FIA tweaks driver penalty rules for 2017

Formula One racing’s governing body, the FIA, has modified the regulations  ahead of the 2017

Under the new procedures, race director Charlie Whiting will still report incidents to the stewards as before, but from there the stewards will have the choice as to whether to launch an investigation or not.

"It shall be at the discretion of the stewards to decide if any driver involved

 in an incident should be penalised,” article 38.2 of the sporting regulations now states.

"Unless it is clear to the stewards that a driver was wholly or predominantly to blame for an incident no penalty will be imposed."

It is hoped that this move will encourage drivers to attempt more overtaking moves, without the fear that they may be punished for minor contact.

In other penalty changes, drivers now unable to serve an imposed time, stop-and-go or drive-through penalty during a race due to retirement may be hit with a grid penalty at the next event.  

Masterclass knock from skipper helps tourists cruise to victory for 1-0 lead

Eoin Morgan’s eighth T20I fifty and his 83-run stand with Joe Root, who smashed an unbeaten 46, helped England coast to a seven-wicket win to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Yuzvendra Chahal took 2/27 as Virat Kohli’s team tried to put up a fight. Earlier, MS Dhoni blasted 36 off 27 balls and Suresh Raina smashed 34 as India managed to reach 147/7 in Green Park.Root and Morgan shuffled around for a few overs, but with the required rate so modest it only required the slightest squeeze of the accelerator to get the innings back on track. Morgan hit four sixes in a 37-ball half-century, and victory was sealed with 11 balls to spare.

And so ahead of the second match in Nagpur this Sunday, and the third in Bangalore next week, England now have a real opportunity to leave India with something tangible. After the winter they have had, they will take it gratefully.

Arsenal in a nail bitting match with Burnley

With the Emirates bathed in brilliant sunshine on a crisp winter’s day, it was the perfect afternoon for Premier League football in North London

Burnley were to make the livelier start, but the match soon took on a familiar hue as Wenger’s side pinned the visitors back into their own half for extended periods.

Alexis, with three goals and an assist in his previous two home games against the Clarets, was typically high-energy, while Mesut Ozil was soon smoothly moving through the gears too.

A 98th-minute penalty by Alexis secured a hugely-dramatic victory against Burnley that moves us up to second in the Premier League table.

As the game entered the seven minutes of injury time, the 10-man Gunners -Granit Xhaka had been sent off for a lunge on Steven Defour - were having to hold on to the lead given to them by Shkodran Musatfi 

But it looked like we would be denied the victory we had worked so hard for when Jon Moss awarded the Clarets a penalty for a Francis Coquelin trip on Ashley Barnes.

Andre Gray kept his cool to convert from the spot and it appeared that we would have to settle for a highly-frustrating draw.

But in almost the last kick of the match, Alexis swung in a cross from the left that arrowed towards the far post, where Ben Mee caught Laurent Koscielny in the face with a high boot.

Moss awarded Arsenal the penalty and Alexis, showing incredible composure, sent a panenka down the middle from the spot to seal a precious victory.

There are sure to be many more twists and turns in this title race, but surely nothing will compare to the drama on offer on this chilly afternoon in north London.