Overview

• McLaren enters the final 10 rounds with 11 wins from 14 races and a 299-point constructors’ lead, as Oscar Piastri heads Lando Norris by nine points.
• The Norris–Piastri duel has had flashpoints, including contact in Canada and a late near-miss in Hungary, with McLaren leadership keeping relations steady.
• Lewis Hamilton seeks a reset after a bruising Hungary weekend and a season at Ferrari featuring no grand prix podiums and only a Sprint win in China.
• Max Verstappen has reaffirmed he will stay with Red Bull for 2026, cooling Mercedes talk as the team still has not finalised deals for George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli.
• Cadillac’s 2026 entry continues to shape the market, with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez reported as leading candidates and any confirmation expected after the Dutch GP, while a tight midfield fight sees Williams hold fifth ahead of Aston Martin and Sauber.