Kimi Antonelli turned what looked like a disaster into a triumph on Sunday at Monza, storming from 19th on the grid to win the Italian Grand Prix in front of his home crowd. The Mercedes driver, already leading the championship, had started deep in the field after a grid penalty—the kind of result that usually means a damage-control day. Instead, he delivered one of the season's most commanding performances, beating team-mate George Russell and Max Verstappen to claim what might be his most significant victory yet. The win underlined a brutal truth for the rest of the grid: Antonelli isn't just leading the championship; he's performing at a level that looks genuinely separated from everyone else right now.
The race itself was wild, shaped by the kind of battery management and energy-recovery tactics that define modern Formula 1. Antonelli threaded through the field with precision, and when it mattered most, he had the pace and tire management to get past Russell down the stretch. For Russell, it was a painful result—Monza was supposed to be his chance to chip into Antonelli's points lead while his team-mate dealt with the penalty, and instead he finished second, likely extending the gap rather than closing it.
The day wasn't without drama elsewhere. Charles Leclerc crashed hard at the Parabolica on lap two while defending fourth from Oscar Piastri, triggering a red flag and a heavy impact with the wall. The Ferrari driver was taken to the medical center and later confirmed he needs additional health checks before next weekend's race in Madrid. The early exit was a blow for Ferrari, which has been struggling to manage its championship fight and internal politics—Leclerc was also involved in a first-lap tangle with Lewis Hamilton that both drivers seemed keen to downplay afterward. Hamilton, now at Ferrari, and Leclerc have become the center of an awkward narrative about team priorities that neither appears comfortable discussing.
IndyCar
Alex Palou made it official over the past weekend, clinching his fifth IndyCar championship—a remarkable achievement that caps a dominant season. Now, as the series heads to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the season finale on Sunday, the focus shifts to the supporting storylines: who finishes where, and what's coming next.
Scott McLaughlin grabbed pole position for the Grand Prix of Monterey with a stunning late-session lap of 1m09.1363s, just 0.0177 seconds ahead of Palou himself. The Team Penske driver's effort also marked Chevrolet's 250th pole position in IndyCar history—a milestone the team was clearly ready to celebrate. Palou, despite being crowned champion, showed he's still hungry, leading practice earlier in the weekend before McLaughlin found that extra tenth in qualifying.
Pato O'Ward arrives at Laguna Seca with a chance at something he's never achieved: three consecutive wins. The Arrow McLaren driver swept last weekend's Milwaukee Mile doubleheader and has climbed to fourth in the standings, just four points behind team-mate Christian Lundgaard. A third straight victory would cap an impressive late-season surge.
Scott Dixon, the legendary Chip Ganassi Racing driver, is preparing for his final race weekend with the organization after 25 years—a relationship that spans championships, Indy 500 wins, and countless friendships that will outlast his time in the car.
Off-track, the 2027 grid is taking shape. Conor Daly has signed a multi-year deal to drive full-time for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, marking the team's return to full-time competition after 15 years away. DRR will field Honda engines, the manufacturer it partnered with from 2005 to 2011. Separately, Meyer Shank Racing completed its 2027 lineup by signing Mick Schumacher to drive the No. 66 Honda alongside returning driver Marcus Armstrong. Schumacher, in his first full IndyCar season with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, has adapted quickly to North American open-wheel racing.
Laguna Seca also formally dedicated its most famous corner—the downhill Corkscrew—as "The Zanardi Corkscrew" in honor of late two-time CART champion Alex Zanardi, marking 30 years since his legendary final-lap overtake at the venue.
MotoGP
Marc Márquez's right arm remains a major question mark heading into the final stretch of the season. His surgeon revealed this week that the arm is currently operating at roughly 50 percent strength as a lingering effect of his Indonesia crash last year—a sobering reminder of just how serious the injury was and how much physical demand MotoGP places on a rider's body.
Meanwhile, Fabio Di Giannantonio continues to quietly mount a title challenge aboard his Ducati, and he's embraced his underdog status. The Italian has said he's comfortable "living good being the underdog" in the championship battle, a mindset that can sometimes work in a rider's favor when the pressure is on the favorites.
Honda faces a decision on its remaining factory MotoGP seat for 2027, with the choice between Diogo Moreira and David Alonso. Cal Crutchlow, commenting on the decision, called picking Moreira an "absolute no-brainer"—strong language that suggests one option has a clear edge over the other in the eyes of experienced observers.
Looking ahead structurally, MotoGP's deputy CEO Carlos Ezpeleta confirmed that Adelaide, which will replace Phillip Island as the venue for Australia's Grand Prix starting in 2027, will be "one of the safest circuits on the calendar" and meets the series' safety and run-off requirements. The legendary Phillip Island will host its final MotoGP race this year.
WRC
Kris Meeke claimed his first European Rally Championship victory at Rali Ceredigion, driving a Toyota GR. The same event saw Teemu Suninen clinch the ERC title, capping a strong championship campaign in the support series.
WEC
Ferrari's Antonio Giovinazzi and Cadillac-Jota's Jack Aitken both posted identical lap times—1m52.445s—during qualifying for the Lone Star Le Mans World Endurance Championship round at Austin. Giovinazzi secured pole position by virtue of setting his time first, giving Ferrari the top spot on the grid for the Hypercar class. It was Giovinazzi's second pole of the 2026 WEC season.
Ferrari's team leadership is taking the title fight one race at a time, a measured approach that reflects the competitive nature of the championship as the season enters its decisive phase.
IMSA
TechSport Racing's Anderson took a controlling win in Race 1 at the COTA six-hour event, picking up his third victory of the season and keeping his title hopes alive. Anderson also secured pole position for the opening race, a crucial advantage that translated into a commanding performance on track. Loftsgard, competing elsewhere in the series, has one hand on a title with the win.
In the Michelin 992 Endurance Cup, Red Camel-Jordans.nl claimed a dominant victory at Monza, showcasing commanding pace throughout the event.
A dramatic moment occurred during the China GT race in Shanghai when driver Hartog pulled fellow competitor Millroy from an engulfed Ferrari following a massive crash—a rescue that likely saved Millroy's life in a terrifying accident.
At Laguna Seca, Heart of Racing's Aston Valkyrie continued to set the pace in final practice, running just four thousandths of a second faster than the Genesis entry piloted by Jaminet.
F3
Formula 2 has unveiled a revised aerodynamic package for the Dallara F2 2024 car, which will carry the championship through the 2027-2029 cycle. According to F2 CEO Bruno Michel, the modifications are designed to bring the car "as close to F1 as possible," reflecting the series' ongoing effort to maintain relevance as a top-tier junior formula while the sport's technical regulations evolve.