Formula One: Germany’s Pascal Wehrlein, the official reserve driver for Formula One world champions Mercedes, will test for Force India in Barcelona this week. The 20-year-old will have two days in Force India’s 2014 car and also take part in two further in-season tests with the Mercedes-powered team. Force India, who have been feeling financial pressures, have yet to finish their 2015 car and missed the opening test in Jerez earlier this month. They hope to have the new one running at the final four-day test in Barcelona that ends on March 1.

Tennis: Rafael Nadal kicked off his Rio Open title defence in style with a straight sets victory over Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci. The world number three returned to clay and made hard work of the first set against Bellucci before kicking into gear to seal a 6-4 6-1 triumph at Jockey Club Brasileiro.World number nine David Ferrer saw off fellow Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-4 6-3 and explained afterwards that the 29-year-old qualifier pushed him harder than the scoreline suggests.

Rugby Union: Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell will miss the next Six Nations game against Italy after receiving a two-week ban yesterday for making a dangerous tackle against Wales. Russell was sent to the sin bin for taking out opposite number Dan Biggar as he jumped to catch a high ball in the first half of the game at Murrayfield on Sunday. “The Disciplinary Committee, having heard from the player and his representative and viewed various TV angles of the incident, determined that Finn Russell had committed an act of foul play which merited a red card rather than the on-field yellow card given by the match officials,” tournament organisers said.