With four rounds to go in the 2025 Formula 1 world championship, Oscar Piastri will have to confirm he can overcome his late season slump as he battles Lando Norris for the world title.
After Norris’ calamitous retirement in Zandvoort, Piastri’s lead ballooned to 34 points, meaning a drama-free end to the season for Piastri would have made it extremely difficult for Norris to come back. Piastri’s poise and consistency made a comeback for his team-mate feel like a left-field scenario.
But coinciding with Max Verstappen entering the title debate with a resurgent Red Bull, Norris has hit his stride and taken over from Piastri as McLaren’s in-form driver. That in itself wouldn’t have been a huge issue for Piastri given his points lead, but a costly DNF in Baku after a messy, crash-filled weekend was followed by two off-kilter weekends in Austin and Mexico where the Australian was genuinely off the pace all weekend.
Meanwhile, Norris delivered his best qualifying lap of the season in Mexico and went on to win by a huge 30-second margin, taking the championship lead from his team-mate by one point.
It led to a spate of theories from fans and pundits, some more outlandish than others, that the otherwise unflappable Piastri was cracking under the pressure, or that there was something wrong with his chassis. Or even that McLaren would somehow sabotage one of its two cars capable of defeating Verstappen to claim its first double world championship win since 1998, after having gone through all that trouble to treat both Norris and Piastri as equal number ones.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
McLaren’s explanation was a more prosaic, technical one – Piastri’s issues were down to the low-grip circuits of Austin and Mexico and the way the quick but difficult-to-drive MCL39 needed to be handled in those conditions.
“It was good to prove that it was the fastest car,” Stella said after the Mexico GP. “But the fastest car is also a car that needs to be driven in a certain way, especially when you have conditions like here and to some extent in Austin, with hot tarmac, sliding tyres, and the way in which you generate lap time is a way that comes relatively naturally for Lando and less naturally for Oscar.
“At the same time, we don’t have to forget that while we talk about the leader in the drivers’ championship, he’s not even finished the third season in Formula 1, so experiencing situations like we have [in Mexico] and Austin is how you actually calibrate yourself as a driver. Every session, Oscar is learning a little bit as to what you need to do.”
He added: “Oscar should be very proud of himself of how he has handled it. We could see in the race that he was applying this.”
Somewhat oversimplifying it, Piastri needed to embrace the fact that sliding the car wasn’t a sign he was doing things wrong. Counterintuitively, it was actually required to wring those final tenths out of his machine, like Norris had been able to do.
Piastri said it was tough to understand how the tidier, on-rails driving style that had made him a world title frontrunner suddenly stopped working for two races. “For some reason, the last couple of weekends has required a very different way of driving, and what’s worked well for me in the last 19 races has needed something very different the last couple of weekends,” he debriefed after the North American double-header.
“Trying to wrap my head around why has been a bit of a struggle, but ultimately [the race] was about trying to experiment with some of those things. Driving the way I’ve had to drive these last couple of weekends is not particularly natural for me, so it’s been about trying to exploit it as much as I can.”
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto / Getty Images
Stella categorically ruled out that Piastri’s form curve had anything to do with his forced chassis change after he damaged his original one in Baku. “Every evidence, every piece of data, every indirect measurement of information we have tells us that there is no problem with the car, and we have no reason to suspect that that’s the case,” the Italian explained.
“I know that in the history of F1 there is this topic of changing the chassis. I would change other components than the chassis, like the floor, the front wing, but in reality there is a rotation of parts, so it’s not like there is always the same parts on the car. So we have reasons to be reassured that there is no problem with the car.”
What McLaren did prove to itself in Mexico is that it still has a car that can win and even dominate races. It always believed as much, but that confidence understandably received a bit of a knock after being beaten by Verstappen at circuits where it dominated in 2024, like Singapore. Norris’ Mexico performance has therefore come as a relief, and gave team boss Stella “more confidence” that it can halt Verstappen’s march to a fifth title over the remaining four rounds than he had before the weekend – even if the Dutchman is now 36 points behind McLaren’s leader driver rather than 40.
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But starting from this weekend’s sprint event in Sao Paulo, Piastri also has something to prove – McLaren’s theory that his slump was largely track dependent. “In the final four races, there’s no reason to think that one may favour one driver or the other,” Stella insisted.
“For Lando and Oscar, there’s no problem in terms of track layout coming in the next four races. If anything, we need to make sure that we are in condition to extract the full performance that is available in the car, like we have been able to do in Mexico [unlike previous races].
“Even if he lost some points to Verstappen, I think Oscar has got a lot of learning from this weekend. And that’s an investment that you make to make sure that you are competitive in every condition in the final part of the season. So overall, we come out of this weekend encouraged and optimistic.”
To both keep his title bid on the rails and restore his own confidence in the car, Piastri would do well to stop the rot at the very first opportunity, and get at least close to Norris starting at Interlagos this weekend.
Calicut (Kerala) [India], December 21 : The Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL) Season 2 concluded in spectacular fashion with a historic Grand Finale at the EMS Corporation Stadium, Calicut. Megastar and ISRL Brand Ambassador Salman Khan was present on ground, adding star power to an electrifying night of high-octane racing and live entertainment, as per a release.
The finale witnessed a record-breaking turnout of over 32,000 fans, marking the highest-ever attendance for a motorsporting event in India and reinforcing Kerala’s strong connection with motorsport and large-scale live sporting experiences, the release said.
Amid roaring crowds and intense on-track action, Team Bigrock Motorsports were crowned ISRL Season 2 Champions, capping off a fiercely competitive championship that unfolded across Pune, Hyderabad and Calicut. The season showcased a compelling blend of international excellence and emerging Indian talent.
The Calicut round delivered thrilling racing across all categories. Matt Moss from team BigRock Motorsports (Australia) claimed victory in the 450cc International class aboard the Kawasaki KX 450, while Calvin Fonvieille from team Apollo Indewheelers (France) dominated the 250cc International category on the Yamaha YZ 250. The 250cc India-Asia Mix class was won by Delvinator Alfarizi (Thailand) riding the KTM 250 SX – F, drawing thunderous applause from the packed stadium.
Megastar Salman Khan, Brand Ambassador, ISRL, said, “Watching the Grand Finale in Calicut was truly special. The passion of the fans and the intensity of competition show how far Indian motorsport has come. ISRL is creating a platform where Indian riders can compete confidently alongside the world’s best,” as quoted from a release.
Reflecting on the season, Veer Patel, Managing Director, ISRL, said, “Season 2 reflects the growing belief in Supercross across India. From Pune to Hyderabad and now Calicut, the record-breaking fan response shows the sport has truly found a home here, while we continue building strong pathways for Indian riders alongside world-class racing.”
Over the course of Season 2, 36 international riders from 21 countries, including Australia, France, the USA, Germany, Thailand and South Africa, competed alongside India’s top riders such as Rugved Barguje, Ikshan Shanbhag, Prajwal Vishwanath and Shlok Ghorpade, highlighting ISRL’s growing global stature, as per the release.
Beyond the races, the Reise Moto ISRL Fan Park transformed EMS Corporation Stadium into a complete motorsport festival, featuring live music, racing simulators, interactive brand zones, food experiences, merchandise and rider interactions, creating an immersive fan experience for families and enthusiasts alike.
With Season 2 concluding on a historic high, the Indian Supercross Racing League now looks ahead to expanding its footprint, strengthening grassroots development and further positioning India on the global Supercross map.
Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
The Hakone Ekiden is a race with a tradition spanning more than 100 years, dating back to its founding in 1920. Toyota began providing certain operational vehicles in 2003 to help nurture the next generation of young athletes and has supported the event as a sponsor since 2011. Throughout its involvement, Toyota has continually considered how to reduce vehicle emissions to make the race more athlete- and planet-friendly.
Toyota is advancing its multi-pathway approach, offering electrified vehicle options tailored to diverse energy circumstances in each country and region and to varied customer needs. Accordingly, the company felt that its diverse lineup of vehicles, including BEVs and FCEVs, could contribute to the Hakone Ekiden.
In total, 40 electrified vehicles will be provided for the race. The joint camera truck filming leading runners and the Century serving as a race headquarters vehicle will be provided as original FCEV models. These vehicles are equipped with fuel cells instead of engines and powered by motors that generate electricity through the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. They are extremely quiet and emit only water.
Vehicles transporting people and equipment for the race will also be electrified. e-Palettes will serve as emergency response vehicles for all situations, while FCEV Coasters will transport related personnel.
Each university team operations vehicle will be an HEV used in combination with low-carbon E10 gasoline, which contains 10% biofuel. ENEOS Corporation will provide E10 fuel made from ethanol derived from non-edible sorghum plants produced through the Research Association of Biomass Innovation for Next Generation Automobile Fuels*. These initiatives will reduce exhaust gases and carbon dioxide emissions from these vehicles.
Sports give people courage and touch their hearts. Toyota, which has supported athletes through various activities since its founding, will continue to help make the Hakone Ekiden a sustainable race that is both athlete- and planet-friendly through these initiatives.
FOX Sports paid a touching tribute to the NASCAR icon Greg Biffle during the Carolina Panthers’ win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
On Sunday, the Panthers took a significant step toward winning the NFC South by securing a 23-20 victory over the Buccaneers, improving to 8-7. Bryce Young completed 21 of 32 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns in a crucial win.
But coverage of the showdown was interrupted as FOX decided to pay tribute to Biffle. The NASCAR favorite tragically died on Thursday in a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport. FOX paid tribute during its live NFL coverage, after Terry Bradshaw was forced to duck for cover in a chaotic moment during Saturday’s special show.
Biffle, along with his wife, Cristina, and two children, perished in the horrific crash. During the Panthers game, broadcaster Chris Myers honored Biffle by highlighting his fine work off the track as well as his fine career.
“Greg Biffle, a NASCAR legend who had career success at all three levels of the sport, did great humanitarian work, died this past Thursday in a plane crash with his family,” Myers said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him, the NASCAR family, and all friends.”
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Biffle raced for 16 seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series. He earned 19 wins competing in an era with the likes of Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson.
The 55-year-old was supposed to fly with his family to the Bahamas, although a stop was scheduled in Sarasota, FL. The plane instead was attempting to re-land at the Statesville airport in North Carolina, around 40 miles away from Charlotte. The crash occurred around 10:20 AM ET.
The mother of Biffle’s wife, Cathy Grossu, told PEOPLE magazine what her last texts with her daughter, Cristina, were. Cathy revealed: “She texted me from the plane, and she said, ‘We’re in trouble.’ And that was it. So we’re devastated. We’re brokenhearted.
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“To think that they would be killed on a birthday trip, that was just such a fun time for the family. And to see the horrific way that it ended, it’s just, it is so hard to bear. I cannot believe they’re gone.
“I don’t remember what the last words that I said to my daughter or to Greg or to my precious Ryder (her granddaughter). I don’t remember. I know we hugged, but I don’t remember those last words, and that’s going to haunt me. But they were happy.”
Not many NASCAR drivers can say they retired on a win — but the Late, Great Greg Biffle can. Biffle made his NASCAR debut in the Busch Series in 1996, driving part-time before moving to the Truck Series in 1998.
He later progressed to full-time Cup Series competition, building a highly successful career across all three national series. Biffle won titles in the Truck and Xfinity series and nearly completed the Grand Slam in 2005, finishing second in the Cup. The North Carolinian won a total of 56 races across NASCAR’s three national series during his career: 19 in the Cup Series, 20 in the Xfinity (Busch) Series, and 17 in the Craftsman Truck Series.
He retired from full-time competition after the 2019 season, but won his last-ever NASCAR race, the Truck event in Texas at the SpeedyCash.com 400. It was Biffle’s first Truck win in 15 years. On Thursday, Biffle, his wife Cristina, and two of his children, Emma, 14, and Ryder, 5, were four of seven killed in a tragic plane crash in Statesville, NC.
A preliminary report is expected within 30 days from the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation. Three of the people on board, including former stock car racer Biffle, had their pilot’s license.
Collection and documentation of the crash will take place, and investigators will begin to piece together what went wrong. A central focus of the investigation will be locating and analyzing the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), which captures all sounds inside the cockpit. Once recovered, the device will be sent to a laboratory in Washington, D.C. for examination.
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Greg Biffle raced in his last-ever NASCAR race in 2019, driving the No. 51 in the Truck Series for the June 7 SpeedyCash.com 400.
Biffle, who tragically died on Thursday in a horror plane crash in Statesville, NC, had retired from full-time NASCAR racing in 2016 after two decades in the sport.
The NASCAR legend won two NASCAR national series Truck and Xfinity titles — but fell short in the Cup, finishing second in 2005.
Those also killed this week were his wife, Cristina, daughter, Emma, son, Ryder, and three others.
The Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL) Season 2 concluded in spectacular fashion with a historic Grand Finale at the EMS Corporation Stadium, Calicut. Megastar and ISRL Brand Ambassador Salman Khan was present on ground, adding star power to an electrifying night of high-octane racing and live entertainment, as per a release. The finale witnessed a record-breaking turnout of over 32,000 fans, marking the highest-ever attendance for a motorsporting event in India and reinforcing Kerala’s strong connection with motorsport and large-scale live sporting experiences, the release said.
Amid roaring crowds and intense on-track action, Team Bigrock Motorsports were crowned ISRL Season 2 Champions, capping off a fiercely competitive championship that unfolded across Pune, Hyderabad and Calicut. The season showcased a compelling blend of international excellence and emerging Indian talent.
The Calicut round delivered thrilling racing across all categories. Matt Moss from team BigRock Motorsports (Australia) claimed victory in the 450cc International class aboard the Kawasaki KX 450, while Calvin Fonvieille from team Apollo Indewheelers (France) dominated the 250cc International category on the Yamaha YZ 250. The 250cc India-Asia Mix class was won by Delvinator Alfarizi (Thailand) riding the KTM 250 SX – F, drawing thunderous applause from the packed stadium.
Megastar Salman Khan, Brand Ambassador, ISRL, said, “Watching the Grand Finale in Calicut was truly special. The passion of the fans and the intensity of competition show how far Indian motorsport has come. ISRL is creating a platform where Indian riders can compete confidently alongside the world’s best,” as quoted from a release.
Reflecting on the season, Veer Patel, Managing Director, ISRL, said, “Season 2 reflects the growing belief in Supercross across India. From Pune to Hyderabad and now Calicut, the record-breaking fan response shows the sport has truly found a home here, while we continue building strong pathways for Indian riders alongside world-class racing.”
Over the course of Season 2, 36 international riders from 21 countries, including Australia, France, the USA, Germany, Thailand and South Africa, competed alongside India’s top riders such as Rugved Barguje, Ikshan Shanbhag, Prajwal Vishwanath and Shlok Ghorpade, highlighting ISRL’s growing global stature, as per the release.
Beyond the races, the Reise Moto ISRL Fan Park transformed EMS Corporation Stadium into a complete motorsport festival, featuring live music, racing simulators, interactive brand zones, food experiences, merchandise and rider interactions, creating an immersive fan experience for families and enthusiasts alike.
With Season 2 concluding on a historic high, the Indian Supercross Racing League now looks ahead to expanding its footprint, strengthening grassroots development and further positioning India on the global Supercross map.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Drag Racing with CHRISTMAS TREES! Racing Action From Cleetus McFarland’s XMAS Tree Drags 2025 At Bradenton Motorsports Park
Dec 21, 2025Chad Reynolds1320 Event Coverage, 1320 Spotlight, 1320 Videos, BangShift 1320, RACING & ACTION, Videos
Cleetus’ Christmas Tree Race 2025 was a very special race. The race has become kind of a big deal since starting a few years ago, and has some pretty simple rules. You must race with a Christmas Tree on or in your vehicle, it must be a minimum of 6 feet tall, it can’t fall off, and you have to have lights on it. Simple right? Well…
Video Description:
We wrapped up Cleetus McFarland’s XMAS Tree Drags 2025, following the entire event from start to finish. This video covers every round from the OG 32-car field all the way through the Elite 8 — the fastest cars on the property — right down to the finals.
Cleetus lined up in both Mullet and Leroy, alongside a stacked field of big-name cars and a few surprise entries we hadn’t seen before. From first-round shakeups to the final matchups, this one delivered nonstop action.
FREE LIVE DRAG RACING: The 4th Annual Christmas On The Coast Jr. Dragster Races From Gulfport Dragway – Saturday
