Latest news with #WillyGnonto
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Leeds stars race Red Bull F1 car at Elland Road after challenging driver to contest amid Premier League return
Three Leeds United players raced a Red Bull Formula One car after challenging the driver to a battle at Elland Road. The club are still riding the credit of a wave after securing promotion back to the Premier League after two years away, winning the Championship on goal difference ahead of Burnley. Daniel Farke 's side reached 100 points to secure a return to the top flight, and their celebrations continued in rather bizarre fashion - with three of the club's players racing one of the fastest cars on the planet. Willy Gnonto, Largie Ramazani and Isaac Schmidt raced the car, driven by Formula Two driver Arvid Lindblad in a drag race from one penalty box to another. After a slow start from the car as it struggled to pick up grip, it eventually prevailed in a race that included the vehicle turning 180 degrees and winning by around 30 yards. It proved, if there was any doubt, that a racing car is indeed faster than some of the quickest players, but provided some light entertainment from the club and its minority owners. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Red Bull UK (@redbulluk) Three Leeds United players raced a Red Bull Formula One car on the Elland Road turf Commenting on the race, Leeds' Ramazani said: 'This was a great experience, I wish we could do this every day with Red Bull. The only thing better would be getting in the car. 'I love Formula One. I went to the Monaco Grand Prix last week, which was a bucket list moment for me. I used to play Formula One games on the console when I was younger, so it was surreal to be next to a real car and race against it. 'Before the race I was scared, but I was confident too. I think we did great, but in the end the car was just too quick. 'I think one of the players involved in this idea was Dan James. Unfortunately, he's been injured, but I'd back my team-mate over that car any day. DJ would smoke this car.' Lindblad said: 'Ahead of the race I was a bit nervous. I'd never driven on grass and had no idea how it would go – only Red Bull would make something like this happen. 'The car has a ton of horsepower and there is not much grip on grass, so I wasn't sure if I could go full throttle and turn the car properly. It was great fun to challenge my skills and compete against footballers rather than other drivers.'
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Premier League side risk ruining pitch as stars race RED BULL F1 CAR in their stadium
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LEEDS have only just booked their return to the Premier League. But they have already risked ruining their pitch... as players raced against a Formula One car at Elland Road. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Three Leeds players raced a Red Bull F1 car on the Elland Road pitch Credit: Red Bull 4 Willy Gnonto, Largie Ramazani and Isaac Schmidt took on F2 driver Arvid Lindblad Credit: Red Bull Leeds are sponsored by Red Bull, whose sporting ventures also include the F1 team. And in an unlikely collaboration, club chiefs allowed the RB7 motor on the playing surface to compete in a drag race against three of Leeds' fastest stars. The idea came about at last year's British Grand Prix at Silverstone - with the players thinking they had a chance of beating the mega engine with a few obstacles. So Willy Gnonto, Largie Ramazani and Isaac Schmidt took on F2 driver Arvid Lindblad in the unique challenge. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL GUNNER GO Arsenal release 17 players as Sterling and Partey learn their fate The footballers and racing car started on the edge of the penalty box and had to go around mannequins on the 18-yard line at the other end of the pitch and come back to the starting point to finish. Lindblad suffered a nightmare start as he struggled to get the wheels going on the grass. The four involved were pretty much dead level approaching the mannequins. And the car's turning circle meant the footballers regained their lead going into the second half of the race. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS But as they began to tire - or tyre - the car closed the gap and eventually roared past to win by about 30 yards. F1 fan Largie Ramazani said of the publicity stunt: 'This was a great experience, the only thing better would be getting in the car. Inside Leeds stars' wild title celebrations as Bamford and Ampadu 'leave Burnley fanbase in meltdown' with karaoke song 'Before the race I was scared, but I was confident too. I think we did great, but in the end the car was just too quick. "Dan James was involved in the idea but unfortunately he's been injured. "But I'd back my team-mate over that car any day - DJ would smoke this car." Driver Lindblad added: "Ahead of the race I was a bit nervous. "I'd never driven on grass and had no idea how it would go. "The car has a ton of horsepower and there is not much grip on grass, so I wasn't sure if I could go full throttle and turn the car properly." The spectacle also featured a slalom 'dribbling' challenge - and it was no wonder the car left tyre marks across the pitch. No doubt the groundstaff were not best pleased... although the pitch will likely be ripped up and replaced for the Premier League campaign after winning the 2024-25 Championship under Daniel Farke. 4 The car left tyre marks across the pitch ahead of their Premier League return Credit: Red Bull
The Sun
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Premier League side risk ruining pitch as stars race RED BULL F1 CAR in their stadium
LEEDS have only just booked their return to the Premier League. But they have already risked ruining their pitch... as players raced against a Formula One car at Elland Road. 4 4 Leeds are sponsored by Red Bull, whose sporting ventures also include the F1 team. And in an unlikely collaboration, club chiefs allowed the RB7 motor on the playing surface to compete in a drag race against three of Leeds' fastest stars. The idea came about at last year's British Grand Prix at Silverstone - with the players thinking they had a chance of beating the mega engine with a few obstacles. So Willy Gnonto, Largie Ramazani and Isaac Schmidt took on F2 driver Arvid Lindblad in the unique challenge. The footballers and racing car started on the edge of the penalty box and had to go around mannequins on the 18-yard line at the other end of the pitch and come back to the starting point to finish. Lindblad suffered a nightmare start as he struggled to get the wheels going on the grass. The four involved were pretty much dead level approaching the mannequins. And the car's turning circle meant the footballers regained their lead going into the second half of the race. But as they began to tire - or tyre - the car closed the gap and eventually roared past to win by about 30 yards. F1 fan Largie Ramazani said of the publicity stunt: 'This was a great experience, the only thing better would be getting in the car. Inside Leeds stars' wild title celebrations as Bamford and Ampadu 'leave Burnley fanbase in meltdown' with karaoke song 'Before the race I was scared, but I was confident too. I think we did great, but in the end the car was just too quick. "Dan James was involved in the idea but unfortunately he's been injured. "But I'd back my team-mate over that car any day - DJ would smoke this car." Driver Lindblad added: "Ahead of the race I was a bit nervous. "I'd never driven on grass and had no idea how it would go. "The car has a ton of horsepower and there is not much grip on grass, so I wasn't sure if I could go full throttle and turn the car properly." The spectacle also featured a slalom 'dribbling' challenge - and it was no wonder the car left tyre marks across the pitch. No doubt the groundstaff were not best pleased... although the pitch will likely be ripped up and replaced for the Premier League campaign after winning the 2024-25 Championship under Daniel Farke. 4 4
BBC News
6 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Leeds can't win every race...
Leeds United may have won the Championship and secured a place in the Premier League but it turns out there's at least one race their players couldn't come out on top of the club's fastest players - Willy Gnonto, Largie Ramazani and Isaac Schmidt - took on the challenge of sprinting against a Red Bull Racing Formula 1 car, steered by F2 driver Arvid flying footballers initially looked like they may have too much in the tank for the machine in a race which went from penalty box to penalty box and back on the Elland Road car easily won the day, taking control as all parties raced back to their starting penalty said: "The only thing better would be getting in the car. I love F1. I went to the Monaco Grand Prix last week, which was a bucket list moment for me. I used to play F1 games on the console when I was younger, so it was surreal to be next to a real car and race against it."In May of 2024, Red Bull secured a minority ownership stake in Leeds United, and took over as their front-of-shirt sponsor.
Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Leeds captain sang about teammate's manhood and 'leaked star's next club' on bus parade
Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu belted out the chant which references Willy Gnonto's manhood during the club's open top bus parade - and also appeared to spill the beans on Junior Firpo's next club Leeds skipper Ethan Ampadu led the fans in a chant which makes reference to Willy Gnonto's manhood during their victory parade. The Whites have just been crowned Championship winners and led an open-top bus parade through the city. Ampadu has been a massive hit since joining from Chelsea nearly two years ago and has becoming a talismanic figure. He held the microphone and led the songs from the bus - opting to belt out a chant which is used to hail the team's Italian winger. Gnonto has landed himself a song among the Elland Road faithful which jokes about his Italian heritage before making reference to the size of his genitals. Ampadu shouted out the song before claiming that the chant is true to form, which led to laughter among the fans. The song, which is to the tune of Los Lobos' 1987 hit La Bamba, has the lyrics: 'Willy Gnonto, Willy Gnonto, he eats spaghetti, he drinks Moretti, his c***'s f****** massive'. The winger scored nine times in 43 Championship outings this term and has previously proved to be handful when Leeds were last in the Premier League. The club have urged the fanbase in the past to change the lyrics, which plays on stereotypes. Ampadu may have also let slip Junior Firpo's next destination with the full-back out of contract in a matter of weeks. He's been a regular throughout the season and has been at Elland Road for a number of years - and is clearly a big hit in the dressing room. He said: "He came from Barca, he won the cup in Spain. He plays for Leeds now, he'll do the same again. He's f***ing magic and don't you f***ing know, his name is Junior, Junior Firpo." The 24-year-old then repeatedly shouted "Real Betis" - Firpo's former club - whom he's been linked with since leaving them for Barcelona in 2019. Leeds will need to invest if they want to avoid the current trend of promoted sides. For the last two seasons, the three clubs who've gone up to the Premier League have gone straight down. The Whites have confirmed they will stick by current manager Daniel Farke. Chairman Paraag Marathe has confirmed that they will not sign any players without the approval of Farke and has pledged to work with the German. Marathe want to make Leeds Premier League regulars again and has accepted that the first season back in the top flight is all about survival.
