Auto Racing

Auto Racing

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix race in Singapore, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Formula 1 announces return to Africa with Grand Prix in Rwanda in early 2030s

Ignatius Ssuuna And James Ellingworth, The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: 9:22 AM CDT

KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — Formula 1 will return to Africa with a grand prix in Rwanda starting early next decade once a new track has been built southeast of the capital, F1 and the country’s president said Tuesday.

The announcement of a 10-year-deal to hold an African Grand Prix in Rwanda comes after a campaign by President Paul Kagame to bring F1 to the continent for the first time since 1993.

“This partnership is long overdue,” Kagame said at a launch event in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital. “But it is a success and a milestone for the entire continent, especially for the African fans. Ultimately, what we want is for the African Grand Prix to pave the way for other races to be hosted on the continent.”

Racing in Africa will fulfil a long-held ambition for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, the only Black driver in F1. The 41-year-old British driver has said he has been “fighting in the background” for years to have a race in Africa.

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Auto Racing

Chase Briscoe celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Back-to-back wins vault Chase Briscoe back into title contention, but is it too little, too late?

Steve Reed, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Back-to-back wins vault Chase Briscoe back into title contention, but is it too little, too late?

Steve Reed, The Associated Press 5 minute read Yesterday at 10:20 AM CDT

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Chase Briscoe's hero in auto racing has always been Tony Stewart.

Now, the driver of the No. 19 Toyota is hoping to replicate what “Smoke" accomplished in 2011 when he stunned the racing world by rallying to win the NASCAR Cup Series championship by winning five of 10 playoff races, including the season finale at Homestead to register one of the sport's biggest comebacks.

“He made a pretty unbelievable run, and hopefully we can do the same thing,” Briscoe said of Stewart.

Briscoe is certainly giving it his best effort after winning back-to-back playoff races.

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Yesterday at 10:20 AM CDT

Auto Racing

A pack of cars come to a green flag restart during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Chase Briscoe holds off teammate Christopher Bell in Charlotte to win 2nd straight playoff race

Steve Reed, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Chase Briscoe holds off teammate Christopher Bell in Charlotte to win 2nd straight playoff race

Steve Reed, The Associated Press 5 minute read Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Chase Briscoe is getting the hang of winning close races.

Briscoe held off Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Christopher Bell to win his second straight NASCAR playoff race in a photo finish on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, vaulting him into contention to earn his first Cup Series championship.

The .029-second margin of victory was the second closest since CMS opened in 1960, ranking behind only Jimmie Johnson's .027-second win over Bobby Labonte in 2005.

The two drivers traded paint on the final lap, but Briscoe maintained control of his No. 19 Toyota and reached the finish line about a half-car length ahead of Bell.

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Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026

Auto Racing

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain arrives for a pit service during the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix race in Singapore, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, Pool)

Lewis Hamilton unwell after Singapore race and apology to Ferrari

The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Lewis Hamilton unwell after Singapore race and apology to Ferrari

The Associated Press 4 minute read Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026

SINGAPORE (AP) — Lewis Hamilton missed his post-race media duties after feeling unwell following the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, having earlier apologized to Ferrari for a strategy call that cost him a Formula 1 podium finish.

Ferrari said in a statement that Hamilton had been seen by the FIA medical team at the track and given permission not to attend the driver interviews held after races.

Shortly after the race finished in typically hot and humid Singapore conditions, the British driver took a knee as he waited behind other drivers for his weigh-in.

Hamilton's post-race radio message suggested it had been his choice to stay on older tires rather than risk losing position with a second pit stop.

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Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026

Auto Racing

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix in Singapore, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Max Verstappen wins Singapore Grand Prix as Kimi Antonelli closes in on F1 title

The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Max Verstappen wins Singapore Grand Prix as Kimi Antonelli closes in on F1 title

The Associated Press 5 minute read Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026

SINGAPORE (AP) — Silenced by a broken radio, Max Verstappen let his driving do all the talking on the track.

Verstappen raced hard into the first corner then cruised to his second consecutive Formula 1 win at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday.

Verstappen had been concerned about his Red Bull car’s “horrendous” starts and was slow off the line again from pole, but managed to squeeze Charles Leclerc to the inside heading into the first corner and held the lead.

Leclerc was second as Verstappen followed up on his first victory of the season in Malaysia last week and sprint race win Saturday. It was his first career Grand Prix win in Singapore at the 10th attempt. 

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Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026

Auto Racing

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain speeds away during the sprint qualifying session ahead of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix in Singapore, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, Pool)

McLaren tells Norris and Piastri to park their egos after ‘unacceptable’ Singapore collision

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

McLaren tells Norris and Piastri to park their egos after ‘unacceptable’ Singapore collision

The Associated Press 3 minute read Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026

SINGAPORE (AP) — McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said he will not tolerate drivers putting their egos ahead of the team after teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided in the Singapore Grand Prix sprint race.

Norris made an ambitious overtaking attempt on Piastri for fourth place on the final lap of Saturday's sprint race, but made contact with the Australian and both cars spun.

Norris dropped to eighth and Piastri didn't finish, meaning McLaren picked up just one point in the Formula 1 teams' standings instead of nine.

After what he called “a very long, tiring and challenging day,” Stella said he addressed the incident with Norris and Piastri.

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Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026

Auto Racing

Kyle Larson celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

Streaking Kyle Larson looks to pad points lead at Charlotte as NASCAR playoffs reach midway point

Steve Reed, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Streaking Kyle Larson looks to pad points lead at Charlotte as NASCAR playoffs reach midway point

Steve Reed, The Associated Press 6 minute read Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Larson didn't win a race during the regular season.

But the defending NASCAR Cup champion already has two postseason victories along with three other top-five finishes, vaulting him into a commanding lead as the "Chase” heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway for Sunday's Bank of America 400.

Larson, who is looking for his third championship overall, leads regular-season champion Denny Hamlin by 40 points. But he knows he still has some work to do.

Christopher Bell is lurking in third place only 55 points back heading to one of his favorite tracks, while Joey Logano (71 points behind), Ryan Blaney (80) and last week's winner at Las Vegas Chase Briscoe (84) are all within 100 points of the lead with five of 10 playoff races remaining.

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Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026

Auto Racing

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, center, of the Netherlands prepares for the sprint race ahead of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix in Singapore, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Verstappen does the double with pole and sprint race win at F1’s Singapore Grand Prix

The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Verstappen does the double with pole and sprint race win at F1’s Singapore Grand Prix

The Associated Press 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026

SINGAPORE (AP) — Max Verstappen is the driver to beat in Formula 1 once again, but Kimi Antonelli continues to march toward the title.

Verstappen won the sprint race and followed up with his 50th career pole position at the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday, all at a circuit where he'd never won or been on pole in the past.

“This is the one I wanted,” he said.

Besides Verstappen, the day’s other big winner was Antonelli, who widened his lead over George Russell when his Mercedes teammate crashed out from the lead in the sprint. The Italian qualified fourth, setting him up for another solid score tomorrow, when Russell must serve a grid penalty.

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Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026

Auto Racing

FILE - Kyle Busch is introduced during the NASCAR All-Star auto race at Dover Motor Speedway, May 17, 2026, in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton, File, File)

Kyle Busch’s 11-year-old son highlights his father’s ‘celebration of life’ ceremony with burnout

Steve Reed, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Kyle Busch’s 11-year-old son highlights his father’s ‘celebration of life’ ceremony with burnout

Steve Reed, The Associated Press 5 minute read Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — The NASCAR community and more than 10,000 race fans celebrated the life of the late Kyle Busch during an uplifting ceremony Friday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Busch's widow, Samantha Busch, spoke at the free event and shared memories of their life together during an emotional 10-minute speech. But it was 11-year-son Brexton, a budding racer, who stole the show with a burnout on the track's frontstretch in his father's No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Cup Series car before climbing on the roof and honoring his dad by doing his traditional bow with a checkered flag.

“I don't want to feel like we are putting a period on (his life) today,” Samantha Busch said. “This is not the end of Kyle's story. His story continues every time we give a young racer a chance, share something he taught us or share with the next generation what made Rowdy unforgettable."

She added: “Years from now I hope people remember Kyle as one of NASCAR's greatest drivers. He worked his entire life for that. But I also hope they meet someone whose life is better because Kyle was here. That's a legacy that no checkered flag can contain.”

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Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Auto Racing

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy, left, and his teammate George Russell of Britain steer their cars out from the garage during the qualifying session for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Annice Lyn/Pool via AP )

Mercedes boss Wolff slams ‘brainless’ claims team would favor Antonelli over Russell

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Mercedes boss Wolff slams ‘brainless’ claims team would favor Antonelli over Russell

The Associated Press 3 minute read Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

SINGAPORE (AP) — Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says any claims the team would favor Kimi Antonelli over George Russell in the Formula 1 title race are “brainless”.

Wolff was responding after engine failure for Russell at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia last week took his teammate Antonelli a big step closer to becoming F1's youngest-ever champion.

“They’re brainless, whoever thinks that. I mean, it’s completely nonsensical. We’ve had it in the past with Lewis (Hamilton) fans. I mean, literally, I don’t know what’s going on,” Wolff said Friday ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix.

“Do they think I have a button that says, “George engine failure now”, or disadvantaging one driver against the other when we are fighting for a constructors’ championship, when we have always had the mindset of providing everybody equal material? But I guess this is maybe where social media goes today.”

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Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Auto Racing

Mercedes driver George Russell, of Britain, sits on his car at pits before the first free practice ahead of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix, in Singapore, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Verstappen on pole for F1’s Singapore sprint after cars slowed by ‘error’ in race control

James Ellingworth, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Verstappen on pole for F1’s Singapore sprint after cars slowed by ‘error’ in race control

James Ellingworth, The Associated Press 6 minute read Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Max Verstappen snatched pole position for the Formula 1 Singapore sprint race in a hectic qualifying session Friday, while George Russell seized a chance to make up ground on standings leader Kimi Antonelli.

The action was overshadowed when the cars' settings were wrongly changed by race control, affecting the cars and blamed for some drivers being eliminated from the session early.

Verstappen went fastest by 0.120 of a second from Russell, whose strategy of all-out attack this week leaves him starting Saturday's sprint five places ahead of Mercedes teammate Antonelli. Charles Leclerc begins the sprint third for McLaren.

“I did not expect this, very happy to be first,” Verstappen said. “The last few races we have been a lot stronger but this track still highlights a few weaknesses in the car, but we have tried to drive with them as much as possible.”

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Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Auto Racing

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, speaks at a press conference ahead of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix weekend at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Lando Norris ‘hopeful’ McLaren has sorted issue costing him straight-line speed

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Lando Norris ‘hopeful’ McLaren has sorted issue costing him straight-line speed

The Associated Press 2 minute read Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026

SINGAPORE (AP) — Lando Norris says he's “hopeful” McLaren has identified and fixed a car problem which deprived him of straight-line speed, with his Formula 1 title defense all but mathematically over ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix.

Norris is coming off a ninth-place finish at last week's Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia and was off the pace the week before in Azerbaijan before a collision ended his race.

He suggested on Thursday the issue was worth two or three grid places in qualifying for both races. McLaren has worked to resolve the issue, reportedly to do with the fuel system.

“They put a lot of work into trying to figure out things and I'm hopeful that it’ll be better this weekend, but honestly, I have to get out on track and see first,” Norris said.

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Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026

Auto Racing

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the formation lap prior to the delayed start of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

FIA to ‘strengthen’ software testing after F1 cars stopped on track in Malaysia

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

FIA to ‘strengthen’ software testing after F1 cars stopped on track in Malaysia

The Associated Press 3 minute read Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026

SINGAPORE (AP) — The FIA has defended its handling of the Formula 1 car software bug which delayed the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia last weekend and pledged it will “strengthen” how the code is tested in future.

Several drivers, including seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, were left stuck on track when their cars lost power and had to be restarted on formation laps before Sunday's race.

The on-board software failed to cope with drivers taking a more cautious approach ahead of the first wet race for the 2026 cars, which have a near 50-50 split between engine and electrical power.

The FIA, the governing body for F1, on Thursday said its investigation found that cars “experienced a loss of power beyond the original intent and that could not be recovered.”

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Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026

Auto Racing

Mercedes crew members for driver George Russell of Britain react inside the garage during the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Annice Lyn/Pool via AP )

Russell to take power unit penalty in Singapore that could result in Antonelli extending F1 lead

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Russell to take power unit penalty in Singapore that could result in Antonelli extending F1 lead

The Associated Press 2 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026

SINGAPORE (AP) — George Russell will be hit with a power unit penalty at this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix that could result in Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli extending his lead in the Formula 1 drivers’ standings.

“George has the added challenge of a power unit penalty, which will mean starting from the back of the grid on Sunday, following the engine failure in Malaysia,” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff announced Wednesday.

“That is particularly frustrating given the way he drove last weekend and the result he deserved to be fighting for. Unfortunately, these things are part of the sport and our focus now is on giving him the best possible car and opportunities to fight back through the field.”

Russell’s retirement in Malaysia already helped Antonelli stretch his lead over Russell from 66 to 84 points, with seven races remaining this season.

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Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026

Auto Racing

Fans signs their name to a tribute sign to the late Kyle Busch before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Charlotte Motor Speedway to host a celebration of life for the late Kyle Busch on Friday night

Steve Reed, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Charlotte Motor Speedway to host a celebration of life for the late Kyle Busch on Friday night

Steve Reed, The Associated Press 3 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte Motor Speedway will host a celebration of life for former NASCAR driver Kyle Busch on Friday following the Trucks Series race.

Busch died in May from hemorrhagic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation after complications from bacterial pneumonia led to sepsis, according to the former NASCAR star’s death certificate.

CMS said the event will allow the NASCAR community to come together to celebrate Busch through stories, memories, iconic moments and the lasting impact he made on the sport and at the 1 1/2-mile track oval. Busch’s widow, Samantha, will be a part of the program, along with team owner Joe Gibbs and Cup Series drivers Christopher Bell, Noah Gragson, Daniel Suárez, Kyle Larson and Austin Dillon.

The ceremony, which is free to fans, will conclude with a performance by country musician Cole Swindell.

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Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026

Auto Racing

Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland steers his car during the first free practice session ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia, Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Valtteri Bottas cycles from Sepang to Singapore ahead of the next F1 race

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Valtteri Bottas cycles from Sepang to Singapore ahead of the next F1 race

The Associated Press 2 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026

SINGAPORE (AP) — Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas decided to cycle from Sepang to Singapore in the week between Grand Prix events.

The 37-year-old Cadillac driver set out for the next F1 stop in Singapore after failing to finish the Bahrain Grand Prix, being staged in Malaysia, last Sunday.

While other drivers and teams were preparing to fly from there to Singapore for this weekend's race, Bottas embarked on a ride of more than 320 kilometers (200 miles).

He posted on X to confirm the trip: “Yea I’m riding to Singapore... on the gravel roads less travelled.”

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Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026

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