Shane Van Gisbergen Took Notes From Max Verstappen For Mexico Cup Race Win
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Shane van Gisbergen approached four-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen for his advice ahead of the Cup Series race at Mexico's Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit and went on to win his second NASCAR Cup Series race.
With Trackhouse Racing being backed by Red Bull, van Gisbergen was able to connect with Verstappen for his input. The Dutchman has won five times at the Mexican GP venue and thus was the perfect source to impart his knowledge.
Van Gisbergen led for a heroic 60 laps, dominating the race by finishing 16.5 seconds ahead of runner-up Christopher Bell. Making the feat more special was the fact that this was NASCAR's first race outside the USA after 1958.
Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #88 Safety Culture Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 15, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico.
Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #88 Safety Culture Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 15, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico.Verstappen has been known to dominate F1 Grands Prix similarly, making his advice to van Gisbergen more valuable. Speaking to the media after the race, the Mexico City Cup Series race winner said:
"I just look for every advantage I can. I know he's raced here in the rain and he's a friend of mine, and I walked out on to pit road this morning and it was amazing how slick it was.
"Normally on a wet circuit the tarmac has grip and the white lines are slipperier. It was the opposite. It was like ice how slippery it was out there."
While van Gisbergen ended the weekend on a high note, the same could not be said about Verstappen, who secured second place at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Van Gisbergen started the race on pole, giving him that extra edge. Speaking after the race, the three-time Supercars champion stated further:
"That's why I'm here, to win road races. But I'm not here to run last on the ovals either. I need to keep getting better to justify being a Cup Series driver. I need to be performing on the ovals, too.
"I feel like we're really making strides, but yeah, this is what I'm here to do, make the playoffs, put another Trackhouse car in the playoffs, and yeah, can't wait to do the victory lunch during the week at Trackhouse and just see how stoked everyone is there. You see the effort everyone puts in, and they don't get the glory. They're just stuck at the shop. I love taking that and sharing that moment with them during the week."
Related: Daniel Suárez Shares Powerful Story of Adapting to the USA Before NASCAR Xfinity Win
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
7 hours ago
- Newsweek
Shark Reveals F1 Movie Tech Ahead of Release
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. In collaboration with the upcoming "F1" movie, SharkNinja released an entire lineup of cleaning, hair, and kitchen products inspired by the film. SharkNinja sponsors the APXGP racing team - the fictional racing team in the movie. The movie, produced by Apple Original Films, is one of the most anticipated movies of the summer. Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton is an executive producer of the film to capture the realism of the sport. Brad Pitt during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 8, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Brad Pitt during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 8, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Qian Jun/Officially named the APXGP Performance Collection, the line of products features seven of the company's products, re-designed to match the fictional racing team's color scheme. The color scheme of the items is black and gold, providing a nice finish and matching the aesthetic of APXGP. Appliance maker Shark | Ninja (@NinjaKitchen) is releasing several products in new black and gold versions for its official sponsorship of the fictional APXGP team in @F1Movie, including a 7-in-1 ice cream maker that usually costs $199.99 but will cost $229.99 for the F1 edition. — Adam Stern (@A_S12) June 10, 2025 The seven products are: Ninja CREAMi Ice Cream Maker - $229.99 Ninja FrostVault Wheeled Cooler with Dry Zone - $299.99 Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop with NeverTouch Pro Base - $999.00 Shark FlexBreeze Pro Mist - $249.99 Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty System - $549.99 Shark SpeedStyleTM Pro - $229.99 Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System - $379.99 The products are available here. In a statement released by the brand, SharkNinja announced their appearance in the film as the sponsor. "Moviegoers will see SharkNinja's sponsorship of APXGP, the race team depicted in F1 The Movie, when they experience it on the big screen," the company's statement reads. "The limited-edition line launch will be supported by custom co-branded television spots and eagle-eyed viewers will have the opportunity to spot some SharkNinja favorite products in F1 The Movie. "Each product in this collection was carefully curated for its commonalities with the race cars from Team APXGP: speed, power and technology." The movie partnered with F1 in an official capacity and has appearances of real drivers and teams. There was footage captured at actual, current-day race tracks as well. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, "F1" features Sonny Hayes, played by Brad Pitt, returning to the Formula 1 grid after retiring 30 years ago. Hayes was in a scary accident that ended his career early, but his former teammate, Ruben Cervantes, played by Javier Bardem, calls on Hayes to return. Struggling to keep his team afloat, Cervantates needs a steady pair of hands to help APXGP survive. Paired with the promising Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris, Hayes is forced to deal with the modern demands of F1. The movie hits theaters on Friday, June 27. The total run time of the film is two hours and 366 minutes. It is rated PG-13.
USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
NASCAR in Mexico City: Should the series return in 2026 for another Cup race?
NASCAR in Mexico City: Should the series return in 2026 for another Cup race? Show Caption Hide Caption Jeff Gordon reflects on how to grow NASCAR's popularity Jeff Gordon discusses the popularity of NASCAR and how the sport can continue to grow. Sports Seriously For the first time since 1958, NASCAR's top level raced on international asphalt and it counted for points. The Viva Mexico 250 saw the grid take on the unique challenge of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. It's one of the toughest tracks on the calendar considering the altitude (7,349 feet) and road track layout. The light rain before the green flag waved added an extra wrinkle to the racing. It was befitting that the winner of NASCAR's first international race in decades is an international driver. Trackhouse Racing's Shane van Gisbergen, a native of New Zealand, earned his second career Cup Series win and a spot in the 10-race playoffs later this year. It came in dominant fashion with van Gisbergen taking pole position and leading 60 of the 100 laps. He took first as Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman and Michael McDowell rounded out the top five finishers. This was a new experience for one of the oldest racing formulas in the world. Was it worth the trip? Here's what we think. NASCAR in Mexico City verdict There were logistical issues with international flights and shuttles getting to and from the track, but once the drivers arrived, they were greeted like rockstars. Middle-of-the-pack drivers like Todd Gilliland, who has just two top-10 finishes this season, had a crowd of fans welcoming him at the track. Fans at the infamous stadium section of the track stayed after the second-tier NASCAR Xfinity race on Saturday, June 14 to high-five drivers and crew members alike as they left for the day. These are notoriously passionate motorsports fans, and they certainly lived up to that billing for NASCAR. Road races can be tough, and this one even more so with the altitude and mixed conditions. Some of the drivers were also dealing with stomach issues, van Gisbergen included, which threw another wrinkle into preparations on race day. Few drivers were outspoken against making the trip, but one notably had a major change in tune. Carson Hocevar had ripped the sport's decision to come to Mexico City on a livestream prior to the race. "If the travel was better, if getting here was easier, if you felt safer getting to and from everywhere, if it wasn't such a (expletive), if the track limits were a little better enforced, if it was going to be a little bit better of a race, and it wasn't so easy to, or feel so locked down like you can't leave anywhere, it'd be a great experience," he said. Come Sunday night, Hocevar took to social media to take back his comments. "Now that I've actually left my hotel a couple times and raced here in front of some of the most passionate fans I've ever seen, my opinion has changed," Hocevar wrote on X. "I am embarrassed by my comments." Cup Series champions Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch were both strong supporters of the race. 'The food is amazing, the city has some of the top restaurants in the world,' Busch said per the Associated Press. 'This is a great place to be and I don't understand the people holed up in their hotels too scared to leave. Live a little.' Should NASCAR race in Mexico City again? A new course is always a challenge. There were some logistical issues with travel, but that's likely to crop up in some way at every new venue NASCAR visits. It gets amplified in an international track. Ben Kennedy, NASCAR executive vice president and chief venue & racing innovation officer, built up this race since its announcement last August and he was "proud" of how the weekend turned out. Before van Gisbergen took to victory lane, his Trackhouse Racing teammate and Monterrey, Mexico native Daniel Suárez won the Xfinity Race a day prior. It was a near-storybook way for NASCAR to re-introduce itself in the country. 'It couldn't have been any better,' Suárez said. 'I've been here since Tuesday just working, doing promotion for sponsors, for the race itself, for fans. Every single thing that we did exceeded my expectations. The fans were amazing." This opportunity is huge for expanding NASCAR's global reach and crucially bringing in new fans. The country has a well-earned reputation for passionate fans when Formula 1 visits the track in the fall so the appetite for racing is there for in-person spectators. NASCAR is non-committal about Mexico City returning to the calendar next season. It should be back, but scheduling could be an issue considering Mexico will be a host country for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this time next year. It could be tough to find another slot in the calendar but it's worth finding a solution. This track is a unique test for drivers and cars alike – given the altitude and layout – with an outstanding fanbase. If the sport wants to tout its drivers as some of the best in the world, this is a key piece to earning that credibility.
Newsweek
9 hours ago
- Newsweek
Lewis Hamilton Hints at Chaos Inside Ferrari With Cryptic Message
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton dropped hints after the Canadian Grand Prix about some inner-team turmoil within the Italian racing outfit. Life at Ferrari for Lewis Hamilton started as a fairytale, with much fanfare and anticipation, but it quickly spiraled into a nightmare after a rocky first 10 races with the Scuderia. Amid performance problems, new details are emerging about potential causes for the lackluster start. Fifth placed qualifier Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 14, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec. Fifth placed qualifier Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 14, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec. Photo byThe British racer revealed that things are happening behind the scenes at Ferrari that are preventing progress. "The mindset for me, I'm like 'there's a lot of changes that need to be made in the system.' I wish I could tell you what's happening. There's a lot going on in the background," Hamilton told Sky Sports Italy. "Yeah, I can't say too much about it. There's so many things I wish I could tell you that could explain the things that have happened this year, the problems we had, and what's going on within the organization. "But my goal is to try and positively influence, try and get change so we can have long-term success. "There's a lot of changes that we need. For me it's that foundation building. We're not fighting for a championship." Hamilton still isn't comfortable in the SF-25 and is publicly demanding some upgrades to the car. "Of course I'm asking for these things [upgrades]," Hamilton added. "I don't know why we haven't been bringing upgrades, I think we have one hopefully coming soon." Ferrari and Hamilton entered the season with title-winning aspirations, but the team has failed to win a Grand Prix this season, only getting a sprint race win in China. Charles Leclerc, in the No. 16 car, consistently maximizes the performance from the car, getting shocking results much higher than expected at most races. The Monaco-born driver managed to fight for pole position on a couple of occasions this season. Hamilton, on the other hand, continues to struggle in qualifying, getting consistently one-upped by Leclerc. The seven-time champion's race pace is still blistering; he is working his way up the grid from lower spots, but he has started on the back foot consistently, managing to keep up. Despite the struggles, Hamilton is only one spot below Leclerc, sitting P6 and only 25 points away, highlighting that his rough form is still relatively close to his teammate. If updates do something to the car, and Hamilton grows in comfort, he might be able to start delivering on the hype.
