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    Meet the Brit drivers of Formula E from Schumacher apprentice and AFC Wimbledon player to die-hard Aston Villa fan

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    OLIVER ROWLAND is the Barnsley-born racing driver lighting up Formula E with a win Tokyo to extend his championship lead. Meanwhile fellow Brit Dan Ticktum bagged his first ever podium with a third-place finish in the Japanese capital. Oliver Rowland is 77 points clear in the drivers’ standingsDan Ticktum has found his home in Formula E after spending time in Williams’ and Red Bull’s academiesFormula E is a motor sport championship for electric cars, and is the only-sport certified net zero event. The championship features 16 races across 10 world cities, and became the first global sport to be certified with a net zero carbon footprint back in 2020.There are six British drivers in total in the series from one nearly making it with AFC Wimbledon, to a die-hard Aston Villa fan – SunSport gives you the low down. OLIVER ROWLAND Rowland is not wrong when says he likes to “do his talking on the track” with the 32-year-old storming towards the title this season. He is leading the championship on a whopping 161 points, 77 points above second-place Antonio Felix Da Costa. Away from the track, the Nissan driver is quiet and reserved, favouring toasting his numerous wins with a “few beers” with his close circle. He is a devoted dad to his daughter Harper who is often seen in the Nissan garage or on his lap when conducting interviews. In April 2017 Rowland was signed to the role of development driver to the Renault F1 Team.Most read in MotorsportA year later Rowland was confirmed as Williams Martini Racing’s official Junior Driver.DAN TICKTUM The 25-year-old Cupra Kiro driver from London could not be any more different than Rowland. Ticktum wears his heart on his sleeve and isn’t afraid to speak his mind on the team radio or in post-race interviews. He has earned a bit of a reputation as the bad boy of motor sport over the years and went viral for a swear-laden rant in Jeddah last season – but it seems in Formula E he has found his home. Ticktum rubbed shoulders with Lando Norris during his karting days and spent time at both Williams’ and Red Bull’s academies. His future is looking bright in Formula E after bagging his first-ever podium in Tokyo. Ticktum was banned for a year from motor sport for ignoring a safety car to purposefully crash into a karting rival.Sam Bird once turned down a shot with AFC Wimbledon to pursue a career in motor sportSAM BIRD Twickenham-born Bird, 38, is an experienced McLaren driver who was once seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher’s apprentice. Sam joined up with Mercedes for four years in 2010 as a test driver, going to most of the races and doing a lot of sim work. As Mercedes returned to F1 in 2010 it coincided with Schumacher making a comeback of his own. Schumacher was Bird’s childhood hero and the pair once even went sky-diving together. Bird isn’t half bad at football and played for AFC Wimbledon as a youngster before turning them down for a career in motor sport. He has two dogs, Buddy and Bear, one is a cavapoo and the other a golden doodle and is in a relationship with former Love Island star Jess Impiazzi. JAKE HUGHES Brummie driver Hughes is a classic example of the saying you can take the boy out of Birmingham but not Birmingham out of the boy. The Maserati driver is a die-hard Aston Villa fan who chooses to bring porridge to the track for his brekky each morning. He loves cats and own two called Benny and Ollie, nicknamed Boo Boo and Bear, with his fiance Abby at their home. Hughes won the inaugural BRDC Formula 4 Championship and has won multiple races at Formula 3.TAYLOR BARNARD The baby-faced 20-year-old was born and raised in Norwich and is forging a name for himself with McLaren’s Formula E team.  At 19 years and 331 days, Barnard became the youngest competitive driver in the series’ 10-year history. In his junior career, Barnard finished second to Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli in both the 2022 ADAC German Formula 4 Championship and 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship.Jake Dennis is the most recent British FE championJAKE DENNIS 29-year-old Dennis competes for Andretti and is the most recent British FE champion, winning the 2022-23 title. He was born in Nuneaton and debuted in karting at eight, winning the junior British Championship in 2010. Read More on The SunIn 2016, Dennis debuted in GP3, winning two races, achieving fourth place in the final standings with Charles Leclerc claiming the title. Dennis, who lives in Monaco, adores his pet chihuahua Billy with the pooch often seen accompanying him on a private jet to races. More

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      Formula E CEO says Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton wouldn’t instantly win races as SunSport goes behind the scenes

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      JEFF DODDS says Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton would struggle to win races in Formula E right away. Dodds is the CEO of the radical motor sport series paving the way for the future, with cars all powered by electricity. This season’s FE cars are now accelerating to 100 kilometres in 1.8 seconds, which is 30 per cent faster than F1 carsFormula E CEO Jeff Dodds says within five-years FE cars will be beating F1 cars around MonacoFour-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen could one day dip his toes in Formula EGermany’s Maximilian Gunther won in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia this seasonSunSport’s F1 reporter Isabelle Barker went behind-the-scenes at the double-header in Tokyo this weekend to see what the series is all about. In an exclusive interview with SunSport, Dodds says “never say never” to four-time world F1 champion Verstappen one day burning rubber in an electric car. When asked if Hamilton or Verstappen would have instant success in the series, he said: “I’m almost sure they wouldn’t because driving the cars are different.“It isn’t a natural translation from driving a petrol car, a combustion car, to driving an electric car. READ MORE IN SPORT“We have to regenerate our battery, so we’re braking and slowing to put power back into the battery. They accelerate differently, the gearing is different.”Dodds is good pals with Red Bull driver Verstappen, who has made it clear that he wants to dip his toes in other areas of motor racing in the future. The Dutchman recently used a fake name of ‘Franz Hermann’ to shatter the Nurburgring lap record in a Ferrari. Dodds added: “I know Max, I’m a massive fan of Max. He’s a generational talent. Most read in MotorsportBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK”If Max came across and stuck at it for a few years, I think there’s a very good chance he’d be the best Formula E driver ever.“But he wouldn’t show up and be the best Formula E driver ever instantly. Sergio Aguero takes up new sport aged 36 and Man City legend will compete against Brooklyn Beckham“There’s too many of the most talented drivers in the world that have been racing these cars for years.“Max and I have spoken a few times. I had a bet on Max last year, which was pretty well publicised that he would win the title. “It came through but he and I decided to give the money in equal parts to his charity. “Max just loves to race, anything with an engine, motor or even sim racing. “He loves to race, he loves to win, he’s a generational talent. He’s being paid an awful lot of money to race in F1. “He’s unlikely to give up his chance at becoming an eight time world champion and that money simply to go and try something else.“The only thing I would say with Max is, never say never because he doesn’t follow the rules.“If anyone was going to say, ‘hey, screw this, I just want to go and try something else’ it could be Max. He’s very much his own man.”HORSE-POWEREx F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone has been heavily critical of FE and once described the cars as “lawnmowers”. This season’s cars are now accelerating to 100 kilometres in 1.8 seconds, which is 30 per cent faster than F1 cars. The series obviously has sustainability and location on its side with races held in some of the world’s most breathtaking cities from Mexico City to Tokyo, London, Monaco and more. For a UK motor sport fan the cost of a FE weekend is enough to lure you in, with a grandstand pass for a double-header weekend in Berlin at just £104, for example.Or you can bag a one day grandstand ticket with a hotel included from £100 – £124 depending on the Saturday or Sunday race day. To put that into perspective with F1, a grandstand weekend ticket at Silverstone can cost a whopping £309 to £909. CAN HEAR A PIN DROP The elephant in the room though and of the greatest traits that sets F1 apart from other sports is the ear-piercing sounds of V12 and V10 engines. Which makes the sound, or lack thereof in electric cars a hot topic in FE and something die-hard motor sport fans continue to scoff at. But the old-school, predominantly male fan-base is not the market which FE is targeting, with half of the fan base being women. The sound is similar to a high-pitched whirring noise and there are benefits to the quieter atmosphere. Races are able to take place sometimes smack bang in the middle of the world’s best cities. You can also hear every crunch and clank when the cars collide, which makes crashes all the more dramatic. And there have been plenty of crashes at that, just not fiery ones due to the lack of fuel.Also the prime locations mean for a race like Tokyo you can hop on the subway and travel just a few stops to the Big Sight centre where the race is held.F1 fans may be haunted with flashbacks to sitting in hours of traffic en route to Silverstone or Spa in the peeing down rain for the Belgian Grand Prix. NEW AUDIENCE Dodds said: “We have about 400 million fans around the world. Half of them male, half of them female. “That’s very unusual for motor sport, and half of them are under the age of 40.“The reason we attract a slightly different audience is because we don’t bring all of that tradition and history that comes with maybe F1 or Indy car. “The cars are ridiculously fast. The quality of racing is very high impact, very wheel-to-wheel.“It’s all thrills, all spills. There’s an enormous amount of activity you can go and do, music concerts.“It’s family day out but the quality of racing that underpins it is absolutely top class. “You can hear each other speak. You don’t get drowned out or burst your eardrums.”GREEN FLAGOne thing that makes you sit up and take note is that the entire FE paddock, including all the teams, for the whole season is less than the emissions for one whole F1 team for a season. There are typically no pit stops, because the drivers don’t change tyres, for the sake of sustainability.The tyres are are all-weather for sustainability reasons so need to perform on sizzling hot tracks like Jakarta as well as street tracks and in the rain. Race teams only bring with them two sets for a single header while F1 teams can take around 12-13 different sets for a weekend. Dodds added: “Everything we do is zero emission. So not only do you get to watch an amazing race, you get to look in the mirror and feel good about it.”STAR STUDDED LINE UPCurrently the most well known name in the series is former F1 driver Nyck de Vries who competed for Williams and Alpha Tauri. But the series has attracted the likes of Hamilton’s former Mercedes teammate turned rival Nico Rosberg, Dodds added: “I’m not sure if Lewis Hamilton retires and then decides he wants to come and do a couple of seasons in Formula E. “It might bring Lewis Hamilton fans to come and have a look. I don’t think it’s transformative for our sport.”There is one more season of the current car but next year the series’ new car will be launched which is set to have twice the power. Dodds added: “I’m very confident that within five years, around Monaco, our cars will be beating F1 cars. “That might not translate immediately to more popularity because I don’t think you can just rewrite history.Read More on The Sun“You can’t erase, and neither should we, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost and Emerson Fittipaldi.”You can’t erase McLaren and Mercedes’ history in F1, there’s a legacy that comes with that and so it should, but our technology will surpass it, there’s no question about it.” More

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      Hollywood star Idris Elba invests in brand new Formula E team as he reveals ‘deep and personal’ reason for decision

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      IDRIS ELBA has invested in a brand new Formula E team – and has revealed the “deep and personal” reason for the decision.The Hollywood star, 52, is part of a star-studded group to get involved in KIRO CUPRA.Idris Elba is part of a group who have invested in Formula E team Kiro Race CoIdris Elba visited Kiro Race Co HQIdris Elba has revealed the sweet reason for his investmentKiro Race Co are hoping to take the Formula E world by stormCredit: GettyElba believes Formula E combines sport, entertainment and sustainability – something close to his heart.And the sport’s CEO, Jeff Dodds, also believes the new investment group can help grow the sport on a global scale.Announcing the news, a statement read: “Kiro Race Co (“KIRO”), the newest team competing in the FIA Formula E World Championship as CUPRA KIRO, is thrilled to announce expanded ownership with a group of highly strategic investors as the fully-electric motorsport series’ 2024/25 season continues.”Joining lead investors David Kaplan and Bennett Rosenthal, the powerhouse investment group now includes: Golden Globe-winning actor and producer Idris Elba; major league sports team owners Tony Ressler, Larry Berg and Shaun Neff; media deal-makers Navid Mahmoodzagedan, Steve Bornstein and Rick Hess; and strategic advisors Jeffrey Assaf, Caleb Kramer and Michael Woronoff.READ MORE SPORT STORIES”This investment underscores the shared belief in Formula E’s immense potential and growing commercial appeal, following the acquisition of Kiro Race Co by The Forest Road Company, a Los Angeles-based investment firm, in October 2024.”With unparalleled expertise across the business, media, sports, and entertainment sectors, the diverse investor group signifies the start of a compelling new era for KIRO and will be pivotal in the strategic positioning of the team’s long-term growth as a sports franchise.”Elba revealed the team’s vision “resonated with me on a deep, personal level” as he explained his latest investment.The Wire star said: “Formula E is at the perfect intersection by blending sport and global entertainment with sustainability.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”I’m proud to be joining the grid with CUPRA KIRO at this pivotal moment.”The team’s vision for the future, desire to innovate, and commitment to excellence resonate with me on a deep, personal level, and I’m looking forward to playing my part in its journey to the front of the grid.”Idris Elba teams up with Grey Goose for new trackFormula E CEO, Dodds, revealed his excitement and called it a “transformative moment” which could “catalyse growth for the entire championship”.Dodds said: “The arrival of this new investor group marks a transformative moment for Kiro Race Co and serves as a resounding endorsement of its strategic growth plan.”This impressive group brings unparalleled expertise and a diverse, well-rounded perspective that will catalyse growth not just for the team, but for the entire championship.”But this is not Elba’s first foray into motorsport.In 2022, the Luther actor – who also performs as a rapper, singer and DJ – launched the Idris Elba Speed Academy, an initiative launched to nurture future racing talent from communities underrepresented in the world of motorsport.A year later, SunSport revealed ex-Formula One engineer Rob Smedley was also hoping to change the future of motorsport – with a little bit of help from Elba. More

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      Formula E announce never-before-seen feature ahead of new season with cars FASTER than current F1 cars

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      FORMULA E will conduct an all-female test for the first time ever “to improve diversity and equality across motorsport”.Female drivers, who currently do not race in Formula E, will test the new ‘Gen3 Evo’ electric car – which is 30 per cent FASTER than current F1 CARS.The ‘Gen3 Evo’ is an upgrade on last season’s Electric Gen3Britain’s most successful female driver Jamie Chadwick will likely be given an opportunity to drive in the testThe racing series will field 22 female drivers in an afternoon session at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in November near Valencia, Spain.The brand new ‘Gen3 Evo’ net zero race cars are capable of 0-60mph in just 1.82 seconds.The same typical range for modern day F1 cars is between 2.1 to 2.7 seconds.The ‘Gen3 Evo’, which can reach speeds of 200mph, is set to be used across the upcoming 11th season.READ MORE ON MOTORSPORTIt will also be the most efficient formula car, with an electric motor providing more than 90 per cent efficiency, compared to the 40 per cent typical of F1 vehicles.There are currently no female drivers in a Formula E race seat.Each of the current teams in the Formula E Championship will be required to field at least one female driver for the half-day test. Three women have competed in a Formula E race before, but that all came in the inaugural 2014 season.Most read in MotorsportWhat is the difference between Formula One and Formula E?The F1 car relies on an internal combustion engine.While Formula E cars are battery-powered and relies on electricity and regenerative braking.F1 races mostly on race tracks, while Formula E prefers street circuits. F1 cars can reach up to 360 km/h (or more) and Formula E cars up to about 280 km/h.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThis included experienced British sports car driver Katherine Legge, Swiss Simona de Silvestro and Italian Michela Cerruti.Meanwhile, the last woman to race in F1 was Italy’s Lella Lombardi in 1976.Mercedes made ‘clear mistake’ that ‘ruined’ Lewis Hamilton’s chances in Singapore GP and left him ‘so angry’Formula E will also hold the first-ever dedicated test session exclusively for women racing drivers in the ABB FIA World Championship.The full line-up of women drivers participating in the test will be announced in the coming weeks.But several squads already have links to female drivers.This includes three-time W Series champion and Indy NXT driver Jamie Chadwick, who races with Andretti and tested one of the American team’s IndyCars earlier this week.Chadwick presented with Sky Sports at the Singapore Grand Prix last weekAlice Powell will likely be offered the chance to take part in testing tooThe 26-year-old Brit was also given the opportunity by Formula E to drive the Gen3 Evo car last season in Portland between official sessions.The test aims to provide the women not only with a destination but also a pathway to develop their careers.Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds said: “We know there isn’t a simple solution for greater diversity in motorsport.”If we’re going to truly give women equality, opportunity and visibility in our series conditions for all need to be the same.”To aid their development and test themselves against those already on the starting grid.”We have to make a start somewhere.”READ MORE SUN STORIESFIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the car represented another “significant leap forward in electric racing” technology.The Formula E season begins in Sao Paulo on December 7, where Pascal Wehrlein will begin his defence of the title he won with Porsche.🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁 More

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      When does Formula E Season 11 start? FULL calendar with 17 races taking place across 11 locations

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      THE 11th season of Formula E will get underway at the end of the year.It comes after a record-breaking campaign for the all-electric championship, which saw a huge surge in its global fanbase.The new Gen3 Evo race car will debut in Season 11Credit: Formula EIn 2023/24, Formula E had a 23% increase in its supporters worldwide, with an average of 374m for the season.Six races from the 10th season outperformed the most viewed S9 – that totalled 31m audiencePascal Wehrlein was the victor last term, topping the drivers’ championship standings with 198 points. The 29-year-old German was victorious in Mexico, Italy and Great Britain during S10.READ MORE IN MOTORSPORTSeason 11 is set to be another thriller with a blend of permanent and built circuits offering an exciting challenge for the drivers.An electrifying new-look Formula E car, known as Gen3 Evo, will be in use for the next two seasons, debuting in S11.The Gen3 Evo will boast “acceleration 30% faster than a current Formula 1 car, and 36% faster than the current Gen3”.There is so much to look forward to ahead of the new Formula E season – and SunSport has all the information you need before S11 kicks off.Most read in MotorsportWhen does Formula E Season 11 start?Pre-season testing for Formula E Season 11 will take place over four days from Monday, November 4, to Thursday, November 7, in Valencia, Spain.This will be the first time teams will take to the track with their new Gen3 Evo race cars.Following pre-season testing, Season 11 will kick off in Sao Paulo on Saturday, December 7.Formula E Season 11 calendarHere is the provisional calendar for Season 11:R1 – Sao Paulo – Saturday, December 7R2 – Mexico City – Saturday, January 11R3 – Jeddah – Friday, February 14R4 – Jeddah – Saturday, February 15R5 – TBC – Saturday, March 8R6 – Miami – Saturday, April 12R7 – Monaco – Saturday, May 3R8 – Monaco – Sunday, May 4R9 – Tokyo – Saturday, May 17R10 – Tokyo – Sunday, May 18R11 – Shanghai – Saturday, May 31R12 – Shanghai – Sunday, June 1R13 – Jakarta – Saturday, June 21R14 – Berlin – Saturday, July 12R15 – Berlin – Sunday, July 13R16 – London – Saturday, July 26R17 – London – Sunday, July 27What’s been said?Jeff Dodds, CEO, Formula E, said: “For Season 11 we’re taking electric racing to the next level and doing things never been done before in motorsport. “Our world-leading GEN3 EVO will debut in front of hundreds of millions of fans around the globe, while adding two brand new locations and combinations of double-headers to grow our sport further.”The new and improved calendar offers a perfect blend of circuits for drivers to push their upgraded cars to the limit, while staying true to our street racing DNA and the on-track action it produces.” Alberto Longo, Co-Founder & Chief Championship Officer, Formula E, said: “We’re thrilled to offer a calendar with some fresh new highlights while building on our legacy locations. “Returning to Miami gives us a home in one of the US’s most iconic and sports-mad cities, while securing a double-header in Monaco is a dream come true.”We can’t wait to build on the success of Tokyo and deliver a double-header, while returning to Jakarta and entertaining our huge Indonesian fanbase too. “With 17 races across the season and our most advanced race car debuting on track, we’re offering our fans cutting-edge sport we could only have hoped for when founding the championship just over 10 years ago.”Marek Nawarecki, Director, FIA Circuit Sport Department, said: “The 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship calendar features a range of circuits that will truly showcase the qualities of the brand new GEN3 EVO car, set to be introduced next season.READ MORE SUN STORIES”I’m glad that Formula E capitalizes on the success of the Tokyo and Shanghai races whilst also returning to some of its iconic venues and retaining a good amount of street circuits, which is in its core DNA.”I’m also hopeful that this new season will again play host to some fascinating action on track.” More

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      I’m a former Premier League star now presenting completely different sport, I hadn’t seen it before I was offered job

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      JERMAINE JENAS revealed he accepted his latest presenting job in a new sport without ever watching it.The former Premier League midfielder, 41, retired in 2014 after a spate of injuries aged just 31.Jermaine Jenas is the new presenter of Formula ECredit: X/FIAFormulaEHe revealed all on That Peter Crouch PodcastCredit: YouTube He has since embarked on a wide-ranging career in the media, initially as a pundit before developing into a presenter. And Jenas is now fronting the coverage of the Formula E World Championship.However, he admitted on That Peter Crouch Podcast he was doing the new gig despite being completely new to Formula E.Jenas said: “I always loved Formula One and this particular job came about because FE is a brand-new sport, it’s only nine or ten years old.READ MORE ON FOOTBALL”It’s a sport that revolves around sustainability and the excitement as well.”When they asked me to do it, I was like, ‘Look I’ve never seen this racing before. As much as I love F1, I’m going to have to do a lot of research and work into FE.'”They were like, ‘That’s what we want. It’s a brand-new sport, no one knows enough about it to enjoy it so you can take them on that journey.'”Once that pressure was off and they were telling me some of the venues I would be going to… Mexico, Sao Paulo, Monaco, Tokyo, these sounded like decent places to go.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSJenas, who burst through at Nottingham Forest and was made captain at 17, joined Newcastle under Sir Bobby Robson where he was crowned PFA Young Player of the Year before eight seasons with Tottenham.The 21-cap England star finished his career with loans at Aston Villa and Forest then one final season at QPR.Jermaine Jenas threatens to WALK OFF TNT Sports set live on TV after Laura Woods’ brutal comment-He is still a football pundit for TNT and Match of the Day – with many tipping him to eventually replace Gary Lineker as the main presenter.That is especially because the former midfielder is now a permanent co-host of The One Show alongside Alex Jones.But he is still getting to grips with the unusual format of the Formula E presenting. Jenas added: “I love my football and it will always be my bread and butter but because I have started to drift into more of the presenting world as well, I’m testing myself.”The first one in Mexico, if you have ever seen a child thrown in at the deep end just trying to get to the other side, that’s what the whole hour felt like. It was so hard.”We’re doing it for three different channels – TNT, CBS and Roku – and TNT might go to an advert but Roku aren’t so they call it a soft break.READ MORE SUN STORIES”There’s none of that saying goodbye and welcome back to the show, it’s all really awkward joining it together.”It’s been a good start, I’ve done Mexico, done a doubleheader in Saudi then I go to Sao Paulo and Tokyo in March.”Jenas works as a pundit for TNT and Match of the DayCredit: PAHe earned 21 caps for England but retired aged 31Credit: GettyThe midfielder helped Tottenham win the FA Cup in 2008Credit: Action Images – ReutersJenas is one of the main permanent presenters of The One ShowCredit: BBC More

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      Mick Schumacher RULES OUT shock career move despite F1 outcast failing to land a seat for 2024

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      DESPITE his apparent lack of options in Formula 1, Mick Schumacher has ruled out going electric.The 24-year-old son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher has shut down suggestions he could switch to Formula E.
      Mick Schumacher currently works as a reserve driver for Mercedes and McLarenCredit: Getty
      He has previously raced for HaasCredit: Getty
      When asked by Tuttumotori if he would consider the all-electric racing series, the youngster responded: “I’ll be very honest with you and tell you no. I like engines, I like petrol, so definitely not that.
      “Who knows what awaits us in the future? Who knows, maybe by driving it I could even change my expectations.
      “I like old school cars, V8, smell, flames and everything else. That’s what interests me.”
      A former Ferrari academy driver, F2, and F3 champion, Schumacher made the move to F1 in 2021 with the American team Haas.
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      He drove alongside Russian Nikita Mazepin in his rookie season, before he was replaced by Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen in 2022.
      But after two mixed seasons, Schumacher was dropped by Haas and Ferrari.
      Speaking to i News in March, Haas team boss Guenther Steiner explained his decision to part ways with Schumacher: “I just sat down with him and explained that we needed to bring the team forward with an experienced driver.
      “It is part of the job. It is not a nice thing to do. I don’t enjoy it but you just have to be professional about it.
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      “Dealing with a Schumacher is not easy, as you can imagine. He was grown up about it. He wasn’t happy.
      “I would say he saw the writing on the wall. He is a clever kid. He had two years.
      “We didn’t get where we wanted to and I had to make some changes. You cannot beat up a dead horse.”
      Veteran German driver Niko Hulkenberg was subsequently brought in to fill the seat at Haas.
      Schumacher has since worked with Mercedes as their reserve driver, a role he also holds with McLaren.
      Unfortunately, the only seat currently open on the 2024 grid looks to be with Williams alongside Thai driver Alex Albon.
      And while it has yet to be officially confirmed, it is looking increasingly likely that American Logan Sargeant will retain this spot after a tough rookie year.
      Williams recently confirmed that Albon and Sargeant would both participate in their end-of-season tests in Abu Dhabi – the strongest indication to date that the youngster may well return next season, as per The Mirror.
      Schumacher has ruled out heading for Formula ECredit: Splash More

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      Jermaine Jenas lined up for shock new role on TV after MOTDx axing – but fans of the show aren’t impressed

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      JERMAINE JENAS has emerged as a surprise candidate to host Formula E coverage in the UK – leaving fans reeling.This comes as MOTDx was axed by the BBC last week.
      Jermaine Jenas could land himself a new presenting role in motorsportCredit: Getty
      The former Tottenham and Newcastle midfielder has built a rather stacked TV portfolio since hanging up his boots in 2014.
      He’s worked as a football pundit for TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport), but is now a regular guest on Match of the Day as well as being co-host of the BBC’s early-evening staple The One Show.
      Jenas fronted a spin-off version of the iconic highlights show, MOTDx, which was aimed at a younger audience but was recently cancelled by the Beeb.
      A BBC spokesperson said: “Whilst we are proud of MOTDx and would like to thank everyone involved, it will no longer continue.”
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      And now it appears Jenas could be about to branch out into motorsport.
      The Race reported that whoever buys the broadcasts rights for Formula E will consider him for their lead presenter role.
      But fans of the electric car version of Formula 1 are not happy about it.
      One furious user wrote: “Jermaine Jenas? He’s not done much in the field of motorsports. He’s there for the perks and money.”
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      Another added: “No offence but if I’ve got to listen to Jermaine Jenas presenting Formula E I’m going to lose the plot.”
      A third said: “But he’s a football pundit. Does he have any technical knowledge of the sport?”
      Another fumed: Good God. How to kill the coverage.”
      Formula E is looking for a new broadcast host following the conclusion of it’s two-year deal with Channel 4.
      The main problem the sport must solve is its lack of exposure in the UK in recent years.
      Some races were shown on Channel 4’s TV platforms last season, but many were limited to live streams on the broadcaster’s YouTube channels.
      TNT Sport is in line to get the new contract, but that means fans may be alienated by the paywall. More

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      Man rushed to hospital after huge explosion at Formula E testing as garage catches fire & scared staff scream ‘get out’

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      FORMULA E’s pre-season testing has been halted as a man was rushed to hospital after an explosion set a team garage on fire.The accident took place at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo and was probably caused by a battery explosion.
      A huge explosion took place during Formula E pre-season testingCredit: Splash
      A man was rushed to hospital but is believed to have escaped serious damageCredit: Splash
      A loud bang was heard from inside the Williams garage, who supply the batteries for the series.
      A man was then rushed to the medical centre after appearing to suffer from smoke inhalation and potential burns.
      However, it has been reported that he escaped without any serious damage.
      Members of staff were seen running away from the garage shouting, “Get out, get out” as the fire brigade rushed to the scene.
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      A Formula E statement read: “In a break between practice sessions, a fire was detected in the pit lane and garage area which has been contained.
      “The on-track Incident Response Team acted immediately to contain the incident while the main pit building and garages were quickly evacuated.
      “One person has been assessed by medics and has been transported to hospital for precautionary checks.
      “Formula E, the FIA and local fire authorities are investigating the cause and will provide a further update in due course. Fire crews remain on site to put out the blaze.”
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      The incident occurred after the Formula E cars returned to the garage following their first three-hour session.
      About 3,000 staff members, teams and journalists were present for the first day of the pre-season test.
      An eye-witness said: “There was a huge bang and everyone started running from the garages.
      “We couldn’t believe how quickly it escalated, there were people sprinting away, others tried to run back but couldn’t because of the smoke. We were evacuated from the pit lane really quickly.” More