Paddock Briefing: Irvine’s Ferrari wish for Verstappen, Max’s eyebrow-raising driver picks, Rosberg’s read on Hamilton’s move, and Red Bull politics after Monza
The F1 rumor mill rarely sleeps, and this week it’s humming with familiar names and some pointed opinions. Ferrari, Verstappen, Hamilton, Red Bull—same characters, new twists.
Eddie Irvine rolls out the red carpet for Verstappen
Eddie Irvine, never one to sugar-coat, says he’d “love” to see Max Verstappen in Ferrari red and believes the Dutchman could have a Schumacher-scale impact in Maranello. The ex-Ferrari racer also threw a jab Lewis Hamilton’s way, arguing the seven-time champion joined Ferrari “too old.” That’s Irvine for you: blunt, provocative, and guaranteed to stir a Tifosi debate that didn’t need much encouragement in the first place.
For what it’s worth, the logic isn’t wild. Ferrari’s modern title runs have tended to orbit around a talismanic lead—Lauda, Schumacher, even Alonso came close. Verstappen, in his prime, would fit that mold. Timing, as ever in this sport, is everything.
Verstappen names his current grid standouts—and omits Hamilton
Verstappen’s appraisal of today’s grid sparked a coffee-spitting moment in some corners: he gave nods to Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc but left Hamilton off his standout list. Cue headlines, tribal arguments, and a few thousand social comments.
Is it needle between former title rivals or just Max being Max, a driver who judges the present on present form? Probably a bit of both. Either way, it’s a reminder that reputations don’t carry much weight in the cockpit—or in Verstappen’s evaluations.
Rosberg’s take on Hamilton’s Ferrari leap
Nico Rosberg, who knows Hamilton’s world as few do, sees another layer to Lewis’ switch to Ferrari beyond the boyhood-dream narrative. The 2016 champ suggested the move may also be about resetting the commercial load—leaner sponsor days, more breathing room, and an environment where the Ferrari aura does some of the lifting for you.
It’s a compelling angle. Hamilton’s brand has always been carefully curated, and Ferrari offers both mystique and a fresh canvas. On track, the challenge remains the same: beat Verstappen and outscore the McLarens. Off it, a little less noise never hurts.
Red Bull’s Monza turn sparks questions about who’s calling the shots
After a season largely painted Papaya, Red Bull and Verstappen swung hard at Monza—new lap record in qualifying and a polished win on Sunday. The chatter in the TV trucks was that this looked like a team leaning into Verstappen’s setup instincts more aggressively, and that a reshuffled leadership dynamic helped his voice cut through.
Christian Horner’s strengths have always been in management and politics rather than pure engineering, and that contrast was noted again. Was this a one-track flash or the start of a technical recalibration at Red Bull that makes Verstappen even more Verstappen? If it’s the latter, McLaren’s margin gets thinner in a hurry.
Lawson says Hadjar is “ready” for the Red Bull seat
Over at the Red Bull driver carousel—always a funhouse mirror—Liam Lawson says his Racing Bulls teammate Isack Hadjar is “ready” for the big team. That’s significant. Red Bull rarely telegraphs its moves, but it pays attention when its own drivers vouch so directly.
Hadjar’s rookie campaign has been brave and tidy, the kind of year that puts you on Helmut Marko’s speed dial. Whether that translates to a 2026 promotion alongside Verstappen is anyone’s guess, but the momentum’s real. Lawson speaking up suggests the garage sees it too.
The bigger picture
– Ferrari’s long game: The Irvine-Verstappen noise will keep bubbling as long as Max keeps winning and Ferrari keep looking for that final two-tenths on Sundays. It’s fantasy-market stuff for now, but not a fantasy fit.
– Hamilton’s Ferrari chapter: Commercial calm or not, the competitive yardstick is brutal. Leclerc across the garage. Verstappen down the road. McLaren looming. It’s a romantic move with very real consequences.
– Red Bull’s response: Monza looked like a statement of intent. If the team lets Verstappen drag the car where only he can drive it, the title picture tightens. That’s been the formula before.
– The junior ladder: Red Bull’s next decision on Verstappen’s teammate matters. If it’s Hadjar, it’s a bet on upside and fearlessness. If not, 2026 becomes the most intriguing game of musical chairs in years.
It’s only mid-season, and we’ve already got enough plotlines for a docuseries spin-off. Ferrari dreaming of Max. Max leaving Lewis off the list. Lewis chasing clarity in scarlet. Red Bull rediscovering bite at Monza. And a rookie knocking on the sport’s toughest door. F1 never learned how to do quiet. Let’s be grateful.
