F1 Today | Verstappen promotes teammate, Mercedes plans to continue domination

Daniel Juncadella revealed to SoyMotor that Max Verstappen decided not to start the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, even though the original plan was for him to do so. After qualifying, Verstappen told Juncadella that “he knows himself,” and starting from fourth in a 24-hour race, he would feel the urge to attack immediately, so he thought it best for Juncadella to take the start. The Spaniard opened the race in the Verstappen.com #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 and then handed the car to Verstappen, who impressed with a double stint.

Unfortunately for the team, they suffered a driveshaft issue and were unable to win. After the race, Jules Gounon expressed deep disappointment over the late technical issue that ruined the team's chances of victory, which he shared with Verstappen, Lucas Auer, and Juncadella, noting they had executed almost perfectly until the Nordschleife punished them. He thanked the team for their work and asked for time to process it. Verstappen responded as a leader, consoling him with “we’ll be back, mate,” fueling fan speculation about a possible return to the event.

Toto Wolff confirmed that Mercedes will bring its first upgrade package of the year for the W17 to the Canadian Grand Prix, stressing that its true value will only be measured on track. Kimi Antonelli has strung together three wins and leads the championship solidly, while George Russell, after winning in Australia, has not returned to the podium in the last two races.

Wolff urged caution and balance in light of the new regulations. He also noted that at the start of this new regulatory cycle, the competitive order can change quickly. He highlighted McLaren’s big leap with its recent upgrade package and admitted surprise at Red Bull’s progress, which went from being more than a second off the pace to fighting at the front with Verstappen, a trend he expects to continue through 2026.

According to paddock rumours, Mercedes' supposed upgrade package could be worth three-tenths per second per lap.

Lewis Hamilton, after two consecutive sixth-place finishes in Suzuka and Miami, has decided to prepare for the Canadian GP without using the simulator, although he will continue attending factory meetings. He notes that his best weekend of the year in China (where he finished third, ahead of Charles Leclerc) came without simulator training, so he wants to “step away a bit” from that tool and see if it benefits him. Despite a resurgence in 2026 after a first year with Ferrari to forget, Hamilton has struggled again against Leclerc in recent rounds, although a late mistake by the Monegasque in Miami allowed him to finish ahead.

In this context, comments by Nelson Piquet Jr. gain relevance, as he argues that Leclerc is Ferrari’s number-one driver and that Hamilton plays a secondary role, also suggesting the Briton is in the final phase of his career. The numbers between them since becoming teammates support that view: in 28 races, Leclerc has nine podiums and one pole, while Hamilton has a single podium (China) and a fourth-place finish at Silverstone as his next-best result. The Canadian GP, where Hamilton has won seven times, stands out as a key opportunity to confirm his early-season momentum; otherwise, another clear defeat to Leclerc would reignite doubts and criticism.