29
2 12 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.107s 35
3 27 Nico Hulkenberg Kick Sauber +0.380s 27
4 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.404s 31
5 5 Gabriel Bortoleto Kick Sauber +0.536s 28
6 36 Arvid Lindblad Red Bull Racing +0.617s 26
7 31 Esteban Ocon Haas F1 Team +0.658s 29
8 22 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull Racing +0.710s 29
9 43 Franco Colapinto Alpine +0.951s 28
10 23 Alexander Albon Williams +1.004s 33

‘Free Practice 1 Results’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-mexico-city-grand-prix-autodromo-hermanos-rodriguez-free-practice-1-fp1-results/


FP1: Leclerc heads Antonelli and Hulkenberg in opening practice for Mexico City Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc set the pace in FP1 in Mexico as nine rookie drivers took part in the session.
25 Oct 2025
Formula One - Official Site

Charles Leclerc finished fastest in Free Practice 1 for the Mexico City Grand Prix, the Ferrari driver heading Kimi Antonelli and Nico Hulkenberg. Leclerc finished just one-tenth faster than Antonelli, with Hulkenberg a further three-tenths back from Drivers' Championship leader Oscar Piastri in fourth.

The McLaren driver gained some crucial running on his title rivals Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, who could only watch on from the pit wall. This was because no fewer than nine rookie drivers were in action during the one-hour session on Friday, with Kick Sauber the only team not to field a junior driver at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

While all the stand-ins were keen to impress, the likes of Arvid Lindblad (Red Bull) and Paul Aron (Alpine) took to the track with greater emphasis as the possibility of graduating to the championship next season remains within their grasps. Esteban Ocon's 1m 20.934s initially left him top of the times as dust was cleared from the circuit in the early stages, with lap times continuing to drop as Isack Hadjar and Antonelli traded top spot between themselves.

‘Charles Leclerc set the pace in FP1’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/fp1-leclerc-heads-antonelli-and-hulkenberg-in-opening-practice-for-mexico.5WvPoit8tNzwBt2Tw6QRhs


Red Bull 'magical work' to help Max Verstappen cast spell over McLaren
Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan has explained how "magical work in Milton Keynes" is aiding Max Verstappen's F1 drivers' championship charge at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
24 October 2025
Samuel Coop & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Speaking to media, including RacingNews365, Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan reflected on the challenge, saying: "It's probably the most difficult one [grand prix] for cooling, because the engine is less affected if you can tune it appropriately.

"There's just nowhere to cool the thing, is there? So you've got a turbocharged engine that doesn't know it's at high altitude, and you've got radiators that haven't got any air, and brakes haven't got any air. So this is one of the bigger challenges in that respect.”

"Singapore was pretty tough temperature-wise, Hungary is normally brutal, but it's nearer sea level, but Hungary's got no air speed. Here we get plenty of air speed, just no air. So it's one of the difficult ones in that respect."

'Magical work';

https://racingnews365.com/red-bull-magical-work-to-help-max-verstappen-cast-spell-over-mclaren


Red Bull explains latest update to bolster Max Verstappen’s title challenge at F1 Mexico GP
24 October 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

When asked why the topbody exits, or ‘louvres’, were different to that of its rivals, Red Bull’s Chief Engineer Paul Monaghan explained to media including Motorsport Week: “Well, we are allowed to be different, so we choose to be. With the top body exit…if you go and look at a certain orange car, you’ll see some exits down by the wishbones.”

“Us, we choose to bring out a combination by the louvres and by the central exit. And what you choose to distribute, you choose to distribute. A different way to look at it is how much air do you need to push through your side pods to get the cooling.”

“Once you’ve done that, then you’ve got an indication of your exit area.Most cars are exit limited, not inlet limited. So you open up the exit first and how they choose to do it is down to their top body shape and how they spell it on the rear wing.”

‘Latest update to bolster Max Verstappen’s title challenge’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/10/24/red-bull-explains-latest-update-to-bolster-max-verstappens-title-charge-at-f1-mexico-gp/

[Fortitude]

Mexican GP: Verstappen fastest as title charge continues in FP2 as Piastri struggles.
Championship leader Piastri was half a second slower, only 12th fastest after being unable to improve on his early single lap run.
25 Oct 2025
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen made up for lost time after sitting out Free Practice 1 to top the day’s second practice hour. The Dutchman headed the second practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix from Charles Leclerc and Kimi Antonelli, while title leader Oscar Piastri languished down the order.

The session ended with Verstappen fastest over Leclerc, Antonelli, Norris, and Hamilton in the top five, all covered by just three-tenths. There is hope, strong long run pace from McLaren, though Verstappen again looks a strong contender ahead of Sunday’s race.

‘Piastri was half a second slower, only 12th fastest’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mexican-grand-prix-2025-fp2-report


Mexico City GP: Free Practice 2 Results
Full results from Free Practice 2 for the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix.
25 Oct 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

Cars return to the track for FP3 at 11:30am local time on Saturday (4:30am AEDT Sunday).
Pos. No. Driver Team Time / Gap Laps
1 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 1:17.392 33
2 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.153s 32
3 12 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.174s 26
4 4 Lando Norris McLaren +0.251s 30
5 44 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.300s 29
6 63 George Russell Mercedes +0.437s 32
7 22 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull Racing +0.491s 31
8 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.546s 28
9 55 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.547s 33
10 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +0.562s 29

‘Free Practice 2 Results’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-mexico-city-grand-prix-autodromo-hermanos-rodriguez-free-practice-2-fp2-results/


Piastri explains ‘pretty average’ lap after P12 in Mexico FP2 as he aims for ‘more consistent’ Saturday
Oscar Piastri did not trouble the top of the timesheets during Free Practice 2 at the Mexico City Grand Prix, with the McLaren driver ending the session in P12.
25 Oct 2025
Formula One - Official Site

Oscar Piastri labelled his soft tyre run during second practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix as “pretty average” after ending the session down in P12, leaving the Australian to target a “more consistent” day on Saturday. While McLaren team mate Lando Norris handed his car over to Pato O’Ward for one of the squad’s rookie outings in Free Practice 1, Piastri was in action for the opening hour of running and claimed P4 on the timesheets.

However, after returning for the second session later on Friday, the championship leader did not quite put his soft-shod lap together and found himself down in 12th – his effort eight-tenths off the pace-setting time of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen – while Norris took fourth place. Asked for his thoughts on the day after jumping out of the car, Piastri responded: “It was okay. I think, yeah, the lap on softs and low fuel was pretty average, so I’m not surprised with the lap time.”

“I think we tried a lot of things, we’ll go through and have a look at what worked, what didn’t, but overall I felt reasonable. We’ll see what we can tune up for tomorrow and try and make things just a bit more consistent is the biggest thing.”

‘P12’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/piastri-explains-pretty-average-lap-after-p12-in-mexico-fp2-as-he-aims-for.CWqSOA6bSbRd08IAdIzJ8


Villeneuve brands Mexican GP practice ‘continuation’ of ‘messy’ Oscar Piastri
25 Oct 2025
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com

A scrappy qualifying simulation run left Oscar Piastri down the order at the end of Friday at the Mexican Grand Prix, with Jacques Villeneuve unwilling to cut him any slack. The recent trend has left Piastri third fastest of the three title contenders, with both Norris and Verstappen edging closer in the points race.

“We didn’t hear a lot of confidence there,” he said on Sky Sports following Piastri’s interview. “It’s messy. His driving has been messy since Baku, and you can see it. Normally, that means a tenth, two-tenths, a little mistake here and there, not setting the car right. It gets into your head. And seeing Max again in front, that’s going to eat him all evening.”

Villeneuve has suggested that, having led the championship for 15 races, Red Bull’s rise coupled with Piastri’s diminishing points advantage is playing on his mind. “To think about it in an easy way, is run,” Villeneuve explained. “If you’re looking backward as you’re running, things will go wrong, and then that’s what’s happening.”

“That’s going to eat him all evening”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/villeneuve-brands-mexican-gp-practice-continuation-of-messy-oscar-piastri


Lando Norris admits McLaren balance ‘all over the place’ after F1 Mexico GP practice
25 Oct 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Lando Norris has concluded that McLaren is “all over the place” in terms of its balance over one lap after first and second practice for Formula 1‘s Mexico City Grand Prix. Speaking after FP2, Norris was positive about the car being somewhat close to full potential, but was concerned that he “found the limit quite quickly”.

“I think we’re in a reasonable place, for sure. I feel like I got up to speed very quickly, actually, I was quite surprised,” he said. “My first lap was pretty good, and the second lap was a good step. So, yes, I felt like I found the limit quickly, but that is just holding us back a bit. Not that it was a bad day, but normally we’re very good on a Friday, and then everyone catches up on Saturday.”

“We’re already a little bit behind, so we definitely have some work to do tonight. The balance of the car is just a bit all over the place, the same as the last few weeks, just single lap stuff. We’re struggling at the moment, so yes, we’re working hard. We’re trying everything we can, so we’ll see what we can do and see what we can find.”

‘All over the place’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/10/25/lando-norris-admits-mclaren-balance-all-over-the-place-after-f1-mexico-gp-practice/


Max Verstappen boosted by latest Red Bull upgrade as Oscar Piastri struggles continue
With a new upgrade on that RB21, Max Verstappen has laid down a solid platform for the rest of the weekend.
25 October 2025
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Verstappen's quickest lap of 1:17.392s was achieved in an RB21 sporting its latest upgrade, including a tweak to the floor as part of an overall cooling package required for this circuit due to Mexico City standing at 2,238 m (7,343 ft) above sea level, leading to 20 per cent thinner air, ensuring temperatures are higher in any car.

The Dutchman finished 0.153s clear of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who had topped FP1, with Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli third on the timesheet, 0.174s off the pace, followed by McLaren's Lando Norris a quarter of a second down. As for Piastri, the session appeared a struggle for the Australian, who was down in 12th, 0.840s adrift.

Norris 'misfires': On the medium tyre, Leclerc set the pace early on with a 1:18.669s. Despite complaining of a "lot of misfires" with his MCL39, Norris posted a lap 0.012s shy of Leclerc, with Piastri a quarter of a second adrift at that stage.

‘Oscar Piastri struggles down in 12th, 0.840s adrift’;

https://racingnews365.com/max-verstappen-boosted-by-latest-red-bull-upgrade-as-oscar-piastri-struggles-continue


Max Verstappen F1 title challenge boosted with four-part Red Bull upgrades in Mexico
24 Oct 2025
Elizabeth Blackstock
PlanetF1.com

Red Bull Racing has introduced a four-part upgrade package for the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix, including updates to the floor body, edge wing, front corner, and engine cover. Typically, any focus on 2025 will therefore cost the team come 2026; but Paul Monaghan, chief engineer at Red Bull Racing, denied that the current upgrades have required any significant transfers of manpower thanks to the utilisation of a previous spec floor.

“We have taken the choice, and it’s a make-from, so it’s a previous floor that we’ve managed to recycle,” Monaghan explained. “It was sufficiently modular to get it here. The redistribution of cooling exits was found when we went through the last iteration of top-body, and we thought, ‘Oh, we’ve missed that one; we can get it in here, though.’ Some magical work in Milton Keynes, and it’s here.”

‘Four-part upgrade package’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-verstappen-f1-title-challenge-boosted-with-four-part-red-bull-upgrades-in-mexico

[Fortitude]

Lando Norris fastest in Mexican Grand Prix FP3 ahead of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
Lando Norris topped the timing sheets for the final practice at the Mexican Grand Prix, with Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen dropping back.
25 October 2025
Rebecca Braybrook
F1 Oversteer

Verstappen made his way out onto the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez track early in free practice three with a rear wing covered in flow vis paint. Red Bull have potentially made changes to the car overnight and was using the start of the session to gather vital data, with both drivers running different rear wing set-ups.

Similar to the second practice yesterday, some drivers were struggling to get their medium tyre into its optimal levels. Lewis Hamilton was seen fighting his Ferrari multiple times in the first half of FP3, with George Russell and Lance Stroll complaining about the slippery conditions. Lando Norris topped the timing sheets at the halfway mark of the session, leading from Carlos Sainz in the Williams and Russell, with the Spaniard an anomaly at the top on soft tyres.

Oscar Piastri could not keep up with his McLaren teammate in the first half of FP2, finding himself once again in P12 with 30 minutes remaining. The practice times aren’t necessarily reflective of what could be seen in qualifying later today, as each team’s fuel loads remain unknown. The end of FP3 saw some soft tyre qualifying runs, which saw Isack Hadjar set the fastest time ahead of Lance Stroll as Piastri took part in his first flying lap.

‘Lando Norris topped the timing sheets for the final practice’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/lando-norris-fastest-in-mexican-grand-prix-fp3-ahead-of-lewis-hamilton-and-george-russell/


2025 F1 Mexico City GP – Free Practice 3 Results
Lando Norris topped the final practice session in Mexico City as McLaren laid down an early marker ahead of qualifying.
25 October 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 Mexico City GP 2025 FP3 results
Check out the full Mexico City GP 2025 Free Practice 3 results from the third and final practice session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:16.633
2 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.345
3 George Russell Mercedes +0.512
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.566
5 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.599
6 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.609
7 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.620
8 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.763
9 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull +0.782
10 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber +0.893

‘FP3 results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/2025-f1-mexico-city-gp-free-practice-3-results/


Norris moves clear in final Mexican GP practice
Oct 25, 2025
Matt Beer
The Race

Lando Norris was a commanding 0.345 seconds clear of the field in final practice for Formula 1's Mexican Grand Prix. What had been an extraordinarily close session - with most of the field within the same second, the top six covered by hundredths and multiple teams taking turns in first place - suddenly became far more spread out when the final qualifying simulation runs happened in the closing minutes.

Norris's 1m16.633s put him at the head of a McLaren-Ferrari-Mercedes top three, with Lewis Hamilton second and George Russell third. Friday pacesetter Max Verstappen complained of lacking grip as he only managed sixth, 0.609s off Norris's time - albeit running in a lower power setting. The second McLaren of Oscar Piastri was fifth behind Charles Leclerc's Ferrari, and 0.599s slower than Norris.

‘Norris moves clear’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/norris-moves-clear-in-final-mexican-gp-practice/


Lando Norris leads British 1-2-3 in F1 Mexico GP FP3
Oct 25, 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Lando Norris topped FP3 ahead of qualifying for Formula 1‘s Mexico City Grand Prix, leading a British trio at the top of the timesheets at the Hermanos Rodriguez Circuit. The McLaren man’s 1:16.663s was enough to lead the way, with Lewis Hamilton second, three-and-a-half tenths adrift.

Hamilton showed good promise in the session, despite taking to the run-off area early on. Mercedes’ George Russell completed the Britannic trio, a further two tenths behind Norris’ time. Charles Leclerc was fourth, with Norris’ team-mate Oscar Piastri fifth.

‘British 1-2-3’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/10/25/lando-norris-leads-british-1-2-3-in-f1-mexico-gp-fp3/


Lando Norris ride-height change pays major dividends ahead of Mexican GP qualifying
That's a significant marker from Lando Norris going into qualifying.
25 October 2025
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Lando Norris delivered a consummate final practice performance to give the F1 championship challenger the edge going into qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix. The McLaren driver, 14 points behind team-mate Oscar Piastri going into Sunday's 71-lap race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, delivered a superb lap in the qualifying simulation runs late in the session of 1:16.633s.

That followed a noticeable ride-height change between his two soft-tyre runs, leaving Norris a staggering 0.345s clear of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, with Mercedes' George Russell half a second adrift in third. As for Red Bull's Max Verstappen, quickest after Friday practice but unhappy with the race pace of his RB21, the four-time champion was only sixth on the timesheet, 0.609s off the pace. Piastri was marginally ahead of the Dutchman in fifth.

‘Noticeable ride-height change’;

https://racingnews365.com/lando-norris-ride-height-change-pays-major-dividends-ahead-of-mexican-gp-qualifying

[Fortitude]

Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari driver vows to be 'aggressive' at Mexico City GP start after 'climbing mountain' back to top three.
Lewis Hamilton sees positives in starting from third at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez; "I don't have anything to lose, but he [Norris] does," says Hamilton.
25/10/2025
Sky Sports

Lewis Hamilton has promised to be "quite aggressive" from third on the grid at the start of the Mexico City Grand Prix as he bids to capitalise on his best qualifying result at Ferrari to achieve an "amazing" first podium for the team. But having now returned to the top three of qualifying for the first time in 13 months, Hamilton believes there are finally signs of genuine progress.

"I'm so happy to be up there in the top three," said Hamilton after achieving his best start for a Grand Prix since Singapore 2024. "All year it has taken me to get here so it's been a serious mountain to climb. But finally gelling with everything around me and I think myself and my engineers we are really starting to extract the performance from the car, so I'm really, really happy.”

"Honestly, it's been a tough year, and I cant believe it's taken me this long to get here, but it's ok. What matters is the journey and I've grown a lot through it." Hamilton feels he may be the Ferrari driver holding the more preferable grid slot on row two. That is because third is located on the grid's left-hand side, the cleaner racing line, and the fact that, at 830m, the run to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez's first turn is one of the longest of the season and therefore allows slipstreaming opportunities for following cars.

"I don't have anything to lose, but he [Norris] does";

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13457261/lewis-hamilton-ferrari-driver-vows-to-be-aggressive-at-mexico-city-gp-start-after-climbing-mountain-back-to-top-three


Mexico City Grand Prix - Qualifying results
25/10/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Full results from qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix at Mexico, round 20 of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
2025 Mexico City Grand Prix - Qualifying results
Pos Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:16.899s 1:16.252s 1:15.586s
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:17.024s 1:16.658s 1:15.848s
3 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:16.736s 1:16.458s 1:15.938s
4 George Russell Mercedes 1:16.895s 1:16.537s 1:16.034s
5 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:17.076s 1:16.605s 1:16.070s
6 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:17.291s 1:16.773s 1:16.118s
7 Carlos Sainz Williams 1:17.171s 1:16.607s 1:16.172s
8 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:17.158s 1:16.737s 1:16.174s
9 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls 1:16.733s 1:16.804s 1:16.252s
10 Oliver Bearman Haas 1:17.040s 1:16.787s 1:16.460s

‘Qualifying results’;

https://f1i.com/news/551923-mexico-city-grand-prix-qualifying-results.html


Mexican GP: Norris delivers hammer blow as Piastri and Verstappen suffer setbacks
25 Oct 2025
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com

Lando Norris has delivered arguably the most important pole position of his career, striking a hammer on Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen. Norris set a blistering final lap to secure pole position for the Mexico City Grand Prix, joined on the front row by Charles Leclerc with Lewis Hamilton in third.

Norris had looked in control throughout the session until a late challenge from Leclerc threatened to steal pole position away. Seeing that off, the McLaren driver recorded an important result in the context of the championship, with Max Verstappen only fifth while Piastri will line up for Sunday’s race in seventh despite qualifying eighth.

‘Hammer blow’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mexican-grand-prix-2025-qualifying-report


Oscar Piastri ‘odd comments’ alert Villeneuve after Mexican GP setback
26 Oct 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Oscar Piastri did not feel like things were going too bad in his McLaren during Mexican Grand Prix qualifying, yet the final result was emphatic. Villeneuve, on Sky F1 punditry duties in Mexico, says a gap as stark as that between teammates, usually triggers the driver on the wrong side to really start pushing the boundaries, not find satisfaction in how the car was feeling.

He said: “What was odd, his comments about, I don’t know why there’s no pace, and when you say that you’re quite happy with the car, everything is feeling good, and somehow it’s not working on the clock.”

“When you’re slower than your teammate by that amount, normally, you will try to push a little bit harder. You’ll get in trouble. You’ll lock wheels, so you’ll start to figure out, okay, there’s issues here and there. I can improve there. But he seemed to be happy with how the car was feeling, and that’s what’s really strange.”

‘Villeneuve alerted’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/jacques-villeneuve-oscar-piastri-odd-comments-mexican-grand-prix-qualifying


Oscar Piastri admits huge F1 Mexico GP qualifying gap to Lando Norris ‘a bit of a mystery’
26 Oct 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

After qualifying, Piastri admitted that he had no answer to why exactly his MCL39 could not extract the level of performance that Norris was able to. “I mean, difficult to know, everything feels normal,” he told media including Motorsport Week. “But the gap was big in that session, it’s been big all weekend.”

“And there’s been some things where I felt like I can tidy it up and make some easy progress, but not all of it. And I think in qualifying, I feel like I did a reasonable job and the car felt reasonable as well. So, yeah, the lack of lap time is a bit of a mystery.”

‘A bit of a mystery’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/10/26/oscar-piastri-admits-huge-f1-mexico-gp-qualifying-gap-to-lando-norris-a-bit-of-a-mystery/


What are the tactical options for the Mexico City Grand Prix?
26 Oct 2025
Formula One - Official Site

Lando Norris has looked unstoppable this weekend, with a mesmeric final lap in Q3 giving him pole by a healthy margin. What will doubtless please him even more – though he’s far too diplomatic to say it – is that the three cars behind him are red and silver, rather than blue and orange.

Ferrari are second and third, with George Russell fourth, before Max Verstappen, struggling for grip, appears in fifth, one row ahead of Championship leader Oscar Piastri, who will start seventh.

But this isn’t a race that’s won on Saturday. Pirelli have bridged their tyre compounds to produce some intriguing strategy options, and Mexico City has a history of throwing its own brand of mayhem into the works. We’re in for quite a race.

‘Tactical options’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/strategy-guide-what-are-the-tactical-options-for-the-mexico-city-grand-prix.NsABv5XP1EqmfSxJZu8BV

[Fortitude]

Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari driver vows to be 'aggressive' at Mexico City GP start after 'climbing mountain' back to top three.
Lewis Hamilton sees positives in starting from third at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez; "I don't have anything to lose, but he [Norris] does," says Hamilton.
25/10/2025
Sky Sports

Lewis Hamilton has promised to be "quite aggressive" from third on the grid at the start of the Mexico City Grand Prix as he bids to capitalise on his best qualifying result at Ferrari to achieve an "amazing" first podium for the team. But having now returned to the top three of qualifying for the first time in 13 months, Hamilton believes there are finally signs of genuine progress.

"I'm so happy to be up there in the top three," said Hamilton after achieving his best start for a Grand Prix since Singapore 2024. "All year it has taken me to get here so it's been a serious mountain to climb. But finally gelling with everything around me and I think myself and my engineers we are really starting to extract the performance from the car, so I'm really, really happy.”

"Honestly, it's been a tough year, and I cant believe it's taken me this long to get here, but it's ok. What matters is the journey and I've grown a lot through it." Hamilton feels he may be the Ferrari driver holding the more preferable grid slot on row two. That is because third is located on the grid's left-hand side, the cleaner racing line, and the fact that, at 830m, the run to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez's first turn is one of the longest of the season and therefore allows slipstreaming opportunities for following cars.

"I don't have anything to lose, but he [Norris] does";

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13457261/lewis-hamilton-ferrari-driver-vows-to-be-aggressive-at-mexico-city-gp-start-after-climbing-mountain-back-to-top-three


Mexico City Grand Prix - Qualifying results
25/10/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Full results from qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix at Mexico, round 20 of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
2025 Mexico City Grand Prix - Qualifying results
Pos Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:16.899s 1:16.252s 1:15.586s
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:17.024s 1:16.658s 1:15.848s
3 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:16.736s 1:16.458s 1:15.938s
4 George Russell Mercedes 1:16.895s 1:16.537s 1:16.034s
5 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:17.076s 1:16.605s 1:16.070s
6 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:17.291s 1:16.773s 1:16.118s
7 Carlos Sainz Williams 1:17.171s 1:16.607s 1:16.172s
8 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:17.158s 1:16.737s 1:16.174s
9 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls 1:16.733s 1:16.804s 1:16.252s
10 Oliver Bearman Haas 1:17.040s 1:16.787s 1:16.460s

‘Qualifying results’;

https://f1i.com/news/551923-mexico-city-grand-prix-qualifying-results.html


Mexican GP: Norris delivers hammer blow as Piastri and Verstappen suffer setbacks
25 Oct 2025
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com

Lando Norris has delivered arguably the most important pole position of his career, striking a hammer on Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen. Norris set a blistering final lap to secure pole position for the Mexico City Grand Prix, joined on the front row by Charles Leclerc with Lewis Hamilton in third.

Norris had looked in control throughout the session until a late challenge from Leclerc threatened to steal pole position away. Seeing that off, the McLaren driver recorded an important result in the context of the championship, with Max Verstappen only fifth while Piastri will line up for Sunday’s race in seventh despite qualifying eighth.

‘Hammer blow’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mexican-grand-prix-2025-qualifying-report


Oscar Piastri ‘odd comments’ alert Villeneuve after Mexican GP setback
26 Oct 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Oscar Piastri did not feel like things were going too bad in his McLaren during Mexican Grand Prix qualifying, yet the final result was emphatic. Villeneuve, on Sky F1 punditry duties in Mexico, says a gap as stark as that between teammates, usually triggers the driver on the wrong side to really start pushing the boundaries, not find satisfaction in how the car was feeling.

He said: “What was odd, his comments about, I don’t know why there’s no pace, and when you say that you’re quite happy with the car, everything is feeling good, and somehow it’s not working on the clock.”

“When you’re slower than your teammate by that amount, normally, you will try to push a little bit harder. You’ll get in trouble. You’ll lock wheels, so you’ll start to figure out, okay, there’s issues here and there. I can improve there. But he seemed to be happy with how the car was feeling, and that’s what’s really strange.”

‘Villeneuve alerted’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/jacques-villeneuve-oscar-piastri-odd-comments-mexican-grand-prix-qualifying


Oscar Piastri admits huge F1 Mexico GP qualifying gap to Lando Norris ‘a bit of a mystery’
26 Oct 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

After qualifying, Piastri admitted that he had no answer to why exactly his MCL39 could not extract the level of performance that Norris was able to. “I mean, difficult to know, everything feels normal,” he told media including Motorsport Week. “But the gap was big in that session, it’s been big all weekend.”

“And there’s been some things where I felt like I can tidy it up and make some easy progress, but not all of it. And I think in qualifying, I feel like I did a reasonable job and the car felt reasonable as well. So, yeah, the lack of lap time is a bit of a mystery.”

‘A bit of a mystery’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/10/26/oscar-piastri-admits-huge-f1-mexico-gp-qualifying-gap-to-lando-norris-a-bit-of-a-mystery/


What are the tactical options for the Mexico City Grand Prix?
26 Oct 2025
Formula One - Official Site

Lando Norris has looked unstoppable this weekend, with a mesmeric final lap in Q3 giving him pole by a healthy margin. What will doubtless please him even more – though he’s far too diplomatic to say it – is that the three cars behind him are red and silver, rather than blue and orange.

Ferrari are second and third, with George Russell fourth, before Max Verstappen, struggling for grip, appears in fifth, one row ahead of Championship leader Oscar Piastri, who will start seventh.

But this isn’t a race that’s won on Saturday. Pirelli have bridged their tyre compounds to produce some intriguing strategy options, and Mexico City has a history of throwing its own brand of mayhem into the works. We’re in for quite a race.

‘Tactical options’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/strategy-guide-what-are-the-tactical-options-for-the-mexico-city-grand-prix.NsABv5XP1EqmfSxJZu8BV

[Fortitude]

Norris steals headlines worldwide after seizing championship lead in Mexico.
La Gazzetta dello Sport: “It’s a world-class Lando Norris on display in Mexico”, Marca: “Verstappen-style” weekend, ESTO: …he now looks ready to fight for the title…
27 Oct 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

La Gazzetta dello Sport: The Italian outlet highlighted the outstanding weekend of the British driver, who delivered a superb performance at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez — starting with an uncontested pole on Saturday and following it up with an equally commanding win on race day. “The Brit dominated the Mexican Grand Prix to seize the lead in the championship with four rounds to go. Flawless from the start and relentless in pace, the McLaren driver sent a clear warning to his title rivals. With just four races remaining, Norris has delivered a major blow in the title fight. The Bristol native controlled the weekend from start to finish — superb already on Saturday, when Leclerc came close to snatching pole, and impeccable on Sunday.”

Marca: “Lando Norris took Max Verstappen’s ‘perfect’ Austin weekend quite literally,” wrote the Spanish outlet. “After clinching pole, the Brit went on to lead every single lap of the Mexican Grand Prix — a dominant performance that put him on top of the championship standings, edging ahead of Oscar Piastri by just one point after the Australian finished fifth.”

ESTO: “Norris claimed victory and gave McLaren reason to celebrate again on Mexican soil,” wrote the outlet. “The last time the Woking-based team triumphed at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez was back in 1989 — before Lando was even born. The Brit capped off an extraordinary weekend after taking both pole position and the race win. In a Grand Prix filled with excitement, strategy, and speed, this victory brings him even closer to the championship lead and proves that McLaren are ready to fight for the drivers’ crown all the way to the end.”

‘Headlines worldwide’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/norris-steals-headlines-worldwide-after-seizing-f1-lead-in-mexico


Mexico City GP: Race Results
Full results from the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix where Lando Norris took his sixth victory of 2025.
27 Oct 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

Pos. No. Driver Team Laps Time / Retired Pts.
1 4 Lando Norris McLaren 71 1:37:58.574 25
2 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 71 +30.324s 18
3 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 71 +31.049s 15
4 87 Oliver Bearman Haas F1 Team 71 +40.955s 12
5 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 71 +42.065s 10
6 12 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 71 +47.837s 8
7 63 George Russell Mercedes 71 +50.287s 6
8 44 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 71 +56.446s 4
9 31 Esteban Ocon Haas F1 Team 71 +75.464s 2
10 5 Gabriel Bortoleto Kick Sauber 71 +76.863s 1

‘Race Results’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-mexico-city-grand-prix-autodromo-hermanos-rodriguez-race-results/


Jacques Villeneuve blasts FIA over “embarrassing” Mexico City GP call that ruined thrilling finish
The 1997 world champion hit out at the FIA for an “embarrassing” late-race call in Mexico that killed the drama of a thrilling finish
27 October 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

“Embarrassing with the Virtual Safety Car there,” Villeneuve said on Sky Sports F1. “The car was completely off the track, off the line, at the slowest part of the circuit. There was no reason for it with two laps to go. There are millions of people watching that race — you have to take that into account as well.”

LOOK AT THIS BS…. Sainz parked it up in a safe position and the car was behind the barriers pic.twitter.com/rJH95U5lVd
— Cytrus �� (@cytrusf1) October 26, 2025

‘Jacques Villeneuve blasts FIA’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/jacques-villeneuve-fia-embarrassing-virtual-safety-car-mexico-gp/


Charles Leclerc taunted Max Verstappen in brilliant radio message after late VSC at Mexican Grand Prix
26 October 2025
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

Charles Leclerc taunted Max Verstappen in unheard radio after late VSC in Mexico. Carlos Sainz had parked his Williams off the track to retire, which brought out the VSC. It ended halfway through the final lap, which gave Verstappen no time or place to make a pass, allowing Leclerc to hold onto P2.

There was a question as to whether the VSC was necessary. But Leclerc would not have complained as Verstappen chased him down with a lap to go. As the double yellow flags were waved, Leclerc could only laugh as he knew Verstappen would not be allowed to pass. He simply said: “Max. Max, hahahahahah,” as he entered the final lap.

‘Charles Leclerc taunted Max Verstappen’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/charles-leclerc-taunted-max-verstappen-in-brilliant-radio-message-after-late-vsc-at-mexican-grand-prix/


Max third in thrilling Mexican GP: 'Good strategy'
26 October 2025
Kees-Jan Koster
Verstappen.nl

After the race, Max said over the team radio: “It was a good strategy. We were a bit unlucky with the Virtual Safety Car at the end, but I think we maximised the result. It was quite tough at the start. Well done on the strategy, that was really good!”

Speaking to the media afterwards, he explained: “It was very hectic, the beginning of the race for me. We had a very good start. It is such a long run to turn one and we were on the outside. It was three or four wide, so I had to be on that kerb. I kept bottoming out all the way and almost crashed over the grass. Even after that, there was a lot going on. Everyone around me was on the soft tyres, while I was on the mediums, that was a bit of a struggle.”

“It was all about surviving the first stint, trying to go as long as we could on the tyres. Once we switched to the softs, we were a little bit more competitive and a bit happier. It was a tough weekend for us, but to be fighting for P2 after everything that happened in the opening laps is a very strong result.” On the VSC, Max added: “You win some, you lose some. Sometimes a safety car works for you, and sometimes against you.”

“Well done on the strategy, that was really good!”;

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5997/


Lando Norris reacts to crowd boos after F1 Mexico GP win
Oct 27, 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
motorsportweek.com

Lando Norris was booed by the raucous crowd after taking a resounding win in the Mexico City Grand Prix, which saw him take the lead in the Formula 1 Drivers’ title. …wasn’t received with total positivity, as Norris, like he was after qualifying on Saturday, was loudly booed by many within the stadium complex of the circuit during the parc ferme interviews after that race.

‘I keep my head down, I ignore all of this’ – Norris unflapped by crowd boos. When put to him that he now has the momentum in the title hunt going into the next race in Brazil, the boos aimed at Norris reached a crescendo, triggering nothing but a rye smile from the McLaren driver.

“I mean, it’s one weekend at a time. It’s one weekend at a time. So, you know, I’m happy. I’m focused on myself.” And, in reference to the boos, Norris added: “I keep my head down. I ignore all of this. And, yeah, I keep to myself. And it’s working at the minute, so I’m happy. All right, keep doing what you’re doing.”

‘Rye smile from the McLaren driver’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/10/26/lando-norris-reacts-to-crowd-boos-after-f1-mexico-gp-win/


Why Norris was booed for Mexican GP victory + his response
Oct 27, 2025
Jon Noble
The Race

Lando Norris's post-race Mexican Grand Prix triumph was met with boos from the crowd - and it's believed that response has its roots in what happened in Monza. …a harsh reception from spectators in the stadium section afterwards – with his post-race television interviews being drowned out by boos and jeers.

The nature of the fan reaction caught many by surprise, with Norris insisting in the post-race press conference that he was not too bothered “I don't know why, to be honest,” he said. “And people can do what they want honestly. They have the right to do it if they want to do it.”

“I think that's sport sometimes. I don't know why – [but] I can't stop laughing when I get booed. I think it makes it more entertaining for me.” He added: “It was the same in Monza and a few other places. So, yeah, I don't know why. I just can't stop laughing. So if they want to continue, they can…”

“I can't stop laughing when I get booed”;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/lando-norris-booed-for-mexican-gp-victory-explained-plus-his-response/

[Fortitude]

Puzzled Piastri says ‘car worked well for first 18 rounds’ after slump in form.
Oscar Piastri was at a loss to explain his lack of pace after lagging behind his team mate for a second consecutive race in Mexico.
27th October 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Oscar Piastri: “Definitely I think the last couple of races has been surprising in terms of the pace,” he told the official Formula 1 channel. “I think there’s been some evidence of where the pace is and what to do. I’ve [had] to drive the car very differently these last couple of weekends. Which, when it’s been working well for you for the previous 18, is a little bit difficult to kind of wrap your head around. But I tried a few things today and I’ll have a look at if that was what we were looking for.”

‘Car worked well for first 18 rounds’;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/10/27/puzzled-piastri-says-car-worked-well-for-first-18-rounds-after-slump-in-form/


McLaren shocked after seeing Oscar Piastri's car data! The reason for the poor performance in Mexico
Oct 28, 2025
Mazz F1

McLaren's post-race analysis of Oscar Piastri's car reveals unexpected data explaining a significant performance drop at the Mexican Grand Prix. The MCL-39 exhibited rear-axle instability in the unique high-altitude conditions, impacting cornering and DRS. This video details the technical issues and their impact on Piastri's championship bid.

The McLaren team was completely surprised when analyzing the data from Oscar Piastri's car after the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix, which explains the Australian driver's inexplicable poor performance over the weekend. At the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Piastri qualified only seventh and finished fifth, being surpassed by his teammate and direct rival, Lando Norris, who also displaced him in the world championship standings. Telemetry data revealed that Piastri's MCL-39 suffered a severe loss of grip in "low-grip" and high-altitude conditions, which are not conducive to his usual driving style, while Norris was finding rhythm in the same environment. Stella admitted that Piastri "is driving in a way that is not natural for him" to adapt to the car.

@PaulSchultz-s6m: It’s no coincidence that once they got there constructor title that they fudged their cars to help Norris it’s a disgrace
@gerhardstrauss723: McClaren is not "surprised", they know what's wrong, they caused it!
@annezerafa4692: I believe Norris's car was set up to mimic Oscar's. Switched data logs. So; Norris car has been set up to match Oscar's Technique & Style. Norris team has has then uploaded into Norris's car. While Oscar has been given a LEMON to drive...I believe Oscar will never be allowed to win or have a place for McLaren ever again...!!! Oscar's Technique/ Style has been Copied ...so All teams will down load his Stats for perfection in driving. It's going to need a ' 'New Style ' to be developed by Oscar ...to Win...!!!

‘Oscar Piastri's car reveals unexpected data’;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsmltZhflcY


Oscar Piastri Makes 'Strange' Comment After Losing F1 Title Lead to Lando Norris
Lando Norris dominated the Mexican Grand Prix to take the championship lead
27 Oct 2025
SPORTbible

After the race in Mexico City, he was asked whether he had lost confidence in his driving ability. Piastri told Sky Sports: "No, I think I've just had to drive very differently the last couple of weekends or I've not driven differently when I should have. And I think that's been a little bit strange to get my head around because I've been driving exactly the same as I have all year.”

"It's just that these last couple of weekends, the car or the tyres or something has required quite a different way of driving, and I've just not really gone to that. Tried a few things, trying to change things up a bit today and once we analyse if it's effective or not, hopefully helps see some progress."

‘Oscar Piastri Makes 'Strange' Comment’;

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/oscar-piastri-lando-norris-mclaren-formula-1-mexico-272639-20251027


Oscar Piastri Admits McLaren Setup “Very Different” After Losing Lead to Lando Norris
Oct 27, 2025
Behind Grand Prix

After the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri opened up about how McLaren’s recent setup changes have forced him to completely adapt his driving style — right as teammate Lando Norris surged to victory and retook the Drivers’ Championship lead. In his post-race press interview, Piastri admitted the car now “feels very different,” sparking speculation among fans that McLaren’s latest upgrades might be tuned more toward Norris’s aggressive style. With only a few races left and tensions rising inside McLaren, F1 fans are now asking: Did the team’s setup shift cost Piastri his momentum in the title fight? ��

@AndJ-ye1xr: There is no way Oscars driving would have deteriorated to this extent over a short period of time like this without a little help from somewhere...... The physical car may well be the same as he said, but I wouldn't be so sure the software running all aspects of the car hasn't been changed for the worse. Don't tell me that this possibility couldn't be disguised and buried. Another point for those people who say that favouritism isn't at play here......well hasn't this happened many times before in F1 and elsewhere in sport so why couldn't it also be at play in this case?
@Sebastian24659: Everyone knows he’s been screwed by his own team.

‘Piastri admitted the car now “feels very different,” sparking speculation’;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gic_9H_iIOg


Piastri puzzled by struggles: 'That's been a little bit strange'
26 Oct 2025
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

Oscar Piastri has admitted that he has had to drive his McLaren "very differently" amid a slump in his current form, finishing P5 at the Mexico City Grand Prix. After a fifth place finish at the United States Grand Prix that saw his championship lead whitted down significantly by Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, another P5 sees the 24-year-old continues with his struggles towards the end of the season.

"I think I've just had to drive very differently the last couple of weekends, or I've not driven differently when I should have," Piastri explained to Sky Sports after the Grand Prix. "I think that's been a little bit strange to get my head around, because I've been driving exactly the same as I have all year.”

"It's just that it lasts a couple of weekends, the car or the tyres or something has required quite a different way of driving, and I've just not really gone to that. I've tried a few things with trying to change things up a bit today. Once we analyse if it's effective or not, that'll hopefully help see some progress."

‘Puzzled’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/piastri-puzzled-by-struggles-thats-been-a-little-bit-strange


What Piastri JUST SAID to McLaren After New Evidence Emerged CHANGES EVERYTHING!
Oct 28, 2025
Formula Action

Something changed. And not in the way anyone expected. Just two races ago, Oscar Piastri looked like a calm, unstoppable force in orange. A rising star, quietly dismantling reputations and stacking up points. But now? Two races. Two brutal wake-up calls. And now—after Mexico—it’s all gone upside down.

Oscar Piastri's recent performance reveals unexpected challenges. Following the Mexican Grand Prix, a crucial statement hints at deeper issues impacting the McLaren car. The driver's adaptation, despite setbacks, suggests a potential comeback.

‘Something changed’;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xrqZPkcwXM


Oscar Piastri reveals 'major' change after 'strange' challenge
Oscar Piastri has been searching for answers across the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend, but has lost the lead of the F1 drivers' championship fight to McLaren team-mate Lando Norris.
27 October 2025
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Oscar Piastri has admitted that there are elements of his driving that have "needed to change pretty majorly" as he works to arrest his woeful run of form. Reflecting on his race, he told Sky Sports F1: "There was a lot of fight out there... the whole race I was right behind someone and struggling with the dirty air. That was pretty difficult.”

"For me, the biggest thing is trying to learn the things I wanted to learn today. Yesterday, it became obvious after the session that there was a few things I needed to change pretty majorly in how I was driving.”

"Today was about trying to limit the damage, but also trying to learn some things about that. If I’ve made some progress with that, I’ll be happy. Obviously, when your team-mate wins the race, finishing fifth is nothing that extravagant."

‘Searching for answers’;

https://racingnews365.com/oscar-piastri-reveals-major-change-after-strange-challenge

[Fortitude]

Verstappen explains his near crash on the opening lap.
He approached Turn 1 with Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc alongside him. The Dutchman got onto the dirty kerbs and had to cut across the grass. He ceded a place after returning to the track, dropping to fourth behind Hamilton.
29 Oct 2025
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Asked to comment on the first couple laps, Verstappen added:"It was very hectic, the beginning of the race for me. We had a very good start. And then, of course, such a long run to Turn 1, and we were on the outside—yeah, three, four-wide. "So I had to be out of that kerb. It kept bottoming out all the way, so I almost crashed into the grass. And then even after that, there was a lot going on.”

"Everyone around me was on Soft tyres, I was on the medium, and it looked like that was a bit of a struggle. So surviving the first stint, trying to go as long as we could on the tyres. Yeah, once we bolted on the Softs, we were a little bit more competitive, a bit happier. I mean, it’s been a difficult weekend for us, but to be fighting for P2 with everything that happened in the first few laps, I think it’s still a very strong result," the Dutchman concluded.

‘Near crash on the opening lap’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/27961


Mexico GP: Stewards were right to penalise Hamilton and not Verstappen
28 Oct 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

The decisions made by the FIA Stewards during the Mexico City Grand Prix may have prompted doubts for some. GPblog explains why the race officials' decisions to penalise Lewis Hamilton and not Max Verstappen were right.

Why Hamilton was rightfully penalised: On lap 6, Verstappen went for a move up the inside of Hamilton, crucially putting his car ahead at the apex. Despite the wheel-banging going on, the Dutch driver managed to keep his car on track, albeit marginally so, while Hamilton was forced wide. At Turn 2, with Hamilton on the inside this time, it was Verstappen who would be pushed out wide thus forced to cut Turn 3, with the Dutch driver's manoeuvre into Turn 1 being the point where he effectively made up the place on Hamilton.

The seven-time world champion then came back on Verstappen at Turn 4. However, Hamilton was carrying too much speed going into the corner, triggering a big smokey lock up and what would then be a determining understeer, setting him on an outward trajectory. Hamilton took the run off, rejoined the track ahead of Verstappen cutting Turns 4, 5 and 6 and failed to give back the place he had gained against the regulations. The British driver also failed to follow the Race Director's instructions to safely rejoin the track in that section of the circuit, an aspect the Stewards dismissed on account of the speed Hamilton carried at that moment.

‘Why Hamilton was rightfully penalised’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/analysis/mexico-gp-stewards-were-right-to-penalise-hamilton-and-not-verstappen


Max Verstappen left surprised after stunning Mexican GP recovery
Max Verstappen set 30 consecutive 1m 21s laps in his pursuit of Charles Leclerc in Mexico City.
28 October 2025
Nick Golding
RacingNews365

A remarkable 30 consecutive 1m 21s laps were set by the 28-year-old, who would have likely claimed second if not for a late Virtual Safety Car. It left Verstappen with no choice but to settle for third, but he still reduced his deficit in the standings to 36 points.

"Yeah. I mean, personally, I didn't expect to be on the podium," said Verstappen. "And I think even in the first stint, it was not really looking like it. At the time, I thought we were just slow and struggling on tyres. I do think then, of course, when we swapped to the soft and the others were on mediums, it all looked a bit more competitive.”

"I think, still not to the level of Lando if you take the average of the race, but the soft definitely was a better compound to race on, and it all felt a bit better. So, yeah, I think overall to be P3 has been really good on, yeah, for us a difficult weekend."

“I didn't expect to be on the podium";

https://racingnews365.com/max-verstappen-responds-to-call-that-spoiled-fun-mexican-gp-ending


Can Verstappen catch Piastri? Championship math broken down
26 Oct 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen has been steadily narrowing the gap to Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the 2025 F1 drivers’ championship, raising questions about the Red Bull driver’s chances of a fifth consecutive crown. In a recent deep dive by Formula1.com into the numbers that would see either driver crowned champion at the end of the season, the data revealed that looking purely at results, if Verstappen were to win every remaining Grand Prix and the two remaining Sprint races, while Piastri and Norris finished second and third respectively in each event, Piastri would still edge out the championship by the slimmest of margins, just three points, with Norris 31 behind.

Verstappen has proven himself at each of the upcoming tracks, boasting multiple victories in Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, which suggests the Dutchman could realistically continue his strong run. The current F1 champion has also won one of the two Las Vegas Grand Prix editions, in 2023. In comparison, Piastri’s only Sprint wins came in Qatar, and his best Mexico finish is P8, while Norris has historically performed well in Abu Dhabi and Sao Paulo but has yet to secure victory at Mexico City, a feat he was very close to achieving last year.

Examining form since the summer break further highlights Verstappen’s momentum. Across the last five rounds, Zandvoort, Monza, Baku, Singapore, and Austin, Verstappen averaged a remarkable 23.8 points per weekend, compared with 12.4 for Piastri and 11.4 for Norris.
If this trend were maintained, Verstappen would finish the season with 426 points, comfortably claiming the championship by 20 points over Piastri, with Norris 39 points behind.

‘Steadily narrowing the gap’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/general/can-verstappen-catch-piastri-championship-math-broken-down


Max Verstappen responds to call that spoiled 'fun' Mexican GP ending
Max Verstappen was denied a chance to overtake Charles Leclerc at the end of the Mexico City Grand Prix.
29 October 2025
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365

Max Verstappen was forced to settle for third place, his lowest result in the last six races. When asked if he was frustrated by the late virtual safety car, Verstappen told media including RacingNews365: “No, not really.”

“I mean, sometimes the safety car has been very nice to me as well in my career. So sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It's how it goes in racing. It would have been fun, I think, to the end. Well, maybe a bit more fun for me than for Charles defending, but it would have been a fun ending, I think, for everyone to watch.”

“It's how it goes in racing”;

https://racingnews365.com/max-verstappen-responds-to-call-that-spoiled-fun-mexican-gp-ending


Max Verstappen admits where he wasn’t at ‘Lando’s level’ as Norris won the Mexican Grand Prix
28 October 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Max Verstappen admits his Mexico City Grand Prix race pace was not on Lando Norris’ ‘level’. Verstappen and Red Bull went against the grain by starting the Mexico City GP on Pirelli’s C4 medium tyres, while his rivals preferred the soft C5 tyres. The C5s were the better race tyre, and Verstappen had to bide his time running with the C4s until he could pit on Lap 37 of 71.

Yet, even had Verstappen matched Norris’ strategy, the Dutchman admits that his race pace in the Mexico City was not on the same “level” as the Briton’s. Verstappen was metronomic on the soft C5 tyres with lap times in the low 1:21s, yet Norris had two-tenths over the field. Verstappen said, via quotes by RacingNews365: “We still weren’t at Lando’s level if you look at the race average. But the softs were clearly a better tyre to race on. It all felt a bit better. P3 is really good for us, considering it was a difficult weekend.”

Lando Norris’ race pace let him win the 2025 F1 Mexico City Grand Prix at his own speed. Norris was largely in cruise control in the lead of last Sunday’s Mexico City GP after surviving the first lap. The Briton was at a slight disadvantage for the long run to Turn 1 by starting on pole, yet he produced a clean launch to deny Ferrari’s Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton the inside. Had Norris fallen behind either Ferrari driver at the start, his race pace that stood out to Red Bull rival Verstappen would likely have been enough for the McLaren man to eventually take P1 back. But leading from the start let Norris manage his tyres and run to his own lap times.

“We still weren’t at Lando’s level”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/max-verstappen-admits-where-he-wasnt-at-landos-level-as-norris-won-the-mexican-grand-prix/

[Fortitude]

One Point. No Favours. Norris-Piastri War Begins.
McLaren’s explanation hasn’t budged. Conditions, not conspiracies. “Hot tarmac, sliding tyre,” as Stella put it. Norris found lap time in the slither. Piastri, a driver who really comes alive when the track is grippy and the car’s nailed to the floor, didn’t. Twice in a row.
Oct 27, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

After a Mexico City weekend that swung the title pendulum back toward Lando Norris, the McLaren team principal moved quickly to stamp out social media whispers that Oscar Piastri is being short-changed in the run-in. Four race weekends remain, starting under the neon in Las Vegas, and Stella’s message was blunt: the next tracks won’t hand either driver a built-in advantage. “No reason to think one may favour one driver or the other,” he told reporters in Mexico. And you get the sense he’s tired of saying it.

Norris leaves Mexico with the championship lead again, by a single point over his teammate. It was earned the hard way: a lights-to-flag masterclass while Piastri could do no better than fifth, a 15-point swing on a day when the Brit didn’t put a wheel wrong. The bigger talking point, though, was Saturday. In qualifying, Piastri was adrift—six tenths off Norris—after a similar gap in Austin the week before. That’s been the wedge for the keyboard detectives.

To their credit, McLaren didn’t just shrug. Overnight work after quali in Mexico left Piastri sharper in race trim, according to Stella, who praised the Australian’s quick adaptation to a car that wanted to dance around rather than sit still. The problem? Traffic. He spent too much of Sunday tucked up behind other people’s gearboxes to show it.

‘One Point. No Favours’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/one-point-no-favors-norris-piastri-war-begins/


Is Lando Norris in the box seat for the title? Brazil might hold the key
29 Oct 2025
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

We asked you if the F1 2025 title is now in the hands of Lando Norris after his recent turnaround, and you replied in your droves.
Scatty Seagull: Yes because Lando now has to capitalise on Oscar’s poor form while keeping Max at bay.
Shafraz Mohammed Ashraf: If Oscar’s performance doesn’t return to normal at Interlagos – where his driving style should thrive – then yes.
Neil: The question is, will Norris now be the one to feel the pressure now he has the championship lead, or will be just keep moving away from the other two with confidence?

Brazil will be the first indication of how he deals with it.
bean: Piastri is much more confident than he has been recently and is one point away. We don’t know how Norris will react with the target on his back. So no.
Danny: Not yet. Piastri is one point away, and Max is still in there. A lot will depend on Brazil. If it’s a race like last year, the chances shift towards Max in a big way.

‘So no’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/pf1-postbox-lando-norris-mexico-city-gp


McLaren have devised a clever engine ‘strategy’ that will benefit Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
29 Oct 2025
Ashley Hambly
F1 Oversteer

McLaren have revealed the clever engine ‘strategy’ that they have employed to save their title protagonists, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, from serving any unnecessary penalties as the 2025 F1 season approaches a crucial period. McLaren’s F1 engine ‘strategy’ revealed as the 2025 title fight approaches boiling point. Speaking in a review of the Mexico City Grand Prix on her YouTube channel, F1 journalist Julianne Cerasoli touched upon a fan’s question regarding McLaren’s use of all of their allotted engines for the current campaign, highlighting a clever strategy that the team has employed.

She said: “McLaren adopted a type of strategy where they put all their engines into play, as we say in Formula 1, in the engine pool very early. So, even before the August break, they were already using all the engines. And then when you see that FIA list saying which engine each driver is on, it doesn’t mean he is using that engine in that race, it means he has already used the four engines he has at his disposal, he has already taken a penalty, and now has five. But it doesn’t mean he is using number five in all races or number four in all races.”

“What McLaren is doing is good. Number one, the engine that debuted in Australia is already an engine only for Friday. And then two, three, four, they rotate depending on what they need for each race. So, the engine when there is a track where the engine doesn’t count much, they use the more used engine, the engine that counts. On a track where the engine counts more, they use the less-used engine. And I checked this with McLaren, they said they are calm, that the plan is as they had thought at the start of the season, and they do not need to change engines until the end of the season.”

“On a track where the engine counts more, they use the less-used engine”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mclaren-have-devised-a-clever-engine-strategy-that-will-benefit-lando-norris-and-oscar-piastri/


Piastri: I’m having to “drive the car very differently” since COTA
Oct 28, 2025
Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
Last Word On Sports

There is a growing spotlight on Oscar Piastri. For the time being, the McLaren driver has no answers for his recent results. He said as much to the media post-race on Sunday: “I think the last couple of races has been surprising in terms of the pace… We have some evidence of where the pace is, and what to do. But I’ve got to drive the car very differently these last couple of weekends. Which, when it’s been working well for you for the previous 18 [races], is a little bit difficult to kind of wrap your head around. We tried a few things today, and we’ll have a look if that’s what we were looking for.”

On paper, Piastri is obviously still a contender for the Championship. He is only one point behind Norris, a difference that could easily be overturned at the Sprint Race in Brazil – let along the Grand Prix itself. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has suggested that limitations in the Australian’s driving style were exposed in America and Mexico. Stella’s implication was that the final rounds should not see this vulnerability exposed. Meanwhile, Piastri seems less clear on the explanation his sudden downturn in form – and it is unclear whether this will change at the Brazilian GP, or if a similar lack of pace will persist.

“A little bit difficult to kind of wrap your head around”;

https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsports/2025/10/28/piastri-im-having-to-drive-the-car-very-differently-since-cota/


Piastri calls for pace analysis amidst McLaren conspiracy theories
28 Oct 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Oscar Piastri wants to “analyse” after McLaren put his struggles in Mexico, and also in Austin, down to his driving style in hot conditions when cars are sliding. But given he was in traffic for much of the race, even at the very end when a VSC prevented him from chasing down Oliver Bearman for fourth, he cannot say whether the changes he made to his driving style on Sunday actually worked. “It’s difficult to say ultimately,” Piastri told PlanetF1.com and other media outlets after the grand prix.

“I think we certainly tried a lot of different things, but at the back with cars as well, so it was difficult to kind of get a read on whether what I was changing with my driving was working that well or not. But ultimately, yeah, we’ll have to analyse it and see if it looks good and in terms of the numbers and stuff, because, from a feeling point of view, when you’re behind that many cars, it’s very difficult to tell.”

“It wasn’t so much the pace of the car, because the car was pretty quick this weekend. It was more just trying to unlock it, and I felt like I potentially made some steps in doing that. But yeah, ultimately, when you’re behind so many cars and trying to fight for so long, it’s difficult to measure that a little bit. So hopefully we’ll get a bit more indication from some of the data.”

‘Pace analysis’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/oscar-piastri-calls-for-pace-analysis-mclaren-conspiracy-theories


Lando Norris Uses ‘Clever Trick’ to Gain Advantage Over Oscar Piastri
29 Oct 2025
Marcus Chan
SPORTbible

Lando Norris has revealed the clever change he has made in a bid to gain an edge on his rivals. As a result of his win, Norris now has a one-point lead over Piastri at the top of the standings. After putting in a brilliant flying lap to secure pole position, Norris revealed that he made a slight adjustment. As per Planet F1, the Brit has revealed that he no longer has a delta time on his dash during qualifying.

However, Norris believes that removing the delta time allows him to focus solely on executing the lap itself rather than being distracted by how it compares to a previous one. He said during the Mexico Grand Prix weekend: "I’ve not had it since Monaco. I’ve never used the delta since in qualifying. So I don’t know. Who knows if it would have helped me or made me worse?”

"I think the thing when I don’t have it is I push no matter what – no matter how the start of the lap was, no matter how any corner was. I guess it’s because you have no reference of the overall lap time, you just always try and maximise every corner to the maximum." Norris added: "Otherwise, sometimes I just stare at it too much and that’s never the best thing. It’s just nice because normally when it goes well, it’s a pleasant surprise to see the lap time pop up when it’s as good as this one."

‘Clever Trick’;

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/lando-norris-oscar-piastri-mclaren-f1-news-908462-20251029

[Matthew]

Not many were expecting Lando to lead the drivers' championship with four race remaining in the season at the summer break but here we are. It is now very much a genuine three way race for the title between him, Oscar and Max.

[Fortitude]

Wedged Between Hamilton and Max, Leclerc ‘Just Prayed’ in Mexico.
Charles Leclerc didn’t dress it up. The opening seconds of the Mexican Grand Prix were not fun, not brave, not heroic. They were survival.
October 30, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Ferrari’s lead man found himself wedged between his new teammate Lewis Hamilton and old sparring partner Max Verstappen as the field screamed down that endless Mexico City main straight. Lando Norris, starting from pole, dragged them four-wide into Turn 1. Verstappen clattered the kerb, Hamilton and Leclerc banged wheels, and the Ferrari pair were spat into the run-off. It looked like the sort of squeeze that usually ends in carbon.

“I didn’t enjoy that at all,” Leclerc said afterwards, half-laughing, half-exhaling. “I normally quite like fighting, but in this case, being in the middle of Lewis and Max… you can’t do much. You just pray they give you enough space to make the corner.” He didn’t quite get that much. Verstappen, bottoming out over the inside kerb, straight-lined the chicane. Leclerc, finding no grip on the dirty outside and tagged by Hamilton’s sister Ferrari, had to cut the corner too. Somehow, all three cars came out intact. The roars in the Foro Sol were matched by a collective paddock blink of disbelief.

From there, the afternoon split in two. Norris checked out, stretching a lead that would balloon to half a minute by the flag. Leclerc settled into second, but never with much comfort. His mediums never switched on, leaving him glancing in the mirrors at a Red Bull that simply refused to fade.

‘Just Prayed’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/wedged-between-hamilton-and-max-leclerc-just-prayed-in-mexico/


Leclerc reveals why he was particularly delighted with Ferrari's performance in Texas and Mexico
29 Oct 2025
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Asked how much satisfaction he can take from the weekend in Mexico City, Leclerc added: "Quite a bit. I mean, it's been a very positive weekend. I think we did not expect to be replicating what we've done in Austin. "We knew that in Austin we had done the perfect execution, but we also knew that on paper we maybe didn't have the pace that McLaren or Red Bull had. And to be on the podium at that race was a surprise, but we managed to do that again and one step higher on the podium as well.”

"So it's been a really strong weekend. I think, as we know already, in terms of pure performance from the car, it's been quite long that we've been switching our minds to 2026, and so that helped us a little bit more into this last part of the season. But by doing perfect executed weekends, we managed to get two podiums in a row, which is a really nice feeling.” Despite his chaotic start to the race, Verstappen managed to close in on Leclerc with two laps to go, and put the Monegasque under immense pressure. However, the virtual safety car was deployed for Carlos Sainz's stricken Williams, which effectively robbed Verstappen of making a move on Leclerc.
"I was very happy to see the Safety Car coming out in the last two laps. I think without it, there was more chance of Max getting past than me staying in front. Especially with those Medium tyres, the feeling was just not there from the beginning to the end. I was definitely tempted by the two stops, but I don't know. At the end, I just stuck to what I was on, which was the Medium tyre, and tried to make it work—and we did. It was close. We got a little bit lucky, but I'm proud we made it stick," added Leclerc.

“It's been a very positive weekend”;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/27951


Charles Leclerc taunted Max Verstappen in brilliant radio message after late VSC at Mexican Grand Prix
26 October 2025
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

As the double yellow flags were waved, Leclerc could only laugh as he knew Verstappen would not be allowed to pass. He simply said: “Max. Max, hahahahahah,” as he entered the final lap.

“Max. Max, hahahahahah”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/charles-leclerc-taunted-max-verstappen-in-brilliant-radio-message-after-late-vsc-at-mexican-grand-prix/


Leclerc thinks "it's going to be very, very tough" for Ferrari to clinch second place in the championship
27 Oct 2025
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Although Ferrari found itself in second place through the middle stages of the championship, the Scuderia fell behind Mercedes after its tough races in Baku and Singapore. However, the Italian team regained P2 in the standings after its strong display in Austin and Mexico City. Asked whether Ferrari's SF25 is fast enough to hold on to the second place in the constructors' championship, Leclerc sounded a pessimistic note.

"It's going to be very, very tough. If I look back at the last two weekends, yes. If I look before these two weekends, not really. We just need to focus race by race and do the perfect execution just like we've done in the last two races. That pays off, obviously, as always, but it's very difficult to be performing at this level all the time. But that is the standard that we need to target, and hopefully that will be enough to give us second in the Constructors.”

“We just need to focus race by race”;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/27948


Ferrari's achilles heel exposed in veiled Norris dig
26 Oct 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Lando Norris has quipped Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are "pros" at lifting and coasting, a technique Ferrari's understood to be relying upon to avoid excessive plank wear and potential disqualifications. “I mean, ask these guys, they’re pros at it. These guys, they do it every race.” - Lando Norris “Yeah, I think you always have to do it a little bit, but never as much as these guys.”

Leclerc, starting behind him, acknowledged that managing lift and coast would be essential under Mexico’s demanding conditions. “Let’s say I think we’re ready for this. It’s always a track where lift and coast is a big part of the race, especially for the people from second onwards,” he explained.

“That’s why I think the start is so important on a track like this, because when you have free air, everything comes a lot easier. So yeah, we’ll be quite aggressive into Turn 1 if I have the possibility and then manage from where we are. But it’s definitely going to be a big part of the race.” Hamilton, meanwhile, kept it brief: “Not much to say. Lift and coast is pretty much what Charles said.”

‘Ferrari's achilles heel’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/ferraris-achilles-heel-exposed-in-veiled-norris-dig


David Croft says Ferrari were ‘upset’ by the joke Lando Norris made at their expense in Mexico
30 October 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

During his race commentary for Sky Sports, Croft said: “Lando Norris picked up on that in the top-three press conference after qualifying when he was asked about lift and coast. He said, ‘Well ask these two, they do it way more than we do’, which upset Ferrari a bit because they said that, ‘Actually, we don’t.’ They’re having to today.”

Hamilton alone was told to lift and coast 18 times during the race. It’s one of the most frustrating instructions a driver can receive because it forces them to sacrifice lap time and goes against their attacking instincts. Indeed, Hamilton called one particular request ‘ridiculous’, and later complained that he couldn’t catch the cars ahead with such restrictions.

The optics are poor for Ferrari, who seem to have a fundamentally flawed car. Leclerc has complained about the 2025 car more than his teammate, but Hamilton’s exasperation was clear on Sunday. As of the chequered flag in Mexico, Ferrari have officially scored fewer than half of McLaren’s points (713 vs 356).

‘Hamilton alone was told to lift and coast 18 times during the race’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/david-croft-says-ferrari-were-upset-by-the-joke-lando-norris-made-at-their-expense-in-mexico/


Stats: Norris takes F1’s biggest win for two years as Ferrari go win-less for 12 months
31st October 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Leclerc took the chequered flag over half a minute behind Norris – 30.324 seconds, to be exact. This was the biggest winning margin for a driver since Max Verstappen won the Hungarian Grand Prix by 33.731s over Norris two years ago.

Ferrari’s wait for their first grand prix win of 2025 therefore goes on. Excluding sprint races (Lewis Hamilton won for them in Shanghai) it’s now more than a full year since their last victory, when Sainz led the field home in Mexico last year. Their last 12-month win-less spell ended when Sainz won the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix and they haven’t had a win-less season since 2021.

‘Ferrari go win-less for 12 months’;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/10/31/stats-norris-takes-f1s-biggest-win-for-two-years-as-ferrari-go-win-less-for-12-months/

[Fortitude]

‘Deliberate Concealment’: Massa’s lawyers unleash fury at F1.
Massa’s counsel, barrister Nick De Marco KC, didn’t hold back, framing the saga as a betrayal at the sport’s summit.
31/10/2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

'One of the most serious incidents of sport manipulation' “The first point is that it is no exaggeration to say the deliberate crash was one of the most serious incidents of sport manipulation in world sport,” De Marco argued. “Not only because it was a blatant attempt to intervene in the race, but the deliberate act threatened the life of spectators and the driver himself.”

He went further, claiming that F1’s top officials conspired to hide the truth. “What then happens is the deliberate concealment of the conspiracy to have a crash, the deliberate concealment by those with responsibility for protecting the integrity of the sport, deliberately conspiring together to cover up one of the most serious scandals in the history of sport.”

The spark for Massa’s legal action is rooted in an interview published in 2023 by German website F1-Insider of former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. In the exchange, the Briton appeared to admit that he and former FIA president Max Mosley had been aware of the Renault team’s plot during the 2008 season – knowledge that, if acted upon at the time, could have led to the Singapore race being annulled. Ecclestone has since claimed he does not remember giving that interview, a defence reiterated in court by his lawyer David Quest KC.

‘Deliberate Concealment’;

https://f1i.com/news/552470-deliberate-concealment-massas-lawyers-unleash-fury-at-f1.html


FIA faces legal storm as Wolff, Massa and Villars take action
The FIA is waging three separate legal battles that question its integrity, ethics, and transparency, with lawsuits from Susie Wolff, Felipe Massa, and Laura Villars all converging to test the Federation’s governance and credibility.
31 OCT 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Susie Wolff: No 'transparency' or 'accountability': F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff has filed a defamation claim in the French High Courts against the FIA. The case stems from the governing body’s December 2023 investigation into a possible conflict of interest, citing her close professional ties with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and her marriage to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. The inquiry, which lasted only 48 hours, was later dropped, but Wolff condemned the FIA’s conduct, accusing it of lacking “transparency and accountability.” Speaking recently, she confirmed that the legal process is still ongoing.

Felipe Massa takes F1, FIA, and Ecclestone to court: Former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa has also taken the FIA, Formula 1, and former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone to court over the controversial 2008 “Crashgate” scandal seeking damages he estimates to be worth up to $85 million dollars. Massa’s case relies on a 2023 German interview where Ecclestone admitted that the FIA and FOM were aware of Renault’s manipulation of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, but chose not to act.

Laura Villars challenges FIA election process: Meanwhile, Laura Villars, a declared candidate for the FIA Presidency, has won an emergency hearing before the French High Courts, contesting the transparency and fairness of the ongoing electoral process. Villars argues that current election rules make opposition candidates effectively ineligible. The statutes require presidential hopefuls to present a list of 10 regional representatives, one from each FIA zone, yet the South American seat is occupied solely by Fabiana Ecclestone, who has pledged her support to incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

‘Legal storm’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/features/fia-under-fire-three-lawsuits-shake-motorsports-governing-body


Ecclestone and Mosley deliberately concealed their Crashgate 'conspiracy', claims Massa's lawyer
30 Oct 2025
James Elson
Motor Sport Magazine

Felipe Massa's lawyers have alleged that Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley tried to conceal their full knowledge of the 2008 Crashgate aftermath

Massa has argued at a pre-trial hearing at London’s Royal Courts of Justice that the results of the Singapore 2008 ‘Crashgate’ race, in which Nelson Piquet Jr drove into the wall deliberately to help his Renault team manipulate the grand prix, should have been annulled, therefore giving him the title instead of Lewis Hamilton.

‘Should have been annulled’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/ecclestone-and-mosley-deliberately-concealed-their-crashgate-conspiracy-claims-massas-lawyer/?nowprocket=1


Is Felipe Massa, Not Lewis Hamilton, the Rightful Winner of the 2008 F1 Championship?
Former Ferrari F1 driver Felipe Massa's lawsuit is being heard in a London court this week, and things are getting heated.
30 Oct 2025
Jerry Perez
The Drive

It’s been more than two years since former Formula 1 racer Felipe Massa filed a lawsuit against the sport’s controversial boss Bernie Ecclestone, alleging that Ecclestone knew of the fixed race result involving Renault’s Flavio Briatore, Fernando Alonso, and Nelson Piquet Jr, and did not act ethically and according to the series’ standards. The case is being heard at a London court this week, where the old F1 supremo’s lawyers are claiming it’s a “misguided attempt” to overturn an official result.

The lawsuit, which also involves various executives from F1’s corporate entity and the FIA, has been public since 2023. Still, we’re just now seeing the action play out in court, and there are several surprises. For starters, it’s not just Ecclestone’s legal defense that’s attempting to have the case thrown out, but also the FIA and Formula One Management.

‘Rightful Winner of the 2008 F1 Championship’;

https://www.thedrive.com/news/is-felipe-massa-not-lewis-hamilton-the-rightful-winner-of-the-2008-f1-championship


Felipe Massa reveals Jean Todt’s immediate suspicion of Nelson Piquet Jr’s 2008 Formula
30 Oct 2025
The Straits Times

LONDON – Felipe Massa said in a witness statement made public on Oct 29 that his former Ferrari boss Jean Todt suspected immediately after the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix that Renault’s Nelson Piquet Jr had crashed on purpose, but he had not believed him. The ex-driver was attending a High Court hearing in London for his action against Formula One Management, former supremo Bernie Ecclestone and the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA), resulting from one of the sport’s biggest scandals.

In the written statement, Massa said then Ferrari chief executive Todt called him to his office “very soon after the 2008 Singapore GP finished” along with team boss Stefano Domenicali, now F1’s CEO. “Todt said he was sure Nelsinho crashed on purpose. I did not believe him because I know Jean Todt does not like Flavio Briatore (then the team principal of Renault) – they had a personal rivalry,” Massa explained.

‘Jean Todt’s immediate suspicion’;

https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/formula-one/felipe-massa-reveals-jean-todts-immediate-suspicion-of-nelson-piquet-jrs-2008-formula-one-crash


Massa: 'Briatore lied to me – and Todt was sure crash was deliberate'
30 Oct 2025
James Elson
Motor Sport Magazine

Felipe Massa has claimed he confronted both Flavio Briatore and Nelson Piquet Jr about the 2008 ‘Crashgate’ scandal in the months after affair, but that both denied any wrongdoing at the time. He also says his former Ferrari boss Jean Todt was certain in the immediate aftermath that Piquet Jr’s crash was deliberate, but that neither he nor the team chose to do anything about it.

The 11-time grand prix winner is seeking to be recognised as the rightful 2008 champion, as well as claiming £64m in damages. His case rests on the fact that Ecclestone said in a 2023 interview that he and former FIA president Max Mosley knew about the deliberate crash, but decided to not investigate it.

‘Confronted Flavio & Nelson’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/massa-briatore-lied-to-me-and-todt-was-sure-crash-was-deliberate/?nowprocket=1


Historic F1 court case could see Hamilton stripped of first world title
Felipe Massa’s long-awaited $90-million F1 court case over 2008 ‘crashgate’ opens in London today, with massive ramifications for the sport …
30-10-25
Ray Leathern
The South African

The 44-year-old Brazilian’s historic legal action is against Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA, and Formula One Management (FOM). Coincidentally today’s start date falls on Ecclestone’s 95th birthday. In a never-before-seen F1 court case, Massa is seeking recognition as the rightful 2008 World Champion. And $90 million in damages for lost earnings. He’s arguing that the sport’s governing bodies failed to act properly following Nelson Piquet Jr’s deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore GP.

Meanwhile, Ecclestone’s lawyer, David Quest KC, told the court that the case was a ‘misguided attempt to reopen the 2008 World Championship. He called it ‘a sports-club-debate exercise that would deprive Lewis Hamilton of the 2008 title.’ Likewise, Anneliese Day KC, representing FOM, added that Hamilton outperformed Massa throughout the Singapore GP and the entire 2008 season.

On the other side of the lawsuit, Massa’s lawyer Nick di Marco argued that the FIA and FOM have failed to show the F1 court case ‘lacks any real prospects of success.’ Di Marco just recently represented Alex Palou against McLaren. And he insists that Massa has a real chance of winning in all respects.

‘Massive ramifications for the sport …’;

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/motoring/motorsport/historic-f1-court-case-hamilton-stripped-first-world-title-2025/

[Fortitude]

Toto Wolff had an agreement to loan out Kimi Antonelli to struggling team if he signed Max Verstappen.
Toto Wolff agreed two-year Alpine loan for Kimi Antonelli if he signed Max Verstappen,
30 October 2025
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer

Pursuing Verstappen was destabilising for Russell, and team boss Toto Wolff could have done a better job of protecting him from being affected by suggestions that he could be replaced in the future. Even now, his position feels a little insecure after signing a one-year deal. On the positive side of things, the Brackley-based outfit have been tipped to burst out of the blocks with a strong engine next year. It makes them a promising shout for both titles, and may finally hand Russell a deserved chance to go head-to-head with the likes of Verstappen and Leclerc.

But it could have been a very different outcome for Antonelli, according to AS Web, who report that the Italian was set to be loaned to Alpine on a two-year deal if his team had found a way to sign Verstappen for 2026. Wolff called Antonelli’s Alpine rumours nonsense, but it seems like a move might have been close to happening. Moving from a front-running car to the midfield might have helped to take some of the pressure away from the young Italian’s shoulders.

‘Alpine loan’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/toto-wolff-had-an-agreement-to-loan-out-kimi-antonelli-to-struggling-team-if-he-signed-max-verstappen/


Toto Wolff makes Max Verstappen declaration over Mercedes F1 driver extensions
23 Oct 2025
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

Elaborating to media in Friday’s press conference, including Motorsport Week, Wolff defended his decision to explore the reigning F1 champion’s situation once more. “Being open and transparent is the best path forward,” he said.” Sometimes it bites you a bit.

“And when you look back, maybe certain events could have been better – coincidences that happened. But I’ve always done it in the most straightforward and fair way. I stand by the driver choices – by George and Kimi. Like I said, this is the full focus, and that was always the aim, throughout the more tricky part over the summer.”

‘Verstappen declaration’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/10/23/toto-wolff-makes-max-verstappen-declaration-over-mercedes-f1-driver-extensions/


George Russell touted as potential Ferrari F1 target – report
01 Nov 2025
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

Reports suggest Ferrari’s top brass would pursue George Russell for 2027 should either Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton quit its Formula 1 team. The rumour mill is also confident that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff will renew his long-term interest in bringing Max Verstappen to the German marque once again.

With Hamilton’s own struggles for the team this season, failing to score a Grand Prix podium for the Italian marque yet, and Leclerc’s reported disillusionment with the lack of competitiveness the team has shown since 2020, a seat at Ferrari might open in 2027. As per Corriere della Sera, the upper echelons of Ferrari’s management highly regard the 27-year-old and want Russell on board if either Leclerc or Hamilton opt to leave.

‘Ferrari’s top brass would pursue George Russell’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/11/02/george-russell-touted-as-potential-ferrari-f1-target-report/


Ralf Schumacher ridicules George Russell after 'classic' outburst
George Russell became a frustrated figure in Mexico City, leaving Ralf Schumacher unimpressed.
30 October 2025
Pepijn van der Hulst & Nick Golding
RacingNews365

Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen both cut across the grass between the first and third corner on the opening lap at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, before rejoining in second and fourth, respectively. Russell, who was fifth at the time, watched it all unfold in front of him. The Mercedes driver quickly called for the pair to be penalised on the radio, something the stewards promptly opted against.

"Russell.... Well, the classic!", Schumacher said on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast. "Whoever complains the loudest gets some extra attention. "This time, fortunately, that didn't work. To be honest, I'm quite happy about that." Focusing on Verstappen, Schumacher was pleased to see the Red Bull driver not penalised. The four-time world champion was forced onto the kerb at the opening corner by the two Ferraris, unsettling his RB21.

Had Verstappen not taken to the grass, a crash was probable, while he ensured that he remained behind both Ferrari drivers when he rejoined. "I think it was right that Verstappen didn't get a penalty," added Schumacher. "He didn't wriggle between them and let the other two pass nicely again, so that was OK. It was typical Max again."

‘Unimpressed’;

https://racingnews365.com/ralf-schumacher-ridicules-george-russell-after-classic-outburst


Toto Wolff blasts ‘lunatic’ Michael Masi for ‘destroying’ Lewis Hamilton’s F1 record
31 Oct 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Toto Wolff has blasted former Formula 1 Race Director Michael Masi for “destroying” Lewis Hamilton’s chance of winning a record eighth World Championship, branding the Australian a “lunatic”. Verstappen took the win, and the title, leading to Wolff to furiously tell Masi over a team-to-race control radio that it was “so not right”. Masi coldly responded to Wolff that “it was a motor race,” but the Australian did not return in the role for next season, after the FIA admitted “human error” led to what infamous moment.

Speaking to The Telegraph, the Austrian appears to still hold a great deal of contempt for Masi, and recalled the harrowing experience of that final lap of the season. “I have not experienced the loss of control of a situation since I was a child,” he said. “There is one lunatic who can basically destroy the record of the greatest champion of all time.”

Wolff’s wife Susie, who is currently promoting her memoir ‘Driven’, joined him in the interview, and gave her account of the incident. “It was disbelief,” she said. “That one person’s decision to interpret the rules, in a way that they had never been interpreted before, could have caused such an outcome. It sat so heavily with me, for a long time afterwards.”

“I have not experienced the loss of control of a situation since I was a child”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/10/31/toto-wolff-blasts-lunatic-michael-masi-for-destroying-lewis-hamiltons-f1-record/

[Fortitude]

Stroll’s “Monumental” Newey Coup: 2026 Reset or Bust?
Lawrence Stroll doesn’t do understatement, and on this one he isn’t pretending to. The Aston Martin executive chairman calls Adrian Newey’s arrival “monumental” — a word that lands with some weight when you’re talking about the most decorated designer in Formula 1 history.
November 2, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Newey officially joined Aston Martin in March as managing technical partner, months after confirming his intent to leave Red Bull in September 2024. He’s now steering the AMR26 project — Aston’s first car shaped fully around the 2026 rulebook — while the team primes itself for life as a Honda works outfit. “This is a 112-year-old British icon with a lot of pride behind it,” Stroll told the team’s website. “I give our people the tools, the facilities, the finances — everything they need — and then I let them do their jobs. Getting Adrian to join was monumental.”

There’s a reason the man commands that kind of language. His fingerprints are on more than 200 grand prix wins and a combined 26 drivers’ and constructors’ titles. But the choice of role is telling: Newey hasn’t parked himself in a corner office. Managing technical partner reads like a mandate to set direction — concept, architecture, the hard calls — across the group, not just polish a front wing.

And there’s plenty to pull together. Aston Martin has been on a hiring tear, with Andy Cowell in as team principal and Enrico Cardile as chief technical officer, alongside a deepening roster in aero and vehicle performance. The Silverstone campus has grown up in a hurry too. After rescuing the operation from administration in 2018 and rebranding as Aston Martin in 2021, Stroll’s playbook has been consistent: build the place, then fill it with people who’ve already won.

‘2026 Reset or Bust?’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/strolls-monumental-newey-coup-2026-reset-or-bust/


Adrian Newey delivers unique insight into Aston Martin’s F1 2026 preparations
November 2, 2025
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

Speaking to James Allen on his F1 podcast, Newey broke down how he is fitting within the technical apparatus at Aston Martin. “If you take aerodynamics as an example, we have around 80 aerodynamicists. They are then divided into four group areas: future car project, front of car, middle of car, rear of car,” he revealed.

“So you’ve now got, for the sake of argument, 20 in each group. You then have a project leader for each of those groups – it’s actually a bit less than that, it’s probably more like 15 in each group, because you have got other activities – so the project leader for those 15, that’s probably just about on the limits of how many people you can have reporting directly to you.”

“So then hope that the communication within that group of 15 is good, and that’s part of the responsibilities of the project leader. Then you make sure that the group leaders are communicating well with each other. … if a meeting is only information sharing and nothing comes out of the meeting that causes you to do something different, in my view, it has been a waste of time. It has to be about creating ideas and new directions.”

‘Unique insight’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/11/03/adrian-newey-delivers-unique-insight-into-aston-martins-f1-2026-preparations/


"Winning is what we're here for," insists Lawrence Stroll
02/11/2025
Pitpass

Lawrence Stroll insists that Rome wasn't built in a day, and is adamant that the relentless spending that has attracted some of the finest personnel in the business and built one of the sport's most cutting-edge facilities will pay off.

"There's a loyalty behind this 112-year-old British iconic institution, this brand Aston Martin," says the Canadian in an interview with his team's website. "There's a tremendous amount of British pride in this factory. They want to bring their national team to the top step of Formula One.”

"I'm relentless," he admits. "I don't give up until the mission is completed. In this case, the mission is being world champions. I've been fortunate enough and successful in all the ventures I've done," he continues." This is the most passionate I've been, the most heartfelt, which drives me more, excites me more, frustrates me more. When it disappoints, it hurts more, and in this business, there's a lot of disappointment. There's a lot of lows before you get to a lot of highs.”

"I'm relentless";

https://www.pitpass.com/81464/Winning-is-what-were-here-for-insists-Lawrence-Stroll


Aston Martin shoot rivals 'relentless' F1 title warning
Aston Martin is enduring a difficult F1 campaign but believes it has the frameworks in place for a successful future.
3 November 2025
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365

Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll asserted his commitment to boost the facilities is a clear indicator of his vision to bring the team to new heights. “When I took over this team, it's about six years ago now, I said it would be a 10-year journey to winning an F1 world championship,” Stroll said.

“We’re now witnessing the premises that we've built in order to provide the tools. There’s no other factory like this in any other F1 team. There's no other wind tunnel like it. There's no other driver simulator like it. The whole campus just has that feeling of winning, of performance, of people striving to find that extra tenth or hundredth of a second.”

“It would be a 10-year journey to winning an F1 world championship”;

https://racingnews365.com/aston-martin-shoot-rivals-relentless-f1-title-warning


Adrian Newey makes prediction over 2026 F1 pecking order
The F1 teams are gearing up for a significant rule change for the 2026 F1 campaign.
1 November 2025
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365

Aston Martin technical director Adrian Newey has offered a prediction on how the F1 pecking order may shape up next year. Despite his vast F1 experience with major regulation changes, Newey admitted he has no knowledge as to how Aston Martin is shaping up for next year.

“You ask, how's it going? The honest truth is, I have got no idea. Because of this reset, you don't know whether you're doing good, bad or indifferent relative to the opposition, you have no knowledge of what they're doing.”

“Don't know whether you're doing good, bad or indifferent relative to the opposition”;

https://racingnews365.com/adrian-newey-makes-prediction-over-2026-f1-pecking-order


Adrian Newey signing ‘monumental’ as Lawrence Stroll issues Aston Martin progress update
2 Nov 2025
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Lawrence Stroll, the executive chairman of the Aston Martin F1 team: “Most important was putting together the team of people. Obviously, getting Adrian Newey to join was monumental. He’s been with us since the beginning of March.”

“We have Andy Cowell [team principal], Enrico Cardile [chief technical officer], plus hundreds of other people. We have Honda being our power unit partner, being a works team for the first time in our life is a whole different experience.”

“The whole team’s forming into place and we’re looking forward next year to a huge rule and regulation change. The biggest challenge now is putting everything together, making it all happen. I’m quite confident it will, but you have to have the patience.”

“Biggest challenge now is putting everything together”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/adrian-newey-aston-martin-lawrence-stroll-update-progress

[Fortitude]

Max Verstappen Handed Major Brazil GP Advantage as McLaren 'Problem' Identified.
McLaren’s failure to favour one driver could be “helping Max” with his pursuit of a fifth F1 title, according to Guenther Steiner.
4 Nov 2025
SPORTbible

Speaking to SPORTbible on behalf of Casino.org, the 60-year-old Italian claimed that McLaren are “trying to be too fair” with their handling of the fact that both of their drivers are going for the title. McLaren CEO Zak Brown was previously accused of being opposed to the signing of Piastri three years ago, according to News 18. He has since rubbished accusations of favouritism towards Norris.

“You start a lot of these conversations because, for a team, the choice should be the guy who is in front in the Championship; they should have the advantage and should be supported to win the Championship, and they didn't do that,” Steiner explained. “Then the rumour came up that Zak doesn't want that because of favouritism of Lando. I don't think that’s the case. At one stage, I think they were too confident that one of the two will win regardless.”

The Italian then claimed that if two drivers from the same team are going for the championship that one of them will be “unhappy” anyway due to one of them finishing second. “You cannot be too fair in this situation; they tried to do something which maybe was not possible to do,” he continued. Steiner then finished by suggesting that McLaren’s failure to favour one driver could be “helping Max” with his pursuit of a fifth F1 title.

“Helping Max”;

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/max-verstappen-lando-norris-oscar-piastri-brazilian-gp-354609-20251104


Max Verstappen told of 'big opportunity' to overcome McLaren gap in F1 title hunt
Max Verstappen currently sits 36 points down on championship leader Lando Norris with four rounds remaining in the season.
4 November 2025
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365

Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes the Las Vegas Grand Prix will be a “big opportunity” for Max Verstappen to eat into the drivers' championship deficit. Palmer asserted a victory for Verstappen in Brazil this weekend will be crucial for his chances of winning a fifth title.

“I think it's still just about in his hands,” Palmer told the F1 Nation podcast. “I was trying to figure this out. Mexico was a hit because Lando's points gap went up, even if the gap to Oscar went down.”

“If he wins in Brazil, I think it will be in the balance. If he can win there, the gap will be less than 30.” However, Palmer noted the biggest opportunity for Verstappen lies in Las Vegas, a grand prix which takes place two weeks after Brazil.

“Still just about in his hands”;

https://racingnews365.com/max-verstappen-told-of-big-opportunity-to-overcome-mclaren-gap-in-f1-title-hunt


McLaren criticised for ‘confusing’ their drivers with team orders in 2025 F1 title battle
4 Nov 2025
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill believes McLaren’s team orders have made it confusing for their two drivers in the title race. Just one point separates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the top of the F1 drivers’ championship heading into this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

McLaren’s interventions have resulted in widespread criticism. Hill feels that team orders generally make things more complicated for any set of drivers, particularly in a title battle. Speaking on Stay on Track, Hill said: “I think, again, it confuses people. I think it confuses the drivers. It confuses the team. It confuses people watching. They go: ‘What is going on?’

“I mean, there is a whole history of team orders being confusing to the fans. I mean, I can remember watching [the] Monaco Grand Prix with two McLarens and I can’t remember which one, it might have been Mika [Hakkinen] and David Coulthard. Anyway, they kind of… we thought they were racing, but it turned out afterwards they were just, they’d agreed not to overtake each other or race each other at the end. And I remember feeling a little bit cheated by that.”

‘Complicated’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1085754/1/mclaren-criticised-confusing-their-drivers-team-orders-2025-f1-title-battle


Bernie Ecclestone questions if McLaren are ‘holding Oscar Piastri back’
Bernie Ecclestone weighs in on this year's F1 title race - and Oscar Piastri's recent downturn in form
4 Nov 2025
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Speaking to sport.de, Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said: “When the season started, I thought our Australian driver would be world champion. I thought he would win easily but something’s holding him back. I don’t know what it is. I don’t know if it’s McLaren holding him back or what. There was a bit of a problem inside the team I understand where it looked very much they were favouring the British driver.”

Ecclestone feels that Norris has more “star quality” in terms of being centre stage on TV and in front of the camera. As a result, Ecclestone thinks it would be better for McLaren as a team if Norris came out on top at the end of the season. “I think he would fall into the star quality more,” Ecclestone added. “I think from that point of view. I think he would act better. I think he likes the TV, he likes the camera, he likes whatever. I suspect the journalists [like him]. I suppose that’s better for McLaren.”

“Something’s holding him back”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1085757/1/bernie-ecclestone-questions-if-mclaren-f1-are-holding-oscar-piastri-back


Ecclestone: Hamilton-Ferrari, just a 'marketing project'
4 Nov 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has had a few words to say about Lewis Hamilton and his partnership with Ferrari so far. Speaking in an interview with Sport.de, the English businessman, who recently turned 95, targeted the seven-time world champion, in what's been a disappointing season so far.

"Everything is slipping away from him there. He wanted to become world champion there and is now surprised that he can't do it," he said, to then add that Hamilton is "one of the best of the last ten years, but not the best".

Ecclestone then labeled the partnership between the Maranello team and the seven-time world champion as "a financial marketing project," suggesting that "he will do more with fashion in the future."

‘Hamilton-Ferrari, just a marketing project';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/hamilton-ferrari-partnership-slammed-as-a-marketing-project-only


“Horrible to Watch”: Hamilton’s Ferrari Nightmare Nears Breaking Point
November 4, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Lewis Hamilton’s first season in red is starting to feel like a rerun you can’t quite believe you’re still watching. That’s Johnny Herbert’s view, anyway. The former F1 driver and ex-FIA steward didn’t hold back when asked about Hamilton’s stop start 2025 with Ferrari, calling the seven-time champion’s hunt for a breakthrough “horrible to watch” and an “ongoing saga” as the calendar winds down.

Hamilton arrived at Maranello with all the fanfare you’d expect. The delivery has been tougher. He’s shown flashes—more lately than early on—but the clean, cathartic result still hasn’t landed. Mexico summed it up: Hamilton put the Ferrari on the second row with his best qualifying in red, went wheel-to-wheel with Max Verstappen in a proper elbows-out scrap, and then watched a 10-second penalty undo the lot after the stewards ruled he’d left the track and gained an advantage.

Herbert, speaking about that battle, admired the bite but lamented the outcome. “It was good to see Lewis race with Max. I thought that was a great piece of racing,” he said. “There was a little bit of wheel banging… It was a late dive up the inside. Lewis probably wasn’t expecting it… It was another frustrating weekend for him. It just didn’t click.”

‘A rerun you can’t quite believe you’re still watching’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/horrible-to-watch-hamiltons-ferrari-nightmare-nears-breaking-point/


'Chemistry' between Hamilton and Adami comes under serious scrutiny
3 Nov 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Dutch F1 pundit Robert Doornbos has highlighted the relationship between Lewis Hamilton and his race engineer, Riccardo Adami. Doornbos stressed that “there's just no chemistry between the engineer and the driver. The communication between Lewis and Ricky, his engineer, doesn't feel like they're switched on to each other.”

“It's Ricky saying, ‘Yeah, we've got a 10-second stop-and-go because of this and this situation.’ Lewis says, ‘Yeah, but it was very difficult to stay on.’ We know Lewis.'” Doornbos finally emphasized: “I don't think they're really on it. If you want to be fighting for wins, championships, and podiums, you have to take every opportunity you can to maximize it.”

Adami also in the spotlight by Chandhok for ‘poor communication’. Karun Chandhok, meanwhile, commenting on the Verstappen-Hamilton incident that later led to a penalty for Hamilton, also criticized Adami for “poor communication,” saying he had “unnecessarily riled up the driver without giving him all of the facts.” Hamilton’s race was heavily impacted by the penalty, losing a significant amount of time during the stop as he had to serve the ten seconds without touching the car, ultimately finishing the race in just eighth position.

‘Serious scrutiny’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/chemistry-between-hamilton-and-adami-comes-under-serious-scrutiny

[Fortitude]

Will race day rain give Verstappen help from above? Six Brazilian GP talking points.
Last year’s rain-hit race was the moment Max Verstappen put his fourth world championship victory beyond reasonable doubt.
4th November 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Who has the momentum? Verstappen cut his points deficit again in Mexico. “You’ve been on such a run, so much momentum,” Formula 1 presenter James Hinchcliffe told Lando Norris after his Mexican Grand Prix victory.

That’s a debatable description of the driver who’d just scored his first win in seven races (including sprint races), particularly as he was standing a short distance from a rival who’s won four of the last six and hasn’t been off the podium since the summer break. Who really has the momentum in the title fight? It certainly isn’t Oscar Piastri, who has looked out of sorts in the McLaren since his dire weekend in Baku.

‘Race day rain’;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/11/04/will-race-day-rain-give-verstappen-help-from-above-six-brazilian-gp-talking-points/


F1 drivers set for another year of weather chaos at the Brazilian GP
Last year's Brazilian Grand Prix saw wet weather chaos - will it be the same story 12 months on?
4 November 2025
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365

According to the FIA's forecast, Friday morning is set to be dry before possible thundery showers in the afternoon to evening. Temperatures are set to linger between 25°C and 28°C, with the risk of rain at 40%. Saturday, however, is set to be a much wetter affair. The FIA has outlined there is a high chance of thundery showers in the morning, which may decrease slightly in the afternoon.

However, according to the forecast, the sprint race and qualifying look set to be held in wet conditions, with temperatures sitting between 24°C and 26°C. Gusts of 75 km/h are also possible, creating an added challenge for the drivers. The grand prix on Sunday is likely to be held in dry conditions, although it will be significantly cooler than the previous days, with a temperature of 18°C expected for the race.

The threat of rain is at 20% for the grand prix, with the FIA seeing only a slight chance for one light shower to sprinkle the track during the race.

‘Another year of weather chaos’;

https://racingnews365.com/f1-drivers-set-for-another-year-of-weather-chaos-at-the-brazilian-gp


McLaren placed on high alert in fresh Max Verstappen warning ahead of Brazil GP
4 Nov 2025
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

Speaking to AdventureGamers, the British pundit, Johnny Herbert said, “Verstappen has shown brilliance, but he has needed an improved Red Bull to get back into the race for the Championship. There is a sheer brilliance that Max always shows. He’s always able to pull out those unbelievable qualifying laps and then have an absolutely storming race and dominate it.”

“But you still need the car underneath you to be able to do that. Is he always able to get that little something extra against his competitors? Then arguably, yes. That’s always been the case with the greats of the sport. They’ve always been able to do something that people think is unbelievable.”

“That’s where everybody goes, ‘Well, it’s Max who’s pulling more out of the car’. There’s a big element to that. If he were in a McLaren, would he be fighting for the championship? Absolutely.”

“Verstappen has shown brilliance”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclaren-warned-of-max-verstappen-title-challenge-by-johnny-herbert-2025-brazil-gp


F1 Drivers' title showdown: Verstappen's a bigger threat than ever
5 Nov 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Interlagos will host the Brazilian Grand Prix, the 21st round of the Formula One world championship, and as usual, it will be vital in determining who will emerge as the strongest world title candidate.

Max Verstappen has not finished outside of the podium scoring positions since the Dutch Grand Prix, with his lowest result coming last time out in Mexico where he finished P3, which marked a 3 point cut in the championship lead which exchanged hands, from one McLaren driver, Oscar Piastri, to the other, Lando Norris.

The Dutch driver’s podium kept his championship chase very much alive as 116 points are still up for grabs in the remaining four Grands Prix, which the Sprint weekend in Brazil alone accounts for almost 30% of. In Brazil, Verstappen is expected to continue his title comeback charge, which coupled with Red Bull's no holds barred approach, and the competitiveness the RB21 currently boasts, its chances of success are still very much alive going into the home stretch of the F1 2025 season.

‘Verstappen is expected to continue his title comeback charge’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/features/brazil-gp-norris-momentum-meets-verstappen-revival-as-piastri-wobbles


Schumacher backtracks on Norris but issues crucial Verstappen warning
3 Nov 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

F1 expert Ralf Schumacher thinks Lando Norris’ hypothesised mental struggles are no longer an issue, but warns title hopeful Max Verstappen poses a threat come the Brazil Grand Prix.

"Next weekend is very crucial,” Schumacher said in Sky Sports Germany’s podcast Backstage Boxengasse, claiming Verstappen needed an error from McLaren or its drivers to get closer in the Championship Standings. “He [Verstappen] needs to get closer now and maybe needs a little help. But who would have thought that Norris would get so close again?”

Schumacher observed that the criticism laid at Norris’ doorstep, suggesting he struggled mentally when faced with the protagonist role in the fight for the title, thus explaining his inconsistent form from the first half of the season, is all but gone now. “We had thought: mental issues, he wasn't always consistent, plus the gap - Piastri seemed to pull away. But with so many races, a lot can still happen.”

‘Max Verstappen poses a threat come the Brazil Grand Prix’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/schumacher-backtracks-on-norris-but-issues-crucial-verstappen-warning

[Fortitude]

Brazil GP showdown: Norris, Verstappen and Piastri clash for 2025 crown.
F1 Drivers' title showdown: Verstappen's a bigger threat than ever. Max Verstappen has not finished outside of the podium scoring positions since the Dutch Grand Prix…
4 Nov 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

In Brazil, Verstappen is expected to continue his title comeback charge, which coupled with Red Bull's no holds barred approach, and the competitiveness the RB21 currently boasts, its chances of success are still very much alive going into the home stretch of the F1 2025 season.

At Interlagos Red Bull's challenger, already free from the balance issues it was afflicted by earlier on in the season, poses a serious threat to McLaren's MCL39, given its recently uncovered ability to exploit slow cornering and traction demanding phases as evidenced by its pole position potential in Singapore.

As such, with the inclement weather forecasted throughout the upcoming race weekend in Brazil, which he capitalised on in the 2024 edition of the race to win all the way from his P17 starting position, Verstappen is one of, if not the absolute favorite to take the double win this year in both the Sprint as in the Grand Prix as well.

‘Favorite to take the double win’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/features/brazil-gp-norris-momentum-meets-verstappen-revival-as-piastri-wobbles


McLaren warned of Brazil GP element that should leave it 'nervous'
Max Verstappen enters the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend looking to close the gap further to Lando Norris at the top of the drivers' standings.
5 November 2025
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365

Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer has stated McLaren should be “nervous” if the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend is impacted by rainfall. “Imagine if we get weather like last year, how nervous you'd be as a McLaren driver now,” he told the F1 Nation podcast. “That’s the one thing that could bring Max right into play.”

“It is so easy to crash in the wet of Brazil, of all the circuits on the calendar, Brazil in the wet is hideous to drive. You've got Max, who's got great form there, and you've got the McLarens with the best car, the best opportunity, but such an easy chance to ruin it all if it rains. It’s going to be a good one.”

However, Palmer has still backed Norris, who is on a strong run of form, to come out on top in the point-providing sessions this weekend. “Sprint winner is Norris, I think Norris also wins the race,” Palmer predicted. “I think this is the weekend he starts to become a real championship favourite. Then Verstappen comes second, and let's go Piastri in third, and we're all still close heading towards Vegas.”

'Nervous';

https://racingnews365.com/mclaren-warned-of-brazil-gp-element-that-should-leave-it-nervous


The negative stat Piastri can't ignore ahead of Brazilian GP weekend
5 Nov 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Oscar Piastri heads into the Interlagos weekend carrying a stat that isn’t really in his favour. The Australian driver, in the two Brazilian weekends he’s contested in 2023 and 2024, has never managed to qualify or finish a race higher than eighth.

In 2023, he could do no better than tenth in qualifying and went on to finish the race 14th, hampered by a first-lap incident—but still a lap behind the rest despite the red flag. In 2024, he qualified eighth, while his teammate claimed pole. The race didn’t go much better, as he finished in the same position he started, in a race heavily affected by rain.

‘The negative stat’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/the-negative-stat-piastri-cant-ignore-ahead-of-brazilian-gp-weekend


Brazilian Grand Prix 2025 at Interlagos: F1 sprint times, stats, weather forecast
Nov 5, 2025
ESPN

The 2025 Formula 1 season has reached round 21 -- Gabriel Bortoleto's home race -- the São Paulo Grand Prix. All eyes are on the championship race and the three drivers who could win it -- Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. As we approach the season's penultimate sprint race, there are a maximum of 116 points available to a driver with four grands prix remaining, so every point is crucial.

Weather forecast – thunderstorm The forecast is a mixed bag this weekend.
Friday is set to be cloudy and settled, with highs of 24°C (75°F), before the anticipated thunderstorm comes in on Saturday with a yellow alert. Expect rain, wind, thunder and unsettled weather. Cooler temperatures of 19°C (67°F) are expected on Sunday, with potential light rain.

‘Weather forecast’;

https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/46856172/brazilian-grand-prix-2025-f1-s-predictions-stats-facts


Brazilian GP Interlagos Corner Names: Stories behind iconic turns
Each of its 15 turns carries a distinctive name, reflecting Brazilian culture and the circuit’s unique characteristics.
6 November 2025
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport

1. ‘S’ do Senna (Senna S) [Turns 1 and 2] Named in honour of the legendary Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna, this complex comprises a left-right chicane that descends sharply, demanding precise braking and steering. It’s a prime overtaking spot, setting the tone for the lap as well as for setting up overtakes later in the lap at Turn 4 if you can force a rival off the ideal line.
2. Curva do Sol (Curve of the Sun) [Turn 3]
3. Descida do Lago (Lake’s Descent) [Turns 4 and 5]

4. Ferradura (Horseshoe) [Turns 6 and 7]
5. Laranjinha (Little Orange) [Turn 8]
6. Pinheirinho (Little Pine Tree) [Turn 9]
7. Bico de Pato (Duck’s Bill) [Turn 10]

8. Mergulho (Dive) [Turn 11]
9. Junção (Junction) [Turn 12]
10. Subida dos Boxes (Up to the Pits) [Turn 14]
11. Arquibancadas (Bleachers) [Turn 15]

‘Stories behind iconic turns’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/brazilian-gp-interlagos-corner-names-stories-behind-iconic-turns/


Start time for the 2025 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix - São Paulo - Time Schedule
The F1 season continues this weekend with the 2025 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix. Don't miss any of the action and check out all the session start times for the weekend here.
6 November 2025
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

The schedule for the 2025 F1 São Paulo GP is automatically adjusted to your time zone.
F1 schedule Brazilian GP
Session
Date Time
Free practice 1 Friday 7 November 15:30 - 16:30
Sprint qualifying Friday 7 November 19:30 - 20:14
Sprint race Saturday 8 November 15:00 - 16:00
Qualification Saturday 8 November 19:00 - 20:00
Race Sunday 9 November 18:00 - 20:00

‘Time Schedule’;

https://racingnews365.com/start-time-for-the-2025-f1-brazilian-grand-prix---s%C3%A3o-paulo---time-schedule

[Fortitude]

F1 – Norris beats Piastri by 0.023s to top practice in São Paulo, Hülkenberg third.
F1 Drivers’ championship leader Lando Norris put in a late flying lap of 1:09.975 to beat McLaren team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri to the top of the timesheet by just 0.023s
07/11/2025
FIA (Press Release)

At the start of FP1, home favourite Gabriel Bortoleto elicited loud cheers from the grandstands as he took to the track but it was Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso who topped the timesheet with a lap of 1:12.662. He was then displaced by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri who posted a lap 1m12.169, who was then bounced out by championship leader Lando Norris who took P1 with a time of 1:11.796.

There was early trouble for Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, however. The Japanese driver took too much kerb in Turn 4, and after bottoming out he spun off and clunked both his front-left wheel and rear right on the edge of the barriers. He limped back to the pit lane for checks on his front and rear suspension and for a new front wing.

Piastri improved on his next run to 1:09.998 to extend his advantage to his team-mate to 0.473s. Norris also gained with his second run but not by enough and the Briton held P2 0.261s off his team-mate. Verstappen then emerged on Soft tyres but the Dutchman backed out of his flying lap halfway through and returned to the pit lane to bolt on a set of used Hard tyre with which to see out the last minutes of a session in which he ended up 17th.

‘Late flying lap of 1:09.975’;

https://www.fia.com/news/f1-norris-beats-piastri-0023s-top-practice-sao-paulo-hulkenberg-third


São Paulo Grand Prix - Free Practice 1 Results
07/11/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Full results from Free Practice 1 for the São Paulo Grand Prix at São Paulo, Brazil, round 21 of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
2025 São Paulo Grand Prix - Free Practice 1 results
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:09.975s 30
2 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.023s 32
3 Nico Hülkenberg Sauber +0.619s 31
4 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.631s 25
5 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber +0.641s 31
6 George Russell Mercedes +0.670s 34
7 Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.706s 32
8 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.711s 35
9 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.732s 30
10 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.769s 36

‘Free Practice 1’;

https://f1i.com/news/552817-sao-paulo-grand-prix-free-practice-1-results.html


Brazilian GP practice: McLaren 1-2, mixed up order in its wake
Nov 7, 2025
Jack Cozens
The Race

Formula 1 drivers' championship leader Lando Norris pipped McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri with his final lap of the session to end sole practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix fastest. Norris's best time, a 1m09.975s set on medium tyres, was 0.023 seconds faster than Piastri's as McLaren enjoyed a significant advantage over the opposition - at least in the headline times.

But that final Norris-Piastri order wasn't necessarily reflective of their peak single-lap pace. Off the back of two muted weekends in the United States and Mexico, Piastri appeared to be back on song in FP1 at Interlagos when the cars switched to performance running in the final quarter of an hour of the 60-minute session.

He had been 0.278s faster than Norris on their first runs, 0.261s faster on their second ones, and on his final attempt had been 0.190s up on his previous best in the first sector but ultimately failed to improve his time and was pipped by Norris right at the end. None of McLaren's usual 'big-four' opposition featured at the sharp end, with Mercedes' George Russell the highest-placed of them in sixth.

‘McLaren 1-2’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/everything-that-happened-in-brazilian-grand-prix-practice/


Brazilian GP: Late lap puts Norris ahead of Piastri as Aussie rediscovers lost form
7 Nov 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Kimi Antonelli led the way out of the pit lane, followed by George Russell, but the biggest cheer was for local lad Bortoleto. As all 20 drivers laid down times, Oscar Piastri led the way with a 1:12.169, a quarter of a second up on Lewis Hamilton. Yuki Tsunoda had a moment at Turn 4, the Red Bull driver off the track and spinning off before hitting the tyre barrier with his front left tyre and breaking his wing’s end-plate. He was able to return to the pits as his teammate Max Verstappen went second quickest behind George Russell.

P1 continued to change hands between Russell, Piastri and Lando Norris, with Verstappen also in the mix. The four lead drivers in the championship running ahead of the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Hamilton. Midway through the session Russell was leading the way ahead of Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, all three having set their times on the hard Pirellis.

As more drivers set times on the mediums, Piastri went quickest with a 1:11.193 with Norris 0.278s down on his teammate. The teammates swapped around as Norris pipped Piastri with a 1:09.975, putting him 0.023s ahead of the Australian racer. Nico Hulkenberg was third, but six-tnehts down on the McLaren teammates.

‘Aussie rediscovers lost form’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/brazilian-grand-prix-2025-fp1-report


Max P17 in Brazilian GP practice
07 November 2025
Stefan Meens
Verstappen.nl

Max Verstappen finished the first and only practice session of the Brazilian Grand Prix in seventeenth place, after only clocking timed laps on the hard Pirelli tyres. Max is the last driver to venture out of the pits. On his first flying lap, he is seventh fastest. Oracle Red Bull Racing teammate Yuki Tsunoda is enduring a more challenging start to the session. The Japanese driver goes off at turn four, hitting the wall with his left front wheel and the trye barriers with the right rear tyre. Despite some damage, Tsunoda is able to drive back to the pits for repairs.

In the meantime, Max has improved his lap time and fifteen minutes in, the Dutchman sits in second behind George Russell (Mercedes). After a quick visit to the pits, Max heads back out for another, longer, run on the hard Pirellis. In the final quarter of the session, the track becomes less busy as the teams prepare for qualifying simulations. Meanwhile, Max continues to pound round on hard tyres in preparation for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

The reigning champion has dropped down to seventeenth on the timing sheets but appears to prepare for a final flying lap on the soft tyres. In the end, Max aborts the lap and heads back in for a few more laps on the hard compound, meaning he ends the session in seventeenth.

‘Max continues to pound round on hard tyres in preparation’;

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/6002/

[Fortitude]

Brazil GP Sprint Quali: Norris storms to pole as Verstappen struggles.
Norris clocked a time of 1:09.243 to clinch the Sprint pole ahead of the chasing pack.
7 Nov 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Lando Norris stormed to pole ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri for the Brazil GP Sprint qualifying. Here is the full result from the session. The McLaren driver, who claimed pole position at the Mexico City Grand Prix, continued his stellar form by securing pole again at the Sao Paulo race.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen could only record a time quick enough for sixth place, posting a 1:09.580. Lance Stroll followed the Red Bull Racing driver in seventh, with Charles Leclerc, Isack Hadjar and Nico Hulkenberg wrapping up the top 10.

‘Norris storms to pole’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/untitled-article-79482


São Paulo Grand Prix - Sprint Qualifying results
07/11/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Full results from Sprint qualifying for the São Paulo Grand Prix at São Paulo, Brazil, round 21 of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
2025 São Paulo Grand Prix - Sprint qualifying results
Pos Driver Team SQ1 SQ2 SQ3
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:09.627s 1:09.373s 1:09.243s
2 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:10.381s 1:09.504s 1:09.340s
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:10.017s 1:09.416s 1:09.428s
4 George Russell Mercedes 1:10.048s 1:09.384s 1:09.495s
5 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 1:10.011s 1:09.330s 1:09.496s
6 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:09.975s 1:09.707s 1:09.580s
7 Lance Stroll Aston Martin 1:10.326s 1:09.647s 1:09.671s
8 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:10.324s 1:09.732s 1:09.725s
9 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls 1:10.095s 1:09.608s 1:09.775s
10 Nico Hülkenberg Sauber 1:10.333s 1:09.735s 1:09.935s

‘Full results’;

https://f1i.com/news/552849-sao-paulo-grand-prix-sprint-qualifying-results.html


2025 Brazilian Grand Prix – Sprint Qualifying F1 results (Interlagos)
7 Nov 2025
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

With just one practice session, the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend kicked off with the first major session of the weekend: Sprint qualifying. With medium tyres mandatory for SQ1, it was a relatively slow start to the session as the two McLarens set the initial pace; Piastri ahead of Norris with a 1:10.285 for the Australian to go 0.025 clear of Norris.

‘SQ1’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/2025-brazilian-grand-prix-sprint-qualifying-f1-results-interlagos


Lando Norris takes dominant pole position for F1 Brazil GP Sprint
7 Nov 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Lando Norris took a dominant pole position for the Formula 1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Sprint, underlining his resurgent form and pace of his McLaren package. The Brit secured top spot with a blistering final run in SQ3 to take top spot by almost a tenth of a second from Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Leclerc spins to help take Hamilton out of SQ2. SQ2 began with Fernando Alonso going top, with Verstappen initially three tenths short of the Spaniard’s lap, but with both McLarens still yet to set a time with five minutes to go. Norris changed that but went second behind Alonso, with Piastri going third.

Leclerc hovered above the danger zone, with Hamilton still in it in 11th. And by irony, it would be Leclerc who condemned Hamilton to an early exit. The #16 Ferrari spun late on his final run, which brought out double yellow flags, costing Hamilton the time needed to cross the line before the chequered flag came out. Alonso ended it top, with Leclerc scaping through in ninth, with Hamilton 11th, and would be joined by Alex Albon, Gasly, Bortoleto and Bearman.

‘Lando Norris takes dominant pole position’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/11/07/lando-norris-takes-dominant-pole-position-for-f1-brazil-gp-sprint/


Lando Norris takes Brazilian Grand Prix Sprint pole ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri
7 November 2025
Rebecca Braybrook
F1 Oversteer

Lando Norris has taken his first Sprint race pole ahead of the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, as both Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen struggle to match his pace. Lando Norris set the fastest time in the earlier practice session today, after pipping his teammate right at the end of the session. Norris will start the Sprint race two places ahead of Piastri, after taking the lead in the championship in Mexico last time out.

Max Verstappen was unhappy with the pace of his Red Bull, claiming that the car was ‘broken’. The Dutchman was one of four cars, including both Aston Martins and Isack Hadjar, to risk just a single flying lap at the end of Sprint qualifying. The risk did not pay off for Verstappen, who will start the Sprint Race from P6, behind Alonso’s Aston Martin and both McLarens and Mercedes cars.

‘Lando Norris has taken his first Sprint race pole’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/lando-norris-takes-brazilian-grand-prix-sprint-pole-ahead-of-kimi-antonelli-and-oscar-piastri/


Brazilian GP: Norris claims Sprint pole as Piastri third and Verstappen blasts ‘broken’ Red Bull
7 Nov 2025
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com

Championship leader Lando Norris has started his Sao Paulo Grand Prix in fine style with pole for Saturday’s Sprint in Interlagos. He’ll line up on the front row alongside Kimi Antonelli, while title rival Oscar Piastri could do no better than third.

With 90 seconds remaining, Piastri started another flying lap, managing a personal best to the first split. Behind him, Norris was going even faster. Piastri rose to third best, while Norris improved by 0.028s to retain top spot, Antonelli between them.

Verstappen lost time on his final lap to secure sixth, with Russell fourth from Alonso in an impressive fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were Lance Stroll in seventh from Leclerc, Isack Hadjar, and Nico Hulkenberg.

‘Verstappen blasts ‘broken’ Red Bull’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/brazilian-gp-lando-norris-sprint-pole-interlagos-piastri-third-verstappen-broken-red-bull

[Fortitude]

Lando Norris wins Brazilian Grand Prix Sprint as Oscar Piastri and Franco Colapinto crash.
Norris got a strong start off the line, with Kimi Antonelli in second being squeezed by Oscar Piastri and George Russell, but managing to keep his position.
8 November 2025
Rebecca Braybrook
F1 Oversteer

Antonelli put pressure on Norris in the closing laps, moving within DRS of the McLaren, although he was unable to get past. The race ended under yellow flag conditions in sector one after Gabriel Bortoleto crashed into the barriers at Turn 1 after a close fight with Alex Albon on the final lap. It was a nasty shunt for the Sauber driver, who was airborne as he hit the wall.

Drivers struggled with the damp track in the early stages of the race, including Piastri who took slightly too much kerb, which saw him lose the rear of his McLaren. Piastri went spinning into the barriers at Turn 3 on Lap 6, with Franco Colapinto and Nico Hulkenberg also crashing out behind the Aussie, triggering a red flag.

Hulkenberg was able to bring his Sauber back to the pit lane, but both Piastri and Colapinto were out of the Sprint. This could be crucial for Piastri’s championship fight, having also crashed out of the last Sprint race in Austin.

‘Lando Norris wins’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/lando-norris-wins-brazilian-grand-prix-sprint-as-oscar-piastri-and-franco-colapinto-crash/


São Paulo Grand Prix - Sprint Race results
08/11/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Full results from the Sprint Race for the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos, round 21 of the 2025 F1 World Championship.
2025 São Paulo Grand Prix - Sprint Race results
Pos Driver Team Gap Stops
1 Lando Norris McLaren + 53:25.928s
2 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes + 0.845s
3 George Russell Mercedes + 2.318s
4 Max Verstappen Red Bull + 4.423s
5 Charles Leclerc Ferrari + 16.483s
6 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin + 18.306s
7 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari + 18.603s
8 Pierre Gasly Alpine + 19.366s
9 Lance Stroll Aston Martin + 23.933s
10 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls + 29.548s

‘Full results’;

https://f1i.com/news/552989-sao-paulo-grand-prix-sprint-race-results.html


Brazil GP Sprint Full Results | Norris wins, rookie close to race ban
8 Nov 2025
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

Lando Norris has won the Sprint race at the 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, earning important points in the standings. The Sprint podium was completed by the two Mercedes drivers, Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. Max Verstappen finished in fourth place starting from P6 on the grid. After spinning out and hitting the wall in Turn 3, Oscar Piastri failed to collect any points today.

Following a hard-fought battle between Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc, the Monegasque driver crossed the finish line in P5. Lewis Hamilton came close to overtaking the Spaniard as well, but narrowly missed out on gaining another position after his superb start at Interlagos.

‘Earning important points in the standings’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/brazil-gp-sprint-full-results-norris-wins-piastri-in-the-wall


F1 Brazil GP Sprint red flagged as Oscar Piastri crashes out
08/11/2025
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

The battle for the 2025 Formula 1 title has taken a dramatic turn as the Sao Paulo Grand Prix Sprint Race has been red-flagged after Oscar Piastri crashed out. Starting back in third place, Piastri needed a strong start to make up ground on team-mate Lando Norris, now a point behind the Briton ahead of the Sprint Race.

Unable to pass Andrea Kimi Antonelli at the start, he mounted the kerb out of Turn 2 on Lap 7, and aquaplaned into the barriers, the water displaced by Norris seconds earlier. The Australian was not alone, as Franco Colapinto and Nico Hulkenberg suffered the same fate, Colapinto’s exit more dramatic, destroying his Alpine and showering the track with debris.

‘Dramatic turn’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/11/08/f1-brazil-gp-sprint-red-flagged-as-oscar-piastri-crashes-out/


How Lando Norris’ ‘Mario Kart’ move triggered Oscar Piastri crash in F1 Brazil GP Sprint
08/11/2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Russell jokes that Norris is the ‘smartest guy’ after causing Piastri crash. As it transpired, Norris took too much kerb than he usually would have on Lap 6 at Turn 3, which loosened the water onto the track.

This left Piastri vulnerable behind, and when touching the water, he was left a passenger as he clipped the barrier and into retirement, giving Norris a nine-point advantage in the championship. When asked about how he inadvertently caused Piastri’s crash, Norris said: “Yeah, I mean, it’s a kerb you always use in quali. We use it a lot.”

“Obviously, when it’s wet conditions like this, you kind of want to stay off all the kerbs. So I ran a little bit wide and I saw the water come onto the track. But yeah, that was it.” George Russell, who finished third, picked up his microphone and joked: “A little bit like Mario Kart where you throw the banana out behind you. The smartest guy on the grid, this guy.”

“But yeah, that was it”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/11/08/how-lando-norris-mario-kart-move-caused-oscar-piastri-crash-in-f1-brazil-gp-sprint/

[Fortitude]

São Paulo GP: Norris tops qualifying, Antonelli P2 - Verstappen P16.
Lando Norris delivered a stunning performance to take pole position for Sunday’s São Paulo Grand Prix, outpacing Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
08/11/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

After a first Q3 lap spoiled by a lock-up in Turn 1, Norris regrouped and produced a flawless 1m09.511s lap, nearly two-tenths clear of Antonelli. Leclerc took third, with Piastri, who was trying to bounce back after crashing out of Saturday morning’s Sprint, narrowly missing the podium spot.

The biggest shock of the session came in Q1. Verstappen, who had undergone major post-Sprint setup changes, struggled with handling and posted two poor laps, finding himself deep in the drop zone with five minutes remaining. His final effort gained nearly three-tenths, but that was not enough: he ended 16th, eight-tenths adrift of Norris and just a tenth from safety.

He was joined in early elimination by Esteban Ocon, Franco Colapinto, and Yuki Tsunoda, marking Red Bull’s first double Q1 exit since the 2006 Japanese Grand Prix. With Norris on pole, Piastri in close pursuit, and Verstappen facing a major uphill battle, the stage is set for a dramatic São Paulo Grand Prix, where championship fortunes could swing wildly in just 71 laps.

‘Lando Norris delivered a stunning performance’;

https://f1i.com/news/553021-sao-paulo-gp-norris-tops-qualifying-antonelli-p2-verstappen-p16.html


São Paulo Grand Prix - Qualifying results
08/11/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Full results from qualifying for the São Paulo Grand Prix at São Paulo, Brazil, round 21 of the 2025 F1 World Championship.
2025 São Paulo Grand Prix - Qualifying results
Pos Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:09.656s 1:09.616s 1:09.511s
2 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:10.192s 1:09.774s 1:09.685s
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:09.934s 1:09.801s 1:09.805s
4 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:09.928s 1:09.835s 1:09.886s
5 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls 1:10.083s 1:09.970s 1:09.931s
6 George Russell Mercedes 1:09.935s 1:09.880s 1:09.942s
7 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls 1:10.108s 1:09.950s 1:09.962s
8 Oliver Bearman Haas 1:09.891s 1:09.755s 1:09.977s
9 Pierre Gasly Alpine 1:09.885s 1:09.857s 1:10.002s
10 Nico Hülkenberg Sauber 1:10.337s 1:09.985s 1:10.039s

‘Qualifying results’;

https://f1i.com/news/553019-sao-paulo-grand-prix-qualifying-results.html


Winners and losers from Brazilian GP qualifying
Nov 8, 2025
The Race

Beyond the obvious Lando Norris pole and Max Verstappen's Q1 exit, there was plenty happening in a mixed-up qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix. Here are our winners and losers from a day which feels pivotal in the championship fight and will almost certainly be remembered for a diverse range of triumphs and failures, even by Formula 1's standards.

Loser - Max Verstappen (16th). Max Verstappen’s first Q1 exit in four years couldn’t be worse timed for his unlikely 2025 title bid. Should he fail to significantly recover from 16th on the grid on Sunday and a McLaren wins, Verstappen’s title dream will be all but over, given there are only three races left. In fact, Verstappen’s already saying “you can forget about it” as far as his title hopes are concerned. Of course, he started down in 17th last year and won, but that was in a wet race and anyway Red Bull looks totally lost here this year.

“You can forget about it”;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/winners-and-losers-from-brazilian-gp-qualifying/


Marko reveals Red Bull meeting after Brazil GP quali blunder
8 Nov 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

According to Red Bull Racing chief advisor, Helmut Marko, the team will hold a pre-race meeting to try and turn the team's "situation" around. Speaking to Sky Germany after the qualifying session for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Marko said things had "gone badly wrong."

The 82-year-old Austrian also emphasised that the Milton Keynes-based outfit's car's performance loss was evident throughout the lap, saying: "We have slowed down everywhere, lost time in all sectors. The damage has been done. It doesn't look good."

Nevertheless Red Bull simply relied on their ability to "find the right direction. But that was not the case. We have to look at where we have taken a wrong turn." In the end, Marko revealed Red Bull would hold a meeting prior to the race to discuss measures. "We have to see what we do with this situation," he concluded.

"We have slowed down everywhere, lost time in all sectors”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/marko-reveals-red-bull-meeting-after-brazil-gp-quali-blunder


‘Annoyed’ Kimi Antonelli sends Lando Norris message straight after losing out on Brazilian GP pole
8 November 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Kimi Antonelli is ‘annoyed’ to finish second to Lando Norris ‘again’ in qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Antonelli has thrived at Interlagos this weekend, but he also had to settle for second best as Norris scored pole for the Sao Paulo Sprint and won the 100km dash by 0.845s. Norris could not shake Antonelli after starting on the soft C4 tyres compared to the Italian’s medium C3s.

So, Antonelli joked that he was “a bit annoyed” about coming second again as Norris scored pole for the Sao Paulo GP by 0.174s. The Mercedes rookie expects Norris will be “very fast” in Sunday’s feature race in Brazil, too, when he will seek the second podium of his F1 career. Antonelli said in the post-qualifying interview: “To be fair, I’m a bit annoyed [that] I’m again behind him. We were so close this morning in the Sprint, as well. But it was a very tricky session with the wind, very tricky to put the lap together.”

‘Annoyed’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/annoyed-kimi-antonelli-sends-lando-norris-message-straight-after-losing-out-on-brazilian-gp-pole/


Max Verstappen makes alarming Red Bull claim after shock Brazil Q1 exit
08 Nov 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Verstappen was able to recover to fourth from P6 on the grid in the Brazil Sprint. But, as qualifying for the Grand Prix arrived, disaster struck. Both Verstappen and Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda – as they began their final Q1 lap – were left in need of a quicker time to make the Q2 cut. Neither driver could manage it.

“It was just bad,” Verstappen lamented as he spoke to Sky F1 after his elimination. “I mean, I couldn’t push, at all. The car was all over the place, sliding around a lot. I had to underdrive it a lot, just to not have a moment, and that, of course, doesn’t work in qualifying.”

And concerningly, Verstappen says he and Red Bull have no idea why they were so slow. “I mean, we first have to analyse what is going on,” said Verstappen when asked what is possible in the race. “I don’t really understand how it can be this bad. So that’s a bit more important to understand at the moment.”

‘Alarming Red Bull claim’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-verstappen-red-bull-do-not-understand-why-rb21-so-bad-brazil

[Fortitude]

Piastri targets race fightback after Sao Paulo qualifying frustration.
Oscar Piastri says he’ll focus on maximising “whatever opportunities arise” in Sunday’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix after admitting he “just didn’t go any faster” on his final qualifying lap to end up fourth.
9 Nov 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

The Australian had looked set to bounce back from his Sprint race crash earlier in the day when he briefly held provisional pole in Q3, but was ultimately unable to improve on his final lap as McLaren teammate Lando Norris claimed pole ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc. “I just didn’t go any faster. I think that was the biggest thing,” Piastri said.

“Yeah, just very different conditions to what we had yesterday I would say. And just everything felt much trickier today. So, yeah, obviously it’s a bit disappointing with the result. But the car’s looked quick this weekend, especially over a longer run, so hopefully I can take advantage of that tomorrow.”

Despite the setback, Piastri insisted he remains ready to fight back in the race. “Definitely,” he said when asked about the title battle. “I think ultimately I’ll try and take whatever opportunities arise. And, yeah, if I can make progress forwards and put some pressure on then I will. But got to get there first.”

‘Fightback’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-oscar-piastri-sao-paulo-qualifying-reaction-fourth-result-comments-mclaren-championship/


Crash, Chaos, Comeback: Piastri’s Interlagos Title Gambit
8 Nov 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

On a slippery, stubborn Saturday in São Paulo, the McLaren driver went from Sprint heartbreak to a qualifying session that refused to obey the usual logic, ending up fourth on the grid for Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix. Lando Norris banked an assured pole. Kimi Antonelli shocked plenty by sticking it on the front row. Charles Leclerc will line up third, with Piastri alongside on the second row.

The Australian’s day pivoted on the Sprint, where he exited Turn 2 with a touch too much throttle and a fraction too much kerb, and the rear bit back. The MCL-whatever-it’s-called-this-week flicked round and slid into the barrier on the outside of Turn 3. Moments later Nico Hülkenberg and Franco Colapinto were caught by the same trap.

Piastri didn’t sugar-coat it afterward: yes, he’d used that kerb a lap earlier; no, he shouldn’t have gone near it again with the track in that state. He reckoned the cars ahead may have dragged extra water over the strip, turning a legal line into a loaded dice roll. “A little bit wide, nothing major,” he said, before conceding the consequences were anything but. Classic Interlagos—one of those places where the surface, the weather and the rhythm can gang up on you between corners.

‘Crash, Chaos, Comeback’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/crash-chaos-comeback-piastris-interlagos-title-gambit/


‘Like Mario Kart’: Norris’ telling reply over Piastri crash as reason for ‘strange’ chaos emerges
9 Nov 2025
AFP with Fox Sports from Afp
Fox Sports (Australia)

“Norris hit the kerb and a lot of water went on line,” Antonelli was heard saying on team radio. The assessments of both Colapinto and Hulkenberg suggest that the conditions at the corner had indeed changed before claiming the trio. “I just lost the car in Turn 3. There was some new water or something, so it’s strange, but I need to see the onboard,” Colapinto said. “Other cars spun there on the same lap, so it was a bit strange. I don’t really know at the moment, but it was quite strange. I know it was a bit damp, the track, but we had done a few laps already and it was feeling fine.”

Hulkenberg added: “It just snapped very suddenly, aggressively and there’s not much recovering from there. The team said that Oscar went off first there, might have put the wheel wide and put some water out of the kerb and onto the track. I just drove and didn’t do very different than the lap before, but just completely lost the rear and lost the car.”

“I ran a little bit wide and I saw the water come onto the track. But yeah ... that was it,” Lando Norris said before smiling. George Russell then responded: “It felt a little bit like Mario Kart when you throw the banana out behind. “Smartest guy on the grid, this guy (Norris).” A safety car was deployed immediately, quickly followed by a red flag on lap eight.

‘Mario Kart’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/f1-2025-brazil-grand-prix-qualifying-and-sprint-race-results-oscar-piastri-crashes-out-lando-norris-wins-and-claims-pole-points-standings-video-highlights/news-story/e83183306ccadb00c44671056906d965


Verstappen’s Qualifying exit 'difficult to accept' as Mekies concedes risk went in the 'opposite direction'
9 Nov 2025
Formula One - Official Site

“Today has not been a positive day for the Team, but one we will try and learn from,” Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies summarised afterwards. “The Sprint was tough and we did not have the pace to fight for the win.
“We were not happy with where we were after the Sprint, so we decided to make a number of changes. It is part of the risk taking we felt was necessary to see if we could get more out of the car.”

“It didn’t work and if anything, it went in the opposite direction and clearly, we lost a lot of competitiveness. It is painful and difficult to accept but it is what happens when you take risks sometimes and the best we can do is to learn from it and see where we can improve the car from here.”

'Difficult to accept';

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/verstappens-qualifying-exit-difficult-to-accept-as-mekies-accepts-risk-went.3mJiypBdDMRxEh3kgPcKZ4


“I had to massively under-drive it”: How Verstappen’s disastrous Saturday unfolded
8 Nov 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Max Verstappen’s disastrous elimination in the first round of qualifying at Interlagos clearly caught Red Bull by surprise. Even given the damp conditions in the sprint race, Verstappen’s RB21 looked a handful, particularly at turn one. He caught snaps of oversteer there on laps two, four and six. Moments later Oscar Piastri spun into the barrier at the exit of Curva do Sol. Verstappen almost lost control of his car at the same point in the corner, keeping it out of the barriers with an armful of opposite lock. The Safety Car was deployed moments later.

“The car is just bouncing everywhere,” Verstappen reported to race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase. “It’s terrible, we can’t keep up.” Lambiase replied with “Okay, we’re just going to try and get you through some recommendations for turn one, Turn one looks really poor.” Verstappen answered with “No, it’s just wet, I have no grip, “it’s not the balance.” Lambiase appeared irked by this response and spoke over the driver as he replied: “Yes, so we are giving you recommendations so that you avoid oversteering into the corner every lap, Max. Whether you take them or not, is up to you,” he added testily.

Red Bull did not give the impression of a team desperately seeking a set-up solution as Q1 began. They were content to let all of their rivals hit the track before Verstappen, bar the Mercedes pair. Verstappen’s first run, a 1’10.681, gave no obvious cause for concern. “You’re currently P4,” Lambiase told him. “Looks like the track is a little bit slower than expected,” he added. However a flurry of quicker laps from other cars followed, and Verstappen tumbled down the order to 16th place. Red Bull sent him out for his final run early – so much so that he had the track to himself. “Oh my god, mate, the car right now is a tiny bit better, but now I’m sliding even more,” Verstappen reported. “For reference, Bearman P1, 9.8, you’re currently P16,” Lambiase replied. “Let us know if we can help you out with the tools.” But Verstappen was stumped: “No, I don’t know what to tell you.”

“I had to massively under-drive it”;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/11/08/i-had-to-massively-under-drive-it-how-verstappens-disastrous-saturday-unfolded/


Brazil Bombshell: Verstappen Could Start from the Pit Lane
8 Nov 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Red Bull turned up at Interlagos looking like they’d finally found a groove again. By the end of qualifying, they were back in a hole – and staring at an awkward call that could send Max Verstappen to a pit-lane start on Sunday. Verstappen was knocked out in Q1, the RB21 visibly short on grip and speed in all the wrong places, with teammate Yuki Tsunoda also failing to escape the first segment. The team reverted the cars out of parc fermé between the Sprint and qualifying, chased a bold direction – and got lost. Now the question is whether to double down on a misfiring setup or rip it up, break parc fermé again and start from the pits.

Helmut Marko didn’t sugarcoat it. Speaking to Austrian TV, he said Red Bull will sit down and decide whether “drastic changes” are needed to wake the car up – fully aware that doing so would mean a pit-lane launch for Verstappen rather than the P16 he currently holds. The blunt assessment from Marko: the track ramped up, Red Bull didn’t, and grip disappeared where it mattered. Sector 1 and 3 were the alarm bells; the stopwatch confirmed it.

It’s a gut punch just as Verstappen had built a run of six straight podiums to steady his title push in the wake of Lando Norris’ charge at the front. Mexico already hinted at the wobble: Red Bull brought bits, didn’t get the return, and Verstappen’s podium there owed more to craft than raw pace in a race Norris controlled. The team thought they’d understood the direction. Brazil says otherwise.

‘Brazil Bombshell’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/brazil-bombshell-verstappen-could-start-from-the-pit-lane/