Red Bull Sets the Benchmark in F1, Says Mercedes Boss Wolff As Formula 1 pre-season testing kicks off in Bahrain, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has declared Red Bull as the team to beat this season. Lando Norris ended the first day of testing as the fastest driver, finishing 0.129 seconds ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Despite this, Wolff believes Red Bull’s new engine gives them a clear advantage over rivals. Red Bull’s Engine Advantage Mercedes’ data shows Red Bull can deploy significantly more energy on the straights than other teams. Wolff explained that the team maintained a consistent advantage over 10 consecutive laps. “On a single lap, we’ve seen it before, but now they’re doing it over multiple laps,” Wolff said. “As of today, they have set the benchmark.” This season features the biggest rules overhaul in F1 history. Cars have new power units, chassis, tyres, and fuel. The 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrid engines split power almost equally between internal combustion and electrical energy. Energy recovery and deployment are now key to performance. How Hybrid Engines Work The hybrid engines recover energy in four ways: braking, revving in corners, lifting off early, and harvesting while at full throttle. Teams must carefully manage energy deployment, as even small gains can determine competitiveness. Testing Times and Driver Performances Headline lap times during testing are often misleading because teams run cars in different specifications. Norris set his fastest lap on C2 tyres, while Verstappen used softer C3 tyres. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was third fastest, 0.521 seconds behind Norris, followed by Haas driver Esteban Ocon. Unlike most teams, Red Bull had Verstappen drive all day. Aston Martin also limited driving to Lance Stroll, marking the start of their Honda engine partnership and debuting a new car designed by Adrian Newey.
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Red Bull Sets the Benchmark in F1, Says Mercedes Boss Wolff

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Iran has shown readiness to limit parts of its nuclear programme. In return, it wants relief from international sanctions. However, Iranian leaders have firmly rejected demands related to missiles and regional allies. Ahead of the White House meeting, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran would not give in to what he called excessive demands. Speaking at a rally in Tehran marking the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, he stressed that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons. He also said the country is ready for verification measures. At the same time, Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran will continue diplomatic talks with neighboring countries to maintain regional stability. US Military Pressure Builds The diplomatic push comes alongside rising military pressure. The United States has increased its military presence in the region. Trump recently warned Iran of possible strikes if it refuses to reach a deal or continues violent crackdowns on protesters. Last month, the US sent the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to the Middle East. Trump is now considering sending a second carrier group. He told reporters that Iran wants a deal badly, but added that any agreement must ensure no nuclear weapons and no missiles. Israeli officials have also made their position clear. They say Israel reserves the right to act militarily if diplomacy fails.
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Andrew Mountbatten Windsor Shared Confidential Trade Brief with Jeffrey Epstein, Files Indicate Newly reviewed documents show that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor forwarded a confidential government briefing to Jeffrey Epstein in December 2010. The file outlined potential investment opportunities in Afghanistan, including gold and uranium projects in Helmand province. The document was prepared by UK officials while Andrew served as a trade envoy. In an accompanying note, he described it as a confidential brief produced by the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Helmand. At the time, the UK was deeply involved in rebuilding Afghanistan both militarily and politically. What the Helmand Brief Contained The briefing gave a detailed overview of Helmand’s economy. It highlighted high value mineral deposits and pointed to the potential for low cost extraction. Resources listed in the document included marble, gold, iridium, uranium, thorium, as well as possible oil and gas reserves. Officials created the report specifically for Andrew during the same month he visited Helmand to meet British troops and local representatives. As trade envoy from 2001 to 2011, his role focused on promoting British business interests overseas. However, official guidance states that trade envoys must protect sensitive commercial and political information obtained during official visits. Other Reports Allegedly Shared Emails from the released files suggest that the Afghanistan briefing was not the only document shared. Andrew also appears to have sent official reports from trade visits to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. Shortly after sending those reports, he allegedly forwarded additional compressed files labeled Overseas bids. These zip files may have contained further commercial information linked to trade initiatives. In one message, Andrew indicated that he intended to circulate the Afghanistan briefing within his wider network, including contacts in Abu Dhabi. Political and Legal Reaction Sir Vince Cable, who served as business secretary at the time, described the reported sharing of the briefing as appalling behavior. He has called for greater transparency regarding Andrew’s tenure as trade envoy. He also stated that previous attempts to review official records related to Andrew’s trade role produced an empty file. According to Sir Vince, he discontinued Andrew’s envoy position in 2011 after early publicity surrounding Epstein emerged. Thames Valley Police are currently assessing whether the apparent sharing of official documents warrants further investigation. A diplomatic source noted that trade envoys sometimes share information with potential investors to support UK business interests. However, a former senior trade official emphasized that confidential government documents are not meant to be circulated outside official channels, especially to individuals who might use them for private commercial gain. Ongoing Scrutiny Over Epstein Links Andrew continues to face pressure over his association with Epstein. Recent document releases from the United States included controversial images and renewed calls for him to testify about his connections. He has previously denied any wrongdoing and rejected claims that he used his trade envoy position for personal benefit. Buckingham Palace has stated that the King would support police if they decide to pursue further inquiries.
Crime and JusticeUnited States

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor Shared Confidential Trade Brief with Jeffrey Epstein, Files Indicate

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