Sports
Esteban Ocon Warned He is Set to Lose His F1 Seat at Haas
The 2026 Formula 1 season may only be four races into its schedule, but speculation is already gathering within the paddock over potential changes to the grid ahead of the 2027 campaign.
Some rumours have even hinted at a potential exit from the sport for one driver at the end of the season.
Speculation about the future of drivers is nothing new in F1. The careers of multiple-time world champions, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, are frequently the topic of debate.
Verstappen has even added to the rumour mill with his own comments, suggesting that his lack of enjoyment of racing at present could see him walk away from the sport for good.
In Hamilton’s case, there is even speculation he could call time on his F1 career. However, the 41-year-old has previously stated that he is committed to remaining on the grid with his current Ferrari team.
Nevertheless, as it becomes more and more unlikely that the Brit will win an eighth world championship, the reality of retirement looms much larger and becomes a far likelier scenario.
The F1 Grid Could Look Very Different in 2027
In addition, many drivers are believed to have contracts expiring after the conclusion of the 2026 season, including Kimi Antonelli, Carlos Sainz, Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg.
However, one driver in particular has already been warned that his departure from the grid at the end of the campaign is already a “done deal”.
Ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal this coming weekend, former Williams driver, Ralf Schumacher, has boldly claimed the driver whose set is under threat “is not good enough” for his current role.
The driver in question is Haas’ Esteban Ocon, who is currently in his second season with the team. The Frenchman endured a poor 2025 campaign, finishing 15th in the final driver standings and attaining just 38 points.
Ocon’s potential exit from the grid coincides with his current teammate and former Ferrari reserve, Oliver Bearman, being tipped for a big move for 2027.
Struggling F1 Driver “Won’t Be Back” Next Year
Ocon’s potential exit from the grid coincides with his current teammate and former Ferrari reserve, Oliver Bearman, being tipped for a big move for 2027.
“I’m assuming that Bearman will now get a chance to drive for a bigger team. And one thing is clear: Ocon isn’t good enough. At best, he’s on a par with Bearman, and more often than not, he’s worse,” Schumacher stated on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast.
“Bearman is still at the start of his career; things are still developing. Accordingly, I can’t imagine we’ll see Esteban Ocon again next year. That’s pretty much a done deal as far as I’m concerned. That would mean the team has a major problem,” he added.
The German believes Hamilton’s future in motor racing could play a key part in Haas’ future driving line-up.
“I can imagine Ferrari has first refusal on Bearman if they need him. That means if Lewis Hamilton actually decides to retire, then he’d be gone too. So, filling two seats would mean bringing in a young driver.”
“I can almost imagine they’d have to go all out somewhere in the industry to bring in someone else they know, someone they can trust, and with whom they can continue to develop,” he explained.
The F1 grid is likely to have a much-changed feel in 2027 and Ocon is sure to be far from the only driver feeling the heat in Canada this weekend.
Sports
FC Koln Want to Sign Sebastiaan Bornauw From Leeds
Leeds United fringe player Sebastiaan Bornauw is attracting interest from the Bundesliga, according to reports in Germany.
The Whites are planning for another year of Premier League football after finishing 14th in the table, eight points above the relegation zone, in their first season back in the top flight.
Bornauw joined the club last summer to help bolster their defensive options. He signed a four-year contract after a deal worth around £5m was agreed with German side VfL Wolfsburg.
He has been a fringe player under Daniel Farke, with just 771 minutes of action and just five starts in the Premier League.
FC Koln eye move for Leeds United defender
The 6ft 3in player is now wanted back in Germany by FC Koln, according to Bild.
The Bundesliga outfit finished six points above the relegation zone and are in the market for defensive reinforcements.
Cenk Özkacar joined the German side on loan from La Liga outfit Valencia but his move will not be made permanent.
While the defender was not a regular starter under Farke, the Leeds boss was keen to praise the player for his attitude and commitment during his first season in England.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of Leeds’ 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford in April, Farke branded Bornauw as ‘top class’ and hailed the player’s character for his willingness to play a back-up role within the squad.
Big summer awaits Leeds United
Leeds have ambitions to establish themselves as a consistent top-flight club but chairman Paraag Marathe has warned it will take at least three seasons for them to “truly operate like an established Premier League side”.
It makes this summer all the more important as the Whites must get their recruitment right.
Both Leeds and Sunderland, who have qualified for the Europa League, bucked the recent trend of all three promoted clubs getting relegated immediately.
With Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City coming to the top flight, Leeds and other clubs in the lower third of the table know that minimal spending could risk being dragged into a relegation battle.
In a club statement released this week, Marathe outlined that a second season in the Premier League can prove even more difficult than the first one.
Leeds finished ninth in their first top-flight campaign under Marcelo Bielsa before dropping to 17th the following year. The season after that they were relegated.
With those years fresh in the mind, those in charge of recruitment at Elland Road will know what it takes for Leeds to continue moving forward.
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Leeds pushing to sign a new midfielder.
Sports
Chelsea Star Has Already Asked To Leave Before Xabi Alonso Arrives
Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen has asked to leave Chelsea as he seeks more game time, GIVEMESPORT understands.
Jorgensen was number two behind Robert Sanchez this season and is set to fall further down the pecking order next campaign with the highly-regarded Mike Penders returning from his loan spell at Strasbourg.
Chelsea are open to a sale for the 24-year-old, who joined from Villarreal for just over £20million in the 2024 summer transfer window. He signed a seven-year contract upon arrival at Stamford Bridge and said: “This move is a dream come true. I am very excited to have signed for Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world. I can’t wait to get to know everyone and to start playing with all my new teammates.”
Jorgensen made a big mistake in the Champions League
Since then, Jorgensen has made 34 appearances in two seasons at Chelsea, but only 11 of them have come in the Premier League.
The Dane made a costly error away at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League after being given a surprise start at the Parc des Princes by then head coach Liam Rosenior.
Rosenior stuck up for his goalkeeper on the night, saying: “Players make mistakes. Filip’s not the first one and that’s part of football. Credit to him, he held his hands up in the dressing room. I make mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes.
“Sometimes they’re more costly. This is one of those moments. What we have to do for Rob [Sánchez] and for Filip and for all of the players is look after each other.”
Chelsea have not made a decision on selling Jorgensen
Seeing his pathway to a starting spot blocked by Sanchez, the desire to leave is primarily being driven by the player, and was directly communicated to Chelsea’s head of goalkeeping, Ben Roberts.
Jorgensen had also asked for a transfer in January as he hoped to lock down Denmark’s number one spot with a view to playing at the 2026 World Cup. In the end, Denmark didn’t qualify.
Porto, Besiktas and Genoa are three clubs who held an interest in the winter. Saudi Arabian side Al-Qadsiah have also been credited with an interest, and have explored some high-profile goalkeepers. Yet GMS understands their priority is first to add a centre-back, winger and forward this summer.
Xabi Alonso Could ‘Force’ £100,000-a-Week Chelsea Star Out as New Signing Eyed
Alonso is making his presence felt.
Sports
Celtic Chiefs Working to Persuade Martin O’Neill to Take Charge Next Season
Celtic chiefs are working to persuade Martin O’Neill to take charge next season following a surprise update on Robbie Keane.
After a phenomenal end to a disappointing season that culminated in Celtic winning the double, club chiefs now have a decision to make on which direction they turn for their next boss.
The odds were stacked against the Hoops heading into the final five Scottish Premiership fixtures, but O’Neill once again showed his class by winning all five, including games against Rangers and Hearts, to lift the title.
Following the disastrous spell at the helm for Wilfried Nancy mid-season, the Northern Irishman took interim charge for the second time in the season and turned the Bhoys’ fortunes around.
Celtic decision-makers have now faced the decision of whether they stick with the 74-year-old, if he is willing to take the job on a full-time basis and stick around, or to look elsewhere.
One option who had been linked with the potential vacant post was Jens Berthel Askou following an outstanding season at Motherwell, but the Dane has joined Toulouse instead, ruling him out of the running.
Now it seems Celtic are ready to go all out to convince O’Neill to stay on.
Celtic Planning to Tempt O’Neill to Stay
According to Football Insider, the Celtic hierarchy are planning to ask O’Neill to remain as manager next season, despite the fact that they are compiling a new manager shortlist.
The Guardian reported in March that Robbie Keane was emerging as the frontrunner for the job, and talk among fans has increased after he resigned from his role as Ferencvaros manager in recent days.
However, Football Insider claim that while the 45-year-old is on their shortlist, he isn’t one of the leading contenders to take the reins at Parkhead.
As well as the ‘unbelievable’ O’Neill, other candidates are said to be ahead of the Republic of Ireland legend in the running.
Which Other Managers Could Celtic Target?
The same Guardian report also named Craig Bellamy as an option for Celtic, but the suggestion is that he is happy as manager of Wales and wants to continue to help the nation qualify for their home Euro 2028 tournament.
Elsewhere, two more names have been heavily linked with the Bhoys across the last 12 months.
One of those is Roberto Martinez, who is about to lead Portugal at the 2026 World Cup in North America, with his future to be decided after the tournament.
While he hasn’t managed in club football for a decade, there is a link at Celtic Park in the form of Shaun Maloney, who has both played and worked under the Spaniard previously.
The other name who keeps getting mentioned is Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen, who continues to make big waves with the Norwegian side.
The 57-year-old brilliantly led his team to the Champions League quarter-finals this season, beating Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan along the way.
If Celtic want a manager who could help them advance in Europe’s elite club competition, the experienced Norwegian might be the man.
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