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      Mercedes chief prepared for Lewis Hamilton quitting F1 and ready for ‘curveballs’ as champion’s contract talks linger on

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      MERCEDES are preparing for “curveballs” as F1 king Lewis Hamilton’s future still lies in doubt just two months before the new season.
      But team boss Toto Wolff says he is unfazed by Britain’s seven-time world champion still not agreeing a new contract.

      Lewis Hamilton has yet to sign a new Mercedes deal but team boss Toto Wolff says he’s not worried and will respect whatever the Brit decidesCredit: PA:Press Association

      Reigning champ Lewis Hamilton has said he is in no rush to sort out his future but the 2021 F1 season is scheduled to start in MarchCredit: PA

      Hamilton, who was 36 on Thursday, insists he wants to stay with Mercedes, where his deal expired on December 31.
      And of the unsettled situation, Wolff told Autosport: “It doesn’t worry me at all, because I will always respect Lewis’s decisions.
      ‘Whether this is staying with us for a long time, or whether that means leaving the sport and pursuing different interests.

      “I think we need to be ready for all kinds of curveballs being thrown at us.

      “But at the same time, we talk a lot, and we are very transparent with each other. I think there is more to achieve together.”
      Hamilton has been very laidback publicly over a new deal, which is expected to be worth £40million a year.
      At first he suggested it might be tone deaf to talk money while people are losing their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic.
      He then insisted he was just focused on retaining the title… but when that was in the bag he still said there was no rush.

      Reports in Italy suggested there were three sticking points over a new contract: salary, plus Hamilton wanting a share of the team’s prize money and a freebie AMG One hypercar.
       In contrast, Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas sorted out an £8m one-year contract last August.
      And as they wait for Hamilton’s future to be decided, Mercedes will continue developing this year’s car based on the assumption he will be driving it.

      Lewis Hamilton wins Sports Personality of the Year 2020 after passing F1 legend Michael Schumacher for most wins ever More

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      McLaren sign option to race in Formula E for 2022/23 season but insist they are still committed to Formula One

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      McLAREN have signed an option to race in Formula E for the 2022/23 season – but say they are still committed to Formula One.
      The Woking-based team are one of F1’s stalwarts and have signed up to the Concorde Agreement, which binds the team to the sport until 2025.

      McLaren chief Zak Brown outlined plans for F2Credit: Alamy Live News

      However, they are also weighing up whether to join the popular all-electric series in its ninth season.
      A statement from McLaren said: “McLaren Racing announced today it has signed an option to enter the FIA Formula E World Championship in Season Nine, as part of its ongoing evaluation of potential new motorsport platforms.
      “The option provides McLaren with the choice to enter the championship as one of a maximum 12 entries for the 2022/23 season.”
      The team are currently prevented from competing aS they are the exclusive battery supplier to the series.

      However, that deal ends next year, paving the way for them to start their own FE team.
      Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing said: “We’ve been closely observing Formula E for some time and monitoring the series’ progress and future direction.
      “The opportunity to take an option on an entry, together with the completion of the McLaren Applied supplier contract with the FIA at the end of Gen 2, gives us the necessary time to decide if Formula E is right for McLaren as a future competition platform.”
      McLaren-Renault came third in last season’s contructors’ championship, behind Red Bull and Mercedes.

      Ricciardo finished fifth in last season’s drivers’ championshipCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Daniel Ricciardo managed to take fifth place in the drivers’ championship.
      Meanwhile, Cyril Abiteboul has left his role as boss of the Renault F1 team, which has been rebranded as Alpine for 2021.
      It follows the arrival of former Suzuki MotoGP team boss Davide Brivio, who has joined as CEO.

      F1 star Lewis Hamilton wakes up on birthday unemployed as new £40m-a-year Mercedes deal rumbles on More

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      Pierre Cherpin, 52, placed in induced coma with severe head injury and collapsed lung after horror crash in Dakar Rally

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      FRENCH motorcyclist Pierre Cherpin has been placed in an induced coma after crashing in the Dakar Rally.
      The 52-year-old, taking part in his fourth Dakar, came off his bike during the seventh stage in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

      Pierre Cherpin was competing in his fourth Dakar RallyCredit: Alamy

      Pierre Cherpin (left) taking part in the 2015 Dakar RallyCredit: Alamy

      He was immediately rushed to hospital in the north-west city of Sakaka and underwent emergency surgery.
      Cherpin suffered major head trauma, a collapsed lung and a broken rib, according to France TV.
      Cherpin’s partner offered an encouraging update on his condition this morning.
      Magali wrote on Facebook: “Pierre had a good night without complications, and that’s a good omen!

      “They monitor the evolution of the lung lesion and the hematoma.
      “He will be ‘woken up’ very gradually within 24 to 48 hours.
      “As Olivier says, the outlook is reassuring. Thanks again for your so positive support.”
      Portuguese motorcyclist Paulo Goncalves and Dutch rider Edwin Straver tragically lost their lives in last year’s Dakar Rally.

      It was announced on Sunday that three-time race winner Hubert Auriol had passed away at the age of 68.

      The Frenchman was the first competitor to win the Dakar Rally on a motorbike and in a car.
      Auriol later became the director of the race.
      The Dakar Rally said in a statement: “He inspired generations of riders and drivers and has been an integral part of the rally throughout its history.”

      F1 hero Alonso flips car twice down huge sand dune in Dakar Rally but amazingly carries on without windshield More

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      Mercedes boss braced for Lewis Hamilton quitting F1 and ready for ‘curveballs’ as champ’s contract talks linger on

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      MERCEDES are preparing for “curveballs” as F1 king Lewis Hamilton’s future still lies in doubt two months before the new season. But team boss Toto Wolff claims he is unfazed by Britain’s seven-time world champion still not agreeing a new contract. Hamilton, who was 36 on Thursday, insists he wants to stay with Mercedes, where his deal expired on […] More

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      F1 star Lewis Hamilton wakes up on his birthday unemployed as fresh £40m-a-year Mercedes-deal talks rumble on

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      WHEN Lewis Hamilton woke up on the beautiful and secluded Caribbean Islands of Turks and Caicos this morning to celebrate his 36th birthday, it is probably fair to assume being unemployed did not register.
      But the reality is that F1’s current world champion is out of work after his contract with Mercedes expired on December 31.

      Lewis Hamilton is still without a contract to race in F1 next seasonCredit: Reuters

      Hamilton has always maintained his desire was to stay with the Silver Arrows, and while he said he was in no rush to sort negotiations out over a new deal – expected to be worth £40million a year – the reality is now he is no longer being paid at all.
      Initially he said the time was not right to be talking about a new, lucrative contract in the middle of a pandemic when people were losing their jobs.Fair enough.
      He then adopted a different reason, saying he wanted to focus on winning the title before discussing his contract.
      Again, that’s understandable.

      Then, once he’d won title No7, he insisted there was still no rush and that ideally it would be signed before Christmas. Well, obviously that deadline has also passed.
      Yes, it is all rather strange given that F1 contracts for in demand drivers are normally sorted early in the season.
      Take a look at Hamilton’s teammate, Valtteri Bottas, who signed his £8million one-year contract last August.
      It might be a ‘no brainer’ as Merc’s Head of Motorsport, Toto Wolff keeps saying, that Hamilton will re-sign with the team.

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      On December 18, Wolff and Hamilton confirmed that the serious talks had not started yet, however, until it is done, there is always a concern he could go elsewhere or quit.
      At this point there is no reason to suspect that Hamilton will walk away and refuse to sign, but there is a growing feeling that something is not quite right over what should have been a pretty standard renewal.
      The last deal took a ten-hour discussion between Wolff and Hamilton in the Brit’s kitchen and concluded with a pizza, but this time it is rumbling on.
      In the meantime, Mercedes will continue to develop their car for 2021 based on the presumption that Hamilton will be driving it, but the lack of a contract in place has started some wild rumours that Merc say are ‘pure fiction’.
      Reports in Italy suggested there were three sticking points.
      One, the salary of the contract. Two, that Hamilton wanted a share of the team’s prize money on top. And three, a freebie AMG One hypercar.

      For the meantime, Mercedes say they are not worried about Hamilton’s lack of signature, after all, where else would he go – other than retire?
      A spokesperson told SunSport: “There are no reasons to be concerned”, rightly pointing out that 2020 was vastly different from a normal F1 season.
      So while Hamilton relaxes on  the beach with sand between his toes, at Merc’s Brackley HQ there is also no show of any panic.

      New Year Honours List 2021: Craig David to get MBE as Lewis Hamilton and Sally Dynevor also land gongs More

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      F1 star Lewis Hamilton wakes up on his birthday unemployed as new £40m-a-year Mercedes-deal talks rumble on

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      WHEN Lewis Hamilton woke up on the beautiful and secluded Caribbean Islands of Turks and Caicos this morning to celebrate his 36th birthday, it is probably fair to assume being unemployed did not register.
      But the reality is that F1’s current world champion is out of work after his contract with Mercedes expired on December 31.

      Lewis Hamilton is still without a contract to race in F1 next seasonCredit: Reuters

      Hamilton has always maintained his desire was to stay with the Silver Arrows, and while he said he was in no rush to sort negotiations out over a new deal – expected to be worth £40million a year – the reality is now he is no longer being paid at all.
      Initially he said the time was not right to be talking about a new, lucrative contract in the middle of a pandemic when people were losing their jobs.Fair enough.
      He then adopted a different reason, saying he wanted to focus on winning the title before discussing his contract.
      Again, that’s understandable.

      Then, once he’d won title No7, he insisted there was still no rush and that ideally it would be signed before Christmas. Well, obviously that deadline has also passed.
      Yes, it is all rather strange given that F1 contracts for in demand drivers are normally sorted early in the season.
      Take a look at Hamilton’s teammate, Valtteri Bottas, who signed his £8million one-year contract last August.
      It might be a ‘no brainer’ as Merc’s Head of Motorsport, Toto Wolff keeps saying, that Hamilton will re-sign with the team.

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      On December 18, Wolff and Hamilton confirmed that the serious talks had not started yet, however, until it is done, there is always a concern he could go elsewhere or quit.
      At this point there is no reason to suspect that Hamilton will walk away and refuse to sign, but there is a growing feeling that something is not quite right over what should have been a pretty standard renewal.
      The last deal took a ten-hour discussion between Wolff and Hamilton in the Brit’s kitchen and concluded with a pizza, but this time it is rumbling on.
      In the meantime, Mercedes will continue to develop their car for 2021 based on the presumption that Hamilton will be driving it, but the lack of a contract in place has started some wild rumours that Merc say are ‘pure fiction’.
      Reports in Italy suggested there were three sticking points.
      One, the salary of the contract. Two, that Hamilton wanted a share of the team’s prize money on top. And three, a freebie AMG One hypercar.

      For the meantime, Mercedes say they are not worried about Hamilton’s lack of signature, after all, where else would he go – other than retire?
      A spokesperson told SunSport: “There are no reasons to be concerned”, rightly pointing out that 2020 was vastly different from a normal F1 season.
      So while Hamilton relaxes on  the beach with sand between his toes, at Merc’s Brackley HQ there is also no show of any panic.

      New Year Honours List 2021: Craig David to get MBE as Lewis Hamilton and Sally Dynevor also land gongs More

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      F1 star Lewis Hamilton wakes up on birthday unemployed as new £40m-a-year Mercedes deal rumbles on amid wild rumours

      by

      WHEN Lewis Hamilton woke up on the beautiful and secluded Caribbean Islands of Turks and Caicos this morning to celebrate his 36th birthday, it is probably fair to assume being unemployed did not register.
      But the reality is that F1’s current world champion is out of work after his contract with Mercedes expired on December 31.

      Lewis Hamilton is still without a contract to race in F1 next seasonCredit: Reuters

      Hamilton has always maintained his desire was to stay with the Silver Arrows, and while he said he was in no rush to sort negotiations out over a new deal – expected to be worth £40million a year – the reality is now he is no longer being paid at all.
      Initially he said the time was not right to be talking about a new, lucrative contract in the middle of a pandemic when people were losing their jobs.Fair enough.
      He then adopted a different reason, saying he wanted to focus on winning the title before discussing his contract.
      Again, that’s understandable.

      Then, once he’d won title No7, he insisted there was still no rush and that ideally it would be signed before Christmas. Well, obviously that deadline has also passed.
      Yes, it is all rather strange given that F1 contracts for in demand drivers are normally sorted early in the season.
      Take a look at Hamilton’s teammate, Valtteri Bottas, who signed his £8million one-year contract last August.
      It might be a ‘no brainer’ as Merc’s Head of Motorsport, Toto Wolff keeps saying, that Hamilton will re-sign with the team.

      On December 18, Wolff and Hamilton confirmed that the serious talks had not started yet, however, until it is done, there is always a concern he could go elsewhere or quit.
      At this point there is no reason to suspect that Hamilton will walk away and refuse to sign, but there is a growing feeling that something is not quite right over what should have been a pretty standard renewal.
      The last deal took a ten-hour discussion between Wolff and Hamilton in the Brit’s kitchen and concluded with a pizza, but this time it is rumbling on.
      In the meantime, Mercedes will continue to develop their car for 2021 based on the presumption that Hamilton will be driving it, but the lack of a contract in place has started some wild rumours that Merc say are ‘pure fiction’.
      Reports in Italy suggested there were three sticking points.
      One, the salary of the contract. Two, that Hamilton wanted a share of the team’s prize money on top. And three, a freebie AMG One hypercar.

      For the meantime, Mercedes say they are not worried about Hamilton’s lack of signature, after all, where else would he go – other than retire?
      A spokesperson told SunSport: “There are no reasons to be concerned”, rightly pointing out that 2020 was vastly different from a normal F1 season.
      So while Hamilton relaxes on  the beach with sand between his toes, at Merc’s Brackley HQ there is also no show of any panic.

      New Year Honours List 2021: Craig David to get MBE as Lewis Hamilton and Sally Dynevor also land gongs More

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      F1 new boy Nikita Mazepin slams Haas team-mate Mick Schumacher and says ‘we are not friends’ ahead of debut season

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      NIKITA MAZEPIN has delivered a surprising statement on Mick Schumacher – describing his new Haas team-mate as ‘not a friend’.
      Next season will see the Formula One team deploy the rookie pair after impressive performances in the F2 reserve series.

      Nikita Mazepin has insisted he is ‘not friends’ with his new F1 team-mateCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Haas colleague Mick Schumacher previously raced with the Russian in go-kartingCredit: Splash News

      But Russian racer Mazepin, 21, has shrugged off his previous experience with Schumacher.
      The pair raced as team-mates in karting, forming a relationship that the German recently described as having ‘a decent amount of respect’.
      In conversation with Russian TV channel Match TV, via the Mail, Mazepin shot back: “We are not friends.
      “At most we are old acquaintances as we raced together in karts.”

      Mazepin also insisted that his new team-mate will be vulnerable to extra ‘pressure’ as the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher.
      He noted: “I honestly don’t care about his name.

      “Because of the name he will have more power, but also more pressure.
      “But when I lower the visor, I don’t think about these things anyway.”

      Haas have already had to contend with one controversy surrounding their new driver.
      In December, Mazepin filmed himself groping a woman in a car and uploaded the footage to Instagram.

      The driver was forced to apologise for after condemnation from fans, Haas, F1 and governing body the FIA.
      The American team have vowed to stick with their agreement for Mazepin to race next season, with the calendar scheduled to begin in Australia.
      Yet the March 21 opener may have to be cancelled AGAIN due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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