Mercedes chairman Niki Lauda says half of the Formula One grid are putting themselves forward for Nico Rosbergs vacant seat next year.In a surprise announcement on Friday, the reigning champion retired from the sport with immediate effect, leaving Mercedes facing the huge task of replacing him over the winter. Team boss Toto Wolff said the search for Lewis Hamiltons new teammate would start on Monday, but with 18 of the best drivers in the world already under contract for 2017 it is unlikely to be a straightforward process.Nevertheless, Lauda let slip that many of the current F1 drivers had already been in touch with him to talk about the situation.Practically half of Formula One and maybe more, he told Gazzetta dello Sport. I am constantly taking calls.Mercedes has one obvious choice already under contract in Pascal Wehrlein, who drove his debut season for Manor this year and has frequently tested next years tyres with the team. But Lauda hinted that Mercedes might want someone with more experience.Hiring a youngster is a risk and we dont know how strong they would be, he added.Lauda admitted the situation had taken him by surprise.I took it badly. I was not expecting it. Nobody in Mercedes imagined he could say enough. At first I didnt believe him.Nico, I told him. Are you pulling my leg? Is it a joke? But he seriously said it was all true. Truly incredible. Custom Charlotte Hornets Jerseys . Clarkson had been dealing with an elbow injury in early January and will be out of action for at least one week. He has three goals and five assists through 36 games with the Leafs this season. Custom Philadelphia 76ers Jerseys . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. http://www.customjerseysbasketball.com/custom-boston-celtics-jerseys-117y.html . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. Custom Atlanta Hawks Jerseys . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. Custom Orlando Magic Jerseys . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Sanchez will remain a starting pitcher as part of a six-man rotation, reversing the teams decision to shift him to the bullpen in an effort to limit his innings.The announcement came when general manager Ross Atkins spoke with reporters on Thursday.On Monday, the Blue Jays had said Sanchez would transition to the bullpen, the same day the team acquired lefty?Francisco Liriano from the Pittsburgh Pirates.The decision to keep the All-Star in the rotation came after midweek discussions with the team staff and players.The biggest thing is input from different people after something was more concrete, or closer to it, and the fact that Francisco Liriano was so open to everything, Atkins?told MLB.com. Then the more we thought about the potential of a six-man rotation not just benefiting Aaron but benefitiing the others in the rotation at this point in the season.ddddddddddddSanchez has had a breakout year in his first full season on the mound for Toronto. He leads the American League with a 2.71 ERA and is 11-1 in 21 starts.But the Blue Jays want to manage his innings, as he already is at a career-high 139 1/3 this season.His previous high was 133 1/3 between Double-A, Triple-A and the majors in 2014.Liriano went 35-25 for Pittsburgh from 2013 to 2015 while helping the Pirates to three straight playoff berths. He has struggled this season, posting a 6-11 record with a 5.46 ERA. He is signed through 2017 and is due $13.66 million next season.Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. ' ' '