Verstappen's Team Leads Dominant Mercedes 1-2 at Nürburgring 24 Hours
Max Verstappen's debut at the Nürburgring 24 Hours is going to plan, with his No. 3 Team Verstappen Mercedes-AMG GT3 leading a dominant 1-2 for the marque as the race enters its final hours on Sunday. Verstappen, sharing the car with Jules Gounon, Daniel Juncadella, and Lucas Auer, survived an early scare in his opening stint before pulling clear and building a 14-second cushion over the sister No. 80 Winward Mercedes. After 18 hours of racing, the Red Bull-liveried car remained out front, with the team holding a composed advantage. The race, which attracted record crowds and media attention because of Verstappen's involvement, concludes Sunday afternoon at the Nordschleife.
Sources: Crash.net, Crash.net (18h update)
Honda Posts First Annual Loss in 70 Years; F1 Programme With Aston Martin Unaffected
Honda has reported an annual net loss of 423 billion yen ($2.68 billion) for the financial year ended March 2026, its first since listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1957. The result is attributed to insufficient returns on EV investment, compounded by the Trump administration's removal of a $7,500 US consumer EV tax credit in September 2025. Honda confirmed the figures will not affect Honda Racing Corporation or its Formula 1 power unit programme with Aston Martin. The news adds context to paddock discussions about V8 engines returning by 2030, with Honda and Audi having been the strongest electrification advocates when the 2026 power unit regulations were written.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Russell Criticised Over 'Entitled' Claim That He Would Have Won Two Championships
George Russell is facing criticism after 2025 comments resurfaced in which the Mercedes driver claimed he would have won multiple world championships had he joined Formula 1 five years earlier. Broadcaster Will Buxton responded on his podcast, questioning the logic and pointing out that had Russell arrived in 2014, he would have landed only a Caterham seat and would not have beaten Hamilton or Rosberg at Mercedes. Co-host Naomi Schiff agreed the comments were likely to come back to bite him. Russell currently sits second in the 2026 drivers' championship, 20 points behind team-mate Kimi Antonelli following three consecutive Antonelli victories.
Sainz Becomes First F1 Driver to Lap New Madrid Madring Circuit Ahead of September Debut
Carlos Sainz became the first Formula 1 driver to complete a lap of the new Madring circuit in Madrid on Friday, testing the 5.4 km, 22-turn hybrid street and purpose-built venue ahead of its September debut. Serving as a circuit ambassador, Sainz described the layout as faster than expected, particularly the open high-speed section at the rear of the lap. He highlighted strong overtaking potential given two main straights and mixed surface types, noting battery energy management will be decisive at each braking zone. The circuit must pass FIA homologation by May 30, with construction involving 700,000 square metres of earthworks around IFEMA's fairgrounds and Real Madrid's Valdebebas training complex.
Sources: Crash.net, Motorsport.com
Former F1 Driver Timo Glock Disqualified and Loses Racing Licence After Nürburgring Speed Zone Breach
Former Toyota and Virgin Formula 1 driver Timo Glock has been disqualified from the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours and had his racing licence revoked after being clocked at 112 kph through a 60 kph slow zone overnight. Glock was at the wheel of the No. 69 Benetton-liveried McLaren 720S-GT3 when the breach was detected shortly before midnight. Stewards determined the offence warranted immediate disqualification and a general withdrawal of Glock's DPN licence, compounded by existing penalty points from the earlier 24h Qualifiers event. The car continues in the race under co-drivers Ben Dorr, Timo Scheider, and Marvin Kirchhofer.
Mercedes Customer Racing Chief: 'Never Seen Anything Like' Verstappen's Nürburgring Adaptation
Mercedes customer racing chief Michael Scheidt has described Max Verstappen's adaptation to the Nürburgring 24 Hours as unlike anything he has witnessed in endurance motorsport. Scheidt told media that Verstappen's ability to immediately read conditions, manage traffic, and extract pace during night stints on the notoriously demanding Nordschleife was extraordinary for a first-time competitor. Verstappen himself acknowledged managing a difficult compromise between avoiding trouble and pushing hard on the limit. The four-time world champion's arrival also drove record attendance and media interest at the event, with the 2026 edition a complete sell-out for the first time.
Sources: Crash.net
Drivers' Championship
1. Kimi Antonelli — 100 pts
2. George Russell — 80 pts
3. Charles Leclerc — 59 pts
4. Lando Norris — 51 pts
5. Lewis Hamilton — 51 pts
6. Oscar Piastri — 43 pts
7. Max Verstappen — 26 pts
8. Oliver Bearman — 17 pts
9. Pierre Gasly — 16 pts
10. Liam Lawson — 10 pts
11. Franco Colapinto — 7 pts
12. Arvid Lindblad — 4 pts
13. Isack Hadjar — 4 pts
14. Carlos Sainz — 4 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. Fernando Alonso — 0 pts
22. Lance Stroll — 0 pts
Constructors' Championship
1. Mercedes — 180 pts
2. Ferrari — 110 pts
3. McLaren — 94 pts
4. Red Bull Racing — 30 pts
5. Alpine — 23 pts
6. Haas F1 Team — 18 pts
7. Racing Bulls — 14 pts
8. Williams — 5 pts
9. Audi — 2 pts
10. Cadillac — 0 pts
11. Aston Martin — 0 pts