Sport in brief

• FORMULA ONE:

George Russell expects a decision on whether he joins – or replaces – Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes to be made by the summer.

Russell, 23, was thrust into the spotlight at the end of last year when he excelled as Hamilton’s stand-in at the Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain.

Russell was robbed of a fairytale victory by a rare Mercedes pit-stop mistake and then a puncture.

But his performance as an eleventh-hour replacement for the Covid-hit Hamilton accelerated calls for him to be promoted to Mercedes.

• CYCLING: Chris Froome endured a tough start at the Volta a Catalunya as he finished the first stage more than eight and a half minutes behind the leader.

The four-time Tour de France winner crossed the line at the end of the 178.5km ride, which started and ended in Calella, in 97 th position.

The Israel Start Up Nation rider came in eight minutes and 40 seconds after stage winner Andreas Kron of Lotto-Soudal.

• SNOOKER: Ronnie O’Sullivan scored a 10-8 win over John Higgins in the first quarter-final of the Cazoo Tour Championship at Celtic Manor yesterday.

The world champion gained a measure of revenge for his 10-3 defeat at the hands of his long-time rival in the final of the Players’ Championship last month.

Today sees Neil Robertson meet Jack Lisowski, while Mark Selby takes on Kyren Wilson tomorrow.

• TENNIS: Juan Martin Del Potro, 32, is to undergo another knee operation in a bid to play at the Olympics.

The former US Open champion has not played competitive tennis since fracturing his kneecap at Queen’s Club in 2019.