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Alonso Set To Make Dramatic F1 Return In 2021
Renault is set to announce that Fernando Alonso will make a dramatic return to Formula 1 next year, rejoining the French team for a third stint after winning two world titles with them back in 2005 and 2006. The Spaniard, who will be 39 later this month, left McLaren and Formula…
Fernando has missed F1 and is on his way back
Cycling The North: Settle To Wharfedale
Robert Thorpe
Cycling Correspondent
Countryside around Malham
Malham is one the great images of the Yorkshire Dales. Even Harry Potter has been here, albeit not cycling :) The roads in this corner of Yorkshire are steep and unrelenting from all directions, as are the trails and bridleways. Yes, whether on road bike or mountain bike, the riding…
8:39 AM 10th July 2020
Bottas On Top In Austrian Thriller
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Valtteri Bottas remained calm under pressure to claim the victory spoils
Formula 1 made its long awaited return in Austria this weekend and, after being fastest in pre-season testing back in February, the Mercedes team continued its domination of the sport since 2014 as Valtteri Bottas won an absolute thriller of a race. Austria’s Red Bull Ring circuit is beautifully located just…
9:28 AM 5th July 2020
Road Cycling In Lancashire: Get Those Wheels Rolling With Help From Pedal North
Robert Thorpe
Cycling Correspondent
Lizzie Deignam putting in some road miles
Both Lancashire and Yorkshire provide some of the very best road cycling routes in the world. It also has to be said that these two ‘Rose Counties’ have supplied the Great Britain team with great cyclists. Last year saw the World Championships come to the area, albeit damp; but that’s weather…
3:49 AM 3rd July 2020
Inspirational Zanardi Severely Injured In Italian Cycle Race
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Zanardi is such a likeable and inspirational character
Alex Zanardi, who lost both legs in a motor racing accident in 2001 but inspired millions around the world by fighting back to race cars again and become a multiple Paralympic handcycling champion, has been severely injured in Italy during a cycle race. After extensive brain and facial surgery he…
1:34 AM 20th June 2020
Champion Russell Dominates Again In Canadian Finale
Canada was the venue for this evening’s final Formula 1 Virtual Grand Prix before the sport returns for real in Austria on 5 July and it was George Russell who dominated, taking a fourth victory in a row. The Williams driver was already the unofficial champion before the start of the…
5:11 AM 15th June 2020
Racy Russell Makes It A Hat Trick
The seventh of eight Formula 1 Virtual Grands Prix before the real thing returns has taken place around the demanding streets of Baku City in Azerbaijan this evening and the 22 year old British driver George Russell deservedly made it a hat-trick of consecutive victories, reinforcing to Mercedes team principal…
8:17 AM 8th June 2020
Formula 1 Confirms This Season’s Opening Eight Races
As expected, Formula 1 has today confirmed that, following the postponement of the 2020 season due to the global pandemic, the opening eight races of the heavily revised calendar will all take place in Europe during a ten week period starting on 5 July in Austria. Due to the ongoing fluidity…
4:11 PM 2nd June 2020
Government Gives Green Light To Resumption Of Competitive Sport Behind Closed Doors
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport publishes 'stage three' of its elite and professional sport guidance. Guidance permits return to domestic competition from 1 June 2020 First major sporting event expected to be 2000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse on 6 June …
9:11 PM 30th May 2020
Flawless Russell Makes It Two Wins In A Row
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
A second consecutive victory for the highly likeable George Russell
It should have been the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix this weekend, but its cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic left us with an online virtual race instead, with Williams’ George Russell putting in a stellar performance to take the victory spoils again. Six current F1 drivers have been competing regularly…
6:54 AM 25th May 2020
Sainz To Ferrari, Ricciardo To Mclaren And Vettel’s Future
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
The Formula 1 driver market very much sprung into life on Tuesday morning when it was announced that Sebastian Vettel would be leaving Ferrari at the end of the season yet to start. As a result Italy’s iconic Scuderia has acted swiftly to sign his replacement - the 25 year…
10:53 AM 14th May 2020
Vettel To Leave Ferrari At Season End
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Sebastian Vettel is happy to move on after six years at Ferrari
The Ferrari Formula 1 team and its driver Sebastian Vettel have today officially confirmed that the German quadruple world champion and the iconic Scuderia squad will be parting company at the end of the current season. The announcement came as no surprise, with Vettel in his sixth year at the Maranello…
4:20 AM 12th May 2020
Russell Holds Off Leclerc To Reign In Spain
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
George Russell was delighted to give his beleaguered Williams team a victory
With the global coronavirus pandemic still delaying the start of the 2020 Formula 1 season, this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya had to become virtual and it was 22 year old British driver George Russell who emerged on top after another gripping encounter. With the likes of…
8:30 PM 10th May 2020
Albon On Top After An Epic Battle With Leclerc
This weekend should have witnessed the return of Formula 1 to Holland for the first time since 1985, but due to the coronavirus pandemic fans had to settle instead for an online virtual Dutch Grand Prix which Red Bull’s Alex Albon won after a thrilling racelong battle with Ferrari’s Charles…
8:53 AM 3rd May 2020
Memories Of F1’s Darkest Weekend
For me the first day of May will always trigger memories of the iconic Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna, who was killed on that very day at the Imola circuit in northern Italy back in 1994 whilst competing in the San Marino Grand Prix. 26 years ago today we lost the…
10:54 AM 1st May 2020
Any British Grand Prix Will Be Without Fans And The French Race Is Cancelled
Today has been one of official Formula 1 announcements about this year’s British Grand Prix, the French Grand Prix and Liberty Media’s plans for the overall shape of the delayed 2020 calendar. Firstly, Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix, made the expected announcement that sadly any race there this…
4:58 PM 27th April 2020
F1 Targets 5 July Return In Austria As Budget Cut Talks Progress
The opening Grand Prix of the 2020 Formula 1 season could take place at the scenic Red Bull Ring in Austria on 5 July behind closed doors and under strict anti-coronavirus health measures after the event received provisional support from the Austrian government and medical authorities. With the first nine races…
1:47 PM 26th April 2020
Leclerc Makes It Two Out Of Two In Virtual China
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is just as fast online as in the real world
It should have been the real Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix this weekend, but the ongoing impact of the global coronavirus pandemic meant that we had to make do with the virtual online version instead and, as in the previous virtual race a fortnight ago, it was Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc…
9:39 PM 19th April 2020
Personal Memories Of A Footballing Legend
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Long after hanging up his boots he remained actively involved with the sport he loved (photo: Leeds United)
The Leeds United and England footballing legend Norman Hunter sadly passed away on 17 April aged 76 after having been hospitalised with the COVID-19 virus and becoming yet another victim of the global coronavirus pandemic. I don’t wish this short feature to be a review of his illustrious career, but…
2:28 AM 18th April 2020
RIP Sir Stirling Moss 1929-2020
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Stirling and yours truly when I visited his London home in 2007 for an interview
Sir Stirling Moss, who died in the early hours of 12 April 2020 following a period of ill health, was a friend, a colleague and far more importantly without doubt the greatest Formula 1 driver never to become a world champion despite being the runner-up on four occasions. During the early…
2:21 PM 12th April 2020
The Start Of The F1 Season Is Further Delayed
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Ferrari’s Vettel (L) and Leclerc sharing a selfie in Montréal last year, but the duo won’t be returning this June
With the sporting world rife with ongoing postponements and cancellations of events due to the global coronavirus pandemic it came as no surprise that mid-June’s Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix has now been postponed too. This means that the first nine rounds of the season will not take place as scheduled…
5:46 AM 8th April 2020
F1 Holds Its Second E-Sports Virtual Grand Prix
With the opening eight races of the 2020 season either postponed or cancelled, Formula 1 has sought to fill the void by introducing a series of online Esports Virtual Grands Prix. The second event of the year was held on Sunday evening and was set to include six current F1 drivers…
6:52 AM 6th April 2020
An Update About This Year’s British Grand Prix Plus Other F1 Snippets
Silverstone, the home of the highly popular Formula 1 British Grand Prix, has set a deadline of the end of April for a decision to be made about whether this year’s event in July can take place. The worldwide coronavirus pandemic has already caused the postponement or cancellation of the first…
7:51 AM 2nd April 2020
Azerbaijan Joins The List Of Cancelled And Postponed F1 Grands Prix
With the opening seven Formula 1 Grands Prix of this year already cancelled or postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus situation, Azerbaijan’s race on 7 June has now also been called off. With no indication as yet of any improvement in the spread of the virus across Europe, the Azerbaijan promoters…
3:48 PM 23rd March 2020
Prince Albert Tests Positive For COVID-19 As Monaco Cancels Its Postponed Grand Prix
Prince Albert II, the Monégasque Head of State, has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and as a result is self-isolating, but continuing to work from his office in his private apartments whilst remaining in contact with his cabinet and government. The 62 year old is being monitored by his personal…
3:19 PM 20th March 2020
May’s Dutch, Spanish And Monaco Grands Prix Postponed Due To Coronavirus
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Zandvoort will no longer be a sea of orange clad Verstappen fans in early May
With the opening four races of this year’s Formula 1 season already postponed, it has now been announced as very much expected that May’s Dutch, Spanish and Monaco Grands Prix have also been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and that the sport will only resume when it is safe…
6:19 PM 19th March 2020
This Year’s Formula 1 Season May Not Start Until The End Of May
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and the rest of the F1 field will no longer be competing in Bahrain next weekend
Following the announcement early on Friday morning of the cancellation of this year’s Australian Grand Prix Formula 1 and its governing body, the FIA, have now indicated that the 2020 season may not get under way until the end of May. They confirmed that, as expected, the next two races in…
4:22 PM 13th March 2020
The Australian Grand Prix Is Cancelled
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Haas’ Grosjean (L) and Magnussen walking through the Albert Park paddock on Thursday before the big announcement
Following the withdrawal on Thursday of the McLaren Formula 1 team from this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix after a member of staff tested positive for coronavirus, it has now been officially confirmed that the race will not take place. There had been much speculation that the Grand Prix would be cancelled,…
8:30 AM 13th March 2020
Mclaren Withdraws From This Weekend’s Australian Grand Prix
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
The new 2020 McLaren F1 car will now sadly not be taking to the track this weekend
The Woking based McLaren Formula 1 team has withdrawn from this weekend’s opening round of this year’s world championship in Melbourne, Australia after a member of its personnel tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. Its explanatory official statement confirmed “The decision has been taken on the duty of care not…
5:01 PM 12th March 2020
Bahrain Grand Prix To Run Behind Closed Doors
On 22 March the Bahrain Grand Prix, the second race on this year’s calendar, will make history by being the first F1 event to ever be run behind closed doors due to the global coronavirus outbreak. Bahrain had recently stopped selling any further tickets for its Grand Prix weekend whilst it…
11:25 AM 8th March 2020
A Formula 1 War Breaks Out
Seven of Formula 1’s ten teams have all issued a joint simultaneous statement in reaction to a statement last Friday from the sport’s governing body, the FIA, which advised of a private ‘settlement’ with Ferrari over the legality of its power unit last season. The seven outfits, including Mercedes, Red Bull…
8:19 PM 4th March 2020
Coronavirus Causes Australian Grand Prix Concerns
The new Formula 1 season is set to kick off in two weeks’ time with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. However, concerns have arisen about arrangements for personnel travelling to the race and especially those from Italy where the impact of coronavirus has been particularly hard felt. Ferrari team principal…
5:44 PM 29th February 2020
Mercedes Still Fastest Overall As F1 Pre-Season Testing Ends
On the last day of this week’s second and final Formula 1 pre-season test at Spain’s Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to the honours for setting the fastest pace, and the German team remained at the top of the overall testing timesheets thanks to…
9:09 PM 28th February 2020
Mercedes On Top After The Opening Three Day Test
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Valtteri Bottas emerged on top in his new Mercedes W11
The first of two three day Formula 1 pre-season test sessions at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has now been concluded and the headline is that the Mercedes team very much emerged on top, whilst also revealing to the world a very innovative alternative to normal F1 steering systems seen to…
11:00 AM 22nd February 2020
Alfa Romeo’s C39 Completes The F1 Class Of 2020
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Race drivers Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi uncover the new Alfa Romeo C39 in the Barcelona pitlane this morning
Alfa Romeo has become the final Formula 1 team to fully reveal its new car for the forthcoming season, the C39, saving budget by simply presenting its challenger in the Barcelona pitlane this morning immediately prior to the start of the first of two 3-day pre-season tests. We’re talking here about…
9:44 AM 19th February 2020
The Williams And Racing Point Formula 1 Car Launches
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
The new FW43, which Williams hopes will improve its fortunes
Following a busy spell of Formula 1 new car launches last week both the Williams and Racing Point teams have now joined the club by revealing their own new challengers. Williams revealed studio and ontrack images of its new car, the FW43, and the most striking thing about it is its…
4:38 PM 17th February 2020
AlphaTauri Makes A Striking Arrival
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
The new blue and white livery of the first AlphaTauri car
AlphaTauri, Red Bull’s clothing brand, is the new name for what was the Toro Rosso Formula 1 team upto the end of last year and the outfit has just revealed its striking 2020 challenger, the AT01, at Red Bull’s Hangar 7 facility in Salzburg, Austria. The launch also included a…
1:35 PM 15th February 2020
Mercedes’ 2020 Silver Arrow Breaks Cover
The all-conquering Mercedes Formula 1 team, which has won both the drivers and constructors championship titles every year since 2014, has unveiled its new challenger, the W11, at Silverstone, a car they hope will take them to even more success this season. With the technical regulations remaining stable team principal…
3:31 PM 14th February 2020
McLaren Uncovers Its New Matt Finish MCL35
The McLaren Formula 1 team has uncovered its new car for the forthcoming season, the MCL35, during a launch at its Woking HQ, which, like Ferrari’s event on Tuesday, was streamed live online and shown on Sky television’s F1 channel. 2020 is a special year for the team as it…
3:16 PM 13th February 2020
Red Bull And Renault’s New F1 Cars
The Red Bull and Renault Formula 1 teams have revealed their new 2020 cars ahead of pre-season testing which begins in Barcelona on Wednesday of next week. Red Bull initially shared a digital image of their new challenger online before conducting some shakedown running at Silverstone with their 22 year old…
10:18 AM 13th February 2020
Ferrari Reveals Its New Challenger In Theatrical Style
Ferrari, the only team to have competed in every season of Formula 1 since it began back in 1950, has launched its 2020 challenger in great style at the Romolo Valli Municipal Theatre in Reggio Emilia, 30 miles from their base at Maranello in northern Italy. The city of Reggio Emilia…
7:40 AM 12th February 2020
April’s Chinese Grand Prix Called Off Due To Coronavirus
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Action from the start of the 2019 Chinese Grand Prix
As widely expected, the ongoing global coronavirus health issue has led to an announcement from Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, and Formula One Management (FOM) that the Chinese Grand Prix, scheduled for April 19 in Shanghai, has been called off to ensure the health and safety of travelling F1…
1:20 AM 12th February 2020
Haas Becomes The First Formula 1 Team To Reveal Its 2020 Car
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
The Haas VF-20
The Haas Formula 1 team has surprised everyone by revealing images of its new VF-20 car for this season unexpectedly early when the first launch was set to be Ferrari’s on Tuesday of next week. After sporting a sponsorship related black and gold livery in 2019 they have reverted to their…
8:34 AM 7th February 2020
Racing Point To Become Aston Martin In 2021
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Last season’s Racing Point car
It has been announced today that the Racing Point Formula 1 team, which is located just across the road from the main entrance to the Silverstone circuit, will become the Aston Martin works team with effect from the start of 2021 and for an initial ten year term. The news follows…
4:22 AM 31st January 2020
Preston Grasshoppers 26 Wharfedale 26
Wharfedale RUFC 
photo by Ro Burridge
A scrappy first 60 minutes left Wharfedale trailing by 14 points with 20 minutes to go. Dale had not really played that well. Jack Blakeney-Edwards and Tom Davidson kicked four penalties each and Hoppers held the lead by pouncing on two errors by Dale. Preston’s first try came when Dale dropped…
3:00 AM 20th January 2020
Red Bull Secures The Services Of Verstappen For An Additional Three Years
The Red Bull Formula 1 team has made sure it will retain the services of its lead driver Max Verstappen beyond the end of the forthcoming season by giving the 22-year-old a three year extension to his current contract, which will tie the highly talented Dutch racer to the Milton…
12:15 PM 8th January 2020
Fylde 24 Wharfedale 17
A magnificent game of rugby ended with Fylde clinging on to win and maintain their challenge at the top of the table. The Lancashire team held a strong lead at half time outscoring the visitors by three tries to a solitary three points from Blakeney-Edwards. It was however Wharfedale…
2:00 PM 6th January 2020
A Wonderful Early Christmas Present For Ferrari's Charles Leclerc
The Ferrari Formula 1 team has just handed its young Monégasque rising star Charles Leclerc a wonderful early Christmas present by extending his contract until at least the end of 2024, representing five more full seasons with the iconic Italian outfit. Leclerc, now aged 22, has shone at every level as…
5:02 AM 23rd December 2019
Ben Stokes Voted BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Ahead Of Lewis Hamilton And Dina Asher-Smith
This year the BBC held its annual Sports Personality Of The Year evening in Aberdeen and, after a public vote just like Strictly Come Dancing the night before, it was England cricketer Ben Stokes who emerged on top, with Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton and athlete Dina Asher-Smith the runners-up. It…
6:00 PM 15th December 2019
The Porsche Experience Centre, Silverstone
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
The impressive main building guarded by two fine racing Porsches
Just days after the conclusion of this year’s Formula 1 season in Abu Dhabi I had the opportunity to visit the Porsche Experience Centre at the Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire, the home of British motorsport, and what an experience it truly was. The impressive facility took six years to build and…
4:30 PM 6th December 2019
Verstappen Victorious After An Absolute Thriller In Brazil
Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent
Verstappen flies around Interlagos en route to victory
With both 2019 titles already wrapped up again by Mercedes for a sixth year in a row the atmosphere in the Formula 1 paddock prior to this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix was relatively subdued, but after an incident and drama laden race Max Verstappen emerged victorious for Red Bull. Mercedes team…
9:37 AM 18th November 2019
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