Max Verstappen lived up to his hype on Sunday — fast, big talking and realistic to the point of bluntness — with a performance full of maturity. At 21, and in his fifth season as a Formula One driver, he finally started a race from pole position at the 93rd attempt.
However, instead of turning it into his eighth career victory, he was forced to concede defeat in a rousing contest of skill and strategy decided by Mercedes’ decision to bring in Lewis Hamilton for a surprise second pit stop.
“They rolled the dice and it worked out for them, unfortunately, but you drove your heart out today so well done,” said Christian Horner, the Dutchman’s Red Bull team chief.
Photo: AFP
After weeks of “silly season” speculation that linked him with moves to both Ferrari and Mercedes, and comments suggesting that he felt a lot of other drivers could have matched Hamilton’s five world titles in a Mercedes, it was time for some modesty.
To his credit, Verstappen recognized that. No more the “Mad Max” of his early seasons, he has better control of his emotions. His rise to the top may come, but not just yet.
“I tried all I could, but we weren’t fast enough,” he said. “It was hard for me to stay ahead and you always have to be realistic, but, you know, for me it was still a very positive weekend. Pole position and being second in the race.”
Photo: Reuters
In an example of his growing level of maturity, he showed no disappointment or anger toward his Red Bull team, whose strategy and tactics were inadequate to beat Mercedes.
“We tried the one stop and, of course, they had a new opportunity to do two. Today it worked out well for them,” he said. “When you are second, of course, you can gamble a bit more with going for a two-stop because in the worst case scenario, you stay second.”
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani is the record-breaking baseball “superhuman” following in the footsteps of the legendary Babe Ruth who has also earned comparisons to US sporting greats Michael Jordan and Tom Brady. Not since Ruth a century ago has there been a baseball player capable of both pitching and hitting at the top level. The 30-year-old’s performances with the Los Angeles Dodgers have consolidated his position as a baseball legend in the making, and a national icon in his native Japan. He continues to find new ways to amaze, this year becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases
Zhang Shuai yesterday said that she nearly quit after losing 24 matches in a row — now the world No. 595 is into the quarter-finals of her home China Open. The 35-year-old is to face Spain’s Paula Badosa as the lowest-ranked player to reach this stage in the history of the tournament after Badosa reeled off 11 of the last 12 games in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over US Open finalist Jessica Pegula. Zhang went into Beijing on a barren run lasting more than 600 days and her string of singles defeats was the second-longest on the WTA Tour Open era, which
Taiwan’s Tony Wu yesterday beat Mackenzie McDonald of the US to win the Nonthaburi Challenger IV in Thailand, his first challenger victory since 2022. The 26-year-old world No. 315, who won both his qualifiers to advance to the main draw, has been on a hot streak this month, winning his past nine matches, including two that ensured Taiwan’s victory in their Davis Cup World Group I tie. Wu took just more than two hours to top world No. 172 McDonald 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to win his second challenger tournament since the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger in 2022. Wu’s Tallahassee win followed two years of
UP IN SMOKE: More than half a dozen riders crashed out of the race, with Marquez’s title chances in doubt after driving off the track with flames flickering from his bike Jorge Martin yesterday won a crash-filled Indonesia MotoGP to extend his championship lead, while closest rival Francesco Bagnaia limited the damage by claiming the final podium place. The win leaves the Pramac Racing rider 21 points ahead of his Italian Ducati rival, who finished third behind Spaniard Pedro Acosta in sweltering conditions at the Mandalika International Street Circuit on Lombok island. In front of a crowd of 60,000 in motorbike-mad Indonesia, the 26-year-old put his tumble in Saturday’s sprint behind him, canceling out the gains his title rival Bagnaia made after securing victory in that race. “Thank you Indonesia. I am very happy.