🏁 Ferrari's Winning Formula

Rise and shine, it's Monday, 11 April

🔊 Sport Today Podcast

This morning, Sam Ferris and Martin Gabor are at the mic. 

Today's listen time: 10 minutes.

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

📺  What we're watching 

⚾ 9.00am - MLB - Yankees v Red Sox - Yankee Stadium, New York City - Foxtel, Kayo

🏀 9.00am - NBA - Grizzlies v Celtics - FedExForum, Memphis - Foxtel, Kayo

🏏 12am (Tue) - IPL - Sunrisers v Titans - DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai - Foxtel, Kayo

All times are in AEST

🏁 Ferrari fires while Red Bull was on fire 

Charles Leclerc enjoyed a relaxing drive in the Melbourne sun, but things were a little bit more dramatic everywhere else you looked at the Australian Grand Prix. 

Golden points: Formula 1 returned to Melbourne for the first time since 2019 and it did not disappoint. Leclerc picked up his 2nd win of the season to go 34 points clear in the Drivers Championship.

• It was a cruisy race for Leclerc who started from pole and led the whole way. But it was a different story for defending champ Max Verstappen. His car caught on fire so he’s failed to finish now in 2 of the 3 races.

• This was meant to be a tough year for Daniel Ricciardo, but the Aussie is still smiling after he finished 6th.

• You can tell Victorians missed their racing. It’s estimated 420,000 people rocked up over the weekend to watch the F1 and the V8 Supercars.

They said it: "I'm pretty gutted about that, I wanted to have a good go there.” - V8 Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen won 2 of the 4 races in Melbourne but failed to finish the final race. 

What’s next: We’re off to Italy for the next F1 race in 2 weeks. That’s gotta be good news for Leclerc and Ferrari.

⛳ Smith looks to add to his wardrobe 

There are going to be a few people working from home today. You can blame it on public transport or whatever you like, but the real reason probably has something to do with the golf.

Golden points: We’re into the final round of the Masters, and Aussie Cameron Smith is right in the mix to win his first green jacket.

• He started the day 3 shots behind world #1 Scottie Scheffler. It sounds like a lot, but we’ve seen some Masters meltdowns before.

• Smith is pretty far in front of the chasing pack, so he should finish in the top 3.

• Tiger Woods finished +13 so he can’t win. But it’s still an amazing effort to be back playing after last year’s serious crash.

Watch it: Beat the early morning traffic and watch it on 9Gem, Foxtel and Kayo. It’s already started but that doesn’t mean you have to miss the finish.

🏆 Winner winner chicken dinner

The Roosters are cock-a-hoop after they won their first NRLW title. But they’re not the only ones celebrating after a gigantic week of women’s finals.

Golden points: You get a trophy, you get a trophy, you get a trophy. No, this isn’t an Oprah Winfrey comeback. This is a celebration of NRLW, AFLW and WNBL finals.

• Let’s start with the Roosters. They knocked the 3-time champs out in the semis and then beat the Dragons 16-4 in the big one. How about Sarah Togatuki! She nearly missed the game because of suspension and ended up player of the match.

• From a first-time winner to a team celebrating a dynasty. The Adelaide Crows won their 3rd AFLW title after they beat the Demons 29-16.

• Another city is celebrating. This time it’s Melbourne after the Boomers beat the Lynx in game 3 of the WNBL finals. Not bad for a team that was smashed in game one.

What's next: Fans of women's footy won't have to wait long for some more action because the next AFLW season starts in August.

🥊 Alexander the great cannot be beaten 

It turns out zombies can be stopped. All you need is a really good Aussie UFC star in your corner.

Golden points: Alexander Volkanovski remains unbeaten in UFC and has now won 21 fights in a row after he beat Chan Sung Jung yesterday.

• This was an absolute clinic and it means Volkanovski retains his featherweight title.

• The fight was stopped in the 4th round. That’s pretty rare because his opponent is known as the ‘Korean Zombie’ for his ability to keep standing no matter how hard and often he’s hit. 

They said it: “You put on a clinic tonight. It was in my opinion your greatest performance inside the octagon.” - UFC commentator Joe Rogan liked what he saw. 

Watch it: There was a fair bit going on in Florida yesterday. The fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns is being called the best of the year. You be the judge.

🏉 Fans get too close and personal 

Everyone usually has a giggle when someone gets a bit of liquid courage and runs onto the field during a game. But not this time.

Golden points: The NRL is assessing ground security after 2 games were interrupted by pitch invaders over the weekend. 

• The Gold Coast Titans are investigating the moment a security guard at Cbus Super Stadium knocked a female streaker off her feet with a big tackle.

• The tackle has divided footy fans. Some reckon it was fair. Others think it was way over the top. 

• Luckily the PM wasn't at Shark Park yesterday because someone with a flare ran onto the field and got very close to the players.

Watch it: Here's the controversial tackle from the game on the Gold Coast.

📊 Chart stopper

This morning English Premier League giants Manchester City and Liverpool played out a thrilling 2-2 draw. It means City keeps its one-point lead with 7 matches left. 

👀 Quick singles

🏉 Former representative rugby league player James Maloney has reportedly failed a drugs test in France. Maloney has been suspended from playing in a semi-professional league in France and is waiting to have his B sample tested.  

🏈 The NFL is in mourning following the death of young quarterback Dwayne Haskins. The 24yo was hit by a truck while trying to cross a highway in Florida.

🎾 Ash Barty has revealed her next career move after tennis, but it’s got nothing to do with sport. The former world #1 is going to write some children’s books that will be based on her life on and off the court. 

⚽ It wasn’t a great weekend for Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United. The team lost to Everton and the Portuguese star has had to apologise for breaking a fan’s phone after the game. 

🏉 Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya has been sent straight to the NRL judiciary for making a homophobic slur. The incident occurred in Friday’s win over the Cowboys where he could be heard using the offensive term. 

🎾 There was more Aussie doubles success with Max Purcell and Matt Ebden winning the title in Houston. However, Nick Kyrgios missed out on a spot in the singles final after he lost to Riley Opelka and got into an argument with the chair umpire.

🏉 Carlton’s unbeaten start to the AFL season is over, and it could get worse with skipper Patrick Cripps injuring his hamstring in the loss. Cripps hurt himself in the first quarter but the club doesn’t know how serious it is yet. 

⚽ Manchester City is still on top of the EPL after they drew 2-2 with Liverpool this morning. The result means City is one point clear with 7 games to go.

🙃 Left of field…

Even when he’s not winning, Tiger Woods still finds a way to break some sort of record.

Golden points: Some of the clubs he used to win 4 golf majors in a row from 2000-2001 have been sold for a record price. We’re talking millions. 

• They were sold at auction for about $7 million, which is the most anyone has ever paid for golf memorabilia.

• The guy who bought them 12 years ago paid around $75,000, so he’s done pretty well.

• The most expensive golf item ever sold before this was the green jacket Horton Smith won at the first Masters. That went for a ‘measly’ $916,000.

📽 The highlight reel

What's that saying? Ah yes, better late than never. The Matildas lived up to that with 2 very late goals against New Zealand. Fans will be hoping for a slightly less stressful game tomorrow. 

📸 Photo finish

Here's the Master and Commander hanging out with a man who wants to earn that title next month. Russell Crowe and Anthony Albanese really love their Rabbitohs. 

🏃‍♀️ The finish line

🏆 Today's trivia answer

Scott's victory in 2013 saw him become the first Aussie to win the Masters.