Sports
Ferrari’s Hamilton eyes record 9th at favorite Hungarian circuit
Lewis Hamilton heads to one of Formula One’s most successful venues this weekend with renewed confidence, hoping to cap Ferrari’s resurgence with another victory before the sport enters its August break, while championship-leading Mercedes face mounting concerns over George Russell’s alarming loss of form.
The Hungarian Grand Prix presents Hamilton with an opportunity to strengthen his title challenge and continue Ferrari’s recent momentum at a circuit that has delivered more success than almost any other in his career.
The seven-time world champion sits second in the drivers’ standings, 45 points behind Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli, who has emerged as the breakout star of the season with six victories from the opening 10 races.
Hamilton’s resurgence has coincided with Ferrari’s steady rise in performance.
The Briton has collected five podium finishes this season, including his first victory for Ferrari in Spain, and has finished inside the points in every race.
Ferrari have steadily closed the gap to Mercedes through consistent reliability and performance upgrades, giving Hamilton confidence that the Scuderia can challenge for victories on merit.
Hungary has long been one of Hamilton’s strongest circuits.
He has won a record eight races at the Hungaroring, claimed nine pole positions and led 487 laps there, more than any driver has led at a single Formula One venue. Another victory on Sunday would bring his career total to 107 wins and match his record of nine victories at a single circuit, set at Silverstone.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur believes the characteristics of the Hungaroring should suit his team’s package better than the high-speed Spa-Francorchamps circuit, although he cautioned against assuming Ferrari will have an advantage.
“Every weekend we start from scratch,” Vasseur said. “It’s all about setup and tyre management. Budapest should suit us better than Spa because engine performance is less critical, but nothing is guaranteed. We still have to execute everything properly.”
Ferrari arrive in Budapest with both drivers carrying momentum. Charles Leclerc won at Silverstone before finishing second in Belgium, while Hamilton followed his Spanish victory with third place at Silverstone and fourth at Spa.
Mercedes search for solutions
While Hamilton’s fortunes have improved, Mercedes face growing questions over Russell’s dramatic decline.
The British driver opened the season as one of the championship favorites and earned the nickname “Mr. Consistency” through his reliable performances. But technical problems have derailed his campaign in recent races, with his car mysteriously losing significant time on the straights.
The issue became one of the biggest talking points in the paddock after Russell spun into the gravel during last Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix, recording his third retirement or points-less finish of the season. He now trails teammate Antonelli by 50 points.
Antonelli, meanwhile, has exceeded expectations in his rookie campaign. The 19-year-old Italian has combined speed with remarkable composure to build a commanding championship lead and believes the tight, technical Hungaroring could produce one of the closest races of the season.
“It’s going to be another track that’s a bit more like Monaco, where you just have to drive as fast as you can,” Antonelli said. “I think it’s going to be very tight between all of us, so putting everything together will be really important.”
The Mercedes driver expects Red Bull, Ferrari and defending constructors’ champion McLaren to join the fight for victory on a circuit where straight-line speed and energy deployment are less influential than mechanical grip and cornering performance.
McLaren and Aston Martin bring upgrades
McLaren also head into the weekend optimistic after preparing a substantial update package that includes a new floor, revised aerodynamic components and continued testing of an experimental rear wing.
Reigning race winner Lando Norris triumphed in Hungary last year, leading teammate Oscar Piastri in a McLaren one-two after Leclerc secured pole position.
As part of McLaren’s young driver program, reigning Formula Two champion Leonardo Fornaroli will replace Piastri during Friday’s opening practice session.
Aston Martin are expected to debut a long-awaited chassis upgrade in Hungary, although the team’s latest Honda engine specification will not arrive until the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break.
Hamilton reflects on darkest Ferrari moment
Hamilton also used Thursday’s media session to reflect on how dramatically his fortunes have changed since last year’s Hungarian Grand Prix, when frustration boiled over after a disappointing weekend.
Following a 12th-place finish while Leclerc qualified on pole and finished fourth, Hamilton harshly criticized his own performance, calling himself “useless” and even suggesting Ferrari should sign another driver.
A year later, the 41-year-old says that difficult period became a turning point.
“I’m proud of everyone in the team and I’m proud of myself for digging myself out of that place that I was in,” Hamilton said.
“One day, when I do my documentary, I’ll tell you all about that weekend and what led up to it. But to come from there to where I am now, I arrive this week worlds away from where I was last year.”
Hamilton said Ferrari’s steady progress has restored his confidence, praising both the team’s development and his own ability to overcome one of the toughest periods of his career.
“I’m grateful for how we’ve developed as a team. The pieces of the puzzle have been coming together, and now we have a great car and a great package that we can fight with.”
Jürgen Klopp is back in coaching, and Germany is hoping one of the game’s most successful managers can restore its place among international football’s elite.
The German Football Association (DFB) unveiled Klopp as the new head coach of the men’s national team on Friday, handing the former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager a contract through the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The appointment comes after Germany’s latest World Cup failure, extending a run of disappointing tournament performances that has left one of football’s traditional powerhouses searching for answers.
“The national team brings us Germans together like almost nothing else can. That’s what makes this task so special for me,” Klopp said during his introductory news conference in Frankfurt.
Klopp succeeds Julian Nagelsmann, who resigned after Die Mannschaft’s penalty shootout loss to Paraguay at the 2026 World Cup.
The defeat ended Germany’s campaign before the last 16 and marked the third consecutive World Cup in which the four-time champion failed to make a deep run after group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022.
The 59-year-old returns to the touchline for the first time since leaving Liverpool in 2024, when he stepped away after nearly nine years at Anfield, citing exhaustion following one of the most demanding spells of his coaching career.
After leaving Liverpool, Klopp spent the past year and a half as Red Bull’s head of global football, overseeing the company’s worldwide network of clubs.
During this summer’s World Cup, he also worked in the United States as a television pundit for a German-language broadcaster while discussions with the DFB gathered momentum.
Germany quickly identified Klopp as its preferred candidate once Nagelsmann stepped down, with negotiations culminating in an agreement that ends Klopp’s brief break from management.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential coaches of his generation, Klopp built his reputation on an aggressive, high-pressing style famously dubbed “heavy metal football.”
His energetic approach transformed Borussia Dortmund into Bundesliga champions twice before he guided Liverpool to the 2019 UEFA Champions League title, the club’s first Premier League crown in 30 years in 2020, and several domestic trophies.
Now he faces an entirely different challenge in his first international coaching role.
Germany boasts a talented core that includes Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and several emerging stars, but the team has consistently fallen short on the biggest stage.
The DFB hopes Klopp can rebuild confidence, restore tactical identity and reestablish the winning culture that carried Germany to World Cup triumphs in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014.
His long-term contract reflects the federation’s commitment to stability, with Klopp expected to oversee Germany through UEFA Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup while playing a key role in the development of the country’s next generation of talent.
There will be little time to settle in.
Klopp’s first assignment comes in late September and early October, when Germany plays four UEFA Nations League matches in just 11 days against the Netherlands, Greece and Serbia.
The demanding schedule will provide an immediate opportunity to begin implementing the high-intensity pressing game that defined his success at club level.
King Charles III officially opened the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Thursday, marking the start of a streamlined 10-day competition aimed at reducing costs while preserving the event’s competitive spirit.
About 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories will compete for 215 gold medals across 10 sports and six para sports in the Scottish city, which is hosting the Commonwealth Games for the second time after staging them in 2014.
The king, accompanied by Queen Camilla, made a theatrical entrance by emerging from a Tardis, the iconic time machine from the British science fiction series Doctor Who, setting a lighthearted tone for the opening ceremony before taking his seat inside the 14,000-capacity OVO Hydro arena.
“As we gather, we celebrate the dedication and talent of every athlete and team. Your perseverance inspires us, and we eagerly anticipate your achievements in the coming days,” Charles said in addressing the athletes.
“As we share our love of sport, and our planet, let us build a harmonious and durable future for our families and each other.
“It is now my great pleasure to declare the 23rd Commonwealth Games open.”
The first indoor opening ceremony in the event’s history, for a competition that began as the British Empire Games in 1930 and is still made up largely of countries and territories once under British rule, formed part of a major restructuring of the Games, which were on the brink of collapse three years ago.
Extraordinary things
The Australian state of Victoria withdrew as host of the Games in 2023, citing spiraling costs.
Glasgow stepped in to keep the Commonwealth Games on track, doing so at roughly a quarter of the cost of hosting the event in 2014. The sporting program has also been reduced to 10 sports from 19 at the Birmingham Games four years ago.
“When the future of these Games was uncertain, Glasgow didn’t ask, ‘Can we?’ We asked, ‘When do we get started?'” Glasgow 2026 Chair George Black said.
“Because that’s what we do. We roll up our sleeves and, together, we make extraordinary things happen.”
The indoor venue allowed athletes to enter the arena on stage as they were welcomed by spectators. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham was among those in attendance, along with Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney.
The Falkland Islands’ six-member team received one of the loudest ovations following tensions sparked by Argentina’s World Cup victory over England, when Argentine players paraded a banner reading: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentine”).
Argentina invaded the British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic in 1982, but Britain regained control of the archipelago after a short war.
Athletics and swimming headline the program alongside artistic gymnastics, track cycling, netball, weightlifting, boxing, judo, bowls and 3×3 basketball.
The largest para-sport program in Commonwealth Games history includes athletics, swimming, track cycling, powerlifting, bowls and wheelchair basketball.
Fresh off breaking the 27-year-old world record in the mile on Saturday, Scotland’s Josh Kerr is the hometown star of the Games.
Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem’s showdown with India’s Neeraj Chopra for the javelin title is another highlight of the athletics program.
England’s Adam Peaty will chase two gold medals in the 50- and 100-meter breaststroke at the venue where he won his first international medals 12 years ago, while South Africa’s Chad le Clos aims to become the most decorated male athlete in Commonwealth Games history by adding to his 18 medals.
Istanbul Başakşehir will head to Finland with work still to do after being held to a 1-1 draw by Inter Turku in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League second qualifying round on Wednesday, despite controlling the match and creating enough chances to secure victory.
The Turkish side recovered from an early setback through new signing Emin Bayram, whose second-half header canceled out Clinton Jephta’s opener, but a combination of wasteful finishing and an inspired performance from Inter Turku goalkeeper Eetu Huuhtanen prevented Başakşehir from taking a first-leg advantage into next week’s return fixture.
The decisive second leg will be played on July 30 in Turku.
Inter Turku stunned the home crowd in the 16th minute with a swift attacking move.
After combining neatly down the left, Jasse Tuominen threaded a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Jephta, who calmly slotted beyond Muhammed Şengezer to give the Finnish visitors an unexpected lead.
Başakşehir quickly established control of possession and pinned Inter Turku deep inside their own half, but the breakthrough proved elusive before halftime.
The hosts repeatedly threatened, struck the woodwork and forced several difficult saves, yet went into the break trailing.
Their pressure finally paid off nine minutes into the second half.
Yusuf Sarı delivered an inviting corner from the right and Emin Bayram rose above the defense to power a header into the net in the 54th minute, scoring on his official debut and registering Başakşehir’s first goal of the 2026-27 campaign.
The 23-year-old center back, who joined from Belgian club Westerlo this summer, enjoyed a memorable first appearance, producing a commanding display in defense while also providing the crucial equalizer.
Another summer arrival, Polish left back Michal Karbownik, also made his competitive debut after joining from Hertha Berlin. Head coach Nuri Şahin handed both newcomers places in the starting lineup for the club’s first official match of the season, and each completed the full 90 minutes.
Başakşehir continued to dominate after leveling the score, attacking relentlessly through the flanks and repeatedly testing Inter Turku’s defense.
The Turkish club finished with 24 shots, including nine on target, while enjoying 68% possession, earning eight corners and completing 500 of 551 passes. They also recorded 71 entries into the attacking third and nearly doubled their opponents’ touches inside the penalty area.
Yusuf Sarı was among the standout performers, providing the assist for Bayram’s goal while consistently creating danger with his deliveries and incisive passing.
Yet the home side found themselves frustrated by Huuhtanen, who produced a series of outstanding saves to preserve the draw. The Inter Turku goalkeeper finished with eight stops, several from close range, while his defense contributed 44 clearances to withstand wave after wave of Başakşehir attacks.
Despite conceding possession for long periods, the Finnish side remained disciplined and compact, making the most of their limited opportunities and leaving Istanbul with a valuable draw.
Although Başakşehir failed to capitalize on their overwhelming superiority, the performance offered encouraging signs for Şahin, particularly from his two debutants. Bayram’s immediate impact at both ends of the field highlighted the value of his arrival, while Karbownik looked comfortable throughout his first outing.
The tie now shifts to Veritas Stadium in Turku, where Başakşehir will be confident that another performance of similar quality, coupled with sharper finishing, can secure passage to the next round.
After the match, Bayram expressed confidence that Başakşehir can finish the job in Finland, insisting the squad remains fully focused on advancing despite letting a first-leg victory slip away.
Lewis Hamilton returns to one of his happiest hunting grounds this weekend with a chance to head into Formula One’s August summer break on a high, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli arrives in Hungary determined to strengthen his growing hold on the title amid mounting concerns over Mercedes teammate George Russell’s struggles.
The Hungaroring has long been a special venue for Hamilton, who has won a record eight races at the Budapest circuit. A victory on Sunday would see the Ferrari driver equal his own Formula One record of nine wins at a single track, matching his remarkable success at Silverstone.
Hamilton also claimed his most recent pole position in Hungary in 2023, making the tight and twisty circuit an ideal opportunity for Ferrari to continue its recent resurgence.
Antonelli, meanwhile, enters the final race before the summer break in complete control of the championship. The 19-year-old Italian has won six of the season’s first 10 races, converting all six of his pole positions into victories and opening a commanding 45-point lead over Hamilton in the standings.
His latest triumph at Spa-Francorchamps further reinforced his rapid rise, with the young Mercedes driver adapting superbly to Formula One’s new hybrid era, where AI-controlled energy deployment and battery management have become increasingly important. Antonelli’s aggressive driving style has allowed him to maximize the performance of Mercedes’ power unit and establish himself as the benchmark in 2026.
While Antonelli continues to flourish, Russell’s season has taken a dramatic downturn.
The Briton began the year as the championship favorite and earned the nickname “Mr. Consistency,” but arrives in Budapest under heavy pressure after retiring in Belgium following an opening-lap collision with former Mercedes teammate Hamilton. It marked his third scoreless race of the campaign and left him 50 points behind Antonelli.
Russell’s difficulties have become one of the biggest talking points in the paddock, with recurring straight-line performance issues costing him significant time compared to his rivals. The contrast between the Mercedes teammates has become increasingly evident as Antonelli continues collecting victories.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the team’s frustrations but insisted both drivers will continue receiving equal support despite Antonelli’s championship advantage.
“We’ve shown at every race so far that the performance is there,” Wolff said. “But we haven’t converted enough of that potential into results. We’ve lost points through self-inflicted issues and we know we need to improve.”
Wolff also dismissed any suggestion that Mercedes would prioritize Antonelli in the title fight.
“We don’t want the drivers taking time away from each other. We don’t want any yo-yoing and then to have Ferrari or Red Bull breathing down our necks and lose victories,” he said. “We’ll never take a victory away from either driver, whether it’s Kimi or George who is ahead.”
The Mercedes boss also brushed aside speculation linking Antonelli with Ferrari, saying the Italian manufacturer had missed its chance years ago.
“We’re aware of the interest, but Kimi has been a Mercedes driver since he was 11,” Wolff said. “Ferrari should have done the job six or seven years ago.”
Ferrari arrive in Hungary encouraged by a noticeable improvement in form.
Charles Leclerc won at Silverstone before finishing runner-up in Belgium, while Hamilton claimed victory in Barcelona, finished third at Silverstone and fourth at Spa. The Hungaroring’s slow, technical layout is expected to reduce Ferrari’s engine deficit, potentially making the Scuderia an even stronger contender.
Still, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur warned against expecting an easy weekend.
“Every weekend we start from scratch,” Vasseur said. “It’s about setup and tire management. Budapest should suit us better than Spa because engine power matters less, but nothing is guaranteed. We still have to execute everything properly.”
Antonelli also expects one of the most competitive races of the season, predicting a four-team battle involving Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull.
“It’s going to be another track a bit like Monaco where you simply try to drive as fast as you can,” he said. “It will be very tight between all of us, so putting everything together will be crucial.”
McLaren could emerge as Ferrari’s biggest challenger after announcing a substantial upgrade package for Hungary, including a revised floor and new aerodynamic components. The team will also continue evaluating an experimental rear wing, while reigning champion Lando Norris returns to the circuit where he won last season ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri.
Italian reserve driver Leonardo Fornaroli, the reigning Formula Two champion, will take part in Friday’s opening practice session for McLaren in place of Piastri.
Red Bull also expects to remain firmly in contention after Max Verstappen’s podium finish in Belgium, while Aston Martin hope a long-awaited chassis upgrade designed by Adrian Newey can help revive a disappointing season.
The team, however, must wait until the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break before introducing Honda’s latest engine package.
Türkiye recovered from a slow start to defeat Canada 3-1 on Thursday and book their place in the semifinals of the 2026 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals, continuing the country’s rise as one of the sport’s global powers.
The reigning European champions dropped the opening set before taking control of the match in Macao, China, winning the next three sets through disciplined defense, aggressive serving and a balanced attack to keep their title hopes alive.
After Canada edged the first set 25-22, Türkiye responded with back-to-back 25-21 victories before pulling away in the fourth set for a convincing 25-17 finish.
The victory sends the “Sultans of the Net” into the semifinals, where they will face the winner of the United States and China quarterfinal.
Match summary
Türkiye 3, Canada 1
Daniele Santarelli’s side showed their trademark resilience after falling behind early.
They tightened their blocking, improved their serve pressure and found greater attacking efficiency as the match wore on, leaving Canada with few answers in the final two sets.
The fourth set was particularly dominant, with Türkiye opening a comfortable lead before closing out the contest to secure another semifinal appearance on the international stage.
Another deep run for Türkiye
Türkiye entered the knockout stage after finishing fourth in the preliminary round with nine wins and 25 points, earning one of the eight places in the VNL Finals.
Canada also impressed during the league phase to reach the quarterfinals, but their campaign ended against a Turkish side that has consistently delivered on the biggest stages in recent years.
The latest victory adds another milestone to a golden era for Turkish women’s volleyball. The national team captured both the 2023 Volleyball Nations League title and the 2023 CEV European Championship, establishing themselves among the world’s elite alongside Italy, Brazil, the United States and China.
Led by a talented core that includes Melissa Vargas, Zehra Güneş, Hande Baladın, Ebrar Karakurt, Gizem Örge and Ceren Özbay, Türkiye once again demonstrated the depth and composure that have become hallmarks of the program.
Momentum builds
The Women’s Volleyball Nations League features the world’s top national teams and offers valuable FIVB ranking points ahead of future international competitions, including the World Championship and Olympic qualification cycles.
By advancing to the final four, Türkiye not only keep their championship ambitions alive but also reinforce their status as one of the strongest teams in international volleyball.
President Donald Trump wants FIFA President Gianni Infantino to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations, according to a report by the New York Post, a move that would elevate one of his closest international allies from global soccer to international diplomacy.
The report says Trump believes Infantino has earned worldwide respect through his leadership of FIFA and his role in organizing the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
According to a source cited by the Post, Trump views the Swiss executive as someone with a unique ability to unite people across political and cultural divides.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and FIFA has not publicly addressed the report.
Trump and Infantino have built a close relationship over the past several years, particularly during preparations for the expanded 48-team World Cup.
Their partnership has been highly visible throughout the tournament, with Trump playing an unusually prominent role in FIFA events.
Infantino awarded Trump FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize in December, while the U.S. president later presented the FIFA Club World Cup trophy at MetLife Stadium. On Sunday, Trump joined Infantino on the field again to hand Spain captain Rodri the World Cup trophy after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final.
During the championship match, Trump watched from a suite alongside First Lady Melania Trump and Infantino, with the World Cup trophy displayed nearby before the postmatch ceremony.
The next UN secretary-general will be selected later this year and will take office on Jan. 1, 2027, replacing Antonio Guterres, whose second term ends in December.
Any bid by Infantino would face significant political hurdles. Candidates must first secure the backing of all 15 members of the UN Security Council, where any of the five permanent members can veto a nomination, before receiving approval from the General Assembly.
It also remains unclear whether Infantino has any interest in pursuing the position.
According to the Post, Trump believes Infantino would be a stronger candidate than a field that could include former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi of Argentina.
Grossi’s candidacy could reportedly face resistance from the United Kingdom because of longstanding tensions with Argentina over the Falkland Islands.
Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships, Paolo Zampolli, endorsed the idea, arguing that Infantino’s experience managing FIFA’s global membership makes him well suited for the UN’s top diplomatic role.
“At the United Nations, you have to deal with 193 member states. In FIFA, there are over 200 members. Gianni’s great record shows he knows how to manage,” Zampolli told the Post.
Zampolli, a former Dominican ambassador to the UN, has previously worked with FIFA on international initiatives. Earlier this year, he reportedly suggested replacing Iran with Italy at the World Cup in an effort to ease diplomatic tensions between the Trump administration and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Despite his global profile, Infantino’s leadership has not been without controversy.
He recently faced criticism from several soccer organizations after FIFA overturned a red card shown to United States forward Folarin Balogun before the Americans’ Round of 16 match against Belgium. Trump later acknowledged that he personally contacted Infantino to request a review of the decision, which ultimately allowed Balogun to play.
Infantino is also approaching an important vote within FIFA. Delegates at the FIFA Congress are expected to decide in March 2027 whether he will receive a fourth term as president.
If he remains at FIFA, his attention will quickly shift to the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil before preparations intensify for the centennial 2030 Men’s World Cup.
That tournament will make history by spanning six countries across three continents, with opening matches in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay before the competition moves primarily to Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Trump has repeatedly criticized the United Nations since returning to office, reducing U.S. funding to the organization and withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization, UNESCO and the UN Human Rights Council.
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