Azerbaijan GP Day One: McLaren upgrades, engine calls and 2027 grid news

Baku's early-starting weekend brought a flurry of news, from McLaren's latest upgrade to fresh clarity on the 2027 driver market. Engine strategies at Mercedes and Ferrari also took shape, and Lewis Hamilton sparked debate on sprint races.

Why it matters:

With the title fight tight and the 2027 grid forming, Baku's long straights make it a key engine-penalty battleground. Weight loss at Williams and brake fixes at Cadillac could also shake up the midfield.

The Details:

• McLaren's revised sidepods: A new downward ramp closer to Ferrari/Mercedes and a vertical inlet similar to Audi will be evaluated in FP1.
• Engine strategy: Russell delays his final engine to combine with Mercedes' ADUO upgrade, likely in Austin. Hamilton says his Spanish GP DNF "gained" a race, possibly avoiding a penalty — though Ferrari may still take a fresh engine tactically.
• Ocon exit: Esteban Ocon is expected to leave Haas, with Ferrari junior Rafael Camara the favorite. Ocon called himself a "free agent".
• Red Bull: Arvid Lindblad accepts waiting until 2028, crediting Isack Hadjar's performances for the extension.
• Williams under weight: New chassis put the car below the limit, allowing ballast. Albon calls it a "guarantee of laptime".
• Monaco sprint: Hamilton: "A sprint race is not the answer" — calling Monaco "as dull as it gets". He also wants longer races, saying F1 is now "physically easier than ever".
• Cadillac: A brake-cooling upgrade arrives, with Bottas hoping it ends stoppage issues.

What's next:

Verstappen confirmed he'll race the Nurburgring and Spa 24 Hours next year, but Le Mans is "not on my list". On track, watch for McLaren's sidepod verdict and whether Leclerc takes an engine penalty this weekend.