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Slot Praises Konate for Swift Return After Father’s Death Amid Defensive Crisis

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Newcastle United - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - January 31, 2026 Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Newcastle United - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - January 31, 2026 Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk. (Reuters)
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Slot Praises Konate for Swift Return After Father’s Death Amid Defensive Crisis

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Newcastle United - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - January 31, 2026 Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Newcastle United - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - January 31, 2026 Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk. (Reuters)

Liverpool boss Arne Slot hailed Ibrahima Konate's commitment to the club after the defender returned early from compassionate leave following the death of his father to help the Premier League side amid a defensive crisis.

The French center-back had missed Liverpool's last three matches but cut short his planned absence when he saw the extent of the club's problems, with four defenders sidelined including Joe Gomez.

It was an emotional and memorable return for Konate, who scored the fourth goal in Saturday's 4-1 comeback win over Newcastle United as the champions claimed their first Premier League victory in over a month.

"He has had a very difficult two weeks. He was ‌planning to ‌be back for the end of this week ‌and ⁠it would have ‌meant he could not play this game," Slot said.

"But when he saw the problems we had defensively, he called me early this week and said: 'I want to be back to help the team against Newcastle'.

"He came back on Wednesday and trained twice with us. Not only did he score a goal, but he played a great game and the fans were really appreciative throughout the ⁠whole game, but definitely at the end when he scored."

After scoring, Konate was mobbed by his ‌teammates - including goalkeeper Alisson who ran the length ‍of the pitch to celebrate with ‍him - as the Frenchman wiped away tears and the Anfield crowd gave ‍him a rousing standing ovation.

'VERY DIFFICULT MOMENT'

"I don't have words to describe what I feel right now because it was a very difficult moment for me and my family this past two weeks, but this is part of life. It is hard to accept that and we don't have the choice," Konate told TNT Sports.

"I know that the team had some injured ⁠players. The manager on the call said to take my time and I don't have to rush back. With this situation, it was important for me to come back and help the team."

Konate's goal came after Hugo Ekitike struck twice before halftime and Florian Wirtz also got on the scoresheet for Liverpool's first win in six Premier League games.

"Everyone was cheering for Ibou and Florian when they came in after doing TV interviews, but especially for Ibou," Slot added.

"This team has shown we are always there for each other in difficult circumstances. That's what they were for him in the last few days."

Liverpool ‌moved provisionally up to fifth in the standings after the win, a point above Manchester United who host Fulham on Sunday.

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Verstappen Baffled by Crash in Australian Grand Prix Qualifying

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands spins off the track during the qualifying session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands spins off the track during the qualifying session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP)
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Verstappen Baffled by Crash in Australian Grand Prix Qualifying

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands spins off the track during the qualifying session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands spins off the track during the qualifying session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP)

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen said Saturday he had never experienced anything like the crash that left him 20th on the grid for the Australian Grand Prix.

The Dutchman came out relatively late in the first qualifying session in Melbourne but didn't manage a single timed lap, spinning at speed and careening through the gravel into the barriers at Turn 1.

He clambered out of his Red Bull shaking his hand and wrist, but said he was okay after being checked by medics.

"I just hit the brakes and suddenly the rear axle just completely locked out of the blue," he told reporters on the eve of the season-opening race.

"I don't know why that happened or how that happened. I've never experienced something like that before in my career.

"The rear axle just completely locked on, then of course you can't save that anymore at that speed."

Verstappen said hitting the barrier was not too bad, but the steering wheel snapped out of his hands, which is why he went to get a medical check.

"But all good," he added.

Verstappen, the 2023 and 2024 pole-sitter, has his work cut out on Sunday with a near-impossible task ahead to salvage his weekend.

George Russell led a Mercedes 1-2 with teammate Kimi Antonelli, with the Briton almost a second faster than third-placed Isack Hadjar in the other Red Bull.

"I said in Bahrain (at pre-season testing) 'Let's wait and see in Melbourne, and you will see how fast they are'," Verstappen said of the Silver Arrows.

"So for me, that's not a surprise. We know that we have to improve the car to fight Mercedes."

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Ahead of F1’s 1st Race, Red Bull Welcomes 21-Year-Old Hadjar to the Hot Seat with Verstappen

Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - March 5, 2026 Red Bull's Isack Hadjar during the photoshoot ahead of the Australian Grand Prix. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - March 5, 2026 Red Bull's Isack Hadjar during the photoshoot ahead of the Australian Grand Prix. (Reuters)
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Ahead of F1’s 1st Race, Red Bull Welcomes 21-Year-Old Hadjar to the Hot Seat with Verstappen

Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - March 5, 2026 Red Bull's Isack Hadjar during the photoshoot ahead of the Australian Grand Prix. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - March 5, 2026 Red Bull's Isack Hadjar during the photoshoot ahead of the Australian Grand Prix. (Reuters)

Isack Hadjar has no lack of confidence going into his debut season at Red Bull Racing, despite having arguably the most difficult ride in Formula 1.

On the eve of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, the 21-year-old French driver said he expects to win a race in his first season with the team while squaring up against teammate and four-time world champion Max Verstappen.

It seems incongruous for him to say it, given Hadjar is only going into his second season of F1 and Red Bull doesn’t appear to have a major pace advantage heading into Sunday's race at Albert Park in Melbourne.

To add to Hadjar's challenge is that Verstappen has gone through four teammates in about 15 months.

One of them, Sergio Pérez, said in January that being Verstappen's teammate was "the worst job there is in Formula 1." Pérez was beside Verstappen for four years at Red Bull before being dropped at the end of 2024 with two years left in his contract. Pérez is returning to F1 this year with new team Cadillac.

Still, Hadjar is putting the off-track talk aside, saying the team is set to surprise everyone with the pace of the RB22 car.

"I would say I’m confident in our race car, what we can do in the race, a bit less probably on one lap pace," Hadjar told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview. "But if we’re going to surprise people it’s definitely in a good way."

Hadjar said he was stunned by the competitiveness of Red Bull’s new power unit, an endlessly complex technical project.

"I was very happily surprised with the reliability and drivability of the engine," Hadjar said. "I know that I can’t make engines, but I know what it requires to make something smooth to drive. And to do it in 3 1-2 years, start the project so late and (then) make it so well is so impressive."

Also impressive is Hadjar himself, who came back from an embarrassing formation lap crash on debut during last year’s Australian GP to score points at 10 of 24 races, including a third place at the Dutch Grand Prix, the fifth-youngest podium finisher in F1 history.

Hadjar will also benefit from having the same team boss, Laurent Mekies, who also made the step from Racing Bulls to replace Christian Horner at Red Bull last year in the aftermath of Horner's exit in the days following the British Grand Prix last July.

"Yeah, it’s good, not much change for me," Hadjar said. "I know him (Mekies) quite well, made my debut in F1 with him, we had some very good moments. So, it’s good not to step into unknown territory, so it’s good to keep going on the way I started F1."

One change Hadjar has made is important — a geographical one. He moved from Faenza, Italy where he was close to Racing Bulls to London to be closer to Red Bull Racing’s Milton Keyes operation. He’ll need all the help he can get to take on Verstappen in the same team.

As always, Hadjar is confident and looking forward to the challenge.

"I’m just happy, at my age, to be able to see what it’s like to be next to the best driver on the grid," Hadjar said, "with the same material and see what I can do, and just learn from him.

"Yeah, I’m just happy. And lucky."

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Sabalenka Debuts Engagement Ring During Indian Wells Win

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus shows off her engagement ring during an interview with Joanna Sakowicz Kostecka after a match against Himeno Sakatsume of Japan during Day 3 of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 06, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus shows off her engagement ring during an interview with Joanna Sakowicz Kostecka after a match against Himeno Sakatsume of Japan during Day 3 of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 06, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Sabalenka Debuts Engagement Ring During Indian Wells Win

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus shows off her engagement ring during an interview with Joanna Sakowicz Kostecka after a match against Himeno Sakatsume of Japan during Day 3 of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 06, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus shows off her engagement ring during an interview with Joanna Sakowicz Kostecka after a match against Himeno Sakatsume of Japan during Day 3 of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 06, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

Aryna Sabalenka's performance in a 6-4 6-2 second-round win over Japan's Himeno Sakatsume was not the only thing that dazzled at Indian Wells on Friday, with the world number one also showing off her shiny new engagement ring.

The 27-year-old sported the striking oval-cut diamond ring for the first time in competition after getting engaged to Georgios Frangulis late on Tuesday.

"It feels super comfortable and shiny," ‌she told ‌reporters.

"We double-checked if there was a ‌possibility ⁠to lose the ⁠diamond, and there was none. I was pretty confident wearing it, hoping it might even distract my opponent."

Sabalenka, who has made the final of the WTA 1000 event twice in the last three years, said that while the proposal came as ⁠a complete surprise to her, the ‌entire team was in ‌on the engagement secret.

"I saw Georgios and I was crying ‌half of the time, because I thought ‌that I looked ugly, not prepared, and this is such a beautiful moment," she said.

"I stopped everything, and I asked the videographer and the photographer to make sure ‌that my face was not (in the pictures), just the ring, and side ⁠views and ⁠from the back, just so you guys wouldn't be shocked by the way I looked.

"But it was a beautiful moment."

Sabalenka was asked what she has learned about Frangulis, the CEO of global health-food brand OakBerry, and what he has learned about her since they began dating in 2024.

"What I have learned about him? He likes Oakberry a lot," the four-times Grand Slam champion said. "What he has learned about me? That I'm crazy," she added with a laugh.