News91 stories
RSS ↗
via gpfans.comF1 stars face ‘substantial’ Italian tax bills going back EIGHT yearsValtteri Bottas has expressed concerns regarding substantial tax bills that Formula 1 drivers are facing from Italy, which reportedly go back seven or eight years. He noted that while drivers are accustomed to paying taxes in various countries where they race, the retrospective nature of these demands has caused significant frustration among them.
Bottas explained that drivers were previously advised they did not need to file taxes in Italy, leading to confusion when the tax authorities revisited the issue. He emphasised that his frustration lies not in paying taxes, but in the lack of clarity and communication regarding the requirements, particularly given the international nature of their profession.
via CrashValtteri Bottas clarifies comments on Italian tax issuesValtteri Bottas has clarified his previous remarks regarding the tax situation in Italy, following attention from the media. His comments come amid reports of Italian tax police focusing on Formula 1 drivers.
via gpfans.comBottas highlights driver concerns over Imola finaleValtteri Bottas has expressed that Formula 1 drivers are not particularly enthusiastic about the proposed December season finale at Imola. He cited concerns over the weather conditions and potential tax implications in Italy as significant factors influencing their reluctance.
via Motorsport.comLaurent Mekies credited with ending Red Bull's second seat "curse"Laurent Mekies, the Team Principal of Red Bull Racing, has been credited with transforming the team's culture, which has reportedly helped Isack Hadjar thrive in his role. Will Buxton highlighted that Mekies has replaced the historically ruthless environment with a more supportive atmosphere, allowing drivers to perform better without excessive pressure.
Hadjar, who was promoted to Red Bull in 2026, impressed in his first race back after recovering from a wrist injury, finishing third. The change in management style under Mekies is seen as a significant factor in lifting what was referred to as Red Bull's second seat 'curse', which had previously troubled the team in finding a suitable teammate for Max Verstappen.
via the-race.comThe slowest race of F1 2026 explainedValtteri Bottas has detailed his significant pace issues during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he was over 1.7 seconds slower per lap than his Cadillac teammate Sergio Perez. Bottas crashed on the final lap after struggling with car setup and power steering issues throughout the race, leading to a lack of competitiveness. He acknowledged that he was unable to keep up with the pack and faced difficulties in both corners and straights.
Bottas's performance was further impacted by the absence of the upgraded ADUO 2 Ferrari engine, which Perez had during the race. While Bottas's engine upgrade is uncertain for the upcoming race in Sepang, Perez has opted to save his power unit for a more advantageous event. Both drivers anticipate a tough weekend in Malaysia due to the Cadillac's ongoing struggles with tyre management and aerodynamic performance.
via RacingNews365Valtteri Bottas claims Cadillac car was 'confused' in strange F1 crashValtteri Bottas reported that his Cadillac Formula 1 car's energy systems malfunctioned, leading to a crash during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The incident happened at Turn 15 as Bottas was not travelling at high speed, which he attributed to a previous lock-up at Turn 1 that may have confused the car's systems.
Bottas explained that the confusion resulted in a failure of the rear brakes, causing him to crash into the wall. He highlighted that the energy deployment in F1 cars is controlled by algorithms that require consistent inputs from the driver, suggesting that his earlier mistake disrupted the system's learning process.
via PlanetF1Bottas responds as Cadillac F1 relocation plans branded ‘suboptimal’Valtteri Bottas has defended Cadillac F1's plans to split its operations between the United Kingdom and the United States, following criticism from Otmar Szafnauer, who labelled the strategy as 'suboptimal' for achieving championship success. Bottas expressed confidence in the team's approach, highlighting the advantages of having a manufacturing facility in Indianapolis and a power unit project in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Team principal Marcin Budkowski responded to concerns about staff relocations, asserting that the Silverstone facility remains impressive and that the relocation rumors are unfounded. Bottas emphasized that the focus should be on the team's people and their ability to design and build competitive race cars, rather than solely on the facilities themselves.
via Motorsport.comBottas confirms Cadillac brake fix reduced temperatures by 100CValtteri Bottas has announced that Cadillac's recent modifications to their brake cooling system have successfully lowered front brake temperatures by approximately 100 degrees Celsius. This improvement addresses a significant reliability issue that the team has faced in its early Formula 1 campaign.
via f1oversteer.comOtmar Szafnauer admits Sergio Perez nearly got a five-year FIA ban before he joined Red BullOtmar Szafnauer disclosed that Sergio Perez was close to receiving a five-year ban from the FIA due to a doping rules violation during the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix. After the race, Perez underwent IV treatment for dehydration, which is prohibited under FIA regulations. The situation escalated when Perez shared details of the treatment on social media, prompting Szafnauer to engage a top sports lawyer to navigate the potential consequences.
Ultimately, the issue was resolved without a ban, allowing Perez to continue his career, which included a move to Red Bull in 2021. Now 36, Perez is on the verge of reaching 300 race starts, while Cadillac is evaluating potential driver changes for the 2027 season, which could impact his teammate Valtteri Bottas.
via f1chronicle.comSergio Perez Calls Pointless Baku Weekend ‘One of My Best’ as Cadillac’s Struggles ContinueSergio Perez has declared his Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend as one of his best despite finishing outside the points. After starting from P20 due to a grid penalty, he managed to recover to 14th place, matching his best result of the season with Cadillac, who are still seeking their first points in Formula 1.
Despite the lack of points, Perez expressed satisfaction with his performance, noting that he felt competitive throughout the race. He acknowledged the need for improvements in Cadillac's car to enhance their competitiveness, particularly in straight-line speed, as they aim for a points finish before the end of the season.
via grandprix.comSergio Perez warns of dangers with 2026 F1 carsSergio Perez has expressed concerns about the safety of the 2026 Formula 1 cars, stating he fears that 'something bad is going to happen soon.' He highlighted the dangerous closing speeds caused by differences in power deployment among engine manufacturers, particularly after a close call during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
via Motorsport.com“I fear something bad is going to happen soon” – 2026 F1 cars are “too dangerous”, Sergio Perez warnsSergio Perez has raised alarms about the safety of the 2026 Formula 1 cars, citing significant speed differentials that could lead to accidents. His concerns were amplified after a serious crash involving Oliver Bearman at the Japanese Grand Prix, which underscored the risks associated with the new power units that feature a high percentage of electrical energy.
Following a close call with Liam Lawson during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Perez urged for regulatory changes to address the dangerous disparities in engine performance. The FIA has already made some adjustments, and further changes are expected for the 2027 season to improve safety. Despite these efforts, Perez remains apprehensive about the implications for upcoming races.
via PlanetF1‘So dangerous’ – Heated Liam Lawson team radio after untelevised Sergio Perez moveDuring the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Liam Lawson expressed his frustration over Sergio Perez's aggressive defensive tactics, describing them as 'so dangerous' during a team radio transmission. This incident occurred after Lawson had passed Perez, who made a sudden move to the left, forcing Lawson to adjust his line. Both drivers finished the race in 12th and 14th positions, respectively, while George Russell secured his third victory of the season.
The rivalry between Lawson and Perez dates back to the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix, where tensions flared. Lawson's career has seen ups and downs, including being dropped by Red Bull and later returning to the Racing Bulls team. The F1 2026 season is set to continue with the Bahrain Grand Prix, marking a significant return to Malaysia for the first time since 2017.
via Formula1.comPerez reflects on 'one of my best weekends'Sergio Perez expressed satisfaction with his performance during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, calling it one of his best weekends despite finishing 14th and missing out on points for Cadillac. He highlighted his strong practice sessions but faced challenges in qualifying, which resulted in a grid penalty that hindered his race position.
Despite the struggles, Perez managed to stay competitive with midfield runners and noted the need for improvements in Cadillac's car performance. He acknowledged that the team has not planned any major upgrades for the remainder of the season but remains optimistic about operational improvements and pushing the team forward as they prepare for 2027.
via Motorsport.comHow was Valtteri Bottas so much slower than Sergio Perez in the Azerbaijan GP?In the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Valtteri Bottas experienced a significant performance gap compared to his teammate Sergio Perez, being outqualified by over a second and falling far behind during the race. Bottas struggled with pace, losing time consistently and ultimately crashing due to a technical issue shortly before the finish.
Sergio Perez, on the other hand, managed to extract maximum performance from his car, competing closely with faster vehicles despite lacking straight-line speed. He expressed pride in his aggressive driving style throughout the race, while Bottas's difficulties continued, marking a third consecutive race without leading his teammate.
via Motorsport WeekValtteri Bottas cites computer glitch for Baku crashValtteri Bottas has attributed his crash during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix to a 'big super-clip' that caused a computer glitch in his car. He has called for Cadillac to investigate the issue, which occurred in the final stages of the race.
via PlanetF1Valtteri Bottas explains Azerbaijan Grand Prix strugglesValtteri Bottas has shared his thoughts on his disappointing performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, attributing it to damper degradation affecting his Cadillac's ride quality. He noted that the car 'got a bit confused,' which contributed to his retirement from the race.
via gpfans.comFernando Alonso retires from Azerbaijan Grand PrixFernando Alonso decided to retire from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, marking another challenging race for Aston Martin. Despite Honda's insistence that there was no issue with Alonso's car, he did not complete the race.
via CrashFIA explains decision not to deploy safety car in BakuThe FIA has clarified its reasoning for not deploying the safety car following Valtteri Bottas's crash during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The governing body stated that the situation did not warrant the intervention despite the late incident.
via 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.Page 1 of 5