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      Christian Horner warned Red Bull ‘in danger of falling apart’ as F1 team rocked by yet another exit

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      CHRISTIAN HONER has been warned that Red Bull are at risk of “falling apart” after the exit of Adrian Newey.This morning it was announced legendary designer Newey, who has won 12 Formula One constructors titles including six at Red Bull, would be leaving the team at the end of the season.Adrian Newey is leaving Red Bull at the end of the seasonCredit: PAHis exit from piles more pressure on team boss Christian HornerCredit: PAJos Verstappen has warned Red Bull are at risk of ‘falling apart’Credit: PAHis exit is credited to growing disillusioned with life in F1 following the power struggle that has raged at Red Bull this season after the Christian Horner sexting scandal.And the 65-year-old’s exit from the team after 19 years will serve to crank up the pressure on team boss Horner.Horner has denied the allegations and was cleared of wrongdoing after an internal investigation. The complainant, who has subsequently been suspended, has appealed the decision. Jos Verstappen is one party who has been outspoken against Horner’s leadership this year, and was spotted engaging in a heated argument with Horner in Bahrain this year.READ MORE IN F1He has even gone so far as to suggest son and three-time world champion Max Verstappen could leave.SunSport revealed Mercedes are preparing to offer the Dutchman a contract worth £128million a year.A meeting between Verstappen’s team and Mercedes chiefs is set to commence after this weekends Miami Grand Prix.Speaking to De Telegraaf, Verstappen has now said he aired his fears about the team earlier this season.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHe said: “The team is in danger of falling apart. I was afraid of that earlier this year. “For internal peace, it is important that key people stay on board. That is not the case now. Christian Horner should QUIT Red Bull after sexting scandal – this is the Max Verstappen show now, ex-F1 star says”Newey is leaving and earlier this year it also looked like Helmut [Marko] would be sent away. For the future, that is not good.”Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko was placed under investigation by the team earlier this season, with Verstappen threatening to quit if Marko departed. On his exit from the team, Newey said: “Ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to be a designer of fast cars. “My dream was to be an engineer in Formula One, and I’ve been lucky enough to make that dream a reality.”For almost two decades it has been my great honour to have played a key role in Red Bull Racing’s progress from upstart newcomer to multiple title-winning team.”However, I feel now is an opportune moment to hand that baton over to others and to seek new challenges for myself.Who is Adrian Newey?
      Adrian Newey is the current design chief at Red Bull Racing.
      The 65-year-old has played a crucial role in designing the cars that have helped Sebastian Vettel and Max Vertappen win SEVEN drivers’ world championships.
      Newey began designing in Formula One back in 1988 with March, where his cars were far more competitive than expected.
      After March he spent time with Williams and McLaren before joining Red Bull in 2005.
      Throughout his career he has contributed to the cars that have secured 12 World Constructors’ titles and 13 World Drivers’ championships.
      He is widely considered to be the greatest designer in the history of F1.

      “In the interim, the final stages of development of RB17 are upon us, so for the remainder of my time with the team my focus will lie there.”Newey has been heavily linked with moves to Aston Martin and Ferrari, though the Scuderia are the hot favourites to land him.This means he could link up with Lewis Hamilton to help build a title-winning car – which would be Ferrari’s first since 2008 – when the new 2026 regulations kick in.On Newey’s departure, Horner said: “All of our greatest moments from the past 20 years have come with Adrian’s hand on the technical tiller.”His vision and brilliance have helped us to 13 titles in 20 seasons.”His exceptional ability to conceptualise beyond F1 and bring wider inspiration to bear on the design of grand prix cars, his remarkable talent for embracing change and finding the most rewarding areas of the rules to focus on, and his relentless will to win have helped Red Bull Racing to become a greater force than I think even the late [Red Bull co-founder] Dietrich Mateschitz might have imagined.”More than that, the past 19 years with Adrian have been enormous fun.”For me, when Adrian joined Red Bull, he was already a superstar designer. Two decades and 13 Championships later he leaves as a true legend.READ MORE SUN STORIES”He is also my friend and someone I will be eternally grateful to for everything he brought to our partnership.”The legacy he leaves behind will echo through the halls of Milton Keynes and RB17 Track Car will be a fitting testament and legacy to his time with us.”🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

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      Five haunting questions behind Formula One’s greatest riddle – what caused Ayrton Senna’s fatal crash 30 years ago?

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      HEADING into a curve that the Formula One genius Ayrton Senna knew very well at the San Marino Grand Prix, there was no sign it would be the Brazilian’s final moment.But rather than his blue Williams racing car turning into the Tamburello left corner, it sped at 190mph straight into a concrete barrier.Ayrton Senna’s fatal crash 30 years agoCredit: GettyThe Brazilian was a three-time Formula One world championCredit: AP:Associated PressSenna’s girlfriend Adriana Galisteu mourns in front of his coffinCredit: AFPThirty years on from the three-time world champion’s death, serious questions still remain about how a man revered as the motorsport’s greatest talent could have lost control of his hi-tech vehicle.Was it really a driver error? Or were ill-judged modifications to Senna’s car to blame?Investigators in Italy believed members of the British-based Williams team were at fault.Conspiracy theorists have asked why it took the company a month to hand over the black boxes to the authorities and why they arrived so badly damaged.Read More In The SunBut fingers were also pointed at bumps in the historic Imola circuit.On top of that, there were questions as to whether debris had properly been removed from the track following an earlier collision. Could a shard of metal have interfered with Senna’s racing car?The risk of racing was clear because the day before, 33-year-old Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger suffered a fatal crash.Jordan’s Rubens Barrichello had been lucky to get out alive following a high speed smash on the Friday.Most read in MotorsportCritical issues about the car’s safety were largely skirted over in the Bafta-winning 2010 documentary Senna.And today no one knows why his life ended at the age of 34.Video shows Ayrton Senna racing in the San Marino Grand prix in 1994 before tragic death of driverThankfully, improvements introduced following his death has meant Ayrton was the last F1 driver to die during a race.That has only added to his legacy.Ben Hunt, The Sun’s F1 correspondent, says: “There is no other sporting icon who is celebrated in such a way. “The livery of his iconic crash helmet, featuring the colours of the Brazilian flag, are seen at every race on the calendar.”Here we look at the possible causesCar trouble?Senna in his Williams car on the day of the crashCredit: AFPThere were plenty of problems facing Williams and its reported £16million-salary star signing Senna in the weeks running up to the crash.Williams drivers had won the previous two Formula One championships, but new rules had cut into their reliance on electronic devices.Ayrton struggled with the latest vehicle, admitting at the start of the season: “The cars are very fast and difficult to drive. We’ll be lucky if something really serious doesn’t happen.”As is common in motorsport, he liaised with the team’s engineers to change the set-up, including adjusting the steering column.Senna did not appear to turn the wheel on the seventh lap as he approached the bend and instead went into the wall.During the crash part of the suspension had penetrated his helmet, causing a fatal head injury.The steering wheel was found to be broken.Italian prosecutors alleged that it had snapped prior to impact, leaving Senna unable to control his speeding vehicle.They charged the team’s founder Sir Frank Williams, technical director Sir Patrick Head and chief designer Adrian Newey with manslaughter.At the trial the prosecution said: “The steering column had been cut and a new element – which was not of the same quality of metal or of the same diameter, being 18mm instead of 22mm – was welded in.A complete stranger came up to me and said ‘Your dad is a murderer’Claire Williams”And it was where the new element had been welded that the column broke.”The Williams team analysis showed the steering column was not to blame and all three men were acquitted. In 2003 the Italian courts reopened the case and in 2007 determined that the steering column was responsible, but by that point it was too late to rearrest anyone for manslaughter.Newey admitted in his 2017 autobiography: “Regardless of whether that steering column caused the accident or not, there is no escaping the fact that it was a bad piece of design that should never have been allowed to get on the car.”While people in the sport do not blame the legendary Sir Frank, who died in 2021, some members of the public did.Sir Frank’s daughter Claire Williams remembered a year after Senna’s death “being in a pub, a complete stranger came up to me and said ‘Your dad is a murderer’.”Unsafe track?Roland Ratzenberger died on the same track the day before SennaCredit: AFPThere were concerns about the Tamburello corner on which Senna’ fate was sealed.A number of drivers had come off at that corner, including Gerhard Berger who’d gone up in flames in 1989.But all of the incidents were linked to car trouble rather than the track design.Senna, though, had noticed ripples on that bend during practice.There is no other sporting icon who is celebrated in such a wayBen HuntJust before the San Marino race he said about the track: “My car reacts a bit nervously on this kind of surface. “It stems from the special aerodynamics but it’s also got to do with a difficulty in the suspension.”The Italians charged three senior men connected to the track, Federico Bendinelli, Giorgio Poggi and Roland Bruynseraede, with manslaughter.State prosecutor Maurizio Passarini claimed that a raised edge at the Tamburello corner launched the Williams car into trouble.The three men were found not guilty by a judge in 1997.’Modern F1 misses a Senna’ By Bent Hunt, The Sun’s F1 Correspondent
      SENNA still has global appeal with new fans attracted by the ‘Drive to Survive’ boom.
      So why is he so popular?
      One simple explanation is that he was a brilliant driver, which of course we know and there is simply not enough room to pick out the evidence of this.
      Another aspect was the dark arts. The ability to mix sport with politics to achieve what he wanted or perhaps what he felt he deserved.
      He coupled this with his attitude on track, taking matters into his own hands and stepping over the line, such as deliberately ramming Alain Prost in Japan 1990, influencing the outcome of the title.
      Questionable morals perhaps, but taking it to the limit and going beyond is now almost celebrated.
      Senna offered a new level of professionalism but with it a complexity within his own personality.
      Magnetic charm and a level of charisma that is unthinkable among today’s drivers on the grid.
      Senna was intelligent, opened up with honesty and discussed the dangers he faced, putting his life on the line each time he went out to race.
      He appealed to and intrigued the public in equal measure. He had a personality.
      And that’s something that F1 desperately misses right now.

      Race debris?The wreck of Senna’s car following his fatal crashCredit: AllsportAt the start of the race Bennetton’s JJ Lehto stalled and an unsighted Pedro Lamy in a Lotus piled into his car, sending pieces of their vehicles into the crowd and on to the grid.A safety car was brought out so that the debris could be collected and then the race restarted.But a photograph in Autosport magazine suggested that Ayrton’s car passed over one piece. Could that have caused a slow puncture?Williams’s Adrian Newey said in 2017: “His right front and right rear tyres were destroyed in the accident, so it was impossible to examine them, but debris that size could have caused a slow puncture. “The puncture would have caused the bottoming we saw, and that in turn would have caused the rear to step out as it lost grip.”Driver error?Senna, pictured during a race in 1989, pushed his cars to their limitsCredit: GettyAlain Prost was knocked out a crucial championship race by SennaCredit: GettyAyrton Senna is regarded as one of the greatest ever racing drivers – with his fearlessness putting him on the podium.He had a reputation for pushing his machines to their absolute limits.On top of that the Brazilian hated losing, admitting: “Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose. “Winning is like a drug. I can’t settle for second or third in no circumstances whatsoever.”In 1990 he knew he would become world champion if his great rival Alain Prost did not finish the Japanese Grand Prix.At the first turn he ran into the back of Prost’s Ferrari taking them both out of the race.Some observers believed it was deliberate and Senna later admitted: “I didn’t care if we crashed.”Is it possible that Senna was simply racing too hard at San Marino in 1994 in order to keep ahead of Michael Schumacher who was not far behind him in second place?Black Box controversyA jury were shown the black box recorder from Senna’s carCredit: EPASenna’s Williams car was fitted with two black box recorders designed to keep data safe if there was a crash.They were similar to the devices on aeroplanes, but not as robust.A senior member of staff at the San Marino track told the 1997 trial that two members of the Williams team removed the recorders shortly after the crash.After giving evidence Fabrizio Nosco told journalists: “I have seen thousands of these devices and removed thousands for checks.“The two boxes were intact, even though they had some scratches. The Williams device looked to have survived the crash.”It took the Williams team over a month to hand over the black boxes to the crash investigators.READ MORE SUN STORIESWhen they arrived they were too badly damaged to yield the information needed to determine the exact cause of the accident. Other witnesses told the court they were wrecked by the high speed impact of the Williams vehicle hitting the wall.Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger died on the same weekend as SennaCredit: Getty – Contributor More

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      Ayrton Senna had vision he would die the night before his fatal crash – we’d never seen him look so haunted, says F1 ace

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      ICON of Formula One Ayrton Senna told doctors he had visions of his tragic death the night before his horror crash 30-years-ago today.Concerns started to brew in the F1 paddock on race day after the Brazilian great turned up looking “distant” and completely haunted, says fellow F1 ace Johnny Herbert.Formula One great Ayrton Senna had visions of his tragic death the night before his horror crashCredit: ReutersSenna sitting in the car he would end up dying in after it smashed into a concrete wall as his suspension crashed through his helmetCredit: AFPThe moment of Senna’s fatal crash at Imola in 1994Former driver Johnny Herbert says the Brazilian great turned up looking ‘distant’ and completely haunted on race dayCredit: GettyThe triple world champion died almost instantly when his Williams ran off the road at 190mph and smashed into a concrete wall on lap seven of the San Marino Grand Prix.Senna was leading the race when he lost control at the notorious Tamburello corner and his car’s suspension crashed through his helmet.Herbert said: “Senna feared he was going to die the night before the crash.”He apparently had a premonition the night before that he was going to die.”read more in Formula OneHerbert claims Senna told F1’s medical expert Professor Sid Watkins about his nightmares.Watkins told the Brazilian to quit and go live a quiet life fishing after accomplishing greatness in motorsports already – Senna felt he was no where near finished with the sport.He looked very distant. It was very, very eerie knowing what was going to happenJohnny Herbertex-F1 acePre-race, as all the brave drivers spoke to their mechanics about the conditions, competitors and atmosphere, Herbert says Senna was acting in a way never seen before from the experienced professional. He told Instant Casino: “You see the cameras trained on his face before the race. It was a very different Ayrton than we had seen before.Most read in Motorsport”He looked very distant. It was very, very eerie knowing what was going to happen.”To go through what he did with those feelings on his own apart from the conversation with Professor Sid, must have been so hard.”SAN MARINO TRADEGYThe 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend has long been coined as the darkest event in Formula One history.Senna, one of the sports greatest drivers died instantly when his Williams car ran off the road at 190mph and smashed into a concrete wall on the seventh lap of the Imola circuit.Herbert said: “I remember Senna’s crash. We all stopped on the grid with the red flag waiting for news. “I remember on the screen we had on the car the shock of seeing the crash and then seeing his helmet move. I remember thinking, ‘It’s ok, he is alive.’”But it wasn’t, it was just a nerve twitch. It was such a shock.”Video shows Ayrton Senna racing in the San Marino Grand prix in 1994 before tragic death of driverEx-F1 driver turned pundit Martin Brundle once revealed his “anger” at the race continuing after a short break.Brundle, who ended up finishing eighth said: “We raced past a pool of Senna’s blood for 55 laps.”The 34-year-old was the second driver to tragically die on track that weekend after Austrian Roland Ratzenberger crashed his Simtek car into a wall during qualifying.Senna’s fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello survived his own near-death experience after being involved in a terrifying high-speed crash during practice.The exact cause of Senna’s fatal crash remains inconclusive.The front page of The Sun after Senna’s death in May 1994Credit: The SunSenna was a three-time world champion with McLarenCredit: APHe has been immortalised with a statue in his honourCredit: ReutersSenna helped revolutionise the sport both before and after his death through his excellent driving skills and increased safety measuresCredit: Getty Images – GettyFormer F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone described it as “a disastrous weekend”.He said this week he was told that F1 would be cancelled in the wake of the event and two deaths.Safety measures were instantly employed after the crash with the halo being the biggest improvement to the cars.Countless drivers, including Brit Lewis Hamilton, have praised the revolutionary safety device for saving their lives ever since.SENNA’S LEGACYSenna sits on top of the modern F1 mountain alongside fellow legends Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Niki Lauda.To this day, only five men have won more world titles than Senna even with his career being cut short at just 34.The former boss of Senna and F1 kingpin Sir Frank Williams was the man who owned and allowed the Brazilian to go out on the fateful day in the car that proved faulty.His daughter Claire said: “Frank had a love affair with Ayrton. He got into his heart, got into his mind, and he always wanted to put him in his race car.“Dad’s wish then came true, but it ended in the worst possible way.”You can see the pain in his eyes every time he thinks about the accident.”The life of F1 icon Ayrton Senna
      March 21, 1960: Ayrton Senna da Silva was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil
      1973: Senna starts competitive racing in go-karts built by his dad
      1977: He wins his first few titles before the big South American Karting Championship crown
      1980-1983: Begins racing in cars winning Formula Ford 1600, British and European Formula Ford 2000 and British Formula 3 titles
      1984: Gets his chance in F1 with Toleman and scores points in his second ever race
      1985: Secures first F1 win with Lotus 
      1988: Signs huge contract with McLaren and wins first ever World Championship
      1990: Wins second World Championship after an impressive season
      1991: Wins third and final world title
      1993: Senna completes ‘Lap of the Gods’ at rain-hit European Grand Prix 
      1994: Moves to Williams for the final season of his illustrious career
      May 1, 1994: Senna tragically dies during the 1994 Imola Grand Prix

      Senna was a global superstar who carried the spirit of South America on his back in the 80s and 90s.Shortly before his death, he told his family he wanted to start a project to help bring quality education to poor children in Brazil.Three months after the crash, Senna’s family opened the Senna Institute. It now helps 1.5million children per year.His pal Herbert said: “I have lovely memories of Senna – he belongs among the greats.”He would have been world champion for several years to come. “We saw him getting to his peak in that period, but we were never able to see the best of that peak.”It is difficult to compare eras but without doubt he was one of the greatest of all time.”READ MORE SUN STORIESCurrent world champion Lewis Hamilton lists Senna as his idol and has famously copied the design of the Brazilian’s yellow crash-helmet before.Lando Norris also described Senna as the “whole package”.Lewis Hamilton has paid tribute to Senna with his helmet and his clothes beforeCredit: GettyA smiling Senna doing what he loved in the cockpit of an F1 carCredit: AFP More

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      Top Red Bull Racing designer QUITS team piling more pressure on Christian Horner

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      ADRIAN NEWEY will leave Red Bull Racing at the end of this year – cranking up the pressure on boss Christian Horner.Newey, who has grown disillusioned with life in F1, is the sport’s greatest car designer and says he is now seeking a new challenge.Adrian Newey will leave Red Bull Racing in 2025Credit: GettyNewey, 65, has been a key figure alongside Christian HornerCredit: PAThe 65-year-old has been heavily linked with a switch to Ferrari where he would join up with Lewis Hamilton next season.However, for the meantime he says he will see out the year with Red Bull while continuing to work on his hypercar project, the RB17, which launches in the summer.He said: “Ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to be a designer of fast cars. My dream was to be an engineer in Formula One, and I’ve been lucky enough to make that dream a reality.”For almost two decades it has been my great honour to have played a key role in Red Bull Racing’s progress from upstart newcomer to multiple title-winning team.READ MORE IN F1″However, I feel now is an opportune moment to hand that baton over to others and to seek new challenges for myself.”In the interim, the final stages of development of RB17 are upon us, so for the remainder of my time with the team my focus will lie there.”Newey is responsible for designing cars that have won 12 constructors’ titles with three different teams and 13 drivers’ championships.However, insiders say he has grown disillusioned with life at Red Bull Racing for some time and has previously expressed a desire to walk away.Most read in MotorsportWho is Adrian Newey?

      Adrian Newey is the current design chief at Red Bull Racing.
      The 65-year-old has played a crucial role in designing the cars that have helped Sebastian Vettel and Max Vertappen win SEVEN drivers’ world championships.
      Newey began designing in Formula One back in 1988 with March, where his cars were far more competitive than expected.
      After March he spent time with Williams and McLaren before joining Red Bull in 2005.
      Throughout his career he has contributed to the cars that have secured 12 World Constructors’ titles and 13 World Drivers’ championships.
      He is widely considered to be the greatest designer in the history of F1.

      In 2014 he was given permission by Red Bull Racing to work on other projects away from F1.And even last season he was contemplating stepping away from F1 – well before the internal complaint made against Horner – but was lured back with a new contract.Christian Horner should QUIT Red Bull after sexting scandal – this is the Max Verstappen show now, ex-F1 star saysNewey is said to be at odds with the modern world of F1 and how Horner and Red Bull Racing have been catapulted into the limelight.He has also seen the turbulence created within Red Bull Racing following the internal investigation following a complaint of inappropriate behaviour by a female colleague against Horner.Newey was not directly involved but worked closely with the claimant and has a long-standing friendship with Horner that stretches back to 2005 when he signed from McLaren.Newey’s departure, which was agreed late on Tuesday evening, will be a hammer blow to Horner, who has seen his position within the team come under the microscope.He is under huge pressure following allegations of inappropriate behaviour, which he had been cleared of, but now subjected to an appeal.Horner could also lose star driver Max Verstappen as part of the internal row that has ripped the team apart.His vision and brilliance have helped us to 13 titles in 20 seasonsChristian HornerAnd he is due to face a barrage of questions at this week’s Miami GP.Horner said: “All of our greatest moments from the past 20 years have come with Adrian’s hand on the technical tiller.”His vision and brilliance have helped us to 13 titles in 20 seasons.”His exceptional ability to conceptualise beyond F1 and bring wider inspiration to bear on the design of grand prix cars, his remarkable talent for embracing change and finding the most rewarding areas of the rules to focus on, and his relentless will to win have helped Red Bull Racing to become a greater force than I think even the late [Red Bull co-founder] Dietrich Mateschitz might have imagined.”More than that, the past 19 years with Adrian have been enormous fun.”For me, when Adrian joined Red Bull, he was already a superstar designer. Two decades and 13 Championships later he leaves as a true legend.READ MORE SUN STORIES”He is also my friend and someone I will be eternally grateful to for everything he brought to our partnership.”The legacy he leaves behind will echo through the halls of Milton Keynes and RB17 Track Car will be a fitting testament and legacy to his time with us.”Newey’s friendship with Horner goes back many yearsCredit: Getty More

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      Thirty years on from Ayrton Senna’s tragic death Bernie Ecclestone reveals he was told F1 would be CANCELLED for ever

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      BERNIE ECCLESTONE revealed he was told Formula One would be CANCELLED in the aftermath of Ayrton Senna’s death.Today marks the 30th anniversary of Senna’s fatal crash in Imola.Brazilian legend Ayrton Senna died while leading the San Marino Grand PrixCredit: AFPBernie Ecclestone was told that F1 would be cancelled after thatCredit: ReutersBrazil’s triple world champion died almost instantly when his Williams ran off the road at 190mph and smashed into a concrete wall on lap seven of the San Marino Grand Prix.And Ecclestone, who ruled the sport for four decades until 2017, said: “Max Mosley, the FIA president, said to me that he believed it would be the end of Formula One.“We hoped it wouldn’t cause what Max had suggested but it was a disaster. “It seems to me a lot longer than 30 years. Ayrton was so unlucky to die.”READ MORE ON SPORTSenna was leading when he lost control at the notorious Tamburello corner. The right-front suspension of his car penetrated his crash helmet.Yet the race restarted less than 40 minutes later with Michael Schumacher winning. Senna’s team-mate Damon Hill was sixth, two places ahead of fellow Brit Martin Brundle.Now a TV pundit, Brundle has said he was angry that “we raced past a pool of Senna’s blood for 55 laps”.But Ecclestone, 93, insisted: “Should we have stopped the race? I don’t think so.Most read in Motorsport“It wouldn’t have helped Senna in any way. When these things happen, they happen so quickly that you don’t really have that much time to think.“Legally, it should have been stopped because we now know he died at the circuit but it came down to commercial problems, people who would have wanted refunds and all these sorts of things.Video shows Ayrton Senna racing in the San Marino Grand prix in 1994 before tragic death of driver“The other side of it wasn’t really taken into consideration.”F1 is expected to pay tribute to Senna at the Emilia Romagna GP in Imola on May 19.His death is the last time a driver was killed during an F1 race.Jules Bianchi died nine months after injuries he suffered at the Japanese GP ten years ago.It’s the 30th anniversary of Senna’s fatal crash in ImolaCredit: GettyEcclestone added: “Formula One became more popular after Senna’s death.“It got so much worldwide publicity that people who had not watched before started to become interested.READ MORE SUN STORIES“But I hope we will never see something like that again.“And I think today, with the way everything has improved with safety, the chances are so much smaller.”🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

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      Mercedes preparing world record £128MILLION-A-YEAR offer for Max Verstappen to replace Lewis Hamilton

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      MERCEDES could break the bank with a record-breaking deal to sign F1 world champion Max Verstappen as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement.Sources in Austria claim the F1 team are tabling a whopping £128MILLION-A-YEAR package to lure the three time world champion.Totto Wolf wants Max Verstappen at MercedesCredit: GettyThe Red Bull star could replace Ferrari-bound Lewis HamiltonCredit: SplashIt comes after Red Bull Racing were rocked by the news that design whizz Adrian Newey is stepping back from his role in the team.SunSport reported on Tuesday how Verstappen’s father Jos and his manager, Raymond Vermeulen, are expected to meet the three owners of the Merc F1 team.That includes team boss Toto Wolff, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius, and Ineos and Manchester United shareholder, Sir Jim Ratcliffe.The Verstappen camp have made it clear that they are assessing their options following their spectacular fallout with team boss Christian Horner.READ MORE ON MOTORSPORTIt comes after an internal investigation where Horner was cleared of allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague.Verstappen’s father said in Bahrain that Horner’s position in control of the team was ripping it apart.Horner responded that he would not stand in his driver’s way if he wanted to leave, despite having a contract worth over £40 million a year that runs until the end of 2028.It means that Mercedes however, could be forced to stump up compensation for Verstappen, who is on course to win his fourth straight title this season.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSWolff has made no secret of the fact that he would love to sign Verstappen and is close with the family and they both live in Monaco.He is desperate to return the team to winning ways but has so far failed to see them muster a challenge.Inside Lewis Hamilton’s £13m collection of supercars including £4m classic and £1.6m ride made entirely for himHowever, Wolff knows he faces a tough task in trying to convince the driver to leave Red Bull for Mercedes.Verstappen has seen Mercedes produce three duds in succession, leading somewhat to Hamilton’s decision to quit, while Red Bull have delivered him three title-winning cars.Consequently there is a high degree of risk in making the switch, which Mercedes are hoping to acknowledge with a substantial contract that comes loaded with bonuses.Verstappen meanwhile has tried to distance himself from the speculation linking him with Mercedes.However, he is likely to come in for some questioning about his future at this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.Inside track on Hamilton’s lifeLEWIS HAMILTON has driven his way into pole position as Formula One’s most prolific winner. More

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      Christian Horner under more pressure with top Red Bull Racing designer poised to step down ahead of Miami GP

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      ADRIAN NEWEY is poised to step down from his role with Red Bull Racing, with an announcement coming before this week’s Miami Grand Prix.The news will crank up the pressure on boss Christian Horner following allegations from a female employee.Adrian Newey looks set to step down from his role at Red BullCredit: PAIt comes following the Christian Horner sexting scandalCredit: GettyNewey is F1’s most-successful designer, responsible for designing cars that have won 12 constructors’ titles with three different teams and 13 drivers’ championships.SunSport understands he will remain with the team until the end of the season before overseeing his hypercar project – the RB17 – produced at Red Bull Racing’s HQ.A limited run of 50 RB17s will be made, the 1250bhp hypercar will be produced at a rate of 15 per year with many already sold.It means he is unlikely to link up with Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, despite paddock rumours that he could join the Italian team or Silverstone-based Aston Martin.READ MORE IN F1Newey, 65, has grown disillusioned with life at Red Bull Racing for some time and has previously expressed a desire to walk away.In 2014 Newey’s deal gave him scope to work on other projects away from F1.And even last season he was contemplating stepping away from F1 – well before the internal complaint made against Horner – but was lured back with a new contract.Newey is believed to be at odds with the modern world of F1 and is also understood not to be a fan of the ‘Drive To Survive’ element, which has seen Red Bull and especially Horner, catapulted into the limelight.Most read in MotorsportHe has also become caught up in the turbulence within Red Bull Racing, whipped up within the internal investigation following a complaint of inappropriate behaviour against Horner. While Newey was not directly involved, he has worked closely with the claimant and has a long-standing friendship with Horner that stretches back to 2005 when he was persuaded to join Red Bull from McLaren.Christian Horner should QUIT Red Bull after sexting scandal – this is the Max Verstappen show now, ex-F1 star saysHorner has denied the allegations and was cleared of wrongdoing after an internal investigation. The complainant, who has subsequently been suspended, has appealed the decision. The strain caused by the internal conflict – plus Horner’s comments in an interview where he said Newey’s technical role had changed – have not sat well with the designer.Horner referred to the “technical team under him [Newey], led by Pierre Wache, is doing a wonderful job so they are not dependent on Adrian” – a comment that has wrangled.Newey has also watched the team pulled apart by the battle for control between Red Bull’s Austria HQ and the majority shareholder in Thailand. Who is Adrian Newey
      Adrian Newey is the current design chief at Red Bull Racing.
      The 65-year-old has played a crucial role in designing the cars that have helped Sebastian Vettel and Max Vertappen win SEVEN drivers’ world championships.
      Newey began designing in Formula One back in 1988 with March, where his cars were far more competitive than expected.
      After March he spent time with Williams and McLaren before joining Red Bull in 2005.
      Throughout his career he has contributed to the cars that have secured 12 World Constructors’ titles and 13 World Drivers’ championships.
      He is widely considered to be the greatest designer in the history of F1.

      It appears to have all got too much.News of his stepping down, which could come as early as Thursday, will of course be used as further ammunition to crank up the pressure on Horner.Max Verstappen’s father Jos, who claimed his son would be forced to leave the team if Horner remained in charge, is expected to be in Miami this week – his first race since making the threat that his son could walk.Sources in Germany say that Verstappen’s management team are having talks with Mercedes following this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.Wolff has made no secret of the fact he would love to sign Verstappen as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement.READ MORE SUN STORIESVerstappen, 26, is under contract at Red Bull until 2028.But boss Horner has said he will not stand in his way if he wants to quit.🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

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      When is F1 Miami Grand Prix? Date, TV channel, live stream and full schedule as Max Verstappen eyes three straight wins

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      MIAMI hosts this weekend’s Grand Prix – with Max Verstappen looking to win back-to-back races in Florida.Verstappen comes into the weekend with four wins out of the first five races of the season.Max Verstappen won the Chinese Grand Prix last time outCredit: GETTYCarlos Sainz is the only other race winner this season back in late March at the Australian Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton, who will be taking Sainz’s Ferrari seat next season, is yet to finish on the podium in 2024. Hamilton currently sits in ninth in the Drivers Championship, behind fellow Mercedes driver George Russell in seventh.Miami is a sprint weekend which means extra points are up for grabs for drivers to close that gap on Red Bull and Max Verstappen.READ MORE IN F1This does mean that teams only have a 60-minute practice session before the weekend racing begins.When is the F1 Miami Grand Prix 2024?
      The F1 Miami Grand Prix 2024 is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 5.
      It is scheduled to get underway at 9pm BST/4pm ET
      Miami International Autodrome is the allocated track for this huge race and it can host a staggering 65,000 passionate fans.
      The venue also hosts an exclusive paddock on the side of the pitch for some of the world’s biggest celebrities.
      What TV channel is it on and can it be live streamed?
      The F1 Miami Grand Prix will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sports F1.
      Subscription members of Sky Sports can stream the entire action on the NOW or Sky Sports website/app.
      Why are Ferrari in blue for the Miami GP?Ferrari will ditch their red livery for Sunday’s Miami GP to honour the 70th anniversary of the team making their mark in North America.Most read in MotorsportThe design change will see two different shades of blue used on the vehicles with Azzurro La Plata and Azzurro Dino taking the place of the traditional Rosso Corsa that can be found on the cars.Azzuro La Plata is a lighter blue which is said to hark back to the colour worn by legendary driver Alberto Ascari during his 1952 and 1953 world Formula One titles for Ferrari.While Azzurro Dino is a darker blue designed be a nod to the colours first worn by Ferrari in 1974 when five-time Grand Prix winner Clay Rega donned the shade before the team returned to their iconic red.The dual colour livery will be plastered all over the SF-24 car while Leclerc and Sainz are also expected to wear blue racing suits too.FULL race scheduleAll times are in BST/ETFriday, May 3
      Practice One – 5.30pm BST/12.30pm ET
      Sprint Shootout – 9.30pm/4.30pm
      Saturday, May 4
      Sprint – 5pm/12pm
      Qualifying – 9pm/4pm
      Sunday, May 5READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Race – 9pm/4pm
      Current F1 Driver Standings
      Max Verstappen, Red Bull – 110
      Sergio Perez, Red Bull – 85
      Charles Leclerc, Ferrari – 76
      Carlos Sainz, Ferrari – 69
      Lando Norris, McLaren – 58
      Oscar Piastri, McLaren – 38
      George Russell, Mercedes – 33
      Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin – 31
      Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes – 19
      Lance stroll, Aston Martin – 9
      Yuki Tsunoda, RB – 7
      Oliver Bearman, Ferrari – 6
      Nico Hulkenberg, Haas – 4
      Kevin Magnussen, Haas – 1
      Alex Albon, Williams – 0
      Esteban Ocon, Alpine – 0 
      Zhou Guanyu, Kick Sauber – 0 
      Daniel Ricciardo, RB – 0
      Pierre Gasly, Alpine – 0
      Valtteri Bottas, Kick Sauber – 0
      Logan Sargeant, Williams – 0 More