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      McLaren land cash windfall with £185m US investment and team coming third in F1 constructors’ championship

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      MCLAREN have been handed a double cash windfall worth around £250million.
      The Woking-based team have made no secret of their struggle during the coronavirus pandemic, as racing was put on hold and sports car sales dried up.

      The McLaren crew celebrated their ascent to third place after Sunday’s raceCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz both claimed podiums in 2020 after a long barren run for the British teamCredit: Splash News

      They even put their iconic HQ up for sale in the hope of raising funds, but have now replenished their coffers after selling off a third of the company to US investors in a £185million deal.
      And Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz’s fifth and sixth-place finish in the Abu Dhabi GP guaranteed the team third place in the F1 constructors’ championship.
      Lucrative prize money increases with each position in the standings.
      And by jumping Racing Point on the final weekend of the season, McLaren bagged an larger payment worth several million pounds.

      The top-three finish is also their first since 2012, when Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button drove for the team.
      Norris claimed his first career podium with an opening weekend third-place finish in Austria.
      Spanish star Sainz added another in Monza, having bagged McLaren’s first podium since 2014 with third in last year’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
      And the British marque is still yet to win a race since Button took the chequered flag over eight years ago at Interlagos.

      But there is renewed optimism that they are closing the gap to Red Bull and Mercedes, after unexpectedly jumping Ferrari amid the Italians’ nightmare 2020.
      Sainz leaves for the Prancing Horse ahead of next season with former Red Bull race winner Daniel Ricciardo replacing him at McLaren.
      There is hope that this extra windfall will maintain their push – alongside rival bids from Fernando Alonso’s Alpine and Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin, formerly known as Renault and Racing Point.

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      Watch Lewis Hamilton celebrate historic F1 season by performing DOUGHNUTS as he turns attention to new Mercedes deal

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      LEWIS HAMILTON will turn his attention to getting his new Mercedes deal done now the F1 season is over.
      The world champ finished third in the Abu Dhabi GP after Max Verstappen claimed an excellent victory for Red Bull.

      Lewis Hamilton celebrated his F1 return by performing doughnutsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The Brit finished third in Abu Dhabi but had already scooped the Driver’s ChampionshipCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      That’s a wrap for the season! 💨🏁Gotta say a massive thanks to my team. It’s been one hell of a year with you guys and I’m so grateful for everything we’ve accomplished together. Let’s keep making #HIS7ORY together🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/KTK7YBZQOT
      — Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) December 13, 2020

      Hamilton pulled doughnuts in his F1 car to celebrate the end of the year, but is still suffering from the effects after testing positive for Covid-19.
      Still coughing during a post-race interview, he said he was “grateful to be alive”.
      He said: “I don’t think I’ve ever been so blown. My body isn’t feeling great but look on the bright side, I made it through.
      “I didn’t think any time last week that I would be here, so, I am just truly grateful for my health and to be alive.

      “I am looking forward to recovering over the next period of time we have and being back into training and getting my body back to where I know it should be.
      “You can’t win them all, so, I think considering the past couple of weeks that I’ve had, I am really, generally, happy with the weekend.
      “It’s obviously not 100 per cent, it’s not as good as I’d perhaps have liked but congratulations to Max. That was a really hard race for me.
      “All year physically I have been fine, but today I definitely wasn’t so I am just glad it is over.”

      I didn’t think any time last week that I would be here, so, I am just truly grateful for my health and to be alive
      Lewis Hamilton

      Before Hamilton can put his feet up, he will hold discussion with Merc boss Toto Wolff over new terms.
      He is understood to have agreed wages of up to £40million for at least two years while the two are now haggling over the fine print, including media and sponsorship requirements.
      When quizzed as to when he can expect to sign the deal, Hamilton added: “Hopefully over the next couple of weeks.
      “We would love to get it done before Christmas. The plan is to be here at Mercedes next year and I want to be here.
      “Us as a team have more to achieve both in and out of the sport, so I hope we can begin talks again this week and get it tied up before Christmas.”
      Take nothing away from Verstappen’s win, but this was a dreary GP as the Yas Marina circuit served up another dullard after some excellent races in this short season.
      A total of 17 GPs in 23 weekends has been a punishing schedule for those on the road, who won’t want telling it is just 95 days until practice in Melbourne for the 2021 season opener.

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      Verstappen is hoping that this, his second win of 2020, bodes well for his chances of wrestling the title out of Hamilton’s hands next season.
      He said: “It is a great way to finish the season and a big boost for everyone in the team.
      “I just hope that we learn from previous years that we have to be stronger at the beginning of the season to be able to give the Mercedes drivers a little bit of a harder time.”

      Lewis Hamilton expresses appreciation for support after testing positive for COVID-19 coronavirus More

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      Lewis Hamilton ‘grateful to be alive’ after COVID-19 scare and reveals he’s physically tired after Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

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      F1 champion Lewis Hamilton has revealed he is “grateful to be alive” after his coronavirus scare.
      The 35-year-old returned to the circuit for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, after he was forced to sit out the Sakhir GP after testing positive for COVID-19.

      Lewis Hamilton says he’s glad to be alive after his coronavirus scareCredit: Splash News

      And he managed to finish third in a thrilling race in the Middle East, which was won by Max Verstappen.
      Speaking from the podium, Hamilton said he was happy to be back – but was still feeling the after-effects of the virus.
      “You can’t win them all so considering the past couple of weeks I’m really happy with the weekend,” Hamilton said.
      “It’s not 100 per cent as good as I would’ve liked. That was a really hard race for me physically.

      “All year I’ve been fine but today I wasn’t. I’m just glad it’s over.
      “I didn’t think any time last week I would be here so I’m just really grateful for my health and to be alive and looking forward to recovering and getting my body back to where it should be.”
      After testing positive with coronavirus, Hamilton spent 10 days in isolation.
      He was given permission to travel to Abu Dhabi where he was tested on arrival last Thursday and the rapid test also produced a negative result.

      As that test fell within the 96 hour window stipulated by the FIA, Hamilton was granted entry to the paddock and was allowed to take part in practice sessions.

      Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of Valtteri Botta and Lewis HamiltonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      However, Max Verstappen was victorious at Yas Marina – holding off the challenge of Valtteri Bottas and Hamilton to win the final race of the F1 season.
      As was the case in qualifying, Verstappen narrowly edged out Valterri Bottas to win his second GP of 2020 and end the year on a high.

      The Red Bull driver followed up his first pole position yesterday with a convincing performance in an otherwise uneventful GP on Sunday.
      He said: “It was really enjoyable. We had a good start today and then I looked after the tyres but the car had a really good balance.
      “We did basically everything right and from the front you can control the pace a bit more and it makes everything easier.”

      Lewis Hamilton expresses appreciation for support after testing positive for COVID-19 coronavirus More

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      Max Verstappen holds off Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton to win Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and end 2020 season on a high

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN beat Lewis Hamilton to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina during the final race of the F1 season. Brit hero Hamilton had already wrapped up the F1 Driver’s Championship but could only finish THIRD on his return from coronavirus quarantine. As was the case in qualifying, Verstappen narrowly edged out […] More

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      Silverstone rename pit straight in honour of Lewis Hamilton after F1 legend’s seventh world title in huge first

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      SILVERSTONE has renamed the pit straight in honour of Lewis Hamilton after his seventh world championship title. Hamilton landed his latest title triumph last month and has been rewarded with this honour by the international circuit. The British Racing Drivers’ Club, which owns Silverstone, announced the honour that the international pit straight will now be […] More

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      George Russell told to forget about driving for Mercedes next year with Valtteri Bottas keeping seat alongside Hamilton

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      GEORGE RUSSELL has been told to forget about driving for Mercedes next season as Valtteri Bottas will be keeping his seat. The 22-year-old was impressive when he filled in for Covid-hit Lewis Hamilton last weekend and was only denied a debut win for the team after a bungled pitstop. After the race, the Brit said […] More

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      Lewis Hamilton reveals he is still struggling after fighting off coronavirus with Mercedes F1 ace ‘feeling in his lungs’

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      LEWIS HAMILTON admits he is still struggling with Covid-19 after an out-of-sorts performance in qualifying for the Abu Dhabi GP. Hamilton coughed and spluttered in the press conference after he sealed third place on the grid behind team-mate Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen, who took pole. The Dutchman’s flying lap was sensational as he claimed […] More