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      Lewis Hamilton shoots down rumours he could quit Mercedes and be replaced by F1 rival

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has scoffed at suggestions Mercedes are looking to poach Charles Leclerc from Ferrari.Hamilton has yet to agree new terms with the team and his contract is set to expire at the end of the season.
      Lewis Hamilton insists he is happy at Mercedes and does not plan to leaveCredit: Reuters
      The 38-year-old insists he is only interested in re-signing for the Silver Arrows but that has not stopped reports that Merc boss Toto Wolff has been speaking to Leclerc about replacing the Brit.
      But when quizzed about it ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan GP, Hamilton gave short shrift to the rumour saying it had “no impact” on his own contract negotiations.
      He said: “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.”
      READ MORE ON LEWIS HAMILTON
      This weekend sees the introduction of the new format for the sprint race weekends.
      Practice has been limited to just one session on Fridays and qualifying for Sunday’s GP will also take place today tomorrow rather than on Saturday.
      It means the sprint qualifying – known as the ‘sprint shoot-out’ – and the sprint race itself will take place both on Saturday.
      And Hamilton says he is a fan of the revised plan for the six sprint races, starting in the high-speed Baku street circuit.
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      He added: “It’s going to be tough for everybody but we’re all in the same boat, what a track to do it at.
      “We have good races here. It’s definitely difficult to have just 20 laps then straight into qualifying.
      “Before [in the sprint race], where you finished was where you qualified for the race. Now it is a practice session but there are points at the end of it.
      “I don’t think we will be going more [aggressive] than we have done in the past. What I do think is it is great that we are doing these different format weekends.”
      Hamilton has also supported Mercedes’ decision to bring back design whizz James Allison to help out Mike Elliott, with the two swapping jobs.
      It comes as Mercedes try to recover from a slow start to the season where they admitted their car design was flawed.
      Hamilton said: “James has always been a part of the team. He was obviously focused on another area before.
      “Having him step back in, to support and work alongside Mike, it will strengthen the team.
      “He has an amazing amount of experience. Moving forwards it’s great for the team – for the things we want to achieve on track, and off track.”
      Charles Leclerc has been linked with taking Hamilton’s seatCredit: Getty More

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      Max Verstappen told to quit moaning or ‘pack up and LEAVE’ by F1 legend in astonishing blast

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN has been told to LEAVE Formula One if he keeps moaning about sprint races. The astonishing blast comes from Ralf Schumacher ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where a new “Sprint Shootout” format will be used for the first time.
      Max Verstappen is not a fan of F1’s sprint racesCredit: Reuters
      But Ralf Schumacher has told him to stop moaning or leave the sportCredit: Rex
      Reigning world champion Verstappen has been an outspoken critic against sprint races and an increased calendar.
      Earlier this month, the Dutchman said: “‘I am not a fan of it at all. When we do all that kind of stuff, the weekend becomes very intense and we already do a lot of races.
      “We are heading into seasons where we could have 24 or 25 races and if you then start adding more it is not worth it for me. I will not enjoy that.”
      In response, Schumacher, brother of F1 Goat contender and seven-time champ Michael, called out Verstappen’s quit threat.
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      The 47-year-old, who won two races in F1, told Sky Sports in Germany: “The past, the present and the future have shown or will show that Formula 1 is much bigger than any one individual.
      “Bernie Ecclestone is also gone and without him Formula 1 wouldn’t even exist and yet now it’s more successful than ever.
      “So Verstappen should either pack up and leave or just accept it as it is.
      “But I do understand his attitude because there are a lot of risks. But still, he gets paid to do it.
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      “If he wants to go, then he should go. As much as I love him, it won’t kill Formula 1.”
      Earlier this month he also added: “Max’s retirement threat is very unusual.
      “It is kind of strange to hear, isn’t it? I mean, what’s he going to do with himself? He should stop now, really. Stop now, he’s done it.
      “I think there’s an element of this with Max with him wanting not to waste his time on superfluous things that really are just invented for novelty reasons.”
      Verstappen’s concerns regarding an expanded calendar may be felt if plans for a 30-race calendar in 2030 from F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali come to fruition.

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      Who is superbike presenter Rachel Stringer and what has she covered?

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      RACHEL STRINGER is no stranger to showing passion in front of the camera – and she will be Eurosport’s lead presenter for the World SuperBike’s this year.The highly-rated presenter’s love for sport has seen her cover a wide range of events at the highest level.
      Rachel Stringer is the new Eurosport lead presenter for World Superbikes
      So fans were delighted to hear the news that Stringer will be all over their screens for the highly-anticipated tournament.
      But she was first recognised by participating in sports before earning a living from talking about it.
      And here is what SunSport know about Rachael Stringer.
      Who is Rachel Stringer?
      Born and raised in Norfolk, Stringer has always had a lifelong love affair with running.
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      The presenter started running for the City of Norwich Athletics club aged 12, before representing Team GB at the European Youth Olympics and Commonwealth Youth Games finishing second behind former World champion Caster Semenya.
      Rachel still has a passion for running and a three hour flat marathon time landed her partnerships with huge brands such as Adidas, Under Armour and Asics.
      Stringer has a passion for running
      And the born-runner also has her own running podcast ‘Keep Running’ where she interviews inspiring people from the running community.
      However, Stringer found passion in presenting and has gone on to open many doors for herself in this field.
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      Who has Rachel Stringer presented for?
      Stringer became the new World Superbikes presenter and is the Pit Lane reporter for British Superbikes on Eurosport.
      But, the talented journalist has also been host for EA Sports FIFA Global Series, Gfiinity’s brand new sports show ‘The V10 R League, the FA’s in-house YouTube channel and The European eTour.
      Rachel worked with World Athletics as their official reporter on major events including the Doha World Championships, World Relays in Japan and Denmark’s World Cross Country.
      However, one of her biggest achievements to date is hosting the first ever eSoccer Aid for Unicef and EA Sports, presenting live with the like of Usain Bolt and Robbie Williams.
      What has Rachel Stringer said?
      Stringer revealed that she is over the moon to be stepping up in her line of work.
      The talented presenter said: “I’m delighted to be stepping up to present Eurosport’s coverage of the World Superbikes this year.
      “I’ve loved working with Matt and have learnt a lot over the years, so I certainly have a lot to live up to.
      “I’m also excited to see how reigning BSB champion and rookie Bradley performs – I know there’s a lot of excitement amongst British fans out there for his debut in Assen.
      “So lots to look forward to and I can’t wait to get started.” More

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      How F1 calendar would look with 30 races including Grand Prix in New York, Madrid, Vietnam & Colombia after 2030 hint

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      FORMULA ONE’S ruthless expansion of its racing calendar could end up seeing a staggering 30 races in the 2030 season.F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali hinted at the possibility of this super-sized schedule last year.
      F1 could have a 30 race calendar by 2030Credit: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA)
      F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said there was potential to do 30 racesCredit: Getty
      He told Sky Sports: “I would say there is potential to go to 30! In terms of the interest we see all around the world.”
      There are currently 23 races, with the current Concorde Agreement between teams and F1 maxing out the calendar at 24 races per season.
      However, this deal expires in 2025. So if the calendar is expanded to accommodate 30 races, how might it look?
      Assuming such an expansion is viable, it stands to reason that most, if not all, of the current races on the calendar would have room to remain.
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      This is despite only seven of the circuits having deals which run up to 2030 and rumours suggesting the likes of Belgium and Monaco could be cut, with the former’s track deal running out after this season.
      In terms of new tracks, the aggressive expansion of exposure in the United States – which has three races already – could see new more tracks added to take the total to FIVE races.
      The locations of these races could be New York City, who have previously declared their desire to host a race, and a return to Long Beach, California where F1 has not raced since 1983.
      In South America, Colombia are a leading candidate to join the calendar, with Marca, via Planet F1, reporting an agreement is close for a ten-year deal for the “Carribbean Grand Prix” from 2024 or 2025.
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      Domenicali confirmed F1’s intention to return to Africa at Liberty Media’s Investor call last month.
      He declared: “It’s no secret we are still seeing if there’s a chance to go to Africa. It’s the only continent missing.”
      South Africa’s Kyalami circuit has been tipped to host this return and its first F1 race since 1993, while the move has also been backed by star drivers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
      Asia and the Middle East are other areas where potential expansion could come in, with South Korea and Dubai in the UAE both tipped to host races.
      Vietnam, who were forced to cancel their first-ever F1 race due to Covid-19, have returned to the table of trying to host a race, with reports in Vietnam suggesting Domenicali recently visited Hanoi.
      F1’s continental home of Europe could also be gearing up for some new venues, with Spain’s capital Madrid also in discussions for its own race.
      When speaking at the launch of an F1 exhibition in Madrid, Domenicali said: “They are working to bring a race here and F1 is delighted to have so many contenders, because this way we become more and more popular.
      “Two races in Spain of course is very difficult, so we are happy with Barcelona who have a contract and a strong relationship – but it is true that Madrid wants a race so we will see. All of this is good for F1.”
      Vietnam’s abandoned Hanoi circuit is in talks to be revisitedCredit: AFP
      While New York City have openly stated their desire to host an F1 raceCredit: Getty
      South Africa’s Kyalami circuit could also host F1’s return to AfricaCredit: Alamy
      Despite the seemingly endless appetite to expand, Domenicali has also erred on the side of caution regarding expansion into new territories.
      He admitted: “We need to be balanced, we need to see what are the other opportunities.
      “And very soon we are going to tell everyone what is our strategy to develop that market.
      “On top of America, on top of China, I think there is a potential also to be in Africa soon.
      “There is a lot of interest there. For sure that’s another area that so far is missing in the geography of our calendar…
      “It is up to us to try to find the right balance considering what are the venues which would like to be in F1, what are the historical values we need to see on the calendar.
      “There are some promoters who have expiring agreements, and probably some of the current Grand Prix will no longer be part of the calendar.”
      The 30-race calendar idea has also faced opposition from AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost – who will step down at the end of the season.
      He said in October: “We all should be happy that we are in a position to be in Formula 1 and to have 23 races and if someone doesn’t like it then he should go.”
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      “For me 23 races is the absolute limit, not from the workload point of view, but because I am concerned that with such a high number of races, in the end it could cause people to lose interest in Formula 1.”
      Other legacy tracks may also make a comeback by popular demand, such as Malaysia, Germany, Portugal or Turkey.

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

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      Terrifying moment NASCAR racer Alex Bowman breaks his SPINE after flying through the air in horror crash

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      FANS have been left in shock after a star NASCAR driver broke his SPINE.That’s after flying through the air in a horror car crash.
      A NASCAR driver broke his spine after a terrifying Sprint race crashCredit: Twitter

      Alex Bowman’s car catapulted through the air after being clippedCredit: Twitter
      Alex Bowman, 30, is a veteran of the racing world in America and drives the No.48 Chevrolet for NASCAR team Hendrick Motorsports.
      He holds the record for six consecutive front-row starts at the world-famous Daytona 500.
      And he has already enjoyed six top-10 finishes in 10 events this season.
      But when not racing in NASCAR, Bowman also likes to compete in Dirt Midget and Sprint car races.
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      The latter are classified as “high-powered, open-wheel” vehicles.
      They only weigh around 640kg but boast engines of 900 horsepower, giving them incredible top speeds of 160 miles per hour.
      And Bowman experienced the full force of a high-speed crash while racing in one on Tuesday evening.
      The driver, who was celebrating his 30th birthday that day, took part in an event at 34 Raceway in Iowa.
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      Bowman is set to miss at least four weeks of action with his fractured vertebraCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      But disaster struck when Bowman’s car was clipped by an opponent from behind.
      The vehicle flew off the track before launching into the air in terrifying scenes.
      It then bounced and rolled multiple times in front of shocked spectators, sending debris in all directions.
      Bowman was rushed to hospital by medics as fans held their breath.
      And scans later showed he had suffered a fractured vertebra in his spine.
      Bowman will need at least four weeks to recover from the setback.
      But he swiftly sent a positive update to supporters, having previously missed five races due to concussion.
      Bowman said: “First, I want to let everyone know I’m feeling ok.
      “My focus is now on healing and resting. Being out of the car is never an update any driver wants to make.”
      Bowman’s team Hendrick Motorsports added: “We’re relieved Alex is home, in good spirits and getting world-class treatment.
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      “Giving him ample time and the foremost resources to heal is our top priority.
      “He’s having a tremendous season and the No48 is at the top of its game.” More

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      Lewis Hamilton makes bold fashion statement at Azerbaijan GP as fans joke F1 star was ‘attacked by Shrek’

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      LEWIS HAMILTON made a bold fashion statement upon arriving to the Formula One paddock ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The seven-time champion is hoping to end his win drought by scoring a victory at this weekend’s race.
      Lewis Hamilton donned a typically bold outfitCredit: Reuters
      With one fan joking he had been ‘attacked by Shrek’Credit: Splash
      But ahead of the race, Hamilton was spotted in a typically striking outfit.
      Hamilton was pictured in an all-green jumpsuit which featured a ripped design resembling claw marks across it.
      Fans remarked “Hamilton fashion week” had begun, rushing to social media to share their thoughts.
      One fan on Twitter was taken aback by the fit, joking: “It looks like he was attacked by Shrek.” However, they admitted they still liked the look.
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      The look also impressed a host of other fans, with a second fan saying: “Cool as always 😎.”
      “He’s the best,” declared a third.
      While a fourth typed: “Now it’s race week.”
      Hamilton and his fellow drivers have returned after a month-long break since the chaotic Australian GP, caused by the cancellation of the Chinese GP.
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      The Brit scored a P2 result as he finished behind Max Verstappen Down Under.
      During the break, Hamilton overtook Verstappen’s longest career streak of days without a race win, which stands at 502.
      And despite a strong showing at the last race, Hamilton and Mercedes team-mate George Russell are set to be left without car upgrades until the Emilia Romagna GP on May 21.
      This means it could be a while before Hamilton adds to his record of 103 F1 race wins.
      The upcoming weekend will also see the “Sprint Shootout” format given its inaugural outing.
      You can read all the detail on the new format here.

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

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      OnlyFans racing star Renee Gracie ‘makes followers look’ as she risks wardrobe malfunction pulling on bikini top

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      ONLYFANS star Renee Gracie has sent fans wild on social media with her latest bikini picture.The 28-year-old former Supercar driver has turned to adult entertainment in recent years.
      Renee Gracie’s latest snap came with the caption ‘Made you look’Credit: INSTAGRAM
      It received more than 3,000 likes in 24 hoursCredit: INSTAGRAM
      She has also accumulated more than 200,000 followers on Instagram – where she regularly shares revealing snaps.
      And her latest image showed her in a blue and red bikini, alongside the caption: “Made you look 👀.”
      In response, one fan said: “Absolutely beautiful.”
      Another added: “Wow gorgeous.”
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      Reene has switched from racing to OnlyFans in recent yearsCredit: Instagram @onlyfansreneegracie
      She has also built up a substantial following on social mediaCredit: Instagram @onlyfansreneegracie
      And a third replied: “Beautiful as always.”
      Gracie walked away from racing in 2017 after driving in the Carrera Cup and Super2 events.
      She made the decision after not making enough money to continue her passion and instead changed her career to make the most of her good looks.
      However, the OnlyFans star has announced that she will be back behind the wheel in the GT World Challenge Australia series.
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      She will return to the race track in Australia later this monthCredit: Instagram @onlyfansreneegracie
      She will compete in the GT World Challenge Australia seriesCredit: Instagram @onlyfansreneegracie
      It’s a major starting point for the Australian as she looks to seal a return to race in the Bathurst 1000 in the next few years.
      She featured in the race, one of the biggest in Australia, twice before retiring to pursue her career in adult entertainment.
      Gracie had hinted at a return to the sport last month when it was announced she would star in a new documentary that will follow her comeback.
      Now it’s official and after missing the Bathurst 6 Hour event, Gracie will be on the starting grid for the Perth Supersprint, beginning April 28.
      Gracie told the GT World Challenge Australia website: “I started planning a return to the sport in 2021, which is when I started getting serious, talking to people and discovering what was possible.
      “The first indication was that there were challenges to find the support within the industry to make it work, so we took our time to plan and get the ideal program together.
      “I was very strategic with who I worked with and who I wanted to deal with on my comeback.
      “Some opportunities that presented were right and some were wrong, but the stars have aligned to pull all this together.
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      “Everything has worked and fallen into place and I’m really happy with everyone I am working with and who has been part of this journey.
      “It was proof to me that yes, this was the time to get back into racing.”
      Renee sends fans wild with her racy snapsCredit: Instagram More

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      Lewis Hamilton overtakes Max Verstappen’s F1 streak but it’s bad news for British star

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has overtaken one of Max Verstappen’s Formula One streaks. However, it is not one Hamilton will be happy to have broken.
      Lewis Hamilton has overtaken one of Max Verstappen’s F1 streak’sCredit: Getty
      But it is not one he will be glad to haveCredit: EPA
      The streak in question relates to winless streaks in F1.
      Verstappen ‘s longest-streak without a win in the sport stands at 502 days – between the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix and the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix.
      But on April 23 Hamilton eclipsed this streak, marking the day 503 without a win in F1.
      The 38-year-old’s last win came all the way back in December 2021 at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, when he was duking it out for the title with Verstappen.
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      And with Mercedes continuing to struggle for race pace this year, his streak looks set to continue for a while longer.
      Hamilton was chomping at the bit to try and squeeze past Verstappen at the end of a hectic Australian Grand Prix, in which he finished P2 under a safety car.

      The next chance he will have to end his winless streak will be this weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
      Baku was the scene of a stunning race in 2021 which saw ex-Red Bull driver Mark Webber produce a hilarious moment of commentary when Hamilton locked up on a restart.
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      But Verstappen was able to grab his first win at the circuit last year, and will be hoping to repeat the trick to improve his standing in the drivers standings this year.
      Hamilton – who holds the record for most race wins in F1 history with 103 – has not won around the track himself since 2018, and each year the race has been held has seen a different winner.
      This year the track will also welcome a new format: Sprint Shootout, which you read all the detail on here.

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