Formula 1: Articles & News Reports.

[Fortitude]

"He’s going to win at anything he does" F1 champion hails Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari progress.
Lewis Hamilton's fortunes at Ferrari have improved greatly during the 2026 F1 season.
6 Aug 2026
Ian Mangan
Crash.Net

Former F1 world champion Damon Hill has heaped praise on Lewis Hamilton for his dramatic turnaround in form this year. …a complete u-turn in performance, securing a dominant victory in Barcelona, and four other podium finishes. As he sits second in the standings heading into the summer break, 1996 world champion Damon Hill praised Hamilton for using his 'power' in the sport to help bring Ferrari back to winning ways.

"Cream always rises to the top, doesn’t it?." Hill told F1.com. "He’s going to win at anything he does. I don’t think it sits easily with him to back off. He’s been working hard over the winter, clearly, and he’s worked on how he wants the Ferrari to be for him.”

"They signed him, they paid a lot of money to have him, so he’s saying, ‘Okay, I’m not going to just sit here and do what you do.' 'I’m going to tell you what I do, and you’re going to make it suit me’. The power he has, the reputation he has, he’s putting to work, to protect himself. He’s right to do that."

"He’s going to win at anything he does";

"He’s going to win at anything he does" F1 champion hails Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari progress

Lewis Hamilton's fortunes at Ferrari have improved greatly during the 2026 F1 season

www.crash.net

Lewis Hamilton labelled greatest threat to Mercedes F1 title
Lewis Hamilton has not been involved in an F1 title fight since 2021 - could that be about to change?
1 August 2026
Fergal Walsh & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Kimi Antonelli has enjoyed a stellar first half to the 2026 season, building a 50-point lead at the top of the drivers' standings. But F1 fans believe Lewis Hamilton is the man most likely to reel the 19-year-old in.

Who is Kimi Antonelli's biggest threat for the F1 title?
Lewis Hamilton labelled greatest threat to Mercedes F1 title
Option %
Lewis Hamilton 63.18%
George Russell 13.39%
Lando Norris 10.88%
Max Verstappen 10.04%
Someone else 1.67%
Charles Leclerc 0.84%

‘Lewis Hamilton labelled greatest threat’;

Lewis Hamilton labelled greatest threat to Mercedes F1 title

Lewis Hamilton has not been involved in an F1 title fight since 2021 - could that be about to change?

racingnews365.com

Ferrari question asked in Lewis Hamilton v Kimi Antonelli title debate
3 Aug 2026
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com

Ferrari’s ability to give its drivers regular chances at race victories has been questioned in a debate about whether Lewis Hamilton can challenge Kimi Antonelli. Asked about Hamilton’s ability to challenge Antonelli, who is 50 points ahead of the seven-time World Champion, Sky Sports F1’s lead commentator David Croft suggested that would be determined by the team more than the driver.

“I hope so,” he said. “It’s the hope I think that keeps Ferrari fans going. It’s the hope that probably gets you in the end as well, but I want to see them have that ability. But I’m sorry, it’s not about whether they’ve got a car or not. It’s whether they’ve actually got the ability to hook up.”

“If a driver for qualifying has to hook up three perfect sectors, can Ferrari hook up three perfect pit stops during the course of a race and actually have a strategy that gives both of their drivers a chance to win a little more regularly than they do.”

“The ability to hook up”;

Lewis Hamilton v Kimi Antonelli debated in F1 title question

Lewis Hamilton looks the most likely contender to Kimi Antonelli but can Ferrari provide him with a car to compete?

www.planetf1.com

F1 legend on Lewis Hamilton's 2026 boost “hardly anyone talks about”
Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence with Ferrari in 2026 is down to one key factor, according to a former world champion
4 Aug 2026
Lewis Duncan
Crash.Net

Emerson Fittipaldi, who won the F1 world title in 1972 and 1974, believes the 2026 cars being harder to drive because they have less downforce has helped Hamilton showcase his talent more. “One thing hardly anyone talks about much is the new car,” Fittipaldi told the official F1 website. “It’s smaller, and you have to make do with less downforce, and in my view that makes the job behind the wheel more difficult; it’s become harder to be fast.”

“That’s why I think it brings out the talent more. And I think that’s one of the reasons Lewis has been able to improve. He has a good feel for the car, and he’s in control of it because he’s an extremely talented driver. What’s more, this is his second year with Ferrari; he knows the engineers, and he’s now familiar with the system too.”

Fittipaldi added: “I was very happy when I saw just how fast Lewis and Ferrari are. I can still remember last year very well. The same thing happened to me in the IndyCar Series and in Formula 1. As you get older, people say you can’t drive anymore, and last year Lewis came in for criticism from all sides. But now he’s fast again, and I think that’s good for the sport and the fans. It’s fantastic to see Ferrari and Lewis winning again.”

‘Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence’;

F1 legend on Lewis Hamilton's 2026 boost “hardly anyone talks about”

Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence with Ferrari in 2026 is down to one key factor, according to a former world champion

www.crash.net

Fred Vasseur identifies 'most important thing' for Ferrari F1 title fight
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has pinpointed where the Scuderia must remain competitive over the second half of the F1 season.
3 August 2026
Samuel Coop & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

"The first part of the season was, I would say, probably in two stages," Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur said. "The first one was until Spain, when Mercedes was flying; they scored something like 100 points more than us in four or five events. After Spain, when we came back, we scored more points than Mercedes over the next four or five races."

The challenge now is maintaining that development rate across the second half of the season, particularly with Mercedes openly stating that its upgrade programme is "second-half weighted" and that a significant package is planned for immediately after the summer shutdown. "For sure, each time they bring something, they are making a huge step, but we have a different approach, trying to bring parts every single race, and we have to keep this momentum because it's still 11 or 12 races to go... and we have room for improvement on the chassis everywhere, and we have to keep this pace."

"Where we have to improve is... if I draw a conclusion based on the Hungarian Grand Prix, I would say execution, but execution so far was probably a good [aspect] for us from the beginning of the season," he added. "We know that we have to improve on the engine side, and we will do it, even if the inertia on the engine is much higher than on the chassis. The most important thing would be to be able to keep the pace on the development."

'Most important thing';

Fred Vasseur identifies 'most important thing' for Ferrari F1 title fight

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has pinpointed where the Scuderia must remain competitive over the second half of the F1 season.

racingnews365.com

Hamilton addresses Ferrari Madring run as McLaren questions ‘advantage’
6 Aug 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc played down the meaningfulness of their Madring laps during a Ferrari filming day. This comes after McLaren principal Andrea Stella said his team were “surprised” by Ferrari’s visit to the venue, McLaren having not been notified. Stella had suggested that a “little bit of an advantage” was possibly gained by Ferrari, though what the Scuderia did was very much within the regulations.

Using demo tyres on a track still surrounded by a construction site, Hamilton inferred that Ferrari did little representative running at the Madring. “We only had a few laps,” Hamilton told PlanetF1.com and others. “It was very, very dusty, as you would expect for a new circuit, and there was no grip. Your tyres were basically just covered in dust the whole time. The track was like 60 degrees [Celsius] or something like that, so it looks like it’ll be probably a qualifying lap sort of circuit, and there’s not really any straights. So it looks like it could be quite a difficult place to overtake.”

One specific section of the Madring attracting attention is the banked Turn 12, known as La Monumental. It will be the longest curved section on the Formula 1 calendar. Hamilton was asked whether there is any prospect of drivers taking La Monumental flat out. “I don’t know. I’m sure when the grip kicks up, when the track is clean, it’ll be even faster. We definitely had to lift through there because it was, as I said, super slippery. But it was a pretty cool experience to see a new circuit. We were one of the first basically to experience a new circuit.”

‘McLaren having not been notified’;

What Lewis Hamilton said about Ferrari Madring run amid McLaren scrutiny

Should Ferrari have been allowed that Madring run?

www.planetf1.com

 

[Fortitude]

McLaren owns up to paying ‘heavy price’ in 2026 for 2025 F1 successes
7 Aug 2026
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has conceded that the team has paid “a heavy price” in Formula 1 this season chasing the championship in 2025. “I believe the most important lesson we’ve taken away from these seven months of hard work is that, in times of great difficulty, unity is strength,” Stella reflected in a McLaren Q&A.

“We’ve demonstrated, first and foremost to ourselves, just how crucial team cohesion is to bouncing back and getting back on track towards the top. After three years of steady progress that saw us win three out of four world titles between 2024 and 2025, the start of this season has been a real reset.”

“Not only because the rule changes were probably the most significant ever in the history of this sport, but above all because we realised just how heavy a price we had paid for the effort we put in during 2025 to secure the world double.”

‘Heavy price’;

McLaren owns up to paying ‘heavy price’ in 2026 for 2025 F1 successes

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has conceded that the team has paid "a heavy price" in Formula 1 this season

www.motorsportweek.com

Stella reveals McLaren’s biggest 2026 lesson after Norris’ Hungary victory
8 Aug 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

With his team still savouring the success of Lando Norris’ Hungarian Grand Prix victory, Andrea Stella has identified what he believes is the biggest lesson McLaren have learned from the 2026 campaign so far. “I believe the most important lesson we’ve taken away from these seven months of hard work is that, in times of great difficulty, unity is strength. We’ve demonstrated, first and foremost to ourselves, just how crucial team cohesion is to bouncing back and getting back on track towards the top,” Stella explained.

“After three years of steady progress that saw us win three out of four world titles between 2024 and 2025, the start of this season has been a real reset. Not only because the rule changes were probably the most significant ever in the history of this sport, but above all because we realised just how heavy a price we had paid for the effort we put in during 2025 to secure the world double,” he added.

We could have fallen apart; we could have found excuses for not being able to start the championship as we’d finished the previous one, but that wasn’t the case. We tried to understand the technical and strategic reasons, and we focused our efforts. And that makes me truly proud of this team,” Stella concluded.

‘Biggest 2026 lesson’;

'We could have fallen apart’: Andrea Stella reveals McLaren’s 2026 biggest lesson

Andrea Stella says unity and resilience drove McLaren’s 2026 recovery after a tough start, capping it with Norris’s Hungary win as they chase the Constructors’ title

www.gpblog.com

McLaren boss glad of 'harmony' between F1 teammates Norris and Piastri
07/08/2026
France 24

McLaren have been off the pace so far under new regulations for the 2026 season, with Mercedes leading the way from Ferrari. But Stella has been pleased by the professionalism of his drivers.

"It wasn't a given that, after last year –- when they found themselves battling for the world title right up to the final race -– the harmony they'd built would remain intact: yet not only has this not changed, but the relationship between them and with the team has actually become even stronger," team principal Stella said in a McLaren Q&A.

"And whilst this might, in a sense, have been expected of Lando –- given that he was ultimately the one to become champion –- it was not quite so predictable for Oscar, who, instead, has relied even more heavily on the team to accelerate his development, both on and off the track."

'Harmony';

McLaren boss glad of 'harmony' between F1 teammates Norris and Piastri

McLaren boss Andrea Stella is proud of the way Formula One world champion Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri have conducted themselves following last season's battle for the drivers' championship.

www.france24.com

‘Really hurt him’: McLaren warning as Oscar Piastri cops tough reality check
7th August 2026
Fox Sports (Australia)

Oscar Piastri’s 2026 campaign is on the brink of a full-blown crisis, with McLaren under mounting pressure to anoint Lando Norris as the team’s clear No.1 driver — and speculation growing that a Red Bull lifeline could be the Aussie’s ticket out. Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft has delivered a brutal verdict that Piastri simply hasn’t had the pace to match his British teammate all season — and that McLaren can no longer afford to sit on the fence.

Speaking on the latest episode of The Sky Sports F1 Show, Croft said Piastri had “consistently” lacked the speed to match Norris — not just in Budapest but throughout 2026. “I thought his move at turn 2 (in Hungary) was exactly the sort of move we expect from Oscar Piastri,” Croft said. “You know, he is a fine, fine driver. But in 2026, he finds himself not having the pace of his teammate, and not just in Budapest, but I think consistently, over race weekends, he hasn’t had as much pace as Lando.”

“You know, McLaren have got to give both drivers as big a chance as they can to do as well as they can, but they can’t ignore the fact that one driver is going to go on and win the race, and the other’s going to come under pressure if they keep him out in front. But Oscar’s got to find a way to match Lando’s pace. And if he can’t, then I think McLaren, with Mercedes as fragile as they are, and Ferrari’s strategy as fragile as it is, McLaren have got to find every way to maximise every advantage.”

‘Full-blown crisis’;

‘Really hurt him’: McLaren warning as Oscar Piastri cops tough reality check

‘It sucks’: Brutal Piastri reality as McLaren faces brutal choice

www.foxsports.com.au

Smedley fires back at Norris critics: ‘He’s the real deal’
07/08/2026
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast, Smedley argued that Norris continues to carry an unfair reputation within parts of the paddock. “When you wander around the paddock, and you chat to people, I think that he gets a bit of a bad rap,” Smedley said.

“It’s always like, ‘Oh, Lando had this amazing junior career and therefore…’ and he did. Amazing in terms of how well-funded his junior career was. I think he had everything. But he still arrived here now, and he still has to do the business.”

There are plenty of drivers who have had more money spent on their junior career than Lando Norris and haven’t been able to deliver in Formula 1,” he said. In Smedley’s view, the criticism rarely comes from those who actually understand the sport. “I think team insiders who know how hard this sport is and know what Lando Norris does on a week-to-week basis, I don’t think anyone has anything but praise,” he continued.

‘He’s the real deal’;

Smedley fires back at Norris critics: ‘He’s the real deal’

Lando Norris may be F1’s reigning world champion, but Rob Smedley believes the McLaren driver is still being judged through a distorted lens.

f1i.com

McLaren teases next ‘substantial’ upgrades after Hungarian GP success
6 Aug 2026
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

McLaren expects to continue upgrading the MCL40 after the summer break, with technical director for applied engineering Neil Houldey revealing a potentially significant package is targeted for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. “At the moment, we’ve got smaller upgrades arriving at the next sequence of events, and then potentially something more substantial for Baku,” Houldey told a McLaren Q&A.

“After that, it really will depend on whether we find something substantial in aero after the summer break, and whether we think there’s value in doing an end-of-season package or fully switch to next year’s car. It’s an open point at the moment,” he replied. “We’ll be looking at where we are, where our competitors are, and where we see the opportunities.”

“I think there’s a good chance we’ll have upgrades beyond Baku that can dig more performance out of this car, without impacting 2027. It’ll be things like I just mentioned, that can be bolted-on, or bonded-on, rather than the big, wholesale bodywork upgrades, but still areas in which there’s good performance opportunities there for the taking.”

‘Significant package is targeted for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix’;

McLaren hints at further 'significant' updates after Hungary success

Will McLaren force its way into battling Mercedes and Ferrari?

www.planetf1.com

 

[Fortitude]

Red Bull chief explains “limitations” of its 2026 F1 car.
Red Bull has had a challenging 2026 F1 season so far with its new car
5 Aug 2026
Lewis Duncan
Crash.Net

Red Bull’s Formula 1 technical director Pierre Wache has revealed the “limitations” in the team’s 2026 package it is currently having to manage. The Milton Keynes-based outfit hit the ground running in the previous ground effect generation of cars, with Max Verstappen winning the F1 title in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

But Red Bull hasn’t been able to replicate that at the start of the current regulations cycle, with the team trying to develop its way back to the front while also learning a Ford power unit. “I think, as with every racing car, you see some limitations in how the driver can use the car and the load of it,” Pierre Wache explained. “The characteristics limit what you can do in terms of balance and trying to rebalance the car.”

“Clearly, we have some limitations, like every racing car, in terms of stability on entry and mid-corner understeer, and we try to avoid those aspects by using some mechanical tools to achieve it. On your second question, regarding the issue with the car at the beginning, clearly we were missing some load compared to some others.”

“Limitations”;

Red Bull chief explains “limitations” of its 2026 F1 car

Red Bull has had a challenging 2026 F1 season so far with its new car

www.crash.net

Red Bull confirms reduced upgrades after ‘large deficit’ admission
5 Aug 2026
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has conceded the team may not upgrade the RB22 much more after bringing an unusually high number of upgrades so far this season. Red Bull has already introduced 36 changes to the car it started the season with as it looked to quickly correct issues hampering its competitiveness.

“I mean I don’t know for the other guys [but] what is sure is that at some stage we need to make a call on the balance between this year and next year,” he said after the most recent race in Hungary. “I expect that to happen earlier than what we have done last year especially as regulations are what they are, so we will decide.”

“But but as far as we are concerned, you know, we have brought a huge amount of development to the car between race one and here, in order to try to correct as soon as possible the large deficit we had initially. It’s probably difficult to imagine that we will continue that rhythm, but we nonetheless need to see what is the best way to try and approach these last weekends.”

‘May not upgrade the RB22 much more’;

Red Bull facing cost cap challenge after 'large deficit' admission

Red Bull could soon stop upgrading its car after putting more resources into the early part of the season.

www.planetf1.com

Max Verstappen Red Bull criticism: World champion told to defend team.
6 Aug 2026
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen’s furious radio complaints that his Red Bull RB22 was “completely ****ed” have drawn criticism from one of his staunchest supporters, Christijan Albers. The former F1 driver turned commentator believes Verstappen should be defending Red Bull, not publicly criticising his team even in the heat of the moment. “The car is completely ****ed,” declared Max Verstappen over the team radio.

Despite his complaints about his RB22, Verstappen raced from fourth on the grid to second at the chequered flag to record his fourth podium of the season. “I don’t know the hell we got second today,” he told Red Bull over the team radio. “It is unbelievable.”

Verstappen later told the media, including PlanetF1.com: “I was just like, ‘How the hell did I end up here?’ That was it for me. I was shocked. I’m actually still shocked.” He added: “We need to first find more overall performance. Then we need to fix our problems, where we sometimes just lose performance over a weekend, or even from the start of the race to the end. So, yeah, that is also actually a big priority.”

‘Told to defend team’;

Even Max Verstappen's biggest supporter thinks he has gone too far with Red Bull

Honest or too critical?

www.planetf1.com

Verstappen urged to remain at Red Bull despite key departures: 'You’re in the right place'
5 Aug 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes Max Verstappen has no intention of leaving Red Bull, despite the team losing several key figures in recent years who played a major role in building its success before moving elsewhere. Speaking to F1, the ex Colombian driver dismissed the idea that Verstappen is looking to leave Red Bull, arguing that the Dutchman remains at one of Formula 1's strongest teams despite several key departures in recent years.

“I don’t think Max wants to leave Red Bull. You’re in one of the best F1 teams, probably the best team in the last 20 years, with Mercedes. You’re in the right place. Yes, it’s changed because a lot of people have left, but they’re still performing. Last year, they nearly came back and won the championship. I think he wants to see that from the team, and it’s just about putting pressure on them.”

'You’re in the right place';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verstappen-backed-to-remain-at-red-bull-despite-key-departures-youre-in-the-right-place

Ecclestone: Max Verstappen the ‘real reason’ for F1 Dutch GP return
5 Aug 2026
Eleanor Cooper
Motorsport Week

Several industry figures have credited the return of the Dutch GP to the growing popularity of home hero Verstappen, with Dutch fans eager to see their countryman in the midst of a close-knit title fight. “The real reason is Max,” said Ecclestone. “Without Max, it wouldn’t have happened. There are many things that can make something special.”
“He makes that race special because he’s pretty special himself. It brought some glamour to that track. At least, that’s how it seemed.” Robert van Overdijk, director of Circuit Zandvoort, echoed the sentiment, stating that the Dutch GP would’ve almost certainly not returned had it not been for Verstappen.

“As far as timing goes, everything fell into place,” he said. “It all starts with the fact that you have a hero. Everything can be traced back to that. If that rising hero hadn’t been there, we would never have sat down at the table with Formula 1.”

‘Max Verstappen the real reason’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/08/05/max-verstappen-f1-dutch-gp-return/

Max Verstappen sheds light on career-altering F1 decision
The four-time world champion has big plans.
8 Aug 2026
Kedar Bayley
SPORTbible

Max Verstappen has offered further insight into the future of his Formula 1 career with 'Verstappen Racing'. Speaking to Formule 1 Magazine, Verstappen said: "[Verstappen Racing is] not going to compete just because it’s fun to race. We want to be at the front, win races, and, at the very least, consistently compete at the front... nothing more, nothing less.

"It's definitely the goal to expand the racing team further. Specifically toward endurance racing, not toward Formula 1 or anything like that," continued the Dutchman. Verstappen, who has exhibited interest in races beyond solely the format of those which have made him a driving icon, denied outright that his racing squad will join the F1 grid.

“No... that’s way too demanding,” said the 28-year-old. “Then I’d still be on the road for 24 races a year or very busy with my own racing team.

‘Career-altering F1 decision’;

Max Verstappen sheds light on career-altering F1 decision

The four-time Formula 1 champion has big plans.

www.sportbible.com

 

[Fortitude]

Former IndyCar driver makes bold Racing Bulls 2026 F1 prediction.
Former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe anticipates that Racing Bulls will achieve a podium during the 2026 Formula 1 season.
5 Aug 2026
Eleanor Cooper
Motorsport Week

Asked by F1 to issue a bold prediction for the remaining races after the summer break, Hinchcliffe, who raced in IndyCar between 2011 and 2021, suggested the Red Bull sister team will make it into the top three, but hesitated to predict which driver would achieve it.

“Not unlike how [Isack] Hadjar pulled one off last season for the Faenza squad, I feel there is a chance for one this season with how well that team have developed and how strong both drivers are at the moment,” he said. “I’m not going to say which one I think could be the more likely candidate, simply because I don’t know.”

“Both are delivering at a very high level throughout the weekends, and if things fall just right – maybe in our first rain-affected race of the year – it wouldn’t surprise me if either [Liam] Lawson or [Arvid] Lindblad were there to capitalise.”

‘Bold Racing Bulls 2026 F1 prediction’;

Former IndyCar driver makes bold Racing Bulls 2026 F1 prediction

Former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe anticipates that Racing Bulls will achieve a podium during the 2026 Formula 1 season. Asked

www.motorsportweek.com

Liam Lawson makes 'by far the strongest' claim over vital Racing Bulls strength
Liam Lawson has been quick to point out one area where Racing Bulls has never been more formidable.
4 August 2026
Samuel Coop & Pepijn van der Hulst
RacingNews365

Liam Lawson has hailed Racing Bulls' development programme as "by far the strongest" he has seen during his time with the team, with the Faenza-based outfit punching well above its weight through the first half of the F1 season.

"On the development side, by far the strongest," Lawson told media, including RacingNews365. "So far, I think everything we've been bringing has been working very, very well. And that's something that is hard in Formula 1. Obviously, you have upgrades that are run through simulations and theoretically can be better, but they're not always exactly what they seem."

"So for us, it's been really good, and I think we've got very strong at really maximising our package each weekend as well; starting a lot closer to our qualifying setups and having quite an aggressive car," he added. "But for us, it's been good to drive. So I've been very, very happy with that."

‘More formidable’;

Liam Lawson makes 'by far the strongest' claim over vital Racing Bulls strength

Liam Lawson has been quick to point out one area where Racing Bulls has never been more formidable.

racingnews365.com

Arvid Lindblad gives Racing Bulls rallying cry in F1 constructors’ fight
Arvid Lindblad has demanded that Racing Bulls presses home its advantage over Alpine
10 August 2026
Sam Hall
Crash.Net

Arvid Lindblad has urged Racing Bulls to 'keep doing what we're doing' and not throttle back in its Formula 1 constructors' championship battle with Alpine. "We're fighting Alpine and we're seven-eight tenths quicker in quali," he said. "I don't think it's really about hanging on.”

“I think it's about continuing to focus on ourselves and bring updates, which I know the team has got good stuff coming. So I really don't think the mindset's hanging on, it's about pushing on. We're doing a really good job. The team has brought really good stuff. They're performing really well."

"So it's about more of the same and keeping doing what we're doing, because the momentum we've got and the look at our trajectory of points in the last six races, seven races, it's impressive."

'Keep doing what we're doing';

Arvid Lindblad gives Racing Bulls rallying cry in F1 constructors’ fight

Arvid Lindblad has demanded that Racing Bulls presses home its advantage over Alpine

www.crash.net

Liam Lawson relieved that ‘results have been good’ a year on from Red Bull firing
8 Aug 2026
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

Reflecting on 2026, Liam Lawson highlighted the need to find rhythm and routine, factors that have only come into play this season after driving for two teams last season. “When you’re in a good rhythm and you find things that are working for you, it’s obviously a good feeling,” he said to F1.

“And getting in a routine of doing that has been something that, especially during the European part, we’ve had less travel and spent a bit more time at home. It’s been a good opportunity to just focus a little bit more on myself as a driver and as an athlete, so I’ve just tried to do that.”

“Also on the development side of the team, making sure that we’re prepared each weekend – not just having more meetings, but having effective meetings and discussions about what we’re trying to achieve. I think that’s been working very well.”

‘Rhythm and routine’;

Liam Lawson relieved that ‘results have been good’ a year on from Red Bull firing

Liam Lawson has reflected on a positive first half of the 2026 Formula 1 season, which is in stark contrast

www.motorsportweek.com

Lawson opens up on progress fueling standout F1 campaign
08/08/2026
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Racing Bulls’ rise to fifth in the constructors’ standings has mirrored his own progress. “Naturally, the more experience you have, it’s going to be like that. Obviously the results have been better this year and so that’s going to make you feel in a good place,” Lawson told F1.com. “It’s development we’re doing behind the scenes. It’s obviously on a personal level, having more experience, understanding that a race is long and not won in the first corner. I think there are a lot of things that contribute to that.”

The season did not begin with such confidence. Like many teams adapting to Formula 1’s new regulations, Racing Bulls initially struggled to understand its VCARB 03. “The car was difficult at the start of the year so I definitely wasn’t confident about how the year would go, but just very focused on trying to make sure I had a good understanding of the new regulations and how to extract everything out of them,” Lawson admitted. “And then we very quickly found a lot of performance out of the car, and that’s been really working.”

‘Standout F1 campaign’;

Lawson opens up on progress fueling standout F1 campaign

Liam Lawson believes his impressive 2026 campaign is the product of both personal growth and a Racing Bulls team that has found its rhythm.

f1i.com

Liam Lawson praised amid F1 future speculation: 'A big boost in his career'
Liam Lawson has enjoyed a strong boost in form this year at Racing Bulls, but it might not be enough to secure his future.
10 August 2026
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365

“By this point last year Liam Lawson was only just finding his footing again after his Red Bull to Racing Bulls seat swap, and even then was finding it tough to match highly-rated rookie team-mate Isack Hadjar,” former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe told F1. “Given that comparison, some were thinking that maybe his place in F1 altogether was at risk for 2026.”

“But a new year, a new car and a new team-mate have given Lawson a new lease on life and a big boost in his career.” Despite his performances, Lawson's seat for 2027 is not yet certain amid speculation that Nikola Tsolov could be handed a promotion to F1. Nevertheless, Hinchcliffe asserted Lawson can be “proud” of his displays so far.

“Once again teamed with a highly rated rookie (and Arvid Lindblad does deserve an honourable mention in this piece for the year he is having), Lawson has stepped up and helped lead the team past Alpine and into fifth in the teams' championship battle… And there are no signs he is letting up any time soon.”

'A big boost in his career';

Liam Lawson praised amid F1 future speculation: 'A big boost in his career'

Liam Lawson has enjoyed a strong boost in form this year at Racing Bulls, but it might not be enough to secure his future.

racingnews365.com

 

[Fortitude]

Briatore questions Alpine’s results: ‘Why are we not winning?’
Flavio Briatore is not a man accustomed to standing on the sidelines of victory, nor is he content with mid-pack mediocrity.
05/08/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

The flamboyant Italian executive advisor to Alpine F1 has made a career out of disruption, trophies, and swagger, and he views Enstone not as a rebuilding project, but as a sleeping powerhouse that simply needs to wake up and seize its former glory. "We have everything to win," Briatore insisted. "Because, you know, the agreement we've done with Mercedes is a super agreement, because we picked up the right partner. And we're investing in CapEx a lot of money in the factory.”

"We have everything. We need to put the pieces together. To put the pieces together, you need to be a little bit more creative than what we are now, take more risk than what we take now. But I'm sure this team, I don't know why we're not winning. I don't know why we don't beat McLaren. I don't know why we don't beat Ferrari."

Reminding everyone of Enstone’s rich championship legacy, Briatore emphasized that the mindset needs to match the historical success. "We've done it before,” he said. “It's only a question to believe what you're doing, you know? It's a question to compete with these people."

‘Why are we not winning?’

Briatore questions Alpine’s results: ‘Why are we not winning?’

Flavio Briatore is not a man accustomed to standing on the sidelines of victory, nor is he content with mid-pack mediocrity.

f1i.com

Flavio Briatore questions why Alpine trail McLaren and Ferrari
7 Aug 2026
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Flavio Briatore says he doesn’t know why Alpine isn’t beating the likes of McLaren or Ferrari, as the team has “everything” that it needs to win Grands Prix. At the start of this season, he promised Alpine’s parent company, Renault, that the team would finish inside the top six in the standings.

That’s a target the team is currently meeting, with Alpine sixth in the standings, only five points behind fifth-placed Racing Bulls. Briatore, however, says Alpine should be fighting at the sharp end of the grid for race wins. Having led the Enstone team when it still raced under the Renault branding to back-to-back titles two decades ago, the Italian is adamant the team can do it. “We have everything to win,” he told Darren Cox in The Race Business’s ‘In Conversation With…’ series

“We have everything to win”;

'I don't know why' – Flavio Briatore's blunt Alpine admission says everything

Alpine has Mercedes power, fresh investment and Briatore's backing — so why aren't they winning?

www.planetf1.com

Colapinto reveals why it’s so hard to please Flavio Briatore
09/08/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Franco Colapinto has discovered that putting points on the board is not necessarily enough to put a smile on Flavio Briatore’s face. Alpine’s executive advisor, renowned for his uncompromising approach and sky-high expectations, has helped inject a sharper edge into the Enstone outfit after its bruising 2025 campaign.

Briatore, however, was apparently looking beyond the points and straight at the gap to Ferrari. "I believe in his process," said the 23-year-old. "You have to understand him. But I think to succeed in F1 and to achieve the goal that every midfield team has – to catch Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren – you need someone like Flavio."

"We finished P6 and P8 in Canada, those were amazing points for the team, but after the race Flavio was not happy at all and kept pushing the team. He was almost the most unhappy person within the whole team," Colapinto told Motorsport.com. "That was because of how far off Ferrari we were compared to Miami. He wanted to understand why that was.”

‘So hard to please Flavio Briatore’;

Colapinto reveals why it’s so hard to please Flavio Briatore

Franco Colapinto has discovered that putting points on the board is not necessarily enough to put a smile on Flavio Briatore’s face.

f1i.com

What Briatore wants from Alpine's next F1 co-owner
1 Aug 2026
SAMARTH KANAL, DARREN COX
The Race

Will Formula 1 teams soon be worth $10billion? Flavio Briatore reckons so, and thinks nothing proves the huge escalation in teams’ values better than the potential selling price of minority shareholder Otro Capital’s 24% stake in the Alpine F1 team he runs. Who'll buy that stake, and their potential relationship with majority owner Renault, has been subject of plenty of speculation this season.

Speaking in an exclusive interview for The Race Business’s ‘In Conversation With…’ series, Briatore give his own take on the team value question as someone who has made repeated returns to F1 team management since first winning championships with Benetton in the 1990s - during a period when at one point he part-owned not just Benetton but also Ligier and Minardi.

"I sold my share in Benetton, and the value of the team was $80million," said Briatore. "OK, now you're talking about $3.5billion, $4billion. And everybody’s predicting, you're talking with these finance people, talking about, "OK, Formula 1 in three, four years, the team is worth $10billion." Asked if he felt F1 team valuations had "topped out", Briatore joked "if the team was mine, I'd have sold already!"

‘$10billion’;

What Briatore wants from Alpine's next F1 co-owner

Flavio Briatore's prediction for how high F1 teams' values will get, and his take on what Alpine needs from its next co-owner

www.the-race.com

Flavio Briatore reveals huge Alpine F1 value claim amid Otro bid
6 Aug 2026
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Speaking to The Race Business, Flavio Briatore, when put to him that Forbes’ valuation of Alpine is $2.45 billion, disagreed: “No, no, we are more.” The executive advisor continued: “We have an offer, we have an [offer] for the 24 percent of Otro, the valuation [is] 3.2 [billion]. So we have 40 percent of the valuation of Renault. All Renault is worth 8.3, and we’re working at this 3.5 [billion] valuation. So we’re representing 40 percent or 50 percent.”

“Sure, to have a partner, of 24%, I expect somebody to give not only the finance, [but to] give some help in technology or whatever, or whatever in finance. But in September, I don’t think nothing [will] happen dramatically, because I see it as very difficult for somebody to buy 24% of one company, with no agreement with the majority.

‘Huge Alpine F1 value claim’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/08/06/flavio-briatore-alpine-otro-value-claim/

What we learned from interviewing Flavio Briatore
1 Aug 2026
DARREN COX
The Race

The receptionists, the machinists, the administrators, the windtunnel engineer, even HR (OK, maybe not HR) can add big incremental value to a business if they feel that they are involved in an actual race team. Clearly that is the first thing Flavio brings to Enstone.

In his own words, the outcome should always be “winning, not touristing around the f***ing world”. He also brings clarity of thought. Whether you like those thoughts or not, he won’t care, and he is clear and confident about them. That was the biggest thing that struck me during our nearly one-hour conversation. One that we were told would be unlikely to last more than 30 minutes.

“Winning, not touristing around the f***ing world”;

What we learned from interviewing Flavio Briatore

Here's what struck Darren Cox after he'd sat down with Alpine's de facto team boss, Flavio Briatore, for The Race Business

www.the-race.com

Read our full exclusive interview with Flavio Briatore
4 Aug 2026
DARREN COX
The Race

DARREN COX: “For those fans, what can they look forward to with the Gucci racing brand next year? What's the big things you guys are going to do?”

Flavio Briatore: “I think we should impress everybody, because the programme we have in merchandising for Gucci will be amazing. So I think Gucci will be the place. Gucci, I believe in this moment, with all the excitement Gucci has, in the way they design the merchandise and stuff like that, Gucci will be the sponsor.”

“And I'm sure when we present the overalls of the driver, and the car of Gucci will be the number one photographed car in the world, because now it's very curious to the people. We've done very well, because we don't tell anybody about the livery of the car, about the livery of the driver.”

‘FULL Flavio Briatore’;

Read our full exclusive interview with Flavio Briatore

Flavio Briatore covered a lot of ground in his exclusive interview with The Race Business. Here's a chance to read it in full

www.the-race.com

 

[Fortitude]

Haas half-season review: A problem bigger than poor results.
As witnessed all too often in Haas’s 11 years on the grid, the first half of the team’s 2026 season has seen flashes of magic followed by periods of dissolution, leaving Haas at the tail end of the midfield, or more aptly put, first of the backmarkers.
5 Aug 2026
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Oliver Bearman, now in his second season in Formula 1, came charging out of the blocks this season to put Haas P4 in the Constructors’ Championship after two race weekends. After finishing fifth at the Chinese Grand Prix, Bearman helped Haas climb to fourth in the standings with the team within one point of defending champions McLaren.

That, though, was it for the big points. Esteban Ocon joined his teammate on the score sheet in Japan, with Bearman adding another point in Canada, and Ocon two in Monaco. By the end of the Monte Carlo street race, Haas had fallen away from McLaren. While the Woking team up to 116 points after Monaco, Haas had only 21. And then the points dried up. Completely.

Team principal Ayao Komatsu says Haas simply does not have the budget to match its rivals. “I wish,” he told PlanetF1.com and other media of F1 2026’s $215m budget cap ceiling. “We’re not. It’s one of the top priorities on my job list to be able to fund this team so that we can operate at the budget cap. Because that’s the baseline, right? We should be achieving that first step.”

‘Haas half-season review’;

Haas is quietly disappearing from Formula 1 - and that's the real concern

Haas's biggest battle isn't against its rivals — it's against being left behind altogether.

www.planetf1.com

Haas detail biggest limitation in pursuit of top F1 positions
Haas has been operating on the F1 grid for a decade now, but is still limited when it comes to its day-to-day operations compared to rival teams.
10 August 2026
Fergal Walsh & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has opened up on the limitations the team is facing as it seeks to make the next step in F1. During that time, it has operated as the smallest team in terms of personnel, with its numbers well down compared to the likes of Mercedes and Red Bull. As a result, the process to install improvements to its car take a longer period of time.

“As always, we have to really prioritise a lot, and then the progress is slow because of resources, because of the toolset and the environment we've got,” Komatsu told select media including RacingNews365. “To manufacturing as well, from the moment we find the solution, whether in a design office or internally, to be able to bring the solution to the truck, it takes longer.”

“ So it's not just one thing. If you look at every single part of our business, there are lots of things that need to improve to really give them a better fighting chance. The reaction has been great, but from that reaction to be able to put solutions in place, it takes longer for us than some other teams.”

‘Biggest limitation’;

Haas detail biggest limitation in pursuit of top F1 positions

Haas has been operating on the F1 grid for a decade now, but is still limited when it comes to its day-to-day operations compared to rival teams.

racingnews365.com

Haas team boss takes blame for 'environmental' constraints amid slump in F1 form
Haas began the F1 season in strong fashion but has suffered a slip down the pecking order as the year as developed.
2 August 2026
Fergal Walsh & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu attributed the strong start to ensuring it got the basics right with its new car. “So far, it's got everything about how this team is, good and bad,” Komatsu told select media including RacingNews365. “The way we started the season so strongly was way, way beyond what I anticipated or expected. It's the biggest regulation change ever. So us being the smallest team, I honestly expected us to start close to last, apart from Cadillac, because they are a brand-new team.”

“We focused on the basics, built a car in time, hit every single test, learn as much as possible, reliability, because you have to have a car running to be able to learn. So we done all those basics very well, but we made some mistakes along the way. So at least going into race one, based on our understanding of how to get the best out of what we got, was decent.”

“Then we capitalised on that. I always say you got to be there to take every opportunity. If your car is capable of doing P5, you should be P5. If that's P10 or P15, you should be there. Even if it's a P15 car, you never know what can happen in front of you, so you have to be there. We've done the basics very well. That's why we had a very strong start, which is all down to our guys. It's very, very impressive. Hats off to them.”

‘Strong start’;

Haas team boss takes blame for 'environmental' constraints amid slump in F1 form

Haas began the F1 season in strong fashion but has suffered a slip down the pecking order as the year as developed.

racingnews365.com

Haas deny 'reality check' claim over 2026 F1 struggles
A clear gap has appeared in the F1 pecking order this year between the top four teams and the rest of the pack.
11 August 2026
Fergal Walsh & Pepijn van der Hulst
RacingNews365

When asked if the regulation overhaul was a reality check for midfield teams, Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu told media including RacingNews365: “I don't think so. I don't think it's just a resource gap. It's too simplistic to say that. If you look at Racing Bulls, I don't think they started the year that strongly.”

“They were fine, but where they are now it's very, very impressive. Audi being the first year, being a full-grown manufacturer, yes, they got resources, but they're not the same as a top team. But again, at least on the chassis side, the way they rolled out the car this year was impressive.”

“Williams struggled this year compared to last year. It's not [just] about resources, I don't think. It's not as simple as that. But to be successful in F1, you've got to do everything right. You've got the right number of resources, finance backing, but the process has to be perfect.”

'Reality check';

Haas deny 'reality check' claim over 2026 F1 struggles

A clear gap has appeared in the F1 pecking order this year between the top four teams and the rest of the pack.

racingnews365.com

GALLERY: HAAS PUT ON ANOTHER SHOW FOR FANS WITH SPECIAL TEST AT FUJI SPEEDWAY
Haas have slotted in some more F1 testing before heading into their summer break.
31 Jul 2026
Formula One - Official Site

Haas were back in action at Japan’s Fuji Speedway this week as the team staged another event for their fans – while giving Toyota-backed drivers Sho Tsuboi and Nirei Fukuzumi time in F1 machinery.

Haas, who have a growing relationship with Japanese automotive giants Toyota, were in action at the former F1 venue on Tuesday and Wednesday. It follows on from the squad’s successful Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) running at the Toyota-owned track last year, with gates open to fans to watch from the grandstands.

‘Haas have slotted in some more F1 testing’;

Haas put on a show for fans with test at Fuji Speedway

Haas were back in action at Japan’s Fuji Speedway this week as the team staged another event for their fans – while giving Toyota-backed drivers Sho Tsuboi and Nirei Fukuzumi time in F1 machinery.

www.formula1.com

 

[Fortitude]

Audi F1 Midseason Report: Right Where It Needs to Be.
Reliability issues and a modest points total haven’t overshadowed a steady Formula 1 debut for the German manufacturer.
4 AUG 2026
PHILLIP HORTON
AutoWeek

A slightly larger turbo has been a hindrance at race starts, with Nico Hulkenberg and sophomore Gabriel Bortoleto often left with too much to do after the first lap, while a spate of reliability issues during the first segment of the year in particular proved costly. But they were teething troubles the outfit expected, and each setback led to fixes and further progress, though there were others that were just highly unlucky—such as a stone hitting the safety switch on Hulkenberg’s R26 in Spain and causing an instant shutdown.

The exit of Jonathan Wheatley as Team Principal was a surprise but given the mooted tension with Head of F1 Project Mattia Binotto it avoided lingering issues, with the experienced Allan McNish ably stepping into the role of Racing Director, having previously been helping behind-the-scenes.

“For us, we are fighting in that midfield area and it’s to try to consistently be there, chipping at it,” McNish said. “It depends, I think, a little bit circuit to circuit whether we’re ahead of one or behind, but ultimately, we need to be making sure that we’re delivering whatever the package can deliver each weekend. That’s the goal. Where it is relative, in terms of fighting in the top 10 or just outside it, that depends on the competition as well as us.”

‘Steady Formula 1 debut’;

Audi F1 Midseason Report: Right Where It Needs to Be

Reliability issues and a modest points total haven’t overshadowed a steady Formula 1 debut for the German manufacturer.

www.autoweek.com

Exclusive: Audi share five-word summary of first F1 season at halfway stage
Audi CEO and team principal Mattia Binotto has appraised the German's marque's first half-season in F1, using just a handful of words.
6 August 2026
Samuel Coop & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

With Formula 1 now in its summer shutdown, RacingNews365 asked Binotto to summarise Audi's first season so far. His answer came in five words. "A summary of the season so far is: satisfied, but not happy yet," he said during an exclusive interview.

‘Handful of words’;

Exclusive: Audi share five-word summary of first F1 season at halfway stage

Audi CEO and team principal Mattia Binotto has appraised the German's marque's first half-season in F1, using just a handful of words.

racingnews365.com

Gabriel Bortoleto explains vital differences amid Sauber-to-Audi transition
9 Aug 2026
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

Reflecting on the 18 months he has been with the team, Gabriel Bortoleto revealed that the takeover has been more than just a change of sponsors, colours and livery; rather, it has been a complete mindset shift within the team.
“Yeah, you can really see a difference, especially the mentality has shifted a lot,” he said. “I think lots of respect for the team that we had for last year and many other years before that, but the truth, reality, is that we are in a different situation right now.”

“We have Audi backing us up. It’s manufacturing. We are doing our own engine. We have a lot of financial support from them, so we are not struggling in that sense that maybe Sauber struggled in the past. And then the mentality also shifts. We want to achieve big things in the future.”

‘Vital differences’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/08/09/gabriel-bortoleto-explains-vital-differences-amid-sauber-to-audi-transition/

McNish explains his new role as Audi Racing Director after returning to Formula 1
8 Aug 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

According to McNish, Binotto retains overall responsibility for both the chassis and power unit programmes, as well as the operations back at the team's various facilities. "Mattia is in charge of the whole programme, from the power unit side, chassis side, everything back at base."

His own responsibilities, by contrast, are centred on Audi's activities at the race circuit. However, McNish revealed that the role extends well beyond engineering and race strategy. "Whereas my area is here at the circuit. So, I'm in charge of the racing responsibility, if you want to put it that way, from engineering, from strategy, ultimately in these areas, but also in the activation, from marketing and communications, and pretty much everything in between."

As a result, he describes the position as broad and collaborative, requiring close coordination with Audi's various Formula 1 bases across Europe. "So, it's quite a wide role, but also very much in line with the people already involved in the programme and back at base in Hinwil and Neuburg, and also in Bicester."

‘New role’;

McNish explains his new role as Audi Racing Director after returning to Formula 1 - F1technical.net

www.f1technical.net

Audi reveal 'house in order' focus as key area of improvement identified
Audi is soon to enter its first summer break as an F1 team.
9 August 2026
Nick Golding
RacingNews365

Assessing how Audi has started the season, Audi racing director Allan McNish told Sky F1: "I think, overall, it's as expected in terms of having some hard races, races where we didn't get it right, and races where we had reliability issues. "I think, in terms of pure performance, we're probably a little bit better than expected. But ultimately, that's dictated by the competition as well and how well they're going.”

"Right now, we're focused on trying to get our own house in order and making sure we maximise everything. But so far, I would say it's going pretty well." Asked what the key area of improvement is for the second half of the season, McNish responded: "We've obviously got to get some of the reliability issues sorted out that have afflicted us over the last two races.”

"If I think about Nico at Silverstone, and also the problem we had in qualifying at Spa, I think that's fundamentally the thing we've got to try and fix."

‘Key area of improvement identified’;

Audi reveal 'house in order' focus as key area of improvement identified

Audi is soon to enter its first summer break as an F1 team.

racingnews365.com

 

[Fortitude]

Williams offer unusual 'plane' metaphor after unexpected F1 struggle.
Williams will be hoping to take off quickly once the problems are addressed.
9 August 2026
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

Williams boss James Vowles has explained how the team is "flying the plane and rebuilding it at the same time" following the team's tough start to 2026. The FW47 machine was initially late to pre-season testing and did not take part in the Barcelona shakedown, and has proven to be considerably overweight, thus impacting performance.

Vowles has previously spoken about how the team simply cannot reduce the weight in an instance owing to the cost cap, with the weight-shedding phased over a number of grands prix. Williams is due its next big upgrade at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in September.

Since assuming control of the team, Vowles has tried to instil a new culture and ways of working, as he spoke at length about how "three weeks" made a crucial difference for the team in falling behind schedule.

‘Unusual 'plane' metaphor’;

Williams offer unusual 'plane' metaphor after unexpected F1 struggle

Williams will be hoping to take off quickly once the problems are addressed.

racingnews365.com

James Vowles lays bare scale of Williams overhaul after production delays
9 Aug 2026
Lena Ferle
Motorsport Week

“We have to, as a business, prove to ourselves that we can do the engineering to the right level of quality, and build a car to that level of quality in the season; it is effectively the equivalent of flying the plane and rebuilding it at the same time,” James Vowles told media. “We have to prove to ourselves that we have changed from where we were three years ago, and we didn’t have the process systems, the underlying structure behind it.”

“I know what efficient organisations look like, and even today, we are struggling to do a lot of what the others can do at this point, and that is on us to fix. We just have to do it at the same time as moving forward. The first year we did a plan was effectively last year, and you have to change people, typically 24 months before you can get them into the building, if not three years,” he noted. “We could not attract the best in class three years ago, and people need to see that you are making progress and making fundamental changes to your ways of working is not something you do overnight.”

“Were [the problems] to the extent I predicted? No. I thought we’d be able to produce a car slightly overweight, but roughly speaking, on time, but not by any means the benchmark,” Vowles conceded. “That’s not what we achieved, though. We underachieved relative to that, and the reason is that we had some of the data, and we didn’t even trust it.”

‘Williams overhaul’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/08/09/vowles-bare-scale-williams-overhaul/

Steiner says Williams are 'going backwards' under Vowles in brutal assessment
1 Aug 2026
Henry Eccles
GPblog.com

As ever, Steiner weighed up the situation at Williams with the degree of sarcasm and humour F1 fans have become well accustomed to since his tenure as Haas team principal. He said:“As much as I think he’s not doing a good job, I think you need to at least give him time to read all his emails. He got them at the beginning of the year. He knows what to do, he just didn’t have time to read them. So, let him read his emails. Find a solution by the end of the year. If he hasn’t got to all the emails by the end of the year, then let him go.”

Steiner said: "I think at the beginning of next season, if it’s the same as this season. I think they went into spam, or were deleted, these emails, and he needs to go then. If it is continuing the way that it currently is, five or six races into [next year], there’ll be changes. You’ve had enough time to read your emails and improve things. And if you haven’t, then you’re out.”

Asked for a deadline on when Vowles should have turned things around for Williams, Steiner believes the 47-year-old could be dismissed after five or six races into the 2027 season if the team have not improved. “They promised us at the beginning of the season, ‘We will be back; we know exactly what to do'. Guess what? They’re going backwards instead of forwards at the moment. All the progress is in the wrong direction," Steiner concluded.

'Going backwards';

Steiner delivers brutal Vowles verdict: 'Williams are going backwards'

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has questioned the future of Williams boss James Vowles after another disappointing weekend at the Hungarian GP.

www.gpblog.com

Former Williams driver labels 2026 ‘a write off’
8 Aug 2026
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

One-time Williams Formula 1 winner David Coulthard revealing his affection for the team, highlighted where Williams may have gone wrong in developing the FW48. “I have a soft spot for Williams. That’s where I started my testing career. That’s where I started my grand prix career,” he said on the Up To Speed podcast.

“This family dynamic, the whole journey of that team, they are affectionately supported within the paddock, which wouldn’t be the case for every other team. Look, they got it wrong, their car. But the mitigating circumstances, as we learn more, is that they got a lot of the information on what they were dealing with from their outside suppliers late, which meant they had to then internally adjust what they were building, and it came out late and heavy, and late and heavy is not a good thing. They missed the first test.”

“But the comeback will be sweet. I think they’ve got two fantastic drivers. Yet, they may not have a lot of points. For the Williams fans around the world, it’s been a disappointment, and this year will be a bit of a write-off in that respect. They’re not going to achieve fifth unless they unleash some amazing upgrade. They might get one more upgrade this year, and otherwise all focus will be on the year ahead.”

‘a write off’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/08/08/former-williams-driver-labels-2026-a-write-off/

Carlos Sainz ‘down a cul-de-sac’ as Brundle weighs in on ‘stalling’ F1 career
2 Aug 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

According to Brundle, Sainz is down a career “cull-de-sac” at the worst possible time. “He really committed to it, didn’t he?” Brundle, the nine-time F1 podium finisher, former driver manager and current Sky F1 commentator, said of Sainz and Williams. “He decided not to go to Audi, which I believe his dad wanted him to. They’ve got a long-standing relationship there with the family with Audi. I would imagine Carlos is keeping his options open. It is frustrating. He’s stalling out at a time in his career and life that is not optimal, to say the least.”

Asked if he thinks Sainz deserves more from his F1 career, Brundle confirmed: “He’s had some brilliant races in a Ferrari. I think he’s ended up down a cul-de-sac here. So hopefully Williams has an answer for ’27.” For Sainz, 2025, his first season with Williams, yielded results beyond his expectations. He secured podiums in Baku and Qatar, in a season where Williams had spent much of it focusing on the regulatory reset to come.

Yet, the team has emerged in F1 2026 behind where it and Sainz had expected. Williams sits P9 in the current Constructors’ standings with just 11 points on the board. Sainz has contributed six of those, and Alex Albon five. “They said, ‘Look, we’re going to sacrifice 2025, because of the all new regulations, biggest regulation change in the history of our sport,'” Brundle commented on Williams, “but then the results haven’t worked.”

‘Down a cul-de-sac’;

Carlos Sainz F1 career 'stalling out' as Martin Brundle makes Audi admission

Does Carlos Sainz need to leave Williams?

www.planetf1.com

Carlos Sainz hints at imminent Williams future decision
Carlos Sainz is a key pillar in the driver transfer market
12 Aug 2026
Sam Hall
Crash.Net

Carlos Sainz has indicated that a decision on his Williams Formula 1 future will be taken in the coming days. Asked when his future will be confirmed, Sainz said: "I honestly don’t know. I cannot give you a date, but I imagine, as I always said, that I was going to wait until the summer to sit down with my team and think about this, and discuss with them, with James and everyone, the future of the team and my future in it. "I expect that during the summer we will start to take a decision and start to see a bit more of the situation, but the exact timing, I don’t know."

"I think there’s no secret that my expectations, or let’s say my timeline for how long it would take me to win a race again and for Williams to be the place to do that, have been delayed by a year or two," he added.
"It depends on how quickly we manage to bounce back from this situation. Obviously, I had in my mind a timeframe that I was willing to accept in order to help this team get back into a winning position, and how long I was willing to wait to be fighting for wins again…”

"It’s just that this year’s car, for whatever reason or reasons, has been very underperforming and has fallen very short of our expectations for many different reasons that I’m not going to talk about again here today. Clearly, my timings have changed. I need to readapt my thinking into portraying myself now in three to four years’ time and take a decision, but I’m still confident in the path and the project that we are in."

‘Imminent Williams future decision’;

Carlos Sainz hints at imminent Williams future decision

Carlos Sainz is a key pillar in the driver transfer market

www.crash.net

 

[Fortitude]

Aston Martin's major update analyzed: why the competition is right to be worried.
Aston Martin gave its rivals plenty to think about in Hungary with Adrian Newey's updates, but how good was the major package really? GPblog analyzes the step forward the British outfit made with the new parts added to the AMR26.
12 Aug 2026
Tim Kraaij
GPblog.com

Fast forward to the most recent Grand Prix of the season in Hungary, Aston Martin taking a step in the right direction was clearly visible there. In qualifying, Fernando Alonso set a 1:19.808. That makes him 2.352s slower than Lando Norris’s pole position time, which equates to 3.05%. That is much lower than the 3.59% average over the first 10 races and significantly lower than the most recent races in Great Britain (5.39%) and Belgium (5.41%).

Looking at race pace, the step forward is even more evident. Norris had the best with an average of 1:24.507 at the Hungaroring. Lance Stroll was the quicker of the two Aston Martin drivers with a 1:26.951. That means the Canadian was “only” 2.444s per lap slower than the fastest driver, a relative difference of 2.89%.

Compared to the first 10 GPs, Aston Martin once again managed to gain considerable time. The race pace deficit over the first ten GPs was 4.28s, or 4.91%. That means the race deficit to the front of the field has been almost halved.

‘GPblog analyzes’;

Monster update from Newey and Aston Martin analyzed: why rivals are rightly terrified

Analysis: Aston Martin makes a big leap in Hungary with Newey updates. Qualifying and race pace improve significantly; deficit nearly halved, more updates to come.

www.gpblog.com

Newey issues telling Aston Martin and Honda relationship update
12 Aug 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Adrian Newey is “very happy” with the progress made in the Aston Martin and Honda relationship, after a “disastrous start” for this alliance. At the Hungarian GP, Newey was asked for his thoughts on how the Aston Martin and Honda relationship has evolved.

“I think what’s really progressed is actually the word you just used: relationship,” Newey told PlanetF1.com and others. “Out of what can only be called a disastrous start, the positive of that, because you’re always looking for positives, is that it’s brought Honda and ourselves, AMR, into a very close working relationship. We continue to develop that in all areas. So, I’m very happy with the progress we’re making from a relationship point of view. Normally, if relationships improve, then performance also improves.”

There were reports circulating that Honda had unlocked another 50bhp for Aston Martin with its upgraded engine. “I want to have that number, but that is a quite big number,” Honda chief engineer Shinharo Orihara told PlanetF1.com and others, when presented with the reported 50bhp figure. “I can’t describe the detail of power, but my feeling with that is just, no, I don’t think… not the real number.”

‘Progress made’;

Adrian Newey makes telling Aston Martin-Honda admission after ‘disastrous start’

Will Aston Martin-Honda improve at Zandvoort?

www.planetf1.com

Honda reveals major Aston Martin engine changes as new power unit nears debut
10 AUG 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Ahead of the engine update Aston Martin is poised to debut at the Dutch Grand Prix, Honda chief Shintaro Orihara has offered a glowing update on what can be expected from the new power unit set to be introduced at Zandvoort. Honda confident in Aston Martin’s spec-B engine. Further doubling down on what can be expected from the changes made to the new power unit, Honda chief Shintaro Orihara admitted that Honda achieved its targets with the new engine before expressing his confidence in the work carried out by the HRC Sakura Factory team.

“We focus on improving engine performance to make combustion faster. So it's kind of a secret, but I can disclose a little bit. We changed the pre-chamber to make combustion faster, and also we changed the piston shape to get good combustion. Also, we modified some lubrication systems to reduce friction. So we had quite a big list to improve engine performance,” Orihara stated.

He also revealed his excitement about seeing the new power unit in action when Aston Martin takes to the track at the Dutch Grand Prix. “We achieved our target, and I'm confident in what the HRC Sakura Factory guys achieved for the spec 2 engine. We are excited to bring the new spec engine to the Netherlands, and we will see where we are.”

‘Aston Martin’s spec-B engine’;

Honda reveal ‘big list’ of Aston Martin engine changes ahead of Dutch Grand Prix

Honda’s Shintaro Orihara details Aston Martin’s spec-B engine for Zandvoort: faster combustion, new pre-chamber, piston, lubrication; targets achieved

www.gpblog.com

Coulthard predicts when Aston Martin will win in Formula 1
07 Aug 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Aston Martin has had a season that it would want to erase from history, says David Coulthard. But, he predicts much brighter days coming, and soon. In fact, Coulthard believes that Aston Martin will improve faster than any other Formula 1 team, culminating in a grand prix win “in the next two years.”

Having worked alongside Aston Martin team boss Adrian Newey throughout his own F1 career, Coulthard knows the design guru will ultimately get it right. He also admits that anyone else in this position not called Adrian Newey would probably have been gone. “I think even Aston themselves would go, ‘We want this season to be erased from the record books.’ That one point came courtesy of Fernando Alonso, of course, in Monaco, in a race where there were more penalties, I think, than there were drivers.”

“Aston, we have to say, really, really bad. I think the summary was about a second coming from the engine, a couple of seconds coming from the car. But mark my words, they will be the biggest improving team over the next two years, and I will predict they will win grand prixs in the next two years.”

‘When Aston Martin will win’;

Aston Martin boost as former Adrian Newey ally makes bold prediction

Can Aston Martin come good on that prediction?

www.planetf1.com

‘Is this the demise?’ Herbert wonders if Newey’s magic is fading
14/08/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

When Lawrence Stroll poured astronomical resources into Aston Martin, signing design icon Adrian Newey was supposed to be the ultimate masterstroke. But after Team Silverstone’s miserable first half of the 2026 season, an uncomfortable question is beginning to circulate through the Formula 1 paddock: what if the sport’s greatest technical mind is no longer the unstoppable force he once was?

“It is frustrating for Fernando Alonso, really struggling,” Herbert told Vision4Sport. “The car is very, very poor. But that’s just how the cookie crumbles sometimes. You look at what they've put together Aston Martin with Adrian Newey, the new factory and all that, and having Fernando on board at the same time.”

Herbert then delivered the remark that will inevitably ignite debate. “It’s difficult to understand how it has gone so wrong. For whatever reason Adrian hasn't been able to put together a crew that is able to put together a good car or even one that is half competitive for what they are trying to achieve,” he added. “Interestingly, is this the demise of Adrian Newey, the first sign of him on a downward spiral,” questioned the three-time Grand Prix winner. It happens in sport even to the very best. It was always going to happen if not quite yet, then there will be a point when it happens.”

‘Is this the demise?’;

‘Is this the demise?’ Herbert wonders if Newey’s magic is fading

When Lawrence Stroll poured astronomical resources into Aston Martin, signing design icon Adrian Newey was the ultimate masterstroke.

f1i.com

 

[Fortitude]

Good news for Perez and Bottas: Cadillac 'expects additional updates coming'.
Cadillac will still focus on its 2026 car after the summer break. However, with the addition of new team principal Marcin Budkowski, the team will also place greater emphasis on implementing a long-term plan.
15 Aug 2026
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

On Wednesday, it was announced that Graeme Lowdon had been replaced by Budkowski as Cadillac's team principal. CEO Dan Towriss said the decision was made as the team begins to focus on its 2027 car as well. Answering GPblog's question, Towriss said that updates will also be brought to the MAC-26 after the break. That is particularly good news for drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, who are looking to score Cadillac's first point in F1 during its debut campaign.

"So we are still focusing on the ‘26 car and the ‘26 season and would expect to see additional upgrades coming still this year. And then I think as we fix the teething issues and just continue to elevate performance and even the progression from the factory to the track, the smoothest with how that goes, will bring performance gains throughout the weekend. So we want to continue to perfect that.”

"But like all the other teams, there's a lot of work starting on the ‘27 car as well. We're doing both. And it's important that we continue to improve performance at the track but also continue to build you know the foundations that are necessary to support the progress that we aspire for the future."

'Expects additional updates coming';

Good news for Perez and Bottas: Cadillac CEO 'expects additional updates coming'

Cadillac names Marcin Budkowski team principal, keeps 2026 upgrades coming while starting 2027 car plan; Perez and Bottas chase debut F1 points after break

www.gpblog.com

Why Cadillac F1 Replaced Graeme Lowdon After Just 11 Races
Dan Towriss says the leadership transition was always anticipated, but acknowledges it came earlier than originally planned.
13 AUG 2026
PHILLIP HORTON
AutoWeek

Cadillac’s Formula 1 CEO Dan Towriss says the decision to part company with Graeme Lowdon was his call, but was part of a planned transition that came earlier than anticipated.

Lowdon was involved with Cadillac’s Formula 1 project for a prolonged period, in advance of it receiving an entry, and was effectively responsible for building the team from scratch during it initial existence.

Lowdon was appointed Team Principal ahead of its debut campaign but was released on Wednesday after just 11 grands prix of Cadillac’s existence.

‘Earlier than originally planned’;

Why Cadillac F1 Replaced Graeme Lowdon After Just 11 Races

Dan Towriss says the leadership transition was always anticipated, but acknowledges it came earlier than originally planned.

www.autoweek.com

Steiner’s telling Cadillac F1 claim amid Graeme Lowdon axe
13 Aug 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Guenther Steiner said the Cadillac F1 team is “not very good” at present and will have been performing below the company’s expectations. Steiner also stressed the difficulties for a new team coming into Formula 1. He says it is a case of “who the hell do you think you are” when a newcomer enters believing that it can catch the established teams, which all operate at the “top” level.

“It’s easy talking about what you have got. You have got a lot of people around to tell you, ‘Yeah, you can do this because you have this great person with sh*tloads of money. You can buy talent, bring it in, but to attract them, it’s not only money. You need a vision. I think some of the things they do very nicely, I must admit. But competition-wise, they are not where I think they expected it to be.”

“I think they expected, ‘Oh, we’ll start a little bit slower than everybody because we are new, and then we will catch up.’ No, in F1, the opposite is happening. You are trying to catch up with people which were ahead of you before, and you are trying to catch up. So who the hell do you think you are? These are the best of the best, and all of a sudden you need to catch up, and to catch up you need to be better than them. But if you were as good as they were, why are you not there already with them. It is a very difficult thing to do.

“Who the hell do you think you are?”;

Mystic Guenther Steiner? Team principal axe follows telling statement

Did Cadillac F1 make the right decision in axing Graeme Lowdon?

www.planetf1.com

Cadillac's shock F1 team boss sacking - our verdict
13 Aug 2026
THE RACE TEAM
The Race

The fact that Graeme Lowdon was told by Towriss that he was out on the morning of the announcement, and the fact that he appears no longer to be involved at all, is indicative of that (surprised me is the timing and how inelegantly this has played out). So, too, is the fact that Lowdon wasn't part of the online press conference in which Budkowski was presented, with Towriss admitting it was not a "mutual decision". Budkowski hadn't even had the chance to visit the factory when the appointment was made. None of this is indicative of a well-handled passing over of the baton. That's neither Budkowski's fault, nor a comment on his suitability for the job given he has a good CV, but it does suggest that there are fundamental disagreements about the direction of the Cadillac team.

Graeme Lowdon has done a phenomenal job not only to see this team through the troubled application process, but also deliver a level of performance on track that redefines what's possible for a new team that doesn't follow the Haas technical partnership model by relying on the maximum level of parts supplied by a partner team. Lowdon is one of those people in F1 who it's easy to underestimate because he's kept a low profile, but before Cadillac he'd been involved in far more behind the scenes over the years than just the team that came into F1 as Virgin in 2010.

That knowledge and skillset when it came to playing the politics and strategically building up a team that is still only in its prototype phase has been crucial to getting the team off the ground and able to perform so competitively. That's what's concerning about the process. Were this announced in a more controlled way, presented as a well-executed strategic decision with Lowdon on board, then it would be a positive sign. The way it has played out suggests that all might not be well behind the scenes. - Edd Straw

‘Cadillac's shock F1 team boss sacking’;

Cadillac's shock F1 team boss sacking - our verdict

Our team has its say on Cadillac's shock decision to replace founding team principal Graeme Lowdon with ex-Alpine F1 boss Marcin Budkowski

www.the-race.com

5 key things we heard from Cadillac after Team Principal change
New Cadillac Team Principal Marcin Budkowski and CEO of TWG Motorsports Dan Towriss have spoken about topics...
13 Aug 2026
Formula One - Official Site

Dan Towriss: “While it's a short tenure from our first F1 season, Graeme and I have been building this team for nearly four years, and so it was always the plan to get it to this point and then really hand the baton off to someone else and set things in motion for this next stage of development.” Towriss went on to clarify that the call was made by him to make the change now, as he shared an insight into the timeline of the switch which he concedes came “sooner than was expected”.

Dan Towriss: “It was my decision – it wasn't a mutual decision,” he said. “I think really the process started a few months ago to explore, really thinking about what the next phase for Cadillac Formula 1 looks like, what's the right timing, how would that look, and then the capabilities of the various folks out there.”

Marcin Budkowski: “My first priority is going to be to listen and observe in the factory because I need to meet the people, I need to understand how they work together, how the various individuals and departments work together,” he explained. “But also throughout my F1 experience I know that when a team is suffering reliability issues, as Cadillac have during the first half of the season, it's a huge risk of creating a disconnect between the trackside operations and the factory, and that link needs to be very, very strong. That’s why I will share my first week between the factory and the track in Zandvoort, because I want to see both sides of the team and how they work together. I think that's going to be the short-term priorities.”

‘5 key things’;

5 key things we heard from Cadillac after their TP change

New Cadillac Team Principal Marcin Budkowski and CEO of TWG Motorsports Dan Towriss have spoken about topics including the squad’s leadership change, priorities for the rest of the season, and future plans with their driver line-up.

www.formula1.com

Cadillac reveal timeline for 'abruptly' firing its first F1 team principal
Sacking Graeme Lowdon was "abrupt", according to Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsport, which owns the Cadillac F1 team.
13 August 2026
Samuel Coop & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss has revealed that the decision to replace Graeme Lowdon as team principal had been months in the making, despite the Briton only learning of his dismissal on the morning of the announcement.

"What’s the right timing, how would that look? And the capabilities of the various folks out there. Obviously, we were delighted in the conversation with Marcin, and how that relationship evolved. So Graeme and I spoke this morning. It is a very recent conversation from that perspective, but there’s no easy way to make this transition within Formula 1.”

"Can you imagine the press if Marcin is strolling through for a tour of the factory or we’re having these conversations? It becomes destabilising at that point, and so it’s important to respect the purview of the leadership that’s in place at that time. So it does compress the decision-making; the timeline, how these things come together, makes it feel more abrupt than it would be otherwise.

"Abrupt";

Cadillac reveal timeline for 'abruptly' firing its first F1 team principal

Sacking Graeme Lowdon was "abrupt", according to Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsport, which owns the Cadillac F1 team. But he has provided a timeline for the decision-making process.

racingnews365.com

 

[Fortitude]

'Cadillac F1's shock change highlights misunderstanding of sport'.
Cadillac replaced Graeme Lowdon… … Ben Hunt and Jim Kimberley discuss whether that was really the right decision.
14 Aug 2026
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

Ben Hunt, GPblog's lead columnist: “Overwhelming feeling of disappointment, really, and frustration. Cadillac have come into Formula 1 under Graeme’s leadership. He's a man I respect and he built that team, and put so many hours into doing so and encouraged people to leave other Formula 1 teams for the vision that he had for Cadillac. To replace him midway through a season is, how do I put this nicely, unexpected but I also think it's incredibly short-sighted from Cadillac. I don't believe that this was the plan, Graeme was always talking about long-term vision and the facilities that they're building in Indiana.”

He was a fully signed up member to the process and committed seeing it through, and I think that if they think that he was the problem for them not scoring more points, then I think they clearly need to have a wobble of their heads because he wasn't the problem. He was the one that actually allowed them to be on the grid in record time." He continued: "They had all those elements of being turned down, and then finally they get the approval, and within nine months, Graeme and the staff around him, he's built a team, put a factory together.”

"And it's not just people, it's obviously infrastructure, which is automatic ordering, something as simple as ordering parts. All that takes time to set up all the technical infrastructure and recruiting for HR departments, media departments, communications, marketing. There's so much that goes into building a Formula 1 team. I think that I'm pretty frustrated to see him turfed out like this. Whether it was part of the plan, I don’t know for sure, but I don't really think it was. I just think it's a really poor decision. I don't necessarily believe that the man they've put in place either is going to do great things and turn things around immediately. Very short-sighted, as far as I'm concerned," he concluded.

‘Misunderstanding of sport';

'Cadillac F1's shock team boss change highlights misunderstanding of sport'

GPblog’s F1 Paddock Update reacts to Cadillac replacing Graeme Lowdon with Marcin Budkowski as team principal, with Ben Hunt calling the move short-sighted

www.gpblog.com

"Every day is a school day," claims Lowdon as he reflects on Cadillac's maiden F1 season
15 Aug 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Graeme Lowdon stressed that building a successful Formula 1 team requires patience rather than expecting instant results. "This isn't a sport you can just walk into and blow everyone away. It's one where you have to build foundations and build a high-performance environment for your team to be in, and that's exactly what we're focused on doing." He also paid tribute to the people working across Cadillac's international operation.

"Everyone's worked so hard. I'll take this opportunity to say a massive thanks to everybody in the team, everyone in the US, in Indianapolis and in Charlotte, and also in Silverstone, and also at the wind tunnel in Cologne, in Germany. It really is a huge effort." Rather than focusing solely on championship standings, Cadillac evaluates its own execution and operational improvements at every race weekend.

"It's difficult to measure the team's progress in terms of championship position or performance because, as I say, we're coming in completely from a standing start. What we do look at measuring is, each weekend, what's in our control, how well have we executed, what can we improve? For Graeme Lowdon, continuous learning remains the team's biggest objective: "Every day is a school day, and we're just looking to learn as much as we can, as quickly as we can. We have to do it in front of a few hundred million people as well, so we want to do it as professionally as we can."

‘Patience rather than expecting instant results’;

"Every day is a school day," claims Lowdon as he reflects on Cadillac's maiden F1 season - F1technical.net

www.f1technical.net

Revealed: Graeme Lowdon’s final interview before surprise Cadillac F1 exit
13 Aug 2026
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

In his final media session before being replaced as team boss, Graeme Lowdon spoke about a fundamental lesson Cadillac could learn from Jean Todt’s Ferrari leadership. “It is so difficult to know where a new team should be because it’s a relative game,” he said, when asked if it’s been a season of over accomplishment. “But if you look at all of the things that we measure, which is how well have we executed? Have we hit deadlines for shaking down the car on the right day, being on full car dyno at the right time, racing at the right time, all the rest of it? Then all of that’s been hit. But the fact that we outperformed, in terms of pace, a very well-established team shows that everyone in the team has done a tremendous job.” With Cadillac outperforming even Adrian Newey’s highly anticipated Aston Martin AMR26, an offering from a far more established team, the overall success of the first half was tempered by reliability issues.”

“I think it takes years, actually. The common thing in all of the successful teams is stability,” he said, pointing to the example of Jean Todt’s stewardship of Ferrari that began in 1993 – years before the team became truly competitive as Todt weathered a series of setbacks and losses that, nonetheless, saw CEO Luca di Montezemelo keep faith in him. It wasn’t until 1999 that a title was delivered, and 2000 until a Drivers’ Championship was won. It was probably the five or six years of… I don’t know what you would call it, but it wasn’t winning. It was stability, and it was building and building and building. Same at McLaren [in late 2010s].”

“You pick your team, you run with it, and it takes time because it’s so complicated, such a complicated game. I’ve got a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, and some of the reports I read ahead of a grand prix really stretch my understanding of aerodynamics, fluid dynamics, heat transfer and God knows what else… it is super super complex. Then, on top of all of that, are the operational systems and everything, not just pit stops and stuff, but strategy. If something fails on a car, there will be multiple systems behind that, all of which have to be developed and honed. None of which you can take from another team. Everything you have to build.”

‘Graeme Lowdon’s final interview’;

Revealed: Final Graeme Lowdon interview before shock Cadillac F1 exit

Days before Cadillac replaced him, Graeme Lowdon explained exactly what he believed the team needed to succeed...

www.planetf1.com

'If you hire people who only say yes, you will inevitably finish last'
9 Aug 2026
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com

When the team was created, Cadillac first established four core values on which everything is based. The first one is ‘bold ambition.’ “That is very much a reflection of Cadillac and TWG’s ownership,” Lowdon explains. “That doesn't mean arrogance. It means, it's good to have an ambition and you can embrace that ambition. There's nothing wrong with that.” The second value is ‘excellence in execution’, which means that whenever you do something, you strive to do it as well as possible. Then there is 'leadership and innovation.' “That again is something that's a reflection of Cadillac’s 120-odd years of innovation. And Formula 1 is a sport that really rewards innovation as well. So we try and create an environment where that leadership and innovation is seen as a good thing.”

“Then fourthly, and most importantly, it's all one team. Everyone's working together. Nobody is bigger than the team. John Wooden, the basketball coach, who comes out with all of the best quotes on management, and I'll probably get this wrong, but I'll paraphrase it. He said, it's better to have a player that makes the team great than it is to have a great player. And so we capture that with this concept of all one team. Nobody's bigger than the team and this is a team game.”

As a Formula 1 team principal, an enormous amount of pressure rests on Lowdon’s shoulders. Ultimately, everything comes down to performance, leaving little time to unwind and spend time with family. “It's true, but there are significantly worse jobs where you don't see your family. I think anyone who's in Formula 1 in one of these positions, actually their family tend to be really proud of what they're doing.”

‘Say yes, you will inevitably finish last';

'If you hire people who only say yes, you will inevitably end up at the back'

Cadillac team boss Graeme Lowdon reveals how he built a new F1 team: a focus on people, three pillars (structure, focus, energy), and core values for success.

www.gpblog.com

Cadillac causes F1 shock with bombshell leadership announcement
12 Aug 2026
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Cadillac Formula 1 Team has announced that Marcin Budkowski has been appointed its new Team Principal, replacing Graeme Lowdon.

“We’re grateful to Graeme Lowdon for his leadership and the role he played in forming the Cadillac Formula 1 Team from the ground up,” Towriss continued. “His contributions helped establish a strong foundation in our build-up phase, and we thank him for his commitment and wish him well.” Cadillac Formula 1 Team.

‘Bombshell leadership announcement’;

Cadillac causes F1 shock with bombshell leadership announcement

Cadillac Formula 1 Team has announced that Marcin Budkowski has been appointed its new Team Principal, replacing Graeme Lowdon. The

www.motorsportweek.com

 

[Fortitude]

10 Biggest Questions for the Second Half of the 2026 F1 Season.
From Kimi Antonelli’s championship lead and Ferrari’s resurgence to Max Verstappen’s future and Madrid’s debut, there’s plenty left in Formula 1 to settle.
17 AUG 2026
PHILLIP HORTON
AutoWeek

Can Antonelli retain his advantage?
Can Russell fight back?
Can Ferrari keep up the pressure?
Is McLaren back in the mix?

How far can Aston Martin go?
What does Verstappen decide?
How is Madrid received?

How will the cars suit the remaining tracks?
Can Cadillac avoid a lonely end?
Where does the season end?

‘10’;

10 Biggest Questions for the Second Half of the 2026 F1 Season

From Kimi Antonelli’s championship lead and Ferrari’s resurgence to Max Verstappen’s future and Madrid’s debut, there’s plenty left in Formula 1 to settle.

www.autoweek.com

Verstappen, Norris and Antonelli pay tribute to Zandvoort ahead of Formula 1's farewell
17 Aug 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Verstappen: "It's my home Grand Prix" - For Verstappen, the race holds special significance as Formula 1 prepares to bid farewell to his home event. While disappointed to see it leave the calendar, the four-time world champion stressed that Zandvoort's legacy will remain. "Of course, we've known this now for a while," Verstappen said. "It's my home Grand Prix, so for sure I'm going to enjoy it a lot. Hopefully driving-wise a bit more than I did this weekend, at least."

Norris hails one of Formula 1's best atmospheres - McLaren's Lando Norris echoed Verstappen's sentiments, describing Zandvoort as one of his favourite venues on the calendar. Having raced there since his Formula 3 days, Norris believes the circuit has always stood out. "Like Max says, it's a shame because it's a fun race. It's full of McLaren fans! It's just a cool track. Since I've driven there in Formula 3, it was one of the most exciting, different layouts that you have on the calendar, and in Formula 1 it's a pretty crazy track."

Antonelli: "An incredible track" - "It's a great track, a lot of fun, even though I didn't have a really good experience last year. From a pure driving point of view, it's an incredible track, especially in qualifying. It's very exciting. Both of the fans are great, very passionate, make a lot of noise. It's cool to see. So, of course, it's a shame, but there's nothing we can do about it."

‘Tribute to Zandvoort’;

Verstappen, Norris and Antonelli pay tribute to Zandvoort ahead of Formula 1's farewell - F1technical.net

www.f1technical.net

What happened the last time F1 said goodbye to Zandvoort in 1985?
17 Aug 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Formula 1 is preparing to bid farewell to Zandvoort, with the final Dutch Grand Prix set to take place this weekend. But what happened the last time the Dutch circuit hosted what was supposed to be its final F1 race? Back in 1985, Zandvoort staged a memorable Grand Prix before disappearing from the calendar for 36 years.

Few may remember that more than 40 years ago in the Netherlands, Niki Lauda claimed what would prove to be the 25th and final victory of his Formula 1 career, before retiring from the sport for good at the age of 36 at the end of the season. The 1985 Dutch Grand Prix took place on 25 August as the 11th round of the season, just one week after reigning world champion Niki Lauda had announced that he would retire from Formula 1 for good at the end of the year.

Nelson Piquet started from pole position for Brabham-BMW after setting a 1:11.074, while Lauda faced a much tougher task from 10th on the grid in his McLaren. The Austrian gradually worked his way through the field, with his race strategy eventually helping him move ahead of teammate Alain Prost and into the lead.

‘What happened the last time’;

The remarkable story behind F1's last goodbye to Zandvoort in 1985

Formula 1 is preparing to bid farewell to Zandvoort, with the final Dutch GP taking place this weekend. But what happened when F1 last left the iconic Dutch circuit in 1985?

www.gpblog.com

IT’S RACE WEEK: 5 STORYLINES WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT AHEAD OF THE 2026 DUTCH GRAND PRIX
Chris Medland runs through the biggest talking points as F1 heads to the Netherlands for Round 12 of the 2026 season.
17 Aug 2026
Chris Medland
Formula One - Official Site

RACING IS BACK! - Teams and drivers have been enjoying a well-earned rest since the last Race Week feature was required, and they are going to need it ahead of a racing-filled end to the year.
MCLAREN THE LATEST WINNERS - Mercedes started the 2026 season by winning the first six races in succession, but the competitive picture at the front appeared to close up the longer the year went on, and they took just two wins from the next five rounds.

HONDA’S POWER UNIT UPGRADE - Ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, we were able to focus on Aston Martin and a significant development package that the team brought to their 2026 car to try and turn their season around.
A NEW TEAM PRINCIPAL AT CADILLAC - At the time of writing, the silly season hasn’t really taken off from a driver perspective, with little in the way of movement or contract confirmation as the paddock heads to the Netherlands. But there has been a change at the top of one of the teams.

ZANDVOORT’S FINAL RACE - The host of the first race back after the summer break since 2023, the Dutch Grand Prix has always provided a huge amount of energy to kick-start the second part of the season. Ever since the race returned to the schedule in 2021, it has seen a huge crowd – largely supporting home favourite Max Verstappen – turn out to have a party among the sand dunes on the coast of the North Sea. But after extending its hosting contract for one extra year, this weekend marks the final visit to Zandvoort before it drops off the calendar.

‘5’;

5 storylines we’re excited about ahead of the Dutch GP

After three long weekends without a Formula 1 race to look forward to, it’s time to get back to action following the summer shutdown. And there will be plenty of racing to look forward to between now and the end of the season as the second half kicks off with our final visit to Zandvoort.

www.formula1.com

How 2026 title will be won as fresh F1 twists loom… and why McLaren still believes
18th August 2026
Michael Lamonato
Fox Sports

The car that will win this year’s Formula 1 world championship is yet to reveal itself. The development race has taken on a new importance this year, the first under new regulations. What in previous seasons had been a game of marginal gains is now about massive, title-changing steps that are constantly altering our understanding of the competitive landscape.

Mercedes started the season with the fastest car, but its position at the top has become increasingly precarious. Other teams have won three of the last five grands prix, with Ferrari stepping up as its closest rival. With just 72 points between the top two at the break and momentum ebbing and flowing unpredictably, the championship race is very much alive.

McLaren is also promising to redouble its efforts to catch up this season, convinced that its win in Hungary proved it’s onto a good thing — and motivated by its big 2024 title comeback that its 159-point deficit isn’t yet terminal. How the season ends is anyone’s guess — but we do have some clues about the direction of the road ahead.

‘Fresh F1 twists loom’;

How 2026 title will be won as fresh F1 twists loom… and why McLaren still believes

How 2026 title will be won as fresh F1 twists loom… and why McLaren still believes

www.foxsports.com.au

Max Verstappen issues 'shame' response ahead of home grand prix departure
Max Verstappen is preparing for what is likely going to be his final home race.
18 August 2026
Nick Golding
RacingNews365

Asked for his thoughts on the final Dutch GP, Verstappen told select media, including RacingNews365: "Yeah, of course, we’ve known this now for a while. It’s my home grand prix, so for sure I’m going to enjoy it a lot. I hope, driving-wise!”

"Hopefully a bit more than I did in Hungary, at least. But, yeah, it’s going to be great to see the fans. Okay, we won’t have a Formula 1 Grand Prix there, but there are a lot of other series that still race there, and if you want to have a track day, the track is not going to disappear.”

"So, for me, I’ll still have my fun driving around there, just not in Formula 1, but that’s okay. I mean, I just want to enjoy it with the fans. It’s incredibly impressive what they have done to bring it back, and I think, at the time when they hosted the first one, it was a great example for a lot of other grands prix as well of how to host and entertain.”

'Shame';

Max Verstappen issues 'shame' response ahead of home grand prix departure

Max Verstappen is preparing for what is likely going to be his final home race.

racingnews365.com

 

[Fortitude]

Mercedes have "final opportunity" for key result as they admit team "have left points on the table".
Mercedes has yet to score victory in the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix, and this could be the team's last chance.
18 Aug 2026
Sam Hall
Crash.Net

Toto Wolff has his eyes set firmly on claiming an accolade that has so far eluded Mercedes when Formula 1 returns at the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend. "Zandvoort has been a unique challenge since its return," said team principal Wolff.

"It is a difficult track to master, the fans create an incredible atmosphere, and it has become a race that the teams and drivers look forward to. We have come close but never won there in the modern era. This is our final opportunity to change that, and that's a challenge we would like to meet."

"Our rivals have reduced the performance gap, and we know the second half of the year will demand more from us than the first. The championships will be decided by execution and the rate of development we can bring to the car across the next 12 races. Whilst we are slightly out of step with upgrades compared to our rivals, we have more performance to unlock and a clear development plan to do so."

"Final opportunity";

Mercedes have "final opportunity" for key result as they admit team "have left points on the table"

Mercedes has yet to score victory in the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix, and this could be the team's last chance.

www.crash.net

Honda makes major ‘new spec’ Aston Martin confirmation for Dutch GP
18 Aug 2026
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

Honda trackside general manager and chief engineer, Shintaro Orihara, has said the introduction of a significant power unit upgrade for Aston Martin is an “important milestone” for the manufacturer. “The Dutch Grand Prix is an important milestone for Honda as this is where we introduce our new spec power unit,” Orihara said ahead of the weekend.

“This is the result of an intense period of hard work at HRC Sakura together with HRC UK and the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team. Zandvoort is a Sprint weekend, which means we only have a single free practice session. This will bring an additional challenge to complete the evaluation of our new package in that limited running, but it’s a test we’re looking forward to.”

“In Hungary, we saw a step forward with the new chassis. With the new specification power unit now introduced, we look forward to building on that progress together with the team over the remainder of the season.” While as much as 50bhp had been rumoured to have been gained in its new power unit, Orihara previously played down those claims, believing it to be “not the real number” of its performance improvement.

“Important milestone”;

Aston Martin boost as major Honda upgrade confirmed

New chassis, now a 'new spec' power unit. Will Aston Martin challenge higher up at Zandvoort?

www.planetf1.com

Aston Martin prepare major power unit step after Newey breakthrough
18 AUG 2026
Connor Andrews
GPblog.com

The Adrian Newey-led squad already made a giant leap last time out in Hungary when the legendary engineer delivered a chassis update which cut around two seconds of lap time from their deficit to the race leaders.

Aston started the season in disarray as the worst team along with newcomers Cadillac, but their performance at the Hungaroring struck fear into their rivals.

Next up is an engine upgrade in Zandvoort for Aston, and the man in charge of delivering it, Honda’s chief engineer Shintaro Orihara, isn’t dampening expectations.

‘Major power unit step’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/aston-martin-honda-upgrade-dutch-grand-prix-fernando-alonso

McLaren details latest MCL40 updates for Dutch GP
McLaren will introduce another set of upgrades at this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix as it looks to build on its breakthrough victory in Hungary.
19 Aug 2026
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

The team will arrive at Zandvoort with a new rear wing and revised rear brake ducts, completing the development package it began introducing at the Hungaroring before Formula 1’s summer break. McLaren technical director of applied engineering Neil Houldey said the latest components would continue the work started in Budapest.

“We head into the Zandvoort weekend after finishing the final race before the shutdown with a win and a strong performance, but we are very aware of how close the competition is and how important reliability will be,” Houldey said. “We have learned a lot in the first part of the season about how this car needs to be driven to extract performance and on containing the issues we faced earlier in the year.”

“We have also worked hard as a team on continued development with some parts available this weekend focusing on the rear side, to complete the package introduced in Hungary with a new rear wing and new rear brake ducts. But we know other teams will bring developments too. Therefore, it will be another tough event, and our focus is on getting everything we can out of the car. If we execute well, we can put ourselves in the fight with the leading teams.”

‘Latest MCL40 updates’;

McLaren details latest MCL40 updates for Dutch GP

The team will arrive at Zandvoort with a new rear wing and revised rear brake ducts, completing the development package

speedcafe.com

Red Bull unveil fresh Dutch GP look for Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar
The Red Bull drivers will have a fresh look for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort - Max Verstappen's home race.
16 August 2026
RN365 Staff
RacingNews365

Red Bull has unveiled a fresh look with new race suits for Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix.

The final race to be held at Zandvoort for the foreseeable future holds special memories for both drivers, with Verstappen having won three of the five races held since the race returned in 2021, finishing second in the other two.

For Hadjar, he scored his first F1 podium at the 2025 Dutch GP with a stunning performance for Racing Bulls, one which in part, helped him to earn promotion to alongside Verstappen for 2026.

‘Fresh Dutch GP look’;

Red Bull unveil fresh Dutch GP look for Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar

The Red Bull drivers will have a fresh look for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort - Max Verstappen's home race.

racingnews365.com

How wet weather could shake up the final Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort
17 Aug 2026
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

It's race week once again as the 2026 Formula 1 season resumes with a Sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix. This is what the weather forecast looks like for Zandvoort. A cold and rainy week awaits Zandvoort. The coastal city on the North Sea is not expected to experience a particularly warm summer weekend, according to the weather forecast.

On Friday, when the one and only free practice session and Sprint Qualifying take place, Weather.com forecasts temperatures of around 20 degrees Celsius, with a 40% chance of rain. Saturday is expected to have the highest chance of rain at 45%, particularly during the Sprint, while the afternoon is forecast to be partly cloudy during Qualifying. Temperatures will reach just 19 degrees Celsius.

On Sunday, fans might see the sun come out in the Netherlands. However, temperatures are expected to reach only 20 degrees Celsius, with a 21% chance of rain.

‘Wet weather shake up’;

Rain could spice up final Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort

2026 Dutch GP weather: cool and changeable Sprint weekend at Zandvoort. Rain risk 40% Fri, 45% Sat, 21% Sun; highs 19–20°C. Verstappen reflects on event’s farewell

www.gpblog.com

 

[Fortitude]

Yuki Tsunoda sends message to Isack Hadjar after Dutch GP comeback announced
19 Aug 2026
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

As reported by PlanetF1.com, it emerged on Wednesday morning that Hadjar was set to miss the Dutch Grand Prix after sustaining an injury to his wrist. Red Bull confirmed hours later that Hadjar will take no part in the Zandvoort weekend, with Liam Lawson stepping up from the Racing Bulls team to deputise for the Frenchman.

In turn, Tsunoda will step into Lawson’s Racing Bulls seat for the Dutch Grand Prix, partnering Arvid Lindblad. In a post to social media following the announcement, Tsunoda wrote: “Happy to get back behind the wheel this weekend and step in for the team. Wishing Isack Hadjar a speedy recovery!”

‘Dutch GP comeback’;

Yuki Tsunoda sends message to Isack Hadjar after Red Bull plan confirmed

Yuki Tsunoda has sent a message to Isack Hadjar after Red Bull confirmed that he will miss the F1 2026 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.

www.planetf1.com

Our verdict on Lawson and Tsunoda's Dutch GP call-ups
19 Aug 2026
THE RACE TEAM
The Race

Edd Straw: Right choice for Red Bull, best choice for Tsunoda
Gary Anderson: Lawson needs to make it count, Lindblad's time will come

Josh Suttill: This should be Lindblad's shot

Jack Benyon: A pivotal moment for Tsunoda
Matt Beer: Lawson must undo some damage here

‘Our verdict’;

Our verdict on Lawson and Tsunoda's Dutch GP call-ups

Liam Lawson is back in a Red Bull Racing car and Yuki Tsunoda is back on the F1 grid. Here's what we think about that

www.the-race.com

McLaren confirms more updates for Zandvoort: 'We know rivals will bring some too'
19 Aug 2026
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

McLaren will bring multiple changes to the Dutch Grand Prix to the rear of the car. A new rear wing is included, but it will not be a 'Macarena' version, GPblog understands. McLaren's Technical Director of Applied Engineering, Neil Houldey, confirmed the updates his team will have ready for the first weekend after the summer break.

He explained: "We head into the Zandvoort weekend after finishing the final race before the shutdown with a win and a strong performance, but we are very aware of how close the competition is and how important reliability will be. We have learned a lot in the first part of the season about how this car needs to be driven to extract performance and on containing the issues we faced earlier in the year.”

"We have also worked hard as a team on continued development with some parts available this weekend focusing on the rear side, to complete the package introduced in Hungary with a new rear wing and new rear brake ducts. But we know other teams will bring developments too."

‘Multiple changes’;

McLaren looks to build on Hungary victory with more updates ready for Zandvoort

McLaren to debut rear-wing and brake duct upgrades at Zandvoort after Hungary win, targeting reliability and performance amid tight F1 fight; team sits P3

www.gpblog.com

Alpine fire Dutch Grand Prix warning with crucial upgrades planned
18 Aug 2026
Connor Andrews
GPblog.com

Alpine have fired a warning towards their championship rivals ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix. The British-French squad are currently sixth in the constructors’ championship, a vast improvement after they finished bottom in 2025. With 61 points, Alpine are just five behind Racing Bulls, who currently lead the so-called ‘midfield battle’ but they’re more than ready to claim that spot back.

Speaking ahead of the final race at Zandvoort, managing director Steve Nielsen raised expectations. “We have a few upgrades available this weekend, which we will run on the car in practice ahead of sprint qualifying,” he said in a press release.

“The plan is to bring more as and when we can, and hopefully it will be enough to put us in the on-track fight to score as many points as possible. We have said many times that we are in a close championship fight and if we are able to bring performance to our car we can achieve our objective by the end of the season.”

‘Crucial upgrades planned’;

F1 team plots Dutch Grand Prix leap with 'critical' new upgrades

Alpine will introduce upgrades at the Dutch Grand Prix as Pierre Gasly labels development 'critical' to their hopes of taking fifth in the F1 standings.

www.gpblog.com

Formula One statistics for the Dutch Grand Prix
20 Aug 2026
The Straits Times

Zandvoort returned to the calendar in 2021 for the first time since 1985. This year's race will be the 36th world championship Dutch Grand Prix and the last at the circuit for the foreseeable future. Red Bull's Max Verstappen won his home race in 2021, 2022 and 2023 from pole position. He finished second in 2024 and 2025.

McLaren have won the last two Dutch Grands Prix - Lando Norris in 2024 and Oscar Piastri last year. That win remains Piastri's most recent success. This year's event will be run as a sprint weekend for the first time, the fifth of six this season, and some rain is also forecast. Overtaking can be a challenge, with the winner coming from pole every time since the race's return. The circuit opened in 1948 in the seaside dunes west of Amsterdam and has high-speed changes of direction with much of the lap spent cornering.

The last two banked corners have an angle steeper than the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the pit lane is the season's shortest. The narrow and twisty track, with 14 corners, is the second shortest after Monaco. Only 55% of the lap is spent at full throttle. Ferrari have the most Dutch wins historically, with eight. Their most recent was with Frenchman Rene Arnoux in 1983.

‘Formula One statistics’;

Formula One statistics for the Dutch Grand Prix

Aug 19 - Formula One statistics for Sunday's Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, round 12 of the championship: Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

www.straitstimes.com

2026 F1 Dutch Grand Prix – Schedule, how to watch, TV times & more
20 Aug 2026
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

Here are all the TV and session times, and how to watch the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix so you don't miss a second of the action.

‘Schedule’;

2026 F1 Dutch Grand Prix – Schedule, how to watch, TV times & more

Formula 1 returns from its traditional European summer break this weekend as the championship heads to Zandvoort for the Dutch

speedcafe.com

What time is F1's 2026 Dutch Grand Prix? Full weekend schedule
17 Aug 2026
THE RACE TEAM
The Race

Friday August 21
Practice: 3.30am (PDT), 6.30am (EDT)
Sprint qualifying: 7.30am (PDT), 10.30am (EDT)
Saturday August 22
Sprint: 3am (PDT), 6am (EDT)
Grand Prix qualifying: 7am (PDT), 10am (EDT)
Sunday August 23
Dutch Grand Prix: 6am (PDT), 9am (EDT)

Dutch GP schedule (local time)
Friday August 21
Practice: 12.30pm
Sprint qualifying: 4.30pm
Saturday August 22
Sprint: 12.00pm
Grand Prix qualifying: 4pm
Sunday August 23
Dutch Grand Prix: 3pm

Dutch GP schedule (UK time)
Friday August 21
Practice: 11.30am
Sprint qualifying: 3.30pm
Saturday August 22
Sprint: 11.00am
Grand Prix qualifying: 3pm
Sunday August 23
Dutch Grand Prix: 2pm

‘Full weekend schedule’;

What time is F1's 2026 Dutch Grand Prix? Full weekend schedule

All the times you need to know for Formula 1's next race - the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix

www.the-race.com

 

[Fortitude]

F1 - 2026 Dutch Grand Prix - Thursday Press Conference Transcript
20.08.26
FIA (Press Release)

Q: Max, perhaps we could start with you. Hope the summer was good to you. First, though, can we talk about the big news of the day? Four more years at Red Bull Racing. Congratulations. Was it an easy decision for you?
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yes, I mean, it wasn't really too stressful. I think it was the right call. I feel really good within the team and, yeah, we have a lot of belief that, you know, we can, let's say, get back to the top in the coming years.

Q: Checo, if we could come to you now. Hope you had a good break. Can we start by getting your reaction to the news that Graeme Lowdon has been replaced by Marcin Budkowski as Cadillac team principal?
Sergio PÉREZ: Yeah, obviously, I think Graeme has done a tremendous part in bringing Cadillac to where it is now, together with GM and Dan [Towriss]. And, yeah, I think he's part of the history of the team and I wish him well on whatever comes next. And I think on Marcin, I think it's really exciting at the same time, you know, when you have a new leader and see his new perspective.”

Q: Arvid, if we could come to you now. Hope you've had a good break. Can we talk about new teammates? With Liam stepping up to Red Bull Racing, you're going to be partnered by Yuki Tsunoda. How do you view that challenge?
Arvid LINDBLAD: Yeah, I mean, Yuki, for sure it's going to be an interesting weekend for him. You know, these cars are very different and it's going to be a Sprint weekend, not the easiest track, so for sure I'll try to help him, where I can, to get up to speed. But I think, you know, yeah, I don't know him super well. We haven't really crossed paths before, but we've always been friendly, so it should be a nice weekend together.

Q: George, perhaps we could start with you and start with some congratulations on your engagement. Carmen said yes.
George RUSSELL: Yes! Yeah, no, it was very special. It was a really, really nice time to do it and, you know, a lot of thought went into it. It was a really interesting process, sort of designing the ring and doing all of that. And I thought, you know, when I came to the moment, I could actually get my words out. I suddenly got really nervous when I was on one knee. But no, it was great, so thank you.

Q:. Nico, if we could come to you now. I hope the break was good. Belated happy birthday for yesterday as well. Let's talk performance. You scored your first points of the year last time out in Hungary. How confident are you of getting on a point-scoring run now?
Nico HÜLKENBERG: Well, we'll see. But it was obviously good to get that done. You know, we've battled through some difficult moments at the start of the season... …the ambition, the goal, is to obviously score frequently, more consistently. But I'm generally happy with the progress we've made this year and I feel we've grown as a team in many areas, done some big improvements already. Obviously, there's always more and more things to work on, more things to improve, but the trend and the trajectory is positive, in the right direction.

Q: Lando, if we could come to you now. How was the break for you?
Lando NORRIS: It was good. It was nice. Yeah, I just spent the whole time with my friends, travelling quite a bit, doing different things. So, yeah, well needed for sure.

‘Transcript’;

F1 - 2026 Dutch Grand Prix - Thursday Press Conference Transcript

PART ONE – Arvid LINDBLAD (Racing Bulls), Sergio PÉREZ (Cadillac), Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull)Q: Max, perhaps we could start with you. Hope the summer was good to you. First, though, can we talk about the big news of the day? Four more years at Red Bull Racing. Congratulations. Was it an easy...

www.fia.com

Everything we learned from day one at F1's Dutch GP
20 Aug 2026
THE RACE TEAM
The Race

Verstappen was closer to retiring than joining rivals: Max Verstappen extending his stay at Red Bull until the end of 2030 was the biggest news from Thursday at Zandvoort. It’s a big win for Red Bull and evidence that Verstappen really does want to end his F1 career with the team.
Alonso can't thank his 'lucky' stars: Fernando Alonso had been definitive before the summer break that his ‘plan’ was to decide on his future in Formula 1 during the holidays. While teasing the idea of definitely racing something else next year – whether it was F1, the Dakar Rally or the Indy 500 – Alonso seemed to suggest that things were out of his hands.
‘Cascade’ to blame for Cadillac brake troubles: “there’s potentially some reprioritisation to be done in terms of what’s important”. While Marcin Budkowski wasn’t precise in terms of what that meant, he pointed to the brake overheating problems that have dogged the team as an area to be addressed.

Tsunoda feels ready thanks to extensive TPC running: Yuki Tsunoda says he feels physically and mentally “sharp” ahead of his unexpected return to F1 with Racing Bulls at Zandvoort, thanks mainly to extensive TPC running with Red Bull this year that allowed him to cover “five race distances”.
Aston Martin’s More power - but that's not enough: But the Japanese manufacturer is playing things very close to its chest when it comes to being definitive about what kind of step it is anticipating. So much so in fact that Honda chief engineer Shintaro Orihara jokingly held up a sign at his regular media event on Thursday saying: “Ask me anything…except the kW (Kilowatt) and laptime.”
Sainz didn’t want to abandon Williams: There was a lack of massively alluring alternative options, but Carlos Sainz says his new multi-year deal with Williams is partly about not wanting to abandon the team at the first sign of trouble. “I don't think it's part of my character to jump ship when this situation is at its worst,” Sainz said.

Alpine's Zandvoort upgrade is only on one car: Much is riding on Alpine's upgrade to elevate it back into the fight with Racing Bulls for best-of-the-rest status week-in, week-out, and both Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto spoke confidently on Thursday about the step it should offer.
Perez wants long-term future at Cadillac: There appears to be a driver market theme of staying put right now. Sergio Perez being the more impressive of the returning Cadillac drivers could have made him a contender to switch teams, but he appeared to indicate at Zandvoort that his long-term future lies with Cadillac.
Bearman laments Haas’ regression to its former self: Recent chatter around Haas has focused around ongoing parts inconsistencies between the two cars, as well as the same car not performing correctly between rebuilds. It’s something Esteban Ocon has been banging on about for ages, and team-mate Ollie Bearman has recently joined that chorus - but at Zandvoort he also called out Haas for its sudden regression during 2026 to something that is more like the Haas of old when it comes to an overall weak rate of car development.

‘Everything we learned’;

Everything we learned from day one at F1's Dutch GP

Thursday at Zandvoort was the first chance to hear from some of the names generating big news in F1 right now. Here's what we learned.

www.the-race.com

Lawson ‘hadn’t even got off the plane’ when Red Bull called
21 Aug 2026
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

“I literally landed, I hadn’t even got off the plane,” Liam Lawson said when asked when he found out about the call-up. I had come from basically being on break and landed in the UK for what I thought was going to be obviously VCARB prep. Alan [Permane] called me and basically he told me what was going on. So then my week changed pretty quickly.”

“Everything’s really different, to be honest. For me, I’m coming in for this weekend and in a unique situation to try and maximise one weekend,” he said. “It’s very different to being in your own car, being in your own team. At the same time, I’ve had a lot of races since then, F1 as well. So, learned a huge amount. I’d like to try and take as much of that into this weekend as I can, but it’s for sure going to be interesting. It’s a tough track, weather is going to be very interesting as well. So, yeah, let’s see.”

“At least the power unit is the same, so that’s one thing that should hopefully help things,” he said. “But in terms of the car itself, they’re completely different. That’s going to be for sure a challenge. It’s just the nature of a sprint weekend having one practice session, I’m pretty aware that it’s going to be a lot to build up to. To start, it’s probably going to feel very foreign. I’m sure it’s going to be quite tough.”

‘Dramatically changed his plans’;

Lawson ‘hadn’t even got off the plane’ when Red Bull called

The New Zealander was expecting to begin his usual preparations with Racing Bulls after arriving in the United Kingdom on

speedcafe.com

Yuki Tsunoda Reveals the Last-Minute Phone Call That Sparked His Surprise Return to the F1 Grid
21 August 2026
Jack Rennon
F1 Chronicle

Speaking on media day in Zandvoort, Yuki Tsunoda described the moment the call came in. “It’s great to be back, obviously. When I heard this news, I was in Greece having a nice mix of training and, at that moment, I was probably lying on the beach having a nice time,” he said.

“On Tuesday I think I got the call that potentially I might be in the seat this weekend. When I heard, I was like half excited, half still doubtful because anything can happen, but I was super excited too. It was all confirmed that I’m racing this weekend. I’m super excited and physically I’m feeling ready. I’ve done a couple of TPCs. It will be my first time in this car but still, I’m very excited.”

‘Lying on the beach’;

Yuki Tsunoda Reveals the Last-Minute Phone Call That Sparked His Surprise Return to the F1 Grid | F1 News

Yuki Tsunoda has admitted that waiting in the wings as a reserve driver left him "dying to be in the car," making his surprise return to the grid at the Dutch

f1chronicle.com

 

[Fortitude]

Antonelli leads Norris and Russell in disrupted sole Dutch GP practice session.
21 Aug 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Kimi Antonelli set the pace in the only practice session of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, putting Mercedes at the top of the timesheets ahead of Lando Norris and George Russell. The Italian ended the hour with a 1m 12.949s lap, just 0.121 seconds clear of Norris, while Russell completed the top three.

With Zandvoort hosting a Sprint weekend, Friday's FP1 session was the drivers' only opportunity to prepare their cars before Sprint Qualifying later in the day. That made every minute particularly valuable, although the teams faced challenging conditions at the start of the hour.

The track was declared wet when the session began, with damp patches remaining around the circuit. Several drivers initially ventured out on intermediate tyres, but the conditions improved quickly enough for the field to switch to slicks after only a handful of laps. As the racing line dried, lap times began to fall rapidly.

‘Kimi Antonelli set the pace’;

Antonelli leads Norris and Russell in disrupted sole Dutch GP practice session - F1technical.net

www.f1technical.net

Dutch Grand Prix Free Practice 1 - Results
21/08/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

2026 Dutch Grand Prix - Free Practice 1 results
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:12.949s 36
2 Lando Norris McLaren +0.121s 30
3 George Russell Mercedes +0.125s 37
4 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.190s 34
5 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.289s 39
6 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.659s 35
7 Nico Hülkenberg Audi +0.835s 34
8 Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.962s 28
9 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi +1.043s 29
10 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls +1.336s 37

‘Free Practice 1 results’;

Dutch Grand Prix Free Practice 1 - Results

Full results from Free Practice 1 for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, round 12 of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship.

f1i.com

Kimi Antonelli beats Lando Norris to top spot in Dutch GP FP1
21 Aug 2026
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

F1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli returned from the summer holiday with a bang, topping Friday’s sole practice session for the Dutch Grand Prix ahead of Lando Norris. The Mercedes driver clocked a 1:12.949, a tenth ahead of Norris, who was in turn 0.004s up George Russell.

The morning’s rain ended ahead of FP1 with Nico Hulkenberg the first to cover a proper lap in FP1, with the Audi driver reporting that the conditions were okay for slick tyres. That was good news for the drivers with just one practice session ahead of the day’s Sprint qualifying.

Norris challenged Hamilton but lost ground through Turn 7. With traffic all over the pace, he was actually given a tow and went quickest with a 1::13.105. It wasn’t enough, though to keep Antonelli at bay. The championship leader finished FP1 with a 1:12.949, just over a tenth ahead of Norris. George Russell in third was a third of a second behind his teammate.

‘With a bang’;

Kimi Antonelli returns from F1 summer break with a statement at Zandvoort

Same leader, but the competition is right there!

www.planetf1.com

What happened in only Dutch GP F1 2026 practice session
21 Aug 2026
JOSH SUTTILL
The Race

Championship leader Antonelli delivered a 1m12.949s lap in the dying moments of the sole practice session at Zandvoort, his second flying lap on those soft tyres after he was baulked by traffic on his first. Antonelli also had a harmless spin earlier in the session on the exit of Turn 10 before resuming. Norris also improved on his second flying lap to end up 0.121s adrift of Antonelli, with George Russell third, 0.125s off his team-mate Antonelli.

The Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were fourth and fifth quickest but within three tenths of the pace. Oscar Piastri’s McLaren was 0.659s slower than Antonelli’s benchmark in sixth. Nico Hulkenberg’s Audi led the midfield in seventh on the medium tyres, ahead of Pierre Gasly, who has Alpine’s major upgrade on his car (Franco Colapinto will get it at Monza), and Hulkenberg's Audi team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto.

Arvid Lindblad was 10th for Racing Bulls, ahead of Max Verstappen, fresh from recommitting to Red Bull. It was a tricky session for Red Bull, with Verstappen struggling with understeer and Liam Lawson trying to get to grips with the RB22 that he only found out he’d be driving for the first time earlier this week. Lawson ended up 14th, around six tenths adrift of Verstappen, having had a moment at the Turn 11/12 chicane on his final flying lap.

‘What happened’;

What happened in only Dutch GP F1 2026 practice session

Kimi Antonelli kicked off the second half of F1’s 2026 season on top, beating Lando Norris’s McLaren to the top spot in Dutch GP practice

www.the-race.com

Antonelli sends strong signal to McLaren and Ferrari as Verstappen misses top 10 | Dutch GP FP1 Report
21 Aug 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

The opening session took place on a wet track for the first ten minutes following rain earlier in the morning, with temperatures at Zandvoort also unusually cool for the summer. The drivers therefore had the opportunity to get to grips with the circuit on intermediate tyres before switching to slicks later in the session.

With 45 minutes remaining, the drivers began to push harder, with Lewis Hamilton setting the fastest time with a 1:15.124, two tenths clear of Kimi Antonelli and three tenths ahead of George Russell.
Carlos Sainz, meanwhile, ran into trouble after losing control of his car at the final corner and ending up in the gravel. Fortunately, the Spaniard managed to avoid the barriers and was able to rejoin the track before returning to the pits.

Local hero Max Verstappen began to show his pace with around 30 minutes remaining, setting the fourth-fastest time at that stage despite running on hard tyres, while the drivers ahead of him had all set their best laps on mediums.

‘Strong signal’;

Antonelli makes statement to McLaren and Ferrari as Verstappen misses top 10 | Dutch GP FP1 Report

FP1 at Zandvoort wraps up as teams complete their only practice before Sprint Qualifying, finalizing setups and gathering data ahead of the Dutch GP weekend.

www.gpblog.com

MCLAREN AND FERRARI LEAD DEVELOPMENT CHARGE AS EVERY UPGRADE FOR DUTCH GRAND PRIX REVEALED
With the summer break complete, a number of teams are set to introduce upgrades at the Dutch Grand Prix.
21 Aug 2026
Formula One - Official Site

MERCEDES: Although the competition between the top four teams has continued to heat up, Mercedes will only introduce one modified part – the front corner. They have detached the drum front lip from the duct inlet and adjusted the camber, which should improve flow to the rear of the car.

FERRARI: Ferrari have made a number of changes all targeting improved performance in local load. The floor has been developed further, with tweaks made to the body, board and edge to deliver better robustness of the underlying flow mechanisms and greater flow energy directed to the rear diffuser.

MCLAREN: The other frontrunner leading the upgrades list is McLaren as they plan to debut a new rear wing assembly and revised central bodywork, which should work in conjunction to extract additional aerodynamic performance.
RED BULL: There’s just a small tweak for Red Bull at Max Verstappen’s home race – to address reliability and reduce strain on the gaitor at high steering angles, they have shrunk the length of the wishbone shroud cord.

‘DEVELOPMENT CHARGE’;

McLaren lead development push as Dutch GP upgrades revealed

With the summer break complete, a number of teams are set to introduce upgrades at the Dutch Grand Prix.

www.formula1.com

Ferrari leads the way as Verstappen struggles in Zandvoort long runs
21 Aug 2026
Tim Kraaij
GPblog.com

The long-run data from FP1 provided further indications of the competitive picture at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, with Ferrari emerging as the strongest team over the longer stints. While Kimi Antonelli topped the timesheets on a single lap, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc appeared to hold the advantage in terms of race pace.

Antonelli was the fastest driver in the first and only free practice session at Zandvoort, but Ferrari moved to the top when attention shifted to the long runs. Hamilton recorded the best average of the session, with Leclerc also showing strong pace. The Briton has already made clear his desire to add a Dutch Grand Prix victory to his record in the final edition of the event, and the early race simulations suggest he could have the pace to challenge.

Lando Norris was another driver to impress over the longer runs. The reigning world champion finished less than a tenth per lap behind Leclerc and ahead of both Mercedes drivers, suggesting McLaren's strong form from Hungary may have carried over to Zandvoort. Further down the order, Red Bull endured a more difficult session. Max Verstappen finished FP1 in eleventh place, more than a second behind Antonelli's benchmark, and although his position improved when comparing long-run averages, the overall picture remained challenging.

‘Zandvoort long runs’;

Long-run pace paints clear Zandvoort picture as Verstappen trails rivals

Verstappen struggles at Zandvoort: only P11 in FP, seventh in long runs on the hard tyre. Hamilton and Leclerc dominate race pace, with Norris close behind.

www.gpblog.com

 

[Fortitude]

Russell upstages Antonelli with Dutch GP sprint pole.
21 Aug 2026
JACK BENYON
The Race

George Russell claimed his third sprint pole of the season for Mercedes in a Zandvoort Formula 1 sprint qualifying where the top four were split by less than a tenth of a second. Russell trails team-mate Kimi Antonelli by 50 points, but nailed a 1m11.567s lap here - despite a relatively slow middle sector - as the field switched to soft tyres for the one-lap sprint pole shootout.
“Must be a bit lighter after the engagement ring,” joked Russell, alluding to his recent proposal to his partner.

Lando Norris was the first to set a proper flying lap of the SQ3 runners with the upgraded McLaren that has crinkle-cut louvres on its rear-wing endplate, and McLaren was the only team to have two cars in the top four with Piastri in fourth. Norris was just 0.041s off Russell, while Charles Leclerc led the Ferrari charge just 0.055s off the Mercedes benchmark. Kimi Antonelli spun in practice and went off at Turn 12 in SQ1, and could only manage fifth and over two tenths off Russell in the final pole shootout.

Max Verstappen, who was noted but soon cleared by stewards for potentially impeding Lewis Hamilton in SQ1, was sixth and over half a second off the pace, while a snap of oversteer at Turn 1 and a struggle to turn in at Turn 9 hampered Lewis Hamilton in seventh. The upgraded Alpine propelled Pierre Gasly back to the front of the midfield where it lived for the first part of the season before the upgraded Racing Bulls took over, with Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto actually ahead of the top Racing Bulls of Arvid Lindblad.

‘Russell upstages Antonelli’;

Russell upstages Antonelli with Dutch GP sprint pole

George Russell claimed his third sprint pole of the season for Mercedes in a Zandvoort Formula 1 sprint qualifying where the top four were split by less than a tenth of a second

www.the-race.com

Dutch Grand Prix - Sprint qualifying results
21/08/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1 George Russell Mercedes 1:13.278s 1:12.235
2 Lando Norris McLaren :13.071 1:12.189
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari :13.011 1:12.190
4 Oscar Piastri McLaren :13.126 1:12.026
5 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes :13.668 1:12.511
6 Max Verstappen Red Bull :13.585 1:12.771
7 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari :13.151 1:12.445
8 Pierre Gasly Alpine :13.977 1:12.720
9 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi :13.730 1:12.786
10 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls :14.057 1:12.785


‘Sprint qualifying results’;

Dutch Grand Prix - Sprint qualifying results

Full results from Sprint qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, round 12 of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship.

f1i.com

F1 – Russell take Sprint Pole at Zandvoort ahead of Norris and Leclerc
21.08.26
FIA (Press Release)

George Russell secured pole position for the Sprint at the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix, beating Lando Norris by just 0.041 seconds in a closely contested Sprint Qualifying session at Zandvoort. The Mercedes driver had not topped either of the opening phases, but delivered when it mattered in SQ3, setting a benchmark of 1:11.567 to earn his third Sprint pole of the season.

Norris came close to dislodging Russell with a 1:11.608 for McLaren, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was only 0.055s away from the leading time in third. Oscar Piastri completed a tightly packed top four, the Australian finishing 0.099s behind Russell in the second McLaren. With less than a tenth separating first from fourth, the fight remained entirely open throughout SQ3.

Kimi Antonelli took fifth for Mercedes, 0.227s off his team-mate’s pace, having sustained floor damage during an excursion at the penultimate corner in SQ1. Home favourite Max Verstappen followed in sixth for Red Bull, ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. Pierre Gasly claimed eighth for Alpine, narrowly beating Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto, while Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad completed the SQ3 order in 10th.

‘Delivered when it mattered in SQ3’;

F1 – Russell take Sprint Pole at Zandvoort ahead of Norris and Leclerc

George Russell secured pole position for the Sprint at the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix, beating Lando Norris by just 0.041 seconds in a closely contested Sprint Qualifying session at Zandvoort.The Mercedes driver had not topped either of the opening phases, but delivered when it mattered...

www.fia.com

George Russell lands 'engagement ring' joke after Zandvoort redemption
George Russell lightheartedly referred to his recent engagement after securing sprint pole at the Dutch Grand Prix.
21 August 2026
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Russell's happy news has been a significant conversation point across the early part of the weekend in the Netherlands, but he was quick to return to addressing the on-track action when handed a microphone. "It's great to be back here after the break," Russell said after getting out of his W17. "It's a circuit I really love and needs a lot of commitment.”

"It was obviously a tough end to the first half of the year. We're really happy to come back. It's been a little while since I've done one of these interviews, so yeah, it was nice." The Mercedes driver highlighted how difficult it was to weave his lap together, but was undoubtedly pleased with his effort.

"The lap felt really good, to be honest," Russell added. "It all came together nicely. It's always difficult with these sprint qualifyings, when you've just got one shot on the soft tyre. The track always takes a step. The grip takes a step, but it all came together nicely. The McLarens look quick, Ferrari looks quick, but really glad to pull it off when it mattered."

“It's been a little while since I've done one of these interviews”;

George Russell lands 'engagement ring' joke after Zandvoort redemption

George Russell lightheartedly referred to his recent engagement after securing sprint pole at the Dutch Grand Prix.

racingnews365.com

Kimi Antonelli reveals Dutch GP sprint qualifying off left him with "holes in the floor"
Kimi Antonelli battled with damage in sprint qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix
21 Aug 2026
Sam Hall
Crash.Net

"I had a couple of holes in the floor [after the off]," he told Sky Sports. "So when I came in, they initially said it was a loss of 25 points. They tried to repair as much as possible, but the damage was still there. I was struggling a lot at low speed. It is what it is."

Taking responsibility for the off itself, he added: "There was a little bit too much entry speed in the last corner in that lap one, and I lost the rear and went through the gravel. That was pretty much it. Obviously, it was not easy to build the confidence back, but still decently close, and we'll have another go tomorrow.”

"Holes in the floor";

Kimi Antonelli reveals Dutch GP sprint qualifying off left him with "holes in the floor"

Kimi Antonelli battled with damage in sprint qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix

www.crash.net

Winners and losers from sprint qualifying at F1's Dutch GP
21 Aug 2026
JOSH SUTTILL, JACK BENYON, VALENTIN KHOROUNZHIY, BEN ANDERSON
The Race

Loser: Red Bull (6th and 11th)
Winner: Yuki Tsunoda (12th) Tsunoda ended up with a similar laptime deficit to Arvid Lindblad as the equivalent in the sister team between the stand-in and full-timer - but gets the nod in the 'winner' category here (which is not to say Lawson disappointed). Considering he has never qualified one of these cars before, 12th is a rock-solid return in the Racing Bulls car, and while you'd think the team-mate gaps here are diminished by the track length, the rest of the qualifying results do not overwhelmingly support that hypothesis.

Loser: Aston Martin (19th and 22nd) After what appeared to be a strong start in practice (Fernando Alonso was 12th), the debut of the upgraded Honda engine aboard the Aston Martin was a disappointment. Alonso ended up slowest of all with a failure that meant he couldn’t use straight mode, a huge loss in 2026 as it upsets the balance of the car and the energy requirements around the lap. He also complained of vibrations unrelated to his off at the first corner and struggled with the drivability of the new Honda engine. The quicker Aston Martin of Lance Stroll, whose straight mode was working, was still nearly seven tenths from making it into Q2.

Winner: Pierre Gasly’s upgraded Alpine (8th)
Winner: George Russell (1st)
Loser: Lewis Hamilton (7th)
Loser: Kimi Antonelli (5th)
Winner: Alex Albon (16th)
Loser: Nico Hulkenberg 14th
Winner: McLaren (2nd & 4th)
Winner: Esteban Ocon (15th)

‘Winners and losers’;

Winners and losers from sprint qualifying at F1's Dutch GP

Our picks for the main winners and losers from sprint qualy at F1's Dutch GP

www.the-race.com

 

[Fortitude]

George Russell takes lights-to-flag victory in F1 Dutch GP Sprint.
22nd August 2026
Fleur Rogerson
Motorsport Week

George Russell took a commanding victory in the Formula 1 Sprint Race, leading from Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris for the first race of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend. Russell was starting on pole for the race, taking his first Sprint Pole in the 2026 season. Russell has been on the back foot at Mercedes throughout the season as Kimi Antonelli has stormed ahead.

However, the weekend so far had played into Russell’s hands with his teammate starting in fifth. Norris was lining up alongside his fellow 2019 rookie, both looking for the lead into the first corner. Russell was quick off the line as the lights went out, holding onto his lead into the first corner. Norris slipped in beside him, with Charles Leclerc close on his tail. Antonelli made it past Oscar Piastri in the first lap and was quickly setting his sights on the Ferrari ahead.

Leclerc was the closest he’d been to Norris on Lap 17. The Monegasque was trying to find a gap to potentially make his way past the Brit into the opening corners. The gap sat at just 0.2 seconds for the two as Leclerc dove down the inside of Norris into Turn 1. The daring move paid off as the two went side by side, but the Ferrari driver came out ahead. Leclerc quickly disappeared ahead, putting 1.4 seconds between him and the McLaren behind. Norris’ woes weren’t over as he found himself challenged by Antonelli. The Italian driver was slowly but surely closing the gap.

‘Lights-to-flag victory’;

George Russell takes lights-to-flag victory in F1 Dutch GP Sprint

George Russell took a commanding victory in the Formula 1 Sprint Race, leading from Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris for

www.motorsportweek.com

Dutch Grand Prix - Sprint Race results
22/08/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

2026 Dutch Grand Prix - Sprint Race results
Pos Driver Team Gap Stops
1 George Russell Mercedes 24 laps - 30:25.318s
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari + 1.360s
3 Lando Norris McLaren + 5.196s
4 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes + 5.581s
5 Oscar Piastri McLaren + 10.185s
6 Max Verstappen Red Bull + 10.529s
7 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari + 12.188s
8 Pierre Gasly Alpine + 42.510s
9 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi + 44.437s
10 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls + 44.971s

‘Sprint Race results’;

Dutch Grand Prix - Sprint Race results

Full results from the Sprint race for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, round 12 of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship

f1i.com

Russell cruises to sprint race victory as downpour hits on final lap
22nd August 2026
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

George Russell led every lap of the sprint race at Zandvoort to claim a straightforward victory. But it was nearly very different. A downpour hit the track as Russell led the field to the chequered flag and those further behind had to take care as they raced to the finish.

That remained the only change of position in the top 10 for most of the 24 laps. Eventually, on lap 18, Charles Leclerc used his Overtake Mode to move past Lando Norris into second place. Leclerc opted to run the race on the soft tyre compound while almost all of the other drivers used mediums.

The remaining points scorers occupied the same positions from start to finish. Piastri took fifth ahead of Max Verstappen, followed by Lewis Hamilton and Pierre Gasly, though the Alpine driver was over 25 seconds in arrears when the chequered flag fell.

‘Downpour hits on final lap’;

https://www.racefans.net/2026/08/22/russell-cruises-to-sprint-race-victory-as-downpour-hits-on-final-lap/

F1 - 2026 Dutch Grand Prix Post-Sprint Press Conference Transcript
22.08.26
FIA (Press Release)

TRACK INTERVIEWS
(Conducted by David Coulthard)

Q: Welcome to our Sprint finishers. Well, Lando, we spoke before the race. You were a little bit concerned about it. It was a damp inside start line, but you converted that well. And then thereafter it seemed that you had a bit more difficulty keeping the balance of those Medium tyres.
Lando NORRIS: Yeah, not a bad result. Not the best. Would have been nicer to be a little bit faster today, but Charles was just too quick. So I don’t think it was a tyre, it’s just we lack pace. We’re not quick enough and we have some work to do.”

Q: Charles, good race. You’re sitting on the grid, all the tyre blankets come off, and there’s only one other car on the Soft tyres. What were you thinking at that moment?
Charles LECLERC: Well, I mean, always when you are the only one doing something, it’s either very right or very wrong. I think it was a good choice at the end, so that’s good. It means we did well our homework in FP1. But surely when I was on the grid, yeah, you just hope to have done the right choice.”

Q: George, welcome back. Summer break has treated you well. You’ve got engaged and you’ve celebrated that by nailing your third Sprint victory of the year.
George RUSSELL: Yeah, obviously great start to the weekend. One more lap… The three of us were just talking and if it was one more lap, it would have been a potentially very different end to the race. So, I was glad the rain came when it did. But, yeah, really good start. The Ferrari looked really fast, so, yeah, it’s going to be a tight one this afternoon.

‘Press Conference Transcript’;

F1 - 2026 Dutch Grand Prix Post-Sprint Press Conference Transcript

DRIVERS1 – George RUSSELL (Mercedes)2 – Charles LECLERC (Ferrari)3 – Lando NORRIS (McLaren) TRACK INTERVIEWS(Conducted by David Coulthard) Q: Welcome to our Sprint finishers. Well, Lando, we spoke before the race. You were a little bit concerned about it. It was a damp inside start line, but you...

www.fia.com

George Russell ‘glad’ to avoid changeable Zandvoort weather en route to Sprint triumph
22.08.26
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

George Russell took the chequered flag to win the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix sprint race, but just in the nick of time as the heavens opened up over Zandvoort. “A great start to the weekend,” he said. “If there was one more lap it would have potentially been a very different end to the race, so I was glad the rain came when it did.”

“I knew if there were going to be any overtakes, they were going to be towards the end of the race,” Russell explained. “So, I knew I just wanted to manage my tyres a bit through the high-speed corners and have a bit more in the tank come the end of the race.”

“I knew if Charles got past Lando at all, he would be fast,” he recalled. “As soon as I saw Charles behind, I dropped the hammer a little bit and the two of us pulled away.”
“The Ferraris look really fast, so it’s going to be a tight one this afternoon,” Russell concluded.

‘Just in the nick of time’;

George Russell ‘glad’ to avoid changeable Zandvoort weather en route to Sprint triumph

George Russell took the chequered flag to win the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix sprint race, but just in the

www.motorsportweek.com

F1 – Russell controls Dutch Sprint as Leclerc passes Norris for second
22.08.26
FIA (Press Release)

George Russell converted pole position into a commanding Sprint victory at Zandvoort, leading all 24 laps to take his third Saturday win of the 2026 FIA Formula One season. Most of the leading runners opted for medium tyres, while Leclerc selected softs from third on the grid. Russell covered Norris into the opening corner, but Antonelli was immediately on the attack behind them, sweeping past Oscar Piastri to claim fourth place.

Norris soon reported that he was struggling with rear grip, allowing Leclerc to move within striking distance. The Ferrari driver remained close through the middle phase of the Sprint, while Antonelli waited just behind and Piastri continued to keep Verstappen at bay. Leclerc finally made his move on Lap 18, using the run towards Tarzan to dive down the inside of Norris and secure second place. He quickly eased away from the McLaren, leaving Norris exposed to a determined Antonelli over the closing laps.

‘Russell controls Dutch Sprint’;

F1 – Russell controls Dutch Sprint as Leclerc passes Norris for second

George Russell converted pole position into a commanding Sprint victory at Zandvoort, leading all 24 laps to take his third Saturday win of the 2026 FIA Formula One season.The Mercedes driver made a clean start to retain the lead from Lando Norris, before managing the race from the front and...

www.fia.com

George Russell boosts F1 title outlook with Dutch GP sprint win
George Russell took a lights-to-flag victory in the Dutch Grand Prix sprint race.
22nd August 2026
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

George Russell claimed a convincing victory in the Dutch Grand Prix sprint race to claw back some important points in his Formula 1 world championship bid. The 28-year-old Briton, who entered the weekend 59 points behind Mercedes team-mate and F1 championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli, had to absorb early pressure from McLaren’s Lando Norris before pulling clear.

Having successfully resisted the reigning world champion in the opening laps, Russell went on to convert his pole position from Friday into his third sprint win of the 2026 season. Russell, who is the only repeat sprint winner this year, remains third in the world championship but has closed to within three points of second-placed Lewis Hamilton, and is now 56 behind Antonelli.

‘Boost’;

George Russell boosts F1 title outlook with Dutch GP sprint win

George Russell took a lights-to-flag victory in the Dutch Grand Prix sprint race.

www.crash.net

 

[Fortitude]

Lando Norris charges to second straight F1 pole ahead of Mercedes pair at Dutch Grand Prix.
Lando Norris beats the Mercedes duo to claim pole position at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris beat the Mercedes pair to claim his second consecutive pole position at the Dutch Grand Prix. Norris pipped George Russell to pole by 0.103 seconds in a tense and competitive qualifying at Zandvoort, with championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli 0.133s adrift in third.

The Briton had cut a downbeat figure after finishing third in the sprint race on Saturday, having bemoaned that McLaren “don’t have the pace” to challenge its rivals for the title this season.

But Norris was the man to beat over one lap on Saturday afternoon as he made it back-to-back F1 poles. With overtaking difficult at the tight and twisty Zandvoort circuit, Norris will be hopeful of converting pole into his second straight victory.

‘Second straight F1 pole’;

Lando Norris charges to second straight F1 pole ahead of Mercedes pair at Dutch Grand Prix

Lando Norris beats the Mercedes duo to claim pole position at the Dutch Grand Prix.

www.crash.net

Dutch GP F1 2026 qualifying results
22 Aug 2026
THE RACE TEAM
The Race

Classification
1 Lando Norris (McLaren) 1m11.163s
2 George Russell (Mercedes) 1m11.265s
3 Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 1m11.296s
4 Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 1m11.305s
5 Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 1m11.494s
6 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 1m11.558s
7 Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 1m11.618s
8 Liam Lawson (Red Bull) 1m11.733s
9 Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) 1m12.079s
10 Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) 1m12.185s

‘Qualifying results’;

Dutch GP F1 2026 qualifying results

The full classification from qualifying for the 2026 F1 Dutch GP

www.the-race.com

Lando Norris takes emphatic F1 Dutch GP pole position
22 Aug 2026
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

Q3: Drivers took their time exiting the pit lane in Q3, with Piastri last to take to the circuit. The added spice of rain in the final five minutes meant that the opening banker laps were now more important than ever. The drivers pushed their cars to the limit, but Norris held the early advantage, with a 0.151s gap to George Russell, despite the Mercedes driver setting the fastest final sector. Charles Leclerc was fourth, with Antonelli a distant fifth, followed by the two Red Bulls, Verstappen leading Lawson.

The usual lull before the final runs was eliminated entirely, as rain closed in around Zandvoort. The teams turned around the cars in under a minute as they all headed out to try to improve before the rain negated the possibility. Russell overtook Piastri at the end of the pit lane, but was unable to pass Norris before starting a lap as the ponchos came out in the grandstands.

As the cars crossed the line for the final time, Antonelli’s brief stint dethroning Norris ended as quickly as it had happened, demoted to third as Norris and Russell retook the front row positions. Piastri once again lay four, again separated by less than two tenths of a second. Hamilton, Leclerc, Verstappen, Lawson, Bortoleto and the in form Arvid Lindblad completed the top ten.

‘Emphatic F1 Dutch GP pole’;

Lando Norris takes emphatic F1 Dutch GP pole position

Lando Norris stormed to an emphatic pole position for the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix, beating George Russell by just

www.motorsportweek.com

Norris takes pole in tense Dutch GP qualifying finale
22 Aug 2026
JOSH SUTTILL
The Race

Lando Norris made it back-to-back pole positions by topping qualifying at Formula 1’s Dutch Grand Prix, beating the Mercedes duo. Norris took pole at Zandvoort with a 1m11.163s in Q3 to best sprint race winner Russell by just over a tenth of a second.

Norris and Russell were among those to set their final Q3 laps relatively in anticipation of rain at the end end of the session, with the McLaren driver ending up quickest. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli was third fastest, just 0.031s shy of Russell, with Oscar Piastri fourth, a tenth and a half adrift of his McLaren team-mate.

Upgraded Aston Martin Honda falls short of Q2. The upgraded Honda engine went better in the back of the Aston Martins than it did in sprint qualifying, with Fernando Alonso 12th ahead of the final runs in Q1. However Alonso couldn’t improve on his final lap and ended up being eliminated in 18th place, just ahead of team-mate Lance Stroll.

‘Tense Dutch GP qualifying finale’;

Norris takes pole in tense Dutch GP qualifying finale

Lando Norris made it back-to-back pole positions by topping qualifying at Formula 1’s Dutch Grand Prix, beating the Mercedes duo as rain loomed

www.the-race.com

Lando Norris explains McLaren changes behind ‘surprise’ Dutch GP pole
22 Aug 2026
Editor
PlanetF1.com

“Yeah, it doesn’t get any better [than that],” Lando Norris said. “So a little surprised, honestly. But yeah, just a decent lap. I was pushing because you see how close it is. So you know every one hundredth, two hundredths can make a big difference in the end. A good turnaround from earlier today, where I felt like we struggled a little bit,” he continued.

“We certainly felt very strong, so the team did a good job, so credits to them on trying to get a little bit more out of the car, and it certainly helped me today.” Asked whether the changes were wholesale, Norris responded: “I mean, we had to try something because what we had before wasn’t going to be enough,” he explained.

“So we made some small changes. Nothing that was going to make us gain two tenths or one tenth even, but enough to maybe give me a little bit more confidence. And on a track like Zandvoort, you need good confidence in the car, and you want to attack a lot. So I felt like I could do that more today, and it paid off.”

‘McLaren changes’;

Lando Norris reveals the changes that turned his Zandvoort weekend around.

One small change, one giant leap for Lando.

www.planetf1.com

Kimi Antonelli rues costly mistake after 'back foot' qualifying
Kimi Antonelli qualified third at Zandvoort, but felt it could have been more at the final Dutch Grand Prix weekend.
22 August 2026
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

"It was a difficult session for me overall," the six-time grand prix winner said after the grid-setting session. I always found myself on the back foot, and then on the last lap I made a mistake in Turn 1, lost a couple of tenths; it was my mistake. It's a shame for that because I had a real shot for pole."

Despite the setback, the young Italian is well placed for the 72-lap race in North Holland, and was quick to highlight that it is still "all to play for" at the final trip to Zandvoort. "In Q3, I thought we had a shot; we had a chance," the 19-year-old added. "But when I started the last lap in Q3, I saw I was two tenths down in Sector 1, and I was like, 'this is going to be difficult'.”

‘Costly mistake’;

Kimi Antonelli rues costly mistake after 'back foot' qualifying

Kimi Antonelli qualified third at Zandvoort, but felt it could have been more at the final Dutch Grand Prix weekend.

racingnews365.com

‘Game on’: George Russell hints at Mercedes ‘pressure’ plot for Lando Norris in Dutch GP
22 August 2026
Eleanor Cooper
Motorsport Week

George Russell will aim to put the pressure on Lando Norris at the F1 Dutch GP on Sunday after qualifying in second behind the McLaren driver. I think we’re in a great place, to be honest,” he said. “Obviously, we’ve got Kimi and I in P2 and P3. So it gives us a bit of an opportunity to put Lando under a bit of pressure strategically.”

“I think we probably had a slightly faster race car than those guys. I think, as Lando said, they [McLaren] look very strong in the high-speed corners. And on a track like this, with high tyre degradation, you can’t really utilise that performance as much in the race because it just puts too much stress on the tyres. So I think it will come towards us.”

The Mercedes driver also admitted that the team had been anticipating more of a battle with Ferrari, but drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc ended up being slower than expected, qualifying in P5 and P6 respectively. “Ferrari, a little bit further down the order than we would have expected,” said Russell. “I think they would have been the biggest threat. So, yeah, it’s game on.”

‘Game on’;

‘Game on’: George Russell hints at Mercedes ‘pressure’ plot for Lando Norris in Dutch GP

George Russell will aim to put the pressure on Lando Norris at the F1 Dutch GP on Sunday after qualifying

www.motorsportweek.com

Max Verstappen to start from P7 in Zandvoort race: 'Nothing more to give'
22 August 2026
Florence Cobben
Verstappen.nl

Reflecting on his qualifying, Max shares: “It was just a bit the same as yesterday, in terms of balance. Nothing special. We were gliding a little too much. I think the tyres were just a bit too cold, and if I’m honest, the car had nothing left to give.”

In terms of his chances in tomorrow’s race, Max is realistic: “Everyone learns from the sprint how to approach the race. Most drivers pushed too hard for me in the beginning, so that’s something they’ll all be adjusting for tomorrow. We are just slow on speed and will have to try to drive our own race.”

Adding to the misery, Max doesn’t feel well: “I’m sick, I’ve felt bad all week”. Of his concerns, Max will never rank the fans among them: “It’s always amazing to see, and I’m happy it’s stayed dry, and I think it’ll be dry tomorrow as well.”

Max Verstappen to start from P7 in Zandvoort race: 'Nothing more to give';

Max Verstappen to start from P7 in Zandvoort race: 'Nothing more to give'

<p>Max Verstappen will be starting from seventh for this year’s Dutch Grand Prix. In front of his home crowd on the Circuit Zandvoort, the Oracle Red Bull Racing-driver couldn’t find the extra edge he needed in qualifying, posting a 1:11.618 that left him 0.455 seconds off Lando Norris, who...

news.verstappen.com

 

[Fortitude]

“It’s a lottery” - Aston Martin plagued by “a lot of issues” with new Honda F1 engine.
Honda’s updated power unit has come in for criticism after Dutch GP qualifying
22 Aug 2026
Lewis Duncan
Crash.Net

Lance Stroll says Honda’s power unit update is “not nearly enough” of a gain, while also calling the drivability of it “a lottery” after Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix qualifying. “Not so much, I think. Maybe a bit, but not nearly enough,” Stroll, who was 19th in qualifying, said about the Honda engine.

“On the chassis side, I think we're quite good. We made a big step in Budapest. The drivability and the power is the next thing we need to really work on.” When pressed on what the drivability of the Honda power unit is like, Stroll added:

“Not good, not good. It's a lottery. Right now, we're just not getting the consistent engine braking, going into the corner and a lot of rejected downshifts. So, yeah, a lot of issues.”

“It’s a lottery”;

“It’s a lottery” - Aston Martin plagued by “a lot of issues” with new Honda F1 engine

Honda’s updated power unit has come in for criticism after Dutch GP qualifying

www.crash.net

Aston Martin offers its first assessment of the upgraded Honda power unit
23 Aug 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Despite the improved package and the introduction of an updated power unit, however, Aston Martin could not translate its gains into a place in Q2. Alonso qualified 18th with a 1:13.650, while Stroll ended up 19th with a 1:13.818. The result was disappointing on paper, but Alonso believes the team has made meaningful progress compared with its recent form. “We were very close to getting into Q2 and more or less maximised what we had,” Alonso said. “We have work to do to improve the driveability of the car and to recover more lap time moving forward. All in all, I think we have to be happy to be 1.3 seconds from the leader in Q1, when just a few races ago we were on average 4 seconds adrift of the top teams,” Alonso added.

Stroll experienced a similar struggle throughout Saturday, with the Canadian once again pointing to the car’s driveability and balance as areas requiring improvement. “We've struggled with similar issues today as we did yesterday,” Stroll explained. “There are improvements we need to make with the driveability and balance of the car, and that's where our focus needs to be. Our race pace seems to be better than our Qualifying pace,” Stroll said. “In Qualifying, we need to be able to push more to really attack the lap.”

Team Principal Adrian Newey also struck a positive tone despite the double Q1 elimination. “Despite the limited practice running of a Sprint event, the weekend so far has given us valuable track time to better understand the characteristics of our recent upgrades and the updated power unit,” Newey said. “Both drivers are reporting significant steps forward with the chassis and aero performance,” he added.

‘First assessment’;

Aston Martin offers its first assessment of the upgraded Honda power unit - F1technical.net

www.f1technical.net

'Not nearly enough' - Stroll's verdict on Honda's F1 engine upgrade
22 Aug 2026
JON NOBLE, JOSH SUTTILL
The Race

Lance Stroll believes Honda’s upgraded Formula 1 engine is “not nearly enough” of a step forward after Aston Martin’s double Q1 elimination at the Dutch Grand Prix. Aston Martin lost both cars in the first stage of sprint qualifying on Friday, but hopes were higher given that it was the first proper day of the new Honda engine running on a race weekend - plus the caveat of Fernando Alonso’s straight mode not working on his rear wing in sprint qualifying.

“Piastri P1 in Q1 was 1.3 seconds in front of us - we used to be 4.5 seconds average on the gap to the leader, so we improved three seconds in two races," Alonso explained. "This is amazing. Everything is working as expected, but this is a tough sport. You need to always keep improving. Unfortunately, here on the track side, there is not much we can do," Alonso added. "We need to rely on some big changes in the factory or software or whatever is needed.”

"This has to come from Japan, so it's not from one day to the next. It's more towards Monza where we need to find another step there. There are a couple of tenths to optimise in the package. Let's see. Normally we are doing better on the race pace because our chassis is very good. When [rivals] have old tyres or older tyres in the race, we rely more on our good grip from the chassis and we don't rely so much on the tyres and grip. We can do a better job, but at the same time we cannot overtake on the straights. We are in a difficult position there, but we try our best.”

'Not nearly enough';

'Not nearly enough' - Stroll's verdict on Honda's F1 engine upgrade

Lance Stroll believes Honda’s upgraded Formula 1 engine is “not nearly enough” after Aston Martin’s double Q1 exit at the Dutch Grand Prix

www.the-race.com

Aston Martin and Honda's spec 2 engine goes wrong at Dutch GP Sprint Qualifying
22 Aug 2026
Ben Hunt
GPblog.com

Aston Martin had arrived at Zandvoort with reason for renewed optimism. Its substantial Hungarian Grand Prix chassis upgrade had offered encouraging signs before the break, while Honda introduced its much-anticipated Spec 2 power unit for the Dutch GP. The revised engine was expected to deliver a step forward after a difficult start to the new regulations.

Once out of the car, the Spaniard described a more complex problem: the car’s driveability was making it difficult to slow down under braking. “Driveability was pushing on the braking, so it was difficult to stop the car sometimes because the engine was over-delivering,” Alonso explained. “When you brake and the throttle is open, it’s difficult to stop the car.”

Alonso’s session was further compromised by a failure of the car’s straight-line mode, the lower-drag setting that allows the rear wing to open. The rear-wing issue, rather than the power unit itself, was the primary explanation for Alonso’s dramatic laptime deficit.

‘Honda's spec 2 engine’;

Fernando Alonso’s Honda engine struggles expose Aston Martin’s major problem

Aston Martin’s Zandvoort woes deepen as Alonso ends Sprint Qualifying last amid driveability issues; Honda Spec 2 needs recalibration, Stroll 19th.

www.gpblog.com

Fernando Alonso blames upgraded Honda power unit for F1 Dutch GP sprint qualifying problems
Aston Martin is running Honda's upgraded power unit this weekend, but Fernando Alonso dropped to the back of the Formula 1 field in sprint qualifying
21 Aug 2026
Sam Hall
Crash.Net

Fernando Alonso has pointed the finger at his upgraded Honda power unit as a prime factor for his back-of-the-grid qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix sprint race. "Free practice was more or less ok, but in qualifying, we had problems on the engine drivability," said Alonso.

"It was pushing under braking, so it was difficult to stop the car sometimes because the engine was overdelivering. Then, apparently, the SLM [straight line mode] didn't work for me, so I could not open the rear wing. A combination of both made the laps very tricky." Not wanting to go too hard on Honda, Alonso was quick to add: "As I said, free practice felt ok, and I felt a step forward.”

"It's still very early days and [the PU] is probably a bit immature with all of the controls. It's a sprint weekend. On a normal weekend, we have three practice sessions to nail the package. Obviously, on a sprint, we need to deal with the situation in today's qualifying session and in the sprint race. We will try to understand a few things."

‘Not wanting to go too hard on Honda’;

Fernando Alonso blames upgraded Honda power unit for F1 Dutch GP sprint qualifying problems

Aston Martin is running Honda's upgraded power unit this weekend, but Fernando Alonso dropped to the back of the Formula 1 field in sprint qualifying

www.crash.net

Alonso singles out new Honda power unit for Sprint Qualifying miss
21/08/2026
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Fernando Alonso arrived at Zandvoort hoping Honda’s much-anticipated new power unit would help Aston Martin build on its first glimmer of progress in Hungary. Instead, the upgrade quickly became an unwelcome suspect in a miserable Sprint qualifying session, with Alonso left wondering whether the team has traded one set of problems for another.

After Aston Martin’s chassis upgrade helped the Spaniard escape Q1 for the first time all season in Hungary, expectations were raised once again for the Dutch weekend. Yet the Sprint qualifying session delivered a stark reality check, with Alonso qualifying last after a combination of engine drivability problems and a malfunctioning rear-wing system left him unable to make meaningful progress.

‘Stark reality check’;

Alonso singles out new Honda power unit for Sprint Qualifying miss

Fernando Alonso arrived at Zandvoort hoping Honda’s much-anticipated new power unit would help Aston Martin build on its progress in Hungary.

f1i.com