The comedian and presenter will return to host the ceremony for a record sixth time when it takes place on Saturday, February 28.

The 2026 edition of the BRITs will also mark the show’s debut in Manchester, taking place at the Co-op Live venue.

Mr Whitehall said: “I think I’ve been able to put my stamp on the BRITs as I’ve been given the space to do what I want to do, and insert my voice and attitude into the show.

“The more I’ve done that, the more freedom the producers have given me.

“Even ITV are good at giving me a long leash.

“In every other show that I’ve ever done, I’ve been much more policed or confined [by producers] when it comes to what I say.

“But with The BRITs, they’re more than happy for me to push boundaries.”

Mr Whitehall previously hosted the BRITs in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2025.

He also revealed his excitement about the show’s move to Manchester, drawing comparisons to his university days in the city.

Mr Whitehall said: “Manchester is a city famous for its nightlife which will make everything even more fun.

“I would probably take them on the tour of Fallowfield, to all the spots I used to go to.

“Last time I performed in Manchester, me and my mates from university went out after the show, and we ended up in Gaff’s, which was an infamous newsagent where you could buy all your nightclub tickets and whatnot.

“We ended up having a lock-in there. If it was still open, that’s where I’d take everyone.”

He said a ‘long friendship’ with Harry Styles would also make the night extra special.

Mr Whitehall said: “He’s great because he’s always up for chatting, playing around and doing a sketch with me; he gives you access and time, and that’s invaluable.”

He also acknowledged that the role comes with its risks.

Mr Whitehall said: “I guess I used to think more about upsetting people, or people taking issue with some of the jokes.

“Nowadays, I think I would be disappointed if they didn’t [take any offence] and if everyone went, ‘Oh yeah, your hosting was great.

“We loved all of it.’

“If that happened, I would think, ‘Oh, I failed.’”

“I like it when, every now and again, someone gets a bee in their bonnet over something that I’ve said.

“It shows that I’m still pushing all the right buttons.”

England’s struggles against spin are not unique to this latest side. They go back generations.

If fans hoped this iteration had found a successful method when in Sri Lanka before this tournament, this result – under the pressure that comes with a World Cup chase – suggests otherwise.

When the ball was hard and with pace to face, England, who were beaten by West Indies in the final of the 2016 T20 World Cup in India, had no issues.

Phil Salt took 24 from the second over, bowled by Holder, and West Indies’ total looked 15 runs below par.

However, the game changed when Buttler miscued Chase to long-on for 21.

It opened the door to Motie, who impressively mixed wrist and finger-spin to have Banton and Brook chipping catches either side of zipping one through Bethell’s defence and onto the stumps.

Curran was England’s hero with the ball in their final-over win against Nepal on Sunday but he never really looked like finding the boundaries needed when pace returned at the death.

It was a fine all-round performance from West Indies, who caught every chance in the field, and now top the group with two wins from two.

They face Nepal at this venue on Sunday, before playing Italy in Kolkata on Thursday, 19 February.

The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world

These are your evening rugby headlines on Wednesday, February 11.

Welsh side refuse to let wanted star leave

The Dragons are refusing to let fly-half Tinus de Beer leave Rodney Parade early to join his former side Bulls, according to reports.

The 30-year-old made the short move along the M4 ahead of the current season after two campaigns with Cardiff. He has made 15 appearances for the Dragons so far this season, scoring two tries and contributing a further 27 points from the tee.

While the length of his contract was not disclosed by the Dragons when he signed last year, RugbyPass reports that the Pretoria-born playmaker is wanted by fellow United Rugby Championship side Bulls, who he started his career with in his native South Africa.

According to the publication, De Beer has been earmarked as a potential replacement for former South Africa fly-half Johan Goosen, who retired at the end of last year following a series of injuries.

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It was reported earlier this month that Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann wanted to bring in the Dragons man to support first choice number 10 Handre Pollard alongside Keagan Johannes.

Having braced themselves for a raid by the South African outfit – and according to the latest reports – the Dragons have dug their heels in and are refusing to let De Beer depart Rodney Parade early.

Filo Tiatia has already lost one of his biggest stars in Aaron Wainwright ahead of next season, with the Wales international agreeing to join Leicester Tigers, and he will be keen not to lose his first choice fly-half with him.

Wales international retires

Wales Women international Kerin Lake has announced her retirement from rugby at the age of 35.

The veteran centre made 54 appearances for the national side and represented her country at two Rugby World Cups, winning her final cap against Canada at last year’s tournament.

However, following a career beset by injury problems, a shoulder injury suffered in that game proved to be the final blow and the midfield stalwart has now decided to hang up her boots.

Announcing her decision in a statement on social media, Lake – who represented Neath Athletic, Ospreys and Gwalia Lightning, and won two Premiership Women’s Rugby titles with Gloucester-Hartpury – said it was “time to step away”.

“After a lot of thought, the time has come for me to step away from the game that has given me so much,” she wrote. “Rugby has been a part of my life longer than I can count. It has shaped who I am, both on and off the field.

“I’m incredibly grateful to all the coaches I’ve had along the way. Thank you for your guidance, belief and for pushing me to be better every single day.

“To the management and medical staff, your hard work behind the scenes never goes unnoticed and I truly couldn’t have done this without you.

“To my team-mates, past and present, thank you for the memories, friendships, the battles and the laughs,” she added. “It’s been an honour to stand beside you representing something bigger than ourselves.

“To the fans, thank you for the constant support, whether in the stands, on the sidelines [or] watching from afar. Wearing the jersey and playing in front of you has been an honour.

“Most importantly, thank you to my friends and family, my mother, Steff and Jacob especially, thank you for your unconditional love and support. Thank you.”

Jones determined to get back-line going

By Anthony Brown, Press Association

Huw Jones is determined to help Scotland’s much-vaunted back-line ignite against England after being stifled by Italy in their frustrating Guinness Six Nations opener last weekend.

The Scots were unable to get their free-flowing attacking game going as torrential rainfall turned their showdown in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico into an attritional battle.

Scotland went down to a dismal 18-15 defeat, cranking up the heat on head coach Gregor Townsend and his players ahead of this weekend’s visit from in-form England.

“England are obviously a brilliant team, so it’s a tough prospect,” said British and Irish Lions centre Jones. “But I think this is probably the perfect game and opposition for us. You don’t need any more motivation, especially after a loss when everyone’s hurting.

“We didn’t really get to play on the weekend, so I think we all have that pent-up frustration and energy from a really frustrating game.

“Even if we’d won that, I think I would have come away from that being like, ‘I didn’t get to do anything’. I’m really angry about that and I think this week that adds to the fuel of just wanting to go out and show what we can do.”

Scotland have won three of the last four Calcutta Cup clashes at Murrayfield, including the last two, but Jones insists that will count for little this weekend.

“They’re a different team, we’re a different team,” said the 32-year-old. “I don’t think it’s ever that helpful to look back and be like, ‘we beat them a couple of years ago’.

“Knowing we beat England, I think that’s always a good thing, but it’s a different week, it’s a different game. It’s just about being focused on this game and what we’re doing this week.”

Saturday marked the first time Scotland had lost their opening Six Nations match since 2020 and Jones admitted it was “one of the tougher changing rooms I’ve been in”.

“It’s frustrating, obviously, because you want to start well,” he said. “The Six Nations is all about momentum and building those wins. We didn’t get the first one but you have to just let that go and forget about it.

“You don’t worry about being derailed and where you’re going to be on the table and all that stuff. It’s just game by game, so all that matters now is this game.

“We don’t worry about what’s happening after this game and what’s just happened. Our review process is done. Everything is focused on this.

“The deflation part comes straight after where you’re gutted sitting in the changing rooms. But once you’ve done that review process, that’s gone and you’re fully motivated again.”

Jones dismissed any notion that the Scotland set-up has become stale after almost nine years under Townsend.

“I think the environment’s adapted over the years,” he said. “I think it’s always growing. Right now I’d say no [it’s not stale]. I think it’s been growing and building and changing over the years.

“Obviously it’s largely the same guys, but I’ve seen growth in the team. I’ve seen players improve, I’ve seen coaches improve, and I’ve seen our game adapt and change and also improve. I believe in this group.”

It is a day Yavar Abbas never thought he’d see in his lifetime. Now he hopes to stay alive to see the King lay the first wreath at a memorial for the British Indian soldiers who fought in World War I and World War II.

A 105 year old war hero who moved the King and Queen to tears at the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, said he was “thrilled” to “still be alive” to see the launch of a memorial to the United British Indian Army.

Tearful veteran Yavar Abbas was given a hero’s welcome as he spoke at a parliamentary reception to launch the Freedom Fountain memorial in the Speaker’s House.

An “enormous” two metre banyan tree fountain is to be erected in Cambridge to honour those volunteers of the ‘forgotten’ Indian Army who served in World War I and II.

A massive 1.3 million Indian soldiers served in the First World War and more than 2 million fought in the Second World War. More than 87,000 died in the latter. In Burma they saw some of the harshest and most brutal conditions of World War II as they fought the Japanese.

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But despite their bravery they were not honoured with their own memorial in the UK until now.

It is hoped the memorial, in the shape of a Banyan Tree, India’s national symbol, will be built in time for Remembrance Day.

Announcing the Freedom Fountain memorial, Veteran Yavar Abbas said: “I could not have wished for a better thing to have happened in the closing years of my life, than to be privileged to be associated with this noble cause.”

Yavar was a combat cameraman who served in the 11th Sikh Regiment, and twice escaped death. He ended up in Hiroshima after the two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan where he encountered “utter desolation”.

The “thrilled” veteran said: “Bridging Worlds Freedom Fountain, is my humble opinion, a beautifully conceived project to memorialise a remarkable organisation – the British Indian Army 1898 – 1947. I am proud to have served…”

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Talking about why the Indian Army was so special he explained they were volunteers and four million of its troops took part in “two of the most terrible wars imaginable”.

“My wish is that I will live long enough to see the King lay the first wreath on our proposed monument,” he said.

“And it is also my wish that a replica will find a suitable place in the hallowed grounds of the National Arboretum.”

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Last year Capt Abbas stood on stage in front of King Charles III and Queen Camilla and went off script telling the nation he wished “to salute my brave King who is here with his beloved Queen in spite of the fact that he’s under treatment for cancer.”

The King and Queen became visibly emotional. Yavar went on to tell the crowd he had been free of cancer too for the past 25 years, receiving a round of applause.

Capt Abbas said he now hopes to still be alive when his beloved King lays a wreath at the memorial in Cambridge. Organisers are half way to raising the £180,000 needed to pay for the stunning memorial.

The Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, who hosted the launch, said: “The British Indian Army was one of the greatest volunteer forces in history, yet for many years insufficiently recognized in our national story.

“Events such as this help ensure that remembrance is inclusive, accurate and shared. That is why. We are so honored tonight to be joined by Captain Yavar Abbas who is an incredible 105 years old.

“Captain Abbas served during the Second World War with the 11th Sikh Regiment, and is one of a diminishing generation of veterans whose lived experience connects us directly to that period of history, and we mustn’t forget about the people that served with you and those who didn’t come back from that conflict.

“His life story reflects the wider contribution of Commonwealth soldiers who’ve shaped the service of Britain’s war time history…Thank you for your service in the Second World War. It was for our freedom and our democracy that you ensured we’re here today.

“I salute you for all you’ve done and the sterling service of your comrades.”

Colleen McLaughlin Barlow, the artist behind the design, said she had “faced a huge challenge.”

“How to create a memorial that history, politics, and circumstance have never allowed to exist.

“There hasn’t been a fully inclusive memorial to all these men from different countries, cultural and religious backgrounds, nothing to honour all of them and their huge contributions in both world wars.

“I reached back into their histories, the histories of the soldiers to imagine how they would want to be remembered.

“I’m sculpting an enormous banyan tree which will be cast into bronze using recycled metals.

“The banyans is the national tree of India and it has these astonishing aerial roots that grow down from the branches and into the ground and then new tree trunks rise up and the entire Forest spreads laterally.

“It’s this heaving interwoven mass of enduring life. The tree is a symbol of endurance, shelter, and continuity across generations, eternity.”

She explained water will “weep gently down from the branches” into a stone pond.

Abdul Kayum Arain, Chair of Trustee, Bridging Worlds (CIO) and Freedom Fountain lead told The Mirror: “Millions served, many died, and for decades their sacrifice went largely unrecognised.

“The Freedom Fountain is our way of saying: we remember, we honour you, and you belong in Britain’s story.

“The Freedom Fountain is about recognising a truth that has been overlooked for too long – that millions from the United British Indian Army helped secure the freedoms we all enjoy today. This memorial is not about the past alone; it is about dignity, belonging, and ensuring those sacrifices are finally remembered.”

Yavar told The Mirror: “I feel very excited about it. We should have had a memorial for the Indian Army a long, long time ago.

“The Indian Army was disbanded in 1947 because of Partition and has remained unhonoured up to now.

“It’s important to Britain, it’s more important to India, it is important to Pakistan, important to everybody.

Appealing for donations after organisers were granted charitable status, he added: “It’s a public monument. It’s not supported by any Government. It is supported by the British public.

“ I have approached the King for support, and the project has gone to him. It’s an open secret that I declared my love for the King loudly from the steps of the Arboretum.

“I share his values, his ideas, his love for nature, his regards for the environment, his views about integration.

“He wants to celebrate the immigrants who’ve done great service to this country.”

One of the team fighting for this memorial Adam Moghadas said of the soldiers in the Indian Army: “They served as infantry, pilots, medics, engineers and support staff. They’re all united by courage and sacrifice. Their contribution has, in my opinion, shamefully been overlooked.

“I think it’s also important to highlight that these service personnel did so while serving an empire that denied them equality, freedom and a voice. And I think that makes it all the more significant that these volunteers were fighting for ideals that they were not allowed yet to fully claim. And that contradiction, in my opinion, makes their service all the greater.”

When the film in question is filled with tension, suspense and no little creepiness, a reworking for the theatre becomes all that much harder.

Expectations were high about Single White Female making a successful transfer with a revised and updated script some 20 years on from the movie starring Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

Kym Marsh and Lisa Faulkner in Single White Female Photo: Chris Bishop

Certainly a packed Opera House crowd was in the mood to be thrilled, especially given the fact that one of their own, Kym Marsh, was taking on the role of ‘lodger from hell’ Hedy.

But – and it’s a big but – for all the hype, for all the expectation, for me it all just fell flat. We weren’t taken to the edges of our seats and the two moments which should have been the most shocking were greeted by laughter from much of the audience.

Now you could argue that was a way of relieving the tension but it was more it reflected the slightly farcical nature of what should have been highpoints of drama.

Anyone familiar with the film will notice major differences. For a start Allie, the high-flier who is down on her luck and in need of a flatmate to help pay the rent has gained a teenage daughter, the suitably lippy Bella which is an interesting twist.

As lodger Hedy gradually eases her way into Allie’s life it’s clear that rather than be Allie, it’s Bella she covets which changes the dynamic.

Read also: ‘It’s fun going over to the dark side’ says Kym Marsh

The updated script also brings modern concerns about the power and dangers of social media to the forefront which does make the production appear more relevant.

Lisa Faulkner as Allie, returning to the stage after more than 20 years, shows no signs of rustiness. But her character, like the majority in the play, doesn’t feel sympathetic. Her waste of space ex-husband left her after getting into a relationship with a teenage girl while in rehab.

With girlfriend now pregnant he’s tightening the purse strings forcing her to live in a flat with dodgy electrics, large cracks in the walls and and front door bell which was the scariest thing in the whole play, going off at an alarmingly loud volume. It may have looked like a photo from an Ikea catalogue but it was barely credible that anyone would have been allowed to live in it.

In spite of her in-laws owning four homes, Allie is forced to send Bella to her private school on the bus – just one example of how things don’t really knit together.

Aided by her work colleague Graham, Allie advertises for a lodger and after what must be the quickest response to a house share in history Hedy gets in touch and the downward spiral begins.

Kym Marsh has a tricky role. On the surface she has to appear friendly and understanding but under the surface there’s an air of menace; she’s manipulative, wheedling her way in to another woman’s family dynamic for her own selfish ends.

There were some flashes of real creepiness but at other times as she morphed into a bit of a caricature, stretching credulity a little too far. A ‘seduction’ scene of the hapless ex-husband Sam was more farce than fierce.

Creating psychological tension from a stage is never easy. You can’t go in for dramatic close-ups and and subtlety is unlikely to survive the journey across a large audience.

Amy Snudden and Lisa Faulkner in Single White Female (Picture: Chris Bishop)

Of the remaining cast, Andro as the camp business partner Graham offered some comic relief – some of which was meant and some of which was unintended.

Jonny McGarrity’s ex-husband Sam came over as a bit of an upper class twit, albeit one with a former coke habit. Only Amy Snudden as Bella was a truly believable character, struggling with peer pressure at school and teen angst which you could see struck a chord with many of the audience.

Single White Female has some good points to make. There is no problem in updating it to take in current concerns and societal issues. But from the clunking scene changes to some of the more farcical scenes it was all lost in translation.

Perhaps expectations were too high; perhaps it was just me who couldn’t relate to it but for a psychological thriller there was no jeopardy, no real sense of menace.

Single White Female is at the Opera House, Manchester until Saturday. Details from www.atgtickets.com

Fans say that all Netflix users need to make time to watch the film

Streamer Netflix is set to quietly add a ’10/10′ Oscar nominated film that boasts a uniquely talented cast.

While no big fanfare has yet been made about the imminent addition, The Singers is set to arrive on the streaming platform at the end of this week. It will be available from February 13.

It is quite the coup from the company as the filmmakers of the title await to see if they will pick up an Academy Award at the upcoming ceremony in March. It is nominated for Best Live Action Short Film.

According to its synopsis, The Singers is inspired by the 19th-century short story of the same name, written by Russian writer Ivan Turgenev. Following the same premise as the original tale, a lowly pub full of downtrodden men connect unexpectedly through an impromptu sing-off.

While it promises to be a genre-bending experience, it should also be an easy watch. Being a short film, viewers will not need to dedicated too much of their time to watch it as it only comes in at 18 minutes total runtime.

It was directed by filmmaker Sam A Davis, who also works as a cinematographer. Interestingly, Davis had a unique way of casting his film.

Instead of usual casting calls and auditions for actors who could sing, he trawled social media for talented singers. Explaining his inspiration, he told Variety: “I opened my phone, and the first video that popped up was a viral video of a guy busking in the subway station. It was the most beautiful, soulful, raw performance I had ever heard.

“The idea for adapting it was suddenly so crystal clear: I would retell this 1850 Russian short story, but with all these really unsuspecting, viral video singing talents who we would curate from TikTok and YouTube and Instagram from all over the world. Then we can fill a bar up with this group of geniuses in the rough, hiding in plain sight in a pub.”

As a result, Netflix claims that the film is “a celebration of diamonds in the rough and a testament to the power of vulnerability through art.”

Those who have been fortunate enough to see it elsewhere seem to agree. All the user reviews for the film on IMDB give the film a ’10/10′ rating.

One said: “So amazing that I actually cried at the end. Human spirit. I just find the brotherhood so awesome. It’s silly little things like this that give me hope for world peace, love, and compassion in our ever changing world. Amazing producer work, directing, and acting.”

Another added: “Starts out dark and claustrophobic. Ends with a funny, subtle, twist. Displays humanity in all its grittiness along with all of its joy. Everything in the movie belonged. Nothing superfluous. The acting genuine and heartfelt. A seemingly simple set yet was thoroughly engrossing and completely unique.”

Someone else said: “Honestly spectacular. Not a piece of this film that didn’t hit incredibly hard. 10/10.” While one fan posted: For lack of a better word, this is a perfect film. It will bust your heart wide open.”

The Singers is streaming on Netflix from February 13. For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.

The revamped Sky Ultimate TV will include streaming subscriptions from HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+ and Hayu. These subscriptions are on basic ad-supported tiers, and here’s what you’d pay if you subscribed outside of Sky:

• HBO Max – £4.99 (Basic with ads)
• Disney+ – £5.99 (Standard with ads)
• Netflix – £5.99 (Standard with ads)
• Hayu – £5.99

The combined value of all of these services is £22.96, so at a surface level, Sky Ultimate TV at £24 seems good value for money, especially if you already subscribe to all of these.

Sky Ultimate TV also includes access to UK terrestrial services (BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5) as well as catch-up services like BBC iPlayer. There’s also a wide range of other Sky channels, free-to-air channels, as well as Discovery+. For many, it will be accessed through a Sky Stream box (included in the cost) or a Sky Glass television (which costs extra).

It’s worth noting that the price of Sky packages fluctuates from time to time, so check before you buy. Currently, Sky Ultimate TV costs £22, so it might be worth signing up before the £24 a month price hits in March.

Sky Ultimate TV: The winners

Existing Ultimate TV customers will have Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu added to their package, so that’s definitely a win. Those who are already Disney+ subscribers will be able to add that to Sky’s billing, so they will benefit from the £5.99 subscription, which is essentially discounting the price they already pay.

New subscribers to Ultimate TV also stand to benefit if they want all those subscriptions. There’s no avoiding that this is a way to save money by bundling up TV services to get access to some of the top streaming content available.

Existing Sky Q customers with Sky Signature, Sky Entertainment and other eligible packages will also get Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu, so they’re winners too.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Canadians were in shock Wednesday after authorities said seven people were killed at a school in remote British Columbia and two others were killed at a nearby home in one of the country’s deadliest mass shootings.

A woman who police believed was the shooter was found dead, apparently from a self-inflicted wound, police said. The motive remained unclear.

More than 25 people were wounded Tuesday in the attack in the small mountain community of Tumbler Ridge, including two with life-threatening injuries who were airlifted for medical care, police said.

The village of 2,700 people in the Canadian Rockies is more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) northeast of Vancouver, near the provincial border with Alberta. The provincial government website lists Tumbler Ridge Secondary School as having 175 students in grades 7 to 12.

“Parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers in Tumbler Ridge will wake up without someone they love. The nation mourns with you, and Canada stands by you,” an emotional Prime Minister Mark Carney said as he arrived in Parliament.

Carney said flags at government buildings will be flown at half-staff for seven days and added: “We will get through this.”

School shootings are rare in Canada, which has strict gun-control laws. The government has responded to previous mass shootings with gun-control measures, including a recently broadened ban on all guns it considers assault weapons.

The attack was Canada’s deadliest rampage since 2020, when a gunman in Nova Scotia killed 13 people and set fires that left another nine dead.

Carney’s office said he would suspend a planned trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Munich, Germany. He had been set to announce a long-awaited defense industrial strategy in Halifax on Wednesday before heading to Europe for the Munich Security Conference.

British Columbia Premier David Eby told reporters that police reached the school within two minutes.

A video showed students walking out with their hands raised as police vehicles surrounded the building and a helicopter circled overhead.

Police found six people dead, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superintendent Ken Floyd said. A seventh person died while being transported to a hospital, and two more were found dead at a residence that authorities believe was connected to the attack.

Floyd told reporters that investigators had identified the suspect but would not release a name. He said police were investigating the connection between the shooter and the victims.

Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka said it was “devastating” to learn how many had died in the community, which he called a “big family.”

“I broke down,” Krakowka said. “I have lived here for 18 years. I probably know every one of the victims.”

The Rev. George Rowe of the Tumbler Ridge Fellowship Baptist Church went to the recreation center where victims’ families were awaiting more information.

“It was not a pretty sight. Families are still waiting to hear if it’s their child that’s deceased and because of protocol and procedure, the investigating team is very careful in releasing names,” Rowe said Tuesday.

Rowe once taught at the high school, and his three children graduated from there.

“To walk through the corridors of that school will never be the same again,” he said.

The school district said the high school and elementary school will be closed for the rest of the week.

Eby on Tuesday said he had spoken to the prime minister about the “unimaginable tragedy.”

“I know it’s causing us all to hug our kids a little bit tighter tonight,” he said. “I’m asking the people of British Columbia to look after the people of Tumbler Ridge tonight.”

___

Gillies reported from Toronto.

Toto Wolff has installed Red Bull as the new “benchmark” team for 2026, claiming Max Verstappen was able to go “a second a lap” faster than everyone else on the straights on the opening morning of testing in Bahrain on Tuesday.

Mercedes had been widely considered the favourites for the upcoming season based on the fact their power unit was said to be best in class, thanks to exploiting a ‘loophole’ in compression ratio rules. 

However, while the argument over those rules continues to rage – Wolff on Wednesday called on the FIA and FOM, who have to sign off on any changes, to avoid siding with the “gamesmanship” of rival manufacturers – the Austrian said he had revised his opinion on the pecking order, describing Red Bull as “very much the benchmark”.

Speaking during the lunch break in Bahrain testing, after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ George Russell had engaged in a long run head-to-head on the opening morning, Wolff said the compression ratio loophole was worth no more than “a few horsepower, maybe 2-3bhp”.

Red Bull’s superior energy deployment, on the other hand, was worth far more. “They [Red Bull] are able to deploy far more energy on the straights than everybody else,” Wolff said. “I mean, I’m speaking a second per lap, over consecutive laps.”

Authorities briefly detained a “person of interest” for questioning Tuesday in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, 10 days after the 84-year-old vanished from her home in Tucson, Arizona, only to then release him in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Speaking to a local journalist afterwards, the man – who identified himself only as “Carlos” – said he was a delivery driver who had never heard of Guthrie .

“I might have delivered a package to their house but I never kidnapped anybody,” he said.

As the search continues, FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Tuesday evening: “We are looking at people who, as we say, are persons of interest.”

The development came shortly after new surveillance photos and video was released showing a masked person outside Guthrie’s Arizona home on the night she was abducted.

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Police believe Guthrie, the mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, was taken from her home in a quiet neighborhood near Tucson at some point between the night of January 31 and the morning of February 1.

The black-and-white images released by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department show the sinister figure apparently trying to tamper with Guthrie’s doorbell camera.

Police said it has been working to recover “lost, corrupted or inaccessible” footage related to Guthrie’s disappearance.

“Over the last eight days, the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department have been working closely with our private sector partners to continue to recover any images or video footage from Nancy Guthrie’s home that may have been lost, corrupted, or inaccessible due to a variety of factors – including the removal of recording devices,” the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement posted to X.

“The video was recovered from residual data located in backend systems.”

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“Working with our partners, as of this morning, law enforcement has uncovered these previously inaccessible new images showing an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance,” the statement continued.

Patel also released additional photos and videos recovered from the same door camera.

One video shows the masked suspect approaching the front door and messing with the camera with his gloved hand. The person then walks away and appears to pick up something off the ground. Another video shows the individual using what appears to be a branch with leaves to obstruct the camera as they tamper with it.

Savannah Guthrie shared the new footage on her Instagram, writing: “We believe she is still alive. Bring her home.” The new photos were released a day after she posted a video on Instagram on Monday, begging for the public’s help in finding her mother as an alleged ransom deadline passed.

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In the video, she said her family believed her mother was “still out there” and asked for the public’s help in finding her, saying that they were “at an hour of desperation, and we need your help.”

Guthrie’s family reported her missing around noon on February 1 after she did not show up for church. Her disappearance set off a massive search involving state and federal law enforcement agencies.

DNA tests showed blood on Guthrie’s front porch was a match to her, and her doorbell camera was disconnected in the early hours of Sunday morning, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has said.

Multiple news outlets have received alleged ransom letters during the past week. Local CNN affiliate KGUN reports it received a ransom note demanding $6 million by Monday, a deadline that passed with no update. Meanwhile, the FBI has said it’s not aware of communication between the Guthrie family and the suspected abductors.

The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information.

Here’s what we know so far.

Who is Nancy Guthrie?

Nancy, 84, lives in Catalina Foothills, an affluent community adjacent to the desert just north of Tucson, Arizona.

She is described as a white female, approximately 5ft 5in tall, weighing about 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. It’s not known what clothing she might be wearing.

Her daughter, Savannah, is a co-host on NBC’s Today show, and her mother has occasionally appeared on the program in segments alongside her.

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How long has she been missing?

Nancy Guthrie was last seen around 9:30 p.m. on the evening of Saturday, January 31, at her home near Skyline Drive and Campbell Avenue, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said.

She spent Saturday night eating dinner and playing games with family members before one of them dropped her off at her home that sits on hilly, desert terrain, the sheriff said.

She was reported missing the next day, on Sunday, February 1, after she didn’t attend her regular church service.

Sheriff Nanos revealed a more detailed timeline during the most recent press conference on Thursday.

He said Guthrie ordered an Uber and left her home at 5:32 p.m. Saturday to go to the family dinner. She returned at 9:48 p.m.

“We did speak to a driver, because Nancy, we learned, had been taken the Uber to the family residence, the daughter for dinner,” Nanos said. “And we located that driver and spoke with them.”

Her garage door opened at approximately 9:48 p.m. and closed two minutes later, which investigators believe marks the time she arrived home.

Her doorbell camera was disconnected at 1:47 a.m. Sunday. But Guthrie did not have an active subscription so the company was unable to recover any footage.

Software data recorded movement at the home minutes later, at 2:12, the sheriff said, acknowledging that the motion could have come from an animal.

At 2:28 a.m., Guthrie’s pacemaker disconnected from her phone.

Family members went to check on Guthrie at 11:56 a.m. Sunday and were unable to locate her. A 911 call was made at 12:03 p.m., and deputies arrived about 10 minutes later.

How is Nancy’s health?

Nancy Guthrie is considered a “vulnerable adult” due to her age, and Nanos said at a press conference just days after her disappearance that she was “very limited in mobility.”

“We know she didn’t just walk out there, that we know,” the sheriff said, adding that her health challenges were only physical.

“Nancy Guthrie is of great sound and mind, this is not dementia-related. She is as sharp as a tack. Her family wants everybody to know, this is not somebody that just wandered off.”

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She also takes medication that, if she does not have in 24 hours, “could be fatal,” Nanos said.

In a video shared last week, Savannah Guthrie said her mother’s health is “fragile.”

“Our mom is a kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light. She has grandchildren that adore her and crowd around her and cover her with kisses. Her health, her heart is fragile,” she said.

Police also flagged her health issues when she initially vanished, according to a 911 dispatch audio.

“Nancy has high blood pressure, a pacemaker and cardiac issues,” the dispatcher said.

What do authorities think happened?

Police believe that Nancy Guthrie was a victim of a crime.

“At this point, investigators believe she was taken from the home against her will, possibly in the middle of the night. Taken against her will includes possible kidnapping or abduction,” Nanos said earlier this week.

There were signs of forced entry at the home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood.

NewsNation released video of dried droplets of blood on stone slabs outside her front door, leading away from the house. DNA tests later revealed belonged to Guthrie.

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Who might have abducted her?

On Tuesday it was reported that a “person of interest” had been detained for questioning over Guthrie’s disappearance.

The individual was detained by officers from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the FBI, sources briefed on the investigation told multiple outlets Tuesday.

Authorities are now preparing to search a location south of Tucson which is associated with the individual, the sources said, but added that the person had not been charged.

Speaking to Fox News Tuesday night, Kash Patel said the Bureau was looking into “persons of interest,” adding that authorities were undergoing a process of elimination with their investigations.

Patel added that “there might be persons of interest in and around the area related to this event,” and reiterated that the FBI’s first priority was finding Guthrie. “Right behind that is to find anyone and any others involved in this kidnapping case to make sure they’re brought to justice,” he said.

Despite his remarks, police have yet to publicly identify any potential suspects.

“We’ve submitted all kinds of samples for DNA, and we’ve gotten some back, but nothing to indicate any suspects,” Nanos told reporters Tuesday.

The sheriff said investigators have believed from the beginning that Guthrie was targeted, but they don’t know whether that was because her daughter is one of television’s most visible anchors.

Earlier this week, multiple media outlets reported receiving ransom notes demanding millions of dollars in Bitcoin for Guthrie’s return.

FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said Thursday there has been “no contact” since the ransom notes were sent to media outlets.

“The family wants to be contacted,” Janke said. “They know time is of the essence. And if those that may have Nancy are watching this, the family is ready to talk, get proof of life, because there has been no contact after that ransom note went to the media.”

However, none of the letters contained proof of life, he said. Janke said the notes contained references to a deadline and a monetary demand, as well as mentions of “an Apple Watch” and “a floodlight,” but declined to provide further details.

On Thursday, a man was arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly texting Guthrie’s family members asking about the Bitcoin that was demanded in a ransom letter sent to media outlets, according to NBC News.

This comes after an FBI agent announced officials had arrested one person in connection with an “imposter” ransom demand.

The criminal complaint, which was reviewed by NBC News, says Derrick Callella sent the family members messages after hearing about Nancy’s disappearance on TV. Callella allegedly told officials he was just “trying to see if the family would respond,” according to the complaint.

Former FBI special agent Nicole Parker, a Fox News contributor, told Hannity that Nancy had likely been taken by someone with a “deep grievance”.

“I do believe that it was someone who likely knows her, knows her very well, or knows the structure of the home very well, knows that she lived alone, had their eye on her, and had the entry and exit points of the home, and is quite familiar,” Parker said.

It was clear, Parker added, that “the home itself is the crime scene,” and investigators were withholding some details to avoid compromising the ongoing case.

“There is something about it that is very strongly driving this investigation. Law enforcement has kept that quite confidential and quiet, but there is something that they have seen that is driving the sense of urgency on this.”

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On February 10, the sheriff’s department released several photos and videos from surveillance footage obtained from the doorbell camera outside Nancy Guthrie’s home.

The photos were of an “armed” suspect who appeared to have tampered with Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell camera.

FBI Director Kash Patel then released additional photos and videos recovered from the same camera.

The first video is 27 seconds long and shows the masked suspect — who police have said was “armed” — approaching the front door and interacting with the camera with his gloved hand. The individual then walks away and appears to pick up an object off the ground nearby.

Another 14-second video shows the individual using what appears to be a branch with leaves to obstruct the camera.

President Donald Trump reacted with “pure disgust” when he viewed the newly-released surveillance footage, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

“His initial reaction, of course, as all Americans, is just pure disgust. And again, it’s heartbreaking to see now this footage really bring to life a story we’ve all been reading about,” Leavitt said.

“Again, we’re just praying for the safety of Nancy Guthrie and that she will return home soon, and the president directed me to please encourage all Americans with any information to call the FBI. We hope that this case will come to a positive resolution as soon as possible,” she added.

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A massive search effort

Initial search efforts covered the Catalina Foothills area, using drones, aircraft, ground crews and dog teams. The sheriff’s department said the FBI had offered assistance on the case and the U.S. Border Patrol had also assisted with dogs.

The area has seen sunny weather in recent days, though temperatures have dropped to between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night, according to AccuWeather.

Nancy’s $1 million home, located on a residential street, appears to be in a secluded area. Photos of her home show it’s surrounded by shrubbery on all sides, and some plants appear to partially block the view of her front door from the street. Her property also has a large outdoor area and a pool.

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But after just two days, large-scale search efforts were called off, with Nanos noting: “Right now, we don’t see this as a search mission, as much as we do a crime scene.”

Nanos said Nancy lives in an area that’s “not well lit.” He described it as a “very suburban, rural area of the Tucson area, in a very mountainous side of town where vegetation is extremely thick.”

Deputies returned to the house multiple times in the past week for what the sheriff called a “follow-up” after the property had already been released back to the family.

What are neighbors saying?

Locals have reacted with shock and rallied to help search for Nancy.

“I just saw her two days ago [on Saturday] checking her mail,” one neighbor told Us Weekly. “She was always smiling and always asking about our family and neighbors. She was very engaged with the community. … It’s very concerning.”

Another neighbor, Morgan Brown, told the magazine that there had been “a lot of dark vans with blacked out windows” in the suburb since Nancy’s disappearance.

“There were a lot of cop cars there at first, and then it was vans, so I assumed that maybe they came across something.”

One neighbor told The Arizona Republic that officers went door to door to talk to people, asking to see any surveillance videos they had and to look through people’s backyards.

Resident Jan Henry, who lives nearby, serves as neighborhood watch lead and has been coordinating a volunteer rescue group.

“We sent out an alert to all the neighbors in our neighborhood so we could be looking for her,” Henry told local news channel KGUN 9.

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Who is her daughter, Savannah?

Nancy’s daughter, 54-year-old Savannah Guthrie, is a co-host on NBC’s Today show and was previously a White House correspondent.

Savannah was born in Victoria, Australia, where the family was living at the time while her father worked for an Arizona-based mining company. They returned to the U.S. two years later and settled in Tucson. Savannah’s father died when she was entering her senior year at high school.

She attended the University of Arizona thanks to her mom, who had taken a job there in order to secure tuition-free education for her children.

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Savannah has spoken often about how her mother supported her in her dreams of parenthood, reassuring her that it would happen when the time was right. She now has a daughter, Vale, and a son, Charley, with her husband, Michael Feldman, whom she married in 2014.

How is the family coping?

Savannah Guthrie has asked for help to “bring her home” in the wake of her mother’s disappearance, posting a faith-based message on Instagram on February 2 to her 1.2 million followers.

“Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant,” she wrote. “Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.”

In a video posted two days later, Savannah and her siblings – Annie and Camron Guthrie – acknowledged the reports of a ransom note and made a direct plea for proof their mother is alive. They said they were “ready to talk” and asked whoever has their mother to provide evidence of life.

“We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us,” Savannah Guthrie said while fighting off tears.

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With her voice cracking, she addressed her mother directly, saying the family was praying for her and that people were looking for her.

“Mamma, if you’re listening, we need you to come home. We miss you,” Annie Guthrie added.

One day later, Camron posted his own video on behalf of his family asking the suspected kidnappers to contact them.

“Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you. We haven’t heard anything directly,” he said in the video. “We need you to reach out and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward. But first, we have to know that you have our mom. We want to talk to you and we are waiting for contact.”

Then, on Friday, the family posted another message acknowledging that contact had been made with a suspected kidnapper.

In the video, Savannah Guthrie says that her family has “received your message” and “will pay” for their mother’s safe return.

“We received your message and we understand,” the Today anchor said.

“We beg you now to return our mother to us, so that we can celebrate with her,” Guthrie said. She added that her mother is “very valuable to us” and “we will pay.”

Annie is a writer and jeweler living in Tucson, according to her biography on the Arizona Commission on the Arts website. She published Instant Gratification, a book on jewelry making, in 2001. Fourteen years later, she published The Good Dark, a book of poems.

Camron is a retired military pilot, according to a social media post Savannah shared in 2018.

“I have never been more proud of my big brother. He has flown for our country for 26 years, and continues to serve proudly in the ‘Green Mountain Boys’ – the Vermont Air National Guard,” she wrote at the time.

Savannah has been absent from the Today show all week and will not be traveling to Milan, Italy, to host the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

She had also reportedly planned to stay in Italy for a week to record NBC’s morning program with her former co-host Hoda Kotb. The Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are set to run from February 6 to 26.

An NBC Sports spokesperson said in a statement shared with The Independent, “Savannah will not be joining us at the Olympics as she focuses on being with her family during this difficult time. Our hearts are with her and the entire Guthrie family as the search continues for their mother.”

Craig Melvin, who was also supposed to host Olympic Late Night from Milan from Saturday to Monday, will be staying in the U.S. as well.

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What is the public reaction?

People across the U.S. are voicing their support for Savannah Guthrie and her family.

President Donald Trump spoke to Savannah Guthrie directly, offering his support. He shared a Truth Social post last week detailing his phone call.

“I spoke with Savannah Guthrie, and let her know that I am directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family’s, and Local Law Enforcement’s, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY. We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely. The prayers of our Nation are with her and her family. GOD BLESS AND PROTECT NANCY! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP,” he wrote.

New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan also offered words of support during an appearance on the Today show.

“Savannah, I am asking the Good Shepherd to find this lost sheep,” he said.

Current and former colleagues of Savannah have also offered their support, with Today co-host Al Roker urging the public to help find Nancy.

“We are praying for Savannah and her family and the return of their beloved Mom, Nancy,” Roker wrote on Instagram.

NBC News’ Kristen Welker has said she is “praying” for the family. Hoda Kotb, Savannah’s former Today co-host, shared a photo of Nancy on Instagram, including the sheriff’s department’s phone number, writing: “If you know anything.. pls help.”

NBC Sports Anchor Mike Tirico similarly voiced his support for the family, adding that “this is a time for caring about the people in your family, and we are holding Savannah near and dear to our heart, and we are praying for all of them.”

Fans also sent Savannah love on Instagram after she made her emotional plea for help.

“Praying for your lovely mom and your family. God is Almighty. Almighty is God,” one fan wrote.

Another wrote: “Sending you so much love and prayers.”

“We’re all praying for your beautiful Mom to return safely. Sending you and your family strength. We love you, Savannah,” a third said.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said anyone with information should contact 1-800-CALL-FBI, 520-351-4900, 88-CRIME or visit tips.fbi.gov.