Sports
Angry about punishment, Verstappen goes quiet
Jun 9, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (NED) races during the Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images Formula One star Max Verstappen decided to limit what he uttered on Saturday, apparently displeased about being punished for earlier saying a bad word.
Verstappen finished second in Saturday’s qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix, requiring him to attend the FIA’s official post-qualifying news conference alongside pole sitter Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton, who was third.
But reporters who wanted full answers to questions were disappointed.
When asked to elaborate on a brief response, he declined, according to a transcript published by ESPN.
“I might get fined or get an extra day. So.”
Verstappen made it clear he wasn’t angry with the media and would speak freely outside of the official conference room.
But he clearly was rubbed the wrong way by the punishment he received Friday for saying, during Thursday’s official FIA press conference, that his car’s setup at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last weekend was “f–ed.”
The FIA — the governing body of F1 — ordered him to perform work in the “public interest” after stewards reviewed an audio tape and found the word he used to describe his car as offensive and in violation of FIA policies.
The public-interest work he must perform was not specified.
An FIA representative prevented Verstappen from talking to reporters directly outside the official conference room, but as he walked down the stairs to the television broadcasters’ area, the Red Bull driver opened up about his feelings over the punishment.
“I find it, of course, ridiculous what happened,” he said, per ESPN.
“So why should I then give full answers because it is very easy, apparently, that you get a fine or some sort of penalty?
“So I prefer then not to speak a lot, save my voice, and of course we can do the interviews also somewhere else.”
Verstappen, a 26-year-old from the Netherlands, said he’s being used as an example.
“They want to set a precedent,” Verstappen said, per ESPN. “People got warnings or a little fine (in the past) and now with me they want to set an even bigger example I guess, which for me is a bit weird, of course, because I didn’t swear at anyone particularly, I just said one thing about my car.
“It’s in the code, you know? They have to follow the book and it’s not the stewards. I don’t want to blame this on the stewards because I actually had a really good chat with them and they need to follow the code, the book. I think they are quite understanding, but it’s difficult for them as well.”
Norris and Hamilton, when asked, both said they disagreed with Verstappen’s discipline.
“I think it’s a bit of a joke, to be honest,” Hamilton said. “This is the pinnacle of the sport. Mistakes are made. I certainly wouldn’t be doing it (the community service) and I hope Max doesn’t do it.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Brazil's Estevao (hamstring) in doubt for World Cup
Chelsea’s Estevao down injured in a match against Manchester United on April 18, 2026. Brazil forward Estevao’s participation in this summer’s FIFA World Cup reportedly is in jeopardy due to a hamstring injury sustained during Chelsea’s weekend loss to Manchester United.
The 18-year-old prodigy suffered a Grade 4 hamstring injury and is “highly unlikely” to be ready for the start of the North American tournament on June 11, The Athletic reported on Wednesday.
Estevao limped off with the injury in the 16th minute of Chelsea’s 1-0 loss on Saturday and was in tears in the locker room after the match, according to coach Liam Rosenior. He reportedly underwent an MRI on Monday afternoon.
Estevao has registered eight goals and four assists in 36 appearances during his first season with the Premier League side, including three goals in seven Champions League matches.
Internationally, Estevao has tallied four goals in his last four appearances with the Brazilian national team and has 11 career caps.
Brazil, currently ranked No. 6 in the world, is in Group C for the World Cup with Morocco, Haiti and Scotland. The five-time World Cup champions open play against Morocco on June 13 in East Rutherford, N.J.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Caps D Rasmus Sandin recovering from ACL surgery
Apr 5, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Washington Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin (38) warms up before the first period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images Washington Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin is recovering from surgery to repair his torn right ACL.
The 26-year-old Swede sustained the knee injury in a 6-3 win at Pittsburgh on April 11.
The typical timeline for a recovery from ACL surgery is an estimated six to nine months.
Sandin finished the season with 29 points (five goals, 24 assists) and a plus-4 rating in 73 games. He was third on the team with 127 blocks.
A first-round pick by Toronto in 2018, Sandin has 145 points (25 goals, 120 assists) through 382 career games with the Maple Leafs and Capitals.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ryder Cup organizers defend nearly doubled ticket prices for '27
Oct 1, 2023; Rome, ITA; Team Europe captain Luke Donald poses with the Ryder Cup after Team Europe beat Team USA during the final day of the 44th Ryder Cup golf competition at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images Ryder Cup organizers are defending nearly doubling ticket prices for the 2027 event in Limerick, Ireland, from the last time Europe hosted the event in 2023.
Daily tickets to Adare Manor Golf Club, which will go on sale to Irish residents Friday before opening for the rest of the world in a ballot June 3, will be the most expensive in European Ryder Cup history at 499 euros ($584.45 USD). That’s a steep increase from the 260 euros ($304.54) that a daily ticket cost for the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.
“We acknowledge it’s an increase from Rome,” Richard Atkinson, the European Tour Group’s chief Ryder Cup officer, told BBC.
“That was four years ago and a lot has happened in the world since then. We are lower than Bethpage. We’ve tried to make this as accessible as possible to a wide demographic of people. Our practice day tickets will be from 89 euros and juniors from 20 euros.
“Our prices are proportionate to a global sporting event. This event has grown in stature and profile, it’s one of the biggest sporting events in the world. We’re confident in our pricing but we’ve made it accessible to everyone.”
Daily tickets for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black Golf Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., cost $750 USD (640.34 euros).
This will be the first Ryder Cup in Ireland since the K Club in Kildare hosted the 2006 event. It also has a chance to be a historic one as Luke Donald seeks to become the first captain to lead his team to three straight Ryder Cup titles after Europe became the first visiting side to win since 2012 with its 15-13 victory in the U.S. last year.
Regarding the price hike, Atkinson discussed a number of ways in which officials are attempting to make the 2027 event the most fan-friendly Ryder Cup Europe has ever hosted.
“We have significant focus on the fan experience on site and from the moment the people arrive at 6:30 in the morning, they’ll be entertained not only by 24 of the best golfers in the world but also outside of the ropes, we’ll have an extensive entertainment program to keep the fans engaged,” he said. “We’ll have over 20,000 grandstand seats at Adare, that’s a record for any European Ryder Cup, we’ll have big screens on every hole.”
Higher prices don’t seem to be affecting the interest level. Atkinson told BBC that even before tickets go on sale, demand has been quite high as they expect about 250,000 fans in attendance over the course of the week.
“We’ve already had over a half a million people register their interest for tickets, so that tells you how significant the demand is,” Atkinson said.
“This is likely to be one of the largest we’ve ever delivered and one of the largest events to come to the island of Ireland so we couldn’t be more excited.”
–Field Level Media
Report: Brazil's Estevao (hamstring) in doubt for World Cup
Caps D Rasmus Sandin recovering from ACL surgery
