- Slicks & Circuits
- Posts
- Alonso Breaks Records, Ferrari's Pit Stop Magic, and Horner's Bold 2026 Vision
Alonso Breaks Records, Ferrari's Pit Stop Magic, and Horner's Bold 2026 Vision
๐ In The Headlines
1/ Ferrari's Fast Pit Stops Shine Amid Disappointing Canadian Grand Prix
(Gustavo Campos/Unsplash)
Ferrari left the Canadian Grand Prix with no championship points but managed to secure the DHL Fastest Pit Stop award. Despite a strong performance in practice, both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz struggled during qualifying and the race. Leclerc faced a power unit issue early on and, despite resetting the car, lost significant time and was eventually retired. Sainz had a difficult race, losing positions early and later spinning out, which led to his retirement after colliding with Alexander Albon's Williams. While the race was disappointing, Ferrari's pit crew excelled with rapid tire changes, clocking the fastest pit stop times of the weekend.
2/ Alonso Shatters Schumacher's Longevity Records, Cementing His F1 Legacy
(Getty Images)
Fernando Alonso has surpassed Michael Schumacher's longstanding record for the longest time gap between podiums and has recently broken another of Schumacher's records for the longest period between scoring his first and last point in Formula 1. Alonso's first points came in Australia in 2003, and his most recent in Canada in 2024, a span of 21 years and three months, surpassing Schumacher's 21 years and two months. With an extended contract with Aston Martin until 2026, Alonso is poised to further extend this record and continues to impress with his remarkable endurance and consistency in the sport.
3/ Horner Defends Controversial 2026 F1 Regs, Confident FIA Will Deliver Thrilling Racing
(Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has come out in support of the FIA amid backlash over the recently announced 2026 Formula 1 regulations. The new rules aim to produce lighter, more sustainable cars by increasing electrical power and using 100% sustainable fuels. However, the removal of DRS and other changes have raised safety concerns from pundits like Martin Brundle and former champion Jacques Villeneuve. Despite the criticism, Horner believes the FIA has listened to feedback and has the knowledge to implement the right changes to improve racing.
4/ Hamilton's Meticulous Focus Amazes Ocon: A Lesson for the Upcoming Race
(Mercedes)
Esteban Ocon has opened up about the profound influence Lewis Hamilton had on him during his tenure as a reserve driver for Mercedes. Ocon, who joined Mercedes in 2015 and served as their reserve driver in 2019, gained a unique perspective on Hamilton's behind-the-scenes work ethic. On the High Performance podcast, Ocon shared his admiration for Hamilton's ability to swiftly shift focus from hectic marketing commitments to technical discussions with engineers, without losing any sharpness. He highlighted Hamilton's meticulous note-taking habits, which ensured nothing was forgotten from one race or season to another. Inspired by Hamilton, Ocon has adopted similar practices to enhance his own performance, a routine he may not have followed during his earlier stints with Manor or Force India/Racing Point.
5/ McLaren's Resurgence: Focusing on Process Over Results
(Steven Tee/Motorsport Images)
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has emphasized the importance of focusing on processes rather than results as the team continues its quest to return to Formula 1 title contention. Since Stella's appointment in late 2022, McLaren has transformed from a midfield team to a consistent front-runner. This resurgence has been marked by Lando Norrisโ first win in Miami and strong performances in Imola and Canada. McLaren has outscored its rivals in the last three races, closing the gap to second-placed Ferrari to just 40 points. Despite these successes, Stella insists that maintaining a focus on performance and ongoing project delivery, rather than outcomes, is crucial for sustained progress. The teamโs latest developments have addressed previous weaknesses in slow-speed cornering, as evidenced by Oscar Piastriโs second-place finish in Monaco.
๐คญ For The Lulz
credit: u/MarryAnneZoe
๐ Did You Knowโฆ
Drivers can lose up to 3 kg (6.6 lbs) of body weight during a race?
Due to extreme heat, G-forces, as well as the physical exertion of driving, this weight loss can affect drivers' hydration levels and overall performance. To combat this, drivers carefully manage their hydration and nutrition before and during the race to maintain peak physical condition.
๐ท Pic of the Day
George Russell (Mercedes W15) Pole position, 2024 (credit: u/formula4422)
โฌ The Current Standings
DRIVERS (points) | CONSTRUCTORS (points) |
---|---|
๐ณ๐ฑ Max Verstappen (194) | ๐ Red Bull (301) |
๐ฒ๐จ Charles Leclerc (138) | ๐ Ferrari (252) |
๐ฌ๐ง Lando Norris (131) | ๐ McLaren (212) |
๐ช๐ธ Carlos Sainz Jr. (108) | ๐ Mercedes (124) |
๐ฒ๐ฝ Sergio Pรฉrez (107) | ๐ Aston Martin (58) |
๐ฆ๐บ Oscar Piastri (81) | ๐ RB Formula One Team (28) |
๐ฌ๐ง George Russell (69) | ๐ Haas (7) |
๐ฌ๐ง Lewis Hamilton (55) | ๐ Alpine (5) |
๐ช๐ธ Fernando Alonso (41) | ๐ Williams (2) |
๐ฏ๐ต Yuki Tsunoda (19) | ๐ Kick Sauber (0) |
๐จ๐ฆ Lance Stroll (17) | |
๐ฆ๐บ Daniel Ricciardo (9) | |
๐ฉ๐ช Nico Hรผlkenberg (6) | |
๐ฌ๐ง Oliver Bearman (6) | |
๐ซ๐ท Pierre Gasly (3) | |
๐น๐ญ Alex Albon (2) | |
๐ซ๐ท Esteban Ocon (2) | |
๐ฉ๐ฐ Kevin Magnussen (1) | |
๐จ๐ณ Zhou Guanyu (0) | |
๐ซ๐ฎ Valtteri Bottas (0) | |
๐บ๐ธ Logan Sargeant (0) |
๐ Coming Up Next
Spanish GP ๐ช๐ธ Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Starting in โฌ
๐ Get The Merch
Support your favorite newsletter & upgrade your swagger at the same time!
๐ Help Us Improve
What can we do better? We want to hear from you directly.
๐ You New Here?
If you were forwarded this issue, hereโs your chance to join the crew:
If you already are, have you considered sharing it with a fellow F1 fan?
Or, if you prefer, you can support us directly!