Every session, every upgrade, every rumour checked.
Max Verstappen claims he had no prior knowledge that the Baku upgrade would restore his competitive edge when he signed his two-year Red Bull extension. Team principal Laurent Mekies dismissed suggestions that the performance gains were used to secure the driver's signature.
Breaking from the paddock
talkSPORT head Liam Fisher is looking to expand his station's portfolio by potentially acquiring Formula 1 radio rights. The move could end the BBC's exclusive coverage of the sport, which the broadcaster has held since 1994 amidst ongoing budget cuts.
Practice, qualifying, race
2026 World Championship
| Pos | Driver | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | 340 |
| 2 | George Russell | 238 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | 229 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | 221 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | 215 |
| 6 | Lando Norris | 201 |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | 138 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | 97 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | 75 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | 41 |
| Pos | Team | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes-AMG Petronas | 578 |
| 2 | Scuderia Ferrari | 444 |
| 3 | McLaren Racing | 339 |
| 4 | Red Bull Racing | 332 |
| 5 | Racing Bulls | 100 |
| 6 | Alpine F1 Team | 68 |
| 7 | Haas F1 Team | 30 |
| 8 | Audi Revolut F1 Team | 23 |
| 9 | Williams F1 Team | 12 |
| 10 | Aston Martin F1 Team | 7 |
Beyond the lap times
The Honda power unit creates significant driveability issues for the Aston Martin AMR26, particularly in Singapore where the engine accounted for 113% of the laptime deficit. While chassis improvements since Hungary have aided cornering, engine deficits remain a major concern.
Aero, power units, rules
FIA technical delegates plan to reduce floor support dimensions from 20mm to 5mm to prevent teams from using structural cables to create sharper sidepod edges. This regulation change targets a design used by Red Bull and Audi to bypass standard radius requirements.
In their own words
