ATTILA KALAPACS JOINS DAG MANAGEMENT

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DAG Management & Consulting is delighted to officially announce the signing of talented Hungarian racing driver Attila Kalapacs, who joins the agency at an exciting and decisive stage of his motorsport career.Having already established himself as a highly competitive driver in karting, Attila has demonstrated impressive speed, determination, and resilience throughout his racing journey. His performances, competitive spirit, and ability to overcome challenges have highlighted the qualities of a young athlete with strong potential for the next stage of his career.This new partnership comes at a particularly important moment, as Attila prepares to make the transition from karting to single-seater racing, with Formula 4 representing the next major step in his sporting development.For DAG Management, the objective is to accompany Attila through this transition with a carefully structured, long-term approach. The collaboration will focus on selecting the right competitive environment, developing his technical and physical preparation, building relationships with suitable teams, and providing the strategic guidance necessary to establish a solid foundation for his future in motorsport.The move from karting to Formula racing represents one of the most demanding transitions in a young driver’s career. Beyond pure speed, it requires adaptability, technical understanding, mental strength, discipline, and the ability to develop within a completely new racing environment.Attila has already shown many of these essential qualities throughout his karting career, giving DAG Management strong confidence in his ability to embrace the challenges ahead.Working closely with Attila and his family, the agency will now concentrate on preparing his entry into Formula racing in 2027, combining a dedicated testing and development programme with careful planning of his next competitive steps.Dorothea Schulz, CEO & Owner of DAG Management:“I am genuinely delighted to welcome Attila and his family to DAG Management.”I have already had the opportunity to follow Attila’s journey in karting, where he has proven himself to be an exceptionally competitive and talented young driver. His natural speed is undeniable, but what impresses me just as much is his incredible resilience, determination, and fighting spirit.These are qualities that cannot simply be taught. They are deeply rooted in a driver’s character, and I believe Attila possesses them in a very special way.

Throughout his karting career, he has demonstrated not only that he can be fast and competitive, but also that he has the mental strength to face difficult situations, overcome setbacks, and continue fighting. For me, this is an extremely important quality when evaluating a young driver’s potential for the future.I am therefore genuinely confident about his transition into Formula racing. Of course, moving from karting into a Formula 4 car represents a significant challenge, with many new technical, physical, and sporting aspects to learn. But I strongly believe that Attila has the speed, character, and determination to make this transition very successfully.Our responsibility now is to provide him with the right environment, the right preparation, and the right opportunities to develop his potential. I want us to approach this new chapter with ambition, but also with patience, intelligence, and a clear long-term vision.For me, driver management is never simply about the next race or the next championship. It is about understanding the young person behind the helmet, recognizing their individual strengths, and making decisions that will help them build a sustainable career.I would also like to personally thank Attila and his family for the trust they have placed in me. I know how important this next step is for all of them, and I am very much looking forward to accompanying Attila through this exciting new chapter.Welcome to the DAG family, Attila. I truly believe we have a wonderful journey ahead of us.Attila Kalapacs:I am truly delighted to have been given this opportunity and to join DAG Management. I am excited about the journey ahead and look forward to working closely with the team as we build the next chapter of my racing career together.I am committed to giving my very best, both on and off the track, and to achieving the strongest results possible. I am grateful for the trust and support, and I cannot wait to get started.For DAG Management, Attila’s arrival represents another important step in the agency’s commitment to supporting promising young motorsport talent through strategic career development, individual attention, and close cooperation with drivers and their families.With the transition to Formula racing now approaching, the partnership marks the beginning of an ambitious new chapter, built on mutual trust, shared determination, and a clear vision for the future.

WELCOME TO THE DAG FAMILY, ATTILA. A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS HERE.

BACK IN BRAZIL, DUDU SALAMONDE PUSHES THE PACE AT VELOCITTA AS HE PREPARES FOR 2027

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After a series of tests in Italy, the São Paulo driver strengthens his adaptation to Formula 4 cars.Mogi Guaçu (SP), October 14, 2026The pursuit of progress in motorsport demands dedication and discipline. After several days of testing Formula 4 cars in Italy, São Paulo driver Dudu Salamonde (Minardi Management powered by DAG / EXA Tecnologia / Vero Coco / DKR / RL Eng. Design / Casa Barô / SOMA Blindados) is back in Brazil to continue his preparation for the 2027 season, when he will take the wheel of a Formula 4 car in Europe.This time, however, the chosen track was the Velocitta Circuit in Mogi Guaçu, where he completed track sessions while taking advantage of the days he was able to spend at home. The temporary change of scenery does not mean a pause in his goals, but rather another step in a body of work built on focus, resilience and a desire to move forward.In Brazil, with his eyes on EuropeThe stint at Velocitta is part of Salamonde’s plan to increase his familiarity with open-wheel cars and strengthen his preparation for next year. After starting his work on Italian circuits, the driver takes every opportunity to better understand the car’s behavior, develop his feel behind the wheel and sharpen his reading of different racing situations.“It was very important to have this opportunity to train at Velocitta and continue my transition to Formula 4 in 2027. I’m learning a lot from every experience, and I want to make the most of every session, understand the car more and more, and arrive well prepared for the next season,” said Dudu Salamonde.Learning every lap and focusing on progressThe experience at the Mogi Guaçu track is also an opportunity to deepen his understanding of the setup changes needed to extract the best performance from the package. The preliminary data collected can help guide the next stages of his preparation, making it possible to analyze the car’s behavior under Dudu’s driving, identify areas for improvement and establish benchmarks for his development as a driver.Dudu Salamonde also highlighted the results of the work done on track, stressing that good lap times are an important source of motivation but not the only yardstick for measuring progress.“I managed to set good lap times and I’m happy with what we worked on, but I know the most important thing is to keep going, understand the adjustments that can be made, see where I can improve and how I can be more consistent lap after lap,” said the driver.More testing in ItalySalamonde’s preparation will continue in November, when he returns to Italy for another round of track testing. Until then, the focus remains on development, data analysis and strengthening the technical foundation needed to take on this new phase of his motorsport career.
With the determination to overcome every challenge, Salamonde continues to build his path step by step, aware that consistency, resilience and the ability to learn will be just as important as speed in the pursuit of his goals.

Text by Kako Marques / KMCom AssessoriaFollow Dudu Salamonde on Instagram:@eduardosalamonde

TOUGH SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL FOR MATTIA BUCCI

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The driver is now turning his attention to the final round of the Endurance series and the battle for the Italian title.

The final round of the Italian GT Championship’s Sprint series took place at Monza from October 9 to 11. The young driver from Abruzzo, partnered this time with Ronnie Stefani, once again encountered technical issues that impacted the entire weekend. Despite this, the duo managed to establish excellent chemistry and demonstrate good speed.

In both qualifying sessions, the #163 Lamborghini consistently placed in the top 10. Race 1 was cut short by a technical issue that prevented the car from continuing, while Race 2 was compromised by a collision with another competitor: starting from eighth place, Mattia had climbed to fourth when, towards the end of his stint, he was hit by an opposing car. This impact compromised the stint of his teammate, Stefani, and ultimately led to a component failure on the final lap, forcing them to finish tenth in their class.

“It was a weekend where we demonstrated good speed. In Race 2, while running fourth in our class (fifth overall), we encountered a technical issue following contact with a rival; this dropped us back to a tenth-place finish in the class. This challenging Sprint Championship season was certainly a hard-fought one: we never quite managed to fully showcase our potential, but we are taking away a wealth of experience and the knowledge that we never gave up. I want to thank DAG Management for always standing by my side, the DL Racing team for fighting alongside me-especially during the toughest moments—Ronnie Stefani for the excellent work we did together during our first weekend as teammates, and all my partners who make it possible for me to pursue my dream. Now, we need to focus on the final round of the CIGT Endurance championship from October 30 to November 1; we head into it leading the standings, so we’ll have to give it our all to bring the title home… I can’t wait!” said Mattia.

In fact, in just a few weeks, over the weekend of October 30–November 1, the fourth race weekend of the Endurance series will take place at Mugello. You can follow the events on the official Aci Sport channel. (http://www.youtube.com/@ACISportTVofficial), on Sky channel 228, and on Tivùsat channel 52.

Mattia invites you to stay connected and follow him in this new chapter through his, Minardi Management, team, and championship social media pages:
• Instagram: @mattiabucci_official; Facebook: Mattia Bucci – Racing Driver
• Instagram: @minardi_management; Facebook: Minardi Management
• Instagram: @mattiabucci_fanclub
• Instagram: @dlracing.official
• Instagram: @cigranturismo; Facebook: Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo

The press officer, Federica Moccia

EARNING YOUR SEAT – DOROTHEA SCHULZ ON LEADERSHIP, WOMEN & THE FUTURE OF MOTORSPORT

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Dorothea Schulz is the CEO and Founder of DAG Management & Consulting, a motorsport management company dedicated to developing and supporting racing talent, with a particular focus on creating opportunities for the next generation of female drivers. With extensive experience in the motorsport industry, she works closely with young talents to help them build sustainable careers both on and off the track.

Dorothea, you have built your career in the highly competitive world of motorsport. What first drew you to this industry, and what has kept you passionate about it over the years?
Motorsport drew me in because it is one of the few worlds where passion, courage, precision and human character are exposed so completely. At the beginning, I was fascinated by the racing itself. Over the years, however, what kept me here became something much deeper: the people behind the helmets and the possibility of helping a young person transform talent into a real future. Today, as the founder and CEO of my own management agency, I carry that responsibility personally. A drivers career is never only about lap times. It is about choosing the right environment, knowing when to push and when to protect, negotiating opportunities, building trust with families and teams, finding commercial solutions and sometimes making decisions that can change the direction of a young persons life. I don’t take that lightly.
What keeps me passionate is seeing a driver grow – not only becoming faster, but becoming stronger, more mature and more confident. There are difficult days in this sport, many more than people see from the outside. But when a young talent receives an opportunity they have worked years for, or begins to believe in themselves because somebody believed in them first, I remember exactly why I chose this path. For me, motorsport has never been simply a business. It is about people, dreams and responsibility.

Women are still underrepresented in many areas of motorsport. From your experience, what are the biggest barriers female drivers and young women entering the industry continue to face?
One of the biggest barriers is still the need for women to prove that they belong before they are simply allowed to compete. A young male driver is often first seen as a driver. A young female driver can still be seen first as a girl in racing, and only afterwards as an athlete. That difference may sound small, but over the course of a career it matters enormously. There is also a question of opportunity. Talent needs mileage, the right team, strong technical development, financial backing and people who are prepared to invest for the long term. Female drivers need access to exactly the same quality of preparation and the same serious expectations. Visibility is important, but visibility without a real sporting pathway is not enough. As a woman running my own agency, I have experienced another side of the same issue. In a male- dominated environment, you sometimes enter a room knowing that your knowledge, authority or decision- making will be tested differently. I learned not to spend my energy trying to imitate the men around me. I can be determined without losing empathy; I can negotiate hard without changing who I am; and I can lead in my own way. The goal should not be to create a special corner of motorsport for women. It should be to build a sport where a woman’s competence, talent and results speak before her gender does.

Supporting and developing the next generation of female talent is an important part of your work. What do you believe young female drivers need most today to turn their potential into a sustainable career?
First, they need people around them who genuinely believe in their potential – but belief alone is not enough. They need a structure. They need honest management, the right sporting programme, strong coaching, physical and mental preparation, technical education, media guidance and a realistic commercial strategy. A career can be damaged very quickly by one wrong decision, especially when budgets are limited and every season matters.
I also believe young female drivers need to be developed as racing drivers first. We should not lower expectations in the name of support.
Quite the opposite: give them the tools, mileage and environment to become exceptionally good, and then expect excellence from them.
Support should create strength and independence, not dependence.
This is one of the reasons developing the next generation of female talent matters so much to me. I want a girl entering karting today to be able to look ahead and see a credible road through Formula racing, GT racing or whichever professional path suits her talent. She should not have to wonder whether there is a place for her. Our responsibility as managers and as an industry is to help make that road real – and sustainable beyond one season, one campaign or one headline.

As a female CEO and founder, what have you learned about leadership in an industry that has traditionally been strongly male- dominated?
I have learned that leadership is not about being the loudest person in the paddock. It is about being prepared to make the decision when the decision is uncomfortable – and then taking responsibility for it.
Building and leading my own agency has taught me to trust my judgement. I negotiate with teams, speak with engineers, families, sponsors and championships, deal with difficult situations and protect the interests of the people I represent. There are moments when you stand alone with a decision. That can be challenging, but it is also where you discover what kind of leader you are. Being a woman has shaped me, but it does not define the limits of what I can do. I don’t want to lead like a man; I want to lead well. For me that means combining strength with humanity, ambition with responsibility and strategy with instinct. I know every driver has a family, fears, hopes and enormous sacrifices behind them. Empathy helps me understand that, while leadership requires me to remain clear when emotions are high. Perhaps the most important lesson has been this:
you do not need permission to occupy your place. You earn credibility through your work, your consistency and the way you behave when things become difficult. I want younger women entering motorsport to understand that they can build companies, lead negotiations, make sporting decisions and sit at the table not as an exception, but because they have earned their seat.

Looking ahead, what would you like to see change in motorsport over the next five to ten years when it comes to opportunities, visibility and leadership for women?
In five to ten years, I would love us to speak less about women being given a chance and more about women having a normal, established place throughout motorsport – as drivers, engineers, team principals, managers, mechanics, commercial leaders and decision-makers. For drivers specifically, I want to see stronger pathways from the youngest levels onward. We need to identify talent early, provide serious development and create continuity. A promising girl should not disappear from the sport simply because the next financial or sporting step was impossible to bridge. And when female drivers succeed, their visibility should reflect their sporting achievement rather than turning their gender into the entire story.
I also hope to see more women owning and leading businesses within motorsport. Representation at the top changes what the next generation believes is possible. I built my agency because I had a vision of how I wanted to work with drivers and families, and I was prepared to take responsibility for creating it myself. I want other women to feel that same freedom. My vision is ultimately very simple:
a paddock in which a talented young girl can dream as ambitiously as a boy, find the same professional structures around her and know that, if she is good enough and works hard enough, there is a genuine place for her. When that becomes normal rather than remarkable,
motorsport will have made real progress.

FIVE DRIVERS ACROSS LE MANS, MONZA AND VITERBO: SPEED, RESILIENCE AND PROGRESS ON THREE MAJOR STAGES

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Five drivers on track, three prestigious events and many experiences to turn into progress. Race Weekend 41 saw DAG Management competing at the IAME Euro Cup / Ladies Cup in Le Mans, Round 4 of the Italian GT Sprint Championship at Monza and the FIA Karting World Cup in Viterbo. Different disciplines, challenges and conditions demanded focus, adaptability and determination through every session.

It was not a weekend when everything went to plan. That makes the positive signs of competitiveness even more meaningful: Maxime’s Top 10 in the Le Mans Final, Benjamin’s recovery drives, Vanesa’s front-running performances before a technical problem stopped her kart and prevented her from contesting the Final, Mattia’s work with his team at Monza and Mia’s experience against a 117-driver field at the World Cup.

For DAG Management, supporting a driver means recognising both the final result and the journey behind it: speed, decisions, difficulties faced and lessons taken into the next race. Our sincere thanks go to our drivers, families, teams, mechanics, engineers, coaches and partners who share this commitment every day.

IAME EURO CUP / LADIES CUP – LE MANS

MAXIME NOEPPEL – #178 – X30 JUNIOR

P10 in the Final among 35 drivers: a determined response

Maxime Noeppel completed Le Mans with a valuable result: P10 in the Final, in a 35-driver field. It rewarded his ability to keep working through a weekend of changing fortunes.

On Thursday, Maxime showed encouraging pace, moving from P25 in Free Practice 1 to P6 in the second session and P11 in the third. On Friday he recorded P10 in Official Free Practice and P14 in qualifying before delivering a very strong opening heat: P7, gaining seven positions.

Saturday’s following two heats ended in P19 and P18. Maxime stood P13 in the intermediate classification, but a difficult Super Heat, finishing P24 after losing eleven places, made the route to the Final more challenging.

On Sunday he responded positively, approaching the decisive race with composure and taking the chequered flag in P10. We are pleased with his resilience, the speed he showed and the Top 10 secured at a competitive international event.

BENJAMIN WESTWOOD – #271 – X30 SENIOR

Multiple recovery drives and P5 in the Consolation Race

Benjamin Westwood faced a demanding weekend in the X30 Senior category at Le Mans, repeatedly demonstrating an impressive ability to gain positions.

His Thursday practice pace was encouraging, with P10, P7, P13 and especially P3 in his final group Free Practice. Following a difficult qualifying session that left him P60 overall, Benjamin began moving forward in the heats: P11 after gaining nine places in the first and P12 with eight positions recovered in the second.

On Saturday he continued fighting, taking P14 after gaining six places and P15 with another five recovered in the first two heats of the day. The next heat ended in P22; he was P40 in the intermediate classification and finished the Super Heat P16.

On Sunday, after P7 in the Warm-Up, Benjamin did not qualify for the main Final, but completed the Consolation Race in P5. Although the overall outcome was not what he had hoped for, the many recoveries and competitive pace in several sessions provide positive foundations for the next event.

VANESA ŠILKŪNAITĖ – #918 – X30 LADY

A potential race-winning performance halted by a technical problem before the Final

Vanesa Šilkūnaitė was simply outstanding at Le Mans. Throughout the weekend, she showed exceptional speed and form, proving that she genuinely had the pace to fight for a podium and even victory in the Ladies Cup.

After practice, Vanesa found excellent pace: P8 in Official Free Practice and P5 in qualifying. In the opening heat she immediately gained three positions to finish P2.

On Saturday she confirmed her competitiveness with P1 in the Warm-Up, P2 in Heat 2 after gaining another three positions and an excellent victory in Heat 3, recovering four places. Those results put her P1 in the intermediate classification.

After P4 in the Super Heat, Vanesa had every reason to fight for the podium and even victory. Unfortunately, a technical problem stopped her kart and prevented her from taking part in the Final. It was a deeply disappointing ending for our driver, particularly after everything she had shown. Missing the Final does not reflect her weekend in the slightest: two P2 heat finishes, a heat victory, P1 in the intermediate standings and genuine race-winning potential. We are immensely proud of her, her determination and the exceptional work she delivered.

ITALIAN GT SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 4, MONZA

MATTIA BUCCI – #163 – GT CUP 1ST DIVISION PRO-AM

An outstanding race in service of Lamborghini and the team

At Monza, Mattia Bucci once again demonstrated not only his driving ability but also outstanding professionalism and team spirit. His performance on Sunday was exceptional, even though the team’s strategic instructions meant he could not drive entirely freely according to his own pace.

In Friday’s free practice sessions, the car finished P8 overall and P7 in class in the first session, followed by P25 overall and P15 in class in the second. On Saturday, after qualifying, Race 1 ended P34 overall and P14 in class: running out of fuel towards the end affected the result.

In Sunday’s Race 2, in which the crew finished P31 overall and P10 according to the supplied results, Mattia followed the team’s instructions with great maturity. He provided every bit of support requested, placing the team’s needs ahead of his individual ambitions and giving his maximum contribution to Lamborghini and the entire crew.

We are extremely proud of Mattia’s race and of the generosity with which he worked for the team. Some performances cannot be judged solely by the finishing position; Mattia’s is one of them. Our thanks go to him and the entire team for their commitment and collaboration.

FIA KARTING WORLD CUP – VITERBO

MIA ZANKI – #274 – OKJ-N

First race with new FIA Karting equipment: a valuable learning experience

The FIA Karting World Cup at Viterbo, with 117 drivers in OKJ-N, was a particularly significant challenge for Mia Zanki: it was her first race using new equipment on this FIA Karting platform. Mia had to quickly learn the behaviour of a different chassis, understand the braking system and find the best way to manage the kart in an exceptionally competitive environment.

On Thursday she showed encouraging signs in testing, reaching P5 in the third session after P17 in the second. On Friday, after P16 in her series Free Practice, she finished P17 in her qualifying series and P68 overall. In her first heat, she gained three positions to take P15.

On Saturday, Mia finished P14 in Heat 2 and P20 in Heat 3, placing P29 in her Pool. On Sunday she contested the Pool 2 Super Heat, finishing P27 after gaining two places, but did not qualify for the Final.

Qualifying was inevitably affected by this adaptation process: Mia was not yet fully familiar with the new chassis and braking system, and her starting position made the remainder of the weekend an uphill battle. The final result does not reflect the work completed or the value of the experience gained in the slightest. On the contrary, Mia faced an important technical challenge and learned with every session. We are very proud of her dedication and determination; this weekend will provide a valuable foundation for the next steps.

FIVE DRIVERS, MANY LESSONS AND THE SAME COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE

Race Weekend 41 closes with five different journeys and one shared belief: a driver’s progress cannot be measured solely by the result of the last race.

Maxime earns a Top 10 in the Le Mans Final; Benjamin shows strong recovery skills and finishes P5 in the Consolation Race; Vanesa delivers an outstanding weekend with potential race-winning pace before a technical problem prevents her from taking part in the Final; Mattia produces an exceptional performance at Monza, fully supporting Lamborghini and the team’s strategy; and Mia approaches her first race on new FIA Karting equipment with dedication, gaining technical experience worth far more than the final classification.

We are proud of each of them. Our sincere thanks go to the families for their trust and to everyone working alongside our drivers. We continue building together, grateful for what we learn and determined to pursue the next objectives.

FORMULA 1 – 2026 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX

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Singapore is one of the circuits that most clearly tests the completeness of a driver. Walls leave no margin, humidity increases physical and cognitive stress, and the Sprint format compresses preparation into a single practice session. For DAG Management, the 2026 Grand Prix was a case study in adaptation, pressure management, communication and responsibility.

Max Verstappen converted a promising weekend into a landmark result: Sprint victory, his 50th career pole and his first Singapore Grand Prix victory. His superiority was not simply about lap time; it was about mastering changing grip and strategic pressure.

Charles Leclerc delivered Ferrari’s response, qualifying just 0.054s from pole and finishing second. Kimi Antonelli added another podium to his championship-leading season, while Russell recovered to the points after a Sprint error and a power-unit penalty.

Reliability for Hadjar, intra-team contact for McLaren in the Sprint and strategic differences between the Ferrari drivers on Sunday illustrate how varied the reasons behind a result can be. DAG’s perspective is not to assign blame, but to understand what each situation teaches about professional development.

The central lesson of Marina Bay is that speed creates an opportunity, while precision, discipline and teamwork determine whether that opportunity becomes a result.

FRIDAY – ONE PRACTICE SESSION AND SPRINT PREPARATION

George Russell topped the only practice session in 1:32.274, 0.198s ahead of Charles Leclerc and 0.273s clear of Lando Norris. Hamilton and Piastri completed the top five. Verstappen was particularly competitive on medium tyres despite a radio issue interrupting his programme.

At Marina Bay, one practice session makes simulator preparation, pre-event setup work and clear feedback especially valuable. Every run must answer a specific question about braking balance, slow-speed traction, thermal management and confidence close to the walls.

In Sprint Qualifying Verstappen secured pole in 1:31.156 ahead of Russell (+0.120) and Leclerc (+0.243). Piastri and Norris remained in contention, while Hamilton qualified sixth and Antonelli seventh. Red Bull’s improved balance was already evident.

SATURDAY MORNING – A SPRINT THAT REWARDED COMPOSURE

Heavy rain shortly before the start produced mixed conditions and a delay of around half an hour. Every driver started on intermediates. Russell passed Verstappen at the start but lost control at the final corner of Lap 1 and struck the barriers. It was a striking example of how a small error can erase an excellent start.

Verstappen reclaimed the lead and managed intermediate tyre degradation effectively as the circuit dried unevenly. Hamilton finished second after a brilliant launch from sixth. Leclerc completed the podium despite significant tyre wear.

The final laps delivered an important team-management lesson: Norris and Piastri collided at Turn 5 while fighting for position. Piastri hit the barriers; Norris finished eighth. McLaren subsequently reaffirmed the fundamental need to avoid contact between its own cars.

Antonelli capitalised to finish fourth ahead of Lawson, Bearman and Hülkenberg. Their performances demonstrate the value of staying composed when rivals make mistakes. Several other drivers, including Hadjar, Colapinto, Stroll, Pérez, Bortoleto, Bottas and Albon, were affected by retirements or incidents.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON – VERSTAPPEN’S 50TH CAREER POLE

Verstappen set 1:31.373, a lap nobody could beat. Leclerc finished only 0.054s behind and Hamilton 0.123s away, giving Ferrari a very strong qualifying result. Antonelli was fourth and kept Mercedes close to the leading group.

Norris qualified fifth, Russell sixth before his engine penalty, Piastri seventh, Gasly eighth, Lawson ninth and Lindblad tenth. Russell was sent to the back of the grid for power-unit component changes.

Hadjar was unable to complete a representative lap because of a gearbox problem. That result reflects lost technical opportunity rather than the potential of a driver who had been so strong in Baku and Sepang.

From a management perspective, Qualifying rewarded Verstappen’s absolute precision, Leclerc’s ability to approach the limit without crossing it and Antonelli’s response within a narrow Mercedes operating window.

SUNDAY – THE RACE AND THE VALUE OF CONVERSION

Verstappen started on pole and won the Singapore Grand Prix, completing a remarkable weekend with victories in both the Sprint and the main race. Leclerc finished second, 7.335s behind, and Antonelli took third at 24.573s.

The race highlighted the importance of tyre management and traffic. On a street circuit with limited overtaking opportunities, pit-stop strategy and track-position protection matter as much as outright pace. Leclerc converted Ferrari’s speed, while Hamilton finished sixth after a Sunday in which the different handling of stint length and pit-stop timing limited his result compared with Saturday’s promise.

McLaren recovered from its difficult Sprint with Norris fourth and Piastri fifth, an important collective response after the intra-team collision. Lawson was an excellent seventh; Hülkenberg secured eighth for Audi, Russell recovered to ninth from the back and Hadjar completed the points despite a weekend disrupted by reliability.

Gasly finished 11th, Bearman 12th, Ocon 13th, Sainz 14th, Lindblad 15th and Alonso 16th. Pérez, Albon and Bottas were 17th to 19th, while Stroll, Colapinto and Bortoleto failed to finish.

Verstappen’s performance was an example of total conversion. Russell’s was a recovery from adversity. Leclerc maximised a competitive Ferrari, while Antonelli collected crucial championship points without taking unnecessary risks. Four different paths towards a valuable result.

DAG MANAGEMENT REPORT CARDS

RED BULL – RATING: 10

Red Bull finished the Grand Prix with Max Verstappen in P1 and Isack Hadjar in P10. The assessment must account for starting position, reliability, tyre management and the ability to convert opportunities in a Sprint-format weekend.

MAX VERSTAPPEN – RATING: 10 | P1. The benchmark performance: Sprint pole, Sprint victory and Grand Prix win, supported by exceptional management of conditions and pressure.

ISACK HADJAR – RATING: 8 | P10. A weekend compromised by a gearbox failure in Qualifying, followed by a recovery into the points. Driver potential cannot be reduced to grid position.

FERRARI – RATING: 9

Ferrari finished the Grand Prix with Charles Leclerc in P2 and Lewis Hamilton in P6. The assessment must account for starting position, reliability, tyre management and the ability to convert opportunities in a Sprint-format weekend.

CHARLES LECLERC – RATING: 9,5 | P2. The positive evaluation considers management of decisive phases, discipline in wheel-to-wheel racing and the result relative to the car’s technical possibilities. Pace and strategy should be analysed separately from the final position.

LEWIS HAMILTON – RATING: 8,5 | P6. The finishing position is only one part of a fair evaluation: preparation, execution, reliability and response to adversity remain central. Future work should focus on converting the available potential.

MERCEDES – RATING: 8,5

Mercedes finished the Grand Prix with Kimi Antonelli in P3 and George Russell in P9. The assessment must account for starting position, reliability, tyre management and the ability to convert opportunities in a Sprint-format weekend.

KIMI ANTONELLI – RATING: 9 | P3. The positive evaluation considers management of decisive phases, discipline in wheel-to-wheel racing and the result relative to the car’s technical possibilities. Pace and strategy should be analysed separately from the final position.

GEORGE RUSSELL – RATING: 7,5 | P9. The finishing position is only one part of a fair evaluation: preparation, execution, reliability and response to adversity remain central. Future work should focus on converting the available potential.

MCLAREN

McLaren finished the Grand Prix with Lando Norris in P4 and Oscar Piastri in P5. The assessment must account for starting position, reliability, tyre management and the ability to convert opportunities in a Sprint-format weekend.

LANDO NORRIS – RATING: 8 | P4. The positive evaluation considers management of decisive phases, discipline in wheel-to-wheel racing and the result relative to the car’s technical possibilities. Pace and strategy should be analysed separately from the final position.

OSCAR PIASTRI – RATING: 7,5 | P5. The finishing position is only one part of a fair evaluation: preparation, execution, reliability and response to adversity remain central. Future work should focus on converting the available potential.

RACING BULLS – RATING: 8

Racing Bulls finished the Grand Prix with Liam Lawson in P7 and Arvid Lindblad in P15. The assessment must account for starting position, reliability, tyre management and the ability to convert opportunities in a Sprint-format weekend.

LIAM LAWSON – RATING: 9 | P7. The positive evaluation considers management of decisive phases, discipline in wheel-to-wheel racing and the result relative to the car’s technical possibilities. Pace and strategy should be analysed separately from the final position.

ARVID LINDBLAD – RATING: 7 | P15. The finishing position is only one part of a fair evaluation: preparation, execution, reliability and response to adversity remain central. Future work should focus on converting the available potential.

AUDI – RATING: 7,5

Audi finished the Grand Prix with Nico Hülkenberg in P8 and Gabriel Bortoleto in P22. The assessment must account for starting position, reliability, tyre management and the ability to convert opportunities in a Sprint-format weekend.

NICO HÜLKENBERG – RATING: 8,5 | P8. The positive evaluation considers management of decisive phases, discipline in wheel-to-wheel racing and the result relative to the car’s technical possibilities. Pace and strategy should be analysed separately from the final position.

GABRIEL BORTOLETO – RATING: 6 | P22. The finishing position is only one part of a fair evaluation: preparation, execution, reliability and response to adversity remain central. Future work should focus on converting the available potential.

ALPINE – RATING: 6

Alpine finished the Grand Prix with Pierre Gasly in P11 and Franco Colapinto in P21. The assessment must account for starting position, reliability, tyre management and the ability to convert opportunities in a Sprint-format weekend.

PIERRE GASLY – RATING: 7 | P11. The positive evaluation considers management of decisive phases, discipline in wheel-to-wheel racing and the result relative to the car’s technical possibilities. Pace and strategy should be analysed separately from the final position.

FRANCO COLAPINTO – RATING: 6 | P21. The finishing position is only one part of a fair evaluation: preparation, execution, reliability and response to adversity remain central. Future work should focus on converting the available potential.

HAAS – RATING: 6,5

Haas finished the Grand Prix with Oliver Bearman in P12 and Esteban Ocon in P13. The assessment must account for starting position, reliability, tyre management and the ability to convert opportunities in a Sprint-format weekend.

OLIVER BEARMAN – RATING: 7 | P12. The positive evaluation considers management of decisive phases, discipline in wheel-to-wheel racing and the result relative to the car’s technical possibilities. Pace and strategy should be analysed separately from the final position.

ESTEBAN OCON – RATING: 6,5 | P13. The finishing position is only one part of a fair evaluation: preparation, execution, reliability and response to adversity remain central. Future work should focus on converting the available potential.

WILLIAMS – RATING: 5,5

Williams finished the Grand Prix with Carlos Sainz in P14 and Alexander Albon in P18. The assessment must account for starting position, reliability, tyre management and the ability to convert opportunities in a Sprint-format weekend.

CARLOS SAINZ – RATING: 6 | P14. The positive evaluation considers management of decisive phases, discipline in wheel-to-wheel racing and the result relative to the car’s technical possibilities. Pace and strategy should be analysed separately from the final position.

ALEXANDER ALBON – RATING: 5,5 | P18. The finishing position is only one part of a fair evaluation: preparation, execution, reliability and response to adversity remain central. Future work should focus on converting the available potential.

ASTON MARTIN – RATING: 5,5

Aston Martin finished the Grand Prix with Fernando Alonso in P16 and Lance Stroll in P20. The assessment must account for starting position, reliability, tyre management and the ability to convert opportunities in a Sprint-format weekend.

FERNANDO ALONSO – RATING: 6 | P16. The positive evaluation considers management of decisive phases, discipline in wheel-to-wheel racing and the result relative to the car’s technical possibilities. Pace and strategy should be analysed separately from the final position.

LANCE STROLL – RATING: 5 | P20. The finishing position is only one part of a fair evaluation: preparation, execution, reliability and response to adversity remain central. Future work should focus on converting the available potential.

CADILLAC – RATING: 5,5

Cadillac finished the Grand Prix with Sergio Pérez in P17 and Valtteri Bottas in P19. The assessment must account for starting position, reliability, tyre management and the ability to convert opportunities in a Sprint-format weekend.

SERGIO PÉREZ – RATING: 6 | P17. The positive evaluation considers management of decisive phases, discipline in wheel-to-wheel racing and the result relative to the car’s technical possibilities. Pace and strategy should be analysed separately from the final position.

VALTTERI BOTTAS – RATING: 5,5 | P19. The finishing position is only one part of a fair evaluation: preparation, execution, reliability and response to adversity remain central. Future work should focus on converting the available potential.

CHAMPIONSHIP PERSPECTIVE

Antonelli’s third place, together with fourth in the Sprint, consolidates his position at the top of the championship. His advantage over Russell remains substantial and grows further after his teammate finishes ninth on Sunday.

Verstappen takes back-to-back Grand Prix victories after Sepang and completes a near-perfect Singapore weekend. Ferrari collects significant results through Leclerc’s Grand Prix podium and Hamilton’s Sprint podium, although Sunday’s strategy raises legitimate analytical questions.

From a DAG perspective, the championship is entering a phase where repeatable, clean performances matter most. Titles are not built only through perfect weekends; often they are won by preventing difficult weekends from becoming disastrous.

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

DRIVER OF THE WEEKEND – MAX VERSTAPPEN
Sprint pole, Sprint win, 50th career pole and Grand Prix victory.

FERRARI PERFORMANCE – CHARLES LECLERC
Front-row start only 0.054s from pole and second place on Sunday.

CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGEMENT – KIMI ANTONELLI
Fourth in the Sprint, third in the Grand Prix: consistency and valuable points.

MIDFIELD PERFORMANCE – LIAM LAWSON
Fifth in the Sprint and seventh in the Grand Prix.

RECOVERY PERFORMANCE – GEORGE RUSSELL
From the Sprint crash and engine penalty to ninth place.

TEAM LESSON – McLAREN
The Sprint collision and subsequent P4-P5 result underline the importance of internal discipline.

DAG MANAGEMENT CONCLUSIONS

Singapore 2026 demonstrated that motorsport excellence combines speed, self-control, technical interpretation and teamwork.

Verstappen set the benchmark: not only one fast lap, but the ability to maintain his standard across two qualifying sessions, a wet Sprint and the Grand Prix. Leclerc demonstrated precision and effectiveness. Antonelli showed the mentality of a championship leader, turning a complex weekend into a podium.

Russell paid dearly for a Sprint error and a technical penalty but responded on Sunday. Hadjar was compromised by reliability, and his evaluation cannot end with tenth place. Lawson and Hülkenberg showed the importance of capitalising on midfield opportunities.

McLaren’s Sprint incident underlined an essential principle: individual talent must coexist with responsibility towards the team. Sunday’s result showed that a strong organisation can discuss a problem, repair the cars and return to competition.

For DAG Management the final message is clear: it is not enough to be fast when everything works. Drivers who build meaningful careers are those who remain effective when the context changes, margins shrink and pressure increases.

In Singapore, that distinction was visible in every session.

MATTIA BUCCI RETURNS TO MONZA FOR THE FINAL ROUND OF THE CIGT SPRINT

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The driver from Abruzzo is preparing to wrap up this season’s Sprint series.

Following his victory at Imola, Mattia Bucci will return to the track at Monza from October 9 to 11. This time, the young driver will not be joined by his teammate Agoglia, but by Ronnie Stefani, another driver from the DL Racing team.

“We’re back on track for the final round of the Italian GT Sprint Championship! I can’t wait to get behind the wheel at Monza once again; it’s always an honor to drive on this circuit. There’s a change for this weekend, as I’ll be sharing the cockpit with Ronnie Stefani; I’m sure we’ll do a great job together and give this season a fitting finish,” said Mattia.

The two Free Practice sessions will take place on Friday at 10:45 and 15:30. On Saturday, qualifying sessions will be held at 09:55 and 10:20, followed by Race 1 at 14:45. Finally, Race 2 will take place on Sunday at 10:30. You can follow the events on the official Aci Sport channel. (http://www.youtube.com/@ACISportTVofficial), on Sky channel 228, and on Tivùsat channel 52.

Mattia invites you to stay connected and follow him in this new chapter through his, Minardi Management, team, and championship social media pages:

• Instagram: @mattiabucci_official; Facebook: Mattia Bucci – Racing Driver
• Instagram: @minardi_management; Facebook: Minardi Management
• Instagram: @mattiabucci_fanclub
• Instagram: @dlracing.official
• Instagram: @cigranturismo; Facebook: Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo

The press officer, Federica Moccia

TWO DRIVERS ON TRACK, TWO PODIUM RESULTS: A PERFECT WEEKEND ACROSS CHINA AND SOUTH AFRICA

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Race Weekend 40 was smaller in numbers for DAG Management, with only two drivers competing, but it delivered plenty of sporting satisfaction: two drivers, two continents and two podium results.

Zack Zhu starred in the Chinese Karting Championship in Beijing, building an extremely solid weekend all the way to an excellent P3 in the Final. On the other side of the world, Brodi Cooper Dowling enjoyed an almost perfect weekend in the RMC NR Kart Championships at Zwartkops, South Africa: pole position followed by victory in both Race 1 and Race 2.

For DAG Management, it is a great satisfaction to see two young drivers compete in such different environments and turn their work into concrete results. Even more important is seeing their development: Zack’s consistency and ability to remain close to the leading positions, and the confidence and competitiveness with which Brodi managed a weekend that began with the simple aim of enjoying the race and ended with two victories.

We are proud of both drivers and, as always, deeply grateful to their families for their trust, as well as to the teams, mechanics, coaches and everyone working alongside them. Behind every podium is a journey built on preparation, commitment and people sharing the same objective.

CHINESE KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP – BEIJING, CHINA

ZACK ZHU – #188 – JUNIOR

P3 in the Final – an outstanding podium in China

An extremely positive weekend for Zack Zhu in the Chinese Karting Championship in Beijing, completed with a thoroughly deserved podium.

Zack began the weekend by qualifying P6, a position from which he immediately started building his progression. In Heat 1 he moved forward to P4, showing competitive pace from the opening stages and the ability to challenge closer to the front.

Heat 2 ended in P7, but Zack responded with great consistency on the decisive day. In the Super Heat he returned to P4, once again putting himself in position to fight for an important result.

The confirmation came in the Final: Zack secured an excellent P3, stepping onto the podium and completing in the best possible way a weekend defined by consistency, speed and mature management of the different race phases.

This podium carries important value for us. Zack continues to demonstrate that he can be competitive in different international environments and convert his pace into results. We are very proud of his progress and delighted to see him collect another result that rewards the work being done.

RMC NR KART CHAMPIONSHIPS – REGIONAL ROUND 5, ZWARTKOPS, SOUTH AFRICA

BRODI COOPER DOWLING – #112 – X30 JUNIOR

Pole position, P1 in Race 1 and P1 in Race 2

A weekend that could hardly have gone better for Brodi Cooper Dowling at Zwartkops.

Brodi arrived in South Africa with a simple mindset: race, have fun and enjoy the experience. The result was an almost perfect weekend.

He immediately made his intentions clear in qualifying, taking P1 and pole position. In Race 1, he converted that front-row start directly into victory, finishing P1.

Race 2 fully confirmed the competitiveness he had shown throughout the weekend: once again, Brodi brought home P1, securing his second consecutive victory.

Race 3 was subsequently cancelled due to track conditions, leaving Brodi with a flawless record in the competitive sessions that were completed: pole position and two victories.

It is a result that makes us particularly happy because it also tells the story of Brodi’s development. Over recent weeks, we have seen him adapt to different circuits, categories and situations, learn quickly and show increasing confidence in his own potential. This time he came to have fun – and brought the victories home. Congratulations Brodi: a weekend to remember.

TWO DRIVERS, TWO PODIUM RESULTS AND PLENTY OF PRIDE FOR DAG MANAGEMENT

Race Weekend 40 therefore closes with a special result: only two DAG Management drivers on track, but both able to turn their weekend into a podium result.

Zack takes P3 in the Chinese Karting Championship Final after a solid and competitive weekend. Brodi dominates his event at Zwartkops with pole position and two victories in the two races completed.

Two different results, achieved thousands of kilometres apart, but connected by the same element: progress. That is what makes us most proud. Trophies are the visible part of the work, but behind them are experience, preparation, confidence and the ability to grow race after race.

Thank you to Zack and Brodi for their commitment, to their families for continuing to believe in our work, and to the teams and everyone who supported them throughout the weekend. We continue building together, grateful for every result and with the same ambition for what comes next.

FORMULA 1 – 2026 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX IN MALAYSIA

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Sepang brought Formula One back to Malaysia with a weekend that, from DAG Management’s perspective, perfectly summarised one of the most important qualities in modern motorsport: adaptability.

The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia was not decided by pure speed alone. It was decided by the ability to interpret rapidly changing conditions, select the correct level of risk, read the intermediate-to-slick crossover, maintain temperature and confidence on an unpredictable surface and react when the original strategy did not produce the expected result.

Max Verstappen constructed the most complete weekend. Fast from FP1, he took his first pole of the year by topping every Qualifying segment and, after losing two places at the start, rebuilt his race patiently to secure Red Bull’s first victory of 2026. Kimi Antonelli offered a different demonstration: after Mercedes described Friday as one of its toughest of the season, he topped FP3, led at Turn 1 and finished second. Russell’s late retirement extended Antonelli’s championship lead to 66 points.

Ferrari produced perhaps the most interesting recovery. Hamilton and Leclerc started on slicks in conditions that were still too wet and fell backwards, yet recovered to P3 and P4. Hadjar, Lawson, Alonso and Lindblad also delivered highly positive performances. For DAG Management, Sepang 2026 will be remembered as a weekend where the capacity to adapt mattered as much as outright speed – and that is often what separates a fast driver from a complete one.
FRIDAY – RED BULL STARTS STRONG, FERRARI RESPONDS
With Sepang hosting Formula One for the first time since 2017, Friday mileage carried unusual value. Many drivers had never experienced the circuit in an F1 car, while extreme heat and humidity immediately made thermal management central.

Verstappen topped FP1 in 1:37.520, 0.383s ahead of Russell and 0.783s clear of Hadjar. Leclerc and Antonelli completed the top five, while McLaren sat only 11th and 12th.

FP2 changed the reference. Leclerc went fastest in 1:37.528, only 0.099s ahead of Hadjar and 0.137s ahead of Norris. Verstappen was fourth despite not using the soft tyre late in the session, an important detail when reading the times. Mercedes had a more difficult afternoon with Russell seventh and Antonelli eighth, making Saturday’s transformation even more significant.
SATURDAY – ANTONELLI RESPONDS IN FP3, VERSTAPPEN DOMINATES QUALIFYING
Mercedes responded immediately. Antonelli topped FP3 in 1:36.302, 0.278s ahead of Verstappen and 0.558s clear of Hadjar. Russell was fourth ahead of the Ferraris.

Qualifying belonged to Verstappen. He was quickest in Q1, Q2 and Q3, finishing with a 1:35.130 and a 0.298s advantage over Hamilton. It was his first pole of 2026 and a major statement of Red Bull’s progress.

Hadjar set the third-fastest time but dropped five places for a power-unit penalty. Antonelli therefore started third, Leclerc fourth, Norris and Piastri formed row three and Russell started seventh. Gasly and Bortoleto completed the Q3 runners. From a DAG perspective, Saturday highlighted Verstappen’s conversion, Hadjar’s continued strength after Baku and Mercedes’ ability to correct a difficult Friday within 24 hours.
RACE – RAIN, CROSSOVER AND A LESSON IN ADAPTABILITY
Rain completely transformed Sunday. The start was delayed and the initial procedure suspended, with drivers struggling even on the formation lap. Teams split between intermediates and slicks.

Verstappen, Antonelli and Russell started on intermediates; Hamilton and Leclerc chose slicks. The Ferrari gamble was too aggressive for the early conditions and both drivers dropped heavily.

Antonelli and Russell passed Verstappen into Turn 1. Rather than panic, Verstappen rebuilt tyre temperature and rhythm and stayed close to the Mercedes pair.

The race changed when Bottas, who had started on slicks, became beached in the gravel on Lap 9. The Safety Car created the ideal crossover window for intermediate runners to move onto slicks. Verstappen progressively regained control, passed the Mercedes cars and built a lead.

Antonelli and Russell fought over second until Russell’s Mercedes dramatically stopped on the start/finish straight late in the race behind the final Safety Car.

Ferrari meanwhile transformed a disastrous opening into an outstanding recovery. Hamilton and Leclerc charged back to P3 and P4. Hadjar, starting eighth because of his penalty, had climbed into podium contention before the Ferraris passed him late on; he still finished an excellent fifth.

Piastri took P6, Lawson P7 and Alonso P8. Norris lost control behind the Safety Car and ran through the gravel before finishing ninth. Lindblad, starting at the back after a 30-place power-unit penalty, recovered to P10.

Verstappen won by 2.307s over Antonelli, with Hamilton 4.919s behind the winner, Leclerc 7.258s back and Hadjar 8.571s away. A top five covered by less than nine seconds after such a complex race underlined how much every decision mattered.
RED BULL – RATING: 10
The team’s most complete weekend of 2026: first pole, first win and another outstanding Hadjar performance.

MAX VERSTAPPEN – 10. Fast from FP1, dominant through every Qualifying segment and victorious after losing the lead at the start. The strongest element was his response: no panic, controlled recovery and then race management.

ISACK HADJAR – 9. Third fastest in Qualifying, eighth on the grid after his PU penalty and fifth at the finish. Following his Baku podium, he immediately confirms that performance level.
MERCEDES – RATING: 8.5
Mercedes turned a difficult Friday into a race where both cars fought for the podium. Russell’s late retirement prevented a much bigger result.

KIMI ANTONELLI – 9.5. FP3 P1, P4 in Qualifying/P3 on the grid and P2 in the race. He took the lead at Turn 1 and collected 18 points. With Russell scoring zero, his championship lead grows to 66 points: 302 to 236.

GEORGE RUSSELL – 8. The classification says DNF, but his performance was much stronger. Excellent start and a long presence in the podium fight before a late technical retirement.
FERRARI – RATING: 9
Ferrari earns a high rating for the quality of its recovery. Starting on slicks did not work, but the team and drivers refused to let the initial decision define the result.

LEWIS HAMILTON – 9.5. P2 in Qualifying and P3 after dropping heavily in the early wet phase. One of Sunday’s strongest recoveries.

CHARLES LECLERC – 9. P5 in Qualifying/P4 on the grid and P4 at the finish. He also recovered from the slick gamble, finishing only 7.258s from the winner. Ferrari scores 27 points from a race that could have become extremely negative.
McLAREN – RATING: 7
A respectable weekend, but below the team’s normal potential.

OSCAR PIASTRI – 8. P7 in Qualifying/P6 on the grid and P6 in the race. Clean, controlled and close to the maximum available.

LANDO NORRIS – 6.5. P6 in Qualifying/P5 on the grid. A late loss of control behind the Safety Car sends him through the gravel and leaves him P9. The mistake weighs on the rating.
RACING BULLS – RATING: 8.5
Double points and excellent use of an unpredictable race.

LIAM LAWSON – 8.5. P11 in Qualifying to P7 in the race. Strong management of conditions and restarts.

ARVID LINDBLAD – 9. From the back after a 30-place PU penalty to P10. A highly mature recovery in difficult conditions.
ASTON MARTIN – RATING: 8
A major positive signal.

FERNANDO ALONSO – 8.5. P12 in Qualifying and P8 in the race, using experience and judgement to secure valuable points.

LANCE STROLL – 7. P14 in Qualifying and P12 in the race. No points, but a cleaner and more competitive weekend.
AUDI – RATING: 6
NICO HULKENBERG – 7.5. From P17 in Qualifying to P11, again finishing just outside the points.

GABRIEL BORTOLETO – 5.5. Excellent P10 in Qualifying, but contact with Sainz and the resulting penalty compromise the race. P18 does not reflect Saturday’s potential.
ALPINE – RATING: 6
FRANCO COLAPINTO – 7. From P21 after penalties to P13. An important, controlled response after Baku.

PIERRE GASLY – 5.5. P9 in Qualifying, but the slick choice makes even the formation lap extremely difficult. He survives and finishes P16, well below the weekend’s potential.
HAAS – RATING: 5.5
OLIVER BEARMAN – 6.5. Recovers to P14 but remains outside the points.

ESTEBAN OCON – 6. P15 at the finish. A clean weekend without the competitiveness Haas showed in Baku.
WILLIAMS – RATING: 4.5
CARLOS SAINZ – 5.5. P13 in Qualifying and P17 in the race, with the Bortoleto contact adding complexity.

ALEX ALBON – 4.5. P20 in Qualifying and a late retirement that brings out the Safety Car. A weekend to analyse and reset from.
CADILLAC – RATING: 4.5
VALTTERI BOTTAS – 4.5. The slick gamble fails and his Lap 9 mistake leaves him beached in the gravel. He accepted responsibility.

SERGIO PEREZ – 5. Last in Qualifying and P19 at the finish. He completes the race, but the project remains away from the points.
CHAMPIONSHIP PERSPECTIVE
Sepang significantly strengthens Antonelli’s position. His advantage over Russell grows from 48 to 66 points: 302 against 236. Hamilton consolidates third on 199, Norris remains fourth on 186, Leclerc rises to 179 and Verstappen reaches 163 with his victory.

More important than the numbers, Antonelli continues to collect major results when he does not win. Russell suffers a technical retirement at the worst possible time. Verstappen and Red Bull finally demonstrate a race-winning package, while Ferrari produces one of its strongest operational recoveries of the season.
WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS
DRIVER OF THE WEEKEND – MAX VERSTAPPEN – 10
Pole and victory, but above all the ability to reconstruct the race after losing two places at the start.

CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCE – KIMI ANTONELLI – 9.5
P2 and an 18-point gain over Russell.

RECOVERY OF THE WEEKEND – LEWIS HAMILTON
From the unsuccessful slick start to the podium.

TEAM RESPONSE OF THE WEEKEND – FERRARI
The initial strategy fails; the response produces P3 and P4.

YOUNG DRIVER PERFORMANCE – ARVID LINDBLAD
From the back to P10.

CONSISTENCY AWARD – ISACK HADJAR
After Baku’s podium, P3 in Qualifying and P5 despite a grid penalty.
DAG MANAGEMENT CONCLUSIONS
The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia was a perfect example of why driver evaluation must extend beyond the stopwatch and the final classification.

Verstappen was the most complete: practice speed, Qualifying precision, recovery after a poor start and control once back in front. Antonelli demonstrated a different but equally important quality: turning a non-dominant weekend into a championship result.

Ferrari showed why a wrong decision should not automatically become a wrong weekend. Hamilton and Leclerc were hurt by the initial slick choice, but maintained clarity and pace until Sunday became a 27-point result.

Russell represents the opposite case: the classification says DNF, but the performance says podium fight. Management must never allow a technical problem to artificially rewrite a driver’s evaluation.

Hadjar confirms a strong development curve. Lawson and Lindblad demonstrate how the midfield rewards drivers who remain present when races become chaotic. Alonso reminds us how much experience can matter when conditions require interpretation.

The DAG lesson from Sepang is simple: adaptability is not only reacting to weather. It is reacting to a poor start, a strategy that fails, a penalty, a difficult Friday or an unfavourable grid position.

Speed creates opportunities. Adaptability decides how many of those opportunities become results.

BURGENLAND’S MIA ALESSA ZANKI WINS SECOND AUSTRIAN KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP AND SECURES WORLD FINAL TICKET

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After winning the ROK Junior title, the 13-year-old from Podersdorf now also claims the Austrian Rotax Max Junior Championship and qualifies for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Final in Portimão. Three major international events now await the young Austrian driver.

Podersdorf am See, Burgenland, Austria – 13-year-old Mia Alessa Zanki is enjoying an exceptional season in international karting. After winning the ROK Cup Austria Junior Championship, the young driver from Burgenland has now added another major national title to her 2026 season by winning the Austrian Rotax Max Junior Championship.

The title also secured Mia a place at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Final in Portimão, Portugal, where she will represent Austria against the leading Rotax drivers from around the world.

Two Austrian championship titles in one season

Mia had already secured the ROK Cup Austria Junior Championship earlier this season. Following that success, she will compete for Austria at the ROK Superfinal in Lonato, Italy, in October.

Her Rotax championship now gives the 13-year-old her second Austrian championship title of the season, in two different racing series.

One of the highlights of her season came in Hungary, where Mia achieved an impressive triple victory.

Winning the Austrian Rotax title also earned her qualification for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Final in Portimão, bringing together leading drivers from Rotax championships around the world.

From karting towards Formula 1

Mia has a clear long-term ambition: to progress from karting into international single-seater racing and ultimately pursue a path towards Formula 1.

In 2026, she was selected for the F1 Academy programme, giving her the opportunity to gain further international racing experience and develop within the professional motorsport environment.

Her results throughout the season underline her progress and ambition on this path.

Third international highlight: World Championship with Lenovo Kalikart

But Mia’s 2026 season is far from over.

Following her successes in the ROK Cup Austria and the Austrian Rotax Championship, Mia has also been selected by the Lenovo Kalikart Racing Team.

The team has a long-standing international racing tradition and has worked with drivers competing at the highest levels of motorsport.

Mia will represent Austria with the team at the OK-N Junior World Championship in Viterbo, Italy.

This means that the 13-year-old now faces three major international events during the remainder of the season:

  • ROK Superfinal – Lonato, Italy
  • Rotax Max Challenge Grand Final – Portimão, Portugal
  • OK-N Junior World Championship – Viterbo, Italy

The next step comes in 2027

Following an already highly successful 2026 season, the next challenge is already taking shape.

Together with DAG Management, which professionally supports Mia on her motorsport journey, she is planning to make the step into the senior category in 2027, at just 13 years of age.

The move will bring stronger competition, greater technical and physical demands and another significant increase in the level of competition.

“If you have high ambitions, you also have to be willing to take on the highest challenges.”

With two Austrian championship titles in different racing series, multiple international qualifications and selection by an internationally established racing team, Mia has made a strong statement during the most successful season of her career so far.

Her goal remains clear: step by step from karting into international single-seater racing – and ultimately towards Formula 1.

ABOUT MIA ALESSA ZANKI

Mia Alessa Zanki
13 years old
Podersdorf am See, Burgenland, Austria

2026 Season Highlights

  • Austrian ROK Cup Junior Champion
  • Austrian Rotax Max Junior Champion
  • Qualified for the ROK Superfinal – Lonato, Italy
  • Qualified for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Final – Portimão, Portugal
  • Selected for the F1 Academy programme
  • Selected for the Lenovo Kalikart Racing Team
  • Competing in the OK-N Junior World Championship – Viterbo, Italy
  • International race appearances across several European countries

Contact:
Richard Zanki
+43 664 822 8286
richard@zanki.at

Mia Alessa Zanki
Podersdorf am See, Burgenland, Austria

Photos: NOEL ZAK
Photo credit: NOEL ZAK

 

13-Year-Old Austrian Mia Alessa Zanki Wins Second Karting Championship and Secures World Final Ticket

After winning the ROK Junior title, the 13-year-old from Podersdorf has now also won the Austrian Rotax Max Junior Championship, securing her place at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Final in Portimão. Three major international events now await the young Austrian driver.

Podersdorf am See, Burgenland, Austria – 13-year-old Mia Alessa Zanki is enjoying an outstanding 2026 karting season.

After winning the ROK Cup Austria Junior Championship, Mia has now also claimed the Austrian Rotax Max Junior Championship.

Following a triple victory in Hungary, she went on to secure the Austrian Rotax title and, with it, qualification for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Final in Portimão, Portugal, where she will represent Austria.

The next international highlight is already approaching: in October, Mia will compete at the ROK Superfinal in Lonato, Italy.

Mia has also been selected by the Lenovo Kalikart Racing Team and will represent Austria at the OK-N Junior World Championship in Viterbo, Italy.

This means three major international events remain on her 2026 calendar:

ROK Superfinal – Lonato | Rotax Max Challenge Grand Final – Portimão | OK-N Junior World Championship – Viterbo

In 2026, Mia was also selected for the F1 Academy programme. Her long-term goal is to progress from karting into international single-seater racing and ultimately pursue a path towards Formula 1.

Together with DAG Management, Mia is already preparing for her next major step in 2027: moving into the senior category.

“If you have high ambitions, you also have to be willing to take on the highest challenges.”

Photos: NOEL ZAK
Photo credit: NOEL ZAK