SPIELBERG, Austria: Reigning Formula One champion Max Verstappen continued his dominant form by winning the sprint at the Austrian Grand Prix on Saturday to extend his championship lead over Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez to 70 points.
It was Verstappen’s fifth straight win when including the past four Grand Prix races. Verstappen starts the full race from pole position on Sunday, when he will aim for a 42nd career GP win.
Verstappen collected eight points in the sprint — which he also won here last year — and Perez got seven for finishing second. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. collected six points with third place in the 24-lap sprint. Aston Martin’s Lance stroll took fourth place (five points) ahead of teammate Fernando Alonso (four points), Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg (three points), Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (two) and Mercedes driver George Russell (one).
In wet and rainy conditions at the Spielberg track, Perez jumped past Verstappen at the start.
“The start wasn’t ideal,” Verstappen said. “A bit of wheel spin.”
After Verstappen and Perez almost bumped into each other, Perez then dropped back to third behind Hulkenberg and Verstappen, who regained the lead.
“We could have had a really big shunt,” Verstappen said over team radio of the near miss with Perez. “We need to have a chat about that.”
They did just that, clearing the air moments after climbing out of their cars. Verstappen said they discussed the matter “like human beings” for a couple of minutes and that it was no big deal.
“We talked about it and it’s all good,” Verstappen said. “We don’t need to make it a big story. ... It’s fine.”
With the track drying up, Russell was the first to change his wet-weather tires for quicker ones on Lap 16, followed by teammate Lewis Hamilton and Hulkenberg.
Leclerc, who started from ninth after being given a three-place grid penalty, moved onto medium tires late on but placed 12th.
Verstappen also qualified for the sprint in first place.
The shortened qualifying format — known in F1 as the “sprint shootout” — set the grid for the sprint race, where Hamilton started from 18th place after being knocked out of the first part of qualifying. Hamilton looked pensive as he walked back through the paddock to rejoin his Mercedes garage.
He placed 10th in the sprint. The Austrian GP is the second of six F1 events with a format featuring a sprint race on the Saturday. Perez won the sprint race in Azerbaijan.
Verstappen and other drivers were annoyed with the race stewards on Friday for being too strict about staying within track limits during qualifying for Sunday’s race, where Verstappen starts from the the pole ahead of Leclerc and Sainz.
FERNLEY TRIBUTES
F1 president Stefano Domenicali has paid tribute to Bob Fernley, the former deputy team principal of Force India, who died at the age of 70. His death was announced by F1 on Friday night. No further details were given.
“He was such an important part of Formula 1 and his love and passion for the sport will live forever,” Domenicali said.
Fernley worked briefly with McLaren as president of its Indianapolis 500 return project until he was fired in 2019 when Fernando Alonso failed to qualify. He replaced Domenicali as chairman of the FIA’s single-seater Commission from 2020 to 2022.
Alpine driver Esteban Ocon, who joined Force India in 2017, called Fernley “a great person and leader” on Twitter.
Fernley left the team when it was sold to the Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll in August 2018. Stroll changed the team’s name first to Racing Point and then Aston Martin.
Max Verstappen beats teammate Sergio Perez to win Austrian GP sprint race
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Max Verstappen beats teammate Sergio Perez to win Austrian GP sprint race
- In wet and rainy conditions at the Spielberg track, Perez jumped past Verstappen at the start
- Perez then dropped back to third behind Hulkenberg and Verstappen, who regained the lead
New York Knicks to face Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 presented by ADQ
- Teams feature several NBA All-Star players
- Event will be broadcast to more than 200 countries and territories
ABU DHABI: The New York Knicks will face the Philadelphia 76ers in a preseason match-up during the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025, presented by ADQ, on Oct. 2 and Oct. 4 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island.
The Knicks currently feature two-time NBA All-Star Jalen Brunson, five-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns and 2022 NBA All-Defensive First Team member Mikal Bridges, while the 76ers are led by 2023 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player and seven-time NBA All-Star Joel Embiid, nine-time NBA All-Star Paul George and 2024 NBA All-Star Tyrese Maxey.
Bridges and Brunson previously played in Abu Dhabi as members of the USA men’s national team prior to the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup while Towns participated in The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The 76ers’ Embiid previously played in Abu Dhabi as a member of the US national team prior to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 presented by ADQ will air live in the UAE, across the Middle East and around the world, reaching fans in more than 200 countries and territories on television, digital media and social media, according to a statement from the NBA and the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi.
Ticket sales information will be announced at a later date.
The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 are part of a multiyear collaboration between the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi that features activities including preseason NBA Global Games, youth development programming and interactive fan events.
Al-Nassr crowned champions of Saudi Women’s Premier League with big win over Al-Taraji
- A 6-0 win capped an outstanding season with 17 victories and only 1 loss in the league
RIYADH: Al-Nassr celebrated winning the 2024-25 Saudi Women’s Premier League title on Wednesday night after a thumping 6-0 win over Al-Taraji in their final match of the season in Riyadh.
Al-Nassr had secured the title several weeks ago and finished the season with a total of 51 points from 17 wins and only one loss.
Al-Nassr got off to a perfect start when Maria Eduardo (Duda) scored in the first minute, one of three goals she bagged in the game. Her second came one minute before the break, and she completed her hattrick after 64 minutes.
It was not the only treble of the night as Carla Luvanga repeated the feat for Al-Nassr, bringing her total for the season to 21 and making her the league’s top scorer.
The Tanzanian star opened her account after six minutes and followed up with strikes in the 17th and 36th minutes, as Al-Nassr ended the first half with a five-goal lead.
There were several other notable moments, with one yellow card issued for Al-Nassr and two for Al-Taraji, and eight and 15 fouls respectively.
Following the win, Al-Nassr’s goalkeeper Sarah Khalid told Arab News: “We prepared very well for this game, but we also wanted to enjoy every moment of it.
“It’s the last game of the season, we’re champions.”
Khalid added: “It was a good game for us ... we gave it our all, we wanted to score more obviously but at the same time, the coach decided to play as many players as possible and this is also amazing.”
The key to the championship was taking one game at a time. “Working hard towards a specific objective and lifting each other up through hardships and adversity is what makes this team very special.”
Speaking to Arab News, Al-Nassr’s head coach, Abdulaziz Al-Alwni, said: “What happened today was not easy … all the challenges we overcame were difficult, but we lucked out with this team.”
Al-Alwni added: “This year we achieved high stats and difficult numbers, and the group as a whole is the main reason why we reached as far as we did.”
“Off the field, away from the game, it’s a clean environment, an attractive environment, an environment of one heart and one family, that is the main reason why the team performs well on the field.”
The coach has already begun planning for next season.
“Next season is a hard one, we have Asia (AFC Women’s Asian Cup), West Asia (WAFF Women’s Championship), the league, the cup (Saudi Women’s Cup), and the Super Cup (Saudi Women’s Super Cup),” Al-Alwni said.
“There’s some pressure, the Saudi players are not used to these types of championships, but we have started working and next season will hopefully be a substantial one.”
Reem Al-Beloshi, a goalkeeper for Al-Nassr, spoke proudly of the result. “Today’s game was of course amazing,” she said. “We celebrated our third league win in a row … we feel great, we’re happy.”
Al-Beloshi said the attitude going into every game was to “push through” until the last minute.
“When that determination is combined with respect for the game and respect for the opposing team, that is when you will see your ambitions realized,” she said.
Moutet smashes racket in front of jeering crowd as injury ends Madrid run
- The 26-year-old later said on X that he had been struggling with a lingering back injury throughout the match.
DUBAI: Corentin Moutet was booed off the court after smashing his racket and retiring midway through the second set of his first-round match against fellow Frenchman Harold Mayot at the Madrid Open.
Trailing 3-6, 2-3 on Wednesday, Moutet smashed his racket in frustration after losing a point. He walked to his chair to get a new one but, after what seemed like an exchange of words with the jeering crowd, headed to the umpire to signal his retirement.
The 26-year-old later said on X that he had been struggling with a lingering back injury throughout the match.
“I went to do an MRI directly after my match I’m still waiting for the result,” Moutet wrote on X after the match. “I wanted to try today but I didn’t know that it would be that bad.”
“My back didn’t allow me to do much. I hope to be back soon on the court. All the best to my opponent for the rest of the tournament.”
Rating Saudi clubs’ chances in AFC Champions League Elite playoffs
- Asia’s 8 top teams will play in centralized location, a controversial shift from home-and-away format
- Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr and Jeddah-based Al-Ahli will get the benefit of home nation advantage
AUSTRALIA: All roads lead to Jeddah this week as the top eight teams of this year’s AFC Champions League Elite converge on the coastal city to determine the best club in Asia.
There is a significant shift from the usual home-and-away format that has operated for the past two decades since the AFC Champions League was reformed in the early 2000s.
The quarterfinals, semifinals and final will all be staged in a centralized location over a two-week period, in a move that has divided opinion in Asian football circles.
With Saudi Arabia confirmed as the host for this new centralized format provisionally until the 2028-29 edition, it grants a massive advantage to the three Saudi Pro League sides that qualify for the tournament each season, should they progress this far.
And given the strength of the competition at the moment, it is hard to see a scenario in which the final eight does not include three SPL sides.
This year the clubs are Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr and Jeddah-based Al-Ahli, who get the benefit of not just home nation advantage, but home city and home ground as well.
In an ominous sign for the remaining five sides, the three have dominated proceedings this season. In the 30 games played combined, they have won 23, drawn five and lost just two.
If anyone wants to take the trophy away from Saudi Arabia after the next fortnight’s action, they’re going to have their work cut out for them.
But just how well-placed are Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli to be crowned Asian champions this year?
Al-Hilal
Widely considered — especially in their own minds — to be Asia’s biggest club, lifting continental silverware is almost a minimum expectation, which is an almost impossible standard to meet.
And it might prove so this season given their current run of form, having uncharacteristically lost four of their past 10 in all competitions. Such form is tantamount to a full-blown crisis, and yet they remain in the running for both the league and ACL Elite this season.
The return to fitness of Joao Cancelo is a significant boost for Jorge Jesus’ side, with the Portuguese international sidelined since the start of March with a hamstring injury. But getting 26 minutes into his legs off the bench in the 3-0 win over Al-Khaleej is just what the doctor ordered.
Their aura in this competition means they are always a threat and if they can get past South Korea’s Gwangju, a potential clash with Al-Ahli awaits in the semifinals. This would pose a significant challenge having lost 3-2 to Matthias Jaissle’s side last time out.
Al-Ahli
It has been a weird season for Al-Ahli. A slow start in the SPL, with just three wins from their first nine, put them on the back foot from the get-go.
But once they turned their form around they became one of the most in-form teams in the entire competition, even if that was not reflected in their ladder position.
Despite their turnaround in form, however, they have continued to struggle against fellow Big Four teams, with just one win from six against Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad this season.
All the while, in continental competition, they went 7-1-0 in the ACL Elite to look one of the most convincing teams. And backed that up with commanding 3-1 and 2-0 wins over Al-Rayyan in the round of 16.
Perhaps no player epitomizes their persona more than Ivan Toney. Despite bagging 25 goals in all competitions, he does not carry the aura that someone with those numbers ordinarily might. That is Al-Ahli this season. The numbers stack up, but the aura is not quite there.
With home ground advantage over the next two weeks, though, and a first-up clash with Thailand’s Buriram United, they have a chance to achieve something this club has never achieved before.
Al-Nassr
This is the moment for Cristiano Ronaldo to silence the doubters, and there have been plenty since his move to Al-Nassr at the end of 2022.
Firstly Al-Ittihad, and then Al-Hilal, have thwarted his attempts for silverware domestically. And again it looks like they will fall short in that regard this season, especially after their 2-1 loss to Al-Qadsiah last week.
That result left them eight points behind top spot with a dwindling number of games in which to overturn the deficit. But the opportunity to lift continental silverware, with all the reward and prestige that comes with it, remains tantalizingly close.
If they are to do it, Ronaldo will be the man to lead them.
Despite entering his fifth decade on this earth, he shows no signs of slowing down, leading the SPL Golden Boot race with 23 goals, while he has 32 in all competitions this season including seven in the ACL Elite.
If Jhon Duran can find the fire again, with his last goal for Al-Nassr coming over a month ago, they have the firepower to go all the way.
They are facing a Yokohama F. Marinos side in disarray, having just sacked their coach Steve Holland, and sitting bottom of the J. League.
In the quarterfinal they have to be favorites to reach the final from their side of the draw, with a potential semifinal against either Al-Sadd or Kawasaki Frontale.
True colors emerge in cricket’s governing regime
- WCA call for the International Cricket Council to be ‘modernised’ ruffles feathers at the game’s ruling body
Two weeks ago, I said that “every so often cricket’s fabric is subject to transformational tremor. We may be on the brink of another one.”
This was based on the World Cricketers’ Association’s comprehensive review of the game’s global structure and its subsequent report. This called for an overhaul of four central pillars of cricket.
It was always going to be the case that the WCA’s call for the first pillar – the game’s governing body, the International Cricket Council – to be “modernised” to “ensure that it is fit for purpose to lead the global game” would raise hackles at the ICC. This was a direct attack on the way that cricket is led. Add to that the WCA’s assault on the principles by which the game’s revenues are unevenly distributed by the ICC at present and not on those based on equity and fairness in growth, then retaliation was inevitable.
The third pillar relating to current scheduling patterns by the ICC was criticized by the WCA for lack of clarity and consistency, with suggestions for improvement provided. Regulation is the fourth pillar on which the WCA called for greater levels of financial accountability within the ICC.
These criticisms of the ICC are not new. In 2012, an independent governance review of the ICC, headed by Lord Woolf, called for sweeping changes in the administration of cricket and the functioning of its governing body. Woolf recommended a restructuring of the ICC’s executive board to make it more independent and less dominated by the bigger countries. He also called for measures to increase transparency in dealings by the ICC and its members.
The recommendations were not binding on the ICC and were not acceptable to the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Consequently, the ICC board did not accept them and a major opportunity for reform and equity was missed.
Now that the BCCI is considerably wealthier than it was in 2012 and that its former secretary is the current chair of the ICC, India has an even greater stranglehold on power in world cricket. This it will not relinquish willingly, as has been evident in the brutally dismissive riposte to the WCA.
According to reports in the Times of India, the ICC’s Cricket Executives’ Council discussed the WCA report and recommendations in a recent board meeting in Harare. An anonymous source is widely quoted, revealing that the CEC poured highly critical rejections on both the legitimacy of the WCA and the views it expressed on the game’s structure, governance, financial models and operations.
The CEC consists of a chair, a representative of each of the 12 ICC full members, three representatives of the 96 associate members and three ex-officio members, each one a chair of other ICC committees, including the ICC chair, Jay Shah. If the comments by the source accurately reflect the CEC, then they are both damning and alarming, not to mention confirmation of what many people believe to be a true reflection of the attitudes and strategies of those who govern the game.
It is understood that the BCCI took the lead in rejecting the WCA recommendations and was backed by other CEC members. This is surprising, but there is no evidence to suggest otherwise. The source is quoted as saying that the WCA is “nothing but a trade union making needless noise” and “clearly does not have the player’s best interests at heart.”
The accusation that the WCA does not have its members’ interests at heart is risible. Player remuneration has long been a bone of contention in cricket. The Packer revolution in Australia in the late 1970s was the start of a long battle to raise player salaries.
The ICC reacted in affronted fashion to the WCA, saying that “the players can either choose to play in the IPL or side with the WCA. A player represents their cricket board and members of those cricket boards form the ICC.” This summary dismissal of the WCA reeks of feudalism with the players relegated to the role of vassals. This may be the case in India, where the top players are paid so handsomely that they have little need to complain.
Extension of a feudal system to the rest of cricket disrespects the players. I am reminded of John Morrison who, walking out to bat for New Zealand against Australia at Melbourne in December 1973, eyed the full stadium of close to 100,000 people and allegedly remarked to his opening partner that they were not receiving much of the money paid by the spectators. Current professional cricketers are well remunerated, but their labor is worked hard. The WCA and national cricketers’ associations – where they exist – are concerned about workloads and their physical effect on performance and bodies.
The antipathy displayed by the ICC and BCCI towards the WCA closes the door on any hopes that the WCA may have entertained about the start of a dialogue between the parties. Instead, the antipathy seems designed to quash the burgeoning voice of the WCA and some senior players. Tension is growing between those wielding power and those advocating for global equity and player representation. Another thorn has been scratched into the ICC’s side by the publication of a book on the ICC’s history by Rod Lyall, who simply refers to it as “The Club.”
It is a fascinating read and details how it has been possible for the BCCI to take control of cricket and the body which is supposed to govern it. In an increasingly autocratic world, is it now too late to effect change to this regime? Reform from within is unlikely. In theory, member boards can outvote the BCCI, but Indian control of key positions and committees, along with the sport’s finances, makes this a risky strategy.
The current ICC revenue distribution model runs until 2027. Potentially, this offers an opportunity for reshaping, but the BCCI is unlikely to agree to any dilution of its power. In fact, that power could be increased if it chooses to expand the IPL. Checks on BCCI dominance and increased accountability for the ICC can only occur if the rest of the game unites. The ICC’s response to the WCA has shown that any attempt to engage in a battle over cricket’s global governance will be bluntly rebuffed. The WCA-induced tremor was felt but quickly papered over by those in power.
