Latest news with #Drivers'Championships
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Heartbreaking Michael Schumacher update as F1 insider opens up
Michael Schumacher is still fighting after suffering a severe brain injury in a skiing accident in December 2013, with the F1 legend continuing to receive round-the-clock care. Formula 1 enthusiasts have been informed that they are likely to never hear from legendary driver Michael Schumacher again after his horrifying ski accident more than a decade ago. The 56-year-old German continues to receive constant care from a dedicated medical team and his devoted wife, Corinna, following a tragic skiing accident in December 2013. Schumacher, who won seven world titles, is arguably the most iconic name and face in F1. However, he has been kept out of the public eye since suffering a severe brain injury after striking his head on a rock in the French Alps. Medical professionals placed him into an induced coma which lasted for 250 days before Schumacher was eventually allowed to return home and continue his treatment. His family have fiercely guarded his privacy, with Schumacher now entirely dependent on caregivers. Updates have been few and far between, but it's been reported that the stricken racer can no longer speak. F1 fans have clung to hope for 11-and-a-half years that they'll catch another glimpse of Schumacher, who remains tied for Drivers' Championships with Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari's current icon. However, in a recent interview, those hopes have been dashed. Craig Scarborough, who has covered the sport for approximately 25 years and interviewed Schumacher multiple times, recently spoke to the Sun and revealed details about his condition, reports the Mirror. "I spoke to someone who is very, very close to him and they just explained we're not going to hear any more from him," Scarborough said. "He's in a comfortable position as far as he can be with his state of health." Devoted fans will be heartened to know that Schumacher, having recently become a grandfather following his daughter Gina's childbirth, is coping as well as possible given the dreadful predicament. However, those who were intimately acquainted with him often choose not to dwell on his present condition. Commenting on the matter, Flavio Briatore, Schumacher's previous team principal at Benetton and current head honcho at Alpine, shared with Corriere della Sera: "If I close my eyes. I see him smiling after a victory. I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed." These reflections are matched by remarks from Schumacher's former spouse, Elisabetta Gregoraci, who disclosed in 2020: "Michael doesn't speak; he communicates with his eyes. Only three people can visit him, and I know who they are." It is widely believed that one of the trio permitted to visit Schumacher outside his immediate family is ex-Ferrari boss Jean Todt, who lamented in 2022: "I can see him but of course, what I miss is what we used to do together. I watch Grands Prix with Michael." Mick Schumacher, Michael's 26 year old progeny, took part in Formula 1 contests for Haas in both 2021 and 2022. Scarborough emphasises that Mick's presence is crucial for Michael's wellbeing and commends the family's decision to uphold their privacy. "I think a lot of people demand stuff from him and I think that's wrong," Scarborough added. "He is himself, and his family have a lot to contend with. Until you've cared for somebody, I don't think anyone realises the emotion and the physical up to our free weekly F1 newsletter, Pit Lane Chronicle, by entering your email address below so that every new edition lands straight in your inbox!"The fact that they have been bold enough to withdraw from public life and not be tempted to do exclusives out there to various people, I think, is noble, and I hope that continues. "I hope they can find happiness in the situation they find themselves in. He was a guy who enjoyed his personal time. "He loved his family. He did lots of lovely things. He clearly liked a drink and he loved a big cigar. But he had lots of time to bring up his son." Corinna, who married Schumacher in 1995, opened up on his condition during a 2021 Netflix documentary. "We're together," she said. "We live together at home. We do therapy. "We're trying to carry on as a family. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he's comfortable. And to simply make him feel our family, our bond. And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will. We're trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does."
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Heartbreaking Michael Schumacher update as F1 insider sheds light on condition
Michael Schumacher hasn't been seen in public since suffering a severe brain injury during a skiing accident in December 2013, despite Formula 1 fans hoping to hear from their idol Formula 1 fans have been told that they won't hear from legendary driver Michael Schumacher ever again. The German, 56, continues to receive round-the-clock care from a team of dedicated medical staff and his loving wife, Corinna, after a tragic skiing accident in December 2013. Schumacher won seven world titles to become arguably the most iconic name and face in F1. But he's been hidden from the public eye ever since he suffered a severe brain injury after hitting his head on a rock in the French Alps. Doctors placed him into an induced coma which lasted for 250 days before Schumacher was later allowed to return to home and continue to his treatment. His family have fought fiercely to protect his privacy, with Schumacher completely reliant on caregivers. Updates have been scarce but it's been said that the stricken racer can now no longer speak. F1 fans have held out hope for 11-and-a-half years that they'll catch another glimpse of Schumacher, who remains tied for Drivers' Championships with Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari's current icon. But in a new interview, those hopes have been dampened. Craig Scarborough, who's covered the sport for around 25 years and interviewed Schumacher multiple times, recently spoke to the Sun and revealed details of his condition. "I spoke to someone who is very, very close to him and they just explained we're not going to hear any more from him," Scarborough explained. "He's in a comfortable position as far as he can be with his state of health." Fans will be glad to hear that Schumacher, who recently became a grandparent after his daughter, Gina, gave birth, is doing the best he can in the horrific circumstances. But even those who knew him well prefer not to think of him in his current state. Flavio Briatore, Schumacher's former manager at Benetton and now the de facto boss of Alpine, told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera this week: "If I close my eyes. I see him smiling after a victory. I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed." Briatore's comments add to those made by Schumacher's ex-wife, Elisabetta Gregoraci, in 2020, as she revealed: "Michael doesn't speak; he communicates with his eyes. Only three people can visit him, and I know who they are." Former Ferrari chief Jean Todt is understood to be one of those three outside of the family, saying in 2022: "I can see him but of course, what I miss is what we used to do together. I watch Grands Prix with Michael." Schumacher's 26-year-old son, Mick, raced in Formula 1 for Haas in 2021 and 2022. Scarborough believes that spending time with Mick is vital for Michael and respects his family's stance on privacy. "I think a lot of people demand stuff from him and I think that's wrong," Scarborough added. "He is himself, and his family have a lot to contend with. Until you've cared for somebody, I don't think anyone realises the emotion and the physical workload. Sign up to our free weekly F1 newsletter, Pit Lane Chronicle, by entering your email address below so that every new edition lands straight in your inbox! "The fact that they have been bold enough to withdraw from public life and not be tempted to do exclusives out there to various people, I think, is noble, and I hope that continues. I hope they can find happiness in the situation they find themselves in." The journalist went on to say: "He was a guy who enjoyed his personal time. He loved his family. He did lots of lovely things. He clearly liked a drink and he loved a big cigar. But he had lots of time to bring up his son." Corinna, who married Schumacher in 1995, opened up on his condition during a 2021 Netflix documentary. "We're together," she said. "We live together at home. "We do therapy. We're trying to carry on as a family. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he's comfortable. And to simply make him feel our family, our bond. "And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will. We're trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does."
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Verstappen opens door to F1 exit to race in other series with application to FIA
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is interested in competing in other series amid uncertainty over his future with Red Bull and he's now moved closer to making it a reality Max Verstappen has confirmed that he's taken steps towards racing outside of Formula 1. Verstappen, 27, has previously hinted at following in his dad Jos' footsteps by competing in other series. That's despite the Dutchman being the dominant force in F1, winning the last four Drivers' Championships with Red Bull. But amid uncertainty over his contract situation and having recently become a father, his long-term future in the sport has come into the spotlight. Now Verstappen has opened the door to competing in other racing events such as the World Endurance Championship and GT3. That's because Verstappen has successfully applied for a driver categorisation from the FIA. As an active F1 driver, the Red Bull star was guaranteed at least a Platinum rating. Driver categorisation is crucial for any driver who wants to compete in GT or sports car racing. Verstappen confirmed the news of his categorisation ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. "I applied," he told media in Barcelona. "I have to do it at some point, so I better got it out of the way. I mean, it's super easy, it's just a form that you fill in and you pay and a week later you have the answer. I was secretly hoping for a Bronze rating; I might appeal the Platinum and get Silver at least!" On the weekend between the this month's Grands Prix in Miami and Imola, Verstappen drove a Ferrari 488 GT3 at the Nurburgring Nordschleife during an open practice day. The 27-year-old claims that he recorded a time below the existing lap record, with this year's Nurburgring 24 Hours event taking place between the Canadian and Austrian Grands Prix in June. That could be convenient for Verstappen, although he'd need more than his Platinum rating. Drivers also must obtain a 'Ring Permit' which comes from racing around Nordschleife in other competitions within a specific time period. For now, though, his focus is on victory in Spain - or at least maximising Red Bull's car. Currently third in the Drivers' Championship behind McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, Verstappen is pessimistic about his chances of retaining the title for a fifth year, as his previously dominant team continue to struggle for consistency this year. "For me, it doesn't really feel like a fight, to be honest," he admitted. "I just try to do my best, have a bit of fun out there. It's not like this season up until this point is going to be in my memory forever." Verstappen, who's won every Spanish Grand Prix since 2022, later added: "It's not that I don't believe. I just walk up to the track and I do the best I can every single weekend. I don't need to believe in it fully or not. "I know that every time that I go out there, I do the best I can. If that's with the car that is capable of P5, I will put it P5. If it's capable of winning, I'll win. "I just approach it very simple, which also doesn't eat up a lot of energy as well. So I have a lot of free time outside of that. It's not like trying to grab [the championship]. I mean, you can try and grab it, but if you don't have the car, there's nothing to grab."
Associated Press
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
ATLASSIAN WILLIAMS RACING ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH AI LEADER AIRIA
Miami, Florida, USA, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ahead of this weekend's 2025 FIA Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, Atlassian Williams Racing is pleased to announce a new multi-year partnership with Airia, an innovative enterprise platform that enables organisations to orchestrate, deploy and manage AI solutions securely and at scale. Atlanta-headquartered Airia will become Official AI Orchestration Partner to Atlassian Williams Racing, the iconic British-based F1 team with nine Constructors' World Championships and seven Drivers' Championships. The partnership brings together two innovation-led companies driven by precision, performance and cutting-edge technology. Williams will use the Airia platform to safely connect teams across the organisation to AI capabilities, enabling faster access to knowledge and insights in pursuit of future World Championship success. It will also allow the team to build intelligent workflows and automate complex tasks, improving decision-making across technical and operational groups with robust security and governance guardrails in place. Airia has chosen Atlassian Williams Racing for its first partnership in Formula 1, joining forces with one of the sport's most iconic names to expand its reach across global markets. The partnership reflects Airia's commitment to real-time decision-making, speed and reliability under pressure – values central to success both on and off track. In addition to Williams' position as an icon of the sport, Airia was also attracted by the team's dedication to inspiring the next generation through initiatives like F1 Academy and its pioneering schools outreach programme which will bring 10,000 children to the team's Grove HQ this year free of charge to learn about STEM careers. Airia's branding will debut this weekend at the Miami Grand Prix, appearing on the front wing endplates and halos of the FW47 race cars driven by Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, as well as on the side of the F1 Academy car driven by emerging US star Lia Block. Reflecting Airia's passion for education, the company also plans to integrate into the team's STEM programme. Airia becomes the third major technology company to partner with Williams in 2025, reinforcing the team's long-standing position as a pioneering innovator in the world's most technologically-advanced sport. Atlassian became the team's title partner in January, followed by Brillio in March, strengthening the team's growing roster of world-class partners. James Vowles, Team Principal, Atlassian Williams Racing: 'We are delighted that Airia has chosen to partner with Atlassian Williams Racing ahead of the Miami Grand Prix to help accelerate our transformation towards winning World Championships. We are gathering real momentum as we invest in the right people, tools and cutting-edge technology needed to succeed and attract the right partners like Airia to help us deliver that success.' Sorin Cheran, Chief Information and Analytics Officer, Atlassian Williams Racing: 'Partnering with Airia is another key milestone in Atlassian Williams Racing's data and AI strategy. Their innovative AI orchestration platform and commitment to excellence, agility and continuous improvement will help give us a competitive edge in a sport where every millisecond matters.' John Marshall, CEO, Airia: 'Partnering with Atlassian Williams Racing represents a perfect alignment of vision – Formula 1 is the ultimate real-time, data-driven environment where victories are decided by thousandths of a second and AI will be the next major competitive differentiator. Just as success on the track depends on speed, precision, and agility, enterprises across industries must embrace AI to win. We're excited to help Williams safely embed AI across their operations as they chase World Championship success – and to showcase how powerful AI orchestration can drive smarter, faster outcomes both on the racetrack and across the global economy.' Ends About Atlassian Williams Racing For almost 50 years, Atlassian Williams Racing has been at the forefront of one of the fastest sports on the planet, being one of the top three most successful teams in history competing in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. With an almost unrivalled heritage of engineering and racing F1 cars and unforgettable eras that demonstrate it is a force to be reckoned with, the British squad boasts 16 F1 World Championship titles to its name. Since its foundation in 1977 by the eminent, late Sir Frank Williams and engineering pioneer Sir Patrick Head, the team has won nine Constructors' Championships, in association with Cosworth, Honda and Renault. Its roll call of drivers is legendary, with its seven Drivers' Championship trophies being lifted by true icons of the sport: Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve. The team has made history before and is out to make it again with a long-term mission to evolve and return to the front of the grid. About Airia Airia is a leading enterprise AI orchestration platform that enables organizations to securely build, deploy, and manage AI solutions at scale. Through its innovative platform, enterprises can seamlessly integrate AI capabilities with existing systems and data sources while maintaining robust security guardrails and compliance controls. Global enterprises trust Airia's powerful platform to accelerate their AI initiatives and transform critical workflows into intelligent, automated solutions. Headquartered in Atlanta, Airia is driving the future of enterprise AI by helping organizations rapidly scale and optimize their AI investments. For more information, visit Attachment Craig Woodhouse Atlassian Williams Racing [email protected]
Scottish Sun
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
What is an F1 sprint weekend, and how is it different to a regular weekend of racing?
FORMULA ONE is back on our screens and the new season has already brought a huge amount of intrigue and action. Lewis Hamilton looks to topple Max Verstappen off his perch atop the F1 tree, with the Dutchman having won the last four Drivers' Championships. 1 Lewis Hamilton won the first sprint of the season in China Credit: Rex Brit driver Lando Norris came close in 2024, with Charles Leclerc not far behind, the pair will also be looking to put pressure on Verstappen. Luckily for them, there are extra ways to score points in 2025. Since 2021, a concept called a Sprint race has been introduced to F1, looking to make racing action more gripping for fans. The race works similarly to a regular Grand Prix, with a winner earning points and drivers racing each other to win the Sprint. However, it has one distinction to a regular Grand Prix, SunSport has you covered on what a Sprint weekend is in F1. What is an F1 sprint weekend, and how many are there in a season? An F1 sprint weekend is similar to a regular weekend, but practice two and practice three are replaced by more racing action for fans. Practice Two, usually on a Friday, is replaced by Sprint Qualifying. Practice Three, ordinarily on a Saturday, is replaced by a Sprint race. There are SIX sprint weekends during the course of the 24-race season. A Sprint race works similarly to a Grand Prix, in that the fastest out of the 20 drivers wins the race and earns points. While a usual Grand Prix is approximately 300km, a sprint is only 100km, which usually equates to around 19-20 laps. It is called a Sprint, as drivers usually just go for as fast as they can for those 20 laps, not using pit stops during the races. Lewis Hamilton won the first sprint race of the season in China - before he was disqualified from the main race. How many points does a driver earn for winning a sprint race? Points scoring is different in a Sprint compared to a race, where a driver would earn 25 points for winning a Grand Prix. Moreover, whereas a driver placed between first and tenth would earn at least one point in a normal GP, only drivers first to eighth earn a point in a Sprint. Points scoring in a Sprint follows this format First - eight points Second - seven points Third - six points Fourth - five points Fifth - four points Sixth - three points Seventh - two points Eighth - one point What F1 weekends will include sprint races? Round Two - China - Fri, Mar 21 Winner: Lewis Hamilton Round Six - Miami - Sat, May 3 Round 13 - Belgium - Sat, Jul 26 Round 19 - United States - Sat, Oct 18 Round 21 - Brazil - Sat, Nov 8 Round 23 - Qatar - Sat, Nov 29
