Samwise F1 Newsletter
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Russell to Start Singapore Grand Prix From Back of the Grid
Mercedes has confirmed George Russell will take a grid penalty at this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix after an unavoidable engine change. Russell suffered a power unit failure on the closing laps of the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang while on course for a podium, his third non-scoring round of the season. The replacement takes him over his season allocation, and Mercedes says he will start Sunday’s race from the back. The penalty does not apply to Saturday’s Sprint. Team Principal Toto Wolff called it “particularly frustrating.” Russell trails team mate Kimi Antonelli by 84 points with seven scheduled races remaining.
Sources: Formula1.com, Crash.net
Mercedes to Run Old and New Aero Packages in Singapore
Mercedes will run a back-to-back comparison of its old and new aerodynamic packages at the Singapore Grand Prix after its long-awaited W17 upgrade failed to deliver the expected step in Malaysia. Toto Wolff admitted the team’s qualifying performance at Sepang was “very difficult to understand” and that the package did not bring the expected 0.3 improvement. “We have identified several areas we need to investigate further, but F1 doesn’t offer simple answers,” Wolff said. He added that Marina Bay’s very different characteristics will help the team build a clearer picture of where it stands and the direction it needs to take.
Verstappen Calls Singapore ‘Unfinished Business’ After Sepang Win
Max Verstappen arrives in Singapore after converting pole into victory at Sepang, the first Formula 1 win for Red Bull Ford Powertrains just 16 races into its debut season. Verstappen called it “a hugely proud moment for the Team” but cautioned that “the win was quite track specific.” Singapore remains a race he has never won. “It does feel like unfinished business at this track,” he said. Team mate Isack Hadjar said Malaysia did not work out as he hoped but called Singapore one of his favourite tracks. Technical director Ben Hodgkinson described the Sepang result as validation of the belief and hard work behind the programme.
Sources: GRANDPRIX247
FIA Declares Singapore a Heat Hazard Race as Mercedes Skips Cooling Vests
The FIA has declared this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix a heat hazard race, with temperatures forecast to reach 33 degrees. The ruling lets drivers wear cooling vests, with cars carrying extra ballast if they opt out. Mercedes will not use the vests. Deputy team principal Bradley Lord said a small FIA cost cap allowance was not “sufficient for us to be able to develop a solution that would be robust enough to last for the entire race.” The FIA offered $50,000 for a full-race system and $75,000 more for solving comfort issues. Lord said cockpit cooling is now “in a much better place.”
Williams Pushes Cost Cap Catch-Up Mechanism for 2027
Williams boss James Vowles wants a sliding-scale catch-up system added to the cost cap for 2027, allowing teams outside the top four to spend more. The Race reports the idea will be raised at the F1 Commission meeting in November. Vowles argues legacy advantages have created a “two-tiered” F1. Changes for 2027 need support from the FIA, FOM and six of the 11 teams. Audi, Aston Martin, Alpine and Cadillac have indicated broad support, while Haas is reportedly against, leaving Vowles one vote short. Racing Bulls may prove decisive. A 2028 change would need only four teams.
Alonso Calls Sepang Grid Reset ‘100%’ Unfair
Fernando Alonso says Formula 1’s decision to reset the starting order at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia was “100%” unfair. Several cars, including Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari, crawled on the formation lap before F1 abandoned the start. The original grid was restored when the race got underway after a further 40-minute delay while the FIA diagnosed a “software bug” with the 2026 power units. Alonso, who would have started 11th without the reset, argued the stricken cars should simply have been retired, as happens in many races. “I suppose they’ll explain it to us in Singapore,” he said. Alonso finished eighth, Aston Martin’s best result of 2026.
Hamilton Urges Ferrari to Close Power Unit Deficit for 2027
Lewis Hamilton has urged Ferrari to improve its power unit performance over the winter if it wants to fight for titles in 2027. “We know we’re down on power, and that’s something that we just live with. We have to catch up for next year,” he told Sky Sports F1, while praising the car built by the factory. Hamilton trailed championship leader Kimi Antonelli by only 32 points after the British Grand Prix, but the gap has grown to 106 points. He hopes Ferrari’s third and fourth places in Malaysia will quieten “negative chatter” around team principal Fred Vasseur’s future.
Brown Optimistic Lambiase Will Join McLaren in 2027
McLaren CEO Zak Brown says he is “optimistic” that Gianpiero Lambiase could join the team at some point next year, potentially earlier than the 2028 date in official statements. McLaren announced earlier this year that Max Verstappen’s long-time engineer will become its chief racing officer, reporting to team principal Andrea Stella. Both teams had said Lambiase would leave Red Bull when his contract expires, no later than 2028. “I’m optimistic we’ll see him in papaya at some point next year,” Brown told Sky Sports F1. Red Bull has lined up Tom Hart as Verstappen’s race engineer and Tom McCullough as head of racing.
McLaren Concede Marina Bay May Not Suit the MCL40
McLaren expect a difficult Singapore Grand Prix after two disappointing races. Neil Houldey, technical director of applied engineering, said: “Our car may not be as well suited to the slow, 90-degree corners we see at Marina Bay,” while noting the competitive order has varied from track to track. He admitted McLaren did not “fully maximize” the car at the last two events. With only one practice session on a Sprint weekend, Houldey said pre-event preparation carries even greater importance, and cooling for engine, gearbox, brakes and driver will be critical. “We want to win both races and know we have a quick car,” he said.
Sources: GRANDPRIX247
South Africa Responds to Reported Rwanda 2030 Grand Prix
South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has responded to reports that Rwanda will host a Formula 1 race in 2030. “We are happy for Rwanda’s 2030 F1. They have worked on it longer than SA and deserve it,” McKenzie wrote on X, adding: “SA will get F1, even before 2030.” He pointed out that Italy has previously hosted two races a year. South Africa last held a grand prix at Kyalami in 1993, and a hoped-for 2027 return was ruled out. Blue Mountain Racing has also unveiled plans for a new Western Cape circuit targeting F1 by 2031.
Marko Rejects Horner’s Claim Over Verstappen Signing
Helmut Marko has hit back at former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, whose autobiography Drive, due out on 22 October, claims Marko did not want Max Verstappen in the team. Marko, who left Red Bull at the end of 2025, said he was ignoring it “as much as possible” and said Ralf Schumacher handled it well after calling Horner’s claim an “absolute lie.” Marko instead alleged Horner doubted promoting Verstappen four races into 2016. “I brought Max into Formula 1 and had to stand my ground against Horner at his first race for Red Bull in Barcelona,” he told OE24. Verstappen won that 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.
Round 16 — After the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
Drivers’ Championship
| Pos | Driver | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | 320 |
| 2 | George Russell | 236 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | 214 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | 191 |
| 5 | Lando Norris | 188 |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | 188 |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | 128 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | 96 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | 65 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | 41 |
| 11 | Arvid Lindblad | 38 |
| 12 | Franco Colapinto | 27 |
| 13 | Oliver Bearman | 20 |
| 14 | Gabriel Bortoleto | 10 |
| 15 | Nico Hulkenberg | 7 |
| 16 | Esteban Ocon | 7 |
| 17 | Fernando Alonso | 7 |
| 18 | Carlos Sainz | 7 |
| 19 | Alexander Albon | 5 |
| 20 | Yuki Tsunoda | 1 |
| 21 | Lance Stroll | 0 |
| 22 | Valtteri Bottas | 0 |
| 23 | Sergio Perez | 0 |
Constructors’ Championship
| Pos | Constructor | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 556 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 405 |
| 3 | McLaren | 316 |
| 4 | Red Bull Racing | 298 |
| 5 | Racing Bulls | 90 |
| 6 | Alpine | 68 |
| 7 | Haas F1 Team | 27 |
| 8 | Audi | 17 |
| 9 | Williams | 12 |
| 10 | Aston Martin | 7 |
| 11 | Cadillac | 0 |
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