Good Morning! It’s a good day to be a Mercedes fan as they’ve announced that their drivers are staying put until at least 2025. Of course, there wasn’t ever much doubt that the 7-time world champion was going to stick with the silver arrows. Barring some bizzare Palou-esque contract situation, Hamilton will try and lead Mercedes back to the top and chase the ever-elusive 8th championship title.

Four Sigmatic

Mental Focus and Energy

Help us keep The Money Lap racing to your inbox three times a week and check out the Think Coffee starter kit deal exclusive to our subscribers! Your first subscription order comes with a free frother! And lets be honest, who doesn’t want a free frother?

Use the code “Money Lap” in the link below for an extra 15% off on your already discounted order!

Motorsports Moneyline

Italian GP Driver Odds (provided by BetMGM)

-450 Max Verstappen

+850 Sergio Perez

+1600 Charles Leclerc

+2200 Lewis Hamilton

+2500 Lando Norris

Darlington Driver Odds (provided by BetMGM)

+500 Martin Truex Jr.

+525 Kyle Larson

+750 William Byron

+800 Denny Hamlin

+1100 Ross Chastain

eRacr’s AI Fantasy Lineup

Based on current trends and previous race statistics here is the ideal lineup for your NASCAR Fantasy team heading into Darlington:

1. William Byron

2. Martin Truex Jr.

3. Kyle Busch

4. Kevin Harvick

5. Chase Elliott

Garage: Ross Chastain

F1

Hamilton and Russell Stay Put

Lewis Hamilton, the 7-time F1 champ, is staying put! 📝 Hamilton has penned a contract extension with Mercedes until 2025, parking next to teammate George Russell. Having been with Mercedes since 2013, Hamilton's racked up 6 of his 7 championships 🏆 and 82 of his record 103 race victories 🏁 with the team.

Hamilton says, “I’m grateful to the team who have supported me both on and off the track. Our story isn’t finished, we are determined to achieve more together and we won’t stop until we do.”

On the other side of the garage, Russell, who climbed the ranks from the junior program, expressed his gratitude: “I have grown up with this team ever since joining as part of the junior program back in 2017. It’s my home and it feels fantastic to extend our special relationship through 2025.”

The race is on for the duo to lead Mercedes back to the top! 🚀🌍

More F1

🙅‍♂️ Verstappen denies claims that Red Bull’s car is built around him

🆕 F2 unveils their new 2024 car

👨‍🏫 Van Gisbergen mentors Lawson to adapt to F1 

🌧️ F1 eyes diffuser solution to help cure wet weather visibility problem

💰 F1 team bosses say pay driver F1 model is dead

🚀 How Aston Martin looks to build it’s brand with F1’s boom

NASCAR

Hamlin is on the Hunt

Denny Hamlin believes his time to snag a championship might be now. At 42, he's stepping into Sunday’s playoff opener at Darlington Raceway ranked third among 16 drivers. While 2023 brought him only two victories (at Kansas and Pocono), he's been in the mix consistently, with three 2nd place finishes and holding down 5th for most laps led. 💪

Hamlin notes: “I think the team has got better all-around speed than what it’s had in a while." He adds, "Honestly, if you get to the final four, if you don’t have speed at Phoenix, it doesn’t matter, and I think we will.” 🏁

With a Cup resume boasting 50 race wins but no series title, Hamlin's aiming for change. “All the pieces of the puzzle are there. There’s no excuses, for sure,” he confidently states. And hey, with racing greats like Petty, Johnson, and Earnhardt clinching titles post-30, why can't Hamlin? 🏆🤔

More NASCAR

🔁 JGR swaps pit crews for Bell and Ty Gibbs

🇯🇵 Kobayashi hopes to open NASCAR doors for Japanese drivers

⛑️ NASCAR President Steve Phelps weighs in on Preece crash, Next Gen safety

👋 DiBenedetto, Rackley part ways for NASCAR Truck 2024

IndyCar

Fueling Victories

Scott Dixon's comebacks at the Indianapolis Road Course and the St Louis oval are stuff of legends. At Indy, an early stack-up crash didn't deter Dixon. He strategically split the race into two stops, outsmarting rivals with a three-stop approach. Dixon credits fuel management and Honda: “Lifting. I don't know, man. I would say Honda…The fuel mileage, huge credit to Honda and HPD, it was remarkably easy to get.”

At St Louis, he ascended from 16th to the top using a unique three-stop strategy when others pit stopped five times. David Salters, Honda’s American racing president, lauds Dixon for his calm demeanor and his genius strategy tweaks.

Honda's edge? It's all in the engine optimization for power and fuel efficiency. They meticulously adapt combustion methods and keep evolving, aiming for max power without compromising efficiency. 🧠🔧

2023 also saw IndyCar using a new blend of renewable ethanol, maximizing the eco-factor. 🍃🌿

Bottom line: It's a mix of driver genius, meticulous engineering, and adaptive strategy. Dixon is the undeniable fuel king, even if teammate Alex Palou might snatch this year's title.👑🏁

More IndyCar

✍️ Linus Lundqvist joins Chip Ganassi Racing for the 2024 IndyCar season

🥊 Scott McLaughlin and David Malukas have a beef after their clash at the St. Louis IndyCar race

GLOBAL MOTORSPORT

Take a trip to far away motorsport lands

📅 GT Open reveals provisional 2024 schedule: The GT Open series has announced its provisional calendar for the 2024 season, featuring eight rounds across Europe and a return to Spa-Francorchamps after a two-year absence.

🏁 Asian Le Mans Series entry deadline approaching: The Asian Le Mans Series is preparing for its 2023/24 season, with the entry deadline set for September 15. The series expects a strong grid of LMP2, LMP3 and GT cars, with some new additions and changes.

➕ BRT confirms two-car expansion for 2024: The BRT team has confirmed that it will expand to a two-car operation in the 2024 Supercars Championship, with drivers Anton De Pasquale and Will Brown.

🌎 Extreme H: A new hydrogen-powered off-road series: A new off-road racing series called Extreme H is set to debut in 2025, featuring hydrogen-powered electric vehicles. The series aims to promote clean energy and environmental awareness, as well as showcase the potential of hydrogen technology.

⚡ Formula E’s Gen4 car to focus on competition: Formula E’s next-generation car, which will be introduced in the 2025/26 season, will prioritize competition and performance over aesthetics and innovation. The series hopes to maintain its close and exciting racing, while also reducing costs and complexity.

The Money Lap Podcast | Episode 19

Episode 19 is out NOW! Parker gears up with exhilarating news as he re-signs with Big Machine Racing for 2024, while Landon cruises in for a cheeky reminder about Cameo. F1 splashes into the spotlight with a wild wet weekend, and further intrigue follows as the federation puts the brakes on flexible wings. Elsewhere in the electric world, Formula E sparks excitement with their 2024 pit stops overhaul!

Watch and Listen Now

Watch on Youtube | Spotify | Apple Podcast

Money Lap Fantasy by eRacr

Join the eRacr Fantasy leagues to compete against other Money Lap subscribers and compete for exclusive prizes all season long! It's not too late to enter! Join below:

Join NASCAR here!

Join F1 Fantasy here!

*As we have passed the halfway mark in the season, the results below now represent updated standings with drop races.

Standings

Memes

ONBOARD OF THE DAY

themoneylap

View more on Instagram