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VfB still hoping for Undav and Chabot

Lesley Summerville
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VfB still hoping for Undav and Chabot

The omens are good for VfB ahead of their clash with FC Augsburg, with the Bavarian Swabians being something of a favorite opponent for Stuttgart. However, the home side are also plagued by injury worries.

As is well known, Luca Jaquez had to pull out at short notice before Thursday evening’s 2-0 win over Feyenoord Rotterdam due to adductor problems and will also be unavailable on Sunday against FC Augsburg. The good news from VfB Stuttgart’s point of view, however, is that the injury is not structural in nature, the defender is traveling to the “Nati” and will continue to receive treatment in Switzerland.

Coach Sebastian Hoeneß, on the other hand, still has to worry about Deniz Undav and Jeff Chabot, who are suffering from minor injuries after the victory against the Dutch. Hoeneß warns, especially in the case of Undav, who only returned from injury a few weeks ago: “He has played much more than planned. He’s doing well, but we have to be careful there too.”

Despite the sobering results, the same applies to the opponents, as Hoeneß emphasizes: “Augsburg may be coming out of a difficult phase in terms of results, but they recently put up a great fight against Borussia Dortmund and will also pose difficult challenges for us.” Nevertheless, the clear strategy from Stuttgart’s point of view is: “We want to continue our home winning streak in the Bundesliga and go into the international break with a strong performance.”

The Swabians have won five consecutive league games in front of their home crowd, and Hoeneß has already celebrated seven victories in the German top flight against FCA alone. What’s more, since their promotion in 2020, VfB have won eight of their ten Bundesliga matches against Augsburg. That sounds a bit like a favorite opponent. But of course, such statistics need to be backed up with performance in order to stay at the top.

Rotation likely again

The intense schedule of the past few weeks has taken its toll, as Hoeneß emphasizes: “On Sunday, we will play our seventh game in 23 days. The past few weeks have been correspondingly intense. We want to bring everything that makes us strong to the pitch against Augsburg.” It is therefore quite possible that the coach will once again start the rotation machine.

After eight-match ban in 2024/25: Championship pro banned for nine matches

Phil Laffertey
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After eight-match ban in 2024/25: Championship pro banned for nine matches

Preston North End striker Milutin Osmajic has been banned for nine matches for a racist insult – his club is disappointed. For Osmajic, this is the latest memorable punishment.

Milutin Osmajic continues to work on his image as a scandal-prone professional. On Friday, the 26-year-old striker was banned for nine games by Championship club Preston North End. The English Football Association (FA) found it proven that Osmajic racially abused his opponent Hannibal during the goalless league game against eventual promoted team Burnley FC on February 15.

The 30-time Montenegro international, who also has to pay a fine equivalent to around €24,000, denied the accusation and received backing from his employer.

The verdict was reached on the basis of the “balance of probabilities” principle rather than “beyond reasonable doubt,” writes Preston, who is “extremely disappointed.” “We also note that the FA has decided that this decision does not constitute a moral judgment, was not made intentionally, and is not a statement about his general character. Milutin has always maintained his innocence regarding the charge and continues to do so. We continue to fully support our player.”

Osmajic was suspended for a biting incident in the previous season

When Preston and Burnley met again in the FA Cup two weeks after the incident (3-0), Osmajic gestured towards the away fans after scoring a goal, while the Burnley players had previously refused to shake hands with the striker. Hannibal – who once played for Manchester United in the Premier League – did not feature in the game himself.

Preston, currently fourth in the table and in contention for promotion, will now have to do without Osmajic, who has played in 12 of 14 games this season, starting nine times (four goals), until Christmas. This is not a new situation: Osmajic was suspended for eight games last season after biting Blackburn Rovers’ Owen Beck on the neck in September 2024, unnoticed by the referee. At the time, he accepted the punishment.

Arteta praises Xhaka: “He has made me a better coach”

Sports Of The Day
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Arteta praises Xhaka: “He has made me a better coach”

Since his return to the island, Granit Xhaka has been thrilling the Premier League. On Saturday, the Swiss player will face his former club Arsenal with surprise team Sunderland. Gunners coach Mikel Arteta sang the praises of Xhaka, whom he coached for four years, on Friday.

On Saturday, AFC Sunderland will host what is arguably the “real” top match of the day: league leaders Arsenal, who are already six points clear at the top of the table, will be visiting the Black Cats, who are tied with Liverpool for fourth place and could close the gap on the leaders with a win against the Gunners.

The club from the northeast of England is certainly capable of tripping up Arsenal. This is particularly due to one player who has been receiving praise from all sides since his return to the island. Not least from TV expert Jamie Carragher, who recently even described him as the “transfer of the year”: Granit Xhaka.

After two years in Leverkusen, the 33-year-old Swiss decided to leave the Werkself in the summer and ended up at the Stadium of Light after a few detours. But there he quickly silenced his critics and is one of the reasons why Sunderland now has a top match ahead of it. One that is also of particular significance for Xhaka: the midfielder played most of his 234 Premier League games for Arsenal, where he was under contract for seven years between 2016 and 2023.

Mikel Arteta has been on the sidelines there for almost six years now. Xhaka once succeeded him as a midfielder when he moved from Borussia Mönchengladbach to London—and three years later, after Arteta was hired as Gunners coach, he played a very important role.
The 43-year-old emphasized this with impressive words at the press conference ahead of the match. “He made me a better coach,” said Arteta, who joined the Gunners as a rookie head coach at the time. “He helped us develop and improve as a soccer team and as a club.
I will be eternally grateful to him for that because I have many fond memories of him.“ Even today, Xhaka is still ”one of the best“ players in the league, Arteta emphasized: ”I loved every minute we spent together.”

Arteta helps Xhaka through a difficult phase

That appreciation is likely to be mutual, because Xhaka also owes Arteta a lot. Under Arteta’s predecessor, Unai Emery, the Swiss player was appointed Arsenal captain in the summer of 2019, before the coach stripped him of the armband after a few months following a dispute with the home fans. “When I joined the club, he was going through a difficult period in his life and career, and we all tried to support him, give him a different perspective, and make him feel loved and appreciated,” Arteta recalls. “He responded in an incredible way.”

Together, Arsenal, Arteta, and Xhaka won the FA Cup in the summer of 2020 and the Community Shield in the same year, so now it’s time for a reunion. “It will be an emotional game for me—I had seven fantastic years there,” Xhaka recently emphasized. “Playing against them here in Sunderland is obviously very special. Hopefully I can enjoy it too, and we’ll see who is the better team on the day.”

For Slot, it doesn’t matter whether Wirtz is “a 10, an 11 or an 8.”

T0m@dmin1
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For Slot, it doesn’t matter whether Wirtz is “a 10, an 11 or an 8.”

Florian Wirtz hasn’t always been in Liverpool’s starting lineup in recent weeks, but after his strong performance against Real Madrid, he is also expected to feature in the top match at ManCity. The question remains: Where to put Wirtz?

Florian Wirtz has now played ten Premier League games, but the DFB player has still not managed to score a point. As a reminder, last season he scored ten goals and provided 14 assists in 31 Bundesliga appearances for Leverkusen, and in the Champions League he scored six goals and provided one assist in nine games. Exceptional statistics for an exceptional player who has so far been nothing more than a bit-part player at Liverpool.

Perhaps it’s because the position doesn’t suit him?

In last Tuesday’s Champions League match against Real Madrid (1-0), coach Arne Slot played him on the left wing – and Wirtz put in a convincing performance. The fact that he didn’t get an assist this time was more down to Dominik Szoboszlai, who failed to beat keeper Thibaut Courtois from close range in the 27th minute after a perfect pass from the 22-year-old. However, Wirtz initiated the chance from the right side.
Coach Arne Slot emphasized on Friday that he places more importance on the “how” than the “where.” “Florian can play in more than one position. He can play on the left side, which he almost always did under Xabi at Leverkusen in a 3-4-3 system, and in front of that as a number 10,” said the Dutchman. “We shouldn’t be so focused on whether he’s a 10, an 11 or an 8.” Rather, it’s about giving Wirtz positions “where he’s good. We’d like to use him centrally in and around the penalty area or a little further out on the wings so he can create the chances he’s already created for us.”

Slot never missed a duel in the past

In any case, the top match now offers Wirtz a new opportunity to make a decisive impact. With a win at the Etihad, Liverpool could even overtake Manchester City despite four league defeats. Slot is looking forward to a “very interesting game. When I was still in Holland and not working here, I always knew exactly when City were playing Liverpool. I can tell you: I was always 100 percent in front of my TV when this match was played. Similar to the Clasico.”

There are still a few question marks over Liverpool’s personnel. A decision on the injured Andy Robertson will be made on the day. Alexander Isak will be able to train with the Reds again today, Friday, for the first time after a three-week enforced break. Slot does not expect goalkeeper Alisson and former Leverkusen player Jeremie Frimpong to return until after the international break.

“At rock bottom”: Towers boss Willoughby responds to coaching question

Phil Laffertey
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“At rock bottom”: Towers boss Willoughby responds to coaching question

Hopes for a breakthrough were high. The result was all the more sobering. With a 73-85 loss in Braunschweig, Veolia Towers Hamburg suffered their 18th competitive defeat in a row across all competitions and seasons.

While Braunschweig played most of the game like a team that wants to leave the bottom of the table, the Towers once again lacked control on both sides of the court.

No turnaround in sight: Hamburg goes down in Braunschweig in basement battle

And yet there were moments that gave cause for optimism: In the middle of the game, the Towers fought their way back with a strong run, at times reducing the deficit to just two points. Coach Benka Barloschky had found the right mix on the court for a short time. This was mainly due to the duo of LJ Thorpe and Carlos Stewart. But after the break, the visitors fell back into old patterns, missing easy shots and gradually losing touch.

After the game, the Towers coach was deeply disappointed, but also self-critical: “We had a good spell at the start of the second half, when we brought the right energy. But we weren’t consistent enough to turn the game around completely. Our shooting percentage in the two-point range wasn’t good enough, even though we had many, many opportunities. That hurt us a lot. In the end, we have to accept that we simply have to be better.“

His players also struggled to find the right words. Martin Breunig, who celebrated his BBL comeback in Braunschweig, criticized the lack of mental stability: ”We can’t start a game like this 0-8. That’s a bitter setback right from the start. We have too many mental lapses that we simply cannot afford.“

Sports Director Willoughby

After the game, Managing Director of Sports Marvin Willoughby also stepped up to the Dyn microphone and made it clear how serious the situation is: ”We are at rock bottom, the lowest point you can be at right now. But we believe that we have built a culture where we stand together and do what we have to do. We have to get out of this, and we will get out of this.“

Willoughby avoided making a clear commitment to coach Barloschky. But between the lines, loyalty was evident: ”Of course, we are all dissatisfied. Benka is the one who is most sorry. We’re sticking together now, driving back together, and starting to analyze the game tomorrow morning.”

New guard on the way?

At least there is a glimmer of hope: according to the Hamburger Abendblatt, a new guard is expected to arrive in Hamburg next week to give the struggling backcourt more stability.

Until then, Barloschky’s appeal remains the motto of the hour: take responsibility, stick together, and take the “hard road.” Whether that will succeed in the current form, however, remains to be seen.

Stella does not believe the World Championship battle will escalate, but: “We are not naive.”

Andrew Jackson
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Stella does not believe the World Championship battle will escalate, but: “We are not naive.”

Andrea Stella is confident that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will conduct their title battle at McLaren professionally—despite growing tension.

McLaren team boss Andrea Stella does not believe that the internal World Championship battle between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will escalate. “I don’t think that will be the case,” said Stella ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris travels to São Paulo as the new World Championship leader, one point ahead of teammate Piastri. Defending champion Max Verstappen is 36 points behind. McLaren is allowing its two drivers to race freely in the battle for the title—a decision that has so far created excitement but also friction. Piastri was unhappy at Monza when he was asked to swap positions with Norris. In Singapore, the two collided, which, according to Stella, resulted in repercussions for Norris. However, these were lifted after the teammates collided again in Austin – this time, Piastri was largely blamed.

Stella praises his drivers’ conduct

Despite these incidents, Stella sees no cause for concern. “Both drivers have known for a long time that the car is competitive. They know there is a chance to fight for the championship,” he explains. “But I don’t see that escalating into anything other than everyone trying to get the most out of their own weekend. That requires a high level of dialogue – but we’re usually very good at that at McLaren.”

According to Stella, the teamwork within the team is exemplary. “I am personally very proud of our two drivers and our engineers. They work together in a way that we have never seen before in the history of Formula 1,” says the Italian.

McLaren wants to learn from history

Stella refers to the lessons learned from the past. “The history of Formula 1 is certainly a source we use to understand how to manage two number one drivers who are both fighting for the world championship title,” he explains.
He recalls the 2007 season, when McLaren lost the drivers’ title to Kimi Räikkönen with Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. At the time, Stella was working on the winning side at Ferrari. Today, he wants to avoid similar mistakes. “We are not naive. We know that the pressure is high. We know that the stakes are high,” says Stella. “But we will continue to rely on our framework, our principles, and good communication. What I’ve seen so far is that Lando and Oscar are very supportive of each other. Oscar spoke very clearly yesterday about mutual respect—and the same goes for Lando.“

Stella sums it up: ”We’re not naive, but we’re going to work very hard to make sure this situation remains in place until the end of the championship.”

Peter Wright: Ground effect pioneer dies at the age of 79

Jason Maverick
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Peter Wright: Ground effect pioneer dies at the age of 79

British engineer and aerodynamics pioneer Peter Wright, father of ground effect design in Formula 1, has died at the age of 79.

British engineer and ground effect pioneer Peter Wright has died at the age of 79. Wright was one of the most influential engineers of his generation—a visionary whose work changed motorsport forever.
His influence extended far beyond his years at Lotus, where he invented the underbody aerodynamics approach that revolutionized Formula 1 in the late 1970s. Wright studied mechanical engineering at Trinity College, Cambridge, and entered motorsport in 1967 with the legendary BRM racing team.
Under the leadership of Tony Rudd, he began his first experiments with generating downforce via the bodywork instead of wings—a radical idea at the time. However, the project was halted after BRM driver John Surtees intervened, preferring to use the resources for the current car. Shortly thereafter, Wright and Rudd left the team.

The breakthrough at Lotus: The birth of ground effect

After his time at BRM, Wright moved to Specialized Mouldings, where he set up his own wind tunnel system—a laboratory that was later taken over by Williams and converted by a young Ross Brawn.

Wright made his decisive breakthrough when he joined Lotus together with Rudd. During his wind tunnel experiments at Imperial College, he discovered the key to ground effect: sealing the edges of the underbody to create a vacuum under the car. This discovery led to the legendary Lotus 78 and the even more dominant Lotus 79, with which Mario Andretti became world champion in 1978. This marked the beginning of a new era in aerodynamics—and Wright made motorsport history. Wright was also the first engineer to integrate a data recording system into a Formula 1 car—a precursor to modern telemetry.

Endless innovation: active suspension and a safety revolution

In the 1980s, Wright continued his work at Lotus Engineering, where he worked on the first active suspension in Formula 1. As early as 1983, the team tested the system, which was used in the Lotus 99T with Ayrton Senna from 1987 onwards.

The system enabled a constant vehicle height and ensured that the tires could maintain their maximum grip for longer – a decisive advantage. In Detroit in 1987, Senna won without a pit stop and still set the fastest lap of the race – a triumph of Wright’s engineering skills.

When Team Lotus ran into financial difficulties in the late 1980s, Wright helped keep the team alive. He remained technical director until the team’s final demise in 1994 – loyal to the end.

From technology to safety: Wright’s influence after Senna

After Ayrton Senna’s death in 1994, FIA President Max Mosley brought Wright on board as an advisor for new safety programs. Mosley wrote in his autobiography that until then, “the systematic application of scientific methods in the field of safety” had been a fundamental oversight.

Wright brought this scientific rigor back to Formula 1. He helped establish crash test standards, track safety protocols, the HANS system, and later the halo. His influence on the sport’s safety culture is still felt today.

In addition, he contributed to the development of energy-efficient engine technologies and recovery systems—concepts that paved the way for the hybrid era beginning in 2014.

The explainer and thinker

In addition to his work as an engineer, Wright was a gifted technical writer. He understood how to make complex technical concepts understandable—a gift that earned him great respect in the scene. In his recently published book, How Did I Get Here?, he looked back on a career full of ideas, setbacks, and successes. Away from the racetrack, Wright was considered a passionate pilot—of both motorized and unmotorized aircraft. It was a passion that shaped his curiosity for aerodynamics and energy efficiency even outside of Formula 1. At the age of 79, Peter Wright leaves behind a legacy that is visible everywhere in modern Formula 1—from the underbody to the active suspension to the safety structures that protect the lives of the drivers.

Hamilton responds to Bearman rumors: “I still have quite a long contract.”

Jason Maverick
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Hamilton responds to Bearman rumors: “I still have quite a long contract.”

Lewis Hamilton puts an end to speculation about an early departure from Ferrari—and reveals details about the length of his contract for the first time.

Lewis Hamilton has clearly rejected the latest rumors about an early exit from his Ferrari contract. The seven-time world champion emphasizes that he has “a pretty long contract” – and that it is far too early to talk about an extension.

“I have a pretty long contract,” Hamilton said on Thursday ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix. “Normally, when you sign a contract, you only start talking about an extension the year before. I’m still quite a long way from that at the moment.”

Speculation arose after Haas rookie Oliver Bearman surprised everyone by finishing fourth in Mexico – the best result of his young Formula 1 career. Several Italian media outlets subsequently reported that Ferrari could be considering the Briton as a possible successor to Hamilton in the medium term.

Ferrari contract: officially only “multi-year”

When announcing the change at the beginning of 2024, Ferrari never specifically disclosed how long Hamilton’s contract would actually run. The team’s announcement merely referred to a “multi-year contract” – which in Formula 1 usually means two or three years.

It therefore seems likely that Hamilton will drive for the Scuderia until at least the end of 2026. His statement in São Paulo now suggests that talks about a possible extension would begin in 2026 at the earliest – i.e. after his second season in red.

The 39-year-old made a surprise move from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 season, perhaps starting the last major chapter of his career. However, the start has been bumpy: while teammate Charles Leclerc has been on the podium several times, Hamilton has had to settle for fourth place so far.

Adaptation to Ferrari “still ongoing”

Hamilton admits that the switch to the Ferrari car requires more adaptation than he had initially expected. “I think we’ve definitely made progress in recent months,” he says. “Charles got a great result in the last race. I think it will vary from track to track, depending on where we’re racing.”

So far this season, Hamilton has scored one victory in the sprint race in China, but he is yet to finish on the podium in the Grand Prix. His best result in a main race is fourth place, achieved in Imola, Austria, Silverstone, and Austin.

Ahead of the weekend at Interlagos, however, the Briton remains optimistic: “This is the first time I’ve driven here for Ferrari. Their car looked pretty good here last year. I don’t know how it will feel this time, but of course I’m hoping for a good result.”

Hamilton: We can push the car to the limit

Hamilton also points to the changed track conditions in Brazil: “They’ve repaved part of the track, so the layout is a bit different,” he explains. “I hope we can push the car as close to the limit as possible and get a good result.”

Looking ahead to the weather in São Paulo, which is known for its changeable conditions, he adds: “Hopefully we can have a good weekend with nice Brazilian weather.” Background: The Ferrari has not exactly been a good rain car in recent years, and this season is no exception.
The Brazilian Grand Prix is the penultimate sprint weekend of the season. That means only one practice session on Friday, followed directly by sprint qualifying. Hamilton remains calm: “We know it can always be unpredictable here, but that’s part of this place.”

Mercedes confident for Brazil: Second force behind McLaren?

Lesley Summerville
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Mercedes confident for Brazil: Second force behind McLaren?

Toto Wolff believes in a Mercedes comeback in Brazil – while George Russell and Kimi Antonelli talk about the close battle and learning progress

Toto Wolff is looking forward to the Brazilian Grand Prix with confidence. After difficult weeks in Austin and Mexico, Mercedes wants to fight back in the battle for second place in the constructors’ championship. “Four races to go. Only one point separates us from Ferrari, Red Bull is only nine points behind,” explains Wolff ahead of the weekend in São Paulo. “We’ve had a few tough weekends, but we’re still in the fight for P2. Each of these four events will be crucial.”

The team boss believes that the traditional Interlagos circuit offers the right terrain to make a comeback, after all, George Russell won his first Formula 1 Grand Prix there in 2022. “While our advantage over our rivals disappeared in Austin and Mexico, we can strike back in Brazil,” Wolff emphasizes.

Interlagos does not forgive mistakes

In addition to the classic Grand Prix, Brazil will also host the penultimate sprint weekend of the season—an additional factor in the close World Championship duel between Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull. “The penultimate sprint weekend of the year means we have to give our best right from the start,” says Wolff.

“Interlagos is an old-school track with uneven asphalt, elevation changes, and many different types of corners. Add to that the unpredictable weather, and there’s little room for error.” Wolff emphasizes that precision is now key: “No matter what the weekend brings, our goal is to work well from the start, perform better than our competitors, and get back in front of our closest rivals.”

Russell: It will come down to the last tenth

George Russell, who celebrated his first Grand Prix victory in Brazil in 2022, expects an extremely close battle with Ferrari and Red Bull. “I think we have no idea,” says Russell when asked whether Mercedes could have the upper hand in Brazil.

“The competition is so close right now, and the last few weekends have been decided by a tenth or a tenth and a half in qualifying. So it will come down to that one lap in Q3, a clean start, and a good strategy.” Russell emphasizes that there are no clear favorites in the current Formula 1 season. “It’s very close between all of us,” he sums up.

After Brazil: Mercedes the top favorite in Las Vegas?

Looking ahead to the remaining races, especially in Las Vegas, the Briton sees opportunities—but no guarantees. “Basically, we have nothing to lose, so we have more opportunities to fight for victories,” explains Russell, who triumphed in Las Vegas last year.

“But at the end of the day, if they qualify ahead of us, we have no chance of fighting wheel-to-wheel. Vegas will be a good opportunity for us, I think. We usually do well there when there’s no tire overheating. I think it will be that kind of track again.”

However, he doesn’t believe Mercedes will be as strong there as it was last year: “We’ve improved the car for a 24-race season, and that will tend to hinder it on some extreme tracks, like Vegas.” Nevertheless, recent races in Baku and Singapore have shown that Mercedes plays to its strengths in tight corners. The cold temperatures at night should also help.

But first comes Brazil, about which Russell says: “If it’s a simple one-stop strategy, overtaking is still difficult. If a two-stop race is more realistic, it could be exciting. It’s often been a two-stop race here, and the long straight helps with overtaking. So I hope it’s possible—but we just don’t know,” said the Mercedes driver.

Antonelli: I’m much more in control now

For Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who will be driving in Brazil for the first time, Interlagos is another milestone in his learning curve. The Italian has made tremendous progress in his first year in Formula 1 after the European season did not go as planned. “With experience, you simply play a much bigger role in everything,” explains Antonelli. “With experience, you know how to behave when you’re getting to know new tracks or when you have a sprint weekend.”

The 19-year-old adds: “I’m more in control now, even though there are still things I need to do better. But compared to the start of the season, I’ve learned to react better through many different scenarios. That has helped me a lot.”

Rybakina continues her winning streak

Lesley Summerville
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0
Rybakina continues her winning streak

The Kazakhstani defeats American Jessica Pegula in Riyadh after a tough battle, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Yelena Rybakina has reached the final of the WTA Finals for the first time. The Kazakh defeated American Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 after a tough battle at the $15.5 million event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Her opponent in the final of the year-end tournament will be either world number one Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) or Amanda Anisimova (USA).

“I’m happy that I fought my way through. My serve helped me,” said Rybakina, who had already remained undefeated in the group stage.

In the second set, the world number six saved two game points from Pegula at 5-4, and in the third set she was particularly impressive on her own serve, hitting 15 aces to Pegula’s single ace.

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