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King Kimi, Max Misery, Bearman Smash: Japan GP Talking Points

Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen of Netherlands in action during the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka International Racing Course racetrack in Suzuka, Japan, 29 March 2026. (EPA)
Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen of Netherlands in action during the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka International Racing Course racetrack in Suzuka, Japan, 29 March 2026. (EPA)
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King Kimi, Max Misery, Bearman Smash: Japan GP Talking Points

Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen of Netherlands in action during the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka International Racing Course racetrack in Suzuka, Japan, 29 March 2026. (EPA)
Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen of Netherlands in action during the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka International Racing Course racetrack in Suzuka, Japan, 29 March 2026. (EPA)

Kimi Antonelli won the Japanese Grand Prix from pole ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri as Max Verstappen endured another miserable outing in his Red Bull.

AFP Sport looks at three talking points from the third race weekend on the 2026 Formula One calendar:

- Mercedes protect teen hero -

Antonelli is in only his second season, but already Mercedes are playing down expectations of the 19-year-old -- now the youngest title race leader in Formula One history.

"We need to protect him now from people talking about world championships," said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff after the race.

Antonelli admitted he had a stroke of fortune with a safety car that enabled him to dive in for fresh tires and emerge in the lead after his rivals had already pitted.

It was the second race in a row where a slow getaway saw him relegated from pole position and having to play catch-up.

"I had a terrible start. I need to check what happened. Then I was lucky with the safety car to be in the lead but then the pace was incredible," said Antonelli

"Luckily, I've got three weeks, so now I can practice some clutch drops just to get a better feel with it.

"It's been a weak point and I need to improve because you can easily win or lose races."

- Verstappen quit threat -

Red Bull's four-time world champion Verstappen openly questioned his future in Formula One after finishing eighth and lashing out again about the new cars and regulations.

"It's really anti-driving," he told the BBC.

"Then at one point, yeah, it's just not what I want to do."

Verstappen had won at Suzuka in each of the previous four years but was way off the pace and even waved goodbye to one car that overtook him, knowing that he did not have any capability to strike back.

The Dutchman said Formula One bosses "know what to do" to address his concerns and added: "You don't need to feel sorry for me, I'll be fine."

- Bearman sparks safety call -

Oliver Bearman escaped serious injury in a horror crash which prompted drivers to call for changes in the regulations.

The 20-year-old's Haas was closing rapidly at high speed on Franco Colapinto and smashed into the barriers after swerving to avoid the Argentine's Alpine.

Drivers and teams complained it had been an accident waiting to happen because of Formula One's new regulations that mean cars can be travelling at drastically different speeds on the track at the same time.

"These kind of closing speeds and these kind of accidents were always going to happen, and I'm not very happy with what we've had up until now," Grand Prix Drivers' Association chief Carlos Sainz told Sky Sports F1.

"Hopefully we come up with a better solution that doesn't create these massive closing speeds and a safer way of going racing," added the Williams driver.

Bearman said: "I think we've, as a group, warned the FIA what can happen, and this has been a really unfortunate result."

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Injured Isack Hadjar to Miss Italian Grand Prix as Liam Lawson Stays with Red Bull

Isack Hadjar. (EPA)
Isack Hadjar. (EPA)
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Injured Isack Hadjar to Miss Italian Grand Prix as Liam Lawson Stays with Red Bull

Isack Hadjar. (EPA)
Isack Hadjar. (EPA)

Liam Lawson will remain Max Verstappen's Formula 1 teammate at Red Bull for the Italian Grand Prix after Isack Hadjar failed to recover in time from his wrist injury, the team confirmed Wednesday.

Hadjar had said he was hopeful of returning for Sunday's race but will now miss a second event with injury.

Lawson keeps Hadjar's spot at Red Bull and Yuki Tsunoda gets a second race with Racing Bulls in Lawson's usual seat.

“Liam will drive alongside Max at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, while Isack continues to make encouraging progress following the wrist injury sustained during the summer break,” Red Bull said on social media.

“The team is closely monitoring his rehabilitation and will take no unnecessary risks with his return to competition and wishes him a speedy recovery.”

There was no word on whether a return for next week’s Spanish Grand Prix is possible.

Hadjar already spent last month's Dutch Grand Prix on the sidelines with a wrist brace after injuring himself days before, reportedly during a boxing workout.

Lawson moved up from Racing Bulls for the race and placed a solid seventh, while Tsunoda was 11th on his F1 return, his first race since he was dropped by Red Bull in December.

In a Red Bull team video from the Dutch Grand Prix, Hadjar said it was frustrating to be a spectator.

“It’s my first injury ever in my whole existence, career, whatever. It’s weird to be on the bench and I’m not happy about it,” Hadjar said. “It’s not swollen, which is a good sign. It’s healing fast. Every day I have a bit more mobility and I’m hopeful for Monza.”

Lawson is having his strongest season in F1 and is ninth in the standings, one place behind Hadjar, with almost double the points of Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad. That's helped bring about the New Zealander's return to Red Bull, where he was dropped after just two races in 2025.

Sports

Messi Departure Leaves Argentina Facing Rebuild After Golden Era

A commuter walks past a mural of Argentine soccer legend Lionel Messi, on the day he announced his retirement from the national team, at the Villa del Parque train station, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 31, 2026. (Reuters)
A commuter walks past a mural of Argentine soccer legend Lionel Messi, on the day he announced his retirement from the national team, at the Villa del Parque train station, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 31, 2026. (Reuters)
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Messi Departure Leaves Argentina Facing Rebuild After Golden Era

A commuter walks past a mural of Argentine soccer legend Lionel Messi, on the day he announced his retirement from the national team, at the Villa del Parque train station, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 31, 2026. (Reuters)
A commuter walks past a mural of Argentine soccer legend Lionel Messi, on the day he announced his retirement from the national team, at the Villa del Parque train station, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 31, 2026. (Reuters)

Argentina face a testing transition period as they attempt to move on from Lionel Messi's international retirement, with question marks also hanging over the futures of coach Lionel Scaloni and several ageing players.

Messi vacated the famous number 10 shirt on Monday, after 21 years of carrying Argentinian hopes on his shoulders.

It was a burden that weighed heavily initially, before a golden era late in his career during which the South American giants won three major titles, including the 2022 World Cup.

The 39-year-old's last competitive match for Argentina was the 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final in July.

Of the 17 players who featured in that match for Scaloni's side, only two will be under the age of 30 when the next World Cup kicks off in South America in 2030.

Veteran center-back Nicolas Otamendi, 38, retired from international duty in the wake of the loss to Spain in New Jersey, when Argentina were thoroughly outplayed by younger, more vibrant opponents.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has since suggested he may follow suit, as has 32-year-old midfield enforcer Leandro Paredes, who was slapped with a 10-match ban by FIFA for attacking Spain players after the final whistle.

"If he (Messi) isn't there, it will be hard for everything to keep working the way it used to," Paredes told Argentinian TV channel TN.

Rodrigo De Paul's international career has also been heavily linked with his Inter Miami teammate's.

The biggest question marks surround the future of coach Scaloni, who has overseen the most successful spell for the Albiceleste since the days of Diego Maradona.

The 48-year-old, whose team are known as the "Scaloneta" at home, was appointed in 2018 and ended Argentina's 28-year wait for a major trophy with victory in the 2021 Copa America.

The former Deportivo La Coruna right-back's current deal runs out in December.

Scaloni had reportedly agreed a contract extension until 2030 before the World Cup, but he cast doubt on his future after the poor performance in the final.

"I already have an idea of what I want to do," Scaloni said after the loss.

"I'm going to honor my contract, and then we'll see. I need to think, because I don't know if it's possible to achieve something as great as this."

The next World Cup will be largely held in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, but Argentina will be one of three South American nations hosting one match, thus gaining automatic qualification.

First, though, they will be targeting a third consecutive Copa America crown in 2028.

Despite Messi's retirement, there will likely still be plenty of familiar faces in a squad who will remain title favorites.

Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero have established themselves as the first-choice center-half pairing.

Enzo Fernandez, who moved to Manchester City from Chelsea on Monday for a fee that equaled the British transfer record, and Alexis Mac Allister have made the central midfield positions their own, while Messi's departure could give Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez and Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez more space to shine up front.

Alvarez in particular will be expected to improve significantly on his ratio of 15 goals in 59 caps.

- 'Great young players' -

Messi himself believes the long-term future is bright for his country.

"I've given it my all. I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are great young players coming up who deserve their chance," he said when announcing his retirement.

Exciting Como youngster Nico Paz made two appearances at the World Cup and could become a more regular starter, while 23-year-old Giuliano Simeone -- son of former Argentina stalwart Diego Simeone -- impressed as a substitute in the semi-final win over England.

Real Madrid winger Franco Mastantuono did not make the World Cup squad but has already won four international caps at the age of 19.

Argentina's next generation impressed at last year's Under-20 World Cup in Chile, reaching the final for the first time since 2007 before losing to Morocco.

Argentina currently have no fixtures scheduled for the international break later this month, but the Argentinian football association is reportedly planning a possible farewell match for Messi, the country's record goalscorer and record appearance maker with 125 goals in 207 games.

He leaves a huge hole -- but a new generation will endeavor to fill it.

Sports

Premier League Clubs Smash Summer Transfer Spending Record

Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - May 19, 2026 Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez celebrates after the match. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - May 19, 2026 Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez celebrates after the match. (Reuters)
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Premier League Clubs Smash Summer Transfer Spending Record

Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - May 19, 2026 Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez celebrates after the match. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - May 19, 2026 Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez celebrates after the match. (Reuters)

The Premier League has smashed its summer spending record for a second successive season, with outlay by England's top-flight clubs reaching around £3.46 billion ($4.67 billion).

The spending spree continued right up to the final hours of the transfer window on Tuesday, with several more big-money deals completed before the 11 p.m. deadline.

Manchester City capped their spending by signing Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea for a reported British record-equaling £125 million on Tuesday. They also signed Senegal winger Iliman Ndiaye from Everton for a reported £65 million.

Last ‌summer, the combined ‌spending of the league's 20 clubs breached the £3 billion ‌barrier ⁠for the first ⁠time. Five years ago, the total stood at £1.13 billion.

In addition to Fernandez, three other transfers breached the £100 million mark during the window.

City signed midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million, Morgan Rogers switched from Aston Villa to Chelsea for £117 million and Liverpool agreed to pay an initial £107 million to Paris St Germain for France forward Bradley Barcola with that deal likely to rise to £123 million.

Tottenham Hotspur also ⁠broke their club transfer record to sign Sandro Tonali from ‌Newcastle United in a deal that could ‌reach £100 million.

Of the 11 most expensive signings in Premier League history, four -- Fernandez, Anderson, Rogers ‌and Barcola -- have arrived this summer.

Aston Villa also announced their 11th signing ‌of the window with the £47 million purchase of Senegal winger Ibrahim Mbaye from PSG, while Newcastle paid £51.4 million to bring in forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille.

The trend for clubs to buy from English top-flight rivals continues to rise with around 38% of deals made ‌between Premier League clubs -- up from 30% last summer.

City led the way with £458 million in spending as new manager ⁠Enzo Maresca assembled ⁠his first squad, while Chelsea also spent heavily, shelling out £349 million to back new boss Xabi Alonso.

Tottenham splashed out £303 million as they rebuild after two successive seasons close to being relegated.

According to website Transfermarkt, promoted trio Ipswich, Coventry City and Hull City spent more than a combined £400 million to prepare themselves for life in the top flight.

Sunderland landed highly rated Belgian winger Malick Fofana, 21, from Olympique Lyonnais in a reported £30 million deal after beating Crystal Palace to his signature.

Some deals failed to go through on deadline day.

British media reported that Everton's move for Folarin Balogun collapsed after the US striker decided against proceeding with the transfer, while Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara remained at Monaco after his reported £47.1 million move to Chelsea fell through.