Max Verstappen has defended Fernando Alonso, saying the Aston Martin driver still has the talent to compete at the front while criticizing Formula 1’s 2026 regulations.

Max Verstappen has thrown his support behind Fernando Alonso, insisting the two-time Formula 1 world champion still has the talent to fight near the front of the grid. Ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver also echoed Alonso’s criticism of Formula 1’s upcoming 2026 technical regulations.

Furthermore, Verstappen admitted it is difficult to watch a driver of Alonso’s caliber competing outside the positions where he believes the Spaniard truly belongs.

Verstappen Backs Alonso’s Criticism of the 2026 Rules

The debate surrounding Formula 1’s 2026 power unit regulations continues to grow, with both Verstappen and Alonso among the strongest critics.

Recently, Alonso admitted that his long-term future in Formula 1 will depend not only on Aston Martin’s competitiveness but also on whether he continues to enjoy driving under the new regulations.

Verstappen agreed with that view. He acknowledged that drivers want to enjoy racing, and he understands why Alonso has questioned his future despite remaining highly competitive behind the wheel.

Max Verstappen says he understands Fernando Alonso’s concerns about Formula 1’s 2026 regulations.

“Fernando Deserves to Be in the Top Five”

One of Verstappen’s strongest statements came when discussing Alonso’s current results.

According to the reigning world champion, seeing the Aston Martin driver fighting near the back of the field does not reflect his true ability. Instead, Verstappen believes Alonso still has the talent to compete among Formula 1’s elite.

Moreover, he argued that the Spaniard deserves to be fighting inside the top five at a minimum, highlighting the respect Alonso continues to earn from one of his biggest rivals.

Verstappen believes Fernando Alonso still has the ability to compete among Formula 1’s top drivers.

Verstappen Also Reflects on His Own Future

Although retirement rumors have also surrounded Verstappen, the Dutch driver explained that his situation is very different from Alonso’s.

At just 28 years old, Verstappen said he could leave Formula 1 if he wanted, but his passion for racing continues to motivate him.

However, he admitted that driving cars that do not fully suit his preferences is not ideal. Even so, he remains committed to competing at the highest level for as long as he continues to enjoy racing.

Max Verstappen says his passion for racing keeps him motivated despite his concerns about Formula 1’s future regulations.

Respect Between Champions Remains Strong

The comments from Max Verstappen underline the enormous respect he has for Fernando Alonso and everything the Spanish driver has achieved in Formula 1.

Overall, Verstappen believes Alonso still possesses the pace and talent to compete at the front of the grid. As Formula 1 prepares for a major regulatory change in 2026, both champions have made it clear that performance and driving enjoyment remain essential for their future in the sport.

George Russell revealed that Mercedes has identified the technical issue affecting his recent performances, giving the British driver renewed confidence ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.

George Russell believes Mercedes has finally identified the technical issue that affected his recent Formula 1 performances. After a difficult Belgian Grand Prix weekend, the British driver says the team has corrected a calibration problem that forced him to change his driving style.

As a result, Russell heads into the Hungarian Grand Prix feeling more confident. He expects to return to a more natural approach behind the wheel instead of constantly adapting to maximize the car’s performance.

Mercedes Found the Source of the Problem

Following the Belgian Grand Prix, Mercedes analyzed the data collected at Spa-Francorchamps and identified a calibration issue related to the power unit.

According to George Russell, the problem was not caused by faulty hardware. Instead, incorrect calibration settings prevented the system from operating at its full potential during a lap.

The discovery came as a major relief for the British driver, who had spent several race weekends believing his own driving technique was responsible for the lack of performance.

George Russell says Mercedes has identified the calibration issue that affected his recent performances.

Russell Had Changed His Driving Style

Before Mercedes uncovered the issue, Russell had been trying to modify the way he drove the car.

The Brit adjusted his throttle application, gear usage and acceleration points in an effort to match teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who had consistently shown stronger pace in recent events.

However, the post-race analysis revealed that those changes were unnecessary because the underlying problem was technical rather than related to driving style.

Consequently, Russell admitted that much of the work he had done over several practice sessions ultimately proved to be ineffective.

Russell no longer believes he needs to change his driving style after Mercedes reviewed the data.

Confidence Returns Ahead of Hungary

Looking ahead to the Hungarian Grand Prix, Russell says he can finally focus on what matters most: driving naturally.

Rather than worrying about managing the power unit during every lap, he expects to concentrate on extracting maximum performance through consistent driving and race execution.

Furthermore, Mercedes believes recalibrating the affected systems will allow the engine to deliver its full performance throughout the weekend.

Russell also acknowledged that Formula 1 remains an extremely demanding sport. Nevertheless, removing one major concern gives both the driver and the team greater confidence heading into the next race.

George Russell expects a stronger weekend in Hungary after Mercedes solved the calibration issue.

Mercedes Hopes to Bounce Back in Hungary

The George Russell Mercedes issue appears to have been identified at an important moment in the Formula 1 season.

Overall, the corrected calibration should allow Russell to drive with greater confidence and focus entirely on extracting speed from the car. If Mercedes has solved the underlying problem, the Hungarian Grand Prix could provide the perfect opportunity for the team to return to fighting at the front.

Haas introduced a revised front wing and nose design in Belgium, improving the VF-26’s drivability. However, Oliver Bearman believes much more development is needed to close the gap to the midfield leaders.

The latest Haas F1 upgrade delivered encouraging results during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend. By introducing a revised front wing and nose assembly, the American team made the VF-26 easier to drive after struggling with balance and consistency in recent races.

Although the update represents a step forward, Haas acknowledges that much more development will be required to fight regularly for championship points.

Haas introduced a revised front wing and nose package during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend.The Haas F1 upgrade focuses primarily on the front of the VF-26.

Engineers introduced a redesigned front wing together with new nose mounting supports. Furthermore, the nose tip, flap mechanism and aerodynamic elements around the endplates were also revised.

These changes were designed to improve airflow around the front wheels while giving the car a more consistent aerodynamic platform throughout the lap.

Drivers Immediately Felt the Difference

Oliver Bearman noticed improvements as soon as the new package was evaluated.

During Friday practice, Haas completed several comparison runs to understand how the updated components behaved on track. As a result, the team confirmed that the VF-26 became easier to drive.

According to Bearman, the upgrade did not generate a significant increase in downforce. Instead, it expanded the car’s operating window and gave the drivers more confidence in different cornering conditions.

The updated package improved driver confidence without significantly increasing downforce.

Performance Gap Still Remains

Despite the positive progress, the Haas F1 upgrade has not solved every problem.

Bearman admitted the team remains behind several midfield rivals, including Racing Bulls and Alpine. Consequently, Haas still lacks the pace needed to score points consistently on pure performance.

The British driver described the Belgian package as only the beginning of a much longer development process.

More Updates Are Already Needed

Bearman believes Haas must continue developing the VF-26 aggressively.

According to the young driver, the current upgrade represents only a small improvement. Furthermore, he estimated the team needs four or five more updates of similar magnitude before it can regularly compete with the strongest midfield teams.

That assessment highlights how competitive the Formula 1 midfield has become during the 2026 season.

Oliver Bearman believes Haas still needs several major upgrades to challenge the midfield leaders.

Hungary Will Offer Another Important Test

The Hungarian Grand Prix will provide Haas with another opportunity to evaluate its latest developments.

The technical nature of the Hungaroring should reveal whether the revised aerodynamic package can continue improving the VF-26’s balance on a very different type of circuit.

Haas Continues Its Development Push

The latest Haas F1 upgrade has made the VF-26 more predictable and easier for its drivers to handle.

Overall, the revised front wing and nose package represent meaningful progress. However, Bearman’s comments make it clear that Haas still faces a considerable challenge before it can consistently fight Racing Bulls, Alpine and the rest of the competitive midfield.