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      Toto Wolff offers Lewis Hamilton a bleak assessment of 2023 F1 season as he says upgrades WON’T help catch Red Bull

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      TOTO WOLFF has given a bleak prediction over Lewis Hamilton’s title prospects even after Mercedes bring in major upgrades. The struggling team have earmarked the race at Imola at the end of May to bring in developments.
      Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is planning big upgrades to make Mercedes more competitiveCredit: Reuters
      Team principal Wolff is hoping to cut the gap to the dominant Red Bull team who have won all four races this season at a canter.
      But the Austrian boss has warned fans that improvements will not automatically make Hamilton and teammate George Russell title contenders.
      Hamilton’s podium at the chaotic Australian Grand Prix is the sole top three finish the team can boast this season.
      And following this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Wolff said: “The target [for the upgrade] is Imola but I need to manage everybody’s expectations.
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      “We are talking so much about the upgrade but we are not going to put it down on the track and drive circles around Red Bull.”
      He added that the result’s from the Baku race has demonstrated the gap between Red Bull and the rest of the field, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finishing 21 seconds behind winner Sergio Perez.
      The 51-year-old said: “Over 40 racing laps – that’s half a second a lap. At least we saw that they [Red Bull] were pushing today, but half-a-second is quite a long way to go.
      “We basically have two cars that are sailing off into the sunset on merit. We either have to do a better job, all of us together, to catch them up, or change the regulations.”
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      “And I don’t think we should be doing the second. We have to win on merit and that means being more clever.”
      The now famous 2021 season saw Hamilton and Max Verstappen go head-to-head in machinery of a similar level, while the 2022 campaign saw Ferrari and Mercedes occasionally able to challenge Red Bull on pace.

      This campaign appears altogether different with Red Bull so far ahead of the field.
      Perez and Verstappen have two race wins each while Perez also won the revamped sprint in Azerbaijan. More

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      F1 legend Fernando Alonso cheekily fuels rumours he’s dating Taylor Swift with another cryptic TikTok post

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      FERNANDO ALONSO has added fuel to rumours he is dating pop star Taylor Swift with another mysterious TikTok. The F1 legend is coming off the back of the latest Grand Prix weekend in Azerbaijan after finishing an impressive fourth place.
      Fernando Alonso has been competing closer to the front of the grid after improvements to his Aston Martin carCredit: Splash
      Popular singer Taylor Swift is currently on tourCredit: Getty
      And ahead of next week’s trip to Miami, he has decided to have some fun with fans as he dropped more hints about his personal life.
      Rumours have been spreading in recent weeks that he is dating Swift – with Alonso repeatedly refusing to shut down the gossip.
      In fact the Aston Martin driver is engaging in the Love Story with his latest Tiktok video.
      The 41-year-old can be seen lifting weights while listening to Swift’s ’22’ song.
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      Alonso then turns to the camera and gives it a cheeky wink.
      The video is similar to last week when the Spaniard posted a clip of himself listening to another Swift song before again winking at the camera.
      The speculation continued into last week’s race at Baku with one reporter even daring to ask Alonso about it.
      They said: “I have to ask this one or I would be leaving a Blank Space but and I know it is potentially your Love Story and nobody else’s..”
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      But a grinning Alonso interrupted and said: “Obviously, no I have nothing to say. I answered already.
      “I have nothing to say. It is so complicated, the Baku format already, I am sure you have a lot of questions.”
      Alonso announced his split from girlfriend Andrea Schlager last month at a similar time that Swift, 33, separated from long-term partner Joe Alwyn.
      The experienced racer has enjoyed a strong start to the season and stood on the podium in the opening three races in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Australia.
      He has 60 points so far in the drivers championship, behind only the Red Bull pair of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez More

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      Hollywood star Anne Hathaway stuns ex-F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo with comment at Met Gala

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      DANIEL RICCIARDO’S visit to the Met Gala sparked a frenzy among Formula One fans after a conversation he had with Anne Hathaway. The Hollywood star was pictured conversing with the former F1 driver during Monday’s event in New York, United States.
      Anne Hathaway was spotted in conversation with Daniel Ricciardo
      Before leaving fans in a frenzy with her comment to Ricciardo
      Ricciardo was in attendance at the Met Gala in New York, United StatesCredit: EPA
      A fabulous-looking Hathaway could be seen shaking hands with the Australian in a viral video.
      In the clip, she could be heard saying: “Wow. I’m a huge fan of F1,” all the while having a beaming smile.
      Ricciardo’s charisma off the track has helped cultivate an endearing fanbase including eight million Instagram followers.
      The pair’s meeting comes following rumours linking Fernando Alonso with Taylor Swift, prompting jokes from Sky Sports commentators across the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend.
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      Reacting to the video, one fan on Twitter wrote: “The crossover I never thought I would see in my life.”
      A second wrote: “First it’s Fernando and Taylor Swift. Now Anne Hathaway and Daniel Ricciardo. F1 is where the action is.”
      “Danny Ric, I approve,” declared a third.
      A fourth commented: “OH GAWD TWO WORLDS COLLIDING.”
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      While a fifth added: “MY QUEEN AND KING 😭.”
      Ricciardo’s post of him attending the Met Gala has already got over 670,000 likes on Instagram.

      The 33-year-old is awaiting his return to F1 after being unceremonially axed by McLaren last season.
      Reports have suggested he may be in line for a return to the grid in 2024 with the likes of Haas.

      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      Annoyed Lewis Hamilton admits Azerbaijan GP was ‘a kick in the teeth’ but insists ‘hunger is there’

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has admitted his Azerbaijan Grand Prix was a frustrating one, but insisted his recovery showed his “hunger” remains. Hamilton, 38, was running in the top five before a safety car caused him to lose places due to him pitting in green flag conditions shortly before.
      Lewis Hamilton finished P6 in Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand PrixCredit: Getty
      And Hamilton admitted his weekend was frustratingCredit: Rex
      The seven-time champion saw himself sent back to 10th place as rivals took advantage of the cheap pit stop offered by the safety car.
      The Brit managed to fight back up to P6 and finish within a second of Carlos Sainz in fifth.
      He was clearly left annoyed by the unlucky timing of the safety car but opted to focus on the positives from his drive.
      Speaking after the race, Hamilton said: “So much work goes into the weekend and then yesterday (Saturday) was a difficult day where you went backwards, and then today (Sunday) I was hoping for a better day and I lost so many places, that’s definitely a kick in the teeth.
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      “But then I was like, ‘well, it is what it is’. I think today shows that the hunger is there.
      “And once I get that confidence in that car, the pace will come out.
      “I couldn’t get bogged down in that frustration and [thinking] ‘I’ve lost all those positions’. I just had to keep my head down and get focused on attacking, and that’s what I did.
      “I got my head down and got right back in the race. Yeah, I really enjoyed those battles. Really continuously proud of my team for just keeping their head down.
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      “We didn’t have the pace that we had in the last race, which is obviously not the greatest. But there’s no lack of motivation in this team.
      “We’re all super hungry, we’re just working towards getting those upgrades. So I think this is the beginning of something hopefully better in the next coming races.”
      Hamilton’s future beyond the end of the season was cast into further doubt after Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admitted Charles Leclerc was on their “radar” as a possible replacement.
      However, Wolff also insisted the team was committed to penning a new deal with Hamilton.
      Sergio Perez collected wins in both the Sprint Race and full race on Sunday to move him to within six points of championship leader Max Verstappen.
      Like Hamilton, Verstappen was another unfortunate victim of the safety car’s timing on Sunday, and had seen his weekend get spicy after a coming together with George Russell during the Sprint.

      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      Lewis Hamilton’s F1 future thrown in doubt as Mercedes boss Wolff reveals Ferrari star Charles Leclerc ‘on his radar’

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      MERCEDES chief Toto Wolff has revealed Charles Leclerc is on the team’s radar amid speculation surrounding Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion is out of contract at the end of the season, with rumours suggesting he could be set to retire.
      Charles Leclerc is on Toto Wolff’s ‘radar’Credit: Rex
      Lewis Hamilton previously shot down rumours of his Mercedes exitCredit: Rex
      If this were to happen there would naturally be a vacant seat at Mercedes.
      And Ferrari poster boy Leclerc, 25, has been tipped to replace him following reports claiming discussions between the two parties had been held.
      Wolff added fuel to the fire by admitting Leclerc was on the team’s “radar”, before later reaffirming the team’s intention to pen an extension with Hamilton.
      He said: “The only time I talked with him is when we discussed where the gate is in Melbourne to board the plane.
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      “Charles is a super guy and for the long-term future someone you have to have on your radar but not for the short and medium term.”
      On Thursday Leclerc appeared to leave the door open to a move by revealing discussions over a move had “not yet” been held.
      However, he later doubled down on these comments to clear the air, declaring he is “fully committed to Ferrari”.
      On these comments, Wolff added: “Nobody doubts Charles’ ability and he is a good guy.
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      “He is 100 per cent committed to Ferrari and we are 100 per cent committed to putting pen to paper with Lewis.”
      Hamilton, who finished P6 in Sunday’s Baku race, previously shot down rumours of his exit, saying: “I think maybe some of the drivers all have different relationships with different bosses and stuff.
      “I like where I am, I love my team, and I’m grateful for the journey we’ve been on and what we’re working on moving forwards. So, it doesn’t have any impact, no.”
      Leclerc took his first pole of the season with an impressive performance in Friday qualifying at the new-look format of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend.
      But the sheer pace of Red Bull and the street-wise expertise of race-winner Sergio Perez meant a victory was once again snatched from his grasp.
      Since the start of last season Leclerc has been on pole more times than two-time champion Max Verstappen, bringing his career total up to 19.
      Although he has only converted four of these into race wins to give himself a 21 per cent conversion rate.
      Indeed, he now sits just one pole off of former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas when it comes to career poles.
      And it means he could match the unwanted record of most poles without a world championship. More

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      Max Verstappen’s Azerbaijan antics and ‘Princess George’ blast at F1 rival Russell were odd – he must act like a champ

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      THERE was something unusual about Max Verstappen’s behaviour at the Azerbaijan GP – and no, it was not because he didn’t win (for once!).First, there was his reaction to contact with George Russell in the sprint race, calling him a “d***head” and later referring to the Brit as “Princess George”.
      Max Verstappen and George Russell clashed in Baku over the weekendCredit: Splash
      Verstappen was left fuming with RussellCredit: AFP
      Then there was his petulant response when asked his opinion on the new sprint race format weekend, saying “just scrap the whole thing”.
      It was unusual because recently, we have seen a much-more mature world champion while he has enjoyed plenty of success.
      Sure, he used to blow his top and by his own admission made some mistakes when he came into F1, but based on his recent attitude, in Baku it was uncharacteristic.
      As too was the reaction from his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, who seemed to rev-up Verstappen with his comments during the sprint race.
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      At one point he radioed Verstappen as he battled Russell saying: “Hold it Max, these guys have got nothing to lose. Just remember that.”
      Verstappen replied: “No mate, he tapped me. That’s how he got the position. F****** report it!”
      Somewhat unprompted, Lambiase later congratulated Verstappen when he made an overtake saying “lovely job Max, without contact as well, nicely done.”
      Of course it was tongue-in-cheek but only served to keep up Verstappen’s fury as he replied “yeah, I know how to do that,” before swearing again.
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      Perhaps I am over-analysing it, but usually Lambiase has a calming influence on his driver.
      There is no denying Verstappen’s talent.
      He’s the best driver on the grid at the moment when it comes to race craft and tyre management.
      He has now passed Ayrton Senna’s total with 81 F1 podiums and is still only 25-years-old.
      Could he now be feeling pressure of seeing his Red Bull team-mate, Sergio Perez get to within six points of him?
      Irrespective of that, it is all very well being a world champion, but it is another thing to behave like one – and shooting your mouth off isn’t it.
      We have the Miami GP up this weekend where hopefully this time, he will remember to pack his manners.

      TOTTING UP
      INTERESTING to hear Mercedes boss Toto Wolff calling the race “boring”.
      I am sure Red Bull boss Christian Horner would say the same between 2014 and 2020.

      MADE HER MART
      F1’S new all-female racing series kicked off last weekend with Spanish racer Marta Garcia winning both the opening two races at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.
      But the championship, which has the aim of bringing female talent to the F1 grid, would not get off the ground without controversy after British racer Abbi Pulling was disqualified.
      Pulling, part of the Alpine F1 team programme, had taken pole in both qualifying sessions – only to lose from both of them due to an “unintentional technical infringement” related to “non-homologated parts” on all three Rodin Carlin team cars.

      BAGNAIA’S BEST WIN
      MOTOGP world champion Pecco Bagnaia hailed his victory in the Spanish MotoGP at Jerez as his best ever.
      The Ducati ace recovered from a penalty for clashing with Jack Miller to ease the pressure after a slow start to the season.
      Meanwhile, Fabio Quartararo’s miserable run extended after he was forced to take a double long lap penalty for causing a collision.
      The Yamaha rider was adamant he was not to blame and served the penalty before the stewards judged he touched the outside white line upon re-entering the track, forcing him to take it a second time.
      Former MotoGP world champion Quartararo is down in 11th place in the championship.

      ALL THE THRILLS
      FORMULA E returns to action this weekend in Monaco.
      The series is enjoying some competitive racing this season with a whopping 362 overtakes during the last two races in Berlin. More

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      Fabio Quartararo and Miguel Oliveira collide in horror Spanish MotoGP crash as star stretchered away

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      TWO MotoGP riders were stretchered away after a horror collision in the Spanish Grand Prix.Fabio Quartararo and Miguel Oliveira battled it out on the bikes at the Circuito de Jerez in Seville.
      Fabio Quartararo and Miguel Oliveira crashed out of the MotoGP Spanish Grand PrixCredit: AFP
      The pair collided on the track in dramatic scenesCredit: Getty
      Oliveira was stretchered away to safetyCredit: Getty

      They tried to take a tight right-hand bend at high speed towards the back of the field.
      But as they approached the turn, Quartararo got sandwiched between Marco Bezzecchi and Oliveira and clipped the latter’s wheels.
      Both ended up skidding across the gravel as their bikes hit the barriers in the latest scary crash of the season.
      Terrifying on-board footage showed the incident unfold and the shocking moment the riders came off.
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      Quartararo and Oliveira underwent checks by doctors in an ambulance as the race was red-flagged.
      The former somehow escaped unhurt and got the all clear then the Frenchman went on to finish tenth.
      But Portuguese Oliveira suffered a dislocated left shoulder and was declared unfit to continue.
      It is the second time this season the RNF Aprilia man has been knocked out of a race by another rider after Marc Marquez crashed into him in Portimao.
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      That forced Oliveira to miss Argentina and means the 28-year-old has completed just one of the first four races of the season.
      Pre-race championship leader Bezzecchi also crashed out on a dramatic day in the MotoGP.
      And it was his Ducatti team-mate Francesco Bagnaia that eventually took the chequered flag.
      He was checked over in an ambulance but dislocated his shoulderCredit: Reuters
      Quartararo walked away unhurt and finished tenthCredit: Reuters More

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      Horrifying moment Esteban Ocon almost runs over photographers in middle of pitlane at ‘shambolic’ Azerbaijan GP

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      CHAOTIC scenes took place at the end of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday when Esteban Ocon almost ran over photographers as he made his way into the pitlane.The Alpine driver, 26, was forced into stopping on the last lap of the race as he dropped out of the points.
      Photographers were spread across the pitlane as Esteban Ocon came inCredit: Sky Sports
      “This is a SHAMBLES, absolute shambles!!” 😮A scary moment in the pit lane at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with people not realising Esteban Ocon was still to pit 👇pic.twitter.com/L2I56JV2OI— Sky Sports (@SkySports) April 30, 2023

      Ocon was desperately close to hitting those in the wayCredit: Sky Sports
      But things could have ended a whole lot worse for the Frenchman through no fault of his own.
      As he dived into the pitlane, F1 photographers were blocking the entrance by covering the track.
      And Ocon’s on-board camera showed he was desperately close to hitting those that reacted at the last possible moment.
      Sky Sports F1 reporter Ted Kravitz was speaking to commentator David Croft when the incident took place.
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      And he reacted angrily to the dangerous episode.
      Kravitz said: “What is this about? This is a shambles, an absolute shambles.
      “We can see it coming. Alpine can see it coming. What is going on down there?”
      Croft then added: “That is a total and utter shambles of organisation and somebody should have known.”
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      Ocon’s late pitstop saw him finish 15th as he remains on just four points from four races.
      Meanwhile, Red Bull continued their dominant start to the season as they picked up their fourth successive win.
      But it was Sergio Perez who outperformed reigning world champion Max Verstappen to claim victory, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounding out the podium places.
      The result leaves Verstappen just six points ahead of team-mate Perez in the drivers’ standings.
      Next weekend the paddock heads to the US for the Miami Grand Prix. More