Mercedes Identifies Same Battery Component Behind Russell and Antonelli DNFs
Mercedes has confirmed that the battery failures which retired George Russell from the Canadian Grand Prix and Kimi Antonelli from the Barcelona Grand Prix originate in the same component within the power unit. The Silver Arrows are phasing in new battery modules to address the problem, though Russell’s damaged unit is still being shipped back to the UK by sea freight and will take several months to arrive for detailed investigation. Team principal Toto Wolff issued a stark warning after Barcelona, saying Mercedes “can’t compete for a championship if every second race a car loses fat points.”
Sources: RaceFans, Motorsport.com, Sky Sports
Ferrari to Debut First ADUO Engine Upgrade at Austrian Grand Prix
Ferrari is poised to introduce the first of its two ADUO-permitted power unit upgrades at the Austrian Grand Prix on June 28. The team will run an updated version of its 067/6 engine featuring modifications developed in collaboration with Shell’s laboratory in Hamburg. A key change involves raising the intake air temperature limit from 100°C to over 115°C, allowing more efficient fuel combustion and increased power output. The upgrade arrives as Lewis Hamilton sits just 41 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli following his maiden Ferrari victory at the Barcelona Grand Prix.
ADUO: Red Bull Rated as FIA Benchmark Engine Despite Rivals Dominating Races
The FIA’s ADUO power unit rankings have placed Red Bull Powertrains as the benchmark engine in Formula 1, meaning Red Bull receives no additional development tokens this season. Mercedes, which won six of the opening seven grands prix, gets one engine upgrade; Ferrari, Honda and Audi receive two each. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed the team was “surprised,” noting that ADUO rankings measure only internal combustion engine performance, excluding the electrical element that accounts for nearly half of total 2026 power output. The FIA is now reviewing the methodology following Red Bull’s formal challenge to the ranking.
Sources: Sky Sports, Motorsport.com
McLaren and Red Bull Formally Appeal Gasly’s Monaco Reinstatement to FIA Court
McLaren and Red Bull have formally lodged appeals with the FIA International Court of Appeal against the decision to reinstate Pierre Gasly to third in the Monaco Grand Prix. Gasly had originally been penalised for pit lane speeding before Alpine’s right-of-review succeeded when FOM admitted a measurement error caused pit lane speeds to be over-reported. McLaren stated the case raises “important questions concerning sporting fairness, regulatory consistency and the integrity of competition.” Mercedes, which had also considered an appeal, subsequently withdrew its challenge. McLaren and Red Bull pursuing the ICA route is highly unusual, with very few precedents in the sport’s modern history.
Sources: Motorsport.com, The Race, Speedcafe
Red Bull Brings Second Major Upgrade Package to Austrian Grand Prix
Red Bull will bring its second major aerodynamic upgrade of the 2026 season to the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring. Team principal Laurent Mekies, while confirming the team has been working hard on the package, cautioned that it alone will not close the gap to the front runners. “There is no doubt that the Austrian package alone will not be enough,” Mekies said. Max Verstappen sits seventh in the Drivers’ Championship with 55 points, 101 adrift of leader Kimi Antonelli. Red Bull has indicated further development steps will be needed beyond Austria to return to genuine race victory contention.
Sources: Motorsport.com, Crash.net
Honda States Aston Martin’s 2026 Results Have “Failed Expectations”
Honda has issued a statement acknowledging that Aston Martin’s 2026 Formula 1 results have “failed expectations,” with the partnership having scored only one point from the opening seven rounds. Honda Racing president Koji Watanabe visited Aston Martin’s UK base as the two parties assessed a season hampered by power unit reliability and vibration problems. Neither Fernando Alonso nor Lance Stroll reached the finish at the Barcelona Grand Prix. The Honda power unit’s vibration characteristics proved more damaging once integrated into Adrian Newey’s Aston Martin chassis than had been anticipated during development.
Sources: GPFans
Jak Crawford to Replace Lance Stroll in Austrian GP FP1
Aston Martin has confirmed that reserve driver Jak Crawford will take the wheel of Lance Stroll’s car for the first free practice session at the Austrian Grand Prix, with Stroll returning from FP2 onwards. The substitution counts towards Aston Martin’s regulatory requirement to field a young driver in at least four free practice sessions during the 2026 season. Crawford is part of Aston Martin’s junior driver programme. The Red Bull Ring FP1 session is scheduled for Friday June 27. Stroll has not scored a championship point in 2026, while the team has accumulated just one point across seven races.
Carlos Sainz Proposes Radical New Season Format to Separate Driver and Constructor Titles
Williams driver Carlos Sainz has unveiled a proposal for a radical overhaul of the Formula 1 season format that would fully separate the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. Sainz envisions a 20-race calendar in which each driver runs two races with every competing manufacturer’s car, requiring all drivers to use each team’s machinery during the season. The concept, which Sainz says arose from discussions about the challenges of the 2026 technical regulations, is designed to allow championships to be won on driver talent rather than car performance alone. The idea is considered highly unlikely to be implemented in any near-term regulatory discussions.
Sources: GPFans
Drivers' Championship
1. Kimi Antonelli — 156 pts
2. Lewis Hamilton — 115 pts
3. George Russell — 106 pts
4. Charles Leclerc — 75 pts
5. Lando Norris — 73 pts
6. Oscar Piastri — 68 pts
7. Max Verstappen — 55 pts
8. Pierre Gasly — 41 pts
9. Isack Hadjar — 34 pts
10. Liam Lawson — 28 pts
11. Oliver Bearman — 18 pts
12. Franco Colapinto — 16 pts
13. Arvid Lindblad — 13 pts
14. Carlos Sainz — 6 pts
15. Alexander Albon — 5 pts
16. Esteban Ocon — 3 pts
17. Gabriel Bortoleto — 2 pts
18. Fernando Alonso — 1 pt
19. Nico Hülkenberg — 0 pts
20. Valtteri Bottas — 0 pts
21. Sergio Pérez — 0 pts
22. Lance Stroll — 0 pts
Constructors' Championship
1. Mercedes — 262 pts
2. Ferrari — 190 pts
3. McLaren — 141 pts
4. Red Bull — 89 pts
5. Alpine — 57 pts
6. Racing Bulls — 41 pts
7. Haas — 21 pts
8. Williams — 11 pts
9. Audi — 2 pts
10. Aston Martin — 1 pt
11. Cadillac — 0 pts
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