🗞 In The Headlines

1/ Carlos Sainz Shines in Final Practice at Spanish Grand Prix, Sets Stage for Thrilling Qualifying

Home hero Carlos Sainz led the final Formula 1 practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix on Saturday, clocking a fastest lap of 1:13.013s in his Ferrari. He narrowly edged out McLaren’s Lando Norris by just 0.030s, highlighting the tight competition among the top drivers. Sainz’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, was close behind in third, only 0.037s off the pace. The top five were incredibly close, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ George Russell completing the group, all within 0.151s of each other. Lewis Hamilton, who was fastest in FP2, finished sixth, followed by Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. The top ten were separated by less than nine-tenths of a second, setting the stage for an exciting qualifying session. Notably, Alex Albon impressed by securing eighth for Williams, ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

2/ Fire Evacuation Shakes Up McLaren F1 Team at Spanish Grand Prix

McLaren's Formula 1 team had to evacuate its hospitality unit just before the final practice session at the Spanish Grand Prix due to a fire. The incident occurred less than an hour before the start of FP3, but the McLaren staff acted swiftly to ensure everyone was safely evacuated. The fire, originating in the kitchen area, was promptly addressed by local fire and ambulance crews. While the hospitality center did sustain damage, no McLaren team members were seriously injured. However, four fire safety personnel required medical attention for smoke inhalation, with two in serious condition. Despite the disruption, both McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, were able to participate in the practice session without any issues.

3/ Collision Chaos: F1 Stars Under Scrutiny After Spanish Grand Prix Practice Clash

Lewis Hamilton, Lance Stroll, Charles Leclerc, and Lando Norris are under investigation following two separate collisions during the final practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix. These incidents disrupted the crucial setup and tire preparation phase ahead of qualifying. The first incident involved Hamilton inadvertently obstructing Stroll, leading to light contact between the two. Both drivers were summoned by the stewards for potentially dangerous driving. In the second incident, Leclerc, frustrated by being impeded by Norris, swerved towards the McLaren, causing a minor collision that damaged Norris's front wing. Both drivers have been called to explain their actions. Additionally, Max Verstappen had to avoid contact with Norris in a separate incident, but this was not investigated further.

4/ Wolff Downplays Impact of Superlicence Rule Change on Antonelli's F1 Future

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has stated that the recent FIA amendment to the superlicence rules, which allows 17-year-olds to qualify for a superlicence under certain conditions, will not alter his plans for Kimi Antonelli. Despite pressure from Williams to debut Antonelli as early as the Dutch Grand Prix, Wolff emphasized that the rule change was not specifically about Antonelli but rather a general update to provide flexibility for young drivers demonstrating exceptional talent. Wolff reiterated that Antonelli will continue his development in Formula 2 and testing programs without being rushed into a Formula 1 seat prematurely.

5/ Sauber Denies Audi's 2026 Focus Hampering Current F1 Performance

Sauber has dismissed claims that its poor performance this season is due to new owner Audi concentrating on Formula 1's 2026 regulations. The team remains the only one without points after nine races, plagued by pitstop and reliability issues. Despite some progress, Sauber lags in the midfield development race, currently fielding the slowest car. Audi, preparing for its 2026 debut with a new power unit, has infused resources into the team, aiming for a strong start under its branding. Meanwhile, drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu are in a holding pattern as team CEO Andreas Seidl focuses on long-term success, which Bottas optimistically views as a step back to move forward. Board member Alessandro Alunni Bravi argues that the team's present struggles and future ambitions are intertwined, emphasizing the need to address current weaknesses while building a robust foundation for Audi’s entry.

🤭 For The Lulz

👀 Did You Know…

From 1950 to 1960, the Indianapolis 500 was officially included as a points-paying race on the Formula 1 World Championship calendar. The inclusion was an attempt to create a more globally representative championship, however, the differences between F1 and Indy cars, along with the geographical distance, made it challenging for crossover participation and was ultimately dropped.

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