FORMULA 1 DRIVER STANDINGS | POINTS AFTER HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX 2026

 

LEWIS HAMILTON OPENS UP ON THE CRUCIAL MISTAKE BEHIND VERSTAPPEN'S STUNNING OVERTAKE

Lewis Hamilton has admitted that he did not see Max Verstappen coming, after the Dutchman produced an overtake of the season contender on the Ferrari driver at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The seven-time world champion pushed Verstappen closely during the opening stint of the race, before undercutting the Red Bull driver during the pitstops.

Hamilton was simply expected to pull away from Verstappen and close up on the two leading McLarens, so would have been very surprised to see his old rival divebomb him into Turn 1, just after the pair lapped the Racing Bull of Liam Lawson.

Looking back at his start to the race and Max's overtake on him, Hamilton said: "I had a good start, relatively decent start. Gaining position and then had really good pace in that first stint of the race just can't overtake here unfortunately.

"Then undercut Max which is a positive. When we were passing one of the backmarkers I didn't see Max coming unfortunately. Max came past me and that kind of went downhill from there.

Giving his overall verdict on the day he added: "It was pretty bad, pretty frustrating. It is what it is and there's lots of positives to take from this first half of the season."

Hamilton was still on to finish ahead of Verstappen after undercutting him during the second stops. The Ferrari driver ultimately finished down in fifth though and blamed the unnecessary late pit stop for his penalty for speeding in the pitlane.

Lawson reacts to Verstappen move

Racing Bulls driver Lawson had the best seat in the house, as Verstappen lapped him before instantly divebombing Hamilton into the first corner.

Speaking after the race, he said: "Yeah, I was just trying not to get in the way and be too much involved. I wasn't getting lapped, so I didn't have to let him go, but yeah, it's I didn't expect them to go by. Obviously, I saw the late lunge, it ended up costing me so much time behind them, which at the time was a bit stressful, but it was a good move. It was very Max."

- Kieran Lynch

'TOO COMPLICATED' - CAN F1 DRIVERS REGAIN CONTROL FROM AI ENGINES?

 

The key theme among drivers in the build-up to Formula 1’s Hungarian Grand Prix so far has been concerns about how much results in 2026 are out of their hands. 

Last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix exposed how forward-thinking algorithms that dictate where and when energy should be deployed are causing frustration among the majority of drivers. 

It led to baffling straightline speed deficits between identical cars and drivers feeling like what the algorithm decided was a key factor in deciding qualifying and the race.

Oscar Piastri complained at Spa that when qualifying is being “decided by computers behaving or misbehaving, it's a pretty crap way of going racing.” 

Asked in Hungary if it “sometimes feels like you’re the passenger of an AI programme that still has to be trained?”, Piastri replied: “Sometimes, yes. At a track like Spa or a track like Silverstone, it’s going to be worse. 

“Here [at the Hungaroring], I really don’t expect there to be many problems at all with that kind of thing, because the straights are so much shorter, so even if there are differences, they should be a lot less. 

“But the principle of driving a race car that loses effectively half of its power before the end of the straight is hard to get your head around sometimes. 

“Even in Spa, a lot of the middle sector we were doing it just on the combustion engine, with no battery assistance at all, which is a weird feeling in itself, having some corners with a certain amount of power and others with full power. 

“Spa was particularly frustrating, not just for me but for quite a lot of others, because those small differences in the code and what the engines did made quite a big difference in laptime. 

“Especially at the front of the field, I think there were still only nine hundredths or something separating four positions [0.094s covered third to sixth], and there were definitely more than nine hundredths on the table for quite a few drivers from things they could not control.” 

These forward-thinking algorithms have existed for a long-time before 2026, but as Piastri highlighted, knowledge of the previous power units was so mature, the impact was minimal. 

“When I joined Formula 1 [in 2023], those engines were incredibly mature, but also the penalty of things being slightly wrong or slightly out of place was significantly less, because it was such a small percentage of the overall power you got,” Piastri said.

“Whereas this year, it’s basically half your power, so any small differences or anything that doesn’t quite go right has a massive impact, especially at a track like Spa. 

“We’ve got no control over where the deployment happens, more or less. You can push the boost button, but that’s more for overtaking than in qualifying, especially. 

“When you’ve got those differences there that you have no control over, it can be frustrating.” 

‘Less raw’ a challenge 

Charles Leclerc has long bemoaned the reduced challenge of qualifying in 2026 and how you can actually be punished for the kind of all-out qualifying laps he’s become renowned for. He gave the example of doing a “very good” La Source Turn 1 at Spa, only to be punished for it as he then consequently lacks power on the Kemmel Straight. 

He explained "I feel like we all get surprised here and there on different tracks, because it's never always always the same reason why a problem has occurred, which makes it quite complicated.” 

As Max Verstappen summed up: “Sometimes you cannot make a difference. You're not allowed to make a difference because it will just penalise you on the next straight.”

Asked if fast drivers were still being rewarded, Leclerc said: “The characteristics of a fast driver is to adapt, constantly and quickly. 

“To be a fast driver only on one car- I mean, it is not great, and I don't think it exists so much either. I think a fast driver is fast in any car. 

“Does it add a little bit more unpredictability with these cars? Yes, it does, and I think pushing the absolute limit is probably less rewarding than it was in the past because whenever you go over, whenever you have a wheelspin, you waste energy on a wheelspin because you're not going forward but you're using the battery. 

“So all these kinds of things are making it a bit- it's less raw and it's a little bit more of a thinking game and of restraining yourself from going to the absolute limit, which is not my favourite exercise but again it's the way it is and I've got to optimise whatever I have.” 

‘Too complicated’ - but will it change? 

Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu (left) and Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord

It’s not just drivers calling for change either as Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu thinks F1’s formula is “just too complicated” currently as “it relies on a tiny detail of driver operation that has an unintended or secondary consequence. 

“I think we all identify the need to avoid [it] and improve as a sport to bring the control back to the driver and also just simplify for everyone. 

“It's very important that everyone understands the sport regardless of what your interests are. To be able to do that, I think the sport has to be a bit more simplified.” 

But whether it will change before F1’s likely switch to simpler V8 engines remains to be seen. 

There are 2027 and 2028 rule changes planned that will shift F1 from its current 53-47 internal combustion engine to electrical power split to 60-40 in favour of the internal combustion engine. 

But that won’t eliminate the predictive algorithms, just reduce their importance as the electrical deployment is lessened. 

Piastri does think that teams’ growing understanding of how to exploit these power units will help too. 

“I’m sure it’ll get better. I don’t expect it to ever fully go away, but as the manufacturers understand it more and work out the regulation restrictions more, in terms of what the code can and can’t do, hopefully things will become a bit better,” Piastri said. 

That will lead to fewer mistakes with the algorithms but won’t necessarily mean more power back in the driver’s hands. 

A counter view

Not everyone is aligned that things need to be simplified in the first place, however.

When asked about the predictive algorithms, Audi F1 driver Gabriel Bortoleto said: “We are in Formula 1. We are developing the future technology. 

“If we are not using all the tools that are available in the world for us, in our favour, then I don't know what Formula 1 is about. 

“People used to complain because ‘nowadays the drivers have too much things to do’, now that there is things doing it for us, we are complaining now that they are doing it for us - so I'm happy with the way it's going.

“It's nice that the software is able to adapt itself and understand what and how much energy you are deploying through the lap and how to evolve through the laps, next laps you are doing. I don't think it should change, if I'm very honest, that's my opinion.”

He thinks adapting to such a challenge is just part of being an F1 driver.

“I don't think I changed much my way of driving, but again I don't like the sentence 'driving style', because I don't believe that a F1 driver should ever say that, because we should be able to adapt, even if it's not natural maybe.

“But we should be able to adapt to any type of car and the way you need to drive, that's why we do what we do and that's why we are the 22 drivers in the world doing F1.”

On the subject of whether the fastest drivers are still able to stand out, Bortoleto said: “Well, do you see Verstappen being slow? Do you see a seven-time world champion being slow this year? Do you see Leclerc being slow? I don't see them being slow, I still see them very competitive, so I wouldn't say fast drivers are slow.

“Actually Lewis [Hamilton] is a bit better than he was doing last year, Max is still performing like crazy, putting that car on the top, Lando [Norris], the world champion, the reigning world champion, is still quick when his thing doesn't break... 

“I don't think we have seen slow drivers last year becoming quick and the quick guys slow, I think it's still racing.” 

When Bortoleto’s comments were put to Max Verstappen, having clarified who said it, the Red Bull driver said: “Yeah, he's right. I mean, your driving style always needs to change to whatever is fastest. 

“I can drive the cars just saying, ‘this is how I drive it’. Well, I can tell you in Spa, you lose half a second. That shows you how weird it is at the moment.“He’s right, you need to adapt. Adaptability is super important. But that goes for any, like all the series that you've raced in, all the way to F1, I think you always need to adapt to what is best for that car that you are driving.” 

And when The Race put the question of whether F1 needs to move to put more power back in F1 drivers’ hands, Fernando Alonso - who may well feel there’s already plenty out of his control in F1 2026 so far in the slowest car - said: “I don’t know. It depends. I think F1 has always been a little bit like that. 

“I don’t think the drivers were deciding everything, even when we had traction control and some of the other aids. It was very specific to each team, developed by each team in a different way, with different philosophies. 

“You were pressing the throttle at the exit of the corners, and some cars were much better than the others. It’s not pure driver talent or input on some of the exits. 

“It’s the same with the starts. I’ve been doing starts for 25 years, and we’ve had many different regulations. At the end of the day, there were always some cars and some teams starting better than the others, with both cars. It’s not just that someone was doing something differently with the clutch, with a technique or with the throttle application. Both cars from that team were extremely good or extremely bad. 

“I think the team is always bringing the performance to everything. But yes, I think with these current regulations and the battery deployment, there is something that has to be fixed and improved. I think that’s well understood. 

“We are in the first half of this set of regulations, in the first year, and there are already talks about 2030 or 2031 and the V8. 

“Next year, there is already approval for the change to the combustion versus electrical part of the engine. There are things moving forward, and it’s well understood by the sport, by the teams and by everyone. 

“I’m optimistic for the future that it will get better and that it will be better understood what the rules and what the cars need to be.”

- JOSH SUTTILL

MAX VERSTAPPEN SPEAKS OUT ON CHRISTIAN HORNER'S F1 PADDOCK RETURN

Max Verstappen has revealed he and Christian Horner remain in contact after his ousting from the Red Bull Team Principal role

Max Verstappen has revealed he speaks to former Red Bull Formula 1 CEO and Team Principal Christian Horner “almost every week”.

Horner had lead the Milton-Keynes-based squad to eight Drivers’ and six Constructors’ titles during his 20-year tenure at the team.

Four out of those titles came with Verstappen, between 2021 and 2024. But since then, Red Bull’s form had deteriorated, eventually leading to a falling out between Horner and the upper echelons of Red Bull’s management.

12 months on, with Horner still looking for a permanent way back into the paddock, he made a return cameo at Silverstone.

At the time of Horner’s departure, a lot of speculation was surrounding the role Verstappen, and his father Jos had had in orchestrating the Briton’s removal.

But the 28-year-old revealed something completely contrary to the speculative record.

“I speak to Christian almost every week,” he told media including Motorsport Week when asked if he had spoken to Horner in the paddock at Silverstone.

“I saw him on the camera walking around, but I haven’t had time to meet anyone to be honest. It’s been busy.”

When prodded if he had been discussing something in particular with Horner, Verstappen simply replied, “Like you do with your friends or people that you’ve known for a long time.”

Max Verstappen opens up on “painful” 12 months after Horner’s Red Bull F1 departure

Hot on the heels of Horner’s ousting, Red Bull GmbH promoted Laurent Mekies as the CEO and Team Principal of the main team, after a year of service leading Racing Bulls in 2024 for the Frenchman.

And immediately after his arrival, the team did see an uptick in performance.

Verstappen launched an audacious bid to reclaim his F1 title, with a 100+ points deficit to Lando Norris, after the Dutch GP, reduced to just two points after the chequered flag fell at the Abu Dhabi GP.

But Red Bull’s first season as a works outfit, with a RBPT-Ford power unit collaboration, has turned out to be a pretty underwhelming reality for the Dutchman.

Heading into the Belgian GP weekend, the race where Mekies succeeded Horner at Red Bull last year, Verstappen is a staggering 103 points off of championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli, in seventh.

Looking back on these 12 months, Verstappen conceded that it has been “painful” but erred on the side of caution before pinning the blame solely on Mekies.

“Everyone is trying their best. I’m not blaming one person or whatever. It’s just painful for everyone that this is happening,” Verstappen explained.

At Silverstone, Verstappen suffered his second rear-wing related incident, after his Q1 crash at Austria, DNFing out of P3 with only a handful of laps remaining.

“He [Mekies] came straight in my room, of course, to discuss the problems that we had in the race, to let me know what happened out there,” he concluded.

“But that’s normal. We always do that, good or bad.”

With Horner’s F1 return imminent, the last couple of race weekends has also exposed the fragility of the relationship between Verstappen and Red Bull, with the four-time F1 Champion reportedly on his way out at the end of 2026.

- Anirban Aly Mandal

WHY MAX VERSTAPPEN DIDN'T SPEAK TO CRISTIAN HORNER AT THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX

Max Verstappen speaks "weekly" with former boss Christian Horner, but the pair did not meet ahead of the British Grand Prix

Verstappen and Horner had their differences at Red Bull

Max Verstappen has revealed why he didn't speak with Christian Horner ahead of the British Grand Prix, despite the former Red Bull boss making his long-awaited return to the Formula 1 paddock.

The four-time champion has previously spoken of his continued relationship with his former boss since Horner was relieved of his duties at Red Bull one year ago, but this did not extend to a meeting at Silverstone this weekend. 

However, this was not due to any underlying or underplayed animosity between the pair, but was more an issue of timing across what is always a busy weekend. 

Asked if he had spoken to Horner on Sunday, Verstappen said: “I speak to Christian almost every week. I saw him on the camera walking around, but I haven't had time to meet anyone, to be honest. It’s just been busy.”

Asked if he was willing to share what the pair discuss in their weekly chats, and if it was just 'normal stuff', Verstappen added: “Yeah. Like you do with your friends, or people that you've known for a long time.”

One year on from Horner's removal, and Verstappen appears to be at his lowest point with Red Bull, as he labelled the rear wing of his car "super-dangerous" following a second crash in as many weeks. 

Horner's successor as Red Bull team principal, Laurent Mekies, has vowed to "leave no stone unturned" in searching for the root issue with the wing, and Verstappen said of the initial debrief of his crash: “He came straight into my room, of course, to discuss the problems that we had in the race, to let me know what happened out there, so yeah. But that's normal, we always do that.”

Dismissing this as nothing other than a normal post-race procedure, however, he added: “But we always do that, good or bad.”

- Sam Hall

MAX VERSTAPPEN SLAMS F1 LEGO PARADE BEFORE BRITISH GP

 

Max Verstappen⁠ has criticised the return of Formula 1’s Lego drivers’ parade at the British GP⁠, insisting drivers should not look like “kids or clowns” before the race at Silverstone.

The concept returns this weekend after its first appearance at the Miami GP last year, where the parade produced chaotic but humorous scenes as drivers bumped into each other and sent Lego bricks flying across the circuit.

This time, all 22 drivers will have their own Lego minicar, with each vehicle built from 28,000 bricks and decorated in the colors of the driver’s 2026 team.

The minicars are limited to a top speed of 25km/h, but Verstappen is not convinced the idea fits the image of Formula 1. Instead, the Red Bull driver would rather keep the traditional parade lap, where drivers stand together on the back of a truck, wave to the fans and give short interviews before the Grand Prix.

Verstappen unhappy with Lego parade

“I prefer to play with Lego at home, you know, with the kids. Not on a go-kart here, to be honest,” Verstappen told Viaplay when asked about the Lego parade.

“I prefer to stand on a truck, just with everyone together. I think that’s more fun and I think it also looks more professional.”

The Lego parade is scheduled to begin at 1:30pm BST on Sunday, 90 minutes before lights out at Silverstone. But Verstappen believes the spectacle is not what F1 needs, even if fans enjoyed the first version in Miami.

“Because at the end of the day we are Formula 1 drivers, I think we should not look like kids and clowns trying to ram into each other,” Verstappen added. “I don’t think that is what Formula 1 needs, but it is what it is.”

The four-time world champion said he has no interest in repeating the chaos of Miami, where several drivers treated the parade more like a novelty race than a ceremonial lap.

“I just do my lap and wave at the fans because they deserve that, to see us,” Verstappen said. “But, of course, from my side I would have loved to see it a little bit different.”

Hamilton also cool on Silverstone stunt

Verstappen is not the only driver to have shown little enthusiasm for the Lego parade.

Lewis Hamilton also cast doubt on his involvement earlier in the weekend, although his reservations were understood to be linked to wider concerns over commercial appearances rather than the concept itself.

“It is the most dangerous part of the weekend,” Hamilton said on Thursday. “I let Charles drive last time and it was just hilarious watching everyone crashing into each other. So, I don’t know whether or not I will be in the Lego car this year.”

When pressed on why he might not take part, Hamilton replied: “There is not really much to say on that. That’s something I need to take offline.”

Ferrari have since confirmed that Hamilton will be involved in the Silverstone event, meaning one of the British GP’s biggest stars will still appear in front of the home crowd.

The seven-time world champion has won the British GP a record nine times and is preparing for his first Silverstone race as a Ferrari driver, giving the pre-race build-up even greater attention.

Norris and Bottas welcome something different

While Verstappen and Hamilton have been less positive, other drivers have welcomed the chance to do something different before the race.

Reigning world champion Lando Norris said he was looking forward to the event, especially after watching how entertaining the Miami version became.

“I’m pretty excited for it, actually!” Norris told the press, including Total-Motorsport.com. “If it’s like Miami, then I think whoever can make it back to the start line will be a winner already. I think it’s a cool thing to do. It’s different.

“Obviously you’re all together and you can have a little chitchat and see the fans when you’re on the truck, but I think it’s nice to do something different every now and then. So as long as it’s safe and we all behave, which we shall, then it will be a jolly good ride.”

Valtteri Bottas was also enthusiastic after missing the Miami parade last year, and the Cadillac driver has already picked out his strategy.

“I’m actually really excited because I missed it in Miami last year when I was watching it. It looked so much fun,” Bottas said. “Because everyone is capped to 25 kilometres per hour, saving distance is probably the key. I’m excited. Saving distance is my strategy, and using tow.”

That split sums up the wider tension around modern F1. The sport is pushing for more fan-facing entertainment and sponsor-led spectacles, while some drivers remain protective of how Formula 1 should present itself on race day.

At Silverstone, the Lego parade will go ahead regardless. Verstappen may not like the idea, but he still intends to complete the lap and acknowledge the fans.

He just does not want the drivers to look like they are playing games before one of the biggest races of the season.

- John Smith

STEWARDS DELIVER FINAL VERDICT OVER HAMILTON FORCING VERSTAPPEN OFF TRACK IN AUSTRIAN GP

Photo: Race Pictures

The stewards issued a no further action verdict for Lewis Hamilton after forcing Max Verstappen off the track during their battle for second place in the early stages of the Austrian Grand Prix.

On Lap 11, Hamilton and Verstappen went wheel to wheel in a fierce battle for second place. Verstappen briefly got ahead, but Hamilton immediately fought back, reclaiming the position before squeezing the Dutchman to the outside and almost into the gravel.

Verstappen quickly came on the radio to call for a penalty for the British driver, but the fight effectively ended two laps later when Hamilton pitted, moving out of his rival's way.

- Tobia Elia

GEORGE RUSSELL WINS THE AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX 2026 | ROUND 08

 

SKY SPORTS REACT AFTER PRESENTER RACHEL BROOKS ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE

 

Photo: Race Pictures

Sky Sports have issued a statement following the departure of long-serving presenter Rachel Brookes.

Brookes took many across the Formula 1 scenes by surprise when she announced on social media that she had left her role with Sky Sports with immediate effect after more than a decade with the broadcaster.

While the presenter confirmed she will remain involved in Formula 1 in a new capacity and plans to attend next week's British Grand Prix at Silverstone, she revealed the news ahead of this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix, writing:

“After many years at Sky, I am moving on to exciting new ventures and looking forward to what comes next. I have left the Sky F1 team, but F1 still has my heart & so I'll still be involved in it. I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, see you at Silverstone!"

Amid the reaction that has followed the 51-year-old's departure, a Sky Sports spokesperson addressed the news in a statement to PlanetF1, saying:

"Rachel has moved on from the Sky Sports F1 team to take on new challenges as we evolve our coverage. Rachel has been an asset for the team, and we wish her well in her new endeavours."

Photo: Race Pictures

Brookes opens up on backlash after Verstappen interview

Brookes' departure from Sky Sports comes shortly after she spoke about the wave of online abuse she received following her interview with Max Verstappen at the Spanish Grand Prix.

The presenter had asked the Dutchman whether his collision with George Russell in the closing stages of the race had been intentional. Verstappen responded tersely, insisting that it "doesn't matter". Brookes then pressed further, arguing that it did matter to the fans and children watching the sport.

During the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, Verstappen collided with Russell after becoming visibly frustrated over team radio when he was instructed to hand back a position to the Mercedes driver – a decision he was clearly unhappy with.

- Samson Ero

MAX VERSTAPPEN RECEIVED AN OFFER TO JOIN MERCEDES - RALF SCHUMACHER

Max Verstappen's F1 future is currently unknown, but it appears Mercedes has opened the door for the four-time champion.

ARTICLE
© Red Bull Content Pool

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has claimed Mercedes submitted an offer to Max Verstappen to poach him away from Red Bull.

However, according to Schumacher, the four-time champion turned down the contract due to its financial conditions.

Verstappen has long been linked with a move away from Red Bull and last year, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff publicly voiced his interest in teaming up with the Dutchman.

Verstappen has cast doubt over his F1 future, admitting on several occasions that he's unhappy with the direction of the sport in relation to its technology, regulations and weekend format.

But as the 28-year-old continues to assess his own position in the sport, Schumacher has stated Mercedes has opened the door to him.

“There’s no spot at Ferrari right now,” Schumacher told the Backstage Boxengasse podcast. 

“And at Mercedes, you hear that Wolff has made him an offer behind the scenes.

“But that offer was apparently so bad financially that it’s not an option anyway. 

“That’s apparently what’s going on behind the scenes right now.”

Mercedes has returned to the head of the F1 pecking order this year, winning six out of the opening seven rounds of the campaign.

It is currently enjoying a strong run with second-year driver Kimi Antonelli, who has fired himself into contention for the F1 title.

Schumacher has theorised that Mercedes' alleged low-ball offer to Verstappen was deliberate, as the team recognises it will need to substantially boost Antonelli's figures if he keeps on his current trajectory.

“I believe this is intentional,” he said.

“I’ve said it before: why would Wolff bring in the expensive Max Verstappen alongside Kimi Antonelli - the next superstar if everything goes according to plan?

"Then he’d have two drivers on the team fighting each other. He remembers that well from the days of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, and that’s the last thing you want. 

“Above all, he’d be putting Kimi at risk. So that actually makes no sense at all.”

- RN365

MAX VERSTAPPEN MAKES OMINOUS F1 FUTURE WARNING OVER 2027 PU TWEAKS

Max Verstappen has supported proposed changes in 2027, not wanting their rejection.

Max Verstappen has warned that the F1 2027 season will be “mentally not doable”, if proposed power unit changes do not get approved.

An agreement in principle was reached to adjust the power delivery in next season’s cars, moving to a 60-40 split in favour of internal combustion over electrical elements.

Max Verstappen issues fresh warning over Formula 1 future

Verstappen has been one of the most vocal critics of the 2026 regulations, most notably when it comes to the power units and the energy management requirements involved.

However, with the tweaks only an agreement in principle at this stage, which still need to be voted through, there is no guarantee yet that the changes he wants to see will come to fruition next season.

Red Bull and Mercedes are understood to support the proposed hardware changes for 2027, others are believed to want these adjustments put in place for 2028.

With agreement needed from across different Formula 1 shareholders to push these adjustments through for next season, Verstappen admitted “it’s a shame” that behind-the-scenes politics are a part of the sport, but that “it’s simply like that” as a sport.

Speaking after qualifying at the Canadian Grand Prix, the four-time world champion was asked for his thoughts on the proposed changes and how he would react if they did not go through as hoped for 2027, to which he replied: “Well, if it stays like this, it’s going to be a long year next year, which I don’t want.

“I can tell you, if it stays like this, it’s just mentally not doable.”

Asked outright if he would take a sabbatical next season or depart the sport if the proposed changes are not voted through, he took a breath and replied: “There’s a lot of other fun things out there.

“Let’s stay on the positive side. We’re still, I think, looking towards making those changes, and of course, some people that at the moment maybe have a bit of an advantage will try to be difficult about it, but if the FIA is strong, and also from the FOM side, they just need to do it.

“It would be better for the sport as a whole.”

Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull through to the end of 2028 season, having signed a seven-year contract in the days following his first championship win in 2021.

- Henry Valantine

NURBURGRING 24 HOURS: MAX VERSTAPPEN QUALIFIES FOR POLE SHOOTOUT WITH SIXTH IN TQ2

The four-time F1 world champion set an 8m11.614s which put him around one second off top

#3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO: Max Verstappen

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Max Verstappen scraped through to the pole shootout for the Nurburgring 24 Hours by only finishing sixth in Top Qualifying 2 - topped by Nick Yelloly in the Team Abt Audi.

The four-time Formula 1 world champion set an 8m11.614s which was faster than last year’s overall pole time of 8m12.741s, but Verstappen was still in danger of dropping out late on.

Qualifying is slightly different at the Nurburgring 24 Hours, as Qualifying 1, 2 and 3 are all used to determine grid spots 50 to 161 with TQ1, 2 and 3 being what matters to the frontrunners.

A car must finish inside the top 20 in TQ1 to progress to the second session and the Verstappen Racing Mercedes managed to do that as Lucas Auer took fifth with an 8m14.871s.

Then it was Verstappen’s turn to drive the AMG for the second session, where he needed to finish inside the top seven to progress to the final outing which is determining pole.

It seemed early on that the #3 Mercedes was a banker for TQ3 as the Dutchman went fastest with his first lap (8m14.459s) that put him 0.984s in the lead having kept it clean.

Grippe C/ ADAC

That is unlike the current DTM points leader Maro Engel, who spun the sister Mercedes into the Hatzenbach barriers resulting in an early end to one of the event’s pre-favourites.

It was then with approximately four minutes left in the session that drivers headed back out for their second laps, and this is when Verstappen started to drop down the order despite also improving on his final tour.

The fastest time in the session ultimately went to Yelloly with an 8m10.485s, 0.139s quicker than second-placed Christian Krognes (Walkenhorst Aston Martin), while Ayhancan Guven’s (Manthey Porsche) 8m11.222s completed the top three.

A pair of HRT Ford Mustangs took fourth and fifth with Arjun Maini (8m11.278s) ahead of Dennis Olsen (8m11.423s), who was around two tenths quicker than Verstappen’s time that was 1.129s off top.

Christian Engelhart (Frank Konrad Lamborghini) rounded out the top seven with an 8m11.937s, meaning eighth-placed Adam Christodoulou just missed out on qualification for Prosport Racing.

That Mercedes set an 8m13.935s lap in TQ2, so Verstappen was still inside the qualification spots by approximately two seconds ahead of TQ3 which starts at 1:35pm local time.

ADAC Motorsport

Jumping aboard the Verstappen Racing Mercedes in the final session will be Daniel Juncadella, and the top seven from TQ2 will join the five cars that had already qualified for the final outing ahead of the event.

That was done through either their results in previous Nurburgring Endurance Series rounds, or their performances in the Nurburgring 24 Hours qualifying races, leaving it as a 12-car shootout for pole.

The five cars that Verstappen Racing will join are the #45 Kondo Racing Ferrari, #16 Scherer Sport Audi, #47 KCMG Mercedes, #1 Rowe Racing BMW and #84 Team Abt Lamborghini.

- Ed Hardy

MAX VERSTAPPEN HANDED 'SELFISH' EDGE IN SHOCKING F1 DRIVER VERDICT

Is this what separates the Red Bull driver from his peers on the F1 grid?

© Red Bull Content Pool

Max Verstappen's 'selfish' streak has been labelled as a key differentiator between the four-time F1 champion and his rivals.

Verstappen has become renowned over the years for his ruthlessness on track, earning him his four drivers' titles, 71 grands prix victories, and 48 pole positions.

It has led to criticism of the Red Bull driver at times and proven detrimental, as was the case last year when he deliberately turned into the Mercedes of George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix.

The incident earned Verstappen a time penalty, relegating him from fifth at the chequered flag to 10th on the classification, with the lost points playing a role in the 28-year-old Dutchman missing out on a fifth consecutive crown.

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya can relate to Verstappen's attitude on track, and to the way he conducts himself off it, in not wanting to get too friendly with his rivals.

"I would wake up and figure out how I could beat the hell out of everybody," said the seven-time grand prix winner on the Chequered Flag podcast with Damon Hill. "You've got to be selfish.

"You know, for me, it's shocking. You look at them [the F1 drivers], they all go play padel together, and they're really good friends and go for dinner together."

"But that's why Max is good, because he doesn't play along."

Suggested to Montoya that Verstappen and Bortoleto have developed a good friendship over time, notably sim racing together, Montoya replied: "But if Bortoleto was competitive, in a competitive car, the friendship would still be there?

"So you're going to tell me when Max cuts [gets cut up by Bortoleto], he's going to go, 'I'm not going to dive bomb and put you in the wall like I do everybody else'. Come on!"

- Ian Parkes

MONTOYA RIPS APART 'DISRESPECTFUL' VERSTAPPEN: 'PARK HIM!'

 

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has heavily come down on Max Verstappen, suggesting the four-time world champion should be punished for his outspoken criticism of the sport’s new regulations.

Verstappen has been one of the most vocal opponents of Formula 1’s 2026 rules overhaul, repeatedly branding the changes as damaging to racing. But Montoya believes the Dutchman has crossed a line – and that the FIA should step in.

Montoya did not hold back when addressing Verstappen’s tone, arguing that criticism of the sport must come with a level of respect.

"You've got to respect the sport," the seven-time Grand Prix winner said, speaking on the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast.

"For me, what the drivers are doing, I'm okay with you not liking the regulations, but the way you were speaking about what you're living off and your own sport, there should be consequences for that."

In a striking escalation, the Colombian proposed a severe disciplinary response – one that could push Verstappen dangerously close to a race ban.

"Park him! Add seven points to the licence, eight points to the licence. Whatever you do after, you're going to be parked. I guarantee you all the messaging would be different," he said.

Such a move would represent an extraordinary intervention, effectively warning Verstappen that continued criticism could carry tangible sporting consequences.

Drawing the line on “Mario Kart” remarks

Verstappen’s frustration with the new regulations has been clear for months, with comparisons ranging from “Mario Kart” machinery to “Formula E on steroids.”

While Montoya accepts drivers have the right to speak their minds, he insists there is a boundary.

"I'm not saying, 'Don't say that you don't like the regulations', because if you don't like it, you have the complete right to an opinion," he explained.

"It's okay to be outspoken. I'm not saying don't be outspoken, but don't come and call an F1 car a Mario Kart."

For Montoya, the issue isn’t dissent – it’s delivery.

Politics, pressure, and the bigger picture

The former Williams and McLaren driver also hinted that Verstappen’s comments may not exist in isolation, suggesting team influence could be shaping the narrative.

"So there are two things there. One, what he really feels, and two, is what the team is probably asking him to say," he explained.

"The politics of the sport are really important, and the message the drivers come across and ask for, a lot of them are guided. They tell you we really need to push for this because this is going to really help us."

Montoya’s remarks fuel a contentious debate: where should Formula 1 draw the line between free expression and protecting its image?

For Verstappen – never one to dilute his opinions – the question may not be whether he speaks out again, but whether the sport is willing to act if he does.

- Phillip van Osten

F1 STEWARDS CALL MAX VERSTAPPEN TO REPORT DUE TO VIOLATIONS | MIAMI GRAND PRIX

🚨 The FIA to hold multiple investigations post race involving Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen and George Russell

TO RUN IT DOWN:

• Max Verstappen will be investigated for crossing line at pit exit

• Charles Leclerc & George Russell will be investigated for causing a collision at T17

• Max Verstappen & George Russell will be investigated for causing a collision at T1

• Charles Leclerc will be investigated for leaving the track multiple times & gaining an advantage 

Credit: F1GuyDan

#F1 #miamigp

MAX VERSTAPPEN'S DAD JOS ON HORROR RALLY CRASH AS CAR SMASHES INTO TREE

Jos Verstappen, the father of F1 champion Max Verstappen, was involved in a horror rally crash as his car was left wrecked after smashing into a tree

Jos Verstappen was involved in a horror crash(Image: X)

Jos Verstappen miraculously escaped a terrifying car crash at the Rally of Wallonia on Sunday without injury, despite his vehicle being left a mangled wreck after smashing into a tree. Images from the scene show Verstappen's Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 turned upside down amongst the undergrowth, missing a wheel and severely damaged.

The father of four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen had entered the competition with co-driver Jesper Vermeulen. But disaster struck when their motor slid off the circuit before somersaulting into a tree nearby. Fortunately, no one sustained serious injuries in the accident, with Verstappen confirming to GPblog that he is "all good."

Reports suggest the vehicle was already carrying damage from an earlier incident during the fourth stage of the rally. Yet the Dutchman managed to stage a spirited fightback that propelled him to third place behind Adrian Fernemont and Maxime Potty by Saturday's conclusion.

Jos Verstappen was not injured in his crash(Image: Getty)

Nevertheless, he and Vermeulen were compelled to withdraw following Sunday's smash. A celebrated competition renowned for its skill requirements, the Rally of Wallonia takes place on tarmac surfaces.

The route is high-speed and exceptionally challenging due to tight, winding lanes, plus extremely rapid sections. Verstappen had also been missing his usual co-driver Renaud Jamoul for this year's edition, who was unavailable following ankle surgery.

This comes as Max's own future in F1 remains uncertain while racing enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the Miami Grand Prix. The racing calendar has been suspended this month following the cancellation of events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia due to continuing Middle East tensions.

Jos Verstappen is the father of four-time F1 world champion Max(Image: Kym Illman, Getty Images)

That will have given Max ample opportunity to contemplate his prospects, having struggled to adapt to the FIA's fresh rules and regulations. The 28-year-old has been incredibly vocal about the new format, arguing that the excitement has been drained from racing.

Following a disappointing eighth-place result in Japan, he revealed to the BBC: "I'm thinking about everything inside this paddock. Privately I'm very happy.

"You also wait for 24 races. This time it's 22. But normally 24. And then you just think about is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you're not enjoying your sport?"

- Aaron Morris and Cameron Winstanley

GEORGE RUSSELL REACTS TO MAX VERSTAPPEN"S F1 QUIT THREAT AND WHY COMPLAINTS FROM RED BULL RIVAL 'ONLY NATURAL '

"You'd understand if he stayed and you'd understand if he went," says George Russell on Max Verstappen; Russell says F1 "is bigger than any driver" but still "you wouldn't want to lose Max"; Formula 1 returns with a Sprint weekend in Miami on May 1-3, live on Sky Sports F1

George Russell says Max Verstappen did not have the same complaints as rivals about the last era of Formula 1 cars as he “was winning” but admits he would “understand” if the four-time world champion walked away from the sport.

Verstappen's future beyond this season is currently uncertain with the Red Bull driver having been a vocal critic of the new 2026 regulations and the effect the 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power has had on driving.

The Dutchman dropped his strongest hint yet that he was considering quitting after this year following the last race in Japan last month.

In a Mercedes media session held amid F1's five-week break before the sport's return to action on May 1-3 in Miami, Russell was asked whether he thought Verstappen leaving was likely and how F1 would cope if he did walk away.

"Formula 1 is bigger than any driver," replied Russell. "You wouldn't want to lose Max because we all enjoy racing against Max.

"It's just part and parcel of Formula 1. I didn't enjoy driving the '22 car when it was porpoising up and down, killing everybody's backs. The car was big, it was heavy, the high-speed corners, it wasn't very pleasant to drive around, but he didn't have the same complaint because he was winning.

"Now, the complaints that he has currently are different to the complaints of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren because we're at the front end of the grid. This is only natural and you do understand and recognise the frustration.

"But he's achieved what most drivers dream of, which is winning a championship. He's got four of them. At the end of the day, I guess you get to a point in life...there's not really much more for him to achieve in Formula 1. He's ticked all the boxes, maybe he can go after the records."

Russell, chasing his maiden drivers' title this year with Mercedes starting F1's new era ahead of the pack, said he can "totally understand" why with so much success already behind him in F1, Verstappen is already engaging in GT3 endurance racing at Germany's legendary Nordschleife, which he returns for further races this weekend.

"Knowing him as I do and knowing drivers who have won or achieved similar things, at one point you want to do what puts a smile on your face," added Russell.

"I can totally understand why driving the Nordschleife puts a smile on his face. I've driven hundreds of laps around the Nordschleife on the simulator and I would love to have that chance to go and race around the Nordschleife.

"But my goal now is to become a Formula 1 world champion. If I have four of them under my belt, I'd probably be doing the same. He's in a very different stage of his career.

"I think you'd understand if he stayed and you'd understand if he went."

Verstappen said after Suzuka that while he "can easily accept to be in P7 or P8 where I am" that "at the same time when you are in P7 or P8 and you are not enjoying the whole formula behind it, it doesn't feel natural to a racing driver".

'The others are going to be hot on our heels' - Russell braced for rivals' fightback to Mercedes

While Red Bull look unlikely to be in championship contention this year, Mercedes reinforced their position as pre-season title favourites by winning the season's opening three grands prix at the start of F1's new regulation era.

The enforced April break has since allowed all teams to work on their cars back at their factories and although Russell - who lost the leadership of the drivers' title race to team-mate Kimi Antonelli in Japan - is not expecting a wholesale shake-up of the order on F1's return in Miami, he is also aware that Mercedes' clear early-season advantage will not "continue indefinitely" with 19 races remaining.

Reflecting on the opening rounds which saw him win once and Antonelli twice, Russell said: "We definitely hit the ground running in the first three races, and you actually saw that with all of the power unit manufacturers, or at least ourselves and Ferrari, that we as the factory team have better understanding of the energy management compared to the customers teams.

"And that's only fair because we have hundreds of people working towards that, and we've been working on the simulator towards this for three years now.

"Naturally, those major differences we saw in Melbourne have already closed up, and everyone's going to continue to get a greater understanding race by race.

Reflecting on the opening rounds which saw him win once and Antonelli twice, Russell said: "We definitely hit the ground running in the first three races, and you actually saw that with all of the power unit manufacturers, or at least ourselves and Ferrari, that we as the factory team have better understanding of the energy management compared to the customers teams.

"And that's only fair because we have hundreds of people working towards that, and we've been working on the simulator towards this for three years now.

"Naturally, those major differences we saw in Melbourne have already closed up, and everyone's going to continue to get a greater understanding race by race.

"The field will slowly bunch up but I don't think you're going to suddenly see any drastic changes. But I don't expect our major pace advantage to continue indefinitely. The others are going to be hot on our heels."

Antonelli leads Russell by nine points at the head of the Drivers' Championship, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc 23 points back in third place.

- Sky Sports

MAX VERSTAPPEN BACKS GIANPIERO LAMBIASE MCLAREN F1 MOVE: 'HE’D BE STUPID NOT TO TAKE IT'

Verstappen issued his first comments on his long-time Red Bull Formula 1 race engineer inking a deal with McLaren for 2028

Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen says he fully backs race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase's future move to McLaren and says Lambiase had discussed his Red Bull exit with him before agreeing to it.

Last week, McLaren announced it had snapped up Lambiase for the role of chief racing officer, supporting team principal Andrea Stella on race weekends. Lambiase is expected to make the move by the start of 2028 at the latest, pending any deal to pry the British engineer loose from Red Bull Racing before the end of his current contract.

That means that if Verstappen sees out his current Red Bull deal, which expires at the end of 2028, he is set to lose his long-time ally as his race engineer. But amid suggestions the prospect of losing Lambiase could further influence Verstappen's thinking on his F1 future, with the Dutchman disillusioned with the 2026 technical regulations, he says he fully backs Lambiase's promotion to a more senior role within the F1 paddock.

“We’ve spoken about it, and when he told me what the opportunity was, I said: you’d be stupid not to take it," Verstappen said at a Viaplay event in Amsterdam. “It’s an incredible opportunity for him, not just in terms of the role but also for his future. You have to think about your family and long-term security as well.”

Verstappen revealed Lambiase had first sought his approval before committing to the career move. “He told me he wanted to hear it from me,” Verstappen said. “I said: 100%, you should just go for it.”

The Dutchman insisted his strong bond with Lambiase wouldn't change over the remainder of their time together at Red Bull, forging a lasting friendship through the many high and lows of their partnership.

“We’ve already achieved everything together, and more than once. We’ve won a lot. That won’t change," he said. “We’re both still young. You never know what happens in the future. Maybe we’ll work together again.

“We’ll be friends for life. Everyone has their own goals and ambitions. You can’t hold someone back. In the end everybody needs to grow. Everyone has their own goals in life.”

- Mike Mulder

MAX VERSTAPPEN EXPECTED TO QUIT F1 FOLLOWING SHOCK RED BULL DEPARTURE

Not only is Max Verstappen unhappy with F1's current regulations, his long-time ally Gianpiero Lambiase is leaving

@XPBimages

Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes the exit of Gianpiero Lambiase has all but guaranteed that Max Verstappen will leave Red Bull at the end of the current season.

It was announced last week that Lambiase will leave the Milton Keynes-based outfit when his contract concludes at the end of 2027, completing a shock move to McLaren.

At McLaren, Lambiase’s role will be chief racing officer, rather than race engineer for either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri.

It is believed that McLaren’s plan is eventually to make Lambiase its team principal, kickstarting a new chapter for the 45-year-old.

Lambiase has served as Verstappen’s race engineer since the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, with the pair building an exceptional working relationship during that time.

In Palmer’s view, the departure of Verstappen’s long-time ally is just another nail in the coffin at a time when the Dutchman is already unhappy, making an exit this year highly likely.

Asked if Lambiase's exit increases the chances of Verstappen leaving Red Bull, Palmer told the F1 Nation podcast: "That’s exactly how I see it. I think we’re already talking about Max probably leaving the team at some point.

"You’ve got Red Bull not being competitive, and not having the easiest route back to being competitive, given where they’re at when you factor in all the personnel who have left.

"For me, GP is such a linchpin for him; it sort of connects the driver to the team. I see this news as offering a more in-depth understanding of another reason why Max isn’t particularly happy in the team.

"And on many levels, I just don’t see him sticking around particularly long, probably beyond the end of this year, unless they have a concrete plan in place and a clear sign of progress."

- Nick Golding

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1.