Janine Digest — Sunday, July 12, 2026

DRIVER MARKET

Red Bull Keeping Close Tabs on Bearman Amid Verstappen Replacement Speculation

Red Bull are monitoring Haas driver Ollie Bearman as a potential replacement for Max Verstappen, according to Sky Sports commentator David Croft. Martin Brundle said Bearman’s path to a Ferrari seat — where he was part of the academy under Laurent Mekies, now Red Bull’s team principal — appears cut off following Charles Leclerc’s contract renewal and Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence at the Scuderia. Jenson Button advised Bearman to focus on the present. “I know Red Bull are keeping very close tabs on Ollie Bearman. If he hasn’t got a way into the Scuderia, that might be a very good option for Red Bull and for Ollie,” Croft said.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Overwhelming 97.6 Per Cent of Fans Back Ferrari Decision to Keep Hamilton for 2027

An overwhelming 97.6 per cent of RacingNews365 readers support Ferrari’s decision to retain Lewis Hamilton for the 2027 Formula 1 season. Hamilton endured a difficult 2025 campaign before bouncing back in 2026, winning the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona and recording five podiums from the first nine rounds. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed Hamilton’s 2027 contract with a simple “yes” when asked. Hamilton currently sits third in the Drivers’ Championship on 147 points, behind Mercedes pair Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. “I wouldn’t be in this team without Fred,” Hamilton said.

GRID NEWS

Alonso Demands Aston Martin Progress Beyond Hungary Upgrade

Fernando Alonso has demanded continued progress from Aston Martin after the British Grand Prix, where the team were the only constructor to race without aerodynamic upgrades at Silverstone. Aston Martin sit at the foot of the Constructors’ Championship with one point, having also faced a one-second qualifying gap to the frontrunners at Silverstone. Alonso said the team is targeting a significant aero package for Hungary but called it only a first step. “We will get better. We will win races. Not this year, so this is only the first step in the plan; it cannot be the last one,” the two-time world champion said.

TECHNICAL

McLaren Explains Why Improved Mercedes Power Unit Has Been Delayed

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has explained why the Woking squad has not yet received the upgraded Mercedes HPP reliability unit. Stella said Alpine and Williams were given priority because they needed the improved power unit more urgently. McLaren has also faced its own reliability difficulties this season, suffering battery failures and a double non-start in China. Stella indicated the upgraded unit is expected to arrive at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. “As a customer team, you remain a bit on the back foot,” Stella said, describing McLaren’s position as a Mercedes engine customer.

REGULATION

Former F1 Boss Calls for Red Flag Rule Change After British GP Confusion

A former Formula 1 team boss has called for a rule change giving officials the option to wave a red flag when a safety car period causes confusion near the end of a race. At the British Grand Prix, Max Verstappen crashed on the penultimate lap, triggering the safety car. An unlapping procedure meant a standing restart was impossible, and a timing screen glitch compounded the spectator confusion at Silverstone. Otmar Szafnauer said officials should have intervened differently. “No, red flag it for the fans,” Szafnauer said, advocating a cleaner procedure for future incidents.

GRID NEWS

Bottas Says Cadillac Still in No Man’s Land Despite Silverstone Upgrades

Valtteri Bottas has assessed Cadillac’s performance at Silverstone, saying the team remain in a “no man’s land” despite bringing upgrades to the British Grand Prix. On the positive side, both Cadillac cars finished the race, with team-mate Sergio Perez equalling his best result of the season. However, Bottas acknowledged the upgrades did not produce a step-change in competitiveness, with further parts expected for the Belgian Grand Prix. “Lots of good information, but it’s still pretty clear that we’re in a little bit of a no man’s land over there,” Bottas said.

DRIVER MARKET

F1 Champion Norris Eyes Le Mans Partnership with MotoGP Icon Rossi

Formula 1 champion Lando Norris has expressed a desire to race alongside MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi at Le Mans, describing the prospect as “an honour.” The pair met at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where Norris — whose team McLaren is entering the Le Mans 24 Hours as a manufacturer in 2027 — said a shared drive could happen in a couple of years. Rossi responded by saying he would try to wait for the Briton. “Maybe in a couple of years, I would love to. It would be an honour for me and it would be a lot of fun, for sure,” Norris said.

INJURY

Ohtani Out of All-Star Game With Left Knee Irritation; Dodgers Also Lose Glasnow

Shohei Ohtani will miss the All-Star Game in Washington next week due to irritation in his surgically-repaired left kneecap, the Dodgers confirmed Saturday. The two-way superstar will have the knee drained during the break and is not expected to require surgery. Ohtani will continue to serve as a designated hitter but will skip his next scheduled start on the mound. Justin Wrobleski will take his spot on the NL roster. The Dodgers are already without Tyler Glasnow (back injury, 2-plus months), Blake Snell (elbow surgery, begins rehab next week), and Edwin Diaz, who is on a rehab assignment.

TRANSACTIONS

Cardinals Lock Up Rookie JJ Wetherholt on 8-Year, $112.5M Extension

The St. Louis Cardinals agreed to an eight-year, $112.5 million contract extension with rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt on Saturday, keeping their 23-year-old sensation in St. Louis through 2034 with potential bonuses pushing the deal to $132 million. Wetherholt, the seventh overall pick in the 2024 draft, has 13 home runs and 57 runs scored this season and leads all NL rookies in multiple offensive categories. The deal is the largest pre-arbitration extension in Cardinals franchise history since Albert Pujols signed a seven-year, $100 million deal in 2004, a benchmark that underscores how highly St. Louis values Wetherholt.

TRADE

White Sox Deal Jacob Gonzalez, Brandon Eisert to Pirates for 34th Pick

One day after selecting Roch Cholowsky first overall, the White Sox completed a trade-deadline warmup on Saturday, sending infielder Jacob Gonzalez and reliever Brandon Eisert to Pittsburgh in exchange for the 34th overall pick and left-handed pitching prospect Jaden Woods. The Pirates had been searching for infield depth after shortstop Konnor Griffin suffered a finger injury. Gonzalez played mostly first base in Chicago while Eisert posted a 5.93 ERA out of the bullpen this season. The deal gives the White Sox additional draft capital as they continue a rebuild that has centered heavily on the 2025 and 2026 draft classes.

RECAP

Red Sox Win 8th Straight, Blank Mets 4–0 to Inch Toward Wild Card

Boston sent the Mets to another shutout loss Saturday, beating New York 4–0 to extend their winning streak to eight games. Andrew Monasterio and Masataka Yoshida each hit two-run home runs to provide all the offense Boston needed. The Red Sox, who trailed the Mariners and Twins by just a half-game for the third AL Wild Card spot entering play, have been one of baseball’s hottest teams over the past two weeks after being on the verge of falling completely out of contention. The win kept the pressure on Seattle and Minnesota as all three clubs jockey for position before the All-Star break.

RECAP

Bregman Breaks Slump With Go-Ahead Homer as Cubs Top Reds 5–3

Alex Bregman snapped an 0-for-18 skid Saturday with a go-ahead two-run home run off Reds reliever Luis Garcia in the seventh inning, lifting Chicago to a 5–3 victory over Cincinnati. Bregman was 2-for-18 entering the at-bat, making the blast a welcome breakthrough for the Cubs third baseman. Michael Busch added three hits, and Carson Kelly also homered for Chicago, which needed six pitchers to get through the game with Drew Pomeranz picking up his third win. Cincinnati scored all three of its runs via the long ball, with home runs from Tommy Lowe, Eugenio Suarez, and JJ Bleday doing the damage.

RECAP

Mahle Ends 2-Month Drought With 7 Strong Innings as Giants Down Rockies 4–2

Tyler Mahle earned his first victory since April 22 on Saturday, limiting Colorado to one run over seven innings to lead San Francisco to a 4–2 win over the Rockies. Mahle, who entered with a 2-8 record and 6.34 ERA in one of the roughest seasons of his career, was sharp in limiting Colorado's lineup. Casey Schmitt provided the decisive blow with a tiebreaking three-run home run in the sixth inning, scoring Ramos and Arraez ahead of him. The Giants manager was ejected in the eighth but San Francisco held on. The victory offered some hope for a Giants squad that has struggled for consistency all season.

INJURY

Zac Gallen Scratched With Elbow Inflammation; IL Move Possible

Arizona right-hander Zac Gallen was scratched from his scheduled Sunday start with elbow inflammation, the Diamondbacks announced Saturday, raising the possibility of an IL stint. Gallen, who returned to Arizona on a one-year deal after declining a $22 million qualifying offer last offseason, has been hampered by a career-worst 6.34 ERA this season. Triple-A Reno starter Mitch Bratt, who carries a 2.41 ERA in the minors this year, is set to take Gallen's rotation spot Sunday. Arizona has not disclosed how significant the inflammation is, but elbow issues in pitchers frequently require extended rest or further evaluation before any return timeline can be established.

INJURY

Orioles' Ryan Helsley Expected to Avoid Surgery; Keegan Akin Situation More Serious

Baltimore closer Ryan Helsley is expected to avoid surgery despite a UCL issue that landed him on the injured list for the second time this season, the Orioles announced Saturday. Tests showed inflammation around the ligament rather than a tear, offering some relief for a bullpen that has already lost Felix Bautista to shoulder surgery rehab. However, left-hander Keegan Akin received more troubling news, as his own UCL injury has him visiting renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister for a second opinion. Helsley had gone 7-for-7 in save opportunities before his first IL stint earlier this year after signing a two-year, $28 million deal in the winter.

RECAP

Padres Even Series With Blue Jays on France's Go-Ahead Homer, Win 8–7

Ty France delivered the go-ahead home run Saturday as San Diego scratched out an 8–7 victory over Toronto to even their series at one game apiece. France’s blast gave the Padres the lead in a high-scoring affair that saw both bullpens tested. Sung-Mun Song and Manny Machado each drove in two runs for San Diego, providing the offensive firepower necessary in a game that required contributions up and down the lineup. The victory snapped a brief skid for the Padres, who have been fighting to maintain their position in a crowded NL West that remains dominated by the Dodgers but features multiple teams within range of a playoff spot.

INDUSTRYAI

Anthropic, OpenAI and SpaceX Combined Value Now Exceeds All Tech Exits of the Past 25 Years

A new analysis finds that Anthropic, OpenAI, and SpaceX have collectively accumulated more private market value than all technology company exits — IPOs and acquisitions combined — over the prior 25 years. SpaceX alone reached a valuation of $1.77 trillion, while OpenAI and Anthropic have each secured enormous private valuations in recent rounds. The combined figure surpasses $4 trillion, dwarfing the aggregate exit value generated by the entire tech sector since the late 1990s. The data point reflects a structural shift in where capital concentrates: increasingly in private AI and deep-tech companies that can sustain stratospheric valuations without accessing public markets.

REGULATION

New York Times Accuses OpenAI of Hiding Evidence in ChatGPT Copyright Lawsuit

The New York Times has accused OpenAI of deliberately concealing evidence in ongoing copyright litigation over the company’s alleged unauthorized use of published journalism. Court filings revealed that OpenAI failed to preserve server logs that could have illuminated how ChatGPT was trained on Times articles and documents. The accusations centre on a deposition involving OpenAI’s general counsel, with the Times arguing the company’s conduct amounted to wilful destruction of evidence material to the copyright claim. If substantiated, the allegations could expose OpenAI to severe penalties including adverse inference instructions — allowing a jury to presume the destroyed logs would have proven infringement.

AIINDUSTRY

Paris AI Voice Startup Gradium Raises $100M Seed Round Backed by Nvidia

Paris-based AI voice startup Gradium has secured $100 million in seed funding — an unusually large early-stage raise — with backing from Nvidia and other strategic investors. Gradium is a spinout from Kyutai, the French AI research lab known for its Moshi real-time voice work, and counts Renault among its early enterprise customers. The round underscores Europe’s growing AI investment momentum and Nvidia’s strategy of backing startups that build on its compute ecosystem. Gradium’s founding team brings expertise in low-latency speech synthesis and real-time dialogue, targeting automotive and industrial use cases where voice interaction can replace screens and keyboards across factory-floor environments.

SECURITYAI

“Slopsquatting”: AI Hallucinated Package Names Are Becoming a Software Supply Chain Threat

Security researchers have documented a new class of software supply chain attack enabled by AI coding tools: “slopsquatting.” The threat exploits AI code assistants’ tendency to hallucinate non-existent package names at a rate of 19.7%, returning the same phantom identifiers consistently across repeated queries. Attackers who register these hallucinated names on PyPI, npm, or other repositories can silently intercept developer installations. Unlike typosquatting — which relies on human typing errors — slopsquatting scales through AI-generated code that developers may not carefully audit before execution. The researchers found the hallucination rate persistent across multiple frontier models, raising urgent questions about AI code assistant reliability in production pipelines.

HARDWARE

Even Realities’ G2 Smart Glasses Bet That No Camera Is the Right Call for the Enterprise

Smart glasses startup Even Realities has unveiled the G2, a 35-gram device that deliberately omits a camera — a striking reversal from competitors like Meta and Apple that have centred AI glasses around image capture. The G2 focuses instead on a 1200-nit display bright enough for outdoor use and a companion R1 ring controller for discreet hands-free interaction. The company argues enterprise buyers are more concerned about recording employees and customers than ambient intelligence features, and that privacy-first hardware unlocks corporate and medical deployments otherwise blocked by policy. The glasses support third-party AI integrations and are positioned as a productivity tool rather than a consumer lifestyle device.

RESEARCHAI

Reed Jobs’ Yosemite Fund Is Using AI to Accelerate Cancer Drug Discovery

Reed Jobs, son of Steve Jobs, has spoken candidly about the mission driving Yosemite, the oncology-focused venture fund he quietly launched in 2023. Rather than trade on his surname, Jobs says his aim is identifying academic research that AI can transform into viable cancer therapies. Yosemite takes early bets on university science that would otherwise stall in labs, then applies AI tools to drug discovery, clinical trial design, and patient matching. Jobs argued that AI’s capacity to analyse molecular data at scale is a genuine inflection point for oncology — not incremental progress, but a fundamental change in how quickly new treatments can be identified, validated, and brought to patients.

HR TECH

Why AI ROI Could Take Years to Show Up in HR, According to an Economist

Boardroom pressure for AI results is intensifying, but meaningful returns may still be years away — especially in HR. Apollo Global Management economist Torsten Slok found that profit margins outside the technology sector show no sign of rising from AI adoption. An IBM study found only about 25% of AI initiatives deliver expected returns, with just 16% scaling enterprise-wide. Sectors including healthcare, banking, energy, and manufacturing are among the slowest to benefit. Slok cautioned that deep process re-engineering and data governance requirements will delay payoff, and warned companies may pull back on AI spending if meaningful results don’t materialize soon.

TALENT

This Week in 5 Numbers: Workers Don’t Trust HR, Job Scams Rise, and Tech Cuts Hit 121K

Five data points define the week in recruiting and workforce news. Nearly half of U.S. workers — 45% — say they don’t trust HR or leadership to help if they report a toxic work environment, per a new iHire survey. Job scams are rising: Monster found that 53% of workers have now been targeted by fraudulent recruiter outreach. On AI governance, a Cisco study found 72% of CEOs expect humans to retain oversight of AI through 2030. Meanwhile, Microsoft is cutting roughly 4,800 positions — about 2.1% of its workforce — and total U.S. tech job eliminations in 2026 have now reached 121,072.

TALENT

Marking 60 Years, SHRM Foundation Pushes Employers Toward a Culture of Caregiver Support

Marking its 60th anniversary, the SHRM Foundation is calling on employers to move beyond policies and build genuine cultures of care for working caregivers. SHRM Foundation’s Wendi Safstrom says checklists and benefit packages aren’t enough if managers lack the training to back them up. The scale of need is significant: more than 30% of U.S. adults provide care for a household or nonhousehold member. Yet only 36% of organizations equip managers with caregiver-related resources, and more than 40% of caregivers fear using benefits will hurt their career. The foundation is partnering with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation on programs for military spouse caregivers.

HIRING

A Recruiting Veteran Is Pushing to Make Applicant Closure a Minimum Standard

Veteran talent acquisition figure Gerry Crispin is pushing the recruiting profession to adopt applicant closure — formally notifying all candidates of their application outcome — as a minimum operating standard. Reporting by ERE’s David Manaster details Crispin’s campaign against candidate ghosting, in which job seekers complete applications and interviews only to never hear back from employers. Crispin has spent decades advocating for candidates and argues that the practice of leaving applicants in the dark has persisted long enough. His goal: make applicant closure a baseline expectation across the industry, not an optional commitment reserved for employers who prioritize candidate experience.

Evil Dead: Burn Opens to $15M, Landing in Second Place

The sixth entry in theEvil Deadfranchise,Evil Dead: Burn, opened to an estimated$15 millionfrom 3,004 screens over its debut weekend, placing second at the domestic box office. Directed bySébastien Vanicek, who co-wrote with Florent Bernard and Sam Raimi, the film follows a grieving widow whose in-laws fall victim to Deadite possession. The $20 million production outperformed analyst expectations for the lower-budget horror sequel. Cast members described the shoot as “relentless.” Burn is the first Evil Dead feature sinceEvil Dead Riseearned $25 million in its 2023 domestic opening. New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. distributed.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Tracking for $180–190M Domestic Debut

Sony and Marvel’sSpider-Man: Brand New Dayis tracking for a$180 million to $190 milliondomestic opening on July 31, which would make it the biggest box office debut of 2026. The film, directed byDestin Daniel Cretton, has posted the best first-day advance ticket sales of any release since Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021. The first trailer set an all-time record with718.6 million viewsin its first 24 hours, becoming the first trailer in history to surpass 1 billion views in total. The campaign includes a Samsung global partnership activation tied to the film’s July 31 release.

Apple TV+ Makes First-Ever Hall H Appearance at San Diego Comic-Con

Apple TV+will make its first-ever appearance in Hall H atSan Diego Comic-Conon Saturday, July 25, occupying the marquee venue for a two-hour panel. The debut will showcaseWidow’s Bay— the horror comedy that earned 19 Emmy nominations this week — alongside the John Cena action film Matchbox: The Movie (October 9), Ryan Reynolds thrillerMayday(September 4), and sci-fi series Dark Matter and Silo. The Hall H debut represents the platform’s first-ever presence at the convention and a new chapter in Apple’s theatrical marketing strategy. Comic-Con runs July 21–26.

Disney Entertainment Television Confirms SDCC 2026 Panel Lineup

Disney Entertainment Televisionhas confirmed its panels and activations forSan Diego Comic-Con 2026, which runs July 21–26. The lineup includes dedicated panel time forPercy Jackson and the Olympians Season 3andAmerican Horror Story Season 13. The Rookie is also confirmed for SDCC panel time. The announcements come as Disney’s television division coordinates its fall marketing push through a major convention presence. This week, Disney Entertainment Television joins Apple TV+, CBS Studios, and Star Trek in confirming substantial Comic-Con marketing commitments for the San Diego event.

CBS Studios to Bring Supersized Panel Block to San Diego Comic-Con

CBS Studioswill take a supersized panel block toSan Diego Comic-Con 2026(July 21–26), featuring hit comedyGhosts(confirmed for Season 5) and vampire workplace comedyEternally Yours. CBS will host a special advance screening of the Eternally Yours series premiere at the convention, giving fans early access before the fall broadcast premiere. Both are CBS Studios productions. The announcements join a wave of SDCC marketing confirmations from Disney Entertainment Television, Apple TV+, and Star Trek this weekend, as networks accelerate convention-circuit investment ahead of the 2026–27 season.

Star Trek Celebrates 60th Anniversary With Hall H Event at SDCC

Star Trekwill celebrate its 60th anniversary with a two-part Hall H event atSan Diego Comic-Con 2026on July 25. A main-stage panel forStrange New Worlds Season 4— featuring series stars Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, and Ethan Peck alongside executive producers Akiva Goldsman and Alex Kurtzman — will be followed by a franchise-wide anniversary panel with cast from across the Star Trek universe, led by a special introduction fromRod Roddenberry. A free advance screening of Strange New Worlds Season 4 episodes will be held at the Balboa Theater in San Diego on July 24.