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June 12, 2026

Russell tops FP1; Piastri close as Verstappen cites handling woes

George Russell set the pace in opening practice at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, posting a 1:16.363 to lead FP1 for Mercedes. He edged McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by 0.203 seconds, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc third, about half a second off the pace. Max Verstappen was listed among the top runners, generally reported fourth though one account placed him lower on the timesheet.

The session saw heavy participation from junior and reserve drivers under Formula 1’s young-driver rules, with teams handing cars to six to seven rookies and substitutes. McLaren’s Leonardo Fornaroli was the quickest of the newcomers in fifth, Audi’s Paul Aron was sixth, and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson also featured near the front. Dino Beganovic took Lewis Hamilton’s car and was eighth while Arvid Lindblad and Franco Colapinto completed the top 10 in various reports. Cadillac’s Colton Herta made his FP1 debut and finished 21st. Several regulars, including Kimi Antonelli, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris, did not run in FP1.

Teams used the hour-long session both to assess pace and to test updates, with Ferrari running a major aerodynamic upgrade during Leclerc’s outing. The day also produced a string of technical problems and off-track moments. Williams’ Carlos Sainz stalled or was stranded in the pit lane and Luke Browning did not record a lap after an electrical or wiring loom issue on Alex Albon’s car. Piastri reported brake vibrations, Pierre Gasly said something had broken and experienced braking or possible front-suspension trouble, and Gabriel Bortoleto ran into the gravel at Turn 8, triggering yellow flags. There were several kerb-related excursions at Turn 8 for Colton Herta, Gasly and Beganovic, and one report said Verstappen suffered handling and tyre-degradation issues during the session.
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June 12, 2026

Justin Grant snaps 7-year Week drought, takes USAC points lead

Justin Grant snapped a seven-year Indiana Midget Week winless streak Thursday, winning the 30-lap USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget feature at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville and took the USAC National Midget points lead.

The victory was his first Week feature win since Gas City in 2019 — the longest gap between Week victories in the event’s 22-year history — and moved him closer to a first National Midget title and a USAC Triple Crown. It was his 22nd career USAC National Midget win, tying him for 28th on the all-time list, and his 98th national victory across USAC’s three divisions, two wins short of 100.

Grant started on the pole and led the opening three laps before Logan Seavey ran up front from laps 4-19. Grant regained the lead with 11 laps remaining, survived late restarts and finished 1.684 seconds ahead. Cannon McIntosh charged from ninth to finish second, passing Seavey on the final lap and earning hard-charger honors for gaining seven positions. Seavey was third, Karter Sarff fourth and Jacob Denney fifth.

The race marked the 100th Indiana Midget Week event. Grant extended his USAC National Midget points lead to 330 points; Jacob Denney and Jakeb Boxell were tied for second at 327. Sarff remained the Indiana Midget Week points leader with 207 points; he had led the standings 207-201 after the first three events.
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June 11, 2026

Lotte van Drunen enters Thunder Valley, WMX calls it milestone

Lotte van Drunen, 18 and the reigning back-to-back FIM Women’s Motocross World Champion, is set to enter the Thunder Valley round of the 2026 Women’s Motocross Championship Powered by Synchrony at the Toyota Thunder Valley National Presented by American Petroleum Institute in Lakewood, Colorado. WMX Director Christina Denney called the commitment “a milestone for the series.” Organizers expect her presence to affect race dynamics and boost media attention.

van Drunen’s entry will place a two-time world champion directly into competition with regular WMX contenders and shift pre-race storylines toward an international showdown. Lachlan Turner (Altus Motorsports bLU cRU Yamaha) opened the season with 1-1 wins at Hangtown and is pursuing a third straight WMX crown, creating the prospect of a direct matchup. The Thunder Valley field also includes Charli Cannon (Quad Lock Honda), Mikayla Nielsen (SLR Honda), multi-time champion Jordan Jarvis and U.S.-debuting Taylah McCutcheon (Partzilla Blaster Power PRMX Kawasaki). Six athletes from four countries outside the U.S. are entered, a mix that should amplify interest in the round.

The second round is scheduled for June 12–13. WMX will run qualifying and the first 12 Minutes plus 1 Lap moto on Friday, June 12, with warm-up and the second moto on Saturday, June 13. The second moto will air live exclusively on Peacock at 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET.

Thunder Valley sits above 6,000 feet and is known for its uphill start, elevation changes, big jumps and rut-lined corners. Organizers say those track characteristics should influence bike setup and rider strategy as the international contingent joins the early-season title chase.
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June 11, 2026

Pirelli to supply F1, F2, F3 and F1 Academy through 2028

Pirelli will remain Formula 1’s exclusive tyre supplier through the end of the 2028 season after a one-year extension to its existing contract. Reports differ on whether Pirelli or the FIA/Formula One Group exercised the one-year option built into the 2023 agreement that had been due to run to the end of 2027. The extension also preserves Pirelli’s exclusive supply role for the FIA single-seater ladder—Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy—and extends the uninterrupted partnership that began in 2011 to an 18-year run through 2028.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said the renewal provides stability and reflects Pirelli’s technical performance, innovation and safety priorities. Pirelli Executive Vice Chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera said the deal is important to keep F1 as a laboratory for tyre research and development. The FIA and the Formula One Group framed the agreement as reinforcing their commercial and technical partnership with Pirelli.

The extension gives teams and organisers continuity as they adapt to the 2026 regulation overhaul; Pirelli developed its latest compounds for those rules, which included a slight tyre-width reduction drivers have had to adjust to. At the time of the announcement, Pirelli’s wet tyres had not yet been used in competition in 2026.

Pirelli first returned as F1’s sole supplier in 2011, has supplied Grand Prix racing as far back as 1950, and has supplied 500 Grands Prix; the company reported tyres covering 334,942 kilometres over a full race distance. The announcement was presented as a business decision to secure supply continuity and recognise Pirelli’s ongoing technical contributions to the sport.
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June 11, 2026

Barcelona GP rotation makes 2026 outing potentially Alonso’s last

Fernando Alonso said the Barcelona‑Catalunya Grand Prix could “probably” be his last visit to the circuit as he weighs his F1 future and a possible retirement. The 44‑year‑old, whose Aston Martin contract expires at the end of the season, will decide whether to continue racing after the summer. He called the weekend his 23rd Spanish Grand Prix, said he is at peace with his career and achievements, and noted he became a father earlier this year.

Alonso highlighted that the Catalunya race will rotate with Spa‑Francorchamps next season, so Barcelona is not on the 2027 calendar and is scheduled to return in 2028, with further rotation dates in 2030 and 2032. He said that possibility made the Barcelona weekend emotionally significant and that he would try to enjoy the event if it proves to be his final visit.

Alonso blamed Aston Martin’s lack of competitiveness this season rather than retirement itself and acknowledged he is not at peak pace. The team have struggled this season and scored their first point at Monaco. He said he does not expect to be fully competitive in qualifying at Barcelona, may limit his qualifying running to manage risk and expectations, and added that he considers every race this season could potentially be his last.
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June 11, 2026

Bobby Pierce extends title lead with consecutive Outlaws wins

Bobby Pierce has reinforced his dominance in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series with back-to-back big wins: the Dream at Eldora, where he charged from 13th to take the lead from Brandon Sheppard with 42 laps remaining and claim a six-figure prize, and the Shale Crescent Dirt Cup at Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio, where he took the lead from Josh Rice on lap 28 of the 28-lap feature and held on to the checkered flag for a $20,000 payday. Pierce credited his father and crew chief, Bob Pierce, and the family-run team for finally ending a years-long struggle at the Dream.

The streak builds on a string of marquee accomplishments: he built on his World 100 victory in 2024 and won the Dirt Track World Championship in consecutive years (2024 and 2025). He is a two-time World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion, the fourth-winningest driver in series history, and has won four of his last six Eldora crown-jewel starts.

Pierce currently holds a nine-point lead in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series standings as he pursues a third series title and will compete next at the reconfigured West Virginia Motor Speedway on June 12-13. The Shale Crescent Dirt Cup also doubled as a points showdown between the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and the Lucas Late Model Dirt Series; Team Lucas prevailed, 117-84. At Muskingum County, Josh Rice finished second, Nick Hoffman third, Hudson O’Neal fourth and Tyler Erb fifth. Hoffman — who finished third at the Dream and is ranked No. 2 in the latest DirtonDirt Top 25 — is closing in on double-digit wins this season, providing a continuing challenge to Pierce’s march toward another title.
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June 11, 2026

Grandview Offers $6,000 USAC Non-Wing, $3,000 358 Mods June 16

Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pennsylvania announced a Levan Machine & Truck Equipment Thunder on the Hill double-header for Tuesday, June 16. The card is headlined by the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Series/Eastern Storm Jesse Hockett Classic featuring USAC Non‑Wing Sprints and a 358 Modifieds division. Presented by Levan Machine & Truck Equipment and Alpine Building Supply, with USAC sanctioning, the program includes a 40-lap non‑wing USAC Sprint feature paying $6,000 to the winner and a 30-lap 358 Modifieds feature paying $3,000 (with a possible $2,000 Alpine Building Supply bonus). Gates open at 5:00 p.m.; heat-race qualifying and the program are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Country artist Billy McGowan has been added to the evening lineup. Advance tickets for the USAC program may be ordered by calling 443-513-4456.

The weekend before, Grandview will run a two-night card on Friday, June 12 and Saturday, June 13. Friday’s program will feature an Outlaw Racing Series Enduro, Vintage cars and Xcel 600 Modifieds; pit gates open at 2:00 p.m. and racing begins at 7:00 p.m. Friday grandstand admission is $10, children 12 and under are free, and pit admission is $35. Saturday’s NASCAR Local Racing Series card will spotlight the T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment Modifieds and the Sportsman division; pit gates open at 4:00 p.m., grandstand gates at 5:30 p.m., warm-ups at 6:15 p.m. and the first race is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. A pre-race Meet & Greet on Saturday from 5:00–6:00 p.m. will feature Joe and Mike Toth and Jim Housworth. Astound TV Network will tape Saturday’s program for tape-delayed broadcast, with heats set to air Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and features scheduled to air Friday at 7:00 p.m.
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June 11, 2026

Karter Sarff Wins First USAC Midget Feature at Paragon

Karter Sarff captured his first USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget feature at Paragon Speedway during round two of Indiana Midget Week. He started sixth, slipped past Jakeb Boxell on lap 14 and led the final 17 laps to win the 30-lap feature by 2.274 seconds. Sarff, from Mason City, Illinois and nicknamed “The Shark,” drove the Paul May Motorsports (Peffley & Hinshaw Wrecker Service/Factory 71/Ripper/Speedway Toyota) entry. After the race he said, “It doesn’t even feel real,” and publicly thanked Paul May and his team.

Sarff had posted the LearnLab fast qualifying time of 15.383 seconds, his fourth consecutive fastest qualifier in Indiana Midget Week events, and collected the K&N Clean Air Award after leading 17 laps. He negotiated heavy lapped traffic while extending his lead in the closing stages.

The race featured early incidents: Zach Wigal led the opening lap before slipping off on lap 2, and Kyle Jones flipped on lap 4, bringing out the lone red flag; Jones was still listed as running after the incident. The top five finished Sarff, Jakeb Boxell, Cannon McIntosh, Kale Drake and Jacob Denney, with Denney earning Rod End Supply Hard Charger honors after rallying from 19th to fifth.

Boxell finished runner-up, retained the USAC national points lead (277) and led Indiana Midget Week 139–135 over Sarff after Paragon. Sarff’s victory was the first driver since Gavin Miller in 2023 to record a first USAC feature during Indiana Midget Week, the first first-time USAC National Midget victory at Paragon Speedway since John Andretti in 1985, and marked car owner Paul May’s first USAC National Midget win. Gavin Miller set a new track record in the K1 RaceGear first heat with a time of 2:07.379.
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June 11, 2026

Hamilton eases retirement doubts after Monaco podium, vows to race on

Lewis Hamilton has staged a clear resurgence at Ferrari. He said he “couldn’t be closer” to a first win for the team after finishing second at the Monaco Grand Prix. It was his third podium this season, after China and Canada. The 41-year-old, seven-time champion has 90 points so far this season — his best start since 2021 — and the recent podiums eased short-term retirement doubts after a podium-less 2025. He has 105 career wins and said he intends to continue racing for years to come.

Hamilton credited Ferrari principal Fred Vasseur, a restructured engineering group and new race engineer Carlo Santi for improved reliability and performance, and said Ferrari are edging closer to victory. He acknowledged Mercedes still lead on downforce and traction; they remain unbeaten so far and are expected to benefit from ADUO rulings this season.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, 19, has won the last five races and leads the Drivers’ standings by 66 points over Hamilton. Hamilton sits two points clear of George Russell, who failed to score at Monaco, and leads teammate Charles Leclerc by 15 points after Leclerc’s early retirement in Monaco. Pundit Davide Valsecchi said Hamilton has changed since 2025, calling the turnaround both personal and technical.
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