McLaren faces tough calls at Zandvoort

McLaren faces tough calls at Zandvoort

McLaren’s policy of letting Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri race their own way will be tested at the Dutch Grand Prix after they locked out the front row. Zandvoort is hard to overtake on, and the race could be decided by tire choices, especially with Verstappen saving an extra set of soft tires. McLaren says the drivers can use different strategies, but the car in front always gets priority, and they cannot take risks that could hurt the team. After Hungary, both drivers now accept that while they want to win, the team’s interests must come first.

Click here to read the full article by Jon Noble (the-race.com)

‍

Southern 500 set for tough playoff opener

Charles Denike, Bubba Wallace’s crew chief, says the Southern 500 is one of the hardest races with worn tires, many pit stops, and drivers often hitting the wall. Denny Hamlin starts first, but Chase Briscoe, Tyler Reddick, Kyle Larson, and William Byron are strong challengers. This race often brings mistakes, with crashes and car problems pushing playoff drivers far down the order. Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman start from the back, while non-playoff drivers like Justin Haley, Chris Buescher, and Erik Jones could surprise.

Click here to read the full article by Dustin Long (nbcsports.com)

‍

Hamilton targets comeback from seventh on grid

Lewis Hamilton said his season felt “nightmarish” before the summer break, but making Q3 at Zandvoort gave him confidence. He will start seventh, right behind Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, after reaching the final part of qualifying for the first time since Silverstone. Hamilton explained he did better by following his own setup instead of copying Leclerc, which made him feel calmer and more consistent. For the race, he thinks Ferrari should try different strategies to challenge McLaren, especially if rain comes.

Click here to read the full article by Ben Vinel & Stuart Codling (motorsport.com)

‍

Herta’s F1 hopes rest on Super License points

Colton Herta has been linked with Formula 1 for a long time, but he still doesn’t have enough Super License points. He drives the No. 26 car for Andretti Global in IndyCar and won’t get the points he needs in 2025. Reports suggest Herta could switch to Formula 2 in 2026 to gain enough points while Cadillac F1 continues its program with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. Herta is highly rated, but without the Super License points, he cannot yet compete in Formula 1.

Click here to read the full article by Austin Konenski (motorsportswire.usatoday.com)

Silverstone edges closer to WEC comeback

Silverstone has a better chance of returning to the World Endurance Championship after it was confirmed that any 2027 calendar expansion will include another European race. WEC boss Frederic Lequien said talks are happening with Silverstone, but he would not say it is the top choice yet. The track is working again with WEC organisers and will host the European Le Mans Series in September, the first big endurance race in the UK since 2020. Silverstone boss Stuart Pringle pointed to strong ticket sales and the track’s long history with Le Mans as proof that UK fans want endurance racing back.

Click here to read the full article by Gary Watkins (autosport.com)