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Formula One news from Autosport, RaceFans, and BBC Sport.
Ferrari says its support for team principal Frederic Vasseur has not changed, amid speculation about his future and reports that former Red Bull boss Christian Horner is interested in joining the team. Ferrari is second in the constructors’ standings after 15 of 23 scheduled races, 160 points behind Mercedes.
Fernando Alonso retired from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on lap 21 after problems with his Honda engine, as Aston Martin again failed to get either car to the finish. Lance Stroll had retired 14 laps earlier with a loss of water pressure.
Christian Horner has said he would consider Ferrari, but his demand for control and his departure from Red Bull could complicate any appointment. Ahead of the postponed Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, the latest F1 questions also cover the season finale, a late Azerbaijan crash and upgrades at Williams and Aston Martin.
Nigel Mansell won the 1991 Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya after a wheel-to-wheel contest with Ayrton Senna on a damp track. Senna finished fifth after a spin, while Alain Prost made his final podium appearance as a Ferrari driver.
Colton Herta says he still believes he has a chance to reach Formula 1 within two years, despite a difficult rookie Formula 2 campaign with Hitech. The Cadillac development driver is discussing his 2027 options with the team and has not decided whether he will return to F2, IndyCar or pursue another role.
Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar finished second and third at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after Red Bull repaired Verstappen’s engine problem from qualifying. Team principal Laurent Mekies credited power-unit management and recent car upgrades for the result, while saying Verstappen could have challenged for the front row without the issue.
An unbroadcast team order barred Isack Hadjar from passing Max Verstappen during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, despite a radio exchange aired on the world feed that appeared to allow a fight. The instruction came as the team managed different tyre strategies and sought to keep both cars close enough for a consecutive pit stop under the Safety Car.
Lando Norris has apologised privately to Franco Colapinto and said his angry comments after their Azerbaijan Grand Prix crash were wrong. Colapinto received a 10-second penalty, converted to a five-place grid drop for this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
Mercedes’ advantage on Baku’s straights helped George Russell outqualify Oscar Piastri by eight-tenths of a second, while Lando Norris was 1.1 seconds behind. McLaren’s shorter gear ratios, aerodynamic weaknesses and power-unit issues contributed to a point-less Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend for the Woking team.
Malaysia will host the Bahrain Grand Prix from Oct. 2 to 4, after the race was postponed amid the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The event keeps Bahrain’s name and will be covered by BBC radio and digital services.
The World Endurance Championship’s six-hour race at Fuji Speedway ended in a close sprint between Ryo Hirakawa’s Toyota and Victor Martins’ Alpine. The report was published on Sept. 27, 2026, by RaceFans writer Keith Collantine.
Alpine condemned online abuse following Franco Colapinto’s crash at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which took Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris out of the race. The team said it would work with Formula One’s promoter and the governing body on ways to address the abuse and promote healthy rivalry.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur said Christian Horner’s public comments about the team have diverted attention as Ferrari fight for second place in the championship. His remarks followed the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Charles Leclerc finished fourth and Lewis Hamilton sixth.
George Russell said he and Max Verstappen could push at full pace in the final stint of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix because their soft tyres required little management. Verstappen pursued Russell after a Safety Car restart but did not get close enough to try a pass.
Isack Hadjar returned from a wrist injury at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, qualified fourth and finished on the podium after three missed race weekends. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies praised his pace, calm radio communication and teamwork, while Hadjar said the car’s handling had improved during his absence.
George Russell’s lights-to-flag victory in Baku raises the question of whether the driver has rediscovered his mojo, as discussed on BBC Sport’s The Chequered Flag Podcast.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who won the Italian Grand Prix from 19th on the grid, was unable to repeat the feat from 16th in Baku. RaceFans published interactive data from Saturday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sept. 26, 2026.
Marshals showed Safety Car boards and waved yellow flags during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix even though race control had not deployed the Safety Car. Gabriel Bortoleto received a 10-second penalty for passing Sergio Perez under yellow flags, despite stewards accepting that the conflicting signals contributed to his confusion.
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