Samwise F1 Newsletter
Saturday, September 27, 2026
Russell Holds Off Verstappen by 0.196 Seconds to Win Chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix
George Russell won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix for Mercedes on Saturday, holding off Max Verstappen by just 0.196 seconds in one of the closest Formula 1 finishes since the 1986 Spanish Grand Prix. Russell, starting from pole, built an 11-second lead before two safety car periods erased his advantage and set up a tense 15-lap finale. Verstappen crossed the line second for Red Bull, with rookie Isack Hadjar completing a Red Bull double podium in third — the team’s first since the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix. Kimi Antonelli finished fifth for Mercedes. Six drivers retired from the race, including Lando Norris.
Sources: Formula 1, Motorsport.com
Antonelli Championship Lead Trimmed to 66 Points After Azerbaijan Qualifying Crash
Mercedes championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli retained his title advantage but saw it cut from 81 to 66 points after a damaging Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend. Antonelli crashed in qualifying and was forced to start 16th on the grid, recovering to fifth to limit the damage. The 20-year-old Italian now leads with 302 points, ahead of team-mate George Russell on 236 following Russell’s race victory. Lewis Hamilton sits third on 199 points — 103 behind Antonelli — while Lando Norris is fourth on 186 points, 116 adrift, after being eliminated in a first-corner crash on the safety car restart. Eight rounds remain.
Colapinto Given Five-Place Grid Penalty for Malaysia After Baku First-Corner Crash
Franco Colapinto has received a five-place grid penalty for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia after causing a three-car collision at the safety car restart in Baku. The Alpine driver locked up braking into Turn 1 on lap 36, eliminating Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris, and himself from the race. FIA stewards found Colapinto wholly responsible and issued a 10-second time penalty, converted to the grid drop for the next event. McLaren’s Norris, who had been challenging for the race lead, called for Colapinto to receive a race ban before reviewing the incident footage. Max Verstappen argued the penalty was overly harsh.
Sources: Formula 1, Crash.net
Briatore Publicly Rebukes Colapinto; Alpine Considers Benching Driver for Malaysia
Alpine executive Flavio Briatore publicly condemned Franco Colapinto’s Baku collision and warned the team would consider appropriate action, fuelling speculation the Argentine could be dropped for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Briatore said the move was “very poor for a driver of his experience” and personally apologised to McLaren. Colapinto has scored 27 of Alpine’s 68 constructors’ championship points in 2026. Reserve drivers Paul Aron, Kush Maini, and Daniil Kvyat are all options should Alpine elect to bench the 22-year-old. However, sources within the team indicate the benching talk is being overstated in response to Briatore’s public comments.
Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix at Risk; Imola Put on Standby as Replacement Venue
The final stretch of the 2026 Formula 1 season is under threat as the ongoing Middle East conflict casts doubt over the Qatar Grand Prix (November 29) and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (December 6). Formula 1 has given Italian venue Imola a green light to build grandstands and prepare race infrastructure as a contingency, while Malaysia’s Sepang circuit is also on standby. F1 insists Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain the planned venues and that a formal decision is expected by mid-October. An estimated $180 million in hosting fees is at stake. Max Verstappen has publicly backed cancelling both races if the security situation does not improve.
Sources: Autosport, PlanetF1
Hamilton Demands Ferrari Investigation After Baku Grip Problems; Receives Practice Reprimand
Lewis Hamilton called for a Ferrari internal investigation into his performance after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he qualified and finished sixth following persistent grip and straight-line speed problems throughout the Baku weekend. Hamilton said the car failed to come alive on its tyres at the critical moment of the race, allowing Kimi Antonelli past on fresher compounds. The seven-time world champion also received a stewards’ reprimand during practice for impeding Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson in a fast section — his second reprimand of the 2026 season. Hamilton, who sits third in the championship on 199 points, is now 103 points behind leader Antonelli.
Leclerc Accidentally Reveals Ferrari’s Secret ADUO 2 Engine Upgrade in Post-Race Interview
Charles Leclerc inadvertently confirmed that Ferrari’s latest ADUO 2 power unit was fitted to his car at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix during a post-race interview with Sky Italia. Leclerc told the broadcaster he had been given the team’s newest specification engine, prompting his press officer to visibly panic. “I don’t know if I’m saying something I shouldn’t,” Leclerc admitted. “But I thought you knew.” The upgrade — which Ferrari had kept secret since its debut at the Italian Grand Prix — means Leclerc now has access to the performance step he missed at the Spanish Grand Prix following his qualifying crash at Monza.
Aston Martin Hit With Combined 50-Place Grid Penalties; Both Cars Retire in Baku
Aston Martin suffered a catastrophic Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll retiring from the race and the team receiving a combined 50-place grid penalty for the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Alonso received a 25-place penalty for fitting his fifth internal combustion engine and associated components, plus a further five-place drop from stewards — a total of 30 places. Stroll also received grid penalties. In the race itself, Stroll retired on lap seven with a water pressure problem, while Alonso lasted approximately 12 laps before abandoning with what appeared to be a separate engine failure, complaining over team radio before pulling off.
Sources: GPFans, PlanetF1
Round 15 of 23 — After the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Drivers' Championship
| Pos | Driver | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A. Antonelli | 302 |
| 2 | G. Russell | 236 |
| 3 | L. Hamilton | 199 |
| 4 | L. Norris | 186 |
| 5 | C. Leclerc | 179 |
| 6 | M. Verstappen | 163 |
| 7 | O. Piastri | 120 |
| 8 | I. Hadjar | 86 |
| 9 | L. Lawson | 59 |
| 10 | P. Gasly | 41 |
| 11 | A. Lindblad | 37 |
| 12 | F. Colapinto | 27 |
| 13 | O. Bearman | 20 |
| 14 | G. Bortoleto | 10 |
| 15 | N. Hulkenberg | 7 |
| 15 | E. Ocon | 7 |
| 15 | C. Sainz | 7 |
| 18 | A. Albon | 5 |
| 19 | F. Alonso | 3 |
| 20 | Y. Tsunoda | 1 |
| 21 | L. Stroll | 0 |
| 21 | V. Bottas | 0 |
| 21 | S. Perez | 0 |
Constructors' Championship
| Pos | Constructor | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 538 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 378 |
| 3 | McLaren | 306 |
| 4 | Red Bull | 263 |
| 5 | Racing Bulls | 83 |
| 6 | Alpine | 68 |
| 7 | Haas | 27 |
| 8 | Audi | 17 |
| 9 | Williams | 12 |
| 10 | Aston Martin | 3 |
| 11 | Cadillac | 0 |
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