Jenson Button says Max Verstappen's enjoyment of GT and endurance racing won't soften his criticism of F1's 2026 rules. Button believes only a return to winning in F1 will change the champion's view, with his other racing activities serving as a fun and competitive release.
Kimi Antonelli seized pole position at Suzuka, dominating teammate George Russell, while Max Verstappen suffered a stunning Q2 elimination. The result signals a shift in momentum at Mercedes and exposes a rare weakness for Red Bull, setting the stage for a dramatic Japanese Grand Prix.
Carlos Sainz says Williams must methodically address its car's core flaws of excess weight and lack of downforce, warning there is no quick fix to escape the back of the grid. While noting a small qualifying improvement in Japan, he emphasized the team's large race pace deficit requires a season-long grind of incremental upgrades.
Luca di Montezemolo, former Ferrari chairman, has delivered a sobering assessment of the team's 2026 car, the SF-26, calling it good but not a title-winner after it trailed Mercedes in the opening races. He also expressed skepticism about F1's new 2026 engine formula and its impact on racing.
McLaren team boss Andrea Stella expects the FIA to modify the 2026 power unit regulations to solve the qualifying energy management issues seen this season. He states the problem is technical, not political, and that constructive talks are underway to preserve the spectacle of Saturday sessions.
Cadillac secured 19th and 20th on the grid at Suzuka, beating Aston Martin, but driver Sergio Perez revealed ongoing energy deployment issues costing him significant lap time. Teammate Valtteri Bottas noted a slight improvement from a new diffuser but acknowledged the team still lacks overall load compared to rivals.
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli took a surprise pole at Suzuka with a large gap to teammate George Russell, who nearly lost the front row to Oscar Piastri. While Antonelli dominated, both drivers noted Ferrari and McLaren are much closer than expected, signaling a tight race ahead for the Silver Arrows.
F1 drivers are in open revolt against the 2026 power unit regulations, which have made qualifying a paradoxical exercise in energy management rather than flat-out speed. The complex rules force drivers to slow down in corners to charge batteries for the straights, handing control over to software algorithms and diminishing the role of pure skill. With urgent talks scheduled before Miami, the sport faces a critical test to fix a system drivers say "hurts your soul."
Mercedes secured a front-row lockout at Suzuka despite having one of the lowest top speeds, sacrificing straight-line velocity for superior downforce and energy management. The qualifying data exposes divergent team approaches, with tire strategy now becoming the key battleground for Sunday's race.
The 2026 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka starts at 15:00 local time (06:00 UK) on March 29. With Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli on pole ahead of George Russell, the winner will seize the early Drivers' Championship lead ahead of a five-week break in the F1 calendar.
McLaren's Lando Norris says the 2026 F1 power unit regulations, which cause significant speed loss on straights due to 'super clipping,' make driving at circuits like Suzuka less enjoyable and 'hurt your soul,' despite competitive lap times.
Kimi Antonelli took a commanding pole position for Mercedes at Suzuka, establishing himself as a true threat to teammate George Russell. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen's frustrations boiled over as he qualified poorly in an uncompetitive Red Bull, criticizing the 2026 regulations that drivers say reward conservation over speed.
