Latest news with #MarkSutton
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Lando Norris ‘disappointed' after qualifying crash at Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Photo by Mark Sutton - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is one of the fastest street circuits in the world. Its combination of high speeds, 27 corners, and the ever-looming walls push drivers to the limit, and punishes the smallest of mistakes. Advertisement That was the fate of Lando Norris during qualifying for the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. On another week that saw Norris enter qualifying as the favorite, the McLaren driver came out on the wrong end of the proceedings. Last week it was at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where Norris could only qualify sixth after running strong over three practice sessions. On Saturday along the Red Sea Norris again entered qualifying as the favorite, but a wobble during his first run in Q3 saw him hit the wall at the exit of Turn 5, ending his dreams of pole position: While the important thing is that Norris was okay after the impact, the slight mistake opened the door for Max Verstappen to snatch pole position and raised more questions about the fight for the Drivers' Championship. 'I'm just disappointed with today,' began Norris when speaking with Sky Sports F1 following his abrupt exit from qualifying. Advertisement 'I know I have to look forward to tomorrow and I'll go now and see my engineers and we'll look ahead to what we can do tomorrow. We know the car is good, we know the car's quick,' continued the McLaren driver. 'I'll go and see my engineers and apologise and then see what we can do for tomorrow, try and put a good plan in place. But tomorrow we're going to need a bit of luck. 'It's been such a smooth, positive weekend so far, so disappointed to have such a setback,' continued Norris when speaking with the official F1 channel. 'I've got to take it on the chin.' Norris downplayed his chances for a charge to the front, noting that overtaking is often difficult on the punishing Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Advertisement 'It's so difficult, it's almost impossible to overtake around here, so I'm not expecting anything magical,' added Norris when speaking with Sky Sports F1. 'But we have a good car. If we can work our way up to the top five or six, I would be happy. 'Oscar wasn't on pole, our pace was clearly not that much better than Max. Even George [Russell] is not that far away, so I think to get close to them is not very realistic, but to try to get to the top five is probably our target.' Norris entered the weekend with just a scant three-point lead over Piastri in the Drivers' Championship, with Verstappen only eight points off his pace. But given where the drivers will line up to start Sunday's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, there is a very good chance Norris is looking up at one — or more — drivers in the standings come Monday morning. Still, the team around him vowed to pick him up ahead of the race. Advertisement 'Just focus on the race. It will probably be a one-stop race, but the high likelihood of Safety Cars around here,' said McLaren CEO Zak Brown to Sky Sports F1 when asked how the team will get him ready for Sunday. 'So just focus on the race, do the best we can, and see if we can get him further up the grid. 'He'll certainly be faster than he qualified.' Will that be enough to maintain his lead in the Drivers' Championship?
Forbes
15-04-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
The ‘Grand Prix Effect': How Motorsport Weekends Became The New Festival Circuit For Brands
VIP guests on the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka Circuit on April 06, 2025 in ... More Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Mark Sutton - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images) In an era where experiences are the new luxury and culture is co-created between consumer and brand, motorsport has shifted gear. No longer just the preserve of hardcore petrolheads or elite hospitality guests, motorsport weekends are evolving into full-scale lifestyle festivals—complete with fashion, food, fan zones, and a fierce battle for brand attention. The message for marketers? This is no longer a niche sport. It's a global, culturally rich, commercially explosive opportunity. At its core, motorsport is theatre—high-stakes, high-speed storytelling with built-in heroes and rivalries. But today's fans want more than a seat in the stands. They want immersive, shareable experiences. Think music stages, curated food courts, fashion pop-ups, branded tech zones, after-parties. In Abu Dhabi and Las Vegas—two of the most strategically significant Grand Prix weekends—motorsport is now part race, part red carpet, part cultural moment. Think music stages, curated food courts, fashion pop-ups, branded tech zones, after-parties. In Abu ... More Dhabi and Las Vegas—two of the most strategically significant Grand Prix weekends—motorsport is now part race, part red carpet, part cultural moment. Kylie Minoque waves the chequered flag during the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 22, 2024 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Pauline Ballet - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images) It's the same model that made music festivals such powerful brand platforms. Motorsport is simply now delivering its own headline acts—on and off the track. The numbers are hard to ignore. Formula 1 alone now boasts over 500 million global fans, with the U.S. Grand Prix calendar expanding to include Las Vegas alongside Miami and Austin. According to FervoGear, the motorsports market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% through 2028, with Asia-Pacific and the Middle East leading the charge. Market Data Forecast names Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and India as fast-rising players thanks to infrastructure investment, youth engagement, and a hunger for prestige events. When Louis Vuitton delivers trophy trunks, TAG Heuer replaces Rolex as official F1 timekeeper, and ... More when race weekends are as well-dressed as Fashion Week, brands have more than a sponsorship—they have a style statement. The trophy male made by Louis Vuitton during the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 29, 2022 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/FilmMagic) It's not just automakers and energy companies taking up pole position. Yes, Ferrari, Shell, and Red Bull are still front and centre. But they're joined by luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, TAG Heuer, and HUGO BOSS, tech giants like Oracle and Salesforce, and fashion-forward collaborators such as Tommy Hilfiger, Puma, and K-Swiss. These partnerships aren't accidental. Motorsport offers a rare convergence: global scale, elite performance, design culture, and aesthetic appeal. When done well, association delivers not just awareness, but aspiration. And it works. As Creativebrief noted, brands that lean into the real culture of consumers—not just the optics—earn deeper loyalty. Motorsport isn't just becoming more visible; it's becoming more versatile. From Lewis Hamilton's streetwear collection with Tommy Hilfiger to Ferrari's debut at Milan Fashion ... More Week, fashion and motorsport are no longer strange bedfellows. Apparel, footwear, and accessories inspired by the track are trending—and drivers are now full-blown cultural influencers. Tommy Hilfiger announces Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton as global brand ambassador for Tommy Hilfiger Men's in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/) From Lewis Hamilton's streetwear collection with Tommy Hilfiger to Ferrari's debut at Milan Fashion Week, fashion and motorsport are no longer strange bedfellows. Apparel, footwear, and accessories inspired by the track are trending—and drivers are now full-blown cultural influencers. When Louis Vuitton delivers trophy trunks, TAG Heuer replaces Rolex as official F1 timekeeper, and when race weekends are as well-dressed as Fashion Week, brands have more than a sponsorship—they have a style statement. Motorsport has long faced criticism for its lack of inclusion. But today, real steps are being ... More taken. The F1 Academy is giving female drivers vital opportunities. Extreme E mandates gender-diverse driver lineups. Rafaela Ferreira of Brazil poses for a photo as she is announced as the Visa Cash App RB F1 Academy driver for the 2025 season on October 29, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo byfor Visa Cash App RB F1 Team) Motorsport has long faced criticism for its lack of inclusion. But today, real steps are being taken. The F1 Academy is giving female drivers vital opportunities. Extreme E mandates gender-diverse driver lineups. The We Race As One initiative and groups like Driven By Us are opening doors across engineering, operations, and content creation. These are more than CSR checkboxes. They're long-term investments in widening the fanbase—and they're working. Younger fans, particularly in the U.S., Asia, and the Middle East, expect diversity to be built into the DNA of the sport. Brands who show up with purpose and presence—not just logos—stand to win big. So how can CEOs and CMOs take the checkered flag? This isn't a one-off trend. It's the arrival of what I call The Grand Prix Effect—a new kind of global event where the race is just the anchor. Everything else—the sound, the style, the social currency—makes it a magnet for culture and commerce. Motorsport is no longer just an engine of adrenaline. It's an engine of influence. Motorsport is moving fast—but it's not racing away from its roots. It's evolving. Embracing a more diverse, digitally fluent, lifestyle-hungry audience. And building a new kind of brand playground in the process. This isn't just a moment. It's a movement. The Grand Prix Effect has arrived—and the grid is wide open.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
KY death toll rises to 12: Man killed after car was swept off road in Scott County
The death toll associated with the weekend's devastating floods jumped to 12 Monday evening. A 65-year-old Harrison County man was killed after his vehicle was swept off KY 35 outside of Sadieville in Scott County, according to county officials. Scott County Coroner Mark Sutton told the Herald-Leader Paul Joseph Licato's vehicle was found on the side of the road shortly after 1 p.m. Monday. He was traveling toward Sadieville at the time his vehicle was likely swept away by flood waters. Licato, who was from Cynthiana, is at least the 12th person to die in the floods and storms that resulted in widespread flooding throughout Kentucky, Sutton said. In a social media post at 6:35 p.m. Monday, Gov. Andy Beshear said, 'I've got more tough news. The death toll in Kentucky has now risen to 12. We must remember, this isn't just a number — these are Kentuckians who will be missed by their families and loved ones. 'Please pray for our commonwealth and our neighbors who have lost people they love.' Three of the victims were in Pike County. Three victims were in Hart County. Clay, Floyd, Hardin, Nelson, Washington counties each had one victim.
