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Three things to watch ahead of the 2026 F1 season | The Express Tribune

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Three things to watch ahead of the 2026 F1 season | The Express Tribune


Mercedes, Ferrari, and newcomers like Audi and Cadillac prepare for a radical shake-up

Lando Norris held on to clinch his maiden F1 world title in Abu Dhabi. Photo: AFP


ABU DHABI:

Lando Norris’s success with McLaren in ending Max Verstappen’s four-year reign as world champion on Sunday ushered in a winter of radical change for Formula One.

The 26-year-old Briton’s title win at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix came in the final race before new cars and technical changes arrive in 2026 — and signalled an end to a “winning by any means” culture in the sport.

AFP Sport looks at three things to watch going into next season:

Can Norris stick to doing it his way?

Norris said he won the title his way and with a team that respected its own “papaya rules” of equality under immense pressure.

His triumph prompted a wave of emotion not only for his win, but the way in which he won and then managed the impact of the occasion.

“I feel like I have managed to win it the way I wanted to win it, which was not by being someone I’m not. Not trying to be as aggressive as Max or as forceful as other champions might have been in the past — whatever it may be.

“My style (is) of just trying to be a good person and a good team member.”

Even Verstappen, seen by many as a natural heir to Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, uncompromising in taking a “killer” approach to the job, as 1996 champion Damon Hill described it, softened his style this year.

The departure from Red Bull of long-serving and successful team boss Christian Horner created a less divisive atmosphere in the paddock too with respect for McLaren’s onus on fair racing without team orders setting a new trend for the future.

“I’m not proud because I get to say I am a world champion,” added Norris. “I’m proud because I feel like I made a lot of people happy.”

His team-mate Oscar Piastri showed total respect for McLaren’s rulebook during the season, even if he was at times exasperated by his ill fortune, and he will be a strong rival again in 2026 with new teams, cars, rules and line-ups.

Mercedes favoured to be strong with new engine

Mercedes have been tipped to set the pace next season having developed a new power-unit that many of their rivals believe will launch their recovery as a leading team.

The team have been developing and testing for a long period with major investment in the project and expect Kimi Antonelli, who shone in many parts of his rookie season, to rise and challenge George Russell.

The cars will be lighter, smaller and more agile under the new regulations with the weight reduced by 30 kilos. They will also be shorter and slimmer.

Mercedes will supply their own factory team and also McLaren, Williams and Alpine, while Red Bull and sister team Racing Bulls will run Red Bull Powertrains, their own development following the break from Honda.

Ferrari will run their own engines as always and will continue to supply Haas and power the new Cadillac team.

Audi hope to join as serious contenders

After a mixed 2025 season ended with one podium, but only 70 points, Audi — formerly Sauber — hope to become a serious midfield contender in 2026. They finished ninth ahead only of Alpine in the season just gone.

Audi will have an unchanged driver line-up of Nico Hulkenberg, who started his 250th Grand Prix on Sunday, and Gabriel Bortoleto, while new boys Cadillac, bringing in much American cash and colour with the backing of GM, will rely on the experience of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.

Verstappen will have a new Red Bull team-mate after the promotion of Isack Hadjar from Racing Bulls, following an outstanding rookie season. His seat will be taken by 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad alongside Liam Lawson.

The era-ending switch to new cars was welcomed by many drivers, but notably by seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton after a dismal debut season at Ferrari. Of his record 105 wins, only two have come since the end of 2021. Team-mate Charles Leclerc said the team, without a drivers’ title since 2007, faced a “now or never” moment this winter.



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Cricket Australia’s Scout Team Arrives in Lahore – SUCH TV

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Cricket Australia’s Scout Team Arrives in Lahore – SUCH TV



Ahead of Australia’s T20 cricket tour to Pakistan scheduled for the last week of January 2026, Cricket Australia’s recce team arrived in Lahore on Tuesday to review security and match arrangements.

Sources said the team will inspect key venues, including Qaddafi Stadium, NCA, and LCCA grounds.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) along with security officials will provide briefings on the measures in place for the tour.

Pakistan and Australia are set to face each other in three T20 Internationals in Lahore.



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Los Angeles Chargers pull ahead in OT to defeat Philadelphia Eagles in tight MNF win

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Los Angeles Chargers pull ahead in OT to defeat Philadelphia Eagles in tight MNF win


INGLEWOOD, Calif. — In a season marred by inconsistency for the Los Angeles Chargers, their “Monday Night Football” outing appeared headed toward a loss in a similar fashion.

The Chargers’ defense was suffocating, forcing five turnovers from Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts, the most in the Super Bowl MVP’s career. But after an opening-drive touchdown, the Chargers’ offense stalled.

This time was different for the Chargers, however. In a thrilling 22-19 overtime win, quarterback Justin Herbert rushed for 66 yards, the third most in his career, just seven days after surgery on a fracture in his left hand. And L.A.’s defense got a stop when it needed it most, as safety Tony Jefferson intercepted Hurts to secure the victory in OT.

It was the biggest win of the season for a Chargers team that appeared to be spiraling out of playoff contention — and it could help propel them into the postseason for the second year in a row.

Los Angeles Chargers (9-4)

What to make of QB performance: Herbert’s injured left hand clearly bothered him throughout the night, but he played without much limitation — taking snaps under center, scrambling for yards and absorbing hits. Herbert’s counting stats weren’t impressive — completing 12 of 26 passes for 139 yards — but some of that can be credited to an Eagles defense that blanketed receivers and consistently pressured him. His performance with the broken hand was an encouraging sign for an offense heading into a four-game stretch that features each opponent vying for a playoff spot or improved seeding (Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Denver).

Hole in the game plan: Pass protection.

The Eagles — missing star defensive tackle Jalen Carter — pressured Herbert on 68.3% of his dropbacks, per NFL Next Gen Stats, and sacked him seven times. One pressure in the second quarter forced an interception after Eagles edge rusher Jaelan Phillips pushed tackle Bobby Hart into Herbert’s throwing arm. Pass protection has been an issue all season, particularly since Joe Alt‘s season-ending right high ankle injury in week 9. Since that injury, Herbert has been sacked 21 times, tied for second most in the NFL (Geno Smith, 30).

Trend to watch: Usage between RBs Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal.

With first-round rookie Hampton back for the first time since Week 5, he and Vidal shined.

On the opening drive, they combined for 78 yards, capped off with a 4-yard receiving touchdown by Hampton. Their workload was similar — Hampton with 13 carries and Vidal with 14 — and the coming weeks will prove whether this should be a shared backfield or if Hampton will go back to being the featured back. — Kris Rhim

Next game: at Kansas City Chiefs (1 p.m. EST, CBS)


Coming into Monday night’s game on a two-game slide, the Eagles needed Hurts to pull the offense out of its funk and lead the team to a stabilizing win over the Chargers.

Instead, he put forth one of the worst performances of his career, factoring heavily into their 22-19 overtime loss.

Hurts had five turnovers on the night, including an interception in overtime that ended a promising drive near the goal line. He was protecting the football as well as anyone for the bulk of the season, but now he has seven giveaways over the past two games. His receiving corps could have helped him out more — an A.J. Brown drop over the middle in the second half led to a pick — but Hurts held the offense back more than anyone against L.A.

A mediocre outing would have been enough on a night when the defense registered seven sacks and Saquon Barkley rediscovered some of his 2024 magic with a 50-plus-yard touchdown run.

The Eagles remain in a solid position to win the NFC East. But their offensive woes have hit crisis levels, stoking fears in Philadelphia that the defending champs are careering toward a 2023-like collapse.

Most surprising performance: Two unheralded defensive players made big impacts in the game. Cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, the subject of much scrutiny amid the team’s quest to identify a CB2 opposite Quinyon Mitchell, had an interception and two passes defensed to continue his improved play. Defensive tackle Byron Young made the most of his increased role in Jalen Carter’s absence with 1.5 sacks, two QB hits and a tackle for loss.

Trend to watch: Kicker Jake Elliott has three missed field goals and a missed extra point over his past three games. He was unable to connect on a 48-yard attempt at the end of the second quarter Monday. With the offense struggling, the margins are too small to absorb an inconsistent kicking game over the long term.

Stat to know: Barkley’s 52-yard TD scamper early in the fourth quarter was his 15th career rushing touchdown of at least 50 yards, including playoffs, tying him with Barry Sanders for the second most in NFL history behind Adrian Peterson‘s 16. Barkley entered Monday’s contest with just one run of 40-plus yards on the season. — Tim McManus

Next game: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (1 p.m. EST, Fox)



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Eagles star turns the ball over twice in one chaotic play vs Chargers

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Eagles star turns the ball over twice in one chaotic play vs Chargers


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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was involved in a wacky play on Monday night after throwing an interception to Los Angeles Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand.

Hand dropped back into coverage on the snap and Hurts threw it to wide receiver A.J. Brown, who was triple-covered. Hand was there to intercept the pass and began to run it up the field. However, he fumbled while trying to take the ball back.

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) prepares to throw a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Hurts picked the ball up and thought he had saved the play for a minute. Instead, the ball was knocked out of his hands. Finally, Chargers linebacker Troy Dye recovered the ball. Hurts committed two turnovers in one play.

The Chargers kicked a field goal on their next drive to take a 10-3 lead.

Jalen Hurts warms up for the game

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) warms up before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

The play certainly perplexed NFL fans.

Los Angeles had a 10-6 lead going into halftime, but turnovers were running rampant. Both teams committed three turnovers each before the end of the second quarter.

PHILIP RIVERS, 44-YEAR-OLD WHO RECENTLY BECAME GRANDFATHER, TO VISIT COLTS FOR POTENTIAL NFL RETURN: REPORTS

The lone touchdown was scored when Justin Herbert found rookie running back Omarion Hampton for a 4-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Since then, Herbert has had one of his passes picked off and lost a fumble.

The Eagles haven’t had much success on offense.

Hurts is 10-of-19 for 95 yards and has thrown two interceptions.

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Both teams entered the game with an 8-4 record and were in need of a win to bolster their playoff hopes.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.





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