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      British driver wins F1 Academy title then is immediately stripped of honour after last-minute change

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      BRITISH driver Abbi Pulling will have to earn the F1 Academy title this weekend… despite having already been declared the champion.The bizarre situation comes after some last minute changes to the women-only series.Abbi Pulling had been declared champion last weekendCredit: RexTwo races had been scheduled to take place in Qatar last weekend.But due to barrier repairs, the second was cancelled.This meant that Pulling, 21, held an unassailable lead heading into the final races of the season in Abu Dhabi.It saw the Alpine driver declared champion and she even celebrated her triumph.READ MORE IN F1But she will now have to earn it again, after organisers decided to add a third race to this weekend’s schedule in Abu Dhabi.This late addition means that 84 points are now on offer, which means that Pulling’s current lead of 83 points is not quite enough to declare her the official champ.In truth, it would take something astonishing for the Brit to not be champion.Each race offers 25 points for a win.Most read in MotorsportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSA further two are earned for securing pole, while a bonus point is added for fastest lap.Organisers have confirmed that two points will be declared for securing pole in each of the three races.Ferrari urged to rip up Lewis Hamilton’s contract by F1 legend after star’s ‘worrying’ admission This means that 84 points will be available this weekend, with Pulling 83 ahead of closest rival Doriane Pin.Pin, 20, had earned pole for last weekend’s second race that never was in Qatar.Despite the race not going ahead, Pin has retained those two points.Formula One teams each nominate a driver and have their livery on a car in the Academy, a series on their support programme aimed at helping female racers climb the ladder.The last woman to start an F1 Grand Prix was the late Italian Lella Lombardi in 1976.Pulling, 21, will have to earn her title againCredit: Getty More

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      ‘Find the way out’ – Ferrari urged to RIP UP Lewis Hamilton’s £78m contract by F1 legend after ‘worrying’ admission

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      FERRARI have been urged to tear up Lewis Hamilton’s mega-money contract after the Brit made a “worrying” admission.It has been a season to forget for Hamilton as he has struggled to bring the best out of his car in his final year with Mercedes.Ferrari have been urged to rip up Lewis Hamilton’s dealDavid Coulthard believes Ferrari should reconsider Hamilton’s dealHamilton, 39, is due to switch to childhood heroes Ferrari next season, as Carlo Sainz heads to Williams.But last week, he was called out for making a “worrying” comment ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix.Hamilton said after sprint qualifying: “The positive is that the car is fast and George should be able to shoot for pole tomorrow. “Who knows? I’m definitely not fast anymore.”READ MORE ON F1Ex-F1 team owner Eddie Jordan has now advised the Italian team to tear up Hamilton’s contract in light of his admission.Jordan told the Formula For Success Podcast: “If you don’t believe 100 per cent, you’re f****d. Do you understand that? “Because belief, 99.9 per cent means that there is that tiny, little, little thing in there knocking on your head that gives you the things that maybe, oh, I don’t really have that confidence. “I don’t really have the ability. And at the moment what I heard from Lewis, I’m not fast enough anymore, they were the words, I think.”Most read in MotorsportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe added: “Honestly, if I was Ferrari, I would say close the book, find the way out. That’s it. “I think also, if it’s a little message to you, Lewis, if you’re out there, always remember in life. You’ve got your music, you’ve got your fashion, you’ve got all sorts of other things.Max Verstappen claims he has ‘lost all respect’ for F1 star George Russell in X-rated rant”You are, in most people’s view, the greatest driver of all time. Please remember what I’m going to say to you. Always, always think about the best exit. And this is the time to take the money off the table. Go.”Former F1 star David Coulthard also found Hamilton’s uncharacteristic admission troublesome.Coulthard said: “He’s as low as he can be right now. But I would say that’s pretty worrying.”It doesn’t detract from his brilliance, it doesn’t take away anything from the records, but there is a thing called mother nature and the clock is ticking.”Hamilton holds the all-time F1 record for pole positions but has been beaten over one lap by team-mate George Russell 20 times this season.And it has raised questions about his competitive edge as he looks towards teaming up with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe Brit did manage to win two races, at Silvertone and in Belgium earlier this term but sits seventh in the driver’s standings.The seven-time champ activated a release clause in his Mercedes contract to join Ferrari in a “multi-year” deal that is reportedly worth £78million per year.F1 2025 gridHere are the confirmed driver line ups for the F1 2025 season so far:Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Sergio PerezFerrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis HamiltonMercedes: George Russell and Kimi AntonelliMcLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar PiastriAston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance StrollWilliams: Alex Albon and Carlos SainzSauber: Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel BortoletoAlpine: Pierre Gasly and Jack DoohanRB: Yuki Tsunoda and TBCHaas: Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon More

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      Lewis Hamilton’s incredible Mercedes story comes to an end after 11 record-breaking years – but now a new chapter awaits

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      LEWIS HAMILTON matched Michael Schumacher’s record of seven Formula 1 titles at Mercedes – now he plans to break it in Ferrari red.The 39-year-old will bring down the curtain on his Mercedes career in Abu Dhabi this weekend – the very race that turned his life upside down in 2021.Lewis Hamilton is ending a glittering 11-year career with Mercedes ahead of his final race this weekendCredit: ReutersHamilton joined the team in 2013 and has gone on to win six titlesCredit: GettyIt made him the joint most successful driver in the history of the sport with seven titles overallCredit: GettyBut Hamilton’s final race with the Silver Arrows will come on SundayCredit: GettyNo one thought it would be a bitter-sweet ending like this, a week on from threatening to retire his car early after a disastrous race in Qatar which saw two penalties and a puncture.But Hamilton’s time at Mercedes should be remembered as a glittering 11-year partnership that has delivered six drivers’ titles and eight constructors’ championships.From a fierce rivalry with Nico Rosberg, known as the Silver War, to winning the German Grand Prix from 14th in 2018, Hamilton has delivered box-office drama at Merc while becoming one of the finest drivers to ever grace the grid.The numbers speak for themselves, with Hamilton the most successful driver ever – taking six of his seven championships with Mercedes, 84 of his 105 race wins, and 78 of his 104 poles.READ MORE IN F1For three-years Hamilton and Rosberg went hammer and tongs against each other which eventually led to the latter’s retirement in 2016 and the souring of a childhood friendship.They traded barbs throughout Hamilton’s title winning campaigns in 2014 and 2015 before the tension reached its crescendo a year later.With Hamilton on pole in the season finale in Abu Dhabi in 2016, Rosberg just needed to finish on the podium to become world champion.Hamilton drove slowly in an attempt to bring other drivers into the battle, knowing he needed Rosberg to finish below third.Most read in MotorsportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe British driver rowed with his team over the radio and was repeatedly told to speed up but told the team: “Let us race.”Rosberg came under pressure from Sebastian Vettel but held off the Ferrari driver to finish second. Lewis Hamilton celebrates ‘biggest honour of my F1 career’ in front of delighted crowd despite disastrous Brazilian GPThe race summed up just how fraught this rivalry had become and how little ground either driver was prepared to give up – and F1 was all the richer for it.It also lit a fire in Hamilton’s belly though as he won three consecutive titles from 2017 onwards.Over the years Hamilton has been the man to rise above his machine, something we have only really seen from Max Verstappen’s fierce competitiveness on track.Hamilton won the German Grand Prix from 14th in 2018, crossed the Silverstone finish line with three tyres in 2020 and a year later soared to victory in Sao Paulo from 10th on the grid.It was that very year when his career came crashing down, with him so deeply cut after losing what would have been his eighth world title to Verstappen in the Abu Dhabi desert in 2021.He dominated the race from the start, only for race director Michael Masi to fail to apply the rules correctly during a late safety-car period.F1 2025 gridHere are the confirmed driver line ups for the F1 2025 season so far:Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Sergio PerezFerrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis HamiltonMercedes: George Russell and Kimi AntonelliMcLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar PiastriAston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance StrollWilliams: Alex Albon and Carlos SainzSauber: Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel BortoletoAlpine: Pierre Gasly and Jack DoohanRB: Yuki Tsunoda and TBCHaas: Ollie Bearman and Esteban OconMasi’s decisions to override protocol over the handling of lapped cars and the timing of a restart were followed by Verstappen passing Hamilton when the race was restarted for one final lap and the title changing hands.Hamilton was so distraught that he nearly walked out on the sport for good as he battled with his mental health.Mercedes and Hamilton returned the following season determined to right the wrongs.Things only got worse, and the team’s lack of competitiveness thrust Hamilton to make the shock decision to join Ferrari at the end of this campaign.It hasn’t just been a floundering Mercedes car to blame but he was riddled with self doubt following the Abu Dhabi controversy.This was reinforced by his failure to win a race for 945 days, a week before the safety car chaos in Saudi Arabia that fateful year.But trust Hamilton to break his drought on his home turf at Silverstone in July to become the record-holder for F1 wins at a single circuit.READ MORE SUN STORIESFor the first time in a glittering career spanning three decades and 355 grands prix, Hamilton blubbed like never before as he took the chequered flag when he won Silverstone in June – ending a two-and-a-half year wait for victory.Hamilton now has the chance to write a new chapter in his F1 career at Ferrari, but whether he goes down in the history books as the record title holder, only time will tell.Inside track on Hamilton’s lifeLEWIS HAMILTON has driven his way into pole position as Formula One’s most prolific winner. 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      Bianca Bustamante is pioneering driver who has been part of McLaren’s meteoric rise alongside Lando Norris

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      BIANCA BUSTAMANTE has been at the beating heart of McLaren’s meteoric rise.  A picture of Lando Norris and Bustamante grinning ear to ear at the Miami Grand Prix in May summarises the family feel at McLaren. The 19-year-old Filipino driver’s P2 finish in Miami this year coincided with Lando Norris’ debut winCredit: GettyMcLaren development driver Bianca Bustamante has three-million social media followers combinedCredit: GettyBusatamante competes in F1’s Academy – the only all-female championshipCredit: GettyBustamante sealed her first-ever F1 Academy podium, coinciding with Norris securing a maiden race win that weekend.It was also when the season flipped on its head in round six in Miami where McLaren introduced their first major upgrades and brought the fight to Red Bull. McLaren are now in the driving seat in the constructors’ championship and can win their first title since 1998 in the season finale in Abu Dhabi this weekend. 19-year-old Busatamante, a McLaren Development Driver who competes in the only all-female championship – F1 Academy, said: “That weekend was a long time coming. IN F1 NEWS“McLaren was not a dominant team at all, we could barely score points, now fighting for the constructors’ is massive. “I got my P2 in Miami so it was a really great time for us and I will cherish it for the rest of my career. “McLaren is such a family oriented team. We all look out for each other, Lando, Oscar Piastri. They are the best teammates to each other.”Bustamante was born and raised in the Philippines, a country with no recognisable history or heritage of motorsport. Most read in MotorsportFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe Filipino driver lifts heavy weights as part of a gruelling training regimeCredit: Instagram / @racerbiaShe has starred in Vogue PhilippinesCredit: Instagram / @racerbiaBustamante was introduced to her first go kart at age three and raced against boys when she was growing upCredit: Getty Images – GettyBustamante is inspiring the next generation of driversCredit: GettyShe was introduced to her first go-kart at age three by her racing-mad dad Raymund and it was love at first sight. It was also gaming that helped propel Bustamante’s career and is the reason she recently signed as one of the founding talents for EA’s GEN / EA SPORTS program.Lando Norris left with head in his hands as F1 rival tells him he’s getting instant fine for press conference blunderThe McLaren driver, who has been working alongside the likes of Real Madrid 18-year-old Endrick at EA, said: “I was introduced to sports through gaming and F1 was my very first game.“GEN / EA allows me to use my platform to get kids closer to their passion. “The F1 game was so important to me growing up and a main pillar of my childhood. I got to know all the F1 tracks and drivers.”During her childhood Bustamante says she was a snap-back hat wearing tom-boy who raced against only boys.She was told countless times not bother with racing and become a nurse or doctor instead. Now she is the third most influential female driver in the world, with a combined following on Instagram and TikTok of three million.Bustamante added: “It’s about breaking the norm. Coming from Asia and the Philippines there is a lot of stigma. “The culture difference is massive. Growing up because you’re a woman you’re only allowed to pursue certain paths. “In the Philippines they tell you to be a nurse, engineer or a doctor, a career that earns you a lot of money and that’s safe.”While F1 Academy has been a step in the right direction, opportunities in F1 for female drivers have still been limitedJess Hawkins did test an Aston Martin at the Hungaroring in 2023, but other than that there has been little progress.Bustamante believes she is in the right place at McLaren to reach the heady heights of an F1 debut, just like Norris and Oscar Piastri. She said: “These are drivers that I look up to pretty much my whole life. I mean ive followed Lando’s career ever since I was a young girl. “I idolise them, I remember Lando winning his F3 Championship. “He has been with McLaren since day one and they took care of him as part of the development programme and now he’s fought for a driver’s championship. It will come eventually for him.”Bustamante’s social media content ranges from gruelling workout videos to racing clips but also footage of her putting on her makeup. The makeup brand Charlotte Tilbury became an official sponsor of F1 academy this season and Bustamante loves that the sport has been sprinkled with a feminine touch. Bustamante added: “Sha’Carri Richardson has shown in track and field that you can have long hair, nails, lashes and it’s so refreshing to see.“To be an athlete doesn’t mean you can’t be feminine and do makeup. “I’ve always raced against the boys, I would always wear a snap back, baggy clothes because I thought I had to do that to fit in with the mold. “My mum thought I would always be a tom boy but then I realised it had zero effect on your performance. “The car doesn’t know if you’re a girl or a boy, if you’re wearing makeup or lipstick and I think that’s the beauty of sport. “I love that Charlotte Tilbury has come and sprinkled a bit of femininity into the sport.”Bustamante’s favourite driver is seven-time world champion Lewis HamiltonCredit: APBustamante’s idol is Lewis Hamilton, with both of them treading a similar path to becoming stars in the sport. Seven-time world champ Hamilton’s dad Anthony once held down three jobs to fund his son’s karting exploits. Meanwhile Bustamante’s father, Raymund, also did similar and once bought a race suit for his daughter when she was just a year old.She said: “Hamilton is just different. He doesn’t just drive for himself he drives for everyone, he drives for people that are underrepresented, aren’t fortunate, he drives for people – to me he is special. “I’ve met him a couple times, he’s such a cool guy, so composed, and so emotionally intelligent.READ MORE SUN STORIES“He has achieved so much but he is still so humble and so hard working still. Every attribute of that is everything I’d aspire to be.”To learn more about Bianca Bustamante and GEN / EA SPORTS Athlete Engagement Programme, please visit here. More

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      Max Verstappen claims he has ‘lost all respect’ for F1 star George Russell in X-rated rant

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN has claimed he has ‘lost all respect’ for George Russell in a scathing attack.The Red Bull driver, 27, and the Brit were involved in an incident in Qatar during qualifying on Saturday.Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand PrixCredit: EPAAfter the race, Verstappen launched an extraordinary attack on George RussellCredit: AFPVerstappen was ihanded a one-place grid penalty for the Qatar Grand Prix after he was ruled to have driven too slowly during Q3, which saw Russell forced to take avoiding action as he approached Verstappen’s car.That meant Russell started in pole position on the front row, with Verstappen relegated to second.Despite that, Verstappen ended up winning the grand prix, after overtaking Russell in the opening corner.The Dutchman controlled the race, which was heavily disrupted by safety cars, before going through in first place on the chequered flag.Read more F1 newsAfter the race, Verstappen took aim at Russell in the stewards’ room.“I have a lot of respect for a lot of drivers, but after last night I completely lost that respect for him,” Verstappen told Viaplay.“I just thought it was ridiculous how he tried to force a penalty on me. And I was heavily pissed at him for that.”Verstappen also claimed the Mercedes racer was two-faced, before he went into an x-rated rant.Most read in Motorsport“He always does it very nicely here in front of the camera, but then when you’re inside with him in person, it’s just a different person,” Verstappen continued.Lewis Hamilton demands to RETIRE in meltdown at Qatar Grand Prix as time at Mercedes heads for sad ending“I can’t stand that and it’s actually better for him to f*** off. I don’t want to get involved in this.”Verstappen wasn’t the only heated in Qatar.Lewis Hamilton had a meltdown and rowed with his team after trying to quit.The seven-time world champion threw his toys out of the pram as he suffered a puncture and a penalty in his second to last race in his Mercedes.Best new sign-up offersSunSport exclusivesHamilton’s race engineer Peter Bonnington said on the team radio: “We have got a drive-through penalty in the pit lane.”It looks like you forgot to press the button on that first time behind the Safety Car.”Hamilton said: “Retire the car, mate. Park the car, mate.Bonnington replied: “Negative.” More

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      Lewis Hamilton demands to RETIRE in meltdown at Qatar Grand Prix as time at Mercedes heads for sad ending

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      LEWIS HAMILTON had a meltdown and rowed with his team after trying to quit the Qatar Grand Prix early.The seven-time world champion threw his toys out of the pram as he suffered a puncture and a penalty in his second to last race in his Mercedes.Lewis Hamilton was hit with a puncture and penalty during a horror Qatar Grand PrixCredit: GettyHe asked his team to retire the car, a request that was deniedCredit: ReutersHamilton’s race engineer Peter Bonnington said on the team radio: “We have got a drive-through penalty in the pit lane. “It looks like you forgot to press the button on that first time behind the Safety Car.”Hamilton said: “Retire the car, mate. Park the car, mate.Bonnington replied: “Negative.”READ MORE IN F1Meanwhile his old rival from 2021, Max Verstappen, roared “simply lovely” as he produced a fierce drive to overtake pole-sitter George Russell and cross the line six-seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc, while Oscar Piastri came in third.Lando Norris almost snuck into the lead himself at the start but Verstappen just managed to defend his position going through Turn Two.The safety car was called into action when chaos at the start saw Nico Hulkenberg lost the rear of his car and collided into Esteban Ocon who then clipped Franco Colapinto.Lance Stroll and Alex Albon also made contact amid the drama.Most read in MotorsportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSOn lap 16, Hamilton, who was eighth, was handed a five-second time penalty for a false start.Russell’s evening went from bad to worse when his rear right tyre got stuck during his pit stop which took seven seconds.Lewis Hamilton in awkward car journey with George Russell and Carlos Sainz after Las Vegas GPDrama erupted when Albon lost his mirror going down the main straight, causing debris to scatter over the track.There was only a matter of time before someone drove over it and lo and behold Valtteri Bottas did, fortunately with no major issues.It caused misery for Hamilton, with the debris causing a puncture for his Mercedes before the safety car was deployed.Carlos Sainz’s car was also damaged, and the Ferrari was in the pits for a whopping nine-seconds.Russell ranted at his team for putting hard tyres on, saying: “Why have we put hards on? Why have we put the s*** hards on? They’re s***”On lap 40 at the restart, Verstappen held off Norris on Turn One to go on the outside after the McLaren got a great slingshot out of the final corner.There was more contact and more chaos as Hulkenberg was beached in the gravel and out of the race while Sergio Perez was gone too.Drama continued as the stewards came down HARD on Norris for not slowing sufficiently for yellow flags, slapping him with a whopping 10-second stop-and-go penalty.READ MORE SUN STORIESHamilton had his meltdown after he was caught speeding in the pit-lane.Verstappen cruised towards victory while Norris snuck back into the points as he moved into tenth.F1 2025 gridHere are the confirmed driver line ups for the F1 2025 season so far:Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Sergio PerezFerrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis HamiltonMercedes: George Russell and Kimi AntonelliMcLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar PiastriAston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance StrollWilliams: Alex Albon and Carlos SainzSauber: Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel BortoletoAlpine: Pierre Gasly and Jack DoohanRB: Yuki Tsunoda and TBCHaas: Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon More

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      Bernie Ecclestone selling off entire £500MILLION collection of rare F1 cars including one driven by Michael Schumacher

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      BERNIE ECCLESTONE is putting his £500MILLION Formula 1 car collection up for sale.The incredible assortment of vehicles includes those driven by ex-world champions such as Michael Schumacher, Mike Hawthorn, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet and Carlos Pace.Bernie Ecclestone is selling his huge car collectionCredit: Tom Hartley Jnr/PA WireIt is thought to be worth around £500millionCredit: Tom Hartley Jnr/PA WireSome iconic Ferraris are among those being soldCredit: Tom Hartley Jnr/PA WireEcclestone was involved in F1 for seven decadesCredit: Tom Hartley Jnr/PA WireThe collection spans 70 years of F1 – which marries up with Ecclestone, 94, who was involved with the sport for seven decades.The Ferraris are a highlight of the collection.They include the the famous Thin Wall Special which beat Alfa Romeo, the Alberto Ascari Italian Grand Prix-winning 375 F1, and the Mike Hawthorn World Championship-winning Dino.Ecclestone first dipped his toe in the sport working for Connaught, before he went on to become a team owner and then F1’s commercial rights holder.READ MORE IN F1He was removed from his position as F1 chief in 2017.And last year he agreed to pay £652million after avoiding jail over failing to declare overseas assets.However, he insists selling his lucrative car collection is not a financially-motivated decision, but because he wants to give them a new home before he dies.Speaking to The Telegraph, he said: “That is why I have decided to sell them.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSCar collectors will be excited to get their hands on the iconic vehiclesCredit: Tom Hartley Jnr/PA WireClassic car dealer Tom Hartley Jnr is handling the sale of the collectionCredit: Tom Hartley Jnr/PA Wire”I would like to know where they have gone and not leave them for my wife to deal with should I not be around.”I have been collecting these cars for more than 50 years, and I have only ever bought the best of any example.Cost of an F1 car”Whilst many other collectors over the years have opted for sports cars, my passion has always been for Grand Prix and Formula One cars.”A Grand Prix and in particular a Formula One car is far more important than any road car or other form of race car, as it is the pinnacle of the sport, and all the cars I have bought over the years have fantastic race histories and are rare works of art.”Car dealer Tom Hartley Jnr, who is handling the sale of Ecclestone’s astonishing collection, explained why the collection was so iconic.And he also took a sly dig at the current crop of F1 cars.He said: “This is a great opportunity for a discerning collector to acquire cars that have never before been offered for sale, and it would be great to see them back on the track again.”All of the cars on the Formula One grid today look the same.READ MORE SUN STORIES”If you stripped them of their liveries, you’d struggle to know which one was a Williams and which was a Ferrari.”But when you look at some of the Grand Prix cars from the early 1960s to the late 1970s, they’d very much be at home in The Museum of Modern Art.” More

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      Schumacher’s bodyguard was ‘angry F1 legend’s family were sacking him & began £12m blackmail plot to sell pics of star’

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      BOMBSHELL new details have emerged around the £12million blackmail plot on Michael Schumacher and his family.German cops have been leading investigations into the Formula One legend’s bodyguard and two others who have been accused of threatening his loved ones.Details around seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher’s blackmail plot have been revealedCredit: AlamyMarkus F, the former security guard for the Schumacher family, allegedly planned the blackmail plotCredit: FacebookBouncer Yilmaz T was also hired to extort £12million from Schumachar’s family, it is claimedOne of the people allegedly in charge of the sickening plot is Michael’s former bodyguard known as Markus F.He was allowed inside the famous Schumacher inner circle for upwards of eight years as Michael’s wife Corinna felt he was a trusted aide.Earlier this year, the relationship drastically declined as Corinna was forced to let Markus go due to changes to her husband’s care plan.This allegedly turned him bitter as he started to hatch a plan to extort the Schumacher family, the MailOnline reports.read more in schumacher Markus had access to private information around the health and well-being of the seven time world champion and is believed to have started conspiring to reveal it all on the dark web.Corinna has made sure the health of her 55-year-old husband has remained a closely guarded secret since his 2013 skiing accident.Markus’ thwarted plan saw him allegedly steal 1,500 secret files from the Schumacher family home.This sensitive material was believed to have been uploaded onto four USB sticks and two hard drives in the days prior to Markus being let go.Most read in MotorsportThe content included photos, videos, medication lists and even Schumacher’s patient file, BILD reported back in July.After stealing the information, Markus is then believed to have recruited long-term pal and local bouncer Yilmaz T, say German authorities.Inside Michael Schumacher’s decade-long recovery from ‘desperately cruel’ ski crash as brother shares devastating updateYilmaz then allegedly used his son Daniel L to help him make contact with the Schumacher family and begin trying to extort them.Some of the files were even sent to his family as proof via email, prosecutors say.The trio threatened to sell the content on the dark web where it could have been dumped it into the public domain, German media alleges.They are accused of asking Corinna for £12million to return the files.Yilmaz – who had known Markus for over 20 years – was allegedly promised a small commission in return for his help.On July 4, officers arrested Markus in his apartment in Wülfrath. They also detained Yilmaz and his son Daniel L. for the alleged blackmail plot.Authorities said they were able to track down the alleged extortionists through “technical measures”.Yilmaz T has been charged with extortion and remains in custody. Daniel L is accused of aiding and abetting extortion but is out on bail.Markus is also out on bail, it is believed.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe men’s trial is set to take place in December in Wuppertal. Prosecutors are asking for the men to spend at least four years behind bars if found guilty. What happened to Michael Schumacher?MICHAEL Schumacher’s life was hanging by a thread over 10-years-ago as medics tried desperately to keep him alive after a tragic skiing crash.The F1 legend was left with horrific brain injuries and placed into a coma for 250 days.He was given the best possible treatment as he underwent hours of tricky operations on his brain.Back in 2013, the retired seven-time world champion, and his then 14-year-old son set off on the Combe de Saulire ski run in the exclusive French resort of Meribel.Footage from his helmet camera revealed he was not travelling at excessive speed when his skis struck a rock hidden beneath the snow.He catapulted forward 11.5ft and crashed into a boulder head first that split his helmet into two and left him needing to be airlifted to hospital for two life-saving operations.At one point his family were told to brace themselves for the worst case scenario as the situation was much worse than originally believed.At the time, medics said Schumacher was likely to stay in an induced coma for at least 48 hours as his body and mind recovered.But the coma ended up lasting 250 days – more than eight months.After he woke up in June 2014, he was discharged from hospital and sent to his home in Lake Geneva to get further treatment.Since then his wife Corinna and his inner circle of friends have expertly avoided almost anything leaking out about his health status.Only small amounts of information have been released including reports that Schumacher was in a wheelchair but can react to things around him.In 2019, it was said that Schumacher was set to undergo breakthrough stem cell therapy in a bid to regenerate and rebuild his nervous system.Renowned France cardiologist Dr Philippe Menasche, who had operated on him previously, was set to carry out the treatment that would see cells from his heart go to his brain.Following the treatment at the Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris, he was said to be “conscious”, although few other details were given about his state.The men reportedly targeted Michael’s wife CorinnaCredit: Alamy More