WHAT HAPPENED THE LAST TIME F1 SAID GOODBYE TO ZANDVOORT IN 1985?

Photo: Race Pictures

Formula 1 is preparing to bid farewell to Zandvoort, with the final Dutch Grand Prix set to take place this weekend. But what happened the last time the Dutch circuit hosted what was supposed to be its final F1 race? Back in 1985, Zandvoort staged a memorable Grand Prix before disappearing from the calendar for 36 years.

Few may remember that more than 40 years ago in the Netherlands, Niki Lauda claimed what would prove to be the 25th and final victory of his Formula 1 career, before retiring from the sport for good at the age of 36 at the end of the season.

The 1985 Dutch Grand Prix took place on 25 August as the 11th round of the season, just one week after reigning world champion Niki Lauda had announced that he would retire from Formula 1 for good at the end of the year.

Nelson Piquet started from pole position for Brabham-BMW after setting a 1:11.074, while Lauda faced a much tougher task from 10th on the grid in his McLaren. The Austrian gradually worked his way through the field, with his race strategy eventually helping him move ahead of teammate Alain Prost and into the lead.

Photo: Race Pictures

What followed was a tense battle between the two McLaren drivers in the closing stages. Prost had the stronger pace and underlined it by setting the fastest lap of the race on Lap 57, but could not find a way past his teammate. Lauda held on all the way to the chequered flag, beating Prost by just two tenths of a second in one of the closest finishes in Formula 1 history.

Five races later, Lauda brought his Formula 1 career to an end at the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide. Zandvoort, meanwhile, was also saying goodbye to the championship, although for very different reasons. Financial difficulties and ageing facilities ultimately made it impossible for the Dutch Grand Prix to retain its place on the calendar, despite Bernie Ecclestone reportedly attempting to help keep the event alive.

F1 summer break almost over: Full schedule for Dutch GP's final farewell

With the summer break now drawing to a close, Formula 1 is preparing to return to action at Zandvoort for the final Dutch Grand Prix. The weekend will feature the Sprint format, meaning drivers and teams will have limited time to prepare before the first competitive session. Friday's action will begin with the only free practice session at 12:30 local time (11:30 UK time), before Sprint Qualifying gets underway later in the afternoon at 16:30 (15:30 UK).

The Sprint will then kick off Saturday's programme at 12:00 local time (11:00 UK time), with qualifying for the Grand Prix following at 16:00 (15:00 UK). Attention will then turn to Sunday's main event, as Zandvoort hosts its final Formula 1 race. The Dutch Grand Prix is scheduled to begin at 15:00 local time, corresponding to 14:00 in the UK.

- Tobia Elia

MANCHESTER UNITED BREAKS 41 YEAR-OLD 'CURSE'

 

DERRY'S JUDE MCATAMNEY RELEASED BY NEW YORK GIANTS

DERRY’S JUDE MCATAMNEY has been released by the New York Giants.

The 25-year-old kicker was cut from the practice squad, with German tight end Maximilian Mang taking his place as as the designated international player.

Jude McAtamney released by the New York Giants, leaves practice squad. International exemption for the Giants goes to German tight end Maximilian Mang.

Wishing Jude the best 👏 https://t.co/W63hBTth9Q

— Michael McQuaid (@McQuaidNFL) November 24, 2025

McAtamney returned to the Giants’ practice squad in October, having been cut when he missed two kicks in their 33-32 loss to the Denver Broncos.

South Korean-American Younghoe Koo has since deputised for the injured Gano, with rookie Ben Sauls added to the Giants’ practice squad earlier this month.

McAtamney took up American football during the Covid-19 pandemic. After moving to the US in 2021, he signed for the Giants in 2024 as an undrafted free agent

He became the first Irish-born kicker to feature in a regular NFL game since 1985 when he replaced Gano against the Washington Commanders in November last year.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) rolls out to pass against the Carolina Panthers. Alamy Stock Photo

Meanwhile, Brock Purdy thre for one touchdown and Christian McCaffrey ran for another to lift San Francisco over the Carolina Panthers 20-9 on Monday, boosting the 49ers’ NFL playoff hopes

The 49ers improved to 8-4, closing the gap on the NFC West division-leading Los Angeles Rams (9-2) and second-placed Seattle (8-3).

“It was a great win,” McCaffrey said. “But I know we’re hungry for more and I know we can be better.

Carolina fell two games adrift of the 49ers in the wildcard playoff hunt at 6-6 and dropped behind leader Tampa Bay (6-5) in the NFC South race.

Purdy, who won in his return last week after missing eight games with a toe injury, was intercepted three times but still able to throw for 193 yards and lead the 49ers to a vital victory.

McCaffrey ran 24 times for 89 yards and caught seven passes for 53 yards.

Jauan Jennings caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Purdy, escaping two would-be tacklers to reach the end zone as the 49ers took a 7-0 lead after a game-opening 15-play, 75-yard drive.

Purdy interceptions killed the next three 49ers drives, two of them pickoffs by Carolina’s Jaycee Horn, the last setting up Ryan Fitzgerald’s 25-yard field goal for Carolina with 2:28 remaining in the second quarter.

San Francisco answered on a 47-yard Matt Gay field goal to lift the 49ers ahead 10-3 at half-time.

McCaffrey’s 12-yard touchdown run against his former club late in the third quarter gave the 49ers a 17-3 edge.

Carolina responded with a 68-yard touchdown drive capped by Bryce Young’s 29-yard touchdown pass to Tetairoa McMillan.

But a two-point conversion pass failed and the Panthers trailed 17-9 entering the fourth quarter.

Gay added a 29-yard field goal to put San Francisco ahead by the final margin.

- AFP

FIA APPROVES GRADE 1 PLANS FOR HISTORIC SOUTH AFRICAN CIRCUIT

 [Press Release]

FIA Approves Grade 1 Plans for Historic South African Circuit.

Constructed in 1961, the original Kyalami circuit established itself as the premier motorsport facility in Southern Africa. The pleasant summer climate made Kyalami a favourite destination for European competitors unable to compete on their home soil owing to the winter off-season.

By the mid-1970s Kyalami had gained recognition as one of the best Grand Prix circuits in the world, hosting a total of 21 F1 Grand Prix races. The Kyalami 9-Hour became a favourite race in the sports car world championship. Moto GP also visited Kyalami from 1983 to 1985. These events gained world-wide coverage, not only for the circuit but for South Africa as a country.

The current 4.522km layout, upgraded in 2016, already holds FIA Grade 2 certification and the Kyalami precinct has proven itself as a successful, self-sustaining venue with year-round commercial activity. The facility’s multi-use functionality—conferences, shows, exhibitions, activations, lifestyle events—remains central to its commercial model. 

Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit is now poised to take the next step in the evolution of the track, having received confirmation that the Federation International de l'Automobile (FIA) has accepted final design proposals to upgrade the circuit to Grade 1 status—the highest international standard required to host Formula 1.

The FIA’s written acceptance of the amended design marks a significant achievement. Once the capital works are completed and a final inspection conducted, Kyalami will become Africa’s only FIA Grade 1 circuit, capable of hosting Formula 1 on the African continent.

At a press conference held at Kyalami, Circuit Owner Toby Venter and Clive Bowen, Founder and Director of UK-based Apex Circuit Design, detailed a plan which has been ongoing for five years, culminating in FIA approval of the venue’s upgrade design. Apex, an internationally recognised circuit design house also steered the design of, amongst others, the Miami Formula 1 street circuit.     

“This is a defining moment for South African motorsport,” said Venter. “When we acquired Kyalami in 2014, we made a commitment to restore it not just as a world-class venue, but as a beacon for motorsport across the African continent. The FIA’s acceptance of our Grade 1 design is a major step forward in that journey.”

The proposed FIA Grade 1 upgrade—which notably requires no change to the circuit layout—focuses on enhancing run-off areas, barrier systems, debris fencing, kerbs, and drainage. “This is a light-touch upgrade in engineering terms, but one that enhances the already excellent circuit standards to meet modern Grade 1 requirements,” said Bowen.

The FIA plan approval grants Kyalami a three-year period to complete the intended Grade 1 upgrades. Initially, works will commence during periods when current business partners face no disruption to their event. Selected works will be actioned pending the successful outcome of South Africa’s place on the Formula 1 calendar and Kyalami being selected as the preferred hosting venue. 

The Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit & International Convention Centre stands proud as Africa’s most iconic motorsport venue, and the preferred destination for a variety of events in the expanding metropolis between Johannesburg and Pretoria. 

“Today, we turn the page to a bold new chapter for Kyalami. We are ready for the return of Formula 1 to African soil,” concluded Venter.

End.

HOW VILLANOVA FEELS ABOUT HAVING THE NEW POPE AS AN ALUM

AP

Father Peter Donohue, the president of Villanova University, was having lunch with a few of the school’s alums in a Chicago restaurant on Thursday when word got out that white smoke was billowing from the Sistine Chapel, signaling the election of a new Pope. Donohue asked the restaurant staff to turn up the TV sound.

He knew his fellow Villanova alum, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost—a Chicago native who graduated from the Philadelphia-area school in 1977, two years after Donohue—took part in the Papal conclave. But Donohue, like most other Catholics around the world, was not expecting to see Cardinal Prevost step onto the Vatican balcony, and introduce himself to the world as Pope Francis’ successor. After all, other church officials had more experience than Prevost, who had only been a Cardinal since 2023. And no American had even been elected Pope before.

So when Prevost was in fact announced as the next pope, Donohue was just as stunned as anyone. “I practically fell off the chair,” he tells TIME. “It was such a long shot.”

And in the minutes and hours that followed, he fielded a parade of well-wishes, as Donohue was suddenly the first person in history to lead an American university that counts a Pope among its alumni pool.

“You would think I became the Pope,” says Donohue, “I was getting so many congratulations.”

St. Thomas of Villanova Church at Villanova University in Pennsylvania on Thursday.Credit...Rachel Wisniewski for The New York Times

Villanova, a mid-size Catholic institution run by the same Order of St. Augustine that produced the newly-installed Pope Leo XIV, is enjoying one heck of a moment. A strong academic institution with a loyal alumni base, Villanova was probably best-known in the popular imagination—before the ascension of one of its former math majors to the papacy—for its success in college basketball. The Wildcats, under Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright, won a pair of recent championships, in 2016 and 2018.

“We already had God: we had Jay Wright,” says Paul DiSenso, a 2000 Villanova alum who lives in the New York City area. “Now we have the Pope too. That’s pretty good.”

What’s more, three of those championship players—Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges—are currently in the starting lineup for the New York Knicks, who just last night completed a second stunning comeback victory against the defending NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, on the road in their second-round playoff series. The Knicks lead the series 2-0, and with two home games at Madison Square Garden coming up on Saturday and Monday, New York’s “Villanova Knicks” have a strong chance to lead the franchise to the conference finals for the first time in a quarter century.

Forgive Knicks fans for believing that the surprise selection of Pope Leo XIV is some sign of divine intervention: even Father Donohue has been enjoying some of the Knicks papal memes running rampant around the internet. “Oh, I’ve already seen that one!” he says when I mention that the image floating around of the Pope eating cake with the three Villanova Knicks and Donte DiVincenzo, the former Villanova and Knicks player who was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves before this season.

And forgive Rosanne Breen for beaming with Villanova love. On a 1-10 scale, she says, “my Villanova pride has always been a 10. And today it’s like 210.” Because today, on her 62nd birthday, Breen, who graduated from the school in 1985—the year the Wildcats upset Georgetown in an epic national championship basketball game to win its first title—found out a fellow math major was elected pope. Breen’s nephew, an engineering alum, texted her: Aunt Rosanne, can you believe the Pope walked the halls of Mendel Hall and had the same teachers you had?

Breen won the school’s math medal as the top student in 1985: Breen’s kids are all wondering if the Pope also nabbed that honor too. If he didn’t, they surely wouldn’t mind mom one-upping the Pope on something. 

“If he did,” says Donohue, “he probably wouldn't have told anybody. That’s the way he is. A very humble guy.”

In September of 2022, Breen lost her family’s Long Island home—and too many valuable possessions, including the math medal—in a fire. She told a couple in the neighborhood about losing her cherished award. Unbeknownst to Breen, her friends— who happen to be Jewish and had no connection to Villanova—called the school to inform officials about what happened to Breen. About a year ago, Breen discovered a surprise package in the mail. Villanova remade her math medal. It proudly stands in her rebuilt home.

She was known as Rosanne Puntolillo back then: for the last 35 years, Rosanne has been married to Mike Breen, the NBA lead play-by-announcer for ESPN and—here’s that divine sign—the New York Knicks. “I hope he’s a basketball fan,” says Rosanne Breen of the Pope.

“I'm a little bit speechless,” she says. “Of the million different things somebody could be, a Villanova math major is very much a grain of sand.”

Ryan Mahoney, a 2011 Villanova graduate who worked as an intern at the Vatican, doing web design and planning virtual tours his junior year, hopes Pope Leo XIV's election allows the church to spread the school’s core values—veritas (truth), unitas (unity), and caritas (love), emblazoned on Breen’s medal and all over campus. “It’s exciting for me as an alum, but as a Catholic as well,” Mahoney says. “An American Pope. who has these Augustinian values will be really nice for the global Catholic church.”

Villanova is in uncharted waters: no data exists to forecast whether a papal election increases inbound interest—in the form of more applications and donations, for example—in an American institution of higher education. If sports success is any indicator, however, Villanova could see a Papal boon. Donohue says applications increased after the hoops titles, like they have for many schools. “Certainly the name is out there,” he says. “When we won the basketball championships, people suddenly said, ‘let me look at Villanova. Let me investigate what this place is like.’ And so maybe people look at us and say, ‘Oh, the Pope is from Villanova. Maybe I should look at that.’”

Though Donohue knew Pope Leo XIV during their undergrad days, he won’t speak out of school. “I can't tell stories about him now,” he says with a hearty guffaw. “People would think that's terrible.” Prevost was bright, analytical and friendly, but it’s not like Donohue thought, back in the mid-1970s, he was going to be Pope one day. “Nobody says that about anybody.”

Right before speaking with TIME on Thursday, Donohue sent Pope Leo XIV an email, at his personal address. “It started out, ‘Bob,’” Donohue says. “Then I said, ‘I guess I should say Your Holiness.’” He told Pope Leo that Villanova, and the Pope’s Augustinian brothers in the United States, were praying for him, and wished him the best. “I’m going to try to see if I can get him as the commencement speaker,” says Donohue. Not for this spring though. Villanova already booked someone. Plus, Prevost needs to settle in at the Vatican.

“We’ll give him a year.”  

- Sean Gregory

PANTHERS KEEPING COOL AS HOSTS OILERS TRY TO FORCE GAME 7 IN FINALS

USA TODAY Sports 

 Pressure? What pressure?

That is the attitude of the Florida Panthers are they prepare for their third chance to close out the Stanley Cup Final on Friday against the host Edmonton Oilers.

The Panthers appeared well on their way to claiming the first championship in franchise history while winning the first three games of the best-of-seven series. They have dropped the last two games, the latest Tuesday's 5-3 loss in Sunrise, Fla.

The Panthers are doing their best to remain calm about the moment, knowing full well the screws will tighten if they drop this game and head to a deciding Game 7 at home.

"Go up there and we've got to win one game," forward Evan Rodrigues said. "That's our mindset and that's what we're going to do."

That said, the Panthers are not sticking with the status quo. Coach Paul Maurice appears set to make a couple of changes based on Thursday's practice. Left winger Carter Verhaeghe, in need of an offensive jolt, skated on the top line while fellow left winger Rodrigues switched spots and was moved to the second line.

As well, forward Nick Cousins received a present on his 31st birthday with news he will be back in the lineup in place of Kyle Okposo on the fourth line. Cousins had been a healthy scratch for the past eight postseason games.

"Those guys that have kind of come in and out of the lineup, you can just tell that it's not easy for them," Maurice said. "But in their off-time, and being under less game intensity, they come back in and they're jacked."

Whether those roster moves and the reset after last game are the tonic for the Panthers remains to be seen, but the Oilers have pulled back from the brink with a couple of outstanding performances.

They are looking to join only the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs to win the Stanley Cup after losing the first three games of the finals.

"We feel very fortunate to be in this situation, but I know I have a team full of guys who are hungry to make sure they get to play two more games and not just one," coach Kris Knoblauch said.

The Oilers have executed the game plan perfectly to turn the tide. Wins in Games 4 and 5 came in emphatic fashion by a combined 13-4 score. Holding the Panthers in check while showing their high-octane offense has been an impressive feat.

"It's been lovely to see," goaltender Stuart Skinner said. "I think we've got a lot of guys fully committed to playing both ends of the ice, which is an absolute need, especially at this time of the year."

Of course it helps when the Oilers have superstar captain Connor McDavid leading the way. McDavid, who is only the third player in NHL history to collect 40 points in a single postseason, posted consecutive four-point performances to elevate his team to this point in their comeback. He is at 42, only behind Wayne Gretzky with 47 in 1985, Mario Lemieux with 44 in 1991 and Gretzky with 43 in 1988.

This year's playoff run has shown McDavid's ability to embrace the biggest of moments and excel during them.

"You spend your life working to get into a position like this. When you're here, you think there's going to be some magic feeling, but it's all been pretty normal," McDavid said. "This has always been part of the plan for our group. A position like this, playing big games at home, big moments, and there's another tomorrow night."

Oilers forward Evander Kane is a game-time decision for Game 6, Knoblauch announced Friday morning.

Kane sat out the last three games due to an undisclosed injury. He skated with forwards Sam Gagner and Sam Carrick outside of the team's top four lines in practice on Thursday.

- Reuters 

MASTERS CHAMP SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER POSTS A 63 AND LEADS THE RBC HERITAGE BY 1 SHOT

AP Photo 

 HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler drilled his opening tee shot — straight down the middle, of course — with a grandstand packed with spectators behind him. What got his attention was when he looked back from the green and saw that it was empty.

Thousands of fans didn't want to miss the Masters champion on Saturday in the RBC Heritage, and Scheffler didn't disappoint.

His shots were like lasers into the greens as he quickly worked his way into the lead and stayed there. One last birdie on the 18th hole at Harbour Town gave Scheffler a bogey-free 63 and a one-shot lead over Sepp Straka.

“It felt to me like the crowd was coming with me today, and there was definitely a lot of cheers out there,” Scheffler said. “I’ve always enjoyed playing in front of a crowd. It may not look like I’m paying much attention to them out there, but I can feel their energy, and it’s great to have the support.”

He won a green jacket last week, perhaps a plaid jacket from Harbour Town this week. Scheffler wasn't kidding when he talked about how much he hates to lose.

At stake Sunday is a fourth win in his last five starts, and a chance to become the first player since Bernhard Langer in 1985 to win the Masters and the next PGA Tour stop on the schedule. The only other Masters champion to do that was Gary Player in 1978.

“I think when I’m playing my best, sometimes it feels like I’m competing against myself a little bit out there, trying to keep pushing and stay as focused as I can,” Scheffler said.

“At the end of the day, we're out here competing against the best players in the world. I love competing against these guys, and I’m looking forward to the challenge of coming out and competing tomorrow.”

Scheffler was at 16-under 197. Straka made a 15-foot birdie putt on the last hole for a 65 to get within one shot. They will be in the final group Sunday, with a different wind and thunderstorms in the forecast.

Two-time major Collin Morikawa made one mistake late, coming up short of the 16th green and missing a 10-foot par putt. He had a 68 and was two shots behind. Masters runner-up Ludvig Aberg (68) was among those three shots back.

All of them are chasing the No. 1 player in the world in the midst of a dominant stretch of golf not seen since Tiger Woods in his prime.

Scheffler has gone 51 consecutive holes at par or better at Harbour Town. He posted his 39th consecutive round at par or better dating to the Tour Championship last August.

“I think we all expect him to play well, and there’s nothing I can do about it,” Aberg said. “All I try to do is focus on myself and make sure that I hit the shots the way I want to and then see where that takes me.”

Scheffler started three shots behind and already was tied for the lead with a tee shot to a pin at the back right corner of the 221-yard seventh hole, converting a 10-foot birdie.

Even the bad breaks led to birdies. On the reachable par-4 ninth, his drive stopped short of the bunker on a down slope of grass, leaving him a flop shot to a short pin with the green running away from him. All he could manage was a pitch to 35 feet. He rammed home the birdie putt, and never really stopped until finishing with a 7-foot birdie on the 18th.

For a moment, it was setting up as a duel with Aberg, the Swedish stud who has been a pro for 10 months and already is regarded as Scheffler's biggest threat because he never seems to miss. But he missed a drive on the 12th into the trees and made bogey to fall out of a share of the lead, and Aberg had to settle for pars the rest of the way.

The crowds were particularly large in the warm and sunshine, often lining the entire fairway two- and three-deep to watch golf's newest sensation. Scheffler has three wins and a runner-up finish in his last four tournaments.

The only player to beat him was Stephan Jaeger by one shot in the Houston Open — Scheffler missed a 5-foot putt that would have forced a playoff. They played together for the first time since then and Jaeger held his own with a 67.

Against Scheffler these days, that's just not enough.

Scheffler wasn't entirely prepared for this week. Winning can be draining, even more when it involves a Masters green jacket. He flew home to Dallas on Sunday night, spent two days with his pregnant wife, managed nine holes of a pro-am at Harbour Town and here he is again.

Patrick Rodgers is the only player within five shots of Scheffler who has yet to win on the PGA Tour. The former Stanford star has felt his game was in a good place and he was hopeful of getting another chance. And then he saw Scheffler's name starting to rise on the scoreboards as he was starting his round. Rodgers hung in there with a 68.

“It feels inevitable at this point,” Rodgers said. “His ball-striking is incredible. For me to have a chance tomorrow, I’m going to have to play 18 great holes. And I’m looking forward to the challenge."

- DOUG FERGUSON

1000 LAKES | 1985