Pierre Gasly reflects on his difficult 2019 stint at Red Bull, revealing he felt he had 'no support' and wasn't given the right tools to succeed alongside Max Verstappen, leading to his mid-season demotion. He has since rebuilt his career, winning with AlphaTauri and now racing for Alpine, where he is optimistic about their 2026 prospects with a new Mercedes power unit.
Charles Leclerc explains Ferrari's championship drought in F1's ground effect era, citing a fundamental struggle to understand the cars and a recurring failure of factory-developed parts to perform as expected on track. He acknowledges rivals Red Bull and McLaren mastered the regulations better, while hoping Ferrari's early focus on the 2025 car will finally pay off.
Red Bull's Oliver Mintzlaff explains the summer decision to dismiss Christian Horner was a necessary step to "start a new chapter," despite honoring his historic success. The move coincides with Red Bull's crucial shift to developing its own power unit for 2026, a factor key to securing Max Verstappen's long-term future.
Max Verstappen has won the 2025 Crypto.com Overtake of the Year award for his spectacular outside pass on Oscar Piastri to take the lead at the start of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, adding another accolade to his season.
David Coulthard says Max Verstappen's "here and now" mentality means he won't regret the Spanish GP clash with George Russell that cost him vital points and arguably the 2025 title. The former F1 driver argues "weaker minds" might dwell on it, but Verstappen's psychological wiring allows him to move on without it affecting his self-worth, a crucial trait with an uncertain competitive future ahead.
Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff has dismissed concerns over performance clauses and expressed unwavering belief that Max Verstappen will see out his F1 career with the team, citing mutual loyalty and the team's mid-season turnaround and massive engine investment as key factors.
Guenther Steiner argues that while Max Verstappen's incredible 2025 comeback from a 100+ point deficit was dramatic, history will remember Lando Norris's first championship victory more. He believes Verstappen's legacy as a multi-time champion is secure, making a single near-miss less defining than Norris's breakthrough title.
The revolutionary 2026 F1 power units are expected to bring back mechanical drama and unpredictability, with Mercedes' Andrew Shovlin predicting 'more jeopardy' as teams struggle to achieve reliability with the complex new designs. This marks a significant shift from the recent era of extreme durability.
Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur is taking a subdued, internal focus for 2026 after a disappointing fourth-place finish in 2025. He aims to avoid public hype and instead concentrate on car development and the new Hamilton-Leclerc partnership, marking a strategic shift from previous seasons.
Red Bull executive Oliver Mintzlaff says he has "no doubt" Max Verstappen will finish his F1 career with the team, emphasizing a shared winning philosophy over contract clauses. His comments aim to quell speculation about Verstappen's future beyond 2026, linking the driver's loyalty directly to Red Bull's continued ability to deliver a competitive car.
Max Verstappen says he disagreed with Red Bull's choice to send Liam Lawson back to Racing Bulls after only two races in 2025, calling it unfair. He praised Lawson's recovery to score 38 points, while replacement Yuki Tsunoda struggled in the same car.
Lewis Hamilton has fired back at retirement speculation from figures like Nico Rosberg following a tough first year at Ferrari, asserting they are 'not on my level.' The seven-time champion confirms his commitment to F1, driven by his love for racing and an unfulfilled dream, as he looks ahead to the 2026 season.
