Kimi Antonelli recovered from 16th to fifth in Baku, but Mercedes says contact with Oliver Bearman caused major floor damage and compromised his race pace.

Antonelli limited the damage in Baku

Kimi Antonelli left the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix with fifth place after starting from 16th.

It was a recovery drive in a difficult weekend. Antonelli himself described Baku as his worst weekend of the season after a hydraulic problem limited his practice running and a qualifying crash ended his Saturday session.

The Mercedes driver then had another problem during the race.

After the first Safety Car restart, Antonelli made contact with Haas driver Oliver Bearman. The Italian avoided the main incident but his Mercedes suffered significant floor damage.

Antonelli recovered from 16th on the grid to finish fifth in Baku.

Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord explained that Antonelli was slower than teammate George Russell even when he had clean air.

The team initially linked part of that difference to the Italian’s confidence and the difficult weekend. However, Lord later confirmed that the contact with Bearman had also damaged the car.

Antonelli himself confirmed the problem after the race.

He said he was carrying “big floor damage” after the Safety Car restart. Despite that, he managed to continue and move through the field.

Mercedes estimates a significant aerodynamic loss

According to the information supplied for this report, Mercedes estimated that the damage cost Antonelli around 10 points of aerodynamic downforce.

That is a meaningful loss on a Formula 1 car.

Less downforce can affect cornering speed, braking stability and tire management. It can also make the car more difficult to balance, especially on a street circuit such as Baku.

The reported damage may have cost Antonelli roughly two-tenths per lap.

That would make his fifth-place finish even more significant. The Mercedes driver had to manage an imperfect car while also protecting his championship position.

Baku’s narrow corners and close walls make aerodynamic balance particularly important.

Antonelli had already chosen a cautious approach at the restart.

With several cars fighting for position through Turn 1, he avoided taking unnecessary risks. That decision helped him escape the larger accident and continue the race.

He still lost time because of the contact.

The incident came during a chaotic restart after a Safety Car. Several drivers were caught in the congestion, while Antonelli was struck on the left-hand side by Bearman’s front-right wheel.

The damage was not enough to force a retirement.

However, it changed the behavior of the W17 for the rest of the race.

The qualifying crash made the recovery harder

The floor damage was only part of Antonelli’s difficult weekend.

On Friday, a hydraulic problem curtailed his running in FP1. Mercedes also had to fit a new power unit after fire damage, limiting his FP2 preparation.

Then came Saturday’s qualifying accident.

Antonelli hit the inside wall at Turn 1 during Q1 and damaged the front-left area of the Mercedes. He could not continue the session and was classified 16th on the grid.

That left him with a major recovery job.

George Russell, meanwhile, took pole position and went on to win the race.

The contrast between the two Mercedes weekends could hardly have been clearer.

The Baku circuit leaves little margin for error, making car balance and driver confidence especially important.

Antonelli eventually climbed to fifth place.

He also finished only 0.3 seconds behind Charles Leclerc at the flag. That allowed him to limit the championship damage despite the problems that had affected the weekend.

The points gap to Russell has now fallen.

Before Baku, Antonelli led his teammate by 81 points. After Russell’s victory and Antonelli’s fifth place, the advantage is down to 66 points.

Antonelli leaves Baku with a damaged car but valuable points

Mercedes’ weekend was a mixed one.

Russell converted pole into victory, while Antonelli had to recover from a difficult qualifying session and further damage during the race.

For Antonelli, the priority was clear.

He avoided unnecessary risks, managed the damaged Mercedes and brought home fifth place. That kept him at the top of the championship despite losing ground to Russell.

The Kimi Antonelli Baku damage therefore had a direct effect on his race performance, with Mercedes reporting significant floor damage after contact with Bearman. The Italian now heads into the next round with a 66-point championship lead and an opportunity to respond in Malaysia.

Jeep is reshaping its U.S. marketing strategy with “This Is Jeep Country,” a new campaign that connects 85 years of brand history with its current vehicle lineup and a broader community of drivers.

Jeep puts heritage at the center of its new campaign

Jeep has launched “This Is Jeep Country,” a new U.S. marketing campaign built around the brand’s history, vehicles and community.

The campaign debuted on September 9, 2026. It connects Jeep’s 85-year history with the brand’s long-standing focus on freedom, capability and adventure.

The central idea comes from Jeep’s own history. The campaign presents America as the brand’s first customer, linking the company’s origins in 1941 with its current SUV lineup.

The new campaign is also broader than a traditional vehicle advertisement. Jeep is using television, streaming, digital, social, experiential and out-of-home media to distribute the message.

The campaign’s U.S. focus is clear. It uses American landscapes, real Jeep-owner experiences and several generations of the brand’s vehicles to create a single identity.

Jeep’s U.S. marketing continues to connect its vehicle lineup with outdoor driving, adventure and American landscapes.

The entire Jeep lineup becomes part of the story

One of the most important changes is the size of the campaign.

Jeep is not promoting just one model. Wrangler, Gladiator, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Compass, Grand Wagoneer and the all-electric Recon are all included.

That gives Jeep a common message across very different vehicles.

The Wrangler and Gladiator represent the brand’s traditional off-road image. The Grand Cherokee and Grand Wagoneer bring a stronger focus on comfort and luxury. The Recon adds an electric model to the same broader brand story.

Jeep says the vehicles appear across deserts, forests, mountains and coastlines. The campaign also incorporates footage from real owners and enthusiasts.

That community element is important.

Instead of presenting Jeep only through professionally produced footage, the campaign includes moments from actual owner experiences. Jeep says the approach is intended to recognize the people who have helped build its enthusiast community over the decades.

The campaign expands beyond one audience

The U.S. campaign also includes Hispanic and African American digital extensions.

These versions adapt the central message for different audiences while remaining connected to the main campaign. The extensions are running across digital and online channels.

This gives Jeep a broader way to communicate its brand identity.

The goal is not to create separate identities for each audience. Instead, the campaign keeps the same core themes while changing elements of the creative approach.

That is particularly relevant for a nationwide brand with a large and diverse customer base.

A different tone for Jeep’s marketing

“This Is Jeep Country” also marks a shift in the way Jeep presents itself.

The campaign puts heritage and brand identity ahead of a specific vehicle feature. The vehicles remain central, but the story begins with Jeep’s history and the people who drive its products.

The result is a campaign built around a simple idea: Jeep Country is not limited to one road or one type of vehicle.

The brand uses that idea to connect its off-road heritage with modern SUVs and the upcoming Recon EV.

Jeep’s current U.S. portfolio combines traditional SUVs, trucks and newer electrified models under one brand identity.

NFL and streaming expand the reach

The campaign is also designed for a wide media footprint.

Jeep says “This Is Jeep Country” will appear across NFL and football media, as well as digital, connected TV and streaming platforms. The listed services include Disney+, Paramount+, Max and Peacock.

That gives Jeep access to both traditional television audiences and consumers watching content through streaming services.

The campaign was created in partnership with Chicago-based agency Highdive. It combines advertising with social, experiential and out-of-home activity.

Jeep’s new direction arrives with new leadership

The campaign also arrives during a period of change inside the brand.

Branden Coté became Jeep CEO in August 2026, and the new campaign represents one of his first major national marketing initiatives. The strategy puts a stronger emphasis on Jeep’s heritage and its relationship with owners.

At the same time, Jeep is expanding its vehicle portfolio.

The brand is adding new electrified products while maintaining traditional gasoline-powered models. The new Recon EV is an important part of that transition.

That makes the campaign useful beyond marketing.

It gives Jeep a common identity that can cover different types of vehicles as the lineup changes.

A campaign designed to connect old and new

The key challenge for Jeep is maintaining a recognizable identity while the brand changes its products.

“This Is Jeep Country” addresses that challenge by focusing on heritage, community and adventure rather than one particular powertrain.

The Wrangler can fit into the same narrative as the electric Recon. The Gladiator can share the same campaign with the Grand Wagoneer. Each model represents a different part of the Jeep lineup.

The campaign therefore gives Jeep a single U.S. message across its current portfolio.

“This Is Jeep Country” is now rolling across television, streaming, digital, social and experiential channels, making it one of Jeep’s broadest U.S. marketing efforts of 2026.

The new Jensen Interceptor GTX brings back the famous British name with a 960-hp supercharged V8, rear-wheel drive and a track-focused design.

Jensen brings back the Interceptor with a new GTX

The Jensen Interceptor GTX has entered its next phase of development.

The new model is not a restoration of the classic Interceptor. Instead, Jensen International Automotive has created an entirely new car that uses the historic name as inspiration. The GTX is currently a track-only prototype and serves as the engineering base for future road-going models.

Jensen says the car is being developed and handcrafted in the United Kingdom. It combines modern engineering with proportions inspired by the original Interceptor, which first appeared in 1966.

The GTX keeps the long hood and fastback profile associated with the original Interceptor while adding modern aerodynamic hardware for the track.

The result is a much more aggressive machine than the classic road-going Jensen.

The body uses hand-formed aluminum panels over an aluminum chassis. Jensen also adds a large rear wing, a deep rear diffuser and extensive carbon-fiber aerodynamic elements.

A supercharged V8 sits at the center

The biggest change is under the hood.

The Interceptor GTX uses a 6.8-liter supercharged V8 based on a General Motors engine architecture. Jensen sent the engine to Texas-based Late Model Engines, where it received extensive modifications.

Jensen quotes 960 bhp for the GTX.

The company also says the engine has the potential to reach up to 1,200 bhp with additional tuning. That gives the GTX a very large performance margin for a car developed primarily for track use.

The engine sends its power exclusively to the rear wheels.

That is combined with a six-speed sequential transmission and a carbon-fiber driveshaft. Future road cars could use different transmission solutions, including a conventional automatic or manual gearbox.

The supercharged 6.8-liter V8 gives the GTX its extreme output while Jensen continues testing the complete powertrain.

The engine is not the only part designed for serious performance.

Jensen says the GTX uses adjustable electronics, double-wishbone suspension and three-way adjustable dampers. The car also uses forged 20-inch Vossen wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.

The braking system is also designed for track use.

Steel brake rotors are paired with a brake-balance adjustment inside the cockpit. This gives the driver more control when preparing the car for different track conditions.

Aerodynamics are a major part of the package

The GTX’s design is much more than a modern interpretation of the classic Interceptor.

The front end features a large splitter and additional aerodynamic surfaces. Air-extraction openings behind the front wheels help manage heat around the brakes.

The rear is even more dramatic.

Jensen has fitted a large adjustable rear wing that can generate more than 771 pounds of downforce, according to the car’s published specifications. A large diffuser also helps manage airflow under the body.

The GTX’s rear combines a full-width lighting signature with a large diffuser and adjustable wing designed to increase track performance.

The cabin follows the same philosophy.

Inside, Jensen uses carbon-fiber seats, an FIA-approved roll cage, six-point harnesses and a fire-suppression system. The layout is focused on driving rather than luxury equipment.

That makes sense for the current GTX.

This version is a development vehicle and a track machine. Jensen is using it to test the architecture, powertrain and chassis before moving toward the road-going Interceptor models.

The GTX is only the beginning

Jensen has already outlined what comes next.

The company plans to develop an Interceptor GTR as a road-legal high-performance model. A more comfort-focused Interceptor GT will follow as the grand-touring version.

Both cars will share engineering DNA with the GTX.

However, their designs will be better suited to road use. Jensen has indicated that the GTR will retain much of the GTX’s aggressive character, while the GT will place greater emphasis on luxury and long-distance driving.

The company has not announced final production dates or prices for those versions.

The GTX itself is also expected to remain an ultra-limited track car while development continues. Jensen says dynamic testing and evaluation are now part of the program.

For now, the Jensen Interceptor GTX is the clearest expression of the company’s new direction.

It combines a British hand-built body with an American-derived V8, rear-wheel drive and modern motorsport technology.

The 960-hp GTX is not yet the road-going Jensen of the future, but it is the machine being used to develop the GTR and GT models that will eventually bring the new Interceptor to public roads.