ROUND 13 RESULTS | MONZA | ITALY | FORMULA 1

 

FIRST POLE POSITION FOR PIERRE GASLY | ITALIAN GRAND PRIX 2026

 

RED BULL ISSUE STATEMENT AFTER MAJOR FIA COURT SUCCESS

Red Bull has reacted to the reinstatement of Isack Hadjar's Monaco podium.

© XPBimages

Red Bull has issued a statement following the reinstatement of Isack Hadjar’s Monaco Grand Prix podium after the FIA International Court of Appeal’s (ICA) verdict.

It was announced early Friday morning in Monza, ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, that Red Bull’s and McLaren’s protest against the results of the Monaco GP had been upheld, with Pierre Gasly’s two five-second time penalties reinstated after initially being rescinded following an earlier Right of Review by Alpine.

It demoted Gasly back to seventh, with Hadjar returning to third, ahead of Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad.

Following the conclusion of the opening day in Monza, Red Bull released a statement expressing its delight at the ICA’s decision.

"It is, first and foremost, the right outcome for the integrity of the sport and the principles of sporting fairness. Motorsport is at its best when outcomes are decided on the track, which is what fans, teams and competitors all want to see.

"Everyone at Oracle Red Bull Racing is thrilled that Isack's outstanding performance in Monaco has now been reinstated, securing his first podium finish with the team."

- Nick Golding

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

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF APPEAL - HEARING AUGUST 25, 2026

The following hearing of the International Court of Appeal will take place in Paris:

Hearing

Case ICA-2026-06-07-08-09: Appeals lodged by McLaren Racing Limited and Red Bull Racing Limited against Decisions No. 1 and No. 2 of the Stewards contained in Document 99 of 12 June 2026 in respect of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, counting towards the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship.

On 7 June 2026, having received reports from the Race Director of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, counting towards the 2026 FIA Formula One Word Championship, the Stewards decided to impose two 5-second time penalties to Car No. 10, driver Pierre Gasly (Documents 73 and 75) for pit-lane speeding during the Race, for recorded speeds of 60.1 km/h and 60.4 km/h respectively, in breach of Article B1.6.3a of the 2026 FIA Formula One Regulations - Section B.

On the same day, the Stewards received two petitions for Review under Article 14 of the FIA International Sporting Code from BWT Alpine F1 Team in respect of the aforementioned decisions of the Stewards of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix.

On 12 June 2026, the Stewards determined that there was a significant and relevant new element that was unavailable to them at the time of their decisions contained in Documents 73 and 75. They decided to rescind both 5-second time penalties imposed on Car No. 10 (Document 99), amend the Race Classification (Document 100) and recalculate the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship points (Document 101).

On 16 June 2026, McLaren Racing Limited and Red Bull Racing Limited lodged an appeal against the above Stewards’ Decisions before the ICA.

When

09:00 hrs

Tuesday, 25 August 2026

Where

FIA – 8 place de la Concorde – 75008 Paris - France.

Decision

The decision will be published as soon as possible after the hearing.

Attendance

Upon decision of the Judging Panel and as requested by the parties involved in this case, for confidentiality reasons the above hearing will be closed to public, media and any person who is not authorised to attend it.

- FIA

LEWIS HAMILTON 'DESTROYS' FERRARI IN THE FINAL BELGIAN GP PRACTICE

It was almost a carbon-copy repeat of Pierre Gasly's incident in Friday practice.

Lewis Hamilton left his Ferrari mechanics with a mountain to climb ahead of qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix after crashing in final practice.

In what was an almost identical incident to Alpine driver Pierre Gasly's smash in second practice on Friday, on his final flying lap in the dying moments of FP3 at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Hamilton ran wide in emerging from the Fagnes chicane.

In attempting to control his car as it careered across the gravel, the seven-time F1 champion hit a barrier with the rear of his SF-26.

The impact immediately ripped off the rear wheel that was left hanging on by its tethers, whilst also severely damaging the rear wing.

Unlike Gasly, who spun through 360 degrees twice before finally coming to rest, Hamilton maintained forward momentum before finally stopping on track due to the damage sustained.

Asked over the radio whether he was okay, Hamilton responded by saying: "I've destroyed the car! Sorry!"

It means his team is in a race against time to repair the car and ready it for qualifying, which starts at 3pm UK [4pm CET; 10am EST].

- Ian Parkes

MERCEDES GRANTED FIA HEARING OVER GEORGE RUSSELL'S MONACO F1 PENALTY

The FIA has confirmed Mercedes' request for a review of the Monaco Grand Prix results, with a hearing scheduled for this Saturday ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix

George Russell, Mercedes

Photo by: Erik Junius

The FIA has accepted Mercedes' request for a review of the Monaco Grand Prix result and George Russell's penalties, with a hearing scheduled for this Saturday, following Alpine's successful overturning of Pierre Gasly's penalties.

A document published by the FIA on Wednesday confirmed that Mercedes has lodged a Right of Review petition regarding the decision made by the Monaco stewards following Alpine's successful challenge against the penalties issued during the race.

That puts the Monaco Grrand Prix result in further doubt after it was already amended last week.

The hearing will take place in two stages. As per the regulations, the stewards will first determine whether Mercedes has presented a "significant and relevant new element" that was unavailable at the time of the original decision. If that threshold is met, the case will proceed to a second hearing, where the substance of the challenge will be considered.

The latest development follows the dramatic twist in the Monaco Grand Prix result that saw Gasly's two pitlane speeding penalties overturned.

Several drivers were penalised during the race for allegedly exceeding the 60km/h pitlane speed limit. Gasly received two separate five-second penalties, dropping him from a podium finish to seventh place in the final classification.

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine

However, Alpine successfully challenged those penalties after presenting evidence that the distance used by the official timing system in one of the pitlane timing sectors was incorrect for the Monaco pitlane layout. Formula One Management acknowledged the issue, admitting the timing system had been set up incorrectly, leading the stewards to rescind both penalties and restore Gasly to third place.

That decision immediately raised questions about the cases of other drivers who had received penalties under the same circumstances.

While the FIA stewards have not yet formally established that Russell's penalty was unjustified, the fact that FOM acknowledged the timing system was working incorrectly strongly suggests the Mercedes driver may also have been incorrectly penalised for speeding in the pitlane.

Russell was initially handed a five-second penalty for pitlane speeding. He then attempted to serve that penalty during a pitstop, but the stewards later determined that the penalty had not been served correctly. As a result, he received an additional drive-through penalty, which he served after the final restart.

The sequence dropped Russell out of the points, turning what had been a solid points-scoring afternoon into a point-less finish.

The consequences extended beyond Monaco itself, as Russell lost significant ground in the drivers' championship, with the zero score proving particularly costly in his battle against team-mate Kimi Antonelli.

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes

Two other teams are understood to be challenging what is now a provisional Monaco Grand Prix result, with McLaren having already confirmed on Tuesday that it has formally protested the decision to overturn Gasly's penalties.

Its driver Oscar Piastri was also penalised during the race but, unlike Gasly, served his penalty during the grand prix. As a result, the decision to reinstate Gasly's original race time effectively dropped Piastri from fourth to fifth in the final classification.

Red Bull has not confirmed that it has protested last week's stewards' decision, but it is understood to have done so as well, as it seeks to restore Isack Hadjar's podium finish.

Hadjar originally inherited third place after Gasly's penalties were applied, before losing the position again when the Alpine driver's sanctions were rescinded.

Following the stewards' decision to cancel Gasly's penalties, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed the team's intention to continue challenging the Monaco result.

While admitting it was a long shot to have Russell's result revised, Wolff stressed that Mercedes would explore every possible avenue to secure a better outcome for its driver.

Although Russell ultimately finished outside the top 10 after serving a drive-through penalty, he had been running third on the road before the sanction was applied.

Wolff suggested there may be a mechanism to revisit the result by converting Russell's drive-through penalty into an equivalent time penalty. Under the sporting regulations, a drive-through penalty that cannot be served during a race is converted into a 20-second addition to a driver's race time.

Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes, Lando Norris, McLaren

"A drive-through, if it didn't happen at the end, is equivalent of 20 seconds race time," Wolff said. "What would 20 seconds race time have meant for his result? Do we think that we realistically have a position, a chance of reverting the result? I don't think so, but we definitely have to give it a go if we see that there is a millimetre of chance to do so and bring him back to whatever it was before."

Wolff was referring to Article B1.9.6.c.iii of the sporting regulations, which covers situations where a driver is unable to serve a drive-through penalty during a race. In such cases, 20 seconds are added to the driver's final race time.

The Mercedes boss argued that the same principle could potentially be used in reverse if the original speeding penalty is ultimately deemed invalid. Under that interpretation, Russell's drive-through could effectively be converted into a 20-second race-time adjustment, potentially moving him back into the points-paying positions.

Whether the stewards have the regulatory scope to apply such a solution remains unclear, but it is one of the possible avenues Mercedes could pursue in its attempt to recover some of the ground Russell lost in Monaco.

- Oleg Karpov

BREAKING NEWS: PIERRE GASLY REINSTATED TO P3 FOR MONACO

BREAKING: Pierre Gasly has been reinstated into P3 for the Monaco Grand Prix

The Stewards have rescinded the two five-second penalties imposed on Pierre Gasly during the race for speeding in the pit lane.

- F1

FROM KIDS TO FORMULA 1 KINGS 🤴

FLAVIO BRIATORE SLAMMED FOR HIS 'UNNECESSARY' STATEMENT ABOUT FRANCO COLAPINTO'S FUTURE AT ALPINE

Credit: Kym Illman/Alessio Morgese/NurPhoto via Getty Image

Alpine executive adviser Flavio Briatore has raised some eyebrows with his latest comments about Franco Colapinto’s future, as the Argentine fights for his F1 seat.

Uncertainty continues to hang over Colapinto, with the 22-year-old still only in possession of a race-by-race contract to drive for Alpine in the 2025 F1 season. He initially got a five-race deal to replace Jack Doohan this May, but Briatore has so far opted to keep him in the A525.

Sources have told F1 Oversteer that Alpine have shocked a lot of the F1 paddock by keeping Colapinto in the A525 for so long. Many expected Briatore to reverse his decision and allow Doohan to get back in the car. Yet the Australian has had to settle for a seat on the sidelines.

Colapinto has largely failed to prove himself as an upgrade on Doohan, who Briatore canned after the first six rounds of the season. Alpine are still waiting to see Colapinto score his first point, with the Buenos Aires native’s average Grand Prix finish so far P15.2 from nine results.

Flavio Briatore criticised for narrowing Alpine’s 2026 shortlist down to Franco Colapinto and Paul Aron

It has been said that Briatore has studied the F1 driver market to find a potential alternative teammate for Pierre Gasly for 2026. Alpine have spoken with Zhou Guanyu about a possible return to F1. It is thought that Alpine hold an interest in McLaren junior Alex Dunne, as well.

But Briatore has now told The Race that Alpine will decide between retaining Colapinto next year or promoting their other reserve driver, Paul Aron, into a 2026 race seat. Briatore does not see “any other possibility” for Alpine’s 2026 F1 driver line-up among their other options.

Briatore’s public declaration that Colapinto or Aron will be Gasly’s teammate at Alpine next year has frustrated Tiff Needell. The ex-F1 driver believes there are “at least” four stronger candidates for the 2026 Alpine seat on the current Formula 2 grid than Colapinto and Aron.

He noted on X after Briatore’s claim: “So unnecessary to make such statements! There are at least four drivers on the F2 grid I’d put ahead of these two. But this is the Briatore way…”

What has Flavio Briatore said about Alpine’s 2026 F1 driver line-up plans?

It had already emerged that Aron is the most likely candidate to replace Colapinto if Briatore decides to rotate Alpine’s line-up again before the end of the 2025 season. But it is also now between the pair to fight over the final seat in Alpine’s driver line-up for the 2026 F1 season.

Juan Pablo Montoya doubts Aron is “the answer” for Alpine, should Briatore give the seat to the Estonian next year. Montoya wants to see Briatore sign a driver who can really challenge or even beat Gasly with equal machinery, but he questions whether Aron would be able to.

Aron has spent 2025 on the sidelines as Alpine’s reserve driver, while making FP1 outings for Sauber in Britain and Hungary plus for Alpine at Monza. The 2024 third-place F2 finisher has also impressed Briatore, who only needs “one or two” more races to decide Alpine’s line-up.

“It’s between Franco and Paul,” Briatore told The Race. “Paul is a very nice guy [and] a very quick driver, as well. And I need to understand what is best for the team, you know?”

He added: “My only interest is to try to take in the team the best driver available and do the best job with us. It is as simple as that. I need another one or two races to see. But honestly, today I don’t know [which one].”

- Kyle Archer

PIERRE GASLY COMMITTED TO ALPINE FUTURE WITH NEW CONTRACT THROUGH 2028

Pierre Gasly has secured his Formula 1 future with Alpine, signing a new long-term contract that will keep him with the French manufacturer until the end of the 2028 season. The announcement came during the Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza and marks a major step in Alpine’s bid to rebuild as the sport heads into its next regulatory era.

The 29-year-old joined Alpine ahead of the 2023 season after a long spell with the Red Bull family and has since emerged as a central figure in the team’s long-term project. In just over two seasons, Gasly has scored two podium finishes – at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix and the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix – and played a vital role in helping the team secure sixth place in the constructors’ standings last year.

Gasly’s previous deal was set to expire at the end of 2026, but both sides moved quickly to lock in an extension by two more years, underlining Alpine’s faith in his ability to lead them into the new regulations beginning in 2026.

Gasly admitted that the chance to continue racing with a French team was a source of pride and one of the driving factors in his decision to stay.

“I’m thrilled to commit my long-term future to Alpine,” Gasly said in a statement released by Alpine. “As a Frenchman, driving for a French car company makes me feel very proud.

“Since I joined in 2023, I have always felt this was the right place to be for the future. Flavio’s support and belief in me, Francois’ commitment to the Formula 1 project, as well as the people we have in Enstone made this a natural decision.

“I want to be here in years to come and deliver on our joint objective: to win races and world championships. We’re all in this together and I look forward to continuing this special story.”

Gasly’s growing influence in the paddock has been noted by rivals and pundits alike, with his consistency and leadership becoming increasingly evident during Alpine’s turbulent seasons.

Alpine executive advisior Flavio Briatore, who returned to Alpine earlier this year in a high-profile comeback, hailed the announcement as a key step in the team’s rebuilding effort.

“Since I returned to the team, I have always stated how important it is to build and grow the competitiveness of Alpine,” Briatore said. “We’re well prepared for the new era of Formula 1 beginning in 2026, and now we have our lead driver confirmed to take us into the future.

“Pierre has been an immense asset during this challenging period. I have been very impressed with his attitude, dedication and talent, and we look forward to continuing this project together for a long time.”

Alpine looks ahead to 2026

Alpine’s renewed commitment to Gasly also reflects wider structural changes within the team. Backed by the Renault Group and its new CEO Francois Provost, the squad has doubled down on its ambition to return to the front of the grid.

The sweeping technical regulations coming in 2026 – with new power unit rules and a greater emphasis on sustainable fuels – represent a reset moment for Formula 1, and Alpine wants Gasly as its spearhead for the new era.

The team is still yet to confirm Gasly’s teammate for 2026 and beyond. Rookie Franco Colapinto is currently in the second seat, though his long-term future with Alpine has not been confirmed.

For Gasly, though, the focus is clear: he is tied to Alpine through the next four years, giving both driver and team the stability to grow together. As one of only a handful of French drivers in Formula 1 history to have stood on the podium for a French manufacturer, his deal represents both continuity and national pride.

“Driving for Alpine isn’t just about competing in Formula 1 – it’s about being part of a French project with a rich history and big ambitions for the future,” Gasly said. “That’s something I want to build on for the years ahead.”

With Gasly now locked in until 2028, Alpine has its leader in place. The challenge will be delivering him a car worthy of fighting at the front when the sport’s new era begins.

- John Smith

F1 MONACO GP: LANDO NORRIS MASTERS TACTICAL RACE TO WIN

Norris takes his second win of the 2025 F1 season at an unusual Monaco GP

McLaren's Lando Norris has won the F1's 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, holding off Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri after a tactically cagey race.

In a race was turned into an odd game of chess by a one-off mandate to use three sets of tyres, and therefore make two pitstops, Norris avoided the spectre of unfortunately timed neutralisations to convert his pole into his second win of the season.

Leclerc and Piastri joined him on the podium, with Verstappen fourth after banking on a late red flag to no avail.

At the start Norris locked up his tyres to keep the lead from Leclerc into Turn 1's Ste Devote, while Piastri stayed ahead of Verstappen after the Dutchman sniffed around the outside.

At the rear Gabriel Bortoleto found the wall on the exit of Portier after duelling with Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the Brazilian Sauber driver continuing but not before triggering a virtual safety car.

The leaders stayed out, but the yellow flag emboldened Yuki Tsunoda, Pierre Gasly and Oliver Bearman to make an early first pitstop. Gasly's efforts to make an alternate strategy work shattered into the back of Tsunoda's Red Bull at the Nouvelle Chicane, with Gasly reporting "no brakes" as he smashed up his front-left corner, with Tsunoda fortunate to escape damage.

On three wheels Gasly made his way back to the pits to retire, with a local double yellow flag for a piece of Alpine front wing. Piastri dodged the piece of wing which gave Verstappen a chance to stick his nose alongside, but much to the Dutchman's chagrin Piastri promptly closed the door in the fight for third.

Midfielders trigger first round of stops

Liam Lawson created a buffer for fifth-place starting team-mate Isack Hadjar, who then made a cheap pitstop for softs, only losing two positions thanks to his team-mate's rear gunning.

The front of the midfield pitting changed the dynamic of the race, with the leaders now no longer being able to afford cruising around. Norris and company immediately upped the pace by several seconds per lap to keep their pitstop gap intact.

Hamilton was able to jump Hadjar, who soon boxed a second time for hard tyres so he could go to the end.

Norris was the first of the lead group to blink, pitting on lap 20 for hard Pirellis. Piastri followed him in on the next lap to undercut Leclerc but the Monegasque responded on the next tour to keep position.

A couple of tense laps followed for the McLarens as Verstappen was released into free air, hoping for some sort of safety car as he lacked the outright pace to threaten the papaya cars. But the race stayed green until the Dutchman made his first stop on lap 29, re-emerging where he started in fourth.

Norris carried on in the lead with a six second gap to Leclerc and another handful of seconds on Piastri and Verstappen, with Hamilton the biggest mover at the halfway point from seventh to fifth.

Verstappen's late pitstop heaps pressure on Norris

The race order was frozen until the second and final round of pitstops provided the next chance for some jeopardy.

Piastri moved first on lap 49, which triggered a reaction from Leclerc's Ferrari pitcrew on the following tour, and Norris on lap 51. Meanwhile, Verstappen stuck to his plan by staying out, upping the pace and hoping for a safety car once more.

Norris and Leclerc soon closed the gap to Verstappen, which meant the only hope for Red Bull had left was a red flag for a free tyre change. With Hamilton also pitting, Verstappen was under no pressure to take his final stop before the very end.

Verstappen's slow pace backed Norris into the jaws of Leclerc and Piastri, which made Norris' final dozen of laps fairly uncomfortable.

But the world champion's second pitstop with one lap to go finally allowed Norris back past to claim his second win of the season ahead of Leclerc and Piastri, with Verstappen and Hamilton in the top five.

Hadjar finished an excellent sixth thanks to Lawson's early teamwork and Racing Bull's savvy strategy. Esteban Ocon's Haas team also perfectly planned the Frenchman's two pitstops to finish seventh, while Lawson was rewarded for his efforts with eighth.

Williams duo Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz took the final points, which was also the result of the pair backing up the chasing Mercedes cars.

Both Russell and Antonelli were unable to make their way into the points after qualifying outside the top 10, gambling on chaos by delaying their two pitstops after those of their rivals.

Frustrated with Albon's blocking, Russell decided to pass the Williams by cutting the chicane, intentionally taking a time penalty instead of giving the position back. But the race stewards responded by handing Russell a drive-through instead of a time penalty to thwart his cunning plan.

Alonso lost out on his first points of the season by retiring with suspected power unit issue, gracefully parking his Aston Martin behind the wall at Rascasse to avoid any disruption to the race.

In the championship Norris closes the gap to points leader Piastri to just three points. Verstappen lost three points to the Australian and heads to next weekend's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona 25 points behind.

F1 Monaco GP - Race results

- Filip Cleeren

"IT'S A DISGRACE": THE REAL REASON HAMILTON, LECLERC AND GASLY WERE EXCLUDED (AND IT'S SHOCKING)

I must admit, I never imagined seeing three renowned drivers disqualified simultaneously in Formula 1. Yet, at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and Pierre Gasly all lost their positions following a post-race technical inspection. So, why exactly were these drivers penalized? Hold onto your seatbelts—these reasons might surprise you.

Hamilton Penalized: A Worn Skid Block Costs Dearly

Let’s begin with Lewis Hamilton, a six-time world champion who crossed the finish line in sixth place in Shanghai. During the post-race checks, officials discovered excessive wear on the skid block beneath his Ferrari. According to Article 3.5.9 of the FIA regulations, the skid block’s minimum thickness (9 mm) must be strictly respected. Unfortunately, Hamilton’s car exceeded the allowable wear limit, resulting in immediate disqualification. Ferrari acknowledged the technical oversight, explaining, “We underestimated the wear during the race.”

Leclerc and Gasly: 1 kg Too Light, Instant Disqualification!

For Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly, the issue was equally embarrassing. Leclerc finished fifth, while Gasly crossed the line in eleventh position. But to everyone’s astonishment, their cars weighed exactly 799 kg during inspection, falling 1 kg short of the FIA’s minimum required weight of 800 kg (Article 4.1). Ferrari explained their single-stop strategy had excessively worn the tires, resulting in this critical drop in weight. Alpine also recognized their error, stating, “This is a mistake we must take responsibility for,” according to the French team’s management.

A Completely Shaken-Up Classification

The consequences were severe for these drivers, but other competitors gladly benefited from this unexpected shake-up. Esteban Ocon climbed from seventh to fifth position. Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Alexander Albon inherited sixth and seventh places respectively. Oliver Bearman, Lance Stroll, and Carlos Sainz also climbed the standings, earning valuable championship points.

Mixed Reactions from Ferrari and Alpine

As expected, disappointment prevailed among the penalized teams. Ferrari pledged to learn from these incidents to avoid future technical setbacks. Alpine echoed similar sentiments, promising to tighten their pre-race inspection protocols. I fully understand their embarrassment regarding such mistakes at this elite level of competition.

Was it Negligence or Just an Honest Mistake?

Ultimately, these multiple disqualifications open up an interesting debate. At this pinnacle of technical excellence, how can we explain such oversights? Are the teams overly confident, or are these risks simply inherent to motorsport competition?

And what about you—do you think these disqualifications are acceptable technical errors in Formula 1, or do they indicate unforgivable negligence by the teams involved?

-  James-Fiorucci

LEWIS HAMILTON, CHARLES LECLERC DISQUALIFIED FROM CHINESE GP IN YET ANOTHER FERRARI DISASTER

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton had finished fifth and sixth respectively in the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix.

AFP

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were both disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday for technical infringements, along with Alpine's Pierre Gasly. Leclerc and Gasly were found by FIA stewards to have cars that weighed less than the 800 kilogram minimum requirement while Hamilton was deemed to have excessive plank wear underneath his car. Leclerc had finished fifth and Hamilton sixth. Their points will be expunged with all the drivers below them now moving up two places.

Gasly finished 11th so was already out of the points.

It was a disastrous end to a weekend that had started so brilliantly for Ferrari when Hamilton took his maiden win for his new team in Saturday's sprint.

The plank assembly is a skid plate which is designed to wear away when the floor strikes against bumps on the track or kerbs.

If it is too worn it can improve performance as cars can run closer to track, increasing "ground effect" down force.

"The plank assembly of Car 44 (Lewis Hamilton) was measured and found to be 8.6mm (LHS), 8.6mm (car centreline) and 8.5mm (RHS). This is below the minimum thickness of 9mm," said the stewards' ruling.

"The team also acknowledged that there were no mitigating circumstances and that it was a genuine error by the team."

For Leclerc the ruling said: "Car 16 (Charles Leclerc) was weighed by the FIA Technical Delegate inside and outside scales with both scales showing the same result of 799 kg after the customary draining of fuel and the replacement of a broken front wing."

"The calibration of both scales was confirmed and witnessed by the competitor. During the hearing there was no challenge to the FIA's measurements which are taken to be correct and that all required procedures were performed correctly.

"There are no mitigating circumstances and that the team confirmed that it was a genuine error by them."

Hamilton, driving a Mercedes, was disqualified from the 2023 United States Grand Prix for a similar plank-wear problem.

- Agence France-Presse

THREE CARS HAVE BEEN DISQUALIFIED AT THE #CHINESEGP

Following post-Race technical checks, 3 cars have been disqualified from the #ChineseGP 🇨🇳 

#FIA #F1

F1's RICHEST DRIVER WORTH £350M - MORE THAN VERSTAPPEN'S, LECLERC AND NORRIS COMBINED

As the world gears up for the 2025 F1 season, the Express reveals the richest driver on the 2025 grid, who is worth more than Verstappen, Leclerc and Norris combined.

the Express reveals the richest driver on the 2025 grid, who is worth £350 million. (Image: Getty)

As the engines roar back to life for the 2025 Formula 1 season in Australia this weekend, all eyes fall on the lucky drivers who have secured one of 20 coveted seats. F1 is one of the richest sports in the world, generating some £1.9 billion annually and attracting substantial investment.

The lead-up to the new season has seen a huge number of drivers move teams and join for the first time. As a result, they have been negotiating contracts that are more than most of us will make in a lifetime. But who on the 2025 grid is the richest?

2025 will see the debut of an impressive six new drivers, including Ollie Bearman and Kimi Antonelli (Image: Getty

2025 will see the debut of an impressive six new drivers, and, as a result, their net worths are largely unknown. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, son of sportscar racer Marco Antonelli, made his F4 debut in 2022 aged just 15 and quickly climbed the ranks. His success led Mercedes to promote him straight to F2, skipping F3. The 18-year-old has now taken Lewis Hamilton’s seat and is reportedly set to earn a salary of £1.6 million in his maiden season.

Gabriel Bortoleto is also making his debut with Kick Sauber, having won F2 last year. His net worth is currently unknown but he has already secured a three-year endorsement deal with KitKat. His salary is also reportedly £1.6 million this year. French-Algerian driver Isack Hadjar will drive for Racing Bulls this season, having secured four wins and eight podiums in F2 in 2024. He is reportedly set to earn between £386k and £772k in his rookie season.

Liam Lawson will replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull this year, having replaced Daniel Riccardo at VCARB last year. The most recent estimates say he is now worth around £1.2 million. British driver Oliver Bearman made his F1 debut in Saudi Arabia last year. He also raced twice for Haas twice, taking over from Kevin Magnussen, before securing a full-time seat with Haas for 2025. The 19-year-old’s estimated net worth stands at around £1 million, having already secured partnership deals with Deus X and Eurospares, according to loveMONEY.

Australian driver Jack Doohan has been Alpine’s reserve driver for the last two seasons but has been promoted to a full-time seat this year. Son of five-time Grand Prix motorcycle World Champion Mick Doohan, he began kart racing at age nine in a go-kart given to him by Michael Schumacher. Today, his net worth is between £772k and £1.6 million.

Alexander Albon and George Russell both made their F1 debuts in 2019. (Image: Getty)

Thai-British racer Alexander Albon made his F1 debut in 2019 and has raced for Red Bull and now Williams. Albon’s net worth is estimated to stand at around £2.3 million and has a brand ambassadorship with Thailand's Monsoon Valley Vineyard. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri made his F1 debut in 2023 after achieving victories in F3 and F2. The 23-year-old was the seventh highest-paid driver in 2024 after earning £17 million in salary and bonuses, not including tax and agent fees. Most recent estimates place his net worth at £3.1 million.

Yuki Tsunoda has been racing for Red Bull’s AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) since 2021, progressing from F4 to F1 in just four years. His estimated net worth stands at around £3.9 million. Nico Hulkenberg has raced for many teams since joining in 2010 and will be racing for Kick Sauber this year. Thanks to his work with brands including Rolex, he is now worth around £7.7 million.

British driver George Russell made his F1 debut in 2019 with Williams and now with Mercedes. In 2024, he was the sixth highest-paid driver, earning £17.8 million in salary and bonus pre-tax and agent fees. He is currently worth around £12.4 million and has secured partnerships with brands including Tommy Hilfiger. French driver Esteban Ocon made his debut in 2016, and this year, he will race for Haas alongside Bearman. The most recent estimates place Ocon's net worth at £16.2 million.

Driver championship runner-up Lando Norris has driven for McLaren since his debut in 2019 and was the third highest-paid driver last year, earning an eyewatering £27 million before taxes and agent fees. The 25-year-old is now worth around £23.3 million, owning his own gaming and lifestyle brand, Quadrant.

Pierre Gasly will race for Alpine again in 2025, having joined the sport in 2017. He was the 10th highest-paid driver of 2024 (£9.3 million) and is now worth around £25.5 million. Monaco-born Charles Leclerc was promoted to a coveted Ferrari seat during his rookie season with Sauber in 2018 and was the fifth highest-paid driver last year at £20.9 million. His net worth is estimated at £38.7 million.

Lewis Hamilton has taken Carlos Sainz's seat at Ferrari for 2025. (Image: Getty)

Lance Stroll made his F1 debut in 2017 with Williams and now races for Aston Martin. The team is owned by his father, billionaire businessman, Lawrence Stroll, and Stroll is now said to be worth some £38.7 million. Spanish driver Carlos Sainz has raced in F1 since 2015, having joined the likes of McLaren, Ferrari and now Williams. Son of legendary rally driver Carlos Sainz Sr, he is net worth is also estimated at £38.7 million.

Readers may be surprised to find the current champion Max Verstappen as only the third richest driver on the 2025 grid, despite his successes. Joining Toro Rosso at just 17, he was the youngest driver to ever compete in F1 at the time. Unsurprisingly, he was the highest-paid driver in F1 in 2024, earning a staggering £58 million in salary and bonuses pre-tax. He is now said to be worth an incredible £168 million thanks to impressive endorsements with brands including Heineken and Oracle.

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has raced in F1 on and off since 2001 and joined Aston Martin in 2023. The Spanish driver’s total net worth is estimated at £200 million, making him the second-richest driver in the sport, having earned £21.3 million last year, pre-tax and agent fees.

At 40-years-old, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is said to be worth up to £350 million—£100 million more than Verstappen, Leclerc, and Norris combined. Having made a shock switch to Ferrari for this year, his new contract means he will be earning an eyewatering £77.3 million per year.

- EMILY WRIGHT

GRAMD PRIX WINNERS ON THE 2025 GRID

 

PIERRE GASLY MAKES F1 HISTORY

 

MOST POINTS | LAST 5 RACES | FORMULA 1

 

BRAZIL GRAND PRIX: WILLIAMS 'HURTING' AFTER THREE BIG CRASHES BY

F1.com

Williams boss James Vowles said he was "hurting" after the Formula 1 team suffered three costly crashes in Brazil on Sunday and dropped a place in the constructors' world championship.

Franco Colapinto and Alex Albon both crashed in qualifying at Interlagos, postponed from Saturday, with the latter driver unable to take part in the race because the mechanics were unable to rebuild his car in time.

Argentine rookie Colapinto then crashed again in the race, triggering red flags.

With Renault-owned Alpine finishing second and third with Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly in a rain-hit grand prix, Williams fell to ninth in the standings with three rounds remaining and 27 points between them and eighth-placed RB.

"The nature of Formula One is that you can have some of the most incredible feelings and results, as well as some of the lowest moments that you can feel within a sport. I think it's fair to say this weekend is the second of those two," Vowles said.

"We've had three incredibly large crashes in just a few hours from one another and have a tremendous amount of work to get ourselves back on top of our spares situation before we go to Las Vegas in just a few weeks' time."

Vowles said he had watched the race through to the end, despite Colapinto crashing before the half-distance, because he wanted "to make sure I remember today because this isn't what I want us to be feeling in the future."

Albon said it had been a tough few weeks with the team now in a challenging position.

"I really didn't expect the incident in Turn One to happen, so we need to take a proper look to figure out what happened," he added.

"It's disappointing as it would've been a great opportunity to score points, as we knew coming to Brazil there is always a chance for crazy races, however it's our competitors who've been able to capitalise on this."

- Reuters