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via gpfans.comMcLaren F1 launches brand new logoMcLaren has introduced a new logo that will be used across its racing teams, including Formula 1, the World Endurance Championship, and Indy Car. The updated design includes a line under the 'c' in McLaren, inspired by a sign from Bruce McLaren's original workshop in Auckland, New Zealand. In a statement, McLaren Racing's chief marketing officer Lou McEwen highlighted the logo's connection to the team's history and future aspirations. Chief creative officer David Woodhouse emphasised that the new visual identity captures McLaren's spirit of innovation and marks the beginning of a new chapter for the company.Wed 23 Sep · 07:14 UTCvia newsonf1.comWolff absent as Antonelli enters gruelling title runToto Wolff will not attend the upcoming race in Baku as the Formula 1 championship enters a challenging phase, with a tight schedule ahead. Bradley Lord will take over Wolff's trackside duties during this period. Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar is set to return to the Red Bull team after recovering from a wrist injury, while Liam Lawson will revert to Racing Bulls after a successful stint alongside Max Verstappen. Kimi Antonelli is currently leading the championship with an 81-point advantage and is focused on maintaining his lead through the demanding upcoming races. He expressed confidence in his physical readiness for the challenges ahead. Despite Mercedes not having made significant upgrades since May, further developments are anticipated in the coming races, and Antonelli's performance is expected to remain strong as he aims for his first title.Wed 23 Sep · 05:56 UTCvia RacingNews365Red Bull confirm Azerbaijan GP line-up change as Kimi Antonelli label questioned - RacingNews365 ReviewRed Bull Racing has officially confirmed that Isack Hadjar will return to the team for the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix. This decision comes as part of a line-up change where Hadjar will take the place of Liam Lawson for this race weekend. In related news, Kimi Antonelli's status as a potential 'generational talent' has been debated, with comparisons made to Lewis Hamilton's career. The discussions highlight the expectations placed on young drivers in Formula 1 and the benchmarks set by established stars.Tue 22 Sep · 20:00 UTCvia 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 UTCvia PlanetF1Red Bull makes Azerbaijan GP announcement; Cadillac setup dubbed ‘suboptimal’ – round-upRed Bull has announced that Isack Hadjar will return to race alongside Max Verstappen at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, following a three-race absence due to injury. Liam Lawson, who filled in for Hadjar, will revert to his role with Racing Bulls, while Yuki Tsunoda will return to reserve duties after his stint as a stand-in driver. In other news, Cadillac's approach of operating from multiple bases has been labelled 'suboptimal' by team principal Otmar Szafnauer, who expressed concerns about the logistical challenges this presents for building a championship-winning team. Additionally, Stefano Domenicali's salary as chief executive of Formula One Management has been revealed to be £7.999 million.Tue 22 Sep · 19:37 UTCvia 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 UTCvia Motorsport WeekMcLaren reintroduces upgrade for Azerbaijan Grand PrixMcLaren will bring back its 'Macarena' wing for the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix after a one-race absence. This upgrade is part of the team's ongoing efforts to enhance performance.Tue 22 Sep · 16:31 UTCvia 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 UTCvia 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 UTCvia PlanetF1Who owns each Formula 1 team?The ownership structures of Formula 1 teams vary significantly, with Ferrari being owned by Ferrari S.p.A. and McLaren primarily controlled by Bahrain's Mumtalakat sovereign wealth fund. Mercedes has three equal shareholders, while Red Bull teams are fully owned by Red Bull GmbH, with the Yoovidhya family and Mark Mateschitz as key stakeholders. Other teams like Williams were sold to private investment firms, such as Dorilton Capital, while Audi is owned by Volkswagen Group. The Alpine team is primarily owned by Renault Group, with Otro Capital holding a minority stake. Cadillac's F1 team is owned by TWG Global, with General Motors involved as a partner rather than an equity owner.Tue 22 Sep · 15:02 UTCvia 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.Tue 22 Sep · 14:00 UTCvia RacingNews365McLaren call on Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to execute three 'essentials' in BakuMcLaren has outlined three key requirements for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as they prepare for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The team is set to implement a major aerodynamic upgrade to enhance the performance of their MCL40 cars, particularly focusing on airflow around the floor and rear tyres to improve balance on the circuit's long straights. Rob Marshall, McLaren's chief technical officer, emphasised the unique challenges posed by Baku's layout, which combines the longest straight in Formula 1 with tight corners. He stressed the importance of energy, tyre, and brake management, as well as the need for confidence and precision from the drivers to navigate the demanding street circuit successfully.Tue 22 Sep · 10:55 UTCvia 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 UTCvia 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 UTCvia RacingNews365Lando Norris discusses unique McLaren car traitsLando Norris has highlighted the 'odd' and 'unique' characteristics that have defined McLaren Formula 1 cars in recent years. He expressed his difficulty in pinpointing the exact reasons behind these traits, which have become a hallmark of the team's performance.Tue 22 Sep · 06:20 UTCvia f1oversteer.comHonda manager says Yuki Tsunoda must be ‘really disappointed’ with Racing Bulls performance in SpainYuki Tsunoda's performance at the Spanish Grand Prix was disappointing, as he finished in 14th place, his worst result while substituting for Racing Bulls. The driver faced significant challenges after sustaining damage from a collision with Carlos Sainz on the first lap, which hindered his pace throughout the race. Team boss Alan Permane noted that Tsunoda was losing time per lap due to the damage, resulting in a finish nearly 32 seconds behind his teammate Arvid Lindblad, who secured a ninth-place finish. Honda's young driver manager, Shinji Nakano, expressed that Tsunoda should feel disappointed with his lack of one-lap pace, which affected his qualifying position. Despite the difficulties, Tsunoda had previously shown competitive potential, scoring a point at Monza. As Racing Bulls continue to compete for fifth place in the constructors' standings, there are reports of Tsunoda seeking a seat with Cadillac for the upcoming season.Mon 21 Sep · 19:30 UTCvia RacingNews365Liam Lawson names Christian Horner difference in 'new' Red Bull feelingLiam Lawson has shared insights on his experiences with Red Bull team principals Christian Horner and Laurent Mekies. After a brief stint with Horner in 2025, Lawson was demoted but later returned to the team in 2026, scoring points in two of his three races under Mekies, who replaced Horner. Reflecting on his time with both leaders, Lawson noted that he didn't have enough time with Horner to form a fair comparison. He expressed that his longer relationship with Mekies, including their time together at VCARB, has made the transition smoother. Lawson also mentioned that while he can learn operational aspects from Red Bull, the technical differences between the cars limit direct comparisons.Mon 21 Sep · 19:00 UTCvia PlanetF1Liam Lawson's Red Bull performance questioned by expertsAlex Brundle has expressed doubts about Liam Lawson's impact during his recent stint with Red Bull, stating that he did not deliver any 'breakthrough' performances. Meanwhile, the long-term prospects for Lawson within the Red Bull setup are under scrutiny as the team considers its options for 2027.Mon 21 Sep · 18:01 UTCvia RacingNews365McLaren point to 2025 hangover as factor behind 'immature' F1 carMcLaren team principal Andrea Stella has described the MCL40 Formula 1 car as an 'immature project', attributing this to the team's focus on the 2025 title push. The team has faced challenges in the early part of the 2026 season, struggling with both the chassis and the new power units, while competing for third place against Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari. Despite these struggles, McLaren has seen success with two race wins this season, both achieved by Lando Norris from pole position. Stella highlighted the car's inconsistent performance, particularly in low-speed corners, and noted that the team is still working on development to improve competitiveness against rivals who had ceased development earlier.Mon 21 Sep · 14:50 UTCvia 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 UTCvia Motorsport.comMcLaren releases behind-the-scenes look at Lando Norris's hypercar testMcLaren has released behind-the-scenes footage of Lando Norris testing their 2027 MCL-HY hypercar in Portugal. Following his third-place finish at the Spanish Grand Prix, Norris participated in the test at the Algarve International Circuit, completing 38 laps and covering 177km. Norris expressed excitement about the experience, noting the differences from Formula 1 cars and the fun he had. He thanked the McLaren Hypercar Team for the opportunity and highlighted the importance of collecting data during this crucial testing period as the team prepares for the World Endurance Championship next year.Mon 21 Sep · 09:46 UTCvia gpfans.comChristian Horner 'perfect man' to fix Ferrari as F1 star highlights Vasseur's 'big mistake'Christian Horner has been identified as the 'perfect man' to lead Ferrari, especially following recent tensions between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. These tensions arose during the Dutch and Italian Grands Prix, where Leclerc's refusal to let Hamilton pass cost him valuable time and points, leaving Hamilton significantly behind in the championship race. Former F1 driver Marc Surer has criticized Ferrari's team principal Fred Vasseur for not taking a stronger stance during these incidents, calling it a 'big mistake'. Surer believes that for Horner to succeed at Ferrari, he would need the autonomy to assemble his own team, similar to what Ross Brawn did in the past, to restore the team's competitive edge.Mon 21 Sep · 07:15 UTCvia newsonf1.comMcLaren to test new H-wing at Baku for 2026 plansMcLaren will introduce a new version of its H-wing at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as part of its ongoing development for the 2026 Formula 1 season. The performance of this upgrade will influence the team's decision on whether to continue its 2026 development alongside the 2027 car.Mon 21 Sep · 06:24 UTCvia PlanetF1Aston Martin struggles with just three points in 2026Aston Martin has managed to secure only three points in the 2026 Formula 1 season, marking a disappointing start for the team. Adrian Newey's influence on the design has not yielded the expected results, leaving Aston Martin at the bottom of the championship standings.Mon 21 Sep · 05:12 UTC