Driving a Formula One car is physically demanding. They can reach speeds of over 200mph miles per hour, and drivers can experience significant G-forces, with peaks often reaching 5 to 6 Gs during hard braking and cornering. In simple terms that means it can feel like you weigh five times your normal weight, and it can put the drivers under major physical strain. So how do drivers cope with the demands of an F1 season? Henry Howe has been the physical performance coach to Aston Martin driver, Lance Stroll, for four years. He tells Shourjo Sarkar how he prepares the Canadian for each race and the season ahead. F1 journalist, Inga Stracke, explains why driver fitness has been of great importance since the days of seven-time world champion, Michael Schumacher.

And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email [email protected], or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

The draw for the 2026 World Cup is looming, and whether your nation is in it or not, most football fans will be watching avidly and plotting paths through the largest football tournament of all time. But what's it like for fans of countries who are appearing at the finals for the first time?

George Santos was a Cape Verde international between 2002-04, when they had only just competed in their first-ever World Cup qualifying campaign. Now that they've reached the finals for the first time in their history, he tells Mani Djazmi why it means so much to the country.

Journalist Carl Ruiter says the feeling is mutual in his native Curaçao. The Dutch Caribbean Island is home to 150,000 inhabitants, making them the smallest nation by population ever to qualify for the World Cup. Carl explains why some Curaçaoans are willing to sell their house just so they can be at the greatest show on earth.

More than the Score is the BBC World Service's daily podcast exploring stories from all over the world of sport. Every Monday to Friday, we're telling stories beyond the scoreline, from tennis to football, boxing to bobsleigh, and rugby league to the NFL. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like pole vault titan Mondo Duplantis, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and tennis legend Boris Becker, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from top football scouts to physios who keep NBA stars in peak condition. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.

And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email [email protected], or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

As Ronnie O’Sullivan turns 50 years of age we assess his genius and all-round impact on the sport of snooker.

He’s won seven World Titles and much more besides, but there have been challenges off-the-table which he's been very frank about. These have included issues with his mental health, substance abuse and run-ins with authority figures.

Ed Harry is joined by the BBC snooker commentator, former UK Champion and star of the 1990s snooker game show Big Break, John Virgo and by BBC Snooker reporter and host of the podcast “Framed”, Shabnam Younus-Jewell. They reflect on their favourite Ronnie moments and asses his impact and legacy in the sport.

More than the Score is the BBC World Service's daily podcast exploring stories from all over the world of sport. Every Monday to Friday, we're telling stories beyond the scoreline, from tennis to football, boxing to bobsleigh, and rugby league to the NFL. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like pole vault titan Mondo Duplantis, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and tennis legend Boris Becker, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from top football scouts to physios who keep NBA stars in peak condition. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.

And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email [email protected], or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

Three-time Olympic gold medallist Max Whitlock has come out of retirement and is targeting a place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The 32-year-old is the most successful British gymnast in history, and he had called time on his career following a 4th place finish at the Paris Olympics. He's told BBC Sport that felt like a failure and is now back in training. Whitlock is not the only high profile athlete to reverse a retirement decision with Tom Brady, Michael Phelps, Michael Jordan, Kim Clijsters and Martina Hingis all choosing to give it another go.

Double Olympic Gold medal winning rower, Helen Glover, came out of retirement not once but twice. The 39-year-old mother-of-three explains to Nick Hatton why some athletes may feel a loss of identity when they choose to walk away from their career. The BBC's tennis correspondent Russell Fuller says it's more common for women in tennis than men to return to the sport having initially retired. That can be due to changes in maternity pay and protected tour rankings.

More than the Score is the BBC World Service's daily podcast exploring stories from all over the world of sport. Every Monday to Friday, we're telling stories beyond the scoreline, from tennis to football, boxing to bobsleigh, and rugby league to the NFL. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like pole vault titan Mondo Duplantis, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and tennis legend Boris Becker, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from top football scouts to physios who keep NBA stars in peak condition. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.

And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email [email protected], or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

Any successful team in any sport needs all the players working together to succeed - but do some of those players face more pressure than others? Mani Djazmi hears expert perspectives on two of sport's toughest roles: hockey goalkeeper and American football quarterback.

England's men's cricketers preparation has been heavily criticised for their Ashes tour of Australia. Captain Ben Stokes and his side played just one warm-up match against their own reserve team ahead of the first Test. They subsequently suffered a crushing eight wicket defeat inside just two days.

They've now opted against sending any of the team who played in Perth to play a warm-up game in Canberra. The match in the Australian capital is a day-night, pink-ball game - the same as next week's second Test in Brisbane.

How, though, should teams prepare for their biggest sporting tests? Former England men's goalkeeper Paul Robinson played 41 times for his country and was England's number one at the 2006 World Cup. He explains to Ade Adedoyin how the country's so-called 'golden generation, including David Beckham, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney, readied themselves for the tournament in Germany whilst dealing with heightened expectation back home. Australian broadcaster and cricket writer Melinda Farrell says preparation in sport is often judged on results and thinks the England cricket team don't want to be seen to be changing their plans after one bad defeat.

More than the Score is the BBC World Service's daily podcast exploring stories from all over the world of sport. Every Monday to Friday, we're telling stories beyond the scoreline, from tennis to football, boxing to bobsleigh, and rugby league to the NFL. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like pole vault titan Mondo Duplantis, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and tennis legend Boris Becker, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from top football scouts to physios who keep NBA stars in peak condition. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.

And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email [email protected], or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

The use of video technology in football has become one of the biggest talking points in the game. There isn't a weekend that goes by without a controversial VAR decision in the English Premier League. So how tough is it to be behind those screens on a matchday when you have seconds to make a decision that you know will make headlines around the world?

Graham Scott was a referee for 10 years in the English top flight before later stepping away from the pitch to become one of the video assistant referees for the Premier League. He explains to John Bennett how VAR officials cope with pressure. Graham also discusses what it's like to see the head of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), Howard Webb, dissect your decision on television every week and why more must be done to protect young officials at recreational level.

More than the Score is the BBC World Service's daily podcast exploring stories from all over the world of sport. Every Monday to Friday, we're telling stories beyond the scoreline, from tennis to football, boxing to bobsleigh, and rugby league to the NFL. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like pole vault titan Mondo Duplantis, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and tennis legend Boris Becker, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from top football scouts to physios who keep NBA stars in peak condition. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.

And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email [email protected], or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

In 1990, Buster Douglas produced one of the all-time boxing upsets by knocking out the legendary Mike Tyson in 1990. Five years later, English football team, Blackburn Rovers, won their one and only Premier League title finishing ahead of the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal. We all love a David versus Goliath battle when it comes to sport but how do you topple a sporting giant? Stewart Cink tells John Bennett how he did just that by beating the legendary US golfer Tom Watson at the 2009 Open at Turnberry. We also hear from Kevin Gallacher - a former Scotland forward and part of that victorious Blackburn team of 1995. He explains why signing strikers Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton helped them to believe they could compete with, and beat, Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United.

Boxing and athletics broadcaster, Mike Costello shares his memories of the fight between Tyson and Douglas and what both fighters told him in the years after.

More than the Score is the BBC World Service's daily podcast exploring stories from all over the world of sport. Every Monday to Friday, we're telling stories beyond the scoreline, from tennis to football, boxing to bobsleigh, and rugby league to the NFL. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like pole vault titan Mondo Duplantis, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and tennis legend Boris Becker, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from top football scouts to physios who keep NBA stars in peak condition. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.

And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email [email protected], or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

Chelsea and England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton has been voted BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2025 after a stand-out 12 months for club and country.

Hampton won Euro 2025 with England and a domestic treble with Chelsea and is only the second goalkeeper to win the award, which is decided by a public vote.

She discusses the last twelve months and her stand-out moments, while Ed Harry is also joined by the BBC’s Sophia Hartley to ponder what the future could hold for Hampton and what her next big targets could be.

More than the Score is the BBC World Service's daily podcast exploring stories from all over the world of sport. Every Monday to Friday, we're telling stories beyond the scoreline, from tennis to football, boxing to bobsleigh, and rugby league to the NFL. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like pole vault titan Mondo Duplantis, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and tennis legend Boris Becker, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from top football scouts to physios who keep NBA stars in peak condition. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.

And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email [email protected], or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

At the age of 78, Dutch football manager Dick Advocaat has led the Caribbean island of Curacao to the men's Fifa World Cup finals for the first time in their history. It's the latest achievement in a career that's seen him win league titles in four different countries, and manage teams from the Netherlands to South Korea - and it's set us wondering about the links between age and coaching ability.

Aston Moore has coached some of the UK's best track and field athletes, including world champions Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Phillips Idowu. As he approaches his 70th birthday, he tells Ed Harry about how his coaching approaches and philosophies have changed over time. He explains why the knowledge he's banked over that time has helped inform his methods, how he's adapted to evolving technologies, and the importance of working out an individual athlete's best way of learning. He also reveals the athletes who've taught him the most about his own job, and why he believes it's best to encourage the people you coach to work out ways to improve for themselves.

Ed also talks to journalist Anthony Wootton about how age and experience are seen in American football. With coaches such as Andy Reid leading some of the NFL's major franchises, and 73-year-old Bill Belichick coaching college football after his successes with the New England Patriots, is experience something that's valued differently in American sport - and could the rest of the world learn from their approach to giving coaches time to establish themselves?

More than the Score is the BBC World Service's daily podcast exploring stories from all over the world of sport. Every Monday to Friday, we're telling stories beyond the scoreline, from tennis to football, boxing to bobsleigh, and rugby league to the NFL. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like pole vault titan Mondo Duplantis, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and tennis legend Boris Becker, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from top football scouts to physios who keep NBA stars in peak condition. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.

And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email [email protected], or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore