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At this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix held at the Red Bull Ring, an array of missteps by Red Bull Racing severely hampered three-time world champion Max Verstappen’s run, resulting in a disappointing fifth-place finish. Only adding to the woes, Verstappen described his RB20 as "just undriveable."
Verstappen, initially set for a likely victory, his a metaphorical roadblock as a crucially slow second pit stop hampered his efforts at the front of the pack. This error threw him into direct competition with McLaren's Lando Norris. The tense on-track battle culminated in a collision on lap 64 at Turn 3, causing both drivers to suffer punctures. Norris ultimately retired from the race and Verstappen was lost his strong lead, and this saw George Russell of Mercedes seizing the opportunity, clinching an unexpected win.
Expressing his dissatisfaction with his team's performance this Sunday, Verstappen voiced multiple annoyances with the team’s strategy and execution.
“The first stint was quite good, then at the end of that I caught quite a bit of traffic - which we should have just boxed [to avoid] because I gave up free lap time. We basically did a lot of things wrong today. Firstly, it started with the strategy, then the pitstops were a disaster.
"Firstly, it started with the strategy, then the pitstops were a disaster,” he lamented. The racer criticized the team's timing of his pit stop, which led to him navigating through traffic and unnecessarily losing precious time. "The first one was already bad, the second was even more of a disaster. And then of course you give free lap time. There’s seconds you give away, six seconds over those two pitstops," Verstappen added.
The frustration didn't end at the pit stops. Verstappen narrated the shift in his car's behavior from "an OK balance in the first stint" to an "undriveable behavior" thereafter, which he found baffling and indicative of underlying issues.
"Suddenly the car just transformed from an OK balance in the first stint to just undriveable behavior afterwards, which normally indicates that something was also wrong," he explained.
Despite the challenges, Verstappen maintained that victory was within grasp had it not been for the compounded errors. "But even with that, we should have won today if we didn’t make so many errors as well with the pitstops."
Reflecting on the day's overall performance, he was unequivocally critical:
“We did everything wrong that we could have done wrong. Yes, because today’s just been awful. Everything has been wrong. I’m complaining about the tires, we didn't pit. I was stuck in traffic, bad execution with the pitstops. So everything just went wrong,” Verstappen concluded.
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Packers starter hits back at Matt LaFleur, calls for 'bus fine'
Matt LaFleur is earning the ire of several of his Green Bay Packers players early in training camp. On Tuesday, LaFleur punished offensive tackle Rasheed Walker for his altercation with defensive end Kingsley Enagbare. However, the most interesting interaction of the day came between LaFleur and tight end Tucker Kraft. Per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, LaFleur called out Kraft for two questionable fumbles during the first week of practice. Both "fumbles" came after the play was over or when the ball fell out of bounds. "Certainly, we all know what kind of player Tucker Kraft is and can be," LaFleur said. "He can’t allow Evan Williams to reach around and punch a ball out, so it is challenging everybody and hopefully that makes us that much better.” The third-year tight end took issue with LaFleur calling him out in front of the media and blamed the coaching staff for implementing practice rules that made it easy for offensive players to fumble. "I’d say a lot of the times — there’s certain rules you play with in practice, like just letting the defense punch repeatedly," Kraft said. "You’re not allowed to stiff-arm. I guess all I have are excuses. Yes, I am working on not fumbling the ball in practice." Schneidman said Kraft answered the question with a tone of sarcasm. Kraft was frustrated that he couldn't defend the ball by stiff-arming a defender trying to poke the ball from his undefended arm. Kraft acknowledged that during practice, he has to "play by the rules" LaFleur makes and is trying to work on having a "yes sir, no sir" attitude with his head coach. He then made a vague reference about a "bus fine" and accused LaFleur of throwing him under the bus in front of the media. Schneidman believes the tight end might actually be calling for Green Bay to fine LaFleur after his discouraging quote Tuesday morning. "So yes, the Packers’ third-year tight end might be calling for his head coach to be fined — not by the league, of course, but by the team — for what he perceived as throwing him under the bus," Schneidman wrote. "Is Kraft being serious about fining LaFleur? "Probably not. Is he peeved LaFleur called him out? It sure seems like it." LaFleur might do better to have a conversation with Kraft before dragging his name into news conferences with reporters. It's clear Tucker doesn't see eye-to-eye with LaFleur about fumbles. This is a good reminder to those getting overly excited or nervous reading practice reports that what happens at practice should be taken with a grain of salt. Most likely, Tucker is going to be fine.
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Green Bay Packers: Tucker Kraft Claps Back at Matt LaFleur After Getting Called Out to the Media
The Green Bay Packers, like all other NFL teams, are in the midst of their training camp in preparation for the 2025 season. Despite the fact that these practices are in their early stages, there have been plenty of headlines coming out of Packers training camp that have fans very intrigued to see the 2025 team. Of course, the battle for a job at wide receiver is one that many fans are keeping an eye on. Rookie pass catcher Matthew Golden has been turning heads ever since camp began, and his chemistry with Jordan Love is quickly developing. Just today (Tuesday), the pair connected for a 60-yard touchdown pass and catch during practice. Aside from the exciting playmaking from several members of the team, the physicality with which the Packers are practicing has also drawn some attention. Nate Hobbs, for example, was benched following a hard hit on running back Marshawn Lloyd. Additionally, several players found themselves called out publicly by head coach Matt LaFleur. Green Bay Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur Called Out Tight End Tucker Kraft On Monday, one of the plays that was mentioned by multiple beat reporters was how second-year safety Evan Williams punched the ball out of tight end Tucker Kraft‘s hands on a pass and catch play. Apparently, it is not the first time Kraft, who has just one fumble in two seasons, dropped the ball during camp. While speaking with reporters on Tuesday morning, LaFleur said, “I got on the guys this morning about exposing the football. Certainly, we all know what kind of player Tucker Kraft is and can be. He can’t allow Evan Williams to reach around and punch a ball out, so it is challenging everybody and hopefully that makes us that much better.” Kraft, of course, is a fan-favorite whom many believe will be one of the NFL’s best tight ends this season. Williams, for his part, emerged as the Packers’ other starting safety as a rookie last year alongside All-Pro Xavier McKinney. And as far as the criticism from LaFleur goes, well, Kraft was not really having any of it. Green Bay Packers Tight End Tucker Kraft Claps Back at Matt LaFleur When Kraft was asked about LaFleur’s comments, he seemed to brush them off in as respectful a manner possible. Listening to him, it would appear that the rules of practice slightly favor the defense right now. “Um, yeah, sure,” Kraft said per Matt Schneidman. “It’s something we’re always working on. I’d say a lot of the times — there’s certain rules you play with in practice, like just letting the defense punch repeatedly. You’re not allowed to stiff-arm. I guess all I have are excuses. Yes, I am working on not fumbling the ball in practice. “It’s a large part of my game. I use my off hand as a weapon, repeatedly, all the time. I’ve shown that, so I get my reps in that when we play games, I guess. … I just play by the rules. I don’t make ’em. “That’s just a ‘yes sir, no sir’ mentality with coach at this point. You want to obviously keep the ball in the offense’s possession as long as possible. Bus fine, in my opinion. Whatever.” When asked to clarify what he meant by “bus,” Kraft explained that he felt his head coach threw him under the bus. Schneidman also clarified that Kraft was being light-hearted, but was noticeably “peeved” that LaFleur said what he did. That being said, it is not expected to be an issue that lingers very long.
Orioles, Blue Jays pull off unique trade midway through doubleheader
The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired one of baseball's premier relievers to bolster their bullpen. In a trade with the Baltimore Orioles, Toronto is adding Seranthony Dominguez to its pitching staff, according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. While the move solidifies the Blue Jays' status as buyers, it's the timing of the transaction that stands out. The Orioles finished a 16-4 walloping of the Blue Jays just hours before the deal went down, and while it's not unheard of to see a player traded to a franchise his former team is visiting, the fact that the two teams will face off again Tuesday night at 6:35 PM EST makes this a truly unique swap. Dominguez may not suit up in his first official contest as a Blue Jay, but he will be switching clubhouses before the second half of the team's doubleheader. It won't take long for the veteran reliever to make an impact, either, as bullpen production has stood out for a Toronto team that has been dominating in most aspects of the game. In 43 appearances with the Orioles this season, Dominguez has posted a respectable 3.24 ERA over 41.2 innings. He hasn't quite returned to the impressive form he was in with the Phillies from 2018 to 2022, but the value is obvious for a team hoping to capture its third World Series in franchise history. The rebuilding Orioles acquired right-handed pitching prospect Juaron Watts-Brown, who was ranked as Toronto's 10th-best prospect in the latest MLB Pipeline team Top 30 Prospects list. The 23-year-old has gone 2-5 over 19 starts across High-A and Double-A this year, posting a combined 3.54 ERA while striking out 115 over 89 innings. As two teams heading in vastly different directions this season, it's a sensible move for both sides. Dominguez is an unrestricted free agent after this season, making him a rental for Toronto down the stretch. If Watts-Brown continues to show promise, though, the trade could ultimately be deemed a win for Baltimore.
Ex-Packers Star May be About to Lose his Starting Job
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones was a virtual nonfactor against the Packers last season, but Green Bay may be seeing a little less of the veteran back in the pair of meetings against their NFC North rivals this season. In two games against the Packers, Jones rushed for 140 yards but failed to reach the end zone in either game, as the Vikings swept the season series against Green Bay. However, there’s a chance Jones may already have been supplanted in Minnesota’s backfield. Ex-Packers RB Aaron Jones Splitting Reps with Jordan Mason Early in Vikings training camp, Jones might be losing his grip on Minnesota’s No. 1 running back role. Multiple reports say Jones is splitting carries with Vikings newcomer Jordan Mason, who Minnesota acquired in an offseason trade with the San Francisco 49ers. “The news is noteworthy but not particularly surprising,” Ryan Smith points out for Pro Football Focus. “Given that the team traded for Mason in March and then signed him to a two-year, $7 million fully guaranteed deal that could reach up to $12 million. Seifert believes that Mason and former Pro Bowler Aaron Jones will have a near 50-50 split in terms of playing time this season. “Last year, both Jones (76.5 PFF rushing grade) and Mason (76.1) ranked among the top 20 running backs in the league in PFF rushing grade. Jones has shown the ability to be a more dangerous threat through the air, as evidenced by his 70.6 PFF receiving grade last year and nearly 2,500 career receiving yards and 20 touchdowns.” Jones, in his first season with the Vikings, rushed for a career-high 1,138 yards and five touchdowns. If Minnesota takes a backfield by committee approach, it could bring out the best in both backs, after Jones was the Vikings’ lead-dog in 2024 and Mason wound up emerging as an explosive option in San Francisco after Christian McCaffrey’s season-ending injuries.
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