Latest news with #FIAFormula3Championship
Time Out
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time Out
Thailand edges closer to the Formula 1 checkered flag
This past weekend, the roar of engines and high-speed drama at the Monaco Grand Prix kept motorsport fans on the edge of their seats. But for Thai F1 enthusiasts, the real excitement was off the track as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra made a power move in Monte Carlo, signalling Thailand's full throttle race toward the dream of hosting a Grand Prix on home soil. After a pitstop in the Big Mango in March, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali welcomed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to the fast lane at the Circuit de Monaco. In a high-stakes meeting, they reignited talks about bringing top-tier single-seater racing to the kingdom. This time, the Prime Minister hit the track herself, caught live practice sessions and connected with Thai F1 ace Alex Albon and rising talent Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, who is currently tearing through the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship. Besides connecting with the CEO, she also had a high-profile meeting with His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco to power up discussions on Formula 1's role in driving international collaboration, cutting-edge innovation and the fast-approaching dream of hosting the country's very own Grand Prix. Bringing the race to Thailand is set to be a game-changer for the economy. According to the Prime Minister, this event will play a crucial role in diversifying beyond seasonal tourism, with the government investing in world-class man-made destinations to host major international events in the future. Hosting such a grand event also requires significant upgrades from high-performance track improvements and grandstands to cutting-edge digital infrastructure and paddocks. These investments will create numerous jobs and establish the nation as a rising powerhouse on the global motorsport stage. Site evaluations are now revving up, though the official race location remains under wraps. What's clear is that Alex Albon and Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak are fully backing the push to bring the Grand Prix home.
7NEWS
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
True story emerges behind Oliver Oakes' shock Alpine exit
When Alpine's team principal Oliver Oakes suddenly quit — just a day after the Renault-owned Formula One team dumped Australian driver Jack Doohan — followers of the sport immediately made the link. Oakes had been a key supporter of Doohan and naturally fans and journalists concluded this was the fallout from the decision to replace Doohan with Argentina's Franco Colapinto. But another more wild story involving Oakes was emerging behind the scenes. Days before he handed in his resignation, Oakes' brother, William, had been arrested by police while carrying 'a large amount of cash'. The 31-year-old was detained near motor-racing team Hitech's base at Silverstone. Hitech is a British team that competes in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, FIA Formula 3 Championship, GB3 Championship, and the F4 British Championship. Oliver Oakes led that team before moving into F1, but Oliver and William are both listed as directors of Hitech Global Holdings. 'William Oakes, 31, of Rugby was charged with transferring criminal property on Friday, May 2 after he was stopped in the Silverstone Park area in Northamptonshire on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in possession of a large amount of cash,' local police said. 'He appeared before Northampton Magistrates' Court on Saturday, May 3, and remanded in custody.' The Alpine team had done its best to shut down the whispers on the Doohan fallout. 'A lot has been said in the past 24 hours, incorrectly associating the decision of Oli resigning to an alleged disagreement, or that we shared different views. This is completely false and far from the truth,' executive advisor and interim team boss Flavio Briatore said in a statement. 'Me and Oli have a very good relationship and had long-term ambitions to drive this team forward together.'
Gulf Weekly
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Gulf Weekly
Lego lady!
Motorsport maverick Faten Amin, the first Bahraini woman in a host of top organising roles in the sport, has taken her journey off-road with her collection of unique Lego F1 sets. The 39-year-old Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) digital content executive is blending her love for the sport with her relatively recent hobby of Lego set-building. 'I have 66 sets so far, but not all of them are built – about 14 to 15 sets are not built yet,' she told GulfWeekly during the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix held at the BIC in mid-April. 'I like to have a collection, rather than having one or two sets, and Lego kept bringing out more sets, so my hobby just keep on growing.' But Faten is more than just a collector. She's created a unique niche for herself by documenting her Lego builds through ASMR-style videos on TikTok, capturing the satisfying clicks of each piece coming together. 'When I build the sets, I do a video where it's music-free to keep the focus on the ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) click, making sure that it is very clear,' she added. Last year, Faten made history as the first Bahraini woman to serve as Clerk Of the Course (COC) for the FIA Formula 3 Championship during the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix. This year, in addition to her duties at the BIC, she had a dual role for the support races happening during the race weekend – deputy COC for the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East and chief communications for F2. However, she was able to make time to stock up on new Lego sets, one of which she even got signed by the Ferrari duo of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. 'Ever since I was young, I was always fascinated by Lego but I never had the time or budget for it,' she reminisced. 'However, that changed in 2019, when my husband bought me a Lego Movie Maker set because I do stop motion videos. The set could actually help me do stop motion with Lego, and it teaches you everything. 'He saw the set and knew it was perfect for me. Ever since then, I just kept on buying the sets that I wanted, like the Friends set, the McLaren, and it just grew.' The first set that she worked on was a small speed champion car, which she completed in about 90 minutes. Up next was the 2022 McLaren F1 car, which took her about 10 hours. What started as a casual interest quickly transformed into a serious collection, with Faten now boasting an impressive collection spanning diverse themes, from F1 racing sets to botanical collections featuring delicate roses and tulips. 'When I'm building these sets, I can meditate with no thoughts at all,' she explained. 'It just clears the mind. That's what I like. I like to sit and clear my mind out of everything from life. That's why I enjoy building it. It's like my yoga session with building Legos.' Her most challenging build to date was the Ferrari Daytona set, a 24-hour project she completed just a few days before giving birth – something that didn't even hold her F1 organising ambitions, as she served as the COC last year while pregnant. A veteran marshal since 2005, Faten has been a pivotal figure in Bahrain's racing community. Last year, she made history by becoming the first female Clerk of the Course for Formula Three – a remarkable achievement she accomplished while eight months pregnant. Her collection reflects her motorsports passion, with numerous F1 and racing-themed Lego sets taking pride of place in her home. She even treasures a small piece of carbon fiber from an F2 wing – a memento from her early marshalling days. 'I've always been passionate about motorsports,' Amin explains. 'From watching NASCAR as a child to marshalling at local races, it's been a lifelong love.'
South China Morning Post
12-04-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
Named after Steven Gerrard, meet the next Chinese racing driver accelerating to top
When Hong Kong-born Formula 3 driver Gerrard Xie Yonglin was a baby, the only way his parents could stop him crying was by letting him sit in the driving seat of their car and play with the steering wheel. Advertisement The 18-year-old told the Post that by the time he was six, he could name all the cars he saw on the streets of Shenzhen, the city neighbouring Hong Kong where he was raised. Harnessing their child's automobile obsession, Xie's parents took him to a local karting track so he could complete a one-day course and get his racing licence. The driving school was hosting a competition two days later and asked Xie whether, despite his inexperience, he wanted to join. 'My dad was like, 'Why not?' because he saw I was having fun,' Xie said. 'It was only a small local race, but I won, even though I had no idea what was going on.' It was not the first sporting legacy Xie's father gave his son: his English name comes from Xie Snr's love for Liverpool FC and their former captain Steven Gerrard. Gerrard Xie battled through the wet in his F3 debut in Australia. Photo: Instagram/gerrard_xie_official But the youngster's ambitions had wheels, and this weekend he features in his second FIA Formula 3 Championship race for the Hitech TGR team, in Bahrain.
Daily Tribune
09-04-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Tribune
Formula 1 drivers and officials touch down ahead of Bahrain Grand Prix 2025
TDT | Manama Formula 1's star drivers and officials have begun arriving in the Kingdom ahead of this weekend's Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC). Following an exciting race in Japan last Sunday, the F1 community had no time to rest as they made the long trip from the Far East to Bahrain ahead of the upcoming Sakhir spectacle, taking place Friday to Sunday at 'The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East'. zxdf A number of top drivers were seen touching down with team members today along with F1 and Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) officials at Bahrain International Airport. Among them were two-time former world champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes, Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon of Williams, Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull Racing, Esteban Ocon of Haas, and Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls, along with their team principal Laurent Mekies. They were received by members of BIC's Meet and Greet Team, who assisted them in their arrival formalities and with their transportation arrangements to their respective residences for the week. The rest of F1's star-studded 20-driver field are expected to arrive within the next several hours and be at BIC on Wednesday. czczx Excitement is now at fever pitch for the F1 extravaganza, featuring loads of top-class motorsport and entertainment. It is expected to be yet another record-breaking event for the Kingdom and BIC. All grandstand tickets to the race weekend have already completely sold out, including seats at the Main, Turn 1, Beyon, University, and Victory grandstands. Fans who have missed out on these seats can still get tickets to BIC's last remaining hospitality option, The Dome by F1 Experiences, but there is only very limited availability. This is a unique way to enjoy the F1 weekend, with plenty of exclusive offerings throughout the three days. sddsf BIC's other hospitality options, including the Paddock Club, Corporate Lounges, and Champions Club, are all also completely sold out, so fans interested in being a part of the F1 spectacle must act fast to secure their passes to The Dome by F1 Experiences. The Dome by F1 Experiences features a dedicated grandstand located along the Main Straight with comfortable, seat-back style seating. Fans can enjoy exceptional views of the Podium and pit entry, and also see the cars as they navigate the final turn before accelerating down the track. The package also includes complimentary lunch dishes, lite bites, refreshments and live performances by DJs, roaming entertainers and more between track sessions. The F1 action will be supported by three leading racing series, including the FIA Formula 2 Championship, the FIA Formula 3 Championship, and the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East. There will also be plenty more off-track attractions for the whole family to enjoy. A special charity auction has been launched by BIC in the lead-up to F1 weekend, aiming to raise money for the Royal Humanitarian Foundation. With the generosity of many of the F1 teams, BIC has gathered an incredible selection of unique items of F1 memorabilia along with some amazing donations from Gulf Air. The auction is now live and will continue until race day on 13 April. It can be accessed on the under the 'BIC Memorabilia' category.
