Motorsport

Subterms

    More stories

    • 263 Shares99 Views

      in Motorsport

      Lewis Hamilton could be awarded LAST year’s F1 world title with Max Verstappen and Red Bull involved in a cheat storm

      by

      LEWIS HAMILTON could be sensationally handed LAST year’s world title after rival Max Verstappen’s Red Bull team were engulfed in a cheat storm.Red Bull, who were hoping to celebrate Verstappen’s second title win at the Singapore Grand Prix – where he finished seventh – have been accused of breaking F1’s cost-cap rules.
      Lewis Hamilton could be given last year’s world title after all to make up for his Abu Dhabi heartbreakCredit: AP
      Verstappen and his Red Bull team are caught up in a cheat stormCredit: AFP
      Mercedes chief Toto Wolff claimed it would be a “massively heavyweight” issue if Red Bull broke last year’s budget, which was set at £114million.
      If they are found guilty, potential penalties include points deductions or even “exclusion from the championship”.
      That could see Verstappen stripped of the title he won last year in Abu Dhabi and Hamilton installed as winner for a record eighth time.
      Wolff, Hamilton’s boss at Mercedes, was asked if it was serious or just usual F1 politics.
      READ MORE F1 NEWS
      He replied:  “That’s heavyweight, that’s massively heavyweight. It was a huge, mammoth project to make the cap.
      “I don’t know how many tens of millions we had to restructure processes to be below the cap.
      “We are using used parts, we are not running what we would want to run, and we are not developing what we could be developing.
      “We have made more than 40 people redundant.”

      Most read in Motorsport
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS
      Red Bull are adamant that they submitted their accounts in March and are under the proposed cost cap.
      The FIA are due to reveal their findings on Wednesday. More

    • 238 Shares169 Views

      in Motorsport

      Perez wins Singapore Grand Prix with Hamilton hitting barrier and Verstappen having to wait for title after coming 7th

      by

      SERGIO PEREZ won his second race of the season as team-mate Max Verstappen failed to wrap up the title in Singapore. Verstappen could have sealed the title if results had gone his way, but as with the spill over from Saturday’s qualifying nightmare the reigning world champion suffered a horror show during the race.
      Perez won his second race of the seasonCredit: Splash
      The changeable conditions of the Singapore track ensured six drivers did not finish the race, while many others suffered from crashes and lock ups.
      Despite Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc starting on pole, Perez was quicker off the line and claimed P1 by the time the first turn was reached.
      And from there he produced one of his best-ever races to beat Leclerc to the chequered flag.
      Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton suffered a less than ideal race as his best qualifying result of the season only rewarded with two points on race day with a P9 finish.
      READ MORE IN F1
      The seven-time champion lost a place immediately at the start, with Carlos Sainz bolting off the line to claim third, bumping Hamilton off the track in the process.
      Hamilton also paid the barrier a visit. As he trailed the Spaniard he failed to find the grip to make a tight corner, and subsequently found his car going wing first into the side of the track.
      One of a few safety cars seen throughout the race then ruined his and team-mates George Russell’s chances of getting into higher positions as the midfield runners were allowed to pit and come out ahead of the Mercedes pair.
      Verstappen managed to wrestle a P7 finish out of his disappointing race, overtaking Sebastian Vettel on the final lap, and will now be looking ahead to F1’s return to Suzuka in Japan next week.
      Most read in Motorsport More

    • 250 Shares109 Views

      in Motorsport

      F1 Singapore Grand Prix LIVE: Perez WINS ahead of both Ferraris as Hamilton and Verstappen spin off track – updates

      by

      SERGIO PEREZ has WON the Singapore Grand Prix ahead of the two Ferraris.And Lewis Hamilton was in a surprising battle for fourth with Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.

      Race: 2:05pm UK
      Live stream: Sky Go and Now
      TV channel: Sky Sports F1

      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
      Perez delighted with the win
      “It was my best performance.”
      “The last three laps were so intense, I gave everything.”
      “I have no idea [about the penalty]”
      “It’s nicer for Max to get the win in Japan.”
      Leclerc: “It was difficult”
      “I pushed all the way. The bad start put us on the back foot.”
      Sainz: “Delighted for the team”
      “Never really got into a rhythm.”
      “The good thing is I didn’t make any mistakes.”
      “It’s crazy how long it takes here to dry.”
      Mercedes far from happy
      Russell was never likely to gain points today, but it’s particularly a disappointing race for Hamilton.
      After starting third, he finishes in 9th.
      Ferrari holding out for penalty
      Of course, Perez is still under investigation, and the Ferrari mechanics think it might be up to 10 seconds for the penalty.
      Leclerc finished 7 seconds behind the Red Bull.
      Great weekend for McLaren
      Lando Norris comes home in 4th, with a fantastic finish for Daniel Ricciardo as he crosses the line in 5th.
      A massive win for them in the battle for fourth in the Constructors.
      Perez’s finest hour?
      Wow, what a win for the Mexican. With horrible conditions and safety cars aplenty, it was a classy drive to take the win.
      He is followed on the podium by Leclerc and Sainz.
      SERGIO PEREZ WINS THE SINGAPORE GP!
      Final lap – Perez opens up lead up front
      With the risk of a penalty coming, Leclerc is now over 6 seconds behind Perez.
      2 minutes to go – Verstappen overtakes Hamilton!
      A mistake from Hamilton when trying to overtake the Aston Martin, and as he goes wide Verstappen eases past into 8th.
      3 minutes to go – Vettel defending well
      The only battle really out here in the final few minutes if between these three, with Vettel doing well to stay 7th for now.
      5 minutes to go – Vettel involved in the fight
      Three World Champions are scrapping here, with Vettel currently holding off Hamilton, who is doing the same to Verstappen.
      7 minutes to go – Verstappen and Hamilton fighting
      It’s like 2021 all over again with these two fighting, although this time it’s for 8th place.
      Verstappen is 0.5 second behind.
      8 minutes to go – Russell hunting for fastest lap
      Way off the points, Russell has pitted for soft tyres in an attempt to snatch the fastest lap point from either Red Bull or Ferrari.
      11 minutes to go – Mammoth weekend for McLaren
      In a weekend where both Alpine’s have retired, a P4 and P5 for McLaren would do wonders for the battle for fourth in the Constructor’s Championship.
      14 minutes to go – Perez to be investigated post race
      Well, well, well.
      A safety car infringement could see things all change after the race today…
      18 minutes to go – Perez away from Leclerc
      1.4 seconds is now the gap between the top two, with Perez seemingly away from the Ferrari.
      20 minutes to go – Verstappen making moves
      The Dutchman is playing catch up now, but he is up to 11th.
      Leclerc is still working on Perez up the front.
      22 minutes to go – Fantastic battle at the front
      This is seriously impressive racing.
      Leclerc is 0.4 seconds behind Perez with just over 20 minutes to go.
      24 minutes to go – Perez sets fastest lap
      Whatever issue the car has, Perez seems to be dealing with them as he puts in the fastest lap of the race.
      26 minutes to go – Norris smells a podium
      It’s been a tough race for Sainz today, and he now has Norris chasing him for the final place on the podium.
      27 minutes to go – DRS enabled
      Leclerc is getting closer and closer…
      28 minutes to go – Big fight at the front
      Perez had been under no pressure all race, but is now in trouble with Leclerc pushing.
      The Mexican has been on the radio to claim he is feeling some issues.
      30 minutes to go – Leclerc gaining on the lead!
      Wow, the restart has been brilliant for the Ferrari, as he is less than a second behind Perez!
      31 minutes to go: Puncture for Russell
      Contact with a Haas has seemingly given Russell a puncture at the back of the grid.
      Load more entries… More

    • 238 Shares109 Views

      in Motorsport

      F1 financial rules explained amid huge row that could see Lewis Hamilton crowned 2021 champ instead of Max Verstappen

      by

      FORMULA ONE is set for one of the biggest rows in years which could yet see Lewis Hamilton crowned as 2021 F1 world champion.This Wednesday, the sport’s governing body [FIA] will publish their investigation into teams’ spending during last season.
      Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton to last year’s titleCredit: Getty
      There is now financial controversy regarding the winCredit: Getty
      Last year, new budget cap rules were introduced to stop teams from spending more than £114million on developing their cars.
      This was in the hope of making the grid more competitive and prevent certain teams dominating thanks to quicker cars.
      In previous seasons, the likes of Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari have spent over three times that amount at a serious disadvantage to those teams lower down the grid.
      The FIA have outlined strict penalties for breaking the rules, including disqualifying teams and drivers from last year’s championship.
      READ MORE IN F1
      The Background
      Teams were supposed to submit their financial reports back in March – yet the deadline elapsed.
      Now, the FIA have the accounts, which have all passed through auditors, they will be able to establish whether teams have spent more than they should have done.
      If they are under, they are issued a certificate this coming Wednesday. If they have gone over, they won’t.
      The rumours are that Red Bull and Aston Martin are two teams that have overspent but they are likely to plead their innocence.
      As it’s the first year of the rules there are confusions as to what and what is not included in small details like providing staff with free food in their respective canteens or sick pay.
      Formula One 2022Everything you need to know about F1 this season

      Most read in Motorsport
      SUN BINGO GET £50 BONUS & 50 FREE SPINS TODAY
      What if a team does NOT get a certificate?
      It will depend on how much they are over. If their spending is deemed as minor – under five per cent of the £114m – £5.7m – they will be sanctioned by the FIA.
      While the list of penalties include points deductions for teams and drivers, there is a growing feeling it will be a financial penalty.
      Should a team accept that punishment then they would be issued the certificate on the proviso of paying the fine.
      If they do not accept the penalty, it will be escalated further through an independent panel.
      However if the amount is more then it is classed as a “material” breach. That means the case is immediately passed to the independent panel.
      Most read in Motorsport
      Who are the independent panel?
      A minimum of six and a maximum of 12 people will form the panel.
      They are picked from an undetermined number of people suggested by the FIA’s General Assembly and a group of no less than five F1 teams.
      The panel has not yet been assembled and it could take time to put together but they will be financial and legal experts.
      Crucially, they will have the power to determine the punishment, as stipulated in the rules, such as points deduction, financial penalties or even disqualification from the championship.
      What if a team still refuses to accept it?
      Then the matter still has the potential to progress to the International Court of Appeal, who will decide the matter.
      This is what Mercedes had threatened last December following the controversial outcome to the title decider in Abu Dhabi, but decided against pursuing that option. More

    • 250 Shares169 Views

      in Motorsport

      ‘Keep your mouth shut’ – Max Verstappen lashes out at other teams for talking about alleged cheating at Red Bull

      by

      RAGING Max Verstappen lashed out at rival teams for discussing the alleged Red Bull cheating – and told them to “keep your mouth shut”. Verstappen’s maiden world title from 2021 and the impressive defence this season are under question after suggestions his team broke their spending limit.
      Max Verstappen is at the centre of an F1 row over Red Bull’s spendingCredit: Splash
      It is said both Red Bull and Aston Martin broke the £114million cost-cap limit.
      And now Verstappen faces a nervous wait to see if he will be punished, with possible penalties including having last year’s controversial title stripped away and given to Lewis Hamilton.
      The sport’s governing body will announce their report on Wednesday.
      Quizzed on the alleged breaches and his concern, the Dutchman hit back.
      READ MORE ON F1
      Verstappen – who starts the Singapore Grand Prix eighth after being forced to abort his flying qualifying lap – said: “I know where it comes from, so for me it’s okay.
      “Well, with what I hear from the team, yes.
      “Of course, then other teams start to talk about it while they have no information and I find that a bit silly.
      “Just keep your mouth shut.”
      Most read in Motorsport
      Mercedes – the F1 constructors’ championship winners for the last eight seasons – and Ferrari have been particularly vocal in a rigorous investigation and want the FIA to throw the book at Verstappen.
      The Brackley team principal Toto Wolff did not mince his words on Friday as he addressed the allegations – especially because their driver Lewis Hamilton is under intense scrutiny for wearing jewellery.
      But Wolff’s Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner slammed the Austrian for his comments – especially as the FIA secretary general, Shaila-Ann Rao, used to work as Wolff’s legal advisor before taking the role.
      Horner said: “We were a little bit taken aback by comments that were coming from two of our rival teams.
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS
      “The submission between the team and the FIA is one that is confidential.
      “I would be intrigued to know where their source of information for these fictitious claims have come from.
      “They’re hugely defamatory and we take umbrage to them.
      “One can only assume it’s not un-coincidental that this is at a point where Max has his first strike at the world championship.
      Read More on The Sun
      “How on earth do they have this information? Where do they have this knowledge?
      “It is absolutely unacceptable to be making comments of the type that were made is totally defamatory to the team, to the brands and even to Formula One.”
      Verstappen and Christian Horner celebrate the 2021 world title in Abu DhabiCredit: AFP More

    • 263 Shares129 Views

      in Motorsport

      ‘What the f*** is this about?’ – Watch Max Verstappen fume at Red Bull over team radio during Singapore GP qualifying

      by

      FURIOUS Max Verstappen launched an X-rated blast at Red Bull during qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix.The reigning world champion, who turned 25 on Friday, was aiming to secure pole position for Sunday’s race.
      Furious Max Verstappen was denied a chance to take pole in Singapore as he was told to abort his lapCredit: AFP
      He let rip at his team over the radio but later explained the reason

      As he went around his flying lap in the hope of catching provisional pole-setter Charles Leclerc, Verstappen looked well on course to set the best time of Q3.
      After crushing the second sector, the Dutchman – who knows he can secure the world title tomorrow – would have been confident of starting the race at the front of the grid.
      But his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase suddenly came on to the radio and said: “Box, Max, box, box, box, box.”
      Verstappen obeyed the order by aborting his lap with just one corner to go and headed back into the pits as he was forced to settle for eighth in qualifying with Leclerc first, Sergio Perez second and Lewis Hamilton third.
      READ MORE IN F1
      But the fiery driver was fuming with his team – and let his feelings be known with an expletive-laden rant.
      Verstappen raged back on the radio: “Why? What the f*** why? What the f***? What the f***?
      “What the f*** are you guys saying? Unbelievable, mate. I don’t get it, what the f*** is this about?”
      Lambiase kept his cool and replied: “We’ll talk about it and I’ll explain when you’re out [of the car], Max.”
      Most read in Sport
      Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle immediately suggested the Red Bull order could have been to do with fuel levels in the tank – if too low he would have been sent to the back of the grid.
      And the reigning world champion confirmed that was indeed the problem as he hit out at the “really bad” mistake by the garage crew.
      Verstappen explained: “I already felt the lap before as well, but then they told me to abort, says ‘okay’, we do that.
      “But then on the final lap they told me to box, then I realised I think what was gonna happen and we ran out of fuel.
      “So it’s just incredibly frustrating and shouldn’t happen. When you under-fuel it or don’t plan to do that sixth lap, then at least you track that throughout the session that you know you’re not going to make it and we should have seen that way earlier.
      “So I’m not happy at all at the moment. I know of course it’s always a team effort and I can make mistakes and the team can make mistakes but it’s never acceptable.
      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      “Of course you learn from it, but this is really bad, to be honest – it shouldn’t happen.”
      Vertsappen has won the last five Grand Prix races as he dominates this F1 season and is well on course to defend his title.
      That included victory from starting tenth on the grid in Hungary.
      On repeating that on race day in Singapore, the Red Bull ace added: “It’s a bit like Monaco, just super-hard to pass.
      “You can maybe do a little bit of strategy, but at the moment I’m not really in the mood to think about the race tomorrow.
      “Once I jump in the car I will always give it my very best, but at the moment I’m super-frustrated with what just happened.”
      Read More on The Sun
      However, the race weekend has been overshadowed by the controversy over accusations Red Bull have breached cost-cap spending limits.
      If found guilty, Verstappen could in theory be stripped of the dramatic world championship he infamously pipped Hamilton to in Abu Dhabi in December 2021.
      Verstappen was putting together a superb flying lap that looked to be good enoughCredit: Getty
      Christian Horner knows his No1 driver can wrap up the title tomorrowCredit: Getty
      Charles Leclerc took pole so will start at the front of the grid on SundayCredit: Alamy More

    • 250 Shares139 Views

      in Motorsport

      Lewis Hamilton has doctor’s note for nose stud and reveals piercing got INFECTED and he developed blister full of puss

      by

      LEWIS HAMILTON landed in hot-water with the FIA after defying their bling ban… despite having a doctor’s note.The Mercedes star was hauled in front of picky race stewards to justify his reason for wearing a nose piercing, which is a breach of the FIA International Sporting Code.
      Lewis Hamilton was quizzed about his nose stud in Singapore qualifyingCredit: Getty
      Hamilton, 37, explained the situation in detailCredit: Getty
      New FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has promised to get tough on drivers wearing jewellery in a row that threatened to overshadow the Miami, Monaco and British GPs earlier this year.
      Hamilton continued to wear his nose stud and was granted a temporary exemption before he eventually backed down and removed it in Silverstone and for the subsequent races.
      Yet in Singapore, he was seen wearing the stud in the cockpit – triggering a summons from the stewards.
      Hamilton, who was later let off, said: “I’m not trying to make a statement, no.
      READ MORE IN F1
      “Basically I’ve had my jewellery and my nose stud for years and obviously we had that whole commotion at the beginning of the year.
      “At the time it was like soldered in, so it didn’t come loose. They gave me an exemption so I could find a solution.
      “Then I went to get it taken out and tried to find a solution, putting it in and out. It got infected because of that.
      “I got a blood blister and had quite a sore on my nose because there was puss and blood. I put this back in and in the last two weeks it’s started to heal and they’ve asked that I keep it in.
      Most read in Motorsport
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS
      “It’s crazy that we’re having to talk about something so small. I take everything else out. At this point, I don’t really care to be honest.”
      Hamilton was asked about the reasoning for the FIA’s focus on such a trivial matter and added: “I really don’t know, man.
      “I’ve got a letter from a doctor… I’ve tried my best. One of the best excuses I was given a long time ago was about heat and if you are in a fire metal conducts heat.
      “But our suits are covered, our zip is metal, our buckle around our helmet is metal, we’ve got the wires with aluminium metal in them.
      “So I don’t know, it’s all a bit silly. Hopefully they’ll be sensible. The stewards should be there to keep us safe most importantly but this is not a safety issue.”
      Read More on The Sun
      While FIA medics supported Hamilton’s reasoning and took no further action, his Mercedes team however, were fined €25,000 (£22,400) for not telling the FIA he was wearing his piercing.
      Despite the drama, Hamilton sealed his best qualifying result of the season and will start tomorrow’s Singapore GP third on the grid.
      Hamilton qualified in third for tomorrow’s Singapore GPCredit: Getty More

    • 200 Shares109 Views

      in Motorsport

      Lewis Hamilton produces best qualifying performance of the season to seal third-place start at Singapore GP

      by

      LEWIS HAMILTON produced his best qualifying performance of the season – and then landed in hot-water with the FIA after defying their bling ban.Hamilton qualified in third place for Sunday’s Singapore GP behind Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez while Max Verstappen will start in eighth place due to a fuel problem.
      Lewis Hamilton produced his best qualifying result of the seasonCredit: Rex
      Sparks fly from Hamilton’s Mercedes in the floodlit sessionCredit: Getty
      In another day of drama, Hamilton was hauled in front of the picky race stewards to justify his reason for wearing a nose piercing, which is a breach of the FIA International Sporting Code.
      New FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has promised to get tough on drivers wearing jewellery in a row that threatened to overshadow the Miami, Monaco and British GPs earlier this year.
      Hamilton continued to wear his nose stud and was granted a temporary exemption before he eventually backed down and removed it in Silverstone and for the subsequent races.
      Yet in Singapore, he was seen wearing the stud in the cockpit – triggering a summons from the stewards.
      READ MORE IN F1
      Hamilton, who was later let off, said: “I’m not trying to make a statement, no.
      “Basically I’ve had my jewellery and my nose stud for years and obviously we had that whole commotion at the beginning of the year.
      “At the time it was like soldered in, so it didn’t come loose. They gave me an exemption so I could find a solution.
      “Then I went to get it taken out and tried to find a solution, putting it in and out. It got infected because of that.
      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)
      “I got a blood blister and had quite a sore on my nose because there was puss and blood. I put this back in and in the last two weeks it’s started to heal and they’ve asked that I keep it in.
      “It’s crazy that we’re having to talk about something so small. I take everything else out. At this point, I don’t really care to be honest.”
      Hamilton was asked about the reasoning for the FIA’s focus on such a trivial matter and added: “I really don’t know, man.
      “I’ve got a letter from a doctor… I’ve tried my best. One of the best excuses I was given a long time ago was about heat and if you are in a fire metal conducts heat.
      “But our suits are covered, our zip is metal, our buckle around our helmet is metal, we’ve got the wires with aluminium metal in them.
      ‘A BIT SILLY’
      “So I don’t know, it’s all a bit silly. Hopefully they’ll be sensible. The stewards should be there to keep us safe most importantly but this is not a safety issue.”
      While FIA medics supported Hamilton’s reasoning and took no further action, his Mercedes team however, were fined €25,000 (£22,400) for not telling the FIA he was wearing his piercing.
      Meanwhile, Verstappen – who can win the title on Sunday if he outscores Leclerc by 22 points AND Perez finishes outside the top three – lashed his Red Bull team.
      The Dutchman was furious after he was forced to abort his final flying lap due to running out of fuel.
      He said: “On the final lap they told me to box and then I realised what was going to happen. We ran out of fuel.
      Read More on The Sun
      “It is incredibly frustrating and it shouldn’t happen. I am not happy at all at the moment.
      “Of course it is always a team effort and I can make mistakes, and the team can make mistakes, but it is never acceptable.”
      Hamilton has been reprimanded by picky FIA chiefs for his nose studCredit: Getty More