Latest news with #McLaren
New Straits Times
15 minutes ago
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Verstappen and Red Bull embark on new era
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS (Belgium): Max Verstappen and Red Bull seek a successful re-set of their season as they launch a new era at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, their first without Christian Horner in charge. As Formula One resumes after a mini-break McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris intensify their duel to succeed the Dutchman as world champion. While Norris seeks his third consecutive win in a bid to reduce team-mate Piastri's eight-point lead it will be Red Bull under the greatest scrutiny as they embark on a new adventure under Frenchman Laurent Mekies. Never before has a Red Bull team raced without the 51-year-old Briton Horner, who was dismissed unexpectedly two weeks ago following 20 years of success, including guiding Verstappen to four consecutive world titles from 2021-2024. His successor Mekies, promoted from junior team Racing Bulls, faces a daunting challenge - not only in keeping the team's focus and performance at the majestic high-speed circuit in the Ardennes, but in bringing stability to Red Bull after a stormy period. Verstappen, born in Belgium, has been linked with a move to Mercedes for 2026 and, while Horner has remained silent since his bombshell exit, the champion has welcomed the arrival of Mekies, who has an engineering background and avoids confrontation and discord. His appointment brings an end to 18 months of rumour and intrigue during which Horner was investigated for alleged inappropriate conduct, the team lost the constructors' title to McLaren and saw key staff members leave. "I was back at the factory last week to spend some time in the sim with the team," said Verstappen in a team release that made no mention of Horner's departure. "I'm looking forward to working closely with Laurent. "Spa is a classic and always my favourite track on the calendar - a very old school circuit where you have to do everything right to get a good lap. "I enjoy the high-speed corners such as Eau Rouge, the layout which is different to other circuits, and elevation changes that make the track more of a challenge to drive." After a desultory outing at Silverstone, where he finished fifth after starting from pole position, Verstappen will enjoy returning to one of his 'home' events, hoping Mekies can rekindle the team's spark to bring him a fourth career win at Spa. Mekies said he would spend his first weeks in the job "meeting the guys and girls who do the magic behind the try to understand this beautiful magic machine." His first test will be a morning sprint race tomorrow. A win for Verstappen would not be a huge surprise as the characteristics of the Ardennes track favour his car, but he remains a distant third in a title race led by the McLaren men whose intra-team scrap may be their undoing. After his outburst at receiving a 10-second penalty at Silverstone, Piastri is expected to be in feisty mood going into the Belgian and Hungarian double-header that precedes the August 'summer holiday' and another close contest is in prospect. Like Piastri, Mercedes' George Russell will revel in a chance to show his speed in the often changeable conditions, having been stripped of victory last year because his car was underweight. That handed seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton his 105th and last triumph - and he remains in search of his first podium with Ferrari who arrive in Belgium with intent and a major upgrade package. Hamilton was fourth in his home British race where Nico Hulkenberg claimed his first career podium at the 239th attempt to endorse Sauber's momentum this year before becoming the Audi works team next season. - AFP
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Lando Norris BOOSTED to 2/1 odds to win the Belgian Grand Prix - as McLaren star braces himself for another battle with Oscar Piastri
Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are neck and neck in the race to win the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend, according to Sky Bet. The McLaren duo are in the midst of a fabulous season, with Piastri leading his team-mate at the top of the drivers' standings by just eight points. The Australian has five wins compared to Norris' four, and they will both be desperate to add to that in Spa over the coming days. And, according to Sky Bet, the duo are priced at 13/8 to pick up another victory this weekend. However, Norris has been boosted to 2/1 odds to win the race on Sunday, inching him in front of rival Piastri. Max Verstappen, in what is the first race since the departure of former Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner, is the next favourite at 4/1. The likes of Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Charles Leclerc all come in at 14/1 to triumph, while Russell's Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli is a major outsider at 66/1. Sky Bet race winner odds for the Belgian Grand Prix Lando Norris: 13/8 Oscar Piastri: 13/8 Max Verstappen: 4/1 George Russell: 14/1 Lewis Hamilton: 14/1 Charles Leclerc: 14/1 Kimi Antonelli: 66/1 Price boost
Top Gear
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Honda Civic Type R - long-term review - Report No:3 2025
Yet the real fun began when I got back to the UK and attended a Pirelli P Zero experience track day on the full Silverstone GP circuit. These are very posh track days where you can drive your own car, experience others from the likes of Ferrari, McLaren and Alpine with instruction and drink very nice coffee at your leisure. Being Italian, smoking is encouraged but not mandatory. I think the Type R could probably find its own way to the Eurotunnel these days (although it always forgets to pay the DART charge en route). A while back was a little weekend away at Spa-Francorchamps and last month the Honda took me to Le Mans for a full week. Considering the endless stream of Porsches and Ferraris - punctuated by all manner of M cars, a sprinkling of TVRs and all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff from pre-war Bentleys to brand new hypercars - the Type R got love and attention from every campsite it passed and at every service station on the way home. The Le Mans crowd are the right crowd, it seems. It's hot. Extremely. And as I arrive fashionably late, it seems many of the attendees have decided their cars have been through enough. The track is blissfully empty. This is great news on the one hand, but it is a shame the density of supercars to hunt down is diminished. Even so, a sprinkling of GT3s and McLarens add sport to proceedings. It's probably the very first time I've used the R mode for an extended period. The Civic is pretty stiff on UK roads and usually I skip R or even Sport mode and drive in Comfort or a configured Individual mode where engine response and noise are dialled-up, but the suspension is backed-off to Comfort mode. But you must be in R if you want to fully disable the stability control and Silverstone GP is about as smooth as UK tracks get. So, it's the mode of choice. What a place! The sheer scale of Silverstone is always a surprise and the high-speed corners require big commitment. Especially in the Type R, which is ultimately a very fast car, but feels a bit junior on a track designed for F1 cars to stretch their legs. Let even a fraction of momentum bleed away and the Civic is fighting to claw it back for what feels like tens of seconds. However, as confidence builds the Civic just gets better and better. It eats kerbs with stunning composure, demonstrates superb balance and finds traction you just wouldn't believe for a front-drive car. The precision of the six-speed gearbox also quashes any notion that a paddle-shift would be miles faster. It will accept and encourage shifts as fast as your hand can move and the downshift blip works brilliantly. Considering the temperatures, the brakes perform without fault, too. A couple of passengers were gobsmacked at the Type R's blend of aggression and composure. It really loves to change direction and even when the tyres are howling there always seems to be a bit more front-end bite should you need to tighten your line. There's no other hot hatch on sale today that feels so at home on track, not even the excellent GR Yaris.
NDTV
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- NDTV
Max Verstappen And Red Bull Embark On New Era
Max Verstappen and Red Bull seek a successful re-set of their season as they launch a new era at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, their first without Christian Horner in charge. As Formula One resumes after a mini-break McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris intensify their duel to succeed the Dutchman as world champion. While Norris seeks his third consecutive win in a bid to reduce team-mate Piastri's eight-point lead it will be Red Bull under the greatest scrutiny as they embark on a new adventure under Frenchman Laurent Mekies. Never before has a Red Bull team raced without the 51-year-old Briton Horner, who was dismissed unexpectedly two weeks ago following 20 years of success, including guiding Verstappen to four consecutive world titles from 2021-2024. His successor Mekies, promoted from junior team Racing Bulls, faces a daunting challenge - not only in keeping the team's focus and performance at the majestic high-speed circuit in the Ardennes, but in bringing stability to Red Bull after a stormy period. Verstappen, born in Belgium, has been linked with a move to Mercedes for 2026 and, while Horner has remained silent since his bombshell exit, the champion has welcomed the arrival of Mekies, who has an engineering background and avoids confrontation and discord. His appointment brings an end to 18 months of rumour and intrigue during which Horner was investigated for alleged inappropriate conduct, the team lost the constructors' title to McLaren and saw key staff members leave. "I was back at the factory last week to spend some time in the sim with the team," said Verstappen in a team release that made no mention of Horner's departure. "I'm looking forward to working closely with Laurent. "Spa is a classic and always my favourite track on the calendar – a very old school circuit where you have to do everything right to get a good lap. "I enjoy the high-speed corners such as Eau Rouge, the layout which is different to other circuits, and elevation changes that make the track more of a challenge to drive." After a desultory outing at Silverstone, where he finished fifth after starting from pole position, Verstappen will enjoy returning to one of his 'home' events, hoping Mekies can rekindle the team's spark to bring him a fourth career win at Spa. Feisty mood Mekies said he would spend his first weeks in the job "meeting the guys and girls who do the magic behind the try to understand this beautiful magic machine". His first test will be a Saturday morning sprint race. A win for Verstappen would not be a huge surprise as the characteristics of the Ardennes track favour his car, but he remains a distant third in a title race led by the McLaren men whose intra-team scrap may be their undoing. After his outburst at receiving a 10-second penalty at Silverstone, Piastri is expected to be in feisty mood going into the Belgian and Hungarian double-header that precedes the August 'summer holiday' and another close contest is in prospect. Like Piastri, Mercedes' George Russell will revel in a chance to show his speed in the often changeable conditions, having been stripped of victory last year because his car was underweight. That handed seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton his 105th and last triumph – and he remains in search of his first podium with Ferrari who arrive in Belgium with intent and a major upgrade package. Hamilton was fourth in his home British race where Nico Hulkenberg claimed his first career podium at the 239th attempt to endorse Sauber's momentum this year before becoming the Audi works team next season.
News18
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- News18
Verstappen Targets Belgian GP Win In Red Bull's New Era Without Horner
Last Updated: Max Verstappen and Red Bull aim to reset at the Belgian GP, their first race without Christian Horner. Max Verstappen and Red Bull aim to reset their season effectively as they enter a new chapter at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, marking their first race without Christian Horner at the helm. As Formula One returns from a brief hiatus, McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris intensify their battle to dethrone the Dutchman as world champion. Norris is striving for his third consecutive win to cut into Piastri's eight-point lead, but all eyes will be on Red Bull as they embark on a new journey under the leadership of Frenchman Laurent Mekies. Red Bull has never before raced without the 51-year-old Briton Horner, who was unexpectedly dismissed two weeks ago after 20 years of success, including leading Verstappen to four consecutive world titles from 2021 to 2024. Mekies, promoted from the junior team Racing Bulls, faces the formidable task of maintaining the team's focus and performance at the high-speed Ardennes circuit while bringing stability to Red Bull after a turbulent period. Verstappen, born in Belgium, has been linked with a move to Mercedes for 2026. While Horner has remained silent since his dramatic exit, Verstappen has welcomed Mekies, an engineer known for avoiding confrontation and discord. Mekies' appointment ends 18 months of speculation and drama, during which Horner was investigated for alleged inappropriate conduct, the team lost the constructors' title to McLaren, and key staff members departed. 'I was back at the factory last week to spend some time in the sim with the team," said Verstappen in a team release that made no mention of Horner's departure. 'I'm looking forward to working closely with Laurent. Spa is a classic and always my favourite track on the calendar – a very old-school circuit where you have to do everything right to get a good lap. I enjoy the high-speed corners such as Eau Rouge, the unique layout, and the elevation changes that make the track more of a challenge to drive." After a disappointing performance at Silverstone, where he finished fifth after starting from pole position, Verstappen looks forward to returning to one of his 'home' events, hoping Mekies can reignite the team's spirit to secure his fourth career win at Spa. Mekies stated he would spend his first weeks 'meeting the guys and girls who do the magic behind the scenes…to try to understand this beautiful magic machine." His first test will be a Saturday morning sprint race. A win for Verstappen wouldn't be surprising, given the Ardennes track suits his car, but he remains a distant third in the championship race led by the McLaren duo, whose internal rivalry could be their downfall. Following his outburst over a 10-second penalty at Silverstone, Piastri is expected to be in a combative mood heading into the Belgian and Hungarian double-header before the August 'summer holiday,' promising another tight contest. Like Piastri, Mercedes' George Russell will relish the opportunity to showcase his speed in the often unpredictable conditions, having lost last year's victory due to his car being underweight. This handed seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton his 105th and most recent win. He is still seeking his first podium with Ferrari, who arrive in Belgium with a significant upgrade package and high hopes. Hamilton finished fourth in his home British race, where Nico Hulkenberg secured his first career podium on his 239th attempt, highlighting Sauber's progress this year before becoming the Audi works team next season. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
