Ferrari hastily convened an emergency media briefing to formally confirm that Fred Vasseur's position as team principal is secure. With the Italian team's form fading in 2026, reports had swept the paddock that Christian Horner, the former Red Bull boss, was eyeing the Frenchman's job, ratcheting up the tension inside the team considerably. Meanwhile, Haas officially announced that Esteban Ocon will not race for them in 2027, triggering a fresh round of moves in the driver market.
The driver market is approaching fever pitch. Max Verstappen extended his Red Bull contract in August to the end of 2030, in a deal reportedly worth around $100 million a year, yet McLaren are still leaving the door wide open for talks with the Dutchman. Aston Martin, by contrast, have opted for continuity, officially extending the contracts of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll and confirming the pair for the 2027 season. Away from the driver market, the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East has forced the Bahrain Grand Prix to relocate to Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit.
