F1

VALTTERI BOTAS has remained coy on his Mercedes future by indicating his focus is on the current season.Both Bottas, 31, and Lewis Hamilton, 36, have contracts with Mercedes that are due to expire at the end of 2021.
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Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton are into their fifth year as teammates at Mercedes
Bottas says he is “open minded” about his future but enjoying life at Mercedes
Hamilton has hinted at staying with the German team for at least another year but Bottas is less willing to commit.
The Finn was asked if discussions over a contract had taken place but he looked to downplay the issue.
Bottas said: “We haven’t yet talked about anything, because this is a pretty demanding championship and we know how much it matters to be able to work in peace.
“When you can focus on the main thing, that is performance, but that time will come, for sure. It (contract talks) hasn’t come yet, but for sure time flies, especially as we’re soon going to go to triple headers.
“So I would imagine that, naturally, over the next month or so you need to start to speak and I know from previous experiences that the sooner you can sort things out, the better for everyone. It will come soon, but not yet.
“About my future, what are my thoughts? I’m quite open minded.
“Like in life in general, you need to always take opportunities and you just never know what is around the corner. And that’s also, having clear goals, what you’re pushing for and that has taken me this far.
“I always want to kind of follow my heart and follow my passion and I am still enjoying Formula One very much and racing at the front.
“I really, really love it and I still enjoy it as much as I did in example first year with Mercedes, no doubt.”

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

Bottas hints at prolonging his stay with Mercedes but with George Russell’s Williams’ contract running out at the end of the year, Hamilton could have a new teammate.
Russell has recently been linked with a move to Mercedes and could sign a two-year deal to replace Bottas.
And Mercedes boss Toto Wolff reportedly has a total of four options to replace Bottas, should he leave.
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MONACO’S unique position on the Formula One calendar is reportedly under consideration after a tame 2021 Grand Prix.Max Verstappen cruised home to an unspectacular victory, aided by Charles Leclerc’s pre-race retirement and the surprise lack of a safety car.
Monaco’s Formula One Grand Prix is reportedly under threatCredit: Getty
The historic circuit’s tight, narrow ride through the streets of Monte Carlo has and will remain an iconic scene for all of sport yet questions are being raised of its suitability to modern F1 cars.
According to the Mail, now is seen as the perfect time by the sport’s operator, Liberty Media, to discuss changes.
It is said that Monaco’s contract to host races, for which it pays £10million per year, expired last month.
Therefore Liberty are pressing the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) who host the race for changes in agreeing a new deal.
That includes alterations to the circuit layout, which are currently being tested on simulators.
Changes are not expected to be rubberstamped anytime soon but a more open-minded approach is thought to be necessary to keep the track relevant.
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🏁 F1 2021 calendar: practice times, dates and racetrack info
F1 hope to increase the £10m fee paid by the ACM as part of the sport’s bid to bolster its revenue flows.
The addition of new street races Saudi Arabia and, from 2022, Miami – both of which will pay far more for the privilege – also reduces the unique position Monaco holds on the calendar.
Other discussions will focus on the May date for the race and the local control over directing the global TV broadcast.
Ahead of the race, in which he struggled to seventh place, Lewis Hamilton led the calls for changes to be made at Monaco.
On the list of difficult places to overtake it is off the scale.Lewis Hamilton
Monaco is one of the most iconic destinations in all of sportCredit: Alamy

He said: “It is the best venue. It is the most beautiful place that we get to to race at.
“But you already know that it’s never exciting for the fans.
“It’s a one-stop race with these hard, long stints that we get to do. On the list of difficult places to overtake it is off the scale, highly unlikely you’re ever going to get an opportunity to do so.
“I don’t think fans enjoy that. I don’t know what the solution is, but I’m hoping when we are looking forward to future generations, it can be a more exciting race for people.”
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MICHAEL SCHUMACHER’S ex-Ferrari boss says he regularly visits the F1 legend and their ‘beautiful experiences’ live on.Schumacher’s condition following a near-fatal skiing accident in 2013 is still a mystery publicly as he continues his rehabilitation.
Seven-time F1 king Michael Schumacher had a legendary partnership with Ferrari team director Jean TodtCredit: AP:Associated Press
Michael Schumacher’s wife Corinna and their family have acted to keep his condition private after he suffered a near-fatal brain injury eight years agoCredit: EPA
But his former team principal Jean Todt has revealed he sees the seven-time champ “at least twice a month”.
Todt told Italian outlet Corriere della Serra: “I don’t leave him alone.
“Him, (wife) Corinna, the family — we’ve had so many experiences together.
“The beauty of what we have experienced is part of us and it goes on.”
Schumacher’s family have succeeded in their desire to keep his health situation private.
But last September neurosurgeon Erich Riederer suggested the 52-year-old was in a “vegetative state”.
Schumacher suffered a severe brain injury eight years ago, despite wearing a helmet.
Schumacher won seven world championships and dominated with FerrariCredit: AP:Associated Press
He fell and hit his head on a rock while skiing off-piste in the French Alps.  
The German was placed in a medically-induced coma before regaining  consciousness by June 2014.
He left hospital in September that year and is thought to have been at home since then.
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Eight months ago Riederer told French TV channel TMC for a documentary: “I think he’s in a vegetative state, which means he’s awake but not responding.
“He is breathing, his heart is beating, he can probably sit up and take baby steps with help, but no more.
“I think that’s the maximum for him. Is there any chance of seeing him like he was before his accident? I really don’t think so.”
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