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      Lewis Hamilton told by Mercedes it WAS their fault over wrong call that caused Monaco Grand Prix flop in F1 title blow

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      MERCEDES have admitted they messed up Lewis Hamilton’s race strategy at the Monaco Grand Prix.The defending F1 champ finished in a disappointing seventh and would have probably placed two places higher if the team made the right call.
      Lewis Hamilton, 36, is now behind Max Verstappen, 23, in the Drivers’ ChampionshipCredit: Getty
      It is difficult to overtake at the Monaco GPCredit: Getty
      Hamilton made a nightmare start to his race weekend in Monaco, qualifying in a below-par seventh.
      Overtaking is notoriously difficult at the Circuit de Monaco, placing extra emphasis on starting positions.
      The 36-year-old was handed a reprieve when Charles Leclerc, who had qualified on pole, was forced to retire due to a gearbox issue and team-mate Valtteri Bottas quit the race after a faulty pit stop.
      But Hamilton dropped two places back when Mercedes called him in for a tactical pit, allowing Sergio Perez and Sebastian Vettel to jump ahead.
      And with title rival Max Verstappen winning the GP, the Brit now finds himself four points behind the 23-year-old in the Drivers’ Championship.
      The seven-time world champion demanded answers from his team after the disappointing race and technical director James Allison has responded, admitting fault.
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      According to GP Fans, Allison said: “I can understand why he is unhappy because effectively we lost a chunk of places with the strategy call we made.
      “You come up to the stop, your options are undercut to try and get ahead of the person who is blocking you, or go longer than the person and overcut them.
      “It’s always a finely balanced call and we picked the wrong one of those two options.
      “Lewis still had some rubber left on the tyre for what would have been a few decent laps but the chances are Gasly probably wouldn’t have stopped any time soon and our fear was that he was simply going to just stay out there as a road blocker forever.

      “We had a window behind where we could do an attempted undercut and unfortunately we weren’t able to get enough lap time in our out lap to get past Gasly on the track when he subsequently made his stop to protect against it.
      “Then Gasly’s pace after the stop was so slow that that effectively allowed Vettel, and in turn Perez, to leapfrog the pair of us.”
      Hamilton’s Monaco result shouldn’t cause him too much worry at this early stage in the campaign, winning three of the first five races.
      But Mercedes will need to ensure poor race weekends are few and far between, with Verstappen’s team Red Bull now leading the Constructors’ Championship.
      Lewis Hamilton uploads stunning moving art to instagram to celebrate taking 100th F1 pole More

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      Lewis Hamilton fumes at Mercedes chiefs as double Monaco cock-up hands Max Verstappen championship top spot

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      LEWIS HAMILTON blasted his Mercedes team as they made a double-cock up in Monaco as Max Verstappen shot to the top of the championship.The Brit, 36, was a virtual spectator in seventh place as the brilliant Verstappen crossed the line to take his first win – and podium – in Monte Carlo.
      Lewis Hamilton has lashed out at Mercedes after their double cock-up in Monte CarloCredit: Rex
      Max Verstappen cruised to victory in Monte Carlo with Hamilton over a minute backCredit: Getty
      In an added insult to the world champion, he had to see his pal Serena Williams hand over the winner’s trophy to Verstappen, as Red Bull also replaced Mercedes at the top of the constructors’ championship.
      Hamilton was livid with his team after they called him in early on lap 30 for a pitstop; a gamble that backfired, as he failed to leapfrog and finished behind Pierre Gasly, Sebastian Vettel and Sergio Perez.
      He fumed over the radio in a series of frantic messages, saying: “How am I still behind him [Gasly], man?
      “‘What has just happened guys, we have lost two places. I don’t understand. I saved the tyres so I could go longer and you stopped me early.’”
      He then added: “The pitstop cost me three places. I don’t really have a reaction to it.
      “We do our talking in the background and will come out of it stronger.
      “We have under-performed all weekend from the get-go and we must now put all our focus onto the next race.”
      When asked how he could fare in Baku for the Azerbaijan GP, he said: “I would be guessing but it is another one we could easily struggle at.”
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      Mercedes’ strategic boffins were hailed for their last-second call in the Spanish GP to bring in Hamilton for tyres that allowed him to hunt down Verstappen and win.
      But this time their pitstop call was ultimately the wrong decision and boss Toto Wolff wants to find out why.
      He said: “The undercut looked like the only way of clearing Gasly.
      “The outlap was good, the pitstop was OK, but it was not enough. You have to take it on the chin.”
      Hamilton did set a new Monaco track record to earn a championship bonus point but he is now four points behind his rival.
      But there was an even bigger problem for Hamilton’s team-mate, Valtteri Bottas, who was forced out of the race when a wheel nut got stuck on his car when he made his pitstop.
      Mercedes say the ‘the wheel nut machined onto the axle and couldn’t be removed’, bringing an end to the Finn’s race when he was in second-place.
      But that did not trouble Verstappen, who held his nerve to cross the line comfortably ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
      Verstappen, who lives in Monaco, said: “It is so special to win here. It is a lot of laps and you have to keep your focus.
      “You always want to win this GP and I remember when I was little, I wanted to win it. It is a long season but a great way to continue.”

      🏁 F1 2021 calendar: practice times, dates and racetrack info
      Meanwhile, Brit Lando Norris is up to third in the championship after a brilliant drive to finish in third place.
      The Brit is having an outstanding season for McLaren and has just signed a new three-year deal with the team worth around £6million a season.
      He said: “It’s always a dream to be on the podium here in Monaco. It’s extra special.
      “I didn’t think it was going to happen. A bit of luck, I want to say some good driving, and a good car all weekend.”
      And Ferrari will investigate the cause of the problem that denied Charles Leclerc from starting his home race having taken pole the previous day.
      Leclerc, who crashed in qualifying after taking pole, was told his car was OK by the team only for him to discover a driveshaft problem.
      He said: “We will have an investigation after the race but it was very very difficult to take.
      “I am getting used to this race. I have never finished a race here!”
      Lando Norris signs new £6m-a-year McLaren deal More

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      Lewis Hamilton slams George Russell row rumours after youngster shone as his Mercedes replacement at 2020 Sakhir GP

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has quashed rumours he and fellow F1 driver George Russell have had a falling out.The seven-time world champion was replaced by Williams driver Russell in the Mercedes car for the Sakhir Grand Prix last year after Hamilton tested positive for coronavirus.
      Hamilton insists he still has a good relationship with RussellCredit: Reuters
      Russell did not finish his only race with Mercedes last yearCredit: EPA
      Russell would go on to lead the GP for a period of time and it looked as if he was set for a first victory in Formula 1.
      But a poor pit stop and puncture at the end saw him fail to finish the Bahrain-based race.
      And recent reports have suggested Brits Russell and Hamilton are not on speaking terms, something the current world championship leader vehemently denies.
      Hamilton said: “Our relationship is 100 per cent, still intact. It’s exactly the same.
      “We messaged after his incident in Imola, and I hope you can see from the message I put on [social media] him so supportive of him.
      “He’s going through his own journey, but he’s a great guy.
      “He did a great job when he came to the team, and he’ll continue to do great jobs, so no issues.”
      And Russell has reiterated Hamilton’s comments by playing down any talk of a rift.
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      🏁 F1 2021 calendar: practice times, dates and racetrack info
      “I think the question towards me was ‘did you speak to Lewis after Bahrain?’ And we didn’t speak, as we wouldn’t speak after any other race,” Russell told reporters.
      “We are racing against each other. If we would see each other in the paddock, we would speak. We’ve seen each other this year, a little fist-bump along the way, and that’s been the same since it has been since 2019.
      “My relationship towards Lewis is the same as it is with a lot of the drivers around the paddock, which is completely fine.
      “There are no hard feelings or no issues between myself and Lewis.”
      Hamilton has won three of the first four races of the season, with Max Verstappen claiming the other.
      Meanwhile, Russell has not yet picked up any points for Williams in the 2021 campaign.

      Lewis Hamilton uploads stunning moving art to instagram to celebrate taking 100th F1 pole More

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      F1 calendar 2021: Grand Prix times, schedule, tracks with Monaco Grand Prix next but Turkey GP AXED and Austria added

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      THE 2021 Formula 1 season is two races in with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen set for a season-long scrap for the title.But Hamilton seems to have all the early momentum after winning the last two races in Portugal and Spain, with Monte Carlo up next.

      🏁 F1 2021 calendar: practice times, dates and racetrack info
      Lewis Hamilton is aiming to become the outright most successful driver of all timeCredit: Getty
      The Brit, 36, moved level with Michael Schumacher on seven world titles last year and will become the outright top dog if he collects the most points across this season’s races.
      In a season that has already seen shifts and changes to the calendar, the Australian Grand Prix was due to take place on the weekend of March 21, but was put back to November 21 because of coronavirus restrictions Down Under.
      Turkey had replaced Canada as the Grand Prix destination on June 13, but it was then axed by F1 chiefs on safety grounds.
      And in April the world governing body approved sprint races in the British, Brazilian and Italian Grand Prix as a replacement for qualifying.
      Here is how the F1 calendar unfolds in 2021 with our race by race schedule.
      F1 calendar 2021
      All timings below are UK time.
      🇧🇭 Bahrain Grand Prix
      🏆 Grand Prix Result: 1. Lewis Hamilton 2. Max Verstappen 3. Valtteri Bottas

      Venue: Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir
      Friday, March 26: Practice 1 (11.30am), Practice 2 (3pm)
      Saturday, March 27: Practice 3 (12pm), Qualifying (3pm)
      Sunday, March 28: Race (4pm)

      🇮🇹 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
      🏆 Grand Prix Result: 1. Max Verstappen 2. Lewis Hamilton 3. Lando Norris

      Venue: Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola
      Friday, April 16: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, April 17: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, April 18: Race (2pm)

      🇵🇹 Portuguese Grand Prix
      🏆 Grand Prix Result: 1. Lewis Hamilton 2. Max Verstappen 3. Valtteri Bottas

      Venue: Autodromo Internacional do Algarve
      Friday, April 30: Practice 1 (11.30am), Practice 2 (3pm)
      Saturday, May 1: Practice 3 (12pm), Qualifying (3pm)
      Sunday, May 2: Race (3pm)

      🇪🇸 Spanish Grand Prix
      🏆 Grand Prix Result: 1. Lewis Hamilton 2. Max Verstappen 3. Valtteri Bottas

      Venue: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
      Friday, May 7: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, May 8: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, May 9: Race (2pm)

      🇲🇨 Monaco Grand Prix – NEXT

      Venue: Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo
      Thursday, May 20: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, May 22: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, May 23: Race (2pm)

      🇦🇿 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

      Venue: Baku City Circuit
      Friday, June 4: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, June 5: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, June 6: Race (1pm)

      🇨🇦 Canadian Grand Prix – cancelled

      🇹🇷 Turkish Grand Prix – cancelled

      🇫🇷 French Grand Prix – new dates

      Venue: Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet
      Friday, June 18: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, June 19: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, June 20: Race (2pm)

      🇦🇹 Styrian Grand Prix

      Venue: Red Bull Ring, Spielberg
      Friday, June 25: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, June 26: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, June 27: Race (2pm)

      🇦🇹 Austrian Grand Prix

      Venue: Red Bull Ring, Spielberg
      Friday, July 2: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, July 3: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, July 4: Race (2pm)

      🇬🇧 British Grand Prix
      *Inaugural sprint race replaces classic qualifying.

      Venue: Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire
      Friday, July 16: Practice 1 (11.30am), Practice 2 (3pm)
      Saturday, July 17: Practice 3 (12pm), SPRINT RACE (3pm)*
      Sunday, July 18: Race (3pm)

      🇭🇺 Hungarian Grand Prix

      Venue: Hungaroring, Budapest
      Friday, July 30: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, July 31: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, August 1: Race (2pm)

      🇧🇪 Belgian Grand Prix

      Venue: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
      Friday, August 27: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, August 28: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, August 29: Race (2pm)

      🇳🇱 Dutch Grand Prix

      Venue: Zandvoort
      Friday, September 3: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, September 4: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, September 5: Race (2pm)

      🇮🇹 Italian Grand Prix 2

      Venue: Autodromo Nazionale Monza
      Friday, September 10: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, September 11: Practice 3 (11am), SPRINT RACE (2PM)
      Sunday, September 12: Race (2pm)

      🇷🇺 Russian Grand Prix

      Venue: Sochi Autodrom
      Friday, September 24: Practice 1 (9.30am), Practice 2 (1pm)
      Saturday, September 25: Practice 3 (10am), Qualifying (1pm)
      Sunday, September 26: Race (1pm)

      🇸🇬 Singapore Grand Prix

      Venue: Marina Bay Street Circuit
      Friday, October 1: Practice 1 (10am), Practice 2 (1.30pm)
      Saturday, October 2: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, October 3: Race (1pm)

      🇯🇵 Japanese Grand Prix

      Venue: Suzuka International Racing Course, Ino, Sazuka City
      Friday, October 8: Practice 1 (3.30am), Practice 2 (7am)
      Saturday, October 9: Practice 3 (4am), Qualifying (7am)
      Sunday, October 10: Race (6am)

      🇺🇸 United States Grand Prix

      Venue: Circuit of The Americas, Austin, Texas
      Friday, October 22: Practice 1 (5.30pm), Practice 2 (9pm)
      Saturday, October 23: Practice 3 (7pm), Qualifying (10pm)
      Sunday, October 24: Race (8pm)

      🇲🇽 Mexico City Grand Prix

      Venue: Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City
      Friday, October 29: Practice 1 (5.30pm), Practice 2 (9pm)
      Saturday, October 30: Practice 3 (5pm), Qualifying (8pm)
      Sunday, October 31: Race (7pm)

      🇧🇷 Brazil Grand Prix

      Venue: Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, Interlagos
      Friday, November 5: Practice 1 (2.30pm), Practice 2 (6pm)
      Saturday, November 6: Practice 3 (3pm), SPRINT RACE (6PM)
      Sunday, November 7: Race (5pm)

      🇦🇺 Australian Grand Prix

      Venue: Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit
      Friday, November 19: Practice 1 (1.30am), Practice 2 (5am)
      Saturday, November 20: Practice 3 (3am), Qualifying (6am)
      Sunday, November 21: Race (6am)

      🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix

      Venue: Jeddah Street Circuit
      Friday, December 3: Practice 1 (12.30pm), Practice 2 (4pm)
      Saturday, December 4: Practice 3 (1pm), Qualifying (4pm)
      Sunday, December 5: Race (4pm)

      🇦🇪 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

      Venue: Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island
      Friday, December 10: Practice 1 (9.30am), Practice 2 (1pm)
      Saturday, December 11: Practice 3 (10am), Qualifying (1pm)
      Sunday, December 12: Race (1pm) More

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      Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has four options to become Lewis Hamilton’s new team-mate if Valtteri Bottas is axed next year

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      MERCEDES Team Principal Toto Wolff reportedly has four options to choose from to replace Valtteri Bottas should the Finnish driver be sacked.The 31-year-old is under pressure after just four races into the Formula One 2021 World Championship where he sits in third spot.
      Toto Wolff will have the task of finding a team-mate for Lewis Hamilton if he axes Valtteri BottasCredit: Splash
      During Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix, Bottas ignored team orders as he refused to let team-mate Lewis Hamilton pass – forcing the Brit to risk an overtaking manoeuvre.
      When asked afterwards why he made life difficult for Hamilton, who went on to win the race, Bottas admitted he “could have let him by earlier” and added “I’m not here to let people by”.
      His remarks will now be addressed by Wolff, who will remind him over his responsibilities to the team.
      It has even been claimed that Bottas could be axed before the end of the season, with Mercedes said to have ‘lost faith’ in him.
      One team source told the Mail: “There is some unrest at the factory about Valtteri.
      “He is not up to it, which was made clearer by the job we saw [George] Russell do in Bahrain.”
      And Williams star Russell is said to be one of four drivers that Mercedes could look to turn to, according to the Express.
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      The Brit’s contract is up for renewal at the end of the year, and he even deputised for Hamilton at the Sakhir Grand Prix last year.

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      Mercedes driver Hamilton has won three out of the opening four races this season
      It has also been claimed that Red Bull ace Max Verstappen could be eyed up, with the Dutch driver having two years left on his current deal.
      Though it appears unlikely he will switch teams having been part of Red Bull’s team since 2014.
      And he has set his eyes on winning the world championship with Christian Horner’s team in their bid to end Mercedes’ seven-year dominace.
      Other potential options include Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, who forfeited his role as the Mercedes’ junior driver to join Renault on a two-year deal.
      Commenting on the Frenchman, Wolff remarked: “Ocon is in the second year of a two-year contract with Renault or Alpine F1 this year, Russell is with Williams this year.
      The ten greatest F1 drivers of all-time – according to SunSport’s motorsport correspondent Ben Hunt

      “So there are some variations for 2022. But until then our full support goes to Valtteri and Lewis.”
      The Express have then stated that Mercedes-EQ’s Stoffel Vandoorne – who currently races in Formula E – is an option.
      Vandoorne, 29, is also a test driver for Mercedes’ F1 team, with the Belgian highly-rated by Wolff.
      F1 star Valtteri Bottas gives a guided tour of the Mercedes motorhome More

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      F1 calendar 2021: Grand Prix times, schedule, tracks with Monaco Grand Prix NEXT before Azerbaijan

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      THE 2021 Formula 1 season is two races in with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen set for a season-long scrap for the title.But Hamilton seems to have all the early momentum after winning the last two races in Portugal and Spain, with Monte Carlo up next.

      🏁 F1 2021 calendar: practice times, dates and racetrack info
      Lewis Hamilton is aiming to become the outright most successful driver of all timeCredit: Getty
      The Brit, 36, moved level with Michael Schumacher on seven world titles last year and will become the outright top dog if he collects the most points across this season’s races.
      In a season that has already seen shifts and changes to the calendar, the Australian Grand Prix was due to take place on the weekend of March 21, but was put back to November 21 because of coronavirus restrictions Down Under.
      Turkey has replaced Canada as the Grand Prix destination on June 13, due to concerns over Covid-19 restrictions in the North American country.
      And in April the world governing body approved sprint races in the British, Brazilian and Italian Grand Prix as a replacement for qualifying.
      Here is how the F1 calendar unfolds in 2021 with our race by race schedule.
      F1 calendar 2021
      All timings below are UK time.
      🇧🇭 Bahrain Grand Prix
      🏆 Grand Prix Result: 1. Lewis Hamilton 2. Max Verstappen 3. Valtteri Bottas

      Venue: Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir
      Friday, March 26: Practice 1 (11.30am), Practice 2 (3pm)
      Saturday, March 27: Practice 3 (12pm), Qualifying (3pm)
      Sunday, March 28: Race (4pm)

      🇮🇹 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
      🏆 Grand Prix Result: 1. Max Verstappen 2. Lewis Hamilton 3. Lando Norris

      Venue: Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola
      Friday, April 16: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, April 17: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, April 18: Race (2pm)

      🇵🇹 Portuguese Grand Prix
      🏆 Grand Prix Result: 1. Lewis Hamilton 2. Max Verstappen 3. Valtteri Bottas

      Venue: Autodromo Internacional do Algarve
      Friday, April 30: Practice 1 (11.30am), Practice 2 (3pm)
      Saturday, May 1: Practice 3 (12pm), Qualifying (3pm)
      Sunday, May 2: Race (3pm)

      🇪🇸 Spanish Grand Prix
      🏆 Grand Prix Result: 1. Lewis Hamilton 2. Max Verstappen 3. Valtteri Bottas

      Venue: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
      Friday, May 7: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, May 8: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, May 9: Race (2pm)

      🇲🇨 Monaco Grand Prix – NEXT

      Venue: Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo
      Thursday, May 20: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, May 22: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, May 23: Race (2pm)

      🇦🇿 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

      Venue: Baku City Circuit
      Friday, June 4: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, June 5: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, June 6: Race (1pm)

      🇨🇦 Canadian Grand Prix – cancelled

      🇹🇷 Turkish Grand Prix

      Venue: Istanbul Park
      Friday, June 11: Practice 1 (TBC), Practice 2 (TBC)
      Saturday, June 12: Practice 3 (TBC), Qualifying (TBC)
      Sunday, June 13: Race (TBC)

      🇫🇷 French Grand Prix

      Venue: Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet
      Friday, June 25: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, June 26: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, June 27: Race (2pm)

      🇦🇹 Austrian Grand Prix

      Venue: Red Bull Ring, Spielberg
      Friday, July 2: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, July 3: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, July 4: Race (2pm)

      🇬🇧 British Grand Prix
      *Inaugural sprint race replaces classic qualifying.

      Venue: Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire
      Friday, July 16: Practice 1 (11.30am), Practice 2 (3pm)
      Saturday, July 17: Practice 3 (12pm), SPRINT RACE (3pm)*
      Sunday, July 18: Race (3pm)

      🇭🇺 Hungarian Grand Prix

      Venue: Hungaroring, Budapest
      Friday, July 30: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, July 31: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, August 1: Race (2pm)

      🇧🇪 Belgian Grand Prix

      Venue: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
      Friday, August 27: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, August 28: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, August 29: Race (2pm)

      🇳🇱 Dutch Grand Prix

      Venue: Zandvoort
      Friday, September 3: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, September 4: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, September 5: Race (2pm)

      🇮🇹 Italian Grand Prix 2

      Venue: Autodromo Nazionale Monza
      Friday, September 10: Practice 1 (10.30am), Practice 2 (2pm)
      Saturday, September 11: Practice 3 (11am), SPRINT RACE (2PM)
      Sunday, September 12: Race (2pm)

      🇷🇺 Russian Grand Prix

      Venue: Sochi Autodrom
      Friday, September 24: Practice 1 (9.30am), Practice 2 (1pm)
      Saturday, September 25: Practice 3 (10am), Qualifying (1pm)
      Sunday, September 26: Race (1pm)

      🇸🇬 Singapore Grand Prix

      Venue: Marina Bay Street Circuit
      Friday, October 1: Practice 1 (10am), Practice 2 (1.30pm)
      Saturday, October 2: Practice 3 (11am), Qualifying (2pm)
      Sunday, October 3: Race (1pm)

      🇯🇵 Japanese Grand Prix

      Venue: Suzuka International Racing Course, Ino, Sazuka City
      Friday, October 8: Practice 1 (3.30am), Practice 2 (7am)
      Saturday, October 9: Practice 3 (4am), Qualifying (7am)
      Sunday, October 10: Race (6am)

      🇺🇸 United States Grand Prix

      Venue: Circuit of The Americas, Austin, Texas
      Friday, October 22: Practice 1 (5.30pm), Practice 2 (9pm)
      Saturday, October 23: Practice 3 (7pm), Qualifying (10pm)
      Sunday, October 24: Race (8pm)

      🇲🇽 Mexico City Grand Prix

      Venue: Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City
      Friday, October 29: Practice 1 (5.30pm), Practice 2 (9pm)
      Saturday, October 30: Practice 3 (5pm), Qualifying (8pm)
      Sunday, October 31: Race (7pm)

      🇧🇷 Brazil Grand Prix

      Venue: Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, Interlagos
      Friday, November 5: Practice 1 (2.30pm), Practice 2 (6pm)
      Saturday, November 6: Practice 3 (3pm), SPRINT RACE (6PM)
      Sunday, November 7: Race (5pm)

      🇦🇺 Australian Grand Prix

      Venue: Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit
      Friday, November 19: Practice 1 (1.30am), Practice 2 (5am)
      Saturday, November 20: Practice 3 (3am), Qualifying (6am)
      Sunday, November 21: Race (6am)

      🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix

      Venue: Jeddah Street Circuit
      Friday, December 3: Practice 1 (12.30pm), Practice 2 (4pm)
      Saturday, December 4: Practice 3 (1pm), Qualifying (4pm)
      Sunday, December 5: Race (4pm)

      🇦🇪 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

      Venue: Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island
      Friday, December 10: Practice 1 (9.30am), Practice 2 (1pm)
      Saturday, December 11: Practice 3 (10am), Qualifying (1pm)
      Sunday, December 12: Race (1pm) More

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      Lewis Hamilton wants Mercedes contract talks as seven-time F1 world champion enters final seven months of deal

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      LEWIS HAMILTON wants to start negotiations with Mercedes about a new contract.The world champion only signed a ten-month deal in February, just weeks ahead of the new season.
      Lewis Hamilton, 36, revealed he is ready to open talks with Mercedes over a new contract after winning the Spanish GPCredit: AP
      Lewis Hamilton penned a ten-month deal in February and has just seven months leftCredit: Getty
      The short nature of the deal raised fears that Hamilton could quit Formula One at the end of the year.
      However, the 36-year-old, who is expected to earn around £40million this year, says he is feeling fighting fit and ready to open talks with Mercedes chief Toto Wolff.
      When quizzed by SunSport about his thoughts towards the 2022 season, Hamilton gave a huge hint that he intends to stay in F1, irrespective of whether he wins an eighth world title.
      Hamilton – who won the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday having clinched his 100th pole a day earlier – said: “There is still some life in this old dog.
      “I would say that I am more conscious about my body and I have been training myself for a long time.
      “I am constantly learning about getting the best out of myself and I am feeling great.
      “Contract-wise, we never want to be in the position we were in January and February.
      “It ruined my whole winter and I am sure it was not helpful for Toto in terms of being off and time to relax, so it did not feel like we had much of a break.
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      “So I think we have to be sensible.
      “We don’t have to rush anything but we have to be sensible and start these conversations.
      “They are very complex and it is never a simple procedure and so hopefully soon we can start, so long as it does not interfere with the actual job.
      “We still have 19 races to do but it would be great to get something in place before the break so we can be in that time and have a clear picture of the future.”
      Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013 and has now won 77 times with the Silver Arrows and a further 21 times at McLaren.

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      in Motorsport

      Romain Grosjean to make emotional F1 return as Mercedes test driver just months after miracle fireball crash escape

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      ROMAIN GROSJEAN will make an emotional return to Formula One seven months to the day after his horrifying fireball crash in Bahrain.The Haas car driven by the Frenchman careened off track and split in half when it hit the barrier, creating a huge fireball explosion that left drivers and fans fearing for his life.
      Romain Grosjean will enjoy one last drive in a Formula One car with MercedesCredit: PA
      The veteran’s Haas car split in two in a horror fireball crash last NovemberCredit: Splash
      But the racer clambered out of the wreckage having spent 20 seconds wrestling himself free of his melting harness.
      Grosjean then managed to walk away from the incident with only burns to his hands and a minor leg injury – much to the relief of all in F1.
      His departure from the sport had already been confirmed before the November race and he quickly voiced his desire to have one last runout to round off his 179-race career in proper fashion.
      An offer came from world champions Mercedes and, on Wednesday, Grosjean’s return was confirmed.
      The 35-year-old will drive Lewis Hamilton’s 2019 title-winning car in a specially-organised test at Circuit Paul Ricard on June 29, the seven-month anniversary of his crash.
      And he will also turn out at the same circuit for a few parade laps before the French Grand Prix two days earlier.
      Grosjean said: “I am so excited to jump back in an F1 car!
      “It will be a special opportunity for me and to drive a World Championship-winning Mercedes will be a unique experience.
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      The first I heard about the chance to drive a Mercedes was in my hospital bed in Bahrain. It cheered me up a lot!Romain Grosjean
      “I’m very grateful to Mercedes F1 and to Toto for the opportunity.
      “The first I heard about the chance to drive a Mercedes was in my hospital bed in Bahrain when Toto was speaking to the media and made the invitation. Reading that news cheered me up a lot!
      “F1 didn’t get the chance to race in France during 2020 because of Covid so driving a Mercedes at the French Grand Prix in 2021 and then completing a test at the Circuit Paul Ricard, my home track, will be so special.
      “I can’t wait for the day to arrive.”
      Grosjean is racing in the US IndyCar series this year having left F1 but spent time with Mercedes for a seat fit and simulator run in March.
      Team boss Toto Wolff said he was ‘very happy’ to hand the veteran his deserved send-off while Lewis Hamilton spoke of the fear he and others felt at the time of the crash.
      Grosjean visited Mercedes’ Brackley factory in March for a seat fittingCredit: PA
      The Frenchman will appear at his home circuit of Paul Ricard next monthCredit: PA

      The Brit said: “I’m really happy to see Romain back in an F1 car after his accident last year.
      “When it happened, we were all praying for him and seeing him walk away from it and recover so well was a massive relief.
      “I’m looking forward to seeing him again in France and welcoming him to the team for the weekend – although he better look after my W10!”

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