Motorsport

LEWIS HAMILTON has revealed that he has no plans to have kids.The 38-year-old signed a £100million contract extension with Mercedes in August.
Lewis Hamilton recently signed a new deal with MercedesCredit: Rex
Hamilton’s new deal has seen him commit to the Silver Arrows until the end of the 2025 season, by which time he will be 40.
The British seven-time F1 world champion was asked whether he’s considered having kids.
But at this point, he feels he is too focused on his career to do so.
He said: “Not at the moment, no.
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“I don’t have time for that – I enjoy being an uncle!
“I haven’t decided on this big step yet. I still have goals with the racing car – and everything has to take a back seat.
“I want to do my job 100 per cent. Of course, you have to find the necessary balance with your private life and make compromises.
“But fortunately that day hasn’t come yet.”
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Hamilton was also asked if he feels he could ever come out of retirement after he eventually gives it up, like Michael Schumacher did.
He added: “That will not happen to me. When the chapter is over, that’s when it’s over.
“I can’t imagine standing in the paddock or in the garage – without then getting into a car.
“But as I’ve said before: never say never.”
Hamilton is third in the drivers’ championship despite Mercedes’ struggles this season, having overtaken Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
He is 75 points ahead of his team-mate George Russell, and could even have his sights set on catching second placed Red Bull Sergio Perez.
The Mexican is 33 points clear of Hamilton, despite his vastly superior car.
Perez is a staggering 173 points behind his team-mate Max Verstappen, who is on the verge of sealing his third world championship.
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Hamilton and Co are back in action this weekend, when the F1 roadshow heads to Qatar.
The Mercedes star won the last time an F1 race was staged in Qatar in 2021, with last year’s event having been axed due to the World Cup.
Hamilton, 38, has far out-performed team-mate George Russell this seasonCredit: Getty More

LEWIS HAMILTON has hinted that he didn’t read his big-money contract and now has a “love-hate” relationship with Formula One.The seven-time world champion penned a two-year deal at Mercedes worth £100million in August.
Lewis Hamilton has revealed he has a unique feeling towards F1Credit: Splash
His improved contract means he will have a place on the grid in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Before signing the deal, there was speculation that Hamilton could move to Ferrari or retire.
But instead the 38-year-old will be racing beyond his 40th birthday.
Hamilton has revealed that he didn’t realise his passion for F1 but maintained he’s got an odd relationship with competing.
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He told outlet Blick: “I have to admit that I underestimated my love for this sport.
“But it’s become a love-hate story. There are days when I would prefer not to get into the cockpit.
“The duels with my team-mate George Russell also give me motivation. You always have to be wide-awake.”
Asked if he is aware of what is in his new Mercedes deal, Hamilton replied: “Of course. But it’s over 200 pages or a damn book. And that takes you days.
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“There are so many details about my promotional activities. 
“I’m in a fortunate position with Toto Wolff. He is respected and admired by everyone. It’s easy to negotiate with him and that makes him a great leader.
“This isn’t the first time the two of us have discussed and haggled over details for hours.
“Always under the motto: From Thursday to Sunday I belong exclusively to Formula One.”
Hamilton is third in this year’s standings despite not winning a race ahead of this weekend’s Qatar GP. More

MAX VERSTAPPEN could do an F1 first this weekend in the Qatar Grand Prix – by winning the title on a Saturday.While the previous championships have all been decided on Sunday’s race day, the Red Bull ace has the possibility of wrapping up his third consecutive title at the sprint race.
Max Verstappen is on the verge of making F1 historyCredit: Rex
Verstappen has won 13 of the 15 races in 2023 and is 177 points clear of his teammate Sergio Perez, who is second in the championship.
It means he will be crowned champion on Saturday if he finishes sixth, for three points, even if Perez wins the 30-minute race.
But does it matter if he wins it on Saturday or not? It has some people divided.
Given his performances at the start of the season – or to be precise his rivals’ failure to match his own results – it quickly became inevitable that he would win the title.
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We also knew it was a possibility that it would be done so on a Saturday sprint race, given the structure of the calendar, with sprint races loaded towards the end of the season in an attempt to prolong any potential title fight.
We have three of the six sprint races remaining in Qatar, Austin and Brazil with all three coming in the space of four races, only Mexico is a usual F1 weekend.
The whole concept of the shorter sprint races is to sell extra tickets for the Saturday, plus also secure more TV viewers.
Knowing that he could win the title on Saturday should lead to an increase in both of those numbers, although quite how many will attend in Doha this week remains to be seen.
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However, I wonder how it fits with F1’s traditional fans, now knowing that the title could be won not during an actual grands prix.
I appreciate this could be a moot point, but it does matter to some given the historical element. Almost like winning a Test match victory in a T20 match.

Furthermore, it opens up the debate as to why the races in Azerbaijan, Austria, Belgium, Qatar, Austin and Sao Paulo are worth more than say Silverstone or Monza, for example.
I respect F1’s decision to introduce the sprint races and understand their rationale for doing so.
But the prospect of a driver being crowned champion after a 30-minute procession around a car park in the desert, leaves me feeling rather cold.

TOTO WOLFF is likely to be in Qatar after skipping the Japanese GP after undergoing knee surgery.
The Mercedes boss skipped the race in Suzuka partly due to the operation – and because he struggles with jet lag, but should be back in the garage in Doha.
It comes as he faces mounting pressure to turn his team’s fortunes around after Lewis Hamilton claimed in Japan the car was just like last year’s to drive.
Toto Wolff is likely to return for QatarCredit: Reuters
RENAULT group chief executive Luca de Meo visited the Alpine team’s factory in Enstone last week to deliver a rallying call after months of upheaval at the team.
De Meo delivered a rousing speech to the factory, including drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly while staff after the team’s engine division in Viry-Châtillon in France, joined by video link.
De Meo is hoping to restore some much-needed faith in the team after former Alpine F1 CEO Laurent Rosso was moved on along with team principal Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane.
Alpine are adrift in sixth place in the constructors’ championship, 88 points behind McLaren.

MOTO GP are reporting a healthy increase in numbers of fans in the grandstands and watching the sport on TV. The sport’s bosses say TV figures are up 20 percent on 2022.
What is more impressive is their sprint races have seen attendances on Saturdays increase by a whopping 51 percent in the opening 12 races.
Moto GP are reporting an increase in attendances and viewershipCredit: Alamy
CAL CRUTCHLOW picked up TWO long-lap penalties in two days at the Japanese MotoGP.
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The Brit was entering as a wild-card for Yamaha but looked rusty as he picked up the penalties for exceeding track limits and then turning into his pitbox too early and going the wrong way around the entry sign.
Crutchow, who was 13th, said: “I’ve done two races and two long laps, so that must be a first!” More