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      Lewis Hamilton vents frustration at Mercedes & reveals he ‘told team about car issues LAST YEAR’ after Bahrain disaster

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has vented his frustration at Mercedes and says that he told them about the car’s speed issues last season.The seven-time Formula One world champion started the new season in disappointing fashion last weekend.
      Lewis Hamilton says he told Mercedes about the car’s problems last seasonCredit: Getty
      The 38-year-old could only finish sixth in Bahrain as rival Max Verstappen romped to victory for Red Bull.
      Mercedes already had concerns about their W14 design, which is an evolved version of their “no-sidepod” one from last season which caused numerous issues as the team missed out on an eighth-consecutive constructors’ championships. 
      Mercedes boss Toto Wolff wants his development team to reproduce a “radical” new design following the “worst weekend of racing” at the Sakhir Circuit.
      However, motorsport legend Hamilton says they would not be having these issues if the team had listened to him previously.
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      The Brit told 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.
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      “We’re still multi world champions you know, it’s just they haven’t got it right this time, they didn’t get it right last year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get it right moving forwards.”
      Hamilton went winless for the first time in his F1 career last season while team-mate George Russell scored one victory for the team in Brazil.
      But despite the prospect of another year of struggle, Wolff does not expect that to prevent Hamilton from agreeing new terms.
      Hamilton, 38, has a contract until the end of the year and both Jenson Button and Damon Hill have questioned whether he will re-sign now he’s not winning.
      Hamilton said he IS committed to the team and Wolff has also dismissed the idea he will walk away now he has a battle on his hands. More

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      Max Verstappen warned he faces ‘very strong’ challenge for F1 title… but not from Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes

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      TWO-TIME Formula One champion Emerson Fittipaldi has warned Max Verstappen he could face a “very strong” challenge to his title bid. Verstappen cruised to victory at the season opener in Bahrain, with team-mate Sergio Perez a comfortable second.
      Max Verstappen cruised to victory at the Bahrain Grand PrixCredit: The Mega Agency
      But he has been warned he faces ‘very strong’ opposition by Emerson FittipaldiCredit: Rex
      Fittpaldi won his two F1 titles in 1972 and 1974Credit: Getty

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      Everything thus far points to another easy championship for the flying Dutchman.
      However, competition could come from an unusual source this season.
      Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso claimed the final podium spot at the race.
      And Fittipaldi, who won the 1972 and 1974 F1 titles, has warned Alonso could pose the biggest challenge of the season.
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      Speaking to VegasInsider, Fittipaldi said: “Fernando Alonso’s podium was an unexpected one.
      “I think the Aston Martin’s performance even surprised Fernando and everyone in the team.
      “If you look at the mid-corners and slow-speed corners, Fernando was able to have different lines than the competitors. That means he had extra grip there.
      “When he overtook, he was very manoeuvrable on the slow, mid-speed corners. That means the car has a very good grip and handling.
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      Fittipaldi reckons Fernando Alonso could put up the biggest fight this seasonCredit: Rex
      “Lance Stroll was quick. With all the problems he’s had, he was running very strong, very quickly.
      “That means they’ll be a challenge in this year’s Championship. No doubt.”
      Over the last decade, Red Bull have duked out titles mainly with Mercedes and Ferrari.
      However, the regulation changes which came into effect last year saw Lewis Hamilton’s team dramatically drop off the pace of the front of the order.
      Meanwhile, consistency issues in both strategy and reliability have ensured Ferrari have not truly been able to compete on race day.
      Therefore, in 2023, Alonso and Aston Martin could pose the most significant threat to Verstappen achieving a three-peat.
      An incredible omen also suggests Alonso could land his third title before Verstappen, with the winner of the opening race in the last six years NOT going on to win the championship.
      Though the legality of the Aston Martin has now been openly questioned.
      Lewis Hamilton is not likely to challenge this seasonCredit: PA More

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      ‘The question is: Which car?’ – Toto Wolff reveals Mercedes’ major headache as he predicts ‘extremely difficult’ season

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      TOTO WOLFF has revealed Mercedes face a huge dilemma after their slow start to the season.Red Bull dominated the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday with Max Verstappen securing victory in emphatic fashion.
      Toto Wolff is facing a big dilemma after Mercedes’ slow start to the seasonCredit: Getty
      The result leaves Mercedes with a big question – whether to come up with a new car design or develop their current W14.
      Wolff, 51, admitted it is unlikely his team will compete with Red Bull for the F1 championship, which could lead him to scrap the current development plans.
      He told Motorsport: “It is extremely difficult to catch up such an advantage, but it is what we have to do. We have no choice.
      “I am not sure the budget cap gives you constraints in the position where we are, but we do need to decide which direction we are going in and put all the resources behind it.
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      “We are still developing one car. The question is just which car.”
      Mercedes could decide to continue working on their current model and Sir Lewis Hamilton has urged them to do exactly that.
      The seven-time champion finished fifth in Bahrain, 51 seconds off Verstappen and has urged his team to come up with improvements.
      He said: “I am generally happy with the race, it was much better with the qualifying and I am happy with my performance.
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      “There’s not much more I could have done. Set the car up differently maybe? But overall just lacking performance.
      “The team did a great job with the pit stops, just unfortunately, the car is just not there at the moment, we are lacking downforce and we have just got to work really hard to try and add that ASAP.
      “Anything that is in the wind tunnel, we need it tomorrow. We need to push massively to close that gap.” More

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      ‘Three Red Bulls on podium’ – Team chief questions legality of Aston Martin F1 car after Fernando Alonso’s third place

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      DESPITE a storming weekend for Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin, questions have been raised over the legality of their car. Alonso scored his 99th career podium in Formula One at the season opener in Bahrain, adding £250million to Aston Martin’s share price in the process.
      ‘Three Red Bulls’ were on the podium at the Bahrain Grand PrixCredit: Rex
      Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin has had it’s legality questionedCredit: AFP
      The Spaniard overtook Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz on track before scoring a third-place finish behind Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
      However, Red Bull chief Helmut Marko could not help but question the specification of the car.
      Speaking to Servus TV following the race, Marko said: “We had three Red Bulls on the podium, only the last one with a different engine.”
      Indeed, the Silverstone-based outfit recruited Red Bull’s former head of aerodynamics Dan Fallows in 2022.
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      Perhaps unsurprisingly it has led to some similarities being drawn between the two concepts.
      But Marko has been left wondering whether there is any foul play involved.
      He added: “It’s true that what Fallows had in his head cannot be erased.
      “Copying the focus is not prohibited, but can you copy in such detail without having documentation of our car?”
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      Despite Marko’s serious tone on the matter, Perez and team principal Christian Horner have taken a more light-hearted approach.
      During his post-race press conference, Perez joked: “It’s nice to see three Red Bull cars on the podium.”
      Meanwhile, Horner said: “They say imitation is the biggest form of flattery, and it’s good to see the old car going so well.”
      Aston have previously landed themselves in hot water with a similar situation a few years ago.
      When they were still known as Racing Point, the team were accused of copying Mercedes’ 2019 car design in 2020.
      This led to their car being nicknamed: “The Pink Mercedes”.
      Following a protest from Renault – now Alpine – the FIA slapped Racing Point with a £359,000 (€400,000) fine and a 15-point deduction in the constructor’s championship.
      This was because they had been found guilty of copying Mercedes’ rear brake ducts from 2019.

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      I was jailed after CS gassing a taxi driver which led to Michael Schumacher getting his F1 debut and the rest is history

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      RACING legend Michael Schumacher was handed his Formula 1 debut after French driver Bertrand Gachot was imprisoned for Actual Bodily Harm.Eddie Jordan’s racing team began the 1991 season with the driver pair of Gachot and Andrea de Cesaris.
      Bertrand Gachot was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 1991Credit: Getty
      Gachot’s imprisonment handed Michael Schumacher his F1 debutCredit: Getty
      But they were soon left a man short when Gachot was sentenced to 18 months behind bars.
      It was the result of a road rage incident in December 1990 where his car crashed into a taxi.
      Following a confrontation, Gachot sprayed the taxi driver with CS gas.
      He was subsequently arrested for Actual Bodily Harm.
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      Gachot learnt that Schumacher had replaced him while he was in jailCredit: Getty
      This picture was taken outside court before Gachot was found guilty in 1991Credit: National Pictures
      When the trial took place nine months later, he was expecting to be handed a fine or suspended prison term.
      Instead, Gachot was locked up meaning he could not compete in the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix.
      This gave Schumacher his breakthrough opportunity – something Gachot was not aware of until someone told him in jail.
      Schumacher ended up qualifying seventh ahead of team-mate De Cesaris in 11th.
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      And while he was then forced to retire from the race on the first lap, word soon got back to Gachot about the talented driver that had replaced him.
      Speaking about the events on the Beyond The Grid podcast in 2021, Gachot said: “I didn’t know [about Schumacher].
      “The first time somebody spoke to me about Michael Schumacher – I won’t forget – is one of the guards in jail.
      “He said, ‘The new guy that they hired is so good, they don’t need you anymore. So you can stay here’. I tell you, word for word.”
      He added: “Andrea de Cesaris sent me a letter. And that was very funny. I was really good friends with Andrea, and he was an amazing guy.
      “He wrote me the letter saying, ‘Don’t worry about the German. He just got me in qualifying, but I will get him soon. You watch.'”
      Schumacher ended up joining Benneton-Ford for the remainder of 1991 and managed three top six finishes before the end of the season.
      He would go on to win two F1 world titles with Benneton-Ford, before joining Ferrari and claiming another five drivers’ championships.
      Meanwhile, Gachot was released from prison after just two months following an appeal.
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      He drove for the Larrousse team for the rest of the 1991 season and in 1992.
      He then finished his F1 career with Pacific Racing, driving for them in 1994 and 1995.
      Gachot raced until 1995 following his release from prisonCredit: Getty
      Schumacher holds the record for seven world title wins alongside Lewis HamiltonCredit: Getty
      Schumacher led Ferrari to unprecedented successCredit: Getty More

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      Fernando Alonso puts staggering 15 per cent – worth £250 MILLION – onto Aston Martin share price after Bahrain GP podium

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      FERNANDO ALONSO added £250million onto Aston Martin’s share price after his stunning Bahrain podium. F1’s oldest current driver was in supreme form on his debut for his new team and took advantage of the Aston’s new-found pace.
      F1 veteran Alonso was in joyous mood after his first podium since 2021Credit: Rex
      His podium was one of the stories of the day from the opening race of the season, which Max Verstappen won at a canter.
      But fans continue to be excited about Aston Martin’s emergence, a feeling that appears to be shared by traders.
      The brand’s stock went up by 15 per cent – worth around £250m – after the car’s marvellous showing in the Middle East, according to sport and business journalist Joe Pompliano.
      This will be to the delight of part-owner and executive chairman Lawrence Stroll, who watched son Lance finish sixth in the other Aston Martin car despite recent injuries.
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      Stroll Sr led a consortium of investors to buy the team in 2018.
      Back then they were still called Force India and were struggling to properly establish themselves towards the front of the grid.
      The team changed name to Racing Point in 2019 and would adopt an eye-catching pink livery.
      Lawrence’s son Lance would also join from Williams.
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      Results would eventually pick up with the highlight coming in Bahrain in 2020 when Sergio Perez won the Sakhir Grand Prix and Stoll finished third to give the team their best ever result.
      With the team rebranding as Aston Martin in 2021, results would again go backwards.
      But now the outfit looks incredibly competitive with part-owner Stroll open about his ambitions to win the world championship.
      Two-times world champion Alonso, 41, is still widely considered to be among the best drivers in F1.
      He won the title in 2005 and 2006 with Renault before moves to McLaren, Ferrari and Alpine.
      His first race in F1 was all the way back at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix. More

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      I’m an F1 supremo worth millions but I can pinpoint the exact moment I knew I couldn’t be a Grand Prix driver

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      RED BULL boss Christian Horner is one of the most recognisable faces in Formula One today – but he never fulfilled his dream of being a Grand Prix driver.Horner, 49, can pinpoint that day 24 years ago where the realisation that he wouldn’t make it to F1 hit.
      Christian Horner can recall the moment he realised he wouldn’t make it in F1Credit: EPA
      The Red Bull principal – 25 at the time – was driving in Formula 3000 for a team he was also running in Arden.
      Speaking to The Times, Horner recalled: “Pre-season testing in Estoril.
      “coming out of the pitlane. There used to be a very fast double right-hander at the end of the straight.”
      Horner continued: “Exiting the pits, Juan Pablo Montoya passed me and came into this high-speed right-hand turn.
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      “I could see the wheel rim trying to burst through the sidewall of the tyre, he was totally committed with the right foot.
      “The guard rail was only metres from the outside of the circuit there.
      “It was at that very point that I thought: ‘I can’t do that.’
      “It was the talent that he had. And the commitment was way beyond my capability. I just knew in my heart.
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      “The problem was I was too aware of the danger.
      “You get to the higher echelons of the sport and it is very clear that you could get hurt and there is a self-defence mechanism built in and you then can’t disconnect brain from right foot.”
      After that, Horner spoke with his family and vowed to see out the season before stopping – but he wasn’t sure that was the right decision.
      Horner said: “It was then a matter of being honest with yourself.
      “With hindsight I should have stopped at that point. I shouldn’t have done the season.
      “Why take the risk? Once you’ve made that decision, psychologically, you’ve checked out.”
      Horner – worth a reported £41million – became the front man for Red Bull in 2005 becoming the youngest team principal at the time.
      He guided Red Bull to their first Constructors’ Championship in 2010 – the same season Sebastian Vettel won the Drivers’ Championship, becoming the youngest World Champion.
      Red Bull dominated between 2010-2013 with Sebastian Vettel
       In 2011, the team won their second Constructors’ Championship with three races to spare.
      Vettel at the same time became the world’s youngest double-champion.
      In 2012, the team won their third Constructors’ Championship with one race to spare.
      And again, Vettel kept his world crown, becoming a three-time world champion.
      Red Bull and Vettel dominated again in 2013 and made it four Constructors’ and Drivers’ championships in a row.
      It then took eight years for Red Bull to reach the summit of F1 again when Max Verstappen won the Drivers’ Championship on the final race of the 2021 season.
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      The following year, Verstappen retained his world crown and Red Bull also swept up the Constructors’ Championship.
      The 2023 season has got off to a good start for the team too with Verstappen winning in Bahrain with team-mate Sergio Perez coming in at second.

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      George Russell’s throwaway comment hints at big problem for Mercedes boss Toto Wolff after horror F1 season opener

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      A THROWAWAY comment from George Russell has suggested Mercedes could end up with a bigger problem than their car. Team principal Toto Wolff has already indicated the team could scrap their car design after just one race.
      George Russell has suggested Mercedes could soon have a bigger issue than the carCredit: PA
      The young Brit finished P7 in BahrainCredit: PA
      Team-mate Lewis Hamilton finished P5Credit: PA
      Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished P7 and P5 respectively at the season’s opening race in Bahrain.
      The Silver Arrows struggled to keep pace with runaway leaders Red Bull, as well as Ferrari and surprise team Aston Martin.
      Both Russell and Hamilton look set to be on a problem-solving streak for the first few races at the very least, despite the latter trying to have a positive outlook on the season.
      However, should they begin to genuinely compete for race victories again, Russell has indicated he will not be backing down from the challenge.
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      After qualifying, the young Brit told Channel 4: “It’s meaningless. We’re here to win. I want to beat everybody.”
      The 25-year-old has one race victory to his name after winning last year’s Brazil Grand Prix in Sao Paolo.
      Meanwhile, 38-year-old Hamilton has 103 wins to his name, which have allowed him to yield a joint-record seven world titles.
      This has not stopped Russell from indicating he will get his elbows out, even hopping on the team radio during the race to ask whether his team-mate was struggling.
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      He said: “Is Lewis managing or is he slow? Because I feel like I have a bit more pace.”
      While the pair are amicable at the moment, Hamilton and Mercedes have a history of driver partnerships being put under intense strain.
      The Brit came wheel-to-wheel with Nico Rosberg on more than one occasion when the pair shared the seats at Mercedes from 2013 to 2016.
      Wolff will be keen to avoid such a situation with his two current drivers.
      Hamilton has also been feisty with former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso.
      The pair fell out in 2007 as then-rookie Hamilton challenged the two-time champ throughout the season – with the bickering ultimately allowing Kimi Raikkonen to snatch the title.

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