Motorsport

JENSON BUTTON has made a staggering revelation about Fernando Alonso’s time with McLaren.In a revealing interview with Nico Rosberg on the 2016 world champion’s YouTube channel, Button claims the Spaniard would occasionally retire his car if he was behind – even when there was nothing wrong with it.
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Jenson Button has sensationally revealed Fernando Alonso would purposely retire his car even if there was nothing wrong with it during races while at McLarenCredit: AP
The two were team-mates at McLaren for two seasons in 2015 and 2016 where they both struggled with Honda’s uncompetitive engine.
Alonso was particularly critical, famously labelling it a ‘GP2 engine’ when he was overtaken in the 2015 Japanese GP.
Button’s bombshell will raise eyebrows at McLaren and Honda, who now supply Red Bull.
He told Rosberg: “Fernando would play games a lot more, which in a way, I was at a point in my career where I was kind of up for games.
“We weren’t fighting anyone else. We were so slow that we were fighting against each other and we would play games, some of which I don’t want to go into too much.
“Most of the time it was holding back things. Holding back pace, holding back information about set-ups.

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“Even if he didn’t have the pace, he would try to get the best out of the car.
“But if you were in front of him, he’d try different strategies to see if they’d work.
“There were other times where, if he was behind me, he’d say ‘there was a problem with the car’ and retire from the race!
“We weren’t scoring points, so he was saving the car for the next race, but he’d say ‘there’s a problem, there’s a problem!’
“[The team] would say ‘no, Fernando, there is no problem. Keep driving’.
“It was a funny time. I enjoyed my time with Fernando. He was an immense talent.”
Button was also quizzed by Rosberg about his time as Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate, also at McLaren.
The two Brits raced alongside each other for three seasons before Hamilton quit for Mercedes.
Button says that between Hamilton and Alonso, the seven-times world champion was the quicker, while the Spaniard was the more ‘complete driver’.
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He added: “I think Lewis is [faster over one lap]. I can only compare them when I had them as team-mates.
“I cannot compare them now, but the most complete driver was Fernando.
“He would find every way to be quicker than you. Lewis was a very straightforward team-mate.
“He was very quick. In testing he could be not really on the pace, I don’t think he was doing it on purpose.
“But when you get to qualifying, he would be on it. He would always find the lap time.”
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FORGET No Time To Die, this is a time to live for Kimi Raikkonen.The F1 ace, 42, believed to have amassed a £150million fortune, leads a life of luxury.
Kimi Raikkonen owns an amazing £20m home near ZurichCredit: Instagram @mintturaikkonen
Raikkonen, 42, takes the plunge in his outdoor poolCredit: Instagram @kimimatiasraikkonen
The Iceman is calling it a day on his career at the end of the season, which has just six races left.
But, rest assured, he will have the choice of some amazing homes to retire in.
First, there is his £20million James Bond villain-like Swiss villa worth a cool £20million.
Then there’s his reported three homes in his homeland of Finland, as well properties in Dubai and Thailand.
But it’s his mansion near Zurich that Kimi spends the majority of time with his stunning wife, Minttu, and children Robin and Rianna.
BEST BAAR NONE
Kimi bought the dream house for a mega £17million in 2009.
Named Butterfly – although it’s unclear why – it can be found in Baar, a small village near Zurich.
Kimi explained: “We searched for about five years for a property where we could build our own house.
“Then we found Villa Butterfly which was ready for move-in and had a name too.”
F1 ace Raikkonen paid £17m for the home in 2009Credit: Instagram @mintturaikkonen
The Zug lake and the Alps can be seen from the propertyCredit: Instagram @kimimatiasraikkonen
The expansive property boasts 3,000 square-feetCredit: Instagram @kimimatiasraikkonen
In his spare time Raikkonen loves to play table tennis with his sonCredit: Instagram @kimimatiasraikkonen
Stunning Minttu and Kimi enjoy the home’s gardenCredit: Instagram @kimimatiasraikkonen
Kimi in his home, which has the name Villa ButterflyCredit: Instagram @kimimatiasraikkonen
Built over 3,000 square-feet, the vast living space offers the motorsport legend and his family plenty of space.
There are two pools, one indoor, one outdoor, for the Raikkonens to enjoy.
Lush gardens overlook an incredible backdrop of the Zug lake with the Alps right behind it.
Astonishingly, the building also has a lift and the windows are bulletproof glass.
And there’s a fully-equipped gym to help Kimi stay in shape.
MASSIVE GARAGE
As is a theme with racing car drivers, they like to take their work home with them.
Raikkonen is no different, which explains why his massive garage at Villa Butterfly can hold up to 10 cars.
Although he is said to own a £300,000 Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge and a £3million Ferrari Enzo , it’s motorcycles that hold the Finnish legend’s attention.
Family time in the pool is important to RaikkonenCredit: Instagram @kimimatiasraikkonen
Raikkonen likes to stay in shape when he’s at home in his gymCredit: Instagram @kimimatiasraikkonen
Daughter Rianna shares dad Kimi’s love of wheelsCredit: Instagram @kimimatiasraikkonen
The villa has a garage that can hold 10 cars, and is where Kimi keeps his customised motorbikesCredit: Instagram @kimimatiasraikkonen
The Raikkonen family spend most of the year in their Swiss mansionCredit: Instagram @mintturaikkonen

He has two customised bikes called Iceman I and Iceman II that were designed by German Walz Hardcore Cycles.
Raikkonen was also gifted his 2018 United States Grand Prix-winning Ferrari that is believed to rest in his garage.
Will have enough room though for his current Alfa Romeo ride when the curtain comes down on his F1 career?
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LEWIS HAMILTON gave fans a sneak peek into his Los Angeles retreat ahead of the United States Grand Prix.The reigning Formula One world champion gets back on the track this weekend in Texas.
Lewis Hamilton gave fans an insight into his Los Angeles retreatCredit: Instagram @lewishamilton
He shared the stunning views from his balconyCredit: Instagram @lewishamilton
The Brit put in the hard work in the gym with some cable fly exercisesCredit: Instagram @lewishamilton
He is in LA with two content creators and his personal trainerCredit: Instagram @lewishamilton
And he is making his final preparations in California before heading over to Austin.
Hamilton, 36, took to his Instagram story with a series of videos behind the scenes in his camp.
He uploaded a few of the stunning views from his pad before turning the camera on his smiling self.
The seven-time F1 king also posted a picture of his team going through a stretching routine.
Hamilton is with two digital content creators – long-term pal Daniel ‘Spinz’ Forrest and photographer Timmy who goes by the nickname 13thwitness – as well as his personal trainer Angela Cullen.
The quartet then hit the hills with a run to celebrate Forrest’s birthday.

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The F1 champ headed out for a run in his bright pink t-shirtCredit: Instagram @lewishamilton
The team hit the hills in the glorious hot, sunny weatherCredit: Instagram @lewishamilton
A roadside mirror created the perfect chance for a team selfieCredit: Instagram @lewishamilton
Hamilton is keeping himself in top physical condition ahead of the United States GPCredit: Instagram @lewishamilton
The video showed the Californian hills bathed in sunshine with clear blue skiesCredit: Instagram @lewishamilton
And when they got back, Hamilton headed for the gym for a strength and conditioning session.
The Brit performed a set of cable fly exercises while decked out in his Puma gym kit.
He continues to wear a face mask inside to take every precaution against coronavirus, especially in such an important week for the drivers’ championship.
Hamilton will be confident of retaking the lead over Max Verstappen by winning in Austin.
The Dutchman currently holds a six-point advantage with six races to go after late drama in Turkey.

But the Stevenage star has won the United States GP six times in his career – including five since it moved to this circuit in 2012 – while Mercedes have come out on top in five of the last six years.
Hamilton will have his team with him all the way to keep him in the best condition physically and mentally.
And they will be hoping they can capture plenty of celebration content come Sunday evening.
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LEWIS HAMILTON’s Mercedes team have been boosted by their win in Turkey as they head to this weekend’s US GP.Hamilton had to settle for fifth in Istanbul after taking a grid penalty for a new engine but teammate Valtteri Bottas took the chequered flag.
Mercedes’ world champ Lewis Hamilton is six points behind Red Bull’s Championship leader Max VerstappenCredit: PA
Mercedes are confident that Lewis Hamilton is well placed to win the US GPCredit: AFP
And as they head to Austin, where Hamilton has won five times in eight years, boss Toto Wolff says their confidence is running high.
He said: “It was encouraging to see our positive performance momentum continue last time out in Turkey.
“We haven’t scored back-to-back race wins in a little while, so naturally spirits have been high in the factories since we returned from Istanbul.
“Istanbul was a dominant performance from Valtteri in tricky conditions, taking his first win of the season.
A faultless drive from him and he was in control of the race from the very beginning.
“It’s a brilliant boost for him and the team heading into the final part of the season and helping us to extend our lead in the constructors’ standings.
“For Lewis, the absolute view of Turkey is that he lost one point more than Max Verstappen did in the previous race in Russia with a similar engine change, which we can live with.
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“This season has had so many twists and turns, so we’re ready to react to whatever comes our way this weekend in Texas.”
Hamilton currently trails Red Bull’s Verstappen by six points with six races still to go this season as their epic fight goes down to the wire.
The Brit was critical of Merc’s decision to call him in for a late pitstop in Turkey, which he felt stopped him from achieving a third place finish.
However, Wolff says it was better to be cautious and introduce a new engine for Hamilton than risk a DNF – costing him a bucket load of points to his title rival.
He added: “The whole season swings back and forth. We make mistakes together. We win together.
“We have had much bigger swings in the past with lost opportunities.
‘TIGHT UNTIL THE END’
“This was a very, very close call. We decided for one thing, and it went wrong.
“At the end, we’ve lost eight points [in Turkey] from Red Bull from a grid penalty. Red Bull [in Russia] were happy with a seven-point loss.
“So it’s going to be very tight until the end. DNFs are going to make a big difference, and that was also a consideration, and not three or four or five-point swings.”
Meanwhile, the FIA have asked track bosses in Austin to grid down some of the raised bumps on their track surface.
F1 drivers are in for a bumpy ride this week as the safety of the surface was called into question by the MotoGP riders in a recent race.
FIA Race Director Michael Masi has asked for work to be completed but the problem is unlikely to be completely resolved in time.
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