UFC fighter Jon Jones has issued a public apology to Lewis Hamilton, five years after the Ferrari driver publicly criticised him. Hamilton had branded Jones a ‘coward’ and subsequently blocked him on social media.
The dispute originated from a January 2021 video showing Jones shooting a pig from a helicopter with an AR-15 rifle. Hamilton, a vocal animal rights campaigner and vegan since 2017, sent Jones a lengthy message expressing his disapproval.
Hamilton’s message conveyed that ‘only a coward could shoot an animal from a helicopter,’ advocating for traditional hunting methods like spears or bows to offer the animal a fighting chance. Jones, who stated the pig was donated to an underprivileged family, revealed the details during a recent AFLGlobal interview.
Hamilton, currently second in the 2026 Drivers’ Standings for Ferrari, has not yet responded to Jones’ apology. He is preparing for the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix.
In other developments, Cadillac has replaced Graeme Lowdon as Team Principal with Marcin Budkowski. This change occurred after only 11 Grands Prix of Cadillac’s debut Formula 1 season.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, August 12, ahead of the F1 season’s resumption at the Dutch Grand Prix. Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss confirmed that Lowdon’s departure was not a mutual decision.
Towriss framed the leadership change as a ‘planned transition’ as the team moves from its ‘initial build phase into the next stage of racing performance.’ Lowdon had been instrumental in establishing the team from its inception.
Marcin Budkowski, 49, brings over two decades of Formula 1 experience to the role. His career includes senior aerodynamic positions at Ferrari and McLaren, a period at the FIA, and serving as executive technical director for Renault/Alpine.
Budkowski’s stated objectives for Cadillac include maximising car development within the cost cap and cultivating an elite organisation with a winning mindset. Cadillac joined the grid as the 11th team in 2026, marking the first new entrant in a decade.
The team currently sits last in the Constructors’ Championship with zero points after 11 races. Their best result this season is a 13th-place finish by Valtteri Bottas at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Sergio Perez initially secured a 10th-place finish in Monaco, but a 10-second time penalty for a grid box infringement relegated him to 15th. Cadillac has encountered various challenges, including persistent brake fires and a notable lack of pace.
Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss has expressed confidence that Sergio Perez will remain with the team for the 2027 season. Perez returned to F1 with Cadillac this year, and his performances have been described as ‘eye-catching.’
Despite this, rumours have linked Perez to Williams for 2027, particularly given the uncertain future of Carlos Sainz with the Grove-based team. Both Alex Albon and Sainz have indicated they may explore other options due to Williams’ challenging start to the 2026 regulations.
Perez’s current agreement with Cadillac reportedly covers only the 2026 season, making his position less secure than teammate Valtteri Bottas, who holds a two-year contract without a release clause. Perez has openly criticised Cadillac’s development rate, stating a need to rethink their processes.
He also highlighted that Cadillac’s reliance on external suppliers complicates their development efforts.
Separately, 2009 world champion Jenson Button has provided insight into Michael Schumacher’s long-standing desire to have Rubens Barrichello as his Ferrari teammate. Button attributes this to Barrichello’s profound understanding of engineering.
Button, who partnered Barrichello at Honda/Brawn from 2006 to 2009, stated that Barrichello was ‘by far’ his best teammate in terms of car development expertise. Schumacher and Barrichello were teammates at Ferrari for six seasons between 2000 and 2005.
During their time together, Ferrari secured five Constructors’ titles, and Schumacher claimed five Drivers’ championships. Button observed Barrichello’s ability to collaborate with the team, develop the car, interpret its behaviour on track, and effectively relay information, rather than solely relying on engineers.
‘I’ve been asked this question many times in terms of who’s the driver that you feel was the best at engineering? And by far, it was Rubens,’ Button stated.
Barrichello frequently operated as the second driver to Schumacher at Ferrari due to contractual arrangements.
