silverstone, UK – as the Formula 1 circus descends upon Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, reigning world champion Max Verstappen finds himself the subject of intense speculation and strategic maneuvering, even as his rivals attempt to minimize the meaning of his championship lead.

While Verstappen navigates rumors of a potential move to Mercedes and dismisses talk of a sabbatical, lewis Hamilton is hoping for rain to level the playing field, while Fernando Alonso is tempering expectations for Aston Martin’s latest upgrades.

Piatri Unfazed by Verstappen’s Position

Despite Verstappen’s commanding 61-point lead in the World Cup standings, McLaren driver oscar Piatri insists he isn’t focused on the Dutchman’s position. “He will be a danger every weekend, or at least on most weekends,” Piatri cautioned.

“Ultimately, I aim to do my best every weekend and think about it. So I am not especially interested in where he is in the championship,” Piatri emphasized. “He is obviously a bit further back now. It is a fairly big gap to catch up, but I don’t worry about it either way,” he explained.

Hamilton Hopes for Rain at Silverstone

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton acknowledged mclaren’s current performance advantage. “Of course we are not as quickly as McLaren.So if it stays dry, you will simply win the race,” Hamilton stated.

Consequently, Hamilton is “hoping and praying” for rain. “it is a very special place and it is always a special race,no matter how it goes,” Hamilton said of Silverstone. he hopes “that the weather and all kinds of other factors will help us,” as he believes Ferrari will likely have no chance of winning under normal circumstances. Hamilton has a strong track record at the British GP, having finished on the podium in the last eleven races.

Hamilton Recommends Mercedes to Verstappen

When asked if he would advise Max Verstappen to move to Mercedes, Hamilton responded affirmatively. While acknowledging Red Bull as “a great team,” Hamilton stated, “But what I can say if someone would ask me about Mercedes is that it is indeed also a great team, with their passion, their great employees, their great factory and their great work environment.” He expressed excitement at the prospect of seeing what Verstappen could achieve with his former team.

Verstappen Dismisses Sabbatical Rumors

Verstappen has once again dismissed rumors of taking a sabbatical year. “No,” he stated unequivocally, confirming his intention to continue racing in Formula 1 in 2026. While he intends to pursue racing activities outside of Formula 1,such as his recent Nordschleife experience,he clarified that he “certainly not” will take a break from the premier class.

Verstappen revealed his desire to participate in races in other series in the future, but onyl alongside Formula 1, not as a replacement.

Verstappen Mum on Mercedes Speculation

Verstappen declined to comment on the Mercedes rumors. “To be honest, I have nothing else to add to what I said last week,” he stated, refusing to confirm any talks with Mercedes.

“Who says that?” he responded when questioned about his team’s alleged discussions with Mercedes.He reiterated that he has a contract with Red Bull and does not wish to elaborate further. “Nothing has changed from my side,” he said, also declining to discuss contract details such as exit clauses.

Antonelli Focused on Mercedes

Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli stated he is not in discussions with other teams, despite speculation about Verstappen’s potential availability. “Whether I talk to other teams? No,” he clarified. “I got this chance from Mercedes and there are no conversations with others. I am very happy where I am,” he said, adding that the team is satisfied with his performance.

“I just have to do my best, minimize all mistakes and then try to achieve the best possible. But I know that the team trusts me very much, and that’s why I don’t worry,” Antonelli concluded.

Gasly Committed to Alpine

Pierre Gasly affirmed his commitment to Alpine, stating, “I drive for alpine and want to win with alpine.” Regarding Verstappen’s situation, he commented, “Every driver wants the best car that exist, and he doesn’t get that at the moment.”

“I think it is normal for him to look at his options and think about what is possible afterwards.he is a four -time world champion,” Gasly noted, adding that Verstappen’s plans will eventually “find out”.

Alonso Downplays Aston Martin Upgrade

Aston Martin has introduced new parts this weekend, but Fernando Alonso tempered expectations. “To be honest, it is less than the Imola package,” he said. There is “only a very small change on the underbody and nothing really striking,” he clarified, emphasizing that the innovation is not readily visible as it is indeed “below the car”.

While welcoming new parts, Alonso cautioned against expecting a significant performance jump similar to the Imola upgrade.

Haas Expects Overall Advancement from Updates

Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu clarified that the team’s upgrade for this weekend is not solely focused on qualifying performance. “No, it’s not just about qualifying performance, but about the overall performance. But it should offer a little more grip and a little more stability, which in turn creates trust,” he explained.

“It should improve both the qualification and the race,but we will see. We will rate it tomorrow. Hopefully it will work as it should,” Komatsu emphasized. The upgrade is slated to initially appear on Esteban Ocon’s car during FT1, with plans to retrofit Oliver Bearman’s car for FT2.

Hamilton Adapting to Leclerc’s Driving Style

Lewis Hamilton revealed he is adapting his driving style to emulate Charles Leclerc‘s approach at Ferrari. He explained that Leclerc has been driving for Ferrari for years and has found a direction “in which the car works”.

“And I tried all other options that should work, but for some reason they just don’t work.And I’m slowly switching to the position on how Charles drives the car,” Hamilton reported. He aims to collaborate with Ferrari to ensure the 2026 car incorporates elements of “my DNA” to improve its performance.

Stroll Expresses Concerns About 2026 Regulations

Lance Stroll has voiced significant concerns regarding the 2026 Formula 1 regulations, echoing sentiments previously expressed by Charles Leclerc. stroll highlighted the potential for drivers to be forced into lift-and-coast strategies due to energy management issues, which could negatively impact the racing spectacle. These concerns align with recent simulations suggesting that the 2026 cars may not be enjoyable to drive under the proposed regulations Autosport.

Key Driver Quotes from Silverstone

Here’s a summary of key quotes from drivers at Silverstone: