Latest news with #Emilia-RomagnaGrandPrix
Scottish Sun
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Christian Horner gave leaving speech to hundreds of Red Bull staff moments before F1 sacking was announced
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SACKED Christian Horner gave a rousing leaving speech to his Red Bull team at their Milton Keynes HQ on Wednesday morning, SunSport can reveal. The official departure of Red Bull's only ever team principal was announced shortly after he finished saying his goodbyes. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Christian Horner gave a rousing leaving speech to his Red Bull team on Wednesday Credit: AP 4 The Brit made his final speech as Red Bull boss at around 10.30am Credit: AFP Horner, 51, was the longest reigning F1 boss after becoming commander in chief of the Austrian team during its inception in 2005. The Brit made his final speech as Red Bull boss at around 10.30am, with hundreds of staff gathering to witness F1 history. He reportedly gave no reason for his shock dismissal, with Laurent Mekies appointed as the new CEO of Red Bull Racing, stepping up from the Racing Bulls team. But pressure has been building on Horner, with the news of his axing coming a year after the 'sexting scandal' that engulfed him over inappropriate texts he apparently sent to a female employee. READ MORE ON HORNER HORNER DOWNFALL How Horner survived sext scandal - only for career to collapse a year on Despite keeping his job in the aftermath of the chaos, Red Bull have slumped down both the Drivers and Constructors standings. Reports in May suggested Horner was on the way out and about to end his two-decade career with the Austrian team, with Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari allegedly then keen to nab him. With the Red Bull car clearly inferior to McLaren's this season and Liam Lawson being kicked out of the team and replaced by Yuki Tsunoda after his lacklustre start, the 2025 season started badly for Horner. Horner was forced to deny he was facing the sack before the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix three months ago. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS In May, he said: "It's always flattering to be associated with other teams, but my commitment is with Red Bull. "It always has been and certainly will be for the long term." Christian Horner Sacked by Red Bull After 20 Legendary Years While McLaren overtook them on track, Red Bull also struggled to keep their winning team of senior technical and management staff together. The departure of the world's best car designer, Adrian Newey, who moved to Aston Martin in a £30million-a-year deal, rocked Horner's credibility in the aftermath of his sexting scandal. His reputation took another blow when sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, who was thought of as Horner's potential successor, quit Red Bull to join Kick Sauber as team boss. Mercedes chief Toto Wolff's confirmation that he was in talks with Red Bull's prized asset Max Verstappen also put Horner's feet to the fire and may have been the tipping point. At Silverstone, Horner insisted that four-time world champion Verstappen, 27, wanted to 'finish his career in a Red Bull car". 4 Both the Dutchman and ex-F1 driver dad Jos, 53, have been disillusioned with Red Bull under Horner for well over a year. Jos has previously called on Horner to quit amid their long-running feud after the sexting scandal news broke in March 2024. Verstappen reportedly has a performance clause in his contract that allows either side to break their mammoth five-year deal, which runs until 2028, if he is fourth or below in the standings at the start of the summer break. The four-time world champion is currently third in the standings, 69 points behind Drivers Championship leader Oscar Piastri, and 61 points behind Lando Norris. Meanwhile, Horner led Red Bull to 124 Grand Prix wins, eight Drivers' Championships and six Constructors' Championships. Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff said: "We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years. "With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula One." Mekies will lead Red Bull for the first time at the Belgian Grand Prix on July 27 after a three week break.
The Irish Sun
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Christian Horner gave leaving speech to hundreds of Red Bull staff moments before F1 sacking was announced
SACKED Christian Horner gave a rousing leaving speech to his Red Bull team at their Milton Keynes HQ on Wednesday morning, SunSport can reveal. The 4 Christian Horner gave a rousing leaving speech to his Red Bull team on Wednesday Credit: AP 4 The Brit made his final speech as Red Bull boss at around 10.30am Credit: AFP Horner, 51, was the longest reigning F1 boss after becoming commander in chief of the Austrian team during its inception in 2005. The Brit made his final speech as Red Bull boss at around 10.30am, with hundreds of staff gathering to witness F1 history . He reportedly gave no reason for his shock dismissal, with Laurent Mekies appointed as the new CEO of Red Bull Racing , stepping up from the Racing Bulls team. But pressure has been building on Horner, with the news of his axing coming a year after over inappropriate texts he apparently sent to a female employee. READ MORE ON HORNER Despite keeping his job in the aftermath of the chaos, Red Bull have slumped down both the Drivers and Constructors standings. Reports in May suggested Horner was on the way out and about to end his two-decade career with the Austrian team, with Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari allegedly then keen to nab him. With the Red Bull car clearly inferior to McLaren's this season and after his lacklustre start, the 2025 season started badly for Horner. Horner was forced to deny he was facing the sack before the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix three months ago. Most read in Motorsport CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS In May, he said: "It's always flattering to be associated with other teams, but my commitment is with Red Bull. "It always has been and certainly will be for the long term." Christian Horner Sacked by Red Bull After 20 Legendary Years While McLaren overtook them on track, Red Bull also struggled to keep their winning team of senior technical and management staff together. The departure of the world's best car designer, Adrian Newey, who moved to Aston Martin in a £30million-a-year deal, rocked Horner's credibility in the aftermath of his sexting scandal. His reputation took another blow when sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, who was thought of as Horner's potential successor, quit Red Bull to join Kick Sauber as team boss. Mercedes chief tipping point . At Silverstone, Horner insisted that four-time world champion Verstappen, 27, wanted to 'finish his career in a Red Bull car". 4 Both the Dutchman and ex-F1 driver dad Jos, 53, have been disillusioned with Red Bull under Horner for well over a year. Verstappen reportedly has a performance clause in his contract that allows either side to break their mammoth five-year deal, which runs until 2028, if he is fourth or below in the standings at the start of the summer break. The four-time world champion is currently third in the standings, 69 points behind Drivers Championship leader Oscar Piastri, and 61 points behind Meanwhile, Horner led Red Bull to 124 Grand Prix wins, eight Drivers' Championships and six Constructors' Championships. Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff said: "We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years. "With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula One." Mekies will lead Red Bull for the first time at the Belgian Grand Prix on July 27 after a three week break. 4
Wales Online
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wimbledon star Aryna Sabalenka's famous boyfriend died in tragedy as new love emerges
Wimbledon star Aryna Sabalenka's famous boyfriend died in tragedy as new love emerges Aryna Sabalenka is on the brink of winning her first French Open title when she takes on Coco Gauff on Saturday, with the Belarusian powerhouse's boyfriend Georgios Frangulis on hand to cheer her on Aryna Sabalenka walks to the practice courts with her partner Georgios Frangulis Aryna Sabalenka is the favourite for this year's Wimbledon title, particularly after a number of her closest rivals were knocked out in early tournament shocks. Standing in her way is Britain's Emma Raducanu, who admits she is facing the best player in the world right now. With her current world number one status, Sabalenka appears to be in formidable form, a streak that's seemingly reinforced by the support of her partner Georgios Frangulis, the successful CEO of Oakberry acai, who is regularly seen rooting for her from the sidelines. Frangulis, who hails from Brazil with Greek ancestry and started dating Sabalenka last year, is often spotted among her coaching team, offering encouragement. His presence has become increasingly familiar at her games, and he is frequently acknowledged in her victory speeches. Sabalenka herself has lauded the invaluable support from Frangulis, calling it "priceless", as reported by the Express. Their romance caught media attention in May 2024 when they were seen getting close at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in the Haas garage, a Formula One team sponsored by Frangulis' company, reports Wales Online. The revelation came shortly after Sabalenka had to cope with the tragic loss of her ex-boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov. Article continues below The former ice hockey player passed away tragically following an incident at a Miami hotel in March. Despite no longer being together, Sabalenka conveyed her profound grief, stating: "While we were no longer together, my heart is broken." Within the sporting realm, personal relationships and business partnerships frequently overlap, as evidenced by Sabalenka's connection to her new partner's enterprise Oakberry. Prior to January's Australian Open, she struck a sponsorship agreement with the açaí-focused company. Oakberry's founder and chief executive George Frangulis was thrilled about the collaboration with the tennis star, commenting: "Aryna Sabalenka is a great example of the future of tennis and we are working closely with her to create some really exciting things over the years." Established in 2016, Oakberry has experienced extraordinary global expansion under Frangulis's leadership, now present across more than 35 nations and generating him an estimated wealth of £80 million. This sum considerably exceeds Sabalenka's reported net worth of £14.5 million according to Forbes. Frangulis, a former law student at Fundacao Armando Alvares Penteado, isn't merely operating a thriving enterprise; he also plays a vital part in Sabalenka's personal life, accompanying her on the tennis tour. At the age of 36, Frangulis is more than just a professional pillar for Sabalenka; he's integral to her personal happiness. Article continues below Sabalenka has openly praised his impact, telling People: "There was a really tough period where I was really happy to have him by my side, always cheering me up, always making sure that we are doing some fun stuff. "But I make sure I kind of forget about tennis and focus on the good things and enjoy my life. "Even when things are going wrong in my career, he was my biggest support and yeah, really happy to have him by my side."
Daily Maverick
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Maverick
Formula One prodigy Kimi Antonelli hungry for more podiums after maiden top-three finish
After recently graduating from high school in Italy, Andrea Kimi Antonelli is looking forward to focusing fully on his racing. Italian teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli came into the 2025 Formula One season touted by many observers as being the most exciting rookie. A steady start, which he juggled with his schooling responsibilities, sees him occupying seventh spot on the drivers' standings. At the Canadian Grand Prix Antonelli (18) claimed third spot to earn his first podium placing since making the big leap onto the senior circuit. The Mercedes driver is surfing a wave of expectation with the same precision that he handles the steering wheel. Strong start Antonelli announced himself to the world with aplomb during the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March, finishing fourth behind rivals Lando Norris (McLaren) and Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Antonelli's teammate George Russell rounded off the podium, but the Italian teenager caught the eye for a self-assured drive amid wet and gloomy conditions. From the 10 races of the season to date, Antonelli has six top-10 finishes — including that maiden podium placing in Australia. However, it has not been all plain sailing for the highly regarded youngster. He also has two retirements to his name — including during his home race, the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Having invited his fellow matrics to watch him on the race track for the May contest, Antonelli was forced to retire after lap 46 of the 63-lap race. He was in 10th spot at the time, before a throttle issue crippled his car. Antonelli hinted that he may have been caught up in the excitement of the occasion, vowing to take the disappointment of that race in his stride and use it as fuel for future success. 'Definitely this weekend was good learning. On my side, I didn't manage everything well. I didn't take enough time for myself on most occasions. That hurt me for this weekend,' reflected Antonelli in May. 'I was wasting energy. It affected the performance in the car. On that side, it was a really good lesson,' the teenager stated. High school graduate It may have been a harsh lesson, but it seems to have steered Antonelli in the right direction. On the back of his maiden podium appearance, Antonelli has graduated from high school. During that ill-fated home Grand Prix, Antonelli shared how difficult it was juggling being an elite racer and preparing for his final exams as a high school student. 'Well, I'm not able to attend school, but I'm trying to study as much as I can. Especially in those little moments I have free time,' the Mercedes prodigy said. 'I'm getting help from the school as well to try to catch up because I've definitely missed a lot of work during this time.' Antonelli has now completed secondary school after passing his exams. This will allow him to focus fully on racing. After tasting being on the podium for the first time, the 18-year-old will be hungry to make a few more returns to it. Winning a race or two would be a welcome bonus. 'I'm super happy to have finished this journey, which was important to finish. Now I can just focus on racing, and it's a big relief as well,' Antonelli said. The rookie said such was the pressure of writing his exams that he did not even have a moment to wrap his head around his milestone in Canada. However, with the weight of his studies off his shoulders Antonelli is beginning to grasp what his Canadian Grand Prix display can lead to. 'It was such a special moment. I remember going on the podium, I had goosebumps, especially after hearing people chanting my name. It was a really special moment,' said Antonelli. 'Also to see the whole team in the pit lane, my dad as well, that is a memory that I will remember forever. It took me quite long because when something such as this happens, it's something so big that it takes a little bit for the brain to realise,' the Italian driver added. '[It] was a really good result, big relief on my side, and this has to be a turning point because obviously now I showed to myself that I can do it. Now, because the feeling is so good, you just want more,' Antonelli stated. Great expectations Antonelli was one of a handful of rookies who made the big leap into Formula One this season. Others include Oliver Bearman (Haas), Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber), Jack Doohan (Alpine), plus Racing Bulls pair Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson. While the majority of his counterparts have struggled for traction in their debut seasons, Antonelli has expertly handled the pressure of expectation. Mercedes could have opted for an experienced driver to step into the massive void left by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Instead, they trusted academy prospect Antonelli with the hotseat alongside Russell. Antonelli joined the Mercedes academy in 2019 after a successful career in the karting scene. His team has been honing him for this moment ever since. Mercedes even fast-tracked his rise up the ranks as they parachuted him straight into Formula Two in 2024. Having enjoyed success in Formula Regional, the next step for the Italian teenager would have been rising up to Formula Three. He skipped this step as Mercedes prepared him for the main event. Even as he finished sixth on the standings that season, his team felt he was ready to compete in Formula One this year. So far, Antonelli has vindicated this faith and the Mercedes hierarchy is backing the Italian to be a major force in years to come. Initially signed on a one-year contract, Antonelli's positive start has already triggered conversations of a long-term partnership. 'Antonelli will probably need a three-year programme. That's how long a young driver needs to challenge a more experienced and faster teammate. But we would never have entrusted the seat to a driver who we don't consider a potential world champion,' Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said on the Bloomberg Podcast. The team's dreams for Antonelli are major. However, early in his career the youngster has shown great ability when it comes to handling pressure. If he can maintain his upwards trajectory, he can join racers such as Michael Schumacher, Hamilton and Verstappen in living up to a promising debut season. On the flip side of the coin, he could end up like Nico Hulkenberg or Pastor Maldonado — two young prospects who never quite lived up to the expectations that were placed on their shoulders. DM
Canada News.Net
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Canada News.Net
Max Verstappen flirting with race ban after latest penalty
(Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images) Max Verstappen had plenty to be upset about by the time the Spanish Grand Prix was in the books Sunday, but the long-term implications of the outcome could be particularly problematic for the 65-time Grand Prix winner. The Red Bull racer experienced poor luck when his team's decision to go for a third pit stop was interrupted by a caution situation, allowing his competitors to make an unscheduled stop of their own. Verstappen was passed by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc on the restart, and the Dutch racer then battled with Mercedes' George Russell, with the pair colliding twice. Verstappen was penalized 10 seconds, plummeting him to 10th place. The McLaren pair of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris managed to parlay that situation into a 1-2 finish. But the situation could have longer lasting consequences, as Verstappen was assessed three penalty points in the wake of the race, putting him at 11 points over the last 12 months. A race ban is instituted if a racer collects 12 points over a year-long period. Verstappen, who captured the checkered flag at the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix on May 18, did not want to address the penalty situation after the race. 'Does it matter?' he asked. 'Yeah, okay, that's great. I prefer to speak about the race, not just one single moment.' Being assessed a penalty point at the next race in Canada on June 15 would kickstart the ban, which would keep Verstappen from racing June 29 at the Austrian Grand Prix. Two of his penalty points, from last year's Austria race, are set to expire on June 30. Russell called into question Verstappen's maneuvers following the outcome Sunday. 'It's down to the stewards to decide if it was deliberate or not, Max is such an amazing driver, so many people look up to him, it seems completely unnecessary,' Russell said. 'I don't know what's going through his mind, it felt deliberate in the moment, it felt surprising.' Verstappen currently sits in third place in the F1 standings with 137 points, 49 points behind leader Piastri. Norris (176) is in second place.
