Sports
F1’s Carlos Sainz embraces final races as a Ferrari driver: “No one can take that away”
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MONZA, Italy — Carlos Sainz didn’t shy away from admitting that the Italian Grand Prix weekend would be an emotional one.
The week leading up to Ferrari’s home grand prix is one of the busiest for Sainz and his team, who face extra pressure to perform. It can be easy to be caught up in the day-to-day grind: marketing, media and sponsor commitments, engineering meetings and greeting fans, to name a few. Hundreds of people wait just beyond the gates of the Ferrari drivers’ hotel, he says, for a shot at getting a photo, an autograph or just to cheer for them.
When entering weekends like this, racing at Monza, Sainz tries to be more present.
“More often than not, I end up probably in a loop where you just think that what you’re living is normal because it feels normal and standard now after four years of being a Ferrari driver,” Sainz said to The Athletic. “It’s very easy to take everything for granted and think that having all that people there is normal, that the racing in Monza is normal, that it becomes a job and it becomes a routine.”
But his perspective on weekends like this can shift into appreciation. After all, Sainz turned 30 recently. He’s spent 10 years on the grid, and the Singapore Grand Prix will mark his 200th career grand prix. He joined the Formula One grid in 2015 and became a Ferrari driver in 2021. He secured his first pole position and win with the Prancing Horse, amassing five pole positions, 21 podium finishes and three victories over the four seasons with the Maranello-based crew. And at season’s end, Sainz will close this chapter and head to Grove, England, to join Williams.
But for now, he’s focused on where his feet are.
“Going to so many races that we are doing nowadays, it’s very easy to fall into feeling that everything feels very routinary,” he continued about the Italian GP weekend. “So I try to extract myself from that feeling and try to really be appreciative, and always try and tell myself what Carlos, when he was 11, 12, 13 years old, would have thought.
“If you would tell him that now I would be living these moments, I’m sure he wouldn’t have believed it, and he would be enjoying it and trying to embrace it as much as possible.”
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Weathering a ‘roller coaster’ season
Sainz describes himself as a “short-term thinker,” focusing on the next race or year. Becoming a Ferrari driver is a dream for most competitors — if not all — in the sport, given it is one of the most successful F1 teams.
While competing for Toro Rosso (now known as RB), he formed a good relationship with the Italian mechanics and engineers. He said, “I knew they were putting in a good word about me to the Italian engineers in Ferrari because they normally fly together because the bases are only an hour away from each other. And then I remember thinking, maybe one day I can be a Ferrari driver.”
Sainz won’t close the door on a Ferrari reunion someday. (Sipa USA)
It happened in 2021, four years after his Toro Rosso chapter. One of his first memories with Ferrari happened at a special track to the team and company — Fiorano Circuit. It is a figure-eight track where Ferrari tests the cars, located near the factory in Maranello. Sainz remembers putting on the red suit and hopping into the red car, his father (a well-known and successful rally car champion) watching on.
“I saw him, a little tear falling down his eye when they told me when I left the pits in Fiorano for my first install lap in red,” Sainz said. “That is a memory that I will never forget.”
Sainz’s most successful seasons happened during this Ferrari chapter, the first top team he has competed for. The 2024 season marked the last of his two-year agreement, and he thrives on stability. Before Christmas last winter, Sainz expressed that his priority was to remain with the Prancing Horse. There seemed to be little reason to doubt Ferrari would extend his and Charles Leclerc’s contracts, keeping together one of the sport’s most consistently competitive driver duos.
But then came February 1, 2024.
News broke that Lewis Hamilton would join the Italian team in 2025, replacing Sainz and throwing the Spaniard’s future into question. He became the hottest name on the driver market, but the silly season wore on through much of 2024. To this day, Sainz still describes this year as a “roller coaster,” touching on the high of winning in Australia (16 days after surgery for appendicitis) and figuring out his future in the sport.
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“What I’ve been through this year is not ideal to perform at your highest level as an athlete,” Sainz said at Monza. “I think every driver that wants to perform at its highest level wants to have their future sorted and not have to worry about that, while having to perform in a Formula One season, in a team that already has a lot of pressure and a lot of attention and high tension environment like (at) Ferrari.”
But Sainz keeps showing up each weekend, knowing Hamilton will replace him at season’s end. Looking back over the campaign, he said he’s proud of how he handled the first half of the season “given everything that I had to go through and how relatively well the season went.
“But I do believe there’s lap time in the athlete when everything is a bit calmer.”
Sainz says it requires one’s full attention and effort to be competitive in this sport. He pours all of his training, time and thinking into racing and feels that has helped him win races and perform at the level he has in recent years.
“That’s why I say that is so critical, also, to make sure that you have everything under control.”
Sainz raced his final Italian GP with Ferrari last weekend. (Lars Baron/Getty Images)
‘No hard feelings’ as Williams era beckons
Williams’ pursuit of Sainz began at the end of 2023 at the Abu Dhabi GP, team boss James Vowles confirmed in late July after announcing that the Spaniard would join the Grove-based team. Vowles’s message to Sainz remained the same.
“From the beginning, I gave him warts and all: ‘Here’s what’s going to happen, we are going to go backwards, here’s why, here’s what we’re investing in, here’s what’s coming, here’s why I’m excited by this project – and it’s your choice, very much, if you want to be a part of it,” Vowles said. “‘But I know that we will have success in the future and I know it’s going to cost us in the short term.’ And I’m confident that that honesty and transparency has paid off.”
Sainz has learned over his F1 career to trust his gut feeling about people. It dates back to his McLaren days, where he secured two podium finishes in the same number of seasons. He said, “I remember I’ve never enjoyed so much competing as I did my years in McLaren with Lando (Norris), with Andrea Stella, and we did (have) a very strong team. And I remember leaving that team thinking I want to go to Ferrari and perform there, but I think this team is going to be successful in the future.”
Three years later, Sainz was right. McLaren is challenging Red Bull for the constructors’ championship, the gap sitting at just eight points. The people component and belief in future success carried weight when deciding to join the rebuilding Williams team. Something that motivates him is how he’ll be able to help the project progress.
“I want to feel listened (to). I want to feel like I can help,” Sainz said in Zandvoort. “And this, in a historical team like Williams, when they have a clear vision and super committed to bringing the team back to the front with very clear investment partners, it’s something that was important for me.”
Sainz may be heading to an English team next season, but he’s not fully closing the door on Ferrari. And it’s not a surprise. He said their relationship didn’t break – the separation is “circumstantial.”
“The fact that I’m leaving at the end of the year, I think there is nothing really that is wrong with me and Ferrari,” he continued. “A seven-time world champion happened to want to come to Ferrari in the last years of his career, and I had to move aside and to obviously leave my space to Lewis. I have no hard feelings regarding that.
“I have probably still five to 10 years of career in front of me. So why would I close the door to a potential comeback?”
‘Always a Ferrari driver’
As Sainz climbed the pit wall and peeked through the wire fencing, the crowds dressed in rosso corsa cheered. Leclerc won the Italian Grand Prix that weekend, but it was possible in part thanks to Sainz.
Sainz critically helped Leclerc and Ferrari win on home turf by holding up Piastri. The Australian pitted on lap 38 out of 53, gaining quickly as the race wore on. But for him to catch Leclerc, Piastri needed to pass several backmarkers and Sainz. After the race, he said he knew the McLaren driver was gaining on him and what was at stake.
“I did my best to slow him down one lap. Then obviously, he was a second and a half quicker at that stage, so around Monza, it’s not like you can do much more than one lap.”
It ended up being enough. Sainz didn’t finish on the podium, but Piastri ended his day in second, 2.664 seconds off of Leclerc.
Sainz didn’t make the podium but helped ensure a Ferrari victory. (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
“It’s been an incredible weekend for me. I’ve enjoyed it a lot. It’s a shame not to be on the podium today. At the same time, I feel like today was a bit of a coin toss whether to stay out or not, get it right,” Sainz said. “Charles has nailed it together with the team. With me, if we wanted to be in that fight, we probably would have needed to stay in the train with the cars ahead after the first pit stop. We just lost the chance of a podium there.
“Honestly, very happy to see the team winning here this weekend. I wish I was there up there with the podium with Charles, but I think he deserves the win more than anyone today, so congrats.”
The Spaniard may be leaving the team at season’s end, but at least part of the Ferrari faithful likely will continue following his career. Sebastian Vettel once said, “Everybody’s a Ferrari fan. Even if they say they’re not, they are a Ferrari fan.” The same could be said for past Ferrari drivers. They may not wear the rosso corsa race suit but will always be part of Ferrari.
“There are many examples in the grid or in the past where every time there’s been a Ferrari driver that obviously has had also success, but also a good relationship with the tifosi, has then been remembered and has been treated really well from the tifosi all around the world, wherever they go,” Sainz said.
“I do believe that’s my case also. That’s why I’ve always said that once you’re a Ferrari driver, you’re always a Ferrari driver. No one can take that away from you. I’ve had the pleasure of doing it for the last four years, and yeah, I’m gonna enjoy it as much as I can.”
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Top photo: Sipa USA
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ATLANTA — The FBI and Atlanta Police Department are getting ready for a massive security operation ahead of the World Cup semifinals between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium.
Both agencies have used drones to search for potential threats on the ground and in the sky. The FBI is enforcing the Federal Aviation Administration’s Temporary Flight Restrictions around the venue.
The FBI has confiscated more than 600 drones nationwide since the World Cup began. Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta Field Office Marlo Graham said 86 of those drones were seized in Atlanta.
Graham said the FBI uses a “mechanism” that allows agents to see unauthorized drones in restricted airspace. Agents then work to mitigate the threat posed by unknown drones.
“We’ve been able to safely land drones that have been unauthorized in the flight restricted area,” Graham said.
The FBI has confiscated more than 600 drones at World Cup events since the tournament started. (FBI Atlanta)
While the FBI treats every drone as a potential threat, Graham said the threat level can increase depending on the size of the drone and how close it gets to the stadium.
“Obviously, the closer to the venue, the larger the crowd. We are fortunate here in Atlanta that we have a closed dome stadium,” Graham said. “We don’t want the game to be impacted because a hobbyist couldn’t control their drone, and it lands right when one of our star players was getting ready to score a goal.”
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The Atlanta Police Department’s Drone Unit has helped the FBI track down people suspected of flying in restricted zones.
Sgt. Kindu Franklin said most of the people caught flying drones around World Cup venues are hobbyists with no intent to harm the crowd of soccer fans below.
“In some cases, they just recently bought a drone just for FIFA to get some of the cool footage that they want to put up on their social media,” Franklin said. “There are different ways that you can weaponize these drones. So, we’re operating in a proactive manner.”
The Atlanta Police Department’s drone mission at the World Cup focuses on surveillance. (FOX)
The Atlanta Police Department’s drone mission is focused on surveillance. Officers are looking for potential threats, traffic issues and people the FBI suspects are flying drones illegally.
“So, what we want to do is give our command staff a view that they can’t get from the ground,” Sgt. James Cunningham with APD’s Drone Unit said.
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Cunningham’s unit can launch drones remotely from handheld controllers. Other drones are launched from docking stations strategically placed across the city, and officers control them from the back of an SUV using a computer and a PlayStation controller.
The Atlanta Police Department launches some drones from docks strategically placed across the city. They are controlled by a computer and a PlayStation controller. (Fox News)
The drone docks are used year-round to help the police get an aerial view of emergency situations before officers arrive. The computer shows the drone pilot where all the police body cameras and vehicles are in the area, allowing them to communicate better with officers on the ground.
For the World Cup, the drone docks let the department have more eyes in the sky and respond to emergencies faster.
“It’s going to cut down time. We’re going to get there quick. And then you’re going to get an aerial perspective of what you can’t see on the ground,” Cunningham said.
The Atlanta Police Department launches some drones from docks to get more eyes in the sky and respond to emergencies faster. (Fox News)
Cunningham said the drone unit has completed more than 1,400 flights and logged more than 550 flight hours since the beginning of June.
“Some people haven’t even done that in years or haven’t even reached those numbers in the life of their drone unit,” Cunningham said.
“We train for the environment. We live here, so we know what to expect,” Anais Paredes, an APD drone pilot, said.
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The FBI is asking that hobbyist drone pilots know the Temporary Flight Restrictions in their area before taking off.
There is a one-mile restriction around World Cup stadiums on non-match days, and a three-mile restriction on game day.
LAS VEGAS — From the time Austin Reaves joined the Lakers in 2021 as an undrafted prospect, his basketball life centered around playing with a savant in LeBron James.
That no longer will be the case.
Reaves re-signed with the Lakers on a four-year, $180-million deal, but James decided to move on as he prepares to play an unprecedented 24th season.
Reaves was stunned when he heard about James’ decision while playing golf in Lake Tahoe. Nearly two weeks later, Reaves says he still is trying to process the development.
“I kind of was thinking about it last night when I got here,” Reaves said Monday in his first news conference since re-signing. “Starting the season without him being on the team is going to be different for me. He’s kind of all I’ve ever known. Just him being around, joking around, acting like he’s 15. But that’s his decision and like I said in Tahoe, anytime I’ve talked about it, I got nothing but love and respect for him and yeah, let’s play some golf soon.”
The contract Reaves signed was the richest in NBA history for an undrafted player. At 28 and entering his sixth season, Reaves wanted to stay in L.A.
“I wanted to be a Laker the whole time. We had that period from when the season ended until the first [of July] to get something done and we figured it out before then,” he said. “My heart was in L.A. the whole time.”
Reaves will become one of the de facto leaders of the Lakers along with Luka Doncic. The two once again will be one of the most dynamic backcourts in the NBA.
“Obviously my relationship with the guys that were on the team last year,” Reaves said of why he wanted to stay. “And then Luka. I mean, he’s one of my best friends on this planet. Talk to him almost every single day. He sends me videos of his golf swing and asks me what he can do to get better and I tell him I’m not a coach.”
The Lakers have overhauled the roster: All the players who started alongside Reaves in the playoffs last spring are gone. With the signing of former Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams on Monday, the Lakers have eight new players, all of them arriving either via trades, free agency or the draft.
“They’re good,” Reaves said of the moves. “Obviously, I’ve been with the guys that are leaving for a couple years and with Bron for five years and I hate to see guys like that go. But the pieces that are coming in, I’m very excited about and I’m happy to get started today and see where it goes.”
Walker Kessler dunks during a game between the Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers on March 23.
(Rob Gray / Associated Press)
One of those new players is Walker Kessler, a 7-foot-2 center the Lakers felt fit best around Doncic and Reaves because he’s a lob threat, rim-protector and good defender and is developing his three-point shooting.
The Lakers got him from the Utah Jazz in a trade and then signed him to a four-year, $130-million contract. The Lakers sent out two unprotected first-round picks (2031, 2033) and two first-round pick swaps (2028, 2030).
Kessler, who played only five games last season after having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, is aware the Lakers paid a big price to get him.
“It definitely makes you feel a certain way when you know an organization believes in you,” Kessler said Monday in his introduction. “And I think what they’ve invested, they’re showing that belief in a monetary value, not just with money, but like you said, assets. And for me, I’m somebody that if I know that they have that belief in me, I’m gonna run through a brick wall for them. That’s just how I’ve been wired my whole life and it definitely makes it a lot easier to go out there and compete for a team.”
Power forward Sandro Mamukelashvili could become a fan favorite, in part because of the tattoo he has on his lower left leg — a No. 24 in honor of Kobe Bryant.
Mamukelashvili, who signed a four-year, $52-million deal, averaged 11.2 points last season with the Toronto Raptors and shot 52.3% from the field, including 38.9% from three-point range.
“I got a Mamba Mentality tattoo. I just love his mindset,” Mamukelashvili said. “Growing up, I used to always say, “Mah-moo Mentality!’ So, I know it’s a little far from each other. But we are getting closer.”
When guard Collin Sexton, another new Laker, was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018, James left and signed with the Lakers. When Sexton signed a two-year, $19-million deal with the Lakers this month, James left again.
Sexton could only laugh about missing out on playing with James.
“He’s just leaving every time I arrive,” Sexton said, laughing. “That’s what it is. No, but one of the other coaches made the same joke yesterday. It’s cool, I know. I’ve always wanted to team up with him for sure, but it’s definitely cool knowing him and just having normal conversations and stuff, so that’s cool.”
Sexton averaged 15.4 points and shot 48.5% last season with Chicago and Charlotte. He’s ready for whatever role coach JJ Redick and the Lakers want for him.
“They believe in me,” he said. “And I just feel like at the end of the day, whenever a coach believes in you and like he said, he’s going to be hard on me and yelling and screaming at me. So, I like that. I think that’s what gets the best from me.”
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WWE will swing for the fences for the second straight year when it hosts one of its major premium live events of the year at a Major League Baseball ballpark.
The company announced on Monday that Survivor Series: WarGames will take place at Daikin Park in Houston – the home of the Astros – on Saturday, Nov. 28. It follows up the success of last year’s Survivor Series: WarGames event, which took place at Petco Park in San Diego – the home of the Padres.
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Roman Reigns lands a Superman Punch on Brock Lesnar during Survivor Series at Petco Park in San Diego, Calif., on Nov. 29, 2025. (Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images)
“Houston is the perfect host city to celebrate this milestone chapter in Survivor Series’ storied history, and we look forward to partnering with Houston First and the Houston Astros to deliver an unforgettable event,” WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque said in a news release.
WarGames is a highly anticipated match, which has taken place yearly among wrestlers on the WWE roster since 2022. The premium live event has also seen some dramatic returns.
Stephanie Vaquer enters the ring during Survivor Series at Petco Park in San Diego, Calif. (Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images)
In 2023, CM Punk came back to WWE at the end of the show and shocked the entire sports world. Randy Orton also made his in-ring return during the match. Last year, a mystery attacker interrupted the WarGames match and gave the win to The Vision and company.
It’s unclear what is in the cards right now for the 40th edition of the event.
“We are proud to be able to help bring one of the world’s premier entertainment brands to Houston for what promises to be an unforgettable holiday weekend,” said Michael Heckman, President and CEO of Houston First, which partnered with WWE to bring the event back to Houston.
Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio celebrate their win during Survivor Series at Petco Park in San Diego, Calif. (Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images)
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“Hosting WWE Survivor Series will bring thousands of passionate fans to our city and generate a significant economic impact for community. Houston has earned a reputation for delivering world-class entertainment events, and we look forward to welcoming the WWE Universe to our destination.”
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