SPORTS Thursday, February 1, 2018 21 I’m facing make or break decision Daniel Ricciardo believes his next Formula 1 contract could be “make or break” for his chances of winning a world championship in his career London hile Red Bull extended Max Verstappen’s deal in late 2017, it has agreed to give DanielW Ricciardo time to assess his options ahead of a season in which most top The move follows a drivers’ contracts expire and there could be similar decision by substantial movement in the driver market. the Professional Darts Now 28 and about to begin his seventh full Corporation to stop using season in F1, five-time grand prix winner ‘walk-on girls’ to escort Ricciardo believes he is facing the most players to the stage important decision of his career. (Pic courtesy: theguardian) “I’ve still got years in this sport, but I’m not 23/24 anymore,” he said. “I’m still learning. I don’t feel I’m past my F1 to stop using ‘grid girls’ peak. “The next contract I sign or next London extension I do, they are potentially the rid girls’ will no longer be used by Formula 1 from peak years of my career. the start of the 2018 World Championship season, “That next bit of paper I sign could organisers‘G have announced. make or break my desire in terms of Sean Bratches, managing director of commercial whether I can fight for a title or not. operations, said the change would be made “so as to be “That’s why I’m taking my time, I more in tune with our vision for this great sport”. want to see where everyone is at. F1 managing director of motorsports Ross Brawn told “Maybe I’ll have more options, BBC Radio 5 live in December that the use of female maybe I won’t.” promotional models was “under review”. He emphasised that he wanted his The new F1 season begins on 25 March. next contract - whether with Red Bull “While the practice of employing grid girls has been or elsewhere - to be long term. a staple of Formula 1 grands prix for decades, we feel “I doubt I’ll sign a one-year deal this custom does not resonate with our brand values somewhere,” said Ricciardo. “It’s and clearly is at odds with modern day societal norms,” probably going to be a multiple year deal, Bratches added. two or more, so I need to make sure it’s “We don’t believe the practice is appropriate or relevant the right place, competitively.” to Formula 1 and its fans, old and new, across the world.” Ricciardo has spent his entire F1 career so Stuart Pringle, managing director of British circuit far under Red Bull’s wing, and it also supported his Silverstone, said: “We wholeheartedly support the decision junior career. Red Bull chose to place him at tail-ender HRT by F1 to drop the use of grid girls - it is an outdated for his F1 debut in mid-2011, before he was moved across to practice that no longer has a place in sport.” (BBC) Toro Rosso - where he spent two seasons prior to his transfer to the senior Red Bull team for ‘14. (Autosport) Mominul powers SA finish fifth at Bangladesh to 374/4 U-19 World Cup Queenstown as Raynard ominul Haque hit a towering ast bowlers Fraser Jones van Tonder played century to help Bangladesh and Akhonya Mnyaka a fluent knock of 82. Mtake opening day honours in the Fripped through Bangladesh’s Meanwhile, India beat first Test against Sri Lanka in line-up as South Pakistan by 203 runs Chittagong yesterday. Africa scored a comfortable in the semifinals on Mominul hit an unbeaten 175 as eight- victory at the Tuesday. India will now the hosts reached 374/4 at stumps John Davies Oval to finish face Australia in the final after electing to bat first at the Zahur fifth at the ICC U-19 World on Saturday. (PTI) Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. The Cup, yesterday. left-hander shared a 236-run third- Jones grabbed wicket stand with former captain five for 33 while , who fell just left-arm bowler short of his fifth Test hundred after Mnyaka took three scoring 92 off 192 balls. Skipper for 27 as Bangladesh Mominul Haque Riyad, on nine, was were bowled out for celebrates century batting alongside Mominul when 178 in 41.4 overs. (Pic courtesy: AFP) stumps were drawn at the start of The 2014 the two-match series. champions, put in BRIEF SCORE Suranga Lakmal struck with to bat in the fifth- the second new ball to claim two sixth position play- Stumps Bangladesh 374 for 4 off successive deliveries off match, quickly (Mominul 175*, Mushfiqur 92, Lakmal and give Sri Lanka some respite reached 180 for Daniel Ricciardo (file pic) 2-43)v Sri Lanka late into the final session. (AFP) two in 38.3 overs South African team celebrate