F1 LIVE | Hamilton calls for major demand, is Perez not done with racing yet?

07:00, 10 Aug

Updated: 08:41, 10 Aug

byNorberto Mujica

Welcome to our daily live blog! Keep checking in throughout the day for all the biggest stories and updates as they happen.

LiveBlog

Toto Wolff on Valtteri Bottas

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has lauded Valtteri Bottas’ speed and dependability, calling him “as quick as it gets” and an ideal back-up who could deliver instantly if called upon.

Bottas, who joined Mercedes in 2017 after Nico Rosberg’s retirement, raced alongside Lewis Hamilton for five seasons before moving to Alfa Romeo-Sauber in 2022.

For 2025, the Finn was left without a race seat as Sauber opted for Nico Hülkenberg and F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto, also parting ways with Guanyu Zhou.

Despite his absence from the 2025 grid, Bottas’ future appears secure. GPblog understands the 10-time Grand Prix winner has reached an agreement with Cadillac for a 2026 return.

Wolff stressed that Bottas “deserves a race seat” and expressed hope that such an opportunity will come soon, praising the value of having a reserve driver capable of matching the pace of the team’s regular stars.

Lewis Hamilton calls for F1 Reform

Lewis Hamilton has urged Formula 1 to modernise its structure, criticising restrictive clauses in driver contracts that prevent them from speaking to other teams.

In an interview with Belgian outlet RTBF, the Ferrari driver highlighted how the sport’s revenues have grown from $700 million to over $3 billion, yet salaries for many employees have not kept pace.

He also pointed out the persistent lack of diversity in the paddock, insisting that 'a lot of things still need to change' within the sport.

Hamilton also called for F1 to take greater responsibility in the countries it visits.

He believes the sport should create opportunities for local communities, avoid environmental damage, and introduce proper recycling and upcycling systems at race venues.

Drawing a parallel with how drivers like Niki Lauda once campaigned for safety, Hamilton said the modern focus should be on sustainability and accessibility, ensuring the sport leaves a positive impact wherever it goes.