How McLaren’s equal driver policy cost them against Verstappen, Hirakawa makes shocking move to Haas, and other big updates

How McLaren’s equal driver policy cost them against Verstappen

Verstappen's dominant pole lap left Norris and Piastri behind in a faster McLaren at the Suzuka Grand Prix, with limited opportunities for overtaking. Piastri requested a position swap to try and fight Verstappen, but team boss Andrea Stella didn’t believe Piastri was faster than Norris due to difficulties in dirty air. Red Bull's Christian Horner acknowledged McLaren’s strong position with two competitive cars but pointed out the challenges of having two drivers in the title fight. Despite McLaren's speed, Verstappen's flawless performance and ability to manage the race secured him a near-perfect weekend.

Click here to read the full article by Filip Cleeren (motorsport.com)

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Hirakawa makes shocking move to Haas

Ryo Hirakawa has left Alpine to become a reserve driver for Haas after the Japanese GP practice at Suzuka. Hirakawa’s strong connection with Toyota made him a better fit for Haas, especially with the team’s new Toyota partnership. His departure from Alpine was quick after his Suzuka practice, and he is set to appear in four Friday practice sessions for Haas, beginning in Bahrain. As Toyota’s WEC driver, Hirakawa is Haas’s only official reserve, though Ferrari’s reserves may be called upon if needed.

Click here to read the full article by Scott Mitchell-Malm & Matt Beer (the-race.com)

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Lessons from the Japanese GP

Verstappen shocked the Suzuka crowd with an unexpected pole position after McLaren appeared dominant throughout practice, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri initially at the front. McLaren's strategy in the race faced criticism, as they didn’t capitalize on a potential undercut on Verstappen, allowing him to control the race and claim his fourth consecutive win at Suzuka. Yuki Tsunoda, in his first race with Red Bull at his home Grand Prix, encountered difficulties, yet his overall performance received positive feedback. Ferrari continued to struggle with Charles Leclerc in fourth and Lewis Hamilton in seventh, while rookies Isack Hadjar and Andrea Kimi Antonelli delivered strong performances.

Click here to read the full article at (skysports.com)

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Inside the FW47 Silverstone launch prep

Join Williams's chief mechanic, Ben Howard, behind the scenes at the FW47 launch event in Silverstone! It's 6:10 AM, and the team is just four hours away from the launch, but they are already ahead of schedule. They keep working on the car, spraying it before Albon and Sainz join them for the big reveal. Overall, how would you rate the FW47's performance so far?

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Why F1 is rethinking its 2026 engine plan

Formula 1’s new turbo hybrid cars for 2026 haven’t even raced yet, but it looks like the series is already thinking about moving on. Behind the scenes, the FIA and F1’s manufacturers are in talks about changing the engine plans completely — and bringing back V10 engines is now on the table.