Throughout the Chinese GP weekend, where Verstappen failed to score a point and retired early due to an ERS problem, the Red Bull driver was vocal in both his criticism of the "Mario Kart" 2026 F1 rules, but also the need for his team to "get our stuff together."

Reacting to Verstappen's outspoken weekend, Ralf Schumacher laid out a "big difference" between brother Michael and the Red Bull driver when each dealing with difficult periods.

Speaking on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, Schumacher said: “What is very important now, and this is also the big difference with my brother, is that he always stood behind his team and did not bring out criticism."

Schumacher also called on team principal Laurent Mekies to step up in leadership at Red Bull, instead of leaving Verstappen to "take centre stage."

Meanwhile, Lando Norris has used the current two-week break between races in Shanghai and Suzuka to get measured head-to-toe by the Madame Tussauds London’s studio team, and will join fellow world champion Lewis Hamilton in the wax museum’s Culture Capital zone.

Speaking on the Madame Tussauds website, Norris said: “It’s pretty surreal to think I’ll have a figure in Madame Tussauds, it’s such a big honour.

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