OMFG I've just seen Alfa Romeo's car for this season. Actually, I've just realised they haven't unveiled their car yet so it probably won't look like what they're driving at this testing session.
Vettel was asked about the F1 race in Russia - said that they shouldn't race there, and if they do, then he wouldn't go. Good man, Seb.
TBH I don't know what there is to talk about. F1 (and all international elite sport) needs to sever ties with Russia now.
No , they have said - On Thursday evening Formula 1, the FIA, and the teams discussed the position of our sport, and the conclusion is, including the view of all relevant stakeholders, that it is impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances. It is / was due to take place 25th September . What they need to say is - The 2022 Russian f1 gp. WILL NOT TAKE PLACE . Talk about hedging your bets , money grabbing C**ts the lot of them
Scotland v France is turning into a cracker. Two stunning tries by France but Scotland have come right back in it.
France look really good, as long keep their concentration. Scotland did really well to get back in it, then France just opened up. I will be interested to see how they do vs the Southern Hemisphere teams. They’re certainly very exciting - that DuPont lad is a bit special. As for England v Wales - well, it was a bit like the games of old. A lot of great defence, but, to me, the only team who looked good running it were Wales and I’m worried about how they easily they cut our lines. France could make mincemeat of us. We’ll have to tighten up defensively!
I played number 10 too in my youth (a long time ago!) and I definitely couldn’t tackle either! It wasn’t required (my excuse) Sadly, we don’t have a Jonny Wilkinson type of fly half anymore, but, if you look at Biggar, Sexton, Ntamack and Garbisi, I wouldn’t say any of them are particularly great tacklers. They need more protection from their back rows as they will always be targeted. I think the Ireland game will be very interesting - our first time tackling must get better and we must sort out the front rows in the scrum. Far too many reset scrums yesterday (wales were being very cute and the ref bought into it ….), so we need to be more streetwise!
Oh man! There’s no point in watching the Ireland vs Italy game now. No hooker for Italy and 14 men vs Ireland. I understand the rules, but that’s ridiculous. The man was ducking and the shoulder was on the chin, I agree, but I don’t believe that was dangerous! I’m not going to bother to watch any more.
Slightly off tangent, I have a 13 year olf nephew who is sports made and I was looking for ideas for his birthday. I isually get him either sports equipment or clothig now that he is older. What has amazed me of late is how commercially savvy a lot of non-league football teams are and also, quite surprisingly, my local cricket team too. Many of these clubs now have their own shops that not only sell first team wear but also training gear and tracksuits all marked up with the club badges. I don't often buy stuff from the Saints shop and certainly not football jerseys since the old man's t/ts do not look too good. in them. What is staggering is that some of the lines are made by quite well known manufactuers like Joma yet the prices seem to be about a 1/3rd of those sold my league clubs. My nephew collects football badges and I have managed to get him quite a few for his collection from obscure, non-league clubs. It is staggering just how much merchandise is now available and I really think that these clubs are putting the professional clubs to shame when it comes to value for money.
The guy who owns the gym I go to sells branded merchandise that looks really good for seemingly quite affordable prices as well. And like you say - if it was saints branded it would be treble the price
Read somewhere that a football shirt costs something like £1 to manufacture to the club, not bad mark up for them
Now it’s officially cancelled . Took them long enough ! Formula 1 has terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix. The sport's commercial arm, which controls the calendar, has decided racing in the country is impossible in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. The race in Sochi scheduled for September this year has already been cancelled. There will now no longer be a race in St Petersburg, where it was due to move in 2023. Russian President Vladimir Putin was key in establishing the event in 2014. Putin, who remains closely associated with the race, has a palace in Sochi and St Petersburg is his home town. The decision means F1 will not race in Russia for the foreseeable future - effectively, at least for as long as Putin remains in power. F1 has discussed what action to take next over the days since it decided to cancel this year's race last week, a day after the invasion. It was concluded that holding a race in Russia was not tenable after what has happened. The race is one of the most lucrative on the calendar and had a long-term contract. The action by F1's commercial arm stands in stark contrast to the decision by governing body the FIA this week to allow Russian competitors to take part in global motorsport events. It is a rare public split between F1 and the FIA, and an indication of F1's dismay at the FIA's stance on Russia. The FIA has already faced a backlash from the decision by its world motorsport council on Tuesday. The following day UK motorsport's governing body banned all Russian licence holders from competing in the UK. The FIA justified its decision by saying it was in line with the policy of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). But the IOC, to which the FIA is affiliated, recommended on Tuesday that "event organisers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions… in order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all participants". It added a second clause allowing athletes and officials to participate on neutral terms "wherever this is not possible on short notice for organisational or legal reasons". The FIA has not answered questions as to the grounds on which it decided this was the case for motorsport, in which most championships have not yet started in 2022. On Thursday the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) reversed a previous decision and banned athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus from the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, saying the "situation in the athlete villages" had become "untenable".
What ? Nikita Mazepin would have to sign document forbidding supporting Russia to stay in F1 please log in to view this image By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer Last updated on 2 minutes ago2 minutes ago.From the section Formula 1 please log in to view this image Nikita Mazepin would line-up with Mick Schumacher if he stays in the F1 Nikita Mazepin would be required to sign a document forbidding him from supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine if he remains in Formula 1. The Russian is expected to lose his Haas seat because of the Ukraine crisis but is still officially a driver. The FIA has made not backing the invasion, either directly or indirectly, a requirement to race. Drivers will also have to sign a declaration adhering to the FIA's principles of peace and neutrality. Mazepin's billionaire father Dmitry, who gives financial backing to Haas through his chemicals company, is a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mazepin's commercial manager Jesper Carlsen said he was unable to comment on whether Mazepin would be prepared to commit to these requirements, which are among a number demanded of Russians wishing to compete in international motorsport competitions. The others include: • Having to compete in an individual or neutral capacity • Not displaying any Russian or Belarusian national symbols, colours or flags • An acknowledgement of "the strong commitment made by the FIA to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, the Federation Automobile d'Ukraine, and all of those suffering as a result of the ongoing conflict" The FIA's move comes a day after F1's commercial arm terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix - an effective statement that F1 will not race in the country at least until Putin is no longer president. The governing body has not banned Russians from competing in international events, instead allowing them to participate on a neutral basis. The UK motorsport authority has banned Russian and Belarusian drivers from taking part in events in Britain and Northern Ireland. However, BBC Sport has been told this would not necessarily prevent Mazepin from competing in the British Grand Prix as the F1 driver super-licence contains a clause requiring national authorities to permit the driver to take part in F1 events.
