Belgian Grand Prix sprint race - radio & text
Qualifying for Sunday's Grand Prix at 15:00
Laurent Mekies' first race as Red Bull boss after sacking of Christian Horner
Listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 commentary at top of page from the Belgium Grand Prix from Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Sprint format explained
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Belgian Grand Prix sprint race - radio & text
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Forbes
40 minutes ago
- Forbes
Europe Isolated: Qatar Threatens LNG Embargo Against The EU
Qatar has warned that it may stop exporting liquefied natural gas to the European Union in response to the Brussels corporate sustainability due diligence directive, which entered into force on July 25th, 2025. The CSDDD requires large companies to remedy environmental harm and human rights concerns (such as forced labor) in their supply chains or incur fines. The rules apply to both EU and non-EU companies with a yearly turnover greater than €450 million. Notably, the rules will not take full effect until 2027 and will be implemented gradually through 2029 based on company size. Qatari outrage over the directive reflects the country's reliance on fossil fuel exports, systemic exploitation of foreign workers, and spotty international reputation. In a letter to Belgium's government, Qatar's Minister of Energy, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, who is also President and CEO and Deputy Chairman of state-owned QatarEnergy, wrote that if 'further changes are not made to CSDDD, the State of Qatar and QatarEnergy will have no choice but to seriously consider alternative markets outside of the EU for our LNG and other products.' In his letter, he pushed back on the European directive's climate goals, affirming that Doha has no plans to achieve net zero emissions anytime soon. To meet its needs for gas without having to rely on Russia or Qatar, EU countries may look to buying more LNG from the U.S. or other suppliers or revisit their nuclear energy policy. Qatar's History of Labor Rights Abuses Qatar's response to the CSDDD was likely spurred not only by the outsized role of fossil fuels in its economy, but also by its ongoing neglect of safe labor practices. When Qatar won the bid in 2010 to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the next decade cast a harsh light on Qatar's treatment of the migrant workers building the stadiums and infrastructure as well as constructing the country's first subway system to handle the crowds of anticipated spectators. In 2022, World Cup Chief Hassan al-Thawadi confirmed that 400-500 migrant workers died working on construction connected to the tournament. In reality, the death toll was probably much higher. Workers were also subjected to unpaid wages, forced labor, dangerously long hours, and other types of abuse. Despite promised reforms and the official abolition of the highly exploitative kefala system in 2016, the Global Slavery Index 2023 estimated that 6.8 people per every 1,000 of Qatar's 2021 population of 2,818,060 were living in modern slavery, hardly a boon for the Emirate closely controlled by the Al Thani clan for generations For now, at least, Qatar is publicly expressing concern only regarding the CSDDD provisions requiring businesses to implement climate transition plans. Effects on European Energy This is not the first time Qatar has threatened to cut off LNG exports to Europe over the CSDDD. In December 2024, Al-Kaabi said in reference to the associated penalties, 'If the case is that I lose 5 percent of my generated revenue by going to Europe, I will not go to Europe... I'm not bluffing.' If Doha follows through on its threats, the consequences will be negative for European energy security, but EU members can replace the Qatari supply with product from the U.S., Nigeria, Algeria, and Mozambique. While Qataris could likely find alternate buyers, particularly in Asia, their insistence on long-term contracts with restrictive resale provisions may push Asian buyers, especially the Japanese and South Koreans, to avoid Qatari LNG. The share of Qatari LNG imports in the EU's total gas portfolio has increased as Europe continues to seek alternatives to Russian LNG in the wake of Putin's second invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In the first quarter of 2024, Qatari LNG accounted for 9.1% of the EU's total imports, and in the first quarter of 2025, this number increased to 10.8%. In 2023, QatarEnergy entered into large LNG contracts with three major companies to supply gas to Europe. It agreed to supply Shell, Eni, and TotalEnergies with several million tons of LNG per year for the next 27 years, providing energy to the Netherlands, Italy, and France, respectively. Europe's reliance on foreign LNG stems from policies across several of its states prioritizing renewables to the exclusion of more reliable forms of baseload energy like nuclear, leaving foreign sources of LNG a key component of the continent's energy mix. This, in turn, has rendered the EU vulnerable to shocks from powers ideologically and strategically opposed to the West. Qatar is directing hundreds of millions of dollars into US academic institutions and think tanks, is the key funder of the global radical Islamist movement the Muslim Brotherhood, and a key sponsor of the Hamas terrorist movement in Gaza and the West Bank. Doha also has close relations with the Taliban and played a key role in facilitating its return to power. Besides Qatar, the EU's two largest LNG suppliers are Russia and the U.S. Russian LNG cannot replace another 10.8% of imports, especially given EU efforts to phase out Russian gas. Whether Europe could turn to the U.S. for more LNG remains to be seen, but the recently announced $750 billion EU-U.S. trade deal signals the potential for more supply to come from America. The Way Forward for the EU The EU is stuck between its own policy priorities, strict regulatory framework (CSDDD as an example), and its reliance on Qatari and other imported gas. The EU leadership may find it more ideologically consistent to stick to the CSDDD rules and phase out continued gas trade with Qatar. Shifting and diversifying its energy policy is strategically sound in the long term. By looking to nations like the United States, a trade partner more aligned with the CSDDD's values, and re-examining and reverting to nuclear energy, the EU can carve out a path toward energy security without caving to adversarial, oppressive and anti-democratic actors like Qatar and Russia.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Mercedes happy to secure Russell's future after Verstappen talks
Toto Wolff said he needed to talk to Max Verstappen about a possible move to Mercedes but was now happy to secure George Russell's future with the team. Verstappen confirmed for the first time that he would stay with Red Bull ahead of last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, putting to an end speculation that he could make a sensational move to rivals Mercedes ahead of the 2026 season. Mercedes and Wolff have made little secret of their desire to sign the four-time world champion, which heightened talk that Russell – who is out of contract at the end of this season – could lose his seat. Team principal Wolff admitted that the possible availability of Verstappen, 27, had to be explored. 'I've always said I'm happy with my team, with Russell and Kimi Antonelli, but suddenly Max's future became uncertain, so we talked to him too,' Wolff told Gazzetta dello Sport. 'But I've always been very clear with George: 90 per cent of the time he would stay with us, but I needed to talk to Verstappen too. Now the situation is clear, and everything can go back to normal.' Verstappen had a break clause from his Red Bull deal which can no longer be activated. Confirmation that he would stay with the team came 23 days after Christian Horner discovered he had been ousted as Red Bull team principal and CEO. Russell claimed his sixth podium of the season at the Hungaroring and has excelled in an inconsistent Mercedes car, while also stepping up to lead the team alongside 18-year-old Italian rookie Antonelli following Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari. Hamilton, who won six of his seven world championships under Wolff at Mercedes, endured another difficult weekend for the Scuderia and labelled himself 'useless' after qualifying. The downbeat 40-year-old said Ferrari should change their driver but Wolff is convinced he will bounce back from his first-season struggles with the Prancing Horse. 'It's a characteristic of the greats: if they know they haven't been up to par, they don't blame the team but look within. Once this moment has passed, he'll come back with the same motivation as always,' Wolff said. Formula One will have a new set of regulations for next season, with major changes to power unit and aerodynamic rules that will bring an end to the ground-effect era in which Mercedes have struggled to match Red Bull and, this season, McLaren. Wolff is optimistic that his team will be stronger next season and admitted he would relish the chance to go head-to-head in a title battle with Hamilton and Ferrari. 'Seeing Ferrari against Mercedes would be fantastic,' Wolff added. 'I have no doubt this duel will happen, next year or in the future. We will experience it and it will be fantastic.'


CBS News
6 hours ago
- CBS News
Tickets for 2026 IndyCar Grand Prix in Arlington go on sale
If you want to watch the first-ever IndyCar race in Arlington, now's the chance to grab tickets. Tickets for the IndyCar Grand Prix, which takes place March 13-15, 2026, went on sale to the public on Wednesday. According to SeatGeek, tickets for the full weekend start at $138 and one-day tickets start at $44. Children under 12 get in free to general admission areas. The 2.73-mile circuit features AT&T Stadium, where the Dallas Cowboys play, and Globe Life Field, where the Texas Rangers play. The course will weave through Arlington's core sports and entertainment district. "We are excited to launch ticket sales for what will be a historic event in Arlington's Entertainment District," said Bill Miller, president of Grand Prix of Arlington. "We look forward to delivering the ultimate guest experience to both new and existing INDYCAR enthusiasts. It's going to be an epic weekend." The event in Arlington will get IndyCar back into Texas after Texas Motor Speedway dropped off the schedule in 2024. IndyCar had raced at the Fort Worth oval every year since the series debut in the 1997 season through 2023. IndyCar and track operator Speedway Motorsports were unable to come to an agreement for 2024.