Author: bang7

Team principal Graeme Lowdon is said to have settled on the two Formula 1 drivers he wants to sign for Cadillac ahead of their debut season in the sport next year

Graeme Lowdon is said to have settled on the F1 drivers he wants(Image: Cadillac F1 Team)

Formula 1 newbies Cadillac are said to have decided which drivers they want to lead their charge on track in their debut season. The American outfit will become the sport’s 11th team when it debuts next March at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix.

With just one year to get everything in place, team principal Graeme Lowdon has plenty on his plate from hiring staff to setting up manufacturing processes and designing their first ever F1 car. Plus, of course, he must hire two drivers to get behind the wheel of those machines next season.

During a recent podcast appearance, Lowdon offered seven names as he shed some light on the decision process. Mick Schumacher, Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez, Felipe Drugovich, Frederik Vesti, Arvid Lindblad and Colton Herta were the drivers he mentioned as he discussed Cadillac’s options.

And it appears he has narrowed down his options further by choosing his two preferred driver options. Lowdon told Mirror Sport earlier this month that he would prefer “experienced” options and he seems to have stuck to that.

Speaking on F1 TV ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, correspondent Lawrence Barretto was speaking about the situation of Bottas who is a man in demand. Back at Mercedes as a reserve this year after losing his Sauber race seat, the Finn is wanted by Alpine but also seems to be a leading candidate for Cadillac.

“The more likely landing spot for him is Cadillac,” said Barretto, who also revealed the name of the other driver in pole position for a seat. “I hear that they haven’t got any contracts done, not even any ahead of terms, but Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are the two drivers that they want at that team.

“It’s just a case of them going through the motions with it. It might be some time until we find that out. Obviously, there is still some time for that to change, but that’s where we’re looking I think.

“That’s where I think it’s going, which makes sense because Valtteri could maybe use the Alpine interest to maybe get a better deal. They want experience, and those two drivers offer that in bags.”

Both drivers are multi-race winners throughout their long F1 careers. Bottas won 10 races over five seasons as team-mate to Lewis Hamilton during his first spell with Mercedes, while Perez is a six-time race winner himself, five with Red Bull after his maiden success while still at Racing Point.

Should Cadillac end up contracting those two racers, it will be a tough pill to swallow for Zhou Guanyu. The Chinese racer, now reserve at Ferrari, is also looking for a way back onto the grid and may have been expecting to be a front-runner, given Lowdon was previously a member of his management team.

Lewis Hamilton’s horror weekend in Spa hit a new low when his time was deleted when he ran off the Spa-Francorchamps track in the first qualifying session for the Belgian Grand Prix.

The Ferrari man had been lying seventh but was plunged to 16th after planting all four wheels off the track at Raidillon, the fourth corner of the famous track.

What a dispiriting couple of days for the seven-time world champion!

He had spun off at the close of qualifying for the sprint race at the Bus Stop Chicane on Friday afternoon. He started that contest 18th on Saturday morning and improved to 15th over the short format.

He was told by race engineer Riccardo Adami of his fate in qualifying proper after exceeding track limits. ‘Time deleted,’ said Adami.

Meanwhile Max Verstappen won the first race since the sudden sacking of Christian Horner – a first-lap overtake setting up the Red Bull man for victory in the sprint.

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Lewis Hamilton endured a nightmare showing at the first qualifying session for the Belgian Grand Prix

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The seven-time world champion was informed that his time was deleted after exceeding track limits

With Horner watching on his sofa at home for the first time since 2004, Verstappen showed his timeless class to claim the team’s maiden win of any sort since Imola in May.

It was an immediate fillip for Horner’s replacement, Frenchman Laurent Mekies, who took over a fortnight ago. He has not had time to work miracles, which suggests Red Bull are not quite down the pan.

Further back, British teenager Ollie Bearman took a fabulous seventh for Haas.

Red Bull in freefall, are they?

Max Verstappen won the first race since the sudden sacking of Christian Horner – a first-lap overtake setting up the Red Bull man for victory in the sprint at the Belgian Grand Prix.

With Horner watching on his sofa at home for the first time since 2004, Verstappen showed his timeless class to claim the team’s maiden win of any sort since Imola in May.

It was an immediate fillip for Horner’s replacement, Frenchman Laurent Mekies, who took over a fortnight ago. He has not had time to work miracles, which suggests Red Bull are not quite down the pan.

‘Well done, Max,’ Mekies told Verstappen over the radio. ‘Very, very impressive defence, very well controlled. You didn’t leave anything on the table there.’

‘Thank you, Laurent,’ replied the four-time champion.

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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the first race since the sudden sacking of Christian Horner

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Horner was watching from his sofa for the first since 2004 as Verstappen showed his class

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The former team principal has been replaced by Laurent Mekies, who congratulated Verstappen on his victory

In claiming victory, Verstappen took advantage of a skinny rear wing, which helps achieve superior straight-line speed, as well as a tow along the Kemmel Straight, to make the decisive pass on McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, the pole man, at Les Combes.

Could Piastri come back as DRS was enabled? No, Verstappen clung on but the two of them were nose to tail for all the 15-lap appetiser for Sunday’s main event.

Piastri had superior speed in the middle sector but was in dirty air, and Verstappen is a faultless front runner.

Verstappen has ruled himself out of the title race – probably right, but never discount Max.

For now, Piastri is the one duelling with his team-mate Lando Norris for that honour, and the result took the Australian, who finished runner-up, seven-tenths off Verstappen at the chequered flag, nine points clear of his in-house British rival.

That was because Norris started and finished third. He had slipped to fourth as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc squeezed him just as Verstappen made the killer pass on Piastri. He reclaimed the advantage over the Monegasque on lap four down Kemmel.

Further back, British teenager Ollie Bearman took a fabulous seventh for Haas.

His compatriot George Russell was 12th for Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton moved up three places from 18th to 15th, his spin in qualifying the crucial handicap to the Ferrari man’s sprint race ambitions.

The sun shone on Spa today, but rain is forecast tomorrow. It might be heavy stuff, but it is hard to know in the capricious Ardennes.

Hamilton’s comment was followed by an awkward silence

FORMULA 1 legend Jacques Villeneuve says Christian Horner “doesn’t seem to be affected by pressure” so could be Ferrari’s team principal.

However, if Lewis Hamilton’s response to the news of Horner’s sacking is anything to go off, it may not be the match Villeneuve thinks it could be.

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Christian Horner was sacked three days after the British Grand PrixCredit: Getty

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Allegations of inappropriate behaviour were made against him by a female colleague in February 2024Credit: Getty

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He’s been tipped to join Ferrari but Lewis Hamilton isn’t sureCredit: AFP

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Villeneuve thinks he could ‘shoulder the pressure’ of FerrariCredit: Getty
Horner was sacked by Red Bull after 20 years earlier this month from his position as team principal.

The team have not publicly provided a reason for his dismissal. Allegations of inappropriate behaviour were made against him by a female colleague in February 2024.

Horner – who is now out of work – has denied these allegations.

Speaking to Vision4Sport, who provide Formula 1 tickets and packages, 1997 world champion Villeneuve said on the Brit: “Christian Horner to Ferrari would be an interesting one.

“He’s been solid, doesn’t seem to have been very affected by pressure, even in tough times.

“So, he might well be one that could be able to shoulder Ferrari.”

But on Thursday, Hamilton gave a brutal response to a question on Horner’s sacking ahead of the Belgium Grand Prix.

With a dead-pan look on his face, he said: “It doesn’t change anything in my life.”

That comment was followed by an awkward silence in the press conference.

Hamilton – who stunned the F1 world when he switched from Mercedes to Ferrari – failed to podium at the British Grand Prix earlier this month.

His fourth place finish brought an end to finishing in the top three for 12 Silverstone races in a row as he finished behind Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Nico Hulkenberg.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished second at the Monaco Grand Prix in May behind McLaren’s Lando Norris.

And Villeneuve thinks this inconsistent form is a reoccurring theme for the Italian team.

He said: “It’s like that every year. It’s really bad, and then suddenly they win in Monaco.

“Then it’s great and they’ve turned the corner, then it goes back to being very bad and so on. So, let’s wait.”

Ferrari principle Fred Vasseur has been in focus this season, with fans questioning if time will run out for him after a tricky season for the Italian team.

Asked about Vasseur’s future, Villeneuve said the job is always a “risky proposition”.

He said: “The team principal at Ferrari is always under threat. That’s the name of the game.

“When you accept going to Ferrari, you know that you’re walking on fire, you’re walking on eggs. It’s always a risky proposition.

“And if you take that job, which puts you in the limelight, you have to accept the consequences, which means it’s easy to just be chopped

“You live under constant pressure, and you have to accept it from the media, from everyone and you complain about it because a team principal there is always one who managed to remove his predecessor.

“There’s always a lot of politics. So, if it happens to Vasseur there should not be any surprise.”

Romeo and Harper Beckham looked relaxed and content as they enjoyed their time soaking up the sun in St Tropez narrowly missing elder brother Brooklyn Beckham

Romeo and Harper Beckham enjoy evening during family holiday to St Tropez(Image: INSTAGRAM)

The Beckham family have been the talk of the town since it emerged that Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz have become estranged. But it looks as though Romeo and his younger sister Harper were keen to put their family feud firmly behind them and make the most of their family holiday to the south of France.

The duo were spotted heading out for dinner in St Tropez and both Romeo and Harper cut casual appearances. Romeo was pictured wearing a red baseball cap, teamed with a round neck white sweater. He completed his look with a pair of pink knee length shorts, white socks and black shoes.

Meanwhile Harper opted for a white hoodie with the word “Seven” emblazoned across the front of it. The 14 year old daughter of David and Victoria Beckham completed her look with a pair of matching shorts and Birkenstock sandals.

Romeo and Harper Beckham enjoy evening during family holiday to St Tropez(Image: Vendetta dailly / BACKGRID)

But just a few days ago, Brooklyn had also been pictured in the same resort with his wife of three years on board her father’s yacht.

And while they put on a united front by hugging and kissing in full view of waiting photographers, according to body language expert Judi James, the strain of the feud is starting to show on her.

Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz Beckham put on united front amid Beckham family feud(Image: Social Media)

In an exclusive chat with the Mirror, Judi explained: “With her distant, expressionless eye gaze and her hand either clutching Brooklyn’s arm or encased in his hand, Nicola is looking like the tragic heroine here, perhaps wanting to suggest some vulnerability and strain behind her normally cool and confident exterior.”

She added: “This is a look that might make most caring husbands wary and trigger their protective side, which is what appears to have happened with Brooklyn here.

“While his wife walks along in her dramatic black fur tippet and with her hand placed on her bag to provide an emphatic and perhaps symbolic display of her wedding rings, Brooklyn looks more relaxed and dominant. Clutching her hand in his with his, with the back of his hand showing fully and the wrist bent in a protective clasp.”

She explained: “His mood looks confident and even rather upbeat here as though he enjoys being the strong guy in the relationship. His chest is splayed, his arms are held out and there’s a smile brewing on his face.”‘

Tensions within the Beckham household became even more evident when both Nicola and Brooklyn failed to turn up to David’s milestone 50th birthday party, earlier this year.

A lip reader has claimed that Prince Harry was ‘mansplaining’ to Meghan Markle during her first Trooping the Colour appearance in 2018, making for a ‘tense’ moment on the Palace balcony

A lip reader has claimed to decode a seemingly private conversation between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on the Palace balcony in 2018(Image: Getty)

Prince Harry was spotted “mansplaining” to his wife Meghan Markle during her debut at Trooping the Colour in 2018, a lip reader has exposed. A new documentary assembled various lip readers to examine some of the most prominent royal occasions over the years, revealing their interpretation of what Royal Family members were saying during these seemingly private moments.

One such instance occurred in summer 2018, when the Duchess of Sussex made her inaugural Trooping the Colour appearance, just weeks after marrying Prince Harry. In Channel 5’s new feature-length programme, Lip-Reading the Royals: The Secret Conversations, lip reader Nicola Hickling examined what might have unfolded between the newlyweds.

Prince Harry was ‘mansplaining’ to Meghan Markle, a royal expert has claimed(Image: Getty)

As the Royal Family assembled on the Buckingham Palace balcony to observe the customary RAF flypast, the Duke seemed to be briefing his wife on what would take place.

Ms Hickling revealed that Harry was explaining “to her what is going to happen and that Paras will be flying overhead,” employing “hand motions” before his wife responded “ok”.

However, a royal expert criticised the Duke for his behaviour and branded him guilty of “mansplaining” to his spouse. Christo Foufas remarked: “The lip readers have exposed him mansplaining to her what a flypast.”

Elsewhere in the documentary, experts analysed Harry and Meghan’s attendance at the Remembrance Sunday service in November 2018, as a clip from the service shows Harry and Meghan deep in conversation, with Ms Hickling providing her interpretation of their exchange.

At the start of the Sussexes’ chat, the expert suggests Meghan is advising her husband: “Take advantage of the situation,” to which he queries, “Today?” She then instructs, “Do it tonight.”

As their discussion progresses, Harry leans closer to Meghan, asking, “You do realise that this is the end?” to which Meghan promptly confirms, “Yes, I do know.”

It is then suggested in the documentary by royal historian Dr Tessa Dunlop that the seemingly private comments between the Sussexes could mean that the couple had been plotting their dramatic exit from the royal family years before they actually decided to call it quits.

Princess Andre commanded attention as she looked glamorous following a recent outing, just weeks after celebrating her 18th birthday with a lavish trip abroad

The influencer has celebrated a milestone in her life(Image: Getty Images for Bauer)

Princess Andre turned heads in a sleek all-black outfit as she stepped onto the red carpet at London’s Kisstory Blackheath Live festival.

After celebrating her milestone 18th birthday, the teen rocked a black crop top and matching trousers, opting to wear her signature long curly blonde straight. The daughter of Katie Price and Peter Andre was joined by big brother Junior, 20, and his girlfriend Jasmine Orr, 24, for the music-filled day out.

Junior kept things low-key in a grey jumper and black jeans, while Jasmine opted for edgy black camo cargo trousers and a fitted vest.

The outing comes after Princess’s sun-soaked trip to Mexico last week, where she joined her stepmum Emily MacDonagh’s family, including Emily’s younger brothers, Will and Joe. She shared a stream of holiday snaps with fans as she soaked up the sunshine.

Princess looked glamorous in her stylish outfit while attending a lavish event(Image: Getty Images for Bauer)

Despite the festivities, Princess’s birthday caused a stir – after mum Katie Price was noticeably absent from the celebrations. Instead of joining the family dinner, Katie was seen partying in Dubai, but later addressed the situation on her podcast with sister Sophie.

“Princess is now officially an adult so mummy and Princess can now go out together. If certain people would let her be seen with me,” she said.

Junior attended the event with his girlfriend by his side(Image: Getty Images for Bauer)

Katie also touched on Princess’s upcoming documentary, revealing she’s not been included in the filming.

The 47-year-old former I’m a Celeb star shared, “Everyone knows she’s doing this documentary – and I’m not in it. Certain people don’t think it’s good for Princess to be seen with me. Certain people that used to look after me.”

Sophie chimed in,”‘You aren’t on brand Katie. You are too risky Katie that’s why’.” Katie then appeared to take aim at her ex-husband Peter and their former PR team—now reportedly handling Junior and Princess’s careers, saying, “It’s pathetic. I’m her mother. It’s sad. It’s so sad. When certain people who used to look after me are now looking after…”

According to reports, the former glamour model wasn’t invited to Princess’s official birthday party because it was being filmed for the new doc.

She continued: “The fact is there’s stuff my daughter is doing and I’m not allowed to be seen at any of it. Certain people who are filming Princess’ documentary used to do my filming. It’s fine, it’s just there’s always conflict of interest. People will cotton on to this. So we do have to do something for Princess’ 18th.”

ITV executives are said to be preparing to axe one in 10 cast members from both Coronation Street and Emmerdale as part of fresh cost-cutting measures

Editorial use only Mandatory Credit: Photo by ITV/REX/Shutterstock (13429047q) Emmerdale Village, featuring the Woolpack pub ‘Emmerdale’ TV Show, Episodes 9482-9501 UK – Oct 2022 Emmerdale, is a British ITV long running soap opera, known as Emmerdale Farm until 1989, set in Emmerdale, a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. It was created by Kevin Laffan and was first broadcast on 16 October 1972. It was originally produced by ITV Yorkshire and is still filmed in their Leeds studios.

ITV chiefs are reportedly planning sweeping cast reductions across their two premier soaps, with proposals to cut one in ten performers as part of new budget-slashing initiatives.

Both Coronation Street and Emmerdale may also witness fewer scenes per episode as ITV seeks to trim an additional £15 million from its overall spending, according to The Sun.

The broadcaster’s earnings have allegedly plummeted by 44 per cent to £99 million during the first six months of the year, sparking a fresh drive to curb production expenses.

Insiders suggest bosses are now pressing soap creators to reduce their escalating costs, with cast sizes being a primary target for scrutiny.

Coronation Street presently features 84 regular cast members, whilst Emmerdale boasts 70, reports the Express.

ITV bosses are said to be preparing major cast cuts across their two flagship soaps(Image: Getty)

An insider revealed: “It’s brutal. We’ve known it was on the cards for a while, but they’re really cranking it up now and it’s across the soaps.

“They’re looking to save millions and Corrie and Emmerdale are the obvious places. They’re very expensive shows.

“Many who have been there for a long time are reliant on their income staying as it is.

“The amount of cast has spiralled out of control and focusing on dialogue, not action, could also save money.”

Industry sources have also hinted that the number of scenes per episode – currently averaging around 20 – might be reduced to lower filming expenses.

Fewer personalities could also feature in individual episodes to help maintain tighter budgets.

While some long-standing cast members are on full-time contracts with salaries, most are paid per episode, which means that reducing screen time or overall scenes could significantly cut costs.

These proposed changes come as ITV makes cuts across its daytime schedule. Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women have all reportedly been affected, with hundreds of staff being made redundant in recent months.

In response to reports of soap cast reductions, an ITV spokesperson stated: “This is complete speculation.”

Royal expert Jennie Bond has claimed the Duke of Sussex has missed his chance to patch things up with one major royal, who, at one point, may have held the key for a reconciliation

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes that Prince Harry’s “extremely disloyal” acts may prove to be unforgiveable in the eyes of one royal(Image: Getty Images)

As rumours of peace talks between Prince Harry and King Charles continue to swirl after senior aides to the two royals were spotted at a meeting in London, a royal expert has weighed in on the claims that one major royal could mend the rift.

Earlier this week, a royal insider shared Harry should’ve reached out to his aunt , Princess Anne, more during the turbulent times within the royal family that eventually led to Harry and Meghan quitting royal life and relocating to California. The insider, a friend of the princess, who also played second fiddle to her brother, King Charles, said that they had first had the thoughts after Prince Harry’s tell-all autobiography Spare was released.

A royal expert has claimed that it may be too late for Prince Harry to speak to Princess Anne about mending the royal rift(Image: Getty Images)

But despite the insider’s beliefs, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes it is too late for the Duke of Sussex to confide in the Princess Royal, and to lean on her to help mend the relationship between Harry and King Charles, given his “extremely disloyal” actions towards the Firm.

The insider allegedly said, as reported by the Sunday Times: “He [ Prince Harry ] really ought to talk to Princess Anne. She often talked about how, as children, she was treated so differently from Charles. She was second to him and kicked further down the line of succession as a woman, but she forged her own path.

“In her twenties, she was bolshy and upset about a lot of things, but she came through that. He should talk to her about her experiences. She is shrewd. She could tell him a lot about what she went through.”

But as Jennie claims, the time for Anne to give Harry advice, both on how to navigate life as a ‘spare’ and how to fix his relationship with the royal family at large, has passed.

Jennie exclusively told The Mirror : “Yes Anne would have been the perfect person to offer advice and guidance, but sadly, this is no longer relevant as Harry has made it quite clear that he has no desire to return to life as a working royal.

Jennie Bond believes that Harry’s “extreme disloyalty” may be unforgiveable in the eyes of the Firm(Image: Getty Images)

“She could have told her nephew that ‘playing second fiddle’ is the wrong way to look at his status. Instead, as she has shown, the second born can be an invaluable support to the institution of monarchy, and a vital friend, confidant and wingman/woman to the monarch.

“She could have explained that they are a team, a firm, working together to keep the monarchy relevant and using their platform to help charities and communities.”

Jennie also speculated that Anne may not want to get involved in rehashing the drama between Harry and Charles, and even questioned whether the Princess Royal knew the extent of the family rift.

She said: “It may be that the King has discussed his family troubles with Anne, but I rather doubt that she would want to get involved. To Anne, loyalty is paramount, and I suspect she feels that Harry has been extremely disloyal to his father, his brother and the monarchy. She might well find that hard to forgive.”

Rumours of a royal reconciliation first emerged earlier this month when Harry’s chief communications officer, and Liam Maguire, who runs Harry and Meghan’s UK public relations team, met the King’s communications secretary Tobyn Andreae at the Royal Over-Seas League at the private member’s club is right by Clarence House – Charles’ London residence.

While it is not yet known who initiated the appointment, the meeting has been described by sources as informal, with casual drinks intended to open a channel of communication between both camps.

The TV star, 65, unveiled her favourite summer cocktail on Instagram

Ruth Langsford’s favourite summer cocktail is a Limoncello Spritz(Image: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

There’s no finer time for a cocktail than summer. And now, Ruth Langsford has unveiled her go-to recipe that’s best enjoyed amidst sunny British weather.

While you might envision a Piña Colada or Mojito, the Loose Women star instead took viewers through a tutorial to make her favourite Limoncello Spritz. This involves just a handful of ingredients and takes minutes to make.

“Hello and welcome to Ruth’s happy hour,” she said in an Instagram video earlier this week. “Now, I know a lot of people’s go-to summer drink is an Aperol Spritz. Mine is a Limoncello Spritz.

“So, I’m just going to put one together and show you what I do.” First and foremost, Ruth popped a couple of ice cubes in some cocktail glasses before topping these up with some Limoncello – the key staple of this drink.

While the star, 65, didn’t exactly measure how much was put in, she stopped when the glass appeared just under half-full. Ruth explained: “I mean, you can do proper measurements – but you know.

“I just go by eye. Good old slug of Limoncello – isn’t that a pretty bottle? I love Prosecco anyway on its own, but this is a really fresh lemony [drink].”

Popping open the bottle of Prosecco, Ruth poured some into each glass. She then followed this up with some Schweppes soda water – but only a little.

“Okay, so then we are going in with Prosecco,” she continued. “[Then] Schweppes, because I think it’s the nicest, fizziest one. If I could actually undo it. Not too much, don’t want to dilute everything.

“And then this is a little hack of mine. I put all my lemon slices, I cut them, I put them in the freezer, put them in a little box, and then they are all done. And then they are like a lemon ice cube then. I do a couple of those – presentation is all Ruth.

“Fresh mint – and there you go. Limoncello Spritz. Cheers, everyone.” Ruth’s summer cocktail was quickly showered with countless comments on Instagram, with many fans eager to try the recipe for themselves.

One person wrote: “I LOVE Limoncello Ruth so deffo be trying this cheers.” Meanwhile, another person added: “Definitely going try, all supplies are bought,” as someone else said: “That looks delicious.”

Ruth Langsford spoke about her go-to summer cocktail on Instagram (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)

Ruth’s Limoncello Spritz ingredient list

As outlined in Ruth’s video tutorial, the star uses:

Limoncello
Schweppes soda water
Ice cubes
Prosecco
Frozen lemon slices
Mint leaves

Captioning the video, Ruth also added: “It’s light, refreshing and really easy to make. I don’t bother using strict measurements but try and follow the 3-2-1 rule… 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Limoncello, 1 part soda water.

“My top tip? Frozen lemon wedges. They keep your drink chilled without watering it down and add a lovely zingy twist!”