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      Lewis Hamilton looks relaxed wearing very baggy trousers ahead of Saudi Arabia Grand Prix

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      SIR Lewis Hamilton peaces together what he hopes could be a winning combo ahead of today’s Saudi Arabia F1 GP.The seven-time world champ, 38, sported an all-black outfit of short sleeve-fitted top with loose-fitting cargo pants and big rounded boots.
      Lewis Hamilton was in good spirits as he arrived for qualifying in Saudi ArabiaCredit: Splash
      Hamilton qualified in seventh place for the second Grand Prix of the seasonCredit: AFP
      He rounded off the look with a peace sign as he arrived for qualifying at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit yesterday.
      Sir Lewis was pictured smiling, but wasn’t quite as joyful after only managing seventh place on the grid for today’s race.
      It was at least better than rival Max Verstappen, who could only qualify in 15th.
      Days earlier, the race ace spoke of his unease at human rights violations in the Middle East.
      READ MORE LEWIS HAMILTON
      And this week he split from long-time performance coach Angela Cullen after seven years working together.
      Amid speculation over his Mercedes future, former teammate Heikki Kovalainen has backed him to stay and even win an eighth world title.
      Team supremo Toto Wolff has admitted Mercedes need to provide Hamilton with a car capable of winning.
      Hamilton this week ended his working relationship with his long-time performance coachCredit: Rex More

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      Max Verstappen to start 15th in Saudi Arabia GP after Red Bull breaks down with Hamilton only seventh and Perez on pole

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN will have to start the Saudi Arabia GP at 15th after mechanical problems forced him out of qualifying. The world champion began to have engine problems in Q2 and was forced off the Jeddah Circuit early as a result.
      Max Verstappen’s issues began coming out of turn 10
      He was strong favourite to start the race in pole position, but his early end to qualifying saw his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez secure the spot.
      Verstappen was going strong after Q1, but was limping around the track back to the pits after he reported his issues over the radio.
      The 25-year-old hasn’t given up on the race despite his position on the grid and made that clear when speaking to Sky Sports after qualifying.
      He said: “Now it’s a little bit more tricky to get to the front,
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      “But it’s all about scoring points, it’s a very long season. Of course, I would have hoped to start a bit further up the road but we cannot change that now.
      “Anything is possible at this track. We’ve seen a lot of crazy things, but we also need to stay a little bit realistic. I mean, it’s going to be tough. But we have good pace so, for sure, we’ll move forward.”
      Red Bull have confirmed since the issue was not with the Dutchman’s engine, but rather with the car’s driveshaft.
      Lewis Hamilton will start in seventh tomorrow after today’s qualification with his Mercedes teammate George Russell starting on the second row.
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      Charles Leclerc was second fastest in qualifying, but will have to start tomorrow’s race in 12th spot after a 10-place grid penalty is applied.
      It means Fernando Alonso will line up on the front-row alongside Perez in his Aston Martin.
      With Russel third, Carlos Sainz is fourth for Ferrari.
      Lance Stroll, Esteban Ocon, Hamilton, Oscar Piastri, Pierre Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg complete the top 10.
      The race takes place tomorrow in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at 5pm UK time. More

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      Max Verstappen in X-rated radio blast as Lando Norris forced to avoid ‘massive’ crash at Saudi Arabia Grand Prix

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN raged at his Red Bull race engineer after Lando Norris nearly crashed into the back of him during the final practice session in Saudi Arabia.The reigning world champion, 25, was on an out lap in the Middle East on Saturday afternoon as Briton Norris, 23, flew towards him in an attempt to set a fast time.
      Lando Norris nearly crashed into the back of Max VerstappenCredit: Twitter / Sky Sports F1
      “It’s dangerous what these guys are doing…that could have been a massive crash” 📻Lando Norris is not happy over team radio 😡 pic.twitter.com/is2iwDuRYt— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) March 18, 2023

      Verstappen was not happy with his race engineer following the near-miss with NorrisCredit: AFP
      It is up to the teams race engineers to inform drivers to get out of the way for those on hot laps, particularly at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit where visibility can be tricky.
      However, Verstappen’s engineer Gianpiero Lambiase failed to inform the Dutchman that Norris was coming.
      It meant the McLaren driver was forced to swerve out of the way at the last moment to avoid ploughing into the two-time world champion.
      Norris then came on his radio and said: “It’s dangerous what these guys are doing.
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      “That could have been a massive crash.”
      Verstappen was also quick to get onto his team and slam Lambiase for not telling him Norris was coming.
      The Red Bull man simply shouted: “Mate, f***.”
      Recognising his error, Lambiase replied: “Apologies.”
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      Shortly after the incident, Verstappen drove alongside Norris and waved his hand in apology.
      Norris accepted the gesture by waving back.
      Verstappen topped the standings at the end of all three practice sessions in Saudi Arabia.
      And he is primed to build on his win in the season-opener in Bahrain as he bids to extend his early lead in the drivers’ standings.
      Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez finished second in the final practice session ahead of Aston Martin duo Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
      Lewis Hamilton managed fifth for Mercedes, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Norris.
      Verstappen apologised to Norris after the incidentCredit: AFP More

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      F1 introduce bizarre pre-race ban that leaves drivers fuming as Charles Leclerc warns ‘you won’t see me around anymore’

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      FORMULA ONE have introduced a stunning BAN on riding a bike around track before races. Personnel in attendance at F1 races, including drivers, team members and journalists, usually participate in track walks ahead of the weekend’s action.
      Charles Leclerc has been left angry with the bike banCredit: Alamy
      Despite the name, many prefer to do a lap on bikes or scooters due to the long distance often needing to be covered.
      However, this will no longer be possible after event organisers issued a banning order on anything except for walking on track.
      A letter was issued to the teams during the season opener in Bahrain from Formula One Management.
      It read: “To clarify and to avoid future misunderstanding, the use of any means of transport (bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, e-scooters, etc) is forbidden during the time window stated as ‘Team Track Walks’ on the Event Timetable.
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      “No exceptions will be allowed. This decision has been agreed with the FIA.”
      It means the likes of Lewis Hamilton – often seen zipping around on a scooter – will no longer be able to use them on track walks.
      And the move has left drivers furious, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc declaring he will not be doing track walks anymore.
      He told Autosport: “I didn’t walk around.
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      “And as I think they’ve just issued a new thing where we cannot go around the track with a bicycle you probably won’t see me around the track anymore, and I’ll just watch the videos!”
      The Saudi Arabia Grand Prix’s track walk – a circuit with a distance of 6.174km (3.836 miles) – time was listed as 1pm-4.30pm on Thursday.
      The ban is believed to have been implemented due to the track becoming more hectic, particularly on weekends when F2 and F3 are also in attendance.
      The walk was further compromised by filming from musician Will.I.Am, whose crew shot scenes at various points around the track accompanied by a stationary F1 show car for an upcoming single.
      Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg added: “I wanted to do it now, but they blocked the track, and it’s all gone wrong now! I’ll watch the safety car, and I’ll see it tomorrow.”
      Lewis Hamilton will not be able to zip around on scooters for track walks anymoreCredit: Reuters More

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      Lewis Hamilton’s next move predicted by former team-mate following private chat, with Mercedes ace linked with Ferrari

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’S next move has been predicted by former team-mate Heikki Kovalainen.Kovalainen raced alongside Hamilton at McLaren for two years, but struggled to match the Brit’s pace.
      Lewis Hamilton’s next move has been predicted by a former team-mateCredit: Getty
      Heikki Kovalainen raced with Hamilton for two yearsCredit: AFP
      With seven world titles now under his belt, Hamilton is determined to win an eighth.
      However, things are not going to plan at Mercedes after a torrid season last year and a less-than-desirable start to proceedings this time around.
      Indeed, it has even led to team chief Toto Wolff declaring Hamilton can LEAVE if they cannot produce a title-winning car for him.
      This has led to the 38-year-old being linked with a seat at Ferrari, with Hamilton himself admitting he is a fan of the Scuderia.
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      But Kovalainen doesn’t see things turning out this way, revealing a chat the pair had last year.
      He told the Mirror: “Personally, I don’t see that coming – to me, he’s committed to Mercedes.
      “I met him in Hungary last year and we had a good chat there.
      “Without going into detail of what was said in a private conversation, the body language and the feel I got from him, I just felt that this is something that he wants to turn around.”
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      “He wants to turn things around for Mercedes and that’s going to tick another box on his resume – to show that it’s not that he’s only been driving good cars and making the most of the good cars, but that he can actually turn a struggling team around and lead that team.
      “That’s the reason why I’m thinking he’s not going to change.
      “I feel he wants to turn this thing around with Mercedes and then he can show the world that he can turn a struggling team into a winning team again.
      “It’s going to be exciting to watch and I one hundred per cent believe he has the skill and the will.
      “If anyone, he can probably do it.”
      In a radical move, Hamilton has parted ways with long-term performance coach Angela Cullen, who had been by his side for the last seven years.
      Paying tribute, Hamilton wrote: “For the last seven years Angela Cullen has been by my side, pushing me to be the best version of myself.
      “I am a stronger athlete and a better person because of her. So today I hope you’ll join me in wishing her the very best as she takes her next steps to pursue her dreams.
      Read More on The Sun
      “Thank you for everything Ang, I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you.”
      Hamilton is back in action this weekend at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.

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

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      Toto Wolff sensationally tells Lewis Hamilton he can QUIT Mercedes and find new team if they can’t provide winning car

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      MERCEDES boss Toto Wolff says he will have “no grouch” if Lewis Hamilton quits Mercedes – IF they can’t deliver him a car capable of winning world titles.Hamilton and Wolff are in negotiations over a new deal, with the Brit racer’s contract set to expire in December.
      Lewis Hamilton has been told he can quit Mercedes if they don’t make a title-winning carCredit: Reuters

      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
      While no terms have yet been agreed, both are adamant they are committed to extending their partnership.
      However, for the first time, Wolff has admitted that the seven-time world champion could be forced to look elsewhere if he wants a record eighth title.
      He said: “I don’t think that Lewis will leave Mercedes.
      “He’s at the stage of a career where we trust each other, we have formed a great bond among each other and we have no reason to doubt each other, even though this is a difficult spell.
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      “But so nice it will be when we come out of this valley of tears, and come back to solid performances.
      “As a driver, nevertheless, if he wants to win another championship, he needs to make sure that he has the car.
      “And if we cannot demonstrate that we’re able to give him a car in the next couple of years, then he needs to look everywhere.
      “I don’t think he’s doing it at that stage, but I will have no grouch if that happens in a year or two.”
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      Amid Mercedes’ struggles, Hamilton has been linked with a move to a rival constructor, including Ferrari and Red Bull.
      Indeed, the 38-year-old has in the past admitted driving for Ferrari was something he wished to achieve.
      He told Sky Sports Italia: “For many years, when I came to Monza, walking next to the fans… I could hear them saying ‘Come to Ferrari!’
      “This warmed my heart, but it’s pretty amazing that I’ve never driven for Ferrari in so many years. Because it is a dream for anyone, a goal to be achieved.”
      Charles Leclerc has been linked with a sensational swap with HamiltonCredit: AP
      He later added: “It has never really been possible [to drive for Ferrari] and I will never quite know exactly why.
      “I wish them the best and in my near future I will continue to prevent them from winning the world championship.
      “I’ve seen photos of their drivers and red is always red. I have a couple of Ferraris at home. I can drive those, but not the Ferrari F1.”
      Rumours persist that Hamilton could be part of a sensational swap with Ferrari poster boy Charles Leclerc.
      Read More on The Sun
      The 25-year-old Monegasque driver requested an emergency meeting with Ferrari president John Elkann following the Scuderia’s poor Bahrain race.
      Friday practice ahead of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix saw Hamilton’s and Leclerc’s best finishes down at P6 and P9 respectively. More

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      Lewis Hamilton breaks silence over claims he could quit Mercedes next season for bitter F1 rivals Ferrari

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      SIR LEWIS HAMILTON confirmed he is not leaving Mercedes but insists the team needs a “kick” after a poor start to the 2023 Formula 1 season.The campaign started in nightmare fashion for Hamilton with another car that appears well below the standards set by Red Bull and Ferrari – and even Aston Martin.
      Sir Lewis Hamilton insists he won’t leave Mercedes despite a poor start to the seasonCredit: Alamy
      Lewis Hamilton, though, insists Mercedes need a “kick” to improve
      The 38-year-old is desperate to be world champion for a record-breaking eighth time and reports suggested he could be tempted to switch to a rival team, like Ferrari, in order to reach his goal.
      However, the star driver insists he is going nowhere as he still has “100 per cent belief” in his team.
      Hamilton told Sky Sports: “In hindsight, I think looking back it wasn’t necessarily the best choice of words.
      “Of course there are times where you’re not in agreement with certain team members, but what’s important is that we continue to communicate, continue to pull together.
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      “I still have 100 per cent belief in this team, it is my family and I’ve been here a long time, so I don’t plan on going anywhere else.
      “But we all need a kick, we all need to get on – the proof is in the pudding, we’ve seen where the performance is and how people are extracting the performance, and we’ve got to now start making some bold decisions, some big moves in order to close the gap to these guys.
      “Hopefully at some point during the year, we’re hopeful we might be able to close the gap but at that point it will be probably too late in terms of fighting for a championship, but we can still turn some heads hopefully.”
      Speculation over Hamilton’s future was fuelled by his current contract running out at the end of the season.
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      There was also talk of a performance clause but the British legend dismissed the speculation.
      Hamilton added: “There are no performance clauses. We are in talks, just in the process of going through the motions of what that looks like, what the future looks like, what we want to do.
      “[We are] Always looking to continuously challenge ourselves rather than just doing a driver’s contract like everyone does.
      “What can we do? We did the Ignite partnership last year on how we can promote diversity within the sport, just exploring different avenues and what else we can do. I’m fully integrated within Mercedes-Benz.
      “I’ve been with them for such a long time, since I was 13, so I’m very proud of the brand and the business, what they do, what they stand for and the impact they have throughout the world, but you can always do more, so discussions are around what else we can do together to lift people up.” More

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      Formula One team bosses rich list revealed ahead of Saudi Arabia GP – including Spice Girls hubby’s countryside manors

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      IT’S a nail-biting job, but being a team principal in the world’s most expensive sport certainly comes with some incredible perks. Just ask Formula 1 bosses Toto Wolff and Christian Horner, who have millions in their bank accounts and enjoy the finer things in life. 
      The team principals manage affairs and are responsible for the success of their driversCredit: EPA
      Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff celebrates with driver Lewis HamiltonCredit: Getty
      Principals are the face of their teams and the decision makers who come up with strategies to ensure the success of their drivers.
      And ahead of the Saudi Arabia GP, the pressure is on Toto and Mercedes as they look to claw back points, after reigning champ Max Verstappen crossed the line first in Bahrain.
      This season a few new principals joined the familiar faces around the paddock.
      Ahead of Jeddah, we take a look at the richest people at the helm of F1 teams. 
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      Toto Wolff – 478m 
      Toto Wolff is by far the wealthiest team principal on the grid todayCredit: Rex
      With a staggering estimated £478million in his coffers, the Mercedes – AMG Petronas boss is currently the richest team principal on the grid.
      He’s also the second-highest paid, taking home £7.6million a year.
      The Austrian, 51, who started off as a racing driver himself, owns a 33 per cent stake in the Mercedes team, as well as being its managing director and executive director. 
      Many critics and fans have attributed much of Mercedes’ success to him – under his watch, the team has notched up 114 wins. 
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      He’s also been instrumental in the career of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, considered two of the greatest drivers of all time. 
      Off the grid, Toto is married to Susie, a Scottish former racing driver, and they share two kids.
      Christian Horner – £41.4m
      Christian Horner has been the team principal at Red Bull since 2005 and is married to Spice Girl GeriCredit: Getty
      The couple share a stunning country home in OxfordshireCredit: Instagram
      As team principal of Red Bull since 2005, Christian Horner is the highest-paid team boss and has a salary of around £8.2million a year. 
      He’s got the trophies to show for it, as he’s successfully led the team to nine world titles. 
      Like Toto, he started off as a driver and had some success in the late 90s – even founding his own team, but ended his driving career in 1998 at just 25.
      Christian worked in team management before joining Red Bull in 2004 and ascending to the top within a year. He’s now worth an estimated £41.4m.
      Away from the grid, the Englishman is married to Spice Girl Geri and they share two homes, in Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire. 
      Their Oxfordshire property is breathtaking, boasting an indoor swimming pool, a pond for boating and huge grounds where they go horse riding. 
      Otmar Szafnauer – £4.1m 
      Otmar Szafnauer has been in the sport for decades and is worth £4.1millionCredit: Rex
      Although he’s the most experienced team principal, having been in the sport since 1989, Otmar’s salary is considerably less than Toto and Christian’s. 
      As the boss of Alpine, a position he has held since 2002, he is paid around £822,500, and worth an estimated £4.1m.
      Like many other principals on the grid, he also had a short stint as a driver back in the early 90s. 
      But it was his work away from the driver’s seat that brought him into the limelight.
      After working as Operations Director at British American Racing, he joined Force India in 2009, which later rebranded as Aston Martin. 
      Franz Tost – £4.1m 
      Franz Tost has been overseeing AlphaTauri since 2005 and takes home £822,500 a yearCredit: Rex
      Franz Tost also has a ton of experience under his belt – he’s been the team principal at AlphaTauri since 2005. 
      The 67-year-old was appointed after Red Bull took over Minardi, and is the oldest team principal on the grid today. 
      Before that, he was a driver and even won the Formula Ford 1600 title in 1983. 
      He quit a few years later and worked his way up the ranks of team management.
      Franz was first signed by Williams and remained there for five years before leaving for Red Bull. 
      As one of the longest-tenured team principals on the grid, he is paid £822,500 a year, and worth around £4.1m.

      James Vowles – £4.1m 
      James Vowles has a £4.1million fortune and is the new team principal at WilliamsCredit: Rex
      This is Englishman James’ first season as Williams’ team principal after serving as Mercedes’ motorsport strategy director. 
      He made his Formula 1 debut as an engineer for the Honda racing team before moving on as a strategist for Brawn GP. 
      James joined Williams at the end of 2022 and at the age of 44, is one of the youngest team principals on the grid, with an estimated £4.1million fortune.
      James has a motorsport degree from Cranfield University – a qualification which is uncommon for bosses at F1.
      He also likes to dabble in driving, making an appearance at last year’s Asian Le Mans Series.
      Guenther Steiner – £4.1m
      Guenther built the Haas team from the ground up and has a £4.1million net worthCredit: Rex
      Guenther, 57, is one of the most colourful team principals Formula 1 has ever seen, as evidenced by his appearance in Netflix’s Drive to Survive.
      He has been at the helm of Haas since 2014 after previously serving as managing director of Jaguar and technical operations director at Red Bull.
      The Italian American began his career as a mechanic in Belgium for the Mazda Rally Championships.
      While at Red Bull, he was contacted to build the Haas team from scratch, which has helped him build up an impressive £4.1million fortune, approximately.
      He is paid £822,500 a year for his work as the team’s leader.
      Alessandro Alunni Bravi – £4.1m
      Italian Alessandro is also a lawyer and has been serving as the Team Representative of Alfa Romeo since last yearCredit: Getty
      Last year Alfa Romeo decided to move away from the team principal formula and introduced a management structure to oversee the team.
      One of the members of the management team includes Alessandro Alunni Bravi, who is worth an estimated £4.1million.
      The 49-year-old Italian, who is also a qualified lawyer, has the new position of Team Representative and will perform most of the roles of a principal when dealing with F1 bosses and sponsors.
      He was previously the team principal of the trident GP2 team and has served as a board member of Sauber since 2017.
      Frederic Vasseur – £2.5m
      Frederic Vasseur took over from Mattia Binotto this seasonCredit: Rex
      The new Ferrari boss has built up a wealth of experience as the principal of teams like Renault, Alfa Romeo and Sauber.
      The 54-year-old Frenchman studied aeronautics and founded his own team in 1996 which went on to win several trophies in the junior formulae.
      Frederic is credited for overseeing Lewis Hamilton’s success in the Formula 3 Euroseries and helping him to win GP2 titles in the mid-2000s.
      Last year it was announced he would be replacing Mattia Binotto as the boss of Ferrari.
      Although he’s now worth an estimated £2.5million, it’s probably only a matter of time before this figure shoots up as he will be paid £5.2million in his new role.
      Andrea Stella – £1.2m
      Andrea Stella replaced Andreas Seidl as the team principal of McLaren last yearCredit: Rex
      Andrea Stella will most likely see a boost to his estimated £1.2million net worth thanks to his lucrative £5.2million-a-year role at McLaren.
      The 52-year-old Italian was announced as Andreas Seidl’s replacement following his decision to leave the team after a four-season run.
      Andrea’s appointment is an internal promotion as he previously served as the team’s executive director.
      He’s got an impressive history to back up his eye-watering salary – he has worked with some of the greatest drivers including Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso.
      Mike Krack – £800k
      Mike Krack’s net worth is likely to shoot up with a reported salary of £822,500Credit: Getty
      Mike Krack has overseen the Aston Martin team since 2002 and is reportedly worth over £800,000.
      He replaced Otmar Szafnauer in the team and is set to take home around £822,500 a year, which will surely boost his bank balance.
      The 50-year-old engineer from Luxembourg previously worked with Sebastian Vettel for a year from 2006, when the racer began his career.
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      He’s also worked in Formula 3 and has moved between teams like BMW and Porsche.
      Mike recently defended driver Lance Stroll – son of the Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll – claiming he is “strongly undervalued”. More