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    F1 star Daniel Ricciardo to get prize for bet win with McLaren boss Zak Brown and drive one of prized car collection

    DANIEL RICCIARDO will finally get his prize at this weekend’s US GP in Austin, Texas after winning his bet with McLaren boss Zak Brown.The Aussie struck a deal with Brown that if he were to achieve a podium in his first season with the team, he’d get to drive one of the cars in Brown’s private collection.
    The Italian Grand Prix was Ricciardo’s eighth career victory in Formula 1Credit: Getty
    Ricciardo, 32, had his eye on Dale Earnhardt Sr’s 1984 Chevrolet Monte Carlo NASCAR.
    Brown agreed to the wager at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, saying ‘get us that podium, and the drive is all yours’.
    After Ricciardo’s victory in the Italian GP last month, Brown honoured his word, tweeting ‘a deal is a deal’.
    He will finally get his chance in Austin this weekend with a one-off run in the famed motor.
    Earnhardt was a NASCAR legend, winning 76 Winston Cup races over the course of his four-decade career.
    He is the only driver in NASCAR history to win a race in every decade he has competed.

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    Earnhardt drove with the number three on his car for the majority of his career – Ricciardo’s racing number – before suffering a fatal crash in 2001 on the last lap of the Daytona 500.
    Ricciardo’s victory in Monza was his first Grand Prix win since Monaco in 2018, in his one season with Aston Martin.
    The win was his eighth first-placed finish in Formula 1, with his first coming in Canada in 2014.

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    The McLaren driver is currently eighth in the drivers’ standings on 95 points, way behind team-mate Lando Norris in fourth on 145 points.
    Ricciardo gave F1 fans one of the highlights of the season when he celebrated his win with a ‘shoey’ after the Italian Grand Prix.
    Fans roared as he performed the classic Aussie celebration of downing a drink from his shoe on the podium alongside his McLaren team-mate Norris.
    Ricciardo scored McLaren’s first race win in Formula 1 since Jenson Button in 2012Credit: Getty
    Bottas celebrates on the podium after winning Turkish Grand Prix ahead of Verstappen More

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    ‘Incredibly proud’ – Lewis Hamilton hails F1 rival Sebastian Vettel for social and environmental campaigning this season

    MERCEDES driver Lewis Hamilton has shared his pride for Sebastian Vettel after the Aston Martin man’s campaigning efforts this season. Vettel wore a t-shirt supporting the LGBTQ+ community at the Hungarian Grand Prix in August.
    Vettel has been vocal in his support for the LGBTQ+ communityCredit: Reuters
    And also encourages sustainable water sourcing through his helmet designCredit: Splash
    Rival driver Hamilton is also a well known campaigner for social issuesCredit: Getty
    The German driver also encourages sustainable water sourcing through a design on his helmet, and was seen litter picking at Silverstone.
    Speaking on Vettel’s efforts, as reported by Autosport, Hamilton said: “I’ve been incredibly proud of Sebastian for doing him.
    “He has discovered things that he is passionate about and he is speaking about them, he’s not shying away from it.
    “I think also, with the older generation, I guess when we get to our age we have a little bit more empathy.
    “He’s got a family, he’s speaking about the future of his kids and the planet, what we do now to prepare them for the future
    “And he’s obviously trying to be a beacon of light for those kids and for other kids that support him.”

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    Seven-time world champion Hamilton is also well known for his campaigning work to encourage more diversity in motorsports.
    He has also been a leading figure in F1 in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
    The 36-year-old has worn t-shirts on the matter, as well as taking the knee before the start of races.
    Speaking on whether he could work with Vettel towards a shared goal, Hamilton said: “We speak often and we talk on these topics so I don’t know.
    “We don’t have any plans of doing anything in the future but we, as I said, if there is a specific issue on a weekend, we discuss it and we support each other with it.”
    The F1 calendar returns at the weekend with the United States GP following a two week break.
    Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valteri Bottas won in Turkey last time out, while the Brit could only finish fifth.
    It means he trails title rival Max Verstappen by six points with six races left on the calendar.
    Four-time world champion Vettel meanwhile is 12th in the standings, picking up just 35 points this season for a struggling Aston Martin team.
    Watch Lewis Hamilton’s incredible reaction to meeting 104-year-old fan as he takes break from F1 title battle More

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    Inside Christian Horner’s lavish country home the Red Bull boss shares with Spice Girl Geri and three miniature donkeys

    RED BULL boss Christian Horner is used to living life in the fast lane working in F1.But when it comes to his personal life, the team principal of the motorsport giants prefers a more quiet and slower existence away from the race track.
    Red Bull boss Christian Horner lives a life of luxury in the countryCredit: Instagram @christianhorner
    Horner poses on the grounds of their Oxfordshire farmhouse with son MontagueCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
    He shares TWO stunning country homes with wife, Spice Girl Geri in Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire and their brood.
    The former property is, perhaps, the most lavish and most shared online – boasting its very own duck pond, which they use for boating.
    Their farm also houses three miniature donkeys, horses and goats in the estate’s stables.
    ‘PERFECT’
    For Horner, living on a farm offers the ideal existence away from the stresses of the F1 circuit.
    Back in 2019, he told Luxury London that the sprawling country abode was the “perfect home to relax in.”
    “Restoring the farm has been my hobby – the way I put racing out of my mind,” he added.
    “The main house is finished but now the barns are being converted. We’re currently putting the finishing touches to an indoor swimming pool.”
    Certainly, it’s the property in Oxfordshire that gets the most love from Geri on Instagram, who regularly shares candid snaps of her family life.
    Horner is stepdad to Geri’s daughter Bluebell Madonna, 15, and the couple share a son, Montague, who is 4. He also has another daughter, Olivia, 8, from a previous relationship with ex-partner Beverley Allen.
    F1’s Horner poses on the steps of the home with daughter Olivia from his previous relationshipCredit: Instagram @christianhorner
    Son Montague and dad have matching John Deere tractorsCredit: Instagram @christianhorner
    An Aston Martin DB5 sits proudly in Horner’s garage
    Horner is married to Spice Girl GeriCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
    Geri shows off the home’s swimming poolCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
    Christian has been spied alongside his boy riding a mini tractor alongside dad’s John Deere.
    He’s also been seen standing with his vintage Aston Martin DB5, which was Sean Connery’s car of choice as James Bond in Goldfinger.
    READY STEADY COOK
    Geri appears happy to play the role of housewife, often sharing photos in the kitchen rustling up treats.
    A budding chef, she has shown off her baking skills by crafting cakes using a customised Ginger Spice KitchenAid mixer, which Christian had specially designed for her.
    And with four separate ovens to choose from with the AGA range the kitchen boasts, she has plenty of space for her other favourite pastime – making bread.
    You can bet, Christian, who also loves using the outdoor barbecue, and the kids are well fed in the Horner household with Geri’s production line of cakes and bread.
    Geri is often spied in the kitchen and loves bakingCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
    Christian shows off his grilling skills with the outdoor barbecueCredit: Instagram @christianhorner
    ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK
    Christian and Geri have a number of reception room to entertain from.
    However, the most popular one appears to be where a £16,000 original Wurlitzer can be found.
    When she celebrated her 45th birthday, Geri posted a video online singing along to Michael Jackson hit Billie Jean while thanking Christian for the music, which suggested it was a gift for her.
    Another living room shows off a stunning chandelier, as well as a marble fireplace.
    A £16,000 vintage Wurlitzer can be seen in a reception room, which was a gift from Christian for Geri’s 45th birthdayCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
    The Oxfordshire property boasts several reception roomsCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
    A spacious dining room was seen when Montague celebrated his birthdayCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
    The glam couple also have a bar space in their propertyCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
    OUTDOOR SPACE
    The family love taking advantage of the huge grounds on offer at their farmhouse.
    And why not when you’ve got an incredible duck pond so big you can go boating on it.
    Horner and Geri can even take their dogs for a walk around the expansive gardens.
    The pair have even been seen zooming around on a quad bike, as well as picking raspberries in the garden with Montague.
    Miniature donkeys live in the stables
    The grounds are vast on the Horner’s Oxfordshire plot
    The Horners show off their horses and have their own stableCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
    Geri picks raspberries with Montague in their lush gardenCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
    The duck pond on the property has its own boat
    Christian and Geri live the country life away from the racing circuitCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell

    Of course, no farm would be complete without animals either.
    And Christian and Geri boast three miniature donkeys that are housed in the stables, as well as some goats.
    The singer often shares videos online when it’s feeding time.
    Clearly, you can forget the fancy racing circuit of heading to places like Dubai or Monte Carlo. A farmhouse is where it’s at.
    Watch Lewis Hamilton’s incredible reaction to meeting 104-year-old fan as he takes break from F1 title battle More

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    ‘Talent-wise, he’s the best of all time’ – Rosberg enters F1 GOAT debate between Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher

    NICO ROSBERG believes Lewis Hamilton is a more talented driver than the great Michael Schumacher.The Formula One legends are tied on seven world championship wins each, and Rosberg was asked to pick who is best.
    Lewis Hamilton (left) was partnered with Nico Rosberg between 2013-2016Credit: PA:Press Association
    Rosberg (left) was also a team-mate of Michael Schumacher after he returned to F1 in 2010Credit: AFP
    The German has the privileged position of having experienced both drivers up close, have partnered both Hamilton and Schumacher in his career.
    Speaking to Motorsport-Total, he said: “Lewis has an amazing natural talent.
    “If we look at talent, he’s probably the best of all time. And he really builds on that, that instinct is phenomenal with him.
    “A big difference is diligence. Lewis hates test drives. He doesn’t like test drives.
    “And Michael, he would drive tests every day, even though he is a seven-time world champion. But because he also knows that you can always learn a little bit there.
    “Oh well, I’m not so emotionally attached to it now that I say, ‘Hey, Michael actually deserved to hold the record’. Lewis deserves it too and if he manages to do that, then good.

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    “I see it more and more as, ‘He was really damn fast, and I can be all the more proud that I beat him with the same car back then.”
    Hamilton was dealt a blow in his bid to break the record for most world championship wins when he finished fifth in the Turkish Grand Prix.
    The Brit fumed at his Mercedes team after a change of tactics led him to pit stop and lose two places – costing him valuable points.
    Hamilton suffered a grid penalty in that race and he could face another at the United States Grand Prix after Mercedes chief Toto Wolff revealed the team may have to switch to a new engine. More

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    ‘We haven’t done anything to the car’ – Lewis Hamilton unaware of why Mercedes have quickened up in past two F1 races

    LEWIS HAMILTON is unsure as to why Mercedes have quickened up in their last two races.The Brit, 36, was victorious in Sochi a fortnight ago.
    Lewis Hamilton gave credit to Valtteri Bottas and the rest of the teamCredit: AFP
    The Brit’s Mercedes has zoomed in recent weeksCredit: AFP
    While team-mate Valtteri Bottas took home first place in Istanbul last weekend.
    Asked why Mercedes have improved in recent weeks, Hamilton was perplexed.
    He said: “We haven’t done anything to the car so I don’t really know why that is the case.
    “I think the two tracks that we’ve just driven on have maybe suited us a little bit more.”
    Six-time world champion Hamilton currently trails rival Max Verstappen by six points in the driver’s standings.
    But Mercedes have a healthy 36 point lead in the constructor’s title race.

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    Hamilton continued: “The car has been feeling good.
    “It felt great this weekend and moving forwards, Valtteri did a great job.
    “If he can continue to perform like that over the next races, it will be good for the team and if the car continues to behave as it has this weekend, that is good for us.”
    The season continues in Austin, Texas this Sunday.
    Watch Lewis Hamilton’s incredible reaction to meeting 104-year-old fan as he takes break from F1 title battle More

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    F1 2022 schedule revealed with record 23 races over nine months and includes new one in Miami

    FORMULA ONE bosses have unveiled their record-breaking 23-race calendar.The schedule for 2022 will run from March until November and contains a new race in Miami.
    The 2022 F1 season will have 23 races including one in Miami
    However, the Qatar GP, which will make its debut in November this year, will have a year off so as not to clash with the World Cup.
    There are however question marks over the Singapore and French GPs.
    And it remains to be seen if Australia will relax their border controls before the race in April.
    Some F1 insiders have expressed concerns about the gruelling schedule, particularly Merc boss Toto Wolff who says F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali should encourage teams to rotate staff.
    However, his opposite number at Red Bull, Christian Horner has given the 23-race calendar the thumbs up.
    Franz Tost, boss of Red Bull’s B-team AlphaTauri, last week said that staff should embrace the races – or find somewhere else to work.

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    He said: “We know now that we have 23 races. It’s fantastic, a good job from FOM, and I am looking forward to it.
    “Regarding the people at the track. First of all, we are a race team.
    “They all should be happy that we have as many races as possible and, of course, we take care of the people.
    “For example the mechanics after a race weekend they have three days, four days off where they can stay at home.”
    Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen look set to battle it out for the world title again next yearCredit: Reuters
    Watch Lewis Hamilton’s incredible reaction to meeting 104-year-old fan as he takes break from F1 title battle More

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    Watch Lewis Hamilton’s incredible reaction to meeting 104-year-old fan as he takes break from F1 title battle

    LEWIS HAMILTON couldn’t believe it when he met what could be his oldest fan on YouTube this week.The six-time World Champion took time out of his hectic schedule to take a video call with a fan named Len and his son David on Mercedes’ channel.
    Lewis Hamilton was shocked when fan Len revealed that he was about to be 105Credit: Youtube – Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team
    Len and his son David were on a video call with Hamilton when they shared the informationCredit: Youtube – Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team
    During their call, David revealed that dad Len was about to turn 105 in a few weeks, and claimed he must be one of Hamilton’s oldest fans.
    Upon hearing Len’s age, Hamilton broke into a smile while clapping, and said: “Wow, 105 – and he looks great! He looks so good!”
    Len, who’s been around long enough to see the likes of Sir Jackie Stewart race, then jumped into the conversation to call the British star “one of the best.”
    The father and son went on to tell Hamilton how proud they were that he’s British, a compliment that visibly touched the Mercedes driver.
    After being showered with praise by the pair, Hamilton revealed to them just how important his own parents were on his journey to success.

    And just before the call ended, Len wished Hamilton good luck for the future.
    The British racing icon will need all the luck he can get in his pursuit of F1 rival Max Verstappen in the race for the title.
    With just five races to go, Hamilton slipped further behind Verstappen after he finished fifth in the Turkish Grand Prix.
    It later emerged that he could’ve finished eighth if he didn’t listen to his Mercedes team and make a pit stop.
    Hamilton was initially furious with his team for calling him for the stop as he thought he was in with a chance of snatching a podium finish.
    However, after crunching the numbers, Merc say he would have been looking at languishing down in eighth if he did, as the tyres eventually failed.
    Hamilton will now look to turn things around starting with the US GP later this month.
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    Lewis Hamilton would have finished EIGHTH at Turkish GP if he hadn’t made late pitstop which sparked angry Mercedes row

    LEWIS HAMILTON would have finished EIGHTH in the Turkish GP had he stuck to his guns and NOT made a pitstop.The Mercedes ace blasted his team for calling him for a late pitstop in last Sunday’s race, which dropped him down to finish in fifth.
    Mercedes’ CTO claims Lewis Hamilton would have finished even lower without a late pitstopCredit: AP
    Hamilton felt that had he stayed out, he would have been in with a shot of making the podium.
    However, after crunching the numbers, Merc say he would have been looking at languishing down in eighth if he did as the tyres eventually failed.
    Mercedes’ Chief Technical Officer James Allison said: “As ever with strategy, at the end of the race it’s always obvious what would have been the perfect lap [to pit on].
    “However, if we look at it overall, the best time to have stopped would have been around the [Lap] 36, 37 mark, that was when Valtteri [Bottas, who eventually won the race] and Verstappen stopped.
    “Had Lewis done the same and then treated his tyres nice and gently, then in all likelihood he would have come in a strong fourth, maybe be able to pressurise [Sergio] Perez for third and perhaps overtake him.
    “When we eventually did call Lewis in, it was because the lap time chart that we use to make our predictions was telling us that it was not looking good.

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    “We were looking at something that was somewhere in the region of seventh, eighth place, based on the way in which the tyres were progressively degrading.”
    Meanwhile, Hamilton defended his outburst over the radio, saying: “I’ve seen some of the press this morning which has made a bit too much of the incident in yesterday’s race of when to pit.
    “It isn’t true to say I’m furious with my team.As a team we work hard to build the best strategy possible but as the race progresses you have to make split decisions there are so many factors constantly changing.

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    “Yesterday we took the risk to stay out hoping it would dry, it didn’t. I wanted to risk it and try and go to the end, but it was my call to stay out and it didn’t work. In the end we did pit and it was the safest thing to do.
    “We live and we learn. We win and we lose as a team. Don’t ever expect me to be all polite and calm on the radio when I’m racing, we are all very passionate and in the heat of the moment that passion can come out, as it does for all drivers.
    “My heart and spirit are out there on the track, it’s the fire in me that’s got me this far but any angst is quickly forgotten and we talked it through, already looking ahead to the next race. Today’s another day to rise and as a team (sic). Still we Rise.”
    Red Bull chiefs expect Lewis Hamilton to be pushed to back of grid More