Samwise F1 Newsletter
Friday, October 9, 2026
Russell Reverts to Pre-Upgrade Mercedes for Singapore Sprint Weekend
George Russell will run Mercedes’ older aerodynamic specification at this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, while team-mate Kimi Antonelli keeps the upgrade package introduced in Malaysia. Russell said he “instigated the conversation” before last Sunday’s race and called the switch “a total no-brainer” after his retirement there. He must take a grid penalty in Singapore for new power unit components, and will face another before the season ends because Mercedes’ planned ADUO 2 upgrade was not ready in time. Mercedes needs answers on the upgrade to inform important 2027 car decisions. Russell sits 84 points behind Antonelli with seven races to go.
FIA Readies Wet-Weather Software Fix After Sepang Start Chaos
The FIA will introduce new wet-weather engine software for the United States Grand Prix on October 25, after the aborted start at last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Several cars lost power on the formation lap because they were running very low engine RPM in sections where a 250kW MGU-K power reduction also applied, delaying the start by a further 45 minutes. An FIA investigation concluded there was “a loss of power beyond the original intent.” If it rains in Singapore this weekend, the interim patch produced at Sepang will be used again. Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s F1 lead, called that patch “a rushed job” but “very competent.”
Drivers Split Over Cooling Vests as FIA Declares Singapore Heat Hazard
The FIA has declared a heat hazard for the Singapore Grand Prix, triggered by estimated temperatures above 31°C, the fourth such weekend this year. Teams may fit devices that pump liquid through a cooling vest, but most drivers will not use them. George Russell said he would wear one “every weekend” but Mercedes has not been able to commit the resources to develop an efficient version for its 2026 car. Kimi Antonelli said a pump failure in Austin left him with heat stroke. Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon praised Williams’ system, while Isack Hadjar said vests “should be banned” and Max Verstappen said “I don’t need it.”
Hamilton Says Ferrari Held ‘Huge Discussion’ After Sepang Tyre Error
Lewis Hamilton said Ferrari held “a huge discussion” after starting both its cars on slick tyres on a wet track at last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, a call he said “wasn’t good enough.” Hamilton fell from second on the grid to almost the back of the field before recovering to finish third, and now trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 106 points. He defended Ferrari’s strategists, saying the decision was made collectively by team principal Fred Vasseur, head of track engineering Matteo Togninalli, himself and his engineer. He noted McLaren made the same call. Of Singapore, Hamilton said: “We’re here to attack.”
Sources: Sky Sports
Piastri Says Red Bull Has Joined Mercedes as ‘Class of the Field’
Oscar Piastri believes Red Bull has joined Mercedes at the front of Formula 1 following the upgrade it brought to the RB22 in Azerbaijan. Speaking at Marina Bay, the McLaren driver said “whatever Red Bull put on their car in Baku clearly was big,” adding that Max Verstappen was “definitely the quickest car and driver combination” in Malaysia. Red Bull’s package included updated sidepods and improvements to floor geometry and flow conditioning. Piastri kept McLaren’s Singapore expectations modest, noting that slow corners and street circuits have not been the team’s strongest points this year. He is seeking his first podium since the Miami Grand Prix in May.
Norris Hopeful McLaren Has Fixed His Straight-Line Speed Problem
Lando Norris says he is “hopeful” McLaren has fixed a straight-line speed issue that cost him between one and two tenths of a second to team-mate Oscar Piastri across the Baku and Sepang weekends. The exact cause has not been revealed, though it was indicated as some kind of fuel injection issue in Baku. Norris said the problem cost him two or three positions in each of the last two qualifying sessions. “Need to get on track first and see how much better it is,” he said, noting straights are less of a priority in Singapore. He said he was “confident that the team have done a good job.”
Ocon Rules Out Racing Outside F1 in 2027 After Losing Haas Seat
Esteban Ocon says he will not race in another series next year after losing his Haas seat for 2027. Speaking ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, the Frenchman said Formula 1 is “where I deserve to be” and that he wants to race in the championship for the next five to seven years. Asked by Sky Sports’ David Croft whether that meant no racing outside F1 next year, Ocon answered: “No.” He said he would take a third driver role if no race seat is available. Ocon said he is “still discussing” his future and believes he has made more than 100 overtakes this season.
Lawson Aims to Build on Sepang Points Finish in Singapore
Liam Lawson hopes to carry momentum from last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, where he finished seventh after gaining seven positions in wet conditions. The Racing Bulls driver said his strong getaway came from having no wheelspin “on the initial drop” and credited the team for making the correct tyre decision. Lawson, who recently returned to Racing Bulls after a three-race stint with Red Bull, said the two cars differ in “pretty much everything” other than the power unit, adding that combining them would make “a pretty fast race car.” He scored his maiden F1 points in Singapore in 2023 and called Marina Bay “just a sick track.”
Williams Sues Former Garage Director Over Missing FW23
Williams has launched proceedings at London’s High Court against Peter Thorpe, a former director of Autotech Performance Ltd, seeking the return of an FW23 from its 2001 collection. The car was loaned to the business in 2015 for display and disappeared from its Telford garage after the company closed and entered liquidation in 2021. Williams alleges Thorpe improperly claimed ownership of the car; Thorpe denies ever claiming ownership and says he does not know where it is. Williams values the car at £750,000 and is seeking its return or compensation exceeding £1 million. The FW23 was raced by Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya.
Standings ahead of Round 17 — 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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Curated by JD · samwise.agency