SPORTS THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014 McLaren, Red Bull in legal dispute over aero expert LONDON: McLaren consulted their lawyers yester- They did not say when his leave would formally Tuesday that gave him enough mileage to qualify to be learning the car and the track quite well,” day after Formula One champions Red Bull end. Prodromou was McLaren’s head of aerody- for a super licence. said Russell. announced the appointment of an aerodynamics namics until 2006, having joined that team in The 18-year-old reserve, being prepared by Sirotkin’s compatriot Daniil Kvyat, the 19-year- expert their rivals said was contracted to them. 1991, when he followed Adrian Newey to Red Bull. Sauber for a possible Formula One future, did old who races for Toro Rosso, was slowest on the Red Bull said Dan Fallows has been appointed McLaren have changed their leadership since 300km and 76 laps - more than a race distance - of timesheets in 1:40.452 with Sunday’s runner-up head of aerodynamics, replacing McLaren-bound Fallows agreed to join, with Ron Dennis retaking the Sakhir circuit that hosted the country’s grand Nico Rosberg quickest for dominant Mercedes in Peter Prodromou who is now on ‘gardening leave’. overall control and Eric Boullier appointed racing prix on Sunday. He took it in his stride, posting the 1:35.697 and completing 121 laps. The statement drew a swift response from McLaren, director in place of departed principal Martin eighth fastest time of the 11 drivers present - and Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg was second fastest who announced at their car launch in January that Whitmarsh. best of those who do not have a race seat - with a for Force India with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso third Fallows had joined along with Prodromou. The team started the season with a second and time of one minute 39.023 seconds, but he also and Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen fourth in a “Dan Fallows has a legally binding contract with third place in Australia for Danish rookie Kevin felt the pinch. “On my fast lap in the morning I McLaren. McLaren, and the matter is now in the hands of our Magnussen and Jenson Button, pending an appeal made a few mistakes, so I probably lost a second,” McLaren had originally planned for Britain’s lawyers,” said a spokesman for the Woking team. by Red Bull who had Australian Daniel Ricciardo said Sirotkin in a team statement. Oliver Turvey and Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne to test Red Bull said Fallows had left them last year after disqualified. Red Bull have won the last four con- “In the afternoon we had some difficulties with on Tuesday and Wednesday but decided after working as aerodynamics team leader but had structors’ and drivers’ championships, with my shoes. They were too small, so it was pretty Sunday’s race to keep Magnussen in the car in the returned and was starting his new job with immedi- Sebastian Vettel triumphant in the last nine races painful when I was braking. When we changed the interest of continuity. Both the Dane and team ate effect. of 2013, but have started the season chasing dom- shoes, it was still not the best and difficult to mate Jenson Button failed to finish Sunday’s race. McLaren announced last October that inant Mercedes. McLaren failed to finish on the drive.” Lotus, who have yet to score a point in three races Prodromou would be joining them but Red Bull, podium last year. Sauber’s test engineer Paul Russell said the and did little testing pre-season, suffered more constructors’ champions for the past four years, Meanwhile, Russian teenager Sergey Sirotkin driver had done well in a car he had never driven problems with the Renault power unit and were determined to hold the much sought-after needed bigger shoes as he stepped up for a before on an unfamiliar layout. “He handled it pret- Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado managed only 16 Briton to his contract. Formula One test with Sauber in Bahrain on ty well. The lap times were very good. He seemed laps. — Reuters Pistorius forced to look at ‘exploded’ head of girlfriend PRETORIA: A South African prosecutor forced Oscar Pistorius yesterday to look at a forensic photograph of the head of his girl- friend Reeva Steenkamp after it was destroyed by a gunshot fired by the Olympic and Paralympic track star. In a dramatic opening to his cross-exam- ination of Pistorius, prosecutor Gerrie Nel made him say that he had killed Steenkamp then later confronted him with the photo- graph showing the side and back of her skull matted with blood and brains. “Take responsibility for what you have done,” Nel said, drawing gasps from the public gallery and causing Pistorius to bury LONDON: Former marathon world record holder Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie, aged 40, his head in his hands in the witness stand, who will be the pacemaker for the elite male runners at the London Marathon, poses for rock from side to side and weep. photographers. The London marathon takes place on Sunday. — AP The double amputee sprinter, once revered across the world for his triumph over adversity, faces life in prison if convict- Gebrselassie worried ed in the Pretoria High Court of the murder of Steenkamp, a 29-year-old law graduate and model. about athletics future PRETORIA: State prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, looks on while cross-examining South African Olympic and His defence hinges on his contention Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius during his trial at the North Gauteng High Court. — AFP that he though he was firing at an intruder when he shot Steenkamp through a toilet LONDON: Surveying the state of the sport he think nobody cares about athletics, who is door in his luxury Pretoria home on dominated for so many years, running great going to sponsor you?” NBK FIFA World Cup VISA Prepaid Card February 14 - Valentine’s Day - 2013. Haile Gebrselassie sees a bleak future. Despite It’s not all about cash, though. Gebrselassie Nel, renowned as one of South Africa’s the super-star status of Usain Bolt, Gebrselassie is also worried that a lack of long-distance brings 2014 World Cup excitement toughest state attorneys, sought to show is deeply concerned about the shortage of events is making athletes aim too early for the 27-year-old was a hot-headed character elite-level events with true global appeal for marathons, which could lead to health ramifi- fans and, just as importantly, sponsors. cations. Fellow Ethiopian Tsegaye Mekonnen who loved to play with guns. KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) presents will enjoy the thrill of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, get- “Athletics has to change a little bit, bring in made his marathon debut in January in Dubai He asked Pistorius, well-known as a the new FIFA World Cup(tm) VISA Prepaid Card in ting one chance to enter draws for every cumula- new ideas, new concepts - otherwise it’s going at just 18 - and won. weapons enthusiast, if he knew what a Kuwait bringing the 2014 FIFA World Cup excite- tive KD 20 spent locally using the card on all pur- to be a just a bit boring to watch,” Gebrselassie “When I heard that age I was very shocked,” “zombie stopper” was, to which the defen- ment to its enthusiastic football customers. NBK is chases. The cardholders can win one of 32 trips for said yesterday. “I don’t know how many people Gebrselassie said. “Can he win again? There’s a dant answered no. the official non-host retail banking partner of the two to attend one of the World Cup matches in are interested in just watching running for two question mark. He’s killing his body; we are 2014 FIFA World Cup(tm) in Kuwait, in association Brazil this year including the final match in associa- After a brief adjournment, the court hours - maybe soccer yes, but running we have breaking his bones by sending him in the with Visa, the official FIFA partner. tion with Visa. NBK FIFA World Cup VISA Prepaid then viewed video footage broadcast to upgrade the situation ... attract more of an wrong competition. The new NBK FIFA World Cup VISA Prepaid Card Cardholders can also triple their chances to win for before the trial by Britain’s Sky News of audience (and give) what they like.” “It’s why the youngsters have to have a is the better alternative to cash for making pur- every cumulative KD 20 spent outside Kuwait or on Pistorius firing a .50 calibre handgun at a While the awe-inspiring performances pro- track, 10K (events), half marathons. For those chases, and is safe to use for online shopping. The international websites. watermelon at a shooting range. duced by Bolt at the last two Olympics have things we have to work hard with the IAAF.” card is accepted locally and worldwide, easy to use, NBK Cards provide an array of benefits that As the melon disintegrates, Pistorius given a major boost to the sport, Gebrselassie Gebrselassie is in London to pace a world- re-loadable and provides NBK customers with a cater to your lifestyle needs, offering special servic- says off-camera: “It’s a lot softer than brains. thinks the Jamaican’s mass-appeal could be record attempt in the marathon on Sunday, variety of features and exclusive benefits that es locally and globally, so that customers can enjoy But (bleep) it’s like a zombie stopper.” Nel masking deeper-lying issues that are not been and Mekonnen is among the strong field, include free travel insurance coverage up to USD convenience and peace of mind whether they’re in then pushed the track star, saying he had addressed.