F1 to Have Tougher Roll Hoop Tests after Zhou Crash

Formula One F1 - British Grand Prix - Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Britain - July 3, 2022 Alfa Romeo's Guanyu Zhou crashes out at the start of the race. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - British Grand Prix - Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Britain - July 3, 2022 Alfa Romeo's Guanyu Zhou crashes out at the start of the race. (Reuters)
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F1 to Have Tougher Roll Hoop Tests after Zhou Crash

Formula One F1 - British Grand Prix - Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Britain - July 3, 2022 Alfa Romeo's Guanyu Zhou crashes out at the start of the race. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - British Grand Prix - Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Britain - July 3, 2022 Alfa Romeo's Guanyu Zhou crashes out at the start of the race. (Reuters)

Formula One's governing body said on Friday it will introduce tougher tests on the roll hoops of cars next season as a result of Chinese driver Guanyu Zhou's big British Grand Prix crash.

Zhou's Alfa Romeo flipped and skidded upside down along the track at Silverstone, with the roll hoop ripped off, before flying across a tyre wall and becoming wedged between the barriers and catch fence.

The rookie escaped unscathed, his head protected from serious injury by the titanium Halo device that rings the cockpit.

The FIA said its Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) met on Thursday representing the teams, governing body and commercial rights holders.

"The teams confirmed their availability to introduce more stringent measures on the roll hoops for 2023, and the FIA undertook to complete the relevant analyses and to communicate to the teams new requirements for the safety of the roll hoop," it said.

The TAC also discussed the vertical oscillation of cars, commonly known as 'porpoising' -- bouncing at speed like the movement of a porpoise through water.

The aerodynamic phenomenon has been a consequence of this year's major rules overhaul.

Champions Mercedes have been particularly affected, although they appear to have resolved some of the worst effects, and the FIA warned there was a risk of a more serious problem next season.

"While the issue has been seemingly reduced in the last few races, they took place at circuits where the effect is expected to be lower than normal," the governing body explained.

"Races where this effect is expected again to be higher will take place in the coming months.

"While the teams are understanding more and more how to control the issue, the tendency for 2023, with the cars developing more downforce, will most likely be a worsening of the effect."

It said measures to be put in place from next month's Belgian Grand Prix were not necessarily a long-term fix and the FIA would introduce further changes for 2023.

They included raising the floor edges of cars by 25mm, more stringent lateral floor deflection tests and a more accurate sensor "to help quantify the aerodynamic oscillation."



Saliba Ruled Out of France Squad, Lacroix Called up as Replacement

Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 1, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 1, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Saliba Ruled Out of France Squad, Lacroix Called up as Replacement

Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 1, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 1, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)

Defender William ‌Saliba has been ruled out of France's squad due to injury ahead of this month’s friendlies against Brazil and Colombia, with Maxence Lacroix called up to replace him, the country's football federation (FFF) said on Sunday.

Arsenal's Saliba played the full 90 minutes in a ‌2-0 defeat ‌by Manchester City in ‌Sunday's ⁠League Cup final, ⁠before the FFF announced his injury.

"The Arsenal center back is suffering from recurring pain in his left ankle, requiring treatment and a minimum rest period of ⁠10 days," it said in ‌a statement.

"National ‌coach Didier Deschamps has decided to replace ‌him with Maxence Lacroix," the ‌FFF added.

The Crystal Palace defender, 25, has earned his first France call-up, ahead of the 2026 World Cup. ‌He has played 43 games in all competitions this season.

Saliba ⁠was ⁠among the expanded 27-man France squad announced by Deschamps on Thursday.

France will face Brazil in Boston on March 26 before taking on Colombia in Washington on March 29.

The 2022 World Cup runners-up are in Group I at this year's tournament with Senegal, Norway and a winner from the inter-confederation playoffs.


Akliouche Shines as Resurgent Monaco Beats Slumping Lyon and Lille Wins at Marseille

 Monaco's French midfielder #11 Maghnes Akliouche (R) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Olympique Lyonnais (OL) and AS Monaco (ASM) at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, central-eastern France on March 22, 2026. (AFP)
Monaco's French midfielder #11 Maghnes Akliouche (R) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Olympique Lyonnais (OL) and AS Monaco (ASM) at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, central-eastern France on March 22, 2026. (AFP)
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Akliouche Shines as Resurgent Monaco Beats Slumping Lyon and Lille Wins at Marseille

 Monaco's French midfielder #11 Maghnes Akliouche (R) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Olympique Lyonnais (OL) and AS Monaco (ASM) at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, central-eastern France on March 22, 2026. (AFP)
Monaco's French midfielder #11 Maghnes Akliouche (R) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Olympique Lyonnais (OL) and AS Monaco (ASM) at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, central-eastern France on March 22, 2026. (AFP)

Maghnes Akliouche scored a brilliant individual goal and American forward Folarin Balogun netted a penalty as Monaco rallied to win 2-1 at Lyon on Sunday for a sixth straight league victory.

Coach Paulo Fonseca's slumping Lyon side is seven games without a win overall having equaled a club record with 13 straight victories.

Sixth-place Monaco is only one point behind fourth-place Lyon and fifth-place Lille in the race for a Champions League spot next season and faces third-place Marseille after the international break.

The top three qualify directly for the Champions League and the team finishing fourth goes through qualifying.

Marseille opens the door

Marseille lost 2-1 at home to Lille, which scored a late winner through Olivier Giroud. Monaco can move level on points with Marseille if it wins their match on April 5.

Marseille forward Mason Greenwood went off early on after being barged over at full speed by Calvin Verdonk. He was replaced by Ethan Nwaneri, who scored with a neat half-volley from Igor Paixão's left-wing cross. The 19-year-old Nwaneri is on loan from Premier League leader Arsenal.

Lille goalkeeper Berke Özer went off in first-half stoppage time after taking an accidental blow to the face from Marseille striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as they challenged for the ball. Özer was replaced by Arnaud Bodart.

Another high-profile error from Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi gifted Lille a 49th-minute equalizer. Balerdi's misjudged clearance hit the foot of Thomas Meunier and went in.

Meunier then set up Giroud in the 86th with a pinpoint cross which the veteran striker met with a typical downward header.

Lyon's slump continues

Things looked good for Lyon when Brazil forward Endrick set up midfielder Pavel Šulc in the 42nd minute, skipping past two defenders down the right before cutting the ball back to the Czech midfielder near the penalty spot.

But Endrick went for goal himself in the 57th and saw his shot cleared near the line with teammate Corentin Tolisso unmarked.

Akliouche equalized five minutes later when he controlled a long pass with one touch to cut inside Clinton Mata and curled a shot into the top-right corner. Akliouche then won a penalty after drawing a foul from Tolisso and Balogun sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.

The penalty was awarded despite a video review showing Endrick had his jersey pulled by Monaco captain Denis Zakaria in the buildup to the penalty.

It was a second error from the officials, who failed to spot a headbutt from Lyon left back Nicolas Tagliafico to the side of Akliouche's head. Tagliafico raised his right arm as he was running alongside Akliouche as if to disguise the intent.

Tagliafico was sent off in the 89th for a violent lunge on Lamine Camara, whose left foot buckled under him.

Immobile gets going

Veteran Italian striker Ciro Immobile finally got off the mark for new club Paris FC in a 3-2 home win over Le Havre.

It was a typical poacher's effort from the 36-year-old Immobile to put his side ahead. He latched onto a loose ball and drilled a low shot into the opposite corner. The win moved Paris FC up to 13th under new coach Antoine Kombouaré.

Rennes drew 0-0 at home to rock-bottom Metz and eighth-place Strasbourg won 3-2 at next-to-last Nantes with two late goals from Joaquín Panichelli.

The Argentina striker's brace moved him top of the Ligue 1 scoring charts with 16, one ahead of Greenwood.

On Saturday, Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0 at Nice to reclaim top spot from Lens.


Alcaraz Eyes Clay Court Season after Early Miami Exit

World number one Carlos Alcaraz will refocus on the clay court season after another early exit at the Miami Open. Rich Storry / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
World number one Carlos Alcaraz will refocus on the clay court season after another early exit at the Miami Open. Rich Storry / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
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Alcaraz Eyes Clay Court Season after Early Miami Exit

World number one Carlos Alcaraz will refocus on the clay court season after another early exit at the Miami Open. Rich Storry / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
World number one Carlos Alcaraz will refocus on the clay court season after another early exit at the Miami Open. Rich Storry / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

World number one Carlos Alcaraz remained confident his game is improving despite a third-round exit at the Miami Open, and after a few days to reset he'll be turning his attention to the clay court season.

"Probably I'm going to go back home," Alcaraz said after falling in three sets to 36th-ranked American Sebastian Korda on Sunday.

"Chilling with my family, with my friends a couple of days. I don't know how much my team are going to allow me to have rest and a day off.

"The clay season is around the corner. My mind right now is to take some days off, to reset my mind, reset the batteries, be ready and in good shape for the clay season."

Korda became the lowest-ranked man to defeat Alcaraz since 55th-ranked David Goffin ousted him in the second round at Miami last year.

The Spaniard had built a 73-6 record in the year since then, including a 16-0 run to start 2026 that included an Australian Open title that made the 22-year-old the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, said AFP.

He added a title in Doha before a semi-final defeat at Indian Wells, and he knows that every lower-ranked player comes out swinging freely against him.

"Obviously when you're winning tournaments and you have great record win/lose, everything is easier in the way of pressure to the opponents," he said. "I'm feeling they have more to win than to lose in those matches ... they're playing without pressure."

Alcaraz is trying to make sure he doesn't respond by piling pressure on himself.

"I'm not thinking about my pressure," he said. "I don't feel it at all. I'm trying to play my best."

That includes constant work to improve his game, and despite Sunday's result he's confident he's on the right track.

"I would say what I was practicing, you know, I think I just did it really well," he said. "Some couple things in previous tournaments that I just didn't feel comfortable, I think in this tournament, I started to feel better and better.

"I think the process has been good. Besides the loss today, I think I'm still in the right way."