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via Motorsport.comGuenther Steiner calls out Williams over F1 infrastructure complaints: "Crocodile tears"Guenther Steiner, the former Haas Formula 1 team principal, has publicly criticised Williams's complaints regarding capital expenditure limits, labelling them as 'crocodile tears'. He questioned team principal James Vowles for shifting the timeline of the team's recovery and argued that Williams's historical lack of investment is to blame for their current struggles.
Steiner emphasised that Williams should not blame the current financial regulations for their outdated facilities, suggesting that they have not maximised their budget cap spending over the past five years. He pointed out that other teams have successfully negotiated allowances for facility upgrades, implying that Williams needs to take more initiative in addressing their infrastructure issues.
Fri 25 Sep · 20:23 UTC
via RacingNews365McLaren declare door 'wide open' for Verstappen as Antonelli suffers knock - RacingNews365 ReviewZak Brown, the CEO of McLaren, has expressed that the possibility for Max Verstappen to join the team remains open, despite Verstappen's recent contract extension with Red Bull Racing. This statement highlights McLaren's interest in the reigning world champion, suggesting they are keen on future collaboration.
In other news from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli, the championship leader, suffered a significant setback by crashing during qualifying. Meanwhile, George Russell's pole position offers him a chance to gain points on his teammate Antonelli, who is currently facing challenges in the title race.
Fri 25 Sep · 20:00 UTC
via PlanetF1Sergio Perez receives grid penalty for Azerbaijan incidentThe FIA has imposed a grid penalty on Sergio Perez following an incident during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying where he impeded Oscar Piastri. The decision comes after a stewards' investigation into the matter.
+ 1 moreFri 25 Sep · 19:03 UTC
via the-race.comAlpine's surprise assist with its 2026 F1 revivalAlpine has announced that Daniil Kvyat, a former Red Bull driver, has returned to the team as a simulator driver for the 2026 Formula 1 season. Kvyat, who has a history with Alpine as a reserve driver in 2021, has been working alongside reserve drivers Paul Aron and Kush Maini, contributing to both simulator duties and race weekend support.
Kvyat has played a significant role in helping Alpine improve its performance during the season, particularly during races in Japan and Canada. The team has seen a resurgence in competitiveness following a switch to Mercedes engines, and Kvyat's experience and feedback have been valuable assets in their revival efforts.
Fri 25 Sep · 18:56 UTC
via racer.comPiastri, Stella see signs of evolution in McLaren Baku turnaroundOscar Piastri achieved a commendable third-place qualifying position at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, showcasing his growing familiarity with the 2026 McLaren car. Despite a challenging practice session and engine issues for teammate Lando Norris, Piastri's performance marked a significant turnaround for the team, coming close to outqualifying Charles Leclerc.
Andrea Stella, McLaren's principal, highlighted Piastri's ability to adapt his driving style, which contributed to his success. However, he acknowledged ongoing struggles with straight-line speed compared to the Mercedes team, indicating that improvements are needed in the car's overall performance and aerodynamics.
via Motorsport.comWilliams’ long-awaited F1 upgrade is delivering in Baku – but was Q3 an “overachievement”?Williams Racing has celebrated its best qualifying result of the 2026 season at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with Carlos Sainz achieving 9th place in qualifying. This improvement comes after the introduction of a new chassis that has addressed the car's previous weight issues, allowing for better performance on the track.
Despite the positive outcome, both Sainz and Alexander Albon expressed caution regarding the upgrade's potential, noting that the car's handling remains a concern. Albon highlighted the need for further aerodynamic improvements as they prepare for the upcoming races in Malaysia and Singapore, which feature different track characteristics.Fri 25 Sep · 18:36 UTC
via f1oversteer.comChristian Horner says he lost trust in Adrian NeweyChristian Horner has stated that he realised he could no longer rely on Adrian Newey at Red Bull more than ten years before Newey's departure from the team. This revelation highlights a significant shift in their professional relationship.
+ 1 moreFri 25 Sep · 18:00 UTC
via PlanetF1Lando Norris adopts 'pole or die trying' mindsetLando Norris expressed his determination to secure pole position during a challenging qualifying session in Azerbaijan. The McLaren driver admitted he is in a 'pole or die trying' situation as the season progresses.+ 1 moreFri 25 Sep · 17:21 UTC
via Formula1.comPiastri assesses 'surprise' Qualifying result in BakuOscar Piastri qualified third for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, surprising himself with the pace after a subdued practice session for McLaren. Piastri briefly held second place during qualifying, while Lando Norris finished fifth after a costly lock-up on his final attempt. George Russell took pole position, with Charles Leclerc just ahead of Piastri by a narrow margin.
Piastri remarked on McLaren's tendency to find extra performance during qualifying, contrasting with their practice struggles. Norris, while pleased with his driving, pointed out underlying car issues that limited his performance. Both drivers are now looking to convert their qualifying positions into a strong race performance, despite uncertainties about their race pace.
+ 1 moreFri 25 Sep · 16:20 UTC
via RacingNews365Lando Norris calls for McLaren investigation after BakuLando Norris has requested McLaren to investigate a technical issue that affected his car's top speed during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Norris qualified in fifth place, expressing frustration over the ongoing problem.+ 2 moreFri 25 Sep · 16:10 UTC
via CrashIsack Hadjar claims he could have qualified second in BakuIsack Hadjar qualified fourth for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix but believes he could have secured a front-row start if he had not missed the last three races. The Red Bull driver expressed confidence in his performance, stating that a better grid position was achievable.
+ 2 moreFri 25 Sep · 16:08 UTC
via the-race.comSainz loses Williams's best grid slot of 2026Carlos Sainz, driving for Williams, has been handed a five-place grid penalty for failing to heed yellow flags during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying session. This penalty means Sainz will start from 14th position, denying Williams its best grid slot of the year, which was previously held by Alex Albon in 11th place. The stewards determined that Sainz did not adequately reduce his speed in the relevant yellow-flag sector, despite receiving warnings from his team.
In addition to Sainz's penalty, Sergio Perez of Cadillac also faced a three-position penalty for impeding McLaren's Oscar Piastri. However, due to engine component penalties affecting Aston Martin drivers, Perez will only drop one position, starting from 20th. The penalties highlight the strict enforcement of yellow flag regulations and traffic management during qualifying sessions in Formula 1.Fri 25 Sep · 15:44 UTC
via AutosportMax Verstappen forced into engine change in BakuMax Verstappen has had to make a late engine change for the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. The Red Bull driver experienced an engine problem that disrupted his plans after a strong performance in final practice.
+ 2 moreFri 25 Sep · 15:38 UTC
via CrashLando Norris reflects on Baku qualifying errorLando Norris admitted he would "rather die pushing" after making a costly error during the qualifying session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The McLaren driver expressed his determination to leave nothing on the table despite the setback he faced in Q3.+ 2 moreFri 25 Sep · 15:15 UTC
via Motorsport.comIsack Hadjar bullish: If I hadn't missed three races, I'd be second on the gridIsack Hadjar, driving for Red Bull Racing, qualified fourth for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix but expressed confidence that he could have secured second place if he had not missed the previous three races due to a wrist injury. His qualifying time was just 0.137 seconds slower than Charles Leclerc, who took second, while Hadjar outperformed Max Verstappen, who qualified eighth.
Hadjar described his approach during the comeback as cautious, aiming to avoid risks while gradually building confidence. He acknowledged improvements in his car's handling since his last race in Hungary, but admitted that Mercedes still had a significant speed advantage, particularly in straight-line performance. This qualifying result marks Hadjar's best performance since the season opener in Melbourne.Fri 25 Sep · 14:36 UTCvia RacingNews365Furious Max Verstappen 'completely done' after latest Red Bull problemMax Verstappen expressed his anger after a battery issue hindered his performance during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, resulting in an eighth-place finish. He had been competitive earlier in the session but faced difficulties in Q3, which he attributed to the car's failure to charge properly and other mechanical problems.
Verstappen, who had shown strong pace throughout the weekend, felt that the changes made to the car did not yield positive results. He was particularly frustrated with the inability to push effectively due to the battery not being fully charged, leading to a disappointing qualifying session that left him significantly behind his teammate Isack Hadjar.Fri 25 Sep · 14:30 UTC
via RaceFansVerstappen calls Baku qualifying a disaster after issuesMax Verstappen described his qualifying session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as a 'disaster' after experiencing an engine problem that hindered his performance. The Red Bull driver will start from eighth on the grid, expressing disappointment with the team's qualifying issues.
+ 6 moreFri 25 Sep · 14:01 UTC
via RaceFansCarlos Sainz receives grid penalty for Azerbaijan GPCarlos Sainz has been handed a five-place grid penalty for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after breaching yellow flag regulations during qualifying. The penalty comes after Sainz achieved his best qualifying performance of the season with Williams.+ 8 more
via RaceFans2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix results from BakuThe 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix took place at the Baku City Circuit, showcasing a competitive race among the Formula 1 teams. Detailed results and highlights from the event have been compiled.Sat 26 Sep · 12:05 UTC
via RacingNews365Oscar Piastri concedes defeat to George RussellOscar Piastri admitted that McLaren had no chance of outpacing George Russell during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Despite securing third on the grid, Piastri noted he was comfortably behind Russell's pace.+ 2 moreFri 25 Sep · 13:27 UTCPage 2 of 50
