The Maine Senate has joined the House in voting to expand abortion access

Christian Horner has revealed that Fernando Alonso “missed his chance” to move to Red Bull 15 years ago after turning down a two-year contract offer. Alonso, a two-time world champion with Renault in 2005 and 2006, was back at Renault in 2008 after a year to forget at McLaren in 2007, when he was involved in a high-profile squabble with rookie Lewis Hamilton. Aspiring to be in a competitive car once more, Alonso was in talks with Red Bull at the end of 2008, Horner says, but instead stayed at Renault before joining Ferrari in 2010. “We got very close to signing Alonso,” Horner told Motor Sport magazine. “Helmut [Marko] and I went to see his management at the end of 2008 for the ’09 and ’10 season and we offered him a two-year contract. “He would only sign up for one year and we said Red Bull’s position was a two-year deal or nothing and he wouldn’t commit to that. We thought he’d had a Ferrari contract very clearly for ’09. “What was weird about that was that Flavio [Briatore] was involved as well, but he was trying to get him for Renault which he was managing at the time and in the end he drove for Renault.” While Alonso failed to win another title, Sebastian Vettel won four championships in a row with Red Bull from 2010-2013, with Alonso finishing runner-up in three of those four years. Horner added that Alonso’s management returned in 2009 to ask if the Spaniard could join Red Bull despite previously turning the team down. “Halfway through ’09, I had an approach to say ‘could he join mid-season?’ because they thought he could win the championship in the car,” he said. “Then we had another conversation in the back of an Alfa Romeo at Spa airport several years later in ’11 or ’12. Again, it never really… the most serious discussion was the first one and then it missed its chance.” Alonso, at 41 years of age, is now at Aston Martin and is still chasing down Red Bull, with Max Verstappen leading the 2023 championship by 59 points to team-mate Sergio Perez. Alonso is third in the standings, 71 points behind Verstappen, ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix. Read More Sky suspend F1 pundits after sexist comments live on air F1 gives Canadian Grand Prix update after wildfires cause smoke to descend on Montreal On this day in 2007: Lewis Hamilton claims first Formula One victory F1 Canadian Grand Prix: When is practice on Friday in Montreal?

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Provides an overview of Azerbaijan, including key dates and facts about this state in the Caucasus.

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Lewis Hamilton said he held his breath for the 76.6 seconds it took him to capture his first pole position in 595 days for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion held off Red Bull foe Max Verstappen by just three thousandths of a second as he danced his Mercedes to top spot in an exhilarating qualifying session at the Hungaroring. Lando Norris finished third following another impressive afternoon for the rising McLaren star, one spot ahead of his team-mate Oscar Piastri. George Russell managed only 18th on a day to forget for the Mercedes man. Hamilton’s one-lap triumph here – described as a work of art by his old rival Nico Rosberg – is his first since the penultimate fixture of the contentious 2021 season in Saudi Arabia, 33 races ago. The following round in Abu Dhabi – where Hamilton was denied a record eighth world title by Michael Masi’s controversial refereeing – marked the last time he started a race from the front row. Verstappen began from pole on that contentious evening in the desert. On Sunday, it will be Hamilton’s turn. Hamilton roared with delight over the team radio before holding his head in his hands and then saluting the raucous crowd as he stood on top of the front-right tyre of the Mercedes machine which carried him to his ninth pole in Hungary and 104th in all. A cursory handshake for Verstappen followed. “I’ve lost my voice from shouting so much in the car,” said Hamilton, moments after stepping out of his cockpit. In the official press conference reserved for the top-three drivers, Hamilton added: “I forgot what it feels like to sit in this spot. He (Verstappen) has been hogging it for a while. “I don’t think I breathed for the whole lap, I held my breath. I was so out of breath at the end. It is an extraordinary feeling. “I have not been here for such a long time. Even with the success I have had before, and this is my 104th pole, it feels like the first. It is hard to explain how special it feels.” Hamilton trailed Verstappen by 0.126 sec prior to the concluding runs. But he usurped the Dutch driver, who failed to improve on his last lap, with his final throw of the dice. He was the last man to cross the line. “I witnessed those special moments and the days he used to have, and today was one of those,” said Rosberg, who beat Hamilton to the 2016 title. “That lap is like perfection, it is art. Only Lewis Hamilton can do that.” Hamilton has won more times in Hungary than anybody else, and claimed his first victory in Mercedes colours at this venue a decade ago. “Last year we were nowhere,” said Hamilton. “I have always had belief that if we apply ourselves the right way we would get there, and it was just a question of how long that would be? “But we started this season with the twin sister or twin brother of the previous year’s car. It felt identical and that was worrying. “When you lose that confidence you shed a lot of time. I had no confidence in the car. It was so nervous, and it felt like I was treading on eggshells. “I started out this season with very little confidence, but bit-by-bit I got the thing on the right tracks, so the confidence has finally come back. “We have been on this journey of undoing the wrong decisions we have taken and it has taken far longer than we hoped, but we are starting to see those benefits.” Converting his 104th pole into his 104th victory will not be an easy task for Hamilton. Verstappen has won eight of the 10 rounds so far and his Red Bull team are unbeaten this season. “We tend to have decent race pace,” concluded Hamilton. “Max’s race pace yesterday in practice was quite extraordinary. They were quicker than us. “But if there is a way to hold position then maybe there is a fighting chance for us. I am as keen as I am to win tomorrow as I did for my first win in Montreal in 2007.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Max Verstappen gives hope to rivals after coming 11th in Hungarian GP practice Like someone cut my heart out – Claire Williams on sale of father’s F1 team Daniel Ricciardo dreaming of Red Bull return ahead of F1 comeback

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