This Is Formula 1 Media

F1 2026 - Paddock Puppies:

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via - (F1)

🚨| Oliver Bearman Unveils New Venture Beyond F1:

1 - Oliver Bearman, the Haas Formula 1 driver, has started a new business by launching a bike shop and cafe above Monaco with friends. Speaking to media, Bearman shared:

“I have a bike shop with a few friends. We've opened up a bike shop above Monaco. It's a really popular area for cycling. It's really cool. We're really happy with how it's going.”

2 - Bearman, who lives in Monaco, frequently cycles with fellow drivers and cycling champions. He explained the personal nature of the project:

“It's more of a passion project for all of us because we really enjoy cycling, and it's nice to have a bit of a say in how the shop works.”

3 - The shop also serves as a cafe, providing a break for cyclists. Bearman expressed his excitement for the culinary side:

“It's our own banana bread. It's our own cakes. So it's nice. It's enjoyable.”

4 - Although not a coffee fan, Bearman recognized its importance in the cycling world:

“That's really the main thing. We focus on good coffee. Although I don't really enjoy coffee—I know it's incredibly important and cyclists are very picky about coffee. That's one thing I've learned! But what I do enjoy is the cakes, and we have good cakes. So I'm proud.”

5 - Bearman's new venture comes amid a tough start to the 2026 F1 season. He has earned 18 points, placing him 13th in the drivers' standings, with strong performances in Australia and China but facing retirements and lower finishes in other races.

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via - (motorsport)

🚨| Antonelli Embraces F1 Summer Break:

1 - Kimi Antonelli, who is leading the F1 championship, highlighted the importance of the summer break to recharge for the latter part of the season. Speaking to the media, Antonelli stated:

“Well, I mean, I feel like the break is needed, because it's been almost eight months flat out... I mean, if I look back, I think I started the activities on 3 January this season, so it was pretty flat out.”

2 - Despite his strong lead in the standings, Antonelli isn't worried about losing momentum during the break. He shared his past experiences:

“To be fair, also before Miami, yes, so after Japan, I thought, 'oh my God, like four weeks break,' just coming off Japan with momentum, race win, I was like, 'oh my God, it's like I'm actually might lose the momentum', because four weeks are a lot. But then, you know I remember going in Miami, FP1, feeling great in the car, I was like, 'Okay, maybe I didn't lose the momentum.' So I feel like the momentum is still going to be there.”

3 - Antonelli stressed the break's role in mental and physical recovery, while also planning to remain active:

“I feel like the break is needed. To have a proper break, to be able to switch off a little bit, even though I'm sure after three, four days, I'm going to be bored and I'm going to be like I want to be back on track. Luckily where I'm going there's a gokart track so for sure I'm going to be practicing. But I feel like on the other side it's needed to just disconnect a little bit go out with enjoy a bit the time with the family with the friends. And just recharge overall the body, the mind, in order to be ready for the second half.”

4 - Antonelli was also spotted in Sardinia with Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff, similar to Max Verstappen's recent visit. The meeting included Antonelli's father, Marco, and Susie Wolff.

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via - (gpblog)

🚨BREAKING | Jos Verstappen: “I’m sure Max will still be racing — just not in F1”

1 - Jos Verstappen expressed immense pride in his son Max, saying he embodies everything one could hope for in a son. Speaking to AutoHebdo, Jos Verstappen remarked:

“As a person, he is a great guy with a wonderful character. He is very down-to-earth and honest. He is everything you could want in a son. I am truly very proud of him.”

2 - Jos also emphasized Max's outstanding abilities on the track, stating that with the right car, Max could achieve more championships. He elaborated:

“And as a driver, he has surpassed anything we could have ever hoped for. If he has the right equipment, he will surely win more championships. It all depends on the car he has at his disposal.”

3 - Looking ahead, Jos shared his thoughts on Max's future in racing, predicting a move away from Formula 1. He continued:

“I don't think he'll be in F1 anymore, and I hope he'll have won Le Mans by then. But winning Le Mans isn't that simple these days, either; with the Balance of Performance, the whole field is very tight. We'll see; it will be a challenge. But I'm sure he'll still be racing then—just not in F1.”

4 - Max Verstappen's manager, Raymond Vermeulen, also praised the driver for revitalizing Formula 1's popularity in the Netherlands. Speaking to Formule 1 Magazine, Vermeulen commented:

“Formula 1 in the Netherlands was in a long, deep winter sleep. After Jos' success, things were a bit difficult in terms of Dutch success. And Max's story, a young kid who turned the established order on its head, that was of course gigantic.”

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via - (gpblog)

🚨| Hamilton Supported by Former Champion:

1 - Emerson Fittipaldi expressed his wish for Lewis Hamilton to vie for the Formula 1 world championship this year. As the 2026 F1 season progresses into its latter half, Hamilton holds second place in the drivers' standings, 50 points behind Kimi Antonelli and nine ahead of George Russell. Speaking to media, Fittipaldi remarked:

“I really hope Lewis challenges for the championship. It'd be extremely good to see Lewis and Ferrari running stronger, to dice with Mercedes. I hope so.”

2 - Fittipaldi also voiced his respect for Ferrari's team principal, Frederic Vasseur, recalling their previous collaboration. He commented:

“I have a lot of respect for [Ferrari team boss] Fred Vasseur. When I owned the A1 Team Brazil [in A1 Grand Prix], Fred [and his ART Grand Prix outfit] ran our team and did a great job. He's a good guy, a top guy. I think now he knows the Italians well! So, it should be good, the second part.”

3 - Thierry Boutsen echoed Fittipaldi's views, expressing his hopes for Ferrari's comeback. He stated:

“I'd like to see Ferrari at the top again more regularly. I think they deserve it, as they worked so hard to get there, to get back into a good shape. I would also like to see Charles winning a few races. He's Monegasque, I'm Monegasque, so I'm the Tifosi for him! But I'd like to see good racing no matter what. Good, fun, safe racing.”

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via - (gpblog)

🚨| Montoya on Verstappen-Red Bull Dynamics:

1 - Juan Pablo Montoya talked about the ongoing talks between Max Verstappen and Red Bull, indicating that money is a key factor. Speaking to media, Montoya stated:

“It's always a matter of money... is Verstappen talking to other teams to raise the price or does he really want to leave? I think that in the end what matters is being the undisputed number one in the box.”

2 - Montoya showed doubt about Verstappen's possible switch to other leading teams, pointing out the hurdles he might encounter. He explained:

“I wouldn't go to Mercedes to try to become the king of a jungle where Antonelli is Toto Wolff's protégé and at the same time I wouldn't go to McLaren where the relationship between Zak Brown and Lando Norris is very solid.”

3 - Reflecting on past team dynamics, Montoya remembered:

“Remember when in 2022 Perez was very belligerent even in his statements at the beginning of the season? Then the updates came, Max was flying and Checo was getting worse from race to race.”

4 - Montoya speculated on Verstappen's future prospects, considering the current team standings:

“I honestly don't think there will actually be a place in Mercedes for Max in the coming seasons, the only factor that can come into play is a possible string of McLaren victories returning from summer break. At that point Verstappen could really think about trying to play the McLaren card.”

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via - (formulapassion)

🚨| Ferrari Embraces Innovation and Risk-Taking:

1 - Loic Serra, Ferrari's technical director, discussed the team's readiness to innovate under the new Formula 1 regulations. He told the media:

“The adoption of a new regulation leaves, at least in the initial stages, a greater margin of initiative before, at the end of a regulatory cycle, the technical aspect tends to take hold.”

2 - Serra expressed contentment with the team's teamwork and the fresh ideas that have surfaced. He commented:

“More than for me, I am happy for the people who had the ideas that we then developed. An internally virtuous circle has been created, which is very important throughout the development and production chain.”

3 - Despite recent achievements, Serra advised against early comparisons with past results. He mentioned:

“Now we are only in the middle of the season, I would not make comparisons but rather wait to see where we will be at the end of the year.”

4 - Serra stressed the value of teamwork over individual efforts, saying:

“Honestly, I don't think that it's individual people who make the difference and this also applies in my case. We work, win and lose as a team, which prevails over individuality.”

5 - Reflecting on Ferrari's two wins in 2026, Serra emphasized development focus over past season comparisons. He stated:

“Yes, but I repeat that you cannot compare the two things because everything is relative. Victories are not a factor that we directly control, but we weigh the effectiveness of what we bring at the level of development.”

6 - Serra commended drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton for aiding the team's progress, noting their distinct communication but similar insights. He concluded:

“When Ferrari brings a development to the track, both then improve.”

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via - (formulapassion)

🚨| Hamilton's F1 Comeback Attributed to Overlooked Factor:

1 - Emerson Fittipaldi credited Lewis Hamilton's F1 revival to his adaptability to the 2026 car. Speaking to media, Fittipaldi remarked:

“I was so happy to see Lewis and Ferrari going fast. I remember last year… it happened to me in IndyCar, and in F1, when you get older people start saying, 'Well, he cannot drive', and everybody last year criticised Lewis.”

2 - Fittipaldi highlighted the criticism Hamilton faced last year, noting the positive impact of his recent performances:

“'He cannot beat Leclerc, he's too old'. Now he's going strong. I think for the sport it's good, for the fans it's good. Seeing Ferrari winning again, and Lewis winning again, is fantastic.”

3 - He pointed out the changes in car design as a key factor in Hamilton's improved form:

“One thing that nobody talks about a lot is the new car. It's smaller, with less downforce, and to me it makes it harder to drive fast. I think it brings [out] more talent.”

4 - Fittipaldi praised Hamilton's driving skills and familiarity with the Ferrari team:

“I think that's one of the reasons why Lewis improved, because of his car control, his feeling for the car – he's an extremely talented driver. He's working in his second year with Ferrari, he knows the engineers, and he knows the system.”

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via - (RacingNews365)

🚨| Adrian Newey Highlights Unexpected Upside After Aston Martin-Honda's Rough Start:

1 - Adrian Newey, Aston Martin team principal, talked about the surprising benefit of the tough start with Honda. Speaking to media, Newey remarked:

“What's really progressed is actually the word you just used, relationship.”

2 - Despite early challenges, Newey highlighted the improved partnership between Aston Martin and Honda:

“Out of what can only be called a disastrous start, the positive of that, because you're always looking for positives, is that it's brought Honda and ourselves, AMR, into a very close working relationship.”

3 - Aston Martin's recent car upgrade in Budapest led to significant lap time gains, though they remain several seconds behind the leaders. Newey emphasized the need to keep a strong alliance with Honda, showing optimism for future results:

“We continue to develop that in all areas. So, I'm very happy with the progress we're making from a relationship point of view.”

“Normally, if relationships improve, then performance also improves.”

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via - (RacingNews365)

🚨| Isack Hadjar Discusses F1 'Luxury' with Max Verstappen:

1 - Isack Hadjar shared his admiration for being teammates with Max Verstappen, noting the challenge of matching the esteemed driver. Speaking to media, Hadjar remarked:

“I've always been curious to know, what's the highest level in the world?”

“What is it like to share the same car as the best driver on the grid? And at 21 years old, I have the luxury to get to compare myself against Max and see what he does.”

2 - Although Verstappen has out-qualified him eight times to three this season, Hadjar stays motivated by his teammate's high standards. He commented:

“Every time he's out there on track, he puts such a high benchmark and tough times to beat.”

“It's always very impressive to be next to him.”

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via - (RacingNews365)