Overview

• Romain Grosjean drove a 2023 Haas VF‑23 at Mugello in a TPC session, describing the outing as special and wearing the helmet his children designed for his aborted 2020 finale.
• Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu oversaw the run, reuniting with Grosjean and underscoring the test’s symbolic closure nearly five years after the Bahrain fireball crash.
• Alpine’s advisor publicly framed the 2026 seat as a Colapinto–Aron choice, while Colapinto said the A525 was not developed around his driving and recent races showed measurable gains versus Pierre Gasly.
• Mick Schumacher announced a private IndyCar test on 13 October with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, a move media report could tilt Alpine’s 2026 decision toward Colapinto.
• Carlos Sainz rejected renewed Mercedes rumors, saying Toto Wolff has not called and affirming his Williams commitment as the team surpasses 100 constructors’ points in 2025, while Mercedes’ James Allison cautioned Singapore may not suit the W16 given the 2026 development focus.