Racing Avenue

Vasseur Responds to Hamilton's "Unbearable Rage"

Fred Vasseur has addressed Lewis Hamilton's explosive admission of feeling "an unbearable amount of anger and rage" after his disastrous first season with Ferrari. Hamilton failed to register a podium finish across the entire F1 2025 season—a first in his career. He ended the year 86 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc and finished with four consecutive Q1 eliminations.

After qualifying last in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton told television crews: "I don't have the words to describe the feeling that I have inside. An unbearable amount of anger and rage. There's not really much I can say about it."

The comments came after a season of heated radio exchanges with race engineer Riccardo Adami and public criticism that prompted Ferrari chairman John Elkann to urge both Hamilton and Leclerc to "focus on driving" and "talk less."

Vasseur responded by saying he doesn't pay attention to what drivers say immediately after sessions. "I don't pay attention to the reaction in the TV pen, honestly, or the reaction that sometimes they have on the microphone in the car on the radio," Vasseur told media outlets. "In the TV pen, they are jumping out of the car five minutes after the session. Sometimes they have bad results for a couple of hundredths and you're asking them questions. I can understand that sometimes the guy is a bit emotional."

The Ferrari boss compared Hamilton's approach to Charles Leclerc's, noting that Leclerc has always been critical but channels it into positive team dynamics. "The fact that they are emotional sometimes on the radio and it depends of the guy. All of you know perfectly Charles is always a bit [heavy with] criticism with him and with himself first and with the team and with everybody, but it was always a positive dynamic," Vasseur explained.

Hamilton also revealed he plans to completely disconnect during the winter break. "At the moment, I'm only looking forward to the break. And just to disconnect or not speak to anyone. No one will be able to get hold of me this winter. I won't have my phone with me."

📸: Scuderia Ferrari 📰: Planet F1
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1 week ago | [YT] | 378

Racing Avenue

McLaren's Hidden Message for Norris Revealed

A special motivational message written on Lando Norris's grid tape has emerged from the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix where he secured his maiden championship.

McLaren's engineer Will Joseph was spotted crouching on the grid holding a strip of tape with a handwritten message flanked by two lovehearts reading "You got this." The tape also included "R2," apparently reminding Norris to adjust a steering wheel setting ahead of the race start.

The grid tape became a talking point earlier in the season after Red Bull received a €50,000 fine from the FIA—half suspended—for an incident at the United States Grand Prix. A Red Bull team member re-entered the grid area after the formation lap had started and attempted to interfere with McLaren's tape left for Norris on the starting grid.

The fine related specifically to the safety breach of re-entering the grid after the formation lap commenced, not to tampering with the tape itself. McLaren has long used the practice of placing tape on the pit wall as a visual marker for Norris during race starts.

Norris went on to win his maiden title by finishing third in Abu Dhabi, beating race winner Max Verstappen by just two points despite Verstappen winning more races across the season—eight compared to the seven won by Norris and Oscar Piastri combined.

📸: McLaren F1 📰: Planet F1
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1 week ago | [YT] | 200

Racing Avenue

Vasseur's Brutal Honesty on Ferrari Future

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has made a stunning admission about the team's 2026 prospects, stating he has "no clue" where they'll be in the pecking order.

The confession comes after Ferrari's worst season, finishing fourth in the standings without a single race win. The team ended 435 points behind champions McLaren, with Charles Leclerc in P5 and Lewis Hamilton in P6.

The disappointing campaign is particularly striking given how Ferrari ended 2024 and the pre-season optimism surrounding Lewis Hamilton's arrival. Leclerc recently increased the pressure by declaring it was "now or never" for the Scuderia.

When asked about Ferrari's 2026 prospects, Vasseur told media in Abu Dhabi: "I have no clue. You know perfectly that all sport is a comparison. I can do a good job, if someone did a better job, I look stupid."

Vasseur explained the team remains focused on their project and pushing to the limit, but acknowledged the uncertainty. "The more time you are spending on the project, the better you think it will be but I don't know if McLaren, Red Bull or Alpine is in front of us. This, nobody knows."

Regarding Leclerc's "now or never" comments, Vasseur downplayed any tension, suggesting it was a natural driver response. He noted that Leclerc's approach remains constructive regardless of results, always looking to improve whether finishing P1 or P10.

📸: Scuderia Ferrari 📰: Planet F1
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1 week ago | [YT] | 262

Racing Avenue

Horner Targets Alpine Stake

Christian Horner is in advanced talks to acquire a controlling stake in Alpine F1 through an investor consortium, according to Dutch publication De Telegraaf. The former Red Bull team principal is reportedly targeting the 24 percent shareholding currently held by American investment group Otro Capital.

Alpine finished bottom of the Constructors' Championship in 2025, marking a nadir for the Enstone-based team in its 44-year history under various identities. The 2025 season also saw the end of Renault engines in F1 as the Viry-Chatillon facility shut down, with the team switching to Mercedes power for 2026.

Horner's connection to Alpine runs through Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore, a longtime friend. Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen addressed the speculation in October, stating that while he knows of no truth to the rumors, he cannot rule out the possibility. "Flavio and Christian are old friends. That's no secret. What they've talked about, I don't know. Everything I see and everything I know, there's no truth in Christian coming to Alpine. That doesn't mean it won't happen. This is Formula 1 after all," Nielsen said.

The timing coincides with reports that Otro Capital is exploring a potential divestment of their shares, originally valued at approximately 900 million dollars when acquired in 2023. Renault Group remains the majority shareholder with first-offer rights should Otro sell, and Renault CEO has reiterated the company's long-term commitment to F1 under the Alpine banner.

Horner reportedly wants more than just a team principal role in any F1 return. He seeks a shareholding and significant control over operations. The 52-year-old overssaw 14 World Championship wins at Red Bull before his departure and remains one of the most successful team bosses in F1 history.

📸: Red Bull 📰: De Telegraaf / Motorsport Week
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1 week ago | [YT] | 106

Racing Avenue

Corceiro Responds to Verstappen Criticism Claims

Margarida Corceiro has addressed allegations that she made critical remarks about Max Verstappen at the FIA Gala in Uzbekistan.

The Portuguese actress and Lando Norris' girlfriend was confronted by Portuguese TV Guia about the supposed comments. She clarified her position directly.

"I didn't see anything. I don't know what criticisms are being talked about. I deal with these things as I always have: I ignore them. They don't bother me and they don't change my daily life. I continue to be happy, to be with my family, friends, colleagues... Those are the ones who are important."

Corceiro and Norris confirmed their relationship in August with a public kiss at the Hungarian Grand Prix after two years of speculation. She reflected on that moment: "I'm very happy, he's very happy and that's what matters."

She also mentioned the public display wasn't planned: "There's no rule for going public. I thought it made sense... At that moment, I forgot the cameras were there. It was such an important moment that I didn't even remember that."

📸: A Bola on X 📰: gpblog
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1 week ago | [YT] | 90

Racing Avenue

Verstappen Stands By McLaren Title Claim

Max Verstappen lost the 2025 championship to Lando Norris by just two points in Abu Dhabi. For the first time since 2021, the Dutchman is no longer the reigning champion.

A few weeks before the championship finale, Verstappen was asked how 2025 would have unfolded if he were in the McLaren. The four-time champion said the title would have been over well before round 24. This sparked a sharp response from Norris, who rejected the hypothesis.

In an interview with formule1.nl, the 28-year-old stood by his comments: "Haha, but that's just a fact! That's not meant to be irritating, not even consciously or unconsciously. It's just a fact, and no one has to agree with it – but that's how I feel about it. That's my opinion. Some people won't like hearing it, but that's ultimately not my problem. I'm not saying it to provoke anyone, but when someone asks me something, I usually just answer. And yes, it's a fact."

On paper, Verstappen left few points on the table this year. Only his incident with Russell in Spain, where he ran into the side of the #63 car, can be described as a missed opportunity. Other poor results were outside his control, including his retirement in Austria after an incident with Antonelli.

McLaren's own errors played a central role in giving Verstappen a chance at the title. A mechanical failure for Norris in The Netherlands, a strategic miscalculation in Qatar, and regular squabbles between the papaya duo kept Verstappen in the race.

📸: Red Bull 📰: Last Word On Sports
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1 week ago | [YT] | 762

Racing Avenue

Norris Reveals Early Season Doubts Before Title Win

Lando Norris has admitted he had serious doubts about his championship credentials during the opening half of his title-winning season. The McLaren driver acknowledged his first half wasn't impressive, with mistakes and poor judgment calls piling up.

"If I look back on it, my first half of the season – not the most impressive. Certainly, times I made some mistakes, made some bad judgments. I made my errors, as I'm sure every driver would admit to," Norris reflected.

The season started with victory in Australia, but things took a turn when a mechanical issue at Zandvoort left him 34 points behind in the standings. What followed was a remarkable turnaround with six consecutive podium finishes that ultimately secured his first world championship.

"How I managed to turn all of that and have the second half of the season that I had is what makes me very proud – that I've been able to prove myself wrong," he stated. "There were doubts I had in the beginning of the year, and I proved myself wrong. And that's something that makes me very happy."

After securing the title, Norris returned to the McLaren Technology Centre to address his team, drawing motivation from their reaction to his achievement.

📸: McLaren F1 📰: gpblog
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1 week ago | [YT] | 153

Racing Avenue

Ferrari Boss Defends Hamilton Partnership

Ferrari's head of track engineering Matteo Togninalli has come to the defense of Lewis Hamilton's first season at Maranello, claiming the relationship between driver and team is far stronger than it appears publicly.

Togninalli acknowledged the adjustment period for a driver of Hamilton's caliber. "I'm sure you are all aware, but for the driver changing team, mainly for a driver like Lewis, who spent 10 years in the same team, has a certain level of experience. You are used to certain people. You are used to doing things in a certain way," he explained.

The engineer also pointed to the context of Ferrari's disappointing 2025 campaign. Hamilton went without a podium finish all season, with fourth-place results at Silverstone and Imola marking his best performances. Ferrari ended the year fourth in the Constructors' Championship after making the strategic call to halt aerodynamic development and shift focus to the 2026 regulations.

Despite the lack of results, Togninalli remained optimistic about what's being constructed internally. "I think the relationship with Lewis, what we are building with Lewis, is extremely positive," he stated. Hamilton backed Ferrari's decision to prioritize 2026 development early in the season, suggesting alignment between driver and team on the long-term vision.

📸: Scuderia Ferrari 📰: gpblog
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1 week ago | [YT] | 170

Racing Avenue

Verstappen's 71 Wins Threaten Hamilton's Legacy

Max Verstappen's 71 career Grand Prix victories have him breathing down Michael Schumacher's neck, with the German legend's 72 Ferrari wins now just one race away. The bigger target looming is Lewis Hamilton's all-time record of 105 wins, which once seemed untouchable but now appears vulnerable.

Verstappen's 10th season with Red Bull Racing started rough, with Lando Norris mounting a serious championship challenge. But the Dutchman found his form after the summer break and finished the year leading in both wins and pole positions. His rapid rise through the record books has been aided by F1's expanded calendar, which now features 24 races per season—far more opportunities than past champions ever had.

The 2026 season brings major technical regulation changes that could either accelerate or derail Verstappen's pursuit of Hamilton's mark. Lewis, meanwhile, endured a difficult first campaign with Ferrari, finishing without a single podium. The competitive landscape has shifted dramatically in Max's favor.

Helmut Marko added fuel to the fire by suggesting Red Bull would have performed even better in 2025 if Christian Horner had been removed earlier, potentially handing Verstappen another championship. If Max stays with Red Bull and maintains this trajectory, Hamilton may be powerless to prevent his records from falling. Any move away from Red Bull after 2026, however, could reset the entire chase.

📸: Red Bull 📰: GPBlog
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1 week ago | [YT] | 593

Racing Avenue

Croft Exposes Hamilton's Self-Doubt Crisis

Lewis Hamilton suffered through his most difficult Formula 1 season in 2025, marking the lowest point of his 19-year career with Ferrari. Sky Sports lead commentator David Croft observed the toll it took on the seven-time world champion.

Croft spoke about Hamilton's season: "That must be so demoralising, especially for a seven-time world champion, to constantly keep answering questions about why you are so slow and why is it going so wrong. Lewis has been a great fighter throughout his career and a great battler. I think he's the GOAT, I really do, he's my greatest of all time for on and off track reasons in that respect, and not just because he's a Stevenage boy and we all stick together."

During a private conversation in Las Vegas, Croft noticed a concerning shift in Hamilton's confidence. "I caught up with Lewis, I had a chat with him in Vegas. I won't say what we were talking about, but he just needs to believe and remember that he is Lewis Hamilton and that he's not lost that ability."

Croft confirmed Hamilton will race in 2026 despite retirement speculation: "Lewis is coming back. He's not going to retire, he's not going to step down. He'll be on the grid in 2026 and I'm sure, knowing Lewis as I do, he'll feel refreshed and invigorated and raring to go after spending a bit of time away from the track. He can't afford to start the season like he's ending this season, and there'll be more and more questions coming his way."

Sky Sports pundit Ted Kravitz suggested Hamilton focus on qualifying, where he trailed teammate Charles Leclerc throughout the season.

📸: Scuderia Ferrari 📰: GPBlog
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1 week ago | [YT] | 1,307