Issue #652: Six of the best for Nasser

We start this week with the conclusion of the Dakar. Nasser Al-Attiyah held on to his lead to claim a stunning sixth victory of the prestigious event, inching him closer to the all-time record. David Ledbitter reports on the action. In this week’s Start Your Engines, James Phillips speculates whether the removal of Riccardo Adami as Lewis Hamilton's race engineer at Ferrari is a sign that the Scuderia are taking notice of the seven-time World Champion as he seeks to reinvigorate his career in 2026. Sticking with F1, Jack Oliver Smith sat down with Racing Bulls Team Principal Alan Permane to discuss his transition to Team Principal, the rise of Isack Hadjar and the way the sport has changed in his three decades in the sport. There is a brand-new regulations cycle in F1 starting in 2026, and Jack explains how Audi's shakedown in Barcelona has given some clues as to what the cars on the grid might feature. Back in the off-road world, and David previews the upcoming Rallye Monte Carlo, the event's 94th running, and the first round of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship. Meanwhile, on two wheels, Henry Cheal takes a look ahead to a big talking point across two different championships: the move from World Superbikes to MotoGP 2026 for Toprak Razgatlioglu. And as always, we have all the news, views and stories in this week's edition of the most widely read weekly