Catch all the key quotes, insights and expectations from F1 drivers following Thursday’s media sessions at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola.
Norris admits the MCL39 is tricky on one-lap pace. Hamilton remains motivated despite Ferrari’s early struggles.
Sainz supports his father’s FIA ambitions. Albon backs Colapinto but urges patience. Gasly denies any Alpine turmoil.
Bearman eyes redemption at a favourite circuit.
Hülkenberg sees progress at Sauber. Piastri tempers McLaren hype. Tsunoda stays focused. Russell slams FIA over swearing policy changes.
Antonelli, Italy’s Rising Star, Braces for Mentally Exhausting F1 Grand Prix
Hailing from Bologna, just a stone’s throw from Imola, Andrea Kimi Antonelli is set to contest his first home Grand Prix of the season this weekend. Alongside the Ferrari drivers, he’ll be one of the standout stars at Imola.
As Antonelli himself noted in Thursday’s press conference, the Imola Grand Prix is “even more of a home race” for him than Monza, given how close he lives to the track.
“Yeah, it’s definitely an incredible feeling. I think this is my real home race because, of course, we have Monza too, but I probably live 30 minutes from the track [here]. So I’d say this is my true home.”
What does the Mercedes F1 rookie think of the Imola circuit? And is he already feeling the pressure, knowing he’ll be surrounded by family, friends, and even classmates?
“I’m really excited. I also really love the track. I think it’s a really tough, old-school circuit. It’s great fun to drive here.”
“And yeah, of course, I feel this weekend is going to be special, especially racing in front of all the Italian fans, my family, and my friends. So it’s going to be intense as well. But yeah, really excited to hit the track tomorrow and see what we can do.”
Does he expect to see more Kimi Antonelli flags or Ferrari flags this weekend?
“Well, I don’t know. I hope more Kimi Antonelli!”
“But yeah, Ferrari is so big that it might be a bit ambitious to expect more of my flags. But I wouldn’t complain.”
After securing pole in the Miami Sprint, could Antonelli pull off another stunning result this weekend? It would be magical in front of the tifosi.
“Well, I feel much better than I did in Melbourne. Just getting comfortable with the car and understanding the tyres too.”
“I think the biggest step I’ve made is in trying to extract the most from the tyres and get them into a better window for the lap. Miami was a really good step because Sprint qualifying went great.”
“Actual qualifying was still good because we were up at the front. That definitely gave me a boost in terms of confidence. The race didn’t go as I wanted, but it didn’t hurt my confidence.”
“Now that we’re heading into the European season, on tracks I definitely know much better, the approach will be different. I can focus more on the driving, but also more on giving the best possible feedback to the engineers to help us improve and progress even further over the weekend.”
“So, really excited to get the European season started.”
Racing at home can be a source of passion, but also of pressure. How does Antonelli plan to handle the weight of expectation? Isn’t it a heavy burden?
“This weekend is going to be emotionally and mentally exhausting, a home race in front of the Italian fans, and like I said, my family and friends will be there.”
“So it’ll be really important to manage energy, especially in the moments when I can, and not waste energy on things that aren’t helpful.”
“It’s going to be key to stay on top of that because it’s really easy to hit a low point before the weekend is even over. Even a normal weekend is very tiring and draining, so this is like double.”
“Of course, I’ll try to protect myself. Having really good people around me really helps. We’re all aware this weekend is going to be tough. We’re preparing for that and I think we’re quite well prepared.”
“In the end, it’s another race weekend, but because of the circumstances, it’ll be different. At the same time, it’ll be really exciting. I think the energy will be amazing and that can be used to do even better on track.”
“It can really help and motivate you to get out there and do better. I could already feel, since the start of the year, so much support from Italians. It’s only been growing.”
“I’m super happy about that. I definitely couldn’t have asked for more. I think it would be really nice to deliver a good result for all of them, for everyone coming to the weekend and taking time out of their day to attend the race.”
“It would be great to have a strong weekend, for myself, for the team, but also for them.”
Does he aim to score his first podium at home this Sunday?
“We’re a very superstitious family, so we don’t really talk about those things. I mean, also Miami. I’ll use that as an example.”
“I was really excited and actually thinking about the podium, and then the races went horribly, both the Sprint and the main race.”
“So we’re a superstitious family and we just take things step by step. Of course, sometimes you do think how incredible it would be to get a podium, especially at the home race, and that’s definitely the goal.”
“Standing on the podium would be the ultimate goal. Of course, I want to win, but looking at things more realistically, I think a podium here would be the dream and that’s what I’ll be pushing for.”
Mercedes Still Distant from a Win on Merit?
Mercedes F1 is making progress and will bring updates this weekend, but still not enough to threaten McLaren for the win. Does Antonelli agree?
“The car’s been consistent every weekend and that allows us to build confidence. Of course, the gap to McLaren is still big. I mean, Miami showed the true picture.”
“McLaren were flying in the race and it was impossible for anyone else to catch them. So I think as a team, we’re really working hard to improve our weaknesses.”
“This weekend again, we’ll have some updates on the car and hopefully that helps us take a step forward and keep pushing.”
“I’ve also been at the factory these last few days and it’s really exciting to see how motivated the team is and how hard they’re working. So we’re all aligned on what we need to improve and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
“One of my strengths in Miami was being able to adapt to the track quickly. Weaknesses, I wouldn’t really call it a weakness, but something I struggled with was putting the whole weekend together.”
“Like Liam said earlier, there are so many variables in F1, so many things to consider. It’s really tough to string the whole weekend together consistently, from FP1 to the race.”
On top of adaptation, Antonelli has been working on another key weakness: tyre management and degradation, especially crucial with the ultra-soft C6 compound making its debut.
“Every small detail can make such a difference, especially with the tyres. A few degrees in qualifying can be the difference between a good lap and a bad one.”
“Even in the race, if you push too hard at the beginning, you can pay a big price at the end of the Sprint.”
Antonelli: Racer and Student
Antonelli will race in front of his classmates this weekend. Does he still study outside of race weekends, and how does he find the time?
“Well, I can’t go to school, but I try to study as much as I can, especially during the little free moments I have.”
“I also get help from the school to try to catch up because I’ve definitely missed a lot of work during this period.”
“But it’s not easy, because it also takes energy and effort. Especially before such an important weekend, it’s really important to manage that aspect and not overdo it in order to save energy.”
“But yeah, whenever I’m home or have a bit of spare time, I try to do some studying just to stay active and catch up as much as possible.”
Verstappen: McLaren has an advantage Red Bull “never had”
Max Verstappen believes McLaren’s race pace advantage this year exceeds anything Red Bull had in 2023, when the Milton Keynes-based team won 21 of the 22 races in the season.
In those races, the Dutchman frequently won with 20 to 30 seconds in hand or pulled off remarkable comebacks, such as at Spa-Francorchamps where he recovered from a grid penalty the day after taking pole with an eight-tenths margin.
“No, I don’t think we ever really had that gap,” Verstappen said. “But it’s also a bit circuit-specific. Sometimes I guess it works a bit better for them because there’s occasionally a bit more thermal degradation than at other tracks. The advantage won’t always be that big in terms of dominance.”
The four-time world champion agrees with Helmut Marko, who described the gap in Miami as “depressing” for Red Bull. “I think the race pace was depressing for everyone except McLaren. Nobody was in the same category, so of course it’s a major concern.”
Verstappen does not believe the updates brought by Red Bull for the RB21 will be enough to challenge McLaren, though he expects to see “a little” improvement. “A little. But we have already had a few races with updates, so it’s a small step forward.”
“It’s not like suddenly this circuit will work magic, but of course we would like to be a bit quicker. At the moment I don’t know what it will bring us, to be honest. I hope we find a bit more performance in the car. But I’m not expecting we will suddenly close the gap to McLaren.”
He also believes the upcoming restrictions on flexible wings, due to be enforced in Spain, will not be enough to prevent McLaren from winning. “It won’t give eight tenths of a second, which was sometimes the case in Miami.”
Yuki Tsunoda also explained that Red Bull’s upgrades will not be a miracle fix. “I don’t know exactly what kind of performance they are expecting, but I don’t think it will be huge. Unfortunately, I don’t think it will suddenly bring the car to first place. The gap we saw in Miami with McLaren was quite big.”
Still, the Japanese driver believes the focus lies elsewhere. “From my side, there’s still a lot of work to do to close the gap and understand the car one hundred percent. I’m going to focus on that. At least this weekend is a good opportunity to get a bit closer to Max and see how the car behaves.”
“It’s only the fifth race with the car. My goal is not a result, but I want to understand my car. Even if the pace and confidence are increasing slowly, I’m quite satisfied. It’s better than nothing, for sure, and I will keep doing what I’m doing. I hope I’ll be close to Max as soon as possible and help the team.”
Verstappen explains why he used a pseudonym to drive on the Nordschleife
And confirms his intention to race in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring
Max Verstappen revealed at Imola that he intends to take part in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring one day, while also explaining why he used the pseudonym “Franz Hermann” during his recent run on the Nordschleife.
The world champion was on the Nürburgring’s north loop last Friday testing a Ferrari GT3, but used the name “Franz Hermann” to avoid being spotted, despite the car bearing Verstappen.com Racing branding and himself wearing a Red Bull suit and helmet.
The Dutchman confirmed he broke the lap record, explained the reason behind using “Hermann,” and reiterated his aim to eventually race in the 24-hour event, provided he obtains the required license. A special permit is needed to tackle the circuit known as the “Green Hell.”
“I was asked for a fake name, so I said, ‘Let’s make it as German as possible,’” he told us today in the paddock.
“Otherwise, people would have turned up from 8 a.m. knowing my name was on the entry list. I knew that once I was there, people would understand it was normal to use a pseudonym.”
“But at least I wasn’t listed, so from 8 to 9 it was quite calm and I didn’t have any cars trying to stick to me.”
“And yes, I broke the lap record, but I wasn’t there to prove I could beat a lap time or anything like that. I was just having fun and learning the track with the team, as they had never been there before.”
“For them, the dream is to race the 24 Hours, so we had a good time getting into the rhythm, and we were lucky with the weather. It was really beautiful and sunny.”
“This is my passion, working with the GT3 team, and I want to learn more. In the end, this is my free time.”
“I’d like to do the 24 Hours in the future, which is why I’m doing all this now to prepare and get a bit of experience so I don’t need to do it later.”
“We’re discussing how to go about it because my schedule is very busy. We’re talking, because I know what is required, but I can’t say when I’ll do it.”
His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, understands Verstappen’s attraction to the circuit.
“I’ve driven it before in the Honda NSX GT3. But I don’t think it was Max driving, judging by my pace.”
“Well, that’s a small excuse. But I had a safety car in front of me for added security. It was part of the Red Bull Sunday Show, so I had a car setting the pace and couldn’t really push. But it’s not a track where you can go fast straight away. So he really did well, Mister Franz.”
The Japanese driver is clear on one thing: if he were to take on the “Green Hell,” he already knows the name he’d choose to race under.
“A good Japanese name. Yes, I’d be the Last Samurai. Hopefully not the last race of my life.”
Lawson regains confidence and feels “comfortable” at Racing Bulls
He wants everything to come together at Imola for the team’s home race
Liam Lawson expressed sympathy for Jack Doohan, who was dropped by Alpine F1 after just six races this season. The Racing Bulls driver shared his thoughts on the decision made by the Enstone-based team, stating that management did not give the Australian enough time to adapt.
“I spoke to Jack. For him, it’s obviously very tough. I think he showed enough to stay in Formula 1, for sure. But it’s also difficult. How can you be expected to show everything you’ve got in five races, especially in your rookie season?” said Lawson.
“Unfortunately, it’s very tough. But I think he did enough. Even before F1, he did enough to deserve to be there. And he did enough in F1 to deserve to come back. But with 20 seats, it’s very, very difficult. Every team makes their own decisions, so there’s not much more to say.”
After four races with the Faenza-based team, the New Zealander is pleased with how he’s settled in. “I’m quite happy. I think each weekend we feel more and more comfortable, and going to circuits we’ve been to before helps.”
“Miami was a tricky track. But to be honest, I felt comfortable in the car. I think we had good pace, but there are a lot of variables in Formula 1. Lately, it’s not been easy to put together a complete weekend. We’re going to try to do our best this week, at a home race for the team.”
After two very difficult weekends with Red Bull, he feels his original confidence has returned. “I think so. Honestly, I’d say I never stopped being confident. The year has been tricky so far and there have been some really tough weekends.”
“But personally, I’ve always felt comfortable behind the wheel. I think even though I’m still learning, that hasn’t really changed. For this weekend, I’ve had the chance to test here in the past. It’s a very intense circuit, quite tough, very old school, which for us drivers is very exciting.”
Alonso “optimistic” for Imola but still waiting for “better days”
“We still have to race with a car that is not competitive”
Aston Martin F1 is bringing its first updates of the season to Imola this weekend. Fernando Alonso is encouraged, hoping to make progress and find more performance compared to the first six races of what has been a difficult campaign.
“It’s good news. For the seventh race of the championship, we have our first update on the car, and we are always optimistic when something arrives from the factory. Tomorrow, we will dedicate the day to evaluating the new package and its strengths ahead of Saturday,” said Alonso, who admits he is already looking forward to next season.
“I’m very positive. 2026 will be a new opportunity for us with new regulations, a new factory, and Adrian Newey in the team. We will have all the ingredients for a good season, but you never know until you put the car on track.”
The two-time world champion admits it is hard to fully focus on the current season, during which patience will be required.
“We have to focus on the current season first, which is very difficult for us at the moment. We are not fast enough and we have to improve our performance.”
“Even if we are positive for next year and see good signs at the factory with the new wind tunnel and new people, we still have to race every weekend with a car that is not competitive and that will not be much developed. We need to be patient, focused, and have the discipline to give everything in the car on Saturday and Sunday, but be patient from Monday to Thursday and wait for better days.”
Lance Stroll has shown good form in recent races, matching his teammate, though results have been modest. He arrives at a track where he has scored points in each of his last three appearances and was dominant in Formula 3.
“Yes. It’s a track I always enjoy coming back to. It has a lot of character. It’s one of those old-school circuits. It’s a fun place to drive and one I’ve always enjoyed racing at, so I’m happy to be back.”
“But to finish in the points, we need to find more speed, more performance. We got a few points in Miami, which was good, but that was just a stroke of luck, with the rain and everything in the Sprint, so we took advantage. But we’re not in a position to score points every weekend purely on pace. We need to aim for performance across the board and keep pushing.”
“We simply aren’t hitting the lap times we were hoping for, and that’s why we are in a tough situation at the moment. We’ll see what the updates bring.”
“Some circuits naturally suit the car better than others. But we’ve tested a lot of different tracks this year and we haven’t been extremely competitive at any of them. So yes, we’ll see how we go this weekend.”
Hamilton did not expect such a challenge at Ferrari but remains determined
His first race weekend at a Ferrari home circuit
Lewis Hamilton arrives at Imola, Ferrari’s first home race of the season, with a fighting spirit.
With Charles Leclerc unwell and excused from media duties today, the Scuderia driver faced the press alone and shared his determination to emerge from the current difficulties as quickly as possible.
However, he admitted from the outset that he did not expect the early months at Maranello to be quite so challenging.
“I expected it to be very difficult because I’ve joined a team before coming from another. I came in with a very open mind. I didn’t know how difficult it would be. I knew it would be a challenge. It’s a big challenge in every area.”
“The team is working well together but of course there is still a lot of work to do.”
Asked whether the upcoming triple-header could define Ferrari’s season, Hamilton replied, “I’m not putting everything on these three races. If we were to have three bad races, the hope would still be there. I don’t believe that will be the case, but I’m just saying you can’t place everything on one race.”
“For me, I don’t judge our success over a short run of races, a half-season, or a season. Let’s talk at the end of my time with Ferrari, after a few years with Ferrari, and then reflect on what we’ve achieved. That’s when we’ll know if we succeeded or not.”
“These few months are just stepping stones toward the direction we’re heading, that’s all. In the meantime, the work continues.”
That work continued at the factory following Miami.
“I went back to Maranello on Tuesday and was welcomed by spring sunshine that you only get in Italy. We learned a lot from Miami, we analysed the data in depth, and we have a clear direction. Now it’s about optimising our strengths. I’m excited to be on track, especially with the support of the tifosi.”
“This is my first home weekend with the Scuderia. Arriving at the circuit reminded me of my youth, travelling from one karting track to another – Lonato, Jesolo, even Sarno. It was a carefree time, just racing and enjoying the moment. Italy has always been amazing, and I really enjoy being here. I look forward to discovering more.”
He admitted that his Italian is still a work in progress.
“I started off strong with the lessons, but with the intensity of the season, I’ve fallen a bit behind. But I’ll get back on track.”
Passion, not pressure. He says there is a different energy in red at Imola, but it is not about pressure.
“You know me, I’m always here to win. The goal remains the same – to fight at the front. We’re giving everything to achieve that. Wearing Ferrari colours doesn’t bring pressure, it brings passion. I’ve always loved coming to Imola, but now it has even more meaning.”
Frédéric Vasseur believes things could change with new regulations on wings starting in Barcelona. Hamilton remains cautious.
“For the championship? It’s still a long road… But with all these years of experience, when you’re over 100 points behind at this stage of the season, with a car that’s facing another quite dominant one (McLaren), you have to assume you’re not really in the fight for the title.”
“The situation could change. We’ve never seen that happen. It will depend on the improvements we bring throughout the season.”
Ferrari is introducing small upgrades at Imola, with major changes, including a new rear suspension, planned for Barcelona.
“At the moment, I can’t tell you if we’ll gain tenths, half a second, or full seconds by the end of the season. We want to get closer to those targets. And as I said, right now, we can’t rule anything out. We need to keep our eyes and heads up. We need to stay alert. We need to attack with ambition and a goal to win.”
“That is always the objective every weekend. Right now, with the engineers, the question is how we are going to win this weekend.”
“If we can extract a bit more from the tyres, if we can get a bit more out of the floor, if each of us can find half a tenth, then maybe we can get there.”
“That mindset is especially optimistic, but approaching every race weekend with a positive and aggressive attitude is key.”
“You have to believe. And that’s where I am. I don’t arrive this weekend thinking we’re seventh and eighth. Even if that’s exactly where we are. And I won’t change that alone. Everyone needs to have the attitude I just described.”
Clearly disappointed by several recent performances – both his own and the team’s – Hamilton explained the mental approach that keeps him fighting.
“In the end, it all comes down to self-belief, and it’s just a matter of mindset. I truly believe I’m far from perfect. I truly believe I can get better every day, I can push harder, and if I fail, I try again.”
“When I’m at my lowest, I have tools I use. I don’t really listen to everything. There are so many rumours, so many people making assumptions, comments, judgments – 99 percent of them don’t really know what’s going on, and probably 100 percent don’t know what I’ve gone through to be here today.”
“I think I often have to remind myself of the other things I’ve done – I’ve won seven titles, I’ve won more races than any other driver in history, and I have to remind myself that I’ve also achieved great things.”
“And even if things won’t always be perfect, and we’re going through a tough time, things will get better if we believe, if we keep fighting and working.”
“There’s no shortage of enthusiasm and talent in this team. I truly believe we’ll get there one day. We just have to be patient.”
Isolation after Miami due to Roscoe, his very ill dog
Hamilton revealed that he isolated himself somewhat after Miami because his dog Roscoe had fallen ill with pneumonia. That may explain why he stopped following everyone on Instagram, including Ferrari and even Roscoe’s own account.
Hamilton’s bulldog has become a true icon in the Formula 1 paddock over the years, though he is now 12 and a half years old.
That is an exceptionally old age for a bulldog, and Hamilton says his heart skips a beat every time Roscoe’s caretaker contacts him.
With the ever-expanding F1 calendar, spending time with Roscoe has become a real challenge for Hamilton, but he continues to do everything he can to be with him.
He plans to dress Roscoe in a special outfit for two possible appearances later this year, after a strong recovery.
“Yes, he’s doing quite well. He’s 12 and a half, he’s an old boy. He had pneumonia. Fortunately, he’s okay now. But every time I get a message from the lady who looks after him, my heart stops for a moment, wondering what it’s going to say.”
“And I really want to bring him to Silverstone, and especially Monza this year, get him a red cape. I think he would look great in a red outfit.”
“It’s rare for a bulldog to be that old. But I saw him before Miami, and he still wants to play. He’s kept that young spirit. He really loves to sleep.”
Hadjar: “Everything is better” at Imola and losing it would be “a disaster
The Racing Bulls driver loves the Italian circuit
Isack Hadjar knows the Imola circuit well, as he races in F1 with Racing Bulls, whose factory is located just 15 kilometres away. A double race winner in Formula 2 last year at this track, he is quick to remind that past success is no guarantee, using Melbourne as an example, where he retired on the formation lap.
“I won both races in F2 at Melbourne and that didn’t go well!” joked Hadjar. “It doesn’t matter much, they are two different worlds. But it’s a circuit I like, I have a bit more confidence, and it’s the team’s home race so it’s more enjoyable.”
He enjoys Imola and is discovering life as a Red Bull group driver in Europe. “It’s great, there will be a grandstand for team staff and I’ll wave to them every time I pass. There’s a great atmosphere, it’s my first European race in Formula 1. It’s good because we have the Energy Station and my room is a bit better. Everything is better!”
Hadjar hopes to move past the frustration of the last Grand Prix. “In Miami, it was frustrating again because we missed Q3 by two hundredths, we were four hundredths off eighth place, and in the race we missed out on a point by a tenth. It shows you can’t lose focus because it’s so tight that every thousandth of a second counts.”
Asked about the potential removal of Imola from the calendar, the Frenchman said he would not like to lose this circuit. “It doesn’t matter where it is, it’s the tracks that are interesting, and I like the layout of Imola. Especially with these modern Formula 1 cars, it’s a big challenge. You can’t make a mistake, it’s an old-school track, and losing it would be a disaster.”
Russell slams FIA decision on swearing as “suspicious” and “ridiculous”
“We should never have reached this point”
George Russell has described the FIA’s U-turn on its swearing ban as “suspicious” and “ridiculous,” after the governing body announced major revisions to the controversial directive.
On Wednesday, the FIA issued a new “Appendix B” to its sporting code, stating that the use of swear words would now be interpreted differently depending on whether they occur in a “controlled” or “uncontrolled” environment.
After introducing the rule in January, the FIA softened its stance this week to avoid further backlash from drivers. Under the revised guideline, swearing during press conferences will be treated differently from swearing over team radio, and financial penalties have been reduced by half.
No Formula 1 driver has yet received a fine for using profanity, although Max Verstappen was handed community service last season for describing his car as “fucked.”
Russell, one of the most vocal critics of the initial rule, said the latest amendment did not deserve praise and that the regulation should never have been introduced in the first place.
“I don’t think these changes should have ever happened,” said Russell, director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, on Thursday in Imola.
“So we are now going backwards, because it was a bit ridiculous to begin with.”
“We are happy to see things returning to normal, but they should never have got to this stage. So it’s a bit unfair to praise the changes when we should never have reached this point.”
“It’s a pretty strange situation, and we still haven’t communicated with the FIA leadership. So it feels a bit suspicious.”
When FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced that revisions to Appendix B were being considered, it was stated that drivers from all seven FIA World Championships had been consulted.
However, as Russell pointed out, no discussions have yet taken place with Ben Sulayem himself. It is notable that the FIA president and the drivers are often present at the same Grand Prix events, yet establishing a direct dialogue remains a challenge.
“Yes, it’s a good question,” Russell responded when asked why drivers cannot meet with the FIA president during a Grand Prix, even though he attends most of them.
“It seems harder than it should be. But we have all voiced our opinion. I wouldn’t say we’ve reached a point of no return, but the other side needs to show some willingness.”
“I think we feel we’ve made our position clear, and we want to engage in dialogue. The demands are minimal. So yes, it needs to be reciprocal. It has to come from both sides.”
Piastri not expecting McLaren to dominate every race
At Imola, the first goal is to nail qualifying
Oscar Piastri does not expect McLaren to dominate races with a 37-second margin at every Formula 1 round this year.
Two weeks ago, Piastri led McLaren, ahead of teammate Lando Norris, to victory at the Miami Grand Prix, with George Russell finishing third, 37.6 seconds behind.
It was the largest margin for a team in F1 since the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix, where Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez finished 38.6 seconds ahead of Fernando Alonso.
However, Piastri does not believe McLaren will have that kind of advantage over its rivals every weekend this season, insisting the gap will vary from circuit to circuit.
The Australian explained that the MCL39’s edge in Miami came down to the circuit’s characteristics and its ability to manage tyre wear in hot conditions.
“We saw something similar in Melbourne in the rain, but Miami was a circuit we had been looking forward to since the start.”
“I think with the warmer characteristics of that track, given some of the sessions we had earlier in the season, we thought it might play into our hands – and Sunday in Miami proved that.”
“I don’t expect it to be the case every weekend. I’d like it to be the case every weekend, but with these hotter conditions and the nature of that track, it will be hard to replicate that result consistently. We’ll see what we can do.”
Verstappen won last year’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix for Red Bull, with Norris finishing a close second in the MCL38. Piastri came home fourth, behind the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.
Asked whether McLaren could repeat its Miami result at this weekend’s Imola race, Piastri replied, “I don’t know. We have very soft tyres this weekend, which might help us, but obviously it’s much cooler than it was in Miami, so we’ll see.”
“The track is also incredibly different, much bumpier, and generally much faster. We’ll see. I expect the competition to be tighter than it was in Miami.”
“In qualifying, we’ve seen that the field is either just behind us or just ahead of us. We still need to make sure we execute everything perfectly because if we slip up slightly, there are plenty of others who can beat us. And here, in dry conditions, overtaking is almost impossible.”
Piastri has had a strong start to the 2025 season, with four wins in the first six races, giving him a 16-point lead in the drivers’ standings.
Asked about his championship chances, the 24-year-old said he remains focused on individual race wins.
“We have the tools and characteristics to keep winning races, for sure. We’ve seen that the competition is tight at different circuits, and I don’t expect every weekend to be like Sunday in Miami, but Friday and Saturday in Miami weren’t that promising either.”
“The competition will be tough, but I feel like I’m driving well at the moment. I feel the team is doing a great job helping me get the best out of myself and the car, which is clearly very strong.”
“We have the potential to have a very good year, but the title doesn’t concern me too much at the moment. I’m just trying to win more races.”
Piastri’s weekend started on a high note as he received the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy for his performances throughout the 2024 season, during which he helped McLaren win its first constructors’ title since the late 1990s.
The trophy is awarded annually to a driver, individual or F1 team for “outstanding performances.” It was established in 1992 in tribute to Italian driver Lorenzo Bandini, who died from injuries sustained in an accident at the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix.
Hülkenberg wants to continue Sauber F1’s “transformation” at Imola
A “legendary” circuit also favoured by Bortoleto
Nico Hülkenberg has offered an early assessment of his return to Sauber after six races, marking one quarter of the 2025 season. He explains how work is progressing in Hinwil, where the Swiss team is preparing to become Audi F1 next year.
“We are working, giving everything behind the scenes and at the factory, like everyone else. We have an upgrade coming for Barcelona and hope it will bring some performance. It depends on the circuits and characteristics, but it’s still the beginning of the season and I only joined my new team recently,” Hülkenberg noted.
“There is a major transformation underway, this is a transition year towards Audi and I’m enjoying it. A lot is happening at the same time but I enjoy the process. It’s what I expected. It’s a tough season with a tight midfield battle.”
The German driver is pleased to return to Imola for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. “I enjoy driving here. It’s legendary, there’s a lot of history, and it’s great to come to an old-school circuit.”
“It’s a medium-speed track and a bit trickier for us. There are new elements, like the new C6 tyre, which is the softest compound we’ve ever had with Pirelli, so we’ll see.”
Asked about the pressure on Jack Doohan at Alpine, Hülkenberg expressed sympathy for the Australian and pointed to Alpine’s operating style. “It’s obviously tough. Even when Jack started this winter, Franco was already around, so it’s a difficult environment to begin in as a rookie.”
“I feel sorry for him in a way. He didn’t have time to prove himself or improve, and we know how hard it is to come into a field like this and make an impression. But this is Formula 1. It’s ruthless, and that’s how things are right now, especially in that team.”
Gabriel Bortoleto is happy to return to Imola, a track he knows from Formula 2 and earlier Formula 4 tests, and one he particularly enjoys. “I love this circuit, I’ve always said that even before I was in F2.”
“The first time I tested an F4 here, it gave me a good feeling. It’s a technical circuit with fast, medium and slow corners. You have to use the kerbs, it’s old-school with no run-off, and it’s fun to drive.”
The Brazilian reviewed Sauber’s progress this season. “We are making steps forward, both as a team and for me as a driver. Sometimes the results don’t reflect that. In Miami, you could see it. Qualifying was good and it was a mechanical failure that forced me to retire.”
“I’ve learned important things at every weekend I’ve done so far. We will have more regular opportunities to score points because we’re not far off. We were 13th in Miami and with a bit more, we could fight for the points.”
Bortoleto confirmed that his progress did not start in Miami but had not been visible earlier. “We tested things that made me feel more comfortable. We saw the potential before, but I hadn’t been able to put it all together, though the pace was strong.”
“In Miami, I put everything together and showed good pace. It was a good circuit for the team. Nico showed it on Friday, I showed it on Saturday, and we both showed it on Sunday. Let’s keep this momentum going.”
Colapinto: It will take more than five races to be at my best with Alpine F1
The Argentine warns that this return is no easy task
Franco Colapinto did not mince words on his return to the paddock as a full-time driver at Imola, making it clear that his five-race deal with Alpine F1 will not be enough to fully unlock the car’s potential.
After competing in nine races with Williams at the end of the 2024 season, Colapinto secured his return to Formula 1 with Alpine beginning at this weekend’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
However, the French outfit has only granted him five races to prove himself, and the team remains silent on who will partner Pierre Gasly after the British Grand Prix in July.
Asked whether the short contract might push him to take more risks and make mistakes, the Argentine said, “I know what’s been said, we’ll see once I’m in the car.”
“But it’s a great opportunity and I’m happy to be back in F1. I didn’t even think I would get five races, so I’m pleased and I’m managing the situation well. Right now, I just want to get back behind the wheel.”
“Of course, you heard Carlos [Sainz] say it takes around ten races to get used to the Williams. I think five is not enough. I’ve only done nine in F1.”
“It will probably take me a few more races, probably two more than five, to be at the top level and get the most out of the car, but that’s what I’ve got. I just want to make the most of it and do my best for the team.”
Alpine has had a tough start to the 2025 season, with the A525 showing flashes of promise but also long spells of poor performance in both qualifying and race conditions.
Asked whether Flavio Briatore had given him specific targets to meet for a contract extension beyond the initial five races, Colapinto remained discreet.
“As a driver, I’m just trying to go step by step. I don’t really know the car, and there are a lot of new things coming.”
“I just want to master the basics and not set any expectations. The performance spread between teams is so tight that it changes from one track to another depending on the best setup you can find within the time available, or based on one car’s strengths compared to another.”
“FP1 and FP2 will give us a clear idea of where we are. I’m still working closely with the team. Our main goal is to make the car faster, so we need to improve performance. That is the main focus: trying to find small gains in performance and then, of course, after these five races, we’ll see where we stand.”
Colapinto rose through the ranks as part of the Williams F1 Academy and has been loaned to Alpine on a multi-year basis by the Grove team.
“I feel like I’m starting from scratch this weekend at Imola. I’m really excited. Everything is new. We are starting over. Of course, it wasn’t nice to lose my seat after doing the last nine races of last year.”
“It wasn’t what I wanted, but it was the perfect chance to reflect on what happened last year and learn from it. I’m happy to be back.”
“Of course, it’s never pleasant to go through this kind of situation, to take another driver’s seat, but you never really choose the moment when you arrive in Formula 1.”
“I’m taking my future into my own hands, trying to do my best and maximise my chances of staying on the grid.”
Gasly insists at Imola: “there is no issue” at Alpine F1
He is ready to work with Colapinto and remains confident
Pierre Gasly is disappointed to see Jack Doohan leave after only six races, but the Alpine F1 driver is equally prepared to work with his new teammate, Franco Colapinto. According to him, the pair will also benefit from continued support from Doohan, who remains a reserve driver with the team.
“I know both of them, I get on well with Jack and Franco. During the months I worked with Jack, I tried to support him as much as I could. He’s a good guy, I like him, and he has good speed. It’s tough to come into F1 like that and I tried to help him with my experience, because I wanted him to succeed,” Gasly said.
“Franco is also a very good driver, that’s why he was signed, and it will be interesting to see how he performs. He was competitive with Williams, we worked well with Jack and I’m sure we’ll work well with Franco. Jack is still part of the team and we’ll need to stay strong.”
Asked about the departure of former team principal Oliver Oakes, the Frenchman praised the impact he had at Alpine. “It’s sad to see Ollie go, it was a personal decision on his part. We got along well, we worked closely together since he joined last summer.”
“Things were very clear and transparent with him. I liked the spirit he brought to the team. It’s sad to see him leave, but we have to respect and accept his decision. Flavio will take on more responsibility, but that doesn’t change anything in terms of what is happening, and we keep moving forward.”
Gasly remains reassuring about the atmosphere at Alpine, despite the influence of Flavio Briatore – who is not officially considered a team principal by the FIA – and the resignation of Oakes. “I was at the factory on Tuesday, on Wednesday I was working in the simulator, I was with Flavio when all the announcements were made.”
“It’s big news, but as I said, the business and what we need to do individually doesn’t change. In the end, it was a personal decision from Oli.”
“There is no issue within the team, there is no disagreement between team members. The vision and direction remain the same as before and after Miami. Clearly, Oli is not here and there has been a change of drivers, which is another thing being discussed, but in terms of leadership and day-to-day work, nothing has changed.”
Bearman eager to move on from “painful” Miami weekend at Imola
The Haas F1 driver loves this “old-school circuit”
Oliver Bearman is looking forward to racing at Imola this weekend, a track he knows well and enjoys, and one he hopes will help him move past the disappointment of Miami. The Haas F1 driver was frustrated to leave Florida without scoring points and is aiming to bounce back at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
“I’m excited to be back. It was tough in Miami to miss out on points in the Sprint and then retire from the race. That hurts, even if we weren’t fighting for points, not seeing the chequered flag is always painful,” Bearman said.
“I’m looking forward to returning now to a track I know. It’s been a while since I’ve had that. Imola is one of my favourite circuits and Italy is one of my favourite countries, so I’m excited and I hope this weekend’s new package performs as expected.”
His love for Imola comes from both the nature of the circuit and the passion of the Italian fans. “The track itself is fun, it’s old-school, and it punishes mistakes, so it’s a circuit I really enjoy and I can’t wait to drive it.”
“I think first of all being surrounded by Italian fans is always a special feeling. I have a connection to Ferrari and they’ve always been very kind to me, so I always look forward to racing here and at Monza.”
Albon sees Colapinto thriving at Alpine F1 but offers one key piece of advice
“It’s about ignoring the five-race quota”
While Alex Albon did not hesitate to criticise Alpine F1, as several other drivers did, for removing Jack Doohan after just six races, the Williams F1 driver believes his former teammate Franco Colapinto has what it takes to shine with the French outfit.
As Albon pointed out, Colapinto’s position is not yet secure, with Alpine announcing plans to reassess the situation after five additional races.
The Argentine, however, impressed when paired with Albon at Williams in the final nine races of last year, scoring points in only his second outing in Baku.
“I know Franco. It’s great that he’s got this opportunity, of course. Coming to Europe for F1 is one of those moments where, if the chance comes, you really want to take it, and he’s got it, even though it’s tough for Jack.”
“At the same time, we know Franco is going to, I think, do a good job. I find him very talented.”
“He’ll need a bit of time to get up to speed, for sure. But at the same time, he didn’t take long at Williams. So yes, I think he’ll be fine.”
Albon advised Colapinto not to focus on the five-race limit set by Alpine, warning that thinking too much about it could lead to unnecessary mistakes.
“Yes, I think for him, it’s really about ignoring the five-race quota, let’s say.”
“It’s easy to start making mistakes, overdriving, and so on. He just needs to give himself a bit of time to adapt. So yes, it’s obviously short, but I think he’ll do very well.”
Sainz is “biased” but “objectively” supports his father for FIA presidency
An experience that would be valuable to the federation
Carlos Sainz is backing his father’s potential candidacy for the role of FIA President. While he openly admits a personal bias, as it concerns his father, Carlos Sainz Sr., the Williams F1 driver highlights his father’s deep motorsport pedigree and experience, which he believes would be of great value to the governing body.
“I’m his son, so I’m biased,” Sainz acknowledged. “Speaking from the most objective position possible, no one else comes to mind. Someone who went through every karting day with his son and knows the roots of motorsport in karting, like he did for four or five years with me.”
“He spent four or five years in single-seaters with me, knowing how tough, expensive, and difficult the ladder is. He spent ten years in F1 with me. He’s had forty years in rallying. So he’s a man who has experienced so much across so many different areas of motorsport, and now that he’s nearing the end of his racing career, he’s looking for a way to give back to the sport that has given him so much.”
“That’s the most objective position I can offer as his son. Obviously, he’s an ideal candidate. Whether he decides to do it or not is entirely up to him.”
The news has not yet been officially confirmed, and Sainz says his father is genuinely considering the role. “We’ve been talking about it for a while. What’s interesting is that it didn’t come from him.”
“Many people in the paddock have brought it up with him, and little by little, he started thinking about it. Now, it’s clear he’s considering it. The key point is that he hasn’t built a team yet, but he’s thinking about it and, depending on how he sees things, he’ll decide whether to move forward.”
“I can tell you he’s thinking seriously about it. He’s evaluating all the options and starting to consider the people, the individuals, he would like to have on his team. He’s trying to understand how the election process works, how many people he needs to reach.”
“He’s assessing everything and trying to understand how it all works. It’s his business now. I’m busy with Williams and focused on my own responsibilities, so I leave it to him. He keeps me informed every week or every couple of weeks, updating me on his progress or where things stand. He wants my opinion.”
According to Sainz, his father will be able to rise above the political side of the role, even if it is not something he enjoys. “Politics is the downside. But I think if there’s one man who can rise above politics, it’s my father.”
“He relies on common sense and the basic principles of life. That’s why so many people have approached him, encouraging him to take the step. Politics probably isn’t something he’ll enjoy, but he knows it’s part of the job and something he’ll have to deal with.”
Norris couldn’t have predicted such a sharp MCL39 this winter
The simulator cannot reveal that kind of detail
McLaren F1 is more competitive this year than last, but to achieve that, the MCL39 has also become more sensitive to drive on the limit, particularly in qualifying.
So far, that trait has suited Oscar Piastri better than Lando Norris, with the Briton making several driving errors during the first quarter of the season when pushing for quick laps in Q3.
But did Norris see any signs of this during winter testing or in the simulator?
“No, I don’t think so. It’s very hard to predict. Of course, we have the simulator and everything else, and nothing was really conclusive enough to tell the engineers, ‘watch out, this is going to be very sharp.’ So the answer is no.”
“We knew the MCL39 would be an improvement, that it would be faster, but until you actually test it on track and drive it at different circuits, you don’t know.”
“And that’s not all. There are some circuits where I felt better and others where I really enjoyed the feeling. But it wasn’t enough to prepare me – probably – for what I needed to be ready for.”
“It’s a very sharp car to extract the most from over one lap, but progress is being made, from my side already, and also on the development side.”
Ocon Finds Stability at Haas Amid Alpine’s Turmoil
“I’m Happy Where I Am”: Esteban Ocon Reflects on Alpine Drama and Haas Progress Ahead of Imola
As Formula 1 heads to Imola this weekend, several teams are racing on home soil, Ferrari, Racing Bulls, and perhaps surprisingly, Haas.
While Haas is an American team, its technical operations are based in Maranello, just down the road from Ferrari’s headquarters. That’s no coincidence, and Esteban Ocon, now driving for Haas, feels a special connection to this race.
“In a way, yes,” Ocon said when asked if Imola feels like a second home race after Miami. “We do a lot of prep during the season in the simulator and in Maranello with the team. I was just there on Tuesday, working in the wind tunnel. There’s definitely some Italian DNA in this team, and it’s great to be a part of that.”
“I’ve spent a few days in Italy recently. It’s always special to be here. This track has a lot of history. I’ve raced here for a while now, and it’s always a great weekend.”
Ocon has been showing strong pace, consistently reaching Q3 in qualifying, including last time out in Miami. With Imola known for its tight layout and limited overtaking, qualifying will be key.
“We’ve made real progress since Melbourne,” Ocon said. “The first race was tough, we were almost last on the grid. But we turned the car around. Now, we’re in the fight for points every weekend. We’ve had some solid races where we maximized what we had.”
Like many midfield teams, Haas is bringing some updates to Imola.
“The midfield battle is really tight, and we need to get everything out of the car if we want points. We’ve got a few small upgrades for this weekend, hopefully they’ll give us an edge.”
“In Miami, we made it to Q3. Unfortunately, no points there, but we’re aiming to get back in the mix.”
This weekend will also see the C6 super-soft tire return, only the second time Ocon has used it.
“We ran it for the first time in Abu Dhabi testing, but that’s a totally different track,” he said. “It’ll add a layer of unpredictability to a circuit we know well, which is actually quite exciting. I’m looking forward to seeing how it handles and whether tire wear creates new opportunities in the race.”
A Breath of Fresh Air After Alpine
While things seem calm at Haas, Alpine continues to make headlines, and not for the right reasons. Team exits, reshuffles, and rejected leadership changes have kept Alpine in the spotlight. Ocon, who left the team last season, doesn’t seem too surprised.
“Sadly, I wasn’t shocked when I heard about some of the recent decisions over there,” he said, referencing the removal of Jack Doohan and other internal shake-ups. “Not much to add really. I feel for Jack, he’s talented, and I’m sure we’ll see him back in F1 one day.”
“Franco also deserves a shot. He did well with Williams last year. The reality is, there just aren’t enough seats in F1 for all the talented drivers out there.”
There’s a clear sense of relief from Ocon about moving on from the turbulence at Alpine.
“Honestly, I’m happy where I am.”
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