Samwise F1 Newsletter
Sunday, September 20, 2026
Doohan Gets Haas F1 Audition at Jerez as 2027 Decision Nears
Jack Doohan returned to a Formula 1 cockpit this week, completing a Testing of Previous Cars run for Haas at Jerez. The Australian, who lost his Alpine race seat following the 2025 Miami Grand Prix and subsequently joined Haas as a reserve driver, shared circuit time with Toyota-backed Ryo Hirakawa and 2024 Super Formula champion Sho Tsuboi. Doohan called it an “incredible feeling to be back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car.” The test carries weight as Haas evaluates 2027 driver options alongside Oliver Bearman, with Esteban Ocon’s future at the team still unresolved.
Lawson and Lindblad Likely to Stay at Racing Bulls as Tsolov Plans Take Shape
Speculation over Racing Bulls’ 2027 driver lineup has intensified, with Bulgarian Formula 2 championship leader Nikola Tsolov strongly linked to the team. Reports now indicate Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad will likely be retained together, with Tsolov instead assigned to a reserve and Super Formula role — the same development path Lawson himself followed before securing his F1 seat. Racing Bulls principal Alan Permane confirmed Tsolov “features” in the team’s 2027 plans. The 20-year-old currently leads F2 with 177 points and six victories this season, cementing his status as Red Bull’s most prized junior prospect.
Vesti Reveals Hands-On Race-Day Radio Role Inside Mercedes
Mercedes reserve driver Frederik Vesti has revealed an unusually integrated race-day role at the Silver Arrows. The Dane maintains a dedicated radio channel with team principal Toto Wolff, technical director James Allison, and communications head Bradley Lord throughout Grands Prix, offering a real-time driver’s perspective on strategy calls as Kimi Antonelli and George Russell race. Vesti disclosed that Wolff consulted him during the Canadian Grand Prix on whether a driver swap might be warranted. He also runs an intensive simulator programme before each race weekend, making his role far more embedded in race operations than a typical reserve driver position.
Steiner Labels Norris Unprofessional Over Spanish GP Coca-Cola Clash
Guenther Steiner has labelled world champion Lando Norris “unprofessional” after Norris refused a request from an FOM official not to drink Coca-Cola in the Spanish Grand Prix cooldown room. Already frustrated after a virtual safety car cost him the race lead, Norris — whose McLaren team is sponsored by Coca-Cola while rival Pepsi holds official F1 sponsorship — snapped: “I just did a race, I’m allowed to drink what I like.” Speaking on his Red Flags podcast, Steiner was firm: “If you are a professional, you don’t do that. End of story.” David Coulthard and a majority of fans publicly sided with Norris.
Round 14 of 24 — After the Spanish Grand Prix
Drivers’ Championship
| Pos | Driver | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | K. Antonelli | 292 |
| 2 | G. Russell | 211 |
| 3 | L. Hamilton | 191 |
| 4 | L. Norris | 186 |
| 5 | C. Leclerc | 167 |
| 6 | M. Verstappen | 145 |
| 7 | O. Piastri | 120 |
| 8 | I. Hadjar | 71 |
| 9 | L. Lawson | 59 |
| 10 | P. Gasly | 41 |
| 11 | A. Lindblad | 31 |
| 12 | F. Colapinto | 27 |
| 13 | O. Bearman | 18 |
| 14 | G. Bortoleto | 10 |
| 15 | N. Hülkenberg | 7 |
| 16 | C. Sainz | 6 |
| 17 | A. Albon | 5 |
| 18 | E. Ocon | 3 |
| 19 | F. Alonso | 3 |
| 20 | Y. Tsunoda | 1 |
| 21 | L. Stroll | 0 |
| 22 | V. Bottas | 0 |
| 23 | S. Pérez | 0 |
Constructors’ Championship
| Pos | Constructor | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 503 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 358 |
| 3 | McLaren | 306 |
| 4 | Red Bull | 216 |
| 5 | Racing Bulls | 91 |
| 6 | Alpine | 68 |
| 7 | Haas | 21 |
| 8 | Audi | 17 |
| 9 | Williams | 11 |
| 10 | Aston Martin | 3 |
| 11 | Cadillac | 0 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency