The race weekend kicked off with high expectations, especially after McLaren introduced significant upgrades. Norris expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I feel very good. I’m very happy for the team.” His teammate, Oscar Piastri, also performed well, finishing third behind Kimi Antonelli, who qualified second—just two tenths behind Norris.

Mercedes drivers had a challenging session. George Russell noted how surprising it was that McLaren and Ferrari made such substantial gains. He remarked, “Pretty surprising how big a jump McLaren and Ferrari made. That’s pretty damn impressive.” Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton managed to qualify seventh despite showing faster times in earlier sessions.

Qualifying Results:

• Lando Norris: 1:27.869
• Kimi Antonelli: +0.222 seconds
• Oscar Piastri: +0.239 seconds
• Charles Leclerc: +0.370 seconds
• Max Verstappen: +0.592 seconds
• George Russell: +0.624 seconds
• Lewis Hamilton: +0.749 seconds
• Franco Colapinto: 8th
• Pierre Gasly: 10th

This qualifying format for 2026 saw six cars eliminated in SQ1 and SQ2, leaving only the fastest contenders to battle it out for pole. Notably absent from the time sheets was Lance Stroll, who did not set a time due to an early spin.

The implications of this qualifying session are profound. Observers are eager to see how McLaren’s upgrades will hold up during the race itself and whether Mercedes can bounce back from this setback. As Russell pointed out, “We knew they had probably closed the gap but all day they were quicker than us.” Will this be a turning point for McLaren in their pursuit of championship points?

Сообщение F1: Lando Norris Breaks Mercedes’ Qualifying Streak появились сначала на Latest News UK.

Horner, who served as team principal at Red Bull from 2005 until July 2025, oversaw an impressive era that included eight drivers’ world championships and six constructors’ titles. However, his exit came amid performance issues within the team.

The financial arrangement allowed Horner to terminate his relationship with Red Bull early and enter a period of gardening leave for ten months. This leaves the question—what will he do next? His non-compete clause expires in May 2026, which means he could theoretically join another F1 team shortly thereafter.

Key points surrounding Horner’s exit:

• Horner left due to ongoing performance challenges at Red Bull.
• His contract negotiations resulted in a substantial payment of around £80 million.
• He is currently on gardening leave, lasting until May 2026.

Interestingly, while there are speculations about his future in F1, Horner has expressed no immediate plans to return to a leadership role. Instead, he has been spotted showing interest in MotoGP—could this be a pivot in his career?

Moreover, rumors swirl around his potential involvement in a consortium looking to invest in Alpine. But without any official confirmation, these remain just whispers in the paddock.

The motorsport community is abuzz with possibilities. Will we see Horner back in the F1 paddock soon? Or is he content exploring other avenues like MotoGP?

As it stands, Christian Horner’s future remains uncertain. The next significant date on the calendar is May 2026 when he could re-emerge in F1—if he chooses to do so.

Сообщение Christian Horner’s £80 Million Exit from Red Bull появились сначала на Latest News UK.