Mark Hughes

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: ‘Yield or we crash’ makes title fight unnerving

Lewis Hamilton knows Max Verstappen will always take a ‘yield or we crash’ approach. Verstappen doesn’t know what to expect from Hamilton. That combination is creating a fascinating but frightening Formula 1 title fight, says Mark Hughes

Formula 1

The full story of how McLaren steered Honda towards failure

Honda’s exiting F1 as a frontrunner, but the first year of its current programme was a painfully different story. Mark Hughes delves into why Honda’s comeback with McLaren began so badly

Formula 1

The incredible tale of McLaren and Mercedes’ F1 split

McLaren and Mercedes are back together for 2021. Mark Hughes explores the roots of how this once-invincible partnership split up last time – an incredible story of unrelated circumstances improbably aligning

Formula 1

Long-time senior McLaren man Neale leaves

Jonathan Neale, a senior McLaren figure alongside Ron Dennis and Martin Whitmarsh in the 2000s and early 2010s, is leaving the company

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: What set F1 title rivals on collision course again

The odd Red Bull pit delay, 2mm of Mercedes clutch positioning… tiny factors added up to put Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen literally on top of each other at Monza. Mark Hughes explains all the elements behind their latest clash, and how McLaren won the race

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How good was Ralf Schumacher? Mark Hughes’ verdict

Formula 1

The hidden potential in Kubica’s Monza performance so far

Q1 exit, first-lap sprint collision, 18th place finish… Robert Kubica’s second grand prix as Kimi Raikkonen’s Alfa Romeo stand-in seems pretty miserable on paper. But as Mark Hughes explains, events outside Kubica’s control are hiding what he could do

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: The four factors behind Bottas’ Monza vindication

Valtteri Bottas’ Italian GP qualifying performance was a timely reminder of his ability, aided by a combination of factors

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: Albon deal hints at Mercedes/Red Bull F1 power shift

It seems like a routine F1 contract, but what if Alex Albon’s 2022 deal is the first step towards a bigger Williams/Red Bull link-up?

Formula 1

Will there be Hamilton/Russell friction? Mark Hughes’ verdict

Will George Russell be more like Nico Rosberg or Valtteri Bottas as Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes Formula 1 team-mate? Mark Hughes gives his take on the likely Hamilton/Russell dynamic

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: The makings of Verstappen’s dream homecoming

A perfect storm of factors led to Max Verstappen taking a very popular home Dutch GP win and the Formula 1 championship lead as Mark Hughes explains in his in-depth post race analysis

Formula 1

Verstappen/Hamilton lap comparison points to first-lap duel

Just 0.038s separated the crowd’s pole-sitting hero Max Verstappen from Lewis Hamilton at the end of Formula 1’s Dutch Grand Prix qualifying. Mark Hughes explains where the difference was between the F1 title rivals and what it means for Sunday’s race

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: Verstappen long runs hint at dream Dutch GP

Lewis Hamilton’s issue skews the picture, but Friday long runs at the Dutch GP make for great reading for Max Verstappen and Lando Norris

Formula 1

Red Bull queries Mercedes F1 engine sensors with FIA

The competitive niggle between Formula 1 title rivals Red Bull and Mercedes appears to be continuing as Red Bull has made a query to the FIA regarding the sensors of the Mercedes power unit which record the engine’s inlet plenum temperatures

Formula 1

‘His image became a shield’ – Mark Hughes on Raikkonen’s F1 exit

Kimi Raikkonen tolerated F1’s showbiz side but refused to play along – and that, combined with his prodigious ability, made him an icon

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: Belgian GP casts doubt on F1’s ‘better values’

With fans unequivocally the victims after the Belgian GP non-race, F1’s response has so far fallen short of what it needs to be

Formula 1

A landmark F1 2021 qualifying lap, corner by corner

We take an in-depth, corner-by-corner look at George Russell’s exceptional Belgian Grand Prix qualifying lap, to explain how he ended up second to Max Verstappen on the F1 grid in a Williams

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: Why Red Bull could be a ‘sitting duck’ at Spa

Mark Hughes explains why Red Bull’s wing choices at the Belgian Grand Prix could leave it a “sitting duck” on the opening lap as the 2021 Formula 1 season resumes

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: Alpine’s letting Alonso show what McLaren couldn’t

Fernando Alonso’s F1 comeback has been mighty impressive and the Alpine is allowing him to thrive in a way that he couldn’t at McLaren as Mark Hughes explains

Formula 1

Has Aston got what it needed from Vettel? Mark Hughes’ verdict

Ditching Sergio Perez for Sebastian Vettel was a controversial move by the Aston Martin Formula 1 team. Has it paid off? Mark Hughes assesses Vettel’s contribution to Aston so far

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: What if Ricciardo can’t fix his McLaren crisis?

The saddest part of the 2021 Formula 1 season is watching Daniel Ricciardo’s pain and lack of progress at McLaren. Mark Hughes can see this partnership coming to an early end

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: How Ferrari ensured its 2021 low was just a blip

Ferrari’s nightmare French Grand Prix proved to just be a one-off in an otherwise strong 2021 Formula 1 season. Mark Hughes explains why it was just a blip

Formula 1

Ferrari set for power boost with delayed F1 engine upgrade

Ferrari expects a power boost in the final part of the 2021 Formula 1 season, as it’s able to introduce upgraded parts for its last engines having so far been running 2020 components

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: The details that preserved Ocon’s unlikely win

As the Valtteri Bottas-induced chaos played out at the start of this race, Esteban Ocon backed his Alpine out of a possible move on Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, opted instead to move left and concentrate on the exit. In that moment he laid the foundations for his first grand prix victory and the Ensto

Formula 1

Why Red Bull has struggled at dubious ‘Mercedes stronghold’

Red Bull hints qualifying defeat was to be expected at a “Mercedes stronghold” in Hungary – but that doesn’t quite tell the full story

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: How Mercedes/Red Bull duel was distorted on Friday

Friday practice in Hungary painted an unusual picture between Mercedes and Red Bull – but there’s a big reason not to take that much stock in it

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: F1 rules rows created Verstappen-Hamilton fight

Lewis Hamilton vs Max Verstappen is a rivalry of a kind Formula 1 hasn’t seen in years. But it’s not happened in 2021 because of two drivers peaking, but because a swirl of rules rows created a situation where Mercedes and Red Bull were – very briefly – in a real fight. Mark Hughes explains

Formula 1

The Hungarian GP cliche Ferrari wishes was still true

Ferrari should relish a crack at another Monaco-like F1 circuit – but Carlos Sainz says Hungary’s slow-speed reputation no longer holds true

Formula 1

F1 planning two-track 2022 pre-season test schedule

Formula 1’s provisional plan for 2022 pre-season testing includes visits to both Barcelona and Bahrain

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: Pride in Verstappen weakens Horner’s Hamilton anger

Christian Horner’s rage at Lewis Hamilton is understandable – but it doesn’t fit with his repeated praise of Max Verstappen’s aggression

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: The factors that led to a ‘zero compromise’ clash

From car set-ups to the weekend format and the title battle narrative, there were a huge number of factors that fed into the moment where Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen so dramatically clashed at the British Grand Prix

Formula 1

New F1 pitstop rules changed and delayed

Formula 1’s new pitstop rules have been adjusted and delayed until the Belgian Grand Prix, after the summer break. Mark Hughes explains what’s different

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: Mercedes’ Russell/Bottas dilemma just got harder

The most significant battle of British Grand Prix qualifying might have been Valtteri Bottas vs George Russell. And the winner wasn’t as obvious as it might appear

Formula 1

F1 will ‘tweak’ 2022 regulations if teams ‘compromise’ aims

Formula 1 boss Ross Brawn says the series could “tweak” the 2022 regulations if teams produce cars that “compromise” the aims of the rules

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: When an F1 grand prix last featured two races

The sprint race format is F1’s second dalliance with having two separate races on a weekend. The first one was not successful

Formula 1

The F1 drivers most likely to go rogue in the sprint race

There are certain Formula 1 drivers who are more likely to risk it all this weekend in the first-ever 100km sprint race at the British Grand Prix. Mark Hughes picks out five

Formula 1

Carlos Reutemann: 1942-2021. Obituary by Mark Hughes

Former Brabham, Ferrari and Williams Formula 1 driver Carlos Reutemann has died at the age of 79. Mark Hughes pays tribute to an enigma who was so nearly a world champion

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: Why Red Bull’s F1 wins are getting easier

Max Verstappen had an even bigger margin over the opposition in the second grand prix at Red Bull’s home track. Mark Hughes explains the many reasons why

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: Norris and Russell showed what Hamilton is facing

Lando Norris and George Russell’s Austrian Grand Prix qualifying laps show that it’s not just Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc who Lewis Hamilton has to worry about. Mark Hughes takes a detailed look at how the two young Brits achieved their Saturday heroics

Formula 1

Mark Hughes: Mercedes 1-2 in Austria isn’t what it seems

They may have finished practice at the top, but Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas are already fearing witnessing Red Bull’s true pace at the Austrian circuit for the second successive weekend