F1 Today | F1 CEO revives Hockenheim hopes, as Hamilton sends Mercedes warning
Photo: Race Pictures
21:01, 01 Aug
0 Comments
Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
From F1 CEO and President Stefano Domenicali opening the door to a German GP return at the iconic Hockenheim, to Lewis Hamilton's warning to Ferrari's rivals over a stronger second half of the 2026 season for the Scuderia - here are today's main stories!
F1 CEO revives talks over potential German GP return at Hockenheim
F1 CEO and President Stefano Domenicali has revealed that contact has been re-established with Hockenheim as part of long-term discussions over the potential return of the German Grand Prix.
Germany has been absent from the F1 calendar since 2021, when the Eifel Grand Prix was held at the Nürburgring during the COVID-19 pandemic as a one-off event, with Lewis Hamilton taking victory for Mercedes. The last race to be held at Hockenheim took place in 2019 and was won by Max Verstappen.
ADVERTISEMENT
Speaking to GPblog, among others, Domenicali also highlighted a deal with German broadcaster RTL, and an expectation of multiple bidders for the next German media rights tender, as positive indicators of the sport's growing popularity in the country.
Domenicali said: "For the first time, we are reconnected with the possibility of having contact with the Hockenheim people to see if, in the future, long term, not short term, they can have a race back.
"Now, with the deal we're having with RTL, you know, the numbers getting different. And in the new tender on the German market, we will have for the first time more than one operator that is interested to be part of this tender. So it's another sign that, in Europe, that is our very important market, the attention is getting even bigger."
Photo: Race Pictures
Hamilton sends Mercedes warning as Ferrari target aggressive upgrade timeline
ADVERTISEMENT
Elsewhere, Hamilton has warned Ferrari's rivals that the Scuderia will have a stronger second half of the 2026 season, as the Italian team eye an aggressive upgrade timeline that will feature updates to their power unit.
Lacking in straight line speed to the Silver Arrows, Ferrari sit P2 in the standings at the season's halfway point, trailing Mercedes by 72 points following a somewhat anticlimactic P4 and P5 finish for Charles Leclerc and Hamilton, respectively, at the Hungaroring last time out.
Reflecting on an overall positive start to the season, however, Hamilton told GPblog and others: “It has been an amazing first half, given we've been probably three or four tenths down on the straights based on power for the first half of the season. I know the guys are pushing hard to bring upgrades for that."
Focusing more on Ferrari's aggressive upgrade strategy so far, Hamilton anticipates an even stronger second half of the season, not only for the team, but his own personal performances. He added: "We've been bringing upgrades weekend in, weekend out.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We've got hopefully more to come in the second half and we just keep on pushing. I think the second half will be stronger. Usually the second half is a stronger period for me. So I'll really take this time to reset and try and come back stronger, fitter and better mentally prepared.”
Hamilton's team principal Fred Vasseur has similarly expressed a need to "keep the pace" in terms of development, telling GPblog and other media: “We know that we have to improve on the engine side. We will do it, even if the inertia on the engine is much higher than the chassis. The most important thing would be to be able to keep the pace into the development."
Photo: Race Pictures
Read also
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t miss GPblog in Google
Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.
Add as a preferred / source on GoogleRead more about:
latest news
Dutch Grand Prix
Overview
Friday 21.08.26
Practice 1
10:30 AM
Sprint Qualification
02:30 PM
Saturday 22.08.26
Sprint Race
10:00 AM
Qualification
02:00 PM
Sunday 23.08.26
Race
01:00 PM
Friday 21.08.26
Practice 1
Fri 10:30 AM
Sprint Qualification
Fri 02:30 PM
Saturday 22.08.26
Sprint Race
Sat 10:00 AM
Qualification
Sat 02:00 PM
Sunday 23.08.26
Race
Sun 01:00 PM
Times are in your local timezone
Rumors
Popular on GPBlog
1
F1 LIVE: Bahrain GP schedule confusion cleared up, Hamilton welcomes new puppy
1185 times read
2
Beloved former F1 driver celebrates marriage in latest social media post
736 times read
3
Hamilton sends Mercedes warning as Ferrari target aggressive upgrade timeline
426 times read
4
F1 CEO revives talks over potential German GP return at Hockenheim
363 times read
F1-stand 2026
Season
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | MercedesMER | 219 | |
2 | FerrariFER | 169 | |
3 | MercedesMER | 160 | |
4 | FerrariFER | 138 | |
5 | McLarenMCL | 128 | |
6 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 109 | |
7 | McLarenMCL | 92 | |
8 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 68 | |
9 | Racing BullsRCB | 43 | |
10 | AlpineALP | 42 |
Loading
