Latest news with #USGrandPrix
Daily Mirror
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Brad Pitt and George Russell's awkward incident before gatecrashed F1 interview
George Russell has opened up on a particularly awkward first encounter with Brad Pitt, before the Formula 1 driver gatecrashed one of the Hollywood titan's interviews at a swanky premiere George Russell has explained that he had quite an awkward first encounter with Brad Pitt, despite the two seeming like best friends during a recent interview. Pitt has spent a number of years getting to know the ins and outs of Formula 1, as well as seeking guidance from some of the sport's biggest stars as he filmed a new movie on the sport which landed in cinemas last month. He initially attended the US Grand Prix in Texas back in 2022 as a guest with Mercedes, when he first met esteemed driver Russell. Reflecting on the incident when asked if he has ever been left starstruck by a celebrity, Russell explained: "Starstruck maybe is pushing it a little bit, but the first time I ever saw Brad Pitt I wanted to act quite cool so I didn't want to take a photo with him as everyone else was. "So I pretended to be on the phone and sort of took the photo on the side of my phone. I've still got it on my phone now and I wanted to show him in Austin because we had a chat but it slipped my mind so next time." However, then the two met at the premiere of F1: The Movie last month in New York City, Russell wasn't quite as reserved. Pitt was being interviewed by Sky Sports when he spotted Russell approaching, before he said: "Hold on... what a weekend, dude." Alluding to the Canadian Grand Prix which Russell won, he added: "What a great race. Dude, it was so fun... it was so fun to watch. Dude, real pleasure. We'll talk later." All smiles, Russell exchanged a firm handshake and a swift hug with Pitt before he replied: "We've got the matching salmon shirt," referencing their similar fashion choices. To which, Pitt playfully added: "You texted. You said pink and I said pink? I said okay." With one win and five podiums to his name for 2025 thus far, Russell will hope to bridge the gap on Drivers' Championship leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull as the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday. Russell trails Verstappen by just 70 points with 13 races on the F1 calendar remaining at present. And given he started the British GP in fourth on the grid behind the RB star and McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, he has given himself a fighting chance to reign supreme at Silverstone and slim Verstappen's overall lead. It comes as the Express reports Russell has played down any rumours of him parting ways with Mercedes for 2026, as Verstappen has been linked with a move to the team. The 27-year-old is out of contract with his current side at the end of this season, but he believes he will secure a new deal ahead of the new year. He told BBC Sport: "The likelihood I'm not at Mercedes next year, I think, is exceptionally low," adding: "I want to continue with Mercedes into the future. The fact is, Toto [Wolff] has never let me down. He's always given me his word, but he's also got to do what's right for his team, which includes me. "But it also includes the thousands of people who work for Mercedes. For me, it's nothing to worry about because I don't think I'll be going anywhere. And whoever my team-mate will be, it doesn't concern me either. I know where their loyalty lies. It doesn't need to be public. "It doesn't need to be broadcast to everybody. I feel I'm performing better than ever. And it's as simple as that really. Performance speaks for everything."
New Straits Times
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Tim Mayer to stand for FIA presidency: reports
SILVERSTONE: American motor sport official Tim Mayer, the son of former McLaren team chief Teddy Mayer, is set to stand for the presidency of governing body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA) in December's election, it was reported on Thursday. Mayer, who said he was dismissed as a Formula One race steward by text message by an assistant of incumbent president Mohammed Ben Sulayem last November, will reportedly confirm his bid at a news conference close to Silverstone today, the BBC said. The 59-year-old has held leading positions in the American Champ Car series, Imsa and the American Le Mans Series in addition to stewarding in many championships for the FIA, including F1. Mayer explained last year that Ben Sulayem felt the American had made an attack on him by representing The Circuit of the Americas at a hearing to review a fine the circuit was given after a crowd invasion at the 2024 US Grand Prix. - AFP
NZ Herald
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Herald
Formula 1 live updates: Liam Lawson starts 15th at Miami Grand Prix
All the action as Liam Lawson starts 15th in Formula One's Miami Grand Prix Lawson stripped of first F1 points of 2025, loses seventh-place sprint finish Liam Lawson has been handed a five-second time penalty and ha therefore lost his points finish from Formula One 's Miami Grand Prix sprint race. After qualifying 14th, Lawson looked to have finished seventh in the 18-lap affair, shortened by one lap due to rain over the Miami International Autodrome. However, the Kiwi was judged to have been at fault for an incident with Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, who crashed in the final laps of the race. The stewards ruled that while Lawson was the leading car at turn 12, where the incident took place, he was behind at turn 11 and therefore was required to give Alonso room. As a result, Lawson was relegated to 13th place, and also handed one demerit point on his Formula One super licence. 'He came out on cold tyres, and I'd done a lap,' Lawson explained post-race. 'I was trying to get by him early in the lap. 'I waited for DRS [drag reduction system], made sure to get my wheels ahead at the apex trying to overtake. I feel I did that, then I got squeezed off. 'At that point, I was heading for the concrete wall. I was trying to get out, but he left me no space. 'Obviously [it's] not my intention, but I feel like I had my wheels ahead.' The Kiwi had made up five places on the end of the first racing lap – delayed by rain over the Miami International Autodrome – and benefited from a chaotic affair to cross the line eighth, before he was upgraded one place after Max Verstappen was penalised for an unsafe pit release. Seventh in the sprint would have netted Lawson two points, and betters his ninth-placings from grands prix in Singapore in 2023 and Austin and Brazil last year. Lawson wasn't the only drive to be impacted by post-race penalties. Williams' Alex Albon had finished fourth, but was also hit by a five-second penalty for infringements behind the safety car. The incident won't be welcomed by Alonso, after he and Lawson clashed in the sprint race at the US Grand Prix last year. McLaren's Lando Norris led a one-two finish alongside teammate Oscar Piastri, while Ferrari's Sir Lewis Hamilton finished third. With just hours between the sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying, heavy rain drastically altered conditions and left drivers needing to be cautious, with any damage potentially coming back to bite them later in the day. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc fell victim to the slippery conditions and was out before the sprint even began, after colliding with the wall on the back straight and suffering terminal damage to his car. So poor were the conditions, the race was red-flagged, as the track was too wet to safely begin, even after the formation lap was driven behind the safety car. But after a delay of more than 20 minutes, the sprint was able to get under way, albeit reduced in distance by one lap. And as the track began to dry, teams began to plan for a strategy of starting on intermediate tyres, but finishing on slicks. Again, the 19 remaining drivers began behind the safety car and completed two further laps before the decision was made to see a standing start. Already leading the world championship, Piastri wasted no time on the race start, taking the lead from Kimi Antonelli at the first corner and holding that lead to the end of the race. The move was a cruel blow for Antonelli, who went on to finish 10th – but was upgraded to seventh – after he became the youngest driver in the sport's history to take pole position. Lawson, meanwhile, climbed the most places and rose to ninth off the start, one place back from the points at the end of what was the third lap. Advertise with NZME. The Kiwi showed incredible bravery to hold the inside racing line and brake late to get ahead of four other drivers, with the final place being made up by Leclerc's absence. Significantly, though, Lawson's fast start had him ahead of Racing Bulls teammate Isack Hadjar, who finished 10th once penalties were applied. Given the wet conditions meant no use of the DRS, Lawson was under no major threat of being overtaken by Hadjar in the bunched field, however it also left him with work to do if he was to get past Alonso and into a share of the points. On lap six, though, Lawson complained of a broken visor impacting his visibility, as the gap to Hadjar closed to around 0.5s. But as the track continued to dry, drivers began to struggle on the intermediate tyres, which are designed for the wet alone. On lap 11, the DRS was enabled, as cars began to fit slick tyres. As Hamilton headed to the pits, Lawson climbed to eighth, before he pitted on lap 13. But as more cars stopped, Antonelli and Verstappen collided in the pits, while Carlos Sainz's Williams hit the wall to leave chaos on track. Verstappen was handed a 10-second penalty for the incident, an unsafe release, which was the fault of his Red Bull mechanics. Lawson emerged after his stop in 12th, albeit with plenty of drivers still on the intermediates ahead of him. On lap 15, Lawson went to the outside of Alonso, as the contact forced the Aston Martin into the wall and left the Kiwi staring at a penalty after a stewards' inquiry. Alonso's exit triggered a safety car that lasted until the end of the race.
NZ Herald
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Herald
Formula 1: Liam Lawson stripped of points finish in Miami Grand Prix sprint race over Fernando Alonso incident
'I waited for DRS, made sure to get my wheels ahead at the apex trying to overtake. I feel I did that, then I got squeezed off. 'At that point I was heading for the concrete wall. I was trying to get out, but he left me no space. 'Obviously [it's] not my intention, but I feel like I had my wheels ahead.' The Kiwi had made up five places on the end of the first racing lap - delayed by rain over the Miami International Autodrome - and benefited from a chaotic affair to cross the line eighth, before he was upgraded one place after Max Verstappen was penalised for an unsafe pit release. Seventh in the sprint would have netted Lawson two points, and betters his ninth-placings from grands prix in Singapore in 2023, and Austin and Brazil last year. Lawson wasn't the only drive to be impacted by post-race penalties. Williams' Alex Albon had finished fourth, but was also hit by a five-second penalty for infringements behind the safety car. The incident won't be welcomed by Alonso, after he and Lawson clashed in the sprint race at the US Grand Prix last year. McLaren's Lando Norris led a one-two finish alongside teammate Oscar Piastri, while Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton finished third. With just hours between the sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying, heavy rain drastically altered conditions, and left drivers needing to be cautious, with any damage potentially coming back to bite them later in the day. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc fell victim to the slippery conditions, and was out before the sprint even began, after colliding with the wall on the back straight, and suffered terminal damage to his car. So poor were conditions, the race was red flagged, as the track was too wet to safely begin even after the formation lap was driven behind the safety car. But after a delay of more than 20 minutes, the sprint was able to get underway, albeit reduced in distance by one lap. And as the track began to dry, teams began to plan for a strategy of starting on intermediate tyres, but finishing on slicks. Again, the 19 remaining drivers began behind the safety car, and completed two further laps before the decision was made to see a standing start. Advertise with NZME. Already leading the world championship, Piastri wasted no time on the race start, and took the lead from Kimi Antonelli at the first corner, and held that lead to the end of the race. The move was a cruel blow for Antonelli, who went on to finish 10th, but was upgraded to seventh, after he became the youngest driver in the sport's history to take pole position. Lawson, meanwhile, climbed the most places and rose to ninth off the start, one place back from the points at the end of what was the third lap. The Kiwi showed incredible bravery to hold the inside racing line, and brake late to get ahead of four other drivers, with the final place being made up by Leclerc's absence. Significantly, though, Lawson's fast start had him ahead of Racing Bulls teammate Isack Hadjar, who finished 10th once penalties were applied. Given the wet conditions meant no use of the Drag Reduction System (DRS), Lawson was under no major threat of being overtaken by Hadjar in the bunched field, however it also left him with work to do if he was to get past Alonso into a share of the points. On lap six, though, Lawson complained of a broken visor impacting his visibility, as the gap to Hadjar closed to around 0.5s. But as the track continued to dry, drivers began to struggle on the intermediate tyres, which are designed for the wet alone. On lap 11, DRS was enabled, as cars began to fit slick tyres. As Hamilton headed to the pits, Lawson climbed to eighth, before he pitted on lap 13. But as more cars stopped, Antonelli and Verstappen collided in the pits, while Carlos Sainz's Williams hit the wall to leave chaos on track. Verstappen was handed a 10-second penalty for the incident, an unsafe release, which was the fault of his Red Bull mechanics. Lawson emerged after his stop in 12th, albeit with plenty of drivers still on the intermediates ahead of him. On lap 15, Lawson went to the outside of Alonso, as the contact forced the Aston Martin into the wall, and left the Kiwi staring at a penalty after a steward's inquiry. Alonso's exit triggered a safety car that lasted until the end of the race. Qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix begins at 8am Sunday morning (NZ time). Miami Grand Prix sprint results Lando Norris - McLaren Oscar Piastri - McLaren Lewis Hamilton - Ferrari George Russell - Mercedes Lance Stroll - Aston Martin Yuki Tsunoda - Red Bull Kimi Antonelli - Mercedes Pierre Gasly - Alpine Nico Hulkenberg - Sauber Isack Hadjar - Racing Bulls Alex Albon - Williams Esteban Ocon - Haas Liam Lawson - Racing Bulls Ollie Bearman - Haas Gabriel Bortoleto - Sauber Jack Doohan - Alpine Max Verstappen - Red Bull DNF - Fernando Alonso - Aston Martin DNF - Carlos Sainz - Williams DNF - Charles Leclerc - Ferrari Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.
NZ Herald
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Herald
Formula 1: Liam Lawson scores first points of 2025, takes seventh-placed finish in Miami Grand Prix sprint race
'He came out on cold tyres, and I'd done a lap,' Lawson explained post-race. 'I was trying to get by him early in the lap. 'I waited for DRS, made sure to get my wheels ahead a the apex trying to overtake. I feel I did that, then I got squeezed off. 'At that point I was heading for the concrete wall. I was trying to get out, but he left me no space. 'Obviously [it's] not my intention, but I feel like I had my wheels ahead.' Lawson could benefit from a number of cars being investigated post-race, giving the stewards little time to deliberate before Grand Prix qualifying on Sunday morning. The incident won't be welcomed by Alonso, after he and Lawson clashed in the sprint race at the US Grand Prix last year. McLaren's Lando Norris led a one-two finish alongside teammate Oscar Piastri, while Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton finished third. With just hours between the sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying, heavy rain drastically altered conditions, and left drivers needing to be cautious, with any damage potentially coming back to bite them later in the day. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc fell victim to the slippery conditions, and was out before the sprint even began, after colliding with the wall on the back straight, and suffered terminal damage to his car. So poor were conditions, the race was red flagged, as the track was too wet to safely begin even after the formation lap was driven behind the safety car. But after a delay of more than 20 minutes, the sprint was able to get underway, albeit reduced in distance by one lap. And as the track began to dry, teams began to plan for a strategy of starting on intermediate tyres, but finishing on slicks. Again, the 19 remaining drivers began behind the safety car, and completed two further laps before the decision was made to see a standing start. Already leading the world championship, Piastri wasted no time on the race start, and took the lead from Kimi Antonelli at the first corner, and held that lead to the end of the race. The move was a cruel blow for Antonelli, who went on to finish 10th, after he became the youngest driver in the sport's history to take pole position. Lawson, meanwhile, climbed the most places and rose to ninth off the start, one place back from the points at the end of what was the third lap. The Kiwi showed incredible bravery to hold the inside racing line, and brake late to get ahead of four other drivers, with the final place being made up by Leclerc's absence. Significantly, though, Lawson's fast start had him ahead of Racing Bulls teammate Isack Hadjar. Given the wet conditions meant no use of the Drag Reduction System (DRS), Lawson was under no major threat of being overtaken by Hadjar in the bunched field, however it also left him with work to do if he was to get past Alonso into a share of the points. On lap six, though, Lawson complained of a broken visor impacting his visibility, as the gap to Hadjar closed to around 0.5s. But as the track continued to dry, drivers began to struggle on the intermediate tyres, which are designed for the wet alone. On lap 11, DRS was enabled, as cars began to fit slick tyres. As Hamilton headed to the pits, Lawson climbed to eighth, before he pitted on lap 13. But as more cars stopped, Antonelli and Verstappen collided in the pits, while Carlos Sainz's Williams hit the wall to leave chaos on track. Verstappen was handed a 10-second penalty for the incident, an unsafe release, which was the fault of his Red Bull mechanics. Lawson emerged after his stop in 12th, albeit with plenty of drivers still on the intermediates ahead of him. On lap 15, Lawson went to the outside of Alonso, as the contact forced the Aston Martin into the wall, and left the Kiwi staring at a penalty after a steward's inquiry. Alonso's exit triggered a safety car that lasted until the end of the race. Qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix begins at 8am Sunday morning (NZ time).
