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via RacingNews365Max Verstappen hails former F1 rival: 'Destined for greater things'Max Verstappen has expressed admiration for former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica, stating that he was 'destined for greater things' in the sport. Verstappen highlighted Kubica's talent and the unfortunate circumstances that hindered his career after a life-threatening crash in 2011, which prevented him from achieving his potential in F1.
Kubica made a return to F1 in 2019 with Williams but later transitioned to endurance racing, where he found success by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Ferrari. Verstappen, who closely follows endurance racing, shared his happiness at seeing Kubica achieve this significant milestone.
Wed 23 Sep · 04:30 UTC
via gpfans.comJenson Button's wife defends Charles Leclerc's actionsJenson Button's wife has come to the defence of Charles Leclerc following criticism from David Coulthard regarding Leclerc's behaviour off the track. The Ferrari driver has faced scrutiny for prioritising family commitments, prompting support from Button's wife.
+ 1 moreTue 22 Sep · 21:27 UTC
via f1oversteer.comLaurent Mekies shares the 'doubts' that nearly stopped Max Verstappen extending his Red Bull contractMax Verstappen had serious doubts about his future with Red Bull, contemplating a move to another team or even retirement at the end of 2026. However, after discussions regarding the implications of new regulations and assurances about the team's competitiveness, he ultimately decided to extend his contract with Red Bull until 2030.
Laurent Mekies, Red Bull's team principal, highlighted that Verstappen's concerns were addressed through collaborative efforts with Formula 1 and the FIA. The changes in engine regulations, which will shift the balance towards more internal combustion engine dependency, played a crucial role in restoring Verstappen's confidence in the sport and his team.
Tue 22 Sep · 20:00 UTC
via f1oversteer.comF1 teams must not help Honda after seeing them dominate the sport with Max VerstappenHonda is facing significant challenges in the 2026 Formula 1 season, particularly with their partnership with Aston Martin, which has led to discussions about potential replacements for their underperforming engine. Rival teams have previously provided financial assistance to Honda, fearing their exit from the sport, but there is now caution about offering too much support due to Honda's history of dominance with Max Verstappen from 2021 to 2024.
As the F1 landscape prepares for a shift in engine regulations favouring internal combustion engines starting in 2027, there are concerns that if Honda receives additional backing, they could quickly regain their competitive edge. This has led to a divided opinion among teams, with some advocating for caution to prevent Honda from leveraging any support to become a dominant force once again.Tue 22 Sep · 18:00 UTC
via f1oversteer.comRed Bull still haven’t seen how good Liam Lawson really is after ending his stint one race too earlyRed Bull Racing has confirmed that Isack Hadjar will return to the team for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, ending Liam Lawson's stint as a substitute driver. Lawson had previously replaced Hadjar and performed well, scoring points in his debut race at Zandvoort and achieving a career-best fifth place at Baku last year.
The decision to end Lawson's time with Red Bull comes as he was poised to potentially excel at the Baku circuit, where he had previously qualified third and finished fifth. The team has been noted for having the best internal combustion engine, which could have further enhanced Lawson's performance had he continued in the RB22.Tue 22 Sep · 17:00 UTC
via gpfans.comMax Verstappen makes decision on racing series switch despite success of father JosMax Verstappen has decided against switching to rally car racing, citing safety concerns as a new father. Despite his father's success in rallying, including winning the Belgian Rally Championship in 2025, Verstappen believes the risks associated with rallying are too high, especially given the potential for serious accidents.
Verstappen has committed to Formula 1, having signed a new contract with Red Bull last month. He has explored other racing formats, such as GT racing, but maintains that rallying is not a viable option for him at this stage in his life. His family generally supports his racing decisions but would likely intervene if he pursued rallying.Tue 22 Sep · 16:27 UTC
via f1oversteer.comFerrari fear ‘complex’ Baku issue could add to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s woesFerrari is apprehensive about the upcoming 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, particularly regarding potential tyre graining issues that could affect both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Despite having a strong qualifying record in Baku, the team has never secured a victory at this circuit, and they are aware that finding the right car setup will be crucial for success.
The team is also concerned about the grip levels on Baku's city streets, which are rated low by Pirelli. With the softest tyre compounds being used for the race, Ferrari understands that managing tyre performance will be essential. Previous races have shown that any issues with tyre graining could further complicate their chances, especially given their struggles with straight-line speed compared to competitors like Mercedes.Tue 22 Sep · 16:00 UTC
via AutosportLeclerc 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.
+ 1 moreTue 22 Sep · 15:30 UTC
via Motorsport WeekIsack Hadjar expresses relief at returning to Red BullIsack Hadjar has shared his relief about the upcoming opportunity to race again with Red Bull at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He described feeling a 'weird feeling' during his absence from Formula 1.
Tue 22 Sep · 15:30 UTC
via f1technical.netIsack Hadjar returns to Red Bull at Azerbaijan Grand PrixIsack Hadjar has confirmed his return to Formula 1 with Red Bull at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after recovering from a wrist injury. During practice, Hadjar expressed satisfaction with the performance of his upgraded car, stating it felt better than during his last outing in Hungary.
+ 1 moreTue 22 Sep · 14:00 UTC
via the-race.comWhere every Red Bull driver stands as Hadjar returnsIsack Hadjar is set to return to Red Bull for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after recovering from a wrist injury that sidelined him for three races. His return means Liam Lawson will go back to Racing Bulls, while Yuki Tsunoda takes on his reserve role again. Hadjar's performance prior to his injury showed promise, averaging 6.5 points per race, but he faces pressure to perform at a high level immediately upon his return.
During Hadjar's absence, Verstappen's performance improved significantly, averaging 12 points per race, while Lawson managed only 4.7 points. Tsunoda demonstrated his reliability by scoring points in Monza, while rookie Arvid Lindblad continued to impress, contributing to Racing Bulls' success in the constructors' championship. Hadjar's return is crucial for Red Bull as they aim to improve their competitive standing.
Tue 22 Sep · 10:00 UTC
via gpfans.comBaffling Max Verstappen F1 issue cannot be fixed admit Red BullRed Bull Racing's team principal, Laurent Mekies, has admitted that they are struggling to resolve a long-standing performance issue with Max Verstappen's RB22 car. Throughout the 2026 season, Verstappen has expressed concerns about the car's performance degradation, particularly at the rear, leading him to describe it as 'a car made of paper.' Despite efforts to investigate the problem, Mekies confirmed that they have not yet found satisfactory answers.
The issue has been ongoing and appears to have carried over from previous Red Bull models, even after the regulatory changes implemented this year. Mekies noted that while they have made some progress in understanding the problem, a complete resolution is unlikely before 2027. He emphasised that they are actively working on the issue and hope to build a foundation for future improvements.Tue 22 Sep · 08:45 UTC
via f1oversteer.comLiam Lawson returns to Racing Bulls for Azerbaijan GPLiam Lawson is set to race for Racing Bulls at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after filling in for the injured Isack Hadjar at Red Bull for three races. Racing Bulls boss Alan Permane praised Lawson's performances during his time with Red Bull.+ 3 moreTue 22 Sep · 08:14 UTC
via RacingNews365Juan Pablo Montoya suggests karting challenge for 2026Juan Pablo Montoya has proposed that the 2026 Formula 1 drivers participate in a karting challenge similar to one previously undertaken by Max Verstappen. Montoya believes this would be an entertaining spectacle for fans.+ 1 moreTue 22 Sep · 05:25 UTC
via f1technical.netNorris and Verstappen reveal how Antonelli needs to approach the final leg of the seasonAndrea Kimi Antonelli’s remarkable 2026 Formula 1 campaign has earned praise from two of the sport’s most experienced current drivers, with Max Verstappen and Lando Norris both impressed by the way the young Mercedes driver has handled his championship challenge.Mon 21 Sep · 18:00 UTCWikimedia Commons · Steffen Prößdorf, crop by Cerebral726 · CC BY-SA 4.0Max Verstappen makes firm position on following Lando Norris’ junior team pathMax Verstappen has stated he is not interested in following Lando Norris' path of starting a junior single-seater team. Norris recently announced the creation of LN4 Fusion, which will compete in various championships starting in 2027. Verstappen commended Norris for his initiative to support young drivers amid rising racing costs.
Instead of venturing into single-seaters, Verstappen prefers to focus on his endurance racing team, Verstappen Racing. He enjoys working with both established and young drivers, and his team is already involved in training numerous Formula 2, 3, and 4 drivers. Additionally, he is eyeing a potential entry into the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Mon 21 Sep · 16:00 UTC
via gpfans.comFerrari F1 star Charles Leclerc announces new plans: "I spoke about it with my manager"Charles Leclerc has announced his intention to pursue a role in driver management after his Formula 1 career. He stated that he has already spoken with his manager, Nicolas Todt, about the possibility of working together in this capacity once he retires from driving.
Despite his plans for the future, Leclerc emphasised that he remains fully committed to his current role with Ferrari and is focused on achieving success in the sport. He believes that transitioning to management could be a natural next step when he decides to retire from racing.Mon 21 Sep · 15:19 UTC
via racer.comFerrari needs to get its act together in qualifying, Vasseur saysFerrari team principal Fred Vasseur has emphasised the need for improvement in qualifying performance, stating that the team has the potential for better results if they can enhance their pace during qualifying sessions. Despite Charles Leclerc demonstrating strong race pace at the Spanish Grand Prix, Ferrari has struggled to secure podium finishes since July, with Vasseur pinpointing weaknesses in the final stages of qualifying as a critical area for development.
Leclerc echoed Vasseur's sentiments, indicating that the car's performance in qualifying is generally lacking compared to its race pace. He specifically mentioned that the power unit's performance is a contributing factor to their struggles on Saturdays. Both Vasseur and Leclerc expressed a commitment to finding solutions to unlock more qualifying performance, with Vasseur optimistic about the team's ability to carry over current developments into next year's project.
Mon 21 Sep · 14:05 UTC
via Motorsport.comGuenther Steiner predicts Max Verstappen will go winless in 2026 F1 seasonGuenther Steiner, the former Haas Formula 1 team principal, has made a bold prediction that Max Verstappen will finish the 2026 Formula 1 season without a single victory. He believes that the current Red Bull Racing package is not competitive enough to secure wins, especially with strong performances from rivals Mercedes and McLaren.
Verstappen is currently sixth in the standings, significantly trailing championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Despite achieving second place in several races this season, he has acknowledged a performance gap compared to his competitors, indicating that improvements are still needed in the car's setup and performance.
Mon 21 Sep · 14:00 UTC
via RacingNews365Lewis Hamilton denies demands for Ferrari changesLewis Hamilton has strongly denied rumours suggesting he is requesting changes at Ferrari. The claims come as Max Verstappen continues to build momentum ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.Mon 21 Sep · 14:00 UTCPage 20 of 64