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      Why do F1 drivers get weighed and what is the requirement?

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      FORMULA ONE is arguably the most technical sport in the sporting industry – even what drivers weigh matters.Fans are gearing up for what is expected to be a sensational 2023 F1 season.
      Max Verstappen won the 2022 F1 championshipCredit: AFP
      And Lewis Hamilton in particular will be determined to dethrone reigning champion Max Verstappen having failed to win a single race in 2022.
      But the racers are obliged to be weighed before they get behind the wheel.
      SunSport has the reasons why.
      Why do F1 drivers get weighed?
      Formula One drivers are weighed to see how much weight the racer has lost during the race.
      Read more on F1
      And drivers tip the scales to make sure that themselves and the car surpass the minimum weight requirement as the lighter the car, the faster it will go.
      F1 racers are weighed immediately after the race with all of their gear on which includes their helmet, gloves and full race suit as it contributes to their ‘seat weight’.
      Furthermore, drivers are prohibited from eating or drinking until their weight measurements have been recorded.
      The FIA implemented the rule in 2019 and the racers believe that it makes the circuit fair.
      Most read in Motorsport
      What is the minimum weight requirement?
      All drivers must weigh a minimum of 80kg which includes their drivers seat.
      There are usually no exceptions for this requirement and consequences come for those who fail to meet the minimum weight.
      Max Verstappen being weighed before the first race of the season in BahrainCredit: Getty
      What happens if drivers do not meet the weight requirement?
      Drivers who are found to be under the weight limit after the race receive an automatic disqualification.
      The rule is in place to make it fair for everybody to compete and it also forces drivers to maintain a healthy weight. More

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      Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Live stream, TV channel, team news and kick-off time for TONIGHT’S huge El Clasico clash

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      REAL MADRID host Barcelona in huge El Clasico cup match at the Bernabéu TONIGHT.The top two in La Liga take a break from league action for tonight’s Copa del Rey semi-final first leg.
      Barcelona vs Real Madrid in Spanish Super Cup final
      In La Liga, Barça sit at the top of the table, with Madrid seven points behind their rivals.
      Barcelona currently have the advantage in the domestic cup competitions after they beat Madrid 3-1 in the Supercopa de España final in January.
      Ancelotti’s side will host the first leg of this Copa del Ray clash with Madrid travelling to Camp Nou on April 5th.
      When is Real Madrid vs Barcelona

      Real Madrid vs Barcelona is TODAY, Thursday, 2nd March.
      The match will kick off at 8:00 pm UK time.
      Santiago Bernabéu Stadium will play host.

      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      What channel is it on and can it be live streamed?

      The El Clásico will be live on BT Sport 1 in the UK, and coverage will begin at 7:45 pm.
      BT Sport subscribers can download the free BT Sport app to live stream the game from their mobile or tablet.
      BT Sport subscribers can also watch the game live on the BT Sport website.

      What is the Real Madrid vs Barcelona team news?
      For Madrid, they will be without Ferland Mendy, who is still out with a thigh injury.
      They will also be without David Alaba and Rodrygo, who both picked up injuries in the Champions League last-16 win at Anfield against Liverpool.
      The Blancos will have Aurelien Tchouameni to welcome back into the fold after he recovered from the flu.
      Most read in Football
      Robert Lewandowski has suffered a hamstring injury, meaning he won’t be available for selection for Xavi’s side.
      Both Ousmane Dembele and Predri remain sidelined with thigh injuries.
      In better news, Xavi is hopeful that winger Ansu Fati will be involved after picking up a bruised knee.
      Odds

      Real Madrid – 19/20
      Draw – 5/2
      Barcelona – 14/5

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes and correct at the time of publication. More

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      Arsenal vs Bournemouth: Table topping Gunners look to extend lead on Man City by picking off bruised Cherries

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      ARSENAL’S Premier League form has been formidable this season – so it was no surprise to see the Gunners put FOUR past Everton on Wednesday.Goals from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard inspired Arsenal to capitalise on their game in hand over Manchester City.
      Arsenal thrashed Everton 4-0 on WednesdayCredit: Rex
      And it meant that the North London outfit opened up a five point gap between themselves and Pep Guardiola’s men.
      But Mikel Arteta will be desperate for his side not to take their eye off the ball, especially with relegation-battling Bournemouth coming to town.
      However, Arsenal will be hopeful that the Cherries are still bruised from last weekend’s 4-1 pummelling at the hands of Man City.
      When is Arsenal vs Bournemouth?

      Arsenal’s huge Premier League encounter against Bournemouth will take place on Saturday, March 4.
      It is scheduled to get underway at 3pm GMT.
      Emirates Stadium in North London is the allocated arena for this fixture and it can host approximately 60,000 fans.
      Bournemouth were humiliated by the Gunners when the sides met earlier on this season.

      Read more on Arsenal
      Is Arsenal vs Bournemouth on TV?

      Unfortunately, Arsenal vs Bournemouth will NOT be broadcast live on TV in the UK.
      This is due to the Saturday TV football blackout law.
      However, SunSport will have minute-by-minute coverage of the entire action.

      What is the team news?
      Mikel Arteta will be delighted to almost be at full strength with only Gabriel Jesus and Mohamed Elneny definitely unavailable for this match.
      Gabriel Jesus is edging closer to his long-awaited returnCredit: Instagram @stuart_photoafc
      However, the Gunners boss revealed that Eddie Nketiah played through a slight knock during the Everton thrashing.
      And January signing Jorginho was forced off early due to the Italian being ill.
      Most read in Football
      Elsewhere, Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil is expected to have a whole host of players on the side-lines for Saturday’s trip to the Emirates.
      Lewis Cook, David Brooks, Junior Stanislas, Lloyd Kelly, Marcus Tavernier and Matias Vina are all likely to miss out.
      But Illia Zabarnyi could return after being reintegrated into full training.
      What are the odds?

      Arsenal to win 2/9
      Draw 5/1
      Bournemouth to win 11/1

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes are correct at time of publication More

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      Who is Michael Schumacher’s nephew David?

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      MICHEAL SCHUMACHER holds the second most F1 wins of all time behind Lewis Hamilton.His nephew David Schumacher will be hoping to make his way onto the F1 grid in the future.
      Ralf Schumacher with son David Schumacher
      There have been plenty of motorsport drivers within the Schumacher family.
      Ralph Schumacher, brother to Micheal and father to David, was also an F1 racing driver.
      He drove for teams such as Jordan, Williams-BWM and Toyota.
      The German driver won all six of his F1 Grand Prix wins with Williams-BMW.
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      His first win came in 2001 at the San Marino Grand Prix, with the last win of his career coming at the France GP in 2003.
      Who is David Schumacher?
      David Schumacher is a 22-year-old aspiring Formula 1 driver.
      His most recent race was in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters at Hockenheimring.
      Unfortunately, during this race, the German was involved in a crazy crash with Thomas Preining.
      Most read in Motorsport
      He subsequently suffered a broken spine but didn’t require an operation.
      David Schumacher is also a former Formula 3 racer. His best year came in 2021, with an eleventh-placed finish.
      Who is David Schumacher’s cousin?
      Mick Schumacher, son of Micheal, is a former F1 racing driver.
      He was recently released by Haas at the end of the last F1 season, in which he finished in 16th place.
      Mick Schumacher at Bahrain Grand Prix
      Although Schumacher was dropped by Haas in 2022, he will still be on the grid as a third driver for Mercedes.
      The 23-year-old’s best finish in a race was 6th place in the 2022 Australian Grand Prix.
      When does the 2023 F1 season start?
      The new Formula 1 season is almost upon us, with the Bahrain Grand Prix kicking off the campaign on Sunday, March 5th. More

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      Liverpool vs Man Utd: Reds struggle for top 4 as United target Quadruple.. what a difference a year makes – TV & stream

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      ONE team is fighting for an unprecedented Quadruple while the other scraps for a spot in the Europa League.One team has just lifted their first trophy of the season while the other is embarrassingly far off the pace.
      Man Utd are on a red-hot streak and look more like last season’s Liverpool – while the Reds look like their struggling rivals of a year agoCredit: Getty
      Liverpool have gone from hunting for four trophies last season to prowling for scraps in 2022-23Credit: Getty
      A year ago it was Liverpool who were roaring towards an incredible four trophies, playing every game possible and looking unstoppable.
      A year ago Manchester United looked a disorganised mess without any tactical plan or sense of direction and a disjointed squad.
      Fast forward just 12 months and the roles are completely reversed.
      As Sir Alex Ferguson famously once said: “Football… bloody hell.”
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      Last season, Liverpool were in imperious form, winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, while reaching the Champions League final and missing out on the Premier League after one of the most-outrageous final-day comebacks ever from Manchester City.
      The Reds also spanked United 9-0 across their two Premier League fixtures – with Jurgen Klopp grinning as his side made the Red Devils look like total amateurs.
      This season, the German’s iconic grin has been replaced by a grimace as his Reds fall apart in front of his very eyes.
      Make no mistake, this Liverpool squad needs a huge shake-up this summer with an aging midfield, error-prone defence and injury hit front-line wreaking havoc.
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      But will they be able to attract the likes of Jude Bellingham when they’re increasingly unlikely to grab a Champions League place?
      Liverpool are somehow still within reach of the top four – just six points behind Tottenham with a game in hand.
      At Anfield, the Reds will look to not only get revenge for their 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford in August but also dent United’s shock title hopes.
      The Red Devils haven’t won the Premier League since 2012-13 – in Fergie’s final season.
      For much of this season, Arsenal and Man City were locked in a two-horse race to lift the crown.
      But United’s red-hot form – spearheaded by Marcus Rashford’s outrageous purple patch – has somehow lifted them into contention.
      If Erik ten Hag’s men win their game in hand over the top two, they’ll be just three points off City and eight behind Arsenal, with 13 games still to play.
      The Carabao Cup victory over Newcastle last weekend has only further buoyed an already more unified, happy squad – ending their near-six-year trophy drought.
      The rivalry between Liverpool and Man Utd has always burned strongly.
      After all, they’re not only local rivals but also the two most-successful clubs in English football history.
      With a changing of the guard already taking place, United go into the match at Anfield on Sunday afternoon as undeniable favourites.
      Who would have guessed that last season?
      What is their form like?
      Liverpool: What a mixed bag.
      Every time the Reds’ season looks dead and buried, they put together a string of encouraging results.. and whenever that happens they lose badly and make fans question everything.
      In the league, Liverpool have won three of their last four matches 2-0 – against Everton, Newcastle and most-recently, Wolves.
      However, they were battered 5-2 by Real Madrid and drew 0-0 at Crystal Palace in the middle of all that.
      Man Utd: Absolutely scorching hot…
      United haven’t lost since January 22 – and even that was a 3-2 epic against league leaders Arsenal.
      You have to go back to the 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa on November 6 for their next-most-recent loss.
      Ten Hag and Co are on fire, winning the Carabao Cup as well as their Europa League last 32 tie against Barcelona AND FA Cup fifth round clash vs West Ham.
      What is the team news and any injuries to worry about?
      Liverpool: Some of the Reds’ biggest name injury worries are back on the pitch, including Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk.
      But Thiago is still out, as are Luiz Diaz and Calvin Ramsay.
      Arthur is still likely to miss the match, despite returning to training.
      Joe Gomez and Naby Keita are questionable after missing the win over Wolves with knocks.
      Man Utd: Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek will both miss the clash at Anfield.
      Anthony Martial is unlikely to be fit, with Wout Weghorst set to continue leading the line.
      Ten Hag also has minor doubts over Luke Shaw and Jadon Sancho who missed the FA Cup win over West Ham with an injury and illness respectively.

      Who will be the star men?
      Liverpool: Trent Alexander-Arnold.
      Much-maligned defensively, if Liverpool are to get anything out of the game, they’ll need to find a way to stop Rashford.
      Alexander-Arnold will need to be switched on for the full 90 minutes.
      And if he gets a chance to bomb forward or get a set-piece within 30 yards, the England ace could be the most important player on the pitch for Klopp.
      Man Utd: Marcus Rashford.
      How could it not be? The England star has been absolutely sensational.
      Rashford has contributed to 16 goals since the World Cup and defences across Europe have struggled to slow him down.
      Undoubtedly United’s biggest threat and any success they have will stem from the Three Lions star.
      What have the managers said?
      Liverpool: Pre-match press conference to follow…
      Man Utd: Pre-match press conference to follow…
      SunSport prediction
      Liverpool 2 Man Utd 2
      It’s hard to see Man Utd losing but this match won’t be easy in front of a fired-up Anfield and against a Liverpool team desperately fighting for points.
      It should be entertaining – expect goals.
      When is Liverpool vs Man Utd?

      Liverpool vs Man United is on Sunday, March 5th.
      The game will kick off at 16:30 pm UK time.
      Anfield will play host.

      Is Liverpool vs Man Utd on TV?

      Liverpool vs Man United will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event, and coverage starts at 4:00pm UK time.
      If you are not a Sky Sports subscriber, you can follow SunSport’s live blog to keep up to date with all of the action.

      Read More on The Sun
      What are the odds?
      Liverpool – 7/5Draw – 5/2Man Utd – 7/4
      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes and correct at the time of publication. More

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      What does Bukayo Saka’s celebration mean?

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      BUKAYO SAKA continued his excellent goal-scoring form with another goal against Everton last night.The England star opened up the scoring with an emphatic finish, beating England teammate Jordan Pickford at his front post.
      Saka opens the scoring against Everton
      Saka’s goal helped the Gunners to a 4-0 win over Everton, taking them five points clear of Man City in second.
      Why does Bukayo Saka hold the corner flag during his celebration?
      During Saka’s goal celebration, the 21-year-old clutched the corner flag and placed his other hand on his hip as he stares back at the jubilant Arsenal fans.
      The winger revealed that the celebration is actually a homage to Gunners legend Thierry Henry.
      Saka revealed this after doing the same celebration during Arsenal’s 4-2 win a Villa park earlier in the season.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      Credit: @BukayoSaka87 via Twitter
      Did Bukayo Saka copy Marcus Rashford’s celebration?
      Marcus Rashford is in a rich vain of goalscoring form, with 14 Premier League goals so far this season.
      After scoring, the Mancunian celebrates goals by pointing to his temple.
      This is to indicate that the forward is in a better head space under Eric Ten Hag after struggles with form under previous managers.
      Saka celebrates his goal against Manchester United
      Saka adopted the same celebration when the electric winger scored in Arsenal’s 3-2 win over the Red Devils in January.
      Most read in Football
      However, the celebration seemed to be a mark of respect to his Manchester United counterpart. More

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      What happened to ex Arsenal and Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka and where is he now?

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      NICOLAS Anelka was a prolific goal scorer for some of the Premier League’s biggest teams.He has not featured in English football’s top division since the 2013/14 season. Here’s a reminder of his career achievements, and a look at what he’s doing now.
      Anelka played for six Premier League sides over the course of his career
      Which clubs did Nicolas Anelka play for?
      Nicolas Anelka played for a variety of the world’s top clubs during his career.
      After beginning his career at Paris Saint-Germain, Anelka signed for Arsenal in 1997.
      A successful first season saw Arsenal win a Premier League and FA Cup double in 1998, with Anelka scoring the second goal in a 2-0 win against Newcastle to clinch the cup.
      Anelka scored 17 league goals and was named PFA young player of the year in his second season, but it wasn’t enough to retain the Gunners League and cup crowns.
      READ MORE ON NICOLAS ANELKA
      He moved to Real Madrid in 1999, but despite vital goals in EL Classico and in both legs of the 2000 Champions League Semi-final, on route to winning the trophy, Anelka fell out of favour.
      After a short spell back in Paris, Anelka joined Liverpool in the 2001/02 season on loan, contributing to a second place league finish. However, he wasn’t offered a permanent deal.
      He signed for Manchester City, who were then managed by Kevin Keegan, in 2002.
      The Frenchman contributed goals in famous wins against Manchester United in the last Manchester derby at Maine road, as well as two away to former club Liverpool, as newly-promoted City qualified for Europe.
      Most read in Football
      He followed this with an impressive 16 league goals in the clubs first season at what is now the Etihad stadium.
      Anelka handed Jose Mourinho his first defeat as Chelsea manager in 2004, scoring a penalty in a 1-0 win. It was Chelsea’s only league defeat of the season.
      Anelka left City for Fenebache in January 2005, but returned to English football in August 2006 with Bolton.
      After helping Bolton qualify for the UEFA Cup in 2007, Anelka continued his fine scoring form for the club, which attracted interest from Chelsea, who he signed for in January 2008.
      A slow start to his Chelsea career saw him reduced to mostly substitute appearances, and he had the decisive penalty saved in the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final to hand Manchester United their third European crown.
      Anelka bounced back from this by winning the Premier League golden boot in 2008/09, scoring 19 league goals.
      He was also a vital part of Chelsea’s 2009 FA Cup triumph, scoring four goals on the run to the final.
      The 2009/10 season was even more successful, with the Frenchman forming a prolific partnership with Didier Drogba, scoring 15 goals in all competitions as The Blues won their first League and FA Cup double.
      Anelka scored a huge goal in the early stages of the vital match against Wigan on the last day of that season.
      Needing a win to be champions, a half-volley in the sixth minute eased the London clubs nerves, as they raced to victory.
      He also scored in the second half of the 8-0 win, a spectacular volley into the ground that beat Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt as Chelsea secured their fourth league title.
      He played the full 90 minutes as Chelsea retained the FA Cup with a 1-0 win against Portsmouth in the final.
      The 2010/11 season saw Chelsea fair to retain the title, despite being top in November of that year.
      Anelka was Chelsea’s top scorer with 16 goals in all competitions, as they finished second behind Manchester United.
      After scoring in Chelsea’s first home match of the 2011/12 season against West Brom, Anelka failed to score again for The Blues, and joined Shanghai Shenhua on a free transfer in December 2011.
      After unsuccessful spells in China and at Serie A club Juventus, Anelka joined West Brom on a free transfer.
      What happened to Nicolas Anelka?
      Anelka’s spell at West Brom was unsuccessful, scoring only two goals in his 12 appearances for the club.
      In a 3-3 draw away to West Ham, Anelka performed a controversial gesture after celebrating a goal.
      The quenelle gesture was seen by the FA as an anti-Semitic gesture, and was banned for five games and fined £80,000.
      Anelka said the gesture meant anti-establishment, and soon left West Brom.
      Is Nicolas Anelka still playing football?
      Anelka retired in 2015 after a spell with Mumbai City in the Indian Super League.
      In 2020 a Netflix documentary called Misunderstood was released looking at his life and playing career.
      His last role in football was as the sporting director of fourth-tier French club Hyeres. He left in 2021.
      Read More on The Sun
      Is Nicolas Anelka married and does he have any children?
      Anelka has been married to Barbara Anelka Tausia, a Belgian choreographer and dancer, since 2007.
      Together, they have had three children, named Kais, Kahil and Lina. More

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      in Motorsport

      What is a rolling start in F1?

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      The FORMULA 1 2023 season is set to get underway with the Bahrain Grand Prix.F1 races can start in two different ways, which are the standing start and the rolling start.
      Charles Leclerc leading the start of the French Formula One Grand Prix
      Max Verstappen leading the start of the Dutch Grand Prix
      A rolling start has the cars on the grid in a formation behind a safety car at a pre-determined speed for a number of laps.
      The safety car indicates it’s returning to the pits by turning off the flashing lights.
      When the safety car arrives at the pit and is off the track, the race will return to “green flag” conditions.
      All cars must wait for the green flag to be on show or for the information to be communicated over the radio before they can start accelerating.
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      The race leader will take the first position, and the trailing vehicles must stay in single-file behind.
      No driver can overtake the race leader prior to the race officially beginning.
      When are rolling starts used in F1?
      Rolling starts are typically used when the weather conditions are deemed too unsafe for a standing start.
      They are used more commonly during NASCAR events rather than in F1 Grand Prix.
      Most read in Motorsport
      A standing start is a more typical start to an F1 Grand Prix, with drivers starting in a stationary manner in their respective grid spots.
      Which F1 Grand Prix have had a rolling start?
      Last season, the Monaco 2022 Grand Prix had a rolling start, which was due to heavy rainfall.
      Sergio Perez took top spot on the podium that day.
      After several delays at the 2021 Belgium Grand Prix, a rolling start was again needed due to wet conditions.
      The race was then red-flagged and forced to be suspended before the race officially began. More