The city rests one shoulder on Europe, the other on Asia, and lets the Bosphorus sing a shining breath of water between them.

For centuries, it was the capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires, which is why its old core is packed with mosques, churches, palaces and bazaars.

The city itself is full of historic landmarks that you feel lucky to even lay eyes on.

The Hagia Sophia (once a church, then a mosque, then a museum, now a mosque again), the Byzantine walls, the Hippodrome area, and Ottoman sites like Topkapı Palace and the Blue Mosque.

(Image: Newsquest)

Yet today, it is more commonly associated with its cure for lonely scalps and misunderstood teeth.

I’m not bald, so I have never given the industry too much thought, but over the past few years, you simply cannot ignore the meteoric rise in hair transplants or aptly named ‘Turkey teeth’ among society.

Each has become symbolic of how the rise of social media gave us an unrealistic expectation of how we should look.

Confidence in ourselves is arguably at an all-time low, so for any man out there who isn’t happy with their appearance, I hope your pillow be forever cold.

You are enough, king, but worry not, Turkey holds the key.

At a fraction of the cost of the UK, people can often get flights, a hotel and a new wig for less than just the procedure at home, which makes it an ideal “fly in, fix hair, fly out” destination.

I’ve never been to Turkey before, so I was alight with anticipation at the thought of not only meandering between continents, but also to see what is putting it on the global map, health tourism.

(Image: Newsquest)

Esteworld was my destination, a leading health clinic founded in 1994 that is widely regarded as one of the key contributors to this industry in Turkey.

With 1,200 employees and patients from over 35 countries, there was no question of Esteworld’s clinical expertise, but I was about to learn so much more about what makes this place truly special.

Making my way to Turkey

Flying from Manchester to Istanbul was far from boring.

I am more than partial to an airport pint; no one will ever begrudge me a quick livener before getting on a plane for a four-hour panic attack.

And it was here that I learnt my first lesson about flying to Turkey, a very proud country, don’t overdo it.

One man nearby, with, let’s say, a cold head, seemed to also share my trepidation. Yet instead of a couple, he’d opted for half a barrel.

A man on his own, follicly challenged, and beyond drunk, it didn’t take Nostradamus to work out which flight he would be boarding.

Mine, Pegasus Airlines, a Turkish airline who do not react kindly to people turning up with their trousers down their ankles whilst belting ‘Blue Moon’ at the top of their lungs.

If you’re flying to Turkey, be respectful, as the flight attendants had to cut off the entire flight in a bid to keep order, much to the dismay of everyone else. Don’t be that guy.

(Image: Newsquest)

After demonstrating monk-like discipline to not buy a bottle of perfume and drink it, I arrived in Istanbul at night and made my way to the Hilton to meet the rest of the guys who would be investigating what makes Esteworld special.

It was an incredible hotel, fit for anyone suffering from the fear of being alone whilst undertaking a massive change in their lives, so do not worry, you’re in safe hands.

What makes Esteworld special

Visit here to find out more.

Hair loss affects millions of people around the globe, but it is far from just a superficial issue.

According to Chemist4u, over 15 million UK residents experience hair loss.

A common cause of emotional distress and reduced confidence for many, it’s no surprise that interest in preventative measures continues to grow.

But this is where Esteworld offers the solution.

Known for its patient-first approach and exceptional service standards, Esteworld is now in the truly capable hands of Dr Burak Tuncer, the clinic’s Medical Director and a leading specialist in hair transplantation.

He said: “We are witnessing a significant shift in consumer behaviour globally.

“Health, appearance and longevity are no longer seen as optional, but increasingly as priorities.

“Esteworld positioned itself early within this transformation and has since evolved into a platform that delivers both medical outcomes and a comprehensive patient experience.”

(Image: Newsquest)

And that is what we found to be the case: the patient experience.

You hear nightmare stories about people flying to countries and coming back with bodged hair transplants or veneers, but Dr Burak doesn’t shy away from this; it infuriates him.

“We hate the fact that people associate reputable clinics such as ours with these companies that are purely designed to rip people off and make their lives even worse,” he said.

Adversely, he uses this defiant passion of his to help people.

He added: “At Esteworld, we hold the highest of standards, perhaps in the world, and we want people to know that if you pick us, we will be there with you every step of the way.”

Not only as a medical director but also as a surgeon, Dr Burak Tuncer is a level above the rest.

He has carried out thousands of hair transplant operations over the years, working with people like you and me, all the way up to VIP.

The ‘Ooo that’s going straight in my barsket’ guy from Vine, Anto Sharp, remember him? I bumped into him in the corridor.

(Image: Newsquest)

Esteworld runs a well‑oiled service for international patients, taking care of translation, accommodation, transport and follow‑up care.

To summarise, Esteworld is suitable for those who:

• Have hair thinning or bald patches, especially those with stable hair loss.
• Understand that results take time
• Are in good general health; anything undeclared could impact your healing
• Are prepared for international travel and willing to follow post-operative care

What is Istanbul like?

The added bonus of coming to Esteworld in Istanbul for your hair transplant is, well, you’re going to be in Istanbul.

My word, what a city. An ethereal one at that.

I’ve been lucky enough to visit some incredible places in the world, but nowhere quite lives up to expectations like Istanbul.

Before you go away on a trip, you can’t help but browse through TikTok or Instagram, researching the place you’re about to go.

But when you get there, it never lives up to the hype and usually falls well below par. Social media is a lie, right? Well, not in this case.

(Image: Newsquest)

Istanbul is a hole in one.

My favourite spot? The Blue Mosque area, it squeezes centuries of Istanbul’s history, faith and everyday life into a single, walkable square mile.

It feels like you’ve stepped into the pages of a Dan Brown novel and have you cosplaying as Robert Langdon, mooching about, solving some world-ending problem.

When in actual fact you’re just hunting for some Turkish delight.

Step out of the mosque, and you’re in Sultanahmet Square, with Hagia Sophia facing you across the park, Topkapı Palace and Gülhane Park a short walk away.

It’s a place for pondering the big questions in surprising serenity.

Am I where I want to be in life? What would make this year feel well‑lived? How long does the Elvis impersonation business realistically have left?

If you’re thinking of making that big leap and choosing to have a hair transplant, then Istanbul, and for that matter, Esteworld, should be the number one place on your list.

It is no wonder the city has continents fighting over its allegiance.

Where’s the best capital city you’ve ever visited? Let us know in the comments

The Railway bar, located on Albert Road, first opened its doors last summer but has now surrendered its premises licence, forfeiting its right to sell booze.

On April 13, 2026, Cleveland Police applied to Middlesbrough Council for a review of the premises licence of The Railway.

The application for review was made under the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. 

However, no licence review hearing will take place – a Middlesbrough Council spokesman confirmed that the establishment surrendered its licence before such a review could take place.

On Facebook, the business describes itself as a bar/club and being open six days a week, boasting DJs, events and live sports, but additional details on the page says that the bar is now “permanently closed”.

The Railway was contacted but the business did not wish to make a comment for publication. 

NEW YORK (AP) — Flying vampires. A musical spoof of the megahit movie “Titanic.” Another spoof, this time of golden-age Broadway musicals. And a new “Death of Salesman,” one of America’s most decorated and mournful plays. It’s Tony Awards time.

Twenty-four Broadway shows will hope to nab at least one win Sunday across the 26 Tony categories, which can mean the difference between keeping the doors open and pulling down the curtain.

Grammy Award-winner Pink is the host of the show, which will be broadcast live on CBS and streaming for Paramount+ subscribers in the U.S. to both coasts on Sunday from 8-11 p.m. Eastern/5-8 p.m. Pacific.

Three generations of Pink’s family

Pink promises a big, honking opening number — written by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Mark Sonnenblick that ends with some 170 people on stage — with lots of costume changes and some wire work, which she is familiar with from her acrobatic concerts. She has tapped Amber Ruffin, a writer and performer for “Late Night with Seth Meyers” for help with jokes.

In the audience will be Pink’s mother — who took her to shows growing up in Philadelphia, instilling a love of musicals — and Pink’s two children, a passing of the musical theater baton. Pink’s 15-year-old daughter, Willow, is an aspiring theater actor and urged her to host the Tonys.

“The biggest reason she wanted me to say ‘yes’ was so that she could have a seat at the show because she loves the show so much,” says Pink. “I was like, ‘I can probably get you a seat anyway.’”

Plenty of performances

There will be performances from the seven best new musical and best musical revival nominees: “The Lost Boys,” “Schmigadoon!,” “Titanique,” “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York),” “Cats: The Jellicle Ball,” “Ragtime” and “The Rocky Horror Show.”

Other performances include the original lead cast members of “The Book of Mormon” — Josh Gad, Andrew Rannells, Rory O’Malley and Nikki M. James — this year celebrating its 15th anniversary. Leslie Odom, Jr. will sing “Without You” from “Rent” during the In Memoriam section, in honor of that show’s 30th anniversary.

Another show celebrating a milestone, “Chicago” now at 30, will have a performance slot featuring Pink, as well as Queen Latifah, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Alex Newell, Adrienne Warren, Julianne Hough, Whitney Leavitt and Dylan Mulvaney. Plus, “A Chorus Line,” which last year celebrated its 50th anniversary, will get a special tribute by Rachel Zegler.

The musical and play races

The competition for best new musical is between four very different shows: “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York),” an opposites-attract rom-com; “The Lost Boys,” a stage adaptation of a 1987 teen movie vampire thriller; “Schmigadoon!,” which gently mocks golden-age Broadway shows; and “Titanique,” a camp musical comedy that reimagines the 1997 movie “Titanic.”

The two top best play nominees are “Giant,” exploring accusations of antisemitism against children’s author Roald Dahl, and “Liberation,” about a consciousness-raising women’s group in the 1970s that explores inequality, gender roles and racism.

There are intriguing races in both the revival categories: A “Death of a Salesman” led by Nathan Lane is competing for best play revival with a modern-set “Oedipus” led by Marc Strong and a sweet “Every Brilliant Thing” starring Daniel Radcliffe.

The best musical revival pits a new “Cats” reimagined as a “Pose”-like competition show, the sweeping American history show “Ragtime” and a rollicking, frisky “The Rocky Horror Show.”

Bill Rauch, who secured his first Tony nomination for co-directing the reimagined “Cats: The Jellicle Ball,” was a nominator for three seasons until this one and is impressed by the range now on Broadway.

“I look at everything as an artist within the season, but also as somebody who has seen the wealth of work on Broadway for three years running,” he said. “I just think there’s so much variety on Broadway and so many artistic risks that people take. I left my three years as a nominator really impressed by the landscape, I have to say. And I feel that this year as well.”

June Squibb became the oldest Tony-nominated actor in history at 96 and could become the oldest Tony winner if she hears her name called, surpassing Lois Smith who was 90 when she won in 2021. And Lane is hoping for his fourth Tony for “Death of a Salesman,” which would make him tied as the most-awarded male performer in Tony history, alongside Boyd Gaines and Frank Langella.

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For more coverage of the 2026 Tony Awards, visit https://apnews.com/hub/tony-awards.

The Mother & Baby magazine ordered by dad Paul Edwards finally arrived, a whopping 19 years after he actually bought it – an amused Mr Edwards said the late arrival ‘tickled’ him

A dad was stunned to finally receive a magazine in the post 19 years after he actually bought it.

Paul Edwards, 52, was awaiting the arrival of his son in 2007 when he bought a copy of Mother & Baby magazine. His daughter was 18 months old at the time. Now, his children are now aged 18 and 20 and at university.

“Like a lot of relatively new parents, you sign up for subscriptions for things to give you advice, offers and provide things to do with the children – then obviously everyone realises you have to work it out for yourself,” Mr Edwards told the BBC, calling the experience “really bizarre”.

“I’m not sure we realised at the time that the magazine was missing. Then it’s suddenly arrived in the post. You get a half-torn screwed up bag and you think, ‘what on Earth is this’, with the ‘sincere apologies’ on it.”

The magazine finally arrived last Friday with a note from the Royal Mail that said it apologised for “any inconvenience caused”. It is less likely the magazine was lost by the Royal Mail, which said it checks its dorting machines and delivery offices every day. It was more likely that the item was put back into the postal system by someone.

Mr Edwards, an author, said he had been rushing to the door to find out about potential publishing deals when he was suddenly given the magazine through his letter box. “It just really tickled me – it’s the contradiction,” he said.

“You’re constantly checking for any publishing offer then this turns up. It’s just marvellous. What really got me was the ‘apologies for the inconvenience’. My two children have now left home.”

It comes as OFCOM as opened an investigation into Royal Mail’s failure to meet its delivery targets for the last year, it has said. Under the watchdog’s targets, 90 percent of first-class mail should be delivered the next day, and 95% of second-class mail should be delivered within three days.

But Royal Mail announced last week that it had missed targets for another year running, achieving 75.7 percent of first-class mail arriving the next working day over the 12 months to the end of March, according to the latest quality of service report. This was slightly less than the 76.3 percent achieved the prior year.

For second-class mail, 90.2 percent was delivered within three working days – less than the 92.2 percent achieved the year before. Last July, OFCOM “modernised” obligations placed on Royal Mail to reflect steep declines in the number of letters being sent, allowing second-class letters to be delivered on alternate weekdays among changes to delivery targets.

Royal Mail expected to complete it rollout of the new delivery model by Christmas, OFCOM said. While Royal Mail was now making progress, it had taken almost a year to begin the process of implementing the delivery reforms and service levels remained unacceptable, the regulator added.

OFCOM enforcement director Ian Strawhorne said: “A reliable postal service is vital to many people across the country. We share the deep frustrations of customers who have missed important letters because of Royal Mail’s consistent failure to improve its service over the years. While the company is now making progress through its improvement plan, we will continue to hold it to account for its unacceptable performance to date.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “Improving quality of service is a top priority and we are delivering a major programme of change through the rollout of our new delivery model which underpins our Improvement Plan, backed by £500 million of investment over five years. These reforms are designed to deliver long-term quality improvements for customers as we modernise the postal service and deploy the new delivery model, enabled by the changes to the Universal Service regulations that OFCOM introduced in July 2025.

“At a time when significant investment is being made to improve reliability across the network, any financial penalty would reduce funding that could otherwise be used to support service improvements for customers. We will engage fully with OFCOM throughout their investigation.”

North Yorkshire Police said the fatal collision happened on Sir John’s Lane in Sherburn in Elmet at 7.55pm on Saturday, June 6.

It involved a blue Mazda vehicle and a silver Suzuki motorcycle.

A police spokesman said: “Sadly, the rider of the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the scene. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very difficult time.”

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The force is appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision, who has any relevant dashcam footage, or who may have seen either vehicle prior to the incident, to come forward.

If you have any information that could assist the investigation, please contact the police online in the first instance:

• Email: Serious Collision Investigation Unit at SCIU@northyorkshire.police.uk

• Online: If you have any information that could assist the investigation, please follow this link and quote reference 12260104599: https://orlo.uk/vDnmr

• Live chat: Available via our website, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

If you are unable to use these options, please call North Yorkshire Police on 101.

Please quote reference 12260104599 when providing information.

Charity Dingle became the victim of sexual assault during Sunday’s episode of the ITV soap

Emmerdale aired an uncomfortable scene as Charity Dingle was assaulted by Dr Caitlin Todd at the end of Sunday’s installment.

Over the last few weeks, Dr Caitlin Todd has been demanding money from Charity Dingle with the promise of keeping the secret that baby Leyla isn’t Sarah and Jacob’s. However, on a rare Sunday episode the storyline took a dark turn.

Charity has been struggling to cope under the pressure that her secret about baby Leyla could be exposed at any second, and she ended up turning to drink as Dr Todd continued to make more demands.

As Todd continued to get more menacing, things took an even darker turn as she arrived at Charity’s home later on where the latter was lay asleep on the sofa.

Noticing she’d finished a bottle of wine, Dr Todd hovered over Charity and sneered: “Wake up. Drunk, disgusting w****! One too many? Bad, bad girl. You should know better… ..than to lose control.”

It was then that the horrific assault aired as she could be heard unzipping Charity’s trousers before she awoke and realised what was happening. Begging Todd to get off her, Charity sat upright as she tried to process what had just happened to her.

In the coming weeks, Charity will struggle to come to terms with the attack, having to choose between confiding in her loved ones or internalising the trauma.

Viewers expressed how uncomfortable they felt during the latest installment of Emmerdale. On X (formerly known as Twitter), @emmerdale2dae wrote: “I admire Emmerdale for tackling such a huge storyline but it was such an uncomfortable watch and I know it’s supposed to be, that’s the point, but wow was it dark for an 8pm soap. Todd is beyond sick and Caroline Harker plays a very VERY good villain! Still shaking.”

@meeshyjay added: “I don’t think Dr Todd can sink any lower ffs i feel sick” as @bagflea75 penned: “That was really uncomfortable, it felt like you were witnessing something rather than just watching.”.

Ahead of the storyline airing, Emmerdale issued a warning for viewers of the ITV soap on their social media. It reads: “In today’s episode, (Sunday, June 7) Emmerdale will show scenes depicting sexual violence that viewers could find distressing.”

Emmerdale producer, Sophie Roper, explains the importance of the storyline: “Charity’s storyline will explore the impact of sexual violence, and though this heinous act is fundamentally about power, we’ll explore the complexities of how Charity processes her trauma when the perpetrator is a woman.

“With little conversation surrounding female-on-female assault, we’ll explore the overwhelming feelings of isolation many survivors experience and will examine the disparity between the legal term sexual assault and the fact that many women in Charity’s position feel this minimises what’s happened to them, because they feel like they’ve been raped. Though difficult viewing at times, Charity’s resilience will inspire hope as she confronts what has happened to her.”

Emma Atkins commented: “This has been one of the most demanding and significant storylines I’ve had to navigate as Charity. We know her as a tough, resilient character, but this trauma will expose a deep, raw vulnerability that has been heartbreaking at times to play.

“I hope this storyline gives even one person the courage to speak out or helps others understand the quiet devastation of trauma.”

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm and is also available to stream on ITVX and YouTube from 7am.

NEW YORK (AP) — There was a time when Donald Trump was just another celebrity sitting courtside at New York Knicks games. He was famous, but not yet flanked by Secret Service agents or defined by the politics that have left him deeply unpopular in his hometown.

Now, more than a decade after attending his last Knicks game at Madison Square Garden, Trump is making a rare trip back to New York City as president to cheer for them in Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. Invited by Knicks owner James Dolan, he will be the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game.

The Knicks are seeking their first championship since 1973, when Trump was 26 and a relative newcomer to the family real estate business that vaulted him to wealth and fame. Two years after that triumph, the team’s owners at the time hired him as a consultant as they looked to sell the arena.

Trump has been to more major sporting events than any of his predecessors, including the Super Bowl and Daytona 500, golf’s Ryder Cup in the New York City suburbs, where he was cheered, and last year’s U.S. Open men’s tennis championship in Queens, where he was booed and blamed for long security lines.

On June 14, when he turns 80 while wrestling with myriad crises including the war with Iran, economic unease and court rulingsblunting his agenda, he will host a UFC fight on White House grounds. Trump also has expressed interest in attending soccer’s World Cup, which kicks off this week across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

New Yorkers love the Knicks more than they love Trump

Trump is an avid sports fan, but the affinity he professes for the Knicks is different.

It speaks to the Republican president’s identity as a New Yorker and harkens to a bygone era where a front-row seat at a Knicks game was a chance for him and other boldface names to see and be seen.

In a city whose wealthy gatekeepers largely turned their noses at Trump’s brash personality and playboy image in the 1990s and 2000s, the Garden’s Celebrity Row was one club where he felt at home.

“I’ve been a Knick fan for a long time,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office last week, a day after New York rallied to win Game 1. “I watched that end of the game and they were dominant — really amazing.”

After another win Friday in San Antonio, the Knicks head home with a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. They have won a remarkable 13 straight playoff games and last lost on April 23, uniting the city in a way unseen since the Knicks went to the NBA Finals twice in the 1990s.

Enter Trump. He returns to the Knicks zeitgeist not as the tabloid curiosity who once sat shoulder to shoulder with the late John F. Kennedy Jr. at a game in 1999, but as a president who is disliked by a majority of the city’s Democratic voters.

Trump, who gave up his lifelong New York residency for Florida in 2019, is making his first trip to New York City since he spoke at the United Nations in September. In 2024, he went on trial in the city and was convicted of 34 felony counts related to hush money paid on his behalf during his 2016 campaign.

Knicks fans, though, do not seem to be concerned so much with his politics, but that his attendance — and the hoopla accompanying it — could mess up the team’s momentum. The Knicks said people going to the game should arrive at least two hours before tipoff for airport-style security screening.

“Why does Donald Trump always have to ruin a good thing?” U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, an avid Knicks fan and the House Democratic leader, told CNN. “Like, literally, the Knicks haven’t been in the NBA finals for 27 years. The city is trying to celebrate this. We’ve embraced this team, and this guy has to inject himself.”

Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat who struck up a cordial relationship with Trump after the two met in November, was more inviting.

“We’re excited to welcome anyone and everyone who’s rooting for the Knicks in this moment,” said Mamdani, who will also be at the game — albeit, not with Trump.

Last week, as Trump began floating the idea of attending a game, New York magazine published an article, “Is Trump Really a Knicks Fan? An Investigation.” The story, filled with pictures of Trump at Knicks games from 1991 to 2014, described him as a “textbook example of a celebrity bandwagon fan.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver disagrees.

“Before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan,” Silver told reporters last week. “I’ve been with the league for a long time. I was there at many Knicks games with him in the old days.”

A courtside regular in the 1990s

Trump and the Knicks came into existence the same year, 1946.

His affiliation with the team — at least in the public record — dates to 1975 when he acted as a real estate adviser to the then-owners of the Knicks and Madison Square Garden, who were looking to sell the building known in a bit of Trump-style branding as “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”

Trump claimed to reporters at the time that two groups of “Arab oil interests” were interested in paying $50 million to $75 million. But the arena’s leadership passed on the idea, saying it was “not conceivable” to make such a deal during the Middle East oil crisis raging at the time.

Trump was not much of a known entity when the Knicks won their only championships in 1970 and 1973.

By the time they rebounded in the 1990s, Trump was front and center, taking his then-wife Marla Maples to Game 3 of the NBA Finals in 1994 and his current wife, first lady Melania Trump, to Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals in 1999. In between, he added to his Knicks fan bona fides with a cameo in the Knicks-themed Whoopi Goldberg film “Eddie” in 1996.

Back then, Trump was a more of a mythic figure than a consequential one, known as much for the women he dated and married as the buildings he built.

But just as those Knicks came up short in the NBA Finals against Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets and David Robinson and the Spurs, Trump was running into problems of his own. His business empire was in disarray after his casinos fell into financial trouble and his airline, Trump Shuttle, went out of business.

Like the Knicks, Trump went into rebuilding mode and charted a new course: reality TV with NBC’s “The Apprentice” and “Celebrity Apprentice,” and then, politics. On a Knicks TV broadcast in 2010, he hinted at a possible presidential run.

That same year, as the Knicks struggled to recapture the magic of the 1990s, Trump recorded a video trying to persuade LeBron James to join the team.

“The real winners of the world want to be here,” Trump told him.

Russell had continued to insist everything was well – until Monaco. But now it’s out in the open, and he knows he has work to do to turn his season around in terms of pace. Getting on top of what he can control is the key for Russell. The luck, he has to hope, will return one day.

“Yesterday was a bad day for me,” he said. “And I take, I accept that. I need to get myself out of… yeah, I don’t know, how we keep ending up in the same position. Things will need to improve, for sure. But I know on clean weekends what I can do.

“I’m in a very weird state of mind because I’ve had very low moments in my career where I’ve maybe had a run of two or three bad races on my own personal performance. I’ve never had a run of bad luck as such like this.

“It didn’t happen when the car was a P7 car two years ago or a P4, P3 car last year.

“Now I’ve got the car, it feels very painful, but a long way to go. I still very much believe in myself. I still believe we’re going to be fighting for race wins for the end of this year. There’s no reason why we won’t be continuing into next year, but right now it’s tough.”

Wolff said: “Luck swings in your direction, and then sometimes it doesn’t. And it’s not a question of not knowing how to drive. It’s about having a car underneath that you feel confident with, and that you can go fast. And that’s the fact.

“Formula 1 is about physics and not mystics. You don’t unlearn how to drive, and you don’t become a miracle wonder driver. I’m not stressed at all for his performances, because we know he’s one of the best.

“In Monaco, even more than on many other circuits, you need to be one with the car and really in the zone. That’s also why on George’s side, once you lose that confidence, it’s very difficult to be fast here.

“George is really good at analysing and assessing the situation, and we forget, and I told him, when was Montreal, a week ago, two weeks ago? He was on pole, right? He won the sprint race, he was leading the main grand prix, there was no discussion about lack of speed, so that was two weeks ago.

“So, we’ve got to stay with both feet on the ground, work through the data, see why this one was a difficult one, and Miami was a difficult one, but it is not a pattern that I have seen through the season.

“I couldn’t wish for a better combination of the two in a car, and I have no doubt that George will come back very strong.”

The 34-year-old previously suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch in 2021

Danish footballer Christian Eriksen has collapsed on the pitch during Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine.

The former Tottenham and Manchester United midfielder went down on the pitch in Odense. Medical personnel immediately rushed to attend to the Dane as team-mates formed a circle around him.

The match was swiftly abandoned, though Eriksen was conscious and transported away in an ambulance.

A statement from the Danish FA said: “Christian Eriksen is conscious and feeling well according to the circumstances. The match has been called off.”

Supporters inside Nature Energy Park instantly broke into chants backing Eriksen as medics attended to him.

Eriksen previously suffered a cardiac arrest and required resuscitation on the pitch while playing against Finland in 2021.

The Wolfsburg midfielder underwent treatment for ten minutes before getting to his feet, prompting the entire stadium to give him a standing ovation.

Speaking on Danish TV, national team doctor Morten Boesen said he believes Eriksen’s pacemaker saved his life.

“I think it has done what it was put in place to do,” he said

In an encouraging update, he added: “He asked to leave the field himself. That’s a really good sign.

“Christian is doing well, and he asked me to greet all the players and say that he was okay.”

Former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner fought back tears as he covered the distressing incident while working as a pundit for Danish TV channel TV2.

“These are horrible pictures, and it completely overshadows the rest of the evening,” said Bendtner.

“My thoughts are with the family and the children, and it’s a difficult situation to be in right now.

“This is the second time it has happened, and as Christian’s friend also… it’s really terrible.”

Denmark were ahead 2-1 at the time, courtesy of goals from Manchester United star Patrick Dorgu and defender Joakim Maehle.

Viktor Tsygankov had pulled one back for Ukraine just before the interval.

Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed on the pitch in June 2021 when Denmark were facing Finland at that year’s European Championships.

He received CPR on the pitch before being rushed to hospital, where he was stabilised by medics.

Doctors fitted a defibrillator implant into his heart, and he made a remarkable comeback to professional football with Brentford eight months later.