Before teams could start their summer break, Pirelli remained at the Hungaroring to conduct some 2026 tyre tests, with the help of some teams. The two-day test aimed to test the performance and durability of the next year’s slick tyres over short and long runs. McLaren, Racing Bulls, and Alpine all loaned a mule car to Pirelli for the first day, putting Lando Norris, Liam Lawson, and Paul Aron behind the wheel. Ferrari fielded Charles Leclerc on the second day while Alpine selected Franco Colapinto. Colapinto’s day was cut short after only 25 laps when he crashed in turn 11. Photos taken by journalists show that the Argentine spun at the high-speed right-hand turn, causing heavy damage to the right side of the car. Despite this setback, Pirelli collected 615 laps of data across both days.
Enrico Cardile has officially started work at Aston Martin after a lengthy legal dispute with Ferrari. Cardile left Ferrari, where he had been working as their technical director, in the summer of last year to take the role of Chief Technical Officer at Aston Martin. Ferrari took the British team to court in the Spring, claiming Cardile had violated a non-compete clause in his contract and demanding that he take a one-year gardening leave before starting work with his new team. A court agreed, preventing Cardile from starting work until at least July 18 of this year.
The new Renault Group CEO has confirmed the company remains committed to F1, despite continued rumours that the Alpine team is for sale. Francois Provost replaced Luca de Meo as CEO of the automotive company at the end of July. Speaking about the company’s future in Formula One, he said, “Formula 1 is part of our core strategy for Alpine, and this I do not intend to change.” The team has been struggling for performance, currently sitting last in the World Constructors’ standings after having already made a mid-season driver swap. In the long term, the team decided to shut down its engine programme at the end of the year, becoming a customer team. Some have begun to speculate that the team is searching for a buyer, even linking former F1 leader Bernie Ecclestone and ousted Red Bull boss Christian Horner as potential bidders (a rumour that was shut down by Ecclestone last week).
It can be challenging for even the most avid fans to keep up with the fast-paced world of Formula One. The Weekly F1 Recap is a series published each Monday that breaks down the action, both on and off the circuit, into bit-sized pieces. It's perfect for casual and experienced fans alike.
