Who’s next for Mercedes-Benz F1?
Embed from Getty ImagesThis week following his last gasp World Championship victory in Abu Dhabi, Nico Rosberg announced that he was retiring from Formula One.
The 31-year-old German had been involved in one of the fiercest battles for the Drivers’ title in the sports recent history. It went down to the final showdown under the lights at the Yas Marina circuit, in which Rosberg knew that a podium finish would hand him his maiden title and pip Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton to the top spot of the Drivers’ Standings.
Hamilton led from start to finish and deployed various tactics along the way in an attempt to back up the field and bring other competitors closer to the back of Rosberg who was sat comfortably in second place. Hamilton ignored team orders demanding him to pick up his pace. Nevertheless, despite Rosberg coming under attack from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in the closing laps, he held on to ensure that he would be crowned World Champion for 2016.
The usual exuberant celebrations associated with Formula One ensued as the Mercedes-Benz team celebrated their third World Championship in three years. Although neither of their drivers appear to have a healthy relationship, following the conclusion of this incredible season, both had kind words to say about each other.
Hamilton tweeted shortly after,
Following more celebrations, it took just five days for Rosberg to shock the world once more and announced that he was to retire from the sport. He said “I have climbed my mountain, I am on the peak, so this feels right.” He went on to thank everyone that had helped him reach this feat including his close family and fans.
Almost as soon as Rosberg had retired the inquest into whom Mercedes would replace their World Champion with had begun.
Mercedes find themselves at a crossroads. Do they try and fill the seat with someone as experienced as Nico Rosberg and someone that will provide Lewis Hamilton with a serious challenge next season. Or do they take the same approach that rivals Red Bull have taken in previous years and choose someone that has passed through the team’s young driver scheme. We take a look at the potential candidates and what they have to offer.
Fernando Alonso –
The two-time world champion with Renault in 2005 and 2006. Fernando Alonso is one of the most experienced drivers on the grid. Having endured a number of underwhelming years at McLaren, is it time for Alonso to move on to pastures new? At 35 years of age the Spaniard cannot afford to waste any time if he wants to challenge for the title once more.
If Alonso were to make the move across to Mercedes then they would be gaining a world-class driver who would be able to help develop their car just like he has done in the past at Renault, McLaren and Ferrari. A driver with 32 wins and 97 podium finishes, he also would provide a challenge for Lewis Hamilton both within the team and in the championship itself. However, there is a potential stumbling block for Mercedes, he is contracted to drive for McLaren during the 2017 season. The German car giant have the firepower to be able to prise Alonso from his seat at McLaren, but it may prove a risky move to pay such a substantial compensation fee for a driver that has been away from the top of the sport for so long.
Pascal Wehrlein –
The 22-year-old German has been on the Mercedes radar for a number of years now. He is a product of the teams youth set up and had previously been Mercedes back up and test driver. Last season was his first full term competing in F1 in which he drove for Manor. The team struggled all year with lack of investment and numerous technical faults only allowing them to finish in the points on one occasion in Austria. It was Wehrlein that picked up this tenth place finish and helped prove to the world that he could tangle with the best of them. Only Mercedes will know if they have seen enough to convince them that Wehrlein is capable of being their second driver.
Valtteri Bottas –
Williams endured a rather miserable season in 2016 finishing 35 points behind Force India to finish fifth in Constructors championship. Both drivers struggled with mechanical issues throughout the season and failed to stick to any type of rhythm whatsoever. It was such a contrast to their 2015 campaign in which they finished third above both Red Bull and Force India. Bottas was a linchpin in their success that season and gained a lot of admirers. The 27-year-old has failed to pick up any victories in his time in Formula One, however he has proved to be competent enough to compete with great defensive driving and bold overtaking moves. He has also been driving with a Mercedes engine since 2014. Could this prove to be a crucial part of the jigsaw for Mercedes when identifying their next driver?
Outsiders –
Sebastian Vettel –
The four time World Champion is a fellow German and obviously has the required credentials to fight for the World title. However, he seems extremely happy to be driving for Ferrari who themselves will be aiming to be closer to Mercedes for next season. It would surely take a lot for Mercedes to snatch one of their closest rivals main drivers, especially one with a calibre of Vettel’s.
Esteban Ocon –
The 20-year-old French driver is still a baby in comparison to most on the Formula One grid. After racing nine times for Manor last season he impressed enough to earn himself a spot at Force India for the 2017 season. This is the main reason that it will be very unlikely that we will see Ocon in a Mercedes car next season. But anything is possible in the world of F1.
Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko preview
Following Anthony Joshua’s stunning third round knockout of American Eric Molina on Saturday night, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn announced the news that the boxing world wanted to hear. On 29th April 2017, Anthony Joshua will be facing off against the former undisputed Heavyweight World Champion Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium for the IBF, WBA (Super) and IBO heavyweight titles.
The 40-year-old Ukrainian has not fought since his majority decision loss against Tyson Fury late last year. After this loss, fans and journalists alike were wondering if that was to be his last fight, in what has been an illustrious career spanning over two decades. He holds a professional record of 68 fights, 64 wins and only four losses. He has knocked out 53 of his opponents therefore gaining one of the best fight to knock out ratios in heavyweight history.
Despite this, 18 months will have passed since he last got in the ring when he fights at Wembley. Joshua also holds an outstanding record. In his professional career, he has faced off against 18 fighters and had beaten all 18 of them inside the distance.
Although Joshua is still unproven at the highest level and lacks the experience that Klitschko has, many believe that Joshua will steam roll the man 13 years his elder. Both have fantastic knockout rates and both have fought on the biggest of stages.
We only have to go back to the last time he beat a British fighter to look at his true credentials. When David Haye fought the Ukrainian in Hamburg in 2011, Klitschko used clever tactics and completely out boxed the man from Bermondsey. With his quick jabs and his hit and hold style, he was able to out point Haye and win by a unanimous decision. Klitschko tried a similar tactic against Fury but the Brit ungainly style put the champion in a difficult position. This time it didn’t go his way, but you can bet that he will find some sort of solution just like he has throughout his career.
Embed from Getty ImagesBoth fighters have displayed true professionalism throughout their career. Neither boxer give huge statements or play mind games with their opponent. After being undisputed champion for so many years, Klitschko has had to put up with a lot. This type of experience may help him get the edge on Joshua, who has had a fairly smooth transition into the sport from his amateur and Olympic days.
Putting all of the experience and the knowledge that Klitschko has, we are not forgetting Joshua’s raw and explosive power. Not one fighter that he has faced has looked close to stopping him in his tracks. Only two fighters have taken him as far as round seven and they were much younger and energetic than Klitschko will be in April.
If Joshua can get the win against Klitschko, it will get rid of some of his doubters and prove that he is a heavyweight force to be reckoned with.
With a record attendance estimated and it being held at the national stadium, this fight promises to be one of the greats and go down in boxing history. Let’s just hope it lives up to the occasion.
Can anyone stop Michael Van Gerwen?
For so long Phil Taylor was the only man in darts, few could get close to the man that helped revolutionised the sport and bring it into a new age. However, his crown has been snatched ruthlessly in recent years by the young man from the Netherlands, Michael Van Gerwen.
Van Gerwen has set the world alight, breaking all sorts of records and beating anyone that lay in his path. At the age of just 24, he beat Peter Wright to become the youngest PDC World Champion and become number one in the world. Although this was his last World Championship, 2016 has been a record breaking year for the Dutchman and the real question is, can anyone stop him?
For the last two years Scotland has produced some of the finest darting talent we have seen. Both Gary Anderson and Peter Wright have been at the very top of their game. Anderson winning the world title back-to-back in 2015 and 2016. Wright has won multiple other titles and been runner up in the UK Open. Both have stopped Van Gerwen before and will have to do it once more, if they want to win the World Championship in 2017.
No darting argument would be complete without mentioning Phil Taylor and Raymond Van Barneveld. Since Van Barneveld’s move from the BDO in 2006, he and Taylor have been competing for the top spot in the world. More often than not Taylor has come out on top, but the two will surely prove a big test for Van Gerwen, if they were to meet each other at some point in the competition. Despite both players not performing at their best in 2016, they have good head-to-head records against Van Gerwen and have made him falter on the big stage before.
Embed from Getty ImagesA dark horse in this year’s World Championship is Adrian Lewis. The man from Stoke-on-Trent has not been in the greatest form in 2016, but always seems to bring his best to the World Championship at the Alexandra Palace. With his high averages and fantastic doubling, he could really pose a threat to the rest of the field, especially Van Gerwen once the Championship starts on 15th December.
The 5 standout players for the Dallas Cowboys
For the last couple of seasons, the Dallas Cowboys have been more than disappointing in trying to reach their ultimate goal of becoming Super Bowl Champions for the first time since 1996. However, high class performances and a number of fresh faces have seen their 2016 campaign much improved. They hold an 11-2 record, which is streaks ahead of anyone in the National Football Conference.
We are going to look at the five most important players in the Cowboys successful team so far this year.
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Dak Prescott (Quarterback)
The Cowboys found Dak Prescott in the fourth round of the NFL draft prior to the 2016 season. Following the injury to longtime starting quarterback Tony Romo in preseason, Prescott was to begin as Dallas’s number one. He has proved calm under pressure throughout the campaign even since Romo’s return to fitness. He has broken two NFL rookie records and has been a linchpin in the Cowboys successful offensive line this season. If he keeps doing his job to this standard, there is no reason why Dallas cannot challenge for the Super Bowl in the post season.
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Ezekiel Elliott (Running back)
The 21-year-old from Ohio State University was the Cowboys first pick in the 2016 NFL draft. The strong and agile running back has been arguably the best player in the entire league this season. He leads the rushing yards table with more than 200 yards gained than anyone else. His quick and aggressive style has gained him many plaudits and he has rewarded Dallas for using their first draft pick on him. If he continues to perform and adds to the 12 touchdowns that he has already scored this season, he can only help in trying to push them towards the Super Bowl.
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Jason Witten (Tight end)
Jason Witten has been a Cowboy since 2003. He knows exactly what it takes to be part of a team with such an illustrious history of great players and championships. He has been an ever improving tight end and this year has been no different. With his ability to grab the ball in tight situations and pick up first downs, Witten has been an integral part of what the Cowboys have done this year. A veteran of the sport that still takes pressure off the wide receivers and pops up with important touchdowns at vital times. He often goes unnoticed, but if Dallas were to reach the final stages of the Super Bowl this season, Witten would for sure be recognised.
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Sean Lee (Outside linebacker)
After winning the Pro Bowl in 2015, Sean Lee was always likely to have a good 2016 season. The outside linebacker has proved to be crucial in the Dallas defence. He lies second in the overall standings for most tackles in the NFL. The way that he reads the play and his aggressive style has allowed him to dominate other teams’ offensive linemen and running backs. Dallas have only lost twice this season and Lee has been an important part of that statistic. He made more tackles than anyone in last weeks defeat to the New York Giants and if he continues to perform to this standard, then he will go a long way to helping Dallas be successful in the post season and in years to come.
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Dan Bailey (Placekicker)
Simply the best. Dan Bailey holds the record for the highest field goal percentage in NFL history and this season has been no different. Nicknamed ‘Mr Automatic’ by some, Bailey has scored vital points for the Cowboys in tight games. Like Lee he has been at Dallas for some time but is still young at just 28-years-old. If he continues with this accuracy the Cowboys will have a sure fire kicker for years to come.
Henrik Stenson named European Tour Golfer of the Year
Having had the year of his life in 2016, Henrik Stenson has picked up yet another title to add to his collection this week.
The Open Championship at Royal Troon in July was the Swede’s first major of his career. Stenson also picked up a silver medal at the Rio Olympics, which was then later followed by winning the Race to Dubai. And now he has been named the European Tour Golfer of the Year for 2016.
He said “It has certainly been the best season of my career and to now be voted the European Tour Golfer of the Year for a second time is a fantastic way to bring the curtain down on it”.
The 40-year-old has been a member of the European Tour since 2001, but it has only been in the last three or four years that he has excelled and proven to be one of the best in the world.
Stenson was part of the European team that lost the Ryder Cup to the Americans at Hazeltine National Golf Club earlier this year. He will be out for revenge next time and if he continues his form into 2017, he may climb higher up the rankings and be in the hunt for his second major title.
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