Domenicali agrees to five-year extension to stay on as F1 president and CEO through 2029

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Domenicali agrees to five-year extension to stay on as F1 president and CEO through 2029

2025-03-13 05:07 Last Updated At：05:21

Stefano Domenicali, who has overseen Formula 1's explosive growth on the calendar and popularity in recent years, will stay on as president and chief executive through 2029 through a five-year contract extension, the global racing series and ownership group Liberty Media announced Wednesday.

The 59-year-old Italian has been in charge of F1 since 2021 and has steered the series as it expanded to 24 races, added sprint events and two new U.S. grand prix in Miami and Las Vegas, and will add an 11th team, American-owned Cadillac Formula 1, in 2026. The series is in the final year of its U.S. broadcast deal with ESPN.

“Stefano has been an excellent steward of the business, building on its successful foundation and accelerating Formula 1’s rate of growth both commercially and in fan engagement,” said Derek Chang, president and CEO of Liberty Media. “His energy and enthusiasm for the sport translate into highly effective strategy and results."

Domenicali is a former Ferrari team principal and Lamborghini CEO.

“I am honored to continue to lead this incredible sport, which I love and has been part of my life since my childhood and grateful to the Liberty Media Team for their trust," Domenicali said.

Domenicali took over as president and CEO after the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The series was on the cusp of rapid growth, notably in the U.S., fueled by its popular “Drive to Survive” series on Netflix and the tumultuous driver's championship duel in 2021 between Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Verstappen won the title in a disputed final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.

Since then, the series added races in Miami in 2022 and Las Vegas in 2023, and returned to China last year for the first time since the pandemic. It also signed a 10-year sponsorship deal with French luxury brand giant LVMH.

His tenure has not been without bumps in the road. The series initially rejected a bid for the 11th team when it was headed by Michael Andretti, prompting an investigation by the U.S. Justice Department. Domenicali was rumored last year to possibly leave F1 for MotoGP once Liberty's purchase of the global motorcycle racing series was approved.

The Formula 1 season starts Sunday at the Australian Grand Prix, where Verstappen begins his quest for a fifth consecutive title, and Hamilton, now with Ferrari, pursues a record eighth championship.

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Russell Brand granted conditional bail after appearing in London court on rape and assault charges

2025-05-02 19:17 Last Updated At：19:21

LONDON (AP) — Actor-comedian Russell Brand was granted conditional bail by a London court on Friday after appearing to face charges of rape and sexual assault involving four women.

Brand, 49, did not enter a plea. He previously denied the allegations made against him.

He was swarmed by photographers as he arrived at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for his first hearing since he was charged last month with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told Brand to present himself at the Central Criminal Court, commonly known as the Old Bailey, in central London on May 30 and granted him bail on condition he keeps the court informed of where he is staying, either in the U.K. or in the U.S. He currently lives in Florida but is obliged to attend all future court appearances. If he doesn't abide by the conditions, he faces being remanded in custody.

The comedian, author and “Get Him To The Greek” actor, who wore an open shirt and jeans, listened intently to the details of the charges as he sat in the dock. He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and that he understood his bail conditions.

The alleged offenses took place between 1999 and 2005 — one in the English seaside town of Bournemouth and the other three in the Westminster area of central London. The accusers have not been identified.

Brand has been interviewed by police about the allegations, which he denies. Brand has denied engaging in “non-consensual activity.” In a video posted on X after he was charged, Brand said he welcomed the opportunity to prove his innocence.

Brand is alleged to have raped a woman in 1999 at a hotel room in Bournemouth when she attended a Labour Party conference in the town. It is alleged that while the woman went to the bathroom, Brand removed some of his clothing and later pushed her on the bed, removed her underwear and raped her.

A second woman accuses Brand of grabbing her by the forearm and attempting to drag her into a male toilet at a television station in London in 2001.

A third accuser was a television worker Brand met in Soho, central London, in 2004. He is accused of grabbing her breasts before allegedly pulling her into a toilet and orally raping her.

The final complainant is a radio station worker who met Brand while he was working for Channel 4 on a spin-off of the “Big Brother” reality television program between 2004 and 2005. Brand is alleged to have grabbed her by the face with both hands, pushed her against a wall and kissed her before grabbing her breasts and buttocks.

The charges follow a September 2023 joint investigation by British media outlets Channel 4 and the Sunday Times.

Known for his unbridled and risqué standup routines, Brand hosted shows on radio and television and wrote memoirs charting his battles with drugs and alcohol. He has appeared in several Hollywood movies and was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry between 2010 and 2012.

In recent years, Brand has largely disappeared from mainstream media but has built up a large following online with videos mixing wellness and conspiracy theories. He recently said he had moved to the United States.