Latest news with #SummerBreak
New York Times
06-08-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
F1 mailbag: How will McLaren manage two drivers vying for the same crown?
What time is it? Summer time. Formula One is heading into summer break. After completing 14 grands prix and three sprint races in 142 days, the paddock is pressing pause and relaxing over the next three race-free weekends. Two of these upcoming weeks are the mandatory shutdown: from Monday, Aug. 11 for 14 days, no F1 activities are allowed. Factories will shut down, wind tunnels will be out of action, design and production work will pause. Advertisement F1 ended the main portion of the 2025 season with a thrilling Hungarian Grand Prix, where Lando Norris held off Oscar Piastri to score his fifth win of the season. The victory came after the Briton pulled off a Hail Mary one-stop strategy, while most of the grid, including Piastri, chose to use two pit stops. A thrilling battle unfolded in the closing laps, including an attempted dive bomb from Piastri. Nine points now separate the McLaren teammates at the top of the championship, with Piastri holding the lead, and the next closest challenger is Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who is 88 points behind Norris. As the paddock heads into the well-deserved recharge period, we've answered a few of your questions about the Hungarian GP. Editor's note: Questions have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity. With Lando Norris closing the gap to Oscar Piastri, how do you see McLaren managing the dynamic between team orders and title ambitions from here? — Oscar B. Piastri provided one of the most insightful radio messages of the season in Hungary. As his race engineer, Tom Stallard, discussed strategies before his driver's second stop, specifically related to then race leader Charles Leclerc and the one-stopping Norris, Piastri responded by saying his priority was beating Norris, not the Ferrari. Piastri's mind is focused only on his title fight against Norris. Thin margins are going to settle this, with Norris's run of three wins in the four races before the summer break providing a significant shift in momentum. While we were waiting for the post-race media briefing from McLaren team principal Andrea Stella on Sunday, McLaren Racing CEO, Zak Brown, walked into the hospitality unit and declared, 'Well, that wasn't boring! We let them race, in case you didn't notice!' I'm sure there were a few flares of tension on the McLaren pit wall as Piastri bore down on Norris, and especially when he locked up at Turn 1 on the penultimate lap. But those moments simply highlight McLaren's policy of having no 'number one' driver and letting its drivers race, trusting they won't put the team result at risk. Advertisement Can that be sustained through the fierceness of a title fight, particularly after the constructors' title is secured? I pointed out to Brown on Sunday morning that sort of season-long cordial balance has never really been done before in F1 history. Brown thinks it is possible, and that while close moments are inevitable, they will never get dirty. He puts this down to the strength of McLaren's team culture and the character of the individual drivers. 'The relationship today is the best it's ever been,' he said of Piastri and Norris. Brown also spoke about how McLaren will manage the inevitable awkwardness at season's end when it (barring a surge in form from anyone else) has one world champion, and a crestfallen and frustrated runner-up. Such is the 'McLaren way' of going racing and communicating. Brown said they would tackle this by actively talking to Norris and Piastri about how they want to handle that scenario. McLaren's approach is admirable and risky, but it's also refreshing to have such a close and respectful fight between teammates for the title. — Luke Smith Leclerc said he had a chassis problem in the final stint. Was this from damage, setup, or something else? — Dan C. When Leclerc and team principal Fred Vasseur spoke with the media on Sunday, it seemed Ferrari was unsure what caused the issue. Vasseur described it as 'quite strange,' noting how the second stint was a bit difficult compared to the first stint that was 'very in control,' but 'was still manageable.' Leclerc said that at around Lap 40 and the start of his third stint on the two-stop strategy, he began feeling an issue. And it progressively got worse. He added, 'Towards the end, we were two seconds off the pace. And the car was just undriveable.' Leclerc was adamant, though, that this was 'an outlier' and 'shouldn't ever happen again.' The team will be investigating what happened, but the issue was significant enough that Vasseur thought at one point that Leclerc wouldn't finish the grand prix. One of the obvious big questions is whether the team saw anything on the data during the race, and Leclerc doesn't think so. Advertisement 'It was quite tricky. Otherwise, I probably would have known, and (the team) would have told me. It wasn't obvious on (the) data.' Initially, when Leclerc began feeling the issues with his car, he 'didn't really know where that came from.' He continued, 'I thought it was from a change we did on the front wing at the pit stop, being too aggressive.' He expressed his frustration over the radio during the final stint, as he thought the issues were tied to such setup tweaks that are common at most pit stops. But he retracted all that during his post-race media sessions, saying, 'I thought that it was coming from one thing, but then I got a lot more detail since I got out of the car. It was actually an issue coming from the chassis and nothing that we could have done differently.' — Madeline Coleman Looked like Verstappen forced Lewis Hamilton off the track. It's bizarre that stewards would push that analysis off for post-race evaluation. Is that unusual? — Anonymous U Why has Verstappen avoided any sanction for his move on Hamilton? The rules seem to be clear that Lewis should have gotten the place back …. — Richard M. Considering the incident happened relatively early in the race, on Lap 29 of 70, it was a little odd that the stewards decided to investigate it after the action had concluded. Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen were battling for P11 at the time, as the latter battled through traffic after his early pit stop. The move in question came at the high-speed Turn 4 left. Verstappen explained to the stewards that he was gaining momentum as the two competitors exited Turn 3, and the Red Bull driver was on much fresher tires after pitting on Lap 17. He went down the inside at Turn 4, and Hamilton left the track. He went off into the run-off area before rejoining the track. From a glance, it looked as if Verstappen may have forced Hamilton off the track — emphasis on may. But these types of incidents usually receive decisions quite quickly during a race, so waiting to speak with the drivers and team representatives and review additional evidence highlights how this wasn't clear-cut. So what happened at the exit of Turn 4? According to the stewards, Verstappen said during the post-race hearing that he was in 'full control' and 'could have stayed further to the inside to leave space for Car 44 (Hamilton) on the exit. As Car 44 had gone off track, he elected to use all of the track on the exit.' Advertisement But Hamilton did not attend the hearing, waiving his right. And a Ferrari team representative confirmed there wasn't contact, adding that the seven-time world champion 'chose not to attempt to remain on track,' per the stewards' document relating to the matter. So, to answer your question on why Verstappen wasn't penalized — 'Taking all this into account, the stewards determine that there was no contact and that the incident does not qualify as forcing another car off track despite the ambitious nature of the overtaking attempt and take no further action.' — Madeline Coleman Verstappen v Hamilton all over again 🍿 Max gets by this time, after the rivals made contact at last year's Hungarian Grand Prix ⚔️#F1 #HungarianGP — Formula 1 (@F1) August 4, 2025 When will George Russell sign his next contract? — Rachel K. George Russell's future with Mercedes has been one of the central storylines to this year's driver market 'silly season,' inextricably linked to the next steps for Verstappen and his conversations with Mercedes' team principal, Toto Wolff. Russell has maintained through recent months that he's relaxed about his future, given how he is delivering on the race track. Wolff has also been clear that his priority was to continue with Russell and rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli next year. The talks with Verstappen were always designed to get an understanding of the lay of the land while looking into the longer-term future; a smart move by any team boss. Talks have been moving along between Russell and Mercedes, and a multi-year contract is on the table for the Briton. This recognizes his good form in both 2024 and so far in 2025. As is typically the case, the finer details can take a bit of back and forth, but it is just a matter of time to get things sewn up. Russell said on Thursday in Hungary, he planned to 'get through this weekend, go on holiday next week and enjoy the break,' indicating there was no need to rush any attempts to nail down terms or make an announcement. Wolff has long mentioned the summer as being a sensible time to tie things up, wishing to take his time. History also points to us getting no formal announcement or confirmation until we're back from the summer break. Advertisement After all, September's Italian Grand Prix was where Mercedes announced Antonelli last year, and also where it confirmed new contracts for Russell and Hamilton (the latter ended early due to a one-year break clause) back in 2023. It is this deal for Russell that is coming to an end in 2025. Mercedes also waited until after the summer break in 2021 to confirm Russell would be replacing Valtteri Bottas for the following season. There has been little rush from Russell or Mercedes in these talks, despite all the noise and intrigue from the outside regarding Verstappen. They may be close to getting everything across the line, but don't expect that to result in a sudden acceleration toward an announcement. — Luke Smith
News.com.au
03-08-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Oscar Piastri finishes second in the Hungarian Grand Prix
Australia's Oscar Piastri will head into Formula One's annual Summer break with his lead in the world drivers' championship reduced to single figures after he finished a close runner-up to his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in the Hungarian Grand Prix. Once again, Piastri came off second best after Norris's engineers used a superior race strategy, stopping just once to change tyres while Piastri pitted twice at the Hungaroring circuit on the outskirts of Budapest. With each pit stop taking around 20 seconds, Piastri saw his commanding eight second lead over Norris turned into a 12 second deficit when he put on a second set of hard compound tyres 24 laps from the end of the race. ðŸ'» Piastri’s radio: “I just want the best chance to try and beat Landoâ€� #HungarianGP #F1 — Radio Messages (@radiomessages) August 3, 2025 With fresher rubber, Piastri was able to slash the margin to Norris to less than a second with four laps to go but couldn't get past his English teammate on the tight track, despite making a late lunge on the final lap that almost brought the two cars together. In the end, he had to settle for second spot, his 12th podium finish in 14 races this season. 'I pushed as hard as I could. I saw Lando going for a one (stop strategy) so I knew I was going to have to overtake on track, which is easier said than done around here,' Piastri said. 'Tried a few things; it was a gamble either way and unfortunately, we were just on the other side of it. 'The team did a great job, the car really came alive in the second half of the race - and the car has been great all weekend. Looking forward to taking some time off. 'I think I needed to be a couple of tenths closer, and it was going to take a mistake from Lando to achieve that. You never want to try and save it for the next lap and it never comes, so I thought I would at least try, but not quite.' Finishing second wasn't all bad news for the 24-year-old Australian because he still leads the championship standings by nine points, with Norris in second spot and looming as his only realistic rival for the crown. Heading into the month-long break with 10 races to go when the season resumes, Piastri's 284 points tally is seven more than Max Verstappen had at the stage last year. The Dutchman only won two of the last 10 races but still managed to win his fourth title in 2024 so Piastri remains in a strong position heading into the back end of the season. 'There's some things to analyse with the team, but overall, I thought it was a good day.' Piastri said. 'We just need to keep doing mostly what we've been doing. 'I think the pace has been very good. My execution of races has been good as well. It's going to be a tight battle all the way to the end.' The radio silence from Piastri 🥶 #HungarianGP #F1 — Radio Messages (@radiomessages) August 3, 2025 Despite the time advantage he gained from only taking one stop, Norris was struggling to hold off the fast-finishing Piastri over the close laps because his tyres were degrading quickly so had to drive a great race to win . 'I'm dead, it was tough,' he said. 'We weren't really planning on a one-stop at the beginning but after the first lap it was kind of our only option to get back into things. 'It was tough in the final stint with Oscar catching. I was pushing flat out so my voice has gone a little bit. It feels good and rewarding a little more because of that.' Having to nurse his tyres through the last 40 laps, Norris said he believed he'd make it to the chequered flag, which was waved by Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose. 'I didn't think it would probably get us to win, I thought it would get us into second' Norris said. 'I knew if I had some clean air and I could push, I could maybe make things work and that's what we did. 'It's always a bit of a gamble for these kinds of things but it also requires no mistakes, good laps, good strategy, all these things and that's what we had today so I'm very happy.' On his world championship battle with his teammate, Norris said: 'We're so tightly fought it's hard to say that momentum is on anyone's side, but we're fighting hard both of us and it's fun, it's tough but fun racing with Oscar.' George Russell finished third for Mercedes to retain fourth place in the championship, albeit 112 points behind Piastri. Verstappen finished ninth, missing the podium for the fourth race in a row, the first time he's done that since 2017. He remains third, 97 points behind the Australian, but says he had no hope of winning the title because the McLarens are just too fast. Saturday's win in Hungary was McLaren's 200th Grand Prix victory all-time, and their seventh one-two finish in 14 races this season. The British team leads the constructors' championship by a mind-boggling 299 points. 'It's great for us as a team and another one-two and our 200th win in Formula 1,' Norris said. 'Credit to Oscar, he put up a good charge and I just about held on, so I look forward to many more of these.'
Express Tribune
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Sia spotted holding hands with Harry Jowsey months after filing for divorce
Singer-songwriter Sia has sparked romance rumors after being seen holding hands with reality TV star Harry Jowsey, just four months after filing for divorce from husband Dan Bernard. The pair were photographed leaving Ca Del Sole restaurant in Los Angeles on Saturday night, smiling and displaying casual affection as they walked together. Sia, 49, wore a black long-sleeve dress paired with leopard print boots and styled her blonde hair in two French braids. Jowsey, 28, known for his appearance on Too Hot to Handle, sported an olive green button-up and pants over a white T-shirt. Representatives for the two have not yet responded to media inquiries, according to Page Six. Sia filed for divorce from Bernard in March 2024, citing irreconcilable differences after two years of marriage. Court documents revealed that the couple had secretly welcomed a child, Somersault Wonder, born on March 27, 2024. Sia requested full custody, while Bernard requested visitation rights. Jowsey, meanwhile, has kept busy with a number of high-profile projects and relationships. Most recently, he announced his upcoming Netflix reality series Let's Marry Harry, expected in 2026. The show will follow his journey to find love, with help from his close friend and podcast host Alex Cooper. He made the announcement during Netflix's Summer Break event at the Santa Monica Pier last Thursday. Over the years, Jowsey has been romantically linked to several public figures, including Too Hot to Handle co-star and ex-fiancée Francesca Farago, Dancing With the Stars partner Rylee Arnold, Love Is Blind alum Jessica Vestal, influencer Madeline Argy, and actress Lucy Hale. As of now, neither Sia nor Jowsey has confirmed the nature of their relationship.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Netflix Announce Slate of New and Returning Reality TV Shows
Peacock and Hulu have dominated the world of reality TV this year, but Netflix just issued a reminder that they've got the goods in the unscripted world, too. The streaming giant just announced a handful of new reality shows, in addition to the premiere dates for some of our favs, like Selling Sunset and Selling the OC. Find out what got renewed, and what new series you're going to want to add to your list. Simon Cowell and Harry Jowsey are coming to Netflix Last year, Netflix hired a new VP of unscripted named Jeff Gaspin. He said he wanted the streamer to focus less on 'cable-style shows' and put an emphasis on 'broadcast-style' shows. At an event this week called Summer Break, Netflix revealed what appears to be Jeff's vision. Their initial stab at broadcast-style reality is currently airing with Building the Band. In that same vein, they just shared that Simon Cowell will lead a singing competition called Simon Cowell: The Next Act. A handful of dating shows were greenlit for the next year. Harry Jowsey scored his own series called Let's Marry Harry. Additionally, Natalie Joy and Nick Viall will host a series called Age of Attraction. That will feature singles ranging from 22 to 59 going after each other without knowing each other's ages. Other greenlit series include some of the cable-style shows Jeff said he wanted to avoid. Members Only: Palm Beach arrives in December 2025 and sounds like it belongs on Bravo. It follows a group of women in navigating the 'high-stakes hierarchies of America's most rarefied social circles.' A similar program called Calabassas Confidential drops in 2026. Although the initial news about Netflix's new approach to reality TV made it seem like some of our favorites were at risk of cancellation, they announced a ton of returning shows along with their premiere dates. Here's what's coming: Love is Blind UK Season 2: August 13 Love is Blind Season 9: October 1 Selling Sunset Season 9: October 29 Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2: November 4 Selling the OC Season 4: November 12 Owning Manhattan Season 2: December 5 Notably, there were a handful of shows left out of the big reality TV event. The Circle, Selling the City, and Too Hot Too Handle remain in limbo, but clearly, we've got a lot of other options arriving soon. TELL US – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE NEW AND RENEWED NETFLIX SERIES? The post Netflix Announce Slate of New and Returning Reality TV Shows appeared first on Reality Tea. Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
17-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Families facing childcare bill of up to £1,800 per child this summer
Childcare costs over the six-week summer break could cost working parents as much as £1,800, a charity has revealed. A survey by the children's charity Coram found while the average British parent will need to fork out £234 a week for a holiday childminder, in inner London it costs £306 a week – that's £1,800 for six weeks. It's the first time the annual survey has included childminder costs during the holidays alongside data on availability of places in childcare clubs provided by local authorities. Childcare costs have risen by 4 per cent across England, Wales and Scotland over the past year. But it's not just the cost of care that makes the six-week break harder for families, it's the lack of holiday childcare available. The survey found only 9 per cent of councils in England had enough spaces for at least 75 per cent of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in their area. But this figure is even more stark in East Midlands, the East of England and inner London with no councils able to offer places to two thirds of children with SEND. Many councils do not have a clear picture of whether they have enough holiday childcare for the children in their area, with at least half responding 'data not held or cannot tell' for availability questions in the survey. However, where this information is known, those with older children, parents working atypical hours and children with SEND have the least availability of childcare. Lydia Hodges, Head of Coram Family and Childcare, said: 'The need for childcare doesn't finish at the end of term. Holiday childcare not only helps parents to work but gives children the chance to have fun, make friends and stay active during the school breaks. Yet all too often it is missing from childcare conversations. 'Whilst the increase in government -funded early education has reduced childcare costs for working parents of under-fives in England, prices for Holiday Childcare are going up for school-age children. This risks encouraging parents to work while their children are young, only to find it is not sustainable once their child starts school.' Ms Hodges argues childcare is an ongoing issue and following the survey the charity cannot be sure children, especially those with special educational needs and disabilities, are not missing out. 'We need a system that meets the needs of all children, with the ongoing security of free holiday childcare for disadvantaged families and timely help with bills for those who need it, so that no child misses out during school holidays,' she added. The charity is calling on the government to maintain the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme after March 2026 to make sure disadvantaged children have affordable childcare during school holidays. It also wants to see additional funding to holiday childcare providers to meet the needs of children with SEND and childcare made available to fit a range of parental working patterns.
