News600 stories
RSS ↗
via espn.comAntonelli's Baku woes: 'Worst' weekend of seasonKimi Antonelli described the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as his 'worst' race weekend despite finishing fifth after starting from 16th on the grid. He gained 11 places during the race, but his teammate George Russell's victory reduced Antonelli's championship lead to 66 points with eight races remaining this season.
Antonelli faced challenges throughout the weekend, including a hydraulic leak that disrupted his practice sessions. He acknowledged that he was not at his best during the race, opting for a conservative approach to avoid damage. Antonelli is looking to bounce back at the upcoming race in Sepang on October 4.
Sat 26 Sep · 16:09 UTC
via RacingNews365Isack Hadjar discovers podium fate after Azerbaijan GP investigationIsack Hadjar has retained his third-place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix following a stewards' investigation into a practice start infringement. The French driver, who had missed the previous three races due to a wrist injury, was found to have failed to follow race director instructions during reconnaissance laps but was given a warning instead of a reprimand due to mitigating circumstances.
In related news, Carlos Sainz was allowed to keep his 10th place finish after being found to have followed incorrect instructions from his team. Valtteri Bottas escaped penalty after a crash, while Gabriel Bortoleto received a 10-second time penalty for overtaking under yellow flags, dropping him from 13th to 15th.
Sat 26 Sep · 16:00 UTC
via Sky Sports F1'I was driving like my grandma' - Antonelli admits to lack of confidenceKimi Antonelli, the current leader in the Formula 1 championship, expressed a lack of confidence during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, stating he was driving 'like his grandmother.' Despite starting from 16th due to a qualifying crash, he managed to recover to finish fifth, but his lead over teammate George Russell was reduced to 66 points as Russell claimed victory.
Antonelli faced challenges throughout the race, including technical issues that limited his practice time and significant floor damage from contact with another car. He acknowledged that he had to adapt his driving style due to the circumstances, taking fewer risks and capitalising on mistakes made by other drivers. Looking ahead, he remains optimistic about the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix.
Sat 26 Sep · 15:51 UTC
via Motorsport WeekKimi Antonelli drops hilarious ‘drove like my grandmother’ assessment of Baku F1 fightbackAndrea Kimi Antonelli finished fifth at the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, starting from 16th on the grid after a crash in qualifying. Despite a challenging race, he managed to recover and joked about his performance, saying he drove like his grandmother due to the circumstances.
Antonelli faced difficulties with floor damage after contact with another driver, which affected his pace. He noted that he had to adapt his strategy during the race, taking advantage of mistakes made by others to secure his position. Following the race, he remains ahead of his teammate George Russell in the championship standings.
Sat 26 Sep · 15:30 UTC
via Motorsport.comKimi Antonelli "driving like my grandmother" in Baku F1 raceKimi Antonelli finished fifth in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after starting from 16th place due to a crash in qualifying. His cautious driving style, which he likened to that of his grandmother, allowed him to navigate through the field while avoiding major incidents, including a crash involving Franco Colapinto.
Despite sustaining damage from contact with Haas driver Oliver Bearman, Antonelli managed to limit his points loss to teammate George Russell. He now holds a 66-point lead in the championship standings as the series moves on to Malaysia.
Sat 26 Sep · 15:04 UTC
via Formula1.comAntonelli vows to learn from ‘worst weekend of the season’Kimi Antonelli reflected on a challenging Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, which he labelled as the worst of his season. After starting from 16th due to a crash in Qualifying and technical issues in practice, he managed to recover to fifth place during the race. However, his teammate George Russell's victory reduced Antonelli's championship lead significantly.
Despite the setbacks, Antonelli expressed optimism about learning from the experience. He acknowledged that his confidence was low and that he faced difficulties during the race, particularly after sustaining damage. Looking ahead, he is determined to bounce back in the upcoming races in Malaysia and Singapore, hoping that this weekend will be just a minor setback.
Sat 26 Sep · 14:53 UTC
via Motorsport.comJacques Villeneuve defends Red Bull team orders call at F1 Azerbaijan GPJacques Villeneuve has publicly defended Red Bull Racing's decision not to swap drivers Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Despite Hadjar having a tyre advantage, the team opted to keep Verstappen in front, a choice Villeneuve praised as the right strategy, allowing Verstappen to challenge for the lead.
Team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed that they considered various scenarios regarding team orders but ultimately decided to maintain their positions. He noted that both drivers executed their roles well, and the strategy aimed to maximise their chances against competitors like Oscar Piastri and George Russell.+ 1 moreSat 26 Sep · 14:20 UTC
via f1oversteer.comJacques Villeneuve criticises Oscar Piastri's errorJacques Villeneuve has labelled Oscar Piastri's double lock-up during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as a 'rookie mistake'. The incident caused Piastri to drop to the back of the field in Baku.
+ 1 moreSat 26 Sep · 14:14 UTC
via f1oversteer.comJolyon Palmer mocks Isack Hadjar for being ‘the best guy in the world’ vs Max Verstappen in BakuDuring the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Jolyon Palmer mocked Isack Hadjar for being overly compliant with Max Verstappen, suggesting he should have fought harder for position. Both Red Bull drivers ended up on the podium, marking their first joint podium since the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix, with Hadjar praised for his pace after returning from injury.
Palmer highlighted Hadjar's reluctance to challenge Verstappen during the race, questioning whether the Red Bull team was hesitant to ask Verstappen to concede his position. Despite Palmer's criticism, both drivers performed well, with Verstappen narrowly missing out on victory after two safety car periods.Sat 26 Sep · 14:00 UTC
via RacingNews365Hadjar and Sainz face investigation after Baku raceIsack Hadjar's third-place finish and Carlos Sainz's tenth place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix are under investigation by the FIA due to alleged practice-start infringements. Both drivers have been summoned to meet with the race stewards to discuss the matter.+ 1 moreSat 26 Sep · 13:44 UTCvia RacingNews365Isack Hadjar wrist left 'numb' after podium heroicsIsack Hadjar made a successful return from injury by finishing third in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, marking his first podium earned on pure pace. After missing several races due to a wrist injury, he gradually built his speed throughout practice and qualified fourth before racing to the podium.
Hadjar expressed his joy at the achievement, stating that it felt like a proper podium after a challenging six weeks. He noted that his wrist held up well during the race and is looking forward to the upcoming busy schedule in the 2026 season.+ 2 moreSat 26 Sep · 13:04 UTC
via RacingNews365George Russell reflects on Baku victory and changesGeorge Russell described his recent victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as an incredible experience, marking a significant moment in his pursuit of the 2026 Formula 1 title. The Mercedes driver also revealed that he faced a late-race issue that nearly cost him the win against Max Verstappen.+ 2 moreSat 26 Sep · 13:04 UTC
via Motorsport WeekGeorge Russell wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix ahead of VerstappenGeorge Russell secured victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, successfully converting his pole position into a win for Mercedes. He held off a late challenge from Max Verstappen, finishing just 0.1 seconds ahead after a dramatic race filled with safety cars.+ 2 moreSat 26 Sep · 13:03 UTC
via gpfans.comGeorge Russell wins 2026 Azerbaijan Grand PrixGeorge Russell secured victory at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, driving for Mercedes. This win allowed him to reduce Andrea Kimi Antonelli's championship lead to 66 points.
+ 7 moreSat 26 Sep · 09:57 UTC
via RaceFansVerstappen and Antonelli still a threat for victory despite qualifying setbacks – Russell | Formula 1George Russell has identified Max Verstappen and Andrea Kimi Antonelli as significant threats for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, despite both drivers qualifying outside the top positions. Antonelli, who crashed in the first round of qualifying, will start in 16th place, while Verstappen qualified eighth after being impeded by Lando Norris's off-track incident during his final lap.
Russell noted that Antonelli's recent performance, winning the Italian Grand Prix from 19th place, showcases his capability to overcome qualifying setbacks. Verstappen's strong showing in practice further solidifies his status as a contender, making both drivers potential challengers for victory in the race.
Sat 26 Sep · 08:14 UTC
via newsonf1.comTop rivals defend Antonelli after mistakeKimi Antonelli made a significant mistake during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, resulting in a P16 starting position. This error, described as a rare setback in an otherwise strong season, drew immediate support from rivals including Max Verstappen and George Russell, who highlighted Antonelli's youth and previous flawless performances.
Despite the setback, Lando Norris expressed confidence in Antonelli's ability to recover, suggesting he could finish strongly in the race. Meanwhile, Russell's impressive pole position raised questions about the performance gap between Mercedes and Red Bull, with Verstappen's engine issues compounding the team's challenges. The situation has sparked discussions about the current power unit regulations in Formula 1.via newsonf1.comHadjar admits he deliberately held back in BakuIsack Hadjar revealed that he intentionally held back during the Baku qualifying session, prioritising his recovery from a wrist injury. Despite this, he managed to secure a P4 position, finishing ahead of Max Verstappen, who encountered technical issues. Hadjar expressed that while the result was encouraging, it did not reflect his full potential as he aimed to avoid any mistakes that could jeopardise his recovery.
In his comments, Hadjar acknowledged that he felt Verstappen had outperformed him throughout the weekend. He noted that his absence from the previous races hindered his ability to compete for a front-row position. Hadjar reported that his wrist was coping well, and he completed extensive simulator laps to prepare for the race, indicating his confidence in fighting for a strong position if he starts from fourth.
via f1chronicle.comIsack Hadjar praises Red Bull's progress in BakuIsack Hadjar has expressed satisfaction with the performance of Red Bull's RB22 during his return at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. After missing three races due to a wrist injury, Hadjar noted that the car feels better than when he last drove it.
via RacingNews365McLaren declare door 'wide open' for Verstappen as Antonelli suffers knock - RacingNews365 ReviewZak Brown, the CEO of McLaren, has expressed that the possibility for Max Verstappen to join the team remains open, despite Verstappen's recent contract extension with Red Bull Racing. This statement highlights McLaren's interest in the reigning world champion, suggesting they are keen on future collaboration.
In other news from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli, the championship leader, suffered a significant setback by crashing during qualifying. Meanwhile, George Russell's pole position offers him a chance to gain points on his teammate Antonelli, who is currently facing challenges in the title race.Fri 25 Sep · 20:00 UTC
via gpfans.comKimi Antonelli faces pressure ahead of Azerbaijan GPKimi Antonelli, the current leader in the Formula 1 standings, is under scrutiny as he approaches the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Concerns have been raised about the potential for a repeat of last year's situation, where Oscar Piastri, the previous points leader, faced difficulties.+ 2 moreFri 25 Sep · 16:57 UTCPage 1 of 30
