Alonso Warns Aston Martin Gearbox Could Force Monaco Retirement
Fernando Alonso has warned that Aston Martin may not be able to race in Monaco if the team's gearbox problem recurs. “If you have the downshift problem like we had in Miami, probably we cannot even race, because we will crash in one of the braking points,” Alonso said on Thursday. He described drivers as “passengers” when an unexpected downshift creates a push effect from the engine. Lance Stroll added a second Monaco-specific concern: the car loses gear sync below approximately 40km/h, a recurring problem at the ultra-low-speed Loews Hairpin. Aston Martin and Honda have struggled badly all season, with both power unit and car off the pace.
Sources: The Race, The Race (Monaco Day 1)
Las Vegas Grand Prix Locked In Until 2037 Under New F1 Deal
Formula 1 has confirmed a 10-year extension keeping the Las Vegas Grand Prix on the calendar through 2037. The deal, agreed between F1, Las Vegas Grand Prix Inc., Clark County officials and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, runs from 2028 through 2037. F1 President Stefano Domenicali said Las Vegas “would become a cornerstone of our presence in the United States.” Las Vegas Grand Prix President Emily Prazer called the extension “a defining moment for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.” The race has generated a cumulative economic impact of $3.2 billion for Southern Nevada since its 2023 debut, with all three editions selling out.
Sources: GrandPrix247, Motorsport.com
Teams Deploy Novel Winglets as Monaco Bans Active Aerodynamics
Formula 1 teams have debuted a variety of novel rear wing winglet designs at Monaco after the FIA removed active aerodynamics for the round, deciding the system would offer little benefit and pose safety concerns at the street circuit. With wing actuators made redundant, teams replaced them with fixed winglets designed to generate additional downforce. Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull led with complex multi-element solutions, while Audi, Racing Bulls, Ferrari and Cadillac opted for simpler upper-flap attachments. Aston Martin and Haas chose not to pursue the development. The performance benefit is understood to be only a few hundredths of a second per lap.
Norris and Leclerc Summoned to Stewards Over Late Press Conference Attendance
Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc were summoned before the FIA stewards on Friday after arriving late to the official Thursday press conference in Monaco. The summons cites an “alleged breach of Article B10.1.1a of the FIA F1 regulations — late attendance of the Thursday press conference.” Both drivers were assigned to the first of two media groups at Monaco. The Thursday conference is broadcast live, and Article B10 of the sporting regulations mandates punctual participation. The offence is at the lower end of press conference-related penalties; in 2024, several drivers received fines for using inappropriate language in official sessions.
Sources: Motorsport.com, GPFans
Newey Returns to F1 Paddock at Monaco After Three-Month Absence
Adrian Newey is set to return to the Formula 1 paddock at Monaco, his first trackside appearance since the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March. Aston Martin chief trackside officer Mike Krack confirmed the news on Thursday: “I think we’ll see him this weekend — he has a lot of experience here. Many race wins here, so I think there is certainly one or the other advice that we can get that will bring us forward.” Newey, 67, joined Aston Martin in a managing technical partner role and was expected to attend more races this season, though the team noted he would not be present at every round.
Sources: Crash.net, Motorsport.com
Hamilton Credits “Italian Bono” Relationship for Ferrari Transformation
Lewis Hamilton has credited his working relationship with Ferrari race engineer Carlos Santi for transforming his 2026 season, calling Santi “my Italian Bono” in reference to Peter Bonnington, the Mercedes engineer who guided Hamilton to six of his seven world titles. “The engineer set-up is a million times better than it was last year. I’m starting to see the fruits of that through driving the car,” Hamilton said in Monaco. Hamilton’s debut Ferrari season was hampered by miscommunications with his original engineer Riccardo Adami, culminating in radio silence on the Monaco slowing-down lap. He has also helped develop new Ferrari suspension he believes will suit Monte Carlo.
Sources: The Race
Sainz Reveals Williams’ 2026 Start Was a Test of Faith
Carlos Sainz admitted at Monaco that Williams’s difficult 2026 start tested his faith in the team for the first time. “When you go from scoring podiums at the end of last year to suddenly being two and a half seconds off the pace, that was a big test of faith or a big shock to the system,” he said. Sainz added he was “the first one to say to James [Vowles] and to the management that it was not expected.” He acknowledged the team overdelivered with its 2025 car, raising his expectations, but said Williams’s weight problem would take time to fix within cost-cap constraints.
Sources: The Race
Antonelli and Russell Signal Free Racing as Mercedes Title Fight Intensifies
Kimi Antonelli and George Russell have addressed their intra-team championship battle ahead of Monaco, with both drivers indicating the racing will remain as fierce as it was in Canada. Antonelli told media drivers cannot be “leashed,” while Russell said he has “nothing to lose” and will race accordingly. Antonelli leads the Drivers’ Championship with 131 points, 43 ahead of Russell in second, after four consecutive victories. Russell retired from the lead of the Canadian Grand Prix with a power unit failure, allowing Antonelli to extend his championship advantage. Mercedes has won all five grands prix of the 2026 season heading into Monaco.
Sources: GrandPrix247, Motorsport.com
Drivers' Championship
1. Andrea Kimi Antonelli — 131 pts
2. George Russell — 88 pts
3. Charles Leclerc — 75 pts
4. Lewis Hamilton — 72 pts
5. Lando Norris — 58 pts
6. Oscar Piastri — 48 pts
7. Max Verstappen — 43 pts
8. Pierre Gasly — 20 pts
9. Oliver Bearman — 18 pts
10. Liam Lawson — 16 pts
11. Franco Colapinto — 15 pts
12. Isack Hadjar — 14 pts
13. Carlos Sainz Jr. — 6 pts
14. Arvid Lindblad — 5 pts
15. Gabriel Bortoleto — 2 pts
16. Esteban Ocon — 1 pts
17. Alexander Albon — 1 pts
18. Nico Hülkenberg — 0 pts
19. Valtteri Bottas — 0 pts
20. Sergio Pérez — 0 pts
21. Lance Stroll — 0 pts
22. Fernando Alonso — 0 pts
Constructors' Championship
1. Mercedes — 219 pts
2. Ferrari — 147 pts
3. McLaren — 106 pts
4. Red Bull — 57 pts
5. Alpine — 35 pts
6. Racing Bulls — 21 pts
7. Haas — 19 pts
8. Williams — 7 pts
9. Audi — 2 pts
10. Cadillac — 0 pts
11. Aston Martin — 0 pts
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