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      Michael Schumacher’s son Mick reveals he was ‘really scared’ after leaving F1 pitlane with tyre jack still attached

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      HAAS driver Mick Schumacher was ‘really scared’ during a frightening incident in pre-season testing in Bahrain.The son of seven-time world champion Michael, Mick is preparing for his first season in Formula One after winning the 2020 F2 title with Prema Racing.
      Mick Schumacher has spoken of his scary situation during pre-season testing in BahrainCredit: Getty
      Haas driver Schumacher left the pitlane with the jack still attacked to the carCredit: Sky Sports
      The 21-year-old drove 181 laps during his first pre-season testing, but he was involved in a worrying situation towards the end of Saturday’s session.
      Schumacher pitted for a tyre change and after receiving the signal to leave, the youngster then took the jack with him down the pitlane, where thankfully no-one was hurt.
      Quoted by Motorsport-Total, Schumacher said of the incident: “I was really scared because suddenly I didn’t know what was going on, whether I did something wrong or not.
      “In the end, it was a misunderstanding.”
      Haas team principal Guenther Steiner refused to put the blame on the German, as he instead praised him for his strong presence of mind.
      He remarked: “Mick reacted very well. When the radio message came that he should stop, he stopped immediately.
      “This did not cause any damage. I could say now it was part of his training because we have already hit so many pit stops! But it wasn’t like that.”
      Attention has now turned to the Bahrain Grand Prix, with the season’s opening race taking place on March 28.
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      Commenting after testing, Schumacher stated: “A bit sad that it was the last day and the last time driving before the Grand Prix.
      “But nevertheless we have 23 races coming up which is obviously great.
      “We managed to get a lot of laps in, which was good. We had no more issues, which is a bonus, and we’ve managed to catch up for the losses on day one.
      “I’m very impatient and very much looking forward to the season. It can’t come soon enough.
      “I feel very prepared, very ready. Hopefully we can understand every test we’ve done and be able to convert that into performance.”

      Lewis Hamilton ‘a bit grumpy’ during pre-season Sky filming and ‘seemed unhappy’ at Mercedes negotiations More

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      Lewis Hamilton warns Mercedes have ‘lots of work to do’ after spinning out of control in F1 pre-season testing

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has warned Mercedes that they have ‘lots of work to do’ after their dreadful start to the season.The world champion cut a dejected figure this weekend after he spun off in Bahrain and was left stuck in the gravel.
      Lewis Hamilton is gearing up to make his title defence at Bahrain later this monthCredit: Getty
      The world champion spun off and was left stuck in the gravel during testing
      That followed on from Friday’s session where he finished 10th on the timesheets, while his team-mate Valtteri Bottas suffered a gearbox problem.
      It resulted in Mercedes completing fewer miles than any other team when usually they display bullet-proof reliability during testing.
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      Speaking to F1 after the final day, Hamilton said: “I’ve never been a massive fan of testing, I just love racing.
      “On the other end, it might have been good to have had more days.
      “It’s probably the only time I’d have ever asked for more days.”
      Mercedes were the only team who didn’t use their allocated 100km filming day to test their new car.
      And Hamilton, who had two surprising spins over the weekend, admitted the W12 was not yet performing to expectations.
      He added: “We’ve got lots of work to do, it’s going to be tough.”
      The ten greatest F1 drivers of all-time – according to SunSport’s motorsport correspondent Ben Hunt

      Speaking in a team social media video, Hamilton said: “It does appear we are perhaps not quick enough at the moment, but I have every faith in the team.
      “We love challenges and this definitely is a challenge for us with the [rule] changes.
      “A couple of spins which are rare for me, but generally have been unhappy with the balance of the car and struggled with it. But nonetheless the car is still in one piece and we still got through the programme.”
      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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      Lewis Hamilton drops hint he will return to live in £18million west London mansion he’s been renovating since 2017

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has dropped a big hint that he could return to the UK to live in London.
      The F1 world champion is renovating an £18million home in west London that he purchased in 2017 but has never moved in.

      Lewis Hamilton could be set to return to his £18million west London mansion

      The seven-time Formula 1 world champion has been renovating the London home since buying it in 2017

      Scaffolding can be seen covering much of the house at the moment

      The Mercedes ace says he still intends to live in Monaco for the time being, insisting his London mansion is all part of his plans for the future.
      He said: “Currently, I have no plans on changing where I live. I live in a dream place that all the other drivers live in too, in Monaco.
      “I do have a home in England, which I am really excited to be finished, so when I do come to England I finally have an anchor.
      “A place to call my own, rather than staying in hotels, which is never particularly enjoyable considering I do that a lot throughout the year.

      “I think it is the start of something great and a place I will naturally have my family come to and maybe, in the future, have a family.”
      Hamilton has been in Bahrain where he has been taking part in preseason testing ahead of the new F1 season, which also kicks off in the Gulf Kingdom on March 28th.
      But it has been far from ideal practice as his Mercedes team have been plagued by reliability and handling issues, while rivals Red Bull look quick.
      Hamilton, who was only fifth quickest yesterday (SUN) on the final day of the three-day test, added: “I think it is better when it doesn’t go smoothly.

      “It’s better that it doesn’t go smooth now and go smooth once we get into the racing season.
      “This is the perfect time for us to find the issues and have the problems. I welcome that.
      “We’re a multi championship-winning team and we know how to pull together and keep our head down and focus on the job but, without doubt, it’s quite impressive to see the speed of some of the other teams.
      “Red Bull are looking particularly strong. And it’s great to see McLaren, also looking strong and also Alpine, so I’m excited. That means more fun.
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      Hamilton struggled during the F1 testing weekend as he looks to clinch an eighth world titleCredit: AFP or Licensors
      “[Red Bull] are going to be a different machine or animal this year, with I think, a real good, strong lineup of the two drivers and, I think, a really good car.
      “You can only assume they’re going to be right there at the front at the first race and it’s going to be a great long battle with them throughout the year.”
      Hamilton is coming into this new season in search of an eighth world title that would move him clear of the joint-record he holds with Michael Schumacher.
      But he will do it without the help of his right-hand man, former racer and advisor, Marc Hynes while he searches for a replacement.
      Speaking of their amicable split, Hamilton said: “Marc is one of my best friends and he is moving on to do some other great things.
      “We had an amazing partnership together and I am really proud of the work we achieved.
      “I am going through some restructuring now moving forwards and have some plans I am working on in the future.
      “There will be someone potentially for the short term and I will figure it out as I go along.”

      Lewis Hamilton ‘a bit grumpy’ during pre-season Sky filming and ‘seemed unhappy’ at Mercedes negotiations More

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      Murray Walker funniest quotes – including his F1 classic line ‘there’s nothing wrong with the car except it’s on fire’

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      MURRAY WALKER, the voice of Formula 1, produced some of the greatest ever lines in sporting commentary.
      The motorsport legend, who passed away at the age of 97 on Saturday, is responsible for countless iconic quotes during his storied broadcasting career.

      Tributes poured in for Walker on Saturday after his death was announcedCredit: Reuters

      Here are just 20 of the best lines from a commentating icon.
      “There’s nothing wrong with the car except it’s on fire.”
      “You can cut the tension with a cricket stump.”
      “With half the race gone there is half the race to go.”

      “IF is a very long word in Formula One; in fact, IF is F1 spelled backwards.”
      “I imagine the conditions in those cars are totally unimaginable.”
      “Even in five years time, he will still be four years younger than Damon Hill.”
      “Either that car is stationary or it’s on the move.”

      Walker received an OBE in 1996 for his services to broadcasting and motorsportCredit: Reuters
      “That’s history. I say history because it happened in the past.”
      “Do my eyes deceive me or is Senna’s car sounding a bit rough?”
      “There are seven winners of the Monaco Grand Prix on the starting line today, and four of them are Michael Schumacher.”
      “And the first five places are filled with five different cars.”
      “The lead car is unique, except for the one behind it which is identical.”

      “And this is the third-placed car about to lap the second-placed car.”
      “And now, excuse me while I interrupt myself.”
      “The battle is well and truly on if it wasn’t on before, and it certainly was.”
      “You might not think that’s cricket, and it’s not, it’s motor racing.””Two laps to go, then the action will begin. Unless this is the action, which it is.”
      “I’m going for first,” (Explaining away a British Touring car driver putting up his middle finger).
      Murray: “There’s a firey glow coming from the back of the Ferrari!” – James Hunt: “No Murray, that’s his rear safety light.”
      “I want to say so much more than I have time for.”

      Legendary F1 commentator Murray Walker has died aged 97 More

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      Murray Walker’s energy and enthusiasm lit up living rooms on Sundays and his famous ‘Murrayisms’ will live on forever

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      “GO, GO, GO!”
      It was an unmistakable start to any F1 Grands Prix from THE voice of motorsport, Murray Walker.

      Iconic motor racing commentator Murray Walker has died aged 97Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd

      His enthusiasm for racing lit up living rooms across the UK on Sunday afternoons.
      His voice broke with excitement and amplified the pictures being beamed out of the television set.
      At times, he was over-excited and it led to the famous ‘Murrayisms’ we have come to love, as his hurried sentences became tangled up as his mouth moved quicker than his brain.
      And then there was the raw emotion, unlike what we see with today’s polished broadcasters.

      His commentary when Damon Hill won the F1 world title in 1996 will live long in the memory.
      To replay it now, it brings back all the emotion of that day at the Japanese GP at Suzuka.
      “He took the lead,” he says. “He stayed there. And Damon Hill exits the chicane and wins the Japanese Grand Prix.
      “And I’ve got to stop. Because I’ve got a lump in my throat.”

      Rest in Peace Murray Walker. His commentary when Damon Hill won the World Championship in 1996 is still one of Sports most iconic moments for me. #F1 pic.twitter.com/v3kDrFrDUV
      — Curls (@Baramenyn_) March 13, 2021

      Thousands of tributes poured in for the iconic commentatorCredit: Splash News

      Walker’s ‘Murrayisms’ made him a household name in the UKCredit: Splash News

      It was rare for Walker to be lost for words in the commentary box alongside James Hunt, who was F1 world champion in 1976, and later Martin Brundle.
      Walker was born in 1923 and his father Graham raced motorcycles and after a stint in the tank regiment during the war, Walker also tried his hand at racing.
      But his true talent remained behind the microphone after turning his back on a career in advertising.
      Walker had a gift for resonating with the public.
      During his marketing career, he headed up the team that came up with the ‘a Mars a day helps you work rest and play’ slogan.
      He’s also credited with the ‘Opal Fruits: made to make your mouth water’ tagline.
      But his calling was at the racetrack and he was given his first chance at the 1949 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
      Walker was made full-time in 1978 at the BBC and headed up their coverage before shifting across to ITV before he retired in 2001.
      Whenever he commentated, Walker stood up, which allowed him to amplify his excitement and made his style famous across the world.
      He was endearing, engaging and commanded the respect of all the drivers on the grid, striking up friendships with them.

      FAMOUS ‘MURRAYISMS’

      “There’s nothing wrong with the car except it’s on fire”
      “With half the race gone there is half the race to go”
      “I imagine the conditions in those cars are totally unimaginable”
      “Either that car is stationary or it’s on the move”
      “Do my eyes deceive me or is Senna’s car sounding a bit rough?”
      “And the first five places are filled with five different cars”
      “And this is the third-placed car about to lap the second-placed car”
      “The battle is well and truly on if it wasn’t on before, and it certainly was”
      “Two laps to go, then the action will begin. Unless this is the action, which it is”
      “It’s a sad ending, albeit a happy one, here at Montreal for today’s Grand Prix”
      “Andrea de Cesaris, the man who has won more grandS prix than anyone else without actually winning one”
      “And now excuse me while I interrupt myself!”
      “The young Ralf Schumacher has been upstaged by teenager Jenson Button, who is 20”
      “It would have been Senna’s third win in a row if he’d won the two before”
      “I’m ready to stop my start watch”

      Walker was well liked by almost everyone within F1Credit: Rex Features
      Walker was also down to earth with a fantastic sense of humor.
      His Pizza Hut advert with Hill is still fantastic to this day, while there is also a clip of him commentating on snooker (below) which is worth a watch.
      After retiring from the commentary booth, he still did occasional F1 work with the BBC and wrote a column on their website.
      Walker continued to watch F1 and always displayed the same enthusiasm, despite dialling back his appearances following a cancer diagnosis in 2013.
      His last media interview was in a podcast with the Australian GP last summer in which he praised Lewis Hamilton as the greatest.
      Last August when he asked who the best driver was, Walker said: “I’m going to have to say very shortly Lewis Hamilton, because if you look at it in terms of statistics, he’s already got more poles than Michael Schumacher.
      “But he’s also in my opinion — and this is very contentious indeed — better than either Michael Schumacher or Ayrton Senna because both of them adopted, at various times in their career, highly debatable driving tactics.
      “Lewis Hamilton has never been anything like that. He’s always driven as clean as a whistle.”
      That’s Murray, telling it like it is.
      His errors, of course, made him famous yet the warmth he shared with the British public saw that reciprocated when perhaps others would have been criticised.
      To use a phrase synonymous with the great commentator, unless I am very much mistaken, he was truly one of a kind.

      Murray Walker could make ANYTHING exciting with his eccentric commentary style. This is one of my favourites – snooker! “He’s missed it, he’s missed it, FANTASTIC!!” pic.twitter.com/KQcg5iqN2A
      — Paul McGinnes 🏁 (@PaulMcG92) March 13, 2021

      He was popular with drivers and media colleagues alikeCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The ten greatest F1 drivers of all-time – according to SunSport’s motorsport correspondent Ben Hunt More

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      Murray Walker tributes LIVE: Murray Walker mourned after death of F1 commentator as motorsport pays tribute – latest

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      Motorsport is mourning the death off legendary F1 commentator Murray Walker, who has passed away at the age of 97.
      Tributes for the broadcasting icon have been pouring in as Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle said: “He was to so many of us fans of F1 the voice that epitomised the sport we love.”

      Follow ALL of the latest updates below…

      ‘SO SAD’
      British superstar Lewis Hamilton has added his words to the growing list of tributes to Murray Walker.
      The world champ called him an icon and a great man.

      So sad to hear of Murray’s passing. I remember growing up hearing your voice over the races. You made the sport so much more exciting and captivating. The iconic voice of our sport and a great man, thank you for all you did, you will never be forgotten. Rest in peace🙏🏾
      — Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) March 13, 2021

      ‘JOYOUS MEMORIES’
      BBC presenter Gabby Logan had some very touching words about Walker saying no one on earth would have anything other than ‘joyous memories’ of meeting the famous commentator.

      There is not a human on this earth who met Murray Walker who would have anything other than joyous memories and smiles thinking of their time. That voice, that turn of phrase and that enthusiasm for his passions and his life, he was a very special man. #ripmurraywalker
      — Gabby Logan (@GabbyLogan) March 13, 2021

      ‘UNFORGETTABLE’
      Williams Racing team described Walker as ‘unforgettable’ and said his passion for F1 was ‘infectious’ as they added to the thousands of people offering tributes.

      We are truly saddened to hear of Murray Walker’s passing.Murray was the voice of @F1 for so many, and provided unforgettable commentary on many of this team’s most iconic moments. His passion for the sport was infectious, and never failed to make people smile. pic.twitter.com/YjN8nfSuia
      — Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) March 13, 2021

      ‘IT WAS AN HONOUR’
      Sky lead F1 commentator David Croft also described what it was like to work alongside Walker in his own emotional tribute online.
      Croft described him as a ‘gentleman’ and a ‘legend’.

      Rest in Peace Murray Walker, a gentleman and a legend in every sense of the word. It was an honour to know you, a delight to spend time in your company and inspiring to listen and learn from you. THE voice of Formula 1 and always will be. Thankyou xx
      — David Croft (@CroftyF1) March 13, 2021

      ‘PART OF OUR HISTORY’
      Formula One posted their own tribute in line with the thousands of others that have emerged this afternoon.
      And the organisation credited Walker for being ‘part of our history’.

      We are immensely sad to hear that Murray Walker has passed awayHis passion and love of the sport inspired millions of fans around the worldHe will forever be a part of our history, and will be dearly missed pic.twitter.com/cMwLjjqxAj
      — Formula 1 (@F1) March 13, 2021

      ‘LEGEND WILL NEVER DIE’
      British former world champion Damon Hill was the subject of Walker’s most famous commentary moment.
      And the driver turned pundit was one of the first to pay tribute after news of Walker’s death was announced.

      ‘AN ABSOLUTE GENTLEMAN’
      Walker previously worked for Channel 4 and they posted some touching words online describing him as a ‘complete professional’ and a ‘total pleasure to work with’.

      Terribly sad news that Murray Walker has passed away. An absolute gentleman, complete professional and a total pleasure to both work and spend time with. Rest in Peace, Murray. pic.twitter.com/3SZm2OR93J
      — Channel 4 F1® (@C4F1) March 13, 2021

      ‘HE’S MISSED IT! FANTASTIC!’
      As well as being the voice of F1, fans and colleagues alike have been quick to point to Walker’s infectious personality.
      And this clip from an interview with Jeremy Clarkson shows just how popular he was away from the track.

      Murray Walker could make ANYTHING exciting with his eccentric commentary style. This is one of my favourites – snooker! “He’s missed it, he’s missed it, FANTASTIC!!” pic.twitter.com/KQcg5iqN2A
      — Paul McGinnes 🏁 (@PaulMcG92) March 13, 2021

      ‘I’VE GOT A LUMP IN MY THROAT’
      Many F1 fans labelled Walker’s commentary of Damon Hill’s 1996 World Championship win ‘one of sport’s most iconic moments’.
      Walker famously had to stop talking as Hill crossed the line because he was so emotional seeing his fellow Brit claim glory.

      Rest in Peace Murray Walker. His commentary when Damon Hill won the World Championship in 1996 is still one of Sports most iconic moments for me. #F1 pic.twitter.com/v3kDrFrDUV
      — Curls (@Baramenyn_) March 13, 2021

      …
      But Walker’s calling was beyond the boardroom and back at the race tracks when he still spent his time at the weekend.
      Working across many different series, he eventually got his shot in F1, when he gave his first commentary, fittingly it was the 1949 British GP at Silverstone.
      He eventually got the gig full time at the BBC in 1978 and was lead commentator until the broadcaster lost the rights to ITV in 1997.
      Walker also jumped ship and continued to commentate until the 2001 United States Grand Prix.
      Walker would still do regular TV work for F1. In 2015, he presented an F1 show with Suzi Perry while in 2016 he joined Channel 4’s coverage.

      WAR STORIES
      In an interview with the Guardian in 2007, Walker said: “I was in a tank regiment during the war.
      “When I came out I had delusions of grandeur that I would be able to show my father how a motorcycle should really be raced.
      “I was all right, but I wasn’t good enough to satisfy myself because I had started in business and I was doing fairly well.
      “I obviously wasn’t committed because the business won the day and the hobby didn’t because I think I knew in my heart of hearts that I wouldn’t be top man.”
      Instead, Walker carved out a career in advertising and headed up the team that came up with the ‘a Mars a day helps you work rest and play’ slogan.
      He also is credited with coining the ‘Opal Fruits: made to make your mouth water’ marketing tagline…

      MURRAY WALKER – DEAD AT 97
      By SunSport’s F1 correspondent Ben Hunt
      Murray Walker the legendary F1 commentator, has passed away at the age of 97.
      The Brit was THE voice of motorsport and headed up the UK’s F1 coverage from 1976 until 2001.
      Walker was known for his enthusiasm and was a true gent and will be fondly remembered for his humorous slip-ups, dubbed ‘Murrayisms’.
      A statement from F1 said: “We are immensely sad to hear that Murray Walker has passed away.
      “His passion and love of the sport inspired millions of fans around the world. He will forever be a part of our history, and will be dearly missed.”
      Born in 1923, Walker was surrounded by racing as his father, Graham, raced motorcycles for Rudge, Sunbeam and Norton. He spent most weekends growing up at race tracks watching his father compete before trying to race himself while juggling a career in advertising.

      Murray Walker has died aged 97Credit: Rex Features

      ‘PASSION AND POSITIVITY’
      Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team said Murray Walker’s attitude towards F1 was unmatched.

      He was the voice of @F1 to millions and his love, passion and positivity for our sport were unmatched.You will be truly missed, Murray Walker ❤️ pic.twitter.com/mXVDID6GdS
      — Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) March 13, 2021

      ‘THE VOICE OF FORMULA ONE’
      Gary Lineker described Walker as a broadcasting great in his own touching tribute to the ‘voice of F1’.

      Saddened to hear that Murray Walker has passed away. A true broadcasting great and very much the voice of Formula 1 on @BBCSport for decades. The chequered flag may have been waved for the final time but he’ll always be remembered. RIP Murray.
      — Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) March 13, 2021

      ‘NATION’S FAVOURITE’
      The British Racing Drivers’ Club announced the sad news slightly more than one hour ago and described him as a ‘motorsport legend’.

      It’s with great sadness we share the news of the passing of BRDC Associate Member Murray Walker OBE.A friend, a true motorsport legend, the nations favourite commentator and a contagious smile.We thank Murray for all he has done for our community.RIP our friend. pic.twitter.com/3Of3Ia3nMB
      — BRDC (@BRDCSilverstone) March 13, 2021

      ‘SPARKLE AND PRIDE’
      Former F1 presenter Jake Humphrey has added to the thousands of touching messages being posted online about iconic commentator Walker.
      The BT Sport frontman described Walker as ‘setting the standard’.

      Just weeks ago I spoke to Murray Walker on the phone. He was in a residential home, hating getting older. However, I could hear the sparkle and pride in his voice when we spoke about @LewisHamilton’s 7th title.Murray set the standard. I’m honoured to call him a friend. RIP ❤️ pic.twitter.com/d77kgLcW9Z
      — Jake Humphrey 💙 (@mrjakehumphrey) March 13, 2021

      ‘KNOWLEDGEABLE BEYOND WORDS’
      The home of British F1 Silverstone has also tweeted their own tribute to the legendary commentator.
      Silverstone’s managing director Stuart Pringle’s message was posted on their Twitter account.

      “It is with great sadness that I have to inform Silverstone’s fans that Murray Walker died earlier today. He was to so many of us fans of F1, the voice that epitomised the sport we love. pic.twitter.com/sllG6Hhzx1
      — Silverstone (@SilverstoneUK) March 13, 2021

      Much will be written about the impact that Murray had on the sport and we will make a more fulsome tribute in due course, but for the time being rest in peace Murray and thank you.” – Stuart Pringle, Managing Director
      — Silverstone (@SilverstoneUK) March 13, 2021

      RIP MURRAY
      Former driver and F1 commentator Martin Brundle was one of the first to pay tribute to Murray Walker who has died aged 97.
      The 61-year-old called Walker a ‘wonderful man’ and a ‘national treasure’.

      Rest in Peace Murray Walker. Wonderful man in every respect. National treasure, communication genius, Formula One legend.
      — Martin Brundle 💙 (@MBrundleF1) March 13, 2021

      DAY TWO IS DONE – MERCEDES ARE BACK IN BUSINESS
      Valtteri Bottas tops the timesheets on the softest tyre. It looks as though Mercedes’ problems are over.Excellent work from Pierre Gasly once again as we are now two thirds through testing.Aston Martin and McLaren will also be pleased with their second day performances.Lando Norris’s time was set on the medium tyres while Daniel Ricciardo looked strong in the morning.As for concerns, Ferrari don’t look particularly strong and Carlos Sainz is not yet up to speed.Fernando Alonso was down in 10th in his return for Alpine while Haas look like they could struggle with their battle with Williams.
      Bottas – 1:30.289Gasly +0.1Stroll +0.1Norris +0.2Giovinazzi +0.4Leclerc +0.5Latifi +1.3Perez +1.3Ricciardo +1.9Alonso +2.0Tsunoda +2.3Schumacher +2.5Sainz +2.7Mazepin +2.8Hamilton +3.1Vettel +8.5

      BOTTAS NOW GOES QUICKEST
      Mercedes are back on top. After a tricky two days, the Finn has now popped to the top of the timesheets.He’s completed 53 laps and is trying to make up for lost time.

      IT HAS TAKEN TWO DAYS BUT FINALLY MERCEDES SHOW THEIR PACE
      Valtteri Bottas goes into the top four and has now completed 39 laps.After a difficult start where the Finn has a gearbox issue, Mercedes now look like they are back on track.

      RED FLAG – SESSION STOPPED
      The engine cover from Sergio Perez’s Red Bull has come loose and broken on track.The session has been stopped while the marshals recover some of the debris.Red Bull will now need to find out what caused that failure while they fix the new cover in place.

      RELIABILITY IS LOOKING GOOD
      Aside from the gearbox failures on Bottas and Vettel’s cars, there has been a refreshing about of reliability.Yes, much of the aero parts are carried over, but the news power units all look rather strong this year.Remember, teams only allowed to use three engines this season without penalty.

      SOLID FROM ALPHATAURI AND ALFA ROMEO
      The Red Bull B team finished 2020 so strongly and this year they are boosted by a new Honda engine, which has been rushed through ahead of schedule.They are looking quick and reliable out on track and stepping out from Red Bull’s shadow.Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi is also enjoying himself. Currently fourth quickest on track and having done 93 laps.

      “PROMISING SIGNS” FOR FERRARI
      CHARLES LECLERC is confident Ferrari are showing “promising signs” as they look to bounce back from last season.The Italian team endured their worst finish in forty years as they were sixth in the constructors’ championship.But after a winter of tweaking their car design, Leclerc says they are making improvements.He said: “The impressions were good again. Yesterday we went through all the programme in the morning, but the conditions are very very tricky.”It’s very warm, and very windy, so it’s very difficult to make a comparison with last year for now.”And it’s all relative to the others: how much they improved compared to us.”But yeah, there are some promising signs, but we can’t know until the first qualifying.”The big issue Ferrari faced last year was their under-strength engine, which Leclerc was also an improvement this season.He added: “Everything feels quite good. But again, it’s very difficult to comment now, nobody’s pushing everything to its limit, especially in these conditions.”So for now it’s early days. But everything feels good and, as I said, stacks up with what we expected.”

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      Lewis Hamilton and Damon Hill lead tributes as sport mourns ‘voice of Formula 1’ Murray Walker after sad death, aged 97

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      LEWIS HAMILTON and Damon Hill lead tributes as iconic Formula One commentator Murray Walker died aged 97.
      British superstar Lewis Hamilton was among numerous people from motor racing to honour the ‘voice of our sport’.

      Iconic F1 commentator Murray Walker has died aged 97Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      So sad to hear of Murray’s passing. I remember growing up hearing your voice over the races. You made the sport so much more exciting and captivating. The iconic voice of our sport and a great man, thank you for all you did, you will never be forgotten. Rest in peace🙏🏾
      — Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) March 13, 2021

      Seven-time F1 world champion Hamilton tweeted: “So sad to hear of Murray’s passing. I remember growing up hearing your voice over the races.
      “You made the sport so much more exciting and captivating. The iconic voice of our sport and a great man, thank you for all you did, you will never be forgotten. Rest in peace.”
      Walker, whose broadcasting career spanned more than 50 years, worked for the UK’s biggest channels before he retired from commentating in 2001.
      He was known for his enthusiasm and for being a true gent – and will be fondly remembered for his humorous slip-ups, dubbed ‘Murrayisms’.

      Murray’s most iconic moment came when Damon Hill crossed the line in Japan to win the 1996 F1 championship.
      He was forced to stop speaking because he was so emotional about fellow Brit Hill claiming glory.
      And Hill was one of the first of thousands to express his sadness.
      The 60-year-old took to Twitter to share his thoughts as the news of Walker’s death broke.

      Rest in Peace Murray Walker. Wonderful man in every respect. National treasure, communication genius, Formula One legend.
      — Martin Brundle 💙 (@MBrundleF1) March 13, 2021

      I’m deeply saddened by the loss of Murray Walker.
      — Mika Häkkinen (@F1MikaHakkinen) March 13, 2021

      We are immensely sad to hear that Murray Walker has passed awayHis passion and love of the sport inspired millions of fans around the worldHe will forever be a part of our history, and will be dearly missed pic.twitter.com/cMwLjjqxAj
      — Formula 1 (@F1) March 13, 2021

      “It is with great sadness that I have to inform Silverstone’s fans that Murray Walker died earlier today. He was to so many of us fans of F1, the voice that epitomised the sport we love. pic.twitter.com/sllG6Hhzx1
      — Silverstone (@SilverstoneUK) March 13, 2021

      Much will be written about the impact that Murray had on the sport and we will make a more fulsome tribute in due course, but for the time being rest in peace Murray and thank you.” – Stuart Pringle, Managing Director
      — Silverstone (@SilverstoneUK) March 13, 2021

      Rest in Peace Murray Walker. His commentary when Damon Hill won the World Championship in 1996 is still one of Sports most iconic moments for me. #F1 pic.twitter.com/v3kDrFrDUV
      — Curls (@Baramenyn_) March 13, 2021

      Alongside a picture of the two of them together, Hill wrote: “God’s Speed Murray and thanks for so much. The Legend will never die.”
      Another of Walker’s former colleagues, and ex-driver, Martin Brundle also paid tribute, writing: “Rest in Peace Murray Walker.
      “Wonderful man in every respect. National treasure, communication genius, Formula One legend.”
      Two-time world champ Mika Hakkinen wrote: “I’m deeply saddened by the loss of Murray Walker.”
      Former F1 presenter and current BT Sport frontman Jake Humphrey tweeted: “Just weeks ago I spoke to Murray Walker on the phone. He was in a residential home, hating getting older.
      “However, I could hear the sparkle and pride in his voice when we spoke about Lewis Hamilton’s 7th title. Murray set the standard. I’m honoured to call him a friend. RIP.”
      Sky lead F1 commentator David Croft also described what it was like to work alongside Walker in his own emotional tribute online.
      Croft described him as a ‘gentleman’ and a ‘legend’ and tweeted: “Rest in Peace Murray Walker, a gentleman and a legend in every sense of the word.
      “It was an honour to know you, a delight to spend time in your company and inspiring to listen and learn from you. THE voice of Formula 1 and always will be. Thank you xx.”

      Rest in Peace Murray Walker, a gentleman and a legend in every sense of the word. It was an honour to know you, a delight to spend time in your company and inspiring to listen and learn from you. THE voice of Formula 1 and always will be. Thankyou xx
      — David Croft (@CroftyF1) March 13, 2021

      It’s with great sadness we share the news of the passing of BRDC Associate Member Murray Walker OBE.A friend, a true motorsport legend, the nations favourite commentator and a contagious smile.We thank Murray for all he has done for our community.RIP our friend. pic.twitter.com/3Of3Ia3nMB
      — BRDC (@BRDCSilverstone) March 13, 2021

      Just weeks ago I spoke to Murray Walker on the phone. He was in a residential home, hating getting older. However, I could hear the sparkle and pride in his voice when we spoke about @LewisHamilton’s 7th title.Murray set the standard. I’m honoured to call him a friend. RIP ❤️ pic.twitter.com/d77kgLcW9Z
      — Jake Humphrey 💙 (@mrjakehumphrey) March 13, 2021

      BBC presenter Gabby Logan had some very touching words about Walker, saying no one on Earth would have anything other than ‘joyous memories’ of meeting the famous commentator.
      She wrote: “There is not a human on this Earth who met Murray Walker who would have anything other than joyous memories and smiles thinking of their time.
      “That voice, that turn of phrase and that enthusiasm for his passions and his life, he was a very special man.”
      Williams Racing described Walker as ‘unforgettable’ and said his passion for F1 was ‘infectious’ as they added to the thousands of people offering tributes.
      The team tweeted: “We are truly saddened to hear of Murray Walker’s passing.
      “Murray was the voice of @F1 for so many, and provided unforgettable commentary on many of this team’s most iconic moments. His passion for the sport was infectious, and never failed to make people smile.”
      As well as being the voice of F1, fans and colleagues alike have been quick to point to Walker’s infectious personality.
      And a clip from an interview with Jeremy Clarkson shows just how popular he was away from the track as he commentated on Ronnie O’Sullivan playing snooker.

      Murray Walker could make ANYTHING exciting with his eccentric commentary style. This is one of my favourites – snooker! “He’s missed it, he’s missed it, FANTASTIC!!” pic.twitter.com/KQcg5iqN2A
      — Paul McGinnes 🏁 (@PaulMcG92) March 13, 2021

      There is not a human on this earth who met Murray Walker who would have anything other than joyous memories and smiles thinking of their time. That voice, that turn of phrase and that enthusiasm for his passions and his life, he was a very special man. #ripmurraywalker
      — Gabby Logan (@GabbyLogan) March 13, 2021

      He was the voice of @F1 to millions and his love, passion and positivity for our sport were unmatched.You will be truly missed, Murray Walker ❤️ pic.twitter.com/mXVDID6GdS
      — Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) March 13, 2021

      We are truly saddened to hear of Murray Walker’s passing.Murray was the voice of @F1 for so many, and provided unforgettable commentary on many of this team’s most iconic moments. His passion for the sport was infectious, and never failed to make people smile. pic.twitter.com/YjN8nfSuia
      — Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) March 13, 2021

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      F1 pre-season testing LIVE: Stream and TV channel as Lewis Hamilton SPINS OFF track and Mick Schumacher gets a run out

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      AFTER a short refuelling break over winter the sight of tyres on tarmac is back – and Formula One racing proper is almost upon us.
      A gruelling 2021 season lies ahead – the longest ever in F1 history – with the cars and drivers in Bahrain this week for all-important pre-season testing.
      Testing is taking place over three days, from Friday, March 12 to Sunday, March 14
      Morning sessions run from 7am GMT until 11am, before afternoon runs between 12pm and 4pm
      You can catch every moment of the weekend’s action live on Sky Sports F1

      Follow ALL of the latest updates below…

      IT HAS TAKEN TWO DAYS BUT FINALLY MERCEDES SHOW THEIR PACE
      Valtteri Bottas goes into the top four and has now completed 39 laps.After a difficult start where the Finn has a gearbox issue, Mercedes now look like they are back on track.

      RED FLAG – SESSION STOPPED
      The engine cover from Sergio Perez’s Red Bull has come loose and broken on track.The session has been stopped while the marshals recover some of the debris.Red Bull will now need to find out what caused that failure while they fix the new cover in place.

      RELIABILITY IS LOOKING GOOD
      Aside from the gearbox failures on Bottas and Vettel’s cars, there has been a refreshing about of reliability.Yes, much of the aero parts are carried over, but the news power units all look rather strong this year.Remember, teams only allowed to use three engines this season without penalty.

      SOLID FROM ALPHATAURI AND ALFA ROMEO
      The Red Bull B team finished 2020 so strongly and this year they are boosted by a new Honda engine, which has been rushed through ahead of schedule.They are looking quick and reliable out on track and stepping out from Red Bull’s shadow.Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi is also enjoying himself. Currently fourth quickest on track and having done 93 laps.

      “PROMISING SIGNS” FOR FERRARI
      CHARLES LECLERC is confident Ferrari are showing “promising signs” as they look to bounce back from last season.The Italian team endured their worst finish in forty years as they were sixth in the constructors’ championship.But after a winter of tweaking their car design, Leclerc says they are making improvements.He said: “The impressions were good again. Yesterday we went through all the programme in the morning, but the conditions are very very tricky.”It’s very warm, and very windy, so it’s very difficult to make a comparison with last year for now.”And it’s all relative to the others: how much they improved compared to us.”But yeah, there are some promising signs, but we can’t know until the first qualifying.”The big issue Ferrari faced last year was their under-strength engine, which Leclerc was also an improvement this season.He added: “Everything feels quite good. But again, it’s very difficult to comment now, nobody’s pushing everything to its limit, especially in these conditions.”So for now it’s early days. But everything feels good and, as I said, stacks up with what we expected.”

      NAKITA MAZEPIN HAS A CLOSE SHAVE

      SERGIO PEREZ IS ON TRACK
      There is a big hype around the Mexican driver who has joined Red Bull.He obviously finished the season strongly at Racing Point and looking to get up to speed with his new team.I expect him to use as much time as he can in this session to get to grips with this car.His first practice race start was not good. But he is now away and ready to put in the laps.

      STILL STRUGGLING WITH THIS LIVERY

      FERRARI OUT ON TRACK
      And it is Charles Leclerc who is now out on track. He’s used to this car and will be eyeing up the long runs, as his teammate Carlos Sainz didn’t look comfortable.Sainz, who arrived at Ferrari from McLaren over the winter is slowly getting up to speed with their car.

      DAY TWO, PART TWO OF F1 TESTING
      The clock is ticking down as we pass the halfway stage of F1 testing. Only three days this year – usually it is eight, and more in the past.So not long to iron out any problems, as Mercedes and Aston Martin are finding.

      HALF WAY ON DAY TWO AND McLAREN AGAIN LOOK GOOD
      The Woking-based team top the timesheets thanks to Daniel Ricciardo’s excellent laps.It was very impressive from the team who have a new engine supplier in Mercedes.Speaking of Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton spun off and he is clearly struggling with set-up issues.And a big concern for Merc will also be the gearbox failure in Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin.Aston are a customer of Mercedes and the problem limited the German to just nine laps.It comes after Valtteri Bottas suffered a gearbox issue the previous day. So that’s to gearboxes in two days that need stripping apart and investigating.

      VETTEL NOW ON TRACK
      After a gearbox change, he is now back in the car and on track but like Bottas yesterday, he has lost a lot of time.

      MORE WOE FOR LEWIS HAMILTON
      LEWIS HAMILTON’s dreadful start to the season continued when he spun off in Bahrain and was left stuck in the gravel.The world champion cut a dejected figure after losing control of his Mercedes at low speed.Hamilton lost grip at Turn 13 and slid slowly backwards into the gravel at under 80mph.Hamilton tried to drive away but his car was beached on the stone and needed rescuing from a pick-up truck.Former F1 driver Martin Brundle said: “It’s so unusual to see Lewis looking at a stricken car these days.”But he’s not exactly the only driver to be flying off the road today.”Fellow ex-racer Karun Chandhok added: “It’s really rare to see a mistake from Lewis, especially at testing.”I’m trying to think of all the pre-season tests I’ve been to in the last five, six years and I can’t think of one time he has been in the gravel.”You see the odd thing where he goes off in the run-off area or something – but everyone does that. To see him cause a red flag, I can’t think of a moment like that.”In further embarrassment, his Mercedes was lifted high into the air, exposing the car’s floor, which the team had tried to protect from prying eyes.It follows on from Friday’s session where he finished 10th on the timesheets, while his teammate Valtteri Bottas suffered a gearbox problem.It resulted in the team completing fewer miles than any other team when usually they display bullet-proof reliability during testing.Bottas had questioned the team’s decision not to run a shakedown during an official filming day, something every other team took advantage of.And on Friday night Hamilton said: “It wasn’t the cleanest of days that we’ve had but these things are sent to try you.”Everyone has worked extremely hard to get us here. We had that mishap in the morning which was very unfortunate for Valtteri in terms of losing time on track and the team is working hard to try and understand what that was.”The second session wasn’t without its challenges, but we exist to find solutions to the problems we are faced with.”We have no choice but to take the positives. I remember in 2007 during testing I had 10 days in the car and now it’s getting less and less.”We only have a day and a half in the car before the first race, with different tyres and different aero modifications so it’s not easy but it’s the same for everyone.”I’d like to think my nine years’ experience with this team will help me get the best out of it.”  

      BIG DEVELOPMENT DOWN AT ASTON MARTIN
      Sebastian Vettel is out of his car, which is sitting in the team’s garage.There is a suspected gearbox failure. And that if that is true, it will be a big worry for Mercedes, who supply the gearbox.Valtteri Bottas lost a chunk of time on Friday due to a gearbox problem. Could this be a similar issue?

      HEAD DOWN, CAR IN THE GRAVEL

      YET MORE BAD NEWS FOR LEWIS HAMILTON
      The Mercedes man spun off track earlier on this morning and his car was stuck in the gravel.It is yet more concerns for both him and his Mercedes team after a difficult start to testing yesterday where they suffered a gearbox problem.Hamilton cut a dejected figure as his car was lifted up out of the stones, displaying the car’s floor they have tried to keep secret.

      VERSTAPPEN TOPS DAY ON OF TESTING
      The Red Bull man topped the timesheets as Verstappen gets the season off to an excellent start.Also a good day for McLaren and Alpine who both set quick times.However, misery for Mercedes, who lost a chunk of time due to a gearbox problem in the morning while Lewis Hamilton was off the pace in the afternoon session.

      IN TO THE FINAL 15 MINUTES OF DAY ONE
      Still no good news for Mercedes as Hamilton drops to P10 on the timesheets. It will be interesting to see how the drivers react to this first day of testing.

      INTO THE FINAL HOUR OF DAY ONE OF TESTING
      And Max Verstappen has just gone quickest of the day.

      TESTING CONDITIONS

      THE ‘LON ROAD BACK
      Fernando Alonso believes he is in the form of his life – despite not racing an F1 car in two years.
      The two-time world champion has returned to the sport with the rebranded Renault team, now known as Alpine.
      Alonso, who quit F1 in 2018, spent last year racing in the Dakar series and again missed out on winning the Indy 500.
      But the 39-year-old says he still has unfinished business in the sport and decided to come back to F1.
      He said: “The main thing of why I am here was because I felt that I was at my best in the last couple of years.
      “I felt like I was driving better than evert and I had to make a decision on what was the next challenge after LeMans.
      “And I thought that being at my best now, maybe Formula One was the place to be and I have time in the future to look at the challenges that were not completed.
      “So that was the main thing, I felt that I had something to do here again.”
      Alonso was quizzed if winning the title was within his grasp, as there is renewed hope at the French team.
      He added: “To win races and championships, you need a few more things than just your motivation or beliefs.
      “You need the package, the laps and the momentum and that is something we are looking to build with the new Alpine name.
      “So yeah, I cannot guarantee it, but we will fight for those wins and championships in the future if we do those things but we are not racing alone.”

      PEREZ AND SAINZ TAKE COVID-19 JABS
      SERGIO PEREZ and Carlos Sainz have taken up Bahrain’s offer of COVID-19 vaccinations.The Gulf Kingdom said they were happy to make the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine available to all those coming for the F1 test.A second jab should be administered after the race on March 28th and while F1 said they did not want to be seen to jump the queue, some teams and drivers have taken up the offer.Perez, who was struck down with COVID-19 last summer, said: “We got offered, and I took the decision to take it.”For me, back in Mexico, I don’t know when I will be able to get it, so I think it was very nice from Bahrain to offer that to us. And, yeah, I took it myself.”Sainz, who has joined Ferrari from McLaren, added: “Yes, same as Checo, I did take it.”I think it was a great opportunity and obviously thankful for the Bahrain government for offering it to so many people that travel around the world and, yeah, happy with it.”So far, Perez, Lance Stroll, Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc have all tested positive for the virus.

      HULKENBERG TO RETURN TO F1?
      NICO HULKENBERG could be offered another F1 return as a stand-in for Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team.The German was called up as a late replacement for Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll last season when the two Racing Point drivers were struck down with COVID-19.Mercedes themselves were also forced to call in a reserve driver last season when Lewis Hamilton tested positive in Bahrain and George Russell had to fill in.And now Merc boss Toto Wolff says his team could swoop for Hulkenberg, should their reserves, Stoffel Vandoorne or Nyck de Vries, be engaged in their Formula E commitments.Wolf said: “There is a situation that our two reserve drivers, Stoffel and Nyck, are racing in Formula E and there are certain races where there is an overlap.”I think Nico knows the current generation of Formula One cars and the tyres, and it would be good to have him in the line-up as a solution, maybe to be shared with other teams.”He’s a known quantity and well respected, so it would be good, but it’s not yet… we didn’t put pen to paper.”

      CONDITIONS IMPROVING
      Verstappen still looking good in P1. Norris and Ricciardo in P2 and P3 in a good day so far for McLaren.
      That’s a good effort following their power unit change from Renault to Mercedes.
      In terms of concerns, Mercedes WILL be worried. It is a poor start from them after dominating for years.
      A gearbox issue and now, while is has been fixed, there is something not right for Hamilton, who is in 14th place.Bottas in P16, so that will be a concern.

      VERSTAPPEN GOES QUICKEST
      In windy and dusty conditions, the Red Bull man has bettered Daniel Ricciardo’s effort from this morning.It’s Verstappen, Ricciardo, Gasly, Giovinazzi, Sainz, Ocon, Norris, Leclerc, Raikkonen, Vettel as your top 10 so far on Day One of testing.

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