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Lewis Hamilton Steps Out in Red at Unprecedented 10-Team F1 Launch 

Formula One F1 - F1 75 Live Season Launch - The O2, London, Britain - February 18, 2025 Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton with team principal Frederic Vasseur and Charles Leclerc during the launch. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - F1 75 Live Season Launch - The O2, London, Britain - February 18, 2025 Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton with team principal Frederic Vasseur and Charles Leclerc during the launch. (Reuters)
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Lewis Hamilton Steps Out in Red at Unprecedented 10-Team F1 Launch 

Formula One F1 - F1 75 Live Season Launch - The O2, London, Britain - February 18, 2025 Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton with team principal Frederic Vasseur and Charles Leclerc during the launch. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - F1 75 Live Season Launch - The O2, London, Britain - February 18, 2025 Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton with team principal Frederic Vasseur and Charles Leclerc during the launch. (Reuters)

Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton appeared in Ferrari red for the first time outside of Italy as Formula One put on an unprecedented and spectacular 10-team season launch in front of 15,000 fans on Tuesday.

The 40-year-old Briton, who has moved from Mercedes, got the loudest cheer of the night when he took the stage for an event that coincided with the birthday of his Italian team's late founder Enzo.

"I feel so full of life, so much energy, because everything's new and I'm just focused on what is up ahead," Hamilton told his home crowd at London's 02 Arena.

"I'm so proud to be part of the team. Something new and exciting for me."

The two-hour show, with British comedian and host Jack Whitehall gently ribbing the protagonists, featured lights, lasers and musical acts including former boy band Take That and US country singer Kane Brown.

Liberty Media-owned Formula One said early in the evening that its YouTube channel had smashed through the one-million viewers mark, breaking a previous live-event record of 289,000.

"This event is all about the fans and without the fans there is no sport," Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told reporters before the show started.

"I'm sure it's probably the last place that the drivers want to be, paraded out in front of a stadium full of fans, but Formula One is an entertainment, it's a show, and it's the 75th anniversary (of the championship).

"So a huge amount of effort has gone into tonight by Formula One and all 10 teams."

There was a time when the teams struggled to agree even on what day it was, but Formula One's surging popularity and revenues have concentrated minds.

The success of Netflix docu-series Drive to Survive, and the arrival in cinemas later this year of Brad Pitt's Hollywood drama F1, led to tickets for the event selling out in a matter of minutes.

The show, featuring all 20 drivers, was broadcast live around the world and streamed on social media.

"It feels like there's a big rock concert about and ready to happen," American Zak Brown, chief executive of champions McLaren, told reporters earlier.

"I've been a fan for a while of doing more fan events, whether that's a launch or making the testing that we do a little bit more focused on the fan."

The teams each had just seven minutes to present their liveries - the cars either old ones re-painted or engineless shells made just for show that will not go anywhere near a circuit.

Red Bull's at least had an engine in it, but Sauber had announced well in advance that theirs would be auctioned off after the event.

New Zealand's Liam Lawson and four-time world champion Max Verstappen took the stage for Red Bull, but neither spoke.

Lawson is set to compete in his first full season in Formula 1.

Ferrari, last year's runners-up, will be launching their 2025 car at Maranello on Wednesday while McLaren and Williams ran theirs at Silverstone last week in interim liveries.

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Defending Champion Alcaraz to Miss French Open with Wrist Injury

Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz gives a press conference to announce his withdrawal from the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell-Trofe Conde de Godo, in Barcelona, Spain, 15 April 2026. (EPA)
Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz gives a press conference to announce his withdrawal from the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell-Trofe Conde de Godo, in Barcelona, Spain, 15 April 2026. (EPA)
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Defending Champion Alcaraz to Miss French Open with Wrist Injury

Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz gives a press conference to announce his withdrawal from the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell-Trofe Conde de Godo, in Barcelona, Spain, 15 April 2026. (EPA)
Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz gives a press conference to announce his withdrawal from the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell-Trofe Conde de Godo, in Barcelona, Spain, 15 April 2026. (EPA)

Two-time reigning French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz said on Friday he will not play at this year's tournament as he recovers from a wrist injury.

"We have decided that the most prudent thing to do is to be cautious and not participate in Rome or Roland Garros," Alcaraz said on social media.

"It's a complicated moment for me, but I'm sure we'll come out stronger from this," the Spaniard added, saying that he and his team would monitor his recovery before deciding when and where he would return.

Alcaraz sustained the injury during the first round of the Barcelona Open last week, where he beat Otto Virtanen but subsequently pulled out of the tournament.

The 22-year-old announced his withdrawal from the Madrid Masters on April 17, increasing concerns over whether he would be able to appear at the French Open.

Alcaraz became the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam in January with his triumph at the Australian Open. He holds a 22-3 record this season and also won a title in Doha.

Ranked second in the world, Alcaraz lost top spot following his defeat by Jannik Sinner in the Monte Carlo Masters final on April 12.

The seven-time Grand Slam winner, an expert on clay, triumphed at Roland Garros in 2024 and 2025. He saved three championship points against Sinner in last year's final.

Sports

Formula 1 Returns to Türkiye from 2027 on 5-year Contract

Formula One F1 - Turkish Grand Prix - Intercity Istanbul Park, Istanbul, Türkiye - October 10, 2021 General view at the start of the race REUTERS/Umit Bektas/ File Photo
Formula One F1 - Turkish Grand Prix - Intercity Istanbul Park, Istanbul, Türkiye - October 10, 2021 General view at the start of the race REUTERS/Umit Bektas/ File Photo
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Formula 1 Returns to Türkiye from 2027 on 5-year Contract

Formula One F1 - Turkish Grand Prix - Intercity Istanbul Park, Istanbul, Türkiye - October 10, 2021 General view at the start of the race REUTERS/Umit Bektas/ File Photo
Formula One F1 - Turkish Grand Prix - Intercity Istanbul Park, Istanbul, Türkiye - October 10, 2021 General view at the start of the race REUTERS/Umit Bektas/ File Photo

The Turkish Grand Prix is back on the Formula 1 calendar next season for the first time since 2021, on a five-year agreement.

After an initial announcement Friday by the Turkish government and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, there was confirmation from F1 and its governing body.

Erdogan said the deal would be for “at least five years”.

The Istanbul Park circuit outside the city first hosted F1 from 2005 through 2011, and next year's race would be the first since Türkiye returned to the calendar in 2020 and 2021 during disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Valtteri Bottas won the most recent race for Mercedes.

“Many memorable moments have been made in our sport’s history at Istanbul Park and I’m excited to begin the next chapter of our partnership, giving fans the opportunity to experience even more incredible racing in a truly fantastic location,” Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali said.

Hosting F1 would “demonstrate to the world that our country is the safe haven of its region,” Erdogan said.

The news comes after the Iran war caused widespread disruption to sports in the region and forced F1 to call off races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia scheduled for this month.

That left a large gap in this year’s schedule. The Miami Grand Prix next week will be the first F1 race since the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29.

F1’s return to Istanbul had been widely expected since Domenicali said in February that it was a candidate to return.

He added venues like Istanbul Park and the Portimão circuit, which will host the returning Portuguese Grand Prix next year, show F1 is not focusing too much on street races in glamorous locations.

Those can be some of F1's most lucrative events, like the Las Vegas Grand Prix, but are generally less popular with drivers than purpose-built race tracks.

“Türkiye is not 100% confirmed. Stay tuned on Türkiye, let me put it this way,” Domenicali said at the time. “This is also to answer to the people that were saying there were too many street races. The new ones that are coming are tracks, not street races.”

The return of Türkiye and Portugal next year will come as the Dutch Grand Prix, four-time champion Max Verstappen's home race, leaves the schedule after six years. The Belgian Grand Prix and the second Spanish race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will host in alternate years from 2027, freeing up another slot.

F1 estimated Friday it has 19 million fans in Türkiye, and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem called the race's return “a powerful reflection of the continued global growth and appeal of our sport.”

The Istanbul Park track was generally popular with drivers and its long, high-speed turn eight was often ranked as one of the most challenging corners in the world.

Felipe Massa is the most successful driver at the Turkish Grand Prix with three wins in a row for Ferrari from 2006 through 2008, while Lewis Hamilton has won the race twice.

Sports

Liverpool's Slot Warns 'Margins Are Small' in Champions League Push

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
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Liverpool's Slot Warns 'Margins Are Small' in Champions League Push

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)

Arne Slot warned on Friday that "margins are small" in the Premier League as Liverpool aim to strengthen their push for a place in next season's Champions League.

The Reds are fifth in the table after two straight league wins, five points clear of Brighton, who have played a game more.

The top five teams in the Premier League gain automatic entry into next season's Champions League.

Liverpool face a tough task on Saturday against Crystal Palace, whom they have failed to beat in three meetings so far this season.

Slot was asked at his pre-match press conference whether he was planning for next season after a disappointing title defense but was keen to shift the focus back onto the current campaign.

"Of course there are conversations going on about next season but my complete focus is, and still should be, on this season, because margins are small," said the Liverpool boss.

"One or two results can make a big difference, as we saw, because I think two weeks ago we weren't five points clear of the number six, and two results later we are, so it can also go both ways.

"So my full focus is on Palace, which is needed because, as you know, we've played them three times already this season and we're unable to beat them once."

Liverpool lost to Oliver Glasner's side on penalties in the season-opening Community Shield before defeats in the Premier League and the League Cup.

The Reds have picked up vital wins against Fulham and Everton this month but have also suffered demoralizing defeats against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Manchester City in the FA Cup.

"In the last eight games we picked up 16 points, and it doesn't always feel like that, because in between we have to play PSG, Man City," AFP quoted Slot as saying. "But our recent league form is acceptable."

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker has not played since mid-March due to injury but Slot said he was close to a return and could be ready to face Palace.

Number two goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is sidelined with an injury he picked up last week against Everton, meaning that Freddie Woodman would deputize for Palace if Alisson were not fit.

Slot brushed aside speculation linking Alisson with a move away from Anfield at the end of the season.

"We don't react to rumors in this room," said the Dutchman.

"We only react when facts need to be told, and that's not the situation at the moment.

"But the main focus for Ali is, I think, very clear -- that's getting back into goal as soon as possible for the club he loves to play for, and then he wants to be in goal for the country he loves to play for, and that's Brazil."