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Yuki Tsunoda facing Formula 1 exit: Honda talks won’t save Japanese driver

Jeffrey Gooding
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Yuki Tsunoda facing Formula 1 exit: Honda talks won’t save Japanese driver

Honda is assisting Red Bull with TPC testing, but for Yuki Tsunoda, any support comes too late: Lawson will most likely take the last Racing Bulls seat

Red Bull is negotiating with Honda about supplying engines for TPC test days, but even this deal will not be a lifeline for Yuki Tsunoda. According to consistent media reports, the last free Racing Bulls seat for 2026 will go to Liam Lawson, while Isack Hadjar will move up to Red Bull Racing and Arvid Lindblad to the sister team. The course has been set for the new engine era – but for Tsunoda, it leads off the grid.

With the change to the new 2026 regulations, Red Bull Racing and the Racing Bulls are switching to the in-house Red Bull Powertrains Ford engine. For the so-called TPC tests—drives with Formula 1 cars that are at least two years old—teams are allowed to use their previous engine manufacturers. The FIA requires them to supply engines, but without a price limit. This means that Honda can charge whatever Honda wants—and Red Bull has to pay these sums if it wants to continue testing young drivers.

Helmut Marko said after a meeting in Qatar: “We have always had a good and honest relationship with Honda. We had a meeting on Friday, and I think we are well on the way to resolving this issue.” The statement clearly shows that Red Bull wants to finalize the deal – and that the TPC days are strategically extremely important for the coming year.

Why Honda won’t rescue Tsunoda despite good relations

There was speculation in the paddock as to whether Honda might make a last-ditch attempt to keep Tsunoda in the cockpit despite the Ford partnership. But the reality suggests otherwise. In Qatar, Tsunoda hinted that he knew “something he couldn’t say yet” — a hint that is now becoming clear: he is losing his regular seat.

Marko was asked openly whether Tsunoda could be part of the Honda deal. His answer was: “There are different ways to solve such problems.” An elegant but very clearly negative answer. If Tsunoda were a factor, Marko would have said so clearly. Instead, developments show that the Japanese driver will no longer play a role in the active racing squad in 2026.

Even Honda couldn’t do much. A Honda sticker on a car supported by Ford would be hard to justify. And Red Bull has been shifting its focus for some time: Hadjar is considered the new hope, Lawson an all-rounder – while Tsunoda has fallen short of expectations.

Only one option remains in the background for Tsunoda

The driver decisions are to be officially announced on Tuesday after the Qatar race, but the information from the environment is clear. Isack Hadjar will be Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull Racing in 2026. Arvid Lindblad will get a cockpit at Racing Bulls. The remaining seat was long a Tsunoda-Lawson question – now Lawson seems to be set.

At most, Tsunoda will remain in a role as a reserve driver. This could be supported by the Honda-TPC deal: more test days, more mileage, perhaps a personal test program. But a regular seat is out of the question. And Tsunoda has known this for a long time.

Why the TPC deal is more important to Red Bull than any individual driver

The limited number of test days in modern Formula 1 make TPC programs an invaluable tool. They are also outside the budget cap – an advantage for a financially strong team like Red Bull. The young drivers have to stay in the car, and that requires engine units that are no longer in regular use. Honda is the only viable partner for this.

Marko put it clearly: “Of course, we have to reach an agreement with Honda.” This is essential for the future of the Red Bull junior program. And that is precisely why the priority is shifting: testing and talent take precedence over individual driver careers.

Verstappen “Monster” for sale: Replica edition is extremely limited

admin3r
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Verstappen “Monster” for sale: Replica edition is extremely limited

Red Bull is selling the RB20 as an exclusive replica and is only building ten units – buyers must sign a strict contract for the championship car

A show car version of the Red Bull RB20, with which Max Verstappen won the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship in 2024, is available in an extremely limited edition through ‘F1 Authentics’.

Officially licensed by Oracle Red Bull Racing and manufactured by memorabilia company Memento Exclusives, the RB20 replicas are the first of their kind to hit the market. The cars are made to order, with only ten being built in total. A price has not yet been confirmed.

The RB20 carried Max Verstappen to his fourth title win. The Milton Keynes-based team achieved nine wins, 18 podium finishes, eight pole positions, and a total of 589 points over the course of the year thanks to the performances of the Dutchman and his teammate Sergio Perez.

Copied as closely as possible

The replica was created using CAD (computer-aided design) data obtained directly from the team and is as close as possible to the real chassis. There are three paint schemes to choose from: the standard 2024 design, the special edition for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, or the version for the Las Vegas Grand Prix—the race in which Verstappen sealed his title win despite finishing only fifth.

The buyer of these special replicas must sign a separate license agreement to become an official Red Bull licensee.

The press release states: “To take advantage of this rare opportunity, you agree not to use the show car for any illegal activities, to disparage the Red Bull brand, or to make political, religious, or discriminatory statements.”

Back then, it was a “monster”

According to the reigning world champion, the RB20 turned out to be a “monster.” After a dominant 2023, the 2024 car proved to be cumbersome. While McLaren caught up in the constructors’ championship, Red Bull responded, but balance issues plagued the team throughout the season.

“The car is undriveable,” Verstappen said at the time. “We have a massive balance problem, not just over one lap, but also in the race.”

“Last year we had a great car, the most dominant car ever, and we basically turned it into a monster,” was the Dutchman’s damning verdict. Although he reported at one point that the championship was “unrealistic,” the team ultimately managed to deliver a car that was closer to the driver’s expectations.

Alonso rejoices, fans doubt: What’s behind Newey’s dual role

Jason Maverick
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Alonso rejoices, fans doubt: What’s behind Newey’s dual role

Fans are highly skeptical about Newey’s new role as team principal and designer – Fernando Alonso defends the radical restructuring as a quest for perfection

It’s an experiment that others have failed at, but Adrian Newey is determined to prove the opposite: Starting in the 2026 season, the star designer at Aston Martin will not only serve as technical partner, but will also take on the role of team principal. This dual role is rare in modern Formula 1 and brings back memories of Mattia Binotto’s time at Ferrari.

But how exactly does the 66-year-old intend to manage a Formula 1 team while ensuring that the development of the 2026 car does not suffer under the new regulations? Newey himself takes a pragmatic view of the situation, emphasizing that the restructuring is primarily the result of a logical division of responsibilities with the current team principal, Andy Cowell.

Newey has clear priorities

In an interview with Sky Sports F1, Newey dismisses concerns that he could get bogged down. His heart still beats primarily for technology. “That’s really what I want to do and what I have to do,” Newey clarifies with regard to car design. “That’s what gets me out of bed in the morning. So I’m determined not to water that down.”

The fact that he now also holds the title of team principal is more of an organizational consequence than a complete reorientation of his daily work. “Since I’ll be at all the early races anyway, it doesn’t really change my workload much, as I’ll be there anyway,” explains the Briton. “So I might as well take on that part too – apart from having to talk to you [the media], of course.”

Why Cowell is voluntarily stepping aside

The key to this reshuffle lies in the complex integration of new factory partner Honda from 2026. Andy Cowell, who recently joined Aston Martin, will move to the position of Chief Strategy Officer. According to Newey, this was Cowell’s own wish in order to better leverage his strengths.

“To be perfectly honest, it became very obvious that Andy’s skills were absolutely needed in view of the challenge of the 2026 power unit and supporting the three-way relationship between Honda, Aramco, and us,” said Newey. Cowell “generously” agreed to head up this area, leaving the position of team principal vacant. “And I was the logical answer.”

Alonso and Verstappen see “new trend”

Fernando Alonso, who is set to benefit from this structure from 2026, sees the dual role as an advantage for performance. “Andy has done a lot of management work internally, including on the engine side. It was perhaps a normal logical step,“ says the Spaniard. For him, one thing is certain: ”With Adrian, there is only one style, and that is performance. It is the unlimited pursuit of perfection.”

World champion Max Verstappen, who is very familiar with Newey’s way of working at Red Bull, also believes in the success of the model. He even sees it as a development that could set a precedent in Formula 1—similar to McLaren with Andrea Stella. “That’s probably something you’ll see more and more teams doing, right? Someone who is more technically oriented taking on the role of team principal,” Verstappen analyzes. Although this was “never an option” at Red Bull, he is convinced: “I’m sure he’ll do well.”

Fans skeptical: Is the Binotto scenario looming?

While the protagonists are spreading optimism, fans on social media are divided. The fear is that a brilliant engineer is not automatically a good team manager. Many draw parallels with Ferrari in 2022. “Newey focuses on both building a car and managing a team. That can either go well or end up like Binotto,” writes one user on Reddit. Another adds: “If Aston Martin wanted him to improve the car, they can’t promote him to team boss. He now has to take on 90 percent of other tasks that have nothing to do with technology.”

Others disagree and point to Newey’s experience: “As chief technical officer, he was already responsible for half the team. He wasn’t sitting alone in a design workshop.”

Whether the experiment will be successful will be seen in 2026. Aston Martin is currently eighth in the constructors’ championship with 72 points and hopes to catch up with the leaders with the new structure and the Honda deal.

A “true legend” of tennis

T0m@dmin1
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A “true legend” of tennis

Australian tennis great Neale Fraser passed away a year ago today at the age of 91. Pat Cash is not the only one to speak out.

A year ago today, Australian tennis great Neale Fraser passed away at the age of 91. The country’s tennis association described the three-time Grand Slam winner and former world number one as “a true legend of Australian tennis who will be missed by so many people around the world.”

Fraser won Wimbledon in 1960, among other titles, and also celebrated eleven major doubles titles. He also made a significant contribution to the Davis Cup. “I will miss you dearly, mate,” wrote icon Rod Laver on X in 2024. “He was like a father to me,” said Pat Cash, who won Wimbledon in 1987.

Barca goalkeeper Szczesny: “I’ve had enough of this suffering”

T0m@dmin1
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Barca goalkeeper Szczesny: “I’ve had enough of this suffering”

Unlike many of his colleagues, Wojciech Szczesny is not exactly extroverted, but now the Pole has provided some remarkable insights, talking about trauma, why he played for Barca almost for free, why Robert Lewandowski annoys him, and the metal rods he has had in his arms for 17 years.

Wojciech Szczesny has been part of top-level European soccer for years: Arsenal, AS Roma, Juventus Turin, and currently FC Barcelona—the 35-year-old’s career is impressive. There is no doubt that he is a good goalkeeper, yet he has repeatedly been underestimated and, despite consistent performances, has never been considered a star. That probably hasn’t changed to this day. At FC Barcelona, the Pole has now been relegated to second place, behind Joan Garcia. When Marc-André ter Stegen returns from injury, he could even be demoted to number 3. Szczesny should be able to live with that, as he has already fulfilled one of his dreams.

In an interview with Polish GQ, he first spoke about his complicated relationship with his father Maciej, who, like his son, was the Polish national goalkeeper. “As a child, I was afraid of my father,” said the Barca keeper, revealing that his father “repeatedly humiliated me in public in front of complete strangers. I asked myself, ‘Dad, why are you doing this?’, but I also learned to hide my emotions and swallow everything.” This shaped him and also had an impact on his career, because “when you’re a goalkeeper, everyone thinks you’re cool, confident, and fearless—and I learned to be calm at a very young age. Maybe that’s why it was so important to me never to ‘freak out,’ so I wouldn’t be that little boy who blushes in front of strangers again.”

Barcelona more important than money

In terms of his career, Wojciech has long since eclipsed his old man, but he never wanted to compete with him anyway, the 35-year-old emphasized, revealing that before his move to FC Barcelona, he had actually planned to hang up his gloves, which he had already made official. “It’s not that I had lost my passion for soccer, but there were no offers that excited me. I didn’t want to play just for the money. Three days before I announced my retirement, I even told Lewa that I only wanted to play for one club—Barcelona. When they called me, they probably knew they could convince me.”

Just how much he wanted to play for the Blaugrana is shown by the fact that he did so in his first year with almost no salary. “In my first season in Barcelona, I played for free. What I got from Barça was exactly what I had to pay Juventus for the early termination of my contract. I didn’t earn a single euro more.“ But Barcelona made it possible for him ”not to retire with bitterness, but to be part of a big club once again. That was worth more to me than money at the time.”

Teasing from Lewandowski

In Spain, he also plays with his compatriot Lewandowski, whom he knows very well from their time together on the national team—and who usually teases him for a specific reason. “I love to eat. Although I manage to stay within the weight limit, I broke Barcelona’s record for body fat percentage. I thought it was funny,“ admitted the veteran, saying that he could live with it if ”the worst thing about my professionalism is that I love food.“

Lewandowski is even said to have asked once how Szczesny could ”have such a career with a body like that.” “Of course, I had no peace once Lewa heard about my body fat percentage,” revealed the keeper, explaining: “He’s a fanatic when it comes to nutrition and training; he lives like a robot. Whenever we enter the national team’s dressing room, the first thing he does is scrutinize me from head to toe and criticize me in some way.” Nevertheless, it was important to him to emphasize that he had managed to “maintain a high level throughout my 17-year professional career.”

Juventus will have to do without Vlahovic for months

Lesley Summerville
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Juventus will have to do without Vlahovic for months

Dusan Vlahovic still has a contract with Juventus Turin until June. In the summer, the Italian record champions wanted to part ways with the Serbian in order to make some money and get rid of their top earner. But Vlahovic stayed and recently cemented his place in the team. Now he will be out for months.

On Saturday, Dusan Vlahovic was injured in the 2-1 win over Cagliari Calcio and had to be substituted in the 31st minute. Even then, it was clear that it was something serious, as the 25-year-old buried his pain-contorted face in his jersey as he left the field.

Uncertainty about how long he will be out of action

And so it has come to pass: as it turns out, he has suffered a large tear in the adductor area of his left leg, which will require him to take a break for several months. Juve coach Luciano Spalletti spoke of at least two to three months, but depending on how the healing process progresses, the length of his absence could extend to up to five months.

The Turin club also announced that “further medical consultations are necessary to determine the appropriate treatment.” Surgery is also a possibility. Whether this will happen is something Vlahovic will have to decide in consultation with his doctors. The Old Lady can therefore expect the Serbian national striker to return in February or even March at the earliest.

Vlahovic joined Juventus from Florence in 2021/22 for €83 million and has since scored 60 goals in 148 games for the Italian record champions. However, the star striker has never been without controversy, as Turin had hoped for more from him. He was even left out at the start of the current season, but then played his way back into the team and has so far scored only three league goals and three goals and one assist in the Champions League. Despite this meager record, Vlahovic was recently made the number one striker by new coach Spalletti. But now there has been another setback.

Venues and kick-off times: FIFA announces another show for the XXL World Cup

Sports Of The Day
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Venues and kick-off times: FIFA announces another show for the XXL World Cup

It’s nothing new that FIFA organizes the group draw as a big event with a lot of fanfare, but now the world governing body is going one step further in terms of “entertainment.”

On Friday, the draw for the preliminary round groups for next summer’s World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada will take place in Washington, D.C. However, only the groups will be drawn at that time, with everything else to follow later. As FIFA confirmed on Monday, details such as venues and kick-off times for all 104 matches of the XXL tournament will be announced in another show on Saturday (6 p.m. CET).

The importance of the event to the world governing body is demonstrated by the fact that FIFA President Gianni Infantino himself will host the show. According to the association’s announcement, “FIFA legends and representatives of all 42 qualified teams and those still in the running will be present.” However, it is already certain that even after this event, not all information will be fully available, as the final schedule will not be finalized until March, after the last six World Cup tickets have been decided in the play-offs.

Ensuring “the best possible conditions”

On Friday, Germany will be one of the twelve group leaders in the draw at the John F. Kennedy Center, thus avoiding the supposedly toughest opponents in the preliminary round, such as defending champions Argentina, European champions Spain, England, and France, as well as the three hosts.

The venues for the World Cup, in which 48 nations will participate for the first time in history from June 11 to July 19, 2026, are spread across four time zones. FIFA’s goal is to enable as many fans as possible to watch their team’s games at a kickoff time that is acceptable to them in their home country. According to FIFA, this is why it is taking the time for the first time to determine the venues and kickoff times on a separate date in order to “ensure the best possible conditions for all teams and spectators.”

Arrived safely despite surgery: How Röhl is doing at Everton

Sotd Editor
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Arrived safely despite surgery: How Röhl is doing at Everton

Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade were in the spotlight during Newcastle’s 4-1 win at Everton FC. A meeting with Merlin Röhl was canceled due to surgery. Despite injury problems, the former Freiburg player feels he has settled in well with the Toffees.

Two Germans made their mark on Saturday evening’s Premier League match between Everton FC and Newcastle United. Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade scored three goals in the Magpies’ 4-1 win at the Liverpool club and gave a humorous double interview afterwards.

Given the result, Merlin Röhl was certainly not in the best of moods. However, he would probably have been in a slightly better mood had Everton’s midfielder been able to face his compatriots on the pitch, including a teammate from their days together at the DFB.

At the beginning of the summer, the German U21 team had reached the final of the European Championship. This was mainly thanks to their top scorer Woltemade and Röhl, who started the tournament injured but scored the winning goal in extra time in the quarterfinal against Italy. In the final, the DFB team narrowly missed out on another junior title against England.

Röhl and Woltemade have played a total of eleven games together for the DFB U21 team. In late summer, the former Freiburg player followed the former Stuttgart player to England at the last minute. The surprise deal was only finalized on deadline day. The Toffees, who had already shown interest in Röhl, initially transferred a loan fee of two million euros to the Sport-Club. Next summer, the total transfer fee could rise to around €25 million if the club remains in the Premier League.

Röhl forced to take a break for the second time

Not a huge sum by English standards, but not a small one either. Coach David Moyes’ club has high hopes for the talented German midfielder, who has yet to consistently show his full potential over a longer period of time, partly due to several injury breaks.

Röhl, who scored three goals and provided two assists in 13 appearances for the German U21 team, has already had some impressive highlights, such as his solo goal across half the pitch in Leipzig in November 2023. When he left Freiburg on September 1, 2025, after scoring three goals and providing six assists in 60 competitive appearances in three years, he was still a promising prospect for the future rather than an established pillar of the team. After his first appearance as a substitute in mid-September in a 0-0 draw with Aston Villa, the Berlin-born player, who grew up in Potsdam, had to sit out four games due to a hip muscle injury. Röhl then gritted his teeth for another four weeks and Moyes brought him back as one of the first substitutes in three of four league games.

This was a nerve-wracking situation. It is not an uncommon injury among professional soccer players. With the international break in November approaching, the player and the club decided on a surgical procedure that has become common in such cases.

Röhl is now back in running training—and eager to make his comeback.

Röhl underwent surgery with a specialist in Munich and will be out for “a few weeks,” as Moyes recently stated. The Everton coach said Röhl could return in December. However, the downtime for such an injury varies from case to case and could be up to three months in the worst-case scenario.

However, Röhl is currently already running on the pitch and, despite all due caution in the return process, is eager to finally get started for Everton in the Premier League. Despite the injury problems at the start, Röhl already feels very comfortable and at home in his new, unfamiliar surroundings, according to the clear message from those around him.

In keeping with his new challenge far from home, Röhl now sports a short hairstyle, having previously had shoulder-length hair. Now all that remains is for his body to give the green light. Then we can look forward to seeing how well Röhl performs in the best, but probably also the toughest, league in the world. He should be ready by the time the return match takes place in Newcastle on February 28. Then he can help ensure that he has something to smile about after his next reunion with Woltemade and Thiaw. And, in the best-case scenario, he will be a sought-after interview partner himself.

“Don’t lose money with basketball”: Hoeneß comments on NBA Europe

Jason Maverick
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“Don’t lose money with basketball”: Hoeneß comments on NBA Europe

The NBA’s entry into Europe remains the big topic in European basketball. FC Bayern Munich is also considered a possible candidate, but honorary president Uli Hoeneß put the brakes on a little at an event.
“First, we have to be able to compete internationally,” said Hoeneß when asked about the new NBA project at the SPORT MARKE MEDIEN Congress in Munich. The honorary president once again pointed out the financial disadvantages of the different tax systems in Europe, which would primarily benefit teams from Greece and Turkey.

Recently, there had been repeated rumors that the NBA would like to have Bayern in its new league, but the Munich club remained tight-lipped. The NBA wants to launch a new league in Europe in 2027, which will presumably compete with the EuroLeague. Talks between the two leagues have so far failed to reach a consensus.

Hoeneß avoids NBA Europe commitment

Outgoing managing director Marko Pesic had always been committed to the EuroLeague, most recently at the beginning of the year. For Hoeneß, financial aspects are also at stake, as he has emphasized several times. He said they did not want to follow the example of Real Madrid, which loses €20 million annually with its basketball division. “The goal is to at least not lose money with basketball,” said the honorary president. FC Bayern has succeeded in this: “Last season was the first in which the basketball team was in the black,” Hoeneß reported proudly, attributing this primarily to the opening of the new SAP Gardens.

At the same time, the 73-year-old warned that the basketball players were at their limit and emphasized that, despite all the visions, national competition should not be neglected. “It’s like in soccer. The Bundesliga must never be abandoned by the club,” Hoeneß clarified.

Vejrgang’s debut ends in disappointment: Como eliminated early in the eSupercup

Jeffrey Gooding
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Vejrgang’s debut ends in disappointment: Como eliminated early in the eSupercup

It seemed like a fairy tale: Anders Vejrgang signed with Como 1907 and won his first trophy just a few days later. But the reality was quite different: the Dane was eliminated in the first round—against the eventual tournament winner.

No sooner had he been presented at Como 1907 than Anders Vejrgang was allowed to take control of the controller for his new club for the first time. But the start did not go according to plan for either the Dane or the club: it was all over in the first round of the eSupercup. In a thrilling duel, the 2024 world champion narrowly lost 4-5 to Gabriel Antonini.

The start of the game was evenly balanced, but Antonini then increasingly took control. After a fine passing move, he took the lead in the 15th minute of the game. Vejrgang tried to get into the game with quick transitions, but he was unable to do so. He won the ball too rarely, while Antonini combined confidently and beat the Dane in the 42nd minute with his own weapons – namely on the counterattack. The picture hardly changed in the second half either, until just under an hour had passed: Vejrgang took advantage of a quick counterattack and reduced the deficit to 1-2 (58′). Antonini seemed unimpressed, but an open exchange of blows developed, including a wild back and forth: Vejrgang first equalized to make it 2-2 (72′), then conceded to make it 2-3 (78′) and again made it 3-3 (87′) shortly before the end.

First offside, then a goal conceded

Extra time brought no respite either. In the 99th minute of the game, Vejrgang took the lead for the first time, but Antonini responded promptly to make it 4-4 (103′).
Then came the bitter turning point: Vejrgang ran alone towards the goal – but the virtual assistant raised his flag: offside. In the immediate counterattack, the Como eSports player conceded the 4:5 (113th minute). The former RBLZ professional was unable to recover from this. What he didn’t know at the time was that
the defeat was against the winner of the competition. In the rest of the eSupercup, the Udinese eSports player defeated Luca Guarino (AS Roma, 2-1), Daniele Culiers (Bologna eSports, 4-1), and Giuseppe Ferraro (Brescia Esports, 5-3). For Antonini, it is his first trophy of the season.

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