F1Weekly Podcast # 1162
ON TODAY’S PROGRAM…
NORRIS PUTS IT ALL TOGETHER TO WIN IN ZANDVOORT!
MAX SIGNS 4 YEARS DEAL WITH RED BULL…CRASHES ON THE 1ST LAP!
HAMILTON IS DOWN RIGHT DISRESPECTFUL
HULKENBERG WAS ON FIRE IN THE MIDPACK AND…
FERNANDO SCORES POINTS GIVING FANS A LITTLE HOPE!
THIS WEEK’S NASIR HAMEED CORNER IS A MOMENT IN MOTORSPORTS HISTORY…BMW’S DR. MARIO THEISSEN !
ALSO, …CHRISTOPHER’S REPORT ON THE INDY 500
AND DON’T FORGET WE DO NEED YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO KEEP THIS PROGRAM ON THE AIR!…JUST CLICK ON THE SUPPORT F1WEEKLY TAB…
NORRIS WINS AS MAX CRASHES ON FIRST LAP.
“Amazing. A tough race! Yesterday I said we needed to put on a bit of a show for everyone for the final race here, so I made it tough for myself today but [it was] a good race, well-fought. Probably one of my better wins – we had to fight for it well but the pace was strong. We managed things incredibly well today so over the moon, very happy. Nice to win the final race here in Zandvoort.”
Norris declared he is doing a better job than every other driver after a superb win at the Dutch Grand Prix – where Max Verstappen walked away from a huge crash at his final home race.
The 26-year-old reeled in championship leader Kimi Antonelli at Zandvoort to clinch back-to-back wins and further raise hope that he could yet defend his title.
Norris leaves the Dutch seaside having moved fourth in the standings but still 83 points behind the Italian – with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton 59 points back from the leader.
Mercedes are wary of the looming threat of McLaren’s Norris, with Antonelli branding them the new fastest team on the grid and Russell declaring that the papaya outfit are the ones to beat.
“They are not going to say themselves are they? I don’t think it’s true,” Norris retorted.
“Mercedes have a better all-round performing car. I also know how good of a job I’m doing behind the wheel.
“For once I will give myself a little bit of credit that I feel I am doing a better job than everyone.
“I think that can make a difference. We have a car now capable of beating them. We didn’t win yesterday (sprint race) and we didn’t change much but I worked a lot on my driving – I want to believe more than everyone else.
“I make one mistake we are P4, P5. So the fact that I am doing a good job is the reason why people are saying it.”
Norris banished post-race sprint race negativity to deliver a commanding drive in Sunday’s main event.
He was jumped off the line by Antonelli following a red flag for Verstappen’s crash, after the race had begun in damp conditions, but McLaren made the key move by pitting him later than the Italian.
That enabled Norris to attack on fresher rubber and he got the job done, blasting past Antonelli round the outside of turn one on lap 54.
“When the car gives me what I want and I am driving at the level I am now, I can win races,” Norris said.
“I was able to force him to make mistakes, force them to do something with strategy.”
Norris refused to declare himself back in the title hunt but would accept that Sunday’s win was among his best.
“I made it tough for myself but a good race. Probably one of my better wins. We had to fight for it,” he added.
Mercedes executed team orders, asking Russell to allow Antonelli through on fresher tyres as he came home second. Russell then held off Hamilton over the closing laps to retain third, with Charles Leclerc fourth ahead of Norris’ team-mate Oscar Piastri.
The final Dutch Grand Prix before it drops off the calendar began in crushing fashion for the packed grandstands, with their hero Verstappen suffering a crunching high-speed crash at the end of lap one.
The four-time world champion, revered in these parts, appeared to dip a wheel onto the kerb on the inside of the 18-degree banked final bend before sliding across the track and thundering into the barriers.
GEORGE…
We did our best today, and it was clear that we were going to have a tough time of it defending from Lando (Norris) and the Ferraris, who were incredibly fast. The field is even more competitive than at any point during the season; that said, the pace of both McLaren and Ferrari has surprised us. To come away with a Sprint victory and a P3 is a solid return, therefore, on what has been a challenging weekend from a pace perspective.
My race wasn’t the smoothest. I lost a couple of positions early on, but was able to fight my way back to P3. That became P2 when Kimi pitted under the Virtual Safety Car, but ultimately, Kimi was ahead of me before that, so the position was his. It was clear that we couldn’t cost ourselves any time fighting, as we needed to protect from the Ferraris behind, too. If we had, we would have likely lost a lot of time, and I would have lost the podium. In the end, we were able to maximise the result for the team, and that’s positive.
KIMI…
I am disappointed to have led so many laps today and not won. Unfortunately, the pace wasn’t quite there, and that’s a shame. P2 was ultimately the maximum we could have done, though, given that, so we must be happy coming away with that and a double podium secured. It is a great result for the team with George doing a brilliant job to keep the Ferraris behind and take P3.
We made two good starts and gained places at both. That gave us belief we could fight for victory, but I didn’t have the feeling with the car on the second set of Hard tyres and that was when Lando (Norris) was able to get past. I was a little nervous in the closing stages after we pitted under the Virtual Safety Car, but it turned out well. We were able to have both cars finish ahead of the Ferraris and extend our lead in the Constructors’ Championship, which is a good feeling leaving Zandvoort.
LIAM…
“It was a pretty lonely race for me today. We just didn’t have the pace to fight with the guys in front so it was tricky. I’m happy I got points for the Team. I knew coming into the weekend it’d be difficult, especially at a circuit like Zandvoort where you need a lot of confidence in the car, but I feel like we extracted everything we could. It was a shame to see what happened to Max. That part of the track was incredibly slippery, on slick tyres it was so easy to lose the car there. I was right behind him, so it was a pretty scary moment. I’m glad he’s okay. It’s never easy stepping into an entirely new car, but the Team did a good job in making me feel comfortable, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
MAX…
“It was a shame how my race ended today, but I am all okay. It looked like it was dry in that spot, so I tried to accelerate and it just caught me out. I was a bit unlucky, lost the car and went into the wall unfortunately. We didn’t have the pace this weekend to fight for the win, which is something that we still need to work on. I have mixed emotions as it was positive seeing so many fans here for one final time but obviously a huge shame and quite disappointing to not finish the race. Luckily, we have such positive memories here and were able to achieve great things at this track, so I want to thank the fans for all the support. It has been something really special and I hope they have enjoyed it as well over all these years.”
YUKI…
“I did everything I could today and I really enjoyed it. I’ve missed being out there, racing wheel-to-wheel and making overtakes, so it was great to experience that again. We were really close to the points and just missed out, which was a shame, but overall it’s been an incredible few days. The team has supported me so much throughout the week, and I’ve been able to get up to speed quite quickly, so a huge thank you to everyone for giving me this opportunity. I’ll take away some unforgettable memories from this weekend. Most importantly, I hope Isack has a speedy recovery.”
ARVID…
“It’s a bit of a shame about today’s race. We had a good start but was given a drive-through penalty due to a Yellow Flag Infringement, which effectively took us out of the fight for the rest of the race. With all the debris flying around, I was just focused on holding my line and avoiding anything on track. Once we got going again, I think it was probably one of the best races I’ve done this year in terms of pace, commitment to overtakes and helping the team where I could. Overall I think we made good progress, we made some changes that helped us become more competitive as the weekend progressed. It’s disappointing not to come away with any points, but we’ll now turn our focus to preparing for the next race in Monza.”
FERNANDO…
“It’s great to finish in the points here in Zandvoort. I wasn’t expecting it, so it’s a credit to the team for maximising everything we had. We still have some driveability issues, but this weekend is another step forward. We’ll take this momentum and keep pushing to get the most out of the car.
MORGAN’S MOMENT TO SHINE.
Mercedes double plus a win for Cammish at Donington Park.
Adam Morgan has enjoyed arguably the finest fortnight of his Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship career to date, with the CPRL driver claiming two wins at Donington Park this weekend (22/23 August) after taking his first victory of the season at Knockhill last time out.
Not only has the Mercedes man claimed three race victories in recent weeks, but he has also doubled his pole position tally, having topped qualifying at each of the last two events after previously taking just one pole, back in 2018.
It was also a memorable day for Dan Cammish, as the NAPA Racing UK driver took his second win of the season to strengthen his championship challenge, moving to within five points of second-placed Tom Ingram in the overall Drivers’ standings.
A strong collection of points for Ash Sutton still sees the four-time champion hold a comfortable margin at the top of the order, whilst his Alliance Racing/Ford and NAPA Racing UK outfit further extended their advantage in the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ and Teams’ tables.
The Power Maxed Racing stable continues to enjoy a stellar season with its quartet of all-new Audi A3 Saloons, as Mikey Doble leads the Independent Drivers’, Dexter Patterson tops the Jack Sears Trophy and LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing hold sway in the Independent Teams’ order.
The 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship continues its run towards the final stretch of the season with the next event taking place at Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire in two weeks’ time (5/6 September).
Morgan converts pole into emphatic win
Following his ‘Race to Pole’ triumph at the famous Leicestershire circuit on Saturday, Morgan duly converted that success into a commanding victory in the first race on Sunday.
The squabble for second arguably helped as teammate Dan Rowbottom (CPRL – Mercedes) initially lost out to Speedworks Corolla Racing’s Josh Cook and then current championship leader Sutton in his #116 NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus Titanium.
The opening lap provided one of the most dramatic moments of the season so far when Lewis Gilbert’s WSR BMW speared off into the barrier on the approach to the Melbourne Loop. The BMW 330i M Sport then dug into the grass before barrel rolling aggressively and coming to a halt.
A shaken Gilbert was given the all clear by the TOCA Medical Team shortly after although of course still taken to the Medical Centre for further observation, whilst the same condition couldn’t be said for his stricken Bavarian machine.
Morgan led away following the restart with Cook’s Toyota Corolla in a good second place, whilst Sutton and Rowbottom fought behind.
Disaster struck for Cook, however, when a throttle issue slowed his car into retirement.
Sutton defended valiantly from Rowbottom with the latter eventually relinquishing third to Gordon Shedden in his Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport Toyota. Another place was given up on the final tour when Cammish’s NAPA Racing UK Ford muscled past the Mercedes for fourth.
Cammish collects second win of 2026 campaign
Among the current grid, Cammish has now claimed more victories on the famed Donington Park Grand Prix circuit than any other driver, with three wins putting him clear of title rivals Sutton and Ingram.
Coincidentally, it was the same three drivers filing the podium positions in this particular race as the trio got the better of early leader Rowbottom in his CPRL Mercedes.
Cammish made his move at the final corner shortly before mid-distance as the #27 Ford Focus Titanium brushed his way through and into the lead.
Rowbottom initially fought back before dropping into the clutches of Sutton, who was impressively keeping pace despite running minimal boost and the Goodyear hard tyre compound on his NAPA Racing UK Ford. Rowbottom then slowed exiting the chicane late on and was soon shuffled further down the order by Sutton and Ingram.
The #32 Mercedes held on to fourth from the chasing Ricky Collard (Team VERTU – Hyundai) and Patterson (Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing – Audi), the latter again impressively taking Independents’ and Jack Sears Trophy honours.
Mighty Morgan strikes again
CPRL’s Morgan was again triumphant in the Donington Park finale, becoming only the second driver to take three victories so far this season.
Morgan’s Mercedes applied pressure to pole-sitter Chris Smiley from the start, as the Restart Racing Hyundai driver worked hard to keep those behind at bay.
Smiley’s defence didn’t last long however, as Morgan blasted by and immediately set about pulling away, which he duly did with consummate ease.
When the chequered flag fell Morgan had romped clear to win from the brilliant Aiden Moffat in the LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing Audi, with the latter receiving huge applause from his PMR squad and fans.
Young Daryl De Leon completed the podium positions as he provided some respite for the WSR team. A destroyed BMW earlier in the day and mixed results for their trio of drivers had provided frustrations at the Leicestershire circuit, but De Leon produced the goods in the finale to score a richly deserved podium.
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Donington Park GP
1. Adam Morgan, CPRL – Mercedes 17 Laps
2. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK – Ford +2.733s
3. Gordon Shedden, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport – Toyota +6.802s
4. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK – Ford +8.478s
5. Daniel Rowbottom, CPRL – Mercedes +8.953s
6. Árón Taylor-Smith, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport – Toyota +11.155s
7. Dexter Patterson, Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing – Audi +11.644s
8. Ricky Collard, Team VERTU – Hyundai +11.922s
9. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU – Hyundai +12.630s
10. Mikey Doble, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing – Audi +18.740s
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Donington Park GP
1. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK – Ford 14 Laps
2. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK – Ford +0.437s
3. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU – Hyundai +2.509s
4. Daniel Rowbottom, CPRL – Mercedes +3.652s
5. Ricky Collard, Team VERTU – Hyundai +4.660s
6. Dexter Patterson, Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing – Audi +5.810s
7. Árón Taylor-Smith, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport – Toyota +6.045s
8. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing – Audi +8.431s
9. Adam Morgan, CPRL – Mercedes +10.085s
10. Chris Smiley, Restart Racing – Hyundai +11.683s
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Donington Park GP
1. Adam Morgan, CPRL – Mercedes 14 Laps
2. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing – Audi +2.813s
3. Daryl De Leon, WSR – BMW +3.433s
4. Árón Taylor-Smith, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport – Toyota +7.048s
5. Charles Rainford, WSR – BMW +9.796s
6. Gordon Shedden, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport – Toyota +9.834s
7. Josh Cook, Speedworks Corolla Racing – Toyota +13.429s
8. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK – Ford +13.478s
9. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU – Hyundai +13.896s
10. Dexter Patterson, Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing – Audi +14.320s
Kirkwood Dominates for Historic,
Star-Spangled Victory in D.C.
WASHINGTON (Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026) – Kyle Kirkwood made history Sunday by winning the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., the first-ever motor race around the National Mall and the iconic monuments and buildings of the nation’s capital city.
And after a disastrous day for NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader Alex Palou, can Kirkwood make even more history by catching Palou in the final three races of the season for a championship?
SEE: Race Results
Florida native Kirkwood drove his No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda to a 3.0906-second victory over the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet of Christian Lundgaard, leading three Andretti Global drivers in the top four. That margin of victory was deceptive due to a late caution that bunched the field for a restart on the seven-turn, 1.7-mile temporary street circuit, as Kirkwood led by upward of 16 seconds at some points during the 250-mile race.
“You can’t even put it into words – this is incredible,” Kirkwood said. “I’m almost in tears here. This is a big moment for us, a big moment for America here with the 250.”
Said Lundgaard: “I feel that it’s fitting that an American won, right? We gave it our best shot.”
Kirkwood earned his second victory of the season in crushing fashion, leading 128 of 147 laps after starting second. He also won the inaugural street race in March at Arlington, Texas, as six of his seven career victories have come on temporary circuits.
“It felt good to dominate out there; I’m not going to lie,” Kirkwood said. “That was a really good moment. What an incredible place to do it. If you can’t win the (Indianapolis) 500, this is definitely the place to win. I don’t know if we’re ever going to get a chance to do it again – I hope we do. This was awesome. What a dream come true.”
Andretti Global took the next two spots, with Will Power finishing third in the No. 26 TWG AI Honda and Marcus Ericsson fourth in the No. 28 Acura Honda in this race that was the capping event of the celebration of America’s 250th birthday.
Kyffin Simpson rounded out the top five in the No. 8 Sunoco Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
Kirkwood trailed Palou by 133 points entering this historic event, but the gap is down to 91 with three races remaining after Palou finished 20th in the No. 10 OpenAI Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
While Kirkwood was dreaming at the checkered flag, Palou endured a nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Palou, aiming for his record-tying fourth consecutive title and fifth overall, suffered through an uncommon string of mistakes ranging from hitting a rival’s tire during a pit stop and incurring a drive-through penalty, a slow pit stop due to a loose wheel and then a crash in Turn 4 on Lap 123 due to a broken toe link from earlier wall contact.
“It hurts, man,” Palou said. “I wanted to get that win. It kind of hurts a lot that we had this bad of a day. It’s OK; things happen.”
History still is very much on Palou’s side. Since the sport reunified in 2008, the largest gap any driver has overcome with four races left to win a title is 59 points by Dario Franchitti in 2010. Palou still could clinch his fifth Astor Challenge Cup in the doubleheader Aug. 29-30 at the Milwaukee Mile.
Kirkwood left no doubt about his intent and the strength of his car right from the waving of the green flag by President Donald J. Trump. He dueled with Palou through Turn 1 before taking the lead in Turn 2 on the opening lap of the second-longest temporary street race in INDYCAR SERIES history.
From there, Kirkwood only trailed during pit stop sequences. No alternate tire or fuel strategies from rivals could touch him on his day of days.
Kirkwood shed perhaps the only rival who could challenge him early in the race before a huge crowd – the two-day weekend attendance was 215,000 – when Palou hit the wheel laying in the pit box of the No. 47 Vanda Honda of Mick Schumacher on Lap 39 during his first pit stop. That violation resulted in a drive-through penalty that Palou served on Lap 43, dropping him to 20th place.
From that point, caution periods were the only thing that blunted Kirkwood’s charge toward history. He led by 16 seconds when he made his final pit stop at the end of Lap 112.
There were two restarts between Laps 128 and 134, bunching the field and offering hope to Kirkwood’s rivals.
Scott McLaughlin dove under Kirkwood in Turn 1 to take the lead for a split-second on Lap 129 after a restart, but he carried too much speed into the corner and was eliminated from the race when the right side of his No. 3 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet clipped a tire barrier.
Kirkwood left no doubt on the final restart of the race on Lap 134, rocketing away from the field. He cruised to the checkered flag waved by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and then celebrated in front of numerous government dignitaries in a suite above Turn 1, including President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
Up next is a doubleheader at the Milwaukee Mile, the last oval event of the season. The Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 is set for Saturday, Aug. 29 on the historic, 1-mile track, with the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 on Sunday, Aug. 30.
