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      Romantic story of how Michael Schumacher played cupid with ex-Ferrari boss Jean Todt and Oscar winner wife Michelle Yeoh

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      FORMULA ONE legend Michael Schumacher blessed fans with some incredible on-track moments throughout his racing career.But for ex-Ferrari Principal Jean Todt, his most memorable act was helping him land the love of his life – and it came at a Scuderia event in Shanghai almost 20 years ago.
      Schumacher and Todt became great friends during their time at FerrariCredit: AFP
      The German played cupid to help Todt in his relationship with Michelle YeohCredit: Alamy
      In 2004, Todt set his eyes on now-Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh for the first time and instantly fell in love.
      But the relationship did not blossom until Schumacher stepped in.
      The German played cupid for the pair and offered Todt some important relationship advice.
      It’s understood Schumacher offered his pal tips on how better to communicate with Yeoh.
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      It clearly worked as the happy couple got engaged one year later and have been going strong for almost two decades.
      As quoted by German outlet BILD, the former Ferarri boss recently said: “I knew immediately that she was my dream woman, even before I met her.
      “It was destiny. She was the woman I had been waiting for.”
      Todt’s relationship with Yeoh led to Schumacher becoming close friends with the Malaysian actress.
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      The trio have been pictured together at events in the past.
      And according to BILD, Todt and Yeoh are among the few people who are aware of the full details of Schumacher’s health following his horrific skiing accident in 2013.
      Yeoh made history on Sunday by becoming the first Asian woman to win the award for best actress at the Oscars.
      Following his partner’s historic Academy Award win, Todt tweeted: “Moment of pure grace and immense happiness! What a journey! So proud of Michelle who received the Oscar Academy Award of the best actress.”
      Yeoh won the award for her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once. More

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      Who is Sky Sports F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham?

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      NATALIE Pinkham has been a stalwart of Sky Sports’ F1 coverage for over 10 years.Here, we take a look at her career, and how she got into working on F1.
      Natalie Pinkham has been part of Sky Sports F1 coverage for over 10 years
      Who is Sky Sports F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham?
      Natalie Pinkham is a television presenter, originally from Buckinghamshire, England.
      She was born on September 20, 1977, and is a pit lane reporter at grand prix races for Sky Sports F1.
      As well as this, Pinkham has presented coverage on a number of different sports.
      This includes The Isle of Man TT and the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
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      She also presented the segment Blues News for Chelsea FC, and has hosted over 200 episodes of her podcast titled In The Pink.
      In the podcast, she interviews a range of different people, looking at their lives and careers, including Damon Hill and Sir Chris Hoy.
      Pinkham studied politics at the University of Nottingham before moving into television.
      Is Natalie Pinkham married and does she have any children?
      Pinkham is married to Owain Walbyoff, who is Managing Director at Endemol Games.
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      The pair were engaged in November 2010, and married in July 2012.
      Together, they have two children, a son named Otto, born in January 2015, and a daughter named Willow, born in June 2016.
      How did Natalie Pinkham get into F1?
      In December 2011, it was confirmed that Pinkham would begin working with Sky Sports for the 2012 F1 season.
      She had previously covered the sport for BBC Radio 5 Live’s commentary team as a pit lane reporter for the 2011 season.
      In 2013, she replaced close friend Georgie Thompson as host of The F1 Show, and in the following years has established herself as a vital part of their coverage.
      In 2021, Pinkham became the first woman to commentate on a Formula One session on British television when she led Sky’s commentary of first practice at the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix, working alongside Karun Chandhok and Jenson Button.
      She also conducts interviews in the pit lane with drivers and others involved in the teams.
      What is Natalie Pinkham’s net worth?
      While it cannot be confirmed exactly, Pinkham’s net worth is estimated to be over £1million.
      Pinkham is believed to have a salary of over £100,000 a year. More

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      ‘I wouldn’t rule it out’ – Lewis Hamilton tipped to make sensational F1 transfer to Mercedes’ rivals

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      SIR LEWIS HAMILTON could move to a rival Formula One team at the end of the 2022-23 season, according to Sky Sports presenter Simon Lazenby.The seven-time world champion is currently enjoying his 10th year with Mercedes.
      Hamilton could join Ferrari at the end of the season, according to LazenbyCredit: Getty
      But it could be his last with the Brackley-based team as his contract expires at the end of the season.
      While Mercedes principal Toto Wolff remains optimistic that an extension agreement will be made, F1 expert Lazenby has suggested that Hamilton could decide to seek a new challenge – especially if he fails to compete for the title again this year.
      The Sky Sports presenter even hinted that he could switch to Ferrari.
      He told Express Sport: “It’s the desire of all drivers to drive for Ferrari.
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      “In the past, Lewis has been quoted as saying he would like to drive for Ferrari.
      “If Ferrari moves comfortably ahead of Mercedes I wouldn’t rule it out.”
      Ferrari and Red Bull have dominated F1 for the past year while Mercedes have struggled to get up to speed – literally.
      Hamilton, who finished fifth at the Bahrain Grand Prix earlier this month, has grown increasingly frustrated as a result.
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      He recently told the BBC: “Last year, I told them the issues that are with the car.
      “Like, I’ve driven so many cars in my life, so I know what a car needs, I know what a car doesn’t need.
      “And I think it’s really about accountability, it’s about owning up and saying ‘yeah, you know what, we didn’t listen to you, it’s not where it needs to be and we’ve got to work’.
      “We’ve got to look into the balance through the corners, look at all the weak points and just huddle up as a team, that’s what we do.”
      If Hamilton were to make the switch to Ferarri, Charles Leclerc could move the other way.
      The Monaco-born driver reportedly wrote to the team’s chief executive, John Elkann, last week to request an emergency meeting following his disastrous start to the season. More

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      I didn’t marry Geri because she’s a Spice Girl… she’s a force of nature who calls me out, says Christian Horner

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      CHRISITAN HORNER has revealed he did not marry Geri Halliwell because she was a Spice Girl.The Red Bull team principal insisted that he married the singer because he “loved her”.
      Christian Horner says he did not marry Geri Halliwell because she was a Spice GirlCredit: PA
      He insists they ‘complement’ each otherCredit: AFP
      The F1 team got off to the perfect start to the season as team drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez took 1st and 2nd place at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
      However his life is just as hectic at home as he doubles up as Red Bulls’ chief executive of Red Bull Racing, Red Bull Powertrains and Red Bull Advanced Technologies at the factory in Milton Keynes.
      While his wife, Geri, has just finished writing a book for children titled Rosie Frost and the Falcon Queen.
      They got together in 2014 and married in 2015, however, some thought that the relationship would not last, but Horner insists that they “complement each other well”.
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      He told The Telegraph: “You know, life works in mysterious ways.
      “I didn’t marry Geri because she’s a Spice Girl.
      “I married her because I fell in love with her.
      “It will be 10 years this time next year and we’ve been happily married for seven.
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      “We’re very different characters but we complement each other well.
      “Geri is a force of nature.”
      Horner is used to being in the limelight with the success on the track of F1, but was shocked when the Spice Girls announced their reunion tour in 2019.
      He added: “Wow, it blew my mind.
      “Suddenly you realise the power of that brand.
      “They sold out 13 stadiums in five minutes, and that included three nights at Wembley – they could have done another two nights, easy.”
      Horner also admitted that he was left embarrassed the first time he tried to kiss Geri. More

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      Spice Girl Geri Horner awkwardly left husband Christian red-faced when he went in for kiss the first time they met

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      SPICE GIRL Geri Horner embarrassed husband Christian the first time he tried to kiss her.The Red Bull chief has been in a relationship with Ginger Spice for ten years, seven of which have been as husband and wife.
      Geri Horner embarrassed husband Christian the first time they metCredit: AFP
      But it took a while for their love to blossom and Horner revealed he was left red-faced the first time he tried to kiss Geri.
      Unfortunately for Horner the incident happened in public – in front of Eddie Jordan and ex-McLaren chief Ron Dennis.
      Horner recalled the incident in an interview with The Telegraph, saying: “She was a guest of Bernie Ecclestone’s in Monaco one year and came down the pit lane.
      “I remember [McLaren boss] Ron Dennis was standing next to me and Eddie Jordan was there as well. Anyway, she gave Ron a kiss on the cheek, and she gave Eddie a kiss on the cheek.
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      “So I thought, ‘OK, I’m on for a kiss on the cheek here!’ And I went to give her one and she shoved her hand out at me!”
      A second meeting at a clay pigeon shooting event at Highclere Castle faired only marginally better, with Geri scrutinising Horner’s favouring of then Red Bull driver Sebastien Vettel over his team-mate Mark Webber.
      Geri reflected on that day saying: “I still call him out sometimes. As any wife does.”
      The pair have one son together named Montague, aged 6, and Geri is often seen by her husband’s side on the F1 circuit.
      Most read in Motorsport
      Geri even comforted Horner after he broke down in tears following Max Verstappen’s championship win last season.
      The couple owns two luxury mansions in Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire, with the former housing three miniature donkeys, horses and goats in the estate’s stables. More

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      Why do F1 cars spark?

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      FORMULA ONE cars have an impressive list of parts to make them go as fast as possible around tracks.But fans noticed a particularly striking feature that stands out during night races such as the recent Bahrain Grand Prix – showers of sparks following the cars as they race across the tarmac.
      Sparks fly from Leclerc’s Ferrari during a race in BahrainCredit: AFP
      Why do F1 cars spark?
      Formula One cars have titanium skid blocks underneath which produce the spectacular sparks seen at tracks like Spa.
      These skid blocks protect the wooden planks which make up part of the floor of the car. When the car is at high speeds, it gets pressed down onto the track from aerodynamic forces.
      The floor then scrapes along the track, producing a light show behind the car as it drives.
      Sparks from the back of a Red Bull as its floor hits the groundCredit: AP
      Sparks have been a part of the sport since the late Eighties, with teams running their cars as low to the ground as possible to create more downforce.
      Especially when full of fuel, the material underneath the cars would scrape along the tarmac, making the infamous sparks we see so often during races.
      However, the FIA introduced titanium blocks back in 2015 under then race director Charlie Whiting. Whilst the material was brought in as a safety feature, another impact was making the sport more exciting to watch on screen.
      Do the sparks impact driving?
      The sparks are great to watch on television but can be distracting for the drivers.
      After a race in Bahrain a few years ago, Carlos Sainz said “It looks great on TV, but for the drivers it is not pleasant at all”.
      Most read in Motorsport
      Sparks can be distracting for drivers behindCredit: Getty
      Former race car driver Nigel Mansell would even seek out bumps in the track to create sparks in order to distract drivers close behind.
      Why are there more sparks at certain circuits?
      Some tracks are more susceptible to producing sparks. Circuits like Spa-Francorchamps that have hills cause many blinding displays as the cars skid along the track.
      Night races such as Jeddah and Abu Dhabi also give impressive displays with the sparks standing out against the night sky. More

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      Disgraced F1 legend ‘faces £1.6million fine’ over racist abuse of Lewis Hamilton two years ago

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      DISGRACED Formula One great Nelson Piquet is reportedly facing a massive lawsuit over his racist comments about Sir Lewis Hamilton.Video footage emerged last February of the three-time world champion using the N-word to describe Hamilton and making homophobic comments about the Mercedes ace after the 2021 British Grand Prix
      Nelson Piquet used racist and homophobic language to describe Sir Lewis HamiltonCredit: AFP
      Piquet issued an apology for his description of Hamilton but is facing a civil lawsuit in his native BrazilCredit: PA
      Piquet is being sued for a whopping £1.6millionCredit: GETTY
      Piquet made the disgraceful jibe during an appearance on a podcast in Brazil, where he’s facing a civil suit.
      According to O Globo, the former Williams ace – the father of reigning champion Max Verstappen’s girlfriend Kelly – is facing a £1.6million lawsuit from the National LGBT+ Alliance and other groups.
      Brazil’s Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Federal District has also joined the campaign to have the 70-year-old reprimanded.
      Their petition read: “During the ill-fated interview in which the defendant comments on an accident that occurred at the Silverstone Grand Prix, in England, in July 2021, he refers multiple times to Lewis Hamilton with contempt, without even mentioning the name of the English pilot, referring to him only as ‘n*****’, and also incurring homophobia.
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      “In the case under discussion, violations of the rights of the victim and the black and LGBTQIA+ population were configured, considering both the plan of international and national regulations.”
      Piquet issued a grovelling apology for his comments, which he insisted weren’t racist.
      He said: “I would like to clear the stories circulating in the media about a comment I made in an interview last year.
      “What I said was ill thought out, and I make no defence for it, but I will clarify that the term used is one that has widely and historically been used in Brazilian Portuguese for a synonym for ‘guy’ or ‘person’ and was never intended to offend.
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      Piquet’s daughter Kelly is the girlfriend of reigning F1 Chmp Max VerstappenCredit: GETTY
      “I would never use the word I have been accused of in some translations.
      “I strongly condemn any suggestion that the word was used by me with the aim of belittling a driver because of his skin colour.
      “I apologise wholeheartedly to anyone that was affected, including Lewis, who is an incredible driver, but the translation in some media that is now circulating on social media is not correct.
      “Discrimination has no place in F1 or society and I am happy to clarify my thoughts in that respect.”
      But his apology wasn’t enough to stop him from being banned from the F1 paddock.
      Sir Lewis said of Piquet’s comments: “Let’s focus on changing the mindset.
      “It’s more than language. These archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport.
      “I’ve been surrounded by these attitudes and targeted my whole life. There has been plenty of time to learn. Time has come for action.”
      The F1 season will resume a week on Sunday with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. More

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      Jenson Button signs mega deal to return to racing six years after F1 retirement

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      JENSON BUTTON has signed a three-race deal to join Nascar six years after retiring from Formula One.The Brit was crowned F1 champion in 2009 and has enjoyed a career in punditry since calling it quits in 2017.
      Jenson Button has signed a three-race deal with NascarCredit: AP
      Button will drive the No. 15 Ford for Rick Ware RacingCredit: Reuters
      But now he is set to take to the track once again, trying his hand at Nascar in the USA.
      Button will make his debut in the stock car series in Texas on March 26.
      He then faces a bit of a wait until his next race – the inaugural Chicago Street Race on July 2, before racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course on August 13.
      Button’s pay has not been disclosed but top drivers in Nascar can earn tens of millions of pounds for the season.
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      Speaking about the new venture, Button said: “The most important thing for me is to enjoy it.
      “I love that challenge of driving new things.
      “Every time an ex-F1 driver gets in a stock car these days, they struggle initially.
      “It takes a while for them to get up to speed, so I don’t expect to be right at the front straight away. But I’m not just doing it for fun in some one-off.
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      “I want to be competitive, and I know that to be competitive it’s going to take a bit of time. That’s why doing these three races works very well this season.”
      Button will drive the No. 15 Ford for the small Rick Ware Racing team, and the car will have support from Stewart-Haas Racing and sponsorship from Mobil 1. More