Latest news with #FormulaOneSpanishGrandPrix
Sunday World
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Former Belfast Grand Prix driver tells of ‘surreal' experience on blockbuster movie set
The Belfast man was at the heart of the action on F1: The Movie which features genuine footage of the horrific 1990 crash which almost cost him his leg Martin Donnelly lies on the track as his Lotus disintegrates aganist the barriers at the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix of 1990. Martin Donnelly lies on the track as his Lotus disintegrates aganist the barriers at the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix of 1990. The Belfast man was at the heart of the action on F1: The Movie which features genuine footage of the horrific 1990 crash which almost cost him his leg. The surreal film experience started with an unexpected call from Lewis Hamilton, executive producer on the movie, and led to Donnelly directing Pitt in the pit lane. The star plays Formula 1 driver Sonny Hayes whose career stalls after an accident, until he's brought back to mentor a rising star, played by Damson Idris. Brad Pitt Martin, from west Belfast met Pitt and director Joseph Kosinski, who made high-octane Top Gun: Maverick, at Silverstone before filming started. 'The first thing Brad Pitt said to me was 'you're my hero. How the hell are you still with us?' and we chewed the cud for half an hour,' says the 61-year-old. 'He's not above himself, and he's a lovely guy to speak to. 'When Lewis took him out on to the track in the car he had a real talent for driving.' The dad-of-three was also surprised to be asked to show the actor how he should behave in the pits when filming started at Brands Hatch. Martin shared his lucky ritual, which was to get in on the left side of the car, and put his left leg in first. 'Brad was asking me for directions, like where he should be standing, and I was thinking to myself, 'is he talking to me?' Martin Donnelly lies on the track as his Lotus disintegrates aganist the barriers at the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix of 1990. 'I told him what I did, which was to ask the car to be kind to you, and took him through my superstitions.' Luck was on Martin's side in 1990 when he survived one of the most memorable crashes of Formula 1. During a practice lap in Jerez in Spain for Lotus a mechanical failure sent his car into the crash barriers at 160 mph. Viewers watched in horror as Martin, still strapped to his seat, was flung down the tarmac, breaking both legs, and left unconscious with his limbs horribly twisted. The filmmakers had considered basing their story on Gerhard Berger's 1989 crash, when his car burst into flames, but when Lewis Hamilton showed the director footage of Martin's accident they decided to get him on board. They then tried to recreate the crash but nothing compared to the real footage, which is used in the movie. Formula One racing driver Martin Donnelly undergoing rehabilitation 'I would have patented that footage if I'd known that someone from Hollywood was going to play my life,' says Martin. 'If I had done that I'd have more money now than Brad Pitt. 'When they were filming they tried throwing a mannequin from a trailer but Joseph decided the footage wasn't good enough and it was easier to get permission from Formula 1 to use the actual footage. 'It's odd watching yourself getting thrown about like a ragdoll, lying in the middle of the circuit with someone leaning in to feel for a pulse. 'But at the premiere I missed it. I got up to go to the toilet and when I came back Brad was sitting with my kids and he said 'you missed your bit'. I'll have to go back and see it again.' Martin still works with Lotus and runs his own driving academy in Norfolk. After his accident he continued to race in other categories, including the British Touring Championship in 2015, but his injuries ended his dream of top level competition. Medical personnel surround British driver Martin Donnelly after his car crashed He completed a test with Jordan in 1993, however the death of his friend Ayrton Senna a year later helped make his decision to leave F1. His injuries were so catastrophic he was put in an induced coma for weeks and struggled to speak when he came out of it. He suffered head and lung injuries, had two heart attacks, and was given the last rites by a priest. He also learned that Spanish surgeons were preparing to amputate his left leg when F1 medical director Professor Sid Watkins intervened. 'Sid grabbed this 19-year-old kid at the circuit who could speak Spanish and English and went to the hospital where the two surgeons were all gowned up and ready to take my leg off, because my femur was out through the skin,' says Martin. 'The surgeons were asking who Sid was and he was telling them I was his patient and this kid was translating. Sid took his belt off to tourniquet the blood and got me back to England. 'They were worried after I came round that I wasn't speaking, until a doctor put a syringe into me one day and I grabbed him and said 'that f*****g hurts'. He told Sid, 'your colleague said his first words, and told me to f*** off'. 'I went through operations to get mobility back in my leg, but when Senna's accident happened on May 1 1994 I said let it go. Enough is enough. 'And I'm here to talk about it,' he says. The movie, on which he's given a special credit, has taken $144 million so far at the box office and become Pitt's biggest ever movie launch. 'Who doesn't love a bit of Brad,' says Martin. Martin Donnelly at the London premiere News in 90 Seconds - July 10th
Scottish Sun
01-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
England stars enjoy day at F1 Spanish Grand Prix as Thomas Tuchel takes squad on team-bonding trip
Stars will remain in Spain for a special reason following the race Wheelie good England stars enjoy day at F1 Spanish Grand Prix as Thomas Tuchel takes squad on team-bonding trip Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THOMAS TUCHEL has taken his England stars to a team bonding session at the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix The Three Lions manager, the players and backroom staff arrived in Barcelona on Sunday morning before heading straight to the F1. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Thomas Tuchel took the England team for a day out at the Spanish F1 GP Credit: Getty 7 The team posed for a photo alongside F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, middle Credit: Getty 7 The likes of Harry Kane were seen touring the Red Bull garage Credit: Getty 7 Stars were given special access to be in the paddock for the trip Credit: PA 7 Cole Palmer still seemed too cold as he wore a jumper in the Spanish sun Credit: PA 7 England will remain in a training camp in Spain after the race Credit: Getty 7 Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Myles Lewis-Skelly were also seen on the gridwalk Credit: PA The vast majority of the 26-man squad have not been to the F1 before, and after the race, they will go to nearby Girona for a training camp. As they arrived many of the stars were seen posing for pictures with fans. Most stars wore shades and loose-fitting shirts for the occasion, although Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer seemed to still be too cold in the Spanish sun as he took the paddock wearing a jumper. Arsenal pair Bukayo Saka and Myles Lewis-Skelly joined their team-mate with zipper jackets, though the teenager later removed it. READ MORE IN F1 HAND BREAK F1 star OUT of Spanish Grand Prix and will undergo surgery after serious injury Meanwhile, Tuchel was all-smiles seen as he was pictured at the track wearing a cap. The squad posed for a picture alongside F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali as he welcomed the footballers into the mad world of motorsport. Many of them were also invited into team garage's before the race. Skipper Harry Kane was among the stars seen being given a tour of Red Bull's garage as he posed for snaps alongside team mechanics, while the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White, Dan Burn and Ollie Watkins posed for a picture next to the car. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Chelsea's Conference League winning trio Reece James, Noni Madueke and Trevoh Chalobah were seen at the Mercedes garage, while James was also part of a group including Jude Bellingham and Eberechi Eze who took in some hospitality with McLaren. The Papaya constructor later shared a post of Kane taking a selfie with their car, which they no doubt hope will give them some more good luck after drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris scored P1 and P2 in Saturday qualifying. Fernando Alonso overheard taking sarcastic swipe at old rival Lewis Hamilton after blunder ahead of Spanish Grand Prix England will remain in Girona until next Saturday when they return to Espanyol's ground in Barcelona for a World Cup qualifier against Andorra. Tuchel, who has handed a first senior call-up to Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah, decided to avoid St George Park's next week and instead, spend the whole time in Spain. This is to get used to the heat ahead of next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The temperature in Barcelona and Girona is expected to be around 26C, although that is still not as warm as many of the World Cup host cities at this time of year. Next weekend's game was supposed to be in Andorra but the tiny nation's new stadium is not yet ready. After the match, new boss Tuchel and the squad will fly to the midlands to prepare for a friendly with Senegal at Villa Park in Birmingham on June 10. Under Tuchel, England won their first two qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
The Irish Sun
01-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
England stars enjoy day at F1 Spanish Grand Prix as Thomas Tuchel takes squad on team-bonding trip
THOMAS TUCHEL has taken his England stars to a team bonding session at the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix The Three Lions manager, the players and backroom staff arrived in Advertisement 7 Thomas Tuchel took the England team for a day out at the Spanish F1 GP Credit: Getty 7 The team posed for a photo alongside F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, middle Credit: Getty 7 The likes of Harry Kane were seen touring the Red Bull garage Credit: Getty 7 Stars were given special access to be in the paddock for the trip Credit: PA 7 Cole Palmer still seemed too cold as he wore a jumper in the Spanish sun Credit: PA 7 England will remain in a training camp in Spain after the race Credit: Getty 7 Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Myles Lewis-Skelly were also seen on the gridwalk Credit: PA The vast majority of the 26-man squad have not been to the F1 before, and after the race, they will go to nearby Girona for a training camp. As they arrived many of the stars were seen posing for pictures with fans. Most stars wore shades and loose-fitting shirts for the occasion, although Advertisement READ MORE IN F1 Meanwhile, Tuchel was all-smiles seen as he was pictured at the track wearing a cap. The squad posed for a picture alongside F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali as he welcomed the footballers into the mad world of motorsport. Many of them were also invited into team garage's before the race. Skipper Harry Kane was among the stars seen being given a tour of Red Bull's garage as he posed for snaps alongside team mechanics, while the likes of Advertisement Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Chelsea's Conference League winning trio The Papaya constructor later shared a post of Kane taking a selfie with their car, which they no doubt hope will give them some more good luck after drivers Oscar Piastri and Fernando Alonso overheard taking sarcastic swipe at old rival Lewis Hamilton after blunder ahead of Spanish Grand Prix Advertisement Tuchel, who has handed a first senior call-up to Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah, decided to avoid St George Park's next week and instead, spend the whole time in This is to get used to the heat ahead of next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The temperature in Barcelona and Girona is expected to be around 26C, although that is still not as warm as many of the World Cup host cities at this time of year. Next weekend's game was supposed to be in Andorra but the tiny nation's new stadium is not yet ready. Advertisement After the match, new boss Tuchel and the squad will fly to the midlands to prepare for a friendly with Under Tuchel, England won their first two qualifiers against
IOL News
31-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Oscar Piastri outpaces Norris to grab Spanish GP pole
ON POLE McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri takes part in the third free practice session of the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo, on the outskirts of Barcelona, on May 31, 2025. Picture: Lluis Gene/AFP Charles Leclerc was seventh in the second Ferrari ahead of Alpine's Pierre Gasly, Racing Bulls' impressive rookie Isack Hadjar and local hero two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull ahead of Mercedes' George Russell, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari and Kimi Antonelli in the second Mercedes. The championship leader clocked a near flawless final lap of one minute and 11.546 seconds to beat Norris by 0.209 seconds as McLaren claimed a dominant one-two having also topped all three practice sessions. Oscar Piastri outpaced title rival and McLaren team-mate Lando Norris in the final minute of a gripping qualifying session on Saturday to clinch pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix. Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Piastri Clinches Fourth Pole of the Season, Leading McLaren's Front Row Lockout in Spain It was Piastri's fourth pole of the season and career as he seeks to extend his three-point lead ahead of Norris in the drivers' championship. "Nice work, very nicely done, everyone," said the cool 24-year-old Australian on team radio. "That's quite some turnaround from last year. Well done everyone. Let's have some fun tomorrow!" He added: "I'm very glad to be on pole here and now I just need a good start. It's a long run to the first corner!" Norris said: "Oscar has driven really well and he deserved it. But it is a great result for the team." Piastri's two-second advantage is the biggest this season between pole and second place. After an early fast lap from Aston Martin's Lance Stroll in Q1, the big guns arrived in torrid heat with a track temperature of 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), and the air at 29, punishing conditions for tyres on a high-degradation track. The session was briefly stalled when Alpine's Franco Colapinto stopped in the pitlane and, after a delay, forced others to undertake him leading to a frantic final two minutes. Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull was eliminated in 20th and last place along with Colapinto, Williams' Carlos Sainz – his worst qualifying result at his home event – in 18th, Esteban Ocon of Haas and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg. For Tsunoda, it was a major setback as he sought to solve Red Bull's dilemma in searching for a partner to push Verstappen. At the front, Piastri topped Verstappen and Norris. In Q2, McLaren's duo led the first runs ahead of Verstappen, Russell and a revived Hamilton before choosing not to take a second go as Hadjar shone, taking sixth and splitting the Ferraris. Out went Alex Albon of Williams, Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson, Stroll and Oliver Bearman in his Haas. The top 10 shootout began with Piastri lapping in 1:11.836 before Norris overhauled him by 0.017sec for provisional pole on the opening charge. Russell was third ahead of Leclerc, Verstappen and Hamilton before a late Alonso lap lifted him to fifth amid roaring appreciation. Cloud cover affected conditions for the second runs as both McLaren men fought for pole with the Australian prevailing. It was McLaren's first front row lockout in Spain since 1998. AFP
Scottish Sun
31-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
‘Bro lost all his aura' – Watch moment Lando Norris walks straight into a WALL at F1 Spanish Grand Prix
Norris gave his verdict on his F1 title chances this season Crash Land-ing 'Bro lost all his aura' – Watch moment Lando Norris walks straight into a WALL at F1 Spanish Grand Prix Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LANDO NORRIS suffered a huge crash into the wall at the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix, but fortunately not in his car. The British driver is hoping to win back-to-back races for the second time in his F1 career after taking the chequered flag in Monaco last weekend. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Lando Norris had an embarrassing gaffe at the F1 Spanish Grand Prix Credit: Getty 4 Norris smashed into a wall while trying to walk into the McLaren motor home Credit: Instagram @ 4 Norris was able to laugh it off with a fan Credit: Instagram @ His win moved him to within three points of McLaren team-mate and World Drivers Championship leader Oscar Piastri. At Spain's Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Norris went fastest in Free Practice One by more than three tenths, before clocking in fourth during Free Practice Two later on Friday. But ahead of Saturday's Free Practice Three the 25-year-old made a huge gaffe in the F1 paddock. As he went to walk into the McLaren motor home, Norris was seen speaking to a fan. READ MORE IN F1 LOAD OF BULL? Horner speaks out on 'flattering' Ferrari rumours after being tipped for move However, the Bristol-born racer lost his bearings. And instead of going through the door, Norris ended up smashing straight into the wall. Video footage of the hilarious incident was shared to social media, with Norris almost seeming like he was trying to square up to the wall as he looked up at it in frustration. But his angry scowl quickly melted away in the Catalan heat and was replaced by a beaming smile as he was able to laugh at his accident. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK He was seen being checked by a member of the McLaren team and joking with the fan before he then managed to find his line and get through the door. Reacting to the funny gaffe, one fan said: "Omg that was hilarious." Lando Norris left with head in his hands as F1 rival tells him he's getting instant fine for press conference blunder A second said: "DNS in the paddock." A third added: "Bro lost all his aura." Another said: "It gets funnier every time you watch it." A fourth joked: "I'm counting this as an injury therefore he's winning." Norris put in his best lap of the weekend when he eventually got behind the wheel of his McLaren in FP3. But he was still not quick enough to match Piastri, who clocked in a 1:12.387 which was more than half a second faster than Norris. While the two McLaren's battle it out, they need to be careful of four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who remains just 22 points behind Norris as he eyes a fifth title in a row. Speaking to reporters on Thursday about his championship chances, Norris said: "It's a great feeling to be in the lead of the championship and to have more points than everyone, but it's not something I look at. "It's not something that changes anything I do day to day. It doesn't change how hard I work or what I try to achieve. "I just try to win this weekend and I'll try and win in Montreal and I'll try and win in Austria. It's got nothing to do with what position I am in. "I think mathematically probably the whole grid can win the championship. I think there's plenty of opportunities. "Max can still win, I think Ferrari -- I expect them to get better into the season." Iconic F1TV and Channel 4 commentator Alex Jacques revealed his verdict on this year's "ludicrous" title race. Speaking exclusively to SunSport, he said: "I really loved it because you've got three drivers at totally different stages of their careers. "You've also got Lando Norris, [who] came in as the pre-season favourite. "Can he deal with the expectation on his shoulders? And Oscar Piastri, exceeding expectations for where he is. You've got the McLaren drivers trying to win their first championships. "You've got Max trying to make history and emulate the great Michael Schumacher. "And he'd only be two behind the all-time record if he gets five with a lot of his career still to go. It's a wonderful dynamic. The qualifying sessions have been so tight. "We've not had a gap between first and second. that's been over a tenth. "That is ludicrous. We used to have gaps between first and second of a second back in the early 90s. F1 is ultra-competitive, we're having a great season." Spain's Barcelona circuit, which has been a venue for the sport since 1991, could be hosting its last Grand Prix after F1 chiefs signed a deal for Madrid to host a new hybrid street race from 2026. Although Barcelona track chiefs are still hopeful of hosting races alongside the Madrid venue.
