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      Michael Schumacher didn’t name his son Mick after himself as some think – but there’s still a touching reason behind it

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      MICHAEL Schumacher didn’t name his son Mick after himself as is commonly believed.Friend of the German F1 superstar, Eddie Jordan, 74, revealed the name was given as a tribute.
      Michael Schumacher, seen here in 1994, won seven world championshipsCredit: Getty
      Michael named his son Mick, pictured as a tribute to Mick DoohanCredit: AFP
      Jordan said Michael had named his son after legendary sportsman Mick Doohan.
      He said Mick was given his name “as a mark of respect” to the Aussie five-time MotoGP world champion.
      “Mick Schumacher isn’t named after his dad like a lot of people seem to think,” he said.
      “Mick Schumacher is named after a person who his father, Michael, was in total awe of, a sportsman who had won five world titles back to back with Honda.
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      “And that is no other than Mick Doohan.
      “As a mark of respect, Michael Schumacher called his son Mick.”
      It was Eddie who gave the German his big break in F1 when the then 22-year-old racer made his debut with Jordan in the Belgian Grand Prix in 1991.
      Michael would go on to smash all the records – claiming seven world championships and 91 races while driving for Ferrari and Benetton.
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      But the 54-year-old racing legend has not been seen or heard from for nearly 10 years after his horror ski crash back in 2013.
      He was left with a severe brain injury and in a medically induced coma.
      Mystery surrounds his condition – with his family imposing a strict “family only” rule on who can visit him.
      Last year, Jordan revealed Michael’s wife denied him a visit to see the Formula 1 legend after his horror skiing accident.
      His wife Corinna keeps his condition a closely guarded secret with strict rules about who’s allowed to see him.
      Corinna prefers to treat her husband privately at their home in Geneva, Switzerland with ex-Ferrari boss Jean Todt one of the few people allowed to see him outside his immediate family.
      It comes as F1 fans were moved to tears over a video showing Michael and a young Max Verstappen.
      The F1 star spent a lot of time growing up with the Schumacher family as his dad Jos Verstappen and seven-time champ Michael were close friends.
      The two families’ connection features in episode 4 – Like Father, Like Son? of Netflix’s Drive to Survive.
      Footage released as part of the show’s latest season feature Michael talking about young Mick and Max and discussing with Jos whether they would allow their children to become F1 drivers.
      One clip in particular, where Schumacher bends down and pats Verstappen on the head, has moved Formula 1 fans.
      Netflix’s documentary also brought to light a touching photo showing Michael cradling baby Max on his lap alongside his own daughter, Gina-Maria.
      Drive to Survive also charts Mick’s difficult sophomore season in 2022 – including his horror 170mph accident in Saudi Arabia.
      Mick’s rough year saw him outscored by his teammate, the returning Danish veteran Kevin Magnussen.
      The show outlines Mick’s struggles – and the pressure that came with racing under the name “Schumacher”.
      Speaking about his good friend, Max said: “It was different for Mick than it was for me. His father is the record world champion, with seven world championships.
      “That’s a difficult starting position at first.”
      Read More on The Sun
      Mick – who was dropped by Haas in favour of veteran driver Nico Hulkenberg for 2023 – is now a reserve driver at Mercedes.
      He will be backing up Sir Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, potentially stepping in for them if they have to miss a race.
      Michael’s wife Corinna, seen here in 2004, has kept a tight control over who is allowed to see her husband since his skiing accidentCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Michael’s pal Eddie Jordan revealed who Mick was named afterCredit: Sutton Motor Sport Images More

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      What happened to Jules Bianchi?

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      JULES BIANCHI sadly passed away following suffering severe head injuries in a crash during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.Bianchi was tipped to be a top prospect in F1 and had the potential to be the future of Ferrari.
      F1 drivers taking part in a minutes silence before the Hungarian Grand Prix
      Who was Jules Bianchi?
      Bianchi was born in Nice, France, on August 3rd, 1989, making him just 25 years old when he tragically passed away.
      He drove for Marissia for two years and made his debut in the 2013 Australian GP.
      That season, he ended in 19th place after failing to score any points.
      The 2014 Monaco F1 Grand Prix was Bianchi’s best finish as he placed 9th.
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      How did Jules Bianchi die?
      During the 2014 Japanese GP, Bianchi lost control of his Marussia and clashed with a recovery vehicle.
      The weather conditions in Japan during the time of the 2014 Grand Prix were treacherous and delayed the race from getting underway.
      Following the collision, Bianchi suffered a diffuse axonal injury which is caused by severe damage to the head.
      Bianchi spent nine months in a coma before passing away in 2015.
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      He was the first F1 driver to die from injuries that occurred during a Grand Prix since Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna.
      What did his family say?
      In a statement, his family said: “Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end.”
      The Marussia team, now known as Manor, said Bianchi had left an “indelible mark on all our lives”. More

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      ‘Why do I need to keep doing this?’ – Lewis Hamilton could GIVE UP on F1 if Mercedes car doesn’t perform, says ex-champ

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      LEWIS HAMILTON could lose the appetite for F1 if he’s no longer fighting for world titles – according to Damon Hill.Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes expires at the end of the year and while he says he is committed to agreeing new terms, Hill reckons his desire to continue could be tested if he were to have another uncompetitive season.
      Damon Hill feels Lewis Hamilton could lose his appetite for F1Credit: Rex
      Hamilton could grow frustrated if Mercedes’ car isn’t competitiveCredit: Getty
      Hill says finishing fifth is not good motivation for HamiltonCredit: Getty
      The 38-year-old lost the title in 2021 and went winless in 2022 for the first time in his career.
      And Hill, who quit racing just three years after winning the world title himself in 1996, believes Hamilton’s motivation is to win a record eighth world title.
      He said: “After a while, you’ve had your fill of driving F1 cars, as amazing as that might seem.
      “Lewis will respond to opportunity. If the opportunity diminishes rather than increases, then it will be more difficult for him to deliver those stellar performances.
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      “He’s someone who is inspired by an opportunity to win.
      “An opportunity to come fifth is not really sufficient motivation for Lewis.
      “Given his incredible record, he may well want to ask, ‘Why do I need to keep doing this?’ if there’s no sign of the summit.
      “That eighth world title was in his grasp and then it was denied him.
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      “That’s the only reason he came back and carried on: the hope of getting that eighth title.
      “I think that is his only motivation. I don’t think he just wants to race.
      “He’s still got some more seasons, but he’s not got 10 years ahead of him. It’s going to be one or two.
      “But when you’ve had that many years in Formula One, to pull your socks up and fight for fourth place, it gets a little bit less appealing.”
      Former F1 world champion Jenson Button also believes that Hamilton could walk away if Merc’s new car isn’t up to scratch.
      Button said of his former McLaren team-mate to The Telegraph: “It has to be that, right?
      “Why otherwise would you leave it this late? He knows how annoying we all are asking [about the contract].
      “I mean, we’ve got to ask the question, but he’s going to hate answering it over and over and over again.
      “It can only be because he’s wondering how competitive they will be.
      “Is he going to sign if the car is uncompetitive because he wants it to be quick again before he retires?
      “Or is he thinking, ‘If it’s not better, I’m just going to retire’. Who knows?”
      Meanwhile, Hamilton has been urged along with fellow F1 drivers to speak out on human rights to steer the sport away from a ‘moral vacuum’.
      The F1 season kicks off this week in Bahrain with the second race in Saudi Arabia, with both countries facing criticism over their human rights.
      Paul Scriven, a member of Britain’s House of Lords, told a news conference organised by the London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) F1 was at a crossroads.
      He said: “There are two roads that F1 can now take.
      “One is a road which is a moral vacuum where the leaders and the administrators seem to going.
      “There is another road that some drivers seem to be taking… who understand they can use their platform and their sport not just for sport’s sake but for good and for change and that they cannot ignore the human rights abuses in the country that they are driving in.”
      Hamilton has previously insisted the sport addresses the issues in countries where it races.
      Read More on The Sun
      However, with the sport’s governing body, the FIA, now banning “political, religious and personal statements or comments”, human rights groups want them to continue to highlight their causes.
      BIRD said human rights in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia had been “increasingly trampled on” and accused F1 of helping to “facilitate sportswashing of abuses.”

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      F1 are failing to tackle Gulf’s sportswashing and holding 2023 season opener in Bahrain is not helping situation

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      THIS year’s Formula One season kicks off on Sunday in Bahrain, a venue that polarises opinion as the opening race for such a global sport.Historically, F1 has started the year in countries with a history of motor racing — such as Australia, Brazil, South Africa or Argentina.
      F1 are not doing their part to tackle sportswashing in the GulfCredit: Rex
      Those form a stark contrast to ­Bahrain, which is a group of islands in the Persian Gulf with a population of just over 1.6million.
      Perhaps we should not be so surprised to see it as race one, for somewhat incredibly this will be the fifth time that the Sakhir Circuit has held the prestigious curtain-raiser.
      Even less so given it is rumoured the race — which had a record attendance of just 35,000 last year — pays F1 around £37.6m a season for the rights to host a grand prix.
      Oh, and last year it agreed a contract with F1 that remains in place until 2036, albeit not always as the opening race.
      READ MORE ON F1
      The Bahrain GP follows pre-season testing that was also held at the same track — due to its warm and stable climate — and will be followed by a GP in Saudi Arabia.
      And in the final part of the season, the calendar takes in Qatar and has Abu Dhabi as the finale.
      It means this year there are four races in the Middle East,  just two races (Japan and Singapore) in the rest of Asia and none in Africa.
      Formula One is not alone in this shift. Boxing, football, tennis and golf have all been lured to the Middle East as sports are decentralised from their European roots.
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      Of course, the money is a considerable factor — and with that comes the accusation of sportswashing.
      Bahrain, for instance, has been accused by activist group Human Rights Watch of having a “dismal” record on the issue.
      In 2013, Amnesty International claimed children, some as young as 13, were “blindfolded, beaten and ­tortured” as a result of protesting against the government.
      Seven years later, a cross-party group of 30 UK parliamentarians urged F1 to “leverage Bahrain into respecting human rights”.
      Also in 2020, Britain’s seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton  said: “We realise we’ve got to face and not ignore the human rights issues in the countries that we go to, not just 20 years, 30 years from now, but now.”
      SINGING IN THE RAIN
      The first Bahrain race was held in 2004 and I am not too sure what has been done to address those issues in the years since.
      The situation is difficult for F1, as the owners Liberty Media tiptoe through the political minefield while also trying to run their business.
      I understand that in Bahrain’s case there are a number of programmes aimed at encouraging girls into karting, while there are strict rules in each of the circuit’s contracts regarding breaches of human and labour rights.
      But while the full details of those contracts remain private, it is difficult to see what else is being done.
      You could argue that by being there in the first place, F1 is inadvertently keeping the pressure on those governments to address their human rights’ records.
      However, the counter argument is that as these races in the Middle East become more frequent — and without evidence of F1 producing such legacy programmes — as time goes on, there is a real danger we could all become sportswashed.
      Marc Marquez says teammate Pol Espargaro snubbed him ahead of surgeryCredit: EPA
      MAKING HIS MARC
      MOTOGP star Marc Marquez says he was snubbed by Pol Espargaro before undergoing surgery.
      While Aleix Espargaro and Fabio Quartararo both reached out to wish Marquez luck for a career-saving op, there was nothing from his team-mate, who has since left the Honda team.
      He said: “My team-mate Pol didn’t come to see me and he’s right next to me in the box. I mean, you don’t expect everyone to come. I didn’t expect Aleix.
      “I know exactly who’s going to support me and who isn’t. Or who wishes the best for me and who doesn’t.
      “Luckily there aren’t many who wish me the worst — but I bet there’s someone.”
      E-ASY DOES IT
      FORMULA E bosses should be patting themselves on the back after a stonking South African E-Prix.
      Not only did the all-electric series pull off a thrilling debut in Cape Town in front of 25,000 fans but their Gen 3 car is delivering some great racing, too.
      While Formula One’s model in 2022 was plagued by bouncing, the Gen 3 has led to some great overtaking manoeuvres.
      Read More on The Sun
      Nissan’s Sacha Fenestraz set the fastest lap in FE history with an average speed of 96.304mph.
      And the race was won after  TAG Heuer Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa produced an outrageous pass on the final lap. More

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      ‘The most sexy curvaceous body EVER’ – OnlyFans star Renee Gracie leaves fans speechless with jaw-dropping bikini snaps

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      RENEE GRACIE has left her fans speechless once again with her latest bikini pictures.The former racing car driver now pursues a career on OnlyFans and has built up a huge following on social media.
      Reene Gracie has wowed fans on social mediaCredit: Instagram @onlyfansreneegracie
      She often posts snaps of herself in bikinisCredit: Instagram @onlyfansreneegracie
      The former racer now runs an OnlyFans accountCredit: Instagram @onlyfansreneegracie
      She posts adult content for those willing to payCredit: Instagram @onlyfansreneegracie
      She is now just focussed on driving her fans wild, and does so by posting snaps of herself in bikinis and other revealing outfits.
      And in doing so she has attracted 162k followers on Instagram.
      And she is now making a comfortable six-figure monthly wage by sharing her explicit adult content.
      Her fans often pay her massive compliments on her posts on Instagram.
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      One said: “The most SEXY CURVACEOUS BODYS EVER!!The complete SEXY LADY!!🔥🔥🔥😍😍😍😍.”
      A second wrote: “You look 🔥 Also, you always get the best food 😍.”
      While a third commented: “Oh damn girl your so on fire and I do love your tattoos and your belly button piercing.”
      A fourth added: “You are a work of art.”
      Most read in Motorsport
      Last year, she revealed why she chose to change her career path, telling SunSport: “Motorsport is tough, I fought for years to raise money and get results.
      “It’s hard to perform when you’re not raising enough money for a spot in the top team.
      “On top of all of this – training, eating well, being continuous with how I looked and performed.
      “I constantly had to prove myself being a female. I had to deal with negative comments, a lot more than what the boys got.
      “Being in a male-dominated sport, and a negative environment most of the time, unfortunately I got to the stage where I lost my passion.
      “And I wanted out. My mental state was shot, I was depressed, sad and hated where I was.”
      She also has a big social media followingCredit: Instagram @onlyfansreneegracie
      Renee has over 162k followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram @onlyfansreneegracie
      Her fans often praise her on her bodyCredit: Instagram @onlyfansreneegracie More

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      What is DRS in F1? All you need to know about Drag Reduction System

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      FORMULA ONE cars are packed with gadgets to make them go as fast as possible across the tarmac.But with so much technology to know and understand, fans can easily get confused. Here, we tell you everything you need to know about the Drag Reduction System (DRS).
      Max Verstappen, left, is using Drag Reduction System to overtake Charles Leclerc, who is not using DRS
      The drag reduction system (DRS) is an overtaking aid designed to make racing more exciting using the simple laws of aerodynamics.
      Here is all you need to know about the rear wing system.What does DRS stand for?
      DRS stands for drag reduction system.
      This is a method used by F1 drivers to follow their rivals more closely and therefore overtake them.
      When in a DRS zone, a driver within one second of a rival car may activate the DRS.
      This is not automatic and a driver usually has a button on their steering wheel to activate the system.
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      How does DRS help to overtake?
      Within the push of a button, a driver can open up part of the rear wing.
      It is used to reduce aerodynamic drag and increase the straight-line speed of the car.
      That will allow them to close in on the car in front quicker than they would normally be able to.
      There is at least one DRS zone on each track in F1 but some have as many as three to help to overtake.
      When can they use it?
      The drivers can only use the DRS during designated activation zones.
      To ensure that overtaking is not too easy, the length and location of the zones are carefully controlled.
      They must be within one second of a car in front to be able to use the DRS.
      Most tracks have a DRS zone on their main straight, helping the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen as they look to win.
      Credit: AP
      Everything you need to know about F1 this season

      When was DRS first used in F1?
      The drag reduction system was introduced to Formula One in 2011.
      Regulations in 2013 stated that no item of the body may be adjustable by the driver during the race – with the exception of the DRS. More

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      Formula 1 legend Jenson Button sets world record for his lightning-fast reflexes

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      FORMULA 1 legend Jenson Button has added another string to his bow – breaking a Guinness World Record thanks to his lightning-fast reflexes.An official Guinness World Record adjudicator presented the British racing driver with his award after he smashed the record for the number of strikes on a Batak board in 30 seconds.
      F1 legend Jenson Button has added another string to his bow breaking a Guinness World Record thanks to his lightning-fast reflexesCredit: SWNS
      His super-fast reaction times saw him hit 58, beating the previous holder, Arshia Shahriarhi from Iran, who held the record of 56 from October 2019.
      The Batak light reaction machine is often used to improve F1 drivers’ reaction speed, hand co-ordination and stamina, with racers thought to have reaction times that are three times faster than the average person.
      Targets light up randomly across the board and participants must hit each light within an allotted time – to test their ability to respond quickly and make sure their peripheral vision is up to scratch.
      Jenson has previously beaten former teammate, and seven times F1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton, at a 60 second Batak challenge.
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      Button was set the challenge by TV and internet streaming service NOW, ahead of the Formula 1 season kicking off on 3rd March in Bahrain.
      Jenson Button said: “Always nice to add a new trophy to the collection – and an official Guinness World Record at that. I set my unofficial record in my twenties, so it’s great to see that I’ve still got it, twenty years later.
      “We’re looking at one of the most exciting seasons yet with Max, Lewis and the guys at Ferrari – it’s definitely looking a three-way race for the Championship this year and I can’t wait to see who comes out on top.”
      F1 drivers go through vigorous training to become race ready and experience up to six times the force of gravity as they brake, turn and accelerate in their cutting-edge cars.
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      Not only this, an F1 drivers’ heart rate can increase to around 160 to 200 beats per minute in contrast to an average person’s resting heart rate at 60 beats per minute, making it crucial to train aerobically.
      While driving in F1, Jenson’s training consisted of cycling, running, boxing and swimming for 16 to 20 hours a week for 17 years – making competitions out of this with other people to see who could run, swim, cycle the furthest really helped spur him on.
      Other examples of his gruelling training routine included an eight-hour bike ride up a volcano, skiing up mountains and swimming with sharks.
      Jamie Schwartz, from NOW added: “We’re glad that we could work with an F1 legend like Jenson and get him into the record books. Setting a new World Record is definitely a great way to kick off the 2023 F1 season which is looking to be one of the best ever.”
      Joanne Brent, an adjudicator from Guinness World Records, said: “I’ve seen countless record attempts, but Jenson Button’s achievement in extinguishing 58 Batak lights in 30 seconds was very impressive.
      “Breaking this record requires not only lightning-fast reaction times but also the ability to maintain focus and rely on peripheral vision, as Jenson demonstrated during the attempt for the record.
      “It’s a testament to his skill as a race driver and a reminder that breaking records isn’t just about physical ability, but also mental discipline and strategy.”
      F1 fans can challenge Jenson’s new world record on the official NOW Batak machine on F1 opening weekend with details to be announced via NOW social media channels.
      The entire F1 season can be streamed live on NOW from 3rd March as the lights go out first in Bahrain, for more information visit www.nowtv.com.
      Button was set the challenge by TV and internet streaming service NOWCredit: SWNS
      His super-fast reaction times saw him hit 58, beating the previous holderCredit: SWNS
      An official Guinness World Record adjudicator presented the British racing driver with his awardCredit: SWNS More

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      Lewis Hamilton tipped to RETIRE if Mercedes car isn’t up to scratch this season as F1 legend stalls on new deal

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      SIR LEWIS HAMILTON is stalling over a new deal as he is waiting to see how good his car is, claims Jensen Button.Mercedes had a difficult season in 2022 with Hamilton failing to win a race for the first time in his career.
      Lewis Hamilton is optimistic about Mercedes’ chances this seasonCredit: EPA
      Jensen Button thinks Hamilton could retire if Mercedes fail to compete for the second year runningCredit: PA
      The 38-year-old is in the twilight of his career and could decide to retire at the end of the year if Mercedes cannot compete with Red Bull once again.
      He has been offered a contract extension which could reportedly see his salary rise by £22million to £62m-a-year.
      But Button thinks Hamilton is delaying until he finds out how good his car is.
      The 2009 world champion told The Telegraph: “It has to be that, right?”
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      “Why otherwise would you leave it this late? He knows how annoying we all are asking [about the contract].
      “I mean, we’ve got to ask the question, but he’s going to hate answering it over and over and over again. It can only be because he’s wondering how competitive they will be.
      “Is he going to sign if the car is uncompetitive because he wants it to be quick again before he retires?
      “Or is he thinking, ‘If it’s not better, I’m just going to retire’. Who knows?”
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      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – every Grand Prix from this year
      Hamilton is confident Mercedes will be able to compete after recording the second-quickest time in testing behind Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.
      He remains optimistic despite admitting the team are “not quite where we want to be” ahead of the season opener at Bahrain this weekend.
      Hamilton said: “There has been a lot of discovery and the whole team has approached it with the same mentality, working hard, not being complacent and staying focused.
      “We’re not quite where we want to be but it’s a good platform to start from. We don’t know where we will be next week, but we will stay positive and continue to push to the maximum.” More