02/05/2026

SPORTS SATURDAY | MAY 2, 2026

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Inside F1’s private debate

CADILLAC DRIVER Valtteri Bottas has revealed there is a Formula 1 drivers’ WhatsApp group where votes took place surrounding the 2026 regulations. Some drivers have criticised this sea son’s cars for being powered by hybrid engines and relying on more electrical energy than ever before. DRS has also been replaced by “overtake mode”, and battery management has become a crucial part of racing, leading to far more over taking; however, critics have said it is artificial. The concerns have since been addressed after a series of meetings between F1 stakeholders in April. Among the rule changes made include a reduced recharge in qualifying, increased super clipping power to reduce duration, a boost cap

He added: “Yeah, so we, all drivers, we have this group chat on WhatsApp . So we’ve been communicating there quite a lot and especially after Japan. “We did some votes and stuff like that, but everything is kind of aligned. I think everyone agrees it’s stepped in the right direction. “But now we need to see these things in action. But I think all the drivers are aligned. “It’s sometimes only a couple of drivers that speak to the FIA, but normally they speak on behalf of all of us, the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers’ Association).” – Express Newspapers

into the right direction. “I mean, you could do a bigger change, but at the same time, I think what is tricky is that I understand that you don’t want to penalise any teams that have done well. “You don’t want to make changes that would change the order of the teams or anything like this. Mid-season, doing big, big changes it’s quite tricky so I think it’s a good good first step.” The Finn was later asked about the role the drivers played in changing the 2026 regulations before Miami. The 36-year-old has revealed that votes were taken in a group chat.

of +150kW, and aids to slow race starts. And Bottas admits he supports the adjust ments, especially those that concern closing speeds at corners, following Ollie Bearman’s 50G crash at Suzuka in late March. Speaking to the media ahead of this week end’s Miami Grand Prix, he said: “All the new adjustments to the rules – it makes sense. I think it’s in the right direction in terms of trying to have less gaps with the closing speeds, perhaps a little bit less aggressive clipping at the end of the straights, so that makes sense. “I think it’s still quite a small step, but a step

Verstappen makes Red Bull exit admission MAX VERSTAPPEN has admitted he would be “an idiot” to stand in the way of Gianpiero Lambiase furthering his career, with the race engineer set to leave Red Bull when his contract expires in 2028 – although there have been suggestions his exit could be brought forward. The team confirmed his impending departure earlier this month, just hours after it emerged that Lambiase had chosen to pursue a new challenge elsewhere. He will join McLaren, and in a statement, a Red Bull spokesperson said: “Oracle Red Bull Racing confirms that Gianpiero Lambiase will leave the team in 2028, when his current contract expires. GP is a valued member of the team, which he joined in 2015. The team and he are fully committed to add more success to our strong track record together.” A McLaren spokesperson hailed Lambiase as a “top talent”. Meanwhile, Verstappen previously suggested that he would have no interest in racing in F1 if Lambiase were no longer by his side. In a 2021 interview with a Dutch broadcaster, after he won the title for the first time, he said: “I have said to him, I only work with him. As soon as he stops, I stop too.” However, the F1 driver softened his stance and made it clear that Lambiase leaves with his full blessing. “I will have to work with someone else, but I think times change, and the offer that he got, I would be an idiot to try and keep him,” he told reporters (via RacingNews365 ). “It’s not only about me all the time. It is also about his career and moving forward, so for me, it was a no-brainer to be honest, but we are looking to the future now, and working with different engineers, and I’m sure we’ll find solutions for that. “I explained it in Holland about what happened, and we have a very honest and open relationship, so it was all good. I already said that I wish him the best and that there are no hard feelings, and that as a team, we look to the future and want to innovate and improve.” When asked if Lambiase’s departure had any impact on his decision to stay with Red Bull long-term, Verstappen simply replied that: “It has got nothing to do with it.” – Express Newspaper

Ruud Blockx-ed Casper’s Madrid title defence ended by Belgian, Andreeva into final U P-AND-COMING Belgian Alexander Blockx ended the title defence of Casper Ruud forehand errors during the match and will drop out of the top 20 for the first time since May 2021 when the new rankings are released next week. “I found it depressing this

yesterday by defeating the former world No. 2 6-4, 6-4 to set up a Madrid Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev, while Mirra Andreeva booked her spot in the women’s final. Blockx, 21, who broke into the top 100 for the first time last month and is at a career-high 69 in the world, has knocked out four con secutive seeds, including third seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime, en route to the final four. Blockx is through to his first tour-level semifinal and is the first Belgian man in tournament his tory to make it this far at the Madrid Open. Prior to this month, he had never won a tour-level match on clay. He now enters the semifinals with a 10-2 mark on the red dirt through qualifying and main draw matches at ATP level. “To be honest, I don’t know, I’m just happy being here. Even winning my first match here, I barely escaped in the first round,” said Blockx in his on-court inter view. “I was happy about that already, but semifinals is some thing I wouldn’t have even dreamed of to begin with. I’m proud with how I’m playing the last couple of matches.” Ruud committed 17 unforced

game, because he didn’t have really any weaknesses,” Ruud said after the match. The three-time Grand Slam finalist revealed he had been deal ing with a calf issue since Monte Carlo and is happy with how his leg held up this fortnight in the Spanish capital. Two-time Madrid champion Zverev reached a seventh semifi nal from his last eight Masters 1000 tournaments with a 6-1, 6-4 win against Italian 10th seed Flavio Cobolli. Meanwhile, Andreeva’s remarkable clay-court campaign continued with a strong 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) performance against Aryna Sabalenka’s conqueror Hailey Baptiste, which sent the Russian into her first Madrid final. The ninth-seeded Andreeva will next play Marta Kostyuk, after the Ukrainian beat lucky loser Anastasia Potapova 6-2, 1-6, 6-1. “Honestly, I feel so much adrenaline inside. I feel like I’m still nervous. I’m just so happy that I won and that I was able to save all those set points,” said Andreeva. “The serve helped me a lot. I’m so, so happy, I cannot really find ways to describe what I’m feeling right now.” – AFP

Alexander Blockx stretches for a return during the Madrid Open quarterfinal clash against Casper Ruud (not pictured) at Park Manzanares yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

Japanese trailblazer Nishikori to retire at end of the season KEI NISHIKORI will hang up his racquet at the end of the 2026 season, the 36-year-old said yesterday, bringing down the curtain on a professional career that saw him break new ground for Japanese tennis. Nishikori became the first Japanese player to reach a Grand Slam singles final at the 2014 US Open and was the second Asian man after Thailand’s Paradorn Srichaphan to make it into the top 10. the world rankings. The last time he was ranked in the top 10 was in October 2019 and last month he admitted he was “barely hanging on” in terms of physical fitness. “Reaching the ATP Tour, playing at the highest level of competition and maintaining a presence in the top 10 is something I am extremely proud of,” Nishikori wrote in a post on social media.

Even so, looking back on everything up to this point, I can proudly say that I gave it my all. “I am truly happy to have walked this path. I will cherish every moment of the remaining matches and fight to the very end.” Nishikori’s most recent appearance in a tour-level event came at last year’s Cincinnati Open, though he has played in five Challenger events this year. He also won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, defeating Spain’s Rafael Nadal in three sets. – Reuters

“Whether in victory or defeat, the special atmos phere I felt in packed arenas is irreplaceable ... To be honest, I still wish I could continue my playing career.

He reached a career-high ranking of No. 4 in 2015 and won 12 titles on the ATP Tour, but has been plagued by injuries for years and has fallen to 464 in