Latest news with #Albon
Express Tribune
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- Express Tribune
Norris fastest in first Spanish GP practice
McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates after qualifying in pole position in the Formula One Australian Grand Prix Qualifying at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne on March 15. PHOTO: REUTERS McLaren's Lando Norris followed up his victory in Monaco by lapping fastest in first practice for the Spanish Grand Prix on Friday, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen ending the session as his closest rival. The Briton, winner last Sunday to close to only three points behind championship-leading teammate Oscar Piastri after eight of 24 rounds, set a best time of one minute and 13.718 seconds at the Circuit de Catalunya. Verstappen was 0.367 slower but missed some 20 minutes of the session with mechanics working to change the car's rear suspension. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton -- winner a record-equalling six times in Spain -- was third on the timesheets, 0.378 off the pace and ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc (+0.520) with Piastri fifth (+0.576). The session was the first in which teams used new front wings to meet stricter flex tests introduced for the Spanish weekend, but there was no immediate sign of any significant change. Liam Lawson was sixth fastest for Racing Bulls with Oliver Bearman seventh for Haas, Isack Hadjar eighth for Racing Bull and Verstappen's teammate Yuki Tsunoda ninth. Alpine's Pierre Gasly completed the top 10. Mercedes, McLaren's closest rivals in the constructors' standings, had George Russell 11th and Kimi Antonelli 18th. The session featured two young drivers gaining experience, with Frenchman Victor Martins replacing Alex Albon at Williams and Japanese Ryo Hirakawa for Esteban Ocon at Haas. Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who was 13th in his Aston Martin, launched an impassioned defence, meanwhile, of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya which appears set to be ditched after 33 years of hosting the Spanish Grand Prix. A new street circuit in Madrid is expected to be confirmed soon as host of the 2026 edition. "I don't think that we will lose Barcelona, that's my opinion and my wish as well," said Alonso who is an ambassador for Barcelona F1. "I think it's good to have new venues and countries, but we need to keep some traditional circuits where the history of F1 has been written." Russell says Albon has more to pay after lobster dinner George Russell says Alex Albon still owes him because the tab for a lobster pasta dinner picked up by his friend and Formula One rival after the Monaco Grand Prix was not enough to make amends for the race. Mercedes driver Russell finished 11th last Sunday with Albon ninth and Williams teammate Carlos Sainz 10th, the pair using strategy to defend their scoring positions on an afternoon without overtaking. Russell, who had scored points in every round up to Monaco, said afterwards that Albon would be paying for dinner and the Thai obliged. "He ordered the most expensive thing on the menu," Albon told reporters hungry for more detail at the Spanish Grand Prix. "He did, actually. It was the lobster pasta. "Lobster pasta, in Monaco... Monaco is not cheap. On race weekends, they bump up the prices everywhere." Albon said he chose a carbonara, admittedly with wagyu beef, and Russell skipped dessert. Asked whether it had been an expensive restaurant, Russell suggested Albon escaped lightly. "Not expensive enough. So, the bill is definitely not even just yet," he said.
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Russell says Albon has more to pay after lobster dinner
George Russell says Alex Albon owes him because the tab for a lobster pasta dinner picked up by his friend and Formula One rival after the Monaco Grand Prix was not enough to make amends for the race. Mercedes driver Russell finished 11th last Sunday with Albon ninth and Williams teammate Carlos Sainz 10th, the pair using strategy to defend their scoring positions on an afternoon without overtaking. Russell, who had scored points in every round up to Monaco, said afterwards Albon would pay for dinner and the Thai obliged. "He ordered the most expensive thing on the menu," Albon told reporters hungry for more detail at the Spanish Grand Prix. "He did. It was the lobster pasta. Lobster pasta in Monaco is not cheap. On race weekends they bump up the prices everywhere." Albon said he chose a carbonara, admittedly with wagyu beef, and Russell skipped dessert. Asked whether it had been an expensive restaurant, Russell suggested Albon escaped lightly. "Not expensive enough. So, the bill is definitely not even yet," he said.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Russell says Albon has more to pay after lobster dinner
FILE PHOTO: May 1, 2025; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Williams driver Alex Albon (23) walks in the paddock ahead of the F1 Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images/File Photo REUTERS FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Spanish Grand Prix - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain - May 29, 2025 Mercedes' George Russell during the press conference ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo Russell says Albon has more to pay after lobster dinner BARCELONA - George Russell says Alex Albon still owes him because the tab for a lobster pasta dinner picked up by his friend and Formula One rival after the Monaco Grand Prix was not enough to make amends for the race. Mercedes driver Russell finished 11th last Sunday with Albon ninth and Williams teammate Carlos Sainz 10th, the pair using strategy to defend their scoring positions on an afternoon without overtaking. Russell, who had scored points in every round up to Monaco, said afterwards that Albon would be paying for dinner and the Thai obliged. "He ordered the most expensive thing on the menu," Albon told reporters hungry for more detail at the Spanish Grand Prix. "He did, actually. It was the lobster pasta. "Lobster pasta, in Monaco... Monaco is not cheap. On race weekends, they bump up the prices everywhere." Albon said he chose a carbonara, admittedly with wagyu beef, and Russell skipped dessert. Asked whether it had been an expensive restaurant, Russell suggested Albon escaped lightly. "Not expensive enough. So, the bill is definitely not even just yet," he said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Star
Motor racing-Russell says Albon has more to pay after lobster dinner
FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Spanish Grand Prix - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain - May 29, 2025 Mercedes' George Russell during the press conference ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo BARCELONA (Reuters) -George Russell says Alex Albon still owes him because the tab for a lobster pasta dinner picked up by his friend and Formula One rival after the Monaco Grand Prix was not enough to make amends for the race. Mercedes driver Russell finished 11th last Sunday with Albon ninth and Williams teammate Carlos Sainz 10th, the pair using strategy to defend their scoring positions on an afternoon without overtaking. Russell, who had scored points in every round up to Monaco, said afterwards that Albon would be paying for dinner and the Thai obliged. "He ordered the most expensive thing on the menu," Albon told reporters hungry for more detail at the Spanish Grand Prix. "He did, actually. It was the lobster pasta. "Lobster pasta, in Monaco... Monaco is not cheap. On race weekends, they bump up the prices everywhere." Albon said he chose a carbonara, admittedly with wagyu beef, and Russell skipped dessert. Asked whether it had been an expensive restaurant, Russell suggested Albon escaped lightly. "Not expensive enough. So, the bill is definitely not even just yet," he said. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Christian Radnedge)
France 24
2 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Albon picks up the tab for Russell's lobster pasta Monaco 'revenge'
Williams driver Albon had slowed, delayed and blocked the Mercedes man during last Sunday's race so much that Russell eventually cut a chicane and accepted a penalty, claiming afterwards that he would gain revenge by making Albon pay the bill at dinner. The pair laughed as they recounted details of their meal with Albon revealing his guest had chosen a lobster pasta dish. "He ordered the most expensive thing on the menu – the lobster pasta," Albon told a press conference on Thursday ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. "But he skipped dessert so it kind of equalled out. It was good fun, a fun evening…. And yeah, I did pay. As I should," he added. Russell finished the race a frustrated 11th as Mercedes endured a pointless event while Williams who engaged a tactic of using their drivers to hold up the pack to create a pit-stop window for each other, finished ninth and 10th. The RB team of rookies Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson used similar tactics on their way to career best sixth and eighth places, Lawson notably creating pit-stop opportunities for Hadjar. The Frenchman thanked his New Zealand team-mate on Thursday, but said he had no plans to reciprocate on track. "Maybe a dinner or something," he agreed would be an appropriate gesture. Sunday's race at the Circuit de Catalunya completes a triple-header of three consecutive races in Italy, Monaco and Spain. Lando Norris won in Monaco to move to within three points of his McLaren teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri.
