Latest news with #Colapinto
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Flavio Briatore provides Alpine driver update with F1 star's seat under pressure
Franco Colapinto replaced Jack Doohan just six races into the current season but the Alpine racer didn't enjoy the best of returns to the F1 grid in Imola and Monaco Flavio Briatore has confirmed that Franco Colapinto will be given time to prove himself despite an inauspicious start to his Alpine career. The Italian also used a press conference at the Spanish Grand Prix to provide an update on the team's search for a new team principal. It has been a season of upheaval so far for Alpine, who sit ninth out of 10 teams in the Formula 1 constructors' championship. Jack Doohan lost his seat six races into the campaign, having failed to score a point, with Colapinto promoted to replace him. And their team principal also moved on after the Miami Grand Prix when Oliver Oakes announced his resignation. But one constant is Briatore who continues to rule the midfield outfit with an iron fist, as he has since his return as a 'special adviser' to team owner Renault. Despite being part of Doohan's personal management team, Briatore demoted the Australian back to a reserve role, keen to give Colapinto the chance to show what he can do. But the Argentine has struggled to make an impression in the two races since. Briatore is not renowned for his patience but is showing it to Colapinto, for now. Asked about the racer's situation, he said: "He's a very young driver. Last year he did very well, two races super with Williams, some other races not so super. "I believe he's not completely relaxed at this moment – he needs to have more mileage. Franco, he is a good driver, he's very young. Let him have some time and see what happens. Let's see what happens this weekend. But, at the moment, we've given the chance to him and, for the moment, it is him driving the car." Briatore has taken full command of the team since the announcement of Oakes' departure earlier this month. But as he is not an F1 licence holder, he cannot be named as team principal with racing director Dave Greenwood the official team representative in the eyes of the FIA. Not that it is affecting Briatore's work in any way. The Italian made as much clear as he shrugged off questions about Alpine's search for a new team principal, playing down its importance as he said it makes "zero difference" to him what title he has. He said: "We are looking forward. For the moment nothing has changed. I feel sorry for Oli because I have a very good relationship with Oli. He was a good team principal. Like everybody knows, for personal reasons he stopped and resigned from Alpine. "We are looking. We don't want to make any mistakes. I prefer to take some time. But in the moment we decide what will be the new team manager. Put it this way and we tell you."
The Star
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Surfing-Hawaii's Bryan goes back-to-back in Western Australia waves
FILE PHOTO: Sep 23, 2022; Huntington Beach, California, USA; Gabriela Bryan (USA) competes in the Aloha Cup at the ISA World Surfing Games. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo (Reuters) -Hawaii's Gabriela Bryan defended her Western Australia Margaret River Pro title on Tuesday, showcasing her powerful forehand surfing to beat reigning world champion Caitlin Simmers and maintain her rankings lead over her Californian rival. South African Jordy Smith won the men's event, stop seven on the world tour, by taking out California's Griffin Colapinto. The 37-year-old now leads the world championship rankings 18 years after making his tour debut. While conditions had slowed on Tuesday after big, perfect surf earlier in the competition period, Simmers and Bryan started their final swiftly. Simmers, 19, notched up a solid 7.17 out of 10 only to see Bryan use her trademark power on a series of searing turns for a near perfect 9.5. Both surfers followed up their initial keeper scores with some mid-range numbers before Bryan notched up another solid wave for a 7.83 and 17.33 total inside the first 10 minutes of the final. "I just went out there and was like, I've just got to surf my heart out, and that's what I did on that (9.5) wave. And then I was lucky enough to get a backup before it went flat, so yeah, I'm so stoked," Bryan, 23, said. Smith, who joined the world tour in 2008 and is the oldest competitor on tour, also got off to a strong start, picking up an excellent 8.5 on his first wave after Colapinto garnered a modest 4.83. With the ocean going quiet and needing a solid score, Colapinto waited in vain for another opportunity that never came, handing Smith his second win this year. "I think it's just a testament to every day, keep showing up, trusting what you're doing," Smith said. "This year has really been about having fun and enjoying this, because it's not forever." Colapinto finished third in the world in 2023 and 2024 but had a shocking start to this year, languishing near the bottom of the rankings before the start of the three-leg Australian tour. The 26-year-old from San Clemente had two of the most memorable waves of the event - a near-impossible tube in an early round and the only perfect 10-point ride in a blockbuster quarter-final against Italy's Leo Fioravanti. Trailing and needing a 9.4, Colapinto sped along an overhead wave and launched into a huge, full rotation aerial, greasing the landing as the shallow reef loomed. The tour next heads to Colapinto's home break, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics surfing venue of Lower Trestles. The top five men and women after the 11-stop tour will then compete for the world title in a one-day, winner-takes-all Finals Day in Fiji. (Reporting by Lincoln Feast in Sydney; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Hawaii's Bryan goes back-to-back in Western Australia waves
FILE PHOTO: Sep 23, 2022; Huntington Beach, California, USA; Gabriela Bryan (USA) competes in the Aloha Cup at the ISA World Surfing Games. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo REUTERS Hawaii's Gabriela Bryan defended her Western Australia Margaret River Pro title on Tuesday, showcasing her powerful forehand surfing to beat reigning world champion Caitlin Simmers and maintain her rankings lead over her Californian rival. South African Jordy Smith won the men's event, stop seven on the world tour, by taking out California's Griffin Colapinto. The 37-year-old now leads the world championship rankings 18 years after making his tour debut. While conditions had slowed on Tuesday after big, perfect surf earlier in the competition period, Simmers and Bryan started their final swiftly. Simmers, 19, notched up a solid 7.17 out of 10 only to see Bryan use her trademark power on a series of searing turns for a near perfect 9.5. Both surfers followed up their initial keeper scores with some mid-range numbers before Bryan notched up another solid wave for a 7.83 and 17.33 total inside the first 10 minutes of the final. "I just went out there and was like, I've just got to surf my heart out, and that's what I did on that (9.5) wave. And then I was lucky enough to get a backup before it went flat, so yeah, I'm so stoked," Bryan, 23, said. Smith, who joined the world tour in 2008 and is the oldest competitor on tour, also got off to a strong start, picking up an excellent 8.5 on his first wave after Colapinto garnered a modest 4.83. With the ocean going quiet and needing a solid score, Colapinto waited in vain for another opportunity that never came, handing Smith his second win this year. "I think it's just a testament to every day, keep showing up, trusting what you're doing," Smith said. "This year has really been about having fun and enjoying this, because it's not forever." Colapinto finished third in the world in 2023 and 2024 but had a shocking start to this year, languishing near the bottom of the rankings before the start of the three-leg Australian tour. The 26-year-old from San Clemente had two of the most memorable waves of the event - a near-impossible tube in an early round and the only perfect 10-point ride in a blockbuster quarter-final against Italy's Leo Fioravanti. Trailing and needing a 9.4, Colapinto sped along an overhead wave and launched into a huge, full rotation aerial, greasing the landing as the shallow reef loomed. The tour next heads to Colapinto's home break, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics surfing venue of Lower Trestles. The top five men and women after the 11-stop tour will then compete for the world title in a one-day, winner-takes-all Finals Day in Fiji. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Best air ever?' The perfect 10 commentators are hailing greatest of all time
American surfer Griffin Colapinto has described a ride which included a spectacular aerial and earned a perfect 10 score at Margaret River as one of the 'most incredible moments of my life'. Competing in the quarter-finals at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Colapinto rode into the wave at full speed before checking his turns and widening his stance to execute a big air. Pulling off a spring-loaded spin that went into full rotation, Colapinto landed perfectly and was awarded 10s across the board, helping him progress to the semi-finals. 'He's a magic maker, it's unscripted,' the commentators gushed. Colapinto is on course to meet his cousin, Corey Colapinto, in the final after Corey knocked out the last remaining Australian, Jacob Willcox in the last eight. Griffin Colapinto beat Italian Olympic representative Leonardo Fioravanti with a score of 16.33 to 15.73 to earn his semi-final spot. The Italian led in the first three sets, scoring 9.00 and then a 6.73 which forced Colapinto, who had delivered a 6.33 but nothing higher, to answer with a knock-out. 'It took me a while to realise that this was real life.' Griffin Colapinto 'I mean, the 10 was one of the most incredible moments of my life,' Colapinto said on an Instagram video posted by World Surf League and captioned: 'Best air ever in a comp?' 'I think when I landed it, I landed, and then it took me a while to realise that this was real life.'
The Age
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
‘Best air ever?' The perfect 10 commentators are hailing greatest of all time
American surfer Griffin Colapinto has described a ride which included a spectacular aerial and earned a perfect 10 score at Margaret River as one of the 'most incredible moments of my life'. Competing in the quarter-finals at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Colapinto rode into the wave at full speed before checking his turns and widening his stance to execute a big air. Pulling off a spring-loaded spin that went into full rotation, Colapinto landed perfectly and was awarded 10s across the board, helping him progress to the semi-finals. 'He's a magic maker, it's unscripted,' the commentators gushed. Colapinto is on course to meet his cousin, Corey Colapinto, in the final after Corey knocked out the last remaining Australian, Jacob Willcox in the last eight. Griffin Colapinto beat Italian Olympic representative Leonardo Fioravanti with a score of 16.33 to 15.73 to earn his semi-final spot. The Italian led in the first three sets, scoring 9.00 and then a 6.73 which forced Colapinto, who had delivered a 6.33 but nothing higher, to answer with a knock-out. 'It took me a while to realise that this was real life.' Griffin Colapinto 'I mean, the 10 was one of the most incredible moments of my life,' Colapinto said on an Instagram video posted by World Surf League and captioned: 'Best air ever in a comp?' 'I think when I landed it, I landed, and then it took me a while to realise that this was real life.'
