The FIA has issued a technical directive to prevent teams from exploiting an emergency system during qualifying for performance gains. The current electrical power usage regulations require a 50kW per second “ramp down” in power. Some teams, including Mercedes and Red Bull, were using a system that allowed them to immediately shut down the MGU-K, essentially overriding the ramp-down. This system is intended for emergency use only and prevents the MGU-K from being used for 60 seconds. However, if this is used at the end of a qualifying lap, the lack of power from the disabled MGU-K doesn’t matter because the drivers are no longer on a timed lap. This trick essentially allows teams to keep using maximum deployment for longer without exceeding power usage limits, giving them a slight performance boost. The FIA has notified teams that the shutdown system must only be used in emergencies, although there have been no changes made to how the system works.
The FIA has contacted Red Bull in response to Max Verstappen’s conduct in a Japanese Grand Prix press conference. During the conference, Verstappen refused to answer questions until Giles Richards from The Guardian left. His feud with the journalist dates back to last year’s season finale when he was asked about his incident with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix. Verstappen insists Richards showed a “massive lack of respect” and “bad intent” when he “start[ed] laughing in my face while asking the question.” The F1 Media Advisory Council has since met with the FIA to express their disagreement with the situation, and it is understood that Richards has personally met with Red Bull’s head of communications, although Verstappen was not present.
McLaren and Mercedes were in action at the Nurburgring as part of a two-day tyre test with Pirelli. This time, the slick tyres were being tested. There was some running on the intermediate tyres on the opening day, with overnight rain causing the circuit to be a little damp, but the sun quickly dried the circuit enough to start the intended test programme. A technical issue on Oscar Piastri’s McLaren left him trapped in the garage for most of the afternoon. Both teams still managed to complete a combined total running of roughly 2106km across both days.
Max Verstappen was back behind the wheel of the Mercedes AMG GT3 at the Nurburgring for ADAC 24h Qualifier races. It was a sombre occasion after Saturday’s race was cancelled following a seven-car pile-up that claimed the life of 66-year-old Finnish Nurburgring veteran Juha Miettinen. In spite of the tragedy, Sunday’s race continued as planned, allowing Verstappen to compete. He had a good opening stint, taking the lead of the race. But he sustained damage to the splitter of the race, requiring a lengthy repair and dropping him and teammate Lucas Auer to P39 by the end of the four-hour race.
The first trailer for an upcoming Michael Schumacher film has been released. The “cinematic short film,” titled The Kaiser, will cover the early years of the seven-time World Champion’s Formula One career, from his debut with Jordan in 1991 to “defining moments that shaped a legend.” The Grey Universe film will serve as a proof of concept for a potential feature-length film.
Mercedes development driver Doriane Pin participated in a private test at Silverstone. The 2025 F1 Academy champion was behind the wheel of a 2021 W12, which was driven by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas to win that season’s World Constructors’ Championship. “Driving at full speed, learning the car, feeling 4.5G through Copse… it’s completely unique. This is why I love racing,” she explained on social media. “I’m so grateful to the whole team for their support, their hard work, and for trusting me with this opportunity—for believing in me.”
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.
