Lewis Hamilton believes an unnecessary late pit stop cost him a podium finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix after he received a time penalty for speeding in the pit lane.
The Ferrari driver was running in second place when a Virtual Safety Car was deployed on lap 56 to recover Oscar Piastri’s stricken McLaren.
His team opted for a third tyre change, a late strategic call that saw the 41-year-old surrender track position to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Compounding the error, stewards handed the seven-time world champion a five-second penalty for exceeding the 80kph pit-lane speed limit by just 0.1kph.
Strategic gamble backfires
Unable to pass Mercedes title rival Kimi Antonelli upon rejoining the circuit, he then failed to build a sufficient gap to team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The subsequent time sanction relegated him behind the sister Ferrari into fifth place in the final classification.
“I definitely don’t think we should have taken the stop.”
“The call came literally just before the pit-lane entry and I didn’t have time to debate and you’ve got to trust the decision that has been taken.”
“In hindsight, my tyres were totally fine. I was probably going to lose out to Max but I think I could have kept third at least.”
The British driver added that the late trip to the pits essentially opened the door to the subsequent speeding penalty.
A string of costly mistakes
The pit-lane infringement marked his second sanction of the Budapest weekend.
He had already served a three-place grid drop for impeding Piastri during the final phase of qualifying.
The former Mercedes star admitted the speeding error was entirely his own doing, noting he has made a series of missteps in recent weeks.
He has now collected four separate sporting penalties across the last three race weekends.
Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar has secured a historic fifth Tour de France title, safely navigating Sunday’s final stage in Paris to join the sport’s greatest names.
The 27-year-old dominated this year’s three-week race, ultimately finishing six minutes and 26 seconds ahead of Belgian rival Remco Evenepoel in the overall standings.
By claiming another yellow jersey, the UAE Team Emirates leader equals the all-time record shared by cycling legends Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault.
A historic triumph in the French capital
The world’s most prestigious cycling event concluded with its traditional procession into Paris, allowing the overall leader to comfortably maintain his commanding time advantage.
It caps off an extraordinarily dominant campaign for the all-conquering Slovenian, who is now one of only five men to win the Tour five times.
Evenepoel was forced to settle for the runner-up spot despite a valiant effort throughout the demanding 21-stage route.
Del Toro shines on Grand Tour debut
Further down the general classification, there was remarkable success for Mexican sensation Isaac del Toro.
The 22-year-old captured third place overall in what was an astonishing debut appearance at the famous race.
His breakthrough performance ensures UAE Team Emirates can celebrate having two of their riders on the final podium steps.
Mayo defeated defending champions Kerry 1-20 to 1-17 at Croke Park on Sunday to win the All-Ireland final and end a famous 75-year wait for the Sam Maguire Cup.
The westerners finally broke one of sport’s most notorious droughts with a thrilling victory over the pre-match favourites.
Generations of heartbreak were washed away in Dublin, ending a wretched run of 11 consecutive championship final defeats.
Breaking the legendary 1951 curse
The county’s agonising barren spell stretched all the way back to their last Gaelic football triumph in 1951.
According to local legend, a priest cursed the winning squad after their boisterous homecoming celebrations on the back of a lorry disrupted a funeral.
That folklore dictated the title would never return to the west coast while any member of that fabled team remained alive.
Dr Mick Loftus, the final surviving member of the 1951 side, passed away in 2023 to set the stage for this historic weekend.
Overcoming the defending champions
Standing in their way were the 39-time record winners, who mounted a late surge to desperately test their opponents’ nerve.
However, the challengers held firm to secure a memorable three-point victory and spark wild celebrations among their travelling supporters.
The triumphant captain delivered an emotional message to the loyal fans who had endured decades of bitter disappointment.
This is the stuff of dreams, so to every Mayo boy or girl around the world, dream big things because everything is possible and we showed that today.
Jack Coyne
He added that the squad always kept the faith through the darkest moments to finally reach the pinnacle of the sport.
Liverpool have made contact with the representatives of Juventus winger Francisco Conceicao as they seek a more affordable transfer alternative to Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola following the departure of Mohamed Salah.
The Anfield club are eager to bolster their attacking options after their Egyptian talisman unexpectedly left Merseyside a year before his contract was due to expire.
While the Reds identified Barcola as a priority signing, they have been deterred by the French champions demanding a staggering £140m fee.
This prohibitive valuation has forced the Premier League side to explore other avenues in the transfer market, including previous targets who are currently unavailable.
Search for Salah replacement widens
Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise remains off the market as the German club refuse to sanction a sale, while RB Leipzig prospect Yan Diomande appears destined for Real Madrid.
Having already secured Spanish forward Victor Munoz for £34.5m last month, Liverpool’s recruitment team have now pivoted towards Italy to complete their attacking rebuild.
Initial discussions have reportedly taken place regarding Conceicao, who could be available for approximately £42.6m despite Juventus’ initial reluctance to sell.
Conceicao’s rising stock in Turin
The 23-year-old Portuguese international only completed a £27.3m permanent transfer to the Serie A giants last summer following a successful loan spell from Porto.
Since arriving in Italy, the dynamic wide player has registered 11 goals across 82 appearances in all competitions.
Despite being contracted to the Turin outfit until 2030, an official bid in the region of €50m is expected to test their resolve.
Past interest and player stance
The Merseyside outfit previously monitored the forward last season, though he remained fiercely committed to his current employers when questioned about a potential Premier League switch.
I know people talk about a big club, but I play for a big club where I am happy.
At the moment I am only focused on these two games with the national team and then I will focus on the final stretch of the season to help my club as much as possible.
I am at a big club where the pressure to win is very high.
I just have to keep working and contribute with goals and assists.
Federico Chiesa has declared his commitment to Liverpool following growing speculation over his future, insisting he is fully focused on the new era under manager Andoni Iraola.
The Italian international scored during Saturday’s 4-2 friendly victory against Sunderland as the Reds began their pre-season preparations.
His goalscoring return comes amid intense scrutiny regarding his position on Merseyside after a highly frustrating spell under previous boss Arne Slot.
Seeking consistency in the Premier League
Across two seasons working with Slot, the 28-year-old managed just a single top-flight start and recorded five goals in 50 appearances across all competitions.
This lack of regular game time led the former Juventus winger to publicly admit last month that he would have to look elsewhere if his situation did not improve.
However, following a promising early display under Iraola, the attacker has now firmly clarified his immediate intentions.
Right now, at the moment, I am happy here at Liverpool. I love the club, I love the fans, I love everything.
I am doing the best I can to have a chance here – and then we will see.
At the minute, the only thing I am thinking about is Liverpool.
Overcoming past frustrations
Iraola arrived at Anfield in June following the dismissal of Slot, presenting a crucial clean slate for players previously on the fringes of the squad.
The £12.5m signing, who remains contracted to the club until 2028, appears determined to prove his worth to the newly appointed Spanish coach.
When questioned about whether this summer represents a genuinely fresh start, the forward offered a remarkably honest assessment of his recent history.
Maybe there have been too many fresh starts. But I don’t care, I am trying to do my best for this new manager.
Last year, I felt ready for a bigger role, then it depended on the coach whether he wanted me to play or not.
The gaffer decided to do so, he had his gameplans, he took his decisions, I have nothing to say about that. It is football.
This year, let us say it is a new chapter. There is a new manager and I have to focus on that.
The Boston Red Sox have acquired infielder Curtis Mead from the Washington Nationals in exchange for highly-rated left-handed pitcher Connelly Early ahead of the Major League Baseball trade deadline.
The American League East franchise parted ways with a consensus top prospect to secure the breakout batter.
Early has enjoyed an impressive start to his major league career across his first 34 starts.
However, Boston management has opted to bank on advanced tracking metrics rather than traditional valuation models to finalise this high-stakes exchange.
Fenway Park fit for reformed hitter
The much-travelled infielder has completely overhauled his approach at the plate this season.
Standing more upright and closer to the plate, the right-handed batter has transformed into a dangerous flyball-heavy pull hitter.
These mechanical adjustments have resulted in a significant spike in isolated power alongside vastly improved walk and strikeout rates.
The iconic dimensions of Fenway Park are notoriously favourable to right-handed batters who consistently lift the ball into the air.
Nationals capitalise on pitching potential
While the incoming batter is enjoying a stellar campaign featuring a 137 OPS+, his defensive and base-running limitations remain a notable concern.
The Washington outfit possesses ample offensive firepower to comfortably absorb his mid-season departure.
Acquiring a talented southpaw with immense team control remaining represents a significant coup for the National League side.
Many traditional baseball evaluators view this swap as a lopsided victory for the team residing in the nation’s capital.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has insisted the highly anticipated heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua must take place in the UK unless their legally binding contract is renegotiated.
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh is reportedly keen to stage the fight later this year at a time that guarantees maximum global viewership.
This ambition has led to Madison Square Garden in New York emerging as a preferred alternative venue for the monumental showdown.
Alalshikh would require special exemption from Wembley Stadium’s strict curfews to host his proposed 2am UK start time in London.
Contractual obligations stand firm
However, Joshua’s camp remains adamant that the current paperwork specifically locks the blockbuster bout into a British location.
The two-time former world champion recently maintained his winning momentum with a swift second-round stoppage of Kristian Prenga.
That victory occurred just 24 hours after his heavyweight rival comfortably dealt with Mariusz Wach in Thailand, keeping their meeting firmly on track.
“There’s a reason we put contracts together,” Hearn stated following his fighter’s recent victory.
“We insisted that this fight was in the UK. I know that AJ will sometimes want to be a little bit of a peacekeeper, but the reality is he said to me, ‘I want the fight in the UK’.”
Preserving a domestic legacy
While acknowledging Alalshikh as a crucial partner in the boxing landscape, Hearn stressed that any venue change requires complete mutual agreement.
The Matchroom boss recognised the immense prestige of fighting at Madison Square Garden.
Despite that global appeal, he emphasised the generational importance of hosting this specific domestic rivalry on home soil.
Joshua himself believes that moving the long-awaited meeting abroad would significantly tarnish the legacy of both fighters.
The Olympic gold medallist confirmed that the national stadium was the sole location discussed when negotiations initially commenced.
“When these conversations started, there was no other venue or location that was ever mentioned,” Joshua explained.
“This is the road map. You fight, come back, fight, and then providing you’re victorious, you’ll be fighting Tyson Fury in the UK, basically Wembley.”
Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund has dismissed Liverpool’s hopes of signing Michael Olise this summer, insisting the winger will remain in Germany.
The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield as the Premier League club reportedly search for a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah.
Real Madrid have also shown strong interest in the Frenchman following a superb individual World Cup campaign where he provided seven assists in eight matches.
Stunning debut season in Germany
Olise enjoyed an outstanding previous campaign under manager Vincent Kompany, registering a combined 48 goals and assists across 52 appearances.
His prolific attacking output helped the Bavarian giants secure a domestic double, lifting both the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal.
Consequently, the German champions are eager to retain their star attacker and are reportedly preparing to offer him a lucrative new contract.
Real Madrid speculation dismissed
When questioned about claims that the highly-rated forward was pushing for a move to Spain, Freund remained completely relaxed about the situation.
“This is absolutely not an issue for us.”
“We’re delighted that Michael is back from his holiday. He’ll play an important role for FC Bayern this season, just as he did last season, too.”
The sporting director’s comments followed a surprise 2-1 friendly defeat for a youthful Bayern side against third-tier outfit Wehen Wiesbaden.
Senior figures such as Olise and England captain Harry Kane were absent from that fixture but are expected to feature later in the pre-season schedule.
Alternative targets identified
Real Madrid recently issued a formal statement denying reports that they had submitted a £130m bid for the coveted attacker.
The Spanish club highlighted their excellent institutional relationship with Bayern and expressed regret over the circulation of unfounded speculation.
Given the firm stance from Munich, both Liverpool and Real Madrid are now actively exploring alternative attacking options in the transfer market.
The Merseyside club are reportedly monitoring Paris St-Germain’s Bradley Barcola and Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche to bolster their forward line.
Meanwhile, RB Leipzig have reportedly rejected an £85m bid from Los Blancos for Yan Diomande, demanding a fee closer to the £100m mark.