A Formula 1 rules revolution is making cars lighter and smaller for 2026, with more electrical power.After the biggest changes in years, F1 teams are dealing with a whole new driving style and trying to find innovations that are within the letter of the rules.Ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, here's a guide to key concepts which could decide who wins, how they do it, and whether it's fun to watch.Compression ratioThe first real controversy of F1's new era. The engine rules set out a compression ratio of 16:1, a measurement of how tightly the pistons squeeze the mixture of fuel and air before it ignites. In theory, a higher ratio means more power.The regulations include a test to stop teams exceeding 16:1, but the checks happen at ambient temperature." Some rival teams have suggested Mercedes found a way for components to behave differently when they heat up during use, beating the test. Mercedes says its engine is fully legal.After the preseason outcry, updated rules require testing at operating temperature, but only from June 1. The first race under the new checks is the Monaco Grand Prix on June 7, scheduled to be the eighth race of the year.Overtake modeThe old DRS overtaking aid is gone after 15 years and, while new active aerodynamics do a similar job, they can be used at any time. Ferrari has the most eye-catching solution so far with a wing which turns upside down on straights for extra speed.Electrical power is the way to overtake in 2026. Using overtake mode unlocks the full power of the battery hybrid system for a short time, generally when a car is within a single second of the car in front.The system could be fine-tuned during 2026 if it doesn't make enough of an impact. Some drivers complained in testing that overtake mode tends to drain the battery too much, making it inefficient in a lot of situations, or impossible to defend the place afterward.Lift and coastSlow and steady wins the race? Not in F1. Still, lifting off the gas is one way to get more energy later on.Lifting and coasting on straights is one way to harvest energy for the car's battery beyond what the car generates under braking.If races in 2026 are too focused on saving energy, the FIA could potentially intervene under a commitment to competitive balance and sustainability newly written into the 2026 regulations.The FIA has said fans appreciate strategy but driving shouldn't be like a chess game, where its just a matter of energy management and energy deployment, as Nikolas Tombazis, director for single-seater racing series at the FIA, told The Associated Press last year.SandbaggingThe art of seeming slower than you really are. One reason testing times are an unreliable guide is that teams typically want to avoid the extra scrutiny that comes with being fastest. F1 has a history of rivals demanding rules investigations into any dominant technology.The last time engine rules changed this much, Mercedes designed a near-unbeatable turbo hybrid but rarely used its full power.Under 2014 rules, teams could change the engine's power output to balance speed with reliability. Mercedes often used idle mode at the start of qualifying, then turned it up just enough to get pole position, then-executive director Paddy Lowe revealed years later.The thinking was, if Mercedes had looked ridiculously good, then something would be done about it, he said.The tactic worked. Mercedes won the constructors' championship, its first of eight in a row.Dirty airThe turbulence created in a cars wake is the eternal bugbear of F1 fans and rulemakers.For drivers, dirty air means less grip through the corners, making it hard to get close to a car in front. For fans, it turns races into dull processions.Every time the FIA revamps the rules, it tries to ban aerodynamic parts which churn up the air too much. This year, it targeted outwash front wings pushing air out to the side.Every time the FIA takes action, engineers find ways around the rules. How quickly that happens could decide how watchable F1 is in 2026.___AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

US Soccer has voiced its backing for Iran's inclusion in the World Cup.Iran's participation in this summer's tournament remains in serious doubt following joint American and Israeli military strikes against the country over the weekend.Speculation about a potential Iranian withdrawal from the tournament emerged after airstrikes hit multiple cities on Saturday and Sunday, prompting retaliation from Tehran amid escalating regional turmoil.JT Batson, the head of the organisation, emphasised that facing Iran would be treated like any other fixture.TRENDINGStoriesVideosYour SaySpeaking to Sky News, he stated: "FIFA president Gianni Infantino shared over the weekend the intention of a safe and secure World Cup where all teams are participating. And we're certainly very supportive of that."We played Iran a number of times in the World Cup and just like any other team of the 47 other teams we could play in the World Cup, our goal would be to win."Infantino, who presented Donald Trump with the FIFA Peace Prize at December's group stage draw, expressed his aspirations for the tournament.He said: "I hope so much it will be a moment of peace, I hope we can contribute to unite a little bit the world. I think the world really, really, needs it."The Middle East has descended into chaos just months before football's showpiece event is due to begin across the United States, Canada and Mexico.Despite the heightened tensions, the three host nations remain hopeful that Iran will honour their commitment to compete in the tournament.The president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, struck a far more pessimistic tone about his country's prospects of attending the competition. On Saturday, he declared: "With what happened today and with that attack by the United States, it is unlikely that we can look forward to the cup."LATEST SPORT NEWSDonald Trump makes stance clear on Iran boycotting World Cup amid conflict in the Middle EastEngland players 'fear being forced to take a stand on political issues' as World Cup creeps closerMiddle Eastern rivals eyed to take Iran's spot at World Cup this summer in unprecedented scenesTaj stopped short of confirming a definitive decision, however, indicating that the matter lies beyond his authority. He said: "But the sports chiefs are the ones who must decide on that."The comments suggest Iran's sporting leadership is awaiting guidance from senior government officials before making any formal announcement regarding their World Cup status.Iran have been drawn alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in the group stage, with their matches scheduled to take place in Los Angeles and Seattle.Should both Iran and the United States finish as runners-up in their respective groups, the two nations could meet in the last 32 knockout round on June 3 in Dallas.The American side, managed by Mauricio Pochettino, is grouped with Paraguay, Australia and one remaining qualifier.Further complications arise from a travel ban introduced by Trump, which has cast doubt over whether Iranian supporters can enter the country to watch their team.FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafstrom confirmed the governing body would monitor developments closely.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

The duo are alleged to have carried out surveillance on Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigners.

Bayer 04 Leverkusens Trainer Kaspar Hjulmand spricht bei der Pressekonferenz vor dem Spiel beim HSV ber die Einstellung seiner Mannschaft.[mehr]

Bless au genou gauche, Kylian Mbapp continue de travailler sur son genou depuis Paris, accompagn par des membres du staff du Real Madrid. Linternational franais est attendu vendredi Madrid. Mbapp est forfait pour le match du Real vendredi Vigo. Dans cette interview, le Dr. Pedro Luis Ripoll, directeur de la clinique Ripoll y De Prado, spcialise dans le sport et reconnue comme centre mdical d'excellence par la FIFA, donne son avis sur le cas Mbapp.

Theres no doubt that the NFL drives the American sports betting bus. Thats where the bulk of action is, including plenty of major wagers and wild winners. But there are still plenty of bets flowing elsewhere, now that the NFL season is over, perhaps on college basketball, the NBA, tennis and golf. Or the NHL, where last week, a Caesars Sports customer turned a three-figure bet into a huge six-figure payday. More on that winning wager, notable parlay hits and misses and other interesting plays as we recap betting from the past week or so. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Huge Hockey Hit Last week at Caesars, a customer put $500 on a nine-leg NHL parlay, spread across Wednesday and Thursday games. The parlay had a nice balance of favorites and underdogs, be it on totals or the puckline teams to either win by more than 1.5 goals or lose by less than 1.5 goals. Stunningly, all nine legs got to the finish line. At odds of about +83000 (830/1), the bet wouldve paid out approximately $415,000. However, the bettor also utilized an escalator boost, which bolsters the odds with each leg thats added to a parlay. So instead of $415,000, the bettor walked away with an even more whopping $704,042.25. Above-Par Bettor At Fanatics Sportsbook, a customer dove into all three of the top professional golf tours last week. The bettor put a modest $10 on a three-leg parlay of each winner: Add all that up, and youve got massive long-shot odds of +207900 (2079/1). Nico Echavarria shot 5 under in the final round to win the PGA Tours Cognizant Classic by two strokes. On the LPGA Tour, Hannah Green held off Auston Kim to win the HSBC Womens World Championship by one shot. And on the DP World Tour formerly the European PGA Tour Casey Jarvis claimed a three-shot win in the South African Open. So that bettors 10 bucks turned into $20,790 in profit. Not a bad weekends worth of work. Hockey and Hoops At William Hill US last week, a customer strung together a parlay of six Tuesday NBA games and four Wednesday NHL matchups. The goal: Turn $275 into half a million dollars. Just to remind: 10-leg parlays rarely if ever hit. Dont get carried away, or you might get carried out. But in this instance, all 10 selections got there. At odds of about +186500 (1865/1), the bettor won a whopping $512,982.52. Olympic Hockey Winners and Losers Team USA claimed gold in both mens and womens hockey, defeating Canada in the gold medal game in each instance. The mens victory stung particularly hard for a BetMGM customer who was on the brink of a million-dollar win. As you can tell by the selections, this six-leg parlay for an unusual amount of $426.63 was made back in September. The first five legs were all in, once the Dodgers beat the Blue Jays in the World Series. All that remained was sitting, waiting and hoping Canada won the mens hockey gold medal. But the USA prevailed 2-1 in overtime, squelching the bettors hopes of winning nearly $1.3 million. On the flip side, in womens Olympic hockey, a DraftKings Sportsbook customer in Canada put a hefty $351,074.11 on Team USA -350 to win the gold medal. The American women did so in thrilling fashion, tying Canada at 1 late in the third period, then winning 2-1 in overtime. So the bettor banked a profit of $100,306.89 in Canadian dollars (total payout $451,381). Not a bad day, eh? As with all major wagers, just a reminder: High-rollers have the means to take such risks and absorb potentially obscene losses. We normal people need to keep our expectations and wager sizes reasonable. Never bet more than you can afford to lose.

New Zealand spinners put on an impressive show before Marco Jansen's brutal rearguard assault took South Africa to a decent 169 for 8 in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup

The ACC will have a ton of new faces in new places in 2026, as 11 of the league's 17 projected starting QBs are transfers

The Chicago Blackhawks have rewarded rising star Connor Bedard with a leadership role during the 2025-26 NHL season. This is his third NHL season for the Calder Trophy winning foward, who is also in his contract year.On Wednesday, NHL reporter Ben Pope revealed on X that Bedard will serve as an alternate captain for the rest of the season. The move reflects the organizations growing trust in the young center as the team continues its rebuild.Head coach Jeff Blashill confirmed the decision and explained why Bedard earned the promotion.Hes earned it with his commitment to winning hockey, Blashill said.Blashill also pointed to Bedards work ethic and competitive mindset as key factors behind the decision. Thats the biggest thing I talked to him about today, Blashill said. Hes very competitive; he works hard every day.Blashill confirmed Connor Bedard will be an alternate captain for the rest of the season."He's earned it with his commitment to winning hockey. That's the biggest thing I talked to him about today. He's very competitive; he works hard every day." Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) March 4, 2026Bedard addressed the honor while speaking about the veterans who shaped his development. He mentioned teammates such as Connor Murphy (traded to the Edmonton Oilers), Jason Dickinson, and Nick Foligno as leaders he has learned from over the past two seasons.Theres guys like Murph, like Dicky, like Fliggy that weve learned from for a couple years now, Bedard said. Obviously, the letter doesnt change anything you do as a person, but its nice to be recognized like that.Foligno currently serves as the Blackhawks captain. The veteran forward became the 35th captain in franchise history when the team named him to the role in September 2024.Also read:NHLs Gary Bettman defends U.S. mens hockey team after Olympics winBlackhawks struggles despite Connor Bedards breakout seasonChicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) during a game against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesBedards promotion comes during another strong offensive season for the young star. In 48 games, he has recorded 25 goals and 32 assists for 57 points while averaging nearly 21 minutes of ice time. His production leads Chicago in assists and total points.Bedard is also the core part of the teams power play and offensive attack.Despite Bedards success, the Blackhawks continue to face challenges in the standings. Chicago holds a 23-28-10 record and sits seventh in the Central Division with 56 points. Their season took a challenging turn after a 10-5-4 start, and they havent been able to solve it.Still, the alternate captain role signals the franchises long-term faith in Bedard. As Chicago builds its young core, the former No. 1 draft pick continues to grow into both an offensive leader and a voice inside the locker room. Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead NFL: 5 most overrated NFL free agents hitting the market in 2026MLB: What drug did Jurickson Profar take? MLB announces PED useSPORTS MEDIA: Stephen A. Smith bashes underwhelming NBA star as food addictVIRAL: NBC delivers epic nostalgia with Throwback Tuesday NBA broadcastWORLD CUP: Will Iran compete in the 2026 World Cup? Donald Trump weighs inWNBA: Players, union leaders divided, claims letter from 2-time MVP and 4-time All-StarThe post Blackhawks give Connor Bedard a promotion amid NHL season appeared first on The Big Lead.

The San Antonio Spurs star visited Alaska to see the northern lights after the All-Star break.