Latest news with #Formula1
BBC News
27 minutes ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Driver who inspired F1 film touched by Brad Pitt thanks
A man who was in a crash that inspired a Brad Pitt movie said it was a "pinch yourself moment" when the actor thanked him for sharing his story. Formula 1 driver Martin Donnelly, who lives in Norfolk, suffered serious injuries in a crash in Jerez, Spain, in at the premiere of F1 in London, Pitt thanked him for "putting his energy and guidance" into the new movie."It was just a pinch yourself moment," Mr Donnelly said. "I said 'is he talking to me, is he referring to me'. It is one of those memories I will cherish for life." Mr Donnelly was driving a Lotus Lamborghini which disintegrated against a barrier in a high-speed suffered damage to his right leg which meant he could never compete in a top-end single seater car accident influenced the story line of the new film, seeing Pitt's character Sonny Hayes return to the wheel after he was in a 61-year-old actor undertook four months of driver training in Abu Dhabi as well as Silverstone and Rockingham in Northamptonshire. Talking about watching the accident in the film, Donnelly told the BBC: "It was such a surreal moment. It was something only I could appreciate."After one of the operations the surgeon said, 'that is it - you will never drive an F1 car again'."But he does not know the mind of a racing driver. We are stubborn and determined and selfish."On 23 February 1993 I drove a Jordan car around Silverstone and that was me giving my surgeons the pledge to say you know your books, but you do not know me, and here I am." Speaking about meeting Pitt, Mr Donnelly added: "It was just a surreal moment."A highly rated A-List star like Brad Pitt asking me for advice and direction."Mr Donnelly still works with Lotus and runs his own driving Manwaring, former team manager for Lotus, said: "He just had all of the right ingredients to be a good driver."It was pretty clear to me that he was going to be a real star."I think it has been a good thing for Martin and we were happy to support him." Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Norfolk or BBC Northamptonshire.
Biz Bahrain
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Biz Bahrain
Formula 1 and Allwyn to launch community award programme
Formula 1, together with leading multi-national lottery-led entertainment company and Official Partner Allwyn, will celebrate and spotlight community-focused initiatives around the world with the new F1® Allwyn Global Community Award. The brand-new programme, created as part of the two organisations' multi-year partnership and as part of their shared commitment to driving positive change, will celebrate local initiatives that leave a positive impact on society. The winners, who will receive a €100,000 donation along with a bespoke trophy and the chance to visit a Formula 1 Grand Prix, must address one or more of the following focus areas: empowerment and inclusion; education and opportunity; health and wellbeing, and sustainability and innovation. Ahead of each selected Grand Prix, the local promoter will identify community-focused initiatives supported by the F1 ecosystem that have had a meaningful impact, and a panel of judges from Formula 1, Allwyn, and a representative from the local race community will select a winner. This year, the first award will be presented at the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN DUTCH GRAND PRIX 2025, taking place between 29 – 31 August, with subsequent winners awarded at the United States, Mexico, and Las Vegas Grands Prix. Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1, said: 'It is a pillar of our sport to leave a positive legacy where we race and for many years we've worked with the promoters and regional organisations to do just that, from inviting children from local schools to the track to encourage them to consider a role in motorsport, through to funding education initiatives and welcoming local community outlets and charities to be part of the event. Every year 24 incredible venues open their doors to host us, and we are met with fantastic passion and love at the track and throughout the entire city, so I am very proud to launch the F1 Allwyn Global Community Award as part of our mission. We will give the local initiatives that go the extra mile for making their communities and make the world a better place the recognition and global platform they deserve.' Robert Chvátal, Group CEO of Allwyn, said: 'Championing positive impact is at the heart of what we do at Allwyn. Our partnership with Formula 1 is the perfect chance to demonstrate our commitment to communities through the creation of this inspiring F1 Allwyn Global Community Award, supporting the very best community initiatives around the world and bringing them to a huge global audience.'
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
F1 box office collection day 1: Brad Pitt's sports drama earns Rs 5.25 cr in India
F1 box office collection day 1: F1, one of the biggest films of the year, hit the screens on Friday (June 27) and opened to a good response at the Indian box office. The sports action drama also received positive reviews. F1 is directed by Joseph Kosinski of Top Gun: Maverick fame. F1 opens well in India Brad Pitt is in the limelight because of his latest film F1, which is out in theaters now. It opened to a good response in India and also impressed moviegoers. According to Sacnilk, a trade website, the sports action drama earned Rs 5.25 crore (nett) on the first day. It has outperformed Jackie Chan's Karate Kid Legends, which made Rs 1.75 crore on the first day. It has, however, failed to beat MI 8. Tom Cruise's action drama made Rs 16.5 crore on its opening day. The film has received positive reviews with critics lauding the performances and the execution. The healthy word-of-mouth is expected to help it witness good growth on the weekend. F1 has been released alongside Maa, starring Kajol, and the Vishnu Manchu-fronted Kannappa. It, however, is unlikely to face competition from them as they cater to a different audience. The Telugu biggie is meant for those fond of devotional action dramas. Maa, meanwhile, caters to those craving horror dramas with a 'desi' touch. About F1 F1 is a high-octane racing drama directed by Joseph Kosinski. It stars Brad Pitt as a former Formula 1 driver who returns to mentor a rookie. Touted to be a biting take on the F1 World, the film combines real race footage and fiction to deliver an adrenaline rush.
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Hamilton's struggles continue with third warning of F1 season after blocking rookie Antonelli in Austrian GP practice
SPIELBERG BEI KNITTELFELD (Austria), June 28 — Lewis Hamilton's difficult start to life at Ferrari continued yesterday as he was handed a warning by the race stewards after winding up 10th in second practice for the Austrian Grand Prix. The seven-time champion was alleged to have impeded his successor at Mercedes, Italian teenage rookie Kimi Antonelli, at turn four of the fast and technical Red Bull Ring circuit in the Styrian Alps. Hamilton apologised immediately and explained that he had not seen Antonelli approaching behind him as he descended over the crest of a hill on a slow lap and drifted into the racing line. Hamilton raised his hand to signal his apology to Antonelli as he passed him. After speaking to Hamilton, the stewards decided to give the Briton a formal warning — the usual sanction for such a misdemeanour in practice. It is the third time this season that Hamilton has been warned. 'The driver of car 44 (Hamilton), although constantly checking his mirrors after being informed by the team about car 12 (Antonelli) closing in, slowly moved on to the racing line on the approach to turn four and thereby unnecessarily impeded car 12 which had to take evasive action,' said the stewards in a statement. Hamilton was given a three-place grid drop at the Monaco Grand Prix where he impeded four-time champion Max Verstappen in qualifying when his race engineer Riccardo Adami wrongly informed him that the Dutchman was not on a flying lap. Hamilton struggled with gearbox problems on Friday as he evaluated a new floor design on his Ferrari car. His team-mate Charles Leclerc was fifth, six-tenths off the pace of McLaren's Lando Norris. — AFP
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Verstappen to Mercedes? Wolff admits interest as Russell shrugs off speculation over 2026 line-up
SPIELBERG BEI KNITTELFELD (Austria), June 28 — Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff on Friday suggested he was interested in signing Max Verstappen to partner George Russell in a potentially explosive driver line-up for the 2026 season. During a series of interviews, it emerged that he had made contract with the four-time world champion and that this had affected contract talks with Russell who has been in outstanding form this year. Russell told Sky Sports F1 that it was entirely 'normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing', adding that a team that aims to win the championship has to go for the best drivers, engineers and pit-crews to succeed. 'But from my side, if I'm performing as I'm doing, what have I got to be concerned about? There are two seats in every Formula 1 team.' Wolff has flirted with the idea of recruiting Verstappen for some time, but also expressed satisfaction with the current partnership of Russell and teenage rookie Kimi Antonelli — a precocious talent, but not yet an experienced or metronomic points-scorer. It may be, as many seasoned observers believe, that Wolff feels he can manage the testy rivalry between Russell and Verstappen, who have clashed several times in the last year both on and off the track. But, he conceded, it remains much more likely that Russell will stay at Mercedes next year — his contract ends this season — than that Verstappen, who is contracted to Red Bull until 2028, will arrive. 'He has been part of our programme for 10 years,' Wolff said. 'He's always performed to the expectations and he's continuing to do so. These are normal business contract discussions as I have been doing for 30 years... And contract discussions are not held in Town Halls.' He added in a separate interview: 'At the moment, clearly you need to explore what's happening in the future, but it doesn't change anything of what I said before about George, about Kimi, about the line-up that I'm extremely happy having'. Verstappen declined to comment on the speculation when asked in a news conference on Thursday, but he is known to be frustrated with his Red Bull car this year. 'I don't think we need to talk about that,' the 27-year-old said. 'It's not really on my mind. Just driving well, trying to push the performance and then we focus on next year.' Much may depend on events at Red Bull where long-serving team consultant Helmut Marko is a key part of Verstappen's inner circle, but may be considering his own future amid reports that four-time champion Sebastian Vettel has been approached to replace him. In the wake of the departures of F1's most successful designer Adrian Newey to Aston Martin and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley to Sauber-Audi, it could be that Verstappen is also ready to leave. Next year will see F1 move into a new era with major rule changes requiring new engines and new cars — an opportunity that may favour a Mercedes revival. — AFP
