Welcome to Friday’s edition of the RaceFans round-up.
Comment of the day
Lewis Hamilton insists he has no plans to retire soon — a view Robert will likely be happy about:
I think he’s more comfortable with his car this year than he has been for several seasons, both at Ferrari and Mercedes. He’s only eight points behind Leclerc.
Were I Lewis Hamilton, I wouldn’t even consider a post-racing career until after this season; there’s plenty to come, and to me Lewis shows signs of returning to form.
Robert Williams (@Weiliwen)
Social media and links
BYD in talks with Christian Horner over entering F1 (Financial Times)
Following talks between Stella Li, executive vice-president at BYD, and Horner last week, BYD plans further meetings with senior figures in F1 and the FIA. Sources caution talks are at an early stage and there is no guarantee the carmaker will enter F1.
What Horner did in the F1 wilderness (The Telegraph)
Horner has been announced as an advisor to private equity firm Oakley Capital, which holds a majority stake in Sir Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup team GB1. The appointment is notable given Ainslie’s current legal dispute with former sponsor Sir Jim Ratcliffe, whose Ineos owns one third of Mercedes F1 — highlighting the ongoing, if indirect, rivalries within motorsport.
Kyle Busch, two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, dies at age 41 (NASCAR)
The sudden death of Kyle Busch was confirmed by his family, NASCAR and Richard Childress Racing. The news shocked the motorsport community; earlier reports indicated he had been hospitalised with a severe illness.
Ocon hits out at ‘fabricated’ stories of rift with Haas (Reuters)
Esteban Ocon criticised false reports of a dispute with Haas, saying it is unacceptable to fabricate stories without consequences. He added he had never faced such treatment in F1 before.
Verstappen hints at F1 stay with racing set to go ‘back to normal’ (BBC)
Asked whether a resolution would increase his chances of staying in F1 next year, Max Verstappen said a return to normality would definitely help: “I just want a good product in Formula 1. And that will for sure improve the product.”
Kato ends Spielberg test fastest on day two for ART Grand Prix (Formula 3)
Taito Kato and ART Grand Prix recorded the fastest time of the in-season Spielberg test, with Kato topping the morning session around the Red Bull Ring in 1’20.297.
One side represents a brain fully connected, the other shows what dementia does: quietly dismantling the structure from the inside out.
Lando’s helmet for #CanadianGP raising awareness for the race against dementia 🧡 #McLarenF1 pic.twitter.com/tOU9moPVBC
— McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team (@McLarenF1) May 21, 2026
Toto Wolff and Jos Verstappen having a little chat in the Montreal paddock. Nothing to see here! 😄 #CanadianGP #F1 #AMuS pic.twitter.com/KfHD2a81Dj
— Tobi Grüner 🏁 (@tgruener) May 21, 2026
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Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Travis and Cristian!
On this day in motorsport
- 15 years ago today Sebastian Vettel won the Spanish Grand Prix despite Fernando Alonso making a superb start to take the lead from fourth on the grid.
- 60 years ago today Jackie Stewart won the first race of the 1966 season, the first run to F1’s new three-litre engine rules. Only four cars finished, one five laps down, and Bruce McLaren covered just nine laps in his new team’s first race.
- Born today in 1970: Pedro Diniz, who started 98 grands prix between 1995 and 2000.
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