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FANS are convinced Max Verstappen will make a stunning career switch after an iconic motorsport team announced a major update.

On Friday morning it was announced Ford would be returning to the field in the World Endurance Championship.

Reuters

Ford have announced they are returning to Endurance racing with the aim of winning Le Mans in 2027[/caption]

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Fans are convinced the move could see Max Verstappen switch motorsport disciplines to race in it[/caption]

Getty

Verstappen has admitted he wants to try other racing disciplines[/caption]

The statement revealed Ford would be joining the Hyperclass type of cars in 2027.

This comes one year after Ford begin their new technical partnership with Red Bull that will see them develop a next-gen Formula One power unit for Red Bull Racing and sister team VCARB from 2026.

Ford’s return to F1 came following a 20-year hiatus, while Ford’s latest move into Endurance Racing will see them compete in races like Le Mans for the first time in 60 years.

The company dominated Le Mans in the late 1960s in a fierce rivalry with Ferrari, who have won the last two events and are the third-most successful team overall behind Porsche and Audi.

Fans have been left convinced this move will ultimately facilitate an incredible change of career for four-time F1 world champion Verstappen.

Speculating on social media, one fan said: “I wonder if this move of Ford’s to return to #WEC will be Red Bull-backed and that gives Max Verstappen an exit strategy which keeps affiliated with both brands whilst also doing something he’s longed to do?

“If they can’t have him in #F1, at least have him in endurance.”

A second said: “Red Bull will have a Ford partnership in 2027. Just saying, Max Verstappen is out there.”

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A third added: “Hoooo boy. Imagine if Ford got Verstappen to drive for them (Ford and RB engine connect) and [Lewis] Hamilton drives for Ferrari WEC program.”

It would be a real fever dream for fans to see the two most successful F1 drivers of the last decade facing off once again on the back of one of motorsport’s most well-known rivalries in one of its most famous races.

Verstappen has openly flirted with the prospect of switching motorsport disciplines, suggesting he was eager to race at the Daytona International Speedway one day.

Speaking last November, he said: “I know that I want to do it in the future anyway, but it’s just about finding the time.

“With such a busy F1 schedule, it’s almost impossible because we finish so late in the season and then to properly prepare where you have to run Daytona or whatever, is pretty impossible.

“I know that when I want to do it, I want to go there and try to win it, be really competitive.

“The only way to do so is by doing some proper testing and get really well prepared, which is not possible at the moment.

“But, who knows? Maybe in a few years’ time. I’ll still be young-ish and I’ll be able to drive the cars.”

Verstappen has raced in the virtual series of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and revealed he had been contacted by “certain people” about racing in it in real life as well.

He said: “Of course, you get contacted by certain people, but it has to come at the right time and in the right way.

“I don’t want to rush into a decision either. With those new cars, I think it will take at least another one or two years before it’s all better understood because at the end of the day, it is still a Balance of Performance story and that makes it difficult.”

The last driver to compete in both Le Mans and F1 in the same season was Nico Hulkenberg in 2015.

In 2023 Verstappen also courted the idea of moving over to motorbikes, saying: “I will race longer, but not in Grand Prix races.

“It would be nice to do it like Valentino Rossi, I like to see his races in GT, a category I have an interest in because we have our own car entered.

“He did everything he could in MotoGP, with a crazy career, and now he’s having fun.

“While still working hard and wanting to win again. I think I will look for something similar in the future.”

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GE HEALTHCARE has announced a €132 million investment to expand its media fill and finish manufacturing site in Co Cork. 

A new state-of-the-art facility on the grounds of the existing Carrigtwohill site will enable 25 million more yearly patient doses of contrast media by the end of 2027, addressing growing global demand.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin will this morning turn the sod to formally initiate construction works on the site of the new facility.

Contrast media are injectable diagnostic imaging agents used to enhance visualisation of organs, blood vessels and tissues during medical imaging. 

The company says that global demand for iodine-based contrast media, used in X-ray, CT and interventional procedures is expected to double in the next decade. 

In 2024, the Cork facility, along with GE HealthCare’s other fill and finish production sites in China and Norway supplied over 100 million patient doses of contrast media around the world.

The new 3000m² facility – which will support both established and pipeline products – will include solution preparation vessels, multi-functional powder handling systems and a new filling line .

It will also includes autoclaves, with advanced automation systems underpinning production. 

Fianna Fail leader Martin said that GE HealthCare has been manufacturing in Ireland for more than thirty years, and has invested extensively in the site in Cork.

He said: “I am delighted to welcome this significant new investment here in Cork, which is testament to the commitment of GE HealthCare in Ireland, and also to our highly skilled workforce.”

The President & CEO of GE Healthcare’s Pharmaceutical Diagnostics segment said that as an industry leader they have a responsibility to help meet the growing global demand for contrast media from health providers and their patients.

Kevin O’Neill added: “This new facility demonstrates our broader commitment not just to address future demand, but also to increase resiliency and security of industry supply for customers.”

Eugene Barrett, Site Leader and Managing Director of GE HealthCare Ireland, said that first doses from the new facility are expected by the end of 2027. 

He said: “This expansion strengthens our longstanding presence in Cork, where we have a highly skilled team, access to leading talent in the pharmaceutical industry, strong distribution links around the world and a great partnership with IDA Ireland.

“First doses from our new facility are expected by the end of 2027 and we are proud of the impact our site will continue to make for patients around the world.”

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RICKY WALDEN hopes to play a qualifying match in South Yorkshire next Thursday despite his worrying illness scare.

The snooker star, 42, was rushed to hospital in Berlin on Wednesday evening with internal pains, which turned out to be pancreatitis – inflammation of the pancreas.

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The world No.38 stayed overnight under medical supervision and withdrew from a Last-16 clash the next day with Barry Hawkins in the German Masters.

Walden remained in hospital on Thursday and Friday and is aware he needs his gallbladder removed at some point upon his return to the UK.

But his team are hopeful the Chester-born cueist may play a Welsh Open qualifier in Barnsley on February 6 – provided he is fit to do so.

Agent Lee Gorton said: “Ricky had been feeling unwell for a couple of days.

“He played his game on Wednesday against Dylan Emery and was in quite a lot of pain during the game.

“We were hoping it would subside but it didn’t. We went back to the hotel and he started getting progressively worse.

“We took him to the emergency room in Berlin hospital. After about a six-hour wait, we decided to keep him in.

“Give him some fluids. He has pancreatitis. He has got a bit of an issue at the moment.

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“He needs his gallbladder removed and that is in plan at home. This is a flare-up with the same condition.

“He may have a gallstone in the wrong place or whatever. He is going to be in hospital for a few days.

“We hope we can bring him home and then he will have the surgery.

“Ricky has had a lot of people message him. He’s had a lot of support and is really chuffed by it.

“He’s still hoping to play. If he comes back and is in good shape, then he will go to Welsh Open qualifying.

“Fingers crossed.”

NATALIE Cassidy shocked fans yesterday by quitting her iconic EastEnders role of Sonia Fowler after 32 years.

Earlier this week, The Sun revealed that the iconic character had quit, with fans now scrambling to predict the way in which she will depart Walford.

BBC Handout

Long term Eastenders character Sonia is leaving the square[/caption]

BBC

She is currently in a relationship with Reiss in the hit soap[/caption]

PA:Press Association

Natalie told bosses of her decision to leave the soap last summer[/caption]

BBC

Sonia has been part of a very tense storyline of late[/caption]

Speculating over various ways that Natalie’s character Sonia might depart Albert Square, fans are sharing their predictions on social media.

Taking to a dedicated EastEnders Reddit thread, one person shared their theory, which was quickly dubbed “excellent”.

“Wonder how she might leave I hope she finds about Reiss and the one to expose him saves Bianca,” the Redditor penned.

“Both sisters decided to leave with the baby (a girl called Dorothy born on 40th anniversary) to go live with Carol.

“I’m hoping Carol and David make cameo as couple who got just got back together to help Sonia, Bianca and the baby leave Walford happily family unit all them decide go visit Bex.”

Reacting to the Redditor’s dream theory, one person commented: “That would be an excellent end for Sonia.”

Another person added: “I think she will have a Sharon type arc where she leaves and comes back in about 5 or 6 years.”

While someone else offered: “

I think she’ll find out about Reiss’ actions and choose to leave the square.”

Natalie, 41, told bosses of her decision to leave the hit BBC One soap last summer.

And now rumours are heating up that she might get killed off during the soap’s 40th. 

HOW WILL SONIA EXIT THE SOAP?

An EastEnders source told The Sun this week: “The 40th week was always going to be shocking, but could they really kill off Sonia Fowler?

“Viewers have watched her grow up on screen and she’s been at the heart of some of the soap’s biggest storylines.

“It would be a proper soap shocker if she was to die during the 40th but equally it will be one that viewers will never ever forget.”

Natalie, who joined the BBC One soap back in 1993, aged just ten years, said of her exit: “I feel extremely sad to be writing this, but also very excited.

“After another 11 solid years back on The Square, I have decided it’s time to move on to pastures new. EastEnders is in my bones so I will never forget where I started my career and I will continue to love the show.

“Thank you to Chris Clenshaw for the opportunity to be such a big part of the 40th anniversary – it’s an honour. See ya, Sonia, going but never forgotten.”

SONIA’S CURRENT POSITION

Natalie’s character Sonia is currently pregnant with killer Reiss Colwell’s baby.

Sonia is in the dark over how he killed his ex-wife Debbie, a crime she was later charged with and was recently up in court for.

Reiss has been holding Bianca captive in a storage lockup after she suspected him of murdering Debbie, with Reiss then framing Bianca for Debbie’s murder.

Bianca filmed a confession tape, admitting to killing Debbie as a way to free her sister.

The tape worked, but Reiss failed to free her despite them having made a deal.

BBC

Sonia is a staple character in the hit soap opera[/caption]

BBC

Natalie joined the soap as Sonia when she was a child[/caption]

BBC

She has been a star of the soap since she was 10[/caption]

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