Franchise Notes: Manor F1 Team Replaces Rio Haryanto With Esteban Ocon

French teenager Esteban Ocon "will replace Rio Haryanto at Manor Racing for the rest of the season after the Indonesian driver failed to secure the financial backing needed to retain his seat." The British-based F1 team said in a statement on Wednesday that Ocon, 19, "will make his race debut in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps on Aug. 28 alongside Germany's Pascal Wehrlein." Haryanto "has been backed by Indonesia's state-owned oil company Pertamina." However, "his contract depended on raising substantial further funding" (REUTERS, 8/10).

Liverpool is planning two exclusive events for fans and residents of Anfield to get a first look inside the stadium’s redeveloped Main Stand before it officially opens for a matchday. More than 15,000 fans will be given an opportunity to experience some of the premium facilities inside the new stand. The events have been organized as part of the safety certification process (Liverpool).