Search

GMS Racing’s Possible Return with Dodge Is Spencer Gallagher Driving? A month ago, the NASCAR rumor mill was ablaze with whispers of GMS Racing’s return. For those who might need a refresher, GMS Racing was a dominant force in the NASCAR Truck Series, securing two championships and 45 wins before it shut down at the end of 2023. Now, the team’s name is making a resurgence in the rumor mill, this time linked to none other than Dodge, a manufacturer that left NASCAR’s Cup Series back in 2012. But could this comeback actually happen? The latest buzz came from a cryptic post shared by the SPS ARCA team, where Spencer Gallagher is currently racing. The post showed a hauler with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series logo, which immediately set off a chain reaction of speculation. Fans and insiders alike began to wonder if this was a teaser for GMS Racing’s return, especially considering the involvement of Spencer Gallagher—who has been linked to the team for years. The intrigue deepened when NASCAR insider Kaleb Vestal reported an encounter with Spencer Gallagher. When asked about the GMS Racing rumor, Gallagher replied, “Salacious; Baseless; Unfounded,” but he smiled as he said it, leaving many to wonder whether this was a denial or a wink to fans. Longtime observers noted that Gallagher’s response sounded more like playful misdirection than a firm rejection. GMS Racing was founded by Maury Gallagher, and under its banner, the team achieved great success before closing up shop. The team pivoted its efforts to Legacy Motor Club, co-owned by NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson. But recent developments suggest that GMS might not be done just yet. And with Dodge potentially entering the scene, it adds even more fuel to the fire. Dodge’s reported efforts to return to NASCAR have gained momentum recently. Under parent company Stellantis, sources indicate that Dodge is in the early stages of working to secure approval to return to NASCAR, starting with the Truck Series in 2026. A potential return to the Cup Series could follow in 2027 or 2028. Although no official deals have been made public, insiders say this move could be worth up to $25 billion. If GMS Racing is indeed the team chosen to lead Dodge’s return, it would make sense given GMS's established pedigree in the Truck Series. The team’s success in the sport, combined with Spencer Gallagher’s return to the driver’s seat, could set the stage for a dramatic resurgence. However, this situation raises a significant question regarding Maury Gallagher’s other racing interests, particularly with Legacy Motor Club’s shift to Toyota in 2024. Could a potential partnership with Dodge create a conflict of interest between his two teams? While it remains speculative, this adds an interesting layer to the already complicated ownership landscape in NASCAR. For NASCAR fans, this potential comeback represents a game-changing moment. It’s a chance to reintroduce one of the most successful teams in recent years, alongside a manufacturer that’s been absent for over a decade. GMS Racing’s return could inject new life into the Truck Series and might even shake up the broader NASCAR scene. Jorge Martin’s MotoGP Future in Jeopardy as Injury Toll Mounts MotoGP fans may be facing the difficult reality of seeing one of the sport’s brightest stars, Jorge Martin, depart from the series earlier than expected. Martin’s contract with Aprilia contains a clause that would allow him to leave at the end of the season if he’s not in title contention by the French Grand Prix. Given his injury woes, that scenario is rapidly becoming a reality. Martin, who was a championship contender just a year ago, has suffered multiple injuries during the 2025 season. These injuries have forced him to miss five of the first six rounds, leaving him far behind in the points standings. With no points on the board and his body still recovering, Martin is facing an uncertain future. To make matters more complicated, Aprilia is reportedly considering legal action against Martin should he decide to leave early. The relationship between the team and rider, once filled with potential, has now become strained. Despite the team’s push to retain him, it seems increasingly unlikely that Martin will return to the grid before the German GP in July. For a rider of Martin’s caliber, this season could be a pivotal turning point. His departure would not only shake up the rider market but also send ripples through the sport. Martin is widely regarded as one of the most talented young riders in MotoGP, and his potential move to another team—or even a switch to another series—could change the landscape of MotoGP entirely. For now, though, the future remains unclear. Fans are left hoping that Martin can recover and return to the track, but with so many uncertainties surrounding his injuries and his contract, the road ahead looks challenging. Homestead-Miami Speedway to Host NASCAR Championship Finale in 2026 In a major announcement for NASCAR fans, it was revealed that the championship finale will return to Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2026. This track, which has hosted many memorable championship deciders in the past, will once again play a pivotal role in determining the NASCAR Cup Series champion. The decision to bring the finale back to Homestead comes after years of shifting finales around various tracks. Homestead-Miami Speedway, known for its exciting racing and large fanbase, is a fitting choice to close out the season. The track’s unique configuration and challenging layout make it one of the most popular among drivers and fans alike. Guillermo Santa Cruz, president of Homestead-Miami Speedway, confirmed that the track would remain largely unchanged for the championship weekend, with only minor cosmetic improvements on the horizon. “We’re not going to touch the track itself. It’s in excellent condition,” Santa Cruz said. Instead, the focus will be on improving the fan experience, such as adding more shaded areas and enhancing hospitality options. These upgrades will ensure that fans have a comfortable and enjoyable experience, regardless of where they are seated. This return of the championship finale to Homestead-Miami Speedway marks a significant moment in NASCAR’s history. The track’s return to prominence will not only bring a sense of nostalgia for longtime fans but will also help secure its place in the sport’s future. MotoGP and Harley-Davidson to Launch Global Bagger Racing Series In a surprising and exciting development for motorsport fans, MotoGP has partnered with Harley-Davidson to launch a global bagger racing series. Starting in 2026, the series will feature Harley-Davidson’s iconic bagger motorcycles in races across Europe and North America. This collaboration is a major step for both Harley-Davidson and MotoGP, blending the two worlds of American motorcycle culture and high-speed road racing. The six-round series will feature 12 races and will be contested by 6 to 8 teams, each with two riders. Harley-Davidson Factory Racing is set to field these teams, further solidifying its commitment to the motorsports world. The launch of this series comes after the success of the King of the Baggers series in MotoAmerica, which has gained a loyal following over the past few seasons. With MotoGP’s backing, the global bagger racing series is poised to become a significant addition to the motorsports calendar. It will not only attract motorcycle racing enthusiasts but also expand the reach of both brands worldwide. The future of this series looks promising, as it offers an exciting new form of racing for fans to enjoy. Harley-Davidson’s involvement guarantees that the series will have a strong American flavor, while MotoGP’s influence will ensure a high level of competition.

No Changes for the Big Teams I expect no surprises from McLaren, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Mercedes, Red Bull, Haas, Williams, and Audi/Sauber. These teams are either building momentum with their current lineups or just don't need to make a change given how the market doesn't have any needle movers. McLaren sticks with Norris and Piastri, Ferrari keeps Leclerc and Hamilton, and Red Bull stays the course with Verstappen and Tsunoda (for now). Mercedes keeps their pair but who knows what's next for Russell. Audi/Sauber, entering a major transition, won’t want to stir things up yet. Alpine Signs Perez Alpine needs stability entering the new era, and Perez could be the answer if he reclaims his 2018-2021 form. His experience, fan following, and sponsorship money would be great for Alpine until they can find a trustworhty rookie to match up with Pierre Gasly and give the team a more mature lineup to lead their rebuild. Racing Bulls Bring in Lindblad I can see Arvid Lindblad to replace Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls. Red Bull has a long history of fast-tracking junior talent, and Lindblad fits their mold: young, aggressive, and promising. Lawson might be the unfortunate odd man out after a bad start to 2025. Cadillac Backs Schumacher and Bottas Cadillac’s entry to F1 could bring one of the more intriguing pairings: Mick Schumacher and Valtteri Bottas. Both drivers are available, experienced, and would make sense on short-term deals while the team builds up its in-house academy and evaluates long-term prospects. IndyCar stand outs Colton Herta and Alex Palou don't seem interested in F1 at the moment but their views could change if there is a contract offer, but a suprise pick could be Pato O'Ward if they can make a deal with McLaren.

The motorsports world is still reverberating from the push-to-pass scandal that rocked Team Penske at Indianapolis, and the consequences continue to mount. Meanwhile, a potential generational shift in IndyCar gains steam with a high-profile mentorship between Theo Pourchaire and Simon Pagenaud. On the global stage, KTM’s financial restructuring raises both relief and questions as the MotoGP world eyes its long-term viability. Team Penske Reshuffles Amid Scandal Fallout: Cindric, Ruzewski, and Moyer Out What began as a rules infraction has escalated into a full-blown crisis for Team Penske. In the wake of the push-to-pass scandal that saw Josef Newgarden and Will Power disqualified from their qualifying results for the 2024 Indianapolis 500, the organization has parted ways with three of its most senior figures: Team President Tim Cindric, Managing Director Ron Ruzewski, and General Manager Kyle Moyer. The scandal centers around the illegal use of IndyCar’s overtake assist system, push-to-pass, which was accidentally enabled during non-race sessions including qualifying. IndyCar discovered the issue after a review triggered by a post-race analysis of Scott McLaughlin’s engine data from Long Beach. While McLaughlin himself was cleared of wrongdoing, both Newgarden and Power were found to have used the system during Indy 500 qualifying, resulting in massive penalties and renewed scrutiny over team conduct. Tim Cindric, who has served as Newgarden’s race strategist and was often referred to as “The General” within the Penske camp, issued a public statement. “My conscience remains clear through all of the noise and accusations,” he wrote, while maintaining he had no intent to compromise the sport’s integrity. Still, his exit marks a monumental shift in Penske’s leadership considering his 26-year tenure and influence across multiple disciplines of motorsport including IMSA and NASCAR. Ron Ruzewski, a Penske veteran since 2003 and a pivotal figure in engineering and race strategy, also departs. Ruzewski was Will Power’s strategist and oversaw technical direction for the entire IndyCar operation. Kyle Moyer, with over 30 years in open-wheel racing and a reputation for being one of the sharpest minds on the pit wall, exits as well after serving as strategist for Scott McLaughlin. Roger Penske, who had remained publicly quiet since the penalties were announced, finally addressed the issue this past weekend. “There was a breakdown in our processes and internal communications. I acknowledge that, and I accept responsibility,” Penske stated. “This is not who we are.” He added that the organization would announce replacements and a revised leadership structure after the 500. For Penske, who also owns the IndyCar series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The 108th running of the Indy 500 will now serve as a referendum on the team’s ability to rebound not just competitively, but reputationally. Theo Pourchaire Begins Mentorship With Simon Pagenaud: “He Can Help Me Become a Better Driver” As chaos brews at the top of the IndyCar hierarchy, the next generation is finding its footing, and perhaps none more intriguingly than Theo Pourchaire. The reigning Formula 2 champion, still only 20 years old, has officially entered into a mentorship relationship with Simon Pagenaud, the 2019 Indianapolis 500 winner and 2016 IndyCar Series champion. Their relationship started off casually, with Pourchaire reaching out to Pagenaud via social media following his six-race substitute stint with Arrow McLaren earlier this year. But what began as a friendly connection has evolved into a structured mentorship. Pagenaud has taken Pourchaire under his wing, offering insights on oval racing, racecraft, and career navigation. “For me, Simon is a legend,” Pourchaire said this week. “He has achieved so much, and he's done it as a Frenchman, which is important to me. I feel like I can relate to him. He's gone through things I’m going through now.” Pagenaud, who continues to recover from a traumatic crash at Mid-Ohio in 2023 that left him sidelined with post-concussion symptoms, has shifted his focus from driving to advising. He’s already worked with Scott McLaughlin at Penske in a simulator and engineering capacity and appears energized by mentoring the younger generation. “Theo has real potential,” Pagenaud said. “But motorsport is a brutal business. I didn’t make it just on talent alone. I want to help him avoid the traps that so many talented drivers fall into.” The French connection adds a layer of significance. While Pourchaire has primarily risen through the European junior ladder, Pagenaud has seen success on both sides of the Atlantic. His guidance could prove vital as Pourchaire navigates a career crossroads, remain in North America with hopes of a full-time IndyCar ride, or return to Europe and try to claw back a Formula 1 opportunity amid limited openings. For now, Pourchaire plans to attend both Carb Day and Sunday’s 500 with Pagenaud by his side, soaking in race-week rituals and learning the off-track elements that define an elite driver. With Arrow McLaren hinting that Pourchaire remains a long-term candidate for a seat, this mentorship could shape not only his skill set but also his strategic positioning within IndyCar’s future driver market. KTM Secures €600M From Bajaj Amid Financial Turmoil, Racing Future Remains Cloudy While the MotoGP paddock turns its attention to this weekend’s action, a massive development behind the scenes may define the long-term health of one of its cornerstone manufacturers. KTM, the Austrian marque with factory efforts in both MotoGP and off-road racing, has confirmed that it has secured €600 million in financial support from Indian industrial giant Bajaj Auto. The funding is part of a larger restructuring effort under the umbrella of Pierer Mobility AG, KTM’s parent company, and is split between €450 million in loans to KTM AG and €150 million to Pierer itself. The move follows a turbulent financial year that saw Pierer Mobility declare self-administration to address growing debt concerns. Stefan Pierer, the outspoken executive who had led KTM’s explosive growth over the past two decades, stepped down earlier this year from his CEO role and has now resigned from the board altogether. His departure marks the end of an era that saw KTM expand from an off-road specialist to a full-fledged global player in MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3. The new capital infusion will allow KTM to maintain operations in its Austrian base of Mattighofen and the key engineering hub in Munderfing, both of which were reportedly at risk if financial restructuring had failed. While the official press release emphasized continued “operational stability,” notably absent was any mention of KTM’s MotoGP program, which has been rumored to face budget reevaluation depending on the outcome of ongoing negotiations with Dorna about the 2027 regulations. Currently, KTM fields a strong factory lineup with Brad Binder and Jack Miller and supports the satellite GASGAS Tech3 team with Pedro Acosta, arguably the most electrifying rookie in the sport. But with Aprilia and Honda also under internal pressure to reassess budgets, speculation about KTM’s long-term commitment is beginning to intensify. While the Bajaj deal buys KTM time and protects its short-term future, it does not necessarily guarantee long-term racing stability. Sources inside the paddock suggest KTM could be seeking greater regulatory influence or concessions in the upcoming rules cycle, including the ability to expand testing privileges or reduce costs related to aerodynamics and electronics. For now, fans and industry insiders alike will watch closely to see if the financial pivot marks a return to growth or a slow winding down of KTM’s once-aggressive racing ambitions. What’s clear is that the company, while financially stable again, has reached a crossroads. How it navigates the next two seasons may define whether KTM remains a fixture in MotoGP or fades into memory as another manufacturer that found success but couldn’t sustain the cost of competing at the top.

PREMA Racing driver Robert Schwartzman celebrates his first career pole at the 109th Indianapolis 500 (Photo by Grace Hollars/IndyStar) Indycar rookie Robert Schwartzman for Prema Racing shocks the Indycar paddock, collecting his first ever pole position for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 with a four-lap average speed of 232.790 MPH and the first for Prema Racing in the NTT Indycar series. Schwartzman is the first rookie to win the pole position since Teo Fabi in 1983 with Forsythe Racing, the first time in 43 years. Robert Schwartzman shares the front row for the greatest spectacle in racing with two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Takuma Sato, who won the crown jewel back in 2017 and 2020, and Pato O'Ward. Robert Shwartzman during Indianapolis 500 Practice (Photo by Chris Owens, Penske Entertainment) When Schwartzman was asked how he was able to claim P1 at the end of qualifying, he stated "I was like, 'This is a dream; it can't be true. 'I can't thank PREMA and Chevy enough, 'coming here for my first oval race, 'I would never expect it to be in this position. 'It's unbelievable." There were a lot of questions during the pre season about how fast PREMA would be, entering their first year in the NTT Indycar series this year. Before joining the NTT Indycar series, PREMA most notably competes in other Series such as the FIA Formula 2, and Formula 3 championship. Robert Schwartzman waving to the crowd as he celebrates his P1 award for setting the fastest time for Pole Position at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 109th Indianapolis 500 (Photo by: Tyler Ward, Tyler Ward/For IndyStar) During the offseason they signed Robert Schwartzman, and Callum Illlott, driving the Number 83 and 90 Chevy powered cars respectively. Prior to these signings, Callum Illott previously raced for Juncos Hollinger Racing in the 78. However, Robert Schwartzman has had quite the motorsports journey. Prior to this year, he competed most notably in the FIA World Endurance Championship in the Hypercar class with AF Corse (2024), served as a Formula 1 reserve driver for both Scuderia Ferrari (2022 & 2024) and Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber (2024). Schwartzman also competed in Formula E (2022-2023) with DS Penske, and in the FIA Formula 3 Championship (2018-2019), and FIA Formula 2 championship (2020-2021) over the course of his motorsports career. As Schwartzman stated, with this being his first ever oval race in his career, this will be a true testimony for the 25 year old, Russian-Israeli driver as he will take the green flag for next Sunday's Indianapolis 500 mile race.

Team WRT just opened a brand new headquarters in Bierset, Belgium, and it’s a big step up from where they started. The team began 15 years ago in a small garage and now they’ve got a massive 20,000 square meter facility that brings everything together under one roof. Before this, WRT had stuff spread out across six different locations, which obviously made things more complicated. Now, everything from design to assembly to logistics happens in one place. It’s built to handle serious volume too. WRT puts together about 120 cars a year—BMW M4 GT3s and GT4s, rally cars, TCR machines, and even builds cars for brands like Toyota, Hyundai, and Citroën. It’s more like a small car factory than just a race team shop. They also made sure it’s environmentally friendly. The building is BREEAM “Excellent” rated, which is a big deal in Europe. Around 70 percent of the energy comes from solar panels, and 95 percent of waste is either reused or recycled. It’s clear they’re thinking long-term. The grand opening had a solid turnout with around 300 guests, including people from the FIA, ACO, and even motorsports legend Jacky Ickx. WRT’s co-CEOs, Vincent Vosse and Kathleen Schurmans, called it a major milestone—not just for them but for Belgian motorsport as a whole. WRT is busy this year with BMW’s factory GT3 programs and is also running in the World Endurance Championship and IMSA in the U.S. They’re clearly building for the future, both on and off the track. Carlos Sainz Sr. Might Run for FIA President Carlos Sainz Sr. is thinking about running for FIA President in the next election, which is coming up in late 2025. He talked about it with Motorsport.com and said he’s been talking to people and weighing the decision. Right now it’s not official, but it sounds like he’s seriously considering it. Sainz is one of the most respected figures in the sport. He’s a two-time World Rally Champion and has also won the Dakar Rally three times. While a lot of fans today know his son, Carlos Sainz Jr., as the F1 driver, the senior Sainz has been a legend for decades and stays heavily involved in motorsport behind the scenes. He said the possible FIA run has nothing to do with his son’s career and is more about his own love for the sport and wanting to improve it. If he does go for it, he’d likely be running against current president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Ben Sulayem’s time in charge has had some rough patches. A bunch of high-level FIA people have resigned during his term, and there’s been criticism about how things are managed. There was also the investigation into whether F1 teams like Ferrari and Mercedes were influencing rule changes, which caused a lot of drama even though it ended with no wrongdoing found. If Sainz runs, it could bring a big change to how the FIA is run. He’s got experience, respect, and a more driver-focused view of the sport. It’ll be interesting to see if he officially jumps into the race. Pedro Acosta Cleared to Race After Arm Surgery Pedro Acosta is set to race this weekend at Le Mans, just days after having surgery for arm-pump. That’s the issue where a rider’s forearm swells up and loses strength, and it’s super common in MotoGP. Acosta had been dealing with it since the first race in Qatar, but it got worse at the Jerez test, which finally pushed him to get it taken care of. He said the problem was showing up early in the weekend, not just late in races, and it was affecting his performance. So he had the usual surgery that relieves pressure in the forearm, something a lot of riders end up doing at some point. Acosta hasn’t been qualifying great lately—nothing better than 12th in the last couple rounds—but he’s still getting solid race results, finishing eighth in Qatar and seventh at Jerez. He’s been super consistent for a rookie, and fans are excited to see what he can do now that the surgery is done. His recovery was quick, and doctors gave him the green light for Le Mans. He’ll be looking to bounce back strong, though he may still be feeling the effects of the procedure. His teammate Maverick Viñales has been picking up speed lately too, so Tech3 has a pretty solid lineup heading into the weekend. On the flip side, Somkiat Chantra, another Moto2 rider who also had arm-pump surgery recently, hasn’t recovered in time and will miss the race. MotoGP has become even more physically demanding in recent years, and these kinds of injuries are common with how hard the riders have to brake and push the bikes. For Acosta, this weekend is a big test to see if the surgery worked and if he can keep up the momentum in his rookie season.

Alpine F1 has officially benched Jack Doohan in favor of Franco Colapinto for the next five races, starting with Imola. While on paper it might seem like a simple driver shuffle, the timing and logic behind the move are honestly a bit confusing. Let’s start with Doohan. His rookie campaign hasn’t exactly gone smoothly, but was it really bad enough to warrant this kind of switch just six races in? He’s shown raw pace here and there—most recently outqualifying Pierre Gasly in Miami—but he hasn't been able to string together a clean weekend. The low point probably came in Japan, when he crashed in FP1 after forgetting to close his DRS into Turn 1. That kind of mistake screams rookie jitters, not lack of talent. But here's the thing: isn’t that what rookie seasons are for? If Alpine was truly invested in evaluating Doohan over a full year, these ups and downs should’ve been expected. Instead, they're pulling the plug early in a season where the team isn't even in serious contention for much. Gasly showed in Bahrain that the car has potential, but Alpine’s still in that messy midfield fight—not in the position to be chasing podiums week in, week out. So why not give Doohan time to find his feet in F1? Or better yet, if they felt the need to shake things up, why not bring in a veteran to stabilize things and help prep for 2026? There are experienced guys like Daniel Ricciardo, Kevin Magnussen, or even someone like Valtteri Bottas who could provide feedback, help with car development, and still bring consistency on Sundays. Instead, Alpine goes with another young, unproven name. Colapinto isn’t a bad driver by any means. He impressed during his brief stint with Williams last year, scoring points in Baku and Austin. But those moments were counterbalanced by big errors—like the heavy crashes in Las Vegas and Brazil. You can see the upside, but let’s not act like he dominated or made people forget about Alex Albon. And now, he's not just getting a cameo he’s been handed a five-race stretch. That feels like a lot of faith to place in someone who hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire. It’s also unclear what Alpine’s goal is with this five-race trial. Are they evaluating Colapinto as a long-term option? Planning more driver rotations later in the year? Just trying to shake things up to boost morale and results short-term? None of it really signals a clear long-term vision especially when the rest of the midfield is already focused on 2026 and the incoming regulation changes. At best, this feels like a team trying something different because they can . At worst, it looks like Alpine doesn’t really know what direction it wants to go. Whatever the case, this isn’t the kind of stability or strategic clarity you want from a team trying to climb back toward the front.

Cadillac F1 Push Unaffected by GM Tariff Woes, MotoGP and IndyCar Update Rules, and Alpine Eyes Doohan Replacement As Cadillac gears up for its Formula 1 entry, General Motors is absorbing a projected $5 billion hit from new U.S. tariffs—though company leadership insists the F1 program remains unaffected. Meanwhile, MotoGP and IndyCar both announced significant rule changes ahead of their upcoming races, and Alpine is reportedly preparing to replace rookie Jack Doohan after a string of challenging results. Cadillac F1 Project Unshaken Despite $5B GM Tariff Blow General Motors president Mark Reuss confirmed that the automaker could face a $5 billion impact from tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump, forcing GM to lower its profit forecast for the year. Despite this financial pressure, Reuss insisted that the Cadillac Formula 1 team will not be affected, calling the project a long-term investment shielded from short-term policy shifts. “These are long-term footprints that we have... and so we're working to bring as much as we can into the United States and avoid the tariffs,” Reuss said. “But it's not going to affect this project.” Cadillac's F1 team, operating under TWG Motorsports, has also received strong sponsor interest. CEO Dan Towriss said the search for a title partner is central to the commercial strategy, with priority given to U.S.-based brands—though the team is positioning itself as a global player. MotoGP Approves Injury Testing Rule After Martin Controversy In a significant rules shift, MotoGP will now allow injured riders to conduct limited testing ahead of their return to competition. The new regulation, which takes effect at this weekend’s French Grand Prix, permits a one-day test for riders who have missed three or more consecutive races or been sidelined for at least 45 days. The rule change follows controversy surrounding Aprilia's Jorge Martin, who had requested a test before his ill-fated comeback at the Qatar Grand Prix. Though initially blocked, the regulation has now been fast-tracked, marking a rare mid-season adjustment to MotoGP’s tightly controlled testing framework. IndyCar Tweaks Tire Rules for Indy Road Course IndyCar has announced a tire regulation change that will go into effect for the upcoming Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Each entrant will now be required to use two sets of primary (harder) and two sets of alternate (softer) Firestone tires over the course of the 85-lap race. While previous rules mandated just one stint on each compound—with one alternate set required to be new—the update removes the "new tire" stipulation. Series President J. Douglas Boles said the change is aimed at increasing on-track action by discouraging tire-saving strategies. “Firestone’s higher-degradation alternate tire has already created strategy intrigue. We expect this update will challenge teams and drivers even more,” Boles said. The rule is currently a one-race trial but could be expanded to other road and street circuits based on its impact. Alpine Set to Replace Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto Alpine appears ready to make a mid-season driver change, with reports indicating that rookie Jack Doohan has been informed he will be replaced by reserve driver Franco Colapinto ahead of the Imola Grand Prix. Despite flashes of pace, Doohan has struggled in his first full F1 season, failing to score points in six races and retiring from last weekend’s Miami GP after a first-lap collision. Sources suggest Doohan was notified of the decision before leaving the Miami paddock, though Alpine has not officially commented. The Australian is expected to remain within the Alpine driver program. Colapinto, who joined the team earlier this year, is the leading candidate to take over, though Paul Aron is also under consideration.

Cadillac to Reveal F1 Branding at Miami Grand Prix Cadillac will officially unveil its Formula 1 team branding during the Miami Grand Prix weekend, marking a significant milestone in its entry to the sport. The event, scheduled for Saturday, May 3, will include appearances from team principal Graeme Lowdon, CEO Dan Towriss, and several celebrity guests. The reveal is expected to showcase Cadillac’s 2026 livery and provide further details on the team’s structure as it prepares to join the F1 grid as the 11th team. Cadillac's entry stems from the Andretti Global bid, which received FIA approval but was ultimately rejected by Formula One Management. With General Motors now leading the project and paying the required $450 million anti-dilution fee, Cadillac’s participation is moving forward. While no drivers have been officially confirmed, Sergio Perez and Alex Palou have been among the names linked to the team.

Max Verstappen celebrating his 4th consecutive win at the Japanese Grand Prix (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) Max Verstappen claims his first win of the season, and his 4th win in a row at the Japanese Grand Prix. With this victory, he is now only 1 point behind championship leader Lando Norris. It was a relatively calm Japanese Grand Prix as there were very little overtaking throughout the race. On the opening lap, the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoletto fell from 17th to 20th as he struggled to find grip on the hard compound tires. Further later, on lap 6, Lewis Hamilton gets by the Racing Bulls of Isack Hadjar down the main straight moving up into the 7th position. On lap 22, Both Verstappen and Norris made their pit stops to go to the end of the grand prix but as both of them were leaving the pitlane they saw themselves side by side with each other with Norris getting into the grass at the pit exit, with Verstappen keeping the lead. Norris immediately came over the radio to his team and said "He forced me off" with his team responding "yeah, we're on it". Verstappen on the other hand stated "He drove himself into the grass". Although the incident was looked at, there was no further action. In addition, there seemed to be controversy later in the race. On lap 42, Oscar Piastri came over the radio and said to his team "If Lando is still saving, I think he should go soon. I think I have the pace to get Max". With very little laps left in the race, Piastri suggested to the team that himself and Norris should swap positions so that he could try and challenge Max Verstappen for the win. Max Verstappen in the RB21 at the Suzuka Circuit in Honda colors (Photo by: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool) However, McLaren did not swap Norris and Piastri and the pace from Norris was not enough to catch Verstappen for the win. With Max winning the Japanese Grand Prix, not only this is his first win of the season but also his 4th win in a row at the Suzuka circuit. To make it even more special, Verstappen wins in Honda colors as Red Bull decided to race with an all red and white livery for the Japanese Grand Prix as this is Honda's last season with Red Bull as they will be moving to Aston Martin in 2026. Red Bull had previously raced with a special Honda tribute livery back in 2021 but, due to Covid-19 at the time, Formula 1 was not able to race in Suzuka and instead the special livery was raced at the Turkish Grand Prix in Istanbul Park. Lando Norris (left), Max Verstappen (Middle), Oscar Piastri (Right) on top of the poidum at the Japanese Grand Prix (Photo by: Motorsport Week) Vertsappen is now only 1 point behind Lando Norris for the lead of the championship heading into the Bahrain Grand Prix. Further down the field in P6 was Kimi Antonelli setting the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1:30.965 set on lap 50, becoming the youngest driver in Formula 1 to set the fastest lap during a grand prix. Antonelli also sets the record for becoming the youngest driver to lead a Formula 1 grand prix at 18 years, and 224 days old previously set by Max Verstappen at 18 years and 228 days in 2016 old as Antonelli lead for 10 laps earlier in the race. Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar scores his first career points in Formula 1 with a finish of 8th. After the race, there were discussions in the paddock whether or not McLaren played it too safe with the strategy on not swapping the positions of Piastri and Norris. There were debates going on with some saying McLaren should have let Piastri try to attack Verstappen for the win since he did have quicker pace than Norris in the closing laps but, if Piastri was not able to pass Max for the win, he would give the place back to Norris. Others brought up if there was a late safety car, it would have been a lot more difficult for McLaren on deciding what to do with their drivers.

Oscar Piastri celebrating his victory at the Chinese Grand Prix. (Photo by Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images) Oscar Piastri claims the top step of the podium after a heartbreaking result in his home race in the prior, in Melbourne. It was a dominant win for the Australian as he wins his 3rd career race. With McLaren winning the first two races of the season, they have a significant margin to Mercedes who sit 2nd in the constructors standings. The Chinese Grand Prix got off to a hectic start as on the opening lap, Charles Leclerc collided with Lewis Hamilton with Leclerc receiving front wing damage, but still was able to continue on. In addition to that, Gabriel Bortoletto spun into the gravel in turn 7 while just behind Oliver Bearman. On lap 4, Fernando Alonso's brakes caught fire, and he became the first retirement of the race. Later on when pit cycles occured on lap 15, Lando Norris got overtaken by George Russell for the 2nd position, although that was short lived as Norris got back by on lap 18. Meanwhile, further back in the field, Lewis Hamilton let Charles Leclerc by as Leclerc felt he had more pace than Hamilton. Fast forward to lap 31 Oliver Bearman began to have exceptional pace passing multiple drivers with the first being the Red Bull of Liam Lawson, and then just after that, Bearman overtook Jack Doohan, Carlos Sainz, and Pierre Gasly. Later on, a rather unusual circumstance took place for Yuki Tsunoda. Down the main straight behind Carlos Sainz, Tsunoda's front wing snapped due to the turbulant air which is very uncommon to happen. Due to the damage, Tsunoda dropped down the field. Oscar Piastri crosses the line to win the Chinese Grand Prix (Photo by F1) As the checkered flag fell, it was Oscar Piastri crossing the line to win his 3rd career race in dominating fashion. Piastri's teammate Lando Norris finishes in 2nd and George Russell completed the podium, finishing 3rd. Max Verstappen came home in the 4th position followed by Charles Leclerc in 5th, Lewis Hamilton in 6th, Esteban Ocon scoring Haas' first points of the season in 7th, and just behind him, Kimi Antonelli in 8th, Alex Albon in 9th, and Oliver Bearman scoring his first points of the season in the 10th position. Zak Brown, McLaren CEO (left), Lando Norris (Middle), Oscar Piastri (Right), celebrate their 1-2 finish as a team (Photo by Getty Images) It's redemption for Oscar Piastri after the disappointment in Melbourne. Lando Norris and George Russell collect their 2nd podium of the season and McLaren stretch their lead in the team standings with a lead of 23 points over Mercedes in 2nd place. In addition, McLaren finished 1-2 in the grand prix, their first since Hungary the previous season, and also record their 50th 1-2 finish as a team and their second 1-2 finish with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Oscar Piastri (Right), Lando Norris (Middle), George Russell (left), celebrate on the poidum at the Chinese Grand Prix (Photo by F1) However, there was drama after the checkered flag. Both of the Ferrari's of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly were all disqualifed from the race. The cars of Leclerc and Gasly were found to be underweight, and Hamilton's car had excessive wear on its skid block. With these disqualifications, the race results updated as followed. Oscar Piastri - 25 pts Lando Norris - 18 pts George Russell - 15 pts Max Verstappen - 12 pts Esteban Ocon - 10 pts Kimi Antonelli - 8 pts Alex Albon - 6 pts Oliver Bearman - 4 pts Lance Stroll - 2 pts Carlos Sainz - 1 pt Isack Hadjar Liam Lawson Jack Doohan Gabriel Bortoletto Nico Hulkenberg Yuki Tsunoda DQ Charles Leclerc DQ Lewis Hamilton DQ Pierre Gasly DNF Fernando Alonso

Lewis Hamilton on track at China in his SF-25 (Photo by Motorsport.com ) Lewis Hamilton claimed his first ever sprint race victory Saturday afternoon in the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race in dominating fashion, and this marks his first win in the Scuderia Ferrari colors. Hamilton lined up on Pole position for the 19 lap sprint race ahead of 4 time champion Max Verstappen. Down on the grid during pre race introductions, there were last minute changes to Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber and he started the sprint race from the pit lane. On the opening lap as the five red lights went out, everyone got away smoothly but at the end of sector 1, Lando Norris, who had started 6th, dipped his left side tires into the grass, falling back multiple spots, ending up behind Lance Stroll in the 9th position at the end of the first lap. Throughout the first couple of laps as everyone began to spread out, the top 3 of Hamilton, Verstappen, and Piastri began to pull away from the rest of the field and had a race of their own. Verstappen began to slowly close the gap to Hamilton but was not close enough for the DRS. About halfway into the 19 lap sprint race, Verstappen began to lose pace to Hamilton, allowing Oscar Piastri to close the gap to second place and Piastri eventually got by Verstappen on lap 16. Verstappen had said over the radio "Both of my front tires are dead" and as the laps went on, the tire degradation got worse for Verstappen. Meanwhile, further back in the pack, Lance Stroll had reported to his team he was having a DRS issue. This allowed Lando Norris to close the gap and overtake Stroll for the 8th position. As the laps wound down, once Oscar Piastri had gotten by Verstappen, he had his eyes set on Lewis Hamilton for the lead. However, the pace from Piastri was not enough. Lewis Hamilton crossed the line to claim the checkered flag, not only for his first ever sprint race victory, but also his first with Ferrari as Oscar Piastri came across the line in 2nd with Verstappen in 3rd just ahead of George Russell in the 4th position. Further back in the pack, Charles Leclerc finished in the 5th position ahead of Yuki Tsunoda in 6th, Kimi Antonelli in 7th, and Lando Norris who had dropped places on the opening lap recovers to claim the last points paying position for the sprint race in the 8th position. On the last lap, Alpine driver Jack Doohan went for an overtaking opportunity on Gabriel Bortoletto in the hairpin in sector 3, but ended up colliding with the Sauber driver, spinning Bortoletto out, causing minor damage to both of their cars. Lewis Hamilton celebrating his first sprint race victory in Shanghai (Photo by Greg Baker/Agence France-Presse) Lewis Hamilton claiming his first ever sprint race victory means he joins the list of Max Verstappen, Valtteri Bottas, Oscar Piastri, George Russell, Sergio Perez, and Lando Norris as sprint race winners in Formula 1.

Australian Grand Prix winner Lando Norris for McLaren on top of the podium in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) Lando Norris wins the Australian Grand Prix after what seemed to be a race of survival from the start to the checkered flag. Norris collects his 5th career win, his first at Albert Park, and for the first time in his career, is the overall championship leader. The conditions were quite tricky throughout the entire race as there was trouble before the race had even started. Down on the grid during pre-race introductions, there were discussions with some teams whether to start on the intermediate tires or the full wet tires, but everyone elected to start with the intermediates. Red Bull racing driver Liam Lawson and Haas F1 driver Oliver Bearman both elected to start the race from the pit lane as there were last minute changes to their cars. Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar into the barrier on the formation lap. (Photo by F1) As the formation lap began and all the drivers began to leave the grid, it all seemed fine for everyone except for one driver. Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar preparing for his debut race in Formula 1 along with many others, had lost control of his car just after turn 1 and slid into the barriers, crashing out before the race even started. Due to this incident, the formation lap was aborted and the rest of the drivers returned to their grid slots and waited for the accident to be cleaned up so they could do the formation lap once again. Once the drivers took part in the formation lap once again, they all made it to their grid slots with no issues and it was time to prepare for the five red lights to go out for the start of the grand prix. As the lights went out, Max Verstappen jumped Oscar Piastri off the start heading into turn 1 getting up to 2nd place and set his sights on Lando Norris. Jack Doohan exiting his Alpine after crashing out of the race on the opening lap. (Photo by F1) The chaos didn’t stop there as Alpine Driver Jack Doohan in his 3rd race for the French team found the barrier and ultimately crashed out just past turn five at the end of sector 1 on track, ending his race and bringing out the safety car. Doohan stated "I don't really understand what happened until I got back. Just looking at it, whether it was the white line, the inters not up to temperature, it just seemed as I upshifted to fourth I lost the car. During the safety car period, on lap 2, Carlos Sainz, in his new team with Williams this season, lost control in the final corner and crashed out of the race. Sainz radioed to his team saying, “I had a massive torque surge” which means all the brake bias goes to the rear of the car with no front braking ultimately leading to the cause of the spin for Carlos Sainz. Carlos Sainz' Williams Mercedes being Carried away after his spin in the final corner (Photo by © XPBimages) Due to Sainz’ accident in the final corner, the drivers followed the safety car through the pitlane until the end of the safety car period and the race resumed at the start of lap 8. On the safety restart, Yuki Tsunoda and Fernando Alonso were both noted from the FIA of a safety car infringement, but no action was taken as a result. On lap 12, DRS was enabled and although it seemed questionable, the FIA deemed the track dry enough. A couple of laps later, Lando Norris was told by his team of the risk of rain increasing, and Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli slightly gets his tires into the wet grass and spun around in sector 1 after just getting past the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg but keeps it out of the wall and continues. Just after that, Max Verstappen locks up his front left tire in turn 11, goes off the track, handing second place to Oscar Piastri. As the race went on the two McLaren’s of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri began to pull away from Max Verstappen and the rest of the field and began to have a race of their own. Piastri began to catch Norris. However, Piastri was told by the team to hold position behind Norris, which Piastri responded with “I’m faster, but okay”. As the race continued, the track began to dry quickly as it raised the question for teams and drivers when to pit for slick dry tires. Piastri began to lose a little bit of ground to Norris and was around three seconds behind the race leader until on lap 34, two-time champion Fernando Alonso spun around crashing out of the race bringing out the safety car. Fernando Alonso exiting his Aston Martin Mercedes after crashing out on lap 34. (Photo by Elizabeth Blackstock) With this safety car coming out, this caused everyone to make the decision to go onto the slick dry tires with a mix of drivers being on the medium compound tires and the hard compound tires. During the pit stops, there was a close call with Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoletto almost colliding with each other in the pitlane. The FIA deemed an unsafe release from the Sauber crew and the FIA gave Bortoletto a 5 second time penalty as a result. The race later resumed back to green flag conditions on lap 42, however despite all the drivers pitting for dry tires, teams quickly radioed to their drivers after the safety car period had ended, telling them there is another threat of heavy rain that would only last for a small period of time towards the end of the race meaning drivers would have to be extra cautious in the treacherous conditions. On lap 44 the rain arrived, and chaos had begun. In sector 3, the track was completely soaked from the heavy rain and both McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri slid off the track. Oscar Piastri stuck in the grass as the rain began to fall ©XPBimages Norris was able to keep the car pointed in the right direction meanwhile Piastri was the unlucky one in this situation and spun out in the penultimate corner and briefly getting stuck in the grass not only losing second place to Max Verstappen but also falling completely out of the points. Just after this incident Charles Leclerc also had a spin but kept going. Norris pitted immediately for the intermediate tires while Max Verstappen stayed out another lap. There were a mix of drivers going straight into the pitlane for the intermediate tires as the rain continued to fall and others staying out on dry tires. Max Verstappen being one of those few drivers who gambled on staying out on the slick tires ultimately had to come into the pitlane giving up the lead of the race due to the conditions of the track being too slippery for the dry slick tires. Just after that occurred, Max Verstappen’s teammate Liam Lawson who had also stayed out on dry tires as it was continuing to rain, spun in a very similar way to Isack Hadjar did and crashed out of the race in turn 1. While that happened, Gabriel Bortoletto had spun in the last sector of the track due to broken rear suspension causing him to also crash out of the race. These two separate incidents brought out the safety car once again. Liam Lawson into the barrier in turn 2 Photo by: James Sutton / Motorsport Images Gabriel Bortoletto spinning into the wall due to broken rear suspension. Photo by: James Sutton / Motorsport Images While the safety car was out on track once again, there were discussions about whether the track would dry up quick enough to pit for dry tires again or stay out on the intermediate tires. The safety car ended on lap 51, meaning it would be a 6-lap dash to the finish. On the restart, Charles Leclerc was able to get by his new teammate Lewis Hamilton for the ninth position, and shortly after passed Pierre Gasly after Gasly went wide into turn 1 and lost positions to Leclerc and Hamilton. At the end of lap 54, the FIA decided to enable DRS once again as it began to quickly dry up on track and the victory of the race was decided between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. Even though Verstappen got close to Norris with the help of DRS, it was not enough to dethrone Lando Norris as Norris took the checkered flag to claim his fifth career victory with Verstappen finishing just behind him in second followed by George Russell in the third position to complete the podium. In the 4th position was Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, becoming the second youngest points scorer in Formula 1 at 18 years 6 months and 19 days old behind Max Verstappen. Behind him was Alex Albon in the 5th position followed by Lance Stroll in 6th, Nico Hulkenberg in 7th scoring Sauber’s best result since 2022, Charles Leclerc in 8th, Oscar Piastri who had spun earlier in the race and recovered to 9th after completing a last lap pass on Lewis Hamilton with Hamilton finishing in the final points paying position in 10th. Just before the race had ended, Antonelli, who crossed the line in 4th, was given a 5 second time penalty for an unsafe release in the pitlane earlier in the race which dropped him to 5th position behind Alex Albon but later had that 5 second time penalty removed meaning he gets to keep 4th place. Lando Norris leading the Australian Grand Prix ahead of reigning F1 Champion Max Verstappen. (Photo by Scott Barbour/The Associated Press) With Norris winning the season opener, this means that McLaren lead the driver standings for the first time in 13 years since 2012 at the Canadian Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton. It also means that Max Verstappen’s record of leading the drivers championship comes to an end at an astounding 1,029 days in a row.