Key Mercedes figure departs for Red Bull as Verstappen praises Antonelli

Gwen Lagrue has bid farewell to Mercedes after a decade as driver development advisor, with his upcoming switch to Red Bull marking another significant personnel move among F1's top teams. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen offered high praise for Kimi Antonelli following the young Italian's rapid rise to the sharp end of the grid.

Why it matters:

• Lagrue's departure ends a ten-year spell at Mercedes in driver development. His move to Red Bull continues a notable trend of staff swapping between championship rivals.
• Verstappen's endorsement of Antonelli underscores the young driver's impact since breaking onto the scene, having quickly established himself at the front despite his relative inexperience.

The details:

• Gwen Lagrue shared his farewell message ahead of his switch from Mercedes to Red Bull, concluding a decade with the Brackley squad.
• Verstappen on Antonelli: The reigning world champion praised Antonelli's performances this year, stating there was "never a doubt" about his ability to compete at the highest level.
• Hamilton's Ferrari turnaround: Former F1 driver Gerhard Berger praised Lewis Hamilton for overcoming a "very difficult" 2025 campaign, while Stefan Johansson hailed his Spanish Grand Prix victory as the "mark of a champion."
• Financial hit: Liberty Media revealed F1 suffered a revenue drop in Q2 2026 due to calendar disruption triggered by conflict in the Middle East.
• Red Bull shake-up: Reports suggest Red Bull has identified Lambiase's successor from Aston Martin ahead of the race engineer's expected move to McLaren.

What's next:

With the driver market and technical personnel continuing to shift ahead of the 2026 regulations, these developments could prove decisive in the championship fight as the season enters its second half.