League Notes: Top-Heavy Formula 1 Must Change, Brawn Says

The "top three teams' domination" of Formula 1 over the past two seasons "is unacceptable and has to change," F1 Managing Dir Ross Brawn said. Force India's Sergio Pérez was the only driver outside Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull to finish a grand prix in the top three in this year's 21 races. Brawn: "Two podiums from a total of 123 is unacceptable. ... It's a problem we are tackling together with the FIA and the teams, because the future of Formula 1 depends on it (REUTERS, 11/28).

A WADA delegation held talks with Russian officials and visited a suspended Moscow anti-doping laboratory on Wednesday "as it waits for Russia to meet a year-end deadline to hand over laboratory data." Wednesday's visit, which included three WADA delegates, was "meant to lay the groundwork for a subsequent mission -- on a date not yet announced -- to retrieve the data" (REUTERS, 11/28).

The global esports sector is "continuing its advance," with confirmation that Singapore will boast its own esports association "in support of professional gamers." Led by Ng Chong Geng, the national sports association "will seek to present Singapore as a hub for events and players" in Southeast Asia (THE DRUM, 11/28).

The Int'l Cricket Council "has pinned its hopes on South Asian migrants" in Germany and the U.S. to "expand the game's footprint in the untapped markets of Europe and Americas." ICC GM, Commercial Campbell Jamieson said that the game is "growing rapidly" in Germany. The sport is also "growing fast" in the U.S., something that was acknowledged by former West Indies int'l Ricardo Powell, who is now a selector for the U.S. national team (PTI, 11/28).

National Rugby League coaches met on Wednesday to discuss the "possible introduction of a transfer window" as a "frantic few weeks of activity shifts from the frontrow to the playmakers and the plans of four clubs" -- Cronulla, St. George Illawarra, Parramatta and the New Zealand Warriors (THE AUSTRALIAN, 11/28).