{"id":2444,"date":"2026-09-17T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T21:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/?p=2444"},"modified":"2026-09-17T18:41:55","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T21:41:55","slug":"f1-today-2026-09-17-hamilton-ferrari-mercedes-2027-monaco-sprint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/f1-today-2026-09-17-hamilton-ferrari-mercedes-2027-monaco-sprint\/","title":{"rendered":"F1 Today: Hamilton denies Ferrari demands, Mercedes turns to 2027 and Monaco Sprint divides opinion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">News Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hamilton denied asking Ferrari to replace members of his trackside team<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mercedes began moving resources to its 2027 car while preparing one final major W17 upgrade<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Norris backed the challenge created by Monaco\u2019s Sprint, but the expanded format remains controversial<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Formula 1\u2019s attention shifted between the immediate future and the longer-term shape of the championship on Thursday. Hamilton responded to renewed reports of tension inside Ferrari, teams adjusted their development structures and the implications of the recently announced 2027 calendar continued to emerge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are the main stories from <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Formula 1<\/a> today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hamilton responds to fresh Ferrari tension reports<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hamilton issued a direct response after an Italian newspaper claimed he had requested changes to the personnel working with him during race weekends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The seven-time world champion said he had \u201cnever asked for anyone\u201d within his team to be replaced and defended the commitment of Ferrari\u2019s employees. However, <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/hamilton-denies-asking-ferrari-to-replace-staff-amid-fresh-tension-reports\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Hamilton\u2019s statement did not address a separate report<\/a> suggesting that his relationship with team principal Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Vasseur had become strained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The denial follows a difficult Spanish GP in which Hamilton retired with a brake problem, ending his remaining mathematical hopes of winning the 2026 title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mercedes turns towards 2027 as Alpine recruits Elliott<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mercedes has begun transferring resources to the development of its 2027 car, although the championship leader still plans to introduce one final substantial W17 update. <a>Work on the next Mercedes F1 car began before the summer break<\/a>, while the final significant 2026 package is expected later in the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Elsewhere, Alpine strengthened its technical structure by appointing former Mercedes technical director Mike Elliott as chief technical officer. <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/alpine-hires-former-mercedes-technical-chief-mike-elliott-as-new-f1-cto\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Elliott will oversee Alpine\u2019s engineering and technical operations<\/a> at Enstone as the team attempts to move closer to F1\u2019s leading group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Norris backs Monaco challenge as Sprint debate intensifies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lando Norris believes the compressed Monaco Sprint weekend will require drivers to take risks earlier because they will have only one practice session before competitive running begins. The McLaren driver argued that the reduced preparation time could expose differences in how quickly competitors build confidence around the street circuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/norris-says-monaco-sprint-will-force-f1-drivers-to-take-risks-earlier\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Norris\u2019s support for the additional Monaco challenge<\/a> does not resolve concerns over the circuit\u2019s limited overtaking opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The wider expansion from six to ten Sprint events has also attracted criticism. <strong>GRANDE PR\u00caMIO<\/strong> argued that <a>F1\u2019s promise of \u201cmore action\u201d disguises the limitations of the format<\/a>, particularly when it is applied to circuits where passing is already difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">F1 will also retain three triple-headers in 2027, although <a>the revised calendar removes the exhausting three-race sequence from the end of the season<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Australia warns against another calendar change<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Australian GP has played down the possibility of moving forward in the 2027 calendar if uncertainty affects the opening races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Albert Park is scheduled to host round three from April 1\u20134, but redevelopment work on its pit building and the timing of Australia\u2019s school holidays limit the event\u2019s flexibility. Organisers consequently said <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/australian-gp-says-early-2027-move-would-be-difficult-amid-middle-east-uncertainty\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">bringing the Australian GP forward would be difficult<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Melbourne will also stage its first Sprint in 2027 as part of the format\u2019s record ten-round schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Norris praises Antonelli as F1\u2019s hierarchy changes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Norris described Andrea Kimi Antonelli\u2019s second F1 season as \u201cpretty scary\u201d after the Mercedes driver extended his championship lead to 81 points in Madrid. The reigning champion said <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/norris-calls-antonellis-2026-form-pretty-scary-it-doesnt-look-like-his-second-year\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Antonelli\u2019s performances no longer resemble those of a second-year driver<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">George Russell believes the characteristics of the 2026 cars have altered the competitive order between drivers. He used Max Verstappen\u2019s experience as an example while explaining <a>how the new generation of machinery changed F1\u2019s driver hierarchy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pressure grows around Piastri and Tsunoda<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oscar Piastri\u2019s difficult Madrid weekend reopened questions about his long-term position at McLaren. The Australian finished eighth while Norris took pole and fought for victory, adding to a season in which the performance gap between the teammates has become increasingly visible. <a>Piastri\u2019s position is now under greater scrutiny<\/a> as McLaren evaluates its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yuki Tsunoda also reflected on his difficult spell at Red Bull and admitted he had stopped enjoying his life while attempting to reproduce Verstappen\u2019s approach. <a>Tsunoda identified that imitation as his biggest mistake<\/a> during his time with the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Audi targets progress before demanding triple-header<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Audi expects to make another step at the Azerbaijan GP but warned that the forthcoming Baku\u2013Malaysia\u2013Singapore triple-header will place teams under considerable operational pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The manufacturer scored in Madrid through Nico H\u00fclkenberg and is targeting further progress before the schedule intensifies. <a>Audi described the three consecutive race weekends as \u201cintense and demanding\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Away from the championship, Verstappen returned to karting at Silverstone and passed 100 rivals after starting 101st. The four-time F1 champion <a>described the event as a welcome \u201cback to basics\u201d experience<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the biggest changes to the 2027 F1 calendar?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 2027 season will feature 24 Grands Prix and a record ten Sprint weekends. Portugal and T\u00fcrkiye return, Bahrain opens the championship, Australia moves to round three and Abu Dhabi remains the finale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which races will host F1 Sprints in 2027?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bahrain, Australia, Japan, Canada, Monaco, Great Britain, Italy, S\u00e3o Paulo, Qatar and Abu Dhabi will host Sprints. Bahrain, Australia, Japan, Monaco and Abu Dhabi are new to the format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When is the next F1 race?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next race is the Azerbaijan GP in Baku. Practice begins on Thursday, September 24, qualifying takes place on Friday and the race will be held on Saturday, September 26.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">F1 today: FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What time is Singapore GP sprint qualifying today?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sprint qualifying starts at 20:30 Singapore time on Friday, October 9, equivalent to 13:30 BST in the UK, 08:30 ET in the United States and Canada, and 18:00 IST in India. The session determines the starting grid for Saturday&#8217;s sprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who was fastest in Singapore GP FP1?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">George Russell topped FP1 with a 1:32.274, driving Mercedes&#8217; older W17 aerodynamic specification. Charles Leclerc finished second, 0.198s behind, followed by Lando Norris in third. Kimi Antonelli was seventh with the upgraded Mercedes, while Gabriel Bortoleto finished 16th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why is George Russell using the old Mercedes at the Singapore GP?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mercedes is comparing its previous W17 specification with the aerodynamic upgrade introduced at Sepang. Russell is using the older package, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli retains the new version. Russell led FP1, but differences in tyre compounds and run programmes mean the result alone does not establish which specification is faster.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lewis Hamilton rejected reports that he sought personnel changes at Ferrari, Mercedes shifted resources towards its 2027 car and Formula 1\u2019s expanded Sprint calendar continued to generate debate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1020314916,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"42wp_featured_image_caption":"Hamilton responds to Ferrari reports as Mercedes begins 2027 switch","42wp_featured_image_credits":"F1","42wp_featured_video":"","42wp_ai_content_disclaimer":"","42wp_is_ai_content":false,"42wp_featured_image_hidden":false,"42wp_authors_list":[{"id":7,"location":""}],"footnotes":"","42wp_hide_from_automatic":false,"42wp_breaking_news":false},"categories":[5],"tags":[550,324,63,16],"42wp_author":[7],"class_list":["post-2444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-f1","tag-f1-sprint","tag-formula-1","tag-lewis-hamilton","tag-mercedes","42wp_author-victor-martins"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2444"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2444\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2445,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2444\/revisions\/2445"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1020314916"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2444"},{"taxonomy":"42wp_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/42wp_author?post=2444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}