Valtteri Bottas
Kyle Larson (5) celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Larry Papke)
AUTO RACING: NASCAR playoffs move to Kansas; F1 in Texas

By The Associated Press Oct. 20, 2021 08:10 AM EDT

Kyle Larson, left, and Jeff Gordon shake hands in Victory Lane after a NASCAR Cup Series auto racing race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
AUTO RACING: Larson's lead grows as Cup Series goes to Texas

By The Associated Press Oct. 13, 2021 07:10 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland holds the trophy on the podium after winning the Turkish Formula One Grand Prix at the Intercity Istanbul Park circuit in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Bottas wins, frustrated Hamilton loses F1 lead to Verstappen

By Jerome Pugmire Oct. 10, 2021 09:48 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, with his award for winning pole position after the end of qualifying for Sunday's Formula One Turkish Grand Prix at the Intercity Istanbul Park circuit in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. Hamilton who took pole position will start 10th due to a penalty with Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland who came second promoted to pole, for the race. (Umit Bektas/Pool Photo via AP)
Hamilton mitigates grid penalty with strong qualifying run

By Jerome Pugmire Oct. 09, 2021 06:15 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the second practice session ahead of Sunday's Formula One Turkish Grand Prix at the Intercity Istanbul Park circuit in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Oct. 8, 2021.(AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Hamilton tops both practice sessions at Turkish GP

By Jerome Pugmire Oct. 08, 2021 05:42 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, center, of Britain walks at the paddock ahead of Sunday's Formula One Turkish Grand Prix at the Intercity Istanbul Park track, outside Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
No room for error in Hamilton and Verstappen F1 title fight

By Jerome Pugmire Oct. 07, 2021 06:17 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the Russian Formula One Grand Prix at the Sochi Autodrom circuit, in Sochi, Russia, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
Hamilton wins 100th F1 race to take lead over Verstappen

Sep. 26, 2021 09:43 AM EDT

General view ahead of qualifying the third practice session at the Sochi Autodrom circuit, in Sochi, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. The Russian Formula One Grand Prix will be held on Sunday. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
Norris snatches pole position in wet Russian GP qualifying

Sep. 25, 2021 04:58 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the second practice session at the Sochi Autodrom circuit, in Sochi, Russia, Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. The Russian Formula One Grand Prix will be held on Sunday. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
Verstappen to start at back of grid for Russian Grand Prix

Sep. 24, 2021 05:42 AM EDT

Britain's Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes attends the press conference at the Sochi Autodrom circuit, in Sochi, Russia, Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. The Russian Formula One Grand Prix will be held on Sunday. (Joao Filipe/DPPI, Pool via AP)
Hamilton, Verstappen renew bruising F1 title fight in Russia

Sep. 23, 2021 09:20 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain collides with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands during the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, at Monza racetrack, in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept.12, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AUTO RACING: NASCAR heads to Las Vegas as IndyCar wraps

By The Associated Press Sep. 22, 2021 08:10 AM EDT

Mclaren driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia celebrates after winning during the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, at Monza racetrack, in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept.12, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
F1 rivals Verstappen, Hamilton crash again at Italian GP

By Daniella Matar Sep. 12, 2021 10:15 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland leads Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands during the Sprint Race qualifying session at the Monza racetrack, in Monza, Italy , Saturday, Sept.11, 2021. The Formula one race will be held on Sunday. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Bottas wins sprint at Italian GP; Verstappen takes pole

By Daniella Matar Sep. 11, 2021 07:27 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain gives the thumb-up sign after after he clocked the second fastest time during qualifying session at the Monza racetrack, in Monza, Italy, Friday, Sept.10, 2021. The Formula one race will be held on Sunday. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Bottas edges out Hamilton, Verstappen in sprint qualifying

By Daniella Matar Sep. 10, 2021 09:52 AM EDT

Denny Hamlin looks at the trophy after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/John Amis)
AUTO RACING: NASCAR's playoffs move to Richmond

By The Associated Press Sep. 08, 2021 04:47 PM EDT

Second place Williams driver George Russell of Britain jubilates after qualification ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack in Spa, Belgium, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021. The Belgian Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. (John Thys, Pool Photo via AP)
Mercedes confirm Russell replacing Bottas from 2022

By The Associated Press Sep. 07, 2021 05:53 AM EDT

Williams driver George Russell of Britain steers his car during the third free practice session ahead of Sunday's Formula One Dutch Grand Prix at the Zandvoort racetrack, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Bottas leaving Mercedes F1 team to join Alfa Romeo

By Jerome Pugmire Sep. 06, 2021 08:18 AM EDT

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after winning the Formula One Dutch Grand Prix, at the Zandvoort racetrack, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Verstappen's like royalty as Dutch king watches home win

By Jerome Pugmire Sep. 05, 2021 10:46 AM EDT

Dutch fans cheer during the qualifying session for Sunday's Formula One Dutch Grand Prix, at the Zandvoort racetrack, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands clinched the pole position.
Verstappen thrills home crowd with Netherlands GP pole

By Jerome Pugmire Sep. 04, 2021 07:17 AM EDT

The so-called Orange Army, fans of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, fill the stands to watch the first free practice ahead of Sunday's Formula One Dutch Grand Prix at the Zandvoort racetrack, Netherlands, Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Ferraris top Dutch GP 2nd practice as Hamilton breaks down

By Jerome Pugmire Sep. 03, 2021 07:33 AM EDT