Archive March 27, 2025

Christian Horner’s phone rang. Bernie Ecclestone was the culprit. Red Bull’s team principal picked up, switched to speakerphone and placed it on the table in front of the assembled Formula 1 bosses.

Horner told Ecclestone, “We’re in the F1 Commission.” Do you have anything to say to the audience?

F1’s former impresario, addressing the group that decides the sport’s rules, said they should go back to V10 engines. He then snorted.

The 15, 000-strong crowd booed both Horner and the FIA during the opening of F1’s season at the O2 Arena in London in February, according to several sources in the room at the time.

Two days later, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem – a man whose three-year tenure has been beset by controversy – posted a message on Instagram.

Ben Sulayem stated that while the FIA “must also lead the way on future technological motorsport trends,” he “looked forward” to the new chassis and engine regulations that will be implemented in 2026.

We should take into account the V10’s roaring sound when it runs on sustainable fuel in a variety of directions.

Next year, F1 is going through the biggest regulation change in the sport’s history, introducing new rules for both cars and engines.

F1 continues to use the 1 / 6 V6 turbo hybrids, which have been the foundation of the company’s engine architecture since 2014, but with a shift in the balance between electric and combustion power.

The hybrid’s overall power output is increasing from 20% to 50% right now. In addition, F1 is introducing sustainable fuels – abandoning fossil fuels in favour of synthetic fuel created from biomass and industrial processes.

Some have complained about the less loud, more dramatic sound produced by the naturally aspirated engines that followed them since the introduction of hybrid engines in 2014, particularly the 3. 5-litre V10s, which were last raced in Formula One in 2005.

In an unavoidable parallel with Ben Sulayem’s actions now, Ecclestone was the first person to bring this up, even before the 2014 engines first raced.

The V10 sound has a certain romanticism, as does the idea that those engines, with their ear-splitting shriek that could be heard farther away from the track, are more well-known among the fanbase than the current hybrids.

There is no denying that some people in F1 are in agreement. Lewis Hamilton said at the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend:” It is no secret that the V6 has never sounded great.

“I can recall the first time I attended an F1 race in 1996 in Spa, and Michael Schumacher entered Turn One with my ribs just vibrating. I was captivated by everything. It was the most amazing thing I felt and heard.

Ben Sulayem hasn’t been heard much since his enthusiastic support of the 2026 engine rules was publicized.

Under the previous FIA president Jean Todt, things were largely resolved, but wrangling was inevitable, and it finally settled after Ben Sulayem took office.

Two years ago, he said the new engines were” at the forefront of technological innovation, making the future of F1 more sustainable while maintaining the spectacular racing”.

Why did the U-turn occur, then?

Ben Sulayem has contacted Nikolas Tombazis, the F1 single-seater director, to investigate the situation.

Tombazis said that the advent of&nbsp, sustainable fuels could allow F1 to make the engines simpler and cheaper.

The FIA’s position has a lot of issues, according to senior F1 executives and car manufacturers involved in the sport.

Even though Donald Trump’s election as the leader of a government of climate deniers has given some pause in the US, the climate crisis is very real and the global road-car industry is on the verge of electrification.

Manufacturers take part in F1 fundamentally for marketing reasons, and the sport has been made more appealing by the introduction of a budget cap for cars and engines.

Due to the new engine regulations, Honda will remain in F1 in 2026, while Audi, Ford, and General Motors will all be doing so.

According to Audi, the new rules “weren’t a significant factor in Audi’s decision to enter Formula 1,” according to a statement it has already made in response to the most recent developments.

Mercedes says it is open to discussions but would need a hybrid element to be part of any new engine formula for it to remain interested.

Then there is the micro level.

A V10, why? No major road-car manufacturer uses them any more.

Mercedes claims that a V8 would make more sense if there was a change, given that they are still being developed for road use.

Why do so many performance road cars, from Audi RS6s or Mercedes AMG C63s to McLaren and Ferrari hypercars, use turbochargers for such compelling reasons?

Cost? Yes, a hybrid might be more affordable than a V10. However, the manufacturers have already financed the new engines by an estimated $400 million. They are not about to throw that away.

Additionally, hundreds of millions of dollars would need to be spent on developing a new V10.

? weight Yes, the hybrid engines make the cars heavier, largely because of the batteries needed. However, advances in safety, such as the halo head-protection device, account for the majority of the weight gain, which was 550kg or so in 2005 to now be about 800kg.

Additionally, in 2013, cars started battling with 160 kg of fuel. Now, it’s about 100kg and it’s expected to be about the same next year. A significant increase in fuel capacity and weight would result from returning to naturally aspirated engines.

sustainability ? The new fuels being introduced next year are not net-zero carbon. Sustainable fuels, in accordance with scientific guidelines, only slightly lower carbon emissions above 80%.

That’s a lot, really. But doubling the amount of fuel used by abandoning hybrid engines would mean a doubling of the carbon emissions produced by fuel.

Politics are a constant theme in F1.

Few people have heard about Ben Sulayem’s intervention after the O2 crowd booed when the FIA logo was displayed, despite the fact that few people knew about it.

This is an election year at the FIA, and some believe Ben Sulayem may have raised the idea of V10s because he thinks it will be popular with certain demographics who support him.

No candidates have so far endorsed him, but there are rumors that there is a strong contender waiting.

Despite this, F1 is reporting on the progress that the various manufacturers are making with their 2026 engines. And it seems that Mercedes are leading the way.

People are already claiming that a team’s Mercedes engine will only lead to a victory in 2026.

Although there is no proof of this, whispers are emerging exactly as they did in 2013 and were proven to be accurate when the hybrid engines made their debut the following year.

Even Horner acknowledges that “abandoning the rules would be” a significant departure from what is being worked on very hard for 2026,” while saying that “the concept of a V10 would be very exciting for the sport.

A U-turn for 2026 now would need support from the teams and manufacturers – and there is not a chance that enough of them would support that to get it through.

Under the condition of anonymity, a leading team manager claimed that there hadn’t been any discussions about this topic with the F1 stakeholders.

Adoption of engine rules takes time, years, and years.

It would probably be two years before a full agreement could be reached. The manufacturers would need to develop and construct the engines once more. which would make F1 obsolete by 2029. Which is only a year before the new rules are due to expire anyway.

What will 2031 look like, as one team boss once said, “I think this will all peter out, and it will just end up being that.” ” “

The FIA says:” There needs to be a consultation between all stakeholders to agree on a way forward, before we fully explore different scenarios.

Whatever direction is chosen, we must support the teams and manufacturers in ensuring cost control for R&amp, D expenditure and take environmental and sustainability into account.

Off-spinner Charlie Dean describes it as “one of the biggest compliments you can get” that being considered a potential England captain.

After Heather Knight was fired last week, Dean, 24, is in the running for the England women’s captaincy position.

In the wake of Australia’s historic 16-0 clean sweep of the Women’s Ashes earlier this year, Jon Lewis was fired as head coach.

Former England internationals Charlotte Edwards and Alex Hartley both supported the appointment of Dean as captain.

Dean told BBC Sport, “I’ve never had any real conversations about it.”

I’m “growing into leadership,” I’d say no, but I’m not sure if this is the right time to do it.

As she prepares for her first season with Somerset as a member of the new women’s domestic system, which sees eight counties aligned with the men’s first-class teams, Dean, who made her England debut in 2021, said she is trying to avoid”outside noise” regarding the captaincy.

She continued, “she is anticipating the beginning of a new era,” despite the brutal month in Australia.

The Australian team’s attitude and reputation were questioned, and the disappointment transcended England’s results for that reason alone.

The team’s repeated claims that it was on the verge of defeating Australia were met with criticism from Knight and Lewis, Lewis receiving headlines for his claims that the Australian climate contributed to their superior athleticism, and former teammate Hartley, the best bowler in the world, refused to speak in an interview.

The players will gain from the more interest the series received, Dean said, and Dean acknowledged the criticism.

There were some pitfalls out there, she said, but we do take pride in making sure we always go about things the right way.

We have definitely learned a lot about how to present ourselves. I don’t doubt that we all give absolutely nothing when we play, so it is disappointing that others don’t think that way.

Knight will join Dean at Somerset, where England will face West Indies and India in a summer white-ball series, followed by the 50-over World Cup in India at the end of August. He is anticipated to return to the batting ranks for England.

She argued that the recent team failures should not define Knight’s legacy.

Heather fought so hard for what we have now in the women’s game, according to Dean.

“Maybe we let her down because of our previous performances, but I have a lot of respect for her and appreciate her.” She’ll still be here, I’m very happy to see.

For the first time since moving to Somerset, Dean has played for Hampshire and Southern Vipers away from Edwards, who she describes as “one of the best coaches in the country.”

There is a reason why her name is mentioned so frequently, according to Dean, because of how she inspires greatness and interacts with her players.

A date for Lewis’ replacement’s appointment has not been confirmed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Additionally, it does not provide any information about the hiring process for the new head coach, including whether or not the Rooney Rule will be used.

The ECB committed to using the Rooney Rule for all head coach positions when hiring in 2022.

FA Cup quarter-final: Preston North End v Aston Villa

Venue: Deepdale, Preston Date: Sunday, 30 March Kick-off: 13:30 BST

As two of his former clubs aim to scale new heights in the FA Cup this weekend, Simon Grayson is getting ready to conquer his fears 4,500 miles away in Nepal.

“The scariest thing they’ve mentioned is going to Everest base camp, which is a two-hour helicopter ride away,” the former Preston North End manager and Aston Villa player tells BBC Sport from Kathmandu.

“I’m not one for seeking thrills or anything like that.”

Grayson is a four-time promotion-winning boss closing in on 800 games as a manager.

His latest challenge has taken the Yorkshireman to South Asia where he is in charge of Lalitpur City for the 2025 Nepal Super League season, which starts on Saturday.

The following day Preston battle with Villa for a place at Wembley in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

In 2015, Grayson steered Preston from League One to the Championship, where they have remained.

Before his managerial career he played for Aston Villa alongside the likes of Dwight Yorke, Stan Collymore and Gareth Southgate between 1997-1999.

Grayson has not managed in England since being sacked by League One Fleetwood in November 2021.

The former Leeds United and Sunderland boss spent 18 months managing Bengaluru in the Indian Super League between June 2022 and December 2023 before landing his latest job.

Grayson spoke to former England cricketer and fellow Yorkshireman Darren Gough before heading to Nepal’s capital.

“Darren had been there to do some commentary and said Kathmandu, where I’m based, is a great place,” adds Grayson.

“Hopefully I will come out of the experience a better person and a better coach.

“I don’t want to look back in years to come and have regrets about why I didn’t try something. I’m here for a life experience.”

A trip to Everest base camp – used by climbers during their ascent and descent of the world’s tallest mountain – will hopefully provide Grayson with at least one lasting memory.

But the 55-year-old – who has 20 years of managerial experience including promotions with Leeds, Huddersfield Town, Blackpool and Preston – has made it clear he is in the spectacular Himalayan region to work.

Despite the men’s national football team being down in 175th place in Fifa’s world rankings, football is popular in Nepal.

The seven-team Nepal Super League – the country’s first professional franchise-based football league – is about to start its third season, with Grayson’s club Lalitpur City the defending champions.

Ripon-born Grayson’s squad includes players from Martinique, Haiti, Bhutan and Senegal, while Jonathan Cantillana is a midfielder who plays for Palestine.

“They’ll have to adapt to my Yorkshire accent,” says Grayson, who has been bowled over by the charm and kindness of locals in Kathmandu – as well as the breathtaking Himalayan views, golden temples and charming hill villages.

Three days after arriving in Nepal’s capital, Grayson experienced Holi – the ancient Hindu festival of colours that celebrates spring, love, and new life which is traditionally celebrated by throwing bright coloured powder over family and friends.

Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains – including Everest – but, while Grayson is hoping to hit new heights with Lalitpur, he is happy to give the thrill-seeking a miss.

“I travelled in a cable car to meet the owners of my new club in a hotel in the mountains,” he adds.

The Nepal Super League season lasts just four weeks, with the play-off final to decide the champions on 26 April – FA Cup semi-final weekend.

Will it be Preston, 14th in the Championship table, or Aston Villa – who face Paris St-Germain in a mouth-watering Champions League quarter-final next month – at Wembley on the final weekend of April?

“I loved my time at Preston,” adds Grayson, who was in charge at Deepdale between 2013 and 2017. “I had nothing but good times there and won promotion in front of around 50,000 fans at Wembley by beating Swindon 4-0 in the play-off final.

“I had no aspirations to leave but then Sunderland came knocking and it felt like one of those clubs you could help get back into the Premier League.”

Grayson knows Villa fans are desperate for success.

He joined them from Leicester City in June 1997, 15 months after Villa won the League Cup by beating Leeds in the 1996 final.

Villa have not won a major trophy since but Grayson believes that could be about to change under Unai Emery.

“I have been so impressed with what he has done,” he adds.

“No disrespect to Preston, but winning the FA Cup could be a big opportunity for Villa this season.

“Villa are a huge club and they will look at this game as an opportunity towards getting to the final and winning silverware.

“I’m intrigued as to how this tie is going to go.”

Will Grayson be watching the action at Deepdale on television in Nepal?

“I’m still getting used to the time difference over here. We’re five hours and 45 minutes ahead. But the early kick-off means I can watch it.

The World Figure Skating Championships held a ceremony in honor of the skaters and coaches who lost in a plane crash in January.

On January 29, a collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines plane killed 67 people in Washington, DC.

28 of the dead included skaters, coaches, or members of the figure skating community who were returning from the US Championships in Kansas.

A local choir performed a closing ceremony at the TD Garden in Boston on Wednesday, where the faces and names of the victims were displayed above the ice.

Spencer’s son Spencer and his wife Christine passed away in the collision, according to Doug Lane, who was the event’s heir.

He added, “My first hope is that we take extra care of the young skaters who are still here, even as we remember the amazing people from the lost figure skating community.” They are harmed.

The only thing I can hope for today is that this situation won’t ever occur again.

“Some accidents are preventable,” he said. Not like this one.

I hope we can collaborate with our elected officials to make air travel safer for everyone and our families, as opposed to looking for fault.