ROSS BRAWN BREAKS SILENCE, BACKS LEWIS HAMILTON POST-FERRARI CRITICISM
F1 legend Ross Brawn believes Lewis Hamilton will overcome his Ferrari struggles, but only if the team nails the 2026 regulations.
Ross Brawn, the famous Ferrari technical director, is sure Lewis Hamilton will get through his current difficulties.
He thinks the F1 2026 rules will be key to Hamilton's success at Ferrari.
Ross Brawn believes Lewis Hamilton will do well at Ferrari, but the F1 2026 rules are a big question.
Hamilton's first season at Ferrari has been rough. The 40-year-old is still waiting for his first podium finish with the team after moving from Mercedes.
His season hit a new low at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Hamilton was the first Ferrari driver to qualify last based purely on speed since Giancarlo Fisichella at the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
This happened after Ferrari chairman John Elkann told Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc to talk less after a disappointing weekend in Brazil.
Brawn was a big part of Michael Schumacher's success with Ferrari in the early 2000s. He helped the team win five drivers' titles and six constructors' championships.
He later signed Hamilton to replace Schumacher at Mercedes at the end of 2012. This set the stage for Hamilton to win six titles in seven years between 2014 and 2020.
Brawn is sure that Hamilton has the strength to get back on track at Ferrari. He believes everything depends on how Ferrari starts under the new rules in F1 2026.
He told the official F1 website, "Lewis is very determined and has been tough in the past." There's no reason why he won't succeed.
I just hope Ferrari gets the new rules right.
Formula 1's chassis and engine rules will change a lot for F1 2026. The sport will use 50 per cent electric power, fully sustainable fuels, and active aerodynamics.
There have been rumours that Hamilton's former team, Mercedes, is ahead of the competition for F1 2026. Many believe their preparations for the new rules are going well.
Some details about Ferrari's F1 2026 car—codenamed Project 678—have come out recently. The team is expected to use a pushrod suspension at both the front and rear next season.
Reports in Italy say that Red Bull might do something similar with the new RB22. This is the first car made under the team's partnership with Ford.
Last month, it was reported that Ferrari is working on a special intake system for its new engine for F1 2026.
Hamilton seemed worried about Ferrari's chances for F1 2026 after the race in Las Vegas. He said he was not looking forward to next season.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: It’s a terrible result. There is nothing good about today.
I want it to be over. I’m ready for it to be over. I’m not excited about the next one.”
When asked if he meant the next race in Qatar, he said, "Next season."
GEORGE RUSSELL ADMITS ANTONELLI IS "EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK" BUT REFUSES TO CONCEDE TITLE
Kimi Antonelli secured his 3rd straight F1 win in Miami, leaving George Russell 43 seconds behind and 20 points down in the title race. (130 chars)
George Russell isn’t flinching. He’s not ready to let go of the story, even as Kimi Antonelli keeps grabbing headlines. Antonelli’s been tearing it up this season – three straight wins, all from pole – and it’s got people talking. Miami was rough for Russell; he finished fourth, over 43 seconds behind Antonelli. That gap isn’t just big; it’s glaring, and it’s putting some real heat on their rivalry at Mercedes.
Russell isn’t pretending things are fine, but he’s not throwing in the towel either. He gets what Antonelli’s doing and gives props where they’re deserved. “He’s a fantastic driver, and he’s been fast since day one,” Russell said. “You don’t win all those championships as a kid if you’re not quick.” He means it, but he’s also drawing a boundary. Russell still believes in himself, and he’s not giving up on the championship.
“I’ve still got confidence in myself, and I haven’t forgotten how to drive,” he said with a little smile. “It’s just a tricky patch, but we’re only four races in; there’s a lot more to come. We’ll sort things out over the next few weeks.”
That “tricky patch” doesn’t just mean some tough luck; it includes a 20-point deficit and a teammate who won’t stop rewriting history. Antonelli’s winning streak has changed the vibe at Mercedes, at least for now.
Russell knows all about momentum and how it doesn’t always stick around. “He’s got momentum right now; he’s flying,” Russell admitted. “But I’ve won championships myself, and I know momentum swings back and forth all year.” He actually doesn’t seem bothered by the points gap. “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it,” he said.
It’s a calm answer from a guy who’s been here before, leaning on experience while Antonelli rides his hot streak. Russell keeps saying 'big picture, patience, not panic'.
“I just want to get back on top of the podium,” he said. “I had the pace for the first three races, but this weekend I was nowhere close. It could have gone very differently these last few weeks, and this weekend could’ve just been a blip. But some races in Japan and China didn’t go my way. That’s how F1 goes sometimes.”
Still, confidence doesn’t erase a 20-point gap, not if Antonelli keeps cruising. If Antonelli keeps piling up wins, Russell’s going to have to fight more than just the stopwatch. Losing to your teammate over and over starts to mess with your head. Russell began the season as the guy to beat, but the longer this keeps up, the tougher it gets to grab hold of the story again.
He’s holding firm, for now. But F1 doesn’t wait for anyone. What does Russell call “just a tricky run”? Well, if momentum doesn’t swing his way soon, it could become a whole lot more than that.
MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES FRONT ROW IN MIAMI AS RED BULL UPGRADES DELIVER IMMEDIATE RESULTS
Charles Leclerc admitted surprise at Red Bull's pace after Max Verstappen finished P2, just 0.166s behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc expected Red Bull to bounce back, but he couldn’t help admiring Max Verstappen’s raw speed at the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull rolled into Miami with a big upgrade, looking to recover after a rough start to the season. Verstappen, a four-time world champ, landed his Red Bull in second during qualifying. He was only 0.166 seconds behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, nearly snatching pole. After qualifying, Verstappen said he finally feels like he’s back in control of his car.
Leclerc was impressed by the turnaround. “Honestly, it’s not shocking to see Kimi up there. Mercedes has been the quickest team this year, and Kimi’s been amazing these last few races,” Leclerc said. “But Max and Red Bull are coming back like this? That’s a bit more surprising. The upgrades clearly worked, and you can’t forget how strong that team really is. You never expect them to just sit back and accept a slow start.”
He added, “We figured they’d come back swinging, but to see them right back on the front row after struggling at the start… that’s something else. It’s pretty remarkable. Still, my job’s the same: beat those guys. That’s where my head’s at right now.”
Leclerc had to settle for third on the grid for Sunday’s race. Ferrari looked strong early in qualifying, but their hopes faded by Q3.
He talked about the changing conditions, but didn’t think that’s what hurt Ferrari. “The wind definitely played a part, but track temperature wasn’t all that different, so I don’t think that’s the reason,” he said. “Maybe the track changed, and we didn’t see it coming, or maybe pushing harder today in qualifying just made our car’s weak spots stand out more.”
Leclerc admitted he hadn’t dug into the numbers yet; he’d just gotten out of the car. “We’ll have to check the details to figure out exactly where we lost time.”
