Monday in Formula 1 began with the title fight heating up again. After winning in Azerbaijan and cutting the gap to 66 points behind Kimi Antonelli, George Russell said he feels less pressure than his teammate in this closing stretch and once again positioned himself as a title contender, even though he acknowledged the deficit in the standings.
Russell highlighted that he returned from the summer break in strong form, with three front-row starts and three podiums in the last four races. The Briton said that today he sees himself capable of contending for wins week after week, but avoided turning the championship into an obsession: his priority will be to try to win every race and let the standings develop naturally.
The next challenge also drew attention on Monday. The Bahrain Grand Prix will be contested between October 2 and 4 in Sepang, Malaysia, following the change triggered by the conflict in the Middle East. The event officially retains the Bahrain name and marks F1’s return to the Malaysian circuit after nine years, with heat, high humidity, and the possibility of rain among the expected weekend conditions.
At Haas, Esteban Ocon took eighth place in Baku, his best result of 2026, to reinforce his confidence precisely when his future remains unsettled. The Frenchman declared he is “one of the best there is” and confirmed he is free for 2027. The team is still assessing its lineup for the next season, with Rafael Câmara among the drivers being considered for the seat, and Ayao Komatsu indicated that a decision should come in the coming weeks.
Ferrari also returned to the glare of the spotlight. According to Giorgio Terruzzi’s column in Corriere della Sera, the relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Frederic Vasseur may have deteriorated, with the Briton unhappy with decisions he regards as favorable to Charles Leclerc. The information appears amid rumors about Vasseur’s future, but it is an assessment published by the Italian newspaper, not an official confirmation from the team.
Another development from Baku involved Lando Norris and Franco Colapinto. After Norris pushed for a penalty against the Argentine for the Azerbaijan crash, Sergio Aguero joined the discussion on social media in defense of Colapinto. Alpine, for its part, issued a statement calling for respect in the face of attacks directed at the McLaren driver.
