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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’

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      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

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      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

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      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

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      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

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      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

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      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

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      Lewis Hamilton’s bitter rival Max Verstappen reveals his new F1 targets after securing second world title win

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN is now targeting more wins and titles but wants to keep the Red Bull team together after securing his second successive Formula One trophy.Like his first championship win last year over Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen, 25, claimed his second F1 title in bizarre circumstances at the Japanese Grand Prix.
      Red Bull star Max Verstappen secured his second consecutive Formula One titleCredit: The Mega Agency
      Max Verstappen is targeting more Formula One success with Red BullCredit: AFP
      The Red Bull star breezed to an easy victory at Suzuka but was unaware he had won the championship because Charles Leclerc finished second before being bumped down a place after incurring a penalty.
      Despite the initial anti-climatic realisation, Verstappen and his team-mates soon started partying.
      The Dutchman is now targeting even more success already but insists the team should stay intact.
      Verstappen said after the race: “Well, I have a few more years in F1.
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      “I hope that we can be competitive for a few more years, I want to win more races, and potentially, I want to try and win more titles.
      “But of course, that’s not going to change what I’ve already achieved. It is something I’m really proud of.
      “Everyone within the team, and everyone who is involved with us, they deserve even more than what we are showing at the moment.
      “As long as we can keep them all together. I think we are capable of even more great seasons.”
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      Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was quick to congratulate Verstappen on social media after his triumph in Japan.
      Horner posted on Instagram: “Max Verstappen, you are a DOUBLE WORLD CHAMPION!” More

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      F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s nephew David breaks his spine in horror fireball motorsport crash

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      MICHAEL SCHUMACHER’S nephew broke his spine in the weekend’s horror fireball crash. David Schumacher collided with Thomas Preining on lap six of Saturday’s Hockenheimring DTM event.
      David Schumacher has broken a vertebra in his lower backCredit: PA
      The motor racer was involved in a shocking crash on SaturdayCredit: PA
      The Hockenheimring DTM event was red-flagged on lap sixCredit: PA
      Dennis Olsen’s car briefly lit up in flamesCredit: https://www.motorsport.com/dtm/news/hockenheim-dtm-red-flagged-after-scary-crashes/10381619/
      Both cars careered off the track at turn eight before Dennis Olsen and Rolf Ineichen also hit the barriers and Olsen’s car briefly burst into flames.
      As the race was red-flagged, the four drivers were all taken for medical examinations.
      Schumacher, son of Ralf, was initially sent home after getting the all clear, confirmed by his mother Cora on Instagram.
      But now Ralf has stated the youngster has indeed suffered a broken back.
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      He told Motorsport Magazine: “When David came home, he was still complaining about back pain.
      “We then decided to go to a hospital in Salzburg to have an MRI done.
      “It turned out that a lumbar vertebra was broken.
      “According to the treating physicians, this means a break of around six weeks for David.”
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      Despite the break, Bild report Schumacher will not require surgery.
      And his six-week recovery coincides with the end of the DTM series which finished at the weekend.
      But rival driver Preining blamed Schumacher, whose cousin Mick drives for Haas in Formula One, for the terrifying crash in western Germany.
      Cora responded by hitting out at the Austrian on social media.
      She wrote: “David Schumacher is doing well, that’s the most important thing.
      “Nevertheless, I have to say that I absolutely don’t think it’s okay for Thomas Preining to make negative comments about our son every time without any self-reflection.
      Schumacher was initially given the all clear before the break was detectedCredit: PA
      A collision with the barrier caused Olsen’s issuesCredit: https://www.motorsport.com/dtm/news/hockenheim-dtm-red-flagged-after-scary-crashes/10381619/
      “He himself had oversteered and did not have his car under control. It’s always easier to look for faults in others.”
      Seven-time F1 world champion Michael has been out of the public eye since suffering a severe brain injury in December 2013 during a skiing accident in the French Alps.
      He was placed in a medically induced coma until June 2014 and is now back home in Switzerland with his family.
      Since the horrifying incident nearly nine years ago, Michael, 53, has lived an extremely private life – with very few updates on his health.
      Mick’s F1 future, meanwhile, is up in the air – with Haas yet to renew his contract beyond the end of this year.
      Thomas Preining slammed rival driver Schumacher for causing the incidentCredit: PA
      Part of the cars had to be taken away by tractorsCredit: PA More