Strap yourself in, as we take you through a fast-paced look at the latest F1 news headlines.<\/p>\n
Lando Norris was snubbed as Riccardo Patrese proposed the \u201conly driver who can compete with\u201d Max Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, will not be getting advice on his Ferrari troubles from Charles Leclerc. All this and more, so let\u2019s get to it.<\/p>\n
Charles Leclerc the \u2018only driver\u2019 who could hang with Max Verstappen?<\/p>\n
Former F1 driver Riccardo Patrese believes that to be the case.<\/p>\n
The six-time grand prix winner believes that even Lando Norris, the new World Champion, could not compete with Verstappen in equal machinery.<\/p>\n
Read more \u2013 \u2018Only driver who can compete with Verstappen\u2019 named, and it\u2019s not Norris<\/a><\/p>\n No Leclerc advice to Lewis Hamilton<\/p>\n Leclerc heads into F1 2026 off the back of a breakthrough season. Ferrari may not have won a Grand Prix in 2025, but Leclerc claimed all seven of their podium results, and finished 86 points better off than his seven-time World Champion teammate Lewis Hamilton.<\/p>\n It was a major struggle for Hamilton in his first Ferrari season, but he has not received advice from Leclerc, who has himself to worry about, and feels underqualified to advise a seven-time World Champion.<\/p>\n Read more \u2013 Leclerc reveals two reasons why he has not given Lewis Hamilton Ferrari advice<\/a><\/p>\n Has Verstappen worked out Lewis Hamilton\u2019s Ferrari struggles?<\/p>\n Max Verstappen has put Lewis Hamilton\u2019s woes down to leaving his \u201csecond family\u201d at Mercedes and not feeling \u201csecure or comfortable\u201d at Ferrari.<\/p>\n Read more \u2013 Has Max Verstappen pinpointed the reason for Lewis Hamilton\u2019s Ferrari struggles?<\/a><\/p>\n George Russell in telling Mercedes contract admission<\/p>\n Hamilton\u2019s former Mercedes teammate George Russell, like Leclerc, had an F1 2025 to shout about. He had to wait until post-Singapore though until a new contract was announced.<\/p>\n Russell admitted that the matter of feeling \u201cappreciated\u201d or \u201cunderappreciated\u201d was quickly put to rest by signing his new Mercedes deal, after the rumours of a move for Max Verstappen were hushed.<\/p>\n Read more \u2013 George Russell makes telling appreciation admission over Mercedes contract talks<\/a><\/p>\n Toto Wolff wrestles with \u2018painful\u2019 Mercedes P2<\/p>\n Russell\u2019s haul of 319 points spearheaded Mercedes\u2019 charge to second in the Constructors\u2019 Championship.<\/p>\n The Silver Arrows did though finish 364 points behind McLaren, the team which uses a Mercedes engine.<\/p>\n Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says there was no P2 celebration, just \u201cpain\u201d.<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n