F1 2025 USA Grand Prix LIVE: Qualifying updates, stream and times after Norris and Piastri crash – UK Times

“I just got hit, right? I did nothing wrong. Further back things happened and I just got unlucky and got hit because of it.

“I don’t know. I need to look a bit more carefully. It’s more people further back just being a bit careless and we are the consequence of that.”

“I think if every single seat was available right now and I could choose any single seat to race for the 2026 season I would choose Mercedes,” Russell said.

“I think a number of drivers would do so as well.

“Nobody can foresee what’s going to happen in the future and I’m sure there are going to be big uncertainties and unknowns going into next year and surprises, good and bad.

“But you can only make a decision based on the information you have in the moment and with all the info I have, I’m super happy.

“It’s slightly odd, but I think what McLaren are doing for the sport is really good – they can race from lights out until the chequered flag, with one rule: don’t crash into one another.

“If we were in a development race, it would be Oscar getting the new parts first. If you need a slipstream, Oscar would get priority. If it’s that sort of intra-team thing, which doesn’t hand an advantage to other teams.”

Feature by Kieran Jackson

The setting is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway: home to the world-famous Indy 500 race. Ahead of the 2005 United States Grand Prix, at a circuit modified for Formula One, ITV pundit and former F1 driver Martin Brundle is interviewing the sport’s long-term supremo and commander-in-chief Bernie Ecclestone on the grid. And you may well say, nothing unusual about that.

What is more unusual is Brundle’s direct, bordering on combative, line of questioning. A huddle of camera crew and journalists huddle around, eager for answers. Because F1’s only race in the land of the free is about to become a farce. Out of 20 cars, only six are set to take to the start line. For the sport and its tempestuous 55-year relationship with the US, it is the ultimate moment of “lunacy”, as Brundle depicts it.

“The future of Formula One in America?” asks Brundle. “Not good,” Ecclestone replies.

It is a far cry from where the sport is stateside now.

Susie Wolff has suggested that Christian Horner “played a character very well” during his time running the Red Bull team and that the allegations surrounding him were “a real shame” for F1.

Horner was relieved of his duties as Red Bull F1 team principal back in July after 20 years and 14 world titles at the team he built from the bottom up.

He officially left last month, having received an £80m pay-off, and Laurent Mekies was installed as his replacement as both chief executive and team principal.

On attempts to sign Verstappen: “There wasn’t any ‘on purpose’ flirting, it’s clear we needed to have the conversation – we ended up in the same place in the summer, it was destabilising for everyone, but we move on now and everything is sorted.

On 2026: “I’m so happy that these cars that we finally get rid of them, we go back to something that is hopefully easier to understand – I’m happy we’re changing.”

On Russell/Verstappen in 2027: “Certainly good entertainment for everyone! But we don’t want to create any rumours, and it’s a good line-up.”

Pondering the start of a remarkable journey, Palestinian aid worker Maysoon Jayyusi remembers the moment vividly. “I had to drive fast to avoid getting hit,” she says, matter-of-factly. “Young people and soldiers fired tear gas and threw stones at us.

“It was simple: I started driving fast to avoid getting caught.”

For all the column inches and social media conjecture throughout most of this year’s Formula One season, George Russell has seldom looked rattled at the myriad of questions thrown his way. Week after week, with a smile and an eyebrow arched, the 27-year-old has repeatedly knocked back suggestions of a shock exit from Mercedes despite the 2025 season, and his original deal, just six rounds from a conclusion.

Yet there was no rush. Once Max Verstappen had committed to Red Bull for next season, officially back in July, it was simply a formality, and now both Russell and 19-year-old Italian teammate Kimi Antonelli have penned fresh terms with Mercedes.