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
This year, Malaysia will return to the Formula 1 calendar for the first time since 2017 – the Sepang circuit will host the sixteenth round of the season, officially called the "Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia," and is fully funded by the promoters of the Bahrain event.
The executive director of the racetrack, Azhan Shafrimaan Hanif, confirmed that this is a one-time return, and for Malaysia to host Formula 1 on a permanent basis, it needs to spend at least 73 million US dollars annually.
Azhan Shafrimaan Hanif: "In my estimates, at least 300 million ringgits (73 million US dollars) will be required each year. That’s how much it will cost. But we also need to consider the return from hosting the race.
According to the data I have seen, most host countries experience an economic impact that is at least three times greater than the investment. In other words, if we spend 300 million ringgits, the potential return for the country could reach 1 billion ringgits (244 million US dollars).
However, the government's current priority is not spending on international events, but helping the population amid economic difficulties and rising living costs. Perhaps in the future, when we have data from the results of the 2026 race, they will serve as a starting point for decision-making.
The second factor is the availability of free slots in the Formula 1 calendar. If there are none, then nothing will happen. Thus, there are two main conditions for a permanent return – funds to pay the promoter's fee and an available date in the calendar."
The executive director of the racetrack, Azhan Shafrimaan Hanif, confirmed that this is a one-time return, and for Malaysia to host Formula 1 on a permanent basis, it needs to spend at least 73 million US dollars annually.
Azhan Shafrimaan Hanif: "In my estimates, at least 300 million ringgits (73 million US dollars) will be required each year. That’s how much it will cost. But we also need to consider the return from hosting the race.
According to the data I have seen, most host countries experience an economic impact that is at least three times greater than the investment. In other words, if we spend 300 million ringgits, the potential return for the country could reach 1 billion ringgits (244 million US dollars).
However, the government's current priority is not spending on international events, but helping the population amid economic difficulties and rising living costs. Perhaps in the future, when we have data from the results of the 2026 race, they will serve as a starting point for decision-making.
The second factor is the availability of free slots in the Formula 1 calendar. If there are none, then nothing will happen. Thus, there are two main conditions for a permanent return – funds to pay the promoter's fee and an available date in the calendar."
In recent years, several leading specialists have left Red Bull Racing, including Adrian Newey, Rob Marshall, Jonny Whitely, and Christian Horner. By 2028, Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen's race engineer, will also leave the team. However, the four-time world champion himself urges not to dramatize the situation.
Max Verstappen: "Many have left the team over the past few years, but at the same time, new people are coming to us. Everyone just loves to focus on the negative. When someone leaves, it is immediately presented as something very dramatic.
But to be honest... Of course, sometimes you think, 'It's a pity that some have decided to leave,' but that's life. It happens in other sports too – people move to other teams, change jobs. It's part of the sports culture.
It's very difficult to keep a group together for a long time that achieves great success. There is always demand for such specialists; other teams also want to acquire talented people. The same happens in football – if a strong player emerges, another club will do everything to sign a contract with him. The same applies to managers. There's nothing unusual about that.
I feel that sometimes the situation around our team is overly dramatized, as if this only happens to us. But people are constantly coming and going; that's how sports work."
Max Verstappen: "Many have left the team over the past few years, but at the same time, new people are coming to us. Everyone just loves to focus on the negative. When someone leaves, it is immediately presented as something very dramatic.
But to be honest... Of course, sometimes you think, 'It's a pity that some have decided to leave,' but that's life. It happens in other sports too – people move to other teams, change jobs. It's part of the sports culture.
It's very difficult to keep a group together for a long time that achieves great success. There is always demand for such specialists; other teams also want to acquire talented people. The same happens in football – if a strong player emerges, another club will do everything to sign a contract with him. The same applies to managers. There's nothing unusual about that.
I feel that sometimes the situation around our team is overly dramatized, as if this only happens to us. But people are constantly coming and going; that's how sports work."
18th and 19th place for Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon in qualifying in Hungary – the worst result for Williams since the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix – the last race involving Logan Sargeant.
Carlos Sainz (18th): "It was a tough weekend. The balance changed from session to session, and there were issues with the rear of the car, making it behave unpredictably. But even if we had optimized everything, it’s unlikely we could have achieved a better starting position."
Alex Albon (19th): "On Saturday, the car behaved completely differently than the day before, and we still can't determine the cause of such discrepancies between the sessions. In the last few Grands Prix, we understood which parts weren't working properly, but we still don't know why.
Aston Martin made a big step forward this weekend, while Carlos and I faced issues. We will analyze the situation before tomorrow's race and see what we can do."
Carlos Sainz (18th): "It was a tough weekend. The balance changed from session to session, and there were issues with the rear of the car, making it behave unpredictably. But even if we had optimized everything, it’s unlikely we could have achieved a better starting position."
Alex Albon (19th): "On Saturday, the car behaved completely differently than the day before, and we still can't determine the cause of such discrepancies between the sessions. In the last few Grands Prix, we understood which parts weren't working properly, but we still don't know why.
Aston Martin made a big step forward this weekend, while Carlos and I faced issues. We will analyze the situation before tomorrow's race and see what we can do."
Ten years ago, in 2016, the battle between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg for the title led to an open feud between the Mercedes drivers, which resulted in several on-track collisions – the most memorable occurred on the first lap of the Spanish Grand Prix. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff stated that he would not allow such a situation to happen again, but if something similar arises between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, one of the drivers will be dismissed from the team.
Toto Wolff: “I will not allow a repeat of that situation. That will never happen with me again, and it will never happen with the team again. It’s simple – if any of the drivers starts behaving like that, I will just remove him from the team.
George was leading in Montreal but then retired. That could have been another victory for him, which would surely have given him more confidence going into the following races. Credit to George – there was an engine issue with his car, and it took us a long time to identify it. It cost him about two-tenths of a second.
Moreover, George, of course, felt increased pressure, as he was considered the clear favorite at the start of the season.
Last year, Kimi went nine races without scoring points, but this year he is performing very well. And suddenly expectations change, and you find yourself in a less favorable position. If anyone can handle that kind of pressure, it’s George, as he is a very resilient guy.
The best drivers know how to turn the situation around. So I am absolutely confident that he can do it.”
Toto Wolff: “I will not allow a repeat of that situation. That will never happen with me again, and it will never happen with the team again. It’s simple – if any of the drivers starts behaving like that, I will just remove him from the team.
George was leading in Montreal but then retired. That could have been another victory for him, which would surely have given him more confidence going into the following races. Credit to George – there was an engine issue with his car, and it took us a long time to identify it. It cost him about two-tenths of a second.
Moreover, George, of course, felt increased pressure, as he was considered the clear favorite at the start of the season.
Last year, Kimi went nine races without scoring points, but this year he is performing very well. And suddenly expectations change, and you find yourself in a less favorable position. If anyone can handle that kind of pressure, it’s George, as he is a very resilient guy.
The best drivers know how to turn the situation around. So I am absolutely confident that he can do it.”
Ten years ago, in 2016, the battle between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg for the title led to an open feud between the Mercedes drivers, which resulted in several on-track collisions – the most memorable occurred on the first lap of the Spanish Grand Prix. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff stated that he would not allow such a situation to happen again, but if something similar arises between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, one of the drivers will be dismissed from the team.
Toto Wolff: "I will not allow a repeat of that situation. It will never happen with me again, and it will never happen with the team again. It's simple – if any of the drivers starts to behave like that, I will just remove him from the team.
George was leading in Montreal but then retired. It could have been another victory for him, which would surely have given him more confidence heading into the following races. Credit to George – there was an engine issue with his car, and it took us a long time to identify it. It cost him about two-tenths of a second.
Moreover, George, of course, faced increased pressure, as he was considered the clear favorite at the start of the season.
Last year, Kimi went nine races without scoring points, but this year he is performing very well. And suddenly expectations change, and you find yourself in a less favorable position. If anyone can handle such pressure, it's George, as he is a very resilient guy.
The best drivers know how to turn the situation around. So I am absolutely confident that he will be able to do it."
Toto Wolff: "I will not allow a repeat of that situation. It will never happen with me again, and it will never happen with the team again. It's simple – if any of the drivers starts to behave like that, I will just remove him from the team.
George was leading in Montreal but then retired. It could have been another victory for him, which would surely have given him more confidence heading into the following races. Credit to George – there was an engine issue with his car, and it took us a long time to identify it. It cost him about two-tenths of a second.
Moreover, George, of course, faced increased pressure, as he was considered the clear favorite at the start of the season.
Last year, Kimi went nine races without scoring points, but this year he is performing very well. And suddenly expectations change, and you find yourself in a less favorable position. If anyone can handle such pressure, it's George, as he is a very resilient guy.
The best drivers know how to turn the situation around. So I am absolutely confident that he will be able to do it."
The Red Bull-Ford power unit may once again be recognized as the best following the second evaluation of the season under the ADUO program. During the race weekend in Monaco, five power unit suppliers – Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull-Ford, Audi, and Honda – received a one-page document from the FIA with a preliminary assessment of the performance of internal combustion engines for their subsequent refinement under the ADUO program. Manufacturers whose engines fall short of the benchmark are granted the right to additional investments and upgrades to close the gap.
At the beginning of summer, the FIA noted that Red Bull-Ford had the best engine, which was an unpleasant surprise for the Milton Keynes team, who expected to gain the right to refine their engine, as they believed their power unit was inferior to at least Mercedes. The problem for Red Bull Racing is that the ADUO only considers the characteristics of the internal combustion engine, while the apparent weak point of the Red Bull-Ford power unit is the battery.
After the Hungarian Grand Prix, the FIA began the second analysis of power units for the season under the ADUO. Teams are expected to receive results before the Dutch Grand Prix, and Red Bull Racing should be prepared for their power unit to once again be the best. According to GPBlog, after the previous ADUO assessment, Mercedes made changes to their power unit, but these were solely aimed at improving reliability. It is claimed that these refinements did not provide a power increase sufficient to surpass Red Bull-Ford's performance and give competitors a chance to refine their power units.
However, it cannot be ruled out that after numerous complaints and discussions with Red Bull, the FIA may use a different assessment methodology this time. In any case, the FIA plans to adjust the ADUO rules in the future to include battery characteristics in the evaluation, but Formula 1 teams have yet to reach a consensus on this issue.
At the beginning of summer, the FIA noted that Red Bull-Ford had the best engine, which was an unpleasant surprise for the Milton Keynes team, who expected to gain the right to refine their engine, as they believed their power unit was inferior to at least Mercedes. The problem for Red Bull Racing is that the ADUO only considers the characteristics of the internal combustion engine, while the apparent weak point of the Red Bull-Ford power unit is the battery.
After the Hungarian Grand Prix, the FIA began the second analysis of power units for the season under the ADUO. Teams are expected to receive results before the Dutch Grand Prix, and Red Bull Racing should be prepared for their power unit to once again be the best. According to GPBlog, after the previous ADUO assessment, Mercedes made changes to their power unit, but these were solely aimed at improving reliability. It is claimed that these refinements did not provide a power increase sufficient to surpass Red Bull-Ford's performance and give competitors a chance to refine their power units.
However, it cannot be ruled out that after numerous complaints and discussions with Red Bull, the FIA may use a different assessment methodology this time. In any case, the FIA plans to adjust the ADUO rules in the future to include battery characteristics in the evaluation, but Formula 1 teams have yet to reach a consensus on this issue.
The statistics of the drivers' performances in the past Grand Prix are sorted by the average finishing position in the races in which the driver was classified. If a driver did not participate or retired, that race does not affect their average position. Sprints are not taken into account.
Driver
Team
finish position
leading
total distance
avg
best
laps
km
laps
time
km
%
L.Hamilton
Ferrari
3.8
1
33
156.0
673
17:23:54
3319.0
100%
D.Russell
Mercedes
4.0
1
147
683.1
590
15:07:46
2840.8
87.7%
K.Antonelli
Mercedes
4.1
1
302
1468.2
668
17:13:36
3295.7
99.3%
L.Norris
McLaren
4.3
1
52
248.2
552
13:45:34
2766.3
82.0%
C.Leclerc
Ferrari
5.2
1
90
523.5
655
16:21:23
3253.6
97.3%
O.Piastri
McLaren
5.6
2
41
202.1
542
14:05:57
2633.3
80.5%
M.Verstappen
Red Bull
5.9
2
8
35.4
578
14:30:44
2963.4
85.9%
A.Hadjar
Red Bull
6.3
3
-
-
570
14:50:10
2769.8
84.7%
L.Lawson
Racing Bulls
8.4
5
-
-
617
16:05:49
3020.0
91.7%
P.Gasly
Alpine
9.1
6
-
-
615
16:00:34
3009.1
91.4%
A.Lindblad
Racing Bulls
9.9
6
-
-
599
15:58:16
2992.9
89.0%
G.Bortoleto
Audi
10.8
8
-
-
609
15:52:18
2976.5
90.5%
F.Colapinto
Alpine
11.6
6
-
-
665
17:27:54
3280.9
98.8%
N.Hulkenberg
Audi
11.7
9
-
-
507
13:23:19
2452.8
75.3%
L.Berman
Haas F1
12.1
5
-
-
577
14:38:31
2901.1
85.7%
E.Ocon
Haas F1
13.3
9
-
-
662
17:28:30
3267.4
98.4%
C.Sainz
Williams
13.6
9
-
-
609
16:20:20
3046.2
90.5%
A.Albon
Williams
14.1
8
-
-
533
14:26:42
2626.8
79.2%
S.Perez
Cadillac
15.3
14
-
-
516
14:06:42
2548.5
76.7%
F.Alonso
Aston Martin
16.0
10
-
-
529
14:38:00
2613.1
78.6%
L.Stroll
Aston Martin
16.0
13
-
-
453
12:57:06
2213.9
67.3%
V.Bottas
Cadillac
16.7
13
-
-
381
10:30:09
2049.5
56.6%
Driver
Team
finish position
leading
total distance
avg
best
laps
km
laps
time
km
%
L.Hamilton
Ferrari
3.8
1
33
156.0
673
17:23:54
3319.0
100%
D.Russell
Mercedes
4.0
1
147
683.1
590
15:07:46
2840.8
87.7%
K.Antonelli
Mercedes
4.1
1
302
1468.2
668
17:13:36
3295.7
99.3%
L.Norris
McLaren
4.3
1
52
248.2
552
13:45:34
2766.3
82.0%
C.Leclerc
Ferrari
5.2
1
90
523.5
655
16:21:23
3253.6
97.3%
O.Piastri
McLaren
5.6
2
41
202.1
542
14:05:57
2633.3
80.5%
M.Verstappen
Red Bull
5.9
2
8
35.4
578
14:30:44
2963.4
85.9%
A.Hadjar
Red Bull
6.3
3
-
-
570
14:50:10
2769.8
84.7%
L.Lawson
Racing Bulls
8.4
5
-
-
617
16:05:49
3020.0
91.7%
P.Gasly
Alpine
9.1
6
-
-
615
16:00:34
3009.1
91.4%
A.Lindblad
Racing Bulls
9.9
6
-
-
599
15:58:16
2992.9
89.0%
G.Bortoleto
Audi
10.8
8
-
-
609
15:52:18
2976.5
90.5%
F.Colapinto
Alpine
11.6
6
-
-
665
17:27:54
3280.9
98.8%
N.Hulkenberg
Audi
11.7
9
-
-
507
13:23:19
2452.8
75.3%
L.Berman
Haas F1
12.1
5
-
-
577
14:38:31
2901.1
85.7%
E.Ocon
Haas F1
13.3
9
-
-
662
17:28:30
3267.4
98.4%
C.Sainz
Williams
13.6
9
-
-
609
16:20:20
3046.2
90.5%
A.Albon
Williams
14.1
8
-
-
533
14:26:42
2626.8
79.2%
S.Perez
Cadillac
15.3
14
-
-
516
14:06:42
2548.5
76.7%
F.Alonso
Aston Martin
16.0
10
-
-
529
14:38:00
2613.1
78.6%
L.Stroll
Aston Martin
16.0
13
-
-
453
12:57:06
2213.9
67.3%
V.Bottas
Cadillac
16.7
13
-
-
381
10:30:09
2049.5
56.6%
Kimi Antonelli finished third in Hungary and is satisfied with the result. George Russell's system, which prevents the engine from stalling, activated at the start; he exited the first corner last but still earned points...
Kimi Antonelli (3rd): "It was a tough race. Overtaking on the track was almost impossible, so we had to rely on strategy. At first, we tried to complete the race with one pit stop, but the team told me the tires were already at their limit, so I had to change them. When the virtual safety car was announced, both Ferrari drivers went into the pit. I knew it would be difficult to defend – they had Soft tires, while I had Hard, but fortunately, we managed to keep them behind. I'm happy to have increased my lead in the championship. Now I can head into the break with peace of mind. Today we tried to minimize losses, but we can't stand still – the second half of the season won't be easy. We'll do everything we can."
George Russell (7th): "A terrible start is putting it mildly. Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do. Before the start, I was holding the revs, waiting for the signal, and suddenly the engine started misfiring, with the revs spiking and then dropping sharply. Given this incident and everything that happened to me in the first half of the season, I'm praying for a calm second half. I'm keeping a positive mindset. I'm very disappointed with how the first half of the season went, but I need to gather my strength and acknowledge that there are many factors beyond your control that can work against you. There are things I can control, and I need to work on them better. Of course, I'm not happy with how everything has turned out, but I still look to the future with optimism. I'm pleased with the pace over the distance. The team said we were competitive in terms of speed during the race. That's great. But for now, things are going as they are."
Kimi Antonelli (3rd): "It was a tough race. Overtaking on the track was almost impossible, so we had to rely on strategy. At first, we tried to complete the race with one pit stop, but the team told me the tires were already at their limit, so I had to change them. When the virtual safety car was announced, both Ferrari drivers went into the pit. I knew it would be difficult to defend – they had Soft tires, while I had Hard, but fortunately, we managed to keep them behind. I'm happy to have increased my lead in the championship. Now I can head into the break with peace of mind. Today we tried to minimize losses, but we can't stand still – the second half of the season won't be easy. We'll do everything we can."
George Russell (7th): "A terrible start is putting it mildly. Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do. Before the start, I was holding the revs, waiting for the signal, and suddenly the engine started misfiring, with the revs spiking and then dropping sharply. Given this incident and everything that happened to me in the first half of the season, I'm praying for a calm second half. I'm keeping a positive mindset. I'm very disappointed with how the first half of the season went, but I need to gather my strength and acknowledge that there are many factors beyond your control that can work against you. There are things I can control, and I need to work on them better. Of course, I'm not happy with how everything has turned out, but I still look to the future with optimism. I'm pleased with the pace over the distance. The team said we were competitive in terms of speed during the race. That's great. But for now, things are going as they are."
Williams driver Alex Albon, supported by the team's sponsors from Super Group, visited South Africa as part of the "1% mission." The essence of the mission is that only 1% of fans worldwide can attend a Formula 1 race in person. Williams aims to expand its geography and reach as much as possible. For the first time since 1993, when Alain Prost won the Grand Prix at the Kyalami circuit, an active Williams driver will come to South Africa. Alex's visit program included a conversation with Super Group CEO Neil Menashe, a VIP event with contest winners, content creation with South African creatives, and interviews with representatives of local and international media. Alex Albon: "South Africa has exceeded all expectations — local fans are incredibly passionate about our sport. Meeting people made this trip magnificent. Thank you, Super Group, for making this possible!"
Former Red Bull Racing chief mechanic Callum Nicholas urged Formula 1 to exercise caution when planning the calendar to help team staff avoid professional burnout in the Talking Bull podcast.
Callum Nicholas: "There needs to be a balance. On one hand, I want to see as many races as possible, but I say this as someone who no longer works in the pits and doesn’t put as much effort into this job.
It’s important to remember, especially closer to the end of the season, that professional burnout is a real issue. There comes a point when the workload becomes too much.
This affects not only those who travel to the races. It affects all families, those who wait at home and make sacrifices for them to be away from home. As much as I would like to see as many races on the calendar, I still believe that some caution needs to be exercised in this matter.
Teams have their own solutions regarding this. At Red Bull, starting in 2025, mechanics will have the option to skip several races during the season. Now they can plan and choose races in a way that aligns with family responsibilities, children, and everything else."
Callum Nicholas: "There needs to be a balance. On one hand, I want to see as many races as possible, but I say this as someone who no longer works in the pits and doesn’t put as much effort into this job.
It’s important to remember, especially closer to the end of the season, that professional burnout is a real issue. There comes a point when the workload becomes too much.
This affects not only those who travel to the races. It affects all families, those who wait at home and make sacrifices for them to be away from home. As much as I would like to see as many races on the calendar, I still believe that some caution needs to be exercised in this matter.
Teams have their own solutions regarding this. At Red Bull, starting in 2025, mechanics will have the option to skip several races during the season. Now they can plan and choose races in a way that aligns with family responsibilities, children, and everything else."
At the start of the Hungarian Grand Prix, George Russell lost positions and fell to the back of the pack. Mercedes team deputy principal Bradley Lord explained that the incident was not the driver's fault, and he lost positions due to the anti-stall system activating, which protects the engine from stalling.
Bradley Lord: "Everyone saw that the anti-stall system activated after the start, and because of that, George ended up at the back of the pack. The question is, why did this happen?
Before the start, drivers maintain what are called starting revs – the engine must operate at a certain level of RPM. While George was doing this, the engine revs began to rise more than the degree of pressure on the throttle pedal warranted.
The revs reached the limiter, which is the maximum value the engine allows at that moment. After that, George tried to regain control to optimize the start. He was unable to do this, and at the moment he fully released the throttle pedal, leaving less than 10% of its travel, the starting lights went out.
As a result, he started the race with the throttle almost completely released, although this was not his fault. Therefore, the anti-stall system activated, and George found himself at the back of the pack.
During the first segment, he overtook opponents one after another, but at the end of the race, he was unlucky with the timing of the virtual safety car activation. This mode was activated just one lap after his second pit stop.
If George had been able to make a "free" pit stop under the virtual safety car, he could have finished higher than the seventh place he ultimately secured."
George Russell went into the summer break in third place in the individual standings, 59 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli.
Bradley Lord: "Everyone saw that the anti-stall system activated after the start, and because of that, George ended up at the back of the pack. The question is, why did this happen?
Before the start, drivers maintain what are called starting revs – the engine must operate at a certain level of RPM. While George was doing this, the engine revs began to rise more than the degree of pressure on the throttle pedal warranted.
The revs reached the limiter, which is the maximum value the engine allows at that moment. After that, George tried to regain control to optimize the start. He was unable to do this, and at the moment he fully released the throttle pedal, leaving less than 10% of its travel, the starting lights went out.
As a result, he started the race with the throttle almost completely released, although this was not his fault. Therefore, the anti-stall system activated, and George found himself at the back of the pack.
During the first segment, he overtook opponents one after another, but at the end of the race, he was unlucky with the timing of the virtual safety car activation. This mode was activated just one lap after his second pit stop.
If George had been able to make a "free" pit stop under the virtual safety car, he could have finished higher than the seventh place he ultimately secured."
George Russell went into the summer break in third place in the individual standings, 59 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli.