Formula 1 has introduced a fresh set of rule adjustments to deal with concerns surrounding the new engine regulations brought in this season.

The latest power units, which split output almost evenly between combustion and electric energy, have drawn criticism from drivers who feel the heavy focus on energy management reduces the importance of driving skill. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has even suggested he may rethink his future in the sport due to frustration with the new system.

The updated rules focus on refining how engines are used, with the aim of allowing drivers to push harder during qualifying and limiting major speed gaps in races. Previously, there could be a difference of up to 470bhp between cars running full power and those with depleted battery energy.

Most of the changes are expected to take effect at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix scheduled for 1–3 May.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff described the approach as making careful, precise improvements rather than drastic changes.

“We all want the same thing – to improve racing, make it more competitive, and ensure safety,” Wolff said.

The revisions were agreed during a meeting involving F1 teams, the sport’s organisers, and the governing body FIA. Final approval is still required from the FIA World Council.

In qualifying, the new rules are designed to cut down on excessive energy saving and encourage drivers to maintain full speed more consistently. Previously, drivers often had to lift off the throttle early before corners to conserve energy – a method many described as unnatural.

The maximum energy recovery per lap has been reduced from 8MJ to 7MJ, lowering the need for energy harvesting. At the same time, the limit for energy recovery while at full throttle – known as “super-clipping” – has been increased from 250kW to 350kW.

According to the FIA, this should limit super-clipping to just two to four seconds per qualifying lap.

Additionally, the number of tracks where even lower energy limits may apply has been increased from eight to 12. These are usually circuits with long straights and fewer corners, where energy recovery is more difficult.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi‘s journey in IPL 2026 – and in Indian cricket – is turning out to be a special one. At IPL 2025, Sooryavanshi was an “unknown commodity”. However, after becoming the youngest centurion in men’s T20 cricket with a blistering 35-ball hundred for Rajasthan Royals (RR) against Gujarat Titans (GT) in just his third game, he became a household name. This season, he has been more consistent than ever. The 15-year-old’s scores so far read: 52, 31, 39, 78, 0 and 46. His team RR are also placed among the top three on the points table. Sooryavanshi has also spoken about his desire to finish matches for his side.

RR have so far lost two of their six matches, with their latest defeat coming against Kolkata Knight Riders. After the match, Sooryavanshi appeared distraught and visibly frustrated. RR manager Romni Bhinder was seen handing him a phone after the game, as the young batter looked disappointed.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi was crying and frustrated on a call with his parents after losing the match against KKR. pic.twitter.com/el1pnBZaVe

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— Sonu (@Cricket_live247) April 20, 2026

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper Shreyas Iyer has heaped praise on Rajasthan Royals’ 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him a “spectacular talent” following his impressive performances in IPL 2026.

Speaking on JioStar’s show Believe after Punjab Kings’ emphatic 54-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants, Iyer highlighted Sooryavanshi’s immense potential.

While analysing young talents emerging in the league, Iyer was particularly impressed by the teenager’s batting technique and composure at the crease. He stressed that Sooryavanshi’s natural ability sets him apart from others at a similar stage of development.

The PBKS skipper further noted that the youngster’s batting rhythm and pre-delivery movement indicate a strong foundation, which could help him evolve into a consistent performer at the highest level in the coming years.

“He is a spectacular talent, and all the adjectives would pretty much fall short for him. The way he has that bat flow, the rhythm and momentum he creates before the delivery – I think he is one for the future,” Iyer said.

In the ongoing 2026 season, the RR opener has smashed 246 runs in six matches at a staggering strike rate of 236.53.

Shreyas Iyer also spoke about the strong team environment within the Punjab Kings squad and his interactions with young batters Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, emphasising the importance of backing natural talent and allowing players to express themselves freely at the highest level.

“We have a team room, which is probably there for every team. We try to spend a lot of time together there, before and after games, and whenever we have off days. We come together and build that bond,” Iyer said.

“Whenever I speak to them, my only message is: just be yourself. Don’t try to emulate, mimic, or be someone else.”

The PBKS skipper added, “When you are playing at this level and you are fearless and flamboyant in your own way, you don’t have to resemble or copy anyone. When you tell these guys that they are match-winners – both Prabhsimran and Priyansh Arya – it instils confidence in them. They can just go out there and play freely. They have been delivering for us, and hopefully, they continue to do so.

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In hindsight, Denny Hamlin wishes he would not have let Kyle Larson force him three-wide middle on the final restart on Sunday at Kansas Speedway. Of course, if he could do it all over again, he also would likely have restarted on the outside as well.

That was the overall sentiment from Hamlin on Monday during the latest episode of his Actions Detrimental podcast, one in which he feels everything went against him in a race that looked like his to lose.

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He had just retaken the lead from Tyler Reddick with four laps to go and was half a lap away from taking the white flag when Cody Ware spun due to a flat tire. Then, he simply got beat on the restart but factors both in and out of his control.

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Even during the restart, Hamlin feels like he would have had a shot at winning if not for Tyler Reddick putting Christopher Bell into the wall and into his path.

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“Like, of the Reddick contact with Bell doesn’t happen, and I don’t get (driven) all the way down to the apron … Kyle (Larson’s) car was so bad those last two laps,” Hamlin said. “That’s what happens (extreme tight balance) when you put on (right sides) and have really old lefts. That’s why it looked like Tyler was superman. …

“I thought I was going to be three-wide with (Larson and Reddick) entering turn three because of the run I got on the top.”

As far as Larson taking him three-wide going into Turn 1, he wants a redo on that too.

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“I know, because I’ve been there before, that (Larson) is not going to push,” Hamlin said. “He’s going to try to get everything he can to go three-wide and I’ve just got to drive him down to the apron. ‘If you want to go three-wide, you have to go to the middle,’ and this is just a forewarning. …

“If this happens again, he’s going to have to go the middle. I will not let him. I will run to the apron or keep him on the apron next time. I will not get beat low at this racetrack again.”

So then, the fair and obvious question is why did Hamlin choose the bottom over the top as the control car driver. The data suggests the best restarts come from the bottom but that expects a push from behind that Larson was never going to give in that scenario.

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“Should have, I should have, as strong as I know my cars are on the top on mile-and-a-half tracks, I absolutely should have started at the top, no matter what,” Hamlin said. “I could hold more throttle than everyone else.”

So again, why didn’t he?

“The bottom is the preferred line,” Hamlin said. “The bottom wins by the numbers. The data says the bottom.”

Just not on the final restart as it turns out.

“People are not content pushing anymore,” Hamlin said. “Everyone is just going to go for themselves. And that’s where you have to just throw the numbers out.”

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Ultimately, Hamlin was extra disappointed because he knows next season is his final season, and this now makes two wins that got away from him in 2026 — Martinsville and Kansas.

“I took this one a little tougher because I just want to capitalize,” Hamlin said. “I’ve only got 60 races left and I just want to get these wins when I should be winning and it’s just not happening.

“It was the loose wheel at the end of Martinsville and a lot of stuff that’s not going great in the luck category or the creating your own luck category, which is what I chalk this up to.”

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Basilinna’s owners are pursuing yet another ‘win and you’re in’ race opportunity at the Mornington meeting.

Basilinna qualified for the Melbourne Cup ballot last season via her success in the Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington in May.

Trainers David and Emma-Lee Browne are open to targeting the Andrew Ramsden again, but prioritise the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) on Saturday first.

Winning the Mornington Cup offers a ballot exemption to the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) scheduled for October.

The mare has had a brace of runs this preparation – 1800m and 2000m – and according to David Browne, the Saturday 2400m trip is a superior match for her.

Nevertheless, the trainer thinks she could be one start away from full fitness, impacted by a bone chip that cut short her prior spring and barred her from last year’s Melbourne Cup.

“She’s got a good soft draw so she should be able to sit in a good spot,” Browne said.

“Then we’ll need some luck getting out and hopefully there’s a bit of rain as that will help her out as well.

“A Soft 6 or 7, I would be happy, but if it stays a Soft 5, it’s still good for her.”

Browne has been happy with the mare’s two efforts this campaign, even though she was outclassed in those events.

She ended up last on her return in the Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield, then eighth in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) on March 28 at Flemington.

“I thought her run in a high-pressure race, against very good company, was excellent last time,” Browne said.

“She beat the horses she needed to beat, and that’s all you can ask.

“She feels better than she ever has, so we’re pretty happy in that way but the hardest thing with her is she has been one run behind.

“When you take a chip out like we had to last year, that puts you behind because she was a bit burly to start with, so that is why we had to go to the Australian Cup to play a bit of catch up and get a run into her.

“The first two weren’t suitable races for her to go in, but I thought she did a good job.”

Following this weekend, Basilinna’s path forward is unclear.

She could head to the Listed Warrnambool Cup (2350m) on May 7, or the Listed Andrew Ramsden at Flemington on May 16.

“If she went to Warrnambool, that might pull her up for the campaign as it is a pretty quick back-up to Flemington,” Browne said.

“I think we’ll play that last one by ear, whether we do both or pop her out.”

For the latest racing betting markets, visit trusted betting sites before the Mornington Cup.

Esteemed trainer and former world champion Robert Garcia has revealed who he believes is the “fresher man” between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

The two pound-for-pound icons are set to enter a professional rematch on September 19, headlining a Netflix event at The Sphere, Las Vegas.

Their first encounter, which took place over a decade ago, saw Mayweather claim a comprehensive points victory, before taking his record to 50-0 with a 10th-round finish over Conor McGregor in 2017.

Pacquiao, however, has fought as recently as July 2025, boxing to a contentious draw against then-WBC world welterweight champion Mario Barrios.

This saw him end a near four-year layoff, which followed his points defeat to Yordenis Ugas, while Mayweather has not fought professionally since defeating McGregor.

Instead, the 49-year-old has been involved in several exhibition matches, a trend he is expected to resume with Mike Tyson and Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis.

Whether these two non-competitive affairs actually materialise, it remains to be seen, but Mayweather has nonetheless agreed to face Pacquiao in September.

Speaking with BoxingScene, top coach Garcia has opined that, while being the marginally younger man, Pacquiao is perhaps approaching their rematch with more miles on the clock.

“Manny takes training camps very [seriously]. We see him running in the mountains, and running around so many fans and boxers.

“He doesn’t want to be the last one [to finish], so he’s running hard. At 47 [years old], that’s not easy. But he wants to prove to everybody that he’s still a great athlete.

“When it comes to sparring, I guarantee you he’s sparring hard. Whoever they bring in for sparring wants to look good against Manny.

“On the other side, Mayweather is doing this without even showing it to the world. I guarantee you he’s staying in shape… and I think he’ll be the fresher man.”

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Initially, it was reported that Mayweather-Pacquiao 2 would be a professional bout, only for Mayweather to later claim that it would instead be an exhibition.

Since then, though, Pacquiao has insisted it will be a fully-sanctioned contest, presenting him with the opportunity to exact his revenge.

Indian cricket’s talent pipeline has given the selectors an opportunity to think big. With the IPL continuing to churn out match-ready performers, the Board of Control for Cricket in India is planning on building a 30-35 player pool capable of fielding two competitive T20 sides simultaneously. Plans beyond a single core squad have to be framed immediately as India faces overlapping international commitments later this year, with the Asian Games clashing with a T20 series against the West Indies.

A BCCI official told NDTV, “The Asian Games and India vs West Indies T20 Series are going to be at the same time. So we have to look at two T20 teams playing. It is important from now to have a pool of 30-35 cricketers who can be called up for International assignments. For the upcoming Ireland tour, like most tours to UK, a bigger pool of players will be kept in the squad. This will extend for the Asian Games.”

The Board is actively planning for parallel assignments this year and in the future as well since cricket is now a part of multi discipline sporting fixtures as well, including the Olympic Games in 2028. The emphasis is on depth, flexibility, and readiness. These are the qualities increasingly demanded in a packed global calendar.

The upcoming Ireland tour is expected to serve as a testing ground. Tours like these have traditionally been used to blood fringe players. This tour could now feature an expanded squad, mirroring the long-term vision of a larger talent pool extending through the Asian Games. India are also set to play Afghanistan in a 3-match T20I series in September, though the schedule for the tournament is yet to be finalised.

The names under consideration reflect the IPL’s growing influence. In the batting department, talents like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Priyansh Arya and Angkrish Raghuvanshi have caught the selectors’ attention with their fearless strokeplay. The likes of Rajat Patidar and Ayush Badoni are also on the selectors’ radar.

The all-rounder slot, often the backbone of T20 balance, could see opportunities for players like Shashank Singh, and Anukul Roy, the cricketers who bring versatility and adaptability.

On the bowling front, there is a mix of youth and experience. Ravi Bishnoi continues to be a standout in white-ball cricket, while Khaleel Ahmed (depending on availability), Prasidh Krishna, Ashok Sharma, and Kartik Tyagi offer them with pace options.

Behind the stumps, Dhruv Jurel is among the leading contenders. It is likely to be a team led by Punjab Kings Captain, Shreyas Iyer.

With IPL throwing up a massive pool of youngsters, Indian cricket is preparing to utilise their services by making a parallel force capable of winning and defending titles. Keeping up with the demands of international cricket and coping up with the challenges of changed international fixtures will require two strong T20 teams, that could soon become a necessity.

It is a message to all youngsters this IPL season that BCCI is not just looking for the best 15, but the best 35.

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Rinku Singh in action for KKR.© BCCI