The 2024 Formula 1 season is winding down, but plans are already in motion for not just the 2025 season, but the 2026 campaign. That season will bring monumental change to the sport. Not only will F1 implement a new series of technical regulations for the 2026 season, but the sport will also see expansion to 11 teams — with the newly-formed Cadillac-General Motors team joining the grid — as well as Audi, currently the Sauber team, taking over as a works operation. Now there is more news on that front. Sauber Holding AG, the future F1 factory team of Audi, announced on Friday that the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar, has agreed to “acquire a significant minority stake” in the Sauber Holding AG. According to the announcement, the QIA’s investment will “provide a substantial capital injection and pave the way for increasing infrastructure and team buildout, positioning the team for long-term success in Formula 1. The investment is consistent with QIA’s focus on investments with long-term growth potential.” The move is the latest aggressive decision announced by the future Audi F1 project. During the summer the team announced that Mattia Binotto, formerly the Team Principal at Ferrari, was joining as both the Chief Technology Officer and the Chief Operating Officer of Audi F1. It was also announced that Jonathan Wheatley, the longtime Sporting Director at Red Bull, would be joining the team next year as Team Principal. Audi announced their drivers for next season, a pairing of veteran Nico Hülkenberg and young driver Gabriel Bortoleto. Now the project has the backing of the QIA, which according to Gernot Döllner, the CEO of Audi, will “accelerate the team’s growth” and lead to increased hiring and infrastructure improvements. “The investment by QIA reflects the trust and confidence the Audi F1 Project has already garnered, underscoring unwavering commitment of Audi to the initiative,” said Döllner. “This additional capital will accelerate the team’s growth and is yet another milestone on our long-term strategy. QIA’s involvement further energizes the dedicated efforts at both the Hinwil and Neuburg facilities as they work towards the entry of Audi in 2026.” Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, the CEO of the QIA, pointed to the “increasingly global popularity of Formula 1” as a reason for the move. “Audi is a premium partner of choice with a rich motorsport legacy. As a long-standing investor in the Volkswagen Group, we believe in Audi’s vision and direction when entering Formula 1 and our investment will support the realization of this goal,” said Al-Sowaidi. “QIA believes that Formula 1 is a sport with significant untapped investment potential. The increasing commercialization of professional sports as an entertainment offering globally, and the increasingly global popularity of Formula 1, has made for an exciting opportunity for our first major motorsports investment.” The team will compete as Sauber for one final season in 2025, before the switch to Audi.Kris Letang, Kevin Hayes game-time decisions vs. Jets; Tristan Jarry scheduled to start
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NoneThe government has confirmed when the popular €130 a month boost will come to an end. The 2024/2025 Fuel Allowance season started on Monday, 23 September 2024 and will continue for 28 weeks. However, recipients of the scheme will stop receiving their weekly payments on 4 April 2025. Read more: 5 December money changes - Child Benefit bonus, double payments & food savings Read more: Cost of living Ireland: Full list of social welfare payments excluded from yearly €780 increase The Fuel Allowance payment consists of €33 per week for 28 weeks or two lump sum payments. It is worth €924 in total. Below is the current eligibility criteria for Fuel Allowance: To get Fuel Allowance you must: You must also live in Ireland. You cannot get Fuel Allowance if your heating costs are provided in full as part of your accommodation. Who can I live with? To get Fuel Allowance, you must live alone, or with: If you are 70 or over, you don’t need a qualifying payment to qualify for Fuel Allowance . Social welfare payments are either based on your PRSI contributions (social insurance payments) or means-tested social assistance payments. Qualifying social insurance payments Qualifying social assistance payments Supplementary Welfare Allowance You can qualify if you have been getting Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance for more than a year (this is 364 days over 12 months - it is paid on a 7-day week basis so 12 months’ payment is reached after day 364). Jobseeker’s Allowance You qualify if you have been getting Jobseeker's Allowance for more than 312 days (over 12 months - it is paid on a 6-day week basis so 12 months’ payment is reached after day 312). Days on Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) and PUP can count towards the 312 days, if your JB or PUP was immediately before your JA claim. You can keep your Fuel Allowance if you move to Jobseeker’s Allowance from One Parent Family Payment, Carer’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Transitional payment. Spouse, civil partner or cohabitant on a CE scheme If you are getting Jobseeker’s Allowance, and your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is on a Community Employment (CE) scheme, they can be considered as a qualified adult on your payment if you apply for Fuel Allowance. Employment or education support schemes You can keep your Fuel Allowance if you were getting it before you started any of the following schemes: You can apply for Fuel Allowance at any point when you are on CE, RSS or Tús if you meet all the relevant qualifying conditions for Fuel Allowance. If you were getting a long-term qualifying payment before starting CE, RSS or Tús, you satisfy the qualifying payment requirement. For the 2024/2025 Fuel Allowance season, time spent on CE, Tús and RSS can be used to meet the minimum number of days on a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance. Half-rate payments You do not qualify for Fuel Allowance if you are getting a half-rate payment in addition to a qualifying payment. This does not apply to half-rate Carer’s Allowance. Fuel Allowance is a means-tested payment. This means that the Department of Social Protection (DSP) examines all your sources of income. Your gross weekly income must be below a certain amount to pass the means test. You are usually accepted as passing the means test for Fuel Allowance, if you are getting a qualifying social assistance (means-tested) payment.Who is Luigi Mangione, arrested in connection with shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson?