Sports
Who Toto Wolff Wants to Win F1 Title
With Mercedes dominating the grid across the first two races of the season, Team Principal Toto Wolff has already given a hint as to who he is really backing for the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship crown.
George Russell enjoyed a win during the opening race of the season in Australia with his 19-year-old teammate Kimi Antonelli finishing just behind him in second place. Antonelli did not have to wait long for a victory of his own as the two colleagues swapped positions at the Chinese Grand Prix. In the process, Kimi became the first Italian driver to win an F1 race since Giancarlo Fisichella in 1996.
Russell currently leads the championship on 51 points, with Antonelli just behind him on 47 points. There is then a considerable 13-point gap to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc back in third.
Toto Wolff Chooses Between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli
While the situation is ideal for Mercedes, it does put Wolff in an awkward position. However, the 52-year-old has revealed who he intends to prioritise out of Russell and Antonelli if he is forced to choose between his two drivers.
Speaking on Netflix’s Drive to Survive documentary series last year, Wolff declared:
“We have a clear lead driver in George. And then you have Kimi, as a rookie, who has shown that he has the potential. And generally, the dynamic in the team is very positive… McLaren has excelled in the last few seasons (by treating Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri equally). But for me, two lead drivers is a very risky strategy.”
He also acknowledged that he does not want a repeat of the experience with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg between 2013 and 2016.
“We had it in the past with Nico and Lewis. Both of them wanted to win a world championship. None of them slotted in for number two.”
Following the Chinese Grand Prix, Wolff refused to get carried away with the possibility that the Italian could lift the most coveted prize in the sport. He tried to suppress title talk around Antonelli as he told the press:
“Obviously, it’s one race win. Today, it’s great. In two weeks we are in Japan, and he puts it in the wall. So I think we need to just keep feet on the ground.”
While his opinion might change if Antonelli continues to thrive during his second season with Mercedes, Russell’s driving will most likely keep him as the team’s lead driver. However, a pivot might be needed if Antonelli gets more wins under his belt.
Sports
RB Salzburg In Talks To Appoint Rangers Manager Danny Rohl
Rangers could be set to lose Danny Rohl with Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg after club-to-club talks have started to prise him away from Ibrox, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.
Rangers’ season ended in disastrous circumstances as they lost four out of their final five league games following the Scottish Premiership split, which saw them go from second place and serious title contenders to comfortably finishing third behind champions Celtic and second-placed Hearts.
Previously, the Ibrox outfit had only lost two league games all season, so the end-of-season collapse came as a shock in what was a campaign that improved significantly under the German, compared to his predecessor Russell Martin.
The pressure was ramped up on the 37-year-old last month following the poor run of form, but it was expected that he would remain in Glasgow and take the opportunity to manage a full season at Rangers.
Sky Sports: RB Salzburg ‘Pushing’ to Appoint Danny Rohl
Posting on X on Thursday morning, Sky journalist Florian Plettenberg has exclusively confirmed that Salzburg are pushing to appoint Rohl as their new head coach ‘immediately’.
The 37-year-old has already worked for RB Leipzig previously and is familiar with the Red Bull model, and he is said to, in principle, envision being employed by them again.
Rohl was a candidate for a RB head coach position last summer, but he ended up joining Rangers instead following the dismissal of Martin, having left Sheffield Wednesday last summer.
Plettenberg says the clubs are now in direct contact as they look to find a solution to the story.
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This is a breaking story. More to follow…
Sports
Food and Drinks Prices at Seattle Stadium
Football fans who attend 2026 World Cup matches face having to fork out eye-watering prices for food and drinks options inside stadiums.
FIFA faced fierce criticism last week after deciding supporters would no longer be able to bring water bottles into venues in North America due to safety concerns. This decision was later reversed following the backlash.
“Each spectator can bring with them one 20 ounce (560ml) soft, plastic disposable factory-sealed water bottle into the stadium,” World Cup 2026 chief operating officer, Heimo Schirgi, later confirmed.
“What is not allowed are hard-sided resealable water containers, which could pose a safety and security risk.”
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Seattle Stadium Food and Drink Prices at 2026 World Cup
High temperatures are expected at games throughout the tournament. Nearly half of all fixtures face a 50 per cent chance of temperatures exceeding 28 degrees Celsius (82.4 Fahrenheit) – a threshold linked to declines in sprinting, distance covered and recovery time, according to The Independent.
In all 104 matches, there will be three-minute “hydration breaks” midway through each half.
However, supporters who don’t bring their own water bottle will need to cough up hefty prices to keep themselves hydrated.
Signs currently up at the 72,000-seater Seattle Stadium (also known as Lumen Field), where four group-stage matches are taking place, show a 20 ounce (560ml) bottle of water will cost $5.99 (£4.50).
Fans requiring more water can pay $10.49 (£7.85) for a one-litre bottle of water instead.
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Two alcoholic beverages are available – but they’re not exactly cheap. One 16 ounce (one pint) of American Beer will set fans back a cool $17.99 (£13.46), while a Craft/Import Beer (illustrious on the board as a can of Stella Artois) is one dollar more expensive at $18.99 (£14.21).
Supporters feeling pecking have several options in the Food & Snacks category.
A soft pretzel costs $13.49 (£10.09), while kettle corn (popcorn) is the same price. ‘Cheaper’ alternatives include ice cream dots for $11.99 (£8.97), cotton candy for $11.99 (£8.97), or a churro for $10.99 (£7.48).
The cheapest option is a bag of nuts for $8.99 (£6.72). Ouch.
Needless to say, shocked supporters have had plenty to say about the Lumen Field food and drink prices on social media.
One football fan on X (Twitter) said: “£13.50 for a beer is criminal,” while another commented:
“Everyone involved in the World Cup is ripping fans off.”
A third supporter commented: “At least Dirk Turpin wore a mask,” while a fourth added; “Who is paying nine dollars for some bloody nuts? Be serious.”
Another described the prices as “actual robbery” and a sixth fan simply said: “Disgrace”.
The 2026 World Cup kicks off at the iconic Estadio Azteca between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday.
Sports
Alex Pereira’s Full Body Transformation From Middleweight to Heavyweight
Alex Pereira is set to make his heavyweight debut this weekend as he takes on Ciryl Gane for the interim championship on the South Lawn of the White House at UFC Freedom 250.
The Brazilian is aiming to become a three-weight champion in the UFC, which would make him the first fighter to do so in the company’s history, further cementing his status as one of the greatest to ever grace the Octagon.
In fact, Dana White has already said if Pereira does defeat Gane and become the interim heavyweight champion, he’ll overtake Jon Jones in the GOAT debate.
Alex Pereira’s Meteoric Rise in the UFC
Given his reputation and his status, it’s easy to forget that Pereira has only been an active fighter in the UFC for five years. In that time, however, he’s conquered the middleweight division, conquered the light heavyweight division, and is ready to conquer the heavyweight division as well.
With 12 fights under the UFC banner in those five years, the Brazilian has only lost twice. He was beaten by Israel Adesanya for the middleweight championship back at UFC 287 in 2023, before losing his light heavyweight strap to Magomed Ankalaev two years later at UFC 313.
‘I Have Beaten Alex Pereira and Sparred With Ciryl Gane – Here’s Who Wins at UFC Freedom 250’
A man who has beaten Alex Pereira and sparred with Ciryl Gane has made his prediction for the huge heavyweight fight at the White House.
However, Pereira’s resume is already seriously impressive. Not only has he won the middleweight championship and the light heavyweight championship, he’s beaten some stellar names in the process.
Sean Strickland, Adesanya, Jan Błachowicz, Jiri Prochazka, Jamahal Hill, Khalil Rountree Jr, and Ankalaev have all tasted defeat at the hands of Poatan, giving him a rather impressive professional MMA record of 13-3.
Pereira’s Body Transformation Throughout UFC Years
Dominating three divisions comes with its challenges, none more so than making weight for said division. From middleweight to now heavyweight, Pereira has got himself into shape with relative ease throughout the years, and his body transformation has been highlighted, as can be seen in the above X post by Championship Rounds.
Straight away, it’s easy to see just how much bulkier Pereira’s frame is at heavyweight than what it was at middleweight, and that should be no surprise. At middleweight, the weight limit is 185lbs, whereas at heavyweight, the limit is often around the 265lbs mark.
It’s already been reported that Pereira is weighing around 258lbs as fight week has arrived, meaning he’s in good shape ahead of his debut in the division.
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