We’re obsessed with the banked corners at Zandvoort.
Our counterparts at Arrow McLaren are no strangers to banked corners, which are commonplace in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, where they regularly race on oval tracks, but they’re a rarity in modern F1, where we race on a combination of road courses and city tracks.
Zandvoort is unique in this aspect, presenting drivers with a different set of challenges to tackle. The Dutch circuit’s banking peaks in two places, firstly at Turn 3 and then again at the final corner, both of which are around 18 degrees – roughly double that of the banking at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Banked corners are interesting in part because they change F1’s traditional racing line, providing drivers with different options: they could take a tighter apex or run higher up the banking to carry more speed.
It also increases the stress on the tyres. F1 cars are designed to race on relatively flat circuits, and their tyres are purposefully devised to degrade over the course of a race. The higher forces when racing on banked corners not only increase tyre wear but also spread it unevenly, given that the car is cornering at an angle.
Additionally, drivers have to contend with higher vertical G-forces on entry and exit. This not only impacts them physically but also means braking points, steering, and balance are harder to judge and makes mistakes harder to correct due to the extra forces on them.
It also poses various setup questions for the team, as the banking requires more downforce than the narrow and winding sections of the circuit – and teams can’t have both.
Pakistani football fans, rejoice! Rising star Abdullah Iqbal, now anchoring the defense at Sweden’s Mjällby AIF, has reportedly received a solid boost in his EA Sports FC 26 card, according to the latest leaks. And yes, that silver design now carries more than just style—it carries improvements.
The 23-year-old has become one of the most influential Pakistani footballers in Europe, and his in‑game ratings reflect his status as a defensive wall.
Abdullah Iqbal’s FC 26 card now sports a 67 overall, a healthy rise from the 64 seen in FC 25—proof that defenders in the pixel world don’t go unnoticed. His potential has also been bumped, signaling big things ahead both in‑game and in reality.
His Speed, Passing, Shooting, Dribbling, Defending, and Physical stats have all improved, and he also boasts two‑star skill moves and a three‑star weak foot. That means he’s not just a towering left‑footed center‑back—he’s one who can chase down strikers, win headers, and still stand firm in tackles.
His medium/high work rate also makes him a perfect card for career mode.
Abdullah Iqbal’s improved card isn’t just a trophy in FC 26 career mode; it’s a digital stamp of recognition for a player breaking barriers abroad. It’s like seeing your country’s hero become a main character in a global video game featuring some of the best footballers on the planet.
Easah Suliman, Otis Khan, Yousuf Butt, and Zesh Rehman have all featured in FC/FIFA games before, but this one carries special significance.
While many young footballers from this part of the world get overlooked, Iqbal’s rise, both in real leagues and in his virtual counterpart, shows what happens when talent meets perseverance.
So when you eventually fire up FC 26, slot him in—because defenders with pace, power, and promise are always a win.
The first half of the 2025 Formula 1 season has delivered drama, innovation and record-breaking achievements, both on and off the track.
From thrilling wheel-to-wheel racing and sold-out Grands Prix to the global success of F1 The Movie and ground-breaking activations, the sport continues to accelerate into an exciting new era.
As the sport returns from the summer break, refreshed and raring to go racing once again, let’s look at some of the highlights from the season so far.
A historic start — F1 75 Live at The O2
The 2025 season began with a spectacular celebration of Formula 1’s 75th anniversary at London’s O2 Arena – F1 75 Live.
Tickets sold out in just 20 minutes, as the event brought together all 10 F1 teams – for the first time ever – to unveil their liveries ahead of the new campaign. 16,000 fans enjoyed an incredible evening that combined the glamour of Formula 1 with world-class entertainment, featuring performances from global music stars such as mgk, Take That, Tems, Kane Brown and Brian Tyler’s Are We Dreaming.
The response to the event was phenomenal and helped the sport reach new audiences. Live broadcast coverage from 42 broadcast partners spanned 37 territories across the world, while 7.5 million viewers tuned in across Formula 1’s social channels.
The F1 YouTube livestream alone, watched in 211 territories, was the most successful in the channel’s history – setting a new record with over twice as many views as the previous best performing stream.
Box office success — F1 The Movie
June saw the global release of F1 The Movie, which has become the largest-grossing sports film of all time and the highest-grossing Apple film to date, surpassing $600 million at the box office.
Directed by Joe Kosinski and starring Brad Pitt, the movie – Pitt’s highest grossing film – has been praised for its authenticity, earning a 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and an ‘A’ CinemaScore rating.
The production captured over 185 hours of footage at iconic circuits during actual Grand Prix weekends and was supported by more than 1,900 crew members – with roughly 400 members of the crew at each event.
More than 2,000 hours of F1 broadcast footage was recorded for the movie, which saw New York’s Times Square transformed into a Formula 1 showcase for its world premiere in front of huge crowds. The European premiere in London’s Leicester Square followed a week later, with both events attracting Hollywood icons, A-list celebrities, award-winning global music stars and, of course, F1 superstars.
Record-breaking race attendance
Fan enthusiasm to attend a Grand Prix has reached unprecedented levels, with 3.9 million fans attending the first 14 races of 2025 – the highest mid-season total in Formula 1 history.
Eleven events sold out completely, with six setting new attendance records. Silverstone and Albert Park drew crowds of 500,000 and 465,000 people respectively, while Belgium, Canada, Spain and Austria also recorded attendances exceeding 300,000.
Digital and social media growth
Formula 1’s digital footprint has continued to expand, particularly among younger audiences, with the sport’s social media following growing to 107.6 million — a 21% increase year-on-year, and up from 18.7 million in 2018.
Fans continue to watch race weekend action after events, with YouTube views for highlights climbing by 30%. The Australian Grand Prix highlights alone attracted 13 million views within the first week, making it the second largest audience on the channel after the Abu Dhabi 2021 season finale.
More time is also being spent on F1.com and the official Formula 1 app, with total content views up 17% compared to last year.
TV viewership on the rise
Television audiences have remained strong across key markets, with 13 of the 14 races recording year-on-year growth in live viewership.
The season-opening Australian Grand Prix weekend had over 60 million cumulative linear TV viewers worldwide, while in the United States, live race viewership is up 23% vs. the 2024 season average – the Miami Sprint also setting a new viewership record since the format was introduced in 2021.
Twelve of the 14 races this season have seen year-over-year viewership growth on ESPN in the US, with seven of them setting event viewership records. The broadcaster has also seen a 14% increase in its younger demographic (between 18-49) in comparison to 2024.
Media rights extensions
The growing global appeal of F1 has resulted in several extensions and agreements with broadcast partners around the world.
Tencent were renewed as the broadcaster for Formula 1 in mainland China, while there was a long-term extension agreed with Bell Media in Canada and Globo was confirmed as the Brazilian broadcaster from 2026.
A growing global fanbase
Formula 1 now boasts a global fanbase of 827 million, cementing its position as the world’s most popular annual sporting series with a year-on-year increase of 12% – and a 63% increase compared to 2018.
The fanbase is becoming younger and more diverse too, with 43% of fans now under the age of 35 – a growth of 51 million year-on-year – and female representation rising to 42%, up from 37% in 2018.
Interest in F1 continues to grow in heritage markets such as the UK (+24%), Italy (12%) and Brazil (+9%), and in growth markets including the US and China where interest has surged by 11% and 39% respectively.
The United States fanbase, supported by three unique races, has reached 52 million and is the largest F1 market for YouTube viewership (135 million) and social media followers (5.8 million), with social followers up 26% year-on-year.
Meanwhile, a sold-out Chinese Grand Prix weekend saw 220,000 fans attend earlier this year — up 9% vs. 2024 — as China reached over 221 million claimed F1 fans, up +39% year-on-year. Over half have started following the sport in the last five years, while 46% are female and 40% are aged between 16-34.
New partnerships and activations
F1 holds an increasing number of prestigious partnerships, specialising in a wide variety of sectors and appealing to markets across the world, that has more than doubled since 2020 – going from 12 to 27 partners in just five years.
The first half of 2025 saw Formula 1 strengthen its commercial portfolio with major global brands. A 10-year deal began with luxury group LVMH, bringing Louis Vuitton, TAG Heuer and Moët Hennessy – and a range of their brands including, Moët & Chandon, Belvedere, Whispering Angel and Glenmorangie – into the sport.
In May, PepsiCo joined as an Official Partner until 2030 with brands including Doritos and Sting Energy, plus Gatorade became the Official Partner of F1 Sprint. Disney’s Mickey & Friends also announced a partnership set to begin in 2026.
At the start of the year, Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay became a partner of the sport, delivering a world-class culinary experience in F1 Garage across 10 Grands Prix this year. Barilla, the world’s biggest pasta producer, also became the Official Pasta Partner at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Elsewhere, multi-national lottery-led entertainment company Allwyn became an Official Partner in a multi-year deal, PwC signed up as the sport’s Official Consulting Partner and ALT Sports Data became the Official Betting Data Supplier, while MSC Cruises agreed a partnership extension until 2030.
There was a host of innovative partner activations that captured global attention too. At the Miami Grand Prix, for example, the Drivers’ Parade featured 10 life-sized LEGO F1 cars, each built from nearly 400,000 bricks and capable of reaching 20 kph, driven – or, more accurately, raced – by the F1 drivers.
The activation received an incredible reception from media, fans, and the drivers themselves, becoming the most viewed partner content on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook ever.
The British Grand Prix also saw LEGO-designed trophies presented on the podium, celebrating the sport’s 75th anniversary, while other highlights included Barilla’s culinary showcase with Massimo Bottura – holder of three Michelin stars and a green Michelin star – in Bahrain, and Qatar Airways’ pop-up barbershop with celebrity hair stylist Sheldon Edwards (HD Cutz) at Silverstone.
F1 ACADEMY announced multiple new partnerships too, as it continues to grow. TAG Heuer became the series’ first ever Official Timekeeper, while TeamViewer, More than Equal, Wella Company and PepsiCo’s Gatorade also partnered with the all-female series.
Ogunkunle aimed for London 2012, but his bronze medal at the 2011 African Championships in Ismailia, Egypt, fell short of the gold needed to qualify. Undeterred, he returned to the National Sports Festival in Lagos, winning gold and silver.
From 2012 to 2019, he trained without major competitions, holding fast to his belief in his potential. In 2019, he rejoined the national team and competed at the African Championships in Alexandria, Egypt. Despite losing in the semi-finals, his ranking — boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic — earned him a spot at Tokyo 2020.
Tokyo proved challenging, as he was eliminated in the group stage. Ogunkunle trained even harder, eventually qualifying for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, where he won bronze in Class 4.
Determined to return to the Paralympic stage, the Nigerian defeated his longtime African rival, Mohamed Sameh Eid of Egypt, at the 2023 African Championships in Giza, Egypt, becoming continental champion and securing his ticket to Paris 2024.
“I was disappointed in Tokyo, so I made sure to reclaim my dominance in Africa. Winning the continental title in 2023 was a turning point,” he said.
In Paris, Ogunkunle defied expectations. He became the only African to medal in table tennis, beating the world No. 2 in the round of 16 and eventually finishing with bronze.
The last time Nigeria medaled in the singles event was at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, when Tajudeen Agunbiade and Alabi Olufemi won gold and bronze, respectively.
“That win boosted my confidence. My quarter-final match was the highlight — it was against an opponent who had beaten me many times. I spent the night before strategising, while my teammates fasted for me. I was exempted from fasting as the ‘main actor.’ I cried tears of joy after winning.”
The ITA reports that a sample collected during an in-competition testing mission on 29 June 2025 from Pedro Afonso Pinto Gaspar, a triathlete from Portugal, has returned an AAF¹ for the prohibited substance mesterolone.
Mesterolone is prohibited under the 2025 WADA Prohibited List as S1.1 Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS). It is prohibited at all times (in- and out-of-competition) and is a non-specified substance. Mesterolone is known for its potent androgenic properties by increasing testosterone levels and enhancing male sexual characteristics.
The athlete has been informed of the case and has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample.
If the B-sample analysis is requested and confirms the result of the A-sample, the case will be considered as a confirmed anti-doping rule violation. If the B-sample analysis is not requested, the case will also go ahead as a confirmed anti-doping rule violation. The athlete will have the opportunity to present his explanations for the result.
Further, in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and Article 7.4.1 of the World Triathlon Anti-Doping Rules, a mandatory provisional suspension has been imposed on the athlete. The athlete has the right to challenge the provisional suspension and ask for its lifting.
Pursuant to the World Triathlon’s delegation of its anti-doping program to the ITA, the prosecution of the case is being handled entirely by the ITA. Given that the case is underway, there will be no further comments made.
The Pakistan men’s hockey team will feature in the FIH Pro League for the first time after accepting an invitation to join the 2025-26 season, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed on Thursday.
Pakistan’s entry in the FIH Pro League 2025-26 comes after New Zealand, winners of the 2024-25 FIH Nations Cup, opted out of the competition. As runners-up at the tournament in Malaysia, the Green Shirts were next in line for promotion and accepted the vacant berth.
Pakistan are three-time Olympic champions in hockey and four-time Hockey World Cup winners. Their participation also ensures two India vs Pakistanhockey matches as part of the tournament format.
FIH president Tayyab Ikram hailed the move as a landmark moment. “Great to see Pakistan back in elite competition – this is a truly impactful milestone for world hockey.
“Their return marks not only the comeback of a team with such a rich and storied history, but also an exciting boost to the visibility and reach of the FIH Hockey Pro League,” Ikram said.
The FIH Hockey Pro League, launched in 2019, features nine of the best national teams in the world across both men’s and women’s categories.
Each team plays 16 matches. The team with the highest points at the end is crowned champion, while the bottom-placed side is relegated to the second-tier Nations Cup. Meanwhile, the Nations Cup winner earns promotion to the Pro League.
The upcoming season of the FIH Pro League will also serve as a qualifying event for the LA 2028 Olympics.
Pakistan will join Argentina, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, India, Netherlands and Spain in the upcoming men’s season of the FIH Hockey Pro League.
In the six editions held so far, the Netherlands have been dominant.
The Dutch women’s team has won five titles, while the men have claimed three crowns. Both are also the reigning champions in their respective divisions.
India’s men’s team joined the Pro League in the 2020-21 season and finished eighth in 2024-25, narrowly avoiding relegation to the Nations Cup.
The Indian women’s team, who debuted in 2021-22 and finished a creditable third in their maiden season, were relegated after finishing last in the 2024-25 campaign.
This year’s badminton’s 2025 BWF World Championships have reached the third-round stage, with last 16 matches taking place on Thursday, 28 August 2025.
The Championships are being held in Paris, France, at the same venue which hosted badminton during the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Olympics.com is live on site and you can find updates from the French capital from selected matches in the third round.
You can also stream the event live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and Olympics mobile apps in some territories, subject to geographical restrictions.
Most recent updates are at the top and all times are French local time (Central European Summer Time, UTC +2). Please refresh for the latest updates.
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games was full of French pride, and nowhere was that more evident than at the Eiffel Tower Stadium on the night of the blind football final.
France were an outside bet for the gold from the start, but when they lined up against Argentina, who were fresh from ending six-time winners Brazil’s dominance in the semi-finals, they needed the nation behind them. Under the glow of Paris’ most famous landmark, the city came alive, out in force to roar the team on to a historic victory.
The noise was deafening, from the moment the national anthem blared out to every break in play; 11,000 people inspired one of the home nation’s most memorable moments, deep into the Paralympic Games.
It was down to Frederic Villeroux to score the deciding penalty in a 3-2 shootout win, after he had opened the scoring in normal time before Argentina equalised.
“Our sport has finally been recognised in France,” Villeroux tells the IPC a year on from the Games. “The gold medal, at home, in front of my family and friends, after years of struggle and sacrifice… I simply felt a profound joy.
“It was the culmination of 21 years of hard work, 12 years after the silver medal in London (2012). These are unforgettable moments. When you have 11,200 fans singing, it galvanises you and gives you enormous energy to push yourself to the limit.
“For the first match and the final, I had chills… and even a few tears.”
France became the second team to win Paralympic blind football gold. @Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Defying the odds
Brazil had never been beaten on the biggest stage, and they met the hosts in the group stage, so France had very little expectation going into the tournament. Villeroux certainly did not foresee glory.
“Before the competition, our coach firmly believed in the gold medal,” he says.
“Personally, I would have considered myself lucky if we had just made it through the group stages. Our group included China, the runner-up to the world champion, and Brazil, the reigning Paralympic champion.
“We didn’t believe it, but we promised ourselves we would give it our all so we wouldn’t have any regrets.”
Blind Football Highlights | Paris 2024 ❤️💙💚
Carrying the hopes of the host nation
If anyone had to shoulder responsibility, though, it was Villeroux. He is captain and talisman; his teammates, coach and fans looked to him to inspire them.
How did he deal with that?
“I appreciated the fact that the coach and my teammates trusted me, despite—or even thanks to—my personality: frank and demanding, I always stick to my convictions.
“I appreciate that my words and decisions are heard and followed by action. It’s flattering to be a role model for my teammates and for future generations of blind footballers.
“I like to listen to the team and to each player. We must ensure that we maintain bonds within the team to strengthen cohesion.”
Villeroux says Paris 2024 has not only increased awareness and interest in blind football, but has also helped people with different disabilities gain more acceptance in society.
“The general public has been made aware of Para sport and has wonderful memories. Children will remember that a person with a disability can participate in almost any sport.
“Sport opens doors and sets an example for greater inclusion. Respect and inclusion for all people with disabilities should be reflected in the Paralympic Games.
“During the Games, disability becomes a source of pride. We are more frequently asked to speak in schools, businesses, and at conferences to talk about Para sport and disability. It is also more prominently featured in the print media.”
Villeroux, right, was competing at his fourth Games, 20 years after making his Paralympic debut at Athens 2004. @Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Home Games heroics
Yet, there is still a long way to go, Villeroux says.
“The truth is that communication around our sport is still not up to scratch. And as a result, we struggle to attract spectators to competitions.”
Having competed in three Games before Paris 2024 – at London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020- Villeroux’s experience has proven invaluable for France. He almost retired in 2020 with injuries a concern, but had to hold on for Paris, to perform in front of his people.
“Representing France at the Paralympic Games is a tremendous honour. It’s a privilege to have done it four times. I actually considered retiring from sport after the Tokyo Games.
“But who can give up on a home Games?”
France won gold, Argentina took silver and Brazil took bronze in blind football at Paris 2024. @Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images for IPC
More glory in the future?
Will he stop now? Don’t count on it. There is more home success to be had, and Villeroux is desperate to be involved.
“I wanted to stop after Paris, but I’m going to try to make it at least to the 2026 European Championship, since it’s taking place in France. During this Euro, we’ll play every match like a final, because all our opponents will want to beat the Paralympic champions.
“The hardest part will be remaining champions.”
Champions. It felt like a dream before it happened. Now one year on, for Villeroux and France, it is the most special of memories.
Villeroux and the French team are aiming for another podium finish at the 2026 IBSA Blind Football European Championship Division 1 in August next year. @Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Do you want to relive all the excitement of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games? Click here to read the day-by-day recap and experience the magic all over again
Olympic canoe champion Jessica Fox has undergone surgery to remove a tumour from her left kidney and says she will not compete in the remaining Canoe Slalom World Cup events.
The 31-year-old three-time Olympic gold medallist shared news of her condition and her subsequent recovery on social media on Thursday (28 August).
“Last week I had surgery to remove a tumour from my kidney. The surgery went really well and I’m on the mend,” said Fox.
“It’s been a whirlwind over the last few weeks, but I’m all good – just a couple of gnarly new scars, a bit less kidney and a whole lot more toughness.”
Fox was one of Australia’s Opening Ceremony flagbearers at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and went on to win two gold medals to become the first female canoe slalomist to win three Olympic titles and the most decorated of all time.
She expressed optimism around her recovery and hopes to return to her sport soon.
“I’m feeling positive and looking forward to heading home, focusing on recovery, and then building towards being back on the water again,” Fox added.
