• Police investigating an alleged home invasion

• 71-year-old sustained a head injury, says reports

Swiss police are investigating an alleged robbery with reports that the four-times Formula 1 world champion Alain Prost was injured during a home invasion. The Swiss tabloid Blick reported late on Friday that the 71-year-old Frenchman sustained a head injury from intruders who forced his son to open a safe during the incident on Tuesday morning.

“The perpetrators entered the residence while the occupants were present, threatened them, and forced one family member to open a safe before fleeing with the stolen goods,” the public prosecutor’s office said. “Despite the extensive search operation launched, the perpetrators have not yet been apprehended.”

BERLIN, May 23 — Former world champion Max Verstappen has affirmed he will continue in Formula One in 2027, unless something extraordinary happens, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

“Yes of course. Unless some really crazy things happen but I don’t expect that,” Red Bull driver Verstappen told Dutch paper De Telegraaf at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal in an interview published on Saturday.

“I hope everyone keeps their word. But I can confirm that I’m staying in Formula One.”

Four-time champion Verstappen has had a difficult start into the season and has been an outspoken critic of sweeping rule changes, most notably regarding the power unit with its mandatory 50-50 split between electrical and internal combustion engine power.

This is now to change next year towards a 60-40 ratio in favour of internal combustion power in a compromise which still needs final approval.

Verstappen, who had not even ruled out leaving F1, said he can live with this solution.

“It’s not quite perfect yet, but it’s a step in a good direction. And it’s certainly an improvement on the current situation,” he said.

Verstappen, 28, also said he would love to stay connected to Red Bull for the rest of his life but is totally relaxed overall on this issue.

“Whether it’s here or somewhere else, there’s a lot more to it than just the Formula One contract,” he said.

“I’m also talking about all the other projects. I’m in talks with Red Bull about that as well. Personally, I’m very relaxed about it. We shouldn’t make too much of a fuss. Even if it all falls through, that’s fine by me.

That’s just how I look at life.”

Verstappen raved about competing last weekend in the 24-hour race at Germany’s Nürburgring in a GT3 car, only missing victory because of a technical problem.

“There’s plenty of action to be seen on the Nordschleife. It looks genuine; the overtaking manoeuvres don’t feel staged. It’s brutal and unforgiving,” he said.

He added “I would compete there again” next year if the 24-hour race is on a non F1-weekend like this year. — Bernama-dpa

PARIS, May 18 — Max Verstappen’s luckless pursuit of an endurance racing victory again ended in disappointment yesterday as his Mercedes broke down when leading the 24 Hours of Nuerburgring.

The 28-year-old Dutchman, who is having another difficult season with his Red Bull Formula One team and has threatened to leave the discipline, is competing in a growing number of endurance races in GT3 cars, a category derived from production cars.

He was eagerly awaited by tens of thousands of fans at the legendary German circuit. The car he shared with Spaniard Daniel Juncadella, Frenchman Jules Gounon and Austrian Lucas Auer was ahead with three hours to go when it pulled into the pits due to noises and vibrations.

Following a lengthy check, mechanics replaced a section of the driveshaft. It returned to the track in 38th place handing victory to a rival Mercedes driven by Maro Engel, Maxime Martin, Fabian Schiller and Luca Stolz.

It was the first time in ten years that the German marque had won the 24 Hours of the Nuerburgring.

In March, Verstappen crossed the line first in a four-hour race at the track, but was disqualified because his car had used too many sets of tyres.

Vertappen said yesterday morning on his web site that he enjoyed the event.

“The competition, endurance style racing with team-mates. A 24-hour race, especially here, is incredibly challenging. That whole combination,” but he added that he could not promise to be back next year

“I will for sure try, but it also depends on my calendar.”

The Dutchman is seventh in the F1 driver standings after four Grands Prix. He has constantly criticised new technical regulations on electric and combustion engines and even threatened on several occasions to leave F1 to devote himself to his family and endurance racing, even though his contract with Red Bull in F1 does not expire until the end of 2028. — AFP