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    Daniel Ricciardo offered F1 lifeline by Haas after being axed by McLaren and given £10m pay-off

    DANIEL RICCIARDO could continue in F1 by agreeing to join Haas at the end of the season.The Australian was bought out of the last year of his contract for £10million by McLaren and will leave the team at the end of the year.
    Daniel Ricciardo could continue in F1 by signing for HaasCredit: The Mega Agency
    But his F1 journey may not end there with Haas opening the door to the former Red Bull star.
    Mick Schumacher looks set to leave Haas and team principal Guenther Steiner is considering Ricciardo as his replacement.
    Steiner told the AP: “If he’s interested in us, he’s not shy to call me up. I am not going to chase him down.
    “I want him to decide what he wants to do for himself, first, before being talked into something.
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    “I think he’s a good driver and I don’t know how he got in the situation he’s in now, but I think he needs to come clean with himself and decide what he’s going to do.”
    “For us he would be a big hit. He was a race winner and now he is without a job.
    “He was a race winner just last year. I rate him as a driver, I have no idea why he doesn’t perform right now. That is for him to figure out.”
    Steiner reportedly sent Ricciardo a text about his future in the summer with the 33-year-old running out of options – Williams are the only other team who will have a vacant spot at the end of the season.
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    And it appears Ricciardo is not ready to call it quits just yet, despite his disappointing campaign.
    He said: “I could probably keep going, I believe I still thrive off it because I still believe I belong [in Formula 1] and can do it.
    “That’s what really gets me jacked.
    “And the love of it, as well as knowing that any weekend that could be there [a win], like it could be around the corner, you know.
    “The truth is, the highs you get are just so high because so much goes into it.
    “So then the high and the reward is pretty amazing and pretty spectacular.” More

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    F1 star Lewis Hamilton cheers on his NFL team Denver Broncos for first time since becoming co-owner

    LEWIS HAMILTON cheered on his NFL side Denver Broncos on Monday night, the first time he has done so since becoming co-owner of the team.The 37-year-old Formula 1 superstar became an investor in the three-time Super Bowl champions back in August.
    Hamilton went to watch the Broncos at the SoFi StadiumCredit: INSTAGRAM / LEWIS HAMILTON
    The Brit recently became a minority owner in the BroncosCredit: INSTAGRAM / LEWIS HAMILTON

    He watched on as the Broncos lost a close match against the ChargersCredit: INSTAGRAM / LEWIS HAMILTON
    Hamilton posted a message to the Broncos fanbase on social media ahead of the gameCredit: INSTAGRAM / LEWIS HAMILTON
    The F1 legend was pumped to be in attendance for the clashCredit: INSTAGRAM / LEWIS HAMILTON
    And he attended his first game as an NFL owner in California as the Broncos took on the Los Angeles Chargers.
    Hamilton posted a snap from the SoFi Stadium onto his Instagram story.
    And he added the caption: “Watching my team for the first time. So excited to be he here. Let’s go @broncos.”
    Broncos’ official Twitter account also shared a clip of Hamilton talking to the camera, with the seven-time world champion saying: “Hey, what’s up Broncos Country, Lewis Hamilton here. Here to support the team. Go Broncos.”
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    However, the Brit, who is worth around £250million, will have to wait a bit longer to see a first Broncos win as they lost 19-16 to the Chargers in LA.
    Hamilton joined the Broncos’ ownership as part of the Walton-Penner family takeover.
    And he took his seat alongside a number of his co-owners, including Rob Walton, Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner.
    The Broncos were officially sold to a group of Walmart heirs for a record-breaking price of £4.1billion on August 9, with Hamilton coming in as a minority owner.
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    Meanwhile, Hamilton will return to the F1 track this weekend when he heads to the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
    The Mercedes driver is looking to avoid a winless season for the first time since he debuted in the sport back in 2007.
    Hamilton has won at least one Grand Prix every year for the past 15 campaigns, but is yet to secure one in 2022.
    He has managed six podium finishes, but the Silver Arrows have failed to compete for both the drivers’ and constructors championships.
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    Max Verstappen clinched his second successive title last time out in Japan.
    Hamilton is down in sixth, 27 points behind Mercedes team-mate George Russell. More

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    World champion Max Verstappen reveals he could RETIRE from F1 in 2028 to try his hand at ‘few different kinds of racing’

    TWO-TIMES World Champion Max Verstappen has revealed he could retire from F1 as soon as 2028. The Red Bull driver wrapped up his second Driver’s Championship last week after a chaotic Japanese Grand Prix.
    Verstappen was in high spirits after he won a strange race in Japan and sealed the ChampionshipCredit: Rex
    It was a stroll to the title for Verstappen who has dominated the second-half of the season.
    And the star celebrated the achievement in style with his McLaren driver pal Lando Norris.
    With the star only 25 and showing no signs of slowing down, Red Bull might have hoped for a long and successful dynasty with Verstappen at the helm.
    But the Dutchman has revealed he may only stay in F1 until 2028, when his long-term deal with the team expires and he will only be 31.
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    He told Sky Sports: “I don’t see myself driving until I’m 40 because I want to also do other stuff.
    “I’m having a lot of fun with what I’m doing right now and I’m still in F1 for a couple more years… I’m signed until ’28.
    “After that, it also depends how everything is going but I will probably try to do a few different kinds of racing because it’s important also to try different things.”
    But he added: “I really enjoy being part of this team for a long time and hopefully for a long time to come.”
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    In recent years F1’s most successful drivers have tended to stay on the grid deep into their careers.
    The best example is Fernando Alonso who returned to the sport last year and is 41-years-old.
    Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton is 37 and has recently signalled he could be driving well into his 40s as well.
    But as F1’s youngest ever driver, Verstappen entered the sport far earlier than either of them.
    Verstappen’s stock is currently very high after his controversial title win in Abu Dhabi last year and his far more dominant win this year.
    It had appeared Red Bull would face a real battle with Ferrari this year but the famous Italian team’s season came undone due to team errors and reliability issues.
    In contrast, Verstappen repeatedly impressed with a series of stunning drives, most notably at the Belgian Grand Prix and the race in Hungary. More

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    Red Bull ‘CHEATED’ by breaching F1 budget cap and Max Verstappen should be penalised, says McLaren boss in leaked letter

    RED BULL effectively “CHEATED” their way to the 2021 championship title, according to McLaren chief Zak Brown. In a leaked letter to Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, Brown made it clear in no uncertain terms that he believed Red Bull should be punished severely for their breach of the cost cap in 2021.
    Zak Brown has told the FIA to throw the book at Red BullCredit: Rex
    Max Verstappen won last year’s title over Lewis Hamilton in controversial fashionCredit: AFP
    Last week the FIA published their findings following the financial audit of teams in the 2021 F1 season.
    And in doing so they found Red Bull to have gone over the £114million budget cap.
    However, the transgression only resulted in a “minor” breach of the rules, therefore meaning the potential punishment will be on the leaner side – and thus preserving Max Verstappen’s maiden title.
    But this has not stopped Brown from lobbying the FIA to give out harsh punishments, as revealed in a leaked letter dated October 12 and sent to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
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    He said: “The overspend breach, and possibly the procedural breaches, constitute cheating by offering a significant advantage across technical, sporting and financial regulations…
    “We have even been given a one-year dress rehearsal (in 2020), with ample opportunity to seek any clarification if details were unclear. So, there is no reason for any team to now say they are surprised.
    “The bottom line is any team who has overspent has gained an unfair advantage both in the current and following year’s car development.
    “We don’t feel a financial penalty alone would be a suitable penalty for an overspend breach or a serious procedural breach.
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    “There clearly needs to be a sporting penalty in these instances, as determined by the FIA.”
    “We suggest that the overspend should be penalised by way of a reduction to the team’s cost cap in the year following the ruling, and the penalty should be equal to the overspend plus a further fine.
    “I.e. an overspend of $2m (£1.76m) in 2021, which is identified in 2022, would result in a $4m (£3.53m) deduction in 2023 ($2m to offset the overspend plus $2m fine).”
    “In addition, we believe there should be minor overspend sporting penalties of a 20% reduction in CFD and wind tunnel time.
    “These should be enforced in the following year, to mitigate against the unfair advantage the team has and will continue to benefit from.”
    Brown also explained that extra spending of just £1.76m can have as much as a 50 per cent upgrade to a car’s performance over the season.
    Prior to the ruling’s announcement, Lewis Hamilton had also revealed the huge difference even one upgrade can make on the car – putting Verstappen’s first championship victory under even more scrutiny.
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    Meanwhile, fans crowned Hamilton as an eight-time world champion after the revelations were made public.
    Since then, Verstappen has now claimed a second title in far less dramatic fashion with a championship reminiscent of some of Hamilton’s most dominant years in the sport. More

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    Meet Michael Schumacher’s incredible motor racing family dynasty including brother Ralf, son Mick & injured nephew David

    FEW sporting families have endured and enjoyed more than Michael Schumacher’s incredible motor-racing dynasty.Nine years after the seven-time F1 champion suffered life-changing head injuries skiing, nephew David has fractured his spine in a fireball race crash.
    Michael Schumacher and wife Corinna, seen skiing before his 2013 accident, are in Spain for the winter with children Mick and Gina MariaCredit: AFP
    Michael’s nephew David Schumacher fractured his spine in a frightening crash at Hockenheimring DTM event on Saturday
    Wife Corinna and daughter Gina Maria were on hand when Michael was awarded a North Rhine-Westphalia State Prize in Cologne in JulyCredit: Splash
    Son Michael Schumacher is hoping to emulate just a little of the success of dad Michael, who lifted the F1 crown seven timesCredit: AFP
    Schumacher senior, wife Corinna and their two children Mick and Gina Maria have moved to a £27million mansion in Majorca for the winter.
    It’s thought the sea-view property includes all the medical equipment the 53-year-old needs for rehabilitation.
    Schuey always kept his family life as private as possible.
    And that’s stayed the same since his accident, with little known about his condition.
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    But his family’s love for racing can’t escape the spotlight.
    Brother Ralf notched six F1 wins and now Michael’s son Mick also competes in motorsport’s top championship.
    Michael’s daughter Gina Maria admitted she too was tempted by the fast lane. But after a season of karting she swapped racing for riding – with equestrian.
    Here’s our guide to one of the sport’s greatest families.
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    MICHAEL SCHUMACHER
    The fiercely, famously, fantastically competitive German shares the record for most F1 crowns – after Lewis Hamilton caught him up on seven in 2020.
    After two titles with Benetton in 1994 and 1995, Schuey lifted the crown five times with Ferrari.
    He retired  in 2006 with 91 GP wins but surprisingly returned in 2010 for two mediocre years with Mercedes.
    Many fans and pundits regard Michael Schumacher as F1’s greatest driver everCredit: AP:Associated Press
    Michael Schumacher took the 1994 and 1995 F1 world titles with Benetton before winning five championships for Ferrari, the last in 2004Credit: AFP
    F1 legend Michael Schumacher sustained his serious head injury while skiingCredit: Reuters
    Schumacher’s situation changed forever, though, when he fell and hit his head while skiing off-piste in 2013.
    After being air-lifted to a hospital and having two surgeries he was placed in a medically induced coma for six months to reduce swelling of his brain.
    And via another hospital in Switzerland he finally returned to his home in Lake Geneva in 2015, where it’s understood he has mainly remained.
    CORINNA SCHUMACHER
    Michael’s wife is a keen horsewoman, winning the 2010 European Championship in western style horse riding.
    Wife Corinna Schumacher is a horse-rider, dog-lover and fighter for animal rightsCredit: AFP or licensors
    The animal rights activist, who is also 53, has two children with the racing legend – son Mick and daughter Gina Maria.
    RALF SCHUMACHER
    Michael’s younger brother, 47, won six GPs when competing in F1 from 1997-2007 with Jordan, Williams and Toyota.
    Ralf Schumacher raced in the shadow of older brother Michael but still recorded six victories and 27 podium finishesCredit: AFP
    German actress and model Cora Brinkmann was married to Ralf Schumacher from 2001 to 2015, sandwiching his F1 careerCredit: Reuters
    They are the only siblings to have both triumphed triumph in F1 races.
    Ralf is now a co-commentator for Sky Sport in Germany.
    MICK SCHUMACHER 
    Son Mick’s F1 career could be in the balance after just two years.
    Michael’s son Mick awaits his first F1 podium spot in his second year with HaasCredit: Getty
    Pointless in 2021, he was buoyed by finishing eighth and sixth in the British and Australian GPs respectively this year.
    But Haas team principal Guenther Steiner claims he “lacks consistency”.
    Mick first released his racing bug in karting – in 2008 – before working his way up through F4, F3 and F2.
    Now, 23, Mick reckons playing chess is a major help in his mental build-up to racing – meaning check first, chequered flag second.
    DAVID SCHUMACHER
    As Ralf’s son, Michael’s nephew and Mick’s cousin, David is the youngest of the racing Schumachers.
    Ralf Schumacher is shown trackside with son David, who now faces several weeks out after fracturing his spineCredit: Getty
    But the Mercedes driver, 20, faces at least six weeks out after an horrendous crash on Saturday.
    He fractured his spine in a collison with Thomas Preining in Saturday’s DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) event at Hockenheimring.
     Both cars smashed into the barriers and bounced back onto the circuit.
    And although David was initially given the all-clear, further scans revealed the far more extent of his injuries.
    GINA MARIA
    Michael’s daughter, 25, won gold at the FEI World Reining Championships in Switzerland – after confessing she “preferred the horses” to race cars.
    Michael’s daughter Gina Maria Schumacher prefers riding to racingCredit: Rex Features
    The Western riding star did try karting for a year – but quickly decided it wasn’t her mane interest.
    Showjumper Iain Bethke is her long-term boyfriend. More

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    Max Verstappen’s stunning girlfriend Kelly Piquet strips naked for sexy photo shoot after Red Bull star’s F1 triumph

    MAX VERSTAPPEN’S stunning girlfriend Kelly Piquet got daring as she starred in a naked photoshoot. Kelly, the daughter of former Formula One world champion Nelson Piquet Sr, has been dating Verstappen since 2020.

    Kelly Piquet alongside boyfriend Max VerstappenCredit: Rex
    Kelly donned a trendy look for Milan fashion weekCredit: Getty
    And after securing his second successive title, Kelly posed in a daring photoshoot on her Instagram.
    The photo was complete with a forest back drop and a heavy black-and-white filter.
    Loved up duo Kelly and Verstappen posted a photo of her kissing the Dutchman on the cheek after he completed his title victory around Suzuka, Japan.
    However, the 33-year-old used to date former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat.
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    The pair even had a child, Penelope, in 2019.
    Kelly’s father won three F1 titles with three different teams in 1981, 1983 and 1987.
    Consequently, he is regarded as one of the best racers to have graced the sport.
    However, he has been cast out of F1 after being embroiled in a racism storm where used a racial slur in reference to Lewis Hamilton following the Silverstone Grand Prix in 2021.
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    When the news emerged, Piquet was given a life-long from the F1 paddock after issuing a public apology in which he claimed his words were mistranslated.
    However, Verstappen criticised the decision to ban him and said he did not believe Piquet Sr was a racist.
    Kelly congratulates Verstappen after clinching his second world titleCredit: Getty
    She also dated Daniil Kvyat beforeCredit: Getty More

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    F1’s top 10 highest-paid drivers revealed with Lewis Hamilton still leading the way ahead of world champ Max Verstappen

    THE 2022 F1 season has seen Max Verstappen stroll to a comfortable second title with several races to spare.The Dutchman, 25, edged Lewis Hamilton to last year’s crown with a thrilling final-lap overtake in December.
    F1’s highest-paid drivers for the 2022 season
    Hamilton and F1 title rival Verstappen are in a different league with their wagesCredit: Getty
    But this year’s title fight was far more straightforward as Verstappen coasted to the crown ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.
    It comes after he signed a mega £37million-per-year new contract with Red Bull prior to the 2022 campaign.
    The pay packet means he is just £3m behind his F1 rival Hamilton.
    Seven-time champion Hamilton, 37, remains the best-paid driver with a salary of £40m after add-ons and bonuses.
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    And the pair are miles clear of the rest of the field when it comes to their salaries.
    McLaren star Lando Norris comes in third after signing a new bumper four-year contract.
    Norris, 22, will take home £10.5m per year – more than Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and outgoing McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo (both £10.19m).
    Ferrari ace Carlos Sainz and Aston Martin star Sebastian Vettel both earn £7.28m per year on their current deals.
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    Alpine’s legendary racer Fernando Alonso sits eighth with an annual salary of £6.55m.
    Red Bull’s Perez comes next (£4.5m) and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (£4m) completes the top ten.
    Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate George Russell failed to even make the top half of the grid.
    But he is delivering more than enough on the track, currently sitting fourth in the standings, 27 points ahead of Hamilton.
    Lando Norris is third in the list of top-paid F1 starsCredit: AFP More

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    Inside the eerie abandoned £540m F1 circuit as Vietnamese GP axed from calendar after mayor jailed for 10 years

    VIETNAM planned to host their very first Grand Prix back in 2020.The £540million Hanoi motor race circuit was set to welcome the paddock as Formula 1 expanded its reach to new territories across the globe.
    Vietnam was due to host its first F1 GP in 2020Credit: AFP
    The coronavirus pandemic led to the inaugural edition being postponedCredit: AFP
    It has not returned to the F1 calendar since 2020Credit: AFP
    Cyclists now use the Hanoi circuitCredit: AFP
    It has been abandoned as no F1 race appears on the horizonCredit: AFP
    Motorcyclists have also been seen driving through the gates of the fenced off circuitCredit: AFP
    Vietnam signed a 10-year deal with F1 back in 2018 – an agreement which cost around £54million and was to be funded by private conglomerate, VinGroup.
    But the inaugural edition of the Vietnam GP ended up being axed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
    Since then, it has not appeared on the F1 calendar.
    In 2021, it was dropped from the schedule after city mayor Nguyen Duc Chung – a major supporter of the race – was arrested.
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    He would later be sentenced to ten years in prison for corruption charges.
    State media then claimed last year that authorities had dismissed any hope of Vietnam staging a race there until at least 2029.
    However, the authorities refused to confirm this to external media outlets.
    F1 released the 2023 calendar last month, with Vietnam once again missing out.
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    And images of the track – which features a 1.5km straight and street-style third sector – show that the spectator stands have been taken away.
    The 3.5 mile circuit, which is surrounded by grass and weeds, is partly fenced off to the public.
    However, some cyclists and motorcyclists have been seen going through the gates, spilling over from the busy roads in the city.
    And another part of the circuit has been opened up for the Vietnamese people to use as public roads.
    It is not yet known if, when or what the circuit will be used for in the future.
    One side of the circuit has been opened up for day-to-day useCredit: AFP
    It is a sad sight to see the track abandoned two years after its first GP was scheduled to take placeCredit: AFP
    It is unlikely a Grand Prix will take place here before the end of the decadeCredit: AFP
    F1 fans in Vietnam have been left disappointed by the failure to stage a Grand PrixCredit: AFP More