Sports
Martin Brundle Reveals F1 Team in ‘Dire Trouble’ Ahead of 2026 Season
Martin Brundle has revealed the Formula 1 team he believes are in ‘dire trouble’ ahead of the upcoming 2026 season.
All teams completed six days of testing in Bahrain between the 11th-20th February in preparation for the Australian Grand Prix on the 8th of March.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc ended the final round of testing with the single fastest lap time. The Monegasque driver’s time was 0.811 seconds quicker than that set by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli in second place.
Despite testing lap times not being the most practical way to measure the competitive order, Mercedes and Ferrari look like they are going into the new season in superb shape.
Even McLaren boss, Andrea Stella, has stated that they look like the teams to beat.
“This test has confirmed that Ferrari and Mercedes look like the teams to beat. McLaren and Red Bull are probably very similar, Ferrari and Mercedes a step ahead.”
However, there was one team that caught the eye of those watching – and not in a good way.
Martin Brundle Concerned For F1 Team Who Are Miles Off Ahead of the 2026 Season
Aston Martin and Honda recently announced their working partnership for the upcoming 2026 season, which will mark Honda’s first F1 campaign since 2021.
The Japanese manufacturer initially left F1 as they were shifting their company goal to be carbon-neutral by 2050 and decided the money would be better spent building future road technology.
Honda’s engines were, however, very competitive as they powered Red Bull to the 2021 Driver’s Championship with Max Verstappen.
They have now returned as the F1 values align closely with their own with a much bigger electric component and 100% sustainable fuels, but their new venture into the sport has not started as planned.
Aston Martin completed just 400 laps across the eight days of testing, the lowest by a considerable amount, with Lance Stroll only completing six laps on the final day as mileage restrictions were imposed due to a shortage of batteries.
Their pre-season practice raised not just reliability issues but performance issues too, with fears there may even be slower than newcomers Cadillac.
Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle was asked about the messy situation, to which he said he could not see a quick solution and that the team, represented by Fenando Alonso and Lance Stroll were in ‘dire trouble’.
“It’s clear to me that the correlation between the wind tunnel, the CFD and the stopwatch on the racetrack looks like it’s miles out. The car didn’t exactly look stuck to the road when it was running.
“The big problem they have is that there are four teams charging round with the Mercedes power unit. Can you imagine, after nine days of testing, how much data Mercedes have?”
Brundle continued: “Ferrari have three teams. Audi have done well, but they’ve only got themselves. Honda have only got Aston Martin. If the Aston Martin isn’t going round the track, which it wasn’t by and large, they’ve got no data. It’s a snowball effect for them, and they’re in dire trouble at Aston Martin.
“I’m sure they’ve got the resource and the brainpower to do something about that, but it’s going to take time.”
There are now rumours that team owner Lawrence Stroll could allegedly lose interest in F1 if his multi-million dollar recruitment drive fails, as the timeline for success has already dramatically shifted despite the season not starting yet.
With rival teams building momentum and data, Aston Martin are facing an uphill battle before the new season has even started.
Sports
Chelsea Eyeing Aurelian Tchouameni as Real Madrid Plot Swap Bid Deal for Enzo Fernandez
Chelsea are prepared to let Enzo Fernandez leave this summer in a £120m deal, and they are eyeing a potential move for a Real Madrid star as the Spanish giants plot a swap deal, according to TEAMtalk.
The Blues had a poor season and finished tenth in the Premier League, while they lost the FA Cup final to Man City to end the campaign trophyless and without any European football at all.
Now the Argentina midfielder is understood to have told the club he wants to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, and the Spanish giants are one of the clubs considering making a move for him.
Real Madrid Plot Enzo Fernandez Swap Deal
Fernandez is understood to dream of a move to the Bernabeu, and has publicly flirted with the idea of a move to Madrid, which earned him a two-game suspension from the club.
But Madrid are believed to hold an interest in the former Benfica star, and they are willing to make an offer of players-plus-cash to Chelsea in order to find an agreement on his valuation, which they currently feel is too high.
It’s reported that Chelsea are keen on Aurelien Tchouameni, who has been described as the ‘best defensive midfielder in the world’, as a potential option, but as it stands Real Madrid don’t want to let him leave.
Eduardo Camavinga is another player who the Chelsea hierarchy see as an option to help offset the potential departure of Fernandez, while it’s understood that the Blues have also made enquiries to Real Madrid about youngsters Jacobo Ramon and Chema Andres over the last 12 months.
Real Madrid hold buy-back options on both players, having sold them to Como and Stuttgart respectively last summer, but they are considering triggering those options. Chelsea are understood to be open to a conversation involving the moving parts, but talks are currently only at an exploratory stage rather than anything more advanced.
Chelsea Need Experience Not More Prospects
With Xabi Alonso set to arrive this summer, the west London know that they need to bring in more experienced options to improve their squad.
Losing Enzo would be a blow, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world, and Tchouameni in particular is someone who thrived under Alonso at Real Madrid last season during his brief spell in charge. Adding more balance to the squad could be the ideal way to get them back to where they feel they belong, and he does that.
While Andres and Ramon are very talented players, they don’t immediately improve the Chelsea team, and that is what would be needed to replace Enzo.
Man City Make Decision on Signing £100m Star Enzo Maresca Loves
Manchester City are not interested in a £100m move for Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez this summer
Sports
Bruno Fernandes Names English Club He Almost Joined Before Man Utd
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has opened up on one of the most uncertain moments of his early career, admitting he questioned whether he was even good enough as a teenager.
The Portuguese midfielder, now regarded as one of the Premier League’s elite creators, revealed he was close to leaving Udinese only weeks after joining the club in 2013.
‘Movements’ – Fabrizio Romano Shares Big Man Utd Future Update on Bruno Fernandes
Fabrizio Romano has shared a big update on the future of Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes had signed from Novara at the age of 19 after being identified by then-manager Francesco Guidolin. However, with Udinese having a large squad and uncertainty over his immediate role, it quickly left the midfielder questioning his future.
Speaking on The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett, Fernandes reflected on the moment his confidence took a major hit before his career stepped up a gear.
Bruno Fernandes Nearly Joined EFL Championship Club
The midfielder admitted he had already packed his bags after being informed he would likely leave on loan before the transfer window closed.
“I was on the edge of coming to Watford on loan, because it’s the same owners [as Udinese].
And I said, ‘But why can’t I make it here? What did I do wrong?’”
Watford, owned by the Pozzo family, who have famously sacked 22 managers in 14 years of ownership, also owned Udinese until 2025. During the summer of 2013, seven of Udinese’s players made their way to England to join the Hornets, and Fernandes was supposed to be the eighth, much to his dismay:
“I was like, ‘What have I done? I wasn’t good enough?’ They called me to the hotel to pack my stuff, because it was the last days of the window. I packed my stuff.”
Despite his concerns, Udinese sporting director Cristiano Giaretta eventually contacted him to confirm the move was off, with Guidolin deciding he wanted the youngster to remain at the club.
From a Potential Watford Move to Manchester United Captain
The decision proved to be a major turning point in Fernandes’ career. After developing further at Udinese, he later joined Sampdoria on loan in 2016, before making the move that truly elevated his reputation, when he returned home to Portugal and joined Sporting Lisbon.
Man Utd signed Fernandes in January 2020 for £47 million, with the playmaker quickly becoming one of the club’s standout performers during what’s been a difficult period for the Red Devils. He was named club captain just three years later and has since established himself as one of the Premier League’s most productive midfielders.
Fernandes has now made 327 appearances for United, scoring 107 goals and providing 108 assists across all competitions.
The Portugal international also enjoyed a record-breaking Premier League campaign this season, registering his 21st assist on the final day to set a new record for the most assists in a single season.
Sports
Arsenal Close to Deal to Sign Jeremy Monga Ahead of Man Utd and Man City
Arsenal may have won the Premier League title this season, and they have a Champions League final to come this weekend, but they are not ready to rest on their laurels.
The Gunners are understood to be keen to strengthen their squad this summer despite their excellent campaign, with Mikel Arteta looking to bolster the side and add more quality and competition for places.
But he is also looking towards the future for his signings, as are the club higher ups, and they now have confidence that they are set to seal the arrival of one of the best young talents in England ahead of some direct rivals.
Arsenal Confident of Sealing Jeremy Monga Deal
According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal are growing in confidence that they can seal a deal for Leicester City starlet Jeremy Monga this summer.
The winger, who has been described as ‘the next Ousmane Dembele’, is expected to leave the King Power Stadium after they were relegated to League One after a nightmare campaign, and he has attracted the attention of some of Europe’s top clubs.
However, Monga is understood to be intent on staying in England at this stage of his career, and the 16-year-old winger is believed to be closer to a move to north London, despite interest from Man City and Manchester United.
Offers have been tabled and talks held, but Arsenal’s pathway plans, development structure, and recent success with involving elite young talents in the first-team picture are all understood to have made a big impression in the winger and the team around him.
Leicester expect to lose the forward following their relegation, and Arsenal are now very confident that Monga will be the next elite talent to come off their conveyor belt and into the first-team.
Monga a Major Coup for Arsenal
Arsenal have got some of the best young players in the world in their squad at the moment. Myles Lewis-Skelly, Max Dowman, Marli Salmon, and Ethan Nwaneri are all in and around the first-team at the Emirates Stadium, and have all been given opportunities by Arteta.
So it’s no surprise that Monga, who has excelled in a poor Leicester team as a teenager, would be excited about the prospect of making the move to the reigning Premier League champions, and continue his fine development in the coming years.
His skill set is excellent for a top club, and beating off direct rivals to secure his arrival would be the cherry on top of the cake.
Arsenal Ready to Sign £400,000-a-Week Star on Free Transfer
Arsenal have a strong interest in bringing him to the Premier League
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