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4-0 after 27 minutes: Arsenal clears the Wigan hurdle with ease

Lesley Summerville
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4-0 after 27 minutes: Arsenal clears the Wigan hurdle with ease

Arsenal FC has advanced to the round of 16 in the FA Cup without any problems: The Gunners were already leading 4-0 against third-division side Wigan Athletic after 27 minutes.

In the league, Arsenal FC could not manage more than a 1-1 draw at city rivals Brentford during the week.
Nevertheless, the Gunners still lead the Premier League, four points ahead of Manchester City. This weekend, Wigan Athletic were the visitors to the Emirates Stadium in the fourth round of the FA Cup, and Mikel Arteta’s team showed no weakness from the start against the third-division side, who are currently fighting against relegation to League 4.
Eze with the no-look pass

The Spaniard made eight changes to his starting lineup compared to the draw at Brentford FC, but with names like Saliba, Saka, and Gabriel Jesus, the Arsenal team was still packed with talent. So it was little surprise that the 1-0 came after just eleven minutes: Eze played an outstanding no-look pass into the path of Madueke, who kept his cool in front of goal.

That was the start of a very entertaining 16 minutes in which the Gunners opened the door to the round of 16 wide. First, it was another long ball from Eze that sent Gabriel Martinelli on his way to make it 2-0 (18′). Then Saka brought the ball in from the right and Wigan defender Hunt scored an own goal with his head (23′).

And in the 27th minute, the North Londoners scored their fourth goal with their third shot on goal: a high ball from Nörgaard lifted the entire visiting defense, and Gabriel Jesus made no mistake with the chance in front of Wigan goalkeeper Tickle.

In the end, the Gunners show mercy

After that, however, the Gunners took their foot off the gas, and the half-time whistle blew with no further goals. And in the second half, too, the Premier League leaders lacked the final touch. A shot from substitute Gyökeres that hit the post was the only dangerous approach on goal for a long time (55′).

Shortly before the end, Gabriel Martinelli’s header was saved by a strong reaction from Tickle in the Wigan goal (85′). Otherwise, the Gunners showed mercy and were satisfied with the 4-0 win. On the weekend of March 7, Arsenal will compete in the round of 16 of the world’s oldest cup competition.

In the league, they continue next Wednesday at bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton. Three points are a must for the championship contenders. On the same evening (8:45 p.m.), Wigan Athletic will battle it out at home against Luton Town to leave the relegation zone in the English third division.

Osimhen settles scores with Napoli: “They treated me like a dog”

Lesley Summerville
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Osimhen settles scores with Napoli: “They treated me like a dog”

On Tuesday, Victor Osimhen faced Juventus Turin, a club he almost ended up playing for. However, his former club Napoli prevented the transfer—and that wasn’t the only thing that angered the Galatasaray striker.

Napoli and Victor Osimhen have not been on good terms for a long time. In the summer of 2020, the striker moved from Lille to Vesuvius for just under €80 million, and at first everything went like clockwork. Osimhen scored 65 goals in 108 league games and won the Scudetto with Napoli in 2023.

In the summer of 2024, the break came: Osimhen was not even registered for the league squad and was loaned to Galatasaray. The team from the Bosphorus signed him permanently in the summer, paying €75 million – a record in Turkey.

Napoli prevented a move to Juve

Before Tuesday evening’s Champions League play-off match against Juventus Turin, which Istanbul won 5-2, Osimhen spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport about his time in Italy – and had nothing good to say about the Naples club. For example, he said that a transfer to Juventus in the summer of 2024 had been prevented by the club’s management. Former Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli had called him “to bring me to Juve before negotiations with Galatasaray began. I spoke to a few people from the club. They showed interest, but I knew he wouldn’t let me go.”

He is referring to the flamboyant Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis, whose name Osimhen does not mention once in the interview, and not without reason. “In any case, the interest was definitely there. And when Juventus calls, you sit down and listen, regardless of everything else,” said Osimhen, who, according to his own statement, had two other offers from top clubs in Italy.

The break with Napoli also came about because of a TikTok video in September 2023. In the post, which was later deleted, Napoli pokes fun at its striker’s missed penalty in a 0-0 draw in Bologna. Accompanied by a high-pitched voice (“Give me a penalty, please!”), the video shows Osimhen excitedly demanding a handball penalty and then clearly missing the goal.

“After Napoli posted this video on TikTok, something was broken,” Osimhen said. “Anyone can miss a penalty, and anyone can be mocked for it. Napoli only did that to me, and with certain insinuations. I was the victim of racist insults and made my decision. I wanted to leave.”

Late arrivals and arguments? “All lies,” says Osimhen

Osimhen subsequently deleted all photos of himself in the Napoli jersey from social media. “They used the opportunity to turn the fans against me. And yet my daughter is more Neapolitan than Nigerian to me,” explained the former Wolfsburg player. “No one has ever publicly apologized for what happened.” Rumors were then spread that he had arrived late for training and had argued with teammates. “These are all lies. I’m sorry for the fans, but I understand and admire them: they support the club no matter what. For them, Napoli comes before everything else.”

In December 2023, Osimhen then surprisingly extended his contract with Napoli, even though his departure was apparently already a done deal. “We had a gentleman’s agreement that I could leave the following summer, but the other side didn’t fully honor that commitment,” Osimhen complains. “They tried to send me somewhere to play, but they treated me like a dog. Go here, go there, do this, do that. I worked so hard to build my career, and I couldn’t accept that kind of treatment. I’m not a puppet.”

By the time Conte arrived, it was already too late

In the summer of 2024, there was a change of coach at the Partenopei. Antonio Conte replaced Francesco Calzona, which opened the door again for Osimhen. Conte wanted to reintegrate the Nigerian into the team. “As soon as he arrived, Conte called me into his office and said he was aware of the situation, but despite everything, he wanted me to stay. I said I would have liked to work with him, but I had already made my decision: I didn’t want to continue working in a place where I didn’t feel comfortable.“

Incidentally, Osimhen has never regretted his move to Galatasaray. ”I found a club and a city that I love. Maybe it was a stroke of luck. As soon as you arrive in Istanbul, you understand why everyone who has played here has fallen in love with the team and the people. I had never experienced anything like it before,“ explained the striker, who won the league and cup with ”Cim Bom” – and was also the top scorer with 26 goals.

“New impetus needed”: Salzburg parts ways with Letsch

Jeffrey Gooding
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“New impetus needed”: Salzburg parts ways with Letsch

League leaders Red Bull Salzburg announced on Tuesday evening that they were parting ways with coach Thomas Letsch.

Thomas Letsch is no longer the coach of FC Red Bull Salzburg. As the Mozartstadt club announced in a press release on Wednesday, the league leaders parted ways with the 57-year-old German with immediate effect. Assistant coach Kai Hesse has also been relieved of his duties. “In my first six weeks in the job, I have gained a comprehensive overview of the sporting achievements and developments of the past twelve months. After careful analysis, I have come to the conclusion that FC Red Bull Salzburg needs new impetus,” explained sporting director Marcus Mann.

Two titles are possible for Salzburg

Letsch took over as coach in Salzburg at the beginning of 2025 and led the team in a total of 56 matches (averaging 1.55 points per game). In the previous season, the German failed to meet expectations, with the team being knocked out in the quarterfinals of the cup and finishing second in the league. In the current season, however, both titles are still possible for the Bulls. Salzburg leads the domestic league with 33 points after 19 match days and is in the semifinals of the cup. In the Europa League, the Mozart city team was eliminated in the group stage.

“I would like to express my gratitude for an intense time at FC Red Bull Salzburg, which is now unfortunately coming to an end. We joined the club in a difficult situation, and even though not everything went perfectly, we are handing over an intact team with a great chance of winning both national titles. I wish the team and the club good luck and all the best!” said Letsch in conclusion.

The successor to the German, who had already served briefly as interim coach in Salzburg in 2015, has not yet been determined. “We are currently preparing the succession plan and will announce it in the near future,” Mann announced. Next Sunday, Salzburg will play LASK in a top match.

Angry Flick breaks off interview—and asks the same question again

T0m@dmin1
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Angry Flick breaks off interview—and asks the same question again

⁠FC Barcelona suffered its second defeat in a row in Girona, with the referee once again taking center stage for the Catalans. Hansi Flick was particularly angry, breaking off an interview prematurely.

The bone of contention was a scene in the run-up to Girona’s 2-1 winning goal. In the 86th minute, Claudio Echeverri laid the ball a tad too far in front of him 18 meters in front of the goal. The former Leverkusen player, who was sprinting behind him, still managed to get a touch on the ball before Jules Koundé, who had moved in, got there. However, Echeverri then clearly stepped on the foot of the Barcelona right-back, who remained on the ground holding his ankle. Immediately afterwards, Fran Beltran scored to make it 2-1 – with Koundé still lying on the ground just a meter behind him.

The VAR did not intervene in the situation, although Girona had no reason to complain. Even Echeverri later admitted, after taking a quick look at the scene, that a whistle would have been understandable, “but fortunately that didn’t happen.”

In an interview with DAZN, Flick then asked the reporter for his opinion, but he did not want to express it. “Then I don’t have one either,” said Flick with an ironic smile on his lips. “Then I have nothing to say. Thank you very much.” Flick was gone.

At the subsequent press conference, the 60-year-old was asked about the Koundé scene again. “How did you see it? Was it a foul?” he asked a journalist, who this time answered yes. “Thank you, I agree,” said Flick. “If we had played well, I would have talked more about it, but I don’t want to focus on the situation surrounding the second goal. We have to play better and get back to our best form.”

It was indeed a deserved defeat for Barcelona, who missed too many chances and were shaky at the back. It was neither surprising nor unjustified that goalkeeper Joan Garcia was named man of the match, as the Catalan keeper had to thwart a whole series of great chances. Once again, the high defense looked prone to mistakes, with the offside trap failing to snap shut on several occasions.

Barcelona’s complaint to no avail

These were scenes that had already been seen in the cup semifinal first leg at Atletico Madrid (0-4). In last Thursday’s game, which marked the beginning of “Barca’s five darkest days” (Marca), the Blaugrana were also at odds with the referee. The VAR spent seven minutes reviewing a goal by Pau Cubarsi before concluding that he was offside. Flick called the whole process a “disaster,” and the club lodged a formal complaint with the Spanish Football Federation. Among other things, Barcelona denounced double standards, and the Catalans were also dissatisfied with the “application and transparency of VAR.”

But the bitter decisions against Barcelona cannot hide the fact that there is friction within the team. This is not the first time this season; in the fall, Flick’s team took a creative break and was five points behind Real Madrid at one point. Now they are two points behind again.

“Our positioning was not good, especially in midfield,” Flick analyzed. “We made too many mistakes. We are currently in a phase where we are not playing well.” Two days off should now help to clear their heads. “The players need these days off because they are tired,” Flick continued. On Sunday (4:15 p.m.), Barcelona will face UD Levante, who are second from bottom in the table.

Successful cup dress rehearsal: FC Bayern wins close match against Skyliners

Jeffrey Gooding
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Successful cup dress rehearsal: FC Bayern wins close match against Skyliners

FC Bayern’s dress rehearsal for the Top Four of the BBL Cup in Munich this weekend was a success: in a close match, the hosts ultimately deserved their victory against a strong Skyliners Frankfurt team.

However, it was clear that the Munich team already had their minds on the Top Four match against Bamberg at the weekend. Without Andi Obst and Stefan Jovic, who were rested, they had a difficult start to the game offensively, struggled to get going and found themselves trailing by double digits after just a few minutes. FCBB coach Svetislav Pesic was also noticeably dissatisfied with his players’ performance and had a few choice words for Johannes Voigtmann and later Isiaha Mike on the bench. The Frankfurt team, on the other hand, seemed to have put their bitter overtime defeat against the Lions behind them and overwhelmed the home team with their energy right from the start. In the first half, they didn’t give Munich a chance on the boards (24 to 13), doing a great job on the Bayern boards in particular (13 offensive rebounds!).

It was all the more frustrating from the Skyliners’ point of view that they let their opponents back into the game at the end of the half. A 13-point lead was reduced to a narrow two-point lead at halftime within a few minutes after two three-pointers by Justus Hollatz and Xavier Rathan-Mayes.

FC Bayern with a strong finish

They carried this momentum into the second half and, after a quick 5-0 run at the start of the quarter, took their first lead since the middle of the first quarter. The game remained close for a long time, with Niels Giffey providing the highlight of the game so far with a thunderous post dunk over center Jacob Knauf. However, FC Bayern was unable to build on this momentum, and the FCBB went into the final quarter trailing 68-66.

Frankfurt got off to the better start there, before another evenly matched battle developed. David McCormack (21 points, career high, plus 5 rebounds) provided important scoring for Bayern during this period, while Jaedon Le Dee (21 points, 9 rebounds) was the driving force for the Skyliners. Giffey finally sealed the deal when he was beautifully set free by Johannes Voigtmann and sank a three-pointer to give his team a five-point lead with 90 seconds remaining. Rathan-Mayes then sealed the deal from outside in the ensuing possession.

Giffey finished with ten points, Rathan-Mayes contributed 15 points, and Mike 13. For Frankfurt, who will not play again until March 6 at MBC, Isaiah Swope also impressed with 15 points alongside Le Dee.

2028 or even 2029: PlayStation 6 could be released much later

Lesley Summerville
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2028 or even 2029: PlayStation 6 could be released much later

The memory chip crisis continues to affect the gaming market. With the Nintendo Switch 2 likely to be more expensive as a result, the release of the PlayStation 6 may also be delayed.

Based on the console cycle to date, the PlayStation 6 should be released next year. However, the Japanese company has not yet announced an official release date. Instead, there is initial speculation that the release could be delayed.

According to Bloomberg, Sony is considering a release date of 2028 or even 2029.
The reason for this is said to be rising prices and supply bottlenecks for memory chips. For the same reason, Nintendo is also considering a possible price increase for the Switch 2. The main cause of the shortage is the massive expansion of AI data centers.
Technology companies are claiming an ever-increasing share of global memory chip production by purchasing millions of AI accelerators from Nvidia with enormous storage capacities to run language models and other applications. As a result, consumer electronics manufacturers are increasingly competing for shrinking supply volumes from producers such as Samsung and Micron.

“Pushing the boundaries of real-time game graphics”

The release of the PlayStation 5 was already fraught with considerable challenges. In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, the shortage of specific semiconductor chips caused particular problems. Available consoles sold out in many places within a very short time.

Sony is keeping the exact details of the next generation under wraps for now. However, PlayStation CEO Hideaki Nishino confirmed in the middle of last year that the console is in development. He did not provide any technical details.

Jack Huynh, Senior Vice President at AMD, was much more specific on X. He referred to the “Amethyst” project, which envisages an architecture for games that is specially optimized for machine learning. The aim is to develop neural networks “that push the boundaries of real-time game graphics.”

Customers will also likely have to prepare for higher costs than with the PS5. US analysts are basing their estimates on the price of the PS5 Pro, which is around $800 – not to mention the current memory chip crisis.

Formula 1 surprise: Audi brings this driver out of retirement

Lesley Summerville
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Formula 1 surprise: Audi brings this driver out of retirement

Preparations in Ingolstadt are in full swing – Audi presents a personnel change that no one expected – An experienced driver is back

Surprise at Audi: The Ingolstadt-based company is continuing to push ahead with its preparations for entering Formula 1 and has announced a personnel decision that few would have expected. Ralph Boschung is coming out of retirement from racing and will become the official development driver for the future works team.

This marks a new chapter in the 28-year-old Swiss driver’s career. Boschung had actually announced the end of his active career on social media in 2024. But the call of the premier class—and especially Audi’s ambitious project—was apparently too tempting.

Experienced puzzle piece alongside Freddie Slater

Boschung is no stranger to the world of formula racing. Between 2017 and 2023, he was a fixture in Formula 2. He reached his personal highlight in his farewell season in 2023, when he celebrated an emotional race victory for Campos. He will now bring this experience to the Audi driver development program, where he will work alongside British top talent Slater.

The German junior program, which was officially launched at the end of January 2026, is under prominent leadership: none other than three-time Le Mans winner and former Formula 1 driver Allan McNish is pulling the strings behind the scenes.

McNish: “We’re not just looking for raw speed”

For McNish, the task is more than just a job. “It is a great honor and a responsibility that I approach with great passion to find the cornerstones for the future Audi team,” explains the Scotsman.

He clearly sets the direction: “This brand is based on the history of ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ (advancement through technology). This philosophy must apply to our young drivers as well as to our cars.”

According to McNish, Audi is not just interested in lap times: “We are looking for resilience, intelligence, and a team-oriented mindset. Our goal is to build a path that transforms potential into precision and performance on the world stage.“

Long-term vision until 2030

Team boss Jonathan Wheatley also emphasizes the importance of youth development for the success of the overall project. Investing in the ”champions of tomorrow” is a central pillar of the strategy.

“The development program is a clear statement of our long-term commitment to young people and our ambition to be competitive,” says Wheatley. With McNish at the helm, the aim is to form a winning team by 2030. “This program will be an integral part of our vision to build the team and shape the future of Audi in Formula 1.”

MotoGP format under criticism: Brivio calls for separate sprint qualifying

Sports Of The Day
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MotoGP format under criticism: Brivio calls for separate sprint qualifying

Trackhouse team boss Davide Brivio questions the current MotoGP weekend format – his suggestion: separate qualifying sessions for the sprint and Grand Prix

Davide Brivio is calling for a fundamental reform of the current MotoGP weekend format: Friday currently carries too much sporting weight, and a single poor practice session can ruin the entire race weekend.

The Trackhouse team boss’s proposal: separate qualifying sessions for the sprint and Grand Prix with two different starting grids and more excitement throughout the weekend.

Since 2023, MotoGP has been running a sprint on Saturday in addition to the Grand Prix on every race weekend. Unlike in Formula 1, where sprint events only take place on selected occasions and separate qualifying sessions are held, in MotoGP a single, two-part qualifying session determines the starting positions for both races.

In addition, ten of the twelve places for Q2 are already allocated on Friday. Those who are not fast enough there have to go through Q1 on Saturday. Due to the greatly increased dependence on aerodynamics, the starting position is more important than ever. Overtaking is becoming increasingly difficult due to the turbulent air created by the car in front.

Brivio wants to abolish pre-qualifying on Friday

This is precisely where Brivio sees a need for action. In his opinion, a separate sprint qualifying session on Friday and a separate qualifying session for the main race would spread the risk and make the sporting event more varied.

“This is my personal opinion, but I don’t like Friday afternoons when you already have to be in the top 10, and that affects the whole weekend,”

“Friday should be sprint qualifying, and then there should be a real qualifying session for Sunday’s race, so you have two different starting grids and the weekend isn’t ruined if something goes wrong on Friday afternoon,” suggests the experienced MotoGP team boss.

“In my opinion, that would also be more spectacular, generate more interest, and there would be more results to follow over the weekend.”

Since Liberty Media took over the racing series in mid-2025, there has been intense discussion in the paddock about new growth and marketing strategies. However, simply copying the successful Formula 1 model is considered unlikely. Instead, specially tailored solutions are needed. Brivio, who has himself worked in Formula 1, sees significant potential for MotoGP to develop internationally, particularly in the US, but also in other markets. At the same time, he believes that the riders, as the main protagonists of the racing series, need to be positioned more prominently in the public eye.

Don’t copy Formula 1, but use it as a source of ideas

“What everyone expects and what I believe is Liberty Media’s main goal is to intervene in communication and marketing in order to increase the audience and fan base, both in terms of numbers and geographical coverage,” says Brivio.

This also involves expanding into continents where the sport is not yet very present. “There is a lot of talk about the United States,” says the Italian, “but the world is big, and the further we expand, the better.”

Liberty Media has done “very good work” in Formula 1. “And I believe we have ideas and strategies to transfer this model to MotoGP.”

But Brivio also warns: “You can’t just copy Formula 1 and MotoGP. There are differences, but the experience from Formula 1 will be helpful. Some things will inspire the activities here, that’s what we expect.”

“From a sporting point of view, what we show on the track already works very well. The races are spectacular, so we are constantly promoting and marketing them. Maybe we need a few more charismatic riders who stand out more. We need to work on that a little,” admits the team boss.

Chief designer calls it quits! Red Bull must cope with another departure

Phil Laffertey
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Chief designer calls it quits! Red Bull must cope with another departure

Shortly before the start of this year’s Formula 1 season, Red Bull must cope with an expensive departure: chief designer Craig Skinner is leaving the team with immediate effect.

The reshuffle at Red Bull continues apace shortly before the start of this year’s season: on Tuesday morning, the racing team of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar confirmed that they have to say goodbye to chief designer Craig Skinner with immediate effect.

The Brit, who joined the Milton Keynes team alongside Adrian Newey in the 2006 season, is leaving Red Bull at his own request. The exact reasons are unknown, but his departure is not believed to be related to the departures of other executives in recent months.

Technical genius Newey moved to Aston Martin, while sporting director Jonathan Wheatley now heads Audi’s Formula 1 team. Chief strategist Will Courtenay moved to McLaren ahead of the 2026 season, and team principal Christian Horner also had to vacate his post last year.

Craig Skinner leaves Red Bull after 20 years

Skinner, a successful mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Glasgow, worked for Jordan and Williams before joining Red Bull. The Briton initially worked as a CFD engineer for the Red Bulls before rising to senior positions within the aerodynamics department.

After four years as head of aerodynamics, Skinner took over the position of chief designer in the 2022 season and worked closely with Newey and technical director Pierre Wache. Among other things, Skinner was responsible for the design of the RB19, with which Verstappen won his third world championship title in the 2023 season.

“After 20 years with the team, our chief designer Craig Skinner will be leaving the Red Bull technology team,” according to an official statement. “Craig has been an integral part of our team and our success. We thank him for his hard work and dedication. The entire Red Bull team wishes him all the best for the future.”

It remains to be seen what consequences Skinner’s departure will have for Red Bull. The team has made a solid impression in testing so far, and the drive unit it developed in-house has also exceeded all expectations in the first test drives in Barcelona and Bahrain.

“Incredible designer”: Alonso continues to believe in Adrian Newey

Sotd Editor
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“Incredible designer”: Alonso continues to believe in Adrian Newey

Aston Martin is still lagging behind in winter testing in Bahrain, but Fernando Alonso continues to believe in Adrian Newey, who “hasn’t forgotten everything in a year.”

Aston Martin was the big disappointment at the first winter test in Bahrain: Adrian Newey’s team is lagging far behind the competition and bluntly admits its lack of performance. But despite all the predictions, Fernando Alonso apparently remains hopeful for a turnaround.

“The power unit is a bit more difficult because we don’t yet fully understand the regulations and don’t know exactly what is required,” explains the two-time world champion with regard to the new partnership with Honda. “But on the chassis side, there are no question marks.”

That’s because the team’s great hope remains design genius Adrian Newey. “After more than 30 years of dominating the sport, Adrian isn’t going to forget everything in one year,” says Alonso. Nevertheless, the 67-year-old Briton’s concepts for the AMR26 do not yet seem to be having the desired effect.
“I don’t know where we stand now in terms of chassis and grip level, but even if we’re not at 100 percent yet, we’ll be at 100 percent soon because we’ll solve every problem with the power unit,” Alonso adds. “We need to take our time, understand where we stand, and if we’re behind, improve as quickly as possible.”

Adrian Newey is “an incredible designer”

Alonso remains confident for the 2026 season. “Absolutely,” says the Spaniard when asked by Sky Sports F1 if he can now understand what makes Newey the extraordinary competitor he is. “He’s different. He’s an incredible designer and has a very different way of working within a team.”

He continues: “In an era of computers and simulations, Adrian still talks to the driver and uses feedback on the problems you have. He can grasp the big picture of the problem and probably already has the solution in his head. It’s fascinating in a way to talk to him and learn from him, and I’m definitely looking forward to this year.”

However, the reality remains: “We are not in the position we wanted to be in,” admits Alonso. At the season opener in Melbourne, they will definitely not be among the fastest. But hope remains, because after all, Adrian Newey has not forgotten how to build successful race cars.

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