30/08/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | AUG 30, 2025

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Verstappen happy to see Perez returning to F1

INSIDE EGDE Afghanistan have no ‘specific targets’: Rashid

MAX VERSTAPPEN congratulated former Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez as soon as he heard the Mexican had secured a Formula One comeback with newcomers Cadillac next season, he revealed yesterday. Perez partnered the four-times world champion at Red Bull from 2021 to 2024 but left after a dramatic drop in form. The 35-year-old’s return, alongside Valtteri Bottas, with the 2026 debutants was announced on Tuesday. “I quickly, when I saw the news come out, sent a message to him,” Verstappen told reporters ahead of his home Dutch Grand Prix. “I’m of course very happy for him that he

races and scored 187 points, but his teammates only adding seven with Tsunoda having a best result of sixth in the Miami sprint and ninth in regular grands prix. Verstappen said Perez now had the chance to make a fresh start with the sport’s 11th team. “I think also from his side, just one half of the season doesn’t define what you can do, right? I think he’s also quite easy in that. Some people maybe dwell on it a bit more,” he added. “He has shown a lot of great things even before he got to Red Bull, during the Red Bull time. He just needs to go in there and enjoy it again and have a good time.” – Reuters

got a seat. He’s a great guy and we’ve always got along very well. I’m happy to see him back on the grid. “How he’s going to perform, I think, will also depend on how good the car is going to be… but it’s a new opportunity and I’m sure he’s very excited for it.” Perez, a six-times race winner, was championship runner-up to Verstappen in 2023 but slumped to eighth in 2024 when his teammate clinched his fourth title in a row. His successors Liam Lawson, who lasted two races, and Yuki Tsunoda have also struggled in a team where Verstappen is the clear No. 1 and the car tuned to his taste. Since Perez left, Verstappen has won two

AFGHANISTAN captain Rashid Khan says his team have no “specific targets” despite producing groundbreaking performances in recent ICC global events, ahead of a T20 international tri-series. Rashid’s men face Pakistan in the opening game in Sharjah, with the United Arab Emirates the other side taking part in the event which serves as a warm-up for next month’s Asia Cup, also in the UAE. Afghanistan reached the semifinals of last year’s T20 World Cup in the United States and the Caribbean, and narrowly missed out on reaching the last four at the ODI Champions Trophy in Pakistan earlier in 2025. Those performances followed an impressive showing at the 2023 one-day World Cup, when the Afghans produced statement wins over England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. “We do not have specific targets, and we do not want to put extra pressure on our players,” Rashid said. “Our target is to play the brand of cricket we have played over the years. For us the main target is to put in 200 percent effort on the ground.” Sri Lanka pick Hasaranga SRI LANKA have picked Wanindu Hasaranga in their Twenty20 squad for the Asia Cup next month though the all-rounder has been ruled out of the tour of Zimbabwe as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Hasaranga sustained the injury during the home series against Bangladesh in July and the injury will keep him out of Sri Lanka’s limited overs tour of Zimbabwe. A leg-spinner who is also a handy batter down the order, Hasaranga will replace Dushan Hemantha from the squad in Zimbabwe. Apart from Hasaranga, Sri Lanka will have strong spin options in Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana. Russell drops Max bombshell GEORGE RUSSELL has confirmed that it was Kimi Antonelli at risk of losing his seat to Max Verstappen, rather than himself. Both the Brit and the four-time world champion are now secure in their whereabouts for 2026, although Mercedes are yet to agree on a new contract for their star driver. Verstappen is contracted with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season, but the Dutchman’s deal with the Milton Keynes squad is understood to contain performance clauses that would have facilitated a switch elsewhere. With Laurent Mekies’ team languishing in fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship standings, Toto Wolff spied an opportunity. The Mercedes boss went public with his pursuit of the 27-year-old, but ultimately, he decided to retain faith in the team that has overseen his Formula One development. At the height of the speculation, it was assumed that a move for Verstappen would see Russell shuffled onto the sidelines, such has been Mercedes’ investment into the future of Antonelli. However, ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, the Silver Arrows’ British star set the record straight. Asked if his future was ever in doubt, he replied: “No, not at all, to be honest. “It was more of a question of who my teammate was going to be. I think I’m quite rational to how this sport works, and the team felt like they didn’t need to sign a deal. “I didn’t really feel I needed to push it so much when it got to a certain point. I believe in myself more than ever. “I’ve always believed in myself, and my results have always shown that. “It’s not just the form of this year, but through my whole career since the age of 10 years old. So, yeah, if you back yourself and if you perform, you’ll never have anything to worry about.” – Express Newspapers

Hamilton just wants to have fun Briton has yet to stand on the podium with Ferrari, focus on ‘pure love’ of racing L EWIS HAMILTON says he wants to put the fun factor back in his Formula One career after a diffi cult start to his career at Ferrari. the right direction after bringing upgrades at the Belgian Grand Prix which Ferrari have continued to fine-tune in the lead-up to Sunday’s race.

The winner of 105 races, but still without a podium finish since last

The seven-time world champion cut a disconsolate figure at the last race before the August break, the Hungarian Grand Prix, when he branded himself “absolutely useless” after a dismal qualifying while teammate Charles Leclerc took pole. Speaking at the Dutch Grand Prix yesterday Hamilton, 40, told reporters he had unplugged over the break and shifted his aim for the final 10 races of the season. “We’re going to work hard, keep our heads down, try to change a few things in our approach and start to enjoy ourselves,” he said. “There’s been so much pressure this first half of the season, it’s not been the most enjoyable. I think it (fun) is probably the most important part. That’s the reason I got into this sport. “I think for anyone in whatever career you’re in, if you’re not enjoying what you’re doing then why are you doing it? There can often be so much noise, you can lose sight. “I just want to enjoy the team I’ve always dreamed of driving for. Now it’s about time to move those things aside and focus on the pure love of it.” Hamilton said the team were going in

year, Hamilton said he could see plenty of potential and lots of positives. “We’ll take from that and build on that,” he added.

“There were always difficult times… I truly believe in the potential of what we can achieve together. No one succeeds without going through those tough patches.” George Russell, who is still waiting to sign a contract extension with Mercedes even if it is just a matter of time, backed his former teammate to bounce back. “Of course he’s talking nonsense when he says something like that (being useless) because he’s the greatest driver of all time,” Russell told reporters at Zandvoort. “He’s still clearly got it but Formula One is not an easy sport especially if the team is not performing at the highest level that compounds the issue. Of course, Charles is an amazing driver too.” – Reuters Max is mad World Champion Max Verstappen finds himself in the unfamiliar position of coming to his home Grand Prix far from favourite to win, facing a battle just to make the podium. The Dutchman suffered a miserable weekend last year, failing to win for the first time since Zandvoort was reintroduced to the F1 circuit in 2021. He spun his car in a wet first practice, lost pole to Norris, and finished more than 22 seconds off the pace – “just a bad weekend all round”, said a downcast Verstappen. Lewis blues Will Zandvoort be the place that seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton rediscovers his mojo? At the age of 40, could the pressures and expectation of his high-profile switch from Mercedes to the storied Ferrari team tip the

Lewis Hamilton. – REUTERSPIC

Four things to watch in Zandvoort AFTER nearly a month off for the summer break, Formula One is back as fans, drivers and teams descend on the seaside resort of Zandvoort for tomorrow’s (9pm Malaysian time) Dutch Grand Prix. Papaya rules (?)

racing legend into retirement? Hamilton fans will be eager to see whether several weeks of rest will have pepped up the British driver, who still enjoys the backing of

team boss Fred Vasseur. Mercato rumours

Lando Norris brilliantly won at Zandvoort last year and few would bet against the Briton or Australian teammate Oscar Piastri taking the chequered flag tomorrow, given McLaren’s dominance this season. The pair are free to race each other under the team’s “papaya rules” – named after McLaren’s colours – which boil down to “don’t crash into each other”, according to Piastri but that’s exactly what happened at the Canadian Grand Prix. For now, the two have a good relationship but history shows that team spirit can quickly evaporate in the championship pressure cooker.

With the return of F1 racing comes the inevitable gossip of who drives where next season. With major changes coming to Formula One from next season, many teams have been reluctant to shake things up too much – Verstappen for example committing to Red Bull just before the break. But questions continue to swirl around George Russell, whose contract at Mercedes ends this season. The Briton has said it’s a question of “when, not if” his contract is extended but until his future is assured, paddock gossip will rage. AFP