Toto Wolff says Verstappen’s car is cause of driver’s misery, not new regulations
Toto Wolff has dismissed criticism of the new Formula One regulations from Max Verstappen as a result of the “horror show” Red Bull car the four-time champion is having to drive.Verstappen has not been alone in his outspoken criticism of the new rules and after he was forced to retire from the Chinese GP on Sunday he delivered his most damning condemnation yet of the emphasis on electrical energy deployment and recovery.“It’s terrible,”he said.“If someone likes this, then you really don’t know what racing is like.Not fun at all.
This is not racing and I would say the same if I would be winning races because I care about the racing product.”Wolff’s Mercedes team have one-two victories in the first two GPs of the season, with 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli securing his first F1 win in China on Sunday.Their car is comfortably the best of the field, with a fearsome engine and excellent balance and Wolff attributed much of Verstappen’s dissatisfaction to the poorly performing Red Bull.At best, it has been fourth-fastest in the opening two rounds and, at Verstappen’s own admission, a handful to drive.“Max is really, I think, in a horror show,” he said.
“When you look at the onboard he has in qualifying, this is just horrendous to drive,”F1 was due to consider adjustments to the rules in order to address some driver complaints after China, but the race proved to be successful,Lewis Hamilton and his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, enjoyed a race-long contest and there was overtaking and wheel-to-wheel competition throughout the field that went down enormously well with the crowd,Hamilton said it was “the best racing I’ve ever experienced in Formula One”,It is believed the meeting will still take place, but decisions on whether the rules will be adjusted will now not take place until after the Japanese GP in two weeks’ time.
The race at Suzuka precedes a five-week gap until the next round in Miami after the cancellation of the Bahrain And Saudi meetings.Wolff was adamant that, from a neutral standpoint, the show in China was a success.“From an entertainment perspective, I believe what we’ve seen between Ferrari and Mercedes was good racing, many overtakes,” he said.“We were all part of Formula One when there was no overtaking.Sometimes we’re too nostalgic about the good old years, but the product is good in itself.
We saw quite some racing in the midfield also and that is the positive.”He also stressed that while the opinions of drivers were important, the metric the sport and its chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, were most interested in was the reaction of spectators.“You look at the fans and the excitement that is there live, the cheering when there are overtakes and also on social media, the younger fans, the vast majority through all the demographics like the sport at the moment,” he said.“We can always look at how we’re improving it but all the indicators say, and all the data say, that people love it.That’s why I spoke with Stefano, he says that too.
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Mother’s Day UK recipes: three delicious ideas to make for your mum from Ravinder Bhogal
Few things say “I love you” more than an unbidden cup of tea, but if you want to show true appreciation to the maternal figure in your life this Mother’s Day, there’s nothing better than a few indulgent snacks to go with it. I love the British tradition of afternoon tea, but I find finger sandwiches in hotel lobbies a little too fussy. I would much rather a fortifying savoury sandwich, a slab of good, old-fashioned cake and buttery biscuits that crumble into a million sweet crumbs.This very simple cake can be baked in a regular cake tin, but cooking it in a bundt tin makes it much more of a showstopper. If you want to forgo the icing, serve with a dollop of creme fraiche and berries instead
Benjamina Ebuehi’s recipe for caramelised white chocolate and rhubarb cheesecake | The sweet spot
It’s often my own impatience that forces me to make no-bake cheesecakes over baked ones. They’re not at all as faffy, though it’s pretty hard to beat the lighter, silkier texture you get with a baked version plus the extra effort is worth it on a special occasion such as Mother’s Day. I’ve sweetened the filling for this one with caramelised white chocolate – it brings a beautiful, creamy, dulce de leche-type caramel flavour that even the biggest white chocolate haters should enjoy. If making your own caramelised white chocolate feels a step too far, however, just buy bars of blond chocolate instead. Top with gently poached rhubarb for a pop of colour and to cut through the richness
Noma chef resigns amid allegations of physical abuse of staff
René Redzepi, the head chef and co-founder of Noma, has announced his resignation from his internationally acclaimed Copenhagen restaurant following allegations he physically abused his staff.Redzepi had been facing protests in Los Angeles before a four-month pop-up that launched this week. His resignation on Wednesday comes after the New York Times detailed allegations of physical and psychological abuse, including claims that he “punched employees in the face, jabbed them with kitchen implements and slammed them against walls”.He wrote in an Instagram story: “I’ve decided to step away and allow our extraordinary leaders to now guide the restaurant into its next chapter.”Redzepi said the recent weeks had “brought attention and important conversations about our restaurant, industry and my past leadership”, writing: “I have worked to be a better leader and Noma has taken big steps to transform the culture over many years
Light red wines for spring drinking
Can wine ever be good for you? The question has surely occurred to most of us after a night on the chȃteau de migraine, especially if we’ve read the increasingly dire warnings on alcohol consumption. Still, as with chocolate, a lot depends on what type of alcohol you drink. After all, a 90% cocoa solids situation is probably going to do less harm than, say, a family tub of Celebrations, and, while all alcohol is, I hate to break it to you, alcohol, there are definitely better choices you can make.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link
Rachel Roddy’s recipe for risotto in bianco | A kitchen in Rome
Parmigiano reggiano, grana padano, lodigiano, trentingrana and the other members of the grana-type cheese family (there are many, and all are worth seeking out) are far from cheap. Which is why it is important to use every last bit, including the rind with the last few millimetres of cheese still attached. That functions as a sort of highly flavoured and fatty stock cube that can be added to soups and stews. The best place to keep your precious rinds is in a plastic bag or airtight container in the freezer, which also preserves flavour and stops them drying out, until they’re pulled out and added directly to whatever needs a boost, or to make one of the nicest, most delicately flavoured and cheesy broths, which in turn makes a lovely risotto.I have written about risotto many times here, with each version a new favourite, and providing lessons in a dish that, regardless of how much I learn and practise, I am always chasing: the right proportions of rice to broth, as well as a pleasing consistency and texture
‘Highly problematic behavior’: Noma residency in LA starts with PR crisis
It was always going to be an indulgence for René Redzepi, the Danish-Albanian chef of Noma fame, to bring his exacting, innovative vision of haute cuisine to Los Angeles and spend several weeks tickling the palates of well-heeled diners at a hilltop estate once dubbed “the most beautiful home in Hollywood”.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.The timing has certainly been unfortunate, since the US is now fighting a destabilizing war in the Middle East and food prices are climbing so steeply that many ordinary Americans can no longer afford to eat at McDonald’s, much less contemplate the counterintuitive delights of tacinga cactus, bougainvillea petals, mealworms and giant tuna eyes
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Toto Wolff says Verstappen’s car is cause of driver’s misery, not new regulations
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