In the high-octane history of Formula 1, legends are often defined by their stats—wins, poles, and championships. But Nigel Mansell was never just a statistic. He was “The Lionheart,” a driver who didn’t just race cars; he wrestled them into submission, bleeding for every inch of tarmac. Fans adored him for his unfiltered bravery and raw emotion. However, inside the exclusive and often cutthroat Paddock, that same intensity painted a target on his back.

Mansell wasn’t just fighting the laws of physics; he was fighting a multi-front war against some of the most formidable personalities the sport has ever seen. Behind the glory of his 1992 World Championship lies a darker narrative of toxic garages, psychological warfare, and personal betrayals. Today, we peel back the visor to reveal the five giants who didn’t just want to beat Mansell—they wanted to break him.

1. Nelson Piquet: The Enemy Within

If you want to define “hostility,” look no further than the Williams garage in 1986. When Mansell was paired with Nelson Piquet, the team expected a “dream team.” What they got was a nightmare. Piquet, a double World Champion, arrived expecting to be the undisputed number one. He didn’t account for Mansell’s refusal to bow down.

This wasn’t just a sporting rivalry; it was personal viciousness. Piquet, threatened by Mansell’s rising speed and popularity, resorted to psychological torture. He publicly mocked Mansell, calling him “thick-headed” and, in a moment of pure toxicity, made vile “swine” remarks about Mansell’s family. The garage was split down the middle, with engineers forced to pick sides. They stole points from each other, refused to share data, and ultimately handed the title to Alain Prost. For Mansell, Piquet wasn’t just a teammate; he was the embodiment of disrespect—a man who tried to humiliate him at every turn.

2. Alain Prost: The Master of Mind Games

If Piquet attacked Mansell emotionally, Alain Prost dismantled him intellectually. Known as “The Professor,” Prost was the antithesis of Mansell. Where Nigel was all heart and instinct, Prost was ice-cold calculation. Their rivalry simmered for years, notably when Prost snatched the 1986 title as Mansell’s tire exploded in Adelaide. But the real knife in the back came later.

When they united at Ferrari in 1990, Mansell expected a fair fight. Instead, he walked into a political ambush. Prost, fluent in Italian and a master of charm, quickly wrapped the team around his finger. Mansell found himself isolated, accusing Prost of manipulating the team to secure better equipment. But the ultimate betrayal came in 1993. After Mansell finally won his championship with Williams, he discovered Prost had been secretly negotiating to replace him, famously refusing to sign the contract if Mansell remained in the team. Mansell, the reigning champion, was effectively forced out of the sport by the political maneuvering of the Frenchman.

3. Ayrton Senna: The Clash of Titans

Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna were two unstoppable forces who, by the laws of nature, had to collide. This wasn’t a rivalry built on hatred, like with Piquet, but on terrifying intensity. Senna was spiritual focus; Mansell was raw fire.

Their battles are the stuff of legend. The 1991 Spanish Grand Prix, where they went wheel-to-wheel down the straight at 200 mph with sparks flying, remains one of the sport’s most iconic images. But the respect they held was forged in violence. The tension boiled over at the 1987 Belgian Grand Prix when, furious after a collision, Mansell famously grabbed Senna by the throat in the pits. They were two alphas who physically and mentally bruised each other every time they met. While they respected each other’s greatness, peace was never an option.

4. Frank Williams: The Business of Betrayal

Perhaps the most complicated figure in Mansell’s life wasn’t a driver, but the man who gave him the keys to the car. Frank Williams was the pragmatic team boss who valued constructors’ points over drivers’ egos. He was the architect of Mansell’s success, but also the author of his greatest heartbreak.

It was Frank who allowed the Piquet-Mansell war to fester, believing the chaos would breed speed. But the crushing blow came after Mansell delivered the 1992 championship—a season of dominance that British fans had waited decades for. Instead of a hero’s reward, Mansell was met with a cold business decision. Frank had already signed Prost for the next season. Feeling betrayed by the team he had bled for, Mansell walked away. It was a relationship defined by a cruel irony: the man who made Mansell a champion was the same man who made him feel he had no home in F1.

5. Michael Schumacher: The End of an Era

By 1994, the sport was changing. The romantic era of the “garagista” racers was dying, replaced by the dawn of the super-athlete. Michael Schumacher was the face of this new world—analytical, ruthless, and devoid of the “honor” Mansell held dear.

When Mansell returned to F1 briefly in 1994, he didn’t find a peer; he found a shock to the system. Schumacher didn’t just race hard; he raced with a surgical brutality that Mansell found disrespectful. From aggressive blocks to the controversial collision with Damon Hill in Adelaide, Schumacher represented a future Mansell didn’t understand. To Nigel, Schumacher was the signal that his time was up. The German wasn’t an enemy in the personal sense, but he was the final, unyielding wall that the Lionheart could not break through.

The Legacy of Conflict

Nigel Mansell’s career was not a smooth drive on a Sunday afternoon. It was a brawl. Piquet tested his pride, Prost tested his mind, Senna tested his courage, Williams tested his loyalty, and Schumacher tested his relevance. He may not have liked them—he certainly didn’t forgive all of them—but these five men forged the steel of the legend we celebrate today. They pushed him to the edge, and in doing so, they ensured that the Lionheart would roar louder than any of them could have imagined.

Just now: McLeod’s Daughters star Rachael Carpani’s final hospital check-up results have been leaked, revealing unusual details about her terminal illness that have left fans heartbroken.

A beloved Australian actress who starred in the popular Aussie show Home and Away has died ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’/

Rachael Carpani was a well-known figure on Australian TV, most notably for her eight-year stint as Jodi Fountain on the Australian TV drama McLeod’s Daughters, before taking on several U.S. roles and eventually joining the Home and Away cast in 2024.

Both fans and co-stars joined the 45-year-old actress’ family in paying tribute to the TV star after it was confirmed her sudden passing had taken place last week.

“It is with great sadness that Tony and Gael Carpani announce that their beautiful daughter, beloved Australian actress Rachael Carpani, unexpectedly but peacefully passed away after a long battle with chronic illness,” the family shared on social media in a heartbreaking message.

Actress Rachel Carpani’s death was confirmed by her parents in a message posted to social media

“The family requests privacy at this very difficult time and will be making no further statements,” the statement concluded, adding that Rachael’s funeral will be a “private event”.

Rachael began her portrayal of Claudia Salini in a recurring role for Home and Away, which became a UK hit in the 90s, last year.

Fellow Australian actress and McLeod’s Daughters co-star Bridie Carter paid tribute on social media in a lengthy statement, stating: “In love and respect, for our beautiful Rach, in prayer and with the deepest sorrow and profound sympathy for the Carpani family.

“Rest In Peace, our beautiful girl….the ‘baby’ of our [ McLeod’s Daughters] family. We love you, we cherish you.

Pay drivers often get more than they bargain for when they shell out for a place on the Formula 1 grid and Taki Inoue was no different, playing the leading role in one of the more bizarre accidents in the sport’s history

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Taki Inoue, right, raced for Footwork Arrows in the 1995 F1 season(Image: LAT Images via Getty Images)

If the enduring memory of your Formula 1 career is of ironically being run over by the safety car, then it’s safe to say there wasn’t much else to shout about on track. To Taki Inoue’s credit, he readily admits that he is probably the worst driver ever to enjoy a spell racing in the sport.

The Japanese racer appeared 18 times in F1 over two years and, of course, failed to score a single championship in that time. He only actually finished five of those races. Having made his debut with a single appearance for Simtek in 1994, his one and only full season followed a year later, racing for the British Footwork Arrows team. The only reason he got that seat was because the team was short of cash and Inoue, a self-confessed pay driver, could provide a sackful of it.

“Every single driver is a sort of pay driver,” he said in one Top Gear interview. “[Michael] Schumacher, [Fernando] Alonso. Yes, Alonso gets a driving fee, but how much [did] Santander pay to Ferrari? What I did was the same. The only difference is that I was not good enough to drive in F1.”

Inoue lives in Monaco – the scene of one of the two incidents from that 1995 season by which the 59-year-old’s F1 career is remembered. He was sat in his car being taken back to the pits during qualifying, after suffering a mechanical issue, when he was hit by the safety car, causing his own car to flip over.

His helmet was crushed, so it was a good job he had remembered to put it back on shortly before. Fortunately, Inoue was himself undamaged and was fit to race the following day. More than half the field failed to finish the Grand Prix, including the Japanese who suffered a gearbox issue.

He didn’t escape completely unscathed a couple of months later, when the second and even more infamous incident involving him took place. His engine caught fire part way through the Hungarian Grand Prix, so he pulled over to the side of the track and gestured for help from the marshals. So far, so normal.

But what happened next remains a regular staple in most compilations of F1’s strangest incidents on YouTube. Seemingly not content with the quick spray of foam on his car, Inoue clambered out of the cockpit of his car and ran to grab an extinguisher for himself, before turning back to his car.

The mistake he made was not looking. In his haste, he walked directly in front of the safety car which had been driven over the grass to come to help. It hit his legs hard and he was sent up onto the bonnet, in slapstick fashion. At first he landed on his feet, but after a few moments he fell to the floor in pain.

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Taki Inoue was infamously run over by the safety car during the 1995 Hungarian Grand Prix(Image: Czarek Sokolowski/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

“Bang! Someone hits me very hard,” said Inoue, recalling the incident. “But I landed on my feet, very good, perfect landing – I think nine-point-nine-nine.” After cracking that joke, he then explained why there was a delay in taking him for a medical check-up despite the intense pain in his leg.

“I expect the helicopter to take me to hospital, but Charlie [Whiting, F1 race director at the time] comes in and says, ‘Sorry Taki, we can’t use the helicopter, otherwise we stop the GP. You wait until the finish, another hour.” Once he was finally taken to hospital, he remembers being hounded for payment before he had even been treated.

Inoue continued: “I expect immediately they are checking out my bone, that everything is okay. But they say, ‘Taki, we want your credit card.’ I say, ‘What? Credit card? I don’t have it!’ I am still in my race suit! But they want to be paid first, otherwise they won’t help me. I say, ‘Come on, I’m very painful.’ Another half an hour, big negotiation. I didn’t pay. For two years, they keep sending invoice to me in Monaco.”

 “FINALLY, JUSTICE.” — Denise Fergus, mother of James Bulger, says Jon Venables’ parole denial is “the best thing to happen in 30 years.”  “For once, the system has done the right thing. I can finally breathe knowing he won’t harm another innocent child.” After decades of heartache, Denise calls this a small but powerful victory — for James, and for every parent still seeking justice.

“FINALLY, JUSTICE.” — Denise Fergus, mother of murdered toddler James Bulger, has called Jon Venables’ parole denial “the best thing to happen in 30 years.”

EXCLUSIVE: James Bulger’s Mum Breaks Silence — Calls Jon Venables’ Parole Denial “The Best Thing to Happen in 30 Years”

Murdered James Bulger’s mum has told of her “pure relief and elation” after killer Jon Venables had his freedom bid rejected by parole chiefs yesterday – hailing the decision as “the best thing that has happened to me in 30 years”.

Triumphant Denise Fergus, who has tirelessly campaigned for justice for her son for three decades, revealed how she was “finally vindicated” after a parole board yesterday agreed evil Jon Venables, now 41, remained a danger to kids and could not be trusted back on the streets.

Yesterday a parole board panel said they were concerned Venables – just ten when he tortured and murdered tiny James in 1993 – has “continuing issues of sexual preoccupation” and were “not satisfied” the public would be safe if he was released.

Today Denise said she was delighted Venables could now be in jail indefinitely if new Government laws to never release dangerous reoffending, sexual attackers were introduced – saying: “I feel we have finally been listened to and the whole nation is safe from the most dangerous, murdering sexual predator”.

In her first interview since yesterday’s landmark news, Denise, 54, said: “I have fought for justice for James and to keep his killer behind bars for years so the decision to not let him walk free is the best thing that has happened to me for 30 years. It’s a huge day for us. I could barely sleep for the dread and fear, one of the most evil men on the planet could be back on our streets. I had braced myself for his release.

“So when I was told the news Venables’ parole had been rejected I was just shellshocked, it’s the first time ever something has gone my way. I just felt so relieved. It feels like the decision is vindication for all the times I have told people he is a danger to society and that he would harm again. I’m so pleased the parole board have agreed with that.

“I just hope Venables now gets to feel a bit of the anguish I have felt for all these years because I’ve been to hell and back but it’s him that has lost.”

She added: “I don’t think he should ever see the light of day again. I have never said that before but now I mean it. What he did to James and his reoffending actions after show he can’t be rehabilitated. This man has no remorse, no sympathy, no pity, no apology for us so he should be kept in.”

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mirror told how she had been wracked with nerves and unable to sleep ahead of the decision but felt a “wave of shock and then relief” on hearing the news.

She also told of her happiness that Venables, who initially served less than eight years in a young offenders institute for James’ murder, will now “get the time in adult jail he should’ve in the first place”.

Tiny James was murdered by Venables and Robert Thompson – both aged 10 – in February 1993. They grabbed the boy from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, after his mum let go of his hand for a second.

The killers dragged him two miles to a rail line where they tortured and battered him to death. They were convicted of murder in November 1993 and ordered to be detained indefinitely – but were released aged 18 in 2001 with new identities after less than eight years. Thompson, also 41, has not reoffended.

But Venables, now 41, was sent back to jail in 2010 and 2017 after being caught with child sex abuse images on his computer. He was turned down for parole in 2020 having served his minimum 40 months sentence but last month was given an unprecedented two-day hearing.

It was set to be held in private after Venables argued it would harm his “mental health” if it was made public. But despite this, he shunned the hearing, which led to chiefs delaying the decision by two weeks to allow him “one last chance” to make a written submission in which he is reported to have said he was “completely rehabilitated”.

But yesterday the parole board announced their decision – deeming him unfit to be released.

Denise said: “When the parole board made concessions for him by making his hearing closed to protect his mental health or delaying it by two weeks to give him more time to make a statement I thought ‘here we go again, it’s going to go his way’. I had a sense of dread. People would be talking to me in the lead up and I’d struggle to take it in. My mind has been consumed with the parole board outcome. It means so much in our fight for justice for James.

“The not knowing has been agony. I started putting my Christmas decorations up weeks ago but they are still not finished. That shows how distracted I’ve been. I couldn’t get my head around it. My sleep has been affected too and has been at its worst this week. I was in and out of sleep and it has done me in to be honest.

“There is nothing I can do to bring James back. I started dozing off and my mind took over and feeling dread, the worst case scenario and reminding me that something was going to happen. It was horrendous. It was torture.”

But at 10.30am yesterday, Denise, who lives in Merseyside with husband Stuart, got the news she had been praying for.

Denise added: “When I took the call, I was just in shock when our liaison officer told me the news and then this wave of relief came. I’ve never felt this way. I couldn’t even think straight. I was like, ‘has this really happened’ or is it a dream. But it is real and thank god he didn’t get his way and I got mine.”

Stuart added: “I looked at her face, it wasn’t a smile but it was the relief that just flowed out. It was wonderful to see.” She added: “One thing that popped into my mind was that I would love to know was what his thoughts are and I hope he is feeling just a little bit of what I’ve been feeling for the last 30 years.”

The parole board also released a three-page summary of the panel’s decision.

It read: “After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and on licence, and the evidence presented in the dossier, the panel was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public.

“It noted the risks as set out above, doubted Mr Venables’ ability to be open and honest with professionals, and concluded that there remained a need for him to address outstanding levels of risk, and to develop his relationship with his probation officer.”

It said the killer had completed a “considerable amount of work” in prison to address his offending but the panel remained “concerned by continuing issues of sexual preoccupation”.

Denise said: “I’m so happy that they said this. I have been convinced by this for years and know it is the case. It is reassuring to know that the parole board are convinced of the same too.”

The summary added: “The panel considered that there were future risks of Mr Venables again viewing indecent images of children/child sexual abuse images, and also of Mr Venables progressing to offences where he might have contact with children, and both of these present a risk of causing serious harm to others.

“It accordingly determined that there would be a risk to others at this time if Mr Venables were to be released.”

Denise added: “I’m also really pleased this was noted too. I really hope that the families of the kids in images, who were victims of his most recent offences, feel some justice too. It is true that he has not changed a bit and couldn’t be further away from being rehabilitated.

“I have known for a fact for 30 years, after he killed James, that we would end up with another victim like him at the hands of him. I couldn’t let that happen and I’m so pleased that the parole board aren’t allowing that.”

Venables now has 21 days to appeal the decision.

Denise added: “We are obviously aware that you can never say never but if the decision was overturned there would be outcry. The detail of his current state and how far he is from rehabilitation is so damning, it would be a disaster politically if he was released.”

Now Denise said she is looking forward to a Christmas together with the family safe in the knowledge that Venables’ chance appeal will not come around again for another two years – and, if new laws are passed, ever again.

The 2025 Formula 1 season didn’t end with a scream of engines or a dramatic final-lap overtake for Oscar Piastri. Instead, it ended with a deafening silence in the Abu Dhabi pit lane. The checkered flag had fallen, the fireworks were lighting up the Yas Marina sky, but they weren’t for him. Lando Norris was the one lifting the trophy, completing a season of consistent brilliance, while Piastri was left to ponder how a campaign that once felt inevitable had slipped through his fingers.

For months, the narrative had been written. After the Zandvoort Grand Prix, Piastri was sitting pretty, 34 points clear of the field. He looked calm, clinical, and relentless—a driver seemingly destined to be F1’s next great prodigy. But as the paddock packed up in Abu Dhabi this December, the story had changed. The “Ice Man” hadn’t just been beaten; according to veteran analyst Martin Brundle, the very myth of his invincibility had been exposed.

The Slow Bleed of a Championship Lead

Momentum in Formula 1 is a fickle beast. It rarely disappears in a single explosion; instead, it leaks away, corner by corner, until you look up and realize the lead is gone. For Piastri, the unraveling wasn’t a singular catastrophe but a series of “tiny turning points” that began in Baku.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix was the fracture point. A crash in qualifying followed by another in the race shattered the illusion of perfection. For a driver defined by his precision, these errors were jarringly uncharacteristic. They were human. And they were just the beginning.

The nightmare continued in his own backyard. The rain-soaked corners of Melbourne saw Piastri skating onto the grass, hemorrhaging vital points in front of a home crowd that expected a coronation. Then came the controversial penalties in Silverstone and Brazil—margins that Brundle insisted could have been 5-second calls or nothing at all, but instead, they decided the championship.

“He went on the missing list,” Brundle observed sharply. “Six races without a podium. Six races where Lando Norris kept arriving quietly and relentlessly doing exactly what a title contender must.”

Brundle’s Verdict: The Myth vs. The Reality

Martin Brundle’s assessment of Piastri’s collapse cut deeper than any statistic. The Sky Sports pundit suggested that the “stone cold” persona Piastri wears might be a facade that actually worked against him when the heat turned up.

“Maybe Piastri wasn’t what everyone thought,” Brundle mused. “Maybe the calm wasn’t impenetrable. Maybe the future champion felt more than he showed.”

Brundle argued that Piastri isn’t “absolutely stone cold horizontal.” Instead of being immune to pressure, he was quietly absorbing it, carrying the weight until it became too heavy. “He lost his head a little,” Brundle claimed, pointing out that mistakes snowballed because Piastri couldn’t seemingly reset in the chaos of the mid-season slump. While the calm remained on the outside, the internal struggle was bleeding into his performance on the track.

The 30-Millisecond Difference

However, not everyone agrees that Piastri cracked. McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella offered a perspective grounded in the brutal reality of data. To him, the difference between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri wasn’t a mental collapse, but a mere blink of an eye.

“30 milliseconds in Abu Dhabi qualifying,” Stella noted, summarizing the razor-thin margins of the sport. “Effectively, we could have had two champions.”

Stella defended his driver, noting that Piastri wasn’t outclassed or outpaced, but simply edged out. The loss was deceptive; from the outside, it looked like a missed chance, but inside McLaren, it was viewed as a necessary step in his evolution. “Oscar was a worthwhile champion even without the title,” Stella insisted, predicting that Piastri is “definitely a multiple world champion” in the making.

Two Perspectives: Fragility or Formation?

The debate over Piastri’s season highlights a divide in how we view mental strength. Nico Rosberg, a man who knows exactly what it takes to beat a dominant teammate, refused to accept the narrative of fragility.

“Mentally he is so strong, one of the strongest out there,” Rosberg argued. Where Brundle saw a driver absorbing pressure until he broke, Rosberg saw balance—a driver who remained composed even as the title slipped away. Piastri didn’t lash out publicly, he didn’t panic, and he didn’t make desperate lunges. He endured.

The Aftermath: A Lesson Learned

The 2025 season is now history. You can’t rewrite Melbourne, you can’t undo Baku, and you can’t negotiate penalties after the points are tallied. The “Ice Cold” myth may have cracked, revealing the human being beneath the helmet, but that might make Piastri more dangerous, not less.

As Brundle advised, the only path forward is to “draw a line under it.” The pain of this loss—the sting of those 30 milliseconds—is fuel. Future champions aren’t defined by the titles they lose, but by what those losses leave behind.

Lando Norris deserves his 2025 crown, but Oscar Piastri has forced Formula 1 to confront a deeper truth. He is not a robot. He is a young driver who discovered the true cost of a championship fight. If he can recalibrate and turn this season’s scar tissue into armor, the 2026 grid should be terrified. The real fight has only just begun.

SHOCK U-TURN: James Martin ‘ENGAGED’ to Girlfriend 14 Years Younger After Swearing Off Marriage

TV chef James Martin is reportedly engaged to his personal trainer girlfriend, after once publicly rejecting the idea of getting married.

James, 53, and his girlfriend Kim Johnson, 39, have been dating for almost two years.

James is reportedly engaged! (Credit: ITV)

James Martin engaged to personal trainer girlfriend

ITV star James once admitted, “Marriage doesn’t interest me in the slightest”.

However, things seem to have changed for the chef, who has reportedly got down on one knee for girlfriend Kim, whom he started dating in March 2024.

Now, according to a source who spoke to The Sun, the star has “never been happier”.

According to the newspaper, James popped the question and sealed the deal by gifting his girlfriend a brand new Land Rover Defender.

Kim shared a snap of the new car on her Instagram story, admitting she was “speechless”.

James reportedly gifted his girlfriend a new car (Credit: Road to Success / YouTube)

James Martin has ‘never been happier’ with girlfriend Kim

“James and Kim may have been dating for less than two years, but when you know, you know,” a source said.

“Of course, it’s taken James decades to finally get there and friends do share a wry smile that he’s U-turned on his staunch refusal to ever marry. But everyone has seen the change in him since meeting Kim, and he’s never been happier.

“They are a wonderful couple.”

James began dating Kim after his split from his girlfriend of 12 years, Louise Davies, in December 2023.

Kim had previously been married to Arun Nayar, but they split in 2017.

She and James were first spotted out together in Mayfair in March 2024, and holidayed together in France that summer. Kim moved in with him in October 2024.

ED! has contacted James’ representatives for comment.

James previously rejected the idea of getting married (Credit: ITV)

James’ past comments about marriage

Speaking to The Sunday People back in 2019, James admitted he wasn’t interested in getting married.

“Marriage doesn’t interest me in the slightest, mainly because I’ve catered for so many weddings, really,” he said.

“I admire people who do it, that’s fine, but I’m quite happy.

“I don’t need to spend 60 grand on a day, no, I’m more than happy, thanks,” he then continued.

Read more: James Martin ‘in trouble’ with producers over two-word remark: ‘This created so many arguments’

The Formula 1 paddock is no stranger to high-stakes drama, but what unfolded in the aftermath of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix feels less like “silly season” rumors and more like the systemic dismantling of a dynasty. If you were watching closely, you saw the tears. Gianpiero Lambiasi (GP), the stoic voice in Max Verstappen’s ear and perhaps the most crucial cog in the Red Bull machine outside of the driver himself, was visibly emotional.

At the time, whispers suggested personal reasons or a step back from the relentless travel schedule. But new, explosive reports indicate that something far more ambitious—and dangerous for Red Bull—is brewing behind the scenes. The Red Bull empire, once unshakeable, appears to be crumbling, brick by brick, while a new superpower rises in Silverstone.

The Master Plan: Rebuilding Red Bull at Aston Martin

Lawrence Stroll, the billionaire owner of Aston Martin, is not playing games. His objective is clear: to build a championship-winning juggernaut. Having already secured the genius of Adrian Newey and the exclusive works partnership with Honda (Red Bull’s current engine partner), Stroll is now reportedly targeting the human element that makes Max Verstappen tick.

Insider sources have revealed that talks have taken place between Aston Martin and Lambiasi. But this isn’t just an offer to be a race engineer. Stroll is reportedly dangling a massive promotion—potentially a Team Principal or CEO-level position within a revamped management structure.

It is a stroke of Machiavellian brilliance. By offering GP a role that keeps him grounded in the UK (solving his desire to travel less) while paying him a “serious salary” and giving him immense authority, Stroll is removing the last pillar of support Max Verstappen has at Red Bull.

The Isolation of Max Verstappen

To understand the gravity of this move, you have to look at the current state of Red Bull Racing. The team that dominated the last few years is unrecognizable. Christian Horner is gone. Helmut Marko has officially departed. Adrian Newey, the architect of their speed, is wearing Aston Martin green. Jonathan Wheatley, the sporting director, is heading to Audi/Sauber. Will Courtenay, the strategy ace, is off to McLaren.

Max Verstappen is rapidly finding himself alone on an island. If Lambiasi leaves, the “old guard” that nurtured Max’s talent and delivered his championships will be almost entirely extinguished.

The endgame for Aston Martin is obvious: 2027. Max Verstappen has a contract, but contracts in F1 are only as strong as the performance clauses within them. If Red Bull falters next year—and with the brain drain they are suffering, that is a real possibility—and if Aston Martin presents a team featuring Adrian Newey designing the car, Honda powering the engine, and GP running the show, the decision becomes a no-brainer for the Dutchman. Stroll isn’t just buying staff; he is curating the perfect environment to lure the world’s best driver.

The Mercedes Engine Controversy

While the political maneuvering reshapes the future, a technical storm is brewing for the immediate season. A massive controversy has erupted regarding the Mercedes power unit for next year.

It appears the Silver Arrows have found a clever loophole regarding compression ratio limits. The regulations test these ratios at ambient temperatures, but Mercedes allegedly found a way to increase the ratio when the engine is running hot on track, unlocking a significant horsepower advantage—estimated at around 10 to 13 bhp.

What makes this truly spicy is the FIA’s involvement. Reports suggest Mercedes consulted the governing body about this trick long ago, and the FIA effectively gave them the green light, admitting that if it passes the specific static test, it’s legal. Now, other teams are crying foul, fearing a return to the dominant Mercedes era. However, with the FIA having already signed off, backtracking now would be a legal nightmare. If Mercedes starts the season 25 seconds up the road in Australia, we will know exactly why.

Trouble in Paradise at Ferrari?

As if the Red Bull implosion and Mercedes controversy weren’t enough, Ferrari is dealing with its own internal strife—fueled by external attacks. Arturo Merzario, a former Ferrari driver, recently launched a scathing attack on Charles Leclerc in the Italian press.

Merzario claimed that if Enzo Ferrari were still alive, Leclerc “wouldn’t have even made it through the gates of Maranello,” dismissing the Monegasque driver as “not special” and undeserving of his seat. He argued that Lewis Hamilton’s recent struggles were simply a case of the seven-time champion “taking his foot off the gas” due to poor integration, rather than Leclerc outperforming him.

While these could just be the rantings of the old guard, in the pressure cooker of Ferrari, such public undressing usually signals deeper unrest. With rumors swirling that Leclerc is also keeping an eye on the exit door if Ferrari fails to deliver, the driver market remains a volatile powder keg.

The Bottom Line

Formula 1 is in a state of unprecedented flux. The stable hierarchy of the last three years has been shattered. Aston Martin is aggressively positioning itself as the team of the future, systematically stripping Red Bull of its greatest assets.

For Max Verstappen, the choice is becoming clearer by the day. Stay with a hollowed-out team that is losing its identity, or rejoin his mentors at a team built specifically for him? The tears at Abu Dhabi were likely not just a goodbye to a season, but the beginning of a long goodbye to Red Bull Racing.

“I Didn’t See It Coming… And It Broke Me.” — Stacey Solomon was left visibly shattered in a raw, unscripted moment that stopped fans in their tracks, her voice cracking as she admitted, “I held it together for everyone else… but inside, I was falling apart.” Those watching say the pain on her face was impossible to miss as tears spilled and the truth she’d been quietly carrying finally surfaced, with Stacey confessing, “Some days I smile, some days I survive — this was one of the hard ones.” Social media flooded instantly, supporters saying they felt her hurt through the screen, calling it “too real” and “heart-punching,” while insiders whispered that the emotional weight had been building for weeks behind closed doors. As Stacey steadied herself, she delivered the line that broke hearts nationwide — “I’m strong, but I’m still human” — turning a fleeting moment into a devastating reminder that even the brightest, warmest faces can be hiding storms no one ever sees.

Stacey Solomon was left “devastated” in the latest episode of her docuseries, Stacey and Joe.

The BBC programme, which is in its second series, follows the presenter and husband Joe Swash as they juggle their busy careers with their five children, two dogs, chickens, ducks and array of other responsibilities at Pickle Cottage.

The latest edition saw Ms Solomon, 36, navigating a tricky period as the family’s beloved dog Teddy recovered from major surgery.

The cocker spaniel wasn’t out of the woods yet, with medics urging the TV personality to keep an eye on him, advising if he didn’t regain feeling in his legs they may have to consider other options.

Stacey Solomon’s dad comforted her following the BAFTA snub

 | BBC

A happy distraction came from the presenter being nominated for two BAFTA awards for her other BBC series, Sort Your Life Out.

Ms Solomon enjoyed preparing for the big night and even had her wedding dress altered to re-use the special gown.

However, she was unfortunately snubbed as Rob Rinder, Rylan Clark and Joe Lycett were instead awarded the gongs.

As she was filmed leaving the ceremony with Mr Swash, the presenter looked at the cameras and commented: “boo!”

Stacey Solomon admitted she was ‘devastated’ over the BAFTA loss

 | BBC

“Don’t want to talk about it, we’ll talk about it in the car,” Mr Swash commented.

Later, Ms Solomon called her dad during the drive back, explaining: “I lost them both, dad.”

Speaking to the cameras on the documentary, she recalled: “It was devastating when we didn’t win.”

In a candid admission, she added: “And I know you’re not supposed to say that, and people are like, ‘oh, lose gracefully.’ And I think, well why? I was gutted.”

When her eldest son Zachary took the phone to chat to his mum, he quipped: “I think you should just take me next time, I don’t think Joe’s very lucky.”

“Yeah, you’re my lucky charm Zach, I think it’s Joe. I think it’s Joe that makes me lose every time,” the mother-of-five replied.

When she got back home, her dad David quipped: “I know you didn’t get the award…But you got a beehive instead,” referencing the fact she’d started her journey of bee-keeping prior to attending the ceremony.

Comforting his daughter, David remarked: “Well done, well done. Listen, you were nominated, that’s the most important thing.”

Stacey Solomon claimed she was ‘robbed’ | BBC

A doubtful Ms Solomon replied: “I was robbed, I tell you,” to which her dad joked: “I mean Joe Lycett is funny though, isn’t he?”

Thankfully, Teddy seems to be progressing with recovery, with Ms Solomon sharing positive updates on her social media since the episode, which was filmed in May.

Stacey Solomon confessed she found it hard to ‘lose gracefully’ | BBC

Taking to Instagram recently, she shared a clip of the dog, stating: “Thank you for always asking after Teddy. It really means a lot. He’s such a happy boy. He’s such a lovely boy.

“He will never be able to use his legs again, but he’s getting used to the wheelchair and, just, yeah. You just get on with it, don’t you, Teddy?”

“I’ve Stayed Silent Long Enough… Now They’re Going To Hear The Truth.” In A Revelation That Has Stunned Fans And Blindsided Producers, Martin Kemp Has Finally Broken His Silence — And The Real Reason Behind His Almost Invisible Airtime On I’m A Celebrity Is Far More Emotional, Raw, And Unsettling Than Anyone Expected. This Isn’t About Bushtucker Trial Exemptions, Contracts, Or Editing Choices — It’s About A Confession He’s Been Carrying Quietly, Painfully, Until Now. Martin Admitted, Voice Shaking: “I Wasn’t Hidden… I Was Holding Back.” He Revealed That Behind The Smiles And Banter, He Was Battling Private Struggles That Made Every Moment In The Jungle Heavier Than The Last — A Weight He Didn’t Want The Public To See. “Some Nights I Lay There Thinking, ‘If Only They Knew What I Was Really Going Through…’” He Said, His Honesty Cutting Deeper Than Any Challenge Ever Could. And Now, With The Truth Finally Out, Viewers Are Reeling — Because This Changes Everything They Thought They Knew About His Time In Camp.

As the heart-throb of the 80s pop sensations Spandau Ballet, Martin Kemp was by far the most A-list on this year’s I’m A Celeb.

He was though, also the quietest, which led to him having very little airtime – something which enraged his loyal fans.

Even his son Roman, 32, joked that he was the ‘jungle ghost’ because viewers rarely saw him, while Martin, 64, only went forward for one major Bush Tucker trial on Thursday’s episode alongside Tom Read Wilson, letting the others go up instead.

But now, the hunky singer has revealed that he decided that he wanted to take a back seat so that he could allow the younger contestants to ‘have their moment’ in the Aussie jungle as he was the sixth star to be evicted from the ITV show on Thursday night.

Reflecting on his lack of airtime on the show, which saw him take part in only one major Bushtucker trial, Martin said: ‘I thought, I’m at the end of my career, you know, I’m at a bit where I’m slowing down a little bit.

‘And the other guys are at the beginning, and why not give them the chance and time and put them in front of a queue?

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Martin Kemp looked far from disappointed to be the latest celebrity evicted from the jungle as he arrived at a luxury hotel after his I’m A Celebrity departure

The former Spandau Ballet star smiled for the cameras, having shaved off his scraggy jungle beard, after arriving at the swanky Marriott Hotel in Surfer’s Paradise, Australia

‘I just felt, you know, the young guys were jumping up and chomping at the bit and why not let him go? Let him do it and it can do brilliant things for their career.’

His sacrifice has not gone to waste as the youngest camp members AngryGinge, 24, and rapper Aitch, 25, are the two favourites to win the show this year.

Martin has been in the spotlight since rising to fame in Spandau Ballet in the 1980s, before going on to star on hit BBC soap EastEnders as Steve Owen.

Since then, he’s appeared on the likes of Celebrity Big Brother, Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls, and Celebrity Gogglebox alongside son Roman, 32.

But he revealed that after years of living in the spotlight, making new friendships has become a challenge – something he had to face in the jungle.

Martin, who looked comfortable to be out his jungle uniform as he dressed up in a shirt and linen trousers, added: ‘I realise that I’m not very good at making new friends, you know, generally.

‘I think that comes from being in the public eye for getting on over 50 years or something now, I was a 17-year-old kid.

‘But I realised, in the Jungle, that I could and it’s the first time I’ve done it for a long time.’

After 20 days in the jungle, Martin looked pleased to have waved goodbye to the camp

Martin was re-united with wife Shirlie, 63, who had flown out to Australia to greet him

The pop star grew close to the late Ozzy Osbourne’s son, Jack, and the glamour model, Kelly Brook, who was voted off the ITV show two days before him.

He added: ‘I think what you do when you’re in the public eye, you kind of pull up the drawbridge a little bit.

‘When we first spoke about doing it, coming over here and doing it, Shirlie said to me, “You need to go, because you need to learn how to make your friends.”‘

The former Spandau Ballet star smiled for the cameras, having shaved off his scraggy jungle beard, after arriving at the swanky Marriott Hotel in Surfer’s Paradise, Australia, after his exit.

On Thursday, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly revealed that Martin, 64, who was dubbed the ‘jungle ghost’ by his son Roman, would be next to head home after he and Lisa Riley found themselves in the bottom two.

His exit came just hours after he finally left the camp to take part in a Bushtucker trial, after presenter Vogue Williams revealed on a live stream that he was secretly exempt from some of the challenges.

Following 20 days in the jungle, he joined longtime hosts Ant and Dec on the other side of the jungle camp bridge, before heading off to the hotel with wife Shirlie, 63, who had flown out to greet him.

Beaming as he posed outside the hotel, the star revealed how he’d shaven off his jungle beard that had grown over his near three-week stint in camp.

After leaving the jungle, Martin told Ant and Dec: ‘I have dreamt about this moment.

Martin revealed to the Daily Mail he took a backseat on the show to give the younger stars ‘do brilliant things for their careers’ after his jungle exit

Presenter Vogue Williams revealed on a live stream that Martin had been secretly exempt from some of the challenges on the ITV reality competition

Kemp’s son, Roman (pictured) appeared in the 2019 series of the ITV reality show and placed third behind winner Jacqueline Jossa and runner-up Andy Whyment

‘It’s just a weird trip. I loved just sitting around and talking with the others. I said it a few times on there, I’m not one for making new friends and this is the first time I’ve done it in years and I absolutely loved it.

‘Coming out now, I feel like I’ve done everything I want to do, experienced it and I can walk out with some brilliant anecdotes.

‘I wasn’t one of those guys that was dancing and singing and stuff, I just brought a calm energy.’

Following his exit from the show, wife Shirlie took to Instagram with a photo of her and her husband smiling for the camera, writing: ‘And he’s back.’

Kemp’s son, Roman, appeared in the 2019 series of the ITV reality show and placed third behind Jacqueline Jossa, and Martin said he was still ‘glad’ he didn’t beat his son’s placement on the show.

Roman himself was quick to react to his dad’s exit, earlier in the series than him, with a tongue-in-cheek post on X, formerly Twitter, with the caption: ‘Oh noooo.’

But on a sweeter note, he went on to add: ‘Love him and love that some of you have seen a snapshot of the man I aspire to be! We’ve had some great laughs on here. Tom for the win.’

The One Show presenter, 32, was vocal on social media about his father’s time in the Jungle and earlier this week complained about his lack of airtime on the show.

Following his exit from the show, wife Shirlie took to Instagram with a photo of her and her husband smiling for the camera, writing: ‘And he’s back’

Pop star Martin grew close to the late Ozzy Osbourne’s son, Jack, during his time on screen

He took to comparing the eighties pop star as the ‘jungle ghost’ due to his lack of airtime on the show, which has also been noted by fans.

Celebrating his success, Roman said: ‘The Ghost of the Jungle lives another day!’

He added: ‘Imagine we actually got him to go far without ever seeing him! Let’s do it.’

Having second thoughts, he also wrote: ‘I’ll tell you this, if my dad survives tomorrow. I’m going to start the anti-voting campaign. I’m not having him beat my 3rd place. I’d never live it down.’

With the eliminations well underway and the finale in sight, Roman also publicly pointed out Martin’s lack of Bushtucker Trials.

Taking to social media, he wrote: ‘Genuine question, is my dad the only one to have not done an actual trial?’

Fans flooded him with replies, with one pointing out: ‘If it wasn’t for your posts, I’m not sure I would have realised he was on it.’

He also revealed that Martin ‘doesn’t have mates’ and said: ‘One thing I have noticed is my dad keeps saying “my new friends”.

Martin finally left camp to do a trial after it was revealed he was secretly exempt from some trials by co-star Vogue Williams, who left the show earlier this week

‘He genuinely doesn’t have mates so he means it, he’ll be really be chuffed. Again not being mean, that’s the truth.’

While it seemed quite a harsh critique, which was picked up on by viewers, Roman said: ‘We’re pretty open. Also the fact he’s said it on about a million podcasts.’

Earlier in the episode, fans were left stunned when Martin finally left camp to do a trial after Vogue revealed he was secretly exempt.

The Spandau Ballet legend and Celebs Go Dating star Tom, 39, teamed up for the latest challenge, Lethal Libraries.

Following her exit, Vogue claimed Martin was exempt from some as she answered fan’s questions online.

But, while it turns out he was able to participate this week, the lion’s share of the work did go to Tom who was left to rummage through a bookshelf covered with snakes while Martin answered questions.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! continues Friday at 9pm on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.

THIS MORNING SHAKE-UP  Alison Hammond ‘REPLACED’ as Angela Scanlon ‘Pops Her Cherry’ With Shock New Presenter Debut That’s Got Viewers Talking

Angela Scanlon joined the This Morning family today, teaming up with regular Friday presenter Dermot O’Leary in the place of his usual co-host Alison Hammond.

With Christmas just around the corner, the regular This Morning presenters are slowing waving goodbye to the show for their festive break. Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley fronted their final show last week.

And, this week, we’ve seen Olivia Attwood and Christine Lampard sitting in the hot seat. Emma Willis was also meant to host the show, but she pulled out at the last minute due to illness.

Today (December 19), it was the turn of Irish presenter and one-time Strictly Come Dancing star Angela Scanlon to front the show with Dermot. And some viewers quipped that he’s had so many co-hosts this week, they “should fit a turnstile in the studio”!

It was Angela Scanlon’s turn to present the show with Dermot O’Leary today (Credit: ITV)

Angela Scanlon and Dermot O’Leary team up as Friday’s This Morning presenters

41-year-old Angela revealed she was excited to ‘pop her This Morning cherry’ alongside Dermot on today’s show.

However, it appears not everyone is familiar with Angela – despite her many years working in TV.

“Who on earth is she?!” asked one. “Who’s the new lady?” said another. “Who is this red head? Never heard of her. She and Dermot do not gel,” another declared, before adding: “Sorry.”

Another said they were switching off, especially after the presenters announced a rinse-and-repeat how to cook a turkey segment.

“Angela Scanlon and the ridiculous ‘how to cook a turkey’ for dummies that’s trotted out every year. No thanks,” said one. “She is terrible,” said another.

“Angela Scanlon is sooooooo bad I actually wish @AlisonHammond was presenting today! And that is saying something,” said another.

The Irish presenter was branded a ‘breath of fresh air’ by some viewers (Credit: ITV)

‘Breath of fresh air’

Not everyone felt the same, though. In fact, some viewers decided that Angela was a “breath of fresh air” and said they’d like to see her land a permanent presenting role on the show.

“Nice to see Angela on with Dermot. He’s had that many co-hosts this week they should fit a turnstile in the studio!” joked one. “Angela, another good host beside Dermot – the producers must see that they are all much more liked than Cat. Love the red hair too,”  said a second.

“Love Angela on the show. She’s a breath of fresh air,” said another. “Angela for Friday’s programme, replace Alison Hammond!” another urged.

Read more: Josie Gibson divides This Morning viewers as she shows off glam new look: ‘You don’t need lip filler!’