Motorsport

BERNIE ECCLESTONE is NOT the mysterious buyer of the Williams Formula One team – as questions are raised about the future of the family dynasty.
Williams said last week that the team had been sold to American private investment firm, Dorilton Capital.

2

Bernie Ecclestone is not behind the takeover of the Williams F1 team
The New York-based company paid £136million for complete control but on further investigation, the sale has been transferred to a company called BCE Limited, a fund managed by Dorilton Capital.
Little is known about BCE and the team’s deputy team boss, Claire Williams refused to divulge any details – but she did rule out a sale to former F1 supremo, Ecclestone, who shares the same initials as the secretive owners.
She said: “I spoke to Mr. Ecclestone earlier in the week, and I did ask if it was him behind it. That’s a joke, by the way, it’s not. Bernie has nothing to do with our new ownership.
“Dorilton Capital is completely independent and Bernie is not the new owner of Williams. I cannot get into a whole lot of detail of the people behind Dorilton, that will become clearer over the coming weeks and months.

“But they have done a lot of due diligence and gone through everything to understand our team and the sport. They have some very strong advisors who have been helping them through this to build their knowledge.
“They are already working in the team in order to understand what is required going forward. I have absolute confidence they are the right people to take this team forward.”
When pushed as to who BCE were, the new owners, Williams simply said “I have no comment to make”.

The ten greatest F1 drivers of all-time – according to SunSport’s motorsport correspondent Ben Hunt
While she is adamant that the sale was essential to keep the team in business, there is a feeling that both Williams and her father, Sir Frank, who formed the team in 1977 could be forced out as part of a management overhaul.

The Grove-based team have slumped to the back of the grid and urgently require investment, which the team are confident will come from the new owners.
When quizzed about her position, she added: “This is very early days and it is business as usual. I am running the team in my capacity and that will continue to be the case.
“I would be lying if I didn’t say it had been an emotional few months but we have managed to get our heads around it and that is a good thing.
“At Williams, we have always put the team first. It has been at the heart of the Williams’ family.
“We put our people first and our success and the future of our team first when making decisions in what we do.

2

Williams sit bottom of the F1 2020 Constructors Championship with zero points
“So it was almost a no-brainer for us. The team needed the investment and it now has a really bright future under its new owners and you will see the Williams name racing in Formula One.
“I am really pleased that the Concorde Agreement and most importantly, the financial regulations that are coming through with the cost cap and the redistribution of the prize money.
“It will make a big difference for teams like ours and whether the Williams family own it or not, it doesn’t matter.”
Meanwhile, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has swerved questions about his own future.
The Austrian is out of contract at the end of the year and said two weeks ago he was reevaluating his future.
And when quizzed on TV if he has reached a decision, he quipped: “Maybe I will work for Sky and do some of the analysis.
“I come fresh out of the job and have a lot of information if you offer me a good deal.”

Gossip

JU’RE JOKING
Barcelona reject Higuain for Suarez deal after Juve propose shock striker swap

Exclusive

French Dready
Leeds and Leicester among SIX Prem clubs set for £30m Edouard bidding war

Gossip

TRIPLE THREAT
Man City ‘willing to offer £89.5m PLUS Silva, Jesus and Garcia for Messi’

UNBELIEVABLE JEFF
Stelling ‘considering quitting Soccer Saturday’ after ‘best mates’ sacked

Gossip

HEC OF A SIGNING
Juve ‘contact’ Arsenal as Pirlo targets Bellerin but Gunners want £27m

CATALAN KING
Messi’s life of luxury in Barcelona with £5m home in no-fly zone & £26m hotel

Wolff also dodged questions about signing Lewis Hamilton up to a new deal, making reference to when they completed the Brit’s last deal over a pizza.
He added: “Lots of pizzas to be eaten and lots of things to be discussed.
“It is a funny situation because we get along so well, we are hesitant to have the difficult discussions.”

I want to be a dad again at 90 and I don’t need Viagra, says ex-F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone More

FORMULA ONE have released details of a second race in Bahrain where records will be smashed – all under the night sky.
The Sakhir circuit will host two GPs later in the year with the second instalment on December 6, raced around the outer track and after sunset.

3

The ‘outer track’ at Sakhir will be used this year, with records set to tumble

3

Racers will likely average 143mph per lap with each circuit taking 55 seconds
F1 predict that a lap for qualifying will take just 55 seconds, while in race trim the cars will still be lapping at under a minute a lap.
The 3.543km track has just 11 corners and is the second-shortest on the calendar behind Monaco.
However, the speeds will be considerably higher in Bahrain – averaging around 143mph per lap.
That in turn means the number of laps has been set at a dizzying 87 for the full race.

Only once in the history of F1 has a driver produced a qualifying lap quicker than 60 seconds.
And that was Niki Lauda at the French GP in 1974, when he posted a time of 58.79 seconds while driving for Ferrari.
F1 managing director Ross Brawn said: “We are excited to announce the outer circuit as the format for the Sakhir Grand Prix.

3

Hamilton and Co are set to smash the one-minute per lap barrier at Sakhir

The ten greatest F1 drivers of all-time – according to SunSport’s motorsport correspondent Ben Hunt

Gossip

JU’RE JOKING
Barcelona reject Higuain for Suarez deal after Juve propose shock striker swap

Exclusive

French Dready
Leeds and Leicester among SIX Prem clubs set for £30m Edouard bidding war

Gossip

TRIPLE THREAT
Man City ‘willing to offer £89.5m PLUS Silva, Jesus and Garcia for Messi’

UNBELIEVABLE JEFF
Stelling ‘considering quitting Soccer Saturday’ after ‘best mates’ sacked

Gossip

HEC OF A SIGNING
Juve ‘contact’ Arsenal as Pirlo targets Bellerin but Gunners want £27m

CATALAN KING
Messi’s life of luxury in Barcelona with £5m home in no-fly zone & £26m hotel

“[We] want to thank our partners at the Bahrain International Circuit for their continued support.

“We assessed a number of options for the alternative circuit layout.
“[We] concluded the outer circuit will provide the best alternative and will provide a new challenge for all the teams and entertain all our fans with high speeds and fast lap times.”

Lewis Hamilton claims F1 chiefs are trying to stop him winning a seventh world title by slowing Mercedes down More

THE Belgian Grand Prix will kick-off the third round of triple header races on the F1 2020 calendar this season.
This comes after Lewis Hamilton cruised to victory in the Spanish Grand prix earlier this month, with the Brit star hoping to bag another victory at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

3

Hamilton’s victory at the Spanish Grand Prix was the 88th of his careerCredit: Splash News
Triple Headers were introduced as a solution to complete the F1 season which came to a sudden halt when coronavirus outbreak hit.
The F1 season usually runs for 22 matches, but this will impossible to meet because of the pandemic.
Despite this, F1 bosses are optimistic that can still acheive a 15-18 race season.
 F1 boss Ross Brawn said: “That’s not great, but it’s better than no racing at all.”

3

F1 managing director Ross Brawn believes the F1 season can still be completedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
When is the F1 Belgian Grand Prix?
The Belgian Grand Prix takes place on Sunday August 30, 2020.
First practice will be on Friday, August 28 and begins at 10am BST.
Second practice then follows at 2pm.
Qualifying will be on Saturday at 2pm, before the big race on Sunday.
What live stream and TV channel is the F1 Belgian Grand Prix on?
The Belgian Grand Prix will be shown live on Sky Sports F1.
If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOW TV pass from just £8.99 to stream on your mobile, tablet, games console or PC.
Existing Sky customers can watch the race on the move by downlaoding the Sky Go app, which is comaptible with most smart devices.

3

The Belgian Grand Prix will be the seventh race of the seasonCredit: Getty – Contributor
What is the F1 Belgian Grand Prix full schedule and timings?
Friday, August 28
10am: Belgian GP Practice One
2pm: Belgian GP Practice Two
Saturday, August 29
11am: Belgian GP Practice Three
2pm: Belgian GP Qualifying
Sunday, August 30
2.10pm: The 2020 Belgian Grand Prix

RACING ON
Hamilton ‘fully aligned’ with Blake protests but will NOT boycott Belgian GP

Live Blog

LIGHTS OUT
F1 Belgian Grand Prix LIVE: Follow all the latest as Hamilton goes for glory

F1 SHOCK
Ex-F1 boss Flavio Briatore rushed to hospital in ‘serious’ condition with Covid

Exclusive

‘STILL CAN’T BELIEVE IT’
Ilott emotionally recalls pal Hubert’s fatal Spa crash a year on

SAK TRACK A CRACK
Records to tumble as F1 share plans for Sakhir with laps of under 60 secs

F1 Driver’s Championship standings
1. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes 132 points
2. Max Verstappen – Red Bull 95 points
3. Valterri Bottas – Mercedes 89 points
4. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari 45 points
5. Lance Stroll – Racing Point 40 points More

THE Belgian Grand Prix will kick-off the third round of triple header races on the F1 2020 calendar this season.
This comes after Lewis Hamilton cruised to victory in the Spanish Grand prix earlier this month, with the Brit star hoping to bag another victory at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

3

Hamilton’s victory at the Spanish Grand Prix was the 88th of his careerCredit: Splash News
Triple Headers were introduced as a solution to complete the F1 season which came to a sudden halt when coronavirus outbreak hit.
The F1 season usually runs for 22 matches, but this will impossible to meet because of the pandemic.
Despite this, F1 bosses are optimistic that can still acheive a 15-18 race season.
 F1 boss Ross Brawn said: “That’s not great, but it’s better than no racing at all.”

3

F1 managing director Ross Brawn believes the F1 season can still be completedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
When is the F1 Belgian Grand Prix?
The Belgian Grand Prix takes place on Sunday August 30, 2020.
First practice will be on Friday, August 28 and begins at 10am BST.
Second practice then follows at 2pm.
Qualifying will be on Saturday at 2pm, before the big race on Sunday.
What live stream and TV channel is the F1 Belgian Grand Prix on?
The Belgian Grand Prix will be shown live on Sky Sports F1.
If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOW TV pass from just £8.99 to stream on your mobile, tablet, games console or PC.
Existing Sky customers can watch the race on the move by downlaoding the Sky Go app, which is comaptible with most smart devices.

3

The Belgian Grand Prix will be the seventh race of the seasonCredit: Getty – Contributor
What is the F1 Belgian Grand Prix full schedule and timings?
Friday, August 28
10am: Belgian GP Practice One
2pm: Belgian GP Practice Two
Saturday, August 29
11am: Belgian GP Practice Three
2pm: Belgian GP Qualifying
Sunday, August 30
2.10pm: The 2020 Belgian Grand Prix

RACING ON
Hamilton ‘fully aligned’ with Blake protests but will NOT boycott Belgian GP

F1 SHOCK
Ex-F1 boss Flavio Briatore rushed to hospital in ‘serious’ condition with Covid

Exclusive

‘STILL CAN’T BELIEVE IT’
Ilott emotionally recalls pal Hubert’s fatal Spa crash a year on

TO THE MAX
Who is Max Verstappen’s girlfriend Dilara Sanlik and who else has he dated?

LUCKY ESCAPE
MotoGP riders in 200mph horror crash as legend Rossi cheats death

F1 Driver’s Championship standings
1. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes 132 points
2. Max Verstappen – Red Bull 95 points
3. Valterri Bottas – Mercedes 89 points
4. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari 45 points
5. Lance Stroll – Racing Point 40 points More

LEWIS HAMILTON will NOT boycott the Belgian Grand Prix despite being “fully aligned” with the Jacob Blake protests.
A number of American athletes boycotted games after widespread unrest in response to the shooting of Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

1

Lewis Hamilton will race in Belgian despite his support for American boycottsCredit: EPA
Blake, a black man, was shot seven times in the back by Police in horrifying footage and has been left paralysed from the waist down.
In response, three NBA play-off games, two Major League Baseball matches, three WNBA games and five MLS football fixtures were postponed after player-led protests.
Hamilton – a leading voice during the Black Lives Matter movement in recent months – will still race on.
He told Sky Sports: “It’s a shame that’s what’s needed over there to get a reaction.

“But that is in America and I don’t know if really me doing anything here will particularly have any effect.
“We’re in Belgium, we’re not in the United States.
“I haven’t spoken to anyone about it but I am really proud with so many out there and I do stand unified with them.
“Trying to do what I can over here, I don’t really know how us not doing the race, it will still go on, is a thing. 

“But I will try to speak to Formula 1 to see what else we can do to continue to raise awareness. 
“Naturally as a sport, I think we all need to be aligned, supportive of each other, even though it’s a different sport.”

The six-time world champ elaborated on his feelings about the racial injustices across the Atlantic.
He added: “Ultimately it’s disgusting that minorities and people out there have to protest to get justice.
“And even when they do, justice is still not given.
“It’s such a mess over there but I’m really so inspired and proud of the other athletes out there that are utilising the platform they have, using their voice.
“We already started seeing it with Colin Kaepernick a long time ago – it’s like four years ago now – who lost his job for standing for what was right.

HARRY SPEAKS
Tearful Maguire’s kidnap fears as Greek cops ‘cuffed him & hit leg with baton’

Gossip

TRIPLE THREAT
Man City ‘willing to offer £89.5m PLUS Silva, Jesus and Garcia for Messi’

COVID CHAOS
England rocked as FIVE stars test positive for Covid-19 before Nations League

Exclusive

LOW PROFILE
Harry Maguire seen at hotel after Mykonos brawl amid claims cops beat him up

PHLEGMIER LEAGUE
Premier League plunged into crisis as more players test positive for Covid

CATALAN KING
Messi’s life of luxury in Barcelona with £5m home in no-fly zone & £26m hotel

“There needs to be change and it’s going to take all of these great athletes and people coming together to really push and force for change, because it needs to be forced.
“Because at the moment you’ve got the president sitting there not doing anything and you see Martin Luther King obviously was fighting for the same issues 60 years ago and gave his life up, and we’re still fighting it today.
“I just take a lot of inspiration from it and I feel fully aligned with them. My heart and thoughts and prayers go out to those continuously on a daily basis are losing their lives through racism.”

Lewis Hamilton claims F1 chiefs are trying to stop him winning a seventh world title by slowing Mercedes down More

FORMULA ONE will return to the Spa circuit this week 12 months on from it claiming the life of young racer, Anthoine Hubert.
The Frenchman was killed in the smash at the top of notorious Raidillon hill when he struck a tyre barrier and his Formula 2 car was spat out into the path of Juan Manuel Correa’s car.

6

Callum Ilott has recalled pal Hubert’s fatal crash in an emotional interview 12 months on Credit: Getty Images – Getty

6

Hubert died following a collision with Correa at Spa a year agoCredit: AFP

6

Hubert succumbed to his injuries after hitting a tyre wall and spinning into CorreaCredit: Rex Features
The two collided and while Hubert succumbed to his injuries, Correa was left fighting for his life after striking the wreckage at over 150mph.
The sport was plunged into mourning and for British racer, Callum Ilott it was especially tough.
The 21-year-old from Cambridge was teammates with Correa while he was incredibly close to Hubert, as the two had raced as team-mates in 2016 and 2018.
‘HARD TO TAKE’
In an emotional conversation with Ilott, who is currently leading the Formula 2 championship, he told SunSport: “To have both your team-mate and your former team-mate involved in an accident like that…

“One passing away and the other being very close to… it was very hard to take.
“The way I made peace with it was analyse the situation and understand it was a one in a trillion accident.
“There are lessons to be learnt. I took away my personal views.
“I changed my outlook and spent some more time with my family, because you never know when things can change.”

Ilott recalls the moments before and after Hubert’s death and says that upon learning of his former team’s death, he was reduced to tears.

I drove back to the pits and you realise ‘s***, what’s happened’. I caught the end of the impact and I couldn’t piece it together.
Ilott on Spa smash

He added: “I was coming up the hill at Eau Rouge and I could see in the distance there was a big cloud of brown grass and dirt.
“I was the first person to stop in front of the crash and there was so much debris that I could not even tell how many cars were in the accident.
“I could see my team-mate was upside down and because you are in racing mode, you see everything but you don’t understand what happened.
“I drove back to the pits and you realise ‘s***, what’s happened’. I caught the end of the impact and I couldn’t piece it together.
“It was not until 30 minutes after the race I saw a video of the accident and I knew it was not good. It is not easy to walk away after one of those.
“At 6.45pm, we got the official statement and everyone in the paddock was upset.
“I was crying, Anthoine was a team-mate of mine and a close friend.
“I still don’t believe it. Even to this day, even though I have made peace with it, you don’t think it can happen in a race to you.”

6

Hubert’s car bounced off the wall and into Correa, with the former’s car flipping and breaking apartCredit: Canal+

6

Flowers have been left on the corner of the fatal crash this week on the one-year anniversary of Hubert’s deathCredit: Getty Images – Getty

6

Racers and F2 officials held a minute’s silence at Spa after the crash in 2019Credit: EPA
Ilott went to visit Correa in hospital soon after the accident and the Ecuadorian-American racer will be invited as a guest of honour this weekend, where there will be tributes for Hubert.
He says he has since used his friend’s passing as a form of motivation to achieve his goal of reaching F1.
He is currently top of the championship driving for the Virtuosi Racing team and upstaging big names, such as Mick Schumacher, the son of Michael, and Giuliano Alesi, whose dad is former F1 driver, Jean.
They are all part of the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) but it is Ilott – who does not have the same family racing history or sponsorship clout as the others – is leading the way.
And he hopes that should he win the F2 title this season, he will get his shot in F1 with the Italian team or with their sister outfit, Alfa Romeo.

FIRED UP
Ian Wright slams ‘stinking mouthed racists’ blaming black pundits for Sky sackings

FOOTy FEAR
Premier League in Covid chaos as Pogba infected & Chelsea stars quarantine

MINTO AXED
Sky Sports sack ex-Chelsea ace Minto a day after axing three star names

POG SHOCK
Pogba and Ndombele test positive for coronavirus and omitted from France squad

Gossip

GOING ETI-MAD
Lionel Messi’s dad ‘already in Manchester negotiating transfer’ with City

KELL YEAH!
Kell Brook offered £1.1m to fight Terence Crawford for world title in November

He said: “Everything is going to plan. I am focused on doing my best each weekend and really cannot do any more.
“Hopefully those things will come. At the end of the day, the F1 team makes the decision and you have to fit in, but it is funny how the tables can turn.
“In some people’s eyes I might not have the motorsport background or leverage that some people think, but look at Lando Norris, George Russell and Alex Albon, they all came in to F1 with talent.
“When you get to this level, every one is good, so you have to stand out and this year, I have tried hard to do that.”

Inspirational moment F2 driver Correa walks again for first time since horror crash that killed Antoine Hubert More

Formula 1 has now completed its sixth race of the season and all eyes are on Belgium as the race calendar continues this weekend.
Mercedes extraordinaire Lewis Hamilton is in pole position in the driver standings, after cruising to victory in the Spanish Grand Prix earlier this month.

2

Hamilton cruised to victory in the Spanish Grand Prix.Credit: PA:Press Association
F1 Schedule
Previous races
July 05 2020: Austrian Grand Prix – Red Bull Ring, Spielberg – Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
July 12 2020: Styrian Grand Prix – Red Bull Ring, Spielberg – Lewis Hamilton (Merecedes)
July 19 2020: Hungarian Grand Prix –  Hungaroring, Mogyoród – Lewis Hamilton (Merecedes)
August 02 2020: British Grand Prix – Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

August 09 2020: 70th Anniversary Grand Prix – Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone – Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing Honda)
August 16 2020: Spanish Grand Prix – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmeló – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Upcoming Races
 August 30 2020: Belgian Grand Prix – Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot
September 6 2020: Italian Grand Prix –  Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza

September 13 2020: Tuscan Grand Prix – Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, Scarperia e San Piero
September 27 2020: Russian Grand Prix –  Sochi Autodrom, Sochi
11 October 2020: Eifel Grand Prix –  Nürburgring, Nürburg
25 October 2020: Portugese Grand Prix – Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimão
November 1 2020: Emilia Romanga Grand Prix – Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola

F1 SHOCK
Ex-F1 boss Flavio Briatore rushed to hospital in ‘serious’ condition with Covid

IN A STATE
Briatore says he was hospitalised with prostate problems amid coronavirus claims

winning formula
What is DRS, what does it stand for, when did F1 introduce it?

WHO ARE LEW?
Meet Hamilton’s family from dad he sacked to racer brother with cerebral palsy

gone girls
F1 axes Grid Girls from Grand Prix races days after darts drops walk-on models

2

The Belgian Grand Prix will be the seventh race of the seasonCredit: AP:Associated Press
What TV channel is F1 2020 on and can I live stream it?
The Belgian Grand Prix will take place on Sunday August 30, 2020.
You can watch it live on Sky Sports F1, live from 2.10pm.
Sky customers can add individual channels for just £18 per month or add the complete sports package to their deal for just £23 per month.
Existing Sky Sports customers can also live stream the race via the Sky Go app on most devices.
If you’re not a Sky customer, you can watch the Belgian Grand Prix by buying a Sky Sports day pass for £9.99, or alternatively buying a month pass for £33.99. More

FLAVIO BRIATORE has insisted he was hospitalised with prostate problems amid claims he has coronavirus.
The former Renault boss, 70, revealed he is still waiting for his Covid-19 test result.

3

Briatore helped Michael Schumacher to his first two Formula One world titlesCredit: AP:Associated Press
Reports claimed Briatore was in a “serious condition” suffering from complications caused by coronavirus.
But he has claimed he was taken to hospital because his prostate is inflamed.
Speaking from his hospital bed, the 70-year-old said: “I only have severe prostatitis.
“On Sunday evening I went to San Raffaele in Milan and they hospitalised me.

“While I was here, I took a swab and I still don’t know if I’m positive.
“Maybe it is, with the winds that are in Sardinia.”
Briatore pointed out that he is suffering with “inflammation of the prostate and almost nothing else.”
The former F1 team boss – who is dating a law student 49 YEARS younger than him – concluded: “But I feel good, very good.”

3

Reports claimed Flavio Briatore had contracted coronavirus Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Exclusive

HARRY’S HIDEAWAY
Inside luxury £21,000-a-week villa where Harry Maguire stayed before brawl

Exclusive

SOCCER SACK-URDAY
Sky Sports SACK Le Tissier, Nicholas and Thompson from Soccer Saturday

HARRY COMES ACROPOLIS
Maguire says ‘truth can’t be hidden’ after cop assault conviction

STRUCK DOWN
Bolt’s agent confirms positive coronavirus test as police probe birthday party

heart scare
Ex-Utd ace Blind COLLAPSES mid-game as Dutch star’s heart problems resurface

LEO HINT?
Wantaway Messi follows just four clubs on Twitter including Man City and Chelsea

His illness follows his Billionaire club being shut down following a spate of positive coronavirus tests seemingly stemming from the Porto Cervo hotspot.
Around 60 members of staff returned positive results from the latest batch of tests.
Briatore – who owned QPR between 2007 and 2010 – is being treated at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan.

3

Flavio Briatore, pictured in 2008, is not in intensive care Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Lewis Hamilton upsets West London neighbours ‘with plans to build party pad at £18m home’ More