Motorsport
SportsMonkie Motorsport Desk
The SportsMonkie Motorsport Desk covers Formula 1 and the wider racing world — rules, records, drivers and machinery — with figures checked against official series data.
Articles by SportsMonkie Motorsport Desk (115)
Herbst Dumps McDowell at Phoenix and Wrecks Himself in Stage One
Riley Herbst drove into Michael McDowell's bumper in Turn 3 at Phoenix, sent the No. 71 backwards into the wall and wrecked himself in the day's first caution.
Larson's 49-Point Lead Is Down to Five After His Phoenix Crash
Kyle Larson warned all week his car would be bad at Phoenix. He qualified 22nd, fell a lap down, blew a right front tire with 31 laps left and scored three points.
Zane Smith Slams Carson Hocevar on the Cool-Down Lap at Phoenix
Zane Smith slammed Carson Hocevar after the flag at Phoenix. The replay shows Ross Chastain pushed Hocevar into him, and Smith was told before he hit him.
Fernandez's Six-Race Disqualification Is Overturned as Leopard Wins Its Appeal
Adrian Fernandez has had his first six Moto3 results reinstated after the FIM International Court of Appeal set aside his disqualification over engine seals.
Liam Lawson Will Headline a Live Gig in Austin With His Childhood Band
Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson will make his on-stage debut at the team's Austin Garage Sessions, playing a custom Taylor guitar with his brother and childhood bandmates.
NASCAR Will Let Teams Change Brakes at Phoenix After a Season of Wall Hits
NASCAR will let Cup teams swap front brake rotors and pads after Saturday qualifying at Phoenix, a safety concession after failures at four short tracks.
Verstappen Gets a Reprimand and a Warning Point for His Portimao GT3 Collision
GT World Challenge stewards found Max Verstappen wholly to blame for an avoidable collision in Portimao practice and gave him a reprimand and a warning point.
Haas Picks 21-Year-Old Camara to Replace Ocon and Ends Up With the Grid's Youngest Lineup
Haas has signed F2 leader Rafael Camara, 21, to replace Esteban Ocon for 2027, pairing him with Oliver Bearman in the youngest confirmed lineup on the grid.
Keselowski Says Hocevar's Differentiator Is Intentional Accidents as Their Feud Stews On
Brad Keselowski told Kelly Crandall that what sets Carson Hocevar apart is a lot of intentional accidents, the latest turn in a feud running since Darlington.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Asked Greensboro Police for a Speeding Discount and Got 107 mph Back
Greensboro police warned drivers that praising Dale is no excuse for speeding. Dale Earnhardt Jr. asked for a discount anyway, and the reply is the story.
Verstappen Gets a New Voice in Austin as Hart Takes Over From Lambiase at Three Races
Tom Hart will engineer Max Verstappen in Austin, Brazil and Las Vegas as Red Bull phases in Gianpiero Lambiase's successor before his move to McLaren.
NASCAR Gives McDowell and Stenhouse No Penalty for Their Charlotte Cool-Down Clash
NASCAR says the McDowell-Stenhouse cool-down lap clash at Charlotte was the closest thing to a penalty without being one, and explains where the line sits.
Norris Appears to Mock Stroll in a Nightclub Video Hours After His Singapore Apology
Lando Norris was filmed at a Singapore nightclub appearing to mock Lance Stroll hours after apologising to McLaren for his sprint collision with Piastri.
Antonelli Can Become F1's Youngest Champion in Austin: The 126-Point Arithmetic Explained
Kimi Antonelli leads F1 by 102 points after Singapore. He can clinch the title in Austin at 20, but only with a win and help from Russell and Hamilton.
Kardashian Makes Amends With Brundle on the Singapore Grid, Four Months After the Monaco Snub
Kim Kardashian opened her Singapore grid-walk chat with Martin Brundle by asking if they had got off on the wrong foot, four months after the Monaco snub.
Briscoe Beats Bell by 0.029 Seconds in a Charlotte Photo Finish Between Team-Mates
Chase Briscoe held off Joe Gibbs Racing team-mate Christopher Bell by 0.029 seconds at Charlotte, the closest Cup finish of 2026 and the second-closest in the track's history.
Hamilton Apologizes for His Singapore Strategy Call After 40-Plus Laps on Softs End in Sixth
Lewis Hamilton told Ferrari he let the team down with the Singapore strategy after staying out under the virtual safety car and fading from third to sixth on worn soft tyres.
Verstappen and Hamilton Say F1 Should Not Run Sprints Where Cars Cannot Pass
Singapore sprint winner Max Verstappen and runner-up Lewis Hamilton say street tracks where passing is near impossible are the wrong place for sprint races.
Bell Starts 17th by Formula at Charlotte as Rain Wipes Out Qualifying Again
Hurricane Isaias washed out Saturday at Charlotte, so NASCAR's metric sets the Chase grid: Larson on pole, third-placed Christopher Bell 17th, and a Sunday doubleheader.
Singapore Sprint Sets a Record With Nine Retirements as Russell Crashes From the Lead
Nine cars retired from Saturday's Singapore sprint, a record for the format: Russell crashed from the lead, and the McLarens collided on the last lap.
FIA Admits Human Error Gave Some Cars Extra Power in Singapore Sprint Qualifying
The FIA says a Race Control human error switched Overtake Mode on for 27 seconds in Singapore SQ1, giving some cars extra power, and Sainz wants to know why.
Verstappen Keeps Singapore Sprint Pole After Stewards Find a Yellow-Flag Breach but No Penalty
Max Verstappen breached the yellow-flag rule passing Lewis Hamilton in Singapore sprint qualifying, but the stewards imposed no penalty and he keeps pole.
Wolff Calls Mercedes Favouritism Claims 'Brainless' and Tells the Accusers to Watch Teletubbies
Toto Wolff dismissed claims Mercedes favour Kimi Antonelli over George Russell as brainless in Singapore, pointing to equal machinery and Russell's bad luck.
Bell Fires Back at Larson Over Power-Steering Claim: 'I Hope It Happens to Him'
Christopher Bell has answered Kyle Larson's 'bullshit' verdict on his Las Vegas power-steering loss, explaining a slow fade of assist and wishing the same on Larson.
Hamlin Says He Would Have Defied the Pit Call Had He Known Larson Was a Lap Down
Denny Hamlin says he would never have turned down pit road at Las Vegas if he had known his stop would hand Kyle Larson the wave-around back onto the lead lap.
Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton Marriage Rumor Spreads After Viral Screenshot: What We Know
A viral post claiming Kim Kardashian secretly married Lewis Hamilton used a fabricated Instagram story screenshot and AI-generated wedding images. No such post exists.
NASCAR Warns Teams After Pit-Stall Spray Left White Residue Over the Lines at Las Vegas
NASCAR has warned Cup teams about pit-stall traction spray after a white residue at Las Vegas threatened the lines its penalty equipment reads.
Russell to Start Singapore GP From Back of Grid After Mercedes Confirms New Engine
Mercedes confirmed George Russell has no engines left in his allocation and will take a new power unit in Singapore, sending him to the back of the grid.
Spire Owner Jeff Dickerson Tells Joe Gibbs Racing: 'Where Is the Proof?'
Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson used a podcast to demand evidence in Joe Gibbs Racing's $8 million lawsuit over Chris Gabehart, seven months into the case.
Points Leader Sheldon Creed Leaves Haas for Sam Hunt in a Driver Swap With Dean Thompson
Sheldon Creed leads the O'Reilly Series Chase yet will leave Haas Factory Team for Sam Hunt Racing in 2027, swapping seats with Dean Thompson in a deal he says was not his first choice.
FIA to Investigate Software Glitch That Stopped F1 Cars on the Formation Lap in Malaysia
The FIA promised a full review after a software bug cut power to F1 cars on a wet formation lap at Sepang, forcing Hamilton to stop and restart his car.
What Is a Pit Stop in F1? Tyres, Strategy, and Timing
An F1 pit stop brings a car into the lane for tyre changes and permitted adjustments, often deciding race strategy in seconds.
What Is a Chicane in F1? Track Design and Overtaking
An F1 chicane is a sequence of opposite-direction corners that slows cars, tests braking, and can create an overtaking or track-limit challenge.
What Does a Red Flag Mean in F1?
A red flag stops an F1 session or race because conditions are unsafe or the track needs intervention.
Most Dominant F1 Season Ever: The Full Ranking by Win Rate
By win percentage, McLaren's 1988 team (15 of 16 races) and Alberto Ascari's 1952 campaign rank as F1's most dominant seasons ever, ahead of Max Verstappen's record 2023 run of 19 wins from 22.
NASCAR Cup vs Xfinity vs Truck: The 3 Series
NASCAR's three national series are the Cup Series (top tier), the Xfinity Series (second), and the Craftsman Truck Series. See how the cars, races and drivers differ.
NASCAR Stage Racing Explained: Stages & Stage Points
NASCAR splits each race into three stages. The top finishers in each stage earn stage points, and a caution flies at each stage break to reset the field.
What Is a Green-White-Checkered Finish in NASCAR?
A green-white-checkered finish is NASCAR overtime: if a late caution appears, the race is extended so it ends under green over a two-lap dash to the checkered flag.
What Is the Lucky Dog in NASCAR? (Free Pass)
The lucky dog, or free pass, gives the first car one lap down its lap back when a caution comes out — a chance to rejoin the lead lap and keep racing for the win.
What Is a Restrictor Plate in NASCAR?
A restrictor plate limits airflow to a NASCAR engine to cap horsepower and speed at superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega, creating tight 'pack racing'.
What Is Drafting in NASCAR?
Drafting is when NASCAR cars run nose-to-tail to cut aerodynamic drag, letting them go faster together than alone — the key to passing at superspeedways.
What Is a Drive-Through Penalty in F1?
A drive-through penalty in F1 makes a driver drive through the pit lane at the speed limit without stopping, losing around 20 seconds but staying in the race.
What Is Dirty Air in F1? Why It Kills Overtaking
Dirty air in F1 is the turbulent wake behind a car that robs the following car of downforce, making it slide and struggle to follow closely or overtake.
What Is a DNF in F1? Did Not Finish, Explained
A DNF in F1 means 'Did Not Finish' — a driver who retires from a race through a crash, mechanical failure or other issue and is not classified in the results.
What Is Pole Position in F1? How It's Decided
Pole position in F1 is first place on the starting grid, earned by setting the fastest lap in qualifying. It gives the cleanest line into turn one and a big advantage.
What Is Sprint Qualifying in F1? The Sprint Format
Sprint qualifying in F1 is the short session that sets the grid for the Saturday Sprint, a mini-race of about 100km that awards points to the top eight finishers.
F1 Blue Flag Meaning: Get Out of the Way, Fast
A blue flag in F1 tells a slower, about-to-be-lapped driver to let a faster car past. Ignore it three times and you're penalised. Here's the full rule.
F1 Flags Explained: Every Racing Flag and What It Means
A full reference to every F1 flag — green, yellow, double yellow, red, blue, white, black, meatball, black-and-white, chequered and the striped flag.
F1 Formation Lap Explained: Purpose, Rules and Aborted Starts
The formation lap is the single lap to the grid before an F1 race starts. Drivers warm tyres and brakes, hold position, and stop for the standing start.
F1 Cost Cap Explained: The Budget Limit and What Counts
F1's cost cap limits team spending to roughly $135M a year, adjusted for inflation. Driver pay is excluded. Breach it and fines and testing cuts follow.
F1 Ground Effect Explained: The Floor That Sucks Cars Down
F1 ground effect uses the car's floor to create downforce, sucking it to the track. It returned in 2022 via venturi tunnels, and brought porpoising too.
F1 Penalties Explained: Every Type and What It Costs
F1 penalties range from 5-second time penalties to drive-throughs, stop-gos, grid drops and superlicence points. Here's every type and when it's used.
F1 Pit Crew Salary: What Mechanics Really Earn
F1 pit crew members are team mechanics who earn a reported £30,000-£100,000+ a year depending on role. Here's how the pay breaks down by job.
F1 Porpoising Explained: The 2022 Bouncing and How It Was Fixed
Porpoising is the violent vertical bouncing that hit F1's ground-effect cars in 2022. Here's the aerodynamics behind it and how teams and the FIA cured it.
F1 Qualifying Format Explained: Q1, Q2 and Q3 Knockout
F1 qualifying is a three-part knockout — Q1 drops the slowest 5, Q2 drops 5 more, and Q3's 10 cars fight for pole. Here's how each session works.
F1 Red Flag Explained: What It Means and How Restarts Work
A red flag stops an F1 session immediately. Cars slow to a delta and return to the pit lane, teams can work on them, and the race restarts from there.
F1 Safety Car Explained: When It Comes Out and the Rules
The F1 safety car neutralises the race behind a real car when there's danger on track. Learn when it deploys, the rules, and how restarts work.
F1 Slipstream and Tow Explained: The Physics of Drafting
A slipstream, or tow, is the low-drag pocket of air behind an F1 car. Follow closely and you gain top speed on the straights — the base that DRS builds on.
F1 Sprint Race Explained: Format, Length and Points
An F1 sprint is a short 100km Saturday race that awards points to the top 8. Learn the format, how it fits the weekend, and how it differs from the GP.
F1 Tyre Compounds Explained: Colours, C1–C5 and Strategy
F1 uses Pirelli slicks graded C1 (hardest) to C5 (softest), shown as white, yellow and red each weekend, plus green inters and blue wets. Here's how.
Fastest F1 Pit Stop Ever: The Full Leaderboard (1.80s Record)
McLaren's 1.80-second stop for Lando Norris at the 2023 Qatar GP is the fastest F1 pit stop ever, ratified by Guinness. See the full top-9 leaderboard.
Highest-Paid F1 Drivers: Verstappen Leads the Grid
Max Verstappen is the highest-paid F1 driver, on a reported base salary near $65M. The full pay table, and how driver contracts actually work.
How F1 Pit Stops Work: The 20-Person, 2-Second Job
An F1 pit stop swaps all four tyres in around 2-3 seconds using a crew of about 20. Here's every role, why it's so fast, and what can go wrong.
Parc Fermé in F1 Explained: The Rules That Lock a Car's Setup
Parc fermé is F1's restricted-work condition from the start of qualifying to the race. Change the setup and the car has to start from the pit lane.
Undercut vs Overcut in F1: The Two Pit Strategies Explained
The undercut means pitting earlier to jump a rival on fresh tyres; the overcut means staying out longer to pass them. Here's exactly when each one wins.
Virtual Safety Car vs Safety Car: The Key Differences
The safety car is a real car that bunches the F1 field; the virtual safety car uses a delta time and no car at all. Here's when each is used and why.
What Is a DRS Train in F1? Why a Queue Cancels the Advantage
A DRS train is a line of F1 cars each within one second of the next, so every car opens DRS at once and nobody gains — the passing aid neutralises itself.
What Is ERS in F1? The Hybrid Boost, Explained
ERS is F1's Energy Recovery System: it harvests energy and gives about a 160hp electric boost. The MGU-H is dropped for 2026, tripling electric power.
What Is the Halo in F1? The Titanium Bar That Saves Lives
The halo is a titanium ring above an F1 cockpit that protects the driver's head. Mandatory since 2018, it withstands about 15 times the car's weight.
Most MotoGP Championships (Premier-Class Titles)
Giacomo Agostini holds the premier-class record with 8 MotoGP/500cc titles. Full leaderboard, plus how all-class totals like Valentino Rossi's differ.
Most MotoGP Wins (Premier-Class Race Winners)
Valentino Rossi holds the premier-class record with 89 MotoGP/500cc race wins. Full leaderboard, plus how all-class totals like Agostini's 122 differ.
Most NASCAR Championships (Cup Series)
Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson are tied for the most NASCAR Cup Series titles with seven each. The full championship leaderboard.
Youngest World Champion in F1 History
Sebastian Vettel is the youngest F1 World Champion, winning the 2010 title at 23 years and 134 days. Full leaderboard of the youngest champions, explained.
F1 General Admission Tickets Explained
What F1 general admission tickets are, how they differ from grandstands, what you see, and typical 2026 price ranges that vary by Grand Prix.
The Fastest Lap in F1 History
Max Verstappen holds the fastest lap in F1 history — 264.682 km/h at Monza in 2025. See the full leaderboard of F1's fastest qualifying and race laps ever, verified.
How Do NASCAR Playoffs Work?
NASCAR's playoffs feature 16 drivers in a 10-race, four-round elimination format that ends with a winner-take-all Championship 4 finale. Explained simply.
How Does the 24 Hours of Le Mans Work?
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is an endurance race where teams of drivers share one car for 24 hours; whoever covers the most distance wins. How it works.
How Much Does Go-Karting Cost?
How much go-karting costs: a single arrive-and-drive race, memberships, kids' rates and owning a race kart, with typical 2026 price ranges explained.
IndyCar vs F1: Which Is Faster?
IndyCar vs F1 compared: top speed, horsepower, cars, ovals, cost and driver pay. Which is faster and which is harder, explained side by side.
Most Consecutive F1 Wins
Max Verstappen holds the F1 record with 10 straight wins in 2023, breaking Sebastian Vettel's 9. The full streak leaderboard, explained.
Most F1 World Championships
Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher share the F1 record with seven world titles each. The full leaderboard of F1 champions, explained.
Most F1 Podiums of All Time
Lewis Hamilton holds the F1 record with 202 career podiums, far ahead of Michael Schumacher's 155. The full leaderboard, explained.
Most F1 Pole Positions
Lewis Hamilton has taken 104 pole positions, the most in Formula 1 history. The full leaderboard of F1's all-time pole leaders, explained.
Most F1 Race Wins in a Season
Max Verstappen holds the record with 19 F1 race wins in 2023. The full leaderboard of the most wins in a single Formula 1 season, explained.
Most F1 Wins of All Time
Lewis Hamilton has won 105 Formula 1 races, the most of all time. The full leaderboard of the all-time F1 race win leaders, explained.
Most Indy 500 Wins in History
Four drivers share the Indy 500 record with 4 wins each: A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Rick Mears and Helio Castroneves. The full leaderboard, explained.
Most Wins in NASCAR History
Richard Petty holds the NASCAR Cup Series record with 200 career wins, nearly double David Pearson's 105. The full leaderboard, explained.
MotoGP vs F1: Speed, Cost and Key Differences
MotoGP is premier motorcycle racing; F1 is premier open-wheel car racing. How they compare on speed, cost, driver pay and difficulty, explained.
NASCAR Flags and What Each One Means
A plain-English guide to every NASCAR flag: green, yellow, red, black, white, checkered and the blue-with-yellow-stripe, and exactly what each one signals.
What Is Push-to-Pass in IndyCar?
Push-to-pass is an IndyCar button that gives a temporary horsepower boost to help overtaking. How it works, its limits, and where it's used.
The Youngest F1 Drivers in History
Max Verstappen debuted at 17 years, 166 days in 2015, the youngest F1 driver in history. The full leaderboard of the youngest F1 debutants, explained.
What Is a Chicane in F1? Corners That Slow Cars
A chicane in F1 is a tight S-shaped sequence of corners built to slow cars down. Learn why tracks use them, the famous ones, and how drivers attack them.
Best Budget Sim Racing Setup: What to Buy Under $500
The best budget sim racing setup costs $230-500: a wheel-and-pedal bundle, a desk clamp, and no fancy rig. Real 2026 prices and picks.
Best Go-Karting Tracks in the US (2026)
The best go-karting tracks in the US for 2026: Andretti Fort Worth's real prices and hours, K1 Speed, Pole Position Raceway, and SuperCharged compared.
Best Sim Racing Cockpits in 2026
The best sim racing cockpit for most buyers is a folding aluminum or steel rig under $250. Compare folding, fixed, seat and triple-monitor picks by price.
Canadian Grand Prix F1 Tickets: Prices and How to Buy
Canadian Grand Prix F1 tickets run $300 to $1,150+ by tier. Real prices, the 2027 on-sale date, and how safe resale actually is.
Direct Drive vs. Belt Drive: Which Wheelbase Do You Need?
Direct drive vs belt drive sim racing wheelbases compared on torque, price, noise, and durability, with real 2026 product numbers to help you pick.
F1 Austin Tickets: 2026 US Grand Prix Prices and Guide
F1 Austin tickets for 2026 start at $109 for a single Friday practice day and rise past $2,000 for the Main Grandstand. See the full price breakdown here.
F1 Monaco Grand Prix Tickets: Prices and What to Know
Monaco GP tickets ran €45-€1,150 for 2026, with hospitality terraces past €4,500. Here's what each tier gets you and when 2027 sales open.
F1 Paddock Club Tickets: What's Included and What It Costs
F1 Paddock Club prices run $5,500 to over $15,000 per race weekend. See exactly what's included, how it beats local hospitality, and what GA gets you.
Go Karting for Beginners: What It Costs and What to Expect
Go karting costs $20-$32 a race at US chains like K1 Speed and Andretti, plus a small annual license fee. See 2026 pricing and if membership pays off.
Racing Sim Rig: The Complete Beginner's Guide
What a racing sim rig actually is, the three main types, real 2026 prices from $70 to $3,000+, and whether to buy pre-built or build your own.
Sim Racing Motion Rigs: What They Do and Whether You Need One
A sim racing motion rig physically tilts and shifts your cockpit to mimic G-forces. Real 2026 prices from $1,499 to $30,000, and who actually needs one.
Aluminum vs. Wood Sim Racing Rigs: Does Frame Material Matter?
Aluminum extrusion vs wood sim racing rigs compared on rigidity under direct drive torque, real 2026 cost, modularity, and DIY difficulty.
What Is DRS in F1? Drag Reduction System Explained
DRS opened a flap in an F1 rear wing to cut drag and aid overtakes. It was dropped for 2026, replaced by active aero and Override Mode. See how it works.
F1 Points System Explained: How Formula 1 Scoring Works
The top 10 finishers in a Formula 1 race score points on a 25-18-15 scale down to 1. Here's the full breakdown, sprint points, and the reduced-points rule.
Pole Positions at the Las Vegas Grand Prix: F1 on the Strip
The Las Vegas Grand Prix brought Formula 1 back to the famous Strip circuit. See pole position history and what makes qualifying around Las Vegas unique.
Best Sports Bikes: Top Motorcycles for Performance Riders
A guide to the best sports bikes on the market, covering the key models, what makes them stand out, and what to consider when choosing a performance motorcycle.
Highest Paid Race Car Drivers: Earnings in Motorsport Explained
A look at which race car drivers earn the most, how motorsport pay is structured, and which disciplines command the biggest salaries and endorsements.
Fastest F1 Cars Ever: The Machines That Redefined Speed
A look at the fastest Formula 1 cars in history, judged by lap records, technical innovation, and dominance over their competitive era.
Greatest Motocross Riders of All Time: MX Legends Ranked
The greatest motocross riders ever, ranked. Stefan Everts, Ricky Carmichael, Antonio Cairoli and more, weighed by premier-class titles and career dominance.
Best Female NASCAR Drivers of All Time, Ranked
The 10 most accomplished female NASCAR drivers, ranked by on-track results — from 1949 pioneer Sara Christian to Danica Patrick and full-time racer Toni Breidinger.
Most Affordable Sports Cars: Fun Performance on a Budget
The most affordable new sports cars in 2026, ranked cheapest to priciest by starting price: Mazda MX-5 Miata, Toyota GR86, Subaru WRX, Nissan Z and six more.
Best Race Car Drivers of All Time: Ranked Across Motorsport
The greatest race car drivers ever, ranked across F1, IndyCar, NASCAR and Le Mans — from Hamilton and Schumacher to Fangio and Andretti, with the case for each.
Greatest Formula 1 Drivers of All Time, Ranked
The greatest Formula 1 drivers ever, ranked — Hamilton, Schumacher, Senna, Fangio, Verstappen and more, judged on peak, teammates and era-adjusted results.