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“A shock to the system” – Why teams fear the worst with F1’s 2026 cars at Spa

Feature
Formula 1
Belgian GP
“A shock to the system” – Why teams fear the worst with F1’s 2026 cars at Spa

Red Bull parks 'Macarena' rear wing for Belgian GP after Verstappen crashes

Formula 1
Belgian GP
Red Bull parks 'Macarena' rear wing for Belgian GP after Verstappen crashes

Norris given Belgium GP grid penalty as McLaren takes new Mercedes power unit parts

Formula 1
Belgian GP
Norris given Belgium GP grid penalty as McLaren takes new Mercedes power unit parts

Aston Martin "flat out" on Hungary updates but has concerns over spare parts being ready

Formula 1
Belgian GP
Aston Martin "flat out" on Hungary updates but has concerns over spare parts being ready

Is this the luckiest F1 fan on the planet?

Sponsored
Belgian GP
Is this the luckiest F1 fan on the planet?

Smith becomes latest to top Autosport National Rankings

National
Smith becomes latest to top Autosport National Rankings

Verstappen signs McLaren junior driver van Langendonck

Formula 1
Belgian GP
Verstappen signs McLaren junior driver van Langendonck

Pirelli explains why MotoGP's controversial tyre pressure rule will stay for 2027

MotoGP
German GP
Pirelli explains why MotoGP's controversial tyre pressure rule will stay for 2027

Renault surprised to win so quickly with Williams

Renault Sport F1 managing director Jean-Francois Caubet has admitted that he didn't expect the revived partnership with Williams to yield wins so quickly

Pastor Maldonado's surprise victory in the Spanish Grand Prix came in only the fifth race since the Williams-Renault link-up was renewed and although Caubet was always confident that wins would come, he saw it as a longer-term project.

"We thought we needed three years to win and after five races we did," Caubet told AUTOSPORT. "It's a fantastic feeling.

"The last win was in 1997 with Jacques Villeneuve [at the Nurburgring]. It is emotional for Renault. When we signed Williams it was huge news in Renault because we have been in Formula 1 for 45 years and Williams is part of our history."

Caubet is hopeful that there could be further victories this year.

He paid tribute to the quality of the car that the team has produced and credited the team's fighting spirit for it delivering top results so quickly.

"Yes, I think so," he said when asked if the win is repeatable. "In Australia, straight away the Williams was a good, competitive car. We have a good engine and fantastic drivers.

"We thought we could be about fifth or sixth in the championship and it would take two or three years to win but because of the fighting spirit, we did it now.

"Williams never give up. This is key. We were sure that they would be back and it was clear that the had the budget and the technical people to do so.

"They have the right people. In Formula 1, you must have the right balance between people with experience and [new] people with creativity."

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