The Formula 1 circus has rolled into Baku for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and qualifying delivered plenty of surprises. George Russell claimed pole position with a commanding lap of 1:42.526, finishing a massive 0.8 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in second. McLaren's Oscar Piastri rounded out the top three.
The bigger story, though, is the championship battle. Points leader Kimi Antonelli crashed during qualifying and will start a lowly 16th, while Max Verstappen could only manage eighth after encountering car problems in Q3.
Grid Penalties to Watch:
Carlos Sainz received a five-place grid penalty for speeding under yellow flags
Sergio Pérez drops three places for impeding Piastri during qualifying
Both Aston Martin cars (Alonso and Stroll) start from the back due to engine changes
The race itself was moved to Saturday (starting at 13:00 local time) because Sunday marks Azerbaijan's national day of remembrance for the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. It's a unique scheduling quirk that adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already unpredictable street circuit.
⚖️ Manchester City: Guilty on 114 of 115 Charges?
In what could be the biggest story in Premier League history, reports emerged this week that an independent tribunal has found Manchester City guilty on 114 of the 115 charges brought against them for alleged financial rule breaches.
The Breakdown:
54 charges relate to failing to provide accurate financial information
35 charges concern failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations between 2018 and 2023
14 charges involve failing to provide accurate details for player and manager payments
7 charges relate to breaching profitability and sustainability rules
5 charges involve failing to comply with UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations
The charges cover conduct between 2009 and 2018. Manchester City have consistently denied any wrongdoing, stating that their position remains "consistent with the club's statement of February 2023" and that they have "diligently respected due process for eight years".
What's Next? The process is now moving to the appeal stage. Possible sanctions range from heavy fines and points deductions to—at the most extreme end—expulsion from the Premier League. For context, Everton were docked six and then two points for PSR breaches, while Nottingham Forest received a four-point deduction. City's case, however, is in a completely different league of severity.
⚽ England Football: World Cup Bronze and a Nations League Clash
England fans have had plenty to celebrate (and some heartbreak to process) this year. At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Three Lions reached the semi-finals before falling 2-1 to Argentina, with Enzo Fernández scoring the late winner in the 85th minute.
But they bounced back in style. In the third-place playoff, England defeated France 6-4 in a ten-goal thriller, with Bukayo Saka netting a hat-trick. It was a chaotic, brilliant end to a memorable tournament run.
What's Next for England? The team is back in action today (September 26) against Spain, with Thomas Tuchel now at the helm as manager. After a World Cup that showed both England's attacking prowess and defensive vulnerabilities, this Nations League fixture will be a fascinating test of how Tuchel shapes the squad going forward.
🎰 EuroMillions: UK Ticket Holder Wins £111 Million Jackpot
Someone in the UK is waking up significantly richer this weekend. A single ticket holder matched all five main numbers—11, 12, 15, 38, 49—plus the two Lucky Star numbers—10 and 12—to win Friday's £111 million EuroMillions jackpot.
National Lottery operator Allwyn confirmed the win, with senior winners' adviser Andy Carter calling it "fantastic news" and urging players to check their tickets.
The Bigger Picture: This marks the third UK EuroMillions jackpot win of 2026. Back in March, one UK winner took home £181 million (the third-largest in UK National Lottery history), and in April, two UK-based winners shared a £125 million jackpot with a French player. The record for the largest UK EuroMillions prize still stands at £195 million, won anonymously in 2022. Tuesday's jackpot is now estimated at £14 million—so if you didn't win this time, there's always next week.
👑 Royal Family: Diana's Brother Drops a Bombshell Memoir
The royal family is once again at the centre of a media storm, this time thanks to a new book by Charles Spencer, Princess Diana's younger brother. Titled "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," the memoir was published on September 22 and has already triggered a rare and sharp rebuttal from Buckingham Palace.
The Explosive Claims:
Spencer alleges that King Charles III told him shortly after Diana's death: "Rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough"
He claims Charles "sounded giddily elated, like a lottery winner" at the news of Diana's death
Spencer says Charles "went ballistic" after he insisted Diana would not have wanted Princes William and Harry to walk behind her coffin at the funeral
The book also reveals Diana contemplated suicide at times, driving to Beachy Head, but her love for her sons "stopped her from going further"
Buckingham Palace issued a rare statement from King Charles, saying: "His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgement and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss".
Spencer hit back, telling The Mail on Sunday: "It is not every day you wake up to find you've been gaslit by the king". He also claimed Queen Elizabeth II offered to restore Diana's HRH title on the day of her funeral.
Royal experts have questioned some of the book's claims. Biographer Robert Hardman wrote that he witnessed Charles "distraught and in tears" at Diana's funeral—not elated, as Spencer suggests. Nearly three decades after her death, Diana's story clearly still has the power to divide and fascinate in equal measure.
🎭 Celebrity Traitors: Series 2 Is Almost Here
The wait is nearly over. The Celebrity Traitors returns for its second series on Thursday, October 1 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with an extra-long opening episode. Episodes will air twice weekly, on Thursday and Friday evenings.
The Lineup: This year's cast is stacked with big names, including Richard E. Grant, Maya Jama, Michael Sheen, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Joe Lycett, and Julie Hesmondhalgh, among others. The celebrities are competing for a cash prize of up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice.
Host Claudia Winkleman has been teasing what's to come, revealing that comedian Rob Beckett said something so funny during filming that she had to "hide in a bush until I composed myself". She also discussed her now-iconic wardrobe, saying the fashion for this series went "a little Artful Dodger".
With a cast this talented and a format that thrives on paranoia and betrayal, Series 2 of The Celebrity Traitors looks set to be unmissable television.
From the streets of Baku to the boardrooms of the Premier League, and from Buckingham Palace to a castle full of celebrities—it's been a week that reminds us why these stories capture our attention. Which one has you talking? Let us know in the comments.
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