Lando Norris says F1 cars gone from best to 'probably the worst'

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) —Formula 1champion Lando Norris is struggling with his new era McLaren car and frustrated to line up only sixth in Sunday's season-openingAustralian Grand Prix.

Australia F1 GP Auto Racing

Norris' title defensecomes amidsweeping changesto the cars, and the 26-year-old British driver has endured a tough weekend at Albert Park so far.

F1's new cars are complex, with unprecedented changes across the chassis and power unit, which now feature an almost 50:50 output split between the turbo 1.6-liter V6 engine and electrical energy harvested from the brakes — one that requires a new, often counterintuitive driving style.

"We've come from the best cars ever made in Formula 1, and the nicest to drive, to probably the worst," he said after Saturday's qualifying.

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He's not just coming to grips with his car's complex energy management systems, but also in getting out on track — with the Briton losing significant time in Friday's two practice sessions.

"Just getting into the rhythm of lifting everywhere to go quicker and using gears you don't want to use and just understanding that when you lift more, you brake later but you have to brake less," Norris said.

"That's why laps are more valuable than ever. In the past, miss P1, not too bothered. Now, you miss five laps, not only do you as a driver have to figure things out quicker, the engine doesn't learn what it needs to learn and then you're just on the back foot."

AP auto racing:https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

byMichael Cox

in

March 07, 2026

Lando Norris says F1 cars gone from best to 'probably the worst'

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) —Formula 1champion Lando Norris is struggling with his new era McLaren car and frustrated to l...

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Alex Ovechkin calls Capitals' trade of John Carlson 'the toughest day in my career'

The Washington Capitals made one of the most surprising moves of the NHL trade deadline bydealing defenseman John Carlson, the second-longest tenured player on the team, to the Anaheim Ducks.

Their longest-tenured player has some thoughts on that.

Speaking with reporters the day after the Capitals announced the move,which will net them a conditional first-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick, all-time NHL leading goal-scorer Alex Ovechkin went beyond calling it a sad day:

"Obviously a sad day. Probably the toughest day in my career, talking personal-wise. It sucks. It's sad."

Ovechkin and Carlson had been teammates for 17 years, going back to the defenseman's NHL debut in 2010. Along with other franchise staples like Nicklas Backstrom, the pair presided over an era of Capitals history defined by regular playoff appearances and their Stanley Cup title in 2017-18.

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Carlson ranks behind only Ovechkin in games played for the Capitals and behind only Backstrom and Ovechkin on the franchise's all-time assists leaderboard. Ovechkin believes the franchise has never had a better blueliner:

"He's obviously the best defenseman in this franchise's whole history, leader. Obviously, an unbelievable man and a great friend for all of us. It's hard. It's a hard day."

The move answers one question for the franchise, making clear general manager Brian MacLellan is prioritizing the future over the 2025-26 season, but makes another question even more pressing.

Ovechkin is a free agent after this season, in which he holds an $8 million cap hit, andhe's been fairly mum on what he's planning to do.There are indications he'd like to return to his native Russia and play in the KHL before retirement,but he's going to have options regardless.

Asked about his future with the Capitals on Friday, he basically just shrugged:

"I don't know. I'm still here, so we'll see. We'll see what's going to happen, but yeah, it's a hard one."

The Capitals traded another of their most tenured players on Friday as well, sending longtime fourth-line center Nic Dowd to the Vegas Golden Knights. Ovechkin and Tom Wilson are now the only active Capitals players who made their debuts with the team before 2019.

byMichael Cox

in

March 07, 2026

Alex Ovechkin calls Capitals' trade of John Carlson 'the toughest day in my career'

The Washington Capitals made one of the most surprising moves of the NHL trade deadline bydealing defenseman John Carlso...

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Bears trade for Patriots C Garrett Bradbury. Here's why they did it now.

TheChicago Bearsdid not waste any time in finding a new anchor for their offensive line.

On the same day theBearstransferred center Drew Dalman to thereserve/retired list, they agreed to terms with theNew England Patriotson a trade to acquire centerGarrett Bradbury. In return, thePatriotswill receive a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

The trade cannot be officially processed until the new league year begins on March 11.

NFL Media'sIan Rapoportwas the first to report news of the trade. ESPN'sAdam Schefterwas first with the report of compensation.

Bradbury will reunite with North Carolina State teammate Joe Thuney on the Bears' offensive line.

NFL NEWS, TAKES, FANTASY ADVICE:USA TODAY Sports has you covered with our NFL vodcast

2. New York Jets – OLB/DE David Bailey, Texas Tech

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 3. Arizona Cardinals – OLB/DE Arvell Reese, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 4. Tennessee Titans – RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 5. New York Giants – LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 6. Cleveland Browns – OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 7. Washington Commanders – S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 8. New Orleans Saints – WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 9. Kansas City Chiefs – CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 10. Cincinnati Bengals – DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 11. Miami Dolphins – OT Spencer Fano, Utah

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 12. Dallas Cowboys – CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – WR Denzel Boston, Washington

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 14. Baltimore Ravens – DL Caleb Banks, Florida

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – WR Makai Lemon, USC

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 17. Detroit Lions – OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 18. Minnesota Vikings – S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 19. Carolina Panthers – DT Peter Woods, Clemson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – OLB/DE T.J. Parker, Clemson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 21. Pittsburgh Steelers – WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 22. Los Angeles Chargers – G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 23. Philadelphia Eagles – DE/OLB Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 25. Chicago Bears – S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 30. Denver Broncos – WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 31. New England Patriots – DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

Dalman informed the Bears on March 3 that he intended to retire at 27 years old. In his one year with Chicago, Dalman started all 17 games and earned his first career Pro Bowl nod.

Bradbury, 30, lands with his third team in three years – as well as the third of his career. The former first-round pick with theMinnesota Vikingsin the 2019 NFL Draft signed a two-year deal with the Patriots last year in free agency, following a six-year stint in Minnesota. After starting all 17 games for New England in 2025 – plus all four postseason games, including Super Bowl 60 – Bradbury will play out the second and final year of his deal in the Windy City.

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New England will head into free agency next week with second-year offensive lineman Jared Wilson as its presumptive starter at center. Wilson exclusively played left guard in all 13 starts he made as a rookie in 2025, but he was the starting center at Georgia in 2024.

Garrett Bradbury trade details

Full trade compensation has been determined, according to ESPN. Here's what each team receives in the trade:

Bears receive:

• C Garrett Bradbury

Patriots receive:

• 2027 fifth-round pick

BEARS NEWS:Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman retiring at age 27, per reports

Garrett Bradbury contract

• Length: Two years

• Value: $9.5 million

• AAV: $4.75 million

According to Spotrac, Bradbury's two-year deal, which he signed with the Patriots last offseason, is worth $9.5 million total. Of that money, $3.8 million was guaranteed in the form of a signing bonus and Bradbury's 2025 salary.

New England will save $5.7 million against the cap by trading Bradbury while eating $1.2 million in dead cap, according to OverTheCap. Chicago will take on the $5.7 million cap hit from Bradbury's contract in 2026.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Garrett Bradbury trade lands Bears new center, Patriots get draft pick

byMichael Cox

in

March 07, 2026

Bears trade for Patriots C Garrett Bradbury. Here's why they did it now.

TheChicago Bearsdid not waste any time in finding a new anchor for their offensive line. On the same day the...

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Geno Smith skewers Wendy's after fast-food chain offers him job on social media

Geno Smith may have made his most accurate throw of the year after reports circulated on Friday that the Las Vegas Raiders are expected torelease the quarterbackwhen the new NFL year begins next week.

The social media account of fast-food chain Wendy's responded to the news by tagging Smith on X and offering him future employment.

"In case things don't work out in free agency we're looking for a Chief Tasting Officer,"the post said.

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Smith responded with a rather sharp quip, perhaps implying that he didn't think Wendy's teasing was very funny. Or maybe he appreciated the dig and just came back stronger than anyone might have anticipated.

"Get ya cheese up 1st," Smith replied, telling Wendy's to make more money. But the post was accompanied by a screenshot of a February Restaurant Business article with the headline "Wendy's sales plunged last quarter."

The fast-food chain's sales dropped 11% last year,according to Restaurant Business. As a result, Wendy's will likely close approximately 300 to 350 of its locations (5-6% of its total restaurants) across the United States. The company is also looking for a new CEO.

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If Smith wasn't a professional football player, he might not scoff at the Wendy's offer, which comes with a $100,000 salary,according to USA Today. But the 12-year NFL veteran stands to make much, much more on the free-agent market. (The Raiders are reportedly exploring possible trades, but other teams likely won't want to pay Smiththe $26.5 million salaryon his current contract.)

Among the teams reported to be interested are the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets. Even if he signs a minimum contract, he'll likely make at least $1.3 million.

Smith didn't leave it at that reply, either. He followed up with two more posts taking shots at Wendy's.

"Out here selling poison trying to get jokes off on twitter," he said inthe first one. "Society in shambles."

Responding to a fan saying there was "beef" between Smith and Wendy's,the QB responded, "This beef is about as real as the beef in those patties they're selling."

Is it safe to say that Wendy's missed while Smith hit his target several times? He's a career 65.2% percent passer, after all, and is two seasons removed from completing 70.4% of his throws for the Seattle Seahawks.

So Wendy's will probably have to look elsewhere for its Chief Tasting Officer. Although if he was willing to sample products on camera, Smith surely couldn't do worse than McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski, whowent viral this weekfor appearing less than enthused while tasting the chain's new "Big Arch" burger.

That prompted CEOs from competing fast-food chains,including Wendy's, to respond. Perhaps that had the Wendy's social media account feeling emboldened enough to tag Smith and get smacked online in return.

byMichael Cox

in

March 06, 2026

Geno Smith skewers Wendy's after fast-food chain offers him job on social media

Geno Smith may have made his most accurate throw of the year after reports circulated on Friday that the Las Vegas Raide...

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Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs rally from 25 points down to beat the Clippers 117-112

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks as the San Antonio Spurs rallied from a 25-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 117-112 on Friday night.

Clippers Spurs Basketball

Kawhi Leonard had 30 points and nine rebounds for Los Angeles, which had a three-game winning streak snapped.

San Antonio (46-17) has won 14 of 15 and is second in the Western Conference.

After defending a missed 3-pointer by Leonard, Wembanyamabroke free for an uncontested dunkthat gave the Spurs a 113-112 lead with 16 seconds left. Clippers forward Nicolas Batum turned the ball over on the ensuing possession when his foot crossed the boundary while inbounding the ball. Stephon Castle closed out the win by rebounding his own missed free throw and converting a layup with 1 second remaining.

After trailing 75-50 in the third quarter, the Spurs opened the fourth with an 18-5 run to take their first lead since the opening minutes.

Wembanyama blocked Kris Dunn's reverse layup, creating a fast break that ended with an alley-oop dunk by Carter Bryant. Devin Vassell followed with a 3-pointer for a 99-97 lead.

Julian Champagnie finished with 20 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs, and De'Aaron Fox had 19 points and nine rebounds.

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Brook Lopez had 26 points for the Clippers.

Lopez had nine points in the first quarter on a series of floaters, fadeaways and step-back jumpers.

The Clippers took a 56-39 lead with 4 1/2 minutes left in the first half. The lead stretched to 22 points over the next four minutes.

San Antonio shot 38% from the field and 30% on 3-pointers in the first half to trail 66-46 at the break, its biggest halftime deficit of the season. The Spurs have led at the half in 42 of their 63 games.

Up next

Clippers: At Memphis on Saturday.

Spurs: Host Houston on Sunday.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

byMichael Cox

in

March 06, 2026

Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs rally from 25 points down to beat the Clippers 117-112

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks as the San Antonio Spurs rallied from a ...

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