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Fernando Alonso\u2019s decision to continue racing led Tuesday\u2019s Formula 1<\/a> news, as Aston Martin confirmed that the Spaniard and Lance Stroll have extended their contracts. Ferrari also responded to speculation about its leadership, while Sergio P\u00e9rez raised concerns about the safety of the current cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With no track sessions on 29 September, attention is turning to the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The field returns to Sepang from 2\u20134 October, giving teams a different challenge from Baku and their first race at the Malaysian circuit since 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are the main stories in GRANDE PR\u00caMIO<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aston Martin has confirmed Alonso and Stroll for 2027, extending a partnership that will enter its fifth consecutive season. The announcement ends uncertainty over whether the two-time champion would retire after the current campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team described the extensions as long-term agreements but did not announce their expiry dates. Alonso\u2019s commitment also removes a potential opening from the driver market, leaving six of the 22 seats without formal confirmation<\/strong>. That count includes places expected to remain with their current drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See the updated 2027 F1 grid following Alonso and Stroll\u2019s renewals<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ferrari has reaffirmed its support for Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Vasseur after Christian Horner described working for the Italian team as a dream opportunity. The former Red Bull boss\u2019s comments renewed discussion about Ferrari\u2019s leadership, prompting a response from the organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have full confidence in Fred Vasseur and in his team,\u201d Ferrari said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team stated that chairman John Elkann and chief executive Benedetto Vigna remain aligned in their support. Its immediate competitive focus is improving the SF-26 after Charles Leclerc finished fourth and Lewis Hamilton sixth in Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read Ferrari\u2019s response to the speculation surrounding Vasseur and Horner<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sergio P\u00e9rez has warned that differences in electrical energy deployment are creating dangerous closing speeds between the 2026 cars. The Cadillac driver cited a near miss with Liam Lawson during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as a reason to review the regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI would have had a massive crash with Lawson,\u201d P\u00e9rez said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His concern is that one car can still be deploying electrical power while another has substantially reduced its output. That difference can cause a following driver to arrive much faster than the driver ahead expects, making a defensive move particularly difficult to judge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The full account of P\u00e9rez\u2019s warning and the Baku incident<\/a> also explains why energy deployment will remain a subject of attention at Sepang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hamilton has questioned the choice of Monaco for a Sprint in 2027, arguing that the event needs a different approach. His comments place the emphasis on whether another short race can improve a weekend at a circuit where overtaking remains exceptionally difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The issue extends beyond adding another competitive session. Monaco\u2019s track position and qualifying importance mean that changing the weekend schedule does not automatically change how the racing unfolds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story follows Hamilton\u2019s questions about Ferrari\u2019s Safety Car decision in Baku<\/a>, another major talking point from the Azerbaijan weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rafael C\u00e2mara believes he is ready to move into Formula 1 after testing with Ferrari and Haas. Those opportunities have given the Brazilian experience of F1 machinery as attention turns to the remaining decisions on the 2027 grid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His assessment of his readiness adds a driver\u2019s perspective to the market discussion. A Formula 1 opportunity still depends on a team\u2019s decision, and Haas has yet to formally announce its complete pairing for next season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The current 2027 grid<\/a> identifies which line-ups are confirmed and which remain unresolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n George Russell arrives at the next round following his Azerbaijan victory, with his recent form raising questions about what might have been possible earlier in the season. The British driver has acknowledged that this level of performance arrived late in his championship challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That makes Sepang relevant to both Mercedes drivers. Russell needs to continue converting his pace into results, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli faces the next stage of their internal contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read Russell\u2019s assessment of his title form after the Baku victory<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sepang replaces Baku\u2019s narrow street sections with wide corners, sustained high-speed loads and a greater emphasis on tyre management. Heat and humidity add to the demands on drivers and machinery, while rain could change the conditions between sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The return also gives teams limited recent reference data. Formula 1 last raced there in 2017, and conclusions drawn from the previous generation of cars cannot simply be transferred to the 2026 machinery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See why Sepang poses a different challenge from Baku<\/a> and the weather considerations for F1\u2019s Malaysian return<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia runs from 2\u20134 October<\/strong>. Practice begins on Friday, qualifying takes place on Saturday and the race starts on Sunday at 15:00 local time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAlonso stays at Aston Martin: what changes on the 2027 grid?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ferrari backs Vasseur after Horner\u2019s comments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
P\u00e9rez fears a serious accident after Lawson near miss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hamilton questions what a Sprint can change at Monaco<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
C\u00e2mara says he is ready for the step to F1<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Russell\u2019s Baku win keeps Mercedes\u2019 title fight in focus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why Sepang will be a different test from Baku<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
F1 today: FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Who was fastest in Bahrain GP practice at Sepang?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n