Hamilton feeling ‘useless' after Hungarian GP qualifying flop
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ArabGT
4 hours ago
- ArabGT
Aston Martin Retreats from Formula 1 Amid Financial Turmoil
Aston Martin, the legendary British luxury carmaker, is navigating a pivotal chapter in its history. Faced with mounting financial strain, the company has announced plans to sell its minority stake in its Formula 1 team and is reportedly considering delisting from the London Stock Exchange—a potential shift that could reshape its future. The automaker revealed its intention to sell a 4.6% share in AMR GP Holdings, the entity behind its Formula 1 team, in a deal worth roughly $146 million (£110 million). Although the stake is relatively minor and doesn't influence team operations, the move is a key part of a broader strategy to reinforce Aston Martin's financial foundation and refocus on its core luxury car business. The pressure on the brand has intensified in 2025. Aston Martin recently cautioned investors that it may barely break even or post only minimal profit by year's end. This pessimistic outlook stems from two major setbacks: a 25% tariff on vehicle exports to the U.S. and slowing demand in China—a market responsible for nearly a third of the company's sales. To counter these challenges, executive chairman Lawrence Stroll, through the Yew Tree Consortium, has committed to investing an additional £52.5 million by acquiring 75 million new shares. This move boosts the consortium's stake from 27.7% to 33% and provides essential capital to stabilize operations and fund upcoming initiatives. Behind the scenes, a more transformative change may be underway. Industry analysts suggest Aston Martin could be preparing to go private, shedding the burdens of public-market scrutiny. Delisting would simplify ownership, cut administrative costs, and offer the flexibility to pursue long-term strategic partnerships without the pressure of quarterly performance targets. Considering the brand's market cap has plummeted from £4.3 billion in 2018 to just £665 million today, such a shift appears increasingly likely. Key players in this potential evolution include the Yew Tree Consortium, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), and China's Geely. Despite the stake sale, the Aston Martin name will remain on the Formula 1 grid through a long-term commercial naming agreement. However, this raises broader concerns: will the brand's continued presence in F1 reflect genuine involvement—or merely serve as a marketing badge? Interestingly, the Formula 1 team itself has now eclipsed its parent company in value. With AMR GP Holdings valued at £2.4 billion ($3.2 billion), Aston Martin's 4.6% stake barely scratches the surface of the operation it helped launch. The company now stands at a strategic crossroads. Whether it embraces a private future, distances itself from motorsport operations, or reshapes its investor base, Aston Martin's next moves will determine whether it endures as an icon of British motoring—or becomes a cautionary tale of ambition tested by economic reality.
Asharq Al-Awsat
8 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
F1 Is Healthier without Horner, Says McLaren Boss
Formula One is a healthier place after the firing of Christian Horner as Red Bull team boss, McLaren chief executive Zak Brown said on Sunday. Speaking to reporters after talks with Horner's successor Laurent Mekies at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the American welcomed the Frenchman's appointment and said his predecessor had crossed a line. "I just left having a chat with Laurent, I'm happy he's in the role he's in," he said. "I like Laurent, and I think that'll be healthy, and maybe we can get back to focusing on competition on the track. "There's always going to be some political aspects to the sport, I think it's going to be healthier with Laurent," he added. "I'm a fan of Laurent, I've known him for a long time and I think it'll be good to go racing against Laurent." Brown and Horner were not friends, to put it mildly, and clashed frequently -- with the former accusing Red Bull of cheating in 2022 when the team were found to be in breach of the 2021 cost cap. The pair raced in British Formula Three and renewed their rivalry as bosses, trading barbs in the media with Horner a "pantomime villain" for audiences of the Netflix series "Drive to Survive". McLaren dethroned Red Bull as constructors' champions last year -- although Max Verstappen won the drivers' crown for Horner's team for the fourth time in a row -- and have been dominant this season. Brown said the Milton Keynes-based team, who dismissed Horner on July 9, had not seemed to be a healthy environment. Horner, who last year faced allegations of misconduct made by a female employee, which he denied and was cleared of after an investigation, has not commented publicly on the reasons for his departure. Brown looked forward to racing Red Bull in the same way McLaren enjoyed competing against Ferrari and Mercedes -- hard on track but celebrating in a more collegiate spirit for the good of the sport. "From a fan's point of view, the drama of the villain stuff I think works, but I also think the celebratory 'fight it out on track but then kind of photobomb each other' ...I think that's a more fun way to go racing," he said. Brown said the rivalry with Red Bull had gone too far, with Horner's accusations about "flexi-wing" breaches and other technical matters. "When you start getting into frivolous allegations, I think that's just going too far, and I think if I look up and down pit lane now, I see us fighting each other hard politically but there being a line that's not crossed," he said. "I think that line got crossed before... so I think that we'll see a little bit of a change for the better."
Arab News
14 hours ago
- Arab News
Miyu Yamashita takes slim lead into final round at Women's Open
PORTHCAWL, Wales: Miyu Yamashita of Japan maintained her lead through three rounds of the AIG Women's Open despite stumbling to a 2-over par 74 on Saturday at Porthcawl, Wales. After holding a three-shot lead through the midway point of the tournament, Yamashita was at 9-under par through three rounds as her advantage was narrowed to a single shot heading into Sunday's final round. 'I think one of the main things is not missing in the wrong spots,' said Yamashita, whose best finish in a major was a tie for second at the 2024 Women's PGA Championship. 'Because I'm able to do that, that means I don't put myself in awkward positions and helps me not make those bogeys which can cost you so much at these championships.' A Lim Kim moved into second place at 8 under after a 5-under par 67 in the third round after a nine-hole stretch when she compiled four birdies. Andrea Lee of the United States also shot a 5-under 67 on Saturday and was alone in third place at 7 under. 'So honestly I'm not focused on the leader,' Kim said. 'I focus on my process and my shot and then my position. That's all.' A group of four tied for fourth place at 6 under included Japan's Minami Katsu and Rio Takeda, England's Charley Hull and American Megan Khang. Yamashita breezed to a 7-under par 65 in the second round to move into the lead but struggled to find that form Saturday. She was 1 over on the front nine with a bogey and eight pars. She was 1 over again on an eventful back nine that included three bogeys and two birdies. Yamashita was even par for the round through 13 holes until she recorded a pair of bogey 5s at No. 14 and 16. 'I'll be just looking at what went wrong and what went right and analyzing the day and make the improvements that hopefully will lead to a better round (Sunday),' Yamashita said. Yamashita and Takeda, who was alone in second place through two rounds, were the only members of the top 10 on the leaderboard to shoot over par Saturday. Takeda, who was Yamashita's playing partner, also was 2 over. Katsu had the low round of the day at 7-under 65 to put herself into contention by moving up 31 spots on the leaderboard. She got off to a slow start with a pair of bogeys on the first two holes before going on a red-hot run. Starting with a birdie 3 at No. 4, Katsu was 9 under over her final 15 holes in a stretch that included an eagle 3 at No. 6. 'Made two bogeys on the first three holes, but after that I was really focused on my swing,' Katsu said. 'I just had a really good image of my swing, and I kept that going, and here I am.' World No. 1 Nelly Korda stumbled to a 2-under 74 on Saturday to leave her at even par for the tournament in a tie for 36th place. England's Lottie Woad, who turned pro last week then won the Women's Scottish Open, shot a 1-under 71 and is at 3 under for the weekend to sit in a seven- way tie for 11th place. Defending champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand shot a 2-under 70 and was tied for 36th at even par.
