Sport shorts: Lewis Hamilton reveals his ‘driving force’

1. Hamilton talks titles, diversity and his F1 future

Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton is out to win a record eighth Formula 1 world championship this season, but the British driver has revealed that another title is not his only “driving force”.

Speaking at the launch of Mercedes’s new F1 car, the 36-year-old “made clear his priorities no longer just rest on sporting achievement on the racetrack”, says Sky Sports. With a focus on diversity, Hamilton is “determined to use his platform as a force for good”. He said: “There was great discussion around diversity last year, but what’s really important is that we’re taking action.”

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Tied with Michael Schumacher on seven world titles Hamilton says he is “fully invested in this season - I still love what I do”. However, his future in F1 is “not based solely on whether he breaks the all-time record of championship victories”, the BBC says.

“I have decided I don’t want that to be the deciding factor,” Hamilton said. “I got into racing because I loved it and that’s got to always be at the core of what you do. If all you’re going for is accolades, I feel I could potentially lose my way.”

F1 2021 season guide

2. NZ Black Ferns ‘blindsided’ by Rugby World Cup announcement

Women’s Rugby Union

This year’s women’s Rugby World Cup is set to be postponed to 2022, World Rugby has announced. Rugby union’s governing body issued a statement saying it has made the “difficult decision” to recommend the postponement based on the “evolution of the uncertain and challenging global Covid-19 landscape”.

Host nation New Zealand are also the defending champions having won the last tournament in 2017. The Black Ferns have been left “devastated” after being “blindsided” by the announcement, the New Zealand Herald reports.

Black Ferns captain Eloise Blackwell said: “It did come as a bit of a shock when I saw the email come through. The first we heard of it was from our management followed by the Herald link so it was a bit of a bombshell and definitely unexpected, but we can’t really assume they had any information on this happening. It’s hit everybody pretty hard – everyone is feeling for each other.”

3. City’s remarkable run continues

Football

Manchester City have extended their winning run to 21 games after a 4-1 victory over Wolves saw them go 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League table. Praising his side for their “remarkable” form, City boss Pep Guardiola said: “In winter time in England it’s hell and in that time we did something incredible. It’s more than remarkable.”

The champions-elect are surging towards the title and they have taken “one step closer to setting a new world football record” of 28 consecutive wins, says talkSPORT. To break the record City will need to beat Manchester United, Southampton, Fulham, Borussia Monchengladbach, Everton, Leicester and Leeds.

“F*** the asterisks, this is a brilliant Man City side”, says Football365’s Sarah Winterburn. “This is not about a pandemic, a lack of fans or fatigue making a farce of this season. This is simply a great City side, cruising towards their third title in five years under Pep Guardiola.”

4. Tributes paid to Liverpool ‘icon’ Ian St John

Football

Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard were among the many figures from the world of football to pay tribute to Ian St John, who passed away on 1 March at the age of 82.

The Scot made his name at Motherwell but after moving to Anfield in 1961 he became a star under Bill Shankly and helped the Reds win promotion from the old Second Division. He later won two league titles and also scored the winning goal as Liverpool lifted the FA Cup for the first time in 1965.

Dalglish described St John as “instrumental in making Liverpool FC the club it is today” while Gerrard called him a “Liverpool icon”.

After his playing days St John went on to “illuminate TV screens” and was “best known as one half of the massively popular Saint And Greavsie partnership, alongside former England striker Jimmy Greaves on ITV Sport”, says the BBC.

5. Hendry loses comeback match

Snooker

Seven-time snooker world champion Stephen Hendry has made his return to the baize after coming out of retirement. In his first match since 2012, the Scot did make the 776th century of his career but ended up losing 4-1 to Matthew Selt in the first round of the Gibraltar Open.

“I really felt the nerves when I put my suit on in the hotel room,” said the 52-year-old. “That’s when it really hit me, which is a good sign because without nerves you can’t perform. But it needs to be more nerves of excitement and expectation rather than nerves of not knowing what’s going to happen. I was generally quite happy. I didn’t miss anything easy. Matt played fantastic.”