Vasseur to Hamilton and Leclerc: “You Must Behave Correctly”
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has issued a direct message to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc: the team comes first as the 2026 title race enters its crucial second phase. Speaking to AutoHebdo, Vasseur said both drivers must “respect the team” and “behave correctly” even as they push each other for every point. Hamilton sits second in the standings, 50 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, while Leclerc is fourth, 81 points back. Despite the competitive dynamic, Vasseur praised the collaborative approach at Ferrari, saying: “I see them working together and pushing each other to deliver better performances. As a result, we are also making progress.”
Honda Reveals Spec 2 Engine Secrets for Zandvoort
Honda has confirmed a Spec 2 power unit for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, signalling a significant step forward in F1 performance. Enrico Cardile revealed modifications to the pre-combustion chamber, piston shape, and lubrication system, all aimed at increasing power output. The revised layout also required new exhaust routing inside the Aston Martin chassis to accommodate the changes. Honda says the upgrade represents a significant step forward in power unit performance. The package makes its race debut August 21–23 at Zandvoort, giving Honda-powered teams a potential advantage as the second half of the season resumes.
Gary Anderson: F1 Needs a Traffic Light System
Veteran F1 engineer Gary Anderson has proposed a colour-coded light system for Formula 1 cars to improve both power-mode communication and safety messaging. Writing for The Race, Anderson argues F1 constantly reinvents the wheel when simpler solutions already exist. His proposal: green lights for normal racing power, yellow when running on the internal combustion engine only, red when the car has no propulsion at all, and blue when a car is being lapped. Anderson cites the Antonelli yellow-flag penalty and George Russell’s near-miss in Austria as examples where clearer real-time signalling could have prevented confusion. Pirelli recently proposed a related rule change that was rejected by teams.
Domenicali: “My Opinion Is Max Will Stay With Us”
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says he expects Max Verstappen to remain in the sport, telling select media: “My opinion is that Max will stay with us. And I really hope so.” Verstappen has repeatedly threatened to quit over what he calls superclipping and yoyo racing. Domenicali confirmed the championship has an incredible relationship with the world champion and said feedback on the 2027 car concept is going in the right direction. McLaren and Mercedes have already effectively closed the door on signing Verstappen for the immediate future, leaving him at Red Bull.
Steiner Open to F1 Return “For the Right Project”
Gunther Steiner, who departed Haas at the start of 2024 when Gene Haas chose not to renew his contract, says he remains open to returning to Formula 1. Speaking on the Up to Speed Podcast, Steiner said: “Yeah. I will come back if there is a project I like.” He acquired the Red Bull KTM Tech 3 outfit from Hervé Poncharal and continues to monitor opportunities on the grid. “It needs to be something which really challenges me,” Steiner added, leaving the door open without committing to any specific vacancy.
Norris: Paparazzi Leaving Him “Feeling Violated”
Lando Norris says intrusive paparazzi behaviour has left him feeling violated after photographers followed him for forty minutes through London. Norris said it was the first time where I started to feel a bit more violated, after being photographed meeting Alix Earle at The Twenty Two private members club. “I won’t accept people following me. That is just odd,” he said. The McLaren driver’s comments come during the summer shutdown, as several F1 figures have spoken out about the invasion of privacy that accompanies growing mainstream fame in the sport.
Colapinto Robbed Near Lake Como in Italy
Franco Colapinto was robbed near Lake Como in Italy during the Formula 1 summer shutdown, losing suitcases, clothes, and his mate kit. The Alpine driver posted on social media: “I hope whoever took it all enjoys it,” before deleting a second post referencing the theft. Colapinto joins a growing list of F1 drivers targeted by thieves in Italy, including Norris in 2023 and both Leclerc and Sainz during the 2022–23 seasons. Despite the off-track incident, Colapinto won overtake of the month at the Belgian Grand Prix with a double-pass on Pierre Gasly and Liam Lawson.
Maya Weug Opens Up: “This Has Been the Toughest Year of My Career”
Maya Weug, 2024 F1 Academy runner-up and Ferrari Academy graduate, has opened up about the toughest season of her racing career. In a candid post during the F1 summer break, Weug wrote: “I’ve been trying to show you the positives all season, but the truth is this has been the toughest year of my career by far.” A planned programme fell apart “for reasons out of my control,” leaving her without a full-time seat. She has competed in three Belcar races, reaching the podium in her GT debut with ART Racing. Weug is now mentoring Ferrari F1 Academy representative Alba Larsen while searching for a path back to the grid.
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. Liam Lawson — 43 pts
10. Pierre Gasly — 42 pts
11. Oliver Lindblad — 23 pts
12. Franco Colapinto — 19 pts
13. Oliver Bearman — 18 pts
14. Gabriel Bortoleto — 10 pts
15. Carlos Sainz — 6 pts
16. Alexander Albon — 5 pts
17. Esteban Ocon — 3 pts
18. Nico Hülkenberg — 2 pts
19. Fernando Alonso — 1 pts
20. Sergio Pérez — 0 pts
21. Valtteri Bottas — 0 pts
22. Lance Stroll — 0 pts
Constructors' Championship
1. Mercedes — 379 pts
2. Ferrari — 307 pts
3. McLaren — 220 pts
4. Red Bull — 177 pts
5. Racing Bulls — 66 pts
6. Alpine — 61 pts
7. Haas — 21 pts
8. Audi — 12 pts
9. Williams — 11 pts
10. Aston Martin — 1 pts
11. Cadillac — 0 pts
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