Mercedes-Benz

FORMULA ONE legend Fernando Alonso has opened up about his rivalry with Lewis Hamilton.The two drivers were McLaren team-mates during Hamilton’s debut season in 2007.
Fernando Alonso has opened up about his rivalry with Lewis Hamilton during the 2007 F1 seasonCredit: AP:Associated Press
Alonso recalled the events in his new documentaryCredit: AFP
However, their competitiveness resulted in several confrontations both on and off track.
Alonso’s contract was subsequently terminated at the end of the season, with Hamilton keeping his seat.
The Spaniard’s was banned from joining any team that McLaren considered challengers for the 2008 world championship, but eventually agreed to sign for Renault.
Alonso recently recalled what happened behind the scenes during the 2007 season and admitted that both he and Hamilton were “young and immature”.
READ MORE IN F1
Speaking about the rivalry in his new DAZN documentary, ‘Fernando. Revealed’, Alonso said: “We were in the same team, the same garage, we travelled together many times, we were in the meetings and we began to notice that there was this friction, there was tension, we were playing the World Cup and we were playing each race on Sunday.
“You arrive at the team meeting and you are seeing his telemetry, his ‘on board’ cameras of the car and that, for example, his car goes a little ahead and when he speaks in the meeting he complains about the rear.
“Things like that so that the team did not take a direction or take a philosophy to develop the car that would be good for both of us, but rather each one was already looking for their own thing, to have that extra advantage, because we were very evenly matched.
“There were many things that broke the relationship harmony of that year. We were young, immature, I was the first, and we had many clashes.
Most read in Motorsport
“Now there is another type of rivalry, I don’t think we will be friends in the future or that we will ever have… I think we don’t share many things.
“But it is true that in 2007 the rivalry rose to a higher level.”
Alonso finished fourth in the driver standings last season, with Hamilton in third.
The 42-year-old is set to remain with Aston Martin for the 2024 campaign.
Hamilton will remain with Mercedes for the 2024 seasonCredit: Getty More

A FAN favourite Formula One track could be in line for a return to the sport in 2026, according to reports. The Malaysia Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) hosted F1 races between 1999 and 2017.
F1 could be in line for a return to Malaysia’s Sepang International CircuitCredit: AP:Associated Press
Petronas are reportedly planning to get the track back on the calendar for 2026Credit: AP:Associated Press
It was removed from the calendar due to declining ticket sales and rising hosting costs, but never lost popularity among fans around the globe.
And now the country’s state oil company Petroliam Nasional – or Petronas – are looking to bring F1 races back to the nation in 2026, three sources close to the matter reportedly told Reuters.
Petronas – a sponsor of the Mercedes F1 team – won naming rights for the SIC, which still hosts motorsport events including MotoGP races, for three years in October 2023.
The F1 return plan is said to have been revealed during a company townhall led by president and chief executive Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz on Tuesday.
READ MORE IN F1
However, the sources did not elaborate on the reasons for the return and did not specifically mention any discussions with F1.
Although they did describe the 2026 plan as outlined in the company call.
In response to the report, Petronas said: “There have been no discussions on bringing the sport back to the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit.”
Regardless, fans were excited at the potential of the news.
Most read in Motorsport
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
One fan said: “Please be true 🙏.”
A second said: “Now this is what I’m talking about!”
A third said: “I like Malaysia. They need to bring it back.”
Another said: “It was designed in the 1990s but is still one of the few in the world specifically designed for F1, so it absolutely has to be back on the calendar.”
A fifth added: “We miss Sepang 😭.”
Max Verstappen won the most recent F1 race at the Sepang circuit.
F1 recently announced the addition of the Madrid Grand Prix to the calendar from 2026.
The 2024 F1 season is set to start in Bahrain on March 2.

🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

LEWIS HAMILTON admits he could retire THIS YEAR over his “love-hate relationship” with Formula One.The Mercedes ace, 39, has won a joint-record seven world titles in the sport.
Lewis Hamilton admits he could retire from F1 later this yearCredit: Rex
But his last victory came in 2020.
And the past three years have seen Red Bull’s Max Verstappen emerge as F1’s dominant force.
The new season is just around the corner, with the first race in Bahrain taking place on March 2.
Mercedes hope the return of Hamilton’s former right-hand man Marc Hynes will help the Brit get back on course.
READ MORE IN F1
But Hamilton, whose contract runs until 2025, admits he could quit F1 altogether at the end of the year.
The ace previously stated several years ago that he was unlikely to still be racing at the age of 40.
And when reminded of that statement, Hamilton told Formule1.nl: “That is still possible.
“I have no set plan for the future – I still feel fit and still enjoy what I do.
Most read in Motorsport

🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁 
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
“I’ve now learned that you should never say never in life.
“I never thought that, after such a long time in Formula One, I would still feel the same love for the sport.
“It is a love-hate relationship – at times you love it more than at others.

“I think there comes a point when you’ve had enough. But the love is still there.”
Family plans
Hamilton also lifted the lid on plans to start a family.
He added: “I don’t have time for that. I enjoy being an uncle. I haven’t decided yet whether I want children.
“I don’t have time for it at the moment. If I want a family, I should focus less on racing and I don’t want to do that.
“There is a time and place for everything. Fortunately, I don’t have to make that decision now, maybe some day.” More

LEWIS HAMILTON has received a major boost ahead of the new F1 season by recruiting his former right-hand man Marc Hynes.Hynes, a former British Formula Three champion, has known Hamilton, 39, since they were kids.
Marc Hynes is back working with Lewis HamiltonCredit: Alamy
Lewis Hamilton has known him since he was a kidCredit: AFP
He has previously worked alongside the seven-time world champion at Mercedes, forming part of his inner sanctum, before leaving to run Hamilton’s Project 44 company, overseeing his business interests.
Hynes left Hamilton’s camp ahead of the 2021 F1 season to run his own business as the F1 driver changed his management team.
Hamilton joined media talent manager Penni Throw, who runs PR company Copper, and had worked with the star on a number of other projects.
However, Hamilton’s deal with Copper has now expired and while he will continue to work with Throw on a number of projects, he has returned to Hynes to get him to manage his F1 operations.
READ MORE ON F1
The 45-year-old’s return will provide Hamilton with a much-needed confidant that has been missing since he split with long-term performance coach Angela Cullen in March last year.
It comes as Mercedes launch their bid to return to the top step of the podium after seeing Red Bull’s Max Verstappen dominate the sport since he won the title from Hamilton in 2021.
Hamilton is on a winless run that stretches back to December 2021 – the longest barren spell of his F1 career.
Mercedes have delivered two dud cars in successive seasons but the Brackley-based team have enlisted the help of design whizz James Allison to produce a car that can now challenge Verstappen.
Most read in Motorsport
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
They will launch their car, the W15, on February 14 at Silverstone.
The new season gets underway in Bahrain on March 2. More

LEWIS HAMILTON’S succession plan is reportedly already in the works at Mercedes. Hamilton, 39, has been an ever-present figure on the Formula One grid since 2007, yielding seven titles in the most glittering career ever seen by a driver.
Mercedes have lined up potential successors for Lewis HamiltonCredit: Splash
But Mercedes chiefs know Hamilton will not stay in the fast lane forever.
While the Brit signed a mega £100million contract that will take his F1 career into his 40s in the summer, Mercedes has wasted no time in earmarking his potential replacements.
One of these is a name already familiar with F1 and Mercedes in Esteban Ocon.
Gwen Lagrue, head of the Silver Arrows driver programme, revealed to The Race the Alpine driver was still managed by Mercedes.
READ MORE IN F1
He said: “He’s still very linked to us. He’s an Alpine driver and he’s fully committed to Alpine, but we’re still managing his career.
“We have a very good relationship with Alpine and with others.
“And we always try to find the best solution to work together in the best interest of the team and the driver.”
The other driver lined up as George Russell’s potential next partner is 17-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Most read in Motorsport
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
The Mirror suggest that come 2026 Antonelli could be the ideal long-term candidate for a provisional Mercedes seat.
The Mercedes junior driver was afforded the chance to skip F3 and move straight into F2 with Prema for the upcoming 2024 season.
Toto Wolff, who himself signed a new Mercedes contract extension earlier this month, has tipped the Italian to be able to win a seat.
Wolff said: “His track record in karting was already impressive and then he moved up to the junior formulas and won every single season in his rookie year.
“But we have to be careful because there is a lot of hype around Kimi.
“Bringing him into F2 is a big step because these cars are heavier and have a lot more power.
“If we give him time and don’t expect him to surpass everything in his first season, I think he can become a great in this sport.
“We’ll see how things go in F2. They have new cars there, which is an advantage for him.
“But there are some great competitors who are contesting their second Formula 2 season this year and are also highly rated.
“He has to show that he is ready for a place in F1. And first, we have to concentrate exclusively on F2.”
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The new F1 season kicks off in Bahrain on March 2.
Hamilton will be hoping to break his two-plus year wait for an F1 race win.
Esteban Ocon is an F1 race winner who is still managed by MercedesCredit: Getty
Andrea Kimi Antonelli has skipped F3 entirelyCredit: Getty More

MERCEDES have followed up Toto Wolff’s new three-year deal by signing technical director James Allison to a new long-term contract.Wolff, who is three-way owner of the team along with Mercedes-Benz and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has recently committed his future to the team.
James Allison has committed his future to MercedesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Lewis Hamilton is bidding to return to winning ways next seasonCredit: Rex
And now the Silver Arrows have moved to tie-down his chief designer ahead of another major rule change planned for 2026.
Wolff said: “I am thrilled that James has committed his long-term future to the team.
“Put simply, he is the most impressive technical leader in our sport.
“His gladiator spirit, along with his knowledge, experience, and determination, make him second-to-none. His influence and impact, however, goes so much further than that.
READ MORE IN F1
“Since joining in 2017, he has been a key ally and sparring partner for me personally.
“We can challenge each other openly and honestly; an embodiment of the ‘tough love’ culture of the team that is vital in helping us all perform at our very best.
“Most importantly though, James is a true friend you can rely on, not only in times of success but in difficult moments too.
“It has been a pleasure to work with him over the past seven years and I look forward to doing so for many more to come.”
Most read in Motorsport
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Allison joined the team in 2017 as technical director and oversaw Lewis Hamilton’s successful spell with the team where he won four drivers’ titles and five consecutive constructors’ championships.
After a brief spell working on INEOS’ America’s Cup project he returned to the F1 team in April last year to cure the team’s dreadful performance.
He has now been ringfenced for the F1 operation as Mercedes try to catch runaway leaders, Red Bull.
Allison said: “F1 has brought me a lot of good fortune, but none greater than answering Toto’s call to join Mercedes in 2017.
“It is a great privilege to continue this adventure, working alongside brilliant colleagues and fighting together for championship success.”
Toto Wolff is thrilled to have tied Allison down to a longer dealCredit: PA More