Kimi Antonelli's eighth win of the season at the inaugural Madrid Madring circuit extended his championship lead to 81 points over team-mate George Russell, with both Russell and Hamilton now publicly conceding the 2026 title fight is over. Off track, the new circuit drew heavy criticism for its lack of overtaking, the 2027 calendar landed with a major sprint expansion and Alpine made a significant technical hire as the silly season rumbles on.
Baku's Saturday Race Format Adds Intrigue for Round 15
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix on 26 September runs to an unusual Saturday race format in 2026, a quirk of the local calendar confirmed by Motorsport.com. Williams is also set to introduce a significant upgrade package at the street circuit, with Juan Pablo Montoya predicting a 'huge step' forward for the Grove team. Formula 2 has separately announced a supersized Baku schedule featuring an extra feature race, adding further on-track content to the weekend.
Baku's street circuit has historically produced chaotic, unpredictable races and with Antonelli holding a commanding 81-point lead over Russell, a safety car or late drama could be the only thing that tightens the championship picture before the season's final stretch.
Source: Motorsport.com
Madring Overtaking Failure Prompts Circuit Change Promises
The inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid's Madring circuit was widely criticised for producing a processional race with almost no overtaking. Lando Norris led from pole but was unable to pass Antonelli after losing track position during a poorly timed VSC and Spanish GP organisers confirmed changes to the circuit layout are already being planned. Williams team principal James Vowles backed the venue's long-term potential despite the difficult debut.
A brand-new street circuit producing a dull race is not a surprise, but the fact that Norris had the faster car and still could not reclaim the lead underlines just how circuit-dependent the 2026 title fight has become. The Madring needs structural layout changes, not just cosmetic fixes, if it is to justify its place on the calendar.
Source: BBC Sport F1
F1 Confirms 24-Race 2027 Calendar With Ten Sprint Weekends
Formula 1 officially unveiled its 2027 season calendar this week, expanding the sprint format from six to ten weekends, with Monaco among the new additions to the sprint schedule. The 24-race season begins in Bahrain on 14 March and concludes in Abu Dhabi. The calendar was also structured to leave a gap around Le Mans, potentially allowing F1 drivers such as Norris and Verstappen to compete in the 24 Hours.
Doubling the sprint count to ten is a bold commercial move, but adding Monaco to the format is the genuinely contentious call. The principality's narrow streets already limit racing; a sprint there risks producing two processional events in one weekend rather than one.
Source: Autosport
Alpine Signs Former Mercedes Tech Chief Elliott as CTO
Alpine confirmed the appointment of Mike Elliott, former Mercedes F1 technical director, as its new chief technical officer. Elliott will oversee the Enstone team's full technical operation and represents one of the most significant technical hires of the 2026 silly season. The move further bolsters an Alpine structure that has been rebuilding its engineering leadership over the past two seasons.
Elliott was at Mercedes during the period that produced the most dominant car in the sport's history and his knowledge of high-downforce, regulation-change cycles is exactly what Alpine needs as the 2028 rules discussions begin to take shape. This is a serious hire, not a headline one.
Source: Autosport
Mercedes Already Pivoting to 2027 With 145-Point Buffer Secured
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed this week that 2027 car development 'started a while ago', with the team's 145-point lead in the constructors' standings giving it the freedom to redirect resources. Wolff described the gap as a 'nice buffer' and said the team is comfortable managing both its 2026 campaign and its future programme simultaneously. Ferrari, by contrast, confirmed it will not yet switch focus to its 2027 car despite Hamilton's retirement in Madrid.
Mercedes managing a dual programme while still leading both championships is a sign of genuine organisational depth. Ferrari's decision to keep developing the SF-26 is understandable given it is still 145 points behind in the constructors' fight, but the gap to Mercedes in 2027 preparation may already be widening.
Source: Motorsport.com
Norris Tests McLaren Le Mans Hypercar as WEC Ambitions Grow
Reigning F1 champion Lando Norris completed his first full test session in McLaren's MCL-HY Le Mans Hypercar at Portimao on the Monday after the Spanish Grand Prix. The test marks a concrete step in McLaren's WEC programme and in Norris's own ambitions beyond Formula 1. The newly released 2027 F1 calendar has been structured with a gap around Le Mans, raising the possibility that Norris could attempt the 24 Hours while still competing in F1.
Norris is 186 points behind Antonelli in the drivers' standings with nine rounds remaining, so his title hopes are effectively over for 2026. Channelling energy into the Le Mans project is a smart move for both driver and team and the calendar gap suggests F1 leadership is actively encouraging this kind of crossover.
Source: Autosport
