ARVID LINDBLAND VS. ESTEBAN OCON | PHOTO FINISH | AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX 2026

 

FIA CONFIMS SPANISH GRAND PRIX PUNISHMENT AFTER INVESTIGATION

 

The Madring, home of the Spanish Grand Prix

Williams driver Alex Albon has been handed a warning by the FIA stewards’ following an incident with Arvid Lindblad in FP1 at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Albon and Lindblad were summoned to the stewards following opening practice in Madrid after the Williams driver left the track and rejoined unsafely at Turn 6.

FIA issues warning to Alex Albon after Spanish GP FP1 incident

Albon was informed over team radio that Lindblad was closing on him, with the Williams driver crossing the track in his attempts to avoid blocking his rival.

Following a hearing with Albon and Lindblad, and representatives of the Williams and Racing Bulls teams, the stewards have confirmed that Albon has been handed a warning.

The stewards’ verdict read: “The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 23 (Alexander Albon), the driver of Car 41 (Arvid Lindblad), team representatives and reviewed video and in-car video evidence.

“The driver of Car 23 stated in the hearing that he was informed about Car 41 closing in and therefore continuously checked his mirrors.

“But doing so he missed out on taking an appropriate line to stay to the right of the yellow line in the runoff area.

“When approaching the track edge, he made the decision to accelerate and cross the track as quickly as possible to not interfere with Car 41.

“The Stewards determine that, although he took reasonable action not to impede Car 41, the driver of Car 23 could have been more

cautious and alert on his way through the runoff area and when re-joining the track.”

As reported by PlanetF1.com, Lindblad was frustrated by a blocking incident with Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli in FP1 after encountering the pair moving slowly on the exit of La Monumental, the banked right-hander.

Lindblad was heard saying over team radio: “These same two guys, man! I don’t know what they’re doing. They’re just stupid, right in the fast corner!

He added: “It’s actually very dangerous. It’s been twice now.”

Lindblad and Albon were classified seventh and 20th respectively in FP1 as the Madring hosted a competitive session for the first time.

Lindblad improved to fourth in FP2, but the Racing Bulls driver caused the first red flag of the weekend with an accident at Turn 13, the left-hander immediately after La Monumental.

Albon was classified 18th in the second practice session as Mercedes driver and F1 2026 championship leader Kimi Antonelli topped the times.

FP3 will be held at 12:30 local time on Saturday in Madrid before qualifying takes place at 16:00.

The Spanish Grand Prix is scheduled to begin at 15:00 on Sunday.

- Oliver Harden

VERSTAPPEN, ANTONELLI AND MULTIPLE DRIVERS CLEARED BY FIA INVESTIGATION

Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

The FIA have cleared 11 drivers of infringements during sprint qualifying at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Half the grid was noted for failing to follow the maximum delta time of 1:28.0.

Verstappen one of 11 drivers cleared by FIA

They were: Esteban Ocon, Arvid Lindblad, Carlos Sainz, Lance Stroll, Gabriel Bortoleto, Max Verstappen, George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Pierre Gasly and Valtteri Bottas.

The investigation took place after the session, with all of the drivers cleared.

The FIA said in a statement: "The Stewards thoroughly reviewed Marshalling/Positioning data, timing data, on-board cameras and CCTV cameras.

"All drivers concerned stayed at or above speeds necessary to stay below 1:28.0 around the vast majority of the circuit.

"However, in all cases the Stewards determined that the drivers took appropriate actions to not impede other drivers, and in all cases, they slowed down significantly to allow other drivers to pass while giving those drivers a clear track.

"The Stewards therefore determine that all drivers concerned did not drive 'unnecessarily slowly', and that they were above the maximum time because they took appropriate steps, and we therefore take no further action.

"Competitors are reminded that they have the right to appeal certain decisions of the Stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 5 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules, within the applicable time limits.

"Decisions of the Stewards are taken independently of the FIA and are based solely on the relevant regulations, guidelines and evidence presented."

Russell, who was under investigation, took pole position for the sprint race, which will take place tomorrow at 12:00 PM CEST.

The investigation was Verstappen's second of the session after he was cleared for a potential impeding incident with long-time rival Lewis Hamilton.

The FIA stewards noted the potential infringement in SQ1 when Verstappen and Hamilton came close together at Turn 3.

Eventually, the stewards announced that no further action would be taken.

The full results from sprint qualifying are as follows, with the drivers who were under investigation in bold.

- Connor Andrews

HELMUT MARKO: THE DEVISIVE CHARACTER WHO HELPED RED BULL TO BECOME MODERN F1 POWERHOUSE

Helmut Marko will step down from his role with Red Bull

At the end of two decades at Red Bull, possibly the most divisive character in modern Formula 1 in Helmut Marko, can be credited with a huge role in the team’s success.

While Marko has grabbed headlines with sharp-edged comments, his influence surrounding the young driver programme at Red Bull can and should not be understated.

In his two decade spell in association with Red Bull, Marko has overseen the development of 20 drivers into F1, including the most successful in Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel.

With Vettel and Verstappen at the helm, Red Bull won eight Drivers’ titles and six Constructors’ Championships between 2010 and 2024, along with over 100 race victories.

Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull’s CEO of Corporate Projects and Investments, branded the outgoing Marko “an engine of innovation, and a cornerstone of international motorsport”.

“His instinct for exceptional talent not only shaped our junior program but also left a lasting impact on Formula 1 as a whole. Names like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen stand for the many drivers who were discovered, supported, and guided to the very top under his leadership. His passion, his courage to make clear decisions, and his ability to spot potential will remain unforgettable.”

Aside from the title winners, Marko has also unearthed plenty more talented drivers who have had healthy stints in F1, with seven of the 20 drivers on the grid in 2025 having advanced through the Red Bull junior programme. And as F1 and Red Bull enter an exciting new era, Marko’s eye for talent could see the Red Bull family on the front foot in 2026.

Helmut Marko unearthed Isack Hadjar, who will race with Red Bull in 2026

Red Bull’s new era

Isack Hadjar, who steps up to the senior team for 2026, and Arvid Lindblad for Racing Bulls, will be the last two drivers to emerge from Red Bull’s talent pool under the control of Marko.

Hadjar’s exciting debut F1 season, which saw him become the youngest French driver to stand on the podium, alongside Lindblad’s promising Formula 2 campaign, sees Red Bull in a good position to enter F1’s new era in 2026.

Alongside a new engine partnership with the Ford Motor Company under the helm of new Team Principal Laurent Mekies, 2026 will be the first season for Red Bull without its cornerstone team members.

Marko marks the last figurehead of the original Red Bull F1 project to depart the Milton-Keynes squad and the end of a significant era of success for team.

After the departures of Johnathan Wheatley, Adrian Newey and most notably long time Team Principal Christian Horner it felt like a matter of time before Dr Marko would step away and allow Red Bull to enter its new evolution under the steady hand of Mekies.

While Marko has been a huge influence in Red Bull’s success in regards to his ability to spot talent early, his departure seems timely as the Red Bull brand looks to the future under a completely new leadership structure.

This alongside a list of controversies sees it unsurprising that Red Bull keen to enter its new era without such a divisive figure at the forefront of its future.

Helmut Marko was a divisive character in the paddock

Not without controversies

After the death of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022, someone with whom Marko had a close relationship, and significantly, the departure of Red Bull’s two-decade-long team boss Christian Horner midway through 2025, Marko’s position within the team has become increasingly untenable.

Away from his tremendous success regarding the young driver programme, Marko has had a tumultuous history of stirring the pot and saying the wrong things.

The Austrian has clashed with Red Bull’s new management style on multiple occasions since the team’s change in direction including derogatory statements made regarding then Red Bull driver Sergio Perez in late 2023.

Marko had blamed Perez’s fluctuations in form on the track on the Mexican driver’s ethnicity claiming ” he is South American and he is just not as completely focused in his head as Max is or as Sebastian.”

More comments aimed towards Andrea Kimi Antonelli after this season’s Qatar Grand Prix, where Marko claimed the Italian had “waved Norris past” on the penultimate lap in Doha, saw the Italian receive thousands of messages of abuse for an honest on-track mistake.

This alongside a failed attempt to oust Marko in early 2024 has soured the atmosphere within the Red Bull family and dampened spirits despite the team’s great successes and dominant recent seasons.

While F1 will remember Marko for his success in cultivating Red Bull’s driver talent, a string of controversies will always linger on a somewhat tarnished legacy.

- Daniel Harris

BREAKING: LIAM LAWSON TO RACE ALONG ARVID LINDBLAD FOR RACING RED BULL IN 2026