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Oscar Piastri in telling act towards Lando Norris after McLaren cop setback

Oscar Piastri in telling act towards Lando Norris after McLaren cop setback

Yahoo20-04-2025
Oscar Pisatri showed his class having checked on teammate Lando Norris with the British driver crashing during Saudi Arabian qualifying as the McLaren team face further questions over their F1 position. Max Verstappen claimed pole position by a 100th of a second having eclipsed Piastri at the end in Saudi Arabia.
However, it was Norris' crassh that raised eyebrows within the McLaren team. Norris will now start back in 10th position having hit thewall during Saturday's qualifying session. Norris has been facing pressure all season from outside of McLaren with critics suggesting the battle with teammate Piastri is getting to him.
This comes after Piastri was given permission by the McLaren hierarchy to chase the drivers championship without fear, despite one of his biggest rivals being his teammate. Since the Melbourne GP, Piastri won the Chinese GP, finish third in Japan and won in Bahrain.
He sits second on the drivers championship behind Norris and if he can capitalise starting second on the grid in the powerful McLaren car, Piastri could find himself leading the season after Saudi Arabia. This is clearly frustrating the young British star who let loose on the team radio after the crash having labelled himself a "f*****g idiot" on the team radio after crashing.
"Makes sense, I agree with it," Norris said later. "Should be fighting for pole. On first lap in Q3 I shouldn't be taking any silly risks like I seem to have done.
This is the moment that cost Lando Norris a chance at pole position tonight 😮🔽#F1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/QvzYSUYrha
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 19, 2025
"I shunted so I'm not going to be proud, I'm not going to be happy. I have let myself down and let the team down. The car was going strong so disappointed. It has made my life and everyone's in the team much harder because everyone has a big job to try and fix everything."
While plenty is being made out about their rivalry on the track, Piastri showed class as he walked by Norris and checked on his teammate after the crash. And while Norris would have been frustrated with his drive, Piastri admitted he was pleased with second on the grid and was confident of going one better come race day.
Oscar Piastri thrilled ahead of race day having admitted he wasn't too disappointed in missing out on pole position. "To be honest, I was pretty happy with it. It wasn't too much more left in that lap. Happy with the job I did," Piastri said.
"We were playing catch-up a little bit through the first part of qualifying and then that last lap felt more and less like the best I could've done. I think Max has done a good job. It's another high-speed circuit for [Red Bull], where they seem to be having a little bit more success - but a good job again.
"Still all to play for tomorrow. I think our pace is good. It's going to be a tough race, and the tyres are a bit softer than last year, so we'll see if that plays to our advantage." Piastri is looking to become the first Australian since Mark Webber in 2010 to lead the drivers championship. However, four-time champ Verstappen will back himself to hold the lead, like he did in Japan for the entire race, and take the lead in the drivers championship.
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Who slept best last night: Nico Rosberg
Who slept best last night: Nico Rosberg

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Who slept best last night: Nico Rosberg

When the most insightful Formula 1 reporter in Spa is a former racing driver, it says a lot about the current state of an entire profession – or rather, how dire things have become in terms of critical journalism. Especially in a paddock increasingly flooded by a phenomenon called 'influencer'. And let's be honest – if something sounds like a disease, it could certainly act like one. Still, it's merely a symptom of a broader zeitgeist that, in 2025, doesn't stop at the gates of the F1 paddock. People who are enthusiastic about everything – as long as they're allowed inside – are far easier to manage. They're more compliant when PR handlers want to dictate not just headlines but entire stories. They don't push back when teams deny access to press briefings or even resort to legal action against unwelcome reporting. And yet, there seems to remain one small, defiant village in this largely occupied F1 empire – a flicker of hope. Fittingly, the figure who embodies that resistance sports a hairstyle reminiscent of Cacofonix, the long-haired bard from Asterix, who routinely gets gagged so no one has to listen to him. A sentiment that many of the once-proud voices of critical F1 journalism can relate to. It's telling that, in their place, it's now Nico Rosberg – in his role as TV pundit – who dares to ask the uncomfortable questions. It helps, of course, that Rosberg quite simply doesn't give a damn – which may be why more than one paddock personality in Spa probably wished they had a gag to hand. Exhibit A: Jos Verstappen. On the starting grid with Sky Sports F1 on his UK broadcasting duties, Rosberg confronts him directly over his past criticism of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner: 'Last year, you said Horner had to go because he was destroying the team,' Rosberg begins. Lando Norris, McLaren, 3rd position, is interviewed by Nico Rosberg, Sky Sports F1, after the Sprint race Verstappen shrugs, interrupting him: 'That was a year and a half ago. So, it's different,' he says, adding, 'I've got nothing to say. It's fine.' Rosberg presses on: 'Now you're quiet?' Verstappen leans forward, confused. Rosberg repeats: 'You're quiet now?' 'I'm always quiet,' Verstappen snaps back – clearly irritated. The awkward exchange is just the opening act. Rosberg continues firing off uncomfortable questions left and right. His next target: his own Mercedes successor, Valtteri Bottas. 'New deal with Cadillac?' he asks bluntly. Bottas plays deaf: 'I can't hear you.' Rosberg insists: 'So just rumours, yeah?' Bottas, again evasive: 'There are a lot of rumours in this sport.' Even current drivers like Lando Norris and Andrea Kimi Antonelli don't escape unscathed. More and more, Rosberg has become the kind of pundit he himself – back in his racing days – would probably have hated: brutally honest, relentlessly persistent, unafraid of confrontation. He puts his finger on every wound with the precision of someone who knows exactly what he's talking about – because he's been there. Norris, who had another error-strewn afternoon, becomes the subject of Rosberg's post-race critique: 'He was half asleep when the race restarted,' Rosberg says, dissecting the Brit's performance. 'And later on, he made three more mistakes – the kind of errors a Hamilton or Verstappen simply wouldn't make.' All this while McLaren boss Zak Brown is standing right next to him. Rosberg, undeterred, turns to him cheekily: 'You saw that too, didn't you?' Read Also: Who slept worst last night: Toto Wolff Rosberg doesn't hold back with his former team Mercedes either – nor with rookie Antonelli, even though the young Italian once drove for Rosberg's own karting team and received financial support from him. Rosberg's verdict is blunt: Antonelli has 'definitely allowed himself a few too many distractions this year.' His evidence? In Imola, for instance, the teenager welcomed a visit from the local football club – and even some of his schoolmates. 'You have to cut all of that out – completely. Zero. Take it all down to zero,' Rosberg demands. 'It's just you and your team. Go race. That's it.' And Rosberg speaks from experience: in 2016, that same monk-like detachment and ruthless focus on the essentials gave him the final push he needed to clinch the world title. Nico Rosberg, Sky F1, on the grid 'No friends, no family – leave them all at home. Leave behind anything that distracts you. Prepare with the team, get in the simulator, double your sim time at the factory. Just preparation, preparation, preparation. That's the best thing he can do,' Rosberg insists. Whether this kind of stern, old-school advice – and the sharp tone he often takes – wins him many friends is doubtful. But frankly, Rosberg doesn't seem to care. A perfect example? His former team boss, Toto Wolff. Even when it comes to the Austrian and his ongoing contract talks with George Russell, Rosberg can't resist letting us in on a little secret. 'It's horrible negotiating with Toto – because his tactic is to just disappear,' laughs the former Mercedes driver. 'So if you're George now trying to get hold of him, Toto's already gone. He even knows how to avoid the blue ticks.' Apparently, no special WhatsApp settings required for the Silver Arrows' team boss. With a grin, Rosberg adds: 'As soon as your message pops up on his screen, he'll only read the first few words and won't even open it properly. I remember that well from my time – it was always his style: vanish, don't reply, be unreachable. And that's horrible, because it gives you no chance.' Rosberg certainly knows how to offer compelling insights from behind the curtain – into the inner workings of an F1 team. What helps, of course, is that he's still deeply connected in the paddock and that his own driving days weren't all that long ago. He raced against many of today's stars – and clearly still knows exactly how the game is played. But perhaps even more important than Rosberg's technical expertise is his integrity – his clarity of opinion, his directness, and his ability to speak his mind without, unlike some of his fellow pundits, constantly putting himself in the spotlight. Martin Brundle, Nico Rosberg and Simon Lazenby His deliberate refusal to play along with the increasingly sanitised rules of F1's tightly-managed media circus is refreshing. Rosberg is finally asking the uncomfortable questions. That said, it's only fair to acknowledge that Rosberg's status as a world champion certainly helps. It elevates him beyond doubt, giving his voice an authority in almost any discussion. There was, however, one moment in recent years when Rosberg himself clashed with F1's many unwritten rules – quite literally finding himself excluded: during the COVID years, when strict F1 protocols suddenly barred the former world champion from the paddock. He was forced to dial in remotely, standing outside the gates with a small TV crew like an outcast on the fringes of the great circus. Sky stuck with their most valued expert – and rightly so. Rosberg's multilingualism allows him to switch effortlessly between international broadcasts, making him even more valuable to the network. Still, Rosberg's rise in the world of television hasn't come without its cost. This writer experienced this firsthand at last year's season finale in Abu Dhabi. After an enjoyable private chat with him and Augusto Farfus – whom I know well from DTM – I asked Nico if I could record a few quotes from him. He politely but firmly declined: 'I don't do print anymore.' The message was clear: he was done with the written press. It was a surprising development, but in hindsight, so be it. If journalism truly is in decline in this age of TikTok, AI, and clickbait – then so be it. Long live Rosberg on TV. As long as he keeps delivering like he did on Sunday in Spa, we will all be better for it. Photos from Belgian GP - Race Jacky Ickx, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images Rain in the pitlane Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images Eliska Babickova, girlfriend of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Kym Illman / Getty Images Jenson Button Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Ryan Pierse / Getty Images George Russell, Mercedes Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Ferrari Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team Peter Fox / Getty Images A fan wears a headband made of LEGO F1 cars Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images Toto Wolff, Mercedes Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team Red Bull Content Pool Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Kym Illman / Getty Images Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team Ryan Pierse / Getty Images Pierre Gasly, Alpine Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Toto Wolff, Mercedes Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Jonas Roosens / Belga Mag / AFP via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Carlos Sainz, Williams Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team Red Bull Content Pool Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Peter Fox / Getty Images George Russell, Mercedes, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Alexander Albon, Williams Peter Fox / Getty Images View of the fanzone Ryan Pierse / Getty Images Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Jayce Illman / Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber Peter Fox / Getty Images Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team, Alexander Albon, Williams Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Ferrari Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Red Bull Content Pool Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Ferrari Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team Peter Fox / Getty Images Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team Red Bull Content Pool Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Red Bull Content Pool Lando Norris, McLaren Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Ferrari Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Red Bull Content Pool Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Ferrari Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team Red Bull Content Pool Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Yves Herman / Pool / AFP via Getty Images Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing, Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Red Bull Content Pool Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Yves Herman / Pool / AFP via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Yves Herman / Pool / AFP via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Peter Fox / Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty Images Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team Ryan Pierse / Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Simon Wohlfahrt / AFP via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Simon Wohlfahrt / AFP via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Yves Herman / Pool / AFP via Getty Images Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team Ryan Pierse / Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images George Russell, Mercedes Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Clive Rose / Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Mark Thompson - Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Clive Rose / Getty Images To read more articles visit our website.

Real Madrid veteran confirms renewal talks are underway – ‘My dream is to retire here'
Real Madrid veteran confirms renewal talks are underway – ‘My dream is to retire here'

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Real Madrid veteran confirms renewal talks are underway – ‘My dream is to retire here'

Thibaut Courtois has confirmed his complete commitment to Real Madrid, expressing his desire to end his career at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Belgian goalkeeper revealed that talks over a contract extension are well underway and that staying at the club long-term remains his top priority. 'Renewing my contract? Negotiations are ongoing. I want to stay at Real Madrid for as long as possible. My dream is to retire with them,' Courtois said (h/t RM4 Arab), making his intentions clear. While enjoying his off-season break, Courtois made a special appearance at the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix, where he was given the honour of starting the sprint race. He also took part in the trophy presentation ceremony, handing awards to Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, and Lando Norris, the top three finishers of the event. New deal already finalised Although Courtois hinted that negotiations are still in progress, sources close to the club have confirmed that a new deal is already finalised. Thibaut Courtois will renew his contract with Real Madrid. (Photo by) His previous contract was due to expire in 2026, but the new agreement will extend it by one more year, until the summer of 2027. The extension does not include any performance-based clauses, meaning the deal is unconditional and secure regardless of match appearances. An official announcement from the club is expected soon, with all terms now agreed. Courtois, who is currently on holiday after playing the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, will return to training with the rest of the squad at Valdebebas on August 4. The team's competitive campaign begins on August 19 when they face Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu in their La Liga opener. At 33, Courtois remains one of the best goalkeepers in world football, and Real Madrid's decision to tie him down for another season reflects the trust and value the club places in his experience and leadership.

Legacy of Nevada skating ring lives on in Bolton today
Legacy of Nevada skating ring lives on in Bolton today

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Legacy of Nevada skating ring lives on in Bolton today

On a roll! That's local roller-skaters who proved they had the right moves to be crowned British Champions! Red Rose Roller Skating Club, based in Turton and Smithills, travelled to Great Yarmouth to compete in the Dance British Championships. Paula Callaghan, 66, coach and founder of the club, said: "We didn't have anyone come below eighth place! "I wasn't surprised – because they work so hard and they've been working and working and working every single day. "But you never know what's going to happen on the day of the championship – they got so many good compliments from the officials too!" Toby Halpin-Foden, 16, and Jemima Corser, 16, came home with the top prize – placing number one in the Youth Couples category. That wasn't the only achievement for Toby, however, with the teen also winning the trophy for Men's Youth Champion. Jemima Corser (left) and Toby Halpin-Foden (right) won Youth Couple (Image: Paula Callaghan)Have a story? Get in touch at Elisabeth Sugden, 16, and Emma Halpin-Foden, 19, also achieved personal bests landing in the top 8 of UK skaters. Mini-skaters Thomas Tierney-Parker, 11, and Veronica Redwood, 8, also achieved silver and bronze respectively in the Mini Championships. Paula's daughter Nicola Lohan, 42, is also a coach at the club – and brought her son Patrick, 5, along to cheer from the sidelines. All of the skaters were from Bolton – except for Toby and Emma Halpin-Foden who are from Bury. Thomas Tierney-Parker (left) and Veronica Redwood (right) won silver and bronze respectively (Image: Paula Callaghan) READ MORE: 'Party Like a Dinosaur' family fun day in Astley Bridge READ MORE: Bolton Golf Club's stages annual championship this week READ MORE: SheInspires Awards founder Gulnaz Brennan receives Daily Mail award Paula said that the club embraces Bolton's legacy of roller skating – with its history of the Navada Skating rink which burned down. She said anyone interested in trying it out should visit the Turton Sports Centre when lessons restart in September. You can find out more about Red Rose Roller Skating on their website:

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