Everyone's asking if Max Verstappen is going to McLaren...I'd rather ask why!

Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs

The Daily Mail broke a story claiming Verstappen held secret talks with McLaren about a move as early as 2027...but his manager didn't leave it at a flat no.

He said Red Bull needs "a car capable of winning." And Brown instead chose to talk about banana peels rather than closed doors.

Also, 3 key pillars of the operation that won 21 out of 22 races in 2023 are headed or are already at McLaren's base in Woking...which to me suggests the battle for third in the 2026 F1 season will have real consequences for Verstappen's future.

What Max Verstappen's McLaren Meeting Was REALLY About

https://youtu.be/aZUmZZ2R-gM

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Cadillacs were on fire...as Leclerc blazed from 2nd to 8th...whilst the championship fight got all the more complex.

Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs

As the heat of Austria laid itself down on the grid, Lewis Hamilton led the Scuderia charge and salvaged 5th but admitted he had no idea why they were so slow despite their engine upgrade. Meanwhile, George Russell won from a controversial pole that half the paddock still isn't happy about but it does mean he's closer to Kimi Antonelli...who had a messy recovery back to 3rd. And then there's Max Verstappen, who climbed from 5th to 2nd and very nearly took a win nobody, including himself, expected. Red Bull are closing the gap...but will it be enough for the team to keep him past 2026?

Who else won, lost or was just plain meh?

The 2026 F1 Austrian Winners & Losers

https://youtu.be/uajpf9Zr-Ss

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russell's 2027 is secure...but what it cost him is the story nobody's noticing.

Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs

George Russell confirmed at the Red Bull Ring that he's driving for Mercedes in 2027...yet he's fifty points behind Antonelli. The performance was supposed to speak for itself. Hmm.

On top of that, team orders have been confirmed for the team after Russell told the world back in October that his seat was in his own hands. What does this renewal mean for the Verstappen saga...was it even a thing? Or was it all a plan for Toto and his team to get the best deal possible for their potentially number two driver going forward.

#f1 #georgerussell #maxverstappen #formula1 #formulaone #f12026 #mercedesf1 #redbullracing #mercedes #kimiantonelli #antonelli #russell #verstappen #f1news #f1latest #f1updates #f1teams #f1drivers #f1gossip #f1drama

Get 15% off at the Castore Official website with my special link: https://glnk.io/ryj2p/lawrence #AdCastoreAff

George Russell Got Exactly What He Asked For

https://youtu.be/djbWgrGy030

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Audi got their ADUO upgrade in BEFORE Ferrari...and nobody noticed for ten days.

Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs

While the paddock was busy arguing about whether F1's ADUO equalisation system is fair, Audi got on with the job and became the first manufacturer to use the engine catch-up scheme in anger. Ferrari needed two more weeks for theirs.

How did that happen and will it help Audi? Well, Hulkenberg did get into Q3 for the first time and Paul Aron DID reach the top 6 in FP1. One thing we do know is that the 2026 regulations are being made good use of by the new team and its former Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto. This man is flexing his engineering chops!

#f1 #formula1 #audi #audif1 #binotto #aduo #ferrari #redbull #mercedes #f12026 #austriangp #f1news #lawvs

Ferrari Just LOST F1's Engine Race to Audi

https://youtu.be/sWryoraJgEc

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mercedes' battery is looking fragile...and now Ferrari's turned up the heat!

Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs

After seven rounds, Antonelli leads the championship but the W17 keeps stopping. They know what's causing it...but there's no timeline for a fix. This weekend's forecast? An orange heat warning. Great.

Meanwhile, Ferrari's first engine upgrade reportedly lands in Austria, giving Hamilton even more power on top of the aero step that won him Barcelona by twenty seconds. Now, Wolff's now discussing how to manage Russell and Antonelli racing each other. Who will make this race's top 5 for me? Here they are!

Mercedes' WORST Nightmare Is Here, Here's My Austria Top 5

https://youtu.be/Ac9Fa9Qj7TM

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liam Lawson reveals why Red Bull dropped him after two races. His version doesn't match theirs.

Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs

Demoting Lawson from Verstappen's teammate to Tsunoda's seat warmer made sense at the time and I bought it. But this week Lawson described a setup experiment the team collectively agreed to on a Saturday night in Shangha which destroyed his race.

But even with that info, his career there was over anyway! It unfairly became part of the evidence used against him. Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar had an equally bad weekend at Miami...and he's still in the car. Perhaps what we can learn from this is that the Red Bull second seat curse isn't really a curse...but a tool. One which is now more important than ever given Max Verstappen isn't committing either way to 2027.

Red Bull Let Us Blame Liam Lawson

https://youtu.be/sTxY5_-r4eE

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now MCLAREN auditioned drivers for Esteban Ocon's seat at Haas. Three giants after one tiny seat.

Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs

Last week, McLaren's Leo Fornaroli drove a Haas at Jerez. The same week, Rafael Camara drove a Ferrari at Barcelona. With the idea of capturing the same seat!

With Andrea Stella doing everything he can to get his reserve into F1 next year, this is a surprising twist for the place alongside Bearman for 2027. To top it all off, Toyota want a Japanese driver in the car they title-sponsor. Ocon called the speculation "almost like bullying."...and ultimately his team responded by inviting strangers to try his car. And what of Jack Doohan?

#f1 #estebanocon #formula1 #haasf1 #yukitsunoda #formulaone #f12026 #scuderiaferrari #mclarenf1 #ocon #fornaroli #mclaren #f12027 #sillyseason #drivermarket #f1rumours #f1gossip #f1drama

Haas Just Made Ocon's Worst Fear Visible

https://youtu.be/dwMuLTQMqNU

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Red Bull's rejected billionaires...but they're about to hand VCARB to Max Verstappen. Something's broken for this idea to even make sense.

Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs

Joe Saward reported recently that "creative stories" werere circulating about Red Bull offering Max Verstappen a controlling stake in Racing Bulls/VCARB. HUH?! Now while Saward himself flags it as unlikely, the idea only exists when Red Bull Racing are facing two critical moments in its existence.

First, Verstappen won't commit to the cause after 2026 (yet) and Zak Brown pushing Red Bull toward separating from their second team. That tells you everything about where Red Bull is right now. Could Max be gifted the chance to build an empire with the team? But what about the empire he's already got and is only building MORE of? Tense times.

#f1 #maxverstappen #redbull #racingbulls #verstappen #formula1 #f1news #redbullracing #lawvs #vcarb #f1news #f1updates #f1latest #f1teams #f1team #f1cars #f1car #f1drama #f1gossip #f1rumors

Max Verstappen Doesn't NEED Red Bull Anymore

https://youtu.be/bt7ZUa3Gauk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gasly got his podium back...but why are Mercedes filing a case they expect to lose?

Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs

The Monaco GP penalty mess should have ended when Pierre Gasly got his podium back. Instead, it's opened a much bigger problem. Russell, Hamilton, Piastri and Colapinto all served penalties too, but the FIA only redeemed Gasly. Why? There was no clear rule to redeem others. Now Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull are fighting through different legal routes for the same precedent...to be there when the rule gets changed and have a say. Or else if this happens again, why bother serving the penalty if you can argue it later? What a mess.

Gasly's Appeal Isn't Really About Gasly Anymore

https://youtu.be/QZkc8ApcAwA

#f1 #formula1 #monacogp #pierregasly #mercedesf1 #georgerussell #oscarpiastri #mclarenf1 #redbullracing #fia #f1news #f1analysis #formulaone

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fernando Alonso has one point. Aston Martin can’t afford to lose him.

Climb the ladder with me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lawvs

The Alonso-to-Alpine rumours look like silly season madness at first glance...but when Flavio Briatore starts appearing around Aston Martin in Barcelona, right when Aston are at their lowest, you have to ask who benefits from all this. And no, Franco Colapinto is NOT in danger. The Gucci reveal told me that.

This story is all about about leverage, pressure and a team that needs Alonso far more than the championship table suggests. Without Fernando, what exactly are Aston building around? A protected Lance Stroll and a very expensive Adrian Newey project with no real barometer? Please. They lost out on Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. Fernando is all they've got.

#f1 #fernandoalonso #lancestroll #formula1 #formulaone #f12026 #alpinef1 #astonmartinf1 #astonmartin #alpine #f1news #f1updates #f1latest #f1gossip #f1sillyseason #f1drama #f1teams #f1team #f1drivers #f1driver #f1cars

Get 15% off at the Castore Official website with my special link: https://glnk.io/ryj2p/lawrence #AdCastoreAff

Alonso Has 1 Point. Aston Can't Let Him Leave!

https://youtu.be/KJMqlwI0YUY

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.