New champions of norrath game

The curse of sport is that unless you are number one, you are condemned to live under a cloud of failure. For no matter how many races you win, poles you take or points you score, there can only be one champion. The rest all fall short. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Red Bull know this only too well. After being deposed from F1’s Mount Olympus with the onset of the V6 turbo hybrids, their journey back to the top was as frustrating as it was humbling. But that decade of discontent reached its end over the past two seasons, and Red Bull head into a new year as undisputedly and unequivocally the best team in their sport. Emerging bruised, bloodied but victorious from their brutal year-long battle against Mercedes in 2021, Red Bull knew they were vulnerable going into Max Verstappen’s first year sporting the coveted number one on his car. But when Mercedes faltered, Ferrari faced up to Red Bull in their place. However, Ferrari’s implosion as the season … [Read more...] about Will Red Bull dominate again as their development handicap bites in 2023? · RaceFans

In the round-up: Manor’s Dave Ryan admits the team’s cars still need to become much quicker. Links Your daily digest of F1 news, views, features and more from hundreds of sites across the web: Manor have struggling Sauber in their sights (Reuters) "There is no doubt that this year’s car is a massive step on last year’s. But we are still nowhere near quick enough." 'I'm at the top of my game' - Sergio Perez Q&A (F1) "Q: You just said that you have improved a lot as a driver. In what areas? SP: In qualifying. My race pace and how I look after the tyres has also improved. Actually in all aspects of racing! But the biggest single factor compared to last season is my much better qualifying performance." Red Bull expects bigger engine gains in Canada, Baku (Motorsport) "There has been approximately 0.2s (gain in Monaco), so hopefully that will translate to a bit more when we get to circuits like Montreal and Azerbaijan." From the cockpit: Felipe Nasr on a … [Read more...] about F1 Fanatic round-up: Manor “still nowhere near quick enough”

Nico Rosberg had gone 217 days without losing a point to Lewis Hamilton in the world championship. And he looked set to continue that streak as he led his team mate in the opening stages of last week’s Monaco Grand Prix. But when the call came from the Mercedes pit wall to let Hamilton by Rosberg didn’t hesitate to comply. Mercedes praised Rosberg’s willingness to let Hamilton through but it cost him dearly in the championship. His team mate went on to win the race, reducing Rosberg’s advantage over him from 43 points to 24. World championships have been won by far less. Will Rosberg regret not being a bit more ruthless? Was he right to follow Mercedes’ team orders? For The drivers are the teams’ employees and they are expected to do as they’re told. Rosberg knows this well: he had to sit behind Hamilton for lap after lap in the closing stages of the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix despite potentially being quick enough to pass his team mate. Arriving in Monaco this yer, the … [Read more...] about Was Rosberg right to let Hamilton pass? · RaceFans

Against the Wind: Edward Kennedy and the Rise of Conservatism, 1976-2009 By Neal Gabler Crown. 1,227 pp. $45 - - - By John A. Farrell Penguin Press. 738 pp. $40 - - - In his 47 years in the United States Senate - from the high promise of his brother Jack's presidency to the hard slog of Barack Obama's first months in the White House - Edward M. Kennedy accomplished as much as anyone who ever served in that body. During that half-century, Kennedy's large extended family was at the center of a cascade of unimaginable tragedies, including his brothers' assassinations, his near-fatal plane crash, cancer diagnoses for two of his children, divorce, drug addiction, sex scandals and the premature deaths of several other relatives. Perhaps most important, Ted Kennedy emerged after his brother Robert's death in 1968 as the chief torchbearer of American liberalism, even as it came under attack from an insurgent political right. Kennedy's rich, dramatic, consequential life … [Read more...] about Book World: Two books capture the messy, monumental life of Ted Kennedy

Sebastian Vettel could continue on as a director of the GPDA with drivers waiting until the new season to give the German the chance to mull it over. The four-time World Champion, who retired from Formula 1 at the end of the 2022 season, has served as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) since 2010, becoming a popular member within the paddock. Despite his retirement, which came after 299 races, Vettel’s departure from the GPDA is not a certainty as even those currently without a seat are permitted to stay on in the role. Chairman Alex Wurz is an example of that, with the Austrian last racing in F1 in 2007 but he returned seven years later to take up his current position. Speaking exclusively to PlanetF1.com, Wurz revealed that Vettel’s future with the organisation has not yet been decided and that the current members chose to wait until the new season before making a move to allow Vettel time to think it over. “We will decide on [Vettel’s role] during … [Read more...] about Exclusive: Sebastian Vettel given extra time to decide on future as GPDA director

Frustrations over Connecticut’s roll out of a long-awaited expansion to the “Bottle Bill” that increases the number of beverages eligible for a deposit have spilled over into a public fight over the re-nomination of one of Gov. Ned Lamont’s cabinet secretaries, and sent top Democrats rushing to smooth over tensions with new legislation clarifying the nearly two-year-old law. The state’s commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Katie Dykes, is facing an unusual delay in the typical formality of having lawmakers sign off on a governor’s cabinet appointments, particularly those who are already in the position of leading an agency. While House leaders said this week that they ultimately expect to confirm Dykes, they warned that Republican anger over what they describe as a broken agreement to exclude wine-and-spirit-based seltzers from a large expansion of the state’s container redemption return program — better known as the Bottle Bill — could spark … [Read more...] about How hard seltzers are holding up the long-awaited expansion of Connecticut’s bottle return program

Ahead of his first season on the F1 grid, Nyck de Vries has spoken about the “fine” line between focusing on the details and “overthinking” them. This season De Vries’s dream of racing in Formula 1 will be realised, the Dutchman signed by Red Bull to AlphaTauri. He caught the attention of Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, and the rest of the paddock too, with his points-scoring one-off appearance for Williams at last year’s Italian Grand Prix. That led to talks with Marko, the 79-year-old committing De Vries to a multi-year deal although he’s only confirmed as a AlphaTauri driver for the 2023 season. That means the pressure is on for De Vries, but he can’t let it get to him. Speaking about his strengths on this week’s AlphaTauri’s podcast, Tauri Talk , the driver acknowledged that often strengths can also be a weakness and that’s something he has to watch out for. “My commitment, determination but also my perfectionism is a great asset and a strength,” the … [Read more...] about Nyck de Vries on the mental conundrum he faces in his first full F1 season

While Mercedes remain the team to beat their rivals have begun to close in. Red Bull’s engine upgrade could make them a contender for victory this weekend and Ferrari are also bringing new bits for their motor. Which will lead the charge against the silver cars on Sunday? Mercedes The Mercedes team will be very wary of the increased threat posed by Red Bull, but will rely on their dominant power unit to keep them clear of the pack in Canada. This is one of Lewis Hamilton’s favourite circuits, having taken his first victory here in 2007 and reaching the top step three times since. Ferrari Keen to move on from their disappointing performance at Monaco, the team will be spending a further two tokens to upgrade the turbo this weekend. That might be what they need to close the gap between them and Mercedes – and put those troublesome Red Bulls back behind them. Williams The long straights will typically suit the Williams car, but the twisty middle sector will punish … [Read more...] about 2016 Canadian Grand Prix team-by-team preview · RaceFans

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 26 SAYREVILLE, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey borough councilwoman was found shot to death in an SUV outside of her home in a quiet townhouse complex, where police Thursday searched the area without making an arrest. Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, 30, was found around 7:20 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Middlesex County prosecutor’s office. She had been shot multiple times and died at the scene. Dwumfour, a Republican, was elected to her first three-year term in 2021, when she ousted a Democratic incumbent. Colleagues recalled her as a soft-spoken devout Christian who could maintain her composure in contentious situations. “She was a 30-year-old woman. To have this happen in such a tragic way, I mean, our hearts are just broken and … [Read more...] about NJ councilwoman found shot to death outside of her home