Red Bull says it “cannot afford” for there to be a big gap between its two drivers next year, as Sergio Perez faces increasing pressure to end this campaign on a high.

The Milton Keynes-based squad has already lost the lead in the constructors’ championship to McLaren and is in danger of conceding second place too with Ferrari now just 34 points behind.

It is not lost on Red Bull that its plight has not been helped by Perez failing to contribute as much as the team would have liked, with his 144 points tally so far this year well adrift of Max Verstappen’s 331.

Perez was given a stay of execution over his place in the squad following the summer break, with the team hopeful he could deliver more at venues he was better at. However, things have not been ideal, especially after he lost a potential podium finish in Baku following a late crash with Carlos Sainz.

With Liam Lawson slotted in as replacement for Daniel Ricciardo at RB to evaluate his potential in being a Red Bull candidate for 2025, it is clear that the team is evaluating the best way forward.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says the need to understand what options it has available has become critical, because the title fight will likely be even harder next year.

And, with the difference between the leading positions in the constructors’ championship being around $9 million, Red Bull needs no reminding that having a second driver who costs it one or two places is costly.

“We desperately need answers,” Horner told Motorsport.com about its driver situation.

Photo by: Alastair Staley / Motorsport Images

“When you look at our opponents, Ferrari will be strong next year, with [Lewis] Hamilton and [Charles] Leclerc. Plus McLaren with [Lando] Norris and [Oscar] Piastri is a strong line-up.

“We need to make sure that with both of our drivers, that there’s not a big gap between them because you can’t afford to have that.”

Lawson’s prospects for a potential move up to Red Bull, should he impress in the final races this year, have increased with rookie drivers in fashion once again in F1.

With Oliver Bearman and Franco Colapinto impressing so much, teams certainly seem more open-minded about putting youngsters in once again.

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko told Speedweek in his most recent column: “The GP appearances of Oliver Bearman and especially Franco Colapinto have shown that the youngsters are ready for the step up, and that the old philosophy of some team bosses, that you can only promote drivers with three or four years of experience to a top team, is outdated.

“Mercedes has now proven this with its driver decision, just as Red Bull Racing has done several times in the past.

“So you can rely on the youth. There is a certain risk, but it is manageable and it is worth it.”

MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly facing snubs from two January transfer targets after their horror start to the season.

Erik ten Hag has endured an awful seven Premier League games after being handed a contract extension by Sir Jim Ratcliffe over the summer.

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United have picked up just two wins so far this term to sit 14th in the table.

The first came in a fortunate late victory against Fulham.

While the other win saw United beat 10-man Southampton, who are joint-bottom of the table.

Another two matches so far have been draws.

While United have already suffered three defeats, including heavy 3-0 losses at Old Trafford to both Liverpool and Tottenham.

Their Europa League campaign is faring little better, with United so far drawing both of their games against Twente and Porto.

And the Mail claims their dismal form is now starting to affect their transfers.

It’s reckoned United have two major targets lined up for the January transfer window.

FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS

But both candidates are now “having seconds thoughts” about accepting a move this winter.

It means United could be forced to look elsewhere for reinforcements.

And their budget is already tight after spending over £200million on five signings, who have all struggled so far.

Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt and Manuel Ugarte are yet to nail down first-team spots.

While Leny Yoro is yet to make a single appearance after fracturing his metatarsal in pre-season.

Noussair Mazraoui has had some joy so far at right-back.

But he’s now out for at least three weeks as he recovers from a heart procedure.

The ace’s absence is set to force a reshuffle for this weekend’s game against Brentford, with Diogo Dalot moving to the right and Jonny Evans in line to become an emergency left-back.

Ten Hag’s Man Utd signings

The Dutchman has brought in 21 players since moving to Old Trafford in 2022

2022-23:

Antony, (Ajax) £86m

Casemiro, (Real Madrid) £70m

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Lisandro Martinez, (Ajax) £46m

Tyrell Malacia, (Feyenoord) £13m

Christian Eriksen, (Brentford) free

Martin Dubravka, (Newcastle) loan

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Wout Weghorst, (Burnley) loan

Jack Butland, (Crystal Palace) loan

Marcel Sabitzer, (Bayern Munich) loan

2023-24:

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Rasmus Hojlund, (Atalanta) £72m

Mason Mount, (Chelsea) £60m

Andre Onana, (Inter Milan) £47m

Sofyan Amrabat, (Fiorentina) loan

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Altay Bayindir, (Fenerbahce) £4.3m

Jonny Evans, (Leicester) free

Sergio Reguilon, (Tottenham) loan

2024-25:

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Leny Yoro, (Lille) £52m

Manuel Ugarte, (Paris Saint-Germain) £50m

Matthijs de Ligt, (Bayern Munich) £45m

Joshua Zirkee, (Bologna) £36.5m

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Noussair Mazraoui, (Bayern Munich) £12.8m

Lionel Messi scored his 10th international hat-trick as Argentina thrashed Bolivia 6-0 in World Cup qualifying.

The 37-year-old Inter Miami forward, who also set up two goals at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, moved level with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo for the most hat-tricks in men’s international football.

Argentina are three points clear of Colombia at the top of the South American qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup, despite losing to Colombia in September and drawing with Venezuela last week.

“It’s really nice to come here, to feel the affection of the people. It moves me how they shout my name,” Messi said.

“This drives me – enjoying being happy where I am. Despite my age, when I’m here, I feel like a kid because I’m comfortable with this team. As long as I feel good and can keep performing the way I want, I’ll keep enjoying it.”

Messi, making only his second appearance for Argentina since suffering an injury at the Copa America in July, capitalised on a defensive error to put them ahead after 19 minutes.

He set up Lautaro Martinez and then Julian Alvarez before substitute Thiago Almada made it 4-0.

Messi struck twice in two minutes late on, beating two defenders to fire in his second and completing his hat-trick by finding the bottom corner.

Messi has scored 112 goals in 189 games for Argentina – second only to Ronaldo, who has 133, in men’s internationals.

Aaron Judge hit a two-run drive into Monument Park for his first home run of this postseason, and the New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Guardians 6-3 on Tuesday night to take a 2-0 AL Championship Series lead.

Judge, who entered with just one RBI in the playoffs, hit a sacrifice fly in a two-run second that put the Yankees ahead 3-0. With New York leading 4-2 in the seventh, the likely AL MVP drove a fastball at the letters from Hunter Gaddis 414 feet to center for his 14th career postseason home run.

Yankees’ Aaron Judge hits his first homer of the postseason, solidifying the win over the Guardians

In a matchup of aces who had off nights, Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee got just four outs in the shortest start of his professional career and an erratic Gerrit Cole was chased after four walks in 4 1/3 innings.

Winner Clay Holmes, Tim Hill and Tommy Kahnle combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings. José Ramírez hit a ninth-inning home run off Luke Weaver, just the second earned run New York’s bullpen has allowed over 23 1/3 innings in six postseason games.

After a day off, Game 3 is Thursday in Cleveland. The Yankees lead the ALCS 2-0 for the first time since 2009 against the Los Angeles Angels.

New York’s Gleyber Torres reached base leading off for the fifth time in the playoffs and had three hits. Anthony Rizzo had two hits and is 3-for-7 in two games since returning from a pair of fractured fingers that caused him to miss the Division Series.

Rookie shortstop Brayan Rocchio and right fielder Will Brennan committed run-scoring errors for the Guardians.

Rocchio dropped Judge’s first-inning popup, allowing Torres to score. After Cleveland closed to 3-2, Brennan bobbled the ball when he tried for a barehand pickup of Rizzo’s sixth-inning double that caromed off the low wall down the right-field line. Anthony Volpe, who had been on first, sprinted home.

Steven Kwan extended his Cleveland-record postseason hitting streak to 12 games.

Alex Verdugo had an opposite-field RBI double in the two-run second that glanced off a shoulder of left field umpire Vic Carapazza and went down the line.

Cleveland closed to 3-2 in the fifth when Josh Naylor hit a sacrifice fly and, after Holmes relieved with the bases loaded, Will Brennan grounded into a run-scoring forceout.

Cleveland went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 runners.

Cole escaped two-on, one-out trouble in the third and then a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the fourth when pinch-hitter David Fry fouled out and Rocchio took a knuckle curve at the top of the strike zone for a called third strike in a nine-pitch at-bat.

Holmes struck out Austin Hedges on a low sinker to leave the bases loaded in the fifth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Guardians: RHP Alex Cobb was removed from the roster with a lower back strain sustained in the opener and replaced by RHP Ben Lively.

UP NEXT

Yankees RHP Clarke Schmidt starts Thursday at Cleveland. He allowed two runs and four hits over 4 2/3 innings in Division Series Game 3, wasting a 2-0 lead before New York won 3-2. He faced the Guardians once this year, pitching five scoreless innings before allowing a pair of runs — one unearned — in the sixth inning of a 3-2 victory.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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LIAM Marshall and Junior Nsemba are set to cap their quadruple glory with England call-ups.

The Wigan pair are still celebrating Saturday’s Grand Final win over Hull KR, which sealed a historic awesome foursome of World Club Challenge, Challenge Cup, League Leaders’ Shield and Super League crown.

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Now it is understood they will both be named in national boss Shaun Wane’s final squad for the Test series against Samoa, which is revealed today.

Back rower Nsemba was overlooked for the mid-season international in France because of a lack of experience.

But the 20-year-old has played his way into the two matches with a string of dominant domestic performances.

And winger Marshall is understood to have got his reward for a season that saw him score an astonishing 35 tries in 33 matches.

It may also see him finally earn an England cap after playing against Fiji in 2022 – a match for which they were not awarded.

Marshall, 28, is set to join NRL star Dom Young as a wing option for Wane as he chases revenge for the World Cup semi-final loss two years ago.

Victor Radley, Morgan Smithies and Kai Pearce-Paul – who also play Down Under – are likely to be in, as is John Bateman, who returns to Wests Tigers after a stint at Warrington.

Seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady said he was “incredibly humbled and excited” that the NFL’s team owners had approved his investment in the Las Vegas Raiders.

The former quarterback, who retired for the second time in February 2023 after 23 seasons in the NFL, will take a 5% stake in the Raiders.

“Throughout my NFL career, I’ve learned that at its core, football is a game of teamwork, resilience and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” rady wrote in a statement.

“The Raiders franchise and the city of Las Vegas embody these same values, and I’m honoured to become part of that story.”

Brady became a minority owner of English football club Birmingham City last year and is also part of the ownership group of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.

He needed 24 votes to get the go-ahead to buy into the Raiders, but NFL owners gave him a unanimous 32-0 approval at a meeting in Atlanta.

“I’m excited to contribute to the organisation in any way I can, honouring the Raiders’ rich tradition while finding every possible opportunity to improve our offering to fans,” added Brady.

“And most importantly, WIN football games.”

Brady also works as a broadcaster on Fox’s NFL coverage, and had restrictions placed on him in terms of access as his deal to buy into the Raiders went through – these will reportedly continue., external

The 47-year-old cannot attend in-person or online broadcast production meetings and is not allowed access to players, coaches or team facilities.

Brady can broadcast on games involving the Raiders but must follow NFL rules which ban criticism of other teams or officials.

“It’s great that Tom Brady wants to invest in the NFL,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

“He cares deeply about this game, he believes in its future, and I think that’s just a signal about it.”