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      Michael Schumacher’s ‘medical records & 500 pics of stricken F1 star among docs stolen in bombshell £12m blackmail plot’

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      A SECURITY guard accused of trying to blackmail F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s family allegedly stole two hard drives of medical data.The man – who can only be named as Markus F due to German law, had worked for the family as a security guard for approximately five years.H7BYN6 Michael Schumacher German motor racing driver 2000Credit: AlamyIdentified as Markus F, the former security guard for the Schumacher family allegedly attempted to blackmail Corinna Shumacher for £12 millionCredit: FacebookYilmaz T is one of the co accusedAccording to reports obtained by Germany’s BILD, the former security guard allegedly stole around 1,500 files.According to the report, there were up to 500 images on one hard drive and as many as 1,000 files on the second hard drive. These included photos, videos, medication lists and the contents of Schumacher’s patient file.It comes after it was reported that Markus F was allegedly trying to get £12million for the stolen medical data to help pay off his debts.Read more sportThe 52-year-old was arrested on Thursday as the main perpetrator behind the suspected attempt to extort the Schumacher family.It’s alleged that the accused man was a vice consul in Egypt who wanted to free himself of his debts by allegedly committing the heinous crime.In early 2009, he became assistant to the German honorary consul in Hurghada, Egypt.A few years later he returned to Germany and resumed his career in security.Most read in MotorsportThis is where he allegedly got to know other bouncers, including the co-accused Yilmaz T, 53, who Markus F allegedly commissioned to carry out the alleged £12 million extortion.According to BILD information, Markus F. only promised to give Yilmaz T a commission in the low single-digit million range.Yilmaz T’s was caught and arrested with his son Daniel L, 30 in connection to the alleged crime.Daniel L is the first of the accused to be released on conditional bail. His older brother Julian posted his £8,431 bail. Daniel L also had to hand over his passport and must report to the police.Senior public prosecutor Wolf-Tilman Baumert, spokesman for the Wuppertal public prosecutor’s office, said: “After the advanced investigations, we currently assume that the accused son may have acted more as an accomplice.” Family employees close to wife Corinna Schumacher were said to have been approached by the trio who claimed to have found a file of secrets on the F1 driver.Schumacher – a seven-time F1 world champion- has not been seen for more than 10 years after a horrific ski crash left him in a medically induced coma.According to the Wuppertal office, the men said the family wouldn’t want the files to become public due to what they contained.To keep the information private the trio reportedly demanded they were sent millions to keep the information off the dark web.The suspects were even alleged to have sent some of the files to the family as proof, said prosecutors in June.Cops were able to track down the extortionists through “technical measures”, it was announced last month.The Schumacher family have been tormented over Michael’s health in the past.In 2016, a 25-year-old man known as Hüseyin B sent a threatening email to Corinna targeting the couple’s children.The mum-of-two quickly passed on the email to the police who swiftly tracked down the painter.After being arrested, the thug was sent to court where a judge sentenced him for a year and nine months behind bars.The perpetrator was reportedly caught after he told Corinna to send him the money to his personal bank account – something the police easily traced back.In May, the Schumacher family were awarded £170,000 in compensation after a magazine published a fake AI-generated interview with the racing legend.READ MORE SUN STORIESGerman publication Die Aktuelle claimed to have secured a “world exclusive” with the severely injured Ferrari great last April despite Michael not being seen publicly since his 2013 skiing accident.In a two-page spread, promoted with a picture of Schumacher, it claimed the seven-time F1 champ had said “My life has totally changed”.MICHAEL Schumacher’s life was hanging by a thread 10-years-ago as medics tried desperately to keep him alive after a tragic skiing crash that left him with horrific brain injuries.The F1 legend was given the best possible treatment as he was put into a medically induced coma, had his body temperature lowered and underwent hours of tricky operations on his brain.Back in 2013, the retired seven-time world champion, and his then 14-year-old son set off on the Combe de Saulire ski run in the exclusive French resort of Meribel.Footage from his helmet camera revealed he was not travelling at excessive speed when his skis struck a rock hidden beneath the snow.He catapulted forward 11.5ft and crashed into a boulder head first that split his helmet into two and left him needing to be airlifted to hospital for two life-saving operations.At one point his family were told to brace themselves for the worst case scenario as the situation was much worse than originally believed.At the time, medics said Schumacher was likely to stay in an induced coma for at least 48 hours as his body and mind recovered.But the coma ended up lasting 250 days – more than eight months.After he woke up in June 2014, he was discharged from hospital and sent to his home in Lake Geneva to get further treatment.Since then his wife Corinna and his inner circle of friends have expertly avoided almost anything leaking out about his health status.Only small amounts of information have been released including reports that Schumacher was in a wheelchair but can react to things around him.In 2019, it was said that Schumacher was set to undergo breakthrough stem cell therapy in a bid to regenerate and rebuild his nervous system.Renowned France cardiologist Dr Philippe Menasche, who had operated on him previously, was set to carry out the treatment that would see cells from his heart go to his brain.Following the treatment at the Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris, he was said to be “conscious”, although few other details were given about his state.Michael Schumacher and his wife Corinna before is accident in 2013Credit: AFPSchumacher – a seven-time F1 world champion- has not been seen for more than 10 years after a horrific ski crash left him in a medically induced coma.Credit: AFPIt is not the first time someone has targeted the Shumacher familyCredit: AFP More

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      Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke surprises F1 drivers as fans call on her to ‘lend Ferrari a few dragons’

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      FORMULA 1 FANS urged Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke to fire up Ferrari with some “dragons” as she met their racing duo at Silverstone.Carlos Sainz was fifth and Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc 14th as Brit Lewis Hamilton romped to a record ninth triumph at his home Grand Prix.Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke was the centre of attractionCredit: InstagramEmilia posed with Monegasque ace Charles LeclercCredit: InstagramEmilia chatted with Spanish driver Carlos SainzCredit: InstagramAnd motorsport lovers joked that the Italian team needed help from the English actress – famed for her role in the drama ‘n dragons fantasy show.One viewer posted: “Can she lend us some dragons to pull the Ferraris? The stallions are a bit slow…”Clarke, whose film roles include Solo: A Star Wars Story, is best known for playing Daenerys Targaryen , one of the most popular characters in Game of Thrones.And when F1 posted a clip of her meeting their team, some fans reckoned Spaniard Sainz – who Ferrari are replacing with Lewis Hamilton next season – looked close to awestruck.READ MORE IN F1One said: “Carlos looks hilarious” – while another claimed he was trying too hard to look “smooth”.Other fans, however, were impressed by what they felt was a cool, calm exchange.One even admitted he would be nervous meeting Clarke, saying: “Good for them. I couldn’t utter a single word.”Meanwhile, Sainz’s successor-to-be Hamilton was toasting his first win since December 2021.Most read in MotorsportMost wins at te same GPLewis Hamilton (British Grand Prix) – 9Michael Schumacher (French Grand Prix) – 8Lewis Hamilton (Hungarian Grand Prix) – 8Michael Schumacher (Canadian Grand Prix) – 7Michael Schumacher (Imola Grand Prix) – 7Lewis Hamilton (Canadian Grand Prix) – 6BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe 39-year-old told his Mercedes outfit on the radio: “This means so much to me.”And not totally dissimilar to Game of Thrones, team boss Toto Wolff described the triumph as a “fairytale” – albeit one for all the family!Lewis Hamilton makes history as he WINS thrilling British GP and breaks near three-year droughtInside track on Hamilton’s lifeLEWIS HAMILTON has driven his way into pole position as Formula One’s most prolific winner. More

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      British GP scandals from Schumacher’s infamous Silverstone win to VERY awkward Cara Delevingne chat and X-rated blunder

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      IT’S one of the most legendary races in Formula 1, but the British Grand Prix has had to steer a path through shocks and scandals over the years.From spying on the competition to insane collisions, countless infamous sporting moments have left fans reeling.The British Grand Prix has given fans some of the most memorable moments in Formula 1Credit: Tim Williams/British Photography AwardsMichael Schumacher has been involved in controversies at SilverstoneCredit: AP:Associated PressThe legend celebrated coming second in 1994 – little did he know he’d be disqualified and banned shortly afterwardsCredit: Times Newspapers LtdAnd there’s been some spicy moments off the track too – remember Cara Delevingne’s infamous grid chat with Martin Brundle last year? As Formula 1 returns to Silverstone on Sunday, there could be more fireworks in store, with the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen all vying for the top prize.Here, we look at the British Grand Prix’s most memorable controversies – from the scandalous to the pure ridiculous.No stopping himMichael Schumacher is considered by many to be the greatest driver in F1 history, but his glittering career didn’t come without a few controversies.READ MORE FEATURES In 1994, the star – who tragically suffered a severe brain injury in 2013 – was hit with a five-second penalty after illegally passing frontrunner Damon Hill on the formation lap.Remarkably, he ignored the punishment and, after 21 laps, was served a black flag, which should have resulted in his disqualification – only to seemingly ignore that too.He finally served the time penalty on lap 27, eventually finishing second as confusion reigned.Princess Diana presented Hill with his award on the podium as Schumacher looked on.Most read in MotorsportHowever, shortly after, Michael was disqualified and banned for two races after being dragged to the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council.His protests that he had not seen the black flag did not go down well with officials.Greatest F1 track on Earth’ created featuring iconic parts from Silverstone, Spa and SuzukaVictory from the pitsSchumacher won in 1998 while not even on the trackCredit: AP:Associated PressIn 1998, Schumacher again came under intense scrutiny when he won the British Grand Prix… from the pit lane.It all started when he was judged to have illegally overtaken Alexander Wurz while the safety car had been deployed as he chased down race leader Mika Hakkinen.The German was given a 10-second penalty for the move, but Ferrari claimed to be confused by whether it would be added to their driver’s time or if he would need to come into the pits for a stop-and-go.Ultimately, Schumacher was called in by his team on the final lap, meaning that by the time he reached the team’s garage, he had already crossed the finish line, sparking fury among their rivals.It soon emerged that the bungling stewards had only announced the punishment with just two laps of the race left.Despite many expressing disappointment at how Schumacher won, the rules at the time were vague, meaning his victory stood.180mph smashLewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have had one of the most heated rivalries in Formula OneCredit: GettyThe pair collided at top speed, with Max having to go to the hospital to get checked outLewis Hamilton’s wild celebration did not go down well with everyoneCredit: PAWhen it comes to heated rivalries on the grid, very few come close to the intensity of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.In 2021, their feud came to a head when they collided in a 180mph clash at Copse Corner. It was the first time that year that a battle between the two would end in a collision.Max crashed heavily into the barriers and was taken to hospital for precautionary checks. Lewis was penalised with a 10-second penalty but still went on to win the race by passing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.He was later accused of “dirty driving by Red Bull’s Christian Horner as the debate about racing etiquette raged.Max also slammed Lewis’ behaviour on X, writing: “Watching the celebrations while still in hospital is disrespectful and unsportsmanlike behaviour, but we move on.”Spygate Nigel Stepney stole hundreds of pages of Ferrari data and passed them on to McLarenCredit: GettyTheir plan came to light when Mike Coughlan’s wife made photocopies of the documentsCredit: Sutton Motor Sport ImagesIn 2007, McLaren was hit with a huge $100million fine in one of the biggest controversies to come out of Formula 1.Dubbed Spygate, it centred around Nigel Stepney, who worked for Ferrari and his old friend, Mike Coughlan, who was the chief designer of McLaren.When Stepney felt like he had been unfairly shut out of a promotion, he stole almost 800 pages of confidential Ferrari data and passed them on to Coughlan. But their plan came crashing down when Coughlan’s wife tried to make copies of the documents at a shop in Woking.The photocopier, a Ferrari fan, became suspicious and alerted the team, who launched a bombshell legal case days ahead of the British Grand Prix in July.While McLaren was initially cleared of wrongdoing, a second investigation led to the record punishment. The scandal remains a huge stain on McLaren’s legacy.Protest on live trackJust Stop Oil protestors recklessly sat on the tracks while a race was underwayCredit: RexThe protestors were arrested and charged for their actionsCredit: RexIn 2022, a huge security lapse at Silverstone saw six environmental protestors storm the tracks and recklessly sit down while the race was ongoing.Luckily, the cars had slowed by the time they got to the protestors, due to a multi-car incident at Turn 1.After they were removed, all six Just Stop Oil protestors were arrested and charged with causing a public nuisance.At their trial, prosecutors said they risked “serious harm” to the drivers and the marshals who had to get them off the tracks. Although they were found guilty of the offence, they were spared jail and handed suspended sentences instead. Cringe snubCara Delevingne declined an interview with Martin Brundle on the gridCredit: Sky Sports F1The model was slammed on social media for snubbing F1 legend MartinCredit: Sky Sports F1Former racing driver turned commentator Martin Brundle is one of the most respected figures in Formula One. The Sky Sports presenter is known for interviewing team principals, drivers, and VIPs before the beginning of each race. But it seemed last year, model Cara Delevingne didn’t get the memo when she appeared to snub him as he approached her for an interview during the grid walk.Initially, a member of her team said she did not want to talk. Martin then responded with: “She doesn’t want to talk? But everybody needs to talk on the grid, that’s the deal now.”🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁 He then took matters into his own hands and asked her for a “quick chat”, to which she said: “No” and added that she couldn’t “hear anything”.As Martin walked away from Cara, he quipped: “Oh well, I’m sure it would have been extremely interesting.”Fans immediately took to social media to slam her over the incident, which went viral.One vented: “Terrible form. This is Martin Brundle’s gridwalk. Has been for eternity.”As the storm grew, Cara was forced to defend herself, telling one fan: “I was told to say no so I did. Thank you for seeing both sides xxx”X-rated displayA screen malfunction resulted in a very awkward sceneCredit: YouTubeIn 2015, fans in attendance were left in fits of laughter after the big screen malfunctioned and appeared to depict a lewd act. The screen showed two men in a jerking motion, with one man’s hand in front of the other. READ MORE SUN STORIESAs the up-and-down hand motions continued, fans could be heard laughing, with one shouting, “What’s he doing?”After a few more seconds, the two men disappeared from the screen as it went completely blank. More

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      Terrifying moment race car bursts into flame after rival smashes into it in 125mph horror crash as stewards flee

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      THIS is the terrifying moment a race car bursts into flame after a 125mph horror crash.The shocking incident, in which all three drivers involved walked away okay, occurred during the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa in Belgium on Saturday.Christian Hook and Nicolas Baert hit each other as they battled for positionThe incident left both cars stranded on the trackBut Christian Hook was unable to guide his car off the roadAnd Porsche driver Adrian D’Silva smashed into himThe shunt sent Hook’s car towards the wall and set the rear on fireThe car burst into flames but Hook miraculously walked away unharmedDuring the fourth hour of the race, Aston Martin driver Nicolas Baert and Ferrari’s Christian Hook made contact before they went to head up the Eau Rouge hill climb.The collision left both cars disabled, but while Baert was able to navigate his car on to grass by the side of the road, Hook was unable to do the same and was left stranded in the middle of the track.Race officials waved yellow flags to warn drivers about the stricken Ferrari in the middle of the track.Many drivers did not slow down but just about managed to dodge Hook.READ MORE IN MOTORSPORTHowever, possibly due to being unsighted by the cars ahead, Porsche driver Adrian D’Silva was unable to dodge the car and triggered a violent smash up at more than 125mph.The collision saw Hook’s car shoot off to towards the wall to the left before smashing into it and bursting into flames at the rear, which left stewards fleeing from the crash site.Fortunately, medical staff confirmed all three-drivers involved in the crashes were okay.The flames were quickly extinguished before Hook was extracted by the medical team.Most read in MotorsportD’Silva was able to exit his car unaided despite the entire front-right corner now missing.The debris from the incident saw race control bring the field under a safety car and drive down the pit lane while it was picked up, which took 20 minutes to complete.Sky Sports legend Martin Brundle’s marriage in crisis as he spends time apart from wife after they hit ‘rocky patch’All three cars involved retired from the race.Hook’s team-mate David Perel took to social media to update fans, saying: “Our car, #333, was involved in a massive crash. Luckily my team-mate is ok. “Incredible that he got out the car unhurt. Sad to be out of the race so early but man am I relieved Hook is fine. That was big.”D’Silva’s Earl Bomber Motorsport team announced: “Unfortunately it’s an early retirement for us in the 24 Hours of Spa.” The Australian racing outfit added: “Adrian is okay after an incident around the 4-hour mark.”The race will end at around 3:30pm UK time.Formula One will visit the Spa track at the end of July, with the race taking place on July 28.Hook’s team-mate said it was ‘incredible’ he emerged unhurtThe terrifying crash happened at a speed of more than 125pmh More

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      Mercedes hire private investigators to identify source of mystery emails claiming team are ‘SABOTAGING’ Lewis Hamilton

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      MERCEDES have reportedly hired private investigators to detect the source of anonymous messages that claimed Lewis Hamilton is being ‘sabotaged’.The 39-year-old is leaving the Silver Arrows at the end of the season after having confirmed he’d sign a two-year deal with F1 rivals Ferrari.Mercedes have hired private investigators to identify source of emails claiming team are sabotaging Lewis HamiltonCredit: RexIn a statement released today, meanwhile, Northamptonshire Police said no crime has been committed.But Mercedes have outsourced the matter to a firm that specialises in these kinds of private investigations, according to The Mail.A spokesperson told The Mail: “It is being dealt with externally.”This development comes after Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff stated last week that he would ‘go full force’ over the accusations.READ MORE F1 NEWSThe messages and email were sent to members of the Formula One community and Mercedes staff.And the email purported to be from a Mercedes team member.It was titled: ‘A potential death warrant for Lewis,’ and argued that the seven-time world champion was being endangered by being given cold tyres.This allegation was then repeated in the phone messages.Most read in MotorsportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe correspondence claimed that a ‘scorned’ Wolff was favouring his other driver George Russell after Hamilton announced his decision to switch to Ferrari.Ahead of last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, where Hamilton finished third, a place ahead of Russell, Wolff admitted he was unhappy with the allegations.Inside Lewis Hamilton’s £13m collection of supercars including £4m classic and £1.6m ride made entirely for himWolf said: “It is not from a member of the team. But it is upsetting, particularly when someone is talking about death.”I don’t know what some of the conspiracy theorists, lunatics, think out there.”A police spokesman said: ‘Northamptonshire Police received a report on June 12 regarding an email that had been circulated within the Mercedes AMG F1 team.”No criminal offences were found to have been committed. However, advice was given regarding any further emails the team may receive.”A Mercedes spokesman told The Mail that the team believe the email was sent by a random Hamilton fan.Inside track on Hamilton’s lifeLEWIS HAMILTON has driven his way into pole position as Formula One’s most prolific winner. More

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      F1 teen Ollie Bearman to join Haas in 2025 after epic breakthrough – but will earn pittance compared to Lewis Hamilton

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      BRITISH wonderkid Ollie Bearman will reportedly join Haas in 2025 but will earn a smidgen of Lewis Hamilton’s wages.Bearman, 19, stole the show in his F1 debut in the Saudi Grand Prix after finishing a respectable seventh on a difficult course.Oliver Bearman will join Haas next seasonCredit: YouTube / Sky Sports F1After impressing for Ferrari in the Saudi Grand Prix two months agoCredit: AFPThe then 18-year-old caught the public’s imagination after stepping in for Ferrari driver Carlos Saniz, who needed surgery for appendicitis in March.And now Bearman will become the fourth British driver on the grid, alongside Hamilton, George Russell and Lando Norris, according to The Mail.However he will earn significantly less than his compatriots. While Hamilton is paid £50million-plus by Mercedes, Bearman is expected to sign for between £250,000 and £300,000 at Haas.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSBearman currently competes in the FIA Formula Two and is a Formula One reserve and test driver for Ferrari and Haas.The Ferrari Driver Academy is paid nothing for competing in Formula Two, though the Italian team cover the cost of competition.His promotion to a full-time F1 seat was helped by his brilliant performance in Saudi Arabia, and departure of Nico Hulkenberg for Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber.Bearman showed a solid display in qualifying, narrowly missing out on a place in Q3 to Hamilton as he earned 11th on the grid.Most read in MotorsportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSBearman, however, would more crucially get the better of Hamilton in one race day in Jeddah.He managed to hold off the charge of two of Britain’s biggest stars in Norris and Hamilton in the closing stages to finish seventh in his maiden F1 race.Sergio Pérez thanks fans as he looks forward to Montreal race After the race, former world champion Damon Hill said: “A star is born.”Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu, who was alerted to Bearman’s quality by his performance in Saudi, has given the Chelmsford-born star eight practice sessions in their car this season.Bearman became the youngest British F1 driver in history and the third youngest overall.Three-time world champion Max Verstappen, who also earns £50m a year, is the youngest driver to ever start a race at just 17 years and 165 days.Lance Stroll is the second youngest driver to receive a call up at just 18 years and four months old, when he started for Williams in 2017. More

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      Premier League legend, 47, set to make £14MILLION by selling incredible rare Ferrari – double what he cost in transfers

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      FORMER Chelsea star Michael Ballack is set to sell his ultra-rare Ferrari for a whopping £14million.Ballack, 47, bought the car 16 years ago during his time at Stamford Bridge.Michael Ballack is set to sell his ultra-rare FerrariCredit: GettyHis Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider is worth up to £14mCredit: SWNSHe made the investment after forming a close friendship with Formula One legend Michael Schumacher, who drove for Ferrari at the time.The 250 GT SWB California Spider has a top speed of 145mph and boasts a 0-60mph time of 7.2 seconds.It is set to be auctioned for up to £14m – more than double Ballack’s total transfer fees.The ex-midfielder kicked off his career in 1995 and joined Kaiserslautern in a £60,000 transfer two years later.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe then joined Bayer Leverkusen in a £2.1m move before Bayern Munich snapped him up for £5.1m.Ballack joined Chelsea on a free transfer in 2006 and spent four years in west London.The former Germany international ended his career back at Leverkusen following another free move.His transfer fees totalled just over £7m.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSBallack spent four years with ChelseaCredit: EPABallack also made 98 appearances for Germany, scoring 42 goals.He is now looking to sell his beloved Ferrari at an auction in California.Ex-Chelsea and England wonderkid now unemployedAn RM Sotheby’s spokesperson said: “Not very often do you come across a car that checks all the boxes of what makes an automobile exceptionally collectable like this California Spider does.”As an icon amongst icons, it holds a unique place in Ferrari history as the very first 250 GT SWB California Spider ever built and holds remarkable provenance as Ferrari’s factory show car at the 1960 Geneva Motor Show.”Its current owner, German football star Michael Ballack, has cherished and maintained it for the past 16 years.”Ballack, at the peak of his career, developed a close friendship with fellow German athlete legendary Formula 1 Driver Michael Schumacher and through this friendship Ballack’s passion for driving and Ferrari as a brand deepened.”Not only for contemporary models, but also for the best examples of classic Ferraris.”Boehly’s record would make even Abramovich blush… we’re back to square one
      HERE we go again.
      Just when some positivity was building around the place and an optimistic eye was being cast to the future, Clearlake Capital go hurtling full pelt back to the drawing board, write SunSport’s Tom Sheen.
      Mauricio Pochettino leaving will make it six different managers in less than two years when next season rolls around, a record that would make Roman Abramovich blush.
      But while the oligarch was keeping Chelsea’s HR department busy by regularly handing out P45s, he was also regularly delivering world class players in the hope of delivering instant silverware.
      There was no ‘Vision 2030’, talk of players as financial assets or ridiculous eight-year contracts that potentially hamstring the club.
      Hiring and firing worked under the previous regime because Chelsea had a spine of world class talent that they were always looking to improve upon – not a group of players who look light years away from the top teams in the land.
      One thing is for sure, though. If Clearlake carry on down this road they’ll need a rebrand to Vision 2060.
      Click here to read Tom’s damning verdict in full… More

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      Red Bull make shock Sergio Perez decision days after F1 star suffered horror crash at Monaco Grand Prix

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      RED BULL have made a stunning U-turn by agreeing a new contract with Sergio Perez.The Mexican driver, 34, had an uncertain future at the Bulls due to his relative under performance to three-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen.Sergio Perez has signed a new Red Bull deal until 2026Credit: RexHowever, just one week after suffering a horror crash at the Monaco Grand Prix that cost the team “two or three million”, Perez – also known as Checo – has signed a new deal with the team to keep his seat until 2026.A statement on the team’s website said: “Oracle Red Bull Racing is pleased to announce that Checo has committed his future to the Team with a two-year extension to his existing contract.”The likes of Yuki Tsunoda and Carlos Sainz had been linked with taking the seat to partner Verstappen from 2025.But it seems Red Bull team bosses wanted a steady pair of hands as they navigate new waters from the 2026 regulation change.READ MORE IN F1Perez has won five races with the team and has 29 podium finishes with three pole positions, including the first by a Mexican F1 driver, and currently sits fifth in the driver standings this year.Team Principal and Red Bull CEO Christian Horner said on the move: “Now is an important time to confirm our line-up for 2025 and we are very pleased to continue working together with Checo. “Continuity and stability are important for the Team and both Checo and Max are a successful and robust partnership, securing our first ever one-two finish for the Team in the Championship last year. “Checo has had a strong start to 2024 with second places in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Japan and then his podium in China. Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”The past few races have been tough, there is convergence on the grid, but we are confident in Checo and look forward to his return to proven form and performance, that we so often see. “Last year was a unicorn season and we will need to work hard to retain our titles, but we are assured in our line up and with the Team as a whole, which is imperative in what is shaping up to be a close fought Championship this year.”Sergio Pérez thanks fans as he looks forward to Montreal race Perez added: “I am really happy to commit my future to this great Team, it is a challenge like no other racing for Oracle Red Bull Racing, both on track and off track. “I am delighted to be staying here to continue our journey together and contribute to this Team’s great history for two more years. “Being part of the Team is an immense challenge, and one I love. We have a great challenge this year and I have full trust in the whole Team that the future is bright here and I am excited to be part of it. “I want to thank everyone for all the trust they are putting in me, it is a lot and I want to pay it back with excellent results on track, and off track. Why do F1 cars come apart so dramatically in a crash?F1 safety has come a long way in it’s 74 year history.
      Indeed, a massive tell of this is the safety features of the cars in the modern era.
      One feature of this is the way the cars break apart in a high-speed crash much like crumple zones seen in road cars.
      F1 cars now break apart during severe collisions as a means of dissipating the kinetic energy away from the driver taken during the incident.
      The cars themselves are built around a monocoque – also known as a “survival cell” – with 2018 seeing the introduction of the halo prominently on top around the drivers head to boost this further.
      This safety cell is made from 6millimetre of exceedingly strong carbon fibre composite with a layer of kevlar, which is penetration resistant and can absorb a huge amount of energy in a crash.
      Meanwhile, the halo was a large reason as to why Romain Grosjean survived his horror crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2020.

      “I think we have a lot of work to do, we have a lot more Championships to win together.”Checo’s new deal means half of the available seats for the 2025 season have now been filled.While there were no driver changes between this season and last season, next year has already threw up a number of major driver transfers.Lewis Hamilton stunned the world of motorsport by announcing he was leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari and partner Monaco race winner Charles Leclerc next year.Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg announced he was leaving Haas last week to join Sauber, which may pave the way for Brit teen Ollie Bearman to come into F1.Asides from Red Bull, McLaren are the only team to have already confirmed they are sticking with the same driver line up in Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.Hamilton is replacing Carlos Sainz at Ferrari, and the Spaniard has been linked with a number of vacant seats on the grid, including Williams.Meanwhile, a separate incident at the Monaco GP saw Esteban Ocon lambasted by bosses at Alpine and has since led to the announcement that he will not carry on with the team next year.READ MORE SUN STORIESGeorge Russell (Mercedes), Alex Albon (Williams) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) are the only other drivers to have confirmed seats in F1 for 2025.The next race for F1 will get underway in Montreal, Canada – where Hamilton celebrated the first of his record-breaking 103 F1 race wins 17 years ago – on June 9.F1 2025 gridHere are the confirmed driver line ups for the F1 2025 season so far:
      Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez
      Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
      Mercedes: George Russell and TBC
      McLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
      Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso and TBC
      Williams: Alex Albon and TBC
      Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg and TBC
      Alpine: TBC x2
      RB: TBC x2
      Haas: TBC x2 More