On Monday, Mumbai Indians' medium-pacer Ashwani Kumar, a 23-year-old from Punjab's Jhanjeri, became the first Indian ever to take four wickets on his Indian Premier League debut, helping his team to an easy win against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium. Despite appearing at trials for multiple IPL franchises, Ashwani's humble village background and love for classic Punjabi food kept him grounded and motivated for his record-breaking performance. Coach Varinder Singh worked with Ashwani to develop his skills, and his proud mother, Meena Kumari, shared his love for besan ka chilla and aloo parathas with the media after the match.
Lando Norris faced unexpected boos from the crowd after winning the Mexico City Grand Prix with a comfortable lead. Despite the unpleasant reaction, Norris maintained his composure and highlighted his strategy of focusing on his own performance. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen showed sportsmanship and expressed their satisfaction with podium finishes, with Leclerc especially grateful for the late safety car that saved his race. Ferrari's strong showing in qualifying also surprised Leclerc, who now has two consecutive podiums under his belt.
An unexpected spin from Carlos Sainz in the last stages of the Mexico City Grand Prix caused race control to implement a Virtual Safety Car, effectively ending the hopes of title contenders Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. The incident occurred in the slowest part of the circuit, with Sainz's Williams hitting the barrier and prompting the use of yellow flags before escalating to a Virtual Safety Car. This decision was met with backlash as it affected not only the on-track battle for position, but also the overall championship standings.
Despite a difficult Saturday, Verstappen fought back during the race and managed to finish on the podium, reducing the championship gap to just 36 points with five races to go. However, his start was not without controversy as he was criticized by F1 fans for not being penalized for going off-track at turn one and pushing Lewis Hamilton wide. Verstappen knows that he will need to have a flawless end to the season in order to have a chance at winning the title.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen engaged in a tense battle for third place at the Mexico Grand Prix, resulting in a controversial incident on the first lap. Verstappen, starting in fifth, charged down the outside of Hamilton at the first corner and narrowly avoided crashing into the barriers. After the order settled, the two were neck and neck, with Verstappen eventually trying to pass Hamilton with the help of DRS. However, Hamilton locked up and the two made minor contact, with Hamilton receiving a 10-second penalty. Despite Hamilton's criticism of Verstappen's move, the stewards ultimately decided not to take any further action.
The fourth week of the NFL season saw impressive performances from key players on the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, and Dallas Cowboys. Miami running back Ollie Gordon II caught a 20-yard touchdown from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, while Indianapolis defender Adetomiwa Adebawore sacked Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward. In another game, Denver Broncos' Dondrea Tillman intercepted Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott and made a big return. And in an intense matchup, Dallas Cowboys' George Pickens made a leaping catch across the middle of the field.
As the Formula 1 season nears its end, Ferrari has yet to secure a single victory, causing speculation about the future of team principal Fred Vasseur. Despite rumours swirling about a potential move for another boss, the pair of star drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have expressed their full support for Vasseur. They share a strong bond with the 57-year-old and believe in his ability to bring the Italian constructor back to the top. Along with backing from Ferrari chairman John Elkann, this vote of confidence should ease any doubts about Vasseur's future. Fanatics is even offering discounts on Ferrari merch, highlighting the continued popularity and loyalty towards the team.
Real Madrid claimed victory over Barcelona at their home stadium, the Bernabéu, in a match that saw captain Carvajal reach his 200th LaLiga victory. After the win, Carvajal expressed his gratitude towards the fans for their unwavering support throughout the game. Real Madrid dominated the match, only conceding minimal chances to their rivals. This victory puts them in a strong position in the LaLiga table for the rest of the season.
During the Mexican Grand Prix, Max Verstappen faced a rare error from his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase. The Red Bull driver had a thrilling start but had to take avoiding action by leaving the track. Despite a short battle with Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen ultimately dropped behind Oliver Bearman due to Red Bull's tire decision on medium tires.
Despite a successful start to his NFL career, Russell Wilson's time in the league began to turn for the worse. After a disastrous two-season stint with Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos, Wilson was ultimately released by the franchise for a hefty price. The tension between the former HC-QB duo only intensified after their recent match-up, with Payton's post-game celebrations drawing backlash from Wilson on social media. However, Payton has since clarified that his actions were not aimed at Wilson, but rather a show of excitement for his team's win.
In a memorable race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Lando Norris of McLaren reclaimed the top spot in the Formula One world championship from his teammate Oscar Piastri. Norris' dominant win, his first since July, puts him just one point above Piastri with four races left in the season. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished second, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen closed in on the championship lead with a third-place finish. Meanwhile, rookie Oliver Bearman impressed for Haas with a fifth-place finish, matching the team's best ever result.