Toto Wolff speaks out about Lewis Hamilton amid Ferrari woes
Hamilton recently described his performances as "useless" after finishing 12th in Hungary, having not secured a podium finish in the current season.
Wolff praised Hamilton's "emotional transparency" and affirmed that he remains the "GOAT" (greatest of all time) with "unfinished business" in F1.
Wolff suggested Hamilton's current difficulties are linked to the car not providing the feedback he desires, similar to recent Mercedes vehicles.
He believes that new car designs and power units for next year could enable Hamilton to perform better and achieve his championship goal at Ferrari.
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Times
an hour ago
- Times
First-class suites for Formula 1 fun
I'm reclining on a sunshine-yellow sofa, watching a couple enter the final throes of a chess game before flicking through a weighty tome analysing Lewis Hamilton's greatest achievements. Then 3pm rolls around and the couple dash to the terrace to watch the man himself race past at 200mph. The living room-like House 44 suite, a collaboration between Lewis Hamilton, F1 and Soho House unveiled at Silverstone, is the latest addition to the Paddock Club — the vast hospitality complex that overlooks the starting grid. In 2025 the suite will feature at the upcoming Netherlands, Italy, Mexico, Las Vegas and UAE grands prix. 'The House 44 suite is an amazing way of experiencing a Formula 1 race weekend,' says Lewis Hamilton. 'Working closely with Soho House and F1, I wanted to design a space I'd choose for myself if I wasn't on track.' Even the drinks are Hamilton-themed. At the bar, clad with studded metal panels recalling the stripped-back bodywork of a 1950s grand prix car, there's free-flowing Moët alongside cocktails made with Almave. Co-founded by Hamilton, it's the world's first non-alcoholic blue agave spirit brand. The House 44 layout and size will vary slightly depending on the track, but the capacity will stay between 100 and 200 people, making it smaller and more intimate than most F1 Paddock Club suites. The overall sense is of cosiness — it's not a place where you need to know your driveshaft from your DRS. My favourite spot? Perched next to the long, rustic wooden table, watching the on-track action on a screen suspended above a sideboard topped with pot plants and a stack of books pinioned by a starfish-shaped paperweight. If I could design my dream living room, this might just be it. Guests don't need Soho House membership — just a minimum of $12,000 (about £8,900) for a three-day race weekend ticket. Added extras include pit walks, paddock tours and appearances from Sir Lewis. The Singapore GP's Twenty3 is a multilevel trackside retreat famous for its multiple vantage points (you'll find it at the track's final turn, which means unbeatable views of the starting line and post-race fireworks) and entertainment — in previous years performers have included aerial silk acrobats and fire poi spinners. But it's the culinary offerings that put it on the map. Highlights include pop-ups from Michelin-starred chefs (at the GP in October sit-down restaurants will include one from the Seoul-based Soigné, which has two Michelin stars, and La Scène, a Paris bistro also with two stars). Meanwhile, pitstops for thirsty race fans will include one from Barcelona's Paradiso Bar, which bagged a spot in the top 10 of the World's 50 Best Bars 2024. Finally, it's worth bearing in mind this is a race where those vantage points are worth the expense. The action-packed Singapore GP — F1's first night-time race, wrapped around the spectacular Marina Bay — makes for a breathtaking backdrop. From £4,760 for a three-day ticket, A fun fact? The first Las Vegas GP took place in 1981, when the cars raced around the parking lot of the Caesars Palace hotel. There wasn't another Las Vegas GP until 2023, when F1's speed machines raced down the city's neon-lit Strip. Perhaps unsurprisingly the hospitality offerings are as extravagant as it gets, and the pricier offerings include the Gordon Ramsay at F1 Garage — with tickets starting from £20,000. A more affordable (but equally opulent) option for race weekend (in 2025 this will be November 20-22) is Skybox, with its Rat Pack-inspired decor (think vast expanses of red velvet and lots of feathers). This hospitality suite, above the Heineken Silver Main Grandstand, offers stunning views of the starting line while guests feast on gourmet cuisine and toast the race's return to Vegas with cocktails prepared by the city's top mixologists. Tickets include a Heineken Silver Main Grandstand seat in addition to suite access. The suite's proximity to the Heineken Silver Stage is a big draw — it's the setting for driver appearances as well as live music. From £6,530 for a three-day ticket, The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix's 360 at Sixteen hospitality area, which will launch at this December's event, will have a prime position — it will be located at turn 16, which means brilliant views of the finishing straight as well as the circuit's famous chicane section. It will be a multilevel lounge with leafy areas and terraces overlooking the pitlane. Perks for guests include pit walks and complimentary access to nearby attractions such as Warner Bros World Yas Island Abu Dhabi and the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Guests will be able to refuel at live cooking stations and at food trucks, although it's worth nothing this will be one of the few hospitality packages that includes only soft drinks — alcoholic beverages cost extra. From £1,200 for a four-day ticket, House 44 wasn't the only F1 Paddock Club suite unveiled at Silverstone — the Atlassian Williams Racing team revealed its beautiful suite at the British GP too. Created for guests invited by the team or its partners, it will appear at the Singapore, Austin, Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi GPs in 2025 (2026's races are to be confirmed). Although exact layouts might vary, staples will include a large central bar, an open-plan layout and vast expanses of dark oak and light stone, and a central stage will be the setting for appearances by team members, including drivers. The vibe? Decadent but fun — at the British Grand Prix there were menu holders made from wheel nuts, and guests can ask for their initials to be embroidered on to complimentary ticket wallets and luggage labels from Carl Friedrik (one of the team's sponsors). Marcus Prosser, the director of marketing at Atlassian Williams Racing, believes this bespoke approach is the way forward. 'Today the F1 hospitality landscape is shifting from a one-size-fits-all to more meaningful, personalised experiences,' Prosser says. Entry to the suite is by invitation only
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Chelsea step up efforts to sign Garnacho and Simons in attacking reshuffle
Chelsea are to step up attempts to sign Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United and Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig and could sell Nicolas Jackson, as they continue to reshape their attacking options. The club have brought in Liam Delap, João Pedro and Jamie Gittens, and moves for Garnacho and Simons are understood to be their priority. Garnacho has played no part in United's pre-season and is thought to be available for about £50m, although Chelsea are understood to be reluctant to pay that. The Argentina forward is believed to be keen to move to Stamford Bridge after Ruben Amorim made clear the 21-year-old is not part of his plans at Old Trafford. Chelsea have yet to make an official approach but are likely to do so, with United seeking to balance their books as they close on the signing of Benjamin Sesko from Leipzig. Chelsea are in talks with the German club over Simons, who is understood to have agreed personal terms despite interest from Bayern Munich. The 22-year-old, who can play in several attacking roles, joined Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain in January for €50m after two successful loan spells. He is expected to cost about €70m (£61m) and Leipzig are targeting Liverpool's Harvey Elliott as a potential replacement. Jackson is understood to prefer to stay at Chelsea despite the arrivals of Delap and Pedro dropping him down the pecking order, but Chelsea are believed to be willing to sell the Senegal striker for the right price. Newcastle could be an option if, as expected, they miss out on Sesko, and Jackson also has interest from Milan and other Italian clubs but Chelsea could demand £80m. Chelsea's 19-year-old Spanish striker Marc Guiu is poised to join Sunderland on loan having completed his medical on Wednesday, and Everton have completed the £28m signing of the midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall on a five-year contract. Burnley are closing in on signing Armando Broja for £20m and are likely to pay a similar fee for Lesley Ugochukwu. Borussia Dortmund are also in talks with Chelsea over a permanent deal for Carney Chukwuemeka, who spent part of last season on loan in Germany. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Chelsea have sold Kepa Arrizabalaga, Noni Madueke, Djordje Petrovic and João Félix for combined fees that could reach well above £100m. They are also hoping to offload Raheem Sterling, who spent last season on loan at Arsenal and has been linked with clubs in Turkey, together with Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga, Christopher Nkunku and Ben Chilwell. The Netherlands defender Jorrel Hato became Chelsea's latest summer signing when his £37m move from Ajax was confirmed on Sunday.
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Reuters
Trump wants more American pick-ups in Tokyo and London. That may be a hard sell
TOKYO/STOCKHOLM, August 7 (Reuters) - Donald Trump is right that Japan and Europe buy few American-made cars - but it has little to do with trade barriers. From Tokyo to London, many consumers see Detroit's offerings as simply too big and too gas-guzzling. That view has made Chevrolets and Cadillacs a hard sell, and a rare sight, in cities full of slimmer cars from the Toyota Corolla to Honda Civic, Volkswagen Golf and Renault Clio. Trump often complains about what he sees as a refusal to accept U.S. cars while the Japanese, opens new tab and Europeans sell millions of automobiles a year into the United States. In recent trade deals, opens new tab, both markets agreed to drop or ease safety tests on American vehicle imports. Europe will lower levies on U.S. cars. But it may take more than a change of rules and lower tariffs to convince Japanese and European consumers, who contend with narrow roads and painfully tight parking, to buy big American-made Ford F-150 trucks and Cadillac Escalade SUVs. "American cars are designed for wide roads and freeway driving, so handling them on narrow Japanese streets can be tricky. It takes a bit of technique," said Yumihito Yasue, president of Johnan Jeep Petit in Tokyo, which imports and services vintage cars from the United States. His customers tend to be enthusiasts in their 50s and 60s who grew up seeing American cars on TV and in movies. On a recent weekday, he was servicing two Chevrolets, a lustrous brown 1971 Nova and a low-slung 1986 El Camino, both with their steering wheels on the left. In Japan, steering is on the right. Yasue inherited his love of American cars from his father, who started the business four decades ago and would travel to California to scout for cars. Yasue took over after his father died nine years ago, and sells about 20 vehicles a year. "What makes American cars special is the design. Compared to Japanese or German cars, the body shape is more beautiful. Especially the lines, like the rear lines and the fenders," he said. Some 3.7 million new cars were sold in Japan last year, with a third of those mini or "kei" cars - tiny, fuel efficient vehicles not produced by American automakers. Overall, foreign cars accounted for 6% of new car sales, data from the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association showed. Of those, around 570 Chevys, 450 Cadillacs and 120 Dodges were sold, data from the Japan Automobile Importers Association showed. Ford (F.N), opens new tab pulled out of Japan almost a decade ago. Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab makes cars sleeker than some of Detroit's and is becoming more popular. The data does not give a breakdown for the EV maker. In Europe, smaller locally-made U.S. cars have done well: models like the best-selling Ford Puma and the older Fiesta. But over the past two decades, Ford and General Motors (GM.N), opens new tab have pivoted towards larger pickups and SUVs, vehicles less suited to Europe's narrow streets and compact-car culture. Ford, a big player in Europe from the early 1900s, has seen sales in the region fall sharply, from 1.26 million vehicles in 2005 to just 426,000 in 2024, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA). Its market share dropped from 8.3% to 3.3%. "We don't buy Ford F-150s, that's not what our roads are scaled for, it's not what our customers want," Andy Palmer, former CEO of Aston Martin, told Reuters. GM exited Europe in 2017, selling Opel after pulling back Chevrolet, but returned with its Cadillac Lyriq last year. It sold a mere 1,514 of the U.S.-made SUV, according to auto data firm Jato. A GM spokesperson said Cadillac was growing its all-electric lineup in Europe, and the vehicles had been well-received in the markets where they were launched. A Ford spokesperson said the firm exported "passion products" to Europe like the Bronco and Mustang, alongside locally-made models tailored for the market. Clive Sutton, a British car dealer in London who sells luxury American models, said his buyers were drawn to the rarity of vehicles like the giant Cadillac Escalade. But he admitted it was a challenge. "There are people that want that car because of its exclusivity and its perceived status," Sutton said. "But it's not the most easy car to find a parking space for, certainly in central London." Trump has also put pressure on South Korea to open its market to American cars and said duty-free access was part of the trade deal the two countries agreed last week. There, imported vehicles account for less than one-fifth of the car market and U.S. models for only 16% of the imported car segment, which is dominated by German rivals, according to data from the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association. German manufacturers have also carved out a strong presence in Japan's luxury market. Mercedes-Benz ( opens new tab sold more than 53,000 vehicles last year, making it the most popular foreign brand, followed by BMW ( opens new tab at more than 35,000. Japanese automakers say Europeans have been successful because they committed the time and resources to the market. Detroit carmakers, meanwhile, are often associated with left-hand drive cars, which are more challenging to drive on the left-hand side of the road. But some U.S. manufacturers are changing. GM has offered the Corvette only in right-hand drive since the eighth generation version went on sale in 2021. That may be one reason why some 80% of buyers are new customers, a GM spokesperson said. The Corvette is the only model Chevy offers in Japan, and it has sold fewer than 1,000 of them a year for the last decade. GM this year announced plans for a line-up of right-hand-drive Cadillac EVs and deliveries of the Lyriq started in July. Jeep, which sells right-hand drive models, has been the most popular American brand for more than a decade, the importer data showed. It sold just shy of 10,000 vehicles last year in Japan. Yukimi Nitta used to drive a "kei" car but she was drawn to the Jeep Wrangler's appearance, which she described as "friendly" and "outdoorsy". The 42-year-old hair salon owner is now on her second Jeep - a limited-edition beige model - and hopes to switch again to another limited-edition colour. Parking is tight but manageable, she said, and two of her friends have since bought Wranglers. "People often say, 'Wow, a foreign car!' But once you drive it, it feels totally normal. I wish more people would try it," she said. While the Wrangler does burn through fuel quickly, the resale value is good, making it possible to switch out colours, something owners do, Nitta said. A spokesperson for Jeep owner Stellantis ( opens new tab said it actively promoted owner events. In July, it announced a collaboration with the "Jurassic World" movie series featuring a limited-edition pink Wrangler, the spokesperson said. Big American cars and trucks might find it hard to follow in Jeep's tracks. Daniel Cadwell, an American living in Tokyo, exports used Japanese camper vans and wagons to the United States. He said he was struck by the size of American cars whenever he went home. "They are just excessively big," said Cadwell, who runs Javan Imports in Portland with his U.S.-based business partner. "I think it is highly challenging for a car of that sort to be seen as attractive in Japan."
