AUTO RACING

Max Verstappen underlined why he’s on the verge of a third consecutive Formula One title as he qualified on the pole Friday for the Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail. He can clinch the title in Saturday’s sprint race.

Verstappen set a commanding time early in the third and last session of qualifying, and bailed out of his final run after his car slid off the racing line. It didn’t matter because George Russell could only manage a time .441 seconds slower than Verstappen to qualify second. His Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton was third, .527 off the pace.

Verstappen can secure the title with at least a sixth-place finish in the sprint Saturday.

n Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton said he’d welcome an 11th team joining the grid but argued for stricter criteria on improving diversity in the sport, after Andretti Global passed the first hurdle of a complex process.

RUGBY

WORLD CUP: Damian Penaud extended his try-scoring streak to seven matches as France routed Italy 60-7 at Lyon, France, to reach the quarterfinals.

France topped Pool A ahead of New Zealand and will likely meet defending champion South Africa in the last quarterfinal next weekend. New Zealand will probably have to play top-ranked Ireland.

SOCCER

GERMAN LEAGUE: American defender Joe Scally scored a late goal with a long-range strike to salvage a 2-2 draw for Borussia Mönchengladbach against visiting Mainz.

Gladbach was heading for yet another home loss after Aymen Barkok scored for Mainz, but Scally went past one defender and let fly with a fierce shot from distance that sent the ball inside the far post in the 88th minute.

ITALIAN LEAGUE: Juventus of Turin reported losses of $131 million for last season, about half of the record loss of $253 million reported a year ago.

n Paul Pogba’s backup “B” sample also tested positive for testosterone, meaning the Juventus midfielder now faces a doping investigation.

MLS: Minnesota United FC dismissed Adrian Heath, its only coach since starting play in 2017.

GOLF

EUROPEAN: Matt Fitzpatrick of England shot an 8-under 64 at Kingsbarns to take a one-stroke lead at the Dunhill Links Championship, an event that also takes place at St. Andrews and Carnoustie. After a round at each of the three Scottish courses, the final round Sunday is on the Old Course.

Fitzpatrick was at 13 under par and a shot clear of Grant Forrest of Scotland (67) and Nacho Elvira of Spain (66) after a day when strong winds affected the scoring. Forrest and Elvira both played at St. Andrews.

LPGA: Hyo Joo Kim shot a 3-under 68 in The Ascendant to take a two-stroke lead over Sofia Garcia into the weekend, with resurgent Lexi Thompson tied for third at The Colony, Texas.

Kim had four birdies and a bogey in her morning round to reach 10-under 132. She also had a two-stroke lead Thursday after an opening 64.

TENNIS

CHINA OPEN: Elena Rybakina advanced to her eighth semifinal of the year by beating top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 7-5, 6-2 at Beijing.

In their third meeting of the year, after splitting the two finals they have contested, the fifth-seeded Rybakina was dominant on serve, hitting 12 aces and never faced a break point.

– News service report