welcome along, thank you forjoining us. we start with what might be called the biggest driver transfer in the history of formula 1 and a plot twist few saw coming. lewis hamilton will leave mercedes at the end of next season and join rivals ferrari from 2025 the 39 —year—old started out in f1 at mclaren back in 2007 winning the first of his titles a year later in what was a gamble at the time he made a big move

to mercedes in 2013 replacing the retiring michael schumacher and winning six of his seven titles there, could now a record 8th title come at ferrari? if so, he'd become the first driver in history to win the world title with three different teams. but that is still a huge ask with max verstappen and red bull currently dominating. what's for certain, is fascinating times are ahead as natailie pirks reports: mercedes is the team where hamilton enjoyed his greatest success. but now he is ready for another chapter in his story, only this time in red. he has called leaving mercedes and of the hardest decisions he's ever had to make and added... it's like a dream come true for him, i should imagine.

because going to ferrari is everything. it's so romantic driving for them. the atmosphere, the fans they are in italy. they alljust embraced him. it's going to be a fantastic opportunity with an eighth world title which will be incredible. i'm lewis hamilton. welcome to my first day at mercedes. i hejoined mercedes in 2013 and all he said it has felt like home. he signed a new £100 million contract last year to stay until 2025. but now he will on the race for one more season before joining ferrari on a multiyear contract will stop the italians have been long—term admirers. it is no surprise why. lewis hamilton has won a joint record seven world championships title, and achievement he shares with michael schumacher. six of them have been with mercedes and all came inside an astonishing seven year bill of dominance. hamilton also holds the records for the most winds, the most pole positions and the most podium finishes in the sport.

things didn't go brilliantly last season. in fact, hamilton hasn't won a race since 2021, leaving the loving arms of the family at a0 years old for one more shot at history, a script straight out of hollywood. one might call it his very own italianjob. natalie pirks reporting. well that confirmation of hamilton's surprise move does leave the door open for more driver movement. in need of a seat will be the man lewis hamilton will replace at ferrari and that's carlos sainz. he too has released a statement ahead of what will be his last season with the italian team. he's said: "following todays news, scuderia ferrari and myself will part ways there will of course be a vacant seat at mercedes which team principal toto wolff will now need to fill. here's our f1

correspondentjennie gow: yeah, it is massive news for the paddock. i'm sure he's had a very busy phone today with everyone trying to sell themselves to him. the empty seat at mercedes if lewis doesn't want it, it is still a very attractive position for someone else. alex alvin is at williams at the moment. he would be one of the favourites to go into that seat, but there are plenty of really strong candidates around. at the end of this year, there where a lot of drivers with contracts up for renewal. this has made it a little bit uncomfortable for some who have already signed, like lando noris, because that seed, is it better? i don't know. much my reaction on the bbc sport website. let's change gears, away from formula one... there were two games in the english premier league on thursday night, including an incredible seven goal thriller at molineaux where manchester united scored a winner seven minutes into stoppage time to get a 4 3 victory over wolves.

kobbie mainoo with the winner after wolves thought they'd snatched a point with a 95th minute equaliser. marcus rashford was also on the scoresheet for united in his return to the team. erik ten hag's side are up to seventh: when you are so dominating the game and you are free— one up, don't let the opponent get back to 3—3, it shouldn't happen, but, of course, it pleases me a lot when you get the winner. and create momentum. scoring the first primarily goal and a very important one because this is a big win. in the night's other game, west ham and bournemouth finished all square at the london stadium. kalvin phillips with an unfortunate start to life as a hammers player. he only made the loan switch from manchester city this week but gifted dominic solanke a goal which put the visitors in front. but his new side did find an equaliserjames ward prowse from the penalty spot as it

finished one all. right, exciting times ahead for this man here —— sunak exciting times for this man here shoaib bashir who's all exciting times for this man here shoaib bashir who's all set to make his england test debut on friday in the second match against india in visakapatnam it's an incredible rise for the 20 —year—old who comes in to replace jack leach. bashir�*s played just six first class matches and first came to the attention of captain ben stokes on social media when bowling for somerset. stokes says he fully backs bashir, and is looking forward to him putting on a show, as england look to go 2 0 up in the five match series: is a very modern enough international teams choosing cricketers. england have have a vast department of talent spotting they even have little cameras on the impact as jackets and first class cricket so they can see what everyone is doing it's not always possible to get your scouts out to see every ball of every game.

but england find different ways of collecting the information. now, this is different still with stokes. he might not have been aware but share at all, but he saw something he alerted to but share�*s potential. he was in the lions programme either side of christmas, and now he finds himself making his test debut. well the man facing bashir in that social video, was none other than sir alastair cook, the former england captain bashir was playing against his essex side. cook's told the bbc that it will be special to see bashir, who's a spinner, getting the ball turning against the opposition. if you can aspin the ball, the control, the discipline in the learning how to the ability to spin the ball he is tall, so it's got some very natural attributes which will help. always impressed when i faced

him was he didn't ball that many bad balls. he had control. to try to come into play but they didn't think he was ready for it, they wouldn't be selecting him. —— if they didn't think he was ready for it. rugby unions six nations tournament gets under way in marseille on friday with a mouth watering opening day match between the two favourites, france and ireland. scotland play wales on saturday with both sides ringing the changes after last years world cup. england, have named two debutants for their match against italy in rome, as our correspondent andy swiss reports. they have named their teams on saturday. they have two players making their debut�*s. ethan wrote starts in the background. now, he was born in new zealand but he has an english father and he is been really impressive for eggs that are this year.

fraser ding law also makes his debut at centre alongside the returning henry slade while tommy freeman starts on the wind. wes and scott have also named their teams for their match in cardiff on saturday. fa rewells to my first capture cameron when it at fullback, but for sam castello. .. they also have something of a newcomer at fullback as well with kyle rowe making his first start the six nations after world cup year, always a chance can i bring the change is a little bit to bring in a few fresh faces and that will certainly be the case. just time for a reminder of our top story. lewis hamilton will leave mercedes at the end of next season and join formula one rivals ferrari in 2025. hamilton says he is "so proud" of the success he has achieved in 11 years with the team but is excited to be taking on a new challenge. from me and the rest of the team at the bbc

sport centre, goodbye. hello. full uk forecast in a moment. first of all, i thought i'd reflect on storm ingunn that came across the north atlantic wednesday and hit sweden and norway wednesday night, bringing what looks like being record breaking winds, sustained winds of 122 miles an hour, parts of norway, and 116 miles an hour in sweden. unimaginable strength of the winds. there were even stronger gusts. the gusts that we recorded were even much stronger than those that hit southern england in the great storm of 1987 — one of the most powerful storms i've ever seen, storm ingunn. now it's the lovely end to the day on thursday, fine sunsets many of you spotted caused by the clear skies illuminating the cloud out west. but it is the cloud that's going to be winning the battle, i suppose, over the next few hours, progressively turning quite cloudy, a few patches of drizzle around, some rain into western scotland, but very mild air, again flowing in off the atlantic. we see high pressure to the south, weather fronts to the northwest where it will be windy.

gusts of wind reaching 50 odd miles an hour across northern scotland, where it'll be damp and drizzly across western areas. elsewhere, a lot of cloud to start the day. but given it's quite windy, i suspect we will see some sunny breaks breaking through across parts of east scotland, to the east of the pennines, probably eastern parts of wales, and maybe eastern side of both antrim and downs. so you might see some glimmers of sunshine. either way, it will be a very mild day. the air gets a little bit cooler across northern areas on saturday, say cooler, temperatures coming a bit closer to average, sunshine and showers working in here. again, it's quite blustery. england and wales having the thickest of the cloud with some patches of light rain coming and going. temperatures 1a degrees, again, well above average for this time of the year. the average in london is nine degrees. for sunday's forecast, again, we've got the mild air with us, but thicker cloud this time, so probably a higher chance of seeing some damp weather at times. the far north of scotland, again, quite blustery with some showers working in here. for most of us, temperatures

again on the mild side, ten to 1a degrees pretty widely. but then after this mild run of weather, might be something of a shock to the system to see the weather turns a lot colder next week. and for some of you, that means a return of seeing some snowfall. now it's a little bit less certain just how cold it gets further southwards across england and wales. but it could be that we see some snow. for the time being, the models are picking up thick cloud with outbreaks of cold rain at times.

welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm steve lai. the headlines: the us approves plans for a series of strikes on iran target in iraq after tax on its base injordan. target in iraq after tax on its base in jordan._ target in iraq after tax on its base in jordan. the president will not tolerate _ base in jordan. the president will not tolerate attacks - base in jordan. the president will not tolerate attacks on i will not tolerate attacks on american troops. and neither will i. ,, american troops. and neither willi. ,, , will i. the us imposes sanctions _ will i. the us imposes sanctions on - will i. the us imposes sanctions on jewish i will i. the us imposes - sanctions on jewish settlers in sanctions onjewish settlers in the occupied west bank. and seven time formula 1 champion lewis hamilton lives mercedes to join lewis hamilton lives mercedes tojoin ferrari. lewis hamilton lives mercedes to join ferrari.— to join ferrari. light from our studio in _ to join ferrari. light from our studio in singapore. -

to join ferrari. light from our studio in singapore. this - to join ferrari. light from our studio in singapore. this is l studio in singapore. this is bbc news. it's newsday. welcome to the programme. 0ur welcome to the programme. our top story today, us officials say they have approved plans for a series of strikes against iranian personnel and facilities in syria and iraq but not in iran itself. they so the action will be carried out a number of days and weather will be a factor when the strikes begin. washington has been preparing to hit back at iran militias after three us troops were killed in a drone strike injordan. run macro denies the attack. the american secretary of defence said the us had the right to retaliate after the recent attacks. this is a dangerous _ after the recent attacks. this is a dangerous moment - after the recent attacks. ti 3 is a dangerous moment in the middle east. we will continue to work towards avoiding a wider competition the region. we will take all necessary actions to defend the united

states, our interests, and our people.