Former River Plate and Argentinos Juniors player LEONARDO FERNÁNDEZ died on Wednesday at the age of 45 after suffering a heart attack on Monday (CLARÍN, 4/8). ... Ferrari driver SEBASTIAN VETTEL has "stuck two fingers up" at F1 CEO BERNIE ECCLESTONE's "scathing verdict of his time as world champion insisting: he can say what he wants." Ecclestone "delivered a damning assessment of Vettel's time as world champion," saying driver LEWIS HAMILTON had done a better job of "representing the sport." Privately, Vettel was understood to be "fuming" and, when asked how hurtful those comments were, he "sported his trademark grin to mask his true thoughts" and said, "He [Ecclestone] is free to say what he wants. It is fine" (London EXPRESS, 4/9). ... Australian player MARC LEISHMAN withdrew on the eve of the Masters tournament to "stay by the bedside of his worryingly sick, but recovering, wife" AUDREY LEISHMAN. Leishman said that it was "with 'deep regret and incredible relief' that he had decided to pull out." The relief was due to his wife's "much improved outlook from what was a life-threatening situation involving pneumonia and multiple infections" (THE AGE, 4/9). ... Following in the footsteps of "Rush" and "1: Life on the Limit," a biopic on the life of ENZO FERRARI simply entitled "Ferrari" is "now in the works." ROBERT DE NIRO is "set to take up the role" of Ferrari, whilst CLINT EASTWOOD has reportedly "showed an interest in directing the film" (NBC, 4/9).
