Motorsport

Subterms

    More stories

    • 250 Shares99 Views

      in Motorsport

      Ben Hunt: Max Verstappen’s rivals may have faltered… but he has been BRILLIANT on relentless charge to second F1 title

      by

      MAX VERSTAPPEN can wrap up the Formula One title this weekend at the Singapore Grand Prix – and there would still be five races to go, plus a sprint race in Brazil.Sure, last year’s title was decided under a cloud in Abu Dhabi – the outcome we know was botched by the former race director, Michael Masi.
      Max Verstappen can win the F1 Championship in Singapore this weekendCredit: Splash
      But there is no disputing Verstappen’s second title, for there have been moments of brilliance and skill, while Red Bull have been faultless.
      To use a football analogy. If Verstappen’s win in Abu Dhabi was F1’s equivalent to the ‘Hand of God’ goal – when Diego Maradona punched the ball past Peter Shilton in the 1986 World Cup quarter finals, then this year is surely like Maradona’s ‘Goal of the Century’ – his second goal where he dribbled past six England players, including Terry Butcher twice, before firing past Shilton for a second.
      Verstappen can win the title if he outscores Charles Leclerc by 22 points, Sergio Perez by 13 and George Russell by six in Singapore.
      If he were to do it there, it would be the earliest coronation in 20 years, and the second earliest in F1 history.
      READ MORE IN SPORT
      The biggest question is perhaps how has he managed to do so, in this new era with F1 cars supposed to be capable of racing much closer together.
      The answer is four-fold. Firstly, his rivals have all faltered, especially Ferrari who built the quickest car.
      Don’t agree? Well, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have taken 10 poles between them on the Saturday qualifying sessions when cars run at their top speeds.
      Verstappen ‘only’ has four and his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez has just one. Mercedes’s George Russell also has one.
      Most read in Sport

      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      Secondly, Lewis Hamilton – the only driver able to match Verstappen for talent – has not been in the running.
      It is increasingly looking like the Brit will end the season winless for the first time in his 16-year F1 career and the forensic examination into this season will require time to establish what has gone wrong.
      Thirdly, and fourthly, Red Bull and Verstappen have both been excellent. Consistency, decision-making and hardly making any mistakes have been the key to the team’s success this year.
      While the moaning about Abu Dhabi continues (and it definitely does on Twitter), there can be no debate about the outcome of this year’s championship, Verstappen has been brilliant.

      Silverstone review
      British GP bosses have apologised for the ticketing fiasco for the 2023 race.
      Fans were faced with surge pricing when the new ticketing system went online, as prices increased with demand.
      Tickets shifted so quickly as the same volume that took five months to sell last year were sold in just two days.
      Silverstone managing director, Stuart Pringle, has promised “a root and branch review” but that is no comfort for those fans who look set to miss out.

      Big step for Asia
      Singapore’s return to the F1 schedule marks a crucial step for the sport in Asia.
      The night race at the Marina Bay Circuit is the first in Asia since the Covid-19 pandemic.
      And I am expecting plenty of business activity in the paddock while teams will be updating liveries and sponsors as the weekend progresses.

      READ MORE IN SPORT
      Quartararo concern
      Could Fabio Quartararo be having a wobble?
      The MotoGP champ has seen his advantage in the title race sliced to just 18 points.
      Perhaps more worrying for his Yamaha team is his comment that he says he’s “not enjoying riding a bike in a race for a long time”. More

    • 238 Shares179 Views

      in Motorsport

      Stunning boxing ring girl Kayleigh Debono works on Silverstone grid just hours after Joe Joyce’s win over Joseph Parker

      by

      STUNNING boxing ring girl Kayleigh Debono worked at Silverstone for the British Touring Car Championship just hours after being inside the Manchester Arena for Joe Joyce vs Joseph Parker.Debono was ring girl for Joyce’s 11th round knockout win over Parker on Saturday.
      Debono (back right) worked at Silverstone on Sunday for the BTCCCredit: Instagram
      Just hours before, Debono was at the Manchester Arena for Joyce vs Parker, where she was a ring girlCredit: Instagram
      Debono worked at Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte earlier this yearCredit: Instagram
      Debono and her fellow ring girls are hoping to work Tyson Fury’s next fight, which could be against Anthony JoshuaCredit: Instagram
      And it’s not the first time she has been involved in a big boxing fight.
      Dobono returned to the ring after also performing ring girl duties for Tyson Fury’s fight against Dillian Whyte at Wembley in April.
      But after Saturday’s boxing, Debono was back working on a BTCC grid at Silverstone on Sunday.
      Debono is a Monster Energy Girl and shared a snap alongside fellow ring girl Antonia Salt and others.
      READ MORE IN BOXING
      The foursome rocked revealing tops and tight leather trousers.
      Toyota’s Rory Butcher went fastest in qualifying and won the first race of the weekend.
      Jake Hill, who was second in quali and race one, took race two trading places with Butcher.
      And Tom Ingram won the final race of the afternoon.
      Most read in Boxing
      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      It was, however, a weekend to forget for seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton’s younger brother, Nick.
      The Brit DNF’d in two out of three races. More

    • 163 Shares149 Views

      in Motorsport

      Daniel Ricciardo reveals stunning girlfriend Heidi Berger ‘eliminates stress’ after F1 contract woes

      by

      FORMULA ONE star Daniel Ricciardo has revealed that his girlfriend is helping with the stress of his contract situation with McLaren.The Aussie has had a disastrous year and he has been dropped by his team for the 2023 season and replaced by Oscar Piastri.
      Daniel Ricciardo is 14th in the F1 standings this seasonCredit: The Mega Agency
      Daniel Ricciardo has admitted he is in love with Heidi BergerCredit: https://www.instagram.com/heidiberger_/?hl=en
      Heidi Berger is the daughter of a former F1 legendCredit: https://www.instagram.com/heidiberger_/?hl=en
      Heidi Berger’s mum is model Ana CorvoCredit: Instagram
      Daniel Ricciardo stunning girlfriend is an aspiring actressCredit: Instagram
      She has attended lots of races to cheer her boyfriend onCredit: Instagram
      Berger has 88.3k followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram
      She has been helping Daniel Ricciardo deal with his contract disappointmentCredit: Instagram
      Daniel Ricciardo pictured with girlfriend Heidi BergerCredit: Instagram
      Ricciardo’s contract is up meaning he could not be on the grid next year.
      The popular 33-year-old has opened up about the situation on the Fitzy & Wippa Podcast and said how his girlfriend Heidi Berger is assisting him.
      Ricciardo was asked if he was in love and he replied: “Yeah mate, I’m in love, I got a good thing going, so yeah. I’ve got a good balance in life right now.”
      “I think love eliminates stress, yeah absolutely.
      READ MORE MOTORSPORT NEWS
      “I honestly don’t know yet. When I say I don’t know, like I don’t have a contract yet for next year. Could it still happen? It could.
      “I’m not getting too caught up in next year, like of course I want to race, I want to be on the grid, I want to be competing.
      “But I’m not seeing next year as all or nothing. I also think 2024 is something I need to be aware of and look at.
      “So that could be a year off but I would still very much be in the mindset of getting back on the grid for 2024.”
      Most read in Motorsport
      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      Ricciardo’s partner Berger is an aspiring actress and daughter of ex-F1 star Gerhard Berger.
      Her father won 10 Grand Prix’s meanwhile Ricciardo has been victorious on eight occasions.
      The Austrian drove for the likes of Ferrari and Ricciardo has admitted he was an idol saying: “When I was young, I mean I’ve followed F1 since I was a kid and I had a Berger hat.
      Read More on The Sun
      “It’s funny, I talk about it with him. He still goes to quite a few races he still has an interest in the sport and he still does some business with it.
      “Any ex-sportsman, anyone who’s been through it — I just love speaking to them and gaining knowledge and insight through their experience there’s so much wisdom.” More

    • 225 Shares199 Views

      in Motorsport

      Watch MotoGP rider’s bike catch fire MID-RACE as home favourite Takuya Tsuda has lucky escape in Japanese GP

      by

      MOTOGP star Takuyu Tsuda miraculously escaped unhurt after his bike caught fire at the Japanese Grand Prix.The local favourite, 38, was mid-race when the calamity unfolded.
      Team Suzuki Ecstar star Takuya Tsuda looks on as marshals put out the fire on his bikeCredit: Rex
      Tsuda’s bike was left in a sorry state after a fire broke outCredit: Rex

      As the replacement for Joan Mir came through Lap 12 – the sparks broke out within his Team Suzuki Ecstar entry.
      Tsuda quickly pulled off the race track at Turn 5 as the flames grew dangerously near the fuel tank.
      The race marshals were quick on the scene with a fire extinguisher to stop a potential fireball breaking out.
      Luckily, there was no need for a red flag and the race continued.
      READ MORE MOTORSPORT NEWS
      Tsuda only recently returned to MotoGP in September on a wildcard with Team Suzuki Ecstar.
      Jack Miller of Ducati dominated the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix, after team mate Francesco Bagnaia crashed on the last lap.
      It was Miller’s first win since last year’s French Grand Prix.
      And once he grabbed a lead on Lap 3, he always seemingly appeared in control.
      Most read in Motorsport
      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      However, the race was a disaster for the three championship challengers – Bagnaia, Fabio Quartararo and Aleix Espargaro.
      Frenchman Quartararo finished all the way down in eighth, while Espargaro recorded a 16th placed finish after he was forced to swap to another Aprilia on the warm-up lap because of a mechanical problem.
      It means Quartararo now has an 18-point lead going into next week’s Thailand GP. More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Motorsport

      Watch furious driver repeatedly punch rival through the car window as angry row in NASCAR race turns violent

      by

      A FURIOUS NASCAR driver violently attacked a rival with brutal punches in shocking scenes. Andrew Grady unleashed the horrific hits at Davey Callihan following an accident in the first heat at Saturday’s Martinsville Speedway in Virginia.
      Andrew Grady went on a shocking attack at Saturday’s NASCAR
      He punched rival driver Davey Calliha who was seated in his car
      Even the efforts of a staff member struggled to contain Grady’s anger
      The driver was picked up and carried off to calm down
      The two rivals had driven into the infield before Grady jumped out of his car and ran over to Callihan, who was still sat inside his vehicle.
      It is said Callihan showed him the middle finger before Grady pulled down the window netting and repeatedly smashed his foe.
      After seven punches, Grady stepped back and booted the door of Callihan’s car.
      Three men tried to calm Grady down but he avoided them and returned to Callihan’s window to try and get at him again before being picked up and carried away.
      READ MORE IN MOTORSPORT
      Grady shrugged and told Racing America: “He flipped me off so I started Mike Tyson-ing his head.
      “End of the day, we were really, really good. The car was really fast.
      “But man… you get these dumba**es that come in here and run with us, and they have no business running a late-model [car] much less a lawn mower.
      “I mean… he wasn’t close, he dive-bombed me, he hooked me.
      Most read in Sport
      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      “I wanted to talk to him and he flipped me off. So I started Mike Tyson-ing his head.
      “You’re in a big-boy sport. When you wreck a man, you can take a grown-man a** whipping that’s how I feel about it.”
      But Callihan denied swearing at Grady and insisted he was ready to have a grown-up conversation.
      The NASCAR ace said: “It was for a transfer position at Martinsville. From my perspective, I was there. It was close.
      “But you can’t give an inch for the transfer spot when there’s 95 cars and I had to take it.
      “It was just hard racing. I do apologise to Grady but we’re fighting for our life out there so I just did what I had to do.
      “I never flipped anybody off. He just comes starts punching me inside the race car.
      “I understand he’s frustrated, but again it’s for the transfer spot and we were just fighting for our life.” More

    • 200 Shares169 Views

      in Motorsport

      Model Courtney Renniers stuns in a blue bikini as she takes a dip in a pool

      by

      MODEL and bodybuilder Courtney Renniers shows she’s racy both at work and at play.The South African, 28, is engaged to fellow countryman and MotoGP rider Brad Binder, 27.
      Courtney Renniers is engaged by Moto GP rider Brad BinderCredit: Sean Levitt
      Courtney is a World Fitness Federation bikini pro ­competitorCredit: Instagram @courtneyrenniers_wffpro
      He competes for the KMT factory team and is 7th in the driver standings.
      Courtney — a World Fitness Federation bikini pro ­competitor — announced their engagement online in July.
      She gushed: “You’re the best thing I’ve ever waited for.
      “And of course I said YES”. He’s got her in a spin.
      Courtney and Brad Binder celebrated their engagement in JulyCredit: Courtney Renniers instagram
      READ MORE MODELS
      Most read in The Sun More

    • 288 Shares119 Views

      in Motorsport

      ‘I wish it was about pure quality’ – Lewis Hamilton pleads for more equality in F1 cars as Red Bull and Ferrari dominate

      by

      LEWIS HAMILTON has pleaded for more equal cars in Formula One.That’s after seeing Red Bull and Ferrari dominate Mercedes this season.
      Lewis Hamilton wants cars to be more equal in Formula OneCredit: Alamy
      The Mercedes ace has struggled to keep up with Red Bull and FerrariCredit: The Mega Agency
      Hamilton has struggled to keep up with Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc in 2022.
      The seven-time F1 world champion has failed to win a single race this year.
      And Hamilton is currently sixth in the rankings, 167 points behind leader Verstappen.
      Most of the Brit’s problems stem from his poor Mercedes car, which has let him down on several occasions this term.
      READ MORE IN F1
      As for Verstappen, he has encountered hardly any issues in his speedy Red Bull vehicle.
      And Hamilton is desperate for a more even playing field in future F1 terms.
      That will stop certain manufacturers from running away in the title race.
      And it would also allow the individual quality of drivers to shine through.
      Most read in Motorsport
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON HORSE RACING
      Hamilton said: “While we do worry about things we can’t control, you have to try to learn not to.
      “I do watch other sports and I wish that it was just the pure ability that I have that makes all the difference.
      “So it’s definitely tough. But I don’t like the word ‘tough’ because I’ve just been in Africa and I’ve seen kids that have nothing, so nothing is ever really that tough.
      “I wouldn’t say it hurts. We all know what it could be.
      “We would love to be in that battle fighting, and I wish that all the cars were a lot closer and we were all having a much better battle closer to the front.” More

    • 213 Shares199 Views

      in Motorsport

      Lewis Hamilton wears £3,000 designer pink outfit before showing off ripped abs ahead of Singapore Grand Prix

      by

      LEWIS HAMILTON showed off a £3,000 designer pink outfit before revealing his ripped abs ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix.The seven-time world champion, who performed the school run to collect his niece and nephew earlier this week, is currently enduring a miserable season.
      Lewis Hamilton is the face of Valentino’s new Pink CollectionCredit: Instagram

      The F1 legend then showed off his ribbed abs by posting a selfie on InstagramCredit: Instagram
      He is now in South East Asia for the Singapore Grand Prix aiming to secure his first win of the campaign after a disastrous start.
      However, away from the F1 track, he is enjoying being the face of Valentino’s new Pink Collection.
      And he has shared a number of snaps of himself wearing their designer gear onto Instagram.
      One of them shows the legendary racer crouched down in a £2,233 pink single-breasted wool coat and decked out with £875 Nappa Leather low-top sneakers in the same colour.
      READ MORE ON F1
      It is not the first time that the 37-year-old Hamilton has shown his love for pink.
      Last month he turned heads when he wore a pink knitted balaclava at Spa track.
      He then later shared a selfie of himself topless in front of the mirror, revealing his incredible physique, as he continues to get ready for the start of practice today in Singapore.
      However, Hamilton did recently admit that he fears Mercedes will not be able to top the podium this season.
      Most read in Motorsport
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS
      Hamilton said: “We have to be realistic. That Red Bull is almost unbeatable.
      “It’s going to take some real doing to beat that car.
      “Performance-wise we have not caught them, and we don’t have upgrades coming to enable us to overtake them.
      “So it’s going to take some fortune going our way to win.
      “It’s not impossible, because we could have beaten them in Budapest.
      “But Max [Verstappen] is generally chilled at the front, so you can never tell their true pace.” More