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      Mercedes staff living in ‘constant fear’ ahead of new F1 season as Lewis Hamilton’s team worry about repeating success

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      MERCEDES Technical Director James Allison has revealed the team are living in ‘constant fear’ about replicating success in the 2021 season.
      Despite the Silver Arrows winning seven consecutive Constructors’ Championships, the 52-year-old has stated there is always a worry their car isn’t fast enough.

      Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team are the ones to beat in the 2021 F1 ChampionshipCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Mercedes go into the 2021 season as the huge favourites for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship.
      And the team were boosted by Lewis Hamilton’s contract extension earlier this month to put an end to speculation over his future.
      But with Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Alpine and Aston Martin all bringing in a new driver, Allison has opened up on the anxiety surrounding his team.
      In quotes obtained by Essentially Sports, he said: “We exist for one purpose.

      “And that is to produce a racing car that’s capable of fighting at the front, and hopefully, securing wins and championships.
      “At this stage of the year, you hope you’ve done enough work.
      “But we’re never certain until the cars are actually on a track, doing it for real.”
      Before adding: “Alongside all that excitement is the fear and that fear nagging away continuously at you.

      Lewis Hamilton is F1’s biggest earner
      “The moment you open your eyes in the morning, all the way through the day until you go to bed at night, the fear that you haven’t done enough.”
      Red Bull team boss Christian Horner believes Max Vertsappen could be eyed up by Mercedes when Hamilton’s deal expires after this season.
      He said: “I am sure that should Lewis decide to stop, then Max will naturally be the driver at the top of the list.
      “Mercedes also have George Russell and other drivers available to them.
      “It is all down to relationships and us having a competitive car and there are no guarantees for 2022.
      “It is a complete clean sheet of paper so if there is going to be a significant mix-up of the order, one would assume it will come with that big regulation change.
      “The reality is, that yes of course, as there has always been, there is an element of performance-related clauses to Max’s contract.
      “It will be down to us to deliver a competitive car. That is what he wants and that is what we want, so we are in an identical situation.”

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      Lando Norris warns Daniel Ricciardo he’s under ‘more pressure’ than him at McClaren ahead of new F1 season

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      LANDO NORRIS has insisted Daniel Ricciardo will be under more pressure than him at McLaren this season.
      Seven-time race winner Ricciardo signed a three-year contract with McLaren after spending two years at Renault.

      Daniel Ricciardo claimed he is ‘excited’ about his prospects at McLarenCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The Australian Formula 1 star, 31, will be racing alongside team-mate Norris this year.
      But Norris, who has given up pizza in a bid to get in shape, thinks all eyes will be on Ricciardo.
      Speaking at the launch of McLaren’s new MCL35M car, Norris said: “I don’t think the arrival of Daniel will make it any harder for me.
      “I worked with Carlos who is an extremely good driver and there are things Carlos is going to be better at than Daniel and vice-versa.

      “I don’t believe Daniel is a big step above anything that Carlos has achieved, and there is more pressure on him because he has been in Formula One for longer and he has to come in and perform very well.
      “It is harder for someone to go up against a much younger driver than it is for a younger driver going up against someone with more experience.
      “I am in that earlier phase of my career but I still need to perform very well, and there are no excuses for me anymore.”
      Meanwhile, Ricciardo has admitted he is ‘excited’ about his prospects with McLaren.

      Lando Norris, 21, is going into his third season in F1Credit: PA:Press Association

      He said: “Everything I have seen excites me about where McLaren is heading.
      “I really believe in the personnel.”
      Before he added: “They are doing what it takes to be a real contender in the championship.”
      F1 fans have been going crazy for McLaren’s new launch song created by Norris and Ricciardo.

      Lewis Hamilton is F1’s biggest earner

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      Lewis Hamilton and Alonso to go head-to-head before F1 season begins as Mercedes and Alpine announce same day car launch

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      LEWIS HAMILTON and Fernando Alonso will go head-to-head before a wheel has turned this season.
      Hamilton’s Mercedes team will launch their challenger for 2021 on March 2 – and now the newly-rebranded Alpine team have picked the same date.

      Lewis Hamilton will help unveil Mercedes’ 2021 car on March 2Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      Fernando Alonso is plotting a route back to the top with AlpineCredit: AP:Associated Press

      It means both will be vying for coverage, as Alpine unveil their new livery since changing their name from Renault.
      Alonso, who drives for the French team, is recovering after undergoing surgery on a broken jaw following an accident on his bike in Switzerland.
      The 39-year-old is making his F1 comeback this year after quitting McLaren in 2018.
      The two-time world champion spent one turbulent season at McLaren with Hamilton in 2007 before quitting and returning to Renault.

      Alonso will be hoping he can get up to speed and challenge Hamilton for wins.

      Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo got his first taste of driving McLaren’s new F1 car at Silverstone on Tuesday.
      The Aussie, who joined from Renault, took to the track for a designated filming day to put the new car through a series of tests.
      It also allowed McLaren to assess the strength of their new Mercedes engine having parted with Renault over the winter.

      Ricciardo says he is confident having joined the Woking-based team and says they are on an upward trajectory.
      He said: “I feel like I’m coming here with a bunch of momentum behind the team as well.
      “There’s really good stability in the team, infrastructure. I’m basically just fitting into the puzzle as opposed to trying to put it all together.
      “I’m certainly feeling good about it. It all feels pretty right at the moment.
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      McLaren were first out the block in unveiling their 2021 carCredit: PA:Press Association

      “Do I know how it will turn out? I don’t. But I certainly feel McLaren have done the right things to set themselves up in particular for these rule changes coming in 2022.
      “I think that next era of F1 has the ability to certainly turn the field around a little bit.
      “Everything I’ve seen and everything I’ve known up until now certainly excites me about where McLaren is heading.”

      F1 fans go crazy for McLaren song Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo created as team joke ‘your job is safe Drake’ More

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      F1 fans go crazy for McLaren song Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo created… as team joke ‘your job is safe Drake’

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      F1 fans have gone crazy for McLaren’s new launch song created by Lando Norris and new signing Daniel Ricciardo.
      The duo swapped the track for the music studio to create a tune that would ‘get them hyped up’ before the first race in Sakhir in March.

      Daniel Ricciardo spitting some bars for McLaren’s new songCredit: Twitter @McLarenF1

      The F1 driver and team-mate Lando Norris hope to release the track next monthCredit: Twitter @McLarenF1

      Each driver headed into the booth to perform a rap as they were later let loose on instruments such as drums, bass guitar and the tambourine.
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      McLaren released a snippet of the music track on their official account and tweeted: “Your job is safe, Drake. For now…”
      And fans reacted in their droves with one replying: “This is sending me.”

      Another said: “Don’t listen to the haters. Fair play for taking a different approach, it’s great.”
      But a third added: “Fire your marketing team.”
      A fourth commented: “We love you McLaren. This is so much fun.”
      SunSport revealed this week that Norris has banned pizza in an attempt to get in shape for the new F1 season.

      The Brit, 21, is going into his third season in F1 and relishing going up against his new team-mate Ricciardo as Carlos Sainz moved to Ferrari.

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      He said: “I don’t think the arrival of Daniel makes it any harder. I worked with Carlos and he is an extremely good driver and there are things Carlos is going to be better at than Daniel and vice-versa.
      “I don’t believe Daniel is a big step above anything that Carlos has achieved so it doesn’t change much for me.
      “There is more pressure on him because he has been in Formula One for longer and he has to come in and perform very well and that is what he is here to do with his experience.”

      Mercedes chief Toto Wolff insists Lewis Hamilton’s new £40m deal was never in doubt More

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      F1 star Lando Norris bans PIZZA in bid to keep fit with McLaren driver struggling for motivation to go to gym

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      LANDO NORRIS has banned pizza in an attempt to get in shape for the new F1 season.
      The Brit, 21, is going into his third season in F1 alongside a new team-mate in Daniel Ricciardo.

      Ricciardo and Norris launch this season’s McLaren F1 car earlier this weekCredit: PA:Press Association

      Norris admits there is more pressure on him to step up this yearCredit: Splash News

      Norris has promised a more mature approach to his racing this season and says he has been struggling for motivation to go to the gym.
      But he thinks he has finally cracked it after ditching the deep-pans.
      Speaking at the launch of this year’s McLaren F1 car, he said: “I have tried to be more strict with certain things, whether that is with food and trying not to have a pizza as often.
      “I can still have a little treat now and then, but it is also the physical side of it, too. Trying to do more in the gym because I struggle with that part of it.

      “I know I am in Formula One and I am in a very privileged position, but that doesn’t matter because I can still struggle to want to go out on a run or go into the gym and lift weights.
      “I struggle to motivate myself, so I have tried more things and pushed myself through moments that I hate because I know that good things come of it.
      “I am better prepared physically because of it. I am trying to think outside the box and dedicating more time to work out what is good for me and push myself to the next level.
      “A lot of it is a mental game. I have tried to understand myself a bit more to push myself to the next level.”

      Norris is relishing going up against his new team-mate after Ricciardo joined from Renault as Carlos Sainz moved to Ferrari.
      He added: “I don’t think the arrival of Daniel makes it any harder. I worked with Carlos and he is an extremely good driver and there are things Carlos is going to be better at than Daniel and vice-versa.
      “I don’t believe Daniel is a big step above anything that Carlos has achieved so it doesn’t change much for me.
      “There is more pressure on him because he has been in Formula One for longer and he has to come in and perform very well and that is what he is here to do with his experience.

      “I am in that earlier phase of my career. I still need to perform very well. I am in my third year and there are no excuses for me anymore.
      “It is an opportunity to learn from someone different and with more experience. I think it is harder for someone to go against a much younger driver than it is for a younger driver going up against someone with more experience.
      “I have more responsibility now than the past few years. There is more on me now to lead the team and areas we can improve.
      “In many ways it is going to be the hardest season but I am hoping the best season, too.
      “The hardest because I am the guy with the experience at McLaren so I need to take on that role and show how it is done and lead the team in the right direction.
      “It is a big opportunity for me to take up that lead and I will work very hard on.”

      Mercedes chief Toto Wolff insists Lewis Hamilton’s new £40m deal was never in doubt More

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      Lewis Hamilton could be replaced by Max Verstappen at Mercedes, admits F1 rival Red Bull chief Christian Horner

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN will be top of Mercedes’ wish-list to replace Lewis Hamilton – according to Red Bull boss Christian Horner.
      The world champion has only signed a one-year deal with the Silver Arrows, leading to speculation that he could quit after this season.

      Max Verstappen could be a wanted man if Mercedes need a new driverCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Lewis Hamilton is only tied to another season in Formula OneCredit: AFP

      However, Horner is confident of holding onto the Dutchman after Red Bull announced plans to build their own engines from 2022 onwards.
      It is a big financial commitment from the four-time constructors’ champions, who are taking over Honda’s UK base in Milton Keynes.
      And Horner says Verstappen is encouraged by their renewed commitment amid substantial new car design rules coming in from next year.
      He said: “I am sure that should Lewis decide to stop, then Max will naturally be the driver at the top of the list

      “Mercedes also have George Russell and other drivers available to them.
      “It is all down to relationships and us having a competitive car and there are no guarantees for 2022.
      “It is a complete clean sheet of paper so if there is going to be a significant mix-up of the order, one would assume it will come with that big regulation change.
      “The reality is, that yes of course, as there has always been, there is an element of performance-related clauses to Max’s contract.

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      Lewis Hamilton is F1’s biggest earner
      “It is a binary performance at a certain measurement in time.
      “As with all these things, it is not about forcing a driver that doesn’t want to be there.
      “It is more about relationships than contracts, and you only pull a contract out of the drawer when you have got a problem in my experience.
      “The relationship with Max is very strong, he believes in the project, in what we are doing, he sees the investment that Red Bull is making.
      “He believes in the people within the team and that work within the team, so I am confident that we won’t need to refer to any contractual clauses.
      “It will be down to us to deliver a competitive car. That is what he wants and that is what we want, so we are in an identical situation.”
      Red Bull will continue to use Honda engines this season until the Japanese company withdraws from F1 at the end of the year.
      Then Red Bull will use their own power units across their two teams, including Alpha Tauri.

      Christian Horner hopes to stave off any Mercedes approach for his top talentCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Horner added: “As Mercedes is a Mercedes it will be an incorporated part of the car, so it’ll just be a Red Bull engine.
      “Honda are continuing to operate as usual this year and will stay committed to Formula 1 to the 31st of December.
      “During which time they’re obviously working with our fuel partner ExxonMobil on it, which they’re currently doing, with the development of the E10 fuel [a mix of 90 per cent traditional fuel and 10 per cent biofuel], which is the biggest regulation change.
      “So it’s business as usual very much for the 2021 year. And obviously the engine will then be handed over for pre-season testing this time next year.” More

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      Fernando Alonso says he’s ‘OK and looking forward’ to 2021 F1 season with Alpine after jaw surgery following road crash

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      FERNANDO ALONSO has declared that he is feeling ‘OK’ after suffering a fractured jaw in a cycling accident.
      The two-time F1 champion came off his road bike in Switzerland on Thursday afternoon and needed hospital treatment.

      Fernando Alonso injured himself on Thursday while cycling in SwitzerlandCredit: Instagram @fernandoalo_oficial

      Alonso’s girlfriend Linda Morselli is by the Spaniard’s side in hospital following his accident

      The 39-year-old will spend a further two days in hospital – with his partner Linda Morselli by his side – as he recovers from surgery on his jaw and teeth.
      His Italian model girlfriend has reportedly been keeping relatives updated on his condition via WhatsApp.
      Taking to social media, Alonso said: “Thanks for all your wishes, I’m OK and looking forward to getting 2021 underway.”
      A statement from his Alpine F1 team – formerly Renault – said: “Following his cycling accident Fernando Alonso was kept under observation in hospital in Switzerland.

      “Medics discovered a fracture in his upper jaw and conducted a successful corrective operation.
      “The attending medical team are satisfied with his progress. Fernando will remain under observation in hospital for a further 48 hours.
      “Looking forward, after a few days of complete rest, he will be able to progressively resume training.
      “We expect him to be fully operational to undertake preparation for the season.”

      Thanks for all your wishes, I’m ok and looking forward to getting 2021 underway.💪💪💪💪Let’s gooooooooooooooo
      — Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) February 12, 2021

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      A police report confirmed the F1 star collided with a Swiss driver, who was turning into a supermarket.
      Alonso is set to make his F1 return in a month’s time at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix after quitting McLaren in 2018.
      Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez was among those to wish his compatriot a speedy recovery, tweeting on Thursday night: “All my best wishes for Fernando Alonso.
      “We hope his injuries from this accident are minimal. A big hug.”

      Fernando Alonso hospitalised ahead of F1 return after being hit by car while cycling in Switzerland More

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      Lewis Hamilton diversity drive could be key to F1’s future, says India’s rising star Jehan Daruvala

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      FORMULA ONE can only benefit from creating a more diverse paddock – after all, it’s good business sense.
      In the final race of last season, Indian F2 ace Jehan Daruvala became the first driver from the huge Asian nation to win a race in the series since its revamp in 2017.

      Jehan Daruvala wants to put the Indian flag on the Formula One gridCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Lewis Hamilton has led a renewed push for more diversity in Formula OneCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      And while Lewis Hamilton is pioneering a fresh approach to inclusivity in motorsport, Daruvala is also hoping to inspire a new generation of talent.
      He told SunSport: “I think everyone does respect what Lewis has to say and to be honest, he is right.
      “You don’t see too many different people in motorsport and it would be good to have a lot of people from different cultures and countries.
      “I don’t feel like I’m out of place at the track but it would be good to have more, say, Asians, Indians, competing in F1 and also working in F1.”

      The 22-year-old, who will race for Carlin in his second year in F2, believes India has the ‘potential’ to become F1’s biggest market and wants to ‘inspire’ his country’s next generation.
      The sport’s bosses are forever looking to expand its reach beyond a typically UK and Europe-heavy fanbase, with the United States long targeted as a key audience.
      But Daruvala noted: “Formula One is quite big in India but it has a lot of potential.
      “I think with the amount of people we have, if there is an Indian driver in F1 and doing well then India probably will be by far the biggest market in terms of viewership and everything.”

      Targeting a push at the F2 title in 2021, the Red Bull academy driver finished 12th last year and wants to make his case for a seat among the big boys.
      Fernando Alonso is one icon Daruvala would love to drive against and he highlights the two-time champion as his idol.
      He added: “Fernando Alonso has been my idol since I was young.
      “His passion for going racing and driving any car really close to the limit at any given time, since 2005-06 when he was world champion I have basically supported him.”
      One youngster stepping up from F2 this year is Yuki Tsunoda, who drove with Daruvala last season before a promotion to AlphaTauri.
      The Japanese starlet’s old team-mate said: “He’s pretty good, he is quite inexperienced still but I think he will do pretty well once he gets set in the car.

      Fernando Alonso, currently recovering in hospital from a fractured jaw, is Daruvala’s idolCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Old Carlin team-mate Yuki Tsunoda will make the step up into F1 this yearCredit: Alamy Live News
      “I think he should be pretty close to [Pierre] Gasly and give him a run for his money.
      “He’s very nice, very funny, he doesn’t say too much but he’s got a good sense of humour and always wants to improve the car and the team.”
      The constant rise of talent in F1 and its penchant for selecting heavily financially-backed drivers may make the path to the top one of the most crowded in world sport.
      Aston Martin’s decision to go with Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel in the coming season left Sergio Perez heading towards the exit door before Red Bull swooped in.
      And the F1 team’s academy driver, who broke into motorsport on an Indian TV talent contest, feels the driver merry-go-round can play into his favour if he can put together a strong run in the year ahead.
      He added: “One year you can be a hero and the next year pretty much out of F1.

      My goal is to win the championship next year but if I finish in the top three I will be pretty pleased.
      Jehan Daruvala

      “So if you don’t perform as you are expected to then things can go wrong very quickly.
      “My goal is to win the championship next year but if I finish in the top three I will be pretty pleased.
      “I think I finished the season in the best way, by winning. So my goal will be to be quick and fast and see where we are in the championship towards the end of the year.”

      Mercedes chief Toto Wolff insists Lewis Hamilton’s new £40m deal was never in doubt More