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      F1 could return to Africa for the first time in three decades with country set for ‘serious’ talks to host Grand Prix

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      FORMULA ONE chiefs are set to hold talks with representatives of Rwanda next month over a Grand Prix bid.The F1 calendar is expected to expand in the near future amid the sport’s rapid growth in popularity.F1 chiefs are set to hold talks with Rwanda representatives over a potential African GPCredit: ReutersLewis Hamilton has repeatedly called for the sport to return to AfricaCredit: GettyAnd returning to Africa is understood to be a top priority for organisers.The last time an F1 race took place in Africa was in 1993 at the Kyalami Circuit, South Africa.While several countries in the region have expressed a desire to host a Grand Prix, Rwanda’s plans are considered the most advanced at this stage.For that reason, F1 chiefs are prepared to hold talks with the country’s representatives.Read More on F1F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has revealed a meeting has been set up for next month.He told Motorsport.com: “They are serious. They have presented a good plan and actually we have a meeting with them at the end of September. It will be on a permanent track.”Domenicali continued: “We want to go to Africa, but we need to have the right investment, and the right strategic plan.”We need to have the right moment, and we need to make sure that also in that country, in that region, in that continent, there is the right welcoming, because, of course, they have other priorities.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”We need to be always very careful in making the right choices.”Rwanda has shown an increasing interest in motorsport over the years.Cost of an F1 carRepresentatives of the Rwanda Development Board travelled to the Monaco Grand Prix earlier this year to meet with the FIA.The East African country will also host this year’s FIA Annual General Assembly and Prize Giving Ceremony in December.Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has repeatedly called for F1’s return to Africa.Speaking ahead of the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix last year, Hamilton said: “There’s one more race we need and that’s going to be Africa.”We have all the other continents and why not there? So that’s the one I’m working on pushing right now.”🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

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      Iconic nineties F1 star looks unrecognisable in viral TikTok with his daughter as she tries on his old racing gear

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      AN iconic nineties Formula One driver has stunned fans after appearing in a viral TikTok alongside his daughter.The German won three F1 races after coming through the motorsport ranks alongside Michael Schumacher. Lea Frentzen went viral in a clip trying on her fathers 1999 F1 race suitCredit: tiktok @leafrentzenHeinz-Harald Frentzen won three F1 races in the 1990sCredit: EPAThe German now has a defined beard and appears on his daughters social media pageCredit: tiktok @leafrentzenHeinz-Harald Frentzen, now 57, drove for Sauber, Williams, Jordan and Arrows during his F1 career, and managed second and third place finishes in the 1997 and 1999 seasons respectively.But more than 20 years on from his final F1 race, he appears to have found a new lease of life on social media.And he has teamed up with his daughter, Lea to do so.Lea, 24, went viral after posting a TikTok of herself trying on her dad’s old Jordan racing suit from the 1999 season.READ MORE IN F1The yellow suit still had its numerous sponsors plastered across it, with the clip then cutting to Lea zipping up the front of the suit.It remarkably appeared to be a perfect fit, which she confirmed by captioning the post: “It fits.”Other clips on her social media page show her interviewing her father, sporting a very different look from his racing days.In his younger days Frentzen sported a clean shaven face, but has now grown out his facial hair to sport a well-defined beard.Most read in MotorsportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSIt is a look that has previously caught fans off guard, with a viral pic of Frentzen with his beard doing the rounds in October last year.Frentzen had a remarkable career as an F1 driver, both on and off the track.Greatest F1 track on Earth’ created featuring iconic parts from Silverstone, Spa and SuzukaHe was part of a big push by then F1-chief Bernie Ecclestone to get more German drivers into the sport, and being promoted shortly after Schumacher while driving alongside him and Karl Wendlinger.Earning his first seat in 1994 in the Mercedes-powered Sauber, Frentzen was eyed as a star for the future by team powerhouses at the time.Offers were forthcoming from from Williams – who won the 1993 championship – and McLaren in 1994.The Williams offer came following the death of F1 legend Ayrton Senna at the Imola Grand Prix that year.However, he turned it down out of loyalty to Sauber who had given him his big break.The latter went a very different way, coming directly from ex-McLaren CEO Ron Dennis before a harmless joke saw the move collapse.Frentzen said on the Beyond the Grid F1 podcast: “You know why I never got a chance at McLaren? In 1994 in Adelaide, my manager came to me and said then I had a call, Ron Dennis wanted to see me…”So, Ron Dennis came to me and said, ‘Hey Heinz, how is your English?’, and he said, ‘there might be some improvement in your English’.”And then I said for fun, ‘and how is your German?’, because we knew that Mercedes was coming to McLaren [as an engine supplier]. ‘You have to learn German as well’, I said.”He had a stone face. I was thinking I was funny, and my manager just pushed my arm like ‘what the f*** did you say that for?’. And I saw the face of Ron Dennis, and he never ever spoke again with me. He competed with Michael Schumacher for the F1 world championshipCredit: ReutersHe was surprisingly sacked by Jordan F1 team in 2001Credit: AP:Associated Press”He was so upset that I made this joke. And that’s why I never really had a chance at McLaren, because Ron Dennis for some reason didn’t like my sense of humour.”Frentzen won his first F1 race in 1997 when he also scored podiums in seven other races to finish second in the Championship.Despite a race win season and finishing second in the championship, there was a massive drop in performance in 1998, one Frentzen cannot explain to this day.In 1999, Frentzen headed to Jordan in a straight swap with Ralf Schumacher and came within touching distance of landing the title. Two race wins had put him on the path to glory despite a run-in with Schumacher at the Canadian GP when the Ferrari accelerated out of the pits and onto the racing line, causing Frentzen to spin out when he was poised to take the lead.Retirement at the European Grand Prix due to overlooking the anti-stall system later in the season would be the final nail in the coffin for his title hopes.Things did not get better for Frentzen at Jordan. In 2001 events came to a head when team principal Eddie Jordan sacked Frentzen halfway through the season.Frentzen claimed he had discussed terms with Jordan with a promise to sign him onto the team for next season, before learning he would not be signing a new deal.Frentzen said: “I was really upset and the team was upset that I was upset. It was a very bad situation… since then it [the relationship] was never the same again.”We arrived to Malaysia but everything was different. I have no explanation (to where the performance of the car went). “It was like someone was pulling a plug. Something was not running round anymore (in the car).READ MORE SUN STORIES”Then Eddie sacked me. There was no reason, it was just out of the blue with this letter from a lawyer and informed me, so that was a big shock… Eddie was getting a little stranger each race.”Frentzen eventually left F1 in 2003, later competing in Speedcar series, Le Mans 24hr and GT racing until 2014.Fans have been caught off guard by his new lookCredit: X heinz Harald Frentzen🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

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      ‘Heartbroken’ George Russell breaks silence after disqualification in 36-word statement – but leaves celebration post up

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      GEORGE RUSSELL has broken his silence on his Belgian Grand Prix disqualification.The British driver had finished ahead of Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton at Spa on Sunday.George Russell has admitted he is ‘heartbroken’ after his Belgian Grand Prix disqualificationCredit: RexThe Brit has also left up his celebration post after breaking his silenceCredit: RexHowever, he was disqualified hours after the race following a review from the race stewards.Officials found Russell’s car to be underweight after it was drained of fuel during the post-race checks.As a result, Hamilton was upgraded to the race winner to claim his second victory in three attempts.Following the disqualification, Russell wrote on Instagram: “Heartbreaking… We came in 1.5kg underweight and have been disqualified from the race.READ MORE F1 NEWS”We left it all on the track today and I take pride in crossing the line first. There will be more to come.”He also left up his celebratory post, though, having earlier shared snaps of himself with the trophy.Russell had said: “P1!!! From P6 to the top step, what an incredible feeling! Running the hard tyres for 34 laps was a risk but it paid off.”Heading into the break with a 1-2 shows all the hard work is paying off. We always believed and will never stop. Let’s go team!!!”Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe 26-year-old was denied his third career race win by the dramatic circumstances in Belgium.It would have also been his second victory of the season after taking the chequered flag in Austria last month.Watch moment George Russell pours champagne all over Sky Sports reporter and then refuses to give him an interviewRussell was disqualified from the race hours after taking the chequered flagCredit: RexSunday’s chaos ends with Hamilton sixth in the Drivers’ Championship, two places above Russell.Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc were bumped up to second and third respectively after Russell’s exit.The F1 season will not take a four-week break before returning for the Dutch Grand Prix and Zandvoort on August 25.🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

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      Lewis Hamilton WINS Belgian Grand Prix as team-mate George Russell is DISQUALIFIED hours after F1 race ends

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has won the Belgian GP in dramatic style after team-mate George Russell was disqualified hours after the race had finished.The stewards found that Russell’s car – which ran a one-stop strategy – was underweight after it was drained of fuel during the usual post-race checks.Race winner George Russell was stripped of the Belgian GP after his car was found to be underweightCredit: GettyHe was left distraught with the decisionCredit: RexHamilton was celebrating even before the result was changed after team-mate’s Russell’s ‘victory’Unfortunately George has been disqualified for his car being below the minimum required weight. Here’s Toto’s reaction. pic.twitter.com/a3qJLyrwr8— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) July 28, 2024

      After confirmation from the stewards, Russell’s disqualification meant team-mate Hamilton was crowned the race winner after finishing second at Spa.Hamilton – whose two pits caused him to drop in behind Russell – originally formed an impressive Mercedes one-two after the team ditched their updates on Friday.But the Silver Arrows’ one-stop strategy likely wore down the rubber on Russell’s tyres and is being citied as the main reason the car came in underweight.The W15 weighed in at 796.5kg, 1.5kg beneath the minimum weight required by the sport’s regulations.READ MORE ON F1The car had initially weighed in bang on the 798kg limit, but once the remaining fuel was drained in accordance with the rules, it fell below.The decision gives Hamilton a second victory in three races going into F1’s summer break, with Max Verstappen topping the standings.Mercedes told the stewards that “there were no mitigating circumstances and that it was a genuine error by the team”.Russell reacted to his disqualification with an Instagram post, writing: “Heartbreaking… We came in 1.5kg underweight and have been disqualified from the race.Most read in MotorsportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”We left it all on the track today and I take pride in crossing the line first. There will be more to come.”The stewards’ ruling said: “Car 63 was weighed on the FIA inside and outside scales with both scales showing the same result of 796.5 kg. “The calibration of both scales was confirmed and witnessed by the competitor.”The Stewards determine that Article 4.1 of the FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations has been breached and therefore the standard penalty for such an infringement needs to be applied.””The car was weighed again on the FIA inside and outside scales and the weight was 796.5 kg.”How the race went for RussellRussell managed to hold off the seven-time world champion on 24 laps on ONE SET of hard tyres to claim his second title of the season.He put in an extraordinary drive to run an unusual one-stop strategy in a race that featured battles throughout the leading places.The 26-year-old started three places behind Hamilton in P6.Oscar Piastri came a close third for McLaren after a late overtake on Charles Leclerc.🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁 Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff believes it could have been the one-tyre strategy that cost Russell his race win.Wolff said: “I would suspect it’s because we ran one tyre throughout for most of the race.”You have to take it on the chin. If the stewards decide against ourselves, a mistake has happened.”A one-two would have been a great result going into the summer break, it couldn’t be any better.”READ MORE SUN STORIESWhile Red Bull team boss Christian Horner claimed that Russell’s car would have lost over a kilo of rubber with the one-stop strategy.He said: “Really sad news as George but obviously a mistake in their calculations.” More

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      George Russell BEATS Lewis Hamilton in F1 Belgian Grand Prix after dramatic late battle with incredible strategy

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      GEORGE RUSSELL completed his redemption by battling to a shock victory at the Belgian Grand Prix. The Mercedes man said: “Amazing strategy, you guys are the best” after he fought from sixth in the grid to first after a lacklustre qualifying session. George Russell pipped Lewis Hamilton at the Belgian GPCredit: APRussell’s one-stop strategy paid dividendsCredit: ReutersHamilton led the race from lap three after overtaking future Ferrari team-mate Charles LeclercCredit: AFPMercedes boss Toto Wolff labelled Russell the “tyre whisperer” after the race, given he endured a whopping 34 laps on his tyres before crossing the line. It will be extra special for the British 26-year-old given his petrol nightmare in Hungary when he ran out of fuel in qualifying, leaving him starting in 17th, and having to reitre his car in Silverstone before that. It will be a tough one to take for Hamilton who was snapping at the heels of his teammate by half a second until the very end as Oscar Piastri settled for third. . The seven-time world champion had not won a race for all of last season but has come alive since Barcelona.READ MORE IN F1He nabbed his first podium of the year in Spain with a third-place finish before his Silverstone heroics. Hamilton enjoyed a blistering start in his Mercedes, overtaking Sergio Perez on the first-lap. The seven-time world champion then eased past Charles Leclerc and into the lead on lap three. Lando Norris suffered another miserable start as he slipped from fourth into seventh. Most read in MotorsportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSBy lap 22 Max Verstappen was battling with his old pal Norris, having bulldozed away from starting in 11th place due to a grid penalty. Small mistakes hurt Norris throughout who had a go at overtaking the Dutchman into the final chicane of lap 24 but locked up and veered off the track. Watch Rowan Atkinson ‘do Martin Brundle impression to Martin Brundle’ without Sky Sports F1 reporter having a clueRussell led the charge with eight laps to go but Hamilton was chipping away at his teammate in second. Oscar Piastri danced around the outside of Leclerc to take third-place as he trailed Hamilton by five seconds on lap 36. WHO COULD REPLACE HAMILTON AT MERCEDES? Mercedes will have a vacant seat for 2025.Here, SunSport’s F1 correspondent Ben Hunt looks at FIVE potential candidates who could replace him and partner George Russell in the Silver Arrows.Oscar Piastri – McLaren have sewn up Lando Norris to a new long-term contract that should (in theory) put him out of Mercedes’ reach. However, they are yet to tie down his teammate Piastri, 22. The Aussie has an excellent record and won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles before spending a year on the sidelines with Alpine and getting his chance in F1 with McLaren. He impressed on his debut season last year and has the potential to be a world champion.Daniel Ricciardo – The experienced driver’s future remains in doubt as he bides his time at Red Bull’s B-team. Ricciardo would be low-hassle and offer some stability but by that time he would be 35. It seems unlikely that they would opt for him at this point in his career, but if he has a good season this year, he could come into the reckoning.Kimi Antonelli – You may not have heard of the Italian, but he is mustard. Still only 17, he has won at all the junior categories and has been part of the Mercedes young driver programme since 2019. This season he has been promoted from F4 to F2, where he has been tipped to shine. A good debut season in F2 could sway Mercedes into taking a risk on him for 2025. Antonelli and his family are close to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.Mick Schumacher – Wolff has always been so incredibly supportive of Schumacher and spoken highly of him, that you’d at least expect him to come into consideration. He knows the team from his role as reserve driver and consequently would get up to speed. But speed is also the problem. He was shocking at Haas and if he really was THAT good, he’d still be driving in F1.Alex Albon – A more-sensible choice would be the London-born Albon. A great guy who is also very quick. He has a fantastic relationship with Russell and would be the low-maintenance quick partnership similar to Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas that swept to successive titles. Albon would take little convincing to join from Williams and Mercedes would not need to pay him half of the £50million they were dishing out to Hamilton.Russell, Hamilton and Piastri were separated by a whisker in the final eight laps which was a welcome sight at a track which has been so used to Verstappen’s dominance. The win moved Russell back to within two points of his team-mate in the driver standings, while Piastri leapfrogged Carlos Sainz into fourth.McLaren’s 20-point haul also took a bite out of Red Bull’s lead in the constructors, though this was slightly mitigated by eighth-place Perez winning an extra point for the fastest lap.F1 2025 gridHere are the confirmed driver line ups for the F1 2025 season so far:Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Sergio PerezFerrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis HamiltonMercedes: George Russell and TBCMcLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar PiastriAston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance StrollWilliams: Alex Albon and TBCSauber: Nico Hulkenberg and TBCAlpine: Pierre Gasly and TBCRB: Yuki Tsunoda and TBCHaas: Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon More

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      Max Verstappen escalates ban row with Red Bull as F1 champ says ‘I don’t tell them what to do in their private time’

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN has told Red Bull to stay out of his personal life — and vowed to carry on late-night gaming.Formula One star Verstappen also instructed his critics to “turn the volume down” if they do not like his furious swearing on the team radio.Max Verstappen warned Red Bull bosses to stay out of his private lifeCredit: RexThe Dutch driver, 26, came under fire for staying up until 3am on his £10,000 racing simulator before the Hungarian Grand Prix.On the real track the following day, he crashed into Brit rival Lewis Hamilton late on and was effing and blinding on his team radio throughout — before finishing in fifth place.Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko said after the race the team had put a ban on Verstappen’s virtual racing.But three-time world champ Verstappen insisted yesterday ahead of this weekend’s Belgian GP: “We’ve talked about it. There are no new sim races coming up, so I said he doesn’t have to worry.READ MORE ON F1“I don’t have a ban. I don’t tell them what to do in their private time at the weekend. That also applies to me the other way around.“Something is always invented. If you don’t win a race, you get blamed for being up until 3am but in Imola I won the race, while I was also doing sim racing.“This is not something new. I’ve been doing this since 2015. So for me, this is not something that is any different in my preparation.“I’ve won three world championships. I know what I can and what I cannot do.”Most read in MotorsportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁 Verstappen extended his winless run to three races, his longest since 2021.That stat may explain his fruity language last weekend as he blasted the team’s “s**t strategy, said his race was “f****d” and also hit his steering wheel in qualifying.Watch Max Verstappen swerve to avoid killing a GROUNDHOG during Canadian GPAnd seven-time title-winner Hamilton said Verstappen did not conduct himself like a world champ after the race.The Mercedes ace stressed: “As a team leader, as a team member, as a team-mate, you have to act like a world champion.”He was asked if those comments from Verstappen portrayed that, to which Hamilton replied: “Not like it was last weekend.”Verstappen said: “People that don’t like my language, then don’t listen in, turn the volume down.“I’m very driven to success, I’ve proven that already, I always want to optimise stuff.“People can argue that he might not be so vocal on the radio but that’s their opinion.“My opinion is that it needs to be said at the time, to maybe also try to force that the second pit stop would have been a bit different, that’s how it goes.”Meanwhile, Lando Norris has been feeling guilty team-mate Oscar Piastri’s maiden win in Hungary was overshadowed by his radio row.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe Brit, with one eye on the championship, ignored McLaren team orders to allow Piastri past on fresher tyres until just three laps to go.He said: “The fact I kind of clouded over Oscar’s first race win is something I’ve not felt too proud about.” More

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      Verstappen ordered to stop playing video games as Red Bull chief says it’s ‘no wonder’ he was slammed for Hungarian GP

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN has been told to end his late-night video game sessions after struggling at the Hungarian Grand Prix.The three-time world champion, 26 was up until the early hours on race day and ultimately finished fifth.Max Verstappen takes virtual racing very seriouslyCredit: GettyThe Dutchman is on a poor run of formCredit: APHe has not won since Barcelona three GPs ago – his worst run since 2021.Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko told Speedweek: “It didn’t take long for criticism of Max to arise this weekend. “It’s no wonder, given that he spends half the night playing sim racing. “We have agreed that he won’t do simulations so late any more.”READ MORE IN F1Verstappen, who crashed into Lewis Hamilton in Hungry, still leads the drivers’ standings with 265 points but Brit Lando Norris is closing the gap after moving to 189.The Dutchman will be hit with a 10-place grid penalty at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix after exceeding his engine allowance.Verstappen blasted race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase over the radio in Hungary.He said: “No mate, don’t give me that s*** now.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”You guys gave me this s*** strategy, OK? I’m trying to rescue what’s left.”Nico Rosberg questioned his rival’s professionalism after news of his gaming session broke.Verstappen walks in on Hamilton napping in press conference and listening to Bob Marley”They can all f*** off,” was Vertappen’s blunt response to his critics.Virtual racing is becoming a huge business with high-tech set-ups trying to emulate the feeling of driving a real car.Verstappen’s Team Redline co-drivers make a decent living with six-figure sums on offer in the top events.Defending his involvement, he said: “I think I’m professional enough that I know what can and can’t be done.”If you don’t go to bed and you don’t sleep, it won’t be good for your race on Sunday. “But I think with so many years of experience I do know what to do.”🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

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      Watch moment furious Fernando Alonso throws jacket to ground in anger after major blunder at Hungarian GP

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      FERNANDO ALONSO lost his cool at the Hungarian Grand Prix over a major blunder made by the FIA.The veteran racer threw his jacket and hat on the ground in fury as he remonstrated with a race official.Fernando Alonso lost his cool at the FIA during the Hungarian GPCredit: RexHe threw his jacket and hat to the ground in a fit of rageCredit: XAlonso was left fuming over an incident in qualifying and later slammed the race organisers.His complaint was over the FIA issuing a red flag after Sergio Perez crashed at turn six – which was the second red flag of the session.Alonso, 42, was carrying out a hot lap at the time so was called to a halt, much to his frustration.The Spaniard still achieved seventh place on the grid but bemoaned the “mistakes” made by the FIA.READ MORE ON F1He said: “The truth is that the FIA sometimes gets it right and sometimes they make gross mistakes, today they had made one. “They put out the red flag when I was in the last corner, which is surprising. There was an accident at turn eight [five]. Normally they always wait for the cars to complete the lap. It’s the ‘spoken norm’.“When entering the pit lane, Lance and I were put into parc ferme. They closed the pit lane. “They put us into parc ferme, we got out of the car, then they told us that Q3 was starting again.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“We went back to the car, they tightened our seatbelts, and we went to the garage. I had no more tires, so I didn’t go out anymore.”Alonso’s race did not go to plan either as he fell back several places to finish 11th.Watch Max Verstappen get slammed as ‘CHILDISH’ by his own team on radio after smashing into F1 rival Lewis Hamilton🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More