V8 Engines Return to F1, Supercross Title Fight Goes to Finale, Acura Explains IMSA Exit & McLaren Preparing For Silly Season

Formula 1 may be heading back toward one of its most popular engine eras, Supercross has a championship showdown set for the final round, IMSA’s paddock got more clarity on Acura’s withdrawal, and Arrow McLaren is preparing to evaluate one of Europe’s brightest young prospects. Here is this week’s Checkered Weekend.

F1 Targets Return of V8 Engines by 2031

Formula 1 could be preparing for one of its biggest technical shifts in decades after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem declared that V8 engines are on course to return by 2031, with the possibility of arriving a year earlier if manufacturers approve it. The sport moved away from naturally aspirated V8 engines after the 2013 F1 season, replacing them with turbo-hybrid V6 power units in 2014. While the current formula delivered efficiency and technical innovation, it also brought criticism over sound, complexity, and escalating costs. Those concerns have resurfaced again under the new 2026 regulations.

Ben Sulayem said a future V8 formula would feature only minor electrification while reducing complexity and weight. He also suggested the FIA could mandate the switch in 2031 even without unanimous support from manufacturers, making the return feel more inevitable than speculative. If it happens, the move would signal a major philosophical shift. Formula 1 spent the last decade aligning itself with road-car electrification trends, but officials now appear more interested in building a product centered on racing spectacle, cost control, and fan appeal.

Check Out Our New Motorsports Agent Game!

https://www.racingclipsandpics.com/apex-agent-game

Hunter Lawrence Forces Winner-Take-All Supercross Finale

The 2026 Monster Energy Supercross season will come down to one final night after Hunter Lawrence delivered a commanding performance in Denver to close within one point of Ken Roczen heading into Salt Lake City. Lawrence wasted no time asserting control in the main event. After Jorge Prado grabbed the holeshot, Lawrence moved to the front on lap two and never looked back. Once he found clean air, the Honda rider steadily built a gap while Roczen fought through traffic to limit the damage.

By the checkered flag, Lawrence had won by more than 13 seconds over Roczen, while Eli Tomac completed the podium in his return from injury. Cooper Webb, mathematically alive entering the night, fell out of title contention after a late incident. The finale now has everything fans could ask for. Roczen leads by one point, Lawrence has momentum, and both riders are chasing their first premier class Supercross championship. It is a straight shootout to end one of the closest seasons in recent memory.

Acura Opens Up on Decision to Leave IMSA GTP

Honda Racing Corporation US president David Salters has offered the clearest explanation yet for Acura’s decision to pause its IMSA GTP factory effort after the 2026 season. Acura has been one of the category’s strongest entries since the launch of the hybrid prototype era, collecting poles, wins, and title contention with Meyer Shank Racing. That made the announcement of its withdrawal a surprise across the paddock.

Salters pointed to two major themes: shifting focus toward IndyCar and rising costs within the prototype formula. He specifically criticized expensive evolution upgrades and suggested the current system creates tension with the Balance of Performance structure used to equalize manufacturers. He also left the door open for a future return, especially when the next generation of LMDh regulations arrive around 2030.

Arrow McLaren to Test Leonardo Fornaroli

Fresh off a Formula 2 championship, Leonardo Fornaroli could soon get his first taste of IndyCar machinery with Arrow McLaren expected to run the Italian in an offseason evaluation test. Fornaroli is part of McLaren’s broader driver development pipeline and currently serves in a reserve capacity for the Formula 1 side. With no immediate F1 race seat available, the IndyCar test could provide data for a possible move. Especially with contracts of 2 Arrow McLaren drivers expiriing this year.

Team principal Tony Kanaan confirmed the plan is likely, though he stressed it should not automatically be viewed as a sign of a future race seat. IndyCar’s testing rules limit how often teams can use the same development drivers, which has pushed McLaren to explore new options. Sources believe if Fornaroli does not secure a F1 seat 2027 then he would be open to an IndyCar move.