Max Verstappen on verge of title as Red Bull clinch constructors’ crown in Japan
Max Verstappen moved to within range of a hat-trick of world titles by returning to winning ways at the Japanese Grand Prix as Red Bull clinched the constructors’ championship. The Dutchman backed up his searing pace in qualifying by easing to victory by a massive 19.387 seconds a week on from seeing his record 10-race winning run ended in Singapore. Lando Norris finished second ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, with Lewis Hamilton fifth and George Russell seventh for Mercedes. Verstappen has won 13 of 16 rounds this season, extending his lead to 177 points over team-mate Sergio Perez – who endured a miserable afternoon – and he will have the chance to wrap up his third title at the Qatar Grand Prix in two weeks, potentially even in the Saturday sprint by outscoring Perez by three points or more. While it was serene at the front, the race behind was thrilling as Perez was involved in two early collisions before retiring – only to briefly return – and Mercedes team-mates Hamilton and Russell scrapped with each other. Red Bull are the first team in Formula One history to win the team championship with six races to spare as Verstappen’s victory moved the Milton Keynes-based team 318 clear of second-placed Mercedes in the standings. It is Red Bull’s sixth constructors’ title since their debut season in F1 in 2005. Norris predicted after qualifying that if Verstappen led after the 277-metre dash down to turn one, there would be nothing the rest of the field could do. The McLarens put up a strong fight, sandwiching Verstappen as Norris surged around the outside to go second, but the pole-sitter emerged from the first corner ahead. Perez was overtaken by Ferrari’s Singapore winner Carlos Sainz and drifted into Hamilton, forcing the seven-time world champion onto the grass. The safety car was deployed before the end of the first lap due to debris on the track after heavy contact between Valtteri Bottas and Alex Albon. Perez pitted under the safety car on lap three to replace a damaged front wing and fit the hard tyres but re-joined 17th. The race resumed on lap five and Verstappen blasted clear of Norris. Perez’s miserable start continued as he was handed a five-second penalty for overtaking under the safety car as he entered the pits. It soon went from bad to worse as he suffered more front-wing damage in a collision with Kevin Magnussen, forcing him to pit again on lap 13, and was given another five-second penalty for causing the contact. The Mexican was put out of his misery on lap 15 as Red Bull retired the car. Remarkably he was briefly sent back onto the track on lap 40, with the team keen for him to serve his outstanding penalty. Elsewhere it was a story of battling team-mates. Hamilton was soon engaged in a thrilling scrap with Russell, who slid up the inside at the final corner but Hamilton blasted back ahead down the pit straight. The battle soon resumed as Hamilton ran wide and had to defend fiercely against Russell, forcing the 25-year-old off the track at the Spoon Curve. “Who do we want to fight here, each other or the others?” Russell asked his team. Hamilton’s defence was investigated but cleared by the stewards as he pitted first. Meanwhile, Piastri had gained an advantage by pitting just as a virtual safety car was called, leapfrogging Norris after his pit stop. Norris was soon on his team-mate’s gearbox, urging McLaren to act. “The longer I stay behind the worse you are going to make the race for me,” Norris said, adding “What’s he doing?” before McLaren allowed him through. Russell rolled the dice by attempting a one-stop strategy on an afternoon where tyre degradation was an issue for all the teams at a baking hot Suzuka. But he was swallowed up by both McLarens, Charles Leclerc and team-mate Hamilton – with Russell urging his team to get Hamilton to give him DRS to defend from Sainz, as the Spaniard did a week ago to thwart Russell. But Sainz moved past to take sixth as Ferrari gained the edge on Mercedes in the battle for second in the constructors’ standings. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Max Verstappen pips Oscar Piastri to pole after tense qualifying for Japanese GP Lando Norris narrows gap on Max Verstappen at final practice in Japan Max Verstappen returns to form in Japanese Grand Prix practice
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Size Queens, L’Acier’s Steel Vibrator Is A Heavy Metal Experience
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2023-08-30 07:19
11 ways to channel seaside vibes at home
When you want to make your space feel beach beautiful, creating a coastal feel not only adds character – but everything feels that much more chilled. Inspired by summer’s seaside vibes, sunshine and the relaxing sound of ocean waves, think cool blues, natural elements and decor with some rugged flair… 1. ProCook Melamine Tableware Serving Bowl, £8.99; Dinner Plate, £4.99, Side Plate, £3.99, ProCook Summer salads will love this Mediterranean-inspired tableware, which pair well with seashells scattered along your tablescape. 2. Seaview Organic Cotton Table Runner, £45, XV Stripes This nautical print is tailor-made for seafood appetisers. 3. Blue Stripe Tufted Seat Pads, £15 each (was £25), The White Company Whether you’re perching on a patio seat wall or revamping your garden furniture, these trendy tufted seat pads will cushion you in style. 4. Flock of Seagulls Wall Art, £140, The Coastal Lifestyle Company This coastal inspired wall art with white metal seagulls brings home the sound of gulls, crashing waves and thoughts of clifftop walks. 5. Eat Drink Relax Napkins – Set of 4, £19.60 (was £28) rest of items from a selection, The White Company When you want to say it with words, these embroidered napkins make a stylish statement. 6. FlipFlop Beach Bag, £40, Basket Basket A great styling tool, raffia baskets can be hung from hooks – and they always look chic when placed nonchalantly around the house. 7. Desenio The Summer Coast Gallery Wall: 3 Posters, 3 Frames, £109.14, (was £138.65), Desenio When it’s time to settle down with a sundowner, these posters are right on point with their mood-boosting images to inspire a Riviera lifestyle. 8. White Conch Shell Vase, £24, Bon Bon Fistral Conch vases are particularly trendy right now, and this one is especially fetching with its matt white finish. Fresh or faux white flowers – such as creamy-white gardenias – will up its fabulousness. 9. St Eval Scented Coastal Collection: Tin Candles in Sea Salt, Samphire & Sage and Sea Mist, £13.85 each, St Eval A scented candle will bring you to the Cornish coast and the therapeutic effects of the sea. 10. Coral Wall Art: Marine Blue Coral Art Prints, Unframed, from £18 each, Beach House Art Looking to create a beautiful backdrop with coral and marine blues? These eye-catching prints will make a modish addition to any scheme. 11. Beach Text Cushion, £21, The Coastal Lifestyle Company Whether it’s a waterfront property or urban living, this denim-look scatter cushion will elevate any space.
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Fans accuse Hailey Bieber of breaking wedding guest etiquette with ‘white’ dress: ‘Yikes’
Hailey Bieber has divided fans after she appeared to attend her friend Stephanie Shepherd’s wedding in a white dress. Over the weekend, Bieber, 26, was accompanied by her husband Justin Bieber as they attended the Beverly Hills nuptials, where they were joined by fellow celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, and Malika Haqq, according to photos of the festivities shared by the DailyMail. For the occasion, the Rhode Skin founder opted for a white, backless, long-sleeved gown with a high neck. She paired the look, which she later shared photos of on Instagram, with teal eyeshadow, a pale blue fur purse, and simple jewellery. According to the photographs, Justin wore an oversized white button-down shirt and black pants for the wedding of Shepherd, Kardashian’s former assistant, while the Skims founder, her mother, and Haqq were all photographed in black gowns. On social media, Bieber’s outfit choice has sparked criticism from fans, with some questioning the model’s choice to wear white to a wedding. “The only thing I want to know is why the f**k you wore white to a WEDDING,” one person commented under Bieber’s photos, while another asked: “Why is she wearing white to a wedding???” “Isn’t it against wedding law to wear anything close to white to a wedding?” someone else wrote. “I’m not even hating but it’s a huge yikes…” According to Diane Gottsman, a national etiquette expert and founder of The Protocol School of Texas, who previously spoke to The Independent, the rule against wearing white still applies for most weddings, as she noted that “white is still reserved for the bride” and that guests “should select another colour” when choosing an outfit. As for why guests should avoid white for a wedding, wedding dress designer Madeline Gardner previously told The Knot that it comes down to “the most important thing to keep in mind,” not upstaging the bride. Although many of Bieber’s fans questioned her dress choice, others argued that the model’s dress was actually light blue. “Her dress is light blue, not white,” one person claimed in the comments under Bieber’s Instagram post, while another said: “Before y’all start with your think pieces… the dress is baby blue. She wore baby blue head to toe.” However, others suggested that, even if Bieber’s dress was light blue, the light shade meant that it was still a breach of wedding etiquette. “This is too close to white I fear,” one person tweeted. “Is it me or is that dress pretty much white,” someone else wrote in response to the photos of the couple. While most were in agreement that guests should generally avoid wearing white to a wedding, others pointed out that Shepherd may have requested that attendees wear either white or black to her nuptials. “The theme was white and black right? Because it doesn’t make sense for this woman to be in WHITE at a wedding. I’ll be giving the benefit of the doubt,” one person tweeted. Although Shepherd did not post photos from the wedding, Swizz Beats shared an album of photos taken during the reception, in which Alicia Keys could be seen wearing a green dress. Bieber was not the only guest who faced backlash over the outfit she wore to the wedding, as fans also questioned the appropriateness of Kardashian’s dress, which featured a bra-style top and a skirt with cut-out details. “Is she going to a club or a wedding?” one critic asked. Shepherd, who previously held the role of COO of Kardashian’s KKW company before parting ways with The Kardashians star, married Larry Jackson, the former global creative director at Apple Music who recently created music company Gamma. Olivia Wilde faced similar criticism earlier this year after she wore a white gown to Colton Underwood’s wedding to Jordan C Brown. The Independent has contacted a representative for Bieber for comment. Read More Man sparks debate about engagement etiquette after proposing at girlfriend’s college graduation Woman sparks debate about what makes a dress too similar to a wedding gown Olivia Wilde sparks etiquette debate after wearing ‘wedding dress’ to Colton Underwood’s nuptials Bride’s friend calls out ‘sad and disrespectful’ wedding guests over outfits Influencers called out for visiting and promoting Shein’s factory in China Gabourey Sidibe jokes she ‘needs to take a class’ on ‘boob tape’ Outfit choices for Barbie cast photo sparks hilarious reactions
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