F1 news: Ferrari in chaos after chief quits as Christian Horner makes ‘weird’ comment

Kimi Antonelli has admitted that he is struggling to deal with the ‘pressure’ after being linked with a Mercedes F1 seat next season. The 17-year-old is being lined up to replace the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton, despite the fact that he was racing in Formula Regional cars only last year.

Speaking out after securing his first F2 win at the weekend, Antonelli said: “Not always do I cope really well with pressure.

“Obviously, this season has been a big amount of pressure, to be honest. But I can say today that I coped with it pretty well. There are still some improvements because sometimes I still make some mistakes.”

Ted Kravitz explained that he witnessed Adrian Newey taking sketches of components on the Red Bull RB20 and some of the team’s rivals’ cars at the British Grand Prix on Sunday in preparation for his next job in the paddock.

During Kravitz’s notebook segment on Sky Sports F1, the reporter explained: “I’ve got to tell you about Adrian Newey, who amazingly is still coming to races, is amazingly still going around the Red Bull garage looking at the car that he is not in charge of anymore with his notebook and making notes about the Red Bull to take them to wherever he’s going.

“And he’s obviously going somewhere else because why would you be coming here and making notes about other people’s cars? And wherever he goes, whether it’s Aston Martin, or Ferrari, or less likely I think now Williams or Mercedes or McLaren, he’s clearly still [working].

“And turning up in Red Bull gear preparing for his future job. I mean I know he’s not allowed in Red Bull meetings anymore, but I did still think it was quite interesting that he is still around.”

Lewis Hamilton’s record-breaking ninth British Grand Prix victory brought an end to the ‘Nico Rosberg curse’.

F1 folklore dictates that whenever the 2016 world champion takes a selfie with a driver or gives a team his backing, their fortunes take an immediate turn for the worse.

On Sunday morning ahead of the race, Rosberg nailed his colours to the mast. Speaking to Sky Sports F1, he said: “Who am I going to go for? I’m going to go for Lewis Hamilton today… because I think Mercedes are looking really good and his race pace here - I remember it because I had to compete against that - it’s really really strong on this track."

Considering his track record, this should have been a death sentence for Hamilton’s chances of winning. Rosberg’s ‘curse’ had, until now, boasted a faultless strike race after claiming multiple victims.

But Hamilton had other ideas as he stormed to victory.

Red Bull chief Christian Horner has insisted the British Grand Prix was a “very weird race” as the performance of cars varied on the track depending on the conditions. The Grand Prix started and ended in dry conditions, with rain falling in the middle.

And Horner explained: “It was a very weird race. I think if anybody can explain the pace of their [Mercedes] car they would be doing very well because it seemed to move around.

“The Mercedes has always been strong in the cooler conditions, and they looked to have things pretty much in control. Then Lewis came alive as it started to rain, and then the McLaren really came alive and passed both of us. So it was moving around depending on what was going on.

“In those conditions, you'd expect Max to then really come alive as well, but he was struggling at that point.

“Then, as the circuit started to dry out, the pace arrived back and we were at times six, seven-tenths a lap quicker than Lewis and Lando [Norris].”

Ferrari have been thrown into chaos after their technical director chassis area Enrico Cardile quit the team with immediate effect. The 49-year-old has been with the Scuderia for the best part of 20 years but is now expected to join Aston Martin.

“Scuderia Ferrari HP announces that Enrico Cardile is leaving the company, therefore relinquishing his role as technical director chassis area,” Ferrari wrote in a statement.

“After almost two decades with Ferrari, Cardile has handed in his notice and therefore, with immediate effect, and as an interim measure, the chassis area will be overseen by the team principal Frederic Vasseur. Everyone at Scuderia Ferrari HP thanks Enrico for all his hard work over so many years.”

Lewis Hamilton shared a frosty handshake with FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem following his victory at Silverstone.

It's common knowledge that seven-time F1 world champion Hamilton isn't the biggest fan of motorsport's head honcho.

The 39-year-old had barely stepped off the scales on track in Northamptonshire when Ben Sulayem approached to shake his hand. However, it was clear from the former's body language that he was eager to get away.

The Silver Arrows superstar barely extended a hand in response when he looked up from the scales to see Ben Sulayem in front of him. And he brushed past the FIA chief's shoulder before sharing a much heartier exchange with Red Bull rival Max Verstappen.

Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer Peter Bonnington says he knew the driver was in the mood to win the British Grand Prix after the seven-time world champion told him to “shut up” over the team radio.

“When I am told to shut up, I know it is 'game on' and he's going for victory,” Bonnington told Sky Sports after the race.

“The feedback he gave me, on the initial stint balance, it wasn’t great. We knew where we needed to correct the car. I think we put the car in a really good position for the final stint, to allow him to push.

“You knew the front tyre would be weak. So you had to make sure you’ve got enough front end in there to protect it. He does a great job. When it comes down to the wire, he’s the one who will manage the tyres and get you to the end.”

Lewis Hamilton has confessed to being unable to stop the tears after clawing his way back from what he described as the "bottom of the barrel" to clinch a sensational win at yesterday’s British Grand Prix, his first race victory for 945 days.

“I am still crying,” Hamilton revealed shortly after the race. “There is no greater feeling than to finish at the front here. It is so tough for everyone. But the important thing is how you continue to get up and dig deep even when you feel like you're at the bottom of the barrel.

“There have definitely been days since 2021 where I didn't feel I was good enough or I would get back to where I am today but I have had great people around me and supporting me.”

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has revealed that Aston Martin star Fernando Alonso snubbed a move to the Silver Arrows after Lewis Hamilton had announced his Ferrari move.

Alonso has since signed a new deal with his current employers, while Mercedes are still searching for Hamilton’s replacement.

Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, Wolff said: “At that time, he had no interest in driving for us. After all, Aston Martin offered him a long-term contract.”

Sergio Perez is risking the Red Bull axe following another disastrous display on the track. The Mexican finished two laps behind British Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton yesterday and has now picked up just 15 points in his last six races.

And following the Silverstone race, Red Bull chief Christian Horner explained: “He knows it’s unsustainable to not be scoring points, we have to be scoring points in that car and he knows that.

“So of course, Checo, he’s under pressure. That’s normal in Formula 1 and when you’re under delivering that pressure only mounts and he’s aware of that, he knows that and this weekend, just nothing’s really gone his way.”

Good morning and welcome to our live F1 blog on Monday, July 8. Lewis Hamilton has finally clinched another Grand Prix victory 945 days after his previous one in Saudi Arabia.

Stay tuned throughout the day for all the latest F1 news.