Oscar Piastri Wins Belgian Grand Prix, Extends Championship Lead
"I knew lap one was going to be my best chance of winning the race," said Piastri.
"Rest of race we managed really well," the Australian added.
"Oscar did a good job, nothing more to say," said Norris.
Max Verstappen, winner of Saturday's sprint, took fourth in Laurent Mekies' first race weekend as Red Bull team principal after the sacking of Christian Horner a fortnight ago.
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Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying: Charles Leclerc takes surprise pole, Oscar Piastri joins him on front row
Charles Leclerc (Image credit: Instagram) New faces have been joining the top 10 for the past few races, and during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, it was Fernando Alonso and his Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll dominating in the top five. At one point in Q2, the two even held the top two positions. Eventually, it was Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc who claimed his first pole of the season. He will be joined by McLaren driver Oscar Piastri on the front row, with Lando Norris behind them in third position on the grid. Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying highlights Ferrari's Charles Leclerc has claimed five podiums so far and may be eyeing his first win of the season, as he will be starting Sunday's race from pole position. However, giving him close competition will be the usual duo — Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, both of whom finished on the podium last year. Speaking after his first pole of the year, Leclerc said, 'The whole qualifying was extremely difficult. It was difficult to get to Q2 and difficult to get to Q3. Then the conditions changed, I knew I had to do a clean lap to target third, and I can't believe it. Honestly, I have no words. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo It is probably one of the best pole positions I have had, as it is so unexpected.' Piastri added, 'The wind changed a lot, it sounds so pathetic blaming the wind but it switched around. It was difficult to judge in those conditions, maybe not the best execution. I was surprised we couldn't go quicker than that. Charles has been quick all weekend, and even this morning he was closer than expected. I wasn't expecting to be second to a Ferrari this weekend, but he's done a good job.' In fourth will be Mercedes driver George Russell. Two new faces in the top 10 are the Aston Martin drivers — Fernando Alonso in fifth and Lance Stroll in sixth. Kick Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto also put up a fantastic drive and finished seventh. In eighth position is Red Bull's Max Verstappen. He will be joined by his former teammate and current Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson. Another Racing Bulls driver, Isack Hadjar, took tenth position in Saturday's qualifying. Also Read: Max Verstappen confirms he's staying at Red Bull next season: 'If my boat is next to Toto's, then it is' Who were eliminated early in Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz, and Franco Colapinto were eliminated in Q2. Antonelli was pushed to P15 after his final lap time was deleted. Yuki Tsunoda, Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, Nico Hülkenberg, and Alex Albon were eliminated earlier in Q1. Ocon had spotted a screw in his front tyre — a puncture. The Hungarian Grand Prix final will take place on Sunday at the Hungaroring circuit in Budapest at 3 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. IST). For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc Takes Pole At Hungarian GP, Aims for First Win Of Season
Leclerc secured pole position at the Hungarian GP with a lap of 1:15.372 to share the front row with Oscar Piastri. Norris, Russell, and Alonso complete the top five. In an interesting turn of events, it was Ferrari's Charles Leclerc who finished in pole position on Saturday during the Hungarian GP qualification, and shall be aiming to convert the same into his first win of the season. A blitzing lap of 1:15.372 from Levlerc ensures that he starts the GP from the top of the grid on Sunday, sharing the front row with the McLaren of Oscar Piastri, who was 0.026 seconds behind. Lando Norris and George Russell share the second row, while a surprise addition in the top five includes Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, who secured P5. Alonso wound up 0.056s behind Russell on a day where the times were so tight. Stroll was then 0.017s back from his team mate in sixth. Then the gaps widen – Bortoleto a brilliant seventh, ahead of Verstappen in P8, Lawson and Hadjar. Eliminated in Q1: Tsunoda, Gasly, Ocon, Hulkenberg and Albon (more to follow…) view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
World Swimming Championships 2025: Ledecky pips McIntosh for 800m freestyle title; USA sets new world record
Katie Ledecky showed she is still the gold standard in the 800 metres freestyle after ending Summer McIntosh's bid for five individual titles while fending off Australian surprise package Lani Pallister at the world championships on Saturday. American Ledecky had to fight all the way in a thrilling three-way battle to secure her seventh world title in the event and 23rd overall in a time of 8:05.62 at the Singapore pool. With three gold medals in the bag and grinding through a huge programme, McIntosh mounted a brave challenge and took the lead with 100 metres to go as fans roared in the stands. But Ledecky found another gear to snatch back the lead then rode home with the gallant Pallister (8:05.98) pushing her to the finish. (L-R) Gold medallist Katie Ledecky of USA and silver medallist Summer McIntosh of Canada pose on the podium. | Photo Credit: AFP 'I kind of figured it was going to be more than just Summer,' said Ledecky. 'Definitely the fastest field in the 800 ever ... I'm happy I could come out on top.' McIntosh, who finished 1.67 seconds behind Ledecky, had hoped to match Michael Phelps's feat of winning five individual gold medals at a single world championships. But the 18-year-old Canadian can finish off a brilliant campaign with gold in the 400 individual medley (IM) on the final day on Sunday. Record-breaking relay While McIntosh may one day be held in the same esteem as nine-time Olympic gold medallist Ledecky, Australia's Kaylee McKeown has already cemented her place as the greatest backstroker in women's swimming. ALSO READ | United States breaks mixed 4x100m freestyle relay world record The only woman to win back-to-back Olympic 100m and 200m backstroke golds, McKeown completed another double in Singapore with an emphatic win in the 200m. Once again it was American Regan Smith looking to take down McKeown, only to be reeled in on the last lap as the Australian dominator clocked 2:03.33, the third fastest swim of all time. It was nearly a second better than Smith (2:04.29), who had taken silver behind McKeown in the 100m and 200m at the Paris Olympics and again in the 100m in Singapore. Fastest off the blocks, McEvoy once again denied Ben Proud (21.26) gold, having beaten the Briton to the Olympic title by a fingertip in Paris exactly a year ago. | Photo Credit: AP Just like in Paris, McKeown's win came straight after compatriot Cameron McEvoy stormed to his second 50m freestyle title in 21.14 seconds, becoming the oldest Australian world champion at the age of 31. Fastest off the blocks, McEvoy once again denied Ben Proud (21.26) gold, having beaten the Briton to the Olympic title by a fingertip in Paris exactly a year ago. Leon Marchand and his 200m IM world record was one of the biggest headlines from the Singapore meet but another Frenchman grabbed the spotlight on Saturday. Maxime Grousset rocketed to his second 100m butterfly world title in 49.62, beating Swiss Noe Ponti and recording the third quickest swim of all-time in the event. Only American world record holder Caeleb Dressel (49.45) has gone faster. It was Grousset's second butterfly title in Singapore, having also beaten Ponti for the 50m on day two. Gretchen Walsh kept the U.S. team medal haul ticking upwards with a dominant victory in the 50m butterfly, adding to her 100m title in Singapore. Touching the wall in 24.83 seconds, Walsh was nearly half a second better than runner-up Alex Perkins, who set an Australian record of 25.31. There was more cheer for the United States as Jack Alexy, Patrick Sammon, Kate Douglass and Torri Huske combined to win the non-Olympic mixed 4x100m freestyle relay gold in a world record time of 3:18.83, shaving nearly half a second off Australia's mark from the event two years ago in Fukuoka (3:18.83). Marchand, the 'French Phelps', will look to add the 400m IM title to his 200m IM gold on the final day. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Apart from McIntosh's 400m IM title bid, there are seven other gold medals on offer in a packed programme on the final day. Marchand, the 'French Phelps', will look to add the 400m IM title to his 200m IM gold, while German iron man Florian Wellbrock will gun for the 1500m freestyle title to boost his bumper haul after sweeping the open water events.
