F1, NASCAR, WSBK and MotoAmerica Race Wrap-ups

Russell Dominates at Baku, Ditto Lawson at Kansas, Ditto Lecuona at Cremona, and Fong Clinches MotoAmerica Superbike Title in New Jersey

Formula 1

George Russell (Mercedes) won Saturday’s Grand Prix from pole, holding off Max Verstappen (Red Bull) by 0.196 seconds after losing turbo power on the final lap. It was the closest green-flag finish in F1 since the famous 2002 Indianapolis photo finish.

Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) finished third in an impressive return from a wrist injury, followed by Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and championship leader Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), who recovered from a qualifying crash and 16th-place grid position to finish fifth.

Six drivers retired during the chaotic race. Lando Norris (McLaren) was eliminated in a collision involving Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly (both Alpine), while both Aston Martins suffered mechanical failures. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) fell from a podium position to 14th after a late lockup. Russell’s third victory of 2026 reduced Antonelli’s championship advantage.

Next:  Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, at Sepang, Oct. 2-3

 Official Formula 1 report

NASCAR Cup

Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) swept both stages, led a track-record 235 of 267 laps and passed Chase Briscoe (No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) with seven laps remaining to win Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway . Larson earned the maximum 76 points and now leads Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota), who finished third, by 26 points in the championship standings with six races to go.

Austin Cindric (No. 2 Team Penske Ford) placed second, while Briscoe faded to fourth after brushing the wall. Carson Hocevar (No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet) finished 33rd after a six-car restart wreck and dropped to 11th in the Chase. Rain canceled Saturday’s practice and qualifying, putting Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford) on pole by the rule book; he finished 20th.

Next:  South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Oct. 3-4

Official NASCAR recap

WorldSBK

Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) swept Race 1, the Superpole Race and Race 2 at Cremona, becoming only the fifth rider to complete a WorldSBK hat trick. Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) finished second in all three races and clinched his first WorldSBK championship with six races remaining. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Ducati) completed the Race 2 podium. Álvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Ducati) retired with a technical problem, while Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) and Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Ducati) crashed.

Bulega’s championship is his first in Superbike after finishing runner-up in 2024 and 2025.  He was the 2023 Supersport champion and will move to MotoGP in 2027, racing for the Pertamina Enduro VR46 team.

Next: Tissot Estoril round at Estoril, Oct. 9-11

Official WorldSBK report

MotoAmerica

Forced by an approaching nor’easter, MotoAmerica moved two races to Saturday, and Bobby Fong (Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha/Yamaha YZF-R1) won both, reducing a 26-point championship deficit to two. In Sunday’s wet, rain-delayed finale, Mathew Scholtz (Strack Racing/Yamaha) won, while points leader Sean Dylan Kelly (OrangeCat Racing/BMW) crashed out. Fong finished fourth and secured his first MotoAmerica Superbike championship, following his 2019 Supersport championship on an M4 ECSTAR Suzuki.

Scholtz, JD Beach (Yamaha), Cameron Petersen (Ducati), and PJ Jacobsen (Ducati) finished third through sixth in the final standings with Jayson Urible (BMW), Brandon Paasch (Suzuki), Hayden Gillim (Honda) and Richie Escalante (Suzuki) filling out the top 10.

Next: Daytona Bike Week, March 5–14, 2027

Saturday report, Sunday results