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Just Formula E on steroids?

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Formula 1 has undergone a radical overhaul ahead of the 2026 season opener in Australia.

The cars are shorter, narrower and lighter, but perhaps most decisively now 50% of the power comes from the battery rather than from the combustion engine. The aerodynamics are also different, and instead of the usual DRS, drivers have a “boost” button that allows them to unlock more power during the race.

Some experts have called the changes “the biggest ever,” and not everyone is happy about it.

What has changed in the car?

Other than the aforementioned changes to the car, the tires have also become slimmer. In addition, the underbody is no longer curved but flat. The front and rear wings can be adjusted by the driver during the race from “corner mode” where there is more downforce in the corners, to “straight mode” where there is less drag on the straights. All these adjustments have significantly changed the aerodynamics of the car.

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However, the biggest change has been to the drive system. The cars still have a 1.6-liter V6 turbo engine. Last season it generated 80% of its power, but now the split between engine and battery is 50:50. This increases the importance of the battery, which is constantly charged and discharged while driving. Drivers can release the stored energy at the touch of a button and use it to accelerate or overtake.

What does this mean for driving?

It means drivers must work together with their race engineers to continuously manage energy. Drivers collect energy when braking, when they lift their foot off the gas (lift and coast), or when they shift down to a lower gear in corners (engine braking). A single charge is not sufficient  for an entire race. In fact, you can’t even go full throttle for an entire lap with it.

Many of the drivers are not at all enthusiastic about the new reliance on battery power. Four-time drivers’ champion Max Verstappen was particularly vocal during preseason testing in Bahrain.

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“It actually has nothing to do with Formula 1,” grumbled the Dutchman. “It feels more like Formula E on steroids.”

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton called the energy management requirements “ridiculously complex” and feared that it would often be difficult for spectators to understand why the driver was not going full throttle.

“None of the fans will understand it,” predicted the Briton, who is aiming to win a record-setting eighth drivers’ title.

The Aston Martin team is in utter despair. The new power unit is causing such severe vibrations that there are fears prolonged driving could lead to nerve damage in the drivers’ hands. It seems the team doesn’t intend to complete the first few races.

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“We will have to severely limit the number of laps we complete in the race until we have gotten to the bottom of the vibrations and made improvements,” team principal Adrian Newey said.

Max Verstappen during testing in Bahrain
Max Verstappen is not thrilled by the new regulationsImage: Florent Gooden/DPPI media/picture alliance

Which teams and drivers are new to the series?

Four years after announcing their return, Audi will finally join the grid this season. Their gradual takeover of racing team Sauber is now complete and by competing with their own team, they will become the fourth German car manufacturer (after Mercedes, Porsche, and BMW) to venture into the premier class.

Apart from Formula E, Audi has not been particularly active in the Formula series to date. Most of its successes have come in rally and touring car racing.

Nevertheless, Audi are ambitious and they want to win the world championship by 2030. First though, it’s all about gaining experience and improving.

“You also have to be humble in the face of the challenge ahead,” said team boss Jonathan Wheatley. “You don’t just beat teams like Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes, or McLaren because you’re Audi. It doesn’t work like that.”

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While Audi was welcomed with open arms, Cadillac, the other newcomer, had to fight long and hard for permission to join as the 11th team. The US luxury brand has previously been more active in endurance racing. With Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, the team is relying on two very experienced drivers, and they will drive in a car with a Cadillac chassis and a Ferrari engine.

The only real newcomer to the premier class of motorsport is Arvid Lindblad. The 18-year-old Briton will be racing for Racing Bulls, where he takes over from Isack Hadjar, who has been promoted to Red Bull and given Yuki Tsunoda’s seat.

Lando Norris after winning the title
Lando Norris is the defending champion, but Ferrari appear fastest after testingImage: Nicolas Economou/SportPix UK/IMAGO

Who are the favorites for the title?

With completely new cars and a different set of rules, predictions are harder to make this time around. Only once the season starts, will it be clear who is capable of consistently finishing at the front.

The early signs from testing are that Ferrari might be the team to look out for. On the final day, Charles Leclerc set the fastest time overall in Bahrain. Behind him were the defending drivers’ champion Lando Norris (McLaren), Verstappen, and Mercedes driver George Russell.

Have there been any changes to the tracks?

Just like in 2025, there will be 24 races. The season begins on March 8 in Melbourne and ends on December 6 in Abu Dhabi.

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New to the racing calendar is the Madrid street circuit, replacing the race at Imola. The Spanish Grand Prix will be held there on September 13. The Barcelona race in June remains on the calendar, but is now called the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.

However, as the contract with the circuit is expiring, 2026 may be the last time we see an F1 race in Barcelona for a while. The Dutch track in the dunes of Zandvoort is also on the way out, albeit in 2027. With the organizers withdrawing from Formula 1 for financial reasons, Max Verstappen will enjoy a home race for the last time for the forseeable future this year.

This article was adapted from German.

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Kym Davison lands first Sydney win at Randwick in 2026 autumn carnival

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Kym Davison, the trainer from Albury, has savored his maiden city triumph on a premier occasion of the Sydney autumn carnival in 2026, accomplishing it almost accidentally.

Davison intended for his up-and-coming three-year-old Autumn Break to participate in the $1 million Country Championships Final (1400m), though the horse was excluded from the field.

He acted as a standby instead, and obligated to stay in Sydney for any possible withdrawals, Davison elected to pay the entry fee for the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) as a fallback option.

“First city winner, so not a bad one to crack the ice with,” Davison said.

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“I was hoping to be in the next race, but great consolation.

“I saw this race and said, ‘well, we’re going up there anyway, so we’ll go and have a throw at the stumps’.”

Autumn Break ($8) duly obliged, prevailing by a nose over Kilman ($31) prepared by Chris Waller, who controlled the race until the final stride, as Matias ($6.50) trailed by a short head for third.

The result offered solace in a distressing phase for the Davison household, with Kym’s brother succumbing to his illness just a week prior.

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“It’s been a hard week. We lost my brother a week ago,” he said.

“He had been unwell for a while. But you’ve got to pick yourself up.”

Davison, managing eight horses in his Albury stable, will now spell Autumn Break with intentions of targeting The Kosciuszko (1200m) early in his next campaign in October.

“The Kosciuszko, he’d go alright in that,” he said.

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“His first start was over 1200, and he should have won that Highway (Handicap) here, that was 1200 first-up, so we’ll try to push onto that if we can.”

Discover leading betting sites offering racing odds for the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes.

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CSK script history, go past RCB in elite IPL list… despite heavy defeat | Cricket News

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CSK script history, go past RCB in elite IPL list… despite heavy defeat

Even in a crushing 43-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Chennai Super Kings quietly ticked off a major milestone that adds an interesting layer to the evolving scoring trends in the IPL.Most 200-plus totals in the IPL37 – CSK36 – RCB33 – PBKS32 – MI30 – KKRCSK’s 207 all out while chasing 250 at the Chinnaswamy took them to 37 totals of 200-plus in IPL history, the most by any team. They have now edged past RCB, who are on 36, with Punjab Kings (33), Mumbai Indians (32) and Kolkata Knight Riders (30) following behind.What makes the stat intriguing is the timing. In an era where 200-plus scores are becoming increasingly common and often not enough to guarantee wins, CSK’s record came in a match where they were comprehensively outplayed. Chasing a massive 250, they still managed to cross 200, but the gap in quality and execution was evident throughout the contest.The night belonged entirely to RCB’s power-packed batting unit. Devdutt Padikkal laid the platform with a well-paced 50, but it was the late assault that completely blew the game open. Rajat Patidar and Tim David dismantled the CSK bowling attack with a ruthless fourth-wicket stand. Patidar’s unbeaten 48 off 19 balls and David’s brutal 70 off 25 lifted RCB to a towering 250 for 3, with 97 runs coming in the last five overs.In response, CSK never really found stability. Early wickets left them struggling at 30 for 3, and the chase was effectively over in the powerplay itself. Sarfaraz Khan showed intent with a quick half-century, while useful contributions from the lower middle order helped them go past 200, but the target remained far out of reach. The match summed up the modern IPL perfectly. Big scores are frequent, momentum shifts quickly, and even crossing 200 does not carry the same weight it once did. On this occasion, CSK ended up on the wrong side of the result, but still moved to the top of a high-scoring chart that continues to grow with every season.

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West Virginia rallies, beats Oklahoma in OT to win College Basketball Crown

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NCAA Basketball: Brigham Young at West VirginiaFeb 28, 2026; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Honor Huff (3) is interviewed after the game after defeating the BYU Cougars at Hope Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images

Honor Huff scored 38 points and made eight 3-pointers to help West Virginia rally for an 89-82 overtime victory over Oklahoma in the College Basketball Crown championship game on Sunday in Las Vegas.

Chance Moore added 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Mountaineers (21-14), who trailed by 13 points in the second half before rallying. Brenen Lorient scored 15 points in the program’s first postseason tournament title since winning the 2007 NIT.

Nijel Pack led Oklahoma (21-16) with 24 points and seven assists, followed by Tae Davis’ 19 points and Xzayvier Brown’s 13.

Oklahoma scored the first six points of overtime, taking an 82-76 lead on Pack’s layup.

Jasper Floyd then hit his first 3-pointer of the game, followed by Huff’s triple to tie the score with 2:14 remaining. After Pack missed a 3-pointer, Floyd hit another trey to give the Mountaineers an 85-82 lead.

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West Virginia got stops on its next two possessions and Huff drilled four straight free throws to seal the championship win.

Oklahoma pushed its four-point halftime lead to 10 on Pack’s 3-pointer, forcing a West Virginia timeout less than four minutes into the second half.

Brown’s jumper extended the margin to 13, before Huff’s three-point play and Moore’s layup cut the deficit to 59-51.

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Lorient’s basket at the 5:23 mark pulled West Virginia within three. Derrion Reid and Davis scored on Oklahoma’s next two possessions, giving the Sooners a 71-64 lead.

From there, Huff scored five straight points and Lorient made a layup to tie the score at 71 with 1:45 remaining.

After an Oklahoma timeout, Pack and Huff traded triples. Davis then turned the ball over and committed a foul on Huff, who drained two free throws with 33 seconds left.

Davis’ ensuing layup tied the score at 76. Huff missed a go-ahead 3-pointer on the other end, sending the game to overtime.

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The Mountaineers connected on eight of their first 10 3-point attempts, including Huff’s three straight triples to build a 26-11 lead.

Oklahoma answered with a 16-2 run, cutting its deficit to a point on Pack’s mid-range jumper with 5:25 left in the first half.

After Moore’s layup snapped a four-plus minute West Virginia scoring drought, the Sooners scored nine straight points, taking a 36-30 advantage. Davis closed the first half with a three-point play to give Oklahoma a 41-37 halftime lead.

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–Field Level Media

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Monday gallop to shape Gin Twist’s 2026 campaign

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The decision on whether Gin Twist forges ahead to another start or enters a spell phase hinges on her performance in a track gallop.

Lindsay Park’s two-year-old filly is a potential runner in Saturday’s Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, contingent on a satisfying showing in Monday’s gallop.

She was the hot favourite dispatched in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Flemington March 28, leading early before stopping to take third.

Ben, Will and J D Hayes prepare Gin Twist, who was accounted for by more than three lengths by the Sydney mare Satono Glow.

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Ben Hayes mentioned optimism surrounds the filly’s readiness for Saturday, as she exhibits no adverse aftereffects from the race.

“We’ll make a decision on Monday whether she runs or not after she does some work,” Hayes said.

“We feel that one, she raced a bit fresh last week and two, she didn’t handle the heavy track, but she has pulled up fine.

“It is a good opportunity for her and if she doesn’t work well, we won’t run her, but if she works well, we’ll run her.”

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The filly had previously claimed the Listed Festival Stakes (1000m) victory at Flemington on February 28, and was next in line as third emergency for Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 21.

Lindsay Park refrained from interstate travel for her, aware a start was improbable.

Hayes is of the view that Gin Twist copes with 1200m and merits another attempt on a good track.

“I think she is a very fast horse, and 1200 metres is her limit,” Hayes said.

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“But it is hard to judge her off that run over 1200 metres, which was down the straight, and on a heavy eight (track).

“We can find out if she can the trip and then we’ll know how to place her next prep.”

Secure the best value with betting sites offering markets for the Redoute’s Choice Stakes.

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Liv Morgan breaks character to discuss her relationship with Rhea Ripley

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Liv Morgan broke character to comment on her relationship with WWE star Rhea Ripley. Both Ripley and Morgan will be challenging for major titles at WrestleMania 42.

In an interview with Esteban Ramirez, Liv Morgan broke character to comment on her relationship with Rhea Ripley. The Judgment Day star noted that she knew her former rival was going to be a star while they were in NXT together and left Ripley her locker when she got called up to the main roster.

“Rhea and I have quite a bit of lore. I remember back in the Performance Center when I saw her, I knew that she was gonna be a star. It was just very evident to me. So when I had gotten called up to the main roster, I had left Rhea my locker. I told her, ‘You can have my locker, you can move your stuff into my locker.’ She didn’t even have a locker yet,” said Morgan.

The Women’s Royal Rumble winner added that they will always be connected and compared their rivalry to Batman and The Joker.

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“I came back on the Liv Morgan Revenge Tour and took everything that she loved including Dominik, the Judgment Day and the Women’s World Championship. So I feel like we are both the heroes and villains in each other’s stories. She is the Batman to my Joker, and I am the villain in her hero’s story, and she is the villain in my hero’s story,” she added. [H/T: WrestleTalk on X]

You can check out the interview in the video below:

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Morgan will be challenging Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 42.

Liv Morgan comments on recent WWE injury

WWE RAW star Liv Morgan recently discussed her injury last year that caused her to miss several months of WWE television.

In an interview with Brad Gilmore, the 31-year-old noted that the injury was devastating for her last year as she was on an upward trajectory. The WWE veteran added that she was upset about the situation during her hiatus last year.

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“I do feel like in the moment that I got injured, I was on a very upward trajectory. And so the injury obviously devastated me. I was very, very angry the whole entire time I had off time,” she said.

Liv Morgan says she was “angry the whole time” when she was recovering from shoulder injury: “I was mad the whole entire time,” Morgan said. “I got injured in a moment [when] I had multiple things going on for me. I was really enjoying and loving what I was doing. So to have all

Only time will tell if Liv Morgan can defeat Stephanie Vaquer to become champion once again at WWE WrestleMania.