Massa and Bottas sign new deals

FORMULA ONE: Williams retained Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas yesterday for a third season.

The announcement ends speculation that Jenson Button, whose future at McLaren next season remains in limbo, could rejoin with the team where he started his career in 2000.

Bottas had been mooted to drive for Ferrari in 2016 but that hope was dashed after the Italian team surprisingly retained Kimi Raikkonen for next season.

Flanagan unsure of St Helens future

RUGBY LEAGUE: Mark Flanagan, a member of St Helens’s Grand Final-winning team last October, was yesterday unclear where his future lies.

The 27-year-old Oldham-born player is out of contract at the end of the season and still waiting to discover if he is to be offered a new deal.

“My preference is to stay at Saints but it’s looking doubtful at the moment because nothing has been put on the table as yet,” Flanagan said.