Sports
Verstappen calls F1’s new era ‘jungle’ as regulations reshape grid
Max Verstappen did not sugarcoat his view of Formula One’s new technical era.
The four-time world champion says the sport has become “a jungle” under the sweeping 2026 regulations, warning that the complicated hybrid systems and large performance gaps between teams are making racing unpredictable and, at times, dangerous.
Speaking ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, Verstappen acknowledged that Red Bull salvaged a respectable result in the season-opening race in Australia.
The Dutchman stormed from last on the grid to finish sixth in Melbourne.
But the comeback did little to change his broader concern about the competitive landscape.
“Honestly, it’s such a jungle out there at the moment,” Verstappen said. “I would hope things get a bit closer, but right now we cannot fight with those cars.”
A widening gap at the front
Verstappen believes Red Bull remain a step behind the leading pace set by Mercedes and Ferrari, a gap he expects will again define the fight in China.
Even with a stronger starting position in Sunday’s race at the Shanghai International Circuit, the 28-year-old suggested the team’s ceiling may only be fifth place.
The frustration reflects a wider debate around Formula One’s 2026 overhaul.
The new cars combine dramatic aerodynamic changes with redesigned hybrid power units that split power output almost evenly between the turbocharged 1.6-liter V6 engine and electrical energy recovered from braking.
Drivers say mastering the system requires a driving style unlike anything used before.
Battery concerns and a near disaster
One of Verstappen’s biggest concerns involves energy management at race starts.
Under the new system, drivers can begin a race with depleted batteries. That scenario nearly caused a serious crash at the Australian Grand Prix when Franco Colapinto’s car launched slowly off the line, narrowly avoiding Liam Lawson.
For Verstappen, the risk is obvious.
“Starting with zero percent battery is not a lot of fun and also quite dangerous,” he said. “We almost had a massive shunt in Melbourne.”
He added that technical tweaks could solve the problem if the FIA approves them, insisting the issue is “easily fixed.”
Verstappen pushes for change
Despite the criticism, Verstappen says he is not planning to walk away from Formula One.
He has spoken with the FIA and Formula One management about improving the rules and hopes adjustments could arrive as soon as next season.
“I don’t want to leave,” he said. “But of course I hope it gets better.”
At the same time, Verstappen is beginning to explore racing beyond the F1 paddock.
The Dutch star confirmed he will compete in his first 24-hour endurance race at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife in May. The brutal circuit has not hosted Formula One since 1976, when reigning champion Niki Lauda survived a fiery crash that nearly claimed his life.
For Verstappen, the challenge is irresistible.
“It’s one of the best tracks in the world,” he said. “In a GT car that’s the perfect speed for that circuit. Faster than that can be a bit dangerous.”
After nearly a decade in Formula One and four world titles, he says the timing feels right to broaden his racing horizons.
“I’ve achieved everything I wanted in F1,” Verstappen said. “I don’t need to be only a Formula One driver. I want to try other things while I’m still young.”
Russell sets the early pace
While Verstappen voiced concerns about the sport’s future, Mercedes set the early benchmark on track in Shanghai.
George Russell topped the lone practice session of the sprint weekend with a blistering lap of 1:32.741 on soft tires, edging teammate Kimi Antonelli by 0.120 seconds.
World champion Lando Norris led McLaren’s recovery effort in third, followed by Oscar Piastri, as the British team rebounded after a difficult start in Australia.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished fifth and sixth.
Haas rookie Oliver Bearman impressed in seventh, while Verstappen could manage only eighth, a worrying 1.8 seconds behind Russell.
Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly rounded out the top ten ahead of sprint qualifying.
Chaotic practice session
Teams had just one hour to dial in their setups on a circuit that presents a different challenge from Melbourne.
Shanghai’s long back straight and complex corner sequences demand precise battery deployment and energy harvesting, making it a critical early test for the new hybrid systems.
Hamilton endured a messy session. The seven-time champion briefly spun after locking his brakes at the end of the straight and later brushed wheels with Norris in the final corner.
Elsewhere, rookie Arvid Lindblad’s debut appearance in Shanghai ended prematurely after smoke poured from his cockpit just five laps into the session.
Turkish chess prodigy Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş has become the youngest player in history to surpass the 2700 ELO rating threshold, a milestone that places him among the elite of world chess.
According to a statement from the Turkish Chess Federation on Friday, the 14-year-old grandmaster achieved the feat during the “Clash of Generations III” tournament organized by the Monaco Chess Federation.
Competing in Monaco, Erdoğmuş delivered a dominant performance against former world champion Veselin Topalov, defeating him with a 4-1 score. The result earned him enough rating points to cross the 2700 ELO barrier, widely regarded as the benchmark of chess’s top tier.
With the achievement, Erdoğmuş set a new record as the youngest player ever to reach a 2700 rating at age 14. The previous record was held by Chinese grandmaster Wei Yi, who reached the mark at 15.
Some of the world’s leading players, including world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, Alireza Firouzja and Dommaraju Gukesh, crossed the same threshold at age 16.
Erdoğmuş also set a new national record, achieving the highest ELO rating in Turkish chess history.
Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak congratulated the young grandmaster, praising his “historic achievement” and expressing hope for his continued success.
“National grandmaster Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş has made us proud with his historic accomplishment,” Bak said in a statement. “By surpassing the 2700 ELO threshold in Monaco and becoming the youngest player to enter the elite ranks of world chess, he has set a world record. I congratulate him and thank everyone who contributed to this success.”
Top seed Elena Rybakina defeated Karolina Muchova 7-5, 6-1 to win the Stuttgart Open Sunday, claiming the title and a Porsche prize for the second time in her career.
While the Kazakh claimed her second title of the season, it was the tournament’s traditional Porsche award that truly captured Rybakina’s attention more than the silverware itself.
The first Porsche she won in 2024 had given her a push to get a driver’s license last year and she was all smiles when she drove her newly won second sports car down the ramp before parking it on the red clay of the arena.
Victory elevated Rybakina into exclusive company, making her just the fourth active player to win at least five WTA-level titles on multiple surfaces, joining an elite group that includes Venus Williams, Elina Svitolina and Iga Swiatek.
“It’s an amazing tournament, we love coming back here … It really feels like home and you just want to come back every year,” Rybakina said.
“Super happy for the second win here in Stuttgart and this beautiful car.”
Comes out swinging
Rybakina surged to a swift 3-0 lead in the opening set with a flurry of aggressive shot-making against a largely defensive Muchova.
She was nearly untouchable behind her first serve, consistently pushing Muchova onto the back foot, while the Australian Open champion also mixed in confident net play, forcing her Czech opponent to cover every inch of the court.
However, Muchova showed resilience, clawing her way back from 5-2 down to level at 5-5. But as she served to force a tiebreak, untimely errors crept in and Rybakina pounced to clinch the opening set when Muchova’s return sailed long.
That proved to be the spark Rybakina needed as she shifted gears decisively in the second set, reeling off five consecutive games – echoing her dominant win over Mirra Andreeva in the semifinal – before Muchova got on the board.
Serving for the title, Rybakina closed it out in style, serving to love and wrapping up a Tour-leading 25th victory of the season in 78 minutes.
“Elena, honestly, too good. You played really well,” Muchova said.
“I tried to stop you, but you clearly wanted a Porsche for the second time really bad. So, (you) made it very tough for me. Congrats!”
LeBron James and Bronny James made NBA history last season when a father and son played together for the first time. They took their family dynamic to another level this season by playing meaningful minutes together and even getting the first father-to-son assist in NBA history.
The James clan has the chance to add another chapter to its family lore this month, thanks to Bronny’s growth into a player that all of the Los Angeles Lakers can trust.
LeBron and Bronny seem likely to play postseason minutes together this month when the Lakers face the Houston Rockets in the first round. The greatest scorer in NBA history and his 21-year-old son have been teammates for nearly two years, but the prospect of accomplishing a new first is still special to both generations.
“It’s insane,” Bronny said Thursday after practice at the Lakers’ training complex. “I mean, I’ve literally watched his whole career. Now I’m a part of it. So it’s a great experience. I’m appreciative of it – but I’m part of the job, too. So I have to do my job as well. I’ve got to lock in.”
Bronny’s playing time has increased over the last month, and he has been a rotation member for the Lakers since Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves went down with injuries two weeks ago.
LeBron takes an obvious fatherly pride in Bronny’s development into a contributor for their short-handed team.
“Every moment we get an opportunity to play together is something I never take for granted,” LeBron said.
“Me being on the floor with him postseason, regular season, training camp, practices, it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my career, above everything I’ve accomplished,” he added. “The fact that he’s put himself in position to get his number called for a postseason game is pretty remarkable and pretty cool, given the circumstances that he’s been through over the last couple of years. He earned it. He deserves it. He’ll be ready.”
After playing sporadic NBA minutes during his first 1 1/2 NBA seasons, Bronny has stepped up into a regular role – partly out of necessity with the Lakers’ top two scorers sidelined, but also because he earned more playing time. He has played 13 minutes or more in seven of the Lakers’ past 10 games, averaging 19 minutes over the past four.
That responsibility seems likely to continue in the postseason, since Doncic and Reaves won’t play in Game 1 on Saturday, and there’s no timetable for their return.
Lakers coach JJ Redick confirmed he will be using every healthy option while Los Angeles attempts to beat overwhelming odds without its starting backcourt.
“We’re going to have to have all hands on deck in this series,” Redick said. “That’s just what we’re handed. I think Bronny has improved a lot. We trust him. The shooting piece (of his game), I’m a believer in, because of how well he shot it the last two years in the G League. … He’s improved a ton defensively, in terms of his body positioning, both on and off ball. We want him to continue to evolve as a disruptive defender as well.”
Bronny played only four playoff minutes last season during two of the Lakers’ first-round losses to Minnesota, and he acknowledges hasn’t played in many big games during his brief basketball career.
He spent his sole collegiate season at Southern California, but he didn’t suit up for the Trojans until midseason after his recovery from an offseason cardiac incident, and that team didn’t make the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s what I’ve wanted, to play in the playoffs,” Bronny said. “I wasn’t able to play in March (Madness), and this is a bigger stage than that. I’m so excited to get out there with my teammates and try to get some wins and try to make it further in the playoffs.”
If and when they play together this month, Bronny thinks they can connect quickly. After all, he knows LeBron’s game pretty well.
“I don’t want to give all the answers to the test, but I’ve been watching him for a long time, and I’ve kind of picked up on his tendencies,” Bronny said with a grin. “I think it’s good that I’m paying attention during his career and what he likes to do in the postseason. I think we’ll be able to play good together. My IQ isn’t going to be far behind him, but I know what he’s doing and where he likes to get the ball on the floor.”
Star teenager Gout Gout has qualified fastest for Saturday’s 100-meter semifinals at the Australian junior athletics championships, less than a week after setting an under-20 world record time in the 200 that was faster than Usain Bolt’s best at that age.
The 18-year-old Australian sprinter finished Friday in a time of 10.19 seconds at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre. He entered the heats with the best qualifying time of 10.0 seconds.
Local media is reporting Gout has his eye on lowering Patrick Johnson’s national open record for the 100 of 9.93, set in Japan in 2003.
Last Sunday, Gout ran his 200-meter final at the open national titles in 19.67 seconds, taking 0.02 off Erriyon Knighton’s world under-20 mark of 19.69 set at Eugene in 2022.
Knighton also ran a 19.49 in 2022, which World Athletics says is the fastest time ever by an under-20 athlete despite it not being ratified as a world under-20 record.
Gout’s time last week placed him above sprinting great Bolt at No. 2 in the all-time under-20 list.
It was the first time that Gout had gone under the 20-second mark officially, after a wind-assisted 19.84 last season, and is the leading time in the world this year. Gout previously had the quickest time by a 16-year-old, setting an Australian record of 20.06 in 2024.
Last Sunday’s mark in Sydney put him ahead of eight-time Olympic champion Bolt’s time of 19.93 in 2004. Bolt was 17 when setting what was then a world junior record and never bettered that time as a teenager.
“This is what I’ve been waiting for,” Gout , who was born in Queensland state to parents from South Sudan, said after his 200-meter win. “There’s a big weight off my shoulders knowing I ran it legally, and I have the speed and my body to run times like that. So, it definitely feels great, and ready for more.”
Gout’s 200 time in Sydney was met with skepticism from several sprinters, mostly in the U.S., who said the record was achieved under questionable wind conditions. Some said that up to seven runners achieved season-best times in the race – although that often happens in national championships.
“There are always going to be haters, if you’ve got haters it means you’re doing something right,” Gout told the Brisbane Times on Friday, referring to the critical comments. “It is what it is, I never take it (to heart), I just keep running, and obviously, it was pretty fast so that’s maybe why they were a bit mad. It motivates me to do it in even bigger races, for sure.”
Gout will go into Saturday’s semifinal as a firm favorite.
“I definitely have more in the tank. Last week was a great run, and I’m hoping to keep the same” in Brisbane, he said. “Hopefully, the wind stays pretty calm, and anything’s possible. It was a good run, definitely saved myself for finals. I can’t wait for tomorrow.”
Gout has indicated that he will skip the Commonwealth Games, which begin in Glasgow on July 23, to focus on the world under-20 championships in Eugene, Oregon from Aug. 5-9.
Brisbane is hosting the 2032 Olympics , where Gout is likely to be in his prime as a sprinter and could become the star of the Games. He grew up nearby in Ipswich, where he completed high school late last year.
Sports
Bronny and LeBron James are looking forward to postseason playing time together with the Lakers
LeBron James and Bronny James made NBA history last season when a father and son played together for the first time. They took their family dynamic to another level this season by playing meaningful minutes together and even getting the first father-to-son assist in NBA history.
The James clan has the chance to add another chapter to its family lore this month, thanks to Bronny’s growth into a player that all of the Los Angeles Lakers can trust.
LeBron and Bronny seem likely to play postseason minutes together this month when the Lakers face the Houston Rockets in the first round. The greatest scorer in NBA history and his 21-year-old son have been teammates for nearly two years, but the prospect of accomplishing a new first is still special to both generations.
“It’s insane,” Bronny said Thursday after practice at the Lakers’ training complex. “I mean, I’ve literally watched his whole career. Now I’m a part of it. So it’s a great experience. I’m appreciative of it – but I’m part of the job, too. So I have to do my job as well. I’ve got to lock in.”
Bronny’s playing time has increased over the last month, and he has been a rotation member for the Lakers since Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves went down with injuries two weeks ago.
LeBron takes an obvious fatherly pride in Bronny’s development into a contributor for their short-handed team.
“Every moment we get an opportunity to play together is something I never take for granted,” LeBron said.
“Me being on the floor with him postseason, regular season, training camp, practices, it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my career, above everything I’ve accomplished,” he added. “The fact that he’s put himself in position to get his number called for a postseason game is pretty remarkable and pretty cool, given the circumstances that he’s been through over the last couple of years. He earned it. He deserves it. He’ll be ready.”
After playing sporadic NBA minutes during his first 1 1/2 NBA seasons, Bronny has stepped up into a regular role – partly out of necessity with the Lakers’ top two scorers sidelined, but also because he earned more playing time. He has played 13 minutes or more in seven of the Lakers’ past 10 games, averaging 19 minutes over the past four.
That responsibility seems likely to continue in the postseason, since Doncic and Reaves won’t play in Game 1 on Saturday, and there’s no timetable for their return.
Lakers coach JJ Redick confirmed he will be using every healthy option while Los Angeles attempts to beat overwhelming odds without its starting backcourt.
“We’re going to have to have all hands on deck in this series,” Redick said. “That’s just what we’re handed. I think Bronny has improved a lot. We trust him. The shooting piece (of his game), I’m a believer in, because of how well he shot it the last two years in the G League. … He’s improved a ton defensively, in terms of his body positioning, both on and off ball. We want him to continue to evolve as a disruptive defender as well.”
Bronny played only four playoff minutes last season during two of the Lakers’ first-round losses to Minnesota, and he acknowledges hasn’t played in many big games during his brief basketball career.
He spent his sole collegiate season at Southern California, but he didn’t suit up for the Trojans until midseason after his recovery from an offseason cardiac incident, and that team didn’t make the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s what I’ve wanted, to play in the playoffs,” Bronny said. “I wasn’t able to play in March (Madness), and this is a bigger stage than that. I’m so excited to get out there with my teammates and try to get some wins and try to make it further in the playoffs.”
If and when they play together this month, Bronny thinks they can connect quickly. After all, he knows LeBron’s game pretty well.
“I don’t want to give all the answers to the test, but I’ve been watching him for a long time, and I’ve kind of picked up on his tendencies,” Bronny said with a grin. “I think it’s good that I’m paying attention during his career and what he likes to do in the postseason. I think we’ll be able to play good together. My IQ isn’t going to be far behind him, but I know what he’s doing and where he likes to get the ball on the floor.”
Stephen Curry hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 50 seconds left as the Golden State Warriors rallied to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 on Wednesday, keeping their NBA play-in hopes alive.
Curry, a four-time NBA champion who missed 27 games from February to early April with a nagging knee injury, shook off a slow first half to finish with 35 points.
He connected on seven of 12 of his 3-point attempts to help the Warriors, who trailed most of the way, battle back from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit.
His last three-pointer put the Warriors up 120-117, and they held on to knock Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers out of the postseason.
The Warriors, who finished the regular season 10th in the Western Conference, will have to win one more game to reach the playoffs proper when they face the Phoenix Suns Friday.
The winner of that game will secure the Western Conference’s eighth seed and a first-round series against the top-seeded, reigning-champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Curry said the key in Phoenix will once again be “resiliency.”
“These win-or-go-home scenarios, we think we know the team, but you’ve got to be able to withstand the runs and stay in it emotionally.”
“It was back and forth the whole game and then we got over the hump the last three minutes,” he said.
Gui Santos and Kristaps Porzingis scored 20 points apiece for the Warriors and Al Horford made four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
Bennedict Mathurin scored 23 points to lead the Clippers. Leonard and Darius Garland scored 21 points each, but Leonard was held to just two points in the final period.
Sixers reach playoffs
The Philadelphia 76ers, fueled by 31 points from Tyrese Maxey, held off the Orlando Magic 109-97 to punch their playoff ticket, booking a first-round meeting with the Boston Celtics.
Maxey scored 31 points and five Philadelphia players scored in double figures as the Sixers overcame the absence of star big man Joel Embiid – who made a surprise appearance watching from the bench as he recovers from an appendectomy.
“Man, we played hard as hell,” Maxey said. “Everybody who stepped on the floor contributed tonight.
“I’m just so happy because, like, a lot of these guys ain’t been to the playoffs before. I told them at the beginning of the year, I don’t care what it takes, we’re going to the playoffs.”
Rookie VJ Edgecombe added 19 points and 11 rebounds and Andre Drummond came off the bench to score 14 points with 10 rebounds, three steals and three blocked shots.
The 76ers’ play-in victory secured the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round series against the second-seeded Celtics starting Sunday.
The Magic, led by 34 points from Desmond Bane, will have a last chance to grab the East eighth seed on Friday when they host the Charlotte Hornets, who knocked out the Miami Heat in a 127-126 overtime thriller Tuesday.
The reward for the winner of Friday’s game will be a first-round series against East’s top seeds, Detroit.
Philadelphia led most of the night, but in a tight, sometimes contentious battle, the Magic cut an 11-point deficit midway through the third quarter to one early in the fourth.
Orlando trailed by just four with four minutes remaining, but the Sixers pulled away with a late spurt capped by Drummond’s three-pointer with 41 seconds left.
Turkish prodigy Erdoğmuş enters chess elite at 14
Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek: “Capacity in the judicial organization is increasing, physical and technical infrastructure is strengthening”
Türkiye ‘key to peace’ on global stage: Communications chief
Turkish prodigy Erdoğmuş enters chess elite at 14
Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek: “Capacity in the judicial organization is increasing, physical and technical infrastructure is strengthening”
Türkiye ‘key to peace’ on global stage: Communications chief
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