Ferrari ADUO power unit upgrade for Monza set to add 15 horsepower
Ferrari will introduce a second ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunity) power unit upgrade at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The upgrade is expected to add approximately 15 horsepower — double the gain from the team’s first ADUO in Austria — and is worth around two tenths of a second per lap on Monza’s high-speed circuit. Lewis Hamilton described Ferrari as being “three or four tenths” down on Mercedes in straight-line pace and power. Both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are expected to take the new specification as part of Ferrari’s push to overhaul Mercedes in the second half of the season.
Cadillac sacks Lowdon and appoints Budkowski as team principal
Cadillac has replaced team principal Graeme Lowdon with Marcin Budkowski during the F1 summer break, with Budkowski assuming the public-facing role from the Dutch Grand Prix. Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss confirmed the decision was not mutual: Lowdon was informed of the change hours before the team’s official statement was released. Budkowski, 49, spent 25 years in Formula 1 as an aerodynamicist at Prost, Ferrari, and McLaren and as head of the FIA’s F1 technical department before joining Alpine as executive director. Lowdon had been central to the team’s establishment from the ground up. Cadillac, the eleventh constructor in 2026, has not yet scored a championship point.
FIA lifts Russia and Belarus motorsport ban without explanation
The FIA has lifted the restrictions it imposed on Russian and Belarusian competitors following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, offering no public explanation for the reversal. The decision was published on the FIA website on August 13 and came into force ten days earlier on August 3. Under the new policy, Russian and Belarusian drivers, officials, national teams, and individual competitors may take part in international events without restriction, and national symbols, colours, flags, and anthems are once again permitted at competitions. No international event may be held on Russian or Belarusian territory. The FIA did not release a statement explaining its rationale for lifting the ban.
Verstappen exit clause now active with October deadline for Red Bull
Max Verstappen’s performance-based exit clause at Red Bull has been formally activated after the four-time champion stood sixth in the drivers’ championship at the summer break, triggering a condition in his contract. The clause gives Verstappen the option to leave Red Bull before his agreement expires in 2028, and he faces an October deadline to reach a decision. Red Bull have offered a revised contract to remove the exit clause, but Verstappen had not accepted it at the time of reporting. He has been linked with moves to Mercedes and McLaren, and his future is expected to be clarified at his home Dutch Grand Prix beginning August 21.
Ferrari boss Vasseur warns Hamilton and Leclerc over behaviour
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has issued a warning to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc over their conduct as the championship battle intensifies heading into the second half of 2026. After eleven rounds, Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers’ standings with 219 points, 50 ahead of Hamilton in second and 81 ahead of Leclerc in fourth. Vasseur said he sees the drivers “working together and pushing each other to deliver better performances.” Italian media have reported that Vasseur has imposed a title-talk ban inside the team to reduce internal friction. Hamilton is pursuing a record eighth world title; Leclerc seeks a maiden championship.
FIA penalty points expire for Leclerc and Gasly during summer break
Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly have had FIA penalty points removed from their licences following expiration during the 2026 F1 summer break. Leclerc’s one point was issued for defending erratically against George Russell at the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix, while Gasly’s two points were awarded for causing a collision with Carlos Sainz at the same race. Both sets of points reached the mandatory 12-month expiry threshold during the shutdown period. Neither driver was at risk of an automatic race ban, which requires accumulating twelve points within a 12-month window. Leclerc and Gasly resume racing at the Dutch Grand Prix, beginning August 21 at Zandvoort.
Cadillac co-owner Mark Walter sells LA Lakers for $12.5 billion
Mark Walter, a co-owner of the Cadillac F1 team through the TWG motorsport group, has sold the Los Angeles Lakers NBA franchise for $12.5 billion — approximately $2.5 billion more than the $10 billion he is reported to have paid for the franchise in October 2025. The sale to Josh Kushner and former Disney chief Bob Iger was reportedly made to raise liquidity amid scrutiny of Walter’s broader business interests. Walter’s TWG group also replaced Cadillac’s F1 team principal during the summer break this week. The Lakers sale represents one of the highest valuations ever placed on a North American sports franchise.
Hamilton targets record eighth title as Ferrari plan Monza power gains
Lewis Hamilton has expressed confidence in Ferrari’s ability to challenge Kimi Antonelli for the 2026 world championship, sitting 50 points behind the leader after eleven rounds. Hamilton described the gap to Mercedes as “three or four tenths” in straight-line pace and power during the first half of the season, but said the team is “pushing hard” to address the deficit. Ferrari secured the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona with Hamilton taking the win, but Mercedes dominated the first six rounds of the year. Ferrari are set to introduce a second power unit upgrade at Monza alongside additional aerodynamic developments as Hamilton chases a record eighth world title.
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. Ollie 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. Lance Stroll — 0 pts
21. Valtteri Bottas — 0 pts
22. Sergio Pérez — 0 pts
After Hungarian GP — Rd 11 of 23
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
After Hungarian GP — Rd 11 of 23
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