Fast Money: How COVID, Netflix helped F1 finally crack America
On the face of it, the coronavirus outbreak should have sent Formula 1 into the wall. The pandemic put the brakes on mass gatherings and made it tougher for fans and personnel to travel around the world, both of which are essential to the smooth running of F1. However, it emerged from the turmoil firing on all cylinders.
In F1's 75-year history, few seasons have got off to a worse start than 2020. Its 10 teams were on their way to Australia for the season-opening Grand Prix just as COVID-19 began to sweep around the world. Ferrari's staff only just made it out of Italy before lockdown set in, but it was in vain. The event was given the red light minutes before the action was due to begin, which put the eyes of the world on the sport. A series of race cancellations quickly followed, with no end in sight.
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Courier-Mail
2 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Toby Edmonds has sights on second Stradbroke after his ‘Claytons' triumph during Covid pandemic
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Toby Edmonds calls his 2020 win in Queensland's biggest race 'The Claytons Stradbroke' and says it felt 'a bit morbid' scoring his greatest triumph during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Queensland winter carnival that year was almost unrecognisable due to sweeping safety restrictions and Eagle Farm was like a ghost town when Edmonds and his son Trent scored their first Group 1 with Tyzone. Only two Sydney jockeys were riding in the 2020 Stradbroke which was that year slashed from $1.5m to $350,000 in prizemoney. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Fast forward five years and Toby Edmonds, now in training partnership with Stephen McLean, said it will be an entirely different feeling if flying filly and bargain buy Spicy Martini can win Queensland's best race which is now worth $3m. 'It was a bit morbid to be honest when Trent and I won in 2020 and we called it the Claytons Stradbroke because they crunched the prizemoney right down,' Toby Edmonds said. 'We ran second the year before with Tyzone and he won a similar amount that year to what he did for winning in 2020. 'Some people would say there's a little asterisk next to it (the 2020 Stradbroke) but the field was still competitive. 'And it was a Group 1 next to my name which was what I always wanted. 'But there is no doubt that this one on Saturday will be bigger if we win. 'It would be similar to a cricketer like Steve Smith or Ricky Ponting scoring a hundred, to win a big Group 1, it's like the grand final for a trainer like me.' Trent Edmonds is chasing another Stradbroke victory on Saturday with three-year-old filly Spicy Martini. Picture: Trackside Photography • Trainer reveals JJ Atkins contender was 'flying blind' in lead-up Spicy Martini is a daughter of US champion Justify who was purchased by Edmonds for the barely believable price of $8000 as a yearling. The filly who 'walks like a duck' surged into the Stradbroke Handicap field when scoring a golden ticket by winning the Fred Best Classic and gets into the Stradbroke with a featherweight. Gold Coast trainer Edmonds is a student of racing history and has always enthused about the prospect of qualifying a three-year-old filly for the Stradbroke. In total, there have been 12 three-year-old fillies who have won the Stradbroke, including Stefi Magnetica last year. Others in the last 40 years are La Montagna (2006), Private Steer (2003), Dane Ripper (1997) and Canterbury Belle (1985). 'I just like the profile of three-year-old fillies in this race,' Edmonds said. 'Stefi Magnetica won it last year and then you go back and look at the likes of La Montagna and Private Steer. • 'I won't be backing him': Owner questions Stradbroke favourite's odds 'I'm a big student of history, it's there and its pretty simple to look up. 'I have followed form for 30 years and it's always been a passion of mine. 'I have always thought a three-year-old filly in a Stradbroke with no weight, if she is any good, could figure in the finish. 'Whether Spicy Martini is good enough or not, we are not sure, but she is certainly a game filly and I think they will know she is in the race. 'Some people are saying this isn't a vintage Stradbroke, but whether it is or it isn't doesn't matter, they are all difficult to win.' Edmonds will take his customary position at Eagle Farm on Saturday, watching the races by himself and away from others. It's how he likes it, 'so I don't have anyone annoying me while I'm watching a race'. • Grounded Corey flying high ahead of dream Group 1 bid Spicy Martini went through an online sale and was sold at a bargain-basement rate because of concerns over her X-rays, despite being a daughter of Justify. It was a gamble that has paid off in sensational fashion. 'Anyone could have bought her really, someone might have went to $8500 and we might not have bought her,' Edmonds said. 'But we might have kept going, we actually hadn't seen her but we thought a Justify filly, regardless of what she looked like, was worth a shot at that price. 'We did speak to Coolmore and they shared the information they had on her. 'But it was really a throw at the stumps to be honest.' Spicy Martini has drawn barrier four and is a $31 chance. Originally published as Toby Edmonds has sights on second Stradbroke Handicap after his 'Claytons' triumph during Covid pandemic
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Formula 1 2025: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on their intra-team fight, and Max Verstappen's vow amid race ban danger
Lando Norris has declared it is 'inevitable' he and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri will tangle on track in their battle for this year's world championship. As the title race heats up between the papaya pair, Norris said it was only a matter of time before the Formula 1 frontrunners clashed during a race. Norris sits 10 points behind Piastri in the championship standings after the Australian's last-start victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in a McLaren one-two. Piastri has won five of the opening nine races to the Brit's two as McLaren builds a two-pronged assault on the drivers' crown. Asked ahead of this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix whether an intra-team fight was inevitable as the title race progressed throughout the season, Norris said the team was prepared for the eventuality they would have a run-in at some stage this year. 'We never said we're going to avoid everything,' Norris said as per 'I think we've actually been quite open in saying at some point, something is probably going to happen. 'We just have to be ready for that. Both Oscar and myself know that we're competitive, we want to beat each other but the main thing is we stay strong together as a team. But everything is in the open, everything is obvious, everything is known between us. 'We both want to win, we both want to beat each other, but at the end of the day there can only be one person (who wins the title) and that will be whoever performs the best over the course of the year. 'I think Andrea (Stella, McLaren team principal) said it, it's not an 'if', it's a 'when' and we'll see when that time comes. But, of course, we'll try and avoid everything as much as possible, but it's inevitable that it happens in racing.' Norris, runner-up to Red Bull rival Max Verstappen in last year's championship, said Piastri had 'improved in most areas' from last season and was driving at an 'incredibly high level'. 'He's in his third season of F1, I remember in my third season you just come into the year a little bit more confident and with a bit more knowledge and just a more complete driver,' Norris said. 'That's what he's done and he's performing well, he's driving incredibly well and at a very high level and deserves everything he's been doing at the minute. It's a good fun rivalry between us.' On his title tussle with Norris, Piastri predicted the pair's battle would continue beyond this season and maintaining a healthy working relationship would be critical. 'Clearly there's competition and there's a 'want to beat each other on track' but we've said before, we don't want just one opportunity to try and win a world championship each,' Piastri said in Montreal. 'We want this to be the case for many years to come and the best way to protect that is by having a very strong team around both of us. We're aware that whatever happens in the championship this year, or how things go, is much bigger than just this season and potentially defines our whole career. 'We're very aware of that fact, of course we still want to beat each other and win a world championship but we know that there's a bigger picture as well.' PIASTRI PLAN Piastri is not treating his title charge this year as 'do or die' and doesn't plan to change his approach now he's sitting at the top of the standings nearing the halfway point of the campaign. The Aussie star has drawn widespread praise for his calm and cool demeanour on – and off – the track and the Melbourne-born racer said he had no reason to change things for the run home. 'I think for me I'm still going to race how I always race,' Piastri said as per 'There's not really much more to say, I guess I'll just try and race how I always do. I think I normally try to race quite smart and keep myself out of trouble. 'A good saying is that 'It's often better to still be in the race than prove that you were right in the situation', so I'll try and keep that. 'I think for me I'm not looking at it as my one chance. Obviously I don't know that, but I don't think there's any use in putting extra pressure on yourself and thinking it's do or die. 'I'm still very early in my career and it obviously is a great opportunity, but I'll just try and win as many races as I can and hopefully it makes the championship look quite good at the end.' VERSTAPPEN VOW Max Verstappen has vowed not to change his approach to racing despite the cloud of an F1 race ban hanging over him, declaring 'I trust myself'. The four-time world champion made headlines at the Spanish Grand Prix after his collision with Mercedes rival George Russell, which cost him a 10-second time penalty and dropped him from fifth to 10th in the final results. Verstappen was also given three penalty points on his super licence, taking him to 11 – just one shy of a race ban if he transgresses again in Canada or Austria. But the Red Bull star was adamant he would not change his driving style to ward off the risk of a race ban. 'No, nothing changed. Why should I?' Verstappen told the media in Montreal. 'It is what it is. I was on eight points before and now it's 11. I mean, I cannot just back out of everything. 'I'm just going to race like I always do. I trust myself.' Verstappen slipped to 49 points behind championship leader Piastri in the driver standings following the race in Barcelona. The Dutch champion added he 'didn't need to go into' the fairness of the precarious position that he found himself in. 'But at the same time, life is not fair. I don't worry about it,' Verstappen said. 'I just come here to race, and I will always race hard, how I think I should race. And then we go on to the next race.' Reflecting on the costly incident with Russell, Verstappen said he had 'It was not the right thing to do at the time,' Verstappen said. 'It was a misjudgment, clearly, in the corner, but you don't need to go into full detail of why, how and what. 'Everyone makes mistakes in life. Everyone learns from them and we just move on.' Russell said a race ban for Verstappen would not be 'unjust' if he triggered a suspension. 'If he gets to 12 points it (a ban) wouldn't be unjust,' Russell said as per 'At the end of the day, that's why the penalty points are there. If you keep driving recklessly you will accumulate points, and get punished with a race ban. You've got it in your own hands and it doesn't go without risk. 'He was trying to run me off the road. I don't think he was trying to intentionally crash into me. He wanted to just sort of scare me a bit, but he just misjudged it. Again, it wasn't going to scare me, it was just all a bit surprising. 'I'm not looking for an apology. His actions cost him and they benefited me, so I should be almost thanking him. 'Obviously I'd be feeling very differently if it took me out of the race. But it is good to see that he took accountability. I was a bit surprised about that.'
ABC News
9 hours ago
- ABC News
F1 Canadian Grand Prix: What time, how to watch, and Max Verstappen flirts with race ban
Formula 1 is back in North America for round 10 of the championship, with Oscar Piastri leading the standings and the defending world champion facing a suspension. Just 10 points separate Piastri and McLaren teammate Lando Norris in the battle for the world championship, while Max Verstappen's quest for five championships in a row appears to be on life support. Here is everything you need to know about the 2025 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix. The Canadian Grand Prix will be held this weekend, from Saturday, June 14, to Monday, June 16. The grand prix will begin on Monday at 4am AEST. ABC Sport will have a live blog of the F1 Canadian Grand Prix from 2am AEST. Here are the session times for this weekend: *all times in AEST Fox Sports, and its streaming platform Kayo, will be broadcasting the Canadian Grand Prix. Those watching on Foxtel can watch the race on Fox Sports, channel 506. You can follow all the action with the ABC Sport live blog, from pre-race drama to the post-race synopsis. World champion Max Verstappen will need to be on his best behaviour this month or risk a suspension from Formula 1. Verstappen has accrued 11 penalty points in the previous calendar year for incidents on track. An automatic one-race ban is enforced for any driver who has 12 points in a calendar year. Verstappen will have two points taken away at the end of the month, meaning he needs to stay out of trouble at the Canadian Grand Prix on Monday, AEST, and the Austrian Grand Prix on June 29. Verstappen collected three penalty points for a collision with Mercedes driver George Russell, which the Red Bull ace admitted 'was not right and shouldn't have happened". Verstappen's penalty after hitting Russell dropped him from fifth to 10th at the Spanish Grand Prix, and leaves him 49 points adrift of Piastri in the championship fight. With McLaren's dominance so far this season, it is hard to see Verstappen overcoming the deficit to Piastri, or the 39-point gap he currently has to Norris in second. A race ban will all but end his title quest. The Dutchman will have two points removed from his licence at the end of the month. Those points came from last year's Austrian Grand Prix where he and Lando Norris collided while battling for the lead late in the race. Norris finished last, Verstappen had a punctured tyre but was able to pit and finish fifth. Verstappen will then have another two points removed on October 27, one year since he forced Norris off track at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The last driver to be banned for penalty points was Kevin Magnussen, who missed last year's Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve is a mix of heavy-breaking zones and free-flowing straights. There are plenty of overtaking opportunities into chicanes and the massive hairpin at turn 10. The Wall of Champions is a hazard located at the end of the final turn, renowned for ending the races of several drivers after they crash into it. The Wall of Champions was coined following the 1999 edition of the grand prix, where over the course of the weekend, three world champions — Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher — crashed into it.
