F1

FORMULA ONE world champion Jacques Villeneuve brutally questioned why Daniel Ricciardo is still in the sport in a rant that left fans astonished.Eight-time Grand Prix winner Ricciardo, 34, has struggled in his RB car so far this season, failing to outperform team-mate Yuki Tsunoda in all but one of the eight races.Jacques Villeneuve was damning in his assessment of Daniel RicciardoCredit: Sky SportsRicciardo has struggled for several years in F1Credit: RexIt continues a trend of several difficult years for the Australian – who struggled at McLaren despite winning in Monza in 2021, before he failed to secure a seat for the start of the 2023 season.And 1997 F1 world champion Villeneuve, 53, pulled no punches in his assessment of Ricciardo’s recent form.Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “Why’s he still in F1? Why?”We are hearing the same thing now for the last four or five years. ‘We have to make the car better for him’. Sorry, it’s been five years of that. No, you are in F1.READ MORE IN F1″Maybe you make that effort for Lewis Hamilton whose won multiple championships. You don’t make that effort for a driver who can’t cut it.”If you can’t cut it, go home, there’s someone else to take your place. That’s how it’s always been in racing, it’s the pinnacle of the sport.”There’s no reason to keep going and to keep finding excuses, and you all talk about that first season or first two seasons, he was beating a [Sebastian] Vettel that was burnt out, that was trying to invent things with the car to go win and just making a mess of his weekends.”Then he was beating for half a season [Max] Verstappen when Verstappen was 18 years old, just starting, that was it, he stopped beating anyone after that.”Most read in MotorsportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSWhen asked if he thinks Ricciardo is overrated, he added: “I think his image has kept him in F1 more than his actual results.”Reacting to the clip, one fan said: “Just witnessed a murder on live TV 💀.”Lewis Hamilton grimaces as he ‘eats a dog biscuit’ in NFL schedule release video for team F1 star part ownsAnother added: “Spicy Jacques. Love it!!”While a third replied: “Lol this guy woke up and chose violence 😂.”And a fourth responded: “Not scared to speak his mind. We need more commentators like this.”Ricciardo will race his 250th Grand Prix in F1 this weekend when the lights go out in Montreal.He was considered one of the favourites to partner Verstappen next season in what would have been a dream return to Red Bull – where he won seven races between 2014 and 2018.But his drop off in form saw him fall away from the conversation, before Sergio Perez signed a two-year extension to keep him with the constructors’ champions.Daniel Ricciardo’s career in F1
Hispania Racing
Ricciardo made his F1 debut at Silverstone in 2011 for Hispania Racing, finishing 19th, before he went on to race 10 more times that season.
Toro Rosso
He began his first full season in F1 with Toro Rosso in 2012, securing six top 10 finishes including in the opening race of the season in Australia.
Ricciardo finished the year six points behind team-mate Jean-Eric Vergne in the drivers’ standings.
He then secured seven more top 10s in the 2013 season, beating Vergne by seven points.
Red Bull
Ricciardo joined Red Bull for the 2014 season where he would race for five years, winning seven races.
He finished the 2014 and 2016 seasons in third place in the drivers’ standings behind only the Mercedes pair of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.
Ricciardo also finished ahead of four-time world champion team-mate Sebastian Vettel in two of their three seasons together.
Renault
Ricciardo signed for Renault in 2019 and finished his two seasons with the team in ninth and fifth.
He beat team-mates Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon, before he was snapped up by McLaren.
McLaren
Ricciardo’s eighth and most recent Grand Prix victory came at Monza in his first season with McLaren.
Yet despite that victory, he finished his two seasons with the team well adrift of fellow McLaren man Lando Norris and was released at the end of the 2022 campaign.
Red Bull reserve and AlphaTauri
Without a seat for the 2023 season, Ricciardo became Red Bull’s reserve driver behind Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
When Nyck de Vries was then released by AlphaTauri in July, Ricciardo raced eight races for the team with a best-place finish of eighth.
RB
AlphaTauri became RB in 2024 but Ricciardo has struggled so far this season, finishing no higher than 12th in the opening eight races.
He sits on five points while team-mate Yuki Tsunoda is flying on 19, four places above him in the drivers’ standings. More

ALPINE have announced that driver Esteban Ocon will leave the team.The Frenchman is set to depart at the end of the 2024 F1 season.Esteban Ocon will leave Alpine at the end of the seasonCredit: RexThe announcement comes days after he crashed with team-mate Pierre GaslyOcon, 27, sees his his contract expire with his spot on the grid next year in jeopardy. He became an Alpine driver four years ago and made history as their first driver to ever win a race.His shock victory came at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2021.Ocon also earned podium finishes at the Bahrain GP in 2020 and at the 2023 Monaco GP.READ MORE IN F1His departure comes soon after he crashed into team-mate Pierre Gasly during this year’s race around the Principality.Ocon was given a five-place grid penalty at the upcoming Montreal GP for the first round collision.He has since received abuse online, which left him “saddened”. On his departure, Ocon said: “It’s been a significant period of my life to be racing at this team in Formula One. Most read in Motorsport”While I’ve been here for five years as a full-time racing driver, my professional career started at Enstone back when I was a teenager, so it will always be a special place for me.”We have had some great moments together, some tough moments as well, and I am certainly grateful to everyone at the team for these memorable times. CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSF1 drivers on the move
Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari

The seven-time world champ is set to leave Mercedes and join Ferrari in a £100million mega deal 

Carlos Sainz – Unknown

Sainz’s spot at Ferrari will be taken by Hamilton. He is expected to be snapped up by another team Nico Hulkenberg

Nico Hulkenberg – Sauber

German is leaving Haas and joining Sauber in 2025

Sergio Perez – ?

He is yet to sign a new deal at Red Bull with his contract up. Hopeful to agree an extension

“I will announce my plans very soon but, in the meantime, my full focus is on delivering on track for this team and having a successful remainder of the season.”Team Principal Bruno Famin said: “We would like to firstly thank Esteban for his commitment to the team for the past five years. The richest Wags in F1 revealed with some earning thousands from Instagram”During his time, we have celebrated some fantastic moments together, the best of which coming at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix with a memorable race win.“We still have 16 races to complete in 2024 together with a clear objective: to continue to work tirelessly as a team to push for the best on-track results. “We wish Esteban the very best for the next chapter of his driving career when that moment comes.”Gasly and Ocon have endured a strained relationship at AlpineCredit: Getty More

LEWIS HAMILTON has revealed he once peed himself during a race.The Formula One veteran, 39, has taken part in 340 races but only ever peed himself once – during the Singapore Grand Prix a few years ago.Lewis Hamilton revealed he once peed himself during a raceCredit: YouTube/First We FeastDrivers are often forced to relieve themselves during races after taking on plenty of fluid ahead of the race.But Hamilton revealed he is often unable to pee himself, even if he feels discomfort from having a full bladder.During an appearance on Hot Ones, the seven-time world champion said: “I just can’t bring myself to pee myself.”I have once. It was Singapore, oh god. It was two or three years ago. The safety car came out and I was behind the safety car and I was like ‘I’m dying’.READ MORE ON F1″And honestly when your bladder is full, with the G-force you’re pulling it’s the most uncomfortable, it’s really, really uncomfortable you just can’t focus on your job.”I remember trying to go and I really had to force it. It’s really hard, but luckily I haven’t had to do it – only once.”Hamilton said he often loses up to 500ml of fluid during a race – but still does not use his water bottle inside the car.Other F1 drivers have admitted they have also peed themselves mid-race, including Red Bull star Sergio Perez.Most read in MotorsportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHis team-mate Max Verstappen once said he came close, while Fernando Alonso has found himself in a similar position to Hamilton – wanting to pee but being unable to.Hamilton once revealed Michael Schumacher regularly peed himself, saying: “The driver that used to drive for the team, was Michael Schumacher, I don’t know if anyone’s heard of him, but legend racing driver, but my mechanics told me he peed every single time he was in the car.”Lewis Hamilton forced to apologise live on TV for huge blunder after causing mayhem at Miami Grand PrixInside track on Hamilton’s lifeLEWIS HAMILTON has driven his way into pole position as Formula One’s most prolific winner. More

FORMULA ONE has a sizable problem and it’s called the Monaco Grand Prix.While MotoGP basked in yet another epic race and the Indy 500 sprint to the line was heart-in-the-mouth stuff, Sunday’s F1 procession in Monte Carlo was dreadful.The Monte Carlo Grand Prix was a processionCredit: GettyI always say that you know it has been a decent race when you hear people in public talking about the weekend’s action.As I queued for my flight home at Nice Airport, the discussion among fellow passengers is usually all about where people watched the race, but yesterday all I heard were moans and groans.Take nothing away from Charles Leclerc and his maiden win in his home race, but F1 has a problem when the leading driver is told to “slow down” to save his tyres.It was also the first time in F1 history that the top 10 cars all finished in the same order they started.READ MORE ON MOTORSPORTIn total there were two overtakes. TWO.Yes, you can argue this was a result of the first-lap accident involving Sergio Perez that saw the race stopped and all the leading drivers change on to the hard tyre, however, when the world’s eyes are on it, the sport simply cannot afford to have a situation where it is made to look so silly.So what can be done? There are a number of options.The preferred choice would be to have smaller cars.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe current models are too wide and heavy that overtaking is not possible on such a narrow circuit.But given Monaco is unique, perhaps another element would be a bespoke set of tyre compounds which force teams to make more frequent pitstops.Monaco Grand Prix narrowly avoids catastrophe after devastating F2 near miss leaves Oliver Bearman stunnedIt would certainly liven up the strategy side of things, but that all feels someone manufactured and a case of simply papering over the cracks.Another option is to change the circuit.This was suggested by Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who pointed out that the Principality is reclaiming land from the sea and should consider ways of expanding the track.He said: “It’s something that we should collectively have a look at. It’s not racing as such when you’re just driving around three or four seconds off the pace because the other car hasn’t got any chance of overtaking.”Monaco is such a great place to come racing. But the cars are so big now that we just need to look at ‘can we do something that introduces an overtaking area’ or at least the potential of an overtake.”Monaco keeps reclaiming land! It’s such a great place, so much history here, but everything evolves.”The cars are so big now, if you compare them to cars of ten years ago they’re almost twice the size.”And finally, the other option of smaller cars, alternative tyres and an improved track aren’t viable – then let’s bin it altogether.There are no shortages of venues queuing up to host F1 races and, judging by the comments of my fellow passengers, there is a feeling that Monaco is no longer fit for purpose.Pizza was the secret for the victorious Charles LeclercCredit: RexCHARLES LECLERC said he treated himself to a pizza on the eve of breaking his Monaco duck, so perhaps he should stick to it more often.After his victory, he said: “I ate like crazy on Saturday night. I actually got in late at home and it was too late to couldn’t cook, so I ordered my favourite pizza.”It’s not the best preparation to race normally, but I was like, ‘OK, maybe mentally it will help me to take the pressure off a little bit’. And yeah, that’s it. I slept really well.”When asked what pizza he went for, he added: “Pizza Margherita with prosciutto crudo. Never pineapple.”Bagnaia made up for an earlier error to win in BarcelonaCredit: RexRED BULL will total up the cost of Sergio Perez’s huge crash in Monaco, which miraculously saw him escape with just a grazed arm.The first lap shunt sent F1 photographers scrambling for cover, as the wreckage was flung in their direction.Fortunately nobody was seriously hurt, although one casualty is the gearbox on Perez’s car, which was competing in its final GP before being replaced and had been christened ‘Donna’ by the team’s mechanics.Perez’s car, and gearbox, is no moreCredit: RexFRANCESCO BAGNAIA won a thrilling Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya at Barcelona. The MotoGP world champion made an error during the Saturday sprint race but made amends on Sunday. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez continued to enjoy his revival by taking third place, despite starting P14 on the grid. The Gresini Racing rider now has three podiums in a row.READ MORE SUN STORIESNewgarden won a thrilling Indy 500Credit: GettyJOSEF NEWGARDEN won the Indy 500 with a last lap overtake on McLaren’s Pato O’Ward.Newgarden is the first back-to-back winner of the Indy 500 since Helio Castroneves 22 years ago and gave Roger Penske a 20th win in the famous race.SUNSPORT’S TRANSFER NEWS LIVESTAY in the know this summer with The Sun’s transfer experts.
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