Friday (12) was a busy day in Formula 1, with statements from executives and drivers that help shape the scenario for the end of the season and beyond 2026. Gabriel Bortoleto was once again in the spotlight: the Brazilian explained that he needed “about five races” to adjust to the routine of F1, from the volume of commitments to working with engineers, and admitted that he is still not “100% accustomed”. The Sauber rookie has so far accumulated 18 points and five Q3 appearances.
Behind the scenes, Stefano Domenicali cooled down the idea of shortening races. The CEO of the category reinforced that the long race remains untouched – a direct response to discussions about changing the duration of GPs. At the same time, F1 is studying the possibility of expanding the number of Sprint weekends to around ten from 2027 onwards, a move that has attracted promoters (and increasingly, drivers), according to the executive himself. The assessment is that Friday gains relevance with qualifying and Saturday delivers extra content for the public.
Flavio Briatore also spoke again. Now as an advisor to Alpine, the Italian preached “stability” for the team and indicated that Franco Colapinto tends to remain in the project, an idea aligned with the French team’s rebuilding effort. The message aims for technical and sporting continuity to navigate the transition towards the 2026 regulations.
In the driver market, Felipe Drugovich was straightforward: despite speculation in the French press, the Brazilian stated that he has not yet held talks with Alpine about 2026. The 2022 F2 champion has been a frequent presence in testing and development programs, but reiterates that, for now, there are no ongoing negotiations with the Enstone team.
