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Lance Stroll meanwhile triggered a red flag after spinning out of the session. A rear suspension failure on the upgraded Aston Martin was the suspected cause. The pace though, was encouraging.

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09:55:07
Jamie Woodhouse
Lance Stroll's Aston Martin in doubt

It looks like Lance Stroll will be going nowhere in this session. He suffered what Adrian Newey called a "very unexpected" failure in first practice, believed to be around the rear suspension. The upgraded AMR26 looked encouraging on performance earlier, but the setback on Stroll's car is an unwanted headache.

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Originally posted by Georgeair:
Fernando says it’s much better. Probably have to give some credit to him, his experience and his forthrightness.

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From 5sec off to 2.

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Originally posted by 220-9er:
Baku will be interesting for all the teams-to see if they can run the long straights without running out of battery.

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Red Bull have announced that Max Verstappen has committed to a new deal that will see him race for the team through to 2030.

The Dutchman first joined the Milton Keynes-based outfit in 2016 in a mid-season promotion from sister team Toro Rosso (now named Racing Bulls), and has gone on to achieve a spectacular 71 victories and four Drivers’ Championships.

His most recent triumph in 2024 was followed by McLaren clinching both titles last season, when a stunning comeback by Verstappen resulted in him losing out on a fifth championship by just two points to Lando Norris.

However, Red Bull have dropped further down the pecking order under the new regulations, leading to speculation that the 28-year-old was beginning to explore options at other teams despite his previous contract lasting until 2028.

The announcement, which comes in the build-up to Verstappen’s home race in the Netherlands, brings a definitive end to the rumours and highlights his belief that under the leadership of Laurent Mekies, Red Bull will return to race-winning ways sooner rather than later.

In a team statement, Red Bull labelled their relationship with Verstappen "one of the most successful and defining partnerships in F1 history", adding that the latest deal represents "a powerful statement of mutual trust and ambition – and a shared decision to shape the future together".

Reflecting on the announcement, Verstappen said: "I am really pleased with the contract extension. We have the best people and I’m excited to keep working together with everyone to get back to the top again.

"This remains the ultimate goal that all of us have been working towards and will continue to pursue. I want to thank Red Bull, Laurent and everyone at Oracle Red Bull Racing for the trust they put in me.

"I have always said it: The team is like a second family for me and I feel very at home. I came to the team hoping to be able to win races. What we went on to achieve together has been simply lovely and we have shared many incredible moments and won four World Championships.

"To continue this journey with the same team that I have been with my whole career is really special and something I have always wanted to do.

"Getting to work with Laurent now for over a year has also been great, I see a clear vision he has for the team. Everyone in Milton Keynes believes in what we are building and I am looking forward to the next chapter, fighting for more victories and competing for championships as we continue to shape the future of this team.

"To make this announcement during the last Grand Prix at Zandvoort is a great moment for me as well. Hopefully we can give the fans a special send-off for the final race.”

Mekies was promoted to the role of Team Principal in July 2025 and has taken the squad through a rebuilding phase over the last year, leading the decision to maximise last season's opportunities at the cost of having an underdeveloped car at the beginning of 2026.

Extending his star driver's contract is arguably the greatest achievement of his tenure to date, as he said: "Having Max continue with us and retaining the best driver on the grid is fantastic news for everyone at Red Bull, Oracle Red Bull Racing, as well as F1 and motorsport as a whole.

"Very few partnerships in sport achieve what Max and this team have. Since the very beginning, Max has embodied everything that makes Oracle Red Bull Racing special: uncompromising competitiveness, relentless determination and the courage to challenge convention. His impact on our team and on Red Bull’s motorsport story has been transformational, and he has been fundamental to everything we have accomplished together.

"The decision to continue our journey together is rooted in the trust Max and the team have built over many years, as well as Max’s confidence in our people, our culture and our vision for the future. Forged through championship-winning success, intense battles and challenging moments alike, this relationship has only grown stronger – making it one of Formula One’s greatest success stories.

"But we are not done yet. There are more races to win, more milestones to achieve and more history to write. Together, we continue to raise the bar with the same determination that brought us to the top of the sport and an even greater faith in what we can achieve. Much will evolve as we move forward, but our ambition remains unchanged – united by one direction, one vision, one team.”