F1 LIVE: Lewis Hamilton regular Ferrari talks confirmed as Charles Leclerc called out

Express Sport brings you the latest F1 developments away from the paddock as we venture into the second half of the summer break.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have both been forced to watch the rear wing of the Red Bull cars this season with Max Verstappen dominating the 2023 World Championship and Sergio Perez often on hand to clean up the scraps. 

Hamilton is currently locked into an intense battle for P3 in the Drivers’ Championship with the legendary British driver heading into the summer break just a single point behind Fernando Alonso, who has seen his and Aston Martin’s form tail off.

Leclerc, meanwhile, is 49 points back from Hamilton in P5, tied for points with the Briton’s Mercedes team-mate George Russell. The Monegasque driver is facing his own battle though with just seven points keeping him clear of Ferrari rival Carlos Sainz.

Both drivers will be hoping for Red Bull’s advantage to be reeled in after the summer break, with all eyes on the Milton Keynes-based team as they look to maintain their 100% record. Follow Express Sport‘s live updates below.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are both hoping for Red Bull to drop the ball (Image: Getty) 22 mins ago13:34 Harry Smith

Vasseur: Red Bull penalty too lenient

Fred Vasseur has been extremely unimpressed with the severity of the punishment handed to Red Bull by the FIA for their cost cap breaches.

The Frenchman told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “You have to keep in mind that a technical advantage will translate into a sporting advantage. Therefore, the penalty should be sporting and not a fine. 

“In soccer, if you use a hand, it’s a penalty… they don’t give you a [non-sporting] penalty. The deduction of 10 per cent wind tunnel time is a big joke. They have already done most of the work by then.”

2 hours ago12:10 Harry Smith

‘Impulsive’ Leclerc needs to calm down

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has offered some constructive criticism to star driver Charles Leclerc, suggesting that the Monegasque driver can be a little too hot-headed after incidents.

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Vasseur explained: “Leclerc is impulsive, if something doesn’t go well he doesn’t hold back. However, for his own good and that of the team, sometimes it’s better to calm down before speaking. 

“When it’s hot, you don’t have all the information you need to form a definitive judgment and in front of an open microphone it’s better to take your time.”

The 25-year-old is currently tied for points with Mercedes driver George Russell, but his podium finishes mean he currently sits in P5 in the Drivers’ Championship.

3 hours ago11:12 Harry Smith

Hamilton’s old car wrecked in Wales

A Pagani Zonda 760 LH, once owned by Lewis Hamilton, has been involved in a crash during a drive through Wales at the start of this week.

Hamilton sold the car last January for an eye-watering £8.5 million (€10 million), having owned the car since 2015 when he bought it for less than a sixth of that figure.

The car has been no stranger to incidents over the years. Hamilton actually crashed the Zonda himself during a drive in Monaco, hitting two parked cars with the purple supercar.

3 hours ago10:31 Harry Smith

Verstappen reveals Dutch Grand Prix helmet

Max Verstappen has revealed a special helmet design ahead of his home Grand Prix at Zandvoort in two weeks’ time. 

The Dutchman’s standard Red Bull emblazoned helmet design has been given the patriotic treatment for next weekend’s race with the Dutch flag present on the roof and sides of the helmet in some form.

Verstappen has the chance to make F1 history in front of his adoring home fans next time out. The 25-year-old will equal Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine consecutive F1 wins should he take the chequered flag first on home soil.

4 hours ago09:56 Harry Smith

No topping Abu Dhabi for Crofty

Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft has claimed that his commentary for the final lap of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will always be his best.

Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 podcast, Croft explained: “I think, of all the races I have covered, and I could go on forever about the great races, but if anything ever comes close to the last lap of Abu Dhabi in 2021, I will be not only stunned but impressed that a sport can do that, to be honest.”

He later went on to say: “To be there at the centre of it and to be the lead voice alongside the man [Martin Brundle] who has brought F1 into the homes of people for a lot longer than me and will carry on doing so for many, many years to come. 

“And for Martin and I to be there in that moment and to have the privilege of describing that action, that’s what any kid kicking a football around pretending to be Martin Tyler aspires to.”

David Croft has revealed his favourite F1 commentary moment (Image: Getty) 5 hours ago09:22 Harry Smith

Szafnauer sympathy from Steiner

Guenther Steiner has offered his thoughts on the recent dismissal of Alpine team principal, Otmar Szafnauer, who was let go as part of a major reshuffle within the French team.

Speaking for Formula1.com, Steiner stated: “It was done in not the normal way,” conceded the Haas team boss, “but everybody does it their own way. I think obviously Otmar will be disappointed, but he has been there before.

“If you are in this job, I think most of us have been there before. One door closes, another one opens. In the end, in this job, it is just a difficult job. You are in the public eye; things can happen, and you just have to deal with that.

“I’m not saying that it’s nice to deal with it, but it’s part of it. I think Otmar will be over it pretty quick. As I said he has been there before, and these things they happen, it’s part of our life as a team principal.”

5 hours ago08:55 Harry Smith

FP1 outing coming for Ferrari starlet

Ferrari starlet Oliver Bearman will step into F1 machinery for the first time later this season with the teenager set to drive for Haas in FP1 at the United States Grand Prix.

The 18-year-old is currently sitting sixth in the F2 standings during his rookie season, having taken feature race victories in both Azerbaijan and Barcelona this season. 

According to Grand Prix, the Chelmsford-born driver will complete Haas’ young driver duties in Austin later this season, before potentially completing the end-of-season Pirelli tyre test in Abu Dhabi.

This will be an exciting break for Ferrari’s biggest talent with the young Briton expected to challenge for the F2 title in 2024.

5 hours ago08:26 Harry Smith

Hamilton in line for FIA help

Lewis Hamilton has been tipped to receive a boost by former F1 driver David Kennedy, who believes that the FIA will reel in Red Bull’s advantage for the seven-time world champion.

Speaking to PlanetF1, Kennedy explained: “History has proven that [the FIA] have done that. “They’ve done that before, and they’ve done it, ostensibly, when Michael Schumacher was dominating.”

The 70-year-old was not, however, optimistic about the changes that would have to come into effect, looking back on the impact of previous technical shifts. 

“[The FIA] came up with a whole variety of changes,” Kennedy continued. “Particularly in qualifying – what you could use in qualifying, what you could use in the race, they did everything to try and balance the books and stop this runaway dominance. It has a detrimental effect on the sport, absolutely.”

Lewis Hamilton hasn’t won a race in F1 since the 2021 season (Image: Getty) 6 hours ago07:54 Harry Smith

Leclerc gives verdict on Perez and Verstappen gulf

Charles Leclerc has offered his thoughts on the team-mate dynamic at Red Bull, suggesting that he cannot explain the gulf in lap times between Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen.

Speaking to Motorsport.com Italy, Leclerc explained: “I think Max is a great driver, but at the same time, there are many who cannot explain such a wide margin between him and Checo. 

“Personally, I think it is impossible to read the situation well from the outside, only inside the team do they know exactly everything.”

The two Red Bull drivers are now separated by a mammoth 125 points in the Drivers’ Championship with Verstappen winning each of the last eight Grands Prix.

7 hours ago07:25 Harry Smith

Good morning!

Good morning and welcome to Express Sport’s rolling blog covering the latest news from across the F1 paddock.

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