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via Motorsport.comFive quick takeaways from Bahrain GP in MalaysiaMax Verstappen secured his first victory of the season at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, ensuring Red Bull Racing avoided a winless year for the first time since 2015. Despite a chaotic start to the race, Verstappen showcased his pace, overtaking rivals and demonstrating the effectiveness of Red Bull's final upgrade package of the year.
George Russell's title hopes took a significant hit when his Mercedes suffered an engine failure just before a safety car restart, leaving him unable to compete for points. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso's top-10 finish marked a positive outcome for Aston Martin, while Mercedes continues to assess the impact of its new aero package after an inconclusive performance in challenging conditions.
via f1technical.netWhat does Alpine aim for in Sepang after Baku disaster?Alpine's Pierre Gasly secured ninth place on the grid for the Malaysian Grand Prix, successfully reaching Q3 while managing tyre strategy. The team opted to use two used sets of Soft tyres during qualifying, preserving a fresh set for the race, which they believe will provide strategic flexibility. Gasly expressed satisfaction with the team's performance and aims to convert the qualifying result into points during the race.
Franco Colapinto, who faced grid penalties, focused on race preparation rather than a conventional qualifying strategy, finishing 15th. Alpine's Managing Director, Steve Nielsen, confirmed that the team’s approach aligned with their expectations, allowing them to maximize their performance without taking unnecessary risks. With different strategies for both drivers, Alpine is optimistic about their chances to score points in the challenging conditions expected during the race.
via F1iGeorge Russell puzzled by Sepang qualifying performanceGeorge Russell expressed confusion over his lack of competitiveness during qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix, where he finished in eighth place. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff also voiced his bafflement, stating that the team's expected progress from recent upgrades did not materialise.
via PlanetF1Red Bull expresses wish for team orders with VerstappenRed Bull Racing has revealed a desire to implement team orders involving Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar. The team decided against imposing such orders during the recent race in Baku.
via PlanetF1FIA confirms worst-kept Isack Hadjar secret at Bahrain Grand PrixThe FIA has officially confirmed that Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar will incur a five-place grid penalty for the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. This decision follows Hadjar's announcement during a media day that he was expecting a grid drop due to exceeding his engine component allowance.
Hadjar recently made a strong comeback at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, securing his second podium finish of the season. Alongside Hadjar, Alpine's Franco Colapinto and Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad will also face penalties for similar reasons, with Lindblad's total penalties amounting to 30 positions. New regulations state that drivers facing penalties exceeding 15 places will automatically start from the back of the grid.
via RaceFansAlpine question why stewards did not penalise Lindblad for Baku crash | Formula 1Alpine has raised concerns regarding the decision of the stewards not to penalise Arvid Lindblad for a collision during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. This incident occurred during a Safety Car restart, where Lindblad collided with his teammate Liam Lawson, leading to both Alpine drivers retiring from the race.
In contrast, Alpine's Franco Colapinto was penalised with a five-place grid drop for a separate incident that eliminated his teammate Pierre Gasly and McLaren's Lando Norris. Alpine executive consultant Flavio Briatore publicly questioned the inconsistency in the stewards' decisions, stating he does not understand why Lindblad was not penalised.
via Motorsport.comVerstappen and Hadjar urge Red Bull to experiment nowMax Verstappen and Isack Hadjar have encouraged Red Bull Racing to make all necessary mistakes during the remaining races of the 2026 season. Their aim is to prepare effectively for the 2027 season, while also avoiding a winless year in 2026.
via CrashFlavio Briatore moves on from Alpine's Baku disasterFlavio Briatore, the Alpine F1 Team boss, has expressed his disappointment over the team's performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix but insists they have moved on. He stated that the events in Baku are now in the past as they prepare for the upcoming race in Malaysia.
via Motorsport.comFranco Colapinto: "No one" talks about how I receive social media abuse following Baku clashFranco Colapinto, the Alpine driver, has spoken out about the social media abuse he has faced following a collision during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He highlighted that while he has received significant backlash, the issue of online hate extends beyond just his situation and involves fans from various backgrounds, not solely from Argentina.
Colapinto urged for greater awareness among drivers regarding the impact of their words and the need for collective action to address the problem of online abuse. He also mentioned that he is facing grid penalties for his actions in Baku, while Lando Norris, who initially reacted strongly to the incident, later issued an apology.
via AutosportFranco Colapinto faces 15-place grid penalty in BahrainFranco Colapinto of Alpine has been handed a total of 15 grid places in penalties for the upcoming Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix. This includes a five-place drop for taking a new Mercedes V6 engine, alongside additional penalties confirmed by the FIA.
via RacingNews365Oscar Piastri raises menacing Mercedes concern: 'That's not a great sign'Oscar Piastri has voiced concerns regarding Mercedes' recent performance, particularly after George Russell's dominant victory in Baku and the introduction of a significant upgrade for the upcoming Malaysian Grand Prix. Piastri highlighted that Russell's pole position and race win indicate a strong showing from Mercedes, which could pose challenges for McLaren.
Piastri believes that the Sepang circuit's layout may favour McLaren more than Baku did, as it features high-speed corners that align with their strengths. However, he remains cautious about Mercedes' upgrades, which are designed to enhance their cornering capabilities without sacrificing straight-line speed, potentially complicating McLaren's efforts to compete effectively.
via gpfans.comFormer Aston Martin boss claims team is slower than F2 cars in grim data verdictOtmar Szafnauer, the former team principal of Aston Martin, stated that the Formula 1 team was slower than every Formula 2 car in a straight line during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He made these comments on the High Performance Podcast, highlighting the team's struggles with their Honda engines and suggesting that financial constraints related to the cost cap might be affecting their development for the 2027 season.
Szafnauer's claim about Aston Martin's performance was based on free practice data, which showed the team lagging behind F2 cars. However, it was noted that the Aston Martins performed better during the race, exceeding the F2 baseline speed. Despite the criticism of the team's current performance, Szafnauer acknowledged that they might be focusing on future developments while managing their budget.
via Motorsport.comMcLaren fans say Colapinto's latest interview is keeping the Norris row aliveLando Norris has publicly apologised to Franco Colapinto following their clash during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where both drivers were involved in a multi-car incident that ended their races. Despite their reconciliation, Colapinto's recent comments in an interview have reignited tensions among fans, who feel the situation is far from resolved.
In the interview, Colapinto critiqued Norris's reaction, comparing it to how Max Verstappen handled a similar incident. This comparison did not sit well with fans, leading to a wave of negative responses on social media. While both drivers have moved on from the incident, the fanbase remains divided, with many still expressing frustration over the events that unfolded in Baku.
via RacingNews365Liam Lawson baffled after Arvid Lindblad escaped Baku penaltyLiam Lawson was surprised that his Racing Bulls teammate Arvid Lindblad did not receive a penalty for his role in a crash during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Lawson's race ended when Lindblad tipped him around at the opening corner, which also eliminated reigning champion Lando Norris from the race.
Despite Lawson's disappointment, he acknowledged the team's overall success in scoring points, as Lindblad managed to finish seventh. Lawson voiced his frustration over team radio during the incident and later reflected on the lack of a penalty, stating he was confused about the decision and felt it might have been treated differently if it involved another driver or team.
via AutosportLando Norris apologises to Franco Colapinto after backlashLando Norris has publicly apologised to Franco Colapinto following his controversial comments after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The reigning Formula 1 champion stated that the apology was intended to help calm the situation after facing significant online criticism.
via RacingNews365Isack Hadjar outlines repeat Red Bull plan after 'huge step'Isack Hadjar is set to approach the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia similarly to his recent performance in Baku, where he achieved a podium finish after recovering from a wrist injury. He missed three races but returned to the RB22 cockpit, benefiting from Red Bull's significant aerodynamic upgrades.
Hadjar plans to take a gradual approach in Malaysia, focusing on acclimatising to the unfamiliar Sepang circuit. He expressed optimism about the upgrades that worked well in Baku but acknowledged the need to adapt to the different track layout in Malaysia.
via PlanetF1FIA confirms Charles Leclerc findings after ‘extensive’ Ferrari inspectionThe FIA conducted an extensive inspection of Charles Leclerc's Ferrari following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, confirming that the car complied with the 2026 Formula One regulations. This inspection was part of the FIA's routine checks for top-10 finishers, and Leclerc's car was randomly selected for further examination.
Leclerc finished fourth in the race, while George Russell from Mercedes took the victory. After the race, Leclerc revealed that he had used the ADUO2 engine, which had raised questions after his crash at Monza. The FIA's checks focused on the internal combustion air intake cooling system and other components, all of which were found to meet the required standards.
via Sky Sports F1George Russell optimistic about Mercedes upgradesGeorge Russell expressed optimism regarding the substantial aerodynamic upgrades introduced by Mercedes for the Bahrain Grand Prix. He believes these enhancements could significantly improve his performance as he aims to continue his recent success.
via Formula1.comNorris apologises to Colapinto for Baku commentsLando Norris has clarified his decision to publicly apologise to Franco Colapinto following his strong criticism of the Alpine driver after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Norris expressed that he wanted to address the situation after initially offering a private apology.
via CrashArvid Lindblad to start from the back at Bahrain Grand PrixThe FIA has confirmed that Arvid Lindblad will start from the back of the grid at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia due to a series of power unit penalties. The Racing Bulls driver is one of three competitors facing grid penalties for the race.Page 1 of 17