Lando Norris heads into the Qatar Grand Prix with an opportunity to seal the F1 title however Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri are chasing him down, whereas Lewis Hamilton desires to finish the yr on a excessive
Simply two rounds stay now within the present Formulation 1 season and the Qatar Grand Prix weekend acquired underneath approach on Thursday with media day. As standard, each driver confronted reporters within the paddock on the Lusail Worldwide Circuit to reply questions on a variety of subjects.
Lando Norris was quizzed on his title probabilities on the weekend when, for the primary time, he has the prospect to seal the drivers’ title. His rivals Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen additionally spoke concerning the state of affairs, whereas Lewis Hamilton answered questions on his bleak feedback in Las Vegas about subsequent season and Fernando Alonso reacted to Aston Martin’s administration reshuffle. Mirror Sport sums up the principle speaking factors forward of the Qatar race weekend.
Lando Norris cannot cut up Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri
Max Verstappen has all of the momentum proper now with 4 Grand Prix wins in his final seven, together with in Las Vegas final weekend, whereas Oscar Piastri hasn’t been on the rostrum since September and appears to have been utterly abandoned by his type.
Nonetheless, Lando Norris insists he sees them each as an equal risk. He stated: “I feel they’re each simply nearly as good as each other. I do know what Max is able to and I feel Oscar is able to the identical as what Max can do. Every driver desires to struggle for their very own factor and show they’re the very best. I feel they’re each aggressive, each very sturdy and each unimaginable drivers. I am excited to offer them each a very good struggle on observe.”
Max Verstappen reacts to McLaren’s pledge to Oscar Piastri
McLaren workforce principal Andrea Stella stated on Thursday he has no intention of telling Oscar Piastri to assist Lando Norris see off the specter of Max Verstappen, at the least till it’s mathematically unimaginable for the Australian to win the title. And Piastri himself stated that he has no intention of sacrificing his shot simply but.
Verstappen’s response? Usually blunt. He stated: “Why would you abruptly now say that Oscar wouldn’t be allowed [to race Norris] anymore? If that was stated to me, I’d not have rocked up, I’d have informed them to eff off. I’m equal on factors with Oscar and loads nonetheless must go proper, however I feel it must be like that, that they’re free to race. Hopefully, we will make it an incredible battle till the top.”
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Lewis Hamilton insists he does not remorse Ferrari transfer
Lewis Hamilton was as little as many people have seen him in Las Vegas final weekend, saying after the race that he was not trying ahead to the 2026 season as his Ferrari struggles proceed. When requested on Thursday if he nonetheless felt that approach, the seven-time champion made it clear these have been the phrases of a person talking when the feelings have been nonetheless uncooked.
Additionally insisting he has no regrets over his determination to affix Ferrari, Hamilton stated: “It was within the warmth of frustration and infrequently there’s plenty of frustration on the finish of a race when it doesn’t go properly. I’m excited to see what the workforce does subsequent yr. I do not remorse the choice I made, becoming a member of this workforce. I do know it takes time to construct and develop inside an organisation and I anticipated that.”
Fernando Alonso thinks there is no room for Christian Horner at Aston Martin
This week we acquired the shock information that Adrian Newey will grow to be Aston Martin workforce principal in 2026, after it turned clear over the Las Vegas weekend that Andy Cowell was going to get replaced within the function. Whereas it does not exclude Christian Horner from doubtlessly becoming a member of the workforce subsequent yr, if does at the least shut one potential route into the workforce for the previous Crimson Bull boss.
Commenting on the state of affairs, Fernando Alonso informed reporters on Thursday: “With Adrian taking the function now, Andy taking totally different duties as properly and really able to doing good issues, Lawrence [Stroll] – an incredible chief, decided, most dedication all the time – I do not assume we’d like any extra folks within the administration. Between the three of them, I feel we’re in good palms.”
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Isack Hadjar confirms 2026 F1 place
Crimson Bull are closing in on their driver determination for subsequent yr. British teenager Arvid Lindblad is being hotly tipped to get a promotion to F1, leaving Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda to struggle over the opposite seat at sister workforce Racing Bulls – as a result of it has been obvious for a while that Isack Hadjar is being lined as much as grow to be Max Verstappen’s subsequent team-mate.
That has not but been confirmed, however the Frenchman did say on Thursday that his place on the 2026 F1 grid has been secured, even when he declined to share precisely which workforce he will likely be racing for. He stated: “I do know I will likely be on the grid subsequent yr so it’s a massive step. I’m very comfortable, it lastly ends all of the questions.”
