Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has ruled out signing Max Verstappen for the 2027 Formula One season, confirming George Russell and championship leader Kimi Antonelli will remain the team’s driver lineup while keeping the four-time world champion firmly on the team’s long-term radar.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 ahead of Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix, Wolff said Mercedes’ immediate priority is maintaining stability after a dominant start to Formula One’s new regulations era.

But he also made it clear the prospect of pairing Verstappen with Antonelli remains a possibility beyond 2027.

“We will not shy away from perhaps having them both in the team at some stage,” Wolff said. “You must give Kimi time to develop. Max is at his peak, he can do anything.”

Verstappen remains under contract with Red Bull through the end of 2028, although his deal is widely believed to include performance-related exit clauses that could allow him to leave earlier under certain circumstances.

Mercedes’ impressive form this season has only strengthened Wolff’s confidence in his current lineup.

Antonelli, 19, has emerged as the breakout star of the championship, leading the standings ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and teammate Russell after collecting multiple victories, including his sixth win of the season at last week’s Belgian Grand Prix.

Verstappen, meanwhile, has endured an unusually difficult campaign and sits seventh in the standings without a race victory.

Antonelli’s rapid rise since replacing Hamilton at the start of 2025 has convinced Mercedes that continuity is the best path forward. Russell, who joined the works team in 2022, is also expected to remain alongside the Italian next season.

“We haven’t made an official announcement yet, but at this stage it’s the only logical conclusion,” Wolff said.

Despite confirming the team’s short-term plans, Wolff showed no hesitation about eventually managing two elite drivers under one roof, even after experiencing one of Formula One’s fiercest teammate rivalries when Hamilton and Nico Rosberg battled for championships at Mercedes.

“I had it worse with Rosberg and Hamilton. Today I would probably do it better,” Wolff said.

Mercedes have pursued Verstappen for several seasons as Red Bull’s dominance has fluctuated, but the team’s commanding pace under Formula One’s latest technical regulations has reduced any urgency to overhaul a lineup already delivering consistent success.

Russell’s multi-year contract extends through 2027, while Antonelli’s remarkable development has reinforced Mercedes’ belief that the teenager should continue growing without unnecessary disruption.

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Türkiye powered into the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League final with a commanding straight-sets victory over host China on Saturday, setting up a gold-medal showdown with Brazil after another dominant display from the reigning global powerhouse.

The “Sultans of the Net” overwhelmed the home side 3-0 in the semifinal at the East Asian Games Dome in Macao, controlling the match from start to finish to secure their place in Sunday’s championship match.

Türkiye won by scores in the region of 25-21, 25-15 and 25-20, underlining their superiority in every phase of the contest.

The victory extends another remarkable run for Daniele Santarelli’s squad, which has become one of the world’s premier volleyball teams in recent years.

The third-ranked Turks arrived in Macao as one of the tournament favorites and lived up to that billing with a composed performance built on powerful attacking, disciplined blocking and relentless serving pressure that left seventh-ranked China with few answers.

Türkiye’s latest success comes after another impressive campaign that has reinforced its status among the sport’s elite.

Since capturing its first Volleyball Nations League title in 2023, the team has also claimed the European Championship, finished runner-up at the 2025 FIVB Women’s World Championship and continued to establish itself as a consistent medal contender on the international stage.

The semifinal victory capped another convincing knockout performance after Türkiye rallied past Canada in the quarterfinals. After dropping the opening set, Santarelli’s side recovered to win 22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-17, with star opposite hitter Melissa Vargas producing 27 points to lead the comeback.

Türkiye advanced to the Finals after finishing fourth in the preliminary standings with a 9-3 record and 25 points, comfortably earning a place among the tournament’s top eight teams.

China’s path to the semifinals had been far more dramatic.

The hosts secured an automatic Finals berth despite finishing ninth in the preliminary round with a 6-6 record and 19 points, then produced one of the biggest surprises of the tournament by eliminating the United States in a thrilling five-set quarterfinal. China recovered from a first-set loss to defeat the Americans 15-25, 25-23, 25-20, 17-25, 15-13 and ignite hopes of a home triumph.

Those hopes, however, were quickly extinguished by a confident Turkish side that had already beaten China earlier in the tournament.

The teams met during the preliminary phase in Ankara on June 21, when Türkiye prevailed 3-2 in a gripping five-set battle. Vargas delivered one of the finest performances of her international career with 36 points as Türkiye recovered to win 25-21, 26-28, 23-25, 25-16, 15-12.

That victory continued a trend of Turkish dominance in the rivalry. Türkiye also defeated China in the 2023 Volleyball Nations League final and edged the Chinese in a dramatic five-set quarterfinal at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

In Macao, there was no such drama.

Backed by a vocal home crowd, China struggled to cope with Türkiye’s relentless pressure.

Vargas again spearheaded the attack, while middle blocker Zehra Güneş anchored the net with strong blocking. Outside hitters Hande Baladın and İlkin Aydın provided consistent offensive support, and Türkiye’s organized defense repeatedly frustrated the hosts.

China, coached by Zhao Yong and featuring a blend of experienced veterans and emerging talent, showed the resilience that carried it through the quarterfinals but could not match Türkiye’s pace, precision or physicality across three sets.

The result sends Türkiye into Sunday’s championship match against Brazil, which booked its place in the final by outlasting top-ranked Italy in a five-set semifinal thriller earlier in the day.

China and Italy will meet in the bronze-medal match, also scheduled for Sunday.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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