News
Verstappen sets fastest time in first morning of Bahrain testing
Max Verstappen of Red Bull set the pace on the opening morning of the initial Bahrain test, posting the quickest time.
During the initial stages of testing, Lewis Hamilton experienced a brief issue with the new Ferrari, specifically a locked wheel, while the vehicle was equipped with aerodynamic rakes to collect airflow data across its bodywork.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull secured the top spot on the morning of the first day of testing in Bahrain, posting the fastest time.
The current test at the Bahrain International Circuit, scheduled to run until Friday, marks the beginning of a six-day period, split over two weeks, where Formula 1 teams will fine-tune their understanding of the new cars ahead of the championship's start next month.
Verstappen's fastest lap, achieved with a time of 1:35.433, was recorded on medium-compound tires and proved to be 0.169 seconds quicker than McLaren driver Oscar Piastri's time, which was set using soft-compound tires.
It's essential to approach the fastest lap times recorded during testing with caution, as the specifications of the cars being tested are not publicly disclosed, making it challenging to accurately assess the teams' performance.
The reliability of these times is further compromised this year due to the significant changes in regulations, affecting chassis, power units, tires, and fuel, which represent the most substantial overhaul in F1 history.
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Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri share their thoughts on the upcoming season, including the new 'papaya' rules and the anticipated 'boost' button in F1.
As the new season approaches, teams and drivers are focusing on optimizing energy management, exploring the most effective ways to utilize hybrid engines and electrical components to achieve the best possible lap times.
The top positions in the test were occupied by the four teams expected to be frontrunners, with George Russell of Mercedes securing the third-fastest time, closely followed by Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton.
Williams, who had previously missed the 'shakedown' in Spain due to delays, finally had the opportunity to test their car and recorded the seventh-fastest time with Carlos Sainz at the wheel.
Sainz was surpassed by Esteban Ocon in the Haas and 18-year-old British rookie Arvid Lindblad, driving for Racing Bulls.
The Aston Martin team, which has generated significant interest with its new Adrian Newey-designed car and engine partnership with Honda, found itself towards the rear of the pack, with Lance Stroll's time exceeding the pace by over four seconds.
Each team is currently operating with a single car, and world champion Lando Norris, along with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, are scheduled to make their debut in the afternoon session, starting at 12:00 GMT on Wednesday.
The introduction of active aero and overtake mode marks a new era in F1 terminology.
Cadillac recently unveiled a split livery design in a Super Bowl commercial.
George Russell has expressed his desire to compete directly with Max Verstappen.
The 'shakedown' in Barcelona provided an initial glimpse into the 2026 F1 season.
The 2026 F1 season will feature the most significant rule changes in the sport's history, along with the emergence of a British teenager, marking a new era for the championship.
Entertainment And Arts
Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign
The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.
A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.

Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.
Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.
A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.
The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.
It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.
Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.
At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.
In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.
Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.

He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.
The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.
The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.
News
Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance
Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.
In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.
The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.
Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.
Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.
The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.
A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.
After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.
With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.
The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.
Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.
Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.
In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.
A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.
Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.
However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.
A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.
Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.
There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.
For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.
A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.
News
FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008
As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.
This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.
Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.
However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.
Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?
For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.
We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.
Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?
Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?
Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.
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