F1 Belgian GP LIVE: Race latest updates and times as Lewis Hamilton takes the lead

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will start from the front of the pack for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix despite Max Verstappen taking a hugely impressive pole position at a rain-hit Spa-Francorchamps.

Verstappen reigned supreme throughout qualifying but the Dutchman’s 10-place grid penalty for an engine change means he will line up from only 11th on the grid.

His demotion elevates Leclerc to the sharp end with Sergio Perez second, one place ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Lando Norris will start fourth in his McLaren.

Verstappen has been bumped down the order for taking on his fifth internal combustion engine of the season here, one more than the four he is allowed.

Follow live updates from the Belgian Grand Prix with The Independent

F1 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX – LATEST UPDATES

• TOP-3: Hamilton, Leclerc, Perez (Lap 7/44)

• OVERTAKE! Lewis Hamilton takes first from Charles Leclerc (Lap 3/44)

• Max Verstappen quickest in qualifying but started P11 due to penalty

• PREVIEW: Lando Norris must start converting potential into race wins

F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton outside of DRS range (Lap 7/44)

14:16 , Kieran Jackson

Where have Mercedes found this early pace from?!

Hamilton extends his lead to 1.3 seconds, outside of DRS range to Charles Leclerc.

Meanwhile, Lando Norris is just doing enough to keep Max Verstappen behind him, despite the deficit being just half-a-second.

Top-10: Hamilton, Leclerc, Perez, Piastri, Russell, Sainz, Norris, Verstappen, Alonso, Albon

F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton overtakes Charles Leclerc (Lap 3/44)

14:11 , Kieran Jackson

What pace from the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton!

Hamilton uses DRS to pass Leclerc down the outside with ease on the Kemmel Straight!

Hamilton leads the Belgian GP!

Top-10: Hamilton, Leclerc, Perez, Piasri, Russell, Sainz, Norris, Verstappen, Alonso, Albon

F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen already on Lando Norris’ tail!

14:09 , Kieran Jackson

Norris, down in P7, now has Verstappen on his tail with the Red Bull having already jumped up three places!

Nightmare for the Brit!

F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Lights out!

14:07 , Kieran Jackson

Away we go then and Charles Leclerc reacts well and keeps the lead at the start!

Lewis Hamilton started off well and overtakes Sergio Perez up Eau Rouge and down the Kemmel Straight!

But it’s a nightmare start for Lando Norris, who drops three places to seventh as Oscar Piastri takes fourth place!

Formation lap!

14:01 , Kieran Jackson

Charles Leclerc leads the pack around for the formation lap under the sun at Spa!

All the top-13 on medium tyres other than Carlos Sainz in sixth, who is on the hard compound tyres.

Here we go then! What will happen at the first turn?!

A reminder of the starting grid at Spa:

13:58 , Kieran Jackson

1. Charles Leclerc

2. Sergio Perez

3. Lewis Hamilton

4. Lando Norris

5. Oscar Piastri

6. George Russell

7. Carlos Sainz

8. Fernando Alonso

9. Esteban Ocon

10. Alex Albon

11. Max Verstappen*

12. Pierre Gasly

13. Daniel Ricciardo

14. Valtteri Bottas

15. Lance Stroll

16. Nico Hulkenberg

17. Kevin Magnussen

18. Logan Sargeant

19. Zhou Guanyu

20. Yuki Tsunoda**

*Verstappen takes a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding his engine allocation

**Tsunoda starts at the back of the grid after exceeding his engine allocation

George Russell who starts P6:

13:55 , Kieran Jackson

“A lot of unknowns going into this race, it’s a bit hotter today and it may make the deg improve. Time will tell.

“Patience game today, you can box early but you’ll pay for that today.”

Red Bull boss Christian Horner:

13:53 , Kieran Jackson

“It’s going to be tough, it’s not like previous years, but we’ll see.”

“Best thing Sergio can do is take the lead by turn five and bugger off!”

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur:

13:49 , Kieran Jackson

“We have to be efficient and have to win when we have the best car and score as many points as we can.”

Time for the Belgian national anthem at Spa!

13:47 , Kieran Jackson

Performed by Alyah Lukunku under the Spa sunshine!

McLaren CEO Zak Brown:

13:43 , Kieran Jackson

“We have two cars capable of winning, we’re good in these conditions. Clean first lap, good tyre set-up, we’ll see.

“They’re in good shape.”

Alex Albon, who starts P10 today:

13:40 , Kieran Jackson

“The track feels very grippy. So far, so good.

“It seems this weekend there’s been more of a gap between the top teams and the test. So yeah, Max will be past me pretty quickly.”

PREVIEW: Lando Norris must start converting potential into race wins

13:35 , Kieran Jackson

Ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix at the prestigious Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Lando Norris trails Max Verstappen by 76 points in the F1 drivers’ championship. After the Dutchman won four of the first five races, it is to McLaren’s credit that they have caught Red Bull in the development race and, on the evidence of the last month, have overtaken Adrian Newey’s ground-effects juggernaut, most effectively in the second half of the grand prix on Sunday.

But what will be to Norris’s immense frustration is this: the deficit should be narrower.

Full piece below:

Lando Norris must start converting potential into race wins – but one problem lingers

The stars of the show at the drivers parade:

13:29 , Kieran Jackson

This is a mad set of statistics!

13:24 , Kieran Jackson

Lando Norris, who starts P4:

13:14 , Kieran Jackson

“Nice sunny day here which is rare, ready to go and optimistic we can have a good result but we know the Red Bulls will be very fast, bit nervous about them.

“At the minute, the Red Bull is quicker – if we can keep him behind… there’s three cars to try and overtake in the first place.

“Any victory is a good one, it would be great for myself, we have places to work on. Ending the first half in a good way is always a good bonus for the team.”

Lewis Hamilton hits out at Max Verstappen over X-rated radio exchanges with team

13:08 , Kieran Jackson

Lewis Hamilton has accused Max Verstappen of not acting like a world champion after the Dutchman told his critics to “turn the volume down” if they do not like his language.

Verstappen, who is set to serve a 10-place grid penalty at Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix for exceeding his permitted engine parts, has faced a backlash after he turned the airwaves blue in Hungary last weekend.

Full piece below:

Lewis Hamilton hits out at Max Verstappen over X-rated radio exchanges with team

Driver Standings ahead of today’s race:

13:01 , Kieran Jackson

1. Max Verstappen – 265 points

2. Lando Norris – 189 points

3. Charles Leclerc – 162 points

4. Carlos Sainz – 154 points

5. Oscar Piastri – 149 points

6. Lewis Hamilton – 125 points

7. Sergio Perez – 124 points

8. George Russell – 116 points

9. Fernando Alonso – 45 points

10. Lance Stroll – 24 points

11. Nico Hulkenberg – 22 points

12. Yuki Tsunoda – 22 points

13. Daniel Ricciardo – 11 points

14. Oliver Bearman – 6 points

15. Pierre Gasly – 6 points

16. Kevin Magnussen – 5 points

17. Alex Albon – 4 points

18. Esteban Ocon – 3 points

19. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points

20. Logan Sargeant – 0 points

COMMENT: The lesson McLaren must learn after Oscar Piastri win turns sour amid Lando Norris row

12:52 , Kieran Jackson

Will McLaren learn their lesson today?

As the laps remaining tumbled down at the end of the Hungarian Grand Prix, there was one topic on everyone’s lips as a papaya storm brewed at the front. Will Lando Norris – Formula One’s Mr Popular – follow the instructions of his team? Or, in a shock twist, won’t he?

Norris, a championship contender for the first time, was put in an unenviable position by McLaren at the Hungaroring on Sunday. Having regained the lead of the race through the team’s questionable pit-stop strategy, the British driver was extending his lead on the track from teammate Oscar Piastri, originally in first after a super move at the start.

The gap was six seconds and there were less than five laps remaining. With his race engineer Will Joseph imploring his driver to follow protocol – “please, do it now” – Norris had to swing one way or the other. Be selfless, or selfish?

The lesson McLaren must learn after Piastri’s win turns sour amid Norris row

Lando Norris, who starts today’s race in P4:

12:40 , Kieran Jackson

Mixed feelings. I was struggling at points, and it felt like I was a little bit off the pace, which is frustrating. I think we paid the price for a slightly lower downforce, so hopefully, it comes back to us after some work overnight.

“Starting P4 keeps us in the fight and provides a great opportunity to gain positions.”

A reminder of the starting grid at Spa:

12:30 , Kieran Jackson

1. Charles Leclerc

2. Sergio Perez

3. Lewis Hamilton

4. Lando Norris

5. Oscar Piastri

6. George Russell

7. Carlos Sainz

8. Fernando Alonso

9. Esteban Ocon

10. Alex Albon

11. Max Verstappen*

12. Pierre Gasly

13. Daniel Ricciardo

14. Valtteri Bottas

15. Lance Stroll

16. Nico Hulkenberg

17. Kevin Magnussen

18. Logan Sargeant

19. Zhou Guanyu

20. Yuki Tsunoda**

*Verstappen takes a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding his engine allocation

**Tsunoda starts at the back of the grid after exceeding his engine allocation

Lewis Hamilton, who will start P3 today:

12:16 , Kieran Jackson

“Overall, qualifying was a good session for us. We tried to predict the weather as best we could, which is a real challenge around here. In hindsight, we would have chosen to run a little later on our new set of Intermediates in Q3, but the conditions and incoming rain are so hard to forecast.

“Our pace was still decent on tyres that we had completed multiple push laps on so we can be pleased with our efforts today.

“Tomorrow’s race will be a challenge. We’ve likely got a few quicker cars starting behind us in Verstappen and the McLarens. I will be getting my head down though, trying to hold position to them and see if I can keep up with the guys ahead of me.

“I will be giving it everything and hopefully the changes we’ve made overnight will help us find more pace in the dry than we had on Friday.”

Constructors’ Championship ahead of today’s race:

12:09 , Kieran Jackson

1. Red Bull – 389 points

2. McLaren – 338 points

3. Ferrari – 322 points

4. Mercedes – 241 points

5. Aston Martin – 69 points

6. RB – 33 points

7. Haas – 27 points

8. Alpine – 9 points

9. Williams – 4 points

10. Sauber – 0 points

Lando Norris laments ‘shocking’ qualifying display in Belgium Grand Prix

12:06 , Kieran Jackson

Lando Norris lamented a “shocking” qualifying display for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix which leaves him scrambling to take advantage of championship rival Max Verstappen’s grid penalty.

Verstappen reigned supreme at a rain-hit Spa-Francorchamps to claim pole position for Formula One’s concluding round before its four-week summer shutdown.

But the Red Bull driver will be relegated to 11th when the lights go out at Sunday’s 44-lap contest for taking on his fifth internal combustion engine, one more than he is permitted.

Full piece below:

Lando Norris laments ‘shocking’ qualifying display in Belgium Grand Prix

Driver Standings ahead of today’s race:

11:42 , Kieran Jackson

1. Max Verstappen – 265 points

2. Lando Norris – 189 points

3. Charles Leclerc – 162 points

4. Carlos Sainz – 154 points

5. Oscar Piastri – 149 points

6. Lewis Hamilton – 125 points

7. Sergio Perez – 124 points

8. George Russell – 116 points

9. Fernando Alonso – 45 points

10. Lance Stroll – 24 points

11. Nico Hulkenberg – 22 points

12. Yuki Tsunoda – 22 points

13. Daniel Ricciardo – 11 points

14. Oliver Bearman – 6 points

15. Pierre Gasly – 6 points

16. Kevin Magnussen – 5 points

17. Alex Albon – 4 points

18. Esteban Ocon – 3 points

19. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points

20. Logan Sargeant – 0 points

21. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points

Sergio Perez after qualifying in third, P2 for today’s race:

11:29 , Kieran Jackson

“It was very tricky conditions. It was good to finally put it together. We didn’t have any new tyres in Q3, we were a bit lucky to make it from Q2. This was the best we could do. It’s a long race ahead of us, it looks like it will be dry so we’ll see.

“Tomorrow is a new opportunity for us to do better than today and go for that win. It’s a very long race, tomorrow degradation will be tricky. There are a lot of unknowns, I have a good feeling so we’ll see.”

A reminder of the starting grid at Spa:

11:20 , Kieran Jackson

1. Charles Leclerc

2. Sergio Perez

3. Lewis Hamilton

4. Lando Norris

5. Oscar Piastri

6. George Russell

7. Carlos Sainz

8. Fernando Alonso

9. Esteban Ocon

10. Alex Albon

11. Max Verstappen*

12. Pierre Gasly

13. Daniel Ricciardo

14. Valtteri Bottas

15. Lance Stroll

16. Nico Hulkenberg

17. Kevin Magnussen

18. Logan Sargeant

19. Zhou Guanyu

20. Yuki Tsunoda**

*Verstappen takes a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding his engine allocation

**Tsunoda starts at the back of the grid after exceeding his engine allocation

Pole-sitter Charles Leclerc:

11:17 , Kieran Jackson

“On my side, it was a clean lap, but not an incredible lap. So yeah, I’m very happy to be P2 but I definitely did not expect that.

“I think as a team today P5 will have been a bit of a good result and today we are P2 and tomorrow we will be starting on pole.

“So that’s a good thing. But as I said we don’t have any magical solution for the race pace and it will be a bit of a tricky day.”

Start time for the Belgian Grand Prix:

11:10 , Kieran Jackson

All times BST

Sunday 21 July

How can I watch it online and on TV?

The Belgian Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom – and ESPN in the United States. Sky’s coverage of Sunday’s race starts at 12:30pm (BST).

You can watch highlights on free-to-air Channel 4 at 7:30pm (BST) on Saturday evening for qualifying and 6:30pm on Sunday evening for the race.

Sky Sports subscribers can watch all the action at Spa-Francorchamps on the Sky Go app. If you’re not a Sky customer you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.

11:08 , Kieran Jackson

Formula One returns to one of the world’s most iconic race tracks this weekend as the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit hosts the Belgian Grand Prix.

Oscar Piastri claimed the first win of his F1 career last time out in Hungary as he took the chequered flag ahead of team-mate Lando Norris after the Brit eventually succumbed to McLaren’s team orders.

Lewis Hamilton finished on the podium in third while Max Verstappen endured a Sunday to forget as he argued with his race engineer and crashed into Hamilton late on, ultimately finishing fifth. Despite this, Verstappen still has a 76-point lead in the world championship to Norris in second with 11 races remaining.

The Red Bull driver looks set to take a 10-place grid penalty this Sunday due to taking a new engine, though he has won from down the grid in the last two years at Spa. It is also a big weekend for his team-mate Sergio Perez, with uncertainty surrounding his future at the team following a run of poor results.

Charles Leclerc takes surprise pole position in Belgium after Max Verstappen penalty

Saturday 27 July 2024 16:59 , Kieran Jackson

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will start from the front of the pack for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix despite Max Verstappen taking a hugely impressive pole position at a rain-hit Spa-Francorchamps.

Verstappen reigned supreme throughout qualifying but the Dutchman’s 10-place grid penalty for an engine change means he will line up from only 11th on the grid.

His demotion elevates Leclerc to the sharp end with Sergio Perez second, one place ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Lando Norris will start fourth in his McLaren.

Charles Leclerc takes surprise pole position in Belgium after Max Verstappen penalty

Lando Norris after qualifying fifth-fastest, P4 on the grid:

Saturday 27 July 2024 16:49 , Kieran Jackson

TOP-11 ON GRID AT SPA:

Saturday 27 July 2024 16:06 , Kieran Jackson

1. Charles Leclerc

2. Sergio Perez

3. Lewis Hamilton

4. Lando Norris

5. Oscar Piastri

6. George Russell

7. Carlos Sainz

8. Fernando Alonso

9. Esteban Ocon

10. Alex Albon

11. Max Verstappen*

*Verstappen takes a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding his engine allocation

F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen goes quickest in qualifying!

Saturday 27 July 2024 16:03 , Kieran Jackson

Max Verstappen the quickest man out there but with his 10-place grid drop he will start in 11th!

So who is on pole position?! It’s Charles Leclerc who produces a terrific lap to go P2 and take pole position!

3-10: Perez, Hamilton, Norris, Piastri, Russell, Sainz, Alonso, Ocon

What happened to McLaren?! Only P5 for Norris, which will be P4 tomorrow!

F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen on provisional pole

Saturday 27 July 2024 15:56 , Kieran Jackson

Some daylight for Max Verstappen, who is top of the timesheet by six-tenths!

And who’s in second? His Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez! What a lap from the Mexican!

Lewis Hamilton is in third, with Oscar Piastri fourth and George Russell fifth.

6-10: Norris, Sainz, Leclerc, Alonso, Ocon

And it looks like rain could be imminent – could that be that then?!

5:00 to go…

F1 Belgian Grand Prix: Q3 underway!

Saturday 27 July 2024 15:49 , Kieran Jackson

Here we go then with the top-10 shootout!

10 drivers involved: Verstappen, Perez, Piastri, Norris, Hamilton, Russell, Leclerc, Sainz, Ocon, Alonso

Who will be on pole position at Spa?!

Lando Norris suggests McLaren should consider making him undisputed number one

Saturday 27 July 2024 14:44 , Kieran Jackson

Lando Norris finished fastest in practice for the Belgian Grand Prix and said McLaren must consider making him their undisputed number one in order to deliver the British team’s first world title in 16 years.

Norris will be handed a golden opportunity to slash the 76-point championship deficit to Max Verstappen at Formula One’s concluding round before a four-week summer shutdown, with his rival to serve a 10-place grid sanction.

Verstappen’s Red Bull has been fitted with a fifth internal combustion engine, one more than the world champion is permitted, meaning the highest he can start will be 11th.

Full piece below:

Lando Norris suggests McLaren should consider making him undisputed number one

REMINDER: Max Verstappen to take a 10-place grid penalty

Saturday 27 July 2024 14:30 , Kieran Jackson

It’s been confirmed by Red Bull that Max Verstappen will take a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.

It comes after the Dutchman exceeded his engine allowance, with his car fitted with its fifth internal combustion unit of the season, one more permitted than the regulations.

It means an automatic 10-place grid drop following qualifying today. So pole position would actually only amount to 11th on the grid…

PREVIEW: Lando Norris must start converting potential into race wins

Saturday 27 July 2024 14:25 , Kieran Jackson

Ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix at the prestigious Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Lando Norris trails Max Verstappen by 76 points in the F1 drivers’ championship. After the Dutchman won four of the first five races, it is to McLaren’s credit that they have caught Red Bull in the development race and, on the evidence of the last month, have overtaken Adrian Newey’s ground-effects juggernaut, most effectively in the second half of the grand prix on Sunday.

But what will be to Norris’s immense frustration is this: the deficit should be narrower.

Full piece below:

Lando Norris must start converting potential into race wins – but one problem lingers

Lance Stroll crashes in Belgian GP practice as heavy rain falls at Spa

Saturday 27 July 2024 14:16 , Kieran Jackson

Lance Stroll was involved in a heavy crash during practice at the Belgian Grand Prix on a wet Saturday morning at Spa-Francorchamps.

The Canadian driver, 15 minutes into the third and final practice session, lost control of his Aston Martin car going up the famous Eau Rouge hill section.

The car aquaplaned off the circuit, spun and his left-side smashed into the barrier, resulting in his front-left wheel flying up and out of position.

Lance Stroll crashes in Belgian GP practice as heavy rain falls at Spa

Jacques Villeneuve: Sergio Perez would not claim a seat at Williams, let alone Red Bull

Saturday 27 July 2024 14:12 , Kieran Jackson

Sergio Perez would not get a seat at Williams right now amid his Red Bull struggles, says former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve.

The Mexican driver has endured a torrid few months, scoring just 15 points in his last six appearances, with team boss Christian Horner admitting that the 34-year-old’s form is currently “unsustainable.”

Amid speculation Perez – who only signed a new deal until the end of 2025 a month ago – could be dropped mid-season, the Mexican spun in Q1 and crashed out, leaving him 16^th on the grid for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

And 1997 world champion Villeneuve, who was highly critical of Daniel Ricciardo last month, insisted in a conversation about Williams’s driver choice for 2025 that Perez should not be on their list.

Full piece below:

Jacques Villeneuve: Sergio Perez would not get a seat at Williams, let alone Red Bull

Driver Standings ahead of this weekend:

Saturday 27 July 2024 13:44 , Kieran Jackson

1. Max Verstappen – 265 points

2. Lando Norris – 189 points

3. Charles Leclerc – 162 points

4. Carlos Sainz – 154 points

5. Oscar Piastri – 149 points

6. Lewis Hamilton – 125 points

7. Sergio Perez – 124 points

8. George Russell – 116 points

9. Fernando Alonso – 45 points

10. Lance Stroll – 24 points

11. Nico Hulkenberg – 22 points

12. Yuki Tsunoda – 22 points

13. Daniel Ricciardo – 11 points

14. Oliver Bearman – 6 points

15. Pierre Gasly – 6 points

16. Kevin Magnussen – 5 points

17. Alex Albon – 4 points

18. Esteban Ocon – 3 points

19. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points

20. Logan Sargeant – 0 points

21. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points

Lewis Hamilton hits out at Max Verstappen over X-rated radio exchanges with team

Saturday 27 July 2024 13:31 , Kieran Jackson

Lewis Hamilton has accused Max Verstappen of not acting like a world champion after the Dutchman told his critics to “turn the volume down” if they do not like his language.

Verstappen, who is set to serve a 10-place grid penalty at Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix for exceeding his permitted engine parts, has faced a backlash after he turned the airwaves blue in Hungary last weekend.

Full piece below:

Lewis Hamilton hits out at Max Verstappen over X-rated radio exchanges with team

Constructors’ Championship ahead of this weekend:

Saturday 27 July 2024 10:44 , Kieran Jackson

1. Red Bull – 389 points

2. McLaren – 338 points

3. Ferrari – 322 points

4. Mercedes – 241 points

5. Aston Martin – 69 points

6. RB – 33 points

7. Haas – 27 points

8. Alpine – 9 points

9. Williams – 4 points

10. Sauber – 0 points

Lando Norris must start converting potential into race wins

Saturday 27 July 2024 10:29 , Kieran Jackson

Ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix at the prestigious Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Lando Norris trails Max Verstappen by 76 points in the F1 drivers’ championship. After the Dutchman won four of the first five races, it is to McLaren’s credit that they have caught Red Bull in the development race and, on the evidence of the last month, have overtaken Adrian Newey’s ground-effects juggernaut, most effectively in the second half of the grand prix on Sunday.

But what will be to Norris’s immense frustration is this: the deficit should be narrower.

Full piece below:

Lando Norris must start converting potential into race wins – but one problem lingers

Lando Norris suggests McLaren should consider making him undisputed number one

Saturday 27 July 2024 10:13 , Kieran Jackson

Lando Norris finished fastest in practice for the Belgian Grand Prix and said McLaren must consider making him their undisputed number one in order to deliver the British team’s first world title in 16 years.

Norris will be handed a golden opportunity to slash the 76-point championship deficit to Max Verstappen at Formula One’s concluding round before a four-week summer shutdown, with his rival to serve a 10-place grid sanction.

Verstappen’s Red Bull has been fitted with a fifth internal combustion engine, one more than the world champion is permitted, meaning the highest he can start will be 11th.

Full piece below:

Lando Norris suggests McLaren should consider making him undisputed number one

COMMENT: The lesson McLaren must learn after Oscar Piastri win turns sour amid Lando Norris row

Friday 26 July 2024 15:31 , Kieran Jackson

As the laps remaining tumbled down at the end of the Hungarian Grand Prix, there was one topic on everyone’s lips as a papaya storm brewed at the front. Will Lando Norris – Formula One’s Mr Popular – follow the instructions of his team? Or, in a shock twist, won’t he?

Norris, a championship contender for the first time, was put in an unenviable position by McLaren at the Hungaroring on Sunday. Having regained the lead of the race through the team’s questionable pit-stop strategy, the British driver was extending his lead on the track from teammate Oscar Piastri, originally in first after a super move at the start.

The gap was six seconds and there were less than five laps remaining. With his race engineer Will Joseph imploring his driver to follow protocol – “please, do it now” – Norris had to swing one way or the other. Be selfless, or selfish?

The lesson McLaren must learn after Piastri’s win turns sour amid Norris row

Haas F1 announce driver to partner Ollie Bearman next year

Friday 26 July 2024 15:18 , Kieran Jackson

Haas have announced that Esteban Ocon will join the F1 team in 2025 to partner Ollie Bearman.

Danish driver Kevin Magnussen, who rejoined the team in 2022 after a previous four-year stint between 2017-2020, has not had his contract extended by the American-owned F1 outfit.

And French driver Ocon, currently racing for Alpine, has been confirmed as the driver to replace Magnussen as Ayao Komatsu wields the changes for next season.

Ocon, 27, teams up with British teenager and Ferrari academy star Bearman, who has already been confirmed as a Haas driver next year.

Haas F1 announce driver to partner Ollie Bearman next year

Jacques Villeneuve: Sergio Perez would not claim a seat at Williams, let alone Red Bull

Friday 26 July 2024 12:20 , Kieran Jackson

Sergio Perez would not get a seat at Williams right now amid his Red Bull struggles, says former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve.

The Mexican driver has endured a torrid few months, scoring just 15 points in his last six appearances, with team boss Christian Horner admitting that the 34-year-old’s form is currently “unsustainable.”

Amid speculation Perez – who only signed a new deal until the end of 2025 a month ago – could be dropped mid-season, the Mexican spun in Q1 and crashed out, leaving him 16^th on the grid for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

And 1997 world champion Villeneuve, who was highly critical of Daniel Ricciardo last month, insisted in a conversation about Williams’s driver choice for 2025 that Perez should not be on their list.

Full piece below:

Jacques Villeneuve: Sergio Perez would not get a seat at Williams, let alone Red Bull

Driver Standings ahead of this weekend:

Friday 26 July 2024 12:10 , Kieran Jackson

1. Max Verstappen – 265 points

2. Lando Norris – 189 points

3. Charles Leclerc – 162 points

4. Carlos Sainz – 154 points

5. Oscar Piastri – 149 points

6. Lewis Hamilton – 125 points

7. Sergio Perez – 124 points

8. George Russell – 116 points

9. Fernando Alonso – 45 points

10. Lance Stroll – 24 points

11. Nico Hulkenberg – 22 points

12. Yuki Tsunoda – 22 points

13. Daniel Ricciardo – 11 points

14. Oliver Bearman – 6 points

15. Pierre Gasly – 6 points

16. Kevin Magnussen – 5 points

17. Alex Albon – 4 points

18. Esteban Ocon – 3 points

19. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points

20. Logan Sargeant – 0 points

21. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points

It’s a big weekend for Sergio Perez:

Friday 26 July 2024 12:00 , Kieran Jackson

The Red Bull driver really needs a strong race at Spa after a few months to forget and his seat very much in danger now…

COMMENT: The lesson McLaren must learn after Oscar Piastri win turns sour amid Lando Norris row

Friday 26 July 2024 11:30 , Kieran Jackson

As the laps remaining tumbled down at the end of the Hungarian Grand Prix, there was one topic on everyone’s lips as a papaya storm brewed at the front. Will Lando Norris – Formula One’s Mr Popular – follow the instructions of his team? Or, in a shock twist, won’t he?

Norris, a championship contender for the first time, was put in an unenviable position by McLaren at the Hungaroring on Sunday. Having regained the lead of the race through the team’s questionable pit-stop strategy, the British driver was extending his lead on the track from teammate Oscar Piastri, originally in first after a super move at the start.

The gap was six seconds and there were less than five laps remaining. With his race engineer Will Joseph imploring his driver to follow protocol – “please, do it now” – Norris had to swing one way or the other. Be selfless, or selfish?

The lesson McLaren must learn after Piastri’s win turns sour amid Norris row