F1

LEWIS HAMILTON is at the centre of an F1 cheat storm.Bitter title rivals Red Bull are threatening to protest the legality of his Mercedes car.
Red Bull are threatening to protest the legality of Lewis Hamilton’s MercedesCredit: Splash
Mercedes ace Hamilton won last week’s Brazilian GP after starting tenth on the gridCredit: Rex
Red Bull chief Christian Horner claims its rear wing breaks FIA rules by flexing too much at speed – giving Hamilton a huge amount of extra pace.
And ahead of this weekend’s crucial Qatar Grand Prix, Horner declared: “The straight line performance in the last two Grands Prix has gone exponential and that concerns us.
“Make no bones about it, if we see it on the car here it will be protested. If we believe the Mercedes car is not in compliance, we will protest.”
Hamilton fought back from grid penalties totalling 25 places to win the last GP in Brazil – cutting the gap to Red Bull’s championship leader Max Verstappen to 14 points.
Mercedes insist their car is legal and team boss Toto Wolff declared: “Nobody would show up with an illegal engine or rear wing.
“The world is too transparent for that.”

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But Horner added: “When you see marks on the rear wing endplates that have been marking up from wings flexing, it is very clear what has been going on.
“It’s hidden in the way it operates, so  it’s harder to spot from a camera.”
The 48-year-old also remarked how he has no relationship with Mercedes counterpart Wolff.
When quizzed about their relationship, Horner said: “There is no relationship.
“This is the first time they have been challenged and it is interesting to see how people react when they are challenged.
“Relationships and respect are different things, there is respect for everything Mercedes have done, everything Lewis Hamilton has done.
“I don’t need to go to dinner with Toto, I don’t need to kiss his a***. It is a competition, it is great that we are in this position and fighting.
“Toto and I are very different characters and operate in different ways.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has threatened to protestCredit: Getty

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“Am going to be spending Christmas with Toto? Probably not…Unless you’re in panto this year, I might take the kids!
“From my perspective it is F1, you don’t have to be best mates with your opponents. How can you be?
“It would be dishonest in many respects to fake a facade when you’re competing against your rivals.”
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PANTO season came early in Doha after Red Bull boss Christian Horner and Merc boss Toto Wolff bickered like a pair of ugly sisters.It came after a FIVE DAY rendition of ‘oh yes he did..’ ended with the FIA deciding that ‘oh, not he didn’t’ with regards to Max Verstappen illegally forcing Lewis Hamilton off track in Brazil.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has declared he has ‘no relationship’ with Mercedes counterpart Toto WolffCredit: Getty
Wolff will be hoping Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas impress in Sunday’s Qatar Grand PrixCredit: Splash
Mercedes’ request for a right to review was turned down by the stewards as the Qatar GP turned into a right old carry on.
And it sparked a bitter fall out between Horner and Wolff on stage, with the Red Bull chief taunting his rival.
When quizzed about their relationship, Horner said: “There is no relationship.
“This is the first time they have been challenged and it is interesting to see how people react when they are challenged.
“Relationships and respect are different things, there is respect for everything Mercedes have done, everything Lewis Hamilton has done.
“I don’t need to go to dinner with Toto, I don’t need to kiss his a***. It is a competition, it is great that we are in this position and fighting.

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“Toto and I are very different characters and operate in different ways.
“Am going to be spending Christmas with Toto? Probably not…Unless you’re in panto this year, I might take the kids!
“From my perspective it is F1, you don’t have to be best mates with your opponents. How can you be?
“It would be dishonest in many respects to fake a facade when you’re competing against your rivals.”
Horner’s barb was epic knock-about fun but there are serious tensions below this classic Punch and Judy show.
And with it comes the threat of more protests and appeals lobbied at F1’s sluggish stewards that threaten the outcome of this title race.
Wolff added: “We don’t want to end up after Saudi Arabia or Abu Dhabi, wherever it may end and then going to the stewards’ rooms or because one the teams felt it wasn’t treated rightly.
“Now is the time in this very championship to discuss the rules.

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“Olympic boxing went to pro boxing and is now MMA, but that is okay, we are in the ring now trying to do the best job possible.
“Elbows are allowed now because the rules say so and the gloves are off.”
And in yet more fighting talk, Horner has revealed his team would launch a protest about the legality of their opponent’s car, centering on their flexible rear wing, which failed an FIA test in Sao Paulo.
Horner added: “Would I protest? Yeah, absolutely. If we believe the car is not in compliance, we will protest.
“The straight line speeds that we’ve seen in Mexico and in Brazil, I mean, I think everybody could see Brazil was not a normal situation.
“And yes, a new engine we know with Mercedes comes with increased performance.
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“But when you have a 27 kilometre [per hour] difference, and you see marks on rear end plates that have been marked up from wings that have been flexing.
“It’s very clear to us what has been going on. So, of course, that’s why it’s down the FIA to make sure that the cars are in compliance.
“If they’re not, you protest if you believe that a competitor isn’t complying with the rules.”
F1-mad groom more emotional about Lewis Hamilton’s Brazil GP win than own wedding as he wipes tear after hearing news More

MERCEDES have had their request to review Max Verstappen’s move on Lewis Hamilton DENIED by Formula One stewards. The incident occurred on lap 48 of the Brazil GP as Verstappen cut in front of Hamilton, forcing both men off the track.
Verstappen cut in front of HamiltonCredit: Sky Sports
With the pair coming wheel-to-wheelCredit: Sky Sports
Both drivers were forced off the trackCredit: Sky Sports

The Brit ultimately went on to win the race and cut Verstappen’s lead in the driver standings to just 14 points.
He charged up from tenth on the grid, passing Verstappen en route, to keep his hopes of a record eighth championship alive.
But Mercedes still pressed for F1 stewards to review the footage with Verstappen possibly facing a penalty.
After FIVE days of deliberation the request has now been denied and Verstappen escapes without punishment.
New footage had emerged from the Dutchman’s on-board camera of the clash with Hamilton, but that has been deemed ‘relevant’ and not ‘significant’ by the FIA.
A spokesperson said: “[Mercedes’] position is that the new footage provides sufficient information for the stewards to come to an altogether different conclusion to the one they did previously.
“However, the stewards determine that the footage shows nothing exceptional that is particularly different form the other angles that were available to them at the time.
“Thus, the stewards determine that the footage, here, is not ‘significant’.”

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Despite lodging for a review, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has admitted he is not surprised by the decision.
He said: “Completely expected. We wanted to trigger a discussion around it because probably it will be a theme in the next few races and I think that objective is achieved. We didn’t really think it would go any further.”
Wolff has suggested the request for a review was in fact a tactic, with the wheel-to-wheel action expected in the final three races of the season sure to be highly scrutinised.
Wolff coyly told Sky Sports: “What have we achieved? I think we have achieved a public discussion around it because I see a risk that we will see it happening in the next races,
“It could well end up in the stewards’ room or the court room if people aren’t happy with how it is being raced out there.
“It’s fine with us. Absolutely. It’s hard racing. If this is the regulations, then let’s just move on and race exactly that way and I think this is clear now.
Meanwhile Red Bull chief Christian Horner quipped: “It’s obviously the right decision because it would have opened a Pandora’s box of a whole load of incidents at that race.”
Horner also went on to advise Hamilton on how he should have approached Verstappen’s move, and looked ahead to this weekend’s Qatar GP.
He continued: “I was surprised at the hearing in the first place because we saw many incidents at Turn 4 both in the sprint race and in the actual Grand Prix.
“It was just two drivers probably out-braking themselves. If Lewis had been smart, he would have gone for the cutback like Checo had with Valtteri.
“It’s good news that it’s full focus on this weekend now.”
Lewis Hamilton celebrates his F1 victory at Brazil Grand Prix More