Lessons from the Italian Grand Prix

Lessons from the Italian Grand Prix

At Monza, Max Verstappen finally won again after months, thanks to Red Bull’s faster car upgrades. McLaren caused drama when pit stops let Oscar Piastri pass Lando Norris, sparking talk about fair treatment. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said Kimi Antonelli’s race was “underwhelming” after mistakes and penalties. Ferrari, Williams, Aston Martin, and Sauber all had mixed weekends beyond Verstappen’s win.

Click here to read the full article by Scott Mitchell-Malm (www.the-race.com)

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How Hamlin is counting down to retirement

Denny Hamlin said he plans to stop in about two more seasons because he wants to leave while still strong. He won at Gateway, his fifth win this year, and gained more playoff points for the push to the final four. Kyle Larson and Chase Briscoe moved on in the playoffs, but Alex Bowman, Josh Berry, Shane van Gisbergen, and Austin Dillon are now below the cutline. Hamlin’s win was also the 200th Cup Series victory for Toyota, equal with Kyle Busch for the most wins with the brand.

Click here to read the full article by Matt Weaver (www.motorsport.com)

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How Stroll’s 16s pit stop ruined his race

Lance Stroll’s Italian Grand Prix was ruined by a pit stop that took over 16 seconds. The team first had trouble with the front-left wheel, and then the pit exit lights didn’t give him a green signal. Stroll had to wait while Alpine worked on Pierre Gasly’s car before his crew told him to go. After the race, Aston Martin said the problem probably cost him a finish around 12th place.

Click here to read the full article by Keith Collantine (www.racefans.net)

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Verstappen’s victory could end Red Bull’s concerns

Max Verstappen ended his eight-race winless run at Monza, and believes Red Bull’s car has improved. The new floor upgrade helped him take pole, set the fastest lap in F1 history, and win the quickest race ever. He finished 19.2 seconds ahead of Lando Norris but is still 94 points behind Oscar Piastri in the standings. Verstappen felt the car was better than expected, and Red Bull now has hope for the last eight races.

Click here to read the full article by Nick Golding (racingnews365.com)

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IndyCar hits 17-Year viewership high on Fox

IndyCar’s first season on Fox had 1.36 million viewers on average, the best in 17 years and 27% higher than last year. The Indy 500 got 7.01 million viewers, but without it the average was only 832,000, a little lower than NBC’s 2024 numbers. The last race in Nashville had 1.14 million viewers, 136% more than the year before. Fox, now also part-owner of IndyCar, hopes to use the big Indy 500 success to grow viewers all season.

Click here to read the full article by Cian Brittle (www.blackbookmotorsport.com)