Gabriel Bortoleto was one of the standout figures this Tuesday in Formula 1, completing 141 laps during the Pirelli test at the Hungaroring. The day also saw Rafa Câmara gain momentum in the driver market, news about Max Verstappen’s future, and movements related to the 2026 calendar.
Bortoleto was the most active driver on the first of the two days dedicated to developing the 2027 tire compounds. The Brazilian worked with several versions of the C3 compound and carried out qualifying simulations using the C4 and C5, ending his schedule with a lap time of 1:20.813. Franco Colapinto led the table with 1:20.371, while Jak Crawford completed 136 laps.
Rafa Câmara also gained attention in the news amid growing interest in his future. The Brazilian is being considered as an option for Cadillac in 2027, while Haas is also weighing him for a potential Formula 1 seat. Third in Formula 2, Câmara has collected four pole positions and two wins in main races over the last five rounds, in addition to having already tested a Ferrari car from previous years.
In the driver market, the German newspaper ‘Bild’ reported that Red Bull has offered Verstappen a new contract valid through the end of 2029. The proposal would include a pay raise but would remove the clause that currently allows the Dutchman to leave the team due to his position in the standings. As of now, there has been no official confirmation from Red Bull or the driver about the negotiations.
The calendar also continued to be a focal point. Sepang confirmed it will host the round originally planned for Bahrain from October 2 to 4, keeping the Bahrain GP name. Ticket revenue will stay with the Middle Eastern country, while the Malaysian circuit will share part of the event’s operational costs. Simultaneously, Imola emerged as a potential alternative to replace the Qatar or Abu Dhabi rounds should the Middle East conflict prevent the races from taking place.
In Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso stated that he felt competitive again after the 16 updates package brought to Hungary, though he asked for more performance from the Honda engine on the straights. Meanwhile, Mercedes still does not know whether it can recover George Russell’s engine, which showed a crack and a coolant leak at the Hungaroring. Since the Brit is already using his fourth engine of the season, another change would incur a grid penalty.
