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Formula One news from Autosport, RaceFans, and BBC Sport.
Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli completed another test for McLaren at Paul Ricard in France. Test driver Jake Hughes joined him ahead of Fornaroli’s upcoming free practice session with the team.
Mercedes leads Ferrari by 134 points in the constructors’ standings with six rounds left, while Kimi Antonelli could clinch the drivers’ title in Austin or Mexico. The team’s constructors’ crown could be decided in Mexico under a specific set of results, but Brazil is a more likely setting.
Formula 1’s budget cap has helped improve teams’ financial stability, but Williams principal James Vowles says it has not narrowed the competitive gap. A RaceFans poll asks whether the cap protects smaller teams or limits their ability to challenge the front runners.
Gabriel Bortoleto says he is prepared to wait for Audi to become a front-running Formula 1 team, even as former junior rivals Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar celebrate their first podiums. He is drawing advice from Audi project leader Mattia Binotto and friend Max Verstappen while continuing to develop as a driver.
Max Verstappen said he did not know Red Bull’s Baku upgrade would restore the team’s competitiveness when he extended his contract by two years. Team principal Laurent Mekies said the discussions centred on the team’s long-term potential, while both said Red Bull still needs to address weaknesses to contend consistently at the front.
George Russell and Charles Leclerc each scored 34 points across Formula 1’s six sprint races this season. Three of Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s championship rivals finished ahead of him in the sprint points standings.
IndyCar champion Dan Wheldon died in a multi-car crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 16, 2011. The series has not returned to the oval since.
Six finalists from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Singapore, Czechia and the United States are competing for free travel, accommodation and passes to every Formula 1 race next season. Fans can watch their videos and vote for the next holder of the 2027 Heineken F1 Season Ticket.
Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix for the first time in his 10th attempt, leading every lap after taking his first pole at Marina Bay. He has won at 27 circuits and needs victories at three returning venues in 2027 to complete a clean sweep of the calendar.
Lance Stroll won his final race for Prema on Oct. 16, 2016, after clinching the European Formula 3 championship. His move to Williams for the following year had already been announced.
Formula 1 may wait until mid-November to decide where to hold this season’s finale, despite team bosses seeking a decision by mid-October. Reports of a possible security deal involving Qatar, the UAE and Iran have increased confidence in proceeding, while missile strikes in nearby Saudi Arabia have raised concerns.
BBC Sport’s Chequered Flag Podcast features Harry Benjamin speaking with F1 Academy championship leader Alisha Palmowski about her season.
Brazilian Rafael Camara will make his Formula 1 debut with Haas in 2027 after winning a selection process involving four drivers. He currently leads Formula 2 by seven points, while Esteban Ocon is set to leave Haas at the end of 2026 after two seasons with the team.
Franco Colapinto has asked supporters to stop directing online abuse at rival drivers, teammates and others in Formula 1, saying it does not help him. The FIA and Alpine have condemned abuse following several recent grands prix, while Alpine driver Pierre Gasly and officials were among those targeted.
A McLaren pit stop at the 2001 Spanish Grand Prix prompted hospital teams to adapt Formula One methods for surgery handovers, neonatal emergencies and air-ambulance response. The approaches have helped reduce errors and response times, with further improvements planned.
Laurent Mekies has extended his contract as Red Bull’s Formula 1 team principal through the end of 2031. The agreement follows a recent run of wins for the team and a long-term commitment from Max Verstappen.
Max Verstappen says Red Bull’s car became more balanced after upgrades, following a difficult start to the 2026 season. He expects the team to remain competitive in the final rounds and says it must carry lessons into next year.
Valtteri Bottas says Cadillac is improving each weekend despite remaining without a point in its first Formula 1 season. He believes the team's facilities are already better than Mercedes'.
Formula 1 team principals say they need confirmation soon on whether the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races will proceed as planned. Imola is being prepared as an alternative venue if the final two events cannot go ahead.
Team principal Andrea Stella says McLaren cannot address its car’s handling characteristics without fundamental changes that are not expected before 2027. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have had to adapt their driving, with Stella saying the issue affected Piastri’s competitiveness at one stage.
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