×
Indian women’s hockey team set to tour Argentina for four-match series  The Indian senior women’s hockey team is set to tour Argentina for a four-match series at the CeNARD in Buenos Aires between April 13-17. The matches are all scheduled to start at 11 AM local time (6:30 PM IST).India and Argentina have enjoyed competitive encounters in recent years, including a thrilling 2-2 draw decided by shootout in the FIH Pro League 2024–25 last June.This upcoming tour will offer valuable match practice against quality international opposition. That may help the national team build momentum ahead of the FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands and the Asian Games later this year.“We are travelling to Argentina with a squad of 24 players, and that is a very deliberate choice. This tour is about giving more players the chance to perform at the highest level. Argentina is one of the best teams in the world, and that environment will tell us a lot about where each player stands. We want to see who steps up when it matters,” chief coach Sjoerd Marijne said.“To earn a place in this team, you need to show everyone that you are a team player first. Individual quality is important, but if you cannot connect with the group and work for each other, it will be very difficult to make this squad”, he added.Published on Apr 07, 2026  #Indian #womens #hockey #team #set #tour #Argentina #fourmatch #series

Indian women’s hockey team set to tour Argentina for four-match series

The Indian senior women’s hockey team is set to tour Argentina for a four-match series at the CeNARD in Buenos Aires between April 13-17. The matches are all scheduled to start at 11 AM local time (6:30 PM IST).

India and Argentina have enjoyed competitive encounters in recent years, including a thrilling 2-2 draw decided by shootout in the FIH Pro League 2024–25 last June.

This upcoming tour will offer valuable match practice against quality international opposition. That may help the national team build momentum ahead of the FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands and the Asian Games later this year.

“We are travelling to Argentina with a squad of 24 players, and that is a very deliberate choice. This tour is about giving more players the chance to perform at the highest level. Argentina is one of the best teams in the world, and that environment will tell us a lot about where each player stands. We want to see who steps up when it matters,” chief coach Sjoerd Marijne said.

“To earn a place in this team, you need to show everyone that you are a team player first. Individual quality is important, but if you cannot connect with the group and work for each other, it will be very difficult to make this squad”, he added.

Published on Apr 07, 2026

#Indian #womens #hockey #team #set #tour #Argentina #fourmatch #series

The Indian senior women’s hockey team is set to tour Argentina for a four-match series at the CeNARD in Buenos Aires between April 13-17. The matches are all scheduled to start at 11 AM local time (6:30 PM IST).

India and Argentina have enjoyed competitive encounters in recent years, including a thrilling 2-2 draw decided by shootout in the FIH Pro League 2024–25 last June.

This upcoming tour will offer valuable match practice against quality international opposition. That may help the national team build momentum ahead of the FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands and the Asian Games later this year.

“We are travelling to Argentina with a squad of 24 players, and that is a very deliberate choice. This tour is about giving more players the chance to perform at the highest level. Argentina is one of the best teams in the world, and that environment will tell us a lot about where each player stands. We want to see who steps up when it matters,” chief coach Sjoerd Marijne said.

“To earn a place in this team, you need to show everyone that you are a team player first. Individual quality is important, but if you cannot connect with the group and work for each other, it will be very difficult to make this squad”, he added.

Published on Apr 07, 2026

Source link
#Indian #womens #hockey #team #set #tour #Argentina #fourmatch #series

Previous post

Deadspin | Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl might not be ready for playoff opener <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28459136.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28459136.jpg" alt="NHL: Edmonton Oilers at Colorado Avalanche" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Mar 10, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) during the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Out with a lower-body injury since March 15, Edmonton Oilers star forward Leon Draisaitl might miss the beginning of the Stanley Cup playoffs, coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters on Monday.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>“Leon is going to be on the ice this week and I don’t anticipate him playing any games in the regular season, and in the playoffs, sometime in the first round if things go well,” Knoblauch said. “I’m not ruling that out (first game of the playoffs), but I would just anticipate sometime in the first (round). There’s a period of time we anticipated his return and we said it was going to be right around the end of the regular season, at the start of playoffs.”</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Despite missing the last nine games, Draisaitl entered Monday as the NHL’s fifth-leading scorer this season, posting 97 points (35 goals, 62 assists) in 65 games.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>With five games left in the regular season, the Oilers (39-29-9, 87 points) are tied atop the Pacific Division with the Anaheim Ducks entering the week, and begin a three-game road trip Tuesday in Utah against the Mammoth. Edmonton closes the regular season on April 16, two days before the start of the postseason.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-5"> <p>A three-time All-Star, Draisaitl has been a beast in the past two postseasons, helping Edmonton advance to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and 2025, losing to the Florida Panthers both times. In the 2025 playoffs, he compiled 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists), following a 31-point postseason (10 goals, 21 assists) the previous spring.</p> </section> <section id="section-6"> <p>Fellow Oilers forward Zach Hyman, who is out with an undisclosed injury, will likely miss the road trip, which includes games at the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings. The 33-year-old has 51 points (31 goals, 20 assists) in 57 games this season.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>“Hyman, I would think he’s going to play one if not two games before the end of this season,” Knoblauch said. “So, this week he’s out and not playing.”</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>Last season, Draisaitl missed the final seven games with an undisclosed injury, but returned for the opener of the postseason to help lead Edmonton back to the Cup Final.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Oilers #Leon #Draisaitl #ready #playoff #opener

Next post

Deadspin | Patrick Reed: ‘Traditional way of golf’ key in PGA Tour return <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/25920305.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/25920305.jpg" alt="PGA: Masters Tournament - Final Round" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 13, 2025; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Patrick Reed plays a shot from a bunker on the second hole during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>AUGUSTA, Ga. — For someone who has long backed up his goal of being known as a worldwide player, including a three-plus-year stint with LIV Golf, it took standing on a practice range in Dubai for Patrick Reed to feel the draw back to tradition.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Reed held a four-stroke lead entering the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic, but had to withstand an early birdie binge from playing parter and fellow LIV player David Puig before going on to claim his first stroke play victory since a win on the Asia Tour 2024.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Despite having a contract offer to re-sign with LIV, Reed announced three days later that he would be returning to the PGA Tour.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>“I definitely happened quickly,” Reed acknowledged of the decision. “I really just kind of was sitting back and realizing that I wanted to get back and not only join — have an opportunity back on the PGA Tour, but to get back to the traditional way of golf and playing.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>“When I stood there in Dubai, that Saturday the entire range is full, and then guys just start disappearing, and you’re the last man on that tee box. Then you’re walking to the tee, you’re the last name announced, and you’ve lost the lead because someone is 5-under through 8 (holes). All those rushes and those scenarios — kind of going back into playing golf that way, where you’re going out there and you’re having the battles between not just yourself, but the other guys on the leaderboard.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>“For me, I wanted that back, I wanted that adrenaline back, and those feelings.”</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>Reed made it clear that he holds no ill will towards LIV Golf, and that he had a great experience with the Saudi-backed league. But after competing in 27 countries since 2022 alone, it was the pull back to the PGA Tour and to a more traditional golf schedule that proved the deciding factor for the 35-year-old.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-8"> <p>Reed and his wife, Justine, have an 11-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son at home in Woodlands, Texas. He mentioned multiple times that he enjoys being a dad to his “kiddos,” and is coming off a month-long break since his most recent event on the DP World Tour in South Africa. </p> </section> <section id="section-9"> <p>That said, Reed acknowledged that 2026 will “be an exception.” Since he is ineligible to compete on the PGA Tour until Aug. 25, Reed will compete full-time on the DP World Tour this season. He has already banked a pair of victories and currently leads the Race to Dubai standings.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>That affords Reed more flexibility in planning his trips overseas while still maintaining a cushion toward regaining full PGA Tour membership for next season. It also allowed him an extended break before heading to Augusta, where Reed won the Masters Tournament in 2018.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>This will be Reed’s 13th Masters, and he views Augusta National as a place where he needs to stay patient while being creative with his shots and getting “out of being that robot.” By that, he meant using every club in his bag, various shot shapes and relying on his well-regarded short game.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>“There’s just something so special about this place,” he said. “I feel like it’s the best test of golf we play all year round. For a guy that’s played just about everywhere in the world, it’s one of those places that I say hands down it’s the best test of golf and best golf course I’ve ever played.”</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>Reed has four top-10 finishes at Augusta since that 2018 victory, including solo third place last year. In a tournament considered to be fairly wide open in 2026, might this be Reed’s year to claim a second Masters?</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>“That one jacket is getting a little lonely,” he said with a laugh. “Might need one more.”</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>–Derek Harper, Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Patrick #Reed #Traditional #golf #key #PGA #Tour #return

Update: Kimi Antonelli has taken pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix.

Just two races remain ahead of Formula 1’s August shutdown, this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix and the Hungarian Grand Prix next week.

Who will take pole position at historic Spa-Francorchamps?

Max Verstappen topped the timing sheets in the first hour of practice on Friday, ahead of the Ferrari duo of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. But Drivers’ Championship leader Kimi Antonelli struck back in the second hour of practice, leading the way with a lap time of 1:45.944, ahead of Lando Norris and Verstappen. Hamilton and Isack Hadjar rounded out the top five in FP2.

But later today, following the third hour of practice, the lap times will count for real. Follow along with us here at SB Nation as we track qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix. The session begins at 10:00 a.m. Eastern, so check back early and often. And you can also join the conversation at the brand new F1 Feed, here at SB Nation.

Belgian Grand Prix provisional grid

Here is the provisional starting grid for the 2026 F1 Belgian Grand Prix, which will be filled in throughout the session. It is worth noting that Norris will take a ten-place grid penalty as McLaren has fitted his MCL40 with a new power electronics unit, the fourth of the season and one more than the three allowed under the rules. Hadjar is also going to start at the back of the grid as Red Bull installed several new components over the season allowance, adding up to a 30-place penalty and a back-of-the-grid start.

Update: So although Norris qualified 3rd, he will start 13th.

Row

Position

Driver

Team

Position

Driver

Team

Row 11Kimi AntonelliMercedes2Max VerstappenRed Bull
Row 23Lando NorrisMcLaren4George RussellMercedes
Row 35Charles LeclercFerrari6Lewis HamiltonFerrari
Row 47Oscar PiastriMcLaren8Arvid LindbladVCARB
Row 59Gabriel BortoletoAudi10Isack HadjarRed Bull
Row 611Liam LawsonVCARB12Pierre GaslyAlpine
Row 713Franco ColapintoAlpine14Nico HülkenbergAudi
Row 815Carlos SainzWilliams16Oliver BearmanHaas
Row 917Alexander AlbonWilliams18Esteban OconHaas
Row 1019Valtteri BottasCadillac20Sergio PérezCadillac
Row 1121Fernando AlonsoAston Martin22Lance StrollAston Martin

What happened in qualifying?

Here is how the qualifying hour unfolded. All updates are in Eastern time.

11:11: It’s Antonelli, as he nips Verstappen for pole. Norris bailed out of his final effort.

11:04: Red flag at Spa to clear gravel off the track, ahead of the final runs. But Norris tops the timing sheet after the opening efforts.

Look for Hadjar to give Verstappen a tow again, as he did on the first attempt.

10:51: Q3 is underway with 13 minutes on the clock. Pit lane roars to life with Lindblad leading a group of cars out that includes both McLarens and both Red Bulls.

10:44: Antonelli, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Verstappen, Lindblad, Piastri, Russell, Hadjar, and Bortoleto are the ten drivers in the hunt for pole position, and advanced to Q3 in that order. Remember, however, that Norris and Hadjar are facing grid penalties, so the best Norris can start is P11. Hadjar’s penalty is sending him to the back of the grid.

10:42: Lawson, Gasly, Colapinto, Hülkenberg, Sainz, and Bearman are out in Q2.

10:34: The Ferraris are next, and Leclerc slots in second, with Hamilton fourth.

Antonelli, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Verstappen, Lindblad, Piastri, Russell, Hadjar, and Bortoleto are the top ten right now. Lawson, Gasly, Hülkenberg, Colapinto, Sainz, and Bearman are in the drop zone.

10:32: Verstappen jumps to second, with Lindblad third and Piastri fourth, all of which shuffles Russell down to P5.

Russell then drops to P6 when Norris jumps to P2.

10:31: Antonelli sets the early benchmark with a 1:45.142, followed by Russell more than a half-second behind him.

10:26: Q2 is underway, but the track is quiet for now.

10:20: Norris, Verstappen, Hadjar, Hamilton, Russell, Lindblad, Leclerc, Antonelli, Piastri, Lawson, Bortoleto, Gasly, Colapinto, Hülkenberg, Sainz, and Bearman are the drivers moving on to Q2, in that order.

10:19: Albon, Ocon, Bottas, Pérez, Alonso, and Stroll are the six drivers out in Q1.

10:14: Four minutes are left, and the drivers are rolling out for their final push laps.

10:11: Seven minutes remain in Q1. Norris is at the top of the board, followed by Verstappen, Hadjar, Lindblad, and Antonelli.

Colapinto, Ocon, Pérez, Bottas, Alonso, and Stroll are the six in the drop zone. Hülkenberg sits 15th, and Albon in 16th.

10:05: Hamilton is on the track, as the Ferrari mechanics got the job done.

10:04: The clock hits 15 minutes and the rest of the grid roars to life.

10:01: Green light at Spa, and 18 minutes to lose the six slowest drivers. Stroll, Bottas, and Pérez are the three drivers on the grid. Stroll and Alonso each face a ten-place grid penalty, but they were more than a second behind the Cadillacs during practice.

9:57: Qualifying is set to begin in just a few minutes.

The final hour of practice was more of the same at Spa.

Antonelli topped the timing sheets ahead of Norris, finishing more than one-tenth ahead of the McLaren driver. But the biggest story might have been the shunt from Hamilton, as the Ferrari driver found the barrier at Turn 13, in a crash similar to the one Pierre Gasly suffered during FP2:

The mechanics at Ferrari now face a race against the clock to get his car ready for qualifying.

Here are the full results from FP3 at the Belgian Grand Prix:

#Belgian #Grand #Prix #takes #pole #position #Spa">Belgian Grand Prix: Who takes pole position at Spa?  Update: Kimi Antonelli has taken pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix.Just two races remain ahead of Formula 1’s August shutdown, this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix and the Hungarian Grand Prix next week.Who will take pole position at historic Spa-Francorchamps?Max Verstappen topped the timing sheets in the first hour of practice on Friday, ahead of the Ferrari duo of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. But Drivers’ Championship leader Kimi Antonelli struck back in the second hour of practice, leading the way with a lap time of 1:45.944, ahead of Lando Norris and Verstappen. Hamilton and Isack Hadjar rounded out the top five in FP2.But later today, following the third hour of practice, the lap times will count for real. Follow along with us here at SB Nation as we track qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix. The session begins at 10:00 a.m. Eastern, so check back early and often. And you can also join the conversation at the brand new F1 Feed, here at SB Nation.Belgian Grand Prix provisional gridHere is the provisional starting grid for the 2026 F1 Belgian Grand Prix, which will be filled in throughout the session. It is worth noting that Norris will take a ten-place grid penalty as McLaren has fitted his MCL40 with a new power electronics unit, the fourth of the season and one more than the three allowed under the rules. Hadjar is also going to start at the back of the grid as Red Bull installed several new components over the season allowance, adding up to a 30-place penalty and a back-of-the-grid start.Update: So although Norris qualified 3rd, he will start 13th.RowPositionDriverTeamPositionDriverTeamRow 11Kimi AntonelliMercedes2Max VerstappenRed BullRow 23Lando NorrisMcLaren4George RussellMercedesRow 35Charles LeclercFerrari6Lewis HamiltonFerrariRow 47Oscar PiastriMcLaren8Arvid LindbladVCARBRow 59Gabriel BortoletoAudi10Isack HadjarRed BullRow 611Liam LawsonVCARB12Pierre GaslyAlpineRow 713Franco ColapintoAlpine14Nico HülkenbergAudiRow 815Carlos SainzWilliams16Oliver BearmanHaasRow 917Alexander AlbonWilliams18Esteban OconHaasRow 1019Valtteri BottasCadillac20Sergio PérezCadillacRow 1121Fernando AlonsoAston Martin22Lance StrollAston MartinWhat happened in qualifying?Here is how the qualifying hour unfolded. All updates are in Eastern time.11:11: It’s Antonelli, as he nips Verstappen for pole. Norris bailed out of his final effort.11:04: Red flag at Spa to clear gravel off the track, ahead of the final runs. But Norris tops the timing sheet after the opening efforts.Look for Hadjar to give Verstappen a tow again, as he did on the first attempt.10:51: Q3 is underway with 13 minutes on the clock. Pit lane roars to life with Lindblad leading a group of cars out that includes both McLarens and both Red Bulls.10:44: Antonelli, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Verstappen, Lindblad, Piastri, Russell, Hadjar, and Bortoleto are the ten drivers in the hunt for pole position, and advanced to Q3 in that order. Remember, however, that Norris and Hadjar are facing grid penalties, so the best Norris can start is P11. Hadjar’s penalty is sending him to the back of the grid.10:42: Lawson, Gasly, Colapinto, Hülkenberg, Sainz, and Bearman are out in Q2.10:34: The Ferraris are next, and Leclerc slots in second, with Hamilton fourth.Antonelli, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Verstappen, Lindblad, Piastri, Russell, Hadjar, and Bortoleto are the top ten right now. Lawson, Gasly, Hülkenberg, Colapinto, Sainz, and Bearman are in the drop zone.10:32: Verstappen jumps to second, with Lindblad third and Piastri fourth, all of which shuffles Russell down to P5.Russell then drops to P6 when Norris jumps to P2.10:31: Antonelli sets the early benchmark with a 1:45.142, followed by Russell more than a half-second behind him.10:26: Q2 is underway, but the track is quiet for now.10:20: Norris, Verstappen, Hadjar, Hamilton, Russell, Lindblad, Leclerc, Antonelli, Piastri, Lawson, Bortoleto, Gasly, Colapinto, Hülkenberg, Sainz, and Bearman are the drivers moving on to Q2, in that order.10:19: Albon, Ocon, Bottas, Pérez, Alonso, and Stroll are the six drivers out in Q1.10:14: Four minutes are left, and the drivers are rolling out for their final push laps.10:11: Seven minutes remain in Q1. Norris is at the top of the board, followed by Verstappen, Hadjar, Lindblad, and Antonelli.Colapinto, Ocon, Pérez, Bottas, Alonso, and Stroll are the six in the drop zone. Hülkenberg sits 15th, and Albon in 16th.10:05: Hamilton is on the track, as the Ferrari mechanics got the job done.10:04: The clock hits 15 minutes and the rest of the grid roars to life.10:01: Green light at Spa, and 18 minutes to lose the six slowest drivers. Stroll, Bottas, and Pérez are the three drivers on the grid. Stroll and Alonso each face a ten-place grid penalty, but they were more than a second behind the Cadillacs during practice.9:57: Qualifying is set to begin in just a few minutes.The final hour of practice was more of the same at Spa.Antonelli topped the timing sheets ahead of Norris, finishing more than one-tenth ahead of the McLaren driver. But the biggest story might have been the shunt from Hamilton, as the Ferrari driver found the barrier at Turn 13, in a crash similar to the one Pierre Gasly suffered during FP2:The mechanics at Ferrari now face a race against the clock to get his car ready for qualifying.Here are the full results from FP3 at the Belgian Grand Prix:  #Belgian #Grand #Prix #takes #pole #position #Spa

brand new F1 Feed, here at SB Nation.

Belgian Grand Prix provisional grid

Here is the provisional starting grid for the 2026 F1 Belgian Grand Prix, which will be filled in throughout the session. It is worth noting that Norris will take a ten-place grid penalty as McLaren has fitted his MCL40 with a new power electronics unit, the fourth of the season and one more than the three allowed under the rules. Hadjar is also going to start at the back of the grid as Red Bull installed several new components over the season allowance, adding up to a 30-place penalty and a back-of-the-grid start.

Update: So although Norris qualified 3rd, he will start 13th.

Row

Position

Driver

Team

Position

Driver

Team

Row 11Kimi AntonelliMercedes2Max VerstappenRed Bull
Row 23Lando NorrisMcLaren4George RussellMercedes
Row 35Charles LeclercFerrari6Lewis HamiltonFerrari
Row 47Oscar PiastriMcLaren8Arvid LindbladVCARB
Row 59Gabriel BortoletoAudi10Isack HadjarRed Bull
Row 611Liam LawsonVCARB12Pierre GaslyAlpine
Row 713Franco ColapintoAlpine14Nico HülkenbergAudi
Row 815Carlos SainzWilliams16Oliver BearmanHaas
Row 917Alexander AlbonWilliams18Esteban OconHaas
Row 1019Valtteri BottasCadillac20Sergio PérezCadillac
Row 1121Fernando AlonsoAston Martin22Lance StrollAston Martin

What happened in qualifying?

Here is how the qualifying hour unfolded. All updates are in Eastern time.

11:11: It’s Antonelli, as he nips Verstappen for pole. Norris bailed out of his final effort.

11:04: Red flag at Spa to clear gravel off the track, ahead of the final runs. But Norris tops the timing sheet after the opening efforts.

Look for Hadjar to give Verstappen a tow again, as he did on the first attempt.

10:51: Q3 is underway with 13 minutes on the clock. Pit lane roars to life with Lindblad leading a group of cars out that includes both McLarens and both Red Bulls.

10:44: Antonelli, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Verstappen, Lindblad, Piastri, Russell, Hadjar, and Bortoleto are the ten drivers in the hunt for pole position, and advanced to Q3 in that order. Remember, however, that Norris and Hadjar are facing grid penalties, so the best Norris can start is P11. Hadjar’s penalty is sending him to the back of the grid.

10:42: Lawson, Gasly, Colapinto, Hülkenberg, Sainz, and Bearman are out in Q2.

10:34: The Ferraris are next, and Leclerc slots in second, with Hamilton fourth.

Antonelli, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Verstappen, Lindblad, Piastri, Russell, Hadjar, and Bortoleto are the top ten right now. Lawson, Gasly, Hülkenberg, Colapinto, Sainz, and Bearman are in the drop zone.

10:32: Verstappen jumps to second, with Lindblad third and Piastri fourth, all of which shuffles Russell down to P5.

Russell then drops to P6 when Norris jumps to P2.

10:31: Antonelli sets the early benchmark with a 1:45.142, followed by Russell more than a half-second behind him.

10:26: Q2 is underway, but the track is quiet for now.

10:20: Norris, Verstappen, Hadjar, Hamilton, Russell, Lindblad, Leclerc, Antonelli, Piastri, Lawson, Bortoleto, Gasly, Colapinto, Hülkenberg, Sainz, and Bearman are the drivers moving on to Q2, in that order.

10:19: Albon, Ocon, Bottas, Pérez, Alonso, and Stroll are the six drivers out in Q1.

10:14: Four minutes are left, and the drivers are rolling out for their final push laps.

10:11: Seven minutes remain in Q1. Norris is at the top of the board, followed by Verstappen, Hadjar, Lindblad, and Antonelli.

Colapinto, Ocon, Pérez, Bottas, Alonso, and Stroll are the six in the drop zone. Hülkenberg sits 15th, and Albon in 16th.

10:05: Hamilton is on the track, as the Ferrari mechanics got the job done.

10:04: The clock hits 15 minutes and the rest of the grid roars to life.

10:01: Green light at Spa, and 18 minutes to lose the six slowest drivers. Stroll, Bottas, and Pérez are the three drivers on the grid. Stroll and Alonso each face a ten-place grid penalty, but they were more than a second behind the Cadillacs during practice.

9:57: Qualifying is set to begin in just a few minutes.

The final hour of practice was more of the same at Spa.

Antonelli topped the timing sheets ahead of Norris, finishing more than one-tenth ahead of the McLaren driver. But the biggest story might have been the shunt from Hamilton, as the Ferrari driver found the barrier at Turn 13, in a crash similar to the one Pierre Gasly suffered during FP2:

The mechanics at Ferrari now face a race against the clock to get his car ready for qualifying.

Here are the full results from FP3 at the Belgian Grand Prix:

#Belgian #Grand #Prix #takes #pole #position #Spa">Belgian Grand Prix: Who takes pole position at Spa?

Update: Kimi Antonelli has taken pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix.

Just two races remain ahead of Formula 1’s August shutdown, this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix and the Hungarian Grand Prix next week.

Who will take pole position at historic Spa-Francorchamps?

Max Verstappen topped the timing sheets in the first hour of practice on Friday, ahead of the Ferrari duo of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. But Drivers’ Championship leader Kimi Antonelli struck back in the second hour of practice, leading the way with a lap time of 1:45.944, ahead of Lando Norris and Verstappen. Hamilton and Isack Hadjar rounded out the top five in FP2.

But later today, following the third hour of practice, the lap times will count for real. Follow along with us here at SB Nation as we track qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix. The session begins at 10:00 a.m. Eastern, so check back early and often. And you can also join the conversation at the brand new F1 Feed, here at SB Nation.

Belgian Grand Prix provisional grid

Here is the provisional starting grid for the 2026 F1 Belgian Grand Prix, which will be filled in throughout the session. It is worth noting that Norris will take a ten-place grid penalty as McLaren has fitted his MCL40 with a new power electronics unit, the fourth of the season and one more than the three allowed under the rules. Hadjar is also going to start at the back of the grid as Red Bull installed several new components over the season allowance, adding up to a 30-place penalty and a back-of-the-grid start.

Update: So although Norris qualified 3rd, he will start 13th.

Row

Position

Driver

Team

Position

Driver

Team

Row 11Kimi AntonelliMercedes2Max VerstappenRed Bull
Row 23Lando NorrisMcLaren4George RussellMercedes
Row 35Charles LeclercFerrari6Lewis HamiltonFerrari
Row 47Oscar PiastriMcLaren8Arvid LindbladVCARB
Row 59Gabriel BortoletoAudi10Isack HadjarRed Bull
Row 611Liam LawsonVCARB12Pierre GaslyAlpine
Row 713Franco ColapintoAlpine14Nico HülkenbergAudi
Row 815Carlos SainzWilliams16Oliver BearmanHaas
Row 917Alexander AlbonWilliams18Esteban OconHaas
Row 1019Valtteri BottasCadillac20Sergio PérezCadillac
Row 1121Fernando AlonsoAston Martin22Lance StrollAston Martin

What happened in qualifying?

Here is how the qualifying hour unfolded. All updates are in Eastern time.

11:11: It’s Antonelli, as he nips Verstappen for pole. Norris bailed out of his final effort.

11:04: Red flag at Spa to clear gravel off the track, ahead of the final runs. But Norris tops the timing sheet after the opening efforts.

Look for Hadjar to give Verstappen a tow again, as he did on the first attempt.

10:51: Q3 is underway with 13 minutes on the clock. Pit lane roars to life with Lindblad leading a group of cars out that includes both McLarens and both Red Bulls.

10:44: Antonelli, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Verstappen, Lindblad, Piastri, Russell, Hadjar, and Bortoleto are the ten drivers in the hunt for pole position, and advanced to Q3 in that order. Remember, however, that Norris and Hadjar are facing grid penalties, so the best Norris can start is P11. Hadjar’s penalty is sending him to the back of the grid.

10:42: Lawson, Gasly, Colapinto, Hülkenberg, Sainz, and Bearman are out in Q2.

10:34: The Ferraris are next, and Leclerc slots in second, with Hamilton fourth.

Antonelli, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Verstappen, Lindblad, Piastri, Russell, Hadjar, and Bortoleto are the top ten right now. Lawson, Gasly, Hülkenberg, Colapinto, Sainz, and Bearman are in the drop zone.

10:32: Verstappen jumps to second, with Lindblad third and Piastri fourth, all of which shuffles Russell down to P5.

Russell then drops to P6 when Norris jumps to P2.

10:31: Antonelli sets the early benchmark with a 1:45.142, followed by Russell more than a half-second behind him.

10:26: Q2 is underway, but the track is quiet for now.

10:20: Norris, Verstappen, Hadjar, Hamilton, Russell, Lindblad, Leclerc, Antonelli, Piastri, Lawson, Bortoleto, Gasly, Colapinto, Hülkenberg, Sainz, and Bearman are the drivers moving on to Q2, in that order.

10:19: Albon, Ocon, Bottas, Pérez, Alonso, and Stroll are the six drivers out in Q1.

10:14: Four minutes are left, and the drivers are rolling out for their final push laps.

10:11: Seven minutes remain in Q1. Norris is at the top of the board, followed by Verstappen, Hadjar, Lindblad, and Antonelli.

Colapinto, Ocon, Pérez, Bottas, Alonso, and Stroll are the six in the drop zone. Hülkenberg sits 15th, and Albon in 16th.

10:05: Hamilton is on the track, as the Ferrari mechanics got the job done.

10:04: The clock hits 15 minutes and the rest of the grid roars to life.

10:01: Green light at Spa, and 18 minutes to lose the six slowest drivers. Stroll, Bottas, and Pérez are the three drivers on the grid. Stroll and Alonso each face a ten-place grid penalty, but they were more than a second behind the Cadillacs during practice.

9:57: Qualifying is set to begin in just a few minutes.

The final hour of practice was more of the same at Spa.

Antonelli topped the timing sheets ahead of Norris, finishing more than one-tenth ahead of the McLaren driver. But the biggest story might have been the shunt from Hamilton, as the Ferrari driver found the barrier at Turn 13, in a crash similar to the one Pierre Gasly suffered during FP2:

The mechanics at Ferrari now face a race against the clock to get his car ready for qualifying.

Here are the full results from FP3 at the Belgian Grand Prix:

#Belgian #Grand #Prix #takes #pole #position #Spa

Legendary Sir Garfield Sobers was a trend-setting revolutionary who altered cricketers’ mindset and approach to the sport, reckoned former India skipper Kapil Dev.

Sobers, 89, died at his home in Barbados on Friday. During an illustrious career, the West Indian had amassed 8032 runs in 93 Tests at an average of 57.78 with 26 hundreds along with 235 wickets.

“I think anybody who knows about cricket should know about Gary Sobers. One of the finest cricketers ever born on this earth,” Kapil Dev told PTI in an interview at the KDSG (Kapil Dev Sanjay Gupta) Hospital here on Saturday.

“The way he played cricket inspired people like us. Yeah, it’s a sad day. He’s no more, but he’s given us so much—so much cricket and his talent and ability which we follow throughout our lives,” Kapil added.

The 1983 World Cup winning skipper said Sobers’ sheer talent and love for the game made him such a great player.

“I think it’s the talent, the way he used to enjoy himself and the way he used to play. I think during that era, no doubt the West Indies team was one of the best, but he set records and shifted people’s mindset of how to play and enjoy,” he said.

Kapil then explained the impact of Sobers in traditional cricketing coaching methods.

“The biggest thing I remember is that he changed the method of MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) cricket coaching, what we used to call playing in ‘V’.

“And I think the first thing I came to know is not playing V, how you can get runs. I think that was the biggest statement stuck in my mind when I was growing up,” he recalled.

The 67-year-old said Sobers was in a league of his own as an all-rounder.

“I think, well, we had all-rounders, but not on his scale. I don’t think anybody can come close to him, the way he played batting, bowling, fast bowling, spin bowling, fielding.

“Everything — he had the ability and the knack for entertaining. At the end of the day, many cricketers will emerge, but very few will be true entertainers,” he noted.

Kapil, himself a premier all-rounder in his playing days, said there was so much to learn from the Bajan.

“I think he was a brilliant cricketer, we lost him, but one can learn from the way he played cricket. Hats off to him, as he just enjoyed his life.

“In the evening, he used to sit and talk and we were just good listeners. He talked, but he used to talk more about other things in life rather than cricket,” he remembered.

Published on Jul 18, 2026

#Kapil #Dev #cricketers #emerge #entertain #Garry #Sobers">Kapil Dev: Many cricketers will emerge, few will entertain like Garry Sobers  Legendary Sir Garfield Sobers was a trend-setting revolutionary who altered cricketers’ mindset and approach to the sport, reckoned former India skipper Kapil Dev.Sobers, 89, died at his home in Barbados on Friday. During an illustrious career, the West Indian had amassed 8032 runs in 93 Tests at an average of 57.78 with 26 hundreds along with 235 wickets.“I think anybody who knows about cricket should know about Gary Sobers. One of the finest cricketers ever born on this earth,” Kapil Dev told        PTI in an interview at the KDSG (Kapil Dev Sanjay Gupta) Hospital here on Saturday.“The way he played cricket inspired people like us. Yeah, it’s a sad day. He’s no more, but he’s given us so much—so much cricket and his talent and ability which we follow throughout our lives,” Kapil added.The 1983 World Cup winning skipper said Sobers’ sheer talent and love for the game made him such a great player.“I think it’s the talent, the way he used to enjoy himself and the way he used to play. I think during that era, no doubt the West Indies team was one of the best, but he set records and shifted people’s mindset of how to play and enjoy,” he said.Kapil then explained the impact of Sobers in traditional cricketing coaching methods.“The biggest thing I remember is that he changed the method of MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) cricket coaching, what we used to call playing in ‘V’.“And I think the first thing I came to know is not playing V, how you can get runs. I think that was the biggest statement stuck in my mind when I was growing up,” he recalled.The 67-year-old said Sobers was in a league of his own as an all-rounder.“I think, well, we had all-rounders, but not on his scale. I don’t think anybody can come close to him, the way he played batting, bowling, fast bowling, spin bowling, fielding.“Everything — he had the ability and the knack for entertaining. At the end of the day, many cricketers will emerge, but very few will be true entertainers,” he noted.Kapil, himself a premier all-rounder in his playing days, said there was so much to learn from the Bajan.“I think he was a brilliant cricketer, we lost him, but one can learn from the way he played cricket. Hats off to him, as he just enjoyed his life.“In the evening, he used to sit and talk and we were just good listeners. He talked, but he used to talk more about other things in life rather than cricket,” he remembered.Published on Jul 18, 2026  #Kapil #Dev #cricketers #emerge #entertain #Garry #Sobers

Post Comment