Sheriff123, Author at The News Track

George Russell has openly questioned Lewis Hamilton’s claims over his chosen set-up at the Bahrain Grand Prix, claiming the two Mercedes cars were actually “pretty similar.”

Having announced last month that he will join Ferrari for 2025, Hamilton’s final season as a Mercedes driver got off to a muted start at the 2024 season opener in Bahrain.

George Russell doubts Lewis Hamilton setup claims

While Russell claimed third on the grid with a lap just three tenths short of Max Verstappen’s time for pole position, Hamilton could only manage ninth on the grid, more than two tenths slower than his Mercedes team-mate.

Russell and Hamilton went on to come home fifth and seventh respectively on race day, with Mercedes forced to manage overhearing issues having elected for an unsuitable cooling configuration with temperatures in Sakhir higher than anticipated on race day.

Speaking to media including PlanetF1.com’s Thomas Maher after qualifying, Hamilton indicated that he and Russell had taken different set-up directions with the seven-time World Champion’s chosen path better suited to race conditions.

“[On Thursday] during my work, we were doing identical car setups, and I was feeling great,” Hamilton said.

“We veered off – he went one way, and I went the other. You could say that the one I was on is not good on a single lap, but I hope it’s good in the race.

“I wasn’t comfortable with my race pace [in practice].

“So I changed the car to hopefully make the race pace better but we’ll see if that’s really the case.”

Put to him after the race that his team-mate chose a different setup, however, Russell argued that the Mercedes cars were in a similar ballpark with set-up – with his own better suit to race conditions.

He told media including PlanetF1.com: “Many people have said this.

“I don’t really know the big differences, to be honest, because as far as I’m aware with the cars we’re pretty similar.

“I don’t really focus too much on his set-up. Mine was actually more set up for the race than the set-up he ran. At least it was on Friday [for qualifying].”

Russell stands as the last driver to win a race for Mercedes, having claimed his maiden F1 victory at the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos.

Hamilton, meanwhile, remains without a win since the penultimate round of the 2021 season in Saudi Arabia, with the Jeddah circuit set to host the second race of the 2024 campaign this Saturday.

CELEB NEWS

Lindsey Vonn’s 49ers Winter Game Day Style Is Simply Unmatched

The start to 2024 wouldn’t feel complete without Lindsey Vonn making an appearance on the sidelines of another sporting event. Though she is no longer competing professionally, she still makes a habit of attending other pro sporting events and supporting fellow athletes, who like her, have dedicated themselves to their sport.

This time, the former professional alpine skier headed to the San Francisco 49ers game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday afternoon. Though the home team lost by one point following a Rams two-point conversion in the fourth quarter, Vonn simply seemed pleased for the chance to attend a game on a beautiful, sunny day in Levi’s Stadium.
She dressed the part expertly, too. The 39-year-old stepped out in a dark wash, flared pair of denim, a tan knit crop top and a stunning caramel-colored wool coat. With a pair of brown pointed-toe boots, she rounded out the outfit that was, in our opinion, one of the best examples of winter sideline style that we’ve seen in recent weeks and months.

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A post shared by L I N D S E Y • V O N N (@lindseyvonn)

“Game day in ☀️ San Fran!!” Vonn enthusiastically captioned a photo she shared on her Instagram from the afternoon outing.

In typical fashion, the trip to California is only the latest stop for Vonn, who has a habit of hopping from place to place—and sporting event to sporting event—throughout the year. Though we’re sure she’s enjoying her time on the West Coast, we are sure to see her back in Colorado soon for some more seasonal skiing.

TENNIS

Djokovic, Alcaraz, Sinner headline Indian Wells as Nadal returns

An executive summary of what every fan should know about the 2024 BNP Paribas Open
The world’s top players head to Indian Wells, California for the first ATP Masters 1000 action of the 2024 season at the BNP Paribas Open.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and the in-form Jannik Sinner lead the field as the main draw action takes place from Wednesday 6 through Sunday 17 March.

ATPTour.com looks ahead at 10 things to watch as the first leg of the ‘Sunshine Double’ takes place at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

1) Defending Champion Alcaraz: Alcaraz charged to the third of his four Masters 1000 crowns in style last year in ‘Tennis Paradise’. The Spaniard did not drop a set en route to the trophy, and he will hope to rediscover that form as he looks to kick-start his 2024 season with his first title since Wimbledon last July.

2) Djokovic Chases Record Sixth Title: The World No. 1 features in the Indian Wells draw for the first time since 2019. Djokovic can pull clear of his fellow five-time champion Roger Federer by claiming the trophy in California, where he holds a 50-9 match record. The Serbian is chasing his first title of 2024 having not competed since reaching the semi-finals at January’s Australian Open.

3) Unbeaten Sinner: The in-form man on the ATP Tour, Sinner arrives in Indian Wells with a 12-0 record on the year. The Italian backed up his Australian Open title run with an ATP 500 crown in Rotterdam last month, a success which extended his tour-level winning streak to 15 matches. Sinner holds a 7-2 record in Tennis Paradise, where he is looking to become the sixth consecutive first-time champion.

4) Rafa Returns: Rafael Nadal made a promising return to the ATP Tour, after nearly 12 months out due to injury, in Brisbane in early January. The former World No. 1 suffered a microtear in his upper left leg in his quarter-final defeat to Jordan Thompson but is fit and ready to go in Indian Wells. A three-time champion in the California desert (2007, 2009, 2013), can Nadal hit the ground running once again?

5) Medvedev To Make Mark?: A year ago, Medvedev extended an early-season winning streak to 19 matches by reaching his maiden Indian Wells final. This year, the World No. 4’s February was marred by struggles with a foot injury, but he returned with a semi-final run in Dubai last week and will hope to find his top level quickly as he chases his seventh Masters 1000 crown.

6) Top 10 Contenders: A host of other Top 10 stars in the PIF ATP Rankings are bidding to lift the trophy for the first time under the California sun. World No. 5 Alexander Zverev (at the United Cup with Team Germany), No. 6 Andrey Rublev (Hong Kong) and No. 10 Alex de Minaur (Acapulco) have already spent time in the winners’ circle this season. They will look to repeat that feeling at the season-opening Masters 1000.

World No. 7 Holger Rune is looking to surpass his personal-best third-round 2023 run, while No. 8 Hubert Hurkacz is looking to complete the ‘Sunshine Double’ set after his Miami Open presented by Itau triumph in 2021.

7) Former Champion Fritz Leads Home Charge: Taylor Fritz beat Nadal to clinch an emotional victory at his home tournament in 2022, becoming the first American to lift the trophy in Tennis Paradise since Andre Agassi in 2001. The 26-year-old has made a strong start to 2024, reaching the quarter-finals at the Australian Open and winning his seventh ATP Tour crown in Delray Beach, but he will look to bounce quickly from his first-round exit in Acapulco last week.

8) American Depth: As well as Fritz, the home fans will have plenty of top American talent to cheer on in Indian Wells. That includes Top 20 stars Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe, while Sebastian Korda, Christopher Eubanks and Marcos Giron all sit inside the Top 50 of the PIF ATP Rankings. Brandon Nakashima, Aleksandar Kovacevic and Patrick Kypson compete as wild cards.

9) Mensik Among #NextGenATP Hopes: Jakub Mensik continued his rapid rise in the PIF ATP Rankings by reaching his maiden ATP Tour final in Doha last month. The 18-year-old Czech will compete as a wild card on his BNP Paribas Open debut, just the fifth tour-level event of the World No. 81’s career. There will also be an Indian Wells main-draw debut for 19-year-old American Alex Michelsen, who competed at the 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah.

10) Doubles: Defending champions Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden lead the field at a Masters 1000 event for the first time, but the top seeds face stiff competition in Indian Wells, including from Rajeev Ram/Joe Salisbury and Ivan Dodig/Austin Krajicek. A host of Top 20 singles players are also set to pull double duty — Karen Khachanov partners Rublev, Fritz teams with Jiri Lehecka and a big-serving all-American combo features Eubanks and Shelton.

TENNIS

Rafael Nadal Confesses to Never Being the Same in Roger Federer’s Absence – ‘Part of My Life Left With Him’

They have seen it all together over the span of 15 years of rivalry on the court. Rafael Nadal‘s relationship with his long-time rival, Roger Federer has been in the news ever since the Spaniard’s shocking admission of not considering the Swiss Maestro as his friend a few weeks ago. However, recently the 37YO Spaniard poured the highest level of praise for the Swiss Maestro.

Rafael Nadal attended a press conference ahead of his match against his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz at the Netflix Slam in Las Vegas. During the press conference, he spoke about how emotional he was with the announcement of Federer’s retirement in 2022.

“Never pushed me to any retirement” – Rafael Nadal reflects on the impact of Roger Federer’s retirement decision on his own career

Having played together for such a long period, both of them developed a relationship and fondness for one another. In fact, the Spaniard was among the first people outside Roger Federer’s family and team to learn about his retirement. Rafael Nadal said after hearing that he got a bit emotional as he felt an “important part” of his “professional life left.”

Nadal further went on to add, “First of all [I was] emotional because probably the most elegant player that I ever seen left the tour. Second, as I said before, a part of my life left with him.” However, he didn’t forget to mention, “But that thought never pushed me to any retirement.”

There have been several moments when these two tennis legends showcased their camaraderie publicly. During the 2010 US Open, Rafael Nadal called Roger Federer to be an example of all the good things and openly admitted that he tries to copy it. “I think is talk about if I am better or worse than Roger is stupid. Because the titles say he’s much better than me, so that’s the truth at that moment,” Nadal.

In 2013, the Swiss returned the favors during the Indian Wells. Roger Federer who was then the defending champion and Rafael Nadal was making a comeback after a gap of almost 7 months, spoke highly of the Spaniard. He stated, “I think of him as the great champion he is. And I expect him to win 99% of the matches he plays.” Last year, Roger Federer shed light on his relationship with Rafael Nadal. What did he say?

“He was in awe of me” – Roger Federer on Nadal
Roger Federer spoke about how they started to respect their rivalry during an event last year. He admitted he misses playing each other every weekend and called Rafael Nadal to be a “Great man.” Last year, Nadal was out for most of the season due to his hip injury. Federer wished him a quick recovery and hoped to see him back soon on the court.

Federer added, “I’m five years older than Rafa. So when I came on tour I saw young, junior Rafa come through and he was extremely good, very young.” He spoke about how respectful and shy Nadal was in his initial days.

“He was very in awe of me and everything I wanted to do with the tour. And my ideas, he was like: ‘You’re right’,” Federer. The Swiss revealed how their on-court bonding slowly spread to having a good relationship between the two families. Share which one is your memorable moment from their epic rivalry on the court.

TENNIS

Rafael Nadal Says He Is ‘Close to Retirement,’ Talks Roger Federer Stepping Back from Professional Tennis

Nadal spoke at a press conference ahead of his “The Netflix Slam” match against Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas Sunday

Rafael Nadal is sharing the impact of Roger Federer’s 2022 retirement and giving a little insight into when he might hang up his own racket.

Speaking during a press conference for The Netflix Slam in Las Vegas on Saturday the tennis legend, 37, said he had an “emotional” reaction to his longtime rival’s exit from the game as he talked about the impact it had on him.

“I got emotional because an important part of my professional life left,” the tennis great said. “At the end of the day with Roger, we shared our most important moments in our tennis careers probably playing against each other.”

Throughout their celebrated careers, the two men played each other 40 times competitively, and many of those matches were for Grand Slam titles. Naturally, they developed a relationship and fondness for one another. In fact, Nadal was one of the first people outside Federer’s family and team to learn about his retirement.

However, the former said on Saturday that his tennis peer’s exit from the professional game wasn’t a catalyst for any thoughts of stepping back from the game himself, though he explained that moment might not be too far away.

“First of all [I was] emotional because probably the most elegant player that I ever seen left the tour. Second, as I said before, a part of my life left with him, but that thought never pushed me to any retirement,” Nadal said.

“What put me in a position to be close to retirement is my body more than anything else because in my mind is healthy in terms of passion for what I’m doing.”

On Sunday, Nadal will do what he loves, as he faces off against fellow countryman and phenom Carlos Alcaraz in The Netflix Slam, a live exhibition match at Las Vegas’s Mandalay Bay.

After that match, the French Open awaits.

“The main thing for me is stay more or less healthy. If that happens, then we can analyze in what position in terms of level I am,” he said of the tournament on Saturday during a press conference with reporters.

September 19, 2019, Geneva, Switzerland: RAFAEL NADAL of Team Europe chats with the media prior to the Laver Cup tennis event in Geneva Switzerland. (Credit Image: © Christopher Levy/ZUMA Wire)

Nadal’s dominance on the legendary red clay court can’t be understated, as 14 of his 22 major wins came at Roland-Garros.

“I need at least to spend more time on the tour, at least to practice with the professional players and even if not playing many official matches, play practice matches,” he said on Saturday.

While tennis continues to be at the forefront of Nadal’s mind, so too does fatherhood. In October 2022, the tennis great and his wife, Mery “Xisxa” Perelló, welcomed their first child, a son named Rafael Nadal Jr.

“Everything is 100% new for both of us, for my wife and me,” he said of raising a child. “So you learn everyday things and everyday is unexpected… I’m enjoying a lot this part of my life.”

CELEB NEWS

Serena Williams Dazzles Paris Fashion Week With Decades Old Friend Kim Kardashian

Renowned for her prowess on the tennis court, Serena Williams is also a force to be reckoned with in the fashion world. The 23-time Grand Slam champion proved this yet again as she stole the show at Paris Fashion Week when she showed up at the event in a black dress with a blue overcoat. Her fans loved her outfit and praised her for it on her social media account.

Just recently, Serena Williams posted a few pictures of her outfit from Paris Fashion Week alongside Kim Kardashian. Both of them were dressed stunningly in black. The tennis world legend beautifully donned a tube black dress with an extravagant diamond necklace and complete her look with black shades.

She was also wearing a bright blue overcoat on top of the dress to make it look even more outstanding. On the other hand, Kim Kardashian was wearing a net dress in black. Williams’ fans loved her overall look and outfit and flooded her comment section with amazing comments to hype her up even more.

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A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams)

Let’s take a look at what her fans had to say about her look.

Tennis fans react to Serena Williams’ Paris Fashion Week outfit
Serena Williams’ fans could not get enough of her outfit pictures on her official Instagram account.

One of the fans commented, “This blue is STUNNING on you!”. The blue overcoat actually brought together her outfit and made it look like nothing she had ever worn before.

Another fan added, “Serena your style is as stunning as your game”. Well, that is true, as Serena Williams does not leave any stone unturned when it comes to showing off her style. She is as perfect on a red carpet as she is on a tennis court.

A fan also commented, “You look absolutely gorgeous.” Serena Williams’ fans were in awe of her look and could not hold back from appreciating how amazing her overall look was, especially with the fabulous jewelry she wore to go with her black dress.

Someone also stated, “Hair is looking royal.” Her fans were not only impressed with her style and outfit but also with her hairdo, as they commented about it as well.

What did you like the most about Serena Williams’ outfit? Let us know in the comment section below!

TENNIS

Has Coco Gauff Already Surpassed Novak Djokovic in Popularity? Startling Claim Reveals America’s Pulse

Novak Djokovic is undoubtedly the most famous tennis star in the world. The Serbinator managed to reach the stage after becoming the most acclaimed player in the ATP after 24 slams and 40 Masters. He has also far surpassed any player in weeks at #1, showing why he has a gigantic fanbase. However, a former American professional star believes that Coco Gauff has surpassed him when it comes to popularity, owing to her performances in 2023.

Gauff had a difficult start last year. But the teenage star managed to turn it around when the American hardcourt season rolled around after Wimbledon. Her efforts certainly served to impress the American star.

Is Coco Gauff now more popular than Novak Djokovic?
Alexandra Stevenson is a former American professional who joined ESPN’s commentating team in 2019. She also began a podcast she calls ‘Serving Aces with Alexandra Stevenson’. Her recent episode was dedicated to Gauff after her recent controversy at the Dubai Tennis Championships. In the same episode, she also said Gauff has now become more popular than the 24-time grand slam champion.

“Coco Gauff was named one of Time Magazine’s Women of the Year. She just got named that. So this is Coco Gauff. She’s right now the biggest thing in women’s tennis, maybe tennis, okay, Djokovic, Yes. But what she did the US Open. If you talk to people in America on the street, I’m going to say on the street. They’re starting to know Coco Gauff.”

While the tennis fanbase will certainly be split when choosing the more popular player between Gauff and Djokovic, one cannot deny the popularity of the teenage American star. One could see a testament to that in her recent appearance of a collaboration between two giants.

Gauff’s popularity skyrockets after collaborating with RayBan and Meta
While Forbes has already listed this 19-year-old as one of the world’s richest athletes, Gauff’s sponsorship and commercials are unlikely to end anytime soon. RayBan and Meta recently announced their collaboration on a new project, RayBan’s AI-enhanced smart eyewear. They chose Gauff as one of the leading stars to promote their new project.

RayBan and Meta showcased Gauff to deliver a hands-free glass that helps them with visibility and helps capture moments as photographs or videos. Users can also share their files and even live stream their points of view. Gauff helped the two brands in the presentation of the device, which became a sign of her ever-increasing popularity.

GOLF

Tiger Woods wins the 2024 Bob Jones Award – the USGA’s highest honor – with the 15-time major winner set to receive the prize at this year’s US Open

Tiger Woods has been named as the recipient of this year’s Bob Jones Award by the USGA.

The Bob Jones Award is the highest honor from the USGA that recognizes his commitment to sportsmanship and respect for golf’s traditions.

‘This award goes beyond playing performance, recognizing the lasting impact of one person’s journey that has forever changed the image and growth of golf,’ said Mike Whan, the CEO of the USGA.

‘There are very few who stand alongside Tiger Woods in terms of on-course accomplishments, and he is in a class of his own when it comes to the impact he has made on the game and future generations who will play it.’

Woods is used to being honored for his performances on the course, where he has won 15 majors among his 82 career victories on the PGA Tour.

Tiger Woods has been named as the recipient of this year's Bob Jones Award by the USGA — Tiger Woods has been named as the recipient of this year’s Bob Jones Award by the USGA

The 48-year-old Woods was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2022, and he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump in 2019.

Woods is a nine-time USGA champion, winning three straight U.S. Junior Amateurs, followed by three straight U.S. Amateurs, and then the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (2000), Bethpage Black (2002) and Torrey Pines (2008).

‘Bob Jones was a pillar of our game because of the integrity with which he played it, and I’m truly humbled to receive the award that bears his name and join the many who have received it before me who continue his legacy,’ Woods said in a statement.

Jones won the Grand Slam in 1930 when it was comprised of the U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur, British Open and British Amateur. He later co-founded Augusta National Golf Club and created the Masters.

Off the golf course, Woods launched what now is called the TGR Foundation that emphasizes educational opportunities, along with STEM-based learning at the TGR Learning Lab in California. He also has started a golf course design firm. One of his courses in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, hosted a PGA Tour event last fall.

Woods will be honored June 12 during the US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina.

Previous winners include Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, Mickey Wright and Ben Hogan, and former President George H.W. Bush.

GOLF

Is Lexi Thompson Married to Gerrod Chadwell? LPGA Star’s Relationship Rumors Debunked

Lexi Thompson has been notoriously private about her dating life. That, however, did little to stop the rumor mill. As the 11-time LPGA Tour winner once again made the headlines ahead of Capital One’s “The Match,” fans have been asking the same question. However, there is a new name that has been thrown in the mix this time: Gerrod Chadwell.

Chadwell is the Texas A&M head coach of the women’s golf program. A three-time American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, he won the SEC Championship with the Aggies last year. He is indeed a member of the golf community, but is he Lexi Thompson’s partner?

Has Lexi Thompson tied the knot secretly?
The internet has been rife with Thompson’s dating rumors. In fact, multiple outlets also claimed that the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Champion had married the Texas A&M head coach away from the public eye. Unfortunately, as it turns out, that’s not the case at all!

Contrarily, Gerrod Chadwell is, in fact, married to Stacy Lewis. Lewis, a 13-time winner on the LPGA Tour, tied the knot with Chadwell in 2016. Moreover, the two-time Major winner also has a daughter, Chesnee Lynn Chadwell, who was born in October.

The confusion seems to have arisen first after the Solheim Cup. It was when the veteran golfer was the US team captain. Lexi Thompson, after qualifying for the patriotic showdown through the Rolex World Ranking, traveled to the Spanish greens along with Lewis.

https://x.com/aggiewomensgolf/status/1402715829007945733?s=20

As for Lexi Thompson, she is still single. The 11-time LPGA Tour winner hasn’t spoken about her dating life publicly. So, there has been no verifiable information about her current or previous partners. Her romantic history may be a mystery to everyone. But we do know that for Thompson, her family remains very close to her heart.

Golf is in the DNA of the Thompson family
Interestingly, the 29-year-old is not the only golfer from the Thompson family. Her two brothers, Curtis Thompson and Nicholas Thompson, were both golfers. Her father, Scott Thompson, who introduced the star to the game, was also a pro golfer. All of them plied their trade on the PGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour. Lexi Thompson, for a significant part of her career, has relied on ‘family wisdom’ on the greens as well.

Nicholas has been in her bag for a long time. In fact, he was caddying for the LPGA star in Finca Cortesin during the Solheim Cup as well. In his absence, though, Scott Thompson filed for the position. That, however, will change this year, as the LPGA Pro finally settled on Colton Heisey as her looper for the 2024 season.

CELEB NEWS

Despite Strong Roger Federer Bias, Lindsey Vonn Hangs Out With the ‘GOAT’ Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells

Lindsey Vonn and Roger Federer are two of the sports besties that every sports enthusiast is aware of. The two share a special bond and have been spotted together on numerous occasions. Be it appearing in a chocolate ad with the Swiss maestro or reuniting with him during Wimbledon, their friendship has been on display in several instances. However, in a recent update, the American alpine skiing prodigy was seen enjoying the company of another tennis legend, Novak Djokovic, during the ongoing Indian Wells Open in California.

Vonn has shared some heartwarming updates on her social media that can make her fans wonder if she has found another tennis pal in the Serbian legend. Their camaraderie has left everyone in awe.

When Lindsey Vonn met Novak Djokovic
On Sunday, the Minnesota native took it to X, shared a couple of pictures with Djoker, and penned down some really thought-provoking lines for him. She wrote, “Hanging with the GOAT , and yes, I do believe he is the goat. Contrary to twitter beliefs, I think there can be more than one. But @DjokerNole holds the records and I have nothing but respect for what he’s achieved… and he skis!” In these pictures the two looks super happy as they strike a pose for the camera. with a wide smile on their faces.

Hanging with the 🐐 , and yes, I do believe he is the goat. Contrary to twitter beliefs, I think there can be more than one. But @DjokerNole holds the records and I have nothing but respect for what he’s achieved… and he skis! pic.twitter.com/sV6u92jsNH

— lindsey vonn (@lindseyvonn) March 3, 2024

Vonn is known for being a strong-headed person, and she speaks her heart out on things that she thinks are right. This is one of numerous instances when the Saint Paul-based retired skier has been candid with her words. On the other hand, Djokovic is currently preparing for the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where he is looking to win his first major title of the 2024 season. If he manages to do so, he will join an elite list of tennis stars and will attain a rare milestone that not many have achieved, and he is surely one of the legends to watch out for at the Californian event.