Leclerc's SF-25 Under FIA Scrutiny, Verstappen Welcomes Perez Back to F1

Why it matters: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc's SF-25 race car is under heightened scrutiny from the FIA, having been selected for post-race checks five times this season. This comes amidst rival George Russell's earlier suggestions of potential irregularities. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has expressed his delight at Sergio Pérez's return to Formula 1 with Cadillac in 2026. The details: * Leclerc's car under watch: The FIA's post-race check document revealed Leclerc's car, number 16, has been inspected five times, more than any other driver. Russell has had three checks, and Verstappen two. This follows Russell's public comments at the Hungarian GP about potential 'illegal' elements on the Ferrari. * Leclerc's refusal to comment: When pressed by GPBlog, Charles Leclerc declined to comment on Russell's claims. He stated, "I’m not going to comment on that. I don’t really mind about what George said after the race. The situation is a lot more complex than what he portrayed, but I’m not really going to comment too much." He acknowledged ongoing car issues, saying, "Yeah, they will still be around, but we are trying to fix them and deal with them in a different manner." * Verstappen on Pérez's return: Following the announcement that Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas will join Cadillac's 2026 F1 lineup, Max Verstappen shared his happiness. At the Dutch GP press conference, he said, "I quickly, when I saw the news come out, I sent a message to him. I'm of course very happy for him that he got a seat. He's a great guy and we've always got along very well. So, I'm happy to see him back on the grid." * A fresh start for Pérez: Verstappen sees this as a new beginning for Pérez, whom he still owes a helmet swap. "It's a fresh start now. I think also inside [F1], one half of a season doesn't define what you can do. He's also quite easy on that. Some people maybe dwell on it a bit more. For Checo, it's a new start. You're excited. New cars, completely new cars also."