Perez and Bottas tipped for Cadillac’s 2026 debut

Perez and Bottas tipped for Cadillac’s 2026 debut

Formula 1 journalists Lawrence Barretto and James Hinchliffe have named Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas as the top contenders for Cadillac’s driver line-up when the team joins the grid in 2026. Perez, who left Red Bull in 2024, wants to return to F1 for the right project and is valued for his teamwork, tire management, and car development skills. Bottas, who is now Mercedes’ reserve driver, has extensive experience from racing with Williams, Mercedes, and Alfa Romeo and is familiar with both Mercedes and Ferrari engines. Mick Schumacher is also a possible choice, with Hinchliffe saying his reserve role and current WEC racing have helped him improve.

Click here to read the full article by Lydia Mee (motorsport.com)

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Connor Zilisch breaks collarbone celebrating Xfinity win

Connor Zilisch, the NASCAR Xfinity points leader, broke his collarbone after falling off his car while celebrating his sixth win of the season at Watkins Glen. He slipped on the window net while climbing onto his car’s roof and fell onto the concrete but remained awake and alert. Scans showed no head or neck injuries, but the collarbone break means he will miss races, including his planned Cup Series start at Watkins Glen. Zilisch is a top rookie and future star, but he hasn’t announced when he will return.

Click here to read the full article at bbc.com

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Gasly ready to sacrifice 2025 for 2026 wins

Pierre Gasly said he would trade Alpine’s poor 2025 season for a car that can win races in 2026. Alpine is last in the Constructors’ standings with 20 points, all scored by Gasly, and the A525 will not see any upgrades this year. He thinks new boss Steve Nielsen’s real impact will be in 2026, with the team already working on that car and planning to use Mercedes engines. Gasly said there’s not much to fight for this year, but it’s worth it if next year’s car can win races and get podiums.

Click here to read the full article by Jack Oliver Smith (motorsportweek.com)

Read more on Pierre Gasly's and Charles Leclerc's thoughts on the current season (Misha Husic)

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Rick Allen starts new role with Carolina Panthers

Rick Allen, former NBC NASCAR play-by-play announcer, is now the in-stadium entertainment PA announcer for the Carolina Panthers as the NFL preseason begins. His long NASCAR broadcasting career paused after NBC didn’t renew his contract at the end of 2024, a decision he learned about unexpectedly in early 2024. Since then, Allen has been spending time building custom wood furniture in the Carolinas and briefly returned to racing commentary in June 2025 for a CARS Tour event. Many NASCAR fans miss Allen’s voice, and while his future in race calling is uncertain, he’s open to returning if given the chance.

Click here to read the full article by Phillip Bupp (awfulannouncing.com)

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Ranking the drivers halfway through the season

The Race created a mid-season ranking by averaging every F1 driver’s performance across each grand prix, considering speed, mistakes, execution, and performance against their teammates. Franco Colapinto ranked lowest with an average of 17.125, while Oscar Piastri led with 4.0, showing the biggest gap between the best and worst performers. Drivers like George Russell and Alex Albon scored highly through consistent results, while others, such as Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, mixed standout wins with costly errors. The ranking shows who has made the most of their chances and who has struggled this season.

Click here to read the full article by Edd Straw (the-race.com)