F1 Round-Up: Red Bull Secures Carlyle Deal, McLaren Orders Debated, Hamilton Reflects on Monza

The latest F1 news includes Red Bull's significant new sponsorship deal, a former mechanic's strong reaction to fan commentary, and ongoing discussions following the Italian Grand Prix. From McLaren's team orders to Lewis Hamilton's debut Monza race with Ferrari, here's a concise overview of recent developments.

Red Bull Finalizes Landmark Sponsorship with Carlyle

Why it matters: Red Bull Racing has announced a pioneering partnership with Carlyle, a leading global private markets firm. This marks the first collaboration of its kind between an F1 team and such a major investment entity, signaling new avenues for team funding and branding.

The details:

• The deal is effective immediately, with Carlyle branding set to appear on the RB21 car.
• Former team principal Christian Horner reportedly spearheaded the negotiations, with the agreement reached following discussions in New York after the Canadian Grand Prix earlier this summer.

Former Red Bull Mechanic Slams "Embarrassing" Fan Opinion

The incident: Calum Nicholas, a former Red Bull mechanic, took to social media to criticize a post that trivialized the work of F1 pit crews, particularly their "three-second work shift" in the pit lane.

His take: Nicholas strongly rebutted the comment, stating, "This is why so few people in the paddock interact on [social media] by the way. Bs opinions like this. It’s embarrassing." His remarks highlight the widespread frustration within the F1 community regarding uninformed online commentary.

McLaren's Monza Team Orders Under Scrutiny

Bernie Ecclestone's theory: Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has voiced suspicions that McLaren might "prefer" Lando Norris to win the 2025 F1 World Championship. This theory comes after the team instructed Oscar Piastri to cede second place to Norris during the Italian Grand Prix's final stages.

Team's defense: McLaren team principal Andrea Stella maintained that the decision was consistent with the team's "principles" and "racing values," emphasizing a fair and consistent approach to intra-team competition.

Lewis Hamilton Reflects on "Solid Progress" at Italian Grand Prix

First Monza with Ferrari: Lewis Hamilton made his inaugural appearance at Monza as a Ferrari driver last weekend, marking a significant moment following his high-profile move from Mercedes.

Race outcome: Despite incurring a five-place grid penalty, Hamilton secured a respectable sixth-place finish. He described his performance as making "solid progress," indicating positive early signs with his new team.

Toto Wolff Warns Red Bull About 2026 Engine Challenge

The "Mount Everest" task: Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has issued a stark warning to Red Bull regarding the monumental challenge of developing their own F1 2026 engine. He likened the task to "climbing Mount Everest."

Context: Red Bull's newly established Powertrains division, in collaboration with Ford, is set to produce its first-ever F1 engines under the new regulations. Meanwhile, current supplier Honda will transition to a new partnership with Aston Martin from 2026.