F1 drivers seek racing elsewhere during April break

Lance Stroll will make his GT3 debut at Paul Ricard on April 11, driving an Aston Martin Vantage for Comtoyou Racing in the GTWCE season-opener.planetf1+1
The unprecedented break stems from the FIA's cancellation of two Middle East races due to regional security concerns, cutting the 2026 calendar to 22 races.heavy
Supercars officials are reportedly working to secure Liam Lawson a wildcard entry for a New Zealand round, though the NZ Herald says it remains unlikely.nzherald+1

The cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to escalating tensions in the Middle East has left Formula 1 with an unprecedented five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 and the Miami Grand Prix on May 3. Several drivers are using the downtime to race in other series, with Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson among those eyeing opportunities away from the F1 paddock.heavy

Stroll's GT3 Debut at Paul Ricard

Stroll will make his GT racing debut at the GT World Challenge Europe season-opener at Circuit Paul Ricard on the weekend of April 11-12, according to Crash.net. The Canadian will drive the No.18 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO for Comtoyou Racing, sharing the car with former Marussia F1 driver Roberto Merhi and 21-year-old Mari Boya.planetf1+1

The six-hour endurance race presents a unique challenge — it begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday and finishes at midnight, running almost entirely under lights. A prologue test session is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, ahead of the race weekend.planetf1

While this is Stroll's first GT outing, he has prior sportscar experience from two Daytona 24 Hours starts, including a fifth-place finish in 2016. He will share the Paul Ricard grid with MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, who returns to GTWCE full-time in 2026 with Team WRT as part of BMW's Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft factory lineup. Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen will also be represented, with his Team Verstappen Racing Mercedes entering the same event.crash

Lawson Linked to Supercars Wildcard in New Zealand

Meanwhile, Fox Sports Australia reported that Supercars officials are actively working to secure Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson a wildcard entry for one of the championship's upcoming New Zealand rounds. Journalist James Phelps reported that the effort is "serious," with organisers approaching teams about finding a spare car to accommodate the Kiwi driver for either the Taupō Super 440 on April 10-12 or the Christchurch Super 440 on April 17-19.nzherald+3

However, the New Zealand Herald struck a more cautious note, suggesting that a Lawson appearance remains unlikely despite the Australian reports. The main obstacle appears to be sourcing a competitive car, as wildcard entries require teams to field an additional entry beyond their regular commitments.nzherald

Lawson, who finished ninth at Suzuka in the season's most recent race, told F1 TV he was "mentally drained" by the demands of the new 2026 regulations — a Supercars outing on home soil could offer a welcome change of scenery during the enforced break.motorsport

Sources (33)