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https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23613315/manx-gp-qualifying-ian-bainbridge/
Wed, 23 Aug 2023 11:12:19 +0000
Post 23613315 at The Sun
MANX Grand Prix rider Ian Bainbridge, 69, has died following a crash in the second qualifying session of the 2023 event.
The rider passed away yesterday on Tuesday August 22.
Ian Bainbridge was killed in qualifying for the Manx Grand Prix[/caption]
Bainbridge is the second driver to die as part of the event in three days after fellow rider Gary Vines, 33, died on Sunday.
Bainbridge was killed in an accident on the exit of Kirk Michael Village on his opening lap of the session.
Bainbridge was on his first lap in the second qualifying session when the crash happened at around 7:30pm yesterday.
The session was red flagged before being abandoned.
The rider, from Barnard Castle, was a regular at the event having made his Manx Grand Prix debut in 2005.
Manx Grand Prix organisers released a statement saying: “We would like to extend our profound sympathies to Ian’s wife, his two daughters, his loved ones, and friends.
“Ian had competed regularly at the Manx Grand Prix since 2005, missing only two events since his debut. A stalwart of the classic racing scene, he had raced his Manx Norton around the UK, the Pre TT Classic at the Southern 100, and the Bob McIntyre Memorial Races at East Fortune over many years.
“He was also a keen supporter of grass roots racing, helping new racers attain their licence as an active member of the North East Motorcycle Racing Club.
“A racer of over 30 years who was supported by a close network of family and friends, Ian will be sorely missed.”
The section of the 37.75-mile (60km) course between Douglas Road Corner in Kirk Michael and Orrisdale North remained closed for about three hours following the incident.
Tributes flooded in for Bainbridge on Twitter with fellow riders speaking of their admiration for the motorcyclist.
One fellow racer said: “I can’t say I ever remember talking to Ian Bainbridge, but I do know he was a staunch, long time supporter of our races.
“We’ve lost one of our own. He, like all of us, loved riding his bike around the Mountain Course. Heart felt condolences to Ian’s family and friends.”
Another user said: “Sad to hear the passing Ian Bainbridge during last nights practice session. My thoughts are with his family friends and team.”
A third wrote: “Sympathies and prayers to Ian’s Loved ones, team and friends.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23608574/f1-max-verstappen-police-speeding-aston-martin/
Wed, 23 Aug 2023 09:35:53 +0000
Post 23608574 at The Sun
MAX VERSTAPPEN has reportedly risked police action after he appeared to break the speed limit while driving a £2.3million Aston Martin.
The Red Bull Racing star was filmed driving his Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar through a tunnel during the F1 summer break.
Max Verstappen could be in hot water[/caption]
He appeared in a video driving an Aston Martin Valkyrie[/caption]
And is thought to have broken the speed limit in France, with the sreen showing close to 73mph[/caption]
In the video, Verstappen, 25, can be seen steering the car with one hand as he changes the settings on a monitor.
And after a closer look, it appears that the Dutch-Belgian driver was breaking the speed limit by 18mph.
The A8 motorway which connects Menton to Provence has a limit of 55mph, while Verstappen was seemingly driving at 73mph.
Verstappen is also wearing headphones as he drives the car which is believed to be due to how loud the car is.
Every Aston Martin Valkyrie comes with a “helicopter grade noise cancelling headset” as the sound can “damage” eardrums.
According to the publication Nice Martin, Verstappen could find himself in trouble with the French authorities.
It claims that if they decide to take action a unit from the General Directorate of the National Gendarmerie could start investigating the video.
There are also a couple of other issues in the video, as he stays in the left-hand lane which is not thought to be allowed in the highway code.
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He is also wearing a headset with a microphone which is reportedly prohibited.
The video has gone viral on social media with viewers slamming the F1 star for “endangering the lives of others” and that the speed difference “can be all the difference needed to harm people”.
Aston Martin have claimed that the Valkyrie is the closest car to an F1 car that can be driven on the road.
It can reach up to speeds of 220mph thanks to its powerful 6.5 litre V12 engine.
Verstappen is currently leading the 2023 Driver Standings with 314 points after winning ten of the first 12 races of the season.
He returns to action this weekend at the Dutch GP when F1 returns after the summer break.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23607643/racing-driver-ashlea-albertson-dies-crash/
Wed, 23 Aug 2023 06:58:47 +0000
Post 23607643 at The Sun
RACING driver Ashlea Albertson has died at the age of 24 in an alleged road rage crash just months before her wedding.
Cops say the Tony Stewart Racing star was thrown out a window after the two cars ploughed into each other after speeding up and refusing to let each other pass.
Ashlea Albertson has died age 24[/caption]
She was travelling back from a holiday with her fiance Jacob Kelly[/caption]
She was killed after two cars crashed on a highway in Indiana[/caption]
She was flown to hospital following the crash on Interstate 65 in Jackson County, Indiana, on Friday but was pronounced dead – just a day before a championship event on Saturday.
Ashlea’s fiancé Jacob Kelly, 31, was driving the GMC Terrain in the left lane when a black 2016 Chevrolet Malibu pulled up in the right lane.
According to police, the “two drivers began accelerating rapidly and refused to allow the other vehicle to pass”.
The Chevrolet – being driven by a 22-year-old – is then said to have veered into the left lane.
Cops say the cars then crashed, forcing the Terrain to spin off the road.
Ashlea – who was travelling back from a holiday with her boyfriend -was thrown from a window as the car flipped over and rolled.
She was pronounced dead in hospital, while the two drivers and a passenger in the Chevrolet were all injured.
Ashlea was a dirt race driver for Tony Stewart, a three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion and team owner.
She drove TQ Midget cars and last raced on August 11 – just days before her death.
Ashlea’s heartbroken dad Todd said his daughter “just loved racing” in an emotional tribute.
He said: “She was a good kid, a better person and she just loved racing.
“She loved the community and you all have done so much for her.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
“This is one of the hardest posts that I could possibly make and I have no words to put it out other than to make it a video to share with everyone who loved her and who she loved in return.”
Ashlea was due to marry her boyfriend next March.
Stewart also paid tribute to Ashlea, hailing her as a “great race car driver”.
He wrote: “Ashlea had an infectious personality and could light up any room.
“I hope that we can honor Ashlea by controlling what we can control on the highway.
“Losing her is a sobering reminder of how precious life is.
“Please join me in keeping her family and friends in your prayers.”
An investigation, including toxicology tests on both drivers, is ongoing.
Cops are investigating the crash and carrying out toxicology reports[/caption]
Ashlea drove dirt cars for Tony Stewart’s team[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23603853/presenter-cbeebies-world-champions-catie-munnings/
Tue, 22 Aug 2023 17:45:28 +0000
Post 23603853 at The Sun
CATIE MUNNINGS has swapped her career as a CBeebies presenter to take on world champions in an emerging sport.
The rally driver competes in Extreme E, an electric version of rally cross involving futuristic Odyssey 21 cars.
Catie Munnings has swapped CBeebies for Extreme E[/caption]
She is the only British driver involved in the 2023 season, competing for Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E.
During the racing calendar, Munnings competes across terrains including Saudi deserts, glaciers in Greenland and the Andean mountains of Chile.
Munnings believes she was destined for a career in motorsport.
Speaking to The Telegraph, she recalled: “I can’t remember the first time I sat behind a wheel, I think I always was.
“Me and my sister grew up on a farm, constantly sitting on our dad’s lap behind a wheel.
“He had a motorsports entertainment company and there was always something to drive: buggies, old cars, driving around on fields, sliding in the grass.”
Until recently, she even balanced her racing career with work as a children’s TV presenter.
Munnings hosted Catie’s Amazing Machines on CBeebies, where she drove a series of unique vehicles, introducing youngsters to some of the world’s biggest and fastest machines.
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Munnings competes in an electric version of rally cross[/caption]
“I loved it,” she said of the show. “People seemed to love it too.
“I still get mums coming up to me saying, ‘My son loves your show’. Kind of like Top Gear for kids, it was so fun.
“I was flying a helicopter in the morning, diving in a submarine in the afternoon. Bucket-list stuff.”
However, she went on to explain that her rallying exploits forced her to give up the role.
“Pretty much every day I wasn’t racing, I was filming,” Munnings admitted.
“It got to the point towards the end I was so frazzled, I couldn’t remember the lines for the show, never mind remembering what I had to do on each of 20 stages in a rally. Basically I knew I wasn’t doing either job properly.”
Munnings’ time in Extreme E has seen her compete against some of motor racing’s biggest stars, though.
During her career, she has raced former Formula One champion Jenson Button and beaten multiple time world rally champion Sebastian Loeb.
The 25-year-old will be hoping for more success next month at round seven and eight of the 2023 season.
She will be in action on September 16 and 17, although the location of the races has yet to be confirmed.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23580930/lewis-hamilton-f1-mercedes-contract-update/
Mon, 21 Aug 2023 16:31:08 +0000
Post 23580930 at The Sun
FORMULA ONE returns this week after the summer break – and a void of news about Lewis Hamilton’s future.
After being told that a deal was close to being signed back in June, there has still been no pen put to paper, as the saga rumbles on.
Lewis Hamilton has huge brand worth to Mercedes so is in a good position to drive a hard bargain over a new contract[/caption]
Mercedes supremo Toto Wolff remains confident of a deal with Hamilton[/caption]
At the Hungarian GP, Merc boss Toto Wolff said the two parties had “emotionally” agreed to sign – so why the hold up?
The likelihood is that the duration of the contract – expected to be two years – has been agreed. As well as the wages of around £50million a year.
However, the likely sticking point will centre on the amount of time Hamilton will be contractually obliged to be available for Mercedes’ sponsors.
Hamilton is in the box seat. He knows his worth to Mercedes in terms of his brand and is understandably willing to play hardball.
On the other side, Mercedes are stuck in they have not really got an alternative. Mick Schumacher is not in the same league and a legal battle for McLaren’s Lando Norris could be messy.
Hamilton will be asked about the contract this week, but I am not holding my breath for a resolution just yet.
Meanwhile, Wolff suffered a fall during the summer break after coming off his bicycle. The Mercedes boss hurt his elbow but it expected to be at this week’s Dutch GP as the season resumes.
It is not the first time Wolff has hurt himself in a cycling accident. In 2014, he fractured his shoulder, collar bone, elbow and wrist after coming off while cycling along the Danube River.
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New kid on the grid
RED BULL RACING are out to catch the next Adrian Newey – after planning a new education centre at the team’s factory.
In an F1 first, the facility will be based at their HQ and will welcome students between nine and 14 with a goal of attracting them to careers in engineering, such as design whizz Newey, who has won eleven Constructors’ Championships with three different F1 teams.
In association with the Milton Keynes College Group, Red Bull want to use the popularity of the sport to encourage kids to study STEM [science, technology, engineering and maths] subjects at school.
Zoe Mills, Red Bull Racing’s Head of Employee Experience said: “The utopia for us is where we have someone come to an interview and we ask them why they want to work for us and they say ‘it is because I went to the education centre and that is what inspired me to continue with my STEM subjects’.
“All the engineers are keen to get involved. For instance, if you look at our aerodynamics department, they will work with Milton Keynes College, who will break it down into a language that is easy to understand for nine-year-olds.”
Dutch dampener
Since returning to the F1 calendar in 2021, the Dutch GP has been blessed by sunshine – but this weekend’s race could be hit by rain.
Max Verstappen has won at the circuit for the past two years and a third victory would mean he equals Sebastian Vettel’s record of NINE consecutive wins.
Andretti sweaty as they wait for verdict
FORMULA ONE hopefuls Andretti expect to discover next month if their bid to join the grid in 2025 has been accepted.
Andretti teamed up with Cadillac and submitted an application, with F1 and the FIA now considering whether to increase the number of teams from 10 to 11.
There is currently some stiff opposition from some teams, who are not prepared to give up a share of the F1 prize pot.
Tile in the Bag as Fran takes it to the Max
FRANCESCO BAGNAIA dominated the MotoGP race in Austria last weekend and now has a 62-point advantage over Jorge Martin.
The Ducati ace looks unstoppable and former MotoGP champion, Fabio Quartararo says the Italian is doing a “Verstappen” by winning everything.
He said: “No [I don’t see anyone stopping Bagnaia]. I think he’s a little bit ‘Verstappen’ now.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23578687/gary-vines-tributes-motorbike-dies-manx-grand-prix-crash/
Mon, 21 Aug 2023 14:13:45 +0000
Post 23578687 at The Sun
GARY VINES has died after crashing during qualifying for the Manx Grand Prix.
The rider from Colchester was involved in an accident at Ballagarey in Glen Vine while on his first lap of the opening session.
Motorbike rider Gary Vines has died aged 33[/caption]
He passed away from his injuries after a crash while qualifying for the Manx Grand Prix.[/caption]
The session was paused while the crash was dealt with by emergency staff.
The organisers announced Vines, 33, had died as a result of his injuries.
A statement read: “It is with a heavy heart that the Manx Grand Prix can confirm the loss of Gary Vines, who succumbed to injuries sustained in an accident in the first qualifying session of the 2023 event.
“Everyone involved in the organisation of the Manx Grand Prix would like to express their deepest sympathies to Gary’s family, his partner, his loved ones, and friends.
“Gary was also a skilled off-road rider, and had contested the notorious Red Bull Romaniacs hard enduro rallye.
“Gary was a well-loved and respected member of the paddock and his peers will fondly remember a skilled and stylish racer with an impressive racing CV.
“The loss of Gary will be felt deeply by all.”
Vines made his debut at the Manx Gran Prix in 2015 and won the Newcomers B Race.
He then earned a podium finish in the 2018 Lightweight Race and also collected top ten finishes when it was the Classic TT.
Tributes have poured in for the rider[/caption]
And news of Wines’ death spread fast as tributes were made to him on social media.
One person tweeted: “RIP Gary Vines, an extremely talented two-stroke racer, former Newcomers B Manx GP race winner. Thoughts with his family and friends.”
A second wrote: “Such sad news from #IOM #ManxGP. When you here of a red flag incident especially at a place like Ballagarey you hope for the best.
“He was doing something he clearly loved Ride high.”
Another said: “Such awful news from the Manx Grand Prix… Godspeed, Gary Vines.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23569475/f1-lando-norris-luisinha-oliveira-bikini/
Mon, 21 Aug 2023 10:17:20 +0000
Post 23569475 at The Sun
LANDO NORRIS’ gorgeous ex-girlfriend Luisinha Oliveira left fans stunned as she caught some summer sun.
Luisinha used to date the Formula One star before they separated in September last year.
Luisinha Oliveira stunned in a bikini[/caption]
She was labelled ‘super gorgeous’ by one fan[/caption]
Luisinha works as a fashion model[/caption]
However, she appears to have not allowed it to cramp her mood since then.
She is often seen wearing bikinis in steamy photoshoots.
And her latest collection proved to be no different.
The Portuguese model sent fans into meltdown with her latest post.
Luisinha, 23, wore a black bikini and some sunglasses while visiting the Hotel Porta do Sol in northern Portugal.
In the first image of the collection she shared she was seen sitting on a rock while knee deep in a swimming pool.
The second image saw her standing on the side of a large pool, while a third had her sitting on the side and dipping her feet in the pool.
Fans were left swooning at the images, with one typing: “Myyy god Luísa.”
She is regularly seen in breathtaking bikini’s[/caption]
Luisinha’s line of work means she is not camera shy[/caption]
A second wrote: “GODDESS!!!!!!.”
“You are so beautiful ,” remarked a third.
A fourth added: “Super gorgeous .”
Meanwhile, a fifth typed: “Perfection in one post.”
Luisinha has 369,000 followers on Instagram.
Luisinha dated F1 star Lando Norris before the pair separated in September of last year[/caption]
She has 369,000 followers on Instagram[/caption]
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23553009/bbc-f1-host-jennie-gow-announces-return/
Fri, 18 Aug 2023 21:40:14 +0000
Post 23553009 at The Sun
BBC Sport Formula One broadcaster Jennie Gow has described her herself as “delighted and a little nervous” after revealing she is returning to the paddock.
Gow, a fan favourite thanks to her exploits on Netflix‘s Drive to Survive F1 series, revealed in January she had suffered a “serious stroke”.
Jennie Gow has announced she will be returning to the F1 paddock[/caption]
Gow revealed she suffered an ‘extremely rare’ stroke[/caption]
But, eight months on from the traumatic ordeal, she has now confirmed she will be making a remarkable comeback at the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August.
Taking to Twitter, Gow shared the incredible news with fans.
She wrote: “I’m delighted (and a little nervous) to say that I will be returning to the F1 circuit for the Dutch GP.
“It’s been almost eight months since my stroke and I’m still not able to do all the things I could before, but @IMG, @bbc5live and @F1 are going to help me get back into the pit lane to see how I go.
“My lovely therapists are supporting me and continue to remind me ‘I’m a work in progress and not the finished article’. So, please bear with me, mind the gaps and wish me luck.”
In May, Gow appeared alongside her husband, Jamie Coley, in a film on BBC‘s The One Show explaining her experience.
In the short film, she began by recounting her career as an F1 reporter before saying: “But then my life changed dramatically.
“At 45, I suffered a serious stroke. And I’ve spent the last few months learning to walk, and more significantly, to talk again.
She broke down in tears when recounting her ordeal on The One Show in May[/caption]
“Just after Christmas I got sick, it wasn’t Covid, but I had a terrible cough and then my husband Jamie found me collapsed in the bathroom.”
Jamie then revealed the panic which set over him at the time.
He said: “I was trying to call your name and get you to speak to me and I was just getting nothing back from you. It was the worst moment of my life.”
Upon hearing his response, Gow could not hold back her emotions and broke down into tears.
In her return announcement post, she reserved special praise for Sky Sports F1 for the support they provided Jamie with.
She added: “So many people to thank but at this point, I’ll just say a special thank you to @skysportf1 who have been supportive of my husband and me – I can’t thank them and their generosity enough.
It’s been almost eight months since my stroke and I’m still not able to do all the things I could before, but @IMG, @bbc5live and @F1 are going to help me get back into the pit lane to see how I go.
Jennie Gow
“I can’t wait to be back on your radio. I’ve missed it so much. Speak to you on Thursday!”
Gow’s daughter, Isabel, was described as a “superstar” by Jamie, with the six-year-old rushing to grab some pillows and put them under her mothers head before passing the phone to him.
After being rushed to Frimley Park hospital and receiving “very prompt” treatment, Gow later posted a message on social media.
She wrote: “Hi everyone, been quiet the last few weeks, this is because I suffered a serious stroke two weeks ago.
“My husband is helping me type this, as I’m finding it hard to write and my speech is most affected.
“I’m desperate to make a full recovery and return to work but it might take some time.
“Thank you to the medical teams at Frimley and St George’s and my family and friends who’ve got me through the last fortnight X.”
Dr Thomas Pain, one of Gow’s consultants, appeared in the video to explain how her stroke was caused.
He said: “The majority of strokes are caused by a blockage in a blood vessel which supplies the brain.
“Your stroke was caused by a clot from the carotid artery, in the neck, a tear in the blood vessel due to coughing and a viral infection you had at the time.
“That clot flew up the vessel, causing the stroke on the left side of the brain.”
After being transferred to a specialist unit at St Georges’ in London, Gow had her clot successfully removed before any significant damage was caused.
In terms of the F1 season, Max Verstappen and Red Bull have dominated, not giving Lewis Hamilton a look in for race wins.
Indeed, prior to the mid-season break – which has seen stars jet off around the globe – Verstappen has won eight races in a row.
And he will have the chance to extend his streak and equal Sebastian Vettel‘s 2013 record of nine at his home Grand Prix next weekend.
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23546089/f1-max-verstappen-holiday-kelly-piquet-bikini/
Fri, 18 Aug 2023 11:59:42 +0000
Post 23546089 at The Sun
MAX VERSTAPPEN has spent Formula One’s mid-season break on holiday in the Mediterranean with girlfriend Kelly Piquet.
The reigning world champion, 25, is dominating on the track in 2023, winning ten races out of 12 heading into the four-week summer hiatus.
And he was all smiles with partner Kelly as Verstappen shared a picture of them dressed in smart clothes.
The racing driver – just one of many F1 stars to enjoy luxury summer holidays – wore a shirt, trousers and trainers, while Kelly donned a white dress and heels.
Verstappen also shared an image of him relaxing on a float in the ocean while topless.
Meanwhile, Kelly has posted a host of photos including her in a stunning black bikini and see-through dress.
She also shared pictures of the pair holding hands and kissing as they relax in the sunshine.
In her captions, she says the pair have been to Corsica and Sardinia.
And she replied to one of her own posts, saying: “My best summer .”
Reacting to the photos, one person said: “Kelly is glowing .”
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The revealing snaps were praised by her fans[/caption]
While another added: “Ahwwww cuties!.”
Kelly, 34, the daughter of three-time F1 world champion Nelson Piquet, has been with Verstappen since January 2021.
She previously dated former Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat for two years.
Kelly and Kvyat have a daughter together – Penelope, four.
Meanwhile, Verstappen will return to the paddock for the Dutch Grand Prix on August 27.
He is on course to smash his own record of 15 wins in a single season – while he closes in on a third successive world title in the process.
If he claims nine of the final ten races, he will also move above both Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel to become the driver with the third most wins in F1 history.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23511128/hamilton-talks-ferrari-chief-every-race/
Wed, 16 Aug 2023 13:55:45 +0000
Post 23511128 at The Sun
LEWIS HAMILTON has sparked talk of a stunning transfer to Ferrari after it was revealed he speaks to Fred Vasseur at every race.
Ferrari team principal Vasseur confirmed he and the 38-year-old speak at every Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton’s contract situation remains uncertain[/caption]
Ferrari team principle Fred Vasseur confirmed he speaks to Hamilton at every Grand Prix[/caption]
He also said they have a close bond, owing to when Hamilton raced under Vasseur in his title-winning GP2 season in 2006 – which led the Brit to getting an F1 seat with McLaren in 2007.
But seven drivers titles later, Hamilton is now one of the faces of the sport.
Vasseur, 55, places him alongside Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc as the best on the grid.
And he is not ignorant to Hamilton’s contract situation at current team Mercedes, which is set to expire at the end of the season.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Frenchman Vasseur explained his relationship with Hamilton, saying: “I talk to him at every GP, he raced for me 20 years ago and we are still close.
“I helped him when he went to McLaren at the beginning of his F1 career and we talk from time to time.
“Clearly if we are seen together in the paddock a fuss comes out, but the relationship has remained.
“I don’t want to compare him to our drivers, it would not make sense. But the contribution of a top driver is not only driving.”
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He continued: “It’s also technical, strategy, help in hiring an engineer. And in this case, if you have Hamilton, Verstappen but also Leclerc it’s easier.
“People who work in F1 are passionate about racing, they like to work with champions.”
With the mid-season break in full swing, Hamilton has been enjoying some time away from the track.
And according to some sensational reports, he has been spending some of that time with singer Shakira.
The pair having sparked dating rumours after being spotted together over the last few months.
Shakira is claimed to have snuck Hamilton into her luxury Ibiza villa on three separate occasions.
Hamilton finished P4 at the Belgian Grand Prix almost three weeks ago but must until August 27 before he gets racing again at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23500390/f1-cat-formulino-vip-grand-prix-race-weekend-imola/
Tue, 15 Aug 2023 12:17:16 +0000
Post 23500390 at The Sun
AN F1 cat that had its own VIP pass to Grand Prix race weekends has sadly passed away.
Heartbroken fans have left emotional tributes after Formulino’s death was reported.
The Imola cat, Formulino, has sadly passed away[/caption]
The cat lived at the Imola Circuit and was a regular at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in recent years.
Such was the animal’s popularity, it even wore a VIP pass round its neck as it strolled around the paddock.
ESPN report, though, that Formulino has died, with one fan commenting on the news: “Run free beautiful Imola kitty.”
Another wrote: “Rest in peace Formulino.”
A third F1 fan added: “So sad, my daughter thought it was such a lovely story and was so jealous of the cat.”
Meanwhile, one more said: “This made me so sad. RIP beautiful kitty, you will be missed at Imola.”
Formulino also became something of a good luck charm for drivers after the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola was added to the F1 calendar in 2020.
However, the feline is alleged to have cursed Sebastian Vettel at the first edition of the race.
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He was told before the weekend that it is good luck if Formulino comes and sees you before the race.
“I don’t like cats,” he replied. “I have nothing to offer it. He’s a bit overweight though, maybe because there hasn’t been much racing lately.”
Vettel went on to qualify in 14th before finishing 12th in the race itself.
As for Lewis Hamilton, who was seen stroking the cat in the Mercedes garage, he claimed victory after starting in P3.
Fans and drivers missed out on the chance to see Formulino this year after the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was cancelled back in May.
Heavy rainfall and flooding caused the race to be postponed, but it is set to return to the calendar in 2024.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23302614/inside-f1-driver-luxury-summer-holiday-max-verstappen-lewis-hamilton/
Sun, 13 Aug 2023 13:27:13 +0000
Post 23302614 at The Sun
THEY quite literally live life in the fast lane, so it’s not surprising Formula 1 stars love to slow down, relax and unwind in absolute luxury.
With the summer break upon them, F1 drivers like Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly and George Russell have jetted off around the world on jaw-dropping trips that put even millionaire footballers’ to shame.
Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen and his partner Kelly Piquet were recently seen enjoying a family boat trip out in the Sardinian sea[/caption]
From Sardinia to Ibiza to jet-packing and raving – often with their glam other halves – this is how the super rich stars are spending their vacations.
Max Verstappen
World champion Verstappen extended his title lead at the Belgian Grand Prix, securing his eighth straight victory, so no doubt he’ll be feeling very happy going into the summer break.
The 25-year-old and his model girlfriend Kelly Piquet, 34, have been enjoying a romantic getaway to Sardinia, Italy, flying in on a private jet days after the final race.
The pair jetted off to Sardinia[/caption]
Since then, the couple have been enjoying the beautiful scenery and coastal views, and have visited the local towns with Kelly’s daughter Penelope, who she welcomed in 2019 with her ex, Daniil Kvyat.
Kelly began dating Verstappen in late 2020 – one year before he won the F1 World Championship – and the pair have been going strong ever since.
Pierre Gasly
Pierre Gasly, 27, and his girlfriend Francisca ‘Kika’ Gomes started dating last year and went Instagram official with their romance at the beginning of 2023.
And it seems the pair are clearly still very much enjoying the honeymoon phase.
They are currently spending some time in the Algarve, Portugal, and they’ve both posted a series of loved-up photos together.
Pierre has been enjoying time relaxing in the hot tub, and earlier this week Francisca even posted a ‘cheeky snap’ showing off their tans – and derrieres – at the beach.
While away, Gasly’s swapped driving for a spot of golf, and while he posted a photo enjoying an ice cream, he hasn’t gone full ‘holiday mode’ – still making sure he goes to the gym while abroad too.
The driver’s girlfriend Francisca posted this cheeky snap showing off their golden tans[/caption]
Naturally, Pierre has a snazzy motor at the ready[/caption]
George Russell
Among the most adventurous couples are Brit George Russell, 25, and investment broker girlfriend Carmen Mundt, who have been together since 2020.
The pair are currently away with their families and have spent a lot of time at sea, paddle boarding, jet skiing, hoverboarding and even playing around with hydro-jet packs.
Posting photos of their adventures, George wrote: “Really fun times trying some new things.
“I’ve never been very comfortable in water but have enjoyed pushing myself outside my comfort zone. A few small bruises later, we’re away!”
George and Carmen have been together since 2020, and are spending the summer break spending time with their families[/caption]
Carmen was previously a student at the University of Westminster and studied for a degree in business management and finance[/caption]
The sporty pair had a go at paddleboarding[/caption]
Daniel Ricciardo
While Aussie racer Daniel Ricciardo has won eight Grand Prixs, last August he hit a career low, getting ditched by McLaren and failing to secure a seat for the 2023 season.
He went on to make a surprise F1 return at the Hungarian GP, and since the season ended he’s enjoyed a much-needed trip to Ibiza alongside DJs Martin Garrix and Tiesto.
Garrix posted a photo on his Instagram of the trio enjoying a lunch captioned: “CRAZY day in Ibiza!! thanks for partying in the rain.”
Ricciardo, 34, – who is dating Heidi Berger – also owns a luxury mansion in Los Angeles, and is said to enjoy spending most of the summer in LA, telling the West Australian: “The weather, having the beaches close by, I feel like you can escape the madness of it all.”
Daniel Ricciardo has been spending time in Ibiza[/caption]
Lewis Hamilton
He recently posted a cool underwater snap of himself, and while it’s not known where Lewis Hamilton is holidaying currently, it will no doubt be phenomenal.
He’s no stranger to lavish trips, having previously travelled around America and Mexico in his summers off, and has enjoyed jaunts to Jamaica and Costa Rica.
The driver, 38, is rumoured to be dating singer Shakira, 46, and the pair are reportedly embracing a “hot summer romance” and have become “inseparable”.
Lewis Hamilton uploaded this photo to his Instagram, with the caption ‘Out of office’[/caption]
Lewis previously posed with his arm around Shakira as they went out for dinner[/caption]
Lance Stroll
He managed to crash his car and fall down the stairs at the Belgian Grand Prix, so Lance Stroll was probably feeling ready for a break.
The 24-year-old shared a selection of photos showing his break so far on Instagram captioned: “Summer dump”, showing him enjoying an ice cream and wake-surfing.
There’s been no sign of girlfriend Sara Pagliaroli in his summer pics as yet, who he’s dated since 2021.
Lance Stroll is making the most of the summer break[/caption]
Lando Norris
He recently posted a video if himself jumping off a yacht into the crystal blue sea, so it seems Lando Norris is finally taking some much earned rest with his family.
However, as soon as the season finished, the 23-year-old first hopped in a helicopter alongside Max Verstappen to visit their mutual friend DJ Martin Garrix.
In true ‘work hard, play hard’ style, the pair partied at Tomorrowland dance festival in Belgium together before taking a much needed proper break.
After the last race, Lando Norris boarded a helicopter[/caption]
Lando and pal Max Verstappen flew into Belgium for the Tomorrowland festival[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23457735/nyck-de-vries-haravard-business-school-alpha-tauri/
Fri, 11 Aug 2023 17:52:09 +0000
Post 23457735 at The Sun
LEWIS HAMILTON’s former understudy used to rake in more than £1.5million as an F1 Driver.
But after losing his seat as an Alpha Tauri driver this season he has embarked on a drastic career change, according to Racing News 365.
De Vries has swapped the paddock for Harvard[/caption]
Nyck De Vries revealed that he has swapped the paddock for the lecture halls of Harvard as he has gone back to university to complete his education.
The Dutchman said: “I’ve never studied before in my life, in fact, I didn’t even finish high school.
“But in September I’m going to take a course at Harvard. Negotiation and Leadership, a little bit of studying. More because I just like it now that I have some time and the interest to learn other things.”
Many thought the Dutchman was hard done by to lose his seat as an Alpha Tauri driver, with the Red Bull team moving ruthlessly to replace him after results were not up to the required standard.
De Vries was replaced by Daniel Ricciardo after just 10 races this season as he was one of only two drivers not to secure a top-10 finish alongside Williams’ rookie Logan Sargeant.
The decision of Red Bull to bring Ricciardo in dashed De Vries dreams of becoming an established F1 driver having won both the F2 and Formula E Championships before getting his Formula One break aged 27.
When asked by Racing News 365 if his dismissal was tough to take, De Vries said: “Actually [it was] not.
“I had a lot of support and it actually went very naturally. I’ve been playing a lot of golf since then.”
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De Vries was previously a reserve driver for Mercedes where he tested for Lewis Hamilton.
And Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is an executive fellow and guest lecturer at the Harvard Business School – where De Vries will now study.
Wolff has helped teach MBA students a case study led by Harvard Business School professor Anita Elberse entitled ‘Toto Wolff and the Mercedes Formula One Team’.
So it may be the case that while De Vries was dealt with ruthlessly by Red Bull, his former boss Wolff is still looking out for him.
De Vries is not the only former F1 driver heading back to study.
Former Williams driver Nicholas Latifi announced last month he was starting an MBA course at the London Business School.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23450541/onlyfans-cat-rada-rally-car-motorsport/
Fri, 11 Aug 2023 14:38:20 +0000
Post 23450541 at The Sun
CAT RADA is finding her own unique way of entering the expensive world of motorsport.
The Romanian 23-year-old is dreaming of getting behind the wheel as a competitive rally car driver, but has found a financial barrier in her way.
Cat Rada has turned to OnlyFans as a means to achieve her rally racing dream[/caption]
She has said she can’t believe the attention she has got from it[/caption]
She has already racked up over 10,000 Instagram followers[/caption]
Cat didn’t want to give up on her racing dream and so she has turned to adult platform OnlyFans in order to raise the necessary funds.
Speaking to the Daily Star she said: “I decided to join as I really want to start rallying,
“I have always had a slight love for cars, but never really realised it properly until I was introduced to rallying.
“Since then, I’ve just had this obsession with it and definitely want to do it. It’s beautiful, precise and requires a lot of mental power.
The internet model joined OnlyFans just 12 months ago, but has already made a name for herself.
Fans of the adult star have rallied around her and shown her much more love than she expected.
She said: “My first year on the site has definitely been different, I never expected to receive so much support from everyone around me,
“And didn’t really expect to receive as much online attention as I did.”
Cat used to ply her trade as an ambulance worker, but is determined to achieve her goal of being a rally driver.
She said: “I still have a very long way to go to achieve my dream, especially with a few things happening this year that have put my progress to a halt. But it’s OK, I’ll get there.”
Cat used to work as an Ambulance worker[/caption]
She regularly posts racy snaps to her OnlyFans account[/caption]
Cat is putting her OnlyFans proceeds towards her end goal in motorsports[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23449935/michael-schumacher-f1-gear-auction-helmet-championship/
Fri, 11 Aug 2023 13:27:59 +0000
Post 23449935 at The Sun
A STUNNING collection of Michael Schumacher memorabilia worth £1.4million is set to go on auction only days after his iconic car hit the market.
The F1 ace’s helmets, racing suits, gloves, boots, and even bottles of champagne are being sold in the auction.
His iconic 2003 racing suit is set to be sold[/caption]
Along with a helmet which saw him win multiple championships[/caption]
The German driver, 54, won a joint record seven world titles in his glittering racing career.
One of the items tipped to sell for the most is a 1994 Michael Schumacher Bell Benetton Formula 1 helmet.
Schumacher suffered a severe brain injury in a skiing accident in 2013, and now lives a private life in Switzerland.
In 2021, his family broke their eight-year silence on the seven-time world champion’s condition in a Netflix documentary examining his illustrious career.
It was worn by Schumacher in the 1994 Formula 1 World Championship, and is estimated to fetch £47,000.
There is also an Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost signed Formula 1 Moet Champagne Bottle.
The bottle was signed by the pair during the 1989 Formula 1 World Championship and is set to sell for £7,800.
Two other special helmets from his career are both expected to attract bids of up to £20,000.
One helmet – with a signed visor – is from the 2001 season, where it was worn during the Australian, Malaysian, and Brazilian Grand Prix events.
Another was from the following season and was used in the Japanese and Hungarian Grand Prix events when he raced for Ferrari.
An autographed race suit was worn at the 2003 Italian Grand Prix, where Schumacher qualified in pole position and finished first overall, after setting the fastest lap.
The collection is being sold by RM Sotheby’s in Monterey, California, from August 17 to 19.
The entire jaw dropping collection, previously owned by a Japanese collector, is worth £1.4million.
An RM Sotheby’s spokesperson said: “From the moment Michael Schumacher first laced up his race boots and pulled on a helmet, the gifted racer was nothing short of a phenomenon, a force of nature who would go on to dominate the highest echelons of competitive motorsport.
“Among this treasured collection of artwork and automobilia are more than 75 lots of race-worn clothing and equipment spanning the breadth of Schumacher’s career, including a selection of helmets from his earliest days in karting.
“Full Throttle – The Schumacher Collection offers an unrepeatable opportunity to acquire precious automobilia from the career of one of the sport’s true greats—touchstones from the life of a legendary driver who changed the face of motorsport forever.”
The collection’s announcement came only days after his incredible Ferrari F2001b was put up for auction.
The 220mph 3.0-litre V10 cherry-red Ferrari is being sold by RM Sotheby’s with a jaw-dropping price tag of £6million.
The legendary driver retired from the sport in 2012[/caption]
One helmet being auctioned is autographed[/caption]
His speedy car is set to be auctioned as well[/caption]
Along with an autographed bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23409521/shakira-lewis-hamilton-rap-cars/
Wed, 09 Aug 2023 13:11:07 +0000
Post 23409521 at The Sun
SHAKIRA appeared to give a nod to her rumoured beau Lewis Hamilton as she lip-synced to a rap track about fast cars.
The Colombian star wowed fans in a racy pink bra as it seems her reported romance with the F1 ace steps up a gear.
Shakira lip-synced to a rap song about fast cars on Instagram[/caption]
Lewis Hamilton is rumoured to be dating Shakira[/caption]
Sources say Shakira, 46, and Hamilton, 38, are embracing a “hot summer romance” and have become “inseparable”.
And in a recent Instagram post, the pop sensation seemed to tease fans over rumours.
She beamed and poked out her tongue as she mouthed the words to Dave & Central Cee’s song Sprinter.
One of the lines she lip-syncs goes: “S-O-S, somebody rescue me”.
Shakira’s reported love affair with Hamilton comes after she was left devastated by her split from her long-term footballer boyfriend Gerard Pique.
Other lyrics in the song speak of “fast and furious whips” and “Tokyo Drift”.
Fans were quick to point out the seemingly uncoincidental link between the song and her rumoured boyfriend.
One commented with a gif of Hamilton pretending to hit a ball with a bat.
Hamilton himself fancies himself a rapper – having previously revealed he was the mysterious rapper XNDA.
The pair have been spotted cosying up at a number of events in recent months.
Shakira watched from the Mercedes team’s VIP area as seven-times champ Lewis Hamilton, 38, sped to a podium finish on his home circuit at Silverstone last month.
Revving up dating rumours, she was also pictured beaming at the Spanish Grand Prix in June as she cheered the Mercedes driver to second place.
Afterwards he was snapped with his arm around her waist as they had cocktails with friends in Barcelona.
In May, Shakira also watched Hamilton race in Miami – her new home town since moving to the US earlier this year.
Meanwhile, it’s been reported she snuck Hamilton into her luxury Ibiza villa three times this month.
A source previously told In Touch: “She’s over Gerard and fast-tracking her romance with Lewis.
“They’re inseparable. It’s definitely a hot summer romance.
“She believes in love and is very open to see what the future might hold for them.”
Shakira split from ex Pique last June[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23403694/michael-schumacher-f1-mix-up/
Wed, 09 Aug 2023 09:21:09 +0000
Post 23403694 at The Sun
F1 BOSS Andy Stevenson has revealed he thought Michael Schumacher was a delivery boy when they first met.
Racing star Schumacher was just 22 when he was handed his first F1 debut in 1991 – filling in for French driver Bertrand Gachot.
Michael Schumacher pictured in 1991[/caption]
Andy Stevenson mistook Schumacher for a delivery boy when they first met[/caption]
Gachot had been put behind bars after he sprayed a taxi driver with CS gas following a crash in December 1990.
Eddie Jordan took the drastic decision to call up a young Schumacher to race for the Jordan-Ford team at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Stevenson, who was working as a mechanic, told BILD: “We were supposed to stay longer one evening for his seat fitting.
“So, we were at the factory late, and suddenly a young delivery boy arrived.
“Then we realised: This is not a delivery boy, but our new Formula 1 driver.”
Stevenson – who is now Sporting Director at Aston Martin F1 Team – was immediately in awe of Schumacher, adding he was “very hands-on” and “knew what he wanted”.
And Stevenson said he quickly knew Schumacher would be a star as he watched him race during the test rounds.
He added: “After two or three laps, he was already faster than anything we had achieved before
“He consistently set faster lap times. I still remember telling a friend after the test session, ‘We just tested a future world champion.’
“It was completely obvious. He made the car dance through the chicanes.”
Schumacher ended up qualifying seventh ahead of team-mate De Cesaris in 11th – with Gachot unaware he had taken his place.
And while he was then forced to retire from the race on the first lap due to clutch problems, word soon got back to Gachot about the talented driver that had replaced him.
Speaking about the events on the Beyond The Grid podcast in 2021, Gachot said: “I didn’t know [about Schumacher].
“The first time somebody spoke to me about Michael Schumacher – I won’t forget – is one of the guards in jail.
“He said, ‘The new guy that they hired is so good, they don’t need you anymore. So you can stay here’. I tell you, word for word.”
Schumacher ended up joining Benneton-Ford for the remainder of 1991 and managed three top six finishes before the end of the season.
He would go on to win two F1 world titles with Benneton-Ford, before joining Ferrari and claiming another five drivers’ championships.
But the racing legend has not been seen in public since suffering a near-fatal brain injury when skiing in the French Alps a decade ago.
Schumacher’s state of health has also been shrouded in secrecy since his horrific accident.
In 2021, his wife Corinna explained in a Netflix documentary that the family “do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable”.
Meanwhile, Gachot was sentenced to 18 months in prison – but was released after just two months following an appeal.
The racing star has not been seen in public since his ski accident[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23397852/shakiras-ibiza-villa-lewis-hamilton-secret-meetings/
Wed, 09 Aug 2023 07:06:47 +0000
Post 23397852 at The Sun
SHAKIRA reportedly snuck Lewish Hamilton in at night for three secret meetings at her luxury Ibiza villa.
The Colombian star and F1 ace have sparked dating rumours after being spotted cosying up together at a string of events in recent months.
Shakira reportedly ‘snuck’ Lewis Hamilton into her Ibiza villa on three occasions[/caption]
The pad has an infinity pool with deckchairs and a sea view[/caption]
Paparazzo Sergio Garrido told Spanish TV channel Telecinco that the pair met “three times in the Ibiza villa” where Shakira was staying earlier this month during a break in the F1 season.
“When the workers left, the singer stayed alone with her private escort and received a visit from Hamilton,” he said.
The breathtaking white pad is surrounded by greenery, with tall leafy trees and hedges giving the property that extra privacy.
With stairs travelling up one side of the villa, a glass-fenced balcony sits on the roof where the singer and her rumoured beau can look over the sea views.
The Coco Loco family home also has a full-length infinity pool lined with white deckchairs and a slender coffee table.
The luxurious mansion is located at the top of one of the mountains of the Roca Llisa settlement.
Garrido also claimed that Hamilton’s driver overheard the pilot’s “constant conversations” with the Latina singer.
The paparazzo explained how Shakira and Lewis have coincided in space and time on the island of Pitiusa.
While the pilot had a wonderful time sailing with friends aboard a yacht in Mediterranean waters, Shakira would only have left the villa on two occasions, “once to see Bizarrap and another to have dinner with Hamilton,” Garrido claims.
Spanish model and presenter Tamara Gorro, during her appearance on the Spanish TV show “Y ahora Sonsoles,” reported from the Villa Coco Loco in Ibiza.
She spoke on her findings about the alleged encounters between the pop star and the seven-time F1 champion.
“We can confirm that Hamilton would come in at night, presumably to meet with Shakira, of course… We can confirm, based on someone I’ve spoken to, that they’ve seen Hamilton entering this complex one night,” said Gorro.
“The thing is, they haven’t been seen outside of this luxurious and very private complex.”
The pair are said to be in a situation that is “more than friendship” but Jodi Martin, a journalist well-acquainted with Shakira, recently attempted to clarify the information circulating about the alleged “relationship”.
“I would like to deny an information that has come out in a Catalan newspaper, where they say that Hamilton is tired of Shakira’s attitude,” Martin said.
“I can categorically deny this information because I have spoken to Shakira’s entourage and they confirm that between Shakira and Hamilton, there has always been a beautiful friendship.
“And that, between them there has been something more than friendship. The two knew very clearly that there was nothing serious and that there was total freedom between them to do whatever they wanted,” she added.
Meanwhile, her rumoured beau Hamilton was spotted enjoying downtime in Ibiza with 20-year-old tennis player and heiress Jenny Stray Spetalen and Mexican actress Eiza Gonzalez.
But Hamilton isn’t the only sports star Shakira appears to be getting close to, as she was last month seen on what appeared to be a date with NBA ace Jimmy Butler.
She and Butler, 33, were pictured leaving Novikov Restaurant & Bar in London just two minutes apart – with the singer escorted to her car by his entourage.
In her most recent romantic sighting two weeks ago, eagle-eyed fans spotted the Hips Don’t Lie singer taking a dip in a river with Latino singer Rauw Alejandro.
She and the singer were pictured bathing in Puerto Rico – with Alejandro just coming out of his split from pop star fiancée Rosalía.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23391428/michael-schumacher-update-f1-barrichello-relationship/
Tue, 08 Aug 2023 13:58:40 +0000
Post 23391428 at The Sun
RUBENS Barrichello has opened up about his relationship with Michael Schumacher – nine years after the F1 legend’s tragic accident.
The Brazilian driver, 51, admitted that his former teammate “was better than me, no doubt”, but “never supportive”.
Rubens Barrichello (left) opened up about his relationship with Michael Schumacher[/caption]
Barichello admitted that Schumacher was a better driver than him[/caption]
Barrichello became a fundamental part of a Ferrari dream team that dominated Formula 1 in the early 2000s.
“The car was super, the team worked well, it was a good relationship between everyone and there was harmony in terms of performance. We were able to go and conquer the world,” he told Formula1.com .
But while Schumacher conquered five successive world titles between 2000 and 2004, “Rubinho” was dutifully left to play second fiddle on several occasions.
“I always say he was better than me, no doubt,” he admitted.
“But because he was already there from ’96, he had four years [in the team], he had gone through the injury, and obviously Jean Todt considered him like a son, so it was tough for someone new to come in and say ‘ok give me the freedom’”.
The driver remembers telling the Scuderia he would not sign the contract if he had to “let Michael go ahead”.
“I didn’t want to sign,” he said.
“My contract said nothing about that.
“For my benefit I accepted so many things, there were many things I did not accept, but some I did because I saw I was growing there.
“For six years I saw I was going forward and my time was coming.”
Although Barrichello says he had a good relationship with the German ace, he felt Schumacher only raced for himself and was never a “supportive” teammate.
“I always made friends and I’ve always had a good relationship with all my teammates,” Barrichello told the Beyond the Grid podcast.
Asked if he included Schumacher on that list, he said: “I do.
“But he was never supportive.
“He was never there to offer help so I never asked.
“Michael was different, he was a bit naive in the way that he worked.
“So many times we’d finish a meeting and then they’d start another one with just Michael there so I’d took my chair and would just sit there.
“Eventually I felt that the team was his.”
During his time at Williams Racing, Barrichello once screamed that Schumacher “tried to kill him” and nearly “sending him to heaven” in a 200 mph horror move during the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Head-to-head and competing for a single point, Schumacher almost pushed his counterpart into the barrier.
“I am lucky to be alive. It was a go-kart manoeuvre,” Barrichello said in a furious response.
“If he wants to go to heaven, in the event he is going to heaven, I don’t want to go before him.
“Thank God, I was lucky the wall finished where it did because I was millimetres from it.”
In 2013, three years after the dangerous Hungarian GP battle, Schumacher suffered a brain injury in a skiing accident and was put in a coma for six months.
Now, he resides in his Switzerland home away from the world as he continues to recover.
The Brazilian, however, said that the German legend wasn’t a supportive teammate[/caption]
The two were teammates at Scuderia Ferrari in the early 2000s[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23394579/mercedes-f1-toto-wolff-mountain-biking-accident-susie-cast/
Tue, 08 Aug 2023 13:02:42 +0000
Post 23394579 at The Sun
TOTO WOLFF has injured his arm while mountain biking on holiday.
The Mercedes team principal was snapped by his wife Susie with his son, Jack, while his arm was in a blue cast.
Susie Wolff shared a snap that showed Tote Wolff’s cast[/caption]
Susie mentioned in the caption for the photo that the injury happened when Wolff was downhill mountain biking.
On Instagram, she wrote: “Action-packed start to the summer holidays.
“Last picture shows how the downhill mountain biking ended for Toto.”
However, the extent of Wolff’s injury is not known.
Susie’s post was viewed by her 731k followers, with many of them wishing Wolff well.
One commented: “Oh no! Poor Toto, hope he feels better soon! Apart from that, wonderful pictures!”
A second wrote: “OMG Toto is so injury prone I feel for you Susie .”
A third said: “Of course Toto heal quick Toto.”
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A fourth joked: “The next time with training wheels .”
While a fifth added: “Wishing you a quick recovery! Oh BOY!!!!”
The F1 season is currently on hold for the summer break with many of the drivers and staff members relaxing before the second half of the campaign.
Mercedes are currently second in the constructor’s standings, a massive 256 points behind leaders Red Bull who have 503 points.
Red Bull have won 12 out of 12 races so far with Max Verstappen winning 10 and Sergio Perez winning the other two.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23391355/shakira-lewis-hamilton-secret-ibiza-meet-up/
Tue, 08 Aug 2023 12:43:25 +0000
Post 23391355 at The Sun
SHAKIRA and Lewis Hamilton “have something more than friendship” after the pop star shared a studio picture following a “secret Ibiza meet up”.
Rumours have been swirling online that the Waka Waka singer and F1 racer were dating after they have been spotted getting cosy at a string of events in recent months.
The singer took to Instagram while posing up in a Los Angeles recording studio[/caption]
The pair are said to be in a situation that is “more than friendship” but Jodi Martin, a journalist well-acquainted with Shakira, recently attempted to clarify the information circulating about the alleged “relationship”.
Martin said: “I would like to deny any information that has come out in a Catalan newspaper, where they say that Hamilton is tired of Shakira’s attitude.
“I can categorically deny this information because I have spoken to Shakira’s entourage and they confirm that between Shakira and Hamilton, there has always been a beautiful friendship.
“And that, between them there has been something more than friendship.
“The two knew very clearly that there was nothing serious and that there was total freedom between them to do whatever they wanted.”
According to an insider, Shakira and Hamilton enjoyed three secret meetings at her Ibiza villa late last month.
Paparazzo Sergio Garrido told Spanish TV channel Telecinco that the pair met “three times in the Ibiza villa” where Shakira was staying earlier this month during a break in the F1 season.
He added: “When the workers left, the singer stayed alone with her private escort and received a visit from Hamilton.”
Garrido also claimed that Hamilton’s driver overheard the pilot’s “constant conversations” with the Latina singer.
But these aren’t the only times that the alleged couple have enjoyed each other’s company.
Shakira watched from the Mercedes team’s VIP area as the seven-times champ, 38, sped to a podium finish on his home circuit at Silverstone last month.
Revving up dating rumours, she was also pictured beaming at the Spanish Grand Prix last month as she cheered the Mercedes driver to second place.
Afterwards, he was snapped with his arm around her waist as they had cocktails with friends in Barcelona.
In May, Shakira also watched Hamilton race in Miami – her new home town since moving to the US earlier this year.
Shakira’s repeated rendezvous with the F1 star also caused a stir in the same month when they enjoyed a dinner together at the lavish Miami restaurant Cipriani.
Smiling at each other, Shakira appeared to join 92-time race winner Lewis and pals at his table in a short video snapped by a fan.
Meanwhile, her rumoured beau Hamilton was spotted enjoying downtime in Ibiza with 20-year-old tennis player and heiress Jenny Stray Spetalen and Mexican actress Eiza Gonzalez.
But Hamilton isn’t the only sports star Shakira appears to be getting close to, as she was last month seen on what appeared to be a date with NBA ace Jimmy Butler.
She and Butler, 33, were pictured leaving Novikov Restaurant & Bar in London just two minutes apart – with the singer escorted to her car by his entourage.
In her most recent romantic sighting two weeks ago, eagle-eyed fans spotted the Hips Don’t Lie singer taking a dip in a river with Latino singer Rauw Alejandro.
She and the singer were pictured bathing in Puerto Rico – with Alejandro just coming out of his split from pop star fiancée Rosalía.
But while seemingly ignoring the swarm of swirling dating rumours the pop icon shared a snap on Instagram of her posing in a Los Angeles recording studio.
With her back facing the camera and her long locks draped down her shoulder, she looked back casually while captioning: “Studio vibes in LA!”
Meanwhile, Shakira’s ex-Gerard Pique has moved with his new lover Clara Chia, 24, into the couple’s old mansion, an insider claimed.
The footballer‘s new home is reportedly the one where he lived with the Colombian star during her first pregnancy.
The Colombian superstar announced her separation from Pique last May after spending 11 years together.
The F1 driver was reportedly spotted three times at Shakira’s Ibiza villa[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23386070/michael-schumacher-son-mick-tribute-helmet-car/
Tue, 08 Aug 2023 10:23:59 +0000
Post 23386070 at The Sun
MICHAEL Schumacher fans have been left in tears as his son Mick shared a touching tribute to his sick dad while wearing his helmet in his car.
Mick Schumacher took to Instagram to share a series of touching photos after he drove the Formula 1 legend’s Mercedes at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed.
Mick Schumacher took to Instagram to share a tribute to his sick dad at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed[/caption]
Mick sported his dad’s old Mercedes helmet and overalls while driving his car[/caption]
Thousands of fans were left in tears as they reminisced about Michael’s racing days[/caption]
The images were also posted by the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team – who seven-time champion Michael raced for between 2010 and 2012 during his three-year comeback to F1.
The Goodwood Festival Of Speed which took place on July 13 and ended on July 16 saw Mick racing the silver and green sportscar in front of an adoring crowd.
Photos captured from the event show Mick sporting his dad’s helmet and overalls from 12 years ago – leaving fans teary-eyed and filled with nostalgia.
In one image the 24-year-old can be seen posing up next to the Mercedes W02 while wearing a white racing suit, as he holds the iconic red Petronas helmet under his arm.
Another photo shows an incredible headshot of Mick as he sits behind the wheel of his dad’s old car and stares into the camera with concentration and focus.
In one more snap, Mick looks down towards the cherry-red helmet and smiles while sporting the classic black Petronas overall.
The series of tribute images racked up over 600,000 likes from Schumacher fans across the world and the touching comments came pouring in.
One wrote: “Some of us grew up watching Michael racing (we all miss him a lot ) …. But watching this kid wearing that helmet and driving that car is absolutely magical … Mick should have a place on the grid not only as a reserve driver”.
Another said: “Why I got sad? Why my brain show me flashbacks? Hope you will have a great career like him brother”.
A third added: “I’m so hopeful that your recent absence from races is because you’ve found the ride you deserve on the grid, so happy you got to drive your dad’s car! hope you enjoyed yourself”.
Ahead of the racing festival, Mick said: “It’s going to be spectacular to run in my dad’s 2011 car, the W02, even if it is only a short run. Just experiencing this generation of cars will be mega.
“Knowing that he raced this car makes it extra special, and there will be many emotions coming with it.
He added: “I have been lucky enough to drive one of his Benetton cars and some of the Ferraris he raced. But this will be the first time behind the wheel of a Mercedes he drove. I am sure I will get out of it with a big smile on my face.”
Michael is still regarded as one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time but remains out of the public eye after he was involved in a devastating ski crash accident in 2013 while on the slopes above Méribel in the French Alps.
He fell and hit his head on a rock while crossing an off-piste area – suffering a serious head injury despite wearing a ski helmet.
Doctors said he would most likely have died had he not been wearing the safety gear, and the world champ was airlifted to Grenoble Hospital.
He was put into a medically induced coma after suffering what was described as a “traumatic brain injury”.
The former Ferrari and Mercedes driver was brought out of the coma in June 2014 and was released to undergo rehabilitation at his home in Gland, Switzerland.
The 53-year-old now lives a private life with his family, now in Majorca, with the tragic ski accident coming just over a year after he retired from F1 in 2012.
In May, an ex-teammate of Michael – Johnny Herbert – said that his son must be going through hell over his dad’s condition.
The three-time F1 race winner described the struggle that Mick has faced not having his dad alongside him in the paddock.
But he hailed the young driver for handling the terrible situation “brilliantly”.
And he questioned whether the 24-year-old may have suffered under the pressure of his dad’s legacy.
Although details about Michael’s recovery remain private, his wife Corinna spoke about him in a Netflix documentary examining his illustrious career.
She said: “I just felt that he is somebody special.
“I think that he is simply very strong mentally. Extremely strong. He still shows me how strong he is every day.”
The doting wife added: “I miss Michael every day. But it’s not just me who misses him. It’s the children, the family, his father, everyone around him.
“Everybody misses Michael, but Michael is here – different, but here.”
Michael Schumacher wore the white overalls and red helmet when he raced for Mercedes between 2010 to 2012[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23377269/michael-schumacher-f1-car-sell-auction/
Mon, 07 Aug 2023 13:29:25 +0000
Post 23377269 at The Sun
MICHAEL Schumacher’s iconic Formula 1 car is set to sell for an eye-watering price at auction.
The racing legend drove the incredible Ferrari F2001b when he won the 2002 Australian Grand Prix.
Michael Schumacher’s iconic Ferrari F2001b is now set to sell at auction[/caption]
The car was used in the 2002 Australian Grand Prix which Schumacher won[/caption]
The 220mph car was also used when Schumacher came 3rf at the 2002 Malaysian Grand Prix[/caption]
The 220mph 3.0-litre V10 cherry-red Ferrari is being sold by RM Sotheby’s with a jaw-dropping price tag of £6million.
An RM Sotheby’s spokesperson said: “Amongst the most desirable of any modern-era grand prix cars in existence, chassis 215 played a significant role in the early days of the 2002 Formula 1 World Championship.
“Campaigned by Michael Schumacher in his historic fifth Championship-winning season, it boasts a first place finish at the 2002 Australian Grand Prix and 3rd at the 2002 Malaysian Grand Prix, after qualifying on pole.
“Having pitted on the first lap in Malaysia, Schumacher fought back from 21 st place to finish third, a truly exceptional effort from a fantastic driver”.
A similar car driven by Schumacher in the same season sold in 2017 for a whopping £5.9million.
“The previous season, the factory had been developing the F2002, but it proved to be hindered by issues, which led the team to choose to continue with the use of the previous season’s highly reliable F2001 car, incorporating various upgrades from the 2002,” the spokesperson added.
They also told how following the vehicle’s success on the track, it passed through the hands of a Swiss collector before entering the collection of the consignor.
“Chassis 215 is one of very few machines to never finish outside the podium positions during its competition career, and this presents an unrepeatable opportunity to acquire an iconic machine of the modern formula one era,” they said.
The auction takes place between August 16 and August 19.
It comes after the German racing icon was involved in a devastating ski crash accident in 2013 while on the slopes above Méribel in the French Alps.
He fell and hit his head on a rock while crossing an off-piste area – suffering a serious head injury despite wearing a ski helmet.
Doctors said he would most likely have died had he not been wearing the safety gear, and the world champ was airlifted to Grenoble Hospital.
He was put into a medically induced coma after suffering what was described as a “traumatic brain injury”.
The former Ferrari and Mercedes driver was brought out of the coma in June 2014 and was released to go and rehabilitate at his home in Gland, Switzerland.
The 53-year-old now lives a private life with his family with the tragic ski accident coming just over a year after he retired from F1 in 2012.
He mounted a brief comeback for three seasons with the new Mercedes team after initially hanging up his helmet in 2006.
In 2021, his family broke their eight-year silence on the seven-time world champion’s condition in a Netflix documentary examining his illustrious career.
His wife Corinna explained in the Netflix interview: “We’re together. We live together at home. We do therapy.
“We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable.
“And to make him feel our family, our bond, And no matter, I will do everything I can. We all will.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23363645/hamilton-swipe-f1-rivals-verstappen-perez/
Sat, 05 Aug 2023 15:33:41 +0000
Post 23363645 at The Sun
LEWIS HAMILTON has taken a cheeky dig at F1 rivals Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
That’s after claiming that Verstappen would not be dominating F1 this season if he was driving Perez’s Red Bull.
Verstappen,25, is on course to break his own record of 15 wins in a single season.
He now has 10 wins from 12 races in the 2023 campaign- and 45 in his F1 career.
The Dutch champion boasts a huge 125-point lead over his team-mate Perez – with Fernando Alonso a further 40 points adrift.
But Hamilton reckons that if he were Verstappen’s team-mate then the Dutchman wouldn’t be enjoying such an easy ride.
Speaking after the Belgian GP, the seven-time world champion said: “Do I want to be as fast as Max? Of course! Would I like to have a car that’s as fast as him? Of course!
“If I was in Sergio’s car, Max would not be having the same [good] time he’s having now.”
Verstappen finished 22 seconds ahead of second-placed Perez in Belgium.
To add to his frustrations, Hamilton was hit with a five-second penalty for bashing into Perez during the sprint race.
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The Mercedes driver’s suggestion is certainly justifiable considering his breath-taking title rivalry with Verstappen in 2021.
With near-equal cars, the duo portrayed one of the greatest rivalries in the history of Formula 1, as Verstappen emerged controversially victorious at Abu Dhabi.
In a recent interview, the Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko suggested that Hamilton is one of the two F1 drivers who could get near Verstappen.
Marko declared: “For Checo, a second place is like a victory at the moment.
“Max is hardly beatable. I think maybe only Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso could be slightly closer to him”.
But the current situation clearly plagues the British legend, as Mercedes are unable to keep pace with Red Bull.
The Briton is out of contract at the end of the season, but is set to sign a new £100million deal.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/20093252/f1-deserted-circuit-vietnamese-grand-prix/
Fri, 04 Aug 2023 09:12:00 +0000
Post 20093252 at The Sun
VIETNAM planned to host their very first Grand Prix back in 2020.
The £540million Hanoi motor race circuit was set to welcome the paddock as Formula 1 expanded its reach to new territories across the globe.
Vietnam was due to host its first F1 GP in 2020[/caption]
The coronavirus pandemic led to the inaugural edition being postponed[/caption]
It has not returned to the F1 calendar since 2020[/caption]
Cyclists now use the Hanoi circuit[/caption]
It has been abandoned as no F1 race appears on the horizon[/caption]
Motorcyclists have also been seen driving through the gates of the fenced off circuit[/caption]
Vietnam signed a 10-year deal with F1 back in 2018 – an agreement which cost around £54million and was to be funded by private conglomerate, VinGroup.
But the inaugural edition of the Vietnam GP ended up being axed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Since then, it has not appeared on the F1 calendar.
In 2021, it was dropped from the schedule after city mayor Nguyen Duc Chung – a major supporter of the race – was arrested.
He would later be sentenced to ten years in prison for corruption charges.
State media then claimed in 2022 that authorities had dismissed any hope of Vietnam staging a race there until at least 2029.
However, the authorities refused to confirm this to external media outlets.
F1 released the 2023 calendar last year and once again it missed out.
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And images of the track – which features a 1.5km straight and street-style third sector – show that the spectator stands have been taken away.
The 3.5 mile circuit, which is surrounded by grass and weeds, is partly fenced off to the public.
However, some cyclists and motorcyclists have been seen going through the gates, spilling over from the busy roads in the city.
And another part of the circuit has been opened up for the Vietnamese people to use as public roads.
It is not yet known if, when or what the circuit will be used for in the future.
One side of the circuit has been opened up for day-to-day use[/caption]
It is a sad sight to see the track abandoned three years after its first GP was scheduled to take place[/caption]
It is unlikely a Grand Prix will take place here before the end of the decade[/caption]
F1 fans in Vietnam have been left disappointed by the failure to stage a Grand Prix[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23334040/i-was-video-game-nut-inspiration-movie-gran-turismo/
Thu, 03 Aug 2023 20:00:00 +0000
Post 23334040 at The Sun
THE first time Jann Mardenborough sat behind the wheel of a racing car in 2011, his only experience of being on a track was in a video game.
The teenager had failed his driving test for being too hesitant and he had only tried out a go-kart at a friend’s birthday.
Archie Madekwe, Geri Horner and Dijimon Hounsou as Jann’s dad[/caption]
Archie As Jann in the movie[/caption]
Yet, aged just 19, he found himself clocking 185mph around Silverstone’s Grand Prix circuit as he competed for the chance to be a professional racer.
Now the story of how he won Nissan’s innovative GT Academy programme to transform young PlayStation talents into motor racing stars has inspired a Hollywood film, Gran Turismo.
Starring Orlando Bloom, Stranger Things star David Harbour and Geri Halliwell, it tells how Jann overcame the odds — and a horrific crash — to prove that gamers can earn a place on a real race circuit’s starting grid.
Out of all Nissan’s Academy graduates, Jann, now 31, rose the highest and stayed in the sport the longest.
He reached the podium in the gruelling Le Mans 24-hour race, won in Formula 3 and was signed by Formula 1 team Red Bull’s chief Christian Horner.
Jann, who grew up in Ely, Cardiff — which was hit by riots after the fatal crash of two schoolboys on an electric bike in May — showed that he could keep up with the rich kids who dominate the sport.
The traditional way into racing is via go-karting, often starting at the age of six, but it costs around £200,000 a year to compete at European level.
Big chance
Since the GT Academy closed in 2016 most youngsters can only dream of being on the winners’ podium.
Current top Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen’s dad Jos is a former F1 driver too and Jann,, who loved cars from a young age, says: “There is zero way for a normal, regular person to enter motorsports at a level I have competed at without a competition like GT Academy. It doesn’t exist.
“They could find somebody with the talent of Verstappen, but we don’t know who it is, as they don’t have the opportunity.”
In the beginning, for Jann — played in the film by Archie Madekwe — it was a challenge simply to be allowed to use his PlayStation.
He started gaming well before you could earn a living from electronic sports — better known as esports — so his mum Lesley and dad Steve, an ex-journeyman footballer who played for Cardiff City and Wolves, did not approve of his obsession.
Jann says: “They would turn the internet off during those times when I would ignore them.”
His big chance for real racing glory came after businessman Darren Cox dreamed up the idea of putting the best Gran Turismo game players into actual high-powered vehicles.
Starting in 2008, those with the fastest virtual track times could go on to spend a week at Silverstone competing to see who could handle the life-and-death speeds of real racing.
Jann had to wait three years for his chance, because contestants had to be over 18 and have a driving licence.
He only passed his test at the second attempt, and recalls: “I failed the first one because I was too hesitant on a roundabout. I don’t know why, it just happened. It’s a black mark.”
There was no such hesitancy when he won a place at the Academy, beating 90,000 other PlayStation fans.
He recalls: “My first time driving on the motorway was to the GT Academy finals and I wasn’t sure if the car would make it.
“I’d never driven on a track, I’d never driven a car over 135 horsepower. All I had was Gran Turismo.”
Suddenly he found himself putting on a helmet and climbing into a 485-horsepower Nissan GT-R sports car, competing with 11 other finalists at the Silverstone circuit in Northants.
He recalls: “I was just overwhelmed by adrenalin. I’m doing 185mph down the Wellington Straight. It’s the fastest I had ever gone in my life and it was painful for me to think about going home and never experiencing this again.”
Jann on the Nissan Academy simulator in 2012[/caption]
Unlike in a computer game, there is no reset button if you smash up a real car that can do 200mph, but Jann knew that being cautious could only result in defeat.
He says: “You have to go over the limit, and that means crashing.
“The reason people do karting at six years old is that you can go off the track and tune that feeling, so that when they jump in the car they know where the limit is. I didn’t have that.”
But despite being up against drivers who all had some race track experience, Jann managed to win.
Two weeks later he moved to Northampton to join a development programme, which included a tough fitness regime coupled with psychological testing.
At his first proper competition outside the academy he experienced a backlash against “sim racers” — those whose experience is limited to simulated racing — with one arrogant driver telling Jann to let him pass.
The top racer told the newcomer: “If you see me in your mirrors, don’t fight me, let me go.”
Jann recalls: “That didn’t happen because the guy was in my mirrors.”
In his first season in the British GT Championships he achieved three podium finishes, including one win, and the British Racing Drivers’ Club awarded him Rising Star status.
The following year he finished third in the legendary Le Mans race and in 2014 Christian Horner signed Jann to his Arden International GP3 team.
By then his mum Lesley had a lot more to worry about than the risk of Jann becoming addicted to computer gaming.
He rolled one car in the Netherlands in 2012 and a year later another racer’s car was sent flying into the air after clipping the front wing of Jann’s vehicle.
He tried his best to reassure his parents, and recalls: “I remember sitting at the dinner table, telling them the cars have roll cages, we have fire proof underwear, fireproof socks.
“That did bring her down a little bit. I was going racing regardless, even if you say no, but it gave me a feeling to know my mother was calm when she saw me on the screen when something terrible happened.” And in March 2015 something terrible did happen at Germany’s Nurburgring Grand Prix race track — nicknamed The Green Hell by three times F1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart.
As Jann came over the brow of a hill, a gust of wind lifted the front end of his car off the Tarmac. His Nissan GT-R somersaulted through the air, bouncing several times, then cleared the safety fence.
Tragically, one spectator was killed as the car landed on a high bank.
Jann was flown to hospital by helicopter, but his injuries were not found to be life-threatening. However, finding out someone had died in the crash was tough, and he recalls: “You are there, you are lonely — it’s dark, it’s very dark.”
Jann has never seen footage of the fatal crash and didn’t watch the scene in the movie.
He says: “I couldn’t watch it, I have never seen it.
“It’s uncomfortable, I know exactly what happened. It’s not so easy, but it needs to be in there.”
Race officials decided Jann was not to blame for the incident and within a week his team told their star to get back in a car.
In the movie Geri Halliwell — the real-life wife of Christian Horner — plays Jann’s mum Lesley, and she impressed both mother and son with her portrayal, especially the crash scene where Lesley reacts to the sight of her son coming close to death.
Jann says of his mum: “She loved it. She had her phone number and they would be speaking regularly. Geri would want to know how I would act in this situation.
“Everybody knows Geri Halliwell, but now she is playing my mum. It’s weird, it’s so crazy, so far-fetched.
“She did it perfectly. She nailed it.”
Today Jann is still in the race game, most recently taking Nissans round hairpin bends in Japan. He says: “I have got a long time left in the tank.”
And he thinks the movie should persuade motorsport’s money men to give more ordinary kids like him a chance to get revved up on the Grand Prix race track.
He says: “I hope the Gran Turismo movie will inspire some private money, whether it be manufacturers or big multinational companies.
“If they want to change motorsport, make it more accessible, you have to start there.
“I’m a product of the GT Academy and Nissan and Sony took a big risk back then.
“It’s proof that it works — there’s my career, a movie, the proof of what I achieved.”
- Gran Turismo: Based On A True Story is in cinemas from Wednesday.
The movie’s cast, Maximilian Mundt, Geri Halliwell, Orlando Bloom and Archie Madekwe at the Canne’s Film Festival in May[/caption]
Geri plays Jann’s mum Lesley in the movie[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23328482/renee-gracie-topless-racing-promises-uk-visit/
Thu, 03 Aug 2023 14:53:47 +0000
Post 23328482 at The Sun
RENEE GRACIE has opened up on her “topless race recaps” while promising to visit fans in the UK.
The OnlyFans star ditched motorsport six years ago in favour of pursuing a career in the adult industry.
She dazzles in sexy racing-themed uploads[/caption]
Gracie treats fans after all her races[/caption]
The Aussie stunner is keen to visit the UK[/caption]
However, she made a comeback to her racing earlier this year and now competes in the Australian GT Trophy series.
She was initially not making enough money to continue her passion but is now behind the wheel of an OnlyFans sponsored car.
Gracie has an incredible 232,000 Instagram followers and has many adoring fans in the UK.
The beauty has aspirations of heading over from Down Under to race and treat fans to more raunchy content.
Gracie told Bitcoin Casinos: “I would absolutely love to visit the UK. It’s definitely in my goals over the next few years to start racing overseas.
“I also have a large UK following and would love the opportunity to meet some of my international fans.
“The UK has a round of the GT World Challenge Europe Championship. I think that would be an amazing event to race at.
On combining her two professions, she said: “I will continue to run my OnlyFans page while racing.
“I’ve been doing it [OnlyFans] for four years now and feel my content keeps getting better and my passion for creating content is getting bigger and bigger. I have absolutely no plans to ever quit.
“My page has elevated as now I combine a lot more racing content on my page. I absolutely love combining the two worlds.
“I’ve been posting topless race recaps, photoshoots with the car, in my face suits.
“Lots of fun things have been incorporated on my page and I love it.”
Gracie often wows fans, recently stunning in racing overalls.
She also left many hot under the collar away from the track in a tiny bikini.
Renee Gracie quit racing to focus on her adult film career[/caption]
She made a return to the sport earlier this year[/caption]
She has vowed never to stop her OnlyFans career[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23319550/sky-f1-presenters-line-up/
Thu, 03 Aug 2023 10:50:13 +0000
Post 23319550 at The Sun
THE Formula 1 season always brings with it high-octane drama as the drivers hit the track to defeat the competition and end the season on top.
Sky Sports has an array of star hosts and former champs who lead fans through the action from the commentary box, around the paddock and on the grid.
Sky F1 has an incredible line up of talented presenters[/caption]
Who are the Sky F1 presenters?
As usual Sky has an impressive presenting line-up for Formula 1‘s 2023 season.
There are many familiar faces who feature as the UK broadcaster rotates its crew throughout the racing calendar.
The season kicked off on March 5 in Bahrain, and will conclude on November 26, 2023, in Abu Dhabi.
A line-up of 14 presenters lead fans through the action on Sky.
Jenson Button
Former F1 champ Jenson Button is part of the Sky coverage[/caption]
Formula 1 driver and 2009 World Champion Jenson Button is one of SKy Sports’ experts in 2023.
He first appeared on Sky F1’s coverage for the 2018 British Grand Prix, and was an instant hit with viewers.
Button then became part of the presenting team in 2019.
Rachel Brookes
Starting her career in radio, presenter Rachel Brookes now works full time for Sky Sports News.
She is well-known for her contributions as a pit-lane reporter.
However, Brookes has occasionally filled in for Simon Lazenby as the channel’s lead anchor.
Martin Brundle
Former F1 driver Martin Brundle has had an incredible career which saw him first become a commentator in 1997.
He learned his trade from the late Murray Walker, and is now considered one of F1’s most popular presenters.
For the 2023 season Martin is working as the lead analyst for the Sky F1 coverage.
Karun Chandhok
Karun Chandhok is a former HRT racing driver[/caption]
Former HRT racing driver Karun Chandhok first appeared on Sky in 2012, and worked with them for three years.
After that, he headed over to Channel 4 to become their main pit-lane reporter between 2016 and 2018.
However, Chandhok rejoined the Sky team in 2019.
Bernie Collins
Bernie Collins is the newest member of the team[/caption]
Hailing from Northern Ireland, Bernie Collins is the newest addition to the Sky F1 presenting line-up.
Prior to landing the job she worked as a race strategist for Aston Martin until the end of 2022.
The talented star started her career at McLaren as a performance engineer.
David Croft
David Croft is a well known Sky Sports F1 commentator[/caption]
Former BBC F1 radio commentator David Croft was appointed as Sky F1’s lead commentator in 2012.
Since then, he has become the voice of Sky F1.
Over the years he has become hugely popular with viewers and Formula 1 fans.
Anthony Davidson
Anthony Davidson is a former Super Aguri F1 race driver[/caption]
Former Super Aguri F1 race driver Anthony Davidson started his presenting career on BBC Radio 5’s coverage of Formula 1.
After his hugely successful career as a sportscar driver in the WEC, he was added to Sky’s line-up for the 2012 season.
Davidson is best known for the “Sky Pad” – the channel’s famous paddock screen that allows him to quiz drivers whilst looking at an action replay.
Damon Hill
Damon Hill is a former F1 champ and legendary driver[/caption]
F1 World Champion Damon Hill was brought in by Sky F1 as an expert analyst during the 2012 season.
He is best known for his 1996 F1 win, and therefore brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise.
Hill is well-known for being able to offer insight from his own days as a racing driver and also comparing how modern-day drivers face new challenges.
Ted Kravitz
Long-time broadcaster Ted Kravitz has been around since the days of ITV’s early coverage of the sport.
He started off as a producer, before becoming the channel’s pit-lane reporter.
Kravitz continued this job until 2011, before taking up a position with Sky for the 2012 season.
Simon Lazenby
Simon Lazenby is key to the Sky FI line-up[/caption]
Seasoned broadcaster Simon Lazenby is known for being Sky F1’s lead anchor.
He is the key presenter who keeps the show on the road.
Lazenby opens the live coverage and orchestrates the expert team of pundits and reporters.
Danica Patrick
Danica Patrick is a popular member of the Sky F1 team[/caption]
American racing legend Danica Patrick joined the Sky line-up as a pundit for the 2021 United States Grand Prix.
Appearing on the coverage of races in Canada, the United States and Mexico in 2022, she reprised her role for 2023.
She also formed part of Sky’s European race coverage, featuring at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Natalie Pinkham
Sky Sports presenter Natalie Pinkham has enjoyed an incredible career[/caption]
Following her successful coverage of the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2009 alongside Steve Rider, Natalie Pinkham became BBC Radio 5’s pit-lane reporter for the 2011 season.
Since switching to Sky F1’s coverage, she has gradually become a prominent member of the presenting line-up.
In 2021, Pinkham became the first female lead commentator for a Formula 1 session in the UK.
Nico Rosberg
Former F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg has proven very popular as a Sky F1 reporter.
He won the title in 2016, topping teammate and rival Lewis Hamilton.
Rosberg immediately called it a day in Formula 1 after winning.
He became the first reigning champion to retire since 1993.
Naomi Schiff
Naomi Schiff is a Rwandan-Belgian professional racing and stunt driver.
She appeared in the W Series before being appointed as their Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador.
Presenting the Mercedes F1 team launch alongside Natalie Pinkham in 2022, Schiff was then brought onboard as a regular contributor to Sky F1’s coverage.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23313753/f1-alphatauri-clothing-brand-new-sponsor-hugo-boss/
Wed, 02 Aug 2023 19:14:51 +0000
Post 23313753 at The Sun
ALPHATAURI are set for a name change as the Red Bull-owned team prepare for a revamp.
The junior Formula One team – formerly Minardi and Toro Rosso – was subject to a $1billion takeover bid, according to racingnews365.
But Red Bull rejected it and instead want to find a new sponsor for the team.
Instead, designer clothing brand Hugo Boss are said to be negotiating a deal to become the title sponsor of the AlphaTauri team.
AlphaTauri’s results for the team have been far from ideal, finishing no higher than sixth in the constructors in the last three seasons, with last season seeing them end a lowly ninth.
The clothing brand – who are the main sponsor of the team – are also experiencing a tough time off the track – running at a loss.
In an effort to curb these results, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko previously admitted the team will be undergoing a rebranding and restructuring.
Speaking to Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung, Marko said: “AlphaTauri will have two new leaders in 2024, Laurent Mekies and Peter Bayer. There will be new sponsors and a new name.
“The orientation is clear: follow Red Bull Racing as far as the regulations allow. Own designs are the wrong way to go.”
F1 is set to see the grid expanded to 12 teams in 2026, with Hitech GP – who run in Formula junior series including F2 and F3 – the latest to announce their intention to join the F1 grid earlier this week.
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Other manufacturers such as Audi, Porsche and Andretti Cadillac have also joined the list of prospective new constructors.
Some fans even wanted to see cult classic team Minardi – who competed in F1 from 1985 to 2005 – return after an absence of almost two decades.
In terms of next season, the changes at AlphaTauri look likely to extend to their driver line up with Nyck de Vries and Yuki Tsunoda coming under pressure to deliver with the team stuck in last place.
Tsunoda has scored both of the teams two points this term, and Marko has hinted at a shakeup with former Formula E and F2 champion De Vries looking likely to be on the chopping block.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23276177/lewis-hamilton-predicts-movement-on-grid-after-summer-break/
Tue, 01 Aug 2023 11:28:51 +0000
Post 23276177 at The Sun
LEWIS HAMILTON is predicting a few surprises in the second half of the F1 season.
Red Bull have won all 12 races so far in the 2023 F1 season, leaving Mercedes fighting to be the best of the rest.
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton predicts change after the summer break[/caption]
The seven-time world champ finished fourth behind the Red Bulls and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at the Belgium Grand Prix, as F1 now stops for the summer break.
The pause in the season will give teams the chance to work on upgrading their cars.
And Hamilton expects those upgrades to cause some ‘movement’ among the top teams.
Speaking to PlanetF1.com Hamilton said: “I don’t know how much development people will be doing in the second part of the season, but I think there will be movement.
“I mean, I don’t know what happened to Aston [Martin], they’ve taken a step back.
“The McLarens will be strong in the second phase, Ferrari and us, we’re all very very close.
“So depending on the track, I’m sure there’ll be some movement of positions for us all.”
The Stevenage speedster lies fourth on the drivers’ championship leaderboard, just one point behind Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
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But the Brit expects Ferrari and McLaren to put up more of a fight after the summer break.
Charles Leclerc is 49-points behind Hamilton and Lando Norris 79-points adrift.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff acknowledges some technical issues need to be addressed during the summer break.
The latest upgrade of the Mercedes W14 has been caught out by the bouncing saga known as porpoising during the first half of the season.
He said to PlanetF1.com after the Belgian Grand Prix: “The main limiting factor today and yesterday was the bouncing, the car is just bouncing literally on every straight.
“Even Blanchimont was a corner that Lewis had to lift, which is an easy flat normally, and you’re bouncing on the straight, you overheat the tyres on the braking.
“So that is a vicious circle and was the main limiting factor this weekend and it’s frustrating to check out on the holidays like this.”
Mercedes W14 has proved to have technical difficulties in the 2023 F1 season[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23265649/f1-chief-toto-wolff-meal-lunch-dinner-mercedes-racing/
Mon, 31 Jul 2023 14:49:12 +0000
Post 23265649 at The Sun
TOTO WOLFF has revealed that he has the same meal every day while travelling during the Formula One calendar.
The Mercedes team principal will eat and drink the same thing for lunch and dinner during the season.
Toto Wolff eats the same meal for lunch and dinner every day[/caption]
Wolff has overseen tremendous success during his time with Mercedes, winning eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships between 2014 and 2021.
However, the stress of his job has seen him reduce the variables in other aspects of his life during the racing calendar.
During an appearance on Desert Island Discs, he revealed his routine to the BBC.
“For me it is really reducing trivial things,” explained the 51-year-old.
“I’m wearing the same clothes, I’m eating the same food – even to the point that my assistants book the same hotel room for me every single year.”
As for the exact meal he has each day, he added: “The same dark bread – a pumpernickel with butter and some ham.
“Small cappuccino – because I take half a cappuccino because I want to have another half an hour later – and then it’s chicken breast with tomato salad. And I have the same for dinner also!”
Wolff has previously opened up on the motivations behind his successful career in motorsport.
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Earlier this year he pinpointed overcoming the tragic death of his father as crucial in driving him to succeed.
The Austrian is also an outspoken figure in the F1 paddock and did not hold back after this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
Wolff had an amusing altercation with his rival Christian Horner for in the paddock over the weekend, criticising him for “harassment”.
Toto Wolff has enjoyed tremendous success with Mercedes[/caption]
Horner and Red Bull enjoyed another victory at Spa as Max Verstappen won his eighth race in a row.
As for Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished fourth and sixth, respectively.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23265463/wrexham-alpine-f1-ryan-reynolds-rob-mcelhenney/
Mon, 31 Jul 2023 14:39:40 +0000
Post 23265463 at The Sun
RYAN REYNOLDS and Rob McElhenney have got their work cut out with their latest sports venture – the Alpine F1 team.
The Hollywood duo have shelled out to take Wrexham back into the Football League – but it will take more than dollars to sort out the mess at Alpine.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought a 24 per cent stake in Alpine[/caption]
Bruno Famin has taken interim charge of the F1 team[/caption]
Reynolds and McElhenney are part of a consortium that has joined with Otro Capital and RedBird Capital Partners to take a 24 per cent share in the F1 team, which used to be known as Renault, for £170million.
But the Oxfordshire-based team, which is still owned by the Renault group, is in shambles after axing team principal Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane – halfway through the Belgian GP.
Alpine replaced CEO Laurent Rossi earlier this month and experienced engineer Pat Fry has quit to join rivals Williams. That makes a total of FOUR key departures in around a week.
Szafnauer has been in charge for 18 months having previously been at Aston Martin, while Permane has served at the Enstone team for 34 years.
Frenchman Bruno Famin will take the role of interim team principal but he was less than impressive in the press conference at Spa.
The problem is Alpine has an identity crisis. It is an English-based French team, with the car designed and built in Enstone and the engines manufactured just outside Paris.
Alpine, Renault’s performance car brand, is barely recognised outside of their own HQ – it is a failing project.
Former F1 champion Alain Prost ripped into Rossi, calling him “an inept manager who thinks he can overcome his incompetence with his arrogance and his lack of humanity towards his people”.
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Prost added: “I love this team, and I am saddened and distressed to see it in its current state.
“It deserves better and has everything it needs to succeed. I simply believe you need to rely on history to understand what went wrong.
“If you look at the great success stories from the last 30 years, you will see a simple structure — unlike an industrial organisation chart — built around three or four strong personalities, coupled with a winning driver.”
Alpine’s mentality is that they know best in their head offices at Renault HQ, and that goes against how most F1 teams are structured, with the large manufacturers allowing delegating power to their race team’s management structure.
As Szafnauer, who had been offered a 100-race plan to get Alpine back to regular winners, said Renault’s approach was all wrong.
He said: “You can’t get nine women pregnant and hope you have a baby in a month,” in a reference to a line said by US tycoon Warren Buffett about being forced to wait for success.
As it stands, the situation is total chaos with many staff now fearing for their jobs, plus I am not too sure how long Famin will remain in his current role.
I wonder just how much Reynolds and McElhenney realised about this mess before they invested.
MAX VERSTAPPEN’S domination of F1 is causing fans to switch off around the world.
TV viewers are down in several key markets following the Dutchman’s domination after he won his eighth race in a row.
I can only imagine how F1 chiefs are feeling as the Netflix Drive to Survive series edges closer to its shelf life.
MOTOGP has been dealt a blow after this Sunday’s British GP at Silverstone was pulled off ITV to make way for the Women’s World Cup and the Community Shield.
The race was due to be shown live on ITV but the broadcaster will now run a highlights show instead.
The MotoGP race at Silverstone will not be shown live on ITV[/caption]
It means that the race will only be shown live on the newly-rebranded TNT Sports (formerly BT Sports) and behind a £30-a-month paywall.
MotoGP viewing figures have tumbled since it was taken off free-to-air on the BBC when races regularly topped over a million viewers.
JAKE DENNIS won the Formula E title in London last weekend to become the series’ first British world champion.
However, the series needs to seriously regroup and come out firing for next season, for too much of the excellent racing is not being seen.
I have been a fan of the all-electric championship since the very first season in 2014 and can see the huge potential.
But until now, despite the talent, huge brands and manufacturers involved, it has failed to capture the attention of the wider public.
The series has a new CEO in Jeff Dodds, who has a background working for Ford, Honda, Callaway Golf and Virgin Media.
And he must start turning it into a wider spectacle for the sake of the championship’s future.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23261049/wolff-calls-out-horner-harassment-belgian-grand-prix/
Mon, 31 Jul 2023 12:54:06 +0000
Post 23261049 at The Sun
TOTO WOLFF called out rival boss Christian Horner for “harrassment” in a hilarious incident at the Belgian Grand Prix.
The two have previously locked horns with both their teams competing fiercely to be crowned champion.
However, with Red Bull dominating the field thanks to Max Verstappen‘s imperious driving, Horner has had a relaxed and even jokey attitude towards his competitors.
And this was on full display when he crossed paths with Wolff in the F1 paddock after last weekend’s race.
Following Verstappen’s 10th win of the season – and his eighth in a row – Horner, 49, spotted Wolff giving an interview to Sky Sports.
As he walked past, Horner appeared to pinch the German who turned around in a startled response.
With the 51-year-old spotting Horner walking in the opposite direction he yelled: “That’s harassment”.
But there did not appear to be any animosity in the call, with Wolff seen smiling as he returned to the interview.
Wolff has been seen to be particularly animated in recent seasons when the racing has been at its most tense between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
The Brit missed out on a podium in the final race before the summer break after Verstappen breezed through the field despite his five-place grid penalty.
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Hamilton – along with the rest of the field – has been unable to keep pace with Red Bull this so far this season, with only the Bulls second driver Sergio Perez able to win races asides from Verstappen.
However, the Dutchman’s post-race celebrations in the last two weekends have ended in disaster with his trophy ending up smashed.
The first was saw Lando Norris bang his champagne bottle on the podium at the Hungarian Grand Prix, causing the trophy to smash into bits after falling to the floor.
But the latest incident saw Verstappen’s trophy smashed by the jubilant celebrations of his Red Bull team.
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23259714/sacked-f1-boss-szafnauer-bizarre-nine-pregnant-women-analogy/
Mon, 31 Jul 2023 11:25:35 +0000
Post 23259714 at The Sun
SACKED Formula One boss Otmar Szafnauer made a bizarre comment following his departure from Alpine.
Szafnauer oversaw his last race with the constructor at the Belgian Grand Prix, ending with Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly scoring points in the main race and sprint race respectively over the weekend.
Otmar Szafnauer made a bizarre analogy when speaking on his time at Alpine[/caption]
The 58-year-old was sacked Alpine[/caption]
With the result leaving the French constructor sixth in the team standings, Szafnauer departed along with a host of other high-level staff.
The 58-year-old was critical of the decision to sack him for what he deemed to be unrealistic expectations.
However, the Romanian-American team principal went about his criticism in a rather bizarre way.
He used a strange analogy during an interview with Sky Germany, re-purposing a Warren Buffett line for his comments.
Szafnauer, who was also previously employed at Aston Martin, said: “The reality is that changes take time.
“I signed some good people from other teams, but they are still stuck in their contracts and won’t come until 2024 or 2025.
“You can’t really push development if people aren’t there. It takes time for people to come and it takes time for people to work together correctly.
“I always say, you can’t get nine women pregnant and hope you have a baby in a month.”
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Despite the odd turn of phrase, Szafnauer is reportedly set to make a quick return to the F1 paddock.
However, he remained tight-lipped on his next possible destination but suggested he would have power to make the changes he wanted to make at Alpine.
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23256436/shakira-lewis-hamilton-secret-meetings-ibiza-villa-dating-rumours/
Mon, 31 Jul 2023 09:46:18 +0000
Post 23256436 at The Sun
SHAKIRA and Lewis Hamilton have enjoyed three secret meetings at her Ibiza villa, an insider claims.
The Colombian star and F1 ace have sparked dating rumours after being spotted getting cosy at a string of events in recent months.
Paparazzo Sergio Garrido told Spanish TV channel Telecinco that the pair met “three times in the Ibiza villa” where Shakira was staying earlier this month during a break in the F1 season.
“When the workers left, the singer stayed alone with her private escort and received a visit from Hamilton,” he said.
Garrido also claimed that Hamilton’s driver overheard the pilot’s “constant conversations” with the Latina singer.
The paparazzo explained how Shakira and Lewis have coincided in space and time on the island of Pitiusa.
While the pilot had a wonderful time sailing with friends aboard a yacht in Mediterranean waters, Shakira would only have left the villa on two occasions, “once to see Bizarrap and another to have dinner with Hamilton,” Garrido claims.
Shakira, 46, split from her long-term footballer boyfriend Gerard Pique last year and is now claimed to be “fast-tracking” her apparent love affair with Hamilton.
But only days ago she was spotted bathing in a river with Latino singer Rauw Alejandro.
Hot on the heels of his split from his popstar fiancée Rosalía, the heartthrob and Shakira took a dip in a river to cool off from the scorching Puerto Rico sun.
The close pals were seen splashing around in the water at the secluded spot alongside Shakira’s children, Milan, 10, and Sasha, 8.
Fans filmed her looking radiant in a brown bikini while her iconic curls flow free as she frolics in the river with Rauw and her two boys.
The pair have become close since collaborating on their song ‘Te Felicito’ last year, despite their day out sparking romance rumours.
Fans who ran into them on their river swim said Rauw was adorably playing catch with Shakira’s sons, who she shares with ex, Pique.
Hamilton’s driver could’ve overheard his ‘constant conversations’ with Shakira[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23255334/max-verstappen-f1-trophy-broken-lando-norris/
Mon, 31 Jul 2023 09:01:57 +0000
Post 23255334 at The Sun
MAX VERSTAPPEN was left stunned after his grand prix trophy was broken for a SECOND race running.
At the Hungarian GP last week, Lando Norris cracked a piece off the Dutchman’s award when he slammed a champagne bottle into it while celebrating on the podium.
As champagne bottles were popped, Verstappen saw his trophy damaged[/caption]
And the Belgian GP trophy appeared to suffer a similar fate on Sunday.
Verstappen, 25, breezed to an eighth successive victory as he finished 22 seconds ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez.
During the post-race antics, a host of Champagne bottles were popped immediately after the Red Bull garage posed for photos.
As Verstappen raced away to try and take cover, he left his trophy behind.
And amongst the chaotic scene, his gong suffered some damage.
The two-time world champion turned around to get a look at his trophy, before shouting: “It’s broken again.”
It was a minor hiccup in an otherwise perfect weekend for the championship leader.
Verstappen now has 10 wins from 12 races in the 2023 season – and 45 in his F1 career.
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A victory at his home grand prix in Zandvoort at the end of August would see him equal Sebastian Vettel‘s record of nine consecutive wins.
And he is also on course to break his own record of 15 wins in a single season.
He boasts a huge 125-point lead over Perez – with Fernando Alonso a further 40 points adrift.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/18922821/who-is-sky-sports-f1-presenter-naomi-schiff/
Sun, 30 Jul 2023 15:30:00 +0000
Post 18922821 at The Sun
FORMER race driver Naomi Schiff joined Sky Sports’ F1 team as a presenter for the 2023 season.
But who is the F1 presenter?
Naomi Schiff joined Sky Sports Formula 1 team in 2022[/caption]
Who is Naomi Schiff?
Born in Antwerp, Belgium, to a Belgian father and Rwandan mother, Schiff grew up in South Africa and is a racing driver and TV presenter.
She started racing at just 16 in the Southern African Formula Volkswagen, finishing her opening season in 17th place.
She won the 2014 Clio Cup China Series in 2014 with seven wins from ten races.
Her success earned her a spot in the GT4 European Series the following year, alongside the gruelling 24 Hours of Nurburgring in 2018, widely considered one of the toughest in the world alongside Le Mans.
In 2019, Schiff joined the W Series, for whom she is diversity and inclusion ambassador, and was a reserve last season.
F1 fans might have caught their first glimpse of Naomi back in February when she presented the Mercedes team car launch alongside Natalie Pinkham.
She then appeared as co-host of the new Sky Sports F1 show Any Driven Monday, which is available on YouTube, and joined the 2022 Sky Sports F1 team.
Yet it was this appearance that first prompted the trolls to voice their opinions, with one writing: “Meet Naomi Schiff, Sky Sports latest Formula 1 commentator.
“Can you guess what her main qualification for the job is?
“Hint: It isn’t Formula 1 experience.”
Schiff responded with three yawning emojis, visibly showing her boredom at such unnecessary abuse.
After the abuse, and Lewis Hamilton defending her, Schiff posted a statement thanking those who had stuck up for her.
She wrote on Twitter: “Thank you to everyone who has come to my defence.
“I appreciate all the love and support, none of you go unnoticed!
“Sadly the issue of online bullying, bashing, shaming etc. is one I don’t believe is going anywhere anytime soon.
“Social media, in some cases, gives voices to individuals who don’t deserve to be heard.
“So I encourage anyone reading this to not indulge in it or retaliate or seek revenge.
“Remember that your words do have impact and that therefore we should do something positive with these platforms and be kind to one another.”
Schiff added that she would not “let anyone turn down my ambition or passion because they are uncomfortable with the volume”.
Since the Hungarian Grand Prix 2023, she is a co-presenter on Canal + F1 team.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23250812/verstappen-wins-f1-belgian-grand-prix-hamilton-misses-podium/
Sun, 30 Jul 2023 14:28:09 +0000
Post 23250812 at The Sun
THIS win was so easy for Max Verstappen that his toughest challenge came from his race engineer.
While he romped to his 10th win of the year at the Belgian Grand Prix – and his eight in a row, or 10th in a row if you count the sprint races – he was enjoying a war of words with Gianpiero Lambiase.
Max Verstappen romped to victory at the Belgian Grand Prix[/caption]
Verstappen’s biggest challenge ended up coming from his race engineer[/caption]
Lewis Hamilton missed out on a podium[/caption]
The two had a heated exchange the previous day, with Verstappen apologising, and they were at it again.
Verstappen, who leads the championship by a whopping 125 points, was told to slow down because he was going too fast and wearing out the tyres as he powered his way back from sixth on the grid.
He said: “I knew that we had a great car and it was just about surviving turn one. I could see it getting really tight so I was just going to stay out of that and it worked out.
“From there onwards we made the right overtakes and moves. I got a bit stuck in a DRS train at the start but once that cleared I could do my own pace. Again, really enjoyable.
“I did slow down (after the radio message). We look at the numbers, we look at the wear of the tyre and this track is super hard on the tyre so you don’t want to do any unnecessary things and that’s what we did until the end.”
Lewis Hamilton was fourth but took the bonus point for setting the fastest lap right at the death.
McLaren‘s Oscar Piastri suffered a nightmare start as he was clipped by Carlos Sainz at turn one on the first lap.
The Aussie, who had done so well on Friday to qualify in fifth place, was tagged by the Ferrari man, who was defending from Hamilton.
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Verstappen passed Hamilton on lap six[/caption]
The contact put Piastri out of the race, as he was left counting the cost of Sainz’s error, which left the Ferrari with a huge hole in its bodywork.
Sainz dropped back before retiring a few laps after Piastri had called it a day.
Charles Leclerc‘s lead lasted for just four laps as Sergio Perez passed him with ease on the opening lap.
And Verstappen wasted no time cutting his way through the field. He breezed past Hamilton on lap six.
On lap 17 he passed Perez for the lead, with the Mexican driver putting up no fight.
Things were going so well for Verstappen that he was given a nudge by his race engineer.
On lap 14, Lambiase provided one barb, telling his driver to “use your head”, with Verstappen snapping back, to which Lambiase countered: “Max, please follow my instruction and trust it.”
Lambiase then asked Verstappen his thoughts about swapping tyres, with rain on the radar.
Verstappen snapped: “I mean, I can’t see the weather radar, so I don’t know.”
The rain failed to shake things up, as it proved to be just a brief shower, as he held his lead.
But still the verbal sparring continued with Lambiase. On lap 35, he told Verstappen, “I’d ask you to use your head a bit more,” with regard to preserving tyre life.
Confident Verstappen replied: “I could also push on and we do another stop? A little bit of pit stop training?”
It was tongue-in-cheek of course, but gave a glimpse into just how easy this win was as he crossed the line 22.3 seconds ahead of Perez while Leclerc took third.
Perez said: “It was a good race for the team. We had a great start and managed to get through Charles, which was one of the targets of today.
“From then on, I was just doing my own race and Max came through in the second stint pretty fast. There was nothing I could have done there.
“Afterwards it was just about making sure we brought it home safely without too much damage to the car.
“It’s been a bit of a rough patch, but we overcame it and today we managed to score great points for the team.
“I really need the summer break. It’s been really intense for the last few races. I look forward to it and will come back very strong.”
Leclerc said: “We have had a positive weekend in terms of pace, so that is good but when you look at the Red Bull, we have a lot of work to do.”
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23249533/f1-steward-storm-verstappen-hamilton-belgian-gp-penalty/
Sun, 30 Jul 2023 13:19:16 +0000
Post 23249533 at The Sun
FORMER F1 driver Derek Warwick is at the centre of a social media storm involving Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
Warwick, who is now an FIA steward, is being targeted by fans upset after Hamilton was penalised at the Belgian GP.
Derek Warwick called Max Verstappen the “next great white hope”[/caption]
Hamilton was hit with a five-second time penalty for making contact with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez during the sprint race.
The Brit felt the penalty was harsh while 2009 world champion Jenson Button said: “Lewis penalty is totally wrong”.
Fans have been quick to point out that Warwick is one of the F1 stewards in Belgium and was also an official in 2021 Abu Dhabi GP where Verstappen controversially won the F1 title at the expense of Hamilton on the final lap.
He is also heard on a BBC radio interview calling Verstappen “the next great white hope”, a statement he clarified on Twitter in December, 2021.
He wrote: “I’ve seen many tweets recently quoting that I said: ‘Max Verstappen is the next great white hope’.
“I might have said he’s the next great thing, but whether he white, black, green or yellow makes no difference to me. Just greatness.”
FIA rules state that there are four stewards at each race, and these are rotated throughout the season, so no steward can have complete control on the decision making.
The FIA also have a strict Code of Ethics, which employees adhere to.
F1‘s governing body have also joined forces with the MotoGP counterparts [FIM] to sign a charter for collaboration to combat online abuse.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA president said: “The signing of the Charter by FIM is part of our mission to build a global coalition to stop hate speech in sport.
“We are grateful for the support of Jorge Viegas and his team as we take steps to drive out online abuse which has become a blight on all sport.
“Sustained toxicity has reached deplorable levels and we must take collaborative action. Only through collaborative action, can we bring about behavioural and regulatory change.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23249969/f1-belgian-grand-prix-live-results-updates-lewis-hamilton-max-verstappen/
Sun, 30 Jul 2023 11:36:05 +0000
Post 23249969 at The Sun
MAX VERSTAPPEN has won the Belgian Grand Prix after starting the race in sixth place.
The Championship runaway leader Verstappen had been hit with a FIVE-place grid penalty for using too many gearbox components this season.
But it didn’t matter as he stormed his way to victory once again.
- Start time: 2pm
- TV channel/ live stream: Sky Sports F1
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https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23245999/hamilton-time-penalty-shambolic-belgium-f1-sprint-race/
Sat, 29 Jul 2023 16:58:29 +0000
Post 23245999 at The Sun
LEWIS HAMILTON was slapped with a five-second penalty for bashing into Sergio Perez, as Max Verstappen’s win increased his lead in the championship.
The Mercedes man battled with Sergio Perez for fourth place in the 30-minute sprint race.
Lewis Hamilton was handed a five-second time penalty for his collision with Sergio Perez[/caption]
Max Verstappen took the sprint race win with Oscar Piastri, left, and Pierre Gasly, right in P2 and P3[/caption]
But Hamilton was hit with a penalty by the stewards for causing damage to the Mexican’s Red Bull, which ultimately forced him to retire.
It was hard on the Brit given the wet track and marked the only real on-track excitement in the rain-delayed race.
It was frustrating to watch another shambles at Spa – for the second time in three years.
In the sprint shootout, which is used to determine the grid for the sprint race, the FIA failed to make any meaningful attempt to clear the rain.
It was not until 20 minutes after the rain stopped that they deployed two vehicles on track to clear the 7km circuit.
The rain delay saw them move the start of the sprint race back 30 minutes – but that only meant it coincided with another downpour – causing another setback.
When the short 30-minute race did get going after a break in the weather, we had FIVE laps behind the safety car to clear the standing water before a rolling start.
It denied the soggy fans hopes of an explosive start, as Verstappen led the pack.
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Rain led to another FIA mess in Belgium[/caption]
But at the end of the first lap, Oscar Piastri pitted for intermediate tyres while the Dutchman stayed out for another lap.
An unusually slow pitstop for Verstappen saw Piastri take the lead – but it was short-lived as the Red Bull soon powered past the McLaren.
On the sixth lap, Perez and Hamilton had a battle for fourth place where the two made contact.
While it looked as though Hamilton was blocked by the Mexican, the stewards decided otherwise and did not wait to issue the sanction.
Verstappen’s win means he now has a 118-point lead in the championship while Piastri was second and Pierre Gasly was third after a difficult week for Alpine.
Hamilton was demoted to seventh due to his time penalty, having finished in fourth. Lando Norris was sixth and George Russell eighth.
Regardless, Saturday’s sprint does not impact tomorrow’s race.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc inherited pole after Verstappen’s five-spot grid penalty for using too many gearbox parts was applied.
He is joined on the front row by Perez, while Hamilton will be ready to duke it out with him again tomorrow from P3.
Carlos Sainz then completes the second row, with Piastri lining up alongside the demoted Verstappen at Spa.
Norris lines up in P7, with Russell, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll completing the top 10.
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23244830/lance-stroll-crashes-falls-stairs-nightmare-belgian-gp/
Sat, 29 Jul 2023 14:07:59 +0000
Post 23244830 at The Sun
FANS called for “someone to give Lance Stroll a hug” after a nightmare day at the Belgian Grand Prix.
The Formula One driver managed to crash his car AND fall down the stairs at Spa.
Lance Stroll crashed his car into the tyre wall during sprint qualifying[/caption]
Earlier on Saturday, Stroll took a tumble down some steps[/caption]
Thankfully, he escaped from both incidents unhurt.
But it was no doubt a rough few hours for the Canadian.
Stroll took a tumble down a few steps outside the hospital unit at the race track this morning.
A picture posted online showed him being helped up and checked on by two people.
And it went from bad to worse when Stroll got into the cockpit for sprint qualifying.
He smashed his Aston Martin into the barriers during shootout two for this afternoon’s sprint race.
The 24-year-old lost control and crumpled the car against the tyres, as his front-right wheel ended up at a right angle.
That accident caused the session to be red-flagged – which also saw his team-mate Fernando Alonso knocked out because the Spaniard was on an out lap at the time.
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And F1 supporters took to Twitter feeling pretty sympathetic towards the three-time podium finisher.
One said: “Lance Stroll falling down the stairs and now this, someone give that man a hug.”
Another wrote: “He’s having the worst day of his life.”
A third added: “Lance Stroll falling down the stairs, crashing and stopping himself and his team-mate making it through to Q3 – today is not bro’s day.”
And a final user commented: “Second crash for Lance Stroll today.”
Stroll will hope he fares better in tomorrow’s Belgian GP.
He qualified tenth-fastest on Friday, nearly one second behind Alonso.
Fans wanted to give Stroll a hug after his miserable double whammy[/caption]
The damage to the front right was clear to see[/caption]
The crane was brought out to remove the Aston Martin[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23242748/tom-skinner-formula-e-cafe/
Sat, 29 Jul 2023 07:36:25 +0000
Post 23242748 at The Sun
TV STAR Tom Skinner disrupted Formula E team Envision’s preparation for this weekend’s London races by taking the drivers to Dino’s cafe for breakfast.
Skinner, along with Envision drivers Nick Cassidy and former Formula 1 star Sebastien Buemi hailed a black cab and set off to Dino’s cafe, where London-born Skinner treated the duo to steak and ale pie for breakfast.
Cassidy remains in contention to win the Driver’s Championship and Skinner, famous for his motivational speeches, had some words of encouragement.
He said: “I want you to go out there, I want you to put on your helmet, put on your gloves, get in that car.
“Look in the mirror and go, ‘I am the absolute governor, I’m going to win this race. Nobody is going to overtake me because I am the champion and I am going to fly around that track quicker than anyone in the world because, do you know why? I believe in myself.’
“And don’t go home until you are proud. You, my friend, are going to win it. Ah bosh!”
Skinner added that former F1 driver Buemi’s experience is catching up with him.
He added: “You’re 32, but you look a lot older because of the stress.”
London hosts the final two Formula E races of the season – Saturday and Sunday – and Envision lead the team standings by 14 points.
Cassidy remains in contention for the Drivers’ Championship, trailing Jake Daniels by 24 points.
Drivers that finish in the top ten of each race earn points, with 25 going to the winner.
Skinner made a name for himself on The Apprentice – a far cry from selling knocked-off goods and sleeping on the floor.
He recently became a dad to twins with his wife Sinead who gave birth four weeks early.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23241607/formula-one-max-verstappen-belgian-grand-prix/
Fri, 28 Jul 2023 21:27:41 +0000
Post 23241607 at The Sun
MAX VERSTAPPEN apologised for a foul-mouthed rant at his race engineer during Belgian Grand Prix qualifying.
The Dutchman scraped through the second qualifying session at a soggy Spa in tenth having initially struggled in his all-conquering Red Bull.
Verstappen, 25, went on to finish 0.8 seconds clear of Charles Leclerc but was stripped of pole position after landing a five-place grid penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change.
As he crossed the line, Verstappen had drawn a line over his spat with race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase by saying: “Sorry for the rant.”
He earlier fumed over his team’s radio: “I should have just pushed two laps in a row like I said.”
Lambiase replied: “But you are through Max…”
Verstappen snapped back: “I don’t give a f*** mate if I’m through in P10. Just s*** execution.”
Lambiase cut back: “And when the track was two seconds quicker for your final lap and you didn’t have any energy left, how would that have gone down?
“You tell me what you want to do in Q3, and we’ll do it. Let me know. Sets, fuel, run plan.”
Leclerc starts on pole tomorrow and Verstappen SIXTH — with a separate sprint race taking place today.
Verstappen admitted later: “The conditions were tricky and I was lucky in Q2 to be in P10 but in Q3 I could push more.
“I know I will drop back with the penalty but I did what I could. We know the car is quick even in these conditions.”
Despite the sanction, the world champion is eyeing an eighth consecutive F1 victory, having won here from much further back in 2022.
He said: “Last year, I started 14th and this year the car is better, so I am still aiming to win the race.”
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Despite being on pole, Leclerc does not expect to be a match for either Verstappen or Sergio Perez, with the Mexican second on the grid.
Leclerc said: “I am not confident, I have two Red Bull guys behind, who have a much faster race car.
“It is going to be difficult to keep those guys behind.”
Lewis Hamilton qualified in fourth but was subjected to TWO FIA investigations for rejoining the track after going wide.
He said: “This track is incredible to drive and it was hectic because it was constantly drying up but was slippery at the beginning and difficult to see.
“You know every lap is going to be faster than the next lap.
“I was a big chunk off Max, which was very impressive, but I am very happy with the result.
“I have Max behind but the goal will be to chase those guys down.”
Lando Norris was seventh with George Russell eighth.
Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 honeymoon came to an abrupt end after he was eliminated from qualifying at the first attempt when his lap time was deleted for running wide.
The Aussie — handed a place back on the grid by Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri at last weekend’s Hungarian GP — will start 19th, just ahead of Nico Hulkenberg, whose Haas had a hydraulic issue.
Meanwhile, Alpine have axed team boss Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane.
The Oxfordshire-based outfit are in chaos having replaced chief exec Laurent Rossi earlier this month.
The team say both are leaving by mutual agreement and will stop working for Alpine after Sunday’s GP.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/21976025/sky-sports-f1-pundit-johnny-herbert-sacked/
Fri, 28 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000
Post 21976025 at The Sun
JOHNNY HERBERT has revealed he has no idea why Sky Sports decided to sack him from their F1 presenting team after 11 years.
Herbert joined the broadcaster during the 2012 season when it won the rights to show the F1 action in the UK.
Johnny Herbert was a central figure in the Sky Sports F1 commentary team[/caption]
The pundit raced in Formula 1 himself[/caption]
He became a central figure in the coverage of the sport, often reminiscing about his own time in Formula One with teams like Jaguar and Sauber.
However, Sky Sports decided to axe him from the commentary team two months before this year’s coverage started, along with fellow pundit and former driver Paul di Resta.
Both were at the end of their respective contracts but were not offered extensions.
It was speculated that cost-cutting was behind Sky Sports’ decision not to have the two back.
Herbert posted a photo of the Sky Sports F1 team to Instagram to confirm his departure from the broadcaster.
It was captioned: “Going to miss this team.”
Speaking to The Mirror, Herbert has now revealed that he still doesn’t know why the broadcaster decided against renewing his contract.
He said: “I didn’t decide to step away – I thought everything was going ahead!
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“And then I got a call in December, I think it was, when I was told things were changing.
“It wasn’t really explained why or what was changing. There was a mention of social media stuff and that was about it, really. I really don’t know.
“I was always aware – at Sky they do these subscriber checks where you’re given points out of 10 – and I’ve always known I was always quite popular on that side.
“It’s a shame, but I’m over it. Moving on.”
Herbert is now presenting his own podcast called Lift the Lid, which he co-hosts with fellow racer Billy Monger.
The two give their opinions on current F1 stories, and were brought together through their own near-fatal crashes.
Herbert said about the podcast “This is great to do with Billy, for example.
“There are other opportunities out there, once again just proving that if you work hard you can find different avenues to carry on being involved in the sport we love.
“So there’s other things going on, which is fine.
“Yes, it’s disappointing, but I’ve moved on.”
The 59-year old added that he didn’t think he would be returning to TV screens this season.
He added: “I did my 11 years at Sky and it was good. Now there are other things I am doing.
“Because it was in December it was all quite late in terms of sorting other things out.
“There are a lot of other opportunities but, in terms of seeing me on a TV screen, there’s probably nothing planned on that front.”
Herbert now co-hosts a podcast with former British F4 racer Billy Monger, who suffered a horrific crash in 2017[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23223468/schumacher-jean-todt-marrries-michelle-yeoh/
Fri, 28 Jul 2023 09:21:27 +0000
Post 23223468 at The Sun
FORMER F1 boss Jean Todt has tied the knot with actress Michelle Yeoh.
The pair wed in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday after being engaged for 19 years.
Jean Todt and Michelle Yeoh have married after 19 years together[/caption]
A card pictured at the wedding detailed when Todt proposed[/caption]
Todt’s pal Michael Schumacher played cupid for the pair in 2005[/caption]
Oscar winner Michelle, 60, and ex Ferrari chief Todt, 77, met in Shanghai, China, in 2004 and he proposed less than two months later.
Brazilian racing driver Felipe Massa shared a series of photos from the couple’s wedding on Instagram.
He wrote: “Happy marriage Jean Todt & Michelle Yeoh. Love you so much.”
The snaps show Michelle, who scooped the best actress Oscar for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once, beaming as she hugs Todt.
Michelle, who switched outfits during the day, even took her gold award to the intimate ceremony.
The first dress featured a white ruffled skirt and white silk shirt before she slipped into a beige dress with a gold embellished top.
Todt, meanwhile, wore a dark blue suit with a lighter blue tie.
Massa also shared a picture of a card, which said: “We met in Shanghai on 4th June 2004.
“On 26th July 2004, J.T proposed to marry M.Y and she said YES!
“Today after 6992 days on 27th July in Geneva surrounded by loving family and friends, we are so happy to celebrate this special moment together.”
And Todt has his close pal Michael Schumacher to thank for this almost two decade long romance.
In 2004, Todt set his eyes on now-Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh for the first time and instantly fell in love.
But the relationship did not blossom until Schumacher stepped in.
The German played cupid for the pair and offered Todt some important relationship advice.
It’s understood Schumacher offered his pal tips on how better to communicate with Michelle.
Todt previously told German outlet BILD: “I knew immediately that she was my dream woman, even before I met her.
“It was destiny. She was the woman I had been waiting for.”
It’s understood Todt and Michelle are among a handful of people who know the true extent of Schumacher’s injuries.
Earlier this year, Todt insisted “no one knows” the former F1 champ’s situation even if they claim to.
The racing legend has not been seen in public since suffering a near-fatal brain injury when skiing in the French Alps a decade ago.
Schumacher’s state of health has also been shrouded in secrecy since his horrific accident.
His wife Corinna has overseen the effort to ensure his wish for privacy is respected as he continues to recover from the ski crash.
Schumacher was placed in a medically induced coma and since being brought out of it has been cared for at the family’s Lake Geneva home.
One of the few people allowed to visit Schumacher is Jean Todt, who was the boss at Ferrari during Schumacher’s dominance with the team.
Todt called for Schumacher’s family to be given privacy as he acknowledged the heartbreaking consequences of his accident.
They tied the knot at an intimate ceremony in Switzerland[/caption]
Ex-F1 star Felipe Massa shared snaps from the wedding on Instagram[/caption]
Todt and Michelle invited family and friends to the ceremony[/caption]
The couple met in 2004 and were engaged less than two months later[/caption]
Michelle and Todt pictured at the Roberto Cavalli fashion show in 2011[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23221690/lewis-hamilton-f1-academy-teams-driver-belgian-grand-prix/
Fri, 28 Jul 2023 08:51:54 +0000
Post 23221690 at The Sun
LEWIS HAMILTON is heaped praise on the Formula One Academy this week.
The new F1 racing series is set to evolve for its second season in 2024, with all 10 teams to field a driver.
Launched this year, the series consists of 15 female drivers and is now approaching the end of its first year.
Two rounds remain, with three races at Le Castellet in France this weekend.
The season will then conclude in Austin in October with another three races, which will act as a support event for the United States Grand Prix.
Spanish driver Marta Garcia currently leads the Drivers’ Championship by 36 points ahead of her nearest challenger Hamda Al Qubaisi.
Ahead of Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix, Hamilton told reporters he was “really happy to hear of the progress being made” with the series.
He also praised F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff, adding: “I think it’s been great.
“Having Susie in there, who was a phenomenal driver, so has the perspective from a driver side, but also she’s been a team owner.
“She’s really fighting for that inclusivity. So I think it’s really great the steps that were taken and really happy to hear that all of Formula 1 is on board.”
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For next year, the series is set to evolve, with more rounds taking place on F1 race weekends.
All 10 F1 teams will also field a single driver in 2024, with their cars fitted with the team’s livery.
The remaining five seats on the grid are set to be filled by the current partners.
These consist of ART Grand Prix, Campos Racing, MP Motorsport, PREMA Racing and Rodin Carlin.
Lewis Hamilton hailed Susie Wolff ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23220929/max-verstappen-grid-penalty-belgian-grand-prix/
Fri, 28 Jul 2023 07:13:34 +0000
Post 23220929 at The Sun
MAX VERSTAPPEN is set to be slapped with a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.
That is after the reigning world champion reportedly installed a fifth gearbox of the season for the upcoming race.
And that means he has exceeded the allocated limit of four per driver’s car in the Formula One season and therefore cannot start any higher than sixth on the grid at Spa on Sunday afternoon.
Qualifying takes place today to determine the starting positions, with a separate sprint qualifying and sprint race tomorrow – which means Verstappen can start on pole for that.
Red Bull remain confident they can get through the season using just the four for his team-mate Sergio Perez, though.
The team suffered issues with Verstappen’s gear box at the Saudi Arabian GP in Jeddah back in March.
However, it has barely held the Dutch driver back in 2023.
Verstappen has won a staggering nine of the 11 races so far – coming second to Perez in Saudi and Azerbaijan as Red Bull extended their record winning run to 12 at the Hungarian GP last time out where the only dampener was having his trophy smashed by Lando Norris.
That sees him hold a whopping 110-point lead at the top of the drivers’ standings.
There are still 11 races left in the 2023 campaign, which concludes in Abu Dhabi on November 26.
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And Verstappen will be confident he can continue his dominant stretch to wrap up a hat-trick of world titles.
But he faces an uphill task to claim the chequered flag at Spa this weekend in the final race before the summer break – although few would bet against the 25-year-old storming through the pack yet again.
Especially because Verstappen started the 2022 Belgian GP from 14th after taking the punishment for more new engine parts… and still roared to a 17.8-second victory.
Verstappen has been utterly dominant in 2023 and holds a 110-point lead[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23219180/gasly-leads-hubert-tributes-run-belgium-f1-track/
Thu, 27 Jul 2023 21:36:54 +0000
Post 23219180 at The Sun
PIERRE GASLY led the tributes as Formula One stars paid their respects in memory of Anthonie Hubert and Danilo van ‘t Hoff ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.
Hubert was just 22 years old when he tragically lost his life at an F2 event at Spa in 2019.
Pierre Gasly led the tributes after organising a run in memory of Anthonie Hubert and Danilo van ‘t Hoff[/caption]
Gasly invited personnel from F1, F2 and F3 to participate[/caption]
Hubert was 22 when he died at Spa in 2019[/caption]
They commenced the run through a rain-soaked Spa[/caption]
And the world of motorsport was reminded about the dangers of the circuit after 18-year-old Hoff became the 49th soul to lose their life at the track following an incident in FRECA at the start of July.
But with F1 due to compete this weekend, Gasly – a close friend of Hubert – organised a run in memory of the drivers.
The Frenchman invited all F1, F2 and F3 personnel to compete in the run, with Gasly admitting he felt it was the best way he can pay tribute to Hubert.
He said: “I’m someone that is emotional.
“I think I link places with emotions, and I’ve had the worst emotions of my life here. But at the same time, it’s one of my favourite tracks, so it’s very contradictory.
“I love this track, and I love racing this track, but at the same time I’ll never forget what I felt going down these stairs [in the paddock] when my parents told me the news.
“It’s obviously tough, but I accept the sport that we do, and it’s things you have got to live with. It’s also life, as sad as it can be.”
Gasly was joined by a large group for the rain-drenched tribute run of the track, including Zhou Guanyu and Juan Manuel Correra, who made an inspirational recovery after being involved in the same crash that killed Hubert.
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Flowers were laid at the site of the crashes[/caption]
Gasly revealed ‘there isn’t a race day that passes that I don’t think of him’ in 2021[/caption]
The mother of Hoff was also laying seen laying flowers in memory of her son[/caption]
Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu was present for the run too[/caption]
Correa broke both legs, suffered spine damage and was placed into a coma after the devastating crash four years ago, but made his return to the F2 grid this season.
Alpine driver Gasly said that while the run may not seem important to the wider world, it was “meaningful” to him.
He then went on to reveal the idea had been organised long before the tragic death of Hoff, saying: “It might be small things for people, but it’s a lot bigger for me, and a lot more meaningful.
“It was a conversation which started early in the season. Everybody knows how close I was with Anthoine and I think they all know also how close he was with the team.
“This was organised well before the tragic incident which happened a couple of weeks ago.
“But I just think it’s great that we all as a community, when these things happen, everyone that is a part of Formula 1, whether it’s F2 or F3, the racing family comes together.”
Gasly, 27, was pictured laying flowers at the site of the crash on the Kemmel Straight, with the mother of Hoff also seen doing the same for her son.
The safety of Spa has come into the spotlight ahead of the race with rain expected to fall all weekend.
I’ve had the worst emotions of my life here. But at the same time, it’s one of my favourite tracks
Pierre Gasly
And it has led to a very real risk of the race being cancelled altogether.
George Russell, head of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, said: “The FIA have to be bold with their decisions when it comes to safety, especially visibility.
“We know what the situation was two years ago, we don’t want it to be strung out as perhaps it was then.
“Everybody wants to race but when you’re going down that straight at 200 mph and you can’t see 50 metres in front of you, there will be huge incidents. They’ve got a big responsibility this weekend.
“For one single F1 car to drive around, the conditions are safe enough and suitable enough to drive.
“But it’s when you’ve got 20 cars on track at once. Anybody from third position backwards literally cannot see.
“I felt like the incident that happened in FRECA, it was only really a matter of time before something like that happened.
“Drivers aren’t going flat out in the straight because they can’t see. Somebody gets rear-ended and then there’s a car in the middle of the track.”
Juan Manuel Correa, who suffered two broken legs in the crash which claimed Hubert’s life, laid flowers too[/caption]
George Russell called the safety of Spa into question with rain set to fall all weekend[/caption]
F1 were forced to cancel the event in 2021 after just three laps with poor visibility from wet weather leaving drivers unable to see.
Russell added: “It is about constant communication with the FIA following the tragic passing of Dilano. The two questions are is Spa safe enough and then it’s the question of the conditions.
“If you were to put a ranking of risk of all of the circuits, for sure Spa is one of the riskier circuits, along with Jeddah, along with Monaco, for example.
“When you’ve got a combination of the weather, it’s very challenging. It’s the visibility, we just have no visibility whatsoever.
“The way I describe it to try and give some perspective is driving down the motorway in pouring rain and turning your windscreen wipers off.
“The fact is we are probably not going to find the solution for better visibility for years to come. It’s challenging, it’s really not easy.
“And I fear a little bit for the junior categories now, I truly think F3 should not be allowed 30 cars on track at one time at any point, even in dry conditions.
“I think it’s a matter of time before we have a big accident there too.”
In 2021 Gasly wrote in the Players Tribune on the passing of Hubert: “His dreams were my dreams. My dreams were his dreams. And that moment was our moment.
“Anthoine taught me so many things. There isn’t a race day that passes that I don’t think of him…
“I’m so lucky to be here, to be doing what I’m doing. And I’m so lucky to have known Anthoine Hubert. I will carry his dreams, his ambitions, with me everywhere I go. I love you, buddy.”
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23216806/f1-belgian-gp-cancel-risk-safety-concerns-driver-death/
Thu, 27 Jul 2023 16:54:21 +0000
Post 23216806 at The Sun
FORMULA ONE drivers have raised safety concerns about this week’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa – with rain expected all weekend at the treacherous track.
Dutch driver Dilano van ‘t Hoff died here earlier this month as a result of a crash in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine [FRECA] series.
F1 stars have raised safety concerns ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix[/caption]
Rain is expected all weekend at the circuit[/caption]
The 18-year-old was the 49th racing driver to perish at this circuit and it came after F2 driver Anthoine Hubert died in a similar accident in 2019.
F1 were forced to scrap the Belgium GP here in 2021 due to poor conditions and with more bad weather expected, George Russell says it is important the FIA make the right safety call.
He said: “The FIA have to be bold with their decisions when it comes to safety, especially visibility. We know what the situation was two years ago, we don’t want it to be strung out as perhaps it was then.
“Everybody wants to race but when you’re going down that straight at 200 mph and you can’t see 50 metres in front of you, there will be huge incidents. They’ve got a big responsibility this weekend.
“For one single F1 car to drive around, the conditions are safe enough and suitable enough to drive.
“But it’s when you’ve got 20 cars on track at once. Anybody from third position backwards literally cannot see.
“I felt like the incident that happened in FRECA, it was only really a matter of time before something like that happened.
“Drivers aren’t going flat out in the straight because they can’t see. Somebody gets rear-ended and then there’s a car in the middle of the track.
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George Russell has spoken on the danger of racing in wet conditions at Spa[/caption]
“Obviously to have a race cancelled is not perfect for anybody. But we don’t want to see a huge incident like we’ve just seen.”
Russell heads up the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association and is in dialogue with the FIA about the circuit‘s safety.
He added: “It is about constant communication with the FIA following the tragic passing of Dilano. The two questions are is Spa safe enough and then it’s the question of the conditions.
“If you were to put a ranking of risk of all of the circuits, for sure Spa is one of the riskier circuits, along with Jeddah, along with Monaco, for example.
“When you’ve got a combination of the weather, it’s very challenging. It’s the visibility, we just have no visibility whatsoever.
“The way I describe it to try and give some perspective is driving down the motorway in pouring rain and turning your windscreen wipers off.
“The fact is we are probably not going to find the solution for better visibility for years to come. It’s challenging, it’s really not easy.
“And I fear a little bit for the junior categories now, I truly think F3 should not be allowed 30 cars on track at one time at any point, even in dry conditions.
“I think it’s a matter of time before we have a big accident there too.”
Russell’s Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton however, says he is not troubled by the circuit’s lethal past.
He added: “It’s not something I ever think of. I think as a driver, it’s not something you can ever let really enter your mind.
“But trust in what the FIA are doing. I don’t think we would be here if they did not think we would be safe.”
Meanwhile, Ferrari‘s Charles Leclerc said he would like to see changes made to the track to improve safety.
He said: “There are some changes that could make a difference. First of all, the walls on the straight after Eau Rouge, we should have a bit more space on the left and right.
“If you lose control of the car, the way it is done at the moment you are bouncing on the walls and you have a very high chance of finding yourself in the way.
“This is probably a change we should consider in the future.”
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23198254/max-verstappen-girlfriend-kelly-piquet-bum-swimsuit-f1/
Wed, 26 Jul 2023 17:07:41 +0000
Post 23198254 at The Sun
MAX VERSTAPPEN’S girlfriend Kelly Piquet has wowed F1 fans by showing off her peachy bum in a swimsuit.
The model is enjoying some time in the sun in St Tropez, France, with her daughter Penelope, calling her “happy place”.
Kelly Piquet wowed fans with this picture on Instagram[/caption]
She has been enjoying a holiday with her daughter Penelope[/caption]
Kelly gave her 1.2million followers a glimpse into her holiday with a post on Instagram.
In the post she showed parts of where she had been staying and that she had taken a trip to the beach.
Kelly also showed off her bum while wearing a burgundy swimsuit with a mirror selfie while on the coast.
And fans could not help but call Verstappen a “lucky guy”.
One commented: “Mr. Verstappen is a lucky man ngl.”
A second wrote: “Max Verstappen‘s biggest trophy at his house.”
A third said: “Max is one lucky guy frrr.”
While a fourth added: “Max is a very very lucky guy .”
Kelly is the daughter of F1 legend Nelson Piquet Sr[/caption]
And she is dating Max Verstappen[/caption]
Kelly, 34, began dating Verstappen in late 2020 and recently had to quash rumours they have split.
The Brazilian also comes from an F1 background with Kelly‘s father Nelson a legend of the sport.
Verstappen, 25, is on course to equal his three world championship wins after winning the last six races.
The Dutchman romped home at the Hungarian GP on Sunday as he strolled to victory ahead of second-placed Lando Norris.
Kelly works a model[/caption]
The world number one is best known for his F1 performances but is also a big star in the world of simulation races.
He often takes part in virtual F1 tournaments and was disqualified from competition last week after ramming into an opponent.
After the first hour, a racer from an opposing team, Sven-Ole Haase, hit Verstappen from behind, causing him to crash into his team-mate.
This led both drivers to spin out of control, putting the team behind their competition.
Later in the race, Verstappen took an off-track shortcut and caught up with Haase.
Then when Haase broke for a corner, Verstappen refused to, and rammed Haase’s car.
The car was rammed off the track and into the barriers.
Kelly has over 1.2million followers on Instagram[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23189476/f1-champ-races-lewis-hamilton-spanish-gp-nico-rosberg/
Wed, 26 Jul 2023 09:47:55 +0000
Post 23189476 at The Sun
NICO ROSBERG is a Formula One champion who could have won eight races in a row.
The retired driver has joked that Lewis Hamilton denied him the feat with his shunt at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton denied Nico Rosberg an eighth win in a row[/caption]
The pair collided in Spain in 2016[/caption]
Rosberg had won seven consecutive races ahead of their infamous collision in Barcelona.
Having won the last three races of 2015 and the first four in 2016, Rosberg was on the brink of history.
Hamilton had started ahead of Rosberg in pole position, but was overtaken by his Mercedes team-mate on turn one.
In his attempts to re-take the lead, the Brit collided with Rosberg on turn four, ending the race for both drivers.
Recalling his run of wins, Rosberg told the Sky Sports F1 Podcast: “Yeah, that was quite cool.”
The German also joked: “I would have had eight if Lewis hadn’t have shunted me off in Barcelona, for those of you who remember that race in 2016.
“I’m laughing by the way for those of you who can’t see me now, because that was a joke. That was a joke.”
Rosberg would still go on to win the 2016 Drivers’ Championship, the only world title of his career.
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He then abruptly retired aged 31 after winning the title, having claimed nine of his 23 career race wins during the season.
Despite being denied an eighth win in a row, Rosberg is one of just five drivers to win seven or more straight races.
Max Verstappen equalled the feats of Rosberg, Michael Schumacher and Alberto Ascari with his seventh win in Hungary on Sunday.
Wins in Belgium and the Netherlands in the next two races will take his streak to nine and equal Fernando Alonso’s record from 2013.
Nico Rosberg jokingly blamed his collision with Lewis Hamilton for denying him the feat[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23157519/f1-block-punters-watching-las-vegas-grand-prix-hotels/
Mon, 24 Jul 2023 12:39:03 +0000
Post 23157519 at The Sun
FORMULA ONE have demanded MILLIONS from hotel owners to allow punters to watch the Las Vegas Grand Prix from their hotels.
The first ever Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place in November this year, with viewers able to watch the cars zip around the iconic Vegas strip.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix is due to be the most expensive Grand Prix of all time[/caption]
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez drove on the Las Vegas strip as part of promo for the race[/caption]
The track will take in some of Vegas’ most iconic land marks[/caption]
The race will pass by a number of iconic landmarks including the MSG Sphere – which will open in September – as well as Treasure Island, The Mirage, the Bellagio Hotel and Caesars Palace.
The track design is 3.8 miles long from start to finish with top speeds estimated to be over 212 mph.
According to The New York Post, F1 bosses are demanding that hotels with a roof terrace, viewing platform or bar that overlooks the track pay £1,167-per-head to have the required licence to watch the race.
That would mean a hotel with a 1,500 seating capacity would pay £1.75million to ‘show’ the event.
The report claims that if hotel owners refuse to comply, F1 bosses will ensure they build barricades, stands and light stanchions that will obscure the view of the race from hotels.
A source told The New York Post that: “They are literally shaking people down saying they will obstruct views unless they pay them.
“It seems insane that they are asking money for a public event that is taking place in the streets.”
F1 bosses have reportedly threatened to shine lights into the viewing platforms of hotels that do not pay the licence fee, meaning punters will be unable to view the night time race.
The worry is that casino and hotel bosses will simply pass the cost of the licence fee onto customers for what is already a very expensive event to attend.
The act of asking for a licence fee from hotel and casinos is common practice in F1, given the precedent set by the Monaco Grand Prix.
Hotel and casino owners worry that the cost of a trip to Las Vegas will be so expensive for high-rolling customers that they will be scared off coming back – losing establishments much coveted repeat business.
Proprietors are already angry that the Las Vegas strip will shut down to construct the track – and they fear asking owners to pay up on top of this is simply too far.
Ticket packages for Las Vegas have not yet sold out – with Las Vegas being the most expensive race of the year.
The price of an average weekend ticket is £5,167, almost 50% more expensive than the Miami Grand Prix which prices at £3,137.
Las Vegas is the third American track to be added to the F1 season, following Miami and Austin.
The three of them represent the most expensive Grand Prix’s to attend for punters.
The most expensive non-American circuit to attend is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23154092/f1-belgian-grand-prix-uk-start-time-stream-tv-channel-schedule/
Mon, 24 Jul 2023 11:36:42 +0000
Post 23154092 at The Sun
MAX VERSTAPPEN set a world record of Red Bull wins at the Hungarian Grand Prix – and he’ll be looking to build on that in Belgium.
Red Bull now has 12 consecutive wins dating back to the final race of 2022 in Abu Dhabi.
Max Verstappen broke the Formula One World Championship winning streak.[/caption]
And as a result, the F1 legend leads the driver’s championship by 110 points with Sergio Perez in second and Fernando Alonso in third.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton is only six points shy from a podium place after finishing fourth last weekend.
So the British legend will be desperate to close the gap even further on the Spa track.
When is the F1 Belgian Grand Prix?
- The Belgian Grand Prix returns on Sunday, 30 July.
- It is set to get underway at 1pm BST.
- The race is at the infamous Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Stavelot, Belgium and the track holds a whopping capacity of up to 70,000 people.
What TV channel is the F1 Belgian Grand Prix on and can it be live-streamed?
- The Belgian Grand Prix will air live on Sky Sports F1 from 12:30 pm UK time.
- Sky Sports customers can live stream the Belgian Grand Prix via the NOW TV app which is free to download onto your mobile and tablet device.
- Alternatively, you can follow SunSport’s live blog for all the latest updates.
Full F1 Belgian Grand Prix schedule
Friday, July 28th
- Practice 1: 12:30pm UK time
- Qualifying: 4pm UK time
Saturday, July 29th
- Sprint Shootout: 11am UK time
- Sprit: 3:30pm UK time
Sunday, July 30th
- Race: 2pm UK time
Current F1 driver standings:
- Max Verstappen – Red Bull Racing: 281pts
- Sergio Perez – Red Bull Racing: 171pts
- Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin: 139pts
- Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes: 133pts
- George Russell – Mercedes: 90pts
- Carlos Sainz – Ferrari: 87pts
- Charles Leclerc – Ferrari: 80pts
- Lando Norris – McLaren: 60pts
- Lance Stroll – Aston Martin: 45pts
- Esteban Ocon – Alpine: 31pts
- Pierre Gasly – Alpine: 8pts
- Oscar Piastri – McLaren: 27pts
- Alexander Albon – Williams: 11pts
- Nico Hulkenberg – Haas: 9pts
- Valtteri Bottas – Alfa Romeo: 5pts
- Zhou Guanyu – Alfa Romeo: 4pts
- Yuki Tsounda – Alphatauri: 2pts
- Kevin Magnussen – Haas: 2pts
- Logan Sargeant – Williams: 0pts
- Nyck De Vries – Alphatauri: 0pts
- Daniel Ricciardo- Aplhatauri: 0pts
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23154815/onlyfans-racing-driver-renee-gracie-barbie-braless/
Mon, 24 Jul 2023 11:17:26 +0000
Post 23154815 at The Sun
RENEE GRACIE left fans stunned as she went braless in an her racing overalls.
The 28-year-old was dubbed “real life Barbie” by adoring fans.
Renne Gracie stunned with her jacket unzipped[/caption]
She left fans in awe while going braless[/caption]
Renee is a racing driver and OnlyFans star[/caption]
Gracie has been called ‘real life Barbie’[/caption]
Gracie slipped into her OnlyFans branded driving gear… but wore it unzipped to show off her incredible figure.
She uploaded the sexy snap to her Instagram page and her followers were left in awe.
One said: “Looking sensational.”
Another added: “Hottest.”
A third commented with fire and love heart emojis: “Gorgeous.”
Gracie is driving in an OnlyFans sponsored car in the GT World Challenge Australia Series.
Renee quit racing in 2017 in favour of pursuing a career in the adult industry.
The beauty was not making enough money to continue her passion but now takes home a six-figure salary via OnlyFans.
However, she jumped at another chance to get behind the wheel and had been plotting a return to the sport for a number of years.
Gracie will drive at the Sydney Supersprint event this weekend.
She came 15th in the Perth Supersprint in April.
Renee Gracie quit racing in 2017[/caption]
The beauty made a sensational comeback to the sport earlier this year[/caption]
Gracie competes in Sydney this weekend[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23154404/daniel-ricciardo-sex-ban-heidi-berger/
Mon, 24 Jul 2023 11:11:48 +0000
Post 23154404 at The Sun
DANIEL RICCIARDO has revealed that he has gone back on his previous sex ban after meeting partner Heidi Berger.
Ricciardo made his long-awaited return to F1 at the Hungary Grand Prix yesterday.
Ricciardo admitted he is ‘in love’ with Heidi Berger[/caption]
Ricciardo and Berger on holiday in Venice[/caption]
Berger is a model and aspiring actress[/caption]
He was left without a team at the beginning of this season and was a reserve driver for Red Bull Racing.
But after a disappointing beginning to the season for Dutch driver Nick De Vries, Red Bull moved to remove the driver from AlphaTauri Racing.
Ricciardo was then bumped up from reserve driver at Red Bull into De Vries’ place at Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri.
But those thinking Ricciardo would be abstaining ahead of the race would have been wrong – after Ricciardo admitted he no longer believes in a sex ban on a podcast.
The Australian was interviewed by podcaster Dax Shepard on The Armchair Expert podcast.
Shepard was keen to find out whether it was still common practice for athletes to refrain from sex before events to which Ricciardo said: “I used to, but not any more.
“I went against my rules obviously once and I was probably even better on Sunday so it’s all good. I threw that one out a few years ago.”
Ricciardo has dated Berger since 2019 and has admitted to being loved up with the aspiring actress in a podcast interview last year.
He told the Fitzy and Wippa show: “Yeah mate, I’m in love,
“I’ve got a good thing going on, so yeah, I’ve got a good balance in life right now.”
Berger at last year’s Miami Grand Prix[/caption]
Berger regularly gives an inisight into her luxury lifestyle on Instagram[/caption]
Ricciardo’s girlfriend, Heidi Berger, is the daughter of former Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger.
She is an aspiring actress and model – and the two have been publicly loved up since August of last year.
The two regularly share their glamorous lifestyle on their Instagrams, which includes holidaying in some very exotic locations.
Berger cheered on Ricciardo’s return to the track at the Hungaroring yesterday – with the Australian finishing in 13th on his AlphaTauri debut.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23153805/lando-norris-luisinha-oliveira-f1-bikini-boat/
Mon, 24 Jul 2023 09:57:02 +0000
Post 23153805 at The Sun
LANDO NORRIS’ stunning ex-girlfriend has been branded the “prettiest girl in the world.”
That’s after she relaxed on a boat while wearing a barely-there bikini.
Luisinha Oliveira and Norris, both 23, were the toast of F1 last year.
The couple became the sport’s favourite couple, providing fans with intimate glimpses of their cosy relationship.
But they parted ways in September following a shock split.
Norris continues to shine in F1, finishing second in yesterday’s Hungarian GP.
And as for Luisinha, she took herself to Croatia for a much-needed break.
The brunette beauty posted several photos of herself relaxing on a boat while soaking up the sun.
She wore a navy bikini with lime trim.
And Luisinha completed the look with a blue baseball cap.
She captioned the snaps: “Missing being in a boat 24/7.”
The stunning pictures prompted a swathe of comments from adoring fans.
One said: “Prettiest girl in the whole world.”
Another declared: “Girl crush.”
One noted: “Beautiful as always.”
Another added: “So stunning.”
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23148448/martin-brundle-terry-crews-formula-one-hungarian-gp/
Sun, 23 Jul 2023 17:06:02 +0000
Post 23148448 at The Sun
FORMULA One fans were happy to see TV presenter Martin Brundle treated to a fantastic interview from a Hollywood star.
The fan favourite interviewer was back on the grid chatting to celebs ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix and managed to ask some questions to big time actor Terry Crews.
Terry Crews was attending his first ever F1 event[/caption]
Martin Brundle interviewed Crews on the grid[/caption]
The pair joked around together on Sky Sports’ coverage as Brundle asked Crews his thoughts on the race.
The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star even went as far as showing off his pecs by tensing up and making them move under his shirt.
Brundle is well known for his pre-race antics and fans were pleased to see a celeb join in on the fun.
The interview comes just a few weeks after model and actress Cara Delevigne was accused of being rude to Brundle when he tried to speak to her at Silverstone.
F1 fans took to twitter to praise Crews for his grid walk interview and quickly compared it to Delevigne’s.
One fan wrote “This is how you treat Martin Brundle…. Nice one, Terry Crews.”
Whilst another added: “Terry Crews is a fantastic bloke.”
One other fan wrote: “This is how the Hollywood Elite should treat Brundle on the track, love to see Terry Crews commentate an F1, that would be epic!”
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Crews was in Hungary to witness yet another Max Verstappen win as the Red Bull driver continues to dominate this year, despite Lewis Hamilton starting on pole.
Verstappen currently leads the season standings by 99 points with team-mate Sergio Perez behind him in second place.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23148557/watch-f1-norris-smashes-verstappen-trophy-hungary/
Sun, 23 Jul 2023 16:34:21 +0000
Post 23148557 at The Sun
MCLAREN star Lando Norris accidentally SMASHED Max Verstappen’s trophy while celebrating his podium finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The 23-year-old, who finished the race in second place, was attempting his trademark champagne celebration when the incident occurred.
Verstappen’s trophy was accidentally smashed to pieces[/caption]
Norris smashed it while celebrating with champagne[/caption]
Verstappen won the Hungarian GP[/caption]
The Dutchman joked about it afterwards[/caption]
Every time he finishes in the top three, Norris hits his champagne bottle off the podium to activate the fizz before spraying.
He did so after the race in Hungary on Sunday, only this time the impact from the bottle caused Verstappen‘s trophy to fall off the podium and smash to pieces.
The two-time world champion didn’t appear too phased by it however, as he proceeded to joke with Norris once the celebrations calmed down.
Fans took to Twitter to react, with one person writing: “Don’t worry about Max’s trophy, Lando… he has a lot of them!”
Another added: “Love how Lando just shrugs like ‘Whatever, Max won’t even notice!’”
A third said: “His reaction is the best, hilarious!”
While a fourth fan joked: “The best entertainment of the afternoon lol.”
Verstappen stormed to victory at the Hungarian GP after overtaking pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton at the first corner.
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It marked a record-breaking 12th consecutive win for Red Bull and the Dutchman’s ninth win of the season.
Meanwhile, it was a day to forget for Alpine as both drivers were forced to retire after the opening lap following a collision.
Esteban Ocon’s seat split in two after he made contact with teammate Pierre Gasly and Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu just a few seconds into the race.
The Frenchman was checked out at the medical centre, but he later confirmed that he was okay.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/21381659/f1-calender-2023-season-dates-schedule/
Sun, 23 Jul 2023 15:12:00 +0000
Post 21381659 at The Sun
THE Formula One season is well and truly underway and Red Bull are racing ahead at the top of the leaderboards.
Max Verstappen claimed his EIGHTH straight win at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen celebrating the 2022 championship.[/caption]
Meaning a Red Bull driver has crossed the finish line on top of the pile in every race so far this campaign.
Lewis Hamilton is hoping to improve on his 2022 performance after finishing lower than he ever has done in sixth place and going winless all season.
And the British superstar will be hoping he can claim a podium place in Zandvoort after finishing fourth at back-to-back Grand Prix.
F1 calendar 2023
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
All session and race timings are in UK time.
Bahrain Grand Prix
Venue: Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir
Winner: Max Verstappen
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Venue: Jeddah Street Circuit
Winner: Sergio Perez
Australian Grand Prix
Venue: Albert Park Circuit
Winner: Max Verstappen
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Venue: Baku City Circuit
Winner: Sergio Perez
Miami Grand Prix
Venue: Miami International Autodrome
Winner: Max Verstappen
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Venue: Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola
EVENT CANCELLED – NEW DATE TBC
Monaco Grand Prix
Venue: Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo
Winner: Max Verstappen
Spanish Grand Prix
Venue: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Winner: Max Verstappen
Canadian Grand Prix
Venue: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
Winner: Max Verstappen
Austrian Grand Prix
Venue: Red Bull Ring, Spielberg
Winner: Max Verstappen
British Grand Prix
Venue: Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire
Winner: Max Verstappen
Hungary Grand Prix
Venue: Hungaroring, Budapest
Winner: Max Verstappen
Belgian Grand Prix
Venue: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Winner: Max Verstappen
Dutch Grand Prix
Venue: Zandvoort
Friday, August 25: Practice One 11:30am, Practice Two 3pm
Saturday, August 26: Practice Three 10:30am, Qualifying 2pm
Sunday, August 27: Dutch Grand Prix 2pm
Italian Grand Prix
Venue: Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Friday, September 1: Practice One 12:30am, Practice Two 4pm
Saturday, September 2: Practice Three 11:30am, Qualifying 3pm
Sunday, September 3: Italian Grand Prix 2pm
Singapore Grand Prix
Venue: Marina Bay Street Circuit
Friday, September 15: Practice One 10:30am, Practice Two 2pm
Saturday, September 16: Practice Three 10:30am, Qualifying 2pm
Sunday, September 17: Singapore Grand Prix 1pm
Japanese Grand Prix
Venue: Suzuka Circuit
Friday, September 22: Practice One 3:30am, Practice Two 7am
Saturday, September 23: Practice Three 3:30am, Qualifying 7am
Sunday, September 24: Japanese Grand Prix 6am
Qatar Grand Prix
Venue: Losail International Circuit
Friday, October 6: Practice One 11:30am, Qualifying 3pm
Saturday, October 7: Practice Two 11:30am, Sprint 3:30pm
Sunday, October 8: Qatar Grand Prix 3pm
United States Grand Prix
Venue: Circuit of The Americas, Austin, Texas
Friday, October 20: Practice One 6:30pm, Qualifying 10pm
Saturday, October 21: Practice Two 7pm, Sprint 11pm
Sunday, October 22: United States Grand Prix 8pm
Mexican Grand Prix
Venue: Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City
Friday, October 27: Practice One 7:30pm, Practice Two 11pm
Saturday, October 28: Practice Three 6:30pm, Qualifying 10pm
Sunday, October 29: Mexican Grand Prix 8pm
Sao Paulo Grand Prix
Venue: Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, Interlagos
Friday, November 11: Practice One 2:30pm, Qualifying 6pm
Saturday, November 12: Practice Two 2:30pm, Sprint 6:30pm
Sunday, November 13: Sao Paulo Grand Prix 5pm
Las Vegas Grand Prix
Venue: Temporary street Circuit including the Las Vegas strip
Friday, November 17: Practice One 4:30am, Practice Two 8am
Saturday, November 18: Practice Three 4:30am, Qualifying 8am
Sunday, November 19: Las Vegas Grand Prix 6am
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Venue: Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island
Friday, November 24: Practice One 9:30am, Practice Two 1pm
Saturday, November 25: Practice Three 10:30am, Qualifying 2pm
Sunday, November 26: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 1pm
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23147664/lewis-hamilton-apologises-f1-grand-prix-hungary/
Sun, 23 Jul 2023 15:01:31 +0000
Post 23147664 at The Sun
LEWIS HAMILTON was forced to admit defeat in the Hungarian Grand Prix just moments after his disastrous start at the Hungaroring.
Hamilton started first on the grid for the first time in 596 days after securing pole in qualifying yesterday.
It was a frustrating day for Hamilton at the Hungaroring[/caption]
But he was overtaken by a rampant Max Verstappen on the first corner.
Matters were compounded by Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris also overtaking Hamilton during the first lap – which saw Hamilton drop to fourth.
Hamilton apologised to his team over the radio after the poor start, simply saying: “sorry about that guys”.
Race engineer Peter Bonnington was keen to keep Hamilton’s spirits up however, and said: “Don’t sweat it, Lewis. It’s going to be a long, hot race.”
He was unable to match the race pace of the two McLaren‘s in front of them as they began to build a formidable gap as the race went on.
Hamilton was becoming increasingly frustrated before admitting he could not compete with the two cars in front of him.
He said: “Definitely don’t have the pace to overtake these guys.”
His frustration continued later in the race, saying: “How have they got nine seconds all of a sudden. That’s a crazy amount.”
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Hamilton then questioned the performance of his hardware as Verstappen opened a 20 second lead on his Mercedes.
He asked his team over the radio: “Are you turning the engine down?”
To which the reply over the radio was: “Negative, Lewis. Just managing the temp situation.”
Hamilton would go on to finish fourth in Hungary in what was quite a frustrating race for the Brit.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23147803/formula-one-esteban-ocon-hungarian-grand-prix/
Sun, 23 Jul 2023 15:00:24 +0000
Post 23147803 at The Sun
ESTEBAN OCON suffered a horror crash during the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Ocon’s seat broke in two after he collided with Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly and Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu at Turn 1.
The French driver and Gasly had to retire with the former rushed to the medical centre for checks.
Thankfully, it was soon confirmed from his team that the 26-year-old is in good health.
Formula One fans were left in shock after witnessing the freak accident between the three drivers.
One fan tweeted: “Oh my God….that’s terrifying. I hope he is ok.”
Another commented: “That’s scary, hope he’s fine!”
A third posted: “Damn. That’s a nasty impact. I hope he’s OK.”
This fan said: “Oh, my goodness. I hope he will be OK.”
Another stated: “Ugh not estie bestie.”
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Guanyu clipped the rear of Gasly’s car and that led to him colliding with Ocon.
The Alfa Romeo driver was slapped with a five-second penalty for the incident.
But both Alpine cars sustained so much damage they could not complete the race.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23095100/f1-hungarian-grand-prix-live-results-stream-tv-channel-watch-online/
Sun, 23 Jul 2023 14:51:00 +0000
Post 23095100 at The Sun
MAX VERSTAPPEN has won the Hungarian Grand Prix and claimed his SEVENTH straight triumph.
The Dutchman is on course to beat Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine consecutive GP wins.
Lewis Hamilton started on pole but failed to claim a podium finish in Hungary.
Brit Lando Norris came runner-up, while Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez came third.
- Start time: 2pm BST
- Stream/TV: Sky Sports F1
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Follow all the action with our live blog below….
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23147931/hungarian-gp-fa-verstappen-wins-hamilton-norris/
Sun, 23 Jul 2023 14:42:34 +0000
Post 23147931 at The Sun
LEWIS HAMILTON apologised for his poor start as Max Verstappen ran away with it in Hungary.
The Red Bull ace has now won seven on the spin to open up an incredible 110 point lead over team-mate Sergio Perez, who was third.
Lewis Hamilton never recovered from a dreadful start in which Max Verstappen overtook him and proceeded to dominate[/caption]
Hamilton shared his pain as he started on pole but was soon out of contention[/caption]
Verstappen celebrates his 44th GP victory to boost his title lead[/caption]
McLaren’s Lando Norris took another podium as he finished second while his team-mate Oscar Piasri continued to impress on his debut season by coming home in fifth.
Hamilton, who had started on pole position after a brilliant qualifying session on Saturday, was fourth – some 38 seconds behind winner Verstappen.
The Mercedes man was slow off the line and admitted the blame over the team’s radio as he was leapfrogged by Verstappen, Piastri and Norris.
Further back, Daniel Ricciardo was caught up in the thick of it as Zhou Guanyu slammed into his AlphaTauri man on his F1 return.
The impact sent both Alpines out of the race as the Oxfordshire-based team suffered a double DNF on the opening lap.
By lap 45, Hamilton was 33 seconds off Verstappen’s time, telling his race engineer “this is as fast as it goes”, when asked to up the pace.
And afterwards he admitted: “I haven’t been at my best for over a year – Saturday felt like it was me being back to my best.”
Of his getaway woe, he added: “I had a bit of wheelspin, and obviously Max was on the inside and run me wide and I got done by the two McLarens, so definitely not a great start.
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“After that I just didn’t have the pace to keep up with the guys, the balance of the car was pretty awful in that first stint, I had a lot of understeer and I just couldn’t keep up.
“But I’m going to take the positives from Saturday, amazing from the team to get to where we were and to beat everybody in qualifying was really spectacular.
“While it shows we don’t have the best car, it was an incredible lap.
“We have a lot of work to do, it looks like we are a long way from the Red Bull in a race and now we are behind the McLaren but we have just got to keep on pushing.”
In contrast, Perez started cutting his way through the field from his ninth place on the grid and by lap 51 he’d climbed back to up the places.
The Mexican started hunting down Norris, who became increasingly panicked, but the Brit managed to hold on for second.
But he was still over 32 seconds behind Verstappen, who remains in a class of his own and looks on course to win the title in Austin, Texas, with four races to spare.
Verstappen was cruising, so much so that when his race engineer radioed him around 10 laps from the end, his reply was a calm “Yeah, all good”.
It was the 12th consecutive win for Red Bull. Verstappen said: “What an unbelievable rocketship today. The car was so enjoyable to drive.”
Verstappen romped to a record 12th win in a row for Red Bull[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23146416/watch-reaction-ricciardo-interview-celebrate-lewis-hamilton/
Sun, 23 Jul 2023 11:09:47 +0000
Post 23146416 at The Sun
A YOUNG Sky Sports presenter hilariously paused her interview with Daniel Ricciardo to celebrate Lewis Hamilton’s pole position on Saturday.
Hamilton, 38, achieved his first pole position in 595 days with a sensational flying lap in the final seconds of qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
A Sky Sports reporter was interviewing Ricciardo when she became distracted by Hamilton[/caption]
She then revealed ‘Hamilton’s my favourite!’ after the Mercedes star took pole position[/caption]
The lap saw him pip Red Bull rival Max Verstappen to the line by just 0.003 seconds, subsequently leaving both fans and the paddock in shock.
During Q3, newly-appointed AlphaTauri driver Ricciardo – who was eliminated in the previous round after qualifying in 13th – was being interviewed by Sky Sports’ F1 Juniors presenter Ruby.
The young reporter opened the chat by asking: “Hi Daniel, how does it feel to be back in the car after such a long break?”
To which the Aussie responded: “It feels really fun. When it’s so long, you really miss something.
“When you do something every day I don’t think you really appreciate it as much, so to miss it for six-seven months I think it made it more enjoyable. I’m very happy.”
Ricciardo was then asked about who his best friends in the paddock were, but midway through the conversation both the interviewer and the interviewee became distracted after noticing that Hamilton had qualified in pole position.
Ruby excitedly exclaimed “Look, Hamilton” before letting out a big cheer.
She added: “Hamilton’s my favourite!”
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Hamilton’s impressive qualifying result will see him start Sunday’s race on pole position for the first time since the 2021 Saudi Arabian GP.
After securing the fastest lap, the seven-time world champion said: “It’s been a crazy year and a half. I have lost my voice from shouting so much in the car.
“We have been pushing so hard to finally get a pole and it just feels like the first time.
“I didn’t expect to be fighting for pole so when I went into that final run I gave it everything.
“It has been massively challenging for everyone in the team. We have been focusing so much on trying to improve.
“We have been losing so much time in Turns Four and 11 compared to the others, so I just sent it. It has been so tough and it is going to continue to be tough after this, but this just shows we can do it.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23141381/lewis-hamilton-pole-qualifying-f1-hungarian-grand-prix-mercedes/
Sat, 22 Jul 2023 15:08:59 +0000
Post 23141381 at The Sun
LEWIS HAMILTON took a sensational pole position for the Hungarian GP – beating Max Verstappen by 0.003 seconds.
Verstappen, who has dominated this season to open up a 99 point lead in the championship, will start in second place.
Lewis Hamilton is on pole for the Hungarian Grand Prix[/caption]
It is the 104th pole position of the Brit’s career – and an emotional one – as there are now signs that Mercedes are back in the mix after a terrible 18 months.
Hamilton, who has won this race eight times before, scored his first pole since Saudi Arabia 2021 – some 595 days ago.
Lando Norris extended McLaren’s upward trajectory by qualifying in third place and his team-mate, Oscar Piastri will line up in fourth.
Daniel Ricciardo had a successful return to F1 after qualifying in 13th place – comfortably ahead of his team-mate, Yuki Tsunoda.
Ricciardo has been handed his way back by Red Bull after being dumped by McLaren at the end of last year.
The Aussie replaced Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri – Red Bull’s sister team – and scored their best qualifying result since the Monaco GP in May.
Meanwhile, George Russell suffered a miserable qualifying – leaving Merc boss Toto Wolff furious.
The Austrian slammed his fist into the desk as he watched Russell eliminated at Q1 – a result that will see him start in 18th on the grid.
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Russell was waiting in line to start his final flying lap but as the clock counted down, he was leapfrogged in the queue of cars by THREE other drivers.
Not only had he lost time and track position but the extra delay to create a gap to the cars ahead also punished his tyres as the temperature dropped off.
As a result, his first sector was slow and he was unable to improve meaning he was dumped out of qualifying at the first hurdle.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23111715/f1-daniel-ricciardo-life-girlfriend-property-cars-hungarian-gp/
Sat, 22 Jul 2023 10:38:06 +0000
Post 23111715 at The Sun
DANIEL Ricciardo is Formula 1’s most entertaining star – and his rollercoaster career hasn’t been short of drama either.
While the Aussie racer has won eight Grand Prixs, last August he hit a career low, getting ditched by McLaren and failing to secure a seat for the 2023 season.
However, this weekend the 34-year-old is set to make a sensational F1 return with AlphaTauri at this weekend’s Hungarian GP, having filled Nyck de Vries‘ spot for the remainder of the season.
Away from the grid he’s one of the most popular professionals in the sport – regularly pictured larking about with the likes of former team mates Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, and new team mate Yuki Tsunoda.
No doubt fans will be thrilled to see Daniel – nicknamed the Honey Badger – back, especially with glamorous girlfriend Heidi Berger in tow.
And despite his dip in form, some reports suggest Ricciardo is still worth an impressive £38million – which means he’s been able to maintain a very luxurious lifestyle while away.
Here, we take a closer look inside Daniel’s lavish life away from the grid, including a £15million property portfolio and a very, very impressive multi-million pound private car collection.
Love in the fast lane
When Daniel was dropped by his team last year, at least he could rely on the support of his super stunning girlfriend, Heidi, 26.
She already knows a thing or two about the F1 life too, as her Austrian father Gerhard Berger is a retired driver, who competed for 14 seasons.
Speaking last year on the Fitzy & Wippa podcast when asked if he was in love, Daniel said: “Yeah mate, I’m in love, I got a good thing going, so yeah. I’ve got a good balance in life right now.
“I think love eliminates stress, yeah absolutely.”
Actress Heidi, who studied at New York University, has posted plenty of photos from the track presumably supporting her beau, and while the couple are incredibly private, they went public with their romance last August.
They were spotted enjoying a getaway to Venice in May, and also shared a special intimate moment from the romantic holiday on social media last month, showing they’re still very much loved-up.
Heidi has been a huge support for her beau[/caption]
Daniel Ricciardo and his girlfriend Heidi Berger have been able to spend more time together lately[/caption]
£15m property empire
Regardless of form, a career in F1 can be short-lived, so Ricciardo has already made the sensible move into property investment, and boasts a staggering £15million portfolio already.
He owns a one-bedroom pied-à-terre in Monte Carlo, which is home to plenty of other drivers including Max Verstappen and Charles LeClerc.
Speaking about the Monaco Grand Prix, Ricciardo said: “It feels like a real racetrack, and I’m not thinking ‘there’s a cafe I eat at’ or ‘there’s a street I ride my Vespa down’ or whatever.
“You wake up in your own bed, kick around your apartment and then start the journey to work.”
Not forgetting his roots, Daniel also has an impressive abode in his native Perth, Australia, which is said to have an underground garage (of course) and pool.
Even more impressively, he also snapped up a stunning five-bed, five bath mansion in Los Angeles in 2018.
Daniel Ricciardo’s LA home is where he enjoys spending time during summer breaks in particular[/caption]
The driver loves the US, and owns a home in LA[/caption]
His mansion boasts an outdoor pool, five bedrooms and five bathrooms[/caption]
As a result he is said to enjoy spending most of the summer in LA, telling the West Australian: “The weather, having the beaches close by, I feel like you can escape the madness of it all.”
He paid a whopping £10million for the modernised 1960s Beverly Hills home, which also has an outdoor pool and a two-door garage for his luxury cars.
Multi-million pound private car collection
Unsurprisingly given their need to impress on the race track, F1 drivers are also known to boast very impressive private car collections – and Ricciardo is no exception.
Speaking about his passion for motors to Top Gear, he said: “I am fascinated by some modern cars and how close they can be to a race car.
“If I accelerate away from a set of traffic lights in a quick car, sure it feels fast, but I’m not exactly high-fiving my mate in the passenger seat.
“That’s why I’m starting to warm towards the older stuff. It’s completely different. The H-pattern gearboxes, the vibrations and all that – I appreciate that.”
He often drives a McLaren 720S, said to be worth around £215,000, and when he’s back in Australia, he cruises around his hometown in a Toyota HiLux – his first car and a gift from his parents.
He also owns an Aston Martin Valkyrie, reportedly worth a whopping £2.5million, a Porsche 918 Spyder and a Porsche GT3 RS.
Luxury holidays
For work Daniel obviously has to travel the world, but when he’s not racing he also enjoys the finer things in life and visiting exotic locations.
Last year he went Instagram official with Heidi while holidaying in the US, where they enjoyed hiking in the mountains and horse riding, and earlier this year they were pictured looking loved up in Venice.
Previously he’s been seen living it up onboard a yacht in the Mediterranean, and earlier this year he was spotted partying in Las Vegas.
And it seems Ricciardo made the most of his break away from the track, recently writing in a LinkedIn post: “This is the first year in as long as I can remember that my goals aren’t going to be 100 per cent about racing and competing.”
Either way, it seems he was always destined for this career, saying: “Two, three years old, I’ve got faint memories of being at the track, putting the earmuffs on and that was like the first kind of attraction where I was kind of like scared by the noise.
“But I also loved it, because I knew that represented like the speed and there was excitement that was with that.”
In between racing, Ricciardo makes the most of the breaks[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23132556/sergio-perez-crashes-hungarian-gp-practice-car-wreck/
Fri, 21 Jul 2023 14:47:22 +0000
Post 23132556 at The Sun
SERGIO PEREZ crashed his Red Bull just five minutes into the first Hungarian Grand Prix practice session on Friday.
The 33-year-old had just started his first flying lap of the weekend when his front-left wheel dipped on to the grass, causing his car to spin out and crash into the barrier.
Perez crashed his car into the barrier during the first Hungarian GP practice session[/caption]
The Red Bull star was visibly frustrated after the accident[/caption]
His car was left severely damaged[/caption]
Checo was left unharmed by the accident, although he appeared to be very frustrated with his mistake.
Perez currently sits second in the Drivers Championship, but he has failed to reach Q3 in each of the last five race weekends.
His poor qualifying form has subsequently had an impact on his race results, therefore casting doubt over his future at Red Bull.
And he now finds himself under pressure from Daniel Ricciardo, who was named as AlphaTauri’s new driver last week.
Ricciardo, 34, replaced rookie Nyck de Vries, who was axed by Red Bull’s sister team following his poor start to the season.
The Aussie is set to make his F1 return at the Hungarian GP this weekend, but he hopes to eventually work his way back into contention at Red Bull.
On Thursday, he said: “I had enough time off to reset but also kind of enjoy it again. I already felt that on the simulator so far this year but then also that’s why I wanted to drive the car and really make sure that it is still truly what I love doing most.
“I was up to speed really quickly and it felt so good again and obviously tasting the Red Bull car (at Silverstone after the British GP) got me pretty excited.
“I knew also with everything that happened the last few years, getting back into the sport after taking some time off, I knew it would be very hard to go back at the top.
“Of course that was my wish but you also need to be realistic at some point and say ‘OK, if I want to get back to a Red Bull seat then it’s going to take a bit of a process or a path’. This for me is the best path at the moment.”
Championship leader Max Verstappen has revealed that he would be happy to see his former teammate return to Red Bull.
When asked about the possibility of a reunion earlier this week, he said: “I mean, I never actually wanted him to leave!
“No, I mean, all of these things, we know that we get on very well, and if Daniel, of course, does well where he is now, then, of course, he has the opportunity to go back up.
“It’s all open, to be honest.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23127620/shakira-lewis-hamilton-inseparable-summer-romance/
Fri, 21 Jul 2023 09:46:28 +0000
Post 23127620 at The Sun
SHAKIRA and Lewis Hamilton have become “inseparable” as they embrace a “hot summer romance”, an insider claims.
The Colombian star and F1 ace have sparked dating rumours after being spotted getting cosy at a string of events in recent months.
Lewis Hamilton is rumoured to be dating Shakira[/caption]
The singer stunned in a red mini dress at the 2023 Premios Juventud Awards[/caption]
Shakira, 46, split from her long-term footballer boyfriend Gerard Pique last year but is now claimed to be “fast-tracking” her apparent love affair with Hamilton.
A source told In Touch: “She’s over Gerard and fast-tracking her romance with Lewis.
“They’re inseparable. It’s definitely a hot summer romance.
“She believes in love and is very open to see what the future might hold for them.”
Shakira watched from the Mercedes team’s VIP area as seven-times champ Lewis Hamilton, 38, sped to a podium finish on his home circuit at Silverstone earlier this month.
Revving up dating rumours, she was also pictured beaming at the Spanish Grand Prix last month as she cheered the Mercedes driver to second place.
Afterwards he was snapped with his arm round her waist as they had cocktails with friends in Barcelona.
In May, Shakira also watched Hamilton race in Miami – her new home town since moving to the US earlier this year.
The British speed ace was pictured speaking to her at a restaurant in the city, sparking a frenzy of speculation.
Days later Lewis picked her up from the back of her £12million beach mansion at the start of a cosy boat trip together.
But despite claims the pair are tied at the hip, they have been pictured on different continents this week.
Shakira ended a party-filled European trip as she returned to Miami, where she lives with her two sons – Milan, nine, and Sasha, seven.
On Thursday, she was pictured stepping out in a stunning red mini dress as she collected eight awards at the 2023 Premios Juventud Awards.
She matched the figure-hugging gown with a pair of fiery red sunglasses as she beamed on stage.
Meanwhile, her rumoured beau Hamilton is enjoying downtime in Ibiza with 20-year-old tennis-player and heiress Jenny Stray Spetalen and Mexican actress Eiza Gonzalez.
But Hamilton isn’t the only sports star Shakira appears to be getting close to, as she was last week seen on what appeared to be a date with NBA ace Jimmy Butler.
She and Butler, 33, were pictured leaving Novikov Restaurant & Bar in London just two minutes apart – with the singer escorted to her car by his entourage.
It comes as the Hips Don’t Lie singer faces a tax probe in Spain.
Officials confirmed on Thursday a court near Barcelona had agreed to investigate the singer-songwriter for suspected 2018 tax breaches.
Shakira will return to the Catalan capital again in November for the beginning of her £12.5 million tax evasion trial.
Her legal team said she had not received any notification and found out about the new case through the press.
Lewis Hamilton and Jenny Stray Spetalen pictured in Ibiza[/caption]
Shakira collected eight awards on Thursday[/caption]
She wowed crowds in her fiery outfit[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23127912/fire-erupts-lydden-race-circuit/
Fri, 21 Jul 2023 09:14:24 +0000
Post 23127912 at The Sun
A FIRE has erupted at a UK race track – with black smoke billowing from the paddock ahead of the World Rallycross Championship this weekend.
Video shared on social media showed the blaze engulfing several cars at the Lydden Race Circuit near Canterbury in Kent.
Smoke could be seen billowing from a lorry[/caption]
A fire has broken out at Lydden Race Circuit[/caption]
The track is set to host the FIA World Rallycross Championship this weekend[/caption]
Five fire engines and crews wearing special breathing kit are now tackling the vehicle fire.
A clip shared online showed smoke billowing from a lorry in the track paddock – with locals told to shut their windows.
The mile-long circuit has been branded “The Home of Rallycross” – and is the shortest road-racing circuit in Britain.
The track is due to host the massive FIA World Rallycross Championship this weekend.
A spokesman confirmed that the fire broke out in the Special ONE Racing team area of the track.
KentOnline reports that one of the cars is thought to belong to Special ONE driver and nine-time world champion Sébastien Loeb.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: “People near to Lydden Hill, in Wootton, Canterbury, are advised to close windows and doors due to smoke coming from a vehicle fire.
“Five fire engines are in attendance at a commercial premises, where crews wearing breathing apparatus are using main jets and compressed air foam to extinguish a fire involving several vehicles.”
“If you’re travelling on the A2 near to incident, please take care as the smoke may impact visibility.
“Please share this advice with anyone in the affected area who may not have access to social media. Thank you.”
The FIA World Rallycross Championship said: “A fire broke out in the Special ONE Racing team area at Lydden Hill this morning ahead of the FIA World Rallycross Championship event at the track.
“Fire crews are on-site. The venue is not open to the public today and no injuries have been reported.
“Further updates will be communicated as we continue to assess and monitor the situation.”
Locals have been warned to shut their windows[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23126842/sky-sports-natalie-pinkham-instagram-holiday/
Fri, 21 Jul 2023 08:27:07 +0000
Post 23126842 at The Sun
NATALIE PINKHAM wowed fans with a stunning snap of her recent trip to the beach.
The Sky Sports presenter has built quite the following on social media due to expert on-air reporting and dynamic personality.
Sky Sports’ Natalie Pinkham regular shares behind the scenes photos to her Instagram[/caption]
The 45-year-old’s job takes her to some swanky places around the globe[/caption]
Pinkham recently went on a family holiday and shared a snap of her wearing an orange bikini[/caption]
Pinkham, 45, has also boosted her following with behind-the-scenes footage and photos from Formula One races and several of the other sports she covered down the years.
And she recently treated her legion of followers to a rare insight into her personal life with a series of holiday snaps on Instagram – which include a bikini photo.
Her accompanying caption read: “Long time, no sea.”
Pinkham’s followers were quick to comment, with one saying: “How beautiful!!!!”
Another said: “Love.”
And another said: “You’re such a beautiful woman Natalie.”
One remarked: “You look amazing.”
Another chimed in: ” Stunning.”
One of Pinkham’s 306,000 followers said: “Baywatch.”
Another chimed in: “Gorgeous.
Pinkham is married to Owain Walbyoff, the Managing Director at Endemol Games.
The couple were engaged in November 2010 and ended up tying the knot in July 2012.
They have two children together, a son named Otto – born in January 2015 – and a daughter named Willow, who entered the world in June 2016.
Pinkham’s broadcasting career is said to have earned her a net worth of £1million
Her salary is reportedly over a cool £100,000 a year.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23125158/hamilton-russell-penalties-f1-spending-cap-red-bull-fine/
Thu, 20 Jul 2023 21:26:33 +0000
Post 23125158 at The Sun
LEWIS HAMILTON and George Russell are demanding tougher penalties for teams that break Formula One’s spending limit.
The sport is poised to be rocked by the latest breaches, with reports claiming THREE teams exceeded the $140million limit in 2022.
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have called for harsher penalties[/caption]
Red Bull were fined $7m last year and given a ten per cent reduction in wind-tunnel time as a punishment for breaching the $145m limit in 2021.
But the row caused a bitter stink and Hamilton feels the penalty was not strict enough.
He said: “It’s a concern. I mean, it wasn’t really a big punishment last time so there’s no real deterrent.
“There’ll be people that will probably go for it again and know they’re just going to get slapped on the wrist.”
Asked what would be appropriate, Hamilton added: “I’m not going to say what it should be, it’s not my job.
“We’ve people in place to police it but it doesn’t surprise me. It wasn’t a big penalty before.”
His Mercedes team-mate Russell also called for greater punishment for repeat offenders.
He added: “If anybody has breached any regulation, you want the punishment to represent the crime.
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“Previous breaches, it didn’t. We don’t want to see it happen again. And if it’s a second-time offender, the punishment should be even greater. I trust the FIA, they won’t let anybody get away with something that shouldn’t have happened under their watch.”
Meanwhile, Hamilton is closing on a new Mercedes deal, worth near £100m.
The seven-time world champion is out of contract at the end of the season and says his new agreement — expected to be for two years — is in the hands of the lawyers.
Hamilton, 38, was quizzed by SunSport ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix over the extension.
He said: “I actually like these questions, so you can keep them going . . . it’s very, very close.”
Asked if it would be tied up before the summer break — after next week’s Belgian GP — he added: “Nope . . . it might be announced at the end of the year. I might keep you waiting!
“It continues to be with the lawyers, back and forth. I’ve not been part of it the whole time. I’ve been removed from it from the beginning.
“I’ve been wanting to focus on all the other things I have going on. The team has been working on it.
“There’s no negotiation left. It’s just all the small bits.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23123567/lewis-hamilton-new-mercedes-deal-close/
Thu, 20 Jul 2023 17:59:19 +0000
Post 23123567 at The Sun
LEWIS HAMILTON says he is closing in on signing his new Mercedes deal, worth around £100million.
The seven-time F1 world champion is out of contract at the end of the season.
Lewis Hamilton is closing in on a new £100m Mercedes deal[/caption]
He currently earns £40m a year with Merc, while rival Max Verstappen is on £37m with Red Bull.
Hamilton’s new contract is now set to blow the Dutchman’s out of the water at around £50m a year.
And he says his new deal is in the hands of the lawyers.
Hamilton, 38, was quizzed by SunSport ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian GP about the progress over the new deal, which is expected to be a two-year extension.
He said: “I actually like these questions, so you can keep them going… It’s very, very close.”
When asked if it would be tied up before the summer break after next week’s Belgian GP, he added: “Nope… It might be announced at the end of the year. I might keep you waiting!
“Honestly, I don’t have any more information for you to share. It continues to be with the lawyers, back and forth on things.
“I’ve not been part of it the whole time. I’ve been removed from it from the beginning.
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“I’ve been wanting to focus on all the other things I have going on. The team has been working on it in the background.
“There’s no negotiation left. It’s just all the small bits.”
Meanwhile, Hamilton was also quizzed about rumours that up to three teams have breached the cost-cap limit.
Teams were limited to spending $140m (£109m) in 2022 to develop their cars with reports in Italy claiming teams have fallen foul of the rules.
Red Bull were fined $7m (£5.5m) last year and given a 10 percent reduction in wind tunnel time as a punishment for last year’s breach.
Hamilton said: “It’s definitely a concern. I mean, it wasn’t really a big punishment last time so there’s no real [deterrent].
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
“There’ll be people that will probably go for it again, and know they’re just gonna get slapped on the wrist.”
Asked what punishment he feels would be appropriate Hamilton added: “I’m not going to say what it should be, it’s not my job to do that.
“We have people in place that are supposed to police that, but it doesn’t surprise me. It was not a big penalty before.”
His Mercedes teammate George Russell however also called for greater punishment for repeat offenders, should they be found to have overspent.
He added: “If anybody has breached any regulation, you want the punishment to represent the crime.
“There were breaches last year, and clearly the punishment didn’t fit the crime. We don’t want to see that happen again.
“And if it’s a second-time offender, the punishment should be even greater than what it perhaps a fair punishment, if it happens two years in a row.
“I trust the FIA, Mohammed is a great force, and they won’t let anybody get away with something that shouldn’t have happened under their watch.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23122774/george-russell-carmen-montero-mundt-girlfriend-kiss-holiday-swimsuit/
Thu, 20 Jul 2023 16:34:11 +0000
Post 23122774 at The Sun
FORMULA ONE star George Russell has been making the most of his paddle board holiday.
That’s by smooching stunning girlfriend Carmen Montero Mundt in the sea.
Russell, 25, is enjoying a good season with Mercedes.
His fifth place finished at the British GP has seen him soar to sixth in the standings.
And Russell decided to take a well-earned break before this weekend’s race in Budapest with a trip to southern France.
The ripped ace was accompanied by long-term partner Carmen.
And the duo stripped to their swimwear before enjoying the warm waters of the French Riviera.
Russell and Carmen enjoyed some paddle boarding and cliff diving.
Relaxing on a board afterwards, the duo shared a steamy smooch in front of onlookers.
Russell and Carmen have been together since 2020 following a whirlwind romance.
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Russell and Carmen looked to be having a whale of a time[/caption]
Investment broker Carmen has travelled the globe with Russell thanks to his F1 exploits.
The pair have been inseparable, even on race days.
And Carmen is sure to be by Russell’s side when he goes behind the wheel in Hungary this weekend.
The Brit and teammate Lewis Hamilton will be looking to ruffle the feathers of Red Bull.
And Russell recently made a shock revelation over his pal’s future in F1.
He said: “I don’t care at all whether Lewis stays or Lewis goes, because I believe I can beat anyone on the grid.
Carmen is a glamorous investment broker[/caption]
She has supported Russell throughout his F1 career[/caption]
The pair have been together since 2020[/caption]
“You couldn’t choose to be in a better position than to go up against Lewis.
“What a way to test myself. While we’re in this position, he is invaluable to me. There can be no excuses on either side. He’s pushing me, I’m pushing him. I am here to beat everybody.
“I never had any self-doubt and having these 15 months alongside him has reinforced that. My confidence has grown.
“We have a good relationship and it would be great if we could turn this around and help the team to winning ways.
“Lewis is very good with people. He’s very caring, he works exceptionally hard. He’s comfortable travelling a lot, doing a lot of activities. It wouldn’t be a lifestyle many athletes want.
“It may not be this year or next that everything falls into place. But look at Fernando [Alonso], aged 41. So I have at least 15 good years left in me.
“You have to be patient, keep working, doing your thing, and no doubt my time will come.”
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23120533/f1-legend-emerson-fittipaldis-italian-villa-ransacked-rob-rolex-watches-jewellery/
Thu, 20 Jul 2023 14:03:16 +0000
Post 23120533 at The Sun
A LUXURIOUS villa belonging to Formula 1 star Emerson Fittipaldi was ransacked by thieves who stole Rolex watches worth £200,000.
Brazilian-born Fittipaldi, 76, has been living in the villa in Italy‘s exclusive Lake Garda but was not at home when his home was raided.
The villa of former F1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi was robbed[/caption]
The two-times winner was not at home at the time of the robbery[/caption]
The thieves who broke into the property in the province of Brescia on July 13, reportedly targeted loot worth £217,000, including the racing legend’s collection of Rolex watches, gold jewellery and clothes.
The Italian Carabinieri are investigating the robbery. No arrests had been made so far.
The F1 legend won both the Formula One World Championship and the Indianapolis 500 twice in the 1970s.
Born in Brazil, Fittipaldi raced in the Italian Grand Prix and ran for the Italian Senate in 2022 as a member of the Brothers of Italy party.
He made his race debut in Formula 1 for Team Lotus as a third driver at the 1970 British Grand Prix.
He won World Drivers’ Championship in 1972 at the age of 25.
He was the youngest ever F1 world champion at the time and held the record for 33 years.
In 1974 he won the title again with McLaren and continued his success before he retired from Indy Car racing in 1996.
In 2008, he became one of the three people in history to have a Corvette production car named in his honour.
His two grandsons, the Brazilian-Americans Enzo Fittipaldi, 21, and Pietro Fittipaldi, 27, are both racing drivers.
Fittipaldi won Formula One World Championship and the Indianapolis 500 twice in the 1970s[/caption]
Fittipaldi raced in the Italian Grand Prix[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23118485/f1-max-verstappen-deliberately-crashing-banned-esports-race/
Thu, 20 Jul 2023 12:37:51 +0000
Post 23118485 at The Sun
MAX VERSTAPPEN is in hot water with Formula 1 fans after he was involved in a crash during a sim race at the weekend.
The Red Bull driver was taking part in the Golden Toast Grand Prix but was disqualified after deliberately crashing into another driver.
Fans have been calling for Max Verstappen to be banned after his deliberate eSports crash[/caption]
Verstappen started the race in pole position, but was clipped on the first turn by Sven-Ole Haase.
The incident meant Verstappen dropped down the field, leaving him furious and out for revenge.
The reigning world champion took it upon himself to seek vengeance by cutting a corner and slamming at full speed into Haase.
The collision took both cars off course and put a spanner in Haase’s chances of competing in the race.
Fans of the event weren’t pleased with the 25-year-old’s behaviour and took to Twitter to voice their opinions on it.
One fan wrote: “I swear you get banned from iRacing for things like this? Or will he get away with it because he’s Max Verstappen?”
Whilst another slammed Verstappen’s decision, they wrote: “This is like some 12-year-old behaviour. How is this coming from a world champion F1 driver?”
Another fan seemed to like the Dutch driver’s antics, writing: “Just became even more of a Verstappen fan.”
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Verstappen is back on the real track at the weekend for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
He currently sits top the Formula 1 standings with his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez behind him in second place.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/14880918/valtteri-bottas-f1-motorhome-races/
Thu, 20 Jul 2023 10:15:00 +0000
Post 14880918 at The Sun
ALFA Romeo star Valtteri Bottas really does spend his life on the road during race weekends, even after the chequered flag.
Since the pandemic struck Europe in 2020, sports stars were forced into Covid-secure bubbles, to ensure that events could go ahead safely.
The huge Redwood travels all over Europe with Bottas[/caption]
And ex-Mercedes ace Bottas, 33, took his bubble to the next level… by bringing it with him to every race.
The Finn first showed off his Redwood motorhome in October, which joins him at all European races.
Spacious and beautifully furnished, the home on wheels offers Bottas all the comfort he could need, while giving him the feeling of a familiar environment while travelling.
It features a grey-themed living space, with Sky television and an array of comfortable armchairs, as well as a sofa.
The Redwood 4001 LK, which costs upwards of £100,000, also offers a modern kitchen space, where Valtteri can prepare his pre-race brekkie.
And a dining area by the window, perfect for toasting a victory or drowning sorrows after disappointment.
The Redwood 4001 LK features a homely interior[/caption]
Bottas can rest in his huge bed[/caption]
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The home features a pleasant dining space[/caption]
A Greystone electronic fireplace can keep Bottas warm when he’s back at home.
And he can rest in his huge king-size bed after a long day on the track.
The sleek, modern bathroom features elegant furnishings and a spacious shower.
And the property on wheels also doesn’t lack for storage space, with plenty of cupboards and wardrobes for Bottas to keep his things on the road.
The sleek bathroom features modern furnishings[/caption]
Bottas can relax in front of the telly[/caption]
The electronic fire keeps inhabitants warm[/caption]
Bottas can use the microwave if he’s feeling lazy[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23115227/lewis-hamilton-f1-big-meeting-future-mercedes-hint/
Thu, 20 Jul 2023 09:49:26 +0000
Post 23115227 at The Sun
LEWIS HAMILTON has hinted at his future plans amid ongoing contract talks.
The seven-time Formula One champion’s current contract with Mercedes expires at the end of the season.
Lewis Hamilton has given a big hint on his F1 future[/caption]
His contract at Mercedes expires at the end of the season[/caption]
The two parties have been in ongoing talks for months.
But now Hamilton appears to have given the biggest hint yet that he will still be on the grid next season.
When asked about the constructor’s plans for next year’s car, Hamilton revealed there had been a number of “big meetings” in recent weeks.
He said: “We’ve just got to continue to work and chip away at it and that’s what we are trying to do.
“We will have bits [coming to the car] over the [upcoming] races, it could come soon enough, but I’m pushing as hard as I can.
“I was having big meetings with the team, speaking to the head of aerodynamics, head of vehicle dynamics with what is in mind for next year’s car.”
Despite Hamilton and Mercedes team Principal Toto Wolff both seemingly being on the same page for the 38-year-old’s new deal, Hamilton has also been heavily linked with a team switch.
Ferrari had been the main party linked with the Brit, but Red Bull boss Christian Horner has admitted his team have considered making a move for Hamilton in the past.
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He revealed: “Lewis is obviously a great driver. Hopefully he’ll be around for many years to come.
“There’s been a couple of occasions in history that we’ve had a couple of conversations about the possibility of joining Red Bull, but that’s not been anytime recently.”
While Hamilton has won six of his seven titles at Mercedes, they are currently nowhere close to the pace of Max Verstappen and Red Bull.
Hamilton secured a podium finish at the Silverstone Grand Prix but remains in the hunt for his first race win in F1 since 2021.
Next weekend’s race – the Hungary GP – is another track Hamilton has a particular affinity for, winning eight times around the Hungaroring Circuit.
And he will need to find his best pace if he is to stand a chance at beating Verstappen and Co who are set to bring upgrades to their car which could reportedly make them up to two-tenths quicker.
Away from the track Hamilton has been linked with music superstar Shakira.
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23114082/abandoned-iconic-uk-stadium-weeds-track-belle-vue/
Thu, 20 Jul 2023 08:36:56 +0000
Post 23114082 at The Sun
A FORMER iconic UK stadium fell into disrepair before eventually being demolished.
It was once one of the main sites in British motorsport and greyhound racing for 94 years.
This iconic stadium fell into disrepair[/caption]
The rail was left broken and fell apart[/caption]
The racetrack made a miserable demise[/caption]
The former stands overgrew with weeds[/caption]
Speedway was a regular fixture at the Manchester arena from 1988 through to 2015.
But by 2020, the venue had been totally abandoned in a sad demise for the area.
And images of the derelict ground reveal how much of a state it was in before the work to destroy it got underway in May 2021.
The track was overgrown with weeds while the rail had fallen apart and broken up.
Further footage showed the abandoned hospitality suites, empty bars, wrecked rooms and damaged ceilings stuck in time since the doors closed for the final time to the public in 2020.
Elsewhere, the betting boards started to crumble and the control room looks like something from an apocalypse movie.
The famous ground is Belle Vue Stadium – home of the Belle Vue Aces speedway team until they moved to their purpose-built national stadium in 2016.
For nearly a century, though, it was one of the key stadiums for greyhound racing.
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It staged the first race around an oval track in Britain way back in 1926.
However, when the National Asset Management Agency sold Belle Vue Stadium to Crown Oil Pension Fund in 2014 for £2.6million, a 15-year, £249,000-per-year lease back was agreed.
But the tenancy included a clause which enabled the rent to be terminated early.
And in December 2019 planning permission was granted for a new housing estate to be built on the plot.
That prompted Belle Vue’s closure during the Covid pandemic before the bulldozers arrived the following year.
The abandoned ground looked totally wrecked[/caption]
It closed its doors to the public in 2020[/caption]
Bellue Vue Stadium was once a key home for greyhound racing[/caption]
It was the home of the Belle Vue Aces[/caption]
The stadium was located in South-East Manchester[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23109411/abandoned-brooklands-racetrack-british-grand-prix-bombed-war-f1/
Wed, 19 Jul 2023 16:21:17 +0000
Post 23109411 at The Sun
THE racetrack which hosted the first ever British Grand Prix is now virtually unrecognisable.
Having been bombed during the Second World War, the track never re-opened for racing once the conflict ended.
The racetrack hosted the first ever British Grand Prix[/caption]
Grass can now be seen creeping through the track[/caption]
Brooklands Racetrack was put out of use for racing after being bombed during the Second World War[/caption]
It was used by the military during both World Wars after first opening in 1907 as the first racetrack of its kind.
Brooklands Racetrack looks unrecognisable over a century on.
The track, which is located in Weybridge, Surrey, was the world’s first purpose-built motor racing circuit.
With a unique design, the circuit had a 30-foot-high, banked-corner made of unreinforced concrete – which meant it required continual repairs.
Brooklands’ look even predated the iconic Indianapolis Speedway circuit.
In order to ensure safety at high speed the track was an incredible 100ft wide.
After less than a decade in operation, the track closed during World War I and was claimed by the War Office.
During that time, it became a major location for military aircraft construction, with the aerodrome built in 1909 used as a flying training centre.
Once the war ended, racing resumed on the track in 1920 after required track repairs had been carried out.
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Brooklands Racetrack opened in 1907[/caption]
Brooklands Racetrack hosted the first British Grand Prix in 1926[/caption]
The first-ever British Grand Prix was held at the circuit in 1926, with sand chicanes and a finishing straight constructed.
Racing would be forced to stop for good with the outbreak of World War II, with the final meeting held less than a month before the war started in 1939.
The aerodrome was again used to produce military aircraft and continued to be so throughout the 1940s.
Bombs also landed on the track during the conflict.
Nowadays, grass can be seen pushing through Brooklands’ remaining features with the track surrounded by trees.
The iconic banked-corners can still be seen.
It is among the highlights for anyone visiting Brooklands Museum where patrons are promised they can “re-live the thrills and glamour of speed and flight, from over 100 years of great British history.”
Brooklands Racetrack closed during both the First and Second World War[/caption]
Brooklands Racetrack was not used for racing again after the Second World War[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23103977/ralf-schumacher-ex-wife-cora-onlyfans/
Wed, 19 Jul 2023 11:46:14 +0000
Post 23103977 at The Sun
CORA SCHUMACHER, the ex-wife of former Formula One star Ralf Schumacher, has announced she has joined OnlyFans.
The German actress is no stranger to stripping off.
Cora Schumacher has announced she is joining OnlyFans[/caption]
Cora declared her page will be ‘revealing’[/caption]
She has previously modelled for Playboy[/caption]
But with the Playboy model now announcing she is joining OnlyFans, she has declared the new page will be “revealing”.
In an interview with Bild, she said: “My page on OnlyFans will be revealing, but will definitely remain aesthetic.
“I love my body and why shouldn’t I share that with others? That shouldn’t really be a problem since Playboy.”
She also hit back at doubters of the move.
Cora added: “I am 46 years old and feel very comfortable in my own skin. Why shouldn’t I share a topless photo or two with the public?”
The decision to join OnlyFans comes after her battles with menopause, which she says left her “miserable” and “slightly depressed”.
She explained: “I blew up like a bag of cheese and felt like Spongebob about to explode.
“It went down a very deep, dark valley with my self-esteem and self-love.”
Cora was married to Ralf Schumacher from 2001 until 2015[/caption]
She has 168,000 Instagram followers[/caption]
Cora, who has 168,000 followers on Instagram, was married to Ralf Schumacher – the younger brother of seven-time F1 champ Michael – between 2001 and 2015.
During this time the pair had one son together named David, who is now 21.
Despite having a legion of fans, they will still need to pay £20 to access the content on her page.
The bio reads: “Hey this is Cora Schumacher, here and only here you can experience me from my very private side and exclusively participate in my life…
“You can only see such private content here… I’m happy to answer your questions, and I’m happy if you write to me.”
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23089564/shakira-miami-lewis-hamilton-holiday-tennis-star-nba/
Tue, 18 Jul 2023 10:36:57 +0000
Post 23089564 at The Sun
SHAKIRA has returned to Miami ending a party-filled European trip, while her rumoured beau Lewis Hamilton enjoys downtime in Ibiza with a stunning young athlete.
The Colombian songstress, 46, touched down looking calm and cool as speculation grows of a fiery new romance with NBA star Jimmy Butler.
Shakira arrives into Miami Airport with her two sons, Milan and Sasha[/caption]
Amid swirling rumours with two sporting aces, Shakira looked cool and carefree[/caption]
The F1 star has been enjoying Ibiza on a yacht with famous faces including a tennis player and actress[/caption]
Hamilton braved the heat in a full tracksuit as a bikini-clad woman caught his eye[/caption]
The Mercedes driver was spotted looking cosy with 20-year-old Jenny Stray Spetalen[/caption]
Amid the possible “love triangle”, Shakira looked carefree as she walked through the airport in oversized sunglasses and a grey print jumpsuit that teased fans with a view of her black bra.
A bag was slung over her shoulder that said: “To Open” and “Not For Sale” as she gripped onto both Milan, 9, and Sasha, 7, who she shares with her footballer ex Gerard Pique.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton was spotted soaking up the rays on a yacht with 20-year-old tennis-player and heiress Jenny Stray Spetalen and Mexican actress Eiza Gonzalez.
With the F1 star away on the party island, Shakira was spotted getting “cosy” at an exclusive bar in London last week with basketball legend Jimmy Butler, presumably on a date.
This week, an insider shared that the NBA ace makes Shakira “smile”, while she’s reportedly not to be bothered “whatsoever” by their 13-year gap.
The source told Us Weekly: “They have been out a few times, but things are very new and it’s too early to tell if there’s long-term potential there.
“Jimmy makes Shakira smile, and she feels happy spending time with him.”
The source also added: “They have been out a few times, but things are very new and it’s too early to tell if there’s long-term potential there.”
Shakira and Butler were first linked after the Colombian singer was spotted courtside during last month’s NBA Finals.
The pair began connected on Instagram following the game, with Butler – who plays for the Miami Heat – recently liking a snap of the singer after she wowed at Paris Fashion Week.
The insider’s claims came only days after the British Grand Prix, where Shakira arrived just in time, which helped to rev up rumours she was in town to support her alleged beau, Hamilton.
The rumoured A-list couple were caught partying late into the night after the racing driver sped to a third place finish at his home circuit.
The pair have long been rumoured to be secretly dating after a series of intimate outings together.
Shakira watched Hamilton from the Mercedes team’s VIP area, just as she had had cheered him on at the Spanish Grand Prix last month.
Afterwards the Barcelona race they were snapped looking smitten as they had cocktails with friends.
In May, Shakira also watched Hamilton race in Miami – her new home town since moving to the US earlier this year.
The pair were seen on a boat together after the race, where Lewis showed off his chivalry after picking her up from the back of her £12million beach mansion.
Hamilton looks relaxed despite rumours of a possible romance between Shakira and NBA star Jimmy Butler[/caption]
The 7-time world champion stayed behind to party in Ibiza, while Shakira touched down in her home city of Miami[/caption]
Hamilton showed off his ripped abs as he enjoyed a well-deserved break from the busy F1 season[/caption]
However, now Jimmy Butler has come storming into the picture fuelling new speculation of a ‘love triangle’[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23088582/f1-verstappen-kelly-piquet/
Tue, 18 Jul 2023 08:40:00 +0000
Post 23088582 at The Sun
MAX VERSTAPPEN’S girlfriend Kelly Piquet stunned in a tiny bikini as she took a break from life in the fast lane.
The model is enjoying some time in the sun after attending the wedding of her best friend earlier this month.
Kelly Piquet stunned in a polka dot bikini[/caption]
She is enjoying a holiday with her daughter Penelope[/caption]
Kelly works as a model[/caption]
Kelly is the daughter of F1 legend Nelson Piquet Sr[/caption]
And she dazzled in a polka dot bikini that left little to the imagination.
Kelly shared snaps of a boat trip on Instagram, while she also went paddleboarding with her three-year-old daughter Penelope.
Fans were impressed Kelly’s look as one commented: “Beautiful ”
Another added: “Gorgeous ”
And a third said: “”You are so beautiful, you can’t be from this world”
Kelly, 34, began dating Verstappen in late 2020 and recently had to squash rumours they have split.
The Brazilian also comes from an F1 background with Kelly‘s father Nelson a legend of the sport.
Verstappen, 25, is on course to equal his three world championship wins after winning the last five races.
Most recently the Dutchman conquered Silverstone and is now preparing for the final two Grands Prix before the summer break.
The world number one is best known for his F1 performances but is also a big star in the world of simulation races.
He often takes part in virtual F1 tournaments and was disqualified from competition this week after ramming into an opponent.
After the first hour, a racer from an opposing team, Sven-Ole Haase, hit Verstappen from behind, causing him to crash into his team-mate.
This led both drivers to spin out of control, putting the team behind their competition.
Later in the race, Verstappen took an off-track shortcut and caught up with Haase.
Then when Haase broke for a corner, Verstappen refused to, and rammed Haase’s car.
The car was rammed off the track and into the barriers.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23073568/goodwood-festival-of-speed-f1-car-leyton-house-damaged/
Sun, 16 Jul 2023 14:46:44 +0000
Post 23073568 at The Sun
A LEGENDARY Formula One car has suffered major damage after a “very bizarre incident” at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The Leyton House, one of iconic engineer Adrian Newey’s first F1 cars, was the victim of the accident.
A legendary F1 car was left in a wreck after a ‘very bizarre incident’ at Goodwood[/caption]
The scheduled Saturday run was cancelled due to storms, but the packed timetable went ahead as normal after the weather cleared up.
A host of historic cars from all types of motorsport were driven up the famous Goodwood Estate hill.
However one of those motors, an Adrian Newey-designed Leyton House Judd CG901 from 1990, appeared to suffer mechanical failure as the driver approached the Molcomb corner.
The car then spun around and crashed into some nearby straw bales that lined the road.
It then bounced onto the track as the marshals pulled out and began waving the red flags.
Fortunately for driver Richard Hope, he escaped uninjured.
And he managed to climb out of the vehicle while the debris was quickly cleared up.
Karun Chandhok, who was driving a McLaren Can-Am motor up the hill. was the next driver approaching following the crash.
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Commentator Alex Jacques said as the replay was shown: “This is the Leyton House F1 car that put [Adrian Newey] on the map.
“Hitting the brakes, and around into the straw.”
Co-commentator Alice Powell then said: “That’s a very bizarre incident, it looks like it just locked up the rear tyres there and, at that point, the driver is a passenger.
“The hay bales, the straw bales did their job but that’s an expensive crash.”
She then added: “I don’t think that is possibly on the driver, that looks like some other issue there because the rear has just instantly locked.”
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23066373/lewis-hamilton-yacht-shakira-eiza-gonzalez-jenny-spetalen/
Sat, 15 Jul 2023 11:01:14 +0000
Post 23066373 at The Sun
LEWIS HAMILTON has been enjoying some downtime in Ibiza after coming third at last weekend’s British Grand Prix.
The 38-year-old grabbed a place on the podium at Silverstone, before partying into the night with pop superstar Shakira.
Lewis Hamilton relaxed onboard a yacht alongside Jenny Stray Spetalen[/caption]
Sir Lewis and Jenny enjoyed the glorious sunshine[/caption]
The group are holidaying in Ibiza[/caption]
Having flown over to watch Sir Lewis at the British GP, Shakira joined him at celeb haunt Tape London – with the pair chatting together before she left at around 3:30am.
With Formula 1 stars having this weekend off, Hamilton has headed to Ibiza for some relaxation.
The Mercedes star has been hanging out on a yacht in the sunshine, and was joined by some other famous faces.
Hamilton was pictured alongside 20-year-old Jenny Stray Spetalen, daughter of Norwegian tycoon Oystein Stray Spetalen.
Also onboard were Mexican actress Eiza Gonzalez, Romeo + Juliet director Baz Luhrmann and his wife Catherine Martin.
Jenny has previously tried her hand at tennis.
She competed in singles at three tournaments in Norway between 2016 and 2019 – but won just two games across three matches.
Gonzalez, 33, has starred in a number of films and TV series – and is set to appear in Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare alongside Henry Cavill next year.
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Jenny previously tried her hand at tennis[/caption]
Hamilto, 38, is enjoying a weekend off from F1[/caption]
Actress Eiza Gonzalez was also in attendance[/caption]
Gonzalez is set to appear in an upcoming Guy Ritchie movie[/caption]
Baz Luhrmann and wife Catherine Martin were also among the group[/caption]
With Hamilton enjoying himself in Ibiza, Shakira headed to yesterday’s Wimbledon men’s semi-finals.
The 46-year-old was in attendance on Centre Court as Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz booked their places in Sunday’s final.
Also in attendance at Wimbledon this week has been Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler.
Shakira is rumoured to be dating the 33-year-old, with the duo heading out in Mayfair together earlier this week.
Hamilton is set to return to action next week at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion will attempt to grab his first win since 2021, although Max Verstappen will be tough to stop in his far superior Red Bull.
Hamilton recently enjoyed a night out with Shakira[/caption]
Shakira watched the tennis on Centre Court yesterday[/caption]
The singer was recently spotted out with Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23065680/goodwood-festival-speed-cancelled-wind/
Sat, 15 Jul 2023 08:47:50 +0000
Post 23065680 at The Sun
PETROL heads have reacted furiously after Saturday’s Goodwood’s Festival of Speed was cancelled due to “severe wind”.
Organisers of the popular motorsport event in Chichester, West Sussex, made the announcement on Friday after “consulting meteorologists, health and safety experts and other key stakeholders”.
The NASCAR Garage 56 car takes part in the 1.16 mile hill climb on Friday[/caption]
Motocross riders perform at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on Friday[/caption]
It is the first time in the 30-year history of the festival that a day has been cancelled.
But it has come much to the dismay of excited festival-goers, many of whom had already purchased tickets.
The Sunday event is due to go ahead as planned and is sold out, but those who had been planning to attend a day earlier “will not be able to access the site”.
Those missing out will receive refunds for the event, but many have slammed the organisers for “overreacting” – having lost out on accommodation costs after travelling from across the UK and abroad to attend the event.
One said: “We are in the camp site now. The wind isn’t bad enough to knock a one-man B&M tent over with no pegs in, let alone anything more! Could easily make something happen today even if a few things had to be changed up.”
Another wrote: “Think you have over reacted to forecast. With weather as it was Thursday into Friday you should have pulled the plug then if you were going to, not just today.
“Thousands left in a right state stuck here there and everywhere.”
A third said: “I’m laid in my hotel bed and now planning my drive home in the morning. Gutted.”
A fourth added: “Just travelled 3 hours and paid for a hotel!!”
Another wrote: “Absolutely gutted. Travelled 3hrs tonight.”
It comes after a statement from organisers on Friday said the event would not be going ahead as planned due to “forecasted high winds posing a serious risk to the various temporary structures across the site”.
An updated statement this morning added: “As per the communication issued last night, due to the severe wind warning, the Festival of Speed will not take place today.
“Please do not travel to the site. The event will resume as planned on Sunday.”
It continues: “Thank you for your understanding – further updates will be provided via email in due course. If you are camping over the weekend, you are welcome to stay in the campsites.
“Please be careful during the high winds and consider taking down gazebos and awnings, securing tents with additional pegs or demounting during the peak wind period.”
It comes after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for strong winds across the southwest of England and west Wales between 9am and midnight on Saturday.
Winds are forecast to reach 55mph in exposed places, with travel disruption also expected.
Campsite managers will help those staying at Goodwood brave the storm over the weekend.
Meanwhile, fuming residents say they are trapped in their homes by the Goodwood Festival of Speed – and are taking action against gridlocked roads.
Petrol heads have been dismayed after Saturday’s event was cancelled[/caption]
Ex-Formula 1 driver Jenson Button attended the event on Friday[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23054813/shakira-town-jimmy-butler-lewis-hamilton/
Fri, 14 Jul 2023 10:38:46 +0000
Post 23054813 at The Sun
SHAKIRA brushed off rumours of a love triangle with two sports stars as she hit the town clad from head to toe in black.
The pop beauty partied at a star-studded bash on Thursday night – a day after she was spotted on what appeared to be a date with NBA ace Jimmy Butler.
Shakira stunned in an all black outfit as she partied with other celebs[/caption]
She was spotted enjoying dinner with NBA star Jimmy Butler the day before[/caption]
They left Novikov Restaurant & Bar in London just two minutes apart[/caption]
Lewis Hamilton posed with his arm round Shakira in Barcelona following the Spanish Grand Prix last month[/caption]
Shakira, 46, and Butler, 33, were pictured leaving Novikov Restaurant & Bar in London just two minutes apart – with the singer escorted to her car by his entourage.
The pair were said to be getting “cosy” as they enjoyed sushi and cocktails together at the exclusive Italian restaurant in the heart of the capital’s Mayfair district.
Shakira rocked a figure-hugging denim jumpsuit, while Butler paired black pants and a tee with a red bandana.
An insider told the outlet the pair looked ‘cozy’ in the restaurant, where they eventually left separately at 1.30am.
But just days earlier, Shakira watched from the Mercedes team’s VIP area as seven-times champ Lewis Hamilton, 38, sped to a podium finish on his home circuit at Silverstone on Sunday.
It was the third time Shakira has watched Hamilton race this season – revving up rumours they are secretly dating.
But amid speculation of a growing love triangle, a carefree Shakira donned sunglasses and a skimpy top as she partied with other A-listers at Vogue magazine’s party.
She was pictured being helped out of the Chiltern Firehouse, London, by a man in a blue shirt – believed to be her bodyguard.
Shakira and Butler were first linked after the Colombian singer was spotted courtside during last month’s NBA Finals.
The pair began following each other on Instagram following the game, with Butler – who plays for the Miami Heat – recently liking a snap of the singer after she wowed at Paris Fashion Week.
Meanwhile, Shakira and Lewis have been spotted enjoying a series of cosy outings together in the wake of her messy split from footballer ex Pique.
She was pictured beaming at the Spanish Grand Prix last month as she cheered the Mercedes driver to second place.
Afterwards he was snapped with his arm round her waist as they had cocktails with friends in Barcelona.
In May, Shakira also watched Hamilton race in Miami – her new home town since moving to the US earlier this year.
The British speed ace was pictured speaking to her at a restaurant in the city, sparking a frenzy of speculation.
Days later Lewis picked her up from the back of her £12million beach mansion at the start of a cosy boat trip together.
The star enjoyed sushi and cocktails with Butler on Wednesday[/caption]
Butler recently liked a snap of Shakira after she wowed at Paris Fashion Week[/caption]
On Thursday night she attended Vogue magazine’s star-studded bash[/caption]
Shakira watched the race from the Mercedes team’s VIP area in the paddock on Sunday[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23050120/goodwood-festival-of-speed-crash-car-wheel-crowd/
Thu, 13 Jul 2023 17:51:52 +0000
Post 23050120 at The Sun
SPECTATORS reeled in horror as a wheel flew off a car and into the crowd at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Amazingly, no-one was seriously hurt despite a rear wheel spinning off a classic Mk1 Jaguar, hurtling hundreds of metres and rearing up into packed rows of fans behind barriers.
It’s understood two people suffered minor injuries and the accident meant a 40-minute hold-up to the runs.
But a Goodwood statement said: “Following the incident on the hillclimb we’re pleased to confirm that there were no serious injuries and those involved were able to go back to enjoying the event.”
Many viewers watched the worrying incident unfold live on their screens.
Goodwood promised to “prioritise the wellbeing of the people involved”.
And within minutes of that message they were able to issue their reassuring statement.
Fans online immediately reacted with relief.
One said, “So glad to hear that everyone is ok” and a second wrote: “News I’ve been waiting for.”
A third posted: “Best possible news – such a relief. I hope the driver is not too shaken up.”
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Some witneses told Motor1.com that a wheel hit an older man, who was able to speak to officials before being taken away in a hospital.
Runs restarted with the hybrid McLaren Artura leading a row of supercars ascending the hill.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23049254/red-bull-norris-leclerc-f1-perez-verstappen/
Thu, 13 Jul 2023 16:54:03 +0000
Post 23049254 at The Sun
LANDO NORRIS and Charles Leclerc have held talks over signing for Red Bull, according to reports.
The team are currently dominating F1 with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez the top two in the driver standings.
Lando Norris has been linked with a move to Red Bull[/caption]
Charles Leclerc has reportedly held talks with Red Bull[/caption]
But the duo could soon leave with the Mexican’s contract up at the end of the 2024 season.
Meanwhile, Verstappen has previously hinted he could retire when his deal expires in 2028.
Reports in Italy state that Red Bull are looking to recruit a new driver for the 2025 campaign.
And both Norris and Leclerc have been approached.
The Brit is supposedly highly-rated by Red Bull chiefs and was close to joining them before penning a deal at McLaren.
Norris’ contract runs until 2025 and he reportedly has plans to remain there.
Meanwhile, Leclerc sits seventh in the standings and has podiumed just twice this campaign.
With his contract up in 2024, there has been speculation he could replace Perez.
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Suggestions have also been made that Leclerc could be growing frustrated at Ferrari’s disappointing start to the season.
The 25-year-old has been linked with taking Lewis Hamilton‘s spot at Mercedes should he step away from F1.
Yuki Tsunoda is also an option for Red Bull after impressing at sister team AlphaTauri this year.
Red Bull’s duo of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez could soon leave[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/19803645/f1-jacques-villeneuve-daniel-ricciardo/
Thu, 13 Jul 2023 13:06:00 +0000
Post 19803645 at The Sun
DANIEL RICCIARDO’S Formula One career was blasted as “terrible” by former champ Jacques Villeneuve – or at least, half of it.
The Aussie was ditched by McLaren – and replaced by Oscar Piastri – with a year remaining on his contract last summer and elected to rejoin Red Bull Racing as a third driver for this term.
Jacques Villeneuve slated Ricciardo’s performances[/caption]
Ricciardo, 34, has won eight races during his time in F1, but has struggled over recent years.
But now he will be hoping to rekindle some of his old magic after Nyck de Vries was released from his AlphaTauri seat after last weekend’s Silverstone.
Despite driving the Red Bull RB19 in the Pirelli tyre tests at the British GP, it was later announced he was returning to AlphaTauri and will be driving alongside Yuki Tsunoda at the upcoming Hungarian GP.
But racing legend Villeneuve, 51, last year blasted Ricciardo, telling F1 TV: “He had two terrible years at Renault and two even more terrible years at McLaren. That’s four years. Almost half of his Formula One career was bad.
“Alpine have no reason to take him, especially when he’s driven there before.
“The modern cars just don’t seem to suit his driving style.
“He was impressive at Red Bull. He showed amazing overtaking manoeuvres. He was ahead of Max at the beginning. But in the end Max started to get a handle on him.
“Then he switched. And after the switch something seems to have happened that he never managed to get a handle on. He never recovered from that.”
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Ricciardo achieved two third-place championship finishes with Red Bull. Since leaving at the end of 2018 has come ninth, fifth and eighth.
Speculation began to mount last year that Ricciardo was contemplating a one-year sabbatical from the sport – but Villeneuve claimed that would have been a bad idea.
He added: “It could make him lazy. You can take a year off if you’re an Alonso, a Schumacher, if you’ve been world champion and won a lot of races, if you know in the paddock that you’ll always be at your best, no matter what season.
“After four bad years, don’t do that. You take what you can get. If you have an offer to drive in Formula One, then you take every cockpit.
“In public you will say you don’t want to drive for one of the back teams, but if that’s the only contract you can get, then you’ll sign it.”
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23026938/f1-expert-cara-delevingne-tom-cruise-starting-grid/
Tue, 11 Jul 2023 20:26:57 +0000
Post 23026938 at The Sun
MOVE over Cannes, take a running jump Ascot . . . the new place for any self-respecting celebrity to be seen at is Formula 1.
The hallowed grid, where drivers prepare for the race, is a hotspot like no other, with incredible access to the sport’s top drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
Shakira was one of the many celebs seen at the Formula 1 grid this year[/caption]
Tom Cruise was seen with Shakira at the 2023 Miami Formula One Grand Prix[/caption]
And the 2023 season has seen it flooded with A-listers, from Tom Cruise, Kylie Minogue and Paris Hilton to Cara Delevingne, Shakira and Brad Pitt.
Last weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone was packed with celebs and, in a bizarre moment, even had Homeland actor Damian Lewis singing the national anthem.
But while the stars add an even glitzier veneer to the world’s most dangerous sport, not all are willing to play the game.
Cara’s cringeworthy refusal to speak to F1’s legendary roving reporter and former driver Martin Brundle was blasted “rude”.
Here, two people who know all about it – our Formula 1 correspondent Ben Hunt and former grid girl Lizzie Cundy – explain why the high-octane sport is No1 for showbiz royalty.
ACCESS to the grid before a Formula 1 race is rather like walking out on the pitch before the Champions League Final.
It marks one of the most exclusive areas on the planet. A rare opportunity for the worlds of F1 drivers to collide with Hollywood A-listers, sport stars and politicians.
You are only allowed on to the grid if you are invited.
You cannot buy the passes that gain you entry, that’s not how it works.
Brad Pitt filmed scenes for a new movie at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone[/caption]
And I’ve had the privilege to do it for the past 11 years as The Sun’s F1 correspondent.
I’ve seen them all, from Pele to Pamela Anderson, Arnold Schwarzenegger to Sir Elton John — and many better examples.
But in recent years, under the ownership of Liberty Media and fresh off the wave of popularity created by Netflix’s Drive To Survive show, the list of A-listers is growing.
Last Sunday’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone was a peculiar mix of The Speaker of the House of Commons and Eurovision singer Sam Ryder.
The idea is that celebrities are allowed on to the grid to see the cars and the drivers before they set off on their two-hour race.
It is good for them to get the experience, it is good for F1 to have them associated with the sport, with the images beamed across the world.
Usually, the guests are invited by the F1 teams to the races and then F1 chiefs will in turn offer them access to the grid.
They are ushered on a few minutes before the national anthem while a team of mechanics put the finishing touches to their race cars.
It is an assault on the senses. It is hectic.
The mechanics and engineers are running through their checks while the engines are fired into life, prompting people to press their hands over their ears to deaden the noise.
Then there are the additional engines powering air-blowers used to cool the cars’ radiators.
There’s smell of fuel and usually the heat coming off the cars and from the asphalt below your feet.
Sometimes it is all too much and I bail out, such is the crush of mechanics going about their business and the TV crews seeking out their interviews.
The grid interviews have long been a part of Formula 1.
The broadcasters had traditionally focused on the drivers. But now, the celebrities are fair game, too.
It reached a point in 2021 when Megan Thee Stallion had an awkward exchange with Sky F1’s Martin Brundle.
Cara Delevingne’s reluctance to be interviewed on Sunday was another toe-curling moment of live TV.
The reality is, these celebrities should be made aware of the enormity of the experience of being allowed on the grid.
F1 says it makes it clear to their guests TV interviewers will seek an opportunity to speak to them and encourage the celebrities to agree to their requests.
But the fact is, for the best part, it is a brilliant experience.
I just can’t wait to see who is on the grid for the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix later in the year, which promises to be the biggest show on Earth.
‘ONLY ELITE GET IN’
LIZZIE CUNDY, 55, worked as a grid girl at Silverstone from 1988 to 1996.
Here, she reveals just how glamorous being at a Formula 1 race has always been . . .
Lizzie Cundy worked as a grid girl at Silverstone from 1988 to 1996[/caption]
“AS a former Wag, I’ve been to every big, glamorous sporting event you could go to.
But I’ve never known anything quite like Formula 1.
These drivers are risking their lives and it’s so fast, so scary. And the noise . . . there’s just something so special about it all.
With the likes of Brad Pitt and Cara Delevingne attending this year’s event, you can see how glamorous and super-wealthy you have to be to get in.
Only the elite get to go.
I was lucky enough to work as a grid girl and experience the lifestyle with my own eyes, every year for eight years.
As well as the talented racing drivers, including Ayrton Senna, we would see loads of cricketers and footballers, as well as Hollywood actors, all coming to watch the race.
We’d also work at the celebrity races too, and there would always be a big party in the evening in this huge marquee, which was loads of fun.
There would always be so many famous faces. Anyone who was anyone was there, and it just made you feel so special.”
Cara Delevingne had a cringeworthy moment when she refused to speak to F1’s roving reporter Martin Brundle[/caption]
Kylie Minogue at the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix[/caption]
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas at the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23025976/inside-lewis-hamilton-shakira-night-out-british-grand-prix/
Tue, 11 Jul 2023 19:00:00 +0000
Post 23025976 at The Sun
LEWIS HAMILTON and Shakira can’t seem to stay away from one another despite trying to distance themselves about rumours they are dating.
The pair have shot into pole position as one of this year’s most unlikely couples after spending a very cosy evening together following the British Grand Prix at the weekend.
Lewis Hamilton and Shakira cosy up after the F1 Grand Prix in Spain[/caption]
Shakira joined Lewis for a luxury boat trip in Miami[/caption]
The pair were pictured on board a luxury liner recently[/caption]
Shakira flew in to the UK especially to watch F1 racer Lewis take to the track on Sunday.
I can exclusively reveal that afterwards they spent the night partying with each other in the capital at celebrity haunt Tape London.
A reveller said: “After watching Lewis come third at Silverstone, Shakira joined him for a massive party at Tape nightclub.
“They were on a VIP table together in the venue and Shakira was seen locked in conversation with Lewis as well as various other members of his entourage.
“She appeared to be having a great time and was up dancing close to the table where she had been sitting with Lewis.
“Shakira called it a night around 3.30am and was picked up by a chauffeur who took her back to the Hotel Café Royal
“Lewis was more hardcore and stayed out clubbing until 6am and went to The Rosewood hotel for a kip.”
The onlooker added: “For two people who say there isn’t anything romantic between them, they seemed very friendly.
“They’d make a great couple if they did take the plunge.”
Shakira split from her husband, Spanish footballer Gerard Pique last summer after he dumped her for a younger woman.
Lewis has been officially off the market for a while but has been linked to a string of glamorous women.
In the past few weeks Shakira has been seen cheering on Mercedes driver Lewis — a seven-times world champion — at the Grand Prix in Spain and Miami, where she joined him for a luxury boat trip.
They were also spotted enjoying a cosy dinner in Barcelona not long after Lewis had finished racing.
I can’t cope with the dithering.
If I got a chance to wine and dine Shakira, I’d be asking her to marry me within minutes.
Kim the can-can girl
KIM KARDASHIAN worked up a sweat after signing a heavyweight ad deal.
She is bringing out Kimade with Alani Nutrition, which comprises two low-calorie canned drinks.
Kim Kardashian is bringing out Kimade with Alani Nutrition, which comprises two low-calorie canned drinks[/caption]
Insiders say Kim, who wore a white leotard and held dumbbells while posing next to the tin, commanded an eight-figure sum.
She is worth £1.3billion thanks to a series of clever brand deals and the huge success of her shapewear line Skims, as well as cosmetics business KKW Beauty.
Kim came under fire last year for dishing out business advice to other women, which was classed as “offensive”.
She said: “I have the best advice for women in business. Get your f***ing a** up and work. It seems like nobody wants to work these days.”
Personally, I think she’s on to something.
Ozzy out of comeback gig
OZZY OSBOURNE has been forced to pull the plug on his performance at the Power Trip Festival in the US later this year.
He was preparing to make his live music comeback after almost five years.
Ozzy Osbourne, pictured with wife Sharon, has been forced to pull the plug on his performance at the Power Trip Festival[/caption]
The Black Sabbath rocker has suffered with a number of health issues over the past few years and has now confirmed he’s had to cancel his hopes of getting back on stage.
Ozzy said: “My original plan was to return to the stage in the summer of 2024, and when the offer to do this show came in, I optimistically moved forward.
“Unfortunately, my body is telling me that I’m just not ready yet and I am much too proud to have the first show that I do in nearly five years be half-arsed.”
Insiders told me Ozzy’s wife Sharon had been by his side and was advising him to rest.
They added: “Sharon knows how dedicated Ozzy is to his fans but she wants him to rest up. His health must come first.”
Earlier this year Sharon told us his struggles had been compounded after he contracted Covid.
She said in April: “Ozzy’s Achilles heel has always been his lungs, so to get something like Covid that affects your breathing and all of that was just torturous.
“It has been very difficult. Ozzy has been plagued medically by different things that have been wrong. It is like one thing leads to another then another. For some reason he is tested all the time.
“I think, ‘No more, please God’.”
Zac’s cover story
SOUND the alarms – Zac Efron appears to have got shy about showing off his body.
The Hollywood actor clasped his hands over his chest as he soaked up the sun from a super yacht in St Tropez on the French Riviera.
Zac, who has a body that could give Adonis a run for his money, wore a pair of blue and red swimming shorts and yellow shades.
When not looking bashful, he was riding a jet-ski in the Med and looking far more at home than he did on board the boat.
Zac first transformed his body in 2017, when he got a role in Baywatch and said it was hard to get that trim.
He added last year: “That Baywatch look, I don’t know if that’s really attainable,
“That required powerful diuretics to achieve. So I don’t need to do that. I much prefer to have an extra, you know, two to three percent body fat.”
Only two to three, eh? Good to know.
Liam was real devil
LIAM GALLAGHER had one hell of pseudonym he used at hotels in his Oasis days.
Brother Noel has revealed the singer’s “stupid” choice of name during his latest podcast with comedian Matt Morgan.
Noel Gallagher revealed the pseudonyms used by himself and brother Liam[/caption]
Noel said: “We used to get given names in Oasis but I stopped using them because it was too confusing.
“People would be referring to you as Mr Bedford and shouting at you, ‘Mr Bedford!’
“They wouldn’t be stupid ones, they’d be quite nondescript.
“I was Max Bedford for a year. And then one year I was John Collier.
“Liam used to always pick stupid ones for himself.
“He thought it was funny to call himself Lou Cifer, like Lucifer.”
Dua’s VIP at Barbie premiere
DUA LIPA is a VIP guest of honour at the European premiere of the new Barbie film tonight.
Insiders tell me the Levitating singer, who appears in the film as Mermaid Barbie and was also at the US premiere in Los Angeles, has been invited to walk the red carpet in London’s Leicester Square.
Dua Lipa is a VIP guest of honour at the European premiere of the new Barbie film[/caption]
A source said: “Dua is one of the biggest stars of Barbie alongside Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling and it’s hoped she will be able to fit the London premiere into her schedule.
“Her appearance in LA caused a real stir and it’s hoped getting her down to Leicester Square will create the same buzz.”
As one of the busiest women in music, Dua’s fans will hope she will be able to slide a flying visit into her diary.
Feast fid for king
AS far as belated birthday celebrations go, 50 Cent made sure his entourage were well fed when he held a bash after his headline set at Wireless Festival.
Insiders told me Fiddy, who was 48 on Thursday, ordered 225 Nando’s chicken wings and 100 peri-peri wraps to feed his crew before he went on stage at the North London event on Sunday.
50 Cent made sure his entourage were well fed after a gig in London[/caption]
A source said: “ They had staff bring over bags and bags of goods for his bash. As well as ordering loads of chicken, he had fries with sauces in diamond-encrusted bottles.
“There were even bespoke napkins with Get Rich Or Die Tryin’, the name of his 2003 album, on them. Naturally there was a free bar too.
Rihanna’s bumper response
RIHANNA broke the internet again after showing off her baby bump.
She took to Instagram to promote a new collection from her lingerie line Savage X Fenty, but it was that growing bump which got all the attention.
Rihanna took to Insta to promote a new collection from her lingerie line Savage X Fenty[/caption]
The post was liked more than seven million times and received over 30 thousand comments.
One fan wrote: “You are actually the definition of beauty.”
Rihanna launched her clothing brand in 2018 but stepped down from her position as CEO last month, with Hillary Super taking over the role.
Despite being heavily pregnant, the billionaire businesswoman has kept herself busy and recently appeared in a campaign for Louis Vuitton, with singer Pharrell Williams as the creative director. It’s certainly not all business though.
The singer also enjoyed a holiday back home in Barbados with her boyfriend A$AP Rocky and their baby boy, RZA, who turned one in May.
Rihanna announced her second pregnancy in February, so it’s not long now until baby number two arrives.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23024517/motogp-marc-marquez-bikini-model-girlfriend-majorca-gemma-pinto/
Tue, 11 Jul 2023 15:49:34 +0000
Post 23024517 at The Sun
MOTPGP star Marc Marquez has been spotted with his hands all over his bikini-clad model girlfriend.
The six-time world champion has been holidaying on a yacht in Majorca with model and influencer Gemma Pinto.
Marc Marquez could not keep his hands off his girlfriend[/caption]
Marc Marquez headed out on a paddleboard with Gemma Pinto[/caption]
Marc Marquez enjoyed a kiss with the bikini-clad model[/caption]
Marc Marquez and Gemma Pinto went public with their relationship in May[/caption]
Marquez and Gemma have been snapped embracing on the vessel during their trip.
The Spanish rider smiled as he wrapped his arms around his partner before they kissed in an intimate moment.
Gemma also sat down on a paddleboard as Marquez steered them on the water.
She could not resist leaning back to kiss him after lifting her legs out of the sea.
Gemma, who hails from Barcelona, has amassed 106,000 followers on Instagram.
Her fans have also been treated to snaps from the holiday as she shared a pair of pictures to her profile.
In the snaps, the loved-up couple can be seen kissing as they enjoyed a dip in the sea.
Marquez went public with his and Gemma’s relationship back in May but it is unknown how long the pair have been dating.
Marc Marquez and Gemma Pinto are holidaying together in Majorca[/caption]
Marc Marquez took Gemma Pinto out on the water[/caption]
Their Majorca getaway has provided a distraction from his difficult start to the MotoGP season.
After eight races, Marquez sits 19th in the riders’ standings and has yet to finish a race.
Having only competed in five, Marquez has retired from three and did not start the previous two in Germany and the Netherlands.
He will be hoping for better luck after the mid-season break, starting with the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on August 6.
The couple had been relaxing on a yacht[/caption]
Marc Marquez and Gemma Pinto are holidaying during the MotoGP mid-season break[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23022481/nyck-de-vries-sacked-daniel-ricciardo-alphatauri-hungarian-gp/
Tue, 11 Jul 2023 14:41:25 +0000
Post 23022481 at The Sun
DANIEL RICCIARDO has made a sensational return to Formula 1 to replace Nyck de Vries who has been axed by AlphaTauri with immediate effect.
Australian Ricciardo, 34, failed to secure a seat for the 2023 season after being let go by McLaren.
He returned to Red Bull as their reserve driver behind Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez – a team he won five races with between 2014 and 2017.
But now he will be on the F1 grid with AlphaTauri – an Italian team owned by Red Bull – as the news was confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that he will join them for the remainder of the year.
Speaking about his return, Ricciardo said: “I’m stoked to be back on track with the Red Bull family!”
And Franz Tost, AlphaTauri team principal, added: “I’m very pleased to welcome Daniel back into the team.
“There’s no doubt about his driving skills, and he already knows many of us, so his integration will be easy and straight forward.
“The team will also profit a lot from his experience, as he is an eight-time Formula 1 Grand Prix winner.
“I would like to thank Nyck for his valuable contribution during his time with Scuderia AlphaTauri and I wish him all the best for the future.”
De Vries, 28, only joined AlphaTauri ahead of the 2023 season after waiting in the wings as a reserve and test driver for the likes of Mercedes, McLaren and Aston Martin.
But he lasted just 10 Grands Prix before being ditched in ruthless fashion.
De Vries, without a point in the campaign, failed to finish higher than 12th in any of his races.
And he ended 50 per cent of his starts 17th or lower – including one retirement.
Fellow AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda has secured two points and finished ahead of De Vries in nine out of 10 races.
Speaking about De Vries’ future back in May, team chief Helmut Marko told F1 Insider: “We spoke to De Vries and he agrees with us, he needs to improve.
“The gap to team-mate Yuki Tsunoda, who is doing a great job, is too big.
“To use footballer jargon, Nick has a yellow card but not the red one yet. If he improves, a driver change will not be an issue.”
Ricciardo will take over from De Vries in time for the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 21.
He has not raced in F1 since the Abu Dhabi GP on November 20 last year where he finished ninth.
The Aussie claimed 37 points for McLaren in 2022 – 85 fewer than team-mate Lando Norris.
But he has eight Grands Prix wins to his name since making his debut 12 years ago.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23017945/christian-horner-f1-red-bull-bbq-snub-trolled-bbq/
Tue, 11 Jul 2023 10:49:10 +0000
Post 23017945 at The Sun
A HOST of Formula One stars left Christian Horner red-faced after snubbing a barbecue at his home.
The 49-year-old multi-millionaire chief of the Red Bull F1 team sent out an invite for the bash at his house during the British Grand Prix weekend – where his man Max Verstappen triumphed again.
Horner and Spice Girl wife Geri invited all 20 drivers to their lavish home[/caption]
Only half of those invited accepted the multi-millionaire’s BBQ offer[/caption]
Horner, Geri and the family have two lavish homes, with one in Oxfordshire and the other in Herfordshire[/caption]
All 20 drivers were invited to come along after qualifying on Saturday at Silverstone.
Horner shares TWO stunning country homes with wife, Spice Girl Geri, in Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire with both less than an hour away from the iconic British race track.
The former property is, perhaps, the most lavish and most shared online – boasting its very own duck pond, which they use for boating.
Their farm also houses three miniature donkeys, horses and goats in the estate’s stables.
And it’s the property in Oxfordshire that gets the most love from Geri, 50, on Instagram, who regularly shares candid snaps of her family life.
It remains unclear which drivers accepted his invitation, although Red Bull duo Verstappen and Sergio Perez are both likely to have attended.
But Horner revealed that a number of their rivals opted to stay away despite him insisting that everybody was welcome.
When asked if he was joined by all 20 drivers, Horner replied: “No, no, about half the grid.”
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That did not stop Horner from taking the role of head chef, but cheeky fans soon mocked him for cooking up a “bland and flavourless” BBQ.
He shared a snap on Instagram of himself behind the BBQ, which was stacked with chicken, burgers, sweetcorn and other veg, with tongs in hand.
But some of the comments left a nasty taste, with one saying: “Omg there’s no flavour there WTF.”
Another troll said: “Is that chicken? It’s so pale hahaha.”
A fellow cruel fan said: “All that money and no taste…”
As another joked: “Married a Spice Girl yet there are no spices to be seen on that food.”
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
Horner, who last year celebrated Verstappen regaining the F1 Championship, is stepdad to Geri’s daughter Bluebell Madonna, 17, and the couple share a son, Montague, who is 6.
He also has another daughter, Olivia, 10, from a previous relationship with ex-partner Beverley Allen.
Horner did also reveal how he was intrigued by the conversations of those that did attend as he spoke about the dramatic race on Sunday.
Verstappen took the chequered flag to register his sixth straight victory despite the Dutchman being overtaken by his McLaren rival off the line.
Horner said: “You could see that he [Verstappen] enjoyed racing with Lando today.
“There was a lot of respect between the two. He’s a racer, he likes to race.
“I had all the drivers at my house for a barbecue last night and you immediately see that they immediately start talking about the moments on the track, what happened here and there, even about what happened in Formula Three or in karting.”
Horner and Geri regularly share snaps from their gorgeous properties online[/caption]
And the Spice Girl has also posted shots of themselves horse riding on the property[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23011843/verstappen-british-gp-norris-silverstone-red-bull/
Mon, 10 Jul 2023 20:48:18 +0000
Post 23011843 at The Sun
MAX VERSTAPPEN was victorious again and Red Bull maintained their 100 per cent win-rate for the season.
But don’t switch off yet, the others are definitely catching up.
Lando Norris put his foot in the door of Max Verstappen’s title charge by coming second at the British GP[/caption]
OK, it may already be too late in the title race for Verstappen has a whopping 99-point lead.
But there was something, even in Red Bull’s 11th consecutive win, that makes me think we could see a driver from a different team on the top-step of the podium at the next race in Budapest.
Red Bull started the season strongly with a car design that has proved to be best out of the box — as they usually do.
I have asked their rivals and there is ZERO suspicion of any foul play with regards to the design — which in itself is unusual for F1 as team’s do enjoy pointing an accusing finger.
Yet we have now reached the point of the season where the teams have had time to copy that design and produce their own version of it.
Consequently, it was no surprise to see McLaren’s Red Bull-inspired car design perform so well at Silverstone.
Others will follow suit soon.
Aston Martin and even Mercedes would be foolish not to put engineering pride to one side and copy Red Bull’s homework.
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It was interesting to hear Lando Norris keep expectations in check after impressive back-to-back results — fourth in Austria and second at Silverstone — on two very different tracks.
He usually has a terrible poker face but they will again be in the mix in Budapest at the Hungarian GP, as will Mercedes after a difficult two races.
Verstappen has been winning by a good 25+ seconds yet, at Silverstone, that was cut to just 3.7sec.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has always maintained that convergence would happen over the course of the season as the other teams make up ground.
And we also need to factor in the limited development Red Bull now have by virtue of the rules that cut the allotted wind-tunnel time depending on where you finish in the championship.
The other element to consider is the further reduction as punishment for breaching last year’s cost cap.
The gap in lap time between Verstappen and the rest is closing.
While it is too late to change the outcome of this year’s championship, it does bode well for the competitiveness for 2024.
Pitt’s lost the plot
FILMING for the new Formula One film started at Silverstone and we were told to hold back on the details so as not to spoil the plot.
So it was a bit of a surprise to hear Brad Pitt say this in a TV interview with Sky F1.
When asked about his character Sonny Hayes, movie star Pitt said: “So he has a horrible crash, kind of craps out and disappears and is racing in other disciplines.
“His friend, played by Javier Bardem, is a team owner.
“They’re the last-placed team — 21st and 22nd on the grid. They’ve never scored a point.
“They have a young phenom played by Dansom Idris.
“He brings me in as a kind of ‘Hail Mary’ and high jinks ensue.”
Lew-dunit
ACTOR Damian Lewis is well used to playing a baddie on screen — but boy did he murder the national anthem at Silverstone on Sunday.
He sounded like a shoddy Elvis tribute act.
Four’s to be reckoned with
CHANNEL 4 has extended its deal with Sky to show Formula One action by three years to 2026.
The agreement shows the British GP live and delivers a highlights package of all the other races.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/22995811/rude-formula-1-celebs-cara-delevingne-martin-brundle/
Mon, 10 Jul 2023 14:42:20 +0000
Post 22995811 at The Sun
DRIVING an F1 car might look like the hardest job on the track.
But try being the guy desperately chasing moody celebs around it before lights out.
Martin Brundle got the cold shoulder from Cara Delevingne this weekend[/caption]
Presenter Martin Brundle has become the master of the awkward grid walk, with his run-in with Cara Delevingne over the weekend going viral.
The Formula One legend, 64, was brutally snubbed by the supermodel and her team when he tried to stop her for a chat, leading him to quip: “I’m sure it would have been extremely interesting.”
Cara was then slammed by fans for her “garbage behaviour” and forced to clarify on social media that she had been told not to talk.
At least she can take comfort from the fact that she’s far from the only prickly star to give poor Martin a hard time.
Grovelling apology
During the Miami Grand Prix last year, Martin was keen to chat with Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt, who was conducting some research for his upcoming film about the sport.
When Martin approached him to ask about the project, Brad, 59, appeared to be in a rush to get away from him, saying the film was top secret.
As the broadcaster attempted to get more out of him, Brad just ignored him with a brief “Thank you, man” and breezed past him.
Needless to say this didn’t go down well with Formula 1 fans who slammed Brad, saying he should have known who Martin was.
The actor was at Silverstone yesterday for his upcoming Formula One movie[/caption]
It was later revealed that the Oscar-nominated actor had sent a note to Martin explaining why he was unable to stop for a chat.
He has since gone even further, offering Martin a cameo in the film and sitting down for a gushing interview ahead of the British Grand Prix this week.
Grovelling much, Brad?
Double fault
Serena Williams boasts quick feet on the tennis court – and it seems on the tarmac, too.
When Martin spotted the tennis legend at the US Grand Prix in 2021, he said: “Venus (Williams) wasn’t that keen to talk to me five years ago, I don’t know if I’ll get a double fault or an ace.”
After waiting for her to finish a conversation, he asked her: “Serena, are you good for a chat? Martin Brundle, British TV.”
But the 41-year-old coolly indicated she had to be somewhere else, prompting Martin to remark: “It’s a double fault, it’s a double fault.”
After his encounter with Serena, Martin chose to avoid her altogether at the Miami Grand Prix earlier this year when he breezed past her.
Mission impossible
Martin had a quick chat to Tom Cruise at last year’s British Grand Prix[/caption]
Tom Cruise gave very brief answers to Martin’s questions[/caption]
Martin had an awkward run-in with Tom Cruise at last year’s British Grand Prix.
It wasn’t the warmest reception from the Hollywood superstar, who appeared to be keen to get away and gave the briefest of answers to Martin’s questions.
When Martin congratulated him on the success of his latest Top Gun movie and asked who he was rooting for, Tom replied: “Lewis [Hamilton] always. I love to watch him racing and he’s a good friend of mine. Hopefully, he has a great day.”
While the actor smiled and clapped Martin on the arm with every answer, he was later criticised for not stopping to give more of his time.
After the quick chat Martin quipped: “Got pushed around a bit. But he was lovely. Would have liked to have talked to him for a bit longer.”
Earlier this year Martin revealed he was banned from speaking to Tom on the grid at the Miami GP.
Awkward burn
Red Bull boss Christian Horner made a cheeky gag at Martin[/caption]
Christian Horner is known for being one of the more outspoken Formula 1 bosses, never afraid to speak his mind.
But at the 2014 Singapore Grand Prix he got a taste of his own medicine when he tried to throw shade at Martin during an interview.
Hyping up the incredible Marina Bay track, Christian told him: “It’s a shame you’re too old to have driven here really. You would have liked it.”
Sharp-tongued Martin hit back: “I am too old, shame you weren’t fast enough to get to Formula 1.” Ouch.
‘Learn some manners’
A member of Megan Thee Stallion’s team barged Martin away when he tried to talk to her[/caption]
At the 2021 US Grand Prix, Martin had yet another clash with a celebrity – this time Grammy Award-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion.
It all kicked off when Martin asked Megan whether she had a rap about the occasion, to which she responded bluntly “no”.
When he tried to ask more questions, a member of her security team rudely barged him out of the way – leaving F1 fans fuming.
Martin later took to Twitter, writing: “I have felt under pressure on the grid before but by people called Senna, Prost, Schumacher, Mansell, Piquet, and so on.
“Bodyguards visiting the grid for the first time don’t bother me, everyone’s got a job to do, but they could maybe learn some manners and respect on our patch.”
Star rejection
Owen Wilson rejected Martin at the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2012[/caption]
Owen n wasn’t up for much of a chat with Martin[/caption]
One of Martin’s most memorable celebrity snubs happened at the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2012, when Owen Wilson clearly wasn’t in the mood for a chat.
The Night At The Museum star rejected Martin twice, even turning his back on him at one point, before he managed to get a word in.
When Martin finally managed to get his attention, and asked whether he had been to a race before, Owen gave the deadpan reply: “I went to one in Spain last year,” before walking off.
Clearly miffed, Martin said: “Owen Wilson at his second Grand Prix, always interesting to know.”
‘No comprende’
At the 2003 Spanish Grand Prix, Martin was excited when he spotted then-Real Madrid star Roberto Carlos on the grid.
Asking if he’d be able to have a quick chat for British TV, Roberto, 50, responded in a high-pitched voice: “I don’t understand English.”
But that didn’t stop Martin probing for gossip on the rumours that David Beckham was set to move to Real Madrid from Manchester United.
Although Carlos didn’t utter a word, the look on his face spoke volumes and Martin walked away with a smile, joking: “That’s good, ‘no comprende’.”
Confusing stars
Martin thought he was interviewing Patrick Mahomes at the Miami Grand Prix in 2022[/caption]
At the Miami Grand Prix in 2022, Martin suffered an epic blunder when he confused Paolo Banchero, one of the NBA’s hottest stars, for Patrick Mahomes.
It made for a pretty awkward interview but thankfully, Paolo saw the funny side.
Paolo and Patrick later had a good laugh about the encounter on Twitter at Martin’s expense.
The two men are noticeably different in stature – Paolo is 6ft 10in, while Patrick is 6ft 3in – and both play completely different sports, as Patrick is an NFL star.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/22997382/sky-sports-f1-host-martin-brundles-brutality-cara-delevingne/
Mon, 10 Jul 2023 10:46:42 +0000
Post 22997382 at The Sun
FORMULA ONE fans have hailed Martin Brundle for his “absolute brutality” towards Cara Delevingne.
Viewers were fuming yesterday when Hollywood star and model Delevingne ignored the Sky Sports presenter as he made his way down the pitwalk at Silverstone.
Cara Delevingne has broken her silence over her now infamous Silverstone Sky snub[/caption]
Martin Brundle produced an epic put-down after the Hollywood star’s ‘rude’ behaviour[/caption]
Brundle’s grid walk interviews have become an essential part of F1 coverage, having worked as a reporter for the BBC and ITV before taking up his current role with Sky Sports.
But Delevingne appeared to be unaware of Brundle’s gridwalk authority and brutally snubbed the former F1 driver as he attempted to grab an interview.
He began by talking to a member of Delevingne’s entourage and said: “She doesn’t want to talk but everybody needs to talk on the grid.
“That’s the deal now, everybody talks on the grid.”
He then approached Delevingne and said: “Can we have a quick chat, [for] Sky F1? Good to see you on the grid.”
To which Delevingne replied: “No.” and looked awkwardly at her entourage.
Delevingne refused again and Brundle reiterated: “The deal is everybody has to speak on the grid.”
She then said: “I can’t hear anything, I’m so sorry.”
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Brundle then said sarcastically as he walked away: “I’m sure it would have been extremely interesting.”
The clip soon went viral on Twitter, with one fan writing: “Absolute BRUTALITY from Martin Brundle at #SilverstoneGP.”
Another slammed Delevingne’s “garbage behaviour” while another tweeted: “What is Cara Delevingne doing on the F1 grid if she refuses to talk? Get someone who actually appreciates F1.”
But a fellow fan actually defended the 30-year-old Delevingne, tweeting: “At this point, Martin Brundle is just doing it to manufacture the moment for the controversy of it all.
“You can clearly see the PR rep tell him ‘no’ and shake his head when he goes up towards Cara Delevingne. He had an out and he chose not to take it to make a statement.”
Delevingne then responded to that comment by saying: “I was told to say no so I did. Thank you for seeing both sides xxx.”
Another person responded to that by saying that her agent did not “rule” her, to which she then replied: “It wasn’t an agent, it was an F1 representative.”
Delevingne then added another follow-up tweet that read: “Anyway, I had so much fun today and was so happy to be there no matter what anyone else may think x.”
This was not Brundle’s first awkward encounter with a celebrity on the grid.
He was also shut down by Megan Thee Stallion‘s entourage at the Miami Grand Prix in 2021.
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/22993663/shakira-silverstone-f1-mercedes-lewis-hamilton/
Mon, 10 Jul 2023 10:17:25 +0000
Post 22993663 at The Sun
CAREFREE Shakira enjoyed a singalong on the way to cheer on her rumoured boyfriend Lewis Hamilton at Silverstone yesterday.
The pop superstar, 46, appeared in high spirits as she lip-synced her new single in the back of a car with a female pal.
Later she watched the race from the Mercedes team’s VIP area in the paddock[/caption]
A social media filter added a mermaid’s tail and bubbles as they belted out the words to Copa Vacia – which means empty cup – on the way to the British Grand Prix.
Shakira appears as a shackled mermaid in the video for the single, her latest diss track taking aim at ex-partner Gerard Pique.
The fun Instagram video was captioned: “Siren alert! Mermaids on their way to F1!”
Later the Hips Don’t Lie songstress was pictured laughing with other guests and pit crew in the paddock at Silverstone.
She watched from the Mercedes team’s VIP area as seven-times champ Sir Lewis, 38, sped to a podium finish on his home circuit.
Sky Sports’ Formula One commentators joked she was in the “posh seats” and was sure to be “willing on her friend”.
It was the third time Shakira has watched Hamilton race this season – revving up rumours they are secretly dating.
Shakira arrived in London on Friday after a busy time at Paris Fashion Week – where Lewis was also spotted partying with A-listers.
Before getting on the Eurostar she posted a selfie in a revealing cut-out top, teasing a “surprise” for her fans.
And she hit the town again in the UK capital, looking stunning in a see-through bodysuit as she partied into the early hours on the eve of the Silverstone GP.
Shakira and Lewis have been spotted enjoying a series of cosy outings together in the wake of her messy split from footballer ex Pique.
She was pictured beaming at the Spanish Grand Prix last month as she cheered the Mercedes driver to second place.
Afterwards he was snapped with his arm round her waist as they had cocktails with friends in Barcelona.
In May, Shakira also watched Hamilton race in Miami – her new home town since moving to the US earlier this year.
The British speed ace was pictured speaking to her at a restaurant in the city, sparking a frenzy of speculation.
Days later Lewis picked her up from the back of her £12million beach mansion at the start of a cosy boat trip together.
According to PEOPLE, the celebrity pair are understood to be keeping things “fun and flirty”.
Other sources insist the F1 star and the Colombian singer are just “good friends”.
Shakira’s repeated rendezvous with Lewis also sparked rumours of an awkward “love triangle” with movie star Tom Cruise – who was also pictured with her at the Miami Grand Prix.
Spanish media reported the Mission Impossible star, 60, was “absolutely mesmerised” by her.
Tom felt there was “chemistry” between them and sent her flowers after the meeting, an insider told Page Six
Shakira reportedly shot down his advances and begged the actor to leave her alone and stop flirting with her.
And Tom’s ego was said to be have “dented” by his “great friend” Hamilton’s approach.
However the global Latin pop superstar is reportedly “focused on her family” rather than dating.
She has two sons, Milan, ten, and Sasha, eight, with Barcelona legend Pique.
Sir Lewis Hamilton won third place in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone[/caption]
Colombian star Shakira cheers on her pal at the racing circuit[/caption]
Shakira looked relaxed as she arrived at London’s St Pancras station on Friday[/caption]
Lewis Hamilton posed with his arm round Shakira in Barcelona following the Spanish Grand Prix last month[/caption]
Shakira and Lewis were spotted enjoying a boat trip together in Miami in May[/caption]
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/22994984/f1-hollywood-national-anthem-elvis-silverstone/
Mon, 10 Jul 2023 10:06:28 +0000
Post 22994984 at The Sun
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ACTOR Damian Lewis had Formula One fans baffled as he sang the national anthem ahead of the Grand Prix at Silverstone in the style of Elvis Presley.
The Hollywood star belted out God Save the King alongside a saxophonist but the performance left viewers totally confused.
Damian Lewis (left) sang the national anthem ahead of the Grand Prix at Silverstone in the style of Elvis Presley[/caption]
One said: “Sorry but that was not just awful it was embarrassing.”
Another agreed: “What is more worrying is that at no point did anyone involved with organising this, or close to Damian Lewis, step in to prevent this tragedy.”
One joked: “Don’t give up the day job.”
Another asked: “Who let this happen?”
Lewis was dressed head-to-toe in black and also wore dark glasses for the performance.
He delivered the anthem in a slow, crooning style much to the amusement of many viewers.
The actor, known for roles in Homeland, Band of Brothers and Billions, has his own band and recently penned his first album.
Despite the dodgy singing, British pair Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris did their best to put on a show for the 160,000 crammed into Silverstone.
The two traded blows for the title of being named best of the runners’ up as once again Max Verstappen proved too strong.
Verstappen took the chequered flag for the eighth time in 10 races – and the sixth time in a row. Norris was second and Hamilton third.
Norris, 23, said: “It is pretty insane! None of this would be possible without the team and they did an amazing job.
“I managed to hold off Lewis. I tried to hold on to Max for as long as possible…but I don’t care, P2 is all good. The whole in-lap I was trying to wave to everyone.”
Hamilton, 38, who started seventh and was quizzed about his recover, added: “The crowd did it!
“Silverstone put on an amazing show. I felt the energy and the support and congratulations to Lando and McLaren.
“As a team, we know we are not that far away and we can keep pushing.”
Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton celebrate together[/caption]
Lewis has his own band and recently penned his first album[/caption]
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Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
