Ralf Schumacher suggests Ferrari chairman John Elkann might struggle to justify Lewis Hamilton's high salary given his current performance, hinting that the team could consider a more cost-effective and impressive rookie like Oliver Bearman. Schumacher questions Hamilton's recent speed and mistake rate, contrasting it with Bearman's strong showings, raising eyebrows about Ferrari's long-term driver strategy.
Lewis Hamilton orchestrated a stunning comeback at the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix, turning a weekend marred by penalties into a crucial victory against Max Verstappen. Despite starting from the back in sprint qualifying and incurring a grid penalty for the main race, Hamilton's relentless drive and superior pace saw him overcome every obstacle, revitalizing his championship hopes and intensifying his rivalry with Verstappen in one of F1's most iconic races.
Lewis Hamilton praised Ferrari-backed F1 rookie Oliver Bearman, expressing excitement for his future after Bearman's stellar debut season with Haas. Bearman has amassed 40 points, outperforming teammate Esteban Ocon, and secured a notable fourth-place finish in Mexico. Hamilton's endorsement underscores Bearman's rising profile and potential impact on the F1 landscape.
Lando Norris, now leading the F1 championship, reveals he's learned to ignore public criticism, admitting he "cared too much" about external opinions previously. His shift to self-focus has coincided with a dominant run, securing 115 points in the last six races. This mental resilience is proving crucial as he aims for his first world title.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown states there's no tension between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri despite their close F1 title fight. The team maintains a 'may the best man win' policy, attributing the lack of internal conflict to their drivers' character and transparent communication. This approach allows fierce competition while avoiding typical team fallouts, with Norris currently leading Piastri by 24 points as the season nears its end.
Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley, set to co-lead Audi's F1 team, openly expressed his strong desire to sign Max Verstappen. Having maintained a close relationship with Verstappen from their Red Bull days, Wheatley highlighted Audi's ambitious long-term goals to become a top F1 contender by targeting elite drivers. While acknowledging their friendship, he noted it's not yet enough to directly link Verstappen to an Audi seat.
Adrian Newey, Aston Martin's new technical partner, emphasizes the critical, intuitive role of F1 drivers, calling them "wonderfully intuitive animals." He highlights the major advantage of Aston Martin's state-of-the-art driver-in-the-loop simulator, which he considers an essential engineering tool for optimizing car performance and development, particularly for the 2026 regulations, by combining vast data with invaluable human feedback.
Felipe Massa is awaiting a critical decision in his legal challenge over the 2008 F1 title, seeking $82 million in damages related to the 'Crashgate' scandal. Following a three-day hearing in London, Massa, who believes he was unjustly denied the championship due to alleged inaction by F1 and FIA officials, is pursuing 'justice' and a potential full trial to re-evaluate the historical outcome. Hamilton has remained detached from the case, emphasizing it has 'nothing really to do with me'.
The FIA has directly countered presidential candidate Tim Mayer's claims, branding them as "defamatory" and "false." Mayer, who failed to secure a nomination against Mohammed Ben Sulayem, had sent a letter to FIA member clubs raising concerns about the organization's governance, suggesting it posed a significant business risk to manufacturers. The FIA's legal team has formally responded, asserting that Mayer's allegations are unfounded and misleading.
Former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner expresses bewilderment over the sudden and unexpected role reversal in performance between McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. As the season nears its end, Norris has dramatically surged with two recent wins, while Piastri's form has declined since the summer break, leaving many puzzled by the shift in their championship battle.
Former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner finds the recent performance reversal between McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri "strange" as the season nears its end. Norris has taken dominant wins in the last two races, establishing a 24-point lead, while Piastri's form has dipped since the summer break. This unexpected shift in momentum adds a compelling dynamic to their championship battle.
Lando Norris reveals a crucial mental shift propelling him to the brink of his first F1 title. After trailing teammate Oscar Piastri, Norris has surged, winning two recent races and opening a 24-point lead. He credits a calmer, less emotional approach, viewing individual successes as minor steps in a larger championship quest, a transformation vital for his pursuit of the coveted F1 crown.
