No extra excuses for
There was all the time a legitimate excuse for George Russell throughout Kimi Antonelli’s five-race successful streak earlier on this 2026 F1 marketing campaign: dangerous luck. The pre-season favorite had a mechanical problem in Shanghai Q3, Antonelli profited from a well timed security automobile in Suzuka to win, whereas Russell additionally retired from the lead in Montreal.
Commercial
All of it mixed to offer Antonelli a 68-point lead over his team-mate heading into Barcelona, however since then the books have been balanced – as they have been all the time going to be. The Italian retired from second in Catalunya, was on provisional pole in Austria however then misplaced out after misinterpreting the late yellow-flag scenario following ’s crash, earlier than additionally struggling a automobile problem from second at Silverstone.
Issues then bought even higher for Russell late within the British GP when one other Verstappen crash handed him a podium, earlier than leaping as much as second as he didn’t pit underneath the protection automobile. This leaves a 25-point hole between the drivers.
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Now the onus have to be on Russell to catch Antonelli by means of pure efficiency as a result of the dangerous luck excuse not works. Doubt nonetheless stays over if he’ll although, as a result of Antonelli had the higher of him in Barcelona till the retirement, likewise at Silverstone – so the Italian very a lot holds the tempo benefit.
Commercial
– Ed Hardy
Leclerc responds in the very best method after Hamilton’s resurgence
The previous few weeks haven’t been the best of Charles Leclerc’s System 1 profession. Following Lewis Hamilton’s victory in Barcelona and Leclerc dropping again to eighth after his front-row begin in Austria, an increasing number of questions have been being requested about his type in comparison with the seven-time world champion.
Sarcastically, it was at Silverstone – the place Hamilton was dreaming of a tenth residence victory – that Leclerc delivered the right response. Greater than something, it was the way in which he did it behind the scenes that stood out.
Commercial
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
After Saturday’s dash race, Leclerc revealed: “I discovered a number of issues that we are going to change for this afternoon, which I’m hopeful that it’ll go into the precise path. How a lot I don’t know, but when it’s significantly better this afternoon, then I’m sort of optimistic that we will maintain that for the remainder of the season.”
The adjustments labored wonders in qualifying, and the identical might be stated of Sunday’s race. Naturally, Kimi Antonelli dropping out of competition performed a big position, however this was nonetheless by far the strongest model of Leclerc we’ve got seen all season.
Commercial
After qualifying, the Monegasque defined that in earlier troublesome weekends he basically had two extremes, two choices to select from: comply with Hamilton’s path or belief the strategy that had labored for him prior to now. At Silverstone, he selected the latter – and it paid off massively together with his ninth F1 victory.
Leclerc was the primary to confess that one swallow doesn’t make a summer time, however this was precisely the enhance he wanted after a string of inauspicious weekends.
– Ronald Vording
Commercial
Verstappen’s frustrations develop after crashing, Silverstone exposes a Crimson Bull weak point
Following Crimson Bull’s main improve bundle in Austria, Saturday at Silverstone served as a actuality test, one thing crew principal Laurent Mekies additionally acknowledged. Max Verstappen even concluded after qualifying that “there is no such thing as a level racing like this”, though Sunday’s race tempo turned out considerably higher than anticipated.
Crimson Bull in the end determined towards altering the ability unit or breaking parc ferme, and it appeared to be the precise name. Verstappen was on the right track for his third podium end of the yr earlier than his race ended with a crash at Stowe.
Commercial
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing
Up till what appeared like an uncommon second, the general image could not have been as bleak as Verstappen initially feared, however Silverstone however uncovered a weak point in Crimson Bull’s bundle. The crew continues to wrestle with its energy unit at energy-starved circuits equivalent to Silverstone, the place power administration performs a good larger position than common.
It underlines that, though Crimson Bull’s inner combustion engine is aggressive, the crew remains to be missing on {the electrical} facet of its energy unit. With out ADUO, nonetheless, there’s little Crimson Bull can do to handle that weak point. It made the British Grand Prix weekend a much bigger problem than Austria, and Verstappen expects extra of the identical at Spa-Francorchamps and Monza.
Commercial
– Ronald Vording
is in survival mode
As anticipated after qualifying, when the wick is turned up, Ferrari and particularly Mercedes are a lower above the remainder of the competitors. That features McLaren, which confirmed encouraging indicators earlier this yr of having the ability to claw again its deficit to the entrance of the sphere.
However when the going will get powerful on probably the most troublesome and demanding circuits, like Silverstone, it is a lot more durable for the reigning world champions to maintain up appearances. On the British Grand Prix, McLaren’s weaknesses have been actually uncovered because the MCL40’s relative lack of downforce and effectivity noticed and unable to maintain up because the pair was simply final of the 4 high groups on tempo.
Commercial
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Given Spa-Francorchamps’s comparable profile, McLaren’s ails doubtless will not be mounted within the subsequent race, so it’s survival mode proper now till the subsequent batch of upgrades arrives on the Hungarian Grand Prix, the final race earlier than the summer time break.
– Fil Cleeren
Racing Bulls has change into the clear ‘better of the remainder’
The controversy is successfully over: Racing Bulls has established itself as System 1’s standout midfield crew, comfortably main the pack behind the championship’s conventional frontrunners.
Commercial
The Faenza – and Milton Keynes – outfit launched a serious improve bundle in Montreal. Alpine nonetheless headed the midfield there and once more in Monaco and Barcelona, however since then the momentum has shifted decisively.
That grew to become clear in Austria, the place Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad spent nearly your entire weekend inside the highest 10, and Silverstone solely strengthened that image. The way in which the race unfolded in the end allowed Racing Bulls to go away the British Grand Prix with a serious factors haul, leaving it only one level behind Alpine within the battle for fifth place within the constructors’ championship.
If Racing Bulls maintains this degree of efficiency whereas Alpine continues to slide again – not too long ago even falling behind Audi on outright tempo – a change in positions seems like a matter of when, not if.
Commercial
– Federico Faturos
Pictures from British GP – SundayCharles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Clive Rose / System 1 by way of Getty Pictures
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
James Sutton / System 1 / System Motorsport Ltd by way of Getty Pictures
Christian Horner, Crimson Bull Racing
Christian Horner, Crimson Bull Racing
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Goldie
Goldie
James Sutton / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Jeremy Clarkson enters the paddock.
Jeremy Clarkson enters the paddock.
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Moses
Moses
James Sutton / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Commercial
Sir Brian Might
Sir Brian Might
James Sutton / System 1 / System Motorsport Ltd by way of Getty Pictures
Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports and Cassidy Towriss
Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports and Cassidy Towriss
James Sutton / System 1 / System Motorsport Ltd by way of Getty Pictures
Flavio Briatore, Alpine
Flavio Briatore, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Isack Hadjar, Crimson Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Crimson Bull Racing
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Ben Whittaker
Ben Whittaker
James Sutton / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Commercial
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Workforce
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Workforce
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Sir Brian Might, Ferrari storage
Sir Brian Might, Ferrari storage
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
James Sutton / System 1 / System Motorsport Ltd by way of Getty Pictures
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Workforce
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Workforce
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
James Sutton / System 1 / System Motorsport Ltd by way of Getty Pictures
Commercial
Alex Greenwood, Audi F1 Workforce storage
Alex Greenwood, Audi F1 Workforce storage
Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Ben Whittaker, Aston Martin F1 Workforce storage
Ben Whittaker, Aston Martin F1 Workforce storage
James Sutton / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Sam Claflin
Sam Claflin
Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Workforce, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Workforce, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Commercial
Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Workforce
Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Workforce
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
George Russell, Mercedes; Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
George Russell, Mercedes; Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Commercial
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Steven Tee / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Sam Bloxham / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Sam Bloxham / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Jeremy Clarkson, Alpine F1 Workforce
Jeremy Clarkson, Alpine F1 Workforce
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
James Sutton / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Commercial
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Manuel Eletto
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Colin McMaster / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Workforce
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Workforce
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Crimson Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Crimson Bull Racing
Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Commercial
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Manuel Eletto / Getty Pictures
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Workforce, Carlos Sainz, Williams
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Workforce, Carlos Sainz, Williams
Mark Sutton / System 1 by way of Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Alastair Staley / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Manuel Eletto / Getty Pictures
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing
James Sutton / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Isack Hadjar, Crimson Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Crimson Bull Racing
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Commercial
Isack Hadjar, Crimson Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Crimson Bull Racing
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Ben Stansall / Pool /AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Clive Rose / System 1 by way of Getty Pictures
Sir Jackie Stewart
Sir Jackie Stewart
Mark Sutton / System 1 by way of Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Clive Rose / System 1 by way of Getty Pictures
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Colin McMaster / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Alastair Staley / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
To learn extra Motorsport.com articles .
