Alpine have signed Steve Nielsen as their Managing Director to oversee the day-to-day running of the team, reporting to executive advisor Flavio Briatore.
The French manufacturer have been looking for a senior leader to manage the team on a daily basis following Oli Oakes’ departure from the Team Principal role in May.
Following weeks of talks, Nielsen – a well-respected member of the paddock – will leave his role as Chief Motorsports Operations Officer, Sporting, at commercial rights holder F1 to take up his new job on September 1, ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
Briatore, who has known Nielsen for decades, will continue to have overall responsibility for the project.
It marks a return to Enstone for Nielsen, who has spent multiple stints with the squad under the previous guises Benetton, Renault and Lotus, including as Sporting Director during the 2005 and 2006 World Championship winning years.
In recent years, Nielsen has spent time at F1 and governing body the FIA, and also has team experience from his time at Tyrrell, Honda, Toro Rosso and Arrows.
Alpine also confirmed the recent recruitment of Kris Midgley, who joined as Head of Aerodynamic Development.
Midgley, who reports to Executive Technical Director David Sanchez, previously worked at Enstone between 2007 and 2013 and most recently worked at Ferrari as Principal Aerodynamicist.
Alpine are currently bottom of the Teams’ Championship on 11 points but are hoping to improve their fortunes next season when they switch to Mercedes power.
Formula 1 moves on from Spielberg to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, with title challenger Lando Norris one of several home drivers targeting success. But what do the odds tell us about the weekend ahead? Read on to find out…
Odds are provided by F1’s Official Betting Data Supplier ALT Sports Data, are subject to change and are presented in decimal form: for every $1 wagered you would win the figure represented by the odds; so, if Verstappen is favourite at 1.50, you would win $1.50 for every dollar bet.
The odds for the win
The McLaren drivers are back on top of the podium in this category. Norris redeemed himself after his mishap in Montreal to take the chequered flag at the Red Bull Ring and close the gap on his team mate in the championship.
Norris is yet to stand on top of the podium at his home Grand Prix, but he has come close in the last two editions, with a runner-up and top-three return.
Championship leader Oscar Piastri finished fourth on his last visit to Silverstone, but has matured significantly over the past 12 months, registering nine podiums this campaign, including five victories.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen suffered his first DNF of the season in Austria, after being taken out by Kimi Antonelli on the opening lap, and is back at a venue where he has only taken the spoils on two occasions.
Mercedes’ drivers are always worth considering at Silverstone, considering their impressive record of nine victories in the last 13 races in England. However, their top dog George Russell has faced some struggles at this venue, producing a best return of fifth, despite growing up only two hours from the track.
The odds for a podium finish
The top three drivers in the standings are heavily favoured to snatch a podium this weekend. These individuals have accumulated 23 podiums between them this campaign, but Verstappen lines up after registering his maiden DNF of 2025.
Charles Leclerc is spraying champagne regularly at the moment, entering the top three in three of his previous four starts. The Monegasque’s recent consistency results in an average finish of 3.8, highlighting his threat to the rostrum.
Lewis Hamilton returns home with an astounding record of 12 consecutive podiums at this track. The seven-time World Champion is the defending champion in the United Kingdom, and despite his wobbly form this year, remains a contender.
Hamilton is still hunting his maiden Sunday podium with Ferrari, and he has a great chance to do it here.
The odds for a top-six finish
The papaya duo boast the most top sixes in the championship, with 10 apiece. Piastri has been inside that threshold in every start since Shanghai, while a DNF in Montreal is Norris’ only blemish.
Rookie Antonelli is a six-time top-six finisher this term, including a maiden F1 top three in Canada. However, he’s proven erratic in recent rounds, failing to finish three of his last five starts on Sunday and ending 18th in Monaco.
Alex Albon blasted into 2025 with three top-six outings in his first seven starts, before his campaign was doused and brought back to reality. The Thai-British driver has earned a DNF next to his name in the previous three races, but he was only culpable in Spain, when he collided with Liam Lawson.
Albon’s vehicle let him down in Montreal and Austria, and brought about a bigger discussion about what’s going on at Williams. His team mate Carlos Sainz couldn’t even start the showdown at Spielberg after his brakes overheated and burst into flames after the formation lap.
The odds for a top-10 finish
Besides the aforementioned event winner, podium, and top six favourites, we turn our focus to two veterans to lead the charge for a top 10.
Fernando Alonso is starting to develop consistency in his Aston Martin, with three consecutive top 10s, including back-to-back seventh places in Canada and Austria. The other seasoned campaigner is Nico Hulkenberg, who is also on a run of three races inside the top 10.
Haas’ senior driver, Esteban Ocon, continues to compete for a spot in the first 10. The Frenchman has registered the feat five times in 2025, three in his previous four races.
Racing Bulls pilot Lawson appears to have set aside the drama from earlier in the season, claiming top 10s in 50% of his last four races. The New Zealander starts after a career-best sixth place at the Red Bull Ring.
Credit must also go to another rookie, Gabriel Bortoleto, who fought hard for his maiden F1 top 10 in the last round.
The odds for who will be fastest in Qualifying
The MCL39 continues to outclass its rivals over one lap this season. Norris recorded the team’s seventh pole position in the previous round, taking his tally to three.
Norris has started at the front of the grid in two of his past four races, while his Aussie team mate has qualified fastest in four rounds this year.
Meanwhile, Verstappen is a three-time fastest qualifier after 11 rounds, but enters after lining up in seventh in the Styrian Alps.
The Dutchman’s fierce rival, Russell, is the only other driver to start on pole this season, proving consistent by qualifying among the fastest three in five rounds. The Briton’s starting grid average sits at 4.45 this year, slightly below Verstappen’s at 3.18.
Leclerc started in second in Austria, the third such grid position for the Monegasque this season. The previous round also marked the best Qualifying for Ferrari this year, with both drivers ending inside the top five for the first time.
The odds for the winning team
German drivers and cars have won nine of the last 13 British Grands Prix.
Hamilton was the latest victor for Mercedes, but will now defend his title in a red Italian car. Verstappen, Sainz, and Sebastian Vettel are the only non-Mercedes drivers to prevail in England since 2013. That leaves Red Bull and Ferrari with two triumphs apiece in the last 12 years.
McLaren last won the Silverstone showcase in 2008, when a young Hamilton was on their payroll. The Woking-based outfit may have struggled on home soil for 16 years, but they are the team to beat this time around. After 11 rounds, the papayas have won 72.73% of the Teams’ trophies on offer, including three in their last four outings.
WIMBLEDON — Zeynep Sonmez has made history at Wimbledon by defeating Wang Xinyu 7-5, 7-5 to become the first Turkish player — either woman or man — to reach the third round of a major in the Open Era.
Wimbledon: Scores | Order of play | Draws
Only two players from Türkiye had previously won Grand Slam main-draw matches in the Open Era. Former No. 60 Cagla Buyukakcay, the highest-ever WTA-ranked player from her nation, made three Grand Slam second rounds in 2016-17, though none at Wimbledon. Sonmez’s 7-6(3), 6-3 first-round defeat of Jaqueline Cristian had already made her the first Turkish woman to notch a victory at SW19. On the ATP side, former No. 77 Marsel Ilhan made seven Grand Slam second rounds between 2009 and 2015, including twice at Wimbledon, but never went further.
Prior to the Open Era, the last Turkish woman to reach the third round of a major was Bahtiye Musluoglu, who reached that stage of Roland Garros 1950.
Champions Reel: How Zeynep Sonmez won Merida 2024
Sonmez had been unaware ahead of her match that history was at stake.
“I didn’t even know,” she said. Indeed, while the third round of a major is a milestone for her country, it’s not one that Sonmez specifically set her sights on while growing up.
“I never dreamed of reaching the third round of Wimbledon,” she continued. “I dreamed of winning it.”
No. 88-ranked Sonmez came from 4-1 down in the first set and sealed victory with a brave hold from 0-40 down on Court 17, packed with passionate and vocal fans of both players. After match point, the 23-year-old spent several minutes taking selfies with as many of those who had cheered her on as possible.
Some had travelled all the way from Istanbul to support their countrywoman. One of those was Hudai, who led a group of supporters in rousing chants of “Sonuna kadar destekleyeceğiz seni, Zeynep” (“We will support you to the end, Zeynep”).
Afterwards, Hudai told wtatennis.com that this was his first Wimbledon. He and his friends had run to the tiny Court 17 in order to ensure seats for Sonmez’s match — a decision that had paid off.
“We were really excited to see her — it’s like our second round,” he said. “It was a hard match, there were ups and downs but we tried to make her really feel all the support.”
Tugba, who had waved a small Turkish flag throughout, agreed.
“I am honored to support Zeynep,” she said. “She’s a very exciting woman for us. I’ve been watching Wimbledon since my 20s, but this is the first year for me here.”
Afterwards, Sonmez had a message for the fans in turn.
“I want to say thank you so much for all the support, in both my first and second rounds,” she said. “I feel there are a lot of Turkish people, and it makes me very happy.”
Turkish journalist Alpasen Duven said that Sonmez’s star is rising back at home. Her maiden WTA title in Merida last November rocketed her into the Top 100, making her the second Turkish woman to achieve either of those accomplishments (following Buyukakcay, the 2016 Istanbul champion).
“She’s not yet a mainstream celebrity like top footballers or Olympic medalists in Türkiye,” he wrote via email. “But her profile is rising fast after Wimbledon. The general public sees her as a breath of fresh air for Turkish sports — someone achieving at the global level without controversy. The media and public frame her as hard-working, focused, and determined — someone who has succeeded despite the odds in a sport where Türkiye has little tradition of global success.”
Sonmez’s fans may have brought Türkiye to a small corner of Wimbledon this week, but there’s one aspect of her home country that she’s still missing. Last year, she was able to check out several of London’s many excellent Turkish restaurants — but she’s been too busy on court to do so again this year.
“I really want to go, because I really miss Turkish food,” Sonmez said. What would her order be? A classic kebab, of course. “Çöp şiş — but not lamb!”
July 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most dynamic and celebratory months in handball’s recent history, with a global calendar brimming with top-level competitions and grassroots initiatives.
At the center of this vibrant schedule is International Handball Week, taking place from 12 to 18 July. This dedicated week is more than a symbolic gesture; it is a worldwide celebration of handball’s unifying power, with federations, clubs, and communities across every continent delivering activities to highlight the sport’s diversity and spirit.
This International Handball Week is expected to draw unprecedented attention to handball, engaging new fans and reaffirming the sport’s role as a bridge between cultures and generations.
Handball will be played throughout the globe this month, on all continents, with several IHF Trophies being scheduled. Twelve teams will line up at the start of the IHF Trophy North America and the Caribbean – Junior in Canada, between 16 and 20 July, with six teams taking part in the IHF Trophy South America in Lima, Peru, between 23 and 27 July.
The month begins with the EHF YAC17 Beach Handball EURO, running from 3 to 6 July in Alanya, Türkiye. This youth tournament showcases the next generation of European talent on the sand, offering young athletes a chance to compete at the highest level and experience the unique atmosphere of international beach handball, coming right after the 2025 IHF Men’s and Women’s Youth Beach Handball World Championships, won by Spain.
After the 18 men’s and 18 women’s teams feature at the EHF YAC17 Beach Handball EURO, it is time for the senior EHF Beach Handball EURO to take place, between 8 and 13 July, also in Alanya, Türkiye.
Beach handball fans will be drawn to the 2025 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour Stage 2, which features top international teams and showcases the sport’s dynamic, spectator-friendly format. The event’s second stage will be held in Laredo, Spain, on 29 and 30 July.
Back to indoor competitions, the 2025 NACHC Men’s Club Championship will take place between 4 and 8 July in Las Vegas, United States of America, with seven teams from five countries at the start. The winner of the competition will qualify for the 2025 IHF Men’s Club World Championship in Egypt.
The Women’s 19 EHF EURO 2025, held from 9 to 20 July, gathers the continent’s top under-19 women’s teams. It serves as a showcase for emerging talent and offers a glimpse into the future of European women’s handball, taking place in Podgorica, Montenegro. Tickets for the 2026 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship will be available for the best teams at the start of the competition, where 24 teams line up.
In Asia, the 11th Asian Women’s Youth Championship, running from 18 to 26 July, is a key event for Asian federations, offering young athletes invaluable international experience and helping to raise the standard of women’s handball across the continent. This is also a qualifying event for the 2026 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, and will feature eight teams set to battle for the trophy in Jinggangshan, People’s Republic of China.
The 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival, taking place 20 to 26 July, offers a multi-sport environment where Europe’s best young athletes, including handball players, compete and experience the Olympic spirit. Eight teams will take part in the men’s competition (U-17) and eight teams will play in the women’s competition in Skopje, North Macedonia.
Finally, the month closes with the W17 EHF EURO, beginning 30 July and running into August, where Europe’s top under-17 women’s teams take center stage, offering a glimpse at the future stars of the game.
With International Handball Week as the centerpiece, July 2025 is set to be a true festival of handball, celebrating the sport’s growth, diversity, and the shared passion of its global community.
Australian Daria Kasatkina, the No 16 seed, advanced to the third round of Wimbledon by winning against Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London on Thursday evening.
Kasatkina, ranked No 18, will play Russian Liudmila Samsonova, the No 19 seed, next.
In the previous round of The Championships, the Australian beat Colombian Emiliana Arango (7-5, 6-3).
Begu, ranked No 115, defeated Slovenian qualifier Kaja Juvan (7-6 (6), 1-6, 6-3) in the first round of The Championships.
London (Grand Slam), other second-round results (All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, grass, GBP 53.500.000, most recent results first):
Clara Tauson (23) beat Anna Kalinskaya: 6-3, 7-6 (10)
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro beat Sofia Kenin (28): 6-1, 7-6 (4)
Since achieving the level of consistency which has brought him to a 56th consecutive week as world number one, Sinner has rarely lost to any player not named Carlos Alcaraz.
A surprise Halle Open defeat by Alexander Bublik in June, which cut short Sinner’s brief grass-court build-up following defeat in the French Open final, was his first loss to anyone other than his Spanish rival in 10 months – and to anyone outside of the top 20 in 67 matches.
Having never been beaten by a player ranked as low as Vukic at Grand Slam tournaments, Sinner’s progress never appeared under threat once he took charge on Centre Court.
Sinner was the first player to face a break point in his second service game, but Vukic, who has never reached the third round at the All England Club, was powerless to prevent his progress from that point.
Delighting the crowd with fierce hitting and trademark precision, Sinner proceeded to take 12 of 13 games from there as he captured the first two sets in just 54 minutes.
Aiming to reach the third round for a fourth consecutive year in the early stages of his bid to become the first Italian player to win a Wimbledon singles title, Sinner had to cope with the will of the crowd turning against him as Vukic offered resistance in the third set.
But he recovered from a brief lapse – and two break points – to make the ultimately decisive breakthrough in the eighth game.
He still had to endure the frustration of going from a fifth match point to break point but, after saving that with a stunning passing forehand winner and calling for more noise from the crowd, Sinner polished off victory at the sixth opportunity with an ace.
It means Sinner has conceded the fewest number of games over the first two rounds of the Wimbledon men’s singles at Wimbledon since record eight-time champion Roger Federer lost just nine in 2004.
Lausanne (RWH) Over 30 race organisers from 16 tracks across 3 continents – including the next three Olympic venues Cortina d’Ampezzo, La Plagne and Park City – met remotely with the IBSF management team on 2 July to discuss latest developments, review the last winter and, most importantly, prepare together for the upcoming Olympic season. Led by IBSF Secretary General Heike Größwang, the meeting served to dive deeper into the following topics:
insights into the media and social media data of the 2024/25 season;
recent and ongoing approaches to build a network with IBSF and tracks/race organisers for optimal communication coordination, knowledge exchange and sharing of best practices;
update on the recommendations of the IBSF Safety Working Group;
information on IBSF Academy courses offered for track and organiser staff and volunteers;
calendar planning and coordination for the next Olympic cycle; and
rule changes.
Following the meeting, Heike Grösswang said: “The presence of all Race Organizers shows that the entire bobsleigh and skeleton community works closely together to ensure the best conditions for our athletes, maximise the visibility of our sport and keep progressing across all fields. The race organisers and the tracks do not only play a vital role in ensuring the smooth and safe running of our competitions, but also in looking after the sustainability and legacy of their venues throughout the year. Collaboration across all areas is key and it´s great to see the support amongst each other. ”
The race organisers will also participate in the IBSF Congress, to be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo on 12 September 2025.
Next year’s IBSF Race Organiser Meeting 2026 is planned to be held in person at one of the tracks together with the International Luge Federation (FIL).
