Red Bull's Laurent Mekies says F1 is united in wanting to bring back true flat-out qualifying, where drivers push at 100% without energy management. He calls for a proper fix by 2027, arguing that restoring Saturday's pure speed will also improve Sunday's racing by reducing excessive strategic 'gaming'.
Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu has heaped praise on Oliver Bearman, stating he sees no limit to the young Briton's potential after a stellar start to 2026. Bearman has been instrumental in Haas's surprise fourth-place standing, outperforming teammate Esteban Ocon and demonstrating remarkable all-around growth as a grand prix driver.
The 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix was abandoned due to a torrential monsoon, with Jenson Button taking a fortuitous half-point win. Years later, it was revealed his Brawn GP car had a critical failure during the red flag and would not have restarted, nearly costing him precious points in his championship year.
F1 analyst Alex Wurz says Red Bull is lagging behind Mercedes and Ferrari in critical energy management, a key factor under the new regulations. This technical deficit compounds the team's existing chassis problems and is affecting Max Verstappen's morale as the squad struggles for performance.
Long‑time Red Bull mechanic Ole Schack, key to Verstappen’s four titles, has resigned as the team faces staff exits and a weak start to 2026, sitting sixth in the constructors’ standings.
Formula 1's planned debut in Vietnam, set for April 2020, was first postponed by the pandemic and then permanently canceled following the arrest and imprisonment of a key political backer on corruption charges, abandoning a specially built $600 million circuit.
Ole Schack, Max Verstappen's front-end mechanic and a Red Bull fixture since its 2005 inception, is leaving the team. His departure, motivated by a changed atmosphere post-Christian Horner, is part of a wider exodus of experienced personnel as Red Bull navigates internal restructuring and on-track performance struggles.
Pierre Gasly calls for less negativity around the 2026 F1 regulations, stressing driver skill remains vital despite concerns over energy management. He reflects on his Suzuka battle with Max Verstappen and Alpine's much-improved form this season.
Fernando Alonso delivers a damning assessment of F1's 2026 rules, claiming high-speed corners have become mere 'charging stations' for battery energy, stripping away the driver skill that once defined the sport. He argues the focus has shifted entirely to energy management, making iconic challenges like Suzuka's 130R corner manageable for non-drivers and fundamentally altering F1's competitive essence.
Jacques Villeneuve warns Mercedes should be concerned about McLaren's pace after the Japanese GP, suggesting their early 2026 advantage may be fragile. While Mercedes leads the standings, McLaren's strong performance on a car-dependent track like Suzuka signals a potentially tighter fight ahead, with team orders looming as an internal challenge for Toto Wolff.
Mercedes phenom Kimi Antonelli is shattering F1's age records, having already become the youngest polesitter, championship leader, and hat-trick scorer. He's on a path to challenge for the title of youngest world champion by 2029, though records for youngest winner and points scorer remain with Max Verstappen.
Ex-F1 driver Johnny Herbert cites Lola's new sustainable fuel V8 sports car as a blueprint for F1's future, criticizing the current hybrid engines. He reveals whispers of a possible return to sustainable-fuel V8s by 2030, arguing it offers a better blend of sustainability, sound, and simplicity for the sport.
