19 hours ago
MADRID (AP) — Changes are expected to the new Madring track next year after its lackluster debut at the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend.
Organizers said they are open to trying to improve the layout that produced virtually no overtaking opportunities and drew widespread criticism from Formula 1 drivers. The lack of track action was criticized by fans as well as F1 returned to Madrid after a 45-year absence.
Event director Luis García Abad said that governing body FIA has already indicated the changes that might be needed on the urban track that mixes existing roads and purpose-built sections. Madrid signed a 10-year contract to be on the F1 calendar.
"Well, to be honest, FIA has clearly defined how to improve the circuit layout, and we will be open to that because we will have to refurbish the circuit for next year," Abad told Motorsport.com.
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli won Sunday's race after pole-sitter Lando Norris caught an unlucky break with the timing of the deployment of the virtual safety car. Norris ended third, behind Max Verstappen.
#track #improve
Organizers said they are open to trying to improve the layout that produced virtually no overtaking opportunities and drew widespread criticism from Formula 1 drivers. The lack of track action was criticized by fans as well as F1 returned to Madrid after a 45-year absence.
Event director Luis García Abad said that governing body FIA has already indicated the changes that might be needed on the urban track that mixes existing roads and purpose-built sections. Madrid signed a 10-year contract to be on the F1 calendar.
"Well, to be honest, FIA has clearly defined how to improve the circuit layout, and we will be open to that because we will have to refurbish the circuit for next year," Abad told Motorsport.com.
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli won Sunday's race after pole-sitter Lando Norris caught an unlucky break with the timing of the deployment of the virtual safety car. Norris ended third, behind Max Verstappen.
#track #improve
20 hours ago
The inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring has drawn heavy criticism from F1 fans and drivers over the limited overtaking opportunities on the narrow circuit. Its layout reportedly made the race a dull spectacle for many, and now even Spain's Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, has weighed in. Puente didn't hold back, describing the event as "an absolute dud."
Puente has kept his criticism constructive, comparing the Spanish GP with the Monaco GP, which is also known for offering limited overtaking opportunities. Monaco's narrow city streets have become increasingly challenging as F1 cars have grown larger over the decades, while significantly widening the roads is simply not a realistic option.
Despite Monaco's reputation for limited overtaking, this year's race featured 10 overtakes during the entire race, according to a social media post from Autosport. By comparison, the Madrid race last weekend saw just four overtakes.
Spanish Grand Prix, Sunday Madrid: Motorsport: FIA F1 Grand Prix of Spain, Formula 1 2026
on September, 13, 2026, (Photo by Hoch Zwei)
Start
01 NORRIS Lando (gbr), McLaren F1 Team MCL40, action
12 KIMI ANTONELLI Andrea (ita), Mercedes AMG F1 Team W17, action
44 HAMILTON Lewis (gbr), Scuderia Ferrari SF-26, action
Puente expressed his view while replying to a user on X who stated that the sporting side of the event suffered the most. The minister wrote:
#spanish #race #team
Puente has kept his criticism constructive, comparing the Spanish GP with the Monaco GP, which is also known for offering limited overtaking opportunities. Monaco's narrow city streets have become increasingly challenging as F1 cars have grown larger over the decades, while significantly widening the roads is simply not a realistic option.
Despite Monaco's reputation for limited overtaking, this year's race featured 10 overtakes during the entire race, according to a social media post from Autosport. By comparison, the Madrid race last weekend saw just four overtakes.
Spanish Grand Prix, Sunday Madrid: Motorsport: FIA F1 Grand Prix of Spain, Formula 1 2026
on September, 13, 2026, (Photo by Hoch Zwei)
Start
01 NORRIS Lando (gbr), McLaren F1 Team MCL40, action
12 KIMI ANTONELLI Andrea (ita), Mercedes AMG F1 Team W17, action
44 HAMILTON Lewis (gbr), Scuderia Ferrari SF-26, action
Puente expressed his view while replying to a user on X who stated that the sporting side of the event suffered the most. The minister wrote:
#spanish #race #team
3 days ago
MADRID (AP) — Formula 1 drivers enjoyed the high adrenaline produced by the Madring track at the Spanish Grand Prix while complaining about the lack of overtaking opportunities on the new circuit.
They also called for other improvements such as reducing the pit lane length. Madrid has produced a hybrid urban circuit using existing roads and purpose-built sections for its first grand prix in 45 years.
"In terms of track design I think it can be better," Red Bull's Max Verstappen said on Saturday. "Input from drivers in the future on track design can also help a lot. ... If you want to have better racing, overtaking, I think there can be a few corners that can be changed."
Verstappen added, "There's always a way to find an overtaking opportunity around a track."
There were only a few overtaking maneuvers in the first days of action at Madring across F1, F2 and the F3 series. Some commentators called Madring the Spanish Monaco.
#madring #overtaking #spanish
They also called for other improvements such as reducing the pit lane length. Madrid has produced a hybrid urban circuit using existing roads and purpose-built sections for its first grand prix in 45 years.
"In terms of track design I think it can be better," Red Bull's Max Verstappen said on Saturday. "Input from drivers in the future on track design can also help a lot. ... If you want to have better racing, overtaking, I think there can be a few corners that can be changed."
Verstappen added, "There's always a way to find an overtaking opportunity around a track."
There were only a few overtaking maneuvers in the first days of action at Madring across F1, F2 and the F3 series. Some commentators called Madring the Spanish Monaco.
#madring #overtaking #spanish
3 days ago
Manuel Neuer is one of, if not, the greatest goalkeeper of all time. While he hasn't been the subject of much praise in recent months, we now have an opportunity to come and celebrate the legendary goalkeeper. This week after his start against Bodø/Glimt, Neuer became the oldest German player in the history of the Champions League.
He has now surpassed legendary German Jens Lehmann, who also played as a goalkeeper. It does seem to be goalkeepers breaking these records, but that doesn't take anything away from this accomplishment. Neuer's longevity is simply brilliant, no matter how much his performances have cooled down over the years.
At 40 years and 167 days, Manuel Neuer became the oldest German player in the history of the Champions League, overtaking Jens Lehmann pic.twitter.com/3QHaV1PMoM
While it is an opportunity to celebrate, some fans might take the opportunity to look at this a bit more skeptically. Is this an amazing accomplishment? Yes, but perhaps a world-class squad such as Bayern Munich should aim to have a different choice in goal, considering the club's starting goalkeeper is now over 40 years old.
Looking at other top clubs such as Real Madrid, ******* nal, and PSG, Neuer's age certainly does stand out in comparison to these club's goalkeepers. Food for thought.
#manuel #league
He has now surpassed legendary German Jens Lehmann, who also played as a goalkeeper. It does seem to be goalkeepers breaking these records, but that doesn't take anything away from this accomplishment. Neuer's longevity is simply brilliant, no matter how much his performances have cooled down over the years.
At 40 years and 167 days, Manuel Neuer became the oldest German player in the history of the Champions League, overtaking Jens Lehmann pic.twitter.com/3QHaV1PMoM
While it is an opportunity to celebrate, some fans might take the opportunity to look at this a bit more skeptically. Is this an amazing accomplishment? Yes, but perhaps a world-class squad such as Bayern Munich should aim to have a different choice in goal, considering the club's starting goalkeeper is now over 40 years old.
Looking at other top clubs such as Real Madrid, ******* nal, and PSG, Neuer's age certainly does stand out in comparison to these club's goalkeepers. Food for thought.
#manuel #league
5 days ago
F1 drivers check out the new Madring circuit ahead of the Spanish GP, as they discuss the dangers, difficulties in overtaking and getting a lap done, and talk about the La Monumental corner.
Jeddah? Macau? Monaco? Baku? Zandvoort? The new Madring circuit has been compared to a lot of other tracks on the F1 calendar due to its nature and layout. The drivers are bracing for a hard and tough outing in this weekend's Spanish GP. The narrow and high-speed combination never works well for everyone, with the Saudi Arabian GP a prime example in recent times.
Of course, the F1 drivers eventually find a way through to get things right. But still, ahead of the start, they have mixed emotions, with most agreeing that it will be dangerous. Even though some feel it will not be as dangerous as Jeddah already is, the majority agree that defending will be much easier and overtaking much harder, as seen in Monaco.
Even getting a lap right in qualifying will be a challenge, which the F1 drivers accept. Almost everyone has had a run in the simulator, but they are waiting for the real feel, as the speed and power can only be ascertained once someone is really on track. One of its major attractions is the long, banked La Monumental, which, of course, everyone is looking to try in the real car.
Here's a list of F1 drivers speaking about the dangers:
#drivers #monaco #even #circuit
Jeddah? Macau? Monaco? Baku? Zandvoort? The new Madring circuit has been compared to a lot of other tracks on the F1 calendar due to its nature and layout. The drivers are bracing for a hard and tough outing in this weekend's Spanish GP. The narrow and high-speed combination never works well for everyone, with the Saudi Arabian GP a prime example in recent times.
Of course, the F1 drivers eventually find a way through to get things right. But still, ahead of the start, they have mixed emotions, with most agreeing that it will be dangerous. Even though some feel it will not be as dangerous as Jeddah already is, the majority agree that defending will be much easier and overtaking much harder, as seen in Monaco.
Even getting a lap right in qualifying will be a challenge, which the F1 drivers accept. Almost everyone has had a run in the simulator, but they are waiting for the real feel, as the speed and power can only be ascertained once someone is really on track. One of its major attractions is the long, banked La Monumental, which, of course, everyone is looking to try in the real car.
Here's a list of F1 drivers speaking about the dangers:
#drivers #monaco #even #circuit
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11 days ago
A crash, a penalty… what next? For a man who's just turned 20, Italian hotshot Kimi Antonelli has already endured a tumultuous relationship with his home grand prix: the electrifying, old-school Monza circuit, long christened Formula 1's Temple of Speed.
Two years ago, on the same weekend that Toto Wolff announced that then-F2 driver Antonelli would have the small shoes of Lewis Hamilton to fill in 2025, Antonelli took part in his first F1 session. On his second flying lap, full-send around the final high-speed Parabolica corner, the teen dumped his car violently into the wall. Then, in 2025, Antonelli crashed again in practice before receiving a penalty for track limits and running Alex Albon off the circuit.
Coming in the midst of a helter-skelter rookie year, Wolff acknowledged that Antonelli's ninth-place performance had been "underwhelming," urging his protege to "just free up." Fast-forward 12 months, Antonelli is potentially 11 races away from becoming F1's youngest-ever world champion. And on Thursday, he acknowledged he feels "very free mentally."
Yet Antonelli's chances of becoming the first home driver to win the Italian Grand Prix since Ferrari's Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966 are slim, bordering on zero. The championship leader, 59 points clear at the top, will take a 20-place grid penalty this weekend as he exceeds his engine allocation for the season. Mercedes's thinking is that, with Monza's mammoth long straight, overtaking from the back of the grid will be easier come raceday. Still, it feels a shame to lose the budding romance of a potential first Italian winner in 60 years.
"In some ways, it makes me a bit more relaxed going into the weekend," Antonelli said in the FIA press conference. "That's why I'm going to be able to enjoy more the driving and the weekend itself. Also, it's a different opportunity.
#wolff #grand #home
Two years ago, on the same weekend that Toto Wolff announced that then-F2 driver Antonelli would have the small shoes of Lewis Hamilton to fill in 2025, Antonelli took part in his first F1 session. On his second flying lap, full-send around the final high-speed Parabolica corner, the teen dumped his car violently into the wall. Then, in 2025, Antonelli crashed again in practice before receiving a penalty for track limits and running Alex Albon off the circuit.
Coming in the midst of a helter-skelter rookie year, Wolff acknowledged that Antonelli's ninth-place performance had been "underwhelming," urging his protege to "just free up." Fast-forward 12 months, Antonelli is potentially 11 races away from becoming F1's youngest-ever world champion. And on Thursday, he acknowledged he feels "very free mentally."
Yet Antonelli's chances of becoming the first home driver to win the Italian Grand Prix since Ferrari's Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966 are slim, bordering on zero. The championship leader, 59 points clear at the top, will take a 20-place grid penalty this weekend as he exceeds his engine allocation for the season. Mercedes's thinking is that, with Monza's mammoth long straight, overtaking from the back of the grid will be easier come raceday. Still, it feels a shame to lose the budding romance of a potential first Italian winner in 60 years.
"In some ways, it makes me a bit more relaxed going into the weekend," Antonelli said in the FIA press conference. "That's why I'm going to be able to enjoy more the driving and the weekend itself. Also, it's a different opportunity.
#wolff #grand #home
15 days ago
His brother has won the Champions League twice; now he himself is being drawn to the Bundesliga. There is likely something to celebrate in the Doué household, as Guela Doué, the brother of PSG star Désiré Doué, apparently is on the verge of a move to Bayer Leverkusen.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano and kicker, Bayer are set to pay around €38 million to RC Strasbourg.
The 23-year-old right-back only still has to complete his medical, and then nothing will stand in the way of signing the contract.
That would make the Ivory Coast international Leverkusen's most expensive new signing, overtaking Malik Tillman. Tillman was signed from PSV in 2025 for €35 million.
It would likely be the next transfer coup for Bayer, after media reports had already confirmed the return of Moussa Diaby (just under €30 million). Bayer's transfer spending, which already stands at €99 million, is therefore likely to rise significantly once again.
#bayer #tillman #brother #league
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano and kicker, Bayer are set to pay around €38 million to RC Strasbourg.
The 23-year-old right-back only still has to complete his medical, and then nothing will stand in the way of signing the contract.
That would make the Ivory Coast international Leverkusen's most expensive new signing, overtaking Malik Tillman. Tillman was signed from PSV in 2025 for €35 million.
It would likely be the next transfer coup for Bayer, after media reports had already confirmed the return of Moussa Diaby (just under €30 million). Bayer's transfer spending, which already stands at €99 million, is therefore likely to rise significantly once again.
#bayer #tillman #brother #league
17 days ago
Thiago Pitarch was one of the major positives to emerge from a disappointing last season for Real Madrid.
The 18-year-old La Fabrica midfield prodigy made his first-team debut under Alvaro Arbeloa and soon became a regular starter, even overtaking an established player like Eduardo Camavinga.
Pitarch further enhanced his reputation during the summer, starring for the Spain national team in their U19 European Championship success.
However, the youngster was dealt with a cruel setback when he returned to train under new manager Jose Mourinho as he suffered an injury early into pre-season.
It has been over five weeks since Pitarch has been out of action, and according to journalist Alvaro Esteban, the Real Madrid midfield prospect is making important progress in his recovery.
#pitarch #madrid
The 18-year-old La Fabrica midfield prodigy made his first-team debut under Alvaro Arbeloa and soon became a regular starter, even overtaking an established player like Eduardo Camavinga.
Pitarch further enhanced his reputation during the summer, starring for the Spain national team in their U19 European Championship success.
However, the youngster was dealt with a cruel setback when he returned to train under new manager Jose Mourinho as he suffered an injury early into pre-season.
It has been over five weeks since Pitarch has been out of action, and according to journalist Alvaro Esteban, the Real Madrid midfield prospect is making important progress in his recovery.
#pitarch #madrid
20 days ago
Jan Ziolkowski could leave Roma in the final days of the transfer window.
Following the arrival of Koulierakis, the Polish defender, awaiting approval today for the transfer of Oosterwolde, who can also play in a back three, has fallen to the back row and risks limited playing time this season.
The 2005-born defender is popular with some foreign clubs, but in the last few hours, Monza has moved into pole position, even overtaking Parma.
Roma had inquired about signing Ziolkowski for around €7-8 million, in addition to two foreign clubs who had made official offers to Roma. However, at this price, Roma are now prioritizing a loan move.
In the last few hours, Monza has outbid Parma and two foreign clubs to sign Ziolkowski.
#foreign #monza #defender #last
Following the arrival of Koulierakis, the Polish defender, awaiting approval today for the transfer of Oosterwolde, who can also play in a back three, has fallen to the back row and risks limited playing time this season.
The 2005-born defender is popular with some foreign clubs, but in the last few hours, Monza has moved into pole position, even overtaking Parma.
Roma had inquired about signing Ziolkowski for around €7-8 million, in addition to two foreign clubs who had made official offers to Roma. However, at this price, Roma are now prioritizing a loan move.
In the last few hours, Monza has outbid Parma and two foreign clubs to sign Ziolkowski.
#foreign #monza #defender #last
21 days ago
Formula 1 star Max Verstappen will take on a new challenge next month when he goes up against 100 drivers in what has been touted as the world's biggest kart race.
The Red Bull driver will line up on the back of the grid at a purpose-built kart layout at Silverstone on 16 September, and be tasked with overtaking all 100 rivals before the time runs out.
The race, named 'Max vs 100' will be broadcast live on Disney+ around the globe and ESPN in the US.
The Dutchman will be up against a field comprising stars from various disciplines, including Red Bull athletes, celebrities, content creators and everyday fans. While the full entry list is yet to be released, Red Bull has already confirmed the participation of ultrarunner Arda Saatçi, basketball star Chris Matthews, freestyle mountain biker Matt Jones and streamers TheGrefg, Caedrel and TheDonato.
Verstappen, who started his own career in karting at the age of four before rising through the ranks to make his F1 debut with Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls) at the age of 17, said: "In go-karts you learn all the basics: starts, defending, overtaking.
#verstappen #race #september
The Red Bull driver will line up on the back of the grid at a purpose-built kart layout at Silverstone on 16 September, and be tasked with overtaking all 100 rivals before the time runs out.
The race, named 'Max vs 100' will be broadcast live on Disney+ around the globe and ESPN in the US.
The Dutchman will be up against a field comprising stars from various disciplines, including Red Bull athletes, celebrities, content creators and everyday fans. While the full entry list is yet to be released, Red Bull has already confirmed the participation of ultrarunner Arda Saatçi, basketball star Chris Matthews, freestyle mountain biker Matt Jones and streamers TheGrefg, Caedrel and TheDonato.
Verstappen, who started his own career in karting at the age of four before rising through the ranks to make his F1 debut with Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls) at the age of 17, said: "In go-karts you learn all the basics: starts, defending, overtaking.
#verstappen #race #september
23 days ago
Mitchell Starc produced another devastating spell in Mackay to finish with a 10-wicket match haul as Australia crushed Bangladesh by an innings and 51 runs in the second Test, levelling the two-match series 1-1 inside two days.
Starc returned figures of 10-51, adding four wickets on Sunday to his remarkable 6-12 on the opening day. Bangladesh were bowled out for just 64 in their first innings before Australia also found batting difficult on a spicy pitch at Mackay in northern Queensland.
The victory provided a significant boost for Australia after their surprise defeat in the opening Test in Darwin.
Starc's performance also moved him to 10th on the all-time Test wicket-takers' list. The left-arm quick now has 445 wickets, overtaking South African great Dale Steyn.
It was Starc's fourth 10-wicket haul in Test cricket. Pat **** mins and Nathan Lyon also played key roles with three wickets each as Bangladesh were dismissed for 95 in their second innings.
Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored with 31, while Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on 29. The Bangladesh captain and experienced wicketkeeper-batter received little support from the rest of the line-up, with only two other batters reaching double figures.
Australia had resumed their first innings at 165-8 and added 45 runs to their overnight total. Cameron Green and Nathan Lyon initially put on 28 for the ninth wicket before Shoriful Islam ended Green's resistance.
Shoriful produced a searing inswinging yorker that struck Green on the front pad, with the decision confirmed on review. Green departed for 67 from 105 **** , having struck 10 boundaries. It followed his breakthrough home century in the first Test at Darwin.
Shoriful finished with 7-48, the best bowling figures by a Bangladesh player in a Test away from home.
Lyon, unbeaten on 32, and Josh Hazlewood took Australia beyond 200 before Hazlewood fell for six to Taijul Islam. Australia were eventually dismissed for 210, giving them a crucial 146-run first-innings lead.
Bangladesh's second innings quickly became another Starc show.
After getting through his first over, Bangladesh lost Shadman Islam for one in Starc's next over, with Marnus Labuschagne taking the edge. Mominul Haque then shouldered arms to the following delivery, which crashed into his off stump.
Starc returned after lunch to dismiss Litton Das for another duck. The wicketkeeper-batter faced 27 **** across three innings in the series without scoring.
The Australia quick completed his 10-wicket haul shortly before tea, bowling Taijul Islam for seven with a delivery that breached the gap between bat and pad.
Starc finished with 4-39 in the second innings and narrowly missed his best Test match figures of 11-94, recorded against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2016.
Lyon completed the formalities after tea, taking the final two wickets in the first over of the session to wrap up Bangladesh's innings for 95.
The two-Test Top End series marks t
Starc returned figures of 10-51, adding four wickets on Sunday to his remarkable 6-12 on the opening day. Bangladesh were bowled out for just 64 in their first innings before Australia also found batting difficult on a spicy pitch at Mackay in northern Queensland.
The victory provided a significant boost for Australia after their surprise defeat in the opening Test in Darwin.
Starc's performance also moved him to 10th on the all-time Test wicket-takers' list. The left-arm quick now has 445 wickets, overtaking South African great Dale Steyn.
It was Starc's fourth 10-wicket haul in Test cricket. Pat **** mins and Nathan Lyon also played key roles with three wickets each as Bangladesh were dismissed for 95 in their second innings.
Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored with 31, while Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on 29. The Bangladesh captain and experienced wicketkeeper-batter received little support from the rest of the line-up, with only two other batters reaching double figures.
Australia had resumed their first innings at 165-8 and added 45 runs to their overnight total. Cameron Green and Nathan Lyon initially put on 28 for the ninth wicket before Shoriful Islam ended Green's resistance.
Shoriful produced a searing inswinging yorker that struck Green on the front pad, with the decision confirmed on review. Green departed for 67 from 105 **** , having struck 10 boundaries. It followed his breakthrough home century in the first Test at Darwin.
Shoriful finished with 7-48, the best bowling figures by a Bangladesh player in a Test away from home.
Lyon, unbeaten on 32, and Josh Hazlewood took Australia beyond 200 before Hazlewood fell for six to Taijul Islam. Australia were eventually dismissed for 210, giving them a crucial 146-run first-innings lead.
Bangladesh's second innings quickly became another Starc show.
After getting through his first over, Bangladesh lost Shadman Islam for one in Starc's next over, with Marnus Labuschagne taking the edge. Mominul Haque then shouldered arms to the following delivery, which crashed into his off stump.
Starc returned after lunch to dismiss Litton Das for another duck. The wicketkeeper-batter faced 27 **** across three innings in the series without scoring.
The Australia quick completed his 10-wicket haul shortly before tea, bowling Taijul Islam for seven with a delivery that breached the gap between bat and pad.
Starc finished with 4-39 in the second innings and narrowly missed his best Test match figures of 11-94, recorded against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2016.
Lyon completed the formalities after tea, taking the final two wickets in the first over of the session to wrap up Bangladesh's innings for 95.
The two-Test Top End series marks t
24 days ago
Shedeur Sanders was down to his final shot to stake a claim to the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback job. It started very well. Then there was an interception.
Browns coach Todd Monken said before Saturday's preseason game against the Buffalo Bills that he plans to name a quarterback for the regular season early next week, via Cleveland.com. Sanders has been behind Deshaun Watson for most of the offseason and training camp and didn't start Cleveland's first preseason game. Sanders got the start on Saturday, and if Monken sticks with his timeline it was Sanders' last chance to make an impression.
Sanders came out hot, completing his first eight passes including a touchdown. He was driving the Browns again late in the first half, and after a nice 23-yard pass on third-and-15 he made a crucial mistake. Sanders threw behind tight end Jermaine Terry. The ball bounced up and Bills safety Damar Hamlin picked it off. Terry could have made a great catch, but it should have been a routine pass to an open tight end and Sanders missed the target.
If the Browns have been leaning toward Watson, as it has seemed, that interception will give them the reason they need to name him the starter over Sanders.
There hadn't been many signs that Sanders is close to overtaking Watson in the competition to start in Week 1. Watson got the start last week and although he didn't play great, Monken said he thought Watson functioned at a "high level."
#Browns
Browns coach Todd Monken said before Saturday's preseason game against the Buffalo Bills that he plans to name a quarterback for the regular season early next week, via Cleveland.com. Sanders has been behind Deshaun Watson for most of the offseason and training camp and didn't start Cleveland's first preseason game. Sanders got the start on Saturday, and if Monken sticks with his timeline it was Sanders' last chance to make an impression.
Sanders came out hot, completing his first eight passes including a touchdown. He was driving the Browns again late in the first half, and after a nice 23-yard pass on third-and-15 he made a crucial mistake. Sanders threw behind tight end Jermaine Terry. The ball bounced up and Bills safety Damar Hamlin picked it off. Terry could have made a great catch, but it should have been a routine pass to an open tight end and Sanders missed the target.
If the Browns have been leaning toward Watson, as it has seemed, that interception will give them the reason they need to name him the starter over Sanders.
There hadn't been many signs that Sanders is close to overtaking Watson in the competition to start in Week 1. Watson got the start last week and although he didn't play great, Monken said he thought Watson functioned at a "high level."
#Browns
26 days ago
By Ben Steiner
VANCOUVER — Good luck scoring against the Houston Dynamo.
In a battle between the top two teams in the Western Conference, the Dynamo prevailed 1–0 over the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place Wednesday, silencing a crowd of over 22,000 and overtaking the 'Caps atop the West, while making some history along the way.
Franco Negri scored the lone goal in the 34th minute with a thunderous finish from outside the box, but it was the defensive prowess that led the way for the Dynamo. Despite constant Vancouver pressure, Houston held strong, securing a fifth straight clean sheet, while extending the win streak to the same number.
By doing so, they became the third team in MLS history to win five games, all via clean sheets – and the vibes couldn't be any better, for a team that feels they're still a work in progress.
#Vancouver #history #team #steiner
VANCOUVER — Good luck scoring against the Houston Dynamo.
In a battle between the top two teams in the Western Conference, the Dynamo prevailed 1–0 over the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place Wednesday, silencing a crowd of over 22,000 and overtaking the 'Caps atop the West, while making some history along the way.
Franco Negri scored the lone goal in the 34th minute with a thunderous finish from outside the box, but it was the defensive prowess that led the way for the Dynamo. Despite constant Vancouver pressure, Houston held strong, securing a fifth straight clean sheet, while extending the win streak to the same number.
By doing so, they became the third team in MLS history to win five games, all via clean sheets – and the vibes couldn't be any better, for a team that feels they're still a work in progress.
#Vancouver #history #team #steiner
26 days ago
Our ******* ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
BHP just got a copper-colored glow-up.
The world's biggest miner still digs plenty of iron ore, but investors are now looking at a company increasingly powered by the metal behind AI, electrification and the grid buildout.
BHP reported a stronger full-year result for the year ended June 30 with copper overtaking iron ore as its biggest earnings driver for the first time.
Revenue rose 15% to $58.8 billion, while underlying EBITDA increased 27% to $32.9 billion. Net operating cash flow climbed 17% to $21.8 billion, and underlying profit jumped 30% to $13.2 billion, ahead of expectations.
#biggest #june
BHP just got a copper-colored glow-up.
The world's biggest miner still digs plenty of iron ore, but investors are now looking at a company increasingly powered by the metal behind AI, electrification and the grid buildout.
BHP reported a stronger full-year result for the year ended June 30 with copper overtaking iron ore as its biggest earnings driver for the first time.
Revenue rose 15% to $58.8 billion, while underlying EBITDA increased 27% to $32.9 billion. Net operating cash flow climbed 17% to $21.8 billion, and underlying profit jumped 30% to $13.2 billion, ahead of expectations.
#biggest #june
30 days ago
Scottie Scheffler has drawn plenty of Tiger Woods comparisons in recent years, and in one facet, he's about to surpass him.
Scheffler is on the verge of becoming No. 1 in official career earnings on the PGA Tour. With his victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, Scheffler is only $1.04 million from overtaking Woods atop the money mountain.
The current world No. 1 collected $3.6 million from his 21st PGA Tour ***** le to surpass Rory McIlroy for No. 2 on the list. Scheffler is now at $119,964,411. Woods, who has held the top spot since Feb. 13, 2000, stands at $120,999,166.
McIlroy finished 66th in Memphis, Tennessee, and is now at $116,488,972.
These totals do not include bonus money — of which Scheffler and McIlroy have accumulated tens of millions more in recent years — only official earnings from PGA Tour tournaments.
#woods #tour #earnings
Scheffler is on the verge of becoming No. 1 in official career earnings on the PGA Tour. With his victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, Scheffler is only $1.04 million from overtaking Woods atop the money mountain.
The current world No. 1 collected $3.6 million from his 21st PGA Tour ***** le to surpass Rory McIlroy for No. 2 on the list. Scheffler is now at $119,964,411. Woods, who has held the top spot since Feb. 13, 2000, stands at $120,999,166.
McIlroy finished 66th in Memphis, Tennessee, and is now at $116,488,972.
These totals do not include bonus money — of which Scheffler and McIlroy have accumulated tens of millions more in recent years — only official earnings from PGA Tour tournaments.
#woods #tour #earnings
30 days ago
Scottie Scheffler overcame an early blip Sunday to win the FedEx St. Jude Championship in a rout for his 21st career PGA Tour victory.
Scheffler collected $3.6 million from the $20 million purse. In the process, he surpassed Rory McIlroy for second on the PGA Tour's official career money list and moved $1.04 million from overtaking Tiger Woods for No. 1.
Scottie Scheffler closing in on Tiger Woods for No. 1 in PGA Tour career earnings
Tiger Woods has been No. 1 on the PGA Tour's career money list since Feb. 13, 2000.
Golf Channel Staff,
#tour
Scheffler collected $3.6 million from the $20 million purse. In the process, he surpassed Rory McIlroy for second on the PGA Tour's official career money list and moved $1.04 million from overtaking Tiger Woods for No. 1.
Scottie Scheffler closing in on Tiger Woods for No. 1 in PGA Tour career earnings
Tiger Woods has been No. 1 on the PGA Tour's career money list since Feb. 13, 2000.
Golf Channel Staff,
#tour
1 month ago
Barcelona continue to gain momentum in the race to sign Rodri.
The Spanish midfielder has become one of the biggest names of the transfer window, and in recent hours Barcelona's chances of landing him have strengthened, overtaking arch-rivals Real Madrid in the race.
Now, according to information from COPE(h/t SPORT), Pep Guardiola has played an important role in Rodri's willingness to seriously consider a move to Barcelona.
Guardiola is one of the people who knows Rodri best after coaching him for several seasons at Manchester City.
According to the report, the former Manchester City manager has spoken with Rodri about his future and presented Barcelona's project in a very positive light.
#according
The Spanish midfielder has become one of the biggest names of the transfer window, and in recent hours Barcelona's chances of landing him have strengthened, overtaking arch-rivals Real Madrid in the race.
Now, according to information from COPE(h/t SPORT), Pep Guardiola has played an important role in Rodri's willingness to seriously consider a move to Barcelona.
Guardiola is one of the people who knows Rodri best after coaching him for several seasons at Manchester City.
According to the report, the former Manchester City manager has spoken with Rodri about his future and presented Barcelona's project in a very positive light.
#according
1 month ago
FC Barcelona has made a major statement in the transfer market. Hansi Flick has decided to personally take charge of the negotiations to secure the signing of Rodri Hernández, star of Manchester City and a key target for the Barça board.
As journalist Carlos Monfort revealed in SPORT, the German coach held a phone conversation with the Spanish midfielder in recent hours. During the call, Flick conveyed the club's genuine interest and outlined the key role he would play in his project.
This strong move confirms the Blaugrana side's definitive entry into the race for the Madrid-born holding midfielder. The manager's direct involvement is aimed at speeding up a strategic operation to strengthen Barça's midfield ahead of the challenges to come.
The phone contact also comes at a crucial moment. It was recently leaked that Barcelona has managed to gain the upper hand and move into pole position to complete his signing, overtaking Real Madrid in the race.
Despite the financial complexity and Rodri's importance at Manchester City, optimism reigns within the Catalan club. The ambitious sporting proposal explained by Flick could be decisive in tipping the balance in favor of Camp Nou.
#flick #city #madrid #signing
As journalist Carlos Monfort revealed in SPORT, the German coach held a phone conversation with the Spanish midfielder in recent hours. During the call, Flick conveyed the club's genuine interest and outlined the key role he would play in his project.
This strong move confirms the Blaugrana side's definitive entry into the race for the Madrid-born holding midfielder. The manager's direct involvement is aimed at speeding up a strategic operation to strengthen Barça's midfield ahead of the challenges to come.
The phone contact also comes at a crucial moment. It was recently leaked that Barcelona has managed to gain the upper hand and move into pole position to complete his signing, overtaking Real Madrid in the race.
Despite the financial complexity and Rodri's importance at Manchester City, optimism reigns within the Catalan club. The ambitious sporting proposal explained by Flick could be decisive in tipping the balance in favor of Camp Nou.
#flick #city #madrid #signing
1 month ago
NEW DELHI: England star Jos ***** ler etched his name into cricket history on Wednesday, overtaking West Indies great Kieron Pollard to become the highest run-scorer in men's T20 cricket during Manchester Super Giants' emphatic nine-wicket victory over Welsh Fire in The Hundred at Old Trafford.
Buttler's explosive unbeaten 51 off just 20 ***** not only powered Manchester Super Giants to a comfortable chase of 156 with 31 ***** to spare but also took him past Pollard's long-standing tally to the top of the all-time T20 run charts.
The landmark moment came in spectacular fashion. Facing Marco Jansen, ***** ler launched the South African pacer for three successive sixes, with the first of those maximums taking him beyond Pollard's record.
The England wicketkeeper-batter now has 14,833 runs in 522 T20 matches, along with nine centuries and 105 fifties, overtaking Pollard's 14,803 runs in 746 matches. Former West Indies opener Chris Gayle, long regarded as the format's greatest batter, is now third on the list with 14,562 runs in 463 matches, including 22 centuries.
Buttler capped off the milestone in style, smashing two more sixes off Lockie Ferguson before bringing up his half-century and sealing victory for Manchester Super Giants.
Matches
Runs
Ave.
#manchester #west #indies
Buttler's explosive unbeaten 51 off just 20 ***** not only powered Manchester Super Giants to a comfortable chase of 156 with 31 ***** to spare but also took him past Pollard's long-standing tally to the top of the all-time T20 run charts.
The landmark moment came in spectacular fashion. Facing Marco Jansen, ***** ler launched the South African pacer for three successive sixes, with the first of those maximums taking him beyond Pollard's record.
The England wicketkeeper-batter now has 14,833 runs in 522 T20 matches, along with nine centuries and 105 fifties, overtaking Pollard's 14,803 runs in 746 matches. Former West Indies opener Chris Gayle, long regarded as the format's greatest batter, is now third on the list with 14,562 runs in 463 matches, including 22 centuries.
Buttler capped off the milestone in style, smashing two more sixes off Lockie Ferguson before bringing up his half-century and sealing victory for Manchester Super Giants.
Matches
Runs
Ave.
#manchester #west #indies
2 months ago
Apple is due to report earnings Thursday afternoon, with options pricing suggesting traders see its stock swinging up to about 4% by the end of the week.
Thursday's report will be Apple's last with Tim Cook as CEO, with John Ternus set to take over the top job in September.
Apple is set to report earnings after the closing bell Thursday, with traders expecting the iPhone maker's stock could extend its record-setting rally following the results.
Based on current options pricing, Apple (AAPL) shares are seen swinging up to about 4% in either direction by the end of the week. A move of that size from Tuesday's close could send the stock up to a new record above $352, or back below $328, giving up some of its recent gains.
After overtaking Nvidia (NVDA) as the world's most valuable company and watching its market capitalization briefly cross the $5 trillion threshold, Apple saw its shares finish Tuesday's session 1% higher at a closing record of $340. The iPhone maker's stock has added one-quarter of its value this year amid optimism around strong iPhone sales and anticipated advances under new CEO John Ternus, who's set to take the helm from Tim Cook in September.
#Apple #thursday
Thursday's report will be Apple's last with Tim Cook as CEO, with John Ternus set to take over the top job in September.
Apple is set to report earnings after the closing bell Thursday, with traders expecting the iPhone maker's stock could extend its record-setting rally following the results.
Based on current options pricing, Apple (AAPL) shares are seen swinging up to about 4% in either direction by the end of the week. A move of that size from Tuesday's close could send the stock up to a new record above $352, or back below $328, giving up some of its recent gains.
After overtaking Nvidia (NVDA) as the world's most valuable company and watching its market capitalization briefly cross the $5 trillion threshold, Apple saw its shares finish Tuesday's session 1% higher at a closing record of $340. The iPhone maker's stock has added one-quarter of its value this year amid optimism around strong iPhone sales and anticipated advances under new CEO John Ternus, who's set to take the helm from Tim Cook in September.
#Apple #thursday
2 months ago
July 28 (Reuters) - Apple's market capitalization briefly surpassed $5 trillion for the first time on Tuesday, making it only the second company ever to achieve that milestone after Nvidia.
Its shares were last up 0.72% at $339.33, giving it a market capitalization of $4.98 trillion. At a session high of $342.89, Apple's market value stood at $5.036 trillion.
Apple became the most valuable company in the world earlier this month, overtaking chipmaker Nvidia - which had been at the top since June 2025 and was the first company ever to breach the $5 trillion threshold.
Nvidia's shares were last up 0.53% at $197.63, valuing it at $4.78 trillion.
Apple has benefited from strong demand for its products as well as its decision to skip the ongoing AI spending race among Big Tech rivals that is sapping their cash flows and saddling them with humongous debt.
#company
Its shares were last up 0.72% at $339.33, giving it a market capitalization of $4.98 trillion. At a session high of $342.89, Apple's market value stood at $5.036 trillion.
Apple became the most valuable company in the world earlier this month, overtaking chipmaker Nvidia - which had been at the top since June 2025 and was the first company ever to breach the $5 trillion threshold.
Nvidia's shares were last up 0.53% at $197.63, valuing it at $4.78 trillion.
Apple has benefited from strong demand for its products as well as its decision to skip the ongoing AI spending race among Big Tech rivals that is sapping their cash flows and saddling them with humongous debt.
#company
2 months ago
IndyCar has unwrapped its highly anticipated next-generation race car, the Dallara IR-28, with the new car scheduled to make its racing debut at the start of the 2028 season.
The brand-new chassis and aero pack replaces the long-serving Dallara DW12 chassis that has been running around the series since 2012-it's basically vintage at this point.
The redesign focused on reducing weight, increasing driver safety, and fundamentally changing the aerodynamics to maximize wheel-to-wheel overtaking opportunities. IndyCar people openly say that the IR-28 is engineered to eclipse current lap times and actively smash long-standing track records-including Arie Luyendyk's legendary 236.9 mph qualifying average set at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1996.
Rather than chasing pure downforce at the expense of the chasing pack, the IR-28's aerodynamic furniture has been purpose-built from day one to optimize the vehicle's wake.
Key design and bodywork highlights include:
#dallara
The brand-new chassis and aero pack replaces the long-serving Dallara DW12 chassis that has been running around the series since 2012-it's basically vintage at this point.
The redesign focused on reducing weight, increasing driver safety, and fundamentally changing the aerodynamics to maximize wheel-to-wheel overtaking opportunities. IndyCar people openly say that the IR-28 is engineered to eclipse current lap times and actively smash long-standing track records-including Arie Luyendyk's legendary 236.9 mph qualifying average set at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1996.
Rather than chasing pure downforce at the expense of the chasing pack, the IR-28's aerodynamic furniture has been purpose-built from day one to optimize the vehicle's wake.
Key design and bodywork highlights include:
#dallara
2 months ago
With 58 games remaining in the Houston Astros’ 2026 season and two months left on the schedule, it might be too early to talk about Yordan Alvarez potentially winning a Triple Crown.
Yet after Alvarez hit his 34th home run of the season, it’s not unreasonable to raise the possibility either. The Astros slugger batted 2-for-4 with 2 RBI in Houston’s 5-2 win over the Miami Marlins.
Alvarez now leads MLB in homers, overtaking the Philadelphia Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber. And he has four more than Ben Rice of the New York Yankees for the top spot in the AL.
With 77 RBI, Alvarez is one ahead of the Washington Nationals’ CJ Abrams and Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals. And though he trails the Marlins’ Otto Lopez (.332) for the MLB lead in batting average, his .328 mark leads the Tampa Bay Rays’ Yandy Diaz (.308) by 20 points.
MLB’s last Triple Crown winner was the Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera, who led the AL with a .330 batting average, 44 homers and 139 RBI. But as might be expected, Alvarez doesn’t want to talk about the Triple Crown right now.
#alvarez #crown #astros #talk
Yet after Alvarez hit his 34th home run of the season, it’s not unreasonable to raise the possibility either. The Astros slugger batted 2-for-4 with 2 RBI in Houston’s 5-2 win over the Miami Marlins.
Alvarez now leads MLB in homers, overtaking the Philadelphia Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber. And he has four more than Ben Rice of the New York Yankees for the top spot in the AL.
With 77 RBI, Alvarez is one ahead of the Washington Nationals’ CJ Abrams and Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals. And though he trails the Marlins’ Otto Lopez (.332) for the MLB lead in batting average, his .328 mark leads the Tampa Bay Rays’ Yandy Diaz (.308) by 20 points.
MLB’s last Triple Crown winner was the Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera, who led the AL with a .330 batting average, 44 homers and 139 RBI. But as might be expected, Alvarez doesn’t want to talk about the Triple Crown right now.
#alvarez #crown #astros #talk
2 months ago
Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SPCX) -- or ******* eX -- is now what Wall Street calls a "broken IPO," meaning a stock trading below its IPO price. The company was valued at $135 in the largest IPO in history. The stock's first trade on June 12 was $150, and it closed just above $200 on that day. Since then, however, it has fallen back to Earth and even investors who got in at the IPO price are now at a loss.
The IPO price is a psychological benchmark that traders anchor to as a fair valuation. Falling below this level can cause the belief that the stock was overhyped causing selling pressure and a reluctance to purchase the stock until it settles. Additionally, institutions who got in at the IPO price are now in a losing position and may look to sell shares on any rally back toward that level.
This week I'll look at other broken IPOs and see if we can determine the chance of further losses compared to overtaking that important IPO price.
We've been tracking the major IPOs for some time now. Our list is by no means a comprehensive list and consists mainly of more popular IPOs. Survivorship bias is also prevalent in the list since it includes only stocks currently trading. Despite that caveat, I think this is an insightful study.
Using the list of IPOs, I identified instances in which a stock closed at least 25% above its IPO price and then, at some point within the next six months, closed below its IPO price. The table below summarizes the stock returns after a signal was generated. The second table shows what returns would have been achieved by purchasing the S&P 500 Index instead.
#ipos #list #since
The IPO price is a psychological benchmark that traders anchor to as a fair valuation. Falling below this level can cause the belief that the stock was overhyped causing selling pressure and a reluctance to purchase the stock until it settles. Additionally, institutions who got in at the IPO price are now in a losing position and may look to sell shares on any rally back toward that level.
This week I'll look at other broken IPOs and see if we can determine the chance of further losses compared to overtaking that important IPO price.
We've been tracking the major IPOs for some time now. Our list is by no means a comprehensive list and consists mainly of more popular IPOs. Survivorship bias is also prevalent in the list since it includes only stocks currently trading. Despite that caveat, I think this is an insightful study.
Using the list of IPOs, I identified instances in which a stock closed at least 25% above its IPO price and then, at some point within the next six months, closed below its IPO price. The table below summarizes the stock returns after a signal was generated. The second table shows what returns would have been achieved by purchasing the S&P 500 Index instead.
#ipos #list #since
2 months ago
England's dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals was a landmark occasion for more than one reason. Not only did it send the Three Lions into the semi-finals for just the fourth time in their history, it also saw Jordan Pickford and Harry Kane climb to the top of England's all-time World Cup appearance rankings.
Pickford completed the full 120 minutes to help England keep Norway at bay, making his 18th World Cup appearance and overtaking Peter Shilton, who previously held the record with 17. If, as expected, the Everton goalkeeper starts the semi-final against Argentina, he will extend his lead at the top of the list.
The quarter-final also marked Pickford's 90th England cap. During his international career, he has recorded 58 wins, 18 draws and 14 defeats, moving level with Bryan Robson as England's 14th most-capped player.
Kane, meanwhile, drew level with Shilton on 17 World Cup appearances, moving into outright second place behind Pickford. With England still in the competition, the captain looks certain to add to that tally as Thomas Tuchel's side chase only their second World Cup final.
The 32-year-old also reached another milestone, earning his 120th England cap to move level with Wayne Rooney in second place on the country's all-time appearance list. Only Peter Shilton, with 125 caps, now sits above him.
Pickford completed the full 120 minutes to help England keep Norway at bay, making his 18th World Cup appearance and overtaking Peter Shilton, who previously held the record with 17. If, as expected, the Everton goalkeeper starts the semi-final against Argentina, he will extend his lead at the top of the list.
The quarter-final also marked Pickford's 90th England cap. During his international career, he has recorded 58 wins, 18 draws and 14 defeats, moving level with Bryan Robson as England's 14th most-capped player.
Kane, meanwhile, drew level with Shilton on 17 World Cup appearances, moving into outright second place behind Pickford. With England still in the competition, the captain looks certain to add to that tally as Thomas Tuchel's side chase only their second World Cup final.
The 32-year-old also reached another milestone, earning his 120th England cap to move level with Wayne Rooney in second place on the country's all-time appearance list. Only Peter Shilton, with 125 caps, now sits above him.
2 months ago
Dangote's 700,000 b/d Lekki refinery has been running at full capacity over the past two months, pushing product exports to Europe to record levels and overtaking traditional suppliers from the Gulf and the US. Its rise has already reshaped the West African fuel trade: imports of clean products from outside the region fell by almost 25% year-on-year in the second quarter. Yet Dangote is treating this only as a starting point. The group plans to add another crude distillation unit (CDU), lift total capacity to 1.45 million b/d and build a wider network of product-storage and distribution infrastructure across Africa. The ambition is vast, but so are the challenges.
The refinery's latest maintenance and upgrade programme lifted capacity from 650,000 b/d to 700,000 b/d by de-bottlenecking the existing crude distillation unit. That increase took roughly 2.5 years to deliver, with regular crude purchases beginning in March 2024. The next phase is larger. Dangote is targeting mechanical completion of a new 750,000 b/d CDU and additional secondary units by December 2028, potentially including another vacuum distillation unit as well as expanded polypropylene, base-oil and linear alkyl benzene capacity. If completed, the project would make Lekki the world's largest refinery at 1.45 million b/d, narrowly ahead of Reliance Industries' 1.4 million b/d Jamnagar complex in India. However, the construction of Dangote's first CDU took eight years, roughly in line with the pace of other recent refinery projects. India's newly commissioned Barmer refinery in Rajasthan, for example, also took around eight years to build, despite being far smaller at 180,000 b/d. That makes Dangote's target of completing a second CDU by 2028 look highly unrealistic.
Yet the timeline may be less important than the signal. While state-owned NNPC is still trying to rehabilitate its three refineries, with a combined capacity of 445,000 b/d, by attracting outside investors, Dangote's promise to build the world's largest refinery sends a clear message to both NNPC and potential investors: the competition is likely to become too difficult to withstand, regardless of when the second CDU is ultimately completed.
Related: IMF Downgrades Global Economic Growth Forecast To 3% Amid Iran War
The refinery has largely relied on Nigerian crude, but domestic supply has not been sufficient to cover its full needs. Crude receipts peaked near 650,000 b/d in May before easing to 575,000 b/d in June. Nigeria's very own Bonny Light has remained central, while WTI Midland from the US Gulf Coast provided an average of 120,000 b/d in 2025 and as much as 300,000 b/d in some months. The very light slate supported high jet and diesel yields but left too little residue to fully feed the refinery's residual fluid catalytic cracker, constraining gasoline output. Dangote has therefore widened its slate to include somewhat heavier Nigerian grades such as Escravos, Forcados and Bonga, alongside occasional cargoes
The refinery's latest maintenance and upgrade programme lifted capacity from 650,000 b/d to 700,000 b/d by de-bottlenecking the existing crude distillation unit. That increase took roughly 2.5 years to deliver, with regular crude purchases beginning in March 2024. The next phase is larger. Dangote is targeting mechanical completion of a new 750,000 b/d CDU and additional secondary units by December 2028, potentially including another vacuum distillation unit as well as expanded polypropylene, base-oil and linear alkyl benzene capacity. If completed, the project would make Lekki the world's largest refinery at 1.45 million b/d, narrowly ahead of Reliance Industries' 1.4 million b/d Jamnagar complex in India. However, the construction of Dangote's first CDU took eight years, roughly in line with the pace of other recent refinery projects. India's newly commissioned Barmer refinery in Rajasthan, for example, also took around eight years to build, despite being far smaller at 180,000 b/d. That makes Dangote's target of completing a second CDU by 2028 look highly unrealistic.
Yet the timeline may be less important than the signal. While state-owned NNPC is still trying to rehabilitate its three refineries, with a combined capacity of 445,000 b/d, by attracting outside investors, Dangote's promise to build the world's largest refinery sends a clear message to both NNPC and potential investors: the competition is likely to become too difficult to withstand, regardless of when the second CDU is ultimately completed.
Related: IMF Downgrades Global Economic Growth Forecast To 3% Amid Iran War
The refinery has largely relied on Nigerian crude, but domestic supply has not been sufficient to cover its full needs. Crude receipts peaked near 650,000 b/d in May before easing to 575,000 b/d in June. Nigeria's very own Bonny Light has remained central, while WTI Midland from the US Gulf Coast provided an average of 120,000 b/d in 2025 and as much as 300,000 b/d in some months. The very light slate supported high jet and diesel yields but left too little residue to fully feed the refinery's residual fluid catalytic cracker, constraining gasoline output. Dangote has therefore widened its slate to include somewhat heavier Nigerian grades such as Escravos, Forcados and Bonga, alongside occasional cargoes
2 months ago
James Cook is running with the NFL's best.
The Buffalo Bills running back moved up to No. 7 in ESPN's annual rankings of the league's best running backs, which are based on votes from more than 70 NFL executives, coaches and scouts.
Cook finished one spot higher than a year ago after leading the NFL with 1,621 rushing yards in 2025. He also was one of only five running backs to appear on every ballot.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler wrote Cook "probably should be ranked higher" but fell just short of overtaking Baltimore Ravens star Derrick Henry for the No. 6 spot.
Cook's development into one of the league's most complete backs stood out throughout the voting.
The Buffalo Bills running back moved up to No. 7 in ESPN's annual rankings of the league's best running backs, which are based on votes from more than 70 NFL executives, coaches and scouts.
Cook finished one spot higher than a year ago after leading the NFL with 1,621 rushing yards in 2025. He also was one of only five running backs to appear on every ballot.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler wrote Cook "probably should be ranked higher" but fell just short of overtaking Baltimore Ravens star Derrick Henry for the No. 6 spot.
Cook's development into one of the league's most complete backs stood out throughout the voting.
2 months ago
Ferrari president John Elkann has reacted to Charles Leclerc's victory at the 2026 British Grand Prix, which marked the Maranello outfit's 250th grand prix victory.
After starting from second on the grid, Leclerc took the lead at the race start, overtaking polesitter Kimi Antonelli, who slipped to third behind Leclerc's team-mate Lewis Hamilton. After coming out on top during the round of pitstops, Leclerc won the race under safety car conditions.
Ferrari's 250th grand prix victory came at the same venue where José Froilán González claimed the outfit's first Formula 1 race victory in 1951.
Elkann was present in the Silverstone pitlane to witness the milestone moment and spoke with Sky Sports F1 Italy after the race. "That's 250 wins for Ferrari, and the first was here at Silverstone," he said.
"And this shows how important today is for our history and, above all, for the present and the future. When everyone at Ferrari works together, from our great drivers like Charles, who had a great race, like Lewis, to the whole team, both in Maranello and here on the track, great things happen."
After starting from second on the grid, Leclerc took the lead at the race start, overtaking polesitter Kimi Antonelli, who slipped to third behind Leclerc's team-mate Lewis Hamilton. After coming out on top during the round of pitstops, Leclerc won the race under safety car conditions.
Ferrari's 250th grand prix victory came at the same venue where José Froilán González claimed the outfit's first Formula 1 race victory in 1951.
Elkann was present in the Silverstone pitlane to witness the milestone moment and spoke with Sky Sports F1 Italy after the race. "That's 250 wins for Ferrari, and the first was here at Silverstone," he said.
"And this shows how important today is for our history and, above all, for the present and the future. When everyone at Ferrari works together, from our great drivers like Charles, who had a great race, like Lewis, to the whole team, both in Maranello and here on the track, great things happen."
2 months ago
Four months after he was killed at the outset of the US-Israeli war on Iran, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is being memorialized in a weeklong funeral spectacle stretching across five cities in two countries, with millions of mourners expected to attend.
Despite a costly war against two of the world's strongest militaries and decades of crushing economic hardship, Tehran is sparing no expense to send off Khamenei in a grand ceremony shrouded in religious symbolism that overlaps with the 250th US Independence Day celebrations.
Authorities say they've launched one of the largest logistical efforts in the Islamic Republic's history, mobilizing government employees, universities, labor unions, firefighters, soldiers, aid workers and even religious "mourning groups" to organize the funeral and manage the millions of "pilgrims" expected to travel to cities and holy sites across Iran and Iraq to bid the ayatollah farewell. Authorities in neighboring Iraq, where Shiite Muslims are a majority, say millions of mourners are expected to pay respects.
For more than ten days, the overwhelming coverage across Iranian media has been building up to this moment, with tribute songs and documentaries on Khamenei's life overtaking news of talks with the US that had previously dominated headlines. The scale of the spectacle is designed to send a message to the world and to the Islamic Republic's enemies: The regime not only survived an existential war, but will stubbornly immortalize its slain leader as a symbol of its resilience.
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Despite a costly war against two of the world's strongest militaries and decades of crushing economic hardship, Tehran is sparing no expense to send off Khamenei in a grand ceremony shrouded in religious symbolism that overlaps with the 250th US Independence Day celebrations.
Authorities say they've launched one of the largest logistical efforts in the Islamic Republic's history, mobilizing government employees, universities, labor unions, firefighters, soldiers, aid workers and even religious "mourning groups" to organize the funeral and manage the millions of "pilgrims" expected to travel to cities and holy sites across Iran and Iraq to bid the ayatollah farewell. Authorities in neighboring Iraq, where Shiite Muslims are a majority, say millions of mourners are expected to pay respects.
For more than ten days, the overwhelming coverage across Iranian media has been building up to this moment, with tribute songs and documentaries on Khamenei's life overtaking news of talks with the US that had previously dominated headlines. The scale of the spectacle is designed to send a message to the world and to the Islamic Republic's enemies: The regime not only survived an existential war, but will stubbornly immortalize its slain leader as a symbol of its resilience.
unknown content item
3 months ago
The stewards concluded that Russell's reduction in speed was adequate for a single yellow, and the matter was closed without penalty. Toto Wolff wasn't exactly surprised.
Speaking on Sky Sports F1, the Mercedes team principal made clear he never doubted the outcome:
"It was a 100m lift, single yellow. A 100m lift of George Russell loses a tenth and a half. It is completely on. It was a massive lift. Well done to George for how he managed it. I am proud. I think Kimi Antonelli was under the impression it was a double yellow." Antonelli, who finished fourth, had aborted his own final run after Verstappen's crash – a costly misread of the flag situation if Wolff's account is accurate.
Fred Vasseur, speaking to Sky Sports F1, accepted the stewards' call without much resistance – though not without reservation. "Just no further action, that the race control decided that he slowed down enough. We don't have access to the data of the mini sectors. The lap time is deleted if it's double yellow, it was not double yellow. To have a clear opinion on this you need to have the data, and we don't have access to the data."
Leclerc ended up second, Hamilton third – Ferrari has two cars starting from the front row and the row behind on a circuit where overtaking is far from straightforward. Vasseur's point about the mini-sector data isn't wrong, but his team isn't in a bad position regardless of how Saturday ended.
Speaking on Sky Sports F1, the Mercedes team principal made clear he never doubted the outcome:
"It was a 100m lift, single yellow. A 100m lift of George Russell loses a tenth and a half. It is completely on. It was a massive lift. Well done to George for how he managed it. I am proud. I think Kimi Antonelli was under the impression it was a double yellow." Antonelli, who finished fourth, had aborted his own final run after Verstappen's crash – a costly misread of the flag situation if Wolff's account is accurate.
Fred Vasseur, speaking to Sky Sports F1, accepted the stewards' call without much resistance – though not without reservation. "Just no further action, that the race control decided that he slowed down enough. We don't have access to the data of the mini sectors. The lap time is deleted if it's double yellow, it was not double yellow. To have a clear opinion on this you need to have the data, and we don't have access to the data."
Leclerc ended up second, Hamilton third – Ferrari has two cars starting from the front row and the row behind on a circuit where overtaking is far from straightforward. Vasseur's point about the mini-sector data isn't wrong, but his team isn't in a bad position regardless of how Saturday ended.
