Ferrari ADUO Engine Decision Due This Week Ahead of Monza
Ferrari is expected to confirm this week whether it will introduce its second Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities engine package at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The Scuderia has assembled two updated power units for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, and must finalize the parts list heading to the circuit by the end of the week. The second ADUO upgrade is expected to add approximately 15 horsepower — roughly double the gain from the team’s first ADUO token — worth an estimated two tenths of a second per lap at the high-speed Monza circuit. Ferrari received two ADUO upgrade tokens this season.
Ferrari to Race Special Schumacher Tribute Livery at Monza
Ferrari has confirmed that Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will race in a special livery dedicated to Michael Schumacher at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Drawing inspiration from Schumacher’s 1996 Ferrari F310, the design features red and black accents with gold wheels, honoring the 30th anniversary of his first victory with the Scuderia. Monza also marks 20 years since Schumacher’s last Formula 1 win in 2006. Schumacher drove for Ferrari from 1996 to 2006, winning five world championships and 71 race victories with the team. Further details about the full tribute initiative will be released in the coming days.
Norris in Reported $70 Million McLaren Contract Talks for 2027
Lando Norris is in discussions with McLaren over a new contract worth $70 million per year from the 2027 season, according to Formula 1 insider Marc Limacher. The figure would more than double Norris’s current reported salary of $35 million annually and would move the 26-year-old British driver above Lewis Hamilton in the championship’s pay rankings. Limacher reports negotiations began at the end of June. The new deal, if agreed, would kick in for the 2027 season. Norris’s back-to-back victories at the Hungarian and Dutch Grands Prix have strengthened his position heading into contract negotiations with the reigning Constructors’ Championship leaders.
McLaren Dismisses Mercedes’ “No Money” Upgrade Claim
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has publicly challenged Toto Wolff’s assertion that Mercedes “haven’t got the money” to match rivals’ upgrade rates this season. Wolff made the claim following the Dutch Grand Prix, where Mercedes skipped a major update package after its last significant development at the Canadian Grand Prix. Stella pointed out that power unit regulation changes for 2027 carry an additional $3 million cost-cap allowance that teams can use in either 2026 or 2027, suggesting Mercedes could draw on that budget. Data shows Ferrari has introduced 40 new parts this season, Red Bull and McLaren 38 each, while Mercedes has brought just 24 upgrades to its W16.
FIA to Pursue Legal Action Over Abuse Targeting Dutch GP Stewards
The FIA is exploring legal options against individuals who targeted its race stewards with threats and abuse following the Dutch Grand Prix. The abuse erupted after stewards issued a drive-through penalty to Alpine’s Franco Colapinto for overtaking under double-waved yellow flags on lap one at Zandvoort. Alpine’s social media accounts were also targeted by fans critical of the team’s response to the penalty decision. The FIA, through its United Against Online Abuse campaign, condemned the abuse and stressed that disagreement with sporting decisions must never justify personal threats or attacks. The governing body said it was examining all available legal options to protect its officials.
Championship Leader Antonelli Accepts Monza Grid Penalty for Engine Change
Formula 1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli will start from the back of the grid at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza after Mercedes confirmed a full power unit change that exceeds his season allocation. Team principal Toto Wolff confirmed that Monza was selected deliberately because its long straights and braking zones make overtaking more achievable than at most circuits. Antonelli, who holds a 59-point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell in the championship, said he would attempt to recover through the field: “We’ll try to recover anyway.” The 19-year-old Italian has reached the permitted limit on several engine components following reliability problems earlier in the season.
Verstappen Signs Record Red Bull Deal Through 2030; 12 Seats Still Open for 2027
Max Verstappen has committed to Red Bull Racing through the 2030 season on a reported base salary of $107 million per year, the highest in Formula 1 history. The deal was finalized around the summer break, following Verstappen’s widely publicized contract exit clause becoming active. With Verstappen’s future settled, the 2027 driver market has opened up significantly. Reports link Daniel Ricciardo with a Williams seat for next year, while 12 of the grid’s 20 seats remain unconfirmed for 2027. McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, and Williams’ pair of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon are among those already confirmed beyond this season.
FIA Confirms Mercedes Entitled to ADUO Engine Upgrades Despite Rival Protests
The FIA has confirmed that Mercedes is entitled to additional engine upgrades under the 2026 season’s Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities framework, overriding objections from rival manufacturers. Competitors challenged the test findings, arguing the FIA’s performance assessment methodology focused on combustion engine output while not adequately accounting for the hybrid system — where Mercedes is said to hold a significant advantage over rivals. The confirmation came despite formal protests from other manufacturers. Under the ADUO system, the FIA measures each manufacturer’s engine competitiveness and awards upgrade tokens to those falling below set benchmarks, allowing them to close performance gaps during the season.
Drivers' Championship
After Round 12 of 23 (Dutch GP)
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) — 242 pts
2. George Russell (Mercedes) — 183 pts
3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) — 183 pts
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) — 159 pts
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) — 155 pts
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) — 112 pts
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) — 104 pts
8. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) — 68 pts
9. Liam Lawson (Red Bull) — 49 pts
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) — 44 pts
11. Nico Hülkenberg (Audi) — (incomplete)
12. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) — (incomplete)
13. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) — (incomplete)
14. Carlos Sainz (Williams) — (incomplete)
15. Alex Albon (Williams) — (incomplete)
16. Esteban Ocon (Haas) — (incomplete)
17. Oliver Bearman (Haas) — (incomplete)
18. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) — (incomplete)
19. Isack Lindblad (Racing Bulls) — (incomplete)
20. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) — (incomplete)
Constructors' Championship
After Round 12 of 23 (Dutch GP)
1. Mercedes — 425 pts
2. Ferrari — 338 pts
3. McLaren — 263 pts
4. Red Bull — 186 pts
5. Racing Bulls — 66 pts
6. Alpine — 63 pts
7. Haas — 21 pts
8. Audi — 16 pts
9. Williams — 11 pts
10. Aston Martin — 3 pts
11. Cadillac — 0 pts
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