Denny Hamlin delivered one of the most dominant performances of his career and then gave the most honest interview of his season. Jett Lawrence returned to form in emphatic fashion at the opening round of Pro Motocross. And Mercedes-AMG made a surprise change at the top of its motorsport department. Here is the weekend in motorsport. Hamlin Wins Michigan by 11 Seconds and Talks About What Comes Next There are very few drivers in NASCAR history who have performed at a higher level at 45 years old than Denny Hamlin is right now, and even he seems uncertain about how long it can last. Hamlin won the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, his second consecutive Cup victory and third of the season alongside wins at Nashville and Las Vegas. The margin of victory was 11.11 seconds, the largest of his 63-career career. The win pulls him to within 51 points of championship leader Tyler Reddick and ties him with the late Kyle Busch for ninth on the all-time wins list. "This might be the most exceptional thing he's done," said team owner Joe Gibbs after the race. But it was what Hamlin said afterward that will stick with people longer than the trophy. Speaking with Prime Sports in his post-race interview, Hamlin gave his most candid comments yet on his future. He has a contract with Joe Gibbs Racing through 2027 and suggested that the end of that deal remains the most likely endpoint, but acknowledged he is already planning for the inevitable decline. "I'm planning for the downfall that I know will come," Hamlin said. "I always say there's like three things that happen. In no particular order, it's your eyesight, your reaction, and then your body hurts. I've already got the body hurts part of it, right? It's just the other two things that have remained really sharp." When asked directly about his plans, he told Gibbs to check back in six months and pointed to 18-year-old TRD driver Brent Crews as a likely heir to the No. 11 seat. Crews has five top-five finishes in 12 O'Reilly Auto Parts starts this season, four top-10s in 11 Truck Series races, and six ARCA wins to his name. Hamlin has never won a Cup Series championship. He finished second last season to Kyle Larson. Jett Lawrence Is Back and Hangtown Felt It The 57th running of the Coker Pump Hangtown Motocross Classic was electric! Lawrence swept both motos on a challenging track outside Sacramento, outrunning his brother Hunter in both races and posting the fastest qualifying lap of the session, the only rider to break the 1:50 barrier at 1:49.886. In Moto 1, Lawrence grabbed the holeshot and managed the race with patience before pushing the pace as Hunter Lawrence and Haiden Deegan traded momentum for second. He won by 7.7 seconds. Deegan earned the first moto podium of his career in third. Jorge Prado ran fourth for most of the moto before losing power on his KTM just before the final lap, falling to 36th. Moto 2 was interrupted by a red flag for a downed rider and restarted, with Cooper Webb taking the holeshot in the second gate drop. Jett Lawrence went around Webb quickly and put his brother in his mirrors, and the two Australians eventually opened a double-digit gap over Chase Sexton in third. Deegan worked from 11th to third by the midway point, adding to an impressive day for the young Yamaha rider. As Hunter Lawrence began applying pressure for the lead approaching halfway, Jett responded with a sudden sprint that extended the gap from under a second to nearly four in the span of a few laps. He finished 6.8 seconds clear of his brother. Deegan held third. "I knew if I picked a fast pace early that Hunter would be right there with me and would make it a lot harder," Jett said. "I chose instead to get a better flow for about 15 minutes and then decided to push for a quick sprint to try and mess up his rhythm, and it worked. It's good to be back up here with a 1-1." Hunter was measured. "It's harder racing against Jett. He's my toughest competitor. It got to a point where I was going to take the time to reset and make a push, but he decided to do a sprint and gapped me. Still a solid result." 450MX Top5: Pos Rider Team Motos 1 Jett Lawrence Honda HRC Progressive 1-1 2 Hunter Lawrence Honda HRC Progressive 2-2 3 Haiden Deegan Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 3-3 4 Dylan Ferrandis Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati 4-6 5 Garrett Marchbanks Monster Energy Kawasaki 6-5 Mercedes-AMG Confirms Surprise Leadership Change Mercedes-AMG confirmed this week that Christoph Sagemuller, who has led the company's motorsport department since March 2021, will step down at the end of June. Simon Wilbers, who has been with Mercedes-AMG since 2018 and most recently headed the marketing and commercial side of the motorsport division, will take over as head of motorsport on July 1. The departure came as a surprise internally. Sagemuller had been with the company since 2011 and was widely expected to eventually move into a broader role within the Daimler Group. Instead he is departing entirely and is understood to have already secured a new position elsewhere. Wilbers steps into the role at a significant moment. Mercedes-AMG's GT program has been performing well, with victories at this year's Nurburgring 24 Hours and the Bathurst 12 Hour, a lead in the overall DTM standings, and the high-profile addition of Max Verstappen's Verstappen Racing outfit to its customer program. At the same time, the team faces the development of a successor to the current GT3 car and the ongoing transition from HWA AG to the 100 percent subsidiary Affalterbach Racing GmbH, a process that has not been without complications. Stefan Wendl will continue as head of the customer racing program and his responsibilities remain unchanged under the new structure. Wilbers' remit covers the full Mercedes-AMG motorsport department with the exception of the Formula 1 project, which remains under Toto Wolff.

It was a weekend in which we expected rainy weather again, except we did not necessarily get that. As the formation lap was beginning, there were various tyre strategies going on, including the McLaren pairing on a set of intermediate tyres each. This would cause dramas on the first few laps, given both drivers were not confident in the tyre choice. We had multiple formation laps, after the initial race start was aborted due to Arvid Lindblad’s car had a gearbox/clutch failure, which meant he was unable to get going again. By the end of the race, there was significant drama. Kimi Antonelli won yet another race weekend making that 4 so far this season. He continues his lead in the championship, extending it away from his teammate. Joining Antonelli on the podium was Lewis Hamilton who was able to finish the race in P2, after a battle with Max Verstappen in the dying laps, which would result in Max Verstappen finishing P3. A very elated podium in Canada; Kimi Antonelli, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen Charles Leclerc managed to finish the race in P4, although 44 seconds behind the top 3 drivers, still gave Ferrari another double point scoring weekend. Another driver who ensured a double points scoring weekend was Isack Hadjar, who ultimately finished the race in P5. A very great result and an impressive drive from the young Redbull driver, proving his capability in the seat alongside Verstappen. Alpine had a great result also scoring double points. Franco Colapinto had his best finishing result so far of his career, finishing in p6. His teammate Pierre Gasly would finish in P8, although disappointing for a driver of his capability, proves how Alpine are able to start stepping up with the assist of the Mercedes engine as well. The final three drivers within the top 10 were all carrying their teams to points on the weekend. Liam Lawson was able to score Visa Cashapp some points with the unfortunate DNS of Lindblad. Lawson would go on to finish P7. Carlos Sainz was the next solo driver representing their team within the top 10, finishing P8, and being able to help score some small number of points that could later prove essential to the constructor’s championship. Ollie Bearman was the final driver taking out the last point scoring spot in P10. Bearman had a somewhat quiet weekend, keeping to himself and helping Haas keep within the championship fight. A difficult weekend but ultimately resulting in points for Ollie Bearman. Oscar Piastri had a difficult time during the race. An incident with Alex Albon would prove costly, giving him a 10 second time penalty that he would serve later in the race. But unfortunately, there was nothing he could do to score points, having to settle for P11 and being lapped 2 times by the front runners. Audi are showing that they can get better results with a weekend where there were things going wrong left and right. In this instance, although no points were scored, it was a step in the right direction for Audi. Nico Hulkenberg went on to finish P12, whilst Gabriel Bortoleto finished P13. Esteban Ocon seems to be having a difficult start to his season, with another race result where he had been outscored by his younger teammate. With rumours floating around about possible changes to the driver lineup, Ocon needs to prove to the team why he is still able and willing to put in the effort for the team. Ocon would ultimately finish P14. Lance Stroll wasn’t having the weekend he intended to have at his home grand prix. A P15 result, would not have been the position he was hoping for, but given Aston Martins difficulties so far this year, having finished the race would be a huge result for him and the team. A weekend to forget for the hometown hero, Lance Stroll. Valtteri Bottas was our final driver finishing P16. Like Ocon, with rumours going around, Bottas has some catching up to do. Given Cadillac wanted drivers with previous experience, they have had that with Bottas and Perez. They still show plenty of potential for the future, but we knew Cadillac was going to have a tough few years ahead as they worked everything out. Whilst the weekend was impressive for Antonelli, it was a race to forget for teammate George Russell, who would DNF on lap 29, due to power unit issues. Russell was extremely frustrated and ended up with a fine post-race for throwing his headrest out of the car. A very sad day for George Russell after power unit issues caused him to DNF. Sergio Perez would DNF on lap 39, after the suspension on one part of the car exploded. It appeared to be a bizarre situation, given he seemed to know something was wrong having chosen to get into the pitlane, but an unusual experience, nonetheless. Lando Norris faced a DNF as well. The result of his DNF was due to a terminal mechanical issue within the car. Norris lost all power and could not continue in the race and was forced to pull the car over and call it a day. Fernando Alonso was forced to DNF in Canada due to a seat issue. The Aston Martin has been experiencing vibrations all year so far, and the seat issue was causing pain each lap. Alonso opted to not finish the race for his health and wellbeing instead. For Alex Albon, it was a weekend he’d rather forget. An incident between himself and Oscar Piastri resulted in a collision and a DNF from Albon. A tough result, given how Albon needs to prove himself to the team, but sometimes things cannot be helped. A collision with Oscar Piastri cost Alex Albon the opportunity for a good race.

NASCAR Mourns Kyle Busch There are no words that adequately cover the loss of Kyle Busch. The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, one of the most talented and polarizing drivers the sport has ever produced, passed away suddenly last Thursday at the age of 41. His family confirmed the cause of death as severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis. The grief that followed was immediate and overwhelming across the entire motorsport community. Busch spent the majority of his career at Joe Gibbs Racing, winning two championships with the iconic No. 18 before joining Richard Childress Racing ahead of the 2023 season. His final three Cup wins all came with RCR, all in 2023, all under the No. 8 he had made his own at the team. That number will not return to the track. RCR announced the car will carry the No. 33, not the No. 8. The team was definitive about why. "Kyle Busch was instrumental in the design of RCR's stylized No. 8 and it has become synonymous with Kyle and an important symbol for his fans and the NASCAR industry," the team said in a statement. "No one can carry it forward to the level that he did. The No. 8 is reserved and ready for Brexton Busch when he is ready to go NASCAR racing." Brexton, Kyle's son, is currently 11 years old. The decision carries a clear historical parallel. When Dale Earnhardt was killed in the 2001 Daytona 500, RCR shelved the No. 3 and replaced it with the No. 29 for Kevin Harvick. The No. 3 did not return to Cup competition for over a decade, eventually passed to Earnhardt's grandson Austin Dillon. The No. 18, which Busch carried through the defining years of his JGR career, has not been used since he left at the end of the 2022 season. Rosenqvist Makes Bank! The 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 did not just produce the closest finish in race history. It also generated the largest purse in the event's history by a significant margin. The total payout for the 2026 race reached $30,906,400, an increase of more than 50 percent over last year's $20,283,000. Newly crowned champion Felix Rosenqvist took home $4.34 million, while Mick Schumacher earned Rookie of the Year honors after finishing 18th, the highest position among all first-time starters, collecting a $50,000 bonus as part of a total payout of $218,800. IndyCar and IMS President J. Douglas Boles pointed to a month that exceeded expectations across every metric. "The Month of May featured a back-to-back grandstand sellout crowd, our largest crowd since the 100th running in 2016, and intense on-track action with the most lead changes ever in the Indy 500. Felix Rosenqvist added his name to the history books in stellar fashion, with the closest finish in Indy 500 history and now the largest purse." For context on how quickly the numbers have moved: Year Total Purse Winner's Share 2026 $30,906,400 $4,340,000 2025 $20,283,000 $3,800,000 2024 $18,456,000 $4,300,000 2023 $17,021,500 $3,700,000 2022 $16,000,200 $3,100,000 Alex Marquez to Miss Mugello and Balaton Park MotoGP heads into its Italian and Hungarian rounds without Alex Marquez, who will sit out both events as he continues to recover from the injuries he sustained at the Catalan Grand Prix at Barcelona. Gresini Racing confirmed last Thursday that Marquez will not take part in the Mugello or Balaton Park rounds, meaning he will be absent until at least the Czech Grand Prix on June 21. The Spaniard suffered a broken right collarbone after making contact with Pedro Acosta's KTM at Barcelona and required surgery. Scans also revealed a minor fracture of the C7 vertebra, though no immediate operation was performed on that injury. Further tests were scheduled this week, but Thursday's update from Gresini made no reference to the vertebra or any updated timeline for full recovery. Gresini has not announced a replacement rider, though the regulations require the team to field one. When Fermin Aldeguer missed the Thailand season opener earlier this year, Ducati test rider Michele Pirro stepped in as his substitute. The timing is particularly difficult for the Marquez family. Alex returned to his home in Madrid alongside elder brother Marc Marquez, who is also sidelined after suffering a foot injury at the French Grand Prix the week before Barcelona. Marc underwent surgery on both the broken foot and his right shoulder and missed the Catalan round entirely.

It was a weekend of dramas, with extreme weather causing the race to be moved to an earlier scheduled time. This did not stop Kimi Antonelli from having another brilliant race weekend, with another race win under his belt. The McLaren pairing of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri both managed to get onto the podium, with Norris P2 and Piastri P3. Miami 2026 podium: Kimi Antonelli, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. George Russell had a difficult time, but having started in P5, making it to the top 4 was a good result. The win for Antonelli though, extends his gap to teammate Russell. The Ferrari pairing had a weekend that was not their greatest. Having started P3 for Charles Leclerc and P6 for Lewis Hamilton, they could only go up from there. Leclerc was having an impressive race, having jumped to the front of the grid off the race start, it was looking very positive for him. However, a last lap spin as well as collision with a wall causing steering damage, he would be given a 20 second penalty for leaving the track without a justifiable reason. This penalty would eventually drop Leclerc to P8 behind his teammate as well as Alpines Franco Colapinto. With a collision on the first lap, Hamilton was forced to deal with significant damage resulting in a loss of downforce on his car. Given this, it was not going to be easy, but he still managed to complete the race and would ultimately finish P6. Max Verstappen having started P2, would spin on the first lap, dropping him down the field towards the mid-pack. It was going to be difficult to go on for a good result, although that last lap incident with Leclerc paid off for him. He would go on to finish P5, having passed Leclerc just before the finish line. Isack Hadjar had another difficult weekend after being disqualified from the qualifying session, he was granted permission to still compete, but it would not last long. By lap 4, he had clipped the wall at turn 14, causing steering damage, which he could not correct before running into the wall at turn 15. Significant damage to Isack Hadjar's Redbull after a collision with the wall. Franco Colapinto had a decent race, although colliding with Hamilton on the first lap, still went on to finish in P7. His teammate, Pierre Gasly would unfortunately DNF after a collision with Liam Lawson, which flipped Gasly’s car, before coming to a stop at turn 17/18. Both drivers were okay and managed to get out of the cars unharmed. A scary moment as Pierre Gasly rolls after a collision with Liam Lawson. The final two points scoring positions went to the Williams pair. The two drivers drove tremendously, which would pay off, ensuring they receive points for the team. Carlos Sainz would finish in P9, just ahead of teammate Alex Albon in P10. The Haas pairing had a quiet, yet tough day. With neither driver scoring points, it was a disappointing weekend. Oliver Bearman would finish just outside of the points in P11, whilst Esteban Ocon went on to finish P13, separated by the Audi of Gabriel Bortoleto. A little moment for the two Haas as they battle each other on track. Gabriel Bortoleto, like Bearman almost was able to score points for his team. Being the only remaining Audi due to Nico Hulkenberg’s DNF, it was going to be tough to get beyond the P12 result, which he would have to settle for. Audi will be hoping for a better result in Canada, with both drivers finishing the race and some points scored as well. Arvid Lindblad had a good weekend, having never driven in Miami, it was a first. He would finish ahead of his teammate due to the DNF and ultimately go on to finish P14. The remaining two teams had a quiet weekend again. The Aston Martins of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were able to complete a race, which is a positive outlook for the team. Alonso would finish P15, whilst Stroll finished P17. The final team was Cadillac, given it was a home race, they hoped to impress. Given it is their first season, they had plenty to be proud of. Sergio Perez went on to finish P16, whilst Valtteri Bottas would finish P18. A quiet but positive weekend for both Cadillac drivers.

The Prado gets fined after giving Webb a gesture in Salt Lake City. One of MotoGP's most respected team principals is heading to Honda. And a NASCAR veteran secured his future at a team he has helped build from the ground up. Here is the weekend in motorsport. Prado Fined After Gesture Directed at Webb in Salt Lake City The ongoing tension between Jorge Prado and Cooper Webb reached a new flashpoint at Round 17 of the SuperMotocross World Championship in Salt Lake City, with Prado fined and docked one rider license point after directing an obscene hand gesture at Webb following the finish. Prado crossed the line six-tenths of a second ahead of Webb and extended his middle finger in Webb's direction after the race. SMX Media confirmed that race direction reviewed the incident and determined Prado had violated the code of conduct. "Race Direction reviewed an incident involving Rider 26 and Rider 1 in section 8 after the finish line," SMX Media stated. "After review, it was determined that Rider 26 violated the code of conduct by using an obscene hand gesture during the competition. Rider 26 was assessed one rider license point and a fine." The two riders have clashed repeatedly throughout the 2026 season. At Denver the weekend prior, Webb threw a block pass on Prado late in the race that sent Prado to the ground. Prado had grabbed the holeshot and was running at the front before the contact, ultimately finishing sixth. Webb went down in the incident and finished 11th, his first result outside the top 10 all season. The pair also made contact at Round 11 in Detroit, where Prado finished 13th and Webb sixth. Prado did not hold back when addressing the situation after Salt Lake City. "I'm always the guy that's taken out. I never take him out, so he's going pretty aggressive with me," Prado said. "If he was much faster, he would've passed me, as the other riders did. So I just focused on myself, and hopefully next year I'm a bit better so I don't need to be fighting with him and being upfront." Brivio Leaving Trackhouse to Join Honda's MotoGP Restructure Davide Brivio will leave his role as Trackhouse Aprilia team principal to join Honda Racing Corporation in 2027 as an internal consultant, as part of the Japanese manufacturer's ongoing restructuring of its MotoGP operation. The news, first reported by Sky Italia and confirmed by Motorsport, marks Brivio's return to a factory environment after several years on the satellite side. His track record in MotoGP management is difficult to argue with. At Yamaha, he was central to building the structure around Valentino Rossi and later Jorge Lorenzo. At Suzuki, he guided Joan Mir to the 2020 MotoGP world title. He then spent time at Alpine's Formula 1 operation before departing at the end of 2023 and joining Trackhouse when Justin Marks' organization took over from RNF in 2024. Honda's restructure has seen Japanese executives take a significantly more prominent role in decision-making. The operation that secured Fabio Quartararo as the manufacturer's lead rider from 2027 was handled directly by Taichi Honda, and the decision to extend Johann Zarco's contract by two additional years was also driven by the Japanese management group, a move that drew some surprise in the paddock given the broader market situation. Quartararo is confirmed for the factory HRC garage from 2027, with David Alonso expected to join him under a pre-contract agreement. That would leave Zarco and Diogo Moreira at the satellite LCR team. Honda's previously discussed expansion to six bikes through a potential Tech3 arrangement appears increasingly unlikely, with the Guenther Steiner-led French outfit now expected to remain aligned with KTM. Alberto Puig, Honda's team manager since 2018, is expected to renew his contract when it expires at the end of the current season. Stenhouse Re-Signs With Hyak on Multi-Year Deal Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has signed a multi-year contract extension with Hyak Motorsports, keeping him in the No. 47 Chevrolet for the foreseeable future. Stenhouse has been with the organization since 2020, when it was still operating as JTG Daugherty Racing. The team rebranded as Hyak ahead of the 2025 season. He brings nearly 500 Cup starts and four victories to the table, all coming at superspeedways, including the 2023 Daytona 500. Hyak operates as a single-car team, a group that in the current Cup landscape also includes the Haas Factory Team, Rick Ware Racing, and Wood Brothers Racing. Stenhouse currently sits 27th in the standings, with a second-place finish at the Daytona 500 as his best result of the 2026 season. "It's never easy being a single-car team, but the experience we're gaining and the notebook we're building is helping us get better and better," Stenhouse said. "More than anything, this team feels like one big family. On and off the racetrack, we're building something that has me really excited about the future of Hyak Motorsports." Team owner Gordon Smith pointed to Stenhouse's experience and leadership as central to what the team is trying to build. "He brings experience, leadership, and a competitive mindset every weekend, and we believe there's still a lot ahead for this team with Ricky in the No. 47."

Max Taylor is one of the fastest-rising prospects on the Road to Indy, but speed is only part of the story. In an exclusive interview, the Andretti Indy NXT driver discussed how involved he is with car setup, the elite drivers he studies, fun ranking, and why he believes he is getting close to the IndyCar level. How the Andretti Move Came Together Taylor explained that his path to Andretti started forming as early as 2024 when he was competing against Sebastian Wheldon, which naturally put him on the team’s radar through their junior connections. From there, things developed through testing opportunities in the Indy NXT car across late 2024 and early 2025, where he says he showed enough speed to justify deeper conversations. “Then I did some tests in the Indy NXT car at the end of ’24 and beginning of ’25, and I did quite well at those tests, showed a lot of my talents and my speed there,” Taylor said. Those performances eventually led into discussions that progressed through the middle of the year before becoming a formal deal. “We started talking pretty early in the year and got it finalized a bit more in the summer where I signed the contract.” Max also emphasized how impressed he was with the structure inside Andretti once he joined. “Everyone there is extremely professional and extremely talented at what they do. Everything is on top of everything,” he said. Development Path and Key Mentors Before Andretti, Taylor spent his entire early career with VRD, beginning in USF Juniors in 2023, and he credits that environment for shaping him as a driver. He highlighted Dan Mitchell and Jacob Loomis as major influences in his progression through the junior ladder. “They were the people who really developed me as a driver,” Taylor said. “I learned so much with those VRD guys.” Even after moving on, he still remains connected to the program and regularly spends time around them during USF events. “I go to nearly all the USF practices, I’ll be coaching with them and just hanging out with the guys.” He made it clear that his current level is a direct result of that foundation. “I really am the driver I am today because of them, truly.” Indy NXT Really is Close to IndyCar One of Taylor’s strongest points in the interview was explaining the performance gap between categories, which he believes is widely misunderstood. While many assume IndyCar is a massive leap from Indy NXT, he argues the biggest jump actually comes earlier in the ladder. “I think people don’t realize how big of a jump that is, from USF Pro to Indy NXT,” he explained. “Indy NXT runs a 1:09 at Mid-Ohio, USF Pro a really good time is a 1:16, so that’s seven seconds. The IndyCars are probably in the 1:05s, so only about four seconds from Indy NXT.” Because of that structure, Taylor believes drivers at his level are already much closer to IndyCar readiness than outsiders assume. “Honestly, I think if I got the call right now to jump in an IndyCar, I think I’d be pretty competitive.” Car Setup and Engineering Approach Taylor described his approach to setup work as more focused on consistency than constant change. While he is involved in decisions, he said much of the time is spent refining a strong baseline rather than chasing major adjustments. “The main thing me and my engineer have been working on is just getting the basic stuff set up first,” he said. “A lot of the time we won’t change a whole lot because usually the setup we start off on is pretty solid.” He also pointed out how much variation exists across the calendar, which changes how much a driver can influence setup direction. “We go to ovals, street courses, road courses, speedways, super speedways, so the changes vary a lot depending on the format.” Driving Style and Who He Learns From When asked about his driving identity, Taylor avoided copying any single driver and instead focused on adaptability and thinking under pressure. He described himself as a “cerebral” driver who tries to stay ahead of situations rather than reacting late. “I tend to be pretty cerebral, just thinking a lot through it,” he said. “That’s what separates a really good driver from a great driver, that extra capacity in your head while you’re driving.” In terms of influences, he pointed toward two of IndyCar’s most complete competitors. “Scott Dixon or Alex Palou, where they’re thinking about fuel, tires and a million different things,” he said. “That’s probably who I would model some of my driving style after.” Fellow Andretti stablemate and Indycar Championship contender Kyle Kirkwood has also been a massive help. The young driver from Connecticut said “ I've been on the pit stand for Kirkwood with Brian Herda with the headset for all the IndyCar races. So I've been learning and listening a bunch from that and really seeing what it takes to be a high level IndyCar driver like Kyle Kirkwood is, you know, he's fighting there for the championship right now. So he's a really good guy to learn off of.” Social Media is a New Driver Attribute Taylor also acknowledged that modern motorsport success is no longer just about on-track results, but also about presence and marketability. He said young drivers have to treat sponsorship and media work as part of the job. “It really is so important,” he said. “A big part of the job is delivering for partners and helping grow the sport and then I get to drive race cars as the reward.” He also pointed to Pato O’Ward as an example of how influence off track can help elevate both a driver and a championship. “He brings fans to IndyCar, so now the series loves him, his team loves him.” Max Rank’s ’Em Taylor also took part in a rapid-fire ranking segment covering tracks, drivers, and major global races, giving insight into both his preferences and mindset. When I asked him to rank Iconinc IndyCar tracks St.Pete, Laguna Seca and Skip Barber Motorsports Park, he ranked St. Pete first, Laguna Seca second, and Barber third, admitting all three are strong circuits. “They’re all a lot of fun,” he said. When ranking top drivers born in 1997 involving Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and Alex Palou, Taylor put Verstappen first. “He’s a phenom, he’s incredible at what he’s able to do,” he said. His final order was Verstappen, Palou, then Leclerc. Now for comparing the races apart from the Motorsports Christmas (Indy 500, Coke 600, and the Monaco GP), Taylor had no hesitation about the Indy 500 sitting at the top. “Indy 500 is first. I’m so excited for that race every year.” He placed the Coca-Cola 600 second and Monaco Grand Prix third, while being candid about Monaco’s racing product. “The race itself is a bit lackluster, but it’s still incredibly cool because of the history.” Bucket List Goal and Final Ambition Despite everything he has already achieved, Taylor made it clear that his long-term motivation is singular. The Indy 500 stands above everything else. “There’s only one, man. The Indy 500. I want to win that so bad,” he said. “Every time I’m in the gym or thinking about racing, I’m thinking about that race.” Looking ahead, he believes the timeline to IndyCar could come quickly if things continue trending upward. “I think the goal for next year is to be in IndyCar. I’m working hard to achieve that.” Taylor does feel ready for if he gets the call today but understands how important Indy NXT is for his development. Taylor sounds like someone who understands every side of modern racing: performance, politics, branding, preparation, and history. He respects those who helped him, values where he is now, and believes he belongs at the next level. He may be living the IndyCar life he dreams of very soon.

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.

Motorsport fans tend to stick to only watching 1 or 2 Series. NASCAR fans watch NASCAR, F1 fans watch F1, etc. Supercross, despite being one of the most athletically demanding and visually spectacular forms of racing on the planet, often gets overlooked by fans of the mainstream series who have never made the trip out to a stadium event. After attending the 2026 Philadelphia Supercross, that oversight is hard to justify. Here is an honest breakdown of the experience for anyone who has never been, and how it compares to what you might already know from NASCAR, IndyCar, or Formula 1. Supercross Tickets Start with the most important number. A second deck ticket to Philadelphia Supercross cost around $40-50. That gets you into the building, for access to the FanFest it is about another $50. Parking if you decided not to take public transit is another $30. So for $130 you can get a full day of racing and time to meet many riders. The whole experience runs from noon until around 10 at night. For context, a comparable NASCAR or IndyCar ticket at a major venue will typically run two to three times that amount before you factor in parking and any premium access. F1 is typically in a higher bracket depending on the circuit. Supercross is not trying to compete on that level, and that works heavily in its favor as an entry point for new fans. There is also a well-known trick in the Supercross community worth mentioning: bringing an empty Monster Energy to the Fan Fest can get you a ticket through a recycling promotion. FanFest Is the Closest Thing to a NASCAR Paddock Pass The FanFest experience at Supercross is one of its strongest selling points and the closest comparison to what NASCAR fans know from the garage or hauler area. At Philadelphia, fans had direct access to team haulers and riders for autograph sessions and up-close interaction in a way that feels genuinely personal. The atmosphere had a lot in common with a NASCAR pre-race experience. Merch works in a different way also. Unlike NASCAR where individual teams have their own merchandise haulers, Supercross merchandise is sold exclusively through the Supercross store, either in the FanFest area or at various points inside the stadium. Whether you see that as a limitation or a convenience probably depends on what you are used to. This may be due to limited space or Feld wanting an income stream to have low expenses. From what I saw autograph sessions did not require a purchase for access, way different from how certain NASCAR team appearances are tied to buying a diecast or other item. That is worth knowing ahead of time if meeting a specific rider is high on the priority list since lines can get long. The Teams Are Nothing Like What You Expect Spending time around the paddock area and talking to people inside it changes your understanding of how the sport actually works. Tom, a hauler driver for Phoenix Racing Honda in the 250SX class, offered a perspective on the operation that most fans never get to see. Unlike the rotating crew setups you might find in some motorsport categories, Supercross teams run fixed crews that travel with the series across the country. Teams are based primarily in California. Tom said he has not been home since January. Other team members occasionally return home between rounds, but hauler drivers generally stay on the road for a full run of the season. It is a level of commitment that does not get talked about enough. The bike side of things is also more nuanced than it looks from the stands. Each rider works from their own frame, built specifically for them, and suspension setups differ even between teammates on the same team. That level of individualization is notable in a sport where the rules are specifically structured to prevent factory teams from spending their way to dominance. The regulations create a more level playing field than you might expect, and teams that invest smartly in rider development and setup work can genuinely compete with larger operations. For comparison, a NASCAR driver I spoke with over the weekend noted that on their side, chassis are sometimes shared between drivers depending on the situation, and driver-specific comfort items are built in where needed, but the performance side of the chassis is not tailored to a specific driver in the same way. The Sport Is 80 Percent Rider One of the most valuable conversations at Philadelphia came from spending time with the NBC broadcast team, which included Justin Brayton, Justin Thomas, and Adam Cianciarulo, all former professional racers who now break down the sport for a national audience. The point that stuck: Supercross is 80 percent rider and 20 percent bike. That ratio flips the perception that casual fans often bring to the sport. The assumption is that better equipment equals better results. In Supercross, the equipment gap between factory and privateer teams exists but is narrowed intentionally by the rules, and the difference between a rider who wins and a rider who finishes tenth is almost always about technique, fitness, and track work done in the off-season. Most of the meaningful gains riders make happen before the season starts, through constant repetition of section work on practice tracks. By the time the gate drops, the physical and technical preparation is largely locked in. I remember Adam telling me that a guy like Hunter Lawrence can take a 450 off a store shelf and run top 10. The Racing Itself Delivers Philadelphia was a muddy mess and it still worked. Rain hit the venue and the track conditions deteriorated through the day, but the fans showed up anyway. Ponchos filled the lower bowl. People who arrived when the doors opened at noon were still in their seats when the 450 main event finished around 10 at night. The races themselves move fast. The 450 main event runs 20 minutes plus one lap, the 250 is 15 minutes plus one lap, which sounds short but they are really intense from start to finish. The track maintenance windows between motos run about 10 to 15 minutes, which keeps things moving without feeling rushed. The full evening never dragged. Parking and concessions were expensive, but that is almost certainly a function of the venue and city rather than anything Supercross controls. Lincoln Financial Field and the surrounding area set their own prices. That is a cost of doing business in a major market and not unique to this sport. Who Is Actually in the Stands The Supercross fanbase is niche, and they know it. What stands out at a live event is how dedicated that fanbase is. These are not casual fans who showed up because it was the thing to do on a Saturday. The people in those seats know the riders, know the teams, know the series history, and care deeply about the outcome. The energy in a stadium when a main event gate drops is legitimate. The question worth asking is what this sport could look like with a different promotional model behind it. Feld Entertainment runs Supercross as a single unified entity, which gives it consistency and control but also shapes the ceiling of its growth. What happens if a NASCAR-style ownership group or a Liberty Media-type operator gets involved at some point? The infrastructure is already there. The access and value proposition for fans is genuinely strong. The racing product is excellent. The gap between where Supercross is and where it could be feels like more of a visibility problem than a product problem. For example my friends who live in downtown Philadelphia had no idea the series was coming so that may be leaving out new fans. I still believe Feld is doing a great job running things but would be cool to open up a bit more. For anyone who has been on the fence about attending, Philadelphia made the case clearly. A full day of great racing, and a paddock experience that most mainstream series cannot match at that $130 price point. It is worth the trip. Fyi RCAP attended the 2026 Philadelphia Supercross as credentialed media. So some access we had may not be available with certain ticket packages.

Tyler Reddick ended the contract speculation at Talladega. Ken Roczen took control of the Supercross title fight in wet and treacherous conditions in Philadelphia. Cole Davies became a champion. And the Indy 500 field gained its 33rd entry. Here is the weekend in motorsport. Reddick Locks In His Future at 23XI It was not exactly a surprise, but Tyler Reddick made it official on Sunday during the NASCAR on FOX pre-race show at Talladega Superspeedway. He has signed a contract extension with 23XI Racing and will continue driving for Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin. The announcement came at a logical moment. Reddick has put together one of the most dominant starts to a NASCAR Cup season in nearly 40 years, winning five of the first nine races including the Daytona 500 on a last-lap pass, Atlanta, COTA, Darlington, and Kansas. He currently leads the championship standings by more than 100 points over team owner Denny Hamlin. Jordan was characteristically direct after the Kansas win last weekend. "This kid is on fire. I don't even know what to say. I don't know if I can cool him down." Reddick kept it equally simple on Sunday. "I'm going to be continuing my future here at 23XI. Excited to have that all done and be able to continue building on what we've done. Just really glad that me, myself and 23XI were able to get to a good place, so I'll hopefully be here for a long time." The length of the extension has not been disclosed but its expected to be a minimum of 3 years. Reddick joined 23XI in 2023, has accumulated ten wins with the team, and finished as high as fourth in the standings after winning the 2024 regular season title. Roczen Seizes the Points Lead in Philadelphia Mother Nature made things interesting at Lincoln Financial Field for Round 15 of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship, and Ken Roczen made the most of it. Clear conditions early in the day gave way to rain by the time the Main Events got underway, saturating the track and turning the night into a test of patience and bike management. Hunter Lawrence grabbed the holeshot and held off Cooper Webb for the early lead, but Roczen worked his way from third to first just a couple of minutes into the race. The championship rivals then traded momentum through the middle portion of the Main Event with a great battle that had the fans on their feet. Lawrence went down with just over nine minutes remaining, dropping to third more than 20 seconds off the lead. With the pressure from Lawrence removed, Roczen settled into a controlled rhythm and managed a comfortable gap over Webb through heavy lapped traffic in the second half of the race. Webb made one final charge as the clock expired and closed to within a couple of bike lengths on the final lap, but Roczen responded and held on to win by 2.4 seconds for his 28th career victory and fifth of the season. Lawrence remounted after his crash and salvaged third on a night when only four riders finished on the lead lap. Roczen now leads Lawrence by four points with two races remaining. Webb sits third, 24 points back. "This was such an important race," Roczen said. "In these conditions things can go sideways in a heartbeat. I am so pumped and proud of my crew and myself for putting all this together when it's really important." Lawrence was measured about the situation heading into the final two rounds. "I've got a little extra fuel during the week. I look forward to Denver and Salt Lake City. They've been good to me, and I like racing at altitude." Davies Clinches the Eastern Divisional 250SMX Title Before Roczen and Lawrence battled, Cole Davies wrapped up his own piece of history in the 250SMX class, becoming the Eastern Divisional champion with one race to spare. The 18-year-old New Zealander navigated a chaotic Main Event that included a red flag stoppage, a near collision at the start, and his own crash and remount to win by 12.9 seconds over Daxton Bennick, with home town rider Seth Hammaker finishing third in a resilient come-from-behind ride after going from first to last and back to the podium. Hammaker needed a second-place finish to keep the title fight alive but went down on the final lap while attempting to pass Bennick for the position, sealing Davies' championship. Davies becomes the second New Zealand native to win a Supercross title, joining his mentor Ben Townley, and gives Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing a clean sweep of the divisional 250SMX titles alongside Haiden Deegan in the West. "This means everything to me and my family," Davies said. "We've sacrificed everything to come over here and race in the U.S. This track was treacherous, but we got it done. A dream come true." Legge Returns to the Indy 500 Katherine Legge will make her return to the Indianapolis 500 this year, confirmed as the 33rd entry for the 110th running of the race. The 45-year-old Briton will drive the No. 11 Chevrolet entered by HMD Motorsports with AJ Foyt Racing, with E.L.F. Cosmetics returning as primary sponsor. Legge has four previous Indy 500 starts to her name. Her best finish remains a 22nd place in 2012, the year she became the ninth woman to qualify for the race. In 2023, she became the fastest woman to ever qualify for the event, posting an average speed of 231.07 mph. Her most recent attempt in 2024 ended after 22 laps due to a mechanical failure. Away from Indianapolis, Legge made history in 2025 as the first woman to qualify for a NASCAR Cup Series race since Danica Patrick in 2012, making seven Cup starts with Live Fast Motorsports and recording a best finish of 17th at the Brickyard 400. "It honestly feels like Christmas being back at the 500," Legge said. "Every time I return, I gain a deeper appreciation for what it takes, not just to compete here, but to earn the opportunity to be here in the first place." The HMD and AJ Foyt Racing partnership already has roots in Indy NXT, where the two organizations formed a strategic alliance ahead of the 2026 season. HMD has developed several drivers through to IndyCar since entering the series in 2019, including current AJ Foyt Racing rookie Caio Collet.

Taupō: Taupō was our first stop of the New Zealand double header for the Supercars season. But with weather drama on the way just off the North Island, concerns for the event loomed. Halfway through the weekend due to cyclone Vaianu, we confirmed the Sunday race would not take place in Taupō and instead start the Christchurch race weekend.   So, with only two races in Taupō, we expected drama. Race 8 ensured that Brodie Kostecki was able to continue his lead in the championship as well as the Jason Richards trophy too. With an impressive race driven by Kostecki for P1, close behind was Will Brown finishing P2 and Ryan Wood managing a P3 result on home soil. The start of Race 8; the first of 2 in Taupō Broc Feeney was able to secure a top 4 finish in P4, although struggling for some pace in the first race and unfortunately being down 2 positions from the qualifying pace too. Like Feeney was Matt Payne who did also drive an incredible race and securing P5.   The CoolDrive Racing car of James Golding held strong in the top 10, with a solid drive and managing P6 with an angry champion on his tail of Chaz Mostert who ended up finishing in P7.   The Chevrolet Camaros had a decent start to the double header too, with 3 of their cars in the top 10. Anton De Pasquale was able to finish in P8, moving up about 7 positions over the span of the race. Jack Le Brocq moved up 2 positions for P8 and David Reynolds managed to move up 6 positions for P10.   Race 9 was the final race in Taupō with the concerns surrounding Cyclone Vaianu increasing as it was just off the coast, so Supercars called the remainder of the weekend off, with Saturday having a shorter race as well as the main event.   Race 9 was impressive, especially for a young Kiwi driver being able to win on his home turf. Ryan Wood had a near perfect drive to maintain his P1 spot for the race. He was followed very closely by a very determined Broc Feeney who eventually finished P2. Woods teammate Chaz Mostert played the team game during the race, providing a decent gap for Wood to maintain the win, whilst also securing P3 for Mostert. An impressive maiden Toyota Win and Podium: Ryan Wood, Broc Feeney, Chaz Mostert. Will Brown finished the race in P4, just on the tail of Mostert, which was a very close battle to watch. Matt Payne knows a thing or two with another top 5 finish securing P5 for himself and this being just ahead of Brodie Kostecki as well who finished P6.   James Golding so far has had a season worth remembering. Another top 10 finish for him in Taupō was worth the watch. Although down 2 positions from his starting grid spot, he still managed a great race result for himself and the team. Kai Allen who had a poor start to the weekend, managed to bring it back and ensure a P8 spot for himself, securing vital points in the championship fight.   Cam Waters like Allen was also a name we hadn’t yet heard about in Taupō, but he managed to work through the field to secure P9. Whilst Anton De Pasquale had a tough race, losing 3 positions on track and only managing P10, still a worthy spot, but difficult given the pace with that car.   Christchurch:   Christchurch was our second stop in New Zealand, a first for the city and a very exciting opportunity. Race 10 was intended to be 500 race starts for David Reynolds, but due to a crash almost off the start/finish line, he would go on to finish the race in the garage with very little he could do. An incident at the start of Race 10 would end David Reynolds 500th race start Race 10 was the race missed the previous weekend and would be a memorable race for one specific driver: Kai Allen. Kai Allen was finally able to secure a race win for himself, a first of many. Driving an impressive race, with Brodie Kostecki following closely behind, often a scary sight for many drivers but Allen was able to maintain his cool and secure that win. Kostecki, despite all his efforts could only secure P2, still a worthy result for a driver like him.   Ryan Wood again being able to step onto another podium in New Zealand, finishing race 10 in P3. Just behind him, was another fellow Kiwi, Matt Payne who showed he is ready to compete for a championship and become one of the big contenders. He managed to finish in P4, just ahead of Anton De Pasquale in P5.   James Golding had another weekend of solid results, securing a P6 result. Golding has shown great potential for his new team since the start of the season and will show to be a big contender this season, looking to improve and better himself. Cam Waters had a solid race, moving up 7 positions to P7, an impressive result given we weren’t sure of the track and only had a single practice session, before qualifying. Chaz Mostert hasn’t had the best start to a season as he would like, but he is starting to show what he can do. He managed another top 10 showing, up 2 positions to finish P8.   P9 was a name we haven’t heard much about but bring in the rookie. Zach Bates showed what the rookies can get up to. Being one of the younger drivers, it can be a tough showing but to secure a top 10 result is rather impressive. In P10 was Broc Feeney who did unfortunately lose a spot from his starting spot but still managed a solid drive.   Race 11 continued to show why Brodie Kostecki is one of the biggest competitors for the championship this year. He managed another great drive securing the win, ahead of Kai Allen in P2 who 2 spots and Ryan Wood in P3 was up, who was up 3 spots. The young driver like Allen and Wood are also showing huge potential for future races and championship titles. A close battle between Brodie Kostecki and Kai Allen. Will Brown was another big mover, up 3 positions to finish in P4 just ahead of his own teammate Broc Feeney who both started and finished in P5. This duo is impressive, although the start of the season hasn’t shown their best. Yet. With the switch to Mustang, it most likely comes with their own pros and cons, but they will be back and with plenty to give.   Anton De Pasquale has shown nothing but positives in the new season. There is a high level of consistency that we are beginning to see from this driver, with another P6 result for him in race 11. De Pasquale was able to do this with the pace as well as the impressive 11 positions up from his starting grid spot. Cam waters were just behind him, managing a P7 result. This may not be where Waters was late last year, but there appears to be some issues and concerns for this season and the team, with some difficulties all around.   Jayden Ojeda showed a solid result for PremiAir, securing P8, just ahead of the Liqui Moly Blahst of Aaron Cameron who has had his own season of positives and negatives. The P9 for Cameron was a good result, given the struggles during some of the races so far this season. Finally rounding out the top 10 was Zach Bates again with another top 10 finish.   Race 12 was one to remember for Kiwi Matt Payne. The first win on home soil, similar to Ryan Wood. It must always be memorable when winning in your home state and for Matt Payne it absolutely was. He was able to pull a fair gap to secure the win ahead of P2s Broc Feeney and P3s James Golding. Feeney and Golding both had impressive results as they were able to move up 4 positions each to secure that podium result. Another strong race weekend secures not one, but two race wins for Matt Payne. Ryan Wood is showing that when given the opportunity and no car faults, he can be consistent. He managed a P4 spot, increasing his lead in the JR Trophy. Brodie Kostecki was one of Woods biggest competitors over the weekends in New Zealand, and Kostecki managed to finish just behind in P5.   Anton De Pasquale is another consistent driver, with a P6 once again grabbing him some vital points in the main championship, to keep himself looking competitive. Kai Allen did lose 3 positions unfortunately but was still able to keep in the top 10, finishing P7.   Cam Waters had a somewhat quiet race, finishing in P8, he was able to make up 4 positions for that result. Jack Le Brocq has been a real underdog in the past but is showing some decent pace so far this season. An impressive result of a P9, continues those results for the season. Finally, Shell V-Power was able to get a double points result as Rylan Gray took out the P10 slot, just ahead of Jayden Ojeda. Gray so far has proven he can be a big name in the comp in due time, and we saw that in previous years from him too.   It was finally time for the main event. Race 13. For one driver this was the moment and that would be Matt Payne as he once again secured another win in New Zealand. It was also a big moment as Kai Allen secured P2, which ensured a 1-2 finish for the Penrite Racing team. P3 went to Broc Feeney as he finished the double header out strong as well as securing the Jason Richards Trophy too. Matt Payne had a very successful weekend in Christchurch. James Golding had a strong end to the weekend too, with a P4 result for him. This should provide a big boost of confidence for both himself and his team, as they have both been able to create a coordinated and strong team. Cam Waters had his best result of the weekend with a P5 finish and just behind him was Will Brown in P6. Although most likely not having the start to the season that he would’ve liked, he has a long way to go.   The Camaros had a strong finish as Jack Le Brocq finished in P7, Cooper Murray finished in P9 and Declan Fraser made an appearance in the top 10, finishing P10. Sandwiched between the Camaros was the other New Zealander on the grid, Andre Heimgartner. He drove a quiet but impressive race, having gained 12 positions from his starting spot, and a top 10 finish on home soil too, ultimately finishing P8.   For some drivers though, race 13 was not meant to be. Ryan Wood was forced to DNF due to an engine issue. This result would also cost him the JR Trophy. Another incident worth noting, is between Chaz Mostert and Brodie Kostecki, which cost both track positions. In an angry heat of the moment situation, Mostert runs Kostecki wide and off track, causing him to lose track position, dropping to P18, whilst a 30 second penalty to Mostert, ensured he only managed P16. A difficult end to race 13 for Kostecki and Mostert.

F1 Agrees Unanimous Regulation Changes Ahead of Miami Following Oliver Bearman's 50G crash at the Japanese Grand Prix and weeks of discussion between the FIA, Formula 1, the teams, and power unit manufacturers, all parties reached unanimous agreement on Monday on a package of regulation adjustments set to take effect at the Miami Grand Prix. The changes are centered on energy management, targeting two specific issues that have defined the early part of the 2026 season: closing speed safety and the quality of qualifying. On the safety side, super clipping will be increased from 250 kilowatts to the maximum of 350 kilowatts from Miami onward, allowing drivers to recover more energy while remaining at full throttle. The change is designed to reduce unpredictable lift-and-coast moments that have been a contributing factor in dangerous closing speed situations. On the qualifying side, the harvesting limit during a qualifying lap has been reduced from 8 megajoules to 7 megajoules, which will make the cars slightly slower but reduce the need for aggressive energy management strategies that have made qualifying laps feel less on the limit than in previous seasons. A new low power start detection system will also be tested at the next race weekend. The system identifies cars with abnormally low acceleration after clutch release and automatically triggers a minimum level of MGU-K deployment to prevent a stationary car from becoming a crash hazard. An associated flashing warning light on the rear and sides of affected cars will alert following drivers. Additional changes were agreed for wet conditions, including higher tyre blanket temperatures for intermediates, reduced ERS deployment, and simplified rear light systems. Roczen Dominates Cleveland Triple Crown to Close Within One Point The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship made a visit to Cleveland it's first since 1995, and the conditions at Huntington Bank Field matched the drama of the occasion. Rain, cold temperatures, and swirling winds set the stage for Round 14 of the 2026 season, which ended with Ken Roczen claiming his fourth win of the year and closing to within a single point of the championship lead. The Triple Crown format split the 450SMX Class racing across three 12 Minute + 1 Lap Main Events, with points awarded across all three races determining the overall result. Lawrence took an early stranglehold on the afternoon by winning Race 1 wire to wire. He grabbed the holeshot, built a multi-second lead over Roczen and Justin Cooper, and was never seriously challenged. Roczen settled for second and Cooper finished third. Race 2 went to Cooper, who led from the holeshot and held on for a two-second victory over Roczen. Sexton finished third and Lawrence, after a difficult start deep in the field, fought back to fifth. Race 3 proved decisive. Roczen grabbed the holeshot and immediately went to work, building a five-second lead over Cooper Webb in the opening laps. Lawrence, who started eighth, crashed in the whoops and dropped outside the top 10. He remounted but crashed again shortly after while trying to recover, falling to 14th. Up front, Roczen was untouchable, winning by 8.7 seconds over Webb, with Justin Hill passing Chase Sexton on the final lap for third. Cooper recovered to seventh and Lawrence soldiered home in 14th. Roczen's 2-2-1 scorecard across the three races earned him five overall points for the day, comfortably ahead of Webb and Cooper who each finished with 11 points. Lawrence's 1-5-14 effort left him with 20 points and sixth overall on the day. The championship standings entering the final three rounds now show Lawrence leading Roczen by just one point. Tomac, who missed the entire day after a qualifying crash left him with a hip injury, falls to fourth and is now 31 points out of the lead. "I had no idea I was one point back in the championship," Roczen said. "After I got the holeshot in the last race I had a clear track and just felt really comfortable. Once I had a gap, I just made sure I didn't do anything silly. I'm just so grateful I'm able to ride like this." Supercross heads to Philadelphia next where we will be boots on the ground. Dye Gets Cup Debut at Talladega, Youtuber Heading to Nashville With RCR Daniel Dye will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, driving the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet as part of a four-race agreement that also includes Pocono on June 14, the Daytona cutoff race on August 29, and the fall Talladega round on October 25. The 22-year-old returns to competition following a suspension handed down by NASCAR and Kaulig Racing after insensitive comments he made about IndyCar driver David Malukas on a livestream. Dye completed the required sensitivity training and made his return last weekend, finishing second in the ARCA Menards Series race at Kansas Speedway. Dye brings Champion Container Corp as primary sponsor for the four-race run and Talladega will be his first Cup appearance. In a separate development, YouTuber Garrett Mitchell aka Cleetus McFarland will make his second NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series start at Nashville on May 30, driving the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet again. McFarland had planned to run Talladega as his second start but was not approved by NASCAR for the larger tracks on the schedule at this stage. Tommy's Express Car Wash will again back the effort. Lawson Eyes Supercars But Denies Imminent Plans Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson confirmed this week that he would love to compete in the Supercars Championship at some point in his career, but denied reports that he was set to enter the New Zealand rounds in Taupo and Christchurch during Formula 1's April break. The 24-year-old said he arrived home in New Zealand to find widespread reports claiming he was racing Supercars within the week, news that came as a surprise to him. "I landed in New Zealand, and my phone was blown up with 'oh Liam, you're racing Supercars next week' and I was like, 'I didn't even know I was racing Supercars next week,'" Lawson told the media. Lawson said he has driven a Supercars machine before and enjoyed the experience, and that the series appeals to him for the same reasons it holds a broad audience. The cars have naturally aspirated V8 engines, sequential gearboxes, and a raw character that he finds attractive. "It's something I would love to do," he said. "Obviously, when my life is not so focused on one thing, maybe, and I can actually put the time in to prepare for it." Lawson previously finished runner-up in both the DTM in 2021 and Super Formula in 2023, and won the 2019 New Zealand Grand Prix. Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll have both entered GT racing during the current F1 calendar break.

It was yet another near perfect weekend for Mercedes with Kimi Antonelli taking out another P1 result. He has impressed based on results so far this year, even taking the championship lead away from teammate George Russell. George Russell had a tough weekend out in Japan only managing a P4 finish, which was difficult, especially given the safety car which partially ruined the result.   Oscar Piastri officially completed his first race weekend and managed a P2 result in that same weekend. Given how the previous 2 weekends had been, this was a brilliant result. His teammate Lando Norris was able to scrape points together for the team with a P5 finish. Your top 3 in Japan; Oscar Piastri, Kimi Antonelli, Charles Leclerc. Charles Leclerc was able to get through the race, working with various issues for both Ferrari drivers and secure himself another podium position, finishing P3. Both him and Lewis Hamilton had difficulties with battery and the power in which they were getting which put them at a disadvantage, but they were still able to profit anyway. Lewis Hamilton had to settle for a P6 result but still scored vital points for himself and the team.   The 4 outliers in the top 10 included Pierre Gasly scoring points for Alpine in P7, Max Verstappen finishing P8, despite struggling for general pace in the car. Liam Lawson was the main scorer for Racing Bulls securing P9 and an essential 2 points in the championship and finally Esteban Ocon who was the final driver scoring points finishing P10 and ensuring that vital 1 point got to Haas.   Alex Albon has had a tough start to the season, and Japan was no different. Another race well outside of the top 10. The team was able to ensure his car was good to race but ended up +2 laps on the remaining field. Carlos Sainz was forced to have another tough race result, finishing ahead of his teammate but only P15. Carlos Sainz with a quiet weekend in Japan. A slow but confident build as a team at Williams. The remaining 3 drivers had a quiet weekend, keeping to themselves, but not gaining much on their teammates or other drivers. Franco Colapinto was having a difficult weekend, ultimately finishing only P16. Arvid Lindblad was able to successfully finish a race weekend with very little issues going on, but couldn’t capitalise on positions, finishing P14. Isack Hadjar was almost able to prove his ability in the Redbull with the potential for a top 10 finish, but was forced to remain only P12.   Cadillac continues their long track of back of the field positions but still could not convert any higher than what they’d been sitting at. Sergio Perez managed a P17 result and was able to keep away from the field lapping the rest. Valtteri Bottas however, improved slightly from P20 to P19. The confidence for Cadillac is growing as they continue their hard work and effort as a team, with the hope to see more promising results later in the season. Cadillac with a weekend to build on, showing progressive improvements every week. Audi was close to capitalising on the top 10 positions, Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto who were close to getting some points but missing out by a slim margin. Unfortunate given the pace that the pair did have in their cars but could be potential for better results after the break.   Oliver Bearman faced a difficult situation after a surge in power resulted in him going off the track and unable to stop. This resulted in a 50G crash, a normally devastating crash, but Bearman walked away with minor injuries. Major damages to Ollie Bearmans car after a shunt in Japan. Lance Stroll ended up with another DNF added to the long list from his previous results. As for his teammate Fernando Alonso, he was able to complete the entire race, bus remained 1 lap down to the rest of the field. We are now on a long break due to the cancellations of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. We return to F1 at the Miami Grand Prix on May 2-4.