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via RaceFansFernando Alonso extends Aston Martin contract to 2027Fernando Alonso has confirmed that he will remain with Aston Martin for the 2027 Formula 1 season. The decision reflects his confidence in the team's potential to improve and turn their fortunes around.Wed 30 Sep · 10:18 UTCvia espn.comEsteban Ocon insists Haas exit not due to performanceEsteban Ocon has stated that his departure from the Haas Formula 1 team at the end of the 2026 season is not related to his performance. The French driver expressed his disappointment with the decision, claiming it was not handled as he would have preferred.Wed 30 Sep · 09:13 UTCvia RaceFansOcon insists his F1 career is not over as Haas confirm he won’t drive for them in 2027 | Formula 1Esteban Ocon's departure from Haas has been confirmed, with the team announcing he will leave at the end of the current season. Team principal Ayao Komatsu expressed gratitude for Ocon's contributions since joining in 2025, highlighting his professionalism and commitment during a significant regulation change. Despite leaving Haas, Ocon insists that his Formula 1 career is not over. He played a crucial role in the development of the VF-26 and the team is focused on maximizing their performance for the remainder of the season.Wed 30 Sep · 08:08 UTCWikimedia Commons · Joop van Bilsen / Anefo · CC0Vasseur doubts Red Bull has stopped 2026 developmentSep.29 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur is sceptical of Red Bull’s claim that its Baku package was effectively the final major upgrade of 2026, as Formula 1 teams increasingly shift resources towards next year’s cars. Laurent Mekies said in Baku that Red Bull has moved “a very large majority” of its development resources onto 2027. “It’s most…Tue 29 Sep · 06:52 UTCvia Motorsport.comRUMOURWho slept worst last night: Lewis HamiltonLewis Hamilton has publicly backed Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur amidst speculation regarding Christian Horner's potential return to the team. Horner, the long-time Red Bull Racing principal, mentioned in an interview that he would consider returning to Formula 1, specifically for Ferrari, which has raised eyebrows given his history with Hamilton. Vasseur has acknowledged that the ongoing speculation is creating a challenging atmosphere within the team. He emphasized the need for stability and serenity, suggesting that a reaffirmation of his position from Ferrari leadership could help quell the rumors. Meanwhile, Hamilton appears unfazed by the situation, focusing instead on the challenges ahead in the current season.Sun 27 Sep · 05:36 UTCvia espn.comNorris hits out after Baku pile-up DNF with AlpineLando Norris expressed his frustration after being taken out of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix due to a collision caused by Franco Colapinto. Following the incident, Norris stated that there are drivers who do not belong in Formula 1, implying that Colapinto's actions were unacceptable. The crash occurred during a Safety Car restart on lap 36, leading to both Norris and Pierre Gasly retiring from the race. Colapinto acknowledged his mistake and accepted responsibility, apologising to his team and teammates. He received a 10-second time penalty, which will affect his grid position in the next race. Gasly, visibly upset, highlighted the significant points lost due to the incident, while also emphasising the importance of respect in their working relationship.Sat 26 Sep · 15:51 UTCvia RaceFansBottas reveals “big super-clip” led to last-lap crash: “The system got confused” | Formula 1Valtteri Bottas, driving for Cadillac, revealed that a technical issue caused his crash during the last lap of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He explained that he had experienced a significant loss of control after going off at turn one earlier in the lap, leading to confusion in the car's systems. Bottas stated that only the front brakes were functioning properly, which contributed to the incident at turn 15. The crash is currently being investigated by the stewards, and Cadillac team principal Marcin Budkowski acknowledged the situation surrounding Bottas's car.Sat 26 Sep · 15:22 UTCvia 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.Sat 26 Sep · 06:46 UTCvia espn.comRussell on pole: 'Biggest margin in whole career'George Russell expressed his surprise after achieving pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with a margin of 0.837 seconds over Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. This gap marks the largest in Formula 1 qualifying since Max Verstappen's pole at the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix. Russell noted that this was the biggest margin of his career across all racing series, including Formula 2 and GP3. Russell, currently second in the drivers' championship, highlighted his growing confidence with the car and the progress made since the summer break. Despite his strong performance, he downplayed the significance of Antonelli's crash, acknowledging that mistakes are part of any championship campaign. He remains focused on continuing to improve and compete for the title.Fri 25 Sep · 16:16 UTCvia Formula1.comLeclerc lacks confidence in Ferrari ahead of Baku raceCharles Leclerc expressed concerns about the unpredictability of his Ferrari car, which affected his confidence during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Despite securing a front-row grid slot, Leclerc noted the significant gap to pole position and felt unable to drive with his usual commitment.Fri 25 Sep · 15:01 UTCvia Motorsport.comIsack Hadjar bullish: If I hadn't missed three races, I'd be second on the gridIsack Hadjar, driving for Red Bull Racing, qualified fourth for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix but expressed confidence that he could have secured second place if he had not missed the previous three races due to a wrist injury. His qualifying time was just 0.137 seconds slower than Charles Leclerc, who took second, while Hadjar outperformed Max Verstappen, who qualified eighth. Hadjar described his approach during the comeback as cautious, aiming to avoid risks while gradually building confidence. He acknowledged improvements in his car's handling since his last race in Hungary, but admitted that Mercedes still had a significant speed advantage, particularly in straight-line performance. This qualifying result marks Hadjar's best performance since the season opener in Melbourne.Fri 25 Sep · 14:36 UTCvia F1iKimi Antonelli criticises his Baku qualifying errorKimi Antonelli described his early exit from qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as a 'very stupid' mistake. The incident has left him starting towards the back of the grid for the race.Fri 25 Sep · 14:14 UTCvia gpfans.comToto Wolff to miss Azerbaijan Grand PrixToto Wolff, the Mercedes F1 team principal and CEO, will not attend the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend. Bradley Lord will take over trackside leadership as the team navigates a challenging series of races.Fri 25 Sep · 11:55 UTCvia newsonf1.comF1 pushes Middle East decision to mid-OctoberFormula 1 has postponed its decision regarding the inclusion of Qatar and Abu Dhabi in the 2026 calendar, with team bosses now expecting clarity by mid-October. This change follows an earlier indication from Stefano Domenicali that a decision would be made by mid-September, which has since passed without confirmation. Teams are preparing for potential logistical challenges should a replacement venue be needed, particularly concerning European motorhomes and staffing. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu mentioned that Imola is being readied as a contingency plan, with preparations for temporary grandstands already underway. Audi's Mattia Binotto also confirmed the mid-October deadline, while expressing confidence that the original venues remain the preferred option. Meanwhile, Formula 2's decision to run three races in Baku has raised questions about its own calendar, with Gabriele Mini suggesting that Baku is unlikely to serve as the championship finale.Fri 25 Sep · 07:02 UTCvia newsonf1.comRUMOURBriatore rules out Ferrari moveFlavio Briatore has firmly ruled out the possibility of taking charge at Ferrari, stating that it is too late for him to consider such a role. Currently leading Alpine, he expressed respect for Fred Vasseur's efforts at Ferrari amidst ongoing speculation about Vasseur's future. Briatore also commented on the challenges of managing Ferrari's driver pairing, which he described as quarrelsome. In addition to his comments on Ferrari, Briatore addressed the future of Alpine, asserting that Renault has no plans to sell the team. He revealed that there are at least seven investors interested in purchasing a minority stake in Alpine. Briatore also noted that the commercial value of Alpine reflects the overall growth in Formula 1, while playfully dismissing his previous retirement claims.Fri 25 Sep · 07:02 UTCvia f1oversteer.com‘Alarm bells’ ring at Ferrari after hearing what Oliver Bearman said about Baku engine failureFerrari are concerned for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc after hearing what Haas’ Oliver Bearman said about his engine failure during FP2 at the Azerbaijan ...Fri 25 Sep · 07:00 UTCWikimedia Commons · Steffen Prößdorf · CC BY-SA 4.0Verstappen targets Nurburgring, Spa endurance racesMax Verstappen has announced his intention to participate in major endurance races at the Nurburgring and Spa in 2027, as the Formula 1 calendar will not clash with these events. He expressed his desire to return to the Nordschleife after a previous race and highlighted Spa as another appealing option, although he remains uncertain about competing in Le Mans due to its demanding preparation requirements. Lando Norris is also getting involved in endurance racing, having recently driven McLaren's new prototype for the World Endurance Championship. However, other F1 drivers like Nico Hulkenberg and Fernando Alonso have expressed skepticism about adding endurance races to their schedules, citing the busy calendar as a significant barrier to participation.Thu 24 Sep · 06:48 UTCvia f1oversteer.comMichael Schumacher’s Ferrari boss is ‘sad’ when he sees the current state of the teamLuca di Montezemolo, the former president of Ferrari, has voiced his disappointment regarding the current state of the team, stating they are not competitive in Formula 1 anymore. He highlighted that Ferrari has not won a drivers' or constructors' title in 18 seasons and pointed out that no Ferrari driver has been in contention for the championship since Fernando Alonso in 2012. Despite having a strong driver line-up with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, who have a combined total of 261 podiums, Ferrari has only managed to win one race each since the start of 2025. Di Montezemolo has been critical of team principal Fred Vasseur, suggesting that the team lacks strong leadership and needs to reflect on their performance to improve in the future.Wed 23 Sep · 16:30 UTCvia AutosportRUMOURLeclerc confirms commitment to Ferrari amid interestCharles Leclerc has reaffirmed his commitment to Ferrari after signing a new contract with the team. The announcement comes amid speculation about other opportunities he considered before deciding to stay with Ferrari.Tue 22 Sep · 15:30 UTCvia PlanetF1RUMOURCadillac F1 approach called ‘suboptimal’ as major relocation rumours addressedOtmar Szafnauer has labelled Cadillac's Formula 1 approach as 'suboptimal', particularly in relation to their plans to establish a presence in the United States. He expressed his concerns directly to Pat Symonds, Cadillac's executive engineering consultant, suggesting that the team's strategy could hinder their chances of winning championships. Szafnauer highlighted the importance of having all design and simulation teams located in one place to compete effectively against established teams like Mercedes. Cadillac is currently developing a new manufacturing facility in Indianapolis and a power unit project in Charlotte, North Carolina. Despite these developments, team principal Marcin Budkowski has dismissed rumors that staff are being pressured to relocate from Silverstone, asserting that the UK base remains a significant part of their operations. Budkowski encouraged anyone doubting the Silverstone facility's importance to visit and see its capabilities.Tue 22 Sep · 11:15 UTCvia f1oversteer.comToto Wolff's 'league of his own' comments highlight why Lando Norris is beating Oscar PiastriToto Wolff praised Lando Norris for his exceptional performance during qualifying at the Spanish Grand Prix, where Norris achieved pole position with a remarkable lap time of 1:31.385. Wolff noted Norris' skill in managing rear tyre overheating, especially under challenging hot conditions, which set him apart from his teammate Oscar Piastri. Despite the compliments, Piastri's ongoing difficulties with tyre management were acknowledged, with McLaren's recent upgrades aimed at addressing these issues. Team principal Andrea Stella has urged Piastri to adapt his driving style to improve his performance, as his struggles have been a recurring theme in his career.Mon 21 Sep · 06:00 UTCvia gpfans.comFerrari considers grid penalty for Charles Leclerc in BakuFerrari team principal Fred Vasseur indicated that the Azerbaijan Grand Prix could be an appropriate time for Charles Leclerc to incur an engine grid penalty. The team is evaluating the potential benefits of this strategy ahead of the race weekend.Sat 19 Sep · 14:58 UTCvia the-race.comThe real reason Russell and Piastri are struggling in F1 2026In the 2026 Formula 1 season, drivers like George Russell and Oscar Piastri are facing significant challenges due to a mismatch between their driving styles and the new car and tire regulations. Russell finished fifth in the Madring race, significantly behind his teammate Kimi Antonelli, and noted that his struggles stem from how he drives compared to the demands of the current generation of cars. He observed that drivers who are performing well, such as Antonelli, Lewis Hamilton, and Lando Norris, share similar driving styles that align better with the 2026 car characteristics. The article discusses how the reduced downforce and tire grip of the 2026 cars have raised the crossover point of circuit grip, making certain driving techniques less effective. While Russell and Piastri tend to drive with a geometric ideal that works well on high-grip tracks, they struggle as grip decreases. In contrast, drivers like Hamilton and Norris have adapted their styles to better manage energy and grip, allowing them to perform more effectively. Ultimately, Russell and Piastri must adjust their approaches to keep pace with their competitors in this evolving racing landscape.Fri 18 Sep · 09:11 UTCvia Motorsport.comRosberg suggests VSC rule change after Norris' complaintNico Rosberg has proposed significant changes to the virtual safety car rules in Formula 1. His suggestions come after Lando Norris expressed concerns about the fairness of the VSC during the recent Spanish Grand Prix.Thu 17 Sep · 15:57 UTC