Ferrari’s senior performance engineer Jock Clear says that the team “hasn’t changed anything” despite murmurings over internal changes to its front wing to benefit from greater flexing.

The Italian squad had been one of the teams to lodge a query with the FIA over the front wings of Mercedes and McLaren, under the belief that these were flexing beyond a permissible amount despite passing the governing body’s rigidity tests.

After the FIA offered clarification, it opened the door for other teams to pursue a similar design, with Ferrari understood to have pressed its own version into service. This was considered as a potential contributor to the team’s dominant 1-2 at the United States Grand Prix last weekend.

But Clear stated that it was “questionable” to discuss how the other teams were progressing with their own designs, and that the FIA was happy with Ferrari’s adherence to the regulations.

In response to a question about lead times for flexing front wings following the FIA’s clarification, Clear said: “I think that what you’re talking about there is specifically a fairly questionable discussion.

“We don’t know what other teams are doing. We only know what we’re doing on our car. We interpret the rules in the way that we think is the correct interpretation and the FIA have never questioned any of our interpretation of the rules.

“We continue to develop as much as we can and as fast as we can within the scope of the rules. We haven’t changed anything. 

Jock Clear, Senior Performance Engineer, Scuderia Ferrari

Photo by: Andreas Beil

“If we look at what other people do, we can only guess what actually is going on. We can’t do physical tests on it. We could only work on our own car and we are comfortable with the development, pretty much since Austria.

“And since the summer break, we’ve really got a grip of what direction to go in, both on the development and on the set-up.”

Clear explained that Ferrari’s form at Austin came from its own understanding of how it missed the mark at the Austrian Grand Prix in June, noting the similarity between the two venues.

He added Austin also proved that Ferrari’s upgrades at the end of the European season had worked to alleviate its mid-season slump following a misfiring Barcelona update package.

“There were things we did on the set-up; I think we got it wrong in Austria, which is a very similar circuit to Austin, funnily enough. 

“Not absolutely true, but the aspects of Austin that worked for us were a result of what we didn’t get working in Austria.

“So effectively, the package was very similar. Obviously, we brought upgrades in Singapore, we brought upgrades in Italy that were generic [not track-specific].

“I think Austin was a proof of that package. But more than that, what we did correctly in Austin was correcting the errors we made in Austria in terms of set-up.”

Real Madrid legend Roberto Carlos, who played at left-back, was second in the 2002 Ballon d’Or, which was won by Brazil team-mate Ronaldo after their World Cup triumph that year.

England’s Lucy Bronze, a right-back, came second to USA’s Megan Rapinoe in the women’s award in 2019.

Two full-backs have been nominated for the men’s 2024 award – Spain and Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal and Spain and Bayer Leverkusen’s Alejandro Grimaldo. The ceremony takes place on Monday.

Real Madrid are reported to be interested in signing Alexander-Arnold, who is out of contract at the end of this season.

He has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup at Liverpool, his boyhood club, and made more than 300 appearances.

Former England manager Gareth Southgate occasionally played Alexander-Arnold in midfield, including during Euro 2024.

Asked how he wants to be remembered after he retires, Alexander-Arnold said: “A legend of football, someone who changed the game.

“That is the main thing that I have – ‘don’t play the game; change the game’. I want that legacy of being the greatest right-back to have played football.

“I have got to reach for the stars and that’s where I believe my ceiling can go.”

BRAZILIAN boxing legend Adilson “Maguila” Rodrigues has died aged 66.

The former heavyweight contender passed away in Sao Paulo after suffering from multiple health complications.

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In 85 fights, Rodrigues won 77, lost seven, drew once and scored 61 career knockouts.

He held various Brazilian and South American titles, facing some of boxing’s best during his time.

In 1989, he was beaten by American great Evander Holyfield and George Foreman a year later, losing both in round two.

But Rodrigues also beat former cruiserweight world champion and now Sky Sports pundit Johnny Nelson in 1995.

His last fight came in 2000, losing to countryman Daniel Frank.

After retiring – 13 years later – Rodrigues was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

CTE is a neurodegenerative disease that affects many former fighters after years of head trauma.

Symptoms include memory loss and confusion, which intensifies over time.

In 2018, with his family’s consent, Rodrigues decided to donate his brain to scientific research after his death.

It will allow researchers at the University of Sao Paulo to study the impact of repeated trauma on the brain.

Rodrigues spent his last days at the Anjos de Deus Therapeutic Center in Itu receiving specialised care.

Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway are set to cap off UFC 308 with a generational clash for the UFC featherweight championship.

Topuria and Holloway will headline the promotion’s pay-per-view return to Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi this Saturday. It will be featherweight champion vs. BMF champion, as Topuria defends for the first time against Holloway, a former 145-pound titleholder.

Check out the cold open for UFC 308, narrated by Ron Perlman.

Topuria captured the title with a sensational knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February to remain undefeated. Holloway delivered one of the most memorable moments in UFC history at April’s UFC 300 event, knocking out Justin Gaethje in the final second of their BMF title fight.

In the co-main event, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker looks to state his case for a title shot as he faces the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev in a five-round matchup.

Francesco Bagnaia aired his frustration at suffering a slight but important loss to MotoGP title rival Jorge Martin with his run to third place in the Thailand Grand Prix sprint race.

Though the race itself went the way of Enea Bastianini, Bagnaia’s failure to defend against Martin for second place sees his rival ease his overall advantage out to 22 points with five races remaining.

It means Martin can afford to finish second in each of the remaining three grands prix and two sprint races to secure this year’s title, even if Bagnaia wins them all.

As such, Bagnaia doesn’t want to leave anything to chance in these remaining races but remained frustrated to have been overhauled by Martin in a straight fight having started from pole.

“My feeling wasn’t ideal as it was this morning,” he admitted.

“I struggled to be competitive on the braking, my fastest sectors during the weekend was sector one and three, today I was losing that.

“We luckily lost just two points and we have tomorrow to try to close this gap, because Jorge can just finish second and still be champion. We have to focus on the results and be more perfect.”

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

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Bagnaia also raised a view that Martin violated track limits enough to earn a penalty, claiming to have counted four occasions in which he strayed onto the green.

“I thought so and I started to count because when I saw it twice I thought one more is a penalty so I counted two more, but maybe I counted wrong.”

Bagnaia not seeking in-house Ducati help in title bid

Bagnaia isn’t prepared to count on other Ducati riders to side with him rather than stablemate Martin in his attempt to make it three titles in a row.

“I know it is hard to believe but I never had any help by anyone in Ducati. I always like a clean race and clean battle, I try to be as clean as possible and not touch anyone.

“Also, I don’t want any help and I will not ask for any.”