Griezmann delays his transfer for one last trophy with Atlético - Yah… — and more

Bahrain and Saudi Arabia remain on the F1 calendar for 2026, but the status of both events is still in question. With time running out, F1 needs to decide soon if those races will go ahead as planned.

This year’s season begins with the Australian Grand Prix returning as the opening race, followed by a trip to China before teams head to Suzuka. But before then, a decision is expected on whether Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will remain part of the schedule.

There has been talk about Japan potentially hosting back-to-back races, which would put extra pressure on Aston Martin and Honda if their underperforming power units have to go through two races in front of local fans.

What happens to F1 if Bahrain and Saudi Arabian grands prix don’t go ahead?

Adam Williams weighed in on the issue, saying: “F1 and the event organisers will be covered for this eventuality to an extent, I’d have thought. There was a lot of debate about what was and wasn’t covered in insurance agreements when the pandemic hit, so it’s a nuanced question.

“Many agreements have a ‘war exclusion’ clause, but I’d expect that, given their geography, the organisers of the Bahrain and Jeddah races would have seen this as a material risk, so would have paid for war cover. Without seeing the contracts, we can’t say for sure, however. Either way, even if they do have cover, you’re going to get back some of the money you’d have made in revenue if the race had gone ahead, but not all of it.

“And matters are complicated by the commercial structure of Formula 1 – there could be different layers of loss and insurance at the local level, for broadcasters and sponsors, and for F1 itself. Also, would F1 cancel the races altogether, replace them or suspend them? That’s another factor.

“There is something of a precedent in the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix being cancelled because of the Arab Spring… but that was resolved commercially and politically rather than through insurers,” Williams continued.

“I appreciate there are a lot of ifs and buts there… Clearly though safety has to be first – not just fans or drivers either.”

Other venues in Europe like Imola and Portimao are also being discussed as alternatives.

Formula 1 nearing deadline for decision on Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races

With practice in Bahrain set to begin on 10 April, the clock is ticking. Teams face a tight timeline, not only to prepare for the event but also to manage the complex logistics that come with a global racing calendar.

Freight schedules and travel plans don’t leave much room for uncertainty. According to a report from BBC Sport, teams may have to start sending equipment immediately after the Chinese Grand Prix if no decision has been made by then.

Both circuits are believed to pay over £75 million each in hosting fees, which includes support races like Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy.

The chances of finding replacements on short notice seem slim. Organising a Grand Prix involves ticket sales, local planning and a massive logistical effort that can’t be arranged overnight.

Adding to that, the same report downplays the idea of back-to-back races at Suzuka, suggesting there’s ‘little benefit’ compared to the strain it would put on teams and staff.

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British number one Emma Raducanu says she is going to be "tapping into a few people" as she tries to rediscover her natural way of playing.

The 2021 US Open champion says she remains open to the idea of having another full-time coach - as long as they do not dictate the way she should play - but is wary of the scrutiny they will attract.

Raducanu's partnership with Francisco Roig ended after January's Australian Open because of a disagreement over her playing style.

The Spaniard was the seventh full-time coach Raducanu had worked with.

"Right now, it's more about bringing my instincts back out, getting back in touch with myself," Raducanu told BBC Sport after a two-hour practice session before her first match at Indian Wells in California.

"I have had a lot of people telling me what to do, how to play, and it hasn't necessarily fit.

"So I want to come back to my natural way of playing. That takes time to relearn because that's something that has been coached out of me a little bit.

"I don't necessarily want to have one coach in the role because anyone I bring in is straight away going to be scrutinised - even if it's a trial.

"I might feel the pressure to stick with them, even if it's not necessarily the right decision.

"I would love to have a coach that works well, but I don't think it's necessarily going to be easy to find one person and they are going to check every box.

"I definitely have my mind open to it. It's just that I would rather someone not come in and tell me 'let's do this', and I disagree with it but have to listen to them.

"So far Alexis [Canter] has been really good, but I am definitely going to tap into a few people here and there."

Petchey helping in day-to-day role

Mark Petchey is at the top of that list. His day job with the Tennis Channel brings him to Indian Wells anyway, and he has answered the call for assistance.

He has been on court regularly this week and, even though the arrangement with Raducanu is on a day-to-day basis, it is possible that Petchey could resume the ad hoc role he had last spring.

Petchey, who coached Andy Murray at the start of his career, joined Raducanu's team in Miami last March as she reached the quarter-finals.

He was also a regular presence throughout the clay-court season, when Raducanu reached the fourth round in Rome.

Raducanu said she asked for Petchey's help as she felt uncomfortable about her game, and has noticed an improvement over the past few days.

"I work really well when I'm with him," she said.

"I'm really happy to be on the court and just really enjoy it overall. I'm not sure, going forward, what it will look like."

Raducanu aims to bounce back from Middle East swing

Canter has limited coaching experience and very much takes a back seat when Petchey is also on the court.

But Canter was with Raducanu as a hitting partner in Washington last summer when she made the semi-finals, and also in Cluj last month when the world number 24 reached only the second final of her career.

Raducanu did not win a match in Doha or Dubai, where she had a chest infection, but is healthy again for Friday's second-round match - following a first-round bye -against qualifier Anastasia Zakharova.

Raducanu has had a full week of practice to get used to the thin desert air and the Californian sun.

She thinks the best way to climb the rankings is by trusting her natural instincts - irrespective of who is in the coaching box.

What is Raducanu's natural way of playing? - analysis

Remember when Raducanu caused a seismic shock by winning the 2021 US Open as a teenage qualifier who had barely played a professional tournament?

She managed to achieve the unthinkable by playing with a freedom which she has not been able to replicate consistently since.

Almost five years later and having reached the last 16 of a Grand Slam tournament only once since, Raducanu is determined to get back to basics.

That means rediscovering her natural instincts to be an aggressive baseliner. Her early success was built around not being afraid to take returns early in a bid to hustle opponents.

First serves were put back deep in the court to instantly put her rivals on the back foot and second serves were swatted away with impunity.

Raducanu's power off both wings was impressive, although it was clear her forehand needed more work than her solid and stylish backhand.

Over the next year or so, the forehand deteriorated to a place where it lacked any punch and, following the wrist surgery which ruled her almost completely of the 2023 season, is what Roig tried to remodel.

The lack of trust in what Raducanu was being asked to do, though, was clear at the Australian Open.

In a demoralising second-round exit, she made 19 unforced errors off that wing and spoke afterwards about returning to a simple philosophy - "hitting the ball to the corners and hard".

There is another aspect to Raducanu's ambitions of returning to the top 10 and challenging the very best players - her body and mind.

She must continue to build fitness and durability, and have the heart for a scrap in tough moments, to implement the style she wants.

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Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni is reportedly bracing for a hostile reception from the AC Milan faithful ahead of Sunday’s Serie A derby. 

According to Tuttosport via FCInterNews, the 26-year-old is likely to face backlash from fans due to his controversial actions in February’s Derby d’Italia.

Despite being one of Europe’s most highly rated center-backs, Alessandro Bastoni has found himself in the crosshairs of angry supporters.

Indeed, his theatrical dive in last month’s Serie A clash against Juventus has brought him under heavy scrutiny.

Fans all over the county have booed the Azzurri star since his infamous Derby d’Italia antics.

Inter Milan Center-Back Alessandro Bastoni to Face Backlash from AC Milan Fans

BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 16: Alessandro Bastoni of FC Internazionale looks on during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and FC Internazionale at Gewiss Stadium on March 16, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Unfazed by off-field turmoil, Bastoni continues to be the cornerstone of Inter’s defense.

Moreover, nothing will change this weekend, as Cristian Chivu has no intention of benching his defensive stalwart.

However, Bastoni could suffer the same fate as Ronaldo ‘Il Fenomeno,’ whom Inter fans labeled as a ‘traitor’ when he joined Milan in 2007.

Needless to say, the Brazilian legend faced relentless jeers from opposing fans in similar high-stakes showdowns.