AS FAST AS ANYONE: CARLOS SAINZ ANALYZES LANDO NORRIS'S TITLE-WINNING SPEED
Carlos Sainz believes Lando Norris has the speed and form to win the F1 title in Abu Dhabi, but insists a podium finish is "never easy." Norris leads by 12 points.
Carlos Sainz thinks Lando Norris has a shot at his first world title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but he admits it won't be a cakewalk, even in a McLaren.
"I wish them the best," Sainz said, hinting that Norris has what it takes.
Norris is leading the championship race as he goes into Sunday's final race.
He's got a 12-point lead over Max Verstappen, the current World Champion, and Oscar Piastri is close behind, just four points further back.
Norris just needs to finish in the top three to win the title, no matter where Verstappen and Piastri end up.
But it's not as simple as it sounds.
Since F1 came back from summer break, Norris has finished on the podium five times, but he also had one retirement, one disqualification, and two races where he scored points but didn't get on the podium.
Sainz knows Norris has been doing well lately, but he's not counting anything out.
When asked about the title race in Abu Dhabi, Sainz told the media, I'm interested, for sure, and I'll be watching closely. I get along great with Lando, and I want him to do well. I also respect Max and Oscar and wish them the best.
I think Abu Dhabi is good for Lando. It's good for him that the finale is in Abu Dhabi. When I was his teammate, it was one of his best tracks. He won last year in front of me, which still stings a bit.
He was dominant in that race, and I know it's a good track for him and for McLaren, so he has that going for him.
But still, having to finish on the podium is never easy, even in a McLaren.
He needs to have a perfect weekend, and I think he can do it, especially with how well he's been handling pressure lately.
Sainz was Norris's first teammate in Formula 1 when Norris, now 26, started with McLaren in 2019.
They were teammates for two seasons before Sainz moved to Ferrari. They bonded over racing and golf and were even nicknamed 'Carlando' on social media.
Sainz said Norris was always fast but is now a more complete driver.
What I saw right away from Lando was his amazing ability to drive the car at the limit and put together great qualifying laps, Sainz stated.
I've been teammates with Charles [Leclerc], with Max, and with Lando—with all the top guys, I think.
Lando has all the speed he needs. In fact, he's as quick as anyone, maybe even quicker on his good days.
What he's really improved is his consistency throughout the year. He's strong on tracks that he wasn't as strong on in his first couple of years. Now, when I watch him drive, he's strong everywhere. He's learned to be quick in any situation, on any track, with more experience.
He's definitely a more all-around driver now than he was in his first few years, but I don't think he's any faster.
When you get to Formula 1, you're already as fast as you can be. After that, it's about learning how to be quick in every type of corner or on every type of track.
KIM KARDASHIAN AND LEWIS HAMILTON SPOTTED ON ROMANTIC EUROPEAN TOUR TOGETHER
Kim Kardashian and F1 star Lewis Hamilton are turning heads across Europe as insiders reveal Kim's "Russell Wilson" nickname.
Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton are the latest celebrity duo making waves, and apparently, Kim’s already got a cheeky nickname for him. The two have been spotted out together in the Cotswolds, London, and Paris, just enjoying themselves and turning a few heads in the process.
Word is, Kim’s close friends are spilling a few details about this new romance. One insider claims Lewis isn’t looking to settle down right now, but Kim still has a special name for him—she calls him “her Russell Wilson”. If you know the reference, it’s a nod to NFL star Russell Wilson, who married singer Ciara after her high-profile breakup with rapper Future. Friends say Kim thinks of Lewis as a “sophisticated upgrade” from her ex, Kanye West.
Kim and Kanye—now legally known as Ye—were married from 2014 to 2021 and share four kids. Their co-parenting relationship is famously complicated.
Kim’s reportedly a bit anxious about how Kanye will react to her new thing with Lewis, considering Kanye and Lewis were friends back in the day. One source told the Mail, “They’re both cautious about Kanye’s feelings since he and Lewis go way back. Kim’s living for herself these days, but she doesn’t want to poke the bear. They know this could set Kanye off, so they’re keeping it light and just having fun for now.”
Kim and Lewis first crossed paths years ago at GQ’s 2014 Men of the Year Awards. Back then, they both showed up with their now-exes—Kim was with Ye, and Lewis was with Nicole Scherzinger.
Kanye even had Lewis over for Easter one year. He talked about it: “Lewis Hamilton’s over at my house, and we’re playing some music in my studio. We’re having Easter brunch—my wife’s family, my friends, everyone’s there. And everybody’s like, ‘What is this music?’ and I’m like, ‘It’s Lewis Hamilton’s music.’”
Since splitting from Ye, Kim’s dated Pete Davidson and moved on. Kanye’s remarried, too—this time to Australian architect Bianca Censori.
Those two have been in the headlines a lot, usually for their wild fashion choices. Things got especially wild when Bianca showed up at the Grammy Awards in a see-through gown. She arrived in a black fur coat but ditched it to reveal a sheer dress that left little to the imagination. People at the event were definitely stunned.
FERRARI SF-26 COMPLETES 121 LAPS IN HISTORIC LEWIS HAMILTON-LECLERC BARCELONA DEBUT
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc completed a "productive" 121-lap debut for the Ferrari SF-26 during 2026 testing in Barcelona.
Ferrari kicked off its on-track work for the 2026 Formula One season with a steady first day at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc split driving duties in the team’s bold new car, and the whole thing felt like the start of a new chapter.
With the 2026 rules shaking up both the chassis and the power unit, Ferrari didn’t chase lap times. They zeroed in on checking systems, making sure their data lined up, and ironing out any reliability kinks. The weather threw a few curveballs—rain, some dry patches—but even so, they got through their plan and stacked up plenty of laps.
Leclerc seemed upbeat after his first taste of the new machine. He said it felt good to get back behind the wheel and start figuring out the car, even if the focus was just on systems and not raw speed. “We came here to understand how everything works,” he said. “With the weather mixed up, today was all about checks. We finished what we set out to do, and the car did what we expected. It’s a solid start and a decent base.”
Hamilton, now officially in Ferrari red, felt the same. For him, it was a busy day—lots of on-track time, plenty of new things to get used to—but he called it productive. “We got good mileage, learnt a lot, and didn’t hit any big issues. That’s what matters with so many changes coming in. This gives us a strong platform for the next few days.”
Ferrari’s Head of Track Engineering, Matteo Togninalli, stressed how important it was just to get through the day cleanly. “Given the conditions, it went well for us,” he said. Rain or not, they racked up the laps and—most importantly—avoided any real reliability problems. That’s the top priority when you’re shaking down a brand-new car and engine.
Performance talk? Still way too early for that. Right now, Ferrari’s just learning how this new car behaves, gathering data, and building up bit by bit as the days go on—keeping their focus squarely on themselves.