Lance Stroll: F1 still "miles off" from proper cars

2026 Premier League Darts Night 13 Aberdeen live results, scores and schedule originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Premier League Darts heads to Aberdeen on Night 12.

To open the night, Josh Rock will attempt to dethrone Luke Littler for the first time in his career. grenadier.co.za

The second quarterfinal is between fan favorite Stephen Bunting and Gerwyn Price.

Next, Jonny Clayton will look to maintain his league position on the PL table as he takes on Gian van Veen.

The final match of the quarterfinals could be the most important one of the night, as Luke Humphries will look to end his dry spell against Michael van Gerwen.

2026 Premier League Darts Night 13 Aberdeen results, scores and schedule

Here is the schedule and the results from Night 13 of the 2026 PL.

MORE: 2026 Premier League Darts Night 13 draw, match predictions and 3 storylines to watch in Aberdeen

Quarterfinals

MORE: Beau Greaves makes history by becoming first woman to win PDC ranking title

Semifinals

MORE: 2026 Premier League Darts play-off race scenarios: Humphries, van Veen and van Gerwen in danger

Final

Alexis Mac Allister Future in Doubt as Liverpool Delay Contract Talks

Alexis Mac Allister’s position at Liverpool has come under fresh scrutiny, with uncertainty surrounding both his performances and contractual situation. Reporting from Lewis Steele of the Daily Mail highlights a key development, “no talks have started over a new contract for Mac Allister.”

That detail is significant. While his current deal runs until 2028, Liverpool’s reluctance to open negotiations has sparked discussion about his long term future. Steele notes that “by the time his current deal expires, in the summer of 2028, Mac Allister will be 29,” a factor that aligns with Fenway Sports Group’s cautious approach to contract renewals.

Sellable Asset Narrative Emerges

“There is a lot of chat about another of Liverpool’s South Americans,” Steele writes, with Mac Allister now viewed by some as “Liverpool’s most sellable asset this summer.” That framing reflects both his market value and the club’s broader strategy.

Liverpool’s ownership model has precedent. “They do not like to give big deals to players on the wrong side of 30,” a stance previously seen with Georginio Wijnaldum. In that context, the lack of urgency over Mac Allister’s contract becomes easier to understand, even if it raises concerns externally.

Interest from elite clubs is also part of the conversation. “Would Real Madrid step up their reported interest,” Steele asks, though he acknowledges such links are often speculative.

Photo: IMAGO

Performance Levels Under Scrutiny

Statistically, Mac Allister’s season shows only minor regression. “He has fewer assists, his pass accuracy has gone down and he is creating fewer chances per 90 minutes. However, all of these statistical changes are only very marginal.”

There are positives too. “He is running more this year and being dribbled past less,” suggesting his defensive contribution has improved. Yet, numbers alone do not tell the full story.

“But you don’t need the numbers to tell you Mac Allister is struggling. The eye test will tell you that.” That assessment is perhaps the most telling, pointing to a player whose influence has dipped despite relatively stable underlying metrics.

Key Decision Looms for Liverpool

Liverpool now face a crucial call. Mac Allister arrived for around £35 million, but Steele raises an important question, “What would the £35m signing be worth now?”

With no contract talks underway and performance levels under debate, the club must decide whether to back him or capitalise on his value. The situation is not urgent, but it is evolving.

For Mac Allister, the coming months could define whether he remains a core part of Liverpool’s midfield or becomes a high profile departure.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

From a Liverpool fan perspective, the lack of contract talks is the biggest concern here. Alexis Mac Allister is not a fringe player, he is someone who has been central to how Liverpool function in midfield, even if his performances have dipped.

The idea that he could be the club’s most sellable asset feels slightly uncomfortable. It suggests Liverpool may already be thinking about value rather than role, and that often signals a shift in long term planning.

There is no doubt his level has dropped. The eye test supports that. He looks less influential, less decisive, and at times caught between roles. However, the marginal statistical decline suggests this is not a player in steep regression, but one struggling within the current system.

Selling him now would feel premature. Liverpool still lack midfielders who can control games consistently, and Mac Allister remains one of the few who can do that.

If anything, this situation points to a need for tactical clarity rather than transfer action. Define his role properly, build around his strengths, and the value conversation may quickly disappear.

Victor Wembanyama won't apologize for crying on court after first playoff series win: 'Refuse to carry the burden' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Victor Wembanyama suffered a concussion in Game 2 of the Spurs' opening round series against the Trail Blazers. After a one-game absence, Wembanyama was back on the court for Games 4 and 5. When the 22-year-old sensation helped to clinch his first playoff series win, he was brought to tears.

But just as quickly as fans remarked about his eye-popping skills, they also criticized his outward show of emotion. Wembanyama has shown similar emotion in other games this season, including against the Clippers on March 6.

That being said, Wembanyama will not be apologizing for this or acting in a certain manner for particular viewers. Here's what to know about Wembanyama's reaction to the criticism.

NBA PLAYOFFS HQ:Live NBA scores | NBA playoff schedule | NBA playoff bracket

Why Victor Wembanyama won't apologize for crying on court

The day after the Spurs' Game 5 victory, Wembanyama was asked about his reaction to fans' criticism of his tears.

“That’s a tough question. I think it’s first and foremost a fear of judgment,” he told L’Équipe reporter Maxime Aubin. “Like this feeling that you have to act a certain way, social codes, I guess. Personally, I refuse to carry the burden of having to hide my emotions.”

Wemby on receiving backlash for crying on the court:

“Personally, I refuse to carry the burden of hiding my emotions.”

(via @MaximeAubin1) pic.twitter.com/ZGx0nFIAl1

BlogAmad Diallo Sport Journey Talent, Growth, and ImpactEarly Career and Rise to Prominence Amad Diallo was born on July 13 2002 in the bustling city of Abidjan, the economic heart of the Ivory Coast. From the momentOpen →

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 29, 2026

San Antonio's 4-1 series win over Portland marks the first playoff experience for Wembanyama at the NBA level in his three seasons with the Spurs.

During his Rookie of the Year campaign, Wembanyama struggled to lift the team to greater heights, with the Spurs finishing 22-60, just one game above last place in the Western Conference.

The next year, Wembanyama struggled with blood clots, causing him to only play 46 games during the season. This injury put into question Wembanyama's durability, but the 2025-26 season put those questions to rest, with the French center winning Defensive Player of the Year after his third consecutive season leading the league in blocks.

It's undeniable that Wembanyama has lifted San Antonio to this sort of playoff success. The team had not reached the Conference Semi-Finals since 2017. After a dismal season that saw the Spurs pick up the No. 1 pick, Wembanyama has turned them into a championship contender in just three seasons.

The next matchup for Wembanyama and the Spurs will be with the winner of the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves.

SN NBA AWARDS:POY (Victor Wembanyama)| ROY (Kon Knueppel) | COY (Joe Mazzulla)

Valtteri Bottas on Wednesday revealed he deliberately endured a dangerous near-starvation diet to control his weight during his second season as a Formula One driver with Williams 12 years ago.

The 36-year-old Finn, who has returned to F1 with the new American Cadillac team after a season on the sidelines, admitted he was "delusional" and felt "like a drug addict" as he aimed to lose 10 kilos.

In a letter published by The Players’ Tribune, he said he began the diet after his Williams team forecast they would have an overweight car in 2014 and suggested he should lose five kilos.

"This was back when there was no seat-plus-driver weight minimum," explained Bottas, who will line up on the grid for Cadillac for the fourth race of the 2026 season, his 13th in Formula One, in Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix.

"If you put a clear goal like that in front of me, I am going to obsess over it ... When you tell me five kilos in two months, my brain thinks, 'five? Why not 10? We can make the car even quicker.'

"So, I started eating steamed broccoli and a bit of steamed cauliflower for almost every meal. I can still smell the broccoli. Wet. Green. Plain. My god. It was like a game to me.

"I would wake up and weigh myself every morning, and when I'd see the number go down, I'd feel a deep satisfaction. I would come back from a 90-minute run and eat my little bowl of steamed broccoli, just to have enough energy so I could go for another 90-minute run.

"I had this GPS watch and my coach could track my training, my heart rate, everything. I knew he would think I was burning myself out, so I started taking the watch off and leaving it at home before my second session. The game became completely consuming."

Bottas said he continued the most extreme diet for two months, admitting "my nerves were shot – I would wake up at 4am on my own, no alarm, my heart beating out of my chest."

- Intense foggy spells -

When pre-season testing began, he said, the Williams car was "actually underweight ... Welcome to F1."

He then began to "feel weird" and suffer "intense foggy spells -- not full-blown panic attacks exactly, but when I was in a crowd, I would start to feel dizzy and had to get out. I wanted to be alone or in the car."

Finally, he said, he went to see a psychologist after the tragic rain-hit 2014 Japanese Grand Prix and Jules Bianchi’s ultimately fatal accident.

The psychologist told him: "You know Valtteri, you don't seem to have any interests outside of racing. Nothing else that brings you joy. You're almost like a machine.

"He was right,” admitted Bottas, winner of 10 Grands Prix. "My whole identity was the car."

He ended the diet and recovered form and health to enjoy a career that took him from Williams to Mercedes in 2017 as number two to seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and then three years with Sauber to 2024.

His revelation may shock many, but weight control was a critical factor for drivers for many years before regulations were eased.

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