The Seven Formula One Cars That Changed Everything
The first dominant machine in Formula One, 75 years ago, was the Alfa Romeo 158—which might look like a toy by today's standards. But it was state-of-the-art in its heyday.
In recent history, it's the next-level Red Bull RB19, which in 2023 won all of but one of its 22 races.
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New York Times
11 hours ago
- New York Times
SailGP's toughest task lies ahead in one of its more exciting venues: Upper New York Bay
The SailGP fleet is steeling itself for one of the most exciting venues of the season. The towering skyline of New York City certainly takes the breath away, but that famous wall of skyscrapers is also quite capable of taking the wind away, too. No sane sailing event would choose to hold a competition on the waters of Upper New York Bay, although Formula One probably shouldn't stage a grand prix on the narrow streets of Monaco, either. Advertisement Love it or loathe it, Upper New York Bay will make for an impressive sporting arena this weekend for the 12-team close-to-shore sailing championship. It's far from a straightforward venue; the wind is likely to be extremely gusty and shifty, making it very hard for the strategists to give a clear call on tactics. Keeping SailGP's identical F50 catamarans, which compete head-to-head, in stable flight is hard enough on an open track, so trying to achieve constant foiling as the breeze swirls off the streets of Manhattan is much more difficult. The F50 will tax the coordination of the 'back three' in each six-person crew — the driver (makes final decisions about steering), wing trimmer (adjusts the wing sail for maximum speed) and flight controller (manages the ride height of the boat above the water). Then again, last year's New York event produced good, steady breezes that took everyone pleasantly by surprise. Though the long-range forecast for this weekend suggests it's going to be softer and flukier in 2025. Practice is always in short supply on the F50s, but it's been more so in recent weeks due to the cancellation of what would have been SailGP's first trip to South America, the Rio Grand Prix, which had been scheduled for early May. Following the catastrophic disintegration of the Australian team's wingsail in the closing stages of the San Francisco Grand Prix in March, the Brazil event had to be canned as designers and engineers were thrown the task of strengthening the wings of all 12 competing F50s. Behind the scenes, there has been a massive effort to have the new wings ready, with the technical work done on both sides of the Atlantic. SailGP Technologies in the English city of Southampton has been assisted by America's Cup team American Magic, who have contributed their people and facilities in Pensacola, Florida, to make sure the fleet is seaworthy and race-ready for New York. Advertisement Each boat has received an upgraded 'main element 1' — the area of the wingsail that bears the most load in racing conditions. SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts said in a press release: 'These new components for the wingsails feature an aluminum Nomex core and increased laminate, which means the new shear webs will be approximately twice as strong.' So, assuming the boats hold together, what of the form book for New York? Talking of form books, SailGP has just this week announced its foray into sports betting, with punters now able to gamble on a number of outcomes in the racing. With five different winners from five events so far in Season 5, the field is wide open. Last year, it was New Zealand who continued a good run of form in Season 4 to take victory in New York, and Peter Burling's team also took the opening event of the current season in Dubai last November. Other winners so far have been Australia, Great Britain, Canada and Spain. The points at the top of the leaderboard are extremely tight, with fifth-placed Canada just four points behind leader Australia. As Season 5 approaches its halfway point, the gap between the top and the bottom half of the leaderboard has already opened up. The big five look to be in a different league, although the French are also showing signs of being able to mix it with the best. Perhaps Quentin Delapierre's crew will find that edge of speed that was missing in San Francisco to become the sixth different winner of the season this weekend in New York. Delapierre is trying to remind himself to enjoy the moment while he's in the thick of competition. 'It's a really special place, with the Statue of Liberty behind you, which is pretty cool,' he told The Athletic. 'Along with Saint-Tropez and Sydney, this is one of the most iconic grands prix of the season. We have the opportunity, just before the races, to do 30 minutes of warm-up; it's kind of the only time we can turn our heads and look around. We're literally racing between the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan, in the middle of the ferries, which is just incredible on a boat going close to 100kmh (62mph).' Advertisement As for the contenders on the bottom half of the leaderboard, all local eyes will be on the United States team to see if Taylor Canfield's crew can earn redemption after a lacklustre showing in both Los Angeles and San Francisco. Canfield's third-place finish in Dubai at the end of last year proved the U.S. team display better form in non-foiling conditions. So a light-wind, funky forecast could give them a much-needed chance to shine in front of an expectant home crowd. Saturday, June 7: Race day 1, SailGP Race Stadium Race times: 3.30pm-5pm ET / 8.30pm-10pm BST Sunday, June 8: Race day 2, SailGP Race Stadium Race times: 3.30pm-5pm ET / 8.30pm-10pm BST Coverage will be live on CBS Sports Network and YouTube in the United States, viewers in the UK can watch it on TNT Sports. More details on how to watch can be found here.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Phantom Ferrari: The Long-Lost Stallion of Imola
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector In the misty annals of motor racing lore, amid the roar of engines and the scent of scorched rubber, there lies a story that sounds more like a legend whispered in pit lanes than a tale etched in police records. It is the curious case of the missing stallion — a Ferrari F512M, once belonging to the Austrian Formula One driver Gerhard Berger — which vanished into shadow during the 1995 San Marino Grand Prix weekend. And for 28 years, it remained a ghost. The tale begins at Imola, in the spring of 1995. The world was still reeling from the grief of the previous year — a dark season that had seen the loss of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger on that very circuit. That weekend, hope had returned, cloaked in red overalls, in the form of Ferrari's twin warriors: Gerhard Berger and Jean Alesi. But while fans focused on the drama unfolding on the tarmac, another story brewed behind the paddock. In the depths of the night, two rare Ferraris — road cars, not racers — were spirited away from their resting places, stolen cleanly, without a trace. One belonged to Alesi. The other, a gleaming scarlet F512M, was Berger's pride: a fire-breathing machine with a 12-cylinder heart, one of only 501 ever built. In a twist almost too perfect for fiction, the thief disappeared into the night, and the car was never seen again. At least, not by the public eye. The years passed. Berger moved on, retiring from racing after a celebrated career. The San Marino theft became a footnote, a quirky trivia item for F1 diehards and car enthusiasts who spoke of it in online forums and at classic car shows, more as myth than memory. How could a car of such rarity simply disappear? There were rumors — whispers of a shadowy collector in Eastern Europe, of a secret vault in Dubai, of a replica hiding in plain sight. Nothing was confirmed. But time has a way of unveiling secrets — especially when steel and engine numbers are involved. In early 2024, a quiet alarm bell rang in the offices of Ferrari in Maranello. A collector in the United States had initiated a purchase through a broker in the UK, seeking to add a rare Ferrari F512M to their stable. Routine checks followed — chassis number, engine codes, historical provenance. But something didn't add up. The car, glossy and well-preserved, bore the unmistakable signature of one that hadn't legally existed for decades. It was Berger's. The long-lost stallion had returned. Ferrari wasted no time. A tip-off was sent to the Metropolitan Police's Organised Vehicle Crime Unit, and what followed was a whirlwind of international coordination. PC Mike Pilbeam, who led the investigation, described it as 'painstaking,' involving a mosaic of authorities — the National Crime Agency, Interpol, international dealerships, and customs agents. And yet, despite nearly three decades of silence, the investigation cracked open in just four days. The car, as it turned out, had taken a journey worthy of a Bond film. Stolen in Italy, it had been swiftly shipped to Japan, where it likely changed hands under falsified documents. Decades passed, and as ownership records grew colder, the car quietly resurfaced in Europe. Someone — knowingly or not — put it on the market. And in that moment, Ferrari's meticulous record-keeping lit the path to the truth. Authorities moved swiftly to prevent its export, securing the Ferrari before it could vanish once more. Today, it rests under police custody in the UK, awaiting the next chapter in its extraordinary saga. The mystery, of course, is not fully solved. The second Ferrari — the one belonging to Jean Alesi — is still missing. Like its twin, it may be gathering dust in a hidden garage, or roaring anonymously along private roads, its past forgotten or deliberately obscured. As for Berger, the man at the center of the storm, he hasn't made a public comment. Perhaps it is shock. Or perhaps, like the rest of us, he thought this particular story had long faded into history. And yet, as with all good legends, the resurfacing of the F512M reminds us that some ghosts never sleep. They merely wait. Collectors and connoisseurs have long known that a car is more than metal and machinery. It carries stories, secrets — a spirit. And in the case of Berger's Ferrari, it also carried the burden of mystery, a kind of mechanical melancholy that seemed almost poetic. For 28 years, the Testarossa was a phantom, a name on a police blotter and a dream among gearheads. Today, it's real again. Red, rumbling, and resting under British skies. Who stole it? How many hands did it pass through? Who knew what and when? These are questions for another time — or for storytellers around the fire at the next vintage car gathering. Because this isn't just about a stolen car. It's about a myth reborn, a horse returned to the stable after a gallop through shadow, memory, and myth. And somewhere, perhaps, the other Ferrari is still out there. Waiting. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
F1 Journalist Calls Out Body Shaming in Bold Social Media Statement
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Formula One journalist Lee McKenzie has taken a bold stance against online hate on Instagram. McKenzie wrote how she was targeted for her appearance at last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, which prompted her to turn off comments. Presenting for Channel 4, the 47-year-old revealed that she hardly shares her personal life updates on social media, but the body-shaming comments she received pushed her to take a stand and admit that she had undergone surgery last month due to ongoing health issues. Calling out perpetrators who were "women and men alike," she firmly stated that not every opinion about someone's appearance needs to be shared, especially when it could affect a person at a deeper level. Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes leads Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB21 Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes... Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes leads Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB21 Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W16 and the rest of the field at the start during the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 01, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. MoreFortunately, McKenzie confirmed that her health has been improving and stressed that she would soon be hitting the gym, but only for herself. Her Instagram post read: "I've been thinking about whether I should post this but I will as it's not just about me, it's for all women and men too. "Last month I went into hospital for an operation and I've been struggling with some health issues for a while now. "As you see on here I'm a private person and I post about my work, not too much about life outside of work. I don't need or want attention or validation. But the comments about my appearance and weight at the Spanish Grand Prix have been horrific. I've had to turn off comments on my social media. It's worth saying they came from women and men alike. "If you don't like what someone wears or looks like on television, feel free to think about it but why send it to them? Why contact someone to be deliberately rude? I'm a journalist and I'm good at my job and I'm furious that this affects me. But it does and there will be people out there getting similar abuse that are not as strong as me. Don't do it. "The good news is that a larger operation that I thought I was going to get isn't needed at the moment and things can be treated with medication. Many people have this. It's not about being unwell. It's about the vile comments from women and men commenting on my appearance. "My health is improving and I'm back at the gym. For me. Not for anyone else. Think before you write to someone." Online hate has been a topic of discussion in recent weeks. Newsweek Sports reported how Alpine driver Franco Colapinto's fans targeted Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda for an on-track incident with the Argentinian. Tsunoda stressed, "At some point F1 should say something" if it crossed a line in the future.
