Author: bang7

Formula 2 driver Alex Dunne has deleted social media after the 19-year-old received some “really bad and quite upsetting” abuse after he crashed during the Monaco Grand Prix

The FIA have spoken out about online abuse(Image: HOCH ZWEI/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

The FIA have spoken out after a driver was forced to delete social media as a result of the abuse he received following a crash at the Monaco Grand Prix. Formula 2 driver Alex Dunne was sent some “really bad and quite upsetting” messages after he crashed in Monaco, causing an 11 car pile-up.

The 19-year-old, who is top of the driver standings, has since revealed that the abuse he received after the incident has prompted him to remove social media from his phone. “I got a lot of stuff after Monaco, normally I’m not someone who reads things and gets annoyed by them,” Dunne said.

“But, I think an hour after the race, I deleted social media off my phone because I’ve never received such bad messages in my life. A lot of the stuff I got was really, really bad and quite upsetting to be honest.”

And the FIA have now released a statement condemning the abuse, which reads: “On behalf of our Teams and Drivers, F1, F1, F3 and the FIA, through their United Against Online Abuse campaign, firmly condemn abuse and harassment of any form.

“We’ll continue to collectively act upon and report abuse to social media platforms. Whether you are a fan or a part of the motorsport world, we are all driven by passion. At the heart of it all, there are humans. We urge everyone to remain respectful towards the athletes and their teams.”

Dunne is not the only driver who has been targeted on social media this year, with former Alpine driver Jack Doohan forced to ask online trolls to “stop harassing my family” after a fabricated social media post from his father went viral.

“As you can see, the story circulating above is completely false,” Doohan said in response to the fake post. “It was fabricated… to portray me and my family in a negative light.

“They edited the original content to make it appear as though my father posted it, which is entirely untrue. Please stop harassing my family. I didn’t think it would get to this point.”

FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem also condemned the abuse of Doohan and his family, stating: “Motorsport is built on competition, passion, and commitment, and ever race drivers take to the track representing these values.

Formula 2 driver Alex Dunne recently deleted social media due to the abuse he was receiving(Image: Getty)

“The passion and excitement that we feel for our sport should unite us and never be twisted into abuse or hatred. I stand in full support of Yuki Tsunoda and Franco Colapinto, and I thank them for speaking out against the growing issue of online abuse in motorsport.

“No-one should be subjected to threats, hatred, or discrimination. There is no place for abuse or toxicity in our community. Through the united against online abuse campaign, we are taking decisive action – raising awareness, providing support, and driving change.

“We are committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of everyone in our sport, and together we can build a safer, more respectful environment for all.”

Lewis Hamilton has endured a tough start to life at Ferrari, with the British driver failing to finish on the podium in the first nine races of the 2025 F1 season

Lewis Hamilton has struggled heavily in his first season with Ferrari(Image: PA)

Ex-Formula One star Johnny Herbert has labelled Lewis Hamilton unreliable, cautioning Ferrari that the Brit’s current struggles echo Michael Schumacher’s unsuccessful racing comeback. The seven-time world champion joined F1’s most successful team amid much hype at the start of the 2025 season.

However, the initial excitement quickly faded as the races progressed, with Hamilton’s best finish to date being a fourth place at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The F1 legend was noticeably downcast after the Spanish Grand Prix, where he came in sixth on Sunday, describing it as the “worst race I’ve experienced, balance-wise.”

Being in the sport for nearly 19 years is an accomplishment in itself, but dominating for most of those years is another achievement altogether.

While he found it tough to compete with Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren in his final three years with Mercedes, it’s this year that some, notably Herbert, have started questioning whether Hamilton’s reign at the top of the sport has come to an end.

“It just looks like Lewis Hamilton is lost, really lost,” Herbert commented, speaking to InstantWithdrawalBettingSites. “I don’t know if the raw pace that he’s always had throughout his career is there anymore.

“I thought, with the pure racing skill Hamilton had, he’d be able to drive around any problems with the car but he seems stuck in a hole. It’s not nice to see. It’s not the first time we’ve seen it in the sport, though.”

Michael Schumacher failed to achieve any podiums or race wins when returning to F1 in 2010 with Mercedes(Image: Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

Herbert drew parallels between Hamilton’s current form and Schumacher’s post-comeback struggles, recalling how the German legend didn’t reach his previous heights after returning to the sport with Mercedes.

Herbert, who clinched three Grand Prix victories in his career, reflected on past champions’ comebacks, said: “Nigel Mansell won his championship in 1992, went to America in 1993, came back in 1994 and it didn’t work anymore for him.

“It happened with Michael Schumacher too, when he had his break and came back, then he wasn’t the same Schumacher as before. You’re always going to have your peak and an end of your peak. It’s not nice to see.

Lewis Hamilton has only finished ahead of Charles Leclerc once this season(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

“I know Charles Leclerc is not happy with the car either, but at least he’s getting podium finishes consistently. There have been a couple of poor decisions in Ferrari’s strategy and poor communication over the radio, Hamilton doesn’t have the synergy with his engineer that he needs. He hasn’t found his comfort zone since the sprint win in China.”

Hamilton’s performances has been overshadowed by team-mate Leclerc, with Herbert pointing out that Ferrari can no longer rely on the Brit on the basis of what’s he done in the first nine races of the campaign.

“Sometimes you don’t realise when it’s not as easy as it was before, but when you look across the garage and your teammate is outperforming you, then it may click.

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has been told he can’t rely on the seven-time world champion(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

“The greats of the sport, at their peak, get the best out of their car. Max Verstappen is doing it right now. Hamilton just can’t seem to get the extra he needs anymore. He won’t understand why he can’t, because he’ll feel like he should be able to.

“But, Leclerc is outperforming you in the same car. Leclerc is only going to grow and is in control of Ferrari’s future. He’s the guy they can rely on, Ferrari can’t rely on Lewis Hamilton at this point. It’s horrible to say but it’s the truth.”

Christian Horner Set to Lose Power at Red Bull Racing: Rumors, Realities, and the Future of F1’s Most Successful Team Principal

In the world of Formula 1, few figures are as polarizing or as influential as Christian Horner, the long-serving Team Principal of Red Bull Racing. Yet, despite a reign marked by staggering success—including six Constructors’ Championships and guiding both Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen to multiple drivers’ titles—recent months have brought a swirl of speculation about Horner’s diminishing authority within the team and hints at a potential departure in the near future.

The Genesis of the Rumors

Reports first surfaced in the German and Dutch press, and have now found traction across Europe, with Italian news outlet FormulaPassion.it further fueling the fire. These sources suggest that the Thai owners of Red Bull—who hold a controlling 51% stake in the company—are actively seeking to curtail Horner’s previously wide-ranging powers at Red Bull Racing. According to the rumors, a schism has developed within the upper echelons of Red Bull, casting doubt on Horner’s future at the team he helped build from scratch.

At the heart of this unrest is Chalerm Yoovidhya, the reclusive Thai billionaire and majority shareholder, whose reported dissatisfaction is beginning to make waves. The allegations center on Horner’s declining ability to make unilateral team decisions without central approval—a significant departure from the autonomy he has historically enjoyed.

Off-Track Turmoil

Fueling this speculation are ongoing legal battles behind the scenes, relating to high-profile allegations of harassment and controlling behavior within the Red Bull Racing organization. Although an internal investigation cleared Horner—in a process managed by a law firm paid by Red Bull—questions about the impartiality and thoroughness of that inquiry have not dissipated. The continued push for further legal action, notably after a substantial (and reportedly rejected) settlement offer, has kept the saga in the headlines and the pressure firmly on Horner.

The optics of this legal maelstrom have done little to strengthen Horner’s position, especially in a corporate environment wary of reputational damage. In today’s Formula 1 landscape, where sponsorships and global partnerships underpin every major team’s finances, ongoing controversy is seldom tolerated for long.

Sporting Decisions and Internal Strife

Beyond legal troubles, recent F1 campaigns have also seen growing internal discord over key team decisions. The most visible example concerns Sergio Perez’s recent contract extension, a move reportedly championed by Horner but contested by Red Bull’s influential advisor Helmut Marko and CEO Oliver Mintzlaff. Critics within the organization believe that excessive loyalty to Perez may have cost the team both performance opportunities and millions in unnecessary salary payments, as alternatives in the Red Bull junior ecosystem went untested.

Furthermore, detractors accuse Horner of focusing the team’s efforts too narrowly on star driver Max Verstappen—a strategy that, while successful thus far, has come at the expense of cultivating a truly competitive second car and driver. Talents like Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, once hailed as future stars, struggled to adapt to a machine optimized around Verstappen’s feedback, subsequently dropping down the grid or out of the Red Bull fold entirely.

Shifting Power Structures

This context sets the stage for the reported reduction in Horner’s authority. Instead of enjoying the carte blanche decision-making that characterized previous seasons, Horner allegedly now finds himself hamstrung, obliged to seek approval from Red Bull’s central headquarters before making strategic moves.

German F1 journalist Ralf Bach and Dutch media sources have claimed that Horner could be preparing for a “forced farewell” from the team, with the end of his current contract in 2026 possibly arriving sooner than anticipated. While there is no official confirmation as yet, the mere fact that these reports are gaining traction points to anxiety at the very top of the Red Bull hierarchy.

What Comes Next for Red Bull Racing?

If Horner’s exit does materialize, Red Bull Racing would lose not just a team boss, but an architect of their competitive DNA. The British principal has been pivotal in recruiting technical visionaries like Adrian Newey, forging key sponsorship deals, and fostering an aggressive, winning culture. His potential departure would prompt a hunt for a successor capable of managing both the cut-throat world of F1 competition and the complex multinational corporate politics of Red Bull itself.

Possible successors could include Helmut Marko, though at 81 years old, he may not be a long-term solution. CEO Oliver Mintzlaff is another candidate, but he lacks Horner’s F1-specific expertise. Meanwhile, the focus on youth within the Red Bull driver program might extend to team management, with an as-yet-unknown figure being groomed for leadership.

For Verstappen, the potential instability could factor into the decision about his own future. The Dutchman has exit clauses in his contract, and rumors have regularly linked him to other teams, particularly Mercedes. The apparent overhaul at the top could thus have wider ramifications for Red Bull’s status as the leading team in F1.

Lessons and Legacies

Horner’s potential eclipse marks a dramatic chapter in Red Bull’s F1 journey. Should the rumors prove true, his story will serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power, the necessity of accountability, and the fickle nature of sporting dominance.

As Formula 1 barrels into a new era—one defined by sustainability initiatives, burgeoning American interest, and dramatic shifts in team and driver alliances—the future of Red Bull Racing, and indeed Christian Horner, hangs in the balance. Whether this is the end of an era, or merely the latest twist in a career defined by adversity and triumph, only time will tell.

For now, all eyes are on the paddock and Red Bull’s Salzburg and Milton Keynes headquarters, awaiting the next move in this unfolding drama—one that could alter the very fabric of modern F1.

Ferrari’s Struggles in 2025: A Deep Dive into the Prancing Horse’s Problems

The 2025 Formula 1 season is proving turbulent for Scuderia Ferrari. Despite Charles Leclerc’s recent podium appearances, cracks in the team’s performance are becoming increasingly difficult to paper over. With mounting rumors of technical upgrades and increasing frustration from both drivers and fans, the famous Prancing Horse is in dire need of direction. Let’s break down where Ferrari is going wrong, why their position in the championship standings is misleading, and what must change for the team to emerge as a championship contender in 2026.

Podiums Can’t Mask Performance Problems

From the outside, seeing Charles Leclerc step onto the podium might suggest Ferrari are turning things around. But that’s a superficial read, contradicted by consistent complaints from both Leclerc and his new teammate—seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton. Far from feeling buoyed, both drivers express deep dissatisfaction with the car’s pace, balance, and consistency.

Leclerc’s podium in Spain, for instance, felt more a result of other teams’ misfortunes and strategic calls than true race-winning pace. When the race weekends unfold, Ferrari’s competitive edge seems to fade, especially as unpredictable tire degradation, questionable strategy calls, and inconsistent car behavior rear their heads.

The Myth of Second Best

Ferrari currently sit second in the Constructors’ Championship, but this position flatters them. The points haul owes more to the relentless consistency and resilience of Leclerc and Hamilton than outright car speed. Notably, the duo have scored points at nearly every race—save for anomalies like the double disqualification in China—while rivals have lost ground to reliability issues or less consistent driver pairings.

Look past the points, however, and you’ll see that Ferrari’s raw performance frequently lags behind Red Bull, McLaren, and, on occasion, even the likes of Mercedes or Aston Martin. The improving Alpine and VCARB squads have at times shown shocking pace relative to Ferrari, illustrating just how thin Ferrari’s performance margin really is.

Technical Troubles and ‘The Upgrade Hope’

Rumors swirl of a reengineered rear suspension package set to debut in Canada or Silverstone. While such upgrades are necessary, history suggests they’re rarely silver bullets. Ferrari’s broader issues stem from an inconsistent aerodynamic platform, difficulty interpreting tire behavior, and a lack of adaptability between practice, qualifying, and race sessions.

Hamilton, throughout 2025, has struggled especially to extract maximum performance from the car. What’s most concerning is not just the absolute pace deficit, but how the car’s balance and grip seem to vanish unexpectedly between sessions. Hamilton’s FP1 and FP2 times have created optimism, only for race day to reveal a completely different—and much slower—beast.

Communication Breakdown

Beyond technical challenges, Ferrari’s issues are compounded by operational and communication shortcomings. Hamilton’s integration has been rocky, especially in his partnership with engineer Riccardo Adami. Whether through a language barrier or philosophical disconnect, Hamilton is not receiving the focused, tailored information he thrived on at Mercedes.

During the recent Monaco and Spanish GPs, this translated into strategy uncertainty—boxing early to avoid an undercut in the first stint, yet leaving him out too long in the second, costing track position and time to direct rivals. Worse still, Hamilton has often been left unclear on his race targets, lap deltas, or even position within the race—situations almost unimaginable during his stint with Peter Bonnington (“Bono”) at Mercedes.

2025: A Season at Crossroads

With so many issues evident, is it even wise for Ferrari to keep focusing on 2025? A growing chorus within the F1 world—and among Ferrari’s own fans—argues that the team should already shift resources to 2026, when a wholly new ruleset provides a clean slate.

The logic is brutal but compelling: the 2025 car isn’t winning a championship. Even if Ferrari fix their worst reliability and communication issues, the fundamental concept lags behind the best. By contrast, 2026 opens a new technological arms race—on engine design, chassis, and aero regulations—giving Ferrari a chance to start afresh and build a genuine contender for Leclerc and Hamilton.

The Drivers—Warriors Without Weapons

Both Leclerc and Hamilton deserve admiration for their relentless efforts. Leclerc’s relentless optimism and tenacity continue to deliver results that flatter the car’s true ability. Hamilton, though yet to score the podium that would take him to a record-extending 300, has eked out every possible point despite misfortune, poor strategy, and the aforementioned communication mishaps.

It’s no exaggeration to say that these drivers mask the car’s true deficiencies—second place in the Constructors’ is due more to their skill and consistency than any engineering magic from Maranello.

Missed Opportunities and the Strategic Conundrum

Ferrari’s 2024 campaign saw them fall narrowly short in both drivers’ and teams’ championships, thanks in large part to a remarkable second-half turnaround. Many hoped this momentum would continue into 2025. Instead, Ferrari have regressed: operational errors, strategy blunders, and missed upgrades have led to a stagnation that’s hard to accept for such an illustrious marque.

Compare this to McLaren, whose iterative upgrades and rapid learning have vaulted them into regular race victory contention, exploiting Ferrari’s errors and inertia.

What Comes Next?

For Ferrari, the question is not whether they can win races in 2025, but how quickly they can pivot their vast resources, human capital, and technical talent towards ’26. Fred Vasseur and the entire Maranello team must recognize that salvaging a lackluster campaign is less important than ensuring they are ready to attack the new regulations with an entirely new philosophy and design.

In doing so, they must resolve internal communication issues—especially for Hamilton—build a cohesive, culturally united team, and give their drivers the clarity and confidence they need on race day. Above all, the Prancing Horse must recapture its fighting spirit; only then can a new championship era begin.

Until then, Ferrari fans must be patient—and hope that the lessons of 2025 sow the seeds for glory in 2026.

To live out your dream is the ultimate goal. Even for the few who achieve it, however, the dream sometimes doesn’t last long enough.

Paul Di Resta knows this first hand. The Scot took the conventional racing route through karting, stepping up through Formula Renault, Formula Three, and DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) with Mercedes.

Then came the breakthrough as he found a place within the McLaren testing team and, ultimately, Force India at Formula One level in 2010. Di Resta seemingly had everything he could have asked for.

He took part in testing for that first season, then signed a deal to become a main driver in 2011, securing points in his debut race at the Australian Grand Prix and picking up points in several more races that season. Life was good.

After two more consistent if not spectacular seasons, including a fourth-placed finish in Bahrain, Di Resta received the news that Force India would not be retaining him for the 2014 season.

The dream had come to an abrupt end.

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Paul Di Resta rose through the ranks of motorsport and raced in F1 between 2010-2013

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These days Di Resta spends his weekends racing in the FIA’s World Endurance Championship

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Di Resta rates the World Endurance Championship circuit as the next best thing to Formula One

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Di Resta raced 59 times in Formula One with a best finish of fourth, which he managed twice

‘It’s all about opportunity, says a now 39-year-old Di Resta. ‘It depends if you can get there. There came a point where I became too old, people didn’t really look at you. You don’t want age to be a thing, but it is.

‘With F1, you have to be right time, right place. There was a lot of difficulty at the time when I finished, going through the financial crisis, F1 wasn’t in the shape it’s in at the moment with sponsorship and budgets overflowing.

‘I was there when it was absolutely critical that people supported it. There were times at some Grands Prix when some teams couldn’t pay for hotels and whatever.

‘So I probably hit it at the wrong time in that sense, that’s what stopped the journey. There’s the age thing, too, just getting a break. There’s other people who didn’t make it to Formula One who should have got there, and I keep saying that.

‘I fulfilled that dream but at some point you have to move on and there’s a life outside of that.’

When one door closes, another opens.

After returning to the DTM circuit and working for Sky Sports’ F1 coverage for several years, Di Resta found his way into endurance racing, first at the Le Mans 24-hour race with United Autosports before settling in the FIA’s World Endurance Championship from 2019 with Peugeot. He’s been ‘part of the furniture’ there ever since.

With victory in the 2020 LMP2, as well as consistent results over the course of his first season, Di Resta was ready to write the next chapter in his career.

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Di Resta crashes into the back of Romain Grosjean’s Lotus at the Italian Grand Prix in 2013

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The Scot insists he loved every minute of F1 but financially it was unrecognisable to now

‘Endurance racing, I believe, is the next best thing (after Formula One),’ says Di Resta.

‘It was the best thing in terms of my family structure. I have kids, so staying Europe based, because I had options in the US to do Indy Car, there was an element of safety there, too. So this is next thing to Formula One that people look at.

‘Obviously, I’d never focused on endurance racing, what with the F1 stuff. The DTM times, it was all individual, it was all about sprint racing.

‘It just came up in a conversation with (United Autosports co-owner) Zak Brown at Spa. We met each other in the paddock in August 2017, he asked if I’d be interested in doing Daytona 24. So we said let’s get it on, let’s speak about it.

‘From there, I joined United, went there and did that. Throughout that year, I did races with them, combined that a bit with DTM. It was nice to do a dual programme. At that point it was a bit more accepted. When I was you]nger, it wasn’t really accepted that you could be with one manufacturer and branch off to another manufacturer and do two championships.

‘I had firm Mercedes-Benz roots. They didn’t have any endurance racing so naturally you couldn’t do that.

‘With doing LMP2, which wasn’t manufacturer-tied, that’s how this started. Then, when that came to an end, hypercar started to get momentum behind it. So I signed here late 2020, and I’ve been part of the furniture since.’

Now into his sixth year with Peugeot, Di Resta is back driving at the top level in this type of racing.

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Di Resta spent time as a pundit for Sky Sports after his top-level racing days came to an end

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A young Di Resta on the podium with Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton in Formula 3 in 2005

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Di Resta spent the majority of his time in F1 with Force India, with one race for Williams in 2017

Successive ninth-placed finishes in Qatar and then Imola have given the Scot and his team the best start to the season they could have hoped for. Even if the man from Uphall in West Lothian believes the race is deserving of a more prestigious track.

‘The hypercar is the top class, the biggest thing you want to race in,’ he says. ‘Fortunately, I managed to get in. I was at a decent age. I’d had friends who had been part of the Peugeot programme back in the 908 days, which were hugely successful, so I knew they were serious about racing.

‘I think a French brand coming in to capitalise on Le Mans, which is the biggest goal of the season, that was part of what drove me to be here.

‘You’d like to finish off the journey. At the moment, the success hasn’t been where we’d like it to be for the effort that’s gone in. But there’s still time and dedication from every individual here.

‘Honestly, ninth in Qatar is the reality of where we’re at. I don’t think we’re better than that. Our competition has built a better, faster car and you’ve got to applaud them.

‘I honestly think the championship is way above this track (Imola). I don’t think it’s a place we should be coming — it’s too small. There’s bigger and better tracks out there on the calendar.

‘Of course, you can come here and enjoy the pasta, the pizza. But is it a world championship event for the likes of this? I don’t think so. There are bolder, bigger tracks; Silverstone, Monza.’

With racing blood in his veins, as a cousin of superstar drivers Dario and Marino Franchitti, Di Resta was always destined to find his way into the sport.

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Di Resta walks the grid with fellow Scot David Coulthard, himself an esteemed former F1 driver

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Di Resta’s cousin Dario Franchitti is an Indycar legend and three-time Indy 500 champion

As he lives out a new dream, he admits he could not have reached the heights he has achieved without the help, dedication and perseverance of his family.

‘Growing up in a motorsport family, it was just the norm,’ he admits.

‘I was surrounded by it, but I wasn’t asked the question if I wanted to do it, it was more when could I start?

‘Very quickly the sense was there that you could drive your way forward.

‘Watching what Dario had done, you could see how you could get to the top. The ambition was always strong.

‘I had a good family network around me. The family kind of make the journey more than anyone in sport for kids.

‘I think it’s easily forgotten that it’s a kid, but it’s the dedication of the family who put the time in, the sacrifice, that pays off.

‘You feel sorry for those that put that sacrifice in and don’t achieve it. I always say that the dream has to become the family’s before it can be the individual’s.’

In the case of Paul Di Resta, the dream continues.

After the Spanish Grand Prix, Formula 1 legend Lewis Hamilton flew back to the UK to meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at No.10 Downing Street this week

Lewis Hamilton speaking with Prime Minister Keir Starmer(Image: @lewishamilton/Instagram)

Lewis Hamilton has demanded a more inclusive education system in the UK after meeting with the Prime Minister. The Formula 1 icon visited No.10 Downing street this week for a meeting with Keir Starmer, along with a group of students, for discussion about education reform.

Representing his foundation Mission 44, which he founded in 2021, Ferrari driver Hamilton travelled to London days after finishing sixth at the Spanish Grand Prix. On Wednesday, he took part in a roundtable discussion with Starmer and education secretary Bridget Phillipson.

Seven-time F1 champion Hamilton has, for many years, used his platform as one of Britain’s most prominent sporting heroes to champion equality and diversity in all aspects of life. And he spoke of his own experience with the UK education system as he advocated for greater support for students from underprivileged backgrounds.

He posted several photos of himself and the students visiting Downing Street and speaking to the Prime Minister on social media, and wrote: “The future of education must be inclusive.

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“Today, myself, Mission 44, our partners and some incredible students met with the UK Prime Minister for an important discussion on how we can make sure all young people are supported to succeed in school, regardless of their background.

“I struggled in school and never felt like my voice was heard, so I know first-hand that ensuring every student feels they belong in school is vital.”

Hamilton went on to add that the meeting was a success and saw Starmer’s Government “commit to working with Mission 44 to enact change focused on making the education system more inclusive”.

In the discussion, which took place at the Cabinet table inside No.10, the Prime Minister said: “I want to thank Lewis – this was his idea, this is his legacy. He’s inspired generations and is now using that influence on this project and is designed to make a real difference in the lives of young people across the country.

“We need to acknowledge we’re in a really challenging time for young people. A lot of children left school at the beginning of the Covid pandemic and haven’t gone back to school. The achievement gap between the richest and poorest is back to levels we haven’t seen since 2011. That’s shocking, because I like to think we’re a country that always moves forwards, always taking a step in the right direction.

“When things start going backwards we know we have a real problem. That’s why I’m really pleased we’re going to publish a best practice framework – to encourage students to enjoy learning, achieve their potential, and have confidence.”

Michael Schumacher hasn’t been seen in public since suffering a severe brain injury during a skiing accident in December 2013, despite Formula 1 fans hoping to hear from their idol

Michael Schumacher is guarded from the public eye by his loving wife, Corrina(Image: Getty Images)

Formula 1 fans have been told that they won’t hear from legendary driver Michael Schumacher ever again. The German, 56, continues to receive round-the-clock care from a team of dedicated medical staff and his loving wife, Corinna, after a tragic skiing accident in December 2013.

Schumacher won seven world titles to become arguably the most iconic name and face in F1. But he’s been hidden from the public eye ever since he suffered a severe brain injury after hitting his head on a rock in the French Alps.

Doctors placed him into an induced coma which lasted for 250 days before Schumacher was later allowed to return to home and continue to his treatment. His family have fought fiercely to protect his privacy, with Schumacher completely reliant on caregivers.

Updates have been scarce but it’s been said that the stricken racer can now no longer speak. F1 fans have held out hope for 11-and-a-half years that they’ll catch another glimpse of Schumacher, who remains tied for Drivers’ Championships with Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari’s current icon.

But in a new interview, those hopes have been dampened. Craig Scarborough, who’s covered the sport for around 25 years and interviewed Schumacher multiple times, recently spoke to the Sun and revealed details of his condition.

“I spoke to someone who is very, very close to him and they just explained we’re not going to hear any more from him,” Scarborough explained. “He’s in a comfortable position as far as he can be with his state of health.”

Fans will be glad to hear that Schumacher, who recently became a grandparent after his daughter, Gina, gave birth, is doing the best he can in the horrific circumstances. But even those who knew him well prefer not to think of him in his current state.

Flavio Briatore, Schumacher’s former manager at Benetton and now the de facto boss of Alpine, told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera this week: “If I close my eyes. I see him smiling after a victory. I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed.”

Michael Schumacher has two children with wife Corinna; son Mick and daughter Gina(Image: Formula 1 / Netflix)

Briatore’s comments add to those made by Schumacher’s ex-wife, Elisabetta Gregoraci, in 2020, as she revealed: “Michael doesn’t speak; he communicates with his eyes. Only three people can visit him, and I know who they are.”

Former Ferrari chief Jean Todt is understood to be one of those three outside of the family, saying in 2022: “I can see him but of course, what I miss is what we used to do together. I watch Grands Prix with Michael.”

Schumacher’s 26-year-old son, Mick, raced in Formula 1 for Haas in 2021 and 2022. Scarborough believes that spending time with Mick is vital for Michael and respects his family’s stance on privacy.

“I think a lot of people demand stuff from him and I think that’s wrong,” Scarborough added. “He is himself, and his family have a lot to contend with. Until you’ve cared for somebody, I don’t think anyone realises the emotion and the physical workload.

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“The fact that they have been bold enough to withdraw from public life and not be tempted to do exclusives out there to various people, I think, is noble, and I hope that continues. I hope they can find happiness in the situation they find themselves in.”

The journalist went on to say: “He was a guy who enjoyed his personal time. He loved his family. He did lots of lovely things. He clearly liked a drink and he loved a big cigar. But he had lots of time to bring up his son.”

Corinna, who married Schumacher in 1995, opened up on his condition during a 2021 Netflix documentary. “We’re together,” she said. “We live together at home.

“We do therapy. We’re trying to carry on as a family. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable. And to simply make him feel our family, our bond.

“And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will. We’re trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does.”

As it has been reported that Freddy Brazier is living with his grandmother Jackiey Budden, a source has revealed the real reason for the alleged family feud as dad Jeff is ‘livid’.

A source has revealed the real reason for the alleged family feud between Freddy Brazier and his dad Jeff(Image: BBC)

Freddy Brazier is said to have felt as though he’s ‘fallen into the background’ of his actor brother Bobby’s success, says a source.

The aspiring model is thought to have been living with his grandmother, Jackeiy, over the last week before he revealed he was checking himself into a rehab centre on Friday.

Freddy was pictured with her maternal grandmother amid reports of a rift between the 20-year-old and his dad Jeff, with Freddy allegedly smoking a joint during the outing. And revealing that the relationship has left Jeff ‘livid’, a source told Mirror, “Jeff is livid over the whole thing. He feels that he has brought the kids up single-handedly and Jackiey is a bad influence. Drugs are not something Jeff wants the boys around and he’s not happy with the whole situation.”

Jeff has had a long-standing feud with Jade’s mum. Previously he said that during his sons’ childhoods, Jackiey would spoil them with “unsuitable” gifts, claiming she once bought Freddy a hamster without checking with him, and supplied the boys with mobile phones during a visit. “I just wish we could work together a little better,” he said in 2012.

Despite a seemingly close family bond, Freddy is thought to have been spending more time away from his dad and brother(Image: Instagram/jeffbrazier)

However, the relationship later broke down completely and Jackiey didn’t see her grandsons for a period of time, before regular visits began again. “As she settled in herself, the boys kept a lot of contact with her and at the moment she’s very helpful and very prominent in their lives,” said Jeff in 2014.

Revealing the alleged reason for Freddy’s increased time with Jackiey, the source says that his brother Bobby’s soaring success on TV hasn’t been easy.

“It’s difficult for Bobby and for Freddy as brothers, especially considering Bobby’s success in recent years with Strictly and EastEnders – Freddy feels like he’s fallen into the background.

“It’s a case of him rebelling against it all. But they are really close as siblings and Bobby wants more than anything for his brother to come home and for the family to be back together again. He hates seeing his dad so anxious.”

The source claims that Freddy feels ‘in the background’ of his brother Bobby’s success(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Percival)

While Bobby has carved out a successful TV career, Freddy’s profile is also on the rise. He describes himself as a “model and TV personality” and appeared on Celebrity Race Across The World alongside Jeff.

Last Friday, days after he was spotted smoking what appeared to be a joint with Jackiey, Freddy revealed he was checking into rehab. He wrote in his Instagram Stories that he was going to be “cutting down” as he headed to a rehab centre in Marbella.

“I’ve been smoking from the age of 12 and it’s time to stop,” he wrote. “It was a bad coping mechanism that turned into an addiction – something I relied on and something that made me feel sane and somewhat OK.“

Continuing that he had found a rehab centre where he could heal, Freddy added, “I want to be clean so I can live life happily and have healthy relationships with people and be there for all of my family rather than feeling like I’m in the middle and have to choose a side. I haven’t been able to feel love properly as I have never loved myself and it starts now. I want to play football and take up boxing. I want to be happy and be in a healthy relationship and have a healthy relationship with my Nana and my father.”

Nick Knowles first met his new wife Katie Dadzie back in 2019 and the pair have now made it official and tied the knot

Nick Knowles has married his fiancée 27-years his junior in a romantic six-figure ceremony today. The DIY SOS star has tied the knot to Katie Dadzie after more than four years together.

34-year-old Katie and 62-year-old Nick first met back in 2019 before making their relationship official two years later in 2021. The pair certainly haven’t gone without when it’s come to their special day as it was reported that the event has cost six-figures.

Nick looked suave in a light pink tuxedo jacket which he paired with black trousers and a matching black bow tie. He finished his look with a purple flower in his lapel.

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Meanwhile, Katie stunned guests as she wore a non-traditional wedding gown. Instead of the usual all-white dress, she instead opted to go for white with blue flower details.

She had her hair tied up in a bun and went for full glam wedding makeup. She then accessorised her look with a sparkly statement necklace and a long veil.

Katie looked stunning in her white and blue gown (
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Nick and Katie first crossed paths in 2019 when Katie’s daughters became friends with Nick’s youngest son Eddie, 9, at a play centre. Katie is a lingerie and sex toy business owner and also owns another company, Boobbix which sells ‘lactation products for breastfeeding mums’.

Nick got down on one knee two years ago when the pair were in New Orleans together. Since then, Katie has celebrated her last time being single as she headed out on on a hen-do with her nearest and dearest soon before the big day.

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Katie, who is also a proud mum-of-two, had to defend the significant age gap between her and Nick. However, she isn’t the first younger woman that the star has been associated with.

In 2019, Nick was seen getting close to 26-year-old PR executive Emily Hallinan as they enjoyed a date with each other to a West End show. The year previous saw the TV star in a relationship with marketing executive Rebecca Kearns who is also reportedly over 30 years younger than him.

Nick tied the knot with Katie (
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After he split up from Rebecca, Nick was photographed getting cosy with Emmerdale’s Gemma Oaten following an evening at the TV Choice Awards in September 2016.

However, the photos led to their split, with Gemma talking about the situation, saying: “One Sunday morning we were lying in bed and all these texts came through about us being photographed together. In an instant he completely changed. It was all about him and how it was going to affect his family. It was really cruel as he said it didn’t matter for me. I felt sick.”

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She added: “I said, ‘Do you want to throw away what we have? We have done nothing wrong’. But he just dropped me like a ton of bricks. I thought it was a real relationship and he wasn’t afraid to let others know.”

Love Island host Maya Jama teased the first bombshell to descend on the villa, hopefully causing lots of drama for fans of the show – and for the first time ever, an American contestant joins the cast

First Love Island bombshell ‘revealed’ as Vegas pool party waitress(Image: Linkedin)

Love Island’s first bombshell has been revealed as a stunning Las Vegas pool party waitress. Antonia Laites, 24, looks after the VIP cabana huts at the swanky Fontainebleau Resort in the gambling mecca.

Brunette Toni is the first American bombshell to take part in the reality dating show, which kicks off on ITV2 on Monday (June 9). She will join the other islanders as a bombshell – a role usually reserved for the best-looking contestants.

Antonia, who is from Connecticut, has also worked in Miami as a pool server, while attending Florida Atlantic University to study Public Management. She moved to Vegas and has worked in Sin City since February last year, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Super-keen Toni says she’s ready to have a baby with someone, revealing what she’s looking for in a man. Before entering the villa, she said: “Someone that can make me laugh – I’m super outgoing. And someone that’s quite active. Maybe one day we could start our own family together.”

Antonia looks after the VIP cabanas at swanky Vegas resort Fontainebleau(Image: Linkedin)

But after living in three different states, she’s given up on dating in the US, branding it a “mess” – and instead has set her sights on a British guy. She said: “It’s time to try something new! I have some British friends and they’re pretty charming. I think all Americans love a good accent. British men are just more polite, with better manners.” Let’s see what she says after a few weeks in the villa…

And while she’s looking for a British Bradley Cooper lookalike, Toni says her biggest turn offs are “bad hygiene. Bad breath. Not getting hair cuts. If we’re going on a date and you’re not dressed for the occasion… then that’s a bit of an ick!”

The hospitality professional went into the villa on day one, meaning she’s likely to have been ruffling feathers since the get-go. Maya Jama teased Antonia’s appearance on the show with a voice note she played, which was posted on the official Love Island Instagram.

The video was captioned: “A voice note from the first Bombshell? I’m listening.” Maya could be heard at the start of the clip dropping one of the show’s signature lines: “Oh, I’ve got a text! I’ve been expecting this one.”

The TV personality heard an American voice say: “Hey Maya, I heard you want more twists. How about an American bombshell? Get ready, I’m on my way.”

Although the voice note didn’t give the name of the sender, it did confirm that Love Island UK will be welcoming their first ever US islander. Maya ended the teaser, adding: “Alright, there’s the sweet, sweet sounds of an American.”

Creative director of Love Island, ITV’s Mike Spencer-Hayter, previously revealed how the Love Island bombshells are usually cast. He told The Sun: “Do you know what I always say, the cast get released and then the ex’s come forward. And that’s how you get the bombshells.

“They will have to go through the process, but we have already a pool of really really good bombshells lined up. There’s some people in that mix that are really under the radar as well.

“The casting team have been working for quite a while now. Gone to lots of different events and been out and about looking for people and I think they’ve done a brilliant job. We always have those killer bombshells to come in.”

Islanders will spend the summer in the villa to try and bag the £50k prize – and maybe find true love on the side(Image: ITV)

Meanwhile, the rest of the Love Island cast has been confirmed, with the usual array of models, personal trainers and actors, all looking for love (and brand deals). Maya returns as host for the twelfth season, with more drama than ever promised by producers.

Director Mike confirmed that viewers can expect a big surprise in week one. With fans’ speculating about what’s in store, he said it’s not going to be another reality star or celeb, like Joey Essex.

The ITV boss gave more clues, confirming “no former Love Islanders are coming in this year”. While fans are kept guessing, he promises to “keep it exciting”, adding that producers are set to “tear up the rule book a bit.”