Motorsport

LEWIS HAMILTON said he had bananas thrown at him and was repeatedly called the “n-word” at school.The seven-time Formula One world champion, who was born and educated in Stevenage, detailed the racial abuse in the On Purpose podcast, released on Monday.
Lewis Hamilton has opened up over the racist abuse he received at schoolCredit: AFP
The 38-year-old, who is preparing for his 17th season in F1, said: “For me, school was the most traumatising and most difficult part of my life.
“I was already being bullied at the age of six. At that particular school I was one of three kids of colour and just bigger, stronger, bullying kids were throwing me around a lot of the time.
“And the constant jabs, the things that are either thrown at you, like bananas, or people that would use the n-word just so relaxed. People calling you ‘half-caste’ and not knowing where you fit in. That for me was difficult.
“In my (secondary) school there were six or seven black kids out of 1,200 kids and three of us were put outside the headmasters’ office all the time. The headmaster just had it out for us – and particularly me.
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“I felt the system was up against me and I was swimming against the tide. There were a lot of things I suppressed.
“I didn’t feel I could go home and tell my parents that these kids kept calling me the n-word, or I got bullied or beaten up at school today, I didn’t want my dad to think I was not strong.”
Hamilton remains F1’s sole black driver. He has established Mission 44 – which aims to enhance the lives of people from under-represented groups – and Ignite, a joint enterprise with his Mercedes team to improve diversity and inclusion in motor racing.
Meanwhile, the British driver is entering the final year of his £40million-a-season deal with Mercedes.
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But it is anticipated that he will stay on the grid beyond his 40th birthday by signing a new multi-year contract.
Looking ahead to life after F1, Hamilton added in the podcast, which was recorded in November: “It is going to be really, really hard when I stop racing. I have been doing it for 30 years. When you stop, what is going to match that?
“Nothing is going to match being in a stadium, being at a race, being at the pinnacle of the sport and being at the front of the grid or coming through the grid and that emotion that I get with that.
“When I do stop there will be a big hole so I am trying to focus and find things that can replace that and be just as rewarding.”
Hamilton will unveil his new Mercedes car at the team’s launch at Silverstone on February 15 ahead of the first round of the new season in Bahrain on March 5. More

ALPHATAURI considered signing Mick Schumacher for the 2023 F1 season after he was axed by Haas.The 23-year-old parted ways with American based team at the end of the last campaign and he will be replaced by veteran Nico Hulkenberg.
Mick Schumacher was considered by AlphaTauri before becoming Mercedes’ reserve driverCredit: Getty
Schumacher has now signed for Mercedes, becoming their reserve driver for the 2023 season.
However, AlphaTauri were keen on giving the son of seven-time world champion Michael, a place on the grid.
Team principal Franz Tost revealed he was keen on the German but opted for Nyck de Vries instead to come in for the departing Pierre Gasly.
Tost told RTL: “Schumacher was an issue [of conversation] for me, personally.
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“I would actually have liked to have Mick in the car. Mick is talented and also has what it takes to drive successfully in F1.”
But the move for him did not materialise because AlphaTauri is owned by Red Bull.
Schumacher has strong connections to their rivals Ferrari, via his father and coming through the academy there, making the switch hard.
Tost cited “political reasons” for why no discussions ever took place.
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The new F1 season begins with testing on February 23 ahead of the first race taking place on March 5.
And Tost is hopeful Schumacher will get the chance to drive Mercedes’ new W14 car soon.
He said he can learn a lot from being in and around one of F1’s strongest teams and he hoped the driver can regain his confidence and make it back to the starting grid in the future. More

LEWIS HAMILTON came clean on his real relationship with Max Verstappen.The Formula One rivals have been pitted against each other in recent years with the veteran driver facing his strongest challenge on the track for years.
Lewis Hamilton gave an honest insight into his relationship with Max VerstappenCredit: AP
Their intense battle for the 2021 championship featured multiple flashpoints on and off the circuits with collisions and a war of words culminating in the controversial finale in Abu Dhabi as Hamilton was robbed of a record-breaking eighth world title.
Verstappen defended his crown in 2022 and is preparing to try and win a hat-trick in the upcoming season.
But Hamilton and Mercedes will be looking to bounce back from a disastrous campaign and challenge for the titles.
However, despite their frosty receptions for each other at times, Hamilton insists he has no issues with Verstappen – and talk of any such problems is “fairytales”.
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But he cannot speak on behalf of the 25-year-old Dutchman.
The Stevenage star, 38, told Formula One Magazine: “People like to talk about there being problems between Max and me.
“I respect him.
“He is a lot younger, so maybe he has a problem with me.
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“But I am not sure about that and I actually assume not. Although I can’t speak for him.”
Hamilton added: “He did everything he had to do in 2021, so why should I have a problem with him? 
“He performed and delivered every weekend, nobody can take that away from him.”
Hamilton and Verstappen will lock horns again for the first time in 2023 at the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 5.
That is the first of 24 races scheduled for this year, although the fourth round in mid-April is still to be confirmed.
It was due to be staged in Shanghai but was cancelled in December due to ongoing Covid problems in China. More

FORMULA 1 owners have reportedly rejected a £16billion bid from Saudi Arabia to take over the sport.The bid is believed to have been made by the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The PIF have reportedly had a £16billion bid for F1 rejectedCredit: Getty
The current owners of Formula One are Liberty Media.
The media company took over the sport itself in 2017, having completed the purchase for £3.56bn.
However, they have now rejected a bid for the motorsport from the PIF worth £16bn, according to Bloomberg.
The report revealed that an approach was made last year by the PIF, but the negotiations broke down in the early stages.
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However they are believed to remain interested in buying the sport should Liberty Media decide to cash in.
Formula One would be only the latest in Saudi Arabia’s sporting ventures.
The PIF took over Newcastle United from Mike Ashley in 2021 and has also hosted some major boxing fights and created the breakaway LIV Golf Tour.
Saudi club Al-Nassr recently signed Cristiano Ronaldo in a £175million-a-year deal.
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The Saudi Arabia Grand Prix has been criticised by fans of the sport as they accused of ‘sport washing’ since it was added to the calendar in 2021.
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The term is used to describe the use of sports by individuals, groups, corporations, or governments as a practice to improve reputations tarnished by wrongdoing.
Human rights issues in Saudi Arabia has been consistently raised, with driver Lewis Hamilton insisting he would have to raise awareness while in the country. More

MICK SCHUMACHER has changed his Twitter profile picture to a throwback snap of him and his F1 legend dad Michael.Seven-time world champion Michael, 54, has not been seen or heard from since a horror ski crash back in 2013.
Michael Schumacher has not been seen since his skiing accidentCredit: Getty – Contributor
Mick Schumacher has been a part of Formula 1 since 2021Credit: Splash
But fellow F1 racer Mick, who recently left Haas and became Mercedes’ reserve driver, has continued to show support for his father.
On Monday, he shared an old photo of him and his dad on Twitter.
The snap, which is already his Instagram profile pic, is a shot of his dad holding a young Mick during his racing days.
The 23-year-old added the caption: “#NeuesProfilbild”, which translates to “#NewProfilePicture”.
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Earlier this month, Mick wished his dad a happy birthday as he turned 54.
He said: “Happy birthday to the best Dad ever ❤️ love you!”
And Michael’s Instagram account responded to the thousands of birthday wishes he received.
The message read: “Thank you so much everybody for the warm birthday wishes!
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Mick shared this old picture of him and his dad on TwitterCredit: Twitter / @SchumacherMick
“They are greatly appreciated 👍. #TeamMichael #KeepFighting #KeepFightingMichael.”
Meanwhile, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff recently spoke about his team acquiring the younger Schumacher as their reserve driver for the 2023 season.
The German spent two years with Haas but was released at the end of the 2022 campaign.
Yet despite mixed fortunes in F1 so far, Wolff is excited to have him on board.
The Mercedes boss said: “I believe that if we can provide him with a safe environment to develop further, he can be a good driver in a full-time seat in the future.
“We had to let Nyck [de Vries] go in the same way for him to have a career, now that could also happen with Mick.
“Whether it’s with our team or whether we have to let him go, we don’t know yet.
“He will contribute enormously as he has already driven the new car and he has been in Formula 1 for two years. He will be super helpful in the simulator and when judging the car.
“It’s good to have him on track and in the debriefing area.” More