The lion of Asturias

Let's start with Aston Martin's #14, who doesn't seem to feel the weight of his 44 years. The weekend just gone perfectly sums up what Alonso is all about: a driver who, despite his age, is still capable of making a difference whenever he gets his hands on a car that has even the slightest hint of competitiveness.

Since Friday, the Oviedo native has shown great pace at the wheel of the AMR25, even finishing the first free practice session in the lead. The fourth position with which he then concluded the first day of track activity bode well for qualifying; however, FP3 did not give Fernando the same feeling, partly due to a car that seemed unable to make the same leap forward as its direct rivals.

Despite this, the Spaniard was still able to secure a place in Q3 and finish the session in tenth place. This result allowed him to fight consistently for a points finish on Sunday in a race that is historically one of the most physically demanding, originally finishing in eighth place, then moving up to seventh due to the post-race penalty imposed on Hamilton's Ferrari.

The Marina Bay specialist

At this point, it is more than fair to call Sainz the Singapore specialist, given what the Madrid native achieved on Sunday. Like his compatriot, Carlos also proved to be at ease on the Marina Bay street circuit, consistently finishing in the top 10 in all practice sessions.

However, qualifying did not go as planned, first with the premature elimination in Q2 and then with the disqualification late in the evening due to the DRS irregularity found on the FW47 number 55. Despite this, race control accepted Williams' request to have Sainz start from the back of the grid instead of the pit-lane.

It would be superfluous to say that the Madrid native was able to take full advantage of this scenario, given that he still managed to finish the race in tenth position. Of course, a significant amount of luck was also necessary, given that Sainz himself benefited from the electrical problem that affected Hadjar; however, the Spaniard was skilful in getting himself into that position, which then allowed him to take advantage of the Racing Bulls' mishap, making an impressive 5 overtakes in the last 6 laps (on a circuit that is not exactly conducive to battles) and thus securing a top ten finish that the Grove team had not achieved in Singapore since 2017.

Inside photo cdn.williamsf1.tech

Read also: Fernando Alonso's paradox

Last Grand Prix, for example, saw Norris collide with Piastri without giving back the position. You could call it a racing incident, but the Australian was not happy about it, and the famous “papaya rules” did not protect him.

After the race, Vasseur was asked what he thought about what had happened, and this was his response: “Yeah, yeah, those are issues and rules or whatever”.

The Ferrari Team Principal wanted to downplay the situation at McLaren, because as problematic as the situation may seem, the team is still winning everything. Ferrari, on the other hand, seems to be getting worse and worse.

“We all have to deal with our own issues and I think it’s also a problem for rich people when you are 1-2 in the championship”, he continued.

Finally, he concluded: “It’s not a drama, but what can you expect? They are 1-2 in the championship, they are doing their job and it’s not up to the team to decide every single weekend.”

Although it may not seem like "drama" to Vasseur, he would certainly not make such statements if he were in the same situation. McLaren has shown superiority throughout the season, and having two top drivers in the same team is a big challenge, especially when certain decisions are made unilaterally.

Read also: McLaren's difficulties in the pits continue, in Singapore it is Piastri who pays price

Read also: The mentality is hurting Ferrari more than the results on the track

Main cover photo ferrari-cdn.thron.com

In Singapore, for example, even though it went quieter, there was another one, which this time damaged world championship leader Oscar Piastri. It didn't have much resonance because the Australian remained behind teammate Norris for the entire duration of the race (after having suffered the much talked about overtaking at the start).

When the two found themselves stopping, McLaren recalled Lando Norris first, managing to send him onto the track after just 2’’10 (second fastest time of the weekend behind only Red Bull who replaced the tires at Tsunoda in 2’’05). Then he stopped Piastri who, however, took more than 3’’ to cross the entire pit lane. This can be seen from the document issued by the FIA at the end of the race. 26’’6 the total time (including tire change, of which however we have no trace) for Piastri against Norris' 23’’3.

Perhaps McLaren's plan is simply not to give any kind of reference

Some might be mischievous. The papaya team, as well as being able to experiment with new procedures, as we hypothesized at the end of the Azerbaijan GP (given that it is fighting with Red Bull for second place in the pit stop standings, 280 points for the Milton Keynes team, against McLaren's 274), he may have found a ruse to prevent his drivers from fighting in the phases immediately following the stop.

We know that fighting as soon as you leave the pits is not the most optimal thing. The tires are cold, the adrenaline rises and the chances of making mistakes and making confusion increase significantly. Slowing down one of the two by creating a gap, preventing him from fighting could therefore be an interesting internal dynamic, an interesting hypothesis, but which in any case does not explain all the cases that have occurred in the recent period.

What happened in Monza, for example, goes against all kinds of logical reasoning. The team made a mistake in the pit stop of the driver who, at that moment, had a better chance of winning the race, or at least fighting with Verstappen, and subsequently asked the world championship leader to slow down and give up the position to his teammate.

Faced with such an episode, it is impossible to find a logical explanation. Perhaps McLaren does everything and the opposite of everything precisely to destabilize us. Do not provide points of reference, thus hiding its true intentions.

Photo: McLaren; Internal photo: FIA, YouTube, Formula1

Read also in italian language: Continuano le difficoltà McLaren ai box, a Singapore è Piastri a farne le spese

However, the theme does not exist, or rather has no reason to exist. We should stop talking about irregular solutions which, however, somehow manage to pass the checks. At the Spanish GP, the FIA established a new procedure, using TD018, to verify the technical specifications of the teams. Mercedes has passed all the checks and with that it is regular.

The new front wing is the result of meticulous development in the field of materials. The team found a way to arrange the carbon fibres in such a way that they passed the controls and bent sharply when subjected to some air pressure. In theory the case should be closed in itself.

Minor teams always pay the price

However, there is a feeling that this issue will not end like this. The problem of wing flexion has already led over the years to various regulatory changes, to various repressive measures in terms of FIA lateral controls, but it is clear that this procedural choice does nothing but encourage teams to spend hours in the laboratory to study new technologies of production and development of materials. Regulatory changes, implemented in this way, only help teams with more manpower and resources spend additional time and money at the expense of smaller teams.

F1 hide behind the budget ceiling, but such decisions only go against the system. The more the FIA blocks bend, the more a way will be found to stiffen the component to pass the controls and maintain the same deformation at the same time. We do not know this, but it could also be a strange ploy to promote research and development.

A beautiful thing in itself. It's a shame that it's always the smaller teams that lose out, tying them to the back of the grid for no apparent reason. The FIA forced all teams to adapt to the TD018 in Spain (GP held on 1° June 2025), resulting in a considerable waste of money and resources, only to find themselves, almost exactly 4 months later, having to deal with a team in possession of a flexible winger. TD018 was a disgrace to the smaller teams.

Mercedes did a great job and they deserve our compliments. However, simply talking about regularity, now, is superfluous.

Photo: Mercedes

Read in italian version: Ali flessibili: superfluo parlare di regolarità, la TD018 è stata uno sgarbo

The performances aren't there. Drivers also do everything they can to achieve a better result than the car deserves based on current potential, but the team seems to be looking beyond that. The historic Scuderia seems to be almost misaligned by the opinions of its drivers. Hamilton and Leclerc, although they have somewhat’ different thoughts on what aspects need to be improved to progress together as a team, team principal Frederic Vasseur also appears detached from the context in certain circumstances.

An example? The statements made by the manager during the weekend in Singapore, in which he overlooked the enormous progress made by Mercedes, stating that not only Ferrari was overtaken, but also McLaren (at least on a one-of-a-kind track like Marina Bay). As if trying to sweep the problems under the rug, "strong" in the fact that they weren't the only ones caught by surprise. At this point it seems that Vasseur is more of a philosophy teacher than a conductor. Not being the only one to let Mercedes overtake you is a pill that can provide relief today, but which won't solve the problems in two weeks, when we race in Austin and the following week in Mexico. Especially now that, having lost second place in the constructors' championship, Ferrari accept the risk of losing third place against Red Bull (a team that essentially competed in the world championship with only one driver).

Ferrari, the wrong mentality that displeases the drivers

It's the mentality that's wrong and the drivers suffer the consequences. While Vasseur is busy finding carpets under which to hide the dust inside the garage, the drivers suffer and this is reflected not only in their performance on the track, but also in their state of mind.

The example that in our opinion fits even more perfectly is the very strange performance that the car has over the weekend. Usually on Fridays the SF-25 is competitive, it seems that it can also challenge its opponents and compete for the podium, if not something more sometimes, but then already from FP3 it deflates like a poorly tied ball. And it's not something attributable to engine mapping. The strange behavior could derive from the reasons that push the technicians to force Leclerc and Hamilton to do a lot of lift and coast during the race phases.

One of the many problems concerns the difficulty of running at the desired ground clearance. On Friday you can turn lower, while from Saturday, with the set-up designed for the race, the car gets up just enough to sweep away all the cards. Who knows if these choices also depend on other factors. There may be more than one.

Here too, however, the question we ask ourselves is simply one: why? Why insist on Friday on using a set-up that you know cannot be used in qualifying and the race? Is this done to be able to tell the pilots that without all these problems the SF-25 would have been able to challenge its opponents and fight at the top? It's a mentality that doesn't work.

We see it in every GP. The more weekends pass, the more dissatisfied the drivers are. They would like to see a reaction, to know that we are working on something concrete without wasting time playing games that lead nowhere. Obviously now, in addition to the budget ceiling, there is also the fact that being at the end of the season, the commitment must necessarily be aimed at 2026, but (and there is a but of stratospheric dimensions) the problem is that the other teams continue to bring updates. Updates that work. Why can't Ferrari do it? What's wrong?

If we immediately focused on the set-up that we know will necessarily generate problems in qualifying and the race, Friday could also be disappointing in terms of results. This may be a fact. The drivers, however, would at least see in the team the desire to learn from a certainly uncomfortable and unwanted situation. They would see a team that knows how to assume its responsibilities and that tries to progress by tackling problems head on.

It almost seems like Ferrari has lost its sense of direction. At least looking at it from the outside, it's like he's going through everything with the wrong mindset. The problem is that the drivers are enormously affected by this situation and it would be no wonder if one of them, or worse both, decided to take flight in the hope of finding their fortune elsewhere. Hamilton is now almost at the end of his career, but Leclerc, it is difficult to think, can resist this condition for much longer.

Photo: Ferrari

Read in italian version: La mentalità sta danneggiando la Ferrari più dei risultati in pista

Well, it didn't take too long for those words to become real facts. In Singapore, we witnessed an episode that - according to the principle of doing “the right thing” - was handled very badly by McLaren, revealing a blatant inconsistency. Let's go through it all.

The incident

Piastri and Norris started from third and fifth on the grid respectively at Marina Bay. Thanks to an excellent start, the Brit immediately overtook Antonelli, before braking late in an attempt to overtake his teammate (and direct rival for the title) at turn 2.

Being aware of the other's move, Oscar left all the space needed to avoid contact. Yet, his cautious approach did not pay off: Lando went wide at the apex, collided with Verstappen and literally bounced off into the path of the other McLaren.

The result? Norris took third place from Piastri and held it for the rest of the race. The Australian was furious with the team, who abandoned him to his fate. This was far from 'right', especially considering what happened in Monza.

Strangely, the stewards did not impose any sanctions on the incident, despite the fact that the Englishman did not keep control of his car. This is one of the variables - according to the Sporting Regulations - necessary to complete a fair overtaking manoeuvre.

The FIA did not want to take a decision that could potentially be decisive for the World Championship. This was certainly not an honourable choice, albeit understandable. On the other hand, McLaren's handling of the situation is incomprehensible...

This time there was no “right thing to do”?

In this case - frankly, it is redundant to specify - “the right thing” would have been to give the position back to car number 81 and let the pair go at it again, given that the Brit gained an advantage with a reckless attack.

However, the much-loved “McLaren principles” did not come into play this time. This time, it was decided - as Piastri's race engineer, Tom Stallard, said - that it would have been discussed after the race.

What remains, however, is a questionable decision, to say the least. Let's be clear: McLaren had the chance to even the score with Monza (literally, given that there was a 3-point gap between one position and the other in this case as well).

Yet, this scenario was not considered “unfair”. So, according to the team's “principles”, having a slow pit stop is unfair, while overtaking the other driver by hitting him is fair. A contradiction that is really difficult to explain.

Piastri's reaction says it all

As far as we can tell from the outside, the only “principle” of the confusing “Papaya Rules” is inconsistency.

Piastri also seemed to align with this feeling: he not only complained many times during the Singapore Grand Prix, but he also shut off the radio link when Zak Brown (the team's CEO) was thanking him for winning the tenth constructors' title in the team's history.

In six races, if not sooner, we will find out who will be the World Driver's Champion in 2025. In the meantime, one thing is for certain: Piastri will remember what happened at Monza and in Singapore, if the trophy does not bear his name.

Read also: Young fans don’t care about Formula 1’s history, or so Domenicali thinks

This time, Russell decided to rewrite his story. To bounce back from that mistake and build a weekend that, from that moment on, was impressively solid. He did it in his own style: quietly, without proclamations, without seeking attention. With that typically English composure that defines him and has far too often relegated him to a secondary role.

Yes, because over the years, perhaps too often, Russell has been underestimated. Overlooked. Left on the sidelines, in some cases even by his own team, which for the entire summer kept him hanging by a thread between a possible contract renewal and rumors—never truly denied, and often even fueled—about potential contacts with Verstappen.

George never responded. He used the summer break to prepare for his return to the track. The rumors that were meant to bring him down became fuel for his determination. Determination that George Russell has always had: when it came to joining Mercedes alongside Lewis Hamilton, as well as now, next to Kimi Antonelli, in the role of experienced leader and team reference.

Determination: his constant. The very thing that today brings him to his fifth career victory. And perhaps, if he had arrived during Mercedes’ golden era, he would have won much more. But he would have always done it this way: discreetly, without proclamations, and even if hidden beneath his English demeanor, with a whole lot of heart.

Read also: Russell on pole in Singapore: «A fantastic reaction, tomorrow will be tough»

Read also: Mercedes, the strength to make mistakes

According to the French manager, Ferrari showed the potential of the SF-25 both in free practice and in the early stages of qualifying, but failed to consolidate that progress as the weekend went on. “Execution means exactly that: you have potential, but you need to be able to exploit it at the right moment. We showed that potential in FP1 and Q1, but then we weren’t able to put everything together when it mattered most. In Q3, we repeated the lap time from Q1; we didn’t follow the track evolution at all.”

The result was an uphill weekend, with both Ferraris forced to start in the midfield pack, where cooling issues heavily affected race pace. “Today, that was the main problem: starting in the middle of the group, we struggled a lot with cooling, from the third lap to the last. When we were able to push, for example during the laps with Hamilton, the pace was good—more than good, actually. But we only pushed for one percent of the race. That way, you can’t get results.”

A statement that perfectly captures the frustration within the Maranello team, which leaves Marina Bay aware that it still has a car that’s difficult to interpret. And as the calendar moves toward the final phase of the season, Vasseur and his team may already be looking ahead to 2026.

The British driver admitted that Singapore hasn’t always been the kindest track for him, but this time he managed to turn things around. “Singapore hasn’t been the most forgiving circuit in the past, but that was always my fault,” he confessed honestly. “Pole is a good advantage, but the guy next to me is strong, I’ll be keeping an eye on him.”

Tomorrow’s race promises to be an intense battle from the very start. The Marina Bay Street Circuit is famously one of the toughest tracks of the year, where tyre management and the ever-present risk of Safety Cars can turn the race upside down. Russell knows it well, but this time, he starts from the front, with a real chance to bring Mercedes back to victory.

Read also: Mercedes, the strength to make mistakes

Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1, explained it clearly during his interview on the BSMT podcast: "Tradition can be important for those like me who have followed Formula 1 since childhood, but for new fans coming into the sport there’s a great ability to turn the page and move on. The ability to forget who won the previous year is very high, and for many young people following Formula 1 today, racing in Monte Carlo or on the new Las Vegas circuit makes no difference."

It’s a striking thought — one that seems to downplay the importance of tradition in the hearts of younger generations. But is that really the case?

Talk to many young fans and you’ll discover another truth: the history of this sport fascinates them deeply. Often, their passion is born from stories of the past, passed down by grandparents or parents. They seek it out in documentaries, old commentaries and social media posts that recall a time they never lived but have learned to love — and to treasure — as something precious. In many cases, their passion didn’t start with neon lights, but with the awareness that every curve at Spa, every overtake in Monza, every brush with the wall at Monaco tells a story that shaped the legend of this sport.

Of course, Formula 1 must look ahead. Tracks need to evolve, guarantee safety and welcome the modern audience. No one doubts that. Yet in the rush toward the new, there’s a risk of underestimating the power of memory and the strength of continuity. Because while young fans do love spectacle, they also want to feel part of a greater story — the one that made Formula 1 one of the most beloved sports in the world.

The real challenge, then, is not choosing between past and future, but finding a way to make them coexist. Without the roots of its tradition, Formula 1 risks becoming just another event — bright, loud, but without that soul that still makes the eyes of fans light up when they hear the roar of an engine and remember why they fell in love with this sport in the first place.

"Of course, if a Grand Prix carries this sense of history, it’s something extra." Domenicali hasn’t forgotten that — in fact, he made a point of emphasizing it. But his reasoning, naturally shaped by the role he holds, developed toward a future perspective: "Tradition must be supported by being a structure that looks ahead and allows for investment at the infrastructure level."

Domenicali’s words are therefore an appeal to the historic circuits: to remain on the calendar, being iconic is not enough — they must innovate, renew, and look forward. What’s fundamental to remember, however, is that the past of this sport is not just an interest of older generations. Even those who discovered Formula 1 more recently feel it as a crucial part of their passion. Looking ahead is imperative, yes — but it must be done without betraying the past.

Read also: No Stefano, the problem isn’t the length of the Grand Prix

Inside photo x.com

In this scenario, however, if on the one hand McLaren has so far seemed not to want to take part, even imposing controversial team orders, an important fact has emerged: the team has gotten much worse in the pit stops and Norris is the one who paid the most consequences among the Italian GP that of Baku.

Some suggest it could be a way to restrain one of the two contenders, favoring the other without arousing suspicion. However, we would like to take a couple of notes. The first comes from the team order given to Piastri in Monza: why would the team slow down the Briton in the pits and then immediately ask the world championship leader to slow down to be overtaken by his teammate? It doesn't make much sense.

Furthermore, from the data published by ‘The Race’, which have drawn up a ranking dictated by the average pit stop times carried out on the last six GPs, we note that Lando Norris is the slowest driver in the pits, but at the same time we observe that Piastri is also more or less in the same situation (hereinafter the times in descending order).

1) Norris (McLaren) in 3’’98 (average last six races);
2) Piastri (McLaren) in 2’’69 (average last six races);
3) Hamilton (Ferrari) in 2’’32 (average last six races);
4) Verstappen (Red Bull) in 2’’28 (average last six races);
5) Tsunoda (Red Bull) in 2’’18 (average last six races);
6) Leclerc (Ferrari) in 2’’12 (average last six matches).

From this a problem would emerge more concerning the entire team than being something aimed at hitting a single driver. We remind you that the team had the biggest problems in Monza and Baku. Piastri did not get to make the stop in the Azerbaijan race due to the mistake he made on the first lap (the average could be higher now and for this reason there is so much difference between the average of the two pit companions).

From hypotheses to the possible explanation that answers most questions

What could be the source of the problem? Is the team having real difficulties or taking calculated risks? Difficult to give an answer. Considering the position that McLaren had last year in the standings (in terms of pit stop speed) and comparing it with this year, we note that it still occupies second position. Only the best team that until 2024 was Red Bull has changed while now it is Ferrari.

Looking at this evidence too, it seems difficult to think of such a sudden collapse. The hypothesis is that the papaya mechanics and technicians may have taken risks ‘’calculated’’ to study new procedures (which could also concern the use of new instrumentation) which could prove useful in view of the next season.

With the constructors' championship in the safe and the drivers essentially taking place between its drivers, all of this would be part of a set of variables that can unpredictably influence the outcome of one or the other driver's races. A calculated risk that while it may currently be a useful component to boosting the spectacle, on the other hand it may have been vital work to enable McLaren to still be among the fastest teams in pit stops at the dawn of the new 2026 regulatory challenge.

Cover photo: McLaren; internal photo: You Tube Channel, DHL

Read in italian language: La McLaren è peggiorata tantissimo nei pit stop. Crollo o rischio calcolato?

The Spaniard, a two-time world champion, is seen and recognized for his incredible willpower. After having won two world titles in 2005 (among other things, yesterday 25 September marks the twentieth anniversary) and in 2006 with Renault, at the dawn of his very long career, the Asturian made choices that we could also consider clumsy, which they have always linked him to uncompetitive cars and therefore to compete in low-ranking areas.

History and the dream

His time at McLaren was particularly hard for him. He had also left Formula One at the end of 2018 to try to win the Triple Crown. Having already won the Monte Carlo GP in the past, he should have won the 24h of Le Mans and the Indianapolis 500. (Unofficial) Trophy so far held only by Graham Hill. Alonso managed to win the coveted WEC trophy in 2018 and 2019, but sadly he still hasn't had any luck in the IndyCar event.

The Spaniard has done everything in his life as a driver, but then in 2021 he decides to take us back. He returns to Formula 1 with the dream of winning another world championship and does so with Aston Martin, a team that until now has not managed to enable him to fight. However, after managing to bring Adrian Newey, the team could finally give him a chance next year, in 2026, taking advantage of the regulatory change.

Alonso, statements about the withdrawal are leaking from all sides

Including Alonso and his story, statements he recently made about his retirement are leaking from all sides. “If I were to win the title it would be a good time to retire, but if the team were still struggling I could continue to help them progress and try to win it again in 2027”, the Spaniard said, giving a brief summary...

It's not credible. At least for the writer, the Asturian did not make himself credible enough. Let's talk about Alonso! A driver who if he had had 4 or 5 world titles no one would have opposed. A driver who in recent years has allegedly made false cards to have a competitive car. A driver who loves racing and especially loves Formula 1. Does the driver himself now tell us that if he managed to win the title in 2026 he would retire? It would be paradoxical, Alonso's paradox. We could understand better if he decided to retire if the car was still quite "slow", but not for this reason.

Fernando Alonso will turn 45 next year and while there are many reasons why 2026 should really be the year of his retirement, it still remains hard to believe that will happen under such circumstances. It would be difficult to believe it even if he announced it seriously and in fact, for now, we don't believe it.

Photo: Aston Martin

Read in italian version: Il paradosso di Fernando Alonso

It was known that the SF-25 would not be competitive at all stages of the world championship from the resumption of racing in late August until December, but... there were hopes. Firstly, Red Bull was racing with only one driver, Mercedes was experiencing a period in which Kimi was in great difficulty and furthermore there were stages of world championships in which one could aspire to a good result: we are talking about Netherlands, Baku, Singapore, Leclerc had mentioned Las Vegas, but we would add more Mexico City due to the high downforce (with reservations). Four or five out of ten GPs left to be supported (at that time).

Ferrari-Mercedes-Red Bull, situation upset in just three races

Unfortunately, however, many things, once the cars returned to the track, did not go as planned for the Maranello-based team The double zero obtained in the Netherlands, added to the misstep committed in Baku (where Hamilton and Leclerc ranked only eighth and ninth), seriously put the manufacturers' second place at risk. These results weigh like boulders. Furthermore, a Mercedes that found Antonelli and a Red Bull that also managed to rely on Tsunoda in Baku did the rest.

As for the Milton Keynes team, the fact that Yuki may have finally found the rhythm to finish continuously in the top-10 still remains to be demonstrated, but now among the three teams it is certainly Mercedes that has the highest success rates. Ferrari has unfortunately lost ground precisely where it should have gained ground and now the scenario ahead of it is far from optimal.

The Stuttgart company is currently second with 290 points, Ferrari chases at 286 and Red Bull is fourth with 272. Situation upset in just three races. With only the Singapore stage remaining in the ranks of the Italian team, it is difficult to continue to hope, and considering the statements released on Sunday, Leclerc seems to have officially given up.

Photo: Ferrari

Read the italian version: Ferrari, Olanda e Azerbaijan sono macigni sul campionato costruttori

We had already pointed out that Charles had perhaps been too optimistic on that occasion and had further reduced the group by stating that perhaps only in Marina Bay could Ferrari hope to obtain a victory that after Monza seemed impossible.

Leclerc retracted, there is no point in creating false expectations

Unfortunately, however, the problem, as has often happened this year, is that the Italian team seemed to believe they had a good chance in Azerbaijan. He had finished practice at the top on Friday in both set flying lap times and race pace mode. Which only raised further false hopes. An illusion, since both McLaren and Red Bull had approached the sessions with more conservative engine mapping.

The qualification then dramatically brought the men and women of Maranello back to reality. Hamilton was eliminated in Q2 and Leclerc, in whom all the hopes of the Ferrari environment were pinned, made a mistake. Then forced to start from tenth position, he thus saw all his chances of achieving at least one good result disappear.

Deeply disappointed by his performances, but also by those of the car entrusted to him by his beloved team, Charles completely retracted the statement released post-Monza. This year it will be really difficult to win a race. Singapore and Las Vegas no longer look as attractive as they were two weeks ago. Leclerc remains open to surprises, but... better to stay grounded and not create false expectations.

Photo: Ferrari

Read in the Italian version: Ferrari, Leclerc deluso. Crollano anche le ultime convinzioni

If you consider the rest, disastrous, it is an adjective that does not convey the idea at all. On Friday he was monopolized by Ferrari (who then found themselves playing shrimp in the remaining days), while on Saturday and Sunday, taking advantage of the particularly unpredictable conditions, Verstappen managed, as usual in these circumstances, to make the difference.

For Piastri it was a weekend of profound disappointment and reflection. McLaren knew that, just as had happened at Monza, they could experience a suffering GP against Red Bull, but with Oscar's double mistake (triple if we also consider the false start), the Grand Chelem was served to Max on a gold plate complete with fine stones set on the edge. The world championship leader has hit a wall on two occasions, first in qualifying on Saturday and then during the first lap of the GP on Sunday, also being the only one to retire at the end of the race.

Piastri makes mistakes and disappoints, but he still has many reasons to smile

Many think that Baku was a destructive weekend for Piastri, from which he will have a lot of difficulty getting up, but will it really be like this? We tried to identify with him a bit’ and after thinking about it carefully we believe that Oscar has several reasons to smile. 

The first is certainly that, despite two errors certainly not suitable for a possible world champion, the defeats against Lando Norris, the direct pursuer, were not excessive. The Briton also had a less than positive weekend. Indeed in some ways, even more stressful from a psychological point of view. First of all he faced Q3 knowing that Piastri had hit the wall and had only managed to get a seventh place.

Then in the race, immediately after one lap, he was informed that Oscar had retired due to another accident and despite this he would have to give him a hand in the comeback, he wasn't even able to gain a position. With the last P7 he recovered only 6 points compared to his rival (the gap has dropped to 25 now).

Added to this is Verstappen who instead won and approached the papaya couple. Many consider Max a threat to the title race, and he is, of course he is. The chance to win is still in his ropes. However, if Piastri still has a margin of 69 points over the Dutchman, almost 3 wild cards with 7 to go, Norris has 44 instead and is almost starting to feel the breath on his neck. 

Piastri, instead of worrying about Verstappen, should ‘rejoice’ at the moment, to have him a little closer to Lando because it is a factor that could contribute to significantly increasing the pressure on his rival. McLaren has certainly built the best car of 2025. Perhaps not the best everywhere, but the one capable of adapting better to different tracks. The points obtained in the constructors' championship speak for themselves. Think about how distressing it could be for Norris, and the same would happen for Piastri with roles reversed, if he found himself seeing his teammate win the title, Verstappen finishing in second place and having to settle for third position.

It would be a big disappointment. For this reason we currently think that Piastri has many more reasons to smile than to worry. Naturally he will have to review very carefully the episodes that led him to exclude himself from the battle of Baku and will have to demonstrate that he is a mature pilot, worthy of the title of world champion already in Singapore. Mistakes like that don't fit the kind of path he's taken since the beginning of this season.

Cover photo: X, Formula1; Internal photo: Red Bull Racing;

read the Italian version: Piastri sbaglia e delude, ma dopo Baku può trovare in Verstappen un inatteso alleato

The Australian lost important points in the fight for the world championship, where his main rival is his teammate Landa Norris. However, Norris failed to take full advantage of this opportunity, finishing the race in seventh place and extending his lead over the Australian to 25 points.

“Certainly not my finest moment. I just anticipated the start too much, and it was a silly, simple error with that. Then, the crash – I just didn’t anticipate the dirty air in the way I should have. I clearly went into the corner way too hot and that was that”, Oscar ddmitted.

“Qualifying yesterday, it was what it was. Then today, just more silly mistakes. It was certainly a messy weekend for sure, but I would be more concerned if I was slow and trying to make up for it that way and having these errors because of that”, he added. 

For the first time since joining Formula 1, the 24-year-old's ‘human side’ seems to have come out, as the pressure built up since his false start clearly led him to make a mistake that cost him the entire race.

The battle for the drivers' title is between the two McLarens, but Max Verstappen has now won two races in a row and shows no signs of stopping. What's more, the Woking-based team is no longer as dominant as it was at the start of the season, as today's race clearly showed. At this point, we need to understand whether this is an isolated incident or whether we should expect a gradual decline in the team's performance for the rest of the season.

Main cover photo pbs.twimg.com

Read also: Verstappen dominates in Baku: second consecutive victory for the Dutchman

Read also: Carlos Sainz and the rain dance

“It was an incredible weekend,” Verstappen said in his post-race interviews. “The car worked really well on both compounds, we always had clean air ahead, and that allowed us to manage the tires very effectively.”

Only the wind caused him a bit of trouble: “The car was moving around quite a lot, but of course I’m very happy with this performance.”

After two straight wins, Verstappen now looks ahead to Singapore, where he never won, aware that it will be a tougher test: “The last two races have been fantastic for us. Now Singapore brings a completely different challenge, with high downforce, so we’ll see what we can do.”

Will this be the year the Dutch anthem echo fir the first time under the Singapore night sky?

Read also: The formidable Verstappen in a poor Red Bull: the distorted image of Formula 1

Further credence to this hypothesis was given by the layout of the Baku circuit, with a straight stretch of over two kilometres - the longest in the entire championship - and lower temperatures than in previous editions. All these factors combined would have led to a drop in front tyre temperature of around 40 degrees, a pitfall that risked creating considerable difficulties on the approach to turn 1, the first in a series of 90-degree braking points that are taken with the wheels straight.

The first signs in free practice

The scenario described above took shape on Friday: the teams chose to use the most familiar compound; among the four top teams, only Lewis Hamilton used one of the three sets of yellow tyres available, while the others opted for one more red tyre than usual.

The same thing happened again this morning in FP3, with the use of C5 reduced to zero, making it clear that the intention was to save all three sets (with the exception of the British Ferrari driver) for the afternoon session.

Confirmation in qualifying

It was enough to watch the cars leaving the pit-lane to confirm the teams' strategy from the first run in Q1, when McLaren and Red Bull made their attempt with C5 compound tyres. However, the situation changed during the second push, with all drivers lining up (except Lando Norris, who opted for new soft tyres), but having to complete two preparation laps, as the yellow tyres were - as expected - losing temperature on the straight.

In the end it was the C6 that prevailed, giving Max Verstappen pole position with 1:41.117, although - not counting the time set by number 4, which was affected by a mistake at turn 15 - the C5 compound also made its mark in the top eight positions. Despite the soft tyre pack in the last attempt, the only two drivers to have chosen the yellow tyres, Sainz and Antonelli, still finished in the top four, with the Italian finishing just ten thousandths of a second behind Liam Lawson's red tyre.

Read also: Sainz second in Baku: «The speed is there, now I want the podium»

Read also: Carlos Sainz and the rain dance

A joke with his engineer, but perhaps, deep down, also a small hope. Because finding yourself at the top with a Williams doesn’t happen every day. And when it does, you truly hope that the dance of the rain can give you a gift. But it was just the beginning of the session, with a thousand possibilities still ahead.

Yet, for a moment, luck seems to really turn. The rain dance seems to have an effect. First, Leclerc triggers a red flag, and then Piastri crashes into the wall, forcing Verstappen to abort a lap that would surely have earned him another pole.

For most of Q3, destiny seems to favor Carlos Sainz and Williams.

There is that precious feeling among fans that this could be another one of those special days. One of those unpredictable days capable of giving unique moments to those who truly love this sport. The underdog claims pole, the team that usually struggles, but today, finally, can celebrate in an unexpected way.

The final Q3 lap is to be lived breath by breath. Because the last word is never spoken, and perhaps the rain dance can work again. In the end, pole goes to Max Verstappen, but at Williams, the celebration is perhaps even bigger. Carlos Sainz is second, ahead of most of the big names. And so, yes, the rain dance perhaps worked a little. Or, more simply, it is the result of the work of a driver and a team who, despite all difficulties, never gave up.

Read also: Sainz second in Baku: «The speed is there, now I want the podium»

Main cover photo cdn.williamsf1.tech

Inside photo x.com

“Thank you very much for the support, I’m very happy with this qualifying. We nailed everything, always on the right tyre at the right moment, and put together some really good laps,” Sainz said right after the session. “Probably, whenever a top car puts everything together, we’re always half a second behind, as usual. Today only Max managed that, and it’s no surprise. But I beat all the others, and that’s very good news.”

The Spaniard stressed that single-lap pace has never been an issue for him this season: “Actually, I’ve always done well in qualifying this year, it’s never been a weak point. Today I showed once again that the speed is there and that we can deliver when it counts. Unfortunately, in the races, for one reason or another, things don’t go our way. But the pace is there, and the points and strong races will come.”

With Verstappen ahead and the rest of the top contenders further back than usual, Sainz looks at tomorrow’s race with realism but also a touch of ambition: “The plan is to fight for the podium, and I’ll give everything I have.”

For Sainz and Williams, Baku is therefore a valuable opportunity: to turn an excellent qualifying into a strong result and further prove the team’s progress.

Read also: Azerbaijan GP, FP1: red flag interrupts session. McLaren one-two, Leclerc third.

Main cover photo cdn.williamsf1.tech

Franco Colapinto and Nico Hulkenberg kick things off, but within five minutes all the drivers are already on the track, except for Aston Martin. Immediately, there is a first twist, with Bortoleto going off track in the run-off. No problem for the Brazilian, though, who immediately returns to the track without any damage.

Less than 10 minutes in, Russell is already complaining of a strange burning smell, probably coming from the brakes. Meanwhile, Alexander Albon experiences a strange incident when his left-hand mirror comes off.

Lando Norris immediately sets a time of 1:44.274, followed by Charles Leclerc. The Ferrari driver has had an unfortunate history on this track, having taken pole position four times without ever winning.

Session stopped due to a red flag

After 15 minutes, the session is stopped due to a piece of rubber, used to secure the kerb to the asphalt, which has come loose from the track at turn 16. The problem is more serious than expected. The marshals must ensure that there are no issues with the kerb, as it could be dangerous for the drivers.

There are 30 minutes left until the end of the session and we still have no news. Meanwhile, there are problems with Oscar Piastri's car, which appear to concern the Power Unit.

Green flag is finally out

With 20 minutes to go, the session finally restarts. Norris takes the lead again, improving with a time of 1:42.704, followed by Verstappen and Piastri, but the Australian is on used tyres.

Hamilton moves into eighth position but hits the wall, damaging his front wing and puncturing his front left tyre. Meanwhile, his teammate moves up to second position, half a second behind the British McLaren driver.

With less than five minutes to go, Verstappen causes a yellow flag by going wide into a run-off to avoid contact with the barriers. Fortunately, there are no consequences for him either.

Oscar Piastri does not want to give up his position to the Monegasque driver, so he moves into second place, just behind Norris. The first free practice session ends in this way: a McLaren one-two followed by Leclerc. Russell seems to be stuck in fourth place, while it is not a great start for Alpine, with both cars at the bottom of the standings.

Read also: When the World Championship was still exciting: 2017 Baku Grand Prix

Read also: Italian GP - Verstappen dominates as controversy arises at McLaren

Main cover photo pbs.twimg.com

Azerbaijan GP 2025 Practice 1 result

It is not the first time, however, that the Azerbaijan circuit has faced such problems. Back in 2016, during its Formula 1 debut, then-Race Director Charlie Whiting personally inspected the curbs after several tyres were damaged in FP1, sparking debates and concerns over the safety of the Baku layout.

Today’s incident confirms the treacherous nature of the track, a unique blend of endless straights and extremely narrow sections between the walls. In such a context, where precision is crucial, the curbs play a decisive role in performance but also pose a tangible risk to car stability and tyre integrity.

The organizers quickly intervened to restore track conditions and allow the session to resume. Still, the debate remains: to what extent can Baku’s curbs truly balance spectacle and safety?

Read also: Azerbaijan GP, FP1: red flag interrupts session. McLaren one-two, Leclerc third.

Main cover photo x.com

A thrilling head-to-head 

The Baku stage was one of the high points of this rivalry. Vettel and Hamilton each have three wins to their name and are aiming for their fourth victory on the Azerbaijan circuit. We are halfway through the race, under the Safety Car, with Hamilton in the lead followed by the German. While under the SC, the Englishman suddenly slowed down, forcing Vettel to brake sharply (which he himself described as a “brake test”). This incident resulted in damage to the front wing. Sebastian's reaction was very exuberant, with the German sensationally deciding to pull up alongside Hamilton's Mercedes and bump into it.

This reaction immediately prompted a radio response from Hamilton, who insisted that his team impose a penalty on the Ferrari driver. The incident was investigated by the Federation, with Vettel being penalized with a ten-second Stop and Go. 

The final result

The checkered flag saw a smiling Daniel Ricciardo take the win, followed by Bottas and Stroll (then a Williams driver). Vettel finished fourth, managing to finish ahead of Hamilton in fifth. 

This week we return to Baku, where, as we have just seen, there has never been a shortage of battles. We just have to wait and see if this edition will also bring us lots of surprises.

Read also: When consistency pays off: Alex Albon shines even without the spotlight

Main cover photo sport.sky.it

However, once this situation was overcome, Verstappen dominated in Italy. His Red Bull RB21, thanks also to the updates made to the Brianza track (including some new features in the lower part, as well as improvements to the front wing to better adapt to the layout), was the fastest car on the track.

Much of the credit definitely goes to the Dutchman. Its qualities are absolutely not discussed, but Red Bull RB21 is not a poor car, as someone describe. Formula 1 is a sport in which the vehicle matters much more than the qualities of the driver. No one is able to turn a classic road car into a racing car just because of their driving skills, either Verstappen. Max puts that extra something into it, but it certainly doesn't work miracles. The gap with Tsunoda is too high to be true.

Red Bull had the potential to easily become the second force in 2025

The potential of the RB21 does not lie in Yuki's performance nor in that resulting from Verstappen's car. But what is certain is that this Red Bull is absolutely not poor. Helmut Marko, the team's consultant, also appeared strangely positive after the race. The updates worked and the car grew in competitive terms. McLaren is a whole different story, the Austrian said, but the technicians managed to put a high-level car in Max's hands (they also met his demands by removing part of the rear wing during FP3 to give him more speed).

To say that the RB21 is a poor car, based on Tsunoda's results and some GPs where Verstappen didn't shine, gives us a distorted image of this Formula 1. Max achieved three victories, four second places and also first position in the Belgian GP Sprint. Such results do not come by chance. Considering that Red Bull is fourth in the standings, 41 points behind Ferrari, essentially based on the results collected by the Dutch champion, if only it had managed to put Tsunoda in the position of being a little’ more competitive, or had had a driver capable of arrive, at least, constantly in the points, now in all likelihood it would be the second force in the world championship, almost alone.

Verstappen doesn't need to join the Racing Bulls to win GPs. He already has a top-level car in his hand, certainly better than the VCARB 02.

Read in the original language (Italian): Verstappen e il 'bidone' Red Bull: l'immagine falsata della Formula 1

Photo: Red Bull

Norris and Piastri fell behind Verstappen in second and third position respectively for most of the race. Six seconds behind Lando, before the Dutchman's stop, the papaya-colored team thought they hoped for an outside factor to win the GP. He therefore decided to extend the period as much as possible on mediums, hoping for a Safety Car, which however did not arrive. On lap 45° Oscar stops the delay by fitting the Softs for the last nine laps, while Lando makes the same move, but with a lap delay.

Unfortunately Norris' pit stop goes wrong, a few precious seconds are lost by screwing in the front left part and Lando finds himself returning to the track in third position behind Piastri. And it is at this moment that all enthusiasts found themselves attending an event for which it is difficult to find a yardstick. The team made a mistake, they admit it. They apologizes to Lando and asks Piastri, the world championship leader (who could have gained three more points over his rival), to let his teammate overtake him due to the mistake he made.

In Monza we witnessed a unique moment of its kind

The thing that struck us most was that the Australian didn't have to say it twice. Without tinkering too much, he slows down almost suddenly (he had a margin of 2’’) until overtaken by Lando. The duo loses a lot of time to Verstappen. Fixing the gap is no longer possible, but the two don't even go into battle with each other. Norris regains his position and Piastri finishes the race in tow as if not saying a word. No criticism, no bad mood. No misunderstanding.

If McLaren had done so by reversing roles, it could have been said that the choice had been wrong, but telling the world leader to give up the position to his main opponent was a one-of-a-kind moment.

Many things can be criticized about this decision (especially: could it or could it not have been done?) but we want to focus on the positive aspects. McLaren was exemplary. In a world that wants everything, that teaches us to have to take advantage of the moments favorable to us and try with all of us to assert ourselves without worrying too much about those around us, the house in Woking has decided to give us the opposite example.

No matter how much is at stake, no matter how people think of you. On that occasion the team made a mistake, admitted it, apologized and remedied it. What really matters is ‘family’, team, people. Andrea Stella based his victories, the rebirth of the McLaren team, on a very solid basis: trust. To the point that now the ‘values’ are its true strength.

Beating or reaching the level of a team founded on these values will not be easy for anyone.

Read in the original language (Italian): McLaren esemplare, nessuno mai era arrivato a tanto

Photo: McLaren

The team had arrived in the paddock with an aerodynamic package designed specifically for the Temple of Speed. No one else had such extreme wings on the track. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough for the Maranello team. McLaren's competitiveness and a newfound Red Bull made all the difference.

Leclerc still chases victory: three tracks are coming where the SF-25 will be more competitive

One of the main problems of the season for Ferrari is that it has not yet managed to win a race. There are only eight appointments left and as the 2026 pre-season tests approach, with the first session to be held in January due to the numerous changes that will occur following the introduction of the new technical regulations, no more help will arrive from the factory, no improvement. Team leader Vasseur recalled this at the end of the Italian GP. The racing team will have to rely on what they already have available.

Fortunately there are some paths where you can still hope for a good result. The first is the next, in Baku. Leclerc after racing in Monza said he was very confident for the Azerbaijan qualifications. However, since the long straight is present, a bit’ as happened in Italy, the race pace will play an important role in the chances of success. So, barring any surprises, Ferrari will still be third behind McLaren and Red Bull.

The other, which will arrive soon after, is Singapore. In the past, Charles also recalls, it was a track that brought joy to Ferrari. Qualifying well is extremely important and in the race it is not so easy to overtake. Leclerc knows that if he manages to take pole on Saturday, he would have a real chance on Sunday. Realistically, the Marina Bay track could be the only real opportunity, beyond Baku (but in this case with assumptions), in which Ferrari can really aim for victory.

In his statements Charles also mentions Las Vegas, but as far as we are concerned we think it is a rather’ too bold vision. The American track is city-wide. We know how Leclerc exalts himself in this type of circuit, but there are limits that must be taken into account. First of all, it still boasts the presence of a very long straight, then secondly, but no less importantly, it is cold. Maybe it's raced in the lowest temperatures of the entire world championship and that's a feature you never know if it will favor or paddle against you until the cars start to move on the track. Last year Ferrari managed to beat McLaren and Red Bull, but had to join Mercedes who dominated the scene with a beautiful one-two.

Ferrari still has possibilities, but perhaps Leclerc's thinking is all too optimistic.

Read in the original language (Italian): La Ferrari manca la vittoria a Monza, ma Leclerc non ha perso la speranza

Photo: Fabio Vegetti

Never underperforming, except for a few minor issues

Albon got off to a good start in Melbourne, where he finished fifth. Since then, only a few technical problems have prevented him from consistently finishing in the points. Out of sixteen races, he has only failed to score points in five. This is a more than positive result, considering the disappointing season of his teammate, Carlos Sainz (who has only scored points in six out of 16 races and has always finished below fifth place).

Williams is currently fifth in the constructors' standings with 86 points. In the drivers' standings, Albon has scored 70 points. These figures leave no room for doubt: without the Thai driver, the Grove-based team would find itself at the back of the pack. 

A sparkling return to the track

After the summer break, Formula 1 made stops in the Netherlands and Italy. On both occasions, Albon proved to be fast and competitive: Saturday at Monza was not brilliant, with both Williams cars out of Q3. But in the race, the Thai driver always manages to impress, quickly recovering positions. Whether it's thanks to the right strategies or his clearly visible feeling with the car, Albon proves to be solid and reliable.

"We had a fantastic strategy and great pace in the car. I would say it was one of the most balanced Sundays I've had all year. In many parts of the race, we were as fast as the leading teams, so it was a great comeback after a tough qualifying session" Albon admitted after the Monza race.

A certainty at the heart of the grid

Without fanfare, Albon is having a starring season. You don't have to be on the podium every Sunday to make your mark: sometimes tenacity and perseverance are praised even if you are far from the top. The Thai driver embodies all this - and that is precisely why Williams can dream big today. 

Read the original version (italiano): https://www.formula1.it/news/26735/1/quando-la-solidita-paga-alex-albon-brilla-anche-senza-riflettori?a=1

Inside photo x.com

Main cover photo www.williamsf1.com

Read also: Antonelli impresses once again: now he needs a clean race

Here are his words at the end of the race: "A great day for us. We had some bad luck at the start [with Norris' attack], but then the car was flying".

"I managed to control the pace right from the first stint and then we came in at the right time to fit the hard tyres. Fantastic performance by the team throughout the weekend".

"Can we win more races this year? We will certainly try. We will take it step by step, race by race. This has undoubtedly been an incredible weekend", concluded Verstappen.

Read also: Italian GP - Verstappen dominates as controversy arises at McLaren

Read also: At Monza you can do it without slipstream (sceptics should ask Max)

Race recap

At the start, Norris was able to take the lead briefly, as Verstappen had to give him back the position after running off track at turn 2. Leclerc was able to overtake Piastri twice in the first lap, but in the end the championship leader took the place after a couple of laps.

After that, the race did not offer much entertainment: Hamilton made his way up into the top 6, Alonso retired because of a suspension failure, Oliver Bearman and Carlos Sainz collided at turn 4 (with the young Britt getting a 10-second penalty) and Antonelli forced Albon off the track at turn 3, which gave the home talent a 5-second penalty.

Then, both McLarens pitted and Piastri benefitted from a slow pit stop for Norris to take P2. Soon after, though, the team asked him to gave the place back, which the Aussie did without many complaints. This instance was also laughed at by Verstappen in a team radio whilst the dutchman was on his way to a dominant win.

In the end, the Red Bull driver won by almost 20 seconds, as Norris and Piastri took the other two podium places. Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton, Albon, Bortoleto, Antonelli and Hadjar completed the points-paying positions.

Read also: At Monza you can do it without slipstream (sceptics should ask Max)

Main cover photo www.redbullcontentpool.com

To make concrete

Despite losing kilometres in FP2 following an error on the approach to the second Lesmo corner, Antonelli showed progressive improvement as qualifying progressed, finishing Q2 in second place just over a tenth behind Verstappen, which allowed him to regain access to Q3, which he had been missing since Silverstone.

The Bolognese driver is therefore managing to turn the weekend around despite Friday's setback: this makes his position just a few thousandths behind Russell even more valuable, not only because the Briton drives the same car - and is therefore the best possible reference point - but also and above all because the former Williams driver is proving to be one of the best on the entire grid.

What remains to be done now is to capitalise on the result at the end of the 53 laps in Monza, earning valuable points not only in terms of the Constructors' Championship, but above all for confidence. A clean race, without mistakes. Come on, Kimi.

Read also: At Monza you can do it without slipstream (sceptics should ask Max)

Read also: Verstappen shocks Monza by snatching pole position from both McLarens

That first shot at the start of Q3 was facilitated above all by the slipstream provided by Yuki Tsunoda, which allowed Verstappen to put himself in a position of (relative) strength ahead of the final shot. The four-time World Champion then outsmarted Norris in the final stages, completing the job without the aid of a slipstream and thus nipping in the bud the classic "he got pole thanks to the slipstream" comments that critics were already ready to make.

A meticulously constructed pole

Today's result is not only down to Max's great driving, but was also a real team effort; the team worked obsessively during the last free practice session, with the mechanics "trimming" the top of the rear wing in order to gain a few more kilometres per hour on the straights. It was a risky move, as Red Bull did not have another wing with the same level of downforce (although they would certainly not have had any problem using Tsunoda's one).

It may be a risky choice, but the Milton Keynes team knows it can afford to take it, having a driver who can perfectly manage the reduction in downforce and the resulting instability when cornering at Lesmo and Ascari. After all, this is what champions do: implement alternative strategies that would be unthinkable with "normal" drivers. Just ask Leclerc, who triumphed at Monza a year ago after being the only driver to make a single pit-stop.

Read also: Verstappen is the only driver capable of doing THAT: telemetry data analysis Italian GP

Read also: Red Bull, Verstappen on pole position at Monza: «A great moment. The race? We'll see»

Well, today's pole position at the Italian Grand Prix happens to fall into that category of brilliant moments: let's try to explain it together using telemetry data.

The decisive moment

First things first: in the third free practice session, Red Bull decided to trim the rear wing on the four-time reigning World Champion's car.

"Why did they do that?", you might be wondering. To reduce drag and achieve a higher top speed on the straights that characterise the Monza track.

However, in Formula 1, no choice comes without a compromise. For the Milton Keynes team in particular, that set-up change could only mean one thing: less downforce and, consequently, a more difficult car to drive in the corners. But this had little or no impact on Max Verstappen.

Verstappen vs Norris

As we can see from the graph below, Red Bull's compromise paid off: Verstappen had in fact a much higher top speed than his rivals (blue circles).

Graphical comparison between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris showing speed in km/h

Despite an overall performance that was not up to par with his rivals in the middle sector (orange circles), the Dutchman limited the damage in the corners and took pole position by 77 thousandths of a second.

Not only that: Verstappen's superb performance meant that his lap set a new record for the historic Italian track, as well as the best average speed in F1 history (264.681 km/h).

Tomorrow, on paper, the Red Bull driver will struggle to keep up with the two McLarens and is likely to suffer higher tyre wear over a long distance stint, which could lead him to choose a two-stop strategy.

Regardless of how the race turns out, one thing is certain: only an alien like Max Verstappen can deliver special moments like this afternoon's to the fans.

Any other driver, pushing their car to the limit like that, would have made a mistake. He didn't. And that's what makes him special.

Read also: Verstappen shocks Monza by snatching pole position from both McLarens

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Inside photo www.f1-tempo.com

Here are the Red Bull driver's comments after qualifying: "Around here, with such low downforce, it's difficult to put together a good lap. It's easy to make mistakes under braking".

"I felt good in Q3, I'm happy with my laps. Being on pole here is really fantastic. The car has worked well all weekend and fighting for pole makes me very happy".

"After free practice we were close, we made some last-minute changes that allowed me to push harder. They were exactly what we needed in qualifying, it's a great moment for us".

"Beat the two McLaren in the race too? We'll see, historically this season the races have been more complicated for us. We'll give it everything we've got, it's the only thing we can do", concluded Verstappen.

Read also: Verstappen shocks Monza by snatching pole position from both McLarens

Read also: The Hamilton-Verstappen rivalry erupts as Ricciardo triumphs one last time: Monza 2021

The two Ferraris could only manage fourth and fifth place, with Leclerc out-qualifying Hamilton once again. Don't forget: the Britain has a 5-place-grid penalty from Zandvoort, so he will start the race in P10.

Russell, Antonelli, Bortoleto, Alonso and Tsunoda completed the top-10 in Q3. Bearman, Hulkenberg, Sainz, Albon and Ocon were eliminated in Q2 as Hadjar, Stroll, Colapinto, Gasly and Lawson round off tomorrow's starting grid.

Read also: The Hamilton-Verstappen rivalry erupts as Ricciardo triumphs one last time: Monza 2021

Main cover photo www.redbullcontentpool.com

Carlos Sainz proved to be particularly comfortable, finishing third in qualifying simulation just 96 thousandths of a second behind the fastest driver of the day, Lando Norris, with a time of 1:19.974. The performance of Alexander Albon, seventh just over two tenths behind his teammate, also confirmed the strength of the Grove car on high-speed circuits.

If two clues make a proof...

Williams arrived in Monza with an intermediate level of downforce, not as extreme as Ferrari and McLaren but more similar to Red Bull's approach. This still allows the British car to show off its potential since, analysing the telemetry, it is clear that Sainz is able to exploit its aerodynamic efficiency, so much so that he arrives at the Parabolica with a tenth of a second advantage over the MCL39.

Not just time attack, the idea that James Vowles' team could challenge the frontrunners in the race is not as utopian as one might automatically think. The data from Sainz's 10 laps stint on C4 tyres was quite promising, with an average of 23 high (the Spaniard crossed the finish line several times matching Oscar Piastri's chronos).

However, it should not be overlooked that on Fridays, the British team usually runs with a more powerful engine configuration than its competitors, a factor that could prevent the Grove-based team from making a step forward on a par with the competition. Despite having less room for improvement than the others, Sainz and Williams are still contenders for an excellent performance over the Italian weekend.

Read also: The lost Matador: Sainz and the price of change

Read also: The most outrageous penalty of 2025: the FIA need to start from scratch

Monza therefore represents an important opportunity for the Dutchman to increase his lead and try to consolidate his position, but also a chance for the then Mercedes driver to regain the lead and increase the pressure on his rival. Spoiler alert: neither scenario will actually happen.

The report of a breathtaking weekend

The weekend will feature a Sprint format: qualifying on Friday, a short 100 km race on Saturday and a classic Grand Prix on Sunday.

Valtteri Bottas takes pole position but, regardless of the Sprint result, will be forced to start Sunday's race from the back of the grid for fitting new power unit elements, exceeding the number allowed by the regulations. Hamilton beats Verstappen and takes second place, ahead of the Dutchman and the two McLarens of Norris and Ricciardo.

However, Saturday's result comes in handy for the Dutchman: Max crosses the finish line in second place, behind Bottas. This means 2 points in the World Championship standings and pole position for the Grand Prix the following day. Hamilton, on the other hand, is only fifth - behind the two McLarens as well - and will start fourth on Sunday.

When the lights go out, Ricciardo overtakes Verstappen before turn 1 and takes the lead. Hamilton, after initially overtaking Norris, attacks the Red Bull driver on the outside at the Variante della Roggia. However, the Dutchman pushes him off the track, causing him to lose the position he had gained at the start: therefore, the seven-time World Champion stayed in fourth place.

The first part of the race proceeds without any surprises, but what happens on lap 23 changed everything: Max Verstappen suffered a very slow pit stop by his mechanics' crew. At the same time, Hamilton overtakes Norris. In 30 seconds, the World Championship race is turned upside down: Lewis now has a great chance of finishing ahead of his rival at the finish line.

Two laps later, the Mercedes driver comes into the pits for a tyre change, completely unaware of what would happen only a few moments later. The number 44 leaves the pit lane just ahead of the Dutchman, who does not want to give up the place that easily. As a matter of fact, he probably goes over the limit: Verstappen attacks Hamilton at the outside of turn 1, which becomes the inside for turn 2. However, his Red Bull bounces violently onto the kerb and ends up on top of his opponent's car. The outcome? Both championship contenders end up in the gravel.

From then on, Ricciardo flies completely on his own towards what would be the last victory of his Formula 1 career. A victory that will also go down in history for McLaren, who had not won since 2012. After a difficult first part of the season, the Aussie celebrated his comeback in his own way, with a scream full of relief and an emotional team radio message: "Thank you, boys and girls. [Race, ed.] F**king dominated. Thank you for having my back. And to anyone who thought I left: I never left, just moved aside for a while."

Lando Norris made the day even better for the Woking team with his second place. Bottas, with a great comeback (also helped by the Safety Car coming onto the track due to the Verstappen-Hamilton incident), completed the podium.

In short, the 2021 Italian Grand Prix was one of the most dramatic and iconic races in a championship that has - rightfully so - become part of F1's history books. Ferrari fans, fresh from last year's victory, will be hoping for another red weekend at their home race in 2025.

Read also: No Stefano, the problem isn’t the length of the Grand Prix

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An idea that inevitably sparks debate. Because questioning the duration of a Grand Prix means challenging one of the pillars on which Formula 1 has stood for decades. But perhaps the real problem isn’t the stopwatch.

It’s not time that kills passion. It never has been, whether it’s the 300 kilometers of a race or the hour and a half — less than a tennis final and almost the length of a football match — spent in front of the TV. Because when the track comes alive and your heart starts racing, no one notices the passing minutes.

Last weekend, a single overtake by Leclerc reminded us of this. A daring move at the limit, the kind that makes you jump off the couch. Like in 2021, when Hamilton and Verstappen gave fans a season-long duel. Or like in the 2022 Bahrain GP, with Leclerc and Verstappen exchanging the lead lap after lap in a battle that seemed far too short.
The truth is, in those moments the duration of the GP doesn’t matter: only the adrenaline coursing through your veins and the sense that anything could still happen.

The real issue isn’t that Grand Prix are too long for young fans (in some cases, maybe it is, but that’s the minority). The issue is that too often they feel too predictable. Too often the true nature of Formula 1 seems trapped: meticulous rules, millimeter-precise penalties, and strategies designed more by computers than by instinct. And so the races lose their essence: unpredictability, risk and the freedom for drivers to really drive.

Highlights are certainly popular—same as in football. Yet no one would want to reduce a match to just five minutes, because the build-up, the tension and the crescendo to the decisive moment are all part of the show. Without them, the “climactic moment” loses its value.

Perhaps the future of Formula 1 isn’t in shortening the Grand Prix, but in restoring their intensity. Giving drivers more freedom, less instruction over the radio. Encouraging duels, not just the use of DRS. Allowing mistakes, surprises and pure talent to change the course of a race.

Because the audience, young or not, isn’t looking for a shorter race: they want a real race, one that makes the heart beat. And when Formula 1 remembers it can do that, the length no longer matters.

Read also: The most outrageous penalty of 2025: the FIA need to start from scratch

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In the first instance, during the race, caught up in the euphoria of the moment, mainly due to the fact that it is difficult in this modern Formula 1 to find drivers ready to take such an initiative, we had rejoiced like madmen at the great and amazing maneuver made by the Monegasque. The heart had already established that an action like that would be destined to be seen and reviewed over the years as one of the most beautiful overtaking in history.

Unfortunately, however, seeing the images better at the end of the race, we grasped an irrefutable fact. Leclerc was magnificent, it's a shame that overtaking was only possible because he went with all four wheels over the white line. Off the track. The FIA probably judged the episode to be regular only because Charles then had to withdraw following the contact with Antonelli, but this was a rather risky move on the part of the stewards: overtaking like this is to be penalised. They are not regular.

The comparison with Rossi and Marquez at Laguna Seca

Seeing Leclerc overtake Russell on the gravel brought to mind another battle, like the one we feced, in 2008 when Rossi overtook Stoner at Laguna Seca. On this occasion we firmly believed that Valentino should be penalized, despite the FIM having said the opposite. Public opinion, especially Italian opinion, thought differently. But then everyone changed their minds when Rossi was involved in the same situation with the roles reversed, and Marquez overcame him by performing the same maneuver five years later (it was 2013).

This is to tell you how important, even if made in good faith, the considerations made by the stewards can be for the current season, but also future ones.

Leclerc's overtaking was erratic and had to be judged as such

Leclerc made a great maneuver. For the heart, the courage to dare, an overtaking at that point and in those ways should be framed and put in plain sight at the most prominent point in the showcase. But then the head intervenes... Charles' maneuver had to be sanctioned.

We stay here, every year, especially more on certain tracks than on others, to speak on the track limits, but then we let an overtaking like the one made by Leclerc pass without any measure. It is incorrect and not healthy for the sport.

Russell's anger is understandable. George had closed the door in front of Leclerc and instead found himself overtaking and having a damaged car to take to the finish line. The layout has been designed in a certain way and must be respected. Otherwise why force pilots to follow the limits dictated by the white line. Think about what else could come out in a track like Paul Ricard.

Read in the original language (Italian): Emozioni, memorie e conflitti interiori generati dal sorpasso di Leclerc

Cover photo: X,  Christian Nimmervoll;  Internal photo: X, Desacelerando F1

A smoke screen that could change everything

Let's start with the undisputed winner, Oscar Piastri. A big 10 out of 10 for the Australian, who did not look like the favourite at all on the eve of the race. A massive pole position, as well as the race, where he gave Lando no chance to attack, forcing him to park his smoke-filled car (7). A retirement that weighs heavily, with his teammate extending his lead in the standings by a full 34 points.  Who knows if we have witnessed a key move in the world championship challenge. 

High burns 

The return to the track for Leclerc and Hamilton (8 and 4) was rather painful: a double retirement not seen since the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix, bringing disappointment and discouragement. The Monegasque's face on that hill overlooking Zandvoort is a painting on canvas that perfectly represents Ferrari's season - made up of more poles than glorious successes. In the endless wait for a car within his reach, Leclerc's overtaking of Russell remains in our minds. A masterstroke for a driver who is increasingly wasted on the streets of Maranello. 

The five-place penalty imposed on Hamilton at Monza only adds to the disappointment of a weekend that, even before it begins, promises to be more complicated than exciting. Will beautiful Italy and the Ferrari fans be able to work a miracle for the Rosso duo? 

When you least expect it

And then, suddenly, something extraordinary happens: Isack Hadjar (10) amazes his rivals and clinches his first Formula 1 podium. There is nothing the outsiders can do, as they are unable to even attempt to overtake the Frenchman, who has been on another level all weekend. The right strategy from his pit wall - and Norris' retirement - put him in the right place at the right time, earning him an unexpected podium finish. 

In his first season in F1, a podium finish is a great calling card. Who knows, maybe the Red Bull bosses are already considering a move to Milton Keynes. 

A successful gift

Max Verstappen licked his wounds and took home second place in front of his home crowd (8). A crazy overtaking manoeuvre at the start gave viewers and fans at Zandvoort goosebumps. Although his pace was not enough to fight with the Papaya duo, the Dutchman gave his all to be the best of the rest. 

Between great performances and costly mistakes

After Hadjar, the applause was all for Oliver Bearman (9): the Ferrari star took a superb sixth place after starting from the pit lane. Great pace and masterful work from his pit wall, which made some spot-on calls, allowed him to climb back into the top 10. The same fate befell Ocon (8), who finished tenth to give Haas the double points it had been missing for some time.

Another honourable mention goes to Albon (8): after a difficult qualifying session, the Thai driver once again showed his great feeling with the FW47, climbing up to fifth place and once again marginalising Carlos Sainz (4), who was unlucky and penalised for what happened with Lawson (4).

We conclude with Lance Stroll, who, after mistakes in FP2 and qualifying, brought his Aston Martin back into the points after the British Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso also did well, thus completing a double haul for the British team. Precious points also for Tsunoda (7), back in the long-awaited top 10.

And Mercedes?

George Russell limited the damage by returning to his “safe place” in fourth position (7), albeit grumbling about Leclerc's overtaking manoeuvre. Kimi Antonelli (3) fared badly, being too impulsive - and naive - in his attempted overtaking manoeuvre on the Monegasque driver, which forced him to end his race. The Italian needs a clean and satisfying weekend: will the home crowd give him that and more?

The GP of the others 

We close with Alpine and Sauber, both out of the points: too much fighting in the middle of the pack for the top 10 and too little pace (and luck) to really compete. But the Circus doesn't stop: there's another race this weekend, heading to Monza, the kingdom of the Rossa fans: will we be writing more colourful and exciting pages? We'll just have to wait and see.

See you soon, my friends. 

Read the original version (italian): https://www.formula1.it/news/26585/1/la-rompipaddock-colline-sconsolate-nei-pressi-di-zandvoort?a=1

Read also: The rompipaddock - Horses in disarray

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From favorite to DNF. The shots that knocked out Norris

Having gone into the summer-break just 9 points behind leader Piastri, the Briton had started the Dutch weekend with every intention of winning and reducing the gap even further. Norris dominates free practice and reaches Q1 as the favorite for pole. He was the fastest both in the first session and in Q2, but just at the crucial moment Piastri worked magic and beat him by just 12 thousandths, taking away pole position. Norris cashed in the first hit. A strong shot and precise blow. 12 thousandths is nothing and it is precisely that trifle that makes everything even more painful.

In the race, he is forced to receive another set of hits. One for each stint. At the start Piastri maintains P1 and starts controlling the race as if nothing had happened, while Lando gets off to a bad start, loses position on Verstappen and is forced to make up for it. Lando will soon get rid of Max, but not being able to reach his teammate and not enter the battle, not even for a second, hurts. Especially after being considered the favorite of the weekend on Friday evening. Series of shots.

The blow that momentarily knocks him out is dealt to him by the power unit, which betrays him with a few laps to go. Norris is down. He sees his teammate win, increasingly world leader, now with a 34 point advantage.

Lando is in pain, but gets up. He's taken a lot of hits, but he can still do it. There are already those who say that Zandvoort can be considered the decisive stage of the 2025 World Cup. In our opinion, no, the decisive event will be next. Norris took many hits, got up, but now he too must be able to respond to the series of attacks he received.

We need an answer to Rocky Balboa

From Lando we need an answer to Rocky Balboa. The well-known boxer, who kept us all stuck on the screens, has never won a match as an absolute dominator. Rocky was a boxer who knew how to cash in, and took some. How many did he take before landing the decisive blows and winning the matches. Norris has collected in this first part of the season and in Zandvoort he has taken a lot, perhaps more than he took in the first part of the world championship.

Now the time has come to also launch some well-placed hooks to continue believing in the world championship, Monza will have to mark the GP of rebirth, the one in which Lando will enter the ring, and will be unstoppable, like Rocky Balboa.

Read in the original language (Italian): Zandvoort mette Norris al tappeto, a Monza serve una risposta degna di Rocky Balboa

Photo: X, Formula1, Internal photo: X, Formula1

What we want to analyze is the period of difficulty that the young Mercedes is going through. The Italian, born in 2006, had an overall good and fairly linear start to the season. He took fourth place on his debut and then achieved sixth place four times in the five stages that followed. Three zeros came in Imola, Monaco and Barcelona, but Kimi had shown that he was on track by taking his first career podium in Canada, finishing third behind Russell and Verstappen.

It all started at the Red Bull Ring

Up to this point (Canadian GP) his season was positive. Very positive for a rookie. According to the writer, the castle that Kimi built in his head in Montreal, however, lasted for a very little period. Indeed, it immediately collapsed in Austria. The Italian comes to Spielberg very confident. He talks about the last races in which he failed to collect points, and about Canada as if it were the light at the end of the tunnel, the GP that would have made him turn the season around. Antonelli will claim that he has often limited himself to carrying out the homework up to that point and now that the podium had arrived, he could have attempted another approach to the weekend. A grittier, more experimental approach.

It is here, according to the writer, that the problems arose. At the Red Bull Ring, right where he had made such a strong statement, he had to retire following his mistake: he blocked the wheels in turn-3 and collided, also throwing out the four-time world champion Max Verstappen. At Silverstone he then suffered another retirement, this time innocent, put out by Hadjar who hit him due to poor visibility.

Too much protection makes worse situation

This was followed by a zero in Belgium, tenth place (just one point) in Hungary and yesterday's zero again in Netherlands. A negative trail that we have hypothesized began with an excess of euphoria and which can only end after a careful analysis, not so much by Kimi, but also by the Mercedes team. Too overprotective.

There may be a line of wanting to protect Antonelli by raising a wall to help him isolate himself and only think about running, especially after what happened in Monza last year. But even by acting in this way it is not certain that any good will be done to him. It is clear that there is something wrong with these performances. However, it seems as if Kimi's problems have become a sort of Taboo for Mercedes. The team doesn't talk about it, Andrea doesn't talk about it accordingly and everything gets complicated.

Managing a 19 year old driver is not easy. He finds himself in Formula 1 coming to terms with the greats, with the icons of sport, and in his debut season he has already had the chance to fight and ‘clash’ (in the true sense of the word) with two of the most important figures within the paddock: Verstappen and Leclerc.

The problems must be addressed and avoiding talking about it and/or hiding Antonelli inside a bubble will certainly not help him. In fact, it will only complicate the situation.

Read in the original language (Italian): Antonelli soffre una Mercedes iperprotettiva

Photo: Mercedes

The incident

Carlos Sainz received a 10-second penalty – and 2 points on his driver's licence – at the Dutch Grand Prix.

An outrageous punishment when compared to what happened: in an attempt to overtake, the Spaniard pulled alongside Liam Lawson on the outside of turn 1. Following a slight oversteer by the VCARB driver, due to the lack temperature of the tyres (still cold at the time of the restart from a Safety Car), the two cars made contact.

Both drivers ended up with punctures, which ruined their chances of achieving a good result.

However, the effect of the contact should not overshadow the FIA's decision. In an official document, the race stewards explained their reasons as follows: "Car number 30 [Lawson's, ed.] had the right of way [as it was ahead of the apex, ed.], so car number 55 [Sainz's, ed.] is wholly or predominantly responsible for the collision."

The new guidelines...

Ahead of the 2025 season, the stewards have introduced new guidelines on overtaking manoeuvres. And this is the result.

In the specific case of the Zandvoort race, Lawson had left enough space for Sainz, but the question must be asked: how could the Williams driver have expected his rival to correct his oversteer?

The former Ferrari driver calculated his move correctly. The event that led to the contact was unforeseen and unforseable, really.

As per this exact reasoning, the Sainz-Lawson incident should have been classified as a racing incident, just like the one between Leclerc and Russell at turn 12.

Let's be open and honest: if Antonelli received a 10-second penalty for completely misjudging an overtaking manoeuvre on Leclerc, then Sainz can not be penalised in the same way for a mistake that Lawson made.

The appeal to the FIA, therefore, arises spontaneously: they need to start from scratch with the regulations, otherwise there is a serious risk of seeing more crazy decisions like yesterday's.

Read also: Dutch GP - Piastri wins as Hadjar gets maiden podium, Norris and both Ferraris out

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His tears at the last Mexican Grand Prix will remain etched in the hearts of Ferrari fans: with that victory, his last in red, Carlos wanted to pay tribute to his years at Ferrari, the entire team and his supporters. 

New horizons

His departure from Maranello was painful, but it did not dampen the tenacity of the “Matador”. From this season, Carlos has embraced a new project: that of Williams. It is an important change, full of challenges and expectations.

The start has not been easy, with difficult moments and tough weekends, such as the last Dutch Grand Prix. But if there is one thing Carlos has always demonstrated, it is that he never gives up. He works hard, believes in the project and faces every difficulty with the determination of the greats. His journey in Formula 1 is far from over; in fact, it is still to be written.

Happy birthday Matador: rediscover your light and show, once again, the potential you possess.
The best is yet to come.

Read the original version (italian): https://www.formula1.it/news/26583/1/buon-compleanno-matador-tra-ricordi-indelebili-e-nuove-sfide-all-orizzonte

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Main cover photo www.williamsf1.com

Read also: Isack Hadjar: All heart at Zandvoort

Read also: Charles you're pure emotion

"It's not a track I particularly love, but the important thing is to give it my all, be fast and try to score points"

From the first free practice sessions, Isack proved to be competitive. In qualifying, he pulled off a textbook lap, which earned him a spot on the second row, alongside a certain Max Verstappen. It was an unexpected but well-deserved fourth place. The young Racing Bulls talent knew that keeping up with Ferrari and Mercedes for 72 laps would be tough. The podium was not even in his thoughts. 

Everything can change

However, the race was unpredictable and full of twists and turns. Hadjar was a constant: fast, clear-headed, consistent, never overdoing it. He raced with the maturity of a veteran. While chaos took shape around him - with unexpected retirements and frequent Safety Cars - he never lost the rhythm or concentration that had distinguished him from the start.

The chequered flag marked many emotions: his first podium in Formula 1 in his debut season, as well as the return of Racing Bulls among the greats, an absence that had lasted for four seasons:

"It feels surreal. The thing that surprised me the most was being able to hold on to fourth place for the whole race. What a fantastic day. I'm so happy for my guys"

In a chaotic Dutch Grand Prix, Hadjar shone brighter than ever. When talent meets determination, dreams can become reality. And if this was his debut... The best is yet to come.

Read the original version (italian): https://www.formula1.it/news/26564/1/isack-hadjar-tutto-cuore-a-zandvoort?a=1

Read also: Dutch GP - Piastri wins as Hadjar gets maiden podium, Norris and both Ferraris out

Today, for a brief moment, Charles broke free from the cage with an overtake that recalled the wheel-to-wheel duels of the past, when talent truly made the difference. When overtaking was an art, not the result of countless data and strategies.

It was just a moment, but it was enough to remind everyone that this sport, if left in the right hands, can still excite. Too many rules, limits, or endless calculations sometimes take away the joy and beauty of racing. One move was enough to awaken the fans, to bring back the feeling that anything can still happen.

And perhaps that’s why Leclerc continues to embody a hope different from many others on the grid. Because beyond the results, he manages, at times, to bring back the Formula 1 we always want to see. One that puts the heart in the car as well as the mind. One that risks, that believes even when things seem impossible.
Like overtaking at Rascasse in Monaco or Copse at Silverstone. Holding off Hamilton and taking victory at your first Monza in red, or finishing a Grand Prix with a single pit stop when a double stop seemed mandatory. Like overtaking into the gravel, ignoring curbs or track limits.

Regardless of how this story ends, whether there’s a penalty or not, today Charles gave fans a moment of pure magic. He reminded everyone that we can still dare and bring back the Formula 1 we dream of: one that believes in the impossible, that makes the heart race, and delivers new emotions every time.

Read also: You're mistaken, Charles: YOU deserve better

Read also: Dutch GP - Piastri wins as Hadjar gets maiden podium, Norris and both Ferraris out

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He held that same position for the entire race, until Lando Norris (who was in the second place) had a problem with his car, and was forced to retire. 

“Wasn't easy - gave it everything at the start to move forward and had a little moment in Turn 2", said the 4 time World Champion. 

“But in general to be on the podium here is a great result.”

To make this podium even more special, Verstappen was able to celebrate with Isack Hadjar, the Racing Bulls driver who delivered a great performance to secure his first ever Formula 1 podium. 

Read also: Hadjar «made no mistakes» on the way to his first F1 podium

Read also: Dutch GP - Piastri wins as Hadjar gets maiden podium, Norris and both Ferraris out

Read also: Mighty Hadjar at Zandvoort: second row alongside Verstappen

Hadjar started the race from fourth place, and defended it fiercely against George Russell and Charles Leclerc. During the final laps, Lando Norris, who was running second behind his teammate, suffered car problems and was forced to retire. This promoted both Verstappen and Hadjar up one position, allowing them to join Piastri on the podium.

“It feels a bit unreal. What was most surprising to me was keeping the fourth place for the race. Unfortunate for Lando, we took advantage of his [DNF]”, said the driver.

“I maximised what I had and made no mistakes. This was the target since I was a kid, this is the first step and hopefully more to come."

A well-deserved podium for the 2004-born driver after an excellent race, hopefully the first of many more to come. 

Read also: Dutch GP - Piastri wins as Hadjar gets maiden podium, Norris and both Ferraris out

Read also: Mighty Hadjar at Zandvoort: second row alongside Verstappen

Piastri highlighted the progress he has made compared to previous seasons, emphasizing the importance of consistency and hard work: “I tried to improve wherever possible. At the start of the weekend it seemed difficult, but I managed to put everything together in qualifying, and I was very happy with the pace today. I was glad there were Safety Cars that added a bit of spice. Then we managed to bring everything together”.

He also expressed gratitude to the team, a key part of today’s success and his growth: “It wasn’t just me improving; it was also the team around me helping me get here. Without them, this wouldn’t have been possible. It was a real team effort".

Piastri now looks to the future with determination but also caution: “Restarting at the top is positive, but we take one thing at a time”. In short, the road ahead is still long, but the restart has been in the right direction.

Read also: Dutch GP - Piastri wins as Hadjar gets maiden podium, Norris and both Ferraris out

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Lando Norris, after running second for most of the race, DNF'ed on lap 65 because of an engine failure. Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar brilliantly completed the podium.

Lewis Hamilton made a mistake at turn 3 on lap 23, which saw him end his race into the barrier. His teammate Charles Leclerc got taken out of the race by Kimi Antonelli - penalised twice from the FIA stewards, for both the incident with the number 16 and for speeding in the pit lane - in the same corner on lap 53.

Russell was P4, with Albon (P5), Bearman (P6), Stroll (P7), Alonso (P8), Tsunoda (P9) and Ocon (P10) completed the points-paying positions.

Read also: You're mistaken, Charles: YOU deserve better

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According to Frédéric Vasseur, Ferrari's team principal, the Monegasque driver could have got fourth place on the grid if he had completed a perfect lap. And this should give the team plenty to think about...

Leclerc is the one who deserves better, not the other way around.

Now in his seventh year in red, Leclerc has proven on multiple occasions that he has become (through an extensive growth process) World Championship material.

Yet he has never had the chance to fight for the World Championship. He has never had a car and a team that were up to the task.

Let's be clear: all human beings make mistakes. No one is perfect, not even Leclerc. But it is the way one reacts to his mistakes that makes the difference.

It is not morally fair for a driver to beat himself up over a less than perfect lap in qualifying when, just a month ago, he lost the chance to win a Grand Prix solely because of an unknown drop in performance. Even today, the Tifosi don't know what happened to his car in Hungary.

Morover, frankly, what difference does it make to line up fourth on the grid - rather than sixth - in the eyes of the most successful team in history?

Ferrari have to win. If they haven't done so since 2008, when the Monegasque was barely a teenager, it is certainly not the fault of a driver who always gives 110% for the Prancing Horse he so much loves.

That driver is Charles Leclerc: a talent who deserves much more than he has received in his last seven seasons at Maranello. Someone had to set the record straight.

Read also: How Piastri turned the script upside down by getting pole position at Zandvoort

Main cover photo www.ferrari.com