- F1 aligns on 2026 rules while McLaren denies Verstappen rumours.
- Honeycutt secures maiden NASCAR Truck win in Watkins Glen thriller.
- Rain delays IndyCar qualifying as Zarco leads MotoGP Le Mans practice.
Even with an F1-free weekend, there is still a weekend full of expected thrills and spills ahead. And F1 is F1 – even with no racing, the talking points never cease.
This is what the last 24 hours have brought us…
Formula 1: Regulatory resets and paddock politics
While the on-track action has briefly paused following the Miami weekend, the off-track manoeuvrings persist. The primary focus on Friday shifted toward the long-term health of the sport and the knock-on effect of some high-profile staff movements.
- 2026 rules evolution: In an online meeting on Friday, the FIA, F1 Management, and team principals agreed in principle to “further evolutionary changes” to the 2026 technical regs. This includes a 50kW increase in Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) power, balanced by a 50kW reduction in Energy Recovery System (ERS) deployment to address driver concerns around energy management on the straights.
- GP to McLaren fallout: The after-shock from McLaren’s acquisition of Gianpiero Lambiase (Max Verstappen’s race engineer) rumbles on. McLaren’s Zak Brown addressed the ‘Verstappen to McLaren’ rumours yesterday, clarifying again that his current focus remains entirely on Norris and Piastri.
- Safety refinements: Following a successful trial in Miami, the FIA confirmed they are further investigating start-safety revisions and improved wet-weather measures. These are expected to be formalised by the World Motor Sport Council in the coming weeks.
NASCAR: Honeycutt survives Glen Chaos
Watkins Glen has already delivered its first major headline of the weekend via the Truck Series.
- First-time winner: Kaden Honeycutt secured his first career Truck Series victory on Friday night in the Bully Hill Vineyards 176. In a tricky race, Honeycutt recovered from an early penalty to win in an overtime thriller.
- The chasing pack: He successfully held off some road-course heavyweights, including Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen. It was a statement win for the 22-year-old, which proved he can handle the high-pressure environment of a green-white-chequered finish after recent struggles in Texas.
IndyCar: A compressed Saturday at IMS
Weather has affected the schedule of the Sonsio Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, setting up what is now a frantic Super Saturday.
- Rain delay: Persistent rain on Friday forced the postponement of qualifying. Instead of Friday evening, the battle for P1 will now take place today at 3:30 PM BST (10:30 AM ET).
- Warm-up cancelled: To accommodate the rescheduled qualifying, the warm-up session has been cancelled. This leaves teams with no track time between the high-speed qualifying runs and the green flag for the race.
- Palou pace: Before the rain, Alex Palou asserted his dominance by topping both Friday practice sessions. With the schedule now compressed, the field has less time to find an answer for the four-time champion’s road-course form.
MotoGP: Local hero vs Q1 trap
MotoGP has arrived at Le Mans for the French Grand Prix, and Friday’s practice sessions turned the championship narrative on its head.
- Zarco homecoming: Frenchman Johann Zarco sent the home crowd into a frenzy by topping Friday Practice with a 1:29.907. The LCR Honda rider showed rare pace for the manufacturer, edging out Fabio Di Giannantonio.
- Marquez into Q1: In a big upset, Marc Marquez failed to secure a top-10 spot, finishing 13th. This sends him into the ‘group of death’ Q1 session on Saturday, which could compromise his Sunday race prospects.
- Razor-thin margins: The competitiveness of the field remains at an all-time high, with the top 10 riders separated by a staggering 0.289 seconds. With Francesco Bagnaia also suffering a late crash, the stage is set for a chaotic Sprint Saturday.
Other motorsport snippets
- WEC Spa: The 6 Hours of Spa gets underway today. Manthey Racing remains the team to beat in LMGT3, though they face stiff competition as the championship prepares for the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans next month.
- WRC Rally Portugal: Seven-time event winner Sebastien Ogier holds a slender 3.7s lead over Thierry Neuville going into Saturday. M-Sport’s Adrien Fourmaux suffered a heartbreaking afternoon yesterday after multiple punctures dropped him out of the lead.
- Formula E tech: Ahead of the upcoming Monaco E-Prix, ABB has unveiled new DC-DC converter technology in the GENBETA prototype, aimed at slashing 0–100 km/h times to under 1.9 seconds.
- North West 200: The legendary road racing event in Northern Ireland concludes its main race day today. The paddock remains in a sombre mood following a fatal accident during Thursday’s Superbike qualifying.
- Moto3 Le Mans: Spain’s Adrian Fernandez topped Saturday morning’s FP2, signalling a strong weekend for Leopard Racing in the junior class.
