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      Ex-F1 champion lifts lid on secret talks in the F1 paddock after Lewis Hamilton to Red Bull rumours blew up

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      FORMULA ONE legend Jacques Villeneuve revealed secret backstage talks between rivals “always happen” in the paddock.This comes after sensational rumours suggesting Mercedes superstar Sir Lewis Hamilton sent someone to approach Red Bull team principal Christian Horner regarding a shock swap.
      Jacques Villeneuve revealed backstage talks between rivals ‘always happen’Credit: Splash
      Shock reports claim a member of Sir Lewis Hamilton’s camp approached Red BullCredit: Getty
      Red Bull team principal Christian Horner claimed Hamilton’s rep discussed a possible swapCredit: Alamy
      Villeneuve wasn’t stunned by those reports as he remembers similar incidents taking place during his glory years on a regular basis.
      However, the Williams great insists when the news come out a driver always has to make sure they negate those rumours.
      Villeneuve told Planet F1: “It gets a lot of print!
      “As a driver, you’re not allowed to talk to other teams while you’re under contract and all that. But talks always happen.
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      “Obviously, you cross people in the paddock or, sometimes, you’ll use someone who doesn’t work for you, but will still do the talk so you’re protected.
      “But, if the noise comes out, you have to negate it. Then who’s there to check?”
      In the lead-up to the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Horner revealed a member of Hamilton’s camp had approached him to talk about a possible switch to his team.
      A Red Bull spokesperson then revealed that conversation had been with Sir Lewis’ father Anthony.
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      But both the British superstar and Mercedes’ team principal Toto Wolff quickly shut down those claims.
      Hamilton has vehemently denied those rumours and even claimed Horner was “just stirring things”.
      The seven-time F1 world champion added he had no knowledge regarding an approach from his camp. More

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      Ex-FIA chief claims race that handed Lewis Hamilton F1 title was ‘rigged’

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      JEAN TODT has claimed that the Singapore Grand Prix in 2008 was “rigged” and should have “been cancelled”.The result of the race had major consequences as Lewis Hamilton, 38, went on to win the World Championship.
      Jean Todt claims that the 2008 Singapore GP ‘should have been cancelled’Credit: Getty
      Felipe Massa suffered a dodgy pit stopCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Renault’s Fernando Alonso won the race after Ferrari’s Felipe Massa suffered a pit-stop error that saw him drive off with the fuel hose still attached to his car.
      In 2009, it was revealed that during the controversial race, the Enstone team ordered Nelson Piquet Jnr to crash his car, which helped boost Alonso’s strategy.
      Alonso has never given any indication that he had knowledge of the plan.
      Massa, 42, had been leading the race in Singapore but ended up finishing 13th after his pitstop, which would not have happened if it was not for Piquet’s crash.
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      Hamilton finished third in the race and confirmed his title win in the last race of the season in Brazil.
      Conversation around the controversy has arisen this year after former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone suggested that the FIA and F1 were aware of Renault’s actions before 2009.
      Todt, the former Ferrari Formula 1 team principal, has claimed that the FIA and F1 should have come down harder on the result.
      The 77-year-old told La Stampa: “I don’t get into the controversy.
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      Lewis Hamilton won the title due to the resultCredit: EPA
      “For him [Massa], psychologically, it was very hard.
      “Maybe we [the FIA] could have been tougher when the story came out.
      “There is no doubt that the Singapore Grand Prix was rigged and should have been cancelled.”
      Massa has since opted to challenge for the title in court by arguing that the GP should have been cancelled.
      If he were to succeed then he would claim the title for that year.
      Hamilton has been urged to speak on the ongoing legal battle.
      Mercedes team principle Toto Wolff fears F1 will be plunged into “disarray” if Massa wins his legal battle.
      However, he does not think the ex-Ferrari man has a case.
      Massa has opened up a legal battle to contest the resultCredit: AP
      Wolff said: “I don’t think he has a case, to be honest. We are signing up to sporting regulations.
      “They’re very clear, and you commit as a licence holder.
      “If everybody were to open up situations, then the sport would be in disarray, and especially when you look at the full championships.
      “There are so many things that have an influence whether you win or lose that I don’t see the case to be honest.
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      “On the civil case side, I don’t know. Let’s evaluate whether there are some damages that could be claimed.
      “This is like watching a soap opera playing out in front of me.” More

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      Lewis Hamilton admits he’d ‘love to drive’ F1 rival’s car as he opens up on ‘two difficult years’ at Mercedes

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has admitted he would love to drive Red Bull’s Formula One car.Mercedes have had a challenging couple of years since the new era of F1 car designs were introduced into the sporting regulations.
      Lewis Hamilton has admitted he would ‘love’ to drive the Red Bull F1 carCredit: Alamy
      Max Verstappen enjoyed unprecedented success behind the wheel this seasonCredit: Getty
      The Brackley-based team have won just won race in the last two seasons, with that sole win coming with George Russell in Brazil 2022.
      And that has left seven-time world champion Hamilton without a race win for two years, having previously won a race in every season he had featured in beforehand.
      Hamilton showed his quality by finishing the best of the rest in the 2023 drivers championship, but was still unable to snatch a race win thanks to the unprecedented dominance of Red Bull.
      Indeed, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was the only driver not in a Red Bull to take a chequered flag this season as Max Verstappen hoovered up a record-breaking 19 race wins and Sergio Perez landed two.
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      Red Bull brainiac designer Adrian Newey has already claimed their car evolution plan next year will be “so difficult for anyone to catch up”, so Hamilton’s challenge may get even harder.
      NOT that the 38-year-old is backing down from the challenge, but he believes every driver on the grid would love driving the “most dominant car of all-time”.
      As quoted by F1i.com, he said: “Every driver here looks at the Red Bull car and would love to drive that car, and I am not saying that I wouldn’t love to drive that car and feel how good it is, every driver would feel that.”
      However, he also backed Mercedes to recreate the winning formula which allowed Hamilton to land six of his seven world titles.
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      He said: “We’ve had two difficult years, and if we work towards beating that car, it is going to be a way better feeling than stepping into the best car.
      “That wouldn’t do much for me, in the sense of stepping into the car that is the most dominant of all-time.
      “Working with my team to build and be able to beat them, that would be better for my legacy.”
      Despite this, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has backed Hamilton to be fighting for the title in 2024, so long as the team deliver a car capable keeping up with Red Bull.
      When asked by Sky Sports as to whether they can bridge that gap next season, Wolff said: “New season starts with a completely new car and that gives opportunities but also risks.
      “I think we’ve got to be realistic.”
      He added: “If we are able to give him the car, then he will be fighting for a world championship.
      “I have no doubt. It’s clear that when you have a Formula 1 car like we have now, you are never at ease with it.”
      Verstappen broke a number of records with Red Bull in 2023, including the sport’s longest race-winning streak with ten and becoming the first driver to ever lead 1000 laps in a season.
      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      Susie Wolff slams ‘misogynistic’ allegations as F1 Academy chief accused of sharing info with Mercedes boss husband Toto

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      SUSIE WOLFF has slammed allegations that she exchanged confidential information with husband and Mercedes team principal Toto as “misogynistic”.A report in Business F1 magazine claimed rival team bosses had raised concerns that Wolff was sharing confidential information from her employer Formula One Management (FOM).
      Susie Wolff, right, has slammed allegations she has shared confidential information with husband TotoCredit: Rex
      Wolff is employed by F1’s commercial rights holder FOM and in her role as the director of the sports all-female series, F1 Academy, reports directly to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
      On Tuesday, the FIA announced its compliance unit had opened an investigation into the pair’s conduct relating to the claims.
      The FIA statement said: “The FIA is aware of media speculation centred on the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed to an F1 team principal from a member of FOM personnel.
      “The FIA Compliance Department is looking into the matter.”
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      Neither party were named by the FIA in the statement, but both Wolff and Mercedes F1 rebutted the claims.
      In a social media post, Wolff, 41, said she was “deeply insulted but sadly not surprised” by the allegations.
      She added: “It is disheartening that my integrity is being called into question in such a manner, especially when it seems to be rooted in intimidatory and misogynistic behaviour, and focused on my marital status rather than my abilities.”
      Meanwhile, a Mercedes spokesperson said: “We note the generic statement from the FIA this evening, which responds to unsubstantiated allegations from a single media outlet, and the off-record briefing which has linked it to the team principal of Mercedes-AMG F1.
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      “The team has received no communication from the FIA compliance department on this topic and it was highly surprising to learn of the investigation through a media statement.
      “We wholly reject the allegation in the statement and associated media coverage, which wrongly impinges on the integrity and compliance of our team principal.
      “As a matter of course, we invite full, prompt, and transparent correspondence from the FIA compliance department regarding this investigation and its contents.”
      A further statement from F1 said they had not been briefed on the governing body’s statement before its release.
      An F1 spokesperson added: “We note the public statement made by the FIA this evening that was not shared with us in advance.
      “We have complete confidence that the allegations are wrong, and we have robust processes and procedures that ensure the segregation of information and responsibilities in the event of any potential conflict of interest.
      “We are confident that no member of our team has made any unauthorised disclosure to a team principal and would caution anyone against making imprudent and serious allegations without substance.”
      Wolff was the last woman to drive in an F1 practice session and was appointed the director of F1 Academy in March 2023.
      She married Toto in 2011, several years after first meeting, in a Capri wedding.
      The pair have a son together named Jack.
      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      Mercedes boss Toto Wolff tips Lewis Hamilton to WIN F1 world title in 2024… but only if team ‘gets its act together’

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      MERCEDES BOSS Toto Wolff has said that he believes Lewis Hamilton can win the 2024 F1 Drivers Championship… but only if his team get their act together.Mercedes finished second in this season’s Constructors’ Championship but were some way behind champions Red Bull.
      Hamilton and Wolff will be looking to cook up a more competitive car next seasonCredit: Rex
      George Russell’s podium finish in Abu Dhabi was enough to secure second, three points in front of Ferrari, but it represents a fall from grace from Mercedes who had won eight constructors’ titles in a row up to 2021.
      Red Bull finished on 860 points, with Mercedes finishing on 451 so there is a considerable gap for Wolff’s team to make up.
      When asked by Sky Sports as to whether they can bridge that gap next season, Wolff said: “New season starts with a completely new car and that gives opportunities but also risks.
      “I think we’ve got to be realistic.
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      “We are aiming for the stars but we finished only second against a team that was out-performing everybody else.”
      When asked if another constructor, such as Ferrari could usurp them to become Red Bull’s main competitor, Wolff said: “I mean I’ve always said that this is a meritocracy and best driver and best car wins, and therefore we have to just get out act together, and I hope it’s us [that can fight Red Bull].”
      Wolff says it is up to the team to give Hamilton a car worthy of beating Verstappen next year, saying: “If we are able to give him the car, then he will be fighting for a world championship.
      “I have no doubt. It’s clear that when you have a Formula 1 car like we have now, you are never at ease with it.”
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      It has been an unlikely winning drought for Lewis Hamilton, with the Brit not winning a Grand Prix since Saudi Arabia in December 2021.
      He finished third in the 2023 Drivers standings on 234 points – a whopping 341 off 2023 champion Max Verstappen. More

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      F1 legend Johnny Herbert picks sides in Lewis Hamilton and Christian Horner row and says ‘I don’t really listen to him’

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      JOHNNY HERBERT has claimed he “doesn’t listen” to Christian Horner as he responded to the claim that Lewis Hamilton could join Red Bull.Red Bull team principal Horner claimed ahead of last weekend’s season-finale in Abu Dhabi that a member of the Brit’s entourage had reached out to him regarding a sensational switch.
      Red Bull’s Christian Horner claimed Lewis Hamilton’s entourage had enquired about a sensational switchCredit: AFP
      Mercedes’ British legend Hamilton then denied all those claimsCredit: Rex
      That was later alleged to be the Mercedes star’s father and came amid mounting pressure on Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. 
      The Mexican driver enjoyed two wins in the opening four rounds but did not enjoy another victory all term as his form plummeted after the summer break.
      That led to speculation over his future as the second seat driver behind Max Verstappen.
      Horner’s claims soon hit the headlines, but Hamilton slammed those comments in Abu Dhabi and denied all knowledge.
      READ MORE ON SPORT
      Now F1 legend Herbert has waded into the talk of Hamilton becoming a team-mate of his bitter rival Verstappen and said he would be very surprised if Horner’s claims were true.
      Speaking to Genting Casino, Herbert said: “I don’t think anybody was really aware of that, I think a lot of people were saying ‘Well that would be the possible right pairing to have’ because obviously in a situation like Lewis was in at Mercedes.
      “I think Lewis is very aware, and you mentioned it earlier, Lewis is after the eighth. Now he knows how good Max is, he knows it’s Max’s team, he knows that when he’s been winning the championships that he’s got, generally, he’s been the man of that team.
      “And you go, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, Nicky Lauder, Nigel Mansell, the list goes on, they were the leaders of those teams. And the way you win world championships is to be the leader of the team.”
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      Herbert continued: “Going into Red Bull, that I don’t think would ever be the case, and I think he’s very aware of that. I’d be very surprised if there was any contact from Lewis’ side and him not knowing that they were doing it if that was the case
      “He would’ve been very aware. But it is, however people want to take this, very Christian. There’s a lot of things, I don’t really listen to Christian sometimes, and I think that probably was one of them.”
      Seven-time champ Hamilton ended the season in a frustrating fashion but still finished in P3 in the Drivers’ Championship.
      He remains contracted for another two seasons with the Silver Arrows.
      Johnny Herbert has now had his sayCredit: Rex Features
      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      George Russell mangles Mercedes in horror crash after car failure at F1 post-season testing

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      GEORGE RUSSELL was involved in a horror crash in post-season Formula One testing.The Mercedes star, 25, was taking part in a Pirelli tyre test event at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where F1 had held its season finale last weekend.
      George Russell crashed out of post-season F1 testing in Abu DhabiCredit: Getty
      Russell earned P3 during the race on SundayCredit: Alamy
      A suspected component failure caused the crashCredit: Getty
      Russell, who earned a podium with a P3 finish in Sunday’s race, had completed a Grand Prix distance of 58 laps over the course of the testing day when he was forced to call it quits early.
      A suspected component failure in his W14 car caused it to crash into the wall at Turn 6 by going straight on rather than turning, bringing out the red flags.
      After the crash, Mercedes said Russell had emerged from the accident unscathed with the wreckage being brought back to the pits with a tow truck.
      A post from the team on X, formerly known as Twitter, said: “We have the car back and have already begun investigations into what caused the accident.
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      “Most importantly, George is completely OK.”
      Reports indicated the damage on the car was mainly on the front right.
      The test event is an opportunity for tyre supplier Pirelli to test their new compounds and a chance for rookie drivers to be handed valuable minutes.
      F2 runner-up Frederik Vesti, who had replaced Lewis Hamilton in Free Practice 1 last Friday before the race, participated in the other Mercedes.
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      Mercedes clinched P2 in the constructor’s standings ahead of Ferrari by just three points following the weekend’s race.
      Alpine driver Esteban Ocon topped the time charts across the day.
      Pato O’Ward finished P2 with McLaren from Vesti in P3, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez in P4 and Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz in P5.
      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      Ben Hunt: Mercedes already have work cut out for 2024 season after disastrous 2023 with Hamilton’s assessment damning

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      IT is just 95 days until the Bahrain Grand Prix, the opening race for the 2024 season, and boy do Mercedes have their work cut out.This season has been a total disaster from start to finish.
      It’s been a season to forget for MercedesCredit: Rex
      From the opening qualifying session in Bahrain, where boss Toto Wolff ordered their car design to be scrapped, to the final race in Abu Dhabi, where Lewis Hamilton delivered the bleak assessment that his only highlight from the season was the fact he “survived it”.
      Each time the team appeared to make progress, they took two steps back the next weekend.
      Hamilton and his teammate George Russell were despondent as Mercedes went without a single win for the first time in 12 years.
      This is now a hugely important time for Wolff as he tries to steer his ship back on course to challenge for wins again.
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      In the past, it would have been easier to buy their way out of trouble, committing funds to the development of their car until finding something that worked.
      F1’s cost cap means his spending is limited to that of his rivals — a figure of just $135million (£107m) for the whole season, a third of what the big teams would spend before it was introduced in 2021.
      It was encouraging at least to see no back-slapping at finishing second in the championship, having narrowly pipped perennial under-achievers Ferrari by three points.
      Somewhat worryingly, in his post-race media session in Abu Dhabi, Wolff said he could draw some optimism from McLaren, Aston Martin and Alpha Tauri, who had all made a strong finish to the season.
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      Wolff needs to find answers quickCredit: PA
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      Only, this is not a customer team like those listed above, this is Mercedes, who won eight constructors’ titles in a row.
      Wolff spoke with a frown which now appears etched across his brow and the general mood raises more fears for next season.
      For the development of their challenger in 2024 is now well under way at their Brackley HQ.
      But there seems to be nothing to brighten their spirits, no optimism, only the painful realisation of another season of woe ahead.
      This campaign has only just finished but time is already running out to be able to challenge Red Bull next season.
      I received a great deal of feedback from people working in the F1 paddock after last week’s column, where I revealed the human cost of six races in seven weeks, criss-crossing the world.
      Staff sickness was a big issue in Abu Dhabi, with Red Bull boss Christian Horner saying: “I sincerely hope that subscriptions to Lemsip are not within the budget cap. It’s been a pretty brutal regime.”
      Horner said there had been sickness in his campCredit: Splash
      LEAVING HIS DIRTY MARQ
      MARCO BEZZECCHI has blasted MotoGP rival Marc Marquez, calling him “the dirtiest rider”.
      The two collided on the opening lap of the Valencia GP, which was won by Ducati’s 26-year-old Francesco Bagnaia, who retained his title.
      Bezzecchi, 25, fumed: “Marquez decided to end my race on the third corner. He did the same as he did in Thailand with me in corners five and six.
      “So, he hit me right here in my back. It was very, very dirty.
      “I think from the view from the TV you can see very well, but it’s Marquez so they don’t do anything to him.
      “Most of the time, when the other rider doesn’t crash it’s OK. But when you make the other rider crash, at least it’s a f***ing penalty.
      “They never do anything to him — because it’s Marquez and he’s the dirtiest rider.”
      Bezzecchi raged at rival Marc MarquezCredit: Getty
      MUSICAL CHAIRES
      FRENCH driver Theo Pourchaire won the Formula Two title in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
      A fifth-place finish at Yas Island was enough to beat Danish racer Frederik Vesti by 11 points in the overall standings.
      Rules in the competition state that champions must retire from Formula Two — but with no seat in F1 available, Pourchaire faces a spell on the sidelines.
      The 20-year-old is currently a member of the Sauber Academy and serves as a test and reserve driver for Alfa Romeo Racing.
      Pourchaire earned Formula 2 victoryCredit: Getty More