Mercedes-Benz

MERCEDES boss Toto Wolff fiercely defended organisers of the Las Vegas Grand Prix with a passionate rant following Thursday’s cancelled practice session.FP1 lasted just eight minutes before it was brought to a halt after Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz hit a loose manhole cover.
Toto Wolff, second from left, raged at critics of the Las Vegas Grand PrixCredit: Sky Sports
He could not believe people were labelling the FP1 incident a ‘black eye for the sport’Credit: Sky Sports
The track issue has led to criticism of the event – the inaugural Las Vegas race.
However, Wolff was quick to reject that way of thinking after one reporter suggested the incident was a “black eye” for the sport.
The Mercedes chief said: “That is not a black eye. This is nothing.
“We are Thursday night, we have a free practice session one that we are not doing. We are going to seal the drain covers and no one is going to talk about that tomorrow morning.”
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When pressed further on his comments, he added: “It’s completely ridiculous. How can you even dare try to talk bad about an event that sets the new standards to everything.
“Then you are speaking about a f***ing drain cover that has been undone – that has happened before – that’s nothing. It’s FP1.
“Give credit to the people that have set up this Grand Prix, that have made this sport much bigger than it ever was.”
Talking directly to a journalist, he continued: “Have you ever spoken good about someone and written a good word? You should about all these people that have been out here.
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“Liberty [F1’s owners Liberty Media] has done an awesome job and just because in FP1 a drain cover has come undone we shouldn’t be moaning.
“The car [Sainz’s Ferrari] is broken, that’s really a shame. For Carlos it could have been dangerous. So between the FIA, the track, everybody needs to analyse how we can make sure this is not happening again.
“But talking here about the black eye for the sport on a Thursday evening… nobody watches it at European time anyway. Come on.”
The second practice session was delayed, but the drivers eventually got out on track as Charles Leclerc topped the leaderboard.
Wolff’s Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, posted the ninth and 12th best times.
It comes off the back of a nightmare weekend in Brazil for the Silver Arrows as Hamilton finished eighth and Russell failed to finish. More

LEWIS HAMILTON opted for a bold outfit as he hit the red carpet ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.And fans have been quick to compare his out-there fashion choice to something you would see in the Matrix movies.
Lewis Hamilton sported a bold outfit on the red carpet in Las VegasCredit: Getty
Fans likened his look to something out of the Matrix moviesCredit: Getty
Neo sported a similar all-black look in the 1999 filmCredit: Rex Features
Hamilton sported an all-black outfit with a long trenchcoat, sunglasses, dark trousers and some chunky boots.
Formula One fans have grown used to the Mercedes driver’s extravagant fashion statements, but were still blown away by his latest look .
Some compared it to the outfit worn by Neo in the Matrix films who was played by Keanu Reeves.
One fan wrote: “Bro just spawned into The Matrix.”
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While another added: “Bit of a Matrix vibe going on…love it!!”
Sunday’s GP will be the first F1 face in Vegas since 1982 and is bound to be filled with drama alongside the glitz and the glamour.
For Hamilton it is about chasing down second place in the drivers standings with Sergio Perez currently occupying the space.
A World Championship was wiped off the table weeks ago when Max Verstappen secured his third consecutive title in Qatar.
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It will be extremely difficult for Hamilton to catch up with the Mexican though, with Perez winning twice already this season and making the podium eight times.
The Brit on the other hand is yet to win a race and has only managed to get on the podium on six occasions.
The race itself could be chaos with track temperatures set to be around five degrees, far from optimal for F1 tyres which thrive in warmer conditions.
Hamilton has built a reputation for his interesting fashion choicesCredit: Splash
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MAX VERSTAPPEN beat Lewis Hamilton to the 2021 Formula One title thanks to CRAMP, Christian Horner has revealed.Hamilton and Verstappen went wheel to wheel throughout the dramatic 2021 season, coming to a head with the finale in Abu Dhabi.
Christian Horner appeared on Sky’s A League of Their OwnCredit: Sky Sports
Horner spoke on the controversial ending to the 2021 F1 seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Horner said Mercedes had ‘f***ed’ up by leaving Hamilton on older tyresCredit: Rex
Horner revealed that Verstappen was dealing with cramp before his overtakeCredit: PA
There had been a number of heated clashes throughout the season, but the controversial handling of a safety car restart at the end of the race allowed Verstappen to overtake Hamilton on the final lap.
The stunning conclusion to the season remains a bitter debate among fans, with Hamilton himself suggesting the title had been “manipulated”.
And while appearing on a Sky’s A League of Their Own, Red Bull team principal Horner was asked about the event.
Having just come off a chorus of boos, Horner asked whether there was a Dutch version of the show before jokingly saying he had no idea why it was controversial.
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Horner then explained that a poor strategy by Mercedes was partly to blame.
He said: “I mean Mercedes f***ed up. They left poor Lewis out there on tyres that had done pretty much most of the race and we pitted with Max so he was on a fresh set of tyres.
“Max made the move and the interesting thing was where Max passed him it caught Lewis completely by surprise.”
Horner, 49, then revealed how the Dutch driver was actually dealing with cramp at that point of the race.
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He added: “After the race what Max told us was that he didn’t intend to overtake there but he got cramp behind the safety car and he couldn’t feel his left foot properly.
“So he thought ‘Oh f*** it i’m going anyway’. And then when they were going down the straight he was trying to wake his left foot up to hit the brakes for the next chicane.”
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was also famously angry at the stunning turn of events, blasting race director Michael Masi down the radio over the race.
Asked why the Austrian was so angry, he said, Horner said: “I think he was just having a bad hair day.
“His hair is very important to him on the camera and I think he was just having a bad day.”
While on the show, Horner lifted the lid on the team’s party afterwards.
Red Bull partied on a £20million yacht following the race, with Horner revealing Verstappen was “wasted” during the party.
He also explained why he had been locked out of his house at Christmas.
The Red Bull boss is estimated to have a net worth of £41.4m and is married to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell.
The aftermath of the season saw motorsport chiefs conduct an investigation that concluded “human error” played a hand in Verstappen landing his first F1 title.
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Masi left the FIA after being axed as race director and opened up on the mental turmoil the backlash had caused him earlier this year.
A League of Their Own airs on Sky Max and NOW, Wednesday’s at 9pm.
Verstappen overtook Hamilton on the final lapCredit: Getty
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LEWIS HAMILTON and the Mercedes team have been hit with a BAN from their boss ahead of Formula One’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.F1 is racing on the famous Vegas strip for the first time in its history, though the sport has previously raced in the city in the Ceasar’s Palace car park in 1981 and 1982.
Lewis Hamilton has been issued with a ban while in Las VegasCredit: Rex
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has laid down the law ahead of the raceCredit: Getty
It has cost F1 owners Liberty Media roughly $500million, or £400m, to put on the event.
But Hamilton and Co will not be allowed to enjoy the full offerings of Sin City.
That is because Mercedes F1 chief Toto Wolff has issued a gambling ban on the team.
Speaking to Motorsport.com, Wolff said: “I’ve never been to Las Vegas, but we’ll do everything we can to make sure everyone on the team stays away from the casinos.
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“I don’t bet and I’ll make sure no one else bets either.”
The Nevada-based city is known around the globe for its casinos and 24-hour entertainment, with 122 gambling and betting venues.
The Austrian explained the team could get easily distracted due to not knowing the layout of the paddock, city and traffic routes to get to the circuit.
Wolff said: “We don’t know how to get from the hotel to the circuit and vice versa, but I am sure that we will find a solution. I can’t wait for the race to start.”
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He added: “I think everyone is looking forward to the Las Vegas race.
“Running in this city is comparable to climbing Everest, hats off to Liberty Media for organizing this race.
“I don’t think I’m the only one in Formula 1 who’s never been to this city, which is quite difficult to navigate.”
Hamilton, 38, revealed he has quit another Sin City vice in booze to try and get back to winning races.
Wolff has been linked with a sensational investment into Manchester United along with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who owns Mercedes F1 sponsor Ineos.
F1 owners, Liberty Media, have apologised to the local residents of Las Vegas about the chaos the race has created in terms of construction, traffic and impact on the tourism industry.
CEO Greg Maffei said: “I want to apologise to all the Las Vegas residents and we appreciate that they have their forbearance and their willingness to tolerate us.
The layout of the Las Vegas Grand Prix
“We’re going to bring something like $1.7 billion of revenue to the area. So it’s not just for the benefit of fans who want to view.
“We hope this is a great economic benefit in Las Vegas.
“We hope this is the most difficult year with all the construction that went on and things will be easier in the future.”
There are serious concerns the race will fail to live up to the hype with reports suggesting there are up to 10,000 tickets which have not been sold in the grandstand.
Ticket sales too have been slow with many reluctant to spend the ridiculous sums being suggested.
CNN reported that ticket website TickPick had seen prices slashed, although the average price for Saturday’s race is still an eye-watering $1,060, roughly £800, for grandstand seats.
The race is on Saturday at 10pm local time and 6am in the UK.
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There have been mixed reactions to the race from drivers as well, with world champion Max Verstappen suggesting there could be some surprises.
Meanwhile, the race itself could be chaos with track temperatures set to be around five degrees, far from optimal for F1 tyres which thrive in warmer conditions.
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More