Latest news with #racing
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
F1 Academy driver Chloe Chong shares the advice Lewis Hamilton gave her: 'I get goosebumps thinking about it'
F1 Academy driver Chloe Chong is thinking about her next moves — both on and off the racetrack. The British-Canadian teenager was just 16 during the inaugural F1 Academy season in 2023. Today, at age 18, Chong is still learning how to balance life as a teenager with that of a high-performance athlete. Cookie Box Crochet Kit for Beginners Charlotte Tilbury Unisex Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer WHOOP 4.0 with 12 Month Subscription Wunder Train High-Rise Tight 25" Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Bluetooth Earbuds "There's one part of your life where you're an athlete and you're very focused" on training, media commitments, sponsorship deals, as well as your sport, Chong told Yahoo Canada. But "there's another side of yourself that is just a normal teenager." "A lot of athletes sometimes feel limited by their sport, that competitive side of their life," she said. "They feel like if they take time to do stuff they really want to do, it shows that they're not trying enough, or they're not working hard enough. "For me, I've realized that working hard is one part, but I also need to be able to do the things I want to do and not get overly invested in my sport." If you get overly invested, you try too hard. And if you fall out of love with it, "it all goes downhill." Racing in the #27 Charlotte Tilbury car operated by Rodin Motorsport, Chong is still very much invested — and in love — with racing. When you're in the thick of it, when you're competing against some of the best and fastest drivers out there, "the whole world slows down," she said. "You don't think about anything except your feelings in the car. That's what keeps me going." Have you ever wondered what the world's most interesting, successful and talented people are adding to their shopping carts? Yahoo Canada's new series, , is exploring just that. From the supplement regime of professional athletes to supermodel-approved skincare, this is what celebrities actually spend their money on. F1 Academy is an all-female racing series launched in 2023 by Formula 1 to develop and promote young female drivers in the motorsport industry. The Formula 4-level racing series recently partnered with Netflix for a new docuseries, F1: The Academy, which shines a light on one of the world's most demanding sports. Chong, who is nicknamed "Miss Second Place" among her peers, said it was fellow driver Lewis Hamilton who told her "don't let anyone tell you no." "He said, 'nothing's easy. Nothing good comes easily,' which applies to my journey into racing," Chong told Yahoo Canada. So far, in the 2025 season, with eight races behind her, she is sitting in 11th place with 11 points. His advice "taught me to keep tenacity and keep looking forward and not look back at the mistakes I've made, because everyone makes the same mistakes." Hamilton, who competes in Formula One for Ferrari, "was so inspiring to me," she said. "I get goosebumps thinking about it." Still in the early stages of her F1 Academy racing career, Chong said the nickname motivates her to work hard and push herself to "always do better." "Every driver in the championship that I'm racing in will not accept second place as a victory," she said. You always want P1 [first place]. You want world records. You want something above what you've already got. And that's what keeps the sport very interesting, because you're always looking for more." From her "game-changing" tinted moisturizer to her "go-to" pair of workout leggings, here are five things F1 Academy driver Chloe Chong is Adding to Cart. Cookie Box Crochet Kit for Beginners "[My mom] thinks I'm really uncoordinated," so getting into crocheting "started off as a bit of a joke," just to prove her wrong, Chong said. She said she initially got the kit from Amazon and bet that she could finish it in one day. After that, "it just became a thing." On travel days, you can spend three to four hours driving to a track or nine hours on a plane, so crocheting is something that's "easy to do" to pass the time, Chong told Yahoo Canada over a video call. "It's a bit mindless" and helps "take my mind off" things. "My mini goal is to hopefully make [crochet] animals for most of the team that work with me," she said. "I've already made animals for my engineer, for one of the mechanics, and I'm starting to work on something for another engineer." "It's just a little something for everyone on the team," she continued. "I'm incredibly grateful to have them around and working so hard on my car." Charlotte Tilbury Unisex Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer Representing Charlotte Tilbury has been the "biggest privilege," Chong told Yahoo Canada. "I've never been the girliest of girls and I've never been that girl who is super interested in makeup," she said. That said, "I really, really like the [Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer] and the [Airbrush Flawless Waterproof Setting Spray]." While "I'm not one to put on loads of makeup," the tinted moisturizer is "honestly game-changing." Skincare-wise, Chong said Charlotte Tilbury's famous Magic Cream has helped her skin stay "consistent" and combat any irritation that her racing helmet causes. "A lot of damage happens to your skin because there's so much friction between the helmet and your cheeks," she explained. Before adopting the Magic Cream in her routine, "I would come home after race weekend and have massive spots on my cheeks and break out everywhere." This year, since incorporating the anti-aging cream in her routine, "I don't think I've had a single experience of that. My skin has stayed quite consistent." WHOOP 4.0 with 12 Month Subscription "I found that with an Apple Watch, I was getting really distracted by all the ping notifications and games. With the Whoop, there's no screen, no nothing, no BS, in other words, but again, it gives me really good data on how I've recovered I am in terms of heart rate variability and how much sleep I've had and the quality of my sleep," Chong told Yahoo Canada. "It has a cool alarm feature where it vibrates as an alarm, so you just tap it twice to stop the alarm, which I find quite simple." Wunder Train High-Rise Tight 25" "I love Lululemon because I'm quite a small, small girl, so it fits my shape well." "All Lululemon leggings are great," she said. "I've never had leggings that fit so well." Chong said that what usually "annoys" her about leggings is "they start sliding down." But she's "never had a problem" with these Lululemon ones, which she calls "her go-to." Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Bluetooth Earbuds "I love headphones, I love music," the F1 Academy driver said. "I keep a good two sets of headphones in my bag and I actually have another set of headphones in my race bag, as well. "I'm a bit of a music geek and they're all different sets of headphones. One set I've tried recently is the [Beats Powerbeats Pro 2]. They have a heart rate sensor in the ear, and they're really, really good," she said, adding that "they don't fall out."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'Back in love': MotoGP champion Martin stays with Aprilia
Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin said on Thursday he would stay with the Aprilia team for the 2026 season, dispelling doubts about his future. "In life we have to take some decisions and now the decision is to stay here in Aprilia for one more season," Martin said at a press conference ahead of the Grand Prix of Czechia. The 27-year-old Spaniard has been at odds with Italian manufacturer Aprilia after initially saying he intended to activate a release clause in his contract at the end of the season. Martin is returning to competition after being sidelined for nearly four months by injuries. After missing the first three races of the season following two pre-season crashes, he started in Qatar in April but crashed on lap 14, suffering injuries including 11 broken ribs. He said he started to have doubts about his plan to quit while recovering in hospital and not knowing if he would race again. "From that point I had to to fight for what I thought was the best for me... I'm not an idiot and I see that we together have a lot of potential. We can do really a lot and hopefully I am really prepared for what's coming," Martin added. He said he could understand that Aprilia were fighting "for their rights" and appreciated how the team "helped me to be in a safe place". - 'Happy to be here' - "I think in relationships it's like a roller coaster. You can get in love, then you have some fights, but finally if you like the other person at the end of the day you will work hard to stay together and to fight for your targets," he said. "For sure we had a big fight with Aprilia, but now is the time to start to build together, because... we want to win in the future. "So this is the important thing and I think it's possible to get back in love, let's say," Martin added. Martin admitted he would rather be in the paddock than telling journalists about the move, but he said he wanted to sort the affair out before he hits the track. He declined to speculate on his form ahead of the Czech GP in Brno as he has managed to compete in just a single race in nine months. "I have missed 6,000 kilometres so I have to take my patience. I need to take time... I'm happy to be here, I'm happy that I'm strong to get back to the bike," Martin added. He said there was nothing to apologise for to Aprilia, but admitted he was grateful to the team. "Maybe in the future, if we win together, I will say thanks to (Aprilia sports director) Massimo (Rivola) for all they did to keep me here." frj/nf
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
F1 Academy driver Chloe Chong shares the advice Lewis Hamilton gave her: 'I get goosebumps thinking about it'
F1 Academy driver Chloe Chong is thinking about her next moves — both on and off the racetrack. The British-Canadian teenager was just 16 during the inaugural F1 Academy season in 2023. Today, at age 18, Chong is still learning how to balance life as a teenager with that of a high-performance athlete. "There's one part of your life where you're an athlete and you're very focused" on training, media commitments, sponsorship deals, as well as your sport, Chong told Yahoo Canada. But "there's another side of yourself that is just a normal teenager." "A lot of athletes sometimes feel limited by their sport, that competitive side of their life," she said. "They feel like if they take time to do stuff they really want to do, it shows that they're not trying enough, or they're not working hard enough. "For me, I've realized that working hard is one part, but I also need to be able to do the things I want to do and not get overly invested in my sport." If you get overly invested, you try too hard. And if you fall out of love with it, "it all goes downhill." Racing in the #27 Charlotte Tilbury car operated by Rodin Motorsport, Chong is still very much invested — and in love — with racing. When you're in the thick of it, when you're competing against some of the best and fastest drivers out there, "the whole world slows down," she said. "You don't think about anything except your feelings in the car. That's what keeps me going." Have you ever wondered what the world's most interesting, successful and talented people are adding to their shopping carts? Yahoo Canada's new series, , is exploring just that. From the supplement regime of professional athletes to supermodel-approved skincare, this is what celebrities actually spend their money on. F1 Academy is an all-female racing series launched in 2023 by Formula 1 to develop and promote young female drivers in the motorsport industry. The Formula 4-level racing series recently partnered with Netflix for a new docuseries, F1: The Academy, which shines a light on one of the world's most demanding sports. Chong, who is nicknamed "Miss Second Place" among her peers, said it was fellow driver Lewis Hamilton who told her "don't let anyone tell you no." "He said, 'nothing's easy. Nothing good comes easily,' which applies to my journey into racing," Chong told Yahoo Canada. So far, in the 2025 season, with eight races behind her, she is sitting in 11th place with 11 points. His advice "taught me to keep tenacity and keep looking forward and not look back at the mistakes I've made, because everyone makes the same mistakes." Hamilton, who competes in Formula One for Ferrari, "was so inspiring to me," she said. "I get goosebumps thinking about it." Still in the early stages of her F1 Academy racing career, Chong said the nickname motivates her to work hard and push herself to "always do better." "Every driver in the championship that I'm racing in will not accept second place as a victory," she said. You always want P1 [first place]. You want world records. You want something above what you've already got. And that's what keeps the sport very interesting, because you're always looking for more." From her "game-changing" tinted moisturizer to her "go-to" pair of workout leggings, here are five things F1 Academy driver Chloe Chong is Adding to Cart.
The Independent
7 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
A tribute to Jules Bianchi, 10 years on from F1 driver's passing
Today marks 10 years since the sporting world lost Jules Bianchi, the F1 hotshot who passed away on 17 July 2015 at the age of 25. Bianchi, driving for Marussia, suffered a horrendous crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. Bianchi spent nine months in a coma before succumbing to his injuries. The Frenchman, who was the godfather of Charles Leclerc, was seemingly set for a seat at Ferrari in the future, having impressed over two seasons at Marussia. He memorably picked up his first points at the 2014 Monaco GP, finishing ninth after starting 21st on the grid. Bianchi is Formula 1's last fatality, with his death following 21 years without any fatalities in the top tier of single-seater motorsport. Last year, as part of a wider piece on grief in motorsport, The Independent spoke to Max Chilton, Bianchi's teammate at Marussia. A tribute from Max Chilton, Bianchi's F1 teammate It took a few years for me not to think about Jules every day... even for a few seconds. Max Chilton Max Chilton remembers the moment vividly. Racing in the United States at Iowa Speedway in the 2015 Indy Lights season, the British driver had just earned his first victory, beating his teammate Ed Jones in the process. Two days earlier, his former teammate at Marussia Racing, Bianchi, had passed away following nine months in a coma. It was F1's first fatality since Ayrton Senna, 21 years earlier. 'I swear Jules was looking down at me,' Chilton says, reflecting a decade on from a tumultuously emotional time in his life. 'I started on pole and then my teammate got past. I was f****** angry but I had to work for the overtake and pulled it out of the bag. To this day, I feel like Jules was the welly up the back. 'I devoted the win to Jules and he pushed me on. It shocked me that he wasn't coming back.' The concept of 'teammate' is perhaps the biggest paradox within motorsport. In most sports, a teammate is primarily someone to work alongside in harmony towards a common goal. Internal competition? That comes secondary. F1 FATALITIES BY DECADE But in F1, particularly for a plucky outfit like Marussia destined for the back of the grid, it is ultimately what you are judged on. How do you square up to the driver on the opposite side of the garage? Chilton, hailing from Reigate in Surrey, first shared a team with French hotshot Bianchi at the age of 12. The duo shared a podium together when racing for karting outfit Maranello in Rome and competed against each other in Formula 3 and Formula Renault. 'Jules was the greatest young driver of that time,' Chilton tells The Independent, in a profound discussion about his career. 'Formula 1 is all about beating your teammate. When I did beat him, I knew I nailed it. 'But he beat me a lot more times than I beat him.' The statistics actually say otherwise; the pair were virtually neck-and-neck over 34 races. But Chilton and Bianchi had, in the under-resourced, over-stretched Marussia, the slowest car on the grid alongside fellow backmarkers Caterham. That 2013 debut campaign bore no points. It was only Bianchi's sumptuous drive from 21 st to ninth in the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix that saw the team pick up their first top-10 finish. By October and the Japanese Grand Prix, work was already underway behind the scenes for Bianchi to drive for Ferrari; if not in 2015, then a few years down the line. Until tragedy struck. On a dark, drizzly day at Suzuka, Bianchi's car slipped off the track and hit a recovery truck that was moving the stricken Sauber of Adrian Sutil. Bianchi suffered a severe head injury and following nine months in a coma, he passed away on 17 July 2015. 'What I remember from that day [in Japan] was the driver parade,' Chilton reflects. 'I was in front of him in a convertible and he was 100 metres behind me in his own car, standing under a Marussia umbrella. We both looked at each other and smiled, with the thought of 'what are we doing here?!' 'That was the last time I saw him and laughed with him. Fast-forward to the end of the race… it was only when I got into the pit-lane that Tracy Novak [head of PR for Marussia] told me 'don't talk to anyone.' I was then told how serious it was. 'I'd been in racing long enough, I know people have serious accidents. I just hadn't prepared myself for that and, to this day, I have not seen footage of the accident. I don't want to see it.' A week later, F1 went racing again in Russia and, for Chilton and Marussia, it would be their final outing. The team were placed into administration shortly afterwards and failed to complete the season. But, in light of events in Japan, the job prospects of 200 team members felt somewhat immaterial. It wasn't until the following summer, and that weekend in Iowa, that Chilton and the world started their mourning process. As Bianchi's competition and companion at Marussia simultaneously, did Chilton grieve? 'It took a few years for me not to think about Jules every day, even if it was for a few seconds, and there's still not a week that goes by without me thinking about Jules,' Chilton says now, with a nod to one of F1's current staple of drivers. 'I've never met Charles Leclerc. But when I see Charles on TV, he is Jules. The way he speaks and drives, it's the same. Charles is driving for Ferrari, which is what Jules would've done, so I enjoy watching Charles succeed. 'I'd like to think Jules passed something on to him.' Indeed, Bianchi holds a beloved spot in Leclerc's heart, as illustrated by the Monegasque's tribute helmet for his godfather last April. But for Chilton, mourning Bianchi's loss is indicative of the camaraderie felt within a cohesive racing team, even for an outfit as shortlived as Marussia. Now retired and thriving in a new world of property entrepreneurship, the 34-year-old is grateful for the memories and friends made. Yet the cruelty of Bianchi's accident had an unusual way of binding the team together, in a moment of such despair. 'It was a slightly eerie feeling,' he says of Sochi, Marussia's final F1 race. 'All Jules' mechanics were there, the car was looking clean. 'But there was never any doubt of putting someone else [a reserve driver] in the cockpit. It was always going to be Jules' car in the pit lane.'
South China Morning Post
9 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Jockey Club boss Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges hails ‘amazing season' after turnover increase
Improved field sizes, increased tourism and the continued strides made in globalising Hong Kong racing have contributed to a three per cent increase in racing wagering turnover for the 2024-25 season, says the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Punters wagered a total of HK$138.85 billion during the campaign, with a 3 per cent increase returning the city to the black in terms of turnover figures after a 4.5 per cent decrease last season that ended a run of three consecutive seasons of record turnover. Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges highlighted the contribution to an uptick in mainland and overseas tourists made to a big year for Hong Kong racing, also pointing to the impact of Ka Ying Rising, Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble's heroics during the season. 'It's been an amazing season, with outstanding performances by top horses that have truly captured the imagination of fans not just in Hong Kong but around the world,' said Engelbrecht-Bresges. 'Since the policy address of HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee [Ka-chiu], we have been able to attract even more mainland and overseas tourists, who have come to our racecourses in record numbers to experience our city's signature sport. 'These achievements strengthen the position of Hong Kong racing as a world-class sport and entertainment experience.' Strong commingling turnover was another factor in renewed wagering growth, with a record commingling turnover of HK$31.76 billion – a 10.1 per cent increase on last season. A notable highlight came at the Chinese New Year Raceday in January, with commingling turnover increasing by 23.7 per cent to HK$510.4 million, setting a record in the process and surpassing HK$500 million for the first time. Simulcast racing was another boon, with turnover on simulcasting (including World Pool commingling) up by 2.3 per cent to HK$13.11 billion. The maximum number of simulcast days will be increased from 37 to 53 in 2025-26 and to 70 in 2026-27. Romantic Warrior flew the flag for Hong Kong racing on the international stage, winning the Group One Jebel Hatta (1,800m) at Meydan, while also finishing a close second in both the Group One Saudi Cup (1,800m) and the Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m). At home, Ka Ying Rising's invincible season saw him land the Hong Kong Speed Series bonus of HK$5 million along with four Group Ones, while Voyage Bubble became the first horse since River Verdon to win the Triple Crown. 'Hong Kong racing is truly world class and I am immensely proud of the performances of our champion horses, jockeys and trainers,' said Engelbrecht-Bresges. 'The achievements of amazing horses such as Ka Ying Rising, Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble reflect the expertise, dedication and passion of our trainers and jockeys as well as the strong commitment of our owners, who continue to make significant investments to secure the best available equine talent.' The success of Conghua racecourse has also been hailed by Engelbrecht-Bresges, with an increase of 17.7 per cent in horses stabled at the track and a 24.3 per cent increase on winners hailing from the mainland venue. Total racecourse attendance this season was over 1.7 million, including a record 195,786 mainland tourists – a 110 per cent increase on the 93,000 mainland tourists from last campaign. The new season will kick off on September 7 at Sha Tin, while the Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) will be staged on December 14. There will be record prize money on offer at next season's HKIR and Champions Day events, with HK$208 million being offered.
