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#Verstappen Leclerc opening lap
Latest news, updates, analysis and stories about Verstappen Leclerc opening lap, with match coverage, results and expert commentary from across the sport.
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Verstappen radio issues a disaster as Red Bull starts falter
Max Verstappen called Red Bull's recurring team radio dropouts "a disaster" after finishing third at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, where Kimi Antonelli won. Both Verstappen and team-mate Isack Hadjar also lost ground at the start, with Hadjar blaming a fragile clutch that he says needs a redesign. Team principal Laurent Mekies wants the radio fixed quickly but admits the launch problems will only be solved with winter hardware changes.
26 Oct 2026
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28 Oct 2026
George Russell title hopes backed by Toto Wolff after Marko doubt
Toto Wolff has rejected Helmut Marko's claim that George Russell has lost his number one status at Mercedes and may never win a world title. Wolff says the 2026 car's narrow operating window, not a lack of pace, explains Russell's gap to Kimi Antonelli, who can seal the championship with ninth place in Mexico City.
27 Oct 2026
Antonelli Austin win puts Italian on brink of youngest F1 title
Kimi Antonelli's pole and one-stop tyre management delivered victory at COTA and left him on the brink of becoming F1's youngest world champion. Max Verstappen's two-stop gamble and a radio failure yielded third, while Oscar Piastri's struggles and a halved penalty for George Russell shaped the midfield fight.
27 Oct 2026
Hamilton Ferrari setup gap costs him points to Leclerc
Lewis Hamilton says a set-up he could not optimise cost him performance against Charles Leclerc in recent races, including a fourth-place finish at the United States Grand Prix while Leclerc took second behind Kimi Antonelli. Ferrari led most corners at COTA but lacked straight-line speed, and both drivers point to Q3 tyre preparation as the decisive loss. The team now heads to the Mexico City Grand Prix at altitude with five rounds remaining.
27 Oct 2026
Antonelli F1 title permutations for Mexico City Grand Prix
Kimi Antonelli needs two points at the Mexico City Grand Prix to become Formula 1's youngest world champion at 20. He leads George Russell by 123 points and Lewis Hamilton by 124, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri already eliminated. Mercedes also have a first mathematical shot at the constructors' title, though that requires a 39-point swing over Ferrari in one weekend.
27 Oct 2026
Mexico City GP title scenarios and live schedule
Kimi Antonelli can secure the Drivers’ Championship at the Mexico City GP with a top-nine finish, or if George Russell and Lewis Hamilton fail to win. Mercedes also have a Constructors’ target, while the weekend brings dry heat and altitude demands at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. UK viewers can watch practice, qualifying and the race on Sky Sports F1, with streaming via NOW.
26 Oct 2026
Antonelli title permutations as Mercedes chase a double in Mexico City
Andrea Kimi Antonelli can seal the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers' Championship in Mexico City by scoring two points, or by avoiding a 23-point swing to George Russell and a 24-point swing to Lewis Hamilton. Red Bull's Max Verstappen, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and McLaren's Lando Norris are already out, while Mercedes also have a mathematical shot at the constructors' title, but that needs a 39-point swing over Ferrari and is more likely to arrive in Sao Paulo.
26 Oct 2026
Alonso Albon collision sparks row over midfield driver quality
Fernando Alonso and Alex Albon collided at Turn 11 on the opening lap of the United States Grand Prix in Austin, damaging both cars and leaving neither with a penalty. Alonso finished 16th and said the quality of drivers in the bottom third of the grid is "very low", while Albon argued Esteban Ocon's position on the outside contributed to the contact.
26 Oct 2026
Russell United States GP pace rubbish as Antonelli dominates
George Russell finished eighth at the United States Grand Prix, 54 seconds behind race-winning Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, and called his own pace "rubbish". A five-second penalty for an opening-lap incident with Oscar Piastri dropped him to eighth, and he spent the final 26 laps stuck behind the McLaren. Antonelli leads by 123 points heading to Mexico.
26 Oct 2026
Antonelli world title within reach after Austin masterclass
Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix in Austin by 13 seconds on a one-stop strategy, his ninth victory of the season. He now leads George Russell by 123 points and Lewis Hamilton by 124 with 125 remaining, and clinches the 2026 title with a top-nine finish in Mexico City.
28 Oct 2026
Hearts Rangers team news as McInnes admits guilt before return
Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin will miss Hearts vs Rangers at Tynecastle through injury, removing two former Hearts players from Derek McInnes's squad. McInnes returns to Gorgie for the first time since leaving in the summer and said he accepts whatever reception he gets, while restating his grievance over the title race Hearts lost to Celtic.
27 Oct 2026
Mbappe China apology follows brand exits and broadcast halt
Kylian Mbappe apologized on Tuesday after Chinese brands cut ties with him over comments referring to Mao Zedong. Mengniu, Shanghai Milkground Food Tech and Eastroc Beverage ended cooperation immediately, and Chinese state television halted broadcasts involving LaLiga and Mbappe. LaLiga president Javier Tebas also apologized as four Mbappe topics trended on Weibo.
