Former Formula 1 leader reveals the leadership rule that stops teams burning out under pressure
Sebastian Sheppard is a peak performance speaker, strategic advisor and former Formula 1 engineering leader whose work sits at the sharp end of pressure, precision and people management.
In this exclusive interview with the High Performance Speakers Agency, Sebastian Sheppard explains how leaders can keep teams motivated when results are not coming, why discomfort is essential to development, and how executives can build cultures where people are trusted to solve problems rather than wait for instructions.
Premier League betting tips: Liverpool to beat omnishambles Chelsea, Viktor Gyokeres to score, and more Gameweek 36 betting tips
Read on for a breakdown of the best bets from this weekend’s Premier League TV games from Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher - including the big ‘un between West Ham and Arsenal on Sunday, May 10.
Ice hockey news: Toronto Maple Leafs win first overall pick in 2026 NHL Draft
Tuesday, May 5 saw the Toronto Maple Leafs win the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery and secure the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
The event took place at the offices of NHL Network at 7 pm ET, writes Sports News Blitz’s Katie Butler.
Soccer news: From YouTube to FA Cup dreams, the SE Dons story
SE Dons, a football team founded by Andrew McHugh, known as Don Strapzy, and his friends, has grown from filming matches on YouTube to potentially competing in the FA Cup, as they rise to Step 5 football in the Southern Counties Eastern Football League.
Sports News Blitz’s Uchenna Haq takes a closer look at their rise through the ranks.
Darts betting tips: Premier League Darts Night 14 preview and betting tips
The Premier League of Darts is reaching the business end, with the race for the play-offs heating up.
This week, the eight arrowsmiths head to West Yorkshire to battle it out for the Night 14 title in Leeds. Sports News Blitz’s Charlie Fawcett previews all the action.
NBA playoffs news: OKC Thunder cruise past LeBron James’ LA Lakers to claim Game 1
The reigning NBA champions, the OKC Thunder, took down LeBron James and the LA Lakers 90-108 in Game 1 of their Western Conference semi-finals match-up.
The game took place on Tuesday night at Payton Center, Oklahoma.
OKC, the heavy favourites, comfortably rolled aside the shorthanded LA Lakers, despite James leading the game in scoring, writes Sports News Blitz’s Oliver Carter.
WSL news: England captain Leah Williamson extends her stay with Arsenal
Lionesses captain Leah Williamson has signed a new contract with Arsenal, continuing her two-decade journey with the club.
Arsenal officially confirmed that Williamson, 29, will remain with the team for the next few years.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Abbie Latymer looks back at her rise to stardom.
Remembering Alex Zanardi: F1 driver, paralympian, and an unstoppable spirit
On Friday, May 1, 2026, sport lost a great champion and a great man. Alex Zanardi, aged 59, passed away in Padua, Italy, not far from where he was born in Bologna.
His spirit lives on through his wife, Daniela, and their son, Niccolo.
The Italian was a Formula 1 driver, two-time CART (now IndyCar) champion, and Paralympic medalist in handcycling.
In this article, Sports News Blitz’s Katie Butler reflects on his legendary career.
Soccer opinion: Leeds Utd set to secure Premier League status for next season
With Leeds United finding form on the back-end of the current Premier League season, the Whites’ U-turn from imminent relegation was not an overnight achievement, as managerial adaption and player brilliance could collectively keep Elland Road in the top flight.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke was given an ultimatum in December; provide results in the coming week or the job is at risk.
Games that week included two home fixtures against giants Chelsea and Liverpool, an aesthetically unpleasant sight for Farke and fans.
F1 opinion: Ferrari’s new era, with one defining question
For nearly two decades, Ferrari’s “racing red” cars have driven towards something that once felt inescapable, writes Sports News Blitz’s Francesca O’Callaghan.
After Kimi Räikkönen delivered Ferrari their last Drivers’ crown in 2007, the narrative has been filled with near-misses and a legacy growing increasingly cumbersome with every passing season.
Even the constructors’ title, absent since 2008, feels like an antique, a time when Ferrari took centre stage, labelling themselves as the kings of motorsport.
This is a team anchored in superiority, shaped by the vision of Enzo Ferrari, and marked by triumph.
AD/Vantage Padel Team brings the Hexagon spirit to Los Angeles at a star-studded BERO Padel Classic
The Hexagon Cup champion team in 2024 and 2026 acted as cohost of the BERO Padel Classic in Los Angeles, an event that brought together padel, entertainment and international projection.
Tom Holland, Steve Aoki, Stormzy, Jay Shetty and a prominent group of celebrities were among the main attractions of the event.
AD/Vantage Padel strengthened its international profile in the United States as a two-time Hexagon Cup champion, in an event that helped boost the global visibility of padel.
What Current Stanley Cup Odds Reveal About This Year’s Top Contenders
Stanley Cup odds carry a deep story. They signal relative team strength early. They reflect how teams are performing, how they’re perceived, and how the market reacts in real time.
ATP Tour news: Jannik Sinner creates history as Masters domination continues in Madrid
Madrid stages the second of three Masters 1000 events during the ATP clay court season, held at a considerable altitude of around 2,000 feet and usually in balmy temperatures.
The so-called “big four” (Andy Murray, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic) exerted something of a stranglehold upon the tournament, winning it for 10 straight years in 2008-17.
In more recent times, the current dominant pair of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have claimed the title, along with Andrey Rublev and Casper Ruud.
Following this year’s edition, Sports News Blitz writer and tennis fan AJ Becker takes a look at the implications for both winner and runner-up.
2026 World Cup Betting Odds: Who Are the Favourites and How Does the Market Look?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11, and with 48 teams competing across the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the first time in the tournament's expanded format, the betting markets are already generating serious attention.
Whether you are a seasoned sports bettor or simply curious about how the odds reflect each nation's chances, the current pricing tells a compelling story about where the smart money is sitting - and where the value might be hiding.
Interest in World Cup betting has surged in recent months as the draw was confirmed and sportsbooks began releasing their full outright markets. This piece breaks down the current odds, analyses the leading contenders, and looks at some of the longer-priced nations that the market may be underestimating.
Top-five battle intensifies as Liverpool enter season-defining run-in
Only a year after winning a long-awaited 20th top-flight title, Liverpool are now fighting tooth and nail to avoid the ignominy of finishing outside the Premier League’s top five.
Title-winning manager Arne Slot has gone from being one of the Anfield favourites to becoming one of the most divisive figures on Merseyside in a dramatic fall from grace.
Back-to-back victories over Fulham and Everton eased the pressure on the Dutch tactician, moving the Reds five points clear of sixth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion.
F1 news: Kimi Antonelli sets new Formula One record after Miami Grand Prix win
Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli claimed victory at the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, finishing 3.264 seconds clear of Lando Norris, while Norris’ McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri secured the final podium position.
The Italian, who started from pole, recorded his third win of the season.
His only non-win this year came in the season opener in Australia, where he finished second behind his team-mate George Russell.
Sunday’s pole position was also his third of the campaign, writes Sports News Blitz’s Katie Butler.
F1 vs NFL: Two sports, one question over women’s place at the top
For years, girls were pushed away from muddy pitches and roaring engines, guided instead toward something “more appropriate”, writes Sports News Blitz’s Francesca O’Callaghan.
Fast forward to 2026, is that written narrative beginning to smudge, like ink on a page, or are we pretending that the sporting world is changing without reality fully catching up to it?
Take Formula 1 and the NFL.
Man Utd analysis: Should Michael Carrick be named permanent manager for the 2026/27 season?
Following Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Liverpool in a thrilling encounter on Sunday, the case for Michael Carrick to take on the role permanently at Old Trafford continues to strengthen, with the club now closing in on a Champions League place.
After being appointed interim manager on January 13, Carrick has taken the Premier League by storm, writes Sports News Blitz’s Uchenna Haq.
Tennis news: Emma Raducanu ready to return after tournament absences
British number one Emma Raducanu has pulled out of three tournaments this year to focus on her health - but now says she feels ‘much better’.
Tennis superstar Raducanu is set to play in this week’s Italian Open after previously pulling out of events in Miami, Linz and Madrid as a result of post-viral symptoms.
This news has been received with excitement by British tennis fans, writes Sports News Blitz’s Abbie Latymer.
IPL betting tips: Best bets, odds and value plays as playoff race intensifies
IPL 2026 is nearing the business-end phase. Every game now directly impacts the playoff race.
Sports News Blitz’s cricket betting expert Himanshu Sharma breaks down the best bets, odds value, and key angles from Week Seven of the Indian Premier League.