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

    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

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    Michael Schumacher’s family awarded £170,000 damages over shocking AI-generated ‘interview with stricken F1 star’

    MICHAEL Schumacher’s family were paid £170,000 in compensation after a magazine published a fake AI-generated interview with the F1 racing legend.German publication Die Aktuelle claimed last April to have secured a “world exclusive” with the severely injured Ferrari great – who has not been seen in public since his 2013 skiing accident.Michael Schumacher’s family have been paid thousands in damages by a magazine after publishing a sick AI-generated interviewCredit: AlamyThe front cover claimed to have an exclusive interview with Michael SchumacherThe magazine mocked up Michael’s answers using an AI computer programmeThe F1 champion, pictured with wife Corinna, hasn’t been seen in public since his 2013 skiing injuryCredit: AFPIn a two-page spread, promoted with a picture of Schumacher, it claimed the seven-time F1 champ had said “My life has totally changed”.It promised it was not a story based on “half-sentences from friends” but it’s “the incredible interview” with the F1 star with “redeeming answers to the most burning questions that the whole world has been asking for so long.”The rest of the article was written in Q&A form, with an AI chatbot designed to mimic celebrities making up the answers Michael would supposedly give.The bot even spoke about the racing hero’s physical condition, family and future recovery prospects.Read more on SchumacherThe twisted article, titled “My life has completely changed,” started with: “The chance to talk to him once. To ask him how he’s really doing.”Die Aktuelle only admitted the quotes, which used graphic details to describe his injuries, were written by a chatbot in a note on the inside pages.On Tuesday, Germany’s Munich Labour Court revealed the magazine’s parent firm Funke Media had paid €200,000 (£170,000) in compensation to the Schumacher family after they threatened to launch legal action.Details of the settlement were revealed in a separate employment case brought by former Die Aktuelle editor Anne Hoffmann, who was sacked after deciding to print the story.Most read in MotorsportThe court ruled that her dismissal was not justified meaning the publication could also face paying her a settlement fee, German publication UberMedia reported.Representatives for Schumacher’s wife Corinna suggested the family would sue after the fake interview last year.Dad-of-two Michael, 55, spent six months in a medically induced coma following an off-piste skiing accident in Meribel, France, in December 2013.Little has been made public about his current health, with ex-Ferrari boss and close friend Jean Todt declaring: “He is no longer the Michael we knew in Formula 1.”Inside Michael Schumacher’s decade-long recovery from ‘desperately cruel’ ski crash as brother shares devastating updateSchumacher’s seven titles, in a 20-year F1 career, is a joint record with Brit great Sir Lewis Hamilton.His son Mick, 25, raced in F1 for two years and is currently a reserve driver for his dad’s former Mercedes team.Representatives for the Schumacher family and Funke Media were asked to comment.The shameless interview just goes to show how “poisoned” bots can be weaponised, an expert warned.DANGEROUS DIGITAL BOTSLisa Palmer, an AI analyst and expert, told The Sun Online just how dangerous the digital bots can be in these situations – and how they could be used in increasingly scary and dangerous ways.She warned content like fake AI generated interviews will only become more and more common as the technology developments and is misused by “rotten” actors.”Lawsuits are already pending for defamation due to ‘lies’ being perpetuated by generative AI tools like ChatGPT,” she told The Sun Online.Asked if it’s something we will be seeing more in the future she replied: “Yes, fakes in every form – written, voice, and video – are all exploding.”Palmer warned that following the shocking Schuey publication, bad actors seeking to grab viewership will be tempted to use the AI interview method more.She even related the nightmare situation to the severity of a chef selling rotten food to their customers.”A chef who serves rotten food is unethical and puts their customers’ health at risk,” she said.”Rotten food leads to personal illness. Rotten reporting leads to societal illness.”Palmer added: “Imagine if major news outlets ran a fabricated political story that caused an uprising among citizens? This type of unethical reporting is incredibly dangerous.”This is the worst possible combination of powerful technology in the hands of unethical people.READ MORE SUN STORIES”Now, imagine that these fake stories become training data for AI systems.”Newer versions of AI are now ‘poisoned’ with lies.”The twisted interview was supposed to be the first one since his skiing accidentSchuey’s family received the compensation after they threatened to launch legal actionCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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    Charles Leclerc warned not to ‘sign his own death warrant’ with huge Lewis Hamilton decision when he joins Ferrari

    CHARLES LECLERC has been warned against signing his “own death warrant” at Ferrari if he allows Lewis Hamilton to be the number one driver.Ferrari announced the shock transfer of the 39-year-old from Mercedes to the Scuderia for the 2025 Formula One season.Charles Leclerc has been warned to not let Lewis Hamilton be the main man at FerrariCredit: RexHamilton is joining the Scuderia from next seasonCredit: APFormer McLaren mechanic and Wheeler Dealers star Marc Priestley, right, spoke about their possible driver dynamicCredit: AlamyBut former McLaren mechanic and Wheeler Dealers star Marc “Elvis” Priestley has warned Ferrari favourite Leclerc, 26, to stand his ground when the seven-time world champion joins the team next year.Speaking to OLBG, Priestley said: “Leclerc can’t afford to let Hamilton come in and be the main man at Ferrari. “Leclerc is reasonably experienced now, he has a few years under his belt and is not a rookie. “If a driver accepts they’re going to be the second driver of the team, you sign your own death warrant and lose performance from that. READ MORE IN F1″Leclerc needs to come into the team next year, thinking he’ll be better than Hamilton.” Priestly, who was part of McLaren’s pit crew between 2000 and 2009 – meaning he saw Hamilton’s and Fernando Alonso’s less than ideal dynamic in 2007 – also explored how their relationship could develop over the season.He said: “F1 is a sport in which a huge part is technical with that car, but a huge part is the driver’s confidence in his own ability.”My experience from driving pairing, particularly new ones, is they will be best of friends in the beginning and have massive respect for each other. Most read in MotorsportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”But that can all change if Hamilton and Leclerc are competing for a title against each other.”Hamilton saw a title battle with best friend Nico Rosberg morph into a bitter and toxic exchange across three years together at the Silver Arrows between 2014 and 2016.Lewis Hamilton forced to apologise live on TV for huge blunder after causing mayhem at Miami Grand PrixPriestley admitted the Hamilton and Leclerc rivalry could end up being something similar. He added: “Could Charles Leclerc be the next Nico Rosberg when Lewis Hamilton joins Ferrari? You never know. “A good example of that was the ‘duel in the desert’ in 2014, they battled and swapped positions multiple times.Inside track on Hamilton’s lifeLEWIS HAMILTON has driven his way into pole position as Formula One’s most prolific winner.
    “They got out of their cars and joked about it, high-fived each other and said how great of a race it was. “But that didn’t continue for very long because there was a championship at stake, the guy who you’re hugging early in the season becomes your enemy.”Rosberg and Hamilton had great respect towards each other until they became rivals in a championship, and the same could happen with Leclerc.”Leclerc finished third at last weekend’s Miami GP as Lando Norris held off Max Verstappen for his first ever race win in F1.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe next race at Imola is the first of two Ferrari home races in Italy.Ferrari academy driver Oliver Bearman will be driving a Haas that weekend in Free Practice One.Leclerc vs Hamilton F1 career statsHere is how Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton compare in their F1 careers:
    Leclerc
    Race entries: 131 (129 starts)
    Wins: 5
    Podiums: 33
    Fastest laps: 9
    World Championships: 0
    Hamilton
    Race entries: 338 (all starts)
    Wins: 103 – F1 record
    Podiums: 197 – F1 record
    Fastest laps: 65 – 2nd in all time rankings
    World Championships: 7 – joint record More

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    F1 fans fume ‘destroy it’ as teen sensation Ollie Bearman spotted testing out possible new feature

    TEEN Formula One star Oliver Bearman was seen driving a Ferrari ahead of his return to the grid next week.However, fans were not impressed with a prototype Bearman was helping to test.Ollie Bearman was seen driving a Ferrari ahead of his return to the F1 grid in a week’s timeCredit: GettyBearman impressed on his F1 debut earlier this seasonCredit: YouTube / Sky Sports F1Bearman was helping to test a new prototype F1 featureCredit: GettyBearman, who turned 19 yesterday, was parachuted in as a last-minute substitute for Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as the Spaniard underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis.The fresh-faced Brit impressed on his F1 debut as he beat Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris – who won his first F1 race in Miami last weekend – to finish P7. Since then he has been driving back in F2 but will return to the F1 grid with Haas in Free Practice One of the Imola Grand Prix in Italy – the first of six opportunities he will get this season.But before that, Bearman and fellow Ferrari academy driver Arthur Leclerc – brother of Charles Leclerc – were seen driving around the Scuderia’s private Fiorano Circuit. READ MORE IN F1It was not simply a casual drive, however, with Ferrari being asked to test a prototype new spray guard feature on F1 tyres in collaboration with the FIA.F1 races with rain have been dogged by a massive spray back problem where the water on the wet surface is sent shooting high up into the air as cars drive over it, making it difficult for drivers behind to see. In an effort to curb this and allow for more extreme wet weather racing, motorsport bosses have been trying to design an antidote since 2022, with Mercedes performing a test of their own last year.One possible solution are so-called backsplashes, which were trialled on Leclerc’s F1-75 – Ferrari’s 2022 F1 car – around the artificially wet track, while Bearman drove the SF-24 – the team’s car for this season.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHowever, pictures of these flaps sitting over the tyres did not go down well with fans online.One said: “Oh dear.”Meet Oliver Bearman the Brit F1 star making debut with Ferrari who speaks with Italian twang and has famous brother A second shared a reaction gif with the caption: “Destroy it.”A third said: “Horrendous.”Some fans were willing to give them a chance if they work.One fan argued: “If it works, it has to look better when it’s implemented because my GOD that is disgusting.”A second added: “It looks terrible but if it works and we can race in torrential rain then it should be introduced.”A third said: “Doesn’t look nice, but the result is more important than the looks.”A second test is set to be carried out at the track tomorrow with a new wet weather package, according to Formu1a Uno.Elsewhere, Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has revealed what Bearman needs to do to get a seat in F1 next season after current Haas star Nico Hulkenberg confirmed his exit to Sauber for 2025.He said: “It is a combination; he needs to perform in F2, for sure.”But when we work with him directly, you understand all the ins and outs, all the environment or the reasoning for certain things happening.READ MORE SUN STORIES”So yeah, I’d put probably more weight on what we do with him, how he performs in our environment. But of course he needs to perform in F2. That’s clear…”We’ve got six [FP1] sessions lined up for him, so we will see the first of that in Imola. We are really looking forward to see how we can develop him and how well we can work together.
    “I’ve said it many times before, he is very impressive… I have nothing to complain [about]. It’s a very good package [Haas and Bearman].” 
    A second test is set to be carried out tomorrowCredit: GettyBut fans were not impressed by the look of the prototypeCredit: GettyHaas boss Ayao Komatsu has told Bearman how he can earn an F1 seat next seasonCredit: AFP🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

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    Watch Lewis Hamilton ‘arrive like a BULL’ and ‘ruin’ F1 rivals’ race as he immediately causes chaos at Miami GP

    FERNANDO ALONSO has blasted Lewis Hamilton – saying the Brit escaped a penalty in Saturday’s sprint race “because he is not Spanish”.Alonso said Hamilton “arrived like a bull” and then “ruined” other drivers’ races after they collided at the opening corner during the short sprint race at the Miami GP.Lewis Hamilton divebombed his car up the inside of turn oneCredit: SplashUnable to stop his momentum, the move saw Hamilton collide with Fernando AlonsoAlonso then ended up hitting Lance Stroll and then Lando Norris, ending their racesCredit: SplashHamilton escaped a penalty for the incidentAlonso picked up a puncture in his Aston Martin while his teammate Lance Stroll suffered damage and McLaren’s Lando Norris was punted out of the race completely after Hamilton’s aggressive start caused chaos.The stewards noted the incident but Hamilton escaped without punishment, although he finished eighth and later demoted to 16th due to a post-race penalty for speeding in the pitlane.Alonso, who had a bust-up with Hamilton when they were teammates at McLaren in 2008, said: “Lewis was on the inside, a little bit out of control, but I guess they won’t decide anything, because he is not Spanish.”But he ruined the race for a few people, especially Norris, who had a very fast car and he was out in that incident.”READ MORE IN F1Hamilton went on to have a ding-dong battle with Kevin Magnussen before being hit with a drive-through penalty for going too fast in the pitlane, triggering a sanction of 20 seconds that was bolted on to his time.Hamilton was in the wars after fighting with the Haas’ driver, who admitted to using “silly tactics” to keep Hamilton behind him.But his own error in the pitlane – when all the cars were told to drive through the pitlane due to a first lap incident – cost him and he was demoted from eighth to 16th.Hamilton said: “I feel OK. It’s obviously tough battling out there. Of course turn one wasn’t intentional, to be touching with anyone, but everyone’s pushing as much as possible.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe turn one collision left Alonso fumingCredit: RexLater Hamilton was in the wars trying to get past Kevin MagnussenCredit: Getty”I went for a gap but I think those guys went wide and then came back across, so that’s kind of where we connected.”And then after that was just fighting, trying to get past those Haas cars.Lewis Hamilton reveals why he turned down Top Gun 2 role despite begging Tom Cruise for a part in movie “It was really tough battling, but I just enjoyed that I was racing. I wasn’t going backwards at least!”But the penalty, definitely it sucks, but it was only worth one point.”Magnussen racked up a whopping 35 seconds in penalties and will get a ticking off from the stewards as a result.He said: “All the penalties were well deserved – no doubt about it. But I had to play the game again.”I was protecting well from Lewis because I had the DRS from Nico [Hulkenberg] and I had good pace.”I started using these stupid tactics which I don’t like doing, but the end of the day I did my job as a team player and Nico scored his points because I got that gap for him so Lewis and [Yuki] Tsunoda couldn’t catch him.Inside track on Hamilton’s lifeLEWIS HAMILTON has driven his way into pole position as Formula One’s most prolific winner.
    “Not the way I like to go racing at all but it was what I had to do today.”Meanwhile, Max Verstappen won the sprint race and will start on pole position for today’s (SUN) Miami Grand Prix.Verstappen has now taken all six pole positions this season and has a 27 point lead in the championship.He said: “It definitely feels a little bit more under control, which I was looking for. Hopefully that helps us out tomorrow.”We know what we, and I, did wrong at the start [in the Sprint]. I’m sure if I do my things correctly, then it should be alright.”READ MORE SUN STORIESCharles Leclerc will line up in second while Carlos Sainz will start third for the Ferrari team. Sergio Perez qualified in fourth ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris.Hamilton again was out-qualified by his Mercedes teammate George Russell with the Merc duo in seventh and eighth place respectively.”I think that’s pretty honest of him and I think that’s pretty cool.” 🤝Lewis Hamilton on Kevin Magnussen’s aggressive defensive driving and admission he had to do it for the good of his Haas team’s result. pic.twitter.com/ba7uyDxA17— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) May 4, 2024

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    Why Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is hunting for Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes replacement

    MANCHESTER UNITED minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe has joined the search for Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes replacement.Seven-time Formula One world champion Hamilton is leaving the team to join Ferrari next season.Man Utd minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is helping Mercedes hunt for their Lewis Hamilton replacementCredit: GettyLewis Hamilton is leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari next seasonCredit: GettyMercedes have struggled to produce a car capable of winning races in the last two seasons, with their struggles this year making it look like it could be a third year on the bounce that Hamilton is unable to take a win.However, the Silver Arrows are looking to take advantage of the chaos surrounding Red Bull by poaching star driver Max Verstappen.SunSport reported earlier this week that the team were preparing to hold a meeting with Verstappen’s team; father Jos and manager Raymond Vermeulen after the Miami Grand Prix.That meeting will include team boss Toto Wolff, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius, and Ineos and Man Utd shareholder, Ratcliffe.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLRatcliffe’s Ineos became a one-third shareholder in the F1 team back in 2020 while retaining its position as the teams principal partner.Verstappen’s camp are assessing their options following a fallout with Red Bull boss Christian Horner, with Jos warning Horner’s leadership was tearing the team apart.Inside track on Hamilton’s lifeLEWIS HAMILTON has driven his way into pole position as Formula One’s most prolific winner.
    The three-time world champion has a contract until 2028 on £40million-a-year.It means Mercedes could be forced to stump up compensation for Verstappen, who is on course to win his fourth straight title this season.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHorner’s position at the team has grown more precarious after Ferrari-linked Adrian Newey announced he was leaving the team earlier this week.Mercedes look set to offer the Dutchman a whopping £128MILLION-a-year deal to convince him of the switch.Lewis Hamilton races around Tokyo in £260k supercar in incredible video as fans say F1 legend ‘dropped another classic’At Man Utd, Ineos have a 27.7 per cent share of the club but have almost complete control over the sporting operations of the team.This has led to some major changes already, with Omar Berrada starting as CEO in July, Dan Ashworth coming in as football director and Jason Wilcox already starting a role as technical director.WHO COULD REPLACE HAMILTON AT MERCEDES? Mercedes will have a vacant seat for 2025.
    Here, SunSport’s F1 correspondent Ben Hunt looks at FIVE potential candidates who could replace him and partner George Russell in the Silver Arrows.
    Oscar Piastri – McLaren have sewn up Lando Norris to a new long-term contract that should (in theory) put him out of Mercedes’ reach. However, they are yet to tie down his teammate Piastri, 22. The Aussie has an excellent record and won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles before spending a year on the sidelines with Alpine and getting his chance in F1 with McLaren. He impressed on his debut season last year and has the potential to be a world champion.
    Daniel Ricciardo – The experienced driver’s future remains in doubt as he bides his time at Red Bull’s B-team. Ricciardo would be low-hassle and offer some stability but by that time he would be 35. It seems unlikely that they would opt for him at this point in his career, but if he has a good season this year, he could come into the reckoning.
    Kimi Antonelli – You may not have heard of the Italian, but he is mustard. Still only 17, he has won at all the junior categories and has been part of the Mercedes young driver programme since 2019. This season he has been promoted from F4 to F2, where he has been tipped to shine. A good debut season in F2 could sway Mercedes into taking a risk on him for 2025. Antonelli and his family are close to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
    Mick Schumacher – Wolff has always been so incredibly supportive of Schumacher and spoken highly of him, that you’d at least expect him to come into consideration. He knows the team from his role as reserve driver and consequently would get up to speed. But speed is also the problem. He was shocking at Haas and if he really was THAT good, he’d still be driving in F1.
    Alex Albon – A more-sensible choice would be the London-born Albon. A great guy who is also very quick. He has a fantastic relationship with Russell and would be the low-maintenance quick partnership similar to Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas that swept to successive titles. Albon would take little convincing to join from Williams and Mercedes would not need to pay him half of the £50million they were dishing out to Hamilton.

    Last November, Wolff revealed he had held talks with Ratcliffe about joining his bid investing into Man Utd.The Hamilton replacement hunt comes with a huge summer ahead for Man Utd as well, with all-bar a few select players said to be up for sale.A decision will also need to be made on Erik ten Hag’s future as manager of the men’s senior team.But more recently he has made no secret of Mercedes’ desire to land Verstappen as their Hamilton replacement.Verstappen won the weekend’s Sprint Race and is aiming for his fourth full race win of the season on Sunday.Ratcliffe will have a number of big decisions to approve at Man Utd this summerCredit: ReutersMax Verstappen’s team will hold a meeting with Ratcliffe and other Mercedes chiefs after the Miami GPCredit: RexPundits verdict on Ten Hag’s futureWhere do the pundits stand on Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United future
    Jamie Carragher – Sacked
    “I don’t see how Erik ten Hag stays. It’s just performance after performance.”
    Gary Neville – Stay if he wins the FA Cup
    “To sack a manager who’s won two trophies in his first two seasons at the club I think would be extreme.”
    Louis Saha – On the fence
    “I don’t see it as clearly but they need changes from the players but they need changes from him as well.”
    Alan Shearer – Sacked
    “I believe the future of the Man Utd manager is already determined. Even if they win the FA Cup I think he’s gone.”

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    Lewis Hamilton tells Adrian Newey to join him at Ferrari as he rubs salt in the wounds of F1 rival Verstappen & Red Bull

    LEWIS HAMILTON says he would “very much” like to have Adrian Newey join him at Ferrari.Newey, F1’s most successful designer, announced he was leaving Red Bull Racing on Wednesday.Lewis Hamilton said it would be a privilege to work with Adrian Newey at FerrariCredit: RexNewey announced his Red Bull departure yesterday and has been heavily linked with FerrariCredit: PAThe 65-year-old has negotiated an early exit from this deal with the world champions that would allow him to move early next year.It would free him up to join Hamilton at Ferrari for next season in preparation for a major new rule change in F1 in 2026.Hamilton was quizzed ahead of this weekend’s Miami GP about working with Newey and said: “Adrian has such a great history and track record.”He’s done an amazing job through his career, engaging with teams and the knowledge he has. I think he would be an amazing addition.READ MORE IN F1″I think they [Ferrari] already have a great team, making huge strides forward and progress. Their car is quicker this year. But it would be a privilege to work with him.”Hamilton was grilled if an attempt to sign Newey was part of his wishlist when he started negotiating with Ferrari.He added: “This is all private conversation stuff. If I was to do a list of people I would love to work with, he would absolutely be at the top of it.”When I joined McLaren I think it was an evolution of his car. I got there just after he left, so that car would have evolved from a concept that he had worked on.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”I felt privileged that I had the chance to touch something that he had worked on.”Racing against the team that he’s been so heavily a part of has been a massive challenge but I think we have to remember there are a lot of people in the background.Formula One’s Highest Earners”It’s not one person, it’s a whole team of people who do the job. You can imagine all the amazing experience that he brings to the team, but the people that he works with will continue to do an amazing job.”I don’t anticipate Red Bull not continuing to build great cars moving forward. But any team would be fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him.”Max Verstappen, who has been the main beneficiary of Newey’s designs in recent seasons, insisted the designer’s exit will not force him to quit Red Bull despite being linked with a move to Mercedes.He said: “All of these things, a couple of years ago, would have been a bit unexpected but I think it is always very important to remain calm and focused on your job, know who you’re working with, feel comfortable.Max Verstappen also opened up on his Red Bull future following Newey’s exitCredit: Reuters”At the end of the day, we need to have the fastest car, that’s what I always demanded, that’s what we finally got for a couple of years now.”And we have a very strong technical team that are part of the team still for a long time. It goes on like it was going before.”Of course Adrian from when he started at Red Bull, he was incredibly important for the success that they had.”Over time, his role has changed a bit and a lot of people don’t understand what he was actually doing.Who is Adrian Newey?
    Adrian Newey was the design chief at Red Bull Racing.
    The 65-year-old has played a crucial role in designing the cars that have helped Sebastian Vettel and Max Vertappen win SEVEN drivers’ world championships.
    Newey began designing in Formula One back in 1988 with March, where his cars were far more competitive than expected.
    After March he spent time with Williams and McLaren before joining Red Bull in 2005.
    Throughout his career he has contributed to the cars that have secured 12 World Constructors’ titles and 13 World Drivers’ championships.
    He is widely considered to be the greatest designer in the history of F1.

    “I don’t say he wasn’t doing anything but his role has evolved. A lot of good people came into the team that have strengthened that whole department.”Of course I would have preferred him to stay, for sure, because you can always rely on his experience and just as a person he is a great guy to chat to and relate to.”Because he is very bright, very smart but he would also talk to the driver and interpret that into the car, in terms of he would try to imagine himself driving.”But I also really trust that the technical team we have outside of Adrian is very, very strong. They have basically shown that with the last few years with how competitive the car is.But any team would be fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him.Lewis Hamilton”From the outside, it looks very dramatic. But I think if you know what is happening inside the team it is not as dramatic as it seems.”When asked again if he would consider his position in Red Bull, Verstappen again denied that he would be seeking a move.He added: “I think people are making up a lot of things at the moment because they don’t understand how the roles were in the team.”But of course, I cannot deny I would have preferred him to stay, just for how he is as a person, his knowledge and what he will potentially bring to another team if he wants to join.Inside track on Hamilton’s lifeLEWIS HAMILTON has driven his way into pole position as Formula One’s most prolific winner.
    “If someone really wants to leave they should leave. That’s also what I wrote to him. We talk, it’s not like suddenly we don’t talk.”If you think that is the right decision for yourself and family, or you seek a different challenge or whatever, you have to do it.”Meanwhile, Sergio Perez says Red Bull will cope without Newey, but says he will be an asset to any team he joins.He said: “Everyone is fully committed to the season and the future looks bright.READ MORE SUN STORIES”It is normal for some movement, but the organisation looks strong and I don’t expect more changes.”Adrian is much more than a designer, he can influence set-up and strategies and a strong guy who will make an immediate impact wherever he goes.”🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

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    Ferrari to DITCH iconic red livery for their F1 cars at Miami GP for ‘fresh and unexpected colours’

    FERRARI will embrace a new look and ditch their iconic red for the Miami Grand Prix next month in favour of some “fresh and unexpected colours”.The Prancing Horse cars will instead be adorned with the colour blue to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Ferrari making their mark in North America.Ferrari will ditch their red livery for the Miami Grand Prix in MayCredit: RexThe red livery won’t be gone forever though with the change just a one-off in celebration of the milestone.The design change will see two different shades of blue used on the vehicles with Azzurro La Plata and Azzurro Dino taking the place of the traditional Rosso Corsa that can be found on the cars.The Scuderia have carefully picked the two colours to represent their history with meaning behind the specific shades.Azzuro La Plata is a lighter blue which is said to hark back to the colour worn by legendary driver Alberto Ascari during his 1952 and 1953 world Formula One titles for Ferrari.READ MORE IN F1While Azzurro Dino is a darker blue which is said to be a nod to the colours first worn by Ferrari in 1974 when five-time Grand Prix winner Clay Rega donned the shade before the team returned to their iconic red.The dual colour livery will be plastered all over the SF-24 car when Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz take to the track in Miami on May 5.While the pair, currently third and fourth in the driver’s standings, will also wear light blue racing suits as they lap round the Miami International Autodrome.There is yet to be an official announcement of a launch date for the car’s unveiling but it is set to be revealed in the build-up to the Florida race.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFerrari have also teased a collection of merchandise to go with the shake up in an Instagram post featuring both Leclerc and Sainz sporting the colours.The Scuderia switched things up with a red and white livery at the Las Vegas GP last season too.The Sun’s Ben Hunt reveals his five greatest Formula One Drivers Ever – with Michael Schumacher in between two BritsBut this will be the first time they have ditched the red altogether since 1964, when it was replaced by a white and blue livery for the final two rounds of the championship.Ferrari have previously used blue on their carsCredit: Getty🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More