Samwise F1 Newsletter
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Russell at Risk of Back-to-Back Engine Penalties After Sepang Failure
George Russell could face a “double whammy” of grid penalties after his Mercedes power unit failed five laps from the end of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, The Race reports. The retirement left Russell 84 points behind team-mate Kimi Antonelli with seven races remaining. Russell is on the edge on mileage with his current engine pool and had been holding out for an upgraded specification expected at the United States Grand Prix. If the Sepang unit cannot be fixed, he may need a fresh power unit in Singapore and another in Austin. Deputy team principal Bradley Lord said Mercedes still needs to understand what it means for his pool.
Mercedes Considers Back-to-Back Test of Old and New Packages in Singapore
Mercedes is keeping all options open, including a possible back-to-back test with its old package in Singapore, after its major W17 upgrade failed to deliver the hoped-for step at Sepang, The Race reports. The package was predicted to gain 0.3 seconds, but Mercedes boss Toto Wolff wondered whether it had instead cost up to 0.5 seconds. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli said the team does not know “if it made us go faster or worse,” noting Mercedes has struggled on old tarmac this season. Deputy team principal Bradley Lord linked the lost straight-line speed to extra drag from added downforce. Singapore’s sprint format allows just one practice session.
Russell Needs Comeback Without Precedent to Overhaul Antonelli
George Russell would need a comeback without precedent in Formula 1 history to beat Kimi Antonelli to the 2026 title, according to analysis by Speedcafe. Russell trails his Mercedes team-mate by 84 points with seven grands prix and one sprint remaining. Even if Russell won all seven remaining grands prix, Antonelli could finish third in each and still become world champion. Across 74 comparable seasons, only twice has an eventual champion been more than 30 points behind with seven rounds remaining: James Hunt, 35 points behind Niki Lauda in 1976, and Sebastian Vettel, 39 points behind Fernando Alonso in 2012. Singapore provides the only remaining sprint opportunity this year.
Ferrari CEO Vigna Rejects Rift Rumours but Avoids Vasseur’s 2027 Future
Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna has dismissed rumours of a breakdown in his relationship with team boss Fred Vasseur, PlanetF1 reports. In an interview with Motorsport Italy, Vigna took aim at “fake news” about the pair, recounting reading claims they could not stand each other while having dinner with Vasseur. However, the interview did not address whether Vasseur will continue in the role in 2027. PlanetF1 reports that multiple sources indicate Ferrari is eyeing a succession plan, with WEC boss Antonello Coletta understood to be the leading contender. Vasseur’s contract runs to the end of 2027. Chief communications officer Maria Conti said Ferrari has “full confidence” in Vasseur.
Mekies Credits In-Season Development for Verstappen’s First 2026 Win
Laurent Mekies said Red Bull did not expect such a step forward in Malaysia, where Max Verstappen scored the team’s first victory of the 2026 season, PlanetF1 reports. Red Bull introduced what is expected to be its final major package of the season in Azerbaijan, where Verstappen missed out on victory by 0.196 seconds. Mekies said there was nothing too specific about the Baku upgrade, describing strong in-season development as “a Red Bull Racing trademark.” Having started more than one second back, he said the team had eaten up the last three tenths to the best cars. Verstappen has featured on the podium in seven of the last nine races.
Vasseur Admits Ferrari Should Have Started Sepang Race on Intermediates
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur conceded that starting the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on slick tyres “was not the right call,” PlanetF1 reports. After the suspended start, just under half the field fitted soft or medium slicks while the rest chose intermediates, which proved correct as slick runners lost over a pit stop’s worth of time on each of the opening laps. A safety car after Valtteri Bottas slid off the track closed the gaps, a key factor in Ferrari’s recovery to third and fourth. Vasseur said the team made the choice “with the information that we had” and declined to say whether victory had been possible.
Keiichi Yasuda to Replace Koji Watanabe as Honda Racing Corporation Boss
Honda Racing Corporation president and CEO Koji Watanabe will retire and be replaced by Keiichi Yasuda on January 1, The Race reports. The change comes slightly earlier than executive-level changes would typically happen in April. Yasuda is currently HRC’s executive vice president and representative director and previously rose to lead Honda’s human resources division. Watanabe helped manage Honda’s official return to Formula 1 under the 2026 engine regulations with Aston Martin, a project that has suffered a lack of performance after chronic early-season reliability problems. Honda said the change is part of “a planned periodic personnel rotation designed to strengthen the management structure.”
Audi Fined €30,000 Over Hulkenberg Pit Stop at Sepang
The FIA stewards have fined Audi €30,000, with €20,000 suspended for the rest of the 2026 season, after an unsafe situation during Nico Hulkenberg’s pit stop at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, PlanetF1 reports. Hulkenberg received a green light while a mechanic was still in front of his left-front wheel after adjusting the front wing. A team member switched the light back to red, and Hulkenberg stopped before leaving his pit stop position. The stewards ruled that no unsafe release occurred but said the premature green signal created an unsafe situation. Audi said there was no contact and that the light changed back after 0.2 seconds.
Stewards Clear Albon Over Pit Entry Incident with Piastri
Williams driver Alex Albon has escaped a penalty after an incident with Oscar Piastri at pit entry during the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, PlanetF1 reports. Albon reduced his speed on the approach to the pit entry, causing Piastri, who was following closely, to brake and take avoiding action, though no contact occurred. Albon was investigated for driving erratically but explained he had slowed to comply with the required delta time. Piastri said he considered the explanation understandable. The stewards said the situation could potentially have become dangerous but determined no infringement occurred. Piastri finished sixth, while Albon later retired with a gearbox problem.
Round 16 of 23 — After the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia
Drivers’ Championship
| Pos | Driver | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A. K. Antonelli | 320 |
| 2 | G. Russell | 236 |
| 3 | L. Hamilton | 214 |
| 4 | C. Leclerc | 191 |
| 5 | L. Norris | 188 |
| 6 | M. Verstappen | 188 |
| 7 | O. Piastri | 128 |
| 8 | I. Hadjar | 96 |
| 9 | L. Lawson | 65 |
| 10 | P. Gasly | 41 |
| 11 | A. Lindblad | 38 |
| 12 | F. Colapinto | 27 |
| 13 | O. Bearman | 20 |
| 14 | G. Bortoleto | 10 |
| 15 | N. Hulkenberg | 7 |
| 16 | E. Ocon | 7 |
| 17 | F. Alonso | 7 |
| 18 | C. Sainz | 7 |
| 19 | A. Albon | 5 |
| 20 | Y. Tsunoda | 1 |
| 21 | L. Stroll | 0 |
| 22 | V. Bottas | 0 |
| 23 | S. Perez | 0 |
Constructors’ Championship
| Pos | Constructor | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 556 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 405 |
| 3 | McLaren | 316 |
| 4 | Red Bull | 298 |
| 5 | Racing Bulls | 90 |
| 6 | Alpine | 68 |
| 7 | Haas | 27 |
| 8 | Audi | 17 |
| 9 | Williams | 12 |
| 10 | Aston Martin | 7 |
| 11 | Cadillac | 0 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency