PressBox, Author at NXTbets Inc

August 25, 2026

Norris nears new McLaren deal as talks move toward 2027

Lando Norris is reportedly close to agreeing a new McLaren contract, with talks said to have been underway since June and a proposed deal expected to begin in the 2027 Formula 1 season. The package would reportedly pay him about €60 million, or £51 million, a year, which would make him the third-highest paid driver on the grid behind Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

Norris has also revived his season with back-to-back wins from pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix and the Dutch Grand Prix. At Zandvoort, Max Verstappen’s first-lap crash led to a restart, Kimi Antonelli briefly reclaimed the lead, and Norris later passed him on track before pulling clear for his 13th career victory.

Norris said he is performing better on and off the track this season than he did during his title-winning campaign, but he does not think McLaren yet has a complete car to fight for the Formula 1 title. He said the car is trickier to drive this year, that McLaren is strong in high-speed corners but loses too much time in slow-speed sections, and that upgrades have mattered more this season under the new aerodynamic and power unit regulations. After 12 rounds, Norris was fourth in the standings, 83 points behind Antonelli, who extended his championship lead at the Dutch Grand Prix and led George Russell and Lewis Hamilton by 59 points.
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August 25, 2026

NASCAR returns to Naval Base Coronado for 2027 street race

NASCAR will return to Naval Base Coronado in 2027 for a second straight year after its sold-out debut, with the sport again using the military installation for a street race and laying the groundwork for a rotating base-to-base concept starting in 2028. NASCAR said future military-base events would move to another U.S. installation after Coronado, and organizers said the event has drawn support through the racing, fan response and its partnership with the U.S. Navy and the San Diego community.

The 2027 NASCAR San Diego Weekend presented by Anduril is scheduled for July 30 through Aug. 1 at Naval Air Station North Island on the 3.4-mile, 16-turn Qualcomm Circuit. The Cup Series race is set for Sunday, Aug. 1, and the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race is scheduled for Saturday, July 31. NASCAR said the weekend will again feature the same temporary street course used in 2026.

Navy Community Night will return on July 30 and offer free access for sailors and Coronado residents. Anduril and United Rentals are back as entitlement partners, while Pala Casino Spa Resort, Qualcomm and Red Bull will return as supporting partners. NASCAR also said it plans to improve fan amenities for 2027, especially food and beverage options, after complaints about the 2026 event, and the Craftsman Truck Series will be dropped from the program.
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August 25, 2026

Martín Returns Home to Aragón Leading Tight Title Fight

MotoGP returns to MotorLand Aragón with Aprilia and Jorge Martín carrying the momentum in a tight championship fight. Martín leads the standings with 240 points, 31 ahead of teammate Marco Bezzecchi on 209, while Aprilia’s factory RS-GP bikes sit at the top of the order after a strong Silverstone weekend. Martín took pole, won the sprint and finished on the podium in the British Grand Prix, and five riders are covered by 41 points with 370 points still available across the final 10 rounds and sprints, leaving open the chance the title could be decided at Valencia.

Aragón is Martín’s home Grand Prix, and his first race on an Aprilia at MotorLand. He said he wants to defend his lead and build on Silverstone in front of the Spanish fans. Bezzecchi arrives after a slight setback in his recovery from the collarbone injury he suffered in qualifying at the German Grand Prix, along with a knee injury and surgery after a crash at Sachsenring. He returned at Silverstone, finished third in both races and said the demands of that weekend affected his recovery, leaving him expecting to be less than 100% fit in Aragón.

Marc Márquez is fourth in the standings on 200 points, 40 behind Martín, with Ai Ogura third on 203. Raúl Fernández also moved into the title conversation after winning the British Grand Prix. Márquez has seven career wins at MotorLand Aragón and has taken pole, Sprint win, Grand Prix win and fastest lap in each of the last two weekends at the circuit.
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August 25, 2026

Coenen twins extend with KTM, set for AMA Supercross

Red Bull KTM has signed Belgian twin brothers Lucas Coenen and Sacha Coenen to multi-year extensions that will keep them with the factory team and send both riders full time to the AMA SuperMotocross World Championship in 2027. Lucas Coenen is set for the 450 class, including AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross before the SMX Playoffs, while Sacha Coenen will stay on a 250cc bike. KTM said the exact East and West schedule has not been decided, and Sacha’s 250SX supercross placement is still to be determined.

The move comes as both riders wrap up their FIM MXGP campaigns this year after continuing to win Grand Prix races in 2026. Lucas Coenen finished second in MXGP in 2025 as a rookie and became the youngest-ever winner of a premier class Grand Prix. Sacha Coenen has won at least one Grand Prix in each of the past three seasons.

The brothers have already made brief appearances in the U.S., including a successful AMA Pro National wildcard ride in Colorado and Pro Motocross outings at Thunder Valley and Southwick this summer. Lucas Coenen finished second in the 450 class at Thunder Valley before crashing at Southwick, while Sacha Coenen finished fourth at Thunder Valley and won a moto at Southwick despite a broken collarbone. KTM offroad racing director Robert Jonas and the riders said the move gives them a chance to pursue new goals while they still have Grand Prix races left.
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August 25, 2026

MotoGP elevates Carlos Ezpeleta amid regulatory overhaul

MotoGP Group promoted Carlos Ezpeleta to deputy CEO in a senior management reshuffle, keeping Carmelo Ezpeleta in place as chief executive as the championship prepares for a major regulatory reset and a new phase under Liberty Media ownership. Carlos Ezpeleta has spent more than a decade in the organization and had most recently served as chief commercial officer, though Liberty Media also described him as having come from the sporting director role. MotoGP has not yet named his replacement.

Carmelo Ezpeleta and Liberty Media CEO Derek Chang said Carlos Ezpeleta has played a key role in MotoGP’s growth and is well suited to help lead the series into its next chapter. Carmelo Ezpeleta said his son played “a fundamental role” in MotoGP’s expansion, while Carlos Ezpeleta said he was honored by the promotion and hoped to help the championship reach new audiences and build opportunities with Liberty Media and the wider racing community. Liberty Media bought MotoGP Group for about €4.2 billion in 2024 and has been restructuring its promotion and marketing operations to raise the sport’s profile, especially in the United States.

The management change comes ahead of what MotoGP called its biggest regulation overhaul since 2002. The new rules will introduce 850cc engines, tighter limits on aerodynamic parts and bans on ride-height devices and holeshot devices. MotoGP Group said the appointment is part of a broader effort to strengthen its leadership team, with more additions expected later.
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August 25, 2026

Antonelli to start Monza from back after Mercedes penalty

Kimi Antonelli will start from the back of the grid at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza after Mercedes confirmed a full power unit change at his home race. Toto Wolff said the team’s calculations showed Monza was the best place to serve the penalty on performance and strategy grounds, even if it was awkward to do so in front of a home crowd. The new engine pushes Antonelli beyond his seasonal allowance of four power units, and Wolff said the drop would likely exceed 10 places.

Mercedes made the call after power unit-related retirements in Barcelona and Silverstone, with Antonelli already at the limit for his V6 and exhaust system. The team had expected both Antonelli and George Russell to run into component limits in the second half of the season, and Russell had no room left for a combustion engine or turbocharger. Mercedes has not yet decided where Russell will take his own penalty, though Baku has been mentioned as a possible option.

Wolff said Mercedes is focused on the championship rather than the optics of the penalty. Antonelli enters Monza as the 2026 points leader with 242 points, six wins and six pole positions, and he was 59 points ahead of Russell after finishing second at the Dutch Grand Prix. Antonelli also turns 20 on August 25 and is set to race in Formula 1 as a 20-year-old for the first time.
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August 25, 2026

FIA Condemns Abuse of Dutch GP Stewards After Penalties

The FIA condemned online abuse aimed at Formula 1 race stewards after the Dutch Grand Prix, saying harassment and disrespect have no place in the sport. The governing body said disagreement with stewarding decisions must never justify threats or personal attacks, and pointed to its United Against Online Abuse coalition, which it created in 2023 after similar abuse following the United States Grand Prix.

The backlash followed drive-through penalties handed to Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad for overtaking under double yellow flags after Max Verstappen’s heavy crash at Zandvoort. The stewards said both drivers committed clear infringements, but also cited debris on the track as a mitigating factor when they opted against an even larger penalty. Colapinto later received a second penalty for failing to slow for yellow flags, and he called the sanctions extremely harsh in difficult wet conditions.

The dispute widened after Colapinto’s sponsor, Mercado Libre, criticized the stewards on social media and accused them of damaging Formula 1’s integrity. That reaction drew abusive threats toward the officials and criticism of Alpine for not backing Colapinto strongly enough. Alpine later said it trusted the FIA and acknowledged the penalties were harsh but consistent with the rules, while the FIA said it was exploring legal options in response to the abuse.
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August 25, 2026

Vinales misses Aragon as Tech3 recalls Espargaro

Maverick Vinales will miss the Aragon MotoGP round as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury, with Tech3 KTM again calling on Pol Espargaro as his replacement. Tech3 said the decision to sideline Vinales was made jointly by the rider, KTM and the team, and team manager Nicolas Goyon said the priority was to give him the time he needs to recover properly.

Vinales has not raced since MotoGP returned from the summer break and has been dealing with the lingering shoulder problem since a crash at Sachsenring in 2025. Summer testing also found a small tear in the infraspinatus muscle. Tech3 said there was no definite return date, although it is targeting the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano on Sept. 11-13, and Sky Italia reported that Vinales is trying conservative therapy rather than surgery, which would sideline him for the rest of the season.

Espargaro stepped in for Vinales at Aragon after also replacing him at the British Grand Prix, where he finished 13th. He said a return at Aragon should feel better as he regained confidence. Vinales’ long-term future in MotoGP remains uncertain, with Tech3 and Vinales already set to part ways after 2026 and his prospects for 2027 still unsettled.
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August 25, 2026

Netflix renews Drive to Survive for 2026 F1 season

Netflix has confirmed that Formula 1: Drive to Survive will return for a ninth season, with the new installment set to cover the 2026 Formula 1 campaign. The company has not announced a release date, though one report said the season is expected in early 2027, and filming will continue through the 2026 championship.

The upcoming season is expected to follow Kimi Antonelli becoming the youngest championship leader in Formula 1 history, along with the shifting competitive order as development battles unfold among Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren. Netflix said fans can expect more Formula 1 action in the second half of the 2026 season.

Drive to Survive debuted in 2019 and has helped bring millions of viewers to Formula 1 by taking audiences behind the scenes with drivers, teams and paddock life. Box to Box Films will again produce the series, and executive producers James Gay-Rees and Paul Martin said they are excited to make another season and go “deeper than ever before” into the sport’s hidden spaces. The renewal extends the show to 78 episodes across eight seasons, and the most recent season, released on February 27, drew millions of viewing hours globally.
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