FORMULA 1

📱 Google Drive to Survive

“A Google drive containing all the ‘Christian Horner evidence’ has just been emailed from an anonymous account to hundreds of journalists,” tweeted journalist Jenna Fryer last night.

It kicked off a frenzy in the F1 paddock, and the dossier soon surfaced in our WhatsApp group, which is only available to Upshot Gold members.

There’s a set of fairly tame screenshots doing the rounds, but the full dossier of 79 images has some spicier stuff, including a slightly scarring chat about a “solo sex act” on a flight to Dubai.

Mostly, it’s Chrstian trying to flirt and ask for photos while texting like a 14-year-old who is running out of phone credit.

Horner said last night: “I won’t comment on anonymous speculation, but to reiterate, I have always denied the allegations.”

FOOTBALL

⚖️ Father figure

As Erik Ten Hag gets his grubby paws on Jim Ratcliffe’s Monaco bank account, the United manager is looking forward to an upgrade on the Glazers’ miserly transfer kitty.

Last year they raided Leicester for 36-year-old Jonny Evans, but now United insiders say their top transfer target is £60m Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt.

But it’ll take more than the usual “fat pay packet and fireside chat with Fergie” to lure Matthijs to Old Trafford after his previous dalliance with the club.

Back in 2018, United had the chance to sign the Dutchman for peanuts, but turned it down because scouts said De Ligt’s father was “too fat”, and they were worried the 18-year-old would go the same way.

FORMULA 1
🤳 Raging Bull

👕 A rare chance to own a piece of sporting history

From Maradona's shirt to incredible retro tracksuits, Graham Budd Auctions are giving you the chance to own some iconic items from the world of sport.

The fascinating collection includes:

• Over 300 football shirts, including match-worn shirts from most Premier League clubs.

• Items from legends like Pele, Beckenbauer and Beckham.

• Rare gems like Roger Federer's tennis shoes and Evander Holyfield's world title belt.

There are 1000 items in the catalogue, and there’s something for every budget size.

The auction takes place on 5th and 6th March.

FOOTBALL

🎮 Gianluca will you put down that darn Nintendo and help me torch this bonsai

Italian football has been rocked by many scandals in recent years: match fixing, doping, and the time those Juventus ultras got hold of surface-to-air ballistic missiles.

But now there’s a frightening new spectre haunting Serie A: PlayStation.

This week, Italy coach Luciano Spalletti announced he was clamping down on his players’ Dorito-fuelled gaming sessions, banning consoles and telling them: “You come here to win the European Championship, not to win at Call of Duty.”

According to Italian paper Corriere della Sera, one man anxiously scratching his skin at the prospect of a weekend without Fortnite is former West Ham man Gianluca Scamacca.

The striker’s dismal form with Atalanta is being blamed on a debilitating PlayStation addiction, which has left him running around the pitch in a “foreign body” and “rolling into other worlds”.

Although considering Gianluca’s dad is a terrifying criminal who once destroyed cars and a beloved bonsai tree at Roma’s training ground, it’s probably a good thing he’s locked in his bedroom playing Animal Crossing…

SNOOKER

🖨️ Well, at least I have the memories. And the HP LaserJet 2710

Luca Brecel was always an unorthodox world champion.

After lifting snooker’s most prestigious gong last year, the Belgian admitted he’d prepared for shock wins over Mark Selby and Ronnie O’Sullivan with 7am booze-fuelled benders.

With fans dreaming of a return to the snooker’s golden age, when stars smoked crack with the Rolling Stones, Luca was asked what hell raising he got up to during these wild benders. He replied: "Playing Fifa with my friends".

It was a little disappointing, but The Bullet’s maverick antics continued.

After pocketing the £500,000 prize, Luca spunked the lot on a Ferrari, a Porsche and a Range Rover, claiming he wanted to “put pressure” on himself to win again.

Unfortunately, his plan has sliiiiightly backfired - Luca hasn’t won another tournament since, and is now staving off the bailiffs by entering obscure TV quizzes for cash.

This week he popped up on Belgian gameshow Blocker, where the top prize is £850.

He knocked out in the first episode, but it wasn’t all bad. He took home a brand new Laserjet printer as a consolation prize…

FOOTBALL

🎲 Queens Park Wager

Farewell, then, Stan Bowles. The QPR maverick belonged to an era when footballers drank down your local and got caught trousering brown envelopes full of cash.

Paid £200 a game to wear Gola boots, Stan was offered £250 to defect to Adidas. Instead, he simply wore one Gola boot and one Adidas, pocketing both fees.

Bowles would spend entire days wagering on Snakes n’ Ladders and once won £10 during a pre-match warm up by betting a teammate he could knock the FA Cup off its plinth with a long range shot.

Even on his way into a Gamblers Anonymous meeting, Bowles struck a bet with a stranger about how long he would last.

His gambling also led to one of football’s greatest love triangles. In 1978, he bet his pal Don Shanks £100 he couldn’t steal Swedish beauty queen Mary Stavin from Graeme Souness.

Shanks was successful, but two years later Mary cheated on him with George Best, leading to a huge punch up between Best and Shanks in a hotel foyer.

AND FINALLY

🍑 Cracking view in these seats

That's it for today. Thanks to Scotty, Charles and Neil.