Latest news with #Drivers'Standings
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
F1 Insider Says Mercedes Must Extend Russell's Contract to Win Championship
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Former Haas Formula One team principal Guenther Steiner has asked Mercedes to extend George Russell's contract if it wants to win a championship in the future. Steiner believes Russell is the perfect driver for Mercedes to lead the team and help secure its next title. Russell's Mercedes contract expires at the end of 2025, and an extension has yet to arrive. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed his interest in Max Verstappen in June, but given the four-time world champion's loyalty to Red Bull, a move to Mercedes for the 2026 campaign has been ruled out. Wolff then revealed that Mercedes would head in the direction of finalizing Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli as its driver lineup for the 2026 season. However, the contract is yet to be signed, despite just 10 rounds remaining in the 2025 season. Russell has pledged his loyalty to Mercedes and admitted that the delay in his contract extension did make him tense. Overcoming a period of stress, the Briton eventually chose to focus on his performance, believing that an extension would arrive if he gave his best. Third placed George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team celebrates on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 03, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. Third placed George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team celebrates on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 03, 2025 in Budapest, a lead driver for Mercedes, Russell is placed fourth in the Drivers' Standings with 172 points, 15 points adrift of Verstappen in third. Russell secured his maiden 2025 victory in Canada and has finished six times on the podium. Given Russell's strong performances, Steiner believes he deserves a multi-year contract extension with Mercedes. Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, he said: "He deserves that. He's doing a good job, he's leading the team, he knows everything, he knows what Ferrari did [in Hungary], he knows what the engineer should be doing. "I think he should have a contract for life, in my opinion, and they cannot get out of it. No, without joking, I think he should get an extension. He's doing a good job." Steiner also suggested that Russell is the driver who could help Mercedes win another championship, something that Kimi Antonelli won't be able to do on his own. He added: "And if they want to win a world championship at the moment, they need George there, because Kimi is not delivering as they anticipated. I think obviously Kimi's in the first year, I can see that. "But in the moment, if they want to win a world championship with Kimi and even Max Verstappen, you're not going to win it. You need two good drivers, and George is a good driver, doing a good job."
Newsweek
a day ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Liam Lawson Breaks Silence on Potential Red Bull Move as Contract Clock Ticks
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Liam Lawson has opened up about a potential move to Red Bull Racing in the future, as his current contract expires after the 2025 season. Lawson earned a promotion to Red Bull before the season commenced but was demoted after the first two race weekends. The Kiwi driver raced for Red Bull's junior F1 team, Racing Bulls (then VCARB), last year alongside Yuki Tsunoda. His ability to perform under pressure impressed the team, leading to his promotion to the seat alongside Max Verstappen. However, the opening round in Australia saw him crash the RB21 F1 car, while the season's second race in China saw him finish outside the points in P12. Racing for Red Bull was a dream come true for Lawson, but his performances disappointed the team, leading to a swap with Tsunoda ahead of the race in Japan. But like Lawson, Tsunoda has been facing challenges in adapting to the RB21, and his contract is also set to expire at the end of this year. Lawson has shown signs of improvement at Racing Bulls following his demotion, securing points in four races. His best finish so far was in Austria, where he secured a sixth-place finish. He currently sits fifteenth in the Drivers' Standings with a tally of 20 points, double the tally of 10 points held by Tsunoda in eighteenth place. Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls looks on during the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 03, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls looks on during the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 03, 2025 in Budapest, the fact that Tsunoda, Lawson, and Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar's contracts expire at the end of this year, Lawson was asked by the media about the chances of his return to Red Bull. He said: "Honestly, in terms of my future, it's been so busy this year that I'm not really thinking about it. I'm focused on having some good races." Lawson added that he was looking forward to scoring more points in the remaining ten races of the season. He said: "Obviously, we've had some recently, but three of them isn't enough over 12 races, or however many it's been, so we need to do more of this, and then we'll see." Speaking of Red Bull, Tsunoda highlighted that he hadn't witnessed any other driver adapt to the team's title challenger, which is reportedly designed around Verstappen. However, the Japanese driver is optimistic about overcoming the challenge. He said: "I didn't see yet so far the driver who probably got used to it in that car straight away. So that's probably the fact. But at the same time, I feel I'm in the right direction, at least on the short runs. "Also in terms of the whole package, I know there's something to come as well into this year compared to Max. So once I get the full package, I still have good confidence that I can be in a level that they want. That's what I'm working hard on. "In terms of the long run is exactly the place that I'm still probably struggling at, but I'll find a way. I saw a couple of driving styles that I can try that I never tried in my career in Formula 1. It's just the learning stuff."
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Max Verstappen's Claim of Not Winning Another Race in 2025 Comes Under Fire
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen has been called out for his statements that could potentially demotivate his team. The four-time world champion was disappointed after his P9 finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend, leading him to doubt if Red Bull would be able to win another race this season. Red Bull is enduring a tough year, given the problems with the RB21 F1 car that seems to be compromising Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda's pace. Tsunoda confirmed at the Hungaroring that, more than the car's balance, it was the low level of traction that held him back. The Japanese driver was knocked out of Q1 in qualifying, although he managed to get very close to Verstappen's qualifying pace. Tsunoda had to start from the pit lane after the FIA levied an engine penalty as Red Bull fitted a fifth power unit on his car, one more than the permitted limit of four. Verstappen made it into Q3 in qualifying by a tiny margin, securing a P8 start on the grid. However, he finished the race in P9, marking his worst finish this season after the P10 he secured in Spain. Considering the current state of affairs and the gap the McLaren drivers have created in the Drivers' Standings, Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko recently confirmed that Verstappen was out of the 2025 championship race. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing answers questions in the TV media pen during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 2, 2025 in Budapest,... Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing answers questions in the TV media pen during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 2, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. MoreVerstappen, however, believes that his team could not even win a race this season if the current situation were to persist. When asked in Hungary if it was possible to win his third race this season, he said: "No, not the way things are going right now. That's just the way it is. It's clear. "There's nothing I can do about it. I could get angry, but that won't make the car any faster." Verstappen is currently placed third in the Drivers' Standings with 187 points, just 15 more than George Russell's tally of 172, who is in P4. Verstappen's comments may have highlighted the present reality at Red Bull, but Sky Sports F1 reporter Bernie Collins is not too happy with his approach. She told Sky F1: "I don't think any driver says we're not going to win anything this year as a motivator to the team. That's pretty demotivating if I were an engineer. I think that would really hit you a little bit." However, she acknowledged that it was a powerful way of pushing the team to overcome the technical challenges plaguing the car, especially with the arrival of Red Bull's new team principal, Laurent Mekies. Collins added: "So, I think he's hoping that with Laurent Mekies, a very tactical guy, they can get on top of the issues that this Red Bull has had for several seasons now. Get the second driver working well, and next year, they've got this real line in the sand, a real chance to start again. "But, they need to get on top of these fundamental issues that they've been having for a little while now. Max, I think, is just using it as a powerful way of communicating with the team, 'I am really not happy, and something needs to change in this car to make me happy'. "That's what will hopefully drive the entire engineering force behind him to get a car that he can be more competitive with next year."
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
F1 Summer Shutdown: Why Teams Can't Touch Their Cars
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Following the Hungarian Grand Prix, Formula One heads into the summer break for the next three weeks, until August 29, marking the first long break for drivers and teams since the Christmas break after the 2024 season. However, for two weeks out of the three, none of the teams can work on their cars. Given the hectic 24-race calendar that sees drivers and teams operating at their limit, F1's governing body, the FIA, has set a two-week summer shutdown period for all teams where they are not permitted to develop their car, design car parts, use the wind tunnel, or conduct meetings. F1 teams are free to choose any 14-day window in the entire summer break, but they must confirm the start and end dates to the FIA. The mandate has been put in place by the governing body to allow team members of all ranks to take time off. As a result, teams found violating the rule are liable to receive a penalty. However, teams are allowed to support other projects that are not connected to F1. In addition, they are also allowed to work on heavily damaged cars that were damaged in the race before the shutdown, but only after written permission has been obtained from the FIA. Formula One drivers line up on the pit lane before the start of the first practice session of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Spa, on July 25, 2025. Formula One drivers line up on the pit lane before the start of the first practice session of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Spa, on July 25, 2025. Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP/Getty Images It must be noted that apart from drivers, team principals, mechanics, and engineers, other departments such as marketing, finance, legal, and housekeeping are allowed to function normally. F1 heads into a much-needed break after 14 rounds, with the eventful Hungarian Grand Prix confirming that the final championship battle will more than likely be between McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. While the latter leads the Drivers' Standings with 284 points, Norris is placed second with a gap of just 9 points. Norris maintained a strong lead in the second half of the race at the Hungaroring after Piastri and Charles Leclerc pitted. McLaren's flawless one-stop strategy worked in his favor, despite Piastri's aggressive charge in the last four laps on fresher tires. Speaking after securing his fifth victory of the season, Norris said: "I'm dead. I'm dead. It was tough. We weren't really planning on the one-stop, but after the first lap, it was kind of our only option to get back into things. "The final stint with Oscar catching, I was pushing flat out. Rewarding even more because of that. The perfect result today. "I didn't think it would get us the win, I thought it would get us maybe into second. I knew if I had clean air and could push, I could maybe make things work, and that's what we did. "It always is a bit of a gamble these kind of things. It also requires no mistakes, good laps, good strategy, and that's what we had today." He added: "We're so tightly fought it's hard to say if momentum is on anyone's side. "It's tough but fun racing against Oscar. Credit to Oscar he put up a good charge and I just about held on."
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Red Bull Advisor on Max Verstappen's 2025 Championship Bid - 'Impossible'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Red Bull Racing senior advisor Helmut Marko has admitted that it is "impossible" for Max Verstappen to secure his fifth championship title this year. The four-time world champion is currently placed third in the Drivers' Standings with 187 points. The gap to the championship leader, Oscar Piastri, with 284 points, is 97 points. The 2025 season is being dominated by McLaren, as Red Bull continues to struggle with the RB21 F1 car. Verstappen's team enjoyed a dominant period in the current ground effect era that began in 2022. However, things changed drastically in the second half of the 2024 season, when balance problems on Red Bull's car hindered the team's title challenge. Related: Red Bull Shocked by F1 Performance Anomaly - 'We're Faster With Used Tires' Red Bull lost its position in the 2024 Constructors' Championship to McLaren and Ferrari, while Verstappen secured his fourth title, courtesy of the points he built up in the first half of the season. In the current campaign, Red Bull has been unable to solve car problems thus far, with both Verstappen and his teammate Yuki Tsunoda struggling considerably. Last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix saw Verstappen start from eighth, but he ended up crossing the finish line in P9. Tsunoda, who started from the pit lane due to an engine penalty, finished in P17. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in the garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 02, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in the garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 02, 2025 in Budapest, Yuki Tsunoda Suffers Hungarian GP Setback With Pit Lane Start Penalty Marko, who believed until recently that Verstappen was in the championship mix, confirmed after Sunday's race at the Hungaroring that he is not in the race anymore. He told the media: "It's impossible, clearly." McLaren's Lando Norris won the Hungarian GP by opting for a one-stop strategy. Considering the difficulty in overtaking, Marko said that Red Bull should have opted for a similar strategy, as opposed to the two-stop strategy that backfired for Verstappen. The 82-year-old advisor said: "[Red Bull's performance was] inferior, but I think one stop would have been better, because overtaking was really difficult. "So maybe sixth or fifth [was possible], but the speed, which was funny, two or three laps, [Verstappen] was doing the same laps like the leaders, 1:19.5, but we believe we know what went wrong." "The first stops, the tyres were gone, and the second stop, we thought we could overtake. But as we saw for a couple of laps, yes, the speed was there, but then it was over." Related: Max Verstappen Laughs off FIA Investigation on Incident With Lewis Hamilton
