What Verstappen’s pole really means for McLaren and Ferrari

What Verstappen’s pole really means for McLaren and Ferrari

Max Verstappen pulled off a surprise pole at Silverstone just a day after complaining about understeer, thanks to a low-downforce setup that gave him higher top speeds and a perfectly executed lap. While McLaren’s setup was stronger in slow corners and offered better traction, Verstappen’s straight-line advantage helped him stay ahead of Piastri by 0.103s. Verstappen was quickest overall in long-run simulations, but McLaren showed significantly less tire degradation, suggesting they may have the upper hand over a full race stint. Red Bull’s setup could struggle if it rains; Ferrari may benefit from that, and while Bearman looked quick on Friday, his 10-place grid drop will make Sunday much harder.

Click here to read the full article by Ronald Vording (motorsport.com)

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Penske trio frustrated after Mid-Ohio struggles

Team Penske’s tough IndyCar season continued as all three drivers, Scott McLaughlin, Josef Newgarden, and Will Power, were knocked out early in Mid-Ohio qualifying. McLaughlin was angry after missing the next round by a small gap, saying the car felt great and swearing multiple times over the radio. Newgarden also missed out by just a little and blamed traffic and dirt on the track, while Power was still upset from being blocked by Alex Palou earlier in the weekend. These problems come after the team’s Indy 500 scandal, which led to major staff changes and the appointment of a new team president, Jonathan Diuguid.

Click here to read the full article by Hamish Shackleton Bailey (crash.net)

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Can women ever truly belong in F1?

In 1975, Lella Lombardi became the first and only woman to score a point in Formula 1, during a time when the sport was filled with danger and male dominance. Today, more women are watching and joining F1, helped by shows like Drive to Survive and the new F1 Academy, but sexism is still a big problem. A new movie starring Brad Pitt was meant to support the sport, but ended up showing women as weak or clueless, while real female reporters continue to face abuse online. Researcher Kimberley Wyllie is now studying this online hate, hoping to make motorsport a safer and more welcoming place for women.

Click here to read the full article by Sandra Dick (heraldscotland.com)

Red Bull unleashes Hollywood on wheels

The 2025 Red Bull Legends Parade featured an epic lineup of iconic cars from blockbuster films and classic TV shows, including James Bond’s sleek Aston Martin, Eleanor from Gone in 60 Seconds, the F1 car from Rush, Bullitt’s Mustang, Fast & Furious favorites, and the unmistakable A-Team van. Behind the wheel were stars like Red Bull’s exhibition driver Patrick Friesacher, former F1 driver Mark Webber, and drift sensation ‘Mad’ Mike Whiddett, among others.

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Can the Williams duo make the cut at Lord's?

Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz teamed up with cricket legend Freddie Flintoff to learn how to bat and bowl, and got a full tour of Lord’s Cricket Ground. They started by exploring the iconic venue, which Sainz compared to a cathedral. But once it was time for action, it was clear that cricket wouldn’t be a backup career if F1 ever didn’t work out for either of them.