The data behind Norris’s tough Dutch GP weekend

The data behind Norris’s tough Dutch GP weekend

Lando Norris’s Dutch Grand Prix ended badly when a mechanical problem forced him to retire, and he scored no points. Before his DNF, his main fight was with teammate Oscar Piastri, but both had the same pace after the Safety Cars, which left no room for strategy. Using soft tires late in the race would not have helped much, as Verstappen showed little speed on them, and Norris could have lost second place. The real lesson for Norris is the importance of qualifying, as clean air and track position remain decisive, and his DNF leaves him with a 34-point deficit in the title fight.

Click here to read the full article by Uros Radovanovic (planetf1.com)

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How fuel trouble cost Chastain a top ten finish

Ross Chastain was fast for most of the 500 miles at Darlington, but a fuel problem on his last stop forced him to slow down near the end. He fell from seventh to 11th as his team told him to save gas by lifting off the throttle and even cutting the engine in the turns. Chastain wanted to fight for tenth in the last laps, but his team said no, so he wouldn’t run out. He finished 11th and gained a 21-point buffer above the playoff cutline, much better than the single point he had before the race.

Click here to read the full article by Nick DeGroot (motorsport.com)

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Why did Antonelli end up with double penalties?

Andrea Kimi Antonelli began the Dutch Grand Prix from P11 after missing out in Q2 despite showing early pace in qualifying. During the race, he gained positions through pit stops and a safety car but later collided with Charles Leclerc at Turn 3, which ended the Ferrari driver’s race and gave Antonelli a puncture. Stewards said Antonelli was fully to blame and gave him a 10-second penalty. He also got another five-second penalty for going 0.3 km/h over the pit lane speed limit.

Click here to read the full article by Balazs Szabo (f1technical.net)

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Playoff hopes take a hit in the Southern 500

The Southern 500 at Darlington was tough for many playoff drivers, with early crashes, pit road mistakes, and bad luck ruining their races. Josh Berry crashed on the first lap and finished last, Alex Bowman had a long pit stop and ended up 31st, while Austin Dillon and Joey Logano also struggled and dropped below the cutline. Christopher Bell hit Carson Hocevar on pit road and finished 29th, and Ryan Blaney had several problems but stayed 22 points above the cutline. Chase Briscoe avoided the trouble, led more than 300 laps, and won his second straight Southern 500 to move to the next round.

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

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Fremantle to launch 2026 SailGP season

Fremantle will host the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix on 17–18 January 2026. The event will open the 2026 Rolex SailGP season, with 12 teams racing 50-foot catamarans that can go faster than 100km/h, right near the shore. Australia’s BONDS Flying Roos, led by Tom Slingsby and part-owned by Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, are the most successful team in SailGP history. With grandstands, beachside fan zones, and over 15,000 spectators expected, the spectacle promises to be a highlight of WA’s summer.

Click here to read the full article by Maddie Wallman (theurbanlist.com)