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Russell snatches pole position for Canadian GP

Russell snatches pole position for Canadian GP

Observer13 hours ago

*Russell on pole for second year in a row in Montreal
*Verstappen completes front row for rivals who collided in Spain
*Formula One world championship leader Piastri lines up third
*McLaren teammate Norris only seventh
MONTREAL: George Russell put his Mercedes on pole position in Canada for the second year in a row on Saturday with Formula One champion Max Verstappen alongside for Red Bull two weeks after they clashed in Spain.
McLaren's Formula One championship leader Oscar Piastri qualified third with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli in fourth place.
Lando Norris, Piastri's British teammate and closest title rival only 10 points behind the Australian after nine of 24 rounds, qualified seventh at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
The clash between Russell and Verstappen in Spain remained a talking point going into the weekend, with the Red Bull driver on the brink of a ban as he chases an unprecedented fourth successive Canadian victory.
Verstappen, 0.160 slower than the pole time, is only a penalty point away from suspension and Russell will try to turn that to his advantage on the short run down to turn one from the start.
Verstappen had no complaints about his grid position. Verstappen's teammate Yuki Tsunoda missed out on the final shootout in 11th place and will start last after collecting a 10-place grid drop for a red flag breach in Saturday's final practice.
That will lift Alpine's Argentine Franco Colapinto to 11th, with his teammate Pierre Gasly alongside Tsunoda on the back row.
Norris was fastest in the first phase, with Piastri second,after a brief red flag delay triggered by Albon's car shedding its engine cover and leaving debris on the track.
While Albon progressed, teammate Carlos Sainz was left in 17th place — but will move up to 16th — and fuming at what he said was "massive impeding" by Hadjar.
Stewards said they would investigate. Canada's only active F1 driver Lance Stroll, who missed the previous race in Spain due to hand and wrist pain, also failed to get over the first hurdle at his home Grand Prix and will start 17th for Aston Martin. — Reuters

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Russell snatches pole position for Canadian GP
Russell snatches pole position for Canadian GP

Observer

time13 hours ago

  • Observer

Russell snatches pole position for Canadian GP

*Russell on pole for second year in a row in Montreal *Verstappen completes front row for rivals who collided in Spain *Formula One world championship leader Piastri lines up third *McLaren teammate Norris only seventh MONTREAL: George Russell put his Mercedes on pole position in Canada for the second year in a row on Saturday with Formula One champion Max Verstappen alongside for Red Bull two weeks after they clashed in Spain. McLaren's Formula One championship leader Oscar Piastri qualified third with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli in fourth place. Lando Norris, Piastri's British teammate and closest title rival only 10 points behind the Australian after nine of 24 rounds, qualified seventh at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The clash between Russell and Verstappen in Spain remained a talking point going into the weekend, with the Red Bull driver on the brink of a ban as he chases an unprecedented fourth successive Canadian victory. Verstappen, 0.160 slower than the pole time, is only a penalty point away from suspension and Russell will try to turn that to his advantage on the short run down to turn one from the start. Verstappen had no complaints about his grid position. Verstappen's teammate Yuki Tsunoda missed out on the final shootout in 11th place and will start last after collecting a 10-place grid drop for a red flag breach in Saturday's final practice. That will lift Alpine's Argentine Franco Colapinto to 11th, with his teammate Pierre Gasly alongside Tsunoda on the back row. Norris was fastest in the first phase, with Piastri second,after a brief red flag delay triggered by Albon's car shedding its engine cover and leaving debris on the track. While Albon progressed, teammate Carlos Sainz was left in 17th place — but will move up to 16th — and fuming at what he said was "massive impeding" by Hadjar. Stewards said they would investigate. Canada's only active F1 driver Lance Stroll, who missed the previous race in Spain due to hand and wrist pain, also failed to get over the first hurdle at his home Grand Prix and will start 17th for Aston Martin. — Reuters

Inter Miami draw with Al Ahly in CWC opener
Inter Miami draw with Al Ahly in CWC opener

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Inter Miami draw with Al Ahly in CWC opener

MIAMI GARDENS, United States: Lionel Messi and Inter Miami were held to a 0-0 draw by Egyptian side Al Ahly on Saturday night in the opening game of the FIifa Club World Cup (CWC), as Fifa's new 32-team tournament got off to a smooth start in front of 60,927 fans in Florida. Messi was denied a storybook stoppage-time winner when he saw his curling shot from 20 yards out tipped on to the bar by Mohamed El Shenawy as Miami piled on the pressure in the final minutes of the game. Al Ahly, who were cheered on by over 10,000 of their supporters, were left to rue a first-half penalty from Egypt international Trezeguet which was saved by Miami's Argentine keeper Oscar Ustari. But the Egyptians also had El Shenawy to thank for another fine save in the dying seconds to keep out a header from Maxi Falcon as Miami pushed for three points in the Group A clash. For organisers Fifa, who have faced heavy skepticism over the necessity for the tournament, the absence of a goal was the only disappointment on a night that delivered everything else that their president Gianni Infantino had hoped for from the opening night. Fears of a low crowd for the opener eased as the seats in the 64,000 venue began to fill up with the stadium almost full at kick-off time. Thousands of fans of Al Ahly, record 12 times African Champions League winner and 45-time league champions of Egypt, arrived at Hard Rock Stadium well ahead of kick-off and made their presence felt with singing and chanting. The stadium, home to the NFL's Miami Dolphins, witnessed chaotic scenes last year at the final of the Copa America between Argentina and Colombia where fans broke into the ground after long delays to enter. PENALTY DRAMA But there was an efficient filter system set up for ticket and security checks well away from the stadium perimeter and there were no signs of any problems. Nor was there any indication of the controversial crackdown on illegal immigrants from US President Donald Trump's administration having any impact on the game in the heavily Hispanic South Florida community. This is the first edition of the new expanded format for the tournament which features clubs from every continent and concludes with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13. Infantino has called the competition a "new era for football" bringing globalisation to the club game but critics have said it adds to an already congested calendar. While there were no goals to celebrate, the game was far from boring with Al Ahly enjoying the better of the first half before Miami improved significantly after the break. Al Ahly opened up Miami's defence with ease in the opening minutes of the game and Emam Ashour was denied by Ustari after being put through by Trezeguet. Palestine international striker Wessam Abou Ali had an effort ruled out for offside in the 31st minute and then the Denmark-born forward had a fierce strike tipped over by Ustari. The penalty came when Telasco Segovia bundled over Zizo but Trezeguet's spot kick was weak and parried out with the former Aston Villa forward unable to react fast enough to the rebound. Miami were stronger after the break with Messi going close in the 64th minute with a free-kick which grazed the post before hitting the side-netting, tricking part of the crowd into thinking he had scored. He nearly did in stoppage time, after a well-worked short-corner but the outstretched finger tip of El Shenawy was to deny him. Miami face Porto in Atlanta on Thursday before returning home to face Brazil's Palmeiras on Monday. — AFP

Sinner had 'sleepless nights' after dramatic French Open final loss
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