Mercedes lead designer John Owen to leave team during upcoming F1 season

Mercedes have announced that their leading car designer, John Owen, will leave this season as Formula One enters the first year of a major change in regulations. Owen has played a key part in the enormous success Mercedes has enjoyed in the modern era when the team secured eight consecutive constructors’ championships.There are no indications as yet that Owen intends to join another team, with Mercedes saying he will continue in his role until mid-season to manage the transition process, after which he will take a period of gardening leave and what the team described as “a break from F1”.Mercedes will promote the engineering director, Giacomo Tortora, to become director of car design. Tortora already has a close working relationship with the technical director, James Allison, and the deputy technical director, Simone Resta, who oversee the group

Australian Open 2026: Osaka opens ‘jellyfish season’ with win, Tsitsipas battles through – as it happened

The two-time champion Naomi Osaka survived a serious scare before rallying from a break down in the final set to defeat Antonia Ruzic of Croatia 6-3, 3-6 6-4. After easing through the opening set, things began to fall apart for an increasingly tense Osaka, the 16th seed, who soon trailed 3-4 in the final set. She reeled off the final three games to seal her victory.By reaching the second round, Osaka has also offered herself another chance to wear one of her most dramatic outfits yet. Osaka entered Rod Laver Arena in an all-white outfit complete with a massive hat, a large umbrella and train veil, which she said was inspired by a jellyfish

Bencic delivers statement Australian Open performance to outclass Boulter

Before her meeting with one of the most in-form players in the world, Katie Boulter reassured herself in all the right ways. All the pressure, she reasoned, would be on her opponent’s shoulders and nobody expected her to win, meaning this was the perfect chance to swing freely.Even when playing with total freedom, toppling a confident top-10 player is an immense challenge. As the sun set over Margaret Court Arena, and Boulter attempted to impose her weapons in her first‑round match against the 10th seed Belinda Bencic, the former British No 1 was outclassed by the sensational Swiss, who closed out a comfortable 6-0, 7-5 win.This was a statement first-round performance from Bencic, who has started the season 6-0 for the first time in her career and has established herself as a genuine title contender in Melbourne

One phone call and John Roberts had the full story – there was an air of amazement in the room

The football and tennis writer, who has died aged 84, was a major force in changing the Guardian’s sports coverage, alongside long stints at the Daily Express and IndependentIn my mind’s eye I remember it all. John Roberts, the Guardian’s northern-based football writer, had come down on a rare visit to the sports desk in London. I was a new boy on the subeditors’ desk. Everyone was pleased to see John: he was that kind of bloke.While he was there, the chief sub wondered, could he perhaps look at a news agency story from his beat that had just come in

Luke Donald to hold talks with Ryder Cup executives as he eyes third tilt at captaincy

Luke Donald will hold talks with senior officials at the European Tour Group this week in Dubai, as the Englishman edges closer to a third stint as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain. While no announcement is imminent, there is a growing sense Donald will seek to make history by leading Europe to three Ryder Cup successes in a row.Donald, who is in the field for this week’s Dubai Desert Classic, has taken time to consider his position since Europe retained the trophy at Bethpage in September. The former world No 1 had already been the captain when Europe prevailed in Rome two years earlier. “I think it’s Luke’s if he wants it,” said Shane Lowry, a key member of the European team

The Breakdown | England prepare to reveal Six Nations hand with Borthwick aware of ticking clock

On the face of it the Champions Cup has been helpful for the majority of Six Nations head coaches before this year’s championship. Gregor Townsend, for example, would dearly love Scotland to play with the purpose and passion currently oozing from Glasgow and will doubtless wish to ensure his national side exhibit similar characteristics.Ditto France. If Fabien Galthié overlooks the electric form of Matthieu Jalibert, particularly with Romain Ntamack out injured for the next few weeks, his trademark thick-rimmed glasses must have misted up. There can be no rational reason not to bury la hachette with the Bordeaux fly-half and invite him to combine as brilliantly with Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud as the trio do at club level