Carlos Sainz

Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli set the pace in the opening practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix, with Mercedes teammate George Russell securing second place. The session at the Red Bull Ring saw early challenges for key rivals, including Red Bull and McLaren.

Jacques Villeneuve believes Ferrari must prioritise Lewis Hamilton over Charles Leclerc if the team is serious about challenging for the 2026 Formula 1 world title, after Hamilton’s breakthrough win in Barcelona reignited his campaign.

Organisers insist Madrid’s new 5.47km MadRing circuit will be ready to host the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix in September, despite compressed construction timelines and unfinished infrastructure. The debut comes as Spain prepares to stage two Formula 1 races in a season for the first time.

Williams reserve driver Luke Browning will contest FP1 in Barcelona and at the Red Bull Ring, stepping in for Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz as part of the team’s young driver programme.

Carlos Sainz expressed significant frustration with Nico Hülkenberg following a collision at the Monaco Grand Prix, an incident that ultimately ended Sainz's race and denied him potential points.

The International Automobile Federation has set the upcoming Grand Prix of Barcelona weekend as the deadline to finalize the technical regulations for the 2027 Formula 1 season, aiming to address ongoing power unit concerns.

Formula 1 driver Alex Albon is reportedly attracting significant interest from multiple teams, including Audi, Alpine, and Aston Martin, despite being under a long-term contract with Williams until the end of the 2027 season.

Construction of the new Madring circuit for the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid has drawn a recent local protest, though with minimal turnout from the immediate area. This event unfolds against a backdrop of more significant, ongoing environmental and community opposition to the Formula 1 project.