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    Erling Haaland ‘buying incredible £2.7million Mercedes supercar’ with five Formula 1 engines and top speed of 219mph

    ERLING HAALAND is reportedly ready to hit the fastlane by splashing out £2.7 MILLION for a spanking new Formula One-grade supercar.The Norwegian hotshot, 23, is currently enduring a sticky spell by his high standards in front of goal.
    Erling Haaland is set to add a stunning new motor to his collectionCredit: Getty
    He is reportedly buying a £2.7m Formula One-grade Mercedes AMG OneCredit: Mercedes
    He has scored just three in his last nine matches for Manchester City as they struggle to keep pace with Premier League leaders Liverpool.
    However, off the pitch he is allegedly planning to shift his luxury vehicle collection into overdrive by having a Mercedes AMG One built to order.
    Haaland’s new motor boasts five F1 engines and has an eye-watering top speed of 219 mph.
    The supercar goes from 0-124mph in just seven seconds and can reach 186mph in 15.6 seconds.
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    Mercedes are believed to be building 275 of the exclusive motors.
    Norwegian newspaper Dagens Naeringsliv revealed the news about Haaland’s new car.
    And they state that he has teamed up with childhood pal Ole Ertvaag to buy the German-made beast.
    Haaland and financier Ertvaag both grew up in Norway’s western Rogaland county.
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    The respected newspaper, a Norwegian equivalent to the Financial Times, says that the “monster car” will cost over £2m.
    And, with all of the taxes included, the total price will be over £2.7m.
    Top 10 highest paid footballers in the world revealed with no Premier League players making the top five
    Ertvaag is the founder of the HiTecVision investment firm.
    He is also a renowned car collector – as is Haaland.
    The ex-Borussia Dortmund striker, who fired City to the treble in his first season at the Etihad, previously owned a Mercedes AMG GLE coupe that cost a far more modest £90,000.
    Haaland has since splashed out on a £300,000 Rolls Royce Cullinan SUV.
    And he also owns an Audi RS6 Avant and Range Rover Sport that are both each worth £120,000.
    The Merc boasts five F1 engines and has a top speed of 219 mphCredit: Mercedes More

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    F1 legend keen on shock retirement U-turn after Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari ‘triggered something’

    LEWIS HAMILTON’S surprise transfer to Ferrari has “triggered something” that could see a Formula One world champion return to the grid, according to Ralf Schumacher.Hamilton, 39, activated a break clause in his Mercedes contract which will see him leave the team at the end of this season before joining the Scuderia in 2025.
    Sebastian Vettel has been tipped for a return to F1Credit: AFP
    It is claimed Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari ‘triggered something’Credit: Getty
    And the move is now said to have piqued the interest for a return to the sport for four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.
    Speaking to Sky Sports, six-time race winner Schumacher named 36-year-old Vettel as one possible candidate to replace Hamilton at the Silver Arrows.
    Schumacher said: “I’ve heard that Sebastian Vettel wants to drive again. Of course, a gap has to be closed now.
    “You saw what was going on on the stock market after Lewis Hamilton’smove to Ferrari, that triggered something.”
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    Vettel retired from the sport at the end of 2022 after 299 race starts for Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Ferrari and Aston Martin.
    Hamilton’s departure leaves George Russell not knowing who his team-mate will be next season.
    And while Schumacher does not doubt the talent of Vettel, who questions whether he would be able to make such a big leap back into the sport after three years absent.
    “Whether George Russell has the charisma to replace Lewis Hamilton worldwide in terms of marketing or Sebastian Vettel as a German driver at Mercedes, that’s probably a size too big for him.”
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    SunSport named five possible candidates who could replace the seven-time world champion, from 17-year-old Mercedes junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli to Mick Schumacher or Alex Albon.
    Fernando Alonso, who replaced Vettel at Aston Martin, has also been linked with a shock switch.
    Inside Lewis Hamilton’s £13m collection of supercars including £4m classic and £1.6m ride made entirely for him
    Alonso had two seasons out of the sport before returning in 2021 and has remained one of the best on the grid, meaning it is in the realm of possibility for Vettel to replicate the Spaniard.
    However, Schumacher is concerned Mercedes will not be as competitive as they hope to be in 2025.
    He added: “I’m a bit disappointed with Mercedes, I have the feeling that things will continue as they did last year.
    “That could also be a reason why Lewis Hamilton lost faith in it and followed the call of Fred Vasseur.”

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    I used to play as Michael Schumacher growing up, joining Ferrari is a boyhood dream, says Lewis Hamilton

    LEWIS HAMILTON says moving to Ferrari is a boyhood dream after playing as Michael Schumacher on his computer as a kid.Hamilton, 39, activated a break-clause in his Mercedes deal and will quit at the end of this year to join the Italian team.
    The 2024 season will be Lewis Hamilton’s last with MercedesCredit: EPA
    Hamilton wanted the move to Ferrari to emulate Michael SchumacherCredit: Alamy
    The move stunned F1 as he had only agreed a contract extension with the Silver Arrows last summer.
    Now, as he prepares for his final season with Mercedes, he says he has always been driven by the lure of one day driving for F1’s most famous team, who have not won the title since 2007.
    He said: “I think for every driver, growing up, watching the history, watching Michael Schumacher in his prime, probably all of us sit in our garage and see the screen pop up, and you see the driver in the red cockpit.
    “You wonder what it might be like to be surrounded by the red.
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    “You go to the Italian Grand Prix, and you see the sea of red Ferrari fans, and you can only stand in awe of that.
    “It’s a team that’s not had huge success really since, mostly obviously from Michael’s days, but obviously since 2007, and I saw it as a huge challenge.
    “Without a doubt, even as a kid, I used to play on Grand Prix 2 as Michael in that car. So it definitely is a dream, and I’m really, really excited about it.”
    Hamilton will link up with his old GP2 boss Fred Vasseur at Ferrari and admits he had a big hand in convincing him to jump ship.
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    He added: “I’ve got a great relationship with Fred. Obviously I raced with him. We had amazing success in F3, and also in GP2.
    “That’s really where the foundation of our relationship started. We always remained in touch.
    Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton unveil new 2024 Formula 1 car
    “I thought that he was going to be an amazing team manager at some stage and progress to F1, but at the time, he wasn’t interested in that.
    “It was really cool to see him step into the Alfa [Romeo] team. Then when he got the job at Ferrari, I was just so happy for him.
    “I think just the stars aligned, I think it really wouldn’t have happened without him.
    “So I’m really grateful and really excited about the work that he’s doing there.”
    The 2024 F1 season begins on March 2.

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    Mercedes unveil never-before-seen car feature for Lewis Hamilton as F1 fans ask ‘is this real?’

    MERCEDES has blown away fans after unveiling a brand new steering wheel addition that has never been seen before in Formula One.Teams are prepping their new cars in testing sessions for the upcoming season which gets started in Bahrain on March 9.
    Lewis Hamilton will be racing with a brand new addition to his steering wheel this seasonCredit: Rex
    The Silver Arrows had added a new button with the Whatsapp logo on their steering wheelCredit: X @mercedesamgf1

    Mercedes are in an attempt to bounce back this season after back-to-back Red Bull domination in both the driver’s and constructors’ championships.
    Lewis Hamilton is entering his final year with Mercedes and hopes to make a recording-breaking eighth world championship victory.
    And the German garage are always finding new ways to gain an advantage over their opponents and to allow their sponsors to get more air time.
    Toto Wolff’s team signed a sponsorship deal with Whatsapp and have been very creative in promoting their recent partnership.
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    The Whatsapp iconic green logo will replace the former yellow communications button that allows drivers to speak to staff on the pit wall to get information throughout the race.
    To announce the new design Mercedes posted an image of the Whatsapp button on their X account.
    And fans are windblown by the marketing move from Mercedes.
    As one F1 follower said: “Admin is this real?”
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    While another added: “WhatsApp button looks so cool.”
    A third then put: “Ok, this is brilliant marketing.”
    Inside Lewis Hamilton’s £13m collection of supercars including £4m classic and £1.6m ride made entirely for him
    An F1 car’s steering wheel consists of 25 individual buttons and switches with each feature having to be easily accessible to drivers on the circuit.
    The Mercedes wheel will now have the green logo designed as a phone with a speech bubble around it and it is an excellent addition to the Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance.
    This could see other teams make similar sponsorship deals in the future.
    The F1 Bahrain Grand Prix is scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 2.
    And 2023 champion Max Verstappen is certainly looking to ruin the party by continuing his incredible hot streak. More

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    Inside Red Bull’s Christian Horner & F1 rival Toto Wolff’s toxic feud… & how wives Geri & Susie battle to keep the peace

    IT’S a rivalry as fierce as that between the drivers on the track – and as the new Formula One season approaches it’s set to crank up a gear yet again.But Red Bull boss Christian Horner and Mercedes chief Toto Wolff’s feud dates back to long before Max Verstappen clinched that controversial world title back in 2021.
    Rivals Toto Wolff and Christian Horner have been involved in ‘mud slinging’ matchesCredit: PA
    Toto and his wife, Susie Wolff, are one of F1’s top power couplesCredit: Getty
    Christian and Geri Horner have been rocked by allegations about his behaviour
    This week Wolff couldn’t resist a dig at his rival – who is under investigation over allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” by a female colleague, which he denies.
    The Austrian, 52, called for “transparency” amid the probe, adding that it has repercussions for F1 as a whole.
    He said: “I think for Red Bull it started as an independent investigation, if this is done in the right way with transparency and with the rigour, I think that’s something that we need to look at whatever the outcomes are.”
    Wolff and Horner are renowned for trading insults – often shown on the Netflix hit Drive to Survive, the new series of which drops today – and at times their wives Susie Wolff and Geri Horner have stepped in to help simmer tensions.
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    As both men try to focus on pre-season testing in Bahrain, we reveal how their feud has played out over the years – and looks to continue firing on all cylinders.
    Red Bull’s beef with Mercedes can be traced back to 2014, when rule changes saw them emerge as the most dominant team on the grid.
    Wolff was at the helm when the team – having made a triumphant return to F1 in 2010 – clinched its first world title with Lewis Hamilton.
    Mercedes won the Constructors’ title with a 296 point lead over Red Bull Racing.
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    At the time Horner was pushing for changes to the rules which would allow teams to keep developing their cars throughout the season, with no limits.
    Rules stated teams could only change 92 per cent of their designs.
    F1 fans in meltdown over ‘that Lewis Hamilton bit’ as trailer for Netflix series Drive to Survive released
    Horner’s pleas angered Wolff, who raged: “Nobody can really be in favour of an all-out engine war from 2016.
    “No serious company would allow that to happen and none of the current engine suppliers could allow that to happen because costs would escalate totally out of control.”
    A year later Horner was still banging the drum, claiming people would lose interest in F1 if the FIA made no changes to halt Mercedes, to which Wolff hit back: “Just get your f*****g head down, work hard and try to sort it out.”
    ‘Meddling’ with Max
    Team principal Horner celebrates with driver Max Verstappen in 2021
    Red Bull have knocked Toto and Lewis Hamilton off their perch in recent seasonsCredit: Getty
    Tensions have boiled as the Mercedes team has fallen awayCredit: Rex
    Things came to a head in 2016 when Wolff phoned Vertstappen’s dad Joss to discuss Max’s aggressive driving following his crash with Nico Rosberg.
    Horner was furious, stating: “It’s totally wrong. They’ve got their own business. To be meddling in other teams’… maybe he does that with Ferrari, but he shouldn’t do it.
    “He’s got no right to tell Max how he should drive and conduct himself.”
    Things really boiled over in 2021, with Wolff branding Horner a “windbag who just wants to be on camera” during a row over Red Bull’s so-called ‘bendy wing’.
    He added: “It’s about being punchy – it’s easy to be punchy when you’re on top of the timesheet, but he should be a little bit more modest I think.”
    It’s totally wrong. They’ve got their own business. To be meddling in other teams’… maybe he does that with Ferrari, but he shouldn’t do itChristian Horner on Toto Wolff
    It came after Horner warned Wolff to “keep his mouth shut” and “be careful what you wish for” after hinting Red Bull could decide to protest Mercedes’ flexi front wings, alleging they looked “a bit worse than ours”.
    During the close-run season, Wolff seemed rattled, at one point telling Hamilton over the team radio following a sprint race: “F**k them all.”
    Horner added fuel to the fire, adding: “We worked hard to get into this position. It’s the first time they [Mercedes] have been challenged. It’s interesting to see how people react when they are under pressure, when they are challenged.”
    When Hamilton and Verstappen collided at the British Grand Prix, both bosses rigorously defended their drivers.
    It led to a “heated exchange” between the two principals, according to Horner.
    Tensions then reached fever pitch when Verstappen snatched the world title from Hamilton on the final lap in Abu Dhabi thanks to a controversial safety car decision.
    The moment Verstappen snatches the world title from Lewis Hamilton in 2021
    Horner and Wolff rarely see eye to eyeCredit: Getty
    Horner told Tom Clarkson on the F1: Beyond the Grid podcast: “It really permeated at Silverstone where suddenly there was an awful lot of dialogue from Toto to [then race director] Michael [Masi].
    “Then he’s (Wolff) sending him an email, and then he’s coming up. And I thought: ‘Right, okay, I’m not having that, I’m going up.’
    “I felt it was incredibly one sided that a team principal should not be able to lobby and influence the race director and with hindsight, Toto and I had a fairly heated exchange in Race Control.
    “At that event, where Toto was obviously arguing his corner that his driver shouldn’t be penalised, and I’ve got a driver in hospital and the car taken out of the race and was obviously feeling pretty aggrieved by it.”

    🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁 
    Horner claimed he was surprised by his main rival’s behaviour during the season, telling The Telegraph: “You could see that it boiled over in the garage next door on a few occasions.”
    He admitted he enjoys winding up Wolff, telling the Guardian in October 2021: “The more Toto gets wound up, the more fun it becomes.”
    Former Benetton driver Johnny Herbert called out the two bosses for their squabbling a month later, telling the Sunday Mirror: “I think many want to tell him ‘grow up’.
    “They look like two eight-year-olds arguing in the schoolyard. One points to the other and says, ‘Look what he’s doing’.”
    Cheating claims
    The following year Red Bull was accused of cheating after it was found guilty of breaching the budget cap in 2021.
    Wolff made it clear he didn’t feel the team’s £5.5m fine and 10 per cent reduction on aerodynamic development time was a harsh enough punishment.
    He quipped: “I think they [Red Bull] have done a very good job last year in having a car out there that was half a second or more quicker than anyone else.”
    Meanwhile Horner was seen on camera telling his drivers: “[It’s]fun and games with Mercedes over all this cost cap s***. I mean it’s unbelievable how much s*** Toto says.”
    Susie Wolff keeps her husband Toto smilingCredit: Instagram/susie_wolff
    The Horners are often seen in Netflix series Drive to Survive enjoying an idyllic country lifeCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
    Geri and Christian got hitched 10 years agoCredit: Splash News
    The Horners at home with the familyCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
    F1’s Horner poses on the steps of the home with daughter Olivia from his previous relationshipCredit: Instagram @christianhorner
    At times the team principals’ respective wives, Susie Wolf and Geri Halliwell, have stepped in, in an effort to keep the peace.
    The Mercedes principal admitted he “really regrets” how things got so heated between him and his rival, and recalled being accosted by Susie for his “regretful” behaviour during the 2021 season.
    He told Formula 1 magazine: “Susie pointed that out to me very clearly.
    “She said, ‘Why are you having these kinds of discussions? You’re trying to win, respect that. Even if someone goes in that direction, you don’t have to’.
    “That’s called female social intelligence. We sometimes have too much hormones.”
    In March 2022 it seemed like the pair had put their differences aside when Horner praised Wolff for opening up about his mental health battle.
    He told Sky Sports: “All credit to Toto for having the confidence to talk out about his own personal issues.”
    Cheeky bum slap
    Geri gives Toto a big hugCredit: Getty
    Susie and Lewis take a stroll in the pit laneCredit: Instagram/susie_wolff
    In November last year, a picture emerged of former Spice Girl Geri offering Wolff a comforting hug as her husband watched on.
    Everyone appeared to be grinning in the snap, suggesting the women had potentially managed to broker a peace deal.
    Damon Hill, a Sky F1 consultant, said on social media: “Its heartening to see a bit of a moment of mirth as Geri Horner gives Toto a consolation cuddle.
    “Easy to laugh when you’ve just wiped the floor with the opposition. Harder to do when you’ve been royally thrashed.”
    It was later revealed the jovial mood came about because Geri had actually slapped Wolff’s bottom.
    Horner later told Sky Sports: “It was an amusing moment because I think my wife had just smacked his bum so hard, I think it took him a bit by surprise.
    “You probably can’t even see my clenched fist, it’s out of shot there.
    “It’s been a long season and there has to be competition on track but there still has to be respect.”
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    With Red Bull shrouded in scandal and Mercedes losing its number one driver to Ferrari next season, it will be fascinating to see how 2024 plays out.
    Formula 1: Drive to Survive Season 6 can be streamed on Netflix now.
    Mercedes’ Toto Wolff and Red Bull’s Christian Horner have been bitter rivals since 2014Credit: Getty
    Former Spice Girl Geri holds her husband’s hand as Toto lingersCredit: Getty
    Geri is strongly standing by Horner’s side, sources sayCredit: Getty
    Formula 1: Drive to Survive season 6 airs today More

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    ‘They’re racing each other… f***ing hell’, rants F1 star as Lewis Hamilton caught up in bizarre pre-season tussle

    KEVIN MAGNUSSEN ranted “f***ing hell” as Formula 1 stars raced during day two of pre-season testing.The stars of the sport have descended upon Bahrain as the 2024 season edges ever closer.
    Formula 1 stars simulated a rolling restartCredit: X/SkySportsF1
    Sparks were flying in BahrainCredit: X/SkySportsF1
    Hamilton, 39, is preparing for his final season with MercedesCredit: Alamy
    With the first race under a fortnight away, F1 teams are honing their strategies as they look to maximise their performances.
    During day two of testing, drivers simulated a rolling restart.
    Lewis Hamilton will have enjoyed it, as his Mercedes sped off into the distance.
    One man that showed frustration, however, was Haas ace Magnussen.
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    According to Formula Racers, the Dane bellowed down his team radio: “They’re actually racing each other. F***ing hell!”
    Following a drama-filled winter, the season is set to begin in Bahrain on March 2.
    During the off-season it was confirmed that Hamilton, 39, will be joining Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season.
    Ahead of his final year with Mercedes, the seven-time world champion recently said: “It’s obviously been emotional.
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    “It’s very surreal to be here. I came here in 2013, 11 years with the team, this is the start of my 12th.
    “The focus through the whole of winter training is getting the team back to where we once were.
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    “We have had these difficult couple of years which have been really grounding for us.
    “‘It is such a privilege to work with people to see the work they’re doing over the winter.
    “This is the most exciting part of the year. To know everything underneath the hood, that George (Russell) and I will be able to experience on the track. It’s exciting.”
    Addressing the situation, team principal Toto Wolff said: “When the news broke, clearly it was a new situation. It’s something that we didn’t anticipate happening at that stage of the season and is a new dynamic and that’s clearly something we would have to work on.
    “But having said that, we’ve been together, spent some time in the factory and been at various events and it’s absolutely fine on a human level.
    “In professional terms, we have a full season to go. We want to have the best competitive car and give both drivers the opportunity to get the best possible results.
    “How great would it be to finish on a high with Lewis this year. We’ve had several wonderful times and 10 more months to go and we will give it our all.”

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    Why is Lewis Hamilton still driving for Mercedes after signing a contract with Ferrari?

    FERRARI pulled off a major deal by signing Lewis Hamilton to a mega contract – but the F1 legend will continue to drive for Mercedes this season.It was announced on February 1, 2024, that Hamilton had triggered a secret clause that would see him drive for F1’s most famous team.
    Lewis Hamilton will join up with Charles Leclerc at FerrariCredit: AP
    And the deal for the seven-time world champion to join Ferrari is worth a staggering £100million.
    Hamilton would love nothing more than to follow up on this huge move with a championship win in the 2024 season.
    But fans are confused as to why the British mogul continues to represent Mercedes even after the paperwork has been signed.
    Why is Lewis Hamilton still driving for Mercedes?
    Lewis Hamilton will still drive for Mercedes as he confirmed that he was committed to finishing the season before starting life with Ferrari in 2025.
    Read more on Lewis Hamilton
    The British icon said: “I have had an amazing 11 years with this team and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together.
    “Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old. It’s a place where I have grown up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make.
    “But the time is right for me to take this step and I’m excited to be taking on a new challenge. I will be forever grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family, especially Toto for his friendship and leadership and I want to finish on a high together.
    “I am 100 percent committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows, one to remember.”
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    Lewis Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013Credit: EPA
    Why did Lewis Hamilton switch from Mercedes to Ferrari?
    Lewis Hamilton signed a new two-year contract extension with Mercedes last summer which included a release clause that would allow the F1 legend to move elsewhere if triggered.
    And after lengthy rumours going back from 2018 about Hamilton joining Ferrari, the deal has finally been agreed.
    The British icon once revealed on Sky Italy that driving for Ferrari is a ‘dream’ team to represent.
    In 2021, Hamilton said: “It’s definitely going to be crazy to think that I never drove for Ferrari because for everyone, that is a dream position to be in.”
    He added: “It was never fully on the cards for me, and I’ll never know exactly fully why but I wish them all the best and I want to spend the next bit of my time stopping them from winning the championship.
    “I look at the pictures that the two drivers post and the red is ‘still the red'”.
    Full F1 2024 race calendar
    Below is the full calendar for the 2024 season and the final campaign where Lewis Hamilton will drive for Mercedes.

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    Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes frustrations continue as F1 star’s car is damaged leading to practice session being abandoned

    LEWIS HAMILTON did not get off to the best start for the 2024 Formula One season after his car ran over a loose drain.Hamilton, 39, announced this season would be his last with Mercedes after an 11-year spell with the team before he makes a sensational switch to Ferrari in 2025.
    Lewis Hamilton got behind the wheel of his Mercedes F1 car for the first time this seasonCredit: Alamy
    But Hamilton’s car appeared to sustain damage when it ran over a loose drain coverCredit: Sky Sports
    The loose drain saw stewards wave off the morning sessionCredit: Rex
    The seven-time world champion said he was committed to “delivering the best performance” he can to the team.
    And the first on-track step towards that end came in Bahrain as F1 kickstarted it’s pre-season testing.
    Hamilton was on track for the first time after skipping out on Wednesday’s testing sessions.
    However, after only a few hours of testing the session was forced to come to a stop when the stewards noticed damage to a kerb on the circuit.
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    This damage came as Hamilton’s future Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc dislodged a drain cover on the entry of turn 11.
    Hamilton was the next racer to come along and ran over the drain cover, which saw it fly into the air.
    Mercedes mechanics checked the underside of Hamilton’s W15 for damage following the collision.
    Stewards promptly halted the morning session to assess the damage to the circuit before announcing it would not resume around 30 minutes later.
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    The morning session saw Hamilton put up a best lap time of 1:33.225 with 39 laps completed.
    The afternoon session will run until 4pm.
    Lewis Hamilton ‘in advanced talks’ to join Ferrari as shock clause in Mercedes star’s contract emerges
    Following the Wednesday test topped by Max Verstappen, Mercedes driver George Russell revealed the Mercedes car felt “nicer to drive” compared to last season.
    He said: “It was great to drive the W15 for the first time in anger today. From hitting the ground, it felt like we had a good foundation to start from.
    “We completed lots of laps and have plenty of data to go through tonight. We ended the day in a reasonably good spot, and we can build from here over the next two days.
    “We will be focused on maximising mileage for learning rather than chasing an optimum sweet spot with the car…
    “We know that it’s not about the feeling, but the speed. Nevertheless, today was about learning and not about chasing performance.
    “We’re focused on ourselves at this test, and it will only be next week where we see where we stack up against the others.
    “It was a positive first day and I’m looking forward to being back in the car on Friday.”
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    Comparing directly to their 2023 machinery, Russell added: “Overall, the W15 does feel nicer to drive than last year’s car.”
    The F1 season will get underway fully with the first race in Bahrain on March 2.

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