Mercedes left Zandvoort with questions about its inconsistent cornering performance, especially through the fast Turns 7, 8 and 9.

Mercedes heads toward Monza with an unusual problem to solve.

The W17 looked extremely strong at the beginning of the Zandvoort weekend, but its performance dropped in the faster sections as the event progressed.

Mercedes Was Too Slow in the Fastest Corners

George Russell took pole and won the Sprint, but Mercedes could not maintain that level in the main event.

Lando Norris eventually claimed pole and victory, leaving Russell and Kimi Antonelli in second and third.

Mercedes was unable to maintain its early Zandvoort pace in the fastest corners.

Trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin said some parts of the circuit were particularly difficult.

The biggest problem appeared through the Turns 7, 8 and 9 sequence, where Mercedes lacked pace and placed significant load on the left-side tires.

The team still does not fully understand why.

The Cars Changed Behavior Without Major Setup Changes

The mystery became even greater because Mercedes made only minor changes between sessions.

Different tire compounds naturally influenced performance, but Shovlin said the magnitude of the changes was unusual.

Russell’s first stint was more conservative before his pace improved later.

Antonelli experienced almost the opposite pattern, with his performance dropping through the second and third stints before recovering slightly.

Mercedes says it was not constantly changing electronic settings or wing angles.

Yet the balance of the cars still appeared to change significantly from one run to another.

Russell Had Understeer, Antonelli Had Oversteer

Perhaps the strangest element was that the two Mercedes drivers did not experience the same car.

Russell reported a tendency toward understeer, while Antonelli’s W17 showed more oversteer.

Mercedes says Russell and Antonelli experienced opposite handling characteristics during the Dutch Grand Prix.

Shovlin admitted that the team still does not understand why the difference was so large.

That makes the problem particularly important to solve before Monza, where Mercedes will need to understand exactly how the W17 reacts to different tire compounds and track conditions.

For the Mercedes W17, the challenge is no longer simply finding more performance. The team first needs to understand why its balance and pace can change so dramatically without major setup adjustments.

Lando Norris has signed a new McLaren deal that will keep the reigning F1 world champion at the team until at least the end of 2030.

McLaren has secured another key piece of its long-term future.

Lando Norris has renewed his contract through at least the 2030 Formula 1 season, with a further multi-year option that could extend the partnership beyond that date.

The deal keeps the reigning world champion with the team where he made his F1 debut in 2019.

Norris Commits His Future to McLaren

Norris joined McLaren’s junior program in 2017 before becoming a full-time F1 driver two years later.

He has since become the driver with the most Grand Prix starts in McLaren history, with 163 races for the team.

Lando Norris has committed to McLaren through at least the 2030 F1 season.

His McLaren record includes 18 poles, 48 podiums, and 13 victories, as well as the constructors’ championships won by the team in 2024 and 2025.

The biggest achievement came in 2025, when Norris won his first Formula 1 drivers’ championship.

Norris said McLaren is his home and that his original goal was to help return the team to the front of the grid.

McLaren Keeps Its Core Together

The new agreement continues the stability McLaren has built in recent years.

Oscar Piastri already signed a long-term extension in 2025, while CEO Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella are also committed to the team for the long term.

Norris and Oscar Piastri will remain McLaren’s long-term driver pairing.

Stella believes keeping Norris alongside Piastri gives McLaren one of the strongest and most closely connected driver lineups in F1.

The team is therefore preserving the core structure that helped it win consecutive constructors’ titles.

Norris Gets His Championship-Winning MCL39

McLaren announced the renewal at its Technology Centre during the team’s annual event for employees’ families and friends.

As part of the celebration, McLaren is giving Norris a very special gift: the MCL39 he drove to the 2025 world championship.

Norris will receive the MCL39 that he drove to his first F1 world championship in 2025.

Stella said Norris has played a fundamental role in McLaren’s rise and praised his combination of natural speed, consistency, maturity, and commitment to the team.

Zak Brown also highlighted Norris’ development through McLaren’s young-driver program and his contribution to the team’s return to the top.

For Lando Norris McLaren, the new contract provides long-term continuity at a team that has already helped him become a world champion.

Haas has evaluated Ryo Hirakawa, Leonardo Fornaroli, and Rafael Camara in a three-day TPC test at Portimao as it weighs its options for 2027.

Haas has completed a three-day TPC test at Portimao involving Ryo Hirakawa, Leonardo Fornaroli, and Rafael Camara.

The test comes as the American team continues to assess its options for the 2027 Formula 1 season.

Haas Evaluates Three Candidates

The three drivers each completed running in the VF-25, Haas’ 2025 Formula 1 car, at the Portuguese circuit between August 26 and 28.

Hirakawa, the team’s reserve driver, shared the test with Fornaroli, the 2025 Formula 2 champion, and Camara, a current F2 title contender.

Ryo Hirakawa, Leonardo Fornaroli, and Rafael Camara took part in Haas’ latest TPC test at Portimao.

The session follows a similar test at Fuji last month, where Haas evaluated Toyota-backed drivers Sho Tsuboi and Nirei Fukuzumi.

Together, the two tests suggest Haas is examining several potential candidates before making its final decision.

Ocon and Bearman Remain the Focus

Haas has not yet officially confirmed its 2027 driver lineup.

Oliver Bearman is widely expected to keep his seat, while Esteban Ocon remains under consideration as the team evaluates its options.

Oliver Bearman is expected to remain with Haas, while Esteban Ocon’s future is still being assessed.

Team principal Ayao Komatsu says Haas is encouraged that other drivers are interested in joining the team, even while its 2026 results remain difficult.

The immediate priority, however, is still maximizing the performance of the current car and its existing drivers.

Haas Says There Is No Rush

Komatsu has stressed that the team does not need to rush its decision.

For now, Haas is focused on getting the most from Bearman and Ocon, while continuing to improve the VF-26.

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu says the team will take its time before deciding its 2027 lineup.

That approach would be consistent with Haas’ history of announcing its driver lineup relatively late in the year.

With several teams already settling their 2027 plans, Haas remains one of the few major pieces still unresolved.

The latest testing program gives the team more information before making its choice, while keeping the focus on improving its current performance.

For Haas F1, the next step is to determine which drivers best fit its long-term plans as the team prepares for the 2027 season.