Verstappen exit clause is now active — a ticking timebomb for Red Bull
Verstappen's contract clause allowing him to exit Red Bull has been activated after he entered the F1 summer break outside the top two in the championship standings. The four-time world champion is currently sixth, 110 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, triggering a performance-based exit clause in his deal. Verstappen has until October to decide on his future. Red Bull has offered a new contract, including removal of the clause. Mercedes and McLaren have both been linked as potential destinations, while a sabbatical from racing has also been reported as a possibility.
Red Bull set to land McCullough as Lambiase replacement after Aston Martin exit
Red Bull are targeting Tom McCullough as their new Head of Race Engineering, according to German newspaper Bild. McCullough is set to leave Aston Martin at the end of the 2026 season and Bild reports Red Bull have moved to secure his services. The news comes as Red Bull seek to fill the vacancy left by Gianpiero Lambiase, who has confirmed he will move to McLaren as Head of Race Engineering — a departure expected to take effect no later than 2028. McCullough previously served as a race engineer at Williams earlier in his career.
F1 president: German Grand Prix return will 'definitely happen'
F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali has stated that a German Grand Prix will return to the Formula 1 calendar, declaring the event will "definitely happen." Domenicali made the comments during Liberty Media's second-quarter 2026 earnings call. Germany has not hosted a Formula 1 race since 2019. Hockenheimring has already initiated contact with Formula 1 about a potential return. Domenicali cited the presence of Audi and Mercedes as works teams, and Germany's growing market relevance, as factors behind the decision. He cautioned that the return "will not be a short-term call."
Hulkenberg sets three conditions for continued Audi future
Nico Hulkenberg says he is happy to continue racing at Audi for the foreseeable future, provided three key conditions are met. Hulkenberg told German newspaper Bild: "As long as I'm having fun, the stopwatch is accurate, and the team wants me, I'll drive for Audi." When asked whether he could still be at the team in 2030 — Audi's stated target year for a world championship challenge — Hulkenberg replied: "Never say never. But it's far too early to think about that. I'm living in the here and now, taking it year by year." His current contract expires at the end of 2026.
Norris' brother builds £30k simulator for title rival Antonelli
Oliver Norris, the older brother of Formula 1 champion Lando Norris, has built and delivered a custom racing simulator for championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Oliver founded the Cool Performance simulator company in 2013 and has supplied rigs to multiple racing drivers. A video posted to the company's YouTube channel shows the bespoke build for Antonelli, which includes custom carbon fibre components and took around three months to develop. The Formula Pro model starts at €36,250 before custom options. Antonelli said he plans to use it to play iRacing with friends and to prepare for race weekends.
Colapinto reports theft during Formula 1 summer break
Alpine driver Franco Colapinto has reported that items were stolen from him during the Formula 1 summer break. The Argentine posted on Instagram this week, showing photos of clothing and personal items, with a caption indicating they had been taken. His original message read: "Last photos of these clothes, mate etc etc I hope the Italians who took it for themselves enjoy it!!" Colapinto later updated the caption, removing the specific reference to Italians. A since-deleted Instagram story, as reported by Argentine outlet Diario La Capital, also referenced the incident. Further details including the exact location remain unconfirmed.
Drivers' Championship
1. Kimi Antonelli — 219 pts
2. Lewis Hamilton — 169 pts
3. George Russell — 160 pts
4. Charles Leclerc — 138 pts
5. Lando Norris — 128 pts
6. Max Verstappen — 109 pts
7. Oscar Piastri — 92 pts
8. Isack Hadjar — 68 pts
9. Pierre Gasly — 42 pts
10. Liam Lawson — 39 pts
11. Arvid Lindblad — 27 pts
12. Franco Colapinto — 19 pts
13. Oliver Bearman — 18 pts
14. Gabriel Bortoleto — 12 pts
15. Carlos Sainz — 6 pts
16. Alexander Albon — 5 pts
17. Esteban Ocon — 3 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 — 379 pts
2. Ferrari — 307 pts
3. McLaren Mastercard — 220 pts
4. Red Bull Racing — 177 pts
5. Racing Bulls — 66 pts
6. Alpine — 61 pts
7. Haas — 21 pts
8. Audi Revolut — 12 pts
9. Williams — 11 pts
10. Aston Martin — 1 pt
11. Cadillac — 0 pts
Every newsletter preserved and searchable
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.