Latest news with #F2
RTÉ News
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- RTÉ News
Alex Dunne stays top of F2 standings after fifth place finish in Barcelona
Ireland's Alex Dunne (Rodin Motorsport) continues to lead the FIA Formula 2 championship, the main support class to F1 race weekends, after a fifth-place finish in today's F2 feature race in Barcelona. Dunne started the second race of the weekend in Spain in eighth place on the grid, following a three-place penalty for an incident in the free practice session in which he collided with Victor Martins. The Offlay teenager eventually finished fifth with Britain's Arvid Lindblad converting pole position into his maiden Formula 2 feature race victory, also giving his Spanish team Campos Racing their first win on home soil in the Championship. Dunne, who is part of McLaren's driver development programme, picked up a bonus point on offer for registering the fastest lap of the race. Up ahead Lindblad was never threatened, leading home PREMA Racing's Sebastián Montoya who finished second and MP Motorsport's Richard Verschoor in third, after a late safety car was withdrawn on the final lap. Dunne's fifth place came after his incredible drive in Saturday's sprint race, where he swept aside grid penalties to climb from the back of the grid in 19th place to finish second and take the overall championship lead after six rounds. The Offalyman did had wait to see if the race stewards took any retrospective action for an alleged yellow flag infringement late on in the feature race, but he was exonerated and kept his fifth place finish and with it, the championship lead. The 19-year-old sits atop the F2 series standings ahead of this month's Austrian Grand Prix on 87 points, three clear of Richard Verschoor with Lindblad a further five points back in third. Speaking after his astonishing sprint race second placed finish Dunne said: "I think we've seen over the past couple of weekends that the pace is more than there, but sometimes you just need to accept that you are where you are, instead of trying to go for more. That is something we need to dial in a bit more in the coming weekends"
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Automotive
- RTÉ News
Alex Dunne pulls off stunning F2 drive in Barcelona
Offaly's Alex Dunne produced another remarkable Formula 2 drive on Saturday, overcoming grid penalties to finish second in the Barcelona sprint race and regain the championship lead. Last weekend Dunne (Rodin Motorsport) was among seven drivers eliminated from the feature race in Monaco after being involved in a first-lap collision at the opening corner. He was subsequently given a 10-place grid penalty for the sprint race, and a further three-place grid penalty after running into the back of another car when entering the pits during Friday's free practice session. It meant the 19-year-old started Staurday's race in 19th and with a serious mountain to climb. However Dunne got his strategy absolutely spot on to weave his way to second, behind MP Motorsport's Richard Verschoor. Dunne is now top of the standings with 76 points ahead of Sunday's feature race. Luke Browning (Hitech TGR) is his closest challenger on 72 points. In April, he claimed his first grand prix victory in F2 when he won in Bahrain, following that up with a third-placed finish in Saudi Arabia, and then another victory at Imola.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Billionaire Bill Ackman's big housing market bet pays off
Billionaire Bill Ackman's big housing market bet pays off originally appeared on TheStreet. Shares of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac surged after U.S. President Donald Trump said he is working on taking the two government-controlled mortgage giants public, a move that many shareholders hailed. In a post on his Truth Social platform on May 27, Trump praised the two companies' "vital service" to the American dream of homeownership. The two entities help provide stability and affordability to the U.S. housing market by backing trillions of dollars in home loans. "I am working on TAKING THESE AMAZING COMPANIES PUBLIC, but I want to be clear, the U.S. Government will keep its implicit GUARANTEES, and I will stay strong in my position on overseeing them as President,' Trump wrote. 💵💰Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter💰💵 Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are government-sponsored enterprises that have been under federal conservatorship since the 2008 financial crisis. The official names of the two enterprises are the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, respectively. Trump unsuccessfully attempted to remove Fannie and Freddie from U.S. government control in 2019 during his first administration. Despite being government-controlled, their shares are still traded on over-the-counter markets and have drawn strong interest from hedge funds and institutional this month, Trump said he was giving 'very serious consideration to bringing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public,' noting they are 'doing very well, throwing off a lot of CASH.' Following the statement, the shares just hit their highest since 2008. Fannie shares () rose 2.2% to $10.78, while Freddie () gained 5.3% to $8 at the market close on May 28. Among the investors cheering the announcement is billionaire fund manager Bill Ackman. In a recent X post, he responded to Trump with two thumbs up. Through his firm, Pershing Square Capital Management, Ackman has invested in both mortgage giants and has repeatedly pushed for their release from conservatorship. He called it the 'biggest deal in history' and estimated that the government could make $300 billion if the companies are restructured and released, according to Bloomberg. "Fannie and Freddie represent a royalty on first mortgages secured by the U.S. housing market, which is a low-risk, high risk-adjusted return investment that will generate large and growing dividends that can be invested in other sovereign fund assets," Ackman said in a March post on X."The long-term returns on F2 [Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac] will significantly exceed the cost of U.S. Treasurys enabling our country to deleverage over time," he added. Ackman's interest in real estate extends beyond the mortgage agencies. Earlier this month, Pershing Square announced a $900 million deal to acquire 9 million newly issued shares of Howard Hughes Holdings () , a real estate company focused on developing large-scale communities and commercial districts. Ackman plans to turn Howard Hughes into a "modern-day version of Berkshire." More Real Estate: SALT income tax deduction takes critical step forward Buffett's Berkshire predicts major housing market shift soon Homeownership trend surges among Gen Z and Millennials In 1965, legendary investor Warren Buffett bought control of Berkshire Hathaway, then a struggling textile manufacturer. He gradually sold off the textile businesses and invested heavily in insurance, utilities, retailing, and other businesses. "Fortunately, our starting base of assets won't be a dying textile company, but a very good business," Ackman said. "We will adopt similar, long-term, shareholder-oriented principles to Berkshire, and we intend to hold the stock forever."Billionaire Bill Ackman's big housing market bet pays off first appeared on TheStreet on May 29, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish driver Alex Dunne qualifies 5th in Spain but hit with big penalties
Alex Dunne qualified in 5th place for the Spanish F2 Grand Prix in Barcelona, with Arvid Lindblad becoming the youngest pole-sitter in F2 history. However Dunne will serve a 13-place grid penalty for the sprint race on Saturday, leaving him in P18, and a separate 3-place drop means he will start from 8th place on the grid for Sunday's feature race. The championship leader Luke Browning qualified in 8th, which will become P7 after the penalties are applied. Dunne received a 3-place penalty for both Barcelona races after misjudging the pace of Victor Martins as both cars entered the pit lane, with the Offaly teenager making contact with the back of the Frenchman's car as he slammed on the brakes. The 10-place grid penalty for the sprint race due to his role in the Monaco pile-up last time out is added to the 3-place penalty, resulting in a 13-place drop for the Rodin Motorsport driver. With 8 penalty points on his license, he now runs the risk of a race ban should he reach 12 points. Dunne's first lap, a 1:25.905, was good enough for 5th position after all the cars had set a time, with the Offaly man setting the early pace. The McLaren Driver Development Programme driver went out early during the final runs, setting a lap good enough for P2 with a 1:25.602 in the early stages before he was overtaken by Sebastian Montoya, Kush Maini, Roman Stanek and the polesitter Lindblad. Meanwhile, practice is ongoing in F1 with a much-touted technical directive on front wing flexion coming into effect this weekend. The change aims to tighten the cars together, but so far in practice, it seems that the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are still on top. The F2 sprint race begins at 1:15pm Irish time on Saturday, while the feature race goes lights out at 9am on Sunday.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
The sound of speed: Sting energy, a PepsiCo energy drink, hits the track with Formula 1
Sting Energy®, a PepsiCo electrifying energy drink, has officially entered the fast-paced world of Formula 1® as its Official Energy Drink Partner. This official partnership, sparked by authentic fan curiosity even before the official reveal, began as a viral sound-driven moment and has since grown into a dynamic collaboration, racing from the track to screens worldwide. A post shared by Sting Energy Global (@sting_global) In a sport like Formula 1, where fans obsess over every detail, Sting Energy tapped into the most iconic and visceral element of the experience: sound. On May 23, 2025, world-renowned DJ and producer Armin van Buuren posted a video unveiling a surprising discovery – the sound of 'Stinggg' echoing through the roar of an F1 engine. While isolating audio layers from a race recording, Armin noticed an uncanny resemblance between the engine's pitch and the sonic builds in his music. The post piqued global curiosity, as fans, creators, and even F1 icons joined the conversation. And with that, Sting Energy surfaced. Not as a familiar face in Formula 1, but as a bold new force ready to make its mark. Joining the wave of excitement were 2025 F2 Monaco Grand Prix winner Kush Maini, Formula 1 legend Jenson Button, global auto enthusiast Alex Hirschi (SuperCar Blondie) and Indian F1 racer and motorsport enthusiast Karun Chandhok, who amplified the moment with energized reactions – captivated by the sonic connection between Sting Energy and the roar of Formula 1. Their involvement added credibility to what many had dismissed as coincidence, showing it was something much more deliberate. Without any official announcement or clear branding, people started to wonder quietly: could Sting Energy have been part of Formula 1 all along? The frenzy reached its peak at the Monaco Grand Prix, where F1 fans and influencers from around the world were seen recording the races, reacting in real-time as Sting Energy's now unmistakable sonic signature revealed itself within the raw, high-octane roar of the track. Making the discovery, world-renowned DJ and record producer, Armin van Buuren said, "As a longtime F1 fan, I was revisiting some engine sounds in the studio when one frequency stood out, it almost sounded like 'Sting.' At first, I thought it was a coincidence, but the more I listened, the more melodic it became. It's a great reminder that inspiration can come from the most unexpected places – even a car racing down the track." Jenson Button, 2009 F1 World Champion driver, added, 'I've spent my entire life around Formula 1 – from the garage to the podium, and everywhere in between – and I thought I'd experienced every nuance the sport had to offer. But, when Armin played that engine clip and pointed out what he heard, I was genuinely surprised. I played it back and... There it was. 'Sting.' Clear as day. It's strange, but also kind of brilliant – how something so familiar can hide in plain sight for so long. Once you hear it, you can't ignore it.' Commenting on the roar, Vandita Pandey, VP Marketing at PepsiCo, International Beverages, Energy, said, 'Sometimes the most powerful brand moments aren't manufactured – they're discovered. This wasn't just about launching a campaign; it was about listening to culture and amplifying what fans already felt. This partnership is more than regular sponsorship, it's sonic alignment. Sting Energy didn't just join Formula 1, it revealed it had always been there, embedded in the thrill, hidden in the sound; and now, the world knows. The brand officially takes its place on track with a future of vigorous fan experiences ahead.' Jonny Haworth, Director of Commercial Partnerships, Formula 1, said, 'Formula 1 has always been about more than just speed - it's about emotion, energy, and the sensory experience that comes with every race. This partnership with Sting Energy taps into that energy in a fresh, creative way. It's a celebration of the power of sound, and how culture and sport continue to collide in exciting new ways.' With this partnership, Sting Energy will now supercharge fan experiences across 21 races– through immersive brand experiences, co-branded products, on-pack promotions, and digital storytelling. Breaking away from the traditional sponsorship route, Sting Energy approached this collaboration in a way only it can – by tapping into the power of sound. In a sport where audio is emotion, physics, and adrenaline all at once, Sting Energy transformed a shared sensory experience into an unmissable brand moment. As part of the partnership, Sting Energy will now supercharge fan experiences across 21 races - through immersive brand activations, co-branded products, on-pack promotions, and digital storytelling. PepsiCo, today, announced the groundbreaking multi-year global partnership with Sting Energy as the Official Energy Drink of Formula 1.
