Mercedes has revealed the FIA’s new mandatory format for Formula 1’s racing numbers which will be introduced at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

The governing body is imposing a new set of minimum requirements for car numbers and driver names to provide better identification for fans.

The German team has cleverly exploited the extra real estate offered by the W08’s shark fin to display the number/name combo, while the number on the front of the car has also been increased.

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After it was reported that the German had declared himself fit, the Blues boss insisted that was not the case at a pre-match press conference

Frank Lampard has denied that Antonio Rudiger is fit to return for Chelsea, revealing the centre-back is set to see a consultant on Monday.

Rudiger was forced off at half-time in Chelsea’s 5-2 victory over Wolves on September 14, which remains his only appearance for the first team since sustaining a knee injury in April.

The 26-year-old was widely reported as saying he was “itching” to play after returning to fitness following the groin issue suffered against Wolves.

However, Lampard insists Rudiger will not be available for Saturday’s meeting with Watford and that there is no timescale for his return.

“He’s not fit. I saw the quotes, whether there was a miscommunication I don’t know,” said the Chelsea head coach.

“He’s going to see a consultant on Monday because he’s got an ongoing issue in the pelvic area. We’ll have to wait for the appointment to see how long he’ll be out. I was surprised by the quotes because he’s not fit.”

Lampard had more positive updates on N’Golo Kante and Ross Barkley, both of whom he said could “possibly” return to face Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday.

“Every player in the squad that’s not available is disappointing but it comes with the territory. [Rudiger] and N’Golo have had a domino effect in injuries from last season,” said Lampard. “N’Golo’s close, he’s working with the team now.

“Ross Barkley is still not quite right and he’s another possible answer, but he’s not far away. Andreas Christensen is pretty much fit as well. It’s the finishing touches now.”

Watford are winless at the bottom of the Premier League this season but Lampard warned the Blues, who saw a run of seven straight victories end with a 2-1 loss to Manchester United in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, against complacency.

Asked if the circumstances made the meeting with Watford more dangerous, Lampard replied: “Without a doubt. I’m very much of that mindset.

“First, I look at us, and since we’ve been on the winning run, the game became more dangerous because of the idea of overconfidence.

“We saw what Watford did last year and the personnel are very similar. We cannot underestimate a team that will be hurting because they haven’t won for a while.”

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Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen hopes that Formula 1 brings back the intense and screaming sound of the V10 engine when new rules kick in after 2020.

Last Friday, the FIA hosted a meeting with F1 stakeholders and other parties interested in the future of F1’s engine rules.

Discussions resulted in a broad agreement between all vested parties to work towards a future engine platform which would favour a cheaper, simpler and better sounding power unit.

FIA president Jean Todt has theoretically ruled out a return to a simple V10 or V12 non-turbo architecture, insisting that “society would not accept it.”

But Verstappen is hoping that if there is a will, then there will be a way to bring back V10s.

“I think it would be very nice to have a V10 engine or something, with the lovely sound,” he told Motorsport.com.

“[The current engines are] nice for me in the car, but I think it’s not really impressive for the fans, if you compare it to a V10 or V12.”

• FIA and Formula One set the direction of tomorrow’s power unit

Current engine regulations were introduced in 2015 with the 1.5litre turbo-hybrid base viewed at the time as an incitement for manufacturers to get involved in F1 given the road car relevancy of the approach.

It hasn’t panned out as expected however, with only Honda entering the pinnacle of motorsport and Mercedes dominating proceedings with its power unit in the past two seasons.

Verstappen isn’t a fan of any sort of electric alternative either, at least as long as he races in Formula 1.

“Let’s keep things how they are for the next 15 years. I would be fine with that. After that they can make the whole thing completely electric,” he added.

“After that I’m going to do other things.I already have some things in my mind I would like to do, but of course this is still quite far away.

“I hope that the sport is still using a petrol engine by then. One that also makes some sound.”

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Goal takes a look at the best options in attack for the fantasy football season, plus a few cheap picks

Premier League fantasy football games have returned for the 2019-20 season and managers have mostly settled on their best squads.

Figuring out how best to use the budget can be a painstaking process as players attempt to spread quality across their teams, but it’s usually a good idea to invest in strong forwards.

Goal-scorers usually finish the season with the highest points tallies in fantasy football, which is something that is reflected in their prices.

Goal takes a look at the best forwards to select in your team, including some bargain picks.

As well as that, don’t forget to listen to our brand new fantasy football podcast for more tips and advice throughout the season!

Best fantasy football forwards

The best fantasy football forwards are, naturally, those who score goals in abundance, but also those who regularly chip in with assists.

Bonus points are also given to the players who have the most positive influence on a match, so a striker who is key to how his team attack is likely to score well.

The top forwards in fantasy football – based on start price – can be seen below.

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*Prices from the official Fantasy Premier League game.

Argentina international Sergio Aguero may be getting older, but he has shown no signs of slowing down for Manchester City and is the most expensive forward in fantasy football.

There’s a good reason for that: in the past five seasons he has never scored less than 160 points, breaching the 200 mark twice, and remains integral to Pep Guardiola’s way of playing.

Even if Aguero isn’t among the scorers himself, he is very likely to be involved in the build-up.

Arsenal endured a difficult season in 2018-19, but their attacking play was one of their saving graces, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang topping the league’s scoring charts.

The Gabon international bagged 22 strikes last term, but he also provided his fair share of assists, laying on his team-mates on seven occasions.

‘Auba’ has been the go-to man for the Gunners once again and his worth to the team is demonstrated by the fact that he was given thw .

The 2018-19 Premier League season was an uninspiring one from Harry Kane’s perspective as he failed to surpass the 20-goal mark having done so in the previous four campaigns.

However, his clear ability in front of goal means that he remains highly valued in fantasy football.

While Kane ended a bizarre August hoodoo last term, his season was plagued by injuries and he will have to remain fit for the duration in order to justify his fee.

At the beginning of the season it was unclear which player would end up leading the Chelsea attack, but Tammy Abraham has stepped up to the plate.

The England international is already into double figures and will be determined to challenge for the Golden Boot award come the end of the season.

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane may get all the headlines, but Roberto Firmino is worth as much consideration as an option in fantasy football.

Priced under £10 million, the Brazil international represents great value for money, particularly given his history – he’s scored over 150 points in each of the last four seasons.

The only concern is whether or not he will figure prominently at the start of the season, having played for his country in the Copa America.

Gabriel Jesus is still playing second fiddle to Aguero at Man City, but the fantasy football wizards have priced him relatively highly in 2019-20, suggesting he might become more of a central player.

His ability is not in doubt, but the question for those weighing up whether or not to pick him is: will he play much?

Last season, Jesus scored lower than Watford’s Andre Gray and just marginally more than Southampton’s Shane Long, so proceed with caution.

Leicester City talisman Jamie Vardy scored higher than Kane, Lacazette and Firmino in 2018-19 and is a consistent force in fantasy football, yet he is valued lower than all three.

Unless Brendan Rodgers changes his mind completely, the Foxes striker will be a solid option to complement a main attacker in the game.

Marcus Rashford has been forced to shoulder a lot of the burden in attack for Manchester United this season following the departures of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez.

The England international thrives in games where he can feed off strike partner Anthony Martial, but has been handed sole responsibility on a number of occasions.

Best fantasy football bargain forwards

While we’d recommend not scrimping in the forward department, there are a few bargains worth considering in this season’s fantasy football game.

We’ve got some cheaper options to mull over as you pick your team.

Wolves striker Raul Jimenez finished the 2018-19 season as one of the top three strikers in fantasy football, ending the campaign just 20 points behind Aguero.

Despite that, his price was fairly low for 2019-20 and, while he did endure a slow start, his points tally has slowly improved.

Norwich City were in the grips of the ‘Pukki Party’ at the beginning of the season as Finnish striker Teemu Pukki hit the ground running in his first Premier League campaign.

The former Schalke and Celtic attacker hit a difficult patch after his early-season heroics, but remains a solid bargain signing.

Ever since signing for Southampton, Danny Ings has rekindled the sort of form which saw him earmarked for a bright future as a youngster.

He has put a frustrating few seasons at Liverpool behind him and is capable of scoring and assisting goals.

Lance Stroll has defended the extensive Formula 1 testing programme he has undergone ahead of his debut season, with the new Williams driver pointing to the similar examples of Jacques Villeneuve and Lewis Hamilton.

Stroll was confirmed at the Grove-based outfit for 2017 after dominating the European Formula 3 championship. In recent months, the Canadian ace has been gaining experience at the wheel of a 2014-specification Williams FW36 during private test sessions held at grand prix venues around the world.

Speaking to German publication Auto Motor und Sport in a wide-ranging interview, the 18-year-old revealed the scope of his training schedule but dismissed the idea that he is the best-prepared rookie in F1 history.

• Tech F1i: A closer look at the Williams FW40

“By Christmas I had done four two-day tests and a shakedown at Silverstone,” Stroll said.

“Then Monza, Spielberg, Budapest, Barcelona and most recently in Abu Dhabi. Before the new season there will be a few outside of Europe but there is not yet the agreements with the circuits.

“I think Hamilton and Villeneuve did a lot of kilometres as well. Everyone has their way of getting used to Formula 1. Valtteri [Bottas] did the Friday practice sessions [with Williams in 2012].”

According to some reports, billionaire fashion tycoon Lawrence Stroll has spent an estimated $80 million in order to bankroll his son’s career and propel him to grand prix racing.

“Without him it would not have been possible,” the teenager admitted. “In this sport you need two things: talent and money. Others have sponsors but I have my father – the money had to come from somewhere.”

Stroll also refutes suggestions that coming from a wealthy background makes him less hungry for success, something Lewis Hamilton has often been quick to point out when comparing his ascent to F1 with that of former nemesis Nico Rosberg.

“I don’t believe that’s the case. No matter what I’ve done, I’ve always wanted to win. Once you’re in the cockpit with the visor down, it doesn’t matter where you come from.”

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Mercedes snub of protégé  Pascal Wehrlein and its preference for Valtteri Bottas may find its origin in the German drivers character rather than his inexperience.

When Nico Rosberg turned away from Formula 1 last December, many belived the plum drive would land most logically in the hands of Mercedes junior and highly rated talent Pascal Wehrlein.

The 22-year-old was passed over however for the benefit of Williams stalwart and vthe astly more experienced Valtteri Bottas.

Toto Wolff reveals however that the choice did not boil down to a mere question of inexperience, with Wehrlein’s character also coming into play.

“He can drive a car very well but he is also an explosive character, like Mr Hamilton,” Wolff told Germany’s Stuttgarter Zeitung.

The Mercedes boss has no troubles with a man who  may put his agitation to good use behind the wheel of a racing car, but paired with the equally strong personality of Lewis Hamilton appeared to be the wrong recipe for the Silver Arrows outfit.

“In the car that is quite positive, but in combination with Lewis we needed to take into consideration this explosiveness.

“There is one name from history in which there was a real explosion between two drivers. Our Spanish friend (Fernando Alonso) left us with these scars,” Wolff added.

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Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo topped the timesheet at Sakhir this morning on day 1 of this week’s in-season test at Bahrain.

The Aussie was fastest on the back of a series of short runs, achieving a 1:32.349 with supersoft tyres, just edging out Lewis Hamilton.

The Mercedes fell victim to an electrical problem early on which brought out the red flag but, disrupting the team’s programme which is centered around getting a better understanding of tyre wear and temperatures, a major weakness in last Sunday’s Bahrain GP.

• Follow Day 1 of Bahrain in-season testing ‘Live’

Hamilton was able to resume his running although it took close to 30 minutes to get his W08 back to the pits.

A second red flag came out rookie Sean Gelael parked his Toro Rosso after a suspected engine failure. The Indonesian is set to return to action when the team completes  replaces his Renault power unit.

McLaren-Honda’s prospects for the day were hit when a water leak was discovered in the ERS, keeping Oliver Turvey out of the action

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Lewis Hamilton is poised for a more difficult battle with Sebastian Vettel this season than in the past three years with Nico Rosberg.

Speaking last weekend after the Ferrari driver’s win in Melbourne, the Mercedes star said he is expecting tougher competition from Vettel than what he encountered previously from his team mate.

“I think this year we’re seeing the best drivers at the top,” Hamilton said.

“Obviously it would be great to have Fernando [Alonso] up there, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen anytime soon.

“At least we have a great driver in Sebastian with his four titles, [who had] an incredible surge into Formula 1, continues to be a force and will continue to be for many years to come.

“I’m really grateful to have that fight with him, against Ferrari. It’s great.”

• Vettel ‘over the moon’, but still a long way to go

The Brit refrained however from extending on the comparison between Vettel and retired world champion Nico Rosberg.

“I haven’t had many races up against Sebastian but we’ve always had a respectful relationship,” he said.

“I think there’s a great amount of respect there between us and I’m sure that will continue to grow.”

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Sebastian Vettel  is confident in his chances of bringing the world title back to the House of Maranello.

Asked by Sport Bild magazine if he felt he had a shot at the crown, the German offered a standard answer, but one in which he believes in.

“Yes! If not, I wouldn’t go to the grid.”

Following an upbeat performance in pre-season testing which concluded last week in Barcelona, and which saw it top the timesheets, Ferrari appears to be in a position to give Mercedes a run for its money.

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“All I can say is that the spirit in the team is good, everyone is working for everyone else’s benefit,” said Vettel.

• Red Bull wary of Ferrari self-confidence

But the four-time world champion remains guarded when asked to comment Ferrari’s pre-season form, or Formula 1’s pecking order in Melbourne.

“It’s impossible to predict anything. Even the tests in Barcelona only give a basic idea where you stand. And we’ll only have real clarity after three or four races.

“In Formula 1, only results count,” said Vettel.

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Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner is confident that the team have demonstrated that they are hear to stay.

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The team wasn’t able to reproduce the points finish in Melbourne that they managed in their maiden season. However, Steiner says they still did more than enough to justify their place in Formula 1.

“There was no big miracle in the race, but a small miracle in qualifying with finishing P6 behind the three frontrunner teams,” Steiner told the official Formula 1 website this week. “That was also pretty cool!

“True, the first year is the first year. Your first race is your first race and will always be a special moment in the team’s history.

“This year it was a bit sad retiring from seventh position.

“But what we understand is that we can carry over the momentum from last year. We are not a ‘one-year wonder’, but a serious long-term race team.

“We have a good plan. In reality I think we are in the range of our midfield opponents in terms of quantity.”

Steiner added that the need to keep that momentum going had been behind the tean’s decision to let Esteban Gutierrez go at the end of 2016. He’s been replaced by former McLaren and Renault driver Kevin Magnussen.

“Why that happened? Very simply, you try to improve,” Steiner explained. “Esteban didn’t score any points last year. It was also important for us to see if it was the driver or us not delivering. That’s why we decided that we need a change.

“There are not too many drivers in the league of Kevin,” he added. “We knew Kevin already, as we had spoken with him already the year before. So we talked again and it didn’t take long to come to an agreement.

• Steiner: strategy a differentiator in mid-field battle

Both Magnussen and his team mate Romain Grosjean had checkered pasts in the sport, but that didn’t trouble Steiner.

“Both had some troubles in the past, but difficulties make you better,” Steiner said. “We never really investigated why they had to leave teams. We took them as individuals who would suit our mentality at a time when they were free and we wanted them.

“I think they fit pretty well into our team – maybe we are a bit troubled as well,” he laughed. “There is the American saying: ‘What makes you suffer makes you tougher!'”

“We will have a substantial upgrade for Barcelona,” he revealed. “The next step is still in the wind tunnel. Once we find the gains we will start producing. There is a good plan in place.”

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