Like someone cut my heart out – Claire Williams on sale of father’s F1 team
Claire Williams said selling the family’s Formula One team is a grief that has been difficult to come to terms with, admitting it has felt like someone cut her heart out and never gave it back. Claire, 47, has been an F1 outsider for coming up to three years following the sale of the team founded by her father Sir Frank Williams to American investment firm Dorilton Capital for £136million. She resigned as de facto boss at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix, while Frank – who extraordinarily took his motor racing team from an empty carpet warehouse to the summit of the sport – died a year later. “When I left in Monza it felt like someone cut my heart out and it has never been returned,” said Claire, in an interview with the PA news agency ahead of Williams’ 800th race at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix. “You just have to find something to put in its place. But it was very difficult then and three years on, it is still really hard. “It is just one of those griefs that is really difficult to get over, or to come to terms with. Now we have lost Dad, it sometimes feels as though it was just a dream. Did that period in our lives really happen?” Sir Frank oversaw 114 victories, 16 drivers’ and constructors’ world championships and became the longest-serving team boss in the sport’s history. His story is made all the more remarkable by a horrific car crash which left him with injuries so devastating doctors considered turning off his life-support machine. Until his death in 2021, he was recognised as the world’s oldest surviving tetraplegic. Frank, who lived at the team headquarters in Grove, Oxfordshire, handed over the managerial baton to daughter Claire in 2013. She guided the team to a brilliant third in the constructors’ championship, behind the financial muscle of Mercedes and Ferrari over the following two years, before a lack of major investment contributed to Williams’ decline. A decade has passed since a Williams driver last won a race. “There was so much that went on in those last few years, which to this day I will never be able to talk about,” continues Claire. “But I saw the team through three very difficult seasons and I was able to hand over something that was still living and still breathing to someone with deeper pockets than us. We kept everyone in jobs, we didn’t go into administration and I am very proud of that. “When I have challenging circumstances I bury my head in jobs and when we sold Williams, my next concern was, where did Dad go? “As much as Dorilton were kind enough to say he could always live at the factory, I needed him close to me. And coincidentally the house next door to us came up for sale, so we moved Dad in. “I managed his care team. I made sure he was happy and comfortable in his new home and we went off and did some nice stuff together. He would pick up my little one, Nate, from nursery. “But then he got sicker, greater care was required to look after him and he passed away. But for the next six months, we organised this wonderful memorial service. We then decided to move house, renovating our old house in Ascot and our new home in South Downs. “So, I am the master of distraction. Life carries on. And as much as I miss Williams, and I miss Formula One dreadfully, there is a whole other world out there. You have to go and find happy elsewhere. That is what I have done.” However, Claire discovered her zen state is disrupted by watching the sport she loves. She will not tune in on Sunday to see Alex Albon and rookie Logan Sargeant scramble for a point or two under the tutelage of new team principal James Vowles – an appointment Claire said her father would have approved of – in Williams’ landmark race. “I turned on the TV to see Alex had scored a point in Australia earlier this year,” she continued with a broad smile. “Ted’s Notebook was on and Ted [Kravitz] grabbed James and said, ‘mate, congratulations, you are only Williams’ third team principal and you have got a point. How does it feel?’ “And I was like, third team principal? That is Frank, that is Jost [Capito] and that is James, what about me? Ted has just cancelled me on national television! “I may not have been called team principal but I operated that way and I have literally just been erased. I turned it straight off and vowed never to watch again. “But I tried watching the last race at Silverstone. I thought to myself, ‘Right, I am going to do this. Come on’. But I watched the formation lap and that was that. I lasted five minutes. “I don’t know what it is, but if you talk to any person who has worked, lived and breathed Formula One – no matter if that is for 20 years or 20 minutes – it does something to you. It absorbs you, and when you leave, particularly involuntary like I did, it is very difficult to watch it and not feel that loss.” Claire dovetails speaking engagements and “top-secret television projects” with her role as brand ambassador for Williams Advanced Engineering. Earlier this year, she launched the Frank Williams Academy in her father’s honour. The project aims to raise £1.5m to help educate and train those affected by spinal cord injuries. She also revealed Sky offered her the chance to return to the F1 paddock as a pundit. “It was too soon,” said Claire. “It is better when you leave, you leave. “Unless someone said to me, ‘Come back and be a team principal and you can have Williams back’, I don’t necessarily think there is a job I would want, but never say never.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Daniel Ricciardo dreaming of Red Bull return ahead of F1 comeback How does Max Verstappen and Red Bull compare to the greats of Formula One? Lando Norris ‘honoured’ to join Lewis Hamilton in battle for Formula One glory
2023-07-21 16:51
Erdogan, Netanyahu to Meet to Talk Trade in Turkey-Israel Thaw
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet next week to discuss energy
2023-07-21 15:53
Barbie’s here: 7 other fashionable films to watch
After months of hype, Barbie is now in cinemas. It’s had arguably one of the best press tours of recent years – with star Margot Robbie dressed as a string of real-life Barbie dolls – and has sparked a craze for all things pink. From the hottest pink hues to saturated shades of red, rose and magenta, the latest style trend — coined ‘Barbiecore’ — is here to stay. Barbie is the latest example of a film influencing how we dress. Whether it’s glittering costumes or Nineties minimalism, film often uses fashion to dazzle – or even give inspiration for your own wardrobe. When it comes to fashion, some films are a cut above the rest — where the style or certain characters have become iconic for a reason. Here are some of the most fashionable movies to watch… 1. Breakfast At Tiffany’s, 1961 No discussion of fashionable films would be complete without a mention of Breakfast At Tiffany’s. Hubert de Givenchy created the iconic black dress for Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, which she wore with strings of pearls and chic black sunglasses. With Hepburn’s sleek bouffant and a long cigarette holder perpetually in hand, Breakfast at Tiffany’s shows that fashion doesn’t have to be OTT to make a statement. Golightly’s style has truly stood the test of time, and is still being copied today. 2. Pretty Woman, 1990 Pretty Woman stars Julia Roberts as Vivian, a prostitute who falls in love with rich entrepreneur Edward. With Edward’s money, Vivian gets a whole new wardrobe, serving some of the most memorable fashion moments in movie history. The most stand-out look is when Vivian goes to the opera, wearing an off-the-shoulder red gown which played off Roberts’s auburn hair. While this is certainly the knock-out look, the rest of the film is full of incredible outfits; whether it’s the brown polka dot dress Roberts wears to the polo, or the chic white sun dress paired with matching gloves and a black hat. 3. Pulp Fiction, 1994 There isn’t much to say about the menswear in Quentin Tarantino crime thriller Pulp Fiction. John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson stick to suits which aren’t perfectly fitted (this was the Nineties, after all), with the occasional trench coat worn on top. However, it’s the women’s clothes which really shine. Uma Thurman plays Mia Wallace, who stood out for her androgynous tailoring and an interpretation of Nineties minimalism which still resonates today. With black cigarette pants and white shirts, there wasn’t anything not to love about Thurman’s outfits. 4. Clueless, 1995 Few leading ladies have a style as covetable as Cher from Clueless, played by Alicia Silverstone. Her fashion was the epitome of Nineties cool – we bet you can already picture Cher’s yellow plaid skirt and jacket set, or the Calvin Klein slip dress. It wasn’t just Cher, but the whole cast serving up some iconic looks – whether it was Dionne’s black and white top hat or Amber in a fluffy headband. This was a preppy take on Nineties style, with plenty of over-the-knee socks and perfectly matching ensembles. The film provided a fashion education to a whole generation; when Cher is robbed at gunpoint, she argues about getting on the ground by saying: “You don’t understand, this is an Alaïa!” who she calls a “totally important designer”. The movie might have been made in 1995, but thanks to the current obsession with Nineties fashion, we’re still seeing Cher-inspired looks everywhere. 5. The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001 In terms of fashion, Gwyneth Paltrow as Margot is the real star of Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums, with her fur coats, tennis dresses and heavy eye make-up. The film’s style is as eclectic as can be expected from Anderson – the quirky director loves to play with bright colours. Special shout-out has to go to Ben Stiller’s character and his children, who wear matching red Adidas tracksuits throughout. 6. Atonement, 2007 You might not expect a film of love and betrayal in WWII to make this list, but Atonement – an adaptation of an Ian McEwan novel – isn’t an ordinary war film. In a particularly pivotal scene, Keira Knightley wears an unforgettable green silk dress with a low back and sweeping hemline. There have been countless replicas of the dress made, some of which have sold for hefty amounts of money. Even though the green dress overshadows the rest of the film’s fashion, the other outfits are just as beautiful – as Cecilia, Knightley wears everything from a white bathing suit with matching cap to more androgynous tailoring when the film moves into wartime. 7. The Great Gatsby, 2013 It’s hard not to be blown away by the costumes in Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book. Set in the flapper era, the outfits are a feast for the eyes. According to The Hollywood Reporter, costume and production designer Catherine Martin was in charge of 1,700 vintage costumes, and she enlisted the help of Miuccia Prada to do so. With sparkles, geometric shapes, headbands and plenty of feathers, the ensembles were a modern take on Twenties dressing, adding a glamorous and almost otherworldly note to the film. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live The qualities to teach your kids that are more important than exam results 6 hacks for handling the heatwave at a festival How to make your clothes last longer, as research shows expensive doesn’t always mean durable
2023-07-21 15:30
HK Court Says Protest Song is Matter of National Security
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2023-07-21 14:52
Blinken to visit Tonga, New Zealand, Australia July 24-29 -State Dept
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Tonga, New Zealand and Australia next week to discuss
2023-07-21 06:29
Margot Robbie’s stylist reveals six barely-seen outfits for Barbie press tour
Margot Robbie gave show-stopping performances on every hot pink carpet of the Barbie press tour, but a few of her planned Mattel-inspired outfits weren’t officially unveiled due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes cutting the world-wide event schedule short. To give the missed looks the recognition they deserve, Robbie’s stylist Andrew Mukamal debuted six never seen photos in an 18 July Instagram post. The first image showed the 33-year-old Australian actress in a Versace form-fitting number – pink, of course. Robbie’s sleek hair and makeup matched the subtle shimmer of the metallic strapless dress, with a neckline that looked as if it was the waist of a pair of pants. In true Barbieform, Mukamal adorned the look with baby pink socks, a white box clutch, pink crew socks, and Versace’s heeled loafers. Robbie and Mukamal took Alicia Silverstone’s iconic Clueless yellow two-piece to a whole new level in the second slide. The Wolf of Wall Street star cut a classic Chanel figure in a tweed two-piece and tortoise-print oval sunglasses by Oliver Peoples. Robbie also donned delicate Christian Louboutin white pumps to mimic Barbie’s signature toe stance, while her fuzzy Chanel crossbody added contrast to the otherwise conservative look. Looking pretty in pink, Mukamal styled Robbie in a double-buckle crop top and matching mini-skirt by Versace. The outfit was topped off with see-through pumps by Manolo Blahnik and a Judith Leiber handbag detailed with a sparkly silver bow. The fourth slide showed Robbie from her Australia press tour look: a strawberry-printed Moschino halter dress influenced by the original Barbie. She also brought back her white Louboutin’s, but paired them with Gentle Monster sunglasses and a bouncy updo. In the fifth image, Mukamal showed off his creation from the Mexico City press tour. Robbie was placed inside a life-size Barbie toy box with a logo-printed pink Versace dress and soft satin shoulder bag to match. The sixth and final slide featured Robbie on the hood of a standout pink Lamborghini in Pierpaolo’s Valentino. Her pointed toe pumps mirrored the mini square-neck short sleeve dress by the luxury Italian fashion house. Among Robbie’s notable looks from the highly-acclaimed film premiere was her dazzling black Schiaparelli ball gown inspired by the vintage Mattel “Solo in the Spotlight” doll. The tight-fitting haute couture piece honoured a classic 1960s style fad with a flounce black hem and red rosette. For the final stop in London, Robbie wowed fans in London by wearing Vivienne Westwood. Mukamal tapped into vintage Barbie when he dressed Robbie in three layers of pearl chokers, a baby pink wrap gown with corset detailing, and a detachable white fur trim. The look was completed with a long train attached to a flower that was stitched on one side and fell to floor. The Greta Gerwig film is set to debut in theatres on 21 June in the US and UK. Read More Margot Robbie admits to ‘pressure’ concerns over Barbie role Ryan Gosling ‘keeps finding Ken dolls discarded’ by his own daughters Recreate Margot Robbie’s Barbie look with these pink heels Chanel is set to host a fashion show in Manchester TikTokers are showing off pink outfits they’re going to wear to watch Barbie movie Margot Robbie has fangirl moment over Love Island stars Ekin-Su, Davide and Liberty
2023-07-21 05:17
Florida rulings ease concerns about drag performers at Pride parades, drag queen story hours
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2023-07-21 03:16
Democrats lambast Biden primary challenger Kennedy Jr
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2023-07-21 01:59
Elon Musk’s Wealth Slumps $13.6 Billion as Tesla Shares Tumble
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2023-07-21 01:18
Travis Barker discusses potential baby names for son with Kourtney Kardashian: ‘Even he knows it’s bad’
Travis Barker has revealed the unique names he’s considering for the son he and Kourtney Kardashian have on the way. During the latest release of Complex’s “GOAT Talk” video, the 47-year-old drummer and his 17-year-old daughter Alabama sat down to answer rapid fire questions about favourite gifts, rap albums, restaurants, and more. The last card Barker picked up asked the two of them what they thought “the greatest baby name of all time” was. “I like Rocky Thirteen,” the Blink-182 bandmate admitted. “That’s the name that’s been going through my head.” Alabama barely gave her father a chance to explain himself before telling him: “That’s so bad.” The social media star couldn‘t help but laugh at Barker’s confession, adding “he knows it’s bad.” But Barker wasn’t joking as he then revealed his sentimental reasons for loving the unique moniker. “Rocky George played guitar for Suicidal Tendencies. And 13 is just the greatest number of all time,” the instrumentalist proclaimed. Additionally, Barker – who named Alabama after his favourite movie True Romance – pointed out that “Rocky Thirteen” could also serve as a tribute to “the greatest boxing movie of all time,” 1976’s Rocky. Although Barker seemed set on the rock-inspired name, he knew not everyone was going to love the idea. In an attempt to sway him from his choice, Alabama continued to express her doubt over the potential name for her soon-to-be baby sibling. “You sure you’re going to name your kid Rocky Thirteen?” the internet personality asked. “Possibly,” Barker replied. The father of three could end up scraping the idea for another name he’s mentioned to his wife. Following the pair’s public pregnancy announcement in June, the eldest Kardashian sister, mother to Mason, 13, Penelope, 11, and Reign, 8, shared photographs from her maternity shoot on Instagram. Under the batch of images, Barker commented: “I already know his name.” While he didn’t offer the moniker he had in mind, he previously wrote under an older photo on the Kardashian’s account from November 2021: “Our son’s name would be Elvis.” Barker proposed to Kardashian in October of 2021 on the beach at their favourite Santa Barbara spot. From a late night at a little white chapel in Las Vegas, an intimate ceremony at a courthouse to sign their marriage licenses, to a traditional Dolce and Gabbana-themed wedding in Portofino, Italy, the pair tied the knot several times. On 17 June, Kourtney revealed she was pregnant after multiple rounds of IVF when she waved a huge sign that read, “Travis, I’m pregnant,” at the artist’s Blink-182 show in Los Angeles. Her reveal was a nod to a scene in the band’s “All The Small Things” music video, where a woman does the same thing. Barker wiped his eyes before hopping down from the stage to embrace a beaming Kardashian. Read More Travis Barker praises Kourtney Kardashian for ‘healing’ him as he takes 30th flight following deadly crash Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker reveal the gender of their baby Kourtney Kardashian shows off baby bump as fans speculate about due date
2023-07-21 00:49
Ryanair eyes Ukraine tourism after Russia’s war ends
Ryanair’s boss has pledged to “charge back into Ukraine” once commercial flying reopens and promised investment worth $3bn (£2.3bn) in the wartorn country. Michael O’Leary visited Kyiv on Thursday and said that he soon hoped to reconnect the country’s Lviv and Odesa airports with more than 20 European Union capital cities within eight weeks of the reopening of air space with around 600 weekly flights. “The fastest way to rebuild and restore the Ukrainian economy will be with low-fare air travel,” the chief executive said. “Ryanair intends to invest heavily in Ukraine and lead this aviation recovery by investing up to $3bn and basing up to 30 Boeing Max aircraft at Ukraine’s three main airports in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa. “Having previously also served Kharkiv and Kherson airports prior to the invasion, Ryanair will return to serving those airports too, as soon as the infrastructure has been restored.” He added that the company will employ hundreds of Ukrainian pilots, cabin crew and IT professionals, and we will look to create thousands of new jobs in aviation for Ukrainian citizens. It is hard to say when commercial flights will be possible to and from Ukraine with restrictions still in place due to the ongoing war with Russia. Ryanair held meetings in Kyiv’s Boryspil International Airport with representatives from Ukraine’s main airports, Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa. Mr O’Leary was joined by Boryspil airport chief executive Oleksiy Dubrevskyy and Ukraine’s communities minister Oleksandr Kubrakov. The latter man said the resumption of flights will be possible “as soon as the security situation allows”. “We are already working on solutions and investment plans to enable aircraft to fly up quickly,” he said. Ryanair noted the “excellent state” of the airport infrastructure after examining terminals, baggage claims and passenger check-ins. The company has said that in the first 12 months after the war, more than 5 million seats to and from Ukraine will be on offer with 10 million per year within five years. Read More Russia-Ukraine war – live: Moscow restricts movement of British diplomats over support for Kyiv UK donated 184,000 more artillery shells to Ukraine than planned, says Wallace Ukraine and Pakistan call for restoring the Black Sea grain deal after talks in Islamabad The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary
2023-07-21 00:21
Michelin star chef Marcus Wareing gives controversial answer to the best pizza in London
Marcus Wareing has claimed that the best pizza he has tried in London is Pizza Express, where he has dined for 20 years. Speaking to content creator Jesse Burgess in a video on Topjaw’s TikTok, the two Michelin-starred chef, who is best known for being a judge on MasterChef: The Professionals said that the classic American Hot pizza, which the restaurant chain has served since the Sixties, is his dish of choice. Asked by Burgess: “What is the best pizza?” Marcus replied: “This one is easy, but you’re not going to like the answer. Pizza Express, I know, I know.” “I still eat the same pizza I was eating for the past 20 years, American Hot, I love it, Romana, a little bit of extra chilli, I love it, it’s got to be a Romana base.” An American Hot is a classic pepperoni pizza with chilli peppers, while a Romana base uses Pizza Express’s famous dough but stretched out to be even bigger, creating a thin, crispy 14-inch base, giving room for extra toppings. “And do you know what every time I go it’s cooked exactly the same,” he added. Content creator Burgess explained that his favourite from the restaurant chain was a Sloppy Guiseppe pizza, a recipe that uses spicy ground beef, green pepper, red onion, tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. Pizza fanatics have been debating Wareing’s choice, given that London is flooded with pizza chains that serve up trendier offerings, like Pizza Pilgrims, Homeslice, Yard Sale Pizza or Franca Manca. @topjaw Didn’t expect that! More Marcus Wareing tomorrow… ♬ original sound - TOPJAW “He should hand back his stars!” commented one person who seemed to disapprove of Wareing’s preference. “Always consistent I have to say,” wrote one person in agreement with the chef. “I always go for the Giuseppe as well.” “Agreed, nothing better!” added one Pizza Express fan. Meanwhile, one commenter disagreed with the choice of chain restaurant, writing: “Pizza Pilgrims is elite.” In a previous interview with the Guardian, Wareing said that Pizza Express was his favourite chain to take his children to. “They love Pizza Express, which I think is consistently good,” said the chef. “And The Butcher and Grill in Battersea. They get a proper meal and colouring books.” Pizza Express was founded in 1965 by restauranter Peter Boizot, who brought a pizza oven back to London from a trip to Italy. Opening its first restaurant on Wardour Street in Soho, the chain now has 370 sites in the UK and Ireland and 80 sites across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the restaurant announced it was closing 73 of its UK branches. In 2021, it announced it was closing another 23 restaurants. Read More ‘Just awful’: Man accused of ‘selfish’ behaviour after proposing to girlfriend at their graduation Prince Harry and Meghan weren’t allowed to fly Air Force One with Biden after Queen’s funeral, report says Cruise line apologises after passengers witness dozens of pilot whales being slaughtered Chef sparks debate about seasoning chicken with just salt in viral recipe Splash out for this heritage tomato, fennel and dukkah salad Make this Middle Eastern lamb shoulder for your next Sunday roast
2023-07-20 23:57