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Otago Daily Times
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Crash ends Lawson's race on first lap
Liam Lawson's British Grand Prix was wrecked on the first lap. Lando Norris won his home grand prix for the first time, beating home McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri at a wet and chaotic Silverstone, but the news was all bad for Lawson after the New Zealand Racing Bulls driver was knocked out of the race at just the fifth corner. One of Lawson's tyres was clipped by Haas' Esteban Ocon, and that put him in a spin, spiralling him off the track. "Who the hell was that? I'm out. Who the hell was that?" Lawson, who had started from 15 on the grid, exclaimed on the team radio. The incident caused damage to the floor of his car, affecting the suspension and though he tried to continue, the damage was too great. "It's broken," he told his team. "We're broken. I'm pulling over.'' Once he had stopped, he said: "Whoever this Haas was next to me, oh dude, he just drove straight into the side of me.'' Ocon had been forced wide by Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda and clipped Lawson, who was on his outside. It was the fourth 'did not finish' for Lawson in this year's Formula 1 series, and comes just a week after his best finish, with his sixth placing at the Austrian Grand Prix. There was no sanction for Ocon over the incident, as he had been pushed wide by Tsunoda. Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar also failed to finish after driving into the back of Kimi Antonelli and crashing on lap 14. Speaking later, Lawson said: "We made the right call on tyres and had a strong start, so it's a shame we couldn't show the car's full potential. I think we had a really good car today, especially suited to the mixed conditions. It was a race full of opportunity, and we missed out on some big points." Lawson said he was looking forward to the Belgium Grand Prix at Spa on 28 July. Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies said the most important thing was that Lawson and Hadjar were uninjured. "There is never a good day to lose both cars in crashes, but it is what it is; today was not a good day for that. What matters is that we have a strong car, strong drivers and we were fast again this weekend. "However, we do leave here with zero points and we will be working very hard to improve on the few things that have derailed our weekend. We will be regrouping, preparing for Spa and turning up trying to use the pace of the car that we are confident we have." Norris sheds tears of joy Norris shed tears of joy after his win, while Piastri made his unhappiness evident to all, Reuters reported. The Australian, now only eight points clear at the top of the championship, had looked a more likely winner - but a 10-second penalty for braking sharply behind the safety car while leading left Norris as the one celebrating. McLaren had indicated they could appeal the penalty, prompting Piastri to suggest over the radio that he and Norris switch places, but in the end the team told the drivers to continue racing for position. Norris was overcome by emotion as he took the chequered flag 6.8 seconds clear. "We did it, at home. Oh my god, we did it. It's beautiful!" he gasped over the radio. Piastri gave every impression of chewing on lemons as he was interviewed by 2009 world champion Jenson Button before the podium celebrations. "I'm not going to say much. I'll get myself in trouble. Well done to Nico. I think that's the highlight of the day," he said acidly of third-placed finisher Nico Hulkenberg. "Apparently you can't brake behind the safety car anymore. I did it for five laps before that." Hulkenberg's achievement also had the tears flowing, the German veteran making up 16 places to shed an unwanted record of the most races without a podium in Formula 1 history - Sunday being his first in 239 starts. "I don't think I can comprehend what we've just done," said the stunned German before wild pitlane celebrations with his teammates. "It feels good. It's been a long time coming, hasn't it? But I always knew we had it in us, I have it in me, somewhere." Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton finished fourth with Red Bull's Max Verstappen fifth after starting on pole position. Pierre Gasly was sixth for Alpine, Lance Stroll seventh for Aston Martin and Alex Albon eighth for Williams. Fernando Alonso gave Aston Martin a double points finish in ninth at their home race and George Russell bagged the final point for Mercedes. - RNZ Sport / Reuters
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
George Russell claims he's set for Mercedes deal as he reveals what he'll do if Max Verstappen becomes his F1 team-mate
Verstappen has given an update on his future too RUSSELL SOME FEATHERS George Russell claims he's set for Mercedes deal as he reveals what he'll do if Max Verstappen becomes his F1 team-mate Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) GEORGE RUSSELL claims he is all set to sign a new Mercedes deal, silencing speculation he could be dumped for Max Verstappen. The Brit, 27, is out of contract next year and his boss Toto Wolff confirmed in Austria he had held talks with four-time world champion Verstappen about a move. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 George Russell has rubbished speculation that he could be replaced at Mercedes by Max Verstappen Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 2 Verstappen has held talks with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff about a move Credit: Getty But SunSport understands a new offer will be presented to Russell before next month's Belgium Grand Prix. Russell believes that team-mate Kimi Antonelli would be the driver to make way for Verstappen in the unlikely event that the Dutchman is to leave Red Bull for Mercedes. Ahead of Sunday's British GP at Silverstone, Russell said: 'I want to continue with Mercedes into the future. Toto has never let me down, has always given me his word. 'He's also got to do what's right for his team, which includes me and the thousands of people who work for Mercedes. READ MORE F1 NEWS CURIOUS GEORGE George Russell 'ringing' rival F1 teams in fear Verstappen will replace him 'For me it's nothing to worry about, as I don't think I'll be going anywhere, and whoever my team-mate is doesn't concern me either, so I'll just focus on the driving. 'It'll happen when the time is right. I expect in the next couple of weeks. But we'll need to wait and see. 'There hasn't been a lack of interest, let's say. But I've been focused on my side, I am loyal to Mercedes. 'The likelihood I'm not at Mercedes next year is exceptionally low.' CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS There had been talk of Verstappen taking a year out from F1, as well as being linked with Mercedes and Aston Martin. He became a new dad in May and has been dipping his toes in other areas of motorsport like GT3. Max Verstappen OUT of Austrian Grand Prix following pile-up on second lap and Sainz's car catching fire But Verstappen, 27, who denied he would take an F1 sabbatical, said: 'I'll race F1 for sure and I'll try, in the future, to combine it with any kind of other racing that is possible, that I can prepare for. 'I do want to explore a bit out of F1 which I'm already doing with testing, but eventually also racing.'
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
George Russell claims he's set for Mercedes deal as he reveals what he'll do if Max Verstappen becomes his F1 team-mate
GEORGE RUSSELL claims he is all set to sign a new Mercedes deal, silencing speculation he could be dumped for Max Verstappen. The Brit, 27, is out of contract next year and his boss Advertisement 2 George Russell has rubbished speculation that he could be replaced at Mercedes by Max Verstappen Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 2 Verstappen has held talks with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff about a move Credit: Getty But SunSport understands a new offer will be presented to Russell before next month's Belgium Grand Prix. Russell believes that team-mate Kimi Antonelli would be the driver to make way for Verstappen in the unlikely event that the Dutchman is to leave Red Bull for Mercedes. Ahead of Sunday's British GP at Silverstone, Russell said: 'I want to continue with Mercedes into the future. Toto has never let me down, has always given me his word. 'He's also got to do what's right for his team, which includes me and the thousands of people who work for Mercedes. Advertisement READ MORE F1 NEWS 'For me it's nothing to worry about, as I don't think I'll be going anywhere, and whoever my team-mate is doesn't concern me either, so I'll just focus on the driving. 'It'll happen when the time is right. I expect in the next couple of weeks. But we'll need to wait and see. 'There hasn't been a lack of interest, let's say. But I've been focused on my side, I am loyal to Mercedes. 'The likelihood I'm not at Mercedes next year is exceptionally low.' Advertisement Most read in Motorsport Exclusive CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS There had been talk of Verstappen taking a year out from F1, as well as being linked with Mercedes and Aston Martin. He became a new dad in May and has been dipping his toes in other areas of motorsport like GT3. Max Verstappen OUT of Austrian Grand Prix following pile-up on second lap and Sainz's car catching fire But Verstappen, 27, who denied he would take an F1 sabbatical, said: 'I'll race F1 for sure and I'll try, in the future, to combine it with any kind of other racing that is possible, that I can prepare for. Advertisement 'I do want to explore a bit out of F1 which I'm already doing with testing, but eventually also racing.'
