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      F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix qualifying: UK start time, TV channel, live stream, full race schedule from Jeddah

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      THE battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen is going to the wire as they arrive in Saudi Arabia.Verstappen has an eight-point lead in the F1 Drivers’ Championship but all the momentum is currently with Hamilton.
      F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix LIVE: Follow all the action from Jeddah
      NINTCHDBPICT000695274359Credit: EPA
      The Brit overcame what amounted to a 25-place grid penalty to beat Verstappen to the chequered flag in Brazil, then eased to victory in Qatar two weeks ago.
      However, his use of four engines has caused controversy with former McLaren rival Fernando Alonso calling for Hamilton to be sent to the back of the grid again.
      The Alpine driver said: “Those who have exceeded a certain number of engines per year should be sent to the back of the grid.”
      What time is F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix qualifying?

      F1 heads to Saudi Arabia on the weekend of Friday, December 3 to Sunday, December 5.
      Practice Three takes place at 2pm on Saturday.
      Qualifying then follows at 5pm – 8pm track time.

      What TV channel is the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on and can I live stream it?

      The F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is live on Sky Sports F1.
      You can stream all the action live with a Sky Go account or the Sky Sports app.
      Non-Sky Sports subscribers can still watch the whole race day with a Now TV Day Pass from £9.99.

      F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix schedule
      Friday

      Practice One – 1.30pm (4.30pm local time)
      Practice Two – 5pm (8pm local time)

      Saturday

      Practice Three – 2pm (5pm local time)
      Qualifying – 5pm (8pm local time)

      Sunday

      Race – 5.30pm (8.30pm local time) More

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      Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in unforgettable F1 title fight in 32C heat at first ever Saudi Arabia GP in Jeddah

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      FORMULA ONE is set for a thrilling climax to an unforgettable season as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen battle it out for glory.Verstappen currently leads the championship by eight points and can clinch the title – his first – should he outscore Hamilton by 18 points on Sunday at the Saudi Arabian GP.
      There’s just eight points in the championshipCredit: REUTERS
      Lewis Hamilton versus Max Verstappen is one of the best title races in years
      The Middle Eastern country is hosting its inaugural race in Jeddah on a rapidly-constructed 6km circuit that promises to be one of the fastest on the calendar.
      In fact, it is so new, building work is still going on as they try to get as much completed in time for Sunday’s showdown.
      But not only is this track quick, despite having nearly 30 corners, it is also a street circuit – like Monaco and Singapore.
      And that means it could also spell double-jeopardy for F1’s title contenders, as a high-speed dirty track bordered by concrete crash barriers all make things rather tricky.
      As he’s eight points behind, Hamilton simply cannot afford to not finish this race to take his title defence to the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi next weekend.
      Despite the enormity of the task, which has seen him slice into Verstappen’s 19-point lead, Hamilton has remained remarkably cool in the build up to this week’s race.

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      He spoke to SunSport on Tuesday and said that while he would naturally love to win an eighth world title – moving clear of the joint-record he currently holds with Michael Schumacher, he is relaxed about the prospect.
      In the Red Bull camp, Verstappen is fighting for his first ever title in single-seaters – an incredible statistic to think he’s not won a title before.
      His last championship win came in 2013 in karting, when he was just 15-years old.
      That said, he too is looking remarkably relaxed given the huge prize at stake.
      It is all delicately poised to be a great finale which we all hope will be sorted out and decided on track – rather than the stewards’ room – as has been the case in the Brazilian and Qatar GPs before this one.
      The high-speed, danger and what’s at risk factor makes this weekend’s race exciting.
      Read our live blog for the Saudi Arabian GP to keep up with all the latest updates from practice, qualifying and Sunday’s race

      🏁 F1 2021 calendar: practice times, dates and racetrack info More

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      F1 ace Lewis Hamilton’s amazing car collection worth £13m, includes a £4m Shelby and a £1.6m Pagani Zonda 760 LH

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      TO be Lewis Hamilton for a day.The F1 ace has amassed a £300m fortune that allows him to indulge in the best boys’ toys around.
      Lewis Hamilton has amassed a £300m fortune from motor racing and sponsorshipsCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      Hamilton’s wealth means he can afford life’s greatest luxuries and has a £13m car collectionCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      And boy does the racing legend know how to spend it – splashing his cash on the best cars that could earn him the title of ultimate celebrity petrol head.
      The eco-warrior equalled Michael Schumacher’s seven world titles last season and has a deal with Mercedes to race till 2023.
      Join SunSport in taking a look at the staggering fleet of cars that sees Hamilton, 36, live like a king.
      I don’t know anything about wine. I don’t know a huge amount about art. But what I do know is cars, and I’m very particular about them.”Lewis Hamilton on motors
      CARS
      Lewis has a fleet of motors worth around… wait for it… £13 million.
      Of course, being a driver, he’s a car fanatic and collects everything from supercars to vintage classics that he divides between two garages – one in Monaco and another in LA.
      “I don’t know anything about wine. I don’t know a huge amount about art. But what I do know is cars, and I’m very particular about them,” he once said.
      Amusingly, so they keep their value, when Hamilton doesn’t want to drive them back home – he reportedly has a tow-truck that comes to pick them up from whatever restaurant or club he’s at.
      Here’s just some of his extravagant collection.
      PAGANI ZONDA 760 LH
      The rarest motor in Hamilton’s possession is a £1.6m Pagani Zonda that was made entirely for him.
      The exterior and interiors are purple, and at the request of the sports star he opted for a manual gearbox instead of the usual sequential one.
      Hamilton’s Pagani Zonda cost him £1.6m but he hates driving itCredit: Rex Features
      His reasons? Because he hated getting behind the wheel of it initially.
      “The Zonda is terrible to drive!” he once said.
      “It’s the best-sounding car I own, but handling-wise it’s the worst.”
      That could be why in 2015 Hamilton got in an accident that caused some significant damage to the cherished motor.1966 SHELBY 427 COBRA
      The highest valued car in Hamilton’s collection is this stunning classic.
      Believed to be worth around £4m, it’s a rare sight – unless you’ve seen the racer cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway in LA.
      Hamilton was often spied taking his ex-missus Nicole Scherzinger for a spin in this beauty, which would have him standing out from the crowd.
      A 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra is Hamilton’s most expensive car worth £4mCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      LAFERRARI
      Every car aficionado worth their weight in salt owns this £1m Ferrari – another collector’s item that rises in value as the years go by.
      Capable of reaching a top speed of 217 mph, the LaFerrari can hit 0-62 mph in just 2.4 seconds, meaning it’s Hamilton’s fastest car he owns.
      Footballers including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Son Heung-min also drive this frighteningly fast motor that must be just like handling a racing car.
      A £1m Ferrari La Ferrari is a must for any car collection, including HamiltonCredit: Xposure
      MERCEDES-AMG PROJECT ONE
      Lewis has already got his hands on a Project One, that’s not even supposed to be out till next year.
      He was heavily involved in the production of the plug-in hybrid sports car that’s capable of hitting a top speed of 217mph.
      Only 275 are going to be released at a cost of around £2m.
      Make that 274 now, since Hamilton has one.
      Hamilton has managed to get his hands on a £2m Mercedes-AMG Project One ahead of its 2021 release
      Hamilton was heavily involved in the production of the Project OneCredit: AFP or licensors
      MERCEDES-AMG SLS BLACK
      He already owned a SL Black Series, so why not add the SLS, right?
      Hamilton, who clearly has a need for speed, added this supercar to his garage probably because it’s the fastest Mercedes in production.
      Powered by a 6.2-litre V8 engine that produces 622bhp – the SLS can reach a top speed of 196 mph.
      It also hits 0-60 in just 3 seconds – making it the ideal car for Hamilton to get his thrills off the track with. For a price tag of £230k, it’s just what you’d expect really.
      Driving for Mercedes has its perks for HamiltonCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      Hamilton regularly shares images on social media alongside Mercedes motorsCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      MCLAREN P1
      Despite splitting with McLaren’s racing team, Hamilton can’t have felt too aggrieved with his former employers because in 2015 he added a £2m P1 to his extensive list of rides.
      The P1 has a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine, which is twinned with an electric motor that means the supercar has a total power and torque output of 903 bhp and 980 Nm of torque.
      In real talk that means it’s fast and powerful, can hit a top of 217 mph and 0-60mph in under 2.7 seconds.
      In 2015 Hamilton added a £2M McLaren P1 to his list of ridesCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      The McLaren P1 is capable of hitting 0-62 mph in just 2.7 secondsCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      Hamilton didn’t hold any grudges with McLaren despite splitting from the team and drives their car still on the streets of MonacoCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      1967 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT500
      The second classic car that’s part of his fleet, fans of the Hollywood movie Gone In 60 Seconds might recognise this motor as looking to similar to one of the Eleanor models from the film.
      Hamilton had his customised by Oklahoma shop Classic Recreations for additional cost.
      At auctions, these can fetch up to £750k, and you can bet Hamilton’s is in tip-top condition. That said, we doubt he’ll ever sell it.
      Lewis Hamilton says he feels like ‘giving up on everything’ in post about environment that has fans fearing for the F1 superstar
      BEST OF THE REST
      When the Mercedes-Maybach 6 came out in 2016, Hamilton made sure he got his hands on the concept car.
      The 2×2 coupe is completely electric, and can run up to 200 miles before it’ll need recharging.
      Hamilton also has another Mercedes – the Maybach S600, which is a luxurious chauffeur’s car with a partition separating the front seats from the back.
      Both those motors have a combined worth of around £800k.
      And Hamilton doesn’t mind swapping four wheels for two – sometimes taking his £6,500 Honda CRF450RX Motocross Bike around the dirt tracks of California.
      Then there’s also his Maverick X3 dune buggy that would’ve set him back around £20k, that’s also electric in theme with his eco-warrior status.
      Hamilton is a fan of the Maverick x3 dune buggy worth £20kCredit: 2017. All rights reserved.
      Nicole Scherzinger used to ride with Hamilton on his buggyCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      Hamilton also has a penchant for motorbikesCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      Lewis Hamilton’s stunning homes, from £18m six-bedroom London mansion to £32m New York penthouse in celeb hotspot

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      BEING an F1 driver, Lewis Hamilton is a natural globetrotter.Flying from circuit to circuit, the Brit has won the world championship SEVEN times.
      Globetrotter Lewis Hamilton boasts a proud property portfolioCredit: AFP or licensors
      Before he set off in pursuit of the 2021 title – having overtaken Michael Schumacher’s record of 91 career race wins last year – he at least had a choice of four luxury homes to self-isolate in.
      From a £32MILLION penthouse in New York to an £18MILLION London mansion and a Monte Carlo retreat, the 36-year-old racer knows how to live a life of luxury.
      NEW YORK, NEW YORK
      Lewis has an affinity to America, especially the east coast, where he has owned two properties in the Big Apple.
      In 2019, he splashed £32m on a Manhattan penthouse in a condo project part-owned by NFL great Tom Brady and his model wife Gisele Bundchen.
      His 6,547 square-foot home included a huge outdoor area and has views of the Hudson River, as well as a swimming pool, fitness centre, squash court, library and wine cellar.
      Neighbours include Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence and Austin Powers star Mike Myers.
      Around the same time, he listed his three-floor 8,900-square-foot penthouse that had its own swimming pool.
      Hamilton paid £34m for the five-bedroom, six-bathroom apartment in Tribeca in 2017, but incredibly never lived in it. It’s not known if he ever did sell it.
      Last year Hamilton splashed £32m on a Manhattan apartmentCredit: Vestry
      The glorious penthouse is part of a condo project part-owned by NFL great Tom Brady and his model wife Gisele BundchenCredit: Vestry
      The library will keep Hamilton book smartCredit: Vestry
      The bedroom boasts a view of the Hudson RiverCredit: Vestry
      Hamilton’s kitchen provides plenty of space for entertaining guestsCredit: Vestry
      Neighbours include Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence and Austin Powers star Mike MyersCredit: Vestry
      Hamilton has an affinity to buying property in the Big AppleCredit: Vestry
      Hamilton used to have a home in nearby Greenwich VillageCredit: refer to caption
      The property had a state-of-the-art gymCredit: refer to caption
      Many of the luxury apartments had their own swimming poolsCredit: refer to caption
      Harry Styles, Bella Hadid and The Weeknd were his former neighboursCredit: refer to caption
      LONDON
      So, this is what £18m buys you in England’s capital…
      In 2017, Hamilton snapped up this unique six-bedroom detached villa in West London from previous owners Burberry chief designer Christopher Bailey and his husband, actor Simon Woods.
      The stunning property has ‘generous entertaining space’ which opens out into a 200ft garden with an impressive summer house.
      It was built by the famous builder Samuel Johns in 1860.
      There are also four reception rooms, with two huge bathrooms.Again, it’s not known how much time Lewis spends living in the property.
      There are six spacious bedrooms inside
      Hamilton bought the mansion from Burberry chief designer Christopher Bailey and his husband, actor Simon Woods
      Famous builder Samuel Johns built the property in 1860
      The property boasts four reception rooms
      There are two bathrooms in Hamilton’s West London home

      MONTE CARLO
      Like many F1 drivers, Hamilton also lives in Monaco.
      Although not much is known about his property, he once shared a snap of his wonderful view.
      He captioned a snap on social media: “A place I call home, Monte Carlo. I am so blessed to live in such an incredible place. God is really shining down on me today.
      “Sending you light & love for your day. On my way to Spa, let’s do this!!!”
      Hamilton lives tax free in Monaco most of the timeCredit: Instagram @lewishamilton
      It is believed Hamilton resides in the exclusive Fontvieille districtCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Hamilton once shared a view from his stunning Monaco apartment
      It is believed he resides in the exclusive Fontvieille district.
      Back in 2007, it was reported he was interested in a 2,000sq ft, four-bedroom duplex with views across the Mediterranean in Fontvieille’s Seaside Plaza.
      A top-floor apartment would have set him back somewhere in the region of £30m. Nice, if you’re a superstar racer.
      Mercedes release video of Lewis Hamilton’s new F1 2021 car which Brit helped engineers build to go for another title More

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      F1 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix practice LIVE RESULT: Hamilton fastest in FP2 with Bottas second and Verstappen only FOURTH

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      THE final two races of the season are upon you, F1 fans. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen go at it in Saudi Arabia this weekend, before finishing up the season in Abu Dhabi next week – and both should be absolute crackers.
      F1 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix: UK Start time, TV channel and live stream for practice, qualifying and race

      Follow all the action with SunSport’s live blog below…
      KENDRA SPARKS BEN RUMOURS
      Model Camila Kendra appears to be in the lap of luxury after moving on from F1 ace Lewis Hamilton — and putting Chelsea star Ben Chilwell in pole position.
      Camila, 27, shared snaps from plush surroundings, and eagle-eyed fans recognised them as the England full-back’s home.
      Camila Kendra looks sizzlingly hot as she takes a dip in the ocean
      Chilwell, 24, has also been quick to like her pics. One pal said: “Ben thinks they get on swimmingly.”
      Camilo was also seen at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge ground after their 4-0 demolition of Juventus in the Champions League last month.
      The Sun told earlier this year how Camila posted a photo from the home of race ace Hamilton, 36, and was seen in some of his clothes.
      Camila – born in the Dominican Republic – recently split up with Tyler Cameron, from US reality show The Bachelor, after eight months.
      The Sun has approached Chilwell for a comment.

      BRUNDLE PREDICTS ALMIGHTY RUMBLE
      Martin Brundle is predicting a thrilling finale to the F1 title race.
      The Sky F1 pundit said: “This place will bite. In a way this is brilliant towards the end of the season but if I was Red Bull and Mercedes I would be thinking ‘I don’t need the extra jeopardy of this place right now’.
      “These guys live off data. They thrive on it and they hate uncertainty. They want to turn up here, having done 1000 laps on the sim, with the right set-up and the right strategy.
      “But we want all the jeopardy and the surprise and I think that is what has made it such a great year  – we’ve had that jeopardy this season.”
      And of hamilton’s title chances, he added: “A good football analogy is you’d rather have the points than the games in hand.
      “If Lewis carries on at that rate of knots and if Valtteri Bottas can get involved and have one of his on-form days, then who knows?
      “We’ve seen some good wheel-to-wheel action. We’ve seen some shooting from the hip and shooting from the lip from the team bosses.
      “We’ve had it all. The high drama, the massive accidents, Max parked on Lewis’ head at Monza. It’s had everything; the brilliant moments, the scary moments, but it has to end somewhere.”
      LEWIS ‘NOT COMFORTABLE’ IN SAUDI ARABIA
      Lewis Hamilton admits he is in uncomfortable racing in Saudi Arabia but promised to try to ‘raise awareness’ of human rights concerns.
      Britain’s world champion needs victory and ideally a poor performance from title leader Max Verstappen to leave him well placed for an eighth crown.
      And Hamilton said: “Do I feel comfortable here? I wouldn’t say I do.
      “But it’s not my choice to be here. The sport has taken a choice to be here.
      “And whether it’s right or wrong, while we are here, it’s important we do try to raise awareness.”
      Credit: AFP
      LECLERC’S AMAZING ESCAPE
      Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc miraculously walked away from a 150mph crash as Lewis Hamilton finished second practice fastest at the Saudi Arabian GP.
      Leclerc lost control at the notorious Turn 22 on the new Jeddah street circuit.
      The crash badly smashed Leclerc’s car and ended the session five minutes early.
      Hamilton beat fourth-placed title-rival Max Verstappen by 0.195 seconds.
      Credit: EPA
      Credit: EPA
      SCORCHING GAS
      Alpha Tauri are clearly delighted with Frenchman Pierre Gasly’s showing in second practice…

      WOLFF’S STATEMENT ON KINGSPAN DEAL
      Toto Wolff responded to anger over Mercedes agreeing a deal with the heavily-criticised Kingspan company with an open letter.
      It read: “The tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire was beyond imaginable to me, and it should never have happened.
      “On behalf of our team, I would sincerely like to apologise to you for the additional hurt that this announcement has caused. It was never our intention to do so.
      “The work of the public inquiry to establish the full causes of the tragedy is crucially important. Prior to concluding our partnership, we engaged with Kingspan in depth to understand what role their products played in what happened at Grenfell.
      “Kingspan have stated that they played no role in the design or construction of the cladding system on Grenfell Tower, and that a small percentage of their product was used as a substitute without their knowledge in part of the system which was not compliant with building regulations and was unsafe.
      “I know that this does not change in any way the awful tragedy you suffered, or the deep and ongoing pain felt in your community, and I would like to thank Grenfell United for the offer to meet in person for me to learn and understand better.
      “I look forward to coming together as soon as we can.”
      TOTO OFFRS TO MEET GRENFELL FAMILIES
      Toto Wolff has offered to meet the survivors and bereaved families of the Grenfell tragedy after a backlash over a sponsorship deal with Kingspan, writes BEN HUNT.
      Merc confirmed a partnership with the insulation and building firm ahead of this weekend’s Saudi Arabian GP.
      However, there was heavy criticism from survivors and those families impacted by the fire in the tower block in 2017, which killed 72 people.
      The Grenfell United group sought to speak to Merc while Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, also said he would write to the Brackley-based F1 team.
      WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE TITLE RACE
      Lewis Hamilton heading big rival Max Verstappen in first practice at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is the first step towards a victory that Britain’s world champ surely needs to stay in the title pursuit.
      If Red Bull’s Verstappen beats Hamilton on Sunday, the Mercedes star would need the Dutchman to have a disastrous final GP at Abu Dhabi.
      In contrast, should Verstappen finish second behind Hamilton this weekend then the title fight will be neck and neck.
      FULL CLASSIFICATION
      Here are the results in full.
      Feast your eyes over these!

      P1 RESULTS
      Here’s your full top ten times from P1.

      Hamilton 1:29.786
      Verstappen 1:29.842
      Bottas 1:30.009
      Gasly 1:30.263
      Giovinazzi 1:30.318
      Sainz 1:30.564
      Leclerc 1:30.600
      Ricciardo 1:30.608
      Alonso 1:30.842
      Vettel 1:30.886

      P1 FINISHED
      That’s it from P1, we’ll have full results to come.

      CHEQUERED FLAG
      That’s it from P1!
      In their first drive around the new Jeddah track, it’s Lewis Hamilton that posted the quickest time.
      Team-mate Valtteri Bottas was third, while early pace-setter Max Verstappen was between the two in second.
      FINAL FIVE
      We’re into the final five minutes of P1.
      And it remains a familiar looking top three, with Lewis Hamilton ahead of Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas – and Max Verstappen in third.
      TOTO-LLY BRILLIANT
      Toto Wolff’s smiling.
      And no wonder, as it’s currently a Mercedes one-two at the top of the leaderboard – ahead of Max Verstappen.

      Hamilton 1:29.786
      Bottas 1:30.009
      Verstappen 1:30.014

      NEW FASTEST LAP
      We have a new fastest lap… and it’s that man Lewis Hamilton!
      He’s gone and posted a stunning time of 1:29.786.
      We have just under 15 minutes left of P1.
      BOTT THE HELL?
      Valtteri Bottas is having such a good time, in fact, that he’s overtaken Max Verstappen’s best lap time.
      The Finn posted a time of 1:30.009, which currently leads the field.
      Team-mate Lewis Hamilton is currently sixth with 1:30.678.
      VALT ON EARTH
      Saudi Arabia’s quick track could lead to chaos this weekend.
      Mercedes No2 Valtteri Bottas put it best.
      The 32-year-old said: “It’s a new track and it’s going to be messy at times.”
      He appears to like it that way, however, adding: “This track is cool!”
      WALLED IN
      The tight walls will leave little room for error on Sunday.
      Here’s a few snaps from the picturesque settling in Saudi Arabia.
      Credit: AP
      Credit: Reuters
      Credit: Getty
      TIME TO SPEED UP
      The quicker times are starting to pour in as drivers get more confident in their unfamiliar surroundings.
      Here are how the top ten looks so far.

      Verstappen 1:30.014
      Hamilton 1:30.678
      Bottas 1:30.949
      Norris 1:31.155
      Leclerc 1:31.258
      Gasly 1:31.281
      Vettel 1:31.574
      Russell 1:31.698
      Ricciardo 1:31.759
      Ocon 1:31.797

      TYRE-SOME
      Here’s a little look at what kind of tyres our main contenders have decided to use in P1.
      A wide variety of tyre compounds seen at the start of this exploratory session. @Max33Verstappen goes quickest straight away on the hard tyres. @MercedesAMGF1 so far behind them on the soft – but these are very early days at this brand new street circuit. #SaudiGP— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) December 3, 2021

      FAMOUS FIVE
      Lewis Hamilton is taking it easy so far, as he gets to grips with the track.
      The Brit is up to fifth, however, having now posted a time of 1:31.478.
      Max Verstappen’s best lap time of 1:30.354 is still quickest so far.
      GETTING YOUR FEL
      There’s a legend in the house.
      Brazilian Felipe Massa is in Saudi Arabia taking in the action.

      AROUND THE CORNER
      There could be danger around every corner this weekend… and there are 27 of them!
      Jeddah’s circuit boasts more corners than any other track this season.
      And with the race set to be contested at brutally high speed, drivers will have to be even more alert than usual as the season prepares to reach its exciting climax.
      LEW WHAT
      Lewis Hamilton has posted an early time of 1:33.241.
      Max Verstappen, meanwhile, is down to 1:30.920.
      Lando Norris is next fastest with 1:31.417
      While Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas is third quickest so far with 1:31.712.
      MAX POWER
      Man Verstappen, unsurprisingly, has posted the quickest lap so far in Jeddah.
      Having been round five times, 1:31.7365 is his best so far.
      Lewis Hamilton has now entered proceedings, having been last out the garage.
      Load more entries… More

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      Leclerc suffers terrifying 160mph crash in Saudi Arabia to spark safety fears ahead of Hamilton vs Verstappen showdown

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’S showdown with Max Verstappen will take place on a new circuit which could prove dangerous.The reigning world champion is just eight points behind Red Bull’s Verstappen ahead of Sunday’s inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and topped both practice sessions.
      Charles Leclerc hit the barriers in his Ferrari at 160mphCredit: EPA
      Turn 22 has been described as the most dangerous at the Jeddah circuitCredit: Splash
      A win for Hamilton, plus setting the fastest lap to earn a bonus point, and a second-place finish for the Dutchman would see them tied going into the final race in Abu Dhabi.
      But first, Hamilton has to conquer the terrifying high-speed street circuit here in Jeddah that has been constructed in just a few months.
      There were no test events for this race — where building work is still going on — despite average speeds of 155mph, top speeds of over 200mph and thick concrete barriers all  around. 
      Charles Leclerc had a lucky escape when his Ferrari ploughed into the barriers at 160mph at Turn 22 — the one earmarked as the most treacherous.
      He climbed from the wreckage unscathed.  But his car was a write-off and will again raise safety concerns about this hastily constructed track.
      Alpine executive director Marcin Budkowski had earlier warned: “Fernando Alonso said it was a pretty demanding circuit.

      FREE BETS: GET THE LATEST BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS AND FREE BETS
      “Lots of blind corners and high speed between walls, so lots of very high attention at all times to make sure you don’t make a mistake.
      “A mistake (…) you are going to pay very severely.  If you crash, you could damage the car badly or even hurt yourself.”
      Sky’s F1 pundit Martin Brundle added: “This place will bite. In a way this is brilliant towards the end of the season.
      “But if I was Red Bull and  Mercedes I would be thinking, ‘I don’t need the extra jeopardy of this place right now’.
      “These guys live off data. They thrive on it and they hate uncertainty. They want to turn up here, having done 1,000 laps on the sim, with the right set-up and the right strategy.
      Leclerc thankfully climbed from the wreckage unscathedCredit: Splash
      “But we want all the jeopardy and the surprise and I think that is what has made it such a great year — we’ve had that jeopardy this season.”
      Verstappen has won nine times this season, while Hamilton has seven victories.
      At one point the Red Bull man had a 32-point lead in the championship. But Hamilton has won the last two races and his confidence is sky high, so Brundle says the  outcome of the championship is still too difficult to predict.
      He added: “A good football analogy is you’d rather have the points than the games in hand.
      “If Lewis carries on at that rate of knots and if Valtteri Bottas can get involved and have one of his on-form days, then who knows?
      “One mishap around here from Lewis and Max is the world champion. It is going to end somehow, isn’t it?
      “We’ve seen some good wheel-to-wheel action. We’ve seen some shooting from the hip and shooting from the lip from the team bosses.
      “We’ve had it all. The high drama, the massive accidents, Max parked on Lewis’ head at Monza.
      “It’s had everything — the brilliant moments, the scary moments — but it has to end somewhere.” 
      Lewis Hamilton is chasing down championship rival Max VerstappenCredit: AFP
      Lewis Hamilton previews the Saudi Arabia GP More

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      George Russell salutes Sir Frank Williams with iconic Top Gun quote on car after ex-Williams F1 boss sadly died

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      GEORGE RUSSELL is paying a special tribute to the late Sir Frank Williams with an iconic quote stamped on his car at this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.The Williams star has a famous line from the movie Top Gun emblazoned on his halo in Jeddah.
      George Russell will race with a Top Gun quote on his car this weekendCredit: PA
      The icnonic quote pays tribute to the late Sir Frank WilliamsCredit: Sky Sports
      It reads: “I feel the need, the need for speed!”
      The words pay tribute to team founder Sir Frank, who sadly passed away after a lengthy illness.
      The 79-year-old was a motorsport titan who proudly led his team to nine constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ championships – including the 1996 title with Damon Hill.
      Russell and team-mate Nicholas Latifi are also sporting Sir Frank’s name and a special memorial logo on their FW43Bs this weekend.
      Other teams are following suit, with the likes of Alfa Romeo, Haas and Red Bull all tweeting images of the logo on their cars in Saudi Arabia.
      And lastly Russell will race in a bespoke helmet with the memorial logo emblazoned on the side.
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      George Russell is set to move to Mercedes next seasonCredit: Alamy
      Teams across the grid are paying further tributes to the F1 legend, while race organisers are understood to be planning a commemoration before Sunday’s grand prix.
      The world of motorsport went into mourning last weekend after news of Sir Frank’s death.
      Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton led tributes on social media as he wrote about ‘one of the kindest people (he) had the pleasure of meeting’.
      He added: “What he achieved in this sport is truly something special. Until his last days I know he remained a racer and a fighter at heart.” More

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      Mercedes F1 chief Toto Wolff offers to meet Grenfell tragedy victims after a backlash over insulation sponsorship deal

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      TOTO WOLFF has offered to meet the survivors and bereaved families of the Grenfell tragedy after a backlash over a sponsorship deal with Kingspan.Mercedes confirmed a partnership with the insulation and building firm ahead of this weekend’s Saudi Arabian GP.
      Toto Wolff apologised on behalf of the Mercedes teamCredit: Alamy
      However, there was heavy criticism from survivors and those families impacted by the fire in the tower block in 2017, which killed 72 people.
      The Grenfell United group sought to speak to Merc while Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, also said he would write to the Brackley-based F1 team.
      But Wolff has responded with an open letter saying: “The tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire was beyond imaginable to me, and it should never have happened.
      “On behalf of our team, I would sincerely like to apologise to you for the additional hurt that this announcement has caused. It was never our intention to do so.
      “The work of the public inquiry to establish the full causes of the tragedy is crucially important.
      “Prior to concluding our partnership, we engaged with Kingspan in depth to understand what role their products played in what happened at Grenfell.

      “Kingspan have stated that they played no role in the design or construction of the cladding system on Grenfell Tower, and that a small percentage of their product was used as a substitute without their knowledge in part of the system which was not compliant with building regulations and was unsafe.
      “I know that this does not change in any way the awful tragedy you suffered, or the deep and ongoing pain felt in your community, and I would like to thank Grenfell United for the offer to meet in person for me to learn and understand better.
      “I look forward to coming together as soon as we can.”
      Lewis Hamilton reacts to his Brazilian GP victory More