Sports

Verstappen fastest in Japanese Grand Prix first practice

Published

3 months ago

22/09/2023

Nancy

Max Verstappen went fastest on Friday in the first practice for the Japanese Grand Prix, as he looks to put one hand on his third straight Formula One title this weekend. Red Bull’s Verstappen, who leads teammate and nearest rival Sergio Perez by 151 points in the championship standings, was first out onto the Suzuka track in dry but humid conditions.

He reeled off a quickest lap of 1min 31.647sec – 0.626sec faster than second-place Carlos Sainz of Ferrari, who won last weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.

Verstappen cannot clinch the title on Sunday but a favourable result can set him up to seal the deal at the Qatar Grand Prix next month. The Dutchman is looking to bounce back from a disappointing fifth-place finish in Singapore that ended his record streak of 10 straight wins.

He was quick to lay down a marker in his first practice at Suzuka and aimed a barb at George Russell after coming up behind his slow-moving Mercedes.

“That Mercedes was so dangerous in the way there,” Verstappen said on his team radio. Russell, who crashed on the final lap as he went for the win in Singapore last week, had two wheels over the white line as Verstappen approached him.

McLaren’s Lando Norris, who finished second in Singapore, was third-fastest at 1min 32.392sec. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was fourth, AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda was fifth in his home grand prix, and Fernando Alonso was sixth in his Aston Martin.

Lance Stroll was back in action after missing the Singapore race, following a huge crash in qualifying that destroyed his Aston Martin. Slight rain began to fall at the end of the practice session, although Sunday’s race is forecast to be dry.

Source: Supersport

In other news – Tasha Cobbs Durban’s show has been cancelled

American gospel singer Tasha Cobbs Leonard announced that her Durban show has been canceled. Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the star shared the saddening news.

She revealed that the show was canceled due to the promoters not standing by their words. In a video, Tasha said she is currently in South Africa for her Revival Tour. Read more

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Sports

ZESCO United seek five in a row in MTN Super League

Published

2 days ago

08/12/2023

Nancy

ZESCO United will hope to make it five wins in a row when they welcome Forest Rangers in an Ndola Derby in the MTN Super League, having already opened up a four-point lead at the top of the table. But counting against them is an odd piece of history in this fixture – their having only been five home wins in matches between these two sides in their last 29 meetings.

That is an exceptionally low count, but perhaps it is the fact that neither side has far to go for games and they have in the past shared the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, but that does not really explain why the team listed away should enjoy three times more success (15 wins) in clashes between the teams.

Rangers have had a middling type of season, with four wins, four defeats and six draws, they sit 10th in the 18-team league. They have also both scored and conceded 15 goals.

Second-placed Nkwazi have lost only two of their 14 games so far as they welcome a NAPSA Stars side hovering just above the relegation zone. Stars are also still seeking a first away win (D2 L5) while Nkwazi are unbeaten on their own patch (W4 D3).

There has not been much to choose between the sides in their last nine meetings at Nkwazi, with three wins each and three draws.

Red Arrows have risen to third but remain inconsistent as they go away to ZANACO this weekend. Five of the last six meetings between the sides have been drawn, including the previous three.

FC MUZA are winless in four (D2 L2) after an excellent start to the season and have a tricky away day at Green Buffaloes, who have yet to lose on their own patch (W4 D3).

MUZA are the second highest scorers in the division with 19 goals, behind only ZESCO (23), so they know the way to goal and will hope for success.

Nkana FC got a win last time out to move to within two points of safety, but need to back it up with more as they go to Kansanshi Dynamos. Two of their three wins this season have come on the road, so they can take some confidence from that statistic.

Defending champions Power Dynamos just have not managed to get into second gear this campaign as they welcome bottom side Trident. Perhaps this is the time to change that, with the visitors still yet to register a win (D9 L5).

In other matches, Kabwe Warriors host Mutondo Stars, Green Eagles welcome Prison leopards and Mufulira Wanderers travel to Konkola Blades

Source: Supersport

Sports

Williams confirm Sargeant to stay with F1 team in 2024

Published

1 week ago

03/12/2023

Nancy

Williams have confirmed American driver Logan Sargeant will stay with the Formula One team next season. The British outfit have opted to retain Sargeant for a second campaign despite his troubled 2023 season. The 22-year-old, who scored just one point throughout the season, will race alongside Alex Albon, with the London-born Thai’s place already announced.

“I am thrilled to be continuing with Williams Racing for the 2024 season,” Sargeant said on Friday. It has been an incredible journey with the team so far and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue developing as a driver within such a talented and dedicated group.

“We have exciting plans for the future and I can’t wait to contribute to the team’s success in the coming year.”Sargeant claimed his maiden point in Formula One, the first American to score in the sport since Michael Andretti 30 years ago for McLaren, after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were both disqualified from the United States Grand Prix in Austin in October.

Albon finished the year with an impressive 27 points to help Williams land seventh in the constructors’ championship, the team’s best result for six seasons.

“I am pleased to continue our journey with Logan into 2024,” said team principal James Vowles.

“Logan has demonstrated immense skill while under the pressure of the world stage, making him a perfect fit for our team. We have great confidence in his abilities and believe that together we can achieve even greater success in the upcoming season. The Formula One season will start in Bahrain on 2 March.

Source: Supersport

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Zingah announces taking a break from his podcast, Choppin It With Bhuda T. The South African rapper announced quitting music two years ago, and shortly after that, he began the podcast which ran for two seasons.