IMOLA, Italy: World champion Max Verstappen rekindled his title defense and acclaimed his resurgent Red Bull team on Sunday after he led Sergio Perez home in a dominant one-two triumph in Ferrari’s backyard at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
In a rain-affected race, the 24-year-old Dutchman came home 16.5 seconds ahead of his Red Bull team-mate as Charles Leclerc and Ferrari endured a disappointing day in front of passionate home support at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.
Leclerc, who started second on the grid, finished sixth after making a poor start and spinning in the closing laps while running third, allowing Lando Norris to take third for McLaren.
After Saudi Arabia, it was Verstappen’s second win this season which has also included two retirements, and the 22nd win of his career.
He reeled off a ‘grand slam’ weekend with pole position, victory and fastest lap as well as victory in Saturday’s sprint race.
He moved up to second in the title race behind Leclerc, reducing his deficit from 45 points to 27 to set up the prospect of an intense duel this year between them and their teams.
“It’s always tough to achieve something like that, but already yesterday and the day before, we were on it,” said Verstappen.
“And it was looking like a strong weekend. You never know with the weather how competitive you are going to be, but I think we did very well and this one-two is very deserved.
“The start was very important, but afterwards, judging the conditions and when to swap to the slick tires — because in the lead you have to always dictate the pace.”
Perez said he was delighted to bring smiles to the Red Bull team.
“It was really intense,” he said. “The most important thing today was not to make mistakes because with these conditions it was so tricky. To get a one-two, out there, is a great result for the team.
“I am very pleased to see everyone in my team smiling today and I am happy for Max.”
Norris said: “An amazing race! An amazing weekend.
“I’m happy. The team deserves it. It was a mixture of tricky conditions, but we’ve been able to capitalize on that — I love these conditions, so always do quite well.”
George Russell produced a stirring drive for Mercedes to come home fourth after starting 11th, fending off Valtteri Bottas’s Alfa Romeo at the finish, while team-mate seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton finished a distant 14th.
Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff apologized to a disappointed Hamilton on team radio after the race.
“I am sorry for what you had to drive today,” said Wolff.
“I know it was undriveable — this was a terrible race.”
“No worries, Toto,” Hamilton responded. “Just keep working hard.”
“We will come out of this,” said Wolff, who added later that Mercedes “are not good enough for a world champion — and just need to fix the car.”
AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda finished seventh ahead of four-time champion Sebastian Vettel in an Aston Martin, Kevin Magnussen of Haas and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin.
Verstappen surged into the lead from pole position.
Leclerc, starting second, was passed by the Dutchman, Perez and Norris before Daniel Ricciardo in a McLaren tangled with Sainz at the first chicane.
It was a second consecutive early exit for Sainz after his misery in Melbourne.
Hamilton, who had been reluctant to pit, was impeded by Estaban Ocon’s Alpine, but avoided a collision while Perez, who stopped on lap 19, managed to retain second place ahead of a charging Leclerc.
Ocon was given a five seconds penalty for his unsafe release.
By half-distance, Verstappen was cruising with a 10-second cushion ahead of Perez and Leclerc, frustrated in third.
On lap 41 came Hamilton’s most humbling moment when he was lapped by Verstappen as he battled for 13th with Pierre Gasly’s Alpha Tauri.
Leclerc pitted on lap 50 for softs, dropping to fourth behind Norris. Perez followed on 51, as Leclerc passed the McLaren and Verstappen one lap later, retaining a 13-second lead.
The Monegasque charged hard to pass Perez on lap 53, but spun off at Variante Alfa, damaging a front wing.
He pitted, re-joining eighth as Norris inherited third and Russell took fourth, resisting Bottas in the final laps.
Verstappen wins Emilia Romagna Grand Prix to rekindle title bid
https://arab.news/94y6g
Verstappen wins Emilia Romagna Grand Prix to rekindle title bid
- Max Verstappen led team-mate Sergio Perez home in a dominant one-two triumph, in Ferrari’s backyard, at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
- Charles Leclerc, sixth, and Ferrari endured a disappointing day in front of passionate home support at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
Swiatek steps into unknown against Navarro in Melbourne quarters
- All the Pole’s wins in Melbourne have come in straight sets and she has dropped only 11 games
MELBOURNE: Iga Swiatek said Monday she was stepping into the unknown against Emma Navarro after the pair had wildly contrasting runs to their Australian Open quarterfinal clash.
Swiatek showed no mercy to end “lucky loser” Eva Lys’s historic run, marching into the last eight 6-0, 6-1 in an hour.
All the Pole’s wins in Melbourne have come in straight sets and she has dropped only 11 games.
By contrast, Navarro spent 2hr 40min on court, blowing three second-set match points before beating Daria Kasatkina 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 as she was taken the distance for a fourth match in a row.
“I don’t know what I’m expecting,” said five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek of the American Navarro.
“We played in 2018, but I’m not going to count this.
“I have to treat Emma as someone that I never played. We both made huge progress since that time. It’s a bit different when you don’t know the opponent that well.”
The world No. 2 has spent less than five hours on court at the first Grand Slam of the year, while eighth seed Navarro has been extended to more than double that playing time.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic got the mea culpas he wanted from a local broadcaster and its employee who insulted him on the air and so, according to tournament organizers, the 24-time Grand Slam champion is ready to concentrate on his quarterfinal showdown with Carlos Alcaraz.
“Novak acknowledges the apology has been given in public as requested," read a statement issued Monday by Tennis Australia, "and is now moving on and focusing on his next match.”
Also on Monday, Jannik Sinner battled dizzy spells to reach an Australian Open quarterfinal against Alex de Minaur, admitting a long interruption when he accidentally broke the net was “big, big luck.”
The world No. 1 and defending champion dropped a set before coming home 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 against Danish 13th seed Holger Rune on Rod Laver Arena.
Sinner struggled in the hot Melbourne conditions, his hand visibly shaking and his heart rate taken in the third set before he left court for a medical timeout.
There was then a bizarre 20-minute delay when Sinner demolished the metal brace that secures the net to the floor with a thunderous serve early in set four.
“I was not feeling really well. You know, I think we saw that today I was struggling physically,” said Sinner, 23, who is bidding to become the first Italian man to win three Grand Slam crowns.
He refused to say exactly what was wrong with him, only that he was “not there health-wise” and had been “a bit dizzy at times.”
“I don’t want to go into details. I think it was, you know, then also with the pressure and everything, it was not easy.”
He admitted that the time off court in air-conditioning while officials repaired the net helped him refresh.
“I was lucky today that ... 20 minutes off court, you know, trying to get back physically, putting some cold water in my head, it was very helpful. It was big, big luck to me today.”
Sinner is bidding to defend a Grand Slam title for the first time after beating Daniil Medvedev in the final last year.
His win put him into a clash against home hope De Minaur, who brushed past American Alex Michelsen 6-0, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to make his maiden Australian Open quarterfinal.
De Minaur wiped the floor with Michelsen in the opening set, but his serve then faltered and he was forced to a close tiebreak after the American staged a fightback.
But De Minaur broke with a forehand winner in the sixth game of the third set and pulled away for the win.
“It means the world,” said De Minaur. “There’s nothing I want to do more than play well here in Australia. So glad I finally made the quarterfinals ... But let’s go for bigger and better things.”
As temperatures rose above 30 Celsius, Sinner assumed control against Rune by breaking to love.
McCullum sees India series as ideal prep for Champions Trophy in Pakistan
- The tourists, led by Jos Buttler, will face India in the first of five T20 internationals in Kolkata on Wednesday
- India series marks England’s first limited-overs tour under coach McCullum, previously in charge only of Test side
KOLKATA: England coach Brendon McCullum said Monday he hopes his side emerge from a host of limited overs matches against India in “good shape” for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
The tourists, led by Jos Buttler, will face India in the first of five T20 internationals at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Wednesday.
The India series marks England’s first limited-overs tour under McCullum, previously in charge only of the Test side.
“I’m desperate for us to play a really watchable brand of cricket,” McCullum told reporters. “With the talent we have, there’s no reason we can’t.”
The teams will play three one-day matches, before they move into the eight-team ODI Champions Trophy starting February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai.
“We’ll use the next few weeks to try and hit the ground running, I’m sure there will be some times where we don’t quite get it right,” he added.
“But, hopefully, we will chisel away at that over the next few weeks, and we’ll be in good shape come that Champions Trophy.”
The 43-year-old McCullum said Buttler, who will only play as a batsman and not keep wicket on the tour, will leave a lasting legacy as England’s white-ball leader.
“He’s in a really good space, he’s excited about the team we’ve got, and excited about the opportunity that sits in front of us,” the former New Zealand skipper said.
“I’m sure we’ll see Jos over the next couple of years really enjoy himself, and hopefully finish with a real strong enjoyment for the game at the back end of his career.”
But India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, remain the favorites on home turf — and have been boosted by the return of fast bowler Mohammed Shami after he recovered from a foot injury.
Shami, 34, last played for India in the ODI World Cup final in November 2023 and recently participated in a few domestic matches to mark his return to competitive cricket.
“It’s a really good sign for us,” India’s T20 vice-captain Axar Patel said. “We hope he continues what he did in the World Cup.”
Princess Mashael bint Faisal Al-Saud appointed to Asia yoga board
- Princess Mashael is vice president of Saudi Yoga Committee
- She has over 15 years of expertise in several yoga traditions
JEDDAH: The Asian Yogasana Sport Federation has announced the appointment of Princess Mashael bint Faisal Al-Saud, representing Saudi Arabia, to the organization’s board.
Princess Mashael will also head the federation’s Women and Children’s Safeguarding Committee, the AYSF stated in a press release recently.
The appointment was approved unanimously at the AYSF’s sixth general assembly in Dubai recently.
Princess Mashael, the vice president of the Saudi Yoga Committee, has been instrumental in empowering women and youth, and ensuring athlete safety at various sporting events.
Her appointment represents a significant step toward increasing women’s participation in sports, promoting initiatives to protect women and children, and supporting the growth of Yogasana and traditional sports across Asia.
She has over 15 years of yoga expertise, including Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga vinyasa yoga, the Himalayan tradition of meditation, and yoga therapy.
She trained with the AYSF in 2022, mastering yoga federation management and Yogasana systems.
In addition to her yoga accomplishments, the princess is a passionate advocate for women and youth in sports, the AYSF stated.
She owns and runs a sports nongovernmental organization and heads the women’s committee of the Arab Cycling Federation.
Super heavyweight championship rematch to headline first Saudi Power Slap event
- It will take place on Jan. 30 as part of Riyadh Season
RIYADH: Power Slap, in partnership with the Kingdom’s General Entertainment Authority, is set to host its first event in Saudi Arabia on Jan. 30 at the anb Arena as part of Riyadh Season.
The focal point of Power Slap 11 will see reigning super heavyweight champion Da Crazy Hawaiian (16-1-1, 12 KOs) and No. 1 ranked super heavyweight Dumpling (1-0-1, 1 KO) face off in a rematch after they drew at Power Slap 9 in Abu Dhabi.
In the co-main event, light heavyweight champion Wolverine (14-5, 5 KOs) returns to defend his belt for the third time against rising contender Vern “The Mechanic” Cathey (5-2, 5 KOs).
Power Slap, founded by Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and Craig Piligian in partnership with Ultimate Fighting Championship, has grown in recent years to reach huge audiences around the world.
In just two years, with only 10 live events, Power Slap has gained 22 million social media followers and its content has garnered over 11.5 billion lifetime views across its platforms. Events regularly draw global influencers with more than a billion followers collectively.
Additional matches on the card include:
- No. 2 ranked light heavyweight Russel “Kainoa” Rivero (4-3, 3 KOs) and No. 3 ranked light heavyweight Austin “Turp Daddy Slim” Turpin (5-2, 4 KOs) face off in a pivotal match.
- 2 ranked super heavyweight Kalani “Toko” Vakameilalo (2-1, 2 KOs) aims to defend his spot in the rankings against No. 3 ranked super heavyweight Danie “The Pitbull” Van Heerden (5-2, 4 KOs).
- The return of women’s featherweight star Sheena “The Hungarian Hurricane” Bathory (3-0, 2 KOs), in a highly anticipated grudge rematch against Jackie “The Hybrid” Cataline (1-2).
Baniyas emerge winners at Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
- First round of contest had Sharjah Self-Defense finish second and Al-Ain third
ABU DHABI: The first round of the second Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship concluded on Sunday at Mubadala Arena with Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club taking first place, Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club in second, and Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club third.
The last day of the competition had competitors between the ages of 4 and 8, and under-12, take to the mats. Athletes in the adult and youth categories participated over the previous days.
Fahad Ali Al-Shamsi, secretary general of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said he was delighted with the organization of the event, and the participation of a high number of clubs and academies.
“The Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship is an exemplary model for sports competitions, made possible by the vision and limitless support of the wise leadership,” he said.
“The championship successfully hosted 2,000 male and female athletes from various clubs and academies, along with their families and sports fans, making it a unique platform that merges competitive excellence with community engagement.”
