F1 secures new TV deal in the Balkans for 2026, Should Ferrari shift focus to 2026 already?, and other big updates

F1 secures new TV deal in the Balkans for 2026

Formula One made a deal with Infront to show all races, sprints, and practice sessions in seven Balkan countries from 2026. Arena Sport will show F1 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. CME will show the races in Croatia and Slovenia on RTL, Pop TV, Kanal A, and Voyo. This is Infront’s first time with Formula One, and both companies say the deal will help more people in the Balkans watch and enjoy the sport, especially with new car and fuel rules next year.

Click here to read the full article by Cian Brittle (blackbookmotorsport.com)

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Should Ferrari shift focus to 2026 already?

Ferrari expected a big step forward at the Spanish Grand Prix, but even with both drivers in the top six, the car was still too slow. The new front wing made little difference, and Leclerc’s strategy in Q3 didn’t help, as the car still lacked speed in the race. Inside Ferrari, the SF-25 is seen as a “bad car,” and new parts won’t fix its main problems. Lewis Hamilton wants the team to stop updates for this season and shift all efforts to the 2026 car, while team boss Vasseur remains one of the few still confident.

Click here to read the full article by Franco Nugnes (motorsport.com)

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Red Bull warns Verstappen to stay cautious

Max Verstappen is very close to a one-race ban because he has almost reached the limit of penalty points after a collision with George Russell in Spain. Red Bull told Verstappen not to take risks in the Canadian race so he doesn’t miss their home race in Austria. He has 11 penalty points now, and if he receives one more, he will have to sit out a race. Red Bull’s advisor said it would be very bad if Verstappen misses the Austria race, but they believe he will be careful and avoid more problems after a tough race in Spain where he had some crashes and disagreements with other drivers.

Click here to read the full article by Jamie Woodhouse (planetf1.com)

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Positives to take away from Barcelona

Williams Team Principal James Vowles admits the Spanish GP was a tough one, saying they knew it would be a different kind of challenge. The race has always held a unique place in the team’s history. He also took the time to answer fan questions, including whether the latest technical directive on wing flexibility has affected the FW47, whether there were any positives to take away from Barcelona, and more.

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Who could replace Stroll in Canada?

Aston Martin has denied some of the "paddock gossip" about the injury that kept Lance Stroll out of the Spanish Grand Prix, but there's still a lot of mystery around the situation. What's his recovery plan? And who will take his place if he can't race at his home Grand Prix in Canada? Aston Martin has two official reserve drivers: Felipe Drugovich and Stoffel Vandoorne. It also has access to Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas.