Luke Humphries says his World Grand Prix triumph has left him feeling ready to win a second World Championship – and hopes to face Luke Littler in the final.

Humphries landed a first major title since the 2025 Premier League as he recovered from 3-0 down to beat Gerwyn Price 6-4 in the final of the double-start event, sealing victory with an 11-darter having broken his opponents in 10 to clinch the ninth set.

‘Cool Hand’ defeated Littler to win the 2024 World Championship and last year’s Premier League but has lost his last four major finals against ‘The Nuke’, including at the 2025 World Grand Prx.

Humphries, who played four days in a row in Leicester last week, says winning in set-play has given him confidence ahead of the similar format at Alexandra Palace from December 11, live on Sky Sports.

The world No 2 told Sky Sports: “Four days on the trot is hard but I have done it so many times before. I know in the Worlds you have three gruelling days – quarters, semis, final.

“Now I have got that major tournament, it is going to put me in a good frame of mind that I can go on and win the World Championship again.

“My goal now is to make the World final and play [Littler] in it again and let’s see what can happen. The real fans of darts know I am still here and capable of winning stuff.

“I have come so close to beating Luke in some majors in the last six to eight months and I think he enjoys the battle as well.

“He deserves credit for what he has done in the sport. He is one of my closest friends on tour. I know a lot of people don’t like that but I do because he is such a great kid.

“He is amazing for the sport and the hate he gets is unjust.”

‘If I am in this game for another 15, 20 years, how much more can I win?

Humphries now has nine PDC major trophies, placing him outright fifth on the all-time list, behind only Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, reigning world champion Littler and James Wade.

“Nine major titles and two World Cups is insane and it’s been done in such a short space of time as well – three years to the day,” said Humphries, whose maiden major came at the 2023 World Grand Prix when he also beat Price in the final.

“If I am in this game for another 15, 20 years, how much more can I win?

“It’s not just one player winning everything. There are so many opportunities now, so many major tournaments. This is great for my confidence and hopefully I can pick up another big one this year.

“I am here and I’m still going to win some stuff. Those last four legs [against Price], I don’t think anyone would have stopped me. I felt so focused, so determined.

“After three or four months of not playing your best, people discredit you and think, ‘he is finished, he won’t win anything’ but I always seem to bounce back and pop up with a major tournament or final.”

Humphries sported a scab on his head during the World Grand Prix, which he attributed to an allergic reaction to make-up applied during filming for TV show bullseye.

The 31-year-old joked ‘Harry Potter did well, didn’t he?!’ when speaking on stage after beating Price and later added to Sky Sports: “It has been a big story of the week.

“I think I am alright but maybe it got infected or something so I will get that sorted.”

What’s next?

The European Tour season continues with the Swiss Darts Trophy (October 9-11) and the Dutch Darts Championship (October 16-18) before the European Championship takes place in Dortmund, Germany from October 22-25.

Sky Sports remains the home of darts with the Grand Slam of Darts (November 14-22) and World Darts Championship (December 10-January 3) both live. Stream darts and more through NOW with no contract.

Max Verstappen says his victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia was a “really special and emotional moment” after Red Bull claimed their first win of 2026.

Verstappen was at his imperious best as he mastered the mixed conditions and Safety Car restarts to beat championship leader Kimi Antonelli and maintain his streak of winning at least one race every season since joining Red Bull in 2016.

Only two months ago, Verstappen’s future was in the spotlight but he signed a new Red Bull contract during the summer break to stay with the team until at least the end of 2030, and Malaysia highlighted why the Dutchman had so much faith in the Milton Keynes squad.

How have Red Bull suddenly turned things around?

Having come within two points of becoming a five-time world champion last year, it became clear Verstappen would be unable to challenge for the title this season for the first time since 2020.

Red Bull, in collaboration with Ford, built their own power unit but it was actually the chassis which was a major weak point at the start of the season. In fact, the Red Bull-Ford engine was deemed to be the benchmark on the grid by the FIA after the first ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) review.

Verstappen has the ability to drive and get the most out of any racing car but even he struggled to have confidence in the unpredictable handling of the RB22 as he claimed just one podium in the opening seven races.

Red Bull brought a major upgrade package to June’s Austrian Grand Prix which got rid of the car’s excess weight and changed the aerodynamics.

It had an immediate effect as Verstappen finished less than two seconds behind race-winner George Russell on his way to second, was on course for third a week later at Silverstone until his rear wing failed, and took two more podiums before the summer break in Belgium and Hungary.

A rare mistake at his home race in Zandvoort saw Verstappen crash out on the opening lap but he was back on the podium in Monza and Madrid.

Red Bull brought more upgrades to Baku where Verstappen finished just two tenths behind Russell in Azerbaijan in F1’s closest finish since 2002.

Outside of his crashes at the British and Dutch Grands Prix, Verstappen has been on the podium in the other seven races since the Austria upgrades. In some ways, his dominant weekend in Malaysia should not be a surprise because Red Bull have been on an upward trajectory.

“We had a very complicated and tough start to the year with all sorts of problems and just not being competitive enough,” said Verstappen.

“But throughout the year, the team has been working very hard to understand our issues and bring good performance upgrades to the car and make it more driveable. Step by step, we’ve been getting closer and closer, and Sunday, and of course especially this whole weekend, we’ve been really in good form, so it’s amazing.

“Very enjoyable to win here and also have our first victory for our own engine. It’s an incredible project with a lot of partners and a lot of people that are dedicated to be where we are now, so a fantastic feeling.”

A new Red Bull era

Much credit must go to former team principal Christian Horner for the success of Red Bull-Ford powertrains, the venture he set up that has delivered far above expectations during its first campaign as an engine manufacturer.

However, Red Bull was somewhat in turmoil during Horner’s final years at the team due to a power struggle following the death of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022.

Several key members left the team including legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey, chief engineering officer Rob Marshall, sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, advisor Helmut Marko – and eventually Horner himself.

With it came question marks about Verstappen’s own future at the team in 2024 and 2025, particularly when his father Jos Verstappen fell out with Horner.

Laurent Mekies replaced Horner as team principal in July 2025 and the Verstappen camp appears to have a far more harmonious relationship with the Frenchman, with Max especially appreciating Mekies’ engineering background.

Twelve months ago, Red Bull suddenly found plenty of performance that saw Verstappen claim eight consecutive podiums, including four wins, to unexpectedly push Lando Norris close to the title.

How much of that was down to Mekies is hard to judge, given how quickly that step was made, but the development this year can certainly be put down to his leadership.

Mekies said following Verstappen’s win on Sunday: “The credit goes to all the people involved who have been working incredibly hard on this project over the past five years. Everyone in Milton Keynes and at the track deserves this moment and should celebrate it as an important step towards many more victories in the future.

“This result confirms the progress we have been making in recent months. We were already close several times, and today we converted that pace. The team has been working tirelessly to improve our package, and weekends like this are the reward for that effort.”

Verstappen’s new contract justified?

It’s far too early to say Verstappen has definitely made the right decision by committing his future to Red Bull, and this can only be truly answered in 2027.

However, it has become clear the combination of Mekies as team principal, trust in technical director Pierre Wache and chief performance engineer Ben Waterhouse – both of whom have been with Red Bull for over a decade – are key parts of the puzzle to effectively rebuild a new Red Bull era around Verstappen.

“Everyone is contributing a lot and always trying to find performance, upgrades and push the team forward,” Verstappen told Sky Sports F1.

“In Baku we were quick in the corners but not on the straights compared to Mercedes. In Malaysia, we were decent in the corners and quick on the straights.

“Sometimes we just need to understand the whole package – why we are quick, why we were not so quick and take it step by step.”

Red Bull have a history of developing their cars strongly and appear to be exhibiting that once more this season, so there’s no reason to think Verstappen won’t add to his 72 career wins during the seven remaining rounds.

Malaysia was just another reminder that the Red Bull-Verstappen combination is still an almighty force that was never likely to sleep for long, and may now be wide awake once more.

Formula 1 heads straight to Singapore for the last Sprint weekend of the season with track action starting this Friday, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime