F1 driver Lance Stroll made his GT3 debut at Paul Ricard, posting a 1:54.472 lap to qualify 15th (11th in Pro). Fastest was 1:53.676 by Mari Boya; teammate Roberto Merhi was 0.005 s quicker.
F1 pundit Martin Brundle warns George Russell that rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli is a real title threat after his strong start, urging Russell to combat him with the same intensity he once used against Lewis Hamilton. With Antonelli leading the points, Russell faces immediate pressure to assert himself in a potentially championship-winning car.
Lance Stroll admits Aston Martin's 2026 struggles are not solely due to its power unit, revealing the much-hyped Adrian Newey chassis also lacks performance and is not the 'rippiest beast' in corners, compounding the team's disastrous start to the season.
Lewis Hamilton logged 884 km in a Ferrari during a Pirelli wet tire test at Fiorano, operating under 'blind' rules where only the tire maker received his data. The test focused on developing new intermediate and full wet tire prototypes for future seasons.
Max Verstappen disputes that F1's issues are limited to qualifying, arguing the 2026 car regulations create confusing and artificial racing. He criticizes planned minor fixes as missing the core problem, warning of long-term consequences for the sport's integrity.
Christian Horner highlighted Gianpiero Lambiase's musical side on social media as the engineer's move to McLaren was announced, marking another key departure from Red Bull. Horner also confirmed the end of his own gardening leave but indicated a return to F1 is not imminent, with no role expected before September at the earliest.
David Coulthard recounts how Nigel Mansell, during his 1994 Williams comeback, tried to have the young test driver banned from the team garage at the Japanese GP. The Williams mechanics famously responded by making a humorous 'Coulthard not allowed' sign, highlighting the internal tensions before Coulthard ultimately replaced Mansell for the 1995 season.
Aston Martin F1 driver Lance Stroll is competing in the GT World Challenge Europe this weekend, driving a GT3 car for Comtoyou Racing. In a notable twist, he will face a team entered by Max Verstappen, adding a direct F1 rivalry to the endurance race at Circuit Paul Ricard during Formula 1's off-weekend.
F1 stars Max Verstappen and Lando Norris have worked with performance vision expert Dr. Zoe Wimshurst to train their eyes and perceptual systems, seeking faster reactions and a psychological edge. This specialized training treats eye muscles like any other, requiring consistent work to maintain gains, and highlights an often-overlooked area of driver development in the pursuit of marginal advantages.
Helmut Marko says Gianpiero Lambiase's move to McLaren is a major blow for Red Bull, disrupting Max Verstappen's pivotal team partnership. This exit continues a trend of key personnel leaving the champions, raising fresh doubts about internal stability and Verstappen's long-term future with the team.
Lewis Hamilton will work with temporary race engineer Carlo Santi for at least one more race in Miami, as Ferrari delays the introduction of his permanent engineer, Cedric Michel-Grosjean. The hold-up comes amid Hamilton's better start to the 2026 season, including a podium finish in China.
Jos Verstappen endorsed Gianpiero Lambiase's high-profile switch from Red Bull to McLaren, as Lewis Hamilton got more seat time in a Ferrari during a Pirelli test. The FIA also began talks to refine the 2026 technical rules, focusing on energy management, in a busy day of off-track F1 developments.
