Friday in F1 was marked by explanations from Mercedes, new technical steps from Ferrari and Audi, and updates on Max Verstappen. The news also carried the confirmation of Jak Crawford in TL1 for the Austrian Grand Prix with Aston Martin.
Mercedes explained why it withdrew its request for a Right of Review related to George Russell’s penalties at the Monaco Grand Prix. The team said it had filed the request to preserve its position after Pierre Gasly’s penalty was overturned, but decided not to pursue it further after discussions with the FIA and Formula 1 about the circumstances of the case.
Also at Mercedes, Bradley Lord revealed a problem that compromised Russell late in the Barcelona Grand Prix. According to him, an incorrect adjustment of the front wing during the final pit stop, caused by a fault in the adjustment tool, disrupted the car’s balance and affected the Briton’s pace in the decisive laps.
Ferrari also made headlines by preparing a new power unit specification for the Austrian Grand Prix. The team is awaiting final FIA homologation to debut the third unit 067/6, with updates authorized by the ADUO program and a focus on narrowing the gap to Mercedes.
Audi acknowledged difficulties in its debut as a power unit manufacturer in Formula 1 and is working on updates to evolve throughout the season. Allan McNish admitted that building everything from scratch would never be simple and stated that the team is looking at ways to improve the engine, the car, and operations.
Apart from the technical side, Verstappen’s future returned to the forefront of attention. Raymond Vermeulen, the four-time champion’s manager, stated that the contract with Red Bull runs until 2028, but acknowledged the existence of exit clauses. Meanwhile, Aston Martin confirmed Crawford for TL1 in Austria, replacing Lance Stroll, in another mandatory rookie session.
