With an action-packed week of night races and entertainment ahead in Singapore, the drivers had a short pause before heading into the fly-away leg of races that bring the season to its climax. It was a moment to reset and prepare for the challenge ahead in the Lion City.
Some rested. Some played. Some reflected. But in every case, it was a chance to reset and ready themselves for the final seven races that will bring the season to its end.
Saying goodbye to Roscoe
Lewis Hamilton has been mourning the loss of his beloved companion and best friend, his bulldog Roscoe. Tributes have poured in from across the paddock, showing just how much of an impact he had on fans and the Formula 1 community.
September win streak continues
Max Verstappen couldn’t stop winning in September. After victories in Monza and Baku, he also made his GT3 debut at the Nurburgring Nordschleife and came away with a win.
Freshly licensed to compete in endurance events, Verstappen turned his sim-racing experience into the real thing, teaming up with Chris Lulham to take victory against an experienced field. He called the result “amazing,” and hinted this could be just the start of his endurance adventures, hoping to venture into 24-hour events in the coming year.
Gabriel Bortoleto found himself inspired by the four-time world champion, as he watched Max racing during his workouts, and even channelled his inner-Verstappen on the sim!
Perfecting skills
Just days after it was announced he’d be gracing the cover of Vogue for October, Lando Norris headed to the kart track to do what he does best: drive. Sporting some of his very own merch, the Brit honed his skills ahead of the remaining title fight with team mate Oscar Piastri.
Meanwhile, Alex Albon was busy testing out his new sim set-up, bringing a bit of the track into his own home – though we’re not sure it would quite fit in ours…
Exploring sidequests
Yuki Tsunoda spent his break back home in Japan, where he was busy cheffing, visiting the Tokyo Game Show, designing new merch, getting time in on the sim – and of course preparing for the heat of Singapore in the sauna.
Pure relaxation
Ahead of a busy final stint of the 2025 season full of challenging racing (and even more travel!), it’s no surprise that many drivers prioritised rest and recovery.
After an eventful journey home from Baku for Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc – the pair were forced to land in Italy rather than Nice, with Sainz then driving them home to Monaco in a rented van – the former Ferrari team mates chose to recharge by spending down time on their yachts off the Monte-Carlo coastline, while Sainz also made sure to get in plenty of miles on his bike.
Meanwhile, many other drivers opted for a social detox before the demands of a race weekend in Singapore.
.webp?ssl=1 "James Hinchcliffe picks his top five drivers of the 2026 Formula 1 season so far")
