Saturday brought important developments both on and off the Formula 1 track. Lando Norris renewed with McLaren through at least 2030, Haas wrapped up testing of its 2027 candidates without naming a clear favorite, and new information placed Lewis Hamilton in a position to remain with Ferrari until 2028.
McLaren kicked off the day by confirming Norris’s contract extension, keeping him with the team through the end of 2030. The British driver stressed that he regards Woking as his “home” and stated that, after helping the squad return to the top and win championships, the goal now is to keep winning. The renewal comes just days after Max Verstappen also agreed to stay with Red Bull through 2030.
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In the driver market, Rafael Câmara continued to stand out. According to GPblog, Haas ended its Portimão test without a clearly leading name among the Brazilian, Leonardo Fornaroli, and Ryo Hirakawa. The report indicated that the evaluated drivers delivered very close performances, while Câmara left a positive impression, keeping the contest open for the possible seat currently held by Esteban Ocon.
At Ferrari, Hamilton’s future took another turn. Information from GPblog indicates that the seven-time champion’s contract ensures his stay through 2027 and includes the possibility of an extension for another season. Ferrari has yet to confirm the Briton for 2028, but continuity could keep him with the team until his 43rd year.
Hamilton was also at the center of the discussions sparked by the Dutch Grand Prix. Juan Pablo Montoya criticized Charles Leclerc for not obeying immediately a Ferrari team order during the race and stated that the Monegasque driver’s conduct could create a negative environment within the team. The former driver believes Ferrari should have managed the pace difference between the two cars differently at that moment.
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Another important topic came from Red Bull. Although the FIA has again pointed to Red Bull Powertrains-Ford as the benchmark for combustion engine performance, on-track results tell a different story: cars equipped with Mercedes-powered units led 605 of the 745 laps run in the first 12 rounds, or 81.2% of the total. Red Bull itself continues to struggle to translate the performance of its power unit into pace consistent with the RB22.
The calendar also came into the discussion. Imola is already moving to potentially host the season’s final stage should uncertainties surrounding the Qatar and Abu Dhabi GPs lead to changes in the schedule. Local authorities say that dialogue with Formula 1 remains active and that they are working to ensure the structure and resources for a possible new race.
With the next race scheduled for Monza between September 4 and 6, F1 enters the week of the Italian Grand Prix with long-term contracts taking shape, the battle for 2027 seats still open, and various teams seeking answers for the second half of the season.
Jake Thompson
I'm Jake Thompson, a motorsport journalist born and raised in North Carolina, where NASCAR weekends were basically family holidays. I’ve been covering everything from Formula 1 to rally raids for over a decade, blending sharp analysis with a fan’s heart. For me, writing about racing isn’t just a job — it’s the best seat in the house.
