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via f1oversteer.comAndrea Stella admits McLaren were partly responsible for Oscar Piastri lock-up at Azerbaijan GPAndrea Stella, team principal of McLaren, has admitted that the team shares responsibility for Oscar Piastri's lock-up incident during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Piastri was performing well and aiming for a podium finish when he made a critical error at turn one, which pushed him to the back of the pack. Lando Norris also struggled, finishing eighth after being involved in a collision caused by Franco Colapinto during a safety-car restart.
Stella highlighted that McLaren's lack of straight-line speed contributed to the pressure on both drivers, leading to mistakes. He noted that the team needs to learn from this experience and improve the car's performance, particularly on straights, to avoid similar issues in the future. Despite recent successes, the team faced a reality check in Azerbaijan, where their performance did not meet expectations.
Sat 26 Sep · 17:00 UTC/Piastri%20post-race%20Madrid.webp)
via Formula1.comAzerbaijan mistake 'certainly took me by surprise' – PiastriOscar Piastri expressed surprise and disappointment after finishing 14th in the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where McLaren failed to score points. He initially performed well, overtaking Charles Leclerc and maintaining a strong position until a double lock-up during a restart caused him to lose several places.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Piastri noted that the first half of the race was encouraging and that he felt more comfortable with the car. He acknowledged the need to understand the lock-up incident and remained optimistic about the positives from the weekend, despite the lack of points or a trophy.
Sat 26 Sep · 16:58 UTC
via Motorsport.comFranco Colapinto apologises for Azerbaijan GP crashFranco Colapinto has expressed regret after a crash during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that eliminated both his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly and McLaren's Lando Norris. Colapinto described the incident as a 'big mistake' and acknowledged the significant impact it had on their races.
+ 2 moreSat 26 Sep · 13:37 UTC
via Motorsport.comLando Norris criticises Franco Colapinto after Baku crashLando Norris has called for a race ban for Franco Colapinto following a collision that eliminated both him and Pierre Gasly during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Norris stated that some drivers, including Colapinto, do not deserve to compete in Formula 1.+ 14 more
via RacingNews365Flavio Briatore warns Franco Colapinto after Baku incidentFlavio Briatore has indicated that Franco Colapinto may face consequences for his 'very poor' move on teammate Pierre Gasly during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The incident, which resulted in a 10-second time penalty for Colapinto, also drew criticism from Lando Norris, who called for a one-race ban.
+ 3 moreSat 26 Sep · 13:12 UTC25
via f1oversteer.comLewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen agree about Ferrari after frustrating Azerbaijan Grand PrixLewis Hamilton expressed frustration after finishing sixth in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, marking his sixth consecutive race without a podium. He struggled with car balance and straight-line speed, voicing concerns about Ferrari's performance and power relative to other teams. Hamilton's complaints included issues with understeer and battery deployment, which he felt hindered his race.
Max Verstappen echoed Hamilton's sentiments, highlighting Ferrari's weaknesses on the straights. Despite Hamilton's struggles, he remains in third place in the championship standings, aided by Lando Norris' retirement. Meanwhile, Ferrari managed to maintain their position ahead of McLaren in the constructors' standings, despite a challenging race.Sat 26 Sep · 13:08 UTC
via RaceFansNorris calls for race ban for Colapinto after Baku crashLando Norris has called for a race ban for Franco Colapinto following a crash during the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix that ended both their races. Norris described Colapinto's actions as 'careless' and expressed dissatisfaction with the 10-second penalty handed to the Alpine driver.
+ 3 moreSat 26 Sep · 13:03 UTC
via PlanetF1George Russell wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix after tough spellGeorge Russell secured victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, holding off a late challenge from Max Verstappen. The win marks a significant turnaround for Russell, who had been struggling in the 2026 season.
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via f1oversteer.comOscar Piastri admits what McLaren did to his car in Baku is ‘never a great sign’Oscar Piastri achieved his best qualifying result of the 2026 season by securing P3 for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, despite facing challenges throughout the weekend. He noted that McLaren had to use cable ties to hold his car together after experiencing issues with loose bargeboards, which he described as 'never a great sign.'
Piastri's performance improved significantly during qualifying after the team removed fuel from his car, allowing him to feel the full benefit of recent upgrades. However, reliability problems plagued McLaren during practice sessions, affecting both Piastri and teammate Lando Norris. Piastri aims to maintain his podium position in the race, although he acknowledges that George Russell and Mercedes are likely to be strong competitors.Sat 26 Sep · 08:00 UTC
via Motorsport.comOscar Piastri: I need a tow bar to hook onto Mercedes to fight for Baku winOscar Piastri qualified third for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but he expressed doubts about his ability to compete with George Russell of Mercedes, who was significantly faster. Piastri's qualifying time was just 0.001 seconds behind Charles Leclerc, but he lagged 0.838 seconds behind Russell, prompting him to jokingly suggest he needed a tow bar to keep up.
Despite a challenging weekend for McLaren, including a brake issue that required unconventional fixes, Piastri was pleased with his qualifying result. He acknowledged that while Mercedes appeared to have a clear advantage, he believed McLaren could still contend with the other teams in the race, especially with Lando Norris starting fifth.Fri 25 Sep · 23:00 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 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 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.comOscar Piastri surprised by Baku qualifying paceOscar Piastri expressed his surprise at McLaren's performance during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he secured a spot on the second row. The Australian driver noted that the team's pace had improved significantly compared to their earlier practice sessions.+ 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 RacingNews365Sergio Perez receives grid penalty for Azerbaijan Grand PrixSergio Perez has been given a grid penalty for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix following an incident during qualifying where he impeded Oscar Piastri. The decision was made after an investigation by the stewards.+ 1 moreFri 25 Sep · 15:29 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 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 · 14:25 UTC
via RaceFans2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in pictures | F1 PicturesThe 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was held at the Baku City Circuit, featuring prominent drivers from various teams. Notable participants included Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris from McLaren, Isack Hadjar from Red Bull, and Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin.
The event showcased a mix of competitive racing and team strategies, with each driver aiming for a strong performance. The picturesque backdrop of Baku added to the excitement of the race, making it a significant event in the 2026 Formula 1 season.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 1 of 26
