Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has offered suggestions to how Kevin Magnussen might work with the team next year, since he will not form part of its Formula 1 driving line-up in 2025.

Although Magnussen has been replaced at the team by Esteban Ocon, Komatsu is particularly keen to keep working with the Dane – and vice versa, as Magnussen is keen to remain involved with a different role at Haas if he does not get a race seat in 2025.

Previously, Magnussen stated that he was open to “some kind of role – advisory, or however they see fit” given his lengthy association with the team that started in 2017 after he left Renault.

Komatsu has revealed a few options that Magnussen has with the team, which extends to setting benchmarks with the testing of previous cars (TPC) programme that Haas can now start running with Toyota’s involvement, along with occasional simulator and reserve roles.

It was announced earlier today that Magnussen will miss Friday running and Saturday’s sprint race at this weekend’s Formula 1’s Brazilian Grand Prix due to illness, with reserve driver Oliver Bearman taking over the Dane’s car.

“We can do up to 20 days (of TPC) next year, but current race drivers, the mileage you can put in is limited to 1,000 kilometres. We’re going to do TPC in January before the season starts with our new race drivers,” Komatsu explained.

“I expect most of those mileage is basically used up by the end of January with Esteban and Ollie [Bearman].

“But when we do TPC in season, that’s much more for young driver development and then to have reference with somebody like Kevin, especially the way he’s driving now, he can provide a proper reference.

Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24

Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

“Also the simulator in Banbury, we are installing it. When he was at McLaren, before he actually became a F1 race driver, he was very highly-rated at McLaren as a simulator driver and that’s something where he can contribute as well.

“So there’s many ways we can use Kevin. And also, he can be a reserve driver in some circuits, not everywhere, but again, look at how strong he’s performing. We are openly discussing and then trying to find out something hopefully soon.

“He’s a family man, he doesn’t want to do 24 races anyway so certainly he doesn’t want to be at the racing circuit 24 times when he’s not driving.

“So again, that’s the thing, Europe is not a problem – but we’re looking at all the aspects.’

Esteban Ocon, Alpine F1 Team

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Ocon to drive Haas in end-of-season Abu Dhabi test

Komatsu revealed that the decks were clear to run Ocon during the end-of-season test at the Yas Marina Circuit, and that it was important to give the Frenchman mileage in this year’s VF-24 to prepare him for next year.

The test has been used as a Pirelli test and a young driver test – the latter of which Bearman is eligible for as the Briton has driven just two F1 races to date.

“That would be the first time for Esteban to drive our car, which is important because obviously regulations are stable. So next year’s car is the evolution of this car,” said Komatsu.

“So at least it’s good that he tastes this car before January or as soon as possible to see what our cars are like, strengths and weakness.

“And then if he had input, we can still work on it during the development. Also, Ollie’s been driving this car – okay, limited by in FP1s and one race. But Ollie’s going to be driving as well, to have the opportunity to work with the team. Everything helps, right?”

Northampton extended their year-long unbeaten home run and avenged their Premiership defeat away to last season’s beaten finalists Leicester three weeks ago.

Malelili Satala’s first senior try gave Leicester an ideal start but that was as good as it got for the in-form Tigers at a sold-out Franklin’s Gardens.

Nineteen-year-old back-row Henry Pollock responded as the much-changed East Midlands rivals traded early scores, and the Saints did not look back as they clicked into gear.

James Ramm put them ahead before centre Tom Litchfield finished a slick backs move to make it 19-7 at the interval.

Pollock teed up George Hendy for Northampton’s bonus-point try and academy product Ewan Baker underlined an impressive night for the young Saints before Will Wand gave Tigers the final say.

In the other Midlands tie in Pool B, Championship leaders Coventry extended their 100 per cent start to the season away to second-tier rivals Nottingham.

Matt Arden booted the hosts into the lead, but Charlie Robson and Matt Johnson scores put the visitors 12-3 up at the break.

Ryan Olowofela cut the deficit to two points, but Ryan Hutler, Jordan Poole, David Opoku and Will Lane secured a bonus-point win despite Jay Ecclesfield’s consolation score.

Fixtures

Saturday

Pool A: Caldy v Newcastle Falcons (14:00 GMT)

Pool C: London Scottish v Harlequins (14:00); Ealing Trailfinders v Saracens (15:00)

Pool D: Ampthill v Bath (13:30); Bristol v Bedford Blues (15:00)

Pool E: Hartpury RFC v Gloucester (14:30)

Toyota claimed pole position for the Bahrain World Endurance Championship finale to move one point closer to Porsche in the manufacturers’ standings.

Brendon Hartley took the top spot in the Hyperpole session on Friday evening aboard the #8 Toyota GR010 HYBRID Le Mans Hypercar, his first pole since this race last year.

It means that Toyota goes into Saturday’s Bahrain 8 Hours only nine points behind Porsche in the manufacturers’ classification.

Hartley’s 1m46.714s gave him the top spot by three tenths from team-mate Nyck de Vries, who lapped in 1m47.037s aboard the sister Toyota.

“We had a tough day yesterday and were not happy with the few things,” said Hartley.

“I learnt from quali one where I didn’t get the tyre prep quite right and then the car came alive in Hyperpole.”

Antonio Giovinazzi took third with a 1m47.080s, only four hundredths behind the second Toyota, in the best of the factory Ferrari 499P LMHs.

#51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi

Photo by: Shameem Fahath

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Top Porsche was the customer Proton 963 LMDh in the hands of Neel Jani, who was a further two tenths back on a 1m47.234s.

Antonio Fuoco took fifth on the grid in the second of the AF Corse-run factory Ferraris with a 1m47.527s.

That put him just ahead of the championship-leading factory Penske-run Porsche in which Kevin Estre took sixth with a 1m47.542s.

The second of the Penske cars was seventh in Matt Campbell’s hands, while Norman Nato was eighth in the only one of the two Jota customer Porsches to make it through to Hyperpole for the fastest 10 cars in opening qualifying.

The two BMW M Hybrid V8 LMDhs brought up the rear of the times, Dries Vanthoor ahead of Robin Frijns.

Frijns, however, did a time lost to a track limits infringement that would have put him seventh.

Cadillac failed to make it through to Hyperpole with its solo V-Series.R LMDh run by Chip Ganassi Racing, Alex Lynn ending up 13th after only posting a representative time when the chequered flag had already fallen.

Both Peugeot 9X8 2024 LMHs and Alpine A424 LMDhs were knocked out at the first stage of qualifying.

#95 United Autosports McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo: Joshua Caygill, Nicolas Pino, Marino Sato

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

The United Autosports team locked out the LMGT3 front row as McLaren took its second class pole of the season after the Inception Racing IMSA SportsCar Championship squad took qualifying honours at the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

Josh Caygill grabbed the top spot in the times in the best of the McLaren 720S GT3 EVOs when he lapped in 2m02.201s, just two thousandths of second quicker than team-mate James Cottingham’s 2m02.203s.

The McLarens ended up more than a tenth clear of Francois Heriau, who posted a 2m02.367s in the best of the AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3s.

Sarah Bovy, the only driver to take two poles in LMGT3 this year, ended up fourth in the Iron Dames Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.

Alex Malykhin, who has already been crowned LMGT3 champion with team-mates Joel Sturm and Klaus Bachler, took fifth in the Manthey PureRxing Porsche 911 GT3-R despite carrying 35kg of success ballast.

Both WRT BMW M4 GT3s failed to make the cut for Hyperpole in the hands of Darren Leung and Ahmad Al Harthy.

The Bahrain 8 Hours, the eighth and final round of the 2024 WEC, begins at 14:00 local time on Saturday.

Photos from Bahrain Friday Practice & Qualifying

WEC Bahrain 8 Hours – Qualifying results

IT is the Premier League’s first Glove Affair for 31 YEARS.

Uniquely among the managerial fraternity, both Julen Lopetegui and Nuno Espirito Santo were goalkeepers in their playing careers before becoming bosses.

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The last time two stoppers faced each other in opposing dugouts in the top flight was on Friday, April 9, 1993.

Tottenham crushed Norwich 5-1 at White Hart Lane — ex-Colchester keeper Mike Walker was manager of the Canaries, while former England No 1 Ray Clemence was in caretaker charge of Spurs along with Doug Livermore.

However, Friday’s clash at the City Ground, as surprise package  Nottingham Forest face under-performing West Ham, represents the FIRST time two permanent chiefs who were former goalies going head to head.

Any suggestion you have to be crazy to become a keeper in the first place has been shot down by the Hammers manager.

Well-travelled Spaniard Lopetegui laughed: “This is a big lie! A very big lie.

“Normally the most sensible people in the dressing room are the goalkeepers. Believe me.

“You can say they are different but not crazy.”

There is an eight-year age gap between Lopetegui, 58, and Nuno, 50, but they are both ex-Porto managers and they crossed paths earlier this century in LaLiga combat.

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Lopetegui, who also coached at Real Madrid and Sevilla, said: “I’m a little bit older than him.

“Yes, I remember him as a keeper. I played against him as a coach, too. But we were never keeper on keeper. I didn’t play against him as a keeper.

“Who was the better goalkeeper? Ha, I forgot my time. I don’t remember a lot. Maybe me. I don’t know.”

Goalkeepers is a key theme of West Ham’s selection approach, as matchday 10 represents their first league visit outside of London.

Frenchman Alphonse Areola was dropped after the 4-1 defeat at Spurs even though he had started in the opening eight league ties.

Pole Lukasz Fabianski was given the responsibility for the home match with Manchester United last Sunday and pulled off several great saves to help the Hammers win 2-1 — a result that saw the Old Trafford axing of Erik ten Hag.

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Asked if he empathised with Areola’s disappointment, Lopetegui said: “I was a goalkeeper a long time ago. But I understand.

“I can change other positions. I repeat, you don’t change one player, it’s not about thinking that something is wrong with him.

“It’s thinking that maybe you’re going to be positive with this change.

“Sometimes it’s going to happen or not. In football, we don’t have a crystal ball. But we try to take the decision that we think will always help the team.

“Did I get dropped? A lot! In my opinion, to my coaches, I was right! It’s like this.

“We trust Alphonse a lot. He did very well in this team before. But we decided that in this match, Lukasz was more ready and maybe it was good to put him in for different reasons.

“All of them have to be ready to play. It’s up to us to decide who is going to be in or not.

“It’s not because we don’t trust them. It’s good, this kind of inside competition, to be more competitive.”