Finishing second in Spa, Charles Leclerc was satisfied – both with the results and his progress…
Question: Charles, how do you assess the race results? Could you have fought Kimi for the win?
Charles Leclerc: On Thursday, we anticipated that we would be significantly behind – by four or five tenths. That turned out to be the case in qualifying, but in the race, we found ourselves closer to the leaders.
The result is positive. We were confident that we would be behind in Silverstone and Spa, and in the end, I won one race and finished second in the other. Yes, with a bit of luck, but the team did a great job. On two tracks that, on paper, didn’t suit us at all, we earned a lot of points.
Question: Did these two results give you confidence? After the win in Silverstone, you said you consider each race separately. Is there now a feeling that you have solved this task? Is the car set up the way you need it, and will you be fast everywhere?
Charles Leclerc: I can confidently say that I have taken a step forward. But have I reached the level at which I want to perform? Not yet.
There are still aspects of the car that I have to deal with. I can’t drive the way I’m used to, and that slows me down in some sections. I need to work more to improve, but I’m glad that I was able to take a step forward.
I will continue to consider each race separately – with these cars, you can’t be sure that if one race weekend goes well, the next one will too.
Question: Many are expecting a strong result from Ferrari in Hungary. Do you share these expectations?
Charles Leclerc: Anything can happen, and it may or may not work out. We need to arrive at the track and assess everything there. It’s impossible to predict the competitiveness of each team in advance.
I remember very well the mood before Monaco, and when we got there, the results turned out to be worse than expected. This year, we need to be more cautious with expectations.
It’s very important to prepare well, to do everything right in each session. We managed that in the last two races, and the same mindset should be there before Budapest. It’s not worth thinking about expectations in advance.
Question: Charles, how do you assess the race results? Could you have fought Kimi for the win?
Charles Leclerc: On Thursday, we anticipated that we would be significantly behind – by four or five tenths. That turned out to be the case in qualifying, but in the race, we found ourselves closer to the leaders.
The result is positive. We were confident that we would be behind in Silverstone and Spa, and in the end, I won one race and finished second in the other. Yes, with a bit of luck, but the team did a great job. On two tracks that, on paper, didn’t suit us at all, we earned a lot of points.
Question: Did these two results give you confidence? After the win in Silverstone, you said you consider each race separately. Is there now a feeling that you have solved this task? Is the car set up the way you need it, and will you be fast everywhere?
Charles Leclerc: I can confidently say that I have taken a step forward. But have I reached the level at which I want to perform? Not yet.
There are still aspects of the car that I have to deal with. I can’t drive the way I’m used to, and that slows me down in some sections. I need to work more to improve, but I’m glad that I was able to take a step forward.
I will continue to consider each race separately – with these cars, you can’t be sure that if one race weekend goes well, the next one will too.
Question: Many are expecting a strong result from Ferrari in Hungary. Do you share these expectations?
Charles Leclerc: Anything can happen, and it may or may not work out. We need to arrive at the track and assess everything there. It’s impossible to predict the competitiveness of each team in advance.
I remember very well the mood before Monaco, and when we got there, the results turned out to be worse than expected. This year, we need to be more cautious with expectations.
It’s very important to prepare well, to do everything right in each session. We managed that in the last two races, and the same mindset should be there before Budapest. It’s not worth thinking about expectations in advance.
At the FIA press conference before the Hungarian Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri was asked to what extent drivers can influence the performance of the power unit and how this affects lap times.
The Australian explained that at some tracks, the influence of software on the power unit's operation is so great that drivers can do almost nothing about it and sometimes feel like passengers behind the wheel.
Oscar Piastri: "Even with the previous generation of hybrid engines, a lot depended on the software, algorithms, and, to some extent, artificial intelligence. When I came into Formula 1, the power units were already very well developed, and the consequences of even small errors in operation were much less noticeable since the electric part accounted for only a small percentage of the total power.
Now, however, it provides almost half of the total power, so any little thing, any deviation in the system's operation has a huge impact, especially at tracks like Spa.
We can hardly influence how electrical energy is distributed. Yes, you can press the extra power button, but it is primarily intended for overtaking, not for qualifying. So at Spa, when there were such differences in power that you could not influence at all, it was frustrating. But I am sure that over time the situation will improve.
I don’t think the problem will ever completely disappear, but as manufacturers better understand the characteristics of these power units and the regulatory limitations regarding software, the situation should improve."
In response to the question of whether he feels like a passenger behind the wheel of a car controlled by artificial intelligence during the learning stage, Oscar said: "Sometimes yes. At tracks like Spa or Silverstone, the problem is more pronounced. In Hungary, I hardly expect such difficulties since the straights are much shorter.
Even if the differences remain, their impact will be much less. However, the very idea of driving a car that effectively loses half its power even before the end of the straight sometimes seems very strange.
At Spa, for example, we went through a significant part of the second sector without any assistance from the electric part of the power unit, relying solely on the internal combustion engine. It’s an unusual feeling in itself – in some corners, you have one power level, in others, a completely different one.
I think the stage at Spa was particularly unpleasant not only for me but for many other drivers because small differences in software and power unit performance seriously affected lap times.
At the same time, in the leading group, the difference between the top four positions was only about nine hundredths of a second, while many drivers could lose much more than that due to factors they could not influence at all."
The Australian explained that at some tracks, the influence of software on the power unit's operation is so great that drivers can do almost nothing about it and sometimes feel like passengers behind the wheel.
Oscar Piastri: "Even with the previous generation of hybrid engines, a lot depended on the software, algorithms, and, to some extent, artificial intelligence. When I came into Formula 1, the power units were already very well developed, and the consequences of even small errors in operation were much less noticeable since the electric part accounted for only a small percentage of the total power.
Now, however, it provides almost half of the total power, so any little thing, any deviation in the system's operation has a huge impact, especially at tracks like Spa.
We can hardly influence how electrical energy is distributed. Yes, you can press the extra power button, but it is primarily intended for overtaking, not for qualifying. So at Spa, when there were such differences in power that you could not influence at all, it was frustrating. But I am sure that over time the situation will improve.
I don’t think the problem will ever completely disappear, but as manufacturers better understand the characteristics of these power units and the regulatory limitations regarding software, the situation should improve."
In response to the question of whether he feels like a passenger behind the wheel of a car controlled by artificial intelligence during the learning stage, Oscar said: "Sometimes yes. At tracks like Spa or Silverstone, the problem is more pronounced. In Hungary, I hardly expect such difficulties since the straights are much shorter.
Even if the differences remain, their impact will be much less. However, the very idea of driving a car that effectively loses half its power even before the end of the straight sometimes seems very strange.
At Spa, for example, we went through a significant part of the second sector without any assistance from the electric part of the power unit, relying solely on the internal combustion engine. It’s an unusual feeling in itself – in some corners, you have one power level, in others, a completely different one.
I think the stage at Spa was particularly unpleasant not only for me but for many other drivers because small differences in software and power unit performance seriously affected lap times.
At the same time, in the leading group, the difference between the top four positions was only about nine hundredths of a second, while many drivers could lose much more than that due to factors they could not influence at all."
On Friday at the Hungaroring, Alpine drivers did not make it into the top ten, and Franco Colapinto crashed the car...
Pierre Gasly (14th): "For our team, this was one of the most challenging Fridays of the season. We knew it would be tough on this track – high downforce is needed, and we are lacking in that area compared to our competitors. As a result, the car lacked grip, and the balance left much to be desired. The team is preparing updates that will come after the summer break, but for now, we need to achieve the best possible result with what we have. It was windy on Friday, the car was sliding, and we just couldn't find the right setup. We will analyze the telemetry to understand how to improve tomorrow. I hope we will be in better shape by the start of qualifying."
Franco Colapinto (21st): "It was a short day for me. This year, managing cars with insufficient downforce has become more challenging than before, especially on a track with such low grip. I didn't participate in the morning session, giving my car to Paul, and in the second session, I crashed. In the last corner, I lost control of the rear of the car and hit the barrier. A disappointing day and not the best start to the weekend. I lost quite a bit of time on the track, so now I will try to focus on what we can learn and what can be improved. We don't have much data, but we can still work on it and try to set up the car better for tomorrow."
Paul Aron (19th in the first session): "An interesting day. It's hard to orient oneself in such conditions. Evaluating my session and the day as a whole, it can be said that for all drivers and teams, this was one of the most challenging Fridays of the season. I also felt the difference compared to the first two practice sessions I had this year. Strong locking on the Medium tires didn't make my job easier, but overall the day went well. I drove the A526 for the first time, and I was provided with enough information to prepare for the sessions, which was a good experience. I gave the team maximum feedback, but the conditions were really extreme. Nevertheless, it was nice to be back behind the wheel, and I look forward to the next opportunity."
Pierre Gasly (14th): "For our team, this was one of the most challenging Fridays of the season. We knew it would be tough on this track – high downforce is needed, and we are lacking in that area compared to our competitors. As a result, the car lacked grip, and the balance left much to be desired. The team is preparing updates that will come after the summer break, but for now, we need to achieve the best possible result with what we have. It was windy on Friday, the car was sliding, and we just couldn't find the right setup. We will analyze the telemetry to understand how to improve tomorrow. I hope we will be in better shape by the start of qualifying."
Franco Colapinto (21st): "It was a short day for me. This year, managing cars with insufficient downforce has become more challenging than before, especially on a track with such low grip. I didn't participate in the morning session, giving my car to Paul, and in the second session, I crashed. In the last corner, I lost control of the rear of the car and hit the barrier. A disappointing day and not the best start to the weekend. I lost quite a bit of time on the track, so now I will try to focus on what we can learn and what can be improved. We don't have much data, but we can still work on it and try to set up the car better for tomorrow."
Paul Aron (19th in the first session): "An interesting day. It's hard to orient oneself in such conditions. Evaluating my session and the day as a whole, it can be said that for all drivers and teams, this was one of the most challenging Fridays of the season. I also felt the difference compared to the first two practice sessions I had this year. Strong locking on the Medium tires didn't make my job easier, but overall the day went well. I drove the A526 for the first time, and I was provided with enough information to prepare for the sessions, which was a good experience. I gave the team maximum feedback, but the conditions were really extreme. Nevertheless, it was nice to be back behind the wheel, and I look forward to the next opportunity."
At the Hungaroring, Nico Hülkenberg reached the qualifying final for the second time this season. His Audi teammate was eliminated in the second session…
Nico Hülkenberg (10th): "I had a clean qualifying session and I'm happy to make it to the final. I think we maximized the car's potential today. It's encouraging, even if the gap to the leaders turned out to be a bit larger than we hoped.
The results throughout the weekend have been very tight, and the windy weather affected the car's stability, especially in the middle sector, but we did everything right at the right moment. Starting from 10th place gives a good foundation for tomorrow's race.
On Friday, we were fast in long runs, and I hope that will allow us to fight with our competitors and earn points tomorrow."
Gabriel Bortoleto (14th): "I made a few mistakes, couldn't fully utilize the car's potential, and I'm not satisfied with how I performed in qualifying.
Throughout the weekend, we confidently stayed in the top ten, and I was clearly expecting more than 14th place. Starting from a distant position will complicate the race, but I will do everything to make up for it. Let's see what happens in the end."
Nico Hülkenberg (10th): "I had a clean qualifying session and I'm happy to make it to the final. I think we maximized the car's potential today. It's encouraging, even if the gap to the leaders turned out to be a bit larger than we hoped.
The results throughout the weekend have been very tight, and the windy weather affected the car's stability, especially in the middle sector, but we did everything right at the right moment. Starting from 10th place gives a good foundation for tomorrow's race.
On Friday, we were fast in long runs, and I hope that will allow us to fight with our competitors and earn points tomorrow."
Gabriel Bortoleto (14th): "I made a few mistakes, couldn't fully utilize the car's potential, and I'm not satisfied with how I performed in qualifying.
Throughout the weekend, we confidently stayed in the top ten, and I was clearly expecting more than 14th place. Starting from a distant position will complicate the race, but I will do everything to make up for it. Let's see what happens in the end."
At Pirelli, they consider the time taken to complete the distance to be roughly equal when choosing between a one or two pit-stop strategy – teams will act according to the situation…
Dario Marraffuschi, Pirelli Motorsport Director: “Our modeling shows that for the Hungarian Grand Prix, there is no difference in overall lap time between the one and two pit-stop strategies. The tire wear, which turned out to be higher than expected, effectively leveled these two options, allowing teams to evaluate different scenarios depending on the number of remaining new tire sets.
Medium tires are the preferred option for the start. Those who choose the one pit-stop strategy will be able to switch to Hard tires between laps 26 and 32.
In the case of two pit-stops, considering that only two teams have two new sets of Medium tires left, the more likely option is Medium - Hard - Hard with pit-stops on laps 16-22 and 40-46.
Traffic and the difficulty of overtaking will be key factors in choosing a strategy and may force several teams to prefer the option with one tire change.
The use of Soft tires cannot be ruled out, as they have shown good grip levels and sufficient wear resistance. Combinations of Soft - Hard - Medium and Medium - Hard - Soft will be about ten seconds slower than the two main strategy options.
Drivers who manage to create a gap from their rivals can make an additional pit-stop without the risk of losing position, while others have the opportunity to use an undercut tactic in their battles with competitors. The situation remains open, and it would not be surprising to see different strategy options even among drivers from the same team.”
Dario Marraffuschi, Pirelli Motorsport Director: “Our modeling shows that for the Hungarian Grand Prix, there is no difference in overall lap time between the one and two pit-stop strategies. The tire wear, which turned out to be higher than expected, effectively leveled these two options, allowing teams to evaluate different scenarios depending on the number of remaining new tire sets.
Medium tires are the preferred option for the start. Those who choose the one pit-stop strategy will be able to switch to Hard tires between laps 26 and 32.
In the case of two pit-stops, considering that only two teams have two new sets of Medium tires left, the more likely option is Medium - Hard - Hard with pit-stops on laps 16-22 and 40-46.
Traffic and the difficulty of overtaking will be key factors in choosing a strategy and may force several teams to prefer the option with one tire change.
The use of Soft tires cannot be ruled out, as they have shown good grip levels and sufficient wear resistance. Combinations of Soft - Hard - Medium and Medium - Hard - Soft will be about ten seconds slower than the two main strategy options.
Drivers who manage to create a gap from their rivals can make an additional pit-stop without the risk of losing position, while others have the opportunity to use an undercut tactic in their battles with competitors. The situation remains open, and it would not be surprising to see different strategy options even among drivers from the same team.”
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After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Williams team principal James Vowles summarized the past race and the first half of the season in a video blog...
James Vowles: "The first half of the year has been incredibly challenging, and first and foremost, I want to thank everyone who has worked hard at our base to help us get out of a difficult situation after a tough start.
These challenges have significantly held us back; we are doing everything we can to get out of this situation, but even more importantly, we need to ensure that in 2027 and beyond, everything will be in its place. This is a huge amount of work. Over the winter, we clearly saw our problems, which turned out to be much more numerous than expected.
I am grateful to Alex and Carlos. They have supported the team throughout the journey, showing true resilience despite the difficulties they faced on the track. These two incredible drivers deserve to fight for points every weekend, and we have not been able to provide that for them.
We are going into the summer break with a sense of disappointment and a desire to correct everything in the future. In Baku, we will take a step forward, but it simply won't be enough to significantly change the situation and put us in the positions we need this season.
In fact, we still have the same drive to improve and move forward. We need to establish the foundations, develop what we already have, fix the elements that clearly aren't working, and come back to the fight with renewed strength.
Thank you to all the fans — your support means a lot to us. Days like today, I do not want to repeat — it is incredibly painful."
James Vowles: "The first half of the year has been incredibly challenging, and first and foremost, I want to thank everyone who has worked hard at our base to help us get out of a difficult situation after a tough start.
These challenges have significantly held us back; we are doing everything we can to get out of this situation, but even more importantly, we need to ensure that in 2027 and beyond, everything will be in its place. This is a huge amount of work. Over the winter, we clearly saw our problems, which turned out to be much more numerous than expected.
I am grateful to Alex and Carlos. They have supported the team throughout the journey, showing true resilience despite the difficulties they faced on the track. These two incredible drivers deserve to fight for points every weekend, and we have not been able to provide that for them.
We are going into the summer break with a sense of disappointment and a desire to correct everything in the future. In Baku, we will take a step forward, but it simply won't be enough to significantly change the situation and put us in the positions we need this season.
In fact, we still have the same drive to improve and move forward. We need to establish the foundations, develop what we already have, fix the elements that clearly aren't working, and come back to the fight with renewed strength.
Thank you to all the fans — your support means a lot to us. Days like today, I do not want to repeat — it is incredibly painful."
After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Williams team principal James Vowles summarized the recent race and the first half of the season in a video blog...
James Vowles: "The first half of the year has been incredibly challenging, and first and foremost, I want to thank everyone who has worked hard at our base to help us get out of a difficult situation after a tough start.
These challenges have significantly held us back; we are doing everything we can to get out of this situation, but even more importantly, we need to ensure that in 2027 and beyond, everything will be in its place. This is a huge amount of work. Over the winter, we clearly saw our problems, which turned out to be much more numerous than expected.
I am grateful to Alex and Carlos. They have supported the team throughout this journey, showing true resilience despite the difficulties they faced on the track. These two incredible drivers deserve to fight for points every weekend, and we have not been able to provide that for them.
We are going into the summer break with a sense of disappointment and a desire to make things right in the future. In Baku, we will take a step forward, but it simply won't be enough to significantly change the situation and put us in the positions we need to be in this season.
In reality, we still have the same drive to improve and move forward. We need to establish the foundations, develop what we already have, fix the elements that clearly aren't working, and come back to the fight with renewed strength.
Thank you to all the fans — your support means a lot to us. Days like today, I do not want to repeat — it is incredibly painful."
James Vowles: "The first half of the year has been incredibly challenging, and first and foremost, I want to thank everyone who has worked hard at our base to help us get out of a difficult situation after a tough start.
These challenges have significantly held us back; we are doing everything we can to get out of this situation, but even more importantly, we need to ensure that in 2027 and beyond, everything will be in its place. This is a huge amount of work. Over the winter, we clearly saw our problems, which turned out to be much more numerous than expected.
I am grateful to Alex and Carlos. They have supported the team throughout this journey, showing true resilience despite the difficulties they faced on the track. These two incredible drivers deserve to fight for points every weekend, and we have not been able to provide that for them.
We are going into the summer break with a sense of disappointment and a desire to make things right in the future. In Baku, we will take a step forward, but it simply won't be enough to significantly change the situation and put us in the positions we need to be in this season.
In reality, we still have the same drive to improve and move forward. We need to establish the foundations, develop what we already have, fix the elements that clearly aren't working, and come back to the fight with renewed strength.
Thank you to all the fans — your support means a lot to us. Days like today, I do not want to repeat — it is incredibly painful."
After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Williams team principal James Vowles summarized the recent race and the first half of the season in a video blog...
James Vowles: "The first half of the year has been incredibly challenging, and first and foremost, I want to thank everyone who has worked hard at our base to help us get out of a difficult situation after a tough start.
These challenges have significantly held us back; we are doing everything we can to get out of this situation, but it is even more important to ensure that everything is in place for 2027 and beyond. This is a huge amount of work. Over the winter, we clearly saw our problems, which turned out to be far more than we expected.
I am grateful to Alex and Carlos. They have supported the team throughout this journey, showing true resilience despite the difficulties they faced on the track. These two incredible drivers deserve to fight for points every weekend, and we have not been able to provide that for them.
We are going into the summer break with a sense of disappointment and a desire to fix everything in the future. In Baku, we will take a step forward, but it simply won't be enough to significantly change the situation and put us in the positions we need this season.
In fact, we still have the same drive to improve and move forward. We need to establish the foundations, develop what we already have, fix the elements that clearly aren't working, and come back to the fight with renewed strength.
Thank you to all the fans — your support means a lot to us. Days like today, I do not want to repeat — it is incredibly painful."
James Vowles: "The first half of the year has been incredibly challenging, and first and foremost, I want to thank everyone who has worked hard at our base to help us get out of a difficult situation after a tough start.
These challenges have significantly held us back; we are doing everything we can to get out of this situation, but it is even more important to ensure that everything is in place for 2027 and beyond. This is a huge amount of work. Over the winter, we clearly saw our problems, which turned out to be far more than we expected.
I am grateful to Alex and Carlos. They have supported the team throughout this journey, showing true resilience despite the difficulties they faced on the track. These two incredible drivers deserve to fight for points every weekend, and we have not been able to provide that for them.
We are going into the summer break with a sense of disappointment and a desire to fix everything in the future. In Baku, we will take a step forward, but it simply won't be enough to significantly change the situation and put us in the positions we need this season.
In fact, we still have the same drive to improve and move forward. We need to establish the foundations, develop what we already have, fix the elements that clearly aren't working, and come back to the fight with renewed strength.
Thank you to all the fans — your support means a lot to us. Days like today, I do not want to repeat — it is incredibly painful."
Kimi Antonelli is satisfied with how the first part of the season went and is looking forward to the continuation...
Question: Kimi, if you had started from a higher position, would you have been able to fight Lando for the win?
Kimi Antonelli: I don't know. Of course, if I had started third, everything would have been different. But I think Lando had the advantage this weekend, even over us.
In terms of pure pace, I don't think I would have been able to compete with him, especially considering how difficult it was to follow due to severe tire overheating. It would have been extremely challenging.
Otherwise, the team did an excellent job. As for the strategy, we initially decided to take a risk with a single tire change, but then we changed our minds when doubts about safety arose. But in the end, the team created conditions for me to fight for the podium. Great teamwork!
Question: Nine podiums in 11 races. Have these results exceeded your preseason expectations?
Kimi Antonelli: Of course. I didn't expect anything like this. But we have a great car, the team is doing an excellent job, and I am doing my best to make the most of every opportunity. Of course, there is still a lot of work ahead, and I have much to learn, but the first half of the season went well. Now I am looking forward to the continuation.
Question: The next race will take place in Zandvoort and will likely be the last at this track. How special will this weekend be for you?
Kimi Antonelli: It's a great track, it's fun to race there, although I didn't have a good experience last year. But from a purely racing perspective, it's an incredible track, especially in qualifying.
It's a pity that there will be no more races there. The fans in Zandvoort are very emotional, very passionate, and they cheer very loudly. It's nice to see. So, of course, it's very sad, but there's nothing we can do about it.
Question: Kimi, if you had started from a higher position, would you have been able to fight Lando for the win?
Kimi Antonelli: I don't know. Of course, if I had started third, everything would have been different. But I think Lando had the advantage this weekend, even over us.
In terms of pure pace, I don't think I would have been able to compete with him, especially considering how difficult it was to follow due to severe tire overheating. It would have been extremely challenging.
Otherwise, the team did an excellent job. As for the strategy, we initially decided to take a risk with a single tire change, but then we changed our minds when doubts about safety arose. But in the end, the team created conditions for me to fight for the podium. Great teamwork!
Question: Nine podiums in 11 races. Have these results exceeded your preseason expectations?
Kimi Antonelli: Of course. I didn't expect anything like this. But we have a great car, the team is doing an excellent job, and I am doing my best to make the most of every opportunity. Of course, there is still a lot of work ahead, and I have much to learn, but the first half of the season went well. Now I am looking forward to the continuation.
Question: The next race will take place in Zandvoort and will likely be the last at this track. How special will this weekend be for you?
Kimi Antonelli: It's a great track, it's fun to race there, although I didn't have a good experience last year. But from a purely racing perspective, it's an incredible track, especially in qualifying.
It's a pity that there will be no more races there. The fans in Zandvoort are very emotional, very passionate, and they cheer very loudly. It's nice to see. So, of course, it's very sad, but there's nothing we can do about it.
Kimi Antonelli is satisfied with how the first part of the season went and is looking forward to the continuation…
Question: Kimi, if you had started from a higher position, could you have fought with Lando for the win?
Kimi Antonelli: I don't know. Of course, if I had started third, everything would have been different. But I think Lando had the advantage this weekend, even over us.
In terms of pure pace, I don't think I could have fought with him, especially considering how difficult it was to follow due to severe tire overheating. It would have been extremely challenging.
Other than that, the team did an excellent job. As for the strategy, we initially decided to take a risk with a single tire change, but then we changed our minds when doubts about safety arose. But in the end, the team created conditions for me to fight for the podium. Great teamwork!
Question: Nine podiums in 11 races. Have these results exceeded your preseason expectations?
Kimi Antonelli: Of course. I didn't expect anything like this. But we have a great car, the team is doing an excellent job, and I am doing my best to make the most of every opportunity. Of course, there is still a lot of work ahead, much to learn, but the first half of the season went well. Now I am looking forward to the continuation.
Question: The next race will take place in Zandvoort and will likely be the last on this track. How special will this weekend be for you?
Kimi Antonelli: It's a great track, it's fun to race there, although I didn't have a good time last year. But from a purely racing perspective, it's an incredible track, especially in qualifying.
It's a shame there won't be any more races there. The fans in Zandvoort are very emotional, very passionate, and they cheer very loudly. It's nice to see. So, of course, it's very sad, but there's nothing we can do about it.
Question: Kimi, if you had started from a higher position, could you have fought with Lando for the win?
Kimi Antonelli: I don't know. Of course, if I had started third, everything would have been different. But I think Lando had the advantage this weekend, even over us.
In terms of pure pace, I don't think I could have fought with him, especially considering how difficult it was to follow due to severe tire overheating. It would have been extremely challenging.
Other than that, the team did an excellent job. As for the strategy, we initially decided to take a risk with a single tire change, but then we changed our minds when doubts about safety arose. But in the end, the team created conditions for me to fight for the podium. Great teamwork!
Question: Nine podiums in 11 races. Have these results exceeded your preseason expectations?
Kimi Antonelli: Of course. I didn't expect anything like this. But we have a great car, the team is doing an excellent job, and I am doing my best to make the most of every opportunity. Of course, there is still a lot of work ahead, much to learn, but the first half of the season went well. Now I am looking forward to the continuation.
Question: The next race will take place in Zandvoort and will likely be the last on this track. How special will this weekend be for you?
Kimi Antonelli: It's a great track, it's fun to race there, although I didn't have a good time last year. But from a purely racing perspective, it's an incredible track, especially in qualifying.
It's a shame there won't be any more races there. The fans in Zandvoort are very emotional, very passionate, and they cheer very loudly. It's nice to see. So, of course, it's very sad, but there's nothing we can do about it.
Statistics of drivers' performances in qualifications, sorted by average position in the protocol (starting position if not participated in qualifications) and without considering subsequent penalties.
Driver
Team
Average
Best
Worst
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Score
K. Antonelli
Mercedes
1.91
1
4
11
11
11
7 - 4
D. Russell
Mercedes
3.09
1
7
11
11
11
4 - 7
L. Hamilton
Ferrari
4.18
2
7
11
11
11
5 - 6
C. Leclerc
Ferrari
4.45
2
10
11
11
11
6 - 5
L. Norris
McLaren
4.73
1
8
11
11
11
7 - 4
O. Piastri
McLaren
5.91
3
8
11
11
11
4 - 7
M. Verstappen
Red Bull
6.73
2
20
11
10
9
8 - 3
A. Hadjar
Red Bull
7.09
3
10
11
11
11
3 - 8
L. Lawson
Racing Bulls
10.82
8
14
11
11
5
6 - 5
P. Gasly
Alpine
11.09
7
14
11
11
4
8 - 3
A. Lindblad
Racing Bulls
11.09
8
17
11
10
7
5 - 6
N. Hulkenberg
Audi
11.82
9
14
11
11
2
6 - 5
G. Bortoleto
Audi
13.09
9
22
10
8
3
5 - 6
F. Colapinto
Alpine
13.55
8
19
11
8
2
3 - 8
O. Berman
Haas F1
14.82
10
19
11
6
1
8 - 3
E. Ocon
Haas F1
15.36
12
18
11
6
0
3 - 8
C. Sainz
Williams
16
12
21
10
5
0
9 - 2
A. Albon
Williams
16.64
11
19
11
2
0
2 - 9
F. Alonso
Aston Martin
19.73
16
22
5
0
0
9 - 2
S. Perez
Cadillac
19.82
18
22
8
0
0
6 - 5
V. Bottas
Cadillac
19.91
18
22
9
0
0
5 - 6
L. Stroll
Aston Martin
21.18
19
22
2
0
0
2 - 9
Driver
Team
Average
Best
Worst
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Score
K. Antonelli
Mercedes
1.91
1
4
11
11
11
7 - 4
D. Russell
Mercedes
3.09
1
7
11
11
11
4 - 7
L. Hamilton
Ferrari
4.18
2
7
11
11
11
5 - 6
C. Leclerc
Ferrari
4.45
2
10
11
11
11
6 - 5
L. Norris
McLaren
4.73
1
8
11
11
11
7 - 4
O. Piastri
McLaren
5.91
3
8
11
11
11
4 - 7
M. Verstappen
Red Bull
6.73
2
20
11
10
9
8 - 3
A. Hadjar
Red Bull
7.09
3
10
11
11
11
3 - 8
L. Lawson
Racing Bulls
10.82
8
14
11
11
5
6 - 5
P. Gasly
Alpine
11.09
7
14
11
11
4
8 - 3
A. Lindblad
Racing Bulls
11.09
8
17
11
10
7
5 - 6
N. Hulkenberg
Audi
11.82
9
14
11
11
2
6 - 5
G. Bortoleto
Audi
13.09
9
22
10
8
3
5 - 6
F. Colapinto
Alpine
13.55
8
19
11
8
2
3 - 8
O. Berman
Haas F1
14.82
10
19
11
6
1
8 - 3
E. Ocon
Haas F1
15.36
12
18
11
6
0
3 - 8
C. Sainz
Williams
16
12
21
10
5
0
9 - 2
A. Albon
Williams
16.64
11
19
11
2
0
2 - 9
F. Alonso
Aston Martin
19.73
16
22
5
0
0
9 - 2
S. Perez
Cadillac
19.82
18
22
8
0
0
6 - 5
V. Bottas
Cadillac
19.91
18
22
9
0
0
5 - 6
L. Stroll
Aston Martin
21.18
19
22
2
0
0
2 - 9
After the Hungarian Grand Prix, three teams remained at the Hungaroring to assist Pirelli with the next tests of tire prototypes for the 2027 season – Aston Martin, Audi, and Alpine. They worked on Pirelli's program regarding the compounds and construction of slicks.
The three teams starting with "A" provided personnel, cars, and drivers. On the track were Gabriel Bortoleto in the Audi, Jack Crawford in the Aston Martin, and Franco Colapinto in the Alpine.
Throughout the day, all three drivers completed a series of test laps on different versions of the C3 tires, after which they ran long stints to assess the performance and wear of the most promising options. Colapinto and Bortoleto also worked with the C4 and C5 compounds on both short and long stints.
Franco Colapinto completed 128 laps with a best time of 1:20.371. Gabriel Bortoleto completed 141 laps with a best time of 1:20.813, while Jack Crawford completed 136 laps with a best time of 1:24.598.
The tests will continue tomorrow: only Colapinto and Bortoleto will take to the track, working on a program similar to the one executed today.
The three teams starting with "A" provided personnel, cars, and drivers. On the track were Gabriel Bortoleto in the Audi, Jack Crawford in the Aston Martin, and Franco Colapinto in the Alpine.
Throughout the day, all three drivers completed a series of test laps on different versions of the C3 tires, after which they ran long stints to assess the performance and wear of the most promising options. Colapinto and Bortoleto also worked with the C4 and C5 compounds on both short and long stints.
Franco Colapinto completed 128 laps with a best time of 1:20.371. Gabriel Bortoleto completed 141 laps with a best time of 1:20.813, while Jack Crawford completed 136 laps with a best time of 1:24.598.
The tests will continue tomorrow: only Colapinto and Bortoleto will take to the track, working on a program similar to the one executed today.
Stefano Domenicali: The season may end in Europe
After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali held a press meeting during which he commented on the first half of 2026, shared news about the calendar for the remainder of the season, changes in regulations, and other future plans.
Stefano Domenicali: "The season is becoming very, very interesting. There are many events happening on the track, and fans love it. It's just phenomenal how the situation has changed since the beginning of the season. This shows that Formula 1 is capable of responding to any technical challenges. I remember very well how at the beginning of the year some said that the title fight was already over and that Mercedes would dominate the entire season.
In fact, this is not the case, and a lot will happen before the end of the year. Other teams will emerge that can compete for victories. There will also be other drivers who can win races. All these factors make the season very interesting, and I think that everyone will be following what happens until the end of the year. In short, we are looking at the second half of the season with great optimism."
Domenicali commented on the return of the Sepang circuit to the calendar, which will host the Bahrain Grand Prix, and spoke about plans if the situation in the Middle East does not allow races to be held in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
"Together we found a new way to hold the Grand Prix in Malaysia," says Stefano Domenicali. "This is an example of cooperation and the willingness to think broader than usual. I want to thank the Kingdom of Bahrain, the organizers of the Grand Prix, and the Kingdom of Malaysia for seeing the opportunity to bring back a circuit that was once part of Formula 1.
As for the end of the season, we are in contact with all stakeholders. Our structure allows us to leave ourselves maximum time to understand how the situation will develop and make a decision at the right moment.
This will happen no earlier than mid-September. At the moment, we believe that the stages in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are confirmed. But, of course, if by mid-September the situation does not clarify as we deem necessary, we will make a decision.
In this regard, I want to confirm that if holding the two aforementioned races proves impossible, the season will conclude in Europe."
Reflecting on the 2027 season calendar, the Formula 1 president stated: "For now, the calendar that will be presented, say, in the fall, looks like a regular plan. But, of course, if the situation in the Middle East does not resolve, we have options.
The decisive moment will be the end of the year, so we still have plenty of time for adjustments. We have prepared several different options that will allow us to hold 24 Grands Prix next year regardless."
Stefano Domenicali also said a few words about the technical regulations: "The effect of the changes already made has been exceptionally positive. At the same time, it is natural that in sports it is necessary to discuss what is happening and listen to the opinions of all drivers, teams, and power unit manufacturers.
I think the right decisions have been made regarding the regulations. It is good that the FIA is willing to listen to the comments of manufacturers and drivers. I think the drivers who have already tested the changes in next year's regulations on the simulator understand that we are moving in the right direction."
The success of Kimi Antonelli has become one of the main topics of the first half of the season. Stefano Domenicali talked about how important the young Italian's victories are for Formula 1: "He is young, has very little experience so far, and is open to everything that happens to him.
Thanks to Kimi, we have gained many new fans, as he interacts wonderfully with the audience. From a sporting perspective, he has proven to be very strong.
After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali held a press meeting during which he commented on the first half of 2026, shared news about the calendar for the remainder of the season, changes in regulations, and other future plans.
Stefano Domenicali: "The season is becoming very, very interesting. There are many events happening on the track, and fans love it. It's just phenomenal how the situation has changed since the beginning of the season. This shows that Formula 1 is capable of responding to any technical challenges. I remember very well how at the beginning of the year some said that the title fight was already over and that Mercedes would dominate the entire season.
In fact, this is not the case, and a lot will happen before the end of the year. Other teams will emerge that can compete for victories. There will also be other drivers who can win races. All these factors make the season very interesting, and I think that everyone will be following what happens until the end of the year. In short, we are looking at the second half of the season with great optimism."
Domenicali commented on the return of the Sepang circuit to the calendar, which will host the Bahrain Grand Prix, and spoke about plans if the situation in the Middle East does not allow races to be held in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
"Together we found a new way to hold the Grand Prix in Malaysia," says Stefano Domenicali. "This is an example of cooperation and the willingness to think broader than usual. I want to thank the Kingdom of Bahrain, the organizers of the Grand Prix, and the Kingdom of Malaysia for seeing the opportunity to bring back a circuit that was once part of Formula 1.
As for the end of the season, we are in contact with all stakeholders. Our structure allows us to leave ourselves maximum time to understand how the situation will develop and make a decision at the right moment.
This will happen no earlier than mid-September. At the moment, we believe that the stages in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are confirmed. But, of course, if by mid-September the situation does not clarify as we deem necessary, we will make a decision.
In this regard, I want to confirm that if holding the two aforementioned races proves impossible, the season will conclude in Europe."
Reflecting on the 2027 season calendar, the Formula 1 president stated: "For now, the calendar that will be presented, say, in the fall, looks like a regular plan. But, of course, if the situation in the Middle East does not resolve, we have options.
The decisive moment will be the end of the year, so we still have plenty of time for adjustments. We have prepared several different options that will allow us to hold 24 Grands Prix next year regardless."
Stefano Domenicali also said a few words about the technical regulations: "The effect of the changes already made has been exceptionally positive. At the same time, it is natural that in sports it is necessary to discuss what is happening and listen to the opinions of all drivers, teams, and power unit manufacturers.
I think the right decisions have been made regarding the regulations. It is good that the FIA is willing to listen to the comments of manufacturers and drivers. I think the drivers who have already tested the changes in next year's regulations on the simulator understand that we are moving in the right direction."
The success of Kimi Antonelli has become one of the main topics of the first half of the season. Stefano Domenicali talked about how important the young Italian's victories are for Formula 1: "He is young, has very little experience so far, and is open to everything that happens to him.
Thanks to Kimi, we have gained many new fans, as he interacts wonderfully with the audience. From a sporting perspective, he has proven to be very strong.
Kimi Antonelli will lose three places on the grid for tomorrow's race and received 1 penalty point on his super license for insufficiently reducing speed in the yellow flag zone at the end of qualifying when Max Verstappen's car spun.
Explaining his actions, Kimi stated that upon seeing the yellow flag and light panel, he reduced speed earlier than on the previous lap, which was confirmed by telemetry data. However, the reduction in speed occurred for a very short period, so overall the car's speed when passing the incident location was even higher than on the previous lap.
Typically, in such cases, a penalty of losing five places on the grid is applied, but the stewards took into account that the driver did reduce speed, albeit insufficiently. Additionally, the driver had little time to react to the situation, so a lesser penalty was imposed.
Explaining his actions, Kimi stated that upon seeing the yellow flag and light panel, he reduced speed earlier than on the previous lap, which was confirmed by telemetry data. However, the reduction in speed occurred for a very short period, so overall the car's speed when passing the incident location was even higher than on the previous lap.
Typically, in such cases, a penalty of losing five places on the grid is applied, but the stewards took into account that the driver did reduce speed, albeit insufficiently. Additionally, the driver had little time to react to the situation, so a lesser penalty was imposed.
Kimi Antonelli is facing a legal dispute with former manager Giovanni Minardi, who is demanding a multimillion compensation from the Mercedes driver for "unpaid rewards" following his debut in Formula 1. Negotiations between the parties have been ongoing for over a year, but now the case has gone to court. Giovanni Minardi, the son of the founder of the eponymous Formula 1 team Giancarlo Minardi, believes he should be compensated for his work during the early stages of Antonelli's career. Kimi Antonelli began collaborating with Minardi Management in 2014 when Minardi arranged tests for Kimi that were supposed to help him enter Ferrari's youth program. However, Maurizio Arrivabene, who was then managing the Ferrari team, rejected Antonelli, considering him too young. As a result, in 2018, Antonelli joined Mercedes' youth program and ended his collaboration with Minardi, with his interests being represented by Mercedes chief Toto Wolff. On the eve of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Minardi officially filed a civil lawsuit in the Bologna court, demanding payment of the debt and compensation for the early termination of the contract. The claims relate to the period before Antonelli's debut in Formula 1 in 2025. It is reported that the parties are still far from a settlement, and the amount of the claims is in the millions of euros. Mattia Grassani, Giovanni Minardi's lawyer, told the Adnkronos news agency the details of the story: "Giovanni Minardi has been struggling with what happened and turned to the court, as it was the only remaining option. So many years of work, sacrifices, and investments in the young driver deserved much greater recognition. Turning to the court became the only possible solution. This is a very complex case that has been under consideration for almost a year, and during this time there have been numerous hearings. The dispute involves Giovanni Minardi and Kimi Antonelli, as well as the driver's parents. It concerns a breach of the management services contract signed several years ago with the underage Kimi and his parents. When the driver moved to Mercedes, Antonelli's team decided that the conditions for continuing the collaboration were no longer being met. That is when the dispute arose. There were attempts to resolve the situation out of court; however, Giovanni Minardi found the proposed conditions unacceptable while expressing a willingness to continue negotiations. Unfortunately, a compromise could not be reached." As part of the proceedings, the court may call Toto Wolff as a witness, as well as the former head of Mercedes' youth program Gwen Lagrue, who recently took on a similar position at Red Bull.
Kimi Antonelli is facing a legal dispute with former manager Giovanni Minardi, who is demanding a multi-million compensation from the Mercedes driver for "unpaid rewards" following his debut in Formula 1. Negotiations between the parties have been ongoing for over a year, but now the matter has reached court. Giovanni Minardi, son of the founder of the eponymous Formula 1 team Giancarlo Minardi, believes he should be compensated for his work during the early stages of Antonelli's career. Kimi Antonelli began working with Minardi Management in 2014 when Minardi organized tests for Kimi that were supposed to help him enter Ferrari's youth program. However, Maurizio Arrivabene, who was then managing the Ferrari team, rejected Antonelli, considering him too young. As a result, in 2018, Antonelli joined Mercedes' youth program and ended his collaboration with Minardi, with his interests being represented by Mercedes chief Toto Wolff. On the eve of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Minardi officially filed a civil lawsuit in the Bologna court, demanding payment of the debt and compensation for the early termination of the contract. The claims relate to the period before Antonelli's debut in Formula 1 in 2025. It is reported that the parties are still far from a settlement, and the amount of claims is in the millions of euros. Mattia Grassani, Giovanni Minardi's lawyer, told the Adnkronos news agency the details of the story: "Giovanni Minardi has been struggling with what happened and turned to the court, as it was the only option left. So many years of work, sacrifices, and investments in the young driver deserved much more recognition. Turning to the court became the only possible solution. This is a very complex case that has been under consideration for almost a year, and during this time there have been numerous hearings. The dispute involves Giovanni Minardi and Kimi Antonelli, as well as the driver's parents. It concerns a breach of the terms of the management services contract signed several years ago with the minor Kimi and his parents. When the driver moved to Mercedes, Antonelli's team decided that the conditions for continuing cooperation were no longer being met. That is when the dispute arose. There were attempts to resolve the situation out of court; however, Giovanni Minardi found the proposed conditions unacceptable while expressing a willingness to continue negotiations. Unfortunately, a compromise could not be reached." As part of the proceedings, the court may call Toto Wolff as well as former head of Mercedes' youth program Gwen Lagrue, who recently took a similar position at Red Bull, as witnesses.
On Wednesday at the Hungarian track Hungaroring, the Aston Martin team is conducting a filming day, during which they are testing the new Honda power unit. The day before, Fernando Alonso, who is celebrating his 45th birthday today, mentioned that the team is doing everything possible to support Honda in their work on the power unit.
Fernando Alonso: "We are one team and we work together. We know our weaknesses and try to help each other.
At the beginning of the season, Honda was trying to compensate for some shortcomings of the car, and now we are doing our best to help Honda, including ensuring that energy delivery remains stable on every lap. Aston Martin is providing significant support to Honda in this area, especially the software department.
We still have a long way to go, we understand and realize that, but I hope we have already taken the first step. Both sides are gradually building trust in each other and confidence in their work. I think this will be crucial in the coming months."
Fernando Alonso: "We are one team and we work together. We know our weaknesses and try to help each other.
At the beginning of the season, Honda was trying to compensate for some shortcomings of the car, and now we are doing our best to help Honda, including ensuring that energy delivery remains stable on every lap. Aston Martin is providing significant support to Honda in this area, especially the software department.
We still have a long way to go, we understand and realize that, but I hope we have already taken the first step. Both sides are gradually building trust in each other and confidence in their work. I think this will be crucial in the coming months."
On Wednesday at the Hungarian track Hungaroring, the Aston Martin team is conducting a filming day, during which they are testing the new Honda power unit. The day before, Fernando Alonso, who is celebrating his 45th birthday today, mentioned that the team is doing everything possible to support Honda in its work on the power unit.
Fernando Alonso: "We are one team and we work together. We know our weaknesses and try to help each other.
At the beginning of the season, Honda was trying to compensate for some shortcomings of the car; now we are trying to help Honda as much as possible, including ensuring that energy delivery remains stable on every lap. Aston Martin is providing significant support to Honda in this regard, especially the software department.
We still have a long way to go; we understand and acknowledge that, but I hope we have already taken the first step. Both sides are gradually building trust in each other and confidence in their work. I think this will be crucial in the coming months."
Fernando Alonso: "We are one team and we work together. We know our weaknesses and try to help each other.
At the beginning of the season, Honda was trying to compensate for some shortcomings of the car; now we are trying to help Honda as much as possible, including ensuring that energy delivery remains stable on every lap. Aston Martin is providing significant support to Honda in this regard, especially the software department.
We still have a long way to go; we understand and acknowledge that, but I hope we have already taken the first step. Both sides are gradually building trust in each other and confidence in their work. I think this will be crucial in the coming months."
We cited the words of the president and CEO of Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali, regarding the fact that the championship management has several calendar options for the 2027 season in case the global situation does not allow for races to be held in the Middle East. Today, a draft calendar for the next season, which is considered the basic option, appeared in the press.
If everything goes according to plan, the season will include 24 Grands Prix, starting with the race on March 14 in Bahrain. Then, a week later, there should be a race in Jeddah, after which Formula 1 will head to Australia, Japan, China, Miami, and Canada.
The European part of the season will begin on the first weekend of June in Monaco. Then, a race is scheduled in Portugal at the Portimão circuit. Following that, races will take place in Silverstone, Spielberg, Belgium, and Hungary, after which Formula 1 will take an August break.
The season will resume on September 3-5 at the Italian Grand Prix, and a week later, the race in Madrid will conclude the European part of the season. Then, Formula 1 will head to Baku, where a series of races Azerbaijan-Turkey-Singapore will begin. After that, as in this season, races are planned in Austin, Mexico City, São Paulo, and Las Vegas. The season is expected to conclude in December with races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Preliminary version of the Formula 1 calendar for the 2027 season
Date
Grand Prix
Venue
14/03
Bahrain
Sakhir
21/03
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah
04/04
Australia
Melbourne
11/04
Japan
Suzuka
18/04
China
Shanghai
02/05
Miami
Miami
23/05
Canada
Montréal
06/06
Monaco
Monaco
20/06
Portugal
Portimão
04/07
United Kingdom
Silverstone
11/07
Austria
Spielberg
25/07
Belgium
Spa
01/08
Hungary
Hungaroring
05/09
Italy
Monza
12/09
Spain
Madrid
26/09
Azerbaijan
Baku
03/10
Turkey
Istanbul
10/10
Singapore
Singapore
24/10
USA
Austin
31/10
Mexico
Mexico City
14/11
São Paulo
Interlagos
21/11
Las Vegas
Las Vegas
05/12
Qatar
Lusail
12/12
Abu Dhabi
Yas Marina
If everything goes according to plan, the season will include 24 Grands Prix, starting with the race on March 14 in Bahrain. Then, a week later, there should be a race in Jeddah, after which Formula 1 will head to Australia, Japan, China, Miami, and Canada.
The European part of the season will begin on the first weekend of June in Monaco. Then, a race is scheduled in Portugal at the Portimão circuit. Following that, races will take place in Silverstone, Spielberg, Belgium, and Hungary, after which Formula 1 will take an August break.
The season will resume on September 3-5 at the Italian Grand Prix, and a week later, the race in Madrid will conclude the European part of the season. Then, Formula 1 will head to Baku, where a series of races Azerbaijan-Turkey-Singapore will begin. After that, as in this season, races are planned in Austin, Mexico City, São Paulo, and Las Vegas. The season is expected to conclude in December with races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Preliminary version of the Formula 1 calendar for the 2027 season
Date
Grand Prix
Venue
14/03
Bahrain
Sakhir
21/03
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah
04/04
Australia
Melbourne
11/04
Japan
Suzuka
18/04
China
Shanghai
02/05
Miami
Miami
23/05
Canada
Montréal
06/06
Monaco
Monaco
20/06
Portugal
Portimão
04/07
United Kingdom
Silverstone
11/07
Austria
Spielberg
25/07
Belgium
Spa
01/08
Hungary
Hungaroring
05/09
Italy
Monza
12/09
Spain
Madrid
26/09
Azerbaijan
Baku
03/10
Turkey
Istanbul
10/10
Singapore
Singapore
24/10
USA
Austin
31/10
Mexico
Mexico City
14/11
São Paulo
Interlagos
21/11
Las Vegas
Las Vegas
05/12
Qatar
Lusail
12/12
Abu Dhabi
Yas Marina
We cited the words of the president and CEO of Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali, regarding the fact that the championship management has several calendar options for the 2027 season in case the global situation does not allow for stages to be held in the Middle East. Today, a draft calendar for the next season was released in the press, which is considered the basic option.
If everything goes according to plan, the season will include 24 Grands Prix, starting with the race on March 14 in Bahrain. Then, a week later, there should be a stage in Jeddah, after which Formula 1 will head to Australia, Japan, China, Miami, and Canada.
The European part of the season will begin on the first weekend of June in Monaco. Then, a stage is planned in Portugal at the Portimão circuit. Following that, races will take place in Silverstone, Spielberg, Belgium, and Hungary, after which Formula 1 will take a break in August.
The season will resume from September 3-5 at the Italian Grand Prix, and a week later, the race in Madrid will conclude the European part of the season. Then, Formula 1 will head to Baku, where a series of stages Azerbaijan-Turkey-Singapore will begin. After that, as in this season, races are planned in Austin, Mexico City, São Paulo, and Las Vegas. The season is expected to conclude in December with stages in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Preliminary version of the Formula 1 calendar for the 2027 season
Date
Grand Prix
Venue
14/03
Bahrain
Sakhir
21/03
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah
04/04
Australia
Melbourne
11/04
Japan
Suzuka
18/04
China
Shanghai
02/05
Miami
Miami
23/05
Canada
Montréal
06/06
Monaco
Monaco
20/06
Portugal
Portimão
04/07
United Kingdom
Silverstone
11/07
Austria
Spielberg
25/07
Belgium
Spa
01/08
Hungary
Hungaroring
05/09
Italy
Monza
12/09
Spain
Madrid
26/09
Azerbaijan
Baku
03/10
Turkey
Istanbul
10/10
Singapore
Singapore
24/10
USA
Austin
31/10
Mexico
Mexico City
14/11
São Paulo
Interlagos
21/11
Las Vegas
Las Vegas
05/12
Qatar
Lusail
12/12
Abu Dhabi
Yas Marina
If everything goes according to plan, the season will include 24 Grands Prix, starting with the race on March 14 in Bahrain. Then, a week later, there should be a stage in Jeddah, after which Formula 1 will head to Australia, Japan, China, Miami, and Canada.
The European part of the season will begin on the first weekend of June in Monaco. Then, a stage is planned in Portugal at the Portimão circuit. Following that, races will take place in Silverstone, Spielberg, Belgium, and Hungary, after which Formula 1 will take a break in August.
The season will resume from September 3-5 at the Italian Grand Prix, and a week later, the race in Madrid will conclude the European part of the season. Then, Formula 1 will head to Baku, where a series of stages Azerbaijan-Turkey-Singapore will begin. After that, as in this season, races are planned in Austin, Mexico City, São Paulo, and Las Vegas. The season is expected to conclude in December with stages in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Preliminary version of the Formula 1 calendar for the 2027 season
Date
Grand Prix
Venue
14/03
Bahrain
Sakhir
21/03
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah
04/04
Australia
Melbourne
11/04
Japan
Suzuka
18/04
China
Shanghai
02/05
Miami
Miami
23/05
Canada
Montréal
06/06
Monaco
Monaco
20/06
Portugal
Portimão
04/07
United Kingdom
Silverstone
11/07
Austria
Spielberg
25/07
Belgium
Spa
01/08
Hungary
Hungaroring
05/09
Italy
Monza
12/09
Spain
Madrid
26/09
Azerbaijan
Baku
03/10
Turkey
Istanbul
10/10
Singapore
Singapore
24/10
USA
Austin
31/10
Mexico
Mexico City
14/11
São Paulo
Interlagos
21/11
Las Vegas
Las Vegas
05/12
Qatar
Lusail
12/12
Abu Dhabi
Yas Marina