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Newsweek
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
F1 Announces January Start for 2026 Pre-Season Testing
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Formula One and the FIA have announced the pre-season testing dates for the 2026 season, marking a surprising shift to a January start from the traditional February schedule, given the sport's entry into a new era of regulations. The 2026 season will witness cars that are smaller and lighter. However, the biggest change will be how they are powered. In a bid for sustainability, the cars will feature power units that run on electric power and internal combustion, backed by sustainable fuels. The two power sources will be split equally, which is a first for the sport. With the new regulations, F1 teams require adequate testing time before the season begins in March, especially when they have only been allowed to work on the 2026 cars from this year. Thus, as opposed to the usual pre-season testing session held towards the end of February, F1 has scheduled three rounds of testing starting on 26 January. McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri drives on the third day of the Formula One pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir on February 28, 2025. McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri drives on the third day of the Formula One pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir on February 28, 2025. Giuseppe CACACE / AFP/Getty Images F1 2026 pre-season testing schedule 1) 26-30 January: The first test will be a private test and will take place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. 2) 1-13 February: The second test will be conducted at the Bahrain International Circuit. 3) 18-20 February: The third test will be conducted at the Bahrain International Circuit. 2026 will also witness the historic onboarding of F1's eleventh team, Cadillac F1. The outfit is presently focused on designing its title challenger, but on the matter of signing drivers, team principal Graeme Lowdon said: "We are either planning or have spoken to you know probably seven or eight drivers all together. It would be no surprise that anybody who has got recent Formula 1 experience would be included in that list but I would stress that at the moment, any discussions are very preliminary. "They are just really trying to get to know what people's interest levels are, what their motivations are. We're certainly not in advanced discussions with any driver." Revealing that a selection will be made based on merit, he added: "There's a bunch of people with a lot of experience — not just 'turn up and drive' experience; people who've been in championship winning teams or race winning teams. "But also, people who are younger, who've got experience as well. Also promising drivers who haven't yet had concrete experience, but they have proven themselves in junior formula and junior categories as well." The 2026 F1 Schedule 6–8 March – Australia – Melbourne 13–15 March – China – Shanghai 27–29 March – Japan – Suzuka 10–12 April – Bahrain – Sakhir 17–19 April – Saudi Arabia – Jeddah 1–3 May – USA – Miami 22–24 May – Canada – Montreal 5–7 June – Monaco – Monaco 12–14 June – Spain – Barcelona 26–28 June – Austria – Spielberg 3–5 July – United Kingdom – Silverstone 17–19 July – Belgium – Spa 24–26 July – Hungary – Budapest 21–23 August – Netherlands – Zandvoort 4–6 September – Italy – Monza 11–13 September – Spain – Madrid 24–26 September – Azerbaijan – Baku 9–11 October – Singapore – Singapore 23–25 October – USA – Austin 30 October – 1 November – Mexico – Mexico City 6–8 November – Brazil – São Paulo 19–21 November – USA – Las Vegas 27–29 November – Qatar – Lusail 4–6 December – Abu Dhabi – Yas Marina
The South African
14-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
Rare blue diamond from Cullinan mine in SA fetches R392m at auction in Geneva
An exceptionally-rare blue diamond went under the hammer in Geneva, selling for $21.5 million (R392 million), Sotheby's auction house said. 'The Mediterranean Blue', a fancy vivid blue diamond weighing 10.3 carats with an estimated value of $20 million, attracted an intense bidding battle. Bidding began at nine million Swiss francs ($10.8 million), with a fierce back and forth before the diamond was ultimately sold to a private US collector, whose name was not given, for 17.9 million francs ($21.5 million), Sotheby's said. The Mediterranean Blue, which is a brand-new blue diamond recently mined from the legendary Cullinan mines of South Africa, generated huge excitement within the diamond industry ever since it was first announced in March, the auction house said. Ahead of its final showing in Geneva on Tuesday, it was unveiled as part of a Sotheby's debut exhibition in Abu Dhabi last month, where it was showcased alongside seven other 'extraordinary' diamonds and gemstones collectively worth over $100 million. 'At the top of the rarity pyramid are blue diamonds,' Quig Bruning, head of jewels for Sotheby's in North America, Europe and the Middle East, said at the Abu Dhabi show. After serving as auctioneer at Tuesday's event, he hailed the gem as 'undoubtedly the defining stone of the season', saying in a statement that it 'ranks among the top blue diamonds we have sold'. The 10.03-carat blue diamond was mined in South Africa © Giuseppe CACACE / AFP Tobias Kormind, head of Europe's largest online diamond jeweller 77 Diamonds, was less upbeat, describing the sale as 'less dazzling than anticipated'. 'The diamond did exceed its $20 million estimate, suggesting there was meaningful interest,' he acknowledged. 'But broader uncertainty, including the ongoing US-China trade tensions, may have dampened bidder confidence and muted what could have been a more frenzied atmosphere.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
eNCA
14-05-2025
- Business
- eNCA
Rare blue diamond fetches $21.5 mn at auction in Geneva
GENEVA - An exceptionally-rare blue diamond went under the hammer in Geneva late Tuesday, selling for $21.5 million, Sotheby's auction house said. "The Mediterranean Blue", a fancy vivid blue diamond weighing 10.3 carats with an estimated value of $20 million, attracted an intense bidding battle. Bidding began at nine million Swiss francs ($10.8 million), with a fierce back and forth before the diamond was ultimately sold to a private US collector, whose name was not given, for 17.9 million francs ($21.5 million), Sotheby's said. The Mediterranean Blue, which is a brand-new blue diamond recently mined from the legendary Cullinan mines of South Africa, generated huge excitement within the diamond industry ever since it was first announced in March, the auction house said. Ahead of its final showing in Geneva on Tuesday, it was unveiled as part of a Sotheby's debut exhibition in Abu Dhabi last month, where it was showcased alongside seven other "extraordinary" diamonds and gemstones collectively worth over $100 million. "At the top of the rarity pyramid are blue diamonds," Quig Bruning, head of jewels for Sotheby's in North America, Europe and the Middle East, said at the Abu Dhabi show. After serving as auctioneer at Tuesday's event, he hailed the gem as "undoubtedly the defining stone of the season", saying in a statement that it "ranks among the top blue diamonds we have sold". AFP | Giuseppe CACACE Tobias Kormind, head of Europe's largest online diamond jeweller 77 Diamonds, was less upbeat, describing the sale as "less dazzling than anticipated". "The diamond did exceed its $20 million estimate, suggesting there was meaningful interest," he acknowledged. "But broader uncertainty, including the ongoing US-China trade tensions, may have dampened bidder confidence and muted what could have been a more frenzied atmosphere."
Forbes
02-05-2025
- Forbes
Dubai Is Best City For Solo Women Travelers, Per New Study
A March study says Dubai is safe and the best city for solo women travelers, but the U.S. State Department warns women about walking alone there. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images) Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is safe and the best city for solo female travelers, a March study said. A human rights group, however, has warned for years that women don't have equal rights in the country, and the U.S. State Department warns that women should be careful walking there alone. The study was done by travel insurance comparison website InsureMyTrip. It evaluated 62 cities worldwide based on data in eight categories: feeling safe walking alone at night, feeling safe despite gender, gender equality, a global peace and security index, hotel ratings, quality of things to do and average cost per day. Krakow, Poland ranked as the second-best city for solo women travelers, followed by Madrid, Spain and Munich, Germany. Munich was also cited as the safest of all cities studied. Hong Kong finished as the worst city for solo women travelers, and Orlando was named second-worst. Delhi, India was cited as the least safe city. Dubai received high scores for feeling safe walking alone at night, feeling safe despite gender, quality of things to do and TikTok popularity. The city's crime rate is very low, and most of public transport offers a women's-only section, InsureMyTrip said. The insurance website noted, however, that 'it's essential to research Dubai's laws and strict dress code before visiting, because women must dress modestly when in public areas.' Violating these rules could result in one-month imprisonment and deportation, the website said. The nonprofit organization Human Rights Watch says the United Arab Emirates has made 'limited reforms,' prohibiting discrimination based on sex and gender and removing a legal obligation for women to obey their husbands. 'However, those reforms fall short from uprooting all forms of discrimination against women, especially male guardianship over women.' Various travel websites cite Dubai as a safe destination, but the U.S. State Department's website issues warnings to American travelers. 'U.S. citizens, especially women, should take precautions against the possibility of verbal and physical harassment or sexual assault when walking alone, consuming alcohol or riding in a taxi cab,' the State Department says. 'Taxi passengers should avoid sitting in the front seat of a taxicab and should be sensitive that small talk can be misinterpreted as over-friendliness or even a form of propositioning by some taxi drivers.' At some airports, there are pink-roofed cabs driven by women for the exclusive use of female passengers, the State Department says. 'Some victims of sexual assault have been prosecuted for violating laws against sexual relations outside of marriage,' the State Department notes. 'The law puts a high burden of proof on the victim to demonstrate that sex was not consensual. In cases where the victim has failed to demonstrate so, both parties have been prosecuted, and sometimes sentenced to jail time, followed by deportation.' Travel insurance company Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection says on its website that Dubai 'is quite safe for tourists,' and 'violent crime directed at tourists is rare.' The company warns, however, that the United Arab Emirates adheres closely to Sharia law that has 'little tolerance for same-sex relations' and makes 'multiple common actions' illegal. Such actions include 'immodest dress, especially for women, which can include bare arms, low necklines and short shorts.' Penalties, Berkshire Hathaway says, 'can be even more harsh and protections fewer for women and LGBTQ+ travelers.'
