13/06/2026

SPORTS SATURDAY | JUNE 13, 2026

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Russell vows to bounce back Second scoreless race in succession leaves Briton 68 points behind teammate Antonelli

FE R NANDO ALON S O said Sunday’s Barcelona Catalunya Grand Prix would be probably his Formula One farewell to the Spanish circuit and recognised the race was unlikely to provide much cheer for his army of fans. Spain has two races this year, with Madrid hosting the Spanish Grand Prix in September, before the Circuit de Catalunya then drops off the calendar until 2028 as part of an alternation with Belgium. Alonso, 44, is out of contract with Aston Martin at the end of this season with the double world champion’s future uncertain. “It’s going to be a special weekend, probably my last Barcelona race in Formula One. So, I want to say thanks to everyone. I will try to enjoy the weekend,” he told reporters yesterday. “I will not be competitive and I will not be too long in the car in qualifying, in the race hopefully yes, but not at the pace that we all want. “But I want everyone to still enjoy the week end. It has been always a celebration when they (the fans) come to Barcelona. I think it’s my 23rd Spanish Grand Prix, and all of them have been magical. And this last has to be magical as well.” Alonso won at the Circuit de Catalunya in 2006, the year he won his second successive title with Renault. The Spaniard said he would decide after the summer whether to con tinue and was already treating every race as potentially his last at that circuit. “In Australia, my last Alonso expecting tough farewell

Mourinho returns to Real Madrid on 3-year contract JO S E MOU R INHO is set for a sensational return to Real Madrid, 13 years after his initial departure from the Spanish footballing powerhouse. The club announced yesterday that the Portuguese coach has signed a three-year contract, with his second tenure officially commencing on July 13, coinciding with the start of pre-season training. Mourinho’s first spell at the Bernabeu, from 2010 to 2013, was characterised by a managerial style that was both undeniably successful and deeply polarising. While he guided Madrid to a Spanish league title and a Copa del Rey crown, his time is perhaps more vividly recalled for his confrontational personality, which reportedly fractured his own squad and alienated many beyond the most ardent supporters, alongside a significant portion of the local media. He now faces the formidable task of inheriting an underperforming team and rejoining a club currently in disarray. Real Madrid have endured a two-year drought without a major title, despite the high-profile presence of superstar striker Kylian Mbappé. This season alone has seen the club cycle through two coaches, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, highlighting the instability Mourinho is tasked with addressing. Mourinho’s return had been expected after president Florentino Perez was re-elected. Upon winning, Perez said: “We have won the elections and will continue working to keep winning titles. “I am still here and I am here to defend Real Madrid. We will continue working so that Real Madrid keeps winning titles, and we will fight until the end to achieve the 16th European Cup. We will continue to take pride in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, the best stadium in the world. “Proud to have the best players in the world, proud to welcome back one of the best coaches in the world, a Madridista like Jose Mourinho. And rest assured, with me as president, Real Madrid has been, is, and will always remain owned by its members.” – The Independent Ű BY JOSEPH WILSON

Ű BY SCOTT HUNT

podium in Japan, either P1 or P2, I think I would have won in Canada and I probably would have fin ished third in Monaco,” Russell said. “For sure I don’t think I’d be ahead of Kimi in the standings but we’d be right there and then it’s a dif ferent story. “I’ve definitely not given up on the champion ship. It’s just something I’m not thinking about. “I’m just really going race by race. Until it’s over, you’re still in the fight because in this sport it does change very quick and it doesn’t take a lot to swing. “I had a very nice message from Susie (Wolff) after the race in Monaco, reminding me we’re only just over 25% of the way through the year.

G EORGE RUSSELL is determined to “get back into the groove” and banish the bad luck which has left his championship cam paign in tatters. The British driver has failed to score in the previ ous two rounds, his engine expiring in Montreal when battling Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli for the race lead before a botched five-second pen alty resulted in a drive-through in Monaco which saw him finish outside the points. That has left him a whopping 68 points adrift of runaway leader Antonelli, with the teenager claim ing five wins in a row to take a firm grip on the title race.

“It still doesn’t make it any less painful, what’s happening in these first six races, but I’m just looking forward to get ting back in my groove. “Kimi’s done a really incredible job, you can’t take any thing away from him in that regard, but my mindset would probably be slightly different if it had been a smoother year and we’re nip and tuck in the standings.” Russell needs to find a way to end the rise of his teammate, hailed a “generational talent” by Martin Brundle last week end, as Antonelli seeks a sixth win in a row which would see him match Russell’s career vic tory tally. – The Independent

Russell, who will start his 100th race for Mercedes this weekend, was ada mant following his Monaco disap pointment, which left him in a “weird state of mind”, that his title hopes were not over.

He maintains that view and reflected again on misfor

time; in China, my last time; in Monaco. And here in Barcelona there is a little bit more of that chance, as it’s not happening next year as well,” he said. “For me the hardest thing is not to win races and not to be competi tive,” added Alonso. “If it’s the last or not the last, it’s not affecting too much. I’m in peace with my career and with my life and if anything comes now, welcome.” – Reuters Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso (left) and Mercedes’ George Russell during the Monaco Grand Prix on June 7. – REUTERSPIC

t u n e t h a t h a s c o s t h i m throughout

the six race weekends so far. “If it was

just… if there was no luck either way, I would have been on the

SHORTS

worrying about it,” he added. “I know the opportunity that is on the table, and of course I want to make the best out of it.” ‘Have you seen my towel?’ FO R MULA ONE leader Kimi Antonelli would like his towel back and social media is pointing the finger at Lewis Hamilton’s celebrity friend Kim Kardashian. The Mercedes driver posted a cheeky reel on Instagram ahead of this weekend’s Barcelona Catalunya Grand Prix asking his seven million followers if they knew the whereabouts of his Monaco Grand Prix winner’s towel. Television images from after Sunday’s race in the principality appeared to show Kardashian, accompanying Ferrari driver Hamilton, picking the folded item off the No. 1 marker and wiping

you were crazy,” Antonelli told reporters. “But I am happy to be in this position, happy and glad for the opportunity afforded to me and to the team, as the car this year has been incredible.” The back-to-back races in Monaco and Barcelona kick off the European stretch, which Antonelli said he struggled with last season but ultimately it helped shape his progress. “I did doubt myself after that difficult period in Europe,” he explained. “Last year I got to know myself better, so definitely considering how bad it was in the moment, I am very grateful how it happened because I grew a lot and it taught me a lot about myself.” Antonelli said he was not dwelling on the championship battle. “As for the championship, (I’m) not really

her face and sunglasses before walking away with it. “I was wondering. Have you seen my towel,” Antonelli asked in his video post, without naming anyone. Teammate George Russell said he had not seen it, with Antonelli then washing his hands and asking the question again. The 19-year-old Italian was also questioned about it in a press conference at the Circuit de Catalunya. “No, still looking for it,” he said when asked if he had found it. Seven-times world champion Hamilton sounded puzzled when asked at a Ferrari press session whether he might be able to help Antonelli find the missing item. “His towel?” asked the Briton, who finished second in the race.

Kimi admits rise to summit seems ‘crazy’

TEENAGE sensation Kimi Antonelli said his rise to the top of Formula One seems “crazy” yesterday as the Mercedes driver bids to win a sixth consecutive race this weekend in the Catalunya Grand Prix. The 19-year-old Italian cruised to victory in Monaco last weekend and could become only the sixth driver to claim six straight wins on Sunday at Montmelo. Antonelli leads the standings by 66 points from Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes teammate George Russell. “Definitely if you would have told me (about this) two years ago, I would have told you (that)