Honda-powered teams head to Washington, D.C., for the inaugural Freedom 250 Grand Prix with Alex Palou leading the title fight and Honda seeking another street-course win.

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington will bring the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to the streets of Washington, D.C., for the first time on Sunday, August 23, 2026.

The race will begin at 1 p.m. ET, with pre-race coverage starting at 11:30 a.m. ET and live coverage on Fox.

The inaugural event will take drivers around the nation’s capital and past some of its most recognizable museums and monuments. The race also celebrates 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Honda enters another major street-course test

Honda arrives in Washington with a strong record on street circuits during the 2026 season.

Honda-powered drivers have won all five street-course races held so far this year. Four of those victories were part of all-Honda podium sweeps.

Honda-powered teams have won every street-course race of the 2026 IndyCar season ahead of the Washington debut.

Alex Palou opened the season with a victory at St. Petersburg before leading all-Honda podiums at Long Beach and Detroit.

Kyle Kirkwood then won the inaugural race in Arlington, while Marcus Ericsson followed with victory at Markham last weekend.

The results have helped Honda build a 169-point lead in the manufacturers’ championship.

Palou leads a major championship fight

The Washington race could also have a major impact on the 2026 drivers’ championship.

Alex Palou currently leads the standings by 133 points, giving the Chip Ganassi Racing driver a significant advantage heading into the second half of the season.

Alex Palou holds a 133-point championship lead heading into the inaugural Washington street race.

Palou has collected victories at St. Petersburg, Barber, Long Beach, Detroit, Nashville, and Portland during the 2026 campaign.

Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood is currently second and represents one of the biggest threats to Palou’s championship advantage.

The Washington street circuit gives Palou’s rivals another opportunity to reduce the gap. A strong result for the championship leader, however, could bring him significantly closer to a fifth NTT INDYCAR SERIES title.

Acura joins the Washington celebration

The inaugural race will also feature an important Acura celebration.

Marcus Ericsson’s No. 28 Andretti Global Honda will carry an Acura-themed livery during the Washington race.

Marcus Ericsson’s No. 28 will feature an Acura livery celebrating both America’s 250th anniversary and 40 years of Acura.

The special design celebrates 250 years of the United States while also marking 40 years of Acura, which entered the American market in 1986 as the first Japanese luxury car brand.

The partnership gives Acura another opportunity to connect with motorsport fans through the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

Honda lineup for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix

Honda will field a strong group of drivers across its participating teams in Washington.

Andretti Global

• No. 26 Will Power — Series Champion, Indianapolis 500 winner, Race Winner
• No. 27 Kyle Kirkwood — Race Winner
• No. 28 Marcus Ericsson — Indianapolis 500 winner, Race Winner

Chip Ganassi Racing

• No. 8 Kyffin Simpson
• No. 9 Scott Dixon — Series Champion, Indianapolis 500 winner, Race Winner
• No. 10 Alex Palou — Series Champion, Indianapolis 500 winner, Race Winner

Dale Coyne Racing

• No. 18 Romain Grosjean
• No. 19 Dennis Hauger — Series Rookie

Meyer Shank Racing

• No. 60 Felix Rosenqvist — Indianapolis 500 winner, Race Winner
• No. 66 Marcus Armstrong

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

• No. 15 Graham Rahal — Race Winner
• No. 45 Louis Foster
• No. 47 Mick Schumacher — Series Rookie

With Honda already dominant on street circuits and Palou holding a commanding championship lead, the Honda IndyCar Washington GP will provide another important test for both the manufacturer and its leading drivers.

Lucid has introduced the new Gravity GT-S, a 1,070-horsepower three-row electric SUV that combines supercar performance with seating for up to seven adults.

Lucid is expanding its electric SUV range with the Gravity GT-S, a new performance-focused version of the Gravity. The model brings technology and ideas from the Lucid Air Sapphire into a larger, more versatile package.

With 1,070 horsepower, the Gravity GT-S becomes one of the most powerful three-row SUVs in the United States. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.1 seconds while still offering seating for up to seven adults.

The model made its global debut during Monterey Car Week, where Lucid displayed it alongside the Air Sapphire at Pebble Beach.

A Three-Row SUV With Supercar Performance

The new Gravity GT-S is designed to combine extreme performance with the practicality expected from a family SUV.

Its 1,070-horsepower output comes with standard performance hardware designed to keep that power under control. The SUV receives Lucid’s Dynamic Handling Package, which includes independent rear-wheel steering and an adaptive three-chamber air suspension.

The Lucid Gravity GT-S combines three-row practicality with 1,070 horsepower and performance-focused chassis technology.

The air suspension can lower the vehicle at higher speeds, helping improve stability and aerodynamic performance.

The rear-wheel-steering system also makes the large SUV more agile. By turning the rear wheels, the system can improve response during cornering while making the vehicle easier to maneuver at lower speeds.

Lucid says the GT-S was developed to provide a more expressive driving experience without sacrificing the space and comfort that define the Gravity.

A More Aggressive Gravity Design

The Lucid Gravity GT-S also receives several visual changes that separate it from the standard Gravity.

The exterior features blue accents and painted blue brake calipers, creating a more distinctive appearance for the performance model.

Blue exterior accents and painted blue brake calipers distinguish the Gravity GT-S from other versions of the electric SUV.

Inside, Lucid continues the performance theme with a Mojave PurLuxe Premium interior.

Blue stitching and piping are used across the first and second rows. The SUV also receives blue seatbelts, blue stitching on the steering wheel and center armrest, and a blue steering wheel marker.

The front seat headrests feature an embossed Lucid Bear logo, adding another exclusive detail to the cabin.

Performance Without Losing Practicality

Unlike many high-performance EVs, the Gravity GT-S does not sacrifice its family-oriented layout.

The SUV can accommodate up to seven adults and provides generous cargo capacity. That makes its 1,070-horsepower output even more unusual because the vehicle remains suited to everyday transportation.

he Gravity GT-S retains the Gravity’s spacious interior while adding performance-focused details throughout the cabin.

The model also benefits from Lucid’s broader electric vehicle technology platform.

The current Gravity range offers up to 450 miles of EPA-estimated range, depending on configuration. Lucid lists the GT-S with a projected range of 373 miles, while charging capability can add up to 200 miles in approximately 14 minutes under the appropriate conditions.

For the GT-S specifically, Lucid’s configurator currently lists the model as a 2027 vehicle with a starting price of $125,900. The company lists the GT-S as available in Q4 2026.

Pricing and Availability

The Lucid Gravity GT-S starts at $125,900 in the United States, before taxes, title, registration, options, destination, and documentation fees. Lucid’s current configurator lists it for the 2027 model year and indicates availability in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The GT-S is positioned above the regular Gravity Touring and Grand Touring models. Lucid currently lists those versions from $79,900 and $98,900 respectively, giving the GT-S a significant premium for its additional performance hardware and 1,070-horsepower powertrain.

Lucid’s Monterey Car Week program ran from August 13 through August 16, 2026, providing the setting for the Gravity GT-S global debut.

The Lucid Gravity GT-S represents a different approach to the high-performance SUV. Instead of choosing between extreme acceleration and everyday practicality, Lucid is trying to combine both. With 1,070 horsepower, three-row seating, advanced suspension technology, and a projected 373-mile range, the GT-S pushes the Gravity into a much more performance-focused category.

Isack Hadjar will miss the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix with a wrist injury, with Liam Lawson returning to Red Bull and Yuki Tsunoda moving back to Racing Bulls.

Red Bull has officially confirmed that Isack Hadjar will miss the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix this weekend after suffering a wrist injury during the summer break.

The French driver will be replaced by Liam Lawson, who returns to Red Bull for the race at Zandvoort. The change also triggers another move, with Yuki Tsunoda returning to Racing Bulls for the weekend.

Hadjar suffers wrist injury before Zandvoort

Hadjar injured his wrist during a gym training session during the summer break. The incident left Red Bull with little choice but to replace him for the return to action.

Isack Hadjar will miss the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix after suffering a wrist injury during the summer break.

The timing is particularly unfortunate for Hadjar because Zandvoort is the circuit where he scored his first and only Formula 1 podium so far.

The Frenchman finished third for Racing Bulls at the Dutch Grand Prix in 2025 during an impressive rookie campaign.

Red Bull confirmed that Hadjar will not compete this weekend and wished the 21-year-old a quick recovery.

Liam Lawson returns to Red Bull

Hadjar’s absence gives Liam Lawson another opportunity alongside Max Verstappen.

Lawson previously raced for Red Bull during the opening two rounds of the 2025 season before returning to the junior team.

The New Zealander enters the weekend with considerably more experience than he had during his previous Red Bull stint.

After 11 races in 2026, Lawson sits ninth in the drivers’ championship. He has scored points in all but three Grands Prix, strengthening his case with a series of consistent performances at Racing Bulls.

The promotion gives Lawson another chance to demonstrate that he is ready for a permanent seat at the senior Red Bull team.

Tsunoda returns to Racing Bulls

Lawson’s promotion creates another opening at Racing Bulls.

Red Bull reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda will return to his former team and partner rookie Arvid Lindblad at Zandvoort.

Yuki Tsunoda will return to Racing Bulls and race alongside Arvid Lindblad at Zandvoort.

Tsunoda, 26, has made 111 Grand Prix starts and knows the Racing Bulls operation well.

The Japanese driver lost his full-time Formula 1 seat after struggling alongside Verstappen at Red Bull in 2025. He subsequently became the team’s reserve driver.

His temporary return comes as questions continue around his future. Tsunoda has reportedly been discussing a potential move to IndyCar with Meyer Shank Racing for 2027.

A major opportunity for Lawson

The driver changes create an unusual situation for the Dutch Grand Prix. Hadjar will miss an event where he previously enjoyed one of the strongest weekends of his career, while Lawson gets another chance to prove himself at Red Bull.

At the same time, Tsunoda will return to the team where he developed his Formula 1 career.

For Isack Hadjar, the immediate priority is recovery. For Liam Lawson, however, the Dutch Grand Prix represents a major opportunity to show Red Bull exactly what he can deliver in a race seat.