LE CASTELLET, France: World champion and series leader Max Verstappen sizzled in the sun on Saturday when he topped the times for Red Bull ahead of both Ferrari drivers in third and final practice session at the French Grand Prix.
Making the most of a superior straight-line speed, the 24-year-old Dutchman clocked a best lap in one minute and 32.272 seconds to outpace Carlos Sainz in the leading Ferrari by three-tenths of a second.
Sainz, who claimed his maiden Formula One triumph at the British Grand Prix earlier in July, will start Sunday’s race from the back of the grid alongside Jan Magnussen of Haas after the two Ferrari-powered cars took more new engine parts.
Charles Leclerc, who trimmed Verstappen’s advantage in the title race to 38 points by winning the Austrian Grand Prix, was third fastest six-tenths down on the pace.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was fourth for Mercedes ahead of Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull and George Russell, in the second Mercedes.
It was a measure of Verstappen’s dominant pace that he was more than a second quicker than his Red Bull team-mate on another hot day in the south of France.
Two-time champion Fernando Alonso was seventh for Alpine with a late lap to lift him ahead of Alex Albon of Williams, Lando Norris of McLaren and Yuki Tsunoda of Alpha Tauri.
Both German drivers Mick Schumacher and four-time champion Sebastian Vettel endured difficult sessions and wound up 19th and 20th respectively for the Haas and Aston Martin teams after completing only 12 and 11 laps.
In scorching conditions, the session began with only seven cars venturing out and Perez setting the first lap time in 1:33.628 after seven minutes — a time obliterated immediately by Verstappen in 1:32.837 — but little else for the sell-out holiday crowd to enjoy.
As the air temperature rose to 34 degrees, the fans raised a cheer for Pierre Gasly as he passed the grandstand named after him before the Mercedes set times more than 1.5 seconds adrift of the champion. “1.7?” said Hamilton. “Jeeze...”
Ferrari were also struggling to match the Red Bull pace and Leclerc, pushing hard, spun through a full 360 degrees on his hard tires before Hamilton and Yuki Tsunoda of Alfa Romeo each survived brief ‘moments’ in pursuit.
Vertappen’s pace on medium tires remained the standard to catch as his rivals tested ‘softs’ and ‘hards’ before galvanizing themselves for a late flurry of qualifying simulation runs.
With 12 minutes remaining, both Leclerc and Sainz had improved to second and third, but were still 0.1 seconds adrift, with Hamilton fourth, four-tenths down. At this time, Red Bull were still to use soft tires.
The stubborn Sainz persisted and went top after 51 minutes of the hour, replacing Verstappen in 1:32.626, an advantage of 0.182 to enthuse the ‘prancing horse’ fans sweltering in the open grandstands.
Finally taking softs, Verstappen re-joined the fray to beat the Spaniard by 0.354 seconds while Leclerc conceded his tires were ‘dead’, a familiar Ferrari problem at the high-degradation Paul Ricard circuit.
By this time, the track temperature was 57 degrees — hot enough to pose a serious challenge to cars, drivers and teams and certain to make strategy a major factor in Sunday’s race.
Verstappen sizzles in the sun to dominate final practice
https://arab.news/chz4j
Verstappen sizzles in the sun to dominate final practice
- The 24-year-old Dutchman clocked a best lap in one minute and 32.272 seconds to outpace Carlos Sainz
- Sainz will start Sunday's race from the back of the grid alongside Jan Magnussen of Haas
‘A new era for boxing begins in Riyadh,’ says WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman
- Riyadh Season WBC Boxing Grand Prix has reimagined the sport, the WBC head tells Arab News
- Sulaiman says the WBC is committed to supporting Saudi Arabia’s long-term development as a global boxing hub
RIYADH: In a sport steeped in tradition, disruption rarely comes gently.
Yet the Riyadh Season WBC Boxing Grand Prix has done just that – reimagining professional boxing through a groundbreaking global tournament and an unprecedented collaboration of fighters, promoters, and nations.
In an exclusive interview with Arab News, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman described the Grand Prix – whose initial stage took place from April 17 to 20 – as “a dream come true.”
“This Riyadh Season WBC Boxing Grand Prix is the first event of this magnitude ever in the history of boxing,” said Sulaiman.
“Never done before in professional boxing. Fighters from all over the world in four different categories with limited experience or years of age. It is for the talent of the future.”
Sulaiman added: “It has been such a great success, and we always expect this to be groundbreaking, because so many fighters are getting the opportunity to show their skills on this world stage here in Riyadh.”
“It is the dream come true of my father – he always wanted to have an opportunity for those who don’t have an opportunity in life.”
At the heart of this transformation is Turki Alalshikh, head of the General Entertainment Authority, whose leadership has united the boxing world in ways few thought possible.
With long-standing promotional and broadcast rivalries bridged, the sport has entered an era of collaboration and spectacle.
“Riyadh Season, with the leadership of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, has changed the boxing world in only two years,” Sulaiman explained.
“Riyadh and Jeddah have shown some of the most important fights in the last 20, 30 years – fights that were not being put together because promoters were fighting each other, networks fighting each other.”
“And his excellency came in, invited everyone to sit down and negotiate, and made this happen,” said Sulaiman.
“I believe that a new era has begun. A new era that will change forever the way boxing is featured.”
While the Grand Prix has drawn international headlines, Sulaiman is particularly energized by local and regional talent.
“I have seen two Saudi fighters – not in this tournament – but in the Riyadh Season events, and they have talent. They have good skill which you need when you’re born.
“You cannot teach that, you have to be born with it … The Middle East is known for having courageous, brave fighters. It is just a matter of getting the boxing technique and experience.”
He also praised an emerging fighter competing in the tournament. “I saw a fighter from Jordan yesterday. He was sensational. And I believe that he will be advancing in the tournament and that could be a great, great talent.”
To young Saudis hoping to one day hold a world title, Sulaiman offered candid and heartfelt advice. “Boxing is a sport that is very demanding. You need dedication, you need passion, you need patience, and a lot of hard work,” he said.
“You have to be in perfect shape, working every day, running, and then going to the gym and learning the skills. You cannot be a boxer in one year, just as you cannot be a doctor.”
“Boxing is a great sport. It teaches you discipline, brings opportunities, and gives an open door for many things in life.”
With the Grand Prix setting the stage, Sulaiman said the WBC is committed to supporting Saudi Arabia’s long-term development as a global boxing hub.
“This is the first step. Ever since His Excellency Turki Alalshikh came into the picture two years ago, the WBC welcomed him with open arms,” said Sulaiman.
“Because what we have seen is something never done before.”
He emphasized the importance of grassroots investment and consistent activity for young fighters. “You need to have local tournaments for young talent.
“Ten fights every year, 12 fights every year. Then go find opportunities abroad. I am certain that the Saudi boxing program will emerge.”
With follow-up Grand Prix events scheduled for June, August, October, and a grand final in December, the foundation for a new boxing powerhouse is being laid brick by brick.
“The result has shown the greatness of the concept. I am hopeful that next year we will be doing another tournament and give continuity. This is what is needed.”
According to Sulaiman, Saudi Arabia is no longer just a host but becoming a home for elite boxing. “Saudi Arabia had some fights in 2018 and 2019. Then the pandemic came, and it seemed to be finished,” he said.
“And then his excellency came in, brought technology, brought Tyson Fury, the heavyweights … and the talent started coming.”
Next on the calendar is Canelo Alvarez, boxing’s biggest superstar, who will fight in Riyadh on May 3 under a two-year contract.
“It all looks like it’s going to be a continuous effort, continuous promotion,” said Sulaiman. “The world knows Saudi Arabia and boxing together is a great combination.”
Despite the high stakes and elite production, Sulaiman reminded Arab News that boxing’s core identity as a sport of the people remains as powerful as ever.
“Boxing is a sport of poor people. They come from difficulties. They come from opportunities to take a wrong life in the streets,” he said.
“And boxing gives them a change of life – for them, their family, their friends, their neighborhood, their country.”
“Every person that visits Saudi Arabia for a boxing event goes back home as an ambassador of Saudi,” Sulaiman said.
“Because the hospitality, the respect, the beauty of the country – it stays in your heart. It’s a beautiful country with beautiful people.”
Olaroiu’s UAE appointment has been 10 years in the making
- Romanian coach is now tasked with taking the Whites to their first World Cup since 1990
- Olaroiu has regularly been linked to take over as coach of the UAE national team after winning 14 club trophies in the country
DUBAI: If the UAE Football Association’s bold plan comes to fruition, 2025 will be remembered as the year unfulfilled dreams became reality.
After nearly a decade of recurring speculation, the widely respected Cosmin Olaroiu was finally unveiled this weekend as the Whites’ new head coach on a two-year deal. Last month’s surprise dismissal of ex-Portugal boss Paulo Bento has allowed the garlanded Romanian space to arrive on the back of a decorated career in Asia, featuring 14 trophies won during 10 campaigns in the UAE — plus five further successes with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal, Qatar’s Al-Sadd and China’s now-defunct Jiangsu Suning.
That this imposing tally could be further added to next month in the finals of the AFC Champions League Two and President’s Cup when gloriously seeing out his Sharjah tenure, as reported by local daily newspapers Al-Khaleej and Al-Bayan, speaks volumes about the 55-year-old managerial behemoth.
There could be no one more qualified, or longer coveted, to resuscitate his adopted country’s ambition of direct entry to World Cup 2026 from third place in the third round’s Group A.
A high-pressure pair of deciding qualifiers feature a must-win home clash on June 5 against Uzbekistan — who are four-points clear in the second-and-final automatic spot — and a face-off at second-bottom Kyrgyzstan five days later.
Time would always be in short supply for Bento’s replacement once the decision was made to axe him the morning after March’s deeply unconvincing, last-gasp 2-1 win against bottom-placed North Korea. The annual rigours of May’s compact fixture list guarantees it.
Olaroiu has unmatched knowledge of the Whites’ squad and an enviable winning touch. This is the man to secure the UAE only a second outing in football’s grandest event.
Since the shine began to wear off a “Golden Generation” during World Cup 2018’s fitful cycle, Olaroiu’s name would always appear in conjunction with the UAE job.
The former Al-Ain and Al-Ahli/Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Club supremo was cast as the alluringly unattainable target when eight permanent managerial selections — including two stints for Bert van Marwijk — were made since Mahdi Ali stepped aside in March 2017.
This time, however, felt different.
Unease defined Bento’s 20-month spell. No one could question a CV that contained a Euro 2012 semi-final with Portugal or record four-year stint at South Korea that culminated with World Cup 2022’s first round-of-16 tie since 2010’s edition.
Undoubted highlights followed with two maulings of perennial rivals Qatar, especially November’s Fabio De Lima-fueled 5-0 victory.
Yet plentiful contrasting memories existed. A 2023 Asian Cup exit in the round of 16 on penalties to debutant Tajikistan, October’s grim 1-1 home draw with North Korea that has caused such lasting damage in the third round and winless group-stage exit from 26th Arabian Gulf Cup.
Last month’s toothless 2-0 qualifying defeat in Iran also featured a shock switch to an unfamiliar 5-4-1 formation. Days later at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium, composed Uzbekistan equipped themselves expertly in a characterful 2-2 draw that leaves them in control of their qualifying destiny, no matter the UAE’s results.
At the UAE FA’s Al Khawaneej headquarters, uncertainty surrounded Bento’s ability to steer the team. There were doubts not only related to securing automatic qualification, but also about navigating the intricate back-up route, which could involve two additional AFC rounds and an intercontinental play-off.
The stars aligned and with Olaroiu soon unattached at Sharjah, a once-fantasy appointment swiftly materialized.
A deep understanding of the ubiquitous 4-2-3-1 formation deployed in the Middle East and the characters required to make it tick fell heavily in the Romanian’s favour. There are further unquantifiable, but vital, elements involved.
Chief among them is winning spirit. A rare ability to inspire it was on display, once again, earlier this month when Sharjah produced two second-half stoppage time goals in the second leg of an exacting AFC CL tie against Saudi Arabia’s Al-Taawoun to proceed into next month’s final with Lion City Sailors of Singapore.
The King will also not fear a meeting with runaway ADNOC Pro League leaders Shabab Al-Ahli in the 2024-2025 President’s Cup decider.
Sharjah’s Shahin Abdulrahman, Majid Rashid, Mohammed Abdulbasit and Majed Hassan were curiously ignored by Bento. Future recalls would not be a surprise.
The club’s Brazil-born trio of Caio, Marcus Meloni and Luanzinho should grow into pivotal figures within the national set-up. Olaroiu will bolster their inductions.
Will an olive branch also be offered to 85-goal UAE record scorer Ali Mabkhout, rejuvenated at Al-Nasr? The 34-year-old was an unused substitute at the 2023 Asian Cup.
Al-Wasl talisman Ali Saleh was another to fall foul of Bento’s regime who has the unquestionable talent to be a lead figure once more in white.
So far, so perfect. The only blemish on Olaroiu’s record is a lack of international experience.
A small taste came on loan with Saudi Arabia at the 2015 Asian Cup. His Green Falcons were brought down to earth by a group-stage exit in the wake of losses to China and Uzbekistan.
Rather than be cast purely in a negative light, a natural-born winner’s unquenched desire to prove himself on the global stage could be to the UAE’s significant benefit.
At long last, a most-anticipated coaching appointment has been secured.
In Olaroiu, the Whites gain a proven winner and sharp tactician, trusted to deliver when it matters most. If history is to be made in June, his leadership could provide the spark to reignite a nation’s belief.
Pakistan Cricket Board refutes former head coach’s non-payment claims
- Jason Gillespie recently said PCB had not paid him his dues for his nine-month coaching stint
- PCB says Gillespie “abruptly” left his position without giving a four-month notice period
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently rejected claims by former head coach Jason Gillespie that he had not been paid his dues, clarifying that the ex-Australian cricketer breached the terms of his contract and left his position “abruptly.”
Former fast bowler Gillespie took up the coaching assignment in April 2024 but stepped down in December due to disagreements with the PCB. Since resigning from the role, Gillespie has been an outspoken critic of the PCB, criticizing the board for what he described was its short-sightedness and accusing current interim white-ball coach Aqib Javed of interfering in his job.
When asked during a recent interview with a local sports platform about his relationship with the PCB, Gillespie wished the board well but said he was still waiting for it to pay him his dues for the coaching job.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board refutes claims made by a former head coach on the non-payment of his dues,” the PCB said in a statement on Sunday. “The PCB spokesman states that the former head coach abruptly left his position without giving a four month notice period, which was a clear breach of the contractual terms.”
The board said Gillespie’s coaching contract “explicitly mentioned” a notice period applicable to both parties, adding that the former coach was “fully aware of it.”
Earlier this month, Gillespie’s comments during an interview made headlines when he revealed that his time with the PCB had a negative impact on his passion for coaching cricket.
“The Pakistan experience has soured my love for coaching, I’ll be honest,” Gillespie said. “I’ll get it back, I’m sure I will, but that was really a blow.”
The former fast bowler said he had been disappointed with how his coaching stint with Pakistan ended.
“It’s had me question whether I want to coach full time again,” he said.
Pakistan cricket analysts and critics have slammed the PCB for appointing a plethora of coaches, selectors and captains over the past few years, blaming the increasing instability within the board as the main reason for the national cricket team’s recent dismal performances.
Barcelona take a commanding 4-1 lead over Chelsea in Women’s Champions League semifinals series
- Romeu: There’s huge evidence in soccer that you can’t ever rely on a first-leg lead. We are going to have a beautiful battle over there at Stamford Bridge”
- Chelsea will host the return semifinal leg next Sunday and the winner on aggregate will advance to the final in Lisbon next month
BARCELONA, Spain: Barcelona recovered from a missed penalty by Alexia Putellas to take a commanding 4-1 lead over Chelsea in the Women’s Champions League semifinals on Sunday.
Putellas had her penalty kick saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton in the 12th minute but the Catalan club rallied with a pair of goals by substitute Claudia Pina and one each from Ewa Pajor and Irene Paredes.
Sandy Baltimore scored for Chelsea.
“No winning scoreline is enough,” Barcelona coach Pere Romeu said. “There’s huge evidence in soccer that you can’t ever rely on a first-leg lead. We are going to have a beautiful battle over there at Stamford Bridge.”
Chelsea will host the return semifinal leg next Sunday and the winner on aggregate will advance to the final in Lisbon next month.
It was the eighth straight win for defending champion Barcelona in the European women’s competition. It has scored 40 goals across those eight consecutive wins since losing 2-0 to Manchester City.
Barcelona and Chelsea are meeting in the last four for the third consecutive season. Barcelona has advanced each time.
“I still believe in my team and my players, 100 percent,” Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor said. “It’ll be difficult, but the main goal is to score early in the return leg. In football everything is possible, so let’s try to win the game and, if we score early, maybe we can put Barcelona under pressure.”
Pajor opened the scoring in the 35th and Pina added to the lead in the 70th, not long after entering the match.
Baltimore pulled the visitors closer four minutes later, but Paredes gave Barcelona a two-goal lead again in the 82nd.
Pina added a fourth in the 90th at the Johan Cruyff stadium.
“When I’m on the bench, we’ve already spent a whole week analyzing a rival like Chelsea,” Pina said. “You have lots of ideas in your head. When the game goes on, you progress those ideas and look at where your teammates are already creating gaps in the opponents’ defense.”
In the other semifinal series, Lyon weathered a second-half rally by Arsenal to claim a 2-1 away win on Saturday, putting the record eight-time champions on course for another Women’s Champions League title match.
Justin Thomas ends 3-year drought with playoff victory in RBC Heritage
- In the playoff, Novak missed from just inside 35 feet, setting the stage for Thomas
- The putt was so pure that Thomas dropped his putter before the ball dropped, stooping over and clutching both arms to celebrate a win that felt long overdue
- His previous win was the PGA Championship at Southern Hills in May of 2022
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.:Justin Thomas ended nearly three years without a victory Sunday by making a birdie putt from just outside 20 feet in a playoff at Harbor Town to beat Andrew Novak in the RBC Heritage.
Thomas played bogey-free in dry, fast conditions for a 3-under 68, making a 25-foot birdie putt on the 16th that looked like it might be the winner until Novak, who grew up in South Carolina, matched him with a big birdie of his own for a 68.
Novak, who has had three good chances to win in his last 14 tournaments, had an 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole in regulation that was left all the way.
In the playoff, Novak missed from just inside 35 feet, setting the stage for Thomas. The putt was so pure that Thomas dropped his putter before the ball dropped, stooping over and clutching both arms to celebrate a win that felt long overdue.
His previous win was the PGA Championship at Southern Hills in May of 2022. His game slipped and he missed the FedEx Cup playoffs for the first time in 2023, and he was left off the Presidents Cup team a year ago.
His game was back in order — he cracked the top 10 again — and needed only a victory to confirm his game was back among the elite.
“I didn’t realize how much I missed winning,” Thomas said on the 18th green as he stood next to wife Jill and 5-month-old daughter Molly.
Thomas and Novak finished at 17-under 267, three shots clear of anyone else.
Novak was a runner-up in Bermuda last fall. He was right there at Torrey Pines in the Farmers Insurance Open. He was in the mix at the Valero Texas Open. And this looked like it might be his moment to break through until Thomas refused to be denied.
“Winning is hard. It’s really, really hard,” Thomas said with a tinge of emotion in his voice. “I’ve worked my butt off and stayed patient, stayed positive.”
He won for the 16th time on the PGA Tour, and to his recollection, he has never had to make a putt of length on the 18th hole to win by a shot.
“That was as fun as I thought it would be,” Thomas said.
They pulled away in the middle of the round from a tight leaderboard — a four-way tie at one point as they were joined by 54-hole leader Si Woo Kim and Maverick McNealy.
Daniel Berger closed with a 65 to tie for third with McNealy (70), Mackenzie Hughes (67) and Brian Harman (69).
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler even got in on the act, just briefly. He started four shots behind and was even for the round through eight holes. But he ran off three birdies in a four-hole stretch around the turn to pull within two.
Scheffler was running out of hole when he took on a high-risk shot needing eagle to have a legitimate chance. That found the water, leading to double bogey. He still shot 70 and tied for eighth, his third straight top 10 while contending into the final hour.
“I think I’m really close,” Scheffler said. “I feel like I did a lot of things well this week, just a few of the important shots I just didn’t pull off. Outside of that it was a pretty solid week.”
Thomas won the tournament with a birdie in a playoff. He saved his chances toward the end of the front nine when he made four straight putts starting on the fifth hole — 7 feet for birdie, 7 feet for par, 8 feet for par and just inside 15 feet for birdie on No. 8, where he took on the trees with a 7-iron to give himself a chance.
Novak had tree trouble and battled away, getting a few good bounces and a remarkable par save from a sandy lie amidst a forest on No. 11.
He moves high enough in the world ranking — inside the top 35 — that he should be a lock for the US Open and now needs to stay in the top 50 the next month for the British Open.
“I’m not as frustrated as I thought I would be.” Novak said. “I feel like I did a lot of good things. I’m pretty proud of putting myself in that position when I really felt like I wasn’t swinging it that great this week.
“I thought I was a little more comfortable down the stretch than maybe I have been in the past. Justin just went out and won it. There’s nothing you can really do about it.”
