TORONTO (AP) — Blue Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes left Game 1 of the AL Championship Series against Seattle on Sunday after bruising a knee.
Lukes fouled a ball off his right knee in the first, falling in pain, but stayed in the game and drew a 12-pitch walk. He flied out leading off he third and was replaced by Myles Straw for the start of the fourth.
Click to Gallery
Toronto Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes connects for a two-run RBI single against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning of Game 4 of baseball's American League Division Series, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Toronto Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes (38) hits a two-run double against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Division Series, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider, left, and a trainer talk with Nathan Lukes, centre, after he was hit by the ball during first inning American League Championship Series baseball action against the Seattle Mariners in Toronto on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider, front right, talks with Nathan Lukes, front left, after Lukes was hit by the ball dduring the first inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners in Toronto, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes is slow to get up after fouling the ball off his leg as Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, right, looks away during the first inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Championship Series, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Toronto. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
“He had a CT scan. Negative for a fracture,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said after Toronto's 3-1 loss. "His knee was pretty sore, obviously. Nate is one of those guys, he doesn’t want to come out of a game ever. I think if he’s medically good to play tomorrow, he’ll be in there."
Lukes went 4 for 12 with five RBIs in Toronto’s Division Series win over the New York Yankees, including a key two-run single in the Game 4 clincher. He also made a diving catch in Toronto’s Game 1 win.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Toronto Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes connects for a two-run RBI single against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning of Game 4 of baseball's American League Division Series, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Toronto Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes (38) hits a two-run double against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Division Series, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider, left, and a trainer talk with Nathan Lukes, centre, after he was hit by the ball during first inning American League Championship Series baseball action against the Seattle Mariners in Toronto on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider, front right, talks with Nathan Lukes, front left, after Lukes was hit by the ball dduring the first inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners in Toronto, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes is slow to get up after fouling the ball off his leg as Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, right, looks away during the first inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Championship Series, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Toronto. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
McLaren driver Lando Norris held his nerve but could not hold back the tears after clinching his first Formula 1 title at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.
Red Bull driver and defending champion Max Verstappen won the race with Norris placing third behind his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in second, which allowed Norris to finish two points ahead of Verstappen in the season-long standings.
“It's incredible. It is pretty surreal. I've dreamed of this for a long, long time,” said the 26-year-old Norris, who started his F1 career as a test and reserve driver with McLaren. "I feel like I did my part for the team this year and I'm very proud of myself for that. I’m even more proud for everyone who I hopefully made cry.”
Norris became Britain's 11th F1 champion, a racing journey that began with kart racing when he was eight years old. The first of his 11 F1 race wins came last year, when he finished second overall in the standings.
Piastri was also in contention for his first F1 title and finished third in the standings, 13 points behind Norris, who ended the season with seven wins and 423 points.
Norris became the first British champion since Lewis Hamilton won his record-equaling seventh title in 2020, and also denied Verstappen a fifth straight title.
“Oh God. I’ve not cried in a while. It’s a long journey. First of all, I want to say a big thanks to my guys, my parents," Norris said a few minutes after the race. “I now know what Max feels like a little bit. I want to congratulate him and Oscar, too."
Norris entered the three-way battle 12 points ahead of Verstappen and 16 ahead of Piastri, who also won seven races but none since the Dutch GP on Aug. 31.
Verstappen started from pole position with Norris on the front row beside him and Piastri third on the grid. The Dutchman needed Norris to be fourth or lower and Norris had to finish outside the top five if Piastri won.
Verstappen's astounding late-season charge came close to unseating both McLaren drivers after they had shared the lead throughout the season and then were undone by driver and team-strategy errors.
Verstappen’s title chances were dramatically improved with two races to go after Norris and Piastri were disqualified in Las Vegas.
But even Verstappen's season-leading eighth win and 71st of his career could not stop Norris, who kept his composure on Sunday, having been under severe pressure in recent weeks.
“Oscar and Lando have been awesome all year,” McLaren CEO Zak Brown told broadcaster Sky. “This Max guy is pretty hard to beat.”
The McLaren motorhome erupted with joy when Norris clinched it and Brown congratulated Norris on the team radio in his usual jovial manner.
“Lando, this is Zak from McLaren. Is this the world champion hotline? You did it! You did it! Awesome," Brown said.
Norris didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He did both.
“Oh my God, thanks so much. I love you guys. Thanks for everything,” Norris said and then broke down in tears.
After crossing the line, Norris stayed in his car for a few moments, visibly emotional. His parents were on the side of the track and he went over to hug them before celebrating with his McLaren engineers and mechanics.
Piastri was looking to become the first Australian champion since Alan Jones in 1980, but his failure to win a race after Zandvoort cost him.
“When things have been good this year, I've felt unstoppable,” Piastri said. “Ultimately, I've learnt a lot about myself. I think that will only help me going forward.”
Norris praised Piastri, saying “at some point he will get the better of me, as he is an incredible driver.”
Pole position was crucial on the 58-lap circuit in Abu Dhabi, where overtaking is hard, and so it proved again as Verstappen joined the long list of race winners from pole since 2015.
Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari ahead of George Russell (Mercedes) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) in sixth.
Verstappen made a clean start with Piastri overtaking Norris, while the slick Leclerc was soon behind Norris.
Norris changed tires on Lap 17 but was caught behind some traffic and had Verstappen's Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda ahead of him in third spot, which in turn allowed Leclerc to close on Norris.
Norris overtook Tsunoda on Lap 23 but went very wide and off track limits. Race stewards gave Tsunoda a 5-second time penalty for zig-zagging in front of Norris, who was cleared.
Tsunoda reacted angrily when informed he had moved more than once in front of Norris when defending his position.
Norris pitted again on Lap 41, with Verstappen overtaking Piastri moments later to take the lead. Piastri came in a lap later but Norris still held the cards because both McLarens had covered an eventual second tire change for Verstappen.
The main threat for Norris was Leclerc and he was about 4 seconds behind him with 10 laps left.
“Is Charles catching him or not?” Verstappen asked his race engineer.
Leclerc couldn't get closer, meaning Norris could coast to the title.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Formula 1: https://apnews.com/hub/formula-one
Race winner Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, center, poses on the podium with second placed McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, left, and third placed McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain after the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain smiles after becoming a world champion after the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates after becoming a world champion after the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain reacts after becoming a world champion after the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain reacts after becoming a world champion after the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia steers his car during the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain crosses the finish line to become the wprld champion during the Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (Andrej Isakovic, Pool via AP)
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain crosses the finish line to become the world champion during the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates after becomin a rold champion after the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car followed by McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain during the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car followed by McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain during the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, left, and McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, center, and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands attend the drivers parade ahead of the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia watches his team mate Lando Norris of Britain speak to media before the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, left, and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands talk before the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
