Red Bull confirm new Newey deal
Montreal: Red Bull Racing confirmed on Sunday that they have extended their successful relationship with eminent car designer Adrian Newey through a new multi-year agreement. “As part of this new agreement, Adrian will work on new Red Bull Technology projects, as well as advising and mentoring Infiniti Red Bull Racing as it develops its Formula One cars over the next few seasons. The details of the new projects will be announced in due course,” said Red Bull in a statement ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix. Newey joined Red Bull at the beginning of the 2006 season as Chief Technical Officer. In 2010, the team won its first Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships. The Austrian-owned squad has retained both titles ever since, winning again in 2011, 2012 and 2013. (PTI)
Montreal extends F1 deal for 10 years
Montreal: The Canadian Grand Prix is staying in Montreal through 2024 after an agreement with the Formula One Group worth more than $200 million (Rs 118.34 crore). The grand prix’ future in Montreal was secured with the help of substantial governmental investment: $62 million from the federal government, $50 million from Quebec, $62 million from Tourisme Montreal, and at least $32 million from the City of Montreal. Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre was on hand at the racetrack on Ile Sainte-Helene for the announcement on Saturday, alongside ministers of infrastructure and transport from the provincial and federal governments. As a condition to the agreement’s success, the City of Montreal also agreed to renovate the track, including making improvements to the team paddocks, the control tower, and the on-site medical centre, for which it will spend $25 million to $40 million. Coderre promised work would begin this autumn and would be completed in time for the 2017 race. (AP)
Dutch drop attacking to counter Spain
RIO DE JANEIRO: The days of fluent, attacking ”total football” are long gone for the Netherlands. Now, results matter more than the way they are achieved. Anybody expecting the Netherlands to revert to the Oranje’s traditional free-flowing attacking play when Louis van Gaal’s team takes on Spain on Friday should think again. Van Gaal has signaled he will likely play five defenders to stifle the defending world champion’s own fluent attacking style. That could revive memories of the physical 2010 final in which eight Dutch players were booked and one sent off. Robin van Persie said Sunday he has no regrets about the 2010 campaign. He says ”I think we can look back with pride.” (AP)
Ox boost as England head to Brazil
Miami: England winger Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain will be fit to take part in the World Cup after making good progress with his knee injury, manager Roy Hodgson said after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Honduras. Oxlade-Chamberlain picked up the injury in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Ecuador and Hodgson had said he may have to wait until 24 hours before England’s Group D opener against Italy on June 14 before deciding whether the Arsenal wide-man could be part of his squad. But on Saturday Hodgson took a much more positive tone. “Everyone is fit. Oxlade-Chamberlain is making good progress. I think he’ll make the tournament without a shadow of a doubt,” Hodgson said. Captain Steven Gerrard was replaced at half-time but said that had been planned before the game due to a slight concern over his groin after Wednesday’s game. “I had a tight groin in midweek so it was always the plan for me to play just 45 minutes. We’re quite frustrated in the dressing room. We thought the referee was poor, they were doing some stupid fouls. (AFP)
US strike twice in win over Nigeria
NEW YORK: Jozy Altidore scored twice as the United States completed their World Cup preparations with a 2-1 win over Nigeria at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida, on Saturday. Altidore ended his six-month goal drought for club and country with a goal in each half to send the US to Brazil on the back of three successive friendly victories. (Reuters)