SATURDAY 24 MARCH 2018 SPORT 21 The number one ranking is in my head a little bit, but no more than CRICKET CRICKET that. It’s a mini-goal. It would be World Number One England vs New Zealand South Africa vs Australia nice to stay there but it’s no more Roger Federer 3rd Test - Day 3 1st Test - Day 3 important than that. ACTION at Newlands, Cape Town at Eden Park, Auckland (d/n) TODAY’S Mercedes’ British driver Lewis F1 teams urge Hamilton takes a selfie as he gets ready for the second better deal to avoid Formula One practice session in Melbourne yesterday, ahead breakaway series of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix. AFP “Everybody is trying to position themselves, but all the MELBOURNE: Mercedes boss time with respect for the series Toto Wolff on Friday urged and comments that have been Formula One owners Liberty made by the Ferrari chairman Media and the sport’s regulators Sergio Marchionne show that FIA to come up with an he cares,” he added. improved deal to avoid a “We all have a vision and breakaway championship. perspective in Formula One and Formula One’s biggest how we want to see it going teams Mercedes and Ferrari are forward and it needs to fit that questioning some of Liberty’s opinion and that is why these plans for the sport beyond the statements are being made.” expiration of the Concorde Wolff said the teams owe it Agreement -- a deal which to Formula One to get things binds teams and stakeholders right and they have at least together until the end of 2020. three more years together Disgruntled Ferrari before the expiration of the chairman Sergio Marchionne current agreement. has voiced dissatisfaction with “We just need to give our Hamilton is fastest but Liberty’s proposed re-distri- support in the best possible bution of prize money, and the way to this great sport, regu- concept of a simpler engine. lated by the FIA and owned by Wolff, who has overseen the Liberty, run by competent men, Lewis Hamilton-led Mercedes’ so we are not devaluing it,” he Red Bull, Ferrari in hunt dominance of F1 for the past said. four years, supports Ferrari’s Red Bull team principal REUTERS the past four years, there was AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX FREE PRACTICE TIMES The second session was stance and did not rule out the Christian Horner said it was up less than three-tenths of a suspended for a few minutes prospect of a rebel champi- to governing body FIA (Feder- MELBOURNE: Formula One second separating the cham- 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes-AMG 1:24.026 after some cabling became onship formed by leading ation Internationale de champion Lewis Hamilton pions from the Red Bull and 2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Mercedes-AMG 1:24.577 unearthed at the start-finish teams. l’Automobile) and Liberty topped the timesheets for Ferrari cars. 3. Max Verstappen (NED) Red Bull 1:24.771 line. Tipped to be the big “We are all carrying the Media to come up with a deal Mercedes in both practice Verstappen sandwiched 4. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 1:24.875 improvers after a positive pre- torch of a great series and a and present it to the teams. sessions at the Australian Grand himself between the Mer- 5. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari 1:24.995 season, Haas delivered in great brand that was built “My view on this is very Prix yesterday but Red Bull’s Max cedes drivers, 6. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull 1:25.063 spades, with Romain Grosjean 40-50 years ago and has tre- simple. Trying to get a con- Verstappen showed enough pace with Hamilton’s team sixth quickest in FP2 and his mendous value,” he told a news sensus between teams of 7. Romain Grosjean (FRA) Haas 1:25.730 to give the Silver Arrows pause mate Valtteri Bottas third team mate Kevin Magnussen conference ahead of this week- varying objectives and different 8. Fernando Alonso (ESP) McLaren-Honda 1:25.896 for thought. quickest despite taking a ninth. There was also some end’s season-opening Aus- set-ups is going to be impos- 9. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Renault 1:25.922 After lapping Albert Park in couple of slides off the track. encouragement for McLaren, tralian Grand Prix in sible,” Horner said at a team 10. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL) McLaren-Honda 1:26.482 one minute, 24.026 seconds to “That’s what I call a pos- whose day began bleakly with Melbourne. principals news conference. 11. Pierre Gasly (FRA) Toro Rosso 1:26.494 dominate the first practice of the itive start to the season,” Ver- engineers fussing over an 12. Sergey Sirotkin (RUS) Williams 1:26.536 new season, Hamilton improved stappen tweeted. “The car exhaust system problem that 13. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Renault 1:26.583 the mark slightly to 1:23.931 in handled well and I’m happy left twice champion Fernando the second session on a balmy with today.” 14. Esteban Ocon (FRA) Force India 1:26.605 Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne Force India F1 team rules autumn day. Fourth in FP2, Kimi Raik- 15. Lance Stroll (CAN) Williams 1:26.636 confined to the garage for “The car is quicker here than konen showed why Ferrari 16. Sergio Perez (MEX) Force India 1:26.767 most of the session. out name change this year it was last year, so it feels better may also be in the hunt for 17. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) Haas 1:27.035 However, Alonso finally REUTERS everywhere,” the four-times Sunday’s race but he will have 18. Brendon Hartley (NZL) Toro Rosso 1:27.745 emerged to post the eighth from what I understand, you champion told reporters. to face the stewards after 19. Marcus Ericsson (SWE) Sauber 1:27.964 fastest lap and held the can’t do it in the middle of the “It closed up a little bit in FP2 allegedly impeding fellow 20. Charles Leclerc (MON) Sauber 1:28.853 position through FP2. MELBOURNE: Force India will season... in terms of the gap between us Finn Bottas, who nearly Canadian Lance Stroll’s not be changing their name this “We went around to find the all, but that’s exciting. It’s more rammed into his rear and day ended in frustration, with season despite having a new best name, we had some dis- challenging for me to try and eke ended up in the gravel. too worried because I know if I his Williams forced to a halt at the one in mind, the Formula One cussion with partners, sponsors out a little more from the car.” It was a tougher day for Raik- get everything right we should end of FP2 with overheating team said at the opening and employees. Then we went Red Bull’s Dutch wunderkind konen’s four-times champion be in better shape,” the German issues. He was 14th for the session, Australian Grand Prix. to the (governing) FIA and FOM Verstappen was snapping at his team mate Sebastian Vettel, who told reporters. ahead of his debutant team mate Chief operating office and they said ‘well, you’re a bit heels, however, finishing only was more than a half-second off Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo Sergey Sirotkin (18th). Otmar Szafnauer said they had out of time’.” 0.127 seconds adrift of the Briton the pace in FP2 down in fifth was seventh in FP2 but his day While Mercedes showed they run out of time. Szafnauer had told after the second session. position, a disappointing run he ended on a sour note, the home hold a slight edge in pace, rain “It’s not going to happen this reporters during testing in Bar- Raising hopes of a contest for later downplayed. hope handed a three-place grid forecast on Saturday could yet year,” he told the formula1.com celona last month that a name Mercedes, who have swept the “We still have quite a lot of penalty for going too fast during add an element of uncertainty website. change could happen before driver and constructors’ titles for performance in hand. I am not red flag conditions. during qualifying. “To change chassis name, Sunday’s race in Melbourne. Halep rallies to advance in Miami Federer relaxed about REUTERS Halep won the next game to love, rocketing down an ace on No.1 ranking quest MIAMI: World number one match point to set up a meeting Simona Halep survived a scare with 30th-seeded Pole Agnieszka from France’s Oceane Dodin on Radwanska who defeated AFP Thursday, beating the lucky loser Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck 6-3, one, it helps my motivation to have a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to reach the Miami 7-6(4). MIAMI: Roger Federer (pictured) said goal. But even if I don’t manage it, it’s Open third round. Halep has amassed enough on Thursday that retaining his world not the end of the world.” An upset looked possible in ranking points that her number number one ranking is no more than a Federer will launch his Miami cam- the first set when Dodin’s big first one standing is not in jeopardy “mini-goal” as he prepares his bid to paign on Saturday against a qualifier. serve troubled Romanian Halep in Miami. She would have main- defend the ATP Miami Open title. Federer, winner of an incredible 20 who appeared to be continuing tained top spot even if she had The 36-year-old Swiss star needs Grand Slam singles titles, meanwhile the lacklustre form that got her lost on Thursday and world to advance to the quarter-finals in spoke admiringly of Del Potro’s reha- crushed by Naomi Osaka in the number two Caroline Wozniacki Florida to hold on to his number one bilitation into the tennis circuit’s winners Indian Wells semi-finals last went on to win the ranking, or face being supplanted by old circle following a career-threatening week.