Samwise F1 Newsletter
Friday, October 2, 2026
Verstappen Tops First Practice as F1 Returns to Sepang
Max Verstappen set the pace in first practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, posting a 1m37.520s in his Red Bull to finish 0.383s clear of Azerbaijan winner George Russell’s Mercedes. Isack Hadjar, who will take a grid penalty for an engine change, was third in the second Red Bull ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli was fifth, with Lewis Hamilton sixth. Pierre Gasly, Liam Lawson, Arvid Lindblad and Nico Hulkenberg completed the top 10. Both McLaren drivers were outside the top 10, with Oscar Piastri 11th. The leading runners all set their best times on soft tyres.
Mercedes Debuts First Major W17 Upgrade Since May at Sepang
Mercedes has introduced its first major upgrade package since the Canadian Grand Prix in May, with the revised W17 briefly appearing in the Sepang pitlane on Thursday. Writing for The Race, former F1 technical director Gary Anderson said the update is understood to change all body surfaces except the front and rear wings, and is expected to be worth around 0.3 seconds per lap. Visible changes include a new vertical section on the bargeboard to help manage front-wheel wake turbulence, revised sidepods and a new engine cover. Anderson described the floor-edge changes as small, calling them a major tidy-up and repositioning of existing parts.
Hamilton and Leclerc Back Vasseur Amid Ferrari Leadership Rumours
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have publicly backed Fred Vasseur as Ferrari team principal following speculation linking former Red Bull boss Christian Horner with the team. Ferrari held a media call on Tuesday to support Vasseur. Hamilton said Vasseur is “the guy to lead us” and is “not going anywhere”, but said there are changes he would make, noting “there are also people above Fred”. He said Ferrari carries a straight-line power deficit of 0.4s, sometimes 0.6s, every weekend. Leclerc said he had turned off social media to avoid the “silly rumours”, adding that he fully trusts Vasseur.
Sources: Crash.net (Hamilton), Crash.net (Leclerc)
Honda Reveals Secret Turbo Upgrade as Stroll Laments Power Deficit
Honda has revealed that it introduced an updated turbocharger at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, using the second of its ADUO upgrade tokens. Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin received the part first, with Fernando Alonso getting it in Baku. Honda chief engineer and trackside manager Shintaro Orihara said the change improves boost following and driveability, and brings a small energy management gain. With both tokens used, Honda’s attention has mostly turned to making a big step for 2027. Stroll said at Sepang the team is “lacking between a second and two seconds depending on the track every weekend on engine”, calling it the team’s weakness.
Bottas Cites Italian Tax as Drivers Debate Possible Imola Finale
Valtteri Bottas said “no driver wants to really race in Italy” when asked about Imola as a possible season finale, citing winter weather and an Italian tax issue. Drivers were reportedly sent letters earlier this year reviewing tax payments over the last seven years. Bottas said he would accept racing at Imola if F1 decided to go, adding that for now he had heard the season was still going to Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Max Verstappen dismissed the concerns at Thursday’s FIA press conference: “There is no tax issue. You just have to pay tax.” Oliver Bearman joked about bringing snow chains and hand warmers.
Alonso Says Watching Races From Home Fuels Decision to Stay in F1
Fernando Alonso has explained that watching races on the sofa at home knowing he could do better is his real motivation for staying with Aston Martin in 2027. The 45-year-old two-time world champion said the decision was made in a five-minute conversation with team owner Lawrence Stroll. “I feel fast, I feel motivated, I feel that I am enjoying what I am doing,” Alonso said. An outspoken critic of the 2026 engines, he said Sepang’s middle sector would be “sad” because drivers cannot use the battery there, but hoped the planned 60-40 engine split would offer a better compromise.
Norris Explains Public Apology to Colapinto After Baku Criticism
Reigning world champion Lando Norris has explained why he apologised both privately and publicly to Alpine’s Franco Colapinto after saying the Argentine should be banned following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Colapinto locked up at a safety car restart in Baku and slid into team-mate Pierre Gasly, who then hit Norris, wiping all three out of the race. Norris, who received online abuse after his comments, said he apologised directly first, then publicly because his remarks were made on TV. “I accepted that I was wrong,” he said, adding that social media platforms and sports need to do more to stop abuse.
Sepang Grid Repainted After Pole Position Was Placed on Wrong Side
Officials at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia repainted the Sepang starting grid on Thursday after pole position had been painted on the wrong side of the track. Team observers on Wednesday track walks noticed pole had been shifted to the left, rather than the right-hand side used at previous Malaysian Grands Prix. The error, spotted during FIA inspections, is understood to have stemmed from an administrative mistake in the paperwork. Officials renumbered every grid slot, and the start line was repainted slightly further forward because the new pole sat within the FIA’s one-metre minimum distance. The circuit passed its inspection on Thursday.
Audi Unveils Plans for New F1 Campus in Hinwil
The Audi Formula 1 team has revealed plans for a new campus in Hinwil, less than one kilometre from its long-standing Swiss headquarters. The current facility will be redeveloped as the team’s manufacturing centre and windtunnel operation. Full development will not be complete until 2030, though some areas became operational in the summer. Power units will continue to be developed and manufactured in Neuburg, while the Bicester hub retains the team’s F1 technical centre. Audi F1 CEO Mattia Binotto said the campus will help the team attract and retain world-class talent. Audi is eighth in the constructors’ standings with 17 points.
Round 15 of 23 — After the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Drivers’ Championship
| Pos | Driver | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | 302 |
| 2 | George Russell | 236 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | 199 |
| 4 | Lando Norris | 186 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | 179 |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | 163 |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | 120 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | 86 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | 59 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | 41 |
| 11 | Arvid Lindblad | 37 |
| 12 | Franco Colapinto | 27 |
| 13 | Oliver Bearman | 20 |
| 14 | Gabriel Bortoleto | 10 |
| 15 | Nico Hulkenberg | 7 |
| 16 | Esteban Ocon | 7 |
| 17 | Carlos Sainz | 7 |
| 18 | Alexander Albon | 5 |
| 19 | Fernando Alonso | 3 |
| 20 | Yuki Tsunoda | 1 |
| 21 | Lance Stroll | 0 |
| 22 | Valtteri Bottas | 0 |
| 23 | Sergio Perez | 0 |
Constructors’ Championship
| Pos | Constructor | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 538 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 378 |
| 3 | McLaren | 306 |
| 4 | Red Bull Racing | 263 |
| 5 | Racing Bulls | 83 |
| 6 | Alpine | 68 |
| 7 | Haas F1 Team | 27 |
| 8 | Audi | 17 |
| 9 | Williams | 12 |
| 10 | Aston Martin | 3 |
| 11 | Cadillac | 0 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency