Luke Smith
lukesmithf1.bsky.social
Luke Smith
@lukesmithf1.bsky.social
16K followers 33 following 330 posts
Senior Writer covering F1 for The Athletic
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✅ Deal done: George Russell has his new contract as Mercedes officially announces him in 2026 F1 line-up alongside Kimi Antonelli

📝 Understood to be a multi-year agreement for Russell

More on the announcement on @theathletic.com ⬇️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...
George Russell secures Mercedes F1 contract extension as team confirms 2026 line-up
Five-time grand prix winner Russell, 27, has raced for Mercedes since 2022 and was part of its young driver roster from 2017.
www.nytimes.com
Fred Vasseur interview for @theathletic.com ⬇️

🔍 Being "exposed" as Ferrari boss in tough season
💬 "We missed the good opportunities for us."
🤝 Full trust in Lewis Hamilton
🤫 Understanding Leclerc without even speaking
📺 No social media and... no TV?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...
Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur on working with Lewis Hamilton: ‘We need to improve step by step’
Taking the reins of the most famous and successful team in F1 history brings with it great pressure
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Luke Smith
𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘀—.

Fred Vasseur knew the Ferrari job came with glory 𝙖𝙣𝙙 heat.

He speaks with @lukesmithf1.bsky.social about the truth behind Ferrari's tough 2025 — and why he's confident next year will be better.
Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur on working with Lewis Hamilton: ‘We need to improve step by step’
Taking the reins of the most famous and successful team in F1 history brings with it great pressure
theathletic.com
Haas has revealed its special stars and stripes livery for its home grand prix in Austin this weekend 🇺🇸 #USGP #F1
We're all set for lights out in Singapore - George Russell on pole, Max Verstappen alongside him on the front row. Could be a very interesting race! Live updates on @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...
F1 Singapore Grand Prix live updates: Latest race buildup with wet track and Russell starting on pole
www.nytimes.com
Charles Leclerc interview for @theathletic.com ⬇️

✨ Embracing his status as "Il Predestinato."
💬 "I would love to be winning more."
📈 Entering his peak years, 2026 crucial
🤯 He still can't explain Hungary pole
😀 Why he remains "very, very happy" in life

www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...
www.nytimes.com
😰 Should Verstappen worry the McLaren drivers?
🤔 Why won't Piastri serve a penalty in Singapore?
📈 What role has Mekies had in Red Bull's wins?

Latest F1 mailbag on @theathletic.com w/@madelinecoleman.bsky.social ⬇️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...
www.nytimes.com
Piastri's 5 second penalty for the jump start won't be converted into a grid drop.

Penalty guidelines: "In cases where there is a single 5s penalty which a driver is unable to serve due to retirement, the stewards will not convert that into a grid penalty for a subsequent race."
We're all set for lights out in Baku - Verstappen on pole but a mixed up grid behind, can Sainz and Lawson stay in the fight at the front? Or will Norris and Piastri recover?

Live updates on @theathletic.com ⬇️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...
F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix live updates: Latest from today’s race as Max Verstappen starts on pole in Baku
Follow live coverage as Baku hosts round 17 of the 2025 world championship
www.nytimes.com
Less than two hours until lights out in Azerbaijan - Pirelli's race strategy forecast points to it being a one-stopper, even with the new C6 this year. But the potential for incidents/SCs will keep the pit walls on their toes! #F1 #AzerbaijanGP
Wind, rain, red flags and crashes turned qualifying into a day for the underdog as Baku made good on its promise to "expect the unexpected" - even if it all ended with Max Verstappen on pole.

Tried making sense of a topsy-turvy day for @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...
F1 qualifying went sideways in Azerbaijan — and the underdogs came out on top
Max Verstappen is inevitable. But how we got to another Red Bull pole on Saturday? That was something to behold
www.nytimes.com
📅 F1 has announced a four-year extension for the Azerbaijan GP's contract, keeping Baku on the calendar through 2030 #F1 #AzerbaijanGP
George Russell and Mercedes are taking their time to finalise terms over his new contract - and rightly so, given the importance of the deal entering the prime years of his F1 career. Latest piece for @theathletic.com ⬇️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...
George Russell’s F1 contract limbo: Why the Mercedes driver remains unsigned
Mercedes has openly said it will re-sign George Russell for the 2026 F1 season. But why is he yet to put pen to paper?
www.nytimes.com
🇺🇸 Miami 2041
🇦🇹 Austria 2041
🇨🇦 Canada 2035
🇲🇨 Monaco 2035

F1's calendar could look very similar for many years to come. But why have so many races been getting long-term contracts of late?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...
Why F1’s calendar could look the same for years as tracks ink long-term deals
F1 has recently announced a series of new deals for many races on its current schedule. A new business tactic is driving this change
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Luke Smith
Formula One has confirmed its 2026 sprint calendar as talks continue about expanding the number of Saturday races and making format changes such as reverse grids in the future.

More from @lukesmithf1.bsky.social ⤵️
F1 in talks over sprint race expansion with reverse grids as 2026 schedule confirmed
Sprint races, run to one-third of a grand prix distance and held on the Saturday of a race weekend, were introduced in 2021.
theathletic.com
F1 has confirmed its slate of six sprint races for 2026 — but there could be as many as double from 2027, with format changes such as reverse grids up for discussion in the coming weeks and months.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...
F1 in talks over sprint race expansion with reverse grids as 2026 schedule confirmed
Sprint races, run to one-third of a grand prix distance and held on the Saturday of a race weekend, were introduced in 2021.
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Luke Smith
Max Verstappen laughed when McLaren asked Oscar Piastri to give up position to Lando Norris after a slow pit stop.

Most F1 teams would never make such a call. But McLaren is doubling down on its unprecedented approach to fairness between title-fighting teammates.

✍️ @lukesmithf1.bsky.social
McLaren’s F1 team orders had Verstappen laughing — but it won’t change its ways
McLaren's harmonious F1 title fight survived another team orders test. Can it last?
theathletic.com