Porsche no longer appears to be interested in joining Formula One as an engine supplier for 2026, calling their F1 project “a closed chapter”. The German automotive company, which is owned by Volkswagen, has been linked to an F1 return for many years alongside Volkswagen’s other brand, Audi. After completely pulling out of the sport in the early ’60s, Porsche’s most recent engine supply deal was to Footwork in 1991, which fell through after an abysmal first six races of the season. Porsche was originally working on a deal to become 50% owner of the new Red Bull Powertrains project but was unable to reach an agreement, with Red Bull partnering with Ford instead. While Porsche is shutting the door on Formula One – at least for now – they will continue to focus on their other motorsport involvements.
American NASCAR driver Kyle Larson made waves in the international motorsport community this week declaring he is better than the reigning three-time World Champion Max Verstappen. When asked by FloRacing if he had to beat Max Verstappen to feel like the world’s best driver, Larson bluntly replied, “I know in my mind I am better than him as an all-around driver.” He elaborated by saying that, while Verstappen would likely beat him in open-wheel racing, Larson would come out on top in “everything else”. After an extremely successful junior career, Verstappen joined Red Bull in 2016, having won three World Drivers’ Championship titles on his way to a potential fourth one this season. In addition to having a successful sprint racing career, Larson won a NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2021 and leads the current season standings. Sadly, we will likely never see these two drivers compete head-to-head and end the debate. Some former F1 drivers have tried their hand at American stock car racing, including Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Speed, Jarno Trulli, and even Kimi Raikkonen. Montoya was perhaps the most successful of the bunch, securing two wins over his nine-year NASCAR career.
Guenther Steiner has confirmed the title of his new book Unfiltered, which will detail the complete story of the Haas F1 Team. The former team principal gained notoriety worldwide through his expletive-filled appearances in Netflix’s popular Drive to Survive series. His first book, Surviving to Drive was released in the Spring of 2023 and, although it does contain some biographical elements, primarily focuses on Haas’ 2022 season. His new book, which will be co-written alongside ghost-writer James Hogg, promises to be a more complete recounting of the Haas saga. “It’s about the Haas story over the last ten years. It’s the complete Haas story. How I got to the idea to do it, how I went around to find an investor, how I set it up, how we developed the team and so on,” Steiner explained. Steiner has since become embroiled in a series of lawsuits with his former employer. He has sued Haas for unpaid compensation while the team have sued him over his first book, alleging misuse of Haas branding. It’s unclear how or if this will impact the new book, which is set to be released on October 10.
Formula One will return to action next weekend for the Dutch Grand Prix, which will surely please fans eagerly awaiting the end of the summer break. Racing will resume at Zandvoort on the weekend of August 25.
It can be challenging for even the most avid fans to keep up with the fast-paced world of Formula One. The Weekly F1 Recap is a series published each Monday that breaks down the action, both on and off the circuit, into bit-sized pieces. It's perfect for casual and experienced fans alike.
