Latest news with #DutchGrandPrix
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Max Verstappen issues statement ahead of Belgian GP as new Red Bull F1 boss faces debut
Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing head into the Belgian Grand Prix without Christian Horner steering the ship for the first time ever, as new boss Laurent Mekies makes his competitive debut in the role Max Verstappen says he is looking forward to striking up a close working relationship with new boss Laurent Mekies. The Dutchman was speaking ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, the first race since the bombshell news of Christian Horner being removed from his positions as team principal and CEO. The Spa-Francorchamps race is always a milestone moment for Verstappen, who is half-Belgian and sees it as one of his two home races alongside the Dutch Grand Prix. And he will be hoping to get back to winning ways at a venue which means to much to him on a personal level. But he must do so after two weeks of significant upheaval which saw Horner ousted and also plenty of intense speculation about his own future. But for now he will, like his colleagues, adjust to life under new boss Laurent Mekies, who was called up from sister team Racing Bulls to take on the top job. "I was back at the factory last week to spend some time in the sim with the team," said Verstappen as he previewed the trip to the Ardennes Forest. "I'm looking forward to working closely with Laurent." He added: "Spa is a classic and always my favourite track on the calendar, a very old school circuit where you have to do everything right to get a good lap. I enjoy the high-speed corners such as Eau Rouge, the layout which is different to other circuits and elevation changes that make the track more of a challenge to drive." Claims that Verstappen could hold a press conference in Belgium this weekend to make an announcement about his future are understood to be unfounded. But he continues to be strongly linked with a switch to Mercedes. In the immediate future, though, he and team-mate Yuki Tsunoda will get a first taste of life under a new boss in Belgium. The latter in particular will be hoping that Mekies' methods can help inspire a change in his fortunes on track, having scored just seven points since be was elevated to the seat in April. "We are coming into this race in a new era for the team and it will be good to link up again with Laurent," Tsunoda said of his former Racing Bulls boss. "We worked really well together at Racing Bulls. I know how he likes to work and our full focus is on pushing forward and for me personally to start delivering the performance we need. "Spa is a fun circuit and one that could suit us well. The Sprint always makes things tricky but the work and preparation we have done in this off time should set us up nicely. "I have spent the time off racing mixed between training very hard and using the break to mentally reset. I wanted to be the best prepared I could be coming into Spa and in better condition, mentally and physically. I am feeling strong and sharp and looking forward to these next two races before summer break."
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Circuit Zandvoort chiefs issue statement as storm causes floods weeks before F1 Dutch GP
The 2025 Dutch Grand Prix is scheduled for the weekend of August 31 and so alarms were raised when images emerged on social media appearing to show damage to the circuit Circuit Zandvoort chiefs have moved to ease fears over suspected damage to the track just weeks before the Dutch Grand Prix. That's after concerned Formula 1 fans shared images of part of the circuit covered in water and mud after storms in the area this week. One particularly worrying photo taken at the final corner of the coastal track showed a channel of water crossing the circuit. It initially appeared as though the current might have caused some damage to the asphalt, while there was also a significant amount of mud on and near to the track. But circuit bosses have eased concerns over the state of the venue just weeks out from the visit of the F1 circus. "Yesterday's heavy rain sparked some fake news about damage to the circuit," a statement read. "Early this morning our team inspected the entire layout and found no damage, no delays. The surface is dry, clean, and 100 percent race-ready. In fact, since this morning, the F1 Academy has been out on track for their scheduled practice sessions without any issues. All sessions are running exactly as planned. See you at the circuit!" As alluded to in that statement, F1 Academy was scheduled this week to take part in testing at the Dutch circuit. And livestream cameras accessible through the venue's website showed that cars were able to head out on track as planned on Tuesday. The good news will be a relief to the promoter of the Dutch Grand Prix which is in the midst of organising the final touches of what is set to be the penultimate F1 event at the historic circuit. It was announced late last year that Zandvoort will drop off the sport's annual even calendar after the 2026 season. That was a decision, F1 said, taken by the promoters themselves rather than an enforced departure. Robert van Overdijk, director of the Dutch Grand Prix, said of the call: "We are a privately owned and operated business, and we must balance the opportunities presented by continuing to host the event, against other risks and responsibilities. "We have decided to go out on a high with two more incredible Dutch Grands Prix in 2025 and 2026. We wanted to take this step, while our event is adored and supported by passionate fans, residents, and the Formula 1 community. "I want to thank [F1 chief executive] Stefano Domenicali and all the team at Formula 1 for the hard work that has seen multiple contract extensions realised and the Dutch Grand Prix be such a success." It means Max Verstappen will no longer have a home race to look forward to each year after the 2026 campaign. Reacting to the news of its impending exit, the Dutchman said he was "sad" about its disappearance but "proud of what they have done".
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
F1 chiefs in race against time to fix Circuit Zandvoort for Dutch Grand Prix after storm
A storm in the Netherlands on Monday saw the Circuit Zandvoort flooded, with an alarming photo posted on social media just six weeks before the Dutch Grand Prix Heavy rain battered the Netherlands on Monday, flooding the Circuit Zandvoort, where next month's Dutch Grand Prix will take place. A storm caused flooding in the coastal town, with reports of 50 centimetres falling at the start of the week. Streets in the centre of the town have been flooded, with the fire department and police forced to pump the excess water. Local reports said the town's water reservoir was full, meaning the reservoir by the Circuit Zandvoort was used as a back-up. An alarming picture was then posted on social media showing a huge channel of water cutting across the tarmac of the track. It shows lots of surface water, sand and debris on a corner, next to a giant grandstand for viewing. The Dutch Grand Prix is scheduled to take place on the final weekend of August and at this stage there are no concerns about the flooded track, with no apparent damage to the infrastructure. The only impact it did have was to prevent local university students from using the track on Monday. NH News reported that a Delft University of Technology student team was due to test their hydrogen-powered race car there, but couldn't. Student Renzo Bootsma said: "Our car runs on hydrogen, but it can't handle that much water. It's a shame, because we were supposed to do our first longer test drive tonight." Meanwhile, F1 Academy was due to commence the first of two days of testing on Tuesday. Global warming means that flash flooding has become more and more frequent – and, like any industry, F1 has been affected. In March, the circuit in Jerez, Spain, was severely flooded, with the track that hosts MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix damaged as a result. And in May 2023, the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Italy was cancelled after deadly flooding in the region. Rivers burst their banks, forcing people to evacuate their homes. A statement at the time read: "The decision has been taken because it is not possible to safely hold the event for our fans, the teams and our personnel and it is the right and responsible thing to do given the situation faced by the towns and cities in the region. It would not be right to put further pressure on the local authorities and emergency services at this difficult time." F1 president and chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali added: "It is such a tragedy to see what has happened to Imola and Emilia Romagna, the town and region that I grew up in, and my thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the flooding and the families and communities affected. "The decision that has been taken is the right one for everyone in the local communities and the F1 family as we need to ensure safety and not create extra burden for the authorities while they deal with this very awful situation."
Perth Now
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Marc Marquez supreme again at German Grand Prix
Marc Marquez has proved once again why he is known as the 'King of Sachsenring' as the Ducati rider marked his 200th MotoGP start by winning the German Grand Prix in a race that became a test of survival after only 10 riders finished. Marquez's ninth MotoGP victory at the Sachsenring circuit on Sunday stretched his championship lead over brother Alex, who finished second, to 83 points while Marc's teammate Francesco Bagnaia finished third to sit 147 points behind. Alex had started fifth on the grid and took second in his 100th MotoGP start despite still recovering from a fractured hand he suffered at the Dutch Grand Prix two weeks ago which required surgery. Several riders crashed over the course of the race, especially at turn one -- including VR46 Racing's Fabio Di Giannantonio and Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi when they were in second place. But the day belonged to Marc as he marked his latest triumph at his favourite hunting ground by standing on his bike and doing a jig as he passed the chequered flag -- a fourth straight weekend where he had won both the sprint and the race. "One more (win at the Sachsenring) was super special. From the beginning, I felt good, the confidence when I started the weekend was super high because we were coming from three victories in a row," the victor Marquez said. "We are in an incredible moment. Now we can say that half the season is done. Now the second half we still need to be super concentrated." Marc had clinched his seventh pole position of the season on Saturday before winning a wet sprint despite a mistake at the first turn, but this time he had the dream start to take the lead into turn one ahead of Bezzecchi and Di Giannantonio. As Marc slowly but surely started to stretch his lead, he was unaware of the battles for position behind him as Bezzecchi and Di Giannantonio swapped places while Alex and Pedro Acosta fought for fourth place on the sweeping corners. Acosta became the third rider to crash early on after Lorenzo Savadori and Miguel Oliveira, with the young Spaniard gesturing at his fallen machine in frustration. Di Giannantonio had broken the lap record in Friday's practice and given Marc a tough time early in the sprint. But the Italian was unable to push any harder to catch up to Marc, who found a comfortable rhythm and pace to surge more than two seconds ahead despite easing off the throttle on two laps to conserve his tyres. As Marc's lead stretched to more than three seconds, Di Giannantonio's challenge came to an end on the downhill braking zone on turn one when he lost control and crashed, with his bike tumbling across the gravel while he escaped unhurt. LCR Honda's Johann Zarco, who started second on the grid before getting pushed down the order, crashed at the same turn seconds later. Bezzecchi had moved up to second but the Aprilia rider also bit the dust on the very next lap at turn one, moving Alex up to second while Bagnaia suddenly found himself in the podium positions. "I tried to give my 100 percent. Also, I was a little bit lucky because (riders) sliding in front of me crashed. But this is racing, so you need to be there," said Alex, holding an ice pack on his left hand. "Today, it was important to survive... So I'm really, really happy. It's unbelievable to be here after surgery." The crashes did not end there as Trackhouse Racing's Ai Ogura lost his balance on turn one and ended up taking out Honda's Joan Mir in the process, leaving only 10 of the 18 starters. Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo finished fourth ahead of Alex's Gresini Racing teammate Fermin Aldeguer. Australian Jack Miller, on his Pramac Yamaha, came home eighth of the 10 finishers, some 25 seconds adrift of the winner.
Straits Times
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Marc Marquez reigns supreme to win German GP as only 10 riders finish
HOHENSTEIN-ERNSTTHAL, Germany - Marc Marquez proved once again why he is known as the 'King of Sachsenring' when the Ducati rider marked his 200th MotoGP start by winning the German Grand Prix on Sunday in a race that became a test of survival after only 10 riders finished. Marquez's ninth MotoGP victory at the Sachsenring stretched his championship lead over brother Alex, who finished second, to 83 points while Marc's teammate Francesco Bagnaia finished third to sit 147 points behind. Alex had started fifth on the grid and took second in his 100th MotoGP start despite still recovering from a fractured hand he suffered at the Dutch Grand Prix two weeks ago which required surgery. Several riders crashed over the course of the race, especially at turn one -- including VR46 Racing's Fabio Di Giannantonio and Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi when they were in second place. But the day belonged to Marc as he marked his latest triumph at his favourite hunting ground by standing on his bike and doing a jig as he passed the chequered flag -- a fourth straight weekend where he had won both the sprint and the race. "One more (win at the Sachsenring) was super special. From the beginning, I felt good, the confidence when I started the weekend was super high because we were coming from three victories in a row," Marc said. "We are in an incredible moment. Now we can say that half the season is done. Now (the second) half we still need to be super concentrated." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Govt will continue to support families, including growing group of seniors: PM Wong at PCF Family Day Singapore From Normal stream to Parliament: 3 Singapore politicians share their journeys World Israeli strikes kill over 30 as truce talks deadlocked, says Gaza civil defence Singapore Segregated recycling bins found to lower contamination rate as more spring up Asia Mahathir discharged from hospital after feeling fatigued during birthday gathering Business 29 Jollibean workers get help from MOM, other agencies, over unpaid salaries Singapore Medics treat 7 after blaze at HDB block lift lobby in Chai Chee Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons Marc had clinched his seventh pole position of the season on Saturday before winning a wet sprint despite a mistake at the first turn, but this time he had the dream start to take the lead into turn one ahead of Bezzecchi and Di Giannantonio. As Marc slowly but surely started to stretch his lead, he was unaware of the battles for position behind him as Bezzecchi and Di Giannantonio swapped places while Alex and Pedro Acosta fought for fourth place on the sweeping corners. COMFORTABLE RHYTHM Acosta became the third rider to crash early on after Lorenzo Savadori and Miguel Oliveira, with the young Spaniard gesturing at his fallen machine in frustration. Di Giannantonio had broken the lap record in Friday's practice and given Marc a tough time early in the sprint. But the Italian was unable to push any harder to catch up to Marc, who found a comfortable rhythm and pace to surge more than two seconds ahead despite easing off the throttle on two laps to conserve his tyres. As Marc's lead stretched to more than three seconds, Di Giannantonio's challenge came to an end on the downhill braking zone on turn one when he lost control and crashed, with his bike tumbling across the gravel while he escaped unhurt. LCR Honda's Johann Zarco, who started second on the grid before getting pushed down the order, crashed at the same turn seconds later. Bezzecchi had moved up to second but the Aprilia rider also bit the dust on the very next lap at turn one, moving Alex up to second while Bagnaia suddenly found himself in the podium positions. "I tried to give my 100%. Also, I was a little bit lucky because (riders) sliding in front of me crashed. But this is racing, so you need to be there," said Alex, holding an ice pack on his left hand. "Today, it was important to survive... So I'm really, really happy. It's unbelievable to be here (after surgery)." The crashes did not end there as Trackhouse Racing's Ai Ogura lost his balance on turn one and ended up taking out Honda's Joan Mir in the process, leaving only 10 of the 18 starters. Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo finished fourth ahead of Alex's Gresini Racing teammate Fermin Aldeguer. REUTERS
