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      Williams demand major F1 rule change to allow teen prodigy who’s tipped to replace Lewis Hamilton to race this season

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      WILLIAMS have asked the FIA to grant Mercedes whizkid Andrea Kimi Antonelli permission to race this season.The Italian, 17, has been tipped to break into F1 next season but the sport’s rules say a driver “must be at least 18 years old”.Rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli is at the centre of a special pleaCredit: GettyAntonelli could even replace Lewis Hamilton next seasonCredit: GettySunSPORT understands that the request has been made by Williams’ boss James Vowles, who worked with Antonelli at Mercedes.It means he could replace Logan Sargeant, who has been prone to a number of high profile mistakes.American Sargeant, who is competing in his home race this weekend in Miami, was hooked out of the Australian GP earlier this year.Williams handed his car to team-mate Alex Albon after the London-born Thai racer smashed his own car up.READ MORE TOP STORIESAntonelli is currently racing in Formula 2 and has also been tipped to fill the void left by Lewis Hamilton next season.He could be given his chance to impress in F1 with Williams as a replacement for Sargeant until the end of the season.That will allow Mercedes enough time to establish whether he is capable of driving for the Silver Arrows alongside George Russell next season.Antonelli recently tested for Mercedes at the Red Bull Ring in Austria and then in Imola.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHowever, he will need special FIA dispensation to race in F1, effectively on loan at Williams.Meanwhile, McLaren boss Zak Brown says Adrian Newey’s shock decision to quit Red Bull is the “the first domino to fall”.Lewis Hamilton ‘in advanced talks’ to join Ferrari as shock clause in Mercedes star’s contract emergesHe said: “Given everything that’s gone on since the start of the year and knowing Adrian pretty well, and he’s a very high-integrity individual, I’m not surprised he’s moving on.”I think the stuff that’s going on there is a bit destabilising. He’s probably the first domino to fall, my guess is not the last based on the resumés that are flying around. “And as far as McLaren is concerned, I’m very happy with all the work the men and women at McLaren are doing.” More

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      Doctors told me I’m in the top 1% of males for sex drive and it’s all down to my F1 career – and my girlfriend agrees

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      DAVID Coulthard has claimed doctors told him his sex drive is still high in his fifties due to the adrenaline of his motor racing career.The former Formula 1 driver had his testosterone levels checked by medics and was told they were in the top one per cent of men in his age group.David Coulthard’s lover Sigrid SilversandDavid Coulthard and Sigrid Silversand togetherCredit: GettySigrid SilversandCredit: InstagramTestosterone – the male sex hormone – naturally declines as men get older. Experts estimate its drops by around one per cent per year after men reach the age of 40.Coulthard, 53, said his elevated readings were put down to the high levels of adrenaline he experienced during his high-octane career on the track.He said he had been given a “glowing report” on his testosterone by doctors and his 29-year-old girlfriend, the Swedish model Sigrid Silversand.Coulthard, originally of Twynholm, Kirkcudbrightshire, was known for dating a string of models during his days as a Formula 1 driver.He split up with Belgian TV presenter Karen Minier in 2022 after nine years of marriage and is now dating Silversand.He spoke about his testosterone results on his podcast Formula For Success which he co-hosts with businessman Eddie Jordan.Asked by former Formula 1 team owner Jordan what his girlfriend thinks of his testosterone levels, he said: “I got a glowing report there and also a medical report.Most read in Motorsport”I had my testosterone checked and I am in the top one per cent of males apparently.”One of the thoughts is that because of high levels of adrenaline through a sporting career then that sort of super charges the testosterone in the body. So no issues there.”Inside F1 legend David Coulthard’s former Monte Carlo hotel The Columbus Coulthard also confessed a famous claim he made that having sex before a race made him drive faster was untrue.He added: “It was obviously just a bit of bulls**t.”I don’t remember saying it but it does sound like something I would say just for the reaction.”Coulthard won 13 Grand Prix races during a glittering career and now works as a pundit on F1 television coverage.He retired from racing in 2008 and now lives in Monaco.Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More

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      Lewis Hamilton tells Adrian Newey to join him at Ferrari as he rubs salt in the wounds of F1 rival Verstappen & Red Bull

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      LEWIS HAMILTON says he would “very much” like to have Adrian Newey join him at Ferrari.Newey, F1’s most successful designer, announced he was leaving Red Bull Racing on Wednesday.Lewis Hamilton said it would be a privilege to work with Adrian Newey at FerrariCredit: RexNewey announced his Red Bull departure yesterday and has been heavily linked with FerrariCredit: PAThe 65-year-old has negotiated an early exit from this deal with the world champions that would allow him to move early next year.It would free him up to join Hamilton at Ferrari for next season in preparation for a major new rule change in F1 in 2026.Hamilton was quizzed ahead of this weekend’s Miami GP about working with Newey and said: “Adrian has such a great history and track record.”He’s done an amazing job through his career, engaging with teams and the knowledge he has. I think he would be an amazing addition.READ MORE IN F1″I think they [Ferrari] already have a great team, making huge strides forward and progress. Their car is quicker this year. But it would be a privilege to work with him.”Hamilton was grilled if an attempt to sign Newey was part of his wishlist when he started negotiating with Ferrari.He added: “This is all private conversation stuff. If I was to do a list of people I would love to work with, he would absolutely be at the top of it.”When I joined McLaren I think it was an evolution of his car. I got there just after he left, so that car would have evolved from a concept that he had worked on.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”I felt privileged that I had the chance to touch something that he had worked on.”Racing against the team that he’s been so heavily a part of has been a massive challenge but I think we have to remember there are a lot of people in the background.Formula One’s Highest Earners”It’s not one person, it’s a whole team of people who do the job. You can imagine all the amazing experience that he brings to the team, but the people that he works with will continue to do an amazing job.”I don’t anticipate Red Bull not continuing to build great cars moving forward. But any team would be fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him.”Max Verstappen, who has been the main beneficiary of Newey’s designs in recent seasons, insisted the designer’s exit will not force him to quit Red Bull despite being linked with a move to Mercedes.He said: “All of these things, a couple of years ago, would have been a bit unexpected but I think it is always very important to remain calm and focused on your job, know who you’re working with, feel comfortable.Max Verstappen also opened up on his Red Bull future following Newey’s exitCredit: Reuters”At the end of the day, we need to have the fastest car, that’s what I always demanded, that’s what we finally got for a couple of years now.”And we have a very strong technical team that are part of the team still for a long time. It goes on like it was going before.”Of course Adrian from when he started at Red Bull, he was incredibly important for the success that they had.”Over time, his role has changed a bit and a lot of people don’t understand what he was actually doing.Who is Adrian Newey?
      Adrian Newey was the design chief at Red Bull Racing.
      The 65-year-old has played a crucial role in designing the cars that have helped Sebastian Vettel and Max Vertappen win SEVEN drivers’ world championships.
      Newey began designing in Formula One back in 1988 with March, where his cars were far more competitive than expected.
      After March he spent time with Williams and McLaren before joining Red Bull in 2005.
      Throughout his career he has contributed to the cars that have secured 12 World Constructors’ titles and 13 World Drivers’ championships.
      He is widely considered to be the greatest designer in the history of F1.

      “I don’t say he wasn’t doing anything but his role has evolved. A lot of good people came into the team that have strengthened that whole department.”Of course I would have preferred him to stay, for sure, because you can always rely on his experience and just as a person he is a great guy to chat to and relate to.”Because he is very bright, very smart but he would also talk to the driver and interpret that into the car, in terms of he would try to imagine himself driving.”But I also really trust that the technical team we have outside of Adrian is very, very strong. They have basically shown that with the last few years with how competitive the car is.But any team would be fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him.Lewis Hamilton”From the outside, it looks very dramatic. But I think if you know what is happening inside the team it is not as dramatic as it seems.”When asked again if he would consider his position in Red Bull, Verstappen again denied that he would be seeking a move.He added: “I think people are making up a lot of things at the moment because they don’t understand how the roles were in the team.”But of course, I cannot deny I would have preferred him to stay, just for how he is as a person, his knowledge and what he will potentially bring to another team if he wants to join.Inside track on Hamilton’s lifeLEWIS HAMILTON has driven his way into pole position as Formula One’s most prolific winner.
      “If someone really wants to leave they should leave. That’s also what I wrote to him. We talk, it’s not like suddenly we don’t talk.”If you think that is the right decision for yourself and family, or you seek a different challenge or whatever, you have to do it.”Meanwhile, Sergio Perez says Red Bull will cope without Newey, but says he will be an asset to any team he joins.He said: “Everyone is fully committed to the season and the future looks bright.READ MORE SUN STORIES”It is normal for some movement, but the organisation looks strong and I don’t expect more changes.”Adrian is much more than a designer, he can influence set-up and strategies and a strong guy who will make an immediate impact wherever he goes.”🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

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      Revolutionary change to F1 proposed that would allow THREE new teams but there are two major catches

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      FORMULA ONE and the FIA have received a “revolutionary proposal” that would allow three new teams to be added to the grid, according to reports. However, the sensational plans would see the new teams compete without the ability to earn any prize money or accumulate constructors points.F1 and the FIA have reportedly been sent a huge proposal that would allow three new teams to enterCredit: GettyBut there are some major catches to the deal including location and a lack ofCredit: AlamyThe ten constructors in F1 currently share a prize pot of around £1billion.There was a fear this pool would be diluted with the addition of an 11th team on the grid, with Andretti seeing their application to join F1 from 2026 rejected despite approval from the FIA.But these fears could be mitigated with a bizarre new idea from Tim Milne and Lewis Butler.According to RacingNews365, a proposal sent to F1 bosses would allow three new teams to enter F1 with some major caveats.READ MORE IN F1Firstly, the teams would be considered as a “non-constructor”, meaning they would not be able to accumulate any championship points or earn any prize money.The teams would race in a minimum of eight races on tracks which can accommodate 26 cars – something not seen in F1 since the start of the 1995 season.Furthermore, the teams must be based in a region not currently represented by an F1 team and would compete in a minimum of six more races to promote specific development in their home market.This means the teams would need to have their head office in one of the Americas, Asia, Africa or Oceania.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAll three would be entitled to paddock presence at all races to help generate revenue while they would also be required to develop streams from their own markets.Their focus would then need to be on recruitment and infrastructure all while performing to an “acceptable” level on track over a three-year period to prove it can offer value to F1.Cost of an F1 carThe status of a full constructor would be granted from the start of their fourth racing season in the sport.This proposal is hoping to be placed into the 2026 Concorde Agreement.Whether F1 will entertain such a large overhaul to its tried and trusted formula remains to be seen.But Milne – who had involvement in the rejected bids of Hitech and LKY SUNZ – admits the proposal can be “significantly refined” if F1 and the FIA bosses are willing to enter discussions.He said: “When Andretti was rejected in January, I took a step back and looked at what that really meant, which was that the FIA ​​and F1 management had in fact concluded that it was not possible to start a F1 team and to achieve what they wanted to achieve in the space of three years.”We had Andretti, one of the best-known motorsport brands in the world, backed by General Motors, which could not enter F1. It seemed illogical to me that the sport would turn its back on these great brands… I felt there had to be a way to do thisTim MilneRacingNews365″We had LKY SUNZ, with a billion and a half dollars from a major financial institution and a three-year plan to expand the sport in Southeast Asia to grow, but that wasn’t enough. “And then you had two established teams in the lower division, Hitech and Rodin-Carlin, who wanted to expand their activities from the lower categories into F1 and neither of these bids were considered good enough to participate in F1.””That really said to me that it is fundamentally not possible to start a F1 team from the very beginning and be on the grid within three years. Inside track on Hamilton’s lifeLEWIS HAMILTON has driven his way into pole position as Formula One’s most prolific winner.
      “It seemed illogical to me that the sport would turn its back on these great brands, just like the enormous amounts of money that were available for this… I felt there had to be a way to do this.”Millne adds that teams’ fears over the dilution of the prize pool are considered in the proposal.He continues: “If you turn around and say that to start a new team an investor has to pay $600m before they spend a single cent on recruiting, engineering design work, all the infrastructure, the factory and everything else you need to be a competitive F1 team, then it seemed to me that you should be able to invest that better.”If instead you said, ‘OK, don’t pay the $600m, come race and don’t take anything out of the pot’, I would be surprised if any of the new teams would object to that. READ MORE SUN STORIES”So instead to demand $600m, you have to let the new team invest that money in what can help the sport develop. The sport then has to decide what that could be.”F1’s next race commences at this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, with the backdrop of legendary designer Adrian Newey leaving Red Bull.🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

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      Christian Horner warned Red Bull ‘in danger of falling apart’ as F1 team rocked by yet another exit

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      CHRISTIAN HONER has been warned that Red Bull are at risk of “falling apart” after the exit of Adrian Newey.This morning it was announced legendary designer Newey, who has won 12 Formula One constructors titles including six at Red Bull, would be leaving the team at the end of the season.Adrian Newey is leaving Red Bull at the end of the seasonCredit: PAHis exit from piles more pressure on team boss Christian HornerCredit: PAJos Verstappen has warned Red Bull are at risk of ‘falling apart’Credit: PAHis exit is credited to growing disillusioned with life in F1 following the power struggle that has raged at Red Bull this season after the Christian Horner sexting scandal.And the 65-year-old’s exit from the team after 19 years will serve to crank up the pressure on team boss Horner.Horner has denied the allegations and was cleared of wrongdoing after an internal investigation. The complainant, who has subsequently been suspended, has appealed the decision. Jos Verstappen is one party who has been outspoken against Horner’s leadership this year, and was spotted engaging in a heated argument with Horner in Bahrain this year.READ MORE IN F1He has even gone so far as to suggest son and three-time world champion Max Verstappen could leave.SunSport revealed Mercedes are preparing to offer the Dutchman a contract worth £128million a year.A meeting between Verstappen’s team and Mercedes chiefs is set to commence after this weekends Miami Grand Prix.Speaking to De Telegraaf, Verstappen has now said he aired his fears about the team earlier this season.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHe said: “The team is in danger of falling apart. I was afraid of that earlier this year. “For internal peace, it is important that key people stay on board. That is not the case now. Christian Horner should QUIT Red Bull after sexting scandal – this is the Max Verstappen show now, ex-F1 star says”Newey is leaving and earlier this year it also looked like Helmut [Marko] would be sent away. For the future, that is not good.”Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko was placed under investigation by the team earlier this season, with Verstappen threatening to quit if Marko departed. On his exit from the team, Newey said: “Ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to be a designer of fast cars. “My dream was to be an engineer in Formula One, and I’ve been lucky enough to make that dream a reality.”For almost two decades it has been my great honour to have played a key role in Red Bull Racing’s progress from upstart newcomer to multiple title-winning team.”However, I feel now is an opportune moment to hand that baton over to others and to seek new challenges for myself.Who is Adrian Newey?
      Adrian Newey is the current design chief at Red Bull Racing.
      The 65-year-old has played a crucial role in designing the cars that have helped Sebastian Vettel and Max Vertappen win SEVEN drivers’ world championships.
      Newey began designing in Formula One back in 1988 with March, where his cars were far more competitive than expected.
      After March he spent time with Williams and McLaren before joining Red Bull in 2005.
      Throughout his career he has contributed to the cars that have secured 12 World Constructors’ titles and 13 World Drivers’ championships.
      He is widely considered to be the greatest designer in the history of F1.

      “In the interim, the final stages of development of RB17 are upon us, so for the remainder of my time with the team my focus will lie there.”Newey has been heavily linked with moves to Aston Martin and Ferrari, though the Scuderia are the hot favourites to land him.This means he could link up with Lewis Hamilton to help build a title-winning car – which would be Ferrari’s first since 2008 – when the new 2026 regulations kick in.On Newey’s departure, Horner said: “All of our greatest moments from the past 20 years have come with Adrian’s hand on the technical tiller.”His vision and brilliance have helped us to 13 titles in 20 seasons.”His exceptional ability to conceptualise beyond F1 and bring wider inspiration to bear on the design of grand prix cars, his remarkable talent for embracing change and finding the most rewarding areas of the rules to focus on, and his relentless will to win have helped Red Bull Racing to become a greater force than I think even the late [Red Bull co-founder] Dietrich Mateschitz might have imagined.”More than that, the past 19 years with Adrian have been enormous fun.”For me, when Adrian joined Red Bull, he was already a superstar designer. Two decades and 13 Championships later he leaves as a true legend.READ MORE SUN STORIES”He is also my friend and someone I will be eternally grateful to for everything he brought to our partnership.”The legacy he leaves behind will echo through the halls of Milton Keynes and RB17 Track Car will be a fitting testament and legacy to his time with us.”🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

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      Five haunting questions behind Formula One’s greatest riddle – what caused Ayrton Senna’s fatal crash 30 years ago?

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      HEADING into a curve that the Formula One genius Ayrton Senna knew very well at the San Marino Grand Prix, there was no sign it would be the Brazilian’s final moment.But rather than his blue Williams racing car turning into the Tamburello left corner, it sped at 190mph straight into a concrete barrier.Ayrton Senna’s fatal crash 30 years agoCredit: GettyThe Brazilian was a three-time Formula One world championCredit: AP:Associated PressSenna’s girlfriend Adriana Galisteu mourns in front of his coffinCredit: AFPThirty years on from the three-time world champion’s death, serious questions still remain about how a man revered as the motorsport’s greatest talent could have lost control of his hi-tech vehicle.Was it really a driver error? Or were ill-judged modifications to Senna’s car to blame?Investigators in Italy believed members of the British-based Williams team were at fault.Conspiracy theorists have asked why it took the company a month to hand over the black boxes to the authorities and why they arrived so badly damaged.Read More In The SunBut fingers were also pointed at bumps in the historic Imola circuit.On top of that, there were questions as to whether debris had properly been removed from the track following an earlier collision. Could a shard of metal have interfered with Senna’s racing car?The risk of racing was clear because the day before, 33-year-old Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger suffered a fatal crash.Jordan’s Rubens Barrichello had been lucky to get out alive following a high speed smash on the Friday.Most read in MotorsportCritical issues about the car’s safety were largely skirted over in the Bafta-winning 2010 documentary Senna.And today no one knows why his life ended at the age of 34.Video shows Ayrton Senna racing in the San Marino Grand prix in 1994 before tragic death of driverThankfully, improvements introduced following his death has meant Ayrton was the last F1 driver to die during a race.That has only added to his legacy.Ben Hunt, The Sun’s F1 correspondent, says: “There is no other sporting icon who is celebrated in such a way. “The livery of his iconic crash helmet, featuring the colours of the Brazilian flag, are seen at every race on the calendar.”Here we look at the possible causesCar trouble?Senna in his Williams car on the day of the crashCredit: AFPThere were plenty of problems facing Williams and its reported £16million-salary star signing Senna in the weeks running up to the crash.Williams drivers had won the previous two Formula One championships, but new rules had cut into their reliance on electronic devices.Ayrton struggled with the latest vehicle, admitting at the start of the season: “The cars are very fast and difficult to drive. We’ll be lucky if something really serious doesn’t happen.”As is common in motorsport, he liaised with the team’s engineers to change the set-up, including adjusting the steering column.Senna did not appear to turn the wheel on the seventh lap as he approached the bend and instead went into the wall.During the crash part of the suspension had penetrated his helmet, causing a fatal head injury.The steering wheel was found to be broken.Italian prosecutors alleged that it had snapped prior to impact, leaving Senna unable to control his speeding vehicle.They charged the team’s founder Sir Frank Williams, technical director Sir Patrick Head and chief designer Adrian Newey with manslaughter.At the trial the prosecution said: “The steering column had been cut and a new element – which was not of the same quality of metal or of the same diameter, being 18mm instead of 22mm – was welded in.A complete stranger came up to me and said ‘Your dad is a murderer’Claire Williams”And it was where the new element had been welded that the column broke.”The Williams team analysis showed the steering column was not to blame and all three men were acquitted. In 2003 the Italian courts reopened the case and in 2007 determined that the steering column was responsible, but by that point it was too late to rearrest anyone for manslaughter.Newey admitted in his 2017 autobiography: “Regardless of whether that steering column caused the accident or not, there is no escaping the fact that it was a bad piece of design that should never have been allowed to get on the car.”While people in the sport do not blame the legendary Sir Frank, who died in 2021, some members of the public did.Sir Frank’s daughter Claire Williams remembered a year after Senna’s death “being in a pub, a complete stranger came up to me and said ‘Your dad is a murderer’.”Unsafe track?Roland Ratzenberger died on the same track the day before SennaCredit: AFPThere were concerns about the Tamburello corner on which Senna’ fate was sealed.A number of drivers had come off at that corner, including Gerhard Berger who’d gone up in flames in 1989.But all of the incidents were linked to car trouble rather than the track design.Senna, though, had noticed ripples on that bend during practice.There is no other sporting icon who is celebrated in such a wayBen HuntJust before the San Marino race he said about the track: “My car reacts a bit nervously on this kind of surface. “It stems from the special aerodynamics but it’s also got to do with a difficulty in the suspension.”The Italians charged three senior men connected to the track, Federico Bendinelli, Giorgio Poggi and Roland Bruynseraede, with manslaughter.State prosecutor Maurizio Passarini claimed that a raised edge at the Tamburello corner launched the Williams car into trouble.The three men were found not guilty by a judge in 1997.’Modern F1 misses a Senna’ By Bent Hunt, The Sun’s F1 Correspondent
      SENNA still has global appeal with new fans attracted by the ‘Drive to Survive’ boom.
      So why is he so popular?
      One simple explanation is that he was a brilliant driver, which of course we know and there is simply not enough room to pick out the evidence of this.
      Another aspect was the dark arts. The ability to mix sport with politics to achieve what he wanted or perhaps what he felt he deserved.
      He coupled this with his attitude on track, taking matters into his own hands and stepping over the line, such as deliberately ramming Alain Prost in Japan 1990, influencing the outcome of the title.
      Questionable morals perhaps, but taking it to the limit and going beyond is now almost celebrated.
      Senna offered a new level of professionalism but with it a complexity within his own personality.
      Magnetic charm and a level of charisma that is unthinkable among today’s drivers on the grid.
      Senna was intelligent, opened up with honesty and discussed the dangers he faced, putting his life on the line each time he went out to race.
      He appealed to and intrigued the public in equal measure. He had a personality.
      And that’s something that F1 desperately misses right now.

      Race debris?The wreck of Senna’s car following his fatal crashCredit: AllsportAt the start of the race Bennetton’s JJ Lehto stalled and an unsighted Pedro Lamy in a Lotus piled into his car, sending pieces of their vehicles into the crowd and on to the grid.A safety car was brought out so that the debris could be collected and then the race restarted.But a photograph in Autosport magazine suggested that Ayrton’s car passed over one piece. Could that have caused a slow puncture?Williams’s Adrian Newey said in 2017: “His right front and right rear tyres were destroyed in the accident, so it was impossible to examine them, but debris that size could have caused a slow puncture. “The puncture would have caused the bottoming we saw, and that in turn would have caused the rear to step out as it lost grip.”Driver error?Senna, pictured during a race in 1989, pushed his cars to their limitsCredit: GettyAlain Prost was knocked out a crucial championship race by SennaCredit: GettyAyrton Senna is regarded as one of the greatest ever racing drivers – with his fearlessness putting him on the podium.He had a reputation for pushing his machines to their absolute limits.On top of that the Brazilian hated losing, admitting: “Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose. “Winning is like a drug. I can’t settle for second or third in no circumstances whatsoever.”In 1990 he knew he would become world champion if his great rival Alain Prost did not finish the Japanese Grand Prix.At the first turn he ran into the back of Prost’s Ferrari taking them both out of the race.Some observers believed it was deliberate and Senna later admitted: “I didn’t care if we crashed.”Is it possible that Senna was simply racing too hard at San Marino in 1994 in order to keep ahead of Michael Schumacher who was not far behind him in second place?Black Box controversyA jury were shown the black box recorder from Senna’s carCredit: EPASenna’s Williams car was fitted with two black box recorders designed to keep data safe if there was a crash.They were similar to the devices on aeroplanes, but not as robust.A senior member of staff at the San Marino track told the 1997 trial that two members of the Williams team removed the recorders shortly after the crash.After giving evidence Fabrizio Nosco told journalists: “I have seen thousands of these devices and removed thousands for checks.“The two boxes were intact, even though they had some scratches. The Williams device looked to have survived the crash.”It took the Williams team over a month to hand over the black boxes to the crash investigators.READ MORE SUN STORIESWhen they arrived they were too badly damaged to yield the information needed to determine the exact cause of the accident. Other witnesses told the court they were wrecked by the high speed impact of the Williams vehicle hitting the wall.Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger died on the same weekend as SennaCredit: Getty – Contributor More

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      Ayrton Senna had vision he would die the night before his fatal crash – we’d never seen him look so haunted, says F1 ace

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      ICON of Formula One Ayrton Senna told doctors he had visions of his tragic death the night before his horror crash 30-years-ago today.Concerns started to brew in the F1 paddock on race day after the Brazilian great turned up looking “distant” and completely haunted, says fellow F1 ace Johnny Herbert.Formula One great Ayrton Senna had visions of his tragic death the night before his horror crashCredit: ReutersSenna sitting in the car he would end up dying in after it smashed into a concrete wall as his suspension crashed through his helmetCredit: AFPThe moment of Senna’s fatal crash at Imola in 1994Former driver Johnny Herbert says the Brazilian great turned up looking ‘distant’ and completely haunted on race dayCredit: GettyThe triple world champion died almost instantly when his Williams ran off the road at 190mph and smashed into a concrete wall on lap seven of the San Marino Grand Prix.Senna was leading the race when he lost control at the notorious Tamburello corner and his car’s suspension crashed through his helmet.Herbert said: “Senna feared he was going to die the night before the crash.”He apparently had a premonition the night before that he was going to die.”read more in Formula OneHerbert claims Senna told F1’s medical expert Professor Sid Watkins about his nightmares.Watkins told the Brazilian to quit and go live a quiet life fishing after accomplishing greatness in motorsports already – Senna felt he was no where near finished with the sport.He looked very distant. It was very, very eerie knowing what was going to happenJohnny Herbertex-F1 acePre-race, as all the brave drivers spoke to their mechanics about the conditions, competitors and atmosphere, Herbert says Senna was acting in a way never seen before from the experienced professional. He told Instant Casino: “You see the cameras trained on his face before the race. It was a very different Ayrton than we had seen before.Most read in Motorsport”He looked very distant. It was very, very eerie knowing what was going to happen.”To go through what he did with those feelings on his own apart from the conversation with Professor Sid, must have been so hard.”SAN MARINO TRADEGYThe 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend has long been coined as the darkest event in Formula One history.Senna, one of the sports greatest drivers died instantly when his Williams car ran off the road at 190mph and smashed into a concrete wall on the seventh lap of the Imola circuit.Herbert said: “I remember Senna’s crash. We all stopped on the grid with the red flag waiting for news. “I remember on the screen we had on the car the shock of seeing the crash and then seeing his helmet move. I remember thinking, ‘It’s ok, he is alive.’”But it wasn’t, it was just a nerve twitch. It was such a shock.”Video shows Ayrton Senna racing in the San Marino Grand prix in 1994 before tragic death of driverEx-F1 driver turned pundit Martin Brundle once revealed his “anger” at the race continuing after a short break.Brundle, who ended up finishing eighth said: “We raced past a pool of Senna’s blood for 55 laps.”The 34-year-old was the second driver to tragically die on track that weekend after Austrian Roland Ratzenberger crashed his Simtek car into a wall during qualifying.Senna’s fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello survived his own near-death experience after being involved in a terrifying high-speed crash during practice.The exact cause of Senna’s fatal crash remains inconclusive.The front page of The Sun after Senna’s death in May 1994Credit: The SunSenna was a three-time world champion with McLarenCredit: APHe has been immortalised with a statue in his honourCredit: ReutersSenna helped revolutionise the sport both before and after his death through his excellent driving skills and increased safety measuresCredit: Getty Images – GettyFormer F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone described it as “a disastrous weekend”.He said this week he was told that F1 would be cancelled in the wake of the event and two deaths.Safety measures were instantly employed after the crash with the halo being the biggest improvement to the cars.Countless drivers, including Brit Lewis Hamilton, have praised the revolutionary safety device for saving their lives ever since.SENNA’S LEGACYSenna sits on top of the modern F1 mountain alongside fellow legends Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Niki Lauda.To this day, only five men have won more world titles than Senna even with his career being cut short at just 34.The former boss of Senna and F1 kingpin Sir Frank Williams was the man who owned and allowed the Brazilian to go out on the fateful day in the car that proved faulty.His daughter Claire said: “Frank had a love affair with Ayrton. He got into his heart, got into his mind, and he always wanted to put him in his race car.“Dad’s wish then came true, but it ended in the worst possible way.”You can see the pain in his eyes every time he thinks about the accident.”The life of F1 icon Ayrton Senna
      March 21, 1960: Ayrton Senna da Silva was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil
      1973: Senna starts competitive racing in go-karts built by his dad
      1977: He wins his first few titles before the big South American Karting Championship crown
      1980-1983: Begins racing in cars winning Formula Ford 1600, British and European Formula Ford 2000 and British Formula 3 titles
      1984: Gets his chance in F1 with Toleman and scores points in his second ever race
      1985: Secures first F1 win with Lotus 
      1988: Signs huge contract with McLaren and wins first ever World Championship
      1990: Wins second World Championship after an impressive season
      1991: Wins third and final world title
      1993: Senna completes ‘Lap of the Gods’ at rain-hit European Grand Prix 
      1994: Moves to Williams for the final season of his illustrious career
      May 1, 1994: Senna tragically dies during the 1994 Imola Grand Prix

      Senna was a global superstar who carried the spirit of South America on his back in the 80s and 90s.Shortly before his death, he told his family he wanted to start a project to help bring quality education to poor children in Brazil.Three months after the crash, Senna’s family opened the Senna Institute. It now helps 1.5million children per year.His pal Herbert said: “I have lovely memories of Senna – he belongs among the greats.”He would have been world champion for several years to come. “We saw him getting to his peak in that period, but we were never able to see the best of that peak.”It is difficult to compare eras but without doubt he was one of the greatest of all time.”READ MORE SUN STORIESCurrent world champion Lewis Hamilton lists Senna as his idol and has famously copied the design of the Brazilian’s yellow crash-helmet before.Lando Norris also described Senna as the “whole package”.Lewis Hamilton has paid tribute to Senna with his helmet and his clothes beforeCredit: GettyA smiling Senna doing what he loved in the cockpit of an F1 carCredit: AFP More

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      Top Red Bull Racing designer QUITS team piling more pressure on Christian Horner

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      ADRIAN NEWEY will leave Red Bull Racing at the end of this year – cranking up the pressure on boss Christian Horner.Newey, who has grown disillusioned with life in F1, is the sport’s greatest car designer and says he is now seeking a new challenge.Adrian Newey will leave Red Bull Racing in 2025Credit: GettyNewey, 65, has been a key figure alongside Christian HornerCredit: PAThe 65-year-old has been heavily linked with a switch to Ferrari where he would join up with Lewis Hamilton next season.However, for the meantime he says he will see out the year with Red Bull while continuing to work on his hypercar project, the RB17, which launches in the summer.He said: “Ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to be a designer of fast cars. My dream was to be an engineer in Formula One, and I’ve been lucky enough to make that dream a reality.”For almost two decades it has been my great honour to have played a key role in Red Bull Racing’s progress from upstart newcomer to multiple title-winning team.READ MORE IN F1″However, I feel now is an opportune moment to hand that baton over to others and to seek new challenges for myself.”In the interim, the final stages of development of RB17 are upon us, so for the remainder of my time with the team my focus will lie there.”Newey is responsible for designing cars that have won 12 constructors’ titles with three different teams and 13 drivers’ championships.However, insiders say he has grown disillusioned with life at Red Bull Racing for some time and has previously expressed a desire to walk away.Most read in MotorsportWho is Adrian Newey?

      Adrian Newey is the current design chief at Red Bull Racing.
      The 65-year-old has played a crucial role in designing the cars that have helped Sebastian Vettel and Max Vertappen win SEVEN drivers’ world championships.
      Newey began designing in Formula One back in 1988 with March, where his cars were far more competitive than expected.
      After March he spent time with Williams and McLaren before joining Red Bull in 2005.
      Throughout his career he has contributed to the cars that have secured 12 World Constructors’ titles and 13 World Drivers’ championships.
      He is widely considered to be the greatest designer in the history of F1.

      In 2014 he was given permission by Red Bull Racing to work on other projects away from F1.And even last season he was contemplating stepping away from F1 – well before the internal complaint made against Horner – but was lured back with a new contract.Christian Horner should QUIT Red Bull after sexting scandal – this is the Max Verstappen show now, ex-F1 star saysNewey is said to be at odds with the modern world of F1 and how Horner and Red Bull Racing have been catapulted into the limelight.He has also seen the turbulence created within Red Bull Racing following the internal investigation following a complaint of inappropriate behaviour by a female colleague against Horner.Newey was not directly involved but worked closely with the claimant and has a long-standing friendship with Horner that stretches back to 2005 when he signed from McLaren.Newey’s departure, which was agreed late on Tuesday evening, will be a hammer blow to Horner, who has seen his position within the team come under the microscope.He is under huge pressure following allegations of inappropriate behaviour, which he had been cleared of, but now subjected to an appeal.Horner could also lose star driver Max Verstappen as part of the internal row that has ripped the team apart.His vision and brilliance have helped us to 13 titles in 20 seasonsChristian HornerAnd he is due to face a barrage of questions at this week’s Miami GP.Horner said: “All of our greatest moments from the past 20 years have come with Adrian’s hand on the technical tiller.”His vision and brilliance have helped us to 13 titles in 20 seasons.”His exceptional ability to conceptualise beyond F1 and bring wider inspiration to bear on the design of grand prix cars, his remarkable talent for embracing change and finding the most rewarding areas of the rules to focus on, and his relentless will to win have helped Red Bull Racing to become a greater force than I think even the late [Red Bull co-founder] Dietrich Mateschitz might have imagined.”More than that, the past 19 years with Adrian have been enormous fun.”For me, when Adrian joined Red Bull, he was already a superstar designer. Two decades and 13 Championships later he leaves as a true legend.READ MORE SUN STORIES”He is also my friend and someone I will be eternally grateful to for everything he brought to our partnership.”The legacy he leaves behind will echo through the halls of Milton Keynes and RB17 Track Car will be a fitting testament and legacy to his time with us.”Newey’s friendship with Horner goes back many yearsCredit: Getty More