Formula1-EN – Automobile Magazine

Racing Bulls’ unforgettable weekend in Monaco: Lawson and Lindblad in points

Automobile Magazine — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 02:38:02 +0000

Racing Bulls ‘Double’ In an edition of the Monaco Grand Prix that will be remembered for the numerous penalties and criticisms that emerged after the race, there were however positive factors, such as the celebrations in the all-Tricolor paddock: in addition to the never-questioned victory of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the team that surprised the most was Racing Bulls. The team from Faenza, in fact, obtained a double placing in the points, with Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad also protagonists of their best performance in Formula 1. Lawson returns to the top 5. The New Zealander, still at the wheel of the Racing Bulls, equaled the 5th place obtained last year on another city circuit such as that of Baku, in Azerbaijan, thus describing all his emotions: “I’m really very happy – he declared – it’s an excellent result for the team, finishing in fifth and sixth place, especially considering where we started at the start of the weekend. The races can seem quite unpredictable at the moment, with several cars forced to retire, so it’s important to make the most of those moments when they arise. I honestly had a lot of fun in the race and the team worked hard to make a fast car today, so I’m really grateful to be able to finish the weekend on a high.” Lindblad soaring While Lawson thus entered the top 5, rookie Arvid Lindblad finished behind his teammate in 6th place, improving by two places his highest performance achieved on his F1 debut in Australia, when he achieved eighth place: “I’m incredibly happy with the result. It went beyond all my expectations after Saturday, so a huge thank you to everyone here on the track, to the team in Faenza and Milton Keynes. They did a phenomenal job, and for us to go home with a double points finish it’s an amazing result. The first stint seemed very long, I spent most of it in traffic and I concentrated on managing the tires as best as possible. We managed to take advantage of the red flag, which turned out to be a huge opportunity, and in the end the restart was probably the most important part of the race for us. From there on, I just concentrated on not making any mistakes and getting the car to the finish line in the final laps I’ve always liked it a lot and I can’t wait to race.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-08 22:00:00

Second consecutive retirement for Norris: “It wasn’t our weekend”

Automobile Magazine — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 22:36:58 +0000

Colorless weekend McLaren would certainly have wished for a more beautiful party in the splendid scenery of Monaco to celebrate its 1000 GP in Formula 1. However, for the Woking team, this was not the case: while Oscar Piastri still came within a step of the podium, albeit in a highly contested race due to several time penalties inflicted on various drivers, things went worse for his teammate Lando Norris. Another return to the pits The reigning world champion, who started from eighth position on the grid, had to retire on lap 46 due to technical problems, giving up any hope of a comeback for the second time in a row after the knockout in the Canadian GP: “It wasn’t our weekend and, unfortunately, it’s another retirement for the team – he commented – we’ve had problems since Friday which forced the team to work until 4 in the morning on Saturday to get the car back on the track, only to then run into in another problem in the race. It’s tough and frustrating for everyone because we are making a huge effort to improve, but at the moment reliability is penalizing us. We will keep our heads high and stay positive. We know what areas we need to work on and reliability is at the top of the list. The team deserves praise for their effort and we will continue to work hard for them. I hope we can find our form again, give ourselves something to be excited about and show what we can do next time.” Atypical comeback More positive day for Piastri, one of the few drivers in the top 10 not to have suffered time penalties and climbed up to the final fourth position, with a placing that allows him to overtake Norris in 5th place in the general classification by two points: “When you recover three positions in Monaco, it’s always a good day. Even if I wasn’t the one who made the overtakings, we were good at taking advantage of the situations that presented themselves in front of us and adopting an intelligent strategy. Getting those 12 points was important. However, our pace was not very high today and we need to understand why we struggled so much this weekend. Looking at Barcelona and the rest of the season, we have a lot of work to do to close the gap to the leaders. Thanks to the team for the work done, let’s see what we can do next weekend.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-08 21:00:00

Gasly heartbroken: “My lifelong dream was taken away from me”

Automobile Magazine — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 18:36:00 +0000

Hadjar and Gasly Despite having ended up under investigation twice for different reasons, Isack Hadjar achieved his first career podium with Red Bull at the Monaco Grand Prix. The Frenchman, in fact, did not suffer any penalties, unlike what happened to his compatriot Pierre Gasly, who despite having finished in third place was relegated to seventh due to two separate time penalties. The sadness In both cases, the Alpine driver was fined 5 seconds for exceeding the speed limit in the pit lane, as happened to many other competitors during the race. The transalpine team, through the words of Flavio Briatore, has already prepared to present the right of review, in the hope that the podium in the Principality can actually be conquered by Gasly. However, the current and official result has in every respect disappointed the 30-year-old, who was very close to realizing his dream of a top-three finish in such a special race: “I am absolutely devastated by the result of the race – he commented – I feel so many emotions right now, not only after such a demanding weekend in which we were often at the limit and pushed so hard, but also because my lifelong dream, that of getting on the podium in Monaco, was taken away from me for reasons that I just can’t understand.” The driver himself is adamant that there was a problem with the speed detector, as well as recalling having activated the limit before even entering the pit lane: “I know I was under the speed limit in the pit lane and activated it well before the line. We also have a margin to avoid going over the limit, so I just hope they can review the situation properly and give us the result that all of us in the team deserve. It is certainly unusual that so many drivers and teams have been penalised, so something is clearly wrong. I was aware of the situation when we stopped for the red flag and I tried to push as much as possible to maximize the final result, knowing that the penalty would be applied. As for the race, it was close and eventful. We managed to overtake Lando [Norris] into Turn 1 and then we had to defend ourselves hard against him for most of the race. On the second restart I overtook Isack [Hadjar] outside, so definitely a race that I’m proud of and where the team did a great job. I know the team has appealed, so I hope we get the right result. I will take a few days to relax at home and then focus on Barcelona, where I will certainly stay motivated for another good result and continue our points streak.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-08 20:00:00

Leclerc furious not only about his retirement: he waits ‘in line’ behind the penalized Hamilton

Automobile Magazine — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:34:58 +0000

A Sunday to forget The home GP was truly a Sunday to forget for Charles Leclerc, who once again ‘suffered’ the curse of Monaco which he seemed to have finally broken in 2024. As is well known, the Ferrari driver was forced to retire on lap 64 after hitting the wall when restarting behind the Safety Car, according to him due to the braking difficulties which have been persecuting him for several GPs. But the reasons for the Monegasque to be angry had already arrived a few laps earlier, when the security car entered. Leclerc was in third place at the time, behind Lewis Hamilton, who however had received a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane. The red pit wall, however, decided to have both SF-26s stop in the pits to change tires on the same lap, thus forcing Leclerc to wait in line not only for Hamilton’s normal stop, but also for the seven-time world champion to serve his penalty, thus preventing Leclerc from attempting to overtake his penalized garage partner. A decision which – as happened in 2022 when Leclerc was made to wait in the pit lane behind Sainz – understandably sent the red #16 into a rage. Below we report the heated exchange between Leclerc and his race engineer Bryan Bozzi during those delicate phases. Anger on the radio Bozzi: “Safety car mode. Don’t reach the Safety Car after Charles, we want to wait.”
Leclerc: “What do I do?”.
Bozzi: “Box, box, box”.
Leclerc: “But what…”.
Bozzi: “We have to wait”.
Leclerc: “But why the hell are we making the pit stop? Why don’t we stay on the track?” Leclerc: “I don’t even know why I’m listening. Honestly, at this point… I know we have to improve, but damn. Why didn’t you leave me out? I don’t even understand your explanation.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-08 16:21:00

Alpine exercises the right of review against penalties to Gasly, Briatore: “We strongly disagree and it happened to 4 teams”

Automobile Magazine — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 10:34:02 +0000

Alpine wants Gasly’s podium back The 2026 Monaco GP may not be over yet. Alpine, in fact, has decided to exercise the right of review because it believes that the penalties for speeding in the pit lane inflicted on Pierre Gasly are unjustified. “Despite the excellent restart after the red flag and Pierre’s third place on track, we saw the result undermined by two penalties, with which we strongly disagree. These penalties were imposed on at least four teams on the grid, which constitutes a valid reason for a review. Therefore, we have appealed to the FIA,” said Flavio Briatore. At the origin of the rain of speeding there could be an underlying problem due to the measurement of speed following excessively marked cuts in the pit lane, especially at the entrance, cuts which according to the regulations are not irregular.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-08 16:00:00

F1 Monaco, Vasseur: “Frustrated by Leclerc’s result, but overall a positive weekend”

Automobile Magazine — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 06:33:01 +0000

From Montreal to Monte Carlo, the situation is reversed If in Montreal Fred Vasseur’s Ferrari returned home with an almost unexpected second and fourth place given the unfavorable characteristics of the Canadian track, in Monte Carlo the perspective is completely reversed. The track of the Monaco GP was in fact supposed to be the best opportunity – waiting for the ADUO – for the Cavallino to obtain a significant result and instead Lewis Hamilton’s encore on the place of honor this time has the flavor of defeat, especially if accompanied by the accident, with controversy regarding the braking system, which saw Charles Leclerc as the protagonist. Click here to add Formula Passion as your favorite source on Google Discover: you will find our contents more easily. The Principality’s track, particularly narrow and narrow, is in fact known for masking deficits in terms of engine power and at the same time for enhancing the chassis and mechanical qualities of the cars, but in the end it is still and always Mercedes who come out on top with an Andrea Kimi Antonelli in a state of grace and able to inflict heavy gaps on everyone. Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur speaks. Team principal Fred Vasseur, who returned to the Ferrari wall after a Saturday spent in hospital for medical checks following a slight illness, however tries to find the positive aspects of a weekend that was still below expectations: “We must remain optimistic because, overall, this was another positive weekend for us. Lewis secured his second consecutive podium and I believe that today he achieved the best that our package could offer. In the last few races we have seen him gain greater confidence and feeling more comfortable in the car, which is encouraging and reflects the progress we are making as a team.” Vasseur, however, obviously does not hide his disappointment at Leclerc’s ‘zero’, which ended up against the wall on the restart after the Safety Car: “For Charles, obviously, it was a very frustrating result. We had brake problems all weekend and it was clear that something wasn’t working as it should have. We will analyze the situation carefully, we will understand exactly what happened and make sure to resolve the problem before Barcelona. Charles was in a good position and it is disappointing to lose those points, especially in his home race.” “We must remain focused on ourselves, continue to work hard and make the most of every opportunity. The mood within the team is positive, the direction is the right one and in a few days we will have another opportunity to continue moving forward”, concluded Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-08 04:40:00

Leclerc accident, Brembo: “Very surprised by the rider’s words after the race”

Automobile Magazine — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 02:31:56 +0000

The official note from the Brembo group Charles Leclerc blamed the brakes for the accident in the Monaco GP and anticipated that Ferrari has the solution at home and that Lewis Hamilton has been following this path for three races. Below is the official note from the Brembo Group on what happened to Leclerc and what the Ferrari driver declared. “The Brembo Group is very surprised by the statements made by Charles Leclerc following the Monaco Grand Prix”. The partnership between Brembo and Scuderia Ferrari has continued for over 50 years and also extends to other brands of the Group, such as AP Racing clutches and Öhlins shock absorbers, confirming the solidity and breadth of the collaboration. The company does not currently know the causes of the problems encountered by Charles Leclerc and therefore believes it is premature to formulate definitive technical assessments before analyzing the available data. In cases like this it is in fact necessary to examine the telemetry data together with the team’s engineers to precisely identify the origin of the episode. Brembo is today a point of reference for Formula 1 and is present on all single-seaters with its own braking technologies. Over the years, the World Championship teams have continued to choose Brembo solutions, recognizing their reliability, innovation and performance at the highest levels. The Group will continue to invest in innovation, reliability and performance, continuing its collaboration with Scuderia Ferrari and all the other Formula 1 teams.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-08 04:25:00

Cadillac, first point fades: Perez penalized 10″. Alonso in top-10, Hadjar saves the podium

Automobile Magazine — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:31:06 +0000

Monaco GP, the ranking changes The Monaco GP was full of twists and turns, even after the checkered flag. Red Bull can finally celebrate Isack Hadjar’s podium, but disappointment at Cadillac: the Americans sensationally lose the first point in their history in F1 due to a penalty to Sergio Perez. Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin benefits, rising to tenth place: the latest twist on a Sunday full of chaos. Perez, how naive. Cadillac and Perez just have to eat their hands for the opportunity thrown away. Checo managed to get his positioning wrong in both starts of the GP: in the first, he even occupied the space left free by Gabriel Bortoleto, who started from the pit lane, starting in P14 instead of P16; received a drive through during the race, the Cadillac driver got his GP back on track by crossing the finish line in P10, only to then take a ten second penalty for the irregularity committed during the second restart (this time a matter of centimetres, as only the front right was out of position). Hadjar safe The Frenchman can finally celebrate his second podium in F1 at the end of particularly tense hours. The #6 ended up under investigation after the Red Bull mechanics intervened on his car under the red flag regime, only to then restore the original conditions once recalled by the FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer. The commissioners’ investigation cleared Hadjar, who therefore saved the podium and finished his GP ahead of Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson, Arvid Lindblad, Pierre Gasly (also penalized 10″), Alexander Albon, Esteban Ocon and Alonso himself.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-08 04:15:00

Constructors’ World Championship 2026: the ranking after the Monaco GP

Automobile Magazine — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:30:02 +0000

Aston Martin is unblocked, Cadillac alone at zero PositionScuderiaPoints1Mercedes2442Ferrari1653McLaren1184Red Bull725Alpine416Racing Bulls397Haas218Williams119Audi210Aston Martin111Cadillac0 Crazy race in Monaco with many retirements and penalties which opened up the possibility for everyone to score points. Cadillac initially celebrated Sergio Perez’s tenth place, but then came the 10-second penalty for incorrect positioning on the grid during the restart – Checo had already made the wrong place on the first start – and therefore Aston Martin with Fernando Alonso took the points. Really freezing shower for the Cadillac. The 18 points of Racing Bulls are sensational, bringing Alpine closer to -2, while Audi does not move the classification as Williams moves further away.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-08 03:50:00

Antonelli, the prodigies of a phenomenon. Ferrari second, but it’s a half knockout

Automobile Magazine — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:29:05 +0000

He is the best of all and the discussion could end here because there is little to add, except my – our – amazement at a phenomenon that is growing at supersonic speed, leaving us astonished at the driving lessons he is giving to his rivals. Winning like that, with that crazy pace, on a pure driving track like Monte Carlo means pushing the comparison with the greatest of Formula 1, from Senna who had 12th like him in Monaco, to Prost, to Schumacher and a few others including Hamilton who is still there, fighting like a lion with the kids, dreaming of his eighth world title. But the present and future of Formula 1 is, precisely, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, capable of showing unexpected qualities at every race. To win on tracks that are perhaps easy like Miami, not impossible like China but also deadly like Suzuka, treacherous like Canada and hysterically challenging like Monte Carlo. Five successes in a row for a nineteen-year-old who has already racked up a series of records and now leads the championship with 66 points over Hamilton, with the concrete possibility of increasing the advantage race after race because Mercedes, it’s true, has a Power Unit that is surprisingly superior to the others, but it also has a complex chassis-aerodynamics that is frightening and demonstrated it precisely in the Principality, when Antonelli flew in front without obstacles and the others struggled with tire degradation. We are only at the sixth of 22 races but beating Mercedes already seems like an impossible task for humans, because Antonelli declared that he was going for a walk, before the red flag came out which cruelly attempted to stop his gallop. Then the restart, another sprint, three fast laps out of six real races, the checkered flag, the tricolor on his shoulders while Prince Albert rewards him. Everything so beautiful it seems unreal. And all so concrete that it goes down in history. Faced with this superiority, George Russell, with the same car, was knocked out, between the awkwardness in the early stages fighting with Hadjar, the penalties, the lapping (!) after 55 laps and a driving that was decidedly not up to par, above all for psychological reasons. Antonelli and Mercedes knocked out every opponent, as we saw. And the first defeat is Ferrari, which also in light of what the drivers and team managers had said, or let appear, should have won here, or rather dominated, due to the characteristics of an engine tailor-made for tracks like this. Instead, Ferrari took home a second place, with Hamilton, truly colorless if we consider that before the Safety Car neutralizations Lewis was struggling with a margin of half a minute and Leclerc was just a little further back. And there were still 20 laps to go. Mercedes’ superiority shattered the Cavallino’s ambitions, with a pace that exposed the fragilities of the SF26: the inability to obtain the margin to recover from ongoing developments, an inefficiency in improving performance on the track from Friday to Sunday, the lack of aerodynamic load denounced by Hamilton, the brake deficiencies indicated by Charles Leclerc as the reason for the accident, provided that they do not depend on software choices made by the team. And then there are the horses that are missing, that is, a power not up to Mercedes’ level. A long list of things to fix to win, even if today Ferrari is the best car in the world championship, after Mercedes, given that Red Bull even leaves Verstappen stationary on the starting grid while McLaren is struggling between Norris’ retirement and Piastri’s slowness obviously due to the car. Time to drink an espresso and F1 moves from Monaco to Barcelona where it will race next Sunday. Another track, other characteristics, different types of stress for cars and power units. With Antonelli instead hoping for a freezing of values. And scenarios. Because at a certain point it becomes necessary to take the thought further… Click here to add Formula Passion as a favorite source on Google Discover: you will find our contents more easily!

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-08 03:38:00

Russell’s surrender: “Everything seems against me. Title? It’s gone now”

Automobile Magazine — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:28:05 +0000

Russell, what a nightmare The 2026 season is getting worse and worse for George Russell, who was supposed to be the absolute master of this championship and who instead now seems to have fallen into a long, endless nightmare. In Monaco came the second consecutive zero for the Englishman, who after his retirement in Montreal finished the race in the Principality in 13th place, first receiving a five-second penalty for not respecting the speed limit in the pit lane and then even a drive-through because his team – incredibly – forgot to let him serve the penalty during the pit stop made by Russell under the Safety Car regime. Now the man who should have easily won this title has sunk 68 points behind his teammate and is actually third in the world rankings, even behind Lewis Hamilton. A total disaster which is also reflected in the comments made by Russell to Sky Sport F1 after the race. “Honestly I’m beyond frustration now – declared the English #63 – these are things that are happening to me too often. So I’m beyond being frustrated. And the dreams for the championship are now completely gone. I’ve put that behind me now. [l’idea di lottare per il titolo] and I try to do one race after another trying to get back to enjoying them. Because right now it’s not pleasant. Over the last two weekends I’ve had some experiences that have made me think everything is against me. But sometimes things are like this and I have to try to reverse the situation.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-08 03:03:00

Monaco GP Roll of Honor

Automobile Magazine — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 06:26:58 +0000

The Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix takes place on the Monte Carlo street circuit in the Principality of Monaco. The first edition was held on 14 April 1929 on the initiative of Antony Noghes, founder of the ACM Automobile Club de Monaco, while the first edition valid for the World Championship took place on 21 May 1950. Pre-F1 Roll of Honor
1929 – Monte Carlo: William Grover-Williams (Bugatti)
1930 – Monte Carlo: René Dreyfus (Bugatti)
1931 – Monte Carlo: Louis Chiron (Bugatti)
1932 – Monte Carlo: Tazio Nuvolari (Alfa Romeo)
1933 – Monte Carlo: Achille Varzi (Bugatti)
1934 – Monte Carlo: Guy Moll (Alfa Romeo)
1935 – Monte Carlo: Luigi Fagioli (Mercedes-Benz)
1936 – Monte Carlo: Rudolf Caracciola (Mercedes-Benz)
1937 – Monte Carlo: Manfred von Brauchitsch (Mercedes-Benz)
1948 – Monte Carlo: Giuseppe Farina (Maserati) Monaco GP Roll of Honor
1950 – Monte Carlo: Juan Manuel Fangio (Alfa Romeo)
1952 – Monte Carlo: Vittorio Marzotto (Ferrari)
1955 – Monte Carlo: Maurice Trintignant (Ferrari)
1956 – Monte Carlo: Stirling Moss (Maserati)
1957 – Monte Carlo: Juan Manuel Fangio (Maserati)
1958 – Monte Carlo: Maurice Trintignant (Cooper)
1959 – Monte Carlo: Jack Brabham (Cooper) 1960 – Monte Carlo: Stirling Moss (Lotus)
1961 – Monte Carlo: Stirling Moss (Lotus)
1962 – Monte Carlo: Bruce McLaren (Cooper)
1963 – Monte Carlo: Graham Hill (BRM)
1964 – Monte Carlo: Graham Hill (BRM)
1965 – Monte Carlo: Graham Hill (BRM)
1966 – Monte Carlo: Jackie Stewart (BRM)
1967 – Monte Carlo: Denny Hulme (Brabham)
1968 – Monte Carlo: Graham Hill (Lotus)
1969 – Monte Carlo: Graham Hill (Lotus) 1970 – Monte Carlo: Jochen Rindt (Lotus)
1971 – Monte Carlo: Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell)
1972 – Monte Carlo: Jean-Pierre Beltoise (BRM)
1973 – Monte Carlo: Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell)
1974 – Monte Carlo: Ronnie Peterson (Lotus)
1975 – Monte Carlo: Niki Lauda (Ferrari)
1976 – Monte Carlo: Niki Lauda (Ferrari)
1977 – Monte Carlo: Jody Scheckter (Wolf)
1978 – Monte Carlo: Patrick Depailler (Tyrrell)
1979 – Monte Carlo: Jody Scheckter (Ferrari) 1980 – Monte Carlo: Carlos Reutemann (Williams)
1981 – Monte Carlo: Gilles Villeneuve (Ferrari)
1982 – Monte Carlo: Riccardo Patrese (Brabham)
1983 – Monte Carlo: Keke Rosberg (Williams)
1984 – Monte Carlo: Alain Prost (McLaren)
1985 – Monte Carlo: Alain Prost (McLaren)
1986 – Monte Carlo: Alain Prost (McLaren)
1987 – Monte Carlo: Ayrton Senna (Lotus)
1988 – Monte Carlo: Alain Prost (McLaren)
1989 – Monte Carlo: Ayrton Senna (McLaren) 1990 – Monte Carlo: Ayrton Senna (McLaren)
1991 – Monte Carlo: Ayrton Senna (McLaren)
1992 – Monte Carlo: Ayrton Senna (McLaren)
1993 – Monte Carlo: Ayrton Senna (McLaren)
1994 – Monte Carlo: Michael Schumacher (Benetton)
1995 – Monte Carlo: Michael Schumacher (Benetton)
1996 – Monte Carlo: Olivier Panis (Ligier)
1997 – Monte Carlo: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
1998 – Monte Carlo: Mika Häkkinen (McLaren)
1999 – Monte Carlo: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) 2000 – Monte Carlo: David Coulthard (McLaren)
2001 – Monte Carlo: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2002 – Monte Carlo: David Coulthard (McLaren)
2003 – Monte Carlo: Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams)
2004 – Monte Carlo: Jarno Trulli (Renault)
2005 – Monte Carlo: Kimi Räikkönen (McLaren)
2006 – Monte Carlo: Fernando Alonso (Renault)
2007 – Monte Carlo: Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
2008 – Monte Carlo: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2009 – Monte Carlo: Jenson Button (Brawn) 2010 – Monte Carlo: Mark Webber (Red Bull)
2011 – Monte Carlo: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2012 – Monte Carlo: Mark Webber (Red Bull)
2013 – Monte Carlo: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2014 – Monte Carlo: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2015 – Monte Carlo: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2016 – Monte Carlo: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2017 – Monte Carlo: Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
2018 – Monte Carlo: Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
2019 – Monte Carlo: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 2021 – Monte Carlo: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2022 – Monte Carlo: Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
2023 – Monte Carlo: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2024 – Monte Carlo: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
2025 – Monte Carlo: Lando Norris (McLaren)
2026 – Monte Carlo: Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-08 01:30:00

Leclerc: “The track has nothing to do with it, it’s the brakes’ fault, we have the solution, Hamilton has been using it for 3 races”

Automobile Magazine — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 02:25:58 +0000

All the anger of Leclerc Charles Leclerc ended up against the barriers at Antony Noghes during the restart after the Safety Car came out due to Lance Stroll’s accident at the same point. At the entrance to the corner the asphalt deteriorated significantly as the race progressed, but Leclerc did not blame the track for what happened to him. Speaking to Sky, Leclerc was clear in underlining that the problem was the brakes and that for this reason he will follow Lewis Hamilton who has already been running another path for the brakes for three races. “The track didn’t help, but it wasn’t the track’s fault – Leclerc’s words – I’ve always taken the blame and my responsibilities even when I wasn’t entirely responsible, but today the data speaks clearly. I didn’t brake, I put my foot on the pedal and I had a double braking torque response from the front brake and zero at the rear, all due to a temperature problem.” “The positive aspect is that we have the solution at home, Hamilton has already been using it for three races – added Leclerc – and that’s what I’ll do from the next one too.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-08 01:25:00

Russell disaster: drive-through for not serving the 5 second penalty

Automobile Magazine — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 22:24:57 +0000

Monaco to forget for Russell George Russell’s disastrous weekend in Monaco continues. In the crazy chaos that characterized the race in the Principality, the Englishman didn’t have time to rejoice over Charles Leclerc’s accident when restarting from the Safety Car situation – a knockout that was opening the doors for the Englishman to an unexpected duel for the podium with Isack Hadjar – when yet another tile of this disastrous day fell on his head. In fact, the Englishman from Mercedes, during the red flag following Leclerc’s accident and waved because a section of the track was literally falling apart, received notification of a drive-through penalty that was imposed on him for not having served a previous five-second penalty. One penalty leads to another Russell, like many other drivers in the race, was penalized for not respecting the speed limits in the pit lane. Incredibly, however, the Mercedes team and mechanics did not remember this when Russell returned to the pits to make the Safety Car pit stop and they changed tires on the W17 without waiting five seconds. The F1 regulations provide that the penalty must be served during the first pit stop of the offending driver and if this does not happen – obviously – the sanction becomes much more severe. This is what happened with the English #63 who, thanks to his team, threw away any chance of at least limiting the damage in a weekend that was disastrous for him from a sporting point of view. In fact, it should not be forgotten that, before the Safety Car chaos, red flag and various accidents, Russell had even been lapped on the track by his teammate Antonelli.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-08 01:08:00

Hamilton, what a mistake! 5 second penalty for speeding in the pit lane

Automobile Magazine — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 18:24:12 +0000

What a gift from Hamilton to Leclerc Heavy smudging by Lewis Hamilton during the Monaco GP. The seven-time world champion, in fact, committed excessive speed in the pit lane during the pit stop. The five second penalty that the English driver will have added to his finishing order at the end of the race is inevitable. A nice gift towards his teammate Charles Leclerc who will also gain a position by finishing behind Hamilton within five seconds.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-07 23:55:00

Ferrari disappointment, vice-Vasseur tries to see some good: “First time we’ve fought for pole”

Automobile Magazine — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 14:22:58 +0000

Ferrari, what a disappointment in qualifying for the Monaco GP. Starting with the underdogs, on the track that is a paradise for those with a good chassis, did not play into Ferrari’s hands. The Scuderia di Maranello, which started Saturday with the news of the absence of team principal Fred Vasseur, forced to stop for health checks after a minor illness, in the end was not even able to get a front row position. Thus, despite top performances throughout the weekend, in the end Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc did not go beyond third and fourth place on the starting grid, also beaten by Max Verstappen’s Red Bull as well as by poleman Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes. For Ferrari vice-boss, Jerome D’Ambrosio, the good thing is that the Ferrari, for the first time in the season, was fighting for pole. Click here to add Formula Passion as your favorite source on Google Discover: you will find our contents more easily Ferrari vice-team principal Jerome D’Ambrosio speaks “Clearly – explains the former Belgian driver to Sky – I can’t stand here and say that we are happy because it would be a lie. Also because actually, with the last lap, I’m not saying that Leclerc would have been in pole position because in the end you always have to close the lap, but up until the moment he touched the wall he was in the fight. So for us it’s a bit of a disappointment for sure but, on the other hand, the fact that for the first time we are fighting for pole position is a positive thing that we take home.” Leclerc’s difficulties D’Ambrosio then tries to analyze the reasons why it is almost always precisely in Q3 that Ferrari disappoints: “I think there are several reasons and it also depends a little on the format, because sometimes perhaps in the Sprint Qualifying you run on the medium tyres. In general, however, we struggle a bit to extract the maximum. And this weekend you can see it well because yesterday too there were excellent times, but the drivers told us that they were struggling to make them. Then in the end, when you get to Q3, you have to putting everything together in the hundredth, or even in the thousandth, because when everyone arrives at that moment, you struggle to extract all the potential if you are not 100% comfortable with the car”. Regarding Leclerc, who then ended up against the wall in his last, desperate, fast attempt, the debate is about the lack of confidence and the possible difficulties with the brakes that Charles complained about all weekend (and which he had also complained about in Canada). “Certainly it all depends on the car – adds D’Ambrosio – and the braking phase is certainly very complex this year, with the new single-seaters. So, having to put everything together, in the end braking is a very important part and if the driver perhaps doesn’t have the right feeling with the set-up, with the braking distribution, etc., perhaps he finds himself in a situation in which he finds it more difficult to put everything together”. D’Ambrosio hopes for the Ferrari’s sprint at the start However, there remains the belief and hope of being able to repeat the slingshot starts that characterized the entire first part of the 2026 season also on the narrow Monte Carlo straight: “Tomorrow we get up precisely for that, because we will try to maximize our opportunities starting right from the start. We will give everything and then we will see at the end of the race what it means in terms of result”, concluded Ferrari’s vice-team principal, Jerome D’Ambrosio.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-07 03:05:00

Russell annihilated by Antonelli: “Kimi brings the tires up to temperature, I can’t explain why I was faster than him and now I’m not”

Automobile Magazine — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 10:21:59 +0000

Russell is psychologically annihilated “At the beginning of the season I was faster than Antonelli, now I’m not and I can’t explain it. I haven’t been competitive at all for three weekends, in Canada I saved myself with the last laps in both the Sprint Qualifying and the actual Qualifying. Antonelli brings the tires to temperature better than me, you can see it from the data, but I have no explanation at the moment”. George Russell suffered a sensational defeat in Monaco today in a direct confrontation with his boxing partner Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The Italian driver took pole position, while Russell did not go beyond a miserable sixth position, very far from Antonelli. Russell earned almost four tenths, an enormous amount. “Until the technical problem in China I was always ahead of Antonelli even if my driving style doesn’t suit this car or these cars in general – added Russell – there is a clear difference in terms of driving style between me and him, a year ago it was in my favour, now it isn’t. However, the fact remains that at the beginning of the year I was faster than him and now I’m not. He manages to make the tires work better, you can see it from the data, he brings them up to temperature and from there everything is simpler. I have to change my style driving or find a different set-up, because the one I use right now doesn’t work for me.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-07 02:00:00

De Telegraaf: sensational Mercedes, Russell risks his seat if Antonelli beats him. And Wolff thinks back to Verstappen

Automobile Magazine — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 02:20:07 +0000

Indiscretions from Holland The Formula 1 drivers market heats up over the Monte Carlo weekend. No official announcement – the only one remains that of the renewal of Charels Leclerc’s contract with Ferrari – but interesting rumors that start from a possible ‘flirtation’ between the usual suspects of recent years as regards the Circus market: Max Verstappen and Toto Wolff. The source of the indiscretion is ‘heavy’, because it is Erik Van Haren, the Dutch journalist from De Telegraaf who is always very well informed on everything concerning the environment surrounding the four-time Dutch Red Bull world champion. In an article that appeared today on the Dutch website, Van Haren once again brought Mercedes closer to the #3 orange. According to reports, in fact, Mercedes could terminate the contract with George Russell if the Englishman finds himself behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the standings during the summer break. It wouldn’t be such an absurd hypothesis – such clauses are quite frequent between drivers and teams – and the fact that at the moment Russell has to recover 43 points from the driver from Bologna certainly doesn’t suggest a quick rejoining in the rankings. The triangle perhaps Russell would therefore risk losing the world title in one fell swoop this year – which already seemed to be his in Australia – and also the Mercedes seat that he had coveted so much during his three-year stay in Williams from 2019 to 2021. In fact, Toto Wolff could take advantage of Russell’s release and the simultaneous possibility of Max Verstappen freeing himself from Red Bull to attempt yet another all-in on the Dutchman. And this time, given the competitiveness shown by Mercedes at this start to the season, it would be difficult for Verstappen to repel the advances of the silver arrows. But the domino effect would not end there. In fact, Van Haren also confirms that, in the event of Verstappen’s departure, Red Bull would have already identified the replacement: it would be Oscar Piastri. The Australian from McLaren would be the first on Laurent Mekies’ list, regardless of the ‘internal’ promotion projects of the various Lindblad, Lawson or Tsunoda. Paradoxically, this could be the most complicated negotiation to bring to fruition, considering that McLaren has always reiterated that it wants to retain its pair of drivers and that Piastri has a valid agreement with Woking until at least the end of 2027. But even in this case there could be clauses to appeal to. What seems certain is that a possible title-winning season from Andrea Kimi Antonelli could bring some impressive disruptions to the grid.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-06 21:38:00

Vasseur: “Leclerc is the right horse, he made a bet on Ferrari”

Automobile Magazine — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 18:18:04 +0000

Leclerc, a Ferrari forever? On Wednesday, Charles Leclerc and Ferrari announced that they had renewed the contract on a multi-year basis, the usual nebulous formula that indicates at least two years of agreement between the parties.
It cannot be said that it was a surprise, given that the alternatives for Leclerc did not seem to be as numerous or in any case no more attractive than Ferrari.
With this new contract Leclerc will become the driver who has competed in the most grands prix with the Prancing Horse, an important record, but the Monegasque is the first to know that nothing can be remotely comparable to becoming world champion with the red car. Vasseur explains the reasons for the renewal Speaking to the French on Canal+, Frederic Vasseur spoke about Leclerc’s renewal as follows: “It is never an obvious choice, because we are talking about both a career choice, but also a long-term choice. We associate the drivers with the development of the following year’s cars, so we cannot afford to change drivers every year. And then for him too it is a long-term marriage, in the sense that it is a bet on Ferrari, on the fact that he believes in us for the future.” Vasseur did not hide the importance of having a solid bond with Leclerc: “What brought us together was ten years of collaboration, the fact that we have known each other for a long time and are very open with each other. We are very transparent about what we do and what we will do, about the next stages of development of the company or the car. So there is this relationship of trust, but it was not an obvious renewal.”
The team principal then concluded: “I believe in Charles and I am convinced that he is the right horse. But we must always ask ourselves the right questions, both him and us, when renewing a contract of this type.” Click here to add Formula Passion as your favorite source on Google Discover: you will find our content more easily!

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-06 16:00:00

Red Bull rises again in Monaco, Verstappen: “Positive day, but Ferrari is really strong”

Automobile Magazine — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 14:17:00 +0000

Max smiles (finally) Finally a Friday of smiles and confidence for Max Verstappen in 2026. The four-time world champion closed both FP1 and FP2 in Monaco with the third fastest time of the day, beaten only by the Ferraris of Hamilton and Leclerc which seem to be the best single-seaters on the narrow streets of the Principality. However, the Dutchman was finally able to express words of appreciation towards his RB22 which has been causing him considerable pain since the beginning of the year. “To tell the truth, it was a rather positive day – Verstappen acknowledged into the microphone of the journalists present in Monte Carlo – we felt quite good in the car and it is particularly important, especially in Monaco, to have a positive feeling with the car. We just have to work to fine-tune some things. Ferrari seems really strong, so tomorrow we will try to get as close as possible to them. We are happy with where we are at the moment, but we always try to get the most out of the car, so let’s see what we can do tomorrow in qualifying”. Botto Hadjar On the other hand, Isack Hadjar’s Friday should be forgotten, victim of a bad crash into the barriers in FP1: “The first session was going well. I felt that I was gaining confidence lap after lap, so the accident took me by surprise – commented the Frenchman – the team did a great job in getting me back on track for FP2, it was impressive, so a big thank you to them. From then on the plan was to rebuild my confidence and, towards the end, I had a much better feeling with the car. I want to carry this feeling forward tomorrow.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-06 03:33:00

Brown ‘removes’ the McLaren engine: “Number one priority is to stay with Mercedes”

Automobile Magazine — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 10:16:01 +0000

New rules, but always customers. The hypotheses on a possible regulatory change regarding engines which, starting from 2030 or 2031, would reintroduce the much talked about V8 into Formula 1 has raised the possibility that a historic team on the grid like McLaren – the current reigning Drivers’ and Constructors’ world champion – could decide to free itself from Mercedes and become the manufacturer of its own engine, exactly as Red Bull has done starting this season. Speaking to journalists present in Monaco for the Principality GP weekend, however, Zak Brown responded to this possibility by decidedly cooling the possibility of ‘self-production’ papaya for the next regulatory cycle. The Californian manager, who brought the historic English team back to the golden age after a long dark period, did not categorically exclude the possibility of a McLaren engine in the future, but clarified that this is not the team’s property. Brown’s words: “First of all, I am very satisfied with Mercedes HPP – commented Brown, thus also putting a stop to all the tensions that had emerged at the beginning of this season, in which Mercedes had not provided full support to McLaren in terms of understanding the power unit – they have been an exceptional partner. We won a couple of championships together with them, even if everyone said that you could not win a championship as a customer team. We have shown that it is possible. I think the number one priority is to stay with Mercedes. I think they have been a fantastic partner so far. Whenever a new regulation comes out, we will look at it to see if it is something interesting from a technical point of view and if it makes sense from an economic point of view. I think we will follow this process when that happens. At this moment, we are extremely satisfied with Mercedes and we plan to continue with them.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-05 23:29:00

Monaco GP 2026 – FP1 standings: Ferrari immediately strong, 1-2 with Leclerc and Hamilton. Max 3rd at half a second, then Kimi

Automobile Magazine — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 06:14:55 +0000

F1 Monaco, the ranking of Free Practice 1 Pos.DriverTeamTime and mixDetachmentLaps1C. LeclercFerrari1:13.978 (M)–312L. HamiltonFerrari1:14.204 (M)+0.226283M. VerstappenRed Bull1:14.491 (M)+0.513264K. AntonelliMercedes1:14.537 (M)+0.559315G. RussellMercedes1:14.983 (M)+1.005296L. NorrisMcLaren1:15.291 (M)+1.313277N. HülkenbergAudi1:15.343 (M)+1.365278O. PlatesMcLaren1:15.565 (M)+1.587299G. BortoletoAudi1:15.750 (M)+1.7723110P. GaslyAlpine1:15.828 (M)+1.8503211A. AlbonWilliams1:15.989 (M)+2.0113312C. SainzWilliams1:16.041 (M)+2.0633113I. HadjarRed Bull1:16.148 (H)+2.1701414S. PerezCadillac1:16.170 (S)+2.1922815F. ColapintoAlpine1:16.189 (M)+2.2113216O. BearmanHaas1:16.292 (M)+2.3143117E. OconHaas1:16.333 (M)+2.3553118A. LindbladRacing Bulls1:16.389 (M)+2.4113419L. LawsonRacing Bulls1:16.431 (M)+2.4533120F. AlonsoAston Martin1:16.678 (M)+2.7002121V. BottasCadillac1:17.460 (S)+3.4822722L. StrollAston Martin1:17.556 (M)+3.57816 F1 Monaco, the chronicle of Free Practice 1 The sun is shining on Monte Carlo, and Ferrari is shining too. In the first free practice session on the streets of the Principality, the SF-26 lived up to the predictions, starting with a one-two by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The host, fresh from renewal, is the fastest with a time of 1:13.978, while the seven-time world champion stops at 226 thousandths. The Red is competitive on both hard and medium tyres and, above all, confirms that it is at ease on the slow and driven sections: Leclerc and Hamilton immediately look for the limit and, apart from a few mistakes at Mirabeau, they find it without problems. Half a second behind all the competition, led by Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli. The Bolognese driver’s session was still positive, with a full four and a half tenths ahead of teammate George Russell, confirming his enviable state of psychophysical form. The McLarens are seriously behind, over a second behind Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Isack Hadjar’s weekend also gets off to a bad start, sending his Red Bull into the barriers at the Piscine after having always been at least six tenths behind Super Max. Audi does well – double top-10 with Nico Hülkenberg seventh and Gabriel Bortoleto ninth – while there are signs of recovery also from Pierre Gasly, who gives four tenths to Franco Colapinto. Speaking of gaps between teammates, what Sergio Perez gives to Valtteri Bottas in the Cadillac team continues to impress (1″3 on the same soft tyre), even greater than the gap between Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll in Aston Martin. F1 Monaco, live coverage of Free Practice 1. You can relive the emotions of FP1 in Monte Carlo with our live coverage. The program and times F1 returns to the track this afternoon at 5pm with the second free practice session. Tomorrow the action will start at 12.30pm with FP3, then Qualifying at 4pm. On Sunday the GP will start at 3pm. Here are all the times and TV directions.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-05 22:43:00

Leclerc and Norris were late to the conference: Ferrari and McLaren fined with probation

Automobile Magazine — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 02:14:01 +0000

The decision of Commissioners Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris showed up slightly late yesterday at the press conference on the eve of the Monaco GP. The Commissioners fined Ferrari and McLaren 5,000 euros, a fine that was given on probation. If during 2026 Ferrari or McLaren were to be late again for an FIA event then the fine of 5 thousand euros will actually be imposed.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-05 21:30:00

Hamilton: “I have moved many pieces and repositioned myself in the team. Santi is my Italian ‘Bono'”

Automobile Magazine — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:12:57 +0000

Hamilton-Santi, will it be yes forever? Carlo Santi had been attached to Lewis Hamilton in the winter as his interim race engineer, pending the hiring of a replacement for Riccardo Adami – who held the role last year. But professional love at first sight struck between the Italian engineer and the English champion, so much so that Ferrari decided to leave him in that role even after the first races and after the arrival from McLaren of Cedric Michel-Grosjean – who seemed the right person for that task. Santi is the Italian ‘Bono’ On Thursday in Monaco, speaking to Sky Sports UK, Lewis Hamilton gave Carlo Santi perhaps the best possible compliment: “Having a collaboration between driver and engineer is sometimes a bit of a question of luck. With me and Bono it was a success from the start. I have the feeling that Carlo is my Italian ‘Bono’. I also said it to Bono the other day, he’s a veteran. He’s a little older who has seen it all colours, then it’s very calm and you can hear it on the radio. Furthermore, I think our understanding of the engineering aspect is something to underline”. Hamilton then wanted to highlight how behind the progress of this start of 2026 there is a better integration in the team: “I managed to move many pieces on the chessboard and reposition myself within the team. Now we are collaborating really well and I have the right engineers I need at my disposal. I have the feeling that I have made my contribution to this year’s car and that it is going in a direction that I particularly like”.
In the first five races of this season Lewis Hamilton has achieved two podium finishes, reaching the top three he had never achieved in his first season with Ferrari. Click here to add Formula Passion as your favorite source on Google Discover: you will find our content more easily!

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-05 18:01:00

Leclerc: “I love Ferrari, but I want to win. Stay here for life? I’m not thinking about it now”

Automobile Magazine — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:11:58 +0000

Monaco GP, all eyes on Leclerc The Monaco Grand Prix has not yet started, and Charles Leclerc is already at center stage. As is normal, however, given that the Ferrari driver is the star of the house, and that the Scuderia has chosen this very event to announce its contract renewal, ensuring the Monegasque’s stay for further years. The extension of the marriage between Leclerc and Ferrari has sparked the interest of the media present in the Principality and was the first topic touched on in the press conference. The #16 spoke enthusiastically about his future in red, confirming his full attachment to the team, but he was also realistic: the promise of love must be accompanied by a car capable of winning. Leclerc’s words “My love for the team is great, but I also want to win, it’s important for every driver and that’s what we race for. Winning in red is a unique emotion and it’s something to which I have dedicated all my years in F1. We still haven’t succeeded in a complete season, but there is confidence”, this is the comment of the Monegasque. It is difficult, for now, to believe that the title could arrive in 2026 considering the dominance of Mercedes, but Leclerc warns: “Things can always change quickly, especially in this initial phase of regulation, it is too early to say. There is a lot of motivation and we are pushing everyone in the factory to try to get closer to Mercedes.” “What if I end my career here? I’m still young, I still have many years ahead of me. At the moment I think this is the right choice for me. I love that Ferrari believes in me, which is why renewing seemed like the most right and natural thing to me. We’ll see for the future, I don’t know what my life will be like in 6, 7 or 10 years.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-05 16:00:00

Russell: “Duels with Kimi? Wolff trusts us. Bad luck will also befall Antonelli”

Automobile Magazine — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:10:58 +0000

Desire for redemption George Russell chases redemption in Monaco. The Briton won the Sprint in Canada but had to suffer bitterly on Sunday, with a retirement due to technical problems which took him out of the race while he was in the lead – albeit hounded by Antonelli – and made him fall 43 points behind the top of the standings, occupied more and more firmly by the Italian himself. With the journalists present in the Principality Russell returned to talk about what happened in Montreal, starting from the sparks that characterized the duels between him and Antonelli. “There is absolutely nothing to worry about – explained the #63 of Mercedes – we were told that we have to be considered reliable and that’s what we do. We are drivers, we push ourselves to the limit in every single lap and when we race against each other we push each other to the limit; of course when you are sitting on the side of the track, like those on the wall or even like Toto, it is very stressful to see and you are tense because you can’t control what is about to happen, while you wish you could. But in the end [Wolff] he must trust us and does. This is how things are and therefore we will continue to fight with all our strength. We know each other’s limits and it was positive.” The duels with Kimi and the bad luck. Regarding the retirement suffered in Montreal and the bad luck that he says is haunting him, Russell now seems to have a ‘fatalistic’ attitude and did not fail to ‘owl’ Antonelli: “To get over it? It’s definitely necessary over the course of a 24-race season and it didn’t take me long to get over that result because, ultimately, it was out of my control. I came to Canada with one goal, which was to dominate every single important session and that’s exactly what I did. I started on pole in both qualifying, I won the Sprint, I was leading the race and I had a good duel with Kimi; I was in the lead before the breakdown” claimed the Englishman. “I felt that I couldn’t do more in Canada, so in the end I achieved the goal I had set for myself. Otherwise, it’s part of racing and if you look at the championship victories of anyone in Formula 1 or any series, I don’t think anyone in history has ever managed to avoid having a bit of bad luck at some point. I remember last year Lando had a breakdown in Zandvoort and was disqualified in Las Vegas, two things out of his control. Verstappen had the puncture in Baku in 2021 and, probably, you can also say the accident in Silverstone; both could have retired, but he did it and his rival won the race. So these things have always happened in motorsport. I don’t think Kimi will be here at the end of the season saying he hasn’t had a bit of bad luck at some point. That’s how the game goes and I don’t let those things upset me.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-05 02:15:00

Norris: “I usually don’t like statistics, but being the driver with the most starts for McLaren is a source of pride”

Automobile Magazine — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 10:10:12 +0000

The words of Lando Norris in the Munich press conference

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-04 22:45:00

Leclerc challenges the cabal: zero Ferrari victories after announcing a contract on the last 19 occasions

Automobile Magazine — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 06:09:04 +0000

Will Leclerc break the spell? The Monaco GP seemed haunted for Charles Leclerc. Before the victory of the liberation in 2024 the Monegasque had experienced a decidedly colorful range of atrocious mockery. Already in F2 when he dominated throughout 2017 he had to retire from the race due to suspension damage perhaps attributable to a contact with the wall in qualifying. What happened in F2 was nothing more than the prelude to the disappointment of 2021 when he failed to start after taking pole in qualifying. Leclerc ended Q3 early due to the accident at the second chicane of the Piscine, an accident that took its toll less than 24 hours later. The absolute ‘masterpiece’ of cruelty of fate towards Leclerc took place in 2022 when the Ferrari pit wall managed the astonishing feat of transforming Leclerc’s pole position into a fourth place finish behind Perez, Sainz and Verstappen. Now Leclerc and Ferrari are challenging another cabal in the 2026 edition. The Leclerc-Ferrari duo has just announced the renewal of their contract and on the last 19 occasions – starting with Kimi Raikkonen’s renewal for 2009 announced in September 2008 – in which Ferrari announced a renewal or the arrival of a new driver, the victory in the immediately following GP did not come. Leclerc and Ferrari will therefore try to dispel a taboo that has lasted since 2007, the very year in which the last World Drivers’ title came for Ferrari.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-04 21:00:00

A new technical match behind the scenes: “In the hot races you will see the difference”

Automobile Magazine — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 02:07:54 +0000

There is another technical match that is being played in silence. While there is a lot of talk about engines and aerodynamics, behind the scenes there is also a lot of focus on the development of the rims, which this year has returned to the teams. Pirelli has found different schools of thought in managing tire temperatures, which are destined to emerge with the arrival of the European summer. All eyes are on Mercedes, which, according to Antonelli, has pushed hard on tire cooling. The game on the rims Even with the new generation of single-seaters, the balance of power continues to be affected by temperature variations. It is a direct consequence of the attention that the teams are dedicating to cooling the tyres, each following a different path, as Simone Berra, Pirelli’s Chief Engineer, says: “There is a trend and in my opinion in the hot races the difference will emerge more between those who have worked to try to cool more and those who have instead made the tires work at higher temperatures”. Already last year there was a lot of talk about the brake baskets and cooling ducts, particularly on the McLaren, designed to regulate the heat transfer between discs and tyres. Now the game is even broader, given that the new regulations have liberalized the development of rims. “The big difference compared to last year is that the rims are no longer standard, but are an actual component that the teams develop,” explains Berra. “Everyone has their own philosophy, also with regards to the heat exchange between the rim, internal air and tyre. Depending on the design choices of the teams, we see evolutions in temperature and pressure of the tires with much more marked differences between the individual cars.” “Each team has made its own choices to reach certain temperatures and certain operating pressures. Clearly, when it’s colder, some design choices backfire a bit, because if with the rim you tend to want to cool the tire a lot, then you have problems getting it up to temperature. Others, however, who have chosen a path more similar to that of last year, therefore with a more linear evolution of the pressures to have a little more temperature on the tire side, in these conditions [di freddo] they are favourites”. Watch out for Mercedes. In Canada, many teams have had difficulty getting their tires up to temperature. This is nothing new, given that the Montreal circuit always generates little energy in the tyres, to which is added a decidedly cool climate. Until last year, Mercedes was the car that performed best in cold conditions and in general when the tires worked at lower temperatures than usual. Initially it was thought that the W17 had inherited the same characteristics, but according to Antonelli it seems that the cold of Canada has instead slowed down the Silver Arrows. “Our car is very good at cooling the tires”, commented Kimi. “This weekend it was so cold that it was difficult to get them up to temperature and I think this penalized us a little.” The words of the Italian driver suggest that Mercedes is among the teams that have designed the rims to limit overheating of the tires as much as possible, continuing to push in this direction with the updates brought to Canada. “This package gives you more load and we felt it. but it has also improved the level of cooling”, says Antonelli. The W17 could therefore prove to be even more competitive with the arrival of the summer heat, especially in the management of thermal degradation, but Ferrari also seems to like the high temperatures, invoked on several occasions by Fred Vasseur. A mix of factors. The summer and European circuits will certainly increase the relevance of thermal degradation. Releasing high aerodynamics will be an important quality for managing the tires over the long distance, but it is not a given that those with more grip will be able to contain better the drop in performance. Engineer Berra explains: “In hot races, thermal degradation is the main factor. Overheating and going outside the usage window causes you to have greater pitch decay. Although one can release more load and have a more stable car in corners, perhaps it can generate more temperature [nella gomma] precisely due to a different design choice of the rim”. “There are certainly several factors”, continues the Pirelli Chief Engineer. “The load also influences, because if you slip, you induce micro-slips which generate high surface temperatures and cause terrible thermal degradation. It’s a combination with the philosophy of the rims and the whole car in general. It also depends on how the suspension works the rubber in high-speed corners and how it distributes the energy across the tread. That is another important effect that significantly influences degradation”. In short, we will have to wait for the first real hot race to judge the best car in managing degradation, but what is certain is that rim development has once again become an important challenge ground capable of making a difference. Click here to add as a favorite source on Google Discover: you will find our content more easily!

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-04 17:00:00

I renew Leclerc, Alesi: “With Hamilton the pair can work, but clarity is needed in the roles, one guide does not prevail over the other”

Automobile Magazine — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 22:06:58 +0000

Alesi and Leclerc ‘different twins’ Charles Leclerc and Ferrari made the renewal of the Monegasque driver’s contract official on the eve of the Monaco GP. Leclerc was not out of contract and the renewal further cements the Leclerc-Ferrari combination. Lewis Hamilton has been a ‘guest’ in a Ferrari since 2025 which has been Leclerc’s home since 2019 and will remain so for a long time in the future. Jean Alesi specifically emphasized the fact that the Maranello team must manage the coexistence between Leclerc and Hamilton in the right way: “Charles and Lewis can help the team in different ways, in the development of the car and in the growth of the group. It is a couple that can work, but internal balance and clarity in the roles are needed, without creating confusion. One driver should not prevail over the other”, said Alesi when reached by La Stampa. In some ways Leclerc is a new Alesi out of love for a Ferrari that is rarely on par with its rival cars, but according to Alesi sooner or later Leclerc will realize his dream of winning the title with Ferrari: “I am convinced of it. Sooner or later Ferrari will return to win the Drivers’ title and when it happens, Charles will have to be ready because he can do it. The renewal is a declaration of intent: he and Ferrari are one, they believe in the same project. A driver who has put his love into his team in front of everyone. Honestly, I’ve never seen him wearing another team’s suit.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-04 16:30:00

Patrese: “If I were Wolff I would not have been happy with Antonelli’s race conduct in the Sprint in Canada”

Automobile Magazine — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:05:51 +0000

Kimi on board in the Sprint in Canada Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell dueled without holds barred in the Sprint and in the GP in Canada. In the Sprint the battle cost Antonelli a position, then in the race Russell had to raise the white flag due to a technical problem. According to Riccardo Patrese, what happened in Montreal generated reactions from team principal Toto Wolff. “If I were Toto Wolff, I wouldn’t be very happy with what happened in the sprint race in Canada, because Antonelli’s aggressiveness could have caused an accident – said Riccardo Patrese reached by the F1 Hospitality provider Vision4Sport which in partnership with the BWT Alpine team offers an exclusive Monaco yacht experience – I believe that Toto very delicately in the post-race told both drivers not to risk an accident anymore. In my time it was different, with Patrick Head I risked a lot when I overtook Nigel Mansell at the end of the straight in Mexico, after a bad start, and then I won the Grand Prix. Overtaking was a bit risky, and then Head came at us, he wanted to smash our heads with a hammer because he was so angry.” No encore of 1992 Patrese does not believe that Mercedes will favor Russell as happened in Williams in 1992 between Patrese and Mansell: “It is difficult to predict how the relationship between George and Kimi will evolve, it depends on the character of both – concluded Patrese – it is a difficult situation for George. Before he was Hamilton’s number two and there was no history. Lewis was number one. Now Russell thought that, as the new number one, he would have no rivals in the team. In Mercedes there is no they are team orders. They treat both equally. Mercedes will not favor Russell over Antonelli because he is not a Brit. In my case, in 1992, there was really a problem, because I was in an English team with an English driver, Nigel Mansell, and allowing an Italian to win was not part of their plans.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-04 16:00:00

The least of the problems

Automobile Magazine — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:04:02 +0000

Because in the end Leclerc has always been the least of Ferrari’s problems. Since his Epiphany in red, that 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix which, unknowingly, already contained the 6 painful years that followed. Strong, very strong, very fast and in the lead – firmly – in his second race with the Prancing Horse.
Then his Ferrari starts coughing, limping, slowing down. With 10 laps to go. And he comes third.
He begins to put a spoke in his wheels, to cage a true, pure, instinctive, rare talent. And stubborn. Stubborn because in a stubborn direction and contrary to results, to the clock, to logic.
Because those 8 victories in 155 grand prix are a journey of effort and suffering, of very high and very low peaks, which very few would have continued to follow.
A blind love for Ferrari, almost self-defeating and therefore bordering on toxic, like the most passionate of Ferrari fans. Betting on Ferrari always and in any case, despite having so far only collected crumbs, moments, pieces of illusions. An intimate pact that has sealed its bond with the fans, who find in Leclerc the full expression of their disappointments, their hopes, of time that slips away like sand through your hands.
A new renewal, a new act of love.
With the prayer, yet another, to be reciprocated and not betrayed by that little red car he had dreamed of since he was a child.
And come on, this guy deserves it… Click here to add Formula Passion as your favorite source on Google Discover: you’ll find our content more easily!

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-03 18:19:00

Always Red

Automobile Magazine — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 06:02:55 +0000

Leclerc has renewed with Ferrari Charles Leclerc and Ferrari have extended the contract that binds the Monegasque to the Maranello team. Leclerc was not out of contract with the Red team and this announcement in the week leading up to the Monaco GP definitively cements a relationship destined to go down in history regardless of what the results on the track have been and will be. Below are all the nuances of an announcement that says as much if not a lot. Overtaking Schumacher in terms of GPs in red As is now customary in F1 it was not made clear until Charles Leclerc’s contract with Ferrari was extended. Bilateral performance clauses are included in the agreements which only the parties involved should be aware of. 2027 will be Leclerc’s ninth F1 World Championship at the wheel of Ferrari, Michael Schumacher is not yet that close because the Kaiser raced continuously with Ferrari from 1996 to 2006, but in terms of GPs contested with the extra-large calendars Leclerc will certainly surpass Schumacher. Did Leclerc have alternatives? The 2026 starting grid has essentially remained unchanged from the 2025 one at least as regards the top drivers who have not moved. Everyone’s tactic was more than understandable, which was to discover the competitiveness of the teams with the new regulation. Charles Leclerc’s manager, Nicholas Todt, was certainly in contact with Lawrence Stroll about Leclerc’s possible future at Aston Martin, but the English team failed across the board. Ferrari, on the other hand, has produced an excellent SF-26 which only lacks an adequate power unit, but evidently Charles Leclerc is convinced that the possibility of exploiting the ADUO will give Ferrari the possibility of winning the title if not already in 2026 at least in 2027. The Maranello Scuderia has not replicated the sprint start of 2022, but the dynamics this time could be reversed: in the distance Ferrari could definitively get back on track rather than succumb as in 2022-2023. This at least is Leclerc’s hope, which could also be based on some more certainties. There were certainly no alternatives available to try to win straight away, so still betting on red was the best option for Leclerc. The message to Hamilton After Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc was put in direct comparison with Lewis Hamilton, numbers in hand, the most successful driver in the history of F1. No sign of mistrust from Ferrari towards Leclerc, but Hamilton’s arrival was certainly not an act of total devotion on the part of the Maranello team towards the Monegasque. Now, however, Leclerc has already put down on paper the fact that he will continue to be ‘Always Red’. Ferrari is and will still remain ‘Leclerc’s home’ regardless of what the future of Hamilton who recently declared that he is ready to race for another five years will be.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-03 17:55:00

Vasseur: “Leclerc’s renewal? Of course, we know how much this project means to him”

Automobile Magazine — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:01:53 +0000

Leclerc-Ferrari, here is the renewal Charles Leclerc and Ferrari have renewed the contract that binds the Monegasque to the Maranello team. Leclerc’s contract was not expiring, but together with Ferrari he wanted to send a clear message of how much this duo believes in each other in the pursuit of a world title which will continue in 2026 and the following seasons. Team principal Frederic Vasseur commented on Leclerc’s renewal with Ferrari as follows: “Charles has been part of the Ferrari family for many years now and this renewal is something very natural for us. In recent seasons we have seen the growth of not only one of the strongest drivers in Formula 1, but also a person who deeply experiences the bond with this team and everything that Ferrari represents.” “We appreciate his talent, we love his determination and the way he approaches every day together with the people in the team, on and off the track. We know how much this project means to him and we are happy to continue working together to achieve the goals we share.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-03 17:00:00

Leclerc renews with Ferrari: “I couldn’t be happier, it’s more than a team”

Automobile Magazine — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 02:00:53 +0000

Eternal love Charles Leclerc and Ferrari have formalized the extension of the contract that binds the Monegasque to the Maranello team. Leclerc began racing in F1 with the Ferrari in 2019 and the 2027 World Championship will be the ninth for Leclerc with the Ferrari suit. Leclerc’s contract with the Maranello team was not expiring, but the Leclerc-Ferrari duo wanted to send a clear message in the week leading up to the Monaco GP: the bond between Leclerc and the Ferrari is stronger than ever. Below are Leclerc’s words. “I couldn’t be happier to continue the journey with Scuderia Ferrari HP which for me is much more than a team. It is the team that I have always loved and that I have dreamed of being part of since I was a child and which, after all these years, has become a second family for me.” “Together we have shared incredible moments and others more difficult, but I believe more than ever in the Scuderia and I am deeply grateful to be able to continue fighting for our common goal which is to bring the world title back to Maranello. Being a Ferrari driver is a dream, but also a responsibility that can never be taken for granted: I will continue to give my all to bring the Scuderia back to where it deserves, that is to say at the top, for all those who work at Maranello and above all for the fans, who with their passion are its beating heart.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-03 16:55:00

Official: Leclerc extends the contract that binds him to Ferrari

Automobile Magazine — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:59:54 +0000

The official press release What better occasion than the week leading up to the Monaco GP to make the contract renewal official? Ferrari and Charles Leclerc frame the weekend in the Principality with a bang, below is the official note issued by the Maranello Scuderia. “Scuderia Ferrari HP announces the renewal of its agreement with Charles Leclerc, who will continue to wear the team’s colors in the coming seasons of the Formula 1 World Championship.” “The bond between Charles and Ferrari was born long before his debut in Formula 1. Having joined the Maranello Driver Academy in 2016, the Monegasque driver has built his entire competitive career together with the Scuderia: from the Formula 2 title won in 2017 to his debut in Formula 1 the following year, until his arrival at Scuderia Ferrari in 2019. Since then Charles has become a central presence for the team, standing out for his speed, talent and competitive spirit”. “Over the years he has given the fans memorable victories, pole positions and podiums, increasingly entering the heart of the Scuderia’s history. At just 28 years old, he is already the second Ferrari driver in terms of number of races held in Formula 1 and pole positions, behind only Michael Schumacher. In addition to the results, Charles has built a special relationship with the team and with fans from all over the world, sharing ambition, a sense of belonging and a constant desire to improve with the Scuderia”. Leclerc was not expiring. The performance of the Ferrari SF-26 has therefore convinced Charles Leclerc to continue his indissoluble bond with the Maranello Scuderia. No time reference is made explicit on the nature and possible expiry of the contract renewal, what matters, however, is that it will certainly be in 2027 Leclerc will be at the wheel of the Red. The Monegasque was not out of contract, but the Leclerc-Ferrari combination wanted to send a clear signal of how the bond between them is stronger than ever.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-03 16:40:00

Patrese: “Ferrari car to beat in Monaco, Leclerc wins ahead of Hamilton”

Automobile Magazine — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:58:59 +0000

Will it really be a Ferrari double? Ferrari’s lack of victories that has lasted since the 2024 Mexican GP – a splendid success for Carlos Sainz with Max Verstappen in the role of pro Ferrari ‘spoiler’ for personal interests against Lando Norris – is numbered. At least, this is the feeling of Riccardo Patrese in view of the weekend when teams and drivers will be busy in the Principality for the Monaco GP: “At the moment, I think that Ferrari will be the best in Monaco – said Riccardo Patrese reached by the F1 Hospitality provider Vision4Sport which in partnership with the BWT Alpine team offers an exclusive Monaco yacht experience – also because even if they miss the pole position they can count on a ‘slingshot’ start thanks to the smaller turbo”. “Charles Leclerc will win ahead of Lewis Hamilton with George Russell completing the podium“, Patrese’s prediction for what would be a Ferrari one-two that would raise the prices of the Scuderia di Maranello while waiting to verify the possible leap in quality with the updates scheduled for the following week in Barcelona without forgetting the fact that through the ADUO the Scuderia di Maranello will be able to intervene on the power unit to improve its performance.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-03 16:00:00

Antonelli: “Energy management still surprises us. Giving more power to the combustion engine is the right way”

Automobile Magazine — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:58:01 +0000

Is everything resolved after the Miami changes? With the Miami Grand Prix, a series of changes to the 2026 regulations came into force to make the races more authentic, compared to what was seen in the first seasonal events. For these innovations, the pilots were also listened to, who had a say in directing the discussion on the right path.
And the protagonists on the track themselves have reduced the decibels of their complaints, but even in Canada some have underlined that the road to making these F1s more pleasant to drive is still long. Among them also world championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes, who was asked about it at a press conference in Canada. Antonelli: “The right direction is to give more power to the combustion engine” “Sometimes the functioning of the energy management system still confuses you a little. Certainly the changes made and the margin on the system given by the FIA have helped a lot to make things a little easier. I think the cars are much better than last year, because you can stay much closer and this makes the races more exciting. As for the power unit, I certainly can’t complain because the team did an incredible job, but obviously they did excellent work on the chassis too. It seems to me that there will still be some work to do and it will be interesting to see what will happen in the next two years if the regulations change and they give more power to the combustion engine and a little less to the electric one. I think it will be a further step in the right direction, it is better than at the beginning of the year and it is becoming more natural than it was in Melbourne for example.” Click here to add Formula Passion as your favorite source on Google Discover: you will find our content more easily!

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-03 16:00:00

F1 Commission, interventions for 2027: the testing days will be 4

Automobile Magazine — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:56:56 +0000

F1 Commission, what emerges from the London meeting The second annual meeting of the F1 Commission was held in London. The meeting took place in the FIA offices in the English capital and was led by Nikolas Tombazis and Stefano Domenicali. The F1 president and the FIA single-seater director coordinated discussions on some regulatory aspects in view of the 2027 season. Solutions emerged which will then be officially ratified by the World Motor Sport Council. The most relevant point, at least from a calendar point of view, concerns the pre-season tests. In fact, a proposal has been approved which provides for an increase in the number of testing days before the start of the championship, which will go from three to four, thus offering the teams greater opportunities for preparation and development of the new single-seaters. The six days of this winter (plus the three shakedowns at Montmeló) were in fact an exception due to the arrival of the new generation of cars; the “three days” should have returned as early as 2027, but the choice of the F1 Commission goes against the trend of recent years and will give more space to drivers and teams. Among the topics addressed, the F1 Commission discussed some updates relating to the 2027 technical and sporting regulations. In particular, an agreement was reached on limited changes regarding aerodynamic components and parts of the car bodywork. The F1 Commission has also agreed changes to old car testing (TPC) rules, introducing restrictions on where testing takes place. In particular, restrictions will be placed on the use of circuits intended to host a championship race in the following year.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-03 02:31:00

Schumacher, 30 years ago the first magic in red: what a triumph at Montmeló

Automobile Magazine — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:55:50 +0000

Ferrari, 30 years ago Schumacher’s dance in the rain It’s 2 June 1996, and while the Italian Republic celebrates 50 years, in Catalonia the winter gives a final and belated blow with low temperatures and a storm on the Montmeló circuit. The Spanish GP is therefore held on a track drenched by a deluge that has rarely appeared on a race weekend, at least in recent decades. Certainly, today one would not even remotely think of racing in those conditions. The real cyclone, however, is called Michael Schumacher. Fresh from two world titles with Benetton, the expectations on the German at the start of his adventure at Ferrari are very high. The F310 is a slow and unreliable car, and only the Kaiser manages to push it to the limit. Not always with the desired results: for example two weeks earlier, after taking pole in Monte Carlo, Schumacher hit the wall on the first lap of the craziest GP ever. The one who arrives in Catalonia, therefore, is an angry pilot, burdened by murmurs about the mistake in the Principality. And he writes history at Montmeló, with his first victory in Ferrari. And what a victory… After having conquered third position on the grid under a scorching sun – but 1″ from Damon Hill’s pole position – the rain met Schumacher, giving him the opportunity to show off his boundless talent under the water. The track is a swimming pool and Kaiser swims there 4″ faster than the others: he can even allow himself a slow start, which brings him to P6 on the first lap, but already on the eighth lap he is close to Jacques Villeneuve and Jean Alesi, while Hill collects off-track runs in series: at the third strike, he retires. On the following lap – the 12th – Schumacher made the decisive attack on Villeneuve, making an appointment on the podium: 45 seconds to Alesi, 48 to the Canadian, in a car full of ailments and problems, the penultimate of John Barnard and the last in the version with the low nose.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-03 02:01:00

Patrese: “Nice to hear Hamilton confident in racing for another 5 years, Ferrari has made a great car”

Automobile Magazine — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:54:52 +0000

The former driver was surprised by the SF-26 In Miami Lewis Hamilton did not particularly shine, but perhaps the damage suffered on the first lap in contact with Franco Colapinto was underestimated. Or, at least, this episode was not taken sufficiently into consideration when analyzing the Ferrari driver’s performance. The anonymous weekend in Florida was enough to once again circulate rumors of a disheartened Hamilton and even close to retiring. Hamilton in Canada not only categorically denied this scenario, but was also a great protagonist, obtaining the second podium of the season. Riccardo Patrese is happy with the fact that Hamilton has made it clear that he wants to continue for a long time: “What I really liked was when, before the race, the journalists asked him if he would retire at the end of the season and he replied ‘Forget it. You will see me racing for at least another five years’. This means that he doesn’t want to leave and, if he enjoys himself, his performances can improve” said Riccardo Patrese reached by the F1 Hospitality provider Vision4Sport who in partnership with the BWT Alpine team offers an exclusive Monaco yacht experience. Hamilton is a different driver compared to the dull one seen in action in 2025 and the credit also goes to the competitiveness of the Ferrari SF-26: “Ferrari surprised me – added Patrese – I didn’t expect them to be as strong as they seem at the moment. They seem a little behind from an engine point of view, but apart from that they have a nice car. In corners, their car is the best together with Mercedes and McLaren. The chassis is good. Maybe, if they continue to improve, they will really be able to compete for the title again”. Click here to add Formula Passion as your favorite source on Google Discover: you will find our content more easily!

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-03 02:00:00

Cadillac doesn’t stop: more updates in Monaco. And Perez can’t wait: “We learn race after race”

Automobile Magazine — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:53:47 +0000

The Cadillac towards Monte Carlo A new test for the Cadillac, and the Americans want to get there prepared. Monte Carlo represents a demanding challenge, which tests drivers and teams with its narrow streets famous for not forgiving the slightest mistake. As in Miami and Montreal, Mario Andretti’s team will have updates on the MAC-26: among the areas that will present innovations there are a new rear wing and modifications to the exhaust pipe, with the aim of improving performance in slow corners. If it is the debut in Monegasque glamor for Cadillac, the same cannot certainly be said for Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas: the Mexican won here in 2022 with Red Bull, while the Finn achieved a podium in 2019. This is how the two Cadillac drivers framed this weekend’s Monaco GP. Perez’s words “We made a big step forward in Canada. I managed to compete in the middle of the pack in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix”, this is Perez’s comment. “Obviously there are aspects we need to improve on, but everything is very new here. We are continually learning and making progress together, as a team, step by step, race by race. Monaco is a unique and extremely challenging circuit, but it is one of my favorite races on the calendar. I love street circuits and have really fond memories of my win here in 2022, so hopefully this weekend we can continue to make progress.” Bottas’ words “The last few races have been a bit complicated for my side of the garage. We faced some problems, but that was to be expected with a brand new team,” added Bottas. “It’s all part of the learning process. We know that progress takes time, but the team and I are working very well and closely together to make those steps forward. Clearly, we are making progress and becoming more competitive session after session, which is exciting. It’s no secret that Monaco is challenging, but it’s a place I love racing. I’m excited to see what we can do.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-03 00:00:00

Hülkenberg: “Munich may hold surprises, but there is no margin for error”

Automobile Magazine — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:52:49 +0000

The Montreal mistake Always considered one of the most special weekends of the championship, this year’s Monaco Grand Prix may offer the debuting Audi team a chance to forget the strategic mistake made in the last race in Canada. The two drivers of the German manufacturer, together with a few others on the starting grid, in fact opted for intermediate tires on a track that was still dry, in the hope of precipitation in the first laps. A rain dance that did not have the desired effects, so much so that Hülkenberg and Bortoleto were forced to return to the pits immediately to fit dry tyres. The characteristics of Monaco However, for the German, as for his teammate, the time has come to leave behind what happened in Canada, returning to a street circuit where he was the protagonist of good performances, especially in Force India. In 2014, with a 5th place finish, he achieved his best result in the Principality: “Monaco is probably the most iconic race weekend on the calendar, both on and off the track. For me it’s also a bit like racing at home, having my family and friends around makes everything really special. The challenge here is unique: you have to find the rhythm from the first lap, because there is no margin for error and there are no real opportunities to make up for it. The mid-table group is extremely compact, so do an excellent qualification will be fundamental. Monaco can hold some surprises, but that is precisely what makes it so special.” The only driver from the Four Rings to have finished in the points in this first phase of the season with 9th place in Melbourne, Bortoleto is preparing for his second weekend in the Principality, where he achieved the podium in F2 in the 2024 Sprint Race: “I can’t wait to race in Monaco again. It’s one of those circuits where every driver wants to do well, due to its history and the driving challenge it represents, and the atmosphere is always special. The morale within of the team is high and that’s something we can build on for this event. In Monaco it’s all about confidence, precision and doing everything right over the weekend, so we will focus on having a smooth run of sessions and making the most of every opportunity.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-02 22:30:00

Liuzzi: “This F1 is exciting but artificial. Mine was wilder”

Automobile Magazine — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:51:54 +0000

Between past and present Vitantonio Liuzzi is not only a former Formula 1 driver, but is also an FIA steward who often in recent years has found himself ‘refereeing’ Grands Prix as part of the college of race commissioners. For this reason his opinion when he talks about this contemporary era of F1 has a different weight than that of many of his former colleagues: Liuzzi in fact, thanks to his role in the federation, is still involved in the present of the Circus. He conducted an exclusive interview with the former Toro Rosso, Force India and HRT representative, asking him what he thought of this new generation of single-seaters, born from the power unit revolution that sparked divisions, criticism and controversy among enthusiasts all over the world. Less ‘wild’ spectacle “This is an F1 that is certainly different from the past – Liuzzi told our microphones, contesting not so much the lack of spectacularity of today’s Grands Prix, but rather a certain lack of authenticity – there are always exciting races, even if a little more artificial than those of the past thanks to all these technological ‘tricks’ of the power unit which make everything a little more artificial and less ‘racing'”. “Personally, I like this F1 less than that of my time, which was a little more ‘wild’ – added the former driver from Locorotondo – there you basically always had to stay at 110% when braking, when cruising, on the gas, with more extreme overtaking. Now it’s all very different, but it’s still an exciting F1. I don’t know how much fun it is for the drivers compared to the one I drove, but it still remains the pinnacle of motorsport,” he commented.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-02 21:00:00

Women, young people, Asia: this is why luxury fashion is clinging to F1 to relaunch itself

Automobile Magazine — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 05:50:51 +0000

The Gucci Racing Alpine Formula One Team arrives Last May 27, the agreement between Alpine F1 and Gucci became official, with the luxury fashion brand that will give its name to the team (which will transform into Gucci Racing Alpine Formula One Team), which will affix its black and gold logo with the G on the single-seaters produced in Enstone. And it will develop a “narrative ecosystem” using the language of high-performance sport.
According to The Race it is a three-year agreement worth 50 million dollars per year.
The directors of the operation were the CEO of Kering – owner of Gucci – Luca de Meo and the Alpine executive consultant Flavio Briatore. Why does Gucci choose F1? The first answer, the simplest and most immediate, concerns the overlap of the relevant public. 60% of those who buy Gucci are Millennials (under 35) and 60% of the brand’s customers are female. So what better match than F1? Gucci does not hide that market research has naturally directed it to the Circus: the average age of fans is 32 years and 50% of new fans are women.
Formula 1 is no longer just a track, but is becoming a lifestyle and it is no coincidence that Stefano Domenicali had underlined the need to open up views: “Other people may love F1 for other reasons, beyond the cars. We are much more than just a race on the track or the best drivers in the world”.
But Gucci is also tempting for Alpine: Francois Prevost – CEO of the Renault Group – has made no secret that the female public influences 70% of car purchases and is the buyer of 30-35% of new cars. Fashion brands and F1 There is not only Kering with Gucci, but also LVMH – which last year ended a ten-year partnership with F1 worth 150 million dollars per season. The Louis Vuitton logo is now familiar to those who follow Formula 1 and the next race in Monte Carlo is called the “Louis Vuitton Grand Prix of Monaco”.
Luxury brands are looking at Formula 1 with growing interest and racing culture has now become one of the favorite languages of fashion. Classic advertising does not reach the consumer as in the past and therefore it is necessary to change communication: F1 offers global visibility, exclusivity and access to celebrities. But luxury fashion brands are in decline… But all that glitters is not gold. An interesting podcast from Newsweek explains how Gucci is going through a period that is anything but happy: in the first quarter of 2026 sales fell by 14%, in 2025 turnover was down by 22%. The Kering group (of which Gucci is the spearhead with 60% of profits) went from a profit of 1 billion euros in 2024 to a net loss of 29 million in 2025 and had to close over 200 stores around the world.
We need a relaunch and F1 is the ideal platform for growing brands (just think of the various artificial intelligence brands that sponsor drivers and teams), but also for luxury brands that are in difficulty. And LVMH isn’t doing very well either: the largest luxury group in the world recorded -5% of turnover in 2025.
In short, the entire sector finds itself in a complicated picture. In particular, there is a post-Covid economic crisis in the luxury sector, with weak demand. Particularly in China. It is no coincidence that Kering indicated it during the presentation of the financial results as one of Gucci’s weak points: “We have little cultural relevance there”. The key role of Asia And also from this perspective, Formula 1 is perfect for LVMH and Gucci to try to open their way into the Asian market. According to data from Nielsen Sports, the Chinese fan base has grown dramatically, with a +40% between 2024 and 2025. Half of the Chinese fan base discovered Formula 1 mainly thanks to viral content on Bilibili, RedNote and TikTok and made it a mass interest. The Sixth Tone website explained how collaborations between Chinese brands and F1 are soaring, with co-branding operations, which are becoming popular on local e-commerce platforms. And something unimaginable until a few years ago is happening: Chinese shopping centers have started to dedicate increasingly larger spaces to motorsport-themed displays of brands such as Puma and Adidas.
This is why fashion brands need a platform that can relaunch them in the Asian continent.
As far as Asia is concerned, there is also another issue to address: the large turnout of the public at each GP. Quickly explained: in Japan in Suzuka with the minimum salary (around 1180 dollars) you can get 10 cheap tickets (from around 120 dollars). Why does Gucci choose Alpine F1? Let’s go back to Alpine and Gucci. The link between the two realities is undoubtedly Luca de Meo. Milanese, 58 years old, he was CEO of the Renault group from July 2020 to June 2025, before moving to Kering from September 2025 with the same role and the mandate to financially restructure the group.
It was de Meo who called his friend Flavio Briatore back to F1 in June 2024, with the role of executive advisor to Alpine, giving him the keys to a team in a deep crisis of results.
Once at Kering it was natural for de Meo to look to Formula 1 and Alpine as the ideal partner for a collaboration. The relationships between de Meo and Briatore In the June 1 edition, Il Fatto Quotidiano however raised a question on the Gucci-Alpine agreement which placed a magnifying glass on the links between Briatore and de Meo.
In fact, in 2025 Flavio Briatore hired Giulio de Meo, Luca’s son, into his Monegasque holding Majestas. And subsequently Gucci carried out two highly visible operations “with subjects attributable to the same perimeter”. In addition to the deal with Alpine F1, there is also the Gucci branding of the “La Rose des Ventas” beach club in Monte Carlo, owned by Briatore.
Il Fatto Quotidiano contacted Kering, who explained that Giulio de Meo collaborated with Majestas through an internship before his father’s arrival in the group, and Flavio Briatore, who did not want to comment. Click here to add Formula Passion as your favorite source on Google Discover: you will find our content more easily!

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-02 20:30:00

Laurens van Hoepen on Williams: first test behind the wheel of an F1 for the Dutchman

Automobile Magazine — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 03:49:49 +0000

Debut results In his debut season in Formula 2, the young Dutchman Laurens van Hoepen is achieving very convincing results at the wheel of the Trident team: 3rd in the Melbourne Feature Race, the first weekend of the season, the 20-year-old climbed onto the podium again in Miami, achieving his best placing with an excellent 2nd place. In Canada, Van Hoepen then scored his first pole position, but retired in the Feature Race after hitting the ‘Wall of Champions’ in a very chaotic race. First laps in an F1 The overall performance however caught the attention of Williams team principal James Vowles. Recently, on the Hungaroring circuit, Van Hoepen made his Formula 1 debut in a private TPC (Test Previous Cars) test, completing several laps at the wheel of a Williams from previous seasons. As recently happened to other young talents such as Leonardo Fornaroli and Rafael Camara, who took to the track with McLaren and Ferrari respectively, Van Hoepen also described all his emotions on social media: “First time behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car: a day I won’t forget!” Vowles’ objective There are reasons for this test, as Vowles explained. Van Hoepen is in fact one of the main candidates to join the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy, and the confirmation came directly from Vowles: “Most likely – he declared – the beauty of working directly with him is that we can know first-hand his level of driving. He still has room for improvement, but there is a reason why we are talking to him. We are in an excellent position in our Academy. You will see that we have high-level talent, from the first to the last.” In addition, Vowles denied all possible rumors relating to the future of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, confirming that both official drivers of the Grove company will still be part of the Williams project for the next seasons.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-02 18:03:00

A year after the bumper car with Russell, Verstappen returns to zero penalty points

Automobile Magazine — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 01:48:49 +0000

Back to zero Max Verstappen no longer has penalty points on his licence. Not even one. With the advent of June 1st, the three he had collected exactly 12 months ago during the Spanish GP in Barcelona for voluntarily hitting George Russell’s Mercedes in the excited final stages of that race were also removed from his record. The clash between the two, who already had tense histories between them dating back to qualifying for the Qatar GP the previous season, created enormous tension in the paddock and pushed Verstappen one step away from disqualification for a GP as the Dutch Red Bull champion received 11 penalty points out of a possible 12. With another sanction, the four-time world champion would have been forced not to compete in a Grand Prix, just as happened during the 2024 season to Danish Kevin Magnussen, who was stopped for the Azerbaijan GP. Since then, Verstappen has been particularly careful to avoid getting into complicated situations, managing to no longer receive any penalties and ‘unmarked’ one race after another all the sanctions he had collected in the previous twelve months. A different evaluation criterion It must be said, however, that at the beginning of the 2026 season the criterion for assigning penalty points by the stewards has completely changed. Now the commissioners intervene to assign penalty points on the pilots’ super license only for actually serious and dangerous, almost deliberate, actions. In all other cases they limit themselves to assigning the canonical time penalties, without however intervening by assigning penalty points. Also for this reason, in the first five GPs held this year, no driver has received any penalty points.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-02 17:45:00

Bearman: “Qualifying in Monaco is part of a unique challenge”

Automobile Magazine — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 23:47:53 +0000

Haas in Monaco After leaving Montreal, Formula 1 will stop this weekend on the historic street circuit of Monaco, where Haas will try to bring home more championship points after Bearman’s 10th place in Canada. The performances of the US team in the Principality were mainly negative, even if in the last edition Esteban Ocon crossed the finish line in seventh place. A special weekend Throughout his career, the Frenchman has been the protagonist of good performances, so much so that he reached the podium in 2023, the year in which he took 3rd place at the wheel of the Alpine. The current season, on the contrary, has not started positively for the Frenchman, with tenth position in Suzuka equivalent to the best placing achieved so far: “I can’t wait for this weekend to arrive, because Monaco is always one of the highlights of the season for teams and drivers – he commented – personally, I have wonderful memories linked to this circuit and it’s fantastic to race so close to France, with friends and family who come to the track to support me every year. Racing on the historic streets of Monaco is really special and it’s something that every driver dreams of doing since I was a child. The scenery is unique, the circuit requires absolute precision and the confidence of being able to get close to the walls is what really makes the difference. As a team we will work hard to prepare as best we can for the very important qualifying on Saturday and we hope to have a good race on Sunday.” Hunting for his first Monegasque points, 12th last year at his first in Monaco, Bearman appears motivated and motivated to enter the top 10, a goal already achieved this season in almost all the races held: “The Monaco Grand Prix is a challenge for both the drivers and the teams, because you have to know how to set up the car for the bumpy, low-speed circuit, while at the same time trying to obtain the maximum downforce possible. Like in Montreal, it is another circuit where it is essential to have confidence and approach as much as possible to the walls to make the most of each lap, qualifying here in Monaco is much more important than in other races, but honestly, this is part of the unique challenge of this weekend, it’s unparalleled.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-02 17:30:00

McLaren and the ‘case’ of the 1000 GPs which are 999: here’s why the statistics don’t agree

Automobile Magazine — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:46:54 +0000

The mystery of a thousand GPs A small and curious ‘case’ is being created around the milestone of the 1000 Grands Prix contested in Formula 1 which McLaren intends to celebrate this weekend in Monaco with a splendid special livery. Many authoritative statistics sites, including the famous Statsf1.com, in fact attest to the Woking team having contested 998 Grands Prix so far in their history, with the event on the streets of the Principality becoming number 999. But what is the reason for this particular statistical discrepancy? A dancing count The ‘fault’ seemed to be what happened this year on Sunday 15 March, when the Chinese GP took place. In fact, McLaren, which was obviously present that weekend and had also taken part in the Sprint race on Saturday, did not take part in the Sunday GP with any of its cars. Both the car of reigning world champion Lando Norris and that of his teammate Oscar Piastri were in fact forced to retire before the start of the race due to technical problems. Not having fielded any single-seater at the start of the GP, statistically McLaren was “not started” in Shanghai and therefore that race is not counted. In reality, however, as the team has clarified, the ‘disputed’ race would not be the one – which even McLaren and F1 do not count as having been held – but rather the infamous 2005 Indianapolis GP, the one run by only six single-seaters due to the problems experienced by the Michelin tyres. On that occasion, McLaren completed the reconnaissance lap but did not take part in the race, retiring before the start. Here lies the discrepancy: for F1 the reconnaissance lap is valid and therefore McLaren regularly contested that GP. Therefore the 1000th Grand Prix is actually that of Monaco 2026. The statistical sites instead consider the actual start of the race and therefore do not count that United States GP among those in which the papaya team took part. Mystery revealed. According to the official F1 counts, therefore, in Monaco McLaren will become in effect the second team ever to have raced 1000 GPs in F1, after Ferrari who celebrated this milestone at Mugello in 2020, also in that case bringing a special celebratory livery to the track.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-02 17:03:00

McLaren, special livery in Monaco: celebrates 1000 GPs

Automobile Magazine — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 19:45:48 +0000

1000 times McLaren McLaren will celebrate their 1000th Formula 1 Grand Prix this weekend in Monaco (even if some counts keep them ‘still’ at 999). To celebrate this anniversary – it is only the second team in the history of F1 to reach quadruple figures, after Ferrari – the Woking team has decided to show off a special livery on the streets of the Principality. The MCL40 of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will parade through the streets of Monaco with a livery characterized by a metallic papaya color combined with anthracite. Throughout the single-seater there are references to the rich history of the Woking team, with hidden details that celebrate the fundamental stages: from the first race held, to the victories and titles won, up to the triple crown (the only team in history to have won in Monaco, the Indy 500 and the 24 hours of Le Mans) and the world speed record for a pit stop recorded in 2023 in Qatar. Both drivers will also wear special suits, echoing the design language of the car. “The livery – explained McLaren – symbolizes the message that our team never gives up and highlights the stories and work it took to get to this anniversary, celebrating the moments in which the team not only succeeded, but also the challenges they faced and how they emerged stronger. The commemorative livery will be featured on the MCL40 for the 2026 Monaco and Spanish Grands Prix.” The words of the drivers “It’s a truly special weekend for us – commented the reigning world champion Lando Norris – we are celebrating an incredible achievement. The livery is fantastic and what better occasion to celebrate than one of the most iconic races on the calendar and the place where the team contested its first Grand Prix. Having given my small contribution to the incredible history of McLaren is something I am very proud of. McLaren is a team I admired as a child and it is an honor to represent the men and women who make up this team in occasion of his 1000th GP”. “I’m thrilled to be taking to the track with this truly special livery,” echoed Oscar Piastri, “1000 Grands Prix is an amazing achievement for the team and it’s a privilege to be here representing McLaren for the occasion. The car is fantastic and it seems fitting that this celebration takes place where the team first raced in the Championship, 60 years ago. We’ll do our best to push as hard as we can with the aim of bringing home some trophies this weekend to commemorate Here’s to 1000 GPs – I can’t wait to race for McLaren for many more.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-02 16:24:00