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    ‘It’s petrifying’ – Glam F1 hopeful Bianca Bustamente, 20, lifts lid on ‘scary’ fight to thrive in male-dominated sport

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    MOTORSPORT’S most glamorous driver has opened up on the “scary” nature of her incredible dual career.Bianca Bustamante is hoping to become one of the biggest names in racing alongside Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.McLaren development driver Bianca Bustamante has three-million social media followers combinedCredit: Instagram @racerbiaBustamante has made history by becoming McLaren’s first female driverCredit: Instagram @racerbiaBustamante earned two podium finishes in the debut F1 Academy seasonCredit: GettyHer first podium coincided with Lando Norris’ maiden race win in DecemberCredit: GettyThe 20-year-old beauty will start a mixed sex race at the GB3 Championship at Silverstone next weekendCredit: McLarenBustamante splits her time between racing podiums for McLaren in an all-female category AND professional modelling.And the 20-year-old beauty will start a mixed sex race at the GB3 Championship at Silverstone next weekend.The race is a feeder event for young drivers hoping to progress to elite motorsport and even Formula One.Bustamante was the first woman to be accepted into the prestigious McLaren Driver Development Programme in 2024.READ MORE MOTORSPORTBut it hasn’t come easy for the Filipino driver, who is the poster girl of Netflix’s new docuseries F1 Academy alongside 14 other female drivers.The self-starter – who was on the cover of Vogue – has been able to fund her passion for F1 and buy her dream London flat through brand deals.As well as modelling for Storm Management, Bustamante has more than three million followers on Instagram.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSShe told Mail Sport: “It’s petrifying to be an open book for everyone on social media.Most read in Motorsport”I have used it as a platform to fund my career and to help me progress on the motorsport ladder.McLaren F1 racer Bianca Bustamante reveals how she gets in shape for her races – and why she almost quit”I grew up in front of three million people across all my social media platforms and I find it very scary sometimes.”It can be worrying to lose myself along the way. Lose my sights and morals and who I really am.”Bustamante was born and raised in the Philippines, a country with no recognisable history or heritage of motorsport. She was introduced to her first go-kart at age three by her racing-mad dad Raymund and it was love at first sight. On Monday, she was named by Forbes as one of the 30-under-30 record-breaking athletes for her achievements in F1.While F1 is predominantly a male-dominated sport, there have been a few female drivers who have entered Grand Prix races.The Filipino driver lifts heavy weights as part of a gruelling training regimeCredit: Instagram @racerbiaShe has starred in Vogue PhilippinesShe was named by Forbes as one of the 30-under-30 record-breaking athletes for her achievements in F1Credit: CBR MediaShe boasts three million followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram @racerbiaMaria Teresa de Filippis was the first, followed by Lella Lombardi, Divina Galica, Desire Wilson and Giovanna Amati.But De Filippis and Lombardi are the only women to have started an F1 race, with the latter the only one to score points in her 12 starts.I find it very scary sometimes.BustamanteThe MailBustamante told The Mail: “This new step up still feels so new to me.”I get in the car and I still feel like I know nothing. I feel like a rookie every single time, which I am I guess.”That step from junior driver to being professional now as we go into the GB3 season… people talk to me like I’m no longer a kid, I’m an adult.”Working with the new team is amazing. It’s my first time working with a British team.”I’ve got teammates that are like brothers to me now.”Lella Lombardi is the only female driver to score points in F1Credit: Getty Images – GettyA picture of Lando Norris and Bustamante grinning ear to ear at the Miami Grand Prix in May summarises the family feel at McLaren. She sealed her first-ever F1 Academy podium on the same weekend that Norris secured his maiden race win,Read More on The SunBefore McLaren announced her signing, she became only the second ever driver to compete in the newly launched all-female F1 Academy series with Prema Racing.She made the podium, finishing third in her first race and seventh in the final championship standings. More

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      Awkward moment Lewis Hamilton appears to snub FIA president’s hug as drivers left at war with F1 governing body

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      LEWIS HAMILTON appeared to reject a hug from FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem in an awkward moment after the Bahrain Grand Prix.The seven-time world champion has clashed with the FIA president since he was appointed in 2021.Lewis Hamilton appeared to reject a big hug from FIA President Mohammed Ben SulayemFans spotted the awkward encounter, but Hamilton did acknowledge him as he walked pastAfter his tough start to life at Ferrari, Hamilton enjoyed a positive race in Bahrain, winning the fans’ Driver of the Day vote.He recovered from a disappointing P9 qualifying performance to finish fifth, one spot behind team-mate Charles Leclerc. And the 40-year-old ace overtook the likes of Kimi Antonelli, Pierre Gasly and Max Verstappen in the process.After stepping out of the cockpit in Parc Ferme, Hamilton headed toward the weighbridge to complete his mandatory post-race checks.READ MORE F1 NEWSBut fans caught a somewhat thorny exchange when the Brit came across Ben Sulayem along the way.The FIA president had his arms outstretched while waiting to embrace the Ferrari driver. However, Hamilton had other ideas and avoided the hug before simply giving him a pat on the side before continuing on his way.One fan wrote: “Lewis airing Ben Sulayem there 😂😂.”Most read in MotorsportA dominant drive from pole saw Oscar Piastri claim victory in Sakhir on Sunday, ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSBut there have been rumours that Hamilton and Ben Sulayem don’t see eye-to-eye.The former Mercedes driver called out the FIA chief after the short-lived investigation into Susie Wolff last season. Lewis Hamilton hailed for ‘masterclass’ sprint victory before Ferrari star immediately takes aim at ‘yapping’ criticsThat decision landed the Emirati official in hot water, with the wife of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff commencing legal action against the sport’s governing body.And Hamilton was asked whether Ben Sulayem had his support before the 2024 Aussie Grand Prix.The Brit replied bluntly: “He never has. There is a real lack of accountability here, within this sport, within the FIA.”There are things that are happening behind closed doors, there is no transparency, there is really no accountability and we need that.”The fans need that. How can you trust the sport and what is happening here if you don’t have that?”Last year, Hamilton doubled down on his criticism of Ben Sulayem after the FIA president compared swearing F1 drivers to “rappers”. The 62-year-old has been on a mission to stamp out foul language in the paddock, much to the disdain of some of the sport’s stars.The feud between Hamilton and Ben Sulayem first dates back to 2022.When the FIA chief forced the Brit to remove a nose stud, clamping down on jewellery at the race track. He later fined Hamilton £42,000 for skipping the end-of-season prize-giving gala, after Verstappen was handed the title following a hugely controversial decision at 2021 Abu Dhabi finale.FIA executive Robert Reid resigned last week over what he described as a “fundamental breakdown in governance standards”.Ben Sulayem has been under fire in the last few years, following various controversies including the FIA’s swearing rules.Reid said in his resignation letter: “When I took on this role, it was to serve the FIA’s members, not to serve power.”A few days ago at Suzuka, Carlos Sainz was punished for being “five seconds late” to the national anthem in Japan following a toilet break.Read More on The Sun Sainz reported to the FIA medical team with a stomach issue, but was fined £17,000, half of which has been suspended for 12 months providing he does not re-offend.But the Spaniard, 30, now faces an even bigger one for saying “s*** happens in response”.THE new Formula One season is up and running and has already seen huge drama in the opening weeks.A massive summer of change saw Lewis Hamilton move on from Mercedes and join Ferrari, while the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have hope of ending Max Verstappen’s recent dominance.The Red Bull ace is hoping for a record-equalling FIFTH consecutive world title.INFORMATIONLATEST NEWSSEASON SO FAR More

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      Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants Mercedes F1 engineer to improve Man Utd’s transfer strategy after slamming club’s data analysis

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      SIR JIM RATCLIFFE could lean on his Formula One connections to try and bring Manchester United back into pole position.Ratcliffe, who has owned a minority share in Man Utd since December 2023, is reportedly considering hiring a Mercedes F1 engineer to help revolutionise the Red Devils’ data analysis.Sir Jim Ratcliffe could hire an F1 engineer to help revolutionise Man Utd’s data analysisCredit: GettyAccording to the BBC, Ratcliffe could appoint Mercedes engineer Michael Sansoni at Old Trafford as he looks to bring the club’s use of data up to par with the clubs around them.That’s after the billionaire Brit told Man Utd fanzine United We Stand that the club was “still in the last century of data analysis” and that it “doesn’t really exist here” in a recent interview.Ratcliffe’s Ineos are part-owners of the Mercedes F1 team which would reportedly make any move to bring Sansoni to United much smoother.While it’s understood that Sansoni is already set to call an end to his near 11-year stint with the the F1 team.READ MORE ON MAN UTDRatcliffe has claimed that Man Utd’s data analysis directly correlates to their poor recruitment over recent seasons.He told United We Stand: “Until we’re are as good as anyone in the world, then it’s not good enough for Manchester United. We must have the best recruitment in the world.”Data analysis comes alongside recruitment. It doesn’t really exist here. We’re still in the last century on data analysis here. “There’s an immense amount of useful data that we can get from data analysis and we’re in the ‘very poor’ bracket with data analysis here. These things don’t happen overnight.”Most read in FootballRatcliffe’s Ineos are co-owners of the Mercedes F1 teamCredit: GettyJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordUnited have spent over £900MILLION on transfers over the last five seasons, a figure only exceeded by Chelsea, Arsenal and neighbours Manchester City.All three of those clubs are currently battling out for European places, while United languish in 14th spot in the Premier League table – having won just 10 of their 32 league games this season.Newcastle preparing £35m swoop for Greek wonderkid Konstantinos Karetsas but will have to beat Man Utd, Liverpool and BayernHuge transfer sums have been invested in players that have been unable to succeed at the Theatre of Dreams in recent season.The £85m arrival of Antony has resulted in the Brazilian heading out on loan, while Jadon Sancho also left the club for Chelsea this season after his £73m move from Dortmund didn’t go to plan.Meanwhile £47m goalkeeper Andre Onana – the fourth most expensive keeper in history – was dropped from the United matchday squad altogether this weekend.The Cameroon shot-stopper was left out of Man Utd’s 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Newcastle on Sunday after making two huge mistakes during the club’s 2-2 Europa League draw with Lyon last Thursday.Andre Onana was dropped for Man Utd’s clash with Newcastle at the weekendCredit: GettyMega £85m signing Antony is currently out on loanCredit: GettyJadon Sancho looks set for a permanent exit to Chelsea this summer after spending the season on loan with the London clubCredit: GettyMan Utd ratings vs Newcastle as Zirkzee does well before injury but dropped Onana’s stand-in has a shockerMANCHESTER UNITED’S worst ever Premier League season was confirmed with a 4-1 defeat to Newcastle.The Red Devils are now guaranteed to finish on less than 56 points, which is their lowest ever Prem total.And they can only get that high if they win ALL of their last six games.If they’re not careful, they could even finish 17th – just one spot above the marooned bottom three.It was another dark day that reflects a poor campaign for United as Newcastle carved them open with ease in the second-half.Ruben Amorim dropped keeper Andre Onana after his horror show against Lyon midweek.But stand-in Altay Bayindir had a game to forget too.Sandro Tonali’s volley, a double by Harvey Barnes and a Bruno Guimaraes finish cancelled out Alejandro Garnacho’s goal.Here is how SunSport’s Gary Stonehouse rated the United performances… More

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      The insanely lavish worlds of F1 tycoons…from Red Bull boss’s private island to £30million Bond villain-style mansion

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      AS things heat up ahead of this Sunday’s Bahrain GP, the Gulf State will soon be crowded with the jets and supercars of the rich and famous.It’s fair to say there’s a lot of money in the world of F1 – and drivers and team staff alike certainly get paid handsomely.The late Eddie Jordan certainly knew how to enjoy his £85million fortuneCredit: AlamyEddie was among the most flamboyant of the F1 tycoonsCredit: GETTYRed Bull owner Mark Mateschitz inherited an entire tropical island from his fatherCredit: jason busch/LHW.comBut at the very top of the motor sport pyramid are the people who don’t just run the teams, but own them. And when you combine a net worth of millions – or in many cases billions – with a love of fast cars, you can be sure you’re dealing with a flashy spender.After all, if you can afford an F1 team, you might as well own a yacht on the side – or a Pacific island getaway when you need a break.It’s a sport that attracts some pretty big characters, just like the late Eddie Jordan, who went from flogging salmon on the streets to amassing a fortune of £85million.Read More FeaturesBut his riches are small fry to what others in the business are worth – such as Mercedes’s Toto Wolff, worth a whopping $1.6billion.And even Toto’s wealth is dwarfed by Red Bull owner Mark Mateschitz, who has a net worth of over £30billion. So what have they been spending it all on?Join us as we dive into the lavish lives of the biggest F1 tycoons.Most read in MotorsportBrave Eddie Jordan’s final public appearance just weeks before his deathToto WolffAfter trying his hand as a racing driver before moving into the boardroom, Toto Wolff bought a 30 per cent stake in Mercedes in 2013 for an estimated $50million.And as Mercedes moved up the rankings, so did his wealth increase – making the Austrian worth around a whopping $1.6billion today, according to Forbes. It’s no wonder Toto Wolff takes such an active role in ensuring his teams success – because he owns a third of itCredit: GettyThe Mercedes part-owner enjoys diving off his 49 metre-long superyacht off the coast of MonacoCredit: Instagram/totowolff_originalA video Toto posted to his Instagram shows he isn’t afraid to take his cars – in this case the iconic Mercedes-Benz SL from 1954 – for a spinCredit: Instagram/totowolff_originalOnce living near the team’s base in the UK, Wolff and his family have now moved to Monaco, close to where many of the drivers live.He’s also reported to own an 18,000 square foot mansion in Switzerland, which was reportedly bought for $62million.Unsurprisingly, the 53-year old owns a stunning car collection which features plenty of rare Mercedes. Wolff has frequently been spotted driving round Monaco in his Mercedez-Benz SL from 1954, worth around £1million, as well as the more modern Mercedec-AMG GT R, which sells for around £150,000-190,000.But brand loyalty hasn’t stopped him from also reportedly owning a Bugatti Veyron, a Ferrari LaFerrari, and also an iconic Ferrari F40  which he allegedly sold for some £1.2million. And when road travel doesn’t cut it, he can be spotted relaxing on the 49-metre-long superyacht UU, which he is thought to own – though he is thinking of designing one himself. Eddie JordanThe late Eddie Jordan owned properties around the globeCredit: AlamyEddie Jordan bought the spectacular yacht Blush for £32millionCredit: BLUEI PRODUCTIONSFrom trading on the streets of Dublin to securing iconic sponsorship deals – once convincing delivery firm DHL to repaint all their vans with his famous “Jordan yellow” – the late Eddie Jordan certainly reaped the rewards of his hard graft.Among his lavish assets was Sunseeker’s biggest ever yacht, which he bought for a cool £32million back in 2014, named Blush.Also under his ownership was a stunning 45-metre sailing yacht that let him enjoy times spent near the coast.Over the years, he amassed a massive – and very valuable – collection of F1 memorabilia, including the very car Michael Schumacher made his debut in.And like other team owners, he had multiple properties around the world including a palatial manor in Surrey, a house in Ireland, and a pad in Monaco.He also owned a £750,000 flat in Tooting, London, which he raffled off in 2017 to the lucky winner of the £10-to-enter competition. Lawrence StrollHaving made a fortune in the luxury fashion industry selling shares in brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors, the Canadian businessman is thought to be worth over £2billion.The 65-year-old tycoon is also part-owner of the Aston Martin racing team – and is the dad of their star driver, 26-year-old Lance. Lawrence Stroll, owner of the Aston Martin team, made his fortune selling shares in luxury fashion brandsCredit: The TimesThe Canadian billionaire hosted his 60th birthday party on board his massive yacht Faith, which was attended by the likes of Sarah Ferguson and Catherine Zeta-JonesCredit: PAHe is the proud owner of the Ferrari 250 GTO, which is thought to be worth over £50millionCredit: RexThough based in Geneva, Stroll also owns homes in London, Quebec, and also a £70million pad on the Caribbean island on Mustique where he wed Brazilian stunner Raquel Diniz, 35.When it’s race weekend in Monaco, you can find him on board Faith – a 96-meter superyacht which Toto Wolff has said is the nicest boat he’s ever been on, worth around £200million.Featuring a glass-bottomed swimming pool, beach club, and wet bar, it hosted stars such as Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas for Stroll’s Great Gatsby-themed 60th birthday bash.Recent reports, however, suggest he’s sold the vessel on – downsizing to a 78-metre-long yacht instead.But it’s cars he really loves, amassing a collection reportedly worth over £140million.This includes a Ferrari 250 GTO, one of the most valuable cars in the world with a price tag north of £50million. Also in his garage are multiple LaFerraris, a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB he snapped up for a cool £20million, as well as McLarens and a Ford GT. Ron DennisSir Ron Dennis made a handsome penny from selling his McLaren sharesCredit: GettyWork started last week on his new £30million Berkshire mansionThe enormous property includes underground Roman-style baths, and a private tunnel to the River ThamesAlthough his split from McLaren was far from amicable, Sir Ron still walked away with £275million after selling his shares back in 2017.And what better way to enjoy retirement than to build yourself a £30million ‘Bond villain’ mega-mansion that’s set to be one of the most lavish homes in the country.Work began last week on the 77-year-old’s new Berkshire home for the, which will feature a Roman baths-style underground swimming pool and even a secret tunnel to the Thames to access his boat.There’s also extensive staff quarters, a room just for glassware and crockery, and a hair salon for when you don’t have time to nip down the massive drive to the local barbers. I am a pretty wealthy guy. So why wouldn’t I have some exotic cars?Sir Ron DennisIt goes without saying that the tycoon – who started life as a mechanic – is a massive car nut, once owning four go-karts built by McLaren for his own personal use.And planned for the new mansion is an underground garage complete with turntable to house his fleet of vehicles, including a McLaren worth £5million.“I love my McLarens,” he once told MailOnline.“I am a pretty wealthy guy. So why wouldn’t I have some exotic cars?”, he added.Aerial pictures taken of the plot near Henley-on-Thames last week show that diggers have moved in to start excavating the site. Mark MateschitzMark Mateschitz is one of the world’s youngest multi-billionairesCredit: GettyThanks to the Red Bull fortune, Mateschitz owns a private island in the South PacificCredit: http://www.laucala.comThe Austrian had enough spare cash to snap up Bernie Ecclestone’s extraordinary collection of motorsCredit: Tom Hartley Jnr/PA WireIt’s hard to avoid being rich when you’re Mark Mateschitz – son of Dietrich, co-founder of the Red Bull beverage and sporting empire who passed away three years ago.Dubbed Europe’s richest millennial, Forbes estimates the 32-year-old’s net worth to be north of £30.8billion, making him the 31st richest person on the planet.And Mateschitz has proved keen to carry on his father’s connection to F1, as evidenced by an enormous purchase he made just this month.The young billionaire is the new owner of Bernie Ecclestone’s private car collection – featuring 69 Grand Prix cars estimated to be together worth £500million.The Red Bull owner is thought to own multiple castles and villas across his native Austria, and his rumoured to have a £43.5million pad in swanky Knightsbridge.Also inherited from his dad is the island of Laucala, Fiji, a billionaire’s playground with a luxurious private resort – which even has its own airline to ferry visitors to and from the tropical paradise. And as if the Red Bull billions weren’t enough already, Mateschitz is currently dating heiress to the Swarovski crystal fortune, Victoria. Together, they’re working on a brand new getaway – a multi-million pound villa Marbella, close to where Victoria’s mother lives. Bernie EcclestoneBernie Ecclestone celebrating his 90th birthday with wife Fabiana FlosiCredit: Instagram @fabianaecclestoneEcclestone named his £30million superyacht after his daughter, PetraCredit: RexBernie Ecclestone’s daughter, Petra, is thought to be the owner of this giant 57,000 square ft. Beverly Hills home which was reportedly bought for $150millionCredit: Splash NewsHe enjoys lavish holidays with wife FabianaCredit: fabianaecclestone/InstagramThe F1 supremo himself has amassed billions of the decades, and the 94-year-old certainly knows how to spend it.As we revealed, he was once the owner of a car collection worth around £500millionAmong his property empire was a London home overlooking Kensington Palace, which sold for £57million, and he bought his daughter Tamara a £70million London mansion complete with gold bathtub and 50 staff. He’s now living in Switzerland in a £23million chalet called Le Lion, located in the resort town of Gstaad, along with his wife Fabiana Flosi.Ecclestone – who has an estimated net worth of £1.85billion – also owns not one, but two massive yachts.Read More on The SunThe £30million Petara, named after his daughter, can accommodate up to 12 guests and boasts a spacious interior.Then in 2022, he snapped up the 63 metre-long Force Blue for the bargain price of £6.6million, which features a spa, cinema, and nightclub onboard. 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      ‘She didn’t know who I was’ – Bellingham & Kane’s pal George Russell shares wild story of meeting influencer girlfriend

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      GEORGE RUSSELL will not rest until he becomes world champion.And he has Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane in his corner — who both know a thing or two about goals.George Russell has opened up on how he met girlfriend Carmen Montero MundtCredit: InstagramThe pair met after Russell’s mate could not make the dateCredit: InstagramRussell is a friend of Jude Bellingham, who gifted him a bespoke ‘George 63’ Real Madrid shirtRussell has also done some charity work with one of Harry Kane’s charitiesThe 27-year-old from Kings Lynn has never been one to be daunted by big reputations.Russell is back in Bahrain this weekend — scene of his sensational 2020 Mercedes debut as a stand-in for Lewis Hamilton, where he was only denied victory by a pit-stop blunder and a slow puncture.Handed a permanent drive by the team in 2022, he went wheel-to-wheel with ­seven-time world champ Hamilton during their three years as team-mates.And he told Max Verstappen to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine after the pair were hauled before stewards following a feisty Qatar Grand Prix in December.READ MORE IN F1Having done the hard miles with a struggling Williams team before making his mark alongside Hamilton, Russell now has the biggest opportunity of his career as he leads the iconic Mercedes team.There is still a feeling he remains in the shadow of fellow Brits Hamilton, now fulfilling his ambition of driving for Ferrari, and Lando Norris, this season’s F 1 world championship leader after four races.But Russell told SunSport: “I’m not underestimated by the people that know me in this paddock.“The paddock knows what I’m capable of and that’s why I remind myself of my very first race with Mercedes five years ago.Most read in MotorsportBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK“I have been team-mates with the greatest of all time for three years.“And my stats speak for themselves, so I don’t think anybody in the sport should underestimate me.”George Russell furiously hits back at Max Verstappen after the F1 world champion’s stinging criticism of him Wolves fan Russell has taken inspiration from his friendships with England football heroes Bellingham and Kane.Bellingham gifted the driver with a bespoke ‘George 63’ Real Madrid shirt, marking his car number, earlier this year.Russell said: “I’ve met Harry, I did some work with one of his charities.“I always keep up to date with the Bayern Munich scores and his personal stats — and I’m desperate for them to win the league.“Me and Bellingham started to get to know each other recently.“He’s a great guy, we have an ­adidas connection and I’ve promised to get him to a race this year.”While Kane and Bellingham hope to land England’s first trophy since 1966 after a string of near misses, Russell will not rest until he has secured Formula One’s ultimate honour.Asked if he is satisfied with his progress since his Mercedes drive, he admitted: “Yes and no because I want to be a world champion, I want to be fighting every year.“But it would be irrational of me to say I’m not where I want to be, because in these past five years I could not have fought for a world championship.Carmen hails from Jerez in southern SpainCredit: InstagramHe admitted Carmen had no idea who he was when they first metCredit: Instagram“I didn’t have the machinery to do that, the same way as Lando for two years did not have the machinery and now he does.”Russell keeps his circle small but his rock is his fashion influencer girlfriend Carmen Montero Mundt, who has been with him every step of the way for the past five years.Montero Mundt, 26, who hails from Jerez in southern Spain — where Russell raced many times in his younger years — was supposed to meet a friend of his for a date in London in 2020.Russell revealed: “My mate couldn’t make it, so I thought I’ll swing along to see how it goes.“She told me she’s from the south of Spain and she wouldn’t ever expect someone to know the small place she’s from.“I knew exactly where she was from, so it was quite coincidental.”Montero Mundt attends nearly every race with Russell and was by his side when he was left hyper-ventilating after overheating in the Singapore Grand Prix last year.Russell lost NINE POUNDS in the extreme heat conditions during the race and had to recover in an ice bath afterwards.He added: “I’m so fortunate with Carmen because we met before the craziness of F 1. We met organically and it wasn’t a set up.But Russell won’t rest until he wins a World Drivers ChampionshipCredit: AFPGeorge Russell F1 career stats (pre-Bahrain 2025)Races – 132 Wins – 3Podiums – 17Pole positions – 5Fastest laps – 8 Williams 2019 – 2021Mercedes 2022 – 2025*F2 Champion in 2018 – field including Lando Norris and Alex AlbonGP3 Series champion in 2017“She didn’t know who I was, she didn’t know F 1 and wasn’t even bothered by any of that. She is a very down-to-earth individual and we share values.“She’s such a hard worker, wants to achieve so much and she really recognises what it takes in my position to be at this level.“Having her on this journey means an awful lot to me because even though we are living our dream it can be a lonely lifestyle.“Having somebody to help you disconnect from that actually brings performance as well.”Russell is out of contract at the end of the season but is in no rush to put pen to paper on a new deal.He said: “I know that I’m going to be in this sport next year and I only want to focus on the performance.“If a driver starts stressing about his contract it shows they may not have the confidence in their ability.“I’m certain I have no concerns about my contract situation.”Russell is going about his business impressively enough this season.Read More on The SunHe trails third-place Oscar Piastri by just four points in the standings and could do with another big drive in Bahrain to close in on the top-two of Norris and Verstappen.And in a season which is already shaping up to be the most open for years, there is every reason to think Russell can fulfil his world title dream. 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      Lewis Hamilton to get new team-mate for a day at Bahrain Grand Prix due to little known F1 rule

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      LEWIS HAMILTON will drive with a new team-mate at the Bahrain Grand Prix, it has been revealed.Ferrari are one of six teams who are using the next Formula One race to fulfil a little-known rule.Lewis Hamilton will have a new team-mate during the Bahrain Grand Prix weekendCredit: RexDino Beganovic will drive in FP1 for Ferrari in Bahrain alongside HamiltonCredit: AlamyMax Verstappen will also not run the session after winning the Japanese GPCredit: RexHe is being replaced by F2 star Ayuma IwasaCredit: RexInstead of Charles Leclerc, 40-year-old Hamilton will instead partner 21-year-old Swedish driver Dino Beganovic for Free Practice One.Likewise, Red Bull will also bring a new driver to their lineup for the Friday session.Fresh off of his win at the Japanese Grand Prix, Max Verstappen will give way to Japanese F2 star Ayumu Iwasa for the session.It means Yuki Tsunoda, who had a tough first race with Red Bull after swapping with Liam Lawson, will have his third team-mate of the season – even though this is only for one session.READ MORE IN F1Mercedes, Aston Martin, Haas and Williams have also announced they will be running a rookie driver, with George Russell, Fernando Alonso, Ollie Bearman and Carlos Sainz respectively all stepping down.Russell is giving up his seat for Danish youngster Frederik Vesti, while former F2 champion Felipe Drugovich is replacing Alonso. Bearman, only a rookie this season himself, is giving up his seat to Ryo Hirakawa and Sainz will cede his seat to British racer Luke Browning.The sweeping changes come as part of a requirement for all F1 teams to run rookies – drivers with fewer than two Grand Prix to their name – at least twice in each of their cars in practice sessions this season.Most read in MotorsportBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKTeams have had to run a rookie in at least once in each of their cars in FP1 since 2022, with this season seeing the requirement doubled.Alpine already completed one of these mandatory runs last weekend when Ryo Hirakawa ran in place of Jack Doohan – a contributing factor to Doohan’s 185mph crash in FP2.Meet F1 2025 rookies including star gifted first go-kart by Michael Schumacher and Brit teen who’s already a millionaire The reason for Bahrain being such a popular choice for rookie running is due to the known quantities of it.Teams already have lots of data from the track after pre-season testing was completed at the Sakhir circuit.The Middle East race also represents the first race weekend of the season where UK fans will not have to be out of bed early on Sunday morning.Instead, the Bahrain race will take place at 4pm UK time, with qualifying on Saturday running from 5pm.McLaren’s Lando Norris leads the World Drivers Championship from Verstappen by a single point after the Dutchman’s imperious win at last weekend’s Japan GP.Bahrain GP FP1 rookiesRookies participating in FP1 in Bahrain this weekend:Dino Beganovic, Ferrari – for Charles LeclercAyuma Iwasa, Red Bull – for Max VerstappenFrederik Vesti, Mercedes – for George RussellFelipe Drugovich, Aston Martin – for Fernando AlonsoRyo Hirakawa, Haas – for Ollie BearmanLuke Browning, Williams – for Carlos Sainz More

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      Lewis Hamilton’s F1 replacement handed keys to £165k Mercedes – but he’s BANNED from driving it for three years

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      KIMI ANTONELLI enjoyed a record-breaking Formula One Japanese Grand Prix after being given the keys for a stunning new car.However, he is not allowed to drive it on home soil for THREE years thanks to a new law which came into effect last December.Kimi Antonelli picked up the keys to his stunning new Mercedes before the Japanese GPThe Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S is worth £165,000Credit: GettyBut Italian road laws mean he is banned from driving itCredit: GettyAntonelli, 18, is quietly having an impressive debut season with Mercedes after scoring points in each of his first three races with the Silver Arrows since replacing Lewis Hamilton.Before his sixth-place finish at Suzuka last Sunday, the Italian was given the keys to a striking dark blue Mercedes AMG GT 63 S, worth £165,000.He was seen posing alongside the motor – which can go from 0 to 62mph in 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 199mph – in pictures released by Gazzetta dello Sport.But Antonelli, who passed his driving test in January, will not be able to drive it back home due to strict Italian road laws.READ MORE IN F1Italian law prevents new drivers from operating internal combustion cars with a power limit over 75kW during their first three years on the road, with his new drive having a limit of up to 600kW.Despite this, Antonelli does not have to wait long to get back behind the wheel and find the thrill of speed with the Bahrain Grand Prix coming up next weekend.At 18 years and 224 days, Antonelli’s ten-lap stint leading the Japanese GP saw him become the youngest race leader in F1 history, overtaking Max Verstappen by four days.After pitting onto hard tyres the Mercedes driver later clocked the fastest lap to also beat Verstappen’s title for the youngest driver to achieve a fastest lap.Most read in MotorsportBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKSpeaking after the race, won by Verstappen ahead of McLaren pair Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, he said: “I am much happier, it was much better than China, and we showed some good pace and consistency, but the first 15 laps were a bit of a struggle, but once I got in free air, the pace improved.”Qualifying was a big click because I was more able to feel the car and push it, and today was another step forward.F1 suspended after fire at Japanese Grand Prix as three red flags cause chaos during practice “I am really looking forward to exploring even more in the next few weekends, because now I have the feeling that I can play with the car, which is something I couldn’t really do in the previous weekends because I was definitely tense whilst driving. “I’m getting more experience with the tyres and the car itself, so I am able to feel it more. “The plan was different, it was to stop earlier, but as the pace was improving lap-by-lap, we decided to stay out because we had not threat from behind and just tried something different. “I’m not going to lie, at one point on the mediums, it started drizzling and I was hoping for some rain, but it didn’t come. But at the same time, I cannot complain because it was a good experience.”Antonelli has so far collected P4, P8 and P6 finishes in F1 feature races, placing him fifth in the World Drivers Championship standings with 30 points, 15 behind team-mate George Russell and 10 more than Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.He is one of six rookies on the grid this season, including Isack Hadjar, who left Sky Sports F1 pundits in hysterics after describing an injury he had in a “sensitive area” and Ollie Bearman. More

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      Max Verstappen makes history as he pips Norris to fourth consecutive Japanese Grand Prix in first Red Bull win of season

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN returned to his usual spot as he took his first win of the season in Japan.The Red Bull driver edged out Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri the same way he did in qualifying as he won his fourth consecutive Japanese Grand Prix – the first driver in history to do so at Suzuka.Max Verstappen won the Japanese Grand Prix to become the first driver in history to win four consecutive GP’s at SuzukaCredit: ReutersVerstappen picked up Red Bull’s first win of the seasonCredit: ReutersVerstappen had earned pole position in qualification by setting an “incredibly rewarding” record lap round the Suzuka Circuit.And he used that advantage to nip right in front of Norris from the off, staying in front of the Brit for the entire race.In fact, Verstappen was leading the pack for the entire race, barring the laps he used to catch up following his pit stop.It was that pit stop that looked like it could have been a turning point, as both the Dutchman and Norris came in at the same time.READ MORE F1 NEWSChampionship leader Norris looked like he was going to squeeze past Verstappen as the pair returned to the track, but instead got caught in the grass and lost a second on his rival.From there, both Norris and Piastri were spending the rest of the race trying to make up ground on the four-time world champion.Birthday boy Piastri was actually looking the faster of the two McLaren drivers, but a decision was made to leave Norris in second to keep the 25-year-old in top spot in the Drivers’ Standings.Verstappen crossed the line in 1:22:06.983, with Norris trailing behind by just 1.423 seconds and Piastri taking third spot by 2.129.Most read in MotorsportLando Norris was caught in the grass as he came out of his pit stopCredit: GettyMcLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri propped up Verstappen on the podiumCredit: RexCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSCharles Leclerc took fourth for Ferrari, while Mercedes pair George Russell and Kimi Antonelli made up fifth and sixth place.That makeup is the exact same as yesterday’s qualification.Sky Sports F1 pundits in hysterics as star reveals he ‘almost crash’ after bizarre injury in ‘sensitive area’Meaning it’s the first time in history that the top six has stayed the exact same on a permanent race track.Lewis Hamilton was the best of the rest in seventh spot, but still finished well behind any kind of podium spot.Verstappen said on the team radio: “What an unbelievable weekend. What a turnaround. We win together, we keep pushing together.”While in a post-race interview, he added: “The two McLarens were pushing me very hard. It started off quite tough this weekend and we had to keep improving the car, but today it was in top form.”It’s important to always maximise your performance and I think we did that this weekend”.Norris was asked after the race his thought on the incident that saw him head through the track-side grass after the pit stop, admitting it’s just part of the race.He said: “Max is the last guy I expect to give me space. In a good way, in a competitive racing way.”Read More on The SunElsewhere 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli managed the fastest lap around the track in a promising start to life on the track.While Yuki Tsunoda improved on his qualification disappointment with a 12th placed finish, ending the race five spots above the man he replaced at Red Bull, Liam Lawson.Norris spoke about his incident on the grassCredit: AFP More

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      Sky Sports F1 pundits in hysterics as star reveals he ‘almost crashed’ after bizarre injury in ‘sensitive area’

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      FORMULA ONE rookie sensation Isack Hadjar “almost crashed” after injuring a sensitive area of his body during qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix.The Racing Bulls youngster repeatedly complained over the team radio that he was in agony after his seat belts twisted on Saturday morning.Isack Hadjar said he ‘almost crashed’ after injuring a sensitive area of his body during qualifying in GPCredit: Sky SportsThe Racing Bulls driver had to jump out between qualifying sessions to be helped outHis team worked frantically to fix the issueHadjar disrupted the team’s original plan by returning to the garage towards the end of Q1, as mechanics frantically tried to fix the problem. The 20-year-old was sent back out while still in pain, but he somehow managed to find a lap quick enough to lift him out of the bottom five. He then had his six-point safety harness re-positioned and went on to battle through to Q3 and pip Lewis Hamilton to seventh fastest ahead of Sunday’s race.After qualifying, Hadjar revealed that he was so disorientated he nearly crashed the car – which would’ve been for the second time this season.READ MORE F1 NEWSBut he found little sympathy from the Sky Sports panel of pundits, as presenter Simon Lazenby said: “I’m just going to cross my legs here and ask you what was going on?”And Hadjar told Sky: “It was a nightmare, man. Honestly. I’m really proud of myself and the lap I did in Q1, with what I had, unbelievable.””I realised straight in Turn 3. I was like ‘OK, this is not going well’, and I nearly crashed actually. But I’m OK.The panel were laughing even harder when Naomi Schiff pointed out: “This was not an issue I ever dealt with when I was racing.”Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSPundit Jacques Villeneuve, who was already giggling, begged him not to go into “too much detail” on the live broadcast.Drivers normally stay in the cockpit for the duration of qualifying, but drastic action was needed and Hadjar jumped out between sessions.Yuki Tsunoda explains why he is the right driver for Red Bull’s Formula 1 team Hadjar somehow managed to power through and qualified seventh – ahead of Lewis HamiltonDuring Q1 Hadjar had made it clear just how painful the problem was as he spoke with race engineer Pierre Hamelin over the radio.He said: “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, f***ing hell. I mean, I just can’t focus, I have so much lap time. It’s just not driveable.”The French-Algerian star later reported that the belts strapping him in were “twisted” which seemed to be the cause of his discomfort. Cameras mounted on board his car showed him trying to adjust the belts while driving whenever he could,TV footage then showed Racing Bulls staff trying to resolve the issue in the garage.On several occasions he winced and tightly closed his eyes because of the pain he was feeling as his mechanics tried to sort out his seat belt.Hadjar fears were understandable after he crashed on his F1 debut during a formation lap at the Australian GP – leaving him in tears.Japanese GP Qualifying: Top 101) Max Verstappen, Red Bull2) Lando Norris, McLaren3) Oscar Piastri, McLaren4) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari5) George Russell, Mercedes6) Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes7) Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls8) Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari9) Alex Albon, Williams10) Oliver Bearman, HaasMeanwhile, Hadjar’s newly returning team-mate Liam Lawson – who was dropped by Red Bull last week – qualified in 14th.But he ironically beat his replacement driver Yuki Tsunoda, who drove the RB21 for the first time ever at his home GP.Meanwhile, Red Bull star Max Verstappen produced a major upset after snatching pole position from McLaren’s Lando Norris.Verstappen delivered a time of 1:26.983 – the fastest lap in Suzuka history.The Dutchman took a fourth successive Suzuka pole as the top three were left separated by less than half a tenth of a second.Read More on The SunRed Bull team principal Christian Horner said: “That was one of his best laps in qualifying ever. We did not expect that. Outstanding.”Max extracted every ounce of performance. He got the most out of it today and getting that pole position was completely against the form we had been seeing. A big lift for the team.”Max Verstappen produced a major upset after snatching pole positionCredit: Rex More