Sports
King Verstappen chases fifth title | The Express Tribune
EYEING HISTORY: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen during practice at Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi. Photo: REUTERS
ABU DHABI:
Max Verstappen has won the Formula One title for the last four years but it would be far from ‘more of the same’ if he snatches a record-equalling fifth in a row at the Abu Dhabi season finale on Sunday.
The 28-year-old Red Bull driver has come back from 104 points behind McLaren’s then-championship leader Oscar Piastri to 12 adrift of the Australian’s teammate Lando Norris, now the frontrunner, in a span of just eight races.
As far as comebacks go, it is the greatest of the modern era in terms of reclaiming lost ground.
It could also be one for the ages, eclipsed only by some of the most heroic underdog stories, like Niki Lauda’s return from a fiery crash to take the title down to the wire in 1976 before winning it in 1977.
“I think whether or not Max will win, it’s probably fair to say that the world discovered an even more extraordinary Max this season, after his fourth world title,” Verstappen’s Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies told reporters at the Yas Marina circuit on Friday.
“It’s up to you guys to say if… (2025) will become the best of his titles.
“But for sure, in terms of whatever happens next, the scale of the comeback is something that hopefully will go in a few history books.”
Stand equal with Schumacher
Regardless of where it ranks, the Dutchman’s quest to become only the second driver after Ferrari great Michael Schumacher to win five titles in a row stands in stark contrast to his four other title-winning campaigns.
Then, he was more hunted than hunter, if not dominant. Even in his hard-fought battle with Lewis Hamilton in 2021, Verstappen was chased down by the Briton who drew level with him on points heading into the Abu Dhabi finale.
This year, however, he has had to fight off the back foot — overcoming an initially uncompetitive car and navigating a Red Bull leadership reshuffle that had Christian Horner ousted as team boss.
At the same time, he has balanced his F1 responsibilities with his role as father to a baby daughter, born in May, and extracurricular pursuits like GT racing, even winning on his GT3 debut around German track Nuerburgring’s fearsome Nordschleife loop.
Five of Verstappen’s seven wins have come in the last eight races, all of which he has finished on the podium.
Misfortune for his McLaren rivals has also worked in his favour. But equally, every bit of his trademark tenacity and determination has been on display, as he has hunted down the McLaren pair.
Born in Belgium to an F1 racer father Jos and top-level go-karter mother Sophie Kumpen, Verstappen has been on wheels as soon as he could walk.
His speed has never been in question. But this year it has been mated to a newfound maturity and a calm confidence, making him an even more formidable competitor.
“Max is not an easy four-time world champion to knock off his perch,” said McLaren chief executive Zak Brown on Friday.
“Arguably, definitely, one of the greatest ever. It’s awesome racing against Max,” added the American.
Verstappen still needs Norris to finish off the podium on Sunday to seal the title, even if he races to a fifth Abu Dhabi win.
But if anyone can spring an upset, Verstappen can.
“Look, this guy never gets it wrong, you know, Max just never does a mistake,” said Mekies.
“He keeps surprising us every day.”
Sports
Expected winter storm has some leagues reshuffling schedules
One year after a winter storm forced postponements across U.S. sports, another major weather system is prompting a reshuffling of games this week and threatened to wreak havoc on the weekend schedule.
A storm that meteorologists say could rival the damage of a major hurricane is expected to bring snow, ice and frigid temperatures from New Mexico to New England starting Friday.
The Sun Belt Conference preemptively shook up its women’s basketball schedule, moving around the start times on several games from Thursday through Saturday.
Tennessee’s swim meet at Georgia and the USC Upstate women’s basketball game at Longwood were moved up to Friday from Saturday because of the forecast.
Sports
Arizona State unveils James Harden-inspired threads
Arizona State‘s on-court threads will look a bit different, courtesy of a program icon.
The Sun Devils unveiled a new uniform on Tuesday that blends elements from James Harden‘s time at Arizona State with his signature shoe deal.
On a black base, “Arizona State” appears in a blocky font in maroon and outlined with gold, with the jersey number sandwiched by the school’s name.
A legacy never leaves 🔱
Introducing the James Harden X ASU collection.
Available now: https://t.co/BbmKQRflzJ pic.twitter.com/Si7ra1CuJe— Arizona State Sun Devils (@TheSunDevils) January 20, 2026
Arizona State’s “Sparky” mascot logo is featured on two locations — under the front collar of the jersey and on the sides of the shorts.
On the jersey’s maroon back collar is a cream-colored patch with No. 13 — Harden’s jersey number as a Sun Devil — in gold, a nod to the LA Clippers guard’s two seasons with the program.
Similar to Louisville‘s Donovan Mitchell uniform and Texas Tech football’s Patrick Mahomes threads, Arizona State will feature Harden’s signature logo — in this case on the right side of the jersey’s collar and the bottom left of the shorts.
Harden, a 16-season NBA veteran, played for the Sun Devils from 2007 to 2009 before being selected as the No. 3 pick in the 2009 NBA draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He averaged 19 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game as a Sun Devil, leading the team to a 2009 NCAA tournament berth.
The Clippers guard first signed a 13-year deal with Adidas in August 2015, after Nike failed to match the shoe company’s $200 million offer.
Sports
ICC rejects Bangladesh demand to shift T20 World Cup matches outside India – SUCH TV
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected Bangladesh’s demand to shift their matches at next month’s T20 World Cup outside India, the governing body said on Wednesday.
Bangladesh have refused to play their matches in India, citing safety concerns following soured political relations between the neighbours, and demanded to play them in Sri Lanka, which is co-hosting the tournament, instead.
“The decision was taken after considering all security assessments conducted, including independent reviews, all of which indicated there was no threat to Bangladesh players, media persons, officials and fans at any of the tournament venues in India,” the ICC said in a statement after a board meeting.
“The ICC board noted that it was not feasible to make changes so close to the tournament and that altering the schedule under the circumstances, in the absence of any credible security threat, could set a precedent that would jeopardise the sanctity of future ICC events…”
The ICC said that the board’s management also engaged in a series of “correspondences and meetings” with the Bangladesh Cricket Board in a bid to resolve the impasse, sharing detailed information on the event security plan, including layered federal and state law-enforcement support.
An ICC spokesperson said: “Over the past several weeks, the ICC has engaged with the BCB in sustained and constructive dialogue, with the clear objective of enabling Bangladesh’s participation in the tournament.”
“During this period, the ICC has shared detailed inputs, including independent security assessments, comprehensive venue-level security plans and formal assurances from the host authorities, all of which consistently concluded that there is no credible or verifiable threat to the safety or security of the Bangladesh team in India.”
“The ICC remains committed to acting in good faith, upholding consistent standards, and safeguarding the collective interests of the global game.”
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