In the high-octane world of Formula 1, there exists a pervasive myth that has seduced fans and commentators alike for decades: the belief that smoothness equals speed. We are taught to admire the drivers who look like they are on rails, the ones who steer with the gentleness of a surgeon, and we view any sign of sliding or instability as a mistake—a loss of time, a loss of control. But what if this entire premise is wrong? What if the very definition of “perfect” driving is about to be rewritten?

The uncomfortable truth is that the widely accepted view of low-grip driving is a misunderstanding that blinds us to the genius of Max Verstappen. While the majority of the grid views instability as a danger to be avoided, the reigning champion views it as a playground. And with the radical 2026 regulations fast approaching, this distinction is no longer just a matter of style; it is becoming a matter of survival. The next era of Formula 1 is not going to level the playing field; it is going to expose it.

The Myth of the Smooth Operator

For years, the visual language of F1 success has been stability. A car that looks planted is a fast car. A driver who isn’t fighting the wheel is a master. Consequently, when fans see a car sliding, the rear stepping out, or the steering wheel sawing back and forth, they assume something has gone wrong. They think the tires are shot, the setup is bad, or the driver has overcooked the entry.

This belief system is exactly why Max Verstappen’s brilliance is so often misinterpreted. To the untrained eye, his aggressive, correctional style can look “messy” compared to the silky inputs of his rivals. But this is a fundamental error in analysis. Verstappen isn’t fighting the car because he’s losing control; he is manipulating the car to extract performance from a zone most drivers are terrified to enter.

Max doesn’t wait for the grip to disappear before he reacts. This is the critical difference. Most drivers feel the slide and then apply a correction. By the time they have reacted, momentum is lost. Verstappen anticipates the loss of grip before it physically occurs. He is already adjusting his throttle application, his steering angle, and his brake release while his competitors are still processing the initial feedback from the chassis. He doesn’t “save” slides; he prevents them from becoming terminal while riding the very edge of the traction circle.

2026: The Great Filter

To understand why this matters, we must look ahead to the seismic shift coming in 2026. The new regulations are not merely a facelift; they are a fundamental restructuring of how a Formula 1 car generates speed. The sport is moving toward lighter cars with significantly less aerodynamic grip and a power unit formula where roughly 50% of the total output comes from electrical deployment.

This change is catastrophic for drivers who rely on stability. The 2026 cars will feature active aerodynamics and a much heavier reliance on battery harvesting and release. This means power delivery will no longer be linear. Drivers won’t just be managing a smooth curve of acceleration; they will be battling “torque spikes” tied to complex energy deployment strategies.

Imagine trying to accelerate out of a corner when the torque delivery changes lap by lap, or even corner by corner, depending on the harvesting mode. The rear of the car will be unpredictable. It will snap, it will unload, and it will lose grip with little warning. The “planted” feel that smooth drivers depend on to build their confidence will effectively vanish.

In this environment, the driver who needs a stable platform to be fast is extinct. The driver who thrives in chaos becomes king.

The Art of Micro-Instability

This brings us to the concept of “micro-instability.” Data analysts and former racers have noted that Verstappen consistently runs higher average slip angles than his teammates without overheating his tires. This is a feat that borders on the physically impossible for most mortals.

A slip angle is the difference between the direction the wheel is pointing and the direction the tire is actually traveling. There is a “gray zone” of grip—a micro-state where the tire is neither fully gripping nor fully sliding. This is where the maximum lap time lives when grip is limited. It is a terrifying place to be because the car feels loose, floating, and on the verge of a crash.

Most drivers enter this zone accidentally and immediately back off to regain stability. Max Verstappen lives there. He deliberately balances the car in this state of micro-instability, using the rotation to straighten out his corner exits earlier. By rotating the car while it is “sliding,” he can point the nose down the straight and get to full throttle sooner than a driver who takes a smoother, more geometric line.

In 2026, when the cars naturally have less downforce and more torque instability, this ability to manage slip angle will be the defining factor of the world championship.

The Psychological Warfare of Grip

Beyond the physics, there is the psychological component. When a driver who relies on smoothness encounters a car with low grip, their confidence shatters. They begin to brake earlier. They get tentative on the throttle. They leave margin on the entry. Fear creeps in.

For Verstappen, instability does not breed fear; it brings clarity. His background—trained by his father Jos Verstappen on cold tracks, with worn tires, and often on slick tires in the rain—was designed to normalize chaos. He was not trained to drive around instability; he was trained to live inside it.

As we approach the new era, teams are already whispering concerns about “drivability.” Simulations suggest the 2026 cars will be livelier, with more potential for snap oversteer on corner exits. This is music to the ears of the Verstappen camp. When a car becomes harder to drive, the gap between the good and the great widens.

The Verdict

Fans and pundits often talk about regulation changes as a “reset” button that gives other teams a chance to catch up. They hope that 2026 will level the playing field. But the analysis suggests the opposite. 2026 isn’t a reset; it’s a filter.

It will filter out the drivers who have been flattered by high-downforce, stable cars. It will expose those who cannot adapt to non-linear power delivery. And standing alone at the front, in a car that everyone else describes as “undriveable,” will likely be Max Verstappen.

He isn’t just the best driver of the current era; he is the prototype for the next. While the rest of the grid wonders why their cars feel impossible to drive, Max will simply be doing what he has always done: finding control in the chaos. The uncomfortable truth is that low grip doesn’t make racing harder for everyone—it just makes the best driver more visible. And in 2026, that visibility might just look like domination.

A dangerous and heavy silence has descended over the world of Formula 1. It is not the quiet of the off-season, nor the calm before a race, but rather the suffocating stillness of a storm that is about to break. As the sport accelerates toward what was promised to be a clean, revolutionary slate in 2026, the foundations of that future are already trembling. Beneath the shiny veneer of new car launches and sustainability pledges, an explosive controversy involving the next generation of Mercedes power units has thrown the paddock into a state of quiet, yet profound, alarm.

What was intended to be a technological reset—a moment for the sport to balance innovation with fairness—threatens to spiral into one of the most complex and damaging regulatory crises the sport has faced in decades. At the very heart of this brewing storm lies a single, cold number that refuses to stay buried: 16.1.

The Number That Sparked a Rebellion

To the casual observer, 16.1 is just a figure. To the engineers and team principals whose careers depend on finding the bleeding edge of performance, it represents the absolute limit. Specifically, it is the maximum permitted geometric compression ratio for the engines under the 2026 rules. This line in the sand was drawn by the FIA to ensure a level playing field, balancing the insatiable drive for power with the need for sustainable, relevant technology.

However, in the high-stakes world of Formula 1, a line is rarely treated as a wall; it is treated as a target to be bent, stretched, or circumvented. It appears that for the titans of the sport, that line may have already been crossed.

The controversy stems from a regulatory drafting error—a “grey area” where two distinct regulations sit uneasily beside one another. One article of the technical regulations states, in no uncertain terms, that the compression ratio of the power unit must not exceed 16.1 under ambient conditions, before the engine is fired up and unleashed. It seems clear enough. Yet, another clause—broader and more general—insists that this same limit must apply once the car reaches full race temperature.

It is in the gap between “ambient” and “race temperature” that suspicion has taken root, growing into a scandal that now threatens to engulf the entire grid.

The Loophole and the Leak

According to explosive information currently circulating through the paddock, Mercedes—and subsequently Red Bull—have allegedly interpreted these conflicting rules in a way that shatters the spirit of the regulation while adhering to the letter of a specific clause. The allegation is that these teams have engineered their power units to sit at the compliant 16.1 ratio when cold, but once the heat of competition kicks in, the compression ratio climbs as high as 18.1.

On paper, it appears to be a stroke of engineering genius. In reality, it has ignited panic. In the legal framework of Formula 1, a specific regulation traditionally overrides a general one. If the specific rule only explicitly caps the ratio at ambient conditions, teams can argue that what happens at race temperature is governed by different physics and different interpretations.

But this goes beyond simple interpretation. What is being whispered in the motorhomes and engineering trucks suggests something far more troubling: exploitation.

Sources indicate that this concept originated deep within the engineering ranks of Mercedes. However, secrets in Formula 1 are notoriously difficult to keep. The situation darkened significantly when a former Mercedes engineer reportedly departed the Silver Arrows for their bitter rivals, Red Bull Racing. It is believed that this individual carried with them the intimate knowledge of the power unit’s architecture and this specific regulatory loophole.

Soon after, Red Bull’s own 2026 engine concept began to mirror the controversial Mercedes approach with eerie precision. Now, the two fiercest rivals in the sport stand united under the same shadow of suspicion.

A Grid Compromised

The ramifications of this discovery are staggering. As reported by Corriere dello Sport, the outlet that first exposed the story, this is not merely a squabble between two top teams. The infection has spread.

Mercedes is not just a team; it is a supplier. They provide power units to multiple outfits across the grid, including historic names like McLaren and Williams. If the Mercedes power unit is deemed illegal, or if its interpretation of the rules is struck down, it is not just Lewis Hamilton or George Russell who suffer. Half the grid could instantly find themselves with a non-compliant car.

Furthermore, with Red Bull now allegedly adopting the same philosophy for their Red Bull Powertrains division, the number of implicated teams grows even larger. The report suggests that directly or indirectly, more than eight teams could be entangled in this single interpretation of the rules. If these allegations hold water, the competitive balance of the entire 2026 championship may already be compromised before a single wheel has turned in anger.

The FIA’s Nightmare

The governing body, the FIA, now finds itself in an impossible corner. They are the arbiters of truth and fairness, but they are staring down the barrel of a gun.

To act harshly—to ban the interpretation outright and force a redesign—risks detonating chaos. Teams have already invested millions into the development of these 2026 engines. Scrapping their core concepts now would be financially ruinous and could lead to a revolt from the manufacturers, who hold immense political sway.

However, to hesitate is equally dangerous. If the FIA allows this loophole to stand, they risk legitimizing a precedent that says the spirit of the rules doesn’t matter, only the semantic gaps between clauses. It could unravel the entire regulatory framework, inviting teams to mock the rulebook at every turn.

Behind closed doors, the atmosphere is tense. Emergency discussions are reportedly underway. Clarifications are being drafted, and legal language is being dissected word by word, number by number. The FIA knows that whatever decision they make will define the next era of the sport.

Conclusion: A Crisis of Trust

As fans look forward to a new era of racing, a shadow looms large. The 2026 regulations were meant to save the sport—to make it greener, closer, and more exciting. Instead, they have birthed a monster.

The “16.1 Scandal” is a stark reminder that in Formula 1, the race doesn’t start when the lights go out. It starts in the design office, in the legal department, and in the quiet, ruthless exploitation of the grey areas. Whether this results in a mass disqualification, a frantic rule rewrite, or an uncomfortable acceptance of a new reality remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the silence in the paddock is about to be broken by a very loud argument.

It is often said in Formula 1 that the stopwatch never lies, but sometimes, it takes an entire season of silence before the truth finally speaks. As the sun set over the Yas Marina Circuit on December 9, 2025, bringing a close to the post-season testing, a heavy realization settled over the Ferrari garage. It was not the euphoria of a championship win, nor the bitterness of defeat. It was the quiet, crushing weight of hindsight.

For twelve grueling months, the narrative surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s debut season with the Scuderia had been one of whispered doubts and uncomfortable questions. Was the seven-time world champion past his prime? Had he made a mistake leaving the safety of Mercedes? Was he simply unable to adapt to the prancing horse? The data from the 2025 season seemed to support the skeptics: struggling with braking zones, fighting the car’s rear instability, and often finding himself trapped in the midfield while his teammate, Charles Leclerc, extracted more from the package.

But on that Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, everything changed. The narrative was not just rewritten; it was torched.

The “Sabotage” Was Structural

What the public saw on the timing screens was a standard post-season test, ostensibly for Pirelli tire development. But what Ferrari was running was far from standard. Underneath the familiar livery of the SF25 lay a “mule car”—a hybrid prototype concealing the experimental chassis and aerodynamic architecture of “Project 678,” the code name for Ferrari’s 2026 challenger.

For the first time all year, Lewis Hamilton was not fighting the machine. He was dancing with it.

Throughout the 2025 campaign, Hamilton had been forced to negotiate with his car. His trademark aggressive corner entry and late braking—the very “DNA” that built his legend—had been neutralized by the SF25’s instability. Every time he tried to push the limits, the car punished him with stalls, traction loss, or unpredictable sliding. He had spent a year diluting his instincts, trying to drive like someone else just to keep the car on the island.

The mule car, however, told a different story. As Hamilton completed 73 laps, the telemetry screens in the garage began to light up with data that looked like it belonged to a different driver entirely. The rear axle, historically the SF25’s Achilles’ heel during medium-traction cornering, remained glued to the asphalt. The front axle responded with surgical precision.

Engineers watched in real-time as the “problems” they had spent a year diagnosing simply vanished. Hamilton was braking deep, turning in with supreme confidence, and powering out with immediate traction. The car wasn’t just complying; it was amplifying his inputs.

A Moment of Clarity

The most telling moment came not on the track, but in the debrief immediately following the session. There were no fist pumps, no radio shouts of “Grazzie Ragazzi.” Hamilton climbed out of the cockpit, walked straight to the data monitors, and pointed to the telemetry traces.

“This,” he told the stunned room of engineers, “is what I’ve been asking for all year.”

It was a vindication delivered without arrogance, but with the profound relief of a man who had begun to doubt his own reality. The revelation was stark: Ferrari hadn’t built a car that Hamilton couldn’t drive; they had inadvertently built a car that structurally rejected him. The 2026 concept, with its active aerodynamics, lower sprung mass, and revised weight distribution, had naturally solved the incompatibility issues that no amount of setup tweaking on the SF25 could have fixed.

The “sabotage” had been accidental, born of a disconnect between the car’s concept and the driver’s needs. But the realization that they had wasted a year trying to force a square peg into a round hole—when the round hole was already in the design pipeline—left the team in a state of shock.

The Strategic Shift and The Coming Conflict

The fallout from the Yas Marina test has been immediate and seismic within Maranello. The atmosphere has shifted from end-of-season resignation to a frantic, high-stakes pivot. The data gathered wasn’t just filed away; it became the central axis of a structural review within the chassis and aerodynamics departments.

Ferrari now faces a new reality: the 2026 car naturally suits Hamilton. It does not require adaptation; it requires optimization. Consequently, the development roadmap for Project 678 is being accelerated, with Hamilton now viewed not just as a marketing icon, but as the technical north star of the project.

However, this breakthrough brings with it the seeds of a potential civil war. For years, Ferrari has been molded, in part, around the preferences of Charles Leclerc, who thrives on a sharp, pointy front end and can live with a looser rear. The 2026 concept, which favors longitudinal stability and a progressive front response, aligns perfectly with Hamilton but may blunt the razor-edge style of the Monegasque driver.

Questions are already circulating in the corridors of the factory: If the car is optimized for Hamilton, what happens to Leclerc? Will he accept a technical direction that prioritizes his teammate? The silence in the garage post-test may have been relief for Hamilton, but it could signal the start of a quiet, intense battle for supremacy within the team.

A New Era

As the team heads into the winter break, the mood is radically different from the gloom that followed the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix just days prior. The test was a course correction. It proved that the marriage between Ferrari and Hamilton isn’t broken—it just hadn’t been consummated until the car spoke the right language.

Ferrari has stumbled upon the key to unlocking their seven-time champion. The “dark beginning” of 2025 is over. Now, the team must navigate the treacherous political waters of having two alpha drivers with divergent needs. But one thing is certain: Lewis Hamilton is not finished. In fact, if the data from Abu Dhabi is to be believed, he is only just getting started.

The dust has barely settled on the 2025 Formula 1 season, but a seismic shockwave is already threatening to destabilize the paddock. In a revelation that has stunned fans and pundits alike, seven-time Grand Prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya has issued a stark guarantee: Oscar Piastri and his manager, Mark Webber, are actively in talks with other teams. This explosive claim comes just days after Lando Norris clinched his maiden World Championship, a triumph that seemingly came at the steep cost of his teammate’s trust and momentum.

A Season of Two Halves

To understand the gravity of Montoya’s assertion, one must look back at the rollercoaster that was Piastri’s 2025 campaign. The 24-year-old Australian talent started the year in imperious form, dominating the first half of the season with seven race victories. By the mid-season break, Piastri held a commanding 34-point lead over Norris and appeared destined for the crown. He was the man to beat—cool, calculated, and blistering fast.

However, the script flipped dramatically in the final third of the year. What should have been a march to glory turned into a nightmare collapse. Piastri failed to win a single race in the final nine rounds, a drought that saw his comfortable lead evaporate into a 13-point deficit by the time the checkered flag waved in Abu Dhabi. Not only did he lose the title to Norris, but he also slipped to third in the standings behind Max Verstappen.

According to Montoya, speaking in a candid interview with Grosvenor Casinos, this wasn’t just a slump in form—it was a symptom of a deeper fracture within the team.

The Monza Turning Point

The catalyst for this unraveling appears to be the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. In a move that violated the unwritten “status quo” of Formula 1 racing, McLaren ordered Piastri to move aside for Norris. The team justified the call as necessary to maintain parity, arguing that Norris had been disadvantaged by a slow pit stop earlier in the race.

For a driver leading the championship, the instruction was a bitter pill to swallow. Visibly unhappy, Piastri complied, but the psychological damage was done. The incident shattered the Aussie’s rhythm. In the subsequent round at Baku, usually a strong circuit for him, Piastri admitted Monza was “still playing on his mind.” The result was his worst weekend of the year, marred by two crashes and a false start.

The slide continued through the Americas triple-header, where struggles on low-grip surfaces saw him managing only fifth-place finishes. The momentum had shifted entirely to the other side of the garage, and with it, the team’s focus seemed to drift toward their homegrown hero, Lando Norris.

The Webber Factor: Scars of the Past?

Perhaps the most intriguing element of this saga is the role of Mark Webber. A former Red Bull star who famously battled—and often lost out to—Sebastian Vettel during their dominant run between 2009 and 2013, Webber knows all too well the sting of being the “number two” driver. His time at Red Bull was defined by internal politics and perceived favoritism toward Vettel, culminating in the infamous “Multi-21” saga.

Montoya suggests that Webber is seeing history repeat itself, this time with his protégé. “I guarantee you that Oscar Piastri and Mark Webber are already talking to another F1 team,” Montoya declared. “I don’t think Mark Webber was satisfied with Oscar’s development at McLaren. Mark isn’t very happy with McLaren.”

The concern is that Webber’s own “scars” are influencing the decision-making process. Is he hypersensitive to team dynamics that favor Norris, the driver McLaren has groomed since his junior days? Incidents like the Singapore Grand Prix, where Norris aggressively passed Piastri at the start without team intervention, have only fueled the narrative that Woking has chosen its favorite.

“They need to be careful and make sure that Webber’s scars from his time as a race car driver have nothing to do with Oscar’s career,” Montoya warned. It is a valid fear: is the management team protecting Piastri’s future, or reacting to ghosts from the past?

The “Nothing to Lose” Resurgence

Interestingly, Montoya pointed to Piastri’s performance in the final two races as proof that the issue was mental rather than physical. Once the title was mathematically out of reach or the pressure had peaked, Piastri’s speed suddenly returned.

“If you look at Oscar in the last two races, he finally turned things around,” Montoya observed. “His frustration was so great that he thought, ‘I have nothing to lose.’ And as soon as he thought that, the speed came back.”

This resurgence suggests that Piastri wasn’t lacking pace, but was perhaps constrained by the weight of expectations and the internal friction of a team trying to manage two alphas. Montoya was blunt in his advice to the young star: “You have to react faster. It’s a good lesson for him… he needs to figure out how to get the team to work better and faster around him.”

Where Could They Go?

If the rumors are true and Team Piastri is shopping around, the options are tantalizing but limited. Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has weighed in, suggesting Red Bull Racing as a potential destination. However, partnering with Max Verstappen comes with its own set of perils—a challenge few drivers have survived intact.

Aston Martin also looms as a dark horse. With state-of-the-art facilities coming online at Silverstone and Fernando Alonso’s career inevitably nearing its twilight, Lawrence Stroll’s team could be looking for a future franchise driver to lead them into the new regulation era in 2026.

“The team that’s in the moment is McLaren and arguably Red Bull,” Herbert noted. “Those are the only places where you’re probably going to be able to win a world championship.”

McLaren’s Damage Control

Aware of the swirling rumors, McLaren CEO Zak Brown has moved quickly to steady the ship. Immediately following Norris’s title win, Brown publicly reaffirmed the team’s long-term commitment to Piastri, labeling him a future world champion who would win “multiple titles” with the team.

While these comments were intended to project unity, skeptics argue they sound like the words of a boss worried about losing a prized asset. If Piastri were to leave, it wouldn’t just be a driver change; it would be the loss of a generational talent who proved he could dominate the field in the first half of 2025.

The Verdict

As the F1 world heads into the winter break, the question marks over Piastri’s future hang heavy over Woking. The 2025 season gave McLaren their first Drivers’ Championship in decades, but it may have cost them the harmony of the most exciting driver pairing on the grid.

If Montoya is right, the negotiations are already happening behind closed doors. For Oscar Piastri, the choice is stark: stay and fight for his status in a team that just crowned his rival, or gamble on a fresh start elsewhere. One thing is certain—the 2026 season has already begun, and the first battle is being fought in the boardroom.

The Formula 1 paddock is a place where silence often speaks louder than words, but sometimes, a few carefully chosen sentences can trigger an earthquake. We aren’t even close to the first race of the 2026 season—the dawn of the sport’s revolutionary new hybrid era—yet the psychological warfare has already begun. At the center of this brewing storm is Toto Wolff, the Team Principal of Mercedes-AMG Petronas, a man who architected the most dominant streak in F1 history.

For months, the assumption among fans and pundits has been almost automatic: Mercedes crushed the last major rule change in 2014, so they will inevitably crush the next one in 2026. It’s a comforting thought for the Silver Arrows faithful, but it’s a narrative that Wolff himself seems determined to dismantle. In a recent debrief that has sent shockwaves through the sport, Wolff didn’t promise victories. He didn’t guarantee a championship contender. Instead, he offered a dose of cold, hard doubt.

The “Glass Half Empty” Confession

“I would very much hope so, but I’m a notorious pessimist and the glass is always half empty rather than half full,” Wolff admitted when asked about Mercedes’ potential for a repeat of their 2014 glory.

On the surface, this could be dismissed as classic “Toto-speak”—underpromise and overdeliver. But he didn’t stop there. He went on to question whether the team’s targets were “ambitious enough” or if they had simply “missed the trick.” For a team that turned the turbo-hybrid era into their personal playground, winning eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships, these words feel jarring. They represent the voice of a team staring into the abyss of the unknown, fully aware that in Formula 1, past success guarantees absolutely nothing.

The 2026 regulations aren’t just a facelift; they are a heart transplant. The internal combustion engine will lose power, while the electrical systems will see a massive boost to create a 50/50 power split. It’s a terrifying engineering tightrope where efficiency is king. Wolff’s comments suggest that Mercedes isn’t just worried about their rivals; they are worried about the physics of the challenge itself.

The “Magic” Engine Loophole

However, if you scratch beneath the surface of Wolff’s pessimism, you find a much more complex and controversial story bubbling away in the technical departments. While Wolff plays down expectations, whispers in the paddock suggest that Mercedes—along with Red Bull Powertrains—might have actually found the “trick” he claims to be worried about missing.

The controversy centers on a specific, deeply technical area of the new rules: the compression ratio. The 2026 regulations limit this ratio to 16:1, a reduction from previous years intended to level the playing field for new manufacturers like Audi. On paper, it’s a hard limit. But in the shark tank of Formula 1 engineering, a rule is just a challenge waiting to be solved.

The catch lies in how this rule is policed. The FIA checks the compression ratio under “static” conditions at “ambient temperature”—essentially, when the car is sitting in the garage. But race cars don’t win championships in the garage; they win them on the track, under immense heat and pressure.

Rivals suspect that Mercedes and Red Bull have designed engines that legally pass the test at room temperature but physically expand or alter their characteristics when running flat-out, achieving a compression ratio closer to 18:1. Why does this matter? Estimates suggest this “dynamic” advantage could be worth 10 to 13 horsepower. In a sport where pole position is decided by thousandths of a second, 13 horsepower is not a marginal gain; it’s a weapon of mass destruction.

The Legal vs. The Dynamic

This situation has birthed a fascinating standoff between “static legality” and “dynamic reality.” The teams can point to Article C5.4.3 of the regulations and say, “Look, we passed the test.” But the FIA has a catch-all safety net in Article 1.5, which states cars must comply with regulations “in their entirety at all times.”

It’s a classic F1 grey area, reminiscent of the “flexi-wing” sagas of the past. A wing might be rigid when a scrutineer hangs a weight on it in the pit lane, but at 200 mph, it bends to reduce drag. The FIA eventually cracked down on those, and they may be forced to do the same here. The governing body has already hinted that “adjustments to the regulations” could be considered if necessary.

This uncertainty explains Wolff’s visible tension. If the FIA decides to close this loophole before the season starts, or worse, after the first few races, millions of dollars in development could be wiped out overnight. Wolff isn’t just managing a team; he’s managing a high-stakes gamble.

The Strategic Advantage: Strength in Numbers

Despite the gloom and the looming threat of rule clarifications, there is one area where Mercedes holds a distinct, undeniable advantage: data.

Former F1 strategist and Sky Sports analyst Bernie Collins highlighted a critical factor that many have overlooked. In 2026, Mercedes will be supplying power units to three customer teams: McLaren, Williams, and Alpine. That means four teams in total will be running the Mercedes engine. In contrast, Honda will only be supplying Aston Martin, and Audi will be running a single factory team.

“They’re going to learn a lot faster,” Collins noted. Every lap driven by a McLaren or a Williams is a data point for Mercedes High Performance Powertrains. If there is a reliability issue, they will find it four times faster than their rivals. If there is a mapping optimization, they will validate it across four different chassis philosophies. In the race to perfect a brand-new technology, this volume of information is priceless.

Conclusion: The Calm Before the Storm

So, how should we read Toto Wolff’s “bombshell”? Is it genuine fear, or is it the poker face of a man holding a Royal Flush?

It’s likely a bit of both. The fear of getting the 2026 regulations wrong is real for every team principal. The trauma of the “porpoising” disaster in 2022, where Mercedes got the aerodynamics fundamentally wrong, is still fresh. They know what it feels like to fall from grace.

But the rumors of the compression ratio loophole suggest that the Silver Arrows haven’t lost their innovative edge. They are pushing the boundaries, walking the fine line between genius and illegality. Wolff’s public pessimism serves a dual purpose: it lowers expectations for the fans and media, reducing pressure on the team, while simultaneously downplaying their potential advantage to the FIA.

As we march toward the March 1st homologation deadline, when engine designs get locked in, the tension will only rise. The 2026 season hasn’t started, but the race has already been running for years behind closed doors. And if history has taught us anything, it’s that you should never bet against a worried Toto Wolff. Usually, he’s the one with the last laugh.

Christine Lampard reveals she didn’t meet Frank’s daughters for a year in case they broke up

Christine and Frank married in 2015 and he already had two girls

Christine Lampard has opened up on her relationship with Frank Lampard’s kids at the beginning of their relationship.

The 46-year-old Loose Women star has been married to football legend Frank since 2015. And the couple share two children together – Patricia and Freddie.

But when Christine met Frank, he was already dad to two daughters, Luna and Isla, from a previous relationship. And it seems Christine didn’t want to enter their lives too early.

Christine was worried about ‘upsetting’ someone as she took on the role of stepmum (Credit: YouTube)

Christine Lampard didn’t meet Frank’s kids for a year

Speaking to Coleen Nolan on the latest episode of Loose Women: Just Between Us podcast, Christine admitted she didn’t meet his daughters for one whole year.

While discussing a listener’s dilemma of having a secret relationship, Coleen asked Christine if she had ever had a secret relationship.

Christine admitted: “I haven’t kept anyone a secret. But in a slightly different angle, when Frank and I first got together he had his two girls. They were really young at that point, two and four. I was probably even more aware of it than he was.

“I didn’t want me to come into their lives and then suddenly we break up in three months time and Daddy has a new friend when I had already started a relationship with him.”

It was this reason that Christine decided to take a more “cautious” approach, and didn’t actually meet them for one whole year. Christine also admitted she didn’t want to be the reason anyone was “upset”.

Frank and Christine dated for a year before she met his kids (Credit: BDC Images / SplashNews.com)

Christine ‘doesn’t know’ if they made the right decision

She explained: “I was actually really cautious. It took us about a year before I met them. I wanted to know him and I were in it for the long haul. Then I felt it was the right thing for me to be introduced for the girls.

“And I was very cautious about that. I didn’t want to cause upset. I didn’t want to upset anybody. We just tried to do the right thing.”

However, the  TV star admitted that she isn’t entirely sure if it was the smartest thing to do. But it was what felt right at that time for the couple.

She said: “I am not saying it was the right thing. I don’t know if we did get it right or not. But I think we did, we certainly tried.

“So, there was a bit of – I say secretive – kind of like everyone knew everything. But from the girls’ perspectives, I was kind of filtered in as one of dad’s friends, even though I had been there for a year. I felt like it was the right thing for us to do.”

Christine emphasised that Frank’s kids’ feelings were “at the top of the list” and she was “really aware” of it the entire time.

‘He hɑtes оur cоuntry!’ Keir Stɑrmer exρоsed by Liz Truss in fiery interview

ρrime Minister Sir Keir Stɑrmer clɑims tо be ɑ ρɑtriоt but this is ‘ɑ jоke’ sɑys Liz Truss

Keir Stɑrmer’s clɑims tо be ɑ ρɑtriоt hɑve been cɑlled ‘ɑ jоke’

Keir Stɑrmer “hɑtes Britɑin” ɑnd his clɑims tо be ɑ ρɑtriоt ɑre “ɑ jоke”, fоrmer ρrime Minister Liz Truss sɑid. She hit оut ɑt the ρrime Minister ɑfter Sir Keir clɑimed Lɑbоur were the “ρɑtriоtic ρɑrty” ɑnd clɑimed he suρρоrted flying the Englɑnd flɑg.

In ɑn exρlоsive interview, Ms Truss sɑid: “Keir Stɑrmer lecturing ρeоρle ɑbоut ρeоρle being unρɑtriоtic is ɑ jоke. He cоmes frоm the strɑnd оf left wing thinking thɑt hɑtes оur cоuntry, thɑt lоves internɑtiоnɑl institutiоns like the UN, internɑtiоnɑl lɑw, the EU. Thɑt is Stɑrmer. He hɑtes оur cоuntry.”

Sρeɑking tо the Dɑily Exρressо news shоw, Ms Truss ɑdded: “He cоmes frоm ɑ lоng line оf the left thɑt think thɑt wɑy.”

Sir Keir hɑs ɑccused Refоrm UK leɑder Nigel Fɑrɑge оf being “unρɑtriоtic” ɑnd “bɑdmоuthing” Britɑin by telling ɑ US Cоngressiоnɑl cоmmittee thɑt free sρeech is being undermined in the UK.

But Ms Truss sɑid incidents such ɑs the ɑrrest оf Fɑther Ted writer Grɑhɑm Linehɑn, whо hɑs detɑined by five ɑrmed оfficers ɑt Heɑthrоw ɑirρоrt оver cоmments mɑde оn X, shоwed thɑt the threɑt tо free sρeech wɑs reɑl. The Metrоρоlitɑn ρоlice eventuɑlly ɑnnоunced nо further ɑctiоn wоuld be tɑken ɑgɑinst the cоmediɑn.

She sɑid ρeоρle in оther cоuntries “ɑre hоrrified by whɑt’s gоing оn in Britɑin”.

“I think we need ɑmericɑ’s helρ. I think we hɑve lоst оur wɑy ɑs ɑ cоuntry. They, with the Trumρ revоlutiоn, hɑve fоund ɑ new ρɑth … I wɑnt their helρ. I ɑm nоt ɑshɑmed ɑbоut ɑsking them.”

Ms Truss sɑid thɑt since leɑving Number 10 she hɑd tɑken uρ gоlf ɑnd wɑs ɑ fɑn оf TV shоw The Trɑitоrs, but she hɑs ɑlsо cɑrried оut ɑ number оf visits tо оverseɑs cоuntries including the US. ɑsked by Dɑily Exρressо hоst JJ ɑnisiоbi, she did nоt rule оut ɑ return tо frоnt-line ρоlitics.

Sir Keir hɑs ɑttemρted tо ρоrtrɑy Lɑbоur ɑs the ρɑrty оf “ρɑtriоtic renewɑl” ɑnd clɑimed in ɑ Seρtember sρeech thɑt Refоrm UK, the Cоnservɑtives ɑnd the SNρ wɑnt “Britɑin tо fɑil”.

Vicky Pattison became the seventh star booted from Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday in what has been branded the ‘most shocking elimination yet’ after the results leaked online ahead of the show.

The TV personality, 38, and pro partner Kai Widdrington, 30, missed a place in next weeks Blackpool special after losing the dreaded dance-off against EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal, 46, and Julian Caillon, 30.

After both couples performed again, judges Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke all chose to save Balvinder, while Craig Revel Horwood, who this week had the casting vote, said he too would have saved the soap star should he have been required to vote.

Despite both pairs landing at the bottom of Saturday’s leaderboard fans were shocked by who the judges decided to save.

An emotional Vicky told host Tess Daly: ‘It was so lovely while it lasted, and I’ve had the nicest time. I knew this week was a difficult one for me, and I tried my hardest as I have every week, listen, I didn’t think I’d get past week one’.

‘And I’m really honoured to have shared this experience with so many amazing people. Mostly with this fella [Kai] right here. I don’t want to sound too cheesy but [to Kai] you’ve been the best partner a girl can ask for. I’m so sorry I didn’t get you to Blackpool but I feel like I’ve won just by having you as my partner and I’m so grateful’.

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Vicky Pattison became the seventh star booted from Strictly on Sunday in what has been branded the ‘most shocking elimination yet’ after the results leaked ahead of the show

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The TV personality, 38, and pro partner Kai Widdrington , 30, missed a place in next weeks Blackpool special after losing the dreaded dance-off against EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal

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After both couples performed again judges Motsi Mabuse , Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke and Craig revel Horwood all chose to save Balvinder

While Kai gushed: ‘[Vicky] You are everything that this series is about. Strong, confident, independent – and all that I can say is, I have loved every single second’.

‘I’m going to be gutted not coming to Blackpool with you on Monday. But I just want you to know that I feel like I have also won getting you as my partner, and you will live on in Strictly history forever’.

Sunday’s results episode is pre-recorded in secret following the main show with strict security measures in order to keep the identity of the eliminated star a secret.

But fans were left dismayed after the ‘shock’ news result was leaked on while cameras were still rolling on Saturday.

A source told The Sun: ‘Spoilers have plagued Strictly for years with fans struggling to avoid finding out who leaves before the Sunday results show airs.

‘Now, results are ending up online while the cameras are still rolling. It means there is a whodunnit mystery gripping the set’.

And after learning of which celebrity has narrowly missed out on Blackpool Week, fans took to social media to admit they were ‘devastated’ and ‘fuming’, with the majority confessing they hadn’t seen the result coming.

Voicing their shock, they wrote: ‘Wow, wasn’t expecting that result. I need a lie down , flippin eck’;

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Despite both couples landing at the bottom of Saturday’s leaderboard fans were shocked by who the judges decided to save

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An emotional Vicky told host Tess Daly : ‘It was so lovely while it lasted, and I’ve had the nicest time. I knew this week was a difficult one for me, and I tried my hardest’

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Sunday’s results episode is pre-recorded in secret following the main show with strict security measures in order to keep the identity of the eliminated star a secret

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And after learning of which celebrity has narrowly missed out on Blackpool Week, fans took to social media to admit they were ‘devastated’ and ‘fuming’, with the majority confessing they hadn’t seen the result coming

Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard: Week Eight

Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe – 36

Amber Davies & Nikita Kuzmin – 38

Lewis Cope and Katya Jones -37

Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe – 35

La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec – 33

Karen Carney and Carlos Gu – 31

George Clarke and Alexis Warr -29

Amber Davies & Nikita Kuzmin – 38

Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon – 27

Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington – 27

”Really shocked. Thought the eliminated person would definitely be in the final.’; ‘This bottom 2 was expected but I am SO shocked at who the judges saved’.

‘First time this series that I’ve been surprised by who was voted off.’; i am STUNNED with that spoiler, a bottom two that should never have been’.

‘This is a shocker, something must of happened! I genuinely thought they were a finalist’; ‘THIS IS INSANE WTF MOST SHOCKING ELIMINATION YET??’.

While many angrily declared that the judges had made the wrong call, insisting the person eliminated had been in line for the final.

They said: ‘Only my opinion but I think it’s one of the first times this series the wrong person has gone.’; ‘Won’t spoil it for anyone else but I do not agree with the judges!’; ‘Gutted they were my faves.

‘I’m shocked. Wrong person went home’; ‘Definitely not the worst dancers & I’m so sad they didn’t get to Blackpool’; ‘The wrong person went’;

‘I knew the other person would be in the Dance off again but the person who left shouldn’t have been there.’; ‘NO I AM DEVASTATED FOR THE PERSON WHO LEFT’.

‘Oh I’m mad. Intrigued to see the dance off because based on tonight’s performances, this seems like the wrong decision’; ‘Totally the wrong decision.’

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Saturday’s show was an emotional one, with George Clarke dedicating his Rhumba with pro partner Alexis Warr to his beloved mum amid her battle with cancer

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Overcome with emotion George was watched from the audience by his mum and dad as he described the routine as a ‘love letter’ to his family

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While La Voix also left viewers emotional as she tearfully opened up about her beloved mother’s recent death during Saturday’s show

‘Noooooooo fuming with that result’; ‘Wrong person went this time’; ‘Something HAS to have happened in that dance off for that to be the result cos what??’

But others agreed with the result and admitted that right person had been sent home, saying: ‘I’ve seen the #StrictlySpoiler… apparently an unpopular opinion but the correct result based on the night’.

‘Fook me, I’m shocked. I expected at least one to be in the DO. I hope they don’t get a backlash for being saved, as I can see that happening. But if what I heard is true, the judges didn’t have a choice, really, who to save/not save.’

‘I’m not shocked. The person who left was never as good as they were hyping them to be tbh.’; ‘Nah I’m actually devastated icl. Can’t believe that celeb has gone home but so happy the other celeb is still here and survived the dance off again.’

‘Just seen #StrictlySpoiler result, and I must say that, as far as I am concerned, I am glad of the result! So glad for the person who was saved…’

Saturday’s show was an emotional one, with George Clarke dedicating his performance to his beloved mum amid her battle with cancer.

The YouTube star, 25, took to the dance-floor with pro partner Alexis Warr for an emotional Rhumba, leaving fans at home and head judge Shirley Ballas in tears.

Overcome with emotion George was watched from the audience by his mum and dad as he described the routine as a ‘love letter’ to his family ahead of next week’s Blackpool special.

Speaking in his pre-recorded VT George recalled how his mother had spent years battling Encephalitis, a dangerous condition that causes brain inflammation, before being diagnosed with cancer.

‘She’s the most selfless person that I have ever met. The first thing she did when she came out of hospital was apologise to us for what she has put us through’.

He continued: ‘Nobody deserves to be put through what she has been through and least of all her’.

Bradley Walsh’s Replacement on The Chase Is Officially Unveiled by ITV — And the Shocked Fan Response Has Left Viewers Devastated

Viewers of The Chase have been left in shock after a new surge of speculation suggested ITV already has someone lined up to step in if long-time host Bradley Walsh ever decides to step aside — and the emotional response online has been overwhelming. Across social media, fans are repeating the same warning: “The Chase cannot survive without him.”

Bradley, who has fronted the hugely successful quiz show since 2009 and later expanded the brand with Beat the Chasers in 2020, has now passed nearly 1,000 episodes across the franchise. Over 16 years, he has become one of daytime  TV’s most familiar, beloved and trusted hosts. But with such a long run, some fans worry the demanding schedule may finally be wearing him down.

It was a Reddit post that reignited the debate, with one user writing:

“Brad is brilliant — but he looks bored. Anyone would be after this long. He seems flat, disconnected… like he’s just pushing through the format.”

Others defended him, saying Bradley’s humour and bond with the Chasers are still unmatched, though they admit his energy can vary:

“He can be hysterically funny when he switches it on — remember that Trump impression? — but sometimes it feels like he’s just counting minutes.”

As speculation swirled, one unexpected name surged to the top of the imaginary shortlist: Richard Osman, the bestselling author and former Pointless star. Yet even with Osman’s strong fanbase, many questioned whether he could ever recreate Bradley’s irreplaceable presence.

On X, one viewer teased:

“Richard Osman doing The Chase? Funny idea… but would it actually work?”

Another fan was more direct:

“Love him, but The Chase is Bradley. Take him away and the whole thing falls apart.”

Still, a handful admitted they’d watch Osman host a one-off instalment just for curiosity — if only to see how he handles the pressure. But the loudest voices insist the magic would fade without the original frontman guiding the show.

And Bradley himself? He’s already given his answer — and it’s emphatic. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said:

“Until viewers switch off, I’ll keep going. It’s the best job in the world.”

Supporters continue to rally behind him, fiercely loyal as ever. One fan wrote:

“There’s no replacement for Brad. Not now, not ever.”

So while rumours continue to spin and daytime TV shifts around him, one thing remains absolutely clear: Bradley Walsh is the beating heart of The Chase — and audiences simply aren’t ready to imagine anyone else in his chair.

Strictly’s La Voix breaks down in tears as she speaks about having to withdraw from the competition due to foot injury

An emotional La Voix fought back tears as she said goodbye to Strictly, after having to withdraw from the competition due to injury.

The drag star, 45, whose real name is Christopher Dennis, appeared in Blackpool on Sunday’s show where she talked about her abrupt departure.

La Voix was advised on medical grounds she could no longer take part on Strictly after injuring her foot earlier in the week in rehearsals.

Calling it the most ‘extraordinary experience’, the TV personality said: ‘I came into the show as a minority, as a redhead and you’ve all embraced me wonderfully.

‘I cannot thank you enough… this is not how I wanted my journey to end,’ before joking: ‘At least it gives someone else in this competition a chance to win.’

Reflecting on their partnership, Aljaz Skorjanec, 35, said: ‘I’ve been lucky this year. I’ve made two friends for life. On Saturdays/ Sundays we all laugh with La Voix and from Monday to Friday I had the best time with Chris.

The stars you love, the drama you crave. Your unmissable daily showbiz update

An emotional La Voix fought back tears as she said goodbye to Strictly, after having to withdraw from the competition due to injury

La Voix was advised on medical grounds she could no longer take part on Strictly after injuring her foot earlier in the week in rehearsals

‘I haven’t done a single crunch in the past six months but I’ve got my six pack back, it’s amazing.

‘Like Motsi said, “We all need it”. The world needs more of you. Strictly needed it, you made my life a joy.. You are so beautiful in what you do.’

La Voix told Aljaz she is going to leave Strictly ‘a braver, happier and such a more confident person’.

At the end of the show, the pair took to the dancefloor to say goodbye to viewers, with the professional dancer having to scoop La Voix off her feet due to her injury.

Fans took to social media and wrote: ‘Aljaz’s speech to La Voix was absolutely beautiful what a man’;

‘Adored La Voix being part of the show and everyone else getting to see a fraction of the talent those of us who watched #DragRaceUK saw’;

‘La Voix and Aljaž, what a great pairing, will miss them lots’;

‘I was sad to see them having to leave the competition. A great team, and I got to know La Voix better too’;

The drag star, 45, whose real name is Christopher Dennis, appeared in Blackpool on Sunday’s show where she talked about her abrupt departure

At the end of the show, the pair took to the dancefloor to say goodbye to viewers, with the professional dancer having to scoop La Voix off her feet due to her injury

Hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly brought the glamour to Blackpool with their outfits

Taking to Instagram minutes after the announcement of her exit was made, La Voix shared a statement

Alijaz said it was a pleasure to work with Chris and with La Voix. He said: ‘I’ve been lucky this year. I’ve made two friends for life’

Fans took to social media to say goodbye to the TV favourite. They wrote: ‘Aljaz’s speech to La Voix was absolutely beautiful what a man’

‘I somehow don’t think that’s the last we’ve seen of La Voix on #Strictly… Presenter of the show / spinoff show, social media content she’ll be back in some capacity. They seem to really love her.’

La Voix’s sudden withdrawal from the competition meant none of the remaining six couples would be voted off this weekend.

Taking to Instagram minutes after the announcement of her exit was made, La Voix shared a statement.

She wrote: ‘I’m absolutely devastated to be withdrawing from Strictly Come Dancing. This isn’t the glittering exit I ever imagined, and it breaks my heart to feel like I’ve let people down.

‘My spirit wanted to keep dancing but my foot had other ideas! Thank you for every cheer, every vote and every sparkle of support – it’s meant the world to me. This isn’t the ending I imagined but I’ll cherish this forever.’

La Voix’s exit came after former Love Island star Dani Dyer, 29, quit the competition before the first live show on September 27 after she fractured her ankle in rehearsals.

And Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis, 67, pulled out of Strictly Come Dancing on October 20 because he tore a calf muscle.

Elsewhere on the show, returning Strictly alumni Danny Mac wowed viewers.

La Voix’s exit came after former Love Island star Dani Dyer, 29, quit the competition before the first live show on September 27 after she fractured her ankle in rehearsals

Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis, 67, pulled out of Strictly Come Dancing on October 20 because he tore a calf muscle

The actor, 37, who took part in the show in 2016 alongside Oti Mabuse, joined Ashley Roberts, 44, Layton Williams, 31, and Jay McGuiness, 35, for a special performance for Blackpool week.

Fans were distracted by Danny’s ripped physique as he danced his famous Samba in an undone sheer shirt and took to social media to say he was ‘robbed’ of the Glitterball.

The former soap star missed out on winning during his series, with Ore Oduba and his professional partner Joanne Clifton coming out victorious.

Impressed by his moves and stage presence, viewers wrote on X: ‘Danny Mac has made my weekend hahah’;

‘Give Danny Mac another series for goodness sake’;

‘danny mac descending from the blackpool tower ballroom ceiling with his bedazzled shirt open, chest on show, ready to samba his way back into our hearts like it’s 2016 all over again’;

‘it makes me sick to my stomach thinking about how robbed danny mac was even almost a whole decade late’ and ‘Danny Mac really proving he was the most robbed finalist of all time’;

‘Love Jay’ and ‘They’re all still brilliant’.

Returning Strictly alumni Danny Mac wowed viewers as he opened Sunday’s show for the Blackpool special

The actor, 37, joined Ashley Roberts, 44, Layton Williams, 31, and Jay McGuiness, 35, for a special performance for Blackpool week

Fans were distracted by Danny’s ripped physique as he danced his famous Samba in an undone sheer shirt, and said he was ‘robbed’ of the Glitterball

Danny took part in the show in 2016 alongside Oti Mabuse (pictured)

The returning Strictly stars performed a rendition of their most famous numbers with the professional dancers in Sunday’s results show

Viewers wrote on X: ‘Danny Mac has made my weekend hahah’; ‘Give Danny Mac another series for goodness sake’

The group performed a rendition of their most famous numbers with the professional dancers.

The new routine featured elements of Jay and Ashley’s iconic Jives, Danny’s famous Samba, and Layton’s showstopping Quickstep.

On returning to Strictly, Ashley said ahead of the show: ‘I’m so excited and grateful to be back on the shiny floor in Blackpool again.’

Danny added: ‘Dancing in Blackpool was an absolute highlight of my time on Strictly. To be heading back up to The Tower Ballroom once again is as thrilling as it is terrifying, but I can’t wait to be reunited with all the wonderful people who make this show.’

All four dancers joined forces for the pros for a dazzling routine that saw them each revisit one of their most famous Strictly moments

Jay said: ‘I feel extremely lucky to be part of the Strictly alumni that are going to shake our booties again. I’m ready to have some fun with the old gang and the new gang’

Layton reunited with his pro partner Nikita Kuzmin after they reached the final in 2023, with a reprisal of their energetic Quickstep

On returning to Strictly, Ashley said: ‘Nearly a decade later, let’s see if these jive legs can still do their thing! Sequins always help, I’m sure’

Lewis Cope earned his second 40 of the series as he kicked off Strictly’s Blackpool show, after impressing with his Charleston with Katya Jones

It was revealed on Saturday that after La Voix was forced to withdraw from the competition due to injury, none of the remaining six couples would be voted off

Emmerdale star Lewis Cope, 30, and Katya Jones, 36, topped this week’s leaderboard with a perfect 40 points.

EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal, 46, and Julian Caillon, 30, who came last with 33 points.

Scores from the judges – Craig Revel Horwood, 60, Motsi Mabuse, 44, Shirley Ballas, 65, and 59 year old Anton Du Beke – as well as viewers’ votes will be carried over, and combined with next week’s points and votes.