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      in Boxing

      Anthony Joshua greets passengers onboard London bus as Brit gives cryptic update on boxing future

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA has been stopping some of the hardest-hitting heavyweights on the planet for the best part of a decade.But now, the former two-time unified heavyweight champion is stopping London buses.Anthony Joshua stunned passengers on the No.32 bus to Kilburn Park StationCredit: INSTAGRAM@ANTHONYJOSHUAPassengers couldn’t quite believe their eyes when the former heavyweight champ boarded the busCredit: INSTAGRAM@ANTHONYJOSHUAAJ was all smiles after taking photos with fansCredit: INSTAGRAM@ANTHONYJOSHUAThe Watford warrior, who has been on the sidelines since last September, recently stopped the number 32 bus while it was on its way to Kilburn Park Station.And the golden boy of British boxing sent passengers into a frenzy by boarding the bus.They couldn’t quite believe their eyes as the Olympic gold medallist hopped on board.Scores of the travellers got up from their seats to take photos with the 35-year-old, who was all too happy to make their day.READ MORE ON AJBefore taking a photo with one of the passengers, he said: “Nice to meet you. How are you?”AJ shared footage of the wholesome moment on his Instagram story for his 16.7million followers to see.Prior to uploading the clips, he posted a selfie with the accompanying caption: “Back on top soon.”Fan favourite Joshua hasn’t set foot inside the ring since his crushing fifth-round KO defeat to Daniel Dubois last September.Most read in BoxingJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSA long-overdue domestic dust-up with Tyson Fury was seemingly on the cards following his fellow Brit’s back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.But Fury seemingly put the final nail in the coffin of the Battle of Britain in January by announcing his fifth retirement from boxing.Eddie Hearn provides update on Anthony Joshua’s injury and Tyson Fury fightBut AJ isn’t giving up hope of sharing the ring with the Gypsy King, telling iFL TV: “I feel like it’s the best fight [for me].”People might say [Joseph] Parker, people might say – I don’t know.”But I think Fury, commercially, is a great fight and it’s a great man’s fight as well. So I think it makes sense.”You could say it’s been years in the making. “But listen, the heavyweight division has been thriving.”And why I say it’s probably still a great fight is as I said Parker is, for me, a great story of someone that never gives up.”And the thing is, there is going to be one winner and one loser. “And there’s going to be bloodshed. And it ain’t gonna be mine.”Anthony Joshua recently gave a cryptic update on his boxing futureCredit: INSTAGRAM@ANTHONYJOSHUA More

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      in Soccer

      New football regulator could see teams thrown out of the league and stadiums closed down – the game doesn’t need it

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      FOOTBALL has flourished for a century and a half.It is the world’s biggest sport and certainly one of its greater preoccupations.Stars like Man City hitman Erling Haaland have made the Prem special around the world and we must be careful about any changes we makeCredit: APIt is loved by players, ­spectators, TV viewers and children from an early age.It gives £8billion to the Treasury every year.And it provides livelihoods, dreams and dramas, excitement and disappointments.To some it is a life in itself.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLSo, what does it need?It is easier to tell you what it does not need — a regulator as judge and jury of professional clubs.Problems are plentiful — they always have been — and our first occupant is due to take their bow fairly soon.There is no question a revolution is on its way and a heck of a lot of money to go with it.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKIt will become law towards the end of the year.The bill passed through the House of Lords this week and they sent it to the Commons.Man City launched probe into Erling Haaland after he ‘left club’s mascot with whiplash’ after hit to back of headI sit in the Lords and the debate convinced me that the introduction of a regulator for professional leagues will bring little reward and a lot of work and expense.Our game has been settling wrangles forever.A regulator hasn’t been required before and isn’t now.He or she will have considerable power in granting each of the 116 clubs a licence to operate — each with separate conditions governed by the law of the land.Breaches of licence conditions could result in teams being thrown out the league, stadiums being closed down or even a stint in jail — although a few nights in the Scrubs do not seem likely.However, a serious offence could result in a named director being fined as much as £75,000 a day.The regulator also has a duty to ensure that each club is sustainable.If it is not, the club may look to sell assets, probably stars players.That’s when the riots could start.Regulators have a patchy record. One of them, Ofwat (the water services regulation authority), has been paddling round the question of dumping waste into many rivers, lakes and the sea.Swimming filthy rivers such as the Wye has become a risk to health. And the post under Ofcom has become slow and indecently expensive.Regulators are seen by many politicians as a cure-all.But, frankly, they would, wouldn’t they?Many fans may also feel this way although I suspect there will be considerable mind-changing when they realise what interference might do to their club.The Premier League’s riches and status have caused envy elsewhere — most obviously within the EFL.Many EFL clubs I speak to hate the idea of being answerable to a regulator with untold powers to tell them what to do and how to run their clubsThis is partly understandable — even if Championship clubs are reasonably well off.That  is, after all, the sixth richest league in the world,  having just signed a new £1billion TV rights deal.But while nine clubs in that division are owned by billionaires, quite a few in the lower divisions are hard up.Accrington Stanley, one of the founding members of the Football League, have not had a home crowd anywhere near 3,000 this season.And for one League Two night game in September their gate was just 791.Of course such poor relations should be propped up — and most Premier League clubs appreciate the fact.That is why we send £1.6BILLION down the pyramid while the PL Stadium Fund has contributed more than £207m towards projects including 577 clubhouses and changing rooms, 832 stands, 682 floodlights and 480 pitch improvements.Further talks on an alternative to politicians’ pet scheme should be held between the FA, the Premier League and the EFL.Many EFL clubs I speak to hate the idea of being answerable to a regulator with untold powers to tell them what to do and how to run their clubs.The initial plan for the new regulator is that a report will be published on the state of the game.This will take 18 months but there is such a lack of detail and clarity in the bill that the bundles of legal challenges will be a nightmare!Neither are the outcomes at all promising.And who would pay for the grandiose schemes?Well, it will be the Premier League of course.READ MORE SUN STORIESEvery penny spent on the regulator is a penny taken away from all the good causes, and all the pyramid funding.And, that’s the real tragedy. More

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      in Soccer

      Ex-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson’s family make huge sum selling his memorabilia to help settle £8m debt

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      EX-England football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson’s family have made £140,000 selling off his memorabilia to help settle his debts.He died owing more than £8million, including £7million in UK tax.Sven-Goran Eriksson’s family have made £140,000 selling off his memorabilia to help settle his debtsCredit: AFPSven with the late Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2002Credit: ReutersA lunch invitation from the late Queen went for £300Among the items up for sale was Sven’s Armani suit from the 2006 World Cup – it went for £3kCredit: bna.nuweauctionsInside the suit was Sven’s hand-written team notesThe Swede’s loved ones were forced to sell hundreds of mementoes — such as his Armani suit from a 2006 World Cup match with his hand-written team notes still in the pocket.The 349 items which went under the hammer also included his BBC Coach of the Year trophy in 2001 and Premier League Manager of the Month award from his time at Manchester City.A lunch invitation from the late Queen and an Ivory Coast top signed by his ­former forward Didier Drogba were flogged too.Sven died of pancreatic cancer last year aged 76, leaving his partner Yaniseth Alcides and two adult children to deal with his debts.read more on svenHe owed the huge sum despite earning tens of millions in a 42-year managerial career at 12 clubs and four national teams, including England from 2001-2006.The Swedish auction house said: “There was huge interest mostly from England, Italy and Portugal.“It was a reflection of the love and affection that people had for Sven in countries all over the world.“We are very pleased with how both auctions have gone and there may be a third one of items of his furniture.”Most read in FootballBut the cash raised is still a drop in the ocean and Sven’s ­family are also selling his seven-bed lakeside mansion in his homeland for £1.8million.Sven’s Premier League Manager of the Month award fetched £1,700Sven earned the award during his time at Manchester CityCredit: Matthew AshtonSven’s BBC Coach of the Year trophy was auctionedThe trophy, which he won in 2001, went for £500An Ivory Coast top signed by Didier Drogba was sold for £700Sven managed the Ivory Coast in 2010Credit: Getty More

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      in Boxing

      Inspirational boxer Michael Watson walking miracle mile for 60th birthday – 34 years after Chris Eubank fight tragedy

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      MICHAEL WATSON is walking another miracle mile to celebrate his 60th birthday.The British ring legend suffered catastrophic brain injuries in his 1991 super-middleweight world title loss to Chris Eubank Sr.Michael Watson (left) suffered serious brain injuries in a 1991 bout with Chris Eubank SrCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdWatson, middle, pictured with his doctor Peter Hamlyn and SunSport’s Wally Downes Jr. (right)Credit: Wally Downes Jr.Dr Peter Hamlyn saved his life with emergency surgery that night and has remained by his side ever since.In 2003 the inspirational pair completed the 26-mile London marathon, over six hard days with a support bus to sleep on between shifts.Now, on Wednesday April 16, at the National Police Memorial in St James’ Park on the Mall, the pair will once again hit the streets at 1pm to raise money for The Brain and Spine Foundation.Watson – whose spirit and strength is staggering to spend a single second around – hopes his fans will help get him over the line again, especially after he hit 60 on March 15.READ MORE ON BOXINGHe told SunSport: “I am absolutely looking forward to the mile because I love a challenge.”It’s Peter’s fault I have been roped into it again, he challenged me to do it for the Brain and Spine foundation and, stupidly, I said ‘yes’.”I would do anything for him, because I class this man as my hero.”Seeing my fans, who have always supported me so much, will be a big push to get it done too.Most read in Boxing”That will be the energy and the will to keep pushing on, every little bit helps and hearing my fans cheering me, that will spur me on and get me over the line.”I never made it to world champion but my fans regard me as one.”Queensberry’s hall-of-fame promoter Frank Warren donates £25,000 to The Brain and Spine Foundation Eubank Sr was at the end of the line in 2003 to celebrate his friend’s unfathomable achievement.And he was at Watson’s recent milestone birthday party, where he gifted him a Rolex watch.It was another touching moment shared between the pair, after the tragedy that befell them both on that haunting night at Tottenham’s White Hart Lane stadium.Incredibly Watson – flanked by marvellous carer Haroun Topalak, devoted friend and PR star Geraldine Davies and Dr Hamlyn – feels happier now than he did when he was a prime prize fighter and he wants to thank British boxing fans for that.Watson said: “Chris has true love and respect for me.”Chris is a good soul, he is a very emotional man and he has a lot of respect for me.”I still feel like the boxing community is in my corner and I have great people around me.”I still feel like my fans are there for me, when I see anybody in the street, they still call me ‘Champ’.”I feel so privileged to be English because I feel so loved by my fans, the English people make me feel like the peoples’ champion and that I am in their hearts and that will never fade away.”British boxing fans make me feel so appreciated and it makes me feel overwhelmed and blessed to be who I am.”From where I have come from, I am a miracle. My life has been amazing because of the people I have around me.”I am living my purpose on this earth.”I have been through a grueling process but I believe in a higher power and that everything happens for a reason.”When I was in the limelight I was troubled and not at peace, I was lost.”But now I am at peace and I am happy and content, I am at peace.”I feel so privileged to be English because I feel so loved by my fansMichael WatsonIncredible neurosurgeon Dr Hamlyn operated on Watson after horrific delays in getting him medical attention.And he was by his bedside for the 40-day coma he faced and the six-years he spent in a wheelchair.The duo will walk the mile together again and Hamlyn continues to be amazed by the physical recovery and mental fortitude Watson continues to show.Dr Hamyln said: “Michael is truly amazing. I have never seen a man survive that type of injury.”He faced year after year of struggles and showed incredible determination.”What you see now is a laughing, walking, talking, laughing joking guy.”But he went through an appalling ordeal and he only got through it thanks to his own incredible determination.”And one day, when I asked him why he kept helping me do things for the charity, he said: ‘to help people less fortunate than me’.”And that blew me away, he is just different.”The Brain and Spine Foundation also have 50 runners doing the full 26-mile London Marathon, with Watson a team captain.READ MORE SUN STORIESQueensberry’s hall-of-fame promoter Frank Warren has generously donated £25,000 for the cause and more donations can be made here.Sponsor Michael Watson and the 50 runners doing the London Marathon for The Brain & Spine Foundation here… More

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      in Soccer

      Anyone with an ounce of spirit should want Bournemouth to beat Man City to keep romance of the FA Cup alive

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      THERE are no Premier League fixtures this weekend — but don’t feel ashamed if you haven’t even realised.It’s hardly been a bumper year for the so-called greatest league  in the world.Bournemouth could offer a massive FA Cup miracle for the romanticsCredit: GettyBournemouth take on Manchester City in the FA CupCredit: GettyNewcastle broke a monotonous run by winning the Carabao CupCredit: RexThe last time a club outside the Big Six won a cup was in 2013 with Wigan in the FA Cup and Swansea in the League CupCredit: GettyLiverpool have fast-walked the title race and Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton have been hell-bent on relegation since last August.So who would have thought the two cup competitions would be left to stop the entire nation switching off altogether and doing something less boring instead?The cups have been bulldozed and bullied to make way for expanding European competition.Boiled down with second legs and replays scrapped to relieve the heavy legs of players grinding it out to satisfy the demands of clubs looking beyond two relatively tiny trophies offering a few quid in prize money. Read More on FootballNewcastle’s victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final this month was a spectacular bloody nose for the Big Six.It’s five down and one to go in the FA Cup, which means “little” Bournemouth have the opportunity to finish the job. Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham  all have a surprise weekend off as we reach the quarter-final stage.Anyone with an ounce of romance, spirit and  sporting fun should be willing the Cherries on against Manchester City. If not, you should never again pass an “I am not a robot” test.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSA winner from Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Brighton, Fulham, Crystal Palace or Preston North End is a rarity.And not since 2013 have both our domestic trophies been won by teams from outside the “elite” in the same season. That’s when Swansea won the League Cup and Wigan beat City in the FA Cup final. Prior to that, it was 1988 with Luton and Wimbledon.Erling Haaland reveals bizarre bedtime habit including special glasses and taping mouth SHUT on Logan Paul podcastIn between, it is the same old names and the same old finals. Prior to this year, the previous nine Carabao Cups were shared between Liverpool and the Manchester clubs.For one year only, Leicester broke the FA Cup stranglehold of Arsenal, City, Chelsea, United and Liverpool that has existed since 2014.What we are seeing now is football’s equivalent of Halley’s Comet entering our solar system.Come May, screw up your eyes and you may be able to visualise the glowing tail of glory for a team which doesn’t treat Wembley as a second home.The Cherries have never won  a major trophy, nor Palace, nor Fulham, nor Brighton.Preston, synonymous with the great Sir Tom Finney, have had big stars but no significant silverware since the 1938 FA Cup.Breaking traditionVilla and Forest are shaking up the establishment in the league but you must rewind to the 1990s to find either winning a cup of note.What it will mean for the  supporters of these seven clubs to reach the FA Cup semi-finals or beyond fires the imagination.And it serves as a beacon of hope for anyone wishing to salvage a crumb of interest in a mundane season in the league. Players love the cups, the fans adore them.Attendances throughout this year’s Carabao Cup were 20 per cent up on last year and their highest for almost a quarter of a century.If Bournemouth beat City on Sunday it’s a huge shot in the arm for the much-maligned cups, for fans and for fun. So what if it’s bad for business and for the big boys?Fans ticked off with ToddTODD BOEHLY is feeling the heat from Chelsea fans over his 41 per cent stake in US ticket resale outlet Vivid Seats.To the extent the supporters’ trust has written to the Premier League demanding they probe their club chairman over a  potential conflict of interest. Fair enough. No trip to Stamford Bridge is complete without the sight and sound of several shady characters loitering by Fulham Broadway Tube station offering tickets for the coming game at inflated prices.So much so that the London club emailed fans last week to trumpet their actions targeting this criminal scourge. They claim to have stopped more than 1,000 people entering the ground with dodgy tickets, cancelled more than 1,500 memberships linked to dodgy tickets and arrested dozens of people through matchday operations.Meanwhile, Boehly, the man at the top of the club, is raking it in via his investment in what the Premier League label an “unauthorised” ticket website.They urge fans to “exercise extreme caution” when dealing with firms like Vivid Seats.It’s almost as if it’s one rule for one and one for another. In football? Surely not?A bore’s no drawEVERYTHING about England’s recent two matches was highly interesting — apart from the two matches. Thomas Tuchel, Dan Burn, the build-up, the team selection, the hope.But as usual the ties were as flat as a pancake and sparked a debate about the entertainment value of qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.Don’t think the boredom level of these insipid games hasn’t been  discussed at the top level.Not that long ago a plan was hatched to expand the Euros to 32 teams.The continent’s top-ranked countries would face each other in an extended Nations League to leave 16 sides. Lesser-ranked nations would do similar, eventually leaving 32 teams.Almost everyone was up for it apart from Europe’s rights-holding broadcasters, who seem to think England v Albania on a Friday night is just what the nation wants to see on their TVs.London bawlin’AS domestic football returns, a plea. Can London-based clubs stop playing London Calling by The Clash, fronted by Joe Strummer, during every pre-match build-up?Yes, we know the song is about the city — it’s in the title — and your club is in that city. But that’s it. It’s not that big a deal.And by endlessly forcing this irony upon fans, you have worn out what should be cherished as a post-punk classic by one of the greatest rock bands of all time.Just stop it. Please.FA party Ful of itIF you have £120 to spare you too can enjoy a night out at Fulham’s 1975 FA Cup final celebration dinner come May.A selection of team members from the day will entertain guests with memories of the showpiece — which they LOST 2-0 to West Ham.READ MORE SUN STORIESSounds like a silly idea —  then again, Newcastle held open-top bus parades after losing the 1974 FA Cup final and 1976 League Cup final.Even more daft, someone I know actually went to BOTH. More

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      in Motorsport

      Max Verstappen likes bombshell Instagram post comparing Christian Horner’s Liam Lawson axing to ‘bullying’

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN has liked an Instagram post accusing Red Bull of “bullying” Liam Lawson. It came after Lawson was dropped to Racing Bulls in favour of Yuki Tsunoda, who has been promoted to race alongside team-mate Verstappen.Max Verstappen liked an Instagram post accusing Red Bull of ‘bullying’ axed Liam LawsonLiam Lawson has been brutally ditched by Red BullCredit: APLawson has been replaced by Japan’s Yuki TsunodaCredit: PAVerstappen, the four-time world champion, is understood to be unhappy about the team’s decision to axe Lawson so fast.Many believe Lawson, 23, should have been given more than two races to prove himself and get used to the RB21.The Dutchman’s actions raise further questions about his relationship with the Milton Keynes-based team.Tensions grew last year after allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” from a female employee aimed at team principal Christian Horner.READ MORE IN F1Horner has since been cleared of those allegations by two separate internal investigations, but Verstappen’s future with the team has been questioned.Red Bull confirmed on Thursday morning that Lawson and sister team driver Tsunoda would switch roles for the Japanese Grand Prix.The New Zealander will return to second team Racing Bulls as team-mate to French rookie Isack Hadjar.In a statement, Red Bull said Lawson was pulled out of the firing line after his “difficult” start to the campaign.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSLawson’s nightmare season began with him dropping out in Q1 at the rain-swept Aussie GP, before crashing out of the opening race in Melbourne.A week later, the Kiwi again qualified last in both the sprint and race for the Shanghai GP – despite sitting in the second-best car in F1 last season.Red Bull’s Christian Horner gives low down on car before F1 season kicks off with Australian Grand Prix The RB21 might be tailored for Verstappen, but mustering a P15 finish in Shanghai was too much for Horner.Meanwhile, Tsunoda – who earns nearly double Lawson’s £800,000 salary – qualified fifth in Australia and ninth in China but finished outside of the top 10 for both races due to strategy calls.The ruthless call has drawn criticism from the F1 world.Former Dutch F1 driver, Giedo van der Garde – who drove for Caterham in 2013 – was one who has been particularly critical of the shock move.Van der Garde took to Instagram to share his disgust, writing: ” Yes, you gotta perform. Yes, the pressure is insane. “But in my opinion this comes closer to bullying or a panic move than actual high athlete achievements. “They made a decision – fully aware – gave Liam two races only to crush his spirit.”Don’t forget the dedication, hard work and success Liam has put in his career so far to achieve the level where he is now.”I remember my own blood, sweat and tears – and that was to reach F1. Let alone driving for an absolute top team. “Yes, he underperformed the first two races – but if anyone’s aware of that it’s himself.”Former F1 star Giedo van der Garde has launched a scathing defence of LawsonCredit: GettyVerstappen, interestingly, liked the post but it seems he has since un-liked it.Lawson was promoted to Red Bull in the off-season, succeeding Mexican driver Sergio Perez.Tsunoda is expected to become Verstappen’s sixth different partner at Red Bull since he made the step up in 2016.That is after Daniel Riccardo, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez and Lawson.Red Bull said they were making use of their unique position as the only team on the grid with four race seats, arguing it was a kindness to Lawson.Team principal Horner said: “It has been difficult to see Liam struggle with the RB21 at the first two races and, as a result, we have collectively taken the decision to make an early switch.“We have a duty of care to protect and develop Liam and together, we see that after such a difficult start.“It makes sense to act quickly so Liam can gain experience, as he continues his F1 career with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, an environment and a team he knows very well.”Horner is hoping 24-year-old Tsunoda’s experience will help with the team’s developing of the RB21.The decision will surely make things awkward between rivals Lawson and Tsunoda, who have shared fiery words in recent days.Tsunoda was more than pleased when quizzed about a potential swap before the news was announced on Thursday.The Japanese star said: “Yeah, 100 per cent. The car is faster, I’m sure.”But a fuming Lawson hit back, saying: “He can say whatever he wants.”I’ve raced him for years, raced him in the junior categories and beat him.”If I look back over our careers, I was team mates with him in F3 and I beat him.“In Euroformula I was team mates with him, [and] in New Zealand, and I beat him there.READ MORE SUN STORIES“Then in F1 last season I think honestly, if I look at all the times he got promoted instead of me in those early years, then no.”He’s had his time. Now it’s my time.”Lawson and Tsunoda have been team-mates in junior and senior teams More

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      in Motorsport

      Inside Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda’s bitter six-year rivalry as Red Bull become first F1 team to axe driver this season

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      THINGS are about to get a lot more awkward between long-term rivals Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson.Habitually ruthless Red Bull have dropped Lawson for sister team driver Tsunoda after just TWO races of the 2025 season.Liam Lawson has been brutally ditched by Red BullCredit: RexLawson has been replaced by Japan’s Yuki TsunodaCredit: GettyLawson, 23, has been dumped by Red Bull chiefs after failing to get to grips with the RB21 during the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix.With the structure set up between Red Bull Racing and sister team Racing Bulls, driver rotations are possible among the four seats.Lawson’s nightmare season began with him dropping out in Q1 at the Aussie GP, before crashing out of the opening race in Melbourne.A week later, the Kiwi again qualified last in both the sprint and race for the Shanghai GP – despite sitting in the second-best car in F1 last season.READ MORE IN F1The RB21 might be tailored for Max Verstappen, but mustering a P15 finish in Shanghai was too much for team principal Christian Horner.Meanwhile, Tsunoda – who earns nearly double Lawson’s £800,000 salary – qualified fifth in Australia and ninth in China but finished outside of the top 10 for both races, due to strategy calls.The decision to overlook Tsunoda for Lawson when replacing Sergio Perez – who endured a nightmare 2024 season- before Christmas was a strange one.Having already spent four years in F1, Tsunoda is significantly more experienced than Lawson, who had entered only 11 grands prix in two short spells across 2023 and 2024.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSTsunoda, 24, will be given a baptism of fire on home soil as he’ll officially replace Lawson at the Japanese Grand Prix next weekend.Meanwhile, the New Zealander will return to second team Racing Bulls as team-mate to French rookie Isack Hadjar.But there appears to be no love lost between Lawson and his replacement driver, who have known each other since their teens.SunSport takes a look inside their growing rivalry.Law and order showdownIn the past week, there has been a fiery war of words between the pair, who have raced each other all the way back to junior formula.Tsunoda was more than pleased when quizzed about a potential swap before the news was announced on Thursday.The Japanese star said: “Yeah, 100 per cent. The car is faster, I’m sure.”But a fuming Lawson hit back, saying: “He can say whatever he wants.”I’ve raced him for years, raced him in the junior categories and beat him. “If I look back over our careers, I was team mates with him in F3 and I beat him.“In Euroformula I was team mates with him, [and] in New Zealand, and I beat him there.“Then in F1 last season I think honestly, if I look at all the times he got promoted instead of me in those early years, then no.”He’s had his time. Now it’s my time.”Lawson cited his regular wins over Tsunoda as the reason being picked ahead of himCredit: GettyJunior yearsTsunoda and Lawson were team-mates many times during their junior careers.The New Zealander outscored Tsunoda in the 2019 Euroformula Open, where both drove for Motopark.The order was reversed in the FIA F3 series that year, though they drove for different teams.They faced each other again in the New Zealand Toyota Racing Series the following year. Lawson narrowly failed to reclaim the title he won the year before while Tsunoda, making his debut in the series, finished fourth.McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown is among those who queried Red Bull’s decision to promote Lawson instead of Tsunoda.Lawson said he “couldn’t care less” about his opinion.He added: “I think he’s still hurt because I talked about his national anthem.” The pair have been team-mates in junior and senior teamsCredit: GettyRacing Bulls and AlphaTauriTsunoda had been at Red Bulls’ junior team AlphaTauri since 2021 -having been the top rookie in F2 – before his foe joined in 2023.AlphaTauri has since transitioned into Racing Bulls.They raced against each other in the latter stages of 2024 after Lawson replaced Daniel Ricciardo at the then-named RB team.The Japanese driver out qualified Lawson 6-0 and went 4-2 in their race finish head-to-head. Tsunoda was the 12th best driver on the grid last season, finishing with 30 points – which was 12 behind Pierre Gasly.Meanwhile, Lawson finished 21st, with a respectable four points picked up across his 11 races.The advantage on the timesheet lies with Tsunoda – perhaps inevitably, given he has raced in 89 F1 races compared to just 13 for his rival.Yuki Tsunoda will represent Red Bull in his home GP in Japan on April 6Horner’s Red Bull rejectsLawson will be advised that his demotion is an opportunity for him to rebuild his career, in the same way as earlier Red Bull rejects Gasly and Alex Albon have done.Gasly was demoted to the second Red Bull team after just half a season in 2019 in a swap with Albon, who was given a season and a half before being demoted to reserve driver in place of Perez.The Frenchman has since moved to Alpine and Albon to Williams, and both have thrived.Perez no longer has an F1 seat after being dropped at the end of last season with a multi-million pound pay-off.The decision to ace Lawson has been described as “performance-based” and the team’s “duty of care” to take him out of the firing line.Verstappen is second in the F1 Drivers’ Championship on 45 points, whereas Lawson has not scored any.Christian Horner said it was a ‘sporting decision’ to drop Lawson for TsunodaCredit: RexTeam principal Horner said: “It has been difficult to see Liam struggle with the RB21 at the first two races and as a result we have collectively taken the decision to make an early switch.”We came into the 2025 season with two ambitions: to retain the World Drivers’ Championship and to reclaim the World Constructors’ title, and this is a purely sporting decision.READ MORE SUN STORIES”We acknowledge there is a lot of work to be done with the RB21 and Yuki’s experience will prove highly beneficial in helping to develop the current car.”We have a duty of care to protect and develop Liam and together, we see that after such a difficult start, it makes sense to act quickly so Liam can gain experience as he continues his F1 career with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, an environment and a team he knows very well.” More

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      in Motorsport

      Who is Michael Schumacher’s son Mick? Former Mercedes driver who has found new motorsport seat

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      THERE’S a certain weight that comes with being the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher – and son Mick has found all about it in recent years. Mick, 26, had been tipped to succeed his father’s impeccable racing standards the second he set foot in a karting track.MickSchumacher’s time at Haas was mistake-ladenCredit: AFPSebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher have had a striking relationship throughout the yearsCredit: AlamySchumacher last role in F1 was with MercedesCredit: GettyHowever, Michael Schumacher’s youngest child has found his competitive motorsport career dwindling.Mick was last seen in a Formula 1 pit garage last December as a reserve driver for Mercedes.He left his position at the end of the 2024 season to focus on his newfound role in endurance racing.Nowadays, he is striving to get back to the elite staring of the racing world. READ MORE IN F1Life in father’s footsteps Born and raised in the Swiss village Vufflens-le-Chateau, Schumacher was born into a racing royalty with his father and uncle Ralf both in F1.The generational success that his father set that weighed heaviest in his formative years in racing and beyond.Mick had a good karting career – fishing runner-up at the World and European level – before making the jump to European Formula 3, winning the championship in his final season with Prema Racing.He would follow that up with another title Formula 2 in 2020 ahead of Brit Callum Ilott and future Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda. Most read in MotorsportMick had test drives with Alfa Romeo and Haas – aided by his association with the Ferrari Driver Academy – then signed with the latter as a full-time driver in 2021.Schumacher’s two-season F1 career was characterised by rookie blunders and team deficiencies, initially alongside controversial team-mate Nikita Mazepin – son of Belarusian-Russian oligarch and sponsor Dmitry – and than outperformed by Kevin Magnussen.In his second season, the German driver scored his first and second lot of points in back-to-back weekends at Silverstone and the Red Bull Ring in Austria, where he registered a career-best sixth finish.However, Schumacher was released from his contract going into the 2023 season as the team altered direction with successor and racing journeyman Nico Hulkenberg.Recently, he has served as a reserve driver for both Mercedes and McLaren – not suiting up for either team. Track switch Schumacher made his first ventures into the World Endurance Championship with Alpine while still occupying his reserve driver duties.Schumacher has continued to race with Alpine’s World Endurance Championship six-man Hypercar team full-time after achieving his maiden podium finish at the 6 Hours of Fuji. Additionally, Schumacher also competed in the 2025 Race of Champions in Sydney at the start of the month alongside family friend Sebastian Vettel with Will Brown pipping him to a semi-final spot in the main draw. Racing future Schumacher still harbours hopes of returning to F1 as a driver with the 2026 new regulations era providing the first real opening for a seat, particularly with Cadillac’s incoming arrival to the grid. “Formula One has always been my dream and will always be my dream. But the WEC is the number one priority,” he told Sky Germany. “That requires 100 per cent dedication.”READ MORE SUN STORIESHe went on to add: “My dream is a dream, but when I’m in the car, I’m 100 per cent in the car. The dream lives on in the moments when I have free time and can think about it.”Cadillac have expressed a public interest in signing an American driver with a big-name, and in motorsport, it doesn’t get bigger Schumacher. More