Mercedes-Benz

Subterms

    More stories

    • 225 Shares159 Views

      in Motorsport

      Max Verstappen fined £43k for TOUCHING F1 title rival Lewis Hamilton’s rear wing after qualifying for Brazil GP

      by

      MAX VERSTAPPEN was slapped with a £43,000 fine for touching title rival Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes car after qualifying at the Brazilian Grand Prix.Verstappen was caught examining the rear wing of Hamilton’s Mercedes in a fan video which circulated on social media after finishing second to the Brit in Friday’s session.
      Red Bull star Max Verstappen was caught touching Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes carCredit: Twitter
      Fan footage was released showing Max Verstappen examining Lewis Hamilton’s rear wingCredit: Twitter
      Hamilton’s car was ultimately seemed to have broken technical regulations concerning DRS, leading to him being forced to start Saturday’s sprint race from the pits.
      But that did not spare Verstappen, who copped a hefty fine for breaching Parc Ferme rules.
      Rules state that under Parc Ferme, only the officials assigned may enter the paddock and ‘no operation, checking, tuning or repair is allowed unless authorised by the same officials or by the applicable regulations’.
      Verstappen was called to see stewards on Saturday morning in Sao Paulo and was joined by Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley.
      The meeting lasted less than half an hour and it was confirmed later that the Dutchman has been fined.
      Verstappen could not take full advantage of Hamilton’s disqualification as he was beaten by Valtteri Bottas in Saturday’s 23-lap sprint race – despite being bumped up to pole.

      But two extra world championship points means the Red Bull whizkid now has a 21 point lead over his closest rival in the title standings, with four races left.
      Hamilton, who was forced to start in the pit lane, recovered with a stunning surge through the field to finish an astonishing fifth, keeping his hopes alive.
      Britain’s seven-time world champ will start tenth on the grid for Sunday’s 71-lap race due to a separate five-place penalty for taking a new engine.
      Max Verstappen saw title rival Lewis Hamilton getting disqualified soon afterCredit: Reuters
      Lewis Hamilton enjoys action packed break as F1 ace gets pelted by bugs in jeep in wild ride More

    • 213 Shares149 Views

      in Motorsport

      Lewis Hamilton title woe as Brit faces DISQUALIFICATION after trouncing Max Verstappen for Brazilian GP sprint pole

      by

      LEWIS HAMILTON’S hopes of a record-breaking eighth F1 world title could be up in smoke after a potential breach of the regulations during qualifying in Brazil.The Brit trounced championship rival Max Verstappen in Sao Paolo to earn pole position for Saturday’s sprint race – and a chance to claw back two points.
      Lewis Hamilton crushed Friday qualifying to get pole for the sprint in Brazil but could now start lastCredit: Getty
      Max Verstappen was not too disappointed to come in second ahead of the weekendCredit: Getty
      But Hamilton’s joy was short-lived after news his Mercedes is pending an FIA investigation after it opened more than it should when DRS was activated, giving him an extra burst of speed.
      If Hamilton’s Silver Arrow has breached the technical regulations he could be disqualified.
      This would see him start at the back of the grid for sprint qualifying, which will determine the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
      Hamilton already trails Verstappen by 19 points and the Dutchman could open up a bigger gap on the defending champion if Hamilton is to start the Brazilian Grand Prix from the back of the field.
      The FIA have summoned a representative of Mercedes to the stewards to discuss the incident.
      To add salt to the wounds, Hamilton will also be met with a five-place grid penalty on Sunday after taking on a new engine.

      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

      Meaning any ground he makes up in the 100km sprint qualifying race will all be undone for the Grand Prix.
      It has overshadowed what appeared to be a turning point for Mercedes in the championship, after Hamilton showed incredible pace to beat Verstappen by 0.4 seconds.
      Before the rear wing was reported to the FIA, Hamilton was amazed to see how much Mercedes had improved since the Mexico GP.
      He said: “We’ve been working so hard to get this car right, it’s been tough.
      “So to finally get the car feeling like it did today, it feels great and it’s just a testament to all the hard work in the garage and at home to try and pull out everything we have in the car.
      “The last two poles I’ve had, I’ve had a penalty. So it’s a bit unfortunate to have the penalty but it is what it is.
      “I don’t know if the pace will translate to the race, but I’ve been going from P3 and I sit there for the whole hour trying to make the right set up changes in practice and the anxiety you get is crazy.
      “A lot of times I get it wrong and today I got it right and the car was really nice to drive.
      “It was everything I wanted and then that enabled me to keep pushing and you could just see purple, purple, purple and I was just gaining each time.
      “I don’t know how we can go from one track where they are half a second ahead to then being behind, but anyway they will be very strong in the race tomorrow and I hope Valtteri [Bottas] gets a good start.”
      Although Verstappen wasn’t shocked to see his rival thriving with his fresh Mercedes-powered engine.
      Verstappen said: “Naturally when they take a new engine they have more power for the weekend.
      “For me it’s not a big shock, I am just happy to be second, that’s a good position to start from.
      “Of course you want to be closer but sometimes you just have to be realistic and there wasn’t much more in it.”
      Hamilton’s ex-team-mate Rosberg reveals why he couldn’t drive two laps in F1 car More

    • 263 Shares139 Views

      in Motorsport

      Lewis Hamilton in huge F1 world title blow as Mercedes star takes five-place grid penalty for engine change at Brazil GP

      by

      SEVEN-TIME world champion Lewis Hamilton WILL take a five-place grid penalty in Sao Paolo.The Brit’s car requires an engine change for this weekend’s Brazilian GP.
      Hamilton faces yet another setback in his quest for an eighth world titleCredit: AFP
      It makes his task of overhauling Max Verstappen’s 19 point lead in the standings even more challenging.
      The penalty comes into force after the Sprint race, meaning he will start that in the place that he qualifies on Friday.
      Qualifying is on Friday evening after Practice One, followed by Practice Two and the Sprint Race on Saturday night.
      So the best possible place Hamilton can start from on Sunday’s race is fifth on the grid.
      It’s the fifth time Hamilton has had an engine change this season – two over the three allowed swaps.
      He previously changed his engine unit at the Turkish GP last month and eventually finished in fifth place.
      But with SunSport predicting a Max Verstappen win even before the penalty Hamilton can’t afford to finish that low down and lose yet more ground on the Dutchman.

      When asked on Thursday about a possible penalty Hamilton remained coy, saying: “I can’t really comment at the moment.
      “I don’t think the engines have even arrived. As far as I am aware currently my engine is fine.
      “I will find out obviously later on. We’ve not even done an engineering [meeting] yet.”
      But now the engine change has been confirmed and the Brit will have to take a penalty.
      It comes as a blow to the seven-time world champ with just four races left on the calendar.
      Abu Dhabi hosts the season finale on December 12 after races in Brazil, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
      But the title may well already be decided by the time the circuit touches down at Yas Marina.
      Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen react to dangerous crash More

    • 275 Shares179 Views

      in Motorsport

      Final four F1 races predicted – can Lewis Hamilton claw back 19 points on Max Verstappen and win an eighth world title?

      by

      WE are into the final four races of this epic F1 season. A total of 19-points separate championship leader Max Verstappen from title holder, Lewis Hamilton.
      A steely-eyed Hamilton with Verstappen in the backgroundCredit: PA
      The pair have been going back-and-forth all seasonCredit: EPA
      Hamilton, who has won the title a joint-record seven times, has never overturned such a points deficit to land the world crown.
      And in what would offer another first, incredibly, Verstappen has never won ANY car-racing title before.
      Here SunSport looks at the four races and tries to predict where both the drivers’ and constructor’s championship titles will be heading.

      CURRENT STANDINGS
      Driver Championship

      Verstappen 312.5
      Hamilton 293.5

      Constructors Championship

      Mercedes 478.5
      Red Bull Racing 477.5

      BRAZIL
      THINK of Brazil, and you think of Ayrton Senna.
      The wonderful Sao Paulo track really is a special place that has served up some thrilling races.
      Hamilton finished third in Brazil last time out after knocking Red Bull’s Alex Albon off the trackCredit: AFP or licensors
      In recent years, it has been a happy hunting ground for Mercedes, however, in 2019, the last time it held a GP, Verstappen was the winner.
      Worth noting also, that Hamilton has only won twice in Brazil.
      This year it would appear to suit the Red Bull car, or more importantly their Honda engine.
      However, weather can change things in Sao Paulo and a bit of rain would redraw the form book.
      That said, it is due to be sunny and dry on Sunday and that would suit Verstappen and Red Bull down to the ground.

      VERDICT: VERSTAPPEN WIN

      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

      QATAR
      NEW track for 2021, the Moto GP circuit was the last race to be bolted on to the end of the calendar to take the tally to 22 races.
      Little is known about how F1 cars will perform in Doha.
      Sure, they have all done simulations and the top teams have all sent representatives to make a personal check, but there is nothing that will be guaranteed until practice starts.
      With that unknown comes uncertainty and in that case, it is always best to look towards experience.
      Hamilton has bags of it, and if he was looking to stop the rot and keep the title race interesting, this could be his best chance of doing just that.

      VERDICT: VERSTAPPEN WIN

      SAUDI ARABIA
      ANOTHER new track, and another tight one to call.
      Interestingly, this circuit – built in 12 months – promises to be the second quickest (after Monza) of the year and has been designed to mirror the fast-flowing corners of Silverstone, home of the British GP.
      Look back to both those races this year and one thing sticks out.
      Crashes involving Hamilton and Verstappen.
      Could there be a repeat in Saudi Arabia? You’d not bet against it.
      That said, if it is kept clean, the Red Bull top speed could be too much for Hamilton and Merc to overturn.

      VERDICT: VERSTAPPEN WIN

      This season’s title race could go down to the wireCredit: EPA
      ABU DHABI
      THE final race of the year, but will it hold the decider?
      Not based on the above predictions, but if it did, then this offers Hamilton another chance.
      The Brit has won there five times before, including victory at Yas Marina in 2019.
      Tight to call, as the power advantage will not count for much for Red Bull.
      Downforce, experience and technique will be key, in which case, it could be Hamilton’s.
      Even if the title is won by Abu Dhabi, it would be a good marker for either driver to set down as they head into 2022.

      VERDICT: HAMILTON WIN

      Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen react to dangerous crash More

    • 263 Shares99 Views

      in Motorsport

      ‘We will be in trouble’ – Lewis Hamilton fears rival Max Verstappen’s speed as Red Bull star closes in on title

      by

      LEWIS HAMILTON has admitted Mercedes will be in ‘a lot of trouble’ if Max Verstappen and Red Bull maintain their current pace.The seven-time world champion could only manage second place behind his world title rival in Mexico last weekend, meaning 24-year-old Verstappen increased his lead in the drivers’ championship to 19 points.
      Verstappen extended his world championship lead over Hamilton in Mexico last weekendCredit: AP
      The Dutchman has five races left to hold onto his advantageCredit: PA
      Hamilton has only managed to outperform the Dutchman in one of the last six races as Red Bull begin to get the upper hand in the tussle with Mercedes.
      And, with just four races of the F1 season remaining, Hamilton has conceded that he has fears over the impressive speed of Red Bull.
      Speaking via GP Fans after the Mexico GP, he said: “There’s still four races [but] obviously 19 points is a lot of points and I think he’s had a lot of wins this year.
      “I think today with their superior speed, if they were to carry that into the next ones then we will be in trouble.
      “I don’t know if they’ll be using that huge wing that they had on today, naturally we’ll find out when we get there, but I hope we’re closer.”
      Hamilton knows he now needs to win as many races as possible to keep his title hopes alive.

      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

      But Red Bull’s pace is making that incredibly difficult for the Brit as he struggles for answers against the supremely talented Verstappen.
      “I naturally feel I need to be winning every race, because we need those extra points, not to lose those points, to try and regain,” he added.
      “That was the goal going into the last race and the race before that and before that, and here this weekend.
      “But they’re just too quick, so giving it absolutely everything we’ve got but unfortunately it’s not enough at the moment to compete with them.”

      🏁 F1 2021 calendar: practice times, dates and racetrack info
      Hamilton is searching for a record-breaking eighth drivers’ championship, a feat which would take him beyond the seven titles won by Michael Schumacher.
      Verstappen, 12 years Hamilton’s junior, is looking to secure his first world championship.
      Next up for the drivers is a trip to Brazil as they tackle the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo.
      Along with the Hamilton-Verstappen battle, the constructors championship also remains an extremely exciting fight.
      Following the Mexico GP, Mercedes lead Red Bull by just one point as they head into the final stages of the season. More

    • 263 Shares179 Views

      in Motorsport

      ‘Their car is far superior’ – Lewis Hamilton insists he cannot do anything to stop Max Verstappen from nearing F1 title

      by

      LEWIS HAMILTON admitted he was powerless to close the gap on world championship leader Max Verstappen at the Mexico City Grand Prix.Verstappen triumphed on Sunday as he finished 16.5 seconds ahead of Hamilton in what proved to be a major success for Red Bull as Sergio Perez came third in his country.
      Lewis Hamilton finished second behind Max Verstappen at the Mexico City Grand PrixCredit: Rex
      Lewis Hamilton admitted Max Verstappen’s Red Bull car was “far superior”Credit: Rex
      The British superstar couldn’t catch up with the Dutch driver and admitted his car is “far superior” as he now trails by 19 points in the Formula One rankings.
      Hamilton said after the race: “First, congratulations to Max.
      “Their car is far superior this weekend and there was nothing we could really do about it.
      “I gave it absolutely everything and it was a great fight with Sergio at the end. I was able to at least get second.
      “It shows how fast their car is when Sergio is right behind me and able to follow that closely.
      “He did a great job and he was applying that pressure and just kept going. I really enjoyed the race still.”

      Verstappen gained the lead early on into the race after Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas lost his lead by spinning at the first corner.
      But the 24-year-old remains focused on the task at hand insisting there is “still a long way to go”.
      Verstappen said: “The start? It was nice, three cars wide, and it was all about just trying to brake as late as you can.
      “I kept it on the track, came from third to first, and that was basically what made my race because I could just focus on myself, and we had incredible pace in the car.
      “There’s still a long way to go in the championship. It’s of course looking good but it can also turn around very quickly.
      “I’m looking forward to Brazil next week. I have very good memories there.”
      Hamilton’s ex-team-mate Rosberg reveals why he couldn’t drive two laps in F1 car More

    • 250 Shares99 Views

      in Motorsport

      Lewis Hamilton vows there will be no dirty tactics with Brit determined to fight fair in Max Verstappen title battle

      by

      LEWIS HAMILTON wants a fair fight with Max Verstappen — even if it costs him his Formula One crown.Red Bull’s Verstappen leads seven-time champ Hamilton by just 12 points ahead of Sunday’s Mexico City Grand Prix.
      Lewis Hamilton has vowed there will be no dirty tricks when he faces off with Max VerstappenCredit: Splash
      Triple world champ Jackie Stewart has branded the pair too “cocky” and says they are “overdoing” their battle on the track following two crashes — at Silverstone and Monza — this season.
      And Hamilton does not want any further shunts which could wreck either man’s championship dreams.
      His Mercedes boss Toto Wolff also hinted that if the title fight goes down to the last race in Abu Dhabi next month, both drivers would “absolutely be going to try to do the same as in the Senna-Prost years”.
      That was a reference to when Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost collided on two occasions when fighting for the title in the final race, while Michael Schumacher denied Damon Hill a world crown in 1994 when they clashed on the track.
      Hamilton declared: “We have never won a championship in that way. I have never won a championship in that way and I wouldn’t want to.
      “I am here to win in the right way — and that is through sheer skill, determination and hard work.
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
      “You know how I have won my world championships in the past and I have always wanted to win it in the right way.
      “And if you are going to lose it, you lose it in the right way also, with dignity, giving it your all and doing things the right way. If it doesn’t work out, you live to fight another day.”

      Stewart claimed Verstappen “would have died” if the Silverstone smash had occurred in his era when F1 was less safe.
      Hamilton added: “At the core of everything has to be respect. When I hear what comes out of drivers’ mouths, it is not good for the kids watching.
      “I am just trying to keep calm and be respectful for the drivers I am fighting.
      “I have been here a long time and Max has not won a championship for a long time. I know what it is like going for your first championship in F1.
      Max Verstappen leads Lewis Hamilton by just 12 points ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix.Credit: Rex

      “I know all the pressures that come with it — so it is nothing less than expected from him.
      “I’m just trying to lead by example because I know I have a lot of youngsters looking at what I do and say.”
      Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian GP bosses insist their new track will be ready in time for their inaugural F1 race on December 5 — despite it still resembling a building site.
      Some sections of track are yet to be laid and the main grandstand looks like a shell of a structure.
      But Saudi race chief Martin Whitaker, who only got the go-ahead 12 months ago, told SunSport: “Given that the Jeddah Corniche Circuit is being built in record time, it was always the case that timings would be tight.
      “But construction remains on schedule and will be completed on time ahead.”
      Lewis Hamilton stuns group of kids by ditching disguise and giving inspirational speech More

    • 238 Shares109 Views

      in Motorsport

      ‘Race hard, but no contact’ – George Russell must respect ‘boundaries’ when he joins Hamilton at Mercedes, warns Wolff

      by

      GEORGE RUSSELL has been warned by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff he must respect ‘certain boundaries’ when he joins from Williams.The 23-year-old driver was confirmed as Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate for the 2022 season last month, replacing Valtteri Bottas.
      Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has told George Russell he must respect ‘certain boundaries’Credit: PA
      Williams driver Russell will take Valtteri Bottas’ seat at Mercedes next yearCredit: PA
      And the British star has declared that he is not joining Mercedes to be Hamilton’s No 2.
      Having previously been referred to as a “wingman” for the 36-year-old Hamilton by Wolff, Russell stated he intends to compete for the Formula One World Championship with his compatriot.
      And former F1 star David Coulthard believes that the pair will clash due to Russell’s eagerness to win.
      It is something that Wolff is desperate to avoid following Hamilton’s fiery rivalry with ex-team-mate Nico Rosberg, before the German quit in 2016 after winning the world title.
      Not looking for history to repeat itself, Wolff has insisted that no driver is bigger than the team.
      Wolff told the Daily Mail: “This is Mercedes. We have no place for the genius jerk. Even a superstar driver has to respect team values.

      “But with Lewis, we’ve been eight years together now. He’s not an arrogant, spoiled little kid.
      “He’s a mature racer who has won seven titles, six with us, so we can take those moments, it’s part of our role to be a trash bin for the driver sometimes.
      “In the car, you can get very frustrated and emotional. You are racing at 200mph, in the rain, you have no idea about the overall picture of the race and decisions are being made that you cannot understand. In the early years, I would bite back at Lewis.
      “He was very young and I had to make the point that I wouldn’t allow the driver to bad-mouth the team. But we’ve been moved on from there a long time.
      “Still, I wouldn’t hesitate in the future if a driver talked bad about the team or wasn’t appropriate, I would first deal with it internally and if that didn’t yield results I would take the driver out of the car. On the bench, yes.
      “I don’t think that would ever be Lewis. He’s a team member, not a contractor, a driver that comes and goes.
      “We’ve been together since 2013. We know each other so well, there’s so much trust and respect. I was close to putting a driver on the bench when it was Lewis and Rosberg. Twice. In 2014 and 2016.
      “I said I would judge over 48 hours whether one needed to sit out. I still don’t know who it would have been.
      British star Russell has stated he isn’t joining Mercedes to be Hamilton’s No2Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      “But that was long ago. It is unimaginable given the relationship I have with Lewis today that it could happen now.”
      He added: “And George Russell is another intelligent young man. He will slot into the team but that doesn’t mean he has to hold back when driving. You can’t expect a lion in the car and a puppy out of it.
      “But there are certain boundaries within the team that must be respected and George knows them very well. Once the lights are green, only the drivers are responsible. 
      “I can’t interfere, manage, or remote control them, but one thing is of ultimate importance — don’t touch. That’s your responsibility. You can race hard, but no contact.

      🏁 F1 2021 calendar: practice times, dates and racetrack info
      “I’ve been there before with Nico when it wasn’t just a rivalry. There was a lot of animosity and that’s not going to happen.
      “This is about showing respect for each other and it can be hard because if you race on the same spot on the race track you will eventually come across each other — but there is an integrity we expect that no one is ever bigger than the team.
      “The drivers know that. You represent 2,000 people who work for us and 350,000 people who work for Mercedes. So again, you are the solar system and the Mercedes star — that’s the sun.”
      Lewis Hamilton enjoys action packed break as F1 ace gets pelted by bugs in jeep in wild ride More