RaceFans Round-up: Mercedes “very confident” in 2026 power unit

In brief

Mercedes “very confident” for 2026 – Russell

Although Mercedes have only won a single grand prix since the introduction of new ground effect technical regulations in 2022, Russell believes his team are in a good position for the introduction of revised power units in two years’ time, as they did the last time the rules were changed.

“Ordinarily, 2026 seems like a long time away but in the world of Formula 1 it’s going to be here tomorrow and the team are feeling really confident for this era,” he said.

“I think you know the experience the team have had, the success in 2014 with the new powertrain, and then obviously the time in Formula E, the work that was done with the hypercar. There are a lot of individuals within [Mercedes High Performance Powertrains] who have got so much experience with this future technology, so I think that leaves us in a really great place to have a great engine – and the work Petronas are doing on the fuel as well is looking really strong. So on the engine side, I think we’re feeling very confident for that era.”

Newgarden “thankful” to O’Ward

Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden heaped praise on Pato O’Ward after passing his rival to win the race halfway around the final lap. “It was hard to know if it’s going to work,” Newgarden said. “I don’t think it works unless you’re racing someone like Pato.

“It’s not that Pato didn’t race me hard, he just raced me clean. That move doesn’t work unless you’re racing someone like that. It just doesn’t. It’s very easy that that doesn’t work out.”

O’Ward finished second in the race, as he also did in 2022. “I think he’s a tremendous champion,” said Newgarden. “He could have easily won the race himself. He was very capable of that with his team.

“For us, it worked out. He drove me excellently. I’m very thankful for him and the way that he drove.”

“From our side, we left it all on the track. There was nothing that we were going to come home and regret. I definitely felt that way in the final. I’m like, we’re going to put it all on the line. You have to if you want to win Indy. That’s just the way it’s got to be, especially nowadays.

“It was enough. Our car was so fast, and it was pretty good. It was a little hairy at the end as far as the trickiness, but we had it all day as far as the commitment and the car and the team, and we laid it all out there in turn three.”

Larson gutted to miss out on ‘double’

NASCAR champion Kyle Larson said missing out on the chance to compete in the series’ race at Charlotte and the Indianapolis 500 was a deep disappointment. After completing the delayed Indy 500, Larson arrived at Charlotte too late to join the race before it was rained off.

“What I thought could be one of the best days of my life quickly turned into one of the most disappointing ones I’ve ever experienced,” said Larson, who thanked everyone involved in making his appearance happen.

“So much time, money, and effort went into this experience and it just kills me to have it all end the way it did. I feel like I let so many people down. We knew all along weather could throw a wrench into things but seeing it come to reality is a horrible feeling.

“Up until Sunday it was truly one of the greatest experiences of my life. I can’t describe how appreciative I am of everyone’s support of me to live out a dream. I hope it’s not the last opportunity I have to try the double but if it is I guess it was memorable.”

First British F4 win for Mercedes junior

Mercedes junior driver Yuanpu Cui scored his first British F4 win in Snetterton last weekend in the partial reverse-grid race. Alex Ninovic won the other two races, the last of which was cut to just five laps due to a downpour, and closed within 34 points of championship leader Deagan Fairclough.

Links

Motor racing links of interest:

Sky (Brundle analyses early Monaco Grand Prix chaos, crashes and Leclerc perfection)

‘(Ocon) has been heavily criticised before by Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso for his intra-team aggression and contact, and now Gasly too. It will cost Esteban heavily as no front running team would entertain that kind of mentality, or even perhaps any team.’

Sebastien Philippe confident ART ‘will be back’ after O’Sullivan’s Monte Carlo victory (Formula 2)

‘This weekend, both of them showed they had good pace. Victor (Martins) showed it in Quali and for Zak (O’Sullivan) it was a bit difficult because of the FP in the rain. He had a very good start to Qualifying but some issues on the last two laps made him start far back, but he showed today that the pace was very good.’

First ever United Against Online Abuse conference taking place (FIA)

‘The world of sport, whilst exciting and inspiring, is facing an epidemic of abuse. Athletes, officials, and supporters are facing digital hostility, cyber bullying, and hate speech that needs to be addressed.’

Nine hypercars headline Le Mans city parade (Sportscar 365)

‘The nine Hypercars – one from each of the nine manufacturers entered into the 92nd edition of the French endurance classic – will be joined by a sole LMP2 machine and seven LMGT3 cars.’

FIA WEC Six Hours of Spa – The Red Line – Full Access ()

We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link relating to single-seater motorsport to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it to us via the contact form.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

Social media

Notable posts from X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and more:

https://x.com/Charles_Leclerc/status/1795163509329739804
https://x.com/redbullracing/status/1794817852651757661
https://x.com/stef_wilson/status/1794880734274179442
https://x.com/Ericsson_Marcus/status/1794883940576272385
https://x.com/MarcoAndretti/status/1794879454386520538
https://x.com/ColtonHerta/status/1794889899671486547
https://x.com/IndyOreo/status/1794878238545817644

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

Happy birthday!

No RaceFans birthdays today

On this day in motorsport

• 35 years ago today Ayrton Senna won the Mexican Grand Prix ahead of Riccardo Patrese and Michele Alboreto