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In 2026, the Audi name will join the Formula One grid for the first time. The iconic German manufacturer completed a 100% takeover of the Kick Sauber team, which will see them enter F1 next year when new regulations including a 50/50 split in power from the internal combustion engine and battery as well as 100% sustainable fuel are introduced. The Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli and Kick Sauber (becoming Audi next year) side by side in the pit lane at the Australian Grand Prix. (Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images) Audi first officially announced that they would join F1 at the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix , announcing a partnership with Sauber a few months later. After initially planning to acquire 75% of the Swiss team, in 2024 Audi decided to acquire 100% of Sauber. Audi have also brought the Qatar Investment Authority on board to take a minority stake in the team thought to be about 30%. Audi have a very successful history in motorsport, especially in endurance racing and rallying. Arguably their most significant success in motorsport came at 24 Hours of Le Mans, where they have 13 overall victories, the second most for a manufacturer only behind Porsche. They have also won the Nürburgring 24 Hours 7 times and Spa 24 Hours 4 times. In rallying they have won 4 World Rally Championship titles with the Audi quattro. In more recent times, Audi won the Formula E Teams’ Championship in the 2017/18 season and powered Lucas di Grassi to the Drivers’ Title the prior season. Despite all their success, the four rings from Ingolstadt have never raced in Formula One, until now. (Photo: Audi Media Center) When Audi join the grid next year, they’ll be going head-to-head with fellow German manufacturer Mercedes, reigniting a once great rivalry in Grand Prix racing in the 1930’s. In 1932 four automotive companies, Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer merged to create Auto Union. This is where the four rings logo came from, with each ring representing one of the original companies. In 1969 Auto Union would merge with NSU to form Audi NSU Auto Union, shortened to Audi in 1985. After the 1932 merger, Auto Union saw Grand Prix racing as the best way to promote the new Auto Union name.  Auto Union entered Grand Prix racing in 1934 when new regulations imposing a maximum weight of 750kg were introduced. They would join some familiar names in Grand Prix racing like Alfa Romeo, Scuderia Ferrari, Bugatti, Maserati and Mercedes. Auto Union entered with their new car, the Type-A, a rear-engined car fitted with a supercharged V16 engine. The car was designed by a team including the legendary Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, the man behind the iconic manufacturer Porsche. Porsche was originally an engineering consultancy and was involved in the design of all of Auto Union’s Grand Prix cars. Mercedes built the W25 for the new regulations. It was a front-engined car equipped with a straight-8 engine. Mercedes were a better financed and more professional racing outfit and all of their cars were built in-house at Daimler-Benz factories. The Auto Union Type A’s were painted silver while Mercedes opted for the German national racing colour of white for the W25. But when the latter weighed in at 752kg, Mercedes stripped the paint off to meet the weight requirements, exposing the silver aluminium body. This is where the nickname of ‘The Silver Arrows’ came from and was originally used to describe the silver cars of both Auto Union and Mercedes, rather than just Mercedes as it is most commonly used today. Mercedes W125 Grand Prix car (Photo: Wouter Melissen) Both teams managed multiple race victories in 1934, but the Mercedes team beat their German rivals with four wins to Auto Union’s three. Auto Union decided to build a new car for 1935 to try to beat Mercedes. They entered the 1935 season with the new Type-B, which had an increased engine output and rear torsion bar suspension to improve handling, a prominent issue with the Type-A. Mercedes made some updates to their W25 but it remained mostly the same. Alfred Neubauer, Mercedes team manager was confident that his star-studded driver lineup of Luigi Fagioli, Manfred Von Brauchitsch and Rudolf Caracciola would lead his team to glory. In 1935 Auto Union found their own star driver in Bernd Rosemeyer. Rosemeyer had raced motorcycles for DKW, which was part of Auto Union. Mercedes dominated the season, winning 13 races with Auto Union only managing 4 with their new car. Caracciola was crowned European Champion, the pre-1950 equivalent of the F1 World Championship, with 6 wins. The following year, Auto Union finally usurped their German rivals with their new Type-C, which was essentially a much more powerful version of the Type-B. They won 6 races – 5 of which were won by Rosemeyer, who was crowned 1936 European champion, including a famous victory in heavy fog at the Eifel Grand Prix. Mercedes floundered, only managing 2 race wins all season. For 1937, Mercedes introduced their new car they had been working on since 1935, the W125. It was designed by their chief designer Rudolf Uhlenhaut. The new car was longer and lower to the ground than the W25. But its most impressive feature was undoubtedly the 5.6L straight-8 engine that could turn out almost 650 horsepower. This made it the most powerful Grand Prix car ever at the time. With their new car, Mercedes bounced back to win 8 races with Auto Union winning 6 and Caracciola once again won the European Championship. Alongside their rivalry in Grand Prix racing, Mercedes and Auto Union also went head-to-head for land speed records. They both built streamlined cars, taking them to newly built section of Germany’s autobahn to attempt to take the record. In October 1937, Rosemeyer and Auto Union beat Mercedes and Caracciola to the record, hitting 253.95mph (408.6kmh). They would meet again in January 1938. Caracciola broke Rosemeyer’s record, hitting 270.4mph (435.1kph). Rosemeyer wanted to take back his record straight away despite being warned of worsening weather conditions. While on a record attempt, it is thought that an incredibly strong gust of wind hit the car causing Rosemeyer to lose control and the car to go airborne. Rosemeyer was thrown from the car after it hit a bridge embankment and was tragically killed. Mercedes and Audi Battling On Track ( Sportscar365.com ) For the 1938 season, rule changes meant Auto Union needed a new car as well as a new star driver. The obvious choice was the Italian legend Tazio Nuvolari. He had been a great friend and admirer of Rosemeyer since his performance in the fog at the 1936 Eifel Grand Prix, and left Alfa Romeo to join Auto Union as a tribute to him. The new regulations increased the weight limit to 850kg and capped supercharged engine capacity at 3 litres and 4.5 litres for naturally aspirated engines. Auto Union equipped their new star driver with the Type-D. This car was so ahead of its time, it’s said to have set the precedent for the Formula One cars of the 60s. It was a mid-engined car with independent front and rear torsion bar suspension and centralised mass to improve direction change, all concepts widely adopted in F1 in the 1960s, over 20 years later. The car was powered by a 3 litre supercharged V12 engine. Mercedes built the W154 for the 1938 season, a shorter, lower and sleeker car than its predecessor. Due to the new engine regulations Mercedes were forced to abandon the supercharged straight-8 engines they had used in all of their Grand Prix cars since 1934, also opting for a supercharged 3 litre supercharged V12 engine. Mercedes once again got the better of their fellow Germans, with 6 wins and just 2 for Auto Union. Rudolf Caracciola won his third European Championship. For 1939, both Mercedes and Auto Union made updates to their 1938 cars. This would be the last season before the outbreak of World War II. Mercedes would beat Auto Union for the final time, winning 5 races while Auto Union won just 3. Britain and France declared war on Germany less than two weeks after the last Championship race in Switzerland. The Italian Grand Prix was scheduled to be the final race in September, but due to construction work it was known that it would not go ahead despite not officially being cancelled. There were also disputes over which points system should be used, as such no European Champion was officially announced. If the official points system where positions are counted as points (similar to golf where the lowest score wins) was used, Auto Union’s Hermann Paul Müller would have been champion. There was dissatisfaction with this system and calls for a points system similar to the modern one to be used, which would’ve seen Mercedes’s Hermann Lang become Champion. The difference in champions came from how the old system scored DNFs with the maximum points, which was very harsh in a system where the aim was to have as little points as possible. Müller was the unofficial European Champion of 1939, while German motorsport authorities declared Lang as Champion. While there were Grands Prix held between 1940 and 1945, an organised championship did not return until 1946. Most Grands Prix held during World War II took place in the United States and South America. The teams of Mercedes and Auto Union would not race in their 1930s forms again.  It is unknown how closely matched Audi and Mercedes will be when their rivalry is reignited under the new F1 regulations in 2026, but perhaps one day they’ll be the dominant forces in Grand Prix racing again.

MotoGP Launches Free 24/7 Streaming Channel in the U.S. MotoGP fans in the United States are about to get unprecedented access to the world’s premier motorcycle racing series. On August 13th , Dorna Sports, the promoter of MotoGP, lauched the MotoGP Channel , a free and ad-supported streaming service in partnership with C15 Studio. The channel goes live just ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix and promises both live racing and a full catalogue of on-demand content. The MotoGP Channel will broadcast every session of the season’s 22 events , including live MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3, and MotoE races. Fans will also get practice and qualifying coverage, giving viewers a complete race-weekend experience. Alongside live programming, the platform will host an extensive library of classic races, documentaries, and original features, giving both new and seasoned fans a deeper connection to the sport. Dorna’s Chief Commercial Officer, Dan Rossomondo, called the launch an “exciting new avenue for U.S. fans to connect with the sport,” highlighting the dual purpose of serving MotoGP’s established American fan base while also attracting new viewers. The move reflects MotoGP’s broader goal of expanding its footprint in the United States, where interest in global motorsport is steadily rising. Available on Prime Video, LG Channels, FireTV, FuboTV, Plex, and Sling Freestream , the MotoGP Channel will give fans easy access for fans in the US to watch MotoGP. Robin Frijns Departs Envision Racing After Six Seasons Formula E mainstay Robin Frijns  will part ways with Envision Racing after six seasons across two separate stints. The Dutchman first joined the team in 2018, then known as Virgin Racing, and returned in 2023 after a season with Abt. Across his tenure, he earned two victories and 15 podiums , turning himself into one of the team’s most accomplished drivers. Frijns’ best campaign came in 2018–19 , when he claimed wins in Paris and New York City and finished fourth in the championship. While his talent and consistency were clear, his final season with Envision was plagued by misfortune. A brake failure on the grid in São Paulo prevented him from even starting the opening race, and his best result was just seventh in London. He ultimately finished 19th in the standings , far below his potential. Envision Racing team principal Sylvain Filippi  praised Frijns’ contributions, describing him as a “fierce competitor” with unmatched speed and skill. Despite the tough ending, the team acknowledged his critical role in shaping its competitive presence over the years. Filippi noted that Formula E is constantly evolving, and the decision was part of preparing for the future. Looking ahead, Frijns is expected to focus more heavily on his sports car commitments , where he already competes with BMW in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA. Speculation suggests that Stoffel Vandoorne  is the frontrunner to take over Frijns’ seat for Season 12 . Genesis Hypercar Makes First Track Appearance at Paul Ricard The newest entrant in the World Endurance Championship Hypercar class  has officially hit the track. Genesis Magma Racing conducted the first roll-out of its GMR-001 Hypercar  earlier this month at Paul Ricard’s test circuit. The milestone marks the beginning of the brand’s highly anticipated WEC program, set to debut in 2026. Veteran drivers Andre Lotterer  and Pipo Derani , the first two confirmed for Genesis’ two-car effort, completed the maiden laps in what was described as a “successful shakedown.” Derani drove the first stint, with Lotterer following, ahead of a more intensive testing program scheduled to start later this month. The car, built in partnership with ORECA Motorsport , is one of three development chassis that will be prepared ahead of the season. Technical director Francois-Xavier Demaison  emphasized the importance of this early running, noting that every bit of mileage helps refine the Hypercar package. According to team principal Cyril Abiteboul , the program has stayed perfectly on schedule since its official launch in Dubai late last year, with each milestone reinforcing the team’s readiness for its competitive debut. Genesis has also established a new operations base at Paul Ricard and is collaborating with IDEC Sport  in the European Le Mans Series, running an LMP2 program to build team experience. The successful shakedown is just the first step, but it demonstrates that Genesis is serious about making an immediate impact when it officially joins the WEC Hypercar grid in 2025 .

Honorable Mention: Alex Bowman had a good points day at Watkins Glen, but Chris Buescher had a better one. If we get no new winners, that’ll be good enough for the 48, but with a potential new winner in NASCAR one of these next two weeks, Alex Bowman will need faster racecars. Also quick props to SVG for winning race #4. He’s not going on the list, though. Cry a river. Only Carl Edwards has won as many races in a rookie season (Iykyk). 10. Ryan Preece finished just outside the top 10 and collected 9 stage points, a really good day if the man he was chasing for 16th didn’t have an even better one. Other than a 20th at Dover where all 3 RFK cars struggled, Preece hasn’t finished outside the top 15 since a 28th place run at Nashville. He’s going to need to win to make the playoffs, but it’s been a strong summer for the 60.  9. Chris Buescher finally had some race winning speed again, finishing 3rd after being passed by Christopher Bell on the last lap. This finish from Buescher is even more impressive, however, because they opted to play the points game early on and win stage 2. The final 2 tracks before the playoffs are both home to a Buescher victory, both in 2023, so if Buescher’s going to win, it’s gonna be soon. 8. I checked some stats and crunched some numbers, Kyle Larson is on a terrible run right now. In the first 12 races, Larson had 3 wins, 8 top 5s, 9 top 10s, 817 laps led, 2 finishes outside the top 25, an average finish of 9.83, and he scored 469 points. Since the Coke 600, the last 12 races, his numbers are: 0 wins, 3 top 5s, 5 top 10s, 56 laps led, 5 finishes outside the top 25, a 19.25 average finish, and he scored 258 points. Larson at Richmond in the next gen car has an average finish of 8.17, along with a win and 3 top 5s. I’d say now is a good time to start the comeback for Larson, but I also said the same thing last week. 7. Bubba Wallace has been a huge impress all year long. His weakness seems no more, as Wallace finished 8th at Watkins Glen, a style of racing he used to call himself “terrible” at. Richmond’s always been a Toyota track, however, that’s not always the case for Bubba.  Other than a P4 the last time here, Wallace has never finished better than 12th in his previous 12 attempts, something he’s done twice. And in his 2 starts before his P4, he led multiple laps in both starts. Bubba Wallace is a solid dark horse to watch on Saturday night. 6. Christopher Bell finally put together a clean race, start to finish, and would you look at that? He finished 2nd. Bell needs to keep this momentum up as we approach the playoffs. He’s never won a race at Richmond, but he’s also never finished outside the top 20 in 9 starts there. And in those 9 starts, 7 of them are top 6 finishes. In the 6 Next Gen races at Richmond, Bell has led laps in 4 of them, including a near race-high 122 in the fall last time the Cup Series came here, only being beat by Hamlin, who led 2 more for a total of 124. I don’t think he’ll win, but expect Bell to be fighting for a podium. 5. Ryan Blaney was very impressive on Sunday. He outqualified SVG (impressive on its own) but he also held him off the entire stage before pitting with 2 to go. Blaney also nabbed a stage 2 victory, going on to finish 6th. Blaney also scored the most points. Needless to say, I’d say Ryan Blaney had himself a good day. 4. Chase Elliott’s top 20 run came to an end on Sunday, and it came in a way I don’t think any of us expected. On speed, at a road course, in Watkins Glen, New York. It looks like the 9 camp hit their stride about 2 months too early, but maybe he’ll have a quick bounce back before the playoffs begin. He has 7 top 10s in his last 12 starts at the short track. If Elliott doesn’t have a solid run on Saturday, I’d say it’s panic time for Engine Engine No. 9. 3. Denny Hamlin struggled at a road course. In other news, the sky is blue, the grass is green, and SVG ended up winning the same road course race. I expect to have the exact same headline next week, except swap SVG’s and Hamlin’s results. He’s good at Richmond, I don’t need to give you the stats. 2. The only reason Chase Briscoe isn’t #1 is because of my self allocated “no more than 3 spaces a week” rule. This dude is flying right now. And if you follow the “MTJ was good here so Briscoe will be as well” rule that’s starting to come together, I have high hopes for him this weekend at Richmond, even though his numbers don’t necessarily back him up. 1. William Byron has pretty much put the regular season championship away. As long as he doesn’t finish behind his teammate at Richmond, I don’t think there’s a way Elliott can catch him at Daytona, unless the 9 flat dominates the race, which I don’t think he will. This 24 team truly is back and ready to rock the playoffs.

No matter the weather, the Supercars Ipswich 440 was going to be a good one. Race 23: It was a memorable weekend for James Courtney, celebrating 600 races, Cam Waters, celebrating 300 and Will Brown with 150 races. And with the unexpected weather chaos, it was going to be interesting. James Courtney celebrating a massive milestone of 600 races. (Source: EDGE photographics). In addition to this, we also had two new wildcards for the weekend, with Supercheap Auto Racing having the young driver Zach Bates and Dormer HVAC Racing by MSR driven by Cameron Crick. It was a decent weekend for both drivers.  Qualifying for races 23 and 24 was an interesting one, with rain causing chaos and then minutes later a dry track. This was an easy qualifying for Broc Feeney, with the weather causing him no issues. He took out pole for races 23, followed by teammate Will Brown, and race 24 alongside Ryan Wood.  For race 23, Feeney was on pole, Brown P2 and Wood P3. Very early on, Brown was down 2 positions after a minor error, putting Kai Allen and Ryan Wood up 2 positions to P2 and P3 Broc Feeney leading Race 23 at the Ipswich 440. (Source: Supercars).  Cam Waters was dropped to last after going off, a big mistake that put him towards the back of the grid (P22). By the end of the race, he was P17. Tickford Racing/ Monster Castrol Racing had a decent day with Thomas Randle in the top 10, finishing P10.  Eventually, Will Davison was leading the race due to Feeney’s pit stop, although this did not last long. Will Davison did end up further down the field after a late pitstop, ending up P22, whilst Brodie Kostecki ended up P5.  Mostert had a tough day, unfortunately, due to ending up in the gravel. He managed to get going again, but ended up P25 for driver number 25. David Reynolds also with a difficult day, which ultimately resulted in a Safety Car due to being beached in the gravel. He still managed to end up p24, just ahead of Mostert.  In the end, it was Broc Feeney’s day finishing P1, followed by Kai Allen P2 and Ryan Wood P3. This was also one of the youngest podiums in supercar history. Broc Feeney also managed to take home the sprint cup with his 11 th  win of the season. Race 24: Feeney was on top yet again for another race, alongside Ryan Wood and Will Brown. This was another short race with only 39 laps to be completed. After a 5-second penalty was brought upon Broc Feeney for a false start, It was Will Brown who would take the win, with Broc Feeney finishing P2 despite the penalty and Ryan Wood taking out P3.  After a huge incident early on, which resulted in damage for Jack Le Brocq, Brodie Kostecki, Jaxon Evans and Aaron Cameron, it was a tough day. Despite the damage, Cameron and Le Brocq managed to continue, whilst Kostecki and Evans needed some repairs. Eventually, after returning to the track, Evans would be forced to take no further part, due to damage to his car. An unfortunate end to a decent day. Le Brocq would also face similar consequences, after not returning from the pit lane after going in to check the car.  Big incident involving multiple drivers, including, Jack Le Brocq and Jaxon Evans. (Source: Supercars). Brodie Kostecki pulled it together, still managing to finish the race and receive some points for the team. His teammate Will Davison finished P10. A tough day for the Shell V-Power Racing Team. Similarly, a mixed result for the Monster Castrol Racing, with Cam Waters managing to finish P5, whilst Thomas Randle only managed a P19 finish.  It was a decent race for the two wildcards, with Zach Bates finishing P17 and Cameron Crick P21. Despite being mid-pack and having a decent set of fights on their hands, they both managed to hold their own. For Walkinshaw Andretti United, it was a good day, Wood finishing P3, and Chaz Mostert having a very relaxing race, finishing in P7.  Race 25: This was the most anticipated race of the weekend. The weather was not going to let it be easy for any of the drivers.  Feeney had yet another pole position, a very impressive result over the weekend, followed by Ryan Wood and Will Brown. Rain was expected very early on, and when it arrived, it made its appearance well worth it, with drivers struggling across the entire field due to a lack of wet-weather tyres. Brown found it very slippery at one point, almost losing it on the straight.  James Courtney was the first to pit, opting for the wet weather tyres given there was very little idea as to how long the rain was expected to last. It did not stick around for long through.  Will Davison began the long list of penalties with a 5-second time penalty for a driving infringement. His teammate Brodie Kostecki made quick moves to make it up to P3, after Will Browns errors.  Wildcard Zach Bates had a rather intense battle with Chaz Mostert. A good way to sum up his weekend of racing. The other wildcard, Cameron Crick, unfortunately, had a difficult day, going out into the gravel, which enabled a safety car and in the end being 7 laps down. Zach Bates ended up with a 5-second penalty, throwing a tough result his way. A crazy race to end the weekend. (Source: Supercars). Once the safety car was released and we were back to racing, it was chaos. We had battles through the entire pack, with about 7 cars trying for various spots at one point. Cam Waters had to keep the pack behind him, including Kai Allen and Andre Heimgartner at bay.  Cam Hill and Zach Bates ended up in a scuffle, with Cam Hill receiving a pitlane penalty for a driving infringement. To make a day even worse for Matt Stone Racing, Nick Percat later received another penalty (15 seconds).  Ryan Wood, having a good day, was also hit with a 15-second penalty for a driving infringement that involved an incident with him and Will Brown. Like MSR, Walkinshaw Andretti United (WAU) also had a bad day with a 5-second penalty for Chaz Mostert for a driving infringement.  A tough weekend for WAU’s drivers (Source: RACE PROJECT). Ultimately, it was Broc Feeney’s day yet again, taking another win for himself. Cam Waters joined him on the podium, finishing P2, and Kai Allen managed to finish P3. Feeney also qualified for the supercars final along with his teammate Will Brown and Matt Payne.  We now make our return to ‘The Bend’ located in Adelaide for the AirTouch 500 at The Bend between September 12-14. This looks to be another easy result for the RedBull Ampol duo, but can someone rain on their parade?

NASCAR Delays 750HP Engine Push Until 2026 NASCAR fans hoping for more power under the hood will have to wait. The sport has officially confirmed it will not raise horsepower for the Next Gen Cup Series cars until at least 2026. The move would have increased engines from the current 670HP to 750HP, a change long requested by legends, drivers, and fans. NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition Elton Sawyer made the announcement during an appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, stating that discussions with OEMs are still ongoing, but a power bump is now off the table for 2025. Sawyer emphasized that NASCAR is taking a methodical approach. "It’s got to be a holistic conversation with all the OEMs involved," he said. “We’re in the middle of that process.” The move appears to be part of a broader, long-term vision around where the Cup Series is headed technologically, especially with hybrid systems looming. NASCAR’s last major horsepower cut came in 2019 with the 550HP package, a controversial change that many felt dulled the racing product. While horsepower was bumped up to 670HP with the debut of the Next Gen car in 2022, some fans and industry insiders argue the series still feels underpowered, particularly on short tracks and flatter circuits. The debate heated up after ARCA cars qualified faster than Cup cars at Iowa. Combined with lackluster racing at tracks like New Hampshire and Richmond, it added pressure on NASCAR to revisit its horsepower formula. This delay signals that any major technical overhauls are likely to be bundled into a larger 2026 rule package, potentially involving hybrid technology or a new engine platform altogether in the 2030s. The delay could also help manufacturers manage costs and align long-term development strategies. It’s not the news traditionalists wanted, but it buys NASCAR time to get it right. Toyota Says Tsuboi's Haas F1 Test is an Audition, Not a Trophy As we talked about a couple of weeks ago Sho Tsuboi is about to get the opportunity of a lifetime as he tests Haas’s 2023 Formula 1 car at Fuji Speedway in early August, but Toyota says it’s a live audition to evaluate his potential for future international opportunities. Masaya Kaji, who heads Toyota’s global motorsport program, says Tsuboi’s performance behind the wheel and his ability to communicate in English will be under the microscope. The test follows a pattern for Toyota, which has been sending top Japanese talent into Haas’s TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) program. Earlier this year Ritomo Miyata got their chance. But Kaji stressed that these aren’t ceremonial outings: "It’s not a ‘thanks for winning the championship’ type of thing. This is a legitimate evaluation for future possibilities." The tests reflect Toyota’s broader ambition to reestablish a presence in top-tier global motorsports, especially Formula 1. Tsuboi’s driving credentials are solid he won the Super Formula championship and has competed across GT500 and endurance racing, but F1 is an entirely different challenge. Haas provides the machinery and venue, but Toyota uses these sessions to assess more than just lap times. Communication skills, feedback, and adaptability are just as important as outright speed. It’s no coincidence that these tests are taking place at Fuji, a Toyota-owned facility, providing the automaker with full control over the environment. Kaji also confirmed that not all Super Formula champions are guaranteed tests. Performance is part of the equation, but so is readiness both technically and mentally. With Formula 1 evolving rapidly, Toyota wants to ensure its next international driver is not only fast but polished and prepared for the media and political environment of the F1 paddock. WRC Shuffles 2026 Calendar to Make Room for Asia-Pacific Growth The World Rally Championship (WRC) is taking steps toward a more globally balanced calendar with major changes planned for 2026. At the center of this effort is a plan to shift Japan’s rally from its traditional November slot to late May, a swap that will see it trade places with Rally Italy. This opens the door for a second event in the Asia-Pacific region a long-term goal for WRC’s event organizers. Event director Simon Larkin confirmed the strategic reshuffling during Rally Latvia, noting that several APAC countries are in advanced talks to join or return to the calendar. Indonesia, China, New Zealand, and Australia are all under consideration, with Indonesia being the frontrunner. The nation has signed a heads of agreement with WRC officials, aiming for a return to the series for the first time since 1997. China, meanwhile, hasn’t hosted a WRC event since 1999 but could re-emerge as a key market thanks to growing interest in international motorsport. Logistics are a big part of the puzzle. Moving Japan to May allows WRC to pair it with another nearby event, optimizing travel costs and reducing back-to-back flyaways to distant continents. It also gives the series a better chance at securing weather-friendly dates in monsoon-prone regions like Indonesia. By aligning the calendar with geographic clusters, the WRC aims to make the championship more sustainable, efficient, and marketable. These changes are part of a broader ambition to grow the series' footprint in Asia, a region with massive potential fanbases and government support. If successful, the WRC could expand to a 15-round calendar by 2027, featuring two Asia-Pacific events for the first time ever.

Honorable Mention: Brad Keselowski has had 6 top 11 finishes in the last 7 races, the only outlier being the Chicago Street Race where he was taken out lap 4. After Mexico, Keselowski was 32nd in points. Over these last 2 months, he’s grinded his way into the 19th position. While still not good, it’s an incredible feat considering where this team was at the start of the year. 10. Alex Bowman had a quiet race; however, fortunately for him, so did his playoff bubble competitors. Other than a late charge by Ryan Preece, the RFK boys seemed out to lunch, other than Keselowski. Bowman’s a handy road racer, but he’s never finished better than 14th at Watkins Glen, something he’s done 3 times. 9. Bubba Wallace is hot right now. His last 3 finishes have all been in the top 7, and on a day where passing was difficult, to say the least, Bubba charged from sub 30th to a 6th place finish on the final run. Wallace is looking more and more like the #1 guy at 23XI as each week passes.  8. Ryan Preece is even more on fire, minus the win factor. Since Michigan, he hasn’t finished worse than 15th other than a bad run at Dover, where his teammates were also off. Preece has also had 5 top 10s in that same timeframe, as well as back to back top 5s. Ryan struggled to run top 30 early, but bounced back strong in the 2nd half and finished 5th, while also overcoming a potential loose wheel. I think it’s too little too late for this 60 team and I think he misses the Playoffs, but Preece looks better than ever right now, and if he doesn’t get that first win this year, there’s a good chance we see him in victory lane early next year.  7. To say that Christopher Bell is struggling is an understatement. Bell caused his 4th incident in 3 races, spinning Tyler Reddick out midway through the race. Never really recovered, and Bell came home 17th. Since Michigan, Bell only has 3 top 10s, compared to his 6 sub 15ths and 2 sub 20ths. His average finish is 15.2 in that time frame. Good news for Bell though, his 2 best finishes in this timeframe were both on a road course, a 2nd in Mexico and a 5th in Wine Country. 6. Ryan Blaney backed up his win from last year well, with a solid 4th place finish. If dirty air wasn’t such an issue, Blaney looked to be on cruise control to potentially winning this thing late. Blaney’s had 3 straight top 10s in a season that’s seen him struggle for consistency. His Watkins Glen stats are about as up and down as the actual racetrack is, with 3 top 10s but 2 sub 20th place finishes, including a 38th last year after he was wrecked lap 1.   5. Kyle Larson is now tied for the 2nd longest winless streak of his lifetime at Hendrick, 11 races, matching a stretch from the end of 2023 to the start of 2024. To beat his all time record, he’d need to go another 12 races to match his drought in 2022. Fortunately, we’re at a good place to end it, as this is exactly where Larson did just that in 2022. He also won at the Glen in 2021, so it’s safe to say this is one of Larson’s best tracks. 4. This looks like a completely different race team from just a few months ago. Chase Briscoe is on fire right now, with his 4th trip to the podium in just 7 weeks. However, the Achilles heel for Briscoe is in those other 3 races, as he has an 18th, 23rd, and 35th in them. If you ask me right now though, Briscoe is my pick to win the title. I like where this team is headed a lot right now. 3. Chase Elliott looks to be slowing back down again. Whether it’s a final cool off just before the Playoffs begin to truly crank the heat up, or a return to the mediocrity but consistency the 9 has come to know over the past few years is yet to be told, but the fact that he had the speed to begin with shows us that Elliott is still one of the best in the sport and still can win at any time, including this weekend. Elliott got career wins number 1 and number 5 at Watkins Glen. 2. Denny Hamlin had a rough weekend after a self spin and mediocre speed. He finished 24th, something he hasn’t done at Iowa in a calendar year, as he finished 24th there last year. I don’t think things get much better this week at the Glen, but after? It’s smooth sailing for Hamlin. 1. William Byron is back. He’s taken his yearly slumber through the summer and he’s ready to start the Playoffs. Win #2 for Byron completes the Iowa sweep for him and shows that he’s also a title favorite, with 5 of the 10 races in the Playoffs being short track-eske: Gateway, Bristol, New Hampshire, Martinsville, and Phoenix. Byron also has a win at Watkins Glen in 2023.

Lando Norris celebrates the victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest, Hungary (Photo by: AFP) Lando Norris holds on to win the Hungarian Grand Prix over championship rival, and teammate Oscar Piastri. As the lights went out for the start of the race, Norris fell from 3rd to 5th behind George Russell and Fernando Alonso but shortly after got by both of them a couple of laps later, as well as Max Verstappen going by Liam Lawson for the 8th position and then Lance Stroll for the 7th postion the next lap. Further into the race on lap 19, McLaren decide to pit Oscar Piastri for the hard tires, thus having him commit to a two stop strategy. The Ferrari of Charles Leclerc pitted the following lap for the hard tires as well as George Russell. In addition on lap 28, Lando Norris' race engineer asked him if he could commit to a one stop strategy and go 40 laps on the hard tire, and Norris responded with "yeah, why not". On lap 29, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton had a very close call with Verstappen going to the inside of Hamilton heading into turn 4 and nearly making contact. Hamilton went off track in order to not collide with Verstappen and ultimately lost the position to Verstappen. Furthermore, on lap 32, Lando Norris pits for the hard tires and committing to that one stop strategy, going to the end of the race. Later on lap 41, Charles Leclerc makes his 2nd and final stop pitting for the hard tires once again, and on lap 46, Oscar Piastri says on the radio "I'm not even thinking about Leclerc" when his team tells him that Leclerc will be around 4 to 5 seconds ahead of the pit window and shortly after Piastri pits for his second stop. It wasn't until a couple of laps later, on lap 51 Piastri catches up to Leclerc and goes by him for the second position and sets his objective on catching teammate Lando Norris for the race win. On lap 53 leclerc gets frustrated at his team on the radio saying "This is so incredibly frustrating. We've lost all competitiveness. You just have to listen to me. I would have found a different way of managing those issues. Now, it's just undriveable. undriveable. It's a miracle if we finish on the podium." Not too later, on lap 61, George Russell goes for a move on Charles Leclerc into turn 1 but Leclerc shuts the door and Russell comes on the radio and says "that's moving under braking, that's clearly not allowed." Russell did manage to get by Leclerc the following lap but the two nearly collided once again in turn 1. Within the last five laps of the race Piastri eventually caught up to Norris who was on that one stop strategy and on lap 69 with two laps to go Piastri goes for a move into turn 1 but locks up and was not close enough to get by his McLaren teammate for the race win. Norris wins the Hungarian Grand Prix over Oscar Piastri and George Russell who rounds out the podium. The Aston Martin duo of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll got their best result as a team for the first time since Bahrain in 2023 with a result of 5th for Alonso and 7th for Stroll. Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto finishes in 6th scoring his best career finish in Formula 1. Formula 1 now heads into the summer break after the conclusion of the Hungarian Grand Prix. Action resumes on the 29th of August when Formula 1 heads to Zandvoort in the Netherlands for the Dutch Grand Prix.

NASCAR Up-and-Comer Cindric May Join Supercars Grid for Adelaide Finale In major Supercars news, Ford squad Tickford Racing is looking to enter a third Mustang for NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Cindric at the season-ending Adelaide 500. Cindric would potentially join regular drivers Cam Waters and Thomas Randle as part of the team’s expanded effort. Rival teams were notified of the wildcard plan last Thursday, as Tickford continues talks with both Supercars officials and the South Australian Motorsport Board to finalize the entry. Cindric, currently racing for Team Penske in NASCAR, has long expressed interest in racing in Supercars. His initial exposure came during Penske’s co-ownership of Dick Johnson Racing, when his father Tim Cindric played a key role in the operation. Austin had previously tested with DJR Team Penske and Matt Stone Racing, and was even slated to race in Super2 at the 2017 Newcastle 500, but a scheduling conflict forced a last-minute cancellation. If confirmed, Cindric would become the first active NASCAR driver to compete in the Adelaide 500. Similar wildcard deals for Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson had previously fallen through, making this potential crossover a significant storyline in international motorsport news. Cardile Finally Starts at Aston Martin After Ferrari Dispute Former Ferrari F1 technical director Enrico Cardile has officially started his role as Chief Technical Officer at Aston Martin, ending a long legal battle that delayed his arrival. Cardile was announced as a key Aston hire in July 2024 but had been forced to serve a year-long gardening leave by Ferrari. Ferrari escalated the situation earlier this year by filing legal action in the Court of Modena, claiming Cardile had breached his non-compete clause. In April, the court sided with Ferrari, prolonging the delay even further. However, that legal roadblock has now been cleared, and Cardile is finally operational at Aston Martin’s Silverstone base. Cardile joins forces with legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey, who signed on earlier this year as the team’s Managing Technical Partner. While Cardile was initially expected to report to technical director Dan Fallows, Fallows was removed from his post back in April, giving Cardile a more central leadership role. With Aston Martin preparing for the major changes in the 2026 F1 regulations, having both Newey and Cardile onboard marks a bold new direction for the team. It’s a significant technical change that could sway the competitive order in future seasons. Lamborghini Pauses GTP Racing Program After Strategic Shift Lamborghini has announced it will not field its SC63 LMDh prototype in IMSA’s GTP class next season, citing a strategic realignment of its motorsport goals. While it framed the decision as a “pause,” the move may mark the end of Lamborghini’s ambitions in top-tier prototype racing. This comes after its recent withdrawal from the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar class, leaving its SC63 project without a racing future in either series. The automaker will now focus on its new Temerario GT3 platform, set to launch in 2026, along with a Super Trofeo variant expected in 2027. Lamborghini’s IMSA effort was run in partnership with Riley Motorsports, but after ending its deal with Iron Lynx and taking on full financial responsibility, the program quickly became unsustainable. According to CTO Rouven Mohr, the brand underestimated the cost of LMDh development and ongoing competition. Regulatory changes in WEC, which now require teams to run two cars in Hypercar, only added to the cost burden. Lamborghini, which operates on a much smaller scale compared to other LMDh manufacturers, simply couldn’t keep pace. The pause may become permanent unless a well-funded partner steps in.

The weekend at Spa was anything but expected.   With drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli, on the back foot and starting from the pit lane alongside Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso, it already looked like a tough drive. The long wait before we even got racing was typical Belgian GP fashion. Very wet conditions for the aborted start at the Belgian Grand Prix. (Source: The Race)   By lap 11, the Intermediate tyres had hit a wall, and the first wave of drivers pitted for a set of slicks. This included Lewis Hamilton, Pierre Gasly, Nico Hulkenberg, and Fernando Alonso, just a lap before the remainder of the field. The last drivers to pit for a new set of tyres on lap 13 were Lando Norris, Yuki Tsunoda, Isack Hadjar and Esteban Ocon.   Whilst most of the drivers were able to make the slick tyres last, unfortunately, a few had to pit again. Isack Hadjar had new tyres from lap 20, Carlos Sainz was on lap 26, Franco Colapinto was by lap 28, Fernando Alonso was by lap 29, Kimi Antonelli on lap 30 and Nico Hulkenberg on lap 32. These drivers had issues ranging from temperature to serious tyre degradation.   After waiting for an hour and a half, we were finally able to get underway. Oscar Piastri made quick work of Lando Norris, with Norris being forced to use most of his battery pack and having nothing left to fight back. This led quickly to an extension in favour of Piastri. The McLaren drivers led the entire race to make it yet another dominant weekend and a 1-2 finish with Oscar Piastri maintaining the championship lead again and Lando Norris forced to settle for P2. McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris during the Belgian Grand Prix. (Source: The Race) Charles Leclerc was forced to work twice as hard to keep the creeping RedBull of Max Verstappen at bay, with his defensive tactics working in his favour. Verstappen was forced to settle for a P4 finish, instead of a podium. Although unhappy with not starting the race before the heavy downpour of rain, would this have worked in his favour in the end? For Charles Leclerc, though, Spa was a good race, adding another podium finish to his 2025 season, finishing P3.   George Russell was in a race of his own, cruising along the entire race and making it another point-scoring weekend, finishing P5. Whilst his teammate Kimi Antonelli had his work cut out for him. Starting from the pits, it was already a hard ask for the young rookie, with DRS trains and uncertain conditions, the young driver had to settle for a P16 finish. Although for a tough weekend, he still managed to receive the fastest lap of the race with a 1:44.861.   Similar results for the Williams Racing pairing, with Alex Albon scoring points for the team with his P6 finish, but Carlos Sainz only managing P18. This was a tough weekend for Carlos, given his initial problems during Free Practice 1. Another team with a half-and-half result was Racing Bulls, with Liam Lawson in P8, whilst his teammate was P20 and the only lapped car on track. A very difficult day for Isack Hadjar with strategy errors, which would not pay off. Alex Albon during the rainy Grand Prix at Spa. (Source: Atlassian Williams Racing)   Lewis Hamilton made quick work of passing through the field, with 11 cars overtaken by lap 20. He managed to storm through the field, after pitting for the fresh slicks and ultimately finished P7. On a day when he was expected to struggle. He also received the Driver of the Day. Given his weekend at Spa, this was by far the best result for Hamilton.   Lewis Hamilton during the Belgian GP. (Source: XPBimages)   Your P9 and P10 went to Gabriel Bortoleto and Pierre Gasly with a pretty quiet weekend. Bortoleto was in his own world, being that he was never under attack from another driver, so he had a relaxing race, so to speak. Pierre Gasly put his defensive driving tactics to use and was able to hold up Oliver Bearman (P11) and Nico Hulkenberg (P12).   A race to forget for two teams, Aston Martin and Haas, with neither one of their drivers finishing in the top 10. Lance Stroll managed to finish above Fernando Alonso in P14, whilst Alonso was down in P17. As for Haas, they had a strong qualifying session, but purely given the conditions, it was not meant to be. They managed to finish P11 with Oliver Bearman and P15 with Esteban Ocon.   With the mixed-race weekend in Spa complete, we prepare to return to Hungary this weekend. Could we see another Oscar Piastri win there? Will Lando Norris take home the trophy? Or maybe someone else entirely?

Honorable Mention: We’ll give the nod to two drivers this week, both winners in different rights. Bubba Wallace was a winner on Sunday, his first in a hundred races, and Ty Gibbs was the NASCAR In Season Tournament winner. Wallace hasn’t had the speed to justify a top 10 spot, and Gibbs was uncharacteristically slow on Sunday, but both walked away with hardware and deserve a nod. 10. Chris Buescher had the exact opposite kind of day that he had last week at Dover. The speed was present in the 17 car, and he ran top 10 all day, collecting points in both stages. However, on the final restart, he faded from 8th to 14th. Buescher only mustered an 18th last year at Iowa, but he did win at a similar Richmond back in 2023 9. Ryan Preece needed a good run, and he got one, finishing 4th. Unfortunately, the man he was chasing won on Sunday, and he now has to fight his teammate for the final playoff spot. Preece had a bad run at Iowa last year, but I think that was more SHR than him. He’s shown this year that he shines at the short tracks with RFK, and could easily be a player late in this one. Don’t be shocked to see the 60 in victory lane. 8. Tyler Reddick had a fast car on Sunday, but he was caught up in the final wreck, relegating him to a measly 29th. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean anything for him, as all Reddick is concerned about at this point is winning. Barring 3 new winners that aren’t named Tyler Reddick, it’s hard to believe he misses the playoffs this year. Reddick finished 22nd last year at Iowa, but did have a strong showing at Richmond last year, with a top 5 turning into a 2nd after all the chaos settled. Now that his teammate is a winner, it’s time for Tyler Reddick to find some mojo of his own.  7. Ryan Blaney finished 7th on Sunday, but didn’t seem to have a top 10 car until late. Team Penske had an alternate strategy, which only seemed to help him, as he won stage 2. As for his teammates, Josh Berry had a poor finish, and Logano and Cindric both blew tires. Last year at Iowa, Blaney won his first race of the year. He should definitely be a solid pick Sunday. 6. Christopher Bell can’t seem to help himself. He was involved in another incident, this one by far the worst. He hooked Zane Smith down the backstretch on the first GWC, starting a big wreck. Bell needs to clean up before the playoffs, this is the 3rd wreck in the last 2 weeks that he’s caused. Iowa seems to be the place to do that; he finished 4th here last year. 5. Chase Briscoe is picking up speed; however, everyone in front of him on the list has been at speed for a while. Briscoe ran the worst of the SHR cars at Iowa last year, but on the contrary, has looked the best of them this year. Briscoe has a ton of momentum, and poles, right now. 4. William Byron had his best Brickyard run to date, until it came crashing down on the white flag, with him running out of fuel. Thanks to his points in stage 1 and 2 though, Byron cut Chase Elliott’s points lead down to just 4 points. Byron finished runner up at Iowa last year. This team looks to be exiting their yearly summer slump right now.  3. Kyle Larson had an average run going until he got the lead at the start of stage 3, and from then on, he was a top 3 player for the rest of the day. Larson had a shot at the end, but lost to Bubba Wallace on the final restart. Larson drove from the back to the front on a few occasions at Iowa last year before being involved in a wreck late, he’ll have a shot come Sunday. 2. For the first time in a minute, Chase Elliott looked like his 2023 and 2024 self again. A 15-20th place run ended with a 13th, however there aren’t any tracks left like Indy, so a mediocre run here doesn’t look too terrible for the 9 camp. He did finish 3rd at Iowa last year though, so a rebound is in sight for Elliott. 1. Denny Hamlin reclaims the top spot. After wrecking on his pole run, Hamlin took his backup car and drove to a 3rd place finish. Hamlin looks to be the perineal favorite as we head to the playoffs, although his Iowa run last year doesn’t bode much confidence here. A 24th is all Hamlin could muster, but he was poised to win at Richmond last year before getting wrecked a few hundred feet from the line.

🏁 Ty Dillon’s Million-Dollar NASCAR Dream Comes to a Close at Indy Ty Dillon might not have left Indianapolis Motor Speedway with $1 million, but he won over fans during one of the most unlikely runs we’ve seen in recent NASCAR history. Entering the In-Season Bracket Challenge as the bottom seed, Dillon stunned the field with a string of David vs. Goliath victories, knocking out the likes of Chase Elliott on his way to the final. But in the showdown of the “Tys,” it was Ty Gibbs who ended the run. Gibbs had track position from the start, while Dillon was buried deep in the pack and ultimately got caught in a messy stack-up during a restart. Damage to the nose of his car killed straight-line speed, and by the time rain brought out the red flag with four laps to go, he was three laps down in 30th. Gibbs, who finished 21st, still walked away with the $1 million prize, and even pledged $10,000 of it to a charity of Dillon’s choice. NASCAR recently stated the 1 Million Dollars goes to the team not the driver Despite the tough finish, Dillon reflected with pride on what he accomplished. “If all things are equal and we don’t knock the nose off, we probably would’ve put some pressure on him,” he said. “It just didn’t work out that way, it’s disappointing.” Still, his run reminded everyone that on the right day, with the right breaks, even a longshot can steal the spotlight. 🏎️ Monaco’s F1 Circuit Could Return to WRC in 2026 In rally news, the Monte Carlo Rally which is the WRC’s traditional season-openerr, might be getting a major facelift for 2026. Organizers are working on bringing back a super special stage  that would use part of the Monaco Grand Prix F1 circuit , something that hasn’t been done since 2008. The stage would run on the lower section of the track and is tentatively set as the final stage of Saturday’s leg. This move would also shift the rally's base from Gap to Monte Carlo earlier in the weekend than usual. If approved, it could make for one of the most visually iconic stages in modern rallying, putting WRC machines on the same tarmac as Formula 1. Oliver Solberg went viral for drifting the Monaco Hairpin earlier this year The rest of the 2026 Monte Carlo Rally will remain packed with classic French Alpine asphalt, including the La Bollène-Vésubie and Col de Braus stages. Organizers also revealed a new 30.1km test at La Bréole/Bellaffaire, continuing the event’s mix of new and historic challenges. A final decision on the Monaco stage is still pending, but fans are already buzzing at the thought of rally cars tearing through the Principality once again. 🏍️ Aprilia Avoids MotoGP Demotion, But Misses Out on Perks Meanwhile, MotoGP’s midseason factory reshuffling has left Aprilia in a bittersweet spot. After scoring enough points at the Czech Grand Prix in Brno, the Italian manufacturer has avoided dropping into Group D , the lowest category for technical concessions. That’s a good thing in theory, but Group D teams (like Yamaha and Honda) now gain extra testing, engine development, and fairing updates that Aprilia will no longer be eligible for. Team boss Paolo Bonora was clear: they’re not upset. “We want to beat the top teams, not gain by falling behind,” he told TNT Sports. Aprilia has become Ducati’s biggest challenger in recent weeks, with Marco Bezzecchi winning at Silverstone and Jorge Martin returning strong after injury. Test rider Lorenzo Savadori has played a key role too, helping to develop the bike while Martin recovered. Still, some wonder if staying in Group C was the right move. The extra laps and parts development might’ve been valuable, especially for a team still chasing consistency. But Aprilia remains confident in their rider-first approach and incremental development strategy, and they’re not wrong to believe they can keep closing the gap to Ducati the hard way.

In recent years, F1 has exploded globally, with new tracks popping up in all corners of the world. While expansion is exciting, it's also caused some bloated calendars, odd travel logistics, and some headaches. So here’s my version of an F1 calendar 20 to 22 races, plus testing, spaced out in a way that makes sense geographically, climatically, and culturally. I also tried to be realistic when it comes to contracts with the massive fees countries pay to host a race at certain parts of the season If I were running the show at FOM, here’s how it would go: 🧪 Preseason Testing 1 - Barcelona, Spain (Jan 27–28) Barcelona is the classic choice for a reason. It’s close to many team factories in the UK and Italy, making logistics easy. The weather is decent in January, and the track itself has a perfect blend of high-speed corners, a long straight, and technical sections. It gives teams a good overall read on their new machinery across different conditions. 🧪 Preseason Testing 2 - Dubai Autodrome, UAE (Feb 10–12) Rather than Abu Dhabi, which appears later on the calendar, we go to Dubai. It keeps the teams from gathering too much data for Yas Marina and gives us great weather and is a circuit that’s different in layout and flow. Plus, it’s a great marketing opportunity for F1 in a region that's rapidly growing its motorsport base. Race 1 - Australian GP, Albert Park (Feb 27–Mar 1) There’s just something magical about opening the season in Melbourne. The fans are passionate, the city’s buzzing, and the atmosphere is great. It’s not always the best race in terms of action, but it's perfect for easing into the season. A great opener that feels celebratory without overwhelming the drivers. Race 2- Chinese GP, Shanghai (Mar 13–15) China is an important market and deserves a race. The Shanghai layout isn’t perfect, but it offers enough diversity and unique corners to make it interesting. It also kicks off our first Asian/Middle Eastern swing and tests driver precision to the max. Race 3 - Singapore GP (Mar 20–22) We stay in Asia and move south to Singapore. The Marina Bay Street Circuit is one of the most visually stunning venues. While the layout could use a refresh in some places, the nighttime atmosphere under the lights is electric. March also avoids monsoon season, which makes it more race-friendly. Race 4 - Qatar GP, Lusail Circuit (Mar 27–29) Qatar has a relatively new place in F1 history, but Lusail looks like a fun track. While the racing isn’t always thrilling, the layout is clean and offers some proper high-speed sequences. It’s hot, it’s dry, and it’s mentally grueling which is a true test of driver consistency. Race 5 - Bahrain GP (Apr 10–12) A fan favorite for a reason. Bahrain always seems to bring solid racing. And it looks stunning under the lights. The lack of preseason testing here keeps the field guessing, and the blend of long straights and tricky corners lets the brave shine. It’s the perfect way to end our first leg in the Middle East. Race 6 - Buenos Aires GP (Apr 24–26) Here’s where we get creative. Argentina doesn’t currently have a Grade 1 circuit, but a downtown Buenos Aires street race would be epic. Latin America deserves more representation in F1, and this could be a fresh fan-favorite like Baku was when it first debuted. Call it fantasy for now, but it’s a dream worth chasing. Race 7 - Miami GP (May 1–3) Yes, it's divisive. But like it or not, Miami is a crucial market. The track is quirky and hasn't delivered fireworks yet, but the straights allow for overtaking, and there's potential. Even with the media appeal I'm not sure where else you can race given the lack of Grade 1 circuits in North America that actually want to host a race. Race 8 - Canadian GP, Montreal (May 8–10) One of the best atmospheres on the calendar. Montreal always feels like a celebration of motorsport. The track might be simple, but it punishes mistakes and rewards bravery, plus, weather can spice things up. This ends our early-season run through the Americas. Race 9 - Monaco GP (May 29–31) Monaco is sacred. It may not suit modern F1 cars well in terms of racing, but qualifying here is magic. The visuals, the tension, and the glamour. You don’t mess with Motorsports Christmas, It stays on its traditional late-May slot. 💤 Spring Mini Break A quick breather before heading back into the European swing. Race 10 - British GP, Silverstone (Jul 3–5) Silverstone is the heart of F1 and deserves something special. So I’m introducing a “Throwback Weekend,” inspired by NASCAR’s Darlington. Retro liveries, classic race suits, a true celebration of F1 history. The racing here is brilliant, rain or shine. 🧪 Midseason Test - Silverstone (Jul 6–7) With the first half of the season done, teams can use this two-day test to trial updates before the final push. It’s only fair to give them a proper shot at adjusting their cars midseason. Race 11 - German GP, Hockenheimring (Jul 10–12) With Audi entering and Mercedes still strong, Germany needs to return. Hockenheim offers better racing than the Nürburgring in my opinion and is historically significant. German fans deserve a home race, and this spot right before summer break is ideal. Race 12 - Italian GP, Monza (Jul 24–26) Before the second half we head to the Temple of Speed. It’s not always wheel-to-wheel chaos, but Monza has soul. Few circuits test engine power like this one. And watching the Tifosi cheer a Ferrari pole lap is a great sight. 💤 Summer Break Three weeks to recharge and come back fighting. Race 13 - Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps (Aug 28–30) Spa stays. End of discussion. It’s iconic. The weather is unpredictable, the track is punishing, and it always produces moments that stay in memory. Perfect way to get back in the groove after the Summer Break Race 14 - Malaysian GP, Sepang (Sep 11–13) Sepang deserves a comeback. It’s wide, technical, fast , everything you want in a modern track. With the new generation of cars, I think this circuit could shine. Plus, Malaysia is a motorsport-hungry nation that F1 needs to return to. Race 15 - Japanese GP, Suzuka (Sep 18–20) We head into one of the most beloved tracks on the calendar. Suzuka is technical, narrow in places, and provides many sketchy moments. In early fall it may have mixed conditions. Ideal as we wrap up our last Asian leg. 💤 Fall Mini Break One more pause before the final five-race sprint. Race 16 - United States GP, Austin (Oct 9–11) This is the racing purist’s American round. No frills, just a solid track with elevation changes and great overtaking. COTA always delivers, and if there’s a title fight brewing, this becomes a critical round in the championship. Race 17 - Mexican GP, Mexico City (Oct 23–25) A stadium section and massive crowds make Mexico special. Mexico brings a unique challenge with its high altitude, affecting downforce and engine cooling. While it doesn’t always bring tight battles, it demands precision from the teams. Race 18 - Brazilian GP, Interlagos (Nov 6–8) Interlagos is legendary. Weather chaos, last-lap drama, unpredictable strategy, it’s all here. One of the few remaining old-school circuits, and a place where championships are won, lost, or reborn. Never remove Brazil. I wanted to make this the final round but we all know the Middle-Eastern circuits would win a bidding war in real life. Race 19 - Las Vegas GP (Nov 20–22) As a penultimate race, Vegas offers a wildcard. Yes, the track still needs refinement, but it’s a major market and makes for a wild backdrop under the neon lights. If there is a close title battle this race would definitely be a banger. Race 20 - Saudi Arabian GP, Jeddah (Dec 4–6) The high-speed street circuit in Jeddah isn’t everyone's cup of tea, but it brings some intense moments. Especially when it comes to qualifying or a late race battle that keeps people on their toes. Race 21 - Abu Dhabi GP, Yas Marina (Dec 11–13) We finish under the lights in Abu Dhabi. Love it or not, the upgraded layout flows a bit better, and it has become F1’s traditional closing chapter. If the title fight goes down to the wire it's a big stage to end the season on.