Sports
Teen Antonelli wins maiden GP as Mercedes repeats 1-2 in China
Kimi Antonelli claimed his first Formula One victory Sunday at the Chinese Grand Prix, finishing ahead of George Russell, while Lewis Hamilton secured his first podium for Scuderia Ferrari.
The 19-year-old Antonelli converted being the youngest pole-sitter in Formula One history into victory after both McLarens dramatically failed to start the Shanghai race.
Antonelli briefly lost the lead at the start, but once he got back in front, he controlled the pace to cruise home to the chequered flag by more than five seconds from Russell. Charles Leclerc was fourth in the second Ferrari.
“I’m speechless, I’m about to cry to be honest,” said Antonelli as he choked back tears.
“Thank you to the team for helping me to achieve this dream,” he added.
It was an almost flawless drive from the youngster, apart from one heart-fluttering moment when he locked up at the hairpin on his penultimate lap.
But he recovered to avoid nothing more damaging than a small excursion off track.
“I really wanted to bring Italy back to the top and we did today. Even if I gave myself a little bit of a heart attack toward the end a flat spot,” Antonelli added.
Early championship leader Russell was full of praise for his young teammate after the dominant Mercedes team secured a one-two for the second race running.
“A huge congratulations to Kimi because it’s always very special to win your first race,” said Russell, whose lead has been cut to four points by Antonelli.
The Italian replaced Hamilton at Mercedes and the seven-time world champion said he could not be more pleased for the teenager and his old team.
“I’m so so happy for you buddy and I’m so honored to be able to share this moment with him,” said Hamilton.
“He took my seat obviously, at this great team. So big congratulations to Mercedes.”
“They’re really pulling ahead at the moment. We’ve got a lot of work to do to try and keep up,” he added.
Hamilton, as he had done in Saturday’s sprint, got a great start and had taken the lead by the time the teams emerged from the first complex of turns.
Leclerc also launched brilliantly and managed to get past Russell, who started second on the grid.
The top four swapped places multiple times before a safety car on lap 11 brought them all into the pits.
McLaren, Red Bull woe
Once the dust settled and they went racing again, Antonelli led from Hamilton, with Leclerc third and Russell fourth.
By lap 29, Russell had passed both Ferraris and up to second and set off trying to catch his young Italian teammate, who was by now more than seven seconds up the road.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen continued Red Bull’s poor start to the new season when he was told to retire his car on lap 46.
Oliver Bearman was fifth in the Haas, followed home by Pierre Gasly (Alpine) and Liam Lawson (RB).
Rounding out the Top-10 points scorers were Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), Carlos Sainz (Williams) and Franco Colapinto (Alpine).
Current world champion Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri both failed to start due to separate issues, leaving McLaren without a car in the race.
Norris had an electrical problem that prevented him from getting to the grid.
Piastri did get round to the grid but was pushed back into the garage a few minutes later with a different problem.
“Unfortunately, we identified separate issues on both cars which prevented them from starting the Chinese GP,” said McLaren in a statement.
It has been an awful start to the season for the constructors’ world champions.
Last weekend, only one McLaren took part in the opening race in Melbourne after Piastri crashed on his way to the grid, meaning the Australian is yet to race in a grand prix this season.
Arsenal stand 90 minutes from ending a 20-year wait for a Champions League final, but Atletico Madrid arrive in North London on Tuesday convinced the tie is still finely balanced after a tense first leg.
The semifinal remains locked at 1-1 after a chaotic night in Madrid, where three penalties shaped the story and left both sides with reasons to feel aggrieved.
Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez converted from the spot either side of halftime, while Arsenal were left fuming when a second penalty was overturned after a VAR review, a decision that drew a furious reaction from Mikel Arteta and animated protests from Diego Simeone on the touchline.
For Arsenal, the bigger picture still favors them.
Avoiding defeat away in a Champions League semifinal is a result most teams would take and back at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta’s side have both form and history on their side.
Unbeaten in this season’s competition, Arsenal can set a new club record of 14 consecutive Champions League matches without defeat if they reach the final.
Their domestic rhythm is equally convincing.
A fluent 3-0 win over Fulham at the weekend pushed them six points clear at the top of the Premier League and underlined a team playing with confidence and clarity at the right time.
Europe has also been kind to Arsenal at home, especially against Spanish opposition.
Only one defeat in their last 15 such matches paints a daunting picture for Atletico, who were also dismantled 4-0 by the Gunners earlier in the campaign, a result that briefly shook Simeone’s side before sparking a run of seven straight wins.
That resurgence has not translated into silverware.
Atletico’s season is drifting toward a familiar frustration. They have already lost the Copa del Rey final to Real Sociedad and sit comfortably in La Liga’s top four, but out of the title race as Barcelona pull away.
Simeone rotated heavily for the weekend trip to Valencia, making 11 changes, yet still watched his side secure a composed 2-0 win. It suggests depth and readiness, but also highlights how much hinges on Tuesday night.
Recent form offers mixed signals. Atletico have steadied themselves with two wins in their last three games, but that follows a damaging stretch in spring when they lost seven of eight matches, a slump that nearly derailed their season.
History gives them hope.
Atletico have advanced from six of their last 10 European knockout ties after drawing the first leg at home. They also carry psychological edge from eliminating Arsenal in the 2017-18 Europa League semifinals.
Team news adds another layer of intrigue. Bukayo Saka, influential again with a goal and assist against Fulham, was withdrawn early as a precaution and is expected to start. Arteta remains hopeful Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz will recover in time, though Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino are set to miss out.
Midfield balance could shift, with Martin Zubimendi likely to return after being rested, while Piero Hincapie is expected to slot back into defense.
For Atletico, relief surrounds Julian Alvarez, who limped off in the first leg but has avoided serious injury and is set to lead the attack. The Argentine continues to rewrite records, becoming the fastest from his country to reach 25 Champions League goals, surpassing Lionel Messi’s mark.
Several key players, including Antoine Griezmann and Marcos Llorente, were managed carefully at the weekend, but injuries to Pablo Barrios and Nico Gonzalez leave Simeone with fewer options in midfield, while Jose Gimenez remains a doubt.
German giants Schalke completed their return to the Bundesliga after a three-year hiatus with a 1-0 home win over struggling Fortuna Düsseldorf on Saturday.
Top scorer Kenan Karaman grabbed the winner in the 15th minute for one of Germany’s best-supported clubs. Paderborn are the favorites to go up with Schalke.
“I can’t find the right words right now,” Karaman told broadcaster Nitro.
“We’ve waited a while for this moment. We had two difficult years. I’m incredibly grateful and incredibly proud. I truly wear this jersey with passion and pride,” he added.
Karaman’s 14 goals have helped fire Schalke back to the big time, while the January signing of Bosnia veteran Edin Dzeko gave them impetus for the run-in.
Goalkeeper Loris Karius – finding consistency after years of woe following his Champions League final debacle in 2018 – was also a key factor.
“(It feels) Good. Not bad! We wanted this win, we wanted to celebrate with the fans,” Dzeko told broadcaster Sky.
Asked whether he will be with the team for the much-awaited derby against Borussia Dortmund next season, he said: “Let’s see. First of all, we celebrate. I’m very happy to have decided in January to play here.”
On X, Dortmund posted a picture of an aircraft pulling a banner saying: “We’ve almost missed you.”
Former Cercle Brugge and Plymouth Argyle boss Miron Muslic was a surprise pick as coach but has masterminded promotion in his first season.
Schalke finished 10th and 14th in the previous two second-tier seasons, the latter of which was their lowest ever finish in the current German league structure adopted in 1963.
Fans will be slightly wary of their return to the top flight, given their last promotion in 2022 led to just one season in the Bundesliga before another painful relegation.
As recently as 2018, they had finished second in the Bundesliga, the seventh time Schalke have been runners-up.
But the Royal Blues have never won the Bundesliga title, although they did claim the German championship several times before the Bundesliga came into being.
Australian rider Sebastian Berwick of Caja Rural–Seguros RGA won the overall title at the 61st Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye Sunday, sealing the turquoise jersey after eight stages across 1,133 kilometers.
The race concluded with a 105.2-kilometer Ankara-to-Ankara stage, marking the Turkish capital’s first time hosting the finish in 27 years.
Berwick, 26, who took the overall lead in Stage 6, secured victory with a total time of 26 hours, 34 minutes, 19 seconds.
Colombia’s Ivan Ramiro Sosa of Equipo Kern Pharma finished second overall, while Belgium’s Kamiel Bonneu of Solution Tech NIPPO Rali placed third.
Belgian rider Tom Crabbe of Team Flanders-Baloise won the final stage, completing the Ankara route in 2:11:35.
In addition to the overall turquoise jersey, other classifications were decided at the end of the race.
While Mustafa Tarakçı claimed the white jersey (Leader of Beauties of Türkiye Sprint Primes), Crabbe secured the green jersey (Best Sprinter), and Berwick also won the red jersey (Best Climber).
Team title for Astana
The Astana team won the overall team classification, with a roster including Lev Gonov, Davide Ballerini, Alessio Delle Vedove, Henok Mulueberhan, Matteo Scalco, Nicolay Vinokurov and Darren Van Bekkum finishing atop the standings.
Awards were presented by senior officials, including Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Hamza Yerlikaya, who handed the green and red jerseys to Crabbe and Berwick, respectively.
Symbolic finish
Speaking after the race, Vice President Yılmaz said Ankara’s return as a finish location after 27 years added symbolic significance to the event, noting that the course passed along landmarks including the Presidential Complex and Anıtkabir.
He said the race brought together athletes from 27 countries and showcased Türkiye’s geography, history and natural beauty to a global audience of millions, highlighting the unifying power of sport.
Yılmaz also emphasized the importance of promoting cycling among younger generations, citing its benefits for public health, the environment and social cohesion, and said next year’s event is expected to attract even broader participation.
Naoya Inoue retained his undisputed super-bantamweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Junto Nakatani on Saturday in one of the biggest fights in Japanese boxing history.
Two judges scored the fight 116-112, while one had it 115-113, all in favor of Inoue after 12 rounds before a sell-out crowd of 55,000 at the Tokyo Dome.
Inoue (33-0, 27 KOs) kept his WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO belts – and then apologized for not delivering a knockout.
The 33-year-old Inoue, nicknamed “The Monster” and hailed as Japan’s greatest boxer, also praised Nakatani (32-1, 24 KOs).
“He was a fighter with a strong heart. That’s what makes this win mean so much,” said Inoue, a four-division champion.
The highly anticipated bout has galvanized fans here over the past year, with former champions and other experts offering commentary. Most predictions had favored Inoue because of his experience, speed and power.
The fight amply displayed both boxers’ dexterity in offense and defense, with both taking nice swings and jabs, but many simply failed to land.
The 28-year-old Nakatani, a southpaw, used his longer reach to keep Inoue’s punches at bay, while Inoue simply swayed his body or got out of the way.
The challenger became more aggressive after the sixth round, moving forward to try to land punches. But Inoue used his quick footwork to evade them, landing some jabs back in the process.
“I came prepared, so there were no surprises, but the champion was great,” a somber Nakatani said after absorbing his first professional loss.
Nakatani sustained a cut above his left eye in what appeared to be an accidental clash of heads and officials said he was going to a hospital to get it checked.
In a closely watched undercard, Inoue’s younger brother Takuma (22-2, 5 KOs) beat former four-division champion Kazuto Ioka (32-5-1, 17 KOs) by unanimous decision to retain his WBC bantamweight title.
“I really enjoyed the 12 exciting rounds, all thanks to my opponent, who is a legend,” Takuma Inoue said. “I want to prove I’m not just Naoya Inoue’s brother.”
Still, Takuma prevented Ioka from becoming a five-division champion, handing that possible honor to his brother, believed to have a good chance of doing just that.
The story of the Inoue brothers, who took up boxing as youngsters and grew up in loving families that encouraged their pursuit, is well known among boxing fans here. Their father, Shingo Inoue, was at ringside for both fighters, as always.
There was no doubt that the big all-Japanese fight had endeared fans to both the skills and personalities of the boxers.
Michifumi Hori, one such fan, proudly wore an Inoue T-shirt and said he was cheering for both Inoue brothers.
“This is something you can’t hope to see for another 50 years,” he said. “I love boxing because it’s about becoming a world champion.”
Diyarbakır-based Amed SK, commonly known as Amedspor, secured a historic promotion to the Turkish Süper Lig Saturday after a 3-3 draw against Iğdır on the final day of the TFF 1. Lig regular season, confirming a second-place finish with 74 points from 38 matches.
The result was enough to guarantee automatic promotion, capping a consistent campaign in which Amedspor remained among the top contenders throughout the season.
Finishing just behind Erzurumspor, the Diyarbakır side sealed their place in the top flight for the first time in club history.
The decisive match against Iğdır saw Amedspor hold firm in a high-scoring encounter, ensuring the single point required to secure promotion.
The final whistle sparked celebrations across Diyarbakır, with supporters gathering in large numbers to mark a milestone moment for the club.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulated the club on the promotion.
“I sincerely congratulate Amedspor, the entire community, and my brothers and sisters from Diyarbakır, who will represent our Diyarbakır in the Trendyol Süper Lig next season, and I wish them success,” he said in a statement.
Founded in 1972 and renamed in 2014, the club has a strong following in southeastern Türkiye’s Kurdish community.
After years in the lower divisions, the club began a steady ascent, winning the TFF 2. Lig Red Group in 2023–24 to earn promotion to the second tier.
Amedspor will now turn the focus to preparations for the 2026–27 season, where they will compete against Turkish football’s established powers such as Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş.
A Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey masterclass helped the Philadelphia 76ers pick up a 109-100 win and end the Boston Celtics’ NBA playoffs campaign Saturday night.
Embiid sank 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while Maxey scored 10 of his 30 points in a frantic fourth quarter as the seventh-seeded Sixers thwarted the second-seeded Celtics’ comeback bid.
The win completed their own comeback from 3-1 down in the series to book an Eastern Conference semifinal showdown with the New York Knicks.
The series was the 23rd playoff clash between the two teams and Boston had won the last six, knocking Embiid out of the playoffs in 2018, 2020 and 2023.
Embiid had said he was tired of losing to the Celtics, and he and Maxey made sure it didn’t happen again, keying the 76ers’ first-ever victory in a series in which they trailed 3-1.
“We had a talk after game five and just said, ‘Hey, man, we can’t let the same stuff happen over and over and over again. At some point, we’ve got to put a stop to it.’
“And we did,” Maxey told broadcaster NBC.
It wasn’t a smooth ride, even with Boston missing star Jayson Tatum, who was ruled out less than two hours before tip-off with a sore left knee.
Tatum had exited late in the third quarter of Thursday’s game-six blowout loss to the Sixers and he could only watch from the bench as the Celtics season ended.
Tatum, who ruptured his right Achilles tendon in last year’s playoffs, had missed the first 62 games of the regular season but had gone from strength to strength since his season debut in March.
Jaylen Brown scored 34 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead the Celtics and Derrick White added 26 points.
But Boston connected on just 13 of 49 three-point attempts and were playing catch-up all night after the 76ers pushed their lead to as many as 15 in the first quarter.
Boston clawed back and took a one-point lead midway through the second period, but they couldn’t maintain momentum.
Up by five at halftime, the 76ers pulled away again in the third quarter and led by 13 going into the final frame.
Boston made a final push, cutting the deficit to one point multiple times in the fourth quarter to ignite the crowd at TD Garden arena, but they couldn’t get over the hump.
Maxey scored eight straight points to push Philadelphia’s lead to 107-98 and the Sixers closed it out despite a scare for the oft-injured Embiid, who came up limping after a knock to the knee.
“Just playing hard,” Embiid said of the key to victory. “We started off well and then in the second quarter we kind of relaxed a little. Same thing with the start of the fourth.
“But we stuck together, closed it out,” said Embiid, who underwent an emergency appendectomy less than a month ago. “It’s about playing hard.”
Credit to Philadelphia
Boston’s three straight defeats marked their first three-game skid since they opened the season 0-3 back in October.
Brown, who added four assists and three blocked shots, said the Celtics could be proud of a season in which they were widely expected to tread water without Tatum.
“Great season,” Brown said. “Obviously it didn’t finish the way we would have liked. I give credit to Philadelphia. I watched them get better as the playoffs went on.
“Tonight we came up a little bit short… but nothing for our team to hang our head over.”
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