Latest news with #BelgianGrandPrix
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
2025 F1 Power Rankings: Hungarian Grand Prix Update
The F1 schedule moves to Hungary after the intense Belgian Grand Prix. The usual mix of sunshine and heavy rain at Spa-Francorchamps produced significant changes in our power rankings during the weekend. From a surprise middle field surge to top contenders losing ground, the rain-delayed race produced some movement in our rankings ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest. Here's the rundown as we prepare for the race ahead of a three-week break. 1. Oscar Piastri | McLaren The victory at Spa established Oscar Piastri as the clear driver's championship frontrunner, winning his sixth race of the season and expanding his lead over Lando Norris to 16 points. The start of Sunday brought immediate success as he seized the first-place position from Norris during the initial lap. We were impressed by his long lead expansion to 9.1 seconds as he maintained high lap times on the medium Pirelli tires. Piastri's dominant performance at Belgium followed his excellent P2 finish at Silverstone before a penalty was given to him for erratic driving, which left him fuming and motivated. 2. Lando Norris | McLaren Lando Norris secured pole position at the Belgian Grand Prix , but McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri secured the P1 finish, which resulted in a team one-two victory. Piastri successfully moved past Norris through the Kemmel Straight at the beginning of Sunday's race and never looked back. The decision to pit one lap later with hard tires and a few minor mistakes resulted in his P2 position. Norris' small mistakes continue to plague him but his talent is exceptional, so you can't rule him out of this 1-2 McLaren race to the championship 3. Charles Leclerc | Ferrari After enduring what he called a 'horror show' at the British Grand Prix, finishing a lowly 14th after struggling to keep his Ferrari on track, Charles Leclerc staged a remarkable comeback at Spa, securing P3. His car maintained its third position in both pit stops and behind the McLaren drivers while keeping Max Verstappen at bay despite using intermediate tires that were completely decayed. Ferrari's new suspension package delivered significant improvements to Scuderia's performance as Leclerc continues to succeed despite car challenges all season. 4. Alex Albon | Williams After achieving P8 at Silverstone, Alex Albon proved his driving skills by outperforming his teammate, Carlos Sainz, at Spa. The Williams driver showed exceptional speed during the qualifying session, which enabled him to earn a fifth position. The car maintained sixth place throughout the race by outperforming Lewis Hamilton's faster Ferrari because of its superior straightline performance. This outstanding performance solidifies his position as a future leading driver and it will be fun to see what he can do the rest of the season. 5. Max Verstappen | Red Bull During the Belgian Grand Prix weekend at Spa, Max Verstappen experienced mixed results following his poor British Grand Prix performance, where his Red Bull setup issues led to a P5 finish. Piastri lost the lead to him during the Sprint, but he maintained his position at P2 on the grid. During the race at Spa, he attempted to improve his position but ended up with a P4 finish because he could not overtake Leclerc's Ferrari. Verstappen's opening for yet another championship continues to close — fast. Read More: 6. Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari During the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, Lewis Hamilton encountered some nightmares by spinning out twice during Q1 sessions and violating track limits multiple times. The Ferrari driver achieved a remarkable P7 position after starting from the pit lane. The seven-time champions demonstrated exceptional racing skills and strategic understanding by switching to slick tires, but Hamilton failed to reach the podium again. With the improvements to his car's suspension, it was a weekend of mixed emotions and thoughts about what could have been. Read More: 7. Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls The Belgian Grand Prix showed Liam Lawson successfully reaching his third consecutive points score with an P8 finish. Lawson maintained a low profile during the event yet produced consistent results while achieving a P10 position in the Sprint and beating Isack Hadjar to the Grand Prix start. His unobtrusive approach to racing enabled him to earn essential championship points when Hadjar encountered car problems. 8. Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber The Belgian Grand Prix marked Gabriel Bortoleto's third points finish in the last three races as he finished ninth in the race. Bortoleto performed well enough to qualify for Q3 while beating his Kick Sauber teammate Nico Hulkenberg to that position. The drivers allowed him to move forward during the race before staying clear of trouble to achieve a strong finish. 9. George Russell | Mercedes George Russell had an unhappy time at Silverstone due to two slick tire bets, which ended in a spin while he only collected one point. His Spa Sunday performance was 'nearly there,' he said, and ended with a P5 finish for the weekend. This indicates a stronger performance than his British GP showing but he's lost some momentum and looks to rebound in Budapest. Related: 10. Pierre Gasly | Alpine The Belgian Grand Prix presented challenges for Pierre Gasly, but he secured a P10 finish to earn his team a point. During the 44-lap race, Gasly maintained a DRS train position on the outside of the top 10 for most of the event. The second pit stop of Nico Hulkenberg's Kick Sauber car allowed Gasly to move up to P10. 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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dallas Cowboys Player Blasts New England Patriots' Leadership
The Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots have both become historic franchises, with some of the most Super Bowl wins in NFL history. Though, the Cowboys haven't been able to hoist a Lombardi Trophy since 1995. Meanwhile, the Patriots have had much more recent championship success, last winning in 2018. Yet, the NFL is all about what you've done lately, and the Patriots have been riding the struggle bus, missing the playoffs each year since 2021. As for the Cowboys, they've been much better, reaching the playoffs in three of the past four seasons. This past offseason saw the Patriots and Cowboys execute a trade that sent quarterback Joe Milton from New England to Dallas. While the Patriots now have an all-new coaching regime, and even the Cowboys have changed head coaches from last season, Milton suggests the Patriots' previous setup could use a lot of work. 'Dak is a great leader. All respect to him. He literally goes out of his way to help me, no matter if the coach is talking in the meeting, he literally goes out of his way to help. . . . I've been in another building. I know how that goes. It's just very different over here.' Joe Milton on Dallas Cowboys/New England Patriots The Patriots probably should be cut some slack here, considering they had a rookie, Drake Maye, leading their quarterback room last season. However, they also had other veterans on hand, such as Jacoby Brissett too. They weren't exactly focused on developing the sixth-round rookie as opposed to the third overall pick. No matter what, we're guessing the Patriots won't have the same issues again under Mike Vrabel as opposed to last year with first-year coach Jerod Mayo. Related: Related Headlines Cleveland Guardians' All-Star, MLB Trade Candidate, Being Investigated for Gambling Report: New York Mets Have Given up on Rising Star, 'Willing To Move Him' Before Deadline Lando Norris: You are the biggest loser of the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix Pittsburgh Steelers Release Former All-Pro on His Day Off
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
‘Piastri, Norris perform better when they're the hunter, not hunted'
NEW DELHI: Oscar Piastri was flying during the Belgian Grand Prix practice, through the famed 7km long Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps last weekend, topping the session with absolute ease. The young Australian kept his foot on the throttle in sprint qualifying to beat his McLaren teammate Lando Norris by a big margin of six-tenths of a second. McLaren's Oscar Piastri and McLaren's Lando Norris at the Belgian Grand Prix, at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium. (REUTERS) But come qualifying, Norris edged Piastri to take pole for the main race. On Sunday though, it was Piastri again who topped his teammate to take the race win and extend his championship lead to 16 points. This has been the story of not just the last Grand Prix weekend but the entire topsy turvy season with the dominant hand shifting from one McLaren driver to the other. By now — after 13 of 24 races — it is quite clear that one of the two drivers of the Woking-based squad is likely to win the championship unless something untoward happens. Despite Max Verstappen's sheer brilliance, which has earned him two wins this season, the Dutchman is unlikely to challenge for the title which will bring an end to the Red Bull driver's run of four successive championships. But which McLaren driver is going to end the run? 'It is a fight between the two McLaren drivers unless something goes wrong. The whole season has been going one time in favour of one of them and then the other and they both seem to react to each other in different ways,' former world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who beat 7-time champion Michael Schumacher in an epic fight to win the title in 1997, told HT in an interaction. 'It is really hard to judge. I feel that Norris still has the edge on speed but Piastri has a cooler head. So, it balances out. Both drivers seem to perform better when they are not leading the championship, when they are the hunters and not the hunted. Leading the championship has a huge effect on your mind, the weight you carry on your shoulders.' Norris, 25, led the championship for the first four races before Piastri overtook him after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Though the 24-year-old has led the title fight since then, the battle has been extremely close with the two coming together in Montreal, which led to Norris's only DNF (did not finish) of the season. Had the Briton not crashed into his teammate while chasing him, the gap — 16 points currently — could have been negligible or even seen Norris in the championship lead. 'Lando seems to have recovered a bit (from a 22-point deficit after the Canada crash). He seems to be more emotional than Piastri. When you take the two into account, it's really hard to know which one has the better shot at winning,' said Villeneuve in a call facilitated by FanCode, the official broadcaster of F1 in India. 'You can tell the effect on both drivers. The minute Piastri became the championship leader, it had an effect on him that doesn't look like it was super positive. The same thing with Lando. Once he wasn't the championship leader, he started driving a little bit harder like he did last year. So, it does have a big psychological effect.' It seemed in the initial part of the season that Verstappen, who on Thursday confirmed he will stay with Red Bull in 2026, was also in the title fight. Former race winner Jean Alesi had in fact told HT that the Dutch reigning world champion will steal the title from the two McLaren drivers as they keep taking points from each other. But the last few races have changed the dynamics. Verstappen has gone three races without a podium, the first time it has happened in six years. 'Max is a different beast. He's a pure racer. He doesn't get too affected. It doesn't matter whether he's leading or running 10th, he will fight as hard. He's always out there giving his 100%, taking the risks, trying to always get that extra 10th of a second or that extra position, whether he's leading or not,' said the 54-year-old Canadian. 'You could see a little bit of frustration, because he doesn't like not winning. You can see that the team is going in the wrong direction. So that is a little bit frustrating. But he recovered very quickly from that. He seems to be the same Max now that he was when he was winning every race. He's one of the rare drivers that doesn't seem to be too affected.'
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Lewis Hamilton says what he really thinks as Ferrari confirm future F1 plans
Fred Vasseur has been handed a new multi-year deal as Ferrari team principal despite ongoing speculation about his future - and Lewis Hamilton has backed the Frenchman Lewis Hamilton declared he has "absolute confidence" in Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur. The Brit's vote of support comes after confirmation the Frenchman has penned a fresh multi-year contract with the Scuderia following months of speculation over his future. Vasseur's role has come under the microscope this campaign, with the Scuderia failing to secure a single victory beyond Hamilton's sprint triumph in China back in March. Axed former Red Bull boss Christian Horner has even been touted for the position since his departure earlier this month. Since switching from Mercedes, Hamilton hasn't managed a grand prix podium in Ferrari red – a barren run spanning 13 races – marking the longest he has ever waited for a top-three result. Yet, ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, the 40-year-old declared himself delighted with the news of Vasseur's new deal. He said: "I am always positive about Fred, and I have told everyone that. I told you before it was the right choice. "Fred signed me here. He is completely different to [Mercedes team principal] Toto [Wolff] but in terms of characters they are both massive racers. The real positive when I worked with Toto was how he was able to utilise individuals and figure out how people work best and how to get the most out of someone. "For me, he created me with freedom to be able to express myself the way I wanted to and that enabled me to be the best version of myself. Fred is similar in that respect. I am still trying to learn the way he works. But I have absolute confidence in Fred, as I have always said." Hamilton sits sixth in the championship standings, trailing the title leader by 157 points and lagging 30 points behind team-mate Charles Leclerc. Ferrari currently occupy second place in the constructors' championship with Mercedes 28 points behind. Their most recent drivers' championship triumph came in 2007, whilst their last constructors' title followed in 2008. The British driver revealed at last week's Belgian Grand Prix that he had held discussions with Ferrari's senior leadership – including chairman John Elkann, CEO Benedetto Vigna and Vasseur – and presented two reports detailing his thoughts on why the Italian team are struggling for pace. Ahead of the final race before the summer shutdown, Ferrari announced: "Scuderia Ferrari HP is pleased to announce that it has extended, with a multiple-year contract, its agreement with Fred Vasseur, who will continue as team principal for the coming Formula 1 seasons. "Fred joined the Scuderia at the beginning of 2023, bringing with him extensive motorsport experience and a proven ability to develop talent and build competitive teams across all levels of racing. Since then, he has laid a solid foundation with the ambition of returning Ferrari to the top of Formula 1. "Renewing Fred's contract reflects Ferrari's determination to build on the foundations laid so far. His ability to lead under pressure, embrace innovation, and pursue performance aligns fully with Ferrari's values and long-term ambitions. "Under Fred's leadership, Scuderia Ferrari HP is united, focused, and committed to continuous improvement. The trust placed in him reflects the team's confidence in its strategic direction and reinforces a shared determination to deliver the results that Ferrari's fans, drivers, and team members expect and deserve." Sky Sports launches discounted Formula 1 package This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more £43 £35 Sky Get Sky Sports here Product Description The 57-year-old Frenchman Vasseur added: "I'm grateful for the trust Ferrari continues to place in me. This renewal is not just a confirmation - it's a challenge to keep progressing, to stay focused, and to deliver. "Over the past 30 months, we've laid strong foundations, and now we must build on them with consistency and determination. We know what's expected, and we're all fully committed to meeting those expectations and taking the next step forward together."
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Formula One: Verstappen quells speculation by committing to Red Bull for 2026 - Omni sports
Max Verstappen ended weeks of speculation about his future on Thursday when the reigning Formula One world champion said he would be staying with Red Bull in 2026. Verstappen said it was time to "stop all the rumours". "I've never really said anything about it because I was just focused on talking to the team about how we can improve our performance," the Dutchman explained at the Hungaroring circuit ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix. "And that's why I had nothing really to add, but I think it's time to basically stop all the rumours. "For me, it's always been quite clear that I was staying anyway." Four-time world champion Verstappen's future became a subject of speculation after rival driver George Russell revealed his Mercedes team were talking to the Dutchman's management about his future plans. It emerged that there was a performance clause in Verstappen's contract that offered him a chance to leave Red Bull if he was not in the top three at the end of July. But that clause has now elapsed and he will stay with Red Bull next year, the first season following a sweeping change of technical regulations. Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028 and a similar scrutiny of his contract is expected next year once it becomes clear which teams have adapted and progressed best under the new regulations. Verstappen has fallen 81 points behind series leader Oscar Piastri of McLaren into third place in the drivers' championship this year. Red Bull are in a state of flux, after sacking their team principal Christian Horner this month and replacing the Briton with Laurent Mekies, the boss of their 'B' team Racing Bulls. 'No one really knows' Horner's departure will have pleased Verstappen's father Jos, who turned against the man who had led Red Bull from their launch in 2024 following last year's accusation by a woman colleague of "inappropriate behaviour". The Englishman was twice cleared over the claims by the Formula One team's parent company, Red Bull GmbH. At the Belgian Grand Prix last weekend Max Verstappen insisted Horner's shock departure had no impact on his future plans. He said the well-publicised discord between his father and Horner was never a problem. "People can have a difference of opinion and I expect that to happen because if everyone agrees, there is a problem." On Thursday when asked about his future after next year he replied: "If you ask me that question next year, then yes, we'll have that speculation, but I never speak about it because I am more interested in working on performance – and that's why I never really talk about what is in my contract." Despite McLaren and their two drivers Piastri and Lando Norris dominating this season, he said he still retained hopes of gaining some success before the end of the year. "I know that the cars will be different next year, but there are still things that you can take out of this year on the engineering side of things and also implement for next year. "So, you cannot just say 'Okay, we're not winning the championship this year, so we just write it off completely'. "No-one really knows where they will be at next year." (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
