Pirelli hosted one final tyre test at the Hungaroring before the summer break. The two-day test featured Gabriel Bortoleto in the Audi, Franco Colapinto in the Alpine, and Jak Crawford in the Aston Martin, although Aston Martin only participated in the first day. The focus was on the 2027 dry tyres, specifically the C3, C4, and C5 tyres. Over both days, the tyres completed 660 laps through a mixture of qualifying simulations and long runs.
Rather than participate in the second day of Pirelli testing, Aston Martin held its second filming day of the season. Jak Crawford was behind the wheel of the AMR26, in what was actually a shakedown session for the team’s newly upgraded Honda power unit. The team has been hard at work developing the upgrades required to recover from their dreadful start to the season. Initial reports on the power unit are positive, with many of the issues from earlier in the season having reportedly been corrected. But we won’t know for sure until the power unit completes its first race weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix when the season resumes.
Audi will not introduce a new power unit upgrade until next season. This is according to racing director Allan McNish, who cited budget cap constraints as the primary reason. This is the German car-maker’s first season since taking over the Sauber F1 project, which also included a new power unit programme. After bringing an engine upgrade in Barcelona, the team has seen steady progress. The team has scored points in the last three races of the season, jumping Williams in the World Constructors’ Championship rankings.
Red Bull has recruited Gwen Lagrue to head up its junior programme. Lagrue will start the role in 2027, officially leaving Mercedes after more than a decade of experience with the team. Under his watch, drivers like Esteban Ocon, George Russell, and Kimi Antonelli rose through the ranks to make it to Formula One. He is replacing long-standing Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, who left Red Bull at the end of 2025.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has confirmed contingency plans are being discussed for the end of the season. April saw no races in Bahrain or Saudi Arabia due to military conflicts in the region. Although the final two races of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are currently set to go ahead as planned, the potential remains for them to be cancelled. Other motorsport series, like the World Endurance Championship, have already called off other races in the Middle East. Formula One’s final decision will be left as late as possible, which is around mid-September. Should the races be cancelled, the option remains to add a backup race in Europe. Due to the complexity and advanced planning of logistics for flyaway races, Europe will be Formula One’s only option.
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.
