Formula 1: Articles & News Reports.

[Fortitude]

"A great result and a fantastic reward", claims Colapinto as he scores career best result in Montreal.
Alpine enjoyed their most successful weekend of the 2026 season at the Canadian Grand Prix, with Franco Colapinto finishing a career best sixth and Pierre Gasly climbing from 14th on the grid to eighth.
26 May 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Franco Colapinto was thrilled with both his own performance and the team’s progress. He said: “From where we started the weekend to having a double points finish for the team, is a great result and a fantastic reward for everyone at the team who has been working so hard. I'm very proud of the work we've collectively been doing and it's a great team result today.” He celebrated his best F1 finish: “It's also my best result in Formula One, which makes me very happy and builds on the performance we showed in Miami.”

Colapinto acknowledged that Alpine benefitted from others’ misfortune but maximised their own opportunities: “We know we benefitted from others' misfortune, and it's never a nice feeling to benefit from their issues, but we maximised everything we could and brought the car home.” He also described his near miss with the wall: “It was extremely low grip out there and slippery, especially at the start in the opening laps on a harder compound tyre to those around us.

"I also had a scary moment exiting the pits after my stop, where I hit a wet patch, then went on the white line and drifted towards the wall. Thankfully I hit the wall side on and got away with a small amount of damage, which didn't require repairs or impact the performance.” Looking ahead, he added: “As we know, there's still more we need to do to be more competitive, bring more performance to the car and get closer to those ahead of us on merit.”

"A great result and a fantastic reward";

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28581


‘Damage limitation’ pleases P8 Gasly in Canada
Pierre Gasly knows Alpine have work to do, despite coming home in the points in Montreal.
May 25, 2026
Formula One - Official Site

After qualifying 14th for the Canadian Grand Prix, Pierre Gasly looked in for a difficult afternoon at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. But the Frenchman put in a strong drive to climb into the points on Sunday and finish eighth, which he was quick to call “damage limitation.”

"I must say I’m happy with the… I’ll call it damage limitation. The whole weekend, with all the struggles yeah, I'll take these four points definitely,” Gasly said after the race. Pretty pleased with that, a very good weekend for the team as well, sixth and eighth so 12 points, it’s been a while since we scored that.”

“A lot of positives and I’m looking forward to the next coming days and I really like working with the team and digging a bit deeper into the performance and why there were the limitations on my car have been what they have been. We will work with the guys, and it will be important for Monaco with all the traction issues we have.”

‘Damage limitation’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...02eLQhdq0e2100


Gasly in the points, but still puzzled by Alpine performance loss
27/05/2026
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Pierre Gasly left Montreal with another solid haul of points for Alpine, but the Frenchman’s smile barely concealed a growing concern simmering underneath the Frenchman’s season. Yet behind the result lies a conundrum neither Gasly nor the Enstone squad can fully explain: somewhere inside the upgraded A526, performance has quietly slipped away. And the more Alpine searches for answers, the stranger the problem appears to become.

“It’s [been] the same thing since the first lap in practice in Miami,” Gasly said after last Sunday’s race. We see it on data, we're pretty clear on what's happening and we've just got to understand exactly where it comes from, and it's going to be part of the work we'll have to do ahead of Monaco.”

“As a team, we've got a good understanding coming out of the weekend and we can exclude the parts, but they still will be important to analyse deeper and understand, once the car gets back at the factory, how to get that performance back.”

‘The stranger the problem appears to become’;

https://f1i.com/news/565245-gasly-in...ance-loss.html


Pierre Gasly puzzled by sudden 'fundamental' Alpine mystery
Pierre Gasly has started the season strongly, but a sudden slump has left him scratching his head.
30 May 2026
Jake Nichol & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Pierre Gasly has explained the sudden "fundamental" issues he is facing with his Alpine F1 car, despite a strong start to the season. "I don't really know what's going on since Miami, but at the moment on my side we're absolutely nowhere," a downbeat Gasly reflected after qualifying in Montreal. It was an easy top 10, the car was quite consistent, but I couldn't brake, couldn't turn in, couldn't accelerate. There was no grip. Hopefully, the team can help to find these answers.”

"You can ask the team, but I am not going to comment [on taking upgrades off], but there is just more to it, because it's a case of fundamentally, something not clicking since Miami, and there is a lot of work to do. I think it is something more fundamental [than upgrades], which we're trying to understand, and on the data, there is quite clearly stuff which does not make sense, but we haven't found the fixes yet. It was the same thing, and we saw it from the first lap of practice in Miami," he said.

"We see it on the data, it is pretty clear on what is happening, and we've just got to understand where it comes from, and that'll be part of the work for Monaco. That's why I'm happy finishing P8 from 14th. I can just feel what I feel, and you can see on the data the difference, but I don't think it is set-up related. We just need to get back to the factory, understand a bit more because there is performance, but since Miami, clearly something has changed in terms of extracting potential, and I need to get it back."

“I couldn't brake, couldn't turn in, couldn't accelerate”;

https://racingnews365.com/pierre-gas...alpine-mystery


Mercedes walks away from ‘overpriced’ Alpine F1 share purchase
Mercedes has reportedly backed away from buying a stake in Alpine over cost
30 May 2026
Lewis Duncan
Crash.Net

Mercedes has reportedly backed out of negotiations over buying Otro Capital’s minority share in the Alpine Formula 1 team over cost. Mercedes has been linked to buying a 24% share in Alpine since the early months of the year, with plans progressing to the point of an agreement in principle with Renault.

The report claims that Otro was looking for £536m for its share in Alpine it purchased for £171m three years ago. Mercedes is reported to have considered Otro’s asking price for its share in Alpine, which values the team at £2.2 billion, too high for an outfit that isn’t profitable right now. Mercedes is thought to have considered Alpine’s value to be somewhere in the region of £1.6-£1.8 billion.

At one stage, this looked like Horner’s most likely route back into the F1 paddock, before Mercedes became involved. However, even with Mercedes backing away, Renault is thought to have elected not to continue talks with Horner. In recent weeks, Horner, who lost his role with Red Bull midway through the 2025 season, has been linked to leading a potential BYD entry into F1.

‘Mercedes has reportedly backed away’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/109641...share-purchase


Mercedes end Alpine share pursuit as key difference arises
Mercedes will no longer pursue a share of the Alpine F1 Team.
30 May 2026
Nick Golding
RacingNews365

Mercedes has pulled out of its discussions to purchase a minority share in Alpine after a key difference in valuation arose. Otro Capital's 24 per cent share in the Enstone-based F1 operation. However, Otro was demanding too much for its stake, prompting Mercedes to pull out of the deal after concluding that the asking price was too high.

In Mercedes' view, the French team is worth between £1.6 billion and £1.8 billion, making its valuation of Otro's 24 per cent share significantly lower than the asking price. There has been significant interest in Otro's share in Alpine, according to former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

However, it is believed that Renault, which can veto Otro selling its share until September, has ended any talks for now. The F1 outfit also announced this week a new major partnership with luxury fashion brand Gucci from 2027, in a long-term deal worth a significant fee.

‘Mercedes end Alpine share pursuit’;

https://racingnews365.com/mercedes-e...ference-arises

[Fortitude]

‘Couldn’t handle the pressure’: F1 champ’s blunt Piastri assessment.
Kimi Raikkonen believes Oscar Piastri "couldn't handle the pressure"… …backing championship leader Kimi Antonelli to avoid the same fate.
1 Jun 2026
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

“Antonelli won’t lose focus; he’s showing maturity,” Kimi Raikkonen said. “He’ll have to avoid imitating Piastri in 2025. At one point, the Australian McLaren driver seemed to have the title in his pocket, but he couldn’t handle the pressure. The Italian won’t fall into the same trap.” Raikkonen believes the Italian’s approach behind the scenes is a key reason why he is capable of sustaining a championship challenge across the remainder of the season.

“Yes, and he believes in it. You can see it in the way he approaches the races, in the spirit he puts into it,” he added. The Finn also suggested Antonelli’s recent results are not possible without possessing exceptional ability, highlighting the teenager’s run of four straight victories. “Obviously, in Formula 1, you don’t win four consecutive Grands Prix unless you have special talent,” Raikkonen said. “Antonelli’s numbers are a feat. Having the right car is crucial, but it’s always been that way, throughout history.”

Although Raikkonen has rarely spoken publicly since ending his Formula 1 career in 2021, he admitted he has followed Antonelli’s rise with particular interest. “Naturally, I follow Antonelli’s exploits with great sympathy,” he explained. “I’m amused that he shares my name (Kimi), even though I think it’s just a coincidence. He’s certainly very talented.”

‘Capable of sustaining a championship challenge’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2026-k...nterview-rare/


'Mercedes encouraged to let Russell and Antonelli battle it out for the title'
31 May 2026
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

Mercedes let Kimi Antonelli and George Russell battle it out at the Canadian Grand Prix for victory. With the two drivers putting on a strong show, fans back Mercedes to allow the teammates to race without any restrictions. Former Haas F1 team boss Guenther Steiner was also pleased to see the two drivers battle it out, as he hailed the Mercedes CEO and team principal as last weekend's rockstar.

In The Red Flags podcast, he commented: "He didn't interfere, didn't say anything. Just let them out there. And you have no idea. The Rockstar should be the person who is cleaning his pants. And but fair play to him. When he has such a position, he's just like, ‘Hey, guys, what is happening here? You know, no, he let them go, let them race.”

“That's why I say for Toto, not to put an end to it, what was remarkable, good in my opinion. That was, we can, I can be joking about the smell of Toto's pants, but in the end, he deserves that in my opinion, because that is what made this interesting."

‘Last weekend's rockstar’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/merce...-for-the-title


Mercedes make 'too close for comfort' acknowledgement after George Russell-Kimi Antonelli fight
Mercedes will allow its drivers to fight each other this season, but under one crucial condition.
31 May 2026
Nick Golding
RacingNews365

Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin has acknowledged that George Russell and Kimi Antonelli's battles during the Canadian Grand Prix were "too close for comfort". Asked on the Nu Silver Arrows radio show what it feels like to watch Russell and Antonelli battle, Shovlin explained:

"It (your heart rate) does go up a bit, but when you look at most of it, it is absolutely fine and you always want to let the drivers race. If the team is doing a good job, you've had the right conversations beforehand and you don't have to interfere. There were a couple of points in Canada where it got too close for comfort.”

"There was one point where it looked like one car could have ended up going into the back of the other and we will do everything to avoid that, but the two of them want to be allowed to race. They know that they need to deliver on their end of the bargain, which is race fairly without risking DNFs and don't hit each other. We had good discussions over the weekend and we'll have good discussions ahead of the next race."

'Too close for comfort';

https://racingnews365.com/mercedes-m...ntonelli-fight


Antonelli: 'Mercedes knows, they can't put a leash on us with Russell'
31 May 2026
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

Kimi Antonelli wants to avoid a repeat of the 2016 scenario with George Russell as the Mercedes teammates battle for the 2026 World Drivers' Championship. However, he stressed that Mercedes cannot put them on a leash either. The current Formula 1 championship leader did not switch off from motorsport despite not competing this weekend. He received the prestigious Trofeo Bandini award in Italy and also waved the chequered flag at the MotoGP race in Mugello.

At the media conference ahead of receiving his award, he said that the German team wants to let its drivers compete freely against each other, as it trusts them to race fairly. "They know very well, especially in the position that we are now, you cannot put the leash on us. But they also want to make sure that there's not an unpleasant situation. If they feel like it, in the next few races, they will tell us to race a bit easier."

The Mercedes squad has experienced a tough teammate battle in the past, when Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg went head-to-head to achieve the biggest prize. Antonelli highlighted that he wants to avoid a similar situation. "Of course we're going to race each other hard, but we'll try to be as fair as possible, avoiding any crashes or contacts because we want the best as well for the team. We want Mercedes to win, as well. We're gonna go at each other, for sure, but in a fair manner."

“You cannot put the leash on us”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/anton...s-with-russell


Wolff concedes W17 upgrades 'didn't bring the performance gains we had expected'
31 May 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Speaking to GPblog and other media outlets after the race, Mercedes team principal and CEO Toto Wolff acknowledged that the upgrade package introduced in Canada had fallen short of Mercedes' expectations. "It didn't bring the performance gains that we had expected on paper, but it's very difficult to assess. We didn't see the McLarens today at all. We had the pace, we had the gap, but how much that is, is it what we have anticipated, I think it's very difficult to judge yet."

Toto Wolff also suggested that Monaco may not provide a clear answer either, with the team instead planning to continue gathering data over the coming races before reaching any firm conclusions about the effectiveness of the package. "Montreal was a sweet circuit for us last year. Is that shining a better light on our performance than it would be on any other circuit? Probably Monaco, we won't know it either, so we need to continue to monitor and to analyze."

‘Performance gains were not as expected on paper’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/wolff...e-had-expected


Gary Anderson's take on the upgrade Mercedes seems unsure of
31 May 2026
GARY ANDERSON
The Race

It was a brave decision for Mercedes to introduce its first major upgrade package of the 2026 Formula 1 season in Montreal given how competitive it was in Canada last year, it being a sprint weekend and its early-season dominance. Amid all that, Mercedes could easily have tripped itself up when striving to improve performance. Even though it locked out the front row of the grid for both races and won twice, this was not straightforward.

Looking in detail at the upgrade and starting from the front, Mercedes introduced a completely new front wing assembly and profile. Like the front wing, the bargeboard area is subject to some fairly serious developments. When you get a change in the flow direction coming around the front tyre, everything else needs to be optimised around it. To go with those bargeboard developments, the edge detail of the rear part of the floor has also been revised fairly dramatically.

This area (bargeboard developments ) is where you need to create some form of aerodynamic sealing, otherwise the low pressure underneath the floor giving you the underfloor downforce won’t be as low as it could be, which would mean less downforce and with that less grip. The changes make sense from the outside, and the performance in Canada suggests they have at least been reasonably successful, but let’s see how the car goes in Monaco and, more importantly, Barcelona before making a definitive judgement.

‘The upgrade Mercedes seems unsure of’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/g...ems-unsure-of/

[Fortitude]

‘Fundamental problem’ – Fernando Alonso sets timeline for Aston Martin fix.
…team will only close the three-second deficit to the front by extracting more power from the Honda engine and adding more downforce to the AMR26 car.
1 Jun 2026
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

Fernando Alonso has accepted that Aston Martin will likely be hamstrung by its “fundamental problem” until after the F1 2026 summer break. The team has hinted previously that it will likely look to bring a significant upgrade package later in the season in the hope of combatting its early issues, alongside smaller incremental updates.

Honda’s trackside general manager, Shintaro Orihara, revealed that is when it is targeting gains on Aston Martin’s power unit and Alonso admitted he is “relaxed” about the prospect of at least another six races running towards the back. Asked about his weekend in Montréal, Fernando Alonso replied: “The same as has been always.”

“We do good starts sometimes, we’re completely out of position and then we slowly fall behind. We lose one position each lap and then you arrive to your natural position at the back. This is the situation and it will be like this until after summer. So we accept it and we answer the same questions every weekend, but we are relaxed with this.”

‘Fundamental problem’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/aston-...oblem-timeline


Lance Stroll reveals staggering Aston Martin upgrades timeline
Aston Martin are making progress, but upgrades are not arriving for a long time!
1 June 2026
Nick Golding
RacingNews365

Discussing if progress is being made, Stroll explained: "Yeah, we fixed the vibrations in Miami, so that was good. "We finished the race [in Miami], both cars got to the chequered flag for the first time this season, which I think is a step forward. And now we just need to find a lot more downforce and power. So, when we do that, we’ll be in better shape. So that’s what we’re focused on."

Asked when an upgrade will be introduced, Stroll revealed: "We have an upgrade for Spa or the one after Spa. I don’t know which one… Zandvoort, yeah. Is it going to be enough to fight for the front? No. But yeah, these things don’t happen overnight, so everyone’s pushing as hard as possible and we’re doing everything we can to bring as much lap time to the car as quickly as we can."

‘Staggering Aston Martin upgrades timeline’;

https://racingnews365.com/lance-stro...rades-timeline


Fernando Alonso rues ‘fundamental problem’ hindering Aston Martin recovery efforts
1 Jun 2026
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

Alonso also confirmed progress is coming slowly for Aston Martin, but highlighted the Honda power unit deficit as the issue continuing to hinder Aston Martin. Whilst an exact number has not been released, Honda could be as much as 100 horsepower down on its rivals “There is progress, always,” Alonso said.

“Every time we hit the track, there are some new things on the car, and on the engine, on the settings, on the gearbox. From Miami to [Canada], we improved a lot, the gearbox, the gear sync, the downshifting. So how that translates into lap time is difficult to quantify, but definitely we were faster here than Miami with exactly the same car, just because we finetuned things.”

“I expect a lot of small things happening between here and Monaco and hopefully another step forward. But the fundamental problem and the three seconds off the pace will have to come from the power of the engine and from the aero package and that will only come in the second part of the year.”

“There is progress, always”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/...overy-efforts/


Tost raises Newey health concern amid Aston-Honda struggle
Former Formula 1 team boss Franz Tost has suggested Adrian Newey's health may be a factor as Aston Martin battles through a disastrous start to its new Honda era.
29 May 2026
GrandPrix.com

Speaking on the 15 Love - Der Business podcast, the former Toro Rosso chief said several factors are behind Aston Martin's disappointing 2026 campaign so far. “Firstly, unfortunately Honda has made a mess of this new engine. They've constructed something that doesn't work as they perhaps expected.”

However, based on personal experience, Tost backed the Japanese manufacturer to recover. “I know the Japanese and I'm convinced they will solve the problem by next year at the latest”, he said. Tost also pointed to Adrian Newey's late arrival at the team. “Adrian Newey joined Aston Martin very late”, he said. “I think he only started last April, and for such a massive project that's an extremely small window. There's still plenty to put right.”

The comments are particularly noteworthy given recent speculation about Newey's suddenly low profile within the team and rumours of possible health concerns. “I think, health permitting, he'll manage to put together a decent car for 2027”, Tost said. “I'm actually fairly convinced of that.”

“They will solve the problem by next year at the latest”;

https://www.grandprix.com/news/tost-...-struggle.html


Aston Martin offer theory for pain-hit Fernando Alonso 'pressure point'
Aston Martin is slowly working through its problems, but now has another surrounding the seat in the AMR26.
29 May 2026
Nick Golding & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Asked what the issue was with Alonso's seat, Krack told select media including RacingNews365: "He has been uncomfortable for a while, and never to the point where it was really a showstopper, but it's like a pressure point where you feel it gets worse and worse.”

"I think we need to reconsider a little bit the positioning of the seat. You try with these cars to be as low as you can. When you look at how the drivers used to sit over the last few years, it goes more and more into a lying position, and we need to check whether we may have gone a step too far. But it's something we need to check."

‘Pain-hit Fernando Alonso 'pressure point';

https://racingnews365.com/aston-mart...nso-retirement


Why Fernando Alonso is convinced he’s ‘the best’ in F1 despite Aston Martin woes
Fernando Alonso opens up on his mindset amid Aston Martin's ongoing F1 struggles.
31 May 2026
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

When asked how he measures his own performance this year when his car is so badly off the pace, Alonso replied: "I don't measure anything, I'm the best. I don't need to prove anything, I don't need to feel anything to believe that I'm at the right level.”

Alonso was also asked what keeps him motivated during such a difficult time, to which he responded: “Waiting for the opportunity, and meanwhile trying to help the team, so we don't lose the competitive edge that you need to have in Formula 1. Driving different categories, different cars, testing yourself in different series and different cars, and feel yourself competitive.”

"If I go to a go-kart track and I'm not the fastest, then I will be worried. If I go to a GT car and I'm not the fastest, I will be worried, and these kind of things. Meanwhile I'm doing that, I'm still the fastest, so when I come to the Formula 1 weekend, it's just a matter of time that I have a better car.”

“I don't need to prove anything”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/109635...on-martin-woes

[Fortitude]

Cadillac confirms findings after investigation into Sergio Perez suspension failure.
Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon has confirmed that the team “fully understands” the cause of Sergio Perez’s spectacular suspension failure after a post-Canadian Grand Prix investigation.
31 May 2026
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Lowdon has confirmed that Cadillac has “already addressed” the issue that resulted in Perez’s incident, insisting that it was nothing “out of the ordinary.” Asked if the team had found the reason behind Perez’s suspension failure, and invited to outline his hopes ahead of next weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, he told PlanetF1.com and other select media:

“In terms of the issue that Checo had in Montreal, we fully understand what happened there. It looked significantly more dramatic because there was that onboard picture where there was quite a bit of stuff flying around – that’s primarily the brakes. There was already a failure ahead of that and then as soon as the brakes get applied, there’s nothing securing the brakes to the level that they need to be, so you then end up with something that looks quite dramatic at the end of it.”

“But the root cause we understand [and] it’s something that has already been addressed. So if the question was ‘are we concerned about Monaco after that’, no. I think pretty much every team’s seen something similar in the past, so I don’t think it was anything too out of the ordinary.”

‘“Already addressed” the issue’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/sergio...026-suspension


Sergio Perez delivers ‘one of the best’ F1 drivers verdict amid Cadillac ‘impatience’
28 May 2026
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Sergio Perez has indicated happiness with his performances in the first five Grands Prix of the Formula 1 season, saying he is happy to “prove it to myself that I’m one of the best out there.”

“I’m very happy with my performances, with my level of driving,” he told media, including Motorsport Week, at the Canadian Grand Prix. “I’m happy I came back and prove it to myself that I’m one of the best out there. So that to me is really nice, and I’m very happy with the level of driving I’m doing.”

“I’m impatient at the moment with the operational side,” he said. “I think it’s something that we have to improve and we are in a massive hurry because we are not maximising the results. Today [in the race], for example. Yesterday in qualifying, we had issues again, operationally.”

‘Happiness with his performances’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/...ac-impatience/


Sergio Perez ‘impatient’ with area Cadillac are ‘lacking tremendously’ in
28 May 2026
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com

Sergio Perez said Cadillac is ‘lacking tremendously’ on the operational side and called on the team to improve ahead of the European stretch. “I’m impatient at the moment with the operational side,” he said in Canada. “I think it’s something that we have to improve, and we are in a massive hurry, you know, because we are not maximising the results.”

“Today [in the race], for example. Yesterday in qualifying, we had issues again operationally. I think we are making progress on performance, which is very positive, but on the operational side, is something that we are lacking tremendously, and we have to really find our way for the European season. Even challenging races can yield useful learnings, and that’s what we can take away from this weekend,” he said.

“Overall, it’s been our most competitive weekend to date. We introduced some further upgrades, which have given us another step up in performance and we were able to race on pace in the midfield. Operationally, we know where we need to improve, but everything we do is being done for the first time. We’ll address as we go into the European season.”

“We are not maximising the results”’

https://www.planetf1.com/news/sergio...remendously-in


Why Perez is convinced he is one of F1's best drivers again
3 Jun 2026
SCOTT MITCHELL-MALM
The Race

"I have to be realistic, and honest - I had doubts on coming back," Sergio Perez told The Race in an exclusive interview. "The main reason was my family. I felt like I've had a great career. I knew my circumstances. I gave it everything and I was very happy with the career I've had. I'm in a very fortunate spot in my career because I didn't need to be back in F1. But I felt like at the same time I didn't want to leave the sport the way I left it. Because I believe myself that I'm one of the top drivers here. And coming back makes me realise that I'm one of the top drivers."

"People that understand the sport, they can easily see the level that I'm driving at, the pace I'm having and the performance I'm having," Perez said. "More than proving to everyone else, it's about proving it to myself again. The last six months at Red Bull were very tricky. And there were some circumstances that I had there that prevented me from performing the way I should have been performing. I'm very happy that I came back to prove it to myself. And that was the main thing. I know that I don't have all the time in the world," he said.

"I came here to make a successful project. And I know that every single weekend is crucial, in making sure that we make progress. For me, that's the main driving factor, I want to see more progress. I want to see progress quickly because unfortunately Formula 1 doesn't give you time. Everyone is impatient here. So for me, the next couple of races are very important, because they will determine how much progress we are making as a team. And for me, as long as we are making good progress, good steps in the right direction, it will give me enough motivation to carry on."

‘One of F1's best drivers again’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...drivers-again/


Valtteri Bottas points finger at Cadillac car: 'It's not 100%'
Valtteri Bottas has revealed that issues with his Cadillac go some way to explaining his lack of performance at the Canadian Grand Prix.
28 May 2026
Samuel Coop & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Valtteri Bottas has revealed his Cadillac was not "100 per cent" at the Canadian Grand Prix, explaining that some of the issues could not be remedied over the weekend. "We had a few issues [in Montreal] with the setup, the car was very different in each session, and even [in the grand prix], there were some things that we couldn't fix, so the car is not 100%," Bottas told media, including RacingNews365.

"For sure, it's not yet in a place where I can gain good confidence with the car, but also we know that my power wasn't 100%. Performance," the former Williams, Mercedes and Alfa Romeo/Sauber driver promptly responded when asked what the main thing he and the fledgling team are working on. Elaborating, he added: "Both mechanically and aero-wise equally, we've got to improve and find new parts, but there are parts coming for pretty much each race, and that's a good thing."

'It's not 100%';

https://racingnews365.com/valtteri-b...ar-its-not-100


Cadillac issues Valtteri Bottas F1 rumours response with Colton Herta reality check
30 May 2026
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

Cadillac Team Principal Graeme Lowdon has refuted rumors suggesting Valtteri Bottas is facing the axe only five races into the 2026 Formula 1 season. “There is no foundation, no truth in any of the rumours at all. I can categorically say that,” he told Racing News 365. “Where do I start on the rumours themselves? I’ll make it really, really clear: factually, they’re completely incorrect. There’s no basis of truth whatsoever in any of them.”

“Secondly, if we look at the job that both drivers are doing, they’re doing way more than drivers in some of the teams are having to do, because we’re constructing the team while we’re racing at the same time, and that’s a very unusual task,” he added. “So, with all due respect, the outside world doesn’t know what we’re asking these drivers to do, either session to session or race to race, and also, what we’re asking them to do in terms of developing the car.”

“It’s clear that we’re trying to get more pace into the car, although I have to say that, similar rumours before we even started racing suggested that we’d struggle to get within 107 per cent of qualifying. It was just a few fractions of a per cent in Montreal where we missed out on advancing in sprint race qualifying again, so there’s no foundation of truth, but there’s no logic either to what anybody’s saying.”

“There is no foundation, no truth in any of the rumours at all”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/...1-axe-rumours/

[Fortitude]

F1 | MONACO GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “IN MONTECARLO, QUALIFYING IS WORTH HALF THE RACE. PETROL COULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE”.
Monte Carlo remains a unique round of the Formula 1 calendar. It is a sort of roulette where much of the result is decided on Saturday.
4 June 2026
Redazione
Minardi F1 - The Official Site

At Monaco the power of the engine takes a step back compared to the efficiency of the chassis, the setup and the skill of the drivers to avoid the guardrails for lap after lap. As I had already stated, also keep an eye out for the importance of the fuel. On a track as unique as Monte Carlo, where the cars race with the maximum downforce, and where today any detail can make a difference, the quality of the fuel used by various teams could become an even more decisive factor. When the times are so close, even apparently minor details could affect the final result. For these reasons, I expect a particularly close fought weekend.

Mercedes and McLaren are certainly the favourites but also keep an eye on Ferrari as they could well joint the battle at the top. On the Principality’s track, the engine plays a lesser role than on other tracks and the quality of the car’s setup could make all the difference. In addition, Ferrari renewed Charles Leclerc’s contract This is a significant decision that ensures continuity for the team and will allow the driver from Monaco to approach his home grand prix with greater peace of mind, focusing solely on his work on the track.

‘It is a sort of roulette’;

https://www.minardi.it/en/f1-monaco-...he-difference/


Kimi Antonelli targetting Lewis Hamilton Mercedes record in Monaco GP
Kimi Antonelli has four straight wins - but can he make it five heading to the Monaco Grand Prix?
4 June 2026
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

Kimi Antonelli can equal Lewis Hamilton's personal Mercedes record of five straight grand prix wins in Monaco. The Italian has won the Chinese, Japanese, Miami, and Canadian Grands Prix to open up a 43-point lead over team-mate George Russell in the standings, after the Briton dropped out with an engine failure whilst leading.

The last Italian to win in Monaco was Jarno Trulli in 2004, with Antonelli on the cusp of equalling Hamilton's tally of five consecutive wins, which he achieved in both 2014 and 2020, when he won his second and seventh world titles, respectively. However, it is not the all-time Mercedes record for consecutive wins, with Nico Rosberg claiming seven straight between the 2015 Mexican and 2016 Russian Grands Prix.

‘43-point lead over team-mate George Russell’;

https://racingnews365.com/kimi-anton...d-in-monaco-gp


Vasseur delivers blunt Ferrari assessment ahead of Monaco Grand Prix
3 Jun 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Fred Vasseur has touched on his team’s prospects and expectations for this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix amid growing predictions about the Scuderia Ferrari outfit at the Monte Carlo race. “Monaco is always a unique weekend and this year it will be particularly interesting with the new generation of cars, which, for the drivers, should feel quite different on this type of circuit. It is a track where qualifying, confidence and execution matter even more than usual, and where every detail can make a difference,” Vasseur noted.

“For Charles, it is obviously a very special race in front of his home crowd, while there is always plenty of support for Ferrari from the fans. We know how much energy he draws from racing in this environment. That said, our approach does not change: we have to stay focused, build the weekend session by session and make sure we put both drivers in the best possible position to extract the maximum from the car,” he concluded.

‘Blunt Ferrari assessment’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/vasse...aco-grand-prix


Why rivals are convinced Ferrari will produce first F1 2026 upset
4 Jun 2026
SCOTT MITCHELL-MALM
The Race

Ferrari will have the fastest car at the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend and goes there as favourite - at least according to its Formula 1 rivals. To be fair it's not just rivals who are talking up Ferrari's chances, as F1 awaits an end to Mercedes' dominant start to the grand prix season; even Charles Leclerc, in the midst of his Canadian GP weekend misery, looked ahead to his home race optimistically.

"We need to be careful," said Leclerc, who has since had his Ferrari contract extended. "Mercedes is a very, very good team. I think it's a very strong team and a very all-round team, whether it's in corners or in the straight. If there's one race this year where I feel we could have more of a shot at pole, it would be Monaco. And I hope it will be the case." But why is that the case, is it as clear-cut as being made out, and what are Ferrari's rivals saying?

McLaren’s reigning world champion Lando Norris was convinced Ferrari will be on pole, and said its low-speed performance is "far better" than the opposition's, while Mercedes' championship leader Kimi Antonelli felt Ferrari's engine will be key to it being very quick in Monaco. Meanwhile, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said he saw Ferrari as "probably the favourite". It's the package as a whole that's led people to believe Ferrari will be strong in Monaco.

"We need to be careful";

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...f1-2026-upset/


Aston Martin issues Adrian Newey update ahead of Monaco Grand Prix
4 Jun 2026
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Mike Krack, the former Aston Martin team principal who now acts as the team’s chief trackside officer, has indicated that Newey will make his first appearance at a race for three months this weekend. Asked when Newey will next appear trackside, Krack told PlanetF1.com and other media outlets on Thursday: “You will see.”

“I think we’ll see him this weekend, so it’s good. It’s good because he has a lot of experience also here. Many race wins here, so I think there is certainly one or the other advice that we can get that would bring us forward, so we’re looking forward to that.” PlanetF1.com understands that Newey is set to arrive in Monaco on Thursday evening and is expected to attend other events later this season. It emerged in March that Newey was never expected to attend every race of the F1 2026 season despite his promotion to team principal.

‘Adrian Newey update’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/adrian...rand-prix-2026


Why Red Bull Racing are under pressure to deliver at the Monaco Grand Prix
4 Jun 2026
Ben Hunt
GPblog.com

The Monaco Grand Prix has always been one of Formula 1's most prestigious races, but for Red Bull Racing, the pressure to perform on the streets of Monte Carlo is greater than ever. As the championship battle intensifies and rival teams continue to close the performance gap, Monaco represents a crucial opportunity for Red Bull to reaffirm its progress.

One of the biggest reasons Red Bull are under pressure heading into Monaco is the increasingly competitive nature of Formula 1. Teams such as Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes have all made significant gains, reducing the advantage that Red Bull once enjoyed.
In recent races, the margins between the leading teams have become increasingly narrow. This means that any mistake during qualifying, strategy execution or race management can have a major impact on championship standings.

Much of the spotlight inevitably falls on four-time world champion Max Verstappen. As one of Formula 1's most successful drivers, expectations are always high whenever he takes to the track.
However, Monaco presents unique challenges even for elite drivers. The circuit demands absolute precision, with centimetres separating success from disaster. Verstappen has proven his ability to master difficult conditions, but the intense competition at the front means there is little margin for error. A strong result would reinforce his championship credentials, while a difficult weekend could provide valuable momentum for his rivals.

‘Under pressure’;

https://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/F1/Monaco+GP

[Fortitude]

Unfazed Kimi Antonelli plans to race with freedom.
Formula One championship-leading teenager Kimi Antonelli intends to race free of worry during this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, as he bids for a record fifth consecutive victory.
5 Jun 2026
The Straits Times

As his Mercedes teammate and title rival George Russell ramped up the pressure on him by saying the “title is his to lose”, the 19-year-old Italian insisted he was unfazed and will stick to driving to win, without creating any chaos.

“I know I can win (the drivers’ title), but I don’t want to think about that and to lose my head,” he said. “The season is so long so I’ll continue to drive as if I have nothing to lose – because I can’t lose something I haven’t achieved yet!”

Asked about Russell, he told Sky Italia that they wanted to treat each other fairly. “We don’t want to cause chaos and of course we don’t want to upset Toto. When we race, we race to win and we want to be the best... For sure, we race for ourselves – but also for the team,” he said.

‘Unfazed Kimi’;

https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...e-with-freedom


Everything we learned on day one of F1's 2026 Monaco GP
4 Jun 2026
The Race

Aston Martin's 'random' downshift crash risk: Fernando Alonso warns that Aston Martin may not even be able to race given the crash risk if there is a repeat of what he calls the "random downshift" issue it has experienced recently.
Leclerc had two reasons for Ferrari deal: Charles Leclerc revealed his two reasons for signing the new Ferrari deal that was announced on Wednesday were "because I love this team and because I believe in the project".
Bottas addresses 'bulls**t' rumours he's at risk: Another race weekend, another driver having to address "complete bulls**t" rumours that their place on the grid is at risk.

Novel rear wing designs for most, but not all... The high-downforce demands of Monaco have prompted some crazy wing ideas in the past - and this year has not disappointed either.
Hamilton says he's found his 'Italian Bono': Lewis Hamilton's 2026 season is going much better than his 2025 one, and although that's in large part due to the super-stiff, difficult-to-feel-under-braking ground-effect cars he so detests being consigned to history, he feels there's also been a huge amount of unseen work "in the background" at Ferrari to get his side of the garage into a much more productive state.
Alpine investigates mysterious Gasly issues: Alpine's been investigating Pierre Gasly's sudden balance issues in the last two F1 races and has something different to try this weekend - although there is a difference in characterisation from driver and team.

‘Everything we learned’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f...rned-thursday/


F1 - 2026 Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday Press Conference Transcript
04.06.26
FIA (Press Release)

Q: Let’s start with the local hero and the man in the news as of yesterday. Charles, many congratulations on the new contract. Can you tell us why you wanted to extend with Ferrari and why now?
Charles LECLERC: I mean, why now? It’s not that I had a timeline in my head. But why? I mean, it was very clear. I mean, I love the team. I think that’s pretty obvious from the outside. It’s been eight years with the Formula 1 team, 10 years with Ferrari as a whole. They’ve been one of the first people to believe in me and to help me to get to where I am today, and I believe in the project most of all. I think with Fred we have a very good relationship, and I strongly believe that he is the person that will be able to bring Ferrari back to the top. It’s been a good start to the season, obviously not as good as what we would want, because we want to target the World Championship, but there’s been a lot of innovation on the car.

Q: Lando, let’s come to you now. Last year’s winner. Just how confident are you of repeating that feat this time?
Lando NORRIS: Well, I think our run into this weekend this time last year was probably a little bit better than we’ve had this year, so maybe not quite to the level it was last season. But I think we’re optimistic. We still want to come in with hopes of trying to achieve a pole and trying to achieve a win. That’s still the goals we want to set ourselves. But Ferrari and Mercedes have obviously been very strong, Mercedes even more so, so we’re getting ahead of ourselves. We don’t want to be too optimistic, but at the same time we want to come into our weekends at the minute, I think we’ve given ourselves the chance to come into weekends with the belief that it is possible. That’s the way we want to stay for now.

Q: Max, two-time winner here. Why don’t we start with you? Red Bull got its first F1 podium at Monaco 20 years ago. What chance of a repeat this weekend?
Max VERSTAPPEN: Let’s see. I mean, I don’t know. It will depend on a lot of things. I don’t know how the car is going to feel tomorrow, so… Monaco can always give you some surprises. But realistically from my side, we’ve been OK in the low speed, but at the same time here you need to be good on the bumps and the kerbs, which is where we’re not that great. So, yeah, we’ll have to see how it will evolve throughout the weekend.

‘Thursday Press Conference Transcript’;

https://www.fia.com/news/f1-2026-mon...nce-transcript


2026 Monaco Grand Prix: Fast Facts
4 June 2026
Jarrod Partridge
F1 Chronicle

Championship Standings Entering Monaco: Kimi Antonelli arrives at the Principality leading the World Championship on 131 points after four consecutive race victories. His Mercedes teammate George Russell is second on 88 points, 43 behind, after retiring from the Canadian Grand Prix with a power unit failure while running in the podium places. The gap between the two Mercedes drivers has widened at every round so far, and Antonelli’s average qualifying position of 1.4 across five races puts him in the kind of form that makes a street circuit even more dangerous to his rivals. At Monaco, pole position converts to a race win more often than at any other track on the calendar.

Tyre Strategy: Why Monaco Is Traditionally A One-Stop Race
Pirelli has selected the softest available tyre range for Monaco: C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), and C5 (Soft). The soft compound range is chosen to ensure maximum grip on the smooth asphalt surface, where traction out of the tight, low-speed corners is the primary demand on the rubber.
In 2025, the FIA introduced an experimental rule requiring drivers to use at least three different sets of tyres during the race, forcing a minimum of two pit stops. That regulation has been abandoned for 2026, and the classic single-stop format returns. Most teams are expected to start on the Soft and switch to the Medium or Hard for a long second stint, though the exact pit window depends heavily on safety car timing.

Straight Mode Dropped For The First Time In 2026
The 2026 regulations introduced active aerodynamics across Formula 1, with adjustable front and rear wing elements that switch into a low-drag configuration on designated straights. Monaco is the first race of the season where Straight Mode has been dropped entirely. The FIA requires each activation zone to last a minimum of three seconds, and none of Monaco’s straights are long enough to meet that threshold. Even the pit straight, which previously carried the circuit’s only DRS zone, falls short at 2026 speeds.
Overtake Mode remains available. The detection point sits before La Rascasse at Turn 18, with activation on the exit of Antony Noghes, the circuit’s final corner. Overtake Mode provides a following driver with an electrical power boost rather than an aerodynamic advantage…

‘Fast Facts’;

https://f1chronicle.com/2026-monaco-.../?nowprocket=1


IRON MAN 2, OCEAN’S TWELVE AND BAD BUNNY – 9 TIMES FILM, TV AND MUSIC FEATURES RACING AT MONACO
The glitz and glamour of Monaco make it the perfect place for films, TV and music
4 Jun 2026
Formula One - Official Site

IRON MAN 2: Tony Stark’s appearance at the Monaco Historic Grand Prix in Iron Man 2 is one of the most memorable fictional race weekend cameos in cinema history.
OCEAN’S TWELVE: Released in 2004, Ocean’s Twelve brought its star-studded cast to Monaco for the movie’s highly anticipated sequel – and the Casino de Monte-Carlo, one of the most iconic landmarks on the F1 circuit, took centre stage.

MONACO, BAD BUNNY: His 2023 hit MONACO cemented Bad Bunny’s status as one of F1’s most high-profile fans.
GOLDENEYE, JAMES BOND: There are few locations that suit a James Bond epic quite like Monaco does – and in GoldenEye, released in 1995, the Principality provided the backdrop for one of the franchise’s most memorable opening sequences of all time.
UPCOMING OCEAN’S PREQUEL: Monaco and the Ocean’s franchise have something of a history – and it seems the allure of the Principality is showing no signs of fading. With another Ocean’s instalment on the horizon, Monaco is once again set to take centre stage on the big screen.

GRAND PRIX: Before F1 The Movie, there was Grand Prix. Released in 1966, the Formula 1 drama is now a cult classic, following four fictional drivers through a dramatized version of the 1966 season.
WEEKEND OF A CHAMPION: Released in 1972, Weekend of a Champion is unlike almost any other motorsport film ever made. Following three-time World Champion Jackie Stewart during the 1971 Monaco Grand Prix weekend

‘Glitz and glamour of Monaco’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...W64xpO4uV7072E

[Fortitude]

F1 – Leclerc quickest in opening practice for Monaco Grand Prix as red flags interrupt session.
Charles Leclerc set the pace in opening practice for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, with the Monegasque posting a lap of 1:13.978 to top the timesheet 0.226s clear ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton…
05.06.26
FIA (Press Release)

Homer hero Leclerc looked quick from the off, despite an early scare when he locked up on Hard tyres and ran into the escape road at Turn 5. The opening phase of the session was busy, with traffic immediately becoming a factor on the shortest layout of the season. Haas pair Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman were among those caught out as drivers struggled to find clear air, but Ferrari soon moved to the top of the order, Leclerc posting a 1:14.928 to lead Hamilton by 0.182s.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli was third at that stage for Mercedes, 0.508s off the pace, while Verstappen reported that his tyres were “dead” as he sat almost nine tenths off the pace. As the session reached half distance, several teams switched to Medium tyres and lap times began to fall. Antonelli was the first to dislodge Leclerc, improving to 1:14.537, with Mercedes team-mate George Russell moving up to third. Ferrari, however, remained in the garage as work continued on both cars, before the session was halted with 25 minutes remaining.

The red flag was triggered by Isack Hadjar, who lost control of his RB22 through the Turn 15-16 chicane, bouncing over the kerbs and into the barrier. Running resumed with 15 minutes to go, and Ferrari returned on Medium tyres. Hamilton briefly went fastest with a 1:14.204, but Leclerc responded moments later to become the first driver into the 1:13s, sealing top spot with a 1:13.978. A second late stoppage followed when Fernando Alonso struck the barrier at the chicane, leaving debris from his Aston Martin on track and effectively ending the session.

‘Red flags interrupt session’;

https://www.fia.com/news/f1-leclerc-...errupt-session


Monaco GP: Free Practice 1 Results
Full results from Free Practice 1 for the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix.
5 Jun 2026
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

Results: Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, Free Practice 1
Buy tickets to the 2026 betr Darwin Triple Crown. Click here
Pos. No. Driver Team Time / Gap Laps
1 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:13.978 31
2 44 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.226s 28
3 3 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.513s 26
4 12 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.559s 31
5 63 George Russell Mercedes +1.005s 29
6 1 Lando Norris McLaren +1.313s 27
7 27 Nico Hulkenberg Audi +1.365s 27
8 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren +1.587s 29
9 5 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi +1.772s 31
10 10 Pierre Gasly Alpine +1.850s 32

‘Free Practice 1 Results’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2026-m...1-fp1-results/


Leclerc beats Hamilton as Ferrari shine in Monaco F1 practice
Monte Carlo (Principality of Monaco) (AFP) – Charles Leclerc made local knowledge pay on Friday when he topped the times for Ferrari in opening practice for his home Monaco Formula One Grand Prix ahead of team-mate seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.
05/06/2026
France 24

The two Ferraris were half a second faster than third-placed four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull ahead of the Mercedes duo of championship leading Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. World champion Lando Norris was sixth for McLaren, without troubling the leading pace-setters, ahead of Audi's Nico Hulkenberg, Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren –- on a weekend when the team is celebrating its 1000th Grand Prix -- and Gabriel Bortoleto in the second Audi.

Pierre Gasly was 10th for Alpine in an interesting session interrupted by two red flags as the drivers familiarised themselves with the singular challenges of driving F1's new hybrid era cars on the classic barrier-lined Mediterranean street circuit. It was a near-perfect start to the weekend for Ferrari and Leclerc, who became only the second Monegasque to win his home event when he triumphed in 2024, justifying expectations this time that they were favourites to break a long winless run since Mexico two years ago.

The session began in bright sunshine with home hero Leclerc out early only to lock up and run off on his first lap, recovering to pursue his team-mate's early fastest lap on the 'green' track following overnight rain. Most teams had fitted unique Monaco-only rear wings or 'winglets' to boost downforce on the tight, twisting and unforgiving street circuit, but it was Ferrari who set the pace, endorsed when Leclerc finally delivered a clear lap to overhaul Hamilton.

‘Ferrari shine’;

https://www.france24.com/en/live-new...co-f1-practice


Big Hadjar crash as Ferrari leads Monaco GP practice
5 Jun 2026
JACK COZENS
The Race

Ferrari secured a 1-2 in first practice for the Monaco Grand Prix, a session that was twice interrupted by red flags including for a sizeable shunt for Red Bull Formula 1 driver Isack Hadjar. It was home favourite Charles Leclerc who led the way, with his 1m13.978s on mediums - which was two seconds slower than his benchmark from FP1 in 2025 - leaving him two tenths clear of Lewis Hamilton. Max Verstappen was third, half a second off in his RB22.

But it was the other Red Bull driver who was responsible for the session's biggest talking point with just under 25 minutes left in the hour-long session. Moments after defending F1 champion Lando Norris had a significant slide in the middle of the swimming pool chicane, Hadjar had an even bigger oversteer moment and lost the rear of his car. That sent him nose-first into the outside wall, with the impact also ripping the left-rear wheel off his car. Hadjar reported he was OK to his team but added: "I don't understand why it snapped like that. I'm sorry."

It was after his crash, in the final 15 minutes of the session, that most drivers set their best times - though that wasn't the case for Mercedes duo Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, who ended up fourth and fifth fastest. Championship leader Antonelli did spend a spell at the top of the times after switching to the medium tyre and again looked more comfortable than team-mate Russell; though they were next to each other in the final classification, they were separated by four and a half tenths.

‘Hadjar had an even bigger oversteer moment’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/b...o-gp-practice/


Tensions flare between Haas teammates in Monaco GP FP1: 'What an idiot!'
5 Jun 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

FP1 in Monaco also featured a minor misunderstanding within the Haas camp. Esteban Ocon voiced his frustration over an incident involving Oliver Bearman in traffic, prompting a response from the young Briton over team radio as the two teammates found themselves at the centre of a brief exchange during the session.

The Frenchman found himself stuck behind his teammate through the Swimming Pool section and immediately voiced his frustration over team radio, complaining: "He doesn't have to **** my laps twice as well, you know!" To Ocon's complaints, the Briton responded over team radio, clearly frustrated by the incident, saying: "What an idiot, man... That was so stupid from Esteban!"

‘Tensions flare’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/tensi...-what-an-idiot


FP1 Report: What Happened in First Practice at the Monaco GP
Charles Leclerc led a Ferrari one-two in first practice for the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, as late red flags disrupted a messy opening session
5 June 2026
John Smith
Total Motorsport

Charles Leclerc gave the home crowd exactly what it wanted in first practice for the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, putting Ferrari on top as the Scuderia made an impressive start to the Formula 1 weekend in Monte Carlo. Leclerc set a 1m 13.978s to lead the session, finishing 0.226 seconds clear of team-mate Lewis Hamilton as Ferrari completed a one-two on the streets of the Principality.

Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull, 0.513 seconds off Leclerc, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli fourth for Mercedes after looking comfortable throughout the session. George Russell completed the top five ahead of Lando Norris, Nico Hulkenberg, Oscar Piastri, Gabriel Bortoleto and Pierre Gasly.

Leclerc had already looked confident early in the session, which was no surprise given his record around his home streets. The Ferrari driver won in Monaco in 2024 and finished second in 2025, and he quickly appeared willing to attack the barriers again in FP1. There were reminders of the risks, though. Leclerc clipped the barrier at the Swimming Pool section earlier in the session and later locked up at Antony Noghes, running over the apex before continuing. But when he put his best lap together, Leclerc found enough time to move clear of the field.

‘Ferrari one-two’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/fp1...p-2026-report/