Is Verstappen closing the gap in the title race?

Is Verstappen closing the gap in the title race?

McLaren had a bad weekend in Baku, as Oscar Piastri crashed on the first lap and Lando Norris finished seventh, while Max Verstappen won again. Piastri is now 25 points ahead of Norris in the title fight, with Verstappen 69 points behind. McLaren boss Andrea Stella warned that Verstappen is still a real threat to the championship. With seven races left, Verstappen would need to gain about 10 points per race on Piastri, which is hard but possible if McLaren keeps struggling.

Click here to read the full article at bbc.com

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NASCAR unlikely to change playoff system

NASCAR is not expected to change its current playoff format, even though many drivers, including Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott, have criticized it. The system resets points after each round, which makes it hard for drivers who dominate the season to keep their advantage. Some have suggested switching to a full 36-race format, but reporters like Jeff Gluck say the financial value of the playoff branding makes that unlikely. Hamlin has voiced hope for a simpler system that rewards strong regular-season performances more fairly.

Click here to read the full article by Jarrod Castillo (the-express.com)

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IMSA Indy race honors children and families

Two major charity efforts were highlighted at Sunday’s TireRack.com “Battle on the Bricks” IMSA race in Indianapolis. The Resilient Racers program honored around 50 children battling cancer and serious illnesses by putting their names on race cars, sharing their stories online, and raising money for the Austin Hatcher Foundation and Camp Boggy Creek. Winward Racing supported the Heaven’s 27 Fund by placing the names of 27 girls who died in the Guadalupe River floods on its car, with donations helping scholarships, youth programs, and memorial projects chosen by each family. These initiatives turned the race into a tribute for children and a way to raise funds for healing and hope.

Click here to read the full article by Linda Mansfield (speedsport.com)

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Can rivals catch Palou in 2026?

Alex Palou won his fourth INDYCAR title in 2025, his third in a row, after taking eight wins and finishing far ahead in the points. The drivers behind him, Pato O’Ward, Scott Dixon, Kyle Kirkwood, and Christian Lundgaard, all believe they can challenge him next year. O’Ward, who finished second, said he will work harder than anyone else, while Dixon was surprised to place third, and Kirkwood admitted Palou keeps raising the standard. Lundgaard improved a lot in his first year with Arrow McLaren, and with Will Power moving to Andretti, Palou could face tougher competition in 2026. 

Click here to read the full article by Bob Pockrass (foxsports.com)

IMSA’s last six-hour at Indy delivers thrilling finish

Sunday’s TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks was the last six-hour IMSA race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway before the event becomes a 2-hour 40-minute sprint in 2026. Jack Aitken held off Ricky Taylor to give the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac a tense GTP victory, while TDS Racing won LMP2, Ford’s Mustang claimed GTD PRO, and Inception Racing’s Ferrari delivered a surprise GTD win from 15th on the grid. The race was filled with late drama, comebacks, and fuel-saving strategies that decided the outcome in the final minutes. Now, only Lexus has not won in 2025, and Petit Le Mans is its last chance to complete a full manufacturer sweep.

Click here to read the full article at speedsport.com