Shaheen Recovers from Seventh and Wins at COTA | ISL News

Shaheen Recovers from Seventh and Wins at COTA

Season 1 · Round 7 · United States Grand Prix · Circuit of The Americas · 24 October 2026 · Dry · 50%

Qualifying was the closest part of the night. Shaul Ezra led through the first two runs. On the final run Youssef Shaheen found a little more and took pole by a few thousandths.

The race was less close. A technical problem at the start dropped Shaheen to seventh. His pace from there was too much for everyone else, and he got back to the front. He won by 2.209 seconds, with fastest lap, even after a 10-second steward penalty.

That's five wins from six starts. His lead is now 34 points: 140 to Eden Azran's 106.

Ezra pushes, and pays for it

Ezra had a small advantage after Shaheen's bad start, but he couldn't keep it. Late in the race he pushed hard to match Shaheen's pace, and that brought his first in-game penalties of the season, 6 seconds.

The stewards gave Shaheen 10 seconds for gaining an advantage off track when he passed Eden Azran on lap 9. The penalty did not change the order. Ezra still finished second, his fourth podium of the season, and moved up to third in the championship on 96.

Azran holds third with a steering wheel problem

Azran started third and finished third, with problems on his steering wheel for part of the race. He stays second in the championship. The gaps to him from the front, and from behind to fourth, were big.

Through the field

Kelly Aiche finished fourth from fourth. He is on a great run: third in Singapore, fourth here, and he moves past Idan Turjeman, who missed the round, into fourth in the championship on 88 points. From the outside it looks like he's simply enjoying himself, and he has every reason to.
Ricardo Pericao climbed from seventh to fifth, matching his season-best finish.
Dan Radia started fifth and finished sixth, with a 6-second game penalty. Seven rounds, seven points finishes.
Assaf Ben Lulu went from ninth to seventh, and Tal Cohen held eighth. Both finished a lap down.
Dvir Badash started sixth and did not finish. Omer Cohen did not start.

Only ten drivers took part. We want to see a much fuller grid for the rest of the season.

Where the championship sits

Shaheen 140, Azran 106, Ezra 96, Aiche 88. Turjeman drops to fifth on 80. Radia is sixth on 59, one point ahead of Harel Ben Harosh.

McLaren lead the teams on 199. Aston Martin move up to second on 123, ahead of Williams on 104. Red Bull pass Racing Bulls for fourth, 96 to 95.

Next is São Paulo, on 7 November.

See you on the grid.