Ferrari

LEWIS HAMILTON has hit back at those who have criticised his move to Ferrari and says people will always “continue to talk s***”.Hamilton, 39, has decided to end his contract with Mercedes early to join Ferrari for next season.Lewis Hamilton has defended his decision to join Ferrari next seasonCredit: GettyThe blockbuster switch has sparked a huge reaction within the sport, but the seven-time world champion says he doesn’t need to prove to people why he made his decision. Hamilton, who has made a slow start to the season as Mercedes continue to struggle, was quizzed ahead of this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix about the move. He said: “I don’t feel like I need my decision vindicating. I know what was right for me, and that hasn’t changed since the moment that I made the decision. “There has not been a moment where I questioned it, and I’m not swayed by other people’s comments.READ MORE IN F1″Even today, there’s people continuing to talk s*** and it will continue on for the rest of the year. And I’ll have to just do what I did the previous time.”Only you can know what’s right for you and it will be an exciting time for me.”Hamilton will be 40 when he makes his Ferrari debut in the opening race in Melbourne next season.But he says age is not a barrier as Fernando Alonso has signed a new deal with Aston Martin until 2026 that will take him past his 45th birthday.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHamilton has pointed to Fernando Alonso as an example of the longevity his career can haveCredit: GettyHamilton added: “I am not the oldest driver here. I am going to be racing for quite some time still so it is good [Alonso] is still around.”Fernando is one of the best drivers we’ve had in the sport so for him to continue to be here and continue to have the output he’s had just shows what is possible.Lewis Hamilton storms out of interview after Japanese Grand Prix as F1 legend slams journalist’s question”And shows the new era of an athlete, what the human body can do and continue to do if you nurture it.”I never thought I would be racing into my 40s. I’m pretty sure I said I wouldn’t. But life is such a crazy trip. I don’t feel 40. I generally feel great.”Meanwhile, F1 drivers have questioned whether the Chinese GP bosses were right to paint the track surface with bitumen.The hard-wearing oily substance has been used on the track, which will host its first race in five years, much to the surprise of the teams and tyre suppliers, Pirelli.”It looks like they painted the track or they’ve done something to the surface,” said Daniel Ricciardo, who won the race in 2018.”Apparently, they’ve just painted it or something, so I don’t know how the track is going to change; if it’s going to be the same or super slippery.”Maybe that changes the way the tyres behave,” he added, “so it could also open up some things for overtaking or strategies.”Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc added: “It depends a lot on the type of paint they used. That could cause different issues or have no issues at all. I hope it’s the latter that will be the case.READ MORE SUN STORIES”For now, it’s very difficult to predict. I have only seen pictures, I haven’t gone around the track yet. I don’t think it’s the same everywhere, which might not be great.”Before adding further comments, I think we just have to drive and see how it feels.”Daniel Ricciardo is one driver who has voiced his concern over the paint on the Shanghai International CircuitCredit: GettyCharles Leclerc has also spoken about the unusual trackCredit: Reuters More

LEWIS HAMILTON has been brutally told he is “past his prime” by former F1 driver Michael Bleekemolen. At 74 years old the Dutchman still competes in the NASCAR Whelan Euro Series.Lewis Hamilton has been brutally told he is ‘past his prime’Credit: SplashHamilton has endured a miserable start to his final season as a Mercedes driver currently in P9 going into the Chinese Grand Prix.The 39-year-old’s rocky start to the season has sparked doubts about his upcoming transfer to Ferrari.Especially with Carlos Sainz’s impressive performances including two third-place finishes and a Grand Prix win in just three races.And Bleekemolen expressed doubt about the mentality of the seven-time world champion and does not think he will be able to compete for a World Championship with Ferrari.READ MORE ON F1Giving his verdict on Hamilton’s 2024 season to RacingNews365, Bleekemolen said: “It’s all coming together just a little bit badly. I think he’s had his best time a bit. “It’s not right between his ears either. I don’t see much good in him anymore.”Asked if the move to Ferrari will help Hamilton return to the podium Bleekemolen continued: “Maybe he’ll end up in the top two, three again, that could just happen. “It’s not going to be easy, but it would be nice. I just don’t think it’s going to happen.”Most read in MotorsportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERThe veteran racer ruled out any hopes of an eighth World Championship for Hamilton saying “no” when asked if the British driver will move ahead of Michael Schumacher in the record books.Bleekemolen who made one Grand Prix start for ATS Racing in 1978 struggled to predict what life would be like when Hamilton made a move to Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton ‘in advanced talks’ to join Ferrari as shock clause in Mercedes star’s contract emergesThe seven-time World Champ is set to join forces with Charles Leclerc at Maranello, one of the top qualifiers in recent F1 history and a five-time Grand Prix winner.He added: “​​Who will be number one? You often see over the course of a few races. “At the moment, Sainz is also sort of number one. It’s hard to estimate, but everyone fights for themselves in the end.“It’s the same within such a team. And they really do understand, that when you start winning races or consistently finish on the podium.”You always have an advantage over someone who only finishes fourth, fifth, sixth.”Inside track on Hamilton’s lifeLEWIS HAMILTON has driven his way into pole position as Formula One’s most prolific winner. More

FORMULA ONE bosses have unveiled their calendar for the 2025 season – confirming the Australian GP at Melbourne will return as the opening race.This year’s race in Melbourne attracted a total attendance of 452,055 over the four days but it was third in the schedule behind the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs.Lewis Hamilton’s first Ferrari race will be at the Australian GPCredit: RexIt means Lewis Hamilton will kick off his season with Ferrari at one of the tracks where he has struggled in the past.The seven-time world champion has won just twice at Albert Park during his F1 career.The 2025 season will mark the 75th anniversary of the FIA Formula One World Championship and will contain 24 races, kicking off in Australia on March 16th.Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: “[Next year] will be a special year as we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the FIA Formula One World Championship, and it’s that legacy and experience that allows us to deliver such a strong calendar.READ MORE IN F1″Once again, we’ll visit 24 incredible venues around the world, delivering top class racing, hospitality, and entertainment, which will be enjoyed by millions of fans worldwide.”We’re grateful to the FIA, our promoters, host city partners, and all the related ASNs for their commitment and support in delivering this schedule and securing what promises to be another fantastic year for F1.”I would also like to pay tribute to our F1 teams and drivers, the heroes of our sport, and our fans around the world for continuing to follow F1 with such incredible enthusiasm.”The Australian GP will come back-to-back with a race in China before a week break. There is then a gruelling triple-header taking in Japan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe British Grand Prix will be held at Silverstone on July 6th while the season will finish in Abu Dhabi on December 7th.The race at the Yas Marina Circuit is the final race in another triple header that will see teams hauled from Las Vegas to Qatar and then on to Abu Dhabi.Greatest F1 track on Earth’ created featuring iconic parts from Silverstone, Spa and SuzukaF1 says the calendar will have “a better geographical flow of races” helping team’s lower the cost of logistics and the environmental impact.Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, added: “The 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar, approved by the World Motor Sport Council, is a further illustration of our collective mission of meeting sustainability objectives through the regionalisation of events.”While our focus is on the overall stability of Formula 1, we also have a shared duty to the environment and to the health and well-being of travelling staff.”Formula One Management, under the direction of Stefano Domenicali, have produced a calendar which strikes a good blend of traditional circuits and modern venues.”We thank the host ASNs, the local organisers and the many thousands of FIA volunteers for their tireless efforts in making Formula 1 a truly global, mass audience spectacle as we prepare to celebrate the sport’s 75th year.” More

TOTO WOLFF has dropped his biggest hint yet as to who will replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.It was revealed in February that Hamilton would be joining Ferrari in a shock move worth £100million.Wolff has dropped the biggest hint yet as to who will replace Lewis HamiltonCredit: RexIt ended an 11 year association between Hamilton and Mercedes which began in 2013.All eyes have been on who Mercedes will announce as Hamilton’s replacement with Carlos Sainz being the current favourite to take his place in an informal swap deal.Max Verstappen would also be in demand should he leave Red Bull amid the fallout of Christian Horner’s scandal.The rumour mill was also sent into overdrive after Wolff was pictured having breakfast with Fernando Alonso’s boss Flavio Briatore in February.READ MORE ON F1But Wolff has surprisingly named 17-year-old F2 driver Kimi Antonelli as the person in the “strongest position” to take over at Mercedes.Wolff told F1TV: “[Antonelli] is definitely a very strong contender. I want to see how his F2 season develops, but we will wait and see what happens with some of the other drivers in F1. I don’t doubt his raw speed, talent and ability.”We wouldn’t have supported him from go-karting until now if we didn’t believe that he has the potential to go into F1 and do so with Mercedes. Many young drivers have shown in the past that you can do that step.”My feeling at the moment is that I don’t want to rush [the decision], because Kimi is part of the ideas for next year and is very much in the strongest position, and that’s why we don’t need to rush into any other decision.Most read in MotorsportWolff has identified 17-year-old Kimi Antonelli as a potential Mercedes driverCredit: GettyCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”Obviously, some of the other top drivers are going to make a decision on what to do soon, but there’s a feeling that points me in a direction not to take the decision too quickly.”Wolff talking up the prospect of Antonelli joining suggests that a driver coming in would play second fiddle to George Russell but that could change.The richest Wags in F1 revealed with some earning thousands from InstagramAntonelli races for Formula 2 team Prema and competes with Ferrari’s own wonderkid Oliver Bearman.Wolff confirmed Mercedes would allow Antonelli to get some experience with a Formula One car later this month, saying: “We want to give him the feeling of what a really good car looks like. And then we are going to put him in the 2022 car to see what the difference is.”I’m really keen and happy to see [Antonelli] in a F1 car. He’s been with us since he was 11.”I have a picture of him standing next to me on the centre console as a baby boy in go karting and now to witness that development into a F1 driver is something that I’m really proud of.”Antonelli will undergo a two-day test on April 16 and 17 and will be desperate to boss Mercedes bosses. More

FERRARI chief Fred Vasseur shut down a reporter’s question about Lewis Hamilton following the Japanese Grand Prix.Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc earned the Scuderia third and fourth place at the Suzuka Circuit on Sunday.Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of the seasonCredit: GettyFerrari chief Fred Vasseur dismissed a question about Hamilton and Carlos SainzCredit: AlamyHamilton, 39, will replace Sainz at the end of the season as the seven-time champion makes the switch from Mercedes.That is despite Sainz enjoying his best start to an F1 season, winning in Australia and earning two more podiums.And Ferrari team principal Vasseur, 55, was quizzed again at the weekend about the decision to get rid of the Spaniard for Hamilton. However, he was quick to dismiss the question as he simply said: “We have the same question each weekend.READ MORE IN F1″Do a copy paste of my reply of last week. Next one.”Hamilton has endured a torrid start to his final season with Mercedes, finishing ninth in Japan to take his points total to just 10 after four races.Following another disappointing showing, one reporter asked whether the Brit is jealous of Ferrari as they clearly have a quicker car.To which he replied: “Do you have any better questions?”Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁 Hamilton then walked off without taking any further questions, but did discuss his car’s performance in another interview.He said: “The car is never what I hoped it would be. It’s never what we hoped it would be.My brother Lewis Hamilton was earning £24m a year while I sat crying in filthy room eating pot noodles as gambling debts forced me to flog Mercedes he gave me”I got some damage I think in the first stint at the restart with Charles [Leclerc] and I had massive understeer, like huge, huge understeer. “So that’s why I decided to let George [Russell] by, because he seemed quicker and I just couldn’t turn the car.”It took us two stints to finally dial more and more wing in to make up for that loss. Last stint, I was better, but it was too late, I had 10 seconds to regain.”Hamilton’s Mercedes colleague George Russell finished seventh in Japan and now has a 14-point lead over his team-mate. Next up is the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 21.Sainz has secured three podiums in four races so far this seasonCredit: Splash More

LEWIS HAMILTON has backed Sebastian Vettel to replace him at Mercedes when he quits for Ferrari next season.The seven time world champion has decided to jump ship to get the best chance of winning a record eighth world title.Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025Credit: RexHamilton has backed Sebastian Vettel to succeed him at MercedesCredit: GettyAnd that leaves a spot at Mercedes, where Vettel has emerged as a shock candidate to drive alongside George Russell.Vettel, 36, retired at the end of the 2022 season, but is considering a comeback and has spoken with Merc boss Toto Wolff, with Hamilton thinking it is a great idea.Speaking ahead of this week’s Japanese GP, Hamilton said: “I would love for Seb to come back. I think it would be an amazing option for the team.”German driver, multiple world championship-winning driver and someone who has got amazing values to help take this team forward.”READ MORE IN F1However, Hamilton – who said he had given “zero” thought as to his replacement, reckons Mercedes should opt for a younger driver.He added: “The only thing I really care about is that the team takes on someone with integrity and that is aligned with the team and where the team’s going.”Someone compassionate that’s able to work with great people and continues to lift them up. There’s so many great people in this team.”And as drivers, there are some that are more selfish than others, there are some that are good drivers but perhaps not the best within the team environment.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”I don’t know because I’ve not been in with all of them. But I hope they find someone great.”They’ve already got George and he’s perfect so finding a good option alongside him I’m sure they’ve got so many good options.Formula One legend Sebastian Vettel says it would ‘depend on the package’ and ‘the car’ for him get behind the wheel again “They’ve got so many options. I do think it’s always great to give an opportunity to up and coming drivers so the idea of a youngster coming in for me is exciting.”Russell was also quizzed about Vettel’s return and added: “His personality is missed on the grid and I think it’s important we have the best 20 drivers in the world competing for race wins and championships.”I’m really open and happy to have anyone as my teammate, whether it’s a world champion or a rookie.”Meanwhile, Hamilton, who by his own admission has made his worst start to a season, says he will soon start negotiating with Ferrari about their plans for 2025.First though he has to clear it with Merc boss Wolff and until then says he is committed to helping turn the team around.🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁 He said: “At some stage I will have to start the conversation with Toto. I’ve never been in this position at this time of the year.”When I was leaving McLaren it was towards the end of the season. I had my first seat fit [at Mercedes] after the season was done.”I’m not quite sure how to navigate it but right now I want to finish on a high here so all my energy is going into this. Of course there’s excitement for the future.READ MORE SUN STORIES”Right now we’re going through a difficult phase, that’s my challenge and where all my energy is going to try and figure out how we can get ourselves back to the top.”I’m a competitor first and foremost so I want to win. Thinking about next year is not going to help me do that.”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. More