Author: quyen1

Boxing legend Mike Tyson has had a fascinating blend of contrasting experiences throughout his life. From visiting friends of yesteryears in prison cells to rubbing shoulders with celebrities, ‘Iron Mike’ has navigated through various social circles. Know for his larger-than-life personality, Tyson’s impact extends beyond the ring. Regularly rubbing shoulders with celebrities, he has had encounters with icons from various industries. One such iconic meeting that has recently caught the attention of fans is his encounter with the late singer Rick James.

Like Tyson, James was also a pioneer of his craft. With his distinctive voice and a catalog of hits, the late musician gained widespread recognition and influenced generations of artists. Notably, his collaboration with MC Hammer on “U Can’t Touch This” revitalized his career, bringing him back into the limelight. His other musical hits are songs like “Super Freak”, “Give It To Me Baby”, and “Cold Blooded” among many other chart-toppers.

In his book, The Undisputed Truth, Tyson describes the first time he met the singer. He revealed he met the singer at a lively party thrown for a newly released movie, held in a crowded club filled with thousands of people. At the time, Tyson had no prior knowledge of the singer’s background, leaving him uncertain about the nature of his fame. He found himself contemplating whether James was a celebrity, a musician, or even a gangster. The intrigue surrounding James compelled the former champion to approach and engage with him, leading to an unexpected connection between the two larger-than-life personalities.

Moreover, this connection would lead the two to develop a friendship that lasted until the musician’s death in 2004.

A captivating moment in time: Fans reflect on the iconic photo of Mike Tyson and Rick James

A recently resurfaced picture of the two has bought back memories for fans who saw the two together during the 90s. In addition, they have expressed their captivation with the encounter between two larger-than-life personalities.

Max Verstappen followed up his season-opening victory in Bahrain by posting the fastest time in first practice for this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Despite the continued controversy surrounding Verstappen, Christian Horner and the Red Bull team, the Dutch driver saw off Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso by 0.186 seconds in the opening running at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

Sergio Perez finished third in the other Red Bull, with George Russell fourth. His Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton finished ninth.

Verstappen opened up his championship defence with an emphatic victory in Bahrain last weekend.

Following the win, Verstappen’s father, Jos, claimed Red Bull could “explode” if Horner, who was cleared of “inappropriate behaviour” remains in his role.

It emerged here as practice got under way that Horner’s accuser has been suspended on full pay. Horner was exonerated last week and has always denied the claims.

However, Verstappen was able to put Red Bull’s off-track troubles to one side with an impressive display which will see him head into the weekend as the firm favourite to land yet another win.

Mercedes said an engine cooling problem contributed to their underwhelming display in Bahrain with Russell and Hamilton finishing fifth and seventh respectively.

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Christian Horner (left) speaks to Max Verstappen before practice in Saudi Arabia (Darko Bandic/AP)

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Russell finished 0.280 sec behind Verstappen with Hamilton, 0.577 sec back.

The seven-time world champion’s future team Ferrari took fifth and sixth, with Charles Leclerc heading Carlos Sainz. Lando Norris was seventh for McLaren.

Horner is due to speak in a scheduled FIA press conference at 6:30 pm local time (3:30pm GMT) before the day’s concluding session begins at 8pm (5pm GMT).

Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team were fined nearly £13,000 – and the British driver was slapped with a warning – following a near “serious high-speed crash” in practice for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Williams driver Logan Sargeant was forced to take evasive action to avoid hitting the back of Hamilton’s slow-moving Mercedes.

Formula One’s stewards said Mercedes should have informed Hamilton that Sargeant was approaching him on a quick lap. The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is the fastest street track on the F1 calendar.

Carlos Sainz, who Hamilton will replace at Ferrari next year and who witnessed the incident, said over the radio: “What Hamilton did there is super dangerous.

“He was in the middle (of the track). He could have got out of the way. Sargeant nearly crashed because of him.”

Hamilton, who finished eighth in practice, six places behind team-mate George Russell – and 0.677 seconds adrift of fastest driver Fernando Alonso – was summoned to see the stewards.

A report from the governing FIA read: “The stewards heard from the driver of Car 44 (Lewis Hamilton), the driver of Car 2 (Logan Sargeant), team representatives and reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, team radio and in-car video evidence and determine that Car 44 impeded Car 2 at Turn 11.

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Lewis Hamilton finished eighth in second practice on Thursday (Darko Bandic/AP)

“As a result, Car 2 had to take evasive action by going off the track to avoid a collision. Had that not been done, there would have been a serious, high-speed crash.

“Having listened to the team radio, it was clear to us that the team of Car 44 failed to warn their driver of the fact that Car 2 was arriving on a fast lap. That was a serious failure on the part of the team, particularly given the speeds on this circuit and the nature of Turn 11, which is at the end of a series of high speed corners where driver visibility is impaired.

“We therefore issue a warning to the driver and impose a fine of 15,000 euros (£12,818) to the team.”

Max Verstappen hailed the “incredible” Ferrari stand-in Ollie Bearman after the British teenager qualified 11th for his shock Formula One debut in Saudi Arabia.

Bearman, 18 years, 10 months and one day when the lights go out for Saturday’s 50-lap race in Jeddah, was thrown into the deep end following a dramatic late call-up for Carlos Sainz, who was hospitalised with appendicitis.

But the Essex teenager – with just one hour of practice under his belt, and having never driven an F1 machine at night – came within 0.036 seconds of toppling Lewis Hamilton and progressing to the final phase of qualifying.

Verstappen put Red Bull’s continued off-track woes to one side by taking pole position, with Charles Leclerc second, three tenths back, and Sergio Perez third. Hamilton qualified eighth.

But Bearman, who will become the third youngest driver to start an F1 race, stole the show. And Verstappen, 17 when he made his debut nine years ago, led the tributes.

“What Ollie has done has been very, very impressive,” said Verstappen.

“I watched his first few laps in practice, because that is where you can judge if someone is comfortable in the car, and by lap two or three I thought ‘that is a strong start’, and to be 11th, and only six tenths off pole at the time, is more than you could have asked for. He has done an incredible job.”

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Lewis Hamilton was impressed by his compatriot (Darko Bandic/AP)

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Hamilton heaped further praise on his countryman, saying: “He did such a great job. To jump in and deliver like he has? Mega, mega, job.

“I am really impressed and it just shows what a talent he is. It will be a massive challenge for him tomorrow but he looks in great shape.”

Probably to Christian Horner’s relief, all eyes were off Red Bull and on Ferrari as Bearman followed in the footsteps of Britain’s first F1 champion Mike Hawthorn and John Surtees – the only man to win a world title on two and four wheels – when he rolled out of the Italian team’s garage.

He will be the 12th British driver to race for Ferrari – and the first Englishman since Nigel Mansell in 1990.

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Max Verstappen, centre, was quickest in qualifying (Darko Bandic/AP)

Bearman was just 18 months old when Hamilton made his debut in 2007, and he was not even born when Fernando Alonso entered his first F1 race.

But in Jeddah on Friday, Bearman took to the same track as the men who share nine world championships between them. And, remarkably, he came within a hair’s breadth of beating Hamilton.

Forced to abort his first run in Q2, Bearman returned to the fastest street circuit on the calendar and hauled his Ferrari into 11th. He needed to be 10th to make it into Q3.

With the clock ticking down, Bearman geared up for his final run, and rode his Ferrari on rails in a valiant attempt to force his way through. His father David, the millionaire founder and chief executive of an insurance company, was living every minute of his son’s adventure at the back of the Ferrari garage.

Hamilton, failing to improve, afforded Bearman a chance to beat him, only to come up agonisingly short. Berman finished less than six tenths behind Leclerc in the other scarlet machine.

“That was a messy session,” said a critical Bearman over the radio. “Sorry about that.”

But when he faced the media, his smile lit up the night sky.

“I didn’t have time to get nervous or to overthink it,” he said. “I was focused on what to do and didn’t have time to think about the gravity of the situation and that was probably a good thing.

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Ollie Bearman during qualifying (Darko Bandic/AP)

“On Monday, I will feel it and I will be quite proud. I am sure when I step back, I will pinch myself.

“My phone is going crazy but I will have a look at it tonight.”

Following four victories in his rookie Formula Two season – the feeder series to F1 – Bearman was thrust into the spotlight in Mexico City last October, eclipsing Lando Norris as the sport’s youngest Briton to take part in a practice session, when he drove for Haas.

He was handed a second practice run-out in Abu Dhabi a month later. On Saturday, he will surpass Norris – who was 19 years, four months and four days when he made his debut in Australia in 2019 – as the youngest British driver to start a Grand Prix.

“The stars have aligned,” added Bearman. “It has been such a quick progression in my career.

“Three years ago I was still in Formula Four and I only did my first F1 test in October so it has been a really quick progression and to make my F1 debut in red is special. Hopefully it is a sign of things to come.

“There is a lot of analysis to go through tonight – things like starts and pit-stop procedures that I have not had time to work on – so it will be a busy evening but hopefully I will get eight hours of sleep in.”

Max Verstappen has cast further doubt over his Red Bull future after suggesting that he will quit Formula One’s dominant team if motorsport adviser Helmut Marko is forced out.

The PA news agency understands 80-year-old Austrian Marko, an instrumental figure in Verstappen’s career, faces a Red Bull investigation following the probe into claims of “inappropriate behaviour” against Christian Horner.

Horner’s female accuser was suspended earlier this week as a direct result of Red Bull’s inquiry which exonerated the 50-year-old team principal.

My loyalty to him is very big, and I have always expressed this to everyone within the team, everyone high up, that he is an important part in my decision-making for the future

Max Verstappen on Helmut Marko

Marko is employed by the F1 team’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH. Asked if he could be suspended following Saturday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he told Austrian broadcaster ORF: “Ultimately, I’ll decide for myself what I do. The theoretical possibility always exists.”

PA has approached Red Bull Racing for comment.

Red Bull’s three-time reigning world champion Verstappen, speaking after qualifying on pole for Saturday’s race in Jeddah, said: “I have a lot of respect for Helmut, and what we have achieved together.

“It goes very far. My loyalty to him is very big, and I have always expressed this to everyone within the team, everyone high up, that he is an important part in my decision-making for the future.

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Red Bull Racing consultant Helmut Marko (left) with team principle Christian Horner (David Davies/PA)

“It is very important that he stays. I feel like if such an important pillar falls away, and I have told the team this, that it is not good for my situation as well.

“Helmut built this team together with (Red Bull’s late owner and founder) Dietrich (Mateschitz) from day one, and he’s always been very loyal to the team.

“It is very important that you give the man a lot of respect for what he has done, and that comes back to loyalty and integrity, so it is important that he stays.”

Verstappen did not mention Horner’s name as he defended Marko.

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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen is under contract until 2028 (Darko Bandic/AP)

Horner, team principal at Red Bull since 2005, said on Thursday he is certain Verstappen will see out his long-term contract with Red Bull, despite the ongoing controversy.

Verstappen’s father, Jos, claimed Red Bull will “explode” if Horner remained in his role.

Verstappen, whose deal runs until 2028, has been linked with a move to Mercedes to replace Lewis Hamilton next season. Hamilton said earlier this week that the 26-year-old Dutchman is on Mercedes’ “list”.

Lewis Hamilton raised more than a few eyebrows after he trotted out to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Drivers’ Parade alongside Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Oliver Bearman.

The seven-time world champion completed a sensational switch to the Italian manufacturer ahead of the season that will see him don the famous red of the prancing horse from the 2025 campaign.

This had some onlookers wondering how the dynamics within his current team Mercedes would be affected, and some fans now believe the 39-year-old has already mentally moved on from the outfit.

‘[Lewis Hamilton] hanging out with the Ferrari guys.’ One fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter. ‘Mentally, I think he may have already moved teams!’

Another wrote: ‘Oh absolutely, by the time he moves he would have all things in place in his side of garage.’

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Lewis Hamilton caught the attention of F1 fans when he walked out to the Saudi Arabian Drivers’ Parade alongside Ferrari’s duo

Some supporters were convinced that the seven-time world champions has already distanced himself from current team Mercedes

‘Definitely trying to give the appearance of distancing himself from Merc, can’t blame him really, given what Toto’s apparently been saying!’ A third wrote.

Hamilton’s decision to join the Ferrari duo was also theorised by some to be an attempt to show support for the deputising Bearman.

The 18-year-old made his bow in the sport for Ferrari, replacing Carlos Sainz, who has been absent from the weekend with appendicitis.

The Essex-born teen started from 11th on the grid after narrowly missing out on a spot in the third and final round of qualifying on Friday but will be targeting a points finish in one of the best cars on the grid.

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Oliver Bearman was all smiles as he arrived for the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix in Jeddah

However, others thought the 39-year-old was simply trying to support his fellow British driver, who is in this weekend for Carlos Sainz

‘Perhaps he is just giving moral support to Ollie.’ Pondered one user on X. ‘Lewis is great like that, always supporting others.’

Another said: ‘Love that he’s chatting to Ollie and I hope – giving support and encouragement.’

He could have been any gangly teenager with A-Levels to sit, 6ft 2in and still growing, yet to fill his long frame.

But 18-year-old Oliver Bearman from Essex sat the examination of his life in the presence of millionaire superstars after being thrust in last-minute to compete in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

And how he passed with flying colours. He beat Lewis Hamilton, finishing seventh to the motor racing legend’s ninth. And to think Bearman was just 18 months old when Lewis won the first of his world titles, for McLaren back in 2008.

 

No wonder Damon Hill, world champion in 1996, declared: ‘A star is born.’

Hamilton magnanimously helped Ollie – the abbreviation by which the teenager prefers to be known – out of his Ferrari cockpit to offer his congratulations afterwards. ‘I was so tired, so many Gs, like 50 qualifying laps,’ said Bearman, turning to watch a rerun of the race on the big screens by the media pen.

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Max Verstappen took a dominant victory at the Saudi Arabian GP to continue his perfect start to the season, with Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc also finishing on the podium

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Oliver Bearman took points on his Formula One debut as he finished in seventh place for Ferrari

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Bearman did a brilliant job as he stepped in for Carlos Sainz who had surgery for appendicitis

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Bearman shares a hug with his father, David, in the paddock after the conclusion of the race

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Geri Halliwell was again by her husband Christian Horner’s side for the podium ceremony in Jeddah

As if he needed an extra fillip, he also beat McLaren’s eighth-placed Lando Norris, another Brit of immense talent.

Bearman, a member of the Ferrari Academy, who left his native Chelmsford and King Edward VI Grammar School for a different kind of education at the Scuderia’s HQ in Maranello aged 16, was never going to win yesterday, of course, or anything like it, for two reasons.

First, because Max Verstappen and Red Bull are the deadeye combination. The triple world champion was duly victorious, claiming his 19th win in 20 races across this young season and last, with team-mate Sergio Perez runner-up and Bearman’s Ferrari senior, Charles Leclerc, third.

Secondly, and we record this to Bearman’s glory, because he had only twice taken part in Formula One practice sessions prior to this weekend. He had never driven an F1 car under lights and only knew he was in the hot seat when Carlos Sainz went down with appendicitis on Friday.

That was just before qualifying, where Bearman claimed 11th place on the grid. ‘No time for nerves,’ he reflected, wearing a broad smile that refused to leave his face for 24 hours.

So he ditched his Formula Two duties, in which had claimed pole prior to his promotion, and there he suddenly was in the most recognisable car on earth. The red machine of Ascari, Lauda, Prost and Schumacher. Heir to a myth written into the fabric of Italy.

He stood on the grid, a giant next to RB’s tiny Yuki Tsunoda, as the Saudi national anthem played. Mercedes’ George Russell gave him a friendly tap on the back as the line-up dispersed, perhaps remembering what emotions churned through his own mind when he made his debut in 2019. That, though, was in a lowly Williams and after a probation period of natural duration.

For all the expectation, Bearman was at least displaying an outwardly relaxed countenance as he closed in on the biggest moment of his life.

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Verstappen led away at the start while Perez battled with the Ferrari of Leclerc for second

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Lance Stroll was in ninth place when he crashed out of the race during the early laps

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Hamilton stayed out after the subsequent safety car but was overtaken by a number of drivers including his team-mate next season Leclerc

His father, David, watched on inscrutably from the Ferrari garage, his headphones on, his arms folded, his eyes glued to the screen.

Bearman’s getaway was not the most agile but he managed to hang on to his place with a detour off track at the first corner. He was soon side-by-side with Tsunoda again, looking to pass him on the left and the right.

On the softest and supposedly fastest, he had to press his claims right there and then. And you can imagine what adrenaline was doing to his senses. Still, though, he couldn’t find a way to force his way through the RB car in front of him.

A little chivvying came from the Ferrari pit wall. ‘Doing well,’ he was told. ‘We are faster than the cars in front.’

The action took a twist when Lance Stroll pranged his Aston Martin into the barriers on lap seven. ‘Hit the wall,’ he told his team. ‘Can you bring it back, Lance?’ they inquired. To which the rejoinder came: ‘No, I am in the f***ing wall.’ Badinage over, the Canadian walked awy fine.

A safety car was sent out as the debris was cleared. At this point, Bearman pitted to go on to hard rubber.

A nice move by our boy wonder up the inside of the first corner soon took him beyond Tsunoda before he zoomed past Zhou Guanyu’s Stake – the old Alfa Romeo/Sauber team before its absurd rebranding. He was now in 10th and in the points.

Norris – whose record as the youngest British driver ever Bearman was erasing – led. But he had not stopped, and anyway pole-man Verstappen soon passed his best pal to reclaim the No 1 spot he was always going to own. He cantered away at the front.

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Lando Norris and Hamilton both pitted late but their alternative strategy didn’t work as they finished in eighth and ninth

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Max Verstappen celebrates with beleaguered Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and his wife Geri Halliwell after the race

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Red Bull continue to look the class of the field with Verstappen and Perez finishing well clear of their opposition

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Anthony Joshua was a guest of Alpine a day after his second-round win over Francis Ngannou

Bearman was then being delayed by Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg. Lap after lap, Bearman followed the German round trying to prise a way through. He managed it along the straight on lap 20, but Hulkenberg sagely deployed DRS to poke himself back ahead.

‘Slow,’ was Bearman’s verdict of the Haas. He was right. But, a lap later, he made a success of the move he had just tried, and he was up into ninth, with Russell next on his hit-list. The gap, though, was 5.6sec, and the teenager could make no dent in that margin. Russell finished sixth, the only Briton ahead of Bearman, though a bad day for Mercedes.

‘You are doing a mega job,’ race engineer Riccardo Adami told Bearman, who moved up to seventh when Hamilton and Norris came in for belatedly to be reshod on soft rubber. They went on charges, but unavailingly.

‘He showed all the paddock what he can do and it is a matter of time before we see him here permanently,’ rhapsodised Leclerc.

Race over, Bearman was off to debriefs – the unglamorous hard yards of a driver’s life – and then a late celebration? ‘It will be midnight before I am done, so probably a junk meal,’ he said, an Italian twang discernible. And he smiled broadly again.

Max Verstappen romped to another commanding win at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, as rookie British teenager Ollie Bearman completed a dream debut by beating Lewis Hamilton to finish a brilliant seventh.

Despite threatening to quit Red Bull just 24 hours previously, following another twist in the ongoing Red Bull saga, Verstappen followed his win at the season-opening round in Bahrain last Saturday with another comfortable triumph in his all-conquering machine – remarkably his 19th in 20 appearances.

Sergio Perez completed a one-two finish for Red Bull, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc third.

But for Bearman, just three months old when Hamilton made his debut in 2007, this will be a night he will never forget.

Handed his shock debut as an 11th-hour stand-in for Carlos Sainz, the boy from Chelmsford, 18 years, 10 months and one day, drove into the record books as the youngest British driver to start a Formula One race.

Standing at 6ft 3in, the streaky teen followed in the footsteps of British greats’ Mike Hawthorn and John Surtees by racing for the scarlet team – and the first Englishman to do so since Nigel Mansell 34 years ago.

Bearman appeared at ease before the start, smiling with his engineers and grinning from ear-to-ear as he addressed the Sky cameras before taking his position between Yuki Tsunoda and Kevin Magnussen at the front of the grid for the national anthem.

With just one hour of practice under his belt, and a qualifying appearance – labelled incredible by Verstappen – Bearman, starting 11th, was just moments away from competing against the best 19 drivers in the world.

As the lights flicked from red to green, Bearman was slower away that he would have liked but made up for it by being aggressive on his brakes and hanging on to 11th place, despite a slight detour off the track.

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Ollie Bearman had another memorable day (Darko Bandic/AP)

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Up front and Verstappen had no trouble in keeping Leclerc at bay. Midway through the opening lap he was already 1.3 seconds clear of the chasing pack.

On lap seven, Lance Stroll put his Aston Martin in the barrier. The Canadian broke his suspension by clipping the armco on the entry to Turn 21 before slamming into the tyre barrier on the opposing side of the track.

Out came the safety car and in came the leaders – bar Norris and Hamilton – for fresh rubber.

Bearman, forced to wait as other cars drove by him as he was stationary, dropped three places to 12th.

Norris led when the race resumed, only for Verstappen to swoop past three laps later. Rookie Bearman was also on the move.

He immediately despatched of Tsunoda for 11th and was in a point-scoring position on lap 14 after he swatted aside Zhou for 10th.

You are doing a mega job out there

Ollie Bearman’s engineer Riccardo Adami

Up next was Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg – and Bearman was not mincing his words.

“Mate he is so slow,” said the 18-year-old of Hulkenberg, the German double his age and in his 205th Formula One start.

And on lap 21 he eased past the Haas driver for ninth, with George Russell only 5.6 sec up the road.

Bearman’s engineer Riccardo Adami was swiftly on the radio. “You are doing a mega job out there,” he said. It was hard to disagree.

Norris and Hamilton, both out of strategy sync after electing not to pit behind the safety car, stopped for fresh tyres and Bearman was now seventh and ahead of both of his countrymen.

When Norris stopped on lap 37 of 50, Bearman was 6.1 seconds up the road. Hamilton, was seven seconds adrift.

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Lewis Hamilton finished behind Bearman (PA)

“At this pace will Norris catch us or not?” asked the teenager on the radio.

“We might have a chance to stay ahead of both of them,” came the reply from the Ferrari pit wall.

The lap counter ticked down but Bearman showed maturity way beyond his years to hold on to seventh place. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took fifth ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Mercedes’ Russell.

Bearman took the chequered flag just 5.7 sec behind Russell and comfortably ahead of Norris and Hamilton.

It is only a matter of time before he is in Formula One

Charlec Leclerc on Ollie Bearman

“He has done an incredible job,” said Leclerc of Bearman, who was voted by the fans as the driver of the day.

“He was straight on the pace. Seventh in your first race in a new Formula One car is hugely impressive.

“I am sure he is extremely proud and everyone has noticed how talented he is. It is only a matter of time before he is in Formula One.”

Credits: IMAGO Laci Perenyi

Honda is officially ending its partnership with Red Bull at the end of the 2025 season. With the 2026 power unit-specific regulation reset set to kick in, the Japanese automobile manufacturers will be joining forces with Aston Martin in their latest chapter in Formula 1.

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With their illustrious association now ending, Honda’s CEO Koji Watanabe told Motorsport.com that they will miss three-time world champion Max Verstappen. Watanabe was quoted as saying, “We have a very good relationship with Max. The Honda employees love Max. We are proud to work with Max and will miss him in the future.”

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Honda’s partnership with Red Bull came to fruition after the former had a disastrous stint with McLaren in the early days of the turbo-hybrid era. However, with Red Bull, Honda have gone on to win three Drivers’ championships and two Constructors’ titles.

What really made their success iconic was how Honda ended Mercedes’ monopoly on the power-unit side of things. The Silver Arrows had romped to eight consecutive Constructors’ titles from 2014 to 2021. But with Verstappen’s triumph in 2021, since 2022 Honda have taken Mercedes’ place as the leading engine supplier in the sport.

Their success is still on the up, however. After last year’s record-breaking year, the Milton-Keynes-based team powered by Honda’s engine IP is on course to picking up yet another pair of titles this season. Furthermore, 2025 is likely to witness another year of domination by Verstappen and Red Bull.

Why did Honda leave Red Bull for Aston Martin?

It was announced last year that Honda were formally terminating their partnership with Red Bull to start supplying power units to Aston Martin from the 2026 season onwards. This decision came around the time Red Bull announced Ford as their official engine partners and Aston Martin terminated their own deal with Mercedes – all due to take effect from 2026.

Koji Watanabe has also revealed that since they announced their re-entry into the sport, “we have been contacted by multiple Formula 1 teams,” as per Sky Sports F1. That being said, the project at Aston Martin seems to have grabbed their attention the most for now.

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The motivations for choosing Aston Martin seem to be focused around building a long-term project that would not only see the Silverstone-based outfit transform into a Honda-works team but also aid the Japanese automobile giants’ push into integrating F1-tech into their mass-production cars as per The Japan Times.

Moreover, the philosophy the two entities have in terms of their own ambitions to win in F1 seem to be aligned according to The Race. Both Aston Martin and Honda are willing to invest huge amounts of money with the hope that their investments will help the team win titles.

Credits: IMAGO Marco Canoniero

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff regretted not being able to sign Max Verstappen in 2015. Red Bull gave the Dutchman a direct entry into F1 via their sister team Toro Rosso, which is why he joined hands with the Milton-Keynes-based outfit. Almost 10 years later, Verstappen is linked to Mercedes once again, but the team’s poor mechancial package means, convincing the three-time world champion will be difficult. Christian Danner, however, feels that Niki Lauda could have lured Verstappen to Mercedes.

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While speaking to Servus TV (as quoted by planetf1.com), Danner said, “Toto clearly said I want him! What should he do? What he certainly lacks is Niki Lauda. He would have put him there“.

Lauda, a three-time world champion was one of the most respectable figures in the F1 paddock. His leadership qualities during his time at Mercedes led to the team’s immense success during the turbo-hybrid era, and he also played a crucial role in getting Lewis Hamilton to join Mercedes in 2013.

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Now that Hamilton is leaving, Wolff wants a perfect replacement. And, there is no better driver in F1 at the moment, than Max Verstappen. When it comes to signing the 26-year-old, he doesn’t want to make the mistakes he made in the past, and per Danner, they would have been avoided if Lauda was still around.

Wolff desperately wants a top driver heading into the new regulation changes of 2026. Hamilton didn’t want a short-term contract, and Mercedes didn’t offer him otherwise, which contributed to his departure from the team. While there are other suitors too, with plenty of drivers out of contract in 2024, the one Wolff really wants, drives for Red Bull.

Toto Wolff desperately wants to sign Max Verstappen

Since Toto Wolff has been praising Max Verstappen so often recently, the Dutchman himself expressed surprise. In a recent interview, the 26-year-old said, “Lately Toto has been really nice. Saying lots of nice things about me“.

The three-time champion is well aware that Wolff is desperate to get his signature. Wolff, in one of the interviews also went to the extent of claiming that he would perform handstands if that is what it took to convince Verstappen to join Mercedes.

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Considering how keen Wolff is to sign Verstappen, the Dutchman may be able to negotiate a good deal with Mercedes, should he choose to leave Red Bull. If Mercedes fail to get the signature of Verstappen and choose against promoting Andrea Kimi Antonelli,  they also have the opportunity to sign Carlos Sainz.

The Spaniard will leave Ferrari at the end of this season as Lewis Hamilton will replace him from next year onwards. Sainz is currently in the form of his life, and has a win and two podiums in the three races he took part his season.