Former England stars are dotted around France, where contract renewals take place late in the season - meaning the likes of Mako Vunipola and Courtney Lawes are weighing up their options.

Lando Norris has taken aim at George Russell ahead of this weekend's Formula 1 season opener in Melbourne, branding the Mercedes driver a "sneaky" competitor who cultivates a carefully crafted image.The reigning world champion suggested his British rival presents a calculated front to the paddock and public alike."George always knows what he's doing," Norris told the Daily Mail. "He tries to look the good guy. But he'll do what he needs to do, in a sneaky way at times."Despite the pointed remarks, Norris was quick to acknowledge Russell's abilities behind the wheel.TRENDINGStoriesVideosYour Say"But I think a lot of him," he added."He is a very, very good driver. He'll play the game whenever he has to play the game. I mean, he's smart. He sometimes tries to come across like he's not."Norris placed Russell among an elite group of strategically minded drivers on the current grid, alongside Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton."George, Max, and Lewis, as well. One is a seven-time world champion, one is Max, and George is certainly up there in terms of intelligence," he explained.The McLaren driver emphasised that this tactical awareness represents a genuine strength rather than a criticism."He is always switched on, which is a strength," he stated."There is always a reason to put your car here or there or to do this or that. They are not clumsy drivers. They are clever like that."Norris suggested these three competitors share an ability to make deliberate, calculated decisions about their positioning during races, setting them apart from less astute rivals.LATEST SPORTS NEWS:Wayne Rooney's friend sets record straight after former England star was spotted drinking with two womenPremier League and Championship forced to abandon British tradition as authorities braced for backlashAryna Sabalenka shows off stunning ring as tennis star gets engaged to 80m partnerFollowing pre-season testing and the latest regulatory changes, Norris assessed the competitive landscape heading into the new campaign.The defending champion believes Mercedes currently possess the fastest machinery, with Ferrari slotting in behind them.McLaren, according to Norris's own evaluation, sit third in the pecking order, whilst Red Bull and an unsettled Verstappen trail the leading trio.However, Norris urged caution when drawing conclusions from testing performance alone."As for us at McLaren, we didn't look the quickest last year in pre-season testing in Bahrain. And then we turned up to Australia and we were very good. Just wait and see," he said.The 2025 champion expressed confidence in his team's position among the frontrunners."We are in the top four teams so we know we're in a good world. As long we're in a fight, then it's a long season."Norris also reflected candidly on the psychological challenges he faced during his championship-winning season last year.The British driver admitted he lacked confidence at the start of the campaign, placing himself below the midpoint on a self-assessed scale of self-belief."My lowest point came in the run-up to Monaco at the end of May last year," he revealed, following a stretch of six inconsistent races.From the mid-season Zandvoort race onwards, Norris began intensive work on his mental approach alongside technical improvements with McLaren.Part of his strategy involved removing social media entirely from his devices."There were times I deleted Instagram, and I didn't want to see what people were saying about me," he admitted."I deleted it all from my phone, so I could concentrate on the stuff I needed to concentrate on and not get distracted."Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Dave Rennie is appointed the new head coach of New Zealand, becoming the first person of Pasifika heritage to lead the side as they target a fourth World Cup triumph.

Maternity services at the trust are the subject of the largest inquiry of its kind in NHS history.

Auf der Pressekonferenz vor dem Nachholspiel gegen Leverkusen spricht Hamburgs Trainer Merlin Polzin ber die hohe krperliche Belastung durch das zustzliche Spiel unter der Woche.[mehr]

Victime dune entorse du genou gauche, Kylian Mbapp poursuit ses soins et est espr par le Real Madrid pour le huitime de finale retour de Ligue des champions contre Manchester City. Selon les informations venues dEspagne, lentourage de lattaquant franais ne souhaite pas prcipiter son retour moins de 100 jours de la Coupe du monde 2026 avec les Bleus.

A star has gone down for the seasons opening rounds. His replacement, Lachlan Ilias, endured a barrage of criticism in Sydney but is ready to thrive.

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed is reportedly set to be appointed as the head coach of the Test side. This move comes after the role remained vacant for nearly five months, with Azhar Mahmood temporarily overseeing the team. Sarfaraz's coaching credentials were bolstered by his success with the U-19 team, and an official confirmation is expected soon.

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