24/03/2025

SPORTS MONDAY | MAR 24, 2025

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A USTRALIAN Oscar Piastri roared back from season opening disappointment in his home race by winning the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix from pole position yesterday in a McLaren one-two with championship-leading teammate Lando Norris. George Russell finished third for Mercedes, ahead of Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Saturday sprint winner Lewis Hamilton fifth and sixth. Piastri’s win denied Norris a third victory in a row, including last year’s Abu Dhabi season-ender, but left champions McLaren unbeaten in two races so far this year. “Mega job guys. The car was very, very lovely,” Piastri said over the team radio after taking the chequered flag – an echo of Verstappen’s “simply lovely” catchphrase heard so often in the past. “I’m just so proud of the whole weekend. This is what I feel like I deserved from last week,” added the Australian, who finished ninth in Melbourne after starting on the front row. Norris finished 9.748 seconds behind on a similar one-stop strategy and after struggling with a “long” brake pedal that became critical towards the end and forced him to slow. The Briton now has 44 points to Verstappen’s 36 and Russell’s 35. Piastri, who was second in the sprint, is on 34. McLaren are 25 points clear Iran need point to seal WC berth

McLaren one-two in Shanghai Piastri wins Chinese Grand Prix from pole as Norris stays top CHINESE GRAND PRIX

Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto spun into the gravel on the opening lap while Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, his manager, was the sole retirement. “I cannot brake, no brakes,” the Spaniard told his team on lap four. – Reuters Race Result 1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) , 2. Lando Norris (McLaren) , 3. George Russell (Mercedes) , 4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) , 5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) , 6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) , 7. Esteban Ocon (Haas) , 8. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) , 9. Alexander Albon (Williams) . Retirement: Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) . World C’ship Standings (Top 5) Drivers: 1. Lando Norris (GBR) 44pts, 2. Max Verstappen (NED) 36, 3. George Russell (GBR) 35, 4. Oscar Piastri (AUS) 34, 5. Kimi Antonelli (ITA) 18. Constructors: 1. McLaren 78pts, 2. Mercedes 53, 3. Red Bull 36, 4. Ferrari 35, 5. Williams 12.

of Mercedes. “It’s like my worst nightmare,” said Norris of his brake issue. “If I have a nightmare it’s when the brakes are failing and I was losing two, three, four seconds the last couple of laps. So I was a bit scared but we survived and got to the end.” Esteban Ocon collected Haas’s first points of the campaign in seventh with Italian rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli eighth for Mercedes and Alex Albon ninth for Williams on his 29th birthday, the team’s second consecutive scoring finish. British rookie Oliver Bearman took the final point in 10th place for Haas. Verstappen lost two places at the start, dropping from fourth to sixth as both the Ferraris went past, while Norris, from third on the grid, overtook Russell and slotted into second behind Piastri. Leclerc suffered a broken front wing after he and Hamilton made contact as they went through, the front left of the Monegasque’s car hitting the rear of Hamilton’s as the Briton moved across. “I’ve been hit by someone,” exclaimed Hamilton.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri celebrates on the podium with his trophy after winning the F1 Chinese GP. – AFPPIC

others eked out the tyres to the finish but the strategy backfired with the gap to Verstappen too much to make up. Verstappen passed Leclerc three laps from the end to finish where he started on the grid.

Despite the missing end-plate, Ferrari did not change the wing at the first pitstops with Leclerc picking up speed instead and Hamilton obeying a call to let him through on lap 21. Hamilton pitted again on lap 38 as

Tuchel seeks

structure for Bellingham

Ű BY SIMON PEACH

Lewis-Skelly’s opener during an impressive overall display by a player who has a l r e a d y represented England at three major tournaments. A fourth is on track after a

Asked if he felt Bellingham was trying to do too much during England’s run to the Euro 2024 final, Tuchel said: “Yeah. “I think that he is always ready to give everything, and I think we need to help him within a structure that he can play more economically and still have the same impact, or maybe even more impact. “But we need to make sure that the leaders – and he’s one of the leaders – and the key players play in the same rhythm and help each other out, to play a little bit more disciplined, maybe to save some energy for the decisive moments.” Bellingham’s confidence, communication and hunger are the kind of attributes the new boss wants as he builds a “brotherhood”. “He loves to talk to the referee and the linesman,” Tuchel said of the 21-year-old with a smile. “He’s a very emotional player on the pitch and I think you just see he hates to lose and he does everything it takes, and he expresses himself. “I think he will keep this hunger and learn to channel the emotions a little bit, but it’s never a problem. “It’s good to have him as he is, and we will try to make the most out of it because he’s a key player for us.” – The Independent

IRAN need only a draw from their match against Uzbekistan at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran tomorrow to join Japan in securing a spot at the 2026 World Cup while stuttering South Korea will look to steady their nerves against visitors Jordan. Iran, who are looking to confirm a fourth consecutive appearance at the finals, lead Uzbekistan by three points in Group A and hold a nine-point advantage over United Arab Emirates with three matches to play. The top two from each of Asia’s three groups in the third phase of qualifying advance directly to the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with nations finishing third and fourth moving on to a fourth round of qualifiers in October. Japan became the first country to qualify for the finals on Thursday. Iran and Uzbekistan have played each other three times in the 2026 qualifying campaign, with all three matches ending in draws. Asian champions Qatar take on Kyrgyzstan and the UAE play North Korea with both needing wins to maintain their hopes of an automatic berth, although the pair appear increasingly likely to advance to the fourth phase. South Korea have stumbled their way through Group B but, despite their unconvincing performances, Hong Myung-bo’s team lead by three points from Jordan. The pair meet in Suwon in a re-run of last year’s Asian Cup semifinal, with Jordanian hopes of repeating their win in Qatar boosted by a 3-1 victory over Palestine on Thursday. Iraq, who trail Jordan on goal difference, take on Palestine having escaped with a point from their meeting with Kuwait last week thanks to a pair of stoppage-time goals. The Kuwaitis host fourth-placed Oman. Japan’s victory over Bahrain confirmed their qualification and left five nations battling for the remaining automatic berth in Group C. Second-placed Australia travel to Hangzhou to take on China while Indonesia take on Bahrain in Jakarta. Saudi Arabia face Japan on the back of a 1-0 win over China, their first victory in five qualifiers moving them into sole possession of third place. – AFP

THOMAS TUCHEL wants to help Jude Bellingham play “more economically” as he seeks to take one of England’s key players to even greater heights. The Real Madrid star has established himself as one of the world’s best and overtook Wayne

Rooney for the most England caps for a player aged 21 or younger in Saturday’s 2-0 win against Albania, his 41st. Bellingham produced a beautiful

triumphant start to qualification for next year’s World Cup, where Tuchel is looking to maximise his talents. “I think he’s a key player for

us, and will be a key player,” the England head coach said. “He’s happy to take the responsibility and it’s now our job. “He’s totally a team player and absolutely open to give everything for the team. He’s always able to make the difference, so we need to find the structure and the space to make the most of it. It’s a pleasure to work with him.”

defence splitting pass for Myles

Bellingham

Kane determined to stretch England goal record

Ű BY JONATHAN VEAL

hopefully a few more to come.” Kane’s goal put the finishing touches on a comfortable, but underwhelming, win as Tuchel’s reign began. It was not exactly the high octane football Tuchel promised as Albania deployed a low block, but Kane said there were promising signs. “I think that’s maybe why he’s a little disappointed at the end,” he added. “But then they were tough to break down as well. There were spells where they made it difficult. “That energy in training this

week and with him in the meetings and everything has been at a high, high level. “I think you saw glimpses of it out there today. There were times when we counter-pressed really well and kept them pinned in. “But probably just with the ball, there were too many slow passes, and we didn’t quite get that same pattern to play with the ball. “But it’s an exciting time. It’s the first building block in a long year and three months ahead before America and we could be happy with how we started.” – The Independent

people were “bored” by his goalscoring prowess, but warned there is plenty more to come. “I’m just really happy. That was taken a little bit out of context,” he said. “I know fans appreciate everything I do and love to see me out there in an England shirt. “It’s almost 10 years since my England debut and I enjoy it as much as my first camp. I love being here, I love being at Wembley. “I feel comfortable in this team and in this environment. Number 70, it’s a great achievement to hit, but

ENGLAND’S record goalscorer Harry Kane is still hungry for more after netting for the 70th time in Saturday’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Albania. The 31-year-old continued his remarkable scoring record for his country, bringing up the landmark goal in his 104th appearance. His second-half strike at Wembley ensured he was on the scoresheet in Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge. Kane said before the game he felt