20/09/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | SEPT 20, 2025

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Hamilton gets real Briton says prospect of 2025 F1 win for Ferrari ‘far-fetched’

Ű KIERAN JACKSON

L EWIS HAMILTON believes the prospect of winning a race for Ferrari in his first season is “far-fetched”, with eight races to go in 2025. The seven-time world champion, 40, has endured a difficult start to life at the Scuderia, having failed to finish on the podium in his opening 16 races with the team. While his best finish in a grand prix has been fourth, he did win the sprint race in China back in March. Despite failing to win a race so far this year, Ferrari are actually positioned second in the constructors’ championship, but McLaren, the runaway frontrunners, can clinch the title at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Yet Hamilton, who finished sixth last time out at Ferrari’s home race in Monza, was realistic when asked about his prospects of claiming a maiden victory in red this season, but insisted he was “optimistic” going into the street race in Baku. “A win is a bit far-fetched, considering I’ve been sixth, seventh and eighth for most of the season,” Hamilton said yesterday.

unique Baku street circuit. “I still have this feeling, but mostly based on many years coming here, and most of the time we were not the favourites on paper, then we ended up having pole,” Leclerc said. “But that doesn’t mean we can win on Sunday. Pole position puts you in the best possible place to start the race but that doesn’t necessarily mean that we will have the race pace. “That’s what we’ve been lacking in the past years. I don’t have a big hope that this year is going to be significantly different. “McLaren is going to be the strongest team alongside Red Bull, because I think that in Monza, they definitely had something that seems to be working very well. “It’s not going to be easy, but in the places where we have a bit more of a chance, I remain convinced that Baku is one of those.” – The Independent

hope of an improvement in performance next year. As for this year’s remainder, the Briton believes the final eight rounds “don’t have much bearing on next year.” He added: “Of course, the goal is to see progress and continue to work… but the more experience with the team, the more I grow with the team. “That experience will always pay dividends moving forward, the things that we’re learning, whatever lessons that we’re faced with will definitely help for the future.” Leclerc, meanwhile, is

“I would love to get a podium for the team at some stage, Charles has had five of them. “I feel optimistic coming into the weekend. I feel like I’ve found a couple of things and now I need to work on extracting them. So, I really hope that this weekend can be the start of that.” A new set of engine and

chassis regulations next year threatens to shake up the pecking order in the sport, with Ferrari among many teams hoping for a fast start. Hamilton has

confident heading into the Azerbaijan GP weekend amid a sensational streak of five consecutive pole

detailed previously how he has written documents to Ferrari engineers back at base in Maranello, in the

Hamilton. – AFPPIC

positions – including the 2023 sprint – at the

Afghanistan crash out of Asia Cup

Jobs

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Pakistan ready for India rematch: Salman PAKISTAN captain Salman Agha said his team were ready to face India in the next round of the Asia Cup tomor row after last week’s group-stage match between the arch-rivals ended in acrimony when the Indian side refused to shake hands. Pakistan beat United Arab Emirates in their final Group A game on Wednesday to advance to the Super Fours stage, where they will also play two teams from Group B in a round robin format. Bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan has been sus pended since 2013 and they play each other only in multi-team tour naments. “We are ready, we are ready for any challenge,” Salman said after their 41-run victory SRI LANKA chased down a daunting target of 170 with six wickets in hand to knock Afghanistan out of the Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Sri Lanka wrapped up their Group B fixtures unbeaten, with the former champions getting home with eight deliveries to spare. Having topped the group, Sri Lanka marched into the second round, with Bangladesh joining them as the other qualifier. It was quick Nuwan Thushara who set the tone, rattling through the Afghan top order with four wickets. Then it was wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis who stole the limelight in the chase, crafting an unbeaten 74 off 52 SHORTS

Jessica Pegula won the doubles decid er to edge out Kazakhstan 2-1 yester day and set up a semifinal clash with Britain. The tie hung in the balance after American Emma Navarro had dra matically saved two match points to outlast Yulia Putintseva 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(6), only for an aggressive Elena Rybakina to level matters by dismantling world No. 7 Pegula 6-4, 6-1. Kazakhstan, eyeing their first final appearance, then rolled the dice by selecting Rybakina and Putintseva for the decisive doubles clash. But the Americans – spearheaded by doubles world No. 1 Townsend – had other plans when skipper Lindsay Davenport teamed her up with Pegula. The US pair survived an early scare Nabi finished with a whirlwind 60 off 22 balls, peppered with three fours and six sixes, his half-century equalling the record for the quickest by an Afghan batter. – AFP Nabi turned the script on its head. The all-rounder bludgeoned 32 runs off the last over, lifting his side to a fighting 169 for eight. Dunith Wellalage, playing his first T20 since November 2024, dropped Nabi on five, a mistake that cost dearly. Thrown the ball for the final over, the left-arm spinner was carted for five sixes, conceding the second most expensive over by a Sri Lankan in T20 history.

ment.Salman acknowledged they had to bat better. “We got the job done but we still need to improve our batting in the middle order,” Salman said. “That’s been a concern and something we need to work on.” US set up BJK Cup semis clash with Britain THE United States stayed on course for a record balls with 10 boundaries. Opening the innings, Mendis dropped anchor against Afghanistan’s much-vaunted four pronged spin attack. He later shifted gears in a blistering 52-run stand off just 23 balls for the fifth wicket with his namesake Kamindu Mendis. Sri Lanka had their noses in front from the moment Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first. Thushara struck twice in his second over, eventually finishing with four for 18. At 137 for seven heading into the final over, Afghanistan looked dead and buried, but veteran Mohammad

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extending 19th Billie Jean King Cup crown after Taylor Townsend and

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when they stared down three break points at 0-40 in their opening service game, but managed to hold serve before seizing control to seal a 6-2, 7-6(1) victory. “I haven’t played with Taylor in such a long time, so that was fun to get back playing with her,” said Pegula, a former doubles world number one. “I always love play ing with a lefty. Makes my life a lot easier. I think our games complement each other really well. “She’s an amazing doubles player. She could probably play with anybody.”

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against UAE. We just want to play good cricket. If we play good cricket, like we have played in the last few months, I think we’ll be good against any side.” Fakhar Zaman made 50 but Pakistan’s frontline batters disap pointed against UAE’s modest attack with opener Saim Ayub falling for his third successive duck in the tourna

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Jessica Pegula in action. –AFPPIC