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      F1 star Pierre Gasly left horrified after running over RABBIT during Imola Grand Prix practice

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      FORMULA ONE star Pierre Gasly suffered damage to his Alpine F1 car after hitting a RABBIT during first practice at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.The Frenchman was the shock package of Friday practice at Imola as he backed up his sixth-quickest time from FP1. Pierre Gasly suffered damage to his Alpine F1 car after hitting a rabbitHe ended the day with the third-fastest time in FP2, just 0.276s behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.But Gasly suffered a bizarre setback in the first practice session when he accidentally hit a rabbit – which caused damage to the front wing and floor of his Alpine.He said: “Very sadly, I couldn’t tell if it was a small cat or a big rabbit – it turned out it was a big rabbit – just jumping across the track.“I couldn’t avoid it so I had quite a big impact on the front wing, which, unfortunately that was it for the rabbit and for the front wing it was not ideal.READ MORE F1 NEWS“Not the end of the session we wanted.”Asked how much damage was done, Gasly replied: “I must say it’s quite unfortunate. “Obviously we always try to look after our parts and do the best job we can, so when such things happen it’s not great.“Quite a bit of damage on the front wing and the floor but the guys managed to do great work to repair it. Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”But I think we could have done without it.”Despite the sad rabbit strike, it was the “best Friday of the year” for Gasly, who was a surprise third, ahead of George Russell’s Mercedes, Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and both Ferraris.Lewis Hamilton fumes ‘have a tea break while you’re at it’ at Ferrari staff and refuses to apologise in Miami GP bust-upHe said: “It’s been a very, very good Friday. From the first lap, I could tell the car was in a much better place than in Miami.“I’m glad we managed to answer some of the question marks we had after the last race. Very pleased with the feeling in the car.“The car reacts the way I want and I’m really able to be at the limit and push it to the maximum, so it’s a nice feeling and the performance is there.“We know from Friday to Saturday others usually keep a bit more in the pocket but I think it’s quite fair to say it’s probably been the best Friday of the year.”Frenchman Gasly races for AlpineCredit: Alamy More

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      George Russell warns Mercedes ‘nothing is out of the question’ with F1 future up in the air

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      GEORGE RUSSELL revealed he’s happy to partner up with ANYONE on the grid as his Mercedes future remains up in the air.The Brit’s current deal expires at the end of the 2025 season and he expects to know about any extension “before the summer”.Mercedes’ George Russell has ruled out nothing with regards to his futureCredit: Shutterstock EditorialRussell opened up to reporters, including SunSport inside the Mercedes motorhome at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, about his preferences for 2026.The 27-year-old, whose last contract extension came in August 2023, said: “I want to be at Mercedes next year. That’s where I want to be.”But things have to be right. It’s all got to make sense. But I can’t see why it won’t happen.”I’ve always said I’d be happy to be team-mates with any driver on this grid.READ MORE F1 NEWS”So I don’t think anything is out of the question for next year, in terms of any movement on the whole grid.”Russell, who sits fourth in the Championship standings after a P3 finish in Miami, also opened up the happier atmosphere around the Silver Arrows crew this season.He said: “There’s been more calm in the team. It’s a good place for us right now.”We’ve made almost no mistakes this year. We’ve been better in high pressure moments on the radio to give the strategists more time to think.”Most read in MotorsportJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSMeanwhile, the entire F1 driver market, including Russell, hinges on the plans of four-time world champion Max Verstappen.The Dutchman, 27, may choose to invoke a performance-based exit clause in his contract should he remain unhappy with Red Bull’s output and the loss of key personnel such as Adrian Newey.Verstappen’s clause reportedly becomes active during the summer break in August – and rival teams like Mercedes are waiting for him to firm up his future before finalising their own line-ups.Lewis Hamilton in awkward car journey with George Russell and Carlos Sainz after Las Vegas GP More

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      Lando Norris to boycott social media after being subjected to fresh abuse as F1 star falls behind Oscar Piastri

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      LANDO NORRIS has boycotted social media after falling behind McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri in the F1 title race.Despite Norris’ pre-season billing as the Championship favourite, the McLaren star has been outdone by the Aussie’s momentum in the opening six races of the season.Lando Norris has faced a torrent of abuse and is ditching social mediaCredit: AlamyAnd Norris has been subject to fresh hate and abuse since falling 16 points behind Piastri, who – despite playing second fiddle to the Brit last year – is the new bookie’s favourite.Speaking to reporters including SunSport in the McLaren motorhome at Imola, Norris opened up about his online detox ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this Sunday.The 25-year-old admitted: “I’ve not been on social media for a few weeks now. It’s not something I enjoy. I don’t need to be on it.”It’s my life and I can do what I like. I enjoy not going on my phone as much as I used to. I still text my friends.READ MORE F1 NEWS“But I see social media as a waste of my time and energy. I don’t need it or want it. I don’t find it interesting.“I’ve got more time to do things that I want to do, I play golf and train and want to be productive.”Norris didn’t clarify on his reasons why, but the Brit has been at the receiving end of unnecessary trolling from sections of fans in recent weeks.Of course, it’s still too early to write any driver off with 16 more races up for grabs, but the feeling in the Norris camp seems somewhat bleak going into the European triple header.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSDespite sitting second, Norris also revealed he feels “unhappy” with how his MCL39 feels and isn’t bothered about the current standings.Asked if he was thinking about the title, Norris said: “No, is the answer.Max Verstappen and Lando Norris open up on F1 rivalry after controversial clashes“I don’t care about it and won’t think about it. It is easy for things to change.“Oscar has done a good job. But a lot of it is just focusing on myself.“He’s just another competitor. Another guy, he’s just dressed in the same colours.“It’s been clear that there have been differences from last year in how the car works, how it acts, and how I’m able to get lap time out of it and perform.“I’m obviously not happy at the moment, but we will see with the upgrades this week.”Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, 40, unfollowed everyone on Instagram, including all of his Ferrari team, in the days after his played-down radio spat with team strategists in Miami last time out.On this, Norris added: “Lewis can do what he wants, good for him.”Read More on The SunThe Brit’s first season since leaving Mercedes has been a big let down so far, as the Scuderia were meant to be challenging for the title after finishing second in the Constructors race last season.Instead, Andrea Stella’s team linger a staggering 152 points behind leaders McLaren, while Hamilton sits 90 points adrift of Piastri and behind both Silver Arrow drivers in seventh. More

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      ‘No one is happy’ – Max Verstappen breaks silence after explosive Christian Horner F1 sacking rumours

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      MAX Verstappen has spoken out against Christian Horner sacking rumours ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Friday.The Red Bull star, 27, spoke to Sky Italy about his controversial team principal’s status as the team sit 141 points adrift of leaders McLaren.Red Bull’s Christian Horner has found himself in the headlines recently with sacking rumoursCredit: GettyVerstappen has dismissed sacking rumoursCredit: GettyHorner, Red Bull boss since 2005, has turned heads after ruthlessly dropping Liam Lawson and being involved in a sexting scandal last year.The longest serving team principal on the grid has been tipped to leave by Austrian outlet oe24 but his star pupil does not share the same view.Verstappen said: “Honestly I have no idea where [the rumours] come from to be honest.”So, people ask me questions about that, and I’m like, ‘honestly, I really don’t know who even puts that in the world.'”READ MORE F1 NEWSThat is not to say that everything is great in the team as Red Bull are lagging behind in the Constructors’ Championship in third after six rounds.Verstappen himself is 32 points behind leader McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in this year’s championship but insisted his focus remains in the car.The Dutchman said: “No one is happy or satisfied with their performance, you always want to be better, you want to perform more.”So, for me, these rumours don’t mean anything.”Most read in MotorsportJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSRed Bull have won six constructors’ and eight drivers’ titles under Horner but are looking to increase that.Verstappen said: “We want to improve the car, and that’s what everyone in the team is focussed on.”Max Verstappen snaps at Sky Sports broadcaster as he addresses Red Bull futureIt’s not just the Red Bull boss who has come under fire but also his driver as Verstappen has been criticised for his incognito practice session ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix.Practice for the Emilia Romagna GP is on Friday, qualifying on Saturday and the main event is on Sunday.Sky Sports will stream the event live, alternatively SunSport will live blog the action as it happens. More

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      Lewis Hamilton’s private handwritten note which ‘fulfilled the heart’ revealed by Mercedes F1 successor Kimi Antonelli

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      LEWIS HAMILTON penned a “heart fulfilling” private note to his Mercedes replacement Kimi Antonelli.The Italian prodigy, 18, reacted to Hamilton’s personal message for the first time ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this weekend.Lewis Hamilton wrote a handwritten letter to Kimi AntonelliCredit: ReutersAntonelli took over from Hamilton after the Brit announced he was ending his 12-year stint under Toto Wolff to fulfil his dream of racing for Ferrari.And as Mercedes use the same motorhome for European races only, Antonelli only got to read the letter when he arrived on Thursday.Opening up about it, the young Italian, who was born down the road in Bologna – which is a 30 minutes drive away from the Imola circuit – said the note was “motivational”.Antonelli said: “It says a lot about how Lewis is as a person. I could see a lot of the human side of Lewis, not only the driver.READ MORE IN F1″Reading the message, it fulfilled my heart to receive it from such a figure in the sport.”He has done so much and he’s still right there giving his best. He’s one of the best in history.”It was amazing. It also contained some advice, and I will use it as motivation to go out there and do my best — because it doesn’t happen every day.”Quizzed on if he’ll keep the letter, Antonelli added: “Yeah, it’s actually on my wall. I’ll keep it there.Most read in MotorsportBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK”The message is so nice that I just want to leave it there. Every time I enter the room, I can see it. It’s a really good reminder.”Antonelli has hit the big time in F1 and is now keen to bring his school pals along for the ride.Lewis Hamilton fumes ‘have a tea break while you’re at it’ at Ferrari staff and refuses to apologise in Miami GP bust-upOn media day, he rolled out the red carpet for his family and classmates to get an exclusive taste of the trackside action at Imola.He even joined in the festivities in his hometown on Wednesday evening as its football team clinched their first silverware in over half a century.Antonelli has dreams of bettering his record-breaking Sprint pole achieved last time out in Miami, and sits just above Hamilton in sixth in the drivers standings. More

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      Lewis Hamilton reveals special ‘Ferrari’ outfit he is set to dress dog Roscoe in for Silverstone and Monza F1 races

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has revealed that he is planning to dress his dog Roscoe in a special Ferrari outfit later this year.The Formula 1 superstar’s beloved French bulldog has not been with him at races this season as he has been recovering from a nasty bout of pneumonia.Lewis Hamilton has been seen walking his beloved pooch around the paddock in previous yearsCredit: RexRoscoe joined Hamilton in Monza four years agoCredit: AlamyWith Roscoe thankfully having been nursed back to health, Hamilton is hoping to have him back on the grid before too long.Quizzed about the 12-year-old’s next appearance, the seven-time world champion, 40, said: “I really want to take him to Silverstone, and particularly Monza, this year.”I plan to put him in a red cape and outfit. I was with him before Miami and he still wants to play.”He’s still got that youthful spirit. But he does like to sleep a lot.”READ MORE ON LEWIS HAMILTONHamilton also admitted that he still worries about his elderly pooch.”This is a time where every time I get a text message from the lady who looks after him, my heart stops for a second,” the Ferrari superstar said.”Because I’m thinking, ‘What’s next?’ But he’s fine now, fortunately. He is doing well.”He’s 12-and-a-half years old, so he’s an old boy and it’s unusual for them to live that long.”Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSRoscoe has been nursed back to health by trainer Kirstin McMillan, and like Hamilton lives a vegan lifestyle.Despite worries about his pooch, Hamilton is excited to race in Imola for the first time as a Ferrari driver this weekend.Lewis Hamilton’s beloved dog Roscoe diagnosed with pneumonia as carer gives health updateThe former Mercedes and McLaren star said: “It’s weird because these hospitality trucks have been here since 2009.”I’ve walked past Ferrari and never went inside. If I’m really being honest, I was always too scared to go inside being from a different team.”So today is another realisation and feeling. You know that Italians are extremely passionate about it.”It’s a lot more than you expect when you’re actually in it. And it’s beautiful.”Hamilton is seventh in the driver standings after six grands prix – 90 points off leader Oscar Piastri.The British favourite is also 12 points behind team-mate Charles Leclerc, who was forced out of media day duties by illness. More

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      ‘Won’t say thank you any time soon’ – George Russell reacts as hated F1 rule is overturned

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      GEORGE RUSSELL “won’t be saying thank you” anytime soon after blasting Formula One’s swearing rules as too “ridiculous” in the first place.The Mercedes star, who sits fourth in the Championship standings, showed no gratitude to F1’s governing body after labelling the walk-back on rules as “suspect” ahead of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.George Russell has criticised the FIA’s stance on swearing and criticising officialsCredit: GettyFIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem dramatically reduced the fines after receiving backlashCredit: AFPOn Wednesday, the FIA climbed down on its previous stance of drivers facing potential bans and point deductions for swearing or criticising officials, and dramatically reduced the possible fines that can be issued.Crucially, the stewards are now able to differentiate between ‘controlled’ and ‘non-controlled’ environments, meaning drivers are highly unlikely to be punished for swearing while competing, but will still face action for using offensive language in press conferences.But Russell, was unmoved by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem cutting the first time fines from £33,700 down to £4,200.The 27-year-old said: “I didn’t really have any reaction to the announcement because it was so ridiculous in the first place that we are just basically reverting on that.READ MORE ON F1″At the end of the day we’re not going to be saying thank you for something that was so crazy in the first place.”We’ve just gone back to something that is slightly more in the name of common sense”But we should never have moved away from that in the first place. You know, we shouldn’t even be having this conversation.”Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, also revealed that he “wonders if the change was strategic timing” given that Ben Sulayem is up for re-election at the end of the season.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSBen Sulayem said when the rule change was announced that he had “led an extensive and collaborative review with contributions from across the seven FIA World Championships”.But, Russell has refused that claim, saying: “We’ve still had no correspondence with anyone from the senior level at the FIA. So yeah, it’s all a bit suspect.”Lewis Hamilton fumes ‘have a tea break while you’re at it’ at Ferrari staff and refuses to apologise in Miami GP bust-upFerrari driver Lewis Hamilton, 40, also agreed that the situation was “ridiculous”.The seven-time champion said: “It seems a bit of a mess there at the moment. There are lots of changes that are needed, for sure.”Red Bull’s Max Verstappen – who last year was the first driver to be punished for saying his car was “f***ed” with a form of community service – said the change was “a bit better and it’s a start”.Incredibly, Russell and Verstappen both backed the potential bid of Carlos Sainz Sr, the father of Williams driver Sainz, in this December’s FIA presidential election.When asked if Sainz would be a better president, the world champion Red Bull star bluntly replied: “You can fill that in yourself.”He’s very well respected in the world here and in the rally world as a former rally driver.”Of course people always say it’s conflicting with his son but I think he’s professional enough to keep that separated from each other.”I think it would be a great addition to run for president.”Russell also dismissed the idea there could be a conflict of interest because of Sainz’s son, who is also a GPDA director.Read More on The SunThe Brit said: “You’re so far removed from a technical standpoint. It’s down to the technical people within the FIA to be the rule makers.”The president in years gone by has probably been far less involved than what we’ve seen recently and far less visible.”THE new Formula One season is well underway – and one team appear to be running away with it.A massive summer of change saw Lewis Hamilton move on from Mercedes and join Ferrari, while the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have a big chance to end Max Verstappen’s recent dominance.The Red Bull ace is aiming for a record-equalling FIFTH consecutive world title.INFORMATIONLATEST NEWSSEASON SO FAR More

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      Lewis Hamilton reveals his ‘heart stops’ when he gets a text about beloved dog Roscoe following pneumonia battle

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has revealed that his “heart stops” every time he gets a text message about his beloved dog Roscoe.The Ferrari star still worries about his elderly French bulldog, who has recovered from pneumonia after coming down ill last month.Lewis Hamilton’s beloved French bulldog, Roscoe, has been through the wars as of lateCredit: INSTAGRAM@LEWISHAMILTONLewis Hamilton’s dog Roscoe is now 12 years oldCredit: GettyThe 12-year-old has recently recovered from a bout of pneumoniaCredit: APHamilton’s heart skips a beat every time he gets a text message about his poochCredit: ALAMYHamilton said: “This is a time where every time I get a text message from the lady who looks after him, my heart stops for a second.”Because I’m thinking, ‘What’s next?’ But he’s fine now, fortunately. He is doing well.”He’s 12 and a half years old, so he’s an old boy and it’s unusual for them to live that long.”Hamilton is often seen posting pictures with his pet pooch, who he frequently flies to races around the globe and takes for walks in the paddock on weekends.READ MORE F1 NEWSThey even appear together on the front cover of a recent edition of Vogue.When quizzed on Roscoe’s next appearance, Hamilton said: “I really want to take him to Silverstone, and particularly Monza, this year.”I plan to put him in a red cape and outfit. I was with him before Miami and he still wants to play. “He’s still got that youthful spirit. But he does like to sleep a lot.”Most read in MotorsportJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSThe canine, who is a vegan like his owner, was treated with medication – and even received specialist acupuncture treatment.Given Hamilton’s troubling start to his new life at the Prancing Horse, news of his ill companion likely threatened to make the disappointing opening six races even harder ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this weekend.While Roscoe’s trainer Kirstin McMillan has been nursing the animal back to full fitness, Hamilton has his eyes set on racing in front of the Tifosi as a Ferrari driver for the first time in Imola.Lewis Hamilton fumes ‘have a tea break while you’re at it’ at Ferrari staff and refuses to apologise in Miami GP bust-upLewis takes Roscoe to the Sports Personality of the Year awards in 2014Credit: PA:Press AssociationRoscoe is joined by his doggie pals for his birthday partyCredit: https://www.instagram.com/roscoelovescoco/Roscoe was a frequent flier on Hamilton’s private jetRoscoe wears a team jersey in 2020Credit: GettyThe seven-time world champion said he’s feeling “excited” about it but won’t prepare any differently after enjoying downtime at the Met Gala during the mini-break.The 40-year-old revealed: “It’s weird because these hospitality trucks have been here since 2009.”I’ve walked past Ferrari and never went inside. If I’m really being honest, I was always too scared to go inside being from a different team.”So today is another realisation and feeling. You know that Italians are extremely passionate about it. “It’s a lot more than you expect when you’re actually in it. And it’s beautiful.”Hamilton currently sits seventh in the F1 drivers’ standings, 90 points behind leader Oscar Piastri and 12 behind team-mate Charles Leclerc who missed media day through illness.Lewis Hamilton is currently seventh the F1 Drivers’ ChampionshipCredit: Rex More