Saudi Arabia may have failed to lure Lionel Messi but Karim Benzema's extravagant welcome and the merger that stunned golf underline the extent of...

Ex-Williams driver Susie Wolff has urged Formula One team principals to back new initiatives designed to accelerate the debut of the championship’s next female driver – someone she predicts is a 12 to 14-year-old girl today. Wolff is now the managing director of the F1 Academy, the all-female single-seater series which debuted in April and next season will join F1 race weekends, ultimately aiming to launch drivers into higher levels of competition. It has been almost 50 years since a woman – Lella Lombardi – started an F1 Grand Prix. Wolff is adamant one will do so again, but believes the success of corresponding efforts rests in ensuring they are not seen as segregated from the sport as a whole. “That day will come. Of that I have no doubt because we’re doing too much and we’re putting (up) too many strong foundations for it not to happen,” the former Formula E Venturi Racing team principal and CEO told the PA news agency. “When I was announced in my new role in Bahrain I met all the team principals and I said ‘please don’t look at this as a woman’s initiative run by a woman. This is for the greater good of this sport. It’s for the greater good of your platform, for the business, but we have the chance to also inspire other industries by getting this right.’ “The success of F1 Academy and Discover Your Drive will come down to the collective, it will come down to the whole community of the sport getting on board and really understanding that this will be for the greater good of all of us. “But I will be hugely, hugely proud when I see a woman either on track or off track and they are in a top position because of F1 Academy. That will definitely be a moment where we can take a moment of real pride.” F1 Academy Discover Your Drive, launched this week, is a global initiative targeted at girls. Central among the programme’s ambitions is talent identification. In the UK, that means closing a considerable gap, with females accounting for just five per cent of all senior Motorsport UK race-license holders. The first phase will begin with six Motorsport UK venues, with plans to expand to 35 next year. Instructors have been trained to identify promising girls aged 8-12, who will be offered development sessions designed to facilitate a move into junior karting – potentially the first step on a road to F1 like it was for Brits Lando Norris and George Russell. Spotting talent at an early age is a critical component for Wolff, who was 12 when she started believing motorsport could be her career, and in 2014 became the first woman in 22 years to take part in an F1 race weekend when she took the wheel for a practice session at Silverstone. She said: “That’s the age that if you want to get to the pinnacle of the sport, you need to start having an idea of, ok, I need to do this more often.” Wolff eventually hopes to see some of those girls in F1 Academy, which consists of seven three-race rounds. Five are on current F1 circuits, including the season finale alongside the United States Grand Prix in Austin. The incentive for the eventual champion is tantalising, while the prospect of joining the F1 calendar in 2024 looks to benefit the entire grid. “Our winner is guaranteed to move on,” Wolff vowed. “We will put the budget together for her to progress. I’m not committed to which series because I want it to be the best progression for the driver. “But I think moving onto the global stage brings much more possibilities for the drivers to get backing and make sure they’re finding people that will help them further in their career. “Because in the end not everyone is going to make it to Formula 1, but if they can go on to be successful in a different category or area, then I think that is still something that can still be seen as a success for the Academy.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Max Verstappen tops rain-hit final practice for Spanish Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton toils in 12th as Max Verstappen and Red Bull dominate in Spain Fernando Alonso: Hamilton can win eighth title but Verstappen can break records

The Braves could completely derail the Mets season, a broken star is back in the minors, and the Red Sox made a move before tonight's Yankees game.Today's MLB rumors roundup looks at a pair of minor league moves made by the Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox, as well as the state of t...

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is the latest big-name target for the Saudi Arabia Pro League. Karim Benzema has already joined Cristiano Ronaldo and N'Golo Kante is set to join At Ittihad in the coming days.

Jeff Francoeur is officially the MLB version of Gus Johnson calling games for the Atlanta Braves.The Atlanta Braves dug the long ball last night, as Jeff Francoeur was there in the booth to give us the necessary Gus Johnson exuberance we needed in the thrilling three-game sweep of the New York M...

Two Sky Italia commentators have been suspended after making sexist comments during the channel’s coverage of the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday. Matto Bobbi and Davide Valsecchi made the remarks during live post-race coverage in Barcelona for Italian broadcaster Sky Sport. Referring to a woman in the background in the paddock, Bobbi, who was speaking from a separate studio, described her as an “upgrade package.” Valsecchi looked behind him and replied: “I know, but they told me I can’t test them. So I raise my hands.” Alongside Valsecchi was host Federica Masolin, who looked uncomfortable as the conversation progressed. She then interjected: “I ask for political asylum. Can’t we watch some interviews instead of listening to these two? Let’s hear from Carlos Sainz, please. I’m going to censor you two.” She then later read out a viewer’s comment on air, asking: “Will we see them [Bobbi and Valsecchi] safe and sound again at the next grand prix after these comments – that will be greatly appreciated by their wives?” Bobbi replied: “I think I’ll get a beating if I go home,” while Valsecchi said: “Well you know I’ve had eye surgery twice because I’ve been losing sight since I was a child, looking at those things.” Both have since apologised for their remarks but Sky Italia told The Guardian that Bobbi and Valsecchi have been “temporarily suspended” and will not work during the next race, the Canadian Grand Prix. Bobbi said: “I sincerely apologise to anyone who may have felt offended and wish to reiterate my total and profound respect for everyone and for women. “For 10 years, I have been commenting on F1 with friends from Sky, who have become like a family to me now and, in 10 years, I have never found myself in such an unpleasant situation. “I’ve always thought that you learn, understand and start again from your mistakes. What happened will lead me to try to improve further as a man and as a professional.” Valsecchi posted on Instagram: “I’m very sorry because, on Sunday, after the race, I exchanged some jokes that were in bad taste and used inappropriate and disrespectful words. “And I’m not like this. I would really like to apologise to those who felt offended, to women and to Sky.” Bobbi was a test driver for Minardi in the 2000s while Valsecchi won GP2 – now known as F2 – in 2012 but did not land a Formula 1 race seat. Read More F1 makes South African Grand Prix call for 2024 calendar F1 gives Canadian Grand Prix update after wildfires cause smoke to descend on Montreal F1 makes South African Grand Prix call for 2024 calendar F1 gives Canadian Grand Prix update after smoke descends on Montreal Lewis Hamilton: 18 months, 12 podiums and an elusive race victory

The “Miracle of Istanbul” happened the last time Turkey hosted the Champions League final

Elly De La Cruz having a blast with the Cincinnati Reds definitely made baseball fun this week.Baseball is better when MLB teams that can stink like the Cincinnati Reds are no longertire fires.I don't know much about Elly De La Cruz other than he has had a great start to this big-league...

Today's USMNT rumors include PSV winning the race to sign Ricardo Pepi. AC Milan is interested in Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams has been linked with Aston Villa.USMNT rumors: Ricardo Pepi to PSVIt looked like Feyenoord was in pole position to sign Ricardo Pepi from Augsburg. However, PS...

VIDEO: Sir Yacht epic first pitch fail is epic. Smash that subscribe button.

Real Madrid have completed the signing of Fran Garcia from Rayo Vallecano - a player who rose through their academy before seeking regular first team football.

Danny Dyer has revealed what he thinks of the infamous Jared Bowen chant about his daughter Dani, following the team's huge Europa Conference League win against Fiorentina. "I had about 15 cans of Stella", he joked of how he spent the game. When quizzed on the infamous song, he simply replied: "I think there's a bit of romance in it...think about it, it's a compliment, they're saying Bowen is on fire which is unreal, and he's also s******* Dani Dyer...they're saying it can't get any better." Click here to sign up for our newsletters