Motorsport

FORMULA ONE has announced its 2021 race calendar with the British Grand Prix taking place on July 18.
Previous years had seen the event clash with other major fixtures on the sporting calendar.

But F1 bosses have agreed to push the race at Silverstone back a week to dodge the Euro 2020 final and Wimbledon Men’s final on July 11.
The series lands in Britain for the midway point of a 23-race season although one destination is yet to be confirmed.
The Vietnamese Grand Prix was cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and the race is missing from next year’s schedule as well.
Political concerns are reportedly behind the race being dropped.

There are also worries over the Brazilian GP at Interlagos.
The Sao Paulo circuit was named in Tuesday’s announcement but is yet to agree a new contract with F1, its previous deal having expired in 2020.

Work began last year on the partial street circuit in Hanoi that would host the Vietnam GPCredit: AFP or licensors

There are also concerns over fan favourite Interlagos and whether that will host a race in BrazilCredit: Getty Images – Getty
F1 in 2021 kicks off with the traditional opener in Australia, taking place on March 21.
A double-header in Bahrain and China could be followed by a long break if no replacement circuit can be found for Vietnam’s slot on April 25.

Spain’s Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, also yet to agree a new F1 contract, kicks off the European stint on May 9.
And F1 heads back to Monaco, Azerbaijan, France and Canada after cancelling their races amid the pandemic.
It means there is no space for the likes of Mugello, Portimao, Imola or Nurburgring despite the popular return to a number of legacy circuits in 2020.
A summer break will take place between Hungary on August 1 and Spa on August 29.
The sport returns in the autumn with the lone triple-header of the campaign and races in Belgium, the debut of Zandvoort, and Italy.
Singapore, Japan and the United States are among those to welcome back F1 later in the year before the question mark of Brazil on November 14.

The sport’s bosses have signed a deal to race at a new track outside of Rio de Janeiro but environmental concerns, with the circuit requiring forest area be cut down, may see Interlagos remain on the calendar.
Human rights concerns have nevertheless been brushed off with Saudi Arabia awarded the penultimate race of the season, on a street circuit in Jeddah.
The season closes on December 5 at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit.

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LEWIS HAMILTON stays on the pink again – showing off his ripped body in some garish jeans.
The Formula One legend also shared a photo of himself as a six-year-old boy winning one of his first trophies.

Lewis Hamilton in his pink jeans with pet bulldog Roscoe

Hamilton shared this image of him as a six-year-old with one of his first trophies in karting

Lewis Hamilton in his pink denim outfit with his pet bulldog RoscoeCredit: Splash News

Hamilton, 35, always likes to set trends in the fashion stakes – and it was not the first time he has gone for the pink look.
He rocked up at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Italy last month completely in a pink denim outfit.
The Brit, who has hinted he could quit F1, shared on Instagram a revealing shot in his pink jeans with his muscular, tattooed naked torso – with an impressive six pack – on show.
Also in the shot was his sleeping pet bulldog Roscoe.

Hamilton posted the words: “No matter what they say, be you!”
That’s all well and good if you look like an Adonis rather than Wayne Slob!
Hamilton surpassed Michael Schumacher’s world record in F1 when he claimed his 92nd race win last month.
The Hertfordshire racer, who should wrap up a record-equalling seventh world title this year to move level with German Schumacher, has been hailed as the greatest of all time by the likes of Damon Hill.

Hamilton posted his other shot as a boy with one of this first trophies, with another nice message.
The Brit made his name at Hoddesdon’s famous Rye House karting track in east Hertfordshire, winning multiple titles where he made a reputation which impressed McLaren boss Ron Dennis, who took the youngster under his wing.
Hamilton’s post read: “I was 6 years old here when I earned my first two trophies remote control car racing.
“The small trophy was 2nd place in the electric class championship, against grown men.
“The bigger was for best new comer in the bigger petrol cars again against men. I was the youngest by at least 15 years.
“We were also the only people of colour there in a much smaller field.
“I was so proud, these were some the best days of my life spending time with my dad out the back of the old car we had with our pot noodle soup and bacon sandwiches which was very much an English thing. #1991.”
Hamilton is next in action in the Turkish Grand Prix next weekend (November 15).
He is 85 points clear of Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas in this year’s F1 drivers’ standings.

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MOTOGP youngster Ryusei Yamanaka suffered a huge scare when crashing into his team-mate at 140mph and landing on his head.
The Japanese racer flipped his motorbike in the terrifying incident but is thought to be okay after getting back to his feet soon after.

Ryusei Yamanaka clipped the backwheel of Sergio Garcia’s bike in Friday practiceCredit: Twitter @MotoGP

The Japanese teenager went over his handlebars and landed on his headCredit: Twitter @MotoGP

In practice for this weekend’s Moto3 Grand Prix in Valencia, Yamanaka was hurtling down the main straight behind Honda team-mate Sergio Garcia.
In the slipstream of the Spaniard, he was late on the brakes and clipped the back wheel of his colleague.
That was enough to send Yamanaka over his handlebars and he hit the ground head-first in a terrifying impact.
The 19-year-old skidded alongside his bike into the Turn 1 gravel trap and medics rushed onto the scene.

Yamanaka was stretchered away from the incident and could be seen communicating with the emergency crew while sitting up.
MotoGP confirmed shortly afterwards that the Honda star had been taken to the medical centre at Circuit Ricardo Tormo for a check-up.

The terrifying accident occurred at around 140 miles per hourCredit: Twitter @MotoGP

Yamanaka is in the early days of his motorbike racing careerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Yamanaka will hope to be fit for Saturday’s qualifying session, with the race set for Sunday morning.
With 13 points from 12 races in 2020, he sits near the bottom of the Moto3 standings.

This is the Chiba-born racer’s first full year at Moto3 level after finishing fifth in the 2019 Moto3 Junior Championship.

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DEFENDING British Touring Car champion Colin Turkington says the winter conditions could cause chaos in season finale.
The four-time champ is on the cusp of winning a record fifth title as he looks to become the most successful driver in BTCC history.

Colin Turkington is looking to win a record FIFTH championshipCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The 38-year-old currently shares the record for the most amount of BTCC drivers’ championships (four) with Andy Rouse.
But with one race weekend left of the season, Turkington is on verge of winning his third consecutive title.
Turkington feels one of his biggest battles in his scrap for the title will be the winter weather causing chaos at Brands Hatch Indy on November 14-15.
Speaking to SunSport, the BMW driver said: “I think the biggest talking point will be the weather conditions on the day.

“Who knows what’s that going to throw at us.
“It’s the shortest circuit we go to, and to squeeze 28 cars around there, we all want the same bit of track.
“So it will be a case of staying out of trouble and picking your battles.
“Mathematically there are four people who can win the championship, so on that race weekend I am up against those other three people.

“But everyone is fighting for something. No one will roll over, so staying out of trouble will be a key part.”

BTCC title race: Four-way battle

1) Colin Turkington 309
2) Ash Sutton 300
3) Dan Cammish 284
4) Tom Ingram 275

Despite it being a potential record breaking title victory, Turkington says it would not outshine his previous success in BTCC.
“They are all hard in their own ways, they all bring different challenges.
“I was completely put through the ringer last year, I won the championship on the penultimate lap of the last race of the season.
“It went completely down to the wire, it would break anybody to have to do that every year, but you’re willing able to do whatever it takes”.

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LEWIS HAMILTON is being urged to speak out over Saudi Arabia’s ‘abysmal’ human rights record.
Formula One has confirmed it will stage a first Grand Prix in the Middle East country next year.

Formula One has been criticised for agreeing a ten-year deal to race in Saudi ArabiaCredit: AFP or licensors

The races will be held of a street track in Jeddah until the mega new track at Qiddiya is builtCredit: Qiddiya

The GP, the penultimate race of a record 23-round calendar, will be a night event on the streets of Jeddah as part of a ten-year, £500million deal.
But human rights organisation Amnesty International slammed the decision and wants Britain’s six-time world champ Hamilton, his fellow drivers and the teams to express ‘solidarity with jailed human rights defenders’.
F1 follows golf, tennis and boxing by hosting a major event in Saudi Arabia, while the all-electric Formula E series has already staged two races there.
But Amnesty’s head of campaigns, Felix Jakens, said: “It would be incredibly important if Lewis could speak out.

“The onus isn’t just on star drivers but the whole industry to be aware of what is happening in Saudi Arabia.
“If the sport’s most high-profile driver is willing to speak out and say, ‘Actually, this is a country that has an appalling human rights record’, that takes the sheen off Saudi Arabia’s ability to sportswash its image.
“F1 talks about diversification, inclusivity and appealing to LGBT people, so it needs to make a sustained effort on human rights.”
Hamilton has actively campaigned for the Black Lives Matter movement and is demanding more diversity within F1.

Lewis Hamilton has been urged to speak out against F1’s decision to stage races in Saudi ArabiaCredit: AFP

And an Amnesty International statement read: “Formula One should realise a Saudi Grand Prix in 2021 would be part of efforts to sportswash the country’s abysmal human rights record.”
Jakens added: “With critics of the government either jailed, exiled or hounded into silence, the Saudi authorities have pursued a twin approach of crushing human rights while throwing huge amounts of money at glittering sporting events.
“It isn’t just motor racing — it’s golf, boxing, tennis, horse racing and the attempt to buy Newcastle United Football Club.”
The Saudi state has come under severe criticism over the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
But F1 defended its decision to hold a race in Saudi Arabia.
A spokesperson said: “For decades Formula One has worked hard to be a positive force everywhere it races, including economic, social and cultural benefits.

We take our responsibilities very seriously and have made our position on human rights and other issues clear to all our partners.
F1 Spokesperson

“Sports like Formula One are uniquely positioned to cross borders and cultures to bring countries and communities together, to share the passion and excitement of incredible competition.
“We take our responsibilities very seriously and have made our position on human rights and other issues clear to all our partners.”
In 2023, the Saudi GP is set to move to capital Riyadh, where a track is being built at the Qiddiya tourism project.
Next year’s bumper schedule is due to begin in Melbourne on March 21, ending in Abu Dhabi on December 5.

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FORMULA ONE have announced that there will be a Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia in November 2021.
The brand-new race will take place in the city of Jeddah, with the track to run along the banks of the Red Sea.

It has been announced that the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has been added to the 2021 calendarCredit: Saudi Arabia Tourism

The remainder of the F1 2021 schedule is expected to be revealed in the near futureCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Saudi Arabia will become the 33rd country to host a round of the Formula One World Championship when it showcases the race next year.
Jeddah will be the venue for the Grand Prix until a purpose-built track at Qiddiyah is completed, with it not expected to be ready until 2023.
F1 have announced that the final track design for the 2021 circuit is yet to be decided, though organisers want it to take place at night under the lights.
Speaking of the news, Chairman and CEO of Formula 1 Chase Carey said: “We are excited to welcome Saudi Arabia to Formula 1 for the 2021 season and welcome their announcement following speculation in recent days.

“Saudi Arabia is a country that is rapidly becoming a hub for sports and entertainment with many major events taking place there in recent years and we are very pleased that Formula 1 will be racing there from next season.
“The region is hugely important to us and with 70 per cent of the population of Saudi being under 30 we are excited about the potential to reach new fans and bring our existing fans around the world exciting racing from an incredible and historic location.
“We will be publishing our full provisional 2021 calendar in the coming weeks and this will be submitted to the World Motor Sport Council for approval.”
Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki AlFaisal Al Saud added: “Saudi Arabia is accelerating forward and the speed, energy, excitement of Formula 1 perfectly reflects the transformational journey the country is on.

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“As we’ve witnessed in recent years our people want to be at the very heart of the biggest moments in live sport and entertainment.
“And they don’t come any bigger than Formula 1.
“No matter where in the world it’s held, Formula 1 is an event that brings people together to celebrate an occasion that goes far beyond sport.
“We look forward to sharing this unique experience and sharing Jeddah with the world. For many Saudis this will be a dream come true.”
The remainder of the F1 2021 schedule is expected to be revealed in the near future.

Lewis Hamilton admits he doesn’t know if he’ll be in F1 next year after winning Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix More

MERCEDES chief Toto Wolff is holding off contract talks with Lewis Hamilton amid the coronavirus pandemic and revealed their last negotiations took 10 hours.
The British F1 star dropped a bombshell last month by declaring he could quit the sport.

Lewis Hamilton will be out of contract in December and has hinted he could quit F1Credit: Getty

Merc chief Toto Wolff revealed it took 10 hours the last time they thrashed out a contractCredit: Getty

Hamilton, whose contract expires in December, made the revelation after winning the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix last Sunday.
When asked by Wolff’s own uncertain future, Hamilton replied: “I don’t even know if I’m going to be here next year.”
That took some of the shine off Merc’s celebrations after they won the constructors’ title for a record seventh straight time.
Wolff has tried to play down talk of Hamilton leaving, but admitted ahead of the last race contract discussions would likely be lengthy based on how long they took last time.

He said: “The last time took 10 hours but then we had it done and we finished the day with pizza.
“So the truth is, like we’ve always said, there’s a lot of trust between us and we keep saying we’ve got to find a day but I think the championship is more important, the drivers championship.
“I completely understand that Lewis and Valtteri [Bottas] want to concentrate on that, and the constructors for us, and it kind of seems that we have to get that done and then find the time to sit down together.
“And I don’t want to contaminate either of the drivers with Covid and if you spend so much time together, you know, the worst thing would be if they miss a race or more.”

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Wolff also hinted that Hamilton’s talks may even rumble into next year before the season opener in Melbourne in the middle of March.
But Wolff, who is weighing up a new role as chairman of the Mercedes F1 team, believes he is close to agreeing new terms.
Hamilton and the rest of F1’s stars head to Istanbul next week for the Turkish Grand Prix.

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LEWIS HAMILTON says he loves the UK – even if some Brits don’t love him back.
The reigning F1 world champion has made no secret of his fondness for his home country, even if he lives in the tax haven of Monaco.

Lewis Hamilton has opened up on how he misses the UKCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The Brit wakes up to this view from his flat in Monaco

Hamilton, 35, is a big fan of the queen and in an Instagram post joked that he’d love to move into Buckingham Palace.
The Brit, who is on course to win a record-equalling seventh F1 title next week in Turkey, has not lived in the UK since 2007.
He wrote: “This year I have missed England more than any year since I’ve lived abroad.
“I never miss the cold or grey skies but the countryside, the trees, cars driving on the right side of the road lol, the little villages I used to drive through and Buckingham Palace where I’ve always wanted to live (kidding, that’s a line from the movie Cool Runnings).

“Anyway, I’m so proud to stand and represent the British flag and I’m so grateful to those who support me.
“The greatest honour an athlete gets is to stand and lift the flag of their nation. I will continue to do so for as long as I can.”
Hamilton is F1’s most successful driver of all time with 93 wins, first moved to Switzerland before switching to Monaco.
It has led to accusations that he did so to avoid paying tax. Yet even with his shrewd business set up, he is still in the top 5,000 of UK taxpayers.

And he continues to be beaten by the hate mob, unlike Sir Jackie Stewart, who lives in Switzerland, or Jenson Button, who lived in Monaco before moving to the US.
Hamilton, who is estimated to be worth £224million, has yet to sign a new deal at Mercedes, believed to be worth up to £40m a year.
Meanwhile, Hamilton has been hailed as ‘honourable’ by former McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh, who also referred to Michael Schumacher as ‘dirty’.
In an interview with Motorsport Magazine, Whitmarsh, who joined McLaren in 1989 and left in 2014, said: “I’ve got many happy memories of Jenson Button, Mika Hakkinen, Kimi Räikkönen, Juan Pablo Montoya, even Fernando [Alonso]. Extraordinary people in many ways. 
“But the two who hover in my personal experience, that have had this aura of ‘incredibleness’, were Ayrton Senna and Lewis.
“When I met Ayrton he had that already, but when I first met Lewis he didn’t.
“It has grown, and it’s all his doing, his achievement. I was fortunate to have been close to the journey.

“I could never relate to Schumacher in the way maybe I should have done.
“He was always the foe, the dirty one trying to cheat against my driver, so I’m not balanced about Michael.
“Lewis is ruthless, but he wants to win in a genuinely honest and honourable way. I don’t think that mattered to Schumacher.
“You have got to admire people who maintain a degree of innocence and sincerity, like Lewis and Mika, who never pulled a dirty move.”

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