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Wolff: Max has a psychological advantage over McLaren
Max Verstappen continues to cut the deficit in the drivers' championship to the McLaren drivers. After his win in Austin the Red Bull Racing driver is 26 points behind Lando Norris and 40 behind Oscar Piastri. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is convinced that Max has already gained a psychological advantage over his rivals, and that increases his chances of a fifth consecutive title.
Toto Wolff: "I've been in a situation before when two drivers from my team were fighting each other for the title, and at some point a third started to catch up with them. I think that was Sebastian Vettel, and later Max. The one who is behind always has a slight psychological advantage, because his chance of winning is perceived as lower.
At the moment the odds for the title are definitely not in Max's favour, but one retirement from his rivals can change everything.
Colton Herta Makes Important Progress Toward Securing a Cadillac F1 Racing Position.
Geoff Miller via Getty

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Cadillac F1 Team test driver Colton Herta is set to race with the esteemed Hitech Formula 2 team starting in 2026, which should provide him with the essential experience and confidence to compete globally in the upcoming years. This transition will fully immerse him in the European single-seater circuit, which is crucial for his aspirations in Formula 1.

Herta deserves recognition for taking this step. He is leaving a relatively secure position in IndyCar to pursue his ambition of racing in F1.
Pato O'Ward will replace Norris during practice in Mexico City.
Pato O’Ward will return behind the wheel of the McLaren at the Mexican Grand Prix and will take part in the first free practice session, replacing Lando Norris. For the Mexican driver this will be his fourth appearance at an official Formula 1 race weekend. In 2022 and 2023 he drove in the practice sessions in Abu Dhabi, and last year — at his home circuit.

Lando Norris: "I’m very much looking forward to the trip to Mexico. I like the city, and the track is interesting to drive. There are lots of fans in the city who love Formula 1, so I’m looking forward to feeling their energy. After finishing on the podium in Austin I want to build on that result and fight for more points this weekend.
Mercedes hope to bounce back after the setback in the United States.
The recent round in Austin was unsuccessful for Mercedes. The team scored just 16 points — the fewest among the group of leaders. Team principal Toto Wolff hopes to make up for it this weekend in Mexico.

Toto Wolff: "There are five races left in the season, and only ten points separate second and fourth in the Constructors' Championship. We struggled in Austin and our rivals got the better of us. But the team has a chance to make up for it straightaway this weekend in Mexico. The fight will be intense right up to the checkered flag in Abu Dhabi, and we like that.

In Mexico we will face unique challenges. Because of the high altitude the brakes and power unit are under significant strain, and because of the thin air the car must be set up for high downforce.
Pirelli will conduct compound tests in Mexico for 2026.
As with the Austin round, for the Mexico Grand Prix Pirelli's tyre division did not select a consecutive range of compounds but took a less conventional approach: Medium and Soft remain the same C4 and C5 as in 2024, but this time C2 will be used as the Hard.

The Italian company admits that this selection is a very conservative choice and, compared with the other two, the hard tyres will be clearly slower, partly because grip on them is expected to be worse.

A year ago the Soft tyre was used in Mexico mainly in qualifying, and in the race only by teams aiming to set the fastest lap. This time the picture may change — at least Pirelli hopes so.

Medium and Soft tyres will provide a significant pace advantage over the hard tyres, so these compounds will be used predominantly on Sunday.
At the previous round in Austin, Nico Hülkenberg scored his first points since the podium in Silverstone. The German Sauber driver is determined to consolidate that success in Mexico. His teammate Gabriel Bortoleto was inconspicuous in Austin and now wants to make up for it at the upcoming round.

Nico Hülkenberg: "It was great to score points in Austin, and I'm heading to Mexico in a good mood this week. We face a special race on an old-school circuit that's interesting to drive, and the stands fill with passionate fans. After a good result last weekend, our goal is to consolidate the success. The high altitude will be a challenge and will affect the car's behaviour, but we remain focused and will try to do everything we can to have a strong weekend."

Gabriel Bortoleto: "I'm looking forward to the Mexico round this weekend. I've heard so much about the atmosphere and energy of the local fans that I want to experience it all in person. In addition, this circuit has a rich history, and although the final sector has changed significantly, some of Formula 1's greatest drivers have still competed here over the years. I want to leave the difficult weekend in Austin behind and focus on steady progress. Nico scored points and showed what our car is capable of, and I'm determined to get back to that level. This weekend I'll have three practice sessions at my disposal, so I'll be able to learn the track and progress from session to session. I want to make the most of the time on track and put in a strong performance."
In the final laps of the race in Austin, Franco Colapinto disobeyed team instructions and overtook his teammate. Such behavior from the young driver did not sit well with Alpine management, and he was spoken to. In a press release published ahead of the Mexico round, Franco said that team instructions must be followed unconditionally in any situation.

Additionally, Alpine confirmed Paul Aron’s participation in the first practice session. The Estonian driver will replace Pierre Gasly at the wheel of the A525 for one hour in Mexico.

Franco Colapinto: "The weekend in Austin was difficult, and I had serious problems with the car. Only one practice, difficult conditions and the inability to find the right balance — all of this made it a tough weekend for me.

We need to understand why we have so many problems with the car. The team is working on resolving them for the future, although we understand that with the current car we face a challenging end to the season.

As for the team situation on Sunday, we discussed what happened within the team. Obviously, team instructions must be followed at all times, no matter what. We are all working together toward a common goal — to make progress in every session and at each race weekend.

I am now looking forward to the Mexico round, where the atmosphere is always amazing. It's great to receive so much support for the upcoming weekend, although the track's high altitude will create additional challenges. But I am happy to return to the track in front of such an incredible crowd."

Pierre Gasly: "We analyzed a lot after Austin. In the second half of the race our pace was far from its true potential, because I got stuck in traffic after an unsuccessful pit stop, which we will discuss with the team.

Up until that moment I believed we had good potential, especially after a successful qualifying and a competitive pace in the sprint. On Sunday evening after the race we immediately started a debrief to review the weekend. I know that a lot of work has already been done in preparation for the race in Mexico.

As planned, I will hand the car to Paul Aron in the first practice. I will try to get up to speed quickly in the second session and adapt to a track that is very different from COTA and has a number of unique characteristics."

Paul Aron: "I am looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the A525 in my next practice with the team. I enjoyed the experience gained in the Monza practice, as it proved very useful for my development and understanding of the car. I am ready to build on that experience this weekend in Mexico in Pierre's car.

The track is very different from all those I have raced on. Due to its high altitude above sea level, the car's behavior and setup differ greatly from other circuits, but I am ready for the challenge.

I am grateful to the team for the opportunity and will do everything to help deliver a competitive weekend."
Martin Brundle commented on the main outcomes of a very dramatic weekend in Austin, after which the fight for the title noticeably intensified...
Colapinto retraces his steps after Alpine removes a critical post.
"Instructions from the team must always be adhered to."

Franco Colapinto has released a conciliatory statement ahead of the Mexican GP after Alpine discreetly removed a previous social media post that criticized his disregard for team orders in Austin. The post, which featured a quote from team manager Steve Nielsen labeling Colapinto’s actions as "disappointing" and mentioning an upcoming internal review, vanished from Alpine’s official channels earlier this week—leading to speculation that any underlying tensions were being resolved behind closed doors.

Now, the 22-year-old Argentine has taken a much more composed approach. "The team situation on Sunday has been discussed internally, and it is evident that instructions from the team must always be followed, regardless of the circumstances," Colapinto stated.
Mekies cautions that Tsunoda's development is still 'not sufficient.'
"Yuki wouldn’t be pleased either if I claimed this was sufficient."

French commentators are urging for calm as Yuki Tsunoda's comeback faces renewed examination alongside Isack Hadjar - while team principal Laurent Mekies emphasizes the significance of the Japanese driver ahead of the Mexico race. Hadjar, the apparent leading candidate to replace Tsunoda in 2026, had a challenging experience in Austin, crashing during qualifying and finishing far down the leaderboard, coinciding with one of Tsunoda's best weekends of the season.

However, the 21-year-old Frenchman has continued to discuss his prospects openly, even suggesting that Red Bull should advance him before the start of 2026. Veteran journalist Jean-Luc Roy expressed to RMC Sport that he has already advised Hadjar to quiet down.
McLaren will not be able to match the final car update from Red Bull.
"This will not occur for the remainder of the season."

McLaren is committed to maintaining its position in the title race, despite Red Bull's latest upgrade and the increasing pressure from Max Verstappen. Helmut Marko disclosed in Austin that Red Bull still has "another update for the car" as the championship contest intensifies. "A 40-point deficit makes it a bit of a stretch to label it a striking distance," Marko stated to Sky Deutschland. "However, with five races and two sprints left, it can still become quite thrilling."

While Red Bull seems to be gaining momentum, many in the paddock suspect that McLaren has reached a plateau. Nevertheless, team principal Andrea Stella remarks that the data from Austin was promising.
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Author:
21 October 2025 - 10:49

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Campos Racing, competing in Formula 2, has announced Nikola Tsolov’s teammate for 2026. It is Mexican driver Noel Leon, who will make his debut in the junior series after two seasons in Formula 3.
Over two years in F3, Leon stood on the podium six times and set two fastest laps. His best season result was tenth in the drivers’ standings in 2024. In the recently concluded season he finished seventeenth.
Noel Leon: “It is a great honor for me to take the next step in my career and join Campos Racing in Formula 2. I am sincerely grateful to the team for their trust and to the sponsors for their support, which made my dream come true.
Campos is a team with a rich history and experience, and I am determined to learn from them and to do the very best I can in this new chapter of my career.”
On Tuesday in Imola the final Formula 3 tests of the year began.
Racing Bulls announced an upcoming change for the first free practice session of the Mexico Grand Prix.
Ayumu Iwasa will run the practice, replacing Liam Lawson. The New Zealand driver will return to the wheel of the VCARB 02 for the second practice. For Iwasa this will be his second appearance in free practice this season. In Bahrain he replaced Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing.
“Ayumu is preparing for the first practice,” Racing Bulls’ press office wrote. “Reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa will pilot the VCARB 02 in the first free practice session of the Mexico Grand Prix instead of Liam.”
Ferrari Driver Academy member Dino Beganovic will continue his career in Formula 2 after signing a contract with DAMS for the next season.

Dino Beganovic: "I'm happy to return to DAMS Lucas Oil for another season in Formula 2. Last year I immediately felt a connection with the team — both professionally and personally; together we demonstrated great potential, including a podium in Abu Dhabi. I'm grateful for the trust and continued support from the Ferrari Driver Academy. Our goal is to build on the progress we've made and consistently fight for the lead."
Max Verstappen's victory in Austin noticeably lifted Helmut Marko's spirits. Red Bull's motorsport advisor said the team still expects technical upgrades before the end of the season that will make the car faster.

Helmut Marko: "There is really a good atmosphere in the team now. But I must admit that Charles Leclerc made our task easier in the race. Clearly, McLaren will not be as easy an opponent as before. Oscar Piastri also had a tougher weekend than usual. I hope it continues that way. There are no remaining tracks this season where we might have problems with competitiveness. And when our car is fast, it is Max who becomes the deciding factor. In addition, we still have some updates planned, but I don't know exactly at what stage they will appear."
Button: Webber will help Piastri stay positive
Commenting on the championship situation on Sky Sport, Jenson Button compared it to 2009, when he won almost every race driving the dominant Brawn GP car in the first half of the season and none in the second…

Jenson Button: "Oscar Piastri has found himself in a very difficult situation. The car is not behaving as he hoped, and as it did at the start of the year. Back then it was so fast they were impossible to beat. Now the car is down on pace and he is forced to think about the championship situation, about how not to lose points, how not to make mistakes, and sometimes mistakes happen.
I remember in 2009 I made too many mistakes when I was fighting for the championship at the end of the season. I put myself under too much pressure and couldn't cope with it. I hope Oscar has learned a lesson from other people's mistakes.
In the first free practice session of the Mexico Grand Prix, nine teams will immediately replace their main drivers with reserve drivers. Only Sauber has its main drivers scheduled to take part in the morning session.
At Alpine, Paul Aron will take the wheel of Pierre Gasly’s car; at Haas, Rio Hirakawa will replace Oliver Berman for sixty minutes. Pato O’Ward will return to the McLaren cockpit, running the session in place of Lando Norris.
Frederik Vesti will take George Russell’s Mercedes, Liam Lawson will replace Ayumu Iwasa at Racing Bulls, Arvid Lindblad will stand in for Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing, and Luke Browning will replace Carlos Sainz at Williams.
Two drivers will make their Formula 1 debuts during an official race weekend session. At Ferrari, Antonio Fuoco will replace Lewis Hamilton, and Jack Crawford will take Lance Stroll’s seat at Aston Martin.
The Aston Martin Formula 1 team has published its financial report for 2024. Compared with the previous year, revenue increased by 14.7% to £280.7 million (US$374 million). However, the team finished the year with losses of £45.8 million (US$61 million). Since 2020, Aston Martin's cumulative losses have amounted to £189.5 million (US$252.5 million). Throughout these years, Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll has invested huge sums in the team to elevate it to championship level. Over the past years a new base at Silverstone and a state-of-the-art wind tunnel have been built, and a large number of experienced engineers, led by Adrian Newey, have joined the team. Aston Martin expects that all these investments will pay off, that the team will become one of Formula 1's frontrunners and will regularly compete for victories and titles.
Work has begun on reconstructing the pit complex at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, which hosts the Austrian Grand Prix.
In 2026 the Cadillac team will make its Formula 1 debut, and the pit expansion at the Austrian circuit is related to this, so that in the new season all eleven teams can be comfortably accommodated on the pit lane.
The pit reconstruction will entail additional construction work, as the circuit’s medical center will have to be relocated and rebuilt at a new site. The total cost of the work will be around €13 million.
Construction work is to be completed at the end of May 2026 — one month before the Austrian Grand Prix.