How Norris Dominated Austria Qualifying

How Norris dominated Austria qualifying

Lando Norris dominated qualifying at the Austrian Grand Prix, taking pole position by half a second over Charles Leclerc, while teammate Oscar Piastri missed out on a front-row lockout due to a yellow flag. McLaren boss Andrea Stella said three key factors led to Norris’s dominant display: the track suiting their car, Norris’s strong form in Austria, and new upgrades to the car’s aerodynamics and suspension. Stella praised the team’s hard work on the updates but warned that qualifying speed doesn’t guarantee race success.

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

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NASCAR’s “win and in” rule could soon fall apart

The idea that a single race win guarantees a NASCAR Cup Series playoff spot, the so-called "win and in" myth, is close to being disproven. With 11 different winners already in the first 17 races of the 2025 season and only 16 playoff spots available, more than four race winners could be left out if new winners continue to emerge. The playoff spots go first to the regular season champion, then to multi-race winners, and finally to single-race winners based on points standings. If the season ends with over 16 winners, even drivers with a win, like Shane van Gisbergen, who's 31st in points, could miss the cut, proving that wins alone don't guarantee a playoff berth.

Click here to read the full article by Asher Fair (beyondtheflag.com)

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Vasseur leaves suddenly before Austrian GP 

Fred Vasseur left the Austrian Grand Prix and returned home for personal reasons, so Jerome d’Ambrosio is now leading Ferrari for the weekend. Ferrari confirmed the news in a short statement but didn’t give any more details about why Vasseur left. This comes at a time when Vasseur is facing pressure from the Italian media over staff changes, including a recent hire from Mercedes. His contract is also said to end this season, so now all eyes are on d’Ambrosio to help Ferrari turn a good qualifying into strong race results.

Click here to read the full article by Jon Smith (total-motorsport.com)

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From Paddock Club to F1 Academy boss

Imagine starting your motorsport journey in Formula 1 and eventually leading the commercial growth of F1 Academy. That’s exactly what Karin Fink did. From working as a waitress in the Paddock Club to climbing the ranks through hospitality, promoter, and sponsor-side roles, she went on to head global motorsport marketing and events for Aston Martin. So when Formula 1 launched the all-female F1 Academy series, her track record made her the obvious choice to lead its commercial operations. Click here to watch the video.

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Hamilton and Leclerc tame Ferrari’s 1,200hp monster

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc recently got behind the wheel of Ferrari’s monstrous new F80, and let’s just say it left them breathless. Hamilton called it “the fastest road car I’ve ever been in,” stunned by how violently quick and razor-sharp it felt on the track, while Leclerc joked that he almost got a headache from the experience.