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Sports journalist, writer and published author with over 15 years of experience.
In motorsport, it is said that rain is the greatest leveller of them all. It separates the good drivers from the great drivers and the history books are the proof of the pudding. Michael Schumacher was known as the 'Regen Meister' for his masterful command of wet conditions in comparison to his rivals.
Max Verstappen secured pole position for the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, his last lap flyer on intermediate tyres in testing conditions besting the superb George Russell and his compatriot Lewis Hamilton. It was a dramatic end to qualifying after a dramatic session that saw a huge shunt for Lando Norris at Raidillon delay proceedings by almost half an hour.
W Series leader Jamie Chadwick and closest rival Alice Powell will resume rivalries as the ground-breaking series for women drivers only moves to the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The battle for the title couldn't be much closer as Chadwick leads Powell by just a solitary point after she beat her British compatriot to the chequered flag in Hungary last time out.
The ROKiT Venturi Racing team, partnered by Acronis, brought down the curtain on a superb season as Norman Nato bagged a maiden Formula E victory around the streets of Berlin.
Dennis Hauger is a step closer to winning his first Formula 3 title after beating Prema teammate Arthur Leclerc to the chequered flag in Hungary's feature race. The Norwegian driver had to be at his level best to master a treacherously wet circuit to beat pole sitter Leclerc to the flag, overtaking the Monegasque around the outside of Turn 3 on lap nine and holding on to take the win.
Esteban Ocon netted his first Formula One victory, winning the Hungarian Grand Prix from Sebastian Vettel and pole sitter Lewis Hamilton after a dramatic start to the race saw Max Verstappen punted off the track at the first corner in wet conditions.
Alice Powell jumped to the top of the W Series standings and sent the packed home grandstands into raptures, winning the Silverstone round from Fabienne Wohlwend and compatriot Jamie Chadwick.
Before the start of the 2021 W Series, most eyes were reasonably on a Jamie Chadwick versus Beitske Visser battle, a renewal of the rivalry from the inaugural 2019 championship. That scenario was thrown something of a curve ball during the opening round, when British driver Alice Powell led home compatriot Sarah Moore, Chadwick recovering from an early spin to finish sixth with Visser only 13 th.
Lewis Hamilton was left celebrating an 8 th British Grand Prix victory in front of a manic home crowd after a dramatic start to the race saw him collide with title rival Max Verstappen at Copse Corner, sending the Red Bull driver into the barriers at high speed.
Max Verstappen secured a historic first ever pole position via the new Formula One trial format of Sprint Qualifying, beating Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas to the flag. Hamilton had started from Sprint pole after Friday's qualifying session but that counted for nothing after the championship leader got another superb start off the line, out dragging his rival into the first corner.
Max Verstappen fans may now be starting to believe it is indeed the Dutchman's year after the Red Bull ace notched up his successive race victory of the season to extend his championship lead to 32 points over Lewis Hamilton.
Dennis Hauger produced a stunning weekend of driving to finish on the podium of all three races of the Austrian F3 round of racing, winning Saturday's first sprint from 12 th on the grid before coming home third in the reverse grid race later in the afternoon.
Max Verstappen underlined his title credentials by taking yet another pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix, finishing ahead of a sensational Lando Norris and teammate Sergio Perez, with defending champion Lewis Hamilton only fourth on the grid. Verstappen's pole was the third in succession and seventh of his F1 career to date.
It is now almost two years since Jamie Chadwick was left celebrating victory in the inaugural W Series for female racing drivers only, the COVID-19 pandemic leading to the postponement of the 2020 event.
Max Verstappen completed a deserved fourth victory of the season by leading the Styrian Grand Prix from pole to flag and extend his championship lead over rival Lewis Hamilton, who finished second from Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas and a charging Sergio Perez.
Max Verstappen put himself in pole position to extend his lead over rival Lewis Hamilton in the F1 drivers' standings after the Dutchman scorched to a second successive pole position for the Styrian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen made amends for the disappointment of his late tyre failure in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix by winning the French Grand Prix from Lewis Hamilton and extend his lead in the drivers' championship to 12 points.
Max Verstappen continued his impressive form in the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship by claiming pole position for the French Grand Prix ahead of title rival Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas with Red Bull Racing teammate Sergio Perez fourth.
A dramatic late tyre failure for Max Verstappen meant that Sergio Perez took an unlikely second race victory, winning from Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly as Lewis Hamilton out braked himself into the first corner on the final lap restart.
Max Verstappen took a maiden Monaco Grand Prix victory from Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris after pole sitter Charles Leclerc failed to make it to the grid. Hithero championship leader Lewis Hamilton could only finish seventh and fellow Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas was forced to retire from second with a crossed wheel nut during his pit stop.
Local hero Charles Leclerc made it the dream scenario for Ferrari fans after he put his car on pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix ahead of Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas. A time of 1m10.346s on his final run put him in prime position to start from the most important pole slot of the year.
Lewis Hamilton closed to within two race wins of yet another magical ton after a tactical masterstroke from his Mercedes team saw him overtake Max Verstappen six laps before the end of the race. Having conceded the lead off the line, Hamilton was forced to play a waiting game behind his closest championship rival and with both drivers on the soft compound tyre.
The amazing Lewis Hamilton continues to set records and seems to have no intention of slowing down, the Mercedes driver making it an incredible 100 poles in Formula One after qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix. Hamilton, who also grabbed pole in Imola, dialled in a characteristically late cracker of a lap to edge out major rival Max Verstappen and Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas.
Defending champion Antonio Felix da Costa moved into title contention once again by winning a dramatic Monaco ePrix from Robin Frijns and Mitch Evans as the lead switched places on the final lap.
Lewis Hamilton again proved the class of the field, winning the Portuguese Grand Prix in commanding fashion from early title rival Max Verstappen and Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas. Victory for the seven-time world champion marked his 97th in Formula One and second of the season.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, partnered by Acronis, began the Hypercar era in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) with a stunning victory in the prestigious Total 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
Valtteri Bottas grabbed a 17 th pole position of his Formula One career for the Portuguese GP, making Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton wait for his magical 100 th. In doing so, Bottas achieved an important milestone in his own right, tying the great Sir Jackie Stewart for starting in prime position on race day.
Jake Dennis led from pole to flag to seal a maiden ABB Formula E victory, the BMW I Andretti Motorsport driver leading home perennial bridesmaid Andre Lotterer and Alex Lynn after a flawless tactical drive. "Honestly, I am over the moon," said Dennis after his pole to flag victory.
Nyck de Vries won a dramatic inaugural Valencia e-Prix from Brits Oliver Rowland and Alexander Sims after several drivers run out of useable energy on the final lap of the race. It looked as if the DS TECHEETAH of Antonio Felix da Costa would emerge victorious having led from start to finish until a dramatic final lap.
The NIO 333 FE Team, partnered by Acronis, has announced that it has committed to the Gen3 era of racing in the FIA Formula E World Championship. As explained by Motorsport Tech at the start of 2021, the exciting new era of racing in the world's premier electric car series will see more powerful, lighter cars with progress in both performance and efficiency as well as faster charging and cost benefits.
Max Verstappen made up for the disappointment of his opening Bahrain GP defeat by winning the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix from Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris. After an incident-packed race that saw seven-time champion Hamilton slide off the circuit late on but recover to second, it was the Red Bull Racing driver who emerged victorious and cut his rival's lead to just a single point.
Lewis Hamilton inched ever closer to an incredible 100 career F1 poles after a superb late lap put the seven-time champion on pole position for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. In an exciting finish to qualifying, Hamilton went quickest but then had to wait nervously as his Red Bull rivals crossed the line behind.
Belgium's Stoffel Vandoorne emerged victorious in Race 2 of the Rome e-Prix double header, heading home Mahindra's Alexander Sims and the ROKiT Venturi of Norman Nato after another incident-packed race. Vandoorne has been on the pace all weekend, starting Saturday's race from pole position before a manhole cover forced a bizarre retirement as he careered into the wall to avoid a slowing Lucas Di Grassi.
Jean-Eric Vergne secured a tenth victory in his already illustrious Formula E career, winning a dramatic Rome e-Prix Race 1 from the Jaguar duo of Sam Bird and Mitch Evans. The DS TECHEETAH driver had started from fifth on the grid, but drove a superb tactical race, utilising his Attack Modes at key moments as his rivals fell by the wayside.
Reigning champion Lewis Hamilton produced one of the great defensive drives of his career to hold off a charging Max Verstappen and win a classic season opening 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix. With only laps remaining and Hamilton on delapidated hard compound tyres, the Englishman needed to dig deep to keep his biggest rival at bay.
Max Verstappen made it two pole positions in as many races as the 2021 Formula One season began in the fashion most neutral fans would have liked, the Dutchman piping rival Lewis Hamilton by just 0.388s. Red Bull Racing had appeared to have the upper hand throughout pre-season testing, and the Dutchman also topped all three free practice sessions leading into qualifying.
Dan Ticktum will continue in his role as development driver for the Williams Racing team in 2021, the team has announced. The 21-year-old joined the Grove-based outfit last year during an impressive rookie FIA Formula 2 campaign that saw him bag three podiums and a race victory.
To say the previous three seasons of George Russell's motorsport career have been a whirlwind would be something of an understatement. The Englishman shot to prominence in 2018 by bagging the prestigious F2 title, and he secured a first team drive with the famous Williams Racing F1 team in the process.
The NIO 333 FE Team, partnered by Acronis, seems to have turned a corner after a highly encouraging start to the 2021 ABB Formula E season. Following a troublesome couple of years fighting it out at the tail end of the grid, stalwart driver Oliver Turvey and new teammate Tom Blomqvist impressed in Ad Diriyah as both drivers made Super Pole and Turvey delivered points in both roeunds.
The Williams Racing team, partnered by Acronis, concluded a productive pre-season test session in Bahrain as preparations ramp up ahead of the 2021 Formula One season. It seems like only yesterday that cars were zooming around the Sakhir Circuit as the COVID disrupted season concluded with a double header in Bahrain before culminating in Abu Dhabi.
The historic Williams Racing F1 team, partnered by Acronis, has unveiled its Williams Mercedes FW43B car and livery ahead of the 2021 Formula One season. Always pleasing on the eye, the new livery appears to be a nod to the successful past and the classic blue and white design but with a twist that underlines its ambitions under US based Investment company, Dorilton Capital.
Williams Racing, partnered by Acronis, has confirmed thar Jack Aitken will continue in his role as the team's Official Reserve Driver for the 2021 Formula 1 season. Aitken joined the team at the start of the 2020 season, driving in FP1 at the Austrian Grand Prix before making his F1 debut with Williams at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix when George Russell replaced Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.
Reigning ABB Formula E Champion Antonio Felix da Costa made up for a disappointing opening round by securing a deserved podium in race 2 of the Diriyah ePrix.
At the end of the 2021 season opening FIA Formula E World Championship round in Ad Diriyah, the record books will show that Mercedes-EQ driver Nyck de Vries dominated every single session, culminating in a deserved victory.
It is a little over six months since Antonio Felix da Costa was crowned Formula E champion at the Berlin Tempelhof Airport Circuit. That there was a season at all for the world's premier electric racing series was thanks to organisers hosting six races in nine days with three different track configurations, albeit sadly behind closed doors.
Stefanos Tsitsipas admitted he reached the kind of zen like state of playing peak tennis when he needed it the most after clawing his way back from two sets down to defeat the great Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open quarter final encounter.
Former Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal said he had no complaints and was still a 'lucky man' despite the disappointment of surrendering a two-set lead against Stefanos Tsitsipas to lose his quarter final against Stefanos Tsitsipas. Nadal, whose only ever Australian title came in 2009, was seemingly cruising to yet another semi final after taking the opening two sets in dominant style 6-3, 6-2.
Dominic Thiem yet again fought back from two sets down to beat a highly entertaining Nick Kyrgios in a classic late night match at the Australian Open. The match began in true Kyrgios fashion - an underarm serve, tweener and drop shot in his opening service game after breaking Thiem.
Novak Djokovic has blamed the Australian Open quarantine situation for the spate of injuries in the tournament and has cast doubt on the calendar going forwards. The defending eight-time Australian Open champion conceded that he was on the brink of withdrawing from his match against Taylor Fritz in the third round with an abdominal injury and explained that he was not alone.
Novak Djokovic survived an almighty scare in overcoming American Taylor Fritz to advance to the fourth round of the Australian Open but a suspected muscle tear means he may still have to withdraw from the tournament.
Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev caused the upset of the Australian Open to date after dumping eighth seed Diego Schwartzman out of the tournament 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 on the John Cain Arena. It wasn't so much the scoreline, but the manner of victory for the world No.114 that was impressive, who bludgeoned an incredible 51 winners with huge forehands taken early and penetrating flat backhands.
It was a highly eventful third round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Friday featuring big upsets, epic fightbacks and an injury scare for Novak Djokovic. It was a highly eventful third round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Friday.
Airspeeder, the world's first flying car series, is ramping up testing and development of its full-sized remotely operated electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle (cVTOL). The Airspeeder Mk3 was unveiled to an expectant world public on February 4 and is capable of achieving 120 kph and utilising LiDAR, RADAR and machine vision.
Lewis Hamilton will go in search of a record breaking eighth Formula One drivers' title with Mercedes after the Englishman agreed a new contract with the all-conquering team. Mercedes has won every title in the new Hybrid era dating back to 2014 and Hamilton has won six drivers' titles with the team as well as an incredible 74 F1 races.
Jenson Button has returned to the team that gave him his big break as a Formula One driver as a fresh faced 20-year-old, Williams Racing. It was 21 years ago that Button was announced as first team driver alongside German Ralf Schumacher, and now the 2009 world champion re-joins the famous team in the capacity of Senior Advisor in a multi-year agreement.
Reigning W Series champion Jamie Chadwick says that the experience gained racing for Prema and as a development driver for Williams has been invaluable for her development as a driver.
Jamie Chadwick is looking forward to a busy 2021 motorsport season as she finally defends her 2019 W Series crown, and competes in the inaugural Extreme E Series. The 2020 W Series was sadly cancelled due to the global COVIS-19 pandemic that continues to affect the world at large.
Any serious follower of motorsport will have to admit that there's a secret racing driver within them, just waiting to get out. For the most part, however, and ever since the invention of the internal combustion engine, such pursuits have remained in the domain of the wealthy, the track-day enthusiast or the racing driver himself.
The BWT Racing Point team, partnered by Acronis, remained proud of a strong 2020 season despite losing third in the constructors' standings to rivals McLaren. It was an unfortunate end to the season for the Silverstone based team in Abu Dhabi, as Sergio Perez came down from the highs of his fantastic Sakhir GP victory with a lap 10 retirement due to a suspected oil pressure issue.
Max Verstappen finished off his Formula One season in style by winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, taking the chequered flag ahead of Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton. After what has been a phenomenal effort to manage 17 races in a season affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the incredible dramas of the back-to-back Bahrain races, this was a processional race more akin to the final stage of the Tour de France.
Max Verstappen grabbed a superb first pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as a scintillating late lap saw him edge the Mercedes duo of Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton. It had looked as if Bottas would take his second consecutive pole after he beat Hamilton's stand-in George Russell to the top slot at Bahrain last time out.
The BWT Racing Point team, partnered by Acronis, will be looking to finish off the season on a high and cement third place in the constructors' standings at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend. Following on from Sergio Perez's spectacular victory in Bahrain and Lance Stroll's podium, the team finds itself an enviable third place in the standings behind big hitters Mercedes and Red Bull Racing.
After 61 laps of racing in the Sakhir Grand Prix, it was all going so swimmingly well for Mercedes debutant George Russell, the Englishman having overtaken established teammate Valtteri Bottas off the line whilst maintaining a comfortable gap. He was driving like a seasoned champion, having only learned days earlier that he would be filling in for the COVID-afflicted Lewis Hamilton.
Sergio Perez came from the back of the field to grab a sensational maiden grand prix victory, after a rare pit stop mix up late in the race cost Mercedes an almost certain 1-2.
Mick Schumacher will begin life as a Formula One driver as reigning F2 champion after a chaotic race saw both himself and title rival Callum Ilott drop from third position out of the points. Just taking a moment ❤️ Yes @SchumacherMick, you really are #F2 champion!
Valtteri Bottas pipped temporary Mercedes teammate George Russell to pole position for the Sakhir Grand Prix, but only just - the Finn edging it by just 0.142s as Max Verstappen was his customary third on the grid.
George Russell put in a mightily impressive performance in his first competitive outing for the Mercedes AMG F1 team by topping the lap times after Friday practice for the Sakhir GP. The Williams Racing driver only learned earlier in the week that he would replace the COVID-19 afflicted Lewis Hamilton in the team, a hasty seat fit and car adjustment required to get the Englishman ready for the weekend.
Mick Schumacher will partner Nikita Mazepin at the Haas F1 team for the 2021 season and beyond, the team has announced. The news that everyone was expecting came on the Wednesday morning before the Sakhir Grand Prix weekend, after Mazepin was confirmed by the team the day before.
George Russell will replace the COVID-stricken Lewis Hamilton for the upcoming Sakhir Grand Prix with Jack Aitken filling in for him at Williams, the respective teams have announced. Russell, who has been on the Mercedes books since 2017 before being released to Williams after his championship winning F2 season, was the obvious choice as he was in Bahrain anyway and is seen as one of the most talented drivers on the grid.
Sergio Perez was quickly able to shrug off the disappointment of a late retirement costing him a podium in the Bahrain Grand Prix when he learned the news that Romain Grosjean was safe and well.
Newly crowned seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton edged ever closer to a scarcely believable 100 pole positions in Formula One after grabbing top slot for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Hamilton's mark of 1m27.264s set a new lap record at the Sakhir circuit and meant it was an 11 th front row lockout for the dominant Mercedes team in 2020.
Lewis Hamilton chalked up a 95 th career grand prix victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix after Romain Grosjean thankfully emerged unscathed after a frightening accident on the opening lap.
The BWT Racing Point team, partnered by Acronis, is fully focused on consolidating its third place in the constructors' standings as Formula One finishes the 2020 season with three races in 14 days.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, partnered by Acronis, added the drivers' championship title to the team title it had already secured as Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López won the 2019-2020 FIA WEC title with victory in the 8 Hours of Bahrain.
Lewis Hamilton matched the great Michael Schumacher's record of seven Formula One drivers' titles after another supreme drive saw him win the Turkish Grand Prix from Sergio Perez and old rival Sebastian Vettel.
The BWT Racing Point team, partnered by Acronis, leapfrogged rivals McLaren and Renault to third in the constructors' standings after Sergio Perez finished a fine second at the Turkish Grand Prix.
Lance Stroll grabbed a first career pole position for the Turkish Grand Prix as his BWT Racing Point team, partnered by Acronis, made a bold late call to switch to the intermediate tyre.
It is with some degree of excitement that Istanbul returns to Istanbul Park for Round 14 of the F1 championship following a hiatus of nine years. The 2011 race, won by Sebastian Vettel, was an absolute classic. And this year's edition also promises to deliver after the excitement produced by the last few grands prix.
Australia's John Millman had to dig upon all of his reserves to finally see off French veteran Gilles Simon in an epic three-set battle in Sofia, winning 7-5, 6-7, 6-2 in three hours and fifteen minutes. ATP Sofia Open second round MILLMAN d.
Daniil Medvedev recorded his third victory over Novak Djokovic in seven matches after a near faultless performance led to a 6-3, 6-3 victory at the Nitto ATP Tour Finals.
Alexander Zverev says the possibility of not being able to practice during quarantine for the Australian Open would render the tournament 'a lottery'. Because of the current COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the Australian government, it is possible that if players cannot arrive in Australia until January 1, they have to quarantine for 14 days and they can't even go outside to practice.
Alexander Zverev kept his Nitto ATP Tour Finals chances alive after seeing off a robust challenge from Diego Schwartzman, the German winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
Day 3 of the Rolex Paris Masters saw early victories for favourites Diego Schwartzman, Milos Raonic, and Alexander Zverev. Daniil Medvedev advanced when Kevin Anderson retired. No 1 seed Rafael Nadal kicked off his Paris campaign with a 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 victory over Feliciano Lopez on Wednesday night.
Diego Schwartzman secured his first victory over Frenchman Richard Gasquet in four attempts, underlining his reputation as one of the tournament favourites with a 7-5, 6-3 victory. GASQUET d.
Frenchman Ugo Humbert advanced to the second round of the Rolex Paris Masters after he edged out No 2 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in a classic second-round match, winning 7-6, 6-7, 7-6. The key information: There was nothing between the players, Humbert winning two points fewer but one more game in this classic match, which lasted three hours, 16 minutes.
Ugo Humbert picked up one of the biggest wins of his career at Bercy on Tuesday while Stanislas Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet were among other notable names to advance on day two.
Everybody makes mistakes. Yet nowhere are they greater magnified than in front of millions of watching people on the global stage that is televised sport. When George Russell attempted to put extra temperature into his tyres whilst running directly behind the Safety Car caused by Max Verstappen's late accident in the Emilia Romagna GP, his [...]
Sergio Perez and the BWT Racing Point team, partnered by Acronis, were left to rue a missed opportunity of a very realistic podium in the Emilia Romagna GP after the team opted to pit under the late Safety Car. Perez was running strongly behind the leaders when Max Verstappen suffered his right rear tyre failure [...]
Lewis Hamilton benefitted from a Virtual Safety Car at just the right moment but also played the overcut card to perfection to win the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix from teammate Valtteri Bottas and seal a record seventh consecutive constructors' title for Mercedes.
A superb last gasp lap from Valtteri Bottas meant that he pipped Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton to pole position for the Emilia Romagna GP, as Max Verstappen starts from his traditional third.
With little chance to draw breath since Lewis Hamilton became the most successful Formula One driver in terms of race victories, the COVID-19 Formula One calendar takes a quick hop from Portugal to Italy for the 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Sergio Perez salvaged six valuable points for the BWT Racing Point team, partnered by Acronis, despite an early collision with Max Verstappen that sent the Mexican spinning off and to the back of the field.
Lewis Hamilton became the most successful Formula One driver of all time with 92 race victories after recovering from a tricky opening lap to win the Portuguese Grand Prix from teammate Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen.
Lewis Hamilton edged ever closer to an incredible 100 th career F1 pole position after pipping Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in qualifying for the Portuguese Grand Prix. After both drivers opted for the medium compound Pirelli rubber to set their quickest times in Q2, it was Hamilton who decided to have three laps on the soft tyre in Q3, and it was only on his final run that he beat the Finn's time.
The BWT Racing Point F1 team, partnered by Acronis, takes a step into the unknown this weekend when Formula One makes its debut at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve.
The Renault DP World F1 Team has announced that newly crowned FIA Formula 3 champion Oscar Piastri will drive the Renault R.S.18 at the Bahrain International Circuit later this month.
Australia's Alex De Minaur backed up his UTS3 showdown triumph over Richard Gasquet by again beating the Frenchman, this time in the opening round of the European Open in Antwerp. DE MINAUR d. GASQUET 3-6, 7-6, 6-3 Key info: Gasquet served six double faults, three in his final game that ultimately proved his undoing.
The NIO 333 Formula E Team, partnered by Acronis, has revealed a number of important changes since the culmination of the 2019/20 season in an effort to further propel the team up the grid for Season 7.
Lewis Hamilton finally equalled the great Michael Schumacher's record of 91 grand prix victories after teammate and title rival Valtteri Bottas retired on lap 19 with an engine problem. It meant that Hamilton, who initially trailed Bottas before the Finn made an error into Turn 1, was left in clear air to head home Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo to win the race and create his own piece of history.
Valtteri Bottas kept up the momentum gained from winning the Russian Grand Prix by grabbing pole position from Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton with Max Verstappen his customary third on the grid. Bottas' time of 1m25.269s was a surprising .256s ahead of title rival Hamilton, Verstappen .293s off the pole sitter.
ROKiT Venturi Racing, partnered by Acronis, has announced that test driver Norman Nato will partner Edoardo Mortara as first team driver for the 2020/21 season.
Iga Swiatek came out on top of the surprise semi-final battle of the unseeded players, downing qualifier Nadia Podoroska 6-2, 6-1 in the pair's first meeting. SWIATEK d. PODOROSKA 6-2, 6-1 Key info: Swiatek blazed 23 winners to Podoroska's 6 in what were extremely tricky conditions.
Sofia Kenin achieved a first victory over fellow Floridian Danielle Collins to advance to the semi-finals of the French Open, where she will play Petra Kvitova. KENIN (4) d. COLLINS 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 Key match stats: 37 winners and a first-serve percentage of 65 was the key to Kenin's victory.
Twelfth seed Diego Schwartzman advanced to his first ever French Open semi-final after defeating third seed Dominic Thiem in an epic encounter, winning 7-6, 5-7, 6-7, 7-6, 6-2. French Open quarter final SCHWARTZMANN (12) d. THIEM (3) 7-6, 5-7, 6-7, 7-6, 6-2.
It was well after midnight when Rafael Nadal finally put young opponent Jannik Sinner metaphorically to bed and the battling duo would have done just that after their match finished at 1.30am French time. Due to consistent rainy Parisian weather over the first week and a half, a backlog of matches has accumulated, with fortunately the new roof on Philippe Chatrier able to accommodate matches.
Iga Swiatek followed up her impressive giant-killing performance against top seed Simona Halep by defeating Italy's Martina Trevisan 6-3, 6-1 and make the semi-finals of the 2020 French Open. SWIATEK d. TREVISAN 6-3, 6-1 Key match stats: The stats will tell you this was a close match as far as winners hit.
Reigning French Open Champion and 12-time winner Rafael Nadal withstood a stern test from qualifier Jannik Sinner to reach the semi-finals for the 13th time, winning 7-6, 6-4, 6-1. NADAL (2) d. SINNER 7-6, 6-4, 6-1 Key match stats: Nadal has to be up there with Connors and Djokovic as one of the greatest returners of all time.
Novak Djokovic's quest for a second French Open title gathered further momentum as the world No.1 dismantled Ricardas Berankis 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. DJOKOVIC (1) d. BERANKIS 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 Key info: All Novak Djokovic's stats were great, but losing just two points on first serve the most impressive of all.
Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena recorded the win of his career so far, upsetting Canadian ninth seed Denis Shapovalov 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 8-6. CARBALLES BAENA d. SHAPOVALOV (9) d. 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 8-6 Key info: Shapovalov outscored Carballes Baena in most departments, including winners and net points.
Former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko marched into the third round of the 2020 tournament after ousting second seed Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-2. Roland-Garros, second round OSTAPENKO d.
All the day 5 results and stories from Roland Garros as former champion Jelena Ostapenko stuns second seed Karolina Pliskova in straight sets. With the early defeat of Karolina Pliskova, Australian Open Champion Sofia Kenin was the highest seeded player remaining in the bottom half of the draw.
All the biggest stories and results from the men's draw at day 5 of Roland Garros, including an epic five-set defeat for Denis Shapovalov. Even the most bold or foolhardy of gamblers wouldn't have bet on anything but a straight sets victory for world No.1 Novak Djokovic.
World No. 59 Fernando Verdasco has confirmed in L'Equipe that he intends to take legal action against the French Open after missing the tournament due to a positive COVID 19 test that could have been wrong. Fernando Verdasco had previously returned a positive result without showing any symptoms in August but subsequently returned negative results after his Paris test.
Serena Williams has been forced to withdraw from the 2020 French Open after feeling a recurrence of the Achilles injury that hampered her US Open challenge. Serena Williams was due to play Tsvetana Pironkova in her second-round match on Wednesday but after a brief warm-up, the 23-time Grand Slam champion realised she would not be able to play.
Kristina Mladenovic was involved in a bizarre point that cost her the opening set when 5-1 up as Umpire Eva Asderaki failed to spot a 'not up' from opponent Laura Siegemund. Kristina Mladenovic is going through a tough time at the moment.
All the breaking news and results from Day 3 of the women's singles at Roland Garros, including a scare for second seed Karolina Pliskova and a big upset engineered by Clara Tauson. Jelena Ostapenko announced herself to the tennis world by upsetting Simona Halep to win the French Open in 2017.
Men's singles first-round action is wrapping up at Roland-Garros on Tuesday. Among the winners are Novak Djokovic, Matteo Berrettini, and Cristian Garin. World No 1 Novak Djokovic got the men's singles schedule on Court Philippe-Chatrier off to a routine start, as he dismissed Mikael Ymer 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and 38 minutes.
Lewis Hamilton will have to wait another race to equal the great Michael Schumacher's record of 91 grand prix wins after successive 5 second time penalties before the race cost him dear. Prior to forming up on the grid, Hamilton stopped in an unsafe place outside the pit lane to practice a race start and was handed two separate five second penalties.
Mick Schumacher extended his lead at the top of the F2 championship standings after leading home Yuki Tsunoda title rival Callum Ilott for a dominant feature race victory in Sochi. And the German backed up that performance with a fourth double podium of the season when he was running third in Sunday's sprint before it was red flagged.
Lewis Hamilton recorded an incredible 96 th pole position of his glittering career after making it into Q3 by the skin of his teeth following a big crash from Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel. When Vettel lost control of his Ferrari into Turn 4 after running over the apex kerb, Hamilton was outside of the top ten when the session was red flagged with just over two minutes remaining.
Lance Stroll narrowly missed out on what would have been a second podium in as many races but the bigger picture is that he thankfully emerged unscathed after a huge crash late in Sunday's Tuscan Grand Prix at Mugello.
Prema's Oscar Piastri was crowned F3 champion in his rookie season after a thrilling final race of the year saw title rival Logan Sargeant shunted out on the opening lap whilst Theo Pourchaire's third place finish left him just two points shy of the Australian.
Lewis Hamilton quickly put the disappointment of last Sunday's Italian Grand Prix behind him by winning a chaotic inaugural Tuscan Grand Prix from teammate Valtteri Bottas and Alexander Albon, who edged out Renault's Daniel Ricciardo in the final laps.
Lewis Hamilton did what he does best, claiming an incredible 95 th career pole position in Formula One and seventh of the season, finishing ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas for yet another Mercedes lockout, as Max Verstappen made it a familiar 1-2-3 on the starting grid, 0.365s off the pole time.
Friday's free practice session for the first ever Tuscan Grand Prix gave fans and drivers a taste of what is to come over the weekend on what is evidently a spectacular fast and sweeping layout. The fact that the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton topped the lap times will come as little surprise to most, possibly with the exception of Hamilton himself.
It was perhaps one of the most open secrets in the Formula One paddock, but Racing Point has confirmed ahead of the Tuscan Grand Prix weekend that Sebastian Vettel will join the rebranded Aston Martin team for the 2021 season, replacing the outgoing Sergio Perez.
Serena Williams is once again within touching distance of equalling Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 grand slam singles titles after recovering from a set and a break down to defeat fellow mum Svetana Pironkova on Arthur Ashe. Serena Williams d.
This year's US Open has proven to be one for the 'Next Generation' on the men's side of the draw. Tennis Majors takes a look at the players set to take over the mantle from the 'Big 4'.
Daniil Medvedev came out on top of an intriguing all-Russian encounter in the quarter-finals of the US Open to defeat compatriot Andrey Rublev and advance to another semi-final. Medvedev d. Rublev 7-6(6), 6-3, 7-6(5) Key match stats: On paper, there was very little to choose between the pair, but Medvedev bossed the count on clean winners by 50-22.
Fifth seed Alexander Zverev came from a set down to defeat a valiant Borna Coric and advance to the semi-finals of the US Open. Key stats: Zverev more consistent on serve, putting in 71% of first serves in, and winning 76% of first serve points.
Lance Stroll and his Racing Point team, partnered by Acronis, were left celebrating the first podium of the Racing Point era, since the team changed identity and ownership from Force India.
It was the end of an era for the famous Williams F1 team as that of a family owned and run outfit on Sunday, as 43 years and 739 grands prix of racing ended at the iconic Monza circuit.
Pierre Gasly won the wackiest of wacky grands prix from Carlos Sainz and Lance Stroll after Mercedes wrongly boxed Lewis Hamilton for a tyre change when the pit lane was closed after a heavy crash from Charles Leclerc.
Frederik Vesti charged from ninth on the grid to win his second race of the season, Oscar Piastri's third place finish meaning Prema were once again crowned team champions.
Lewis Hamilton continued his domination of the 2020 Formula One season by taking a 94 th career pole position for the Italian Grand Prix, the reigning champion quickest ahead of Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas and the outstanding Carlos Sainz.
New Australian great hope Alex de Minaur perhaps signalled a changing of the guard after the 21st seed came through a highly entertaining match, defeating Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-3, 6-7, 7-5. US Open second round, men's singles De Minaur d.
Vasek Pospisil produced one of the finest performances of his singles career to defeat compatriot Milos Raonic and advance to the third round of the US Open. US Open second round, men's singles Pospisil d.
Tsvetana Pironkova returned to the big time in fine style after the birth of her first child, upsetting tenth seed Garbine Muguruza after three years away from the tour. US Open second round, women's singles Pironkova d.
Five-time US Open champion Serena Williams came from a break down in both sets to beat compatriot Kristie Ahn and advance to the second round of the tournament. US Open 2020 second round Williams d.
Andy Murray fought back from two sets down and saved a match point to defeat Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka and advance to the second round of the US Open. It was another one of those nail-biting efforts from Murray, who seems to love facing adversity and rising to the challenge, the Scot coming back from a two-set deficit for the tenth time in his career to triumph.
Lewis Hamilton backed up his dominant qualifying performance at the Belgian Grand Prix to take his fourth victory at the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit, winning from teammate Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen. Daniel Ricciardo continued his resurgence at Renault by finishing an impressive fourth ahead of Esteban Ocon, Alexander Albon and Lando Norris, as Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez rounded out the top ten.
Robert Shwartzman regained the lead of the FIA Formula 2 championship after leading home teammate Mick Schumacher for a Prema 1-2 in Sunday's sprint race. It was a dominant performance from the Russian driver, who took advantage of a collision between Dan Ticktum and Roy Nissany who were contesting the lead into Les Combes, the latter having to retire from the race and bringing about a second Safety Car situation.
Logan Sargeant regained the lead of the FIA Formula 3 championship after leading home Prema teammate Frederik Vesti in Sunday's sprint race at Spa for a 1-2 for the Italian team, partnered by Acronis. The American had started the reverse-grid race in third position after a disappointing Saturday saw him finish eighth, having being hampered by engine issues.
Yuki Tsunoda dedicated his second F2 race victory of the season to Antoine Hubert, who tragically lost his life at Spa-Francorchamps last year. Before the race, drivers and team members stood for a minute's silence on the grid and were joined on the grid by members of the Hubert family as well as Juan Manuel Correa, who was also involved in the highly unfortunate accident and was fortunate to escape with his life.
Lewis Hamilton continued his dominance of the 2020 Formula One season by smashing Sebastian Vettel's 2018 lap record and taking pole position by 0.511s from Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, with Max Verstappen third for Red Bull.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen emerged quickest of all after Friday's free practice for the Belgian Grand Prix, the Dutchman topping the timesheets from Daniel Ricciardo's Renault and Lewis Hamilton.
The BWT Racing Point team, partnered by Acronis, cemented its growing reputation as 'best of the rest' behind the dominant Mercedes and Red Bull outfits by coming home fourth and fifth after a strong Spanish Grand Prix showing.
Debating who's the greatest is an age-old favourite amongst all sports fans. Who would win between Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson? Was Maradona better than Messi? And who is the fastest racing driver of all time?
Lewis Hamilton gained revenge over Max Verstappen to come out on top of another close battle between arguably the two best drivers in the sport to win the Spanish Grand Prix from the Dutchman and his teammate, Valtteri Bottas.
Lewis Hamilton gained pole position revenge over Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas to record an amazing 150 th front row start, yet another record for the Englishman. It was also Hamilton's 92 nd pole in F1 and fifth in Barcelona as he closes on that magical century, Max Verstappen once again holding the Racing Point duo at bay, the returning coronavirus-free Sergio Perez doing well to outqualify teammate Lance Stroll.
A Red Bull Racing tactical and driving masterclass saw Max Verstappen take a brilliant victory in the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, the Dutchman winning from home favourite Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, despite starting from fourth on the grid.
Valtteri Bottas grabbed pole position revenge for the 70th Anniversary British GP at Silverstone as super-sub Racing Point stand-in Nico Hulkenberg was third quickest on only his second race weekend back in F1. Bottas looked set for pole last weekend before a typical last-ditch Hamilton special denied the Finn by hundredths.
When German racing driver Daniel Abt was dismissed from his Audi Formula E team for having a professional Esports gamer stand in for him during the Formula E Race at Home challenge, he was an understandably distraught man.
Lewis Hamilton delighted many British F1 fans watching around the world by winning a record seventh home Grand Prix from Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, despite his tyre delaminating on the final lap. It should certainly have been a stark warning to the Mercedes pit crew when Valtteri Bottas, running second at the time, suffered an identical left-front delamination with two laps to go.
Lewis Hamilton recovered from a rare spin late in Q2 to notch up an incredible seventh pole position at Silverstone and a 91 st of his career, as he also goes in search of a seventh British Grand Prix victory.
BWT Racing Point driver Lance Stroll backed up the team's excellent start to the delayed 2020 season by finishing on top of the time sheets after a blisteringly hot opening day of free practice for the British Grand Prix.
There will be a very different feel around the Formula One paddock as teams return to racing action at one of the sport's most historic venues. The first of two British Grand Prix weekends will mark the 70 th anniversary of the famous race, which has been held at the Silverstone circuit on the championship calendar since 1950 and has been a mainstay on the F1 calendar ever since.
The BWT Racing Point team, partnered by Acronis, is rapidly building a reputation as 'best of the rest' in the pecking order behind the mighty Mercedes AMG F1 Team. After a strong start to the season at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez qualified on the second row of the grid ahead of both Red Bulls and Ferraris for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton again proved the class of the field as the Englishman backed up his dominant Styrian Grand Prix victory with an equally impressive win at the Hungarian Grand Prix, matching the great Michael Schumacher's tally of 8 victories there.
Lewis Hamilton continued his mightily impressive form to take pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix as both Mercedes drivers smashed the existing lap record to lock out the front row. Pole position was Hamilton's 90 th in Formula One, and afterwards he humbly paid tribute to the team that made it possible.
Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton laid down an ominous statement of intent following yet another dominant 1-2 in free practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Reigning world champion and seven-time Hungarian GP winner Hamilton is hoping to match the great Michael Schumacher's tally of eight F1 victories around the Hungaroring on Sunday, and the Englishman was again on song as a time of 1m16.003s was 0.086s quicker than teammate Valtteri Bottas.
Lewis Hamilton again proved a master of wet weather conditions as the reigning world champion produced a scintillating lap to take pole position for the Styrian Grand Prix from Red Bull's Max Verstappen and the McLaren of Carlos Sainz.
Max Verstappen finished on top of the lap times in what could turn out to be a crucial Friday free practice session for the Styrian GP (renamed to differentiate from last week's event) with torrential rain forecast overnight and into Saturday.
Fernando Alonso has re-joined the Renault team that helped him secure back-to-back world titles in 2005 and 2006 and will partner Esteban Ocon at the team for next season.
Valtteri Bottas drove a practically flawless race from pole to flag to win from Charles Leclerc and a scarcely believing Lando Norris, as Lewis Hamilton was slapped with a five second penalty for a late collision with Alexander Albon's Red Bull.
Valtteri Bottas grabbed pole position for the season opening Austrian Grand Prix, edging fancied teammate Lewis Hamilton by .012s as Mercedes dominated qualifying as expected. Bottas went off the circuit in an attempt to better his time on his final qualifying run, but his 1m02.939s effort was enough for pole as Max Verstappen finished third for Red Bull, from Lando Norris, Alexander Albon and the Racing Point of Sergio Perez.
Almost four months after the paddock packed up and thousands of disappointed fans traipsed their way home from Albert Park after the cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix, Formula One returned to the Styrian Mountains for the first practice sessions for the Austrian Grand Prix.
Following months of relative inactivity as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic, teams are finally prepared for the opening race of the 2020 season at the picturesque Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria. For the famous WilliamsF1 team, partnered by Acronis, it will be interesting to see if the progress made during a productive pre-season Barcelona test will transfer to gains on the racetrack.
Richard Gasquet kept up his outstanding level of play to dismantle a perplexed Dustin Brown 23-10, 20-5, 18-13, 18-10 and record his third win in four matches at Ultimate Tennis Showdown. The man nicknamed The Virtuoso followed up his brilliant victory over Dominic Thiem on Saturday and, if anything, found another level to record his third victory of the tournament.
Matteo Berrettini managed to keep his cool to record his third win of Ultimate Tennis Showdown, overcoming a frustrated Benoit Paire (18-11, 14-12, 14-12, 18-14). The seventh match of the second weekend UTS action featured another wonderful clash of styles with the unpredictable flamboyance of Paire attempting to nullify the almighty Hammer blows of Berrettini.
David Goffin notched up his second victory of Ultimate Tennis Showdown after squeaking past Feliciano Lopez in a topsy-turvy encounter (14-13, 11-17, 11-14, 19-10, 2-1). Ultimate Tennis Showdown has already thrown up some brilliant clashes of styles, but The Wall versus The Torero will be close to the top of the list, pitching the classical serve and volley game against the baseline counter puncher.
Dominic Thiem recorded his opening win of Ultimate Tennis Showdown in a predicted classic, edging big rival Stefanos Tsitsipas (15-12, 11-13, 16-13, 14-13). Easily the most anticipated match of the day, and possibly the tournament in this exciting new round-robin format of tennis pitched World No.3 Dominic Thiem against the in-form World No.6 Stefanos Tsitsipas, who sat on top of the table.
The Greek God Stefanos Tsitsipas came out on top of the match dubbed 'The Diving Volley Show', beating The Artist Dustin Brown in a predictably exciting encounter (12-14, 18-13, 16-11, 15-10).
David Goffin lived up to his Ultimate Tennis Showdown name of The Wall, as the Belgian played some spectacular tennis to notch his first victory of this revolutionary format to beat The Sniper Alexei Popyrin (20-9, 21-6, 13-11, 15-10).
Benoit Paire The Rebel saw off late call-up and compatriot Corentin Moutet The Tornado to secure his second victory of Ultimate Tennis Showdown, dubbed 'Live Tennis Like Never Before' (11-17, 17-12, 15-14, 14-13).
Feliciano Lopez came out on top of a heated and controversial match against Italy's Matteo Berrettini to record his second victory of Ultimate Tennis Showdown (14-12, 14-8, 12-11, 16-13).
Richard Gasquet was on inspired form in the Ultimate Tennis Showdown as the Frenchman rolled back the years to defeat World No.3 Dominic Thiem (16-10, 15-12, 16-12, 14-17). Despite Thiem coming into the tournament late after playing on Novak Djokovic's Adria Tour in Belgrade, and with no prior practice of this radical new format of tennis, the Austrian World No 3 was quickly into his groove.
The ABB Formula E season will resume with six races in nine days, all at the Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, with three double headers on August 5/6, 6/9 and 12/13. As a result of the global coronavirus pandemic, the season was suspended until further notice not long after the Marrakesh e-Prix, won by DS TECHEETAH's Antonio Felix ca Costa at the end of February.
Everyone likes the tale of the plucky underdog in all walks of life. The pleasure of seeing a team, individual or business rise from adversity, or humble beginnings, to become successful and punch above their weight offers hope and encouragement to all.
With Esports helping to fill the competitive void in the absence of any real racing during the coronavirus pandemic, fans and drivers alike have been getting their entertainment in a different way. One very obvious, and entertaining, benefit of Esports is the interaction that drivers can now have with one another and with their fans.
All motorsport fans are well aware that that the letter 'E' that goes after the word 'Formula' stands for electric in the sport's premier street racing series. Lately, it's becoming increasingly evident that you could also call the series 'Formula Equality' due to the increasing number of women who are working in the sport and in a variety of roles, from race engineers to logistics, public relations and even drivers and team principals.
Four-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel will leave Ferrari at the end of 2020 after contract negotiations between the parties broke down. It brings to an end a five-year stint in which the German will now almost certainly have failed to deliver a further title to the Scuderia.
'Out of adversity, comes opportunity', is a famous quote from founding father of the United States of America, Benjamin Franklin. And, as each day passes, more and more heartening stories are coming to light about how the coronavirus pandemic is bringing people together in a positive way and getting communities to pull together for the same common good.
As Esports continues to keep fans and drivers alike entertained during the global coronavirus pandemic, the Formula E community became the latest to jump aboard with the ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge, arranged to raise money in support of UNICEF.
Defending ABB Formula E champion Jean-Eric Vergne is confident he can pick up where he left off in Marrakesh and even challenge for a title treble should racing resume in June. Vergne, who triumphed in both Seasons 4 and 5, stormed through the field to a brilliant podium last time out in Morocco despite suffering from illness and sitting put free practice in hospital.
Perhaps more than any other global motorsport series, the ABB Formula E Championship gives off the vibe of being very much a close-knit family affair. Maybe it's because the new and exciting electric racing series is only in its sixth season of racing and is so open and affordable for fans, or that it just comes across as not so insular or aloof than its famous big brother.
It goes without saying that the world is facing unprecedented times during one of the biggest global pandemics ever seen. Health services are being stretched to the limit and civilian populations across the world are getting used to a new way of life, shutting themselves off from the outside world as best they can in an effort to halt the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus.
Reigning Formula One champions Mercedes has announced that the team is aiming for a net-zero carbon footprint by the end of 2020.
McLaren ace Lando Norris is quickly becoming one of the biggest stars of the Formula One field, according to two-time Formula E champion and Veloce Esports co-founder, Jean-Eric Vergne.
There used to be an old joke going around the F1 paddock that FIA stood for 'Ferrari International Assistance', especially during the dominant Michael Schumacher years, where no teams, perhaps bar McLaren, could get anywhere near to them.
The famous Williams F1 team, partnered by Acronis, is once again feeling good about itself as the start of another eagerly anticipated season kicks off in Melbourne from 13-15 March.
Whilst Antonio Felix da Costa may have taken the glory for winning the Marrakesh ePrix after a flawless tactical drive, it was his DS TECHEETAH teammate and defending champion Jean-Eric Vergne who arguably produced the drive of the race.
Edoardo Mortara continued his strong start to the 2019/20 ABB Formula E season after a battling drive to fifth in Marrakesh for the Acronis-partnered ROKiT Venturi Racing team.
After six days of testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, a blurry picture is slowly starting to become sharper as a pecking order emerges ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.
Antonio Felix Da Costa continued his fine form in the ABB Formula E series by taking a dominant victory in Marrakesh, taking the chequered flag from Santiago winner Maximillian Guenther and DS TECHEETAH teammate Jean-Eric Vergne.
Novak Djokovic withstood a Gael Monfils hurricane to eventually come out on top of a classic encounter and reach yet another final in Dubai, the Serb saving three match points before winning 2-6, 7-6, 6-1. It was a brilliant fightback from the world No.1 after an epic match and he will now play Stefanos Tsitsipas on Saturday in a bid for his fifth Dubai crown.
Stefanos Tsitsipas ended the run of unseeded Daniel Evans to book a place in his second successive Dubai Duty Free Championships final, the Greek winning 6-2, 6-3. Victory means a final meeting with either world No.1 Novak Djokovic or Gael Monfils, who are second up in the Dubai night session.
After four days of trouble-free testing, hot qualifying laps, cheeky tech innovations and cruising long runs, trouble finally struck for the seemingly invincible AMG Mercedes F1 team. Furthermore, shock, horror, it was Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel when the car ground to a halt.
Four-time Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships winner Novak Djokovic once again ended the hopes of Karen Khachanov to progress to the semi-finals. The newly crowned Australian Open Champion had previously defeated Khachanov in Serbia's Davis Cup meeting with Russia and was in no mood to allow any revenge, winning 6-2, 6-2.
Preparations for the opening grand prix of the season continued apace as teams reconvened at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for three more days of testing. Last week's opening Barcelona test threw up many interesting talking points, including Mercedes' innovative Dual Axis Steering system and whether the Racing Point is just a Mercedes in pink!
Petra Martic will face Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals of the Dubai Duty Free tennis championships after she defeated Anett Kontaveit 7-6, 6-1 in an entertaining match of contrasting styles. Martic will now face Elena Rybakina, conqueror of Garbine Muguruza and Sofia Kenin in her first semi-final of the year.
The famous Williams F1 team, partnered by Acronis, is once again feeling good about itself as the start of another eagerly anticipated season kicks off in Melbourne from 13-15 March.
The BWT Racing Point Team says it had designed its 2020 car from 'a blank sheet of paper' as it looks to close the gap to the teams that finished ahead of them last year, namely McLaren, Renault and the renamed Alpha Tauri team.
Stefanos Tsitsipas will play Britain's Dan Evans in the semi-final of the Dubai Duty Free tennis championships after defeating Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a high-quality encounter. Fresh from his tournament victory in Marseille, Tsitsipas had to fight tooth and nail for victory after losing to Struff last time out in Cincinatti.
Elena Rybakina followed up her victories over Sofia Kenin and Karolina Pliskova by beating eighth seed Petra Martic 7-6, 7-6 in a high-quality semi-final at the Dubai Duty Free tennis championships. The Kazakh, who has won 19 matches this year already and made four finals, again had to dig deep and saved set points in both sets before finally emerging victorious.
Elena Rybakina continued her impressive giant-killing run at the Dubai Duty Free tennis championships after beating second seed Karolina Pliskova 7-6, 6-3. The rangy Kazakh had dispatched Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the opening round and proved it was no flash in the pan, taking the game to Pliskova and often outhitting her opponent in an impressive display of all-court tennis featuring 11 aces and 33 winners.
Qualifier Jenifer Brady ousted Australian Open finalist Garbine Muguruza and make the semi-finals of the Dubai Duty Free championship, her first Premier level final four appearance. "Amazing," said a delighted Brady afterward after winning 6-7, 6-3, 6-4. "It was a tough match today and really happy to make my first semi-finals here."
Antonio Felix Da Costa says he is already feeling very much at home in his new DS TECHEETAH team after storming to second place in Mexico City, a repeat of what he achieved in Chile.
Jaguar's Mitch Evans produced a superb performance to win the Mexico e-Prix, winning from DS TECHEETAH'S Antonio Felix Da Costa and Sebastian Buemi, after a dramatic race. It was Porsche's Andre Lotterer who started from pole position, the popular German targeting his first race victory after many near misses.
The ROKiT Williams Racing F1 team, partnered by Acronis, has revealed the first images of the car it hopes will close the gap to the competition in 2020. Speaking ahead of the new season for the online only launch, Deputy Team Principal Claire Williams said that car represented a 'fresh start' and that the fighting spirit of the famous team is still very much there.
The recent news that Racing Point is to be rebranded as the Aston Martin F1 Team from the 2021 season onwards brought no shortage of excitement across the F1 paddock and for fans of the sport.
Will Power finished on top of the pre-season IndyCar testing session at the Circuit of the Americas as his Team Penske-Chevrolet teammate and Supercar champion Scott McLaughlin lapped an impressive third quickest in only his second test.
Listening to the sound of the Williams FW43 engine firing up ahead of the 2020 Formula One season will come as music to the ears of fans of the team. The famous team endured a difficult start to the 2019 season, having arrived late to the important pre-season Barcelona test and was left playing catch up for the rest of the season.
Sofia Kenin fought back from a set down to beat two-time grand slam winner Garbiñe Muguruza to win the Australian Open title and with it, claim her first grand slam title. It was a nerveless display for one appearing in her first major final, especially after the disappointment of dropping an opening set that could have gone either way, the Russian-born American winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Novak Djokovic will contest his eighth Australian Open final after defeating great rival Roger Federer and he will now face either Alexander Zverev or Dominic Thiem in Sunday's final. Defending Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic rallied past great rival Roger Federer, coming from 5-2 behind in the opening set to triumph 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 and make his eighth Australian Open final, where he will face either Alexander Zverev or Dominic Thiem.
For the last quarter-final of the Australian Open, Dominic Thiem has found a loophole to win against Rafael Nadal, after four epic sets 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (6). Next step for the Austrian : Alexander Zverev in the semi-final.
Tennys Sandgren squandered an incredible seven match points on his way to a devastating loss against Roger Federer in the Australian Open quarter final. But how did this happen, and was he to blame for 'choking' or does Federer deserve the plaudits for hanging in there?
Novak Djokovic set up a mouth-watering repeat of last year's classic Wimbledon final against Roger Federer by overcoming an obdurate Milos Raonic in straight sets on Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday night.
To steal a famous football cliché and relay it to motorsport, you could say that the Santiago e-Prix was a game of two halves for the NIO 333 FE Team, partnered by Acronis.
Antonio Felix da Costa narrowly missed out on what would have been a brilliant drive through the field to victory in only his second race for his new DS TECHEETAH team at the Antofagasta Minerals Santiago E-Prix.
Many of us may have experienced the feeling of excitement after taking delivery of a brand-new chair or sofa. It looked great in the store and felt perfect at the time. Yet it often takes weeks until it truly feels a part of yourself and your home.
With the SportPesa Racing Point Formula One team having recently passed its mandatory FIA-supervised crash test, the team can now focus on the vitally important work of homologation and development of the RP20 ahead of the 2020 season. As reported by F1i, Racing Point is believed to be the first team to have passed the ...
For Mick Schumacher, the 2019 FIA Formula 2 season was one of great expectations, as the Formula 3 European champion competed in his debut season for Formula One's premier feeder series.
For most young and aspiring drivers, three race wins, second in the prestigious Macau Grand Prix and fourth in the Formula 3 championship would represent a return to be proud of.
The season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix turned out to be something of a serene victory parade for Lewis Hamilton, after the newly crowned world champion cruised to an easy fifth victory at Yas Marina to win from Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, who escaped a post race investigation for an alleged breach of fuel regulations to finish third.
Newly crowned world champion Lewis Hamilton will start the final race of the 2019 season in Abu Dhabi from pole position after beating the lap times of teammate Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen.
With Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas having cemented their 1-2 in the drivers' standings two races ago in Austin, Texas, the attention now shifts to focus on who will finish as 'best of the rest' in the final grand prix of a gripping season.
For new DS TECHEETAH driver Antonio Felix da Costa, the decision to leave his long-term Formula E team, now BMW i Andretti, was far from easy. Having driven for the Andretti outfit for the past three seasons and challenged for the title in 2018/19, da Costa knew that it would take something special for him to break that close bond.
Alexander Sims completed a brilliant pole to flag race to win Saturday's race 2 of the Ad Diriyah double header, leading home BMW i Andretti teammate Maximillian Guenther and the Audi of Lucas di Grassi. That is the way it finished as the chequered flag fell after 45 minutes plus one extra lap of racing.
Envision Virgin Racing's Sam Bird claimed a ninth victory of his Formula E career after two late overtakes on Alexander Sims and Stoffel Vandoorne and a Safety Car saw him pip Andre Lotterer's Porsche and the Mercedes of Vandoorne.
With the anticipation building before the start of a brand-new ABB Formula E season, new regulations are aimed at making the racing even more exciting than last year's epic championship. The gang's all here. Let's get the season started! #FormulaE #DiriyahEPrix.
Despite being one of the most recognisable and successful drivers in motorsport, the popular Felipe Massa is still a relative novice in terms of Formula E racing. With only one season under his belt driving for the Venturi Racing team, Massa took time to get up to speed in Season 5 but secured a podium in his, and the team's, home race in Monaco before adding more points finishes by the season's end.
DS TECHEETAH'S newest recruit, Antonio Felix da Costa, is confident that his new team is in a strong position to again challenge for the top honours when the season kicks off in Ad Diriyah on November 22.
Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen will start from pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and champion Lewis Hamilton starting behind him for Sunday's race. The Dutchman, whose first pole came at the Hungaroring this year, clocked a 1m07.508s to head Vettel and Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Valtteri Bottas and Alexander Albon.
The famous adage that 'there is no I in team', certainly seems to apply to the world of motorsport, where slick teamwork and harmonious driver relationships are key to delivering results on the track. For back-to-back Formula E champions DS TECHEETAH, that certainly seems to be the case.
Lewis Hamilton surpassed the great Juan Manuel Fangio as a six-time Formula One world champion after finishing second behind teammate Valtteri Bottas at the US Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
Home hero Sergio Perez admitted it had been a 'great day' for both himself and his SportPesa Racing Point team after the Mexican finished seventh in front of his adoring home crowd. Before the start of the race weekend, Perez had vowed to hive his home fans something to cheer.
Lewis Hamilton will have to wait one race longer to surpass the great Juan Manuel Fangio and become a six-time world champion on his own despite winning the Mexican Grand Prix from Sebastian Vettel and teammate Valtteri Bottas. Victory marked a 100th grand prix win for Mercedes as a constructor and Hamilton was quick to acknowledge the hard work of his team.
It was another case of what might have been for Acronis partner team Racing Point come the conclusion of the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday. Just as was the case in Sochi, Sergio Perez bagged more points for the team with a strong drive to ninth place on a two-stop strategy but Lance Stroll again finished just a place out of the points on what turned out to be a riskier one-stopper.
Mercedes clinched a sixth successive constructors' title after Valtteri Bottas led home Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton to win a tactical Japanese Grand Prix. After Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen tangled at the start into Turn 2, it meant that first and third was enough for Mercedes to seal yet another title, with Hamilton and Bottas the only drivers who can now take the drivers' crown.
Reigning ABB Formula E champions DS TECHEETAH has given the world a first look at the machine in which it hopes to continue its impressive electric racing success story. The Chinese-owned outfit completed and unprecedented team and driver double in Season 5, with Jean-Eric Vergne claiming his second title in New York after arguably the most exciting season to date.
Japanese Formula One fans are recognised as some of the most passionate in the world of motorsport. From dressing up as their favourite drivers, to queuing for hours for autographs and even making gifts for their heroes, the Japanese people create an atmosphere that is much appreciated by the teams and drivers.
Lewis Hamilton returned to winning ways for the first time since the Hungarian Grand Prix as a Virtual Safety Car played perfectly into his hands, the Mercedes driver winning from teammate Valtteri Bottas and Charles Leclerc. Max Verstappen was a fine fourth after starting ninth on the grid, ahead of Red Bull teammate Alexander Albon, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez.
No sooner had the dust settled on the Singapore Grand Prix weekend than Williams driver Robert Kubica was given the first inkling that he is still a hot property for Formula One teams. Kubica announced before the race weekend that he would leave the Williams F1 team at the end of the season to pursue new opportunities.
Sebastian Vettel finally got back to winning ways, leading home a Ferrari 1-2 from Max Verstappen at the Singapore Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton lost out during the pit stop window.
Pedro de la Rosa has left his role as technical and sporting director of the title-winning DS TECHEETAH Formula E team, is has been confirmed. The team broke the news on Twitter on Wednesday morning, thanking the Spaniard for his work that helped achieve a team and driver double during the 2018/19 season.
Charles Leclerc followed up his brilliant Belgian Grand Prix victory with an obstinate defensive drive to become the first Ferrari driver to win the Italian Grand Prix since Fernando Alonso in 2010.
Although most of the plaudits will go to Charles Leclerc for delivering Ferrari its first victory on home soil for nine years, Sergio Perez may also have a valid claim for 'driver of the day' at the Italian Grand Prix.
An extraordinary qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix saw Charles Leclerc take pole position with his first effort in Q3 as no cars crossed the line in time to set a final flying lap.
Despite Racing Point's strong double points finish at the Belgian Grand Prix, there was obviously little cause for celebration following the tragic accident that claimed the life of young French driver Anthoine Hubert on Saturday. Hubert, who drove for BWT Arden, also known as the 'Pink Panthers' in F2, was well known and well liked by those at SportPesa Racing Point.
Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes pulled off a tactical masterstroke to reel in and pass Max Verstappen with just three laps remaining and win the Hungarian Grand Prix. With 21 laps remaining, it appeared that Verstappen had the race at his mercy, handily keeping Hamilton behind.
Max Verstappen took advantage of several safety car situations, great strategy and mistakes from rival drivers on a wet circuit to win a dramatic German Grand Prix from a charging Sebastian Vettel and Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat, Acronis partner team Racing Point's Lance Stroll finishing a brilliant fourth.
Lance Stroll was left celebrating a brilliant fourth-place finish for Acronis partner team SportPesa Racing Point after a chaotic German Grand Prix that saw six safety car periods and changing weather conditions. Remarkably, with 20 laps remaining, Stroll was well out of the points.
Whilst most of the attention of race fans this weekend will understandably be on the battle at the sharp end of things, with Mercedes celebrating 125 years of motorsport, there will be interesting stories up and down the grid.
The first images and video of the Vietnam Grand Prix circuit, that will be raced on in 2020, have been released by the organisers of the event. Work started on the 5.565km street circuit in Hanoi earlier this year and will be completed in time for a proposed April date on the provisional calendar, with tickets already on sale to the public this month.
Back-to-back Formula E World Champion Jean-Eric Vergne has hailed his winning DS TECHEETAH team as the best in the field after clinching the title on Sunday. The Chinese outfit narrowly missed out on the team title in Season 4 after being pipped by Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler on the final lap last year.
Nissan e.Dams driver Sebastien Buemi put himself back into contention for a second Formula E drivers' title after a dramatic finish to the New York e-Prix. The Swiss, who realistically needed victory and runaway leader Jean-Eric Vergne to experience a disaster of a race, had both of those scenarios come to pass as he drove a flawless pole to flag race whilst Vergne experienced final-lap heartbreak.
Max Verstappen produced a simply stunning drive to catch young rival Charles Leclerc and win the Austrian Grand Prix after dropping from the front row of the grid to seventh on the opening lap.
Lewis Hamilton confirmed what most already know - that he is the overwhelming favourite to lift a sixth Formula One world drivers' title after winning the French Grand Prix with a dominant display.
New changes announced to the ABB FIA Formula E sporting regulations have been released, the major alteration aimed at encouraging energy conservation. Following Friday's meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris, the regulations have been altered so that energy consumption is set and deducted from cars during full course yellow periods.
The great Alain Prost was nicknamed 'The Professor', for the analytical way he went about his racing. From his meticulous preparation, to the surgical way he worked with his engineers and examined data - not to mention his silky-smooth style of driving and management of tyres and machine, he left no stone unturned in his quest to be the best.
On the Friday before the Berlin e-Prix, the VENTURI Formula E Team announced a multi-year technology partnership with Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection and data storage. In all sport, but particularly in motorsport, management of data is of vital importance.
Following on from Lewis Hamilton's fourth victory of the season and his third around the streets of Monaco, it looks like the reigning champion is already tightening his grip on world title number six only five races into the season.
Lewis Hamilton dedicated his third Monaco Grand Prix victory to good friend Niki Lauda after pulling off a defensive driving masterclass to keep the charging Max Verstappen behind him. Hamilton had started the race from pole position and pulled away to lead the race.
Tributes have flooded in following the passing of three-time Formula 1 World Champion, Niki Lauda, who died yesterday at the age of 70. Rest in peace Niki Lauda. Forever carried in our hearts, forever immortalised in our history. The motorsport community today mourns the devastating loss of a true legend.
Jean-Eric Vergne's flawless victory around the streets of Monte Carlo, allied to teammate Andre Lotterer's sterling drive from the back of the field to an amended seventh position, means that DS TECHEETAH holds a strong 38-point advantage over Envision Virgin Racing in the team standings.
The Spanish Grand Prix is often a good gauge of how the Formula One season is likely to unfold as the European leg kicks off in earnest. And following another dominant 1-2 for Mercedes, the team's fifth on the bounce, it certainly looks ominous now for the competition going forward.
With eight different winners from as many electric street races this season, Formula E in 2018/19 is turning into a real guessing game as to who wins next. In winning a chaotic Paris e-Prix, Robin Frijns joined Mitch Evans, Antonio Felix da Costa, Jerome d'Ambrosio, Sam Bird, Lucas di Grassi, Edoardo Mortara and Jean-Eric Vergne as race victors.
There is an adage amongst seasoned Formula One campaigners that the season only really begins when the European round of races gets underway. And after a record four season opening 1-2 finishes for Mercedes on the bounce, Ferrari will certainly be hoping that maxim holds true. Too good, Seb!
The morning after the night before and Mercedes are yet again left celebrating a historic fourth successive 1-2 finish. It leaves Ferrari again scratching their heads after starting well on a circuit that, like Bahrain, appeared to suit them. For other teams, there was also cause for celebration and for some, wounds will be being licked after another difficult weekend.
Dutchman Robin Frijns held off Andre Lotterer and Daniel Abt to win a chaotic Paris e-Prix as a hailstorm and torrential rain created one of the wackiest of electric races yet seen. As cars slithered and slided into the barriers and one another with alarming regularity to bring about four yellow flags, it was Frijns who kept his head above all others to record an impressive victory.
When Mitch Evans pipped Andre Lotterer to win the Rome e-Prix, he became the seventh different winner in as many races in this most dramatic and unpredictable of seasons. In winning, the New Zealander joined Antonio Felix da Costa, Jerome d'Ambrosio, Sam Bird, Lucas di Grassi, Edoardo Mortara and Jean-Eric Vergne as race victors.
With three 1-2 finishes in as many races this season, Mercedes has already seemingly grabbed the 2019 season by the scruff of the neck. It looked an unlikely scenario during pre-season testing and, indeed, during the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, when all the figures suggested that it was Ferrari, not Mercedes, who held the upper hand in pace.
For DS TECHEETAH driver Andre Lotterer, winning used to come easy. The triple Le Mans winner is something of a sportscar legend, the German also winning the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship. Yet despite also enjoying success in single seat racing, a victory in Formula E has somehow eluded him.
With seven different pole sitters and winners in as many races, the 2018/19 Formula E season is being hailed as a huge success for its unpredictability and close racing.
Lewis Hamilton took the lead of the drivers' championship for the first time in 2019 after getting the jump on teammate Valtteri Bottas at the start of the Chinese Grand Prix.
Mitch Evans became Jaguar Racing's first e-Prix winner and the seventh of the season following a titanic battle with Andre Lotterer around the streets of Rome. With the race starting in wet but drying conditions, the circuit was too slippery for some to handle and when Jose Maria Lopez hit the kerb on the exit wall of Turn 18, it created a traffic jam of cars behind him that brought about a red flag.
From the first ever official Formula One Grand Prix won by Giuseppe 'Nino' Farina at Silverstone back in 1950, to Lewis Hamilton's win in Bahrain a fortnight ago, the pinnacle of motorsport is now only a race away from reaching a landmark 1000th GP.
When you or I jump into our car, we don't give the steering wheel a second thought. The most challenging thing we may have to do is toggle radio channels or volume levels whilst turning a corner. For a Formula E driver, it does a lot more than merely steer the car and is arguably the most important piece of equipment.
In motorsport, data is everything. It's an inescapable fact. The hundreds of gigabytes of telemetry accumulated from thousands of miles of testing as well as state-of-the-art software development back in the factory is aimed improving, and ultimately winning.
Lewis Hamilton lucked into victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix as pole sitter Charles Leclerc dropped out of the lead with engine recovery problems only eight laps from the finish. It was a bitter blow for Leclerc, who had driven a superb race and looked set for a comfortable victory until misfortune intervened.
Only two weeks after touching down in Hong Kong for the first 'home' race of the season, Acronis partner teams DS TECHEETAH and NIO Formula E Team arrive in China full of confidence.
The first and only open-wheel electric racing series in motorsport, it's clear that the ABB FIA Formula E Championship is very different indeed to all other forms of motorsport. Yet the uniqueness of this fascinating series runs much deeper than just battery development alone.
Valtteri Bottas pulled off a supreme drive to win the Australian Grand Prix by a massive 21.379 seconds from teammate Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull Honda's Max Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel finishing fourth.
There's a certain champion English driver in the Albert Park paddock this weekend who exudes charm, magnetism and the confidence of adding yet more titles to his impressive racing resume. The driver I'm talking about is neither Lewis Hamilton nor fellow hot-shoe Lando Norris but reigning Formula 2 champion and Williams driver George Russell.
Lewis Hamilton stormed to an incredible sixth successive Australian Grand Prix pole position to lay down an ominous marker in the defence of his world title. The reigning world champion's 1m20.486s lap record was just enough to pip teammate Valtteri Bottas by just 0.112s with arch rival Sebastian Vettel lining up third on the grid ahead of Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen.
After months of development and thousands of miles of testing and data gathering, Formula One teams have arrived in Melbourne to kick off the eagerly-anticipated 2019 season. Whilst the winner of the Australian Grand Prix doesn't always give away firm clues about who the champion teams and drivers will be come the end of the ...
Venturi secured a controversial and sensational first ABB FIA Formula E victory in the Championship's 50th ePrix after Sam Bird was handed a late five-second penalty for hitting race leader Andre Lotterer on the penultimate lap. The English Envision Virgin driver had been piling immense pressure on race leader Lotterer's DS TECHEETAH but was unable ...
In motorsport, they say, a rainy race weekend is the one true variable that separates the men from the boys. The great drivers from the good, mediocre and also-rans. But what if there's never been a wet race day in a motorsport series?
Following on from one of the most dramatic Formula E races in recent memory, teams arrive in the bustling hive of activity that is downtown Hong Kong for round five of this most enthralling of championships. With four different winners in as many races, there is certainly all to play for with exactly a third ...
After eight days and hundreds of laps on differing fuel loads, aero settings, track temperatures and tyre compounds around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, teams have packed up and made their separate ways home. The next stop is the vibrant and cosmopolitan city of Melbourne, Australia, where the 2019 Formula One season springs into life.
The famous name of McLaren once again sat atop the lap times as the sun set on the second day of the final pre-season Barcelona test. In a repeat of yesterday, Racing Point were second but another famous name in Ferrari had a more troubling day as Sebastian Vettel suffered a high-speed crash in the ...
There is an intriguing 'cloak and dagger' aspect to pre-season Formula One testing. Always has, always will be. In this multi-million-dollar game of motorsport poker, where so much is at risk, no team wishes to show their hand too early. That would surely be a foolhardy thing to do.
It has been my motto of the week on Motorsport Tech that it's foolish to read too much into lap times in the first pre-season test. I'm certainly sticking to that.
As emphasized in Tuesday's Motorsport Tech Barcelona column, it is extremely difficult to read too much into pre-season testing times. Hats off to Scuderia Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat, though, who set some tongues wagging by posting the quickest time of the day. Yet the reality check of the situation is that the Russian's time ...
For all fans of Formula One, the winter break can be a painfully long one. It has been just over three months since the final grand prix of an exciting season that saw Lewis Hamilton close his emphatic championship-winning season in style in Abu Dhabi.
Lucas di Grassi took a dramatic final corner victory after Pascal Wehrlein's Mahindra ran out of power on the final corner of the race, as did Oliver Rowland's Nissan e.dams which had been running in third. It had looked as if Wehrlein would secure a maiden win in the series after leading the entire race ...
Racing Point became the latest and one of the most eagerly anticipated teams to unveil its 2019 machine as the new Lawrence Stoll led outfit began life under its new name and brand-new livery. Streamed live online at the Canadian International Auto Show, new teammates Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez pulled the covers off what ...
The Williams F1 team became the third team to unveil images of its 2019 challenger, a car the team hopes will rectify the problems encountered during a testing 2018 season and start on path to getting the historic name back to where it belongs.
Britain's Sam Bird scorched to a brilliant victory at the Antofagasta Minerals Santiago e-Prix after his relentless pressure on race leader Sebastien Buemi forced the Swiss into a late retirement.
Acronis partner NIO Formula E Team is committed to improvement as the championship moves to Chile, South America. Drivers Oliver Turvey and Tom Dillmann have certainly had their moments in the opening two rounds, impressive qualifying in Ad Diriyah scuppered by unfortunate technical infringements. And both were looking good for points in Marrakesh until energy ...
After what was a highly encouraging but ultimately disappointing season opener for the NIO Formula E Team at the season opener in Ad Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, the team is confident that bigger things are just around the corner, starting in Marrakesh on Saturday. New driver Tom Dillmann appeared to have given the team a brilliant ...
One of the unwritten rules in Formula One is that only the big car manufacturer-backed teams with huge budgets win world titles. The rest simply don't stand a chance. Throughout the history of the sport, with one or two notable exceptions, this has certainly been the case.
With one race of the new Formula E season already completed, the NIO Formula E team has much to be enthused about heading into the rest of 2019. New driver Tom Dillmann appeared to have given the team a brilliant start, initially putting his car on the front row of the grid alongside eventual race ...
As the new Gen2 cars hit the Ad Diriyah circuit for the most eagerly anticipated season in Formula E history, every team in the paddock was taking a bold new step into the unknown. New rules, new regulations and, most importantly, a new Gen2 machine has meant many months of preparation.
Following on from an encouraging but ultimately points-free inaugural Ad Diriyah ePrix, the NIO Formula E team remained at the circuit for a day of testing. Importantly, joining regular drivers Oliver Turvey and Tom Dillmann at the circuit was Test driver and British GT4 champion Jamie Chadwick, rival teams also running female drivers.
For existing fans of Formula E, as well as relative newcomers to the sport, the new season offers no shortage of excitement due to new regulations, new teams and faces. Without doubt, one of the most eagerly anticipated innovations for the 2018/19 FE season is what has been dubbed 'Attack Mode'.
For all eleven teams and 22 drivers assembling at the new Ad Diriyah Formula E venue this weekend, the excitement of kicking off a new season is palpable. This season, new regulations including 'Attack Mode' and faster 'Gen2' cars that will last the duration of the race on one battery charge means that every team ...
Antonio Felix da Costa laid down an early marker by winning the inaugural Ad Diriyah ePrix from defending champion Jean-Eric Vergne and Jerome d'Ambrosio as a new dawn of Formula E racing began in dramatic fashion. Da Costa had started on pole but had to use all his racing nous, the lead changing hands several ...
New teams, new faces, new regulations and an all-new Generation 2 car are just some of the treats that await fans of Formula E as the 2018/19 championship gets underway at Ad Diriyah this weekend. Now in its fifth season, Formula E is set to gain an even bigger fan base than ever before with ...
As Formula E prepares to step into a brand-new era of faster, more powerful 'Gen2' cars with exciting new rules and innovations such as 'Attack Mode', one former F1 star is also taking his first step into the unknown. Having graced the F1 paddock for 16 years, Felipe Massa is one of the most recognizable ...
Motorsport's governing body, the FIA, has concluded that the halo device introduced for the first time for the 2018 season, saved Charles Leclerc from being hit by Fernando Alonso's endplate during the Belgian Grand Prix. Motorsport Technology concluded after the incident that the halo debate must now surely end and the FIA's investigation into the ...
In Formula One, data is everything. It is exactly why the Williams F1 team entered into a partnership with Acronis to keep all this vital date protected, backed-up and recoverable within seconds. Of course, data is also of importance to fans of the sport. Graphics showing telemetry including car position on track, speeds, gear changes ...
It was the same venue that brought down the curtain on the 2018 F1 season only a few days ago but it had a very different feel about it. Two days of testing at the Yas Marina Circuit was about much more than testing the revised Pirelli tyre compounds for 2019, it was about many ...
As the sun set on another dramatic Formula One season in Abu Dhabi, it was perhaps fitting that the driver who has stood apart from all others once again stood atop the podium. Lewis Hamilton has proven supreme this season in winning a fifth world drivers' title, and just because the job was done didn't ...
During an intoxicating and captivating Formula One season that has sometimes been blighted by bitter rivalry and unsavoury post-race incident, it is fair to say that before the sun sets in Abu Dhabi, there will be a warm glow around the paddock. As the sport bids farewell to one of the great drivers of his ...
It's one of the most popular of discussions between fans of almost every sport on the planet. Comparing the icons of the game and wondering who would come out on top, regardless of the era, when at the peak of their respective powers. Woods vs Nicklaus in golf, Navratilova vs Williams in tennis, Ali vs ...
Without doubt, the Mexican Grand Prix weekend represents the most colourful event on the Formula 1 calendar. Taking place during the 'Dia de los Muertos' (Day of the Dead) holiday period, colour invades every stand and fans dress to impress. This year, there were Mariachi Bands, Piñatas and even Tequila bars inside the F1 paddock ...
Lewis Hamilton joined the great Juan Manuel Fangio as a five-time world champion after finishing fourth in the Mexican Grand Prix, Max Verstappen recording a popular win from Sebastian Vettel after Daniel Ricciardo's late retirement from second. US Grand Prix winner Kimi Raikkonen finished on the podium, but the day belonged to the man who [...]
It was perhaps something of a shock that Lewis Hamilton wasn't able to wrap up a Juan Manuel Fangio-equalling fifth world title in Austin, Texas on a circuit he has practically made his own over recent years.
Lewis Hamilton will have to wait another race to join the great Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio as a five-time Formula One world champion after Kimi Raikkonen scored a popular first victory since Australia 2013 and a first in a Ferrari since Belgium in 2009. In a frantic and dramatic finish, the Finn held out to ...
There really is a massive buzz around the forthcoming Formula E Series that kicks off on December 15 in Saudi Arabia, and the first test sessions for the 'Gen2' cars in Valencia received no shortage of media coverage. The three days of intensive testing in Spain revealed new teams, new drivers, new liveries and faster, ...
Lewis Hamilton will join Argentine legend Juan Manuel Fangio on five world titles should he outscore title rival Sebastian Vettel by eight points at this weekend's US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. For the Englishman, greatness is already guaranteed as he is already one of only five drivers in history to have secured four world ...
As the FIA Formula E Championship announced that Heineken has entered into a five-year sponsorship partnership as the sport's official beer and cider partner, there is an increasing buzz around the electric series. Heineken has been a sponsor of Formula One since 2016, and with Stoffel Vandoorne the latest of a raft of other former ...
Williams Racing has announced that current Formula 2 Championship leader George Russell will join the team for the 2019 season onwards. "I am delighted to announce that George Russell will be joining Williams from the 2019 season," commented Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal. "We have always tried to promote and develop young talent at Williams, ...
For many fans of motorsport, the biggest event of the weekend was neither the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka nor the Thailand MotoGP at the Chang International Circuit. Indeed, for lovers of V8 Supercars and 'Tin Top' racing, the biggest showpiece of the year was taking place at the 1000km long Bathurst 1000, held at [...]
As Silverstone celebrated 70 years since hosting its first ever British Grand Prix this week, the Formula One circus moves on to another iconic venue at Suzuka in Japan. Suzuka first hosted a grand prix back in 1976, making it one of the oldest existing F1 circuits and it is loved by drivers and fans ...
In Formula One, controversy is never far away. And almost nothing sets tongues wagging quite as much as the prickly subject of team orders. The very issue once again reared its head on lap 25 of the Russian Grand Prix as Mercedes ordered Valtteri Bottas to move aside and hand the lead of the race over to championship leader Lewis Hamilton.
The Racing Point Force India team is once again confident that the new tech upgrades that were in place for the Singapore Grand Prix will pay dividends this weekend in Sochi. The team traveled to Singapore with high hopes of a competitive result, having bought a raft of tech upgrades, including front wing revisions, new [...]
With no margin for error whatsoever and with only six races of the season remaining, it appears highly unlikely that Ferrari will make the same mistake twice when racing resumes in earnest at the Sochi Autodrom. The Maranello team seemed to make a crucial strategic error in pitting Sebastian Vettel for the faster wearing super-soft ...
Lewis Hamilton extended his lead at the top of the championship standings to 40 points over title rival Sebastian Vettel after winning a tactical Singapore Grand Prix from Max Verstappen. Vettel had to settle for third after losing out to Verstappen during the pitstop window, the German finishing ahead of Valtteri Bottas, Kimi Raikkonen and ...
As part of helping to celebrate 15 years since the founding of Acronis in Singapore, Williams drivers Sergey Sirotkin and Lance Stroll were on hand to make the occasion an enjoyable one. Their task, in front of an intrigued audience of employees and guests, was a race against one another to fill a travel suitcase ...
When McLaren announced this week that 18-year-old hot shoe Lando Norris would be replacing Stoffel Vandoorne at the team for the 2019 season, it raised no shortage of eyebrows. Norris currently lies second in the Formula 2 series and boasts an impressive junior record of racing in seven different categories and winning three of these, ...
Lewis Hamilton extended his lead in the drivers' championship to 30 points over Sebastian Vettel after pipping Kimi Raikkonen to victory in a dramatic Italian Grand Prix. In doing so, he equaled Michael Schumacher's record of five wins at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza.
It's almost a year exactly since the sport's governing body, the FIA, announced that it was to introduce a radical and controversial cockpit protection device known as the 'Halo' for the 2018 season onwards. The decision taken during last year's Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.
There is a famous cliché that says 'a week is a long time in politics'. With all that is happening in the world today, that statement certainly seems to ring true. So, for fans of Formula 1, not to mention the teams and drivers, the mid-season break will have seemed like an eternity when racing finally gets underway in Belgium after almost a month of inactivity.
Lewis Hamilton extended his lead at the top of the drivers' championship standings to 24 points over title rival Sebastian Vettel after completing a welcome routine victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix. After the dramas of Silverstone and Hockenheim, where the Mercedes driver had to produce two of his greatest ever drives to slice his ...
Lewis Hamilton retook the lead of the drivers' championship after title rival Sebastian Vettel crashed out of the lead of his home grand prix in dramatic fashion. Vettel had looked likely to back up his British Grand Prix win with another at his home race with only a dozen laps remaining.
With Jean-Eric Vergne having sewn up the drivers' title on Saturday, there was still the small matter of the team championship to be decided on race Sunday and it turned out to be a dramatic season finale. The race proved to be a victory parade for the Frenchman, who outlined his superiority over the course ...
Jean-Eric Vergne produced a championship-winning drive from the back of the grid to beat Sam Bird to the Formula E title after a dramatic opening race in New York. The drivers' championship, that the resilient Bird had battled so hard to take to the wire against all the odds, was decided after a gripping race ...
Sebastian Vettel played the role of pantomime villain to briefly burst the great British sporting summer bubble and win the 70th running of a brilliant British Grand Prix at Silverstone from Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen. England may still be in the FIFA World Cup after Germany's shock group exit but it was the Ferrari ...
Max Verstappen took full advantage of a rare double retirement from both Mercedes drivers to win the Austrian Grand Prix, leading home the Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel and the Haas duo of Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen.
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, located on the Ile Notre Dame, is a true test of driver skill and certainly not for the faint of heart. Just ask Williams driver Robert Kubica, who miraculously escaped unharmed after a massive 75G shunt during the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix before winning the race a year later.
England's Sam Bird launched himself into contention for a first Formula E title after a dramatic inaugural Zurich ePrix saw him finish second behind Lucas di Grassi as championship leader Jean-Eric Vergne could only manage tenth. The result means that Bird cuts the championship lead to just 23 points with only the final round of two races in New York remaining.
Esteban Ocon made up for his unfortunate retirement in the Spanish Grand Prix to secure a brilliant sixth place for Force India as Daniel Ricciardo scored a superb maiden Monaco Grand Prix victory and Red Bull Racing's first at the Principality since 2012.
Many of us may have experienced the feeling of excitement after taking delivery of a brand-new chair or sofa. It looked great in the store and felt perfect at the time. Yet it often takes weeks until it truly feels a part of yourself and your home.
The Acronis Mission Control Centre in Silverstone was left with mixed emotions as Sergio Perez backed up his fantastic Baku podium with a strong ninth place for Force India at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Acronis partner Force India were left celebrating a fantastic result as Sergio Perez scored an incredible podium finish after the most dramatic of Azerbaijan grands prix .
Jean-Eric Vergne drove a flawless race from pole to flag to win the Paris ePrix in front of his adoring home fans and extend his championship lead.
Data drives innovation and the gigabytes of telemetry information collected during the race is used to improve car performance and enhance the already amazing Formula E technology.
Sebastian Vettel celebrated his 200th grand prix start in style by extending his championship lead over arch-rival Lewis Hamilton to 17 points after an incident-packed Bahrain Grand Prix.
Daniel Ricciardo claimed a sensational victory in an incident-packed Chinese Grand Prix after a bold two-stop strategy paid handsome dividends. The Red Bull driver started sixth on the grid but forged his way through the field and took advantage of a safety car situation to surge past his Ferrari and Mercedes rivals for an impressive victory, taking the chequered flag from the fighting Finns of Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen.
Race Review: England's Sam Bird narrowed the gap to championship leader Jean-Eric Vergne to 26 points after winning a gripping inaugural Formula E Rome E-Prix from Lucas di Grassi and Andre Lotterer in the wonderful setting of the Italian capital.
Controversy is never far away in the fascinating sport of Formula 1. And it didn't take long during the season opening Australian Grand Prix before spectators, television viewers and even race commentators were left scratching their heads and asking, "what on earth just happened there?"
It had been looking like a cruise to victory for reigning world champion Hamilton, who had led every lap from pole position. But all that changed on lap 25 when Romain Grosjean's Haas stopped on the circuit in an unsafe position, bringing about the virtual safety car.
Cars also carry data recorders similar to those used in aircraft and cars also carry these 'black boxes'. After any serious accident, data is sent to the FIA institute for analysis and several improvements have come about as a result, including new crash tests and innovations such as wheel tethers, the HANS (head and neck support) device and of course the new HALO, which has been introduced for the 2018 season.
Punta del Este ABB FIA Formula E Championship - Round 6 - Race Report Jean-Eric Vergne extended his lead at the top of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship after a classic race long scrap saw him take his second victory of the season from Lucas di Grassi at the beautiful and speedy beach circuit located on Uruguay's Punta del Este.
With every new Formula 1 season comes new rules, new expectations and excitement aplenty. Most fans of the sport have been flooding social media with their opinions on which cars have the sexiest plumage and the most aesthetically appeasing curves. And that's even before the racing begins in earnest in Melbourne.
Monger has worked hard since his accident to realise his ambition of racing again and worked closely with the FIA and Motor Sports Association over the winter to successfully overturn a rule that prevented disabled drivers from racing in single seaters.
The decision from new owners Liberty Media to do away with grid girls next year has split opinion. Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has labelled the move as 'prudish' whilst three-time world champion Niki Lauda told Austrian paper 'Der Standard' that it goes even further than that and that it is a decision against women's rights.
Replacing Felipe Massa as Stroll's teammate for 2018 is the highly-rated Russian Sergey Sirotkin, which means they will have the youngest driver line-up on the grid. But there is another veteran racer also in the team this year, Pole Robert Kubica making a return as reserve and development driver seven years after he last raced in F1 for Renault.
Sometimes, even in the ultra-competitive world of Formula 1 racing where even a single point can be of huge significance come the end of a season, just taking part and gaining valuable experience can be of equal importance.
The Scuderia Toro Rosso team bid a fond farewell to outgoing driver Carlos Sainz as the sun set on the Suzuka paddock after an event filled Japanese Grand Prix weekend.
Ever since its inaugural grand prix in 1999, the Malaysian Grand Prix has been a favorite for teams and drivers alike. Located close to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the challenging Sepang circuit layout with two long straights and numerous sweeping corners, designed by Hermann Tilke, has provided many exciting races over the years.
Being a sponsor of Scuderia Toro Rosso, Acronis knows only too well the importance of keeping things safe and well protected. It had been three weeks before the trucks arrived in Belgium to unload their precious cargoes and once again go racing again after the long summer break.
A recent government announcement that Britain is to ban all new petrol and diesel cars by the year 2040 has put the motorsport industry on red alert.
The year is 2049. The polar ice caps have melted. Nanotechnology has made disease and illness virtually redundant to the autocracy and the reliance upon artificial intelligence means that all transport is automated and humans are virtually indistinguishable from their android counterparts.
Jorge Sampaoli enjoyed his second victory in as many matches as new Argentina boss as his side put six past a game, but overmatched, Singapore. It took Argentina - minus the rested Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain - a while to get into their stride against a red wall of defence that were always going to put numbers behind the ball.
Argentina kept up their impressive recent record against bitter rivals Brazil, a 1-0 victory at a near capacity MCG giving Jorge Sampaoli his first victory as new manager. Gabriel Mercado tapped home on the brink of half time after Nicolas Otamendi's header bounced into his path off the post to give Argentina a deserved half-time advantage.
Any Formula One fan who has ever spent hours thrashing out laps on their Xbox or Playstation gaming console has allowed themselves to dream, however briefly, about what it must be like to actually be an F1 driver.
Manchester United eased past Ajax 2-0 to win the Europa League title and progress to next season's Champions League on an emotional night in Stockholm. Paul Pogba 's deflected effort and Henrikh Mkhitaryan's improvised finish proved the difference as United collected their second trophy of the season following their League Cup triumph in February.
Gabriel Jesus, Kevin De Bruyne and Yaya Toure netted as Manchester City enjoyed a 3-1 win over West Brom to leave themselves one win away from finishing third. Victory at Watford in their final match of the season on Sunday will see them finish above Liverpool and Arsenal in third place, and qualify for the Champions League group stage alongside champions Chelsea and second place Tottenham.
Crystal Palace ran riot in the relegation decider at Selhurst Park, beating Hull City 4-0 to send the Tigers down into the Championship. Needing victory to keep their slim hopes alive, the Tigers suffered the worst possible start as a horrible missed clearance from Andrea Ranocchia let Wilfried Zaha in to score in the third minute.
Tottenham Hotspur signed off their final game at White Hart Lane in winning style, beating Manchester United 2-1 thanks to goals from Victor Wanyama and a first against the Red Devils for Harry Kane.
Manchester City grabbed all three points in their penultimate home game after a frantic, dramatic encounter saw them defeat Leicester City 2-1. City took the lead in controversial circumstances as Raheem Sterling may have touched David Silva 's goalbound effort in an offside position, and they went two up after Gabriel Jesus scored from the spot.
Everton wrapped up their home programme with a deserved 1-0 victory thanks to a cracking Ross Barkley strike early in the second half. The match began with speculation surrounding the midfielder's future, manager Ronald Koeman putting pressure on Barkley to sign a new contract.
Hull City were plunged back into relegation trouble as Sunderland ended Marco Silva's three-year unbeaten home record with a 2-0 win. Silva had not lost a home league game since March 2017 when he was manager of Estoril, but saw his side come unstuck against an already-relegated Sunderland outfit.
West Ham dealt Tottenham's Premier League title hopes a massive blow as Manuel Lanzini 's second-half strike earned the Hammers a 1-0 win at the London Stadium. Spurs conceded their first league goal in more than eight hours when Lanzini latched onto a loose ball inside the box after 65 minutes.
A stunning strike from Pedro and late goals from Gary Cahill and Willian gave Chelsea a 3-0 win at Everton and strengthened their grip on the title. Everton should have gone ahead as early as the second minute, Dominic Calvert-Lewin clattering a shot against the inside of the post as Lukaku lost his footing with the goal gaping.
Sunderland were relegated from the Premier League in dramatic circumstances on Saturday as they lost to Bournemouth and Southampton had an injury-time penalty saved against Hull City. Josh King struck in the 88th minute at the Stadium of Light, meaning David Moyes' Sunderland were heading into the Championship as a result of their defeat, and the fact Hull were still drawing.
Manchester United produced arguably their best performance of the season to damage Chelsea's title charge with a 2-0 win at Old Trafford on Sunday. United boss Jose Mourinho made the controversial decision to bench his star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and in-form winger Henrikh Mkhitaryan before kick-off and handed the captain's armband to bit-part player Ashley Young, putting the omissions down to fatigue following Thursday's Europa League tie at Anderlecht.
The prolific Romelu Lukaku scored for the ninth consecutive home game this season as Everton extended their Goodison winning run with a 3-1 win over Burnley. It was actually the visitors, seeking a rare double over the Toffees, who had the better of the early exchanges - Ross Barkley heading off the line and Joel Robles denying Sam Vokes with a decent save.
A Zlatan Ibrahimovic special and a straight red card dealt to Sebastian Larsson helped Manchester United defeat Sunderland 3-0 at the Stadium of Light. Jose Mourinho made some surprising team changes with David de Gea missing due to an unspecified reason, Marouane Fellaini captaining the side and Luke Shaw also starting.
Goals from Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and substitute Olivier Giroud threw West Ham right back into the relegation mixer and eased the mounting pressure on Arsene Wenger. The Gunners came into the match amidst growing dissatisfaction from fans surrounding the future of their manager and an almost half-full crowd reflected just that.
Jamie Vardy scored his fifth goal in five games as revitalised English champions Leicester enjoyed a sixth win on the bounce in a 2-0 victory over doomed Sunderland. Marc Albrighton made all the difference as he set up fellow substitute Islam Slimani to nod home the opener on 69 minutes.
Atletico Madrid had no trouble in booking their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after seeing off a spirited Bayer Leverkusen with a goalless draw at the Vicente Calderon.
Eden Hazard and Diego Costa scored either side of half-time as Chelsea restored their 10-point lead at the top of the table with a 2-1 win over West Ham. It was the home side who actually started the better, dominating the early possession and putting pressure on the Chelsea defence without carving out any clear cut chances.
A stoppage-time Fernando Llorente header snatched all three points for Swansea City, who came from 2-1 down to defeat Burnley 3-2 at the Liberty Stadium. The fixture looked destined to end in a draw as the game headed into stoppage time.
Harry Kane scored a hat-trick as Tottenham eased into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 3-0 win away at Championship Fulham. Spurs totally dominated the opening exchanges and it was no surprise when Kane grabbed the opener, sliding home his 17th of the season from Christian Eriksen's cross.
Leicester City's shambolic title defence continued with a limp 2-0 defeat to Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium. The Foxes are now 17th in the Premier League, just a point above the drop zone, and have an ominous set of fixtures between now and May - all while juggling Champions League and FA Cup duties.
Cameroon ended a 15-year wait to win the Africa Cup of Nations for the fifth time, a fantastic late individual goal from Vincent Aboubakar sealing victory as the Indomitable Lions came from a goal behind.
Essam El Hadary was the hero as the veteran Egyptian goalkeeper saved the final two penalties to deny Burkina Faso in their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final shootout. Egpyt opened the scoring in the second half when Mohamed Salah curled home an excellent shot from the edge of the box.
Tottenham lost the opportunity to close the gap on league leaders Chelsea after being held to a goalless draw by a resolute Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. In a game few on clear chances, Victor Wanyama squandered the clearest for the visitors, heading over the bar from a few yards out from Heung-Min Son's accurate cross.
The 35-year-old, who had not won a major since his Wimbledon triumph in 2012, took the final set in front of a packed Rod Laver Arena after an epic exchange which ebbed and flowed throughout. The 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 win means Federer is now four Grand Slam titles ahead of his Spanish rival, who remains on 14 with Pete Sampras.
Theo Walcott scored a hat-trick and Danny Welbeck a brace as Arsenal cruised into the fifth round of the FA Cup with a clinical 5-0 demolition of a much-altered Southampton side at St Mary's. Only days after defeating Liverpool to reach the final of the League Cup, Claude Puel decided to make 10 changes in fielding an almost unrecognisable side and their inexperience showed.
Liverpool's awful January continued as they were humbled at home in the fourth round of the FA Cup by Championship side Wolves. Fans had barely settled into their seats before Richard Stearman headed home Helder Costa's free kick and things got worse for Liverpool just before the break, Andreas Weimann latching onto Costa's pass before beating Loris Karius and slotting the ball into an empty net.
Pre-tournament favourites Ivory Coast came from behind twice to grab a vital point against DR Congo and keep their hopes in the Africa Cup of Nations alive.
Tunisia gave themselves hope of making the knockout phase of the Africa Cup of Nations after upsetting Algeria 2-1 victory and edging their North African rivals close to elimination. A fortuitous Aissa Mandi own goal gave Tunisia the lead just after the break before a calamitous Faouzi Ghoulam back header and subsequent foul on Wahbi Khazri allowed Naim Sliti to extend the lead from the spot.
Marcos Alonso scored twice and Pedro added a third as Chelsea went seven points clear at the top of the Premier League with a win over champions Leicester. The Spanish wing-back struck after six minutes and added a deflected effort just after half-time to give Antonio Conte's men the advantage in the absence of star striker Diego Costa, who was left out of the squad for the match.
West Ham United poured further misery on former boss Sam Allardyce after an Andy Carroll wondergoal helped them to a crucial 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace. All of the pre-match talk had revolved around Dimitri Payet's wish to leave the club and his absence was certainly notable in a first half in which neither side failed to create many meaningful chances.
Tottenham Hotspur continued their winning streak at White Hart Lane with a well-earned 2-0 victory over Aston Villa to advance to the fourth round of the FA Cup. Following a drab first half in which the hosts mustered just one shot on goal, they hit their stride in the second half after the introduction of Dele Alli for the disappointing Vincent Janssen.
Liverpool's youngest ever starting XI failed to break down an obdurate Plymouth defence as they were held to a 0-0 draw in the third round of the FA Cup. Jurgen Klopp made 10 changes from the side that played Sunderland and fielded the Reds' youngest ever side, with an average age of 21.
Olivier Giroud scored for a fourth game in a row as Arsenal survived a major scare, coming from 1-0 down to eventually beat Preston 2-1 in the third round of the FA Cup. Callum Robinson put the hosts ahead in only the seventh minute and Preston could and should really have been further ahead at the break against a very poor Arsenal.
Wayne Rooney equalled Sir Bobby Charlton's Manchester United goalscoring record as the Red Devils eased into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Reading. Rooney was on hand to deflect home Juan Mata 's flick within the opening 10 minutes to set the ball rolling and equal Sir Bobby's record of 249 goals.
Jermain Defoe scored a brace of penalties as Sunderland held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light. Liverpool started the game six points behind leaders Chelsea and looked to be well on their way to closing the gap after Daniel Sturridge headed home Dejan Lovren 's scuffed shot direct from the corner.
Manchester United completed a late show that birthday boy Sir Alex Ferguson would have been proud of, two goals in the last five minutes snatching victory against Middlesbrough. Aitor Karanka looked to be headed for a memorable smash and grab victory over his old Real Madrid boss after Grant Leadbitter put Boro ahead with little over 20 minutes remaining.
Substitute Karim Benzema headed Real Madrid's winner with three minutes remaining as the holders kept alive their hopes of topping Group F with a 2-1 victory.at Estádio José Alvalade. Needing only a draw to progress, a Raphael Varane goal gave the visitors a 1-0 lead at the break after Cristiano Ronaldo, seeking a 100th goal in Europe, miskicked into his path.
Chelsea returned to the top of the Premier League table after Diego Costa 's 10th goal of the season gave them a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough. Costa lashed home after Boro failed to clear direct from a corner just minutes before the break and the hosts' failure to score means that Chelsea made it six wins in a row without conceding a goal since Antonio Conte switched to a 3-4-3 formation.
Manchester United forgotten man Memphis Depay dug the Netherlands out of trouble with a second half brace to help his side overcome a game Luxembourg 3-1. The Netherlands laboured to create many meaningful chances before the lively Arjen Robben broke the deadlock with a composed finish on his return to international duty.
France fought back from a goal down to defeat Sweden 2-1 thanks to goals from Paul Pogba and Dimitri Payet. The hosts had carved out the better chances before the break but found themselves a goal behind after Emil Forsberg's free kick caught a statuesque Hugo Lloris by surprise, the France keeper rooted to the spot.
Manchester United ended their run of four Premier League matches without a win in emphatic style, Zlatan Ibrahimovic grabbing a brace and Paul Pogba another in a 3-1 defeat of Swansea City. World record signing Pogba has been slow to re-adjust to life in the Premier League but set the ball rolling with a stunning effort on the volley that flew past Lukasz Fabianski.
Sunderland fought back from a goal down and Steven Pienaar's second-half sending off to grab a first league win of the season for under-fire David Moyes. Dan Gosling put the home side ahead in just the 11th minute as Bournemouth totally dominated the opening half.
Leicester City had Kasper Schmeichel to thank for pulling off a terrific last minute save as the Foxes closed on the knockout phase of the Champions League with a goalless draw at FC Copenhagen. Schmeichel was on hand to palm away Andreas Cornelius' header and was relieved to see Federico Santander then blast wide from a tight angle.
Tottenham stuttered to their third straight draw in the Premier League as Leicester City hit back to claim a share of the spoils at White Hart Lane. Vincent Janssen fired his first league goal from the penalty spot to hand Spurs the advantage moments after Dele Alli had rattled the crossbar, but Leicester scored shortly after the restart through Ahmed Musa.
Wales followed up their 2-2 draw away in Austria on Thursday with a 1-1 draw at home to Georgia on Sunday. Talisman Gareth Bale gave Wales the lead with a towering header in the tenth minute and he led the team in a breath-taking start.
Watford twice came from behind to take a share of the points in an entertaining encounter at Vicarage Road. Callum Wilson headed the Cherries into a half-time lead before Troy Deeney levelled shortly after the break.
Arsenal recorded their fourth straight victory for the first time since October 2015 after brushing aside London rivals Chelsea 3-0, giving Arsene Wenger one of his best-ever wins against his rivals just two days after he marked 20 years as Arsenal manager.
Liverpool leapfrogged bitter rivals Manchester United to go third in the Premier League table with an impressive 5-1 rout of Hull City. Adam Lallana got the ball rolling with a scuffed finish that crept inside the far post but the game was effectively killed when Ahmed Elmohamady was shown a straight red for handling Phillippe Coutinho's goalbound shot.
Crystal Palace piled more misery on Mark Hughes ' Stoke, thumping the Potters 4-0 in a one-sided affair at Selhurst Park. Goals from James Tomkins and Scott Dann put Palace two goals up at the break thanks to non-existent Stoke defending from set pieces.
Gareth Barry inspired Everton with an equalising goal on his 600th Premier League appearance as the Toffees beat Middlesbrough 3-1 at Goodison Park. Middlesbrough took a surprise lead thanks to a controversial goal as Alvaro Negredo appeared to foul Martin Stekelenburg in bundling the ball into the net.
Arsenal climbed to second in the Premier League table after a controversial match saw Jake Livermore sent off for handball late in the first half and Alexis Sanchez missing the resultant penalty. The Gunners were already a goal to the good after Sanchez's slight deflection of Alex Iwobi's shot.
Bayern Munich maintained their perfect record at the start of the Bundesliga season, beating Schalke 2-0 thanks to late strikes from Robert Lewandowski and Joshua Kimmich. Lewandowski scored an opening day hat-trick in Bayern's 6-0 demolition of Werder Bremen and was at it again as he latched onto Javi Martinez's fine pass to finish with aplomb.
Del Potro secured a surprise win over Wawrinka in the second round of Wimbledon but there was to be no repeat as the Swiss completed a 7-6 4-6 6-3 6-2 victory as the clock ticked over to 01:20 in the New York morning.
Williams seemed on course to be in for an early night after breaking Halep twice to win the opening set 6-2, but Halep dug deep in the second set and hung on to a single break of serve to take it to a decider.
Novak Djokovic moved into a remarkable 10th successive US Open quarter final with an entertaining straight sets victory over Britain's Kyle Edmund. "It feels great to play a match," Djokovic said in an on-court interview. "I haven't played much tennis. Baseline shots, both forehand and backhand, were working very well.
Defending champions Germany eased past Norway in their opening Group C World Cup qualifier in Oslo, a brace from Thomas Muller helping them to a comfortable 3-0 victory. The prolific Muller got the ball rolling, the Bayern Munich striker latching onto a loose ball into the box to score his 27th goal for his country.
Marcus Rashford struck in injury time to snatch a 1-0 win over Hull City and preserve Manchester United's perfect start to the Premier League campaign. The youngster, introduced off the bench in the second half, latched onto Wayne Rooney 's dangerous low cross to spark wild celebrations amongst the visiting support.
Champions Leicester City and runners-up Arsenal are still awaiting their first wins of the season after the sides played out a 0-0 draw at the King Power Stadium. Arsenal somehow avoided conceding a late penalty as Mark Clattenburg failed to spot Hector Bellerin clearly bringing down Ahmed Musa right at the end.
Arsenal kick-started their Premier League campaign in emphatic fashion, turning on the style to rout a lacklustre Watford 3-1 at Vicarage Road. The impressive Santi Cazorla got the ball rolling with a ninth-minute penalty after Nordin Amrabat elbowed Alexis Sanchez in the box, and the latter doubled Arsenal's lead when he turned home Theo Walcott 's cross.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored after just four minutes as Manchester United put five past Galatasaray in Gothenburg. The Swede came out to a rapturous ovation in front of his home fans on his United debut, with every touch cheered vociferously.
Tottenham Hotspur suffered a second International Champions Cup defeat after Diego Godin's goal gave Atletico Madrid a 1-0 victory at the MCG. Godin was on hand to flick home at the far post from a free-kick late in the first half, Anton Walkes heading into his path.
Lee Casciaro was the hero for the Imps, pouncing on a mistake from Efe Ambrose to fire home what turned out to be the decisive goal past Craig Gordon. Celtic had chances of their own, Leigh Griffiths twice clattering the crossbar and Nir Britton missing a guilt-edged chance.
Last update 09/07/2016 at 21:50 Published on 09/07/2016 at 18:56 Serena Williams followed up her historic Wimbledon singles title triumph by helping her sister to yet another doubles title, defeating Yaroslava Shvedova and Timea Babos 6-3 6-4. The sisters secured the crucial break at 4-3 in the opening set and Serena slammed away a smash to put them a set up.
Australian 15th seed Kyrgios, 21, is often a controversial figure, and many of his critics will again accuse him of failing to give maximum effort after pushing the tournament favourite hard in the first set before appearing to collapse mentally against the world number two.
Last update 02/07/2016 at 18:52 Published on 02/07/2016 at 17:04 Millman put up an excellent fight in a match that was interrupted for rain delays while the Centre Court roof was open. Murray saved his best for the final set where his sheer class and power made the difference, and finished up with an ace.
Last update 02/07/2016 at 18:58 Published on 02/07/2016 at 15:55 The world No 1 fought back to take the third set having started the day two sets down on Saturday. But Querrey, the No 28 seed, battled to a fourth-set tie-break, in a match that was interrupted by rain on Court No 1, and clinched it 7-5.
Belgium have progressed to the final 16 of the European Championship after a superb Radja Nainggolan strike saw them beat Sweden 1-0 in Nice. Nainggolan struck a brilliant shot from distance to win the game with just six minutes remaining, rifling a shot into the far corner from outside the box.
Switzerland followed France through to the last 16 of Euro 2016 by holding the host nation to a 0-0 draw in their final Group A match on Sunday after the unlucky French hit the woodwork three times on Sunday. Didier Deschamps sprung a huge surprise before kick-off, leaving out star of the tournament and former Lille player Dimitri Payet.
Antoine Griezmann struck twice as France came from behind to beat Ireland 2-1 and make the quarter-finals of Euro 2016. The match in Lyon was barely a minute old when Irish forward Shane Long was brought down in the penalty box by Paul Pogba, with Robbie Brady stepping up to smash home via the post and give Ireland a surprise lead.
Nakajima had been leading by over a minute with less than two minutes remaining when his Toyota TS050 Hybrid lost all power, allowing Porsche to snatch the victory and break Japanese hearts as victory went to the #2 car driven by Jani, Romain Dumas and Marc Lieb.
Italy are through to the knockout stages of Euro 2016 after a superb late Eder goal saw them beat Sweden 1-0 in Toulouse. A cagey affair that saw only three shots on target, all from Italy, looked like ending in stalemate after Marco Parolo saw his header clatter back off the bar.
Slovakia survived a late rally from Russia to secure a 2-1 win at Euro 2016 and blow Group B of Euro 2016 wide open. The rank outsiders in a group also including England and Wales, Slovakia did the damage late in the first half.
Dimitri Payet was the hero of France after the West Ham midfielder grabbed a sensational late winner as the hosts beat Romania 2-1 in the opening match of Euro 2016 at the Stade de France in Paris.
A young Netherlands side gave Poland much food for thought on the eve of Euro 2016 by condemning them to a 2-1 defeat. The Poles came into the fixture having lost only once in their last 18 internationals, but goals from Vincent Janssen and Giorginio Wijnaldum in each half extended Poland's run without a victory over the Netherlands - one that stretches back to May 1979.
AFC Wimbledon secured promotion into League One after beating Plymouth Argyle 2-0 in the League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium. Lyle Taylor's excellent finish broke the deadlock after a turgid opening half and Wimbledon had chances to extend their advantage against a strangely subdued Plymouth before Adebayo Akinfenwa, in the knowledge he was to be released by the club, sealed promotion with a penalty deep into stoppage time.
Barnsley will be playing Championship football next season after overcoming Millwall 3-1 in a pulsating League One play-off final at Wembley. Ashley Fletcher got Barnsley off to the perfect start, scoring in just the second minute before Adam Hammill, who also scored in the JPT final, made it another Wembley cracker with an unstoppable curling shot into the top corner.
Marcus Rashford became England's youngest ever goal scorer on debut as Roy Hodgson's men followed up Sunday's victory over Turkey with another 2-1 victory over Australia. Wayne Rooney netted early in the second half before Eric Dier headed into his own goal.
This year, perhaps more than any other before, the greats of the sport to have competed in 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing' will be remembered and honoured.
Steve McClaren's job as Newcastle United boss appears to be in the balance after his side slumped to a dismal 3-1 loss at home to Bournemouth. McClaren was given a vote of confidence from his own players before kick-off but an unfortunate own goal from the luckless Steven Taylor soon put the fans on his back, the defender turning Joshua King's cross past Rob Elliot.
England roared back from two goals down to seal a hugely-impressive 3-2 victory over Germany in their international friendly at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. Germany had gone into a 2-0 lead courtesy of goals from Toni Kroos and Mario Gomez, the first as a result of an injury to keeper Jack Butland.
Newcastle United fought back from two goals down at the break to claim a vital point against Liverpool in their battle to avoid relegation. Daniel Sturridge stunned the travelling support with a wonderful chest down and strike on the turn to put Liverpool ahead in only the second minute, his fourth goal in as many starts.
Leonardo Ulloa scored twice as Leicester City continued their fairytale march toward the Premier League title with a 4-0 rout of Swansea City at the King Power Stadium. Victory means they are eight points clear of Tottenham Hotspur - who face West Brom on Monday - with just three games of their season left and require only five points to become champions, no matter what the North Londoners can muster.
Manchester City have handed the advantage to rivals United in the race for Champions League football after twice surrendering the lead to draw 2-2 with Arsenal. It had started well on Manuel Pellegrini's final game in charge at the Ethiad Stadium, Sergio Aguero rifling a shot past Petr Cech.
Newcastle United's Premier League fate is in the hands of bitter rivals Sunderland after they could only manage a goalless draw at relegated Aston Villa. And with Sunderland coming back to beat Chelsea 3-2, it means that the Black Cats can relegate the Magpies if they win their next home game against Everton.
Leicester City ended their fairy-tale season with an entertaining 1-1 draw against outgoing champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Former manager Claudio Ranieri was given a guard of honour prior to kick-off and received a standing ovation from both sets of fans.
Tottenham Hotspur scored three goals in six minutes against Manchester United to record a first home victory against the Red Devils for 15 years and keep their title hopes alive. A tight match, sparse on chances, was deadlocked until the 70th minute before Dele Alli converted Christian Eriksen's cross at the far post to spark a rush of three goals in the space of six minutes.
Liverpool backed up their incredible Europa League midweek comeback with a 2-1 win over AFC Bournemouth. Jurgen Klopp made ten changes to the side that stunned Dortmund at Anfield but an unfamiliar like-up was still too much for Bournemouth. Roberto Firmino tapped home the first just before the break after Artur Boruc palmed Daniel Sturridge 's cheeky backheel into his path.
Norwich City took a crucial step in their bid for Premier League survival, beating Newcastle United 3-2 in a thrilling battle at Carrow Road. The match looked to be headed for a 2-2 draw when Aleksandar Mitrovic levelled from the spot with just two minutes remaining.
Sunderland dragged Norwich deep into the relegation dogfight with a 3-0 Premier League victory at Carrow Road. Goals from Fabio Borini, the prolific Jermain Defoe and Duncan Watmore gave the Black Cats a win which brings them just one point behind their opponents with a game in hand.
A late Xherdan Shaqiri strike proved enough for Stoke City to grab their third straight league win in a game of few chances at the Britannia Stadium and plunge Newcastle United deeper in trouble. Shaqiri left Robert Elliot flat footed and beaten for pace as a poor affair looked headed for a draw with just nine minutes of normal time remaining.
Liga leaders Barcelona got their campaign back on track in stunning style with an 8-0 demolition of Deportivo La Coruña. Luis Suarez was the hero for Barca with four goals and three assists, with Ivan Rakitic, Lionel Messi, Marc Barta and Neymar scoring the other goals.
The relegation battle is tighter than ever on Saturday evening as Newcastle thumped Swansea 3-0 to give their survival hopes a huge boost. Sunderland had beaten Norwich in the lunchtime match to close up to within a point of the Canaries, making it all the more important for Rafa Benitez's men to win and thereby keep pace.
A solitary Andriy Yarmolenko goal confined a Wales side shorn of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey to a 1-0 defeat in Kiev. Yarmolenko swivelled to volley home skipper Ruslan Rotan's chip from a free-kick to notch his 23rd goal for his country in a niggly match that saw few chances for either side.
Manchester United recovered from the shock of conceding the opening goal to rout Midtjylland 5-1, with late starter Marcus Rashford scoring twice on debut after replacing Anthony Martial before kick-off. Martial tweaked a hamstring during the warm-up, handing a debut to the 18-year-old moments before the start.
A below-par Liverpool were held to a 0-0 draw by a spirited Augsburg side in the opening leg of the round of 32 tie at the WWK ARENA.
Barcelona took up where they left off in El Clasico, qualifying top of Group E after a 6-1 hammering of AS Roma. A brace from Luis Suarez and a sublime Lionel Messi chip gave Barca a 3-0 half time lead.
Aston Villa slumped to their seventh successive league defeat and a step closer towards inevitable relegation after a 4-0 thrashing at home to a new-look Chelsea team shorn of many regular starters. Alexandre Pato, who signed from Corinthians in January, came off the bench to replace Loic Remy in the 23rd minute and had a hand in the first goal for Ruben Loftus-Cheek just three minutes later.
Athetico Madrid scraped into the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a nerve-jangling penalty shootout against a resolute PSV Eindhoven following two goalless legs. After 14 perfect penalties, Luciano Narsingh rattled the bar with his spot-kick, leaving it to defender Juanfran to put Atleti into the last eight.
Anthony Martial hit the only goal to beat Everton 1-0 as Manchester United kept up their challenge for Champions League football. United celebrated 60 years at Old Trafford for Bobby Charlton before kick-off, the Red Devils legend honoured with a stand in his name.
A Kenedy goal after just 39 seconds at Carrow Road spurred Chelsea on to a tense 2-1 victory over Norwich to leave Alex Neil's Canaries in deep trouble. Kenedy's goal was the fastest in the Premier League this season, the Brazilian receiving the ball from Eden Hazard on the left flank before cutting inside to arrow his left-footed shot past John Ruddy.
Leicester City celebrated their coronation as Premier League champions with a 3-1 win over a hapless Everton at a jubilant King Power Stadium. The home faithful were treated to a spine-tingling performance of Nessun Dorma from Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli ahead of the game and were once again on their feet with only five minutes gone when Jamie Vardy opened the scoring.
Sunderland climbed out of the relegation drop zone after battling to a deserved point against Arsenal at the Stadium of Light. Indeed, with a little more luck, it could have been Sunderland who took all three points from their spirited performance.
Leicester City are within touching distance of becoming the first team to become new champions of the English top flight for 38 years after fighting back for a gripping 1-1 draw at Manchester United. Should Tottenham Hotspur fail to win at Chelsea on Monday night, they will be crowned champions.
Manchester United recovered from their disappointing Europa League first-leg loss at FC Midtjylland to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, beating Shrewsbury Town 3-0 at Greenhous Meadow on Monday.
Christian Benteke scored a penalty with the last kick of the game as 10-man Liverpool came from a goal down to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in dramatic circumstances at Selhurst Park. The Belgian went to ground under minimal contact from Damien Delaney in the fourth minute of stoppage time and referee Andre Marriner pointed to the spot.
Anthony Martial scored a sensational injury-time winner to send Manchester United into the FA Cup final with a 2-1 win over Everton. United led thanks to Marouane Fellaini's goal but both sides had enough chances to make the score more than just 1-0 at the break, Romelu Lukaku squandering two great opportunities.
A brace of goals from Enner Valencia and superb individual performance from Dimitri Payet helped West Ham come from a goal behind to beat Bournemouth 3-1. A first Premier League goal from Harry Arter had put Bournemouth a goal up at the break, Artur Boruc keeping them ahead with two fine saves.
Eldin Jakupovic produced a man-of-the-match performance in the Hull City goal as the Championship leaders held Arsenal 0-0 at the Emirates. Hull made 10 changes while holders Arsenal, who have beaten the Tigers in the FA Cup in each of the past two seasons, also fielded an under-strength team ahead of their Champions League match with Barcelona on Tuesday.
PSG rounded off their penultimate game before the Ligue 1 winter break with a resounding 5-1 victory over Lyon. Zlatan Ibrahimovic 's brace means that he has scored 14 goals in 14 games in the league, with further goals from Serge Aurier, Edison Cavani and Lucas Moura completing the rout.
Argentina produced a nine-try masterclass of attacking rugby to crush Namibia 64-19 in the final Pool C encounter at the King Power Stadium. The Pumas had already booked their quarter-final slot as group runners-up to New Zealand and made ten changes to the side to field one of their youngest ever teams. But Namibia had no answer to their attacking flair, Argentina running in six first-half tries and three more in the second to complete the rout.
A much better performance than the stuttering quarter-final effort that almost cost them against Scotland. Will still need to improve on their cutting edge to beat New Zealand with Argentina still only a converted try behind going into the final ten minutes.
To recover from losing talismanic players in the form of Paul O'Connell and Johnny Sexton and bounce back the way they did will rank as one of their greatest-ever performances. However, if O'Connell and Sexton are ruled out for the rest of the tournament, it could prove fatal to Ireland's hopes of going much further.
Very unfortunate to lose three such influential players as Juan Imhoff, skipper Agustin Creevy and Juan Martin Hernandez to injury but they kept on going until the end. On the end of one or two iffy decisions. 1- Federico Nicolas Sanchez His willingness to take the game to Australia cost his side dear early on with an intercept pass.
Ukraine will face a play-off match to decide their Euro 2015 fate after slipping to a 1-0 defeat at home to Spain. The home side went into the match knowing a good victory was likely required with Slovakia heading to Luxembourg and second on goal difference.
Chelsea progressed safely through to the fourth round of the FA Cup after goals from Diego Costa and a first from Ruben Loftus-Cheek saw them overcome a plucky Scunthorpe at Stamford Bridge. Costa latched onto a cross from Branislav Ivanovic to put Chelsea ahead but Scunthorpe then had a huge penalty shout waved away when Ramires looked to have clipped Kevin van Veen early in the second half.
Everton fought back from two goals down to stun West Brom and take all three points at The Hawthorns. Saido Berahino put the hosts ahead near the end of a dire opening half before Craig Dawson added to the lead with a header direct from the corner.
Chelsea's unbeaten run stretched to ten matches as a game of few chances ended 0-0 at Vicarage Road. Watford were the better side in the opening half, Odion Ighalo missing a glorious chance to head his side ahead.
Hamburger SV produced a spirited performance to deservedly beat a strangely under par Dortmund side, winning 3-1 in the Volksparkstadion. The match was delayed by 15 minutes as heightened security caused traffic congestion outside the stadium.
Adam Ashley-Cooper became only the second player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup semi-final after Jonah Lomu as Australia beat Argentina 29-15 to make their fourth World Cup final. It started disasterously for Argentina as Rob Simmons opened the scoring with an interception from Federico Sanchez in the second minute, and Australia never surrendered their lead.
West Brom twice battled back from a goal down to hold Chelsea to a 2-2 draw in an ill-tempered affair at Stamford Bridge. Cesar Azpilicueta put the hosts ahead somewhat against the early run of play, meeting Branislav Ivanovic 's cross to net his first home goal.
Came in as underdogs but showed huge character and fight, dominating the breakdown in the first half to lead at the break. Just ran out of steam at the death. 1. Duane Vermeulen A massive first half with some key turnovers. Carried the game to the All Blacks for the entire 80.
England rounded off their dismal home World Cup campaign with a convincing, if entirely expected ten-try demolition of Uruguay. Veteran Nick Easter and winger Jack Nowell both weighed in with a hat-tricks, a brace from Anthony Watson, one from Henry Slade and a penalty try completing a 60-3 rout.
Manchester United may need at least a point in their final match at Wolfsburg after being held to a 0-0 draw at home to PSV Eindhoven. United dominated possession but only created two chances of any note, Anthony Martial foiled by the leg of Jeroen Zoet in the first half before Jesse Lingard blazed over a glorious chance in the second.
Thomas Tuchel's Bundesliga reign as coach of Borussia Dortmund got off to an emphatic start as his side thrashed a lacklustre Borussia Monchengladbach 4-0. Marco Reus got things off and running with an early thunderbolt after being played in by Shinji Kagawa before further well-worked goals from Pierre Aubameyangand and a Henrikh Mkhitaryan brace completed the rout.
The Australian Grand Prix answered many questions about how the biggest regulation changes in a generation would affect the spectacle of racing for the Formula One fans. There were some positives.
Leicester City are top of the Premier League table after goals from Shinji Okazaki and Riyad Mahrez saw them edge West Ham United 2-1. Leicester came into the match having lost all six Premier League games in London last season but were a different proposition after their opening victory against Sunderland and they have now won nine of their last 11 Premier League matches.
Coach Philippe Saint-Andre will be furious. To lose so convincingly against an Ireland side that lost its key players in the first half isn't good enough. No discipline, no consistency and they got bullied. They'll probably go and beat New Zealand now. Frustratingly, that's France.
Wales laboured to a comprehensive 54-9 victory over Uruguay but at a high cost as the already injury-hit squad suffered yet further losses. A nervy start from Warren Gatland's men saw them fall 6-0 behind courtesy of the boot of the excellent Felipe Berchesi.
Romelu Lukaku forced an own-goal with just a minute of normal time remaining to salvage a 2-2 draw for Everton against Leicester. The Belgian striker had squandered a trio of excellent chances as Leicester fought back from a goal behind to take the lead through goals from David Nugent and Esteban Cambiasso following keeping errors from Tim Howard.
A solitary Sergio Aguero goal proved enough for Manchester City to see off a stern Sunderland challenge at the Stadium of Light. City where nowhere near their best but grabbed a crucial early lead when Aguero finished well past Vito Mannone after David Silva 's cross deflected fortuitously into his path.
Neymar put South Africa to the sword with three goals in Soccer City as Brazil cruised to a 5-0 win in Johannesburg. Oscar had already put Brazil ahead in the opening ten minutes before Neymar added the second just before the break.
Brazil continued their resurgence since their nightmare 7-1 hammering against Germany in the World Cup with a morale-boosting 3-1 victory in Paris. France started the better and went ahead through a Raphael Varane header but a well-worked Oscar goal saw Brazil level just before the break.
An unlikely brace of goals from defensive midfielder Mathieu Flamini saw Arsenal beat Spurs 2-1 in the Capital One Cup third round. Flamini pounced on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 's parried shot to give the Gunners the lead before Calum Chambers deflected into his own net to draw Spurs level.
Manchester City lost ground on Chelsea in the title race after a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park. Fernandino's close-range header via David Silva's deflected shot looked as if it may well give City the points with little over 15 minutes remaining, but the lead was short lived as Steven Naismith nodded Leighton Baines' corner past Joe Hart four minutes later.
The Netherlands suffered their first defeat for over a year after goals from Karim Benzema and Blaise Matuidi helped France to a 2-0 win in Paris. Louis van Gaal's side came into the match unbeaten in 17 matches stretching back to summer 2012 but France looked the sharper from the outset.
West Ham recorded a historic victory over Liverpool after goals from Manuel Lanzini, Mark Noble and Diafra Sakho gave them their first win at Anfield since 1963. Lanzini converted Noble's early cross before the Hammers skipper doubled his side's lead before the break.
Scotland survived an almighty scare to advance to the quarter finals after a edging Samoa 36-33 in a World Cup classic. A frantic first half full of free-flowing rugby and defensive lapses to match saw five tries, three from Samoa, as the south sea islanders went into the break 26-23 ahead.
Robert Lewandowski came off the bench to score a record-breaking FIVE goals in nine minutes to stun Wolfsburg and go top of the Bundesliga. Wolfsburg had been deservedly leading at the break courtesy of a well-taken Daniel Caligiuri goal midway through the first half.
Queens Park Rangers will be playing Championship football next season after a Sergio Aguero hat-trick helped Manchester City to a 6-0 rout at the Ethiad Stadium. Nothing short of victory on the day would be enough to keep Rangers up and so manager Chris Ramsey decided to risk starting players carrying injury concerns in Clint Hill, Steven Caulker and Bobby Zamora.
Chelsea missed a big opportunity to put one foot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League as they let a goal advantage slip in a 1-1 draw against Galatasaray. Fernando Torres, preferred in attack to Samuel Eto'o, rewarded his side's good start when he poked Cesar Azpilicueta's cross into an empty net with Galatasaray keeper Fernando Muslera committed.
The game boasted two sides with 100 per cent league records and looked to be heading for a draw until Bonucci fired a wonderful volley past Lukasz Skorupski with 86 minutes gone. This after frenetic first half that had seen three penalties - two dispatched by Carlos Tevez and one by Francesco Totti - and a fine Juan Iturbe finish put the duo at 2-2 at the interval.
Arsenal lifted the Emirates Cup trophy for the first time since 2010 after a solitary Theo Walcott goal saw off for a competitive Wolfsburg side. The visitors had given a good account of themselves until a moment of magic from the impressive Jeff Reine-Adelaide unlocked their stubborn defence, a fine run and pass from the youngster slipping in Walcott to fire home.
Queen's Park Rangers avoided a fourth defeat of the season as Nico Kranjcar's brilliant free kick rescued a point two minutes from time at home to Stoke City. Stoke had twice led through goals from Mame Biram Diouf and Peter Crouch after Steven Caulker 's equaliser just before the break.
Why Formula E could be the future of motorsport.
Hull City denied Brighton a first FA Cup quarter-final since 1986 as Yannick Sagbo pounced with five minutes remaining to force a fifth round replay. Brighton looked on course for the quarter-finals after Leonardo Ulloa scored his third goal in as many matches with a beautifully taken finish.
Robert Lewandowski scored his second hat-trick and tenth goal within the space of a week as Bayern Munich thrashed Dinamo Zagreb 5-0 in the Allianz Arena. Douglas Costa got the ball rolling after a mistake from keeper Eduardo and Lewandowski bagged his first after a defensive error from teenager Filip Benkovic.
A Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick helped Portugal bounce back from conceding a goal of the qualifying campaign contender to secure a 3-1 victory in Armenia. The hosts took a shock lead when Marcos Pizzelli fired in an unstoppable free kick from fully 30 yards.
Manchester United's 18-year-old prospect James Wilson scored twice on his debut as United beat Hull City 1-0 at Old Trafford to bounce back from their shock home defeat against Sunderland at the weekend. Interim manager Ryan Giggs sprang a big surprise before kick-off, giving debut starts to young strikers Wilson and Tom Lawrence and naming himself on the bench alongside the departing Nemanja Vidic.
QPR climbed off the foot of the table thanks to a Charlie Austin brace that gave Harry Redknapp's side a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa. Austin rifled home a fantastic half-volley on the edge of the box from Bobby Zamora 's knock-down to put the home side ahead early in the first half before adding a well-taken second with 20 minutes remaining.
Certainly not their best performance and a shadow of their clinical showing against France. Conceded nine first-half penalties but showed champion qualities to edge a tight game. 1. Dan Carter In slotting two conversions, a penalty and a drop goal, Carter (172) overtook Grant Fox (170) as New Zealand's all-time leading points scorer in World Cup history.
With the start of the Formula One season now only a month away, one of the biggest unanswered questions-aside from how reliable the new cars will be-is how the relationship between Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen will work at Ferrari.
A solitary David Silva goal proved sufficient for Spain to edge out a determined Belarus 1-0 and stay in touch with Slovakia at the top of Group C. Sliva pounced on a goalkeeping error from Andrei Gorbunov to fire Spain in front on the cusp of half time.
Jurgen Klopp netted his first win as Liverpool boss as a first goal from Nathaniel Clyne accounted for Bournemouth 1-0 in the Capital One Cup Fourth Round. Klopp made nine changes from the weekend and Liverpool survived a number of scares in the opening half, Adam Bogdan to thank for keeping Junior Stanislas at bay on three occasions.
James Rodriguez scored the goal of the tournament, then added a second as Colombia beat Uruguay 2-0 to make the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time. With the sides locked at 0-0 and Uruguay defending deep in numbers, Rodriguez chested down the ball with his back to goal, swivelled on the spot and unleashed a fantastic volley that crashed in off the underside of the bar.
It was announced today that 1997 Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve is to start a new career in yet another form of motorsport.
Swansea came from a goal down to record yet another 2-1 win over Manchester United, their fourth in the last five matches against United by that very scoreline. Juan Mata scored his 50th goal in English football to give United the lead just after the break.
For many Formula One fans, setting their alarms for the early hours of Sunday morning in the eager anticipation of watching the opening grand prix of the season in Melbourne would have been a huge disappointment.
Athletic Bilbao celebrated reaching the Copa de Rey final by upsetting Real Madrid with a 1-0 victory at the new San Mames Stadium. The hosts, who defeated Espanyol in midweek, showed no signs of a cup hangover and went ahead courtesy of Aduriz's fine header midway through the first half.
French driver Jean-Louis Schlesser will go down in history as the man who wrecked McLaren's chances of an unprecedented clean sweep in the 1988 season. When Nigel Mansell was ruled out of the Italian Grand Prix through illness, Schlesser was brought in to deputise but with disastrous consequences.
Arsenal climbed above West Ham and Spurs to fifth in the table after a hard fought victory at Upton Park. West Ham were arguably the better side for long periods of the game but found themselves 2-0 down moments before the break fokllowing Santi Cazorla's third penalty of the season and Danny Welbeck's tap-in from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 's cross.
Lionel Messi was in fine form as he scored a hat-trick to inspire Barcelona to a 4-0 victory over Granada in their La Liga clash at the Camp Nou. Messi had put Barca 2-0 up after only 14 minutes, finishing off crosses from Arda Turan and Luis Suarez as Granada's defending left a lot to be desired.
When Mark Webber told Sky Sports he expected then-teammate Sebastian Vettel to join Fernando Alonso at the team in 2016, it raised a number of interesting questions. Vettel had been tipped for a move to Maranello for the 2014 season, as reported by BBC Sport at the time, but the deal never materialised.
Arsenal kept up their slim hopes of a top three finish with a 1-0 win that keeps West Brom waiting to secure their Premier League survival. Olivier Giroud headed the Gunners ahead direct from Santi Cazorla's corner in the 14th minute and that's the way it stayed in a match of precious few chances that also saw Lukas Podolski hit the post.
Hull City leapfrogged Manchester United to ninth in the table as two moments of quality proved enough to overcome Crystal Palace at the KC Stadium.