(GMM) Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali (pictured) has played down expectations of an imminent German GP return, warning that the event will not force its way back onto the calendar without the right commercial conditions.

Germany has been absent from the schedule since the pandemic-era race at the Nurburgring in 2020, with the last traditional German GP held at Hockenheimring in 2019.

Speaking to motorsport-magazin.com, Domenicali struck a cautious tone.

“The good thing is that we’re not desperate, because we have so many inquiries from all over the world,” the Italian said. “If the German market doesn’t see the return of Formula 1 as a priority, then we have to accept that and look ahead.”

That remark follows comments from German motorsport bodies, including the ADAC, who have openly acknowledged that rising hosting fees make a race financially unviable under current conditions.

Still, Domenicali insisted the door is not closed.

“We are ready and open to any kind of discussion,” he added. “I see a few signs of a silver lining. Hopefully this will develop further in the coming months. We are interested in returning to Germany – but with the right organizer and the right offer.”

The wider context is Formula 1’s booming global demand, with new and returning venues competing fiercely for limited calendar slots, leaving traditional European races under increasing financial pressure.

Domenicali also addressed speculation that free-to-air television could help reignite interest in Germany, following ongoing changes to the country’s broadcast landscape.

“I don’t believe that’s the solution,” he said, referring to calls for a stronger free-to-air presence. “We have to wait and see how the situation develops after RTL’s compliance process, as they will then own our rights, to see what the best platform is.”

While acknowledging the importance of accessibility, Domenicali made clear that Formula 1’s future lies primarily online.

“Not in the short term on the German market,” he explained, “but we definitely need to put together the right package with RTL to be attractive.”

The Chili Bowl Nationals just got a lot more Chili-er. FloRacing has signed a deal with Chili’s to partner on broadcast coverage of the event. 2026 will be the 40th edition of the Chili Bowl, and there will be plenty of big names to watch and great races to see.

It is still the Chili Bowl Nationals powered by NOS Energy Drink. However, FloRacing, the exclusive broadcast provider of the Chili Bowl, has signed a deal with the Bar & Grill that is so aptly fitting of this dirt race.

Chili’s is serving as the official sponsor of the live pre-show. Each day, a new NASCAR star will be a special guest each day of the Chili Bowl Nationals. Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Carson Hocevar, Tony Stewart, and Chase Briscoe are all going to be on the show throughout the week. Chili’s will sponsor the post-show as well as a new series on Flo called “Chili’s Road to Chili Bowl.”

There is going to be a lot of Chili’s influence in the event. I love seeing the NASCAR stars getting involved. Of course, Larson, Bell, and Stewart are not so much NASCAR stars as they are multi-time Chili Bowl Nationals champions, but I digress. A lot of dirt racing knowledge in that lineup, including Chase Briscoe. Then you have Carson Hocevar, the young and wild Cup Series driver. He has some dirt racing experience, just ran the Gateway Nationals in a late model.

Spire Motorsports is definitely the one to thank/blame for this Chili’s sponsorship around the Chili Bowl. They have recently expanded into the High Limit Racing series with Gio Scelzi for 2026. He is also competing in the Chili Bowl. Chili’s is taking this Spire deal and using it to become a premier partner, not just in NASCAR, but in dirt racing as well. It’s exciting to see a brand like this take racing so seriously.

Chili Bowl Nationals featuring NASCAR talent

If Chili’s is serious about racing like it appears they are, that’s good for all motorsports. Who cares if they want to spend some money in NASCAR and in dirt racing. It’s good for everyone.

For instance, Kyle Larson is heavily involved in dirt and NASCAR racing, duh. His High Limit Racing series is becoming a major player against the World of Outlaws. Larson’s talent speaks for itself, as he wins races and championships on both dirt and pavement with regularity. I’d say that his popularity and success as a driver is because of, not in spite of, his overall dedication to motorsports and racing.

The Chili Bowl Nationals is an event that should have so much more mainstream attention. It is a brutal journey for many of these teams and drivers. To go through the alphabet soup and come out on top in the A-Main, that’s the dream of all those who come to Tulsa for this event.

Chili’s is seizing on a moment of growth in motorsports. Believe it or not, that is something that is happening.

“Live sports moments have been key to us reaching passionate fanbases, and that’s what initially drew us to motorsports,” said Tim Forman, Chili’s Director of Media, in a statement. “We continue to show up in unexpected ways with Spire Motorsports, and in that spirit, we’re excited to join both Spire and FloRacing at the iconic Chili Bowl Nationals. We couldn’t think of a better event for Chili’s than the Chili Bowl Nationals and we’re excited to partner with Flo to bring more content to race fans across the country.” 

CONCORD, N.C., Dec. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ten Tenths Motor Club has named longtime automotive executive Andy Thomas as its new Vice President of Manufacturer Relations, bringing more than three decades of global experience in luxury automotive sales, marketing and brand management to the newly opened motorsports and lifestyle destination.

In his new role, Thomas will develop and maintain relationships with OEM partners to understand their needs, perspectives and objectives, while working to identify opportunities for growth by leveraging new and existing partnerships to increase facility usage.

Click here for photos to support this release.

Thomas joins Ten Tenths Motor Club after serving as Vice President of Marketing and Communications for McLaren Automotive North Americasince 2015, where he led strategic marketing, communications and global strategy that helped drive record sales growth. During his decade with McLaren, Thomas oversaw experiential events in over 30 major metro markets and developed retail programs that significantly increased sales conversions and owner engagement.

“Andy’s reputation and relationships within the global automotive community are unmatched,” said Rick Hendrick, who founded Ten Tenths Motor Club in partnership with Speedway Motorsports. “His leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our partnerships with manufacturers and luxury brands as we continue to establish Ten Tenths as a world-class venue for automotive experiences.”

Prior to McLaren, Thomas served in leadership roles with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in both Goodwood, U.K. and North America, where he guided global brand alignment and oversaw international marketing strategy across Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Earlier in his career, he held key marketing and sales roles with BMW of North America, Ferrari North America and Land Rover North America, gaining experience in dealer relations, product marketing and luxury customer engagement.

“Our vision for Ten Tenths Motor Club is to establish the facility as not only a premier experience for passionate automotive enthusiasts, but also to create a destination for corporate events that is unmatched in the automotive industry,” said Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith. “We look forward to Andy joining our efforts to invite manufacturers from around the world to Ten Tenths Motor Club and the greater Charlotte region.”

A Clemson University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Thomas also serves on the Board of the Erwin Center for Brand Communication at his alma mater. In that role, he mentors students, sponsors real-world marketing projects and connects students with opportunities across the automotive and luxury brand landscape.

A native of Salisbury, Maryland, Thomas began his career in dealer operations at Fox Chevrolet in Baltimore before joining the OEM side of the industry. His work has taken him across the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe, building a broad network and a deep understanding of international brand collaboration.

“I’m thrilled to join Ten Tenths at such an exciting time,” Thomas said. “The club’s vision represents the next evolution of automotive lifestyle and performance culture. I look forward to connecting global manufacturers with this extraordinary facility and to becoming part of the Charlotte community.”

Located adjacent to the iconic Charlotte Motor Speedway, Ten Tenths Motor Club combines exclusive track access, curated events and premium hospitality to create an unparalleled environment for members and partners. The facility has quickly become a premier destination in the Charlotte metropolitan area for automotive launches, luxury brand activations, enthusiast experiences and special events. Tickets are now on sale for Ten Tenths Motor Club signature public event, Heritage Invitational, April 9-11, 2026.

About Ten Tenths Motor Club

Based in Concord, North Carolina, Ten Tenths Motor Club is a private automotive and lifestyle destination designed for those who live and breathe performance. Located beside Charlotte Motor Speedway, the club offers members access to exclusive driving experiences, signature events, and brand collaborations with the world’s most respected automotive manufacturers and luxury partners.

Learn more at www.tententhsmotorclub.com.

SOURCE Speedway Motorsports

https://www.hendrickmotorsport…Editor’s note: This is part of a series from NASCAR.com reviewing the top 30 drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in reverse order of the 2025 final standings. 

• Driver: Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 
• Crew chief: Blake Harris 
• Final 2025 ranking: 13th
• Key stats: six top fives, 16 top 10s

How 2025 ended: Bowman made the Cup Series Playoffs for the second year in a row, earning the final spot available on points.  

RELATED: Jeff Gordon 1 of 1 trading card to be released by Panini

Best race: Suffering a major crash in the previous race at Michigan International Speedway, Bowman participated in the inaugural Cup Series event in Mexico City in obvious pain. Not feeling 100%, Bowman overcame a 29th-place starting position to finish fourth at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, earning what was his third top five of the season. It began a streak of seven top-11 results over the next eight races. Odd timing for sure, but Mexico City paved the way toward his 2025 playoff spot. 

Other season highlights: Bowman’s stellar summer certainly stood out, but his superb start to the season was equally impressive. The Tucson, Arizona, native earned top 10s in five of the first six races, including a runner-up at Homestead-Miami Speedway after earning the pole. During the summer months, he finished third twice and added a second-place at Richmond Raceway, nearly besting Austin Dillon for the win. Down the stretch, he finished seventh at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, adding another plus result to what’s historically been one of his best tracks.

RELATED: Check out all of Hendrick Motorsports’ 2026 paint schemes right here!

Quotable: “The biggest strength is the momentum that we have behind us … the year that we’ve been able to put together, the speed that we’ve had at some race tracks that I’ve been pretty bad at before. At Homestead(-Miami Speedway), we’ve never been good and we almost won. Richmond, we’ve been pretty bad with the Next Gen car, and we were strong there. So, I think that shows me that we can go to places that we haven’t been good at before and be really strong.”

Looking ahead: Bowman will return to Hendrick Motorsports in 2026 for his ninth full-time campaign with the organization. 

(GMM) Formula 1’s 2026 engine rules have been thrown into early controversy after reports that Honda, Ferrari and Audi are challenging Mercedes and Red Bull over an alleged compression-ratio loophole.

According to German outlet motorsport-magazin.com, the three manufacturers have lodged a complaint with the FIA claiming Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains have found a way to effectively retain an 18:1 geometric compression ratio under the new regulations, despite the mandated limit of 16:1.

The allegation centers on thermal expansion. While the 2026 rules cap compression at 16:1, measurements are specified to be taken at ambient temperature. Rivals suspect that once the engines reach operating temperatures, component expansion allows Mercedes and Red Bull to regain a higher effective compression ratio – potentially restoring levels similar to 2025.

Estimates cited in the report suggest the advantage could be worth around 15 horsepower, translating to as much as three tenths of a second per lap at a circuit like Albert Park.

Editor’s Note: This smells like the typical F1 off-season bullshit that comes up every winter to keep F1 in the news. The regulations define the materials you can use for most of the internal internal compbustion engine components – pistons, piston connecting rods, crank, etc. – and even the size of any inserts in the cylinder heads. Thermal expansion of about 0.5mm needed to get to a 1:18 compression ratio should be the same for everyone.  If Mercedes and Red Bull have found another way to do it then, good for them.  That is what we call genius engineering and it’s what we come to expect from F1.

The FIA has acknowledged the issue is under active discussion. A spokesperson said: “Thermal expansion can influence dimensions at operating temperature, but current regulations do not require measurements under hot conditions.

“That said, the issue has been and continues to be discussed in technical forums with manufacturers.”

French newspaper L’Equipe reports that all five 2026 power unit suppliers – Mercedes, Red Bull-Ford, Ferrari, Honda and Audi – are meeting with the FIA on Monday in an extraordinary technical session. If Mercedes and Red Bull reach an understanding with the governing body, the other manufacturers are still expected to retain the right to protest ahead of the Australian GP.

Engineers quoted in the German press warn that if the FIA rules against the interpretation, Mercedes and Red Bull could be forced to mechanically reduce compression back to 16:1 – a change that would likely cost performance, given that the power units are already homologated for 2026.

The timing is significant. Red Bull’s in-house power project, backed by Ford, had been widely expected to face early difficulties under the new rules. However, Max Verstappen’s manager Raymond Vermeulen has played down those fears.

“We’ve heard good things about the engine,” Vermeulen said – a remark now gaining added weight as scrutiny intensifies over Mercedes and Red Bull’s alleged behind-the-scenes confidence.