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    F1 world champion selling £1.8million supercar that is one of only seven ever made – and will teach you how to drive it

    MIKA HAKKINEN will teach someone to drive his limited edition supercar – if they can find the estimated £1.8m to buy his McLaren at auction.The two-time F1 champ has enlisted the help of international auction house Bonhams to sell his motor.This McLaren supercar could be yours for just £1.8mCredit: mediadrumimagesIt boasts a top speed of 217mphCredit: mediadrumimagesThis particular model is one of only SEVEN madeCredit: mediadrumimagesThe stunning model is one of just seven VP prototypes ever created with interest expected to be extremely high.Built in 2013, the McLaren P1 Coupe Validation Prototype 3 road car is expected to sell for between £1.3m and £1.8m in Monaco in May.The luxury automobile can rocket from nought to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 217 mph.And one lucky buyer will get more than they bargained for.READ MORE F1 NEWSThat’s because the Flying Finn himself is throwing in a day of exclusive driving lessons for the winning bidder.Hakkinen’s car, used for durability testing, is the only one to head for sale.The P1 was his first road-going custom McLaren and he even picked out the black colour scheme, featuring orange accents in the team’s signature shade.Hakkinen no longer drives for the iconic racing team, but he has served as an ambassador for the brand since 2017.Most read in MotorsportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERAnd the Finnish ex-racer is no stranger to headlines.The 55-year-old created a buzz from the moment he started racing in the sport’s junior categories.Hakkinen recovered from serious injuries to emerge as one of Michael Schumacher’s greatest rivals in the 1990s.He became McLaren’s lead driver after Ayrton Senna left for Williams-Renault in 1994.Formula One legend Sebastian Vettel says it would ‘depend on the package’ and ‘the car’ for him get behind the wheel again He became a top challenger for Schumacher when the team recruited Adrian Newey OBE – the current Red Bull chief technical officer. Newey oversaw the new McLaren MP4-13-Mercedes – which proved all-conquering during 1998.Newey is also one of the most successful designers, winning twelve Constructors’ Championships with three different teams.That includes being the brains behind three-time champion Max Verstappen’s current RB18.Hakkinen was crowned world champion in 1998 and again in 1999. More

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    I’m known as a Rangers hero but before my Ibrox career began I played five-a-sides with F1’s most legendary driver

    IT’s hard to imagine living in Monte Carlo and then trading it for life anywhere else.But that’s exactly what Mark Hateley did, swapping the French Riviera for the banks of the River Clyde when he signed for Rangers in 1990.Mark Hateley formed a formidable partnership with Ally McCoist at RangersCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdHateley played for AS Monaco before signing for GersCredit: GettyRecognise that iconic helmet? The man wearing it was a neighbour of Hateley’sCredit: Times Newspapers LtdThe former striker, capped 32 times for England during his career, played for Coventry, Portsmouth and AC Milan before moving to Monaco in 1987.He’d score goals wherever he went but it was in Glasgow where he became an idol to the fans and the Derby man has gone down in history as one of the best players to ever pull on the shirt for the Light Blues.Hateley was a focal point of the nine-in-a-row team but before reaching hero status in Glasgow, he spent three years under Arsene Wenger at AS Monaco in Ligue 1.He was the then-future Arsenal manager’s first signing as Monaco boss and would play alongside supreme talents such as Glenn Hoddle and George Weah before a nasty ankle injury saw him seek a move back to Britain.Read more Rangers storiesBut not before he’d rubbed shoulders with some of the world’s most rich and famous.Some of the faces Hateley bumped into included Roger Moore, Ringo Starr and Frank Sinatra.But Monaco is of course most renowned for the Formula One scene, and many of the drivers live in Monte Carlo year-round, or at least own property there.During Hateley’s time, he counted none other than arguably the greatest F1 driver who ever lived as a neighbour.Most read in FootballAppearing on the Under the Cosh podcast, Hateley discussed what it was like living in Monaco before his £1m transfer to Gers.He revealed that he lived in an apartment one floor above none other than Ayrton Senna.I snubbed an audience with the Pope and got crucified in the media but it just wasn’t for me says Rangers legendThe McLaren hero would regularly hit him up for a quick kick-about – sometimes even on the weekend of the Monaco Gran Prix.When asked about any famous neighbours from his time living in the principality, Hateley said: “Oh, I had Ayrton Senna. He lived the floor below me in Monaco.”All he wanted to do was play football.”He’d come and ask me and we used to play before the grand prixs. We had a five-a-sides at Saint-Jean.”All the drivers would play. Well the ones who liked football, they’d play.”Racing car drivers want to be footballers, and footballers want to be racing car drivers!”After signing for Rangers, Hateley would take his new team mates back to Monte Carlo for the odd night out.On one such occasion, he was quizzed by midfield ace Ian Durrant.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe young Scot said in the middle of a drinking session in Casino Square: “Monaco? Govan? You’re off your f****** rocker.”The paddock at Circuit de Monte Carlo in Monaco, home of the Monaco Grand PrixCredit: Simon JonesSenna would often ask Hateley for a game of five-a-side footballCredit: PA:Press AssociationStade Louis II, home of AS Monaco, as seen from the airCredit: Getty – ContributorKeep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page  More

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    Watch Charles Leclerc race past McLaren star Lando Norris in £470k Ferrari on way to Spanish GP

    CHARLES LECLERC left Formula One rival Lando Norris stunned after he raced past the McLaren star in his Ferrari while driving to qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix on Saturday.Norris, 23, was on his way to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya when he spotted Leclerc, 25, driving alongside him.
    Leclerc was filmed speeding past Norris while on the way to Spanish GP qualifyingCredit: Instagram / @landonorris
    He then began filming the Monaco-born star, but Leclerc raced pass him in a matter of seconds.
    Norris posted the short clip on his Instagram story with a caption that simply read: “OMG OMG OMG,” with a lovestruck emoji.
    Leclerc was driving his silver Ferrari F8 Spider, which is said to be worth around £470,000.
    The Scuderia ace took pole position ahead of last year’s Spanish GP, but he was forced to retire from the race due to a power unit issue.
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    Following Friday’s practice sessions, he admitted that he is hoping for a significant improvement on Sunday.
    Leclerc said: “First of all, we had a few new parts on the car, but I think it’s a great track to test these new upgrades.
    “Feeling is quite OK; we still have a lot to do to optimise this new package, but it felt pretty good.
    “Step by step, try and push more and more the car, and to go in places that we haven’t yet because we didn’t have the time.
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    “Just a normal process of having a new part and slowly going in the direction we want.”
    Leclerc currently sits seventh in the standings, with Norris down in 11th.
    McLaren have struggled to get up to speed this season and they have dropped down to sixth in the Constructors’ Championship as a result. More

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    Lando Norris breaks silence after being snapped with Chelsea star Joao Felix’s stunning girlfriend

    LANDO NORRIS says he’s “got nothing to hide” after being snapped with Portuguese actress Magui Corceiro.The McLaren F1 ace was pictured driving around with Corceiro, 20, who was in a relationship with Chelsea loanee Joao Felix.
    Lando Norris was spotted driving around Monaco with Magui Corceiro
    Formula One star Norris slammed rumours he is dating Corceiro
    Corceiro was dating Chelsea ace Joao Felix
    Corceiro and Felix dated since his days at Atletico MadridCredit: Instagram / @magui_corceiro
    Corceiro met Atletico Madrid loanee Felix on social media a few years agoCredit: magui_corceiro/instagram
    Norris, who last year split from another Portuguese fashion model, Luisinha Oliveira, was quizzed by SunSport about the increased flak he’s copped on social media.
    He said: “I haven’t tried to hide anything when I’ve gone out to a restaurant. You are allowed to do whatever you want.
    “I know that so many presumptions are made just because I’m seen with someone, which I find hilarious.
    “If I wanted to hide something I feel I can hide it well — but I’m not trying to hide anything.
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    “At the end of the day, if I wanted my life to be more private I would say yes [it is harder to avoid scrutiny] but I don’t want to just stay in my house all day and sit behind a computer.
    “But it seems I can’t have friends nowadays, can’t be seen with someone without somehow being in a relationship.”
    Felix and Corceiro are believed to have begun their relationship in 2019, when he was 20 and she was 17.
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    They met through social media, and through mutual friends he was able to connect her.
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    Felix now plays for Chelsea on loan and has amassed four goals in 19 matches.
    The forward’s future is uncertain as he may not return to Atletico Madrid in June when his loan stint ends. More

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    Fernando Alonso set for explosive reunion with Honda after infamous rant as engine suppliers team up with Aston Martin

    FERNANDO ALONSO and Honda are poised for an explosive reunion after the Japanese manufacturer agreed a deal to supply Aston Martin with F1 engines.Alonso savaged Honda when he was driving for McLaren, forcing the F1 team to eventually terminate their partnership with the company.
    Fernando Alonso is set for a reunion with Honda at Aston MartinCredit: Getty
    The Spaniard publicly mocked the reliability and performance – much to Honda’s fury.
    However, they could now team up once more after Alonso’s Aston Martin team joined forces with Honda to supply them engines from 2026.
    It comes after world champions Red Bull announced that they would be ditching Honda in favour of a tie-up with Ford.
    Honda bosses say they have “no objections” to working with the two-time world champion, despite his criticism in the past.
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    Koji Watanabe said: “Our stance remains unchanged in thinking the selection of the drivers is fully up to the team members and not something that a partner and supplier like us is supposed to be making.
    “So, we’ll be leaving the driver selection to the team.
    “We have been accelerating our development during all our recent time in Formula One, (including) while working with Alonso, and that enabled us to win the world championship [with Red Bull].
    “I believe he’s such a brand and respectable driver, but, like I said, the selection of drivers is up to the team to decide.
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    “So, if the team decides we’ll have Alonso as a driver again, we will have no objections whatsoever in him driving.”
    Alonso, 41, drove for McLaren between 2015 and 2017 when he famously called the Honda power unit a GP2 engine at their home race in Suzuka.
    Meanwhile, Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll says the Honda deal is “the final piece in the jigsaw” to establish them as one of F1’s top teams.
    He said: “Aston Martin and Honda have a lot in common, including engineering excellence and a long-term commitment and passion to win.
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    Alonso had an explosive relationship with Honda back in his McLaren daysCredit: Getty
    “Honda and its engineers are racers and love to develop its products in competition. Racing is part of its DNA and always has been.
    “Racing has also a part of Aston Martin’s DNA for the last 110 years and together, we will win.
    “Aston Martin is the fastest growing team in the sport and on social media, tripling our fanbase in the last two years.
    “Our partnership with Honda is the final piece in the jigsaw to establish Aston Martin as a top team capable of winning world titles.” More

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    McLaren unveil shiny new 3-in-1 shell for 60th anniversary but F1 fans complain of bizarre Alonso conspiracy

    MCLAREN have unveiled a shiny new three-in-one livery ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix which has left fans gushing over it. The Woking-based Formula One team will don the new look for the Monaco and Spanish GP’s as part of the teams 60th anniversary celebrations.
    Lando Norris will drive the car for the Monaco and Spanish Grands PrixCredit: Getty
    Oscar Piastri described the new look car as ‘incredible’Credit: Splash
    McLaren have produced a 3-in-1 livery for their 60th anniversary celebrationsCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/Csl44YjoY5F/
    The look combines the liveries of the wins at the 1974 Indianapolis 500, 1984 Monaco GP and Le Mans 24 Hour race in 1995.
    Together, the wins from Johnny Rutherford, Alain Prost and the joint team of JJ Lehto, Yannick Dalmas and Masanori Sekiya in the GTR F1 form motorsport’s “Triple Crown”.
    The blacked-out GTR features in the first third of the livery, which also has Prost’s colour scheme alongside their modern orange.
    Reacting to the reveal, fans appeared to be impressed.
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    One fan said: “Me? obsessed with this? Yes 😍.”
    A second wrote: “Can we use this livery for the remainder of the year? Please 🙏🏻 it’s beautiful!”
    “Please keep rest of the year,” pleaded a third.
    A fourth commented: “Should keep this colour.”
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    However, one fan reckons McLaren’s sparing use of the chrome colour is down to Fernando Alonso.
    They wrote: “McLaren really don’t want to use the chrome 😭 cause Alonso won Monaco 2007 with the chrome 😔.”
    The two-time world champion pipped Lewis Hamilton to the chequered flag when McLaren had their striking chrome and red colour scheme – the last time they were champions.
    Hamilton would go on to win the next year’s race – the last time McLaren won the Grand Prix – as he also secured the first of his seven F1 titles.
    On the new livery, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said: “Having achieved the greatest accomplishment in motorsport by completing the Triple Crown, we are proud to celebrate the rich history of McLaren Racing with a special livery at the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix.
    “In line with our 60th-anniversary celebrations and honouring the legacy of [team founder] Bruce McLaren, the unique livery pays homage to the three victories which form the Triple Crown accolade.”
    Fernando Alonso won the 2007 Monaco GP for McLarenCredit: Reuters
    McLaren also announced the production of five films to tell the stories of their wins in the “Triple Crown”.
    Lando Norris said: “It’s a privilege to be involved in McLaren Racing’s 60th-anniversary celebrations and to combine three iconic race-winning McLaren liveries into one for the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix is going to be a special moment for the whole team.
    “McLaren have an impressive record in Monte Carlo and on a personal level to have experienced a podium at the 2021 race [when McLaren ran a special one-off Gulf livery] was a huge honour.
    “We’ll be racing hard in a great-looking car to celebrate Bruce McLaren and the team’s amazing legacy.”
    Team-mate Oscar Piastri added: “The Triple Crown livery looks incredible, and I can’t imagine a better way to experience my first Monaco Grand Prix as a Formula 1 driver with McLaren Racing.
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    “Bruce McLaren was a winner in Monte Carlo in 1962 and the McLaren team have such rich history at the Monaco Grand Prix.
    “I will feel incredibly proud lining up on the grid in the MCL60, carrying the same colours as the three Triple Crown-winning race cars.”
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    F1 star Lando Norris receives incredible £280,000 custom McLaren 765LT supercar that he designed after 18-month wait

    LANDO NORRIS has taken delivery of his new McLaren 765LT – worth over £280,000.The F1 ace has been waiting 18-months for the customised version of the 205mph rocket.
    Lando Norris collected his custom-made McLarenCredit: Supplied
    The blue supercar is worth £280,000Credit: YouTube / McLaren Automotive
    He gave fans a tour of the car on the McLaren YouTube channelCredit: YouTube / McLaren Automotive
    Norris took it for a drive after an 18-month waitCredit: YouTube / McLaren Automotive
    Norris, 23, enlisted the help of MSO, McLaren’s bespoke design division, to make the limited-edition vehicle completely unique.
    He said: “I’ve been able to drive a lot of different McLarens but this is the first car that I’ve designed; this is me in a car.
    “I’m a carbon lover, the more carbon I can have, the better but I didn’t want to have my logo everywhere, I wanted something a bit more subtle and MSO has done a fantastic job to realise my vision.”
    Norris’ special tweaks include a one-off blue gloss carbon fibre exterior and brake calipers painted in the same yellow as his crash helmet.
    READ MORE ON F1
    The colour is also on the doors in the form of four stripes, four being his F1 racing number.
    He has his initials stitched into the headrests and there is a plaque that has his name on it.
    Norris didn’t want his name or brand all over the car, but his logo is on the driver’s seat and there are signatures from him and key manufacturers under the bonnet.
    The Brit then cruised out of the McLaren garage for a test drive.
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    Norris currently sits ninth in the driver standings after five races this season.
    His best ever finish in a F1 campaign came in 2021 when he finished sixth.
    He has been on the podium on six occasions but awaits his first win.
    Lando Norris has been given the keys to his specially made vehicleCredit: YouTube / McLaren Automotive
    Norris’ car has four stripes on it representing his F1 numberCredit: YouTube / McLaren Automotive
    He looked thrilled with the finished productCredit: YouTube / McLaren Automotive
    Signatures are seen on the underside of the bonnetCredit: YouTube / McLaren Automotive
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    F1 fans brand Red Bull’s one-off livery for Miami GP ‘meh’ – and they also fear it could end in disaster on track

    RED BULL have revealed a colourful one-off livery for the Miami Grand Prix – but some fans are fearing they could be hit by an F1 curse. The championship leaders have enjoyed a comfortable start to the season with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez clocking up two wins each from the four races.
    Red Bull’s usual livery – as seen in last week’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix – is set to undergo some changesCredit: AP
    Fans have not been left particularly excited by the blue and pink stripes added along the sideCredit: Twitter@FastestPitStop
    Verstappen is looking to make it three driver’s championships in a row as Ferrari and Mercedes continue to flounder.
    Up next for the team is the second running of the Miami Grand Prix which the Dutchman won last year.
    And Red Bull will be running a special livery to mark the American race.
    The paintwork of the car has not seen sweeping changes but has seen colourful stripes added along the side.

    A light blue strip now runs along the length of the car while a pink strip runs alongside the front.
    It is only a tinker to the livery and fans have been left underwhelmed by the minor changes.
    One fan said: “Are those two stripes the only thing that changed?”
    Another said: “That’s it???”
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    While one simply declared: “Meh.”
    And an even more disapproving fan simply said: “Ugh.”
    F1 watchers have already picked up on Red Bull’s unwillingness to venture too far from their famous colour scheme.
    The only time in recent memory when Red Bull have done something completely different was in the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix.
    In a tribute to outgoing engine partner Honda, the team unveiled a stunning all-white livery.
    Verstappen and Perez finished second and third in the wet-dry race that day, avoiding the F1 curse that has afflicted some teams who run different designs.
    Red Bull’s last one-off special livery at the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix was far more eye-catchingCredit: Reuters
    The most famous example is the 2019 German Grand Prix when a dominant Mercedes team had a nightmare.
    Both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas crashed in the infamous wet race, with Hamilton also having to endure a 50-second long pit stop after chaos and confusion reigned in the Mercedes garage.
    Daniel Ricciardo was also lapped by his own teammate at the Monaco race in 2021 when McLaren had a new paintjob, while Sebastian Vettel finished 3rd-last in the chaotic Tuscan Grand Prix of 2020 when Ferrari employed a darker red livery.
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    Referencing the curse, one fan said of Red Bull’s new design: “As usual, ‘special livery’ means DNFs [race retirements].” More