Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc wins first home F1 Monaco Grand Prix

Race winner Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc celebrates on the podium after the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix on May 26, 2024 at the Circuit de Monaco. (AFP)

Short Url

https://arab.news/4dacw

Updated 26 May 2024

AFP

May 26, 2024 16:00

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc wins first home F1 Monaco Grand Prix

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri followed the man from Monaco across the line with Carlos Sainz in the other Ferrari in third

Updated 26 May 2024

AFP

May 26, 2024 16:00

MONTE CARLO: Charles Leclerc finally broke his Monaco Grand Prix curse on Sunday as Red Bull had an off weekend with Max Verstappen sixth and Sergio Perez crashing out on the first lap.
Leclerc ended years of frustration at his home race by taking the jewel in the Formula One calendar from pole at his third attempt.
A tearful Leclerc said: “No words can explain this. It means a lot, it’s the race that made me dream of becoming a F1 driver.
“Tonight is going to be a big night!“
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri followed the man from Monaco across the line with Carlos Sainz in the other Ferrari in third.
Leclerc had started at the front of the grid at the circuit he used to travel along on the bus to school as a kid in 2021 and 2022 only for misfortune to stop him winning on both occasions.
With Ferrari now a much smoother run ship under Fred Vasseur this was a far slicker Ferrari team than then, and Leclerc dictated the pace perfectly from the front, until the end of the first lap.
That was when the red flag had to come out to stop the race after a three car pile-up with Perez’s Red Bull ripped apart.
Perez spun after being hit hard from behind by Kevin Magnussen’s Haas.
Nico Hulkenberg in the other Haas was a third innocent casualty.
The race on the narrow streets of the Principality was interrupted for around 30 minutes to allow debris to be cleared off the circuit.
All three crash victims were missing at the restart along with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, who joined this unhappy group of onlookers after he was forced to retire following a tangle with his team-mate Pierre Gasly.
Leclerc escaped all the drama and led for the rest of the race to claim a hugely popular success.
With three-time world champion Verstappen only sixth, Leclerc moved to within 31 points of the Dutchman ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix in a fortnight’s time.

Topics: Motorsport Formula 1 Formula One F1 Monaco Monaco Grand Prix Ferrari Charles Leclerc

Usyk beats Fury in heavyweight championship rematch

Updated 22 December 2024

Sulafa Alkhunaizi

December 21, 2024 23:34

Usyk beats Fury in heavyweight championship rematch

Updated 22 December 2024

Sulafa Alkhunaizi

December 21, 2024 23:34

RIYADH: Ukrainian heavyweight boxer Oleksandr Usyk takes the crown again in a rematch with British heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury, retaining the “undisputed” title.

The rematch took place at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena on Saturday evening.

Usyk was awarded the fight 116-112 in favor by all three judges, handing Fury his second loss.

Usyk’s win takes him to 23-0 with 14 knockouts and extends one of the all-time best careers that includes Olympic gold and undisputed champion at cruiserweight.

On the sidelines of the much-anticipated rematch, the first ever artificial intelligence judge was used as an experiment and did not decide the fight, according to Turki bin Abdulmohsen Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority.

During the media press conference, Fury told Arab News about the positive seven months he spent training and prepping for the rematch.

“I’ve had a good life, it's been good times, and I have had good training.”

Usyk told Arab News that he is happy that he won.

"I'm not a proud man, I'm just happy that I won. I like to motivate people to give them the incentive to do something."

As part of the undercard matches, Rhys Edwards, the Welsh featherweight boxer was overcome by the Peter Mcgrail British featherweight, who claimed his 11th professional win.

The fight was initially scheduled to be Mcgrail and Dennis McCann, who failed a drug test, causing him to be disqualified. Edwards stepped in with a five-day notice and accepted the challenge.

In an interview with Arab News, Edwards expressed his sentiments but remained optimistic given the short notice.

“ I'm a bit gutted I didn't get the win, but the whole week has absolutely been fantastic. And I've loved every moment of it…. I have learned a lot about myself. I took the fight (with) four days' notice, and a lot of people didn't give me enough credit or a chance coming into this fight. It was a very close (and) hard fight for both of us. So, I'm sure my profile and stocks have risen and I'm happy.

”I'm a very good fighter and I will fight anyone. I'm looking forward to a very big 2025.”

Tyson superfan Molly Chapman shared her predictions on which heavyweight will take the crown.

“I think Tyson Fury is going to win. I think his attitude is completely different this time. He seems more focused. He's been training hard. He looks in good shape and I think he's going to win.”

She told Arab News that her first time visiting the Kingdom has been amazing and has already begun planning her next visit.

“Saudi Arabia is just beautiful. The culture, the people, everyone's so friendly. And yeah, we're actually going to come back in February for the next fight.”

Daria Pyliukhno attended the boxing night rocking a “Ukraine” shirt, a true testament to her support towards Usyk.

“So today, of course I have to be here supporting my country. I'm from Ukraine, and I support Usyk. And I think he will win because Ukrainians mentality are strong enough to fight…I think that Usyk should bring Ukraine again the title of “The heavyweight champion.”

Riyadh Season’s wonderful surprises did not end there. A member of the audience was selected to win a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, presented by Alsheikh, during the opening ceremony.

Riyadh’s newly built Kingdom Arena played host to the boxing event, dubbed ‘Ring of Fire’, with a sellout crowd including several sports and entertainment figures in attendance at the 22,000-capacity venue.

Topics: Usyk 2 Fury Oleksandr Usyk Tyson Fury

Balotelli almost scores first goal for Genoa but Napoli hold on to lead Serie A again

Updated 22 December 2024

December 22, 2024 03:31

Balotelli almost scores first goal for Genoa but Napoli hold on to lead Serie A again

Lazio rebounded from a dismal 6-0 thrashing at home to Inter Milan by winning at lowly Lecce 2-1
Bologna had a penalty saved but won at Torino 2-0

Updated 22 December 2024

December 22, 2024 03:31

MILAN: Mario Balotelli almost scored his first goal back in Serie A while Napoli returned to the top after withstanding a late siege from Genoa to hold on for a 2-1 win on Saturday.

Balotelli returned to Serie A after more than four years in October and has made six appearances totalling just 57 minutes.

The 34-year-old was sent on with seven minutes remaining against Napoli and almost had an immediate impact as Andrea Pinamonti’s glancing header clipped Balotelli’s knee but goalkeeper Alex Meret managed to push it off the post.

It was one of several decisive saves by Meret in the second half as Genoa came out fighting after going into the break two goals down following headers from Frank Anguissa and Amir Rrahmani.

Pinamonti got Genoa back into it six minutes into the second half with a fine finish into the bottom right corner but the home side went on to suffer its first defeat since hiring Patrick Vieira as coach last month.

It was also Genoa’s first match since coming under the ownership of Romanian businessman Dan Șucu.

The loss left Genoa 13th in Serie A but only two points above the relegation zone.

Napoli moved a point above Atalanta, who host Empoli on Sunday.

10-men Lecce almost hold out

Lazio rebounded from a dismal 6-0 thrashing at home to Inter Milan by winning at lowly Lecce 2-1 but it was far from convincing despite Lecce playing the entire second half with 10 men.

Lecce’s chances of getting something from the match appeared to evaporate on the stroke of halftime.

Taty Castellanos’ first shot was parried brilliantly by Wladimiro Falcone and his follow-up was cleared off the line by the hand of Lecce defender Frédéric Guilbert, who was shown a straight red card.

Castellanos fired the resulting penalty into the bottom left corner.

Tete Morente volleyed Lecce level five minutes after the break and it seemed as if the 10 men were going to hold out for a point but substitute Adam Marusic — who had only just come off the bench — scored the winner three minutes from time.

Lecce almost leveled in stoppages but Mohamed Kaba’s header came off the crossbar.

Lazio moved to fourth while Lecce remained two points clear of the drop zone.

Bologna had a penalty saved but won at Torino 2-0.

Topics: Serie A Mario Balotelli Napoli genoa

Wirtz, Schick star for Leverkusen in rout of Freiburg and keep pressure on Bayern

Updated 22 December 2024

December 22, 2024 03:22

Wirtz, Schick star for Leverkusen in rout of Freiburg and keep pressure on Bayern

Leverkusen resume their league defense at Borussia Dortmund on Jan. 10, while Bayern visit Borussia Mönchengladbach on Jan. 11
Brazilian goalkeeper Kaua Santos endured a game to forget as his Eintracht Frankfurt was shocked by 10-man Mainz 3-1

Updated 22 December 2024

December 22, 2024 03:22

BERLIN: Florian Wirtz starred and Patrik Schick scored four goals as Bayer Leverkusen routed Freiburg 5-1 on Saturday to keep the pressure on Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich over the winter break.

Wirtz, who has yet to extend his Leverkusen contract, set up a hat trick for Schick and scored his seventh league goal of the season.

Leverkusen dominated but needed patience before Schick broke the deadlock with a chip over the goalkeeper right before the break.

Wirtz, who’d played Schick through, score after the break when he displayed brilliant close control to elude a defender before firing the ball inside the near post from a narrow angle.

Vincenzo Grifo pulled one back four minutes later, but Wirtz floated in a precise cross for Schick to head Leverkusen’s third in the 67th, then laid the ball back for Schick to fire Leverkusen’s fourth in the 74th.

“For a striker, it’s a dream to have this player behind you,” Schick said of Wirtz.

Schick scored again with a header to a corner three minutes later — the only goal that didn’t involve Wirtz.

Leverkusen stayed four points behind Bayern after its eighth straight win across all competitions.

Leverkusen resume their league defense at Borussia Dortmund on Jan. 10, while Bayern visit Borussia Mönchengladbach on Jan. 11.

Frankfurt goalkeeper’s woes

Brazilian goalkeeper Kaua Santos endured a game to forget as his Eintracht Frankfurt was shocked by 10-man Mainz 3-1.

Frankfurt had 34 shots at goal compared to nine by the visitor, which played with a man less from the 21st after captain Nadiem Amiri was sent off for catching Ellyes Skhiri’s right ankle with his studs.

Santos had already conceded an unfortunate own goal. The ‘keeper played out a short pass to Skhiri, who was immediately under pressure from two Mainz players. Skhiri sent the ball looping back toward Santos, who deflected it onto the crossbar, from where it rebounded back off Santos’ arm and in.

Mainz’s Paul Nebel then scored with a deflected shot for 2-0, and Santos was at fault again when a botched pass invited another Mainz attack. Nebel grabbed his second goal in the 58th.

Rasmus Kristensen, who struck the crossbar in the first half, scored Frankfurt’s consolation in the 75th.

“We were already there for Kaua as a team on the field,” Frankfurt defender Robin Koch said of Santos’ bad day. “He’s a young player, these things happen. But he’s a good guy, he’ll come out of it and the same will help him with his development.”

Regular goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and reserve Jens Grahl were out with illness.

Stuttgart stunned at home

Johannes Eggestein fired promoted St. Pauli to a 1-0 win at Stuttgart, last season’s runner-up. Stuttgart had won their last four games across all competitions.

Union Berlin’s winless run stretched to nine games across all competitions as Bo Svensson’s team slumped to a 4-1 defeat at Werder Bremen.

Holstein Kiel ended their five-game losing run by routing Augsburg 5-1, and Borussia Mönchengladbach won at Hoffenheim 2-1.

There were tributes with silences before all the games for the victims of an attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg the night before.

“There are always more important things than football,” Freiburg coach Christian Günter said.

Topics: Bundesliga Bayer Leverkusen Freiburg Bayern Munich

Tiger Woods and son Charlie share the lead at PNC Championship

Updated 22 December 2024

December 22, 2024 02:18

Tiger Woods and son Charlie share the lead at PNC Championship

Woods hit an array of good shots, including a wedge to inches on the short par-4 seventh, but otherwise downplayed his game by suggesting he still had a lot of rust
The PNC Championship is for players who won a major or The Players Championship and a family member

Updated 22 December 2024

December 22, 2024 02:18

ORLANDO, Florida: Tiger Woods and 15-year-old son Charlie ran off five straight birdies on the back nine Saturday for a 13-under 59 in the scramble format, giving them a share of the lead in the PNC Championship in Woods’ first competition since back surgery in September.
Woods said he scheduled that surgery — the sixth on his lower back in the last 10 years — to be sure he recovered in time to play with his son for the fifth straight year.
This is the first time they have shared the lead after the opening round, joined by the last two champions — Bernhard Langer and son Jason, and Vijay Singh and son Qass.
Woods hit an array of good shots, including a wedge to inches on the short par-4 seventh, but otherwise downplayed his game by suggesting he still had a lot of rust. This was more about spending 36 holes on a brisk day at the Ritz-Carlton Club Orlando with his son, a sophomore at Benjamin School in North Palm Beach.
His daughter, Sam, caddied for her father for the second straight year. Their mother, Elin, was among those in the gallery in a tournament that is all about family.
“We’re trying to pull off each and every shot for each other, and to ham-and-egg,” Woods said. “And I think we did that great pretty much the entire day. We picked each other up, which was great. And Charlie made pretty much most of the putts today.”
It helped playing in the same group with former British Open champion Justin Leonard and his son, Luke, a senior and teammate with Charlie at Benjamin School.
Langer extended his astonishing record on the PGA Tour Champions this year by winning for an 18th consecutive season. He and his son made eight birdies in a nine-hole stretch in the middle of the round, and they had an eagle on the 14th hole.
Singh and his son, who won this event in 2022, shot 28 on the back nine.
“There’s so many teams in the hunt,” Langer said. “It’s anybody’s game that is within three or four shots of the leaders, which is most of the field.”
Padraig Harrington and son Paddy, and Tom Lehman and son Sean, were at 12-under 60. The Lehmans looked to be leading when they were around the green on the par-5 18th, but then it took them four shots to get down in the scramble format, taking bogey.
Having Team Woods in the mix is enough to get attention.
“It’s great for the tournament and happy for them,” Langer said. “Should be fun for the crowd tomorrow to come out and watch everybody play.”
Woods hasn’t competed since the British Open in July.
For Team Woods, it’s a matter of not looking too far ahead. The father knows that all too well with his record-tying 82 titles on the PGA Tour. The son got a lesson in that this summer.
Charlie Woods qualified for his first US Junior Amateur, making it to Oakland Hills but not staying very long. He shot rounds of 82-80 and didn’t make it to match play. He also fell short in Monday qualifying for the Cognizant Classic on the PGA Tour and US Open qualifying.
But he said the US Junior was his biggest learning moment.
“It’s about focusing on my playing,” Charlie said. “I was so focused on winning and how I played that it kind of crept into how am I going to win instead of how I’m going to play the shot. And it kind of built up and that caused two very, very bad rounds of golf. But live and learn.”
His father listened to the answer and nodded.
“Learn,” Woods said.
The PNC Championship is for players who won a major or The Players Championship and a family member. Annika Sorenstam is playing with her son, while Nelly Korda is playing with her father. Steve Stricker — winner of seven senior majors — is playing with daughter Izzy, a freshman at Wisconsin.
Korda dazzled with a fairway metal out of the sand on the par-5 14th to set up eagle. Team Korda was four shots behind.

Topics: PNC Tiger Woods golf Charlie Woods

Atletico snatch late win at Barca to top La Liga

Updated 22 December 2024

AFP

December 22, 2024 01:23

Atletico snatch late win at Barca to top La Liga

Barcelona started the season in superb form but have stumbled in recent weeks and have now won just one of their last seven league games

Updated 22 December 2024

AFP

December 22, 2024 01:23

BARCELONA: Atletico Madrid came from behind to snatch a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Barcelona and claim leadership of La Liga on Saturday.
Pedri sent the Catalans ahead but second-half goals from Rodrigo De Paul and Alexander Sorloth helped Diego Simeone’s side move three points clear at the top of the table, having played one match fewer than Barca.
Hansi Flick’s side dominated at the Olympic stadium but Atletico clung on before claiming a 12th consecutive victory across all competitions with Sorloth’s stoppage-time strike.
Barcelona started the season in superb form but have stumbled in recent weeks and have now won just one of their last seven league games.
Champions Real Madrid face Sevilla on Sunday and can also move ahead of Barcelona with a victory.
Barcelona controlled the first half, with their press suffocating Atletico, but struggled to construct many chances.
Raphinha missed with an early header and had another effort blocked, while Jan Oblak fielded a stinging Inigo Martinez effort.
The hosts appealed for a penalty when the ball struck Giovanni Simeone’s arm in the area but it would have been a harsh punishment for the Atletico coach’s son.
Barcelona took the lead after 30 minutes with Pedri both the architect and scorer of the goal.
The Spain midfielder burst forward with the ball and fed Gavi, who tried to turn and inadvertently nudged the ball back to the surging Pedri, who entered the box and slotted past Oblak.
Barcelona should have doubled their lead early in the second half, with Fermin Lopez denied by Oblak’s legs before Raphinha hit the crossbar.
Pedri played in the Brazilian winger with a fine pass over the top and Raphinha lofted the ball over the goalkeeper but it struck the woodwork on its way down.
Moments later Atletico were level, with Marc Casado’s misguided backheel clearance falling to De Paul on the edge of the area.
The in-form Argentine midfielder finished with a firm low effort into the bottom corner for his third goal in his last four league games.
In the final stages both teams tried to snatch a winner, with La Liga’s top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski missing from point-blank range, although Ferran Torres appeared offside in the build-up.
At the other end Inaki Pena made a fine save to keep Pablo Barrios at bay, while Oblak saved from Raphinha after another superb Pedri ball.
The outstanding Canarian midfielder had a chance to score himself but Oblak again proved too hard to beat, and his efforts did not go unrewarded.
Deep in stoppage time Nahuel Molina crossed for regular super-sub Sorloth to strike and ensure Atletico will be top of the pile at Christmas.

Topics: La Liga Atletico Madrid Barca

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc wins first home F1 Monaco Grand Prix

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc wins first home F1 Monaco Grand Prix

Leclerc claims Monaco pole to end Verstappen’s record sequence

8 watches owned by F1 great Michael Schumacher fetch more than $4m at auction in Geneva

Usyk beats Fury in heavyweight championship rematch

Usyk beats Fury in heavyweight championship rematch

Bulked-up Tyson Fury promises ‘war’ in Usyk rematch in Saudi Arabia

World’s first artificial-intelligence boxing judge unveiled for Fury-Usyk fight

Balotelli almost scores first goal for Genoa but Napoli hold on to lead Serie A again

Balotelli almost scores first goal for Genoa but Napoli hold on to lead Serie A again

Balotelli hits first Brescia goal in defeat to Napoli

Record-breakers Atalanta maintain Serie A lead as Napoli lurk

Wirtz, Schick star for Leverkusen in rout of Freiburg and keep pressure on Bayern

Wirtz, Schick star for Leverkusen in rout of Freiburg and keep pressure on Bayern

Leipzig lose ground on Bayern, Dortmund and Leverkusen win

Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen struggling to maintain heights of last season

Tiger Woods and son Charlie share the lead at PNC Championship

Tiger Woods and son Charlie share the lead at PNC Championship

Gulf Golf Championship tees off in Oman

UCLA duo Knapp and Tavatanakit deliver late birdies and win Grant Thornton Invitational

Atletico snatch late win at Barca to top La Liga

Atletico snatch late win at Barca to top La Liga

Griezmann in PlayStation form has steered Atletico Madrid back on track

Barca hit five as they return to winning ways at Mallorca

Latest updates

Winter is hitting Gaza and many Palestinians have little protection from the cold

Minorities fear targeted attacks in post-revolution Bangladesh

Usyk beats Fury in heavyweight championship rematch

Zelensky hails Usyk victory over Fury

Balotelli almost scores first goal for Genoa but Napoli hold on to lead Serie A again

Recommended

What Israel’s capture of Syrian territory as Assad fell signifies for the Middle East

How Damascus residents reclaimed their city after Bashar Assad’s chaotic downfall

How a new Saudi initiative aims to spur collaboration in space sector

Search form

Print Edition

Search form

Search form

You are here

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc wins first home F1 Monaco Grand Prix

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc wins first home F1 Monaco Grand Prix

Related

Usyk beats Fury in heavyweight championship rematch

Related

Balotelli almost scores first goal for Genoa but Napoli hold on to lead Serie A again

Related

Wirtz, Schick star for Leverkusen in rout of Freiburg and keep pressure on Bayern

Related

Tiger Woods and son Charlie share the lead at PNC Championship

Related

Atletico snatch late win at Barca to top La Liga

Related

Latest updates

Recommended

Search form

Print Edition