Max Verstappen delights home crowd with pole position for Dutch Grand Prix
Max Verstappen delighted his home crowd by taking pole position for Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix. In an incident-packed wet-dry session, the unstoppable double world champion delivered a crushing lap to finish half-a-second clear of Lando Norris, who qualified second for McLaren. George Russell will start from third place for Mercedes with the impressive Alex Albon fourth. Lewis Hamilton was eliminated in Q2 and will line up from only 13th spot in Zandvoort. “It was a very tricky qualifying session,” said Verstappen. “It was all about putting your laps in and staying out of trouble and we managed that quite well. “The pressure is always there to perform but when you pull it off it’s incredible.” Q3 was red-flagged twice. First when Logan Sargeant crashed out in his Williams. The American rookie lost control of his machine on the entry to Turn 2, sending him into the gravel and then the tyre wall. Sargeant, 22, emerged unscathed from the accident but the force of the impact contributed to significant damage on the front of his machine. The running was suspended for 20 minutes as Sargeant’s stricken Williams was removed and the barriers were repaired. A dry line had emerged and it was Norris who put his McLaren at the top of the order before Charles Leclerc put his Ferrari into the wall. Leclerc carried too much speed into the ninth bend and ran onto the grass and then into the Armco. A six-minute stoppage followed with just four minutes and five seconds left on the clock, with Norris hoping to hold on to claim only his second career pole. Norris said: “Every now and then you hope Max makes a mistake, but he doesn’t, so frustrating in a little way. But I’m very happy. The team did a good job and I will take P2.” Russell, seven tenths behind Verstappen, said: “We are in a great place tomorrow to battle for a podium. “I’m sure Max will have his Sunday drive and be waving to the crowd but I hope to have a good fight with Lando, Alex and the rest of the boys.” But Verstappen delivered an emphatic answer by racing to top spot with his final lap to huge roars from the Orange Army. On Sunday, he will bid to match Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine consecutive wins. Hamilton revealed in the build-up to Sunday’s race that his goal for the second half of the season was to take runner-up spot in the championship. But on Formula One’s return from its summer slumber, the seven-time world champion – who is currently fourth in the standings – will start way down the order following a disappointing qualifying session. The British driver, 38, appeared to be impeded by AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda on his final run in Q2 and failed to deliver a time speedy enough to progress. The stewards have noted the incident, but Hamilton, 41 points adrift of Sergio Perez, who is currently best of the rest behind team-mate Verstappen, now faces an uphill task to salvage a respectable result. Fernando Alonso qualified fifth for Aston Martin, one place ahead of Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, with Perez only seventh, 1.3 seconds behind team-mate Verstappen. Liam Lawson has been handed his F1 debut here as a substitute for Daniel Ricciardo. The 34-year-old Australian suffered a broken left wrist in a practice crash on Friday and has been ruled out of this weekend’s race with the prospect of missing further rounds, too. In Ricciardo’s absence, New Zealander Lawson, 21, will start his maiden F1 race from 20th and last. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Max Verstappen is one of the best drivers in F1 history – Lando Norris Daniel Ricciardo ruled out of Dutch Grand Prix after breaking wrist in practice Daniel Ricciardo to miss Dutch Grand Prix after suffering broken wrist in crash
1970-01-01 08:00
Bizarre moment Vladimir Putin addresses conference in ‘altered’ voice
This is the bizarre moment Vladimir Putin’s voice appeared to be ‘altered’ as he addressed a summit this week. The pre-recorded video of his opening speech raised eyebrows when it was shown to delegates at the BRICS Business Forum in South Africa. Russian journalists posted a 30-second clip of the video on Telegram, with the caption: “Putin addressed the BRICS Business Council via video link, but not with his own voice.” The original clip, which features his regular speaking voice, was posted on the Russian government’s website. It is unclear whether the altered video was a technical fault or had been changed on purpose. Mr Putin was forced to join the summit of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa remotely after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest in March. The ICC accused Mr Putin of conducting war crimes by unlawfully deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine to the Russian Federation. All other members of BRICS attended the summit in South Africa, with President Putin dialling in on a video call. Chinese Premier Xi Jinping made a rare trip overseas to be at the bloc’s first in-person summit since before the Covid pandemic. South Africa and Russia share strong ties and have a historically close relationship, but South Africa is also a signatory to the international court’s treaty. That means it would be obliged to arrest Mr Putin on the ICC warrant if he set foot on South African soil. South Africa lobbied for months ahead of the summit to persuade Putin to stay at home so it could avoid the problem, South African officials say. Deputy President Paul Mashatile said last month that Mr Putin was determined to come before an agreement for him to participate virtually was finally announced. “It’s almost like you invite your friend to your house, and then arrest them,” Mashatile said at the time. “That’s why for us his not coming is the best solution. The Russians are not happy, though. They want him to come.” South Africa, the current chair of BRICS, has denied allegations that the bloc is taking an anti-West turn under the influence of China and Russia amid increased West-East geopolitical tensions. “There’s an unfortunate narrative being developed that BRICS is anti-West, that BRICS was created as competition to the G-7 or the Global North, and that is incorrect,” said Anil Sooklal, South Africa’s ambassador to BRICS. “What we do seek is to advance the agenda of the Global South.” Read More Putin’s hit list: from poisoned tea to mysterious falls, the grisly fate of the Kremlin’s enemies Putin ally says he warned Wagner chief Prigozhin ‘to watch out’ for threats to life – Ukraine-Russia war live Russia's Wagner mercenaries face uncertainty after the presumed death of its leader in a plane crash The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary
1970-01-01 08:00
US shakes off slow start and tops New Zealand 99-72 in Basketball World Cup opener
The U.S. needed to shake off a slow start before beating New Zealand to open its run at the Basketball World Cup
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Chiefs Rumors: Chris Jones trade suitor, Vikings trade proposal, Buechele’s last stand
Chiefs Rumors: A Chris Jones trade suitor is planting seeds, a Vikings-Chiefs trade proposal makes sense, Shane Buechele has one final push to make.
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Jackson Hole and Mugshot Buzz: Your Saturday US Briefing
This week, the world watched as former president Donald Trump surrendered in Atlanta on charges that he conspired
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Fed Latest: China Still Embedded in US Supply Chain, Paper Finds
China remains embedded in US supply chains even as American firms have taken steps to reduce direct imports
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Trump, Biden policies shifted trade from China at a cost, study shows
By Howard Schneider JACKSON HOLE, Wyoming U.S. trade has shifted away from China due to policies enacted by
1970-01-01 08:00
Newly declassified US intel claims Russia is laundering propaganda through unwitting Westerners
Russian intelligence is operating a systematic program to launder pro-Kremlin propaganda through private relationships between Russian operatives and unwitting US and western targets, according to newly declassified US intelligence.
1970-01-01 08:00
Bukayo Saka breaks 26-year Premier League appearance record for Arsenal
By playing against Fulham, Bukayo Saka broke Paul Merson's Premier League record of consecutive appearances for Arsenal
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Lions training camp star in for rude awakening against Patrick Mahomes
Lions rookie Brian Branch doesn't seem to be taking a Week 1 matchup against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs seriously enough based on his latest comments.
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Why did Rodrygo take Real Madrid’s penalty against Celta Vigo: 2023/24 Los Blancos spot-kick takers
Why Real Madrid's Rodrygo took and missed a penalty instead of Luka Modric during the side's 1-0 win over Celta Vigo in La Liga.
1970-01-01 08:00
Vinicius Junior: Injury progress & potential return date for Real Madrid forward
90min assesses the extent of Vinicius Junior's injury suffered during Real Madrid's La Liga clash with Celta Vigo.
1970-01-01 08:00
