Saturday was a day of significant impact in Formula 1, and it dominated the news on F1MANIA.NET, with relevant statements about careers, futures, and new cycles within the category. Sergio Pérez spoke about the opportunities he had at the beginning of his trajectory, while Alpine addressed the integration with Mercedes for 2026, and Honda made a striking comparison when likening Max Verstappen to one of the greatest icons in history: Ayrton Senna.
Pérez revealed that he could have joined Ferrari or Mercedes in the early years of his career, but chose a different path. The Mexican stated that he now sees his choices with maturity and emphasized that each decision led him to Red Bull, where he achieved victories and established himself at the top of the F1 grid.
Meanwhile, Alpine commented on the new technical cycle that opens in 2026 and highlighted the integration with Mercedes, which will be the supplier of power units. The team evaluated that the change represents a significant restructuring of the project, especially after a 2025 marked by difficulties. The expectation is that the transition will allow for a more consistent evolution in performance and car development.
However, the highlight of the day came from Honda. The Japanese manufacturer compared Max Verstappen to Ayrton Senna and lamented the end of the partnership with Red Bull, which yielded four drivers’ titles and two constructors’ titles. Koji Watanabe, president of Honda, stated that the Dutchman has become extremely popular in Japan and is viewed with the same affection as the Brazilian triple champion was in the 1980s and 1990s. According to him, “Max will always be in our hearts.”
With new partnerships on the horizon, technical transitions in sight, and reports on careers shaped by choices, the weekend reinforces that Formula 1 is going through a period of profound changes – both on and off the tracks.
