Fans around the world had been quite intrigued by the latest, and major, power unit revolution that saw engines this season feature a 50/50 power split between a typical internal combustion engine (ICE) and then new electrical system. It was a marked shift as the ICE 1.6 litre turbocharged engine output dropped from roughly 550KW to 400KW, whilst the electric generation jumped from 120KW to 350KW.

For those who follow LiveScore Sports News closely, they will remember the breaking news headlines and stir that these changes made when they were originally announced.

That was not the only enforced, and agreed upon change, ahead of the new race year as on a none technical front drivers have been required to effectively relearn how to drive to the most optimal conditions – balancing top line speed with energy consumption and energy generation to best time its use – as opposed to the more traditional ‘peddle to the metal’ approach depending on your need and risk level.

It has obviously has a noticeable impact on the Grand Prix’s that have taken place so far, fan entertainment levels and also driver frustration levels with some taking to the new changes better than other. Unsurprisingly Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has been one of the most vocal critics so far and he is down in seventh place with only 26 points picked up so far in the standings, and he had barbed a few weeks back that not only was he not enjoying it anymore as it was not racing now, he threatened that he was seriously considering quitting the sport.

With him not being the only driver to air complaints though, recent further changes ahead of the 2927 campaign have now been agreed upon in principle and it will see a pivot back to ICE power as an offset to give the race experience a more traditional feel to it once again.

This has gone over well with race teams and drivers themselves and in more recent days the 28 year old four time World Champion Dutchman has declared that with racing going ‘almost back to normal’ he might now actually stay with the sport.

Given how Verstappen actually splits the F1 fanbase that news will undoubtedly receive a mixed reaction, but there is no denying his skill and talent as a driver on the track and F1 would be far poorer for his departure, whether or not he is liked on a more personal basis.

Fellow World Champion Lando Norris certainly agreed with Verstappen’s sentiment about the changes that had now been agreed in principle following the complaints, and the reality that the changes have had and can be visibly seen on the race track, as he commented himself that whilst the compromise had been far from ‘perfect’ is was certainly a ‘great direction’ for the sport to have gone back in and it would definitely be welcomed by all drivers.

That was echoed by teammate by Oscar Piastri who agreed it was ‘a step in the right direction’ but was forthright that the problems that were created had not been ‘fixed’.

With the changes agreed in principle only so far, it will be interesting to see what the final product now becomes as we head closer to the new campaign.

The post Verstappen Won’t Quit After F1 Agrees Engine Changes In Principle appeared first on Total Motorsport.

Hamilton returned to the scene of his first Formula 1 victory and delivered a timely breakthrough for Ferrari, finishing second in Montreal after chasing down and passing Max Verstappen in the closing stages.

It was Hamilton’s best Grand Prix result for Ferrari, improving on his third place in China, and came after a weekend in which he had the edge over Charles Leclerc for much of the event.

The seven time world champion started fifth, passed McLaren driver Oscar Piastri on the opening lap and later hunted down Verstappen on medium tyres to secure second behind Kimi Antonelli.

For a driver whose Ferrari spell has been defined by frustration, speculation and long spells of inconsistency, Montreal felt like a major step forward.

“Yeah, I had so much fun out there all weekend,” Hamilton told the press, including Total-Motorsport.com, after the race. “Every single lap. I felt like we started on the right foot, came with the right attitude and the car really generally felt great.

“And so, to come to Montreal, a track that I do love, and get to enjoy a Sprint weekend here, which is the first that we’ve had [here], was awesome. And this is my first second place with the team.”

Hamilton enjoys Ferrari breakthrough in Canada

Hamilton has had flashes of promise since joining Ferrari, including his Sprint win in China, but the Canadian GP was his clearest sign yet that he can consistently fight near the front in red.

He admitted the result had required a huge effort behind the scenes, with both driver and team still working to unlock a package that has not always suited him.

“It’s something I’ve been working so hard, I can’t even begin to explain how deep I’ve had to dig to be able to get to this point, and the work and moving mountains in the background to enable this sort of performance,” Hamilton said.

“But I’m really grateful to the team for continuing to hold me up high and support me weekend in, weekend out.

“It was awesome, absolutely awesome to fight with one of the greats [Verstappen]. It was massively challenging.”

The fight with Verstappen was one of the highlights of the race. The Red Bull driver had the upper hand in the opening stint, but Hamilton came alive after switching to medium tyres and made the decisive pass late on.

That gave Ferrari a badly needed podium and offered Hamilton encouragement heading into the next phase of the season.

Hamilton questions Ferrari simulator value

The most intriguing part of Hamilton’s weekend came before the race had even started.

Ahead of the Canadian GP, Hamilton revealed he had chosen not to prepare in Ferrari’s simulator at Maranello, arguing that it had not correlated well enough with real track conditions so far this season.

He had taken the same approach before China, which had previously been his best weekend with Ferrari. After repeating that pattern in Canada, Hamilton now appears ready to continue with the same method.

“I’m sure I would drive it [the simulator] at some point,” Hamilton said. “I think what could be good is, for example, going back and doing correlation to this weekend so we can find out where it’s missing.

“Because the test driver will be on there saying it’s all… they will only know what they know because they don’t get to drive.

“It’s only Charles and me who get to drive the car. So, the positive of something like being able to drive the real car, go back and say, ‘This is actually what it feels like. These are the things that we’re missing,’ and so that we can improve it.”

Hamilton stressed he still wants to help Ferrari improve the simulator, but he is less convinced it should form a central part of his own race preparation.

“I’m always there to help the team move forward and develop it,” Hamilton added. “Now, whether or not I use it to prepare for another race? Probably not.

“There are just too many risks. If you look at the two best races I’ve had, I didn’t use a simulator. And that’s honestly how it was. Pretty much all the championships before, except for probably 2008, I didn’t use the sim. So it’s not a necessity. It’s a tool that can be powerful.

“But for me, I’m old school. I’m probably better without it.”

For Hamilton, the message from Canada was clear. He is not rejecting Ferrari’s technology outright, but he appears increasingly confident that his instincts, data work and real world feel may be more valuable than extensive simulator preparation.

After the best Grand Prix result of his Ferrari career, it is a theory he now has strong evidence to support.

The post Lewis Hamilton says he’s “probably better without” Ferrari simulator after Canada breakthrough appeared first on Total Motorsport.

Antonelli left the Canadian GP with his fourth consecutive Formula 1 victory and a 43-point lead over teammate George Russell, who retired from the lead in Montreal after a technical failure.

The result strengthened Antonelli’s grip on the 2026 drivers’ standings, but it also brought the 19 year old further into the spotlight as the title fight begins to take shape around the two Mercedes drivers.

Villeneuve, who won the 1997 Formula 1 world championship in only his second season, knows how quickly momentum can shift in a title race. Speaking after the Canadian GP, the Canadian said Antonelli now has to prove he can stay composed when the pressure increases.

“He needs to keep his head cool, not start believing too much in his own hype,” Villeneuve said. “That’s a very dangerous thing to do. When you think that you’re untouchable, that’s when mistakes happen, and you have a DNF, like Russell today, or you have an accident, you lose 25 points, the gap changes a lot, and suddenly you start doubting yourself.”

Villeneuve warns Antonelli over title pressure

Antonelli has been the standout driver of the 2026 season so far, adapting rapidly in his second F1 campaign and turning Mercedes’ pace advantage into a run of victories.

But Villeneuve believes the danger now is not speed, but mentality. The 1997 champion said Antonelli is driving so close to the limit that the key question is how he will react when a weekend finally goes wrong.

“So that is the big risk,” Villeneuve said. “Right now, he’s driving on the edge every lap, and to the point where you think, ‘Wow, he’s keeping it on the track,’ things go well, things go right. It won’t always be like this. So, how will he react when one thing goes wrong? That will be the key thing.”

That warning carries added weight after the Canadian GP, where Antonelli and Russell fought hard for the lead before the Briton’s retirement.

The pair had already come close in their on track battle, with Antonelli later admitting parts of the fight were “on the edge”. For now, the championship momentum is clearly with the Italian, but Villeneuve believes the first setback will reveal far more about his title credentials.

Russell urged to respond in Mercedes fight

While Villeneuve warned Antonelli about the danger of overconfidence, he also suggested Russell needs to rediscover belief after another major setback in his championship campaign.

Russell had taken Sprint pole, won the Sprint and claimed Grand Prix pole in Montreal, but his race ended while he was fighting for victory. Instead of cutting Antonelli’s lead, he left Canada 43 points behind.

“But right now, he is quicker than George,” Villeneuve said of Antonelli. “He’s got him covered. What’s important for the team is that George wakes up a little bit and starts believing in himself again.”

That assessment reflects the growing tension inside Mercedes. Antonelli has the points, the victories and the momentum, while Russell has repeatedly shown enough speed to challenge but has seen key opportunities slip away.

Villeneuve added that Antonelli will inevitably be thinking about the championship, even if drivers often try to play down title talk this early in the season.

“Of course,” Villeneuve said when asked if Antonelli would have the championship in mind. “A season is a roller coaster. There’s a period where everything goes well, and suddenly something goes wrong.

“A race or two, you go beyond. That’s the danger. And people think, ‘Oh, you won’t win it anymore.’ And then the other guy starts believing it, and it’s a roller coaster. So, we’ll see how it goes.”

For Antonelli, the message is clear. His advantage is real, his form is exceptional, and Mercedes look like the benchmark team in 2026.

But as Villeneuve knows better than most, winning a first Formula 1 title is not just about speed. It is about surviving the moments when momentum turns, pressure rises and the mistakes that once seemed distant suddenly become very easy to make.

The post Jacques Villeneuve warns Kimi Antonelli not to “believe his own hype” appeared first on Total Motorsport.

The Canadian GP driver ratings are shaped by a dramatic Formula 1 weekend at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Up until race day Russell had dominated the Montreal weekend taking Sprint pole, Sprint victory and Grand Prix pole before a power unit issue ended his race after a brillant fight with Antonelli for the win.

Behind the Mercedes duo, Lewis Hamilton delivered one of his strongest drives yet for Ferrari, Lando Norris showed why McLaren could still be dangerous, and Oscar Piastri endured a nightmare race that summed up his difficult start to 2026.

F1 driver ratings for the 2026 Canadian GP

George Russell (Mercedes) 9/10
Russell was outstanding across the weekend. He took Sprint Qualifying pole, won the Sprint under huge pressure, then denied Antonelli again with a brilliant final lap in Grand Prix Qualifying. His race retirement was cruel because, until the power unit issue, he looked like the only driver capable of beating his teammate on pure performance.

Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 8/10
Antonelli claimed another Grand Prix win and extended his championship lead, but this was not his cleanest weekend. He was beaten by Russell in both qualifying sessions and the Sprint, then inherited control of the race after his teammate retired. Still, his pace, composure and late race control were excellent.

Lando Norris (McLaren) 8/10
Norris was rapid in the dry and produced a sensational start in mixed conditions to lead the Grand Prix from third on the grid. The intermediate tyre call ruined his race early, and a gearbox problem eventually ended it, but his speed across the weekend deserved a strong score.

Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 7/10
Verstappen never had the outright pace to fight Mercedes, but he extracted a solid podium from a difficult weekend. He qualified sixth, lacked straight line speed, then drove a measured race to finish third after briefly looking set for second before Hamilton passed him late on.

Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 7.5/10
Hamilton built his weekend well after showing strong pace in Sprint Qualifying. He faded late in the Sprint but was much better on Sunday, recovering from early power complaints to pass Verstappen around the outside at Turn 1 and take a deserved second place.

Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 5/10
Charles Leclerc struggled to match Hamilton in the key moments. He was only eighth in Grand Prix Qualifying, lost time behind Isack Hadjar, and finished fourth, but he never looked like a genuine podium threat once the race settled.

Franco Colapinto (Alpine) 7.5/10
Franco Colapinto delivered another excellent weekend for Alpine. He reached Q3, ran cleanly in mixed conditions, and brought home sixth place. It was a mature, high value drive in a race where others made mistakes.

Carlos Sainz (Williams) 7/10
Carlos Sainz did a strong job to recover from a quiet Sprint weekend and score points for Williams. His race was tidy, controlled and exactly the kind of result Williams needed after a rough start to the event.

Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) 6.5/10
Liam Lawson missed Sprint Qualifying because of a hydraulic issue, then made up ground in the Sprint and converted that recovery into seventh in the Grand Prix. It was a quietly impressive weekend after very limited running.

Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 6/10
Fernando Alonso made a rare mistake by crashing in SQ1, but his weekend was also compromised by machinery and circumstance. He missed a proper Sprint Qualifying run, had his Grand Prix qualifying lap spoiled by traffic, and retired from the race with a seat issue.

Pierre Gasly (Alpine) 5.5/10
Pierre Gasly had a messy weekend but still recovered to eighth in the Grand Prix. His Sprint was compromised by a pit lane start, and he lacked Colapinto’s peak pace, but Sunday was a useful recovery.

Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) 5.5/10
Isack Hadjar showed strong speed, especially in qualifying, where he was close to Verstappen. But penalties for his defence against Leclerc and a yellow flag infringement took the shine off fifth place.

Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 2/10
Piastri was fourth in Sprint Qualifying, fourth in the Sprint and fourth again in Grand Prix Qualifying, but Sunday unravelled badly. He called the intermediate start a mistake, then hit Alex Albon and received a 10 second penalty. Finishing outside the points from a second row start was a major missed opportunity.

Alex Albon (Williams) 3/10
Albon was unlucky to miss Sprint Qualifying after hitting a groundhog in practice, but the weekend never recovered. He started the Sprint from the pit lane, failed to escape Q1 in Grand Prix Qualifying and was then taken out by Piastri in the race.

Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) 4/10
Arvid Lindblad scored a Sprint point and reached Q3, which were positives. But a clutch issue prevented him from starting the Grand Prix, leaving the weekend feeling unfinished.

Ollie Bearman (Haas) 5/10
Ollie Bearman had a low profile weekend but still claimed the final point. He struggled in qualifying and was behind the stronger midfield runners, yet he stayed out of major trouble on Sunday.

Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) 4.5/10
Nico Hulkenberg once again came close to Q3 without making it. A Sprint penalty and a quiet race to 12th meant another weekend where points were just out of reach for Audi.

Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) 4/10
Gabriel Bortoleto was steady but lacked impact. He progressed from Q1, finished behind Hulkenberg in qualifying and the race, and ended up 13th on Sunday.

Sergio Perez (Cadillac) 5/10
Sergio Perez had a difficult qualifying weekend and was involved in traffic related incidents, but his race ended through suspension failure rather than a major driver error. It was not strong, but it was not the worst weekend in the field.

Esteban Ocon (Haas) 2/10
Esteban Ocon failed to make progress in any meaningful part of the weekend. He dropped out in SQ2, missed Q2 by a narrow margin in Grand Prix Qualifying and finished only 14th.

Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) 1/10
Valtteri Bottas struggled badly throughout the weekend. He was eliminated early in both qualifying formats, started the Sprint from the pit lane and finished last of the classified runners in the Grand Prix.

Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) 0.5/10
Lance Stroll had a miserable home weekend. He was eliminated in both qualifying sessions, had a suspension issue before the Sprint, started the Grand Prix from the pit lane after power unit changes and finished only 15th.

What the Canadian GP driver ratings tell us

The 2026 Canadian GP driver ratings underline the growing intensity of the Mercedes title battle, with Russell producing his best weekend of the year before reliability denied him a likely victory shot.

Antonelli still did what champions do by taking the win when the chance arrived, while Hamilton gave Ferrari a much needed high point with one of his strongest race drives of the season.

But for McLaren, Montreal was a warning. Norris had the pace to be a major threat and Piastri had track position, yet the team left Canada with no points from a race that briefly looked full of promise.

The post F1 Driver Ratings for the 2026 Canadian GP appeared first on Total Motorsport.

There is still some uncertainty as to when Lambiase, who is known as GP, will actually join the Papaya team, but it will be no later than 2028, as that is when his contract with Red Bull expires.

The start date is not the only element of uncertainty, though, with fans still uncertain what his role in Woking will really be. The McLaren statement in April said that he will become the Chief Racing Officer, which is a role that they claim exists, but is carried out by team principal Andrea Stella.

“McLaren Racing is pleased to announce that Gianpiero Lambiase will join the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team as Chief Racing Officer,” McLaren said. “Reporting into Team Principal, Andrea Stella.

“The role of the Chief Racing Officer already exists within the team’s structure with overall leadership of the race team. These duties are currently managed by Andrea Stella in addition to his role as Team Principal.”

Mekies and Stella address the confusion

Speaking during a press conference at the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing boss Laurent Mekies and McLaren‘s Andrea Stella were both asked for more specifics about GP‘s move and what it will entail.

There has been a suggestion that GP could end up being Stella‘s replacement as team principal down the line, as was stated by Mekies in Miami.

In response to this, the Frenchman said: “Look, it’s certainly my understanding that GP is going to McLaren to become a Team Principal. That’s what I told you at the time. Obviously, we had a number of conversations before he was going to make the decision. Now don’t ask me if it’s going to happen, the timing of it is none of my business. I can just tell you the content of our conversations.”

When Stella was asked about McLaren‘s plans for GP, he refused to get too specific, but explained that he is being stretched very thin in his role as team principal and GP should be able to take some of the burden by becoming a leader within the team.

“What I said before is that McLaren, for us, it’s important to employ the best talents in Formula 1 because Zak [Brown] and I want to build the strongest team, not only in the present, but I think we have some good references as to strong teams in the past,” Stella said.

“I have been part of the Ferrari team in the early 2000s, and I know what level of seniority, expertise, leadership you need to be successful in the present and in the future

“And employing GP is part of this vision, which is a vision of creating additive leadership that can integrate with the present leadership and create a stronger and stronger team at McLaren.

“So, I very strongly wanted GP to join McLaren. I am personally very stretched in my role as Team Principal, and I need a strong group of leaders working with me. So, I think the plan is very clear. Any other speculation leads us back to the silly season.”

What is already clear is that Lambiase’s switch is not a routine engineering transfer. It’s a senior strategic hire, one that removes a key figure from Red Bull and adds another experienced leader to a McLaren organisation determined to become Formula 1’s benchmark again.

The post Andrea Stella and Laurent Mekies shed light on Gianpiero Lambiase’s McLaren move appeared first on Total Motorsport.

Rosenqvist, driving for Meyer Shank Racing, claimed his first Indianapolis 500 victory in a photo finish and took home $4.34 million (£3.26 million) from a total purse of $30,906,400 (£23.18 million).

The overall prize fund marks the largest purse in Indianapolis 500 history and represents a dramatic increase from 2025, when the total purse stood at $20,283,000 (£15.21 million).

The average payout for IndyCar drivers also climbed sharply, reaching $936,500 (£702,375) in 2026 compared to $596,500 (£447,375) last year.

Rosenqvist earns record Indianapolis 500 payout

Rosenqvist’s victory came in historic fashion, as he beat David Malukas to the Yard of Bricks by just 0.0233 seconds in the closest finish in Indianapolis 500 history.

The result gave Meyer Shank Racing one of the biggest wins in its history and placed Rosenqvist into the race’s record books both competitively and financially.

“The Indianapolis 500 continues to make history, in more ways than one,” IndyCar and IMS president J. Douglas Boles said.

“The Month of May featured a back-to-back grandstand sellout crowd, our largest crowd since the 100th Running in 2016, and intense on track action with the most lead changes ever in the Indy 500.

“Felix Rosenqvist added his name to the history books in stellar fashion, with the closest finish in Indy 500 history and now the largest purse. There’s no better end to a memorable month.”

The 2026 purse continues a remarkable rise in prize money. In 2025, the winner earned $3.8 million (£2.85 million) from a $20.28 million (£15.21 million) purse.

In 2024, the total purse was $18,456,000 (£13.84 million), with the winner earning $4.3 million (£3.23 million). That total included a $440,000 (£330,000) roll-over bonus from BorgWarner for back-to-back wins.

The 2023 purse was $17,021,500 (£12.77 million), with the winner earning $3.7 million (£2.78 million). In 2022, the purse stood at $16,000,200 (£12 million), with a $3.1 million (£2.33 million) winner’s payout.

Before 2022, the previous largest Indianapolis 500 purse was $14.4 million (£10.8 million) for the 2008 race.

Key numbers from the record 2026 Indy 500 purse

• Total 2026 Indianapolis 500 purse: $30,906,400 (£23.18 million)
• 2026 winner payout for Felix Rosenqvist: $4.34 million (£3.26 million)
• Increase from 2025 purse: more than 50 percent
• 2025 Indianapolis 500 purse: $20,283,000 (£15.21 million)
• Average 2026 driver payout: $936,500 (£702,375)
• Average 2025 driver payout: $596,500 (£447,375)
• Mick Schumacher Rookie of the Year bonus: $50,000 (£37,500)
• Mick Schumacher total 2026 Indy 500 payout: $218,800 (£164,100)
• Previous pre-2022 record purse: $14.4 million (£10.8 million) in 2008
• 2026 race finish margin: 0.0233 seconds, the closest in Indianapolis 500 history

Mick Schumacher earns Rookie of the Year bonus

Mick Schumacher was named Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year after his performance during the Month of May for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

Schumacher earned a $50,000 (£37,500) bonus for the honour, increasing his total take-home prize to $218,800 (£164,100).

The award capped a significant first appearance at the Indianapolis 500 for Schumacher, who was part of a deep rookie class at the 110th running of the event.

The Indianapolis 500 purse is made up of awards from Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, along with designated and special awards.

Purse awards are presented each year at the Victory Celebration, which was held at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis on Monday night.

For Rosenqvist, the payout adds another layer to a landmark win. He did not just capture his first Indy 500 in the closest finish the race has ever seen, he did it in the year the event’s prize fund reached a new all-time high.

Indy 500 Purse FAQs

The post Felix Rosenqvist earns record Indy 500 payout after historic photo finish appeared first on Total Motorsport.

The four-time world champion has made his thoughts exceedingly clear on the modern hybrid power units, which receive half of their power from the electrical battery – creating a series of difficult challenges to manage.

For example, drivers have had to rethink their lights out procedures as a result of the decision to ditch the MGU-H (heat) aspect of the battery, which causes the turbos to struggle to prepare to launch from a standing start.

Whilst computer algorithms have made engine management a matter of paramount importance, with drivers forced to drive to carefully-determined deployment systems in a bid to reach the ideal lap time according to the software.

On top of all of this, the batteries also struggle to last through the straights creating a clipping issue in which the cars slow down and lose their top speed with the driver unable to do anything about it, adding further frustration.

And in a bid to calm troubled waters, the FIA announced and introduced changes after the Japanese GP to help mitigate the issues, and further plans have been made for adaptions from the 2027 Formula 1 season by expanding the role of the internal combustion to help take the pressure off the battery.

Yet despite these proposals, made in a bid to keep talented drivers like Verstappen in the sport, the Red Bull star opts for critique once again as he bemoans the F1 rules at the Canadian GP, and insists fans cannot understand the skills of the drivers.

“Most of the rules, the fans don’t even know what we are dealing with while driving,” Verstappen told media, including Total-Motorsport.com. “What is allowed when you’re behind or when you’re the car ahead…

“What we have to do on a formation lap or what we have to do in an out-lap, or how much battery that we’re allowed to charge. All these things are just such a shame that we have to deal with all these things.

“And, yeah, for me F1 just needs to be more pure and I really hope that what they try to do next year will go through, because I think that is necessary, the minimum necessary, to make it a bit more natural and a bit more back to normal, or at least a bit more pure racing.

“But like I said, as drivers, give us any kind of car, we’ll always race and give a good entertainment or a good show. Doesn’t matter, people say, ‘Oh, but look now, the show is great, the cars were fighting.’

“But it has nothing to do with the car. It just needs to be more pure.”

Verstappen calls F1 drivers the best in the world after Hamilton battle

Both Hamilton and Verstappen rolled back the years to their iconic duel in the 2021 F1 season on Sunday, May 24 as they produced another masterclass in overtaking, race pace and tyre management.

The pair were glued together at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve effective from Lap 1 through to Lap 68, with both getting ahead of the other at different stages in the last race before the European leg of the calendar begins.

Verstappen won the first stint after overtaking the Ferrari and pushing the 41-year-old into an unforced error as the pair upped the ante behind the duelling Mercedes cars in the lead, but the script flipped on Lap—

George Russell came to a stop with a gearbox issue and both cars pitted on the following lap, swapping the soft tyres for the mediums and with the tyre change, the advantage and momentum shifted too.

Hamilton had far better pace on the mediums and began hunting Verstappen down, eventually making the decisive pass on Lap 62 by going around the outside into Turn 1, before holding on with a successful defence to come home in second.

Verstappen believes the effort shown by both of them proves F1 drivers are the best in the world, and that it isn’t always about the car as he continues to stress his frustration with the current direction of the sport.

“I mean, for me, even this season, of course, I’ve been racing also different kind of cars,” Verstappen added. “And especially last week, that reminds me how pure motorsport can be and how great the racing can be.

“So, yeah, when I come back into Formula 1, the thing is of course here, especially most of the drivers, we’re the best in the world. So even if you would give us a rental car, we’ll give you a good show and we’ll race each other very hard and well.

“So it has nothing to do in that sense with the rules. But for me, while driving, yeah, it’s all a bit confusing.

“It’s not what Formula 1 should be about. It’s way too complex, all of this.”

The post Max Verstappen calls for “more pure” F1 after Hamilton fight in Canada appeared first on Total Motorsport.

Same machinery. Same engineers. Same opportunity. Under the new 50-50 hybrid power split, revised aerodynamics and aggressive energy deployment strategies, that comparison carries even greater weight. Some established leaders have reinforced their status. Others are facing genuine internal pressure.

Below is a team by team breakdown of the F1 2026 teammate head to head race battles so far.

Mercedes – Russell vs Antonelli

Race head-to-head: George Russell 1–4 Kimi Antonelli
Sprint head-to-head: George Russell 3–0 Kimi Antonelli

Kimi Antonelli has tightened his control of the Mercedes race head to head after the Canadian GP, moving 4–1 ahead of George Russell in Grand Prix results and extending his championship lead in the process.

Russell began the season perfectly by converting pole into victory in Australia, leading a Mercedes one two and making an early statement as the team’s established benchmark. But Antonelli has responded with a run of results that has shifted the shape of the season, including victories in China, Miami and Canada.

Canada was particularly significant because the two Mercedes drivers looked set for a direct fight at the front before Russell retired with a technical issue. That left Antonelli to claim another victory and stretch his points advantage, while Russell remains stronger in Sprint competition, where he leads 3–0.

Ferrari – Leclerc vs Hamilton

Race head-to-head: Charles Leclerc 2–3 Lewis Hamilton
Sprint head-to-head: Charles Leclerc 3–0 Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has moved ahead of Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari race head to head after the Canadian GP, giving the seven time world champion a 3–2 advantage in Grand Prix results.

The early part of the season had been finely balanced, with Leclerc edging the opening rounds and Hamilton answering back with a podium in China. Miami left the race comparison level, but Canada has now tilted the Sunday battle towards Hamilton, who finished second and recorded his best result of the campaign.

Leclerc still holds a commanding 3–0 advantage in Sprint competition and remains narrowly ahead on points, but the Grand Prix comparison has changed. After Canada, Hamilton has the stronger race head to head, while Leclerc still has the broader consistency argument in the shorter format.

Red Bull – Verstappen vs Hadjar

Race head-to-head: Max Verstappen 4–1 Isack Hadjar
Sprint head-to-head: Max Verstappen 3–0 Isack Hadjar

Max Verstappen remains the clear Red Bull benchmark after the Canadian GP, moving 4–1 ahead of Isack Hadjar in the race head to head and 3–0 ahead in Sprint competition.

Verstappen had already built a strong internal advantage through the opening rounds, but Canada gave him his best Grand Prix result of the season so far. A third place finish showed that Red Bull can still reach the podium on the right weekend, even if the team has not been the dominant force it was in previous seasons.

Hadjar has shown flashes of promise and now has 14 points, but Verstappen leads every major internal metric. He has the stronger race record, the Sprint sweep, the better best finish and a 43–14 points advantage. After Canada, the hierarchy inside the Red Bull garage is clear.

McLaren – Norris vs Piastri

Race head-to-head: Lando Norris 2–3 Oscar Piastri
Sprint head-to-head: Lando Norris 3–0 Oscar Piastri

Oscar Piastri has edged ahead of Lando Norris in the McLaren race head to head after the Canadian GP, moving 3–2 ahead in Grand Prix results across the opening five races.

Norris still has the clearer Sprint advantage, leading 3–0 in that format, and he remains ahead in the points standings. But the Sunday comparison now favours Piastri, who has recovered strongly after his difficult start to the season in Australia.

The McLaren battle remains one of the closest on the grid. Norris has more points and a clean sweep in Sprints, while Piastri now leads the Grand Prix head to head. That split makes this a fascinating internal contest, with both drivers able to claim different forms of superiority after Canada.

Aston Martin – Alonso vs Stroll

Race head-to-head: Fernando Alonso 3–2 Lance Stroll
Sprint head-to-head: Fernando Alonso 2–0 Lance Stroll

Fernando Alonso still leads the Aston Martin head to head after the Canadian GP, but Lance Stroll has narrowed the gap in race trim with his best result of the season.

The team remains without points, but Canada gave Stroll a stronger weekend and lifted his best finish to 15th, matching Alonso’s best result from Miami. That matters in a difficult season where the internal comparison is being shaped by small margins rather than points finishes.

Alonso remains ahead 3–2 in races and 3–1 in Sprints, so the overall picture still favours the Spaniard. But Stroll’s Canadian GP performance has made the Aston Martin battle more competitive than it looked earlier in the campaign.

Alpine – Gasly vs Colapinto

Race head-to-head: Pierre Gasly 3–2 Franco Colapinto
Sprint head-to-head: Pierre Gasly 2–1 Franco Colapinto

Pierre Gasly still leads Alpine’s teammate battle after the Canadian GP, but Franco Colapinto has closed the gap significantly across the last two Grand Prix weekends.

Gasly built the early advantage with consistent race execution and a sixth place finish in China, which remains his best result of the season. But Colapinto responded with seventh in Miami before going one better in Canada, matching Gasly’s season best with sixth place.

That Canadian result has changed the tone of the Alpine comparison. Gasly still leads 3–2 in races, 2–1 in Sprints and 20–15 in points, but Colapinto is no longer just chasing. He has turned this into a live intra-team fight, and the momentum is much less one sided than it was earlier in the year.

Haas – Ocon vs Bearman

Race head-to-head: Esteban Ocon 1–4 Oliver Bearman
Sprint head-to-head: Esteban Ocon 2–1 Oliver Bearman

Oliver Bearman remains firmly in control of the Haas race head to head after the Canadian GP, moving 4–1 ahead of Esteban Ocon in Grand Prix results.

Bearman’s fifth place in China remains Haas’ standout result of the season, and he continues to hold the stronger overall points position. His ability to keep finishing ahead on Sundays has made this one of the more impressive internal performances of the 2026 midfield.

Ocon has at least built a Sprint advantage, now leading Bearman 2–1 in that format, but the Grand Prix comparison is far less kind. After Canada, Bearman leads the race head to head, has the better best finish and holds an 18–1 points advantage.

Racing Bulls – Lindblad vs Lawson

Race head-to-head: Arvid Lindblad 2–2 Liam Lawson
Sprint head-to-head: Arvid Lindblad 0–2 Liam Lawson

Liam Lawson has moved back ahead of Arvid Lindblad in the Racing Bulls race head to head after the Canadian GP, taking a 3–2 advantage in Grand Prix results.

The battle had been level after Miami, with Lindblad showing clear signs of progress and making the internal comparison much more competitive. But Canada has shifted the numbers back towards Lawson, who also holds the stronger points total and the better best finish.

Lindblad has made gains in Sprint competition, reducing that gap to 2–1, but Lawson remains ahead in the key measures. He leads in races, Sprints, best finish and points, making him Racing Bulls’ stronger statistical performer after Canada.

Williams – Albon vs Sainz

Race head-to-head: Alex Albon 1–3 Carlos Sainz
Sprint head-to-head: Alex Albon 0-1 Carlos Sainz

Carlos Sainz has strengthened his grip on the Williams teammate battle after the Canadian GP, moving 4–1 ahead of Alex Albon in race trim and 3–0 ahead in Sprint competition.

Sainz’s ninth place in China remains Williams’ best finish of the season so far, while his ability to keep beating Albon across different race formats has given him a clear statistical edge. The Spaniard has adapted quickly and has become the stronger performer on results.

Albon remains an important figure for Williams, particularly in development and weekend execution, but the early season numbers are firmly against him. After Canada, Sainz leads the race head to head, Sprint head to head, best finish and points.

Audi – Hulkenberg vs Bortoleto

Race head-to-head: Nico Hulkenberg 2–2 Gabriel Bortoleto
Sprint head-to-head: Nico Hulkenberg 0–1 Gabriel Bortoleto

Nico Hulkenberg has moved back ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto in the Audi race head to head after the Canadian GP, taking a 3–2 advantage in Grand Prix results.

The comparison remains unusual because Bortoleto still owns Audi’s only points finish of the season, having scored on debut in Australia. He also dominates the Sprint head to head, where he leads Hulkenberg 3–0 after the opening Sprint weekends.

But in Grand Prix race results, Hulkenberg now has the edge. That gives Audi a split picture: Bortoleto has the points, the Sprint record and the standout result, while Hulkenberg has the stronger Sunday head to head after Canada.

Cadillac – Perez vs Bottas

Race head-to-head: Sergio Perez 3–1 Valtteri Bottas
Sprint head-to-head: Sergio Perez 2–0 Valtteri Bottas

Sergio Perez still leads Cadillac’s internal head to head after the Canadian GP, but Valtteri Bottas has narrowed the race comparison to 3–2.

Cadillac’s debut F1 season remains focused on reliability, mileage and development rather than points, but the teammate battle has been one of the clearer ways to measure progress. Perez has been the stronger Sprint performer, sweeping that comparison 3–0, and he remains ahead in the Grand Prix head to head.

Bottas still owns Cadillac’s best finish of the season with 13th in China, while Perez has the stronger overall consistency across the opening five races. Neither driver has scored yet, but after Canada, this has become a tighter race battle than it was after Miami.

Why teammate head-to-head stats matter in 2026

The 2026 regulations have amplified where performance really counts: operational precision. Battery deployment timing, recharge discipline, tyre degradation curves and dirty-air sensitivity all now shape lap times as much as engine power or aero balance.

When two drivers share identical machinery, those external variables neutralise. What remains is execution — and that is where the head-to-head metric truly shines.

History shows that internal records often influence contract negotiations, leadership roles and long term reputation more than championship position alone. In a season defined by a reset from Melbourne onwards, the F1 2026 head-to-head battle may yet prove the most accurate gauge of who has adapted fastest and who could be lifting trophies when the year concludes.

The post F1 2026 Head-to-Head Race Stats Between Teammates appeared first on Total Motorsport.

While Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull and most of the front-runners chose slick tyres at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, McLaren sent both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri out on the green-walled intermediates.

The call looked bold even before the start, but the logic was clear. Rain had fallen shortly before the Grand Prix, track temperature was low and the surface still appeared greasy as teams made their final tyre decisions.

What they couldn’t anticipate was Arvin Lindblad‘s Racing Bull breaking down on the grid, and the two extra formation laps that would follow. By the time the race was ready to start, the rain had stopped.

There is reason to believe that McLaren made the right call initially, as Norris got the best launch off the line and moved from P3 to P1 straight away, but he then had to go straight into the pits for a set of dry tyres.

Stella surprised by start procedure

Speaking to the press after the race, including Total-Motorsport.com, Andrea Stella explained that there was a very narrow window in which to make the decision, and the call was made based on the perceived greasiness of the race track.

“Well, you have to consider that the tyres are fitted five minutes before the start, and we only had about seven minutes operationally to make a decision,” Stella said.

“In our view, the track was greasy. There were already difficulties keeping the temperature in the tyres on a dry track, and at that moment it was greasy and still raining. So we thought that, at the time the decision had to be made, the intermediate tyre was the correct choice.”

Stella went on to explain that a sudden change in weather, and the two additional formation laps, changed everything: “After that, the rain stopped very rapidly, and there was also a double formation lap. I think that really took the advantage away from the decision because I would have been very interested to see what would have happened to the cars on dry tyres if the race had started when it originally should have.

“So I think we were a bit unlucky with the fact that the rain stopped so quickly, and also with the extra formation laps, which I’m not even sure when we last saw something like that.

“In hindsight, we were penalised by the decision, but at the time it needed to be made, I think the conditions justified fitting intermediate tyres. The situation just changed very rapidly.

“In terms of making the decision, it was something that was relatively shared between the people on the pit wall and the drivers. I even gave my own input because, like I said before, a call had to be made, and I wanted to make sure we were on a tyre that could survive the first lap.”

As it turned out for McLaren and Stella, that wrong decision would not prove to be the key moment of the race. Lando Norris was later forced to retire with a gearbox issue, whilst Oscar Piastri mis-timed a move on Alex Albon and caused serious damage to his car and the Williams.

A penalty also followed for the Australian driver, and the best he could manage was a P11 finish.

The post Andrea Stella reveals the moment McLaren’s Canadian GP strategy fell apart appeared first on Total Motorsport.

Antonelli and Russell started the race on the front row together, as has become customary this season. Despite being pipped by Lando Norris off the line, the two Mercedes‘ were soon back in P1 and P2 as the McLaren had to pit for dry tyres.

The Italian and British drivers then traded positions on almost every single lap for a quarter of the race, and there were multiple moments where it seemed inevitable that they would make contact and have a moment reminiscent of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton in Barcelona.

Wolff urges caution over Mercedes battles

Speaking to the press after the race on Sunday, including Total-Motorsport.com, Toto Wolff explained that whilst there was a lot of fun to be had before George Russell‘s retirement from the race, it got too close for comfort at times.

The most notable incident came when Antonelli locked his brakes heading into the final chicane and came millimetres away from taking himself and his teammate out of the race, which would have represented a huge amount of points lost for the team. As it turned out, Russell’s power unit would later fail him anyway.

“Before talking about George’s race or Kimi’s race, it’s always easier afterwards to say, ‘Well, that was great for the team, great for the sport, and didn’t we all enjoy the battling?’ And that is true to a degree, but there’s another side we need to look at,” Wolff said.

“It was close a few times. Kimi tucking back in and locking the tyres could easily have ended in a double DNF, not because they were driving aggressively against each other, but simply because of a mistake. The same goes for the situation through the last chicane.

“It’s important to analyse the race and then discuss with the drivers whether they felt it got a bit too close, and if that’s the case, how we can avoid these very difficult situations in the future.”

Wolff also explained that Mercedes had enough of a pace advantage on the rest of the field that they could afford to let their drivers race, but that will not always be the case.

“There’s another angle too. We had a pace advantage today. When they were driving behind each other cleanly, we were half a second quicker than everyone behind us. But when they were fighting, we could have been losing a second to the others,” he said.

“We had the gap and the margin today, so it’s easier to accept them fighting to a certain degree, but that’s not always going to be the case. As much as we looked sportsmanlike today by allowing it, there could be situations in the future where we’d have to turn it down a notch.”

Wolff wants to hear less emotion on the radio

During the early battles, Kimi Antonelli was told to give Russell back the lead of the race, something the Italian disagreed with. He was quick to jump on the radio and ask ‘what’s the point?’, whilst also accusing his teammate of pushing him off track.

When asked if the drivers are putting their own interests ahead of the team’s, Wolff said: “No, I don’t think so. Obviously, when you listen to some of the radio communications, I think there’s room for improvement.

“Wearing your heart on your sleeve is fine, but at the same time, concentrating on the driving is important. Other than that, I think they behaved like race drivers fighting for a championship. I wouldn’t be able to fault them for that.

“That’s something we can clear internally. I don’t appreciate elaborating on emotions over the radio too much.”

The post Toto Wolff warns Mercedes over “double DNF” risk after Kimi Antonelli and George Russell battle appeared first on Total Motorsport.