News666 stories
RSS ↗
via CrashTwist in Madrid Ferrari power deficit between Lewis Hamilton and Charles LeclercDuring the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were initially set to use different power units, with Leclerc on the older ADUO 1 due to a crash in the previous race. However, Hamilton reverted to the same ADUO 1 unit before Saturday's qualifying, eliminating any power deficit between the two drivers.
Hamilton qualified fourth, narrowly beating Leclerc by just 0.006 seconds. Leclerc expressed concerns that using the older engine affected his performance, particularly in the first sector of the track. Ferrari is still assessing the condition of Leclerc's ADUO 2 power unit for future use.
via f1oversteer.comLando Norris Outperforming Oscar Piastri in 2026 SeasonRalf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya have commented on Lando Norris's performance relative to teammate Oscar Piastri at McLaren in 2026. Both analysts suggest that Norris's skills are highlighting Piastri's struggles in comparison.
via RacingNews365George Russell reveals reason behind wait for Mercedes F1 engine penaltyGeorge Russell has decided to postpone his engine penalty until the upcoming triple-header in the Americas, despite his teammate Kimi Antonelli opting to take his penalty at Monza. Russell's strategy is influenced by Mercedes' plan to introduce a new internal combustion engine specification, which he aims to coincide with his penalty to avoid incurring multiple penalties for component changes.
Russell's current engine issues have forced him to exceed the standard allocation of components, leading to the need for a penalty. While Antonelli successfully recovered from a grid penalty to win at Monza, Russell believes that waiting for the upgrade will ultimately be more beneficial, as taking the penalty now would only lead to another penalty when the new components are introduced.
via PlanetF1FIA confirms Charles Leclerc decision after Spanish Grand Prix investigationThe FIA has confirmed that Charles Leclerc will not face punishment following an investigation into his performance during qualifying at the Spanish Grand Prix. The stewards determined that Ferrari was solely responsible for the delta time discrepancies, which led to Leclerc's failure to meet the required time limits between Safety Car lines. As a result, Ferrari received a reprimand, while Leclerc was deemed not at fault for the incident.
In qualifying, Leclerc secured the fifth-fastest time but expressed concerns that using an older power unit specification may have hindered his performance. He noted that he lost significant time in the first sector of his lap, which he plans to analyze further. Despite the challenges, Leclerc maintained that his lap was clean overall.
via f1technical.netRussell opens up on why he was unable to match Antonelli's speed in Madrid qualifyingKimi Antonelli narrowly lost pole position to Lando Norris by just 0.011 seconds during the qualifying session for the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring. Antonelli had shown strong pace throughout the day, including topping the final practice session, and will start the race from second on the grid, which he believes offers a good opportunity despite the challenges of overtaking on the new circuit.
George Russell, on the other hand, faced a frustrating qualifying session. After being the fastest in Q1, he struggled with understeer in Q3, which hindered his performance and resulted in a sixth-place finish. Russell remains optimistic about the race, citing potential opportunities to recover positions due to expected high tyre degradation.
via f1chronicle.comGeorge Russell Warns of ‘Six-Stop’ Tyre Nightmare as New Madrid Circuit Piles Punishment on RubberGeorge Russell expressed concerns about tyre wear ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit, highlighting that the high-speed corners, particularly La Monumental, are causing significant strain on the tyres. During practice, the team considered a six-stop strategy due to the extreme degradation observed, which could impact race performance.
Mercedes' deputy team principal, Bradley Lord, supported Russell's concerns, indicating that the continuous cornering without long straights for cooling could lead to unexpected tyre behavior. The circuit's unique layout, combined with Pirelli's harder tyre compounds, suggests that qualifying will be crucial for maintaining track position, especially if overtaking proves challenging during the race.
via RacingNews365Max Verstappen makes ‘BS’ claim as Lando Norris delivers lap of the GodsLando Norris achieved an impressive pole position at the Madring for the Spanish Grand Prix, narrowly beating Kimi Antonelli by just 0.011 seconds. This performance came as a surprise, as Antonelli was considered the frontrunner for the pole before qualifying began. The Ferrari drivers, despite their strong expectations, ended up in fourth and fifth places, while George Russell rounded out the top six.
Max Verstappen criticized the new Madring circuit, labeling a claim about the lack of overtaking space as 'BS.' His comments reflect ongoing discussions about the circuit's design and its impact on racing dynamics. The qualifying session showcased the competitive nature of the field, with Norris's standout lap highlighting his potential in the championship.
via Sky Sports F1'No idea what to expect’ – F1 braced for Madring debut race mysteryThe inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring circuit is set to take place with Lando Norris starting from pole position. The race features a grid that includes Kimi Antonelli, Max Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton, all of whom are facing uncertainties regarding tyre degradation and overtaking opportunities on the new track.
Drivers have reported significant challenges with tyre management, particularly due to high degradation observed during practice sessions. As the race approaches, the leading competitors are strategizing on how to handle the potential for chaotic racing conditions, with the outcome likely hinging on tyre performance and the ability to overtake.
via Motorsport.comGeorge Russell explains Madring qualifying strugglesGeorge Russell qualified sixth for the Spanish Grand Prix, falling short of expectations. He attributed his performance to issues encountered during the Q3 session, while his teammate Kimi Antonelli secured second place.
via RacingNews365George Russell recounts 'annoying' moment which wrecked Spanish GP qualifyingGeorge Russell experienced a frustrating qualifying session for the Spanish Grand Prix, where he initially placed third but ultimately finished sixth. His performance was hindered by a mistake at Turn 11, which caused him to lose valuable time on his final lap, allowing Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Charles Leclerc to surpass him in the standings.
Russell's teammate, Kimi Antonelli, is currently leading the drivers' championship, with a significant gap of 66 points over Russell. The Spanish GP marks a historic return to Madrid for Formula 1, as it has not been held in the capital since 1981.
via PlanetF1FIA launches double Mercedes investigation at Spanish Grand PrixThe FIA has initiated investigations into Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli following the qualifying session for the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix. Russell faces scrutiny for not adhering to the race director's instructions when rejoining the track, while Antonelli is being examined for possibly driving too slowly during the session. Russell's provisional grid position is P6, and Antonelli will start from second place.
The investigations come at a critical time for both drivers, especially for Russell, whose championship hopes could be impacted. Antonelli's performance has been notable, having recently moved significantly ahead in the points standings. The outcome of these investigations may influence the dynamics of the race and the championship battle.
via RaceFansStewards summon Antonelli, Russell and Leclerc over qualifying breaches | Formula 1The stewards have summoned three drivers, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, George Russell, and Charles Leclerc, for potential breaches of qualifying regulations. Russell is being investigated for not adhering to the proper procedure on an escape road, while both Antonelli and Leclerc are under scrutiny for driving too slowly between Safety Car lines during Q3.
Additionally, Carlos Sainz Jnr has been summoned for potentially impeding Valtteri Bottas. Other drivers noted for similar infractions were cleared, indicating a focused investigation on the actions of the summoned drivers.
via f1oversteer.comGeorge Russell just told Max Verstappen why he’s so wrong about Liam LawsonGeorge Russell has just proven why Max Verstappen was so wrong to point out Liam Lawson’s cameo at Red Bull as proof that F1’s 2026 ...
via gpfans.comF1 star Charles Leclerc makes big admission after Lewis Hamilton peace talksCharles Leclerc has taken full accountability for his collision with Lewis Hamilton during the Italian Grand Prix, which led to Hamilton losing positions early in the race. Following the incident, both drivers engaged in discussions with Ferrari management to address the situation and maintain team harmony.
Leclerc expressed his respect for Hamilton and acknowledged that their competitive nature sometimes leads to conflicts on the track. After the crash, Leclerc was monitored for any injuries but confirmed he was fit to compete in the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix.
via Motorsport WeekHamilton urges Ferrari to close gap to MercedesLewis Hamilton acknowledged the need for Ferrari to improve its performance to catch up with Mercedes and McLaren. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc expressed optimism about Ferrari's advancements despite recognizing that they remain behind their competitors.
via F1iRussell highlights worrying prospect for race day at MadringGeorge Russell expressed concerns about tyre degradation after the first day of practice at the new Madring circuit in Madrid. He noted that the track's unique characteristics could lead to significant thermal stress on the tyres, making race day a challenge for all teams. Russell's performance varied, as he topped the first practice session but slipped to fifth in the second due to set-up adjustments.
Mercedes' deputy team principal, Bradley Lord, echoed Russell's concerns, highlighting that the continuous cornering sequences on the track might lead to unexpected thermal effects on the tyres. With limited long-run data due to a crash during FP2, teams are left uncertain about tyre performance for the race, raising the possibility of a race strategy focused on managing thermal degradation.
via grandprix.comFerrari reportedly holds back Leclerc engine as a precautionFerrari made a strategic decision to use an earlier engine specification for Charles Leclerc during the Madrid race as a precaution. This choice was influenced by the limited time available for checks on his upgraded Monza engine following an accident at the Italian Grand Prix, where initial inspections revealed no significant issues.
The team aimed to maximize preparation time on the unfamiliar circuit by avoiding potential complications from engine problems. While the Monza engine is still considered recoverable, Ferrari has not confirmed when it will be back in service, nor have they abandoned the upgrade.
via Motorsport.comGeorge Russell shares childhood Silverstone connection and why he rejected bigger grandstandGeorge Russell has announced the launch of his own grandstand at Silverstone, set to debut in 2027. The George Russell Grandstand will be situated at Farm Curve, offering fans a three-day reserved seat along with an official T-shirt and access to various entertainment zones during the race weekend.
Russell explained his choice of the smaller grandstand, emphasizing that it provides the best view of multiple corners on the track. He also shared a nostalgic memory of attending Silverstone as a child in 2009, where he supported Sebastian Vettel, highlighting the significance of the circuit in his journey in Formula 1.
via RacingNews365George Russell makes grid penalty claim as F1 finally hits Madrid - RacingNews365 ReviewGeorge Russell has made a claim regarding his pending engine grid penalty, suggesting that Mercedes should have taken cues from teammate Kimi Antonelli's strategy during the Monza race. This comes as the Formula 1 series returns to Madrid for the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix, where teams are navigating various challenges.
In addition to Russell's comments, Lando Norris faced significant setbacks, missing an entire practice session due to gearbox problems. Meanwhile, Alex Albon raised concerns about safety at the new circuit, particularly regarding its banked corner, while Max Verstappen pinpointed areas for improvement for his team after a mixed performance on the first day.
via Formula1.comLeclerc anticipates exciting qualifying at MadringCharles Leclerc is looking forward to an exciting qualifying session for the Spanish Grand Prix. After experiencing the Madring for the first time, he expressed optimism about Ferrari's performance.Page 15 of 34