Motorsport

Subterms

    More stories

    • 213 Shares149 Views

      in Motorsport

      F1 Belgian Grand Prix LIVE RESULTS: Verstappen WINS race as Hamilton finishes in sixth place – updates

      by

      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.

      DREAM TEAM IS LIVE – JOIN NOW TO BATTLE FOR THE £50k TOP PRIZE
      Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
      Belgium Grand Prix dominated by Red Bull
      The team will have no better sight than three of their team on the podium celebrating another successful day.
      Sergio Perez will be glad to be back on the podium after what he will have seen as an absence that has been for just too long.
      Max Verstappen helps his teammate celebrate as he spends his time most Sundays, covered in champagne.
      Credit: Reuters
      Hamilton gamble pays off
      Lewis Hamilton pitted just before his final lap to change his tyres to try and clock the fastest lap of the day.
      Having secured fourth spot, and with no chance of catching Charles Leclerc in third, the Mercedes driver decided to try and secure the point.
      It paid off as Hamilton managed to clock the fastest lap of the day on his brand new medium compound tyres
      Perez’s dad celebrates son’s podium
      As Sergio Perez collects his trophy to mark his second placed finish, his dad could not be prouder.

      Red Bull gives you wins
      While many people point towards the performance of the Red Bull car as something that its competitors just cannot compete with.
      That aside, credit has to be given to the driving performances of Max Verstappen as he will live as a legend of the sport.
      Even his own teammate struggles to compete with him, driving exactly the same car.
      Credit: Reuters
      Official results of Belgian Grand Prix
      Here is the breakdown of who got amongst the points in Spa today.
      Credit: @F1
      The original deja vu moment in F1
      Today marked the eighth consecutive victory by Max Verstappen.
      Seeing him cross the finish line in first place is become a regular sight in the Formula One calendar.
      You have to wonder who can challenge the Dutch driver as he runs away with another drivers’ championship.
      Credit: Reuters
      Checo builds confidence in Spa
      Sergio Perez will be happy to be back on the podium and it was a good drive today by the Mexican.
      For the majority of the race, he kept the pressure on his Red Bull teammate but more importantly, he held off the rest of the field.
      With the mid-season break coming up, it will give Perez the time to recharge and look to come back hard against Verstappen in the second half of the season.
      Max sets new personal record
      Max Verstappen wins his first Grand Prix after starting in sixth place on the grid today.
      As a result, he wins the vote for driver of the day.
      The guy is an absolute machine.
      Credit: @F1
      Belgian Grand Prix results
      Here are how the top five finished at Spa:

      Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
      Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
      Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
      Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
      Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

      Max Verstappen wins the Belgian Grand Prix
      Lap 43/44 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
      This could be the perfect result for Red Bull today if drivers Verstappen and Perez occupy the top two positions.
      Leclerc has managed to build his lead on Hamilton, trying to book himself a podium finish.
      The Mercedes driver is running out of laps to catch third place so he has gone into the pits for some medium tyres to try and clock the fastest lap of the day.
      Lap 41/44 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
      Lance Stroll is told he is not doing as much ‘lift and coast’ as teammate Fernando Alonso.
      That would suggest they have concerns with the amount of fuel Stroll has on board.
      As a result, Tsunoda and Ocon are closing the gap on the Aston Martin.
      Lap 39/44 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
      Logan Sargent and Lewis Hamilton are both shown the black and white flag for exceeding track limits.
      Charles Leclerc is trying to close the gap between him and Sergio Perez.
      Fernando Alonso is looking to hold off George Russell as the chances of him catching Lewis Hamilton seem remote at best.
      Lap 37/44 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
      Verstappen suggests an extra pit stop to practice their pitting.
      The simple reply from the team is ‘not today Max’.
      To give him enough time to do so, he would have to go hard on the softs he is on, which is a risk on some of these fast bends.
      Lap 35/44 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
      Verstappen makes use of his soft compound tyres and sets the fastest lap of the day, much to the frustrations of Nico Hulkenberg.
      The Dutch driver picked up 8 points from his sprint win yesterday and, as it stands, picks up another with that fast lap.
      Surely at this late stage of the race, only a mistake by Verstappen would let anybody in now.
      Credit: AFP
      Lap 33/44 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
      Sergio Perez now has a 9.3 second lead over Charles Leclerc in third.
      Lewis Hamilton is looking to close the gap on the Ferrari between now and the end of the race.
      There is a huge gap between Hamilton and Alonso, now up to a massive 23.6 seconds.
      Lap 31/44 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
      Verstappen and Alonso are both on medium tyres but everyone else in the top ten are on soft tyres.
      Immediately Alonso takes action and heads into the pits to get those soft tyres on.
      Verstappen has a 27.6 second lead and his team are instructing him to come into the pits for a tyre change too.
      Alonso manages to get back out on the track ahead of sixth placed George Russell.
      Lap 29/44 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
      Fernando Alonso has taken Lewis Hamilton as a result of his pit stop and moves into fourth place in the race.
      The Mercedes driver is only 0.8 seconds behind him though.
      It does not take long for Hamilton to get back into fourth on the much fresher tyres.
      Lap 27/44 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
      George Russell is putting some fast lap times in right now and takes Lando Norris to move into eighth place.
      Norris has done well to work his way back up the field into the points.
      Charles Leclerc is trying to build a gap between himself and Lewis Hamilton.
      Credit: EPA
      Lap 25/44 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
      The rain shower seems to have let up already and Verstappen’s lap times suggest that the track is drying up.
      Verstappen now has a 6.03 second lead on Perez in second.
      There is a big gap between second and third place.
      Hamilton has some 13.6 second lead over fifth placed Alonso.
      Lap 23/44 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
      The rain we are seeing is already making it tricky out there.
      Verstappen almost loses control going through the chicane.
      The Dutch driver is immediately on the team radio, ‘I almost lost it’, he tells them.
      Lap 21/44 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
      The rain that is due to come in is forecast for ten minutes in duration.
      This would mean that drivers would have to pit to go onto intermediate tyres.
      It would be music to the ears of Russell and Gasly who have yet to pit in the race.
      Everyone else would be taking their second pit stop.
      Lap 19/44 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
      Some great driving by Verstappen as Perez was helpless to prevent the defending world champion for becoming the new race leader.
      After starting sixth on the grid, the Dutch driver now has clear track in front of him.
      Fernando Alonso has now moved into fifth place, although there is some gap between him and fourth placed Lewis Hamilton.
      Credit: EPA
      Lap 17/44 – Perez leads, Verstappen second
      The two Red Bulls exchange places once again.
      Everyone apart from Gasly and Hulkenberg are out on the medium tyres now.
      Sergio Perez has a 0.4 second lead on his teammate currently.
      Lap 15/44 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
      Max Verstappen leads after both Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc pitted.
      Their some rain forecast to be coming in so both Perez and Leclerc changed to medium tyres.
      Verstappen is given the order to box himself.
      Load more entries… More

    • 163 Shares199 Views

      in Motorsport

      Lewis Hamilton slapped with FIVE-SECOND time penalty after shambolic Belgian GP sprint race

      by

      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 PerezCredit: Getty
      The smash saw him tumble down the order from P4 to P7Credit: Rex
      Max Verstappen took the sprint race win with Oscar Piastri, left, and Pierre Gasly, right in P2 and P3Credit: AFP
      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.
      READ MORE IN F1
      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.
      Most read in Motorsport
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
      Rain led to another FIA mess in BelgiumCredit: Reuters
      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.
      Read More on The Sun
      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 More

    • 263 Shares99 Views

      in Motorsport

      Fans say ‘someone give Lance Stroll a hug’ after he crashes AND falls down stairs on nightmare day at Belgian GP

      by

      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 qualifyingCredit: Getty
      Earlier on Saturday, Stroll took a tumble down some stepsCredit: Twitter

      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.
      READ MORE IN F1
      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.
      Most read in Motorsport
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
      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 whammyCredit: Splash
      The damage to the front right was clear to seeCredit: Splash
      The crane was brought out to remove the Aston MartinCredit: AFP More

    • 263 Shares109 Views

      in Motorsport

      BBC The Apprentice star Tom Skinner disrupts Formula E team ahead of 2023 London E-Prix by taking drivers out to cafe

      by

      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.
      Tom Skinner took racing drivers Nick Cassidy and Sebastien Buemi out for breakfastCredit: Paddy McGrath / Spacesuit Media
      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!”
      READ MORE IN F1
      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.
      Most read in Motorsport
      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.
      The trio took a classic black cab in LondonCredit: Paddy McGrath / Spacesuit Media More

    • 238 Shares139 Views

      in Motorsport

      F1 star Max Verstappen apologises for X-rated rant at race engineer after disastrous second qualifying run at Belgian GP

      by

      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.
      Max Verstappen endured a disastrous second qualifying run at the Belgian Grand PrixCredit: Rex
      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…”
      Read More on F1
      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.
      Most read in Motorsport
      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.”
      BETTING SPECIAL – BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK
      Verstappen apologised to a race engineer for his X-rated rantCredit: Alamy
      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.
      Lewis Hamilton qualified in fourth but was subjected to two FIA investigationsCredit: Rex
      “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.
      Read More on The Sun
      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. More

    • 313 Shares169 Views

      in Motorsport

      I was the biggest name on Sky Sports’ F1 coverage before I was sacked… I still have no idea why they got rid of me

      by

      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 teamCredit: Getty
      The pundit raced in Formula 1 himselfCredit: AP:Associated Press
      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.
      READ MORE IN F1
      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!
      Most read in Motorsport
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      “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.
      Read More on The Sun
      “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 posted that he’d miss the team after he was axed
      Herbert now co-hosts a podcast with former British F4 racer Billy Monger, who suffered a horrific crash in 2017Credit: PA More

    • 200 Shares199 Views

      in Motorsport

      Michael Schumacher’s F1 pal Jean Todt, 77, marries Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, 60, after 19-year engagement

      by

      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 togetherCredit: Instagram
      A card pictured at the wedding detailed when Todt proposedCredit: Instagram
      Todt’s pal Michael Schumacher played cupid for the pair in 2005Credit: AFP
      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.
      More F1 news
      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.
      Most read in Motorsport
      “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.
      Read More on The Sun
      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 SwitzerlandCredit: Instagram
      Ex-F1 star Felipe Massa shared snaps from the wedding on InstagramCredit: Instagram
      Todt and Michelle invited family and friends to the ceremonyCredit: Instagram
      The couple met in 2004 and were engaged less than two months laterCredit: AFP
      Michelle and Todt pictured at the Roberto Cavalli fashion show in 2011Credit: Getty – Contributor More

    • 213 Shares189 Views

      in Motorsport

      Lewis Hamilton full of praise for new F1 racing series with all 10 teams to field driver

      by

      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.
      Lewis Hamilton is full of praise for the Formula One AcademyCredit: Rex
      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.
      READ MORE IN F1
      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.”
      Most read in Motorsport
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
      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 PrixCredit: AP More