FAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA

Qatar’s head coach Felix Sanchez has expressed confi-dence on his team’s prepara-tions ahead of the Group E match against India at the Joint Asian Qualifiers for 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

The match will be played today at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium with the kick off set for 8:00pm. Reigning Asian cham-pions Qatar are eyeing to retain their top spot in the group in the remaining matches.

Al Annabi are on top in the group with 16 points after almost a perfect show in the event as they only dropped points against India after a goalless draw in September 2019. Oman are second in the group with 12 points.

Qatar are returning to action after an impressive per-formance in the ‘friendly’ European Qualifiers in which they appeared as a guest side. They defeated Luxembourg (1-0) and Azerbaijan (2-1) before holding Republic of Ireland to a 1-1 draw in March.

The home side will be boosted by the return of star Akram Afif – who missed weeks of action due to injury - as Sanchez named 27-player squad for the Asian Qualifiers.

The squad also includes striker Almoez Ali, Akram Afif, Hasan Alhaydos and Abdelkarim Hassan.

Coach Sanchez said the team is focused to win the group after working hard in the training camp.

“We are ready for the match against India,” he told a

pre-match press conference yesterday.

“The players have put a lot of efforts in training. Our prep-aration for the match is good. The target is to put a strong per-formance and achieve good result,” said Sanchez.

The head coach expected a tough match against Indian against whom his side played a draw.

“That match against India was tough. There are no easy

games and you have to play well to win. It is going to be a competitive match,” Sanchez said before expressing his content over Afif’s recovery.

Coached by Igor Stimac, India are fourth in the standings with three points and they aim to secure an automatic place in the third round of the Qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup China 2023.

Star Sunil Chhetri will make a return for the ‘Blues’ after

missing March friendlies against Oman and the UAE.

Stimac hoped his team will repeat a good show against the Asian champions but cautioned his players about the difficult challenge ahead.

“We are very proud of what we achieved in the last game. That was a big surprise to eve-ryone all over the world – India holding Asian champions Qatar in Doha,” India coach said yesterday.

“But I reiterate that such a result can happen in one out of 10 games – to get a point against Qatar. They are such a quality team and the best team in Asia. We need to work a lot harder to get continuous success against better sides. It will be an extremely difficult game,” said Stimac.

In today’s first Group E match, Bangladesh and Afghan-istan will square off at the same venue at 5pm.

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES: Bosnia and Herzegovina 0-0 Montenegro, Belarus 1-2 Azerbaijan, North Macedonia 1-1 Slovenia

THURSDAY 3 JUNE 2021

India, NZ on equal terms for final: KohliWe are on equal terms. The conditions are as potent for New Zealand as they are for us. Whichever team performs well session by session, hour by hour, is going to win that championship. In the past, we’ve landed three days prior to the schedule and had a great tour.

Sport | 18

I

Nwct

India captain Virat Kohli

Sport

Joint Asian Qualifiers: Hosts Qatar ready to take on India The players have put a lot

of efforts in training. Our preparation for the match is good. The target is to put a strong performance and achieve good result: Qatar coach Felix Sanchez

They (Qatar) are such a quality team and the best team in Asia. We need to work a lot harder to get continuous success against better sides. It will be an extremely difficult game: India coach Igor Stimac

TODAY'S FIXTURESPRELIMINARY ROUND 2: GROUP E

BANGLADESH VS AFGHANISTAN5:00pm at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium

QATAR VS INDIA 8:00pm at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium

Qatari players take part in a training session, watched by coach Felix Sanchez, yesterday ahead of their Group E match against India at the Joint Asian Qualifiers for 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup. PIC: HUSSEIN SAYED

Sonaiyla lands Gr3 Qatar Racing And Equestrian Club Ballyogan StakesTHE PENINSULA – CURRAGH, IRELAND

The Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) sponsored the Group 3 Qatar Racing And Equestrian Club Ballyogan Stakes at the Curragh racetrack in Ireland yesterday. The black-type event over six furlongs for three-year-old and older fillies and mares was won by the five-year-old mare Sonaiyla, who carries the colours of Moyglare Stud Farm.

Trained by Paddy Twomey and ridden by Ronan Whelan, the mare started favourite in the 13-runner race. Leaving the gates, she dived sharply to the left before her jockey managed to bring her back into the race. The field came over to the stand’s side rail, with Sonaiyla in mid-division.

There was not much pace in the early stages, but the rhythm began to pick up at the half-way stage. Racing inside the final 400 metres, Sonaiyla came to join More Beautiful on the lead. Teresa Mendoza came to challenge, but Sonaiyla pulled clear, only to have Romantic Proposal fly up on her outside.

The two ran neck and neck for several strides before Sonaiyla found an extra burst to hit the line half a length in front of her challenger, who is trained by Edward Lynam and was ridden by Shane Crosse. Teresa Mendoza held on well for third, one and a half lengths further behind, for trainer Jessica Harrington and jockey Ben Coen.

Clearly estimated by her connections, Sonaiyla is entered in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and King’s Stand Stakes, both Group 1 races over five furlongs, at Royal Ascot.

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS: (SELECTED)MEN'S SINGLES: SECOND ROUNDAlexander Zverev (6), Germany, def. Roman Safiullin, Russia, 7-6 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (1).Henri Laaksonen, Switzerland, def. Roberto Bautista Agut (11), Spain, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.Fabio Fognini (27), Italy, def. Marton Fucsovics, Hungary, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 6-2.John Isner (31), United States, def. Filip Krajinovic, Serbia, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 7-6 (5).Kei Nishikori, Japan, def. Karen Khachanov (23), Russia, 4-6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.Stefanos Tsitsipas (5), Greece, def. Pedro Martinez, Spain, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.Reilly Opelka (32), United States, def. Jaume Munar, Spain, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5.Pablo Carreno Busta (12), Spain, def. Enzo Couacaud, France, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.WOMEN'S SINGLES: SECOND ROUNDAna Bogdan, Romania, def. Naomi Osaka (2), Japan, walkover.Daria Kasatkina, Russia, def. Belinda Bencic (10), Switzerland, 6-2, 6-2.Polona Hercog, Slovenia, def. Caroline Garcia, France, 7-5, 6-4.Paula Badosa, Spain, def. Danka Kovinic, Montenegro, 6-2, 6-0.Danielle Collins, United States, def. Anhelina Kalinina, Ukraine, 6-0, 6-2.Victoria Azarenka (15), Belarus, def. Clara Tauson, Denmark, 7-5, 6-4.Madison Keys (23), United States, def. Leylah Annie Fernandez, Canada, 6-1, 7-5.Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (31), Russia, def. Ajla Tomljanovic, Australia, 6-2, 6-3.Serena Williams (7), United States, def. Mihaela Buzarnescu, Romania, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1.Aryna Sabalenka (3), Belarus, def. Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Belarus, 7-5, 6-3.Elena Rybakina (21), Kazakhstan, def. Nao Hibino, Japan, 6-3, 6-1.

French Open: Serena through to third round after second-set blipREUTERS – PARIS

Former world number one Serena Williams, chasing a record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title, overcame a second-set blip to reach the French Open third round with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 win against Romania’s Mihaela Buzarnescu yesterday.

Three-time Roland Garros champion Williams, who has been stuck on 23 major titles since 2017, one behind Mar-garet Court’s all-time record, went through the gears in the opening set before letting her guard down.

The 39-year-old, who is seeded seventh in Paris but has not been past the fourth round here since reaching the final in 2016, fell 4-2 behind in the second set as Buzarnescu broke for the first time.

But the American was back to her dominant self as she stole her opponent’s serve in the next game and set up two break points in the 11th game.

Buzarnescu kept her com-posure to stave them off and level for 5-5 before sealing the second set on Williams’s serve.

Williams was 4-0 up after breaking twice in the decider but the scoreline did not reflect the fight the Romanian put up to stay in the contest.

Williams’s experience,

however, prevailed in the key moments as she set up a meeting with fellow American Danielle Collins.

Williams has come agonis-ingly close to matching Court’s record since winning the 2017 Australian Open.

She has fallen in four Grand Slam finals and earlier this year lost in the semi-finals at the Australian Open.

Following that she underwent oral surgery and played only three Tour-level matches heading into the French Open, winning one.

Later, third-seed Aryna Sabalenka littered Court Suzanne Lenglen with dozens of unforced errors but still beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich in their

Belarusian battle 7-5, 6-3 to move into the third round.

Meanwhile, Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas strolled past Spaniard Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in a scrappy contest to reach the third round in the Men's side.

Tsitsipas, who reached the semi-finals in 2020, is con-sidered one of the main con-tenders to challenge Rafa Nadal for the title at Roland Garros after the 22-year-old's triumph at the Monte-Carlo Masters and in Lyon in the lead-up to the claycourt Grand Slam.

He set up a third-round meeting with American John Isner, who defeated Serbian Filip Krajinovic 7-6(6), 6-1, 7-6(5).

Serena Williams of the US in action during her second

round match against

Romania’s Mihaela Buzarnescu.

Ronan Whelan guides Sonaiyla at the Curragh racetrack in Ireland yesterday. PIC: RACING POST

19THURSDAY 3 JUNE 2021 SPORT

Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) President Ali bin Ghanim Al Kuwari (left)

and President of the Volleyball Federation of Russia (RVF), Stanislav Shevchenko during the

signing of a memorandum of understanding yesterday.

The highlights of the agreement include holding

joint training courses, sports camps and friendly matches

between the Russian and Qatari volleyball and beach

volleyball teams and also the exchange of expertise in

organising competitions.

French Ligue 1 to be reduced to 18 teams from 2023-24 seasonREUTERS – PARIS

French top-tier Ligue 1 will be reduced from 20 teams to 18 from the 2023-24 season after the general assembly of the French professional league (LFP) voted on the proposal, L’Equipe newspaper reported yesterday.

France's Ligue 1 has had 18 teams in the past but was last expanded to 20 teams in the 2002-03 season.

The current format has the bottom two clubs relegated while the 18th-placed side enters the rel-egation playoffs.

The assembly reached a provisional agreement to reduce the number of sides, with four teams to be relegated from Ligue 1 in the 2022-23 season and two promoted from the second tier.

A vote was taken on when to introduce the new rules, with a split vote of nine each for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, before LFP president Vincent Labrune proposed not making the switch until 2023-24.

Among the top leagues in Europe, Germany’s Bundesliga also has 18 top-flight teams with 34 rounds of matches instead of the standard 38.

Euro: Ronaldo backed by talented Portugal squad

Enrique banking on Spain’s youth movementThere have been some young players who have surprised us. We still have the potential to grow a lot more. I don’t know what will happen, yet I don’t deny that we are favorites (in the group), but not because of what we have done, but rather for the achievements of those who came before us. I am not afraid of this challenge. We have a young side, which wants to grow, and is hungry. I don’t know how far we will go; if we will reach the final, or if we will only make it to the semis, or the quarters, or not even get out of the group phase. But one thing I do know is that we will be a tough rival to play against that will make it uncomfortable for our opponents.Spain coach Luis Enrique

Brazil names Rio among Copa America host venuesREUTERS – BRASILIA

Brazil named Rio de Janeiro and three other cities as host venues for the Copa America on Tuesday in a move that appeared to strengthen the like-lihood of the tournament taking place, even as a Supreme Court judge asked President Jair Bolsonaro to explain his surprise decision.

The demand by Justice Ricardo Lewandowski came in response to a suit filed by the opposition Workers’ Party, which objected to Brazil hosting the tournament given the current public health situation.

Bolsonaro said earlier on Tuesday his gov-ernment had agreed Brazil would host the regional tournament from June 13 to July 10, after

planned host Argentina pulled out due to a dra-matic worsening of the coronavirus pandemic there.

The capital Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Cuiaba and Goiania were confirmed as host cities by Alejandro Dominguez, president of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL).

Rio’s Maracana stadium and the Mane Gar-rincha stadium in Brasilia will be favourites to host the opening match and the final.

The decision to host football’s oldest inter-national tournament comes as Brazil struggles to cope with the ravages of a virus that has killed over 465,000 people, according to government figures, the second-highest tally in the world.

Brazil offered to host the tournament played by 10 South American nations in a surprise decision taken jointly with CONMEBOL on Monday, and is now racing against time to provide flights, transport, accommodation and training facilities for the visiting delegations.

The tournament is set to feature some of the greatest names in world football, including Argentines Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero, Neymar from Brazil, and Uruguayans Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.

This year’s edition of the Copa America was held over from 2020 because of the pandemic and was supposed to be the first to be held jointly by two nations but Colombia was removed as co-host and then Argentina pulled out.

Missing semis would be seen as failure for England: SouthgateWe know the excitement around the team and it’s great, we’re now relevant. We’ve been to two semi-finals so the next step is to try to go further. I’ve got to try to manage the expectations for the players. I accept the situation as a manager there’s expectation, I have to deliver. We have to deliver

as a group of staff, it’s not about me in terms of if we

can be successful. Of course it’s about me if we fail, so

no problem. That’s the gig.England managerGareth Southgate

Poland rest Lewandowski in 1-1 draw with RussiaAP – WROCLAW, POLAND

Poland rested Robert Lewandowski for a 1-1 draw with old rival Russia on Tuesday in a warm-up for the European Championship.

Poland took the lead in the fourth minute when Przemyslaw Frankowski got in behind the Russian defensive line and laid the ball off for Jakub Swierczok to score his first international goal. Russia hit back in the 21st when Vyacheslav Karavaev sneaked in at the far post to score off Alexander Golovin’s cross from deep.

Lewandowski watched with the substitutes after coach Paulo Sousa opted to give him time to recover after a hectic season with Bayern Munich.

Earlier, Inter Milan midfielder Ivan Perisic scored on his 100th appearance for Croatia in a 1-1 draw with Armenia, whose Colombia-born midfielder Wbeymar equalized from outside the box.

Croatia has four wins from 12 games in the last year as it struggles to recapture the form from its run to the 2018 World Cup final.

Two other Euro 2020 teams were held to 1-1 draws at home. Slovakia fielded an experimental lineup for its draw with Bulgaria. First-time qual-ifier North Macedonia was on course for a win over Slovenia when Eljif Elmas scored off Leeds left back Ezgjan Alioski’s cross, but Slovenia levelled deep into added time.

QVA and RVF sign agreement

Rio’s Maracana stadium (pictured) and the Mane Garrincha stadium in Brasilia will be favourites to host the opening match and the final.

aass

rique bSpain’s

ovemene have been sers who havehave the potee. I don’t knowen, yet I don

rites (in the guse of what wer for the ache who came bd of this challg side, whichs hungry. I do

will go; if we wwe will only ms, or the quarut of the gro

g I do know ish rival to playe it uncomforonents.in coach Enrique

gland: Sknow the exceam and it’s

vant. We’ve bs so the next urther. I’ve goage the expeers. I accept tager there’s ee to deliver. Was a group of

about me incan be suc

it’s abouno pr

tht eEnGa

EEEEEEEnnnrrooooooooooooooonnnn mmmmmmmmmmmmoooThThThhhThhThTheeereeppplllplpllaayyyaa eesstststttiili l l l hhmmmmmmorrreehhhaaaaapppppffaaaaaavooorrbbeeebebebbbecacacac uurrraraararar ththhhthheetttht ooosseeaafafaffrraaaiddyyyoyooy uuunggaaaanna ddd issweweeww ww oororr iiff wwssseemmmissgegegeget oouthhthhinni ggtototouuughhmmmaam keeoppppooSppaiinnLLLuLuis E

EEnggWWe kkthee teerereellevvffif naalssggggogg fuummamaammam naapplplayyeemmmannaahhhavvee

asas

AP – LISBON

A record-chasing Cristiano Ronaldo won’t be the only attraction for Portugal when it tries to win a second straight European Championship title.

Ronaldo will attempt to become the all-time leading scorer with a national team, but this time there will be a lot more to watch for in Portugal’s squad.

The defending champions are bringing one their most talented teams in years to Euro 2020, loaded with players who can support Ronaldo and make Por-tugal a contender again.

The talent pool is arguably greater than it was five years ago in France, when Portugal won the title with a squad that succeeded with efficiency rather than extraordinary play.

The Portuguese earned the trophy with only one victory in 90 minutes during the entire tournament.

At Euro 2020, Portugal will play in a difficult Group F that also includes Germany, France and Hungary. Both Germany and Hungary will have home games against Portugal in the group stage.

“I have great confidence in my players and I have the conviction that Portugal is a title candidate,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos said.

The 36-year-old Ronaldo will be backed this time by the likes of João Félix, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Rúben Dias and Diogo Jota.

Many of those players will be in position to thrive in large part because of the tournament’s post-ponement caused by the corona-virus pandemic.

Jota was a Wolverhampton player who hadn’t played much for his country last year but is now a regular for Liverpool and his national team, scoring six goals in 12 international games. Rúben Dias has improved after his first season at Manchester City, while Fernandes has estab-lished himself as one of Man-chester United’s top playmakers. João Félix earned an extra year of experience with an Atlético

Madrid team that thrived in the Spanish league.

Also included in the Euro 2020 squad was 22-year-old forward Pedro Gonçalves, who has never played for the senior national team. Gonçalves was key in helping Sporting Lisbon win its first Por-tuguese league title since 2002.

“The list is not the result of an analysis of two or three days,” Santos said. “If I called up these players, it’s because they all have great quality.”

There could have been even more talent in Portugal’s squad had youngster Pedro Neto not been ruled out because of a knee injury. He was one of the best players for Wolverhampton in his first year as a regular starter and also had estab-lished himself in Portu-gal’s squad.

Dias and S i l v a , a n o t h e r key player for English champion Man City, are some of the players who will be returning from the 2018 World Cup squad that was elim-inated by Uruguay in the round of 16.

The defense again will be led by 38-year-old Pepe, the most valuable player in the Euro 2016 final, when Portugal defeated host France.

Ronaldo will be playing in his fifth straight European Champi-onship and will be looking to add yet another record to his name. He is six goals from tying the all-time scoring record for a men’s national team.

The record of 109 goals is held by former Iran striker Ali Daei, the only other male soccer player to surpass the 100-goal milestone.

Ronaldo scored four goals in the 2018 World Cup and three at Euro 2016. He played less than half an hour in the final against France five years ago because he got injured.

The Juventus forward has scored for Portugal in every cal-endar year since his first interna-tional goal in 2004.

Ronaldo will attempt to become the all-time leading scorer with a national team, but this time there will be a lot more to watch for in Portugal’s squad. He will be playing in his fifth straight European Championship and will be looking to add yet another record to his name. He is six goals from tying the all-time scoring record for a men’s national team.

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES

RESULTS: Poland 1 - 1 Russia

Croatia 1 - 1 Armenia

North Macedonia 1 - 1 Slovenia

Slovakia 1 - 1 Bulgaria

Bosnia and Herzegovina

0 - 0 Montenegro

Belarus 1 - 2 Azerbaijan

TODAY'S FIXTURES: Japan vs Jamaica

Switzerland vs Liechtenstein

Turkey vs Moldova

Ukraine vs Northern Ireland

Belgium vs Greece

Algeria vs Mauritania

Al Hammadi re-elected as Executive Member of Arab Shooting Federation

Abdullah Ali Al Mutawa Al Hammadi, member of the Board of Directors of the

Qatar Archery and Archery Federation, was re-elected as

Executive Member of the Arab Shooting Federation during the

General Assembly meeting in Egypt, yesterday.

Al Hammadi expressed his happiness to continue working with the Executive Committee and thanked the President of the Arab Shooting Federation

Eng. Duaij Khalaf Al Otaibi and the members for his re-election.

18THURSDAY 3 JUNE 2021SportConway’s ton gives Kiwis solid platform in first TestREUTERS — LONDON

New Zealand debutant Devon Conway crafted a century on the opening day of the first Test against England yesterday, with his unbeaten knock of 136 leading the visitors to 246-3 at stumps.

New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat but they lost opener Tom Latham in the first session while skipper Kane Wil-liamson and Ross Taylor fell cheaply after lunch as Conway took control.

Conway and Henry Nicholls (46 not out) stitched together a patient 132-run partnership to steady the ship and set up a platform for their deep batting lineup on day two.

England went with four fast bowlers on a green wicket but, barring a few unsettling deliv-eries, Conway saw off the early threat from James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson before slowly growing into the game.

England debutant Robinson

drew first blood to dismiss Latham for 23 after the opening batsman had an inside edge

crash into the stumps. Anderson, playing his 161st Test match to equal former

captain Alastair Cook’s record for most England caps, then got rid of Williamson in the first over after lunch -- the seventh time he had dismissed him in Tests.

Williamson looked to defend a rising delivery but the ball spun back to hit the top of off stump and he walked back to the pavilion for 13.

Taylor (14) followed him soon after when a Robinson delivery sneaked past his bat to rap him on the pads as England successfully appealed for leg before wicket.

England bowled better in the second session to keep the run rate down but struggled for variety without a spinner in the side, forcing captain Joe Root to try his luck with 12 overs which did not yield a breakthrough.

Lord’s welcomed back spectators for the first time in nearly two years but limited capacity to 25% due to the o n g o i n g C O V I D - 1 9 pandemic.

New Zealand’s Devon Conway celebrates after reaching his century, yesterday.

India, NZ on equal terms for final: KohliREUTERS — LONDON

India captain Virat Kohli said yesterday that India and New Zealand would contest the inaugural World Test Cham-pionship (WTC) final as equals, despite expectations that playing conditions would better suit his opponents.

The limited preparation time available to India before the final, which begins on June 18 at the Ageas Bowl in South-ampton, would not impact the team’s chances due to their pre-vious expe-rience of playing in England, K o h l i added.

India lost 2-0 to New Zealand in their two-Test series last year -- their only defeat in the WTC, which began in August 2019.

“We are on e q u a l terms,”

Kohli told a news conference.

“The conditions are as potent for New Zealand as they are for us. Whichever team performs well session by session, hour by hour, is going to win that championship.

“In the past, we’ve landed three days prior to the schedule and had a great tour. It’s not the first

time we’re touring England. We all know what the conditions are like.

“We don’t have any issues even with just four practice sessions ahead of the final. We all want to make the most of the opportunity at hand.”

Kohli added that reaching the final was a Testament to India’s recent progress in the format and held a lot of value for the team.

“We take pride in playing Test cricket,” he said.

“The way we have pro-gressed as a side is an example of what Test cricket means to us.

“As a unit, those of us who have been part of the Test side for years, this is an accumu-lation of all our hard work. We are very happy to take the opportunity to play the finals.”

India will undergo 10 days of quarantine on arrival in Southampton while New Zealand are currently playing England at Lord’s in the first of two Tests.

yaland would contest the

augural World Test Cham-onship (WTC) final as equals,spite expectations that

aying conditions would tter suit his opponents.

The limited preparationme available to India before e final, which begins on June at the Ageas Bowl in South-

mpton, would not impact e team’s chances e to their pre-ous expe-ence of aying in gland,

o h l ided.

began in August 2019.“We are on

e q u a l terms,”

pthey are for usteam performs wsession, hour byto win that cham

“In the landed threethe schedulgreat tour. It

time weEngland. Wwhat the clike.

“We dissues efour praahead We all the mopportu

Virat Kohli

Verstappen leads Formula One ahead of Azerbaijan GP

REUTERS — BAKU

Max Verstappen (pictured) will start Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Formula One world championship leader for the first time but also with his Red Bull under close technical scrutiny.

The race around the streets of Baku is the last before the sport’s governing body brings in new rear-wing flexibility tests.

Mercedes’s seven-times world champion Lewis Ham-ilton said last month that he reckoned Red Bull were gaining precious tenths of a second by using a “bendy wing on the back of their car”.

The Briton, now four points behind the 23-year-old Dutch driver, also said the advantage on Baku’s long straights could be as much as six tenths.

Hamilton’s team boss Toto Wolff warned in Monaco, where Verstappen won, that the delay in implementing the tougher tests could trigger a protest in Azerbaijan, the sea-son’s sixth race.

Verstappen has yet to finish higher than fourth in Baku, with no race last year due to COVID-19, but that could all be about to change as he chases his third win of the season.

“Baku’s a completely dif-ferent street circuit where you run a lot less downforce because of that long straight and the grip levels also feel quite low there,” s a i d t h e Dutchman.

“Normally we should be quite compet-itive, but let’s see.” Mer-cedes have taken pole and won three of four races to date in Baku, with Hamilton -- who has won three times so far this year -- triumphant in 2018 and team-mate Valtteri

Bottas in 2019. Daniel Ricciardo won for Red Bull in 2017, Nico Rosberg for Mercedes in 2016, and no driver has so far managed to win more than once there.

The Monaco weekend, with Hamilton seventh and Bottas retiring after a wheel could not be removed in a pitstop, was one to forget for Mercedes.

“We expect it (Baku) to be another tricky one for us, not particularly suiting the charac-teristics and traits of the W12 (car),” said Wolff.

“Red Bull will be strong again, while both Ferrari and McLaren have made great progress recently.”

Ferrari had Charles Leclerc on pole in Monaco before his pre-race retirement and Carlos Sainz finished second, ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris.

“I think that we’re not going to be the best ones on that long straight but at the same time, if we can make the time back on the tight part then we should be okay,” said Sainz.

“The one that now should be excited about Baku is my friend Lando Norris... he has a bit of a rocket on the

s t r a i g h t . ” V e r s t a p -p e n ’ s team-mate

S e r g i o Perez will also

be hoping to step up at a circuit where

he finished third in 2016 and 2018 with Force

India."

pe as yet to sn fourth in Baku,ce last year due tobut that could all be

hange as he chases n of the season.a completely dif-

reet circuitrun a lot

nforce f thatightp o e ” h e

ally we uite compet-t’s see.” Mer-taken pole andof four races to

ku, with Hamilton won three times so

ar -- triumphant in eam-mate Valtteri

e d a do o s... e as abit of a rocket on the

s t r a i g h t . ”V e r s t a p -p e n ’ steam-mate

S e r g i oPerez will also

be hoping to stepup at a circuit where

he finished third in2016 and 2018 with Force

India."

NEW ZEALAND, 1st inningsTom Latham b Robinson ...............23Devon Conway not out ...............136Kane Williamson b Anderson ....... 13Ross Taylor lbw b Robinson ..........14Henry Nicholls not out .................. 46Extras (b 6, lb 7, nb 1) ................... 14 TOTAL (86 Ov, 3 wkts) .......... 246 To bat: BJ Watling, Colin de Grand-homme, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamie-son, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-86, 3-114BOWLING: James Anderson 20-5-55-1, Stuart Broad 20-5-42-0, Ollie Robinson 16-4-50-2, Mark Wood 18-6-49-0, Joe Root 12-1-37-0ENGLAND: Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence, James Bracey, Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson

SCOREBOARD