Motorsport

IF YOU are going to gamble then surely there is no better place to do it than Las Vegas?That seems to be the case with Formula One, where it is a safe bet they will confirm that a race in Sin City will join the calendar, potentially as early as next year.
Max Verstappen refuses to take part in Netflix’s ‘Drive to Survive’ seriesCredit: Splash
The Austin Grand Prix was a huge success last year with 400,000 spectatorsCredit: AP
It also attracted some high-profile celebrities such as Shaquille O’Neal (centre)Credit: Getty
Interest in the sport has rocketed Stateside for the first time in F1’s 72-year history.
Last year’s US Grand Prix, which was held in Austin, Texas, enjoyed a bumper 400,000 crowd.
This year sees the introduction of a second race in the US — the Miami Grand Prix — on May 8.
The track is still being built but the event is already sold out. McLaren’s American CEO said at the start of the year this race will be “the hottest ticket of the year”.
To add a THIRD race in the USA seems a safe bet but it also marks somewhat of a gamble for F1’s American owners, Liberty Media.
The popularity of F1 in America is no doubt thanks to the success of the Netflix show Drive to Survive.
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Season four launches this Friday and, interestingly, Pierre Gasly was the only current driver to turn up to the screening in London as the invitations had been sent out too late.
Another noticeable absentee was F1’s CEO, Stefano Domenicali, who was making a personal check on the developments in Vegas.
Having seen the first two episodes, the fly-on-the-wall documentary will again be a hit.
Yet there are signs F1’s luck with Netflix could be about to turn.
F1 insiders tell me they are getting a little frustrated by the splicing of footage to create rivalries which are not there.
In the first two instalments, Red Bull’s Christian Horner plays the villain and one wonders how long he will be willing to continue to act up to that — especially in an age when social media is so unforgiving.
And what about Lando Norris? In some scenes, the likeable Brit is seen uttering Daniel Ricciardo’s “Let’s f*** s*** up” catchphrase in a scene which is interlinked with the Aussie’s struggles on track.
Worth also remembering that a key figure in this season’s show, Max Verstappen, did not want to take part as he felt it was all “fake”.
It seems plausible that other drivers could follow suit and decide to fold.
If so, Netflix could be left with a rather poor hand to pick from and one wonders how that would impact American interest — and attendances at the three races — when the bubble bursts. More

FORMER Formula One world champion Damon Hill ‘feels sorry’ for sacked race director Michael Masi – and is unconvinced he should have lost his job.Masi was handed his P45 last month following his controversial handling of the final race of last season.
Michael Masi was sacked as F1’s race director in FebruaryCredit: Getty
Damon Hill believes the decision was harsh and could have been avoidedCredit: Rex
He failed to follow strict safety car regulations, giving the green light for a last-lap showdown between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman had been able to pit for fresh soft tyres and close the gap on the seven-time champ to breeze past him and claim the win – and with it his maiden world title.
The FIA investigated Masi and booted him in place of Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich with the latter expected to act as a deputy with veteran Herbie Blash, who worked with former Race Director Charlie Whiting, returning as a senior advisor.
But 1996 winner Hill questioned the decision.
He told the F1 Nation podcast: “Was he necessarily sacrificed?
“I feel sorry for the guy and we’ve had drivers say so [as well]. They’ve come out and said he did a good job in difficult circumstances.
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“I personally think that the situation and the structure he was expected to operate in was the problem.
“I’m not saying it was right what happened [in Abu Dhabi], but we could see clearly during the season that confusion was being thrown into decision making and pressure by some of the team bosses.
“There was also the pressure of those conversations being broadcast.
“If they fix all that, then I’m not sure they needed to get rid of Michael [Masi].
“You can also say because of his role in the matter [of the World Championship title], it would have been controversial to keep him on.
“But not a happy ending to last year, quite honestly, from lots of different perspectives.”

Masi’s dismissal was also criticised by Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who told talkSPORT he feels Masi has been treated unfairly.
Verstappen’s boss Horner said: “It’s a difficult one, and it’s the FIA’s business.
“I think it is harsh, I think he was in a very difficult position last year.
“We felt a lot of the decisions went against us last year.
“When you look at what he has at his disposal in terms of resource, compared to what the teams have, it’s such a massive difference.
“It’s good to hear they are bringing in things like the VAR equivalent and one of the most experienced guys in Herbie Blash.
There was so much pressure put on the removal of Michael and that’s not rightChristian Horner
“I just think there was so much pressure put on the removal of Michael and that’s not right. That’s my personal feeling.”
However, Horner’s conversations with Masi’s successor Freitas will not be made public.
That is because a change in rules has banned broadcasters from playing the radio interactions between teams and F1 personnel during races.
Verstappen has penned a new £37million-a-year contract with Red Bull.
And his title defence begins in less than two weeks at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Christian Horner and Max Verstappen were the ones celebrating at the end of the 2021 seasonCredit: Getty More

LEWIS HAMILTON has revealed that he asked Euphoria star Zendaya if he could appear in season three of the hit show.The seven-time Formula 1 world champion came to Paris Fashion Week and sat alongside the American actress and singer.
Hamilton was snapped alongside Zendaya at Paris Fashion WeekCredit: Getty
The pair watched on in the French capital as they enjoyed the showCredit: Reuters
Hamilton asked Zendaya about featuring in season three of EuphoriaCredit: AP
And the Formula 1 legend confirmed after the show that he had asked Zendaya about being in the school-based drama.
Speaking on Instagram, he said: “Thanks for having me @maisonvalentino and sitting me next to Z, asked her if I could be on season 3, those Euphoria kids need a teacher fr [for real].”
Hamilton has spoken in the past about his dream of becoming an actor.
He said last year: “I would love to act one day. But I am very conscientious. I like to learn step by step.
“I had opportunities and I know that I need time to prepare myself. Because I want to be the best. In everything I do I want to be. To do the best I can.
“If I’m going to make a movie, I’ll go to class, study, and make sure I express my emotions as I should.”
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Fans of Hamilton and Euphoria could not believe the 37-year-old’s social media post as they went into a frenzy at the possibility of him appearing in the show.
Alongside the photo of Hamilton and Zendaya, one person said: “How cool would that be – like really?!?!!”
Another added: “I wasn’t prepared for this photo 🤩 … wait… Lewis in season 3 💜.”
And a third said: “Petition to have Lewis in season 3.”
SEASON RETURNS
Hamilton is preparing to return to the track for the start of the 2022 F1 season later this month.
The drivers kick things off with the Bahrain Grand Prix – which takes place on March 20.
And Hamilton is looking to avenge last season’s dramatic finale when he was controversially pipped to the title by Max Verstappen on the last lap of the last race in Abu Dhabi.
Following the contentious end to the 2021 campaign, race director Michael Masi was sacked following a huge amount of scrutiny surrounding his decision-making.
And Hamilton has called for this season’s stewards to be as objective as possible.
He said: “We need to make sure we get non-biased stewards.
“Race drivers, some are very, very good friends with certain individuals, some travel with certain individuals and tend to take more of a keen liking to some of them.
“I think people who have no bias and are super central when it comes to making decisions.” More

NIKITA MAZEPIN has slammed Haas for cancelling his contract and accused the Formula One team of ‘completely ignoring’ the FIA’s ruling on Russian racers.Following intense speculation, Haas confirmed today that the driver had been sacked along with title sponsor Uralkali.
Nikita Mazepin has torn into Haas and accused them of ‘completely ignoring’ the FIA’s ruling on Russian racersCredit: Rex
Haas announced that they had axed the Russian driver todayCredit: Splash
It was announced by the FIA earlier this week that the Russian driver would be able to race under a neutral flag this season following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
He was also banned from driving the British Grand Prix after Motorsport UK blocked all Russian and Belarussian racers from competing.
Now after his team confirmed that his deal with them has been ripped up, Mazepin tore into his former employers at full throttle.
The 23-year-old said in a statement: “Dear fans and followers, I am very disappointed to hear that my F1 contract has been terminated.
“While I understand the difficulties, the ruling from the FIA plus my ongoing willingness to accept the conditions proposed in order to continue were completely ignored, and no process was followed in this unilateral step.
“To those who have tried to understand, my eternal thanks.
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“I have treasured my time in F1 and genuinely hope we can all be together again in better times.”
He finished it off by stating that he would have ‘more to say in the coming days’.
No confirmation of who will replace him at Haas has yet been announced.
Nikita Mazepin’s father, billionaire oligarch Dmitry Mazepin, has close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The 2022 F1 season is due to get underway with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 20.
🔵 Read our Russia – Ukraine live blog for the very latest updates More

NIKITA MAZEPIN has been sacked by his Formula 1 team Haas.It was announced by the FIA earlier this week that the Russian driver would be able to race under a neutral flag this season following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Nikita Mazepin has been axed by F1 team HaasCredit: PA
Haas have also ended its partnership with Russian potash company UralkaliCredit: Getty
He has also been banned from driving the British Grand Prix after Motorsport UK blocked all Russian and Belarussian racers from competing.
Now his team have confirmed that his deal with them has now been ripped up.
And they have also confirmed that it has ended its partnership with Russian potash company Uralkali.
A Haas statement read: “Haas F1 team has elected to terminate, with immediate effect, the title partnership of Uralkali, and the driver partnership of Nikita Mazepin.
“As with the rest of the F1 community, the team is shocked and saddened by the invasion of Ukraine and wishes for a swift and peaceful end to the conflict.”
Nikita Mazepin’s father, billionaire oligarch Dmitry Mazepin, has close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
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This week at an extraordinary meeting led by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the World Motor Sport Council agreed that competitors holding Russian and Belarussian racing licences could still race under an “FIA flag”.
But Motorsport UK has gone one step further by stopping them, including Mazepin, from competing.
A Motorsport UK statement read: “No Russian/Belarusian licenced teams are approved to enter motorsport competitions in the UK.
“No Russian/Belarusian licenced competitors and officials are approved to participate in UK motorsport events.
“No Russian/Belarusian national symbols, colours, flags (on uniform, equipment and car) to be displayed at Motorsport UK permitted events.
“The Motorsport UK decision was made in full consultation with the UK Government and national sports governing bodies to ensure that there is a unilateral response to the crisis.”
The 2022 F1 season is due to get underway with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 20.

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