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F1 Full Results | Canadian GP Qualifying: Russell to mighty pole position in front of Verstappen, Norris crumbles again.
Qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix has just wrapped up, with George Russell taking a fantastic pole position ahead of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. Below are the full qualifying results.
14 Jun 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com
An unexpected yet incredible performance from the Mercedes driver, who edges out Max Verstappen by just one tenth, while Oscar Piastri settles for third. A disaster for Norris and Leclerc, who will start from seventh and eighth positions respectively.
‘Fantastic pole position’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/f1-fu...crumbles-again
Canadian GP: Qualifying Results
Full results from qualifying for the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix where George Russell took his first pole of 2025.
15 Jun 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe
Pos No Driver Car Q1 Q2 Q3 Laps
1 63 George Russell Mercedes 1:12.075 1:11.570 1:10.899 21
2 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT 1:12.054 1:11.638 1:11.059 20
3 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren Mercedes 1:11.939 1:11.715 1:11.120 23
4 12 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:12.279 1:11.974 1:11.391 21
5 44 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:11.952 1:11.885 1:11.526 27
6 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 1:12.073 1:11.805 1:11.586 27
7 4 Lando Norris McLaren Mercedes 1:11.826 1:11.599 1:11.625 22
8 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:12.038 1:11.626 1:11.682 27
9 6 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls Honda RBPT 1:12.211 1:12.003 1:11.867 21
10 23 Alexander Albon Williams Mercedes 1:12.090 1:11.892 1:11.907 30
‘Qualifying Results’;
https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-c...fying-results/
Mercedes' George Russell Claims Pole For Canadian Grand Prix
Mercedes' George Russell grabbed a dazzling pole position and then enjoyed cracking a joke at rival Max Verstappen's expense on Saturday.
• June 15, 2025
• Agence France-Presse
Mercedes' George Russell grabbed a dazzling pole position and then enjoyed cracking a joke at rival Max Verstappen's expense on Saturday after clocking a sensational lap in qualifying for Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix. The 27-year-old Briton was delighted with what he described as "one of the most exhilarating laps of my life" and said, when asked about the prospect of starting alongside Red Bull's four-time champion, that he had "a few more penalty points to play with".
His light-hearted jibe referred to his verbal rivalry with Verstappen since last season and their recent clash at the Spanish Grand Prix -- where the Dutchman rammed into Russell's car in the closing stages. Fans in the capacity crowd at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve roared their approval as Russell warmed to his theme after clocking the only sub 1.11 lap of the weekend to date.
"We're mates, so it's all good," insisted Russell, despite his tense and often strained relationship with Verstappen who, in Barcelona, said "give him some tissues" after their clash. "But I've got a few more points on my license to play with so, yeah, let's see," Russell said.
‘Mercedes' George Russell grabbed a dazzling pole position’;
https://sports.ndtv.com/formula-1/ru...xpense-8671077
Norris rues 'too many mistakes' in Canadian GP Qualifying
15 Jun 2025
Formula One - Official Site
"I just pushed a bit hard and too many mistakes," said Norris post-session as he reflected on his lower than hoped for grid slot. When asked what might have been possible, he replied: "Good enough for a top three, probably not good enough for pole.”
"Hard to know how much was maybe the medium tyre performing that little bit better, especially when the grip comes up. Maybe the medium is a touch better but it was a gamble. It was a risk and I guess every team has their own opinion on what they thought was best and clearly we didn't think that was going to be better. But we did what we did and I just didn't put it together when I needed to."
'Too many mistakes';
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...c0HNlKL0oni1qR
Ted Kravitz doesn’t ‘like to hear’ what Andrea Stella said about Lando Norris at Canadian Grand Prix
15 June 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Andrea Stella calls Lando Norris’ Canadian Grand Prix a ‘damage limitation’ exercise. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella spoke to Sky Sports journalist Ted Kravitz immediately after the session. He cast a pessimistic verdict on Norris’ Sunday chances.
Intriguingly, race engineer Will Joseph and performance engineer Andrew Jarvis both addressed Norris on the radio during Q3. They pointed to braking as the main area for improvement. Stella believes that Norris must prioritise ‘damage limitation’ in the 70-lap race. He’s 10 points behind Piastri and 39 clear of Verstappen.
“The picture changes completely for the race, that’s what we have to focus on,” Stella said. “In terms of race pace, we should be a bit more comfortable. But let’s see, I think this weekend could be one of damage limitation. Damage limitation?” Kravitz replied. “I never like to hear that from any team, but interesting that it’s coming from you.”
‘Damage limitation’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ted...an-grand-prix/
Marko outlines why Russell's pole wont'affect Verstappen at all despite P2 in qualifying
15 Jun 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com
Verstappen will start from second place, but according to Helmut Marko, that will not represent much of an issue as the target is clear. "We're very satisfied," he stresses on ServusTV. "If we are looking at the long runs, Mercedes seemed significantly worse off in terms of tire wear."
According to the Austrian, Verstappen could easily replicate what he did last year—when he also started second, once again behind his fiercest rival: "Last year, he also started from second place and that worked out well''.
Elaborating more on the tire choices for the race, Marko added: "It was quite exciting, so we kept both tyres to see what would work. It was a thrilling choice, and we were lucky, or did we plan it that way with both tyres?"
"We're very satisfied";
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/marko...erstappens-win
Max to start Canadian Grand Prix from P2: 'I am very happy with qualifying'
14 June 2025
Kees-Jan Koster
Verstappen.nl
“I felt quite good all weekend,” Max said after qualifying. “The car was in a good window and this track is quite cool. It kind of feels like a big go-kart on the kerbs and we have got the long straights and heavy braking. You need to be quite efficient on the straights here, and I think we are.”
'I am very happy with qualifying';
https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5852/
Max Verstappen issues ‘p*ssing me off’ response to penalty talk
14 Jun 2025
Elizabeth Blackstock
PlanetF1.com
Max Verstappen refused to discuss his potential penalty point-related ban after qualifying alongside George Russell on the front row of the Canadian Grand Prix grid. “It’s really p*ssing me off,” Verstappen said, before the post-qualifying press conference quickly moved on to take questions from the floor.
The reigning champion cut off moderator Tom Clarkson before the end of his question on penalty points. “I don’t need to hear it again,” Verstappen said, audibly exasperated.
“It’s really p*ssing me off. I mean, you speaking about it on Thursday, it’s such a waste of time. It’s very childish. That why I also don’t want to say too much, because it’s really annoying, this world that we live in.”
‘P*ssing me off’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-ve...o-penalty-talk
Hamilton ‘gunning for a podium’ from P5 in Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix
14 Jun 2025
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Lewis Hamilton admitted he “doesn’t feel at one with the car” – and may not do for the whole year. Nonetheless, he’s still aiming for a top three result for Ferrari in Montreal this weekend.
‘Gunning for a podium’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/ha...42739580442599
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BREAKING NEWSGeorge Russell wins Canadian Grand Prix as Lando Norris crashes out after colliding with Oscar Piastri to hand his McLaren team-mate title advantage.
Lando Norris crashed out of the Canadian Grand Prix following a sensational 200mph collision with McLaren team-mate and championship rival Oscar Piastri.
15 June 2025
DOMINIC HOGAN
MailOnline
As George Russell delivered a faultless drive to win from pole position ahead of Red Bull rival Max Verstappen, Norris banged into the back of Piastri as they duelled for fourth place with three laps to go. Norris attempted to pass Piastri across the start-finish line but he misjudged the move and hit his team-mate's car.
Norris was forced to park his damaged McLaren and immediately accepted blame for the incident. 'It is all my bad,' he said on the radio 'All my fault. Unlucky. Stupid from me.' The race ended behind the safety car with Kimi Antonelli taking third place - his first podium in Formula One - to complete a strong afternoon for Mercedes. Piastri was able to continue to cross the line in fourth and extend his championship lead from 10 points to 22.
‘Norris was forced to park his damaged McLaren’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...advantage.html
F1 2025 Canadian GP – Race Results
Mercedes claimed a double podium in Montreal with Russell leading Verstappen and Antonelli across the line
15 June 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
F1 Canadian GP 2025 results
Check out the full Canadian GP 2025 race results from Montreal below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 George Russell Mercedes Leader
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.228
3 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +1.014
4 Oscar Piastri McLaren +2.109
5 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +3.442
6 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +10.713
7 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +10.972
8 Nico Hulkenberg Sauber +15.364
9 Esteban Ocon Haas +1 Lap
10 Carlos Sainz Williams +1 Lap
‘Race Results’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...-race-results/
McLaren drivers under investigation after shock Canadian GP clash
McLaren face a nervy wait following the Canadian Grand Prix, with both drivers off to the stewards.
15 June 2025
Nick Golding
Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been placed under investigation, following the duo's shock clash in the closing stages of the Canadian Grand Prix. The pair collided along the start/finish straight with Norris having found himself in the wall, causing significant damage which led to an immediate retirement.
Norris had excellent pace in the final laps and caught his team-mate in a battle for fourth, before diving down the inside at the tight hairpin. It triggered a drag race along the back straight; however, Piastri emerged from the final chicane still ahead.
In an attempt to get past, Norris tried to sweep around the outside of the Australian, although ended up making contact with his team-mate. It sent him into the wall, triggering heavy damage and an instant retirement.
‘McLaren drivers under investigation’;
https://racingnews365.com/mclaren-dr...adian-gp-clash
Watch Norris and Piastri come to blows in Canadian GP
15 June 2025
Formula One - Official Site
The season-long battle between McLaren team mates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri came to a head in the closing stages of the Canadian Grand Prix, with the collision ending the Briton's race prematurely. With George Russell leading the race, the top five had become remarkably close, and Piastri was utilising the DRS he had gained behind Kimi Antonelli to prevent Norris from overtaking him for fourth place.
Heading onto the start-finish straight, he attempted to pull ahead via a narrow gap to the left of Piastri, but drove into the rear of his car and collided with the wall to sustain enough damage to retire from the race. He confirmed that he was uninjured over the radio and immediately took responsibility for the incident, which has helped Piastri to establish a greater gap over him at the top of the Drivers' Standings.
‘The collision’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...0vU29zW9AyKR90
Lando Norris admits ‘stupid from me’ move as McLaren drivers collide in Canadian GP
15 Jun 2025
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com
Before clambering out of his car, Norris held his hands up to take responsibility for the collision.
“Yep, I’m sorry,” he said.
“It’s all my bad, all my fault.
“Unlucky, sorry.
“Stupid from me.”
Making his way to the media pen following the chequered flag, Norris approached his teammate to apologise for the collision.
‘Stupid from me’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lando-...ian-grand-prix
Norris and Piastri collide in F1's Canadian GP as Russell wins
Jun 15, 2025
Matt Beer
The Race
McLaren’s intra-team Formula 1 world championship battle erupted into contact at the Canadian Grand Prix as Lando Norris hit Oscar Piastri and crashed out with three laps left. The dramatic incident meant Mercedes claimed its first win of the 2025 F1 season behind the safety car, as George Russell and Kimi Antonelli made it a 1-3 with Max Verstappen’s Red Bull between them.
After his messy run to seventh in qualifying, Norris regained ground in the race with an offset two-stop strategy with a very long first stint. Going into the closing laps, the top five cars were covered by only six seconds with Russell leading Verstappen by just over two seconds having held him at arm’s length all race. Antonelli had outmuscled Piastri for third through the race’s opening corners and now had both McLarens on his tail.
Norris surged down the inside of Piastri into the hairpin but could not hold onto the place on the run down the long back straight as Piastri grabbed DRS from Antonelli. Going onto the pits straight, Norris attempted to line Piastri up for another move only to clip his team-mate as he aimed at a narrowing gap, ripping the front wing off his car and sending him straight into the pitwall. Piastri escaped damage and followed Russell, Verstappen and Antonelli home for a fourth place that extended his world championship lead over Norris to 22 points.
‘Norris surged down the inside of Piastri’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/l...-russell-wins/
Seven F1 drivers at risk of Canadian GP penalty after being placed under investigation by FIA
Jun 15, 2025
SPORTbible
Seven drivers are at a risk of a penalty after being placed under investigation by the FIA following the Canadian Grand Prix. But the conclusion of the race was overshadowed by a high-speed crash between McLaren team-mates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Norris clipped the left rear tyre of Piastri on the pit straight after taking to the grass, causing him to retire from critical suspension damage. The crash brought out the safety car, which was deployed until the finish.
But a series of incidents under the safety car has led to the FIA placing seven different drivers under investigation - and the outcome of those investigations could significantly change the Grand Prix result. Antonelli, Piastri, fifth-placed Charles Leclerc, ninth-placed Esteban Ocon and 10th-placed Carlos Sainz are all under investigation for 'safety car infringements', as well as non-points finishers Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll.
According to De Telegraaf, all seven drivers are under investigation for overtaking under the safety car after the chequered flag. All drivers, however, will be concerned about a previous outcome of the same investigation last season. After the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Verstappen, Ocon, Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg were all given warnings for overtaking under the virtual safety car after the end of the race. However, the stewards stated: "Further breaches may incur significant penalties."
‘Seven F1 drivers at risk’;
https://www.sportbible.com/f1/canadi...01726-20250615
Another crushing blow for Norris? Collision with Piastri under investigation
15 Jun 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com
Lando Norris' Canadian Grand Prix weekend has not been one for the books. After qualifying P7, half a second behind teammate Oscar Piastri, the British driver collided into fellow McLaren driver bringing his race to an end. Now the Stewards have announced he's under investigation.
As the Canadian GP came to its final moments, Norris and Piastri were locked in a fierce battle for P4, with both exchanging positions briefly at the end of lap 66. As they both headed down the main straight, Piastri took the inside line to defend from Norris, who tried to go deeper up the inside, biting the grass, losing control of his MCL39 colliding into the back of his teammate, and losing his front wing in the process.
It was at this moment that Norris became just a passenger as he was unable to steer his way clear of the wall. The collision ultimately resulted in Norris's DNF. Stewards investigate Norris and Piastri clash. Now the race officials have issued an investigation into the matter with Lando Norris standing to lose the most, seeing as it was he who crashed into his teammate.
‘Another crushing blow for Norris?’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/breaking-n...-investigation
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Norris and Piastri collision ‘not acceptable’ – Stella.
Andrea Stella has admitted that the contact that occurred between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the Canadian Grand Prix was “not acceptable”, with the McLaren team boss conceding that Norris “paid a price in the championship” after retiring from the race as a result.
June 16th, 2025
Formula One - Official Site
Asked for his take on the collision on F1 TV’s post-race show, McLaren team boss Andrea Stella explained: “Well, we never want to see a McLaren car involved in an accident and definitely we don’t want to see the two McLarens having contact, so this situation is a situation that we know is not acceptable.
“At the same time, we appreciate that Lando immediately owned it and apologised to the team, which for us sort of reset the situation. I’m sure he has an important learning point coming from this race, he paid a price in the championship. Like I said, we appreciate his behaviour straight after the accident and we will go racing again.” While the squad have always been clear on ‘papaya rules’, Stella was pushed on whether the incident might alter the situation going forwards.
“It doesn’t change things because it’s a misjudgement,” the Italian said. “It’s not like the driver had an intent that was beyond the principles, it was just a misjudgement of the proximity to the car ahead. If Lando had a different reaction, then there would have been certainly serious conversations to have, but I think he immediately realised that he simply miscalculated, this caused a problem for himself, for the team, and it was very close to causing a problem for Oscar.”
“Misjudgement”;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...mFftevHuEeJDjj
‘Made a fool of myself’: Moment Norris faced Piastri as star ‘breaks No.1 rule’
June 16th, 2025
Fox Sports
Lando Norris has been forced to eat humble pie over his crash with Oscar Piastri as the extent of the blunder began to sink in after the Canadian Grand Prix. Norris immediately took responsibility over team radio after the crash, but that was just the start of an apology tour that was about to continue in the paddock. The Briton doubled down when speaking to Sky Sports immediately after, saying that there was “no one to blame by myself”.
In a separate interview, Norris admitted he had broke “rule number one” and that he was remorseful for letting the team down. McLaren is my family, I race for them every single weekend. I try and do well for them, more than I often try and do well for myself,” he said.
“So when I let them down like this, and when I make a fool of myself in a moment like today, I have a lot of regret in something like that. So I’m not proud of that, and I feel bad, and I feel like I let my down my team. And that’s for me always the worst feeling. So of course, I really need to apologise to all of them. And Oscar as well.”
‘Lando Norris has been forced to eat humble pie’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...7098cc5e12d9b5
Piastri labels Norris clash in Canada ‘a shame for the team’
15 Jun 2025
Formula One - Official Site
Oscar Piastri reflected on the Canadian Grand Prix moment that saw his battle with Lando Norris end in a collision for the first time this season, marking an unfortunate end to one of McLaren’s weakest weekends so far in 2025. “I mean I obviously haven’t seen it so I don’t really know,” Piastri said after the race. “I was defending the inside and then felt a small touch and that’s honestly all I have at the moment. Obviously a shame for the team. It was a bit of a difficult race apart from that. Just not the easiest of weekends.”
‘Shame for the team’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...y2QyIQOvLskr3x
Why penalised Norris avoids a grid drop for Piastri clash
Jun 16, 2025
Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race
Lando Norris has been given a five-second penalty for the Canadian Grand Prix he crashed out of, rather than a grid drop for the next Formula 1 race in Austria. Norris clumsily drove into the back of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, trying to pass him for fourth in the closing laps of the Montreal race. Although he was obviously not running at the chequered flag as a result of that accident, Norris was technically classified as a finisher in 18th, as he had covered at least 90% of the race distance covered by winner George Russell.
This is key to the punishment dished out by the stewards, who unsurprisingly determined Norris was wholly to blame for the collision with Piastri and felt it merited a slightly reduced five-second penalty despite there being “no immediate and obvious sporting consequence”. So Norris has escaped carrying a penalty into the next race weekend in Austria, and instead gets a meaningless five-second penalty that does not impact his Canada result.
‘Meaningless five-second penalty’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...piastri-clash/
F1 stewards hand Lando Norris unusual penalty after Oscar Piastri collision
Despite having retired from the Canadian Grand Prix, a time penalty has been handed to Lando Norris for the clash with Oscar Piastri.
16 June 2025
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365
Lando Norris has received a five-second time penalty for being judged at fault for causing the collision with Oscar Piastri on lap 67 of the Canadian Grand Prix. Whilst Norris retired from the race, he was classified in the results, leading to the decision to hand the Briton a time penalty.
Following an investigation, a stewards' statement read: "The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 4 (Lando Norris), the driver of Car 81 (Oscar Piastri), team representatives and video and in-car video evidence. Car 4 was attempting to overtake Car 81 on the main straight.
"The Stewards determined that the driver of Car 4 was solely to blame for the collision. Because the collision had no immediate and obvious sporting consequence, we imposed a 5-second post-race time penalty on Car 4."
‘Unusual penalty’;
https://racingnews365.com/f1-steward...stri-collision
Piastri, Antonelli and five others given warnings for Safety Car rules breach
15th June 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Seven drivers, including first-time podium finisher Andrea Kimi Antonelli, have been formally warned for infringements of the Safety Car rules. The other drivers include championship leader Oscar Piastri, who finished fourth. Three other points finishers – Charles Leclerc, Esteban Ocon and Carlos Sainz – were warned along with Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll who finished outside the top 10. The seven drivers all overtook other cars after the end of the race. This is ordinarily permitted, however the race was still under Safety Car conditions on this occasion, although the car had entered the pits.
George Russell’s race engineer Marcus Dudley also noticed the drivers who were passing after the chequered flag. “There should be no overtaking here,” he told the race winner. “It’s still Safety Car conditions, I don’t know what they’re doing.” “To be fair I was driving quite slow, so I don’t think they did anything wrong,” replied Russell. “I was just waving at the crowd.” The stewards also issued a formal warning to Oliver Bearman for failing to rejoin the track correctly at turn 14 after he went off while fighting for position with Franco Colapinto. Ocon was cleared of driving erratically when he braked sharply in the pit exit and was almost hit by Carlos Sainz Jnr.
‘Seven drivers’;
https://www.racefans.net/2025/06/15/...-rules-breach/
Tsunoda lashes out at stewards in Canada: 'Easy to say from your seat'
15 Jun 2025
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com
"Yes, so it's funny," Max Verstappen's teammate began to Viaplay. "I overtook Piastri [on the] back straight. He was driving 80 kilometres per hour, very, very slow. Apparently, that is fast, even 80 kilometres per hour. Having also massive damage, lots of debris spreading around. Obviously you want to avoid to get hit from that, especially if you're driving behind the car."
The Japanese driver also underlined he did everything safely in order to avoid another incident.
"So I would overtake with a sensible speed, which is not crazy, 170 kilometres per hour, half the speed of the back straight speed that we normally drive. And with far right lanes and he was driving far left to try to, avoid the situation. It's just a very questionable," he continued. "It's just, I mean, what do they want me to do it? Apparently they want me to stick behind with 80 kilometres per hour. And I saw the tyre was going sideways a lot, I thought the tyre going to take off,"
He further explained why he could not just stay and wait behind Piastri's McLaren. Therefore, he also questions whether the stewards understood the situation he was in. "For them it's easy to say, sitting in a chair, watching, but for me it's very dangerous, like you see the car is going sideways, tyre is going sideways, debris going everywhere. You want to avoid being hit by that. So I don't know what to do," he concluded.
'Easy to say from your seat';
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/tsuno...from-your-seat
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Jacques Villeneuve points the finger at Oscar Piastri for ‘nasty’ action against Lando Norris.
1997 F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve believes Oscar Piastri moved across on Lando Norris in a “nasty” fashion.
16 Jun 2025
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com
Offering his perspective on the incident as he took to his own Instagram channel, Jacques Villeneuve said Piastri’s actions contributed to the incident. “The clash between the two McLaren drivers, [it was] easy to point the finger at Norris,” he said.
“He realised too late that Piastri was moving towards the left because he had his nose in the gearbox of Piastri, he didn’t realise it and Piastri was edging gradually towards the left. He’s not supposed to be doing that, it was a little bit nasty, so there will be some talks later inside the team.”
Villeneuve’s perspective is certainly different from that of all of those involved, including Norris. Villeneuve’s opinion on the clash was also at odds with the thoughts of McLaren team boss Andrea Stella, who said the team “appreciated” Norris’ immediate reaction in accepting the blame.
‘Villeneuve’s perspective’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/jacque...and-prix-clash
F1 legend accuses Oscar Piastri of 'nasty' act that contributed to Lando Norris collision
The 1997 world champion isn't buying the official line that Norris was solely to blame.
16 June 2025
Sam Goodwin
Yahoo! Australia
F1 legend Jacques Villeneuve has made extraordinary claims that Oscar Piastri contributed to the collision with Lando Norris in the Canadian Grand Prix. Norris failed to finish after clipping the back of Piastri's car while trying to overtake his McLaren teammate with four laps remaining.
The British driver expected Piastri to leave a gap on the outside, but his gamble backfired when the gap never materialised. Norris clipped his teammate and then hit the wall, and was unable to finish the race.
The FIA also ruled that Norris was solely to blame, but Villeneuve doesn't believe that was the case. “The clash between the two McLaren drivers, [it was] easy to point the finger at Norris,” said the 1997 world champion on Monday night.
“He realised too late that Piastri was moving towards the left because he had his nose in the gearbox of Piastri, he didn’t realise it and Piastri was edging gradually towards the left. He’s not supposed to be doing that, it was a little bit nasty, so there will be some talks later inside the team.” Villeneuve's opinion goes against the grain, with the overwhelming majority of the F1 world believing Piastri wasn't at fault at all.
‘Villeneuve's opinion goes against the grain’;
https://au.news.yahoo.com/f1-legend-...213139806.html
Jacques Villeneuve makes George Russell 'deserved penalty' claim over controversial Max Verstappen clash
Jacques Villeneuve has now had his say over the controversial late clash between Max Verstappen and George Russell in the Spanish GP.
12 June 2025
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365
Jacques Villeneuve believes George Russell should have actually been penalised before his controversial clash with Max Verstappen in Spain. After the late safety car restart, Russell barged Verstappen wide at Turn 1, with Red Bull informing the Dutchman that it thought he had better let Russell through to avoid a penalty.
But in doing so, Verstappen appeared to ram into Russell at Turn 5, for which he earned a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points, taking him to 11 for the 12-month period and one point away from a race ban. Russell did not receive any sanction for the Turn 1 incident, but 1997 world champion Villeneuve believes this was a mistake from the stewards. "It was not intentional; it happened in the heat of the moment," Villeneuve told BetVictorCasino.
"He immediately wanted to regain the position, but completely messed it up, and people immediately shouted that he did it on purpose and that he wanted to crash Russell out. The crazy thing is: Russell deserved a penalty. He hit Max on the rear wheel entering Turn 1. According to the rules, that leads to forcing a collision and pushing another driver off the track. So why didn't he get a penalty for that?”
‘George Russell 'deserved penalty' claim’;
https://racingnews365.com/jacques-vi...rstappen-clash
Red Bull figure hits out at Russell attempt to ‘throw’ Verstappen ‘under the bus’
17 Jun 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
George Russell has been accused of “trying to throw” Max Verstappen “under the bus” with his actions behind the Safety Car at the Canadian Grand Prix. Leading the race, Russell hit the brakes, a normal manoeuvre to maintain temperatures behind the Safety Car, and Verstappen was seemingly caught out by the suddenness of the braking and sailed past the Mercedes driver. Russell was quickly on the radio to report that the Dutch driver had overtaken him under Safety Car conditions, while Verstappen got onto his race engineer to point out the sudden braking.
The stewards weren’t fazed by the incident, but Red Bull later lodged a protest over what they perceived to be Russell’s “unsportsmanlike behaviour” with Christian Horner questioning the Briton’s “objective” given his post-qualifying jab about Verstappen’s penalty points. But while the protest was not upheld by the stewards, Red Bull simulator and development driver Van Buren believes Russell’s actions were questionable at best.
“I’m somewhat irritated by it, to put it mildly, in front of the camera. George has a certain distance to the Safety Car that he needs to maintain,” he told Viaplay. “Talking about trying to throw someone under the bus. He’s looking in his right mirror, and Max is driving alongside. He’s warming up his tyres, and as soon as he thinks, ‘If I brake now, Max will pass me’, he does it.”
‘Russell’s actions were questionable at best’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/red-bu...-under-the-bus
Internet erupts over Russell ‘brake test’: ‘If Max did that, he’d already be hanged’
16 Jun 2025
Marnik Kok
GPblog.com
There's plenty to say about the Canadian Grand Prix. The tension at the front, George Russell's win, and Lando Norris's crash. But what do fans think of the 'game' between Russell and Max Verstappen?
Jennie Gow: “I’m guessing this is for Russell’s actions behind SC but don’t know for sure.”
Ro de Jong: “Yes it is.
Russell suddenly brakes.
In a vid you can see that he looks, then brakes (his head moves forward), then says that Verstappen overtook him.
Should be a clear penalty.”
‘Internet erupts’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/ntern...eady-be-hanged
McLaren stumble gives Red Bull hope
Dr Helmut Marko is leaving Canada feeling "very satisfied".
JUNE 16, 2025
GrandPrix.com
Initially pessimistic heading into the Montreal round, the reality was that dominant rival McLaren had an 'off' weekend while Mercedes' George Russell raced to the front. Red Bull advisor Marko allowed himself a moment of optimism.
“We're very satisfied,” he told Servus TV. “We were on par with Mercedes and McLaren. That gives us a boost for the next races.” However, team boss Christian Horner admits that McLaren should be at the front next time out in Austria.
Marko is allowing himself a glimmer of hope. “We saw that McLaren was fast, but they couldn't overtake and therefore couldn't dominate. This is encouraging for the next races,” said the Austrian. “It gives us hope. The Red Bull Ring is another circuit with a different configuration, but we have seen that McLaren can be beaten - if you do everything right.”
“Glimmer of hope’;
https://www.grandprix.com/news/mclar...bull-hope.html
Red Bull quicker than McLaren: Verstappen back into the championship fray?
17 Jun 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com
McLaren currently have the overall best car, but on a track that was not Red Bull's forte, the Austrians managed to outpace the Woking-based squad in both qualifying and the race. Christian Horner, Red Bull's team principal and CEO elaborates. Speaking to media after the race, Horner said: "I think it was a solid race for us. I mean, the first stint we pushed pretty hard early on, on the medium tyre. The tyre then started to open up. So I would say the second stint for us was probably our least competitive stint. We started to open and grain the front left."
The Red Bull car is known to be adept to fast corners which the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve does not have any of. Where did their pace come from? “It was unusual. I think we knew that Mercedes would be quicker at this type of circuit. Ferrari didn't really have a great deal of pace in the race. McLaren showed turns of pace, but you could see how hard it was to overtake here.”
Could McLaren's regression have anything to do with the Spanish Grand Prix front wing clampdown? “I think you need a longer sample of races and tracks to see that. But it's certainly been probably McLaren's first race they haven't had a podium, here. So on days like that, you've got to try and capitalize on the points,” Horner said.
‘Red Bull quicker than McLaren’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/red-b...erstappen-fans
-
Lewis Hamilton growing ‘more and more impatient’ in fresh Ferrari update.
Hamilton has had an underwhelming start to his first season as a Ferrari driver following his high-profile move from Mercedes last winter.
17 Jun 2025
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Nico Rosberg: Lewis Hamilton getting ‘more and more impatient’ with Ferrari. Rosberg said: “There’s so much pressure there at Ferrari. You speak to some people and then, of course, Vasseur’s role is under threat according to the Italian media.”
“And Lewis also is becoming more and more impatient, obviously. Very unlucky also, I have to say, in the last couple of races, always has a few issues going on. So let’s hope. All the hope is on that Silverstone upgrade and that has to work for them.”
‘More and more impatient’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-...berg-impatient
Hamilton: Ferrari in need of ‘a lot of changes’ to fight for world title
16/06/2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Lewis Hamilton has delivered his most blunt and candid assessment yet of Ferrari’s struggles, warning that “a lot of changes” are needed behind the scenes if the iconic Italian outfit is to return to the top of Formula 1. Hamilton admitted his hands are tied when it comes to speaking openly about internal matters.
“Of course I’m asking for these things [upgrades],” he said. “I don’t know why we haven’t been bringing upgrades, I think we have one hopefully coming soon. The mindset for me, I’m like ‘there’s a lot of changes that need to be made in the system.’ I wish I could tell you what’s happening. There’s a lot going on in the background.”
“Yeah, I can’t say too much about it,” he added. “There’s so many things I wish I could tell you that could explain the things that have happened this year, the problems we had and what’s going on within the organisation. But my goal is to try and positively influence, try and get change so we can have long term success.”
‘Blunt and candid assessment’;
https://f1i.com/news/541799-hamilton...rld-title.html
Lewis Hamilton has put Fred Vasseur in impossible position with latest Ferrari demand after Canadian Grand Prix
17 June 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Before and after the Canadian Grand Prix, Hamilton called for Ferrari to deliver more upgrades. There were no new parts listed on the official FIA document last weekend. Embattled team principal Fred Vasseur pushed back on development calls because he believed that the FIA’s front-wing clampdown in Spain would benefit Ferrari. After two races, there’s no indication that they have made any relative gains.
Ferrari will introduce a new rear suspension at Silverstone, but the pace of their upgrades has certainly slowed of late. “I don’t know why we haven’t brought them, honestly,” Hamilton said on Sunday, via Gazzetta dello Sport. But as the Italian outlet note, the 40-year-old is simultaneously advocating for Ferrari to prioritise 2026. With major regulation changes looming, the timing of the shift in resources could be critical.
Hamilton doesn’t want Ferrari to ‘waste too much time’ on the SF-25 because they’re already out of both championships. Lead driver Leclerc is 94 points behind Oscar Piastri, and they’re 191 adrift of McLaren in the constructors’.
‘No indication that they have made any relative gains’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/features...an-grand-prix/
Fred Vasseur disagrees with Lewis Hamilton on what Ferrari’s ‘main problem’ is after the Canadian Grand Prix
16 June 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
Speaking to the press, via Motorsport Italia, after the race in Canada, it was put to Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, that Hamilton said several times to the press that Ferrari aren’t bringing new parts soon. Vasseur responded to this and said: “Soon. We will have updates soon.
“But I don’t think that’s the main problem. If you make the first record sector here, I don’t think there’s a need to bring so many updates. It’s not that the others bring them to every weekend and it’s not that we don’t bring anything just because we don’t declare them. We have to focus on ourselves because we didn’t do a clean job this weekend.”
‘Main problem’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fre...an-grand-prix/
Where Ferrari must improve to capitalise on upcoming F1 upgrades
17 Jun 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has confirmed the SF-25 will be given a new upgrade potentially as early as the next Formula 1 race in Austria, after a Canadian Grand Prix that saw the team, as he described it, make too many “mistakes collectively.”
The car’s biggest critic has been the team’s new boy, Lewis Hamilton, who has not been able to extract a great deal from it on virtually every circuit so far. Hamilton has continuously pleaded for upgrades on the car, and it appears that he will be getting his wish. Vasseur was asked whether he would be able to grant Hamilton’s wish for a new upgrade, expected to be a brand-new rear suspension, and confirmed that it will be happening, and very soon, too.
“We will have an upgrade soon. Before UK. Perhaps another one a bit later,” he said. “Honestly today, I think there is much more into the execution and what you are getting from the car than into the potential of the car itself. Now we are at the end of the obligation of this regulation. And we all know that when we are bringing something on track, we are more speaking about hundredths than tenths. And if you don’t do a good usage of the car, because for setup it’s a bit different, you can lose tenths.”
‘The car’s biggest critic has been the team’s new boy, Lewis Hamilton’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...g-f1-upgrades/
Video + Podcast: What's really going on with Ferrari's F1 crisis
Jun 18, 2025
The Race
The growing pressure in the Italian media on Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is the topic for the latest edition of The Race F1 Podcast. Former Ferrari communications advisor Roberto Boccafogli joins Jon Noble and Edd Straw to offer his unique insight into the criticisms of Vasseur and what could be done to prevent this.
We ask what’s gone wrong for Ferrari, whether there could be an imminent turnaround and whether Vasseur has convinced the Tifosi he’s taking the problems seriously enough in a team that presents unique communications challenges. We also discuss Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton’s concerns and ask what role they play in the troubles.
‘Video + Podcast’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/v...ris-f1-crisis/
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TECH CORNER: The upgrades that helped Mercedes dominate the Montreal weekend.
Post-qualifying analysis showed that George Russell's pole was down to his ability to spend the most time on full-thottle. The Briton spent a total of 67.1 per cent of the lap on full throttle, comfortably beating Max Verstappen (63.4 per cent), Oscar Piastri (61.5 per cent) and Lewis Hamilton (63 per cent).
18 Jun 2025
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
The W15 showed hardly any weaknesses in qualifying. Russell recorded a top speed of 332kph which was 3 kph lower than what Verstappen achieved, but its was still higher than Piastri's. The Mercedes driver was the quickest in the slowest corner of the Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve and the second quickest in the fastest corner.
The German-British team brought a new floor to Canada. The new configuration features a subtle revision to the edges. The reduced flap chord and tweaked vanes are expected to increase "mass flow under forward floor and vorticity shed from the fence system, increasing floor load."
While the modified floor was a performance upgrade, the Silver Arrows have also brought a circuit-specific modification. The modified front brake ducts featured increased inlet and exit area which were introduced "to cover off high brake duty for this circuit."
‘Upgrades helped Mercedes dominate’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/27123
Gary Anderson spotted ‘win-win’ upgrade on George Russell’s Mercedes at the Canadian Grand Prix
18 Jun 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer
Gary Anderson thinks Mercedes’ Canadian GP rear suspension upgrade is a ‘win-win’. “We often talk about how important it is to run these cars low to the ground, and this helps do exactly that,” Anderson has told The Race. He also added: “If you can keep more of the aerodynamic load on the rear tyres under braking, then you will keep the rear tyres cooler."
“When you exit the corner and apply the power, the rear tyres will have more grip. This means less wheelspin, which will also reduce the increase in rear tyre temperature. So, it’s a win-win situation. There is still more room for development in that area by increasing the pro-squat, which will let the car sit down more under acceleration and, again, reduce the increase in tyre temperature under acceleration. But that’s probably for another day.”
‘Win-win’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/gar...an-grand-prix/
Mercedes' on-off upgrade helped disprove a long-held belief
Jun 18 2025
Gary Anderson, Jon Noble
The Race
In a rules era where Mercedes has struggled to manage its rear tyre temperatures, previous successes have mostly relied on the temperatures dropping. As Wolff explained: "We brought the new rear geometry for that particular problem that we had, the rear surface overheating, but we weren't quite sure about the results in Imola because they were worse than we expected. Taking it off, I think, was the right thing to do. As was bringing it on here, because hopefully the development direction is correct."
Wolff suggested that one of the difficulties Mercedes faced in its decision-making process was trying to match up the data coming out of the factory with what was happening at the track, something all teams have found quite difficult with the current ruleset. "It's always with these kinds of regulations, you never know whether you land developments or whether you don't. Correlation has been difficult, particularly for us, but for many other teams," he said.
"New rear geometry”;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/m...g-held-belief/
Wolff cautious despite Canada win: 'Performance swings still there'
17/06/2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Despite the breakthrough win, Wolff emphasized that Mercedes is “under no illusions” about where the W15 stands on most circuits. “Never confident,” he said when asked if the team now expects to contend regularly.
“Because the swings in performance are still there. We've seen it last year that on some tracks it wasn't even close to who was second, but we dominated throughout the weekend. And that's a little bit the pattern we have seen here. And Austria is going to be a different ball game, different track layout, different challenges.”
“We expected a bit more tyre overheating considering the track temperature, but we're under no illusions that this really suited the strengths of our car the same way as it did last year. But for the majority of the circuits, we know it's a bit of a challenge, and that's why this is the first weekend both of us are on the podium. But it's great to see that when we get that chance, we take it.”
'Performance swings still there';
https://f1i.com/news/541871-wolff-ca...ill-there.html
Mercedes issues due to Red Bull, Russell deliberalty caused safety car issue for Verstappen
19 Jun 2025
Savannah Lenz
GPblog.com
Formula E driver, Sam Bird, believes that George Russell meant for Max Verstappen to get a penalty after the safety care debaucle. He believes that the braking from Russell was intentional, and deliberate.
Neom McLaren Formula E driver said on the Chequered Flag Podcast, “Russell braked on a straight line when Verstappen was right beside him. This happened between turn 12 and turn 13, and Verstappen ended up briefly in front of Russell. If I'm being very cynical, I would say he did this deliberately because according to the rules you cannot overtake behind the safety car.”
“If I'm being very cynical... ...deliberately”;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/f1-li...for-verstappen
Helmut Marko doesn’t understand how George Russell avoided penalty for incident that once cost Seb Vettel victory
17 Jun 2025
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer
Helmut Marko didn’t understand why George Russell avoided a penalty when Seb Vettel didn’t. George Russell kept his Canadian Grand Prix victory after a failed protest by Red Bull after the race, which suggested that he should have been penalised for erratic driving behind the safety car. They claimed that the Briton had been unsportsmanlike in his behaviour by trying to deceive Max Verstappen into passing him, which would have seen his rival punished with a few laps of the Canadian Grand Prix to go.
“You can measure that exactly, we had the situation in Hungary when Sebastian Vettel lost a victory because he did not keep the distance,” he said after the race. “Let them look at it in peace.” The incident that the Austrian was referring to came at the 2010 Hungarian Grand Prix, where Sebastian Vettel was handed a victory nabbing drive-through penalty for failing to stay within 10 car lengths of the car in front.
As a result, he finished third, and even explained himself after the race that he didn’t ‘understand’ the decision of the stewards. Sebastian Vettel: “It’s been explained to me, but I still don’t understand it. We’re unlucky – it would have been a walk in the park.” Although it wasn’t a carbon copy of the situation this time, Marko seemed to indicate that if Vettel was punished, then Russell should come under question too.
“Look at it in peace”;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/hel...ettel-victory/
McLaren driver firmly believes Russell tried to get Verstappen penalty points in controversial SC episode
18 Jun 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com
Formula E driver, Sam Bird continued his analysis of the controversial moment by looking ahead to next weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix. The 38-year-old suggested that Russell may have braked deliberately, knowing that if Verstappen received another penalty point on his license, it could lead to a suspension for the following race.
The Mercedes driver won this race last year and the absence of Verstappen could have increased his chances of repeating that in 2025: “Verstappen is the king at the Red Bull Ring, but that's the cynical version of me wanting to stir up a bit of fire.”
‘Another penalty point! Could lead to a suspension for the following race’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/mclar...penalty-points
Russell's sudden move against 'cheeky' Verstappen labelled as 'Take this you sucker!' message
18 Jun 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com
Nico Rosberg tried to understand the reason behind George Russell's sudden braking towards Max Verstappen, which later led to Red Bull lodging a double protest following the Canadian Grand Prix. 'Take this sucker!' Nico Rosberg, speaking about the matter via the Sky F1 podcast, tried to understand the reason behind Russell's sudden braking towards,,,
According to the former German driver, the British driver wanted to send a very clear message to his rival: ''When you're in safety car and you see Max Verstappen being cheeky and trying to make you nervous by making himself really big right next to you in that mirror, in the exact spot where the mirror is facing''.
''You don't like that. It really annoys you as a driver, like really properly, like deeply, deeply annoys you. And so it's only from there, it's quite natural to say, you know what, take this you sucker. So yes, he did want to hit the brakes and give one back to Max there''.
‘Tried to understand Russell's sudden braking’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/russe...sucker-message
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Alonso: Aston upgrades 'boosting confidence' but flaws remain.
Fernando Alonso walked away from the Canadian Grand Prix feeling satisfied with a well-executed weekend and another valuable points finish – but the two-time world champion didn’t shy away from highlighting the lingering flaws that continue to hold Aston Martin back.
17 Jun 2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
“Quite happy, I think the car was good the whole weekend,” Fernando Alonso said post-race. “Actually, the race was probably our least strong point of the weekend. Thanks to the sixth position yesterday in qualifying, we kept the pace at the beginning of the race and we opened a gap that was a little bit our safety net for the pit stops and things like that. Good weekend, we executed well and good points for the team.”
“It gives us a little bit more confidence to push but there are still some weaknesses in the car since the beginning that we still not solved completely. Especially on the race pace on Sunday we see the problems,” he explained. “Still a lot of work to do, today we led the midfield but the top teams are still quite far away and we need to close that gap.”
'Boosting confidence';
https://f1i.com/news/541878-alonso-a...ws-remain.html
Aston Martin's big upturn is only helping one driver
Jun 20, 2025
Jon Noble
The Race
While Aston Martin certainly welcomes the fact that Alonso is in a happier place, it has not gone amiss that team-mate Lance Stroll remains a bit lost. The Canadian, who missed the Spanish GP because of wrist problems, has not finished in the points since he was classified fifth in the Miami GP sprint at the start of May, and has got through to Q3 just once this campaign, at Imola.
Speaking after his home race last weekend, where he finished a lowly 17th and incurred an in-race penalty for pushing Pierre Gasly onto the grass at high speed, Stroll seemed particularly downbeat - a notable contrast to how his team-mate assessed things.
"I don't really feel any difference in the car," said Stroll, when asked by The Race if he shared Alonso's review of the upgraded car. “Maybe he's just been getting good results and he feels good in the car because of that, but, I don't know. I felt pretty slow."
‘Stroll seemed particularly downbeat’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/a...ng-one-driver/
Nico Rosberg says Adrian Newey has already left ‘mouths open’ by doing one incredible thing at Aston Martin
18 June 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Speaking on the Sky F1 podcast, Nico Rosberg revealed what he’d heard about Newey’s initial contribution at Aston Martin. He’s been studying next year’s rulebook in depth to try and find loopholes. “Adrian is still the best of all time as a car designer, and he’s hit the ground running,” Rosberg said. “I hear stories of him being on his drawing board and all the Aston aerodynamicists with their mouths open following him drawing with his pencils, which is incredible.”
‘Mouths open’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/nic...-aston-martin/
Aston Martin reunites Newey with former Red Bull ally in sim push
19 Jun 2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Aston Martin has made significant moves to strengthen its Formula 1 technical lineup, recruiting Giles Wood, a former Red Bull engineer and close colleague of managing technical partner Adrian Newey, to enhance its operations at its Silverstone base. During his time at Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Advanced Technologies, Woods played a central role in building the team’s performance modelling tools.
“I think it is fair to say that some of our tools are weak, particularly the driver in the loop simulator,” Adrian Newey stated recently. “It needs a lot of work because it’s not correlating at all at the moment, which is a fundamental research tool. Not having that is a limitation.”
“But we’ve just got to work around it in the meantime and then sort out a plan to get it to where it needs to be. But that’s probably a two-year project in truth.” Giles Wood’s expertise in simulation is expected to be instrumental in tackling this challenge, aligning Aston Martin’s tools with those of its rivals.
‘Sim push’;
https://f1i.com/news/541957-aston-ma...-sim-push.html
Aston Martin lures Newey's ex-Red Bull lieutenant back to F1
Jun 18, 2025
Jon Noble
The Race
Aston Martin has lured one of Adrian Newey’s former Red Bull lieutenants back to Formula 1 to help drive forward its simulation tools. The appointment of Wood, who will renew a strong working relationship he built up with Newey as they together helped Red Bull achieve multiple world titles with Vettel from 2010 to 2013, will be a big boost to Newey’s hopes of getting things sorted much quicker than feared.
Wood has huge expertise in understanding simulation tools, having begun his F1 career as simulation lead at McLaren from 2004 to 2006, before moving to Red Bull where he became chief engineer and then head of simulation/analysis from 2007 to 2014. After a spell working at Red Bull Advanced Technologies from 2014 until 2017, he moved to California to work with Apple – but has since been convinced to begin a working relationship with Newey again.
‘Newey's ex-Red Bull lieutenant’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/a...nt-back-to-f1/
Aston Martin’s shock plan: snagging Russell to lead 2026 charge
16 Jun 2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Aston Martin has set its sights on a bold move to secure Mercedes star George Russell as the linchpin for their Formula 1 future from 2026, according to a report from Motorsport.com citing a “leading paddock source.” With the biggest regulation overhaul in F1 history looming, the Silverstone-based outfit is banking on legendary designer Adrian Newey to craft a championship-contending car.
George Russell, fresh off a commanding victory in Montreal, is out of contract with Mercedes at season’s end, fueling speculation about his future. When asked how his recent win might influence his contract talks, Russell was unfazed. “It doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt at all, but, you know, as I've said many times, I'm not concerned at all about next year,” he said in Montreal.
“I know I'm going to be on the grid next year, I feel that I'm driving better than ever and I still feel I've got more in the tank. I feel ready to fight for a world championship, and I think results like today, when we got half a chance of a good result, we're there to take it, and I'm pretty relaxed, just enjoying the moment, enjoying my racing, and just taking it week by week.”
‘Aston Martin’s shock plan’;
https://f1i.com/news/541751-aston-ma...26-charge.html
George Russell on Aston Martin’s Radar Despite Pledging Loyalty to Mercedes
16 Jun 2025
Saajan Jogia Newsweek
Rock Hill Herald
Aston Martin is reportedly considering George Russell as a lead driver for its 2026 campaign, the year when Formula One enters a new era of regulations. The report arrives amid Mercedes' delay in signing a contract extension with Russell, which expires at the end of 2025.
Russell has been gaining considerable attention in the paddock, especially after he won the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, marking his first win of the season. The Briton started the Montreal race on pole and bravely defended his position from Max Verstappen, who closed in towards the end as the pair made their way through trailing traffic. Eventually, Russell crossed the finish line first under the yellow flag.
According to a report by Motorsport.com, Russell is on Aston Martin's radar. The Silverstone outfit views him as a lead driver for next year, when F1 will experience a major reset with new regulations and cars powered by an equal ratio of internal combustion and electric power. What makes the matter more intriguing is that Mercedes has yet to extend his contract.
‘On Aston Martin’s Radar’;
https://www.heraldonline.com/sports/...mainstage_card
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Italian journalists’ union hit back at Fred Vasseur over Ferrari rumour criticism.
The Italian Automotive Journalists’ Union [UIGA] has responded to Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur after the Frenchman launched a scathing attack on the country’s media, which has speculated about his future at the Formula 1 giants.
19 Jun 2025
Olivia Carbone
Motorsport Week
The response of the Italian media isn’t late in arriving. In recent hours, the UIGA published a statement in which, without naming Vasseur, made its feelings clear. “In recent days, some statements coming from the motorsport world have shed important light on a situation that concerns us closely: the role and the responsibility of the sport information, in particular when it moves near delicate areas as those of the internal dynamics of a team or a society,” it read.
“A famous team principal of an Italian team has expressed concern about the diffusion, from a part of the press, of unconfirmed news regarding possible changes at the top of the technical area, considered harmful for the team’s internal weather. In detail, he underlined how some rumours, regarding leading figures coming from the competitors’ teams, can create insecurity among the workers and fuel tensions that make it even more difficult to achieve ambitious sporting goals.”
“UIGA retains the necessity to reaffirm a simple and fundamental principle: sport journalism, like every form of professional information, must always be inspired by fairness, verification of facts, and awareness of the context in which it operates. No pressure, direct or indirect, can or should restrict freedom of the press. But this freedom is all the more valuable when it’s accompanied by a full assumption of responsibility.”
‘Italian journalists’ union hit back’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...urs-criticism/
Ferrari plummets and Italian media are 'crazy': 'Vasseur is to blame'
19 Jun 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com
Frederic Vasseur's tenure at Ferrari may well be at risk with the Austrian and British Grand Prix being of great importance to prolonging his stay at the Scuderia, according to former Ferrari man. Durng The Race's podcast Roberto Boccafogli, former communications consultant at Ferrari highlighted the significance Ferrari bears for Italy, and saw this as the origins behind the national media's attitude shift in the respects of the team led by Vasseur.
“The problem is that there is no answer. There is no answer because Fred is not used to explaining things, because he feels he doesn’t need to explain. It is not his job, it isn’t his duty. I mean, he doesn’t feel he’s in the position when somebody [asks, to] help to explain something, because there is a lot of requests about the real positions and the real answers and [they're] not being given. In the last month, there was something so controversial between his words and the drivers’ words, and the situation got very, very, very stiff, now very stiff. Then he got very nervous, because he got to the point on Friday [in Canada] to say, with this kind of press, 'Ferrari will never win.' And this makes everybody crazy.'"
When faced with the rumours, Vasseur then attacked the media, something Boccafogli disagrees with. “I mean, so it is our problem? The problem is coming from the media? The media say, not me, because there are people on the paper saying [it's] the media responsible for the Ferrari crisis? Come on. Then in this big situation, everybody started asking, is the company still supporting Fred and this Scuderia and the team as they were supporting them, three, four, five months ago?"
“And this makes everybody crazy";
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/ferra...ur-is-to-blame
Fred Vasseur hints Italian media scrutiny contributing to Ferrari F1 title drought
14 Jun 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week
“I can understand their reaction because we are working on it day per day,” Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur told media including Motorsport Week. “We are working to reach a target and we are working all together. It’s not about me. Again, I think I knew before. I knew perfectly that I’m exposed. The issue is not the Team Principal, that’s because we are fully aware.”
“I think the issue in this kind of situation is more the people of the team. And this is affecting me much more than my own position. You know what I mean? At one stage, we have to consider that the people who are in every single team of the grid, they are working all very hard. They are putting all of their energy. Sometimes they are doing some sacrifice for the family and so on, and to put names like this on the paper, I think it’s very, very harsh. You have to understand that when a journalist is saying that Ferrari will recruit this name for this position, there is someone who is in this position.”
“And Sunday evening, the guy says, ‘OK, tomorrow morning I won’t have a job anymore because what is in the newspaper is true that I will have someone in my position.’ And it’s the same for all the groups working for the guy, and we are in this situation on a daily basis now in Italy, and too much is too much. Honestly, if they want to be successful at one stage, we also have to be able to work in a clean environment. And we are not in this situation so far.”
‘Italian media scrutiny contributing to Ferrari F1 title drought’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...title-drought/
Vasseur's fury: Ferrari boss slams 'stupid' Italian media rumors
13 Jun 2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Defending His Team’s Families: Vasseur was particularly incensed by the media’s cavalier treatment of his staff, emphasizing the human cost of their reporting. When asked if such scrutiny was simply part of being Ferrari’s boss, he dismissed the notion that it justified the attacks. “No, but to be the Team Principal, I knew when I joined, when I took the position that you are exposed, this I think it’s quite easy to manage,” he said. “It’s more for the people of the team.”
“They are working very hard, to decide one day that this one will be replaced, this one will be replaced, this one is useless. Honestly, it’s very, very harsh because these journalists, I’m not putting everybody in the same basket, but they have to consider that these people, they have family, they have wives, they have kids, and this is completely unrespectful.”
“Now I don’t want to speak anymore about this stupid.” His blunt dismissal of the topic signaled a man fed up with defending against what he sees as malicious fiction.
‘Vasseur's fury’;
https://f1i.com/news/541371-vasseurs...ia-rumors.html
Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur slams Italian media over treatment of team following speculation over his future
Frederic Vasseur hit out at the Italian media following reports earlier this week that his position as Ferrari team principal is under threat
13 June 2025
Sky Sports
Vasseur said: "It's some of the Italian media, not all of the Italian media. It's not about myself because this I can manage, it's more the people of the team. To use their name like this is disrespectful to them and their family.”
"I don't understand the target. Perhaps it's to give **** to the team. In this case, I don't see the point. Perhaps for them (publications) it's the only way to exist. This is probably more the reason.”
"But it still hurts the team. At one stage it's a lack of focus. When you're fighting for the championship, every single detail makes a difference. From the beginning of the weekend we have just been speaking about this. If it's their target to put the team in this situation, they have reached their goal.”
“Perhaps it's to give **** to the team”;
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...ver-his-future
Lewis Hamilton Slams Italian Media Speculation On Ferrari And Fred Vasseur
Lewis Hamilton on Thursday slammed Italian media speculation that Ferrari are poised to dismiss team boss Fred Vasseur and that he is considering his future...
June 13, 2025
Agence France-Presse
NDTV.com
Lewis Hamilton: "I'm here for several years. I'm here for the long haul so there's no question about where my head's at and what I'm working towards achieving with this team. There are zero doubts so, please, stop making up stuff."
Hamilton (also) said: "I was made aware of this just before I got here so I've not read the stories and it's definitely not nice to hear that there are stories like that out there. Firstly, I love working with Fred. Fred's the main reason I'm in this team and I got the opportunity to be here, for which I'm forever grateful, and we're in this together.”
"We're working hard in the background. Things aren't perfect, but for me, as I've said, I'm here to work with the team, but also with Fred. I want Fred here. I do believe Fred is the person to take us to the top. So this, ultimately, is nonsense what people have written."
‘Lewis Hamilton slammed Italian media speculation’;
https://sports.ndtv.com/formula-1/le...asseur-8654510
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Driver identifies a single highlight in 'boring' F1 season: 'Verstappen pays no heed to anything'.
Yuki Tsunoda the 'Benchmark' at Red Bull? "The car is as good as the second driver, and he’s running at the back! I find it truly embarrassing. What strikes me is that they now clearly know it's not the drivers, but the car." Tim Coronel.
21 Jun 2025
Marnik Kok
GPblog.com
Verstappen stands alone among F1 elites. The Dutchman is still in the running for the title, despite the apparent issues at Red Bull. Is this the 'Verstappen magic', or is luck on his side? The Dutchman continues: "No, he definitely gets everything out of the car, as we've always known him. I want him to be able to really compete, but that's exactly what I'm missing in the last few races. The internal competition in Formula 1 is something you want to see much more than currently, but at the moment, it's far too little," concludes Coronel.
Tsunoda the 'Benchmark' at Red Bull? Coronel also addresses the performances of one of Verstappen's many teammates lately, Yuki Tsunoda. He draws a harsh conclusion. "The car is as good as the second driver, and he’s running at the back! I find it truly embarrassing. What strikes me is that they now clearly know it's not the drivers, but the car. In other words: I think Red Bull first needs to focus on developing a normal car," concludes Coronel, looking forward to the upcoming races.
"The car is as good as the second driver, and he’s running at the back!”;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/interview/...ed-to-anything
Verstappen carries Red Bull to undeserved heights? Fittipaldi claims he's like Senna
22 Jun 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com
Former Lotus and McLaren F1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi sees an 'incredible' Max Verstappen carrying Red Bull, something the Brazilian believes Ayrton Senna did as well. “Well, I think Max is on the level of driving now, incredible. He carries now the Red Bull car on his back. He's not driving, he's carrying the car in situations that, I mean, like the Brazilian Grand Prix last year I was there. It's amazing what he did,” said the 2-time world champion in the Beyond the Grid podcast.
'Verstappen's driving style like Senna's'. For 'Emo' as the Brazilian former F1 champion is often called, Verstappen reminds him of his compatriot, the late great Senna. “I go back to Ayrton Senna to compare his driving style. It's similar. I think what's very impressive is that he's able to utilise 100% of the car full-time, of the car performance, of the four wheels that have the grip.”
“He knows [how] to keep the balance, to use the four wheels effectively, holding the sideways bite correctly and I think that's very impressive, and brake into the corners, everything.” For Fittipaldi, Verstappen is always able to extract the maximum performance of the car. “And he's always on the edge of the balance of the car, of utilising the maximum grip available in each different situation, braking, turn, mid-corner, exit. He can use the four wheels, perfect,” said the two-time world champion.
‘Max Verstappen carrying Red Bull’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/fitti...am-on-his-back
Max Verstappen outlines how Red Bull can salvage 2025 F1 title hopes
19 Jun 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week
Max Verstappen has now repeated his claims that McLaren is still in the ascendancy, and stressed the need for Red Bull to put in the hours to make the RB21 more consistently competitive. “A lot needs to happen for that, to be honest,” he told media including Motorsport Week. “We need to start winning races more often. And how do we do that? By being more competitive.”
“Now, this was a good weekend, but again, not competitive enough. Like I said before, we have our moments where maybe we can win here or there, but we just need to make the car faster. Then we make it a lot easier for ourselves. We’re working hard on it with the team. Of course, bits are coming, but is it going to be enough? I don’t know,” he said. “It’s small margins in this world that can give you better results every single weekend.”
“But what I think so far, what McLaren has shown this whole season is quite extraordinary and difficult to beat. So now, OK, one weekend is not as good, but they are still by far the favourites. And that’s not going to be something that is easily beaten. But the coming races, we really want to try and improve our car.”
‘Red Bull can salvage 2025 F1 title hopes’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...1-title-hopes/
Red Bull achieve sensational milestone in Canada thanks to Verstappen's mastery
18 Jun 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com
First, by qualifying second, Verstappen reached an impressive milestone for his team. For the Austrian racing outfit, it was the 200th time they started from the front row. This tally began at the 2008 Silverstone race, when Mark Webber first secured a front-row start for Red Bull, lining up behind Heikki Kovalainen in the McLaren.
Furthermore, Verstappen had the opportunity to break the record for the most consecutive wins in Canada. Unfortunately, this was not to be for the driver who had previously won the race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve three times in recent years, as this time he had to concede victory to George Russell.
‘Sensational milestone’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/red-b...appens-mastery
Verstappen admits ‘a lot needs to happen’ to catch McLaren
18/06/2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Although Red Bull’s performance in Montreal was promising, Verstappen emphasized it still fell short of what’s needed to truly contend for this year’s world title. “Now, this was a good weekend, but again, not competitive enough. Like I said before, we have our moments where maybe we can win here or there.”
“But we just need to make the car faster. Then we make it a lot easier for ourselves. We’re working hard on it with the team.” He also praised McLaren’s consistency so far, calling their performance “extraordinary.” “But what I think so far, what McLaren has shown this whole season is quite extraordinary and difficult to beat,” he added.
“So now, okay, one weekend is not as good, but they are still by far the favourites. And that’s not going to be something that is easily beaten. But the coming races, we really want to try and improve our car.” As Red Bull works to close the gap, Verstappen’s focus is clear: faster cars are essential to turn occasional victories into a sustained title challenge.
“We just need to make the car faster”;
https://f1i.com/news/541897-verstapp...h-mclaren.html
'Authentic' Max Verstappen praised for 'unmasking' tough question
Max Verstappen has a frosty relationship with the British F1 media at times.
22 June 2025
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365
Max Verstappen's "authenticity" has been praised after a run-in with a Sky Sports F1 reporter at the Canadian Grand Prix. In Canada, Verstappen had a frosty interview with Sky's Ted Kravitz, after Kravitz tried to question Verstappen about the new sporting director, Stephen Knowles and his role in telling Verstappen to cede position to George Russell after their Turn 1 clash in Spain.
Verstappen refused to engage with the question, asking why Knowles was being singled out as an individual, as Sky Germany reporter Peter Hardenacke spoke about Verstappen's authentic behaviour. "I had a brief conversation with Ted Kravitz at media day in Canada," Hardenacke told Sky Germany's Backstage Boxengasse podcast.
"I think [English] media are sometimes very harsh and direct in their questions. Max unmasked him: 'What do you want now? Do you want me to blame one man? Because I don't. We work differently on this team.' I really appreciate that about Max, he is so clear and keeps eye contact all the time. I think that's what makes him so unique. If you talk about authenticity, he is one of the most authentic people in the paddock."
‘Frosty relationship’;
https://racingnews365.com/authentic-...tough-question
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Lando Norris under scrutiny as Schumacher claims ‘internal’ McLaren decision made.
Oscar Piastri is “the man” that McLaren have decided to focus on for the F1 2025 title, with Lando Norris showing “too many weaknesses” and making “mistakes.”
22 Jun 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher: “I believe that it is now internally decided that Piastri is the man the team will focus on in terms of the World Championship,” the six-time race winner declared to Sky Deutschland. “Lando shows too many weaknesses and makes too many mistakes, including his senseless driving into the back of Oscar in Canada.”
The German did applaud Norris for immediately admitting responsibility and apologising to his team-mate and McLaren as a whole. “He has apologised and that shows what a great person he is,” said Schumacher. “But it’s no use, because great people rarely win titles. This is the low point now because he has lost his nerve a bit,” Schumacher said.
“You have to give him one thing, he was once again faster than Piastri. He didn’t manage to do it in qualifying, but in the race he closed the gap and was simply better. He still has the speed, especially in the race. Norris has this sensitivity when it comes to the stress on the tyres. In [Alain] Prost’s time, one would have said ‘professor’. The only problem is in Lando’s head.”
“Too many weaknesses” and making “mistakes”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/huge-l...-decision-made
The driver and car explanations for how Piastri turned the tables on Norris
23rd June 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
The pendulum has clearly swung. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes the main reason for this is the progress made by Piastri and his side of the garage since last year. “I think the most important improvement, if anything, is that Oscar has become a faster driver,” he explained. “I think when you are a faster driver then you have more opportunity, more time to process, more bandwidth to process things.”
“This is true when you are in the car and this is also true when you are outside the car. Because the speed is there [it] lets [you] process all the other marginal gains that will then, at the end of the weekend, constitute the performance that you need to have the kind of results that he’s having at the moment. In addition to that, over the winter, there’s been a very specific amount of work that has paid attention to different areas. It’s been quite holistic.
“While Oscar is definitely the main one to praise for these developments, I would like to mention the team around Oscar – his engineers and all the support from the factory with all the analysis. And even the team, Mark Webber, who works with Oscar, he’s definitely a great source of thoughts, insight and identification of opportunities. So, there’s quite a lot of work behind this progress. But ultimately, hats off to Oscar who has been able to capitalise.”
“It’s been quite holistic”;
https://www.racefans.net/2025/06/23/...les-on-norris/
Stella: Piastri’s title charge fueled by ‘holistic’ growth
23/06/2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Reflecting on Piastri’s leap forward this season, Stella pinpointed outright speed as the key factor behind the Aussie’s ascension. “Well, I think the most important improvement, if anything, is that Oscar has become a faster driver,” Stella said recently, quoted by Motorsport Week.
With McLaren in dominant form and both drivers performing at an elite level, the team finds itself in the enviable position of leading both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. But as Piastri stakes his claim for a maiden title, Stella’s words make clear that his success is no fluke – it’s the result of deliberate, data-driven evolution and a highly determined drive to improve.
As the F1 season approaches its mid-point, Piastri has not only cemented his status as a rising star but is beginning to look like a champion in waiting. Stella credits Piastri’s winter preparation as a turning point in his development. “Over the winter, there’s been a very specific amount of work that has gone – [he] has paid attention to different areas. It’s been quite holistic,” Stella noted.
‘Outright speed as the key factor’;
https://f1i.com/news/542101-stella-p...ic-growth.html
Relaxed Piastri not looking at F1 title as ‘do or die’ chance
22/06/2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri is embracing his position at the top of the Formula 1 standings with calm confidence, insisting he doesn’t view this year as a “one chance” opportunity for a world title.
Asked in Montreal last time out whether he considers this season his only shot at claiming the crown, the 23-year-old offered a measured response that revealed both perspective and self-awareness. “I think, for me, I’m not looking at it as my one chance,” he said, quoted by Motorsport Week.
“Obviously I don’t know that, but I don’t think there’s any use in putting extra pressure on yourself and thinking it’s do or die. I’m still very early in my career, and obviously it’s a great opportunity, but I’ll just try and win as many races as I can. And hopefully it makes the championship look quite good at the end.”
‘Calm confidence’;
https://f1i.com/news/542054-relaxed-...ie-chance.html
A storm brewing at McLaren? Norris warns McLaren battle not yet reached its peak
22 JUN 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com
“I think we work very well as team-mates, I think we’ve helped the team in a very good way. There have been plenty of examples of things not going as smoothly as they have done and teams then going on a downward spiral," said Lando Norris to media in Canada.
“I’ve always got on with my team-mates, because that’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Of course, it’s not even a question, I want to beat them, and I’ll do whatever I can to beat whoever I’m against, and that includes my team-mate."
“But it doesn’t mean that if someone says a joke, we can’t laugh at the same joke. We get on now, [but] there are going to be tougher moments. There’s no point trying to guess what they’re going to be,” the current runner-up in the championship concluded.
‘A storm brewing’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/a-sto...ached-its-peak
Lando Norris suffering from surprising ‘side effect’ of F1’s most recent rule change that hasn’t affected Oscar Piastri
22 June 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
Lando Norris suffering from ‘side effect’ of F1’s front-wing flexibility rule change. A report from the Italian outlet AutoRacer shared more details about the issues Norris has been facing this season. One of the biggest issues Norris has had to deal with is delivering the perfect lap in the final session of qualifying.
It’s stated that Norris’ mistakes have surprisingly come during slow speed sections of each circuit, an area where McLaren have a significant advantage over their rivals. This is said to be due to ‘poor harmony’ between Norris and the car during the entry to these slow corners.
The technical directive introduced in Barcelona is said to have made Norris’ difficulties ‘more complicated’ and created a new ‘side effect’ that the 25-year-old is dealing with. It’s believed that the change in front wing flexibility has forced McLaren to ‘modify the balance’ of Norris’ car between low and high speed areas of the circuit, leading to the Brit making more unforced mistakes.
‘Side effect of F1’s front-wing flexibility rule change’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/lan...oscar-piastri/
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Ambitious Wolff sends warning to rivals as F1 heads to Austria.
"There is still a long way to go this season. We will look to maximise our points scoring and hopefully be able to challenge for the podium once again," says Wolff, thereby issuing a warning to his competitors.
23 Jun 2025
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com
It was a great moment for Mercedes in Montreal, after Russell's deserved victory. Looking back on the last race in Canada, Wolff says: "Victory and a double podium in Montreal were a reward for the hard work of everyone at Brackley and Brixworth."
But he also says: "Though we have made solid progress with our car in recent weeks, we know that we cannot expect this level of performance each and every weekend. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, with its absence of high-speed corners and a more closed tarmac that puts less stress on the tyres, suited the W16."
"The team executed well and took advantage of that, but we know that our rivals will likely be much more competitive in Austria this weekend." The Mercedes team boss definitely sees opportunities for his squad: "Building on the momentum from Canada is therefore our focus. The track in Spielberg will be a good test of our recent updates and provide another reference point for our progress."
‘Made solid progress with our car in recent weeks’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verst...ments-by-wolff
Toto Wolff delivers Mercedes warning as new 'focus' revealed.
Toto Wolff is not getting ahead of himself - or letting his team - after a first victory of the current F1 season.
24 June 2025
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365
Toto Wolff has cautioned that Mercedes "cannot expect" to permanently enjoy the "level of performance" it showed at the Canadian Grand Prix. George Russell claimed an assured victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which included pole position and fastest lap, whilst team-mate Kimi Antonelli secured his maiden podium finish in F1.
However, their team principal has sought to temper expectations, highlighting how rival F1 teams will be significantly more competitive at the Red Bull Ring than they were during the weekend in Montreal, which complemented the characteristics of the W16.
The 53-year-old laid out his target for the Austrian Grand Prix, as well as underlining what the weekend in the Styrian hills can help the team establish.
‘Not getting ahead of himself’;
https://racingnews365.com/toto-wolff...focus-revealed
Toto Wolff discloses 'never confident' stance over 'different ball game' facing Mercedes
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is taking nothing for granted after the Brackley squad's impressive 1-3 result in Montreal.
21 June 2025
Samuel Coop & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
When asked how confident he is over his team replicating the performance it showed in Montreal over the coming rounds, Wolff was direct in his response. "Never confident, because the swings in performance are still there," the Austrian told media including RacingNews365.
"You see it last year that on some tracks, it wasn't even close to who was second but we dominated throughout the weekend, and that's a little bit the pattern we have seen [in Canada]." Wolff went on to highlight the contrasting demands of the circuit in Spielberg, commenting how it will be a "different ball game" there.
"And Austria is going to be a different ball game, different track layout, different challenges," the 53-year-old explained. "So all of our eyes and brains are concentrated on Austria now. This is done, tick the box.”
‘Taking nothing for granted’;
https://racingnews365.com/toto-wolff...acing-mercedes
Toto Wolff Declares Mercedes F1 Engines ‘Good as Gold’ Despite Reliability Issues
June 22, 2025
Nelson Espinal Newsweek
The Charlotte Observer
The Mercedes engine is under the spotlight after a run of problems throughout the past couple of race weekends. In Canada, Williams driver Alex Albon retired from the race after seven laps. The power unit caused the retirement.
Williams is not the only Mercedes customer to have gone through problems with the engine; Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso couldn't finish the Monaco GP after a loss of power. Even the Mercedes car suffered problems this season. Kimi Antonelli retired from the Emilia-Romagna and Spanish races due to engine-related issues.
"I mean, our engines have been as good as gold since the introduction of the hybrid era, and so strong. And now it's the final year, all sights are on next year, and this group are fully on top of the reliability issues that we have," Wolff explained. "And statistically, if you look at the many years, the failures we had were very minimal. So we need to learn now what happened. I don't know what happened to Alex (Albon), actually. And I'm sure we'll understand it."
‘Good as Gold’;
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sp...mainstage_card
Toto Wolff now giving signals around the F1 paddock that a big driver decision is imminent at Mercedes
17 June 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
Journalists Tom Clarkson and Lawrence Barretto have noticed a change in Wolff’s body language that suggests he’s very close to making a decision on Russell’s future. Toto Wolff body language change suggests Mercedes extension for George Russell is ‘close’.
Clarkson was asked on The F1 Nation Podcast why Russell doesn’t have a contract for 2026 yet and said: “He wants to stay at Mercedes. I think Toto Wolff is still playing the Max Verstappen card but I think he’s realising that that’s slipping away and I think we’ll see a George Russell contract soon probably.
“Particularly if he keeps banging in performances like this.” Barretto replied: “Yeah I’m going to say a bit of body language changed a little bit with Toto a couple of weeks ago. There’s a little bit more of a glint in his eye, a bit of a smirk when you talk to him about George and that contract and it does feel like it’s close. I think to your point Tom, I do think he wanted to leave the door open as long as he possibly could in case he could get Max.”
‘Toto Wolff now giving signals’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/tot...ow-very-close/
Montoya puzzled as Mercedes keeps contract-less Russell in limbo while courting Verstappen
21 Jun 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com
“George has actually been in a bad mood ever since he entered Formula 1,” Montoya told AS Colombia when commenting on Russell's edgy contract situation. He joined a team that was used to winning, but just at a time when it wasn't happening anymore. That was tough for him, but he has developed well and has done a good job so far.”
“The problem now is that he still doesn't have a contract. After that victory, you would think it was already sorted. He and Max are the two most sought-after drivers without long-term certainty.” speculation about an early exit — something Mercedes, according to Montoya, is eagerly capitalizing on: “Max technically has a contract, but George is the most wanted driver in the field who currently doesn’t have a contract.”
This makes Russell, according to Montoya, vulnerable to a potential attempt by Red Bull to back their shoulders: "So if you look at it that way, Red Bull could come in with a lot of money to cover themselves in case Max leaves''. This only applies if Verstappen were to leave, because a Verstappen–Russell duo at Red Bull, according to Montoya, is not on the cards: "Would he go to Red Bull to work with Max? I would say: absolutely not."
‘Contract-less Russell in limbo’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/monto...ing-verstappen
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Ferrari expected to bring very first major upgrade ahead of Austrian GP.
According to recent reports from Italian media, Ferrari is expected to introduce a major floor upgrade in an attempt to fix the issues that have plagued the SF-25 during the first part of the season.
24 Jun 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com
Having started the season with the ambition of fighting for both world titles after losing the Constructors’ Championship to McLaren last year, Ferrari soon found itself dealing with an SF-25 that has proven significantly lacking in performance. Ferrari's engineers radically overhauled the SF-25 compared to its predecessor, but so far, the results have not vindicated the new design philosophy.
The main area under scrutiny is the rear suspension, which was heavily revised compared to last year. Its suboptimal stiffness is believed to cause instability and issues with ride height management, leading to a loss of aerodynamic load and increased floor wear.
As a result, Ferrari has often been forced to run with higher ride heights than originally intended—something that inevitably translates into several tenths lost per lap.
‘Major floor upgrade’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/rumors/fer...of-austrian-gp
Will Norris rebound after Montreal blunder? Six Austrian GP talking points
24th June 2025
Will Wood
RaceFans
This year’s first true on-track dogfight between McLaren team mates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri last time out in Canada did not end well. McLaren and Norris will both be eager to bounce back at the Red Bull Ring. But last year’s Austrian Grand Prix was one of the most frustrating weekends of the season for the Woking team.
Norris lost a potential victory after a controversial clash with Verstappen in the later stages of the grand prix. Piastri was left ruing the loss of what could have been his first grand prix victory after his best qualifying time was deleted by the stewards, dropping him from a potential third on the grid to seventh. He finished the race second behind winner Russell, who picked up the lead after Verstappen and Norris’s late race skirmish.
Verstappen and Russell to resume their rivalry? Having clashed in more ways than one in recent rounds, the two will be the focus of attention again over the next two weekends. First at Red Bull’s home circuit in Austria, a track that has been effectively a second home race for Verstappen in his F1 career, and then next weekend at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where Russell will likely enjoy strong support from the local fans.
How many last chances for Colapinto? “The next five races will give us an opportunity to try something different and after this time period we will assess our options,” team consultant Flavio Briatore said at the time. He has subsequently suggested Alpine’s deadline is a little softer than that. Nonetheless, just six weeks on from that announcement, Colapinto has already reached the final race of his originally stated tenure.
Taking it to the limit: In recent seasons, the Austrian Grand Prix has been the centre of Formula 1’s continued struggle to get to grips with track limits in the sport. It came to a head in farcical fashion in 2023, when well over 100 laps set during the grand prix were deleted due to drivers running wide at the exits of corners
Normal service resumed: The Austrian Grand Prix has been a sprint round since the year after the format was introduced. But that has changed this year.
‘Six Austrian GP talking points’;
https://www.racefans.net/2025/06/24/...alking-points/
Jolyon Palmer names the driver he believes will beat Oscar Piastri to win the Austrian Grand Prix
24 June 2025
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer
Speaking via F1 Nation, Palmer is backing the Red Bull driver for his third win of the season in Austria. He thinks the McLarens will follow behind, with Norris returning to the podium after a dismal weekend in Canada.
“I agree with the top three, but I think this is a Max win in Austria,” he said. “So I’m going to go Max, Oscar, Lando, on the podium, getting the confidence back.”
“So I’m going to go Max”;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jol...an-grand-prix/
2025 Austrian Grand Prix: Top 5 Storylines Including Oscar Piastri vs. Lando Norris
JUNE 25, 2025
SCOTT GULBRANSEN
Sportsnaut
Can McLaren Rebound at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix? All eyes at Spielberg will be on McLaren’s response after the dramatic Canadian Grand Prix collision between teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Can Ferrari Swing 2025 Momentum with Upgrades? Another crucial storyline involves Scuderia Ferrari’s introduction of significant performance upgrades amidst mounting team pressure.
Will Max Verstappen Dominate Red Bull Ring Again? Attention will also be on Max Verstappen, balancing home circuit dominance with penalty point vulnerability.
Will Mercedes Momentum Continue at 2025 Austrian Grand Prix: Adding to the excitement is Mercedes’ recent resurgence after a dream weekend in Canada. George Russell secured his first win from pole, and rookie Kimi Antonelli impressively clinched his maiden F1 podium with a third-place finish.
Is Sauber Separating Itself in the Midfield? Sauber’s unobtrusive yet significant improvement creates an interesting midfield storyline.
‘Top 5 Storylines’;
https://sportsnaut.com/f1/2025-austr...-lando-norris/
Mercedes will learn if they’ve successfully copied McLaren with George Russell’s car at the Austrian Grand Prix
24 June 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer
The Red Bull Ring will test Mercedes’ rear suspension upgrade more than the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. While track temperatures rose to around 50° at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, its lack of high-load corners and Mercedes’ rear suspension upgrade returning meant Russell and Antonelli could control their rear tyre temperatures much easier than at tracks like the Red Bull Ring.
So, Mercedes will go to this weekend’s Austrian GP looking at a chance to prove if their rear suspension update inspired by McLaren was a success, or if the Canadian GP venue’s layout was a larger contributor. Track temperatures are forecast to exceed 50° at the Red Bull Ring. Hot track temperatures have been a major thorn in Mercedes’ side for the last few seasons, with the Brackley bunch prone to graining and thus a lack of grip. The Red Bull Ring also has long-radius corners with the double-left Turns 6 and 7, plus a high-load corner with Turn 9.
‘Hot track temperatures have been a major thorn in Mercedes’ side’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mer...an-grand-prix/
Stunning Piastri lesson rivals can’t deny; jarring proof of F1 curse: What we’ve learned 1-10
June 24th, 2025
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports
Fox Sports (Australia)
1. OSCAR PIASTRI IS THE REAL DEAL
2. FERRARI FAITH WAVERS AFTER TEAM AND LEWIS HAMILTON’S POOR STARTS
3. McLAREN WILL WIN THE TITLE… BUT IS BEATABLE IN RACES
4. LANDO NORRIS HAS CRACKED UNDER PRESSURE
5. THE RULE CHANGE DIDN’T SAVE MAX VERSTAPPEN’S SEASON
6. GEORGE RUSSELL HAS STEPPED UP FOR MERCEDES
7. THE SECOND RED BULL RACING SEAT IS CURSED
8. ALPINE IS STILL IN A FUNK, AND ITS DRIVER SWAP HAS PROVED NOTHING
9. WILLIAMS IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK WITH THE RIGHT DRIVERS
10. THE ROOKIES WERE WORTH A SHOT
‘What we’ve learned 1-10’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...cf2beb991f6b5d
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Max Verstappen receives Austrian GP boost as Red Bull announce RB21 plans.
In a fresh boost for Max Verstappen and his Championship hopes, Red Bull will introduce an upgrade for the RB21 in Austria, which will further evolve at Silverstone.
26 Jun 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
“We’ve been seeing the same tendencies in the car for two years,” Marko told Kleine Zeitung. “It jumps over kerbs, has a tendency to understeer when turning in, which then turns into oversteer. In other words, the balance on the rear axle is not right.”
“But if we are in a very small working window and if the track suits us, like in Jeddah or Suzuka – Imola and Montreal weren’t too bad either – then it works. But the working window is extremely small.”
“We are now getting an update for Austria, which will then be further refined for Silverstone. But if that doesn’t work either, then it will be difficult in the World Championship. And it’s not as if it’s not difficult enough already.”
‘Red Bull will introduce an upgrade for the RB21 in Austria’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-ve...ia-silverstone
Horner has good news for Verstappen in the 2025 F1 World Championship battle
23 Jun 2025
Sienna Ionta
GPblog.com
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has made it clear that the reigning world champions are not ready to throw in the towel on the 2025 Formula 1 title fight, despite a growing challenge from rivals McLaren and Mercedes.
Following recent setbacks and increased competition at the front of the grid, Horner remained resolute in his belief that Red Bull can claw their way back into dominant form, especially with a long season still ahead. "I mean, the points gap — there's still a significant points gap between us and them [Mclaren]," Horner acknowledged. "But we don't give up on anything."
"We're not even at the halfway point yet. There's a lot of racing, a lot of sprint races coming up," he said. "If we can keep chipping away and getting performance on the car, then nobody gives up on anything." His message was clear: while Red Bull may no longer be cruising at the front, their title fight is far from over. With continued upgrades and strategic focus, Horner believes the team can rise to meet the challenge and reassert their dominance in the second half of the season.
‘The reigning world champions are not ready to throw in the towel’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/horne...ionship-battle
Christian Horner REGRETS axing Sergio Perez as replacements struggle - with former Red Bull driver claiming the team 'gradually fell apart'
25 June 2025
MICHAEL PAVITT
MailOnline
Speaking on the Desde el Paddock podcast, Perez reflected on Red Bull's decision to drop him for the 2025 season and claimed chiefs are regretting their decision to part ways. 'I know that deep down they are very sorry, I know that from a very good source," Perez said.
'People might think I'm happy about it, but no... we had a great team, and in the end it fell apart, little by little. In the end, that's how the sport is, decisions were made because there was too much pressure that they themselves ended up creating,' Perez said. 'I had a signed contract in Monaco, but from the next race onwards, everyone was talking about my future even though I already had a signed contract.
'It would have been easy for the team to protect me and say, 'You know what? We have a driver signed for the next two years'. But that wasn't the case. From then on, no one talked about anything other than Red Bull race after race. In the end, there was a lot of pressure on my side of the garage... it was putting a lot of pressure on the engineers, on everyone involved, and I think in the end that ended up costing us a lot.'
“'I know that deep down they are very sorry, I know that from a very good source";
https://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/F1...ristian+Horner
Helmut Marko makes Red Bull updates comment that Max Verstappen will love ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix
25 June 2025
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer
The team are also technically registered in Austria, and the track is called the ‘Red Bull Ring’. It makes sense that they want to do really well there. Speaking to Kleine Zeitung, the 82-year-old informed them that there will be new upgrades for Verstappen, which is something he will love to hear as the title fight intensifies. “We’re getting an update for Austria, which will then be further refined for Silverstone,” he said.
“But if that doesn’t work, things will get difficult in the World Championship. And it’s not as if things aren’t difficult enough already.” It comes just days after Christian Horner’s Red Bull update was music to Verstappen’s ears, confirming that he has no intentions of leaving the team and joining Ferrari. Everyone is aware that the next two races are a ‘crucial’ exam for Red Bull, and will indicate whether they can be fast at most circuits for the rest of the year.
‘Red Bull updates’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/hel...an-grand-prix/
Jolyon Palmer unimpressed with one thing McLaren keep saying publicly about Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
26 June 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
Jolyon Palmer was speaking on the F1 Nation Podcast about the clash and wasn’t particularly impressed with McLaren’s recent comments about their intra-team battle. He explained: “The other interesting thing actually on that is, I feel like McLaren have opened themselves up to this by kind of admitting for weeks before that at some point they will make contact, at some point, it’s inevitable in this.”
“They’re kind of diminishing that fear that you don’t crash with your teammate. They’re kind of saying it will happen, which almost invites it to happen a little bit more than if you’ve got a team boss that’s absolutely drilling it in. Maybe it would happen regardless, but I think that almost lets Lando a little bit more off the hook.”
“McLaren have opened themselves up to this”;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jol...oscar-piastri/
Lando Norris sent worrying F1 warning: 'Something has changed'
Lando Norris currently trails team-mate Oscar Piastri in the fight for the F1 title.
25 June 2025
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365
“This year, it feels like something has changed. One thing that's changed is that he was the championship favourite coming into the season, he now has the best car.
“There’s nowhere to hide when you’re the in-form driver coming into the year, you have the best car. The other 19 drivers are really looking at you and thinking, this is yours to lose.
“As the season is going on, I'm seeing a Lando that I've not seen before, which is someone that's just making a lot of mistakes under pressure.”
”Just making a lot of mistakes under pressure”;
https://racingnews365.com/lando-norr...ng-has-changed
Mercedes will learn if they’ve successfully copied McLaren with George Russell’s car at the Austrian Grand Prix
24 June 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer
Mercedes are set to keep the rear suspension upgrade on Russell and Antonelli’s cars at this week’s Austrian GP. Mercedes designed their rear suspension upgrade with McLaren in mind, having noted how their rivals have benefitted from running extreme levels of rear anti-lift. The aim is for a stable aerodynamic platform to improve grip plus the consistency of the downforce created.
So, Mercedes will go to this weekend’s Austrian GP looking at a chance to prove if their rear suspension update inspired by McLaren was a success, or if the Canadian GP venue’s layout was a larger contributor. Track temperatures are forecast to exceed 50° at the Red Bull Ring.
Hot track temperatures have been a major thorn in Mercedes’ side for the last few seasons, with the Brackley bunch prone to graining and thus a lack of grip. The Red Bull Ring also has long-radius corners with the double-left Turns 6 and 7, plus a high-load corner with Turn 9.
‘Chance to prove if their rear suspension update inspired by McLaren was a success’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mer...an-grand-prix/
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Vasseur expects close battle at the sharp end of the field at Spielberg.
"It only takes a little over a minute for a Formula 1 car to lap the Spielberg circuit, which means the field is closely bunched in terms of laptime, and thousandths of a second can make a big difference.”
27 Jun 2025
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
Speaking ahead of the weekend, Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur revealed that he expects close battle at the sharp end of the field at Spielberg's short Red Bull Ring. "Managing to put everything together will be crucial. The fact that seven of the ten corners are right handers combined with significant changes in elevation only adds to the challenge.”
"We have been working hard in Maranello with the aim of ensuring that all the necessary elements come together in such a way as to deliver the best possible performance. Charles, Lewis and the whole team are determined to give their best at a track that often delivers one of the most spectacular races of the season.”
‘Close battle’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/27159
Lewis Hamilton’s curious admission over Ferrari’s latest upgrade
27 Jun 2025
Elizabeth Blackstock
PlanetF1.com
“Firstly, I am happy that we have an upgrade, it is always exciting to get new pieces on the car,” Hamilton said. “So I am really grateful for everyone working hard to bring them, but we don’t really know the actual effect it is going to have.”
However, he did raise some concerns about the initial data the team has been seeing. Hamilton continued, “It’s not the normal information we’re getting of much load you’ve added to the car, it is not necessarily clear, but hopefully it will be a step in the right direction, but I wouldn’t think we’re expecting it to change a huge amount, but fingers crossed it is better.”
That isn’t exactly a massive vote of confidence in favor of the SF-25, but Hamilton sounds positive about the overall future direction of the team. “I’m focused more on changes in the background, foundation-building stuff that we need to put in place in order to have a better 2026,” he told Sky Sports.
‘Curious admission’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-...pgrade-verdict
Lando Norris hoping Austria GP can rekindle F1 title bid
The McLaren driver has had time to reflect after crashing into the back of teammate and Championship leader Oscar Piastri last time out in Canada.
27 Jun 2025
PAUL JENKINS
Somerset Live
Glastonbury racer Lando Norris will be hoping that a return to the scene of his maiden podium can rekindle his Formula One World Championship bid. Looking ahead to this year’s race, Norris said: “I’m looking forward to getting back to racing in Austria this week, it’s a circuit with great memories for me and the start of another double-header.”
“I’ve been working hard preparing with the team, spending time at the factory with my engineers.
“It’s now time to take that information to track and get our heads down as we look to score some strong results.”
“I’ve been working hard”;
https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/sport...ia-gp-10294268
F1 Today | Russell puts the fear of God in Red Bull, Verstappen shuts down journalist
26 Jun 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com
Russell reveals conversations are 'ongoing' between Mercedes and Verstappen. George Russell may be enjoying his strongest Formula 1 campaign to date with Mercedes, but his contract renewal remains unsigned and the Briton has added fuel to speculation by confirming that Mercedes are still in conversations with Max Verstappen.
While GPblog recently confirmed Verstappen won’t trigger his Red Bull exit clause, Russell’s comments suggest the door to Mercedes isn’t fully closed. With rising rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli also in the mix, Mercedes face a critical decision: who will fill their two seats in 2026 and beyond?
'Ongoing';
https://www.gpblog.com/en/general/f-...own-journalist
F1 - 2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Thursday Press Conference Transcript
26.06.25
FIA (Press Release)
Q: Max, tell us a little bit about how you drive a lap here, because you stunned everybody last year with that pole lap that was 0.4 of a second faster than anyone else. What is the secret?
Max VERSTAPPEN: Brake late or go early on throttle, smooth driving. I’ve always felt good here for whatever reason. I think there are always tracks that are naturally probably suiting you a bit better than others. And this one probably suits me a bit better than some others, naturally. I know, of course, it’s our home Grand Prix, but I don’t know. It’s just a flow of the track, maybe in Sector 2, Sector 3, faster corners. You need a car that performs around here.
Q: Tell us a little bit about this race track here in Austria. You finished on the podium in the past in Formula 2. It’s a short track. Qualifying has been a strength of yours so far this year, so do you feel that Saturday here is something that you can really get stuck into?
Isack HAJAR: It’s going to be the target. If the car is able to go to Q3, then I’ll go to the maximum I can, to top the midfield. But again, it’s a track I really enjoy. I’ve been competitive in the past.
But every time you go in an F1 car on a track you’ve been in the past with Formula 2 or Formula 3, it becomes a different track, to be honest.
Q: Similar question to Isack – is the Alpine a difficult car to dial in? Easy one week, hard the next?
Pierre GASLY: I wouldn’t say it’s difficult. I wouldn’t say it’s easy. At the same time, I think we know our weaknesses and we know our strengths. And at the minute, it’s very much about maximising the strengths. A tenth at the moment can move you three or four positions up and down the grid, and that’s why we’ve got to focus on every single detail we can.
‘Thursday Press Conference Transcript’;
https://www.fia.com/news/f1-2025-aus...nce-transcript
F1 drivers face immediate disqualification and five penalty points if they do one of two things at Austrian GP
26 Jun 2025
SPORTbible
Formula 1 stars face being immediately disqualified from the race and having five penalty points added to their superlicense if they do one of two things. For example, ignoring the black flag (disqualification) and the back and orange flag (driving with significant damage) will result in the highest punishment. President of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, explained the decision to publish the guidelines in full.
He said: "FIA Stewards perform a hugely complex task, not just in Formula 1 but across all of our championships, and they do this voluntarily, with great passion and commitment. That dedication is all too often met with extreme and wholly unwarranted criticism. To demonstrate the rigour with which they pursue their role, we are today publishing the Penalty and Driving Standards Guidelines that assist them with their decisions.”
“This will give fans and members of the media a much deeper and more accurate insight into how decisions are made in Formula 1." Ben Sulayem added: "The Penalty Guidelines have been a core tool for almost a decade while the Driving Standards Guidelines introduced in 2022 and constantly updated have brought the most important voices, those of the drivers, to the table to create a genuine reference for certain racing situations."
“To demonstrate the rigour”;
https://www.sportbible.com/f1/austri...95415-20250626
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FP1: Russell sets the pace from Verstappen as Dunne takes impressive fourth during first practice in Austria.
George Russell has topped the timesheets during Friday’s opening practice session ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, the Mercedes driver continuing his run of good form as he led the way from Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri.
27 Jun 2025
Formula One - Official Site
There were a couple of new faces joining the action for FP1 at the Red Bull Ring as two teams opted to run a rookie; Formula 2 standings leader Alex Dunne stepped into Lando Norris’ McLaren – making him the first Irish driver to take part in an F1 weekend for 22 years as he finished an impressive fourth – while fellow F2 driver Dino Beganovic was at the wheel for Ferrari in place of Charles Leclerc.
Dunne was amongst the first to hit the track when the green light appeared, with the MCL39 sporting aero rakes to kick off a weekend in which several teams have brought upgrades. The Irishman was also the only driver to run the soft tyres during the initial runs, the rest of the pack bolting on the medium and hard compounds.
While Canadian Grand Prix winner Russell had set the early pace during the first quarter of the session, Verstappen did not seem happy in the Red Bull, the Dutchman experiencing a lock-up in the RB21. Verstappen reported back about the problems on the radio – but on this occasion the World Champion was speaking to Simon Rennie rather than his usual Race Engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, with ‘GP’ taking the weekend off.
‘Russell sets the pace from Verstappen’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...RC8ak0q1hDm8qy
F1 2025 Austrian GP – Free Practice 1 Results
After victory in Canada, George Russell has set the early benchmark in Austria
27 June 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
F1 Austrian GP 2025 FP1 results
Check out the full Austrian GP 2025 Free Practice 1 results from the first practice session in Spielberg below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 George Russell Mercedes 1:05.542
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.065
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.155
4 Alexander Dunne McLaren +0.224
5 Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.238
6 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber +0.332
7 Alexander Albon Williams +0.404
8 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.475
9 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.557
10 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.568
‘FP1 results’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...ice-1-results/
Austrian GP: Alex Dunne turns heads as Russell tops FP1
27 Jun 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
McLaren junior Alex Dunne was the story of FP1 at the Austrian Grand Prix as he wowed on debut. The Irishman – who currently leads the F2 Championship – delivered a flawless first session in Formula 1 to finish P4, within a tenth of team-mate and Championship leader Oscar Piastri, with FP1 pacesetter George Russell just two-tenths up the road.
Meanwhile at Ferrari, Dino Beganovic was in as Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate for the opening hour of practice, and Hamilton was keen to get out there and test the new Ferrari SF-25 floor upgrade, while the diffuser has also been altered. Red Bull has also made floor changes.
McLaren meanwhile has made front suspension and corner alterations, plus rear corner tweaks, while over at Mercedes, there is a redesigned engine cover, and a brake duct inlet to respond to braking characteristics at the Red Bull Ring, Mercedes arriving off the back of a double podium after George Russell’s Canadian GP win and P3 for Kimi Antonelli.
‘Alex Dunne turns heads’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/austri...025-fp1-report
F1 – Russell sets the early pace for the Austrian Grand Prix, as Dunne impresses in first FP1 outing
27 Jun 2025
FIA (Press Release)
Mercedes’ driver George Russell topped the timesheet in the opening practice session for the 2025 FIA Formula One Austrian Grand Prix, outpacing Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and championship leading McLaren driver Oscar Piastri as Irish driver Alex Dunne impressed in the other Mclaren with fourth place on his first F1 outing.
Russell soon worked his way down to 1:06.139, while Verstappen, who was struggling with the baseline set-up of his RB21, briefly moved to P2 on Medium tyres. Antonelli went quicker, however, and his lap of 1:06.342 put him almost four tenths clear of the Dutchman, who was 0.009s ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
Behind them, F2 championship leader Alex Dunne, who was being given a run in Lando Norris’ car and who had spent much of the session driving with large aero rakes on his car, jumped to fourth place with a strong lap of 1:05.766 on Soft tyres. That left the Irish driver 0.224s off Russell.
‘Russell sets the early pace’;
https://www.fia.com/news/f1-russell-...rst-fp1-outing
‘A little boy’s dream came true’: Alex Dunne makes stunning debut in free practice at Austrian Grand Prix
27 Jun 2025
Tony Considine
Belfast Telegraph
Irish racer Alex Dunne further enhanced his credentials as one to watch with a stunning debut display in Free Practice 1 at the F1 Austrian Grand Prix. Dunne, who currently heads the F2 Championship standings for Rodin Motorsport, was sitting in for regular McLaren driver Lando Norris, as part of the F1 rookie programme that sees teams required to give young drivers an opportunity in four Friday practice sessions per year.
Dunne was also 0.159s off the pace of Red Bull’s defending champion Max Verstappen who finished FP1 in second place. “I want to say a massive thank you,” Dunne said over the team radio following the session. “A little boy’s dream came true, and this is definitely the best day of my life. Thank you everyone for letting me do this, and thanks to Lando as well for trusting me with his car.”
‘A little boy’s dream came true’;
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/s...917013597.html
McLaren's next F1 driver? The surprise early star of the Austrian GP
Jun 27, 2025
Josh Suttill
The Race
Judging a driver’s maiden Formula 1 practice outing is always tricky - but it’s hard not to be stunned by Formula 2 points leader Alex Dunne being within a tenth of McLaren regular Oscar Piastri in FP1 in Austria. There are, of course, a tonne of variables - fuel loads, run plans, traffic, late-session spots of rain - that make drawing definitive conclusions from any practice session fraught.
But there are signs that present themselves in any future F1 star’s maiden on-track outing during a grand prix. The FP1 debuts of the likes of Max Verstappen, George Russell, Lando Norris (pictured below) and more recently Ollie Bearman were precursors, both in hindsight and at the time for those following closely enough, for what was to come. strong FP1 debut alone never guarantees an F1 future, but it can help an F1 team confirm that a driver is on the right path to one, far more than a single weekend in junior formula racing.
‘Surprise early star’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/m...ustrian-gp-f2/
HIGHLIGHTS: Catch the best moments from FP1 in Austria as Russell sets the pace
George Russell carried on his good run of form and set the pace in the opening practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix
27 Jun 2025
Formula One - Official Site
George Russell set the pace in the opening practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix, the Mercedes driver less than one-tenth ahead of Max Verstappen.
Russell, who won last time out in Canada, posted a 1m 05.542s on Pirelli's soft tyre at the Red Bull Ring, which left him 0.065s clear of Red Bull's Verstappen after the one-hour session.
Championship leader Oscar Piastri was third, while F2 championship leader Alex Dunne finished the session fourth, less than a tenth behind the lead McLaren, as he took the seat of Lando Norris during the session.
‘Catch the best moments’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...pgNU60ryK8Ez1G
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Everything that happened in second Austrian GP F1 practice.
Lando Norris laid down an important marker to McLaren's Formula 1 rivals - and his team-mate Oscar Piastri - in second practice for the Austrian Grand Prix.
Jun 27, 2025
Jack Cozens
The Race
Norris said pre-weekend that "if there is any track that I would go to give myself the best feeling" it would be the Red Bull Ring, as he works out whether a new McLaren front suspension geometry will improve his comfortability in the MCL39.
Having sat out FP1 to hand his car over to McLaren junior Alex Dunne, Norris settled in quickly once in the car for second practice, going fastest of all before the mid-session qualifying simulation runs.
And he ended up at the top once those soft-tyre runs had taken place, too, ending the session with a best time of 1m04.580s that left him 0.157 seconds clear of team-mate Piastri, who entered the weekend with a 22-point drivers' championship lead over Norris.
‘Laid down an important marker’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/a...-results-2025/
F1 2025 Austrian GP – Free Practice 2 Results
McLaren dominated FP2 at the Red Bull Ring with Lando Norris ending the session ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri
27 June 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
F1 Austrian GP 2025 FP2 results
Check out the full Austrian GP 2025 Free Practice 2 results from the second practice session in Spielberg below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:04.580
2 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.157
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.318
4 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +0.442
5 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.610
6 George Russell Mercedes +0.649
7 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull +0.712
8 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber +0.831
9 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.877
10 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.931
‘Free Practice 2 Results’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...ice-2-results/
HIGHLIGHTS: Relive the best moments from FP2 in Austria with Norris fastest
Lando Norris led McLaren team mate Oscar Piastri at the top of the times in the second practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix
27 June 2025
Formula One - Official Site
Lando Norris led McLaren team mate Oscar Piastri at the top of the times in the second practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix. The Briton, who missed FP1 as his McLaren seat was taken by F2 championship leader Alex Dunne, was immediately up to speed on Friday afternoon despite a lack of earlier running.
His 1m 04.580s left him 0.157s clear of Piastri and was almost a second faster than George Russell's best from earlier in the day. Max Verstappen completed the top three ahead of Lance Stroll's Aston Martin and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who also missed FP1 as Dino Beganovic drove his car.
‘HIGHLIGHTS’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...gAyYEfWvbYoSIm
Max Verstappen details limitation Red Bull must address at F1 Austrian GP
27 June 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week
Max Verstappen has detailed a key area that he has identified which his Red Bull team need to address if they are to challenge for victory in Formula 1‘s Austrian Grand Prix. “Overall it was quite straightforward, we didn’t have any big issues but yeah, just lacking a bit of pace,” he said. “A bit of a pace, a bit too much understeer in the car as well, short run and long run. So that is something we have to try and get rid of.”
When asked if not having Lambiase on the pit wall this weekend makes a significant change, Verstapped replied: “Yeah for sure, but yeah, that’s how it is now,” however indicated a positive response to Rennie’s presence.
“I think so far, today has been really good with Simon,” he said. “Of course, I’ve known Simon for a long time on the other side of the garage and I’m working with him also in the simulator and you know he has a lot of experience anyway, so it’s actually been very, very good today. Yeah, he was straight on it and it was nice.”
“Just lacking a bit of pace”;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...1-austrian-gp/
Lewis Hamilton learns stewards verdict after Austrian GP practice investigation
Lewis Hamilton has been informed of his fate after allegedly impeding Kimi Antonelli during FP2 at the Red Bull Ring.
27 June 2025
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365
Lewis Hamilton has received a warning at the Austrian Grand Prix after being investigated by the stewards for an FP2 incident. The Ferrari driver was alleged to have impeded Kimi Antonelli at Turn 4 of the Red Bull Ring during the second free practice session.
The driver of Car 44, although constantly checking his mirrors after being informed by the team about Car 12 closing in, slowly moved on to the racing line on the approach to Turn 4 and thereby unnecessarily impeded Car 12 which had to take evasive action.
The driver of Car 44 apologised directly after realising his mistake. The Stewards determined that, despite the more lenient approach to impeding in Free Practice, the impeding was unnecessary and that a warning to the driver is warranted.
‘Stewards verdict’;
https://racingnews365.com/lewis-hami...-investigation
‘Dear oh dear’: Anthony Davidson spots Ferrari ‘problem’ after worrying Charles Leclerc onboard footage in Austrian Grand Prix practice
27 June 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer
Ferrari have brought the biggest upgrade package of any team to the Austrian Grand Prix, but their major floor update did not stop Charles Leclerc’s wild time in practice. The Scuderia have fitted a completely new floor to the cars that Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will drive at the 2025 F1 Austrian GP this weekend. Red Bull and McLaren have also brought upgrades to their challengers in Spielberg. Yet neither crew have gone as extreme as Ferrari.
Ferrari have a ‘problem’ after Charles Leclerc’s multiple offs in FP2 at the 2025 Austrian GP. Yet, despite the new floor and diffuser that Ferrari have fitted on Leclerc’s SF-25 at the 2025 Austrian GP, the 27-year-old struggled to stay on the circuit during FP2 this Friday afternoon. The Monegasque first ran deep at the slow-speed Turn 3 and then at high speed into Turn 6. Leclerc struggling for rear stability at low-speed and also at high-speed concerned Anthony Davidson, who feels Ferrari now have a ‘problem’ trying to re-work their set-up for the Red Bull Ring.
The way Leclerc’s rear-end kept stepping out simply stunned the ex-BAR F1 driver. Davidson told Sky Sports F1 (27/06, 16:16): “Wow, the rear just really letting go on the initial turn in into [Turn 3]. But here’s Turn 6, this is where he went through the gravel at high speed, and again the rear stepped out. But this time at a very different speed range to that of Turn 3 and, dear oh dear, you’ve got now the problem of trying to work the car and rework the balance in a slow-speed corner and in a high-speed corner.”
‘Dear oh dear’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ant...prix-practice/
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Full FP3 Results | Norris dominates, but will he withstand Piastri and Verstappen's pressure?
The last practice session of the Austrian Grand Prix shows McLaren's pace once again as Lando Norris stayed top for most of the session.
28 Jun 2025
Savannah Lenz
GPblog.com
While the actual practice session started on time, the cars did not go out until a few moments later. When the cars started to go out, it was the two Aston Martins who went out first, but it was Max Verstappen who set the first lap time.
The Ferrari's looked like they were struggling with multiple radio messages about their rear grip but once Leclerc got his tyres warmed up, he was able to crack into the top five and stay there along with Hamilton who went second close towards the beginning.
‘Full FP3 Results’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/full-...s-first-points
F1 2025 Austrian GP – Free Practice 3 Results
Lando Norris was once again the man to beat after posting the quickest time in FP3 at the Red Bull Ring
28 June 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
F1 Austrian GP 2025 FP3 results
Check out the full Austrian GP 2025 Free Practice 3 results from the third practice session in Spielberg below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:04.324
2 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.118
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.210
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.250
5 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.466
6 George Russell Mercedes +0.694
7 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.729
8 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +0.738
9 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull Racing +0.815
10 Gabriel Bortoleto Kick Sauber +0.858
‘F1 Austrian GP 2025 FP3 results’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...ice-3-results/
Austrian GP: Norris and Piastri remain on top in FP3
28/06/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
Lando Norris continued his commanding form at the Red Bull Ring by topping the timesheets in final practice ahead of Saturday’s qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix, as McLaren extended its dominance.
Despite missing FP1 on Friday, Norris has been the class of the field ever since he stepped into the car for FP2 — and he reinforced that pace with a session-best 1:04.324 in FP3.
His McLaren teammate and current championship leader Oscar Piastri slotted in just over a tenth behind, securing another McLaren 1-2 to start Saturday.
‘Commanding form’;
https://f1i.com/news/542509-austrian...op-in-fp3.html
Max Verstappen suffers late 360-degree spin as Lando Norris sets crushing Austrian GP pace
'A nice little 360' said Max Verstappen. Cool as a cucumber but he will need to find more pace in qualifying to challenge Lando Norris.
28 June 2025
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365
It was a case of deja vu for final practice, with Norris posting a time of 1:04.324s, just 0.010s adrift of Max Verstappen's pole time from last year. Piastri again had to settle for second on the timesheet, 0.118s adrift, with Verstappen third fastest, 0.210s down.
The session ended with a moment of consternation for Verstappen. At one point he was forced to swerve out of the way of incoming Pierre Gasly in his Alpine through Turn 10. The Frenchman was not happy.
Soon after, Verstappen then spun through 360 degrees in the same corner, but was as cool as a cucumber over the radio with a message of, 'Yeah! A little 360!'. Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and fifth.
'Yeah! A little 360!'
https://racingnews365.com/max-versta...strian-gp-pace
Austrian GP: Lando Norris tops Oscar Piastri in Practice Three as McLaren maintain dominance ahead of qualifying
Lando Norris continues to impress by topping final practice from McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri; Max Verstappen third, Ferrari show improvement.
28 June 2025
Sky Sports
Lando Norris continued to outpace team-mate Oscar Piastri as McLaren maintained their dominance in final practice at the Austrian Grand Prix. Norris further lowered the benchmark time he set to top Friday's second practice, with a 1:04.324 putting him 0.118s clear of Piastri.
While Verstappen doesn't appear to have the raw pace to match the McLarens, the reigning world champion's ability to bring his best when it matters most will ensure qualifying remains a fascinating spectacle.
‘Lando Norris continues to impress’;
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...-of-qualifying
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Lando Norris takes Austrian Grand Prix pole with ludicrous margin.
Lando Norris took Austrian Grand Prix pole position by a ludicrous margin as his McLaren team-mate and Formula 1 championship rival Oscar Piastri was denied second by Charles Leclerc.
Jun 28, 2025
Matt Beer
The Race
Though the final Q3 runs were slightly disrupted by yellow flags for Pierre Gasly spinning his Alpine out of the final corner, Norris's half-second advantage was not entirely down to that - and was still a stunning gap back to the rest of the field on a 63-second lap. Piastri had to abandon his final lap because of those yellow flags and his earlier effort wasn't enough to stop Leclerc's Ferrari nipping between the McLarens.
Max Verstappen was also inconvenienced by the Gasly yellow and starts down in seventh, nearly a second off the pace. Verstappen wasn't even the top driver from the Red Bull stable, as Liam Lawson enjoyed his strongest day of 2025 so far to qualify sixth for Racing Bulls.
Lewis Hamilton backed up Leclerc's form with fourth in the second Ferrari, ahead of Canada polesitter and race winner George Russell as Mercedes had a muted day in the climbong temperatures. Both Russell and team-mate Kimi Antonelli flirted with elimination in the final seconds of both Q1 and Q2 before at least making it to the pole shootout and qualifying fifth and ninth.
‘Lludicrous margin’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/l...icrous-margin/
F1 2025 Austrian GP – Qualifying Results
Norris delivers dominant pole in Austria as McLaren set the pace and chaos hits final qualifying
28 June 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
F1 Austrian GP 2025 Qualifying results
Check out the full Austrian GP 2025 Qualifying results from the session in Spielberg below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:03.971
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.521
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.583
4 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.611
5 George Russell Mercedes +0.792
6 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +0.955
7 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.958
8 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber +1.161
9 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +1.305
10 Pierre Gasly Alpine +1.678
‘Qualifying Results’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/lan...5-austrian-gp/
Lewis Hamilton drama causes a FIRE during Austrian Grand Prix qualifying before Lando Norris romps to red-hot pole to boost his title ambitions
28 June 2025
JONATHAN MCEVOY
MailOnline
Lando Norris put his crash of a fortnight ago behind him with a monster pole position at the Austrian Grand Prix, by half a second on the world’s shortest-timed circuit. Practically faultless, he was streets ahead of second-placed Charles Leclerc of Ferrari. ‘It’s nice to see the old me back now and again,’ said Norris, adding: ‘Now I need to prove myself over and over again. Hopefully, this is the beginning of it.’
Flames fluttered from a sun-scorched grass verge after being lit by the underside of Hamilton’s Ferrari, causing a short delay to proceedings as water was applied. But, really, it was Norris who caught fire. Piastri was held up by a yellow flag as he was about to start his final flying lap, and had to abort. However, he lacked Norris’s pace throughout. The Australian will start third, sharing the second row with Lewis Hamilton’s red car. So, we come again to a nagging question: how will Norris start?
A poor outing for Max Verstappen on his team’s home track – the Red Bull Ring, their undulating green amphitheatre in the curves of the Styrian mountains. Cheered on by tens of thousands of orange-shirted Dutch fans, he qualified seventh. He was incandescent with his car, complaining: ‘Completely undriveable. Worse than before. I don’t know what to say.’ Hardly music to Red Bull’s ears as Mercedes pursue the quadruple world champion for next year or the one beyond.
‘Lando Norris romps to red-hot pole’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...rris-pole.html
Lando Norris dominates Qualifying with staggering Austrian GP pole as rivals stumble
McLaren driver outpaces the field as Ferrari and Red Bull face setbacks during dramatic qualifying at Spielberg
28 June 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
Lando Norris claimed a sensational pole position for the 2025 Austrian GP, continuing his dominant form in Spielberg and sending a warning to his title rivals. The McLaren driver, who had sat out Free Practice 1 but topped every session since, delivered a stunning lap of 1:03.971 to secure the top spot with the biggest margin seen all season.
Qualifying at the Red Bull Ring was filled with twists and tension, with late yellow and red flags disrupting the field. Norris kept his cool as the session reached its climax, posting a time that left the chasing pack well behind.
Charles Leclerc will start alongside Norris on the front row after a superb effort for Ferrari, splitting the two McLaren cars. Leclerc’s result comes as a major boost for the Maranello squad, who have shown flashes of progress this weekend.
‘Staggering’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/lan...5-austrian-gp/
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F1 Austrian Grand Prix: Oscar Piastri qualifies third as Lando Norris takes pole.
Australian F1 drivers' championship leader Oscar Piastri will start Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix third, while his teammate Lando Norris will be in pole position. Norris was more than half a second faster than Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who qualified second-quickest.
28 Jun 2025
Michael Doyle
ABC Online
Lando Norris, second in the championship behind his McLaren teammate, dominated every session of qualifying at Spielberg in a brilliant performance. The Brit was more than half a second quicker than Ferrari's Charles Leclerc who qualified second quickest.
Piastri was unable to go for a final flying lap at the end of qualifying, as Frenchman Pierre Gasly spun on the track, which brought out yellow flags in the final sector. Those same flags denied Red Bull's Max Verstappen (seventh) from finishing his final lap.
"I didn't get to start [my lap] because of [Pierre] Gasly spinning in the last corner," Piastri said. "Lando has been quick all weekend, so it would have been tough, but we had the pace to start on the front row. I think we've still got some opportunities tomorrow — I'm not planning on finishing third."
‘Dominated every session of qualifying’;
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-...pole/105473192
Max Verstappen reveals reason behind poor Red Bull Austrian GP qualifying
The Dutchman also dispelled claims Gianpiero Lambiase’s absence isn’t behind his struggles.
28 Jun 2025
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
Max Verstappen dismissed claims that Red Bull upgrades at the 2025 Austrian GP were responsible for his poor qualifying performance, as the four-time world champion reveals the secret behind the tough Saturday and that is has nothing to do with upgrades, or Gianpiero Lambiase’s absence. “I think yesterday already was not good over one lap,” Verstappen told media, including Total-Motorsport.com, as he reveals the secret behind the poor qualifying at the 2025 Austrian GP.
“The long run wasn’t good and today FP3 was a little bit more positive but still off. “Then in qualifying basically everything felt bad. Every corner was a struggle, I just didn’t have the balance. It was either understeer or oversteer. Even every single lap that I did I had a bit of a different behaviour from the car so that’s not ideal. I don’t want to talk about the upgrades,” Verstappen bluntly said. “Because I think it was not only the upgrades that caused all this.”
“Just suddenly we really took a step back, which is not what you want from FP3 into quali. Not a lot. Not to fight up front for sure,” Verstappen added at the Red Bull Ring. “For sure the hotter conditions they don’t help as well. So far this year we’ve not been more competitive in the race than qualifying as well. We’ll see what we can do tomorrow.”
‘Max Verstappen dismissed claims’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/max...d-undriveable/
Lewis Hamilton spies Austrian GP opportunity: 'Well, Max isn't there'
Lewis Hamilton enjoyed his best grand prix qualifying performance of the season.
28 Jun 2025
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365
Reflecting on his performance, speaking to the media, including RacingNews365, Hamilton said: "I'm grateful I'm on the second row at least, and our car is better in the race generally than it usually is in qualifying, so we've improved in qualifying this weekend. Let's hope that we can carry that over to the race."
As to whether he could finally score a podium with the Scuderia, referencing his drought between race wins before he finally won last year's British Grand Prix, Hamilton said: "It feels like that 900-odd days thing with the win. Hopefully it won't take 900 days. The last few races I've said, 'Yeah, I can't wait to get that podium'. So I'm not going to say it. I'm just going to put myself towards action, rather than words."
There was also a playful dig at long-time rival Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver struggled on the team's home soil, and will line up three places behind Hamilton in seventh. Asked if there was an opportunity of a strong result if he kept out of trouble, Hamilton said: "I mean, Max isn't up there," before chuckling. "I won't be bumping into anybody, that's for sure."
'Well, Max isn't there';
https://racingnews365.com/lewis-hami...max-isnt-there
F1 LIVE | Verstappen unlucky due to yellow flag, a win for Norris in Austria?
29 Jun 2025
Sienna Ionta
GPblog.com
Lando Norris continued McLaren’s dominant form in FP3 at the Red Bull Ring, topping the timesheets in a session that echoed McLaren’s 1–2 pace with teammate Oscar Piastri close behind, with the Brit then converting this into pole later on in qualifying.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc managed to split the two McLarens by securing P2, while teammate Lewis Hamilton also impressed with a strong showing in P4. This solid qualifying result comes after Ferrari introduced a series of floor-related upgrades for their car heading into the Austrian Grand Prix.
However, Max Verstappen faced a disappointing qualifying session at his team's home Grand Prix, unable to complete a final flying lap due to yellow flags on track. This setback prevented him from fully unleashing the RB21’s potential, leaving him to settle for seventh on the grid.
‘Verstappen unlucky due to yellow flag’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/live/f1-li...ris-in-austria
Can Lando Norris deliver at 2025 Austrian GP after successful mental reset?
The Brit has a chance to claw back some valuable championship points in his fight with Oscar Piastri
28 Jun 2025
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
Lando Norris secures pole position for the 2025 Austrian GP with a dominant performance throughout qualifying, as the Brit seems to have found his mental reset in the ongoing Formula 1 season, but can he deliver when it counts on Sunday?
“It was a good lap, that’s for sure. I guess just little bit by little bit,” Norris told media, including Total-Motorsport.com, after the session. “I feel even like my Q3 run one was good, But I knew there were a few places where if I just got it right I could get still quite a bit more time – and I did exactly that.”
“I did what I planned to do, and when I plan to do something and it goes right, it normally goes very, very well. I’m very happy, [it’s been] a good day, and it’s been a good weekend for me so far, so hopefully we can keep it up.”
‘Claw back some valuable championship points’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/can...-mental-reset/
2025 Austrian Grand Prix strategy briefing: All the data to follow the race with
2025 Austrian Grand Prix pre-race analysis
28 Jun 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Start: The pit straight layout at the Red Bull Ring could be considered very ‘normal’. The racing line passes along the left-hand side of the grid where pole position is and the run down to the first corner is average in length. What often makes the first lap dramatic at this circuit is the long acceleration zones which follow turns one and three. Battles for position are often resolved at turn four, where any driver still trying to hang on around the outside can find themselves presented with the choice of backing down or taking a race-ruining trip through the gravel trap.
Overtaking: The DRS zone layout is the same as it was last year. The activation zones follow turns one, three and 10 and each has its own detection point. Turn three was a scene of controversy last year when Norris and Verstappen collided. A dramatic collision occured there between three Formula 2 drivers on the second lap of Saturday’s sprint race, which triggered a stoppage, and further incidents followed there later in the race. The corner is bordered by an asphalt run-off which tends to lead to track limits abuses when drivers are battling for position.
Safety Cars: Last year’s race saw a single interruption, which was a Virtual Safety Car deployment triggered by the Norris-Verstappen collision late in the race. The previous year the Safety Car was deployed immediately after the start when Yuki Tsunoda picked up damage, and a VSC followed on lap 14 when Nico Hulkenberg retired.
‘All the data to follow the race with’;
https://www.racefans.net/2025/06/28/...the-race-with/
George Russell verdict delivered for unsafe release in Austrian GP Qualifying
Mercedes driver receives official warning after pit lane scare as team faces tough task in high temperatures at Red Bull Ring
28 Jun 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
George Russell received a formal reprimand from the FIA stewards for entering the fast lane without a suitable gap during qualifying for the 2025 Austrian GP, narrowly avoiding further sanctions ahead of Sunday’s race.
Russell’s incident happened at the beginning of Q3, when he tried to join the fast lane in the pit exit but had to stop at an awkward angle, creating a huge blind spot with cars rapidly approaching.
The FIA noted that Russell attempted to contact the team for help but slipped the clutch by mistake, causing his car to lurch forward just as other drivers were leaving their garages. Mercedes later acknowledged that the situation could have been handled better and accepted the warning from race officials.
‘Verdict for unsafe release’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/geo...-release-2025/
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Piastri begs no forgiveness after 'overly-intense' Austrian GP battle with Norris.
The title fight between Piastri and Norrris got closer as the Briton took 7 points off his teammate's lead in the standings. Max Verstappen on the other hand has seemingly fallen out of contention as with his DNF the gap to Piastri grew to 61 points.
29 Jun 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com
Speaking after the race at the press conference, Piastri looked back on the battle with his teammate. "I mean, again, there have been a few battles in the past, not just last week, but last year and the year before. So, I think we both knew what to expect," said the Aussie driver looking at the long history of the wheel-to-wheel racing he and his teammates have undergone.
Austrian GP McLaren battle gets heated. "It was a tough battle. It was close at some points, probably pushing the limits a bit much from my side once or twice. But we're fighting for race wins in Formula 1. It's going to be pretty tough work and pretty hard," said a resolute Piastri who begs no forgiveness for how hard he raced his McLaren teammate Norris.
"I thought it was an entertaining race. After the first stop, maybe we didn't do the right thing giving Lando some breathing room, but the first 20 laps were pretty intense. So, it was a good battle."
'Overly-intense';
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/piast...le-with-norris
Austrian GP: Race Results
Full results from the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix where Lando Norris took his third victory of 2025.
30 Jun 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe
POS. NO. DRIVER TEAM LAPS TIME / RETIRED PTS.
1 4 Lando Norris Oscar Piastri 70 1:23:47.693 25
2 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 70 +2.695s 18
3 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 70 +19.820s 15
4 44 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 70 +29.020s 12
5 63 George Russell Mercedes 70 +62.396s 10
6 30 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls 70 +67.754s 8
7 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 69 +1 lap 6
8 5 Gabriel Bortoleto Kick Sauber 69 +1 lap 4
9 27 Nico Hulkenberg Kick Sauber 69 +1 lap 2
10 31 Esteban Ocon Haas 69 +1 lap 1
‘Race Results’;
https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-a...-race-results/
Why Bernie Ecclestone presented Lando Norris with F1 winners’ medal in Austria
29 Jun 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week
Norris held off the challenge of team-mate Oscar Piastri to take an impressive victory around the Red Bull Ring to keep his title hopes up, as well and strengthening McLaren’s position at the top of the Constructors’ Championship. The president’s medal, which has been awarded to all winning drivers since the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, is presented by the president himself, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
However, the Emirati was unable to attend this weekend’s race in Spielberg, and Ecclestone, 94, deputised to place the medal around Norris’ neck. “I think it’s really nice that the President gives a personal congratulations to the winning competitor,” he said.
“As he could not attend the Formula 1 race here in Austria, he asked me to present his medal for him which I am pleased and honoured to do. It was also great to be there, as though it might seem strange, this was the first time in almost 70 years in this sport that I’ve actually been on the podium! So, that was also nice.”
‘The president’s medal’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...al-in-austria/
Is this the turning point? Norris shakes up F1 title race with Austrian GP masterclass
Norris’ new grit puts Piastri under real pressure as F1 heads to Silverstone
29 June 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
Lando Norris fought back in style at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix, and this could be the weekend that redefines the Formula 1 championship. After a tough run and questions about his ability to handle high-stakes pressure, Norris produced the kind of drive that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about him.
Can Norris keep this up for a real title challenge? For those of us who have watched Norris’ journey, this win felt like something bigger than just a boost in the standings. It was a show of maturity, mental strength, and championship-level composure. When Piastri cut the gap after their final pit stops, Norris got on the radio and said, “I need some pace—please help,” but he never let the situation overwhelm him. He steadied himself and kept his rival at bay.
Norris’ win closes the title gap to Oscar Piastri to just 15 points with Silverstone up next. The feeling in the paddock is that we’re on the brink of a classic two-driver fight for the championship, and this victory might be the moment Norris truly believes he can take it all the way.
‘Is this the turning point?’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/nor...attle-piastri/
Kimi Antonelli apologises to Max Verstappen as Mercedes driver receives British GP grid penalty for causing crash in Austria
Max Verstappen retired on the first lap after being hit by Kimi Antonelli; the Mercedes driver will receive a three-place grid penalty at Silverstone.
29 June 2025
Sky Sports
Kimi Antonelli said he was "super sorry" for taking Max Verstappen out of the Austrian Grand Prix as a first-lap collision between the pair earned the Mercedes driver a grid penalty for next weekend's race at Silverstone.
Antonelli told Sky Sports F1: "I didn't necessarily brake too late, it's just that when I braked, I braked hard because I was behind other cars, and in that moment, I locked the rears. Then I just couldn't stop the car. I locked the rear and then lost the car and then had to avoid (Liam) Lawson. Then it was too late because I was arriving just too quick.”
“I started to lock the front and instead of decelerating, I was accelerating. The car was just taking speed, and the crash was inevitable. Just feel super sorry to the team, and to Max of course, because obviously he was just a passenger."
‘Kimi Antonelli apologises to Max Verstappen’;
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...ash-in-austria
Antonelli handed grid penalty for Verstappen collision in Austrian GP
29/06/2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been handed a three-place grid penalty for next weekend’s British Grand Prix, following his opening-lap collision with Max Verstappen at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. In their official report, the Austrian Grand Prix stewards outlined the sequence of events and Antonelli’s own explanation of what went wrong:
“The stewards heard from the driver of car 12 (Kimi Antonelli), the team representative, and reviewed video evidence. The driver of car 12 locked up the rear brakes into Turn 3 and collided with car 1,” the report read.
“In the hearing, the driver admitted that he made a mistake as he locked up the rear wheels while using his regular braking point, but also pointed out that he needed to avoid a collision with car 30 (Liam Lawson) in front of him and released the brakes for a short period of time to do so."
‘Antonelli handed grid penalty’;
https://f1i.com/news/542734-antonell...strian-gp.html
DNF FOR MAX IN AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX: 'THESE THINGS HAPPEN'
29 June 2025
Stefan Meens
Verstappen.nl
Max Verstappen failed to finish the Austrian Grand Prix after a collision with the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli on the opening lap. “We had a good start, definitely a better one compared the past few races, but we were done after three corners. I got hit in the back and that was that”, reflected Max after his DNF. “But these things happen, Kimi and I already had a chat and things are okay. Nobody does these things on purpose. He is a great talent, and he’ll keep learning.”
The reigning champion added: “Of course it’s shame for all the fans, but this is racing. We’ve had great moments here so maybe we are a bit spoiled. Yesterday we were a bit unlucky in qualifying too, but on the whole, we just don’t have enough pace, so we have to analyse and have a better weekend next week.”
With McLaren scoring a 1-2 victory and Max failing to score points, his championship campaign appears to falter. “I’m honestly not thinking about that. We just take it race by race. There’s is definitely more in it, but we need to see if we can find the pace. Everyone gives a 100% and that’s the only thing we can keep doing.”
“Everyone gives a 100%”;
https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5869/
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McLaren boss praises Lando Norris' character after Austrian GP triumph.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella praised Lando Norris’ character after the Briton bounced back from a collision and race retirement in Canada to lead a McLaren 1-2 at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday.
Jun 30, 2025
The Japan Times
The Italian said Norris still needed "to polish a few things" to become the finished article, however, in a Formula One season that is turning into a two-horse race between Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri for the drivers' title.
Norris had to fend off the Australian to set up Sunday's victory, which came two weeks after a clash with his teammate forced him out in Montreal.
‘Andrea Stella praised Lando Norris’ character’;
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/...praise-norris/
Mark Hughes: Norris bounce back in Austria was spectacular
June 30th 2025
Mark Hughes
Motor Sport Magazine
The McLaren was super-fast around the Red Bull Ring, even by the team’s 2025 standards. Lando Norris was also supremely well-tuned-in to one of his favourite tracks. Those two factors soared his confidence into an upward spiral. The new tweaked front suspension introduced in Montreal was giving him the feedback he felt he’d previously lacked in this car – and it was one of those weekends where no-one got close to him, not in qualifying at least when he was 0.5sec clear of the field.
Team-mate Oscar Piastri could point to not having got his final Q3 lap in because of unfortunately-timed yellow flags (for a spectacular 720-degree Pierre Gasly spin out of the final corner). But run for run, he was always a vital tenth or two behind Norris here.
‘One of those weekends’;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a.../?nowprocket=1
"We gave it everything," claims Leclerc after grabbing his fourth podium finish of the season
30 Jun 2025
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
Charles Leclerc stated: "I rate our weekend as a team really well. We brought some upgrades which helped us to take a step forward and start closing the gap to McLaren. Unfortunately, they were just faster today. In the first corner, I wanted to close in on Lando (Norris), but that left the door open for Oscar (Piastri) who was able to pass me for second place.”
"I pushed a lot on the first stint and had quite a bit of degradation, but that’s part of the game. We don’t have any regrets today. We gave it everything and extracted the maximum from our race. We will continue to work hard to make more progress with the aim of getting back onto the top step of the podium. That’s our main priority and the whole team deserves it."
"Gave it everything";
https://www.f1technical.net/news/27216
Bernie Ecclestone identifies Ferrari’s biggest ‘problem’ in F1 and makes worrying Lewis Hamilton prediction
29 Jun 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
Hamilton has been struggling with bugbears in Ferrari’s 2025 F1 car, but Ecclestone thinks the team’s problems extend far further than that. “I think the problem there is what happened when we changed everything. All the people that are there are in charge. But there was nobody in charge, except everyone!"
"And I think it’s all sort of gone back a little bit that way. It needs one guy, really and truly, there to say, this is how it’s going to be. It’s finding the one guy; they should get Luca [De Montezemolo] back!” Ecclestone was then asked about Vasseur’s job being under threat and continued: “Well, I hope he gets a job done because it’s wrong to keep switching one guy out and another guy because the guy who comes in, he’s not going to be happy with the guy, what he’s been doing, the one that’s leaving. They want to change things, that’s the problem with changing people a little bit at the top.”
Although Hamilton’s initial deal runs until the end of next season, the former F1 supremo simply said, “No,” when asked if he’ll ever become an eight-time world champion. He then continued: “Well, I think, there are periods in everyone’s lives when everything’s going to work well or not work well, and I think he was fortunate enough to be around when, firstly, there wasn’t so much competition, so it was a bit easier. And now, he’s got competitors, which when he was winning everything, he didn’t have too many people at the top of the tree. But I hope, I mean, he still can get the job done, but whether he can win the world championship where he is, it’s a completely different story.”
“There was nobody in charge, except everyone!”;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ber...on-prediction/
What Max Verstappen told dad Jos over phone at the Austrian GP will terrify Red Bull after disastrous race
The four-time world champion has had a whirlwind week at the Red Bull ring in Austria.
30 Jun 2025
SPORTbible
Details of Max Verstappen's phone call with his dad Jos immediately after the Austrian Grand Prix have been revealed... ...Jos said: “I have seen a little bit of qualifying. I saw the last lap when he got the yellow flags, but it didn’t look fast enough. I already heard it on the phone, he said, ‘Yeah, it’s just not good enough.'"
Jos then went on to criticise the upgrades: “Ferrari has brought a good update, we know that McLaren are always at the front and who else is in between? Mercedes is kind of in between, and I think the update that Red Bull brought doesn’t make that much of a difference. You can see it in Tsunoda, too; he doesn’t even reach Q2. So yeah, the speed has fallen from there.”
‘Not good enough';
https://www.sportbible.com/f1/max-ve...32678-20250630
Red Bull need to understand cause of Tsunoda’s “horrible” race – Horner
29 Jun 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said the team need to get to the bottom of what’s gone wrong for Yuki Tsunoda: “With Yuki, obviously it’s difficult to make progress from starting where he did on the grid and then picking up a penalty as well with Colapinto,” Horner told the official F1 website. “So a horrible race for him today as well. It’s frustrating but we’ll move on quickly to Silverstone. As has often been the case this year, Tsunoda’s lap times appeared to be more competitive earlier in the weekend during free practice. However he failed to make it beyond Q1 for the third time in five race weekends.
“We need to understand with Yuki what’s gone wrong because, certainly [in second and third practice] he was looking okay,” said Horner. “In qualifying, it seemed to fall apart for him. “Then when you’re out of position, you’re down the pack like that, when it’s so tight he’s struggling for confidence. But we’ll work with him, we’ll try and help him through it.”
‘Need to get to the bottom of what’s gone wrong’;
https://www.racefans.net/2025/06/29/...e-race-horner/
Horner after Austrian Grand Prix: 'A weekend to forget'
29 Jun 2025
Julien Lemmen
Verstappen.nl
Team principal Christian Horner reflects after the race: "It was a horrible race for us and desperately unlucky for Max to be taken out at turn 3 when he had done nothing wrong, he had a good start and made good progress. It’s a shame, I don’t think we would have been racing the McLarens today but we would have been racing the Ferraris pretty hard. Unfortunately for us it was a weekend to forget."
'A weekend to forget’;
https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5870/
Toto Wolff reveals first reaction after costly Kimi Antonelli clash with Max Verstappen stuns Austrian GP
29 June 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
“These mistakes happen,” Toto Wolff told reporters, including Total-Motorsport.com, at the Red Bull Ring. “The rears locked on the car. I’m not entirely sure if it was his fault or a system, I didn’t look through the data nor did I hear because we were concentrating on the race but that happens. It’s unfortunate – unfortunate for Max and Red Bull that Kimi hit him. But it’s racing.”
“He came into the garage quickly and I said ‘well that wasn’t great’, which he obviously knew,” admitted Wolff. “But he said the tyres just locked and we need to analyse that. But again, there’s margin for error in our business.” He continued, “It’s a shame that we took another car out with us, but that can happen. It can happen to the great ones, to the inexperienced ones, to the experienced ones. It’s just part of Formula 1.”
“These mistakes happen”;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...trian-gp-2025/
'Can't be': Toto Wolff wants Mercedes engineers to stop using one ‘excuse’ after poor Austrian Grand Prix performance
30 June 2025
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer
Wolff was scathing about their performance: “The pace we lacked overall is something you can only scratch your head and understand. There is no excuse for that, we won here last year. Before the two drove into the front of the car, we were 16 seconds behind, today a minute. We know we’ve done a few experiments, but you can’t be that far behind,” said Wolff.
“You can’t always rely on it, but Silverstone has always been a good place for us in recent years. At the moment, a bad performance here in Austria with these temperatures counts and the weather must not always be the excuse.”
'Can't be';
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/tot...x-performance/
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George Russell at Aintree Racecourse driving the classic 1955 Mercedes of Fangio. Stunning !
https://youtu.be/nhn5Kyiv_0I?si=Q55DYjgW9LEDIp2G
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Ferrari responds to Lewis Hamilton’s strategy dispute after Austrian Grand Prix.
After being told to pit for fresh tyres, Hamilton pushed back, saying, “My tyres are okay. Can I extend? How many more laps left?” With Adami responding that there were 20 laps to go and insisting he box, Hamilton replied, “I don’t want to stop.”
1 July 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
Radio debate over pit stop timing highlights Ferrari’s evolving race philosophy as Hamilton pushes for more control. Stand-in leader Jerome d’Ambrosio who addressed the media after the race, defended the team’s call, explaining, “I think it was more a question of a matter of setting, so staying a few more laps. In the end, it’s nothing out of the norm.”
“What we try to do as a team was to, and Austria is very much like that, you try to do your optimal strategy. You try to optimise your race time. That’s what we did with both drivers. To be honest, there was no incentive in doing anything different, because the McLarens were clearly far ahead and George quite far behind. So we were in between them with both cars.”
He continued, “We just did a standard optimal strategy, and that was the most straightforward thing to do. From a driver’s perspective, you question always, is it the best? Can we do something else? They are racers, they’re Formula 1 drivers, that’s what they should do, and that’s what they do. But in the end, you look at the numbers and that’s what made sense.”
‘Radio debate’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/fer...gy-radio-2025/
Lewis Hamilton told he was ‘absolutely right’ to disagree with Ferrari over key Austrian Grand Prix decision
30 June 2025
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer
Peter Windsor questions Ferrari strategy in Austrian Grand Prix. Jacques Villeneuve questioned Ferrari’s strategy in Austria, and Windsor thinks Hamilton was right to disagree with his team when he was told to pit again. “Lewis was complaining on his second stop that he shouldn’t have been brought in [to the pits]. And I think he was probably right because he wasn’t using the tyres that much and could’ve got to the finish,” said Windsor.
Lewis Hamilton hoping for Ferrari to make progress after Silverstone upgrade. Ferrari brought an updated floor to the recent race in Austria but that was only one part of the main package they have planned for the upcoming races. The main Ferrari update is to the rear suspension of the SF-25 which Hamilton is hoping will improve their performance, and cure the problem they have with excessive plank wear.
The updated car should enable them to close the gap to Red Bull and Mercedes, as Hamilton is currently unable to unlock the potential of his car. Hamilton said after the Spanish GP that he suffered badly due to the poor balance of his car, commenting that it was the worst it has ever been.
‘Right to disagree’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/lew...prix-decision/
'Game over, Carlos, jump out': Sainz's Williams catches fire before start of Austrian Grand Prix
29 Jun 2025
Firstpost
Carlos Sainz’s Williams car caught fire before the start of the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix, forcing him to retire early. Sainz is being trolled online as this is the second time his car caught fire in Austrian GP in two years.
“Game over, Carlos, jump out,” Sainz’s race engineer Gaetan Jego said on the team radio after the car caught fire. “There’s damage in the car, for sure,” Sainz reported. “The car is undriveable. When I say undriveable, it’s pulling under braking, no load in high-speed. Undriveable,” Sainz said after retiring from the race.
“We’ve just seen that we had quite a bit of damage on the floor, so we were lacking quite a lot of downforce. We also had an issue with the brakes from the start of Quali, so too many things going to on to actually push around a high-confidence track like this,” he added.
'Game over, Carlos, jump out';
https://www.firstpost.com/sports/car...-13901558.html
Alonso hails Aston Martin for its strategic decision
30 Jun 2025
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
Having finished the Austrian Grand Prix in an impressive seventh place, two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso has praised Aston Martin for having pursued an ambitious one-stop strategy at the Red Bull Ring. Fernando Alonso did not look particularly strong at the start of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend. However, he managed to raise his performance for qualifying to secure P11 on the grid.
Reflecting on his race, Alonso noted: "After starting P11, I'm really happy to finish P7 today in Austria. Our one-stop strategy worked really well. I was unsure about it this morning because of the heat, but it paid off and the team made the right decision. I was able to use DRS throughout the race and I was a bit lucky in the final laps - one more lap would have been too much. It's great to end a tough weekend on a high, and the team's hunger is clear to see. Let’s carry this momentum into Silverstone next week."
‘Fernando Alonso has praised Aston Martin’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/27221
Will Max Verstappen honour his contract with Red Bull? Here's Helmut Marko's take
30 Jun 2025
Tobia Elia
Sandy van Wijngaarden
GPblog.com
Rumors of Max Verstappen moving to Mercedes were already gaining momentum ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend. Following a disappointing performance from the Austrian team, those rumors have only intensified. Helmut Marko shared his take on the situation after the race.
Max Verstappen’s contract situation remains a hot topic. The four-time world champion recently suffered a heavy DNF in Austria after being taken out—albeit unintentionally—by Kimi Antonelli, significantly narrowing his chances of securing a fifth career title.
"The contract runs until 2028. The contract has exit clauses that are performance-related,” said Helmut Marko to the German branch of Sky Sports at the end of the race. For now, the Austrian does not expect Max Verstappen to leave: "As things stand, there's no reason to doubt that the contract will be honored." After the Austrian Grand Prix, the 82-year-old reached a harsh conclusion: Verstappen’s world championship hopes might as well be over following this retirement.
“The contract has exit clauses that are performance-related”;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/marko...ppens-contract
Ted Kravitz admits something Christian Horner said about Max Verstappen’s F1 future made absolutely no sense
1 July 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
Ted Kravitz was speaking on Ted’s Notebook and when discussing Red Bull’s fortunes and the future of the team, he explained: “If you’re Christian Horner, you’re thinking, the Piranha Club is well and truly alive and well, isn’t it? Are they just trying to hurt us or embarrass us about George [Russell] revealing that Mercedes are having talks with Max’s management at our home race?”
“Can we not just enjoy our home race without someone at Mercedes trying to embarrass us with some stealing Max chat? So, that’s why I asked him about it, Christian Horner batted it away and said, ‘Well, Max is quite irritated about it,’ which itself demanded the question, well, hang on, if Max’s management as we think have confirmed that there are some talks with Mercedes, then is Max not happy with his own management talking to Mercedes?”
“And anyway, isn’t Max’s management’s job to talk to absolutely everybody? I think that’s also true; we can conclude. Max’s management has to talk to everybody just to sound out the potential drives available. It might be for after 2028, when, of course, Max Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull Racing. I guess if Max was annoyed about it, he could tell his management not to talk to Mercedes. At some point, is Max going to go to Mercedes? Well, we will have to see. Will it be before his contract ends with Red Bull? Well, that would be a turn up for the books, but nothing is impossible.”
‘The Piranha Club’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ted...tely-no-sense/
Red Bull director considering ‘huge’ Max Verstappen decision to avoid 2026 F1 exit after ‘crisis’ manager talks
30 June 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
As per the Dutch outlet De Limburger, the four-time world champion’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen made his feelings clear to Red Bull about their underperformance in the paddock. There were ‘crisis conversations’ at the track after the pointless weekend, with Vermeulen demanding a meeting with sporting director Oliver Mintzlaff. The pair were seen talking just a stone’s throw away from Horner while he was addressing the press, with McLaren’s superiority said to be the main topic of conversation.
It’s believed that Red Bull’s top management are going to do ‘everything’ to stop Verstappen from moving on. They suggest that it’s ‘not impossible’ that Mintzlaff will ‘put a huge bag of money on the table’ to convince Verstappen that staying at Red Bull is the correct option. However, it’s believed that it is ‘seriously doubtful’ that this tactic is going to work in discussions with the Dutchman’s team in the long run.
‘Crisis conversations’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/red...manager-talks/
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British GP: Max Verstappen ‘carrying’ Red Bull says McLaren chief Zak Brown amid Mercedes links.
Zak Brown spoke to Sky Sports News about Max Verstappen after Sky Italy reported the Dutchman is open to joining Mercedes in 2026.
2 July 2025
Sky Sports
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown says Red Bull would be behind sister team Racing Bulls without Max Verstappen amid fresh uncertainty over the Dutchman's future. Sky in Italy reported on Wednesday that Verstappen is open to the move and talks are intensifying ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix.
Mercedes driver George Russell told Sky Sports F1 at last weekend's Austrian Grand Prix that his own contract extension was being delayed due to "ongoing conversations", which team principal Toto Wolff admitted were taking place "behind closed doors".
‘Max Verstappen ‘carrying’ Red Bull’;
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...mercedes-links
Max previews British GP: 'Keep pushing forward'
02 July 2025
Niels Hendrix
Verstappen.nl
Looking back at the Austrian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen said: “Austria was a weekend to forget. We were pretty unlucky and it was not the result that we wanted. However, we want to come back stronger and hopefully can analyse and find more pace in the car so we can be more competitive to head into another team home race. We have been looking at what went wrong over the weekend and will do everything we can to keep pushing forward as a team.”
Next up is the British Grand Prix, coming weekend. Max added: “Silverstone has lots of high-speed corners which are hard to overtake and it is a track with lots of history. It is always a busy one for us, with lots of events going on, but it is nice for the team to be close to home this weekend. You never know what the weather might bring so we will see what happens.”
‘Keep pushing forward';
https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5871/
New Verstappen-Mercedes report a blow for Russell: Seven British GP talking points
2nd July 202
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Verstappen to replace Russell? The drama which unfolded at Red Bull last year, the loss of top team staff including Adrian Newey plus the impending departure of Honda has made Verstappen an obvious target for rival teams for months if not years. A new report today claims Verstappen has agreed to join Mercedes, and board approval is now all that’s required.
If that comes to pass, Russell will surely have to make way. He is out of contract at the end of this season and rookie team mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli has impressed so far this season – his first-lap error in Austria aside.
If Russell is going to be on the market for a drive elsewhere next year, a good performance at home is exactly what he needs. He started from pole position last year and was in the hunt for victory until he was sidelined with a water leak.
‘New Verstappen-Mercedes report’;
https://www.racefans.net/2025/07/02/...alking-points/
Russell delivers touching message ahead of long-awaited home return
1 Jul 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com
More than just a race for Russell. “It’s more than just a race,” the British driver commented ahead of his home Grand Prix, an event that is always deeply meaningful for British drivers. “I was racing in the British Go-Kart championship that year, and we were invited to Silverstone to watch the race,” he then recalled, speaking about his memories connected to the Silverstone GP.
“I remember standing on the outside of Copse, which was the first corner on the previous layout. I remember seeing Sebastian [Vettel] on pole and watching all the cars light up the circuit on their way past. From that moment on, I knew that’s where I wanted to be in the future. My first ever car race, my first ever car win, and my first time testing an F1 car all came at Silverstone, it holds such a special place in my heart''.
Speaking about the support he receives from his fans here, Russell added:“It is always one of the best supported races.' To the fans, it’s more than just a race, it’s a big festival and the circuit does such an amazing job – there are activities for kids, for adults, you have concerts and the track is such a good one to watch an F1 car at. It’s not just a fan favourite, it’s a driver favourite too. The calendar has changed over the year, new tracks have joined the rota and some historic circuits have lost out, but Silverstone is going nowhere.”
‘More than just a race’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/russe...ome-grand-prix
Mercedes confirm ‘deliberate’ W16 experiment with British GP chances rated
02 Jul 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
“After a tough Grand Prix in Austria,” the team principal Wolff said in the team’s review of the weekend. “It is good to get back racing straight away. We deliberately experimented on set-up in Spielberg; it was a useful test and there are positive learnings we can apply this weekend, but it ultimately didn’t help our performance.”
“Silverstone has typically been a strong circuit for us. The cooler conditions should suit our car, and we are hopeful of putting on a good performance in front of our team-mates and the passionate British fans, who always provide a great atmosphere,” Wolff said.
“Whilst it will be an exciting weekend off track with several activations, our full focus remains of course on the track. We will look to bounce back from last weekend and put on a performance more befitting of Mercedes’ storied history.” Mercedes is third in the Constructors’ Championship, a point behind Ferrari.
“Silverstone has typically been a strong circuit for us”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/merced...-chances-rated
British Grand Prix: What you need to know
1 Jul 2025
Savannah Lenz
GPblog.com
The British Grand Prix is one of the biggest Formula 1 races of the year due to the sheer number of English drivers and teams on the grid. This year, four drivers are British: Oliver Bearman (Haas), Lando Norris (McLaren), George Russell (Mercedes), and Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari).
Most of the Formula 1 teams (barring Ferrari) have their factories in the United Kingdom. Red Bull Racing (Milton Keynes), Mercedes (Brackley), Aston Martin (Silverstone), Alpine (Enstone), Williams (Grove), and McLaren (Woking) all have their headquarters in England. Haas, Sauber, and Racing Bulls have their headquarters elsewhere but maintain bases in Britain.
The traditional circuit has 18 turns and two DRS zones on the 5.891 km (3.66 miles) track. Over the course of 52 laps, the drivers must beat not only each other but also the ever-changing British weather. As it is often temperamental. Only three of the other 19 drivers on the current grid have managed to beat Lewis Hamilton: Fernando Alonso in 2011, Carlos Sainz in 2022, and Max Verstappen in 2023.
‘What you need to know’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/briti...u-need-to-know
Fred Vasseur issues first statement since sudden Austrian GP absence
2 Jul 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
“After Austria, we move on to Silverstone, a very different type of circuit and one of the real classics,” said the Ferrari team boss. “The upgrades we introduced on the SF-25 in Spielberg certainly played some part in our good result last Sunday, and we want to capitalise on that positive momentum going into this next race.”
“We’ve seen how important it is to focus on every aspect of our operation in order to deliver a strong performance and so, as usual, we will concentrate on ourselves, aiming to put together another clean weekend. This is Lewis’ home race and he’ll be particularly keen to do well, buoyed by the amazing support he can always count on here.”
“Personally, I’m looking forward to being back at the race track with the team to enjoy the special atmosphere that’s unique to Silverstone.”
‘This is Lewis’ home race’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/fred-v...ns-silverstone
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Excitement builds for Norris's home weekend with even more powerful MCL39? The Briton reveals.
Norris wants to impress the Landostand and McLaren fans.
1 Jul 2025
Savannah Lenz
GPblog.com
After being asked if he is expecting to have the new upgrades perform at Silverstone, Norris said, "Our strengths here were the high speed, so I want to hope it's a similar case next weekend, but it's still a very different track. It's a different layout. We're not going to take anything for granted. But the upgrades were working as they should have done today, and that's certainly a good sign."
"We give a lot of credit to everyone back in MTC and to the whole team for giving us another very, very good car, upgrades that we just can put on – they've been a little while and we've been pushing with things – but we put them on the car, and they worked as they should. We're satisfied. The team is satisfied and excited for next weekend. The best race weekend of the year, in my opinion. To have my own grandstand, to have the British fans for McLaren and for myself is something I'm looking forward to for sure."
‘Excitement builds’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/excit...briton-reveals
Hamilton ready for ‘really special’ Silverstone first with Ferrari
02/07/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
Lewis Hamilton returns to his home Grand Prix this weekend, but this time with a twist history has never seen: he’ll be wearing red. “Silverstone has always been more than just a race track for me,” Hamilton said ahead of his homecoming.
“I’ve had some of the most unforgettable highs with the crowd right there behind me, but coming here with Ferrari for the first time is something really special. There are a few sections that really stand out, but Copse into Maggots and Becketts—that’s just something else. It’s so fast and, when you get it right, it feels like you’re flying. But what makes Silverstone so special for me is the atmosphere. There’s a reason I’ve stood on the podium so many times there, and that’s the love from the fans."
‘Silverstone first’;
https://f1i.com/news/542966-hamilton...h-ferrari.html
Alex Albon fears ‘disaster’ at British Grand Prix if Williams do not stop making the same mistake
2 July 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer
Williams have set their expectations high for the 2025 F1 British Grand Prix, but Alex Albon warns his Grove team that they may face a ‘disaster’ at Silverstone on Sunday. Williams will now try to put their recent flurry of retirements in their rear-view mirror in this week’s British GP. Yet while sport.de claims that the Grove crew are going to Silverstone with high expectations for taking points, Albon fears a ‘disaster’ if Williams overload their engine.
Albon admits that Williams are not sure why they have endured a host of retirements due to their Mercedes power unit, brakes and overheating issues. But if their mistake of putting too much stress into an engine which cannot take it continues, then the British GP will be tough. “It feels like Canada. Same engine, same symptoms,” Albon lamented. “We’re not just losing points, we’re also losing important test kilometres. And if it hits our home track at Silverstone, it would be a disaster.”
‘Alex Albon fears disaster’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ale...-same-mistake/
Adrian Newey has helped Aston Martin ‘optimise’ one upgrade for Fernando Alonso’s car before the British Grand Prix
2 Jul 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer
Adrian Newey made F1’s 2026 regulations his priority upon joining Aston Martin, but he has now helped to give Fernando Alonso upgrades for the 2025 British Grand Prix. Aston Martin will hope to boost Alonso’s chances of scoring points in the British GP, with the Silverstone natives producing upgrades for their AMR25. That is according to MARCA, which reports that updates are due at Silverstone and then at the Belgian Grand Prix on July 25-27.
Aston Martin intend to debut a suspension upgrade at the British GP that the team designed with the 2026 F1 regulations in mind. As the suspension elements, especially at the rear, will not be massively different next year, Aston Martin want to fine-tune their package this term. But the engineers in Silverstone are also working on further refinements to the floor update that Aston Martin first ran at Imola, which Newey has helped them ‘optimise’. The upgraded floor and new bodywork were a part of Aston Martin’s first major update package this term.
MARCA adds that Alonso wants Aston Martin to focus on their car for F1’s 2026 rules, so he is willing to pass up on updates for their 2025 car. Yet Aston Martin see the floor as one area to refine, now with Newey’s support, along with suspension elements that can stay in 2026. He has also now helped to optimise the floor on their AMR25, with which Alonso scored his first points of the 2025 F1 season with P9 in Spain, P7 in Canada and P7 in Austria. Stroll has not taken points since his P5 in the Miami Sprint or in a Grand Prix since his P9 in China.
‘Optimise’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/adr...sh-grand-prix/
Silver lining for Verstappen? Horner sees latest upgrade could perform better at Silverstone
2 Jul 2024
Kada Sárközi
Sandy van Wijngaarden
GPblog.com
According to the Red Bull Racing team principal, a possible great result is already up for grabs at the upcoming British Grand Prix. “Let's see it Silverstone. It's a different type of circuit, it'll probably be a different temperature although there's a heatwave in the UK at the moment. It's fast corners, it's shorter corners, it's a completely different challenge to this circuit so I think it will move again in terms of the competitive order."
Since the beginning of the season, the Red Bull doesn't seem to have really made progress with the RB21, and Verstappen's gap further expanded with his DNF to 61 points. Horner offered an explanation for this. “I think the thing is there are no silver bullets in this business and I think that progress takes time.”
"And you have to understand the issues and then address them. And of course I think partly this year has exposed some of the issues we have with some of our tools. And of course, we're working hard to understand that because we don't want to be in this situation moving forward and there's one team that's a standout, but the rest of them, it keeps moving from weekend to weekend of who the best of the rest is," Horner concluded in Spielberg.
‘A possible great result is already up for grabs’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/silve...at-silverstone
"I want to get this week right": Tsunoda aiming to end four race point-less streak at British Grand Prix
2 Jul 2025
Luke-John Buckle
GPblog.com
Yuki Tsunoda is struggling at Red Bull, as the Japanese driver is nowhere near his teammate, Max Verstappen. The Japanese driver is heading into this weekend's British Grand Prix looking to end a lacklustre run of four races without a point. The 25-year-old explained in the Red Bull press release that Austria was tricky and Tsunoda is working to step up.
Tsunoda said: "Austria was a tough weekend for us and I really had high hopes going into it. Unfortunately things didn’t turn out the way we wanted and we have to accept that and move on. I am feeling more and more confident in the car, which is why not being able to unlock the long run pace is frustrating for me.”
"The Team and I are working together to find a way to do that and to gain consistency across a weekend. The positive is I have shown and have felt that we have the potential to qualify well, it’s now about making sure set up is right and I can lock a good lap in, like in Canada before the grid penalty. I want to get this week right for everyone and show what I am capable of."
"I want to get this week right";
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/i-wan...ish-grand-prix
F1 legend drops fresh Max Verstappen bombshell as 'massive' claim made ahead of British GP
2 Jul 2025
SPORTbible
Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko told ORF after the Grand Prix that there are 'performance-based clauses' in Verstappen's contract, but added that there was 'no reason' to suspect that he would leave the team. However, on Tuesday night, Sky Sports Italia reported that the Dutchman was in talks to sign for Mercedes from 2026.
That followed on from comments from Silver Arrows team principal Toto Wolff, who stated on Friday that he had held preliminary discussions with Verstappen's entourage over his future direction. Sky Sports F1 commentator Brundle has expressed his concern for the British driver and thinks he will already be 'ringing around' other teams for 2026.
Speaking on Sky Sports News on Wednesday, Brundle said: "I think George Russell is nervous and ringing around a little bit. There's no smoke without fire. "2026 is massive, biggest change ever in F1 for the chassis and power unit, and you guess Mercedes will be there or thereabouts. Would you put Red Bull [at the front], and can Max actually get out of his contract? Something is up."
‘Fresh Max Verstappen bombshell’;
https://www.sportbible.com/f1/max-ve...92388-20250702
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Hamilton puts Ferrari on top in British FP1.
Hamilton showed strong pace across the entire 60-minute session, consistently going fastest before ending on top with a time of 1:26.892 — just 0.023s ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris.
4 Jul 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe
For only the third time in his Ferrari career, Lewis Hamilton has topped an F1 session, going fastest in first practice at the British Grand Prix.
It was the first time since the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race that Hamilton had topped a session for Ferrari, as the reigning British GP winner looks to add to his incredible record at his home race — where he has taken nine victories and finished on the podium in 14 of his 18 appearances at Silverstone, including each of the last 11.
Adding to Ferrari’s promising pace, Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc was fourth, just 0.203s off Hamilton’s best time. McLaren once again showcased its speed, with Norris spending much of the session narrowly behind teammate Oscar Piastri. Norris was able to just pip the Aussie at the end, with Piastri finishing third, 0.150s behind Hamilton.
‘Hamilton showed strong pace’;
https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-h...e-silverstone/
British GP: Free Practice 1 Results
Full results from Free Practice 1 for the Formula 1 British Grand Prix.
4 Jul 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe
POS. NO. DRIVER TEAM TIME / GAP LAPS
1 44 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:26.892 26
2 4 Lando Norris McLaren +0.023s 25
3 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.150s 27
4 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.203s 25
5 63 George Russell Mercedes +0.271s 24
6 6 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.325s 27
7 23 Alexander Albon Williams +0.412s 29
8 30 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +0.459s 26
9 12 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.475s 25
10 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.540s 25
‘Free Practice 1 Results’;
https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-b...1-fp1-results/
What happened in British GP opening practice session
Jul 4, 2025
Josh Suttill
The Race
Lewis Hamilton was fastest in the opening practice session at Formula 1's British Grand Prix, giving his home fans some hope that he might be able to maintain his impressive Silverstone podium streak. Hamilton hasn't finished off the podium at Silverstone since his fourth-place finish (via a dramatic tyre blow-out) in 2013.
On Thursday, he was hesitant about his chances of finishing on the podium, given he's on his longest run without a grand prix podium amid a challenging start to life at Ferrari. But he was trading fastest times with his team-mate Charles Leclerc, the McLarens and the Mercedes of George Russell in FP1.
Hamilton ended on top on a 1m26.892s, just shy of a tenth quicker than Austrian GP winner Lando Norris. That was the first time Hamilton had topped a practice session as a Ferrari driver. Norris's team-mate Oscar Piastri rounded out the top three ahead of Leclerc's Ferrari and Russell.
‘Opening practice session’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/l...ritish-gp-fp1/
Full FP1 results | Hamilton shows pace, Red Bull's extreme struggles continue
4 Jul 2025
Savannah Lenz
GPblog.com
The first practice session of the British Grand Prix weekend has concluded. While the McLarens still seem to have the more dominant car, Ferrari also looks strong.
Lewis Hamilton won his record breaking ninth victory at Silverstone last year during the 2024 British Grand Prix. Now, with his new team, he chases another great result. Hamilton was able to go fastest, and keep that position after putting on soft tyres.
Teammate Charles Leclerc also was able to top the charts at one point and stay in the top five from then on. Both of the McLaren drivers and Russell also stayed close to the top five. One team that did not fare as well were Red Bull Racing. Max Verstappen sat low in the standings for the majority of the session.
‘Hamilton shows pace’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/full-...ggles-continue
Red Bull's unfixed woes derail Verstappen's FP1 at Silverstone
4 Jul 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com
Max Verstappen is once again not having a smooth session with his Red Bull Racing car. Can the Austrian team turn things around and give the Dutchman a chance to fight for the win at the British Grand Prix. Red Bull Racing has not been in top form for quite some time now. The Milton Keynes-based team has failed to be able to hit the ground running during the first practice session yet again at the British Grand Prix.
The RB21 has turned out not to be the fix Verstappen and Red Bull were hoping for after a very complicated season with the 2024 car, the RB20. At Silverstone Verstappen once again complained of the same issues with his RB21 during the session via the onboard radio. "I don't know, it just doesn't turn at low speed, and then any high speed, it's either big snaps, pile of understeer."
Sky Sports commentator Anthony Davidson sees the familiarity in Verstappen's complaints during the broadcast of the FP1 session. "It sounds like a typical kind of complaint from Max Verstappen about the balance of his car. That doesn't sound like a comfortable race car to drive at the moment but, as we know, they are great at turning around the data and turning that car around."
‘Red Bull's unfixed woes’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/red-b...at-silverstone
McLaren and Red Bull match each other with British GP upgrades
Jul 4, 2025
Josh Suttill
The Race
Formula 1 rivals McLaren and Red Bull have each brought a floor upgrade to this weekend's British Grand Prix. McLaren's Silverstone technical declaration says "the complete floor has been revised resulting in improved flow conditioning and a redistribution of suction to gain overall aerodynamic performance".
Red Bull - now 255 points behind McLaren in fourth in the constructors' championship - has followed on from a floor update at the Red Bull Ring with further modifications to the floor body and fences at Silverstone. The RB21 floor body has "revised surfaces to improve pressure distribution over the length of the floor, allowing more load to be extracted whilst maintaining adequate flow stability".
Changes to the floor fences are described as "subtle", but will allow Red Bull to "better optimise the pressure distributions, which allows more load to be extracted without harming flow stability downstream". Sky Sports F1 indicated the new Red Bull floor would only be on four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen's car this weekend.
‘Floor upgrades’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/m...h-gp-upgrades/
British Grand Prix: Three huge spins in first practice session
4 July 2025
Sky Sports
Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll and Gabriel Bortoleto all take spins in the first practice session at the British GP.
‘Three huge spins’;
https://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...actice-session
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British GP: McLaren go from busking at back of F1 field to Silverstone’s headline act.
Under Andrea Stella’s astute leadership, McLaren have bounced back from rock bottom, and Norris and Piastri will be star attractions this weekend.
Jul 04 2025
Giles Richards at Silverstone
The Irish Times
More than 10,000 fans have bought tickets for the dedicated Landostand at Silverstone at Stowe corner to show their support, and the preponderance of McLaren’s papaya colours is overwhelming at the old airfield. At the heart of this resurgence, one that was by no means guaranteed, has been Stella, who became racing director in 2019 and at the end of 2022 was made team principal. The Italian is a fascinating and endearingly likable character but most importantly a remarkably astute leader.
His career as an engineer, his attention to detail, requirement for care, for order can be observed in the simplest of ways. Sitting to face the press in the McLaren motorhome post-race, presented with an array of phones and recording devices haphazardly strewn on the table in front of him, Stella would not begin to answer questions until he had arranged them all into a neat, equally distanced fan-shape, facing him so they were optimised to catch the answers.
In it one can envisage the process by which his quiet, calm determination for precision has wrought such mighty changes at McLaren. “We were 5.1 seconds from pole position in Australia,” he says as he considers the past decade. “This is a number that I will never forget because sometimes I remind myself or I remind the team because it gives us a measure of how far we have gone.” Andrea Stella
‘From busking at back of F1 field to Silverstone’s headline act’;
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/202...-headline-act/
British GP: Free Practice 2 Results
Full results from Free Practice 2 for the Formula 1 British Grand Prix.
5 Jul 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe
POS. NO. DRIVER TEAM TIME / GAP LAPS
1 4 Lando Norris McLaren 1:25.816 26
2 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.222s 28
3 44 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.301s 28
4 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.470s 27
5 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.498s 23
6 12 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.567s 28
7 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +0.614s 23
8 63 George Russell Mercedes +0.707s 27
9 6 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.708s 27
10 30 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +0.808s 28
‘Free Practice 2 Results’;
https://speedcafe.com/british-gp-fre...e-2-results-2/
Norris quickest from Ferrari drivers - 2025 British GP practice results
July 4th 2025
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine
Austrian GP winner Norris went quickest at Silverstone during the Friday F1 practice sessions ahead of the 2025 British Grand Prix
Lando Norris highlighted his status as favourite for the British Grand Prix after going quickest in Friday practice at Silverstone. The McLaren driver, the winner of the previous race in Austria, jumped to the top of the times around the halfway point of second practice with a 1min 25.816sec laptime, set on Pirelli’s soft tyres.
‘Norris quickest’;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a.../?nowprocket=1
McLaren singles out Ferrari as surprise threat to F1 British GP chances
July 4th 2025
Harry Whitfield
Motorsport Week
McLaren had been in a league of its own last time out in Austria, comfortably leading the way as its two drivers went head-to-head. Ferrari, by contrast, had settled for a distant third and fourth, a solid result in what has been an otherwise inconsistent season. But few would have expected the early pace shown by the Scuderia at Silverstone — something that even caught the Austrian Grand Prix winner by surprise.
“I mean, the Soft [tyre] was a very strong lap,” Norris told Sky Sports F1 when reflecting on his session. But yeah, me being me, but I think also just in general, the Ferraris have been very, very quick today, and they shall be tomorrow, so I think we have a bit of work to do, to be honest. It looked maybe a bit too good today. Like always, Ferrari always catch up [heading] into FP3, like they did last weekend. I was a bit pleased with today, but nothing to be too proud about just yet.”
Piastri eyes strong weekend as Norris targets home pole in front of dedicated grandstand. The Australian driver was equally caught off guard by Ferrari’s strong form. “It was a bit of a surprise – I think they looked good, both in the qualifying runs and the longer runs as well,” Piastri added. “I think they’re in the fight this weekend, which is interesting to see.”
‘Ferrari as surprise threat’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...sh-gp-chances/
McLaren hint at hidden MCL39 updates in further British GP boost
04 Jul 2025
Matthew Somerfield
PlanetF1.com
Evolution, not revolution: As you’d expect, this update package isn’t about completely transforming the performance envelope of the MCL39, given where the team currently sit in the pecking order and the advantage they already hold over the competitors.
However, the team continue to probe at areas of the car where performance can be found, with subtle changes being made to the floor at Silverstone that they expect to not only increase downforce but also the operating window in which it can be used. McLaren have listed the update within the car presentation document as a complete floor overhaul, which suggests that whilst we can see some of the alterations that have been made to the external features, there’s also changes made to the underfloor which are out of view.
And, whilst these external features will clearly contribute to the entire effect, the magnitude of improvement is larger when we consider the role that alterations to the underfloor can have, given their proximity to the ground. These alterations can also provide a performance boost across a wide range of ride height conditions too, opening up further opportunities in terms of setup.
‘Hidden MCL39 updates’;
https://www.planetf1.com/features/mc...ish-grand-prix
F1 - 2025 British Grand Prix - Friday Press Conference Transcript
04.07.25
FIA (Press Release)
Q: Andy, why don't we start with you? Very warm welcome first of all. You were running an update package on Fernando Alonso's car in FP1. What was he saying about the car?
Andy COWELL: Yeah. New floor, modified top bodywork to go with the floor, running just a series of tests through FP1. We'll add the floor to Lance's car now for FP2, so he gets a comparison between old floor and new floor, crunch through all the data and go from there. Just testing through FP1, doing some runs that perhaps you wouldn't normally do, and we'll work out what to do going forward.
Q: Now what about the updates? You had some new bits on the car in Austria last weekend. There's more new stuff this weekend. What was Max saying about it in FP1?
Christian HORNER: I think it's about you bolt the new bits on the car, obviously you then look to correlate them between your development tools and on track, and then it's a matter of tuning to optimise them. So, the guys and girls are going through that now. It was tricky out there. The wind here is particularly tricky and you can feel how gusty it is. So definitely quite a wind effect, but we got some very good data, some very good knowledge from that session. Now let's see how it comes to play in the session later on.
Q: Okay. Let's talk performance quickly. You had new parts in Austria. You're trialling a new floor this weekend at Silverstone. Is that it? Is this the last bit of development for this car, or are you still pushing back in Woking?
Zak BROWN: Well, I mean, you're always pushing, but I think as Andy said, everyone's pretty much wrapping up their ‘25 cars. We still have some bits that we've developed that haven't been produced yet or put on the car, but pretty much 2026 is the focus. But we do have a few more updates.
‘Friday Press Conference Transcript’;
https://www.fia.com/news/f1-2025-bri...nce-transcript
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Leclerc pips Piastri and Verstappen in action-packed British FP3.
A three-way fight for pole position is looming at the British Grand Prix after Charles Leclerc narrowly topped a drama-filled final practice session at Silverstone.
5 Jul 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe
The Ferrari driver finished less than a tenth of a second ahead of both Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen, setting the fastest time of the session with a 1m25.498. Lando Norris was just over a tenth behind in fourth, with the top four featuring three different teams, separated by only 0.108s.
Leclerc’s teammate Lewis Hamilton, who set the early pace in the session, also appears to be in the fight for pole despite finishing the session in 11th. The defending British Grand Prix winner was on a lap that looked likely to beat Leclerc’s time before the first of two red flags interrupted the session.
The 60-minute session, which was delayed by five minutes due to debris on track from earlier demonstrations, featured two red flags and two crashes, as well as several other incidents. There were even spots of rain, with temperatures hovering in the low 20s under overcast skies—much cooler than on Friday.
‘Action-packed British FP3’;
https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-l...ractice-3-fp3/
F1 2025 British Grand Prix – FP3 Results
5 Jul 2025
Motorsport Week
Position Driver Team Time Gap Laps
1 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:25.498
2 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:25.566 0.068
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:25.585 0.087
4 Lando Norris McLaren 1:25.606 0.108
5 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull 1:26.104 0.606
6 Oliver Bearman Haas 1:26.112 0.614
7 Alex Albon Williams 1:26.119 0.621
8 George Russell Mercedes 1:26.125 0.627
9 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls 1:26.129 0.631
10 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls 1:26.256 0.758
‘FP3 Results’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...x-fp3-results/
Three-way British GP pole fight? Everything to know from FP3
Jul 5, 2025
Jack Cozens
The Race
Charles Leclerc pipped Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen to top spot in an ultra-tight final practice session at the British Grand Prix that was red-flagged twice late on. Just 0.087s covered the top three in FP3, setting the scene for a three-team fight for pole between Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull at Silverstone.
Leclerc's 1m25.498s was the fastest time of the weekend so far and put him 0.068s ahead of previous pacesetter Piastri, the championship leader having earlier beaten his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris's benchmark.
Norris was barely a tenth off top spot and just two hundredths off Verstappen, though the Red Bull driver had been up on Piastri's then benchmark through the first two sectors of his lap before ceding time through the final sector.
‘Three-way British GP pole fight?’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/t...aren-red-bull/
British GP: Leclerc puts Ferrari back on top in red-flagged FP3
05/07/2025
Michael Delaney
PlanetF1.com
The final practice session for the 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone delivered a thrilling prelude to Saturday’s qualifying, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc setting the pace in a session marked by two red flags and razor-thin margins at the top. With just 0.108 seconds separating the top four drivers, the stage is set for an intense battle for pole position later today.
Leclerc emerged ahead of a five-way fight for supremacy, edging out McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the final minutes before chaos and red flags struck. Lando Norris was fourth while Lewis Hamilton looked poised to join the leaders but was thwarted by a debris-induced stoppage late in the hour.
Their early laps provided a baseline, but it was Hamilton who broke the silence, posting a 1m27.351s on soft tires to set the initial benchmark. As the session progressed, Hamilton improved further to a 1m26.529s, signaling Mercedes’ intent to challenge for the front. Leclerc soon responded, edging out Hamilton by a mere 0.035 seconds with a 1m26.494s, showcasing Ferrari’s strong pace.
‘Leclerc puts Ferrari back on top’;
https://f1i.com/news/543285-british-...agged-fp3.html
British GP: Leclerc’s P1 but questions remain about Hamilton after two late FP3 red flags
5 Jul 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Charles Leclerc set the pace in Saturday’s final practice for the British Grand Prix, however, several drivers – including Lewis Hamilton – didn’t put in a second soft tyre run.
There were two red flags in the final 10 minutes, first for debris and then for Gabriel Bortoleto’s crashed Sauber. The latter ended the session prematurely, with Oliver Bearman then crashing in the pit lane as he returned to the Haas garage.
Charles Leclerc overhauled his team-mate at the front with Verstappen up to second ahead of Hamilton, with the trio separated by just 0.035s. As for the McLarens, they were only fifth and tenth on their first laps, with Lando Norris ahead of Oscar Piastri.
‘Charles Leclerc set the pace’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/britis...025-fp3-report
2025 British GP: Are Ferrari a Real Threat to McLaren at Silverstone?
Heading into the British Grand Prix weekend, McLaren looked like the team to beat, however, Ferrari now pose an unexpected threat.
5 Jul 2025
Last Word On Sports
Ferrari Top Two of Three Practice Sessions at Silverstone Posing Threat to McLaren. Fresh from a strong run of form and with a car that thrives at high-speed circuits, McLaren were widely expected to dominate at Silverstone.
So, is Ferrari a real threat? Absolutely. Their session-topping consistency via Hamilton and Leclerc across FP1 to FP3 signals more than a one-off fluctuation. While McLaren’s race pace remains strong and Piastri heads into qualifying with championship advantage, Ferrari have both single-lap and long-run potential, enough to steal pole or challenge for the race lead.
The weekend’s key moments are coming: qualifying will reveal whether Ferrari can eclipse McLaren when it counts. But heading into Q3, there’s no longer an expected McLaren monopoly – Ferrari are genuinely eyeing the weekend, and playing spoiler at their home race. Can Lewis Hamilton stand on the podium – and even win – for the first time in his Ferrari career on home soil?
‘Ferrari Top Two of Three Practice Sessions at Silverstone Posing Threat to McLaren’;
https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...t-silverstone/
How an unpredictable twist could decide Mercedes’ fate at the British GP
George Russell admits Mercedes’ pace at the British Grand Prix hinges on cooler conditions, exposing an ongoing vulnerability
5 July 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
As George Russell explained, “After [Friday], it’s not very close, but it’s been a bit warmer. The track was 40 degrees, and I hope the rest of the weekend it cools down. I think our fortunes will turn slightly for the rest of the weekend, and it will come towards us,” Russell continued. “But as I said, we can’t be at the mercy of the weather, and we are right now.”
“If it’s wet in qualifying, definitely excited for that,” Russell added. “The wet tyre is a bit of a unique one, because the wet tyres actually deg more than dry tyres. “So actually, it’s all a bit… I don’t want to get too bulked up in the details here, but actually a wet race probably wouldn’t be ideal. But if we just wanted it nice and cold and dry, it would be ideal.”
‘Unpredictable twist’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/rus...itish-gp-2025/
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F1 2025 British GP – Qualifying Results.
Verstappen conjured a breathtaking lap in the dying moments to snatch pole position for Red Bull, leaving rivals and fans alike in awe of his relentless determination.
5 July 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen delivers a last-gasp qualifying masterclass to deny McLaren and ignite championship intrigue at Silverstone. Max Verstappen pulled out a sensational lap at Silverstone and put the Red Bull top of the F1 British GP 2025 Qualifying results, just ahead of Oscar Piastri in the McLaren with Lando Norris third fastest in the qualifying session.
The four-time world champion outpaced the in-form Piastri in the McLaren, while local favourite Norris had to settle for third on a day when the margins were as fine as ever. Behind the leading trio, Ferrari struggled to match the frontrunners, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton both unable to find that final tenth to join the fight for pole.
For Hamilton, it was a frustrating day as he searches for a record-extending home victory with his new team, while Leclerc’s pace tailed off after promising practice sessions.
‘Last-gasp qualifying masterclass’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...s-silverstone/
British GP: Qualifying Results
Full Qualifying results from the 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone where Max Verstappen took his fourth pole of 2025.
6 Jul 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe
POS. NO. DRIVER TEAM Q1 Q2 Q3 LAPS
1 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:25.886 1:25.316 1:24.892 18
2 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:25.963 1:25.316 1:24.995 21
3 4 Lando Norris McLaren 1:26.123 1:25.231 1:25.010 20
4 63 George Russell Mercedes 1:26.236 1:25.637 1:25.029 19
5 44 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:26.296 1:25.084 1:25.095 19
6 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:26.186 1:25.133 1:25.121 21
7 12 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:26.265 1:25.620 1:25.374 18
8 87 Oliver Bearman Haas 1:26.005 1:25.534 1:25.471 18
9 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 1:26.108 1:25.593 1:25.621 15
10 10 Pierre Gasly Alpine 1:26.328 1:25.711 1:25.785 21
‘Qualifying Results’;
https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-b...fying-results/
Verstappen stuns McLarens for British GP pole, Ferrari bid falls short
Jul 5, 2025
Ben Anderson
The Race
Max Verstappen claimed pole position for Formula 1's 2025 British Grand Prix after an epic qualifying battle with the two McLarens and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. Championship leader Oscar Piastri had provisional pole after the first runs in Q3, on a 1m24.995s lap - but Piastri had a huge slide coming out of the final chicane on his second run and failed to go under 1m25s.
McLaren team-mate Lando Norris, third after the first runs having run a bit deep into Turn 3, improved to a 1m25.010s on his final run but that wasn’t enough to improve his grid spot. That was because of Verstappen’s dig-deep final lap. The Red Bull was fourth quickest after the first runs, on a 1m25.2s with Verstappen complaining “the car is just so difficult”, but Verstappen took advantage of Piastri’s mistake to pip him to pole by just over a tenth of a second.
‘Epic qualifying battle’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/m...itish-gp-pole/
Verstappen denies McLaren a front row lock-out by storming to Silverstone pole
5th July 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Verstappen was the first of the front runners to complete his lap time but had to watch as it was beaten by a succession of his rivals. Both McLaren drivers got underneath it, Piastri setting the benchmark with a 1’24.995, though it seemed to come at a cost to his McLaren as he rode the kerb hard at Stowe. Hamilton got closest to him, however, splitting the McLaren drivers to provisionally claim a place on the front row of the grid. His team mate Leclerc could only manage fifth on his first run, but was within three tenths of a second of Piastri.
Norris got within a hundredth of a second of his team mate on his final run. Piastri slipped up in the final sector and didn’t improve his time. Hamilton began his final lap well but faded at the end. That paved the way for Verstappen, who waited until the very end to start his final lap, to snatch pole position off the championship leader by a tenth of a second.
‘Storming to Silverstone pole’;
https://www.racefans.net/2025/07/05/...verstone-pole/
British GP Qualifying: Max Verstappen beats McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to pole in thrilling Silverstone contest
Max Verstappen produced a stunning lap to triumph in a thrilling pole contest; Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris second and third for McLaren; Lewis Hamilton fifth.
5 July 2025
Sky Sports
Sky Sports F1's Anthony Davidson analyses how Max Verstappen was able to qualify fastest for the British Grand Prix. Max Verstappen beat McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to pole position for the British Grand Prix as the Red Bull driver triumphed in a thrilling qualifying contest at Silverstone.
The top three, along with both Ferraris, appeared to be in a five-way battle for pole going into the final runs of the session, but Verstappen was able to hold it together, while his rivals made errors in the challenging windy conditions, to set a leading time of 1:24.892s.
‘Stunning lap to triumph’;
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...rstone-contest
Lewis Hamilton explains late mistake that cost shot at F1 British GP pole
Having been right on the pace throughout qualifying at Silverstone, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton was left fifth on the grid by a dose of understeer
Jul 5, 2025
Mark Mann-Bryans
Motorsport.com
Lewis Hamilton believes an error at Turn 16 cost him a shot at the front row on the Formula 1 grid for Sunday’s British Grand Prix, with the nine-time Silverstone winner instead set to start from fifth. Hamilton’s shot at a home grand prix pole was ruined by understeer on his final flying lap, with old rival Max Verstappen instead pipping the McLarens to top spot.
“Pretty decent qualifying. It's generally been a decent weekend so far, and I think I was definitely feeling more comfortable with the set-up of the car, more comfortable with the balance of the car,” he told Sky Sports. “I think right up until the last corner I was probably close to second on the grid but had a bit of understeer in Turn 16 and then just ended up losing a tenth and a bit."
‘Dose of understeer’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/l...pole/10739634/
Max Verstappen produces stunning lap to claim pole for British Grand Prix with home hero Lewis Hamilton fifth and Lando Norris on the second row
5 July 2025
JONATHAN MCEVOY
MailOnline
Lewis Hamilton had them on their feet like the old days, a proud brother clapped in the Ferrari garage, and for a minute or two we wondered whether the sun would again shine through on Silverstone's favourite son and truest master. In the end, the half-evoked memories came to nothing, Hamilton's brief period on top ended, running wide at the final bend.
And so Max Verstappen, the old villain of the airfield, stamped his class on proceedings by taking a typical pole conjured from thin air. Cold air, too, that favoured his Red Bull under a grey sky. Oscar Piastri qualified second for McLaren, his final lap a little frayed, with Lando Norris third in the other papaya car. George Russell was fourth quickest for Mercedes and Hamilton ultimately fifth. Dejection.
‘Old villain of the airfield’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...do-Norris.html
British GP: Max Verstappen steals unlikely pole with Silverstone stunner
05 Jul 2025
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com
As the session commenced, a light drizzle fell across the circuit, though not heavily enough to prompt a rush out of the lane or a change to intermediate tyres. That left the Silverstone circuit for almost the exclusive use of Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg in the opening minutes. It got busier five minutes into the segment, with all 20 drivers on track. Max Verstappen was the fastest of them initially, logging a 1:26.041s to lap over a tenth clear of Lando Norris’ first effort.
All 10 cars headed out as soon as Qualifying 3 commenced, Bearman the first to record a time, though it was a steady effort, four tenths shy of his own best from Q2. An untidy end to the lap cost Hamilton a shot at pole position as he was unable to improve, sitting fourth as Verstappen completed his lap. The Dutchman, for the third time this season, duly delivered an unlikely pole position lap to steal it away from Piastri.
‘Unlikely pole’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/britis...lifying-report
Max Verstappen takes pole position in England: 'A big boost for the team'
5 July 2025
Kees-Jan Koster
Verstappen.nl
A broadly smiling Verstappen said after qualifying: "It was tricky with the wind. The wind kept changing in every session, and the cars are extremely sensitive to that here. We tried to tidy it up for qualifying, and the last lap was good enough." Max continued: "This is a proper track. When you have to go flat-out in qualifying with all these corners, you really have to be committed, so that was really enjoyable."
"This is a proper track”;
https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5879/
-
'That is simply lovely': Max Verstappen wins pole for British Grand Prix as slide costs Oscar Piastri.
He sacrificed grip for speed and went fastest by 0.103 of a second to beat Oscar Piastri's time. Lando Norris was third, .015 further back, as his fans in the new “Landostand” saw a setback to his chances of a first home win.
July 5, 2025
AP
Channel 9's Wide World of Sports
As his title rivals from McLaren made small but costly errors, Verstappen had the pace when it mattered most. Verstappen had seemed pessimistic about having the pace to challenge the McLarens at Silverstone — Ferrari had been closer than Red Bull in practice — and he described his car as “so difficult” over the radio partway through the session. Even so, he found the pace for pole.
"Yes!" shouted Verstappen over team radio. "That is simply lovely." After Verstappen was frustrated with his car in practice, Red Bull tweaked the set-up for higher straight-line speed, at the cost of some grip, especially in Silverstone's many high-speed corners. “It seemed to hold on,” was Verstappen's verdict.
‘Landostand saw a setback’;
https://www.nine.com.au/sport/motors...06-p5mcsn.html
Adjusted Silverstone starting grid for 2025 F1 British Grand Prix after penalties
Check out the full, adjusted starting grid for the 2025 F1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone after a grid penalty.
5 July 2025
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365
NOTE: Grid remains provisional until officially confirmed by the FIA.
Adjusted Silverstone starting grid for 2025 F1 British Grand Prix after penalty
Position Driver Team
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull
2. Oscar Piastri McLaren
3. Lando Norris McLaren
4. George Russell Mercedes
5. Lewis Hamilton Ferrari
6. Charles Leclerc Ferrari
7. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin
8. Pierre Gasly Alpine
9. Carlos Sainz Williams
10. Kimi Antonelli Mercedes
‘Adjusted Silverstone starting grid’;
https://racingnews365.com/adjusted-s...fter-penalties
How Max Verstappen overcame ‘understeering to the moon’ to clinch F1 British GP pole
5 Jul 2025
Harry Whitfield
Motorsport Week
After a difficult Friday, Verstappen and Red Bull made key overnight tweaks that transformed the car’s balance, enabling a near-perfect lap in tricky windy conditions. Oscar Piastri set the early benchmark in Q3, with Lewis Hamilton second, Lando Norris third, and Verstappen fourth.
But the reigning World Champion waited until last to head out, saving his best for a thrilling finale. He nailed every sector perfectly, storming to pole by 0.103s over Piastri, who made a mistake on his final lap. After the session, Verstappen gave his thoughts on what it meant to take pole at Silverstone.
“Pretty good, I mean it was not easy out there also to just produce a consistent lap time just because of the wind, the gusts and all that you got out there,” he told media including Motorsport Week. “The car was moving around a lot, even just on straights. So, sometimes a bit unpredictable in places because of it, but luckily that last lap came together quite nicely.”
‘Overcame understeering to the moon’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...itish-gp-pole/
Red Bull updates finally please Verstappen once again
6 Jul 2025
Tim Kraaij
GPblog.com
Do the updates from Red Bull Racing finally work? Max Verstappen was hopeful after his pole position for the British Grand Prix, although it remains to be seen if this can be replicated in the race and other race weekends. A number of adjustments to the setup, combined with the different weather conditions, gradually made the RB21 more suited to Verstappen, resulting in a phenomenal lap in Q3. And that in a weekend where Red Bull brought updates. It seems no coincidence.
‘’I don’t know how much it brought, but it certainly brought something,’’ Verstappen said in Austria about the updates. ‘’I am happy with the update we have put on the car. We must continue to learn. Get better and see race by race what we can do.’ ’Of course, we try to add as much lap time to the car with updates as possible. That definitely worked, only yesterday (Friday) it was still difficult to balance. Today (Saturday) it was already a bit better,’’ said Verstappen, among others, to GPblog.
Yet, it's not certain that this means a step forward at all tracks for Verstappen: ‘’It also depends a bit on the circuit. This circuit suits us rather well with so many fast corners. However, there aren’t many circuits like Silverstone on the calendar.’ ’I think we do fall short when you take the average of all circuits. If you have a few circuits on the calendar where you can perform strongly, you should make the most of that.’’
‘Seems no coincidence’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/red-b...pen-once-again
Mark Hughes: Why Verstappen's big Silverstone gamble paid off
Jul 5, 2025
Mark Hughes
The Race
Maybe if Max Verstappen's Red Bull, with its new floor, had not been so ill-balanced on Friday at the British Grand Prix he'd not have made the big rear wing reduction for Saturday almost in desperation. And had he not done that, he may not have had a car he could fly in to one of those special Verstappen Formula 1 poles, where there is a tiny window of opportunity and he slots through it like he's laser-guided.
Because even though Silverstone is very much a low-downforce sort of track and has been for a few years, as corners such as Abbey and Copse have become just kinks in the straights, so a super-low wing such as his requires such a special skill to maintain good speed through Maggotts/Becketts, Stowe etc. That in combination with the straightline gain opened up that window. Just a crack. But that’s all he needs.
Had he been less displeased with the car on Friday and stuck with the original choice, maybe he'd just have been more comfortable through those corners at the same speed and slower on the straights. We'll never know. But it was another special performance, one which left McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris needing to deliver perfect laps to beat him - and neither did, lining up second and third, just ahead of George Russell's Mercedes and the Lewis Hamilton/Charles Leclerc Ferrari third row.
‘Big rear wing reduction for Saturday almost in desperation’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/m...mble-paid-off/
McLaren left speechless by Verstappen performance and British GP buildup
6 Jul 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com
From “understeering to the moon” on Friday to pole position on Saturday, Max Verstappen once again proved why he’s the benchmark in F1. The Dutchman looked out of sorts all through FP1 and FP2 struggling with his RB21. But Red Bull made bold overnight changes, reducing downforce and debuting a new floor upgrade, a risky combo that paid off. “It’s not perfect,” Verstappen said about the configuration's balance, “but it held on, and that’s why we stuck with it.”
The floor update helped, along with Verstappen’s adaptability. Through the fast, unforgiving Silverstone, he kept the car on edge and just ahead of the charging McLarens. “We take it race by race,” he said, downplaying the turnaround. But after a nightmare start to the weekend, this pole has sets up a fierce battle for Sunday’s Grand Prix win.
Max Verstappen reminded everyone why he’s still the qualifying king at Silverstone, snatching pole from McLaren with a near-perfect final run in Q3. While McLaren looked poised to lock out the front row, Verstappen’s lap, particularly in the first two sectors, was enough to keep Piastri and Norris behind. For McLaren boss Andrea Stella, there was no shock at all. “I stopped being impressed by Max… he can do anything,” he told Viaplay.
‘McLaren left speechless’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/live/f1-li...appens-prowess
Oscar Piastri reveals ‘biggest surprise’ after missing British GP pole
5 Jul 2025
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com
“What’s the biggest surprise is how each car is generating their lap time,” Oscar Piastri said. “You look at the speed traces and they all look completely different, but they end up basically at the same point at the end of the lap. So that’s been quite interesting to get our heads around.”
It prompted the championship leader to draw comparisons to the Japanese Grand Prix, where Verstappen produced a stunning qualifying lap to steal pole in Suzuka. The Red Bull pilot went on to control the race the following day to chalk up his first win of the season. Similarities in both the venue and the conditions left Piastri unsurprised Verstappen in particular became a factor.
“I’m not that surprised that Max is quick here,” Piastri ventured. “It’s quite similar to Suzuka, similar conditions to Suzuka. Clearly, they found some pace from yesterday. I think the big surprise was Ferrari yesterday, and even this morning. So not a huge surprise that it was so tight. Maybe how many teams were involved was a surprise, but it’s been tight in nine out of ten qualifyings this year.”
'Not that surprised that Max is quick';
https://www.planetf1.com/news/oscar-...ritish-gp-pole
-
Nico Hulkenberg's emotional radio message after finally achieving a podium in 239th race.
"I don't think I comprehend what we've just done. OH MY GOD!"
July 6, 2025
SPORTbible
Nico Hulkenberg was full of emotion on his team radio after finally securing his first ever podium finish in Formula One following 239 races starts. The German started the race in 19th at the British Grand Prix but produced an incredible performance to pip Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton to third place at Silverstone and achieve a moment that was a long time coming.
Lando Norris won on home soil for the first time but Hulkenberg of Sauber was named the driver of the day for his superb showing in tough, wet conditions. Hulkenberg was able to keep a considerable distance between himself and Hamilton to finish third and Sky Sports broadcasted his wonderful exchange with his team on the radio.
Nico Hulkenberg shared embraces aplenty with his colleagues after crossing the finish line, celebrating wildly before reflecting on his triumph with 2009 F1 champion Jenson Button. The 37-year-old held the record for the most Grand Prix events before standing on the podium but it was worth the wait in gold as he proudly stood alongside McLaren pair Norris and Oscar Piastri and held his trophy. Hulkenberg has had so many setbacks since beginning his F1 career in 2010, including being dropped in 2020, but it was pure euphoria on Sunday.
"I don't think I comprehend what we've just done. OH MY GOD!";
https://www.sportbible.com/f1/britis...07461-20250706
British GP: Race Results
Full results from the Formula 1 British Grand Prix where Lando Norris took his fourth victory of 2025.
7 Jul 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe
POS. NO. DRIVER TEAM LAPS TIME / RETIRED PTS.
1 4 Lando Norris McLaren 52 1:37:15.735 25
2 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 52 +6.812s 18
3 27 Nico Hulkenberg Kick Sauber 52 +34.742s 15
4 44 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 52 +39.812s 12
5 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 52 +56.781s 10
6 10 Pierre Gasly Alpine 52 +59.857s 8
7 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin 52 +60.603s 6
8 23 Alexander Albon Williams 52 +64.135s 4
9 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 52 +65.858s 2
10 63 George Russell Mercedes 52 +70.674s 1
‘Race Results’;
https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-b...-race-results/
Norris wins at home but Hulkenberg steals the show with maiden podium
Lando Norris wins the British Grand Prix after his teammate is penalized for safety car violation. Nico Hulkenberg puts his Sauber on the podium for the first time.
July 6, 2025
Wesley Branton
Racing Clothesline
Formula One returned to the venue where it all started 75 years ago. On that occasion, Giuseppe Farina won the inaugural round of the 1950 World Championship from pole position, going on to take the first championship title at the end of the year. Alfa Romeo dominated that day, being the only cars to finish on the lead lap. While McLaren wanted to emulate Alfa Romeo’s performance, Max Verstappen wanted to win from pole like Farina.
There was more drama when the race restarted on lap 23. Piastri braked as the safety car pulled away, catching Verstappen off guard. Verstappen briefly overtook Piastri before the restart. Verstappen was immediately on the radio to complain about the incident. The incident caught the attention of the stewards, who eventually awarded Piastri a ten-second penalty for driving irrationally. Verstappen avoided any punishment for overtaking behind the safety car.
As the laps ticked down, Piastri begged his team to swap positions, essentially nullifying the penalty. But the team refused, leaving Norris in the lead to win for the first time in front of his home crowd. But all eyes were on Nico Hulkenberg. His day started when he lined up at the back of the grid for the 239th time in his career, unaware his day would finish with him standing on the podium for the first time. It was the first time a Sauber driver stood on the podium since the Japanese Grand Prix way back in 2012. It will also likely be the last time, with Audi set to take over the Swiss-based team at the end of the year.
‘Hulkenberg steals the show’;
https://racingclothesline.com/formul...maiden-podium/
Nico Hulkenberg 'breaks cooldown room protocol' after first podium finish as Lando Norris forced to step in
July 6, 2025
SPORTbible
After the conclusion of the British Grand Prix, Hulkenberg and Piastri entered the cooldown room, with Norris arriving after his counterparts. And the McLaren star made his way into the cooldown room with Hulkenberg's helmet.
Once Norris placed Hulkenberg's helmet and his own on the stand, the German could be heard saying: "What do we need it for?" Of course, it's his debut in the cooldown room, having never finished on the podium before, so he was clearly unaware that his helmet was required.
"What do we need it for?" ;
https://www.sportbible.com/f1/niko-h...78025-20250706
Max Verstappen sends ‘amazing’ message to Nico Hulkenberg after securing his first F1 podium at the British Grand Prix
6 July 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
Max Verstappen says Nico Hulkenberg was the only ‘positive’ from the British Grand Prix. Verstappen slipped down to 11th at one point in the race but recovered well to finish fifth. It means he falls further behind Norris and Oscar Piastri in the drivers’ championship, and Verstappen had to deal with a ‘killer’ Red Bull problem throughout the race.
Speaking to Viaplay after the race in the media pen, Verstappen was asked about Hulkenberg’s achievement. He said: “Yeah, amazing! That’s the positive thing of the day! I am so happy for him that he got the podium, yeah, so nice to see.”
‘Max Verstappen sends ‘amazing’ message to Nico Hulkenberg’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/max...sh-grand-prix/
Hulkenberg's podium ends a terrible F1 injustice
Jul 6, 2025
Edd Straw
The Race
A great wrong was put right by Nico Hulkenberg’s shock third place in the British Grand Prix. On his 239th start, he finally stood on the podium for the first time, shedding the record of being, statistically, Formula 1’s most prolific failure.
The unenviable record for most starts without a podium finish, which he has just handed back to Adrian Sutil, was viewed by many as a badge of dishonour. Some used it as a stick to beat him with, proof there was something wrong with him, a fragility that made him choke when opportunity knocked. Now, it can’t be used against him.
Hulkenberg has taken to this generation of cars, more so than he did at times during previous eras - particularly when tyre management was the overwhelming factor. That was a skillset he developed, turning himself into a mature, dependable racer, no longer the upstart future world champion but a grizzled, battle-hardened competitor still able to cause a surprise or two.
‘A great wrong was put right’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/n...-f1-injustice/
Hulkenberg ‘in denial’ of milestone F1 podium until last pitstop
06/07/2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
After 239 starts, countless near-misses, and a career defined by gritty determination, Nico Hulkenberg finally climbed onto the Formula 1 podium at the 2025 British Grand Prix. Starting from the back of the pack in P19, he navigated the chaotic, rain-soaked early laps with precision, taking advantage of five drivers starting from the pit lane as they gambled on dry rubber.
As the track dried and then turned wet again, Hulkenberg’s Sauber shone, with perfectly timed pitstops propelling him into contention. By the race’s final stages, he found himself in third, fending off none other than seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who was chasing him down in front of a roaring home crowd.
As Hulkenberg held his own, the weight of his elusive podium loomed large. “I think I was in denial, till, like, probably the last pit stop,” he admitted post-race, his voice tinged with disbelief. The gap to Hamilton, who was charging in his Ferrari, had grown after a strategic extra lap on intermediates. “Then when I heard we opened the gap to Lewis quite a bit with the one extra lap, so this is good. This is some breathing space,” he added. “But then, he was catching quite quickly. So, the pressure was there. It was an intense race.”
‘Perfectly timed pitstops propelling him into contention’;
https://f1i.com/news/543516-hulkenbe...t-pitstop.html
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Lando Norris' British Grand Prix celebrations go awry as he suffers freak injury...
Some absolute pillock has just jumped off the pit wall backwards & straight into Lando Norris' face, apparently cutting his nose, just as he was going up to celebrate with the Silverstone crowd with the trophy! pic.twitter.com/m2i8NxaMsV
6 July 2025
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES
MailOnline
Lando Norris' emotional British Grand Prix triumph ended with a cut to the nose and the threat of a fine after a freak incident marred his celebrations at Silverstone. The 25-year-old McLaren star claimed his first-ever home win on Sunday, becoming the first new British driver to win the race since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.
But as Norris carried the famous RAC trophy to celebrate with fans, a man in dark clothing and a bright purple baseball cap, who appeared to be holding a camera, fell backwards off the pit wall and crashed into him, pushing Norris into another photographer's lens. Footage shows Norris stumbling backwards from the impact, appearing to hit his face before clutching his nose in pain.
He was later seen being escorted away by McLaren staff but was able to smile and wave to fans, with the team confirming he suffered only a small cut. The incident took the edge off a landmark day for Norris, who was reduced to tears after winning a chaotic, rain-hit race ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg, cutting Piastri's lead in the drivers' standings to just eight points after 12 rounds.
‘Some absolute pillock’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-rule-too.html
Lando Norris involved in bizarre British GP celebrations mishap
6 Jul 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Holding his nose, Norris was ushered away from the scene by McLaren personnel. In the aftermath, the British GP winner showed off his nose injury, quipping that a second scar had been added to the collection. “Long story, but now I have two scars on my nose,” he said. “One was lonely, so now I’ve got two. But it’s all part of the memories of Silverstone.”
As for the original scar, Norris suffered facial injuries while partying in Amsterdam a week prior to taking his maiden win at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix; an image showing Norris with his face bandaged having gone viral on social media.
“One was lonely, so now I’ve got two. But it’s all part of the memories of Silverstone”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lando-...rations-mishap
McLaren boss makes explosive new claim after Oscar Piastri 'robbed' of victory in British GP
The Aussie driver was leading the race when he copped a contentious 10-second penalty.
7 July 2025
Sam Goodwin
Yahoo! Australia
McLaren boss Andrea Stella has suggested Oscar Piastri's rivals might have made his controversial infringement in the British Grand Prix "look worse" than what it actually was. Piastri and the majority of F1 were left fuming at his second-place finish on Sunday, with many of the belief he was robbed of the victory.
Speaking after the race, McLaren team principal Stella described the punishment as "very harsh", and pointed out the safety car was called very late. He also suggested there might have been some "race craft" involved in the response from rival drivers.
“We’ll have to see also if other competitors kind of made the situation look worse than what it is, because we know that the race craft for some competitors, definitely, there’s also the ability to make others look like they are causing severe infringement when they are not," Stella said.
"Race craft"
https://au.news.yahoo.com/f1-controv...205559636.html
‘I didn’t get the result I deserved’ – Piastri rues penalty after P2 at Silverstone
Oscar Piastri voiced his unhappiness at the 10-second time penalty he received during the British Grand Prix, the Australian ending the race in second after earlier leading.
6 Jul 2025
Formula One - Official Site
Oscar Piastri: “Apparently you can’t brake behind the Safety Car anymore. I did it for five laps before that and, again, I’m not going to say too much because I’ll get myself in trouble. But thanks to the crowd for a great event, thanks for sticking through the weather. I still like Silverstone even if I don’t like it today. Thanks for coming out everyone.”
When speaking to media later on, the 24-year-old gave a further insight into his feelings about what had happened. “I thought the penalty was pretty bad but, anyway, I’m glad we had a quick car today, showed what I needed to prove, and it’s just disappointing when what you deserve gets taken from you, but that’s how it goes,” said Piastri.
“I hit the brakes, saw the Safety Car lights went off so I didn’t accelerate again, and Max [Verstappen] went past me which was a bit strange, and then I got a penalty for it so about as simple as that.” Pushed on what he would take from the weekend as a whole, Piastri responded: “The pace was good, I did everything I needed to, just didn’t get the result I deserved.”
‘Voiced his unhappiness’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...qf1YCQVqHC2XT6
McLaren question British GP penalty after Oscar Piastri heartbreak
Oscar Piastri was issued a costly time penalty at the British Grand Prix following an infringement behind the safety car.
6 July 2025
Fergal Walsh & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365
McLaren has concluded the penalty was “very harsh” as it suggested the stewards should have taken certain factors into account. “I was actually taking another look at the data and the video before coming here [to speak to the media],” Stella said.
“I just wanted to take another look after the initial look that we took live during the race. I have to say that the penalty still looks very harsh. There are a few factors that we would have liked the stewards to take into account.”
“First of all, the safety car was called in very late, not leaving much time for the leader to actually restart in conditions in which you lose tyre temperature, you lose brake temperature, and the same was for everyone. The 50 bar [psi] is [brake] pressure that you see during a safety car when you do some braking and acceleration.”
‘Take another look after the initial look’;
https://racingnews365.com/mclaren-qu...tri-heartbreak
McLaren to launch review into Oscar Piastri’s ‘very harsh’ F1 British GP penalty
6 Jul 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week
Stella seemed to hint that Verstappen may have contributed to the decision to penalise Piastri, intimating that drivers are able to make another’s move look worse than it actually was. “We’ll have to see also if other competitors kind of made the situation look worse than what it is,” he said, “because we know that as part of the race car with some competitors, definitely there’s also the ability to make others look like they are causing severe infringement when they are not.”
“So, a few things to review, but in itself now the penalty has been decided, has been served and we move on. We will see if there’s anything to learn on our side and I’m sure Oscar will use this motivation for being even more determined for the races to come and trying to win as many races as possible.”
‘McLaren to launch review’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...sh-gp-penalty/
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Lando Norris 'punishes' Oscar Piastri after 'worthless' Max Verstappen trip - International Media reacts.
Press from around the globe have responded to a captivating British Grand Prix, where Lando Norris won in front of his adoring fans at Silverstone after a contentious penalty for Oscar Piastri, and Nico Hulkenberg vanquished his demons.
7 July 2025
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365
���� The Times - Faultless Norris punishes Piastri mistake to claim first Silverstone win: British broadsheet newspaper The Times focused on how home hero Norris capitalised on McLaren team-mate Piastri's 10-second time penalty.
���� De Telegraaf - Struggling Max Verstappen speaks of 'worthless race' in England: Dutch paper De Telegraaf zeroed in on national son Verstappen endured a difficult afternoon, slumping to 69 points behind Piastri in the drivers' title standings.
���� El País - Norris and Hulkenberg scare away ghosts at Silverstone: Spanish publication El País linked Norris and Hulkenberg and how both drivers were able to banish ghosts during the British Grand Prix.
���� The Washington Post - Oscar Piastri says he'll fuel his F1 title charge with 'frustration' at race-deciding penalty: United States-based newspaper The Washington Post addressed how Piastri plans on channelling the "frustration" of losing what looked to be a near-certain victory into his F1 drivers' championship charge.
���� Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung - "He has defeated the curse": German national newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung celebrated Hulkenberg's podium, hanging the article on the unwanted record he broke by securing his first podium finish in F1.
���� Herald Sun - Outrage as McLaren secret slips out over Oscar Piastri penalty: Australian tabloid the Herald Sun focused on an interesting hypothetical, one that, thankfully for McLaren, did not come to pass during the race at Silverstone.
‘International Media reacts’;
https://racingnews365.com/lando-norr...l-media-reacts
'Catastrophic' decisions - what doomed McLaren's rivals in British GP
Jul 8, 2025
Jon Noble, Scott Mitchell-Malm, Samarth Kanal
The Race
'Catastrophic' decision-making at Mercedes: It was little wonder that Wolff seemed a bit exasperated about how things had spiralled out of control from the off as it was left with just a 10th place finish at the end of it all. “I wouldn't say it was a snowball effect,” he said. “It was more like one action, the driver-pitwall action, triggered a situation that was already bad. We can keep it very simple: the second decision with Kimi was wrong, the third decision was wrong. And I think the driver-pitwall communication was just very bad today.”
Red Bull's Monza wing impossibility: The decision Red Bull made on Friday night to opt for a Monza-spec rear wing to help dial out some inherent understeer seemed to have been a genius move after qualifying. But the call would ultimately doom the squad as, with the weather forecast changing, there was no way a skinny rear wing was going to be any good in the wet where downforce is king.
Ferrari nowhere - 'really nowhere': Charles Leclerc was left in almost disbelief about how his British Grand Prix had gone off the rails after joining Russell as one of the early stoppers for slicks. If it was bad for Leclerc, who feels more comfortable with an oversteery car, you can suspect it was even worse for Hamilton who has never liked it when things get too snappy.
'Catastrophic';
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/c...in-british-gp/
Oscar Piastri slammed for one ‘really ridiculous’ action beyond his ‘very stupid’ British Grand Prix penalty
8 July 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer
Mike Hezemans believes Piastri only has himself to blame given Red Bull unsuccessfully protested George Russell’s Canadian GP win after a similar safety car restart. Yet Hezemans does question the penalty given to Piastri, who finished the British GP 6.812s behind Norris. He told RacingNews365: “That’s always the question, what kind of punishment do you give for it? I think he just made a mistake. And it’s actually stupid because it’s happened a few times now. It also happened in Canada, so you know they pay attention to that.
“I think it’s very stupid of Piastri to do it like that… But then I think it’s even more stupid. I find it very difficult to determine what you should give then. I expected five seconds. That’s what I expected, because for that kind of thing they often give five seconds.” But what Hezemans really took issue with at Silverstone was Piastri asking McLaren to swap his and Norris’ positions for the lead of the 2025 British GP if the Woking squad agreed with the Australian that his penalty for the safety car restart was not fair having cost him the win.
“What I found really ridiculous, and also a bit weak, was the radio from Piastri to the team,” Hezemans added. “Come on. I understand it because, of course, you try everything. But I thought it was a bit of a sign of weakness. Just try to drive away those 10 seconds and then do everything. It is what it is.”
‘One ‘really ridiculous’ action’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/osc...-prix-penalty/
Lewis Hamilton makes ‘no confidence’ admission on Ferrari SF-25
8 Jul 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
“We lost a lot of places through strategy,” Hamilton told Sky F1. “I’m not really sure how I was P4 and then I came out P8, so that made life very difficult. I got stuck behind those three cars [Pierre Gasly, Hulkenberg and Stroll] for a long period of time.”
“Then I stopped early in hope for a big undercut, and geez, it was so tricky. This car does not like these conditions at all. So, big snap and wide in Turn 3, it lost me a ton of time. Then I had a wide at… Lot’s of mistakes. Not a good day. It’s the worst feeling,” he said, “it’s not a great feeling. “It’s when you just can’t sit back and just be confident that you can lean on the rear end. When it’s constantly snapping, you just have no confidence.”
“So the ultimate goal is to try and build up confidence in the car and then get faster and faster. But every time, it’s like building a wall and then knocking it down, building a wall, knocking it down. So when you can’t build that confidence, then you’re not really going anywhere. You’re kind of in no man’s land. So, that’s kind of how it felt for most of the race.”
‘No confidence’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-...f-25-admission
Sauber Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley Hails Nico Hulkenberg’s “Most Overdue Podium in F1 History” at British GP
July 8, 2025
James Rees
F1 Chronicle
Sauber Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley has praised Nico Hulkenberg’s remarkable performance at the British Grand Prix, describing the German’s podium finish as “the most overdue podium in F1 history.” Hulkenberg, who previously held the record for the most Formula 1 starts without a podium, finally ended that streak on Sunday with a flawless drive in challenging conditions.
“Where do I start… The most overdue podium in F1 history and the first podium for the team since Japan in 2012,” Wheatley said after the race. “This was a weekend of highs and lows but, ultimately, we pulled it all together and when the opportunity was there, we grabbed it with both hands.”
“Where do I start…”;
https://f1chronicle.com/sauber-team-...at-british-gp/
Fresh Red Bull hope despite British GP downforce gamble backfire
8 Jul 2025
Matthew Somerfield
PlanetF1.com
The new parts appear to have helped extract some performance from the RB21, albeit Max Verstappen isn’t sure, yet, the magnitude of the gains that can be attributed to it.
“I’m not sure, of course, how much it did [make a difference], but for sure, it brought something, you know, and I’m happy, of course, with any kind of upgrade that we get on the car. And you know, we just keep learning, keep trying to be better and take it race by race, what we can do.”
‘Magnitude of the gains’;
https://www.planetf1.com/features/re...s-show-promise
Alonso rues ‘very wrong’ strategy calls at Silverstone
July 8, 2025
Formula One - Official Site
“Quite disappointing race for us to be honest, starting P7, finish P9," Alonso said after the race. "It feels like we lost an opportunity to score more points but we got it wrong today, very wrong with the strategy and this can happen in a messy race.”
“Last week, a one-stop in Austria was the right call to score more points than what we deserve probably and today we were a little unlucky so hopefully the next race we have an opportunity in mixed conditions, we get it right.”
“Lost an opportunity”;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...lkDJBB2rzu00R3
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Christian Horner loses Red Bull job as final key ally ‘had enough’ after attending F1 race in person.
It’s believed that he lost the support of one final key ally in recent weeks, which led to Horner being sacked as Red Bull team principal.
9 July 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
Christian Horner has been relieved of his duties as Red Bull Racing team principal after 20 years in charge. Red Bull Racing made their Formula 1 debut in 2005 at the Australian Grand Prix and have enjoyed almost unparalleled success under the leadership of Christian Horner. Yoovidhya and Mateschitz attended the Austrian Grand Prix, but witnessed a catastrophic race weekend for the team. A report from De Telegraaf suggests that Yoovidhya ‘had enough’ of Horner’s tenure after the race, with the Briton ‘never considering resigning’ at any point.
Verstappen could only qualify seventh and was taken out by Andrea Kimi Antonelli on the opening lap. Tsunoda finished last and repeated that feat at Silverstone, failing to get out of Q1 and then picking up a penalty for crashing into Franco Colapinto. In the past, it’s been suggested that Verstappen would only stay at Red Bull if Horner left. That might have been a motivating factor as to why Yoovidhya finally lost faith in Horner, and it’s up to Laurent Mekies to turn the ship around and help Red Bull return to the top of the standings.
‘Relieved of his duties’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/chr...ace-in-person/
Our verdict on Red Bull's bombshell Horner sacking
Jul 9, 2025
The Race
Horner built a new F1 powerhouse, Mark Hughes: He is the person largely responsible for turning Mateschitz's benevolence and enthusiasm into solid gold F1 success, with a focus, determination and shrewd racing smarts, gathering all the right people around him to create a new F1 power.
Something had to give, Gary Anderson: I was at Silverstone last Friday when Horner went on the public stage. I was sitting with Edd Straw doing my trackside piece and could hear him; it was in front of everyone, the swearing was incredible. There were kids there and I said to Edd, 'There is something going down there - that is not the language a team principal should be using'. Perhaps Horner knew about his future then.
This has been coming, Scott Mitchell-Malm: Between power struggles, high-profile exits, personal scandal and a fallout with star driver Max Verstappen's father Jos, Horner has been dodging bullets left, right and centre for the best part of three years now. And while it wasn't obvious in terms of results given how Red Bull dominated 2023, the team has been fighting a decline during that time. It has not just slipped from that 2023 peak, it has tumbled down the other side.
‘A clean break, Edd Straw. A move to keep hold of Verstappen? Jon Noble. Horner's early mastery of F1 politics, Glenn Freeman. A short-term nightmare, Jack Benyon’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/o...f1-exit-shock/
Brundle left shocked by Horner's 'out of the blue' Red Bull dismissal
9 Jul 2025
Toby Nixon
GPblog.com
Martin Brundle has admitted that he has been left 'quite sad' after Christian Horner's Red Bull Racing dismissal. Former F1 driver and Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle has since reacted to the news, admitting that he is quite shocked. Brundle reacts to Horner's 'out of the blue' sacking.
"It's completely out of the blue, given things that are going on and the problems in the team, words you're getting, and out of Team Verstappen and others," Brundle stated to Sky Sports F1. "I'm quite sad about it, if I'm honest. I consider Christian a friend, and he's done an incredible job there for 20 years, won an awful lot of races and world championships for drivers and for the team."
"He took it from what was the Stewart team through Jaguar, and it's struggles to a massive campus in Milton Keynes and an awful lot of success and a huge trophy cabinet." Despite the success, Brundle also knows that things haven't been 'rosy' in the Red Bull camp. "But it hasn't been difficult to feel in the Formula One paddock and to observe and hear things that things were not particularly rosy."
'Out of the blue';
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/brund...bull-dismissal
Max Verstappen had a ‘final standoff’ with Red Bull’s CEO before Christian Horner was kicked out of the team
9 July 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
According to Motorsport Italy, Verstappen and Horner have never ‘definitely resolved’ the internal disagreements that emerged last year. And it all came to a head behind the scenes. Verstappen was involved in a ‘final standoff’ with Red Bull’s CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, who ultimately agreed to fire the team boss. F1-Insider add that his camp had been ‘increasingly demanding’ the move as an emphatic response to the team’s struggles.
The crucial context here, of course, is that Verstappen has been negotiating with Mercedes over a potential Red Bull exit. But this could well change the landscape. There was a suggestion that Verstappen was using his Mercedes talks as leverage. And that now appears to have some substance.
Indeed, Motorsport Italy say the distinct ‘possibility’ of the 27-year-old joining the Silver Arrows prompted Mintzlaff to act. Red Bull effectively chose Verstappen over Horner. And F1-Insider say that this is an ‘important signal’ to Verstappen that the team will do ‘everything they can’ to keep him happy. Thus, while Horner’s relationship with Wolff has been strained, this looks like a significant blow to the Mercedes boss.
‘Final standoff’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/max...t-of-the-team/
Verstappen's manager responds to Horner's sudden dismissal from Red Bull
9 Jul 2025
Toby Nixon
Nicole Mulder
GPblog.com
Following Christian Horner’s dismissal as team principal of Red Bull Racing, Max Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, has commented on the situation. He emphasised that the decision was made internally by Red Bull GmbH and stated that the Verstappen camp is staying out of the matter.
Verstappen's manager Vermeulen reacts to Horner's dismissal. Vermeulen has confirmed that he was informed by the top management of Red Bull. “We were briefed in advance by Red Bull’s management that this decision had been made,” Vermeulen is quoted by De Telegraaf. “It's up to Red Bull to provide further explanation regarding the reasons. We continue to focus on the sporting side and are looking for more performance, so we can return to the top. In that regard, nothing changes.”
On Wednesday morning, it was announced that Christian Horner was relieved of his duties after more than twenty years. The decision came after consultations between shareholders Chalerm Yoovidhya and Mark Mateschitz, along with Red Bull’s head of sport, Oliver Mintzlaff. Red Bull has been underperforming this season, currently sitting fourth in the Constructors’ Championship. The team has also experienced a wave of high-profile departures, including Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, and Will Courtenay.
‘Verstappen camp is staying out of the matter’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verst...-from-red-bull
Who is Red Bull Racing's new team principal Laurent Mekies?
9th Jul 2025
Toby Lock
Sports Editor, MK Citizen
Mekies’ F1 career began in 2000 when he worked with Arrows - once of Milton Keynes - before first moving to Faenza with Minardi in 2001. During his time with the team, he worked as a race engineer for future Red Bull star Mark Webber, as well as Justin Wilson, Zsolt Baumgartner and Christian Albers.
Minardi was bought by Red Bull at the end of 2005 and renamed Scuderia Toro Rosso, and Mekies was promoted to be the team’s chief engineer. There, he oversaw the team’s finest moment when Sebastian Vettel - another future Red Bull ace - won the Italian Grand Prix in 2008.
Mekies takes over just a few months ahead of F1’s sweeping rules changes for the 2026 season and beyond, and Red Bull’s formal partnership with Ford coming into force.
‘Mekies’ F1 career began in 2000 when he worked with Arrows’;
https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport...mekies-5215906
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Ecclestone stunned by Horner firing: ‘It's like he's murdered somebody’.
Former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has expressed disbelief at Red Bull’s decision to fire Christian Horner with immediate effect, calling the move sudden, drastic, and inexplicable without more serious underlying reasons.
10/07/2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
"I spoke to him the day before [on Monday] and he didn't know. Well, he might have known, but he didn't tell me,” he said. "It was a normal conversation. We were talking about Max. Nothing to do with this, otherwise he would have told me."
“All I know is the message the whole world has got, which is, he's been fired, effective immediately,” he said. “It's the effective immediately I don't understand. Why would they ask him to leave with immediate effect? It's like he's murdered somebody.” Ecclestone argued that if the decision had been based purely on performance, a more measured approach would typically be expected.
“You can understand, if you're going to fire somebody, then you'd have a chat before and you'd come out with something like, 'We've agreed to part company', or something’. But to come out and say, 'You're fired with immediate effect', he must have done something a bit drastic for that to happen. It must be something very serious, in my opinion,” Ecclestone added.
‘Bernie Ecclestone has expressed disbelief’;
https://f1i.com/news/543805-ecclesto...-somebody.html
‘Something’s going on’: Final snub that sunk boot into Horner... and moment house of cards fell
July 10th, 2025
Jacob Polychronis
Fox Sports (Australia)
When it was all said and done, every awkward and torturous second finally out of the way, the entire floor of Red Bull workers erupted with sustained applause for the man who led them for two decades.
Some reports place the length of that ovation for now-sacked Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner at five minutes with the employees, who three years ago grieved the death of company founder Dietrich Mateschitz, suddenly plunged into a different type of grief. But it was grief all the same, for Red Bull Racing has been changed forever in a way that remains to be seen.
Unceremoniously, too. Horner has offered few words publicly since news broke of his abrupt departure. The few words he has used, however, have made it abundantly clear that he was blindsided by the bombshell decision. His farewell speech at Milton Keynes, which leaked hours after Red Bull confirmed the sacking, speak to this fact.
‘Something’s going on’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...3d5d960af551fe
How Christian Horner’s final day at Red Bull unfolded
July 10th, 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week
Christian Horner’s final day as Team Principal of the Red Bull Formula 1 team has been revealed, amid an emotional farewell speech given to employees at its Milton Keynes base. Late on Wednesday evening, details of Horner’s final speech at the team’s HQ were released, saying watching the team grow had “been the biggest privilege in my life.” David Croft, lead commentator for Sky Sports F1, has revelead how the speech sent ripples through the gathering of staff present.
“From those that we’ve managed to speak to, it is a unified sense of disappointment and sadness at a man that they see has unified their team, who was never afraid to sit and have a chat to various people no matter what they did for the organisation,” he said. “The speech that Christian Horner gave this morning to the factory we understand was hugely emotional.”
“Christian himself was very emotional, and broke down on occasion. He received a massive ovation at the end of that speech from a workforce that are very loyal to him, because he has helped bring success, bonuses and world championship glory in terms of 14 world titles during his time as Team Principal.”
“Been the biggest privilege in my life”;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...bull-unfolded/
Revealed: 'Difficult' Christian Horner's 'heated argument' with Max Verstappen's dad, days before Red Bull sacking, as key document suggests the real reason behind Geri Haliwell's husband's axeing
10 July 2025
TAMARA PRENN
MailOnline
Christian Horner and Max Verstappen's father Jos were allegedly caught up in a heated exchange at the British Grand Prix just days before the former Red Bull team principal was dismissed, Ralf Schumacher has claimed. 'There was another argument or a heated exchange, at least visually and verbally between Jos Verstappen, Christian Horner and the press officer,' Schumacher told Boxengasse-podcast, via the Sun. 'You could see that Jos was anything but happy with the situation.'
'Heated argument';
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...chumacher.html
Verstappen made a lightning visit to the Netherlands on a private Jet
10 Jul 2025
Tobia Elia
Tim Kraaij
GPblog.com
The Formula 1 world was in turmoil due to the dismissal of Christian Horner, but Max Verstappen made a lightning visit to Netherlands. What was the reason for his visit? On Tuesday morning, data from Max Verstappen’s private jet showed he flew to the Netherlands. The four-time Formula 1 world champion departed from Nice and landed at Aarlanderveen Airport in South Holland. The visit was brief.
At the end of Tuesday, Verstappen left for home. Verstappen took off from Nes aan de Amstel, in North Holland, to eventually land again in Nice, near his home in Monaco. However, Verstappen didn't stay home for long as he departed on Wednesday morning to a yet unknown destination.
The trip to the Netherlands came at a time when the Formula 1 world was in turmoil due to the dismissal of Max Verstappen's team boss Christian Horner. On Tuesday, it was revealed that Horner had been dismissed by Red Bull, though Verstappen was already informed. According to manager Raymond Vermeulen, Red Bull had already briefed the star driver.
‘What was the reason for his visit?’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/lifestyle/...-a-private-jet
Adrian Newey was right all along about Red Bull’s biggest problem and Christian Horner sacking proves it
10 July 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Adrian Newey warned that Red Bull were going ‘stale’ after he left. Newey left Red Bull for multiple reasons. There was a genuine desire for a new challenge after nearly two decades in Milton Keynes, where he’d won eight constructors’ championships.
But Newey’s relationship with Horner also suffered, partly because the engineer felt he wasn’t getting enough credit for the team’s success. Speaking on the High Performance Podcast last year, he hinted that the team was becoming ‘a little bit stale’ 20 years into the same regime.
Based on Red Bull’s trajectory since – they have won only two races in 2025 and are on course for their worst championship position in 10 years – these concerns were justified. Newey seemed to sense that a refresh was required.
‘Adrian Newey was right all along’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/features...ing-proves-it/
Verstappen's In-Laws Spill: 'He's driving for Mercedes next year!'
10 Jul 2025
Savannah Lenz
Kevin Doldersum
After Christian Horner's departure from Red Bull Racing, calm has yet to return. A potential move by Max Verstappen to Mercedes is still not entirely off the table. Nelson Piquet Junior let slip more than he intended. Piquet Junior discussed Mercedes' chances in 2026 during the Pelas Pistas Podcast. He said;
"There are weekends this year when things just don't work out. There's not much to do about it. One of their drivers is a rookie, who was then unfortunately hit by Hadjar last weekend. In any case, it was not the weekend for Mercedes. But who knows what next year might bring when Max is driving there!"
Piquet seemed to misspeak, as he immediately shut up after this statement. However, the podcast host immediately picked up on it. Although the 39-year-old emphasised that nothing has been contractually established yet, he did highlight that Mercedes is a logical choice.
“But who knows what next year might bring when Max is driving there!";
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verst...edes-next-year
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Herbert after Horner's dismissal: 'The Verstappen family now has everything they wanted'.
In recent weeks, there has also been a lot of talk about a possible departure of Verstappen from Red Bull. Herbert is not yet convinced that Horner's dismissal is enough to keep the Dutchman at the team.
9 Jul 2025
Luke-John Buckle
Cas van de Kleut
GPblog.com
Johnny Herbert: "The Verstappen family has everything they wanted now, but I'm not sure if that's enough. "There's still a lot of work to be done at Red Bull. It could take four years before the team is back in a good position, winning races again. The rumour mill is still turning regarding Max's switch to Mercedes next season. And I think this is another sign of Red Bull falling back.”
GPblog knows that a switch for Verstappen is still not out of the question. Although one of the wishes of the Dutchman and his entourage has been fulfilled with Horner's departure. Despite that, the Verstappen camp hopes to see an improvement soon, with an eye on 2026. If this does not happen, then a departure could still be possible.
'The Verstappen family now has everything they wanted';
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/herbe...ng-they-wanted
Christian Horner’s demise: A fight with Max Verstappen’s dad ends in tears
10 Jul 2025
Tom Cary
WA Today
After 20 years, eight driver’s titles, six constructors’ titles and 124 race wins, it all ended with a tearful speech in front of the entire workforce at Red Bull Racing factory in Milton Keynes on Wednesday morning.
Well, not the entire workforce. It is understood Red Bull chief Oliver Mintzlaff and motorsport advisor Helmut Marko decided to stay in the Racing Bulls factory next door…
‘Max Verstappen’s dad’;
https://www.watoday.com.au/sport/mot...10-p5mdur.html
Christian Horner wasn’t the only Red Bull employee who incurred Jos Verstappen’s wrath at Silverstone
11 July 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Jos Verstappen was furious with Red Bull communications director Paul Smith. Horner wasn’t the only Red Bull employee who was sacked this week. Chief marketing and commercial officer Oliver Hughes and director of communications Paul Smith were also relieved of their duties.
According to a report from The Telegraph, who have spoken to ‘multiple witnesses’, Jos Verstappen had a ‘heated row’ with Smith in the garage. His son had just fallen from pole position to fifth in the race. He was apparently furious over Smith’s briefings to the media. Along with Hughes, he was a ‘staunch’ ally of Horner.
‘Jos Verstappen had a ‘heated row’ with Smith in the garage’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/chr...t-silverstone/
Christian Horner’s tension with Jos Verstappen part of exit – Gunther Steiner
10 July 2025
Philip Duncan
Yahoo! Sport
Christian Horner’s sour relationship with Max Verstappen’s father Jos played a role in the Red Bull team principal’s sudden dismissal, former Formula One team boss Gunther Steiner has claimed. Former Haas team principal Steiner said: “There was open criticism, it was not hearsay. Jos openly critiqued the management of Red Bull, mainly Christian, so we were all fully aware that relationship wasn’t good.
“Max is the best driver at the moment and has got a big say in the team, so if he didn’t get on, or his father didn’t get on with Christian, for sure, that played a role in it.” Steiner, who was speaking to talkSPORT, continued: “It’s difficult, because to have somebody like Max, you want to keep him, and you don’t give this power in a day.
“A driver like this grabs his power, because he knows his value for the team and you can see at Red Bull, the second driver has scored very few points, they cannot do it. Max put himself in this position to have a lot of say in the team because he is the biggest asset they have got at the moment.”
‘Christian Horner’s tension with Jos Verstappen part of exit’;
https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/chr...104449326.html
What Happened Between Verstappen & Red Bull Before Horner Sacking
10 Jul 2025
James Mclean
Give Me Sport
Max Verstappen took to social media on Wednesday afternoon to pay a public tribute to Christian Horner in the wake of the 51-year-old's sacking after 20 years as Red Bull team principal. The four-time world champion was quick to praise Horner for all that they had achieved together with the Austrian side. However, reports suggest that the 27-year-old had far more to do with Horner's exit than he may admit.
A report from Motorsport Italy confirmed that Max was just as unhappy with the situation as his father. The outlet stated that the issues between Max and Horner were "never resolved" fully. As a result of the breakdown in their relationship, Verstappen reportedly demanded that either Horner be let go or that his power be reduced within the Red Bull set-up. Horner seemingly refused any attempts to restructure the management of the team during the British Grand Prix weekend.
Apparently enraged by Horner's stubborness, Max took the decision to escalate matters to Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff. In what was described as a 'final showdown', Verstappen demanded that a new team principal be appointed, or he would walk away from the team. Verstappen was said to have used reports linking him with a move to the Silver Arrows as leverage in the discussions, while also citing Red Bull's dismal current form as a reason why Horner needed to be axed.
‘Max Verstappen demanded that a new team principal be appointed, or he would walk away from the team’;
https://www.givemesport.com/what-max...ll-sacking-f1/
Did Verstappen fly to Milton Keynes for urgent crisis meeting at Red Bull?
11 July 2025
Tobia Elia
Tim Kraaij
GPblog.com
Is it time for a crisis meeting at Red Bull Racing? Following Christian Horner’s dismissal, it certainly seems that way—and Max Verstappen has flown to the factory. When the news of Christian Horner's dismissal came out on Wednesday morning, Max Verstappen had just landed in the Netherlands. The four-time world champion was back in his home country for a quick visit, only to return to his residence in Monaco by evening.
A day later, Verstappen left again with his private jet to a new destination: Milton Keynes. The city where the Red Bull Racing headquarters is located and the place where Verstappen was just last weekend for the British Grand Prix.
In Milton Keynes, Verstappen, who was briefed about the dismissal beforehand according to Raymond Vermeulen, meets a new team principal. Laurent Mekies is the new man at the helm of Red Bull Racing. Mekies is not a stranger to Verstappen. The Frenchman previously worked at Red Bull as team principal of Racing Bulls.
‘New destination: Milton Keynes’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/lifestyle/...ng-at-red-bull
Where Horner's exit leaves Verstappen's Red Bull future
Jul 10, 2025
Jon Noble
The Race
Despite some clear tensions between the Verstappen camp and Horner over the past 18 months, to think that getting rid of Red Bull’s long-serving team boss guarantees its star driver stays for the long-haul is naive. For there is something that Verstappen himself views as critical to where he drives in the future that has absolutely nothing to do with who is the team boss.
It is quite simply that he wants to have the fastest car underneath him. The situation is really no more complicated than that. So from Red Bull's perspective, its ultimate task has not changed one bit despite the change of team boss. It still has to deliver Verstappen a competitive enough challenger, which he does not have at the moment.
Few would argue against the fact that were Red Bull to lose Verstappen, it would be a body blow to the squad. But despite rampant speculation about a shock switch to a rival this winter, it is understood a move elsewhere for 2026 remains unlikely. With a new rules cycle coming into play, and huge uncertainty about how each of the major teams is going to perform, it is ultimately too much of a gamble to commit to anyone else right now.
‘Verstappen's Red Bull future’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...ull-f1-future/
Max Verstappen F1 future decision date revealed by brother-in-law
11 July 2025
Daan Daniels & Nick Golding
RacingNews365
A move elsewhere has been linked due to Verstappen having several exit clauses which can be activated this summer. If he does move, Mercedes is the likely option, as outlined by Piquet. "It was not Mercedes' weekend [at Silverstone]. Maybe Max will be there next year," Piquet Jr. said on the Pelas Pistas podcast.
"Oops, is that right?", Piquet Jr. was asked by the podcast's presenter, to which the former Renault F1 driver back-stepped, "No, because they talk to everybody, everybody knows that, right? But it's an option, everybody knows that anyway."
According to the Brazilian, Verstappen will decide whether to stick with Red Bull or leave the Austrian outfit next month. "I think he will make a decision in August," revealed Piquet, before adding his thoughts on what the 27-year-old will opt to do, "He will change."
‘Decision date revealed by brother-in-law’;
https://racingnews365.com/max-versta...-date-revealed
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Max Verstappen and Toto Wolff are holding 'SECRET TALKS in Sardinia' over Mercedes move, claims Ralf Schumacher.
Schumacher claims Verstappen will announce his decision 'during the summer break' and that secretive talks between Mercedes principal Wolff and Verstappen are being held in Sardinia.
11 July 2025
ADAM POGRUND
MailOnline
'It's no coincidence that two boats are sailing off Sardinia this week,' he told the Formel1.de YouTube channel. 'One belongs to Toto Wolff, and the other to Max Verstappen. I could imagine them having a coffee together sometime.'
Following Schumacher's comments, Verstappen private jet was reportedly tracked to the Italian island. Mercedes principal Wolff refused to rule out a move ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix last month.
'SECRET TALKS’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...oto-Wolff.html
Max Verstappen's family member drops huge bombshell to leave podcast host stunned after Christian Horner sacking
Christian Horner was sacked by Red Bull Racing this week.
11 Jul 2025
Marcus Chan
SPORTbible
Speaking recently, Nelson Piquet Jr, who is the uncle of Verstappen's daughter, dropped a huge bombshell about the Dutchman's future. He said on the Pelas Pistas Podcast: "There are weekends this year when things just don't work out. There's not much to do about it."
"One of their drivers is a rookie, who was then unfortunately hit by Hadjar last weekend. In any case, it was not the weekend for Mercedes. But who knows what next year might bring when Max is driving there! He will race in Formula 1 in 2026. I think he will make a decision by August." Piquet immediately went quiet after that sentence, but the podcast host had already picked up on the comment.
Although he admitted that nothing has been contractually confirmed, Piquet stated that Mercedes is a logical choice if Verstappen were to leave Red Bull. When asked who would be Verstappen's teammate at Mercedes if the blockbuster move does go ahead, Piquet said: "It will be Kimi Antonelli. If he goes there, it will be Antonelli."
‘Huge bombshell’;
https://www.sportbible.com/f1/max-ve...15993-20250711
HERD MENTALITY OVER RED BULL ‘CALAMITOUS’ PERFORMANCES
July 11, 2025
thejudge13
As the dust settles on the revolution under way in Milton Keynes, a huge array of reasoning is being assembled as to why Christian Horner was sacked. The reason his departure is so shocking is that the timing is less than ideal as the biggest change in F1 regulations is coming just months away.
Horner was the hero beat at Red Bull Racing and cutting off the head of the tight knit organisation at this time may well lead to disastrous results. The staff who spoke to Sky F1 just hours after they heard their leader tell them he had been sacked by men in grey suits in Austria were to a person, “emotional” and “angry.”
TJ13 has learned around some 100 Red Bull employee CV’s have already landed in Cadillac’s inbox as the brain drain for real is surely about to start in proper. Much has been made of a number of senior staff leaving Red Bull in recent years, with the high profile Adrian Newey cited as the prime example as he joined Aston Martin this season.
‘Some 100 Red Bull employee CV’s have already landed in Cadillac’s inbox’;
https://thejudge13.com/2025/07/11/he...-performances/
'No coincidence': Tracking data fuels rumours of Max Verstappen's secret meeting with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff
July 12, 2025
Damien McCartney
Channel 9's Wide World of Sports
Max Verstappen's rumoured move to Mercedes has gathered more strength after a wild theory of a secret meeting with Toto Wolff was bolstered by internet sleuths. Former driver Ralf Schumacher earlier this week said two yachts owned separately by Verstappen and the Mercedes boss were both off the coast of Sardinia.
On Friday night (AEST), the Flight Radar website tracked Verstappen's private jet landing on the Italian island. "It's no coincidence either that this week, two yachts are cruising off Sardinia – one belongs to Toto Wolff, the other to Max Verstappen," Schumacher told Formel1.de this week.
It's believed Schumacher made the comments before Christian Horner's shock axing on Wednesday night (AEST). Although speculation is rife, it's not yet clear if Horner's dismissal has any direct connection to Verstappen's contract.
‘Tracking data fuels rumours’;
https://www.nine.com.au/sport/motors...12-p5mefm.html
Damon Hill shares his biggest ‘doubt’ about Red Bull’s future after Christian Horner sacking
10 July 2025
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer
Damon Hill has ‘doubt’ that Red Bull will not have the ‘great new beginning’ after sacking Christian Horner. News of Horner’s sacking came almost out of nowhere and left fans and pundits alike stunned. Bernie Ecclestone does not understand why Horner was sacked with immediate effect, stating that something must have gone horribly wrong for this drastic decision to be made.
Damon Hill was left questioning if this was the right decision. Writing via X (formerly Twitter), he doubts whether Red Bull will have the ‘great new beginning’ they hope for after making such a drastic change. “CH enjoyed massive support from the team he built. I really doubt if a replacement will be able to fill those boots. This might not be the great new beginning some are hoping for. A Palace Coup rarely has good outcomes. But it will be a huge story for F1, seeing how this goes.” said Hill.
“CH enjoyed massive support from the team he built. I really doubt if a replacement will be able to fill those boots”;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/dam...orner-sacking/
Christian Horner and his ‘loyal followers’ may now put together a ‘package’ to buy Red Bull F1 rivals
11 July 2025
Ashley Hambly
F1 Oversteer
Christian Horner ‘might wish’ to return to F1 in new colours with ‘loyal followers’. On JoeBlogsF1, journalist Joe Saward thinks Horner’s best next step would be to go down the ownership route in F1 due to the ever-expanding growth that the sport is experiencing.
“Now is the perfect time to own a Formula 1 team,” he wrote. “They are making money and their valuations are increasing with every passing month. “I can imagine that Horner might wish to put together a consortium and buy another team. The loyal followers would go with him.” Buying an F1 team won’t be difficult for Christian Horner if he has a ‘credible package’
If Horner did want to go down the route of purchasing an F1 team or starting from scratch, his 20-year stint at Red Bull will make him a standout candidate for struggling teams. As the first and, until recently, only team principal of the Austrian racing outfit, the Brit enjoyed periods of great success with the team, highlighted by eight Drivers’ Championships and six Constructors’ Championships.
‘Horner might wish to put together a consortium and buy another team’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/chr...ull-f1-rivals/
Green Notebook from Marsh Gibbon
July 11, 2025
Joe Saward
When the news broke of Horner’s departure on Wednesday. It was a massive surprise. With 20 and a half years in charge of Red Bull Racing, Christian was the longest-serving of them all, by a considerable margin. Toto Wolff has been in charge at Mercedes since 2012, but after him the team principal who has been in the job longest is Andrea Stella -and he has been there for just two and a half years. The others are all newer than that. One would be forgiven for thinking that being an F1 team principal is like being a football manager.
I fear that the removal of Horner will not be good news for the team. Red Bull Racing is in many respects Horner Racing. He built it and made it successful. Red Bull paid for it. This in part is one of the reasons for the change. Those in charge in Austria do not like the fact that Horner can be viewed as more important than they are. When Dietrich Mateschitz was still alive, there was never much politics. Mateschitz trusted Horner and Christian was in charge. He oversaw 14 World Championships, helping Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen to multiple titles. Success came in cycles, but when times were hard in 2015 and Red Bull failed to win a race, Mateschitz kept his faith in Horner. This paid off. In 2022 Red Bull won 21 of 22 races – a 95.45 percent record, which was even more successful that McLaren’s famous 1988 season, when Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost won 15 of 16 races.
Laurent Mekies is a good guy, but winning over the hearts and minds of Horner Racing will not be easy – and there are no shortage of jobs for experienced people to go to in motorsport valley. Those who have seen how the new Red Bull management has dealt with Horner, may prefer not to stay. I think that those who pushed Horner out will soon regret it and one can only wonder what Mateschitz would have thought of there antics of his successors. People who fiddle with F1 teams without understanding what they are doing create the Alpines of tomorrow.
‘Those who pushed Horner out will soon regret it’;
https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2025...-marsh-gibbon/
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Jos Verstappen delivered ominous seven-word warning to Christian Horner in final argument at Red Bull.
Addressing Horner, he reportedly said: “I’ll keep the pressure on you, Christian.”
12 July 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Jos Verstappen told Christian Horner he’d keep him under ‘pressure’. There was a clear sign at the British Grand Prix, which proved to be Horner’s last race in charge, that the two were still at odds. As reported by Bild, among others, they were involved in a heated argument in the garage after the race.
Verstappen clashed with Horner ally Paul Smith, who’s since been removed as communications chief, over his media briefings. It’s said that he ‘gestured wildly and pointed his finger’ at Smith. Those remarks have now taken on an added significance given that Horner was removed only days later. It’s said that the former F1 driver had been calling for his dismissal.
‘Jos Verstappen delivered ominous seven-word warning’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jos...t-at-red-bull/
Christian Horner’s tension with Jos Verstappen part of exit – Gunther Steiner
10 July 2025
Philip Duncan, PA F1 Correspondent
Yahoo! Sport
Christian Horner’s sour relationship with Max Verstappen’s father Jos played a role in the Red Bull team principal’s sudden dismissal, former Formula One team boss Gunther Steiner has claimed. Former Haas team principal Steiner said: “There was open criticism, it was not hearsay. Jos openly critiqued the management of Red Bull, mainly Christian, so we were all fully aware that relationship wasn’t good.
“Max is the best driver at the moment and has got a big say in the team, so if he didn’t get on, or his father didn’t get on with Christian, for sure, that played a role in it.” But Steiner added: “He was there 20 years. I know how stressful it is to run a team and the last few years have been tough. He still gets paid, so he’s enjoying his gardening leave. He will not be desperate for a next job.”
‘Jos Verstappen part of exit’;
https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/chr...104449326.html
Jos Verstappen Criticizes Red Bull’s Performance Amid Son’s Decline
July 4, 2025
Saajan Jogia Newsweek
The Fresno Bee
Max Verstappen's father, Jos Verstappen, has criticized Red Bull for the drop in the RB21 F1 car's performance despite a new floor upgrade. Ferrari and McLaren have brought effective upgrades that enhanced performance in the Austrian GP. Max qualified for P7 at the Red Bull Ring after his flying lap was aborted due to yellow flags. Sunday's race ended for the four-time world champion with a DNF after Andrea Kimi Antonelli crashed into him on the opening lap.
Not only Max, but his teammate Yuki Tsunoda has also been struggling with the RB21 car as he finished the race in the last position. The Japanese driver's performance has notably dropped after being promoted to the Milton Keynes-based team early this season. Max called his father after the Austrian GP qualifying session, when Jos was attending to his rally driving duties in Belgium. Addressing the conversation they had on the phone, and pointing out Red Bull's performance concerns, Jos told Race Express:
"I have seen a little bit of qualifying. I saw the last lap when he got the yellow flags, but it didn't look fast enough. I already heard it on the phone, he said, 'Yeah, it's just not good enough.'" Addressing the updates brought in by other teams, Jos added: "Ferrari has brought a good update, we know that McLaren are always at the front and who else is in between? Mercedes is kind of in between, and I think the update that Red Bull brought doesn't make that much of a difference. You can see it in Tsunoda, too; he doesn't even reach Q2. So yeah, the speed has fallen from there."
‘Jos Verstappen Criticizes Red Bull’s Performance’;
https://www.fresnobee.com/sports/art...mainstage_card
Analysis | Horner is a plague for anyone who wants to sign Verstappen
12 Jul 2025
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com
Verstappen is known by now to be happy - or at least by those around him - that Horner is no longer working for Red Bull Racing. And switching to a team where Horner works seems hard to imagine. To be fair, it's highly unlikely that any team with ambitions to sign Verstappen at any point will sign Horner. And that must be a bitter pill to swallow for the former team principal.
‘Verstappen is known by now to be happy - or at least by those around him - that Horner is no longer working for Red Bull Racing’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/general/an...ign-verstappen
Nigel Mansell warns Red Bull after 'shock' Christian Horner exit
The F1 world has reacted all week to the departure of Christian Horner from Red Bull, with an F1 champion having now shared his view on the exit.
12 July 2025
Nick Golding
RacingNews365
1992 F1 world champion Nigel Mansell has warned Red Bull it faces a "struggle" following the "shock" exit of now former team principal Christian Horner. The news of Horner's departure came as a surprise to many, including Mansell, who had only been with the Briton in Silverstone where things seemed normal.
"I think just like the racing fans, I didn't know what Red Bull were doing so yeah it came as quite a shock and surprise," Mansell told aceodds. "I was with Red Bull and I spoke to Christian last weekend and there was no inference, no problems or anything. A bit of shock and a bit of horror really.”
"No one really has the facts and it would not be professional of me to try and make an opinion but all I can say is the magnificent job Christian Horner has done for 20 years is a testament to his skill and his dedication to the sport. That shouldn't be forgotten."
‘Red Bull it faces a "struggle" following the "shock" exit of now former team principal Christian Horner’;
https://racingnews365.com/nigel-mans...an-horner-exit
Red Bull driver 'in disbelief' after Horner’s shock departure: 'Will visit factory soon'
12 Jul 2025
Kimberley Hoefnagel
GPblog.com
Red Bull Racing staff were very surprised following the departure of Christian Horner as CEO and team principal of Max Verstappen's team. One of the 'insiders', Jake Dennis, confirms that it was a tough pill to swallow for the employees in Milton Keynes. Although Dennis has not been at the factory for a while, he expects a meeting with the new team boss.
Horner praised for 'exceptional' performances. Dennis had nothing but praise for the man who had been at the helm of Red Bull for over twenty years and was partly responsible for the team's numerous successes. "[I'm] Very surprised, but I think what he did for the sport, what he did for Red Bull was pretty exceptional and yeah, I wish him the best in whatever his next step is."
‘Tough pill to swallow for the employees in Milton Keynes’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/red-b...very-surprised
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Hamilton in no-man's land at Silverstone, criticises Ferrari for woeful British GP.
A frustrated Hamilton said: "It's the worst feeling," regarding his Ferrari car's handling.
8 Jul 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com
"When it's constantly snapping you just have no confidence. The ultimate goal is to try and build up confidence in the car and get faster and faster over time. It's like building a wall and then knocking it down. When you can't build that confidence you're not really going anywhere. You're kind of in no man's land. That's how I felt for most of the race," the Briton said.
"We lost time and a lot of places through strategy," Hamilton complained. "I'm not really sure how I was P4 and came out P8. That made life very difficult. I got stuck behind three cars for a long time. Then I stopped early in the hope of a big undercut and jeez, it was so tricky. This car does not like these conditions at all. A big snap and I went wide in Turn Three and it lost me a ton of time. There was lots of mistakes. It was not a good day."
‘Woeful British GP’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/hamil...drivable-sf-25
Lewis Hamilton suffered as Ferrari’s car developed an unexpected ‘problem’ at the British Grand Prix
8 Jul 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer
Lewis Hamilton suffered in qualifying for the British GP as Ferrari’s engine failed to deliver. His target might even have been for a 10th British GP win after qualifying if Ferrari’s engine did not fail to deliver the power gain that the Scuderia expected when Hamilton turned his unit up for its Q3 setting. The seven-time champion missed out on pole position by 0.203s.
That is according to Motor Sport Magazine, which reports that Ferrari only recognised their power ‘problem’ after Hamilton engaged his engine’s Q3 mood. It was not evident in Q1 or Q2, when Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc posted the fastest laps during the stage. Hamilton led the Q2 timesheet with a 1:25.084, yet actually went slower in Q3 en route to his P5 result with a 1:25.095 time. Leclerc also only marginally improved his 1:25.133 time from Q2 with a 1:25.121 in Q3 to qualify in P6, as Max Verstappen scored pole for the British GP.
Hamilton managed to overcome his worse-than-hoped-for qualifying result and the wet-dry-wet-dry conditions to take P4 in the British GP. Yet he would have likely believed that his first podium with Ferrari was on the cards, at the least, with a better starting spot at Silverstone. Instead, the Stevenage native had to fight back and ultimately fell short of Hulkenberg after Ferrari gave Hamilton a set of soft compound tyres for his final stint that would not hold up. Sauber gifted Hulkenberg a set of medium compound tyres at his final stop on Lap 42 of 52.
‘Ferrari only recognised their power ‘problem’ after Hamilton engaged his engine’s Q3 mood’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/lew...sh-grand-prix/
Max Verstappen reign predicted to end despite 'superhuman' Silverstone show
It seems the end is nigh for Max Verstappen after four years as F1's No.1
9 Jul 2025
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365
Max Verstappen's reign as Formula 1 champion for the past four years has been predicted to end, notwithstanding what has been described as his "superhuman" qualifying performance at the British Grand Prix. In the eyes of three-time Le Mans winner Allan McNish, who currently serves as a senior consultant on Audi's F1 project, he feels what the Silverstone crowd witnessed on Saturday was one of the all-time great laps.
Verstappen, though, was unable to follow up in the difficult conditions in the grand prix, not least as the low-downforce rear wing on his RB21 was not suited to the wet conditions. After sliding off the track and falling from second to 10th at one stage, Verstappen recovered to fifth but is now 69 points adrift of Piastri at the halfway stage of the season.
"My personal feeling is that his reign of world championships is going to change hands at the end of the year," said McNish, speaking to RacingNews365. "The gap in performance, and the consistency of performance, is too big. I think what we did see, that performance on Saturday by Max Verstappen, sticking that car on pole position, that was superhuman. That was absolutely sensational.”
‘End is nigh for Max Verstappen’;
https://racingnews365.com/max-versta...lverstone-show
Red Bull dealt Max Verstappen ‘severe’ problem with their British Grand Prix upgrade that was ‘too effective’
9 Jul 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer
Red Bull gave up on optimising their British Grand Prix floor upgrade on Max Verstappen’s car. Verstappen even spun exiting Stowe during the safety car restart on Lap 21, which let Norris regain second place having lost it back to his Red Bull rival after a slower pit stop. He slipped to P10 but climbed back into fifth place, albeit 56.781s behind as Norris won the British GP.
Red Bull’s decision to fit their low-downforce rear wing, then, proved to be a huge mistake in the wet conditions. But it was a decision the Milton Keynes crew made based on Verstappen lamenting his ‘severe’ understeer in the dry throughout practice at the British GP last Friday. According to Mark Hughes, Verstappen reported his RB21 was susceptible to ‘severe’ levels of understeer on Friday thanks to the floor upgrade that Red Bull debuted at the British GP. But the upgrade was actually delivering the increased downforce that Red Bull had forecast.
Red Bull’s data from their floor upgrade at Silverstone matched their pre-event simulations. However, the issue was that the aero balance was more rearwards than Red Bull wanted, so Verstappen – as Yuki Tsunoda did not get the updated floor – did not enjoy his car’s balance. In fact, Red Bull’s floor upgrade at Silverstone was ‘essentially too effective’ on the rear axle of Verstappen’s car without further tweaks to the front wing. So, Red Bull gave up on trying to find a balance which suited their floor upgrade and intended wing levels come Saturday.
‘Huge mistake’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/red...too-effective/
Yuki Tsunoda admits to never having ‘this kind of feeling’ in F1 after another scoreless performance
8 Jul 2025
Ashley Hambly
F1 Oversteer
Yuki Tsunoda was the last-placed car to take the chequered flag at the British Grand Prix, making it his fifth consecutive Grand Prix finish outside of the points. In fact, Tsunoda set an unwanted Red Bull record at Silverstone as his last-placed finish ended up being the first time in the team’s 20-year history that it has happened in back-to-back Grands Prix.
Speaking in the media pen following the conclusion of the British Grand Prix, the Red Bull man told reporters, “When it comes to the long run, it’s something that always is very outstandingly slow somehow. Just degging [degrading the tyres] like crazy – I never had this kind of feeling. I know we were running quite low downforce, but to be honest I had still good confidence in the rain. The rain pace was absolutely nowhere, so I’m a bit lost.”
“Never had this kind of feeling”;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/yuk...s-performance/
Adrian Newey in Terminator mode at Silverstone sparks McLaren curiosity: Is Aston Martin planning a 2026 shock?
10 Jul 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
There is a fresh sense of urgency inside the walls of the Aston Martin factory. Adrian Newey, newly installed as chief technology officer, has become the focal point of the team’s ambitious project to transform their fortunes. As McLaren continued their march at the top of the championship, Newey was spotted on the Silverstone grid with his trademark intensity, paying special attention to the rear of the McLaren cars and their intricate suspension setup.
It was the kind of scene that instantly drew whispers across the paddock was Aston Martin’s technical mastermind looking for clues to close the gap to the front? Team principal Andy Cowell echoed that sentiment, adding, “Having Adrian on board gives us a massive boost. He’s often the last one to leave, working late to refine next year’s car. Nearly all our resources are focused on the AMR26.”
‘Adrian Newey in Terminator mode’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/adr...6-silverstone/
Jonathan Wheatley made a ‘quite telling’ Christian Horner comment at the British Grand Prix before his Red Bull exit
9 Jul 2025
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer
Discussing his exit from Red Bull with media, Wheatley admitted that Red Bull’s problems on track did play a part in his eventual exit. “When I interviewed Wheatley fairly recently, he said ‘Did what was going on at Red Bull play a part [in leaving?], maybe a little bit’ and that was quite telling to me,” said Medland.
“That it felt like even those who were in core positions were wondering if times were changing, and it was time to move on, because maybe the recent dominant era was over.” Jonathan Wheatley left Red Bull after signs of decline. Wheatley was one of the members of the team who left recently, which also included F1 design guru Adrian Newey and aerodynamicist Rob Marshall to rivals Aston Martin and McLaren respectively.
‘Maybe a little bit’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jon...red-bull-exit/
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Red Bull insider: This is the mood after Horner sacking.
Goodbye to the Heartbeat – Red Bull Racing, the team that roared to Formula 1 dominance with the polished authority of a championship-winning juggernaut, is now trying to find its bearings after the rather unceremonious departure of its long-time team boss Christian Horner.
July 14, 2025
thejudge13
Journalist Matt Majendie, who had the misfortune or serendipity (depending on your sense of journalistic timing) to be embedded with Red Bull during this seismic moment, offered a first-hand glimpse into the team’s emotional temperature on The Inside Track podcast. After traveling with the team to Silverstone for a long-scheduled filming day, Majendie revealed a mood that was anything but celebratory. Less champagne and adrenaline, more lukewarm tea and awkward silences.
“Subdued,” he said. “Mourning.” And above all, “uncertain.” These are not words we typically associate with the high-octane world of Formula 1, especially not with Red Bull, whose garage has for years been a hive of energy, swagger, and industrial-grade caffeine consumption. But that was Horner’s Red Bull. And that Red Bull is no more.
“He was very popular,” Majendie reported, “and very integral to how the team functioned day to day.” What followed was an atmosphere best described as eerily quiet. The engineers, usually chirping away about telemetry and suspension tweaks, were uncharacteristically tight-lipped. The mechanics who typically revel in the grind and buzz of the paddock were going through the motions. It wasn’t mutiny. It wasn’t protest. It was something far more unsettling. It was grief.
‘Goodbye to the Heartbeat’;
https://thejudge13.com/2025/07/14/re...orner-sacking/
Christian Horner's EMOTIONAL Red Bull farewell speech
Jul 9, 2025
Sky Sports F1
Watch footage of an emotional Christian Horner telling the Red Bull Racing team that he was leaving his role as team principal and CEO after his shock firing.
@aalpinesnow: Hate him or love him, you cannot deny all that he has brought to Formula One and how he made even the largest auto manufacturers in the world fall to their knees for many years as he dominated the top tier of motorsport. I’m not even a Red Bull fan, I’m a McLaren fan, and I take my hat off to this F1 icon. Thank you Christian. You weren’t perfect, but you did a lot of good for our beloved sport.
@chrisjameswarren88: Regardless of what you think of him - he's truly taken this like a true leader and thanked his team. He's always fought for this team and drivers. It really doesn't matter what Joe Public thinks of the man, but the fact his colleagues talk so highly of him speaks volumes. Cadillac must be laughing as there will be many Red Bull team members now looking for a new job! Hope to see him at another team in the coming months. Good luck Jos, Max and the Austrian Red Bull board of directors.
@sreehari3001: Christian Horner- absolute legend. Red Bull’s loss will be another team’s gain soon. Sad that he couldn’t get the opportunity to drive the team into the era with RB powertrains. To survive 20 years as a Team Principal without having an ownership stake where the average tenure is just 2 years is a monumental achievement. Leading the team from the depths of Jaguar era to an almost unbeaten season- posterity will rate you as one of the greatest that ever as, not just in F1, but in sports management. You were a true asset to the sport- from a hardcore Ferrari fan. Condolences for the loss of your former partner and the grace with which you have handled this is a testament to your character. See you back in action soon!
@gamingandgeeking7880: This was only a small part of the speech as we clapped when he needed to compose himself. It was a very heart-felt speech overall and meant a lot to the people here
@Dan.Dan123-r2b: He knows how to lead and inspire people, that's blatantly obvious watching this. As he said, he wanted to thank each and everyone of his team. I've seen managers just clear their desks and go..... 20yrs doing what he has, speaks volumes. He'll certainly be back in a different coloured jersey for another team.
@brandtag44: Drive to Survive Season 8 Episode 1: Christian Horner Episode 2: Christian Horner Episode 3: Christian Horner Episode 4: Christian Horner Episode 5: Christian Horner Episode 6: Christian Horner Episode 7: Christian Horner Episode 8: Christian Horner Episode 9: Christian Horner
‘Farewell speech’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qz4oMk3bUA
Martin Brundle suspects ‘key role’ from ‘Team Verstappen’ in Horner sack
15 Jul 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Martin Brundle has seen and heard enough to believe that ‘Team Verstappen’ played a critical role in Red Bull firing Christian Horner. “For whatever reason, they’ve decided that Christian’s not the man to lead them into the next phase, that Laurent Mekies is, and other people they’ll, no doubt, put around him,” Brundle continued. “So, it’s just odd. This is a strange time to do it, and a strange urgency, I would say to that.”
“We don’t know what’s gone on behind closed doors, but I do know that Team Verstappen were not happy with him there.” At that point, Brundle was asked if he believed that Red Bull was given an ultimatum of ‘it’s either us or him’ by the Verstappens, at a time when speculation is swirling that Max could break free of his Red Bull contract via an exit clause to join Mercedes.
Brundle replied: “I don’t know, but what’s absolutely clear is that the Verstappen camp have been lobbing in hand grenades for quite some months now, and some of them have gone off, and it’s been pretty relentless in that respect. And I think at times, Max’s dad, Jos, has made it absolutely clear that he thinks Christian shouldn’t be leading the company and leading the team. So I would, yes, they played a key role in Christian’s exit.”
‘Verstappen camp have been lobbing in hand grenades’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/martin...an-horner-sack
Steiner hints at hidden trigger behind Horner firing: ‘Timing very off’
14/07/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
Steiner found the timing particularly odd given the proximity of F1’s summer break. "It's very off because you've got only a few races before the summer break, and normally you do it in the summer break," he noted. "People shut down. This is done a few days after a race. So it is off as you say, the timing of it and I guess they had some disagreement about something, whatever it is. We will find out, we just have to wait a little. But, it's very off how it happened.”
Steiner speculated that Verstappen’s camp may have played a role in the decision. “It could be that Max put that as one of the things he wanted, you know, it’s a weird thing for a driver to say ‘somebody has to go so that I stay’,” Steiner said. “It is never set as clear as this because then you really fire at somebody, and as the world best F1 driver, you shouldn’t have to be doing that.”
"But maybe they jumped to the conclusion and said if we want to keep Max something needs to change and we let Christian go. Because obviously, as you said, Jos [Verstappen] and Christian — obviously they didn't see eye to eye on quite a few things, I mean it was publicly known and publicly played out.”
‘Timing very off’;
https://f1i.com/news/544012-steiner-...-very-off.html
Horner flaunts surprising new backing after Red Bull Racing dismissal
14 Jul 2025
Hidde Korte
GPblog.com
Horner was dismissed as team principal and CEO of the Red Bull Racing team. On Instagram, he shared a heartwarming video receiving support from an unexpected quarter. The video showed 10-year-old Teddy paying tribute to the dismissed team principal of Red Bull Racing. The TV in the background displayed footage of Horner’s successes with Red Bull. Teddy reflected on the team's successes: ‘To my hero Christian Horner. You are the person who inspired me to start watching Formula 1 five years ago. You have been the fire behind the team for the past twenty years and brought so many victories. You will forever have a place in my heart.’
‘You went where no one else dared to go with smart solutions and investments. I will never forget what you have achieved and what you still can achieve in the future. Watching the race is my favorite part of the week, especially seeing Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship and Max in the Drivers’ Championship. It will never be the same watching races knowing you’re no longer on the pit wall. Hearing you cheer after the drivers’ success will always stay with me, even when I need to concentrate.’
‘You will forever remain in our hearts, so please don’t forget that. Greetings from your biggest 10-year-old fan, Teddy.’ Teddy then showed a piece of paper with a photo of Horner and the text: ‘To my hero’. The former Red Bull boss seemed impressed: ‘Thank you Teddy’.
‘Heartwarming video receiving support from an unexpected quarter’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/horne...-from-red-bull
