Motorsport

MAX VERSTAPPEN was presented with THREE cakes to mark his 25th birthday — on a weekend he could seal the Formula One crown.The Dutchman has the chance to  make it back-to-back titles on Sunday  providing results go his way here at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Red Bull chief Christian Horner presented Max Verstappen three cakes on his 25th birthdayCredit: Getty
Verstappen can with the F1 title with FIVE races to go in Singapore this weekendCredit: Getty
Before practice at the Marina Bay Street Circuit yesterday Red Bull chief Christian Horner joked with Verstappen as he gave him a luxury chocolate cake, the most impressive of all three.
But it came amid controversy, with suggestions the team have blown  F1’s budget cap.
Red Bull maintain they operated within the rules but  that will be  for governing body the FIA to decide when they announce their findings on Wednesday.
Verstappen has been unstoppable this season with 11 wins in the 16 races and 13 podiums.
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At 25, he has a total of 31 victories  in F1. That is just one fewer than two-time champ Fernando Alonso, 41.
More impressive — and a reminder Verstappen started in F1 at 17,  before he was legally able to drive on the road — is that he already has 75 podiums. Alonso had 33 when he turned 25.
Verstappen is breaking records and, should he lift the title in Singapore with five races to go, only Michael Schumacher would have done it sooner.
The German seven-time king sealed the championship with SIX races left while driving for Ferrari back in 2002.
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Verstappen has five wins in a row despite only starting one of them from pole position and has been earning the respect of his fellow drivers.
Legend Schumacher’s son, Haas ace Mick, said:  “It’s impressive. He had a tough start but turned it around with Red Bull and it seems to have worked out for them.”
Esteban Ocon added: “It’s a very impressive season.  Especially  when Max was starting at the back and just flying through the field. He’s been on top of his game this year. So once he wins the title, congratulations.”
Lewis Hamilton topped practice for the first time this year in FP1 but was fifth quickest in second practice, with Mercedes pal George Russell in P3.
Hamilton said: “It started off well but wasn’t as great in the second session. Much like any other weekend. It doesn’t feel like we’re massively off, probably a second down I’d say.” More

PIERRE GASLY’S car dramatically CAUGHT FIRE with the Frenchman still in it during practice for the Singapore Grand Prix.Flames shot out of the air vent after Gasly had driven his Alpha Tauri into the pits.
Pierre Gasly’s car caught fire with the Frenchman still in itCredit: Splash
Flames poured out of the Alpha TauriCredit: Splash
Thankfully the mechanics were quick to extinguish the fireCredit: Splash
The 26-year-old quickly jumped up and out of the cockpit and thankfully emerged from the flames unscathed.
The quick thinking AlphaTauri crew, with the help of an Aston Martin mechanic, acted fast to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher.
Gasly’s car caught fire as it was being rolled into the garage at the end of his run in the middle of FP2 for the Singapore GP.
He then bravely came back out to complete practice, despite earlier having to leap out of his burning vehicle.
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Speaking on Sky Sports F1, Ted Kravitz said: “Everything’s been sorted out. There’s been a bit of tape that’s been out over the fire damaged engine cover.
“The team are telling me the fire started when the fuel breather was connected to the car but it was put out quickly and then he’s going back out on the circuit.”
He added: “Normally when it’s pushed back into the garage they put a breather on it so the air in the fuel tank can breathe.
“And then they keep it on when they put fuel in or take fuel out to allow the air to come out of the fuel tank.
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“So what I don’t understand is, because I wasn’t here, was why that was done when the car was still in the pit box. I just need to get my head around that.”
On the track Carlos Sainz clocked the fastest second practice time, with Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc second and Lewis Hamilton down in fifth.
The action at Marina Bay resumes with FP3 and qualifying tomorrow, ahead of Sunday’s race. More

MAX VERSTAPPEN’s Red Bull team are at the centre of a huge cheat storm that could threaten his F1 crown.The Dutchman can wrap up his second title if he outscores Charles Leclerc in Sunday’s Singapore GP by 22 points AND teammate Sergio Perez is outside the top three.
Max Verstappen’s Red Bull team are caught in a cheat stormCredit: EPA
It could end up threatening the Dutchman’s F1 crownCredit: AP
However, Red Bull and Aston Martin have both been heavily rumoured to have broken F1’s new budget cap.
The sport introduced the limit teams can spend on developing their race cars over a season at the start of last year.
The total was set at $145m (£114m) with the aim of stopping the bigger teams, who would usually spend three times that figure, from having a superior advantage.
Strict but complicated rules have been put in place in the sport’s financial regulations with a wide range of penalties for breaking them.
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Sanctions listed in the regulations include a fine, while crucially Article 9.1 of the “Material Sporting Penalties” also lists a “deduction of constructors’ championship points”, and a “deduction of drivers’ championship points”.
Perhaps more concerning for Verstappen is the possibility that the penalties also include an “exclusion from the championship”.
In theory, that could have MASSIVE ramifications, given Verstappen’s controversial victory in Abu Dhabi last year falls within the same year of the cost-cap.
While it remains unlikely that the FIA’s assessment of the accounts will change the outcome of last year’s result, there are serious concerns that championships could be distorted by breaches of the budget cap.
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An FIA spokesman said: “The FIA is currently finalising the assessment of the 2021 financial data submitted by all Formula One teams.
“Alleged breaches of the financial regulations, if any, will be dealt with according to the formal process set out in the regulations.”
At the Singapore GP, both Red Bull and Aston Martin have dismissed the rumours.
Red Bull labelled the suggestion they have breached the cost cap as “purely speculation”.
An Aston Martin spokesman said: “We have submitted our 2021 reporting, we are in discussion with the FIA, and we are awaiting certification.”
It is understood that the FIA told the teams this week that they would be issuing their compliance certificates – or not – next Wednesday.
Verstappen controversially beat Hamilton to the F1 crown last termCredit: Getty More

LEWIS HAMILTON has a secret weapon as he bids to end his nightmare season — a revolutionary high-tech BED.State-of-the-art sensors in the £2,100 smart mattress cover monitor his heart rate, respiration, movement and regulate body temperature to improve sleep, all aiding recovery and fitness.
Lewis Hamilton will hope his new bed helps him to a first Grand Prix win of the seasonCredit: Reuters
George Russell with his performance coach Aleix CasanovasCredit: Instagram @aleixcasanovasperformance
Matteo Franceschetti is the co-founder and CEO of Eight SleepCredit: Handout
Mercedes team doctor Luke Bennett is responsible for getting drivers up to peak performanceCredit: Handout
Hamilton and Mercedes team-mate George Russell are snoozing on the ‘pod’ — designed by a US ‘sleep fitness’ company — in their bed-vrooms to avoid being caught napping on the track.
It is the brainchild of Miami-based Eight Sleep and the company’s co-founder, ex-skier Matteo Franceschetti, claims it is like “sleeping on a stethoscope” because of its health advantages.
Merc boss Toto Wolff said: “Our team is made up of over 2,000 people, all of whom perform at their peak every day in a sport where every single detail matters.
“To achieve the level of performance required, we are relentless in exploring all possible optimisations, including sleep.”
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Britain’s seven-time world champ Hamilton, 37, has won a GP in EVERY season he has competed in F 1 but has yet to break his duck this term.
However, Merc’s mechanics have dramatically improved the “undriveable” porpoising car that nearly destroyed his back to give him a chance of a victory in the remaining six races.
And Mercedes hope the Eight Sleep technology will give their drivers the edge at this weekend’s Singapore GP.
Russell, 24, has already seen an improvement in his fitness from using the pod.
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The Brit’s performance coach, Aleix Casanovas, said: “Sleep is one of the most important factors for performance, especially for us.
“We travel so much, changing time zones. Since George started using Eight Sleep, his heart rate variability has gone up and heart rate has gone down, which I’m pleased to see.
“We can push him more in training when he sleeps well.”
Italian Franceschetti, who also raced cars, claims his bed is the ultimate sleep fitness machine, with trials showing users experienced up to a 32 per cent improvement in sleep quality and 19 per cent increase in recovery.
It is used by more than 200 elite athletes worldwide, including Chelsea star Trevoh Chalobah, Scotland’s world’s strongest man Tom Stoltman, and a host of American football and basketball players.
The San Francisco 49ers NFL team used the equipment at their pre-season training camp.
It’s like sleeping on a stethoscope,Matteo Franceschetti
This weekend’s race is followed, seven days later, by the Japanese GP. Mercedes doctor Luke Bennett insists these back-to-back fly-aways are “the most brutal on the calendar”.
He has worked with over 30 F 1 drivers and advises on sleep timings, sunglasses wear, melatonin supplements and even on which side of the plane to sit to combat the “unique physiological stresses” of the next two GPs.
Bennett has used the pod himself and insists it helps reduce effects of jet lag.
He said: “Sleep is massively important, not just for the drivers but the whole team.”
Casanovas added: “F 1 requires high fitness and cognitive levels and sleep is so important for the brain and the nervous system.
“That’s why Eight Sleep is such a great device.”
Franceschetti claims his bed has bettered the drivers’ reaction times, mental clarity, cognitive performance, even reducing stress.
He even insists the bed will be able to save lives in the future.
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Franceschetti explained: “In five years we think our technology could provide a full-body scan — like having an MRI scan at home while you sleep.”
Hamilton and Russell hope they will leave their rivals dozing this weekend. More

FORMULA ONE fans love the look of McLaren’s colourful new livery for the next two races.The F1 giants unveiled their tweaked Future Mode car that will take to the tracks at the Singapore and Japanese Grands Prix as part of their deal with team sponsor OKX.
McLaren unveiled their new colourful Future Mode livery model
Fans praised McLaren for their new car ahead of the upcoming Grand Prix racesCredit: McLaren
McLaren will show off their new car in the Singapore and Japanese racesCredit: McLaren
The model will feature neon pink elements and cyberpunk-inspired engine illustrations alongside its traditional orange papaya colours.
Fans took to social media to express their amazement with the new car that will soon be driven by both Daniel Ricciardo and British star Lando Norris.
One F1 supporter tweeted: “Sexy.”
Another posted: “A car that only looks good, everything else in shambles!”
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A third wrote: “You can just taste the freshness.”
This fan said: “Best livery in this year.”
And that fan tweeted: “The only thing Mclaren could ace.”
McLaren CEO Zak Brown is excited to have this car race in the next two GPs as part of an initiative to “break boundaries”.
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Brown said: “We’re excited to celebrate our partnership with OKX through this bold and vibrant livery for the upcoming races in Asia.
“McLaren and OKX are united in driving ahead and constantly striving to break boundaries, and the Future Mode campaign is an opportunity to champion these values together on our global stage.
“It’s fantastic to be returning to race in Singapore and Japan, and these incredible circuits provide a fitting backdrop for us to celebrate our partnership vision together.” More