Archive August 5, 2025

Lando Norris narrowed the Australian’s lead to nine points in the race for the drivers’ championship by leading a McLaren one-two at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Formula 1 will now take a summer break before hosting the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort on August 29 and 31.

BBC Sport F1 correspondent Andrew Benson answers your latest questions following the race at the Hungaroring.

After Oscar Piastri attempted to dive-bomb Lando Norris once more, will McLaren be privately concerned about the tense feud that is tarnishing the two drivers’ relationships? What can they say to both drivers to make them both happy, if applicable? – Jake

McLaren was pleased with the outcome of the Hungarian Grand Prix. They thought it best represented the philosophy they have adopted for their driver-to-drive team intra-team competition.

They are allowed to race each other, as long as they are fair – and that includes the possibility of divergent strategies to try to win a race that has been getting away from one or another.

Lando Norris did that in Hungary on Sunday. At the end of the first lap, Norris had to fight back from fifth place after finding himself in the wrong spots while trying to pass Oscar Piastri off the line.

He and engineer Will Joseph opted for a one-stop strategy that McLaren had not really considered would be a serious choice pre-race. In his final assignment, it gave him the track position over Piastri, and he did it flawlessly.

By allowing Piastri to have the best chance to defeat Norris within the bounds of the race’s duration, even to the point where it cost Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc track position, McLaren made every effort to give him the best chance to win.

But it did not work out for Piastri – he caught Norris with a few laps to go, but Norris had kept his tyres in decent shape and was able to fend his team-mate off.

A tense, fascinating race was born from it. More importantly, the radio transmissions, particularly those between Piastri and engineer Tom Stallard, showed how significant this conflict is to both drivers for the first time. Piastri claimed that he “didn’t care” about Leclerc.

Relations have been – and remain – so harmonious that it has sometimes been hard to appreciate the intensity of the title fight, how much it means to them, from the drivers ‘ public utterances. There was no doubt about it after reading this.

McLaren’s management was delighted, far from being concerned.

Chief executive officer Zak Brown described it as “an epic finish”.

When two outstanding drivers, like Lando and Oscar, compete for a title in a Formula 1 grand prix and compete for the drivers’ championship, it’s always going to be very close, according to team principal Andrea Stella on Sunday.

“But that was fair racing at the same time as that was firm racing.” It was definitely within our principles.

Oscar and I had a little lock-up, but Lando also left some room because he knew he would have to stop braking.

We continue to be extremely proud of our Lando and Oscar victories. This is a great way of honouring F1 racing. Even though we saw Ferrari compete for the victory for two-thirds of the race, these are the values of McLaren, and it will likely be a question between the two McLaren drivers.

It appears certain Mercedes will resign George Russell now that Max Verstappen will remain at Red Bull for the following year. Given how well he has driven this year, is there any way he might explain his feelings about he seemingly being seen as the second Max option? – Tom

In the weeks leading up to the Hungarian Grand Prix, Russell very clearly stated that he was not particularly happy with the way his contractual situation this year has been handled.

Mercedes manages and employs him, so the team can effectively bargain with themselves about his contract.

As Russell put it: “Something we need to think about. What do I want and what do they want?

For the past few months, we have been in a somewhat unusual situation. I don’t have huge power in this agreement. And perhaps the last six months’ interests diverged.

“But it’s my responsibility to carry that risk out.”

” I still trust Toto]Wolff] and the team will continue to support me, but for Kimi]Antonelli] and me, the last six months have not been the most assuring and that is conflicting. “

Next year, both Russell and Antonelli will continue to compete for Mercedes. Additionally, it is obvious that the same circumstance could arise next.

Is there a compelling reason why Aston Martin performed so much better in Hungary than it did in the past? Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso both had significantly faster times than the previous week. – Stan

Aston Martin themselves were a little perplexed as to why their performance for the Hungarian Grand Prix had improved significantly.

After all, Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso were sitting together in Hungary’s third row, just as they were sitting in Belgium the previous week.

But there doesn’t seem that much of a mystery, really.

Alonso once said, “I would say that it’s track characteristics. Seven days ago, we had a major car change, but that is no longer the case. No new parts for anybody. Simply put, the circuit’s characteristics seem to fit our car, not ours.

“It will be helpful to understand why the car is operating in this advantageous position,” the company said. “We can use it in the coming races.”

There are two things to think about here. One is that Aston Martin had a positive outlook prior to Spa when it completed a significant upgrade at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in mid-May.

Alonso placed fifth at Imola, seventh at Monaco, 10th at Spain, sixth at Canada, 11th at Austria, and ninth at Silverstone.

In that context, it’s the Spa result that should be seen as out of kilter, not Hungary.

The Aston Martin is a car that struggles on the straights, which is a result of poor aerodynamic performance. And straights account for two-thirds of Spa. The Hungaroring has a much higher percentage of corners.

Silverstone is a fast track, but Aston Martin ran an old-style floor at Spa, believing it would fit the track, which also caused the Eau Rouge bottoming issue.

This required switching to a previous-spec floor from Imola instead of the new one that Silverstone introduced.

Perhaps that also played a part.

Alonso’s outstanding race on Sunday resulted in the same race result as Lando Norris’ one-stop strategy, which he used to secure his grid position in Hungary. In seventh place, Stroll was less than ten seconds behind.

It would seem logical to assume that Aston Martin’s form may continue to fluctuate according to track characteristics from now on.

Does holding investigations after a race has finished damage the credibility of F1? There is no other sport that I can think of where the outcome can change. – Martin

This is presumably a reference to the decision to look into the incident between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton at Turn Four after the race in Hungary.

The FIA should have responded to numerous requests from teams and drivers in the past to thoroughly examine potentially contentious situations rather than make their own decisions during the race.

Consider the Verstappen-Lando Norris controversy from last year in Austin. Then, McLaren argued that stewards should have heard the views of both drivers before making a decision.

The stewards in Hungary made the decision to do that.

Hamilton, it turned out, didn’t appear at the hearing. Verstappen said: “I don’t think Lewis actually felt a lot for it because if he really felt something for it, then of course he’s there in the stewards ‘ room, right?

That’s just one little thing, I believe, because neither of us had the best weekend in the world.

Of course, it could have been that Hamilton didn’t show up because he was upset after a difficult weekend and didn’t want to get into a fight over a situation that would have no bearing on the outcome of his race.

When Paul Pogba received a four-year doping ban in February of this year, it was as much a question of “if” as “when” we would see the Frenchman again.

The “if” was removed from the equation when that was reduced on appeal to 18 months in October. The “when” was partially left unanswered, but it was then the “where” that everyone was talking about.

We had a response when a heartfelt Pogba signed a two-year deal with La Turbie at the end of June.

Even though clubs did bide their time after the end of his ban in March, AS Monaco was the only one who could have given the 32-year-old a chance to return to the professional game despite being far from the only ones interested.

There were connections to his native France, teams from his native country, and the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Japan.

In February, Marseille’s sporting director Medhi Benatia stated, “We thought about]signing Pogba], we wanted to do it.” Does it make sense to change the balance if we want to bring in a Pogba who isn’t yet fit?

Benatia didn’t rule out his side making an approach, but in the end, they didn’t because of serious concerns about the player’s fitness.

Monaco did . Even though, according to Monaco’s chief executive Thiago Scuro, “free agents have salaries too,” Pogba’s availability for no fee following the termination of his Juventus contract was not irrelevant to the principality club’s decision.

Pogba’s signing embodied a different approach to Monaco, one that focused on the squad’s age range.

With Maghnes Akliouche, Eliesse Ben Seghir, and Soungoutou Magassa recently joining the first team, they prioritize establishing a pathway into the first team for their academy graduates.

They also hire young people. None of Monaco’s summer recruits were over the age of 20; only George Ilenikhena, Christian Mawissa, and Lamine Camara were among the most expensive.

Wissam Ben Yedder and Guillermo Maripan, two of the most seasoned players, left the same summer.

Scuro recognized the need to make adjustments by January.

According to the Brazilian, “I think we were getting too young in the summer due to the goals we have.”

“Getting the performance players on board is the next step,” says the director. That’s the challenge.

Jordan Henderson’s attempts to move from Ajax to England failed in January. Instead, Monaco did not grant the Libyan’s request for a loan, despite the fact that Mohamed Al-Musrati had already arrived on loan.

La Pioche visited the club’s facilities in mid-May to meet with manager Adi Hutter and president Dmitry Rybolovlev, which is more recent in Monaco’s pursuit of Pogba.

Eric Dier, a former England defender, also signed for free from Bayern Munich this summer.

Through his extensive experience and natural leadership skills, which have already been apparent during a smooth integration process, Monaco view Pogba as a player who can help the group mature.

During Les Monegasques’ pre-season training camp in England, he quickly established a strong relationship with both the squad’s older and younger members.

Pogba’s positive impact has been felt in the dressing room, but it is hoped it will also be felt later on the pitch, even if the Frenchman may not have been overused.

Prior to Pogba’s arrival, it can be argued that Monaco already had the best midfield in the Ligue 1.

Therefore, he’s a wildcard and a bonus, but not a player the club will have to rush back from a rush of necessity.

Because Pogba is not fully functional, that is appropriate. The midfielder made an “ambition” to play against Le Havre on the opening day of the season at the beginning of June.

However, Scuro quickly tempered expectations.

He won’t likely play against Le Havre, I can assure you. To be realistic, we are here. He predicted a three-month process.

Pogba’s reputation will continue to benefit Monaco and the rest of Ligue 1.

More than half of the Monaco shirts ordered had the name of the World Cup winner on them, and 400 million people saw his arrival on social media.

Both the signing of Rennes and Brest have received praise for the signing, as has the league’s president, Vincent Labrune.

He said, “The league will benefit from both his charisma and talent, as well as his reputation abroad.”

If Pogba proves to be the legendary player of his day, Monaco will also gain, but that is a possibility.

Before his ban, the Frenchman had been plagued by injuries for months, even years, and he even acknowledged that he had seen a witch doctor about them.

Following accusations from his brother Mathias that he had used a witch to curse Kylian Mbappe before PSG’s Champions League last-16 game against Manchester United in 2019, Pogba was forced to make the admission.

The midfielder’s involvement in a wider extortion plot dates back to his time at Old Trafford, according to the accusations.

He was abducted by masked men in March 2022 and demanded money in the amount of 13 million euros (£11.3 million). His brother received a three-year prison sentence, two of which were suspended.

Pogba felt a strong impact after the challenging chapter in the pitch.

He said at his presentation, which he began by explaining his tears at signing for Monaco, that “it is all linked.”

“The pitch will go well if the mind is good.” I hope you enjoyed it because it’s very uncommon for me to cry that way. I had a lot of images in mind.

We all know about the doping scandal and my injury, but I was unable to stop myself as a result. A joyous moment occurred.

Pogba has since changed his career and is eager to make a fresh start, clearly after an unpleasant spell in the footballing wilderness.

During my ban, he continued, “I spoke with a number of people who helped me see things in the present and stop worrying about the past or the future.”

Pogba now has additional motivation for his comeback, as well as “more determined”.

He joked, “I wanted my kids to see me on the pitch, but my dream is to see my kids dab one of my goals,” he said.

With France’s performance center just a stone’s throw away from Monaco’s performance center, he couldn’t possibly be in a better place to add to his 91 caps.

Victoria Mboko, a teen, blew past Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain to reach the semi-finals of the Canadian Open, continuing her fairytale run.

The 18-year-old Canadian won 6-4, 6-2 in Montreal, beating two-time major champion Coco Gauff in the fourth round.

In her first WTA 1000-level semi-final, she will face ninth-seeded Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion.

In her on-court interview, Mboko, who is ranked 85th, said, “I’m so excited to be in the semi-final here.”

Mboko placed 333rd in the world at the beginning of the year, and when the rankings are updated the following week, he will be in the top 50.

She made her WTA Tour debut in March after a 22-game winning streak that included five titles from the lower-tier ITF Tour.

In her first Grand Slam appearance, she impressed, defeating 25th seed Magdalena Frech in Wimbledon’s opening round, and she did so in the third round.

Mboko is the youngest woman to reach the semi-finals since Belinda Bencic in 2015, and she is the first Canadian to do so since Bianca Andreescu won the competition in 2019.

Alexander Zverev came back from a set down to defeat defending champion Alexei Popyrin 6 (6) 6 6-4 6 6-3 in the men’s event in Toronto.

The 28-year-old German is reaching his 75th semi-final on the ATP Tour, becoming the only active men’s player to do so alongside Novak Djokovic.

He will face Russian Karen Khachanov, who defeated American Alex Michelsen 6-4, 7-6, 7-3.

Djokovic’s withdrawal from the tournament, which begins on Thursday, was confirmed by The Cincinnati Open.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion hasn’t played since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-finals, but the 24-time champion is recovering from a groin injury.

Former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick has a demanding day job, but he also has a passion for football, to the extent that he wants to play the sport.

The 30-year-old’s top priority has been resolving his biggest slump in an otherwise glittering golf career for the time being, though it might come one day.

Although it has been a difficult and heartfelt experience, last month’s Open resulted in a tie for fourth place in his career.

That was a great way to wrap up the men’s major season as he was the leading UK golfer that week on the Antrim coast.

Even more so now, given how Fitzpatrick’s game started at the Masters in April.

He had missed the cut the month before, when he won the 2022 US Open with caddie Billy Foster, at the Players.

After taking some time to reset his career following a disappointing 2024, this miserable early spring stifled expectations. Although he was prepared to fight once more, his game persisted.

Fitzpatrick told BBC Sport, “I simply didn’t have it.” “I put in a lot of work, my coaches put in a lot of work, but it just didn’t happen.”

There is no stone unturned in my favor, but it’s difficult when you intend to hit a shot and go too far. Simply put, I was unsure of what was coming.

The former world number six was in the top 75th by the time the Masters was over, earning him a share of 40th place.

He had no idea how to stop the decline. Additionally, there are times when things go wrong with the course.

Since Fitzpatrick’s mid-twenties, these vicissitudes have caused what had previously been a mystery to split up with his coach and confidante, Mike Walker.

Before turning professional, Walker helped his protégé win the US Amateur alongside fellow South Yorkshireman Pete Cowen.

Fitzpatrick remarked, “My relationship with Mike is really more important than golf.” I’ve been admiring him since I was 14 or 15 years old.

I have no idea what to say to him, and I respect him so much. I wasn’t playing well at the same time, and things probably needed to change.

“It’s my job, and I needed to get myself together.”

Fitzpatrick and Alabama-based coach Mark Blackburn started working on the game the week after the Masters.

In 15 years, Fitzpatrick said, “It was the first time I’ve ever had anyone look at my swing or learn a lesson from someone other than Mike Walker or Pete Cowen.”

Blackburn was interested in learning about his new student’s physical prowess and flexibility. They soon learned that Fitzpatrick’s arms are unusually long.

Which is less effective for hitting irons because it is more difficult to control the club’s depth and is more likely to hit it heavier, he said.

“The other thing is that I don’t have great shoulder flexion, and as a result, I lose my swing as a result of swinging it too far.”

Before each shot, Fitzpatrick would pull back his shoulders and stutter out his chest, making it clear that he was 11 under par at Portrush.

He said, “I’m trying to pinch my shoulder blades together.”

The effort is worthwhile. Fitzgerald placed eighth in the US PGA at Quail Hollow in May, joining only five of the top 10 players since the Masters, including placing fourth in Portrush the week before the US Open, and eighth overall at the Wyndham on Sunday.

He is now aiming to surpass the top 30 on the PGA Tour in Atlanta in order to advance to the season-ending Tour Championship. He is currently 41st and will compete in the FedEx St Jude play-off, which will take place on Thursday in Memphis.

When asked who he credits with guiding him through the most difficult period of his career, Fitzpatrick responds, “My mum, dad, and wife Katherine.”

She kept saying, “You’re a great player, you’re going to get it back,” when I won the US Open.

His enthusiasm for football has remained constant. Fitzpatrick and Fitzpatrick sat down to get in touch with a tactical expert who had appeared on the BBC Sport website.

Although some people believe it to be a joke, Fitzpatrick expressed his delight in football over golf. I have a football obsession. It is fantastic for me.

“I love supporting Sheffield United, over here in the States, they show me every game I could want to see, which is amazing.

Fitzpatrick has visited Brentford, the Premier League champions, to learn from his encounters with the performance team. His voice echoes the conversations he had with and the people he met.

He was “absorbing information like a sponge.” He said how they use data and how culture is so crucial. Simply fascinating.

Finding little things that might be useful for golf, I believe we’ve learned a lot from it.

not just golf, though. He asserts that he might switch sports one day.

Although I’m not sure when I’ll ever have the opportunity to work in football, Fitzpatrick said, “I’d love to do this if the opportunity ever came up in some way, shape or form.”

“I just find that to be very wishful thinking, but I really enjoy it.” I enjoy learning everything there is to know about it.

A resumed golf career is more important. He wants to keep his place in the Ryder Cup team from Europe for the upcoming trophy defense at Bethpage in New York along with making it to East Lake for the Tour Championship.

“It’s nice to play well in the play-offs and Ryder Cup,” Fitzpatrick said. “It would be very special to be a part of that once more.”

He has won three Ryder Cups, but his eight-game record, which is disappointing, and does not reflect someone’s talent with ten tournament victories in his professional career.

He said, “I still want to be a part of it to give myself a chance to improve it,” despite my past.

Fitzpatrick will provide a lot of perspective for the European team if he makes Luke Donald’s team.

He acknowledged that “in the last 15 months there has been an extra effort to try to be a little more understanding of my own psychology really” and to be “forgiving” of myself.

Catching things earlier is what I would take away from the slump, I thought. I am unable to reach that point once more.

“It was difficult for me, and the issue was that it lasted for a long time. You need to catch those things as soon as you can and turn them around as quickly as you can because you can’t afford to be behind the eight ball.