SPIELBERG: Max Verstappen resisted a spirited attack from Lando Norris on Saturday to claim victory for Red Bull in a feisty sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The series leader and three-time world champion delivered a home win at the Red Bull Ring with a fighting response after being passed by McLaren’s Norris in the opening laps.
His win was his third sprint triumph this year, his fifth in succession and his 10th in 15 contests as he came home 4.616 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and 5.348 clear of Norris, who was unable to maintain his early speed.
“I had a good first lap,” said Verstappen. “But once the DRS opened it took a few laps for me to get away and then I drove my own race. I had to work for it in that race and we have a few things to think about for tomorrow.”
George Russell finished fourth for Mercedes ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes. Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari was seventh.
Sergio Perez came home eighth in the second Red Bull ahead of Haas’s Kevin Magnussen and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin.
Verstappen was given a rousing reception by the massed ranks of his ‘orange army’ in the grandstands, notably roaring with delight when he responded to snatch back his lead from Norris.
Verstappen resists Norris attack to win Austrian GP sprint race
https://arab.news/8f85p
Verstappen resists Norris attack to win Austrian GP sprint race
Pep Guardiola urges Barcelona to fill Olympic Stadium for Gaza charity match
- Catalan, Palestine national sides will play in honor of 400-plus Palestinian athletes killed in conflict
- ‘It is more than just a game, it is a cry of solidarity,’ Man City coach says
BEIRUT: Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has urged the people of Barcelona to come together for a special football match to be played next week in the city to honor the more than 400 Palestinian athletes killed in Gaza.
In a 30-second video appeal he called on people to fill the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium for the game between the Catalan and Palestine national teams.
“Barcelona, city of peace, hosts this Tuesday the match between the Catalan national team and Palestine national team at the Olympic Stadium,” he said.
“It is more than just a game, it is a cry of solidarity in tribute to the more than 400 Palestinian athletes who were assassinated in Gaza. Let’s fill the stadium.”
Spanish media reports said the proceeds from the match and the Act X Palestine campaign would be used to support the Palestinian people through three lines of action: humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Gaza, justice and an end to impunity, and culture as a form of resistance.
Palestinian-Canadian Mohammed Jashi told Arab News: “As a Palestinian and a Man City fan, I have nothing but tremendous respect and gratitude for Pep, both for his sporting achievements and now his humanitarian stand with my country.
“To have such a prominent manager, the most successful one of our era, issue such a rallying cry for solidarity is something that garners nothing but respect.”
The video garnered 19,000 likes on X and more than 13,500 Instagram.
