Samwise F1 Newsletter
Thursday, September 10, 2026
Antonelli Leads by 66 Points as F1 Heads to Historic Madrid Grand Prix Debut
Kimi Antonelli arrives at F1’s inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring in Madrid holding a 66-point Drivers’ Championship lead over Mercedes team-mate George Russell, with 10 rounds remaining in the 2026 season. The Italian’s seventh victory of the year at Monza — delivered from 19th on the grid — further extended his advantage over the field. Russell is second on 201 points, Lewis Hamilton third on 191, and Lando Norris fourth on 171. Formula 1 has identified Norris as a potential threat at the Madring, with McLaren having proved most competitive on recent high-downforce circuits at the Hungaroring and Zandvoort.
Ferrari Confirms Inquest After Hamilton and Leclerc Clash at Monza Start
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has confirmed the Scuderia will hold a formal inquest with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc following their first-lap incident at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. At the start, Hamilton attempted to pass Leclerc down the inside of Turn 1 but was left with no room at Turn 2 and forced onto the gravel, losing multiple positions. On lap two, Leclerc crashed heavily at the Parabolica exit, causing a red flag and ending his race. Hamilton recovered to finish sixth. Vasseur called the opening incident “unacceptable,” while Leclerc admitted the drivers “went too far” at Turn 1.
Verstappen Admits Serious McLaren and Mercedes Talks Before Signing New Red Bull Deal
Max Verstappen has confirmed he held serious discussions with both McLaren and Mercedes about his Formula 1 future before ultimately re-signing with Red Bull Racing. The Dutch four-time world champion, who held an exit clause in his existing Red Bull contract, revealed that rival teams expressed genuine interest. Verstappen explained his decision by saying “I felt that staying was, for me, the right choice. You have to follow your heart.” He has now committed to Red Bull through the end of 2030, bringing an end to months of speculation over the most closely watched contract standoff of the 2026 season.
Madrid’s New Madring Circuit Earns ‘Car Killer’ Reputation Ahead of F1 Debut
Formula 1 arrives in Madrid this weekend for the inaugural race at the Madring, a new 22-corner circuit at the IFEMA Exhibition Centre northeast of the city. The track earned a punishing reputation when an earlier Formula 3 test session produced 19 red flags and three broken chassis, prompting Williams team principal James Vowles to label it “a track that kills cars.” The circuit’s centrepiece is La Monumental, a sweeping 550-metre corner with 24 percent banking — the longest banked turn on the Formula 1 calendar. Free practice begins on Friday, September 11.
Ferrari Admits It Is Still ‘Missing Pure Power’ Despite Second Engine Upgrade of 2026
Ferrari has acknowledged that its second ADUO power unit upgrade of the 2026 season has not closed the gap to Mercedes in raw engine output. Team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed the Scuderia is still “missing pure power” despite the latest improvement, saying “When you have a lack of pure power, then you start to play with deployment, to try to compensate in the straight line.” Ferrari has no further power unit upgrades planned for the rest of the 2026 season — only aerodynamic packages remain available — as Hamilton and Leclerc head to Madrid’s new Madring circuit looking for improved results.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Leclerc Confirms He Is ‘Okay’ After Monza Crash, Awaits Medical Clearance for Madrid
Charles Leclerc has confirmed he is physically “okay” following his heavy crash at the Parabolica in the Italian Grand Prix, though he still requires additional medical checks before being cleared to race in Madrid. Leclerc lost control exiting the Parabolica at the end of lap two and struck the wall at high speed, triggering a red flag. He reported temporary vision problems in his right eye immediately after impact, which have since cleared. Writing on Instagram, Leclerc said: “Physically, that was a big one, but I’m okay. Emotionally, it hurts even more.” Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi will attend the Spanish Grand Prix as planned.
Williams Unveils 1981-Inspired Retro Livery for Spanish Grand Prix in Sainz’s Hometown
Williams has revealed a special one-off livery for the Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring in Madrid, drawing inspiration from the team’s 1981 FW07C championship-winning design. The look was developed with title partner Atlassian and unveiled at Williams’ fan zone in Madrid’s Plaza de Callao on Tuesday, with Carlos Sainz present for the reveal. The original 1981 design used green and black decals on a white base; the modern recreation retains the diagonal green and blue striped elements. The Madrid race holds particular significance for Sainz, contesting his 13th Spanish Grand Prix but his first F1 race in the city where he was born and raised.
Red Bull Signs Kimi Räikkönen’s Son Robin, 11, to Junior Driver Development Programme
Red Bull has announced the signing of Robin Räikkönen, the 11-year-old son of 2007 Formula 1 world champion Kimi Räikkönen, to the team’s junior driver development programme. The signing takes effect from 2027, with Robin having established himself as a top karting prospect at national and international level in Rotax and WSK series. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies praised the young driver’s “exceptional ability in karting,” citing his “speed, racecraft and natural talent.” Kimi Räikkönen and his family were guests of Red Bull at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza ahead of the announcement.
Drivers’ Championship
| Pos | Driver | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | K. Antonelli | 267 |
| 2 | G. Russell | 201 |
| 3 | L. Hamilton | 191 |
| 4 | L. Norris | 171 |
| 5 | C. Leclerc | 155 |
| 6 | M. Verstappen | 127 |
| 7 | O. Piastri | 116 |
| 8 | I. Hadjar | 71 |
| 9 | L. Lawson | 51 |
| 10 | P. Gasly | 41 |
| 11 | A. Lindblad | 29 |
| 12 | F. Colapinto | 21 |
| 13 | O. Bearman | 18 |
| 14 | G. Bortoleto | 10 |
| 15 | N. Hülkenberg | 6 |
| 16 | C. Sainz | 6 |
| 17 | A. Albon | 5 |
| 18 | E. Ocon | 3 |
| 19 | F. Alonso | 3 |
| 20 | Y. Tsunoda | 1 |
| 21 | L. Stroll | 0 |
| 22 | V. Bottas | 0 |
| 23 | S. Pérez | 0 |
Constructors’ Championship
| Pos | Constructor | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 468 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 346 |
| 3 | McLaren | 287 |
| 4 | Red Bull | 204 |
| 5 | Racing Bulls | 75 |
| 6 | Alpine | 62 |
| 7 | Haas | 21 |
| 8 | Audi | 11 |
| 9 | Williams | 5 |
| 10 | Aston Martin | 3 |
| 11 | Cadillac | 0 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency