Gabriel Bortoleto was one of the main highlights this Friday in Formula 1 by confirming that his future is linked to Audi for “many years.” The day also featured discussions about the next regulation cycle, Mercedes’ projections for the title fight, and new details about the race to be held in Sepang.
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Bortoleto stated that his stay at Audi is already defined, although he did not reveal the length of the contract. The Brazilian has ten points after 11 rounds, with three results in the top ten, and is 14th in the Drivers’ World Championship. “I have a long road ahead with them, it will be many years, and I hope we can achieve many victories and great achievements together in the future,” he said.
Stefano Domenicali revealed that the category is working with two possibilities for the technical regulations after the current cycle. F1 can keep the rules until 2031 and then adopt a completely new package, or bring forward changes if teams and manufacturers reach a consensus. The executive hopes that a direction will be defined by the end of the season.
In the fight for the championships, Mercedes foresees a more intense scenario after the summer break. The team leads among constructors with a 72-point advantage over Ferrari, while Kimi Antonelli has a 50-point lead over Lewis Hamilton. Technical director Simone Resta assessed that the increased pressure could show which teams can maintain performance when results start to carry even more weight.
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Aston Martin also remained in the spotlight after the 16 updates introduced at the Hungarian GP. The team rejected Carlos Sainz’s assessment that it now has the best chassis in the midfield pack but confirmed that the new package made the AMR26 lighter, increased downforce, and achieved the goal of putting the team back in a position to compete. New improvements are planned for the Dutch GP.
Finally, Sepang clarified that the race transferred from Bahrain will be held in the afternoon, not at night. The doubt arose after the official Formula 1 app showed a nighttime schedule, but the circuit organization confirmed that the information was incorrect. The event will mark Malaysia’s return to the calendar for the first time since 2017.
Read more F1: Domenicali reveals two scenarios for the next regulation cycle of the category
