Friday, 29 May 2026
FIA SCRAPS F1 STRAIGHT MODE IN MONACO GP – HERE'S WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE PECKING ORDER
The FIA has chosen not to use straight mode in Monaco for safety reasons. With fixed aerodynamic profiles, could we see wings designed specifically for Monte Carlo? Or are teams averse to spending their budget cap on a single grand prix?
The news is official: active aerodynamics will not be used at the Monaco Grand Prix. The FIA made the decision with safety in mind. There was a risk of seeing cars become too fast at the exit of the Tunnel, given the limited run-off areas, and it was considered prudent to forgo one of the key features of the 2026 Formula 1 cars.
The race in the principality will therefore be run with fixed aerodynamic surfaces and without straight mode. This is a major change, as there will not even be the DRS option that was available until last year.
Monte Carlo thus becomes a unique event that teams will try to prepare for in a specific way. The race among the manhole covers and curbs of the street circuit becomes a great opportunity for anyone hoping to challenge the otherwise unbeatable Mercedes.
On paper, Monaco should be favourable territory for Ferrari. The SF-26 suffers from a lack of power from its power unit at high engine speeds, but it is widely regarded as the best car in terms of chassis and aerodynamics through medium- and low-speed corners.
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| Photo: Erik Junius |
As a result, the principality could become Ferrari’s chance for redemption. On a track where horsepower is far from the dominant performance factor, and where the aerodynamic efficiency obsessively pursued during the first five races will give way to the search for maximum downforce.
Downforce will once again become the defining characteristic of cars that were otherwise designed to minimise drag. In short, we may see a shift in philosophy that could lead to some surprises. So far, Mercedes has displayed an embarrassingly large advantage over the competition.
Kimi Antonelli and George Russell have won every grand prix so far this year (four to one in favour of the young Itralian), and the latest upgrade package introduced on the W17 in Montreal was specifically aimed at increasing downforce. Mercedes must therefore be considered one of the clear favourites, even if Ferrari will have to play the role of the team whose car seems almost tailor-made for the streets of Monaco.
And McLaren, which has the shortest wheelbase on the grid, can also nurture significant ambitions in Monaco’s roulette wheel of a race. Everyone knows that success here is built on a perfect qualifying lap, since overtaking during the race is practically impossible unless the driver ahead makes a mistake.
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| Clive Mason/Getty Images |
It will be interesting to see who chooses to invest special resources into the Monaco Grand Prix. Since there is no point in using rear wings such as Ferrari’s “Macarena” design or Red Bull’s reverse-wing concept, could someone develop a solution specifically for Monte Carlo?
McLaren, for example, will assemble the combination of available components that generates the most downforce. However, it appears that the Woking-based team has not been willing to spend additional budget-cap resources to challenge Mercedes’ supremacy. Led by Rob Marshall, the engineers will try to avoid the disappointment of Canada with an MCL40 that should nevertheless feel very much at home in Monaco.
And Ferrari? Team boss Fred Vasseur has promised a second upgrade package for the Spanish Grand Prix, which follows the Monaco race. It therefore seems unlikely that those updates would be brought forward for the event most eagerly anticipated by the home crowd’s favourite driver.
Still, it cannot be ruled out that some teams may unveil special solutions on their cars, hoping to pull off a dramatic surprise in Monte Carlo.
- Franco Nugnes
ISLE OF MAN TT RIDER DANIEL INGHAM DIES AFTER CRASH
We are saddened to hear the passing of Daniel Ingham at the Isle of Man TT - The accident occurred at Doran’s Bend, on the first lap of the third qualifying session.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.
- SuperBike News
ISRAEL FOOTBALL DISPUTE TO 'HEAT UP' AFTER PROTEST IN IRELAND
Ireland’s football match against Qatar was stalled by pro-Palestinian protests as pressure builds on upcoming games against Israel.
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| Palestine flags are displayed in the stands as part of a protest during the match in Dublin [Cathal Mcnaughton/Reuters] |
Republic of Ireland midfielder Jamie McGrath has warned that the controversy surrounding Nations League games against Israel could intensify after their friendly win over Qatar in Dublin was disrupted by pro-Palestinian protests.
Ireland are set to host Israel at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on October 4, while a September 27 fixture designated as an Israel home match is expected to be staged at a neutral venue.
Qatar"s match against Ireland was part of their preparations for this summer’s World Cup, where they begin their campaign against Switzerland on June 13. Ireland failed to qualify for the event.
Earlier this month, leading Irish footballers joined with celebrities in a campaign calling for a boycott of Israel’s matches, but Ireland’s governing body for football (FAI) has said it will go ahead with the fixtures and that a refusal to play could lead to disciplinary measures.
Tennis balls featuring the Palestinian flag were thrown on to the pitch in Thursday’s friendly, causing the match to be halted twice, and McGrath expected more protests to follow.
“I’m sure it’s going to heat up over the next few months. We (the players) don’t want to be put into a position,” he told the BBC’s Northern Ireland bureau after the match.
“It’s obviously a unique scenario. The people [protesters], we have to listen to them, they have the right to do what they do, as long as it’s done in a peaceful way, that’s all that matters.
“Hopefully, the powers above us can work something out or use it for the greater good, I’m not sure what the process will be as it heats up.
"At the end of the day, we’re footballers and we don’t want to be caught in this, but sometimes we might have to.”
In November last year, 93 percent of FAI members voted for its leadership to press UEFA to suspend the Israel Football Association from Eu huropean competitions.
On Tuesday, the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign held a protest at the Dail (Irish parliament).
Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has also regularly weighed in on the debate and, ahead of the Qatar match, said his players must “win this war” against Israel in the upcoming matches.
McGrath was pressed further on the matter as to whether he believed a resolution would be found ahead of the matches.
“To be honest, I’ve no idea,” he replied.
“We obviously touched on it a few days, I’m sure as it heats up, it might be taken out of our hands, I’m not sure.”
- Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters
LEAVE NAOMI OSAKA ALONE - HER FASHION SHOW IS EXACTLY WHAT WOMEN'S TENNIS NEEDS
As the 28-year-old sports star comes under fire for another head-turning outfit at the French Open, Lydia Spencer-Elliott argues why her wardrobe should be championed not criticised.
Naomi Osaka knows how to make an entrance. At the Australian Open, the four-time Grand Slam champion, 28, arrived in a mesmerising jellyfish-inspired ensemble (elegant wide-brimmed hat, long white veil), designed by Beyoncé’s regular couturier, Robert Wun.
For this week’s French Open, it was impossible to predict how she’d surpass herself; then she stepped out in a black corset and cascading pleated skirt by Kevin Germanier (beloved by Lady Gaga and Björk), which she promptly shed to reveal a glittering copper tennis dress.
“I actually got a little worried because when the sun hits the dress, it reflects a lot, so I was a little scared the umpire was going to kick me off the court,” Osaka said of the sparkling “Eiffel Tower at night” ensemble.
“I’ve got two backup, normal dresses – thankfully I didn’t have to wear them,” she added. “Sometimes people say athletes are in show business… For me, Grand Slam walk-ons are the only time that I possibly feel like I’m an entertainer,” the tennis pro explained.
Osaka’s opponent, Germany’s Laura Siegemund (whom she beat 6-3 7-6 (7-3) to reach the second round), it’s fair to say, was fuming. “I couldn’t care less,” she told TNT Sports. “I come here to play tennis, not put on a fashion show.” Nevertheless, Siegemund then went on to claim that Osaka’s big outfit reveal had broken time-keeping rules: “Once again, bigger names are treated differently,” she hit out.
So, perhaps, she did care – just a little bit.
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| Leave Naomi Osaka alone, her fashion show is exactly what is needed Glittering: The four-time Grand Slam champion wore copper on the court AP |
Throughout her tennis career, Osaka has been treated differently – rarely for the better. After winning her first-ever Slam against American great Serena Williams at just 20 years old, she broke down in tears of dismay instead of joy. The umpire, Carlos Ramos, had accused Williams of receiving on-court coaching and docked her game, leading Williams to call him a “thief” and later accuse him of sexism.
As Osaka collected her trophy, boos rang around Arthur Ashe Stadium while she wept. “Not only was a game taken from me but a defining, triumphant moment was taken from another player,” Williams later wrote in an essay for Harper’s Bazaar. “My heart broke.”
The incident was all the more gut-wrenching as Williams is Osaka’s icon. This can be seen again in her fashion choices, as she follows in the footsteps of the former World No 1 to serve draw-dropping looks on the court that unapologetically allow her to express herself, when the backwards governance and antiquated confines of the sport, perhaps, won’t. Notably, Osaka faced intense racial abuse after supporting Black Lives Matter in 2020.
Williams has frequently challenged traditional tennis dress codes with pioneering ensembles; her 2018 French Open catsuit, which she said made her feel “like a superhero”, was banned for no other reason than that the French Tennis Federation felt it didn’t “respect the game and the place”. Nevertheless, months later she stepped out at the US Open in a black one-shoulder tennis dress complete with a tutu. "It's easy to play in, kind of aerodynamic,” she said.
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| Pushing boundaries: Serena Williams, an inspiration to Osaka, in her tutu at the 2018 US Open (Getty) |
The star’s wardrobe has sparked debates around the policing of women’s bodies in sport and the functionality of athletic wear. Many noted at the time that the clothing controversy felt like another reason to slate a Black player in an overwhelmingly white, historically exclusionary, elite sport. A tutu somehow became perceived as a threat to tennis’ status quo.
Notably, few have been up in arms over Aryna Sabalenka wearing £76,000 worth of diamonds and garnets with a sheer Nike super suit at Roland Garros. “I love it,” the Belarusian defended Osaka’s latest ensemble. “She feels confident. That’s the beauty of the fashion world. There’s a space for everything. I love that she’s bringing it on [to] the court.”
Sabalenka shared that she too hoped to one day “come up with something cool” for an Open entrance like Osaka’s.
Elite sportswomen, of course, don’t want to be known or judged for their outfits alone, but – when the coverage of and prime time slots for women’s tennis at tournaments like the French Open still drastically lag behind the men’s game – it also can’t hurt to turn a few heads and garner extra attention using a bit of tulle and some sequins, right?
“I tend to win more when I’m having fun,” Osaka previously told Vogue of her relationship with sport and fashion. So far, so true – and the tennis season is just getting started.
MAGNUS CARLSEN HAD TO FIGHT 'DOUBTS' TO BEAT GUKESH 'WHO WAS UP FOR A FIGHT' AT NORWAY CHESS
It wasn’t a straightforward victory for Magnus Carlsen over D Gukesh at Norway Chess on Thursday. The former world champion had to overcome mental battles to conquer the reigning king.
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| D Gukesh discussed his mistakes with Magnus Carlsen after losing the match. Image: Norway Chess |
Magnus Carlsen had to fight doubts before beating world champion D Gukesh in their latest encounter at the Norway Chess 2026 on Thursday as the world No 1 secured his first Classical victory on the ongoing tournament. So far in the last three rounds, Carlsen had suffered two defeats and secured one win via Armageddon.
But five-time world champion Carlsen turned the tables against Gukesh on the eve of the Indian Grandmaster’s 20th birthday, winning in 42 moves. Gukesh remained solid in the match during the opening and middlegame with the White pieces, but lost the initiative in the endgame under time pressure.
Gukesh was eventually forced to resign as Carlsen picked up a crucial win after tough three rounds.
Carlsen relieved after beating Gukesh
In the post-game interview with Take Take Take, Carlsen said that his recent Classical defeats to Alireza Firouzja and R Praggnanandhaa of India had shaken his confidence, and that the victory over world champion Gukesh had come as a big relief.
“It was a huge relief,” Carlsen said. “After missing a few chances, you get a little bit of doubt, like what it’s going to take for me to get back. Feels really good to get that monkey off the back.
“He was up for a fight today, but so was I.”
There’s no doubt the victory has come as a big relief for Carlsen, even if he remains the top-ranked chess Grandmaster. Amid his recent poor form, his critics have been constantly questioning him holding onto the world No 1 ranking despite playing only a few tournaments.
Hand Niemann, who in 2022 was accused of cheating by Carlsen, has said that FIDE needs to change its ranking methodology to reward the players who are more active on the circuit.
A few other critics have started to signal that it’s the start of the end for Carlsen, but the truth is the Norwegian remains the most consistent player across formats.
- FP Sports Desk
UPDATED MONACO GRAND PRIX TRACK MAP
Monaco g ok track changes 2026
Monaco’s 2026 track setup looks **unchanged in layout**, but the big news is that the official track map shows no straight-mode zones at all, so the cars’ front and rear wings stay closed throughout practice, qualifying, and the race
If you meant changes to the **real circuit layout**, there’s no evidence in the results I found that Monaco has added new straights or altered the street course for 2026; discussion around Monaco track changes is still mostly about whether the layout should be modified to improve overtaking [1][6][8]. The only clearly documented 2026 Monaco “track” changes I found were for the Historic Grand Prix program, not the Formula 1 circuit itself
In practical terms, 2026 Monaco still appears to be the same tight, low-overtaking street circuit, with the main operational update being the revised car setup and wing management rules around the event weekend
Thursday, 28 May 2026
BREAKING NEWS: JANNIK SINNER IN 'HEAT CHEAT' STORM AT FRENCH OPEN | WORLD NO. 1 IN KNOKED OUT - AFYER BEING ACCUSED OF USING PHYSIO BREAKS TO SHELTER IN AIR CONDITIONING FROM PARIS 32C HEATWAVE
Jannik Sinner wilted in the heat in dramatic fashion as the world No 1 crashed out of the French Open under the searing Paris sun.
Sinner was just four points from victory on Court Philippe-Chatrier, in complete control of his second-round match against Juan Manuel Cerundolo, strolling through the first two sets 6-3, 6-2 and led 5-1 in the third, before the conditions got the better of him once again.
The four-time Grand Slam champion suddenly lost 18 points in a row, during which he left the court at 5-4 to get assessed by medical staff after telling the physio he felt dizzy and said 'I feel like I'm going to throw up' after sitting on the advertising hoardings next to the court.
While off the court, umpire Aurelie Tourte informed Cerundolo that Sinner was having his blood pressure taken.
When he returned, he lost the the next three games to surrender the third set 7-5 and soon lost the fourth 6-1, during which Sinner was barely able to serve and, at times, looked as though he was trying to throw the set to save his energy for the decider.
By then, Sinner could barely move, was constantly clutching his leg and sat holding a handheld fan to his face before the final set but soon slumped to 3-0 down. He ultimately lost the fifth set 6-1.
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| Jannik Sinner was just four points from victory on Court Philippe-Chatrier against Juan Manuel Cerundolo before he began to suffer cramping |
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| At one stage the Italian had to use a fan and cold towel to try to save himself from the heat |
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| Sinner told the physio he felt dizzy and said 'I feel like I'm going to throw up' |
Sinner came into the match having won his last 30 matches and six Masters tournaments in a row but his troubles in the heat have long risen their heads.
The 24-year-old was saved by the heat rule at the Australian Open in January, where he was 3-1 down in the third set to Eliot Spizzirri, only for play to be suspended and allow Sinner a 10-minute break to cool down.
The decision to allow Sinner to leave court sparked furious debate over whether the world's best player was being given special treatment.
'This is unfair for Cerundolo,' said four-time Grand Slam champion Jim Courier on the Tennis Channel. 'This is not an injury. He should be getting penalised for this. It's clearly cramping.
'The rules are being bent for the top players. You cannot tell me you have to take him off court to see what his vital signs are like. This is absolute baloney.'
'If you are being evaluated for an injury where you need a bit of privacy, if you've got a groin strain, you've got to remove articles of clothing, then you obviously go off the court, but in that scenario, when he's been evaluated, I think to get 10 minutes in an air conditioned room,' said TNT pundit Tim Henman. 'Um, doesn't seem quite right.
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| Many players have struggled to deal with the soaring temperatures in Paris |
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| Opponent Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina celebrates after knocking out the world No 1 |
'He is delaying play, and therefore, you're going to get a warning, and if you've already had a warning for that, it can be loss of first serve, or it's going to be a penalty point.
'So the umpire shouldn't be getting off her chair. It's not her responsibility, that's the player's responsibility. I don't see why he should get the benefit of going into an air conditioned room.'
Sinner's escape in Melbourne was the second Australian Open in a row in which the conditions nearly toppled him.
He almost melted against Casper Ruud only for an 11-minute off-court medical timeout to help come to his rescue. He went on to win the tournament.
He retired at the Shanghai Masters last year due to severe cramps in the extreme heat and humidity. He wobbled against Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals in Rome a few weeks ago but came through and won that tournament too.
Henman added on commentary after the match: 'It's one of the biggest upsets in Grand Slams for many, many years. Two sets to one up, 5-1 in the third set, absolute cruise control. Sinner's been beating everyone for months, hasn't looked like losing, and then, what's that, 18 of the next 20 games, Cerundolo takes? Phenomenal.'
- JAMES SHARPE
IPL 2026 ELIMINATOR: RECORDS BROCKEN BY RR'S SOORYAVANSHI DURING 29-BALL 97
The 15-year-old fell a few runs short of scoring the fastest century, but broke or equalled numerous other IPL records
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| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi plays a shot against Sunrisers Hyderabad during the Eliminator IPL T20 match at the New Chandigarh Stadium in Punjab on May 27, 2026 | Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy |
Rajasthan Royals (RR) prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi surpassed West Indies legend Chris Gayle for most sixes in a single Indian Premier League (IPL) edition and in a T20 tournament.
Sooryavanshi achieved this milestone during his side’s IPL eliminator match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), slamming a stormy 97 in just 29 balls, with five fours and 12 massive sixes. His runs came at a strike rate of 334.48.
He's always aiming for the stars 💫
Relive his record-breaking six ▶️ https://t.co/7D6JymqfsM#TATAIPL | #Eliminator | #TheFinalLeap | #SRHvRR | @rajasthanroyalspic.twitter.com/8YODkB5QJy
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 27, 2026
Sooryavanshi has smashed 65 sixes so far in the ongoing IPL season, outdoing Gayle’s tally of 59 sixes in the 2012 edition.
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| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, left, returns to the dugout after his dismissal as players and staff in the dugout applaud him | Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy |
Sooryavanshi has also levelled with Gayle for most instances of hitting 10-plus sixes in an IPL innings, a total of four times. Three of these occasions have come this season, making him the first batter to hit 10-plus sixes in three IPL innings in a season.
The 15-year-old’s take down of cricket legends one by one continues as he also surpassed Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya’s tally of seven powerplay sixes during the IPL 2008 clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), with eight sixes in the powerplay at Mullanpur.
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| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, left, returns to the dugout after his dismissal as players and staff in the dugout applaud him | Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy |
Sooryavanshi is the batter with the most runs coming in the powerplay during an IPL season, with 490 runs, overtaking Australian legend David Warner, who scored 467 runs for SRH in the 2016 edition.
This is also his fifth fifty-plus score in the power play in IPL, with only Warner (six such scores) ahead of him.
He has also joined Suresh Raina (87 against Punjab Kings in 2014) and Adam Gilchrist (74 against Delhi Daredevils in 2009) for fifty-plus scores made during powerplay in an IPL knockout/playoff match.
This is Sooryavanshi’s fifth fifty in less than 20 balls, with only Abhishek Sharma (six) above him.
Sooryavanshi establishes new IPL playoff records
A generational IPL season
In this season, Sooryavanshi has smashed 680 runs in 15 innings at an average of 45.33 and a strike rate of 242.85, including a century and four fifties, with a best score of 103. He has smashed 55 fours and 65 sixes in 280 balls faced. His balls per boundary shot ratio is 2.3, and balls per six ratio is 4.3.
The 15-year-old’s 16-ball half-century tied with Raina’s 16-ball fifty (against PBKS in 2014) for the joint-fastest fifty in an IPL knockout/playoff match.
Twelve sixes smashed by him are also the most in an innings by a batter in IPL knockouts/playoffs, outdoing Shubman Gill’s 10 sixes against the Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2023. Sooryavanshi has the most sixes in an IPL inning by an Indian as well.
Ninety-seven runs by Sooryavanshi is the second-highest individual score for RR in an IPL knockouts/Playoffs game, behind 106* runs by Jos Buttler against RCB in the qualifier 2 of IPL 2022.
A generational IPL season
In this season, Sooryavanshi has smashed 680 runs in 15 innings at an average of 45.33 and a strike rate of 242.85, including a century and four fifties, with a best score of 103. He has smashed 55 fours and 65 sixes in 280 balls faced. His balls per boundary shot ratio is 2.3, and balls per six ratio is 4.3.
This is the most runs an uncapped batter has scored in an IPL season, overtaking his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal’s tally of 625 runs in the 2023 season. Also, he is the youngest to complete 600 runs in an IPL season.
Before the left-handed sensation arrived to the scene, no other batter in T20 history had smashed 600+ runs in a T20 tournament while also striking at 200-plus.
- ANI
NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY LAUNCH INVESTIGATIONS INTO WORLD CUP TICKET PRICING
(Thee Center Square) — State prosecutors in New York and New Jersey launched a probe Wednesday into FIFA's ticketing practices for the upcoming World Cup tournament in response to soaring prices and claims of fans being misled about seating locations.
New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced that they have sent subpoenas to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and others seeking information about the international group's ticket policies which they said have exceeded prices for any previous World Cup tournament.
“New Yorkers have been waiting years for the World Cup to come to their backyard, and they deserve a fair shot at affordable tickets," James said in a statement. "No one should be manipulated into paying sky-high prices for seats, and fans should be able to trust that the tickets they purchase will be the ones they receive."
The AGs said investigators will examine how FIFA’s ticket release schedule, public statements and other actions may have contributed to prices. They New Yorkers who had not received the tickets they paid for to call the office or submit a complaint online.
The 2026 World Cup, which kicks off June 11, is co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico and includes at least eight matches in New Jersey, including the June 19 final.
Tickets for the games have ranged from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars for the final round of matches. News reports have detailed stories of soccer fans who spent thousands of dollars on tickets through FIFA and didn't get the seats they promised.
Davenport said FIFA has "turned buying a ticket to the World Cup into a gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity, and impossibly high prices – all at the expense of consumers and hardworking New Jerseyans."
"It’s an honor to host the World Cup, but the event is not an invitation to exploit our residents and visitors," she said in a statement.
- Chris Wade
There was no immediate comment from FIFA in response to the investigation, which has previously defended its "market rate" ticketing practices and blamed excessive prices for tickets to the matches on the resale market.
"If some people put on the resale market some tickets for the final at $2 million, number one, it doesn’t mean that the tickets cost $2 million, and number two, it doesn’t mean that somebody will buy these tickets," Infantino said in remarks earlier this month. "And if somebody buys a ticket for the final for $2 million, I will personally bring a hot dog and a Coke to make sure that he has a great experience."
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