Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 champion, has issued a public apology after the FIA took action against him for an “unacceptable” mistake during the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa. This incident has sent shockwaves through the F1 world and has fans on the edge of their seats. Hamilton’s error led to his last lap in Q1 being deleted, resulting in a disappointing 16th place on the starting grid for the upcoming race. This comes after a series of setbacks for Hamilton, including a poor performance in the Friday sprint qualifying session where he finished 18th out of 20.
In other news, Max Verstappen, the Red Bull driver, is rumored to be staying with the team for the 2026 F1 season despite speculations of a potential move to Mercedes. Verstappen, currently under contract with Red Bull until 2028, has been at the center of transfer gossip recently. However, sources now suggest that Verstappen is likely to remain with Red Bull for the next season, with Mercedes expected to confirm George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli for 2026.
Furthermore, Red Bull’s decision to sack Christian Horner has caused quite a stir in the F1 community. Helmut Marko revealed that various factors contributed to this decision, ultimately made by Red Bull boss Oliver Mintzlaff. Horner, who had been with the team for over two decades, was replaced by Laurent Mekies, whose role will reportedly be scaled down compared to his predecessor.
On the other hand, Martin Brundle, a Sky F1 pundit, backtracked on his previous statement accusing ‘Team Max Verstappen’ of involvement in Horner’s dismissal. Brundle admitted that while Verstappen’s camp may not have been directly responsible, the champion could have intervened to save Horner’s job.
Moreover, former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve raised eyebrows with his comments on Lewis Hamilton’s alleged complacency during his dominant years at Mercedes. Villeneuve suggested that Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in 2025 was a wake-up call, highlighting the Briton’s struggle to secure a podium finish since the switch.
The F1 world is abuzz with drama and intrigue as these developments unfold, promising an exciting continuation to the ongoing saga of the 2021 season.