Saturday’s Formula 1 weekend was marked by new chapters about Max Verstappen’s future and McLaren’s reaction to rumors surrounding its duo. While a potential move of the Dutch driver lost momentum, Oscar Piastri received guarantees of staying with the British team.
Although talks between Verstappen’s representatives and McLaren’s leadership took place, a 2027 agreement is not expected. The four-time champion could remain with Red Bull or even take a break before evaluating another project, while Mercedes and Ferrari would not have space available for the next season. Mark Webber also rejected the speculation that Piastri might be looking to leave Woking, stating that the possibility “doesn’t make sense.”
The McLaren also acknowledged that it is behind its main rivals in the development of the car. Zak Brown said the team aims to bring through the year a number of updates similar to Ferrari’s, but explained that some parts have not yet reached the necessary performance. Among them is the inverted rear wing, nicknamed the “Macarena,” which could debut at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Ferrari, for its part, began to be seen as a stronger threat to Mercedes after Charles Leclerc’s victory at the British Grand Prix. Toto Wolff said that the Italian team surprised at Silverstone and he expects it to remain a competitor for the rest of the season, after showing performance similar to Mercedes for a large part of the race.
Outside the championship battles, Ferrari concluded its filming day in Madring without issues. Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton covered 200 kilometers with the SF-26, in the first activity of an F1 car along the full length of the new circuit for the Spanish Grand Prix, which debuts on the calendar in September.
