Daily News 19

Category: Sports

Sports news, viral moments, athletes, teams, and major competitions.

  • George Russell: “Specialist” Lando Norris Always Strong at Tracks Like Zandvoort

    George Russell: “Specialist” Lando Norris Always Strong at Tracks Like Zandvoort

    Russell: Norris a Specialist at High-Degradation Circuits After Zandvoort Win

    George Russell believes Lando Norris’s back-to-back victories in Hungary and the Netherlands are no surprise, citing the McLaren driver’s historical strength at tracks defined by long corners and high tyre degradation.

    Norris secured pole and victory at both the Hungaroring and Zandvoort either side of the summer break, a surge coinciding with a significant McLaren upgrade package. However, Russell pointed out that Norris has consistently excelled at circuits sharing these specific characteristics.

    “I don’t think it’s a major surprise for us, seeing how competitive Lando was this weekend, considering he won in Budapest,”

    Russell said after finishing third in the Dutch Grand Prix.

    “It’s a very similar circuit with the long corners, high tyre degradation, with the two-stop strategy, so there’s a lot of similarities between the two circuits. I think this may continue for the coming two or three races until we start to bring more to the car, and fingers crossed our competitors don’t.”

    Monza Presents Different Challenge

    The next round at Monza offers a contrasting layout. While it features a few long corners, the Italian circuit is predominantly characterised by long straights, heavy braking zones, and low-speed chicanes. Russell expects Mercedes to be more competitive there, referencing the team’s strong performances at Shanghai, Montreal, and Silverstone earlier this season.

    However, he acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Ferrari’s rumoured engine upgrade and the unique demands Monza places on power units.

    “I think we will be slightly more competitive there,”

    Russell said of Monza.

    “However, I believe Ferrari have an engine upgrade incoming, and the truth is we just don’t know.”

    Despite the circuit change, Russell maintains McLaren remains the benchmark, particularly in high-degradation conditions where Norris excels.

    “But I do believe that these high-degradation circuits really suit McLaren very well, and especially Lando. He’s always been a bit of a specialist in those conditions. We also saw it last year.”

    “Monza may be slightly different, but I think they are the team to beat right now.”

    Antonelli Faces Grid Penalty at Home Race

    Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli is set to start from the back of the grid at his home round in Monza. The penalty stems from a full Mercedes power unit change that exceeds his seasonal allocation.

  • Lando Norris: I’m eliminating my F1 weaknesses, and I don’t have so many

    Lando Norris: I’m eliminating my F1 weaknesses, and I don’t have so many

    Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris believes he is delivering a more complete performance in 2025 than during his title-winning season, citing improvements in both racecraft and off-track engineering collaboration. The McLaren driver backed up that claim with back-to-back victories at the Hungarian Grand Prix and the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, securing pole position and the win in both rounds.

    Title Defence Gains Momentum After Slow Regulatory Start

    Despite the recent surge, Norris sits fourth in the drivers’ championship, trailing leader Kimi Antonelli by 83 points. McLaren’s difficult adaptation to the new technical regulations had initially dampened title expectations, but the twin victories have injected fresh life into the British driver’s campaign.

    Norris: “I’m Doing a Better Job at Understanding This Car”

    Speaking after his Zandvoort triumph, Norris explained that the 2025 machinery presents a stiffer challenge, yet his ability to manage it has evolved.

    “I was driving at a high level the second half of last year. It’s tough to say [if I’m driving at my highest level], but I do think it’s a trickier car to drive this year in some ways,” Norris said. “I think you can see that because the gaps between team-mates are often bigger this year, I would say, than it was last year. But I do believe so.
    “I do believe I’m able to understand situations better, to understand the car in a better way. It’s still just horrible to drive, but I’m doing a better job at just understanding this, relaying this to my team, figuring stuff out.
    “So, it’s not just I’m driving better on track. I’m certainly eliminating my weaknesses on track, and I don’t have so many, but it’s also how I work off the track. And for me, yesterday to today is a perfect example of [how] the work we put in overnight transformed our race and gave me the opportunity to win.
    “So, the work we put in away from the track is certainly a huge part of that.”

    Overnight Engineering Turnaround Key to Zandvoort Victory

    Norris highlighted the specific gains made between Saturday’s sprint race—where he finished third—and Sunday’s grand prix. A disappointing sprint showing prompted an intensive debrief with his engineering crew.

    “Pretty high just from a point of very well fought in many ways. More than that is the turnaround from yesterday to today.
    “I was pretty disappointed yesterday. It kind of took a little bit of the fire out of me, seeing how much we struggled in the sprint. I know it’s just a sprint, but every point matters and we just really didn’t have the pace. I didn’t have that something that gave me life inside the car.
    “Last night we worked very, very hard. I spent a lot of time with my engineers to kind of understand what we could do better today, how to push more, save the tyres more, how to do everything in a better way than I’ve done and better than everyone else. And I certainly believe I did that today.
    “So apart from the start, it was a little bit of a mix of races because the beginning in the first stint was pretty bad and kind of reminded me of yesterday. But we put the hard tyres on and things came alive and the race really started to come back to me.”

    McLaren’s Development Trajectory Points Upward

    The Zandvoort weekend underscored a critical strength for McLaren: the capacity to diagnose and solve performance deficits rapidly. Norris credited the overnight session for unlocking race-winning pace, particularly after switching to the hard compound tyre, which transformed the car’s behaviour and allowed him to dictate the second half of the grand prix.

    With the regulation reset still in its early phase, the Woking squad’s ability to extract performance through driver-engineer synergy could prove decisive as the championship progresses.

    Lando Norris, McLaren. Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
  • Chelsea Edge Past Fulham, Palmer Impresses to Give Alonso First Win

    Chelsea Edge Past Fulham, Palmer Impresses to Give Alonso First Win

    Cole Palmer delivered a decisive performance as Chelsea secured a victory at Craven Cottage, handing Xabi Alonso a winning start in the Premier League against an Alvaro Arbeloa-led Fulham side.

    The England international was the architect of the result, finding the back of the net himself before turning provider to set up Joao Pedro for a crucial goal. The combined attacking output proved too much for the home side to handle in the West London derby.

    Palmer Shines in Chelsea Victory

    Palmer’s influence was evident throughout the contest. His goal showcased his clinical finishing, while his assist for Joao Pedro highlighted the creative vision that has made him a centerpiece of the Chelsea attack since his arrival. The connection between the pair offered an early glimpse of a potentially potent partnership for the new campaign.

    The win marks a successful competitive debut for Alonso in the Chelsea dugout. Facing a familiar face in opposite number Arbeloa, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid teammates renewed their rivalry from the touchline, with Alonso emerging victorious on this occasion.

    Fulham Tested at Craven Cottage

    For Fulham, the defeat represents a challenging opening to the season under Arbeloa. Despite the home advantage at Craven Cottage, the Cottagers were unable to contain Chelsea’s attacking threats. The result will prompt an early assessment of the squad’s readiness for the rigors of the Premier League schedule.

    The three points provide Chelsea with immediate momentum and a strong platform as they look to establish themselves among the league’s elite under their new management structure.

  • Netflix Renews “Formula 1: Drive to Survive” for Season 9

    Netflix Renews “Formula 1: Drive to Survive” for Season 9

    Netflix Confirms Formula 1: Drive to Survive Season 9 for 2026 Championship

    Netflix has officially announced that its hit behind-the-scenes docuseries Formula 1: Drive to Survive will return for a ninth season, documenting the ongoing 2026 Formula 1 World Championship. Since its debut on the streaming platform in 2019, the series has provided viewers with unprecedented paddock access and a window into the drivers’ lives away from the circuit.

    Producers Promise Deeper Access in New Season

    Box to Box Films, the production company behind the show, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming installment. Executive producers James Gay-Rees and Paul Martin said in a joint statement: “We’re so excited to be making Season 9 of this iconic show,” James Gay-Rees and Paul Martin, executive producers at Box to Box, which produces the show, said. “This year we’re going to go deeper than ever before into the hidden spaces of this fantastic sport.”

    Series Credited with Transforming F1’s Global Audience

    While the docuseries has faced criticism for its creative editing—often compared to reality television dramatics—its impact on the sport’s popularity is undeniable. Drive to Survive has been instrumental in expanding Formula 1’s fanbase in the United States and attracting a younger, more gender-diverse audience.

    Reflecting on that impact during a 2023 interview with F1.com, Gay-Rees said: “Genuinely, we are enormously proud to be a part of it. There’s also a lot of satisfaction at being first with these things, and I think that it kind of does feel like the first main access show – certainly out of the UK anyway – that has had this profound effect.

    He continued: “We’ve all had the statistics about the changing, younger demographic, and it’s tough out there for anybody, for any big organisation, to hold its ground given the amount of choices that are out there for the consumer. Bringing such a big new audience to a sport – which obviously was deserved, it just needed somebody to open it up – is massively satisfying.

    Gay-Rees added: “The fact that it wasn’t a fluke, the fact that it’s grown [with every season]… It’s a real honour and we love it. It’s a very difficult show to make, but we love the process, we love the world. Long may it continue!”

    Season 9 to Focus on 2026 Regulation Era

    The ninth season will centre on the 2026 F1 season, which introduces sweeping new technical regulations including revised power-unit rules and active aerodynamics. The new campaign is expected to premiere on Netflix in 2027.

    Fan Reaction Builds Anticipation

    Following the announcement on the official Netflix UK Instagram account, fans shared their excitement. One commenter wrote: “The Aston Martin episode will be Absolute Television,” while another posted: “Looking forward to the DTS marathon,” and a third added: “OK I can’t wait for DTS. I actually like it.”

  • Yuki Tsunoda Pitches F1 Return With “Call me, please!” After Impressive Dutch GP

    Yuki Tsunoda Pitches F1 Return With “Call me, please!” After Impressive Dutch GP

    The past week has been a whirlwind for Yuki Tsunoda. Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer learned the previous Friday of Isack Hadjar’s wrist injury and a potential driver change, yet Tsunoda revealed he only received the call on Tuesday—while still on a beach in Greece.

    Immediate readiness despite limited track time

    The Japanese driver emphasized he was physically fully prepared for the stand-in appearance, though adapting to the 2026-spec machinery remained a significant question mark. While Tsunoda has extensively tested the Red Bull car in the simulator this year, he had not driven the Racing Bulls challenger prior to the Dutch Grand Prix weekend.

    Strong showing at Zandvoort

    Despite the limited preparation, the race weekend at Zandvoort went remarkably well. Tsunoda stayed close to teammate Arvid Lindblad’s lap times throughout, qualified 12th in both sessions, and finished the race 11th—just ahead of Lindblad.

    “Honestly, I think I was able to progress faster than I expected. I drove only four times out of eight months since my last race in Abu Dhabi. And with that, I did pretty well,”

    Tsunoda said after the race.

    He acknowledged the adjustment from the ground-effect cars he had grown accustomed to over recent years to the current specification was substantial. At an energy-sensitive circuit like Zandvoort, energy management was not the deciding factor, yet the transition still presented challenges.

    “I think the most challenging part was pretty much everything – a lot of things, learning about deployment, buttons, everything, all procedures are different. And this race was also challenging because of tyre degradation, the degradation characteristic was also very different,”

    he explained.

    “So it was all about how to adapt to that, but honestly, the team supported me a lot. They made it easy for me to drive as fast as possible. It’s a shame that I didn’t score points, but I take it. I was fighting against top eight or top nine until the last few laps, I would say.”

    Future ambitions: F1 return remains Plan A

    The obvious follow-up question concerns Tsunoda’s future. Ahead of the Dutch GP, he had already indicated Formula 1 remains his primary goal, but stressed he does not want to spend another year on the sidelines.

    “Teams have to decide if they want me or not, but they should!”

    “I know what I can do and I think I pretty much showed what I can do to most of the paddock,”

    he added.

    “With just one race, a couple of sessions, I was able to fight close to the points. Honestly, I think the outcome was… obviously, scoring points [would have been] better, but I think I did as much as I could.”

    Before the Racing Bulls opportunity arose, Tsunoda appeared to be targeting IndyCar for 2027 if no F1 door opened. His Zandvoort performance demonstrated he can still be an asset to any midfield team under the current, complex regulations.

    “It’s definitely better having this opportunity, rather than not having any opportunity, so not being able to show what I can do with these regulations,”

    he noted.

    “The rest is up to my manager and other teams who have not decided yet about next year’s line-up, if they want to have me or not, but they should,”

    laughed the driver with 112 F1 starts to his name.

    A direct appeal to team principals

    When asked by Motorsport.com whether his chances of a full-time F1 return had increased after the weekend, Tsunoda paused for seven seconds, looked up, and laughed: “That’s cheeky, huh?”

    After another pause of more than 15 seconds, during which he consulted the Racing Bulls press officer on how best to answer, Tsunoda made a light-hearted appeal to F1 teams for 2027 as he walked away: “Call me, please!”

  • James Vowles Labels Williams F1 Rebuild His “Life’s Journey”

    James Vowles Labels Williams F1 Rebuild His “Life’s Journey”

    Williams Racing team principal James Vowles has vowed that restoring the Grove-based outfit to a championship-contending level in Formula 1 will become his “life’s journey”. Vowles, who joined the team in 2023, inherited the significant challenge of modernizing outdated infrastructure and rebuilding the squad to recapture its former glory.

    Vowles Outlines Long-Term Vision on Team Podcast

    Speaking on the official Team Torque podcast alongside drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, Vowles reflected on the extensive rebuilding process currently underway. When answering a fan question regarding building resilience and mental toughness within an organization the size of Williams, Vowles delivered a candid assessment of his mindset.

    “There are so many life experiences that are hard that as long as you have the right approach to it, you come out the other side a better person.

    “The second is that I am stubborn and persistent and we will be at the level we need to be. This will become my life’s journey to achieve it, but as it is the both of yours [Albon and Sainz] as well, but the reality behind that is that it creates a strength that no one can break as a result of it.”

    Difficult Start to 2026 Campaign

    The commitment comes during a challenging period for the team. Williams endured a difficult start to its 2026 campaign, arriving at pre-season testing in Bahrain with an overweight car after missing a private test session in Barcelona. Despite the on-track struggles, the squad secured a major off-track victory by retaining both drivers.

    Driver Lineup Secured for the Future

    Albon and Sainz both signed contract extensions ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, providing crucial stability. Vowles acknowledged their commitment directly during the podcast.

    “Thank you to both of you, but it’ll be an absolute honour to have you by my side and as part of Williams for next year and hopefully many, many years beyond,”

    he said.

    Albon has penned a one-year extension keeping him with the team through the end of 2027, while Sainz has agreed to a new multi-year deal. The long-term driver contracts align with Vowles’ stated ambition to methodically return Williams to the front of the grid.

  • Fernando Alonso Hailed as “actual GOAT” After F1 Dutch GP: “Just a machine”

    Fernando Alonso Hailed as “actual GOAT” After F1 Dutch GP: “Just a machine”

    Two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso has once again captured the hearts of motorsports fans, earning widespread praise and the “GOAT” (greatest of all time) moniker after a stellar points-scoring performance at the Dutch Grand Prix. The achievement marks a much-needed turn of fortune for the veteran driver and his Aston Martin team following a highly demanding start to the 2026 season.

    The first half of the 2026 campaign proved incredibly tough for the Silverstone-based squad. Prior to the summer break, Aston Martin struggled with reliability and pace, suffering four grand prix retirements for Alonso and seven for his teammate, Lance Stroll. In response, the team introduced a series of comprehensive aerodynamic upgrades at the Hungarian and Dutch Grands Prix to salvage their competitive form.

    Before the August shutdown, Alonso’s sole championship point came from a chaotic Monaco Grand Prix, where several competitors were hit with pitlane speeding penalties. However, at Zandvoort—the first race back after the summer break—the legendary Spaniard showcased his class by securing a hard-fought ninth-place finish, adding two valuable points to his total.

    F1 Fans React to Alonso’s Masterclass

    The F1 community on social media wasted no time celebrating the 45-year-old’s relentless drive. On Reddit, supporters lauded his ability to maximize the car’s potential under difficult circumstances. “Honorary Dutch citizenship for Alonso,” one fan commented on Reddit, while another added: “As soon as he is given even a slightly competent car, he delivers.”

    Reflecting on his charge through the field, another user posted: “P18 to P9 on pure pace (and Verstappen crashing out), finally the AM is something resembling a real car.”

    The sentiment that Alonso remains one of the finest talents to ever grace the sport was a common theme among spectators. “Actual GOAT,” one posted, and someone else wrote: “You can’t spell Fernando Alonso without G.O.A and T.”

    Other reactions highlighted the driver’s uncanny ability to outperform expectations. “He had half a chance of getting 1 point, so he got 2,” noted one fan. Another enthusiast shared their excitement for his future in the sport, writing: “Man, we say it time after time. Alonso is just a machine. Imagine him in a Macca or a Merc. Absolutely insane! I hope he stays for 2 more years and Newey-Honda get their s**t together and give a championship-winning car.”

    Updated Driver Championship Standings

    Following his top-ten finish at Zandvoort, Alonso now occupies 19th place in the drivers’ championship with a total of three points. This places him level on points with 18th-placed Esteban Ocon. Crucially, the Spaniard sits ahead of several key rivals, including Yuki Tsunoda—who filled in for Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls for the Dutch Grand Prix weekend—as well as Lance Stroll, Valtteri Bottas, and Sergio Perez, all of whom currently remain on zero points.

  • LIV Golf’s Future Uncertain Without Saudi Investment

    LIV Golf’s Future Uncertain Without Saudi Investment

    The future of LIV Golf hinges on player commitments in the coming weeks, with stakeholders emphasizing that without a critical mass of sign-ups, a proposed “LIV 2.0” transaction cannot proceed. League officials and players alike are navigating a period of uncertainty, as athletes weigh career options amid ongoing negotiations.

    League Official Stresses Player Importance for Transaction

    When asked if a critical mass of players was required before a deal could be finalized, a league representative stated: “The entirety of our focus is to get to this transaction and get through it. Without the players, that becomes very difficult. I have a good level of confidence in my conversation that we’ll have a critical mass of the right players to move this league forward.”

    McDowell Describes ‘Subdued’ Mood Among Players

    Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, a 2010 U.S. Open champion who joined LIV in 2022, told BBC Sport the atmosphere among the 57 players is “subdued.” He highlighted the diverse circumstances each athlete faces: “There are 57 players out here on LIV and there are 57 different mindsets. Some guys have some exemptions in other tours, some have nowhere to go [if LIV folds].”

    McDowell said he plans to take “a step back” to evaluate his future after the Indianapolis event. “If LIV 2.0 goes ahead, we’ll look at the schedule and how it all plays out, and see if that suits me and my lifestyle,” he added. “I have an opportunity to go back to the European Tour and play there as well. Whether the two of those can happen simultaneously, whether I can only do one or the other, there are questions like that we don’t know the answers to. Until I get that, it’s very difficult to make any decisions.”

    Smith Expresses Affection for LIV but Awaits Details

    Cameron Smith, who joined LIV shortly after winning The Open in 2022, indicated he would need “a little bit of time to think about that once the season is done.” Asked if he would like to remain with LIV, Smith replied: “I really love LIV. It has done wonders for my family, for golf in Australia, my friends, the people that we’ve got to meet around the world. It would be a shame for it to be done, but we’ll see what happens.”

    Unnamed Players Share Mixed Sentiments

    Several players declined to speak on the record. One senior player described an “emotional” feeling within the group as they await clarity. Another offered a brief, shifting assessment: “it’s been great”, before quickly adding “it is great”.

    Jon Rahm, whose future is the subject of considerable speculation, made it clear he would not speak to media beyond his tournament obligations. American Bryson DeChambeau also declined an interview request from BBC Sport.

    DeChambeau Calls for Open-Mindedness

    After Thursday’s first round, DeChambeau addressed the situation: “We definitely have a lot against us. If it works, it works, awesome. If it doesn’t, we’ll figure things out. Time will move on, and I would say that time heals things. I hope people can see that we actually bring value to the game of golf. My wish is that people give us one more shot and be open minded.”

  • Dev Patel Stars in Mythology-Infused Action-Revenge Thriller

    Dev Patel Stars in Mythology-Infused Action-Revenge Thriller

    One small ember can burn down everything in Dev Patel’s mythology-steeped thriller.

  • Formula 1: Kimi Antonelli, the Boy ‘Born in a Garage’ and Made on the Track

    Formula 1: Kimi Antonelli, the Boy ‘Born in a Garage’ and Made on the Track

    Once Formula 1 departed Europe last autumn, a distinct shift occurred within the Mercedes camp. “Suddenly, we felt like we were making really good progress,” says Andrew Shovlin. “There were signs towards the end of the year. I’m not saying any of us thought we’d see what we’ve seen so far this year, but that we had a decent F1 driver.”

    Antonelli’s Dominant Rookie Campaign

    Kimi Antonelli has proven to be far more than “decent.” The Italian rookie has taken the 2025 season by storm, establishing a consistent supremacy over teammate George Russell. Piloting the class-leading machinery, Antonelli has secured six pole positions and six victories across the opening 11 rounds. He enters the second half of the championship, commencing with this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, holding a commanding 50-point lead and appearing well on course for a maiden world title. Reliability issues remain the only factor preventing an even larger championship margin.

    Mercedes Leadership Stunned by Pace of Adaptation

    The scale of this turnaround has caught the paddock off guard. “We were all surprised,” admits Team Principal Toto Wolff. “My thoughts were always that he needed to make the experience of knowing all the tracks, the pressure of performing on such a high level under the spotlight of the media, the constant public feedback, whether you’re doing well or not, the situations everyone wanted to be close to him.”

    Wolff notes the absence of a single bottleneck in the young driver’s development. “There wasn’t one single defining factor where I would have said that made it difficult for him, but this year, he knew exactly what to expect. What was really nice to see is that the self-confidence, without feeling any entitlement, has shone.”

    Mental Fortitude Forged in Junior Categories

    Antonelli’s father, Marco, attributes the performance to a “very strong” mentality forged in the junior ranks. “In F4 and Freca, he started with not good results, and he was able to remake everything and, at the end, work hard and win the championship,” he says. “We talk about F1. I don’t know what the spark is in his brain, but Kimi in the past did the same.”

    Peers Validate Rookie Trajectory

    Reigning champion Max Verstappen echoes the sentiment that the current form follows a natural progression. “For me, there was never any doubt that he would make the jump the year after and already be a lot more consistently competitive,” Verstappen says. “It’s normal in the progression of a driver. In your rookie season, it can be quite tough, but at the moment, of course, he’s doing an amazing job.”

    Family Support and Character Strengths

    Antonelli describes his father as his “rock,” a sentiment Wolff expands upon, praising the driver’s “typical Italian family.” “They are caring, they are loving,” Wolff says. “Kimi’s character, he’s gentle, he has empathy, he has charisma, he has the right amount of intelligence for being a racing driver.”