14/06/2026

theSun on Sunday JUNE 14, 2026

SPORTS 10

Kimi walking tall McLaren set to appeal after Gasly reinstated to Monaco podium Antonelli reaping rewards of tough lessons learned

ALPINE DRIVER Pierre Gasly was reinstated to the Monaco Grand Prix podium yesterday after Formula One stewards, meeting days later, recognised a timekeeping error and rescinded penalties for pitlane speeding that had dropped him to seventh. Champions McLaren, one of several teams set to lose points as a result of the about-turn, said they had presented an intention to appeal. Gasly had finished third on the track but the Frenchman missed out on the podium celebrations when two five-second penalties were applied after last week’s race finish. Formula One, responsible for the timekeeping, admitted to a “measurement discrepancy” resulting from pitlane changes. Renault-owned Alpine, which had sought a right of review, welcomed the decision in a statement and thanked Formula One Management and the governing FIA for their transparency and cooperation. Gasly was adamant on Sunday that he had not been speeding and said he was heartbroken by the penalties and “to have a lifelong dream of a Monaco podium taken away from me for reasons which I just cannot comprehend”. The stewards’ decision means Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, who had inherited third place and joined Mercedes’ winner Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton on the podium, drops back to fourth and has yet to score a first top-three finish with his team. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri moves down to fifth, with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson sixth and teammate Arvid Lindblad seventh. The decision will taste particularly bitter for others who suffered time penalties for pitlane speeding but did not seek a review, and for luckless Mercedes driver George Russell, who had to serve a drive-through penalty that left him out of the points on Sunday – and 68 points adrift of Antonelli after six rounds. Russell told reporters yesterday that he had pleaded for his penalty to be added post-race, to retain a chance of it being overturned, and said it would be a “kick in the ba**s” if Gasly had his penalties overturned. “The stewards note that in relation to other cars that were penalised, some served their penalty and this, regrettably, impacted their race strategies and therefore their race result,” the officials said in a statement. “There will undoubtedly remain questions as to whether those breaches were genuine. There is no regulation that gives the Stewards the power to ‘undo’ a served penalty. “In any case, it is impossible to imagine how such power could be applied. Notably, no other party petitioned for a Right of Review within the allowable time frame. “Like everyone in the sport, we strive for the best results and, as always, any improvements or refinements that are identified as being required in light of this situation will be implemented,” a spokesman said. – Reuters WORLD NO. 1 Scottie Scheffler will try to become the seventh golfer to complete the career Grand Slam by winning the 126th US Open next week at Shinnecock Hills. The American, a four-time major champion and 20-time PGA Tour winner, could achieve the feat on his 30th birthday, June 21. “Winning the career Grand Slam, I think that’s something any golfer would dream of,” Scheffler said last year. “But at the end of the day I’m just trying to get the most out of myself.” Scheffler would join Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan and world No. 2 Rory McIlroy in having won each major at least once.

RUNAWAY Formula One leader Kimi Antonelli said his current streak of suc cess, which could stretch to six wins in a row today, owed much to tough les sons learned during his rookie season at Mercedes last year. The 19-year-old Italian has had a stellar start to 2026, eclipsing experienced teammate George Russell and setting records as the youngest championship leader and youngest Monaco Grand Prix winner. “I think the year of expe rience itself has been play ing a massive role, ߑ just making your own experi ences and understanding what’s good and what’s not good for you during the weekend and outside the weekend,” Antonelli told reporters ahead of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. “Having done it the year before plays already a mas sive difference because you know better the track evo lution during the session, you know better how the

accounting for rivals’ misfo rtune, has impressed some of the biggest names in the paddock. “At that age to be doing what he’s doing and trying to find that consistency as well, I think is very impres sive,” said Red Bull’s four time world champion Max Verstappen, who debuted at 17 and whose first vic tory – ߑ also won at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya – at the age of 18 in 2016 set a record for youngest winner. “I’m just happy for him, that he’s doing these things. He’s of course a great talent, I knew that. “I could see that coming. “Of course in a rookie season you have to make mistakes, but

six races from Imola to Silverstone, a home round for his team. Russell started this sea son as title favourite and experienced leader, but another Antonelli victory at the ߑ Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya would equal the 28-year-old Briton’s career tally of six wins. The speed and confi dence with which the Italian has stamped his authority on the champion ship, even

weekend is structured as well, so you’re also able to balance your energies in a better way. It’s all little things that at the ߑ end of the day play a massive role.” Antonelli admitted to self-doubts last year, espe cially during a tough phase of the European season, but 2026 has been a different story. “You mature a lot after one year of Formula One, not only as a driver but also as a person. And I think also last year during the difficult period, I got to know myself better,” he explained. “Considering how bad it was in the moment, actu ally I’m very grateful that it happened because it made me grow a lot and it ߑ taught me a lot about myself as well. I think this year, so far, I haven’t been questioning or doubt ing myself.” Last year Antonelli fin ished seventh overall with 150 points to Russell’s 319. The Italian suffered four retirements in the space of

then of course it’s about how you learn from them. And I think he’s doing that very well.” – Reuters

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli. – REUTERSPIC

Scheffler seeks career Slam at Shinnecock

have to hit into are quite small,” Scheffler said. “Looking at tee balls where some of them are somewhat blind and you’re kind of hitting over higher fescue type grass. The greens are going to play really small, especially if they get firm. It should be really challenging week.” His top rival figures to be McIlroy, a six time major winner from Northern Ireland who took his second consecutive Masters in April. McIlroy also played a practice round June 1 at the Long Island layout. “Shinnecock looks good,” McIlroy said. “Fairways are very generous. But the first cut of rough is five inches long… if you miss the fairway, I feel like you deserve a bad lie.” – AFP

little surprised at the width of the fairways, but the green complexes are extremely difficult and I think that’s where the greatest challenge comes from. “The rough, also, was a really good penalty for the width. Once you start missing fairways out there, you have no chance. But the fairways are generous enough to where it provides you some opportunity. “They can put the pins wherever they want and make the scores as high as they could possibly want them to be.” Scheffler said he would be working on tee shots and approaches ahead of US Open week. “It’s one of those courses where there’s a ton of space out there, but the areas you

Scheffler won the 2022 and 2024 Masters green jackets and last year’s PGA Championship and British Open, setting the stage for his first chance at completing the Slam in his ninth US Open start. “I would love to be able to win the US Open,” Scheffler said. “It’s a tournament that I love. I love my country, I would love to be able to win my national open. I’m excited to go to Shinnecock this year and hopefully get it done.” Scheffler, whose best US Open finish was shared second in 2022, first saw Shinnecock June 1 when he made a special visit for a practice round. “I had heard some rumours about how difficult the greens were,” he said. “I was a