Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is expected to leave Red Bull at the end of the season after his long-standing race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase agreed to join rivals McLaren.
The departure of the Dutchman’s trusted trackside ally has sparked intense speculation about his own future with the Milton Keynes-based team.
Former British driver Johnny Herbert believes the engineer’s exit is a clear indication that the reigning champion is preparing to invoke a performance-related release clause in his contract.
The defending constructors’ champions have endured a surprisingly difficult start to the current campaign, leaving their star driver with just 12 points from the opening three rounds.
End of an era at Red Bull?
If the four-time world champion is not sitting second or higher in the drivers’ standings by the summer break, he is legally permitted to walk away.
Lambiase has been a constant presence in the driver’s ear throughout his dominant title-winning years, forging one of the paddock’s most famous working relationships.
Herbert suggested that the timing of the engineer’s move to a resurgent McLaren points to a broader exodus from the current champions.
“Is this move almost confirmation in a way that Max is on his way at the end of the season too?”
Johnny Herbert
Rivals circling for champion’s signature
A potential departure would trigger an unprecedented bidding war among Formula 1’s elite manufacturers.
Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes are all considered viable destinations should the grid’s most dominant force decide to seek a new challenge.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has been a long-term admirer of the fiercely competitive racer and previously attempted to sign him earlier in the season.
“We know he’s very hungry to race in something that gives him that buzz.”
Johnny Herbert
The behind-the-scenes instability adds further pressure on a management structure that has already seen significant upheaval and key staff departures over recent months.
Former Fifpro president David Aganzo has launched a rival global players’ union in Madrid amid an escalating dispute between world governing body Fifa and the established players’ representative group.
The International Association of Footballers (AIF) was unveiled on Thursday with four founding unions.
It is being spearheaded by Aganzo, who currently heads the Spanish player union AFE.
He severed ties with Fifpro in February before announcing his intention to create a new worldwide representative body.
Growing tensions over player welfare
Relations between Fifa and Fifpro have been severely strained over the congested international football calendar.
The established union launched a legal complaint against the sport’s global governing body earlier in 2024.
They alleged that organisers failed to adequately consult players regarding the fixture schedule, thereby abusing a dominant position under competition law.
However, Aganzo was invited to a separate summit in Morocco last December where a consensus was reportedly reached on welfare issues.
Fifpro was excluded from that meeting and has refused to endorse the measures subsequently announced.
‘Footballers must make their own decisions’
Speaking at the launch in the Spanish capital, the AIF leader insisted his organisation would fight to give professionals a stronger voice.
We have the strength to fight and give a voice to footballers.
Founding this union was our duty because we are people with values.
The word ‘independence’ is fundamental for AIF, just as loyalty is key when negotiating. Footballers must make their own decisions, not accept unilateral ones.
Fifpro condemns ‘speculative attempt’
Fifpro, which comprises 70 national unions globally, issued a fierce rebuttal on Thursday.
They accused the Spaniard of establishing the rival body purely for personal motives.
The concept announced in Madrid by its current president appears nothing more than a speculative attempt to boost his own standing through a group which lacks the fundamental legitimacy to represent professional footballers globally.
The organisation further claimed that since departing, AFE has engaged with groups lacking democratic mandates or those previously expelled for mismanagement.
They firmly concluded that this fragmented approach to representation is not in the best interests of professional athletes.
Fifa formally acknowledged the creation of the AIF on Wednesday, reaffirming its commitment to open engagement with compliant stakeholders.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has received a significant triple injury boost after Alisson Becker, Joe Gomez, and Wataru Endo all returned to training ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match against Crystal Palace.
The Reds are seeking a third consecutive league victory to strengthen their Champions League qualification hopes following a recent Merseyside derby triumph.
However, the Anfield club will be forced into a goalkeeper change this weekend.
Giorgi Mamardashvili sustained a knee issue during the victory against Everton and is officially ruled out of the upcoming fixture.
Taking to social media to reassure supporters, the Georgian stand-in wrote:
Thank God everything is fine. Thank you all so much for your support and for being by my side. I’ll be back soon. Big win in the derby and three points.
Alisson eyes Manchester United return
First-choice stopper Alisson has been sidelined for the last six matches with a persistent injury problem.
The Brazilian international was photographed back on the grass on Thursday, providing a timely lift for the squad.
Despite resuming outdoor work, the veteran goalkeeper is reportedly targeting the highly anticipated clash with Manchester United on May 3 for his competitive comeback.
Meanwhile, defensive utility man Gomez looks set to feature immediately against the Eagles.
The England international sat out the recent domestic victory completely after featuring in a prior European defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Endo stepping up recovery
Midfield anchor Endo also joined the main group during the latest session at the club’s training facility.
The Japanese international has not featured since February after being stretchered off during a win over Sunderland.
His return to fitness will provide crucial squad depth for the demanding closing stages of the campaign.
Slot is expected to provide a definitive update on the availability of all three returning stars during his pre-match press conference on Friday morning.
Arsenal are increasingly hopeful that winger Bukayo Saka will recover from an Achilles injury in time for their Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid.
The England international has been absent from the Gunners’ past five fixtures across all competitions following a setback sustained after the Carabao Cup final.
However, there is growing optimism that the lightning-fast forward could feature in the upcoming journey to the Spanish capital.
The Hale End academy graduate might even be included in the matchday squad when Newcastle United visit Emirates Stadium four days prior to the European tie.
Attacking trio set for reunion
Manager Mikel Arteta could soon have the luxury of deploying his preferred attacking combinations once again.
Following the recent comebacks of Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz, the forwards are on the verge of sharing the pitch for the first time since the opening game of the campaign.
The three players have not started a match together since a resounding 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace in December 2024.
The talismanic number seven unfortunately suffered a hamstring problem during that fixture, severely limiting their time on the field as a collective unit.
Merino making steady progress
In addition to the encouraging updates surrounding their star winger, there have been positive developments regarding Mikel Merino.
The Spanish midfielder is expected to resume running within the next two to three weeks following an operation to insert a screw into his heel.
He is already moving freely around the club’s London Colney training base without the assistance of crutches.
Medical staff are increasingly confident that the summer signing will return to action before the domestic season concludes.
His primary objective remains proving his fitness ahead of the World Cup, a target that both the player and the national team hierarchy believe is highly achievable.
“He will be ready in time, barring any further setbacks.”
That is the confident verdict of the Spanish Football Federation’s head of medical services, who continues to closely monitor the player’s rehabilitation.
Eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt has warned Australian teenage sensation Gout Gout to stay focused on his athletics career after the 18-year-old broke the Under-20 200m world record.
The rising star recently clocked a stunning 19.67 seconds at the Australian Athletics Junior Championships in Sydney.
That extraordinary time surpassed Bolt’s own fastest mark as a teenager and established a new national record.
He also claimed the 100m title at the same event to cement his status as the sport’s brightest prospect.
Daunting senior debut awaits
The young sprinter is scheduled to make his senior Diamond League debut in Oslo this June.
He will face a formidable test against reigning 200m Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo in Norway.
Later that month, the Queensland native will line up against American superstar Noah Lyles at the Ostrava Golden Spike meet.
Speaking to CNN, Jamaican icon Bolt emphasised the importance of keeping a level head during this crucial transition.
“I think it’s so big a transition moving from juniors and to have the right people to help to watch you because when you start getting pulled left and right, you forget track and field,” Bolt said.
“So, hopefully, he has the right set of people who actually help to guide him and to keep him focused on track and field because the rest of the stuff will always be there. But if you mess up at track and field, then it all goes away.”
Embracing legendary comparisons
The 39-year-old track legend acknowledged that stepping up to senior competition will be a significant challenge.
Bolt hopes that any initial setbacks will motivate the prodigy to work even harder rather than leaving him disheartened.
The teenager’s blistering pace and running style have inevitably drawn constant comparisons to the 100m and 200m world record holder.
Rather than feeling overwhelmed by the immense expectations, the Australian has openly welcomed the pressure.
“It’s definitely inspiring, because to know that the rest of the world thinks and believes I’m looking like him and could potentially be him is something that can only fill me with confidence,” Gout told the Daily Mail.
A packed summer schedule
The teenage sensation previously reached the semi-finals during his senior World Championships debut.
While the Commonwealth Games take place in Glasgow this summer, he appears set to prioritise the World Under-20 Championships in Oregon.
If his current trajectory continues, his ultimate ambition of securing Olympic gold looks increasingly achievable.
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa has dismissed speculation surrounding his future after Kylian Mbappe engaged with a social media post linking Jose Mourinho to the club.
Pressure is mounting on the current head coach with Los Blancos sitting nine points behind leaders Barcelona in La Liga.
The Spanish giants face a trophyless campaign after being eliminated from all domestic and European cup competitions.
Speculation regarding a managerial change intensified when their star French forward liked a post highlighting Mourinho’s formidable win rate during his previous spell at the Bernabeu.
Focus remains on the pitch
Speaking ahead of Friday’s league fixture against Real Betis, the former defender insisted he pays no attention to online activities.
“These are things I don’t even consider.”
“It doesn’t bother me if he gives a like to Mourinho, Julia Roberts or anyone else. It has no importance.”
The reference to the American actress amusingly echoes Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, who named Roberts as one of his three idols in 2023.
Mourinho’s Bernabeu legacy
Club president Florentino Perez is reportedly assessing his options ahead of the summer break.
The current Benfica manager previously led the Spanish heavyweights between 2010 and 2013, famously securing a record-breaking 100-point league title.
When pressed on his own long-term prospects in the dugout, Arbeloa quickly redirected attention to the immediate fixture list.
“My responsibility is to win every game, that’s how I see it and that’s what I ask of the players.”
“We have to be professional and respectful of the badge. My role isn’t to motivate Real Madrid players.”
“They already set the highest standards for themselves, so my job is to prepare them for what they’ll face on the pitch.”
Gruelling run-in awaits
Real Madrid now embark on a challenging sequence of three consecutive away matches.
This difficult run culminates in a crucial El Clasico showdown against Barcelona on 10 May.
With only six games remaining to salvage some pride, maximum professionalism is required to navigate the final stretch of a deeply frustrating season.
Dejan Kulusevski is expected to remain at Tottenham Hotspur next season, even if the club suffers a devastating relegation to the Championship.
The Sweden international has not expressed any desire to leave the club despite their dire league position.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side are entrenched in the drop zone, sitting two points from safety with just five matches remaining.
Relegation battle intensifies
The north London club suffered a crushing setback last weekend when Georginio Rutter secured a 95th-minute equaliser for Brighton.
That late 2-2 draw prevented Spurs from closing the gap on 17th-placed West Ham United.
They must now secure a victory against already-relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux this weekend to keep their survival hopes alive.
Focused on rehabilitation
Kulusevski has spent the last 12 months sidelined with a serious injury and is solely determined to complete his rehabilitation.
The 25-year-old acknowledges a debt of gratitude to the club’s medical staff who have guided his recovery over the past year.
His current contract runs until 2028, ensuring the Tottenham board are under no financial pressure to sanction a sale.
Commitment to the rebuild
Retaining a player of his calibre would represent a massive boost for De Zerbi’s ongoing rebuilding plans.
Manager Thomas Frank has previously described the forward as a ‘key’ figure, a sentiment undoubtedly shared by the current Spurs coaching staff.
The former Juventus attacker is reportedly not the only established name willing to fight for the badge next season.
Archie Gray, James Maddison and Conor Gallagher have also indicated they are committed to helping the club bounce back should the worst happen.
Organisers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics have sold more than four million tickets during their initial release phase, signalling unprecedented global demand for the forthcoming Summer Games.
The first ticket drop saw vast allocations purchased by fans across 85 countries, with the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico and Japan emerging as the leading international markets.
Reynold Hoover, chief executive of the organising committee, expressed his delight at the immense public interest.
“The response to our initial on-sale was nothing short of historic.”
Record demand for new and women’s sports
Intriguingly, sessions featuring female athletes sold at a demonstrably higher rate than their male counterparts during this early purchasing window.
Artistic gymnastics emerged as the fastest-selling discipline overall, while allocations for football matches across seven nationwide venues were almost entirely depleted.
Fans also flocked to secure seats for newly integrated events, with flag football, lacrosse, softball and squash completely selling out their initial availability.
Local pricing and future allocations
Despite some localised complaints regarding high prices and additional fees, the committee confirmed that 95% of tickets priced under $100 were claimed during a regional presale.
Approximately half a million passes priced at just $28 were successfully secured by local buyers in the Los Angeles and Oklahoma City areas.
Supporters aiming for the second allocation draw must register their interest before 22 July, ahead of general sales commencing in August 2026.
Successful applicants will be permitted to purchase up to 12 tickets for standard events, alongside an additional 12 specifically for the football tournament.
A historic milestone for California
The Californian metropolis is preparing to join an exclusive club by hosting the Summer Olympics for a third time, following successful spectacles in 1932 and 1984.
Furthermore, the 2028 sporting extravaganza will mark the very first time the West Coast city has welcomed the Paralympic Games.