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      F1 Chinese Grand Prix LIVE RESULT: Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc disqualified after Oscar Piastri won race – latest

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      MCLAREN’S dominant start to the new season has continued in China!Oscar Piastri started on pole, and he cruised to his third victory in F1, with his teammate Lando Norris finishing right behind him in second.More drama followed after the race as Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly were both disqualified for an underweight car.While Lewis Hamilton, who finished sixth, was also dealt a DQ for excessive plank wear underneath the car, meaning Ferrari leave the Grand Prix with nothing.Podium: 1 Oscar Piastri, 2 Lando Norris, 3 George RussellBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSFollow our live blog for updates…Where next?Well, after a dramatic day in China, we have to wait two weeks for the next Grand Prix!Copy linkCopiedFerrari react to disqualificationsThe Italian team have gone away from the Chinese Grand Prix with nothing, following DQs to both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.Ferrari have posted the following statement on the matter: “Following the FIA post-race scrutineering both our cars were found not to conform to the regulations for different reasons.”Car 16 was found to be underweight by 1kg and car 44’s rearward skid wear was found to be 0.5mm below the limit.”Charles was on a one-stop strategy today and this meant his tyre wear was very high, causing the car to be underweight.”With regard to Lewis’ skid wear, we misjudged the consumption by a small margin. There was no intention to gain any advantage.”We will learn from what happened today and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again. Clearly it’s not the way we wanted to end our Chinese GP weekend, neither for ourselves, nor for our fans whose support for us is unwavering.”Copy linkCopiedConstructors’ Championship standingsHere is how the table looks after China:1 MCLAREN — 78 points2: Mercedes — 573: Red Bull — 364: Williams — 175: Ferrari — 176: Haas — 147: Aston Martin — 108: Sauber — 69: Racing Bulls — 310: Alpine — 0Credit: GETTYCopy linkCopiedView of SunSport’s F1 reporter Isabelle BarkerLewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly have all been disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix.Gasly and Leclerc’s cars were found to be underweight, while Hamilton’s car was deemed to have excessive skid wear.It means Hamilton and Leclerc’s points for their sixth and fifth place finish respectively – eight and 10 – are wiped from their championship tally.For seven-time world champion Hamilton, one of the skid blocks on his car was found to be less than the required thickness after the race.F1 cars have skid blocks in the floor that are meant to ensure the car maintains a certain ride height and does not run too low.If one is worn too much, it can mean a potential performance advantage as the car is able to run lower to the ground than would normally be possible.It is history repeating itself for Hamilton, who was disqualified from the 2023 United States Grand Prix for a similar issue when he was driving for Mercedes.Copy linkCopiedUpdated race result1) Oscar Piastri, McLaren2) Lando Norris, McLaren3) George Russell, Mercedes4) Max Verstappen, Red Bull5) Esteban Ocon, Alpine6) Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes7) Alex Albon, Williams8) Oliver Bearman, Haas9) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin10) Carlos Sainz, WilliamsCredit: GettyCopy linkCopiedPerfect day at the office For all the support team of McLaren, the Chinese Grand Prix could not have gone better.With their drivers taking the top two spots on the podium, the constructor could have not written a better script themselves.Piastri will take the plaudits in Shanghai but how well he and Norris drive as a team should be a concern to all.Credit: AFPCredit: EPACredit: EPACopy linkCopiedHamilton also disqualified!A trio of disqualifications in China as Lewis Hamilton, who finished 6th, is also disqualified from the race.The reasoning behind Hamilton’s DQ is different to that of Leclerc and Gasly.Hamilton’s is due to excessive plank wear underneath the car.It means both Ferrari come out of the Grand Prix with nothing.On Hamilton’s disqualification, the stewards said: “The plank assembly of Car 44 (Lewis Hamilton) was measured and found to be 8.6mm (LHS), 8.6mm (car centerline) and 8.5mm (RHS). “This is below the minimum thickness of 9mm specified under Article 3.5.9 of the Technical Regulations.” During the hearing the team representative confirmed that the measurement is correct and that all required procedures were performed correctly. The team also acknowledged that there were no mitigating circumstances and that it was a genuine error by the team.”Copy linkCopiedLeclerc and Gasly DISQUALIFIED Charles Leclerc has been disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix for an underweight car.The Ferrari driver, who finished fifth, will move everybody up who finished behind him as a result.Pierre Gasly, who finished 11th, has also been disqualified from the race for the same reasons.Speaking on Leclerc’s disqualification, the stewards said: “Car 16 (Charles Leclerc) was weighed by the FIA Technical Delegate inside and outside scales with both scales showing the same result of 799 kg after the customary draining of fuel and the replacement of a broken front wing. “The calibration of both scales was confirmed and witnessed by the competitor. During the hearing there was no challenge to the FIA’s measurements which are taken to be correct and that all required procedures were performed correctly. “There are no mitigating circumstances and that the team confirmed that it was a genuine error by them. “The Stewards determine that Article 4.1 of the FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations has been breached and therefore the standard penalty of a disqualification needs to be applied for such an infringement.”Copy linkCopiedHamilton at risk of disqualificationLewis Hamilton, who finished sixth in the race, could also be disqualified due to excessive wear on his skid blocks beneath his car.He has been disqualified for the same infringement in the past during his time at Mercedes at the 2023 United States GP.FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer said: “The skid wear of car number 44 was checked. “The rearmost skid was measured according to the team’s legality documents submission in accordance with TD039 L, item 1.2 b) i). “Measurements were taken along the stiffness compliant area at three different points of the periphery (inner arc). The recorded measurement were 8.6 mm (LHS), 8.6 mm (car centerline) and 8.5 mm (RHS).”Credit: AFPCopy linkCopiedMcLaren fancied for successFollowing today’s results, the bookies are edging towards the two McLaren drivers winning the driver’s championship this season:Lando Norris 5/6Oscar Piastri 2/1Max Verstappen 6/1Lewis Hamilton 18/1Charles Leclerc 20/1George Russell 22/1Kimi Antonelli 125/1Alex Albon, Carlos Sainz 150/1Liam Lawson 275/1All odds brought to you by Betfair.Copy linkCopiedLeclerc and Gasly face disqualificationThe FIA have found that Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly’s cars were underweight.Leclerc finished fifth in the race and had a damaged front wing.The FIA fitted an official front wing to the car after the race, and it was found to be 1kg under the 800kg weight limit.Gasly was also said to be 1kg under the limit.FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer said: “After the Race, car number 16 was weighed and its weight was 800.0 kg, which is the minimum weight required by TR Article 4.1. As the front wing was damaged (the missing FW endplate was recovered and weighed with the car), the car was re-weighed with an official spare front wing assembly of car 16 and its weight was 800.5 kg. “After this, fuel was drained out of the car and 2.0 litres of fuel were removed. The car was drained and according to the draining procedure submitted by the team in their legality document. “The car was weighed again on the FIA scales (with the official spare front wing assembly of car 16) and the weight was 799.0 kg. The calibration of the scales was confirmed and witnessed by the competitor. “For information the spare front wing was 0.2 kg heavier than the damaged one used during the race. As this is 1.0 kg below the minimum weight requested in TR Article 4.1, which also has to be respected at all times during the Competition, I am referring this matter to the Stewards for their consideration.” “After the Race, car number 10 was weighed and its weight was 800.0 kg, which is the minimum weight required by TR Article 4.1. “After this, a fuel mass check was carried out and 1.1 kg of fuel were removed. The car was drained according to the draining procedure submitted by the team in their legality document. “The car was weighed again on the FIA scales and the weight was 799.0 kg. The calibration of the scales was confirmed and witnessed by the competitor. As this is 1.0 kg below the minimum weight requested in TR Article 4.1, which also has to be respected at all times during the Competition.”Copy linkCopiedFerrari with plenty of work to doAfter winning the sprint race yesterday, Hamilton reflects on his Chinese Grand Prix:We made changes after the sprint and they didn’t work. The pit lane is too long here, times are a problem with that. We just couldn’t keep up with the other cars. A number of changes were made, they all added up and made the car worse. Hopefully we can learn from that.Lewis HamiltonFerrariCopy linkCopiedChinese Grand Prix official resultsHere are how the drivers finished in Shanghai today:Credit: @F1Copy linkCopiedOscar sees chequered flag in ChinaOscar Piastri put disappointment from Australia behind him as he secured victory in Shanghai.He managed to fend off Lando Norris to take the first spot as McLaren secured the top two places.The Australian will be hoping to see plenty more of these flags over the course of the season.Credit: @F1Copy linkCopiedRed Bull no longer gives you winsSpeaking with Sky Sports, Verstappen discussed the issues they have struggled with to the start of the season:If it is possible to adjust yeh. It was more promising for us and was a lot more fun to drive. We just looked to set our own pace, the tyres were still in decent shape when I decided to pit but we had to as everyone else was. We can take a lot out of it and take that into Japan. Hopefully we can learn from it and be more competitive in ten days.Max VerstappenRed BullCopy linkCopiedYoungster shows potential in China18-year-old Kimi Antonelli was awarded the driver of the day accolade for his performance in Shanghai.Not many people his age can say they have spent their weekend tearing around a Formula 1 circuit.He looks a great addition to the team following the departure of Hamilton and no doubt will soon be having George Russell looking over his shoulder more.Credit: @F1Copy linkCopiedRed not so lucky for ItaliansIn Chinese culture, red is seen as an extremely lucky colour. It did not work out that way for the Ferrari team as Leclerc addressed the coming together between the teammates early on:It was not Lewis’ fault at all. He did not know I was there, it is just a racing incident. There was no bad intentions. It was unfortunate, it cost me in the race. There was the potential to do a lot better but the eight seconds it would take to replace the wing would leave me having to overtake cars. Mercedes were so quick in turn twelve, they had some traction there, which is why I compared it to a dragster.Charles Leclerc FerrariCopy linkCopiedChanging conditions surprise driversHaving seen lots of issues with graining in practice, things changed considerably on race day.While the medium compound tyres were still suffering, the hard compound tyres really held up.Hamilton tried to gamble with a second pit stop, hoping that the tyres of the cars in front of him would degrade considerably in the closing stages while also hoping the forecast rain was to make an appearance.However, it did not pan out for the Ferrari driver as the hard tyres really stood up to the surface of Shanghai when it mattered most.Copy linkCopiedPodium is a sea of orange in ChinaIt is a sight that McLaren want to see plenty of this season, dominating the podium with both drivers up there.Piastri and Norris seem to work well as a team and their tactics resulted in very little pressure in Shanghai.The most concerning moment was in the latter stages where Norris had to protect his position from Russell as his brakes were failing but fortunately the chequered flag came just at the right time for the team.Credit: ReutersCredit: AFPCredit: AFPCopy linkCopiedAussie impresses fans back homeOscar Piastri is the man of the moment in Shanghai.After taking pole position, he did not make one error in the entire race as he held off teammate Lando Norris.The McLaren pair will be looking to dominate the driver standings this season, having made such a great start in these early races.Credit: AFPCredit: AFPCopy linkCopiedFans make Shanghai one to rememberEach year this race seems to get bigger in China.Martin Brundle commented how in the early years there tended to be more drivers than fans but that is not the case now.There was a lot of love for the McLaren drivers in Shanghai, who will be pleased with the race outcome today.Credit: AFPCopy linkCopiedPodium drivers watch race backAs they see the highlights of the Chinese Grand Prix, George Russell is impressed with the driving skills of Charles Leclerc.Once they see the damage to his front wing, Russell comments “Wow! He did well if he had that from such an early stage.”He compares the coming together between the Ferrari drivers like Schumacher and Barrichello.Copy linkCopiedBrit content with second placeSpeaking with Sky Sports, Norris gave his view on the race and his car issues towards the end:A few fun moments. The start, the turn went to plan but George then got me at the pit. Oscar drove well, he was quick for the whole race. He deserved the win, he drove well all weekend. Just how we wanted the race to go. It’s scary, it’s like my worst nightmare when the brakes are failing. We survived.Lando NorrisMcLarenCopy linkCopiedMcLaren dominate Chinese Grand PrixOscar Piastri bounces back after the disappointment in Australia to secure the win in Shanghai today.Lando Norris would have liked to have pushed his McLaren teammate more but his braking issues meant he had to focus on holding off George Russell instead.It is a third career win for Piastri, who drove the perfect race today.Credit: AFPCopy linkCopiedChinese Grand Prix results1. Oscar Piastri – McLaren2. Lando Norris – McLaren3. George Russell – Mercedes4. Max Verstappen – Red Bull5. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari6. Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari7. Estaban Ocon – Haas8. Kimi Antonelli – MercedesCopy linkCopied More

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      McLaren totally dominate as Piastri and Norris complete one-two in China with Hamilton having to settle for sixth

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      LANDO NORRIS’ title charge was dented by his own teammate Oscar Piastri who bagged his first win of the season in China.McLaren made another huge statement with a glittering one-two finish in Shanghai ahead of George Russell in third and Max Verstappen in fourth.Oscar Piastri won the third F1 race of his career with a dominant driveCredit: GettyPiastri and Lando Norris scored a 1-2 finish for McLaren ahead of George RussellCredit: ReutersPiastri pulled out an early lead and never looked backCredit: AFPLewis Hamilton was one of three drivers disqualified from the Chinese GPCredit: GettyNorris, who won the season opener in Melbourne and is the favourite to be crowned champion this season, has Piastri firmly in his rear-view mirror with the Aussie’s chances at lifting the title looking equally as strong.The two Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc had finished P6 and P5 before they were both DISQUALIFIED after the race, with Hamilton falling foul of excessive skid block wear and Leclerc falling under the minimum weight limit.Piastri held off Russell to lead into Turn 1, while Norris nipped past the Mercedes into P2. Ferrari team-mates Hamilton and Leclerc made contact on a fiery opening lap at the front of the pack while Verstappen dropped back behind them. READ MORE IN F1The seven-time world champion said on his team radio: “I’ve been hit by someone” and there was visible damage on Leclerc’s front wing.Leclerc was told on the radio that he has “20 to 30 points” of downforce loss as a result of the damage to his front wing but he said he can survive until the first stop. Piastri settled into the lead of just and by lap three was just over one second ahead of Norris with Russell in third and Hamilton in fourth. Fernando Alonso suffered a nightmare race as he retired his Aston Martin on lap four with a brake issue. Most read in MotorsportBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKOver laps 14 and 15 the front runners headed for the pit-lane with Hamilton and Verstappen arriving first and rejoining in 10th and 12th respectively. McLaren brought in Piastri and Russell also came in, undercutting Norris, who stayed out an extra lap, as he reemerged from the pits.Lewis Hamilton has perfect response to dismal Ferrari debut as he achieves feat not seen for 35 years By lap 19 McLaren’s one-two was officially restored as Norris nipped past Russell and Alex Albon’s Williams down the backstraight.There was some debating over the two Ferraris with Hamilton coming on the blower to tell his team that he was struggling and holding Leclerc up. The Monegasque 27-year-old was driving like a madman and bizarrely had more pace than his Ferrari team-mate despite his front-wing damage. Hamilton ran the show though and was sassy with race engineer Riccardo Adami, saying “I’ll tell you when we stop” as he was catching Russell ahead of him. On lap 21, Hamilton finally let Leclerc through with the Ferraris snapping at Russell’s heels.There are clearly still some teething issues between Hamilton and Adami with their communications. Hamilton said on the team radio: “Give me some feedback guys. Come on, I need the feedback of where I’m losing.”Adami replied and Hamilton snapped, “Yeah, you told me that already”. The race transformed into a debate over strategies with talks of ‘Plan A, B, C’ flying over the radios on who would make the first move to stop before a warning of rain arrived. Chinese GP top 10 after disqualificationsAfter the triple disqualification of Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly, here is the new top 10 standings:1) Oscar Piastri, McLaren2) Lando Norris, McLaren3) George Russell, Mercedes4) Max Verstappen, Red Bull5) Esteban Ocon, Haas6) Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes7) Alex Albon, Williams8) Oliver Bearman, Haas9) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin10) Carlos Sainz, WilliamsThere had barely been a peep out of Verstappen throughout and Gianpiero Lambiase said over the team radio “Good pace now Max. Better late than never.” “20 laps remaining, come on” as he hunted down Hamilton. Ferrari hauled in Hamilton for fresh tyres with him only losing one position to Verstappen in the process. Hamilton’s extra pit stop did not work, with him over a whopping 12 seconds behind Verstappen with six laps to go. Meanwhile, Norris was struggling with a brake pedal issue and old tyres as he dwindled behind his team-mate Piastri.Piastri led Norris by over three seconds, whose advantage over Russell was over six seconds, while Verstappen in fifth was snapping at Leclerc’s heels in fourth. With three laps to go, Verstappen finally got the job done on Leclerc with the two battling nose to tail in the closing stages. Further down the order Haas picked up their first points of the season with Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman finishing P5 and P8 with the Ferrari disqualifications, with the latter coming from P17 as he celebrated International Bear Day.Kimi Antonelli scored points again with a P6 finish, while Alex Albon finished P7 for Williams after briefly leading the race on his birthday.READ MORE SUN STORIESPierre Gasly, who originally finished P11, was also disqualified for being underweight, allowing Lance Stroll and Carlos Sainz to move up the order and into the points.Meanwhile, Liam Lawson’s nightmare start as Verstappen’s team-mate continued as he finished P12 (up three from the disqualifications), in part thanks to a 10-second time penalty for Alpine rookie Jack Doohan after he pushed Isack Hadjar off track at Turn 14. 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      F1 Chinese Grand Prix LIVE RESULTS: Lewis Hamilton looks to bounce back from disaster debut as Verstappen and Co feature

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      FORMULA ONE makes the trip up north to Asia after the new season debuted in Australia last week. Last time out, Lando Norris took home the chequered flag in a McLaren’s MCL39 that looks to be the envy of the entire grid. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ George Russell made up the rest of the podium. Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari debut failed to live up to expectations as he finished 10th at Albert Park.But the seven-time world champion has started the weekend brightly in China, claiming his first win for the Italian team in Saturday’s sprint race.Hamilton starts 5th on the grid on Sunday, while McClaren’s Oscar Piastri is on Pole.Race time: 7am GMTTV channel: Sky Sports F1Starting grid: 1. Oscar Piastri, 2. George Russell, 3. Lando Norris, 4. Max Verstappen, 5. Lewis Hamilton, 6. Charles Leclerc, 7. Isack Hadjar, 8. Kimi Antonelli, 9. Yuki Tsunoda, 10. Alex Albon, 11. Esteban Ocon, 12. Nico Hulkenberg, 13. Fernando Alonso, 14. Lance Stroll, 15. Carlos Sainz, 16. Pierre Gasly, 17. Ollie Bearman, 18. Jack Doohan, 19. Gabriel Bortoleto, 20. Liam LawsonBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSFollow our live blog for updates…How much do the drivers win?F1 is one of the most lucrative sports in the world – and they get a pretty penny for winning a race as well.Copy linkCopiedHamilton’s tacticsHamilton used all of his experience to win the Sprint earlier in the weekend.He shared the front row with Max Verstappen, and nobody can forget the huge fight they had for the title in 2021. But, Hamilton made sure he stayed just ahead of Verstappen, so he was forced to drive through dirty air.Copy linkCopiedRemembering Eddie JordanThis weekend marks the first weekend of racing since the passing of the legendary Eddie Jordan.Drivers such as Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna raced for Jordan, who had a huge impact on the sport.Copy linkCopiedFull starting gridOscar PiastriGeorge RussellLando NorrisMax VerstappenLewis HamiltonCharles LeclercIsack HadjarKimi Antonelli Yuki TsunodaAlex AlbonEsteban OconNico HulkenbergFernando AlonsoLance StrollCarlos SainzPierre GaslyOliver BearmanJack DoohanGabriel BortoletoLiam LawsonCopy linkCopiedWelcome to SunSport’s coverage of the Chinese Grand Prix!The 2025 F1 season has already seen a lot of twists, with the Chinese GP seeing a third different pole sitter in three races.McLaren’s pace at the front has given them a second pole in two GP’s, as Aussie Oscar Piastri will start at the front, after Lando Norris was there last week.Between them was Lewis Hamilton in yesterday’s sprint, as he converted a pole to a win, and Piastri came home second.Defending four-time world champion Max Verstappen is still waiting for his first win of the season.Just to add to the drama, Mercedes driver George Russell has split the McLaren’s, and starts second in the GP. Remember: in the UK, the race starts at 7am, so get your alarms set!Copy linkCopied More

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      Kyle Walker’s wife Annie Kilner due in court accused of not having proper control of £70,000 Mercedes

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      KYLE Walker’s estranged wife Annie Kilner is due to appear in court tomorrow over a driving offence.The Wag is facing accusations she was behind the wheel while not being in control of a £70,000 Mercedes.Annie Kilner is due to appear in court tomorrow over a driving offenceCredit: Dan CharityKyle Walker’s estranged wife is facing accusations she was behind the wheel while not being in control of a £70,000 MercedesCredit: BackGridShe was stopped by police in Cheshire on June 8 last year — as Kyle prepared to go away with the England squad for the Euros.The charges state the driver was “in such a position that she could not have proper control of the car”.It is unclear exactly what she is accused of doing. Annie, 32, was also charged with using a phone at the wheel but it was withdrawn.Read More on SportThe charge is brought when the driver is said to be “in a position which does not give proper control or a full view of the road”.It can be when they are spotted drinking or eating while driving, adjusting the sat nav or changing music on the car’s touchscreen.The alleged offence came months after Annie and Kyle, 34, had their fourth child and two days before the Three Lions ace flew to Germany.Annie previously discovered her love-rat partner had fathered a second child with social media personality Lauryn Goodman.Most read in FootballShe denied the driving charge in November.If Annie is convicted at Chester magistrates’ tomorrow, she faces three penalty points on her driving licence and a fine.Kyle Walker party girls revealed as globe-trotting models – and lift lid on how star is enjoying his new life in MilanHer hearing will be hours before Kyle plays for England against ­Latvia at Wembley. Annie’s representative was approached for comment. More

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      ‘Copy that, Lewis’ – Hamilton’s former Mercedes race engineer in awkward radio slip-up before quickly correcting himself

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’s former engineer at Mercedes had an awkward radio slip up at the Chinese Grand Prix.Hamilton, 40, stunned the world when he announced in early 2024 that he was leaving the Silver Arrows to join Ferrari for 2025.Lewis Hamilton’s old race engineer Peter Bonnington had an awkward radio slip up at the Chinese Grand PrixCredit: GettyHamilton left Mercedes to join Ferrari, ending an 11-year partnership with BonningtonCredit: AlamyBut while speaking to Kimi Antonelli during qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix he accidentally said ‘copy that, Lewis’Credit: Sky SportsHamilton and Bonnington won six Driver championships togetherCredit: AFP or licensorsThe move ended an 11-year partnership between Hamilton and engineer, Peter Bonnington, otherwise known as Bono.Together they won six Drivers’ Championship titles, but did not make the switch over to join Hamilton at the Scuderia thanks to a no-poaching clause.Hamilton was replaced at the Brackley-based team by teen star Kimi Antonelli for the upcoming season.However, it appears old habits die hard after Bonnington had an awkward slip up on the radio with Antonelli.READ MORE IN F1During qualifying in Shanghai, Antonelli can be seen racing the car around Turn 13 on a slow lap and speaking to Bonnington about a problem when the engineer makes the mistake.He is heard saying: “Yeah. Copy that, Lewis.”Realising his gaffe, the 50-year-old then said: “Uhh Yeah, copy that Kimi..”Antonelli went on qualify P8 in the session, while Hamilton qualified P5 for Sunday’s race after winning the Sprint race earlier on.Most read in MotorsportBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKHamilton confirmed he held a meeting with his new race engineer Riccardo Adami at the start of the week after an X-rated blast down the radio during a frustrating Australian Grand Prix.He revealed they spoke about how Hamilton wanted to be communicated with when racing, with the move seemingly working wonders as he dominated the 19-lap Sprint race.’I’m about to cry’ – Fans praise Lewis Hamilton’s dad for classy gesture as he consoles F1 rookie after debut crashOn the cool-down lap Adami was heard praising Hamilton for a “masterclass in tyre management”.Speaking after the Sprint, Hamilton had hit back at his “yapping critics” in China.Bonnington, promoted to head of race engineering at Mercedes for 2025, also worked with Michael Schumacher at the team before Hamilton joined in 2013.Adami worked with Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz before Hamilton.Tomorrow’s feature race sees McLaren ace Oscar Piastri on pole after he bettered Hamilton’s record-breaking lap around the Shanghai circuit with a time of 1:30.641.Hamilton’s old team-mates George Russell claimed second to deny McLaren a front row lock-out with Lando Norris qualifying third.READ MORE SUN STORIESReigning world champion Max Verstappen qualified fifth, while his team-mate Liam Lawson suffered another nightmare session as he came dead last.Following disastrous result Lawson admitted he “don’t really have time” to get to grips with the car and declared he needs to dramatically improve.Chinese Grand Prix qualifying grid positions1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:30.6412. George Russell (Mercedes)3. Lando Norris (McLaren)4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)7. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)8. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)9. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)10. Alex Albon (Williams)11. Esteban Ocon (Haas)12. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)13. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)15. Carlos Sainz (Williams)16. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)17. Oliver Bearman (Haas)18. Jack Doohan (Alpine)19. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)20. Liam Lawson (Red Bull) More

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      F1 hit by travel chaos with teams left without CARS days before Chinese Grand Prix as FIA release statement

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      FORMULA ONE teams have been hit by travel chaos days before the Chinese Grand Prix after technical issues in Melbourne.Several teams including McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes, Aston Martin and Williams have been hit by the problem, leaving them without their cars for the second race of the season, according to F1 insider Kym Illman.Teams have been hit by travel chaos before the Chinese Grand PrixCredit: SplashTeams affected include Williams, McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull and Aston MartinCredit: AFPWith the quick turnaround between the Australian and Chinese Grand Prix, teams would have expected car parts to arrive on Monday evening or Tuesday morning after being shipped out on Sunday.However, technical issues have delayed the arrival of some car parts.Illman reports the teams were told their parts would arrive at 10am on Wednesday morning, but have now been told they will not receive them until 4 or 5pm.This means that teams have seen around 30 hours of their preparation time to get the cars ready for the first session of the weekend wiped out.READ MORE IN F1The freight transport issues have also hit the sport’s tyre supplier, Pirelli.The FIA released a statement ahead of the weekend – which will see the season’s first Sprint Race – providing a one-time-only concession on the curfew of the fitting schedule of cars.It said: “Due to the logistical challenges for the official tyre supplier resulting from delays in freight arrival, specially the requirement to revise the fitting schedule for Wednesday, the following concessions will be made.”On the Wednesday, and for this event only, the curfew period will be reduced by a period of five and a half (5.5) hours for a maximum of six (6) operational personnel for the sole purpose of tyre preparations post tyre fitting from the tyre supplier.”Most read in MotorsportJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSIllman reports that members of the crew have been waiting around in hotels away from the track, effectively with the days off, as they wait for the parts to arrive.Delays in car parts arriving are not uncommon in F1 but, with a tight schedule to fit into, time is of the essence if the issue is not to impact heavily on the likes of Lando Norris or Max Verstappen.Behind the scenes in Australia GP paddock including F1 star Lewis Hamilton’s new Ferrari baseLewis Hamilton’s Ferrari team were not mentioned in the report but could have still seen parts delayed. Hamilton was set for a meeting with his engineer this week to better understand each other after the Brit had an X-rated blast down his radio following a Ferrari strategy blunder.Free Practice 1 for the race weekend will commence at 3:30am UK time on Friday.Sprint qualifying will then start at 7:30am.Saturday will see the Sprint Race start at 3am before qualifying for the feature race begins at 7am.The lights then go out for Sunday’s feature race at 7am.Norris took the chequered flag in Melbourne with Verstappen second and George Russell third as six cars crashed out of a chaotic wet race. More

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      New £34m Man City star Abdukodir Khusanov looks emotional as he’s gifted £135k Mercedes on return to Uzbekistan

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      MANCHESTER CITY ace Abdukodir Khusanov looked emotional after being gifted a lavish new car by his compatriots.Khusanov, 21, joined City during the January transfer window following a £34million deal with Lens.Manchester City star Abdukodir Khusanov received a lavish gift from his compatriotsCredit: RedditMan City star Khusanov was gifted a Mercedes-Benz G-ClassCredit: RedditKhusanov got emotional after his compatirots’ touching gestureCredit: RedditKhusanov returned to Uzbekistan for the international breakCredit: RedditThe centre-back has already amassed eight appearances and a goal under Man City manager Pep Guardiola.And now the Uzbekistan international is back in his homeland for the international break.Khusanov’s return was filmed by some of his compatriots, who had a very special surprise for the hometwon hero.The defender’s move to the Etihad effectively makes him the most famous Uzbek footballer of all time.Read More on FootballAnd his fellow countrymen wanted to honour his representation at elite football.So Khusanov was gifted a Mercedes-Benz G-Class, which is rated at about £135,000.The player looked emotional on camera with his fans’ touching gesture.The City star expressed his gratitude and took his brand new ride for a spin.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSKhusanov had some very humble beginnings in Uzbekistan as he cut his teeth in Bunyodkor’s academy before moving to Belarusian outfit Energetik-BGU Minsk, which ultimately led to his big break at Lens.Khusanov is now set to lead the national team in their two upcoming World Cup qualifiers.Man City sign Abdukodir Khusanov in £34m deal with ‘tank’ as quick as Usain Bolt roped in to bolster Pep’s defenceUzbekistan will be facing Kyrgyzstan and Iran this month before the player returns to City, who are looking to seal a place in the top five ahead of the last few fixtures of the season.Khusanov joined Man City in January after a £34m deal with LensCredit: Getty More

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      Meet the stunning F1 WAGs stealing the show in 2025 – from pro golfer to racing star & top model who dated Kardashian ex

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      AS the Formula 1 aces took to the grid this weekend, some fans were driven to distraction by the bevvy of beauties in the paddocks.The drivers’ glamorous wives and girlfriends  tried to keep their cool at the Australian Grand Prix as the mercury hit 32C and their partners burned rubber.At the Australian Grand Prix the F1 Wags stole the showCredit: GettyAnd with a host of rookies on the track alongside veterans Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, there were some unfamiliar faces on the sidelines, too.American Hannah St John, 21, was all smiles at Albert Park Circuit, in Melbourne, as she cheered on Red Bull Racing’s rising star Liam Lawson. She joined Scot Rebecca Donaldson, 28, the girlfriend of Carlos Sainz, who was making his Williams’ debut after four seasons at Ferrari.And the Wags also live life in the fast lane, with impressive careers of their own including as a professional golfer, model and racing driver.read more on formula oneHere, Thea Jacobs takes a look at the F1 stars’ stunning other halves, who are in pole position to steal the limelight from their men . . . Isabella Bernardini & Gabriel BortoletoYOUNG love is at the races this year, in the shape of Team Sauber’s newbie driver Gabriel, 20, and his girlfriend Isabella, who is just a year older.The couple are high school sweethearts, having got together when he was 16.Isabella Bernardini is currently thought to be studying computer science at Eindhoven in the NetherlandsCredit: GettyIsabella and Gabriel Bortoleto are high school sweetheartsCredit: AFPMeet F1 newbie Liam Lawson’s stunning girlfriend Hannah St. John, who is also a model and medical student Isabella is currently thought to be studying computer science at Eindhoven in the Netherlands.Most read in MotorsportThe couple aren’t afraid to show off their romance online, posing together for a cute New Year’s snap in which she perched on his knee, and sharing pictures of his Formula 2 races last year.Brazilian Isabella flew in to watch her beau make his F1 debut, and she looked stunning in a white mini-skirt and blouse combo.Sadly, Gabriel was not placed in his first race of the season – but he was surely a winner with Isabella.KELLY, 36, is in a relationship with Max , 27, the four-time Formula One World Drivers’ Champion.She is also racing royalty, as the daughter of three-time winner Nelson Piquet, 72.Kelly Piquet is the daughter of three-time winner Nelson PiquetCredit: GettyKelly is expecting her first child with Max VerstappenCredit: RexSince she started dating Red Bull racer Max in 2020, the Formula E social media manager has been a regular at the grand prix.But the heavily pregnant model missed out on this weekend’s race to attend an event at swanky restaurant Kaspia London, in Mayfair.It will be Kelly and Max’s first baby together. She also has a daughter with Russian driver Daniil Kvyat.Francisca Gomes & Pierre GaslyPORTUGUESE Francisca, 22, has been in a relationship with Alpine’s French driver Pierre Gasly since 2022.She posted a sweet black- and-white snap of the pair kissing after his first outing of the season and revealed they had relaxed with a plush Italian meal the night before.Francisca Gomes has built a career as a model and influencerCredit: GettyPierre Gasly has dubbed Francisca his ‘lucky charm’Credit: AFPBeing in the paddock isn’t a new experience for “Kika” either as her father is former F1 driver Goncalo Gomes, 49.And thanks to her mum being TV presenter Maria Cerqueira Gomes, Francisca isn’t easily fazed by the limelight.She has built a career as a model and influencer, which allows her to follow Pierre, 29, around the world for his races.Which is lucky for the driver as he dubbed her his “lucky charm.”Not too lucky though, as he only took 11th place on Sunday.Eliska Babickova & Andrea Kimi AntonelliELISKA and boyfriend Andrea, 18, clearly love life in the fast lane – as they’re both professional racing drivers.She is more likely to be seen trackside this year as Andrea has been promoted to the F1 circuit and snatched fourth place for Mercedes Down Under.Eliska Babickova was the first woman to be crowned ­Italian champion of the OK karting classCredit: AlamyEliska and Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrated a year together in OctoberCredit: AFPEliksa – the first woman to be crowned ­Italian champion of the OK karting class – will understand the nerves and determination involved when it comes to racing.Outside the sport, she has a YouTube channel with her sisters, fellow drivers Petra and Tereza, where they document their lives.Eliska and Andrea celebrated a year together in October, and while he is off racing all over the world, she is finishing high school and plans to study economics at uni.Carmen Montero Mundt & George RussellAS fans of Netflix documentary Drive To Survive will know, George loves nothing more than showing off his stunning 26-year-old Spanish girlfriend Carmen.She appears to be a good omen too, as 27-year-old British Mercedes ace George took third place in the Aussie Grand Prix at the weekend.Carmen Montero Mundt recently returned to studies after a finance job in LondonCredit: InstagramCarmen and George Russell have been together since 2020Credit: AFPThe couple, who have been together since 2020, live in Monaco.Carmen recently returned to studies after a finance job in London, but her life is worlds away from her childhood in Spain.She said: “I always wanted to work in finance. “My family struggled financially during the global crisis, and that determined what I wanted to do from a very young age.”Hannah St John & Liam LawsonHER rookie boyfriend Liam may have endured a nightmare start to his Red Bull career, but Hannah looked like a seasoned Wag as she cheered him on from the sidelines.Wearing this black halter-neck dress to the race, she later changed into a striped blue two-piece to console the 23-year-old Kiwi driver after he swerved into the wall and crashed out in Melbourne.Hannah St John graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Biomedical SciencesCredit: Avalon.redHannah was there to support Liam Lawson as he began his Red Bull careerCredit: APHannah, 23, graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Biomedical Sciences. She also works as a model and influencer, with 40,000 followers and partnerships including Bvlgari.The beauty flew to New Zealand last year to meet Liam’s family and followed him around the world in his last season as a Formula 2 driver.She was also there to support him last year when he replaced Daniel   Ricciardo for the last six races of the F1 season.Alexandra Saint Mleux & Charles LeclercSHE has only been dating Ferrari ace Charles since 2023, but that hasn’t stopped Alexandra winning over legions of fans and becoming the second-most followed Formula 1 Wag on social media.The Italian influencer – who has a degree in Art History and a social media account dedicated to her favourite pieces of work – is often seen trackside cheering on her boyfriend, who placed eighth yesterday.Alexandra Saint Mleux is the second-most followed Formula 1 Wag on social mediaCredit: GettyCharles Leclerc has been dating Alexandra since 2023Credit: GettyShe has also started carving out a career as a model, and last month appeared in adverts for Hailey Bieber’s beauty brand.Alexandra, who has more than 1.6million followers on Instagram, often posts snaps of her pet dachshund, holidays and outfits, leading Tatler to brand her the “most stylish woman in F1” – quite the accolade.Rebecca Donaldson & Carlos SainzSCOTTISH beauty Rebecca did a few laps of the showbiz circuit before she shacked up with Williams driver Carlos in 2023.Now an established model, she started out in pageants and appeared on Britain’s Next Top Model on TV, and was linked to Kourtney Kardashian’s ex, Scott Disick.Rebecca Donaldson appeared on Britain’s Next Top Model on TVCredit: RexCarlos Sainz started dating Rebecca in 2023Credit: EPAThese days she is often spotted cheering on 30-year-old Carlos, who she has dated since 2023, and was seen gracing the paddock this weekend in a body-hugging grey dress.During her catwalk career, 28-year-old Rebecca has been a cover girl for Vogue and Marie Claire, and in October 2020 she launched her own activewear range, Muse.Sara Pagliaroli & Lance StrollVICTORIA’S Secret Angel model Sara and 26-year-old Aston Martin race ace Lance made their public debut as a couple at the 2021 premiere of 007 blockbuster No Time To Die.And with her bombshell good looks, the gorgeous 29-year-old Italian could pass for a Bond Girl herself.Sara Pagliaroli started modelling at 17Credit: InstagramLance Stroll and Sara made their public debut as a couple at the 2021 premiere of No Time To DieCredit: AFPSara started modelling at 17 and has worked with brands including Replay Jeans and Adria Beachwear.In 2020 she launched her own jewellery brand called Blue Lemon Jewels, and she is currently the face of clothing brand Yamamay.Lily Muni He & Alexander AlbonLILY, 25, might be known to some as the girlfriend of F1 driver Alexander, 28, but she is a sports star in her own right.The stunning brunette is a professional golfer who has been playing since the age of five and currently takes part in the US-based LPGA Tour.Lily Muni He is a professional golfer who has been playing since the age of fiveCredit: GettyAlexander Albon and Lily had their first date on a golf course in 2019Credit: AFPLily wasn’t there to cheer on ­Alexander as he took fifth place in Oz, but she showed her ­support on Instagram.It was F1 that brought the pair together as they began their relationship after she watched Netflix series Drive To Survive. They had their first date on a golf course in 2019.While Lily travels the globe playing golf, she does find time to cheer on Alexander during races – such as at Silverstone in 2023, when she was spotted in the paddock.READ MORE SUN STORIESAlexander repays the favour and has been seen ­supporting her on the green, posting about it on his own social media.These two are well on their way to taking pole ­position as a true sporting power ­couple.Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. More