Deadspin | CJ McCollum, Hawks rally late, even series vs. Knicks Apr 20, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) drives to the basket against New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) during the fourth quarter of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images CJ McCollum scored six of his game-high 32 points in the final two-plus minutes Monday night for the visiting Atlanta Hawks, who stormed back from an eight-point deficit in the last five minutes to stun the New York Knicks 107-106 in Game 2 of an Eastern Conference first-round series. The Hawks ended on a 15-6 run to even the best-of-seven series at a game apiece. Game 3 of the best-of-seven set is scheduled for Thursday night in Atlanta. The Hawks, whose only lead before their concluding surge was at 36-35, trailed by as many as 14 points in the third quarter. Atlanta fell behind 100-92 when Jalen Brunson hit a floater with 5:26 left. The teams traded empty possessions before Atlanta scored on its next three possessions to pull within 100-99 on Jalen Johnson’s layup with 3:25 remaining. McCollum drove past Brunson for the go-ahead layup with 2:08 left. New York’s OG Anunoby missed two free throws and McCollum hit a short jumper, after which Brunson sank a 3-pointer to tie the score at 103-103. McCollum committed a turnover and Brunson missed a mid-range jumper before McCollum put the Hawks ahead for good with a fadeaway jumper from the left baseline with 33.5 seconds left. Nickeil Alexander-Walker blocked Brunson’s shot and fed Johnson for a dunk to put the Hawks up 107-103 with 10.2 seconds left. Following a timeout, Brunson hit a 3-pointer that circled around the rim and went in, after which McCollum was fouled by Hart but missed both free throws. The Knicks had a timeout left, but they pushed the ball up the court and Hart dished to Mikal Bridges, who missed a 12-foot attempt for the win from the left wing as time expired. The Hawks shot 72.2% (13-for-18) in the fourth while the Knicks shot just 22.7% (5-for-22). Jonathan Kuminga had 19 points off the bench for the Hawks while Johnson (17 points) and Onyeka Okongwu (15 points) also got into double figures. Brunson scored 29 points for the Knicks. Hart recorded 15 points and 13 rebounds while Karl-Anthony Towns had 18 points. Anunoby finished with 14 points, and Mitchell Robinson scored 13 points off the bench. Bridges added 10 points. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #McCollum #Hawks #rally #late #series #Knicks

Deadspin | CJ McCollum, Hawks rally late, even series vs. Knicks
Apr 20, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) drives to the basket against New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) during the fourth quarter of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

CJ McCollum scored six of his game-high 32 points in the final two-plus minutes Monday night for the visiting Atlanta Hawks, who stormed back from an eight-point deficit in the last five minutes to stun the New York Knicks 107-106 in Game 2 of an Eastern Conference first-round series.

The Hawks ended on a 15-6 run to even the best-of-seven series at a game apiece. Game 3 of the best-of-seven set is scheduled for Thursday night in Atlanta.

The Hawks, whose only lead before their concluding surge was at 36-35, trailed by as many as 14 points in the third quarter. Atlanta fell behind 100-92 when Jalen Brunson hit a floater with 5:26 left.

The teams traded empty possessions before Atlanta scored on its next three possessions to pull within 100-99 on Jalen Johnson’s layup with 3:25 remaining. McCollum drove past Brunson for the go-ahead layup with 2:08 left.

New York’s OG Anunoby missed two free throws and McCollum hit a short jumper, after which Brunson sank a 3-pointer to tie the score at 103-103. McCollum committed a turnover and Brunson missed a mid-range jumper before McCollum put the Hawks ahead for good with a fadeaway jumper from the left baseline with 33.5 seconds left.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker blocked Brunson’s shot and fed Johnson for a dunk to put the Hawks up 107-103 with 10.2 seconds left. Following a timeout, Brunson hit a 3-pointer that circled around the rim and went in, after which McCollum was fouled by Hart but missed both free throws.

The Knicks had a timeout left, but they pushed the ball up the court and Hart dished to Mikal Bridges, who missed a 12-foot attempt for the win from the left wing as time expired.

The Hawks shot 72.2% (13-for-18) in the fourth while the Knicks shot just 22.7% (5-for-22).

Jonathan Kuminga had 19 points off the bench for the Hawks while Johnson (17 points) and Onyeka Okongwu (15 points) also got into double figures.

Brunson scored 29 points for the Knicks. Hart recorded 15 points and 13 rebounds while Karl-Anthony Towns had 18 points. Anunoby finished with 14 points, and Mitchell Robinson scored 13 points off the bench. Bridges added 10 points.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #McCollum #Hawks #rally #late #series #Knicks

Sports news April 21, 2026

Apr 20, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) drives to the basket against New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) during the fourth quarter of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

CJ McCollum scored six of his game-high 32 points in the final two-plus minutes Monday night for the visiting Atlanta Hawks, who stormed back from an eight-point deficit in the last five minutes to stun the New York Knicks 107-106 in Game 2 of an Eastern Conference first-round series.

The Hawks ended on a 15-6 run to even the best-of-seven series at a game apiece. Game 3 of the best-of-seven set is scheduled for Thursday night in Atlanta.

The Hawks, whose only lead before their concluding surge was at 36-35, trailed by as many as 14 points in the third quarter. Atlanta fell behind 100-92 when Jalen Brunson hit a floater with 5:26 left.

The teams traded empty possessions before Atlanta scored on its next three possessions to pull within 100-99 on Jalen Johnson’s layup with 3:25 remaining. McCollum drove past Brunson for the go-ahead layup with 2:08 left.

New York’s OG Anunoby missed two free throws and McCollum hit a short jumper, after which Brunson sank a 3-pointer to tie the score at 103-103. McCollum committed a turnover and Brunson missed a mid-range jumper before McCollum put the Hawks ahead for good with a fadeaway jumper from the left baseline with 33.5 seconds left.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker blocked Brunson’s shot and fed Johnson for a dunk to put the Hawks up 107-103 with 10.2 seconds left. Following a timeout, Brunson hit a 3-pointer that circled around the rim and went in, after which McCollum was fouled by Hart but missed both free throws.

The Knicks had a timeout left, but they pushed the ball up the court and Hart dished to Mikal Bridges, who missed a 12-foot attempt for the win from the left wing as time expired.

The Hawks shot 72.2% (13-for-18) in the fourth while the Knicks shot just 22.7% (5-for-22).

Jonathan Kuminga had 19 points off the bench for the Hawks while Johnson (17 points) and Onyeka Okongwu (15 points) also got into double figures.

Brunson scored 29 points for the Knicks. Hart recorded 15 points and 13 rebounds while Karl-Anthony Towns had 18 points. Anunoby finished with 14 points, and Mitchell Robinson scored 13 points off the bench. Bridges added 10 points.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #McCollum #Hawks #rally #late #series #Knicks

Sony acquires broadcasting rights for Asian Games 2026 in India <div id="content-body-70887635" itemprop="articleBody">Sony Pictures Networks India has secured the exclusive broadcast rights for the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, scheduled to be held in Japan from September 19-October 4.As per the deal, the continental showpiece will be telecast on Sony Sports Network channels and streamed on Sony LIV across India and the subcontinent. This will be the third consecutive time that the broadcasting giant will show the Asian Games in India.“India’s historic performance at the last edition, where the nation crossed the 100-medal milestone (India won 107 medals) for the first time, has ignited unprecedented interest in multi-sport events,” Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer and Business Head – Sports and International, SPNI said in a release.The Asian Games, one of the biggest multi-sport events globally, will feature 41 disciplines, including 32 Olympic sports, with new additions such as mixed martial arts and surfing.It is scheduled to take place at the Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya in Japan between September 19 to October 4.Published on Apr 21, 2026</div> #Sony #acquires #broadcasting #rights #Asian #Games #India

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CWG Glasgow 2026 Live Updates, Day 2: Putul Sonowal to be in action at 10:20 PM in Bowls CWG 2026 LIVE: Catch the live updates and action from the second day of the Commonwealth Games 2026 taking place in Glasgow. #CWG #Glasgow #Live #Updates #Day #Putul #Sonowal #action #Bowls

Deadspin | Reds get first look at Cardinals RHP Dustin May Jul 18, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Dustin May (3) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images With both sides attempting to gain ground in the National League wild-card race, the St. Louis Cardinals host the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night. The Cardinals have dropped five of seven games since the All-Star break and sit 1 1/2 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final NL wild-card spot. St. Louis also is a half-game behind the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are currently the first NL team out of the playoff picture. Trying to stay afloat in the playoff chase, the Reds enter their third consecutive road set riding a pair of series victories. Cincinnati, which is six games behind the Diamondbacks, took two of three from both the Colorado Rockies and the Seattle Mariners. Since St. Louis’ Dustin May hurled a one-hit shutout against the San Diego Padres on June 15, little has gone right for the right-hander. In five starts since the gem, May (5-7, 4.78 ERA) is 0-1 with a 9.92 ERA. May threw five innings for the first time in more than a month on Saturday, but he surrendered five runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking four in a 5-3 loss at Arizona. Despite May’s rough patch, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol has confidence the 28-year-old can find his rhythm again. “He’s competed well. He went through a stretch there where he gave us some really good outings,” Marmol said. “After the complete game, there have been some ups and downs, but he’s good enough to get out of this.” Making the 91st appearance (77th start) of his major league career, May will face Cincinnati for the first time. Among the Reds getting their first look at May will be All-Star first baseman Sal Stewart. The 22-year-old ranks fourth in the majors with 74 RBIs after knocking in nine runs across the club’s first two series since the midseason break. “I think there are guys that relish those opportunities,” Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said of Stewart’s success with runners on base. “He’s so strong and he’s got great hitter’s hands. The ball just jumps off his bat.” Despite the RBI surge, Stewart is batting just .130 (3-for-23) since the break. On the mound, Rhett Lowder (3-7, 5.75 ERA) will be chasing a bounce-back effort for Cincinnati. After appearing as a starter for his first 13 outings of the year, Lowder made three appearances out of the bullpen before re-emerging in the rotation after the All-Star break. Last time out, the 24-year-old right-hander lasted just 2 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs on 11 hits in a 10-3 loss to the Rockies on Saturday in Denver. He struck out two and didn’t walk a batter. “(Colorado) was just being aggressive and I was probably leaving too many thick pitches for them. Balls were just finding holes,” Lowder said of that outing. “It was very frustrating.” Lowder has thrown eight scoreless innings across a pair of starts against the Cardinals during his career. He faced St. Louis on June 7, allowing just one hit but walking five across three scoreless innings in a no-decision. The Reds lost 5-3. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Reds #Cardinals #RHP #Dustin

#Deadspin #Reds #Cardinals #RHP #Dustin">

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Jul 18, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Dustin May (3) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

With both sides attempting to gain ground in the National League wild-card race, the St. Louis Cardinals host the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night.

The Cardinals have dropped five of seven games since the All-Star break and sit 1 1/2 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final NL wild-card spot. St. Louis also is a half-game behind the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are currently the first NL team out of the playoff picture.

Trying to stay afloat in the playoff chase, the Reds enter their third consecutive road set riding a pair of series victories. Cincinnati, which is six games behind the Diamondbacks, took two of three from both the Colorado Rockies and the Seattle Mariners.

Since St. Louis’ Dustin May hurled a one-hit shutout against the San Diego Padres on June 15, little has gone right for the right-hander. In five starts since the gem, May (5-7, 4.78 ERA) is 0-1 with a 9.92 ERA.

May threw five innings for the first time in more than a month on Saturday, but he surrendered five runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking four in a 5-3 loss at Arizona.

Despite May’s rough patch, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol has confidence the 28-year-old can find his rhythm again.

“He’s competed well. He went through a stretch there where he gave us some really good outings,” Marmol said. “After the complete game, there have been some ups and downs, but he’s good enough to get out of this.”

Making the 91st appearance (77th start) of his major league career, May will face Cincinnati for the first time.

Among the Reds getting their first look at May will be All-Star first baseman Sal Stewart. The 22-year-old ranks fourth in the majors with 74 RBIs after knocking in nine runs across the club’s first two series since the midseason break.

“I think there are guys that relish those opportunities,” Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said of Stewart’s success with runners on base. “He’s so strong and he’s got great hitter’s hands. The ball just jumps off his bat.”

Despite the RBI surge, Stewart is batting just .130 (3-for-23) since the break.

On the mound, Rhett Lowder (3-7, 5.75 ERA) will be chasing a bounce-back effort for Cincinnati.

After appearing as a starter for his first 13 outings of the year, Lowder made three appearances out of the bullpen before re-emerging in the rotation after the All-Star break. Last time out, the 24-year-old right-hander lasted just 2 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs on 11 hits in a 10-3 loss to the Rockies on Saturday in Denver. He struck out two and didn’t walk a batter.

“(Colorado) was just being aggressive and I was probably leaving too many thick pitches for them. Balls were just finding holes,” Lowder said of that outing. “It was very frustrating.”

Lowder has thrown eight scoreless innings across a pair of starts against the Cardinals during his career. He faced St. Louis on June 7, allowing just one hit but walking five across three scoreless innings in a no-decision. The Reds lost 5-3.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Reds #Cardinals #RHP #Dustin">Deadspin | Reds get first look at Cardinals RHP Dustin May

Jul 18, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Dustin May (3) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

With both sides attempting to gain ground in the National League wild-card race, the St. Louis Cardinals host the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night.

The Cardinals have dropped five of seven games since the All-Star break and sit 1 1/2 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final NL wild-card spot. St. Louis also is a half-game behind the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are currently the first NL team out of the playoff picture.

Trying to stay afloat in the playoff chase, the Reds enter their third consecutive road set riding a pair of series victories. Cincinnati, which is six games behind the Diamondbacks, took two of three from both the Colorado Rockies and the Seattle Mariners.

Since St. Louis’ Dustin May hurled a one-hit shutout against the San Diego Padres on June 15, little has gone right for the right-hander. In five starts since the gem, May (5-7, 4.78 ERA) is 0-1 with a 9.92 ERA.

May threw five innings for the first time in more than a month on Saturday, but he surrendered five runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking four in a 5-3 loss at Arizona.

Despite May’s rough patch, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol has confidence the 28-year-old can find his rhythm again.

“He’s competed well. He went through a stretch there where he gave us some really good outings,” Marmol said. “After the complete game, there have been some ups and downs, but he’s good enough to get out of this.”

Making the 91st appearance (77th start) of his major league career, May will face Cincinnati for the first time.

Among the Reds getting their first look at May will be All-Star first baseman Sal Stewart. The 22-year-old ranks fourth in the majors with 74 RBIs after knocking in nine runs across the club’s first two series since the midseason break.

“I think there are guys that relish those opportunities,” Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said of Stewart’s success with runners on base. “He’s so strong and he’s got great hitter’s hands. The ball just jumps off his bat.”

Despite the RBI surge, Stewart is batting just .130 (3-for-23) since the break.

On the mound, Rhett Lowder (3-7, 5.75 ERA) will be chasing a bounce-back effort for Cincinnati.

After appearing as a starter for his first 13 outings of the year, Lowder made three appearances out of the bullpen before re-emerging in the rotation after the All-Star break. Last time out, the 24-year-old right-hander lasted just 2 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs on 11 hits in a 10-3 loss to the Rockies on Saturday in Denver. He struck out two and didn’t walk a batter.

“(Colorado) was just being aggressive and I was probably leaving too many thick pitches for them. Balls were just finding holes,” Lowder said of that outing. “It was very frustrating.”

Lowder has thrown eight scoreless innings across a pair of starts against the Cardinals during his career. He faced St. Louis on June 7, allowing just one hit but walking five across three scoreless innings in a no-decision. The Reds lost 5-3.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Reds #Cardinals #RHP #Dustin

The Formula 1 grid will roar to life one final time this weekend, ahead of the annual August shutdown.

Before the sport goes on a mandated hiatus, in place to help the teams and drivers reset ahead of the final push to the end of the schedule — and the holiday season sprint to the next season — the grid heads to the Hungaroring for this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

Here are the storylines we’re looking forward to this weekend.

Aston Martin’s upgrades

It has been, to put it bluntly, a dismal season for Aston Martin.

The year began with questions over whether Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso would even participate in the Australian Grand Prix, as power unit vibrations were too intense for the drivers to handle over a race distance. The team used that race as a glorified testing session, with Alonso completing just 21 laps and Stroll 43, after several pit stops.

But while other teams brought regular upgrades throughout the season to date, Aston Martin circled the Hungarian Grand Prix for a massive upgrade package, one they hope will pull the team up from the back of the grid.

Engineering wizard Adrian Newey outlined what the upgrade contains, including a focus on lowering the weight of the AMR26.

”The main structural elements remain the same – the chassis and gearbox architecture don’t fundamentally change – but we’ve taken weight out of both, which required re-homologating and crash testing the forward chassis,” said Newey to the official F1 channel.

“The front suspension is unchanged. The rear suspension is slightly revised. We’ve developed a new nose and substantially revised aerodynamic surfaces. So, while the core structure is similar, it’s a big aerodynamic package coupled with significant weight reduction. The target is to get very close to the weight limit.”

As far as the team’s expectations for the upgrade?

They simply want to be able to race again.

“For us, the most important is that we go back racing, because we have not over the last events – it was very difficult to keep up with the midfield,” said Chief Trackside Officer Mike Krack. “Whatever it’s going to bring, I think going racing is most important for everyone.

“I think the period that we had with no upgrades for very long is now over, so it looks good for the future, and we are just all looking forward to Budapest and seeing what we have.”

Can George Russell bounce back?

This has absolutely, positively, not been the Summer of George.

When the 2026 F1 season began there were huge expectations at Mercedes, with good reason. The worst-kept secret in the paddock all last year was that the Silver Arrows would be on the front foot when the new regulations arrived, and with that belief came the idea that a Mercedes driver would be at the top of the standings when the dust settled.

While that has largely played out to form — Mercedes currently enjoys a 73-point lead over Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship standings ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix — and it is a Mercedes driver atop the Drivers’ Standings, that is young Kimi Antonelli, and not the veteran George Russell despite those pre-season expectations.

Russell seemed to get back in the fight in recent weeks, thanks to a win at the Austrian Grand Prix and a P2 at the British Grand Prix, on a weekend where Antonelli finished outside of the points. But any momentum on Russell’s part was blunted under the harshest of conditions at the Belgian Grand Prix, when his race ended on the opening lap after contact with Lewis Hamilton at the Les Combes chicane.

Add in Antonelli’s win at Spa, and Russell now finds himself sitting third in the standings, 50 points behind Antonelli and five points behind former teammate Hamilton.

The Mercedes driver vowed to get back up following the Belgian Grand Prix:

Ferrari on the front foot in Hungary?

Lewis Hamilton’s win at the Spanish Grand Prix ignited thoughts of the seven-time champion making a charge of his own, and there is reason to believe that he and Ferrari could be on friendly footing at the Hungaroring.

Ferrari leadership believes that the SF26 is best suited to tracks like this weekend’s, where power and straight-line speed takes a backseat to the lower-speed corners like the grid will see at the Hungaroring. And McLaren boss Andrea Stella already tapped the Scuderia as the favorites ahead of the weekend.

“I think in Hungary, the Netherlands we will see the Ferrari being back to probably being the fastest car we see in the corners there. Extremely competitive,” Stella told Sky Sports F1.

Ferrari took a step forward at the Belgian Grand Prix as Charles Leclerc challenged Antonelli for the win before ultimately finishing second. That could bode well for the team at other tracks, but with the strength in the corners Ferrari has shown earlier this season, they might very well be the team to beat in Hungary.

The calm before the storm

The August shutdown gives the teams and drivers a chance to reset before the final push to the season-ending race at Yas Marina.

But it often marks the true kickoff to the driver transfer market.

As we discussed last week, rumors over Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull remain the dominant talking point in the paddock, but there are several other teams and drivers wondering how the pieces will fit together for the 2027 F1 season.

One driver to watch is Esteban Ocon at Haas. He returns to Hungary, the site of his one Grand Prix victory in the sport, facing an uncertain future at Haas. While no decision has been made about his future with the team, Ocon has been outscored 18-3 by teammate Oliver Bearman this season.

Bearman’s position at Haas remains secure, given that any notion of a move to Ferrari is blocked for the moment by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. (Haas and Ferrari are technical partners, Bearman came through the Ferrari Driver Academy, and has long been pegged for a move to Ferrari in the future). But with Ocon lagging behind — and Bearman now more experienced — the team could look to a younger driver as a 2027 replacement. McLaren reserve Leonardo Fornaroli has emerged as an option, having won the Formula 3 title in 2024 and the Formula 2 title a year ago, but with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri blocking his path in Papaya, a move could be possible.

As we highlighted last week, SB Nation has unveiled a brand-new F1 Feed, a place for race fans to talk about the sport all year long.

We’ll be putting more of an emphasis on the F1 Feed starting this week, with some big stuff planned for after the August shutdown. So get signed up and join in the fun!

#Aston #Martins #upgrades #lead #Hungarian #Grand #Prix #storylines">

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The Formula 1 grid will roar to life one final time this weekend, ahead of the annual August shutdown.
Before the sport goes on a mandated hiatus, in place to help the teams and drivers reset ahead of the final push to the end of the schedule — and the holiday season sprint to the next season — the grid heads to the Hungaroring for this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Here are the storylines we’re looking forward to this weekend.
Aston Martin’s upgrades
It has been, to put it bluntly, a dismal season for Aston Martin.
The year began with questions over whether Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso would even participate in the Australian Grand Prix, as power unit vibrations were too intense for the drivers to handle over a race distance. The team used that race as a glorified testing session, with Alonso completing just 21 laps and Stroll 43, after several pit stops.
But while other teams brought regular upgrades throughout the season to date, Aston Martin circled the Hungarian Grand Prix for a massive upgrade package, one they hope will pull the team up from the back of the grid.
Engineering wizard Adrian Newey outlined what the upgrade contains, including a focus on lowering the weight of the AMR26.
”The main structural elements remain the same – the chassis and gearbox architecture don’t fundamentally change – but we’ve taken weight out of both, which required re-homologating and crash testing the forward chassis,” said Newey to the official F1 channel.
“The front suspension is unchanged. The rear suspension is slightly revised. We’ve developed a new nose and substantially revised aerodynamic surfaces. So, while the core structure is similar, it’s a big aerodynamic package coupled with significant weight reduction. The target is to get very close to the weight limit.”
As far as the team’s expectations for the upgrade?
They simply want to be able to race again.
“For us, the most important is that we go back racing, because we have not over the last events – it was very difficult to keep up with the midfield,” said Chief Trackside Officer Mike Krack. “Whatever it’s going to bring, I think going racing is most important for everyone.
“I think the period that we had with no upgrades for very long is now over, so it looks good for the future, and we are just all looking forward to Budapest and seeing what we have.”
Can George Russell bounce back?
This has absolutely, positively, not been the Summer of George.
When the 2026 F1 season began there were huge expectations at Mercedes, with good reason. The worst-kept secret in the paddock all last year was that the Silver Arrows would be on the front foot when the new regulations arrived, and with that belief came the idea that a Mercedes driver would be at the top of the standings when the dust settled.
While that has largely played out to form — Mercedes currently enjoys a 73-point lead over Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship standings ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix — and it is a Mercedes driver atop the Drivers’ Standings, that is young Kimi Antonelli, and not the veteran George Russell despite those pre-season expectations.
Russell seemed to get back in the fight in recent weeks, thanks to a win at the Austrian Grand Prix and a P2 at the British Grand Prix, on a weekend where Antonelli finished outside of the points. But any momentum on Russell’s part was blunted under the harshest of conditions at the Belgian Grand Prix, when his race ended on the opening lap after contact with Lewis Hamilton at the Les Combes chicane.
Add in Antonelli’s win at Spa, and Russell now finds himself sitting third in the standings, 50 points behind Antonelli and five points behind former teammate Hamilton.
The Mercedes driver vowed to get back up following the Belgian Grand Prix:
Ferrari on the front foot in Hungary?
Lewis Hamilton’s win at the Spanish Grand Prix ignited thoughts of the seven-time champion making a charge of his own, and there is reason to believe that he and Ferrari could be on friendly footing at the Hungaroring.
Ferrari leadership believes that the SF26 is best suited to tracks like this weekend’s, where power and straight-line speed takes a backseat to the lower-speed corners like the grid will see at the Hungaroring. And McLaren boss Andrea Stella already tapped the Scuderia as the favorites ahead of the weekend.
“I think in Hungary, the Netherlands we will see the Ferrari being back to probably being the fastest car we see in the corners there. Extremely competitive,” Stella told Sky Sports F1.
Ferrari took a step forward at the Belgian Grand Prix as Charles Leclerc challenged Antonelli for the win before ultimately finishing second. That could bode well for the team at other tracks, but with the strength in the corners Ferrari has shown earlier this season, they might very well be the team to beat in Hungary.
The calm before the storm
The August shutdown gives the teams and drivers a chance to reset before the final push to the season-ending race at Yas Marina.
But it often marks the true kickoff to the driver transfer market.
As we discussed last week, rumors over Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull remain the dominant talking point in the paddock, but there are several other teams and drivers wondering how the pieces will fit together for the 2027 F1 season.
One driver to watch is Esteban Ocon at Haas. He returns to Hungary, the site of his one Grand Prix victory in the sport, facing an uncertain future at Haas. While no decision has been made about his future with the team, Ocon has been outscored 18-3 by teammate Oliver Bearman this season.
Bearman’s position at Haas remains secure, given that any notion of a move to Ferrari is blocked for the moment by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. (Haas and Ferrari are technical partners, Bearman came through the Ferrari Driver Academy, and has long been pegged for a move to Ferrari in the future). But with Ocon lagging behind — and Bearman now more experienced — the team could look to a younger driver as a 2027 replacement. McLaren reserve Leonardo Fornaroli has emerged as an option, having won the Formula 3 title in 2024 and the Formula 2 title a year ago, but with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri blocking his path in Papaya, a move could be possible.
As we highlighted last week, SB Nation has unveiled a brand-new F1 Feed, a place for race fans to talk about the sport all year long.
We’ll be putting more of an emphasis on the F1 Feed starting this week, with some big stuff planned for after the August shutdown. So get signed up and join in the fun!

#Aston #Martins #upgrades #lead #Hungarian #Grand #Prix #storylines">Aston Martin’s upgrades lead F1 Hungarian Grand Prix storylines

The Formula 1 grid will roar to life one final time this weekend, ahead of the annual August shutdown.

Here are the storylines we’re looking forward to this weekend.

Aston Martin’s upgrades

It has been, to put it bluntly, a dismal season for Aston Martin.

Engineering wizard Adrian Newey outlined what the upgrade contains, including a focus on lowering the weight of the AMR26.

As far as the team’s expectations for the upgrade?

They simply want to be able to race again.

“I think the period that we had with no upgrades for very long is now over, so it looks good for the future, and we are just all looking forward to Budapest and seeing what we have.”

Can George Russell bounce back?

This has absolutely, positively, not been the Summer of George.

Add in Antonelli’s win at Spa, and Russell now finds himself sitting third in the standings, 50 points behind Antonelli and five points behind former teammate Hamilton.

The Mercedes driver vowed to get back up following the Belgian Grand Prix:

Ferrari on the front foot in Hungary?

“I think in Hungary, the Netherlands we will see the Ferrari being back to probably being the fastest car we see in the corners there. Extremely competitive,” Stella told Sky Sports F1.

The calm before the storm

The August shutdown gives the teams and drivers a chance to reset before the final push to the season-ending race at Yas Marina.

But it often marks the true kickoff to the driver transfer market.

As we highlighted last week, SB Nation has unveiled a brand-new F1 Feed, a place for race fans to talk about the sport all year long.

We’ll be putting more of an emphasis on the F1 Feed starting this week, with some big stuff planned for after the August shutdown. So get signed up and join in the fun!

#Aston #Martins #upgrades #lead #Hungarian #Grand #Prix #storylines

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