Red Bull picked up points but no podium or win from the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa in the last F1 race before the summer break.

Max Verstappen initially finished 5th on the road after starting 11th due to an engine grid penalty, while Sergio Perez finished 8th despite starting on the front row, although he was able to set the fastest lap on the final lap of the race to get one bonus point.

Both drivers were then bumped up a place 2 hours after the race finished, with original race-winner George Russell seeing his Mercedes disqualified after a post-race inspection revealed the car failed the minimum weight rules.

But with both cars failing to finish on the podium, it meant Red Bull have now failed to win the last four races, which is Red Bull’s longest win drought since the 2020 season.

Verstappen finished one place ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, meaning that after the revised classification was published, the Dutch driver extended his lead in the Driver’s Championship. The Dutchman has 277 points after 14 races, with Norris in second 78 points behind and third place Charles Leclerc a further 22 points behind Norris.

Meanwhile, Perez had initially been jumped in the standings by Russell but the disqualification of the Mercedes driver would see the Mexican driver remain 7th. He now has 131 points, with the Red Bull driver now 144 points behind Verstappen. He is 19 points behind Lewis Hamilton, who has been promoted to race winner, and 15 points ahead of Russell.

In the Constructor’s Championship, Red Bull remain out in front with 408 points, but again saw their lead cut, with second place McLaren reducing the Milton Keynes based team’s advantage to 42 points.

A sunny race day would be the third Belgian Grand Prix in a row where Verstappen had set pole but would be using Spa to take a grid penalty for a new engine after exceeding his allocation.

Verstappen’s ten place grid penalty meant he would start from 11th, while Perez would start second after being promoted from third.

In the opening phase, Perez lost track position to Hamilton, who got past him off the line and maintained second at the end of the first lap, while Verstappen was able to avoid early trouble before making an early run past other cars to get up to 8th place.

This then saw things enter a holding pattern, with the top 4 teams closely matched on pace and little track position changes happening.

Verstappen was able to stop earlier than Norris and Carlos Sainz, allowing him to gain positions when the McLaren and Ferrari respectively made later pit stops.

Perez, meanwhile, was overtaken on track by Oscar Piastri after the first round of stops and when Verstappen gained on the Mexican, Perez was called in for an early second stop.

Verstappen had initially been trying to chase down Russell, but with the Mercedes pivoting to a surprise one-stop, the Dutchman’s race shifted to one with Norris, who had been in Verstappen’s DRS without passing since making his first stop.

This pattern continued when they stopped again, as an earlier stop again allowed Verstappen to maintain track position to Norris and despite the McLaren getting DRS, he couldn’t make a move to get through.

The same situation, however, afflicted Verstappen, who got up to Leclerc’s Ferrari and got DRS but couldn’t get enough of a speed advantage to take the place. This meant Leclerc lead home Verstappen by less than a second at the line, with Norris under a second behind, with Leclerc duly inheriting third and a podium when Russell was disqualified.

Meanwhile, Perez would lose a further track position to Sainz, and he finished 8th on track, with Red Bull making an extra pit-stop to allow him to set the fastest lap on the final lap. This would become 7th after Russell’s disqualification.

Willen Hospice have begun working with Naturally Tiwa Skincare, who produce and sell natural skincare products.

The Hospice have announced the collaboration with a business founded in Milton Keynes by Shalom Lloyd MBE, with the Hospice’s shops are now stocking the Naturally Tiwa Skincare range.

The skincare products are cruelty-free, vegan and made of 100% natural ingredients. This industry-award-winning brand has been widely praised by publications including Vogue magazine.

Products include shea butter-based body foods for all skin types, including options to help with common skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis. There is also a facial cleanser, facial serum and body wash.

All products are available to buy from the Hospice’s high street shops as well their online shop. Hospice shop customers will be the first to see the latest additions to the range, with a shampoo and conditioner coming this summer.

Naturally Tiwa Skincare’s products are popular with people who are going through intensive treatments for cancer and other illnesses. Many of these treatments affect the skin, causing dryness and irritation. As the products feel so luxurious, being a concentrated formula and in beautiful packaging, they also make a wonderful gift for loved ones.

The partnership was launched at an exclusive evening event in Harrods Beauty’s Milton Keynes store in Central Milton Keynes earlier this month. Local Hospice supporters were invited along to find out more about what makes Naturally Tiwa Skincare so unique, followed by one-to-one skin consultations and complimentary Harrods champagne and patisserie treats.

Naturally Tiwa Skincare’s Head of Operations and Marketing, Hannah White, said, “This collaboration is what we mean when we say that we don’t do ‘ordinary’. Being in partnership with Willen Hospice, in our hometown of Milton Keynes, is super special! We know we have great products that work, a fantastic story and we are built on incredibly strong values.

“So, being stocked in Willen Hospice stores is a natural fit given our alignment on putting purpose and impact before all else. This wonderful milestone is a win for us as a business, a win for Willen Hospice as a charity, a win for our community, a win for our customers and a win for our rural African women at our factories in JE Oils and the Kingdom of Essan!”

Willen Hospice Commercial Retail Manager, Leila Blaize-Smith, added, “As one of the most poorly funded hospices in the country, we need to raise 85% of the cost of providing our care for local people with a life-limiting illness. It’s fantastic to be working with Naturally Tiwa Skincare to bring these beautiful products to our customers and increase our income so that we continue supporting our local community.”

To find out more about Willen Hospice’s shops, visit www.willen-hospice.org.uk/shops

Milton Keynes Theatre have made further announcements for cast members at their Christmas pantomime of Peter Pan later this year.

The theatre had previously announced in January that Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood had been cast as Peter Pan for the pantomime, which will run from 6th December 2024 to 5th January 2025.

Comedian and Ventriloquist Max Fulham has been announced as a new addition to the cast as Smee, while West End star Ross Carpenter will be playing the title role of Peter Pan.

Full cast announcements will be made later in 2024 ahead of the first rise of the curtain in December.

Comedian and ventriloquist Max has previously performed a one man show in theatres across the UK and internationally. Highlights include appearing in The Good Old Days at Leeds City Varieties and performing on the Blackpool Opera House stage as part of the Blackpool Magic Convention.

Max has also had previously been a headline performer at the prestigious Venthaven Ventriloquist Convention in the USA. With TV appearances including ITV’s Saturday night show Game of Talents, Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable on Dave and the revival of the classic Crackerjack!, and regular shows as a stand-up comedian, Max has a resume of high-profile shows for his comedic talents.

On joining the cast of Peter Pan, Max said: “I’m thrilled to be at the wonderful Milton Keynes Theatre for the festive season in this year’s pantomime! Peter Pan is a show I’ve never done before so I’m incredibly excited and I’m delighted to be working with Craig Revel Horwood!”

Peter Pan himself Ross is currently starring in Royal Caribbean’s inaugural production of The Wizard of Oz until October 2024.

Previously, Ross has played Elder Davis in the West End cast of The Book of Mormon and played the title role of Peter Pan at the Opera House Manchester in 2022. Further credits include Angel in Kinky Boots the Musical in Concert (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), Elder Grant in The Book of Mormon (West End), Bobby C in Saturday Night Fever (MMP/Guernsey) & Ensemble/Cover Bertie in Mrs Henderson Presents (Toronto).

Emma Sullivan, Theatre Director at Milton Keynes Theatre said, “After the great reception that we received for the announcement that Craig Revel Horwood would be starring in this year’s panto, we’re thrilled to also welcome Max Fulham and Ross Carpenter! We’re sure all three stars will bring the panto magic that everyone enjoys, and we look forward to welcoming our audiences this festive season”.

Former Northampton Town loan star Marc Leonard has made a permanent move to Birmingham City.

Leonard will join the Blues on a full transfer for an undisclosed fee after moving from his previous parent club Brighton and Hove Albion. He has signed a four-year deal with the West Midlands club.

The transfer will put Leonard in contention to play the Cobblers next season, with Birmingham preparing to compete in the third tier of English football next season for the first time since 1995.

Leonard is Birmingham’s 8th signing ahead of the new campaign, as a Blues side now managed by Brendan Rodgers’ former assistant manager Chris Davies attempt to compete for an immediate return.

In two seasons on loan with Northampton, Leonard was a regular, making 97 appearances in all competitions as he first helped Northampton win promotion from League Two in the 2022/23 season and then helped them achieve comfortable survival last season.

Leonard had been linked with a possible move to Championship clubs, but in an arrival interview with the Birmingham City website, he said he felt that Birmingham’s ambition made them an option he wished to sign up with ahead of the new season.

He said, “The main thing for me is the ambition and the direction the Club is going in. I think that, for where I am in terms of my career and where Birmingham are, our ambitions really align with each other.

“I was very keen to get the deal done as I knew that Birmingham was the club for me, I knew I wanted to play here.”