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☆ Explainer: Why has Ukraine sought Leopard 2 battle tanks?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Kyiv has been pushing for the Leopard 2 tank in particular because it has several advantages over the alternatives, such as Britain's Challenger 2 and the U.S. M1 Abrams tanks. With some 20 nations operating the Leopard 2, several nations could each chip in a small portion of their tanks to support Ukraine. Germany has about 350 Leopard 2 tanks today, compared to some 4,000 battle main tanks at the height of the Cold War, according to German military expert Carl Schulze. At the same time, it is all but impossible to buy a large amount of Leopard 2 tanks quickly. However, unlike the Leopard 2, it is not widely used, which limits how many can be made available for Ukraine.

☆ Germany agrees to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine, allies to follow
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Andreas Rinke | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Germany's decision paves the way for other countries such as Poland, Spain, Finland, the Netherlands and Norway to supply some of their Leopard tanks to Ukraine, going some way towards delivering the hundreds of tanks that Ukraine says it needs. "Germany will always be at the forefront when it comes to supporting Ukraine," Scholz told German parliament to applause. Germany aims to quickly establish two battalions with Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine and initially provide 14 Leopard 2 tanks from its own inventory. A battalion normally comprises three or four companies with around 14 tanks each. Poland has also pledged 14 tanks and Britain has promised 14 of its own Challengers.

☆ Ukraine war live updates: German tanks decision 'half a step' away, Kyiv says; Ukraine government reshuffle expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A decision on whether to supply Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine is in its final stages, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Monday, with only a last "half step" to be taken. "We have only half a step left to take in the matter of tanks," Kuleba said during a nationwide news telethon reported by news outlet Ukrinform Monday. "We have already received the British Challengers [tanks], which we were once told were impossible. I have no doubts that the Leopard tanks will reach us. Germany is under intense pressure to decide whether to give the greenlight for German-made tanks to be sent to Ukraine.

[1/5] Ukrainian servicemen are seen near the frontline, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Soledar in Donetsk region, Ukraine January 23, 2023. The corruption scandal could dampen Western enthusiasm for his government just as European countries bicker over sending German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. One of the most widely used Western tanks, Ukraine says it needs them to break through Russian lines and recapture territory this year. Germany is not blocking the re-export of Leopard tanks to Ukraine, the European Union's top diplomat said on Monday. Ukraine says Western tanks would give its ground troops the mobility, protection and firepower to break through Russian defensive lines and resume their advance.

☆ Germany signals shift in veto on Leopard tanks for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Leopard tanks, which are held by an array of NATO countries but whose transfer to Ukraine requires Berlin's approval, are seen by defence experts as the most suitable for Ukraine. Western allies pledged billions of dollars in weapons for Ukraine last week but they failed to persuade Germany to lift its veto on providing the tanks. French President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, said he did not rule out the possibility of sending Ukraine Leclerc tanks. Ukraine has never publicly said that the town was taken by Russian forces. On Sunday, the general staff of its armed forces said in a daily update that Russian forces had fired on Ukrainian positions in the area.

☆ Germany will coordinate with allies on Ukraine weapons decisions
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, Jan 22 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, under pressure to allow the shipment of German-made tanks to Ukraine, said on Sunday all decisions on weapons deliveries would be made in coordination with allies including the United States. Last week Germany and Western allies reached no decision on whether Germany would agree to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, or permit other countries that have them to do so, despite Ukraine's pleas for modern tanks to boost its defence efforts. Scholz, asked at a news conference in Paris about providing tanks to Ukraine, said all weapons deliveries to Ukraine so far had taken place in close coordination with Western partners. Speaking at the same news conference, French President Emmanuel Macron said he did not rule out the possibility of sending Leclerc tanks to Ukraine. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File PhotoMacron said that sending tanks must not escalate the situation, must take into account the time to train Ukrainians to be effective, and must not endanger France's own security.

☆ Explainer: West mulls sending German Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

BERLIN APPROVALThe re-export of Leopards requires German government approval, so other countries with such tanks could not send them to Ukraine without it. WHY HAS THE WEST NOT SENT BATTLE TANKS TO KYIV SO FAR? The Leopard 2 is one of the most widely used Western tanks. Germany has about 350 Leopard 2 tanks today, compared to some 4,000 battle main tanks at the height of the Cold War, German military expert Carl Schulze says. WHAT OTHER WESTERN BATTLE TANKS ARE THERE?

☆ Vasseur starts a new era for Ferrari with big targets
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Schumacher won an unprecedented five crowns in a row from 2000-04 under Todt's leadership while Ferrari won seven constructors' championships between 1999 and the end of 2007, when Kimi Raikkonen took their last drivers' title. Vasseur, 54, is an old hand and on his third F1 team after joining Renault in 2016. The team have still not won a title since 2008 and have been making some glaring mistakes with their fans increasingly frustrated. Vasseur, who joins from Swiss-based Sauber where he ran the Ferrari-powered Alfa Romeo team, has more than nationality in common with Todt. Nicolas Todt manages Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, last year's runner-up who also raced for Vasseur at Sauber in his debut season.

☆ Ukraine War Spurs NATO to Improve Transport of Military Equipment
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Daniel Michaels | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

BUCHAREST—When France wanted to send Leclerc tanks to bolster the defenses of NATO ally Romania in September, fellow alliance member Germany opposed trucking them across its highways. The problem wasn’t peace protesters or political opposition. It was the heavy French tank-transporters. The flatbeds’ weight on each axle exceeded the legal limits for most German roads, said government authorities, who proposed a route that Paris deemed unacceptable. Instead, France sent the tanks by rail, delaying the shipment.

☆ Crunch time: U.N. puts baguette on cultural heritage list
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

PARIS — The humble baguette — the crunchy ambassador for French baking around the world — is being added to the U.N.’s list of intangible cultural heritage as a cherished tradition to be preserved by humanity. With the bread’s new status, the French government said it planned to create an artisanal baguette day, called the “Open Bakehouse Day,” to connect the French better with their heritage. With the bread’s new status, the French government said it planned to create an artisanal baguette day. It’s the traditional baguette from the traditional bakery that’s in danger. The “artisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread” was inscribed at the Morocco meeting among other global cultural heritage items, including Japan’s Furyu-odori ritual dances, and Cuba’s light rum masters.

☆ Red Bull driver rift adds spice to Abu Dhabi finale
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Abhishek Takle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Red Bull rift could bring fresh drama to Yas Marina, the circuit where last year Verstappen won his first title and denied Lewis Hamilton a record eighth in a massively controversial clash. read moreVerstappen has little at stake this time, having wrapped up his second title in Japan last month, but can expect a grilling from the world's media after leaving his motives a mystery at Interlagos. read morePerez acidly accused Verstappen of showing "who he really is" in refusing to hand back a place as requested by Red Bull who want the Mexican to end the season second overall. "I am sure that this race will bring back plenty of happy memories from the last 15 years," said the 35-year-old. The German could join them on the sidelines with Haas widely tipped to announce Nico Hulkenberg alongside Kevin Magnussen for next season.

☆ George Russell wins maiden Grand Prix after collision-ridden race in Brazil
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —George Russell won his maiden Grand Prix on Sunday after a collision-ridden race in Brazil. With one race left on the 2022 calendar, Russell moves up to fourth in the driver’s standings, a place ahead of eight-time world champion and teammate Hamilton. Russell celebrates after winning the Sao Paolo Grand Prix. Verstappen and Hamilton collide during the Sao Paolo Grand Prix. Even with a late safety car bunching the pack up, Russell was faster than his more experienced teammate Hamilton, racing home for his first ever Grand Prix victory.

☆ Unhappy Perez says Verstappen showed "who he really is"
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Nov 13 (Reuters) - Red Bull's Sergio Perez said team mate Max Verstappen showed "who he really is" after the double Formula One world champion refused to give back a place in Sunday's Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The radio comment came after the Mexican let Verstappen overtake on the understanding that the position would be returned if the Dutch driver could not pass Alpine's Fernando Alonso for fifth place. Perez needs every point to beat Ferrari's Charles Leclerc to overall runner-up while Verstappen has already clinched the title. Perez and Leclerc are now tied on 290 points, with Leclerc ahead 3-2 on race wins. Verstappen, who had been penalised for a collision with Mercedes's Lewis Hamilton, was told by his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to let Perez through at the finish but ignored it and took sixth, with Perez seventh.

☆ Magnussen takes stunning first F1 pole for Haas in Brazil
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Gabriel Araujo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NO KIDDING"You're kidding," Magnussen had said over the team radio when told he was fastest as the red flags were waved. Saturday will be the third such race of the season, with Verstappen winning the two previous ones at Imola and in Austria. Seven-times world champion Hamilton suffered as a result of his team mate's spin and will start the sprint from eighth place. "I will speak to the team and understand what we can do better in those conditions," he said. "I accepted the decision to go on the inters and then I waited for the rain that never came."

☆ Perez fastest in Sao Paulo GP practice
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Gabriel Araujo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAO PAULO, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Red Bull's Sergio Perez lapped fastest in first free practice for the Sao Paulo Formula One Grand Prix at Interlagos on Friday with the top three drivers separated by just 0.008 of a second. Double world champion Max Verstappen, Perez's team mate, was a further 0.004 adrift. Red Bull are chasing their 10th win in a row this weekend while Verstappen is seeking a record-extending 15th win of the season. Four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel, heading for retirement after the final race in Abu Dhabi, lapped seventh fastest for Aston Martin and fellow-German Mick Schumacher was eighth for Haas. McLaren's Lando Norris, who cancelled his media engagements due to suspected food poisoning on Thursday, took part in the session and was 15th fastest.

CNN —Red Bull driver Max Verstappen finished in first place at the Mexican Grand Prix to claim his record-setting 14th win of the season on Sunday. Earlier in October, Verstappen claimed his second career world championship at the Japanese Grand Prix, and last week he won the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, which saw him share the record for number of season race wins. Red Bull pitted their drivers first, opting for medium tires while Hamilton fitted hard tires so that he would not have to pit again. RBR were found to have breached the cost cap by £432,652 ($501,409). That comes in from now, it has a direct effect on next year’s car and it will be in place for a 12-month period.”Two races remain on the F1 calendar for Verstappen to add to his record tally with the Brazilian Grand Prix scheduled on November 13 and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 20.

☆ Verstappen on pole in Mexico and chasing F1 record
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Janina Nuno Rios | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Verstappen on pole in Mexico CityRed Bull driver can take record 14th win of the seasonMercedes have Russell and Hamilton second and thirdHome favourite Perez qualified fourthMEXICO CITY, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Red Bull's double world champion Max Verstappen swept to pole position at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Saturday with his sights set on a record 14th victory of the season. "It was a close one," said Verstappen, who was 0.304 faster than Russell. The driver on pole has not won since 2016 and Hamilton won from third in 2019. Lando Norris will line up eighth for McLaren with Alpine's Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon completing the top 10. Writing by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Clare Fallon and Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Max Verstappen equals single-season win record at US Grand Prix on emotional weekend for Red Bull
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Max Verstappen fought back after pit-stop drama to win the US Grand Prix on Sunday, handing Red Bull the constructors’ championship on an emotional weekend for the team. The Dutchman’s victory came just one day after it was announced that owner and co-founder of Red Bull, Dietrich Mateschitz, had died aged 78. The stop lasted over 11 seconds with Red Bull mechanics scrambling for a replacement wheel gun after Verstappen’s front left tire was not tightened sufficiently. Verstappen poses with the Red Bull team to celebrate winning the constructors' championship. “A very emotional moment, a big moment for the team and for everyone at Red Bull,” he told reporters.

☆ Energised Hamilton says he will return Mercedes to the top
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Oct 23, 2022; Austin, Texas, USA; Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport driver Lewis Hamilton (44) of Team Great Britain waves to the fans after the running of the U.S. Grand Prix F1 race at Circuit of the Americas. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"We are much closer now, the upgrade worked and we were racing for a win," said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. Hamilton has had two other runnerup results this season in France and Hungary but it was the manner of the fight in Texas that had both the Englishman and his Mercedes team looking ahead to next year. "What's happened this year in terms of our performance and everything to get a win would be a huge triumph for us," said Hamilton. "I felt amazing to even just be in shooting distance of Max for some parts of the race," said Hamilton.

☆ Sainz retires from U.S. GP after first lap collision
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 21, 2022; Austin, Texas, USA; A view of sunset and the Texas flag as Scuderia Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz (55) of Team Spain drives during practice for the U.S. Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY SportsAUSTIN, Texas, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Ferrari's Carlos Sainz retired from the U.S. Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday after starting from pole position and then suffering a first corner collision with Mercedes' George Russell. Red Bull's Max Verstappen, chasing a record-equalling 13th win of the season, seized the lead at the start with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc starting 12th. Ferrari said they had retired Sainz in the pits due to a water leak caused by the collision.

☆ Verstappen wins U.S. GP as Red Bull take constructors' crown
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"That one was for Dietrich," said Verstappen after taking the chequered flag. Ferrari had needed to score 19 points more than Red Bull at the Texas track but Charles Leclerc was the Italian team's sole finisher, fighting his way to third from 12th on the grid. Red Bull now have an unbeatable 656 points to Ferrari's 469. The Dutch 25-year-old secured his second title in Japan two weeks ago. Red Bull's Sergio Perez was fourth with Russell, who secured a bonus point for fastest lap, fifth and Lando Norris sixth for McLaren.

☆ Sainz on pole in Austin as F1 mourns Mateschitz
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"I think for tomorrow Red Bull are still the favourites and they normally have the better race pace," he added. The Monegasque was 0.065 slower than Sainz's pole time of one minute 34.356 seconds in a windy session at the undulating circuit outside Austin. "The last lap wasn't the best, Carlos did a better job today and deserves to be on pole," said Leclerc. Ferrari need to score 19 points more than Red Bull, who have won the last seven races, to keep the constructors' championship alive with three rounds remaining. Aston Martin's four times world champion Sebastian Vettel, who won his titles with Red Bull, starts 10th.

☆ Verstappen fastest in final U.S. Grand Prix practice
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Formula One F1 - United States Grand Prix - Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, U.S. - October 22, 2022 Red Bull's Max Verstappen during practice REUTERS/Brian SnyderAUSTIN, Texas, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Double Formula One world champion Max Verstappen was fastest in final practice on Saturday for a U.S. Grand Prix likely to hand the constructors' title to his Red Bull team. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe Ferrari drivers had led both practice sessions on Friday. Red Bull's Sergio Perez, who has a five-place grid penalty, was fourth fastest and seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton was fifth for Mercedes. Verstappen has won 12 of 18 races so far this season and a 13th would equal the single-season record held by German greats Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Leclerc to drop 10 places on U.S. GP starting grid
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Ferrari's Charles Leclerc will take a 10-place grid drop for Sunday's U.S. Grand Prix due to engine and turbocharger changes, dealing a blow to his team's hopes of denying Red Bull the Formula One constructors' title for another week. Ferrari need to score 19 points more than Red Bull at Austin's Circuit of the Americas to keep the constructors' title battle alive until next weekend's race in Mexico City. Leclerc is battling Red Bull's Sergio Perez for second place overall and is one point behind the Mexican, who incurred a five-place grid drop on Friday. The sport's governing FIA said Leclerc had triggered the drop by taking a sixth internal combustion engine and turbocharger for final practice. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The F1 US Grand Prix is scheduled for October 23 at 3 p.m. If you don't have access to broadcast TV, you can stream the race with a service like Sling TV. How to watch the F1 US Grand Prix 2022You can watch Formula 1's United States Grand Prix on ABC and ESPN3 at 3 p.m. Sling TV Orange starts at $35 a month, but new subscribers can get their first month for 50% off. F1 US Grand Prix schedule

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