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      F1 Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying LIVE RESULTS: Lewis Hamilton could face DISQUALIFICATION despite being fastest

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      Lewis Hamilton will start in first place for tomorrow’s sprint race after finishing fastest in qualifying..But the Brit will start Sunday’s race in Brazil no higher than sixth after receiving a five-place grid penalty for replacing his internal combustion engine for the second time this season.
      And things may even get worse for Hamilton, with the seven-time world champ facing a possible disqualification if his DRS flap is adjudged to have opened more than the maximum permitted 85 millimetres.

      TODAY: Practice 1: 3.30pm/ Qualifying: 7pm (GMT)
      SATURDAY: Practice 2: 3pm/ Sprint Race: 7pm
      SUNDAY: Race: 5pm
      TV/ live stream: Sky Sports Formula 1

      Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
      LEW WHAT?
      Lewis Hamilton could find himself in a spot of bother after his car was reported to stewards for a ‘technical infringement’.
      The Mercedes star qualified for tomorrow’s sprint with the fastest time in Sao Paulo.
      But a supposed issue was detected in his DRS system.
      The FIA’s technical delegate Jo Bauer wrote: “The uppermost rear wing element adjustable positions were checked on car number 44 for compliance with Article 3.6.3 of the 2021 Formula One Technical Regulations. The requirement for the minimum distance was fulfilled.
      “But the requirement for the maximum of 85mm, when the DRS system is deployed and tested in accordance with TD/011-19, were not fulfilled.”
      Hamilton already has a five-grid penalty for Sunday’s race after taking a new engine.
      A Mercedes rep on site was was called to meet with stewards.
      SPRINT TO THE FINISH
      It’s time for the final sprint of the 2021 season tomorrow, and this is how the field line up on the grid.
      What do you reckon, F1 fans?

      QUALIFYING REPORT
      Words here from SunSport’s George Boulton…
      LEWIS HAMILTON stunned Red Bull with his monstrous speed as he will start ahead of Max Verstappen in sprint qualifying on Saturday.
      Hamilton’s fresh Mercedes engine saw him beat Verstappen by a commanding 0.4 seconds.
      The Brit will be out to score a maximum of three points in today’s sprint qualifying as he looks to claw back the 19-point deficit in the championship.
      Hamilton’s five-place engine penalty will not affect sprint qualifying meaning he will fight his title rival on the front row in the sprint before dropping back down the grid for Sunday’s grand prix.
      Hamilton said: “I’m so happy to be back here in Brazil. That’s the first pole in a long time.
      “A big, big thank you to all the team because they’ve been working flat out. It’s been so hard coming from the last race for everyone.
      “Today was a really good qualifying session. I’m really happy with it. We’ve got the penalty tomorrow but we will give it everything we’ve got.”
      Verstappen crucially managed to split the Mercedes’ as Valterri Bottas will start third, which gives Red Bull a fighting chance for Saturday’s sprint.
      The F1 title leader said: “Naturally when they take a new engine they have more power for the weekend.
      “For me it’s not a big shock, I am just happy to be second, that’s a good position to start from.
      “Of course you want to be closer but sometimes you just have to be realistic and there was not much more in it.”
      Lewis Hamilton crushed Friday qualifying to get pole for the sprint in BrazilCredit: Getty
      Max Verstappen was not too disappointed to come in second ahead of the weekendCredit: Getty
      ‘NOWHERE NEAR’
      On the 0.4-second advantage over Verstappen, he added: “I’m not sure it will translate to the race.
      “I have been going from P3 trying to make the right changes, the anxiety is crazy. Most of the time I get it wrong, today I got it right and we had purple, purple, purple.
      “I don’t know how they can go 0.5 ahead to 0.4 behind.”
      Asked if Mercedes have got Red Bull rattled, Hamilton said: “No, I’m nowhere near him.”
      MORE FROM LEWIS
      Here’s what Hamilton had to say to Sky Sports: “I loved today for sure. We’re working so hard to get this car right.
      “It’s been real tough to finally get it feeling as it s today, it is testament to the work done in the garage and back home.
      “The last two poles I’ve had I’ve had a penalty. I found out yesterday, I trust the team’s judgement.”
      HORNER HAPPY
      Christian Horner is clearly not too disappointed with today’s performance from his team.
      He keeps his cards close to his chest but second behind Hamilton in the Sprint is enough for pole come Sunday.
      Horner said: “We saw from this morning that Lewis was very, very strong. That fresh engine is obviously pumping out some horsepower for them.
      “I think second was the best we could hope for. To be up there on the front row, we’re okay with that.”
      ‘REALLY HAPPY’
      Here’s what the seven-time champ had to say: “I’m so happy to be back here in Brazil.
      “That’s the first pole in a long time.
      “A big, big thank you to all the team because they’ve been working flat out. It’s been so hard coming from the last race for everyone.
      “Today was a really good qualifying session. I’m really happy with it.
      “We’ve got the penalty tomorrow but we give it everything we’ve got.”
      BITTERSWEET
      Hamilton secures his first qualifying win since Hungary way back in August.
      The irony is that it doesn’t secure a race pole… but a Sprint pole.
      And even if he wins the Sprint, the Brit is getting a five-place grid penalty on Sunday.
      ‘NOT A BIG SHOCK’
      Here’s what Verstappen had to say on Friday’s qualifying then…
      Max said: “When Mercedes take a new engine, naturally they have a bit more power for the weekend.
      “For me it’s not a big shock. I’m just happy to be second.
      “It’s a good position to start from, of course you always want to be closer but sometimes you have to be realistic and there was not much more in it.”
      FINAL STANDINGS
      To confirm, then, this is how the top ten will line up for the Sprint:
      1) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
      2) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
      3) Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
      4) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
      5) Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
      6) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
      7) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
      8) Lando Norris, McLaren
      9) Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren
      10) Fernando Alonso, Alpine
      ‘LET’S GO’
      A simple message from a jubilant Lewis Hamilton.
      He is buzzing, shouting: “Let’s go!” down the microphone to his team.
      A friendly fist bump between Max and Lewis.
      LEWIS WINS QUALIFYING
      Verstappen is struggling a bit here through his final lap.
      Hamilton is cruising to winning qualifying – the Brit is flying.
      And he nails a 1:07.934.
      Neither Bottas nor Verstappen can get close, both 0.4 seconds behind.
      But the good news for Red Bull is that Verstappen is second ahead of Bottas – just about keeping within the race limits.
      TWO MINUTES TO GO
      The drivers have popped back into the pits.
      But they are back out again for the final laps.
      Can Verstappen pip Hamilton?
      MAKE IT VER-STOP
      “Front tyres are overheating. Front tyre completely done.”
      That’s the message from Max Verstappen and he does not sound too happy.
      Not great news for the Dutchman…
      HAMILTON QUICKEST
      Hamilton nails a 1:08.107 to go top with Bottas 0.362 seconds behind him in second.
      But Verstappen turns on the pace – and he gets in between the pair.
      That could be crucial in separating the team-mates for the Sprint.
      Hamilton has the quickest of all three sectors so far.
      HAMILTON AWAY
      Here goes Hamilton, then.
      He is putting the pedal to the floor on his quest to finish qualifying on top.
      Sainz and Alonso both go quicker than Leclerc.
      RIVALS RETURN
      Verstappen comes out behind Bottas, who follows Hamilton.
      It’s all very slow and pedestrian at the moment.
      Leclerc is the only one going for it – and he could catch the rest of the pack.
      Q3 UNDERWAY
      The final part of qualifying is underway in Sao Paulo.
      Again, the cars are holding fire for now as they want to maximise performance over the next ten minutes.
      HORNER REFLECTS
      Red Bull boss Christian Horner has had his say on the current state of affairs.
      Here is what he told Sky Sports: “It’s a big margin to Lewis at the moment.
      “He had a good tow on that last lap so that was probably optimum, but that’s going to be very, very tough to beat in Q3.
      “We’re seeing a significant straight-line speed performance and they’re obviously delivering a very good lap time.
      “Over a single lap I think that will be very tough to beat…
      “I think if we can get a car on the front row for the Sprint, right here and now I’d probably take that.”
      Q2 OVER
      Hamilton goes fastest with a 1:08.068 followed by Bottas 0.358 seconds behind and Verstappen third.
      Mercedes, surprising, have the Red Bulls on toast for pace at the moment.
      The five eliminated are Esteban Ocon, Sebastian Vettel, Yuki Tsunoda, Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi.
      ALONSO ON EDGE
      Fernando Alonso is in ninth – and stays ninth.
      But will he be caught with those behind him on their final lap of Q2…?
      THREE MINS LEFT
      Three minutes to go in Q2.
      It is currently Hamilton followed by Verstappen, Bottas, Gasly and Leclerc.
      Vettel among those currently in the bottom five of this 15.
      MORE LIKE IT LEWIS
      And when he does get through the line, it is a 1:08.386 for Hamilton.
      That takes him to the top of the tree for now.
      GAME. ON.
      MAX POWER
      That’s much better from Max Verstappen.
      He flies around to complete a circuit in 1:08.567 and that is easily the fastest time of this qualifying.
      Gasly currently second with Leclerc third and Bottas fourth.
      Hamilton yet to register a time on the board.
      HAM SLAM
      1:08.659 for Hamilton which is the quickest lap…
      But then it gets deleted – he too went over the limit at turn 4.
      He will need to go again to start at the front of the Sprint race.
      Load more entries… More

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      F1 Brazilian Grand Prix sprint qualifying: UK start time, live stream, TV channel, schedule as the Sprint race returns

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      INTERLAGOS is the next track to host one of the most thrilling F1 championships in history as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen go head to head once again.The Dutchman, 24, opened up a 19-point lead over Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers’ Championship after winning the Mexican Grand Prix last weekend.
      Follow all the action from the F1 Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos
      Max Verstappen leads by 19 points at the top
      And reigning champion Hamilton has admitted time is running out to catch up with Verstappen.
      Hamilton, 36, said: “There are still four races to go.
      “But 19 points is a lot of points. And he’s had a lot of wins. If they were to carry that on to the next ones, we will be in trouble.”
      When is the F1 Brazilian Grand Prix?
      The F1 Brazilian Grand Prix takes place from Friday November 12 to Sunday November 14.
      And this time round we get also get the final Sprint Race of the season on Saturday too, which will additional points up for grabs on a bumper weekend.
      That means qualifying takes place on the Friday evening rather than the usual Saturday slot.
      Then it’s lights out on Sunday November 14 at 5pm GMT.
      What TV channel and live stream is F1 Brazilian Grand Prix?
      The F1 Brazilian Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 in the UK.
      Sky Sports F1 will be showing the full weekend schedule.
      What is the race schedule?
      Times in GMT
      Friday November 12
      Practice 1: 3.30pm
      Qualifying: 7pm
      Saturday November 13
      Practice 2: 3pm
      Sprint Race: 7pm
      Sunday November 14
      Race: 5pm More

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      Lewis Hamilton title woe as Brit faces DISQUALIFICATION after trouncing Max Verstappen for Brazilian GP sprint pole

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’S hopes of a record-breaking eighth F1 world title could be up in smoke after a potential breach of the regulations during qualifying in Brazil.The Brit trounced championship rival Max Verstappen in Sao Paolo to earn pole position for Saturday’s sprint race – and a chance to claw back two points.
      Lewis Hamilton crushed Friday qualifying to get pole for the sprint in Brazil but could now start lastCredit: Getty
      Max Verstappen was not too disappointed to come in second ahead of the weekendCredit: Getty
      But Hamilton’s joy was short-lived after news his Mercedes is pending an FIA investigation after it opened more than it should when DRS was activated, giving him an extra burst of speed.
      If Hamilton’s Silver Arrow has breached the technical regulations he could be disqualified.
      This would see him start at the back of the grid for sprint qualifying, which will determine the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
      Hamilton already trails Verstappen by 19 points and the Dutchman could open up a bigger gap on the defending champion if Hamilton is to start the Brazilian Grand Prix from the back of the field.
      The FIA have summoned a representative of Mercedes to the stewards to discuss the incident.
      To add salt to the wounds, Hamilton will also be met with a five-place grid penalty on Sunday after taking on a new engine.

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      Meaning any ground he makes up in the 100km sprint qualifying race will all be undone for the Grand Prix.
      It has overshadowed what appeared to be a turning point for Mercedes in the championship, after Hamilton showed incredible pace to beat Verstappen by 0.4 seconds.
      Before the rear wing was reported to the FIA, Hamilton was amazed to see how much Mercedes had improved since the Mexico GP.
      He said: “We’ve been working so hard to get this car right, it’s been tough.
      “So to finally get the car feeling like it did today, it feels great and it’s just a testament to all the hard work in the garage and at home to try and pull out everything we have in the car.
      “The last two poles I’ve had, I’ve had a penalty. So it’s a bit unfortunate to have the penalty but it is what it is.
      “I don’t know if the pace will translate to the race, but I’ve been going from P3 and I sit there for the whole hour trying to make the right set up changes in practice and the anxiety you get is crazy.
      “A lot of times I get it wrong and today I got it right and the car was really nice to drive.
      “It was everything I wanted and then that enabled me to keep pushing and you could just see purple, purple, purple and I was just gaining each time.
      “I don’t know how we can go from one track where they are half a second ahead to then being behind, but anyway they will be very strong in the race tomorrow and I hope Valtteri [Bottas] gets a good start.”
      Although Verstappen wasn’t shocked to see his rival thriving with his fresh Mercedes-powered engine.
      Verstappen said: “Naturally when they take a new engine they have more power for the weekend.
      “For me it’s not a big shock, I am just happy to be second, that’s a good position to start from.
      “Of course you want to be closer but sometimes you just have to be realistic and there wasn’t much more in it.”
      Hamilton’s ex-team-mate Rosberg reveals why he couldn’t drive two laps in F1 car More

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      Lewis Hamilton in huge F1 world title blow as Mercedes star takes five-place grid penalty for engine change at Brazil GP

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      SEVEN-TIME world champion Lewis Hamilton WILL take a five-place grid penalty in Sao Paolo.The Brit’s car requires an engine change for this weekend’s Brazilian GP.
      Hamilton faces yet another setback in his quest for an eighth world titleCredit: AFP
      It makes his task of overhauling Max Verstappen’s 19 point lead in the standings even more challenging.
      The penalty comes into force after the Sprint race, meaning he will start that in the place that he qualifies on Friday.
      Qualifying is on Friday evening after Practice One, followed by Practice Two and the Sprint Race on Saturday night.
      So the best possible place Hamilton can start from on Sunday’s race is fifth on the grid.
      It’s the fifth time Hamilton has had an engine change this season – two over the three allowed swaps.
      He previously changed his engine unit at the Turkish GP last month and eventually finished in fifth place.
      But with SunSport predicting a Max Verstappen win even before the penalty Hamilton can’t afford to finish that low down and lose yet more ground on the Dutchman.

      When asked on Thursday about a possible penalty Hamilton remained coy, saying: “I can’t really comment at the moment.
      “I don’t think the engines have even arrived. As far as I am aware currently my engine is fine.
      “I will find out obviously later on. We’ve not even done an engineering [meeting] yet.”
      But now the engine change has been confirmed and the Brit will have to take a penalty.
      It comes as a blow to the seven-time world champ with just four races left on the calendar.
      Abu Dhabi hosts the season finale on December 12 after races in Brazil, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
      But the title may well already be decided by the time the circuit touches down at Yas Marina.
      Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen react to dangerous crash More

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      Lewis Hamilton vs Max Verstappen has delivered thrilling F1 season – but rule changes promise to make 2022 even better

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      FORMULA ONE fans are lapping up Lewis Hamilton’s title fight with Max Verstappen – and next year promises to be even better.Seeing the seven-time world champion fighting the young Red Bull ace has been gripping and it could signal the changing of an era.

      But one thing that is changing for 2022 is the rulebook, as F1 faces its biggest overhaul in its 71-year history.
      Many fans have questioned why, with such a close fight between Verstappen and Hamilton, there is a need for new rules.
      But F1’s masterplan, which was laid out in 2018, is to make the racing even better, with multiple drivers battling it out for the title.
      So what is changing?
      The biggest difference is with the cars and we will see a complete transformation from this year’s challenger.
      While the current models are quick, they generate so much turbulence from their honed aerodynamics that is impossible for another car to follow closely behind.

      Think of how a speedboat generates choppy water, it is the same for F1 cars only with ‘dirty air’.
      It means that once a car gets close to another, it is forced into the turbulence, losing around 40 per cent of its downforce and grip.
      It means the driver behind is unable to mount a serious attack on the car in front as he has lost performance from his own car.
      The biggest shake-up with the 2022 cars is the design will shoot that air upwards, rather than behind, meaning cars are capable of travelling closer together, which in turn leads to closer racing.
      Other key changes are over-wheel winglets for the first time and wheel covers, again with the ideal to create downforce but without causing turbulence.What else is new?
      Bigger tyres. Big is beautiful but the new 18″ wheels will not only look better, they will also feature slick low-profile tyres for the first time.
      Pirelli have designed new tyres that reduce the amount of overheating when they slide.
      That is another factor that will help with closer racing, as drivers currently lose performance with an overheating tyre.

      🏁 F1 2021 calendar: practice times, dates and racetrack info
      The other crucial aspect, although it will not be noticeable to TV viewers, is the shift to a biofuel, while the turbo-hybrid engines currently being used will carry over.
      F1 chiefs are hoping that the new cars will lead to closer racing, while teams will be limited to spending £105million on developing their cars as part of a reduced cost cap.
      In theory, that should help the likes of Williams and Haas at the back of the grid be more competitive with the midfield teams – Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin and Alpine.
      And at the sharp end, it will move the bigger teams closer together.
      So while this year’s duel between Verstappen and Hamilton is exciting, the goal for 2022 is for it to be an even better show.
      Hamilton’s ex-team-mate Rosberg reveals why he couldn’t drive two laps in F1 car More

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      F1 Brazilian Grand Prix LIVE RESULTS: Updates from Sao Paulo as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton face off – latest

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN and Lewis Hamilton bring their F1 Drivers’ Championship battle to Sao Paulo this weekend.The Dutchman Verstappen leads by 19 points as we head into the final four races of a thrilling season.
      And remember there will also be a Sprint Race here during in a stacked weekend at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

      TODAY: Practice 1: 3.30pm/ Qualifying: 7pm (GMT)
      SATURDAY: Practice 2: 3pm/ Sprint Race: 7pm
      SUNDAY: Race: 5pm
      TV/ live stream: Sky Sports Formula 1

      Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
       THE BRAZILIAN GP PRACTICE ONE IS OFF!
      MEXICO GP RECAP
      Max Verstappen extended his lead in the Formula One rankings following a comfortable victory at the Mexico Grand Prix.
      Verstappen picked up the lead early in the race, which saw Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas spinning after starting on pole.
      Hamilton finished second just barely ahead of the winner’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.
      The British superstar admitted the Dutch star’s car was superior after the race
      GETTY IMAGES
      MORE FROM VERSTAPPEN
      Red Bull star Max Verstappen is totally focused on winning the Formula One title.
      Verstappen added: “The only winner is the one who finishes on top. It doesn’t matter how many races you win.
      “So far I have had a great season. I’ve had a lot of wins, nice pole positions and exactly whatever happens at the end, it’s not going to change my life, I’ve said it many times. I’m just enjoying what I’m doing.
      “Of course, I will try to win the championship and we are looking good. But I also said a lot of things can happen”
      GETTY IMAGES
      LAST CHANCE SALOON
      Max Verstappen is loving his title fight with British superstar Lewis Hamilton because he is not too sure if it will happen again.
      Verstappen said: “Otherwise, it’s pretty depressing, if you know that you can’t win. Of course you know when you get to Formula One, you have to accept it.
      “This is how Formula One is. Normally there’s only one or two teams that can fight for a championship.
      “But you hope that one day you get into a car where you can win, right? And as soon as you get into that car, it is very enjoyable.
      “You’re happy, because how many times will you have this opportunity? You don’t know, maybe from next year onwards, you never get that opportunity again.
      “So I’m just really enjoying the moment”
      GETTY IMAGES
      MAX POWER
      Lewis Hamilton is not totally optimistic ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
      Hamilton said: “It doesn’t play into your hands if they’re quicker.
      “This is not a very good track for overtaking. Of course you’ve got that long straight, but I believe it’s close to one of the hardest places for overtaking of the year.
      “I think you’ve got to have something like 1.1second advantage to have a 50 per cent chance of overtaking the car ahead”
      GETTY IMAGES
      GOOD AFTERNOON FROM BRAZIL
      Welcome to SunSport’s live coverage of the Brazilian Grand Prix!
      Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen continue their heated rivalry today at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace
      Verstappen leads Hamilton by 19 points in the standings – and if the British legend fails to score points in the next two races the title will go to the Dutch superstar.
      The 24-year-old triumphed in the Mexico GP where Hamilton barely finished second ahead of the former’s team-mate Sergio Perez
      GETTY IMAGES
      Load more entries… More

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      Inside F1 star Max Verstappen’s £12m private jet that Red Bull star bought from Virgin tycoon Richard Branson

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      THIS Red Bull driver really does have wings.Max Verstappen, 24, showed yet again he was king of the circuit over the weekend – winning the Mexican Grand Prix by 16 seconds ahead of fierce rival Lewis Hamilton.
      Max Verstappen is the proud owner of a £12m Falcon-900EX private jet
      Verstappen currently leads the driver standings by 19 points
      Virgin boss and British business magnate, Richard Branson was the previous ownerCredit: AP
      The victory extended his lead to 19 points in the driver standings with just four races to go.
      And motor racing isn’t the only thing Verstappen is flying high in.
      For he is the proud owner of his own private jet, that he splashed the cash on in 2020.
      Max paid around £12million for the Falcon-900EX, that used to have a famous owner.
      It was previously in the hands of Virgin boss and British business magnate, Sir Richard Branson, according to reports.

      LAVISH EXPENSE
      Verstappen already leads a life of luxury, and is said to have a £45million fortune.
      He lives in a stunning apartment in Monaco, like most F1 heroes, worth millions.
      Mad Max also has an incredible car collection, owning various Aston Martins through the years. And he’s awaiting their £2million Valkyrie, which he has on order and is due for delivery next year.
      But in the meantime, he has another toy to play with – and like his team’s drink’s motto, it gives him wings.
      Dutch star Verstappen paid around £12m for his own plane
      Inside the cockpit of Verstappen’s stunning plane
      Verstappen pays around £1m-per-year in up-keep of the Falcon-900EX
      Last year, Verstappen bought himself a Falcon-900EX private jet worth about £12m to travel in style with.
      Better still, you can bet it was very well looked after by its previous owner.
      That’s because it was said to be owned by Virgin Atlantic billionaire Sir Richard Branson.
      PLANE SPEC
      Incredibly, the Falcon-900EX costs about £1million-per-year to keep.
      But that won’t dent Verstappen’s bank balance, who is happy to fly in style and sometimes give mates like Daniel Ricciardo a lift to a Grand Prix.
      Made in 2008, it was given a significant upgrade before it was handed over to F1’s youngest ever Grand Prix winner.
      Now powered by three Honeywell TFE731-60 engines, it’s capable of a maximum range of 8,750 kilometres before it requires refuelling, can hit a top speed of 892 km/h, and cruising speed of 850 km/h.
      As for the interiors, it’s just as luxurious.
      Capable of seating up to 12 passengers, two seats can be reclined to make a full-size bed.
      Daniel Ricciardo hitches a ride on Verstappen’s private jet
      A fully equipped bar would allow Verstappen to celebrate victory in style
      The jet boasts a luxury bathroom
      Verstappen now has a stranglehold on the F1 World ChampionshipCredit: Rex

      There’s tables fitted to enjoy a meal and a drink.
      There’s even a bar to celebrate, in case you want to pop open some champagne after victory.
      You can bet Max’s flight home from Mexico last weekend was a fun one.
      Lewis Hamilton stuns group of kids by ditching disguise and giving inspirational speech More

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      Inside F1 legend David Coulthard’s former Monte Carlo hotel which he sold for £30m and where guests arrive by helicopter

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      BACK in his heyday, F1 legend David Coulthard fancied himself as a hotelier.He opened the amazing Columbus hotel in Monte Carlo, after buying a former three-star accommodation and renovating it.
      F1 legend David Coulthard was the king of Monte Carlo in the noughties and owned his own hotelCredit: columbushotels.com
      The lavish Columbus welcomed A-list guests during Grand Prix weekendCredit: Andrew Barr – The Sun Glasgow
      The beautiful hotel overlooks the MediterraneanCredit: columbushotels.com
      Supermodel Naomi Campbell and even David and Victoria Beckham were just some of the celebrity clientele, who took in its designer bedrooms and lavish lounge.
      In 2010, The Scottish driver sold the Columbus for £30million to the same hotel group who own Hilton Park Lane in London and the Fairmont Hotel in Monaco.
      A GOOD INVESTMENT
      In 2001, Coulthard – already enamoured by living in Monaco – bought a standard three-star hotel with the idea of turning it into a luxury place to stay.
      It already had a head-start with its location, being in the lavish Fontvieille district where the rich and famous prefer to hangout.
      Overlooking the Mediterranean and the Princess Grace Rose Gardens, the Columbus boasts 181 bedrooms.
      Award-winning interior designer Amanda Rosa was behind the decor in the rooms, using cools tones and the latest appliances.
      Even PlayStations were installed to entertain gamers who stayed.
      In terms of the hotel’s amenities, opposite the lobby is a bar, as well as a trendy terraced brasserie, which offers French and Italian cuisine.
      When it’s Grand Prix weekend, both are buzzing with locals and famous faces.
      Inside a standard bedroom at the ColumbusCredit: columbushotels.com
      A stylish lobby greets guests as they enter the ColumbusCredit: columbushotels.com
      An Art Deco outdoor swimming pool is perfect for guests to lounge aroundCredit: columbushotels.com
      While, there’s also a lush Art Deco outdoor swimming pool that guests can take a dip or lounge by.
      And a state-of-the-art gym, should they want to maintain their physiques.
      Over the years, guests have included Princess Stephanie of Monaco, the Beckhams, and Naomi Campbell.
      While F1 clients are who’s who of drivers, from Kimi Raïkonnen, Romain Grosjean, Jenson Button, Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel, Paul di Resta, Daniel Ricciardo, Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda, and Damon Hill.
      JET-SET
      Catering for the mega-wealthy, and being in Monte Carlo, the hotel offers plenty of activities that would appeal to the jet-set.
      Anyone arriving at Nice airport has the option of getting picked up helicopter and delivered to the Columbus.
      The Columbus caters for the mega-wealthy of Monte CarloCredit: columbushotels.com
      Upscale living has never been more comfortable than at the ColumbusCredit: columbushotels.com
      While management have also made a speedboat available for guests to rent that rests in the harbour.
      For the full VIP experience, they even supply canapes and champagne.
      As you can expect, staying at the Columbus will set you back. But it’s more reasonable given your surroundings.
      Roughly £250-per-night gets you a standard room.
      GOING, GOING, GONE
      According to reports, Coulthard sold his stake for a staggering £30m.
      That’s just £5million short of what he was said to have earned from his racing career over the years.
      The money allowed him to invest in an amazing car collection.
      Coulthard takes a seat inside his former hotelCredit: Andrew Barr – The Sun Glasgow
      In 2010, Coulthard sold his stake in the Columbus for £30mCredit: Andrew Barr – The Sun Glasgow

      Private hotel company London & Regional are the owners, whose portfolio includes the iconic Hilton Park Lane, the Hilton Trafalgar Square and the Hilton Green Park.
      Coulthard still has an apartment in Monaco, and enjoys spending time there.
      And you can bet he will always be welcome at the Columbus.
      F1 star Max Verstappen owns a £12m private jet that he bought from Richard Branson More