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Articles by Reese Mautone
“We need to be honest”: Piastri calls out McLaren’s struggles
Oscar Piastri has called on McLaren to “be honest” about its shortcomings after a bruising Singapore weekend exposed both the team’s deficit to its rivals and the internal tensions still simmering after its Sprint collision, with Andrea Stella demanding a more united front as the championship battle intensifies.
Lawson strengthens Racing Bulls’ grip on fifth
Liam Lawson let Racing Bulls’ results do the talking in Singapore, with a 10-point weekend stretching the team’s advantage over Alpine to 32 points, though the Kiwi was quick to remind himself that fifth in the Constructors’ Championship is far from locked in. The championship fight was at the forefront of Lawson’s mind when the five lights went out in Singapore, with the Kiwi’s self-declared “frustrating” route to a top ten starting position burying him behind Pierre Gasly.
Verstappen delivers maiden Singapore win in 250th Grand Prix start
Max Verstappen added a long-awaited Singapore Grand Prix victory to his résumé as Red Bull extended its run of consecutive wins, with Ferrari left to rue a costly strategy gamble that saw Lewis Hamilton surrender a potential double podium in the closing laps.
Lawson carries Sprint momentum into Singapore Q3
Liam Lawson had plenty of reason to celebrate after a chaotic Singapore Sprint delivered a P5 finish and four valuable points, but despite carrying that momentum into Qualifying, the Kiwi was left frustrated after a late improvement from Pierre Gasly denied him a higher grid position.
Verstappen denies Ferrari Singapore pole
Max Verstappen outpaced Ferrari’s charge to snatch pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix, overcoming early concerns over his Red Bull’s performance to deny Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc a front-row lockout under the Marina Bay floodlights. After a chaotic afternoon Sprint unfolded in the daylight, Singapore’s floodlit streets set the stage for a fresh battle for Grand Prix pole position, but the drama continued.
Norris and Piastri collide as Verstappen wins chaotic Singapore Sprint
A rain-soaked Singapore Sprint delivered chaos from the opening lap, but it was a late collision between McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris that stole the spotlight as Max Verstappen survived a record-breaking retirement rate to take his first Sprint victory of the season.
Verstappen leads Singapore shootout as investigation looms
Max Verstappen claimed his first Sprint Pole of the season in a disrupted Singapore Sprint Qualifying session, fighting through an early Red Flag delay and a timing-system glitch to snatch the top spot, though an investigation into an alleged yellow-flag infringement threatens to cast a shadow over his result.
Russell tops Singapore’s sole practice session
George Russell topped a dusty and demanding sole practice session in Singapore, putting Mercedes’ older-spec W17 at the head of the field as the punishing conditions raised concerns over their potential impact on reliability. With the Sprint format leaving no room for a slow start, teams had just 60 minutes to get their cars dialled in before heading straight into Sprint Qualifying, with temperatures hitting 32°C in Marina Bay and adding another challenge to an already compressed schedule.
Lawson welcomes double opportunity in Singapore
Liam Lawson is hoping to keep the points coming in Singapore, where the Sprint format offers “two shots at everything” as he returns to a circuit that holds a special place in his Formula 1 career. One of the highlights of Lawson’s whirlwind season, the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia saw the Kiwi deliver one of his most memorable moments in Racing Bulls colours.
Piastri’s personal progress amid McLaren’s ongoing struggles
Oscar Piastri’s growing confidence behind the wheel offers a glimmer of hope for McLaren as it searches for answers to the MCL40’s inconsistent pace, with a costly strategy call in Malaysia adding to the team’s concerns ahead of a crucial Singapore Sprint weekend. With the Singapore Grand Prix fast approaching as the final leg of the triple-header, McLaren’s immediate priority on Sunday evening was dissecting the strengths and weaknesses exposed during the dramatic weekend in Malaysia.
A “hell of a lot” for Piastri to finish where he started
Oscar Piastri finished where he started after surviving one of the most chaotic races of the season, with rain, tyre gambles and a bizarre software glitch all conspiring to make sixth place the maximum result on offer for McLaren.
Lawson’s stunning launch sets up Racing Bulls double points
Liam Lawson turned a chaotic start into a points-paying charge at Sepang, gaining seven places off the line to spearhead Racing Bulls’ double points finish and extend the team’s advantage over Alpine in the Constructors’ Championship. One of the most bewildering build-ups Lawson has encountered in his young Formula 1 career took an even more difficult turn when Racing Bulls’ communications system failed before the cars had even pulled away for the Formation Lap.
Red Bull finally breaks through in chaotic Sepang thriller
Max Verstappen delivered Red Bull Powertrains its maiden Formula 1 victory in one of the most chaotic races of the season, surviving treacherous conditions and a frantic tyre gamble to finally give his team its first win of 2026. Half an hour before the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia was due to start, Sepang was hit by a torrential downpour that rapidly turned the circuit into a waterlogged mess, leaving the FIA with no choice but to delay the race as weather and track conditions worsened.
Lawson’s “unconventional” strategy fails to deliver Q3
Liam Lawson’s bid for a top-ten start came up short despite Racing Bulls deploying an “unconventional” strategy to give the Kiwi a helping hand, with Arvid Lindblad’s tow ultimately failing to deliver and leaving the team searching for answers ahead of Sunday’s race.
McLaren’s Sepang struggles laid bare in Qualifying
Oscar Piastri made no secret of McLaren’s struggles at Sepang, admitting the circuit had exposed “a lot of the challenges” the MCL40 has faced across the weekend as the team settled for a third-row lockout. The McLaren garage’s expectations have slowly dwindled across the first two days of running at the Sepang International Circuit, leaving the squad unsurprised by its mid-tier result after a tough hour of Qualifying left the team six-tenths behind Max Verstappen’s benchmark.
Verstappen breaks Mercedes-powered pole streak
Max Verstappen broke Mercedes’ stranglehold on pole position in 2026, securing the first non-Mercedes-powered pole of the season as three different teams prepare to occupy the top three places ahead of Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix. After nearly a decade away from the Formula 1 calendar, Malaysia was ready to write the next chapter of its Qualifying history, with the clouds once again closing in on the Sepang International Circuit as the grid prepared to battle for pole position.
Antonelli tops FP3 as midfield battle remains wide open
The door to Q3 remains wide open after less than a second separated the midfield in FP3, with Kimi Antonelli topping the final practice session ahead of the Red Bull drivers. Free Practice 3 offered one last opportunity for teams to fine-tune their cars ahead of the first competitive session of the weekend, yet despite the importance of the session, the majority of the grid showed little urgency to leave the pitlane.
“Pretty extreme” Sepang conditions test Piastri
Oscar Piastri admitted Sepang had presented a “pretty extreme” driving challenge, but after struggling to unlock his MCL40 in the opening hour, the Australian began to find a way to make the car work as Friday progressed. It didn’t take long for Sepang’s extremely low-grip conditions to reveal themselves, with the Australian among the first to comment on the challenge over team radio before becoming a victim of it himself.
Lawson lands inside the top ten at Sepang
Liam Lawson emerged from his first day at Sepang as a top-ten contender, overcoming a low-grip surface and physically punishing conditions to give Racing Bulls a promising foundation to build on ahead of Saturday’s final practice session.
Leclerc fastest in rain-threatened Sepang FP2
Sepang flirted with a dramatic weather twist in FP2, but the rain stayed away as Charles Leclerc snatched the top spot and Mercedes revealed a more encouraging picture on long-run pace. The second hour of practice began under darkening skies, with a wet spell threatening to disrupt Free Practice 2 as the green light approached, forcing the cars out of the pitlane to maximise the dry conditions.
Verstappen tops blistering Sepang return
A decade away did little to soften Sepang, with Formula 1’s return greeted by blistering heat and low-grip conditions as Max Verstappen emerged fastest from the opening practice session, putting the heavily upgraded Mercedes under pressure from the outset.
Piastri ready to “finish the job” after Baku setback
Oscar Piastri may have left Baku with little to show for it, but the Australian believes he finally found his rhythm with McLaren’s upgraded MCL40 and now faces the challenge of turning that progress into a result at Sepang. A different assignment awaits Piastri this weekend, but the story remains the same as the Australian looks to bounce back from yet another blow in his tumultuous 2026 season.
Lawson and Lindblad turn page on Baku drama
Liam Lawson has drawn a line under his controversial Baku clash with Arvid Lindblad, warning he does not want to see a repeat as the Racing Bulls teammates reunite at Sepang for Formula 1’s long-awaited return to Malaysia. The dust had barely settled on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix when Lawson was back in front of the media in Sepang, facing questions regarding any lingering fallout from his run-in with teammate Arvid Lindblad.
“I just don’t understand”: Lawson frustrated after teammate collision
Liam Lawson was left speechless after a potential double points finish for Racing Bulls was torn apart by rookie teammate Arvid Lindblad, who accepted responsibility for the “absolute mess” he created at the Safety Car restart. Barely able to process what had happened on Lap 36 of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Lawson was a passenger when his inexperienced teammate misjudged the gap between the Kiwi and Esteban Ocon.
Piastri’s Baku podium bid collapses after costly lock-up
Oscar Piastri’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix went from a fight for the podium to a fight for scraps in the space of a single lock-up, leaving the Australian without “anything to show” after a disastrous race for both sides of the McLaren garage.
Russell survives Baku chaos for narrow victory
George Russell looked destined for a comfortable Azerbaijan Grand Prix victory before Baku threw one final curveball, with late chaos and a charging Max Verstappen leaving the Mercedes driver clinging to the win by just one-tenth of a second.
“Super frustrating”: Lawson’s top-ten bid falls short
Liam Lawson will line up P11 for his first race back with Racing Bulls, but the Kiwi was left wondering what might have been after changing winds and a missing tow cost him the time he needed to break into the top ten. Coming off the back of what he described as one of the most aggravating practice sessions he’d ever had in Formula 1, the prospect of competing for grid position against a stronger midfield cohort was daunting.
Piastri beaten to Baku front row by one millisecond
Just one millisecond stood between Oscar Piastri and a front-row start at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but after a weekend of setbacks and quick fixes, the Australian admits he’s happy with how his weekend has evolved into a top-three start. From cable ties to podium contention, Friday’s Qualifying showdown marked a slight step forward for the upgraded McLaren outfit, with Piastri carrying the team to a welcome P3 result, while Lando Norris wasn’t too far behind in P5.
Russell earns Baku pole amid mixed Mercedes fortunes
George Russell delivered a statement Azerbaijan Grand Prix Qualifying performance, blowing the field away by more than eight-tenths and achieving the largest pole margin in over three years, while Mercedes’ intra-team fight was cut short by Kimi Antonelli’s early error.
Verstappen finally finds practice pace in Baku
Max Verstappen finally ended his 2026 practice drought in Baku, topping the final hour of running as a blustery session left just one-tenth separating the top three heading into Qualifying. After a chaotic opening day around the dusty street circuit, the paddock was hoping for a calmer start to Friday, but a strong crosswind sweeping in from the Caspian Sea was doing little to suggest Free Practice 3 would be straightforward.
McLaren’s Baku upgrades deliver early headaches
McLaren’s big Baku upgrade package delivered more headaches than answers on its opening day, with floor damage and disrupted running hampering its testing programme as the pace deficit to Mercedes emerged as “a little knife in the heart”.
“Feels like home” as Lawson returns to Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson’s return to Racing Bulls in Baku has already brought a sense of familiarity, with the Kiwi admitting his VCARB 03 “feels like home” despite a “severe” impeding incident involving Lewis Hamilton disrupting his FP2 running. Back behind the wheel of the VCARB 03 for the first time since July, the first day of practice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was a relatively positive one for Lawson, who started to dust off the Red Bull cobwebs during Free Practice 1.
Mercedes doubles down in Baku FP2
Mercedes laid down a serious marker in Baku as George Russell and Kimi Antonelli delivered a 1-2 in FP2, with a Red Flag and repeated yellow flags adding intrigue to the eventful practice session. Hopes of executing a cleaner second hour were immediately dashed when Franco Colapinto opened the hour with a trip to the run-off area at Turn 2, unable to be saved by Formula 2’s efforts to clean the dusty racing line as the evening conditions threw another spanner into the works.
Mechanical mayhem hits Baku as Russell tops FP1
George Russell topped a drama-filled opening practice in Baku, surviving a session of fires, failures and near-misses to lead the field into the weekend. The fast-tracked Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend got underway in dusty fashion, with the Caspian Sea winds taking a day off and leaving both the drivers and the track in need of a little dusting off.
Lawson reflects on Red Bull return
Liam Lawson may have been handed a temporary Red Bull lifeline, but with Isack Hadjar now locked into the seat for 2027, the Kiwi has returned to Racing Bulls with his own future firmly back on the agenda. Red Bull’s decision to extend Hadjar’s contract alongside Max Verstappen for 2027, announced on Wednesday ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, removed the final sliver of uncertainty surrounding the senior team’s line-up.
Lawson leaves Madrid with Red Bull future up in the air
Liam Lawson added another points finish to his Red Bull resume in Madrid, potentially signing off his surprise stint with the team on a P6 high as uncertainty looms over whether Isack Hadjar will make his long-awaited return from injury in Baku.
Wounded Piastri limps to eighth in Madrid
Oscar Piastri could only salvage eighth at the Madring after being forced to carry front-wing damage from the opening lap, enduring “a tough afternoon” that left the Australian frustrated by the lack of opportunities to fight his way back through the field. Prepared for the uncharted challenge, the first race around Madrid’s temperamental Madring was a true test of patience for Piastri.
Antonelli inherits “very fortunate” win after Norris heartbreak
Kimi Antonelli may have stood on the top step of the podium in Madrid, but even the race winner admitted the trophy should have belonged to Lando Norris after cruel VSC timing and a slow pitstop turned the first-ever race around the Madring on its head. 45 years after Gilles Villeneuve’s famous Jarama victory, Formula 1 was finally back racing in Madrid, with the dusty old circuit replaced by the all-new Madring, where pole-sitter Norris prepared to lead the field into the uncharted first corner.
Lawson left questioning Red Bull drop-off in Madrid
Liam Lawson will start eighth at the Madring, still looking for answers after the Red Bull stand-in admitted his temporary team “somehow got less competitive” as Qualifying progressed. Settling into life as a Red Bull driver, Lawson returned to the top-ten ranks for a second time in the RB22, overcoming the combined challenge of a brand-new circuit and an unfamiliar car to reach Q3 in Madrid.
McLaren unimpressed as Piastri settles for seventh
Oscar Piastri was hardly surprised to emerge seventh from a Qualifying session that never quite went to plan, with the Australian admitting his final lap was “pretty crap” after a messy hour left him unable to challenge his McLaren teammate for the front row.
Norris sneaks to inaugural Madring pole
Lando Norris produced a stunning late charge to snatch a surprise pole position at Formula 1’s newest circuit, delivering what he declared “one of the best laps I’ve done in my career” to preserve Mercedes-powered cars’ perfect pole record in 2026. The build-up to Formula 1’s first Qualifying session at the Madring was thrown into disarray, with two Red Flags cutting into final practice and leaving the grid scrambling to prepare for the fight for pole.
Red Flag drama derails final practice in Madrid
Formula 1’s final practice session descended into chaos at the Madring, with Lewis Hamilton’s controversial incident triggering a lengthy Red Flag before another stoppage in the dying seconds cost the grid precious running, but Mercedes somehow emerged from the carnage still holding the fastest hand ahead of Qualifying.
Lawson flags untapped Red Bull pace in Madrid
Liam Lawson admitted Red Bull Racing “probably left a little bit of margin” on the table during its first day at the Madring, with the Kiwi and his team prioritising confidence and consistency as they got to grips with the brand-new circuit.
Madring “more difficult than some tracks” for Piastri
Oscar Piastri’s first day at the Madring proved anything but straightforward, with lost track time, tyre graining and a lack of outright pace leaving the Australian chasing answers ahead of Saturday’s final practice session. Despite the opening session remaining disruption-free in terms of no Red Flag delays and limited yellow flag interruptions, it wasn’t the smooth hour Piastri was hoping to execute after a late issue forced him to return to the garage.
Mercedes doubles up as Red Flag strikes in Madrid
Mercedes made it two from two at the Madring, with Kimi Antonelli taking over from George Russell to top a Red Flag-riddled second hour of practice in Madrid, which left the field with little opportunity to chase down the championship leader’s promising benchmark.
Russell sets first Madring benchmark
George Russell emerged fastest from Formula 1’s first-ever assault on the Madring, putting Mercedes at the head of the field after an hour of near-misses and traffic dramas around Madrid’s new circuit. Formula 1’s opening hour was all about learning the new 22-corner challenge, with every lap offering another chance to figure out where the limits lie, enticing the drivers to queue in the pitlane minutes before the green light released them.
Lawson’s 2026 Red Bull run breaks new ground
Liam Lawson arrives in Madrid with Formula 1’s newest challenge ahead of him and a Red Bull seat beneath him, with the Kiwi looking to turn his growing familiarity with the RB22 into another statement when the brand-new Madring makes its F1 debut.
Piastri ready for inaugural Madring challenge
With Monza’s drama already in the rear-view mirror, Oscar Piastri is looking firmly towards the future, insisting the team has “made some good progress” as McLaren turns its attention to the unknown challenge of the brand-new Madring. With barely any time to draw breath between Monza and Madrid, lingering questions over McLaren’s intra-team tension remained firmly under the spotlight as the paddock arrived to conclude the final European double-header of the season.
Contact kills Lawson’s Monza comeback
Liam Lawson’s promising fightback from last place was cut brutally short when front-wing damage cost the Red Bull substitute more than 30 seconds, ultimately wiping out what could have been a points-scoring recovery in Monza.
McLaren backs Piastri-Norris battle despite “risky” approach
There was no room for Oscar Piastri to switch off across 53 laps in Monza, with the Australian caught in a relentless series of increasingly tense battles, including one that saw his own teammate brand his driving “very dangerous”, on his way to a hard-fought fifth-place finish.
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