Saturday, 28 February 2026
Friday, 27 February 2026
APPLE AND NETFLIX TO SIMULCAST CANADIAN GRAND PRIX IN US
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| Getty Images |
- F1 debuts on Apple this year in deal worth reported US$150m per season
- This year’s Canadian Grand Prix is on the same day as Indianapolis 500
Apple has agreed a deal with rival streaming giant Netflix that will see the Canadian Grand Prix aired on both platforms for the US audience.
The collaboration will also see Netflix’s Drive to Survive docuseries made available to Apple TV subscribers in the US. This is the first time the two streaming giants have collaborated on an offering like this as Netflix looks to expand its live sports programming capabilities.
In fact, Netflix credited its live sports events with driving “disproportionate excitement and signups” in the fourth quarter of 2025, as the streamer’s global subscriber base passed 325 million.
This year, Formula One has a new broadcast home in the US thanks to a new deal with Apple worth a reported US$150 million per season. Formula One leaves behind a successful media rights partnership with ESPN which averaged a record 1.32 million viewers in its final year.
The cross-promotion of the sport between both Apple and Netflix provides a great marketing platform for Formula One to reach more viewers, which will be key in the short term as the sport loses its linear route to market.
The decision to choose the Canadian Grand Prix for this experiment is also interesting as this year’s race takes place on the same day as the Indianapolis 500. IndyCar’s flagship race starts around three hours earlier, but any rain delays could see the two races clash.
- CIAN BRITTLE
MARTIN BRUNDLE DROPS VERDICT LEWIS HAMILTON'S F1 2026 CHANCES
Martin Brundle assesses Lewis Hamilton and George Russell's prospects heading into F1 2026.
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| Lewis Hamilton is still targeting an eighth world title |
Martin Brundle is confident Lewis Hamilton will be in the mix of the championship picture during the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton endured a nightmare debut season with Ferrari as he suffered the most disappointing campaign of his storied F1 career.
Hamilton failed to finish on a grand prix podium during a season for the first time in his F1 career, while he was comprehensively beaten by teammate Charles Leclerc and ended the year with three consecutive Q1 eliminations.
But Brundle believes a reenergised Hamilton, even at 41, will be back in the mix at the front of the grid in 2026.
“As Formula 1 fans, we always want Ferrari to do well, don’t we? I’d love to see that come right for Lewis,” Brundle said on Sky Sports.
“He seems a bit happier. He will be great at using the tools that are available to him under the new regulations. He’s got to beat Charles Leclerc in the other Ferrari, because he’s right on it, as well.
“But a happy Lewis has always been, and not just at Ferrari, a fast Lewis. And I have to say, Ferrari have been quite innovative over the winter and they look in a better place than we’ve seen them for a few years now.
“So I’m confident that Lewis will have a better year.”
Brundle does not see a “clear favourite” for the championship and expects F1’s top four teams - McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari - to be battling it out for top honours.
"I see Ferrari being strong, I see both Ferrari drivers being strong," Brundle added.
"I think both McLaren drivers will be strong as well. Oscar will come back on a mission after what he learned last year; Lando, I don't think I've ever seen him yet not with that big grin on his face so far this year, he's just got that comfort now.
"The Red Bull looks really strong, and we know how Max's car control, which you'll need with these cars, will be incredible.
"So, for me, there's not a clear favourite."
Brundle has backed George Russell, who is the bookies’ favourite going into the 2026 season, to challenge for his first F1 world championship with Mercedes this year.
"I do think he's ready for it," Brundle said of the 28-year-old Briton, who is embarking on his eighth season in F1.
"He's a smart guy; they're all smart guys. George has got the team around him. Kimi [Antonelli] will be stronger this year in the other car, but George is completely out of Lewis [Hamilton]'s shadow there, he's the king of the castle at Mercedes-Benz
"He did all those years at Williams and then he went to Mercedes when they just stopped dominating, so he's done the hard yards.
"I think he's got the experience, he's got the car control, and I think he will command the respect in the team to help drive what's going to be an incredibly changeable year.”
Brundle continued: "We questioned that with Lando [Norris] last year, and Oscar [Piastri] too, whether they would wilt under pressure from Max [Verstappen], and they didn’t. I think George is in a very good place.
"Remember, [Russell] grew up in Lewis Hamilton's shadow at Mercedes, and he handled that, and eventually in the final year they were team-mates, he beat Lewis clearly.
"So, I have no doubts about him whatsoever. They're all world-class drivers in F1, you've got to beat them somehow.
"I think George has got so much experience now despite not being 30 yet, that I don't think anything will distract him if he's got a championship-winning car.”
- Lewis Larkam
BENFICA RELEASES STATEMENT AMID REPORTS GIANLUCA PREATIANNI 'ADMITS' WHAT HE SAID TO VINICIUS JR
Benfica have released a statement following reports Gianluca Prestianni has now ‘admitted’ to teammates that he called Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr a ‘monkey’ earlier this month.
The alleged incident, which sparked widespread outrage among the football community, occurred during the first leg of the Champions League knockout phase play-off tie between the clubs on February 17.
Prestianni covered his mouth and said something to Vinicius Jr, who was criticised by Benfica manager Jose Mourinho for his celebrations after scoring early in the second half. Vini Jr immediately ran over to French referee Francois Letexier, who reacted by signalling the anti-racism gesture by crossing his arms. The match was subsequently halted for 10 minutes.
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe accused Prestianni of calling his teammate a ‘monkey’ - an accusation strenuously denied by the Argentina international, who protested his innocence via social media after the match.
The 20-year-old wrote at the time: “I want to clarify that at no point did I direct racist insults at Vinícius Jr, who unfortunately misunderstood what he thought he heard. I have never been racist toward anyone.”
While Prestianni hasn’t been found guilty of any wrongdoing at the time of writing, he was suspended from Benfica’s second leg clash against Real Madrid this week. He trained with his teammates at the Bernabeu but his one-game provisional ban imposed by UEFA wasn’t overturned despite Benfica’s appeal.
Despite taking the lead in Madrid, Benfica lost the match 2-1. Goals either side of half-time from Aurelien Tchouameni and Vini Jr sent the Spanish giants through to the Champions League Round of 16.
Benfica React to Reports Prestianni Has 'Admitted' His Guilt
Reports in Portugal - via Yahoo - claim Prestianni has now admitted to Benfica’s players that he did call Vinicius Jr a ‘monkey’, despite initially pleading his innocence. However, this report has prompted a firm statement from Benfica, denying these reports are accurate. Per Sky Sports, Benfica have now said:
"Sport Lisboa e Benfica categorically denies that the player Prestianni has communicated to the squad or the club's structure that he has uttered a racist insult to the player Vinicius Jr, from Real Madrid.
"As has already been made public, the player apologised to his teammates for the incident that occurred during the match against Real Madrid, regretting the dimension and consequences of it and assuring everyone, as he has done since the first hour, that he is not racist."
If found guilty of racially abusing Vinicius Jr, Prestianni faces a minimum 10-game ban for breaking UEFA’s regulations on discriminatory behaviour. However, European football’s governing body have said the provisional ban is without prejudice, meaning Prestianni can still expect a fair hearing.
- Rob Swan
LUKA DONCIC MADE LOS ANGELES LAKERS HISTORY IN HEARTBREAKING LOS TO SUNS
On Thursday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers played the Phoenix Suns in Arizona.
The Lakers lost their second straight game by one possession, falling 113-110.
Despite the loss, Luka Doncic erupted for 41 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals while shooting 12/21 from the field and 6/11 from three-point range in 39 minutes of playing time.
Luka Doncic Made Major Los Angeles Lakers History
Doncic also made major franchise history with his outstanding performance.
Via Ryan Ward of Lakers OnSI: “Per Lakers: Luka Dončić finished with 41 points tonight at Phoenix, marking his ninth 40-point game of the season. Dončić joins Elgin Baylor (four times), Kobe Bryant (four times), Shaquille O’Neal and Jerry West (three times) as the only players in franchise history with nine or more 40-point games in a season.”
Doncic’s First Full Season With Lakers
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| LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 20: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after scoring during the second half of their game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on February 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luiza Moraes/Getty Images) |
Doncic is averaging an incredible 32.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.4 steals per contest while shooting 47.0% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range in 46 games.
He will have a chance to win his first ever MVP award.
John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix wrote: “What an incredible win by the Suns tonight. Huge 13-0 run to take control in the fourth and go up by 10 but Luka willed the Lakers back with some big time three pointers. After LA tied it at 110 on a Lebron follow, Royce O’Neale with the dagger three with 0.9 left to break the tie and the Suns win.”
Looking Ahead For The Lakers
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| LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 20: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the first half of their game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on February 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luiza Moraes/Getty Images) |
With their loss to the Suns, the Lakers dropped to 34-24 in 58 games, which has them as the sixth seed in the Western Conference.
They are in the middle of a three-game losing streak (and 5-5 over their last ten games).
Following the Suns, the Lakers will play their next game on Saturday when they play the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center.
Skip Bayless ripped the team after the loss: “Well, Lakers ran a sneaky great play to free their clutchest shooter Austin Reaves for a long in-bounds crosscourt pass – and his shot hit the far side of the rim. LAKERS LOSE AT PHOENIX TO A TEAM WITHOUT BOOKER, BROOKS AND GOODWIN.”
On the other side, the Suns are now 34-26 in 60 games, which has them as the seventh seed in the Western Conference.
They have won four out of their last ten games.
Following the Lakers, the Suns will play their next game on Tuesday night when they visit the Sacramento Kings.
Doncic was the third pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
He spent the first six and a half years of his career with the Dallas Mavericks.
- Ben Stinar
NBA: KON KNUEPPEL SETS ROOKIE 3-POINT RECORD AS HORNETS ROLL PACERS
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| Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) celebrates a made basket in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images |
Kon Knueppel set the NBA single-season rookie record for 3-pointers and Brandon Miller matched a season high with 33 points, fueling the Charlotte Hornets to a 133-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday in Indianapolis.
Knueppel highlighted his 28-point performance by matching his own franchise rookie record with eight 3-pointers, boosting his season total to 209 -- three more than Keegan Murray's mark in 2022-23.
Knueppel was the fourth overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft by the Hornets, who have 22 games remaining on their regular-season schedule.
Miller, who scored 19 points in the third quarter, made 11 of 19 shots from the floor for the game and 6 of 11 from 3-point range. His point total on Thursday matched his output on New Year's Eve, set in Charlotte's 132-125 setback to the Golden State Warriors.
LaMelo Ball collected 20 points and eight assists and Moussa Diabate contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets, who extended their franchise-best road winning streak to nine games.
Charlotte, which has won three in a row overall and 13 of its last 16 games, shot a robust 55.8% from the floor (48 of 86) and 47.8% from 3-point range (22 of 46). The Hornets also held a decisive 46-37 advantage in rebounds.
Indiana's Andrew Nembhard contributed 20 points and seven assists and Micah Potter added 19 points off the bench.
Jarace Walker added 16 points for the free-falling Pacers, who have dropped five in a row and nine of their last 11 games.
Indiana played without Pascal Siakam (left wrist sprain) and Aaron Nesmith (sprained right ankle).
The Pacers claimed a 34-31 lead after the first quarter before the Hornets responded with a dominant display in the second. Grant Williams sank a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions at one point before Knueppel drained his fifth 3-pointer to cap the scoring and give the Hornets a 67-46 advantage at halftime.
Knueppel etched his name into the record book by using a brilliant pump fake before calmly sinking a 3-pointer late in the third quarter to push Charlotte's lead to 103-77. He capped the Hornets' 40-point quarter with a turnaround jumper with 1.7 seconds to play.
Knueppel added his seventh and eighth 3-pointers early in the fourth as Charlotte coasted to victory.
—Field Level Media/Reuters
FORMER LSU AND LOUISIANA TECH WIDE RECEIVER DEVONTA LEE HAS PASSED AWAY AT AGE 27 DUE TO CANCER
Former LSU and Louisiana Tech wide receiver Devonta Lee has passed away at the age of 27 after a battle with cancer.
Lee’s mother, Lacresia Brown, confirmed her son’s passing.
“He was a fighter, and he loved everybody. [Devonta] was a good kid [and would] do anything for anybody. He loved football [and] he gave his all in anything he did. He worked out every day [and was] a very hard, dedicated player [who] never gave up in football. [I will miss] my son.”
Lee was on the LSU roster from 2019 to 2021, recording 11 receptions for 112 yards and one touchdown during his time with the Tigers.
Lee transferred to Louisiana Tech in 2022.
Thursday, 26 February 2026
CRISTIANO RONALDO BUYS 25 PERCENT STAKE IN SPANISH CLUB ALMERIA
The Al Nassr and Portugal forward has acquired the stake through the subsidiary CR7 Sports and the investment comes as part of the club ownership consortium led by SMC Group
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| Cristiano Ronaldo has bought a 25 percent share in Almeria, the Spanish club have announced. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire. |
Cristiano Ronaldo has bought a 25 percent share in Almeria, the Spanish club have announced.
The Al Nassr and Portugal forward has acquired the stake through the subsidiary CR7 Sports and the investment comes as part of the club ownership consortium led by SMC Group.
Almeria are currently third in the Segunda Division and are two points away from leaders Racing in the bid for promotion to LaLiga.
Ronaldo said in a statement on the club's X account: "It has been a long-held ambition of mine to contribute to football, beyond just on the pitch. UD Almeria is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth.
Official statement:
Cristiano Ronaldo invests in UD Almería as part of the club ownership consortium led by SMC Group pic.twitter.com/0lk92FUjPH
— UD Almería (@UDAlmeria_Eng)
February 26, 2026
"I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to support the next phase of the club's growth."
President of Almeria Mohamed Al Khereiji added: "We are very pleased that Cristiano has chosen to invest in our club.
"He is regarded as the greatest to ever play the game, he knows Spanish football very well and he understands the potential of what we are building here both in terms of the team and the academy."
- PA
Wednesday, 25 February 2026
MEXICAN PRESIDENT SHEINBAUM SAYS 'THERE'S NO RISK FOR FIFA WORLD CUP VENUES DESPITE FALLOUT FROM KILLING OF EL MENCHO
Mexico will host 13 games across Jalisco, Monterrey and Mexico City
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| Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum HECTOR VIVAS/GETTY IMAGES |
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum claimed there is no risk for the security of the FIFA World Cup matches that the country will host later this year despite the fallout from the killing of Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," the longtime leader of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).
Asked about the issue during her daily press conference on Tuesday, Sheinbaum said that "all guarantees are given" for the 13 matches that will be played in Mexico City, Jalisco and Monterrey.
Sheinbaum has also said that the country is already "calm and peaceful," adding that federal and state forces are working in coordination following backlash from cartel operatives, which included road blocks and different violent acts across the country.
Sheinbaum went on to say that all major roads in the country are clear and authorities will swiftly respond to any incident.
According to official figures presented by Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch and Defense Secretary Gen. Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, about 70 people were killed and about 20 injured in multiple Mexican states following the military operation that resulted in the death of El Mencho.
Trevilla detailed casualties from the operation itself, saying three soldiers were killed in direct clashes in a wooded area of Jalisco and three more died from injuries while being airlifted to a hospital. He said troops also killed eight suspected gunmen, detained two people and seized weapons including seven long guns and two rocket launchers of Russian origin.
Elsewhere in the conference, the general said that forces managed to find El Mencho after tracking down a lover of his. Once the person left the premise, officers confirmed that El Mencho stayed there. Forces then moved on to detain him, engaging in a shootout with cartel operatives there.
Trevilla Trejo noted that that El Mencho tried to escape while leaving a group of operatives behind to slow down government forces. He made it to a nearby wood, but forces pinned him down and wounded him. El Mencho was taken to a helicopter heading to Mexico City, but he died on the way.
Another report detailed that the CIA provided 'instrumental' information to locate "El Mencho." Citing a U.S. official briefed on the operation, The New York Times detailed that the agency has several ways of collecting information in the country, including human informants, overhead imagery and intercepted communications.
The outlet went on to say that the U.S. has stepped up intelligence-sharing with the country and pressuring it to act on it. Mexican authorities confirmed there was cooperation with the U.S. in the operation.
BODØ/GLIMT MAKE NORWEGIAN UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY
Bodø/Glimt have officially become the second Norwegian team in HISTORY to reach the Champions League Round of 16 or beyond 🤯🇳🇴
🔥 They've had to beat some of the competition's giants, taking the W from Man City and Atlético Madrid, whilst drawing with Borussia Dortmund 🙇♂️
😮💨 Now, they've gone one step further and KNOCKED OUT the 2024/25 finalists Inter Milan over two legs.
What a story 🥹
- Onefootball
JOELINTON AT RISK OF UEFA BAN AS EDDIE HOWE CLASHES WITH ANNGRY NEWCASTLE STAR - 'I LOVE THAT'
Joelinton scored his second Champions League goal of the season for Newcastle United as they beat Qarabag 3-2 at St James’ Park.
Joelinton couldn’t hide his frustration at being substituted early in Newcastle United’s 3-2 win over Qarabag despite scoring on the night.
The Brazilian made it 2-0 with just six minutes on the clock after Sandro Tonali opened the scoring at St James’ Park. But the remainder of the game proved to be a fairly disjointed affair for The Magpies, who had already effectively secured progress to the last-16 by winning the first leg 6-1 last week in Baku.
It was Joelinton’s second Champions League goal of the season, having also found the net in the 2-0 win over Athletic Club back in November.
But the 29-year-old was withdrawn early in the second half with the score at 3-1, much to his disappointment.
Joelinton anger made clear during Newcastle United win
Joelinton gestured with his arms and made his frustration known to Howe as he made his way off the pitch. He also pointed as the match timer at St James’ Park displayed 54 minutes at the time of his substitution.
The match marked Joelinton’s first start after six games out with a groin injury.
Rather than deny and play down the clear disagreement with his player, Howe simply explained: “Joey always plays with passion. That’s what makes him the player he is.
“I’m trying to protect him and make sure we can use him next game. He’s had limited football and he’s important. We need to keep him fit.
“Same with Sven Botman. We’ve got to build their robustness up. But I love that he doesn’t want to come off. That’s him.”
NUFC duo at risk of suspension
Joelinton is also one booking away from suspension in the Champions League and picking up a yellow card in a tie that Newcastle had effectively already won would have been seen as a needless blow for Howe’s side.
The midfielder is set to be available for the first leg of the last-16 tie against either Barcelona or Chelsea next month but another yellow card would see him handed a one-match suspension having been booked twice previously in the Champions League this season.
Dan Burn is also one booking away from suspension while Malick Thiaw served his suspension on Tuesday after being booked in the first leg last week.
“I had to put 11 players out there,” Howe said, explaining his team selection. “With Malick suspended, Dan had to play because I wanted to rest Lewis Hall.
“It was about deciding who really needed it and who could get through the game. Thankfully, Dan and Joe didn’t get booked.
“You can’t go in with a mindset of worrying about that. Just play the game. We’ve got a fragile squad. A number of players are working to get back.
“The lads who’ve committed every performance have been magnificent.”
- Dominic Scurr
GIANT-KILLERS BODØ/GLIMT STUN INTER MILAN ONCE AGAIN, KNOCK THEM OUT OF THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Bodo/Glimt are on the march in the Champions League after dumping out European giants Inter Milan, the latest chapter in a remarkable rise for the tiny club from north of the Arctic Circle.
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| Bodo/Glimt players celebrate after their win over Inter Milan |
Bodo/Glimt are on the march in the Champions League after dumping out European giants Inter Milan, the latest chapter in a remarkable rise for the tiny club from north of the Arctic Circle. Kjetil Knutsen's team reached the last 16 of the biggest club competition on the planet with two wins over last year's beaten finalists -- a 5-2 aggregate victory giving them the greatest result in their history. "I think it's an amazing evening for the club, for the players, for the town and also for Norwegian football," said Knutsen, who has been in charge of Bodo/Glimt since 2018.
"We are not talking about goals, we are talking about how to perform and how we can take steps and develop the players and the team. Now I think that's extremely important.
"We have our way to do it and that's really important."
Tuesday's triumph was their fourth straight win in the Champions League, with Manchester City and Atletico Madrid also falling in the final two league phase matches, which allowed Bodo/Glimt to snatch a spot in the knockout play-offs.
Bodo/Glimt were only promoted to Norway's top tier, a competition which had been dominated for three decades by Rosenborg of Trondheim, in 2017 but have since been crowned national champions in four of the last six seasons.
And since then, they have slowly risen up the domestic and European ranks, last season becoming the first Norwegian team to play in the semi-finals of a major European competition with their run to the last four of the Europa League.
Before this season, their best result was beating Lazio on penalties in the quarter-finals of the Europa League before being eliminated by Tottenham Hotspur.
But now, the team of no stars with a tiny budget have moved to a whole new level with one of either City or Sporting of Portugal awaiting next month.
- Looking forward -
Bodo/Glimt had previously been considered tricky opposition due to their artificial pitch and the frequently frigid conditions at their 8,200-capacity Aspmyra Stadium.
But they have now added strong away performances to their armoury, with a solid defensive display on Tuesday allowing Jens Petter Hauge and Hakon Evjen to dish out two sucker punches.
"I always look forward, so that's how we're thinking. For me, history is not so important," added Knutsen.
It was a rude awakening for three-time winners Inter, whose stature and budget dwarf that of the Norwegians and who are heavy favourites to win Serie A this season.
A pasting at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain might have coloured their last European campaign but Inter got to that final by seeing off Bayern Munich and Barcelona in epic knockout ties.
Inter had much the better in the first half but once Hauge capitalised on Manuel Akanji inexplicably giving the ball away on the edge of his area, there was no way back for the Italians.
"We know that the Champions League is very competitive, if a team reaches this stage of the competition that means that they are offering something," said Inter coach Cristian Chivu.
"They showed that in Dortmund, Madrid, against City and twice against us."
Defeat to Bodo/Glimt was also symbolic after Norway swatted Italy aside twice in World Cup qualifying.
Italy face the prospect of no team reaching the last 16 with Juventus and Atalanta trailing Galatasaray and Borussia Dortmund, the latest blow to the reputation of a grand old footballing nation which has since fallen on hard times.
- Agence-France Presse
Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Monday, 23 February 2026
JUAN FANGIO KIDNAPPED | 1958 | CUBAN GP
📆 On This Day in 1958 📆
Juan Manuel Fangio was kidnapped before the Cuban GP. Two gunmen associated with Fidel Castro entered his Havana hotel and took him at gunpoint. They wanted the race to be cancelled to put pressure on President Fulgencio Batista, but the race went ahead and Fangio was allowed by his captors to listen to it on the radio. He was released after 29 days and the Cuban Revolution took place a year later.
- GPFans Global
TYLER REDDICK WINS AT ATLANTA TO GIVE MICHAEL JORDAN SECOND STRAIGHT NASCAR VICTORY
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| Tyler Reddick rebounded from a crash to become the first driver in 17 years to sweep the first two races of a NASCAR Cup Series season, winning in double overtime Sunday at Echo Park Speedway. David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire |
HAMPTON, Ga. — Whether on or off the racetrack, all Michael Jordan does is win in NASCAR.
For the second consecutive Sunday to open the season, the basketball great and co-owner of 23XI Racing celebrated in victory lane with driver Tyler Reddick. This time, after a thriller at Echo Park Speedway.
Jordan’s team now has the top two drivers in the Cup Series points standings with Reddick and Bubba Wallace. The six-time NBA champion already added a ring last week with Reddick in the Daytona 500, the crown jewel of stock-car racing.
Oh, and Jordan also settled a federal antitrust lawsuit with NASCAR in December, a major legal victory that secured a permanent franchise-style model and ensured his team would remain in business for the long-term.
“The guys worked hard all summer, and I know we had our little ordeal,” Jordan said after Reddick’s victory Sunday, referring to the bruising court battle that ended with him making peace with NASCAR CEO and chairman Jim France. “They kept working hard and this is the fruit of their labor. They put forth the effort, and for us to come out and win the first two races says a lot about our whole team.”
It especially says a lot about Reddick, who put on another dazzling performance the week after he became the fourth driver in history to win the Daytona 500 by leading only the final lap.
This time, he led a race-high 53 laps on the 1.54-mile oval south of Atlanta – including the final two in a double-overtime restart. He snatched the lead from Wallace despite the right-front fender of his No. 45 Toyota being damaged in a nine-car crash on the 224th of a scheduled 260 laps. Reddick fell two laps down for repairs but came roaring back from 27th for his 10th career victory.
“I mean, that’s crazy, ain’t it?” said Reddick, who became the first driver since Matt Kenseth in 2009 to win the first two NASCAR Cup Series races of the season. “I just found a way to get back in the top five, and I tried to stay committed to somebody.”
He got a helpful push from runner-up Chase Briscoe. Ross Chastain finished third, followed by the Spire Motorsports tandem of Carson Hocevar (who triggered a large crash in the first overtime) and Daniel Suarez.
“Tyler had like another gear,” Chastain said. “(He had) no fender, and he pulled us so fast.”
In a race that featured a track-record 57 lead changes, Wallace was first entering the final restart but shuffled to eighth. He still gained the second-most points (48) by winning the second stage and leading 46 laps.
“Tyler did an unbelievable job,” Jordan said. “I feel bad for Bubba because he had an unbelievable day. But Tyler drove his ass off. I’m very happy for Tyler. I’m very happy for 23XI.”
Green turns to yellow
Austin Cindric took advantage of a stretch of 61 green-flag laps to open the race, winning the first stage after starting 30th.
It was the second consecutive year that the first stage in the February race was completed without a yellow flag – an oddity for a track known for chaos since its 2022 reconfiguration into a high-banked drafting oval.
The cautions quickly picked up pace in the second stage with three yellow flags in 40 laps that collected 16 cars and eliminated notable drivers Ty Gibbs, Josh Berry, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch. The 160-lap middle segment ended under another yellow when defending Cup Series champion Kyle Larson slammed the outside wall after a collision with Shane van Gisbergen.
No Las Vegas love lost
Busch was perturbed after his No. 8 Chevrolet “got rammed” exiting Turn 2 by the No. 4 Ford of Noah Gragson on the 125th lap.
Though both drivers hail from Las Vegas, Nevada, the 40-year-old Busch felt little kinship in taking issue with the aggressive style of Gragson, who is 13 years younger.
“He didn’t give me an opportunity to make sure I was straight before hitting me or get into me gently to try and get the momentum back,” said Busch, who finished 33rd. “He just drove right through me.”
Up next
The NASCAR Cup Series will race at the Circuit of the Americas, the first road course of the 2026 season, on Sunday, March 1. Christopher Bell outdueled Kyle Busch and William Byron to win at the Austin, Texas, track last year.
- Associated Press
Sunday, 22 February 2026
RONDALE MOORE FOUND DEAD AT HOME
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Rondale Moore was found dead at his home on Sunday.
Police in Moore's hometown of New Albany, Indiana were called to a property on Saturday night, when the 25-year-old was found in a garage.
The American was transferred to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A post-mortem examination will take place on Sunday.
USA BEATS CANADA IN OT FOR FIRST MEN'S HOCKEY OLYMPIC GOLD IN 46 YEARS
Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Jack Hughes took a hockey blade to the teeth in the third period, but found revenge with a dramatic one-timer in overtime to lead Team USA past Canada for the Americans' first men's hockey Olympic gold medal in 46 years Sunday in Milan, Italy.
"This is all about our country right now," Hughes said on the NBC broadcast. "I love the USA. I love my teammates. It's unbelievable. The USA hockey brotherhood is so strong. We have so much support amongst players. "I'm so proud to be American today."
The New Jersey Devils forward beat Canadian net minder Jordan Binnington for the golden goal 1:41 into the 3-on-3 bonus period of the 2-1 gold medal game triumph at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
The score sealed the 2026 Winter Olympics title exactly 46 years to the day of the Americans' Miracle on Ice victory from the 1980 Winter Olympics
It also resulted in the first men's and women's hockey gold medal sweep for the United States at the same Olympics.
Teeth-cracking physicality was matched only by scintillating speed in the rivalry matchup, with the world-class rosters foiling vicious offensive assaults.
Canada, who played without its injured captain, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby, for the second consecutive game, outshot Team USA 41-26. Team USA goalie Connor Hellebuyck totaled 41 saves.
"He was our best player by a mile," Hughes said of Hellebuyck. "Unbelievable game."
Binnington made 26 stops, but allowed first blood on his first save opportunity six minutes into the finale. Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy brought the initial lamp lighting.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews found Boldy behind the Team USA blue line to start the breakaway. Boldy flipped the puck up with his blade and juggled through Canadian traffic. He then faced up with Binnington and slid the puck by the St. Louis Blues goalie's right knee pad.
Canada proceeded to launch a deluge of daggers at Hellebuyck in the American net, with seven of the next eight shot attempts. But the Canadians couldn't beat the Winnipeg Jets goalie until Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar equalized with 1:44 remaining in the second period.
The deep red sweaters swarmed Hellebuyck down the stretch and increased their physicality, including a high stick from Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett to Hughes' teeth, but could not find an opening against the American goaltender, resulting in overtime.
Hellebuyck proceeded to use every inch of his frame to deny Canada's Connor McDavid-led attack until Hughes beat Binnington to end the finale.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski received the puck behind the American net at the start of the final play. He poked a pass forward to Hughes, who stabbed the puck away from Canada.
Werenski recovered the possession along the right boards as Hughes skated wide left. Werenski then found him again with a feed inside the left circle.
Hughes pulled back his stick shaft and unloaded, pelting a screamer by Binnington's for Team USA's third men's hockey Olympic gold medal.
"Unreal game by our team," Hughes said. "Just a ballsy, gutsy win. That's American hockey right there. That's a great Canadian team, but we're USA. We are so proud to be American. Tonight was all for our country."
Hughes finished the tournament as Team USA's top goal scorer, with four over six appearances in Milan. His brother, Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes, logged an assist in the victory to push his total to a team-leading seven.
Hellebuyck's 95.65% save percentage was the best among Olympic goaltenders.
McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) finished the 2026 Winter Olympics with a tournament-best 13 points, from 11 assists and two goals.
Winning moments from the 2026 Winter Olympics
- Alex Butler
CRISTIANO RONALDO FINALLY BREAKS SILENCE ON FUTURE IN SAUDI ARABIA AFTER £488K-PER-DAY STAR SCORES BRACE FOLLOWING SHOCKING STRIKE
Cristiano Ronaldo has finally broken his silence on his dramatic Saudi strike.
The 41-year-old returned to action last week for Al-Nassr and scored a brace in their 4-0 victory over Al-Hazem on Saturday having previously made major waves with his high-profile strop.
Ronaldo, who earns £488,000-a-day, had been furious with what he perceived to be a lack of transfer backing for Al-Nassr from PIF compared to their rivals.
The situation was exacerbated further when Karim Benzema was granted a transfer to Al-Hilal and Ronaldo went on strike for three games.
His behaviour led to serious questions over his future in the league - despite his position as the biggest and most marketable name.
But when asked about the situation on Saturday, Ronaldo said: 'I’m very happy. As I say so many times, I belong to Saudi Arabia.
'It’s a country that welcomed me, my family and my friends very well. I’m happy here. I want to continue here.
'And the most important thing, it’s we keep pushing. We are there at the top.
'Our job is to win, make pressure [on our title rivals], and let’s see. We are on track.
'We’re back, we are good, we are confident. Game by game. We are in good shape. Let’s see what’s going to happen.'
Ronaldo's actions had irritated the Saudi Pro League, with the top flight releasing a statement warning 'no individual determines decisions beyond their own club'.
Title rivals Al-Hilal have a net spend £180million higher than that of his own team since the 2022-23 season, when he arrived.
And that's despite both clubs, as well as Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli, all being majority owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).
But Ronaldo is in an eye-watering wage and many feel he is in no position to complain about the finances of his opponents.
A recent statement shared with Daily Mail Sport from the league suggested that Ronaldo's grievances were unfounded.
'The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules,' they said.
'Clubs have their own boards, their own executives and their own football leadership. Decisions on recruitment, spending and strategy sit with those clubs, within a financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance. That framework applies equally across the league.
'Cristiano has been fully engaged with Al Nassr since his arrival and has played an important role in the club's growth and ambition. Like any elite competitor, he wants to win. But no individual - however significant - determines decisions beyond their own club.'
The spokesperson added that recent transfer activity had 'demonstrated that independence clearly'.
Ronaldo wore the captain's armband on his return to action last week and is still popular with the club's fanbase despite his three-game exile; they were waving flags in his honour in his absence.
Al-Nassr are now top of the league by one point and Ronaldo will be desperate for his side to achieve glory this season, especially given that he is yet to win the title in Saudi Arabia.
- WILL GRIFFEE
Saturday, 21 February 2026
F1 MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION: WHAT 2026 CARS ARE MADE OF
The materials article exists for several reasons simultaneously. It prevents the use of exotic or hazardous substances that would pose unacceptable risks in an accident. It limits the use of materials so advanced that only the largest teams could access them, maintaining competitive equity. And it ensures that the structural properties of safety-critical components are within the range that the FIA’s homologation tests are designed to evaluate, preventing teams from using materials whose behavior under crash loads is not fully understood.
The Power Unit Perimeter: Materials Inside the Engine
The power unit perimeter encompasses the components that make up the engine, gearbox, and associated hardware. Within this zone, the regulations allow a broader range of advanced materials than are permitted outside it, reflecting the fact that power unit components are not part of the primary safety structure and that high-performance materials are needed to manage the extreme temperatures and loads that internal combustion engines and high-speed drivetrain components generate.
Permitted and Restricted Materials Inside the PU
Within the power unit perimeter, manufacturers can use titanium alloys, various aluminum alloys, steel alloys, and specialist composite materials for components such as connecting rods, pistons, cylinder heads, and turbocharger wheels. The use of beryllium is prohibited throughout the entire car, both inside and outside the power unit perimeter, for health and safety reasons. Beryllium and its alloys are extremely toxic in dust or particle form, and the risk of generating beryllium particles in machining or in a crash would create unacceptable hazards for personnel working on the cars.
The turbocharger and its high-speed rotating components are subject to material specifications that ensure burst containment. If a turbocharger rotor fails at speed, the fragments must be contained by the surrounding housing rather than being ejected through the bodywork at high velocity. The material specifications for these components are part of the power unit homologation process managed by the FIA in conjunction with the power unit manufacturers.
Ceramic matrix composites and other advanced high-temperature materials are used in exhaust systems and combustion-adjacent components where the thermal environment would degrade conventional materials. The specific materials permitted in these applications are registered with the FIA as part of the power unit’s technical specification submission, and any changes to the registered materials require approval before they can be used in competition.
Gearbox and Drivetrain Materials
The gearbox casing is typically manufactured from cast or machined aluminum alloy, providing adequate strength and stiffness for the structural role it plays in the rear of the car while keeping weight manageable. Internal gear and shaft components use specialist steel alloys with surface treatments that maximize wear resistance and fatigue life at the contact stresses generated by the gear mesh loads in high-performance racing transmissions.
The carbon fibre driveshaft plunging joints and constant velocity joints that transmit power from the gearbox output to the rear wheel hubs must be designed to handle the combined torque from the ICE and the MGU-K without failure across the race distance. The 2026 torque levels, with the MGU-K’s 350-kilowatt electrical output added to the ICE’s mechanical power at the point of the rear axle, are higher than in the previous era, placing greater demands on these components than the driveshaft specifications from the 2022 to 2025 period had to accommodate.
and Their Load Cases
Carbon fibre composite is the standard material for suspension wishbones due to its high specific stiffness, which minimizes the deflection of the wishbone under lateral and longitudinal wheel loads. Deflection in a wishbone changes the wheel geometry in a way that deviates from the kinematic design intent, affecting handling balance. The regulations specify maximum compliance levels for suspension components to prevent teams from using flexible suspension elements as an unauthorized aerodynamic device, mirroring the intent of the aerodynamic flexibility rules that apply to bodywork.
The wishbone aerofoil sections, which are the aerodynamic cross-section shapes that teams use to improve the aerodynamic performance of their suspension while meeting the structural load requirements, are subject to the same bodywork regulations as other aerodynamic surfaces. The permitted aerofoil dimensions within which a wishbone cross-section must fit are specified to prevent teams from designing wishbones that are primarily aerodynamic devices masquerading as suspension components.
Under the 2026 regulations, the interaction between suspension geometry and the active aerodynamic system is a new consideration. As the car transitions between X-mode and Z-mode, the aerodynamic loads on the suspension change, and the wishbones must be designed to handle the load cases associated with both aerodynamic states without compliance that affects wheel geometry. The range of suspension loads that the 2026 wishbones must accommodate is therefore broader than in previous eras, requiring careful structural analysis across the full aerodynamic operating envelope of the car.
Wheel Material Specification
The magnesium alloy specification for wheel rims is one of the few cases in the regulations where a specific material family is mandated rather than just a performance requirement. Magnesium alloy is lighter than aluminum at equivalent structural performance, making it the optimal material for wheel rims from a pure weight perspective. The regulations specify this material to standardize the wheel’s physical behavior and to ensure that the safety characteristics of the rim, including how it deforms in a collision and how it interacts with the tyre in a puncture scenario, are within the range understood by the FIA and Pirelli.
The manufacturing process for magnesium alloy wheels in Formula 1 uses machining from forged billet material, producing rims whose internal structure and dimensional consistency are tightly controlled. Forged and machined construction avoids the porosity and microstructural variability that can occur in cast components, providing a more reliable fatigue life and reducing the risk of unexpected failure under the high cyclic loading conditions of a race. The finished rims are subjected to dimensional inspection and structural testing before they are approved for race use.
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