Motorsports
The Nicole Scherzinger theory behind Lewis Hamilton's F1 performances
“When he first came into this sport, we used to joke amongst the team that Lewis’s performance was so intrinsically linked to the state of their relationship,” Priestley said on his Pitlane Life Lessons podcast.“As in, on a good day, he performed well. When their relationship was in the doldrums, and they were so off and […]
“When he first came into this sport, we used to joke amongst the team that Lewis’s performance was so intrinsically linked to the state of their relationship,” Priestley said on his Pitlane Life Lessons podcast.“As in, on a good day, he performed well. When their relationship was in the doldrums, and they were so off and on, it was a bit like an emotional roller coaster – when he was in these low points in the relationship, you could clearly track the performance in the car to the way their relationship status seemed to be.
Lewis Hamilton’s relationship with Nicole Scherzinger could be ‘clearly tracked’
“Lewis told me he’s been working constantly on trying to correct that self-story. He’s been working on trying to understand what he can do differently about what he tells himself.
“He said he came to an understanding and an appreciation that clearly that wasn’t good for him, and the more that he kept telling himself that story, that it was his fault, that he wasn’t good enough, that’s Lewis telling himself a story in his own mind that then backs up the beliefs that he isn’t good enough,” he said.
“We joked that there seemed to be more lap time in keeping those two together than there ever could be with anything we could do with the car!
“To get the driver, who’s a key part of that debrief, in a state where he’s just throwing petulance [with] answers that are unhelpful to you because he’s so down, that’s not in any way productive and doesn’t help us get closer to a solution.
“But he’d often go away on a Saturday night, he’d disappear, and I wouldn’t see him on a Saturday evening. He would sometimes even cancel commitments to sponsors and partners. He would disappear and shut himself in a room, and he probably pondered over it for quite some time, digging himself into an even bigger and deeper hole, is how he’s described it to me in years gone by.
“It’s not a strength necessarily or a weakness, it’s just part of who we are and our individualism. Lewis has some unbelievable strengths that many of us can only dream of being able to achieve.
“Lewis is a guy who’s quite emotional. He wears his heart on his sleeve so, without the ability to really control those emotions to the level that some other people might be able to do or might find easier to do, we were faced with an unbelievably talented racing driver whose performance was, in some way, affected by how his emotional state was, which varied greatly at different times over a race weekend or a season.”
“The more we tell ourselves those stories, the more that story embeds itself in our mind. What happens when that situation occurs is that, over time, we’ll have another disappointing day, and the first thing our mind goes to is this embedded self story that we’re not good enough, that the reason it hasn’t gone well on a Saturday in qualifying or in our own lives, and whatever might have not worked out the way we expected, we jump to this embedded self-story that we’ve been telling ourselves sometimes for years, in many people’s cases, that we’re simply not good enough, or that we’re not as good as the people around us.
“It may be that you’ve had a couple of bad days. It may be that you’re still performing at a very high level, but someone else has come along who’s performing at a higher level. That’s real, and that’s okay, by the way, we can’t control what others do around us, only what we control about what we do ourselves.
“He’d come out of the car on a Saturday after qualifying when it’s been disappointing, and he would go away that evening, and he’d be very quiet. He’d be very down. He wouldn’t offer very much in terms of the debrief.
“But there was a serious point to that, in that it was about understanding and appreciating that Lewis’s emotional state clearly affected his performance. This is not just linked to Lewis Hamilton; of course, we all face these challenges in life.
But, as has been evidenced on countless occasions over the years, Hamilton had, and has, an uncanny ability to brush off negativity.
“Actually, you could easily look at his comments in a post-session debrief after a really difficult Saturday, and he could come across as being petulant. It was often one-word answers. It was the same sort of thing you see in an interview sometimes that you see post-race in the modern era – he can sometimes give flippant or one-word answers that are not in any way really helpful to the process.
The tumultuous nature of the relationship, which was quite often in the public eye due to the celebrity status of both Hamilton and Scherzinger, led his McLaren mechanics to be able to hazard guesses at how well things were going off-track for Hamilton, with Marc Priestley revealing how the garage crew would joke about Scherzinger being the biggest contributor to laptime than any car upgrade.
“Now he finds that quite a difficult thing to do because of that disposition that he has around finding it hard to regulate his own emotions. His emotional state can be so overwhelmingly powerful for him that if something negative happens, it’s very difficult to remember this idea of trying to be confident, to be positive, to tell yourself a good self story.
One of Lewis Hamilton’s former McLaren mechanics has joked how the state of his relationship with Nicole Scherzinger could be tracked by his in-car performances.
“He mulled it over in his mind and continued to tell himself that same story – that he wasn’t doing a good enough job. He would beat himself up emotionally. He would completely reiterate the negative thought processes that he’d been having that afternoon right through into the night until he went to sleep.”
“It’s something that’s intentional that stops the flow of any other thoughts getting in. If you’re intentional about what the thought is, the one thought you’re going to think about and focus everything on it, there is no space for anything else to come in, and that’s the way you create a period of space in your mind. You calm things down. You create this blank space where, at the end of that meditation, where you’re feeling calm, you’re feeling relaxed, but importantly, your mind is free of all of the mess that was in it before.
Upon arriving in Formula 1 in 2007, Hamilton began a long-term relationship with Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, which proved to be quite on and off before the couple split for good in 2015.
“‘Well, now look, I’m verging on 40. I’m creeping into the latter stages of my career. Maybe that’s the reason that I’m now being beaten by this young gun’. Well, the reality is it may be that, but there’s a very high chance it’s not that.
Lewis Hamilton net worth: Where does he rank amongst the world’s 50 highest-paid athletes?
“In Formula 1, it’s really easy to look at other great people in this sport, other teams that might be winning, or drivers that might be winning and measure ourselves against them. If you’re going up against a Max Verstappen, for example, who’s much younger than a Lewis Hamilton that’s now in his 40s, if you’re measuring yourself up against that guy, one of the stories you’re likely to start allowing to creep in is that age must be the factor, because ‘I used to be able to beat him. I used to be able to beat everybody’.
More on Lewis Hamilton in Formula 1
“He creates that freedom and space by eradicating everything and thinking about just one single thing, whether it’s your breath or a kind of mantra that you repeat to yourself, whatever it might be.
“But one thing he was quite good at was waking up the next day with a fresh perspective. He always said to me that this was a new day, a new set of opportunities,” Priestley said.
What methods does Lewis Hamilton use to help control his emotions?
“I’m talking about the thought processes, the constant conversations we all have with ourselves. The person we speak to most in this world, for all of us, is ourselves, and we do that all the time, don’t we? We ask ourselves questions, we tell ourselves things. We question our ability at times, sometimes it might be telling us positive things, and that’s what Lewis said he’d been trying to work on doing, constantly telling himself positive things over and above negative things, even when negative things had been happening.
“How often do we see a way better Sunday than we see him have on a Saturday? That was the same quite often, even way back when he first came into the sport working with us at McLaren.”
“To try and stop that, Lewis has found a way of creating an area of space in his mind, a period of time where he allows nothing to go on in his mind other than this very intentional thought through his meditation.
“So, trying to create a positive emotional state is going to help create a more positive outcome in your performance. So that’s Lewis Hamilton’s idea around meditation, around clearing the mind and resetting the mind. He was able to do that very, very successfully.”
“He may not have expectations that he might have had going into Saturday. His expectations might have had to be reset but, in doing so, he takes away some pressure. He relieves himself of that burden that was overwhelming him on a Saturday. And we go into Sunday with a Lewis that’s there, ready to take the opportunities, to push like crazy.
“The more he hears that story internally, the more substantiated it becomes, and the more ingrained in his own belief system that message becomes. It’s the same for all of us – if we continually tell ourselves that we have messed something up, that it was our fault, that maybe we start to question our own ability, our own performance levels, whatever it is, whether we’re getting old and we can’t do things the way we used to, which, I have no doubt, has crept into Lewis’s mind at times.
“Some of us find it slightly easier to manage and regulate emotions and others. Others of us don’t.
“He says when he wakes up early, he just does the meditation, he clears his mind, and then he goes straight out for a run. Off the back of that, he goes into an exercise regime, which is obviously part of his physical preparation, but because he’s got clear mind and a clear space in his head when he goes for a run, he’s able to think about what he wants to achieve that day, whether it’s in a car or in any other area of his life. This is a really powerful practice, which does take some skill and some practice.
“This was a case of coming in to try and do it better. If you ever see a TV interview on a Sunday morning after a Saturday afternoon where he struggled in qualifying, even today, that’s generally what you get. You get a new Lewis Hamilton where he’s no longer down. He’s no longer struggling with emotions. He’s now got this fresh perspective where he sees nothing but opportunity in front of him.
“But, emotion regulation is probably not one of the things that he finds easiest to do.
“Now, you get to start from a fresh like a blank sheet of paper where you can insert whatever you want to happen next.
Hamilton’s emotional control may not have been exemplary at this point in time, with Priestley revealing how frank conversations he’s had with Hamilton over the years since has seen the now-seven-time F1 World Champion explain how he dealt with tough days at the track.
“As engineers, our only goal was to try and improve things so that it could be better the next day or the next time out.
Read Next: Follow PlanetF1.com’s WhatsApp and Facebook channels for all the F1 breaking news!
Lewis Hamilton car collection: Take a closer look at his incredible private garage
“Lewis Hamilton, when he was struggling, when he’s having those tough days, as I said, he might have had a difficult Saturday,” Priestley said.
“Go back to that interview in 2024 where he came out of the car on a Saturday, and he quoted to say, ‘I’m just not fast anymore’.
A primary method Hamilton uses, Priestley explained, is in meditation. An interview the former McLaren mechanic-turned-broadcaster and presenter carried out with Hamilton in 2023 led to a conversation in which Priestley revealed how Hamilton employs the practice to help address his mental state.
Motorsports
Why New Englanders Can’t Miss the NASCAR Playoffs at NHMS | News | Media
The biggest racing weekend in New England is back and louder, faster and more thrilling than ever. When the NASCAR Playoffs roll in to New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS), it’s more than just a race – it’s a fall tradition, a family weekend and a high-octane celebration of speed. Set in Loudon, NHMS is the […]
The biggest racing weekend in New England is back and louder, faster and more thrilling than ever. When the NASCAR Playoffs roll in to New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS), it’s more than just a race – it’s a fall tradition, a family weekend and a high-octane celebration of speed. Set in Loudon, NHMS is the largest sports and entertainment venue in New England, and this September, it’s delivering three days of unforgettable action that no New Englander should miss.
Playoff Drama Comes to “The Magic Mile”
NHMS plays host to the opening race of the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. That means championship contenders will be throwing everything on the line in front of a roaring crowd. The tight, one-mile oval known as “The Magic Mile” is famous for bold passing, bump-and-run finishes and unpredictable outcomes. Whether you’re a diehard race fan or a first-timer, the playoff intensity here is second to none.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Heats Up the Weekend
For the first time in eight years, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is back at NHMS and bringing serious postseason pressure. This isn’t just a race – it’s a pivotal playoff elimination battle as drivers fight to stay alive heading into the Round of 8.
Expect short-track tempers, wild restarts and bold strategy. The Trucks bring a gritty, hard-nosed brand of racing that fans love. With rising stars and seasoned veterans all chasing a championship, the stakes are sky-high and the racing is intense from the green flag to the checkered.
Fans who’ve missed the Trucks at Loudon will see exactly why this series delivers some of the most entertaining racing in NASCAR. It’s fast, it’s physical and it’s packed with playoff fireworks. Add this race to your weekend lineup – it’s a can’t-miss showdown.
Fan Zone: Free, Fun and Full of Action
Your race ticket gets you free access to the Fan Zone, one of the most popular attractions at NHMS. This lively open-air festival space is packed with:
- Live music and entertainment
- Driver appearances and Q&A sessions
- Interactive games and racing simulators
- Sponsor giveaways, contests and merch trailers
Whether you’re catching a performance or getting an autograph from your favorite driver, the Fan Zone sets the tone for an unforgettable race day.
Make It a Weekend You’ll Never Forget
NHMS isn’t just about racing – it’s about creating memories. Bring the whole crew and tailgate at Overlook Tailgate Hill, camp out under the stars or explore the Fan Zone. Past fans rave about the family-friendly atmosphere, helpful staff and festival-like energy throughout the weekend. Plus, NHMS continues to invest in better parking, food options and amenities, ensuring fans have their best experience yet.
Visit NHMS.com for tickets, camping info, schedules and more.
Motorsports
Van Gisbergen’s emotional win in Mexico City locks him into NASCAR playoffs | News, Sports, Jobs
Shane Van Gisbergen drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Hermanos Rodríguez race track in Mexico City, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) MEXICO CITY (AP) — Very little went right for Shane Van Gisbergen in the buildup to NASCAR’s first international Cup Series points-paying race of the […]
Shane Van Gisbergen drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Hermanos Rodríguez race track in Mexico City, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Very little went right for Shane Van Gisbergen in the buildup to NASCAR’s first international Cup Series points-paying race of the modern era.
A mechanical issue on takeoff forced his team charter to abort the initial journey to Mexico City. He arrived at the venue Friday, a day late, and after winning the pole Saturday, the New Zealander fell seriously ill.
He was sleeping on the floor of his hauler before Sunday’s race, unsure he’d be able to physically complete the 100-lap event at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
But there’s something special about the Kiwi and new venues, especially in the rain, and he salvaged the weekend by winning on the road course to earn an automatic berth into NASCAR’s playoffs.
Van Gisbergen led 60 of 100 laps and beat Christopher Bell by 16.567 seconds.
“I tried to treat it like when I go to Asia, just drink bottled water and be careful in the shower and brush your teeth with bottled water, but I just went downhill,” Van Gisbergen said. “Couldn’t keep anything in. Everything just went straight through me. I felt really queasy and my mind was there, but my body just had so much pressure in my stomach. Crazy weekend and everyone dug deep.”
It was the second Cup Series victory of his career. He won in his NASCAR debut at the inaugural 2023 street course race in Chicago — a victory that changed his career trajectory. Van Gisbergen left Australia V8 Supercars, where he was a multiple champion, for a full-time move to NASCAR.
Although he had success in the Xfinity Series — he won three races last year as Trackhouse Racing developed him for a Cup Series ride — Van Gisbergen has struggled this year at NASCAR’s top level.
He started the race ranked 33rd in the Cup standings with only one top-10 finish through the first 15 races of the season. But his victory in Mexico City revived his season and gives him a shot to race for the Cup Series championship.
“It means everything to us, this is why I’m here,” Van Gisbergen said. “I am getting better and more competitive. We’re really making a lot of progress.”
Van Gisbergen celebrated in his traditional rugby-style way — he drop-kicked a signed football into the grandstands and then said he had recovered enough to enjoy “some Red Bulls mixed with adult beverages” later Sunday.
Van Gisbergen benefitted from an early pop-up rain shower on the first lap of the race because he’s an exceptionally skilled driver on a wet surface. His win at Chicago was in monsoon-like conditions.
Trackhouse now has two of its drivers — Ross Chastain and Van Gisbergen — locked into the playoffs. But it was a bit of a disappointment for Daniel Suarez, the Monterrey native who thrilled the hometown crowd with a win in the Xfinity Series race on Saturday, as he failed to challenge his teammate for the win and finished 19th.
“I wish I was in the mix fighting for it a little more, but it just wasn’t in the cards,” Suarez said. “Every single thing about this weekend exceeded my expectations, the people, the fans, the sponsors, the excitement, the energy.
“I had expectations for this weekend, not the results but, like, the event, and I can tell you that I personally exceeded those expectations,” he added. “So very, very happy for that. Very blessed. I hope that we can do it many more times.”
Suarez, who appeared to be blinking back tears as he sang along with the Mexican national anthem in pre-race ceremonies, desperately wanted the home win in this contract year with Trackhouse. He was the face of this event as NASCAR ventured outside the U.S. with its top series for the first time since 1958.
Bell finished second in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. He was followed by Chase Elliott in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Alex Bowman, who hurt his back in a crash last week at Michigan, withstood the pain for a fourth-place finish in his Hendrick Chevrolet.
Michael McDowell of Spire Motorsports was fifth and followed by John Hunter Nemechek in a Toyota for Legacy Motor Club. Chase Briscoe of JGR was seventh and followed by Cole Custer for Haas Factory as the highest-finishing Ford driver. William Byron of Hendrick was ninth and Chris Buescher of RFK Racing rounded out the top 10.
Chevrolets took five of the top-10 positions, including the victory.
Stenhouse vs. Hocevar
The ongoing feud between Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Carson Hocevar continued after the race as a furious Stenhouse reached inside Hocevar’s cockpit on pit road.
He seemed to grab at Hocevar as he spoke to him, then slapped at his helmet as Stenhouse walked away. It wasn’t clear what Stenhouse was upset about, but he’s been furious with Hocevar for three consecutive weeks, dating to contact between the two at Nashville.
Hocevar’s in-car camera captured the audio of the confrontation.
“I’m going to beat your (butt),” Stenhouse threatened. “You’re a lap down, you’ve got nothing to do. Why you run right into me? It’s the second time. I’m going to beat your (butt) when we get back to the States.”
Hocevar said after the race he couldn’t really hear Stenhouse.
“I know he was very mad and I was very apologetic,” Hocevar said. “I got in the marbles and slid a lot longer than I expected to. Number one, not somebody I would ever want to hit again. But number two, I was basically just logging laps. I tried to turn left and avoid him. Just a really sloppy day for me.”
Gordon gives command
NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon was selected to give the command for drivers to start their engines and admitted before the race he’d done some practicing.
Why? Because he incorporated both English and Spanish in his delivery of the most famous words in racing.
“Hola Mexico!” Gordon shouted. “Pilotos start your engines!
Up Next
NASCAR races next Sunday at Pocono Raceway, where Ryan Blaney won last year.
Motorsports
Motor racing-Van Gisbergen wins Viva Mexico 250 in NASCAR’s Mexico debut | The Mighty 790 KFGO
By Angelica Medina Mexico City (Reuters) -Shane van Gisbergen powered his way to victory through rain and chaos on Sunday, claiming the inaugural Viva Mexico 250 as NASCAR made its debut at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in the Mexican capital. The New Zealander steered his No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet from pole position to the […]
By Angelica Medina
Mexico City (Reuters) -Shane van Gisbergen powered his way to victory through rain and chaos on Sunday, claiming the inaugural Viva Mexico 250 as NASCAR made its debut at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in the Mexican capital.
The New Zealander steered his No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet from pole position to the chequered flag in a thrilling race affected by the weather, which forced teams to make frantic changes to their tyre strategy as conditions evolved.
The defining moment came on lap 52, when Van Gisbergen, chasing race leader Christopher Bell, made a bold move through a tight corner.
The two drivers touched wheels before Van Gisbergen powered past, securing a lead he wouldn’t relinquish despite Bell’s determined pursuit in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
Bell had to settle for second place, while Chase Elliott, driving the No. 9 Chevrolet ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports, claimed third place after battling with his teammate, Alex Bowman, in the closing laps.
The home crowd erupted midway through the race when local hero Daniel Suarez briefly took the lead, prompting a thunderous roar from the grandstands adorned with Mexican flags.
However, the euphoria proved short-lived as Suarez ultimately faded to finish 19th.
For Van Gisbergen, a three-time Australian Supercars champion who is still building his reputation in American stock car racing, the victory is another significant breakthrough, following his triumph at the Chicago Street Race in 2023.
(Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico CityEditing by Toby Davis)
Motorsports
Kyle Kirkwood Takes Home the Race win in St. Louis
As day turned into night, the NTT IndyCar Series drivers were told to start their engines for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 in St. Louis. Right off the bat, there was action all across the track, and it didn’t let up until the moment the chequered flag waved. St. Louis’ Night Race Was A Breath of […]
As day turned into night, the NTT IndyCar Series drivers were told to start their engines for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 in St. Louis. Right off the bat, there was action all across the track, and it didn’t let up until the moment the chequered flag waved.
St. Louis’ Night Race Was A Breath of Fresh Air As Kyle Kirkwood Wins His First Oval Race
After being dubbed the “King of The Streets” Kyle Kirkwood is making his mark on an oval. He remains the only other driver aside from Alex Palou to win a race in the 2025 season.
What started off as a race where Team Penske was expected to dominate ended up in another show-stopping stint for the Andretti Global driver. Kirkwood led in the race’s later stages but was hovering around the top ten for most of the night.
Pato O’Ward and Christian Rasmussen Score Podium Finishes
On the other side of things, Chevrolet has yet to get a constructor’s win this season. O’Ward started the race from fifth on the grid. He got close to securing the win tonight before a few chaotic laps sent him down the grid.
O’Ward worked his way back up and was chasing Kirkwood down for the lead. He got close to him during the second-to-last lap, but ultimately Kirkwood managed to pull ahead and increase his margin that extra bit more to secure his win.
P2 for Pato O’Ward. He’s with @jack_harvey93. pic.twitter.com/y5qN9VX8cq
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) June 16, 2025
Christian Rasmussen pulled off a stellar drive. He moved up 22 places during the race to come in third. Although he faced a couple of challenges, including his car catching fire, Rasmussen made over 70 overtakes to make his way up to third.
This is Rasmussen’s best career finish as well as his first time scoring a podium.
Collisions for Foster and Newgarden
Louis Foster had a bit of bad luck in St. Louis after losing control and going into the wall, which brought his race to a premature end. Josef Newgarden was attempting to avoid Foster’s car, but in doing so, the two made contact.
Newgarden’s car flipped upside down and nearly went over the wall and into the pits.
Both drivers were taken to the medical center and released without any major injuries.
Both Josef Newgarden and Louis Foster are okay after this scary wreck at WWT Raceway. pic.twitter.com/s2OhHPEWib
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) June 16, 2025
Other Notable Moments in St. Louis
The first caution of the race was brought out during lap four. Devlin DeFrancesco lost control while entering turn one, which sent him into the barrier. The team over at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing were able to fix the rear wing. DeFrancesco rejoined the race despite being 33 laps down.
The second caution was brought after an issue for Will Power. After exiting the car, Power experienced failure with his front right tire. He went into the wall at turn four but managed to drive his car back into the pit lane before retiring.
During the caution that came out after Power’s accident, a load of chaos went down in the pits. Christian Lundgaard overestimated where to stop and had trouble getting into his pit box. Amid all the confusion Christian Rasmussen was leaving his pit box when his car caught on fire.
IndyCar goes racing again next week. They take on Road America with the green flag waving at 1:30 p.m. As usual, Last Word on Motorsports will have coverage before and after the race
Read Next: Road America 2024: How Will Power ended his 2-year win drought
Main Photo: Karl Zemlin, Penske Entertainment
Recording Date: 6/15/2025
Motorsports
Van Gisbergen’s emotional win in Mexico City locks him into NASCAR playoffs
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Very little went right for Shane Van Gisbergen in the buildup to NASCAR’s first international Cup Series points-paying race of the modern era. A mechanical issue on takeoff forced his team charter to abort the initial journey to Mexico City. He arrived at the venue Friday, a day late, and after […]
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Very little went right for Shane Van Gisbergen in the buildup to NASCAR’s first international Cup Series points-paying race of the modern era.
A mechanical issue on takeoff forced his team charter to abort the initial journey to Mexico City. He arrived at the venue Friday, a day late, and after winning the pole Saturday, the New Zealander fell seriously ill.
He was sleeping on the floor of his hauler before Sunday’s race, unsure he’d be able to physically complete the 100-lap event at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
But there’s something special about the Kiwi and new venues, especially in the rain, and he salvaged the weekend by winning on the road course to earn an automatic berth into NASCAR’s playoffs.
Van Gisbergen led 60 of 100 laps and beat Christopher Bell by 16.567 seconds.
“I tried to treat it like when I go to Asia, just drink bottled water and be careful in the shower and brush your teeth with bottled water, but I just went downhill,” Van Gisbergen said. “Couldn’t keep anything in. Everything just went straight through me. I felt really queasy and my mind was there, but my body just had so much pressure in my stomach. Crazy weekend and everyone dug deep.”
It was the second Cup Series victory of his career. He won in his NASCAR debut at the inaugural 2023 street course race in Chicago — a victory that changed his career trajectory. Van Gisbergen left Australia V8 Supercars, where he was a multiple champion, for a full-time move to NASCAR.
Although he had success in the Xfinity Series — he won three races last year as Trackhouse Racing developed him for a Cup Series ride — Van Gisbergen has struggled this year at NASCAR’s top level.
He started the race ranked 33rd in the Cup standings with only one top-10 finish through the first 15 races of the season. But his victory in Mexico City revived his season and gives him a shot to race for the Cup Series championship.
“It means everything to us, this is why I’m here,” Van Gisbergen said. “I am getting better and more competitive. We’re really making a lot of progress.”
Van Gisbergen celebrated in his traditional rugby-style way — he drop-kicked a signed football into the grandstands and then said he had recovered enough to enjoy “some Red Bulls mixed with adult beverages” later Sunday.
Van Gisbergen benefitted from an early pop-up rain shower on the first lap of the race because he’s an exceptionally skilled driver on a wet surface. His win at Chicago was in monsoon-like conditions.
Trackhouse now has two of its drivers — Ross Chastain and Van Gisbergen — locked into the playoffs. But it was a bit of a disappointment for Daniel Suarez, the Monterrey native who thrilled the hometown crowd with a win in the Xfinity Series race on Saturday, as he failed to challenge his teammate for the win and finished 19th.
“I wish I was in the mix fighting for it a little more, but it just wasn’t in the cards,” Suarez said. “Every single thing about this weekend exceeded my expectations, the people, the fans, the sponsors, the excitement, the energy.
“I had expectations for this weekend, not the results but, like, the event, and I can tell you that I personally exceeded those expectations,” he added. “So very, very happy for that. Very blessed. I hope that we can do it many more times.”
Suarez, who appeared to be blinking back tears as he sang along with the Mexican national anthem in pre-race ceremonies, desperately wanted the home win in this contract year with Trackhouse. He was the face of this event as NASCAR ventured outside the U.S. with its top series for the first time since 1958.
Bell finished second in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. He was followed by Chase Elliott in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Alex Bowman, who hurt his back in a crash last week at Michigan, withstood the pain for a fourth-place finish in his Hendrick Chevrolet.
Michael McDowell of Spire Motorsports was fifth and followed by John Hunter Nemechek in a Toyota for Legacy Motor Club. Chase Briscoe of JGR was seventh and followed by Cole Custer for Haas Factory as the highest-finishing Ford driver. William Byron of Hendrick was ninth and Chris Buescher of RFK Racing rounded out the top 10.
Chevrolets took five of the top-10 positions, including the victory.
Stenhouse vs. Hocevar
The ongoing feud between Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Carson Hocevar continued after the race as a furious Stenhouse reached inside Hocevar’s cockpit on pit road.
He seemed to grab at Hocevar as he spoke to him, then slapped at his helmet as Stenhouse walked away. It wasn’t clear what Stenhouse was upset about, but he’s been furious with Hocevar for three consecutive weeks, dating to contact between the two at Nashville.
Hocevar’s in-car camera captured the audio of the confrontation.
“I’m going to beat your (butt),” Stenhouse threatened. “You’re a lap down, you’ve got nothing to do. Why you run right into me? It’s the second time. I’m going to beat your (butt) when we get back to the States.”
Hocevar said after the race he couldn’t really hear Stenhouse.
“I know he was very mad and I was very apologetic,” Hocevar said. “I got in the marbles and slid a lot longer than I expected to. Number one, not somebody I would ever want to hit again. But number two, I was basically just logging laps. I tried to turn left and avoid him. Just a really sloppy day for me.”
Gordon gives command
NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon was selected to give the command for drivers to start their engines and admitted before the race he’d done some practicing.
Why? Because he incorporated both English and Spanish in his delivery of the most famous words in racing.
“Hola Mexico!” Gordon shouted. “Pilotos start your engines!
Up Next
NASCAR races next Sunday at Pocono Raceway, where Ryan Blaney won last year.
Motorsports
NASCAR Mexico City results: Shane van Gisbergen is winner, plus full leaderboard for Viva Mexico 250
The checkered flag is out for the NASCAR Mexico City race. Shane van Gisbergen won the Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the first international NASCAR Cup Series race since 1998 and the first points paying NASCAR Cup Series race since 1958. Advertisement This is van Gisbergen’s second career win in the NASCAR Cup […]
The checkered flag is out for the NASCAR Mexico City race.
Shane van Gisbergen won the Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the first international NASCAR Cup Series race since 1998 and the first points paying NASCAR Cup Series race since 1958.
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This is van Gisbergen’s second career win in the NASCAR Cup Series, earning his first in the 2023 Chicago street race. It’s his first as a full-time Cup Series driver in his second season.
Ryan Preece won the first stage of the race and van Gisbergen won the second, each earning their first stage wins of the 2025 season.
The race had six cautions for 16 laps and 14 lead changes. Kyle Larson ran the fastest lap of the race and earned an extra point.
Here are the results for the NASCAR Mexico City race.
HOW IT HAPPENED: NASCAR Cup Series race at Mexico City: Live updates, highlights, leaderboard for the Viva Mexico 250
Who won NASCAR Mexico City race? Winner, race results for Viva Mexico 250 Cup Series race
The unofficial full running order, results from NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
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Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
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Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
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Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
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Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
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Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
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John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
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Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
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Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford
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William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
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Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
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Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
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Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
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AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
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Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
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Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
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Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
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Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
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Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
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Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
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Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
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Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
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Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
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Ryan Truex, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
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Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
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Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
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Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
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Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
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Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
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Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
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Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
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Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
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Katherine Legge, No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet
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Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
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Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
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Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
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Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
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Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR Mexico City results: Shane van Gisbergen is winner Sunday
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