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Formula 1 Spanish GP Review: Verstappen gets a hard fought victory

Verstappen clinched a hard-fought victory over Norris on the pole, with Hamilton returning to the podium, while Ferrari suffered from a lack of pace.

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1 year ago

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The 2024 Spanish Grand Prix held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was a thriller. A race of exceptional driving, strategic brilliance, and intense competition among the top three teams. Still, it was Max Verstappen who emerged victorious for Red Bull Racing.

Practice

The three practice sessions were all closely contested. Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz were the only 2 drivers to be in the top 3 of all the 3 Practice sessions.

During the first practice session, the weather was dry, unlike the mixed conditions in Canada during the last round. Oliver Bearman drove Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas as part of his planned six practice appearances with the team in 2024. Some teams used the session to test their upgrades for the weekend, including VCARB.

The session was briefly red-flagged to clear debris from Alonso’s car before the action resumed. Norris ended the session on top with a time of 1m 14.228s in the McLaren, 0.024s faster than Verstappen in second place, even though the latter experienced clutch issues. Sainz put his Ferrari in third place.

During the second practice session later that day, Logan Sargent had a close moment and managed to save his Williams after losing the rear. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen reported that his RB20 was experiencing understeer mid-corner, stating: “This car doesn’t bite.” Lewis Hamilton held the top spot with a lap time of 1m 13.264s. Sainz stayed in P2, with Norris taking P3 in the McLaren. Pierre Gasly was a shocking P4 for Alpine, putting him ahead of Verstappen in P5.

After a closely contested FP2, it was time for the final practice session before qualifying. The drivers tested their one-lap pace in preparation for the battle for pole position. Carlos Sainz topped the times with an impressive 1m 13.013s, closely followed by Lando Norris with 1m 13.043s and Charles Leclerc with 1m 13.050s.

During the sessions, both Charles Leclerc and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin were found to have impeded Norris and Hamilton in separate incidents. They both cut across Norris and Hamilton, resulting in contact in both cases. As a result, both Leclerc and Stroll were reprimanded for “erratic driving”.

Qualifying

The mixed results of the practice sessions left us puzzled about the grid order for the race as it was quite unclear who had the better car. Saturday afternoon’s qualifying session was crucial, with 30 of the 33 Grand Prix winners at the Barcelona circuit having started from the front row of the grid.

The heavily upgraded VCARB failed to impress as both cars were out in Q1, with Yuki leading Daniel in 17th and 18th place. Williams too had a tough outing with the team locking out the front row. Albon was a comfortable 4 tenths clear of his teammate. He would later start the race from the pit lane due to a change in the power unit. With rumors of Logan being replaced for next year, performances like these don’t help his case. Kevin Magnussen failed to reach Q2 as well, his first Q1 elimination since Imola.

No shocking eliminations in Q2 this time around with Both Aston Martins, Saubers, and the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg failing to reach Q3.

Alpine had the best qualifying of the season, with both cars making it to Q3. However, it was Lando Norris who put in a perfect lap to secure pole position at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. A final lap time of 1m 11.383s for Norris, narrowly beating Max Verstappen. It was the Brit’s second pole position, the first since 2021 at the Russian Grand Prix. Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell took P3 and P4 respectively, showing strong performance. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz locked the third row for Ferrari. Sergio Perez finished eighth but will drop three places due to a grid penalty from Canada, promoting Esteban Ocon and Oscar Piastri.

Embed from Getty Images

“It was pretty much a perfect lap”

lando norris

Race

It was evident that the Redbulls were not the outright fastest car going into the weekend with close competition from the McLarens and Ferraris. Mercedes surprisingly was quick and was expecting to have a podium finish.

When it was lights out, Lando Norris got a poor getaway resulting in losing the start to Verstappen, it was Russell who made up the best of the situation with a slipstream from the pair ahead to take the lead of the Grand Prix with brave around the outside of turn 1. The Aston Martin of Alonso, starting in 11th position, dropped back after seemingly being tagged from behind. He was forced to take to the escape road at Turn 1, which left him in 14th place.

However, despite Russell’s mega start, his lead of the race wouldn’t last long as Verstappen overtook him on the outside of Turn 1 on the third lap. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz also overtook his teammate Charles Leclerc at the same turn, with the two Ferraris appearing to touch as Sainz used the escape road. Despite this, he successfully moved up to P5. The stewards briefly reviewed whether he had left the track and gained an advantage but decided no further investigation was necessary. But both teammates were unhappy about the incident and they complained over the radio.

On Lap 13, began the first wave of pitstops with Perez pitting on what would be the first of his 3-stop strategy, while Gasly had a slow stop of 6.7s ruing his race start efforts, George Russell dived to the pits on lap 15 but avoided a close coming together in the pits with Carlos Sainz by staying ahead of him by mere inches. Soon Verstappen reacted to him by pitting on lap 17 with an error-free pitstop of 1.9s, while Norris decided to stay out taking the lead and looking to extend this advantage.

During Lap 18 of the Grand Prix, Hamilton found himself in an intense battle for sixth position with Sainz. With the help of DRS, Hamilton made a move going into Turn 1 of the next lap, resulting in the two cars touching. Sainz expressed his frustration over the radio, claiming that Hamilton ran him off the track and insisting that Hamilton needed to let him pass. Despite Sainz’s complaints, no further investigation was conducted regarding their collision.

Norris finally came into the pits to change his soft tires. He re-entered the race behind Russell and was determined to quickly pass him to catch up to race leader Verstappen. On lap 34, Norris was able to close the gap on the Mercedes using the DRS on the main straight, leading to an intense side-by-side battle between turns 3 and 7. Norris demonstrated excellent racecraft and utilized his tire advantage to successfully overtake Russell.

With 20 laps to go, Hamilton was putting pressure on Sainz for sixth place. He managed to overtake Sainz into Turn 1, and Norris was then instructed to pit on the next lap. However, Norris’s 3.6-second pit stop cost him valuable time, allowing Verstappen to regain the lead, with Norris staying ahead of Russell in second place. Meanwhile, in 11th place, Hulkenberg’s chances of moving into the points were harmed when he received a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane. Gasly and Ocon in the Alpines were holding onto ninth and 10th place, raising hopes for a double-point finish for the team. Tsunoda, who was in last place, also received a five-second penalty for the same pit lane speeding offense as Hulkenberg.

Lower down the order, 11th-placed Hulkenberg’s hopes of breaking into the points-paying positions suffered a blow as he was handed a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane – the Alpines of Gasly and Ocon currently holding onto ninth and 10th as the team’s hopes for another double points finish continued to grow. Tsunoda, running in a lowly last place, was also hit with a five-second penalty of his own for the same offense as Hulkenberg.

In the final stages of the Grand Prix, Norris was the fastest driver on the track, closing in on Verstappen’s lead, which was around 6.6 seconds. Max was forced to push hard to maintain his lead as Norris narrowed the gap. However, with only a few laps left, Norris was running out of time to secure his second career win. By Lap 65, the gap had decreased to just 2.3 seconds. Despite Norris’s efforts, Verstappen was able to hold him off and win by just a 2.219-second margin, to the disappointment of Norris and the crowd, who had hoped for a last-lap battle for the win.

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Norris was visibly frustrated as he crossed the finish line. He admitted over his radio that messing up the start had cost him a chance of victory today. However, Verstappen celebrated his 106th podium finish, placing him tied for fourth on the all-time list with legends Alain Prost and Fernando Alonso. Lewis Hamilton returned to the podium, making it his 18th continuous season with a podium finish.

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Another interesting story was lower down the order with both Alpines finishing in points at 9th and 10th for the first time this season after they had the worst start to the season, this shows that the team is heading in the right direction, and also coinciding with the return of former Renault team principal Flavio Briatore to team as an executive advisor.

Championship Standings after the race:

Verstappen extends his championship lead on top while Norris jumps Leclerc to move into P2.

Formula 1 Spanish GP Review: Verstappen gets a hard fought victory
Top 10 in the Drivers’ Championship after Spanish GP (Image: F1)

In the team’s standing Red Bull Racing remains on top, while Alpine jump Haas thanks to their double points finish.

Formula 1 Spanish GP Review: Verstappen gets a hard fought victory

Up Next

All eyes turn to the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix at the iconic Red Bull Ring at Spielberg. After facing challenges in the previous race, Red Bull Racing will be eager to reclaim its former dominance, while Mclaren will be looking to push for wins. With the championship battle heating up, fans can expect an exhilarating weekend of racing action as the teams and drivers vie for glory on Austrian soil.

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Formula 1

Belgian GP Battle Through the Rain: The Thrills of Spa 2025

What was meant to be a showcase of Spa’s legendary high-speed curves turned into a waiting game. Here is our Belgian GP review

Published

1 week ago

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July 31, 2025

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Belgian GP Battle Through the Rain: The Thrills of Spa 2025

2025 Belgian GP: Torrential rain delayed the start by 80–90 minutes, with visibility concerns forcing multiple laps under the Safety Car before a rolling start from lap 5. The drama began before the race even started. Heavy rainfall caused an 80-minute delay as race control weighed safety concerns due to low visibility and spray from modern ground-effect cars. While some criticized the cautious approach, it proved wise: conditions improved just enough for a rolling start on lap 5, and the field finally went racing.

Perfect Strategy, Flawless Execution: McLaren’s Spa Statement

Oscar Piastri, starting just behind Norris, made his move immediately after the safety car pulled in. Seizing the moment through Eau Rouge and the Kemmel Straight, he powered past Norris with an assertive overtake that set the tone for the race.

Switching to medium slicks at just the right time, Piastri extended his gap over the field, showing supreme confidence in low-grip conditions. The win marked his sixth victory of the season, boosting his title hopes and further establishing him as the championship leader.

Norris Claims P2 in Wet and Wild Belgian GP

While Lando Norris put up a fight early on, his decision to opt for hard tyres in the drying phase proved costly. Struggling for grip compared to Piastri’s mediums, Norris was unable to mount a late challenge. Still, he comfortably brought the car home in second, giving McLaren its third one-two finish of the season.

“He did a better job in the beginning, and that was it. Nothing more I could do after that point. I would love to be up top, but Oscar deserved it today.” – Lando Norris(post race)

Despite narrowly missing out on victory, Norris’s consistency continues to keep him in the hunt for the Drivers’ Championship, just 16 points behind his teammate.

Max Verstappen: A Homecoming Without Glory

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, racing in the post-Christian Horner era, could manage only P4, battling balance and pace issues all weekend. Throughout the race, Verstappen wrestled with car instability in mixed conditions. Red Bull’s setup—optimised for low drag and top speed—offered little help through Spa’s wet and winding middle sector. Even as others found pace, Verstappen remained mired behind Charles Leclerc and couldn’t mount a serious charge for the podium.

Belgian GP Battle Through the Rain: The Thrills of Spa 2025

To compound matters, team communication lacked its usual clarity—perhaps a sign of turbulence following recent management changes.

Ferrari: A Lone Wolf in the Storm

Scuderia Ferrari found light in the gloom. While the team couldn’t match the runaway pace of McLaren, Charles Leclerc delivered a composed drive to bring home a valuable P3 podium finish, salvaging pride for the prancing horse at a chaotic Belgian Grand Prix.

Belgian GP Battle Through the Rain: The Thrills of Spa 2025

Lewis Hamilton reminded the world that even at 40, class is permanent. Starting a distant P18, the seven-time world champion delivered a gritty and intelligent performance to climb up to P7—one of the standout recovery drives of the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix.

“Today’s race was a really positive step forward. The strategy and pit stop were executed perfectly, and the overnight changes we made to the set-up really allowed me to get the most out of the car.” – Lewis Hamilton(post race)

Mercedes: Smart Strategy, But Pace Still Missing

George Russell drove a quiet but solid race. Starting higher up the grid, he avoided unnecessary risks, stayed out of trouble during the wet phase, and finished P5, just behind Verstappen. He extracted everything the car had to give, but couldn’t mount a serious challenge to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc — let alone the dominant McLarens.

Despite challenging wet conditions and a delayed race start due to rain, Antonelli remained composed, gaining valuable experience battling seasoned drivers on a tricky track. While he did not score points, his consistent lap times and ability to stay on track without mistakes impressed Mercedes.

Williams: Alex Albon defends Lewis Hamilton

Albon’s weekend began with a strong performance in qualifying, where he secured a season-best P5, marking Williams’ best qualifying result of the year. He executed a one-stop strategy, switching from intermediate to dry tires at the optimal moment, which allowed him to capitalise on the evolving track conditions.A standout moment came when Albon expertly defended his position against a charging Lewis Hamilton, finishing P6 in the race.

Carlos Sainz, on the other hand, started from the pit lane due to a poor qualifying session and a strategic error with the rear wing setup. Sainz struggled throughout the race. He finished in 18th place, a result that reflected the team’s challenges in adapting to the evolving track conditions.

Racing Bulls: Liam Lawson aquaplanes into top 10 finish

Liam Lawson delivered a standout performance at the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps, securing his third points finish of the season with an eighth-place result. This achievement was particularly significant given his challenging start to the year and the team’s recent management changes.

Issack Hadjar, a rookie who got many top 10 finishes, faced a challenging weekend, culminating in a 19th-place finish in the race. This result was a step back from his earlier performances, highlighting the competitive nature of Formula 1 and the unpredictable dynamics of the Spa circuit.

Kick Sauber: Development and progress

Bortoleto continued to demonstrate his skill and consistency. He finished in 9th place, earning valuable points for the Kick Sauber F1 Team. This result was particularly notable as it marked his first points finish in Formula 1, underscoring his potential and the team’s progress.

Belgian GP Battle Through the Rain: The Thrills of Spa 2025

Nico Hülkenberg faced a challenging weekend, culminating in a 12th-place finish in the main race. This result was a step back from his remarkable podium at Silverstone earlier in the season. Despite the setback, Hülkenberg’s performance underscored the competitive nature of Formula 1 and the unpredictable dynamics of the Spa circuit.

Race Result

Drivers Standings

Constructor Standings

Next up in the double header: Hungarian Grand Prix

As the F1 circus heads to Hungary, the message is clear: McLaren are no longer chasing the front—they are the front. And unless rivals find a response soon, the papaya-colored cars might just be painting the 2025 season in orange glory.

Belgian GP Battle Through the Rain: The Thrills of Spa 2025

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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Formula 1

Formula 1 British Grand Prix Review: The Race Of A Lifetime

The Formula 1 British Grand Prix was a story to tell for most drivers. A dream podium, a home race win, rain chaos, and multiple DNFs, the British GP had everything on offer.

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1 month ago

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July 10, 2025

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Lando Norris wins the Formula 1 British Grand Prix

Whenever Formula 1 visits Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, it always turns out to be one hell of a weekend, and this race was no different. It had everything you would want when you’re sitting in front of the screen on a Sunday afternoon with a drink in hand. There was rain, there was chaos, there was even Nico Hülkenberg on the podium – a race full of uncertainties.

Controversial Home Race Win

Lando Norris made it two wins in a row on Sunday, beating teammate Oscar Piastri to the finish line. Oscar led most of the race until a 10-second time penalty for reckless driving was given to him due to aggressive braking, which caused Max Verstappen to take evasive action. Soon after the restart, Max was overtaken by Lando Norris, which put him in the net race lead. This turned into P1 on track shortly after the pit stop onto slicks, as Oscar served his penalty.

Lando joined the club of 8 time race winners, an A-list with some great names, and what a way to do it – by winning your home race!

Embed from Getty Images

Hülkenburg Counters The Odds


Nico Hülkenberg writes a story of his own. 239 Race Starts later, the man in green has gotten himself and Sauber a podium. After 15 long years, the wait came to an end, and the stars finally aligned. Following the rainy chaos, Nico made all the right calls to propel himself up the grid. He was running P4 behind Lance Stroll, where an overtake on the Aston followed shortly after.

In the dying laps, he was being chased by a desperate Lewis Hamilton in Scarlet Red. However, he kept his cool and achieved what hadn’t been possible for so long.



The Streak Ends With Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton had a 13-year-long streak of scoring podiums at his home race. However, every tale must come to an end. Lewis Hamilton fell one position short of the podium, a valiant effort from the Brit. He expressed his disappointment in a post-race review, saying he was not at all happy about the race.


Charles Leclerc, on the other side of the garage, had a worse day. Jumping the gun on the slick tires early was a gamble he made, but it was a gamble that did not work. Later on, he struggled with tires following a series of VSCs, he even had an off at Beckets, cutting across the grass to add to his dismay. At the end, no points were scored by the Monegasque, a day to write off for him.

Mercedes Missed Out On An Opportunity

Following reports of talks between Max and Mercedes, they were in the spotlight coming into this weekend. A decent qualifying from the pair of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli gave them a fighting chance on Sunday. George called the change onto slicks at the end of the formation lap, and Kimi was rear-ended by Isack Hadjar, causing heavy damage to his diffuser, resulting in a retirement. George kept being in the wrong place at the wrong time, ultimately crossing the line in P10, scoring one singular point.

Formula 1 British Grand Prix Review: The Race Of A Lifetime
British Grand Prix, Sunday. Photo: Glenn Dunbar

Verstappen Struggles On Track

Red Bull ran a low downforce setup for the race, which cost them when a rain shower had showered on the track. Max was caught sliding on multiple corner exits due to the lack of downforce. Despite this, he held a strong challenge for the starting half of the race. However, at the Safety Car restart, he had a spin on the entry of the Vale chicane.

Formula 1 British Grand Prix Review: The Race Of A Lifetime
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JULY 06: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB21 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 06, 2025 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

A good recovery by the Dutchman limited damage and placed him P10. From there, a decent effort to fight back moved him up into P5, scoring decent points. Teammate Yuki Tsunoda found it difficult, saying he did not know why the pace of the car disappeared in the race. He finished P15, last of the classified drivers.

Williams Return To Points

After a treacherous recent few rounds for the Williams outfit, finally, some luck struck with a points finish. Although Carlos missed out on points by a slim margin, teammate Alex Albon scored a respectable P8 in changing conditions

Aston Get Two Cars Into The Top 10

Both Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso secured a points finish on Sunday, even though both of them complained about the car and the package after the race.

Lance, at one point, was running in the podium positions, but he was overtaken by Nico shortly after. He ended up crossing the line in P6. Tire degradation was a prominent issue in the car, according to him in a post-race interview.

Fernando scored P8, but he showed frustration at the team’s strategy and how they always get it wrong for him.

Race Results



Standings




Next Round In Spa

For the next race weekend, we head to the hilly forest of Spa-Francorchamps. A part home race for Lando and Max. The high-speed spectacle is sure to put on a show, the longest track on the F1 Calendar includes many overtaking spots and iconic corners such as Eau Rouge and Radillon

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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Formula One’s Constant: The British GP

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1 month ago

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July 5, 2025

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Formula One's Constant: The British GP

The F1 Paddock heads to Silverstone this weekend. The place where it all started. Silverstone is one of the most historic tracks on the Formula 1 Calendar.

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The 2025 Formula 1 British Grand Prix roars into Silverstone this weekend, bringing with it a fierce championship battle, homegrown heroes, and the electric atmosphere only this iconic circuit can deliver. As Round 12 of a tightly contested season, all eyes are on McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, currently locked in a close title fight as they look to extend their dominance on home soil. Meanwhile, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton returns to his home Grand Prix in Ferrari red, adding another layer of drama for British fans. With sell-out crowds, unpredictable weather, and the historic weight of Silverstone, this year’s race promises to be one of the most thrilling yet.

About The Track

Formula One's Constant: The British GP

(credit – f1.com)

Silverstone Circuit is renowned as one of Formula 1’s most iconic and challenging tracks, blending high-speed straights with a technical mix of sweeping corners. Measuring 5.891 kilometers, the former RAF airfield is a true test of car balance and driver bravery, especially through legendary sections like Maggots, Becketts, and Chapel, where rapid directional changes demand razor-sharp precision. The track’s fast-flowing nature rewards aerodynamic efficiency and cornering stability, making it a favourite among drivers. With unpredictable British weather often playing a role, and overtaking opportunities at corners like Stowe and Vale, Silverstone delivers both strategic complexity and spectacular racing action year after year.

Pirelli’s Specifications



Stories This Weekend

Special Liveries


McLaren dropped a gorgeous livery for their home race in Silverstone. A lot of chrome on the car to keep them standing out on track. This is a throwback to their iconic Vodafone Chrome livery in the late 200s



VCARB also brought out a fancy spray paint livery after a good result for them in Austria.


Hamilton At Home In Red

Lewis Hamilton makes his first appearance at home for the Scarlet Outfit. He has a record of a 14-year-long streak of top 3 finishes at his home race. He will be looking to keep that going coming into this weekend.


Rumours Of Verstappen x Mercedes

Sky Sports Italy put out a post on X saying that talks are in advanced stages between Max and Mercedes, George Russel and Max’s future remains uncertain at this stage. George expressed his will to stay at Mercedes for the foreseeable future.


F1 Movie Release

The long awaited F1 Movie produced by Lewis Hamilton starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris makes its first appearance in the big screens. With a lot of positive reviews, the movie is a recommended watch.

Weekend Schedule



Weekend Forecast

Friday: 22°C, Wind 29 km/h, 10% chance of rain
Saturday: 21°C, Wind 24 km/h, 45% chance of rain
Sunday: 21°C, Wind 24 km/h, 10% chance of rain.

It’s windier than usual, making cars unpredictable. Droplets of rain are expected during Qualifying

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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