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LEWIS HAMILTON has hit back at those who have criticised his move to Ferrari and says people will always “continue to talk s***”.Hamilton, 39, has decided to end his contract with Mercedes early to join Ferrari for next season.Lewis Hamilton has defended his decision to join Ferrari next seasonCredit: GettyThe blockbuster switch has sparked a huge reaction within the sport, but the seven-time world champion says he doesn’t need to prove to people why he made his decision. Hamilton, who has made a slow start to the season as Mercedes continue to struggle, was quizzed ahead of this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix about the move. He said: “I don’t feel like I need my decision vindicating. I know what was right for me, and that hasn’t changed since the moment that I made the decision. “There has not been a moment where I questioned it, and I’m not swayed by other people’s comments.READ MORE IN F1″Even today, there’s people continuing to talk s*** and it will continue on for the rest of the year. And I’ll have to just do what I did the previous time.”Only you can know what’s right for you and it will be an exciting time for me.”Hamilton will be 40 when he makes his Ferrari debut in the opening race in Melbourne next season.But he says age is not a barrier as Fernando Alonso has signed a new deal with Aston Martin until 2026 that will take him past his 45th birthday.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHamilton has pointed to Fernando Alonso as an example of the longevity his career can haveCredit: GettyHamilton added: “I am not the oldest driver here. I am going to be racing for quite some time still so it is good [Alonso] is still around.”Fernando is one of the best drivers we’ve had in the sport so for him to continue to be here and continue to have the output he’s had just shows what is possible.Lewis Hamilton storms out of interview after Japanese Grand Prix as F1 legend slams journalist’s question”And shows the new era of an athlete, what the human body can do and continue to do if you nurture it.”I never thought I would be racing into my 40s. I’m pretty sure I said I wouldn’t. But life is such a crazy trip. I don’t feel 40. I generally feel great.”Meanwhile, F1 drivers have questioned whether the Chinese GP bosses were right to paint the track surface with bitumen.The hard-wearing oily substance has been used on the track, which will host its first race in five years, much to the surprise of the teams and tyre suppliers, Pirelli.”It looks like they painted the track or they’ve done something to the surface,” said Daniel Ricciardo, who won the race in 2018.”Apparently, they’ve just painted it or something, so I don’t know how the track is going to change; if it’s going to be the same or super slippery.”Maybe that changes the way the tyres behave,” he added, “so it could also open up some things for overtaking or strategies.”Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc added: “It depends a lot on the type of paint they used. That could cause different issues or have no issues at all. I hope it’s the latter that will be the case.READ MORE SUN STORIES”For now, it’s very difficult to predict. I have only seen pictures, I haven’t gone around the track yet. I don’t think it’s the same everywhere, which might not be great.”Before adding further comments, I think we just have to drive and see how it feels.”Daniel Ricciardo is one driver who has voiced his concern over the paint on the Shanghai International CircuitCredit: GettyCharles Leclerc has also spoken about the unusual trackCredit: Reuters More

LEWIS HAMILTON has been brutally told he is “past his prime” by former F1 driver Michael Bleekemolen. At 74 years old the Dutchman still competes in the NASCAR Whelan Euro Series.Lewis Hamilton has been brutally told he is ‘past his prime’Credit: SplashHamilton has endured a miserable start to his final season as a Mercedes driver currently in P9 going into the Chinese Grand Prix.The 39-year-old’s rocky start to the season has sparked doubts about his upcoming transfer to Ferrari.Especially with Carlos Sainz’s impressive performances including two third-place finishes and a Grand Prix win in just three races.And Bleekemolen expressed doubt about the mentality of the seven-time world champion and does not think he will be able to compete for a World Championship with Ferrari.READ MORE ON F1Giving his verdict on Hamilton’s 2024 season to RacingNews365, Bleekemolen said: “It’s all coming together just a little bit badly. I think he’s had his best time a bit. “It’s not right between his ears either. I don’t see much good in him anymore.”Asked if the move to Ferrari will help Hamilton return to the podium Bleekemolen continued: “Maybe he’ll end up in the top two, three again, that could just happen. “It’s not going to be easy, but it would be nice. I just don’t think it’s going to happen.”Most read in MotorsportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERThe veteran racer ruled out any hopes of an eighth World Championship for Hamilton saying “no” when asked if the British driver will move ahead of Michael Schumacher in the record books.Bleekemolen who made one Grand Prix start for ATS Racing in 1978 struggled to predict what life would be like when Hamilton made a move to Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton ‘in advanced talks’ to join Ferrari as shock clause in Mercedes star’s contract emergesThe seven-time World Champ is set to join forces with Charles Leclerc at Maranello, one of the top qualifiers in recent F1 history and a five-time Grand Prix winner.He added: “​​Who will be number one? You often see over the course of a few races. “At the moment, Sainz is also sort of number one. It’s hard to estimate, but everyone fights for themselves in the end.“It’s the same within such a team. And they really do understand, that when you start winning races or consistently finish on the podium.”You always have an advantage over someone who only finishes fourth, fifth, sixth.”Inside track on Hamilton’s lifeLEWIS HAMILTON has driven his way into pole position as Formula One’s most prolific winner. More

FORMULA ONE bosses have unveiled their calendar for the 2025 season – confirming the Australian GP at Melbourne will return as the opening race.This year’s race in Melbourne attracted a total attendance of 452,055 over the four days but it was third in the schedule behind the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs.Lewis Hamilton’s first Ferrari race will be at the Australian GPCredit: RexIt means Lewis Hamilton will kick off his season with Ferrari at one of the tracks where he has struggled in the past.The seven-time world champion has won just twice at Albert Park during his F1 career.The 2025 season will mark the 75th anniversary of the FIA Formula One World Championship and will contain 24 races, kicking off in Australia on March 16th.Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: “[Next year] will be a special year as we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the FIA Formula One World Championship, and it’s that legacy and experience that allows us to deliver such a strong calendar.READ MORE IN F1″Once again, we’ll visit 24 incredible venues around the world, delivering top class racing, hospitality, and entertainment, which will be enjoyed by millions of fans worldwide.”We’re grateful to the FIA, our promoters, host city partners, and all the related ASNs for their commitment and support in delivering this schedule and securing what promises to be another fantastic year for F1.”I would also like to pay tribute to our F1 teams and drivers, the heroes of our sport, and our fans around the world for continuing to follow F1 with such incredible enthusiasm.”The Australian GP will come back-to-back with a race in China before a week break. There is then a gruelling triple-header taking in Japan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe British Grand Prix will be held at Silverstone on July 6th while the season will finish in Abu Dhabi on December 7th.The race at the Yas Marina Circuit is the final race in another triple header that will see teams hauled from Las Vegas to Qatar and then on to Abu Dhabi.Greatest F1 track on Earth’ created featuring iconic parts from Silverstone, Spa and SuzukaF1 says the calendar will have “a better geographical flow of races” helping team’s lower the cost of logistics and the environmental impact.Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, added: “The 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar, approved by the World Motor Sport Council, is a further illustration of our collective mission of meeting sustainability objectives through the regionalisation of events.”While our focus is on the overall stability of Formula 1, we also have a shared duty to the environment and to the health and well-being of travelling staff.”Formula One Management, under the direction of Stefano Domenicali, have produced a calendar which strikes a good blend of traditional circuits and modern venues.”We thank the host ASNs, the local organisers and the many thousands of FIA volunteers for their tireless efforts in making Formula 1 a truly global, mass audience spectacle as we prepare to celebrate the sport’s 75th year.” More

TOTO WOLFF has dropped his biggest hint yet as to who will replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.It was revealed in February that Hamilton would be joining Ferrari in a shock move worth £100million.Wolff has dropped the biggest hint yet as to who will replace Lewis HamiltonCredit: RexIt ended an 11 year association between Hamilton and Mercedes which began in 2013.All eyes have been on who Mercedes will announce as Hamilton’s replacement with Carlos Sainz being the current favourite to take his place in an informal swap deal.Max Verstappen would also be in demand should he leave Red Bull amid the fallout of Christian Horner’s scandal.The rumour mill was also sent into overdrive after Wolff was pictured having breakfast with Fernando Alonso’s boss Flavio Briatore in February.READ MORE ON F1But Wolff has surprisingly named 17-year-old F2 driver Kimi Antonelli as the person in the “strongest position” to take over at Mercedes.Wolff told F1TV: “[Antonelli] is definitely a very strong contender. I want to see how his F2 season develops, but we will wait and see what happens with some of the other drivers in F1. I don’t doubt his raw speed, talent and ability.”We wouldn’t have supported him from go-karting until now if we didn’t believe that he has the potential to go into F1 and do so with Mercedes. Many young drivers have shown in the past that you can do that step.”My feeling at the moment is that I don’t want to rush [the decision], because Kimi is part of the ideas for next year and is very much in the strongest position, and that’s why we don’t need to rush into any other decision.Most read in MotorsportWolff has identified 17-year-old Kimi Antonelli as a potential Mercedes driverCredit: GettyCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”Obviously, some of the other top drivers are going to make a decision on what to do soon, but there’s a feeling that points me in a direction not to take the decision too quickly.”Wolff talking up the prospect of Antonelli joining suggests that a driver coming in would play second fiddle to George Russell but that could change.The richest Wags in F1 revealed with some earning thousands from InstagramAntonelli races for Formula 2 team Prema and competes with Ferrari’s own wonderkid Oliver Bearman.Wolff confirmed Mercedes would allow Antonelli to get some experience with a Formula One car later this month, saying: “We want to give him the feeling of what a really good car looks like. And then we are going to put him in the 2022 car to see what the difference is.”I’m really keen and happy to see [Antonelli] in a F1 car. He’s been with us since he was 11.”I have a picture of him standing next to me on the centre console as a baby boy in go karting and now to witness that development into a F1 driver is something that I’m really proud of.”Antonelli will undergo a two-day test on April 16 and 17 and will be desperate to boss Mercedes bosses. More