News178 stories
RSS ↗
via PlanetF1Oscar Piastri warning as Ferrari pressed on Hamilton, Leclerc team orders decisionFerrari's team principal, Fred Vasseur, acknowledged the possibility of prioritizing Lewis Hamilton over Charles Leclerc as the 2026 season progresses. He referenced Oscar Piastri's struggles in 2025 to illustrate the complexities of making such decisions early in the season. The recent Italian Grand Prix saw Hamilton finishing sixth and Leclerc retiring due to a crash, while Kimi Antonelli celebrated a historic victory for Italy at Monza.
Currently, Hamilton leads Leclerc by 36 points in the drivers' championship, but Antonelli has a commanding 76-point lead over Hamilton. Vasseur highlighted the challenges of team orders, comparing Ferrari's situation to McLaren's management of their drivers. He noted that while allowing drivers to race freely is ideal, strategic decisions may become necessary as the season unfolds.
via Motorsport WeekMcLaren to Review Driver Engagement Following Monza IncidentMcLaren has announced plans to review the racing dynamics between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri after their close encounter during the Italian Grand Prix. The team acknowledged the need to reassess their rules of engagement following complaints from Norris about Piastri's on-track behavior.
via Sky Sports F1Brundle's verdict on Antonelli fairytale, 'bruised' Russell and Ferrari 'skirmish'The Italian Grand Prix featured a remarkable performance by Kimi Antonelli, who surged from 19th on the grid to claim victory just 18 laps later. The race was marked by intense overtaking and strategic battles, particularly between Mercedes teammates George Russell and Antonelli. Russell initially led the race but faced challenges after a virtual safety car, which allowed Antonelli to close the gap significantly.
Charles Leclerc's race ended prematurely due to a crash that brought out a red flag, while his earlier incident with Lewis Hamilton was classified as a racing incident. The race showcased the competitive nature of the 2026 season, with Antonelli's win being a highlight for both him and the Italian fans.
via RacingNews365McLaren to Review Team Dynamics After Monza Qualifying IncidentOscar Piastri and Lando Norris faced a tense situation during qualifying at the Italian Grand Prix, prompting discussions within McLaren about team strategy. Following the event, McLaren confirmed they would conduct a review to address the issues that arose during the session.
via f1oversteer.comNico Rosberg knows Lewis Hamilton’s ‘Hollywood story’ about Ferrari move is ‘complete nonsense’Nico Rosberg has dismissed Lewis Hamilton's narrative about a potential move to Ferrari, asserting that Hamilton had no interest in leaving Mercedes during their successful partnership. Rosberg revealed that Hamilton did have discussions with Ferrari's Stefano Domenicali in the early 2010s but believes that Alonso's influence played a role in preventing the move. Hamilton's consideration of Ferrari in 2017 was also thwarted by Vettel's contract extension at that time.
Hamilton ultimately decided to leave Mercedes at the age of 40 after a significant decline in the team's performance, finishing over 450 points behind Red Bull in the championship. Throughout his 12 years with Mercedes, Hamilton extended his contract five times, indicating his commitment to the team during their dominant years. Rosberg noted that Hamilton's departure could have provided him with a clearer path to the title.
via PlanetF1Nico Rosberg makes feelings clear on Lewis Hamilton vs Charles Leclerc clashNico Rosberg and Martin Brundle had a disagreement regarding the clash between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc during the Italian Grand Prix. Rosberg firmly placed the blame on Leclerc, asserting that he was fully responsible for the incident, while Brundle had a different perspective on the matter. The clash resulted in Hamilton dropping to 10th place, and the stewards decided not to take any action against Leclerc, which Rosberg found questionable given the circumstances of the race at Monza, Ferrari's home track.
Following the incident, Hamilton's championship deficit to Kimi Antonelli grew to 76 points, leading him to believe that it was too late for Ferrari to implement team orders to assist him. Despite acknowledging Hamilton's aggressive approach during the overtaking attempt, Rosberg maintained his stance that Leclerc should have been penalized for the clash. The differing opinions between Rosberg and Brundle highlight the ongoing debates surrounding race incidents in Formula 1.
via gpfans.comNico Rosberg astonished by Martin Brundle F1 take: 'I thought you knew what you were talking about!'During the Italian Grand Prix, a controversial incident occurred on Lap 1 involving Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, leading to a heated debate between analysts Nico Rosberg and Martin Brundle. Hamilton expressed his frustration over the radio, claiming Leclerc pushed him off the track, which sparked differing opinions on the culpability of the drivers involved.
Rosberg firmly believed that Leclerc was at fault according to the rules, while Brundle offered a contrasting view, suggesting that Leclerc had the inside line. Despite their disagreement, both analysts managed to find some common ground in their discussion.
via PlanetF1Lando Norris made ‘dangerous’ Oscar Piastri accusation in tense McLaren battleLando Norris and Oscar Piastri had a tense battle during the Italian Grand Prix, finishing fourth and fifth respectively. Norris initially accused Piastri of making a dangerous move but later clarified that his comments were made in the heat of the moment and acknowledged that the defense was fair. The two teammates engaged in a close race, with Norris ultimately overtaking Piastri on the final lap.
McLaren's performance at Monza allowed them to score 22 points, narrowing their deficit to Ferrari in the standings. Despite this, Norris recognized that Mercedes remained a stronger competitor. Piastri mentioned that differing energy strategies contributed to his inability to regain his position, highlighting the challenges faced in such high-speed racing scenarios.
via f1oversteer.comNico Rosberg questions Mercedes followed their own rules with George Russell strategy at Italian GPIn the Italian Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli made an impressive comeback from P19 to secure victory, overtaking George Russell in the final stages of the race. Russell initially led after starting from pole but lost his position after a strategic decision to stay out on hard tires during a red flag period, while Antonelli benefited from a pit stop under a virtual safety car to switch to medium tires.
Nico Rosberg criticized Mercedes for their strategy regarding Russell, suggesting that as the race leader, he should have been given the best possible strategy to maintain his lead. Following the race, Russell found himself 66 points behind Antonelli in the championship standings, highlighting the competitive nature of their relationship as they vie for the title.
via Motorsport.comNico Rosberg Addresses Mercedes Favouritism Claims After Italian GPNico Rosberg has dismissed allegations of favoritism by Mercedes during the Italian Grand Prix. The 2016 champion emphasized that the team operates fairly and without bias.
via Motorsport.comNico Rosberg Discusses Ferrari's Position in Title RaceNico Rosberg has stated that it would be impractical for Ferrari to support Lewis Hamilton over Charles Leclerc in the upcoming title race. He emphasized that Ferrari's commitment to Leclerc makes it unlikely for them to prioritize Hamilton, despite his aspirations for an eighth championship.
via grandprix.comHamilton and Leclerc say Ferrari mishandled Monza qualifyingIn the Monza qualifying session, Ferrari's drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, expressed dissatisfaction with the team's performance, believing they missed an opportunity for pole position. They ended up third and fourth on the grid after Oscar Piastri's penalty elevated their positions, but both drivers felt that the team did not fully capitalize on their car's speed during the session.
Leclerc faced a battery issue that affected his qualifying run, while Hamilton narrowly advanced past Q2. Both drivers emphasized the importance of executing a clean qualifying strategy, as demonstrated by Pierre Gasly's performance. Looking ahead, they hope to leverage their starting positions effectively in the race.
via f1oversteer.comLee McKenzie amazed by what she saw Oscar Piastri’s family do in McLaren’s Monza hospitalityDuring the qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri narrowly missed out on provisional pole, finishing just four hundredths of a second behind. Despite receiving a three-place grid penalty for impeding, Piastri's teammate Lando Norris assisted him with a slipstream during the session. Ultimately, Pierre Gasly secured his first-ever pole position, marking a significant achievement in his career after 190 races, and drawing cheers from the paddock, including Piastri's family in McLaren's hospitality area.
Gasly's pole position is notable as it is the first time a driver from outside the top four teams has achieved this since 2022. This moment is particularly special for Gasly, as it occurred at Monza, the same circuit where he claimed his first race victory. Following the qualifying, Piastri expressed his congratulations to Gasly and the Alpine team, highlighting the camaraderie within the sport despite the competitive nature of Formula 1.
via Formula1.comStella on whether McLaren can still target Monza podiumAndrea Stella, the Team Principal of McLaren, expressed optimism about the team's chances for a podium finish at the Monza race, despite Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris qualifying sixth and eighth, respectively. Piastri's grid position was affected by a three-place penalty for impeding another driver, but both drivers showed strong pace in earlier qualifying sessions, finishing second and third in Q2. Stella highlighted the need for smart driving and strategic execution during the race to maximize their performance potential.
Stella acknowledged that several factors, including battery management and track positioning, impacted their qualifying results. He believes that the car's performance at Monza, a circuit known for its straight-line speed, provides encouragement for the race. The team aims to improve execution and strategy to capitalize on their competitive pace, making the upcoming race an intriguing challenge.
via f1technical.netMcLaren Faces Disappointment in Monza Qualifying ResultsMcLaren experienced frustration during the qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix, with Oscar Piastri securing a third-place finish while Lando Norris could only manage ninth. Norris expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of his car, describing the experience as 'painful'.
via Motorsport.comOscar Piastri on Monza 2025 team orders: "I wouldn’t change how I responded"Oscar Piastri reflected on the team orders he followed during the Monza race in 2025, stating he has no regrets about his response despite the subsequent decline in his season performance. He acknowledged that the challenges he faced were due to multiple factors, not just that single decision, and he believes he handled the situation well at the time.
As of now, Piastri is seventh in the championship standings, significantly trailing his teammate Lando Norris. He has been working on improving his pace and adapting his driving style to the new car dynamics, expressing optimism about making progress as he continues to experiment with his approach on the track.
via Motorsport.comMcLaren Drivers Reflect on Monza Performance and Qualifying IssuesMcLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri achieved fourth and fifth places at the Italian Grand Prix. However, both acknowledged that a mistake during qualifying affected their starting positions and overall performance.
via gpfans.comOscar Piastri Receives Three-Place Grid Penalty for Italian Grand PrixOscar Piastri has been issued a three-place grid penalty for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix. This decision by the FIA provides a potential advantage for Ferrari in the race.
via PlanetF1FIA Concludes Investigation into Oscar Piastri's ConductThe FIA has completed its investigation regarding Oscar Piastri following an incident involving Liam Lawson. A decision on the matter has been reached by the stewards.
via Motorsport.comPiastri Faces Potential Penalty for Qualifying Incident at MonzaOscar Piastri has been summoned by Formula 1 stewards regarding an incident during qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix. He is at risk of losing his third-place grid position due to allegedly impeding fellow driver Liam Lawson.Page 4 of 9