The city has topped a new ranking by Icelandair, with its historic charm, sunset spots, and intimate settings proving more romantic than traditional favourites such as Paris
Amy Jones Senior Travel Journalist and Chloe Dobinson Digital Production Editor
03:00, 18 Mar 2026
Europe’s most romantic city has been revealed, and it might come as a surprise.
Paris has long been celebrated as the ‘city of love’ with countless proposals taking place there, whilst Venice provides sunset gondola rides through its canals. However, according to one recent ranking, they’ve both been eclipsed as the most romantic destinations in Europe.
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The sun-drenched Spanish capital, Madrid, has claimed the top spot with its historic appeal and intimate atmosphere. There are intimate eateries, rooftop bars, upmarket hotels, alongside magnificent landmarks, colourful street art, and passionate flamenco performances, all contributing to a truly remarkable break.
Some of the most noteworthy attractions include hiring a rowing boat on the tranquil, scenic lake at El Retiro Park, or enjoying a relaxed walk around the charming El Capricho Park or the stunning Sabatini Gardens at the Royal Palace.
The Spanish city boasts some of the finest locations to watch the sunset, including the restaurant Azotea del Círculo, which provides sweeping views from its rooftop terrace, and the gardens in Cerro del Tío Pío, ideal for an evening wander,” reports the Mirror.
However, one beloved area praised as the ‘best sunset spot in Madrid’ is the ancient Egyptian temple, Templo de Debod.
Witnessing the sunset last year, one traveller posted on TripAdvisor: “The magic hour to visit is sunset! .. The temple’s ancient stones turn a rich orange, and the reflective pools surrounding it create a mirror effect that is a photographer’s dream.”
For a respite from discovering the city, there’s the Arab baths at Hammam Al Ándalus for a soothing soak and a journey back in time amongst its historic buildings, or energetic flamenco shows at Corral de la Morería. Couples can savour a glass of wine and tapas at the Mercado de San Miguel, a fresh food market, or take the cable car, the Teleférico de Madrid, which spans the river.
A wander around the city is sufficient to leave you spellbound, with colourful graffiti adorning its charming streets lined with tapas bars and coffee shops, and stunning architecture. From the iconic Plaza Mayor, Plaza de la Villa, and Puerta del Sol square, to the Royal Palace and the Prado Museum, it’s simple to spend hours discovering this bustling yet delightful city.
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Madrid was crowned the most romantic European city following research by Icelandair. The airline examined data from various European cities, comparing their location, nightlife, single population, inclusivity and happiness, along with Tripadvisor romance ratings and sunset visibility, with Madrid leading the list.
The list becomes even more significant, as a study by Icelandair of 3,000 individuals found that 1 in 10 Brits believe travel is the optimal way to meet a partner. Meanwhile, 1 in 5 Brits confessed to falling in love whilst on a flight, and additional research discovered that most holiday romances occur during volunteer work abroad, on business trips, or whilst travelling alone.
Authorities in British Columbia have urged the public to steer clear of a rock face overlooking a highway, where a red Volkswagen Beetle shell has been suspended in what appears to be an elaborate prank. The province’s Environment Ministry confirmed on Monday that BC Parks is working to remove the vehicle within the week, with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and park rangers now investigating.
The car shell, emblazoned with a large ‘E’ on its roof, first appeared last week above Highway 99 in Squamish. This distinctive marking suggests the stunt is a continuation of a long-standing tradition among University of British Columbia engineering students, known for placing Beetle shells in challenging locations.
In 2009, a Beetle fell from the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge, and Vancouver police arrested five students in a failed attempt to suspend it from the span.
A spokesperson for the university did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
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The shell of a Volkswagen Beetle hangs suspended on a cliff above the Sea-to-Sky Highway, in Squamish, British Columbia, Monday, April 6, 2026, after it appeared on the rock face last week with a large “E” on its roof, indicating that University of British Columbia engineering students carried out a long-standing tradition of placing the shell in difficult to reach locations. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford said the area around the Stawamus Chief rock formation is a “sacred place” with deep cultural meaning to the Squamish Nation.
He said the area is also popular among hikers and climbers and what “may have felt like an innocent prank” has affected the community.
“This is an area that deserves respect, and that wasn’t the case here,” Hurford said in the statement.
Who is at the Masters dinner? Guest list in full as Rory McIlroy hosts for first time – The Mirror
Need to know
Ahead of the most prestigious event in the golfing calendar, Rory McIlroy has the honour of hosting the annual Masters dinner
Rory McIlroy will host the annual Champions Dinner ahead of the 2026 Masters tournament(Image: Getty Images)
Everything you need to know about Rory McIlroy’s Masters dinner:
The hosting honour: Rory McIlroy is hosting the annual Masters dinner as the defending champion at Augusta National. After his dramatic playoff victory over Justin Rose in 2025, Rory became only the sixth player in history to complete the career Grand Slam, a feat that makes this year’s dinner particularly poignant.
Date and location: The dinner is held annually on the Tuesday night before the tournament begins (on this occasion, April 7). The event takes place on the second floor of the Augusta National clubhouse, specifically in the Library, which is transformed into a private dining room for the members of the Masters Club.
The exclusive guest list: The dinner is strictly reserved for past Masters champions only. In addition to Rory, the expected guest list includes legends like Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player and Phil Mickelson, alongside recent winners like Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm and Hideki Matsuyama.
The green jacket requirement: Every attendee is required to wear their green jacket – the prize for winning the Masters – for the duration of the evening. It is the only night of the year when the most iconic piece of clothing in sports is worn collectively by every man in the room.
A LIV ‘reunion’: Despite the ongoing tensions between the PGA and LIV Golf, the Champions Dinner remains a neutral ground. LIV Golf stars like Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson will all be in attendance, as the evening is famously centred on mutual respect rather than circuit politics.
McIlroy’s menu: As host, McIlroy’s primary job is designing the menu. To start, he’s gone with Peach & Ricotta Flatbread, Rock Shrimp Tempura, and Bacon-wrapped Dates, followed by a main course of Wagyu Filet Mignon or Seared Salmon served with traditional Irish Champ (mashed potatoes with scallions), and for dessert: sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream.
The master of ceremonies: While Rory is the host, two-time champion Ben Crenshaw continues his traditional role as the night’s unofficial MC. Crenshaw typically leads the “remembrances” for champions who have passed away and formally introduces the new host to the room.
The chairman’s presence: The only non-champion in the room will be Fred Ridley, the chairman of Augusta National. He sits at the head of the table alongside McIlroy and the senior champions, representing the club’s leadership for this private 74-year-old tradition.
The app encourages people to think differently about their journey to sobriety
06:30, 07 Apr 2026
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A man from Co Antrim has used his own sobriety journey to help others by building a new app that takes a holistic approach to recovery.
Matt Waterworth from Carrickfergus spent much of his young life drinking heavily, and became a running influencer under the name of Angry Jogger. In 2014, he wrote a book documenting his running journey, which mixed this experience with drinking.
The 42-year-old was sober for seven years until 2022, when the grief from his mum’s death and the outbreak of the Ukraine War led to him panic buying a bottle of rum and items to protect him from the potential outbreak of a nuclear war.
Now, Matt is on a mission to help many people who may be struggling with addiction through his app, Better Without Booze. The app takes a holistic approach, to help people understand why they may be turning to alcohol, and find better ways of coping.
Speaking to Belfast Live, he said: “Throughout most of my young adult life, I was someone who would be considered to be an alcoholic.
“I’m a former running influencer, and after I quit drinking I did a lot of charity runs including Land’s End to John O’Groats for Mind the mental health charity which was equivalent of 38 marathons in 38 days.
“I did a book a long time ago called Angry Jogger which mixed running and drinking. It was a big mistake, and I quit soon after this.
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“I was sober for seven years, from 2015 to 2022. My mum died at the end of 2021 and then at the beginning of 2022 the Ukraine War started. I was living on my own and grieving, then Vladimir Putin put his nukes on high alert and I just freaked out.
“I bought a bottle of rum and all this nuke protection gear stuff. Once I drank, I felt like I’d lost those seven years, whereas now I realise that was just one day out of say 3,000 where I lapsed.
“The idea for the app really came from that, the idea of trying to encourage people to be open and positive about the experiences they’re creating by not drinking.”
Matt said many people in Northern Ireland drink as a result of intergenerational trauma, and associated repression of emotions rather than being open with each other.
He added: “My parents were both very heavy drinkers, but they avoided the whole alcoholic term. They weren’t addressing what was going on, there was no sort of language to address what was going on at the time.
“Being born in those times, and trying to understand what was going on with them and that they were trying to cope in the best way they can.”
In a bid to help people on their recovery journeys, Matt founded the Better Without Booze app with Stu Nugent, a YouTuber who talks about his own experience with sobriety.
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A main aspect of the app is to change how people think of the journey to sobriety, with the experience turning into a game. It features different sections including craving tracking, recovery wins, and sober firsts.
Matt said: “The idea behind the app is to make it like a computer game. A lot of apps are like counters, for people who are trying to quit alcohol, you need around four or five attempts to properly get off it.
“For example, if you are two months sober and you then go out drinking with a friend, a conventional app will dictate that you’ve failed, because you’ve drank one day out of say 75 days. What we’re trying to do is say okay, you drank – but this is what you can do, and what is possible in the future. That sort of attitude is completely unique to the whole industry.”
Using his own experience, Matt is hoping the app will look deeper into why people drink, and the emotions they go through as they do so.
“From 2022 to 2024, after seven years of sobriety, I was drinking too much. I was trying to get help on the NHS because I knew it was increasing and that I was drinking for the wrong reasons. When I was drinking, it was in moments where I was feeling really depressed,” he explained.
“A key part of it is why you drink. So many of these apps don’t actually ask why, and that’s the biggest part for most people who are struggling. We all have reasons why we drink or why we need to block things out. This app is more about trying to get people to think about those reasons, and find better ways through the difficulties they face in everyday life.
“It’s the issue of trying to meet people where they are with addiction, trying to get them to have some hope for the future and have no shame for the past. It’s about trying to forge a way through by not drinking, and trying to show them life is better without booze.”
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So far, 150 people have signed up to the Better Without Booze app, with around five people already signed up for lifetime subscriptions.
For anyone who is hoping to start their own sobriety journey, Matt said: “If you’re trying to find a way out of addiction, that’s the best thing ever. If our app helps, that’s amazing. If another app helps, then that’s amazing too.
“What we’re trying to do is bring everything together because me and Stu, who I’m running this with, we were both hopeless alcoholics at some point in our lives. We understand how lonely that feels, so we’re trying to get people to try again until they find something that works.
“Whether it’s this or something else, if it’s going to AA, getting out and meeting people, having a talk – there’s so many people out there who could benefit from a holistic, straightforward approach, and that’s what we’re trying to do at the moment.”
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To find out more about the Better Without Booze app, click here.
Drinkline is the national alcohol helpline. If you’re worried about your own or someone else’s drinking, you can call this free helpline in complete confidence. Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm).
To find alcohol addiction support services in your area, click here.
The county’s Fire and Rescue Service said crews were called to Jockey Lane, close to the LNER Community Stadium in Huntington, at around 4.45pm yesterday (April 6).
Smoke billowing over the LNER Community Stadium in York on Monday afternoon (April 6) (Image: Charlie Putt)
Eyewitnesses said firefighters were seen in the car park of the Stoneacre motor vehicle dealership.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Crews from Huntington, Tadcaster, Acomb, Selby, Knaresbrough and Malton alongside a water bowser from Tadcaster, Ariel ladder platform from Harrogate, welfare unit from Thirsk and a incident command unit from Northallerton attended a fire at a commercial property.
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“Crews used multiple Breathing apparatus, hose reel jets, main jets and positive pressure ventilation fans to deal with the incident.”
Rory McIlroy already knows who he will tee off against for the first two rounds at Augusta National as he looks to defend his Masters crown
Rory McIlroy already knows one of his playing partners for the opening two rounds at Augusta National. While the tee times for the Masters are still to be confirmed, the reigning champion begins his title defence on Thursday.
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He will tee it up alongside amateur star Mason Howell and one other player from the 91-man field. The 18-year-old is the US Amateur champion, a title that not only carries an invitation to three majors but also a tee time alongside the defending Masters champion.
Howell is yet to play collegiate golf but he will be buoyed by passionate support in Augusta, having committed to the University of Georgia. He will embark on the next chapter of his bright career in Athens this autumn. Last year, the honour of playing alongside reigning champion Scottie Scheffler fell to LIV Golf’s Josele Ballester, who angered tournament officials by urinating in Rae’s Creek.
Howell, who admitted he is “super nervous”, will be keen to steer clear of similar controversy when he tees it up with McIlroy on Thursday. Playing in the Masters already carries enormous pressure for any competitor but Howell must keep his composure while playing alongside one of his “idols”.
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“I’ll be super excited, but at the same time I’ll be super nervous,” he said Monday. “I think just controlling my emotions and sticking to my game plan, and just having fun.
“Rory was one of my idols growing up, so it’ll be a super special moment for me. I can’t oggle at his game too much. I got to focus on myself. It’ll be fun.”
Howell has been able to draw on the guidance of mentor Harris English to ready himself for the challenge ahead. Sea Island native English is a University of Georgia alumnus who honed his skills at the same club as his protégé. The pair played a practice round together on Monday.
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English said: “I’ve known Mason for a long time now. I was really excited about his win at the U.S. Amateur. Been pulling on him for a long time and it’s awesome to rub off on him I guess a little bit out here.
“I think this is my seventh Masters, so just little stuff that I can help him with. I know his brain is spinning right now. I can’t imagine what he’s going through at 18 years old and playing in the Masters for the first time.
“So just to have fun. Have a cool experience out here. He’s getting to play with Rory for the first couple of rounds. Talked about that some. Just told him, ‘Take it all in, but manage your time well. Don’t get lost in everything. This is just another golf tournament.’”
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English added: “We grew up at the same club, Glen Arven. I remember him as a little kid, eight or nine years old, probably. Had a good crew down there. Got a lot of good young junior golfers down there that are very competitive.
“Another one that’s playing at Georgia this year in Mason. It’s awesome to see. We had some good players around my era, and it’s nice to see the next wave come through. I don’t know what is in the water down there, but they’re doing some good things at Glen Arven.”
The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world
07:20, 07 Apr 2026Updated 07:28, 07 Apr 2026
These are your latest rugby headlines on Tuesday, April 7.
Henry Pollock issued warning
England star Henry Pollock has received words of warning from legendary former hooker Brian Moore, with the young British & Irish Lions tourist told he could suffer a “brutal fall” in fortune if he stops delivering on the rugby field.
The 21-year-old Northampton Saints back-row has enjoyed a sensational rise over the last couple of years, becoming one of the most talked-about players in rugby with his impressive performances on the pitch matched by his confident and often provocative persona.
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He has now signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency, with the boxing promoter vowing to make the England international “the biggest star in rugby” as well as a mainstream celebrity.
Moore has now had his say on the signing and, while admitting that the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Anthony Joshua and Luke Littler have profited hugely from working with Hearn, there is a “crucial difference” between them and Pollock, with “stars in a [rugby] team not getting there or staying there on their own”.
Warning Matchroom to take that factor into account while managing Pollock, Moore wrote in his column for The Telegraph: “Intra-team dynamics are subtle and varied and team members do not always act logically.
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“As others have found out in rugby, cricket and football, if you are labelled, promoted and accept the mantle of superstar, you can be the target of jealousy from team members who know that they have contributed to your success but have not been recognised.
“You might posit that such feelings are the problem of the individuals who hold them and, intellectually, you might be correct, but that is not always how the world of team sport works.
“Pollock needs to be diligent in maintaining his relationships with his colleagues and to be generous with his acknowledgement of his team-mates’ assistance,” he continued. “As Danny Cipriani found out, once there is a feeling of separation in a dressing room, it can be hard to recover, even if you are only one part of the problem.”
Moore added that while Pollock shows plenty of promise, he “cannot show a résumé that backs up extravagant claims of superstardom”, with the pundit and commentator arguing that he should be carefully introduced to the celebrity world.
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As for what the youngster must do on the pitch, he continued: “If Pollock delivers and keeps delivering, the world is at his feet.
“Colleagues and fans will overlook most things if he produces for the cause. Slip below this and the fall will be brutal.
“Once you deliberately cross the hyper-exposure line you can forget about privacy and this, unfortunately, extends to your family and friends, however unfair this might be,” Moore added.
“I wish Pollock well, and rugby will only benefit if he succeeds, but I am also cognisant of what could go wrong for somebody who is still only 21 years old.”
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England great set for shock move
Former England captain Courtney Lawes is reportedly set to join PREM Rugby side Sale Sharks after confirming his exit from French second-tier outfit Brive.
The 37-year-old flanker has spent the last two seasons playing in the Pro D2 but it was announced on Monday morning that he would leave the club at the end of the current campaign before returning to English rugby from next season.
Lawes had long been linked with a move to Leicester Tigers, but RugbyPass reports that he is instead set for a surprise switch to Sale, with Sharks boss Alex Sanderson keen to bring big names to the club ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
The 105-cap international is set to join Wales stars Nicky Smith, Tomas Francis and Christ Tshiunza in Greater Manchester next season, with England duo Alex Lozowski and Joe Marchant among Sanderson’s other new signings.
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Announcing his departure from Brive on Monday, Lawes said: ““I’m having an experience in Brive that I’ll never forget, both on and off the pitch.
“I’m going to give it my all until the end of the season to finish this adventure with CAB in the best possible way. My family and I have been very warmly welcomed in Corrèze and we will always have Brive at heart.”
Brive president Thierry Blandinières added: “We are very proud to say that Courtney Lawes will have been a Brive player for two seasons.
“He arrived here with humility and ambition and has shown the full extent of his talent since his first day in Brive. He gave everything for the club and he will continue to give everything until the end of his adventure in Black and White.”
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Wales U18s side named
Wales U18s boss Richie Pugh has named his sideto face France in the second round of this year’s Six Nations Festival in Vichy.
Pugh’s side got their campaign off to a flying start last week as they recorded an impressive opening round win against Scotland, but now face a daunting task as they take on the tournament hosts at Stade Municipal Louis Darragon later today.
“The boys showed good game understanding when they came under a lot of pressure against Scotland,” said the U18s boss. “There was a good bit of grit shown in the second half when we were under a lot of pressure to stop Scotland from scoring, so it was pleasing they got the result they deserved.”
“Playing France in France, boys don’t get that many opportunities to do that across their career, so it is great to experience that. We know it is a strong dangerous French side, Georgia did cause them problems at times when they played the other day but the focus is on us.
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“We’re making changes across the team to freshen up the group and we’re ready to go,” Pugh added. “They are quick turnarounds here.
“Our big focus is on us but being fully aware of what France are going to want to do and what fires them up in terms of their looseness and how they move the ball with their offload game. We’ve got to play our game and minimise the French threat.”
Wales U18: 15. Dylan Quin (Gower College, Ospreys), 14. Jac Williams (Llandrillo, RGC), 13. Harry Kinsey (Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff Rugby), 12. Will Adams (Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff Rugby), 11. Harvey Bryant (Cardiff & Vale/ Cardiff Rugby), 10. Madoc Evans (Preseli, Coleg Sir Gar, Scarlets), 9. George Thomas (Coleg y Cymoedd, Cardiff Rugby); 1. Logan Goodluck (St Davids, College, Llandrillo, RGC), 2. Cole Lacey (Coleg Sir Gar, Scarlets), 3. Sam Bryant (Hartpury College, Gloucester), 4. Harvey Thomas (Llandovery College, Scarlets), 5. William Carroll (Bridgend College, Ospreys), 6. Will Watkins (Y Pant, Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff Rugby), 7. Jac Cloke (Coleg Sir Gar, Scarlets) (capt), 8. Mosese Tuliakiono (Radley College, Gloucester)
Replacements: 16. Tiaan Hall (Coleg Gwent, Dragons RFC), 17. Bryan Kamanga (Llandovery College, Cardiff Rugby), 18. Isaac Jones (Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff Rugby), 19. Harri Lewis (Llandovery College, Cardiff Rugby, 20. Alfie Prygodzicz (Ysgol Glantfaf, Cardiff Rugby), 21. Alfie Luger (Llandovery College, Scarlets), 22. Will Ford (St Cenydd, Dragons RFC), 23. Owen Lewis (Coleg y Cymoedd, Cardiff Rugby), 24. Ryley Fussell (Coleg y Cymoedd, Dragons), 25. Sam Morgan (St Cenydd, Coleg Gwent, Dragons RFC), 26. Rhys Owen (Coleg Sir Gar, Scarlets)
Levi Winchester Money Editor and Ashlie Blakey Live and breaking news reporter
07:16, 07 Apr 2026
Sick pay regulations are changing for millions of workers from today (Tuesday, April 7).
Under the previous rules, you would only qualify for statutory sick pay when ill for more than three consecutive days. But from today, sick pay will be available from the first full day of absence from work.
The lower earnings threshold to qualify for statutory sick pay has also been scrapped. You previously had to earn on average at least £125 a week, before tax.
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Statutory sick pay is paid at 80 per cent of your average weekly earnings, or £123.25 a week, whichever is lower. It can be paid for up to 28 weeks. Many employers operate enhanced sick pay schemes and pay considerably more than this.
Up to 9.6 million workers are set to benefit from stronger statutory sick pay, according to new analysis published by the TUC. The new rules form part of the Employment Rights Act which came into force from April 6, reports the Mirror.
Further new measures coming into effect from today include day one paternity rights. Employees previously had to work for their employer for 26 weeks up to any day in the “qualifying week” before becoming eligible for paternity leave.
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The “qualifying week” is the 15th week before the baby is due. Statutory paternity leave in the UK is one or two weeks and is paid at a weekly rate of £194.32, or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.
You may receive more if your employer operates an enhanced company paternity scheme. You will also be able to request unpaid parental leave from day one of your job from today.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “Today is a landmark day for workers. After years of campaigning from unions and workers, the first individual rights from the Employment Rights Act are coming into force – and they will change lives up and down the country.
“Sick pay for all, paid from day one of illness is a huge step forward. For too long, low-paid workers – especially women – have missed out on any form of sick pay.
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“And even those who were eligible for statutory sick pay had to wait four days before they could claim it. That left many with no choice but to go into work when ill – risking spreading and prolonging their illness.
“That’s why today’s changes are much needed. Stronger parental rights will also be a boost – particularly paternity leave available for dads from day one in a job.
“Change can’t come soon enough for workers. It’s now vital the government to get on with delivering the rest of the Employment Rights Act in full.”
Police were called to Runshaw Hall Lane, close to its junction with Holt Brow, Euxton at 3.18pm on Easter Sunday following reports a Yamaha FZ1 motorbike had come off the carriageway.
The rider, a man in his 30s, suffered a number of serious and life-changing injuries. He was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
No other vehicle is believed to have been involved.
Sgt Mark Park, said: “This collision has left the rider in hospital with some extremely serious injuries, and my thoughts are with him and his loved ones.
“Work is ongoing to establish the full circumstances which led to the collision, and I would ask anyone who was in the area at the time, and saw anything that could help, to contact the police as soon as possible.
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“I would also ask anyone with dashcam footage which captured the Yamaha prior to the collision to make contact with us.”
Anyone who may have information on the incident is asked to e-mail sciu@lancashire.police.uk or call 101 and quote log 798 of April, 5.
The race report from Suzuka actually mentioned that more than half Aston Martin’s deficit to the front was caused by the chassis.
That information came from a very senior and knowledgeable figure over the course of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend.
It also tallies with what other teams are seeing on the GPS data to which all have access, in terms of the cars’ speed on different parts of the track.
The exact split in terms of the losses that can be attributed to car and engine at Aston Martin-Honda is not known, and it’s probably not possible to know, as of course the behaviour of the engine can also have an impact on the cornering performance of the car.
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It’s worth adding that, while it’s true that much of the public focus has been on the Honda engine, and especially the severe vibrations that have been causing reliability problems, team principal Adrian Newey has been clear that the car is also lacking.
It’s also the case that it’s not clear where the vibrations are coming from – are they intrinsic to the engine, or is there something about the way the engine is mounted to the chassis that exacerbates them?
In Australia, Newey said that on the chassis side “we’re maybe the fifth best team, so sort of potential Q3 qualifiers on the chassis side, but with the potential to be up front at some point in the season”.
On average over the four qualifying sessions of the first three races, including for the sprint in China, the Aston Martin is 3.6 seconds off the pace.
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The fifth fastest team on average are Alpine, at 1.268secs off the pace, followed by Haas at 1.567secs.
So Aston Martin are about 2.3secs off qualifying in the top 10, with the majority down to the chassis and the rest the engine.
In other words, put a Mercedes engine in the car, and it would be about where Alpine or Haas are. Exactly as Newey suggested.
Given the Aston Martin’s troubled birth – effectively starting again when Newey arrived in March last year, a delayed entry into the wind tunnel until April, and a consequent compressed development programme – that sounds entirely feasible.
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The car is overweight, and is especially poor in high-speed corners.
The fundamental point, though, is that it doesn’t really matter where exactly the deficit lies between car and engine. Both Aston Martin and Honda are a long way from being competitive, both know that’s the case, and both have a lot of work to do.
No player in Europe comes close to matching Harry Kane’s goalscoring record this season – but could an untimely ankle problem scupper his Ballon d’Or chances?
The Englishman has scored 53 times in 45 appearances for club and country this term but knows goals alone won’t be enough to land the award, which is why he will be desperate to be fit for Bayern Munich’s crunch Champions League game against Real Madrid on Tuesday (20:00 BST).
Kane, who missed Saturday’s dramatic 3-2 victory at Freiburg because of the injury, ended his trophy drought by winning the Bundesliga last season, but more domestic honours in Germany won’t secure him football’s most prestigious individual prize.
Rightly or wrongly, the Ballon d’Or isn’t simply a case of rewarding solo brilliance. It is increasingly a prerequisite to also being part of a team that lands one of the game’s biggest titles – the Champions League, World Cup or a continental equivalent such as the European Championship.
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Kane will get two bites at the cherry this year, captaining England at the World Cup in the summer, but his first – and arguably best – chance comes with Bayern.
The Bavarians have been in scintillating form this season, winning 37 of 43 games, but will need their talisman fit and firing as their European credentials are tested in a quarter-final first leg at the Bernabeu.
“I could score 100 goals this season, but if I don’t win the Champions League or the World Cup, you’re probably not going to win the Ballon d’Or,” Kane said in November. “It’s the same with any player. You have to be winning those major trophies.”
History suggests he is right. Since 2006, almost 80% of Ballon d’Or winners have claimed the accolade in a year when they also lifted either the Champions League or a major international tournament, such as the World Cup, Euros or Copa America.
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Only two players have defied that trend in the past two decades and both are all-time greats who can be considered outliers. Lionel Messi won the award in 2010, 2012 and 2019 despite Champions League semi-final exits for his Barcelona side, with Cristiano Ronaldo taking the prize in 2013, when Real Madrid bowed out of the competition at the same stage.
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