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      Lewis Hamilton struck with BAN by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff ahead of F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix

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      LEWIS HAMILTON and the Mercedes team have been hit with a BAN from their boss ahead of Formula One’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.F1 is racing on the famous Vegas strip for the first time in its history, though the sport has previously raced in the city in the Ceasar’s Palace car park in 1981 and 1982.
      Lewis Hamilton has been issued with a ban while in Las VegasCredit: Rex
      Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has laid down the law ahead of the raceCredit: Getty
      It has cost F1 owners Liberty Media roughly $500million, or £400m, to put on the event.
      But Hamilton and Co will not be allowed to enjoy the full offerings of Sin City.
      That is because Mercedes F1 chief Toto Wolff has issued a gambling ban on the team.
      Speaking to Motorsport.com, Wolff said: “I’ve never been to Las Vegas, but we’ll do everything we can to make sure everyone on the team stays away from the casinos.
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      “I don’t bet and I’ll make sure no one else bets either.”
      The Nevada-based city is known around the globe for its casinos and 24-hour entertainment, with 122 gambling and betting venues.
      The Austrian explained the team could get easily distracted due to not knowing the layout of the paddock, city and traffic routes to get to the circuit.
      Wolff said: “We don’t know how to get from the hotel to the circuit and vice versa, but I am sure that we will find a solution. I can’t wait for the race to start.”
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      He added: “I think everyone is looking forward to the Las Vegas race.
      “Running in this city is comparable to climbing Everest, hats off to Liberty Media for organizing this race.
      “I don’t think I’m the only one in Formula 1 who’s never been to this city, which is quite difficult to navigate.”
      Hamilton, 38, revealed he has quit another Sin City vice in booze to try and get back to winning races.
      Wolff has been linked with a sensational investment into Manchester United along with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who owns Mercedes F1 sponsor Ineos.
      F1 owners, Liberty Media, have apologised to the local residents of Las Vegas about the chaos the race has created in terms of construction, traffic and impact on the tourism industry.
      CEO Greg Maffei said: “I want to apologise to all the Las Vegas residents and we appreciate that they have their forbearance and their willingness to tolerate us.
      The layout of the Las Vegas Grand Prix
      “We’re going to bring something like $1.7 billion of revenue to the area. So it’s not just for the benefit of fans who want to view.
      “We hope this is a great economic benefit in Las Vegas.
      “We hope this is the most difficult year with all the construction that went on and things will be easier in the future.”
      There are serious concerns the race will fail to live up to the hype with reports suggesting there are up to 10,000 tickets which have not been sold in the grandstand.
      Ticket sales too have been slow with many reluctant to spend the ridiculous sums being suggested.
      CNN reported that ticket website TickPick had seen prices slashed, although the average price for Saturday’s race is still an eye-watering $1,060, roughly £800, for grandstand seats.
      The race is on Saturday at 10pm local time and 6am in the UK.
      Read More on The Sun
      There have been mixed reactions to the race from drivers as well, with world champion Max Verstappen suggesting there could be some surprises.
      Meanwhile, the race itself could be chaos with track temperatures set to be around five degrees, far from optimal for F1 tyres which thrive in warmer conditions.
      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      F1 owners forced to apologise to furious Las Vegas residents over controversial $500million Grand Prix

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      FORMULA ONE’s owners have been forced to apologise to the residents of Las Vegas for messing up Sin City.Locals are outraged by road closures causing traffic and grandstands blocking tourist hotspots.
      F1 is set for its first race on the famous Las Vegas stripCredit: Splash
      F1’s arrival in Vegas has seen Liberty Media spend around $500millionCredit: Splash
      Locals have been left outraged by the logistical nightmare the event has createdCredit: Splash
      The logistical operation caused by F1’s first race along the famous Vegas strip, has sparked fury from the residents.
      Work has been going on for months and now Greg Maffei, CEO of Liberty Media who own F1, has said sorry.
      He said: “I want to apologise to all the Las Vegas residents and we appreciate that they have their forbearance and their willingness to tolerate us.
      “We’re going to bring something like $1.7 billion of revenue to the area. So it’s not just for the benefit of fans who want to view.
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      “We hope this is a great economic benefit in Las Vegas.
      “We hope this is the most difficult year with all the construction that went on and things will be easier in the future.”
      Liberty have spent around $500million, or £400m, putting on the race, resurfacing the roads, building a new paddock and garages and putting up grandstands.
      They hope to cash in on the sport’s popularity in the US, driven by the Netflix ‘Drive to Survive’ TV series.
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      However, rather than hitting the jackpot, there are serious concerns the race, which is Saturday night Las Vegas time but Sunday morning in the UK, will be a massive flop with hundreds of seats and hotel rooms left unsold.
      Ticket sales too have been slow with many reluctant to spend the ridiculous sums being suggested.
      CNN reported that ticket website TickPick had seen prices slashed, although the average price for Saturday’s race is still an eye-watering $1,060, roughly £800, for grandstand seats.
      It is the same story for the unsold hotel rooms – but do F1’s owners really care about the paying fans? In part they do, however, like other US sports the main focus is on the TV audience.
      The race is on Saturday at 10pm local time, later than they would have hoped, for the majority of the East coast will be asleep by then.
      There have been mixed reactions to the race from drivers, while the race could be chaos with track temperatures set to be around five degrees, far from optimal for F1 tyres which thrive in warmer conditions.
      It is not the first time F1 has raced in Vegas with previous events at a now-abandoned circuit in 1981 and 1982.
      However, the expected 100,000 spectators will be able to experience a never-before-seen feature at F1 – a wedding chapel.
      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      Formula One owners have made $500million ‘Drive to Survive’ gamble on Las Vegas Grand Prix – but it could be huge flop

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      FORMULA ONE owners Liberty Media will get to discover if their huge gamble on Las Vegas will come off in this weekend’s Grand Prix.They have spent around $500million, or £400m, converting the famous strip into a race track and building a new paddock in the heart of Sin City.
      Stands going up for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in front of the iconic Bellagio hotelCredit: Splash
      Liberty hope to cash in on the sport’s popularity in the US, driven by the Netflix ‘Drive to Survive’ TV series.
      However, rather than hitting the jackpot, there are serious concerns the race, which is Saturday night Las Vegas time but Sunday morning in the UK, will be a massive flop with hundreds of seats and hotel rooms left unsold.
      There are also complaints from locals who are upset about the impact F1 is having on the city, with a number of its famous landmarks obscured from view by the temporary grandstands.
      Would they be happy with the same process each year when the race comes around causing mass disturbance? I doubt it.

      Ticket sales too have been slow with many reluctant to spend the ridiculous sums being suggested.
      CNN reported that ticket website TickPick had seen prices slashed, although the average price for Saturday’s race is still an eye-watering $1,060 for grandstand seats.
      It is the same story for the unsold hotel rooms – but do F1’s owners really care about the paying fans? In part they do, however, like other US sports the main focus is on the TV audience.
      The race is on Saturday at 10pm local time, later than they would have hoped, for the majority of the East coast will be asleep by then.
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      That said, it will still be a spectacle under the lights as the F1 cars race past the iconic buildings and landmarks.
      It is perhaps best not to think of it as a race, but like the Miami GP earlier in the season, an F1 tradeshow.
      An event that is more like the heavily edited Netflix offering than the Max Verstappen domination we have been watching all season.
      Rather like the punters who will still continue to play in the city’s famous casinos, it could be a case of all-in or bust for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
      The Las Vegas Grand Prix is a big gamble trying to cash in on F1’s US popularityCredit: Getty
      SHIVER, LAS VEGAS
      TEMPERATURES could drop as low as 5°C in the evening in Vegas when the race starts.
      That would set a joint-lowest record with the 1978 Canadian Grand Prix, which is currently the coldest ever F1 race held — which had a peak temperature of just 5°C.
      The track itself is the second-longest on the calendar after Spa, and promises to be the second-fastest after Monza, with a top speed estimated at 212 mph.
      DRIVE TO, ER, SURVIVE
      THE “Netflix Cup” will kick-off on Tuesday with F1 stars playing a golf competition alongside some PGA professionals.
      It marks the streaming service’s first live sport broadcast as it tries to fuse together Drive To Survive with similar golf documentary, Full Swing.
      MOTOVATION
      MOTO GP’s championship looks set to go down to the wire with reigning champ Francesco Bagnaia and Prima Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin separated by just 14 points with two races to go.
      Meanwhile, former champion Fabio Quartararo accused the stewards of “choosing people they don’t like” after he was fined €1,000 for undoing his helmet strap as he arrived in the pitlane during practice.
      Francesco Bagnaia (centre) is vying for the Moto GP titleCredit: Rex
      “The stewards are not doing their job,” Quartararo told TNT Sports. “I think they [give] penalties by closing their eyes and choosing the people that they don’t like. That’s me.
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      “I did it [untie my helmet strap] a lot of times. All the years I was doing it.
      “And just yesterday they gave me a fine. So I don’t think they are doing their job properly.” More

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      Inside abandoned Vegas F1 track held in car park with bizarre layout now demolished for luxury hotel and shopping centre

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      WHEN Formula One takes over Las Vegas this weekend, it won’t be for the first time.The Nevada-based city hosted two races in 1981 and 1982, however, it failed to become a success.
      Las Vegas has previously held F1 racesCredit: Getty
      The old track was built on Caesar’s Palace’s car parkCredit: Getty
      Alan Jones won the first F1 GP in Las Vegas back in 1981Credit: Getty
      The old track was compared to paper clips
      This is the layout of the new track that will be used this weekendCredit: https://www.f1lasvegasgp.com/track-layout
      A deal had been agreed for the race to feature as the final stop in the 1981 season and it benefited originally from the track in New York suffering financial difficulty.
      Despite excitement about the event taking place in Sin City, there were plenty of issues with the track.
      It was labelled the Caesar’s Palace Circuit and was built in a casino car park.
      This meant that the terrain was totally flat – making it very tough for drivers – and the course was incredibly windy due to the lack of space available.
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      The one positive is that spectators managed to have a good view of most of the 2.27m long course.
      The track was disliked by drivers due to its layout and was considered the “least appealing” of all the races on the circuit at the time.
      Former racer John Watson said: “You had this totally flat ground and three-foot high concrete barriers so you had very little sense of reference points.
      “It was probably the least appealing Grand Prix circuit I think I’ve raced on.
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      The new Las Vegas track is 1.68 miles longer
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      “‘If you put three paper clips side-by-side that was the layout.
      “The facilities weren’t great for the teams, but that wasn’t the reason it fell by the wayside — it was fundamentally because the big spenders didn’t show up.”
      The cars did produce exciting races on the track, that saw Alan Jones win in 1981 and Michele Alboreto claim victory in 1982.
      Despite this, the attendance did not rise and faded which led to the Caesar’s Palace bosses and F1 to part ways going forward.
      F1 took its business around the United States and had races in Dallas, Detroit and Phoenix.
      The track in Vegas remained however and was developed into an oval circuit for Indycar racing.
      The circuit was criticised by driversCredit: Getty
      They said the facilities were not greatCredit: Getty
      This only lasted for a couple of years and the track was last raced on in 1984.
      It has since been demolished with a Polynesian-themed Mirage casino resort being built on one end of the former track.
      The rest of the course was then ploughed through to make way for an extension for Caesar’s Palace as well as a shopping centre.
      It is not the only abandoned F1 track with the Buddh International Circuit in India also not in use.
      The new track that the likes of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will race is considerably longer, 3.8miles, and is located on the other side of the Las Vegas Boulevard.
      Fans will also have the opportunity to get married at the Las Vegas GP.
      Read More on The Sun
      The chapel – appropriately named ‘Race To The Altar’ – has a feature wall adorned in flowers along with a sign that reads: “Lights Out And Together We Go.”
      There is also an F1 show car in the chapel that says “Just Married” on the rear wing.
      Driver Michele Alboreto won the last F1 race on the track in 1982Credit: Getty
      The track was then used for Indycar racesCredit: Getty More

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      Michael Schumacher update as F1 simulator used by legend in his last Ferrari season goes up for sale for £20,000

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      A FORMULA One simulator used by Michael Schumacher in his last Ferrari season has gone on sale for £20,000.The racing legend, who has won a joint record seven world titles, last used the device while training for F1 circuits back in 2006.
      A Formula One simulator used by Michael Schumacher is being sold for £20,000Credit: Jam Press/Gormleys Auctions
      The device was used by the racing legend back in 2006 while he prepared for F1 circuitsCredit: Jam Press/Gormleys Auctions
      Schumacher retired from F1 in 2012, before he suffered a severe brain injury following a ski crash in 2013Credit: Alamy
      Shaped like half an iconic Ferrari F1 car, the Italian manufacturers used the simulators to prepare drivers for various circuits.
      It has now gone up for sale for a whopping £20,000 after being updated with all the circuits from the 2012 F1 calendar.
      The device has been used by a number of drivers, but most notably by Schumacher during his last season driving for team Ferrari.
      Auctioneers Gormleys Auctions says the collectible is a unique slice of history.
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      The listing reads: “This piece represents a rare opportunity to acquire a unique slice of F1 history, affording the opportunity to sit in the same pod that legendary driver Michael Schumacher will have used during simulated race sessions in advance of the 2006 Season.
      “A former team-owned piece of F1 history, this simulator benefits from the particular association with one of the sport’s most celebrated exponents.
      “This piece is a unique addition to the collection of any serious Ferrari F1 fan, and has been updated with ‘R-factor’ software and all of the circuits from the 2012 F1 calendar, among a number of other International circuits used for testing.
      “In addition, it comes complete with a Force-feedback steering wheel by Bob Salisbury Engineering at Silverstone.”
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      The auction for the iconic piece ends on November 14.
      It comes after a stunning collection of the F1 ace’s memorabilia worth £1.4million went up for auction in August.
      Schumacher’s iconic 1994 Bell Benetton Formula 1 helmet was part of the collection along with an Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost signed Formula 1 Moet Champagne Bottle.
      The bottle was signed by the pair during the 1989 Formula 1 World Championship and was set to sell for £7,800.
      Two other special helmets from Schumacher’s career were expected to attract bids of up to £20,000.
      One helmet – with a signed visor – was from the 2001 season, where it was worn during the Australian, Malaysian, and Brazilian Grand Prix events.
      Another was from the following season and was used in the Japanese and Hungarian Grand Prix events when he raced for Ferrari.
      The entire jaw-dropping collection was sold by RM Sotheby’s in Monterey, California.
      An RM Sotheby’s spokesperson said: “Among this treasured collection of artwork and automobilia are more than 75 lots of race-worn clothing and equipment spanning the breadth of Schumacher’s career, including a selection of helmets from his earliest days in karting.
      “Full Throttle ­– The Schumacher Collection offers an unrepeatable opportunity to acquire precious automobilia from the career of one of the sport’s true greats—touchstones from the life of a legendary driver who changed the face of motorsport forever”.
      Also in August, Schumacher’s incredible Ferrari F2001b sportscar went up for sale for a staggering £6million.
      The racing legend drove the 220mph 3.0-litre V10 cherry-red Ferrari when he won the 2002 Australian Grand Prix.
      An RM Sotheby’s spokesperson said: “Amongst the most desirable of any modern-era grand prix cars in existence, chassis 215 played a significant role in the early days of the 2002 Formula 1 World Championship.
      Schumacher’s iconic valuables have been listed at auctions after the driver suffered a severe brain injury during a devastating ski crash accident in December 2013.
      He was on the slopes above Méribel in the French Alps when he hit his head on a rock while crossing an off-piste area.
      Doctors said he would most likely have died had he not been wearing the safety gear, and the world champ was airlifted to Grenoble Hospital.
      He was put into a medically induced coma after suffering what was described as a “traumatic brain injury”.
      The former Ferrari and Mercedes driver was brought out of the coma in June 2014 and was released to go and rehabilitate at his home in Gland, Switzerland.
      The 54-year-old now lives a private life with his family with the tragic ski accident coming just over a year after he retired from F1 in 2012.
      He mounted a brief comeback for three seasons with the new Mercedes team after initially hanging up his helmet in 2006.
      In 2021, his family broke their eight-year silence on the seven-time world champion’s condition in a Netflix documentary examining his illustrious career.
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      His wife Corinna explained in the Netflix interview: “We’re together. We live together at home. We do therapy.
      “We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable”.
      The device has been updated with all the circuits from the 2012 F1 calendarCredit: Jam Press/Gormleys Auctions
      The simulator is shaped like half an F1 Ferrari racing carCredit: Jam Press/Gormleys Auctions More

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      Lewis Hamilton’s ex-trainer reveals biggest challenge of working with Mercedes star and names hardest F1 track

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’S former trainer has revealed what the biggest challenge of training the Formula One great was. Antti Vierula was part of Hamilton’s support crew between 2011 and 2012 while the Brit was still with McLaren.
      Lewis Hamilton’s ex-trainer has revealed what the biggest challenge of working with him wasCredit: Splash
      Antti Vierula was Hamilton’s trainer between 2011 and 2012Credit: Getty
      Since then Hamilton has gone on to rack up a total of seven F1 world titles, six of which have come at Mercedes.
      However, speaking to OLBG, Vierula has now opened up on what the main challenge to working with him was.
      He said: “You try and get the best out of the time you have, and that’s the case for training any athlete.
      “The racing schedule is so demanding, and the biggest challenge is weaving training into that schedule.
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      “The training can’t hurt the athlete or stress them too much. Training also can’t deplete the energy levels. You learn a lot about the athletes you’re training as you spend time with them.
      “The coach has to adapt training to the specifics of the individual, but that’s something you naturally learn as time goes on.”
      Vierula, who now trains Hamilton’s former team-mate Valtteri Bottas, previously revealed the type of training they got up to.
      He told Grosvenor Sport how Hamilton loved running, while Bottas preferred cycling.
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      The workouts also included intense training for the muscles on his backside.
      Hamilton, 38, paired up with Angela Cullen in 2016, with the duo only going their separate ways ahead of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix earlier this season.
      Following the split, Vierula backed Cullen’s comments that Hamilton “got the best out of everyone”.
      He said: “I liked working with Lewis, it was a joy, he’s a passionate guy on the track. He was brilliant in getting everything out of the car and engineers, he pushes people to get the best out of everyone.
      “He would work hard getting answers from engineers, giving his opinion about what he thinks is right. He had a brilliant will to improve.”
      Hamilton is staring down his second winless F1 season in a row, having always managed to win at least one race every season prior to 2022.
      His W14 Mercedes struggled at last weekend’s Brazil Grand Prix, and he admitted Max Verstappen and Red Bull would likely be the dominant force over the next couple of seasons.
      However, Vierula does not believe Brazil is among the hardest tracks to race on.
      Instead, Vierula declared Japan’s Suzuka Circuit was the most difficult track on the calendar.
      He said: “I’d say the hardest tracks are the ones with high-speed corners. There’s a lot of braking involved, and those kinds of tracks are the most demanding.
      “I’d say Suzuka is the hardest for the neck, the high speed corners give drivers a lot of work.
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      “Also Hungaroring is physically demanding, not many straights really, always turning somewhere.
      “Monaco and Singapore are tough as well, there are a lot of corners and not really any straight lines to rest. It requires a high level of focus all the time.”
      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      Max Verstappen’s stunning girlfriend Kelly Piquet branded ‘Miss Brazil’ by fans as she reveals bold new outfit

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      KELLY PIQUET’S latest outfit has seen fans dub her “Miss Brazil” on Instagram.The Brazilian model and influencer posted the picture of her wearing a chequered dress and black blazer.
      Kelly impressed in a chequered dress and black blazerCredit: https://www.instagram.com/kellypiquet/
      She also wore a pair of dark glassesCredit: https://www.instagram.com/kellypiquet/
      Kelly is an international modelCredit: Splash
      She is also a columnist in BrazilCredit: Splash
      She also donned a dark pair of sunglasses as part of the collaboration with fashion designer Nati Vozza.
      Kelly Piquet is the daughter of F1 legend Nelson Piquet Sr.
      Her brother, Nelson Piquet Jr was also an F1 driver in the Noughties.
      As well as being a model and fashion columnist from Brazil, Kelly, 34, is also famous for dating F1 champion Max Verstappen.
      READ MORE ON SPORT
      Kelly is regularly spotted at Max’s races and recently reacted angrily when Verstappen was booed by Sergio Perez fans.
      Fans in her comment section were quick to praise her latest look.
      One fan wrote: “So pretty!”
      Kelly is a regular at Verstappen’s racesCredit: Getty
      The two have dated since 2021Credit: Getty
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      Another commented: “Beautiful Miss Brazil 😘😘😘😘”
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      A third wrote: “belíssimaaaaa as always”
      A fourth commented: “so beautiful!! 💕💕”
      While a fifth wrote: “OMG HOW BEAUTIFUL 😍😍”
      Kelly and Max went public with their relationship in 2021.
      A look back at some of Kelly’s best looks…
      Kelly and Max live a glamorous lifestyleCredit: instagram/@kellypiquet/
      Her father is F1 legend Nelson PiquetCredit: Instagram @kellypiquet
      Kelly is a regular at Max’s racesCredit: Instagram / @kellypiquet
      And the two regularly holiday in exotic locationsCredit: Instagram / @kellypiquet
      Max and Kelly at a black tie eventCredit: instagram/kellypiquet
      Kelly relaxing at the beachCredit: Splash More

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      I’m a double Premier League title winner but now I’m branching out into new sport after injury hell

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      THIBAUT Courtois has revved up his off-field career – by founding a motorsports team.The former Chelsea keeper, now with Real Madrid, has set up TC Racing.
      Thibaut Courtois has founded his own racing teamCredit: AP
      The team received its licence on Thursday from the Spanish Automobile Federation and will compete in Formula 4 next year.
      Courtois, 31, has hired ex-Formula 1 driver Roberto Merhi as team principal.
      The Spaniard, 32, took part in 13 Grand Prix races for Marussia in 2015.
      Belgium international Courtois posted a promotional film for the team on Instagram, announcing: “Here we are.”
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      He has yet to nominate TC Racing’s drivers for the 2024 season.
      F4 recruits young drivers from the world of go-karting among others, and trains them towards an F1 career.
      The Spanish F4 championship includes five races on home soil, plus further events in Belgium and Portugal.
      Courtois won two Premier League titles with Chelsea, in 2015 and 2017.
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      He also helped the Blues lift an FA Cup and a League Cup.
      Signed from Genk in 2011, he spent three successful seasons on loan to Atletico Madrid before making his name at Stamford Bridge.
      Real Madrid paid £35million for the 6ft 6ins keeper five years ago.
      Courtois has since won eight major trophies with Los Blancos, including the Champions League and two La Liga titles.
      He is currently sidelined following a knee operation in August. More