Piastri Makes It Three in a Row in Miami
TDT | Manama
Oscar Piastri stormed to his third consecutive Formula One victory yesterday, clinching the Miami Grand Prix in a commanding McLaren one-two finish that further solidified his grip on the 2025 World Championship.
Starting fourth on the grid, the 23-year-old Australian executed a flawless race strategy, overtaking early leaders with surgical precision and keeping teammate Lando Norris at bay to take his fourth win of the season. With the result, Piastri now leads the championship standings by 16 points over Norris after six rounds.
McLaren's resurgence in 2025 continued to gain momentum as the British team has now won five of the season's six races — a stunning turnaround that has left rivals scrambling to keep pace.
George Russell secured third place for Mercedes, while reigning champion Max Verstappen finished a frustrated fourth for Red Bull, struggling with grip issues throughout the race.
Meanwhile, tensions flared in the Ferrari garage as Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. traded positions amid heated radio exchanges, adding pressure to a team already under scrutiny for internal friction.
For Piastri, however, the message was clear: he's not just racing for wins — he's gunning for the title.
'This is what we've been working for. The car feels incredible, and I'm just enjoying every second of it,' he said post-race, beaming in the Florida sunshine.
With Europe next on the calendar, McLaren's momentum shows no signs of slowing. The rest of the grid, it seems, is now firmly playing catch-up.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
2 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
Cristiano's Kingdom
TDT | Manama Ronaldo Signs Football's Most Powerful Deal Announced last week, Cristiano Ronaldo's new contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr is a record-breaking feat never seen before in the sport. The two-year extension delivers staggering numbers and unprecedented influence for a player reshaping the business of football. The headline figure: €185 million a year (BD75.3 million) or around €15 million monthly (BD6.1 million), €3.8 million weekly (BD1.55 million), and €550,000 per day (BD224,000). It confirms Ronaldo once again as the world's highest-paid footballer. But the deal extends far beyond salary. Ownership and Influence Ronaldo's contract includes a minority ownership stake in Al Nassr, reportedly worth €38 million (BD15.5 million). This long-term equity ties him directly to the club's future and solidifies his role off the pitch. He will also have input on player recruitment, which is an almost unheard-of level of authority for an active player. Farwell Hints to Future Plans Speculation flared after Ronaldo posted 'This chapter is over. The story? Still being written' following Al Nassr's final league game. Some saw it as a farewell, with reports linking him to Club World Cup suitors. Instead, he's doubled down, remaining at the club while stepping deeper into its core footballing decisions. The Long Game Ronaldo has scored 93 goals in 105 matches since joining, but a major trophy has eluded him. This contract is built to change that, with massive performance bonuses: He'll also earn €93,000 (BD37,800) per goal and €46,000 (BD18,700) per assist—both rising 20% in the contract's second year. At 39, Ronaldo still sets his sights high. While the 1,000-goal milestone may remain out of reach, his numbers and ambition remain elite. Saudi Football's Statement Ronaldo's extended presence signals a continued push for global relevance in Saudi football. For Al Nassr, his commercial magnetism and influence in sporting decisions elevate their standing on and off the field. As he said at the Globe Soccer Awards: 'Maybe the owner of the club. If I will be the owner, I will make things clear.' That moment feels less hypothetical now.
Daily Tribune
3 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain Set for William Jones Cup Return
TDT | Manama National team to face eight opponents in Chinese Taipei Bahrain's men's basketball team will compete in the 44th William Jones Cup from July 12 to 20, taking on a demanding schedule against some of Asia's top sides. The tournament, hosted in Chinese Taipei, is the team's second appearance in the competition and comes as part of their wider preparation for the Arab Nations Championship later this summer. Vovoras Takes Charge Newly appointed head coach Georgios Vovoras will make his Bahrain debut in the tournament. The 48-year-old Greek brings top-level experience from across Europe and the NBA Summer League, with previous stints at the Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves. Vovoras is currently working with an 18-player squad, which includes a mix of local talent and international professionals such as Wayne Chism, Elijah Thomas, and Jakarr Sampson. Packed Schedule Bahrain open their campaign against Japan on July 12. They'll then face Chinese Taipei's national development team and Malaysia, followed by back-to-back games against teams from Australia, the UAE, Qatar, Chinese Taipei's senior national team, and the Philippines. The full match schedule is as follows: The field features national teams, university sides, and clubs from Bahrain, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, the UAE, Qatar, the Philippines, and hosts Chinese Taipei. Building Toward Tunisia The Bahrain Basketball Association sees the tournament as a key part of its strategy to elevate the national team through top level exposure. The experience is expected to help with their preparations ahead of the Arab Nations Championship in Tunisia, which kicks off July 25. Bahrain's return to the William Jones Cup, nearly half a century since their last appearance, reflects the federation's serious intent to raise their game across Asia.
Daily Tribune
8 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
McLaren dominate Austrian practice
Lando Norris bounced back from his Canadian catastrophe to top the times ahead of team-mate and championship leader Oscar Piastri as McLaren reeled off a commanding 1-2 in second practice yesterday at the Austrian Grand Prix. Norris, who sat out the first session at the Red Bull Ring, clocked a best lap in one minute and 4.580 seconds to beat Piastri by 0.157 seconds with four-time champion Max Verstappen third fastest for Red Bull, adrift by 0.318 seconds. For Norris, it was a relief to move on from his collision with team-mate Piastri in Montreal where he retired pointless, admitting he had 'made a fool of myself'. Lance Stroll was fourth for Aston Martin ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, George Russell of Mercedes, who won last year and two weeks ago in Canada, and Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull. Gabriel Bortoleto was eighth for Sauber ahead of two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, struggling in his updated Ferrari. After much paddock speculation linking Verstappen with a move to Mercedes, the session began with Colapinto and Ocon leading the way in near-perfect conditions at the picturesque, and historic, circuit set in the Styrian Alps. Russell, fastest in the morning, was soon on top again, but it was the McLarens of Piastri and Norris that proved they had found more pace amid the rising temperatures, with the air at 26 degrees Celsius and track at 34. Having missed the morning session, when Irish reserve driver Alex Dunne proved his huge potential by finishing fourth, Norris swept to the top after 10 minutes shortly before Leclerc, also back after sitting out the first practice, ran off at Turn Six and his Ferrari team-mate Hamilton reported he had 'no pace' in his updated car. Norris stayed on top, trimming his time, before switching to softs with 'papaya' team-mate Piastri slotting in second. Stroll was third, four-tenths adrift ahead of the chasing pack including 'man of the moment' Russell. 'He has been part of our programme for 10 years,' said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff of Russell. Mercedes confirm Max talks 'He's always performed to expectations and continues to do so. 'These kind of contract discussions end up accelerated in the media, but it's normal business. Contracts discussions are not held in Town Halls. All is going to plan.' Wolff confirmed he was in contact with Verstappen, but suggested it was not in his mind to replace Russell and stressed that he was also very happy also with Antonelli. Thus most seasoned observers regarded the speculation as merely exploratory. The Dutchman is contracted to Red Bull until 2028, but with release clauses – that may relate to a possible exit by adviser Helmut Marko amid claims that he could be replaced by four-time champion Sebastian Vettel. On track, Verstappen delayed his entry by 12 minutes and worked his way into contention, but with 15 minutes remaining he was adrift of the two McLarens by three-tenths with Mercedes and Ferrari struggling to keep pace. It was another session of few incidents with Tsunoda and Oliver Bearman having brushes with gravel traps and Nico Hulkeberg ran off at Turn One, but few dramas although Hamilton was called to see the stewards for accidentally impeding Antonelli.
