McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has expressed frustration over a lack of crucial engine data from supplier Mercedes following a massive performance gap at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
The reigning constructors’ champions found themselves significantly off the pace as the factory Mercedes team secured a dominant one-two finish in Melbourne.
George Russell led highly-rated rookie Kimi Antonelli across the line to give the Silver Arrows an early championship advantage.
Defending drivers’ champion Lando Norris could only manage fifth place, crossing the line a staggering 51 seconds behind the race winner.
His stablemate Oscar Piastri suffered a disastrous home race, failing to start after a bizarre incident on his way to the grid.
New regulations expose customer deficit
Formula 1 introduced sweeping changes to power unit regulations for the 2026 season, placing a heavier emphasis on electrical energy deployment.
While works teams manufacturing their own powertrains were expected to hold an initial edge, the Woking-based outfit were caught entirely off guard by the sheer scale of their deficit.
The Italian team boss revealed that discussions regarding data transparency with Mercedes High Performance Powertrains have been ongoing for several weeks.
“The discussion with HPP about having more information has been going on for weeks because, even in testing, we were pretty much going on track, run the car, look at the data, ‘oh, that’s what we have. Good, now we react to what we have’,” Stella said.
Simulations compromised by data blackout
Modern grand prix racing relies heavily on precise computer models, making unpredictable energy deployment a major competitive disadvantage.
“That’s not how you work in Formula 1. In Formula 1, what happens on track, you simulate,” he explained.
The former Ferrari engineer noted that a lack of prior knowledge restricts his engineering department’s ability to programme their new challenger effectively.
“This is the first time that we feel we are on the back foot even when it comes to the ability to predict how the car will behave and the ability to anticipate how we can improve the car,” added the McLaren chief.
Searching for a solution
Rival customer outfit Williams reportedly experienced similar difficulties with their powertrains, leaving them equally unprepared for the deployment characteristics in Australia.
Despite the early setback for the team that comfortably claimed the constructors’ crown just months prior, optimism remains that rapid gains can be found.
The 53-year-old believes there is immediate low-hanging fruit to unlock further pace from their current aerodynamic package.
However, he conceded uncertainty over whether these initial optimisations will be sufficient to completely bridge the yawning gap to the factory squad.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will be on the touchline for the League Cup final against Arsenal on 22 March despite incurring an automatic suspension for his sixth yellow card of the season.
The City manager received his latest booking during a 3-1 Premier League victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Saturday.
Under standard regulations, technical area occupants are handed a two-match touchline ban upon reaching six disciplinary cautions.
FA exemption explains Wembley reprieve
Specific Football Association guidelines state that major domestic finals are explicitly exempt from automatic accumulation suspensions.
This regulatory loophole guarantees Mikel Arteta will face his former mentor in the Wembley dugouts next month.
The north London outfit are currently navigating a chaotic and season-defining schedule across multiple elite competitions.
The Premier League leaders travel to face Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Crucial weeks await title contenders
They have also secured an FA Cup quarter-final berth following a narrow fifth-round victory over Mansfield Town.
Meanwhile, the reigning champions’ boss earned his recent caution after protesting a perceived foul by Kieran Trippier on winger Jeremy Doku.
He will still be required to serve his domestic suspension during an upcoming league fixture against West Ham.
The serial winner has chosen to take a highly sarcastic view of his growing disciplinary record.
I will tell you something – we have all the records in this country, all of them, despite everything.
We have the record of the manager with the most yellow cards. I want all records.
Pep Guardiola
The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed a trade to acquire veteran cornerback Taron Johnson from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a late-round draft pick.
Las Vegas will send a sixth-round selection to New York State, receiving a seventh-round pick in addition to the 29-year-old defensive back.
Buffalo had initially announced the player’s impending release on Friday alongside three other squad members.
However, holding back the official transaction wire listing allowed general manager Brandon Beane to secure draft compensation.
A defensive shift in Buffalo
The departure comes as the AFC East franchise transitions to a drastically different defensive philosophy.
New coordinator Jim Leonhard is shifting the unit from a traditional 4-3 base to a 3-4 system.
This tactical adjustment made their long-standing starting nickel corner expendable, despite an impressive track record.
Since cementing his starting role in 2020, no NFL team has utilised nickel packages more frequently than Buffalo’s league-leading 83.4% usage rate.
Addressing a critical weakness
For Las Vegas, the acquisition immediately addresses a glaring vulnerability within their secondary.
The Nevada-based outfit severely lacked both top-tier talent and reliable depth at cornerback throughout the previous campaign.
Kyu Blu Kelly struggled significantly before suffering a season-ending knee injury, allowing a team-high 559 receiving yards on 56 targets.
Meanwhile, recent third-round pick Darien Porter showed flashes of potential across 10 starts but remains raw in his ongoing development.
Rebuilding the Raiders secondary
The former fourth-round draft pick brings considerable experience to his new environment, boasting 572 career tackles and eight forced fumbles.
He will long be celebrated in upstate New York for a memorable 101-yard interception return against the Baltimore Ravens in the 2020 postseason.
Alongside this new addition, the Raiders are actively exploring options to retain unrestricted free agent Eric Stokes.
Las Vegas general manager John Spytek confirmed last month that he is working closely on securing the 27-year-old’s future.
We have had good dialogue about a possible reunion and I would love for him to return.
John Spytek, Raiders general manager
Iraq manager Graham Arnold has urged Fifa to reschedule their upcoming World Cup playoff match because regional conflict has left the majority of his squad trapped by airspace closures.
The Lions of Mesopotamia are scheduled to face either Suriname or Bolivia in Monterrey on 31 March.
However, Iraqi airspace is currently shut until 1 April following escalating tensions between neighbouring Iran and the United States.
Travel chaos threatens historic qualification
Nearly 60 percent of the national team’s first-choice squad is drawn from the domestic league.
These domestically-based players and key backroom staff remain entirely unable to fly out of the Middle Eastern nation.
“Please help us with this game because right now we are struggling to get our players out of the country of Iraq,” Arnold said.
A planned pre-match training camp in Houston has already been postponed due to severe visa and travel uncertainty.
Alternative proposals for governing body
The 62-year-old tactician has suggested allowing the initial playoff between Bolivia and Suriname to proceed this month.
Under his proposed alternative, the Iraqi side would then play the winner in the United States just a week before the global tournament begins.
“In my opinion, if Fifa were to delay the game it gives us time to prepare properly,” the former Australia boss added.
The head coach also noted that a delay would provide more time to determine whether Iran might withdraw from the competition altogether.
If the Iranians were to pull out, Iraq could qualify automatically, subsequently granting the United Arab Emirates a chance to contest the playoff instead.
Chasing a four-decade dream
The national side is desperately attempting to qualify for their first global tournament since their sole appearance in 1986.
Missile strikes in Erbil have already disrupted domestic fixtures, heavily impacting the preparation of local athletes.
The veteran Australian manager insisted there is little hope of fielding a competitive starting lineup assembled solely from overseas-based professionals.
Arnold successfully guided the Socceroos to the round of 16 at the 2022 tournament before suffering defeat against eventual champions Argentina.
“It wouldn’t be our best team and we need our best team available for the country’s biggest game in 40 years,” he said.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka progressed to the fourth round at Indian Wells after securing a dominant straight-set victory over Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian.
The Belarusian hit 23 winners to overcome a brief opening-set stumble and defeat the world number 35 by a 6-4 6-1 scoreline in California.
Despite double-faulting while attempting to serve out the first set, the top seed immediately broke back to claim the opener.
She then shifted through the gears to command the second set and safely secure her passage into the next stage of the tournament.
“I knew that she was not going to give up easily,” Sabalenka said of her opponent.
“That’s why I was super-focused, especially on my serve. I didn’t want to give her much opportunity so I was super-happy with the serving, with the game and of course with the win.”
Osaka awaits in blockbuster fourth-round clash
The Australian Open champion will now face former world number one Naomi Osaka in a highly anticipated contest.
The 16th-seeded Japanese star advanced to the last 16 by battling past Colombian Camila Osorio 6-1 3-6 6-1.
Osaka is currently making her return to the tour following an abdominal injury that forced her withdrawal ahead of the Australian Open third round in January.
“I reset my attitude and my shot selection,” Osaka explained to Sky Sports regarding her deciding-set performance against Osorio.
Zverev tested as Raducanu prepares for action
Elsewhere in the women’s draw, Britain’s Emma Raducanu is preparing to take on sixth-seeded American Amanda Anisimova.
Fourth-ranked US star Coco Gauff has also been drawn against rising Philippine talent Alexandra Eala.
In the men’s event, German fourth seed Alexander Zverev survived a challenging three-set encounter to defeat American Brandon Nakashima 7-6 (7-2) 5-7 6-4.
Meanwhile, reigning world number two Jannik Sinner is scheduled to face Canadian Denis Shapovalov in his third-round tie.
Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo has reclaimed the half-marathon world record after storming to victory in Lisbon with a time of 57 minutes and 20 seconds.
The 25-year-old shaved 10 seconds off the previous global marker set by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha in Valencia earlier in 2024.
It marks a return to the history books for the long-distance star, who previously clocked a record-breaking 57:31 on the same Portuguese course in 2021.
Historical return to Lisbon
The three-time world cross-country champion had threatened the record before, running a blistering 56:42 in Barcelona last year.
However, that performance was not ratified by World Athletics due to illegal pacing assistance during the event.
Returning to legally sanctioned competition in Lisbon, the Ugandan athlete established a rhythm early, covering the first 5km in 13:28 and reaching the 10km mark in 27:00.
He passed 15km in 40:52 before accelerating significantly to cover the subsequent 5km section in 13:31.
‘I tried to keep pushing’
“I’m so happy to break the world record,” Kiplimo said following the race.
“After the first 10km, I thought the world record was possible. I tried to keep pushing the pace in the final two kilometres.”
While Kiplimo dominated proceedings, there were strong performances from the chasing pack.
Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir finished second, crossing the line in 58:08.
His compatriot Gilbert Kiprotich rounded off the podium places in third with a time of 58:59.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the New York Knicks due to a left elbow contusion and foot arthritis.
It marks the second consecutive game the 41-year-old has missed, having also sat out Friday’s victory over the Indiana Pacers.
James sustained the elbow injury during the fourth quarter of Thursday’s 120-113 defeat by the Denver Nuggets.
Injury concerns for veteran
The four-time MVP fell to the floor after absorbing contact from Denver’s Nikola Jokic while scoring a layup.
Speaking after that loss, James described the immediate pain he felt on the court.
“It’s pretty sore right now. It felt like one of those funny bone situations, but like, super more intense.”
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers forward
This is the first time James has missed back-to-back matches since the opening 14 games of the 2025-26 campaign.
He began his record-setting 23rd season on the injured list because of sciatica affecting his lower back and right leg.
Impact on Lakers rotation
Despite his age, the veteran remains a crucial figure for Los Angeles, averaging 21.4 points with a 50.4% shooting accuracy this term.
He is also contributing 5.6 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game for the franchise.
The Lakers have managed to remain competitive in his absence, posting a 12-7 record without their talisman regarding games missed this season.
While James remains sidelined, head coach JJ Redick confirmed the team will receive a boost with the return of two key players.
Deandre Ayton and Maxi Kleber, who both missed the win against Indiana, have been cleared to play against New York.
Former Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has provided insight into Zinedine Zidane’s relaxed coaching methods as the Frenchman continues to be linked with the Manchester United managerial vacancy.
Michael Carrick remains in interim charge at Old Trafford until the end of the season.
However, speculation persists regarding a permanent successor this summer, with Zidane frequently cited as a candidate.
Bale reveals ‘relaxed’ approach
The retired Wales winger played under the 53-year-old during a trophy-laden era in the Spanish capital.
Together they lifted the Champions League three times, yet Bale suggests tactical instruction was minimal.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, the 34-year-old said: “Zidane as a coach? Honestly, he didn’t do much.”
“We’d go over some tactics before matches against Barcelona or Bayern – 15 minutes of defensive work.”
“Other than that, it was just possession games, shooting drills, and then we’d go home.”
Respect through ability
Despite the light tactical load, the former Tottenham star insisted the manager commanded the dressing room.
Bale noted that the 1998 World Cup winner earned authority through his legendary playing career and maintained high physical standards.
“He earned respect thanks to his qualities as a player,” Bale added.
“He participated in training, even beat me a few times – he’s still in great shape.”
United’s current trajectory
Zidane has been out of management since departing the Bernabeu for a second time in 2021.
Meanwhile, Manchester United sit third in the Premier League table.
Carrick had guided the side to six wins in seven games prior to a recent defeat by Newcastle United.
The Red Devils return to action next weekend when they host Aston Villa.