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      Verstappen blasts F1 officials after team-mate Perez comes 15th in qualifying – but Horner turns on his Mexican driver

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN slammed FIA bosses after claiming their over-the-top VAR officials made F1 stars look like “amateurs”.The reigning world champion swore over the team’s radio as he fell victim to the video refs based at the FIA’s Geneva HQ.
      Max Verstappen was unhappy following Austrian Grand Prix qualifying
      Verstappen took pole position
      A total of 47 laps were all deleted as qualifying for Sunday’s Austrian GP turned into chaos – with Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez particularly suffering at the hands of the officials.
      While Verstappen took his fourth pole in a row, Perez will start in 15th place after THREE laps were expunged for going over the white lines at the final turn here at the Red Bull Ring.
      Verstappen said: “Today looked very silly. It almost looked like we were amateurs out there, the amount of lap times that were getting deleted. 
      “Some of them were so marginal, where even we spoke about it in the briefing before, when it’s very marginal, it’s impossible to judge if it’s out or in. 
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      “They were still getting deleted. I don’t think it was a good look today. Of course people can say ‘yeah well then you stay within the white lines’. 
      “Well if it was that easy, then you can take my car and try, but probably you won’t even get up to speed in time. It is super tricky. 
      “Today showed it’s still not easy to have a clear rule about it. On most tracks, it works really well, but on some tracks, you might need something different.
      “A lot of the tracks we share with MotoGP and they want something else outside of the curbs than we would like.
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      “For us, putting gravel there is fine, but for a bike, it’s a bit different. We need to think about maybe having different solutions.”
      Verstappen clinched pole but was pushed to the wire by Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
      Brits Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton will start in fourth and fifth respectively on the grid in tomorrow’s (SUN) race.
      However, Perez will line up in 15th after he had three lap times chalked off by the VAR officials – much to the frustration of Red Bull boss, Christian Horner.
      Horner said: “He’s got a car that was easily capable to be on the first or second row. He was matching Max’s times… stay in the white lines! 
      “Strike one, strike two, ‘Checo just stay in the white lines’, strike three and that was it. It is hugely frustrating as he could have been there, he could have done it.
      Max Verstappen and Red Bull are leading the way in the F1 standings
      “It is fantastic to have got the pole but it does not feel as complete.”With speculation mounting about the Mexican’s future, despite his disappointment, Horner ruled out the team replacing him.
      He added: “Checo is frustrated but will turn a page and race hard tomorrow. But it’s just annoying because we know he could have been there.
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      “The most pressure he’s under is the pressure he puts on himself but everybody’s fully behind [him]. Anybody talking about replacing Checo is wide of the mark.”
      Perez was not the only high-profile driver to miss out on reaching the top 10 as George Russell could only qualify in 11th after he too had a lap time deleted. More

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      Fans in love with Sky Sports F1 presenter Naomi Schiff’s figure-hugging dress as stunned fans gasp ‘wow’

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      SKY SPORTS Formula One were left hot under the collar after seeing Naomi Schiff. Schiff, 29, is a former racing driver who drove across multiple formats from the age of 16, including the W Series.
      Naomi Schiff was interviewing Alpine boss Otmar SzafnauerCredit: Sky Sports F1
      She is a regular on Sky Sports F1Credit: Sky Sports F1
      Fans were loving her dressCredit: Sky Sports F1
      Schiff joined Sky Sports F1 last yearCredit: Instagram/@naomischiff
      Since stepping out from behind the wheel, she has become a member of the Sky Sports F1 team.
      And while at the Austrian Grand Prix, fans could not help but gasp as they spotted her wearing a figure-hugging dress while interviewing Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer.
      Taking to Twitter, one fan wrote: “@NaomiSchiff looking fabulous in that green dress 🦊.”
      A second said: “Naomi Schiff.. Wow!”
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      “She’s so pretty,” declared a third.
      While another added: “Warra woman.”
      In May, she was seen in a glamorous outfit while donning a stunning F1 necklace.
      Schiff, who has 192,000 followers on Instagram has been quick to shut down vile trolls who have sent her unnecessary abuse.
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      Schiff has 192,000 followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram / @naomischiff
      She is a former W Series driverCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton has lent his voice to her defence, with her later writing: “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”.
      Her racing career began at age 16Credit: Instagram / @naomischiff
      She has been the victim of vile abuse from trollsCredit: Instagram/@naomischiff
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      Damon Rees dead at 28: Motorbike star passes away after losing battle with medical condition

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      NEW ZEALAND championship motorbike rider Damon Rees has passed away aged 28 after a sudden medical condition.His wife, Talia Rees, had earlier posted a update on his health as she described him “critical but stable” and hailed him as a “warrior” while stating he was “doing an incredible job at fighting this battle.”
      Motorbike racing star Damon Rees has passed away aged 28
      Now she has confirmed that he has passed away and says that he is “now my guardian angel”.
      Confirming the sad news in a post on social media, she wrote: “I am heartbroken. I love you Damon Rees – you are now my guardian angel.”
      Rees competed for two seasons in the National Superstock 1000 Championship after opting to leave New Zealand at the start of 2020.
      The ex-NZ Supersport champion finished eighth in his rookie season and earned his maiden podiums.
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      He then joined Ashcourt Racing alongside Northern Ireland British Supersport rider Lee Johnston to ride a BMW S1000RR the following campaign.Rees stayed with them during the next season but switched to the Supersport class on a Yamaha R6.
      The ace moved to the Carl Cox Motorsport with Uggly & Co by Binch Racing team on a Yamaha in the Supersport series for this season.
      A Binch Racing statement read: “It is with a very heavy heart that we confirm Damo passed away last night.
      “Despite putting up a fight and battling as hard as he could, he was just too poorly.
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      “Damo meant so much to us all at Binch Racing. We are all absolutely devastated.
      “His passion for motorcycle racing was there for all to see but Damo was more to us than just a racer, he was our friend.
      “His dedicated approach to everything he wanted to do, his infectious personality and his wicked sense of humour made his time with us truly unforgettable.
      “We wish to send our condolences, love and support to his amazing wife Talia, all the Rees family and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him back in his native New Zealand.”
      A British Superbike Championship statement read: ““Our thoughts are with the family, friends and team of Damon Rees this morning.
      “He was a popular rider within the paddock since joining the series and he will be sadly missed after losing his fight with an unexpected medical condition.”
      Rees finished 10th in the British Supersport Feature race at Knockhill in Scotland on June 18 after taking eighth in the Sprint encounter a day previously in his final race.
      He died after a ‘sudden medical condition’ as tributes poured in for himCredit: Rex More

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      Lewis Hamilton lets slip future plans in interview with F1 star’s Mercedes contract running out at end of season

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      LEWIS HAMILTON appears to have revealed the future of his Formula One career after letting it slip in an interview. The 38-year-old is out of contract with Mercedes at the end of the season.
      Lewis Hamilton appeared to reveal his future in F1Credit: AFP
      The seven-time champion is hoping to end his winless streak at the Austrian Grand PrixCredit: AFP
      Speculation has persisted suggesting the Brit could swap the Silver Arrows for Ferrari or retire from the sport entirely.
      However, in an interview ahead of the weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, Hamilton seemingly confirmed he would be continuing with the team next season.
      He told reporters: “We are making progress in the right direction… but I’m not satisfied with the rear end and the downforce.
      “But I hope that next year we will be so far that I can push to the limit again.”
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      It is the biggest indication yet that the seven-time champion will continue his pursuit of a record-breaking eighth world title.
      Team principal Toto Wolff – who recently opened up on the tragic loss of his father when he was just 15 – also previously suggested Hamilton’s new deal was almost done.
      Ahead of the Canadian GP, where Hamilton scored a podium, Wolff said: “It is going to happen soon, and we are talking more days than weeks.
      “We are trying hard. I will see him today and maybe we will talk about it. We have such a good relationship that we dread the moment that we need to talk about money.”
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      His new contract will reportedly be worth an eye-watering £50million a year.
      Hamilton also appears to have reignited his title rivalry with runaway leader championship Max Verstappen.
      He proposed a radical rule change to try and level the playing field, suggesting: “The FIA should set a time when everyone is allowed to start developing next year’s car.
      “Say August 1, so that no one can get an advantage, because that sucks.”
      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      Lewis Hamilton reignites rivalry with Max Verstappen as he suggests radical rule change to stop runaway F1 leader

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has suggested a radical rule change to Formula One in order to close the gap to runaway championship leader Max Verstappen. Two-time world champion Verstappen has won six out of eight races this season, with only Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez able to claim race wins over him this season.
      Lewis Hamilton has suggested a radical rule change to bridge the gap to Max VerstappenCredit: Getty
      Hamilton has been chasing the Dutchman’s tail all seasonCredit: Splash
      The dominance of Red Bull since the return of ground effect car designs has been plain to see, but Hamilton has lobbied for a radical change to level the playing field.
      Speaking ahead of the weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix – Red Bull’s home race – Hamilton suggested selecting a set date to allow teams to work on next season’s car development.
      He said: “Red Bull are already focusing on next year because they’re so far ahead and don’t need to change this year’s car.
      “So the FIA should set a time when everyone is allowed to start developing next year’s car. 
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      “Say August 1, so that no one can get an advantage, because that sucks.”
      When Hamilton was quizzed about his own era of domination at Mercedes, which saw him win six world titles from seven, he replied: “We never started as early as them.
      “It needs to change because what we have now is why you get dominance for so long, and they keep allowing it to happen. 
      “Ferrari were ahead and the same thing happened there, the same with Red Bull and Seb (Vettel) back in the day.
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      “They start earlier so they are always ahead.”
      However, Verstappen – who is well on his way to a third title in a row – hit back at the suggestion.
      The 25-year-old shot back by saying: “We were not talking about this when he was winning his championships, right, so I don’t think we should now.
      “That is how Formula One works. When you have a competitive car it is great, but at some point you have to look ahead to the following year.
      “A lot of things in life are unfair. You just have to deal with it.”
      Hamilton, 38, recently made a shock appearance in a Stormzy music video.
      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      F1 ace Lando Norris is victim of ‘expensive robbery’ at Marbella villa two years after he was ‘robbed for £144k watch’

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      FORMULA 1 star Lando Norris has been the victim of an “expensive robbery” while he was on holiday in Marbella.It comes just two years after he was allegedly robbed for his “unique” £144,000 designer watch in Wembley Stadium’s VIP car park.
      Lando Norris was staying in a Marbella villa when the robbery is said to have happenedCredit: Rex
      Social media influencer Jennie Dimova was one of Norris’ pals staying at the villaCredit: tiktok
      The Brit was staying in a villa in Marbella, southern Spain, when the robbery is said to have taken place, although he was not in the building at the time.
      Norris, 23, was holidaying with social media influencer Jennie Dimova, who has since spoken about the alleged incident online.
      Speaking ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, he said: “We were out for dinner and our place got robbed.
      “A mixture of many things were stolen. Some were expensive and some were not so expensive.
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      “It is still an ongoing investigation so I cannot say too much.”
      Dimova, who is reportedly dating Norris’ close pal and fellow driver Max Fewtrell, took to her TikTok page on Sunday evening to describe events.
      She said: “If you’re wondering why I look like that, it’s because our villa got robbed.
      “And everything I’ve ever owned: my bags, my clothes, my shoes, my jewellery, everything is f*****g taken.
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      “I’m left with literally nothing after collecting this stuff for f******g years. So, you know what? I mean, I cried for like two hours but, what can I f*****g do?”
      The McLaren driver, 23, was targeted for his Richard Mille timepiece – one of only five in the world – as he walked to his £165,000 McLaren GT after the Euro 2020 final.
      The Richard Mille “prototype limited edition McLaren watch”, also known as the RM6702, was the only one in the world with a blue strap made to measure for the driver’s wrist.
      Despite never being made available for sale, the designer estimates the value to be around £144,000 – excluding VAT.
      Liam Williams, 25, from Merseyside has denied robbing the Belgian-British F1 star on July 11, 2021, when he appeared in court last week.
      Norris is currently struggling this season and has only scored 12 points after eight races.
      Last weekend he finished outside the points in Montreal, after he finished in a disappointing 17th place in Barcelona at the start of June.
      The McLaren driver is currently dating Luisinha Oliveira.
      Norris could only finish in 17th place in the Spanish Grand PrixCredit: Alamy More

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      F1 team set for name change just three years after altering previous one as fans rage ‘just pick a name and stick to it’

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      FORMULA ONE team AlphaTauri are set to change their name from next season, just three years after adopting it.AlphaTauri has been the name of Red Bull’s sister team since 2020 following a rename from Toro Rosso.
      AlphaTauri will have a new name from next seasonCredit: Getty
      But F1 fans were not over the moon with the announcementCredit: Reuters
      Results for the team have been far from ideal, finishing no higher than sixth in the constructor’s championship in the last three seasons, with last season seeing them end a lowly ninth.
      The AlphaTauri 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 has revealed 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.
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      “The orientation is clear: follow Red Bull Racing as far as the regulations allow. Own designs are the wrong way to go.”
      However, fans have been angered by another name change with the team, with one slamming: “We had Toro Rosso, then AlphaTauri, now something else.
      “Just pick a name and stick to it, for crying out loud.”
      A second joked: “Starting next year, they’ll be ‘The Team that shall not be named’.”
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      Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko revealed the newsCredit: Rex
      There may be a driver shake-up at the team tooCredit: Getty
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      Some fans opted to speculate on the new name, with some believing the change could move in line with Red Bull’s new sponsorship with Ford.
      The car manufacturer announced its intention to return to F1 in 2026, and booted up its plans by agreeing to supply powertrains for both Red Bull and AlphaTauri from the 2023 season.
      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.
      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.
      Marko said: “Yuki is having a very good season with unfortunate results and some penalties, but his performance is good.
      “About him, we are not satisfied, we are also looking at that.”
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      Lewis Hamilton makes shock appearance in Stormzy music video as he shows rapper incredible Mercedes F1 car

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has made a surprise appearance in rapper Stormzy’s latest music video.The seven-time Formula 1 world champion, 38, was briefly seen alongside the musician for the track “Longevity Flow”.
      Lewis Hamilton is preparing for the British Grand Prix this weekendCredit: Getty
      He made an appearance in Stormzy’s latest music video for the song ‘Longevity Flow’Credit: YouTube @stormzy
      In the footage, he is showing Stormzy a Mercedes F1 car outside what looks to be a huge country house.
      And fans were left baffled by the unexplained cameo from the British racing driver.
      Reacting on social media, one person said: “Lewis Hamilton has a cameo in Stormzy’s new song and it’s so random.”
      Another added: “The ‘Longevity Flow’ video is such a massive flex. Lewis Hamilton is there giving Stormzy a private viewing of his Formula 1 car 😭.”
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      And a third replied: “Shows up in Barcelona. Goes to Glastonbury. Appears in Stormzy’s latest track. Lewis Hamilton is NOT a real person lmao 💀.”
      The shock collaboration comes as Hamilton gears up for the Austrian Grand Prix, followed by his home British Grand Prix.
      It has been more than 18 months since the Stevenage-born racer claimed the top step of the podium in an F1 race.
      But he is an eight-time winner at Silverstone – three more than any other driver has managed in the history of the sport.
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      Add to that the fact he has won seven of the last nine British Grands Prix.
      However, Red Bull have clinched each of the eight races in 2023 – with reigning world champion Max Verstappen claiming six of them.
      Heading to the Red Bull Ring, the Dutchman, 25, boasts 195 points, meaning he is 69 ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez in the drivers’ standings.
      Hamilton has picked up 102 points, leaving him fourth in the championship, 15 behind Fernando Alonso but 37 clear of fellow Mercedes man George Russell. More