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IT was a weekend of controversy for Formula One amid the fallout from the Qatar Grand Prix.An alarming number of safety concerns were raised following last weekend’s race after drivers visibly struggled to cope with the 44-degree heat of the Middle East.
Sergio Perez was not a fan of an abrupt rule change by the FIA at the Qatar GPCredit: Getty
But Lewis Hamilton insisted the change should be implemented at other tracksCredit: Rex
Runner-up Oscar Piastri was seen laying on the floor after the race, Lance Stroll took himself to the medical centre fearing dehydration, Esteban Ocon threw up in his helmet mid-race while Logan Sargeant was forced to retire his car citing illness.
While the FIA said they would be opening an investigation into the safety concerns, there was another matter which had some drivers fuming BEFORE the Grand Prix had even begun.
F1 was forced to implement a mandatory 18-lap stint limit owing to blowout concerns from Pirelli – who were today announced as the sport’s tyre supplier until 2027.
But the FIA took more tangible precautions before Saturday’s sprint race by bringing the kerbs around the track further in to try and avoid tyre failure.
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The introduction of the limits resulted in multiple laps being deleted, notably for McLaren duo Piastri and Lando Norris which elevated Lewis Hamilton up to P3 for the race.
Red Bull star Sergio Perez was not a fan of the new track limits, telling Sky Sports Italia: “These rules are absurd. I know the rules were the same for everyone, and it’s my fault if I got a penalty.
“I still think the FIA should look at the circuit before they let us race here. Changing the rules at the last minute won’t make it any better.”
Yuki Tsunoda shared this perception on the new kerbs, claiming the circuit was now a “floor destroyer track” as a result of the new kerbs, which switched to a pyramid shape.
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However, Hamilton – who crashed out of Sunday’s race after a collision with Mercedes team-mate George Russell – did not share his rivals point of view.
He declared: “I think these new kerbs are great.
“When I went round the track yesterday on the scooter, I thought the kerbs looked quite big.
“But I think they’re actually really good. When you go beyond the highest point of the kerb you lose time, so I don’t feel like at this track we need to have track limits.”
He explained Norris’ qualifying penalty for exceeding track limits was harsh because of the new kerbs.
Hamilton added: “I think we can take these kerbs as a good learning. We can take these kerbs to a bunch of other tracks.”
After crashing out of the race, Hamilton was also slapped with a £43,000 (€50,000) fine for breaking F1 rules by walking across track to get back to the paddock.
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LEWIS HAMILTON was fined a whopping €50,000 for walking across the race track following his first lap shunt with George Russell.Half will be suspended, so long as he does not make the same mistake between now and the end of the year.
Lewis Hamilton has been fined for walking across the track during the Qatar GPCredit: Getty
The Mercedes star crashed out on the first lap after colliding with George RussellCredit: Getty
It means that €25,000 of the total fine, which was worth about £43,000, will be heading to the FIA coffers.
Speaking of the FIA, their lavish end of year gala is still due to be held in Baku, despite growing political tensions with Azerbaijan’s neighbours, Armenia.
Hamilton crashed out of Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix after colliding with Mercedes team-mate Russell at turn one.
He was forced to retire from the race on the opening lap, while Russell went on to finish fourth despite suffering damage to his car.
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After the race, the seven-time world champion took full responsibility for the incident.
He told Sky Sports: “I think we are a great team. George and I still have a great relationship. We will discuss things and work away.
“I’m happy to take responsibility as the older guy. I don’t think George had anywhere to go at that point.
“I was trying to get ahead of both of them and just an unfortunate situation. I had the worst tyre of everyone around me, so I needed to try and get ahead. Big risk, big penalty.”
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He later tweeted: “I’ve watched the replay and it was 100% my fault and I take full responsibility. Apologies to my team and to George.”
Max Verstappen went on to win the race, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris taking the other two spots on the podium. More

LEWIS HAMILTON has issued a grovelling apology after crashing into team-mate George Russell at the start of the Qatar Grand Prix. The F1 ace, 38, was attempting to skirt around the outside of Russell at turn one of the opening lap after a better getaway off the line.
Lewis Hamilton apologised for his collision with George RussellCredit: Rex
Hamilton had tried to get around Russell but ended up spinning both of them off the trackCredit: Getty
Hamilton’s rear tyre flew off and his race was finished after just one turnCredit: Rex
However, Russell was sandwiched between Hamilton on his left and eventual race winner Max Verstappen on his right.
As Hamilton swung his car into the corner he failed to leave adequate room for both to make the turn, causing both to spin off after Russell tagged Hamilton’s right rear tyre.
The crash saw the seven-time champion’s race finished then and there as his tyre flew off, while Russell managed to get his car back into the race and finish a respectable P4.
Following the race, Hamilton took to social media to apologise to both his Mercedes team and team-mate.
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He said: “I’ve watched the replay and it was 100% my fault and I take full responsibility. Apologies to my team and to George.”
A visibly frustrated Hamilton later added: “Yeah, obviously gutting and massive apology to everyone back at the factory.
“It was probably just a racing incident but I take full responsibility. I don’t think George had anywhere to go.”
Asked if he would do anything different after his strong initial getaway, he replied: “It’s always in hindsight you do things differently.”
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Despite the loss of a potential double podium given the Mercedes’ pace over the weekend, Russell shared a video of himself and Hamilton hugging it out after the race.
He captioned his post: “No hard feelings. We’re here to fight and maximise for the team.
“We misjudged it today, but our car was exceptionally strong and I’m proud of the whole team. Time to regroup and continue building off the strong pace in Austin.”
The Qatar race saw a number of drivers feeling under the weather due to the 44-plus degrees Celsius heat at the Losail Circuit in Doha.
Alpine star Esteban Ocon vomited in his helmet MID-RACE, while Williams pair Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant both needed help climbing from their cars.
Lance Stroll also took himself to an ambulance following the race fearing dehydration.
Verstappen wrapped up the driver’s title – his third in a row – in Saturday’s sprint race.
Hamilton is still in the running for P2 in the driver’s table, with 30 points the difference between himself and Red Bull driver Sergio Perez.
F1 heads to Texas, United States, for its next race in two weeks’ time.
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LEWIS HAMILTON looked stylish as he arrived for today’s F1 race in Qatar.The seven-time world champion wore a bold outfit as he made his way to the pit lane and embraced the desert heat.
Lewis Hamilton opted for a bold look to finish off ‘LHFW’Credit: Getty
His sweater vest with a hole in the middle divided fansCredit: Getty
The British driver wore a light blue sweater vest paired with white trousers as he strolled down the pit lane.
The vest had a whole sewn into it to show off Hamilton’s tattoo on his chest.
He topped off the outfit with a pair of green sunglasses and what appeared to be a pair of Air Jordan’s.
A Twiter user posted an image of Hamilton’s outfit and said: “What a fit to end LHFW in Qatar. Will Sir Lewis Hamilton make his way onto the podium today?”
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LHFW refers to Hamilton’s self-proclaimed ‘Lewis Hamilton Fashion Week’ which has saw him push the boundaries with his grid outfits.
Some fans were divided over Hamilton’s outfit however, with one saying: “A pity that there was not enough wool left to finish the top!”
Another wrote: “Without the hole, that top is fire!”
And a third chimed in with: “He has a hole in his top.”
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Hamilton will start third on the grid in Qatar behind Max Verstappen in first and team-mate George Russell in second.
The two Mercedes’ are expected to give the champion a difficult time, particularly Hamilton who starts to the left of Verstappen on the grid.
Yesterday’s sprint race showed cars on the left of the grid had a significant advantage in getting a good launch at the start. More

SIR LEWIS HAMILTON is keeping schtum about the “top secret” upgrade to his Mercedes.The seven-time F1 champion will bid to pick up his and Mercedes’ first win of the season at the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday.
Sir Lewis Hamilton has been left frustrated by the performance of his Mercedes this yearCredit: Getty
Mercedes have made improvements to the car but Hamilton is refusing to spill the beansCredit: AFP
Mercedes have made changes to their struggling car during the recent break following last month’s Japanese Grand Prix in a desperate bid to get a first-place finish.
Hamilton recently visited the’ Brackley factory to see the fruits of the team’s labour but is keeping the details close to his chest.
The Stevenage speedster told Sky Sports: “I can’t tell you, man, I can’t tell you. It’s all top-secret stuff.”
When pressed further, the 38-year-old said: “From my experience in all these years, firstly [I’m] not an aerodynamicist.
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“And you go into the wind tunnel and it’s always mega exciting.
“No matter what point of the year you go in there’s always new bits coming, there’s bits in the bucket and you know there’s just stuff being tried all the time.”
Hamilton was left disappointed with his car’s performance at Suzuka, where he finished in a disappointing fifth place.
But he’s been thrilled by the effort the entire team has put in to try to rectify the issues plaguing his suped-up motor.
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Sir Lewis Hamilton is currently third in the Drivers StandingsCredit: REX
He said: “Everyone is unhappy with where we are and where we’ve been for the last couple of years.
“I know they’re hungry. And that for me, ‘I’m like OK I know these guys.
“‘I know they’re chasing and they’re doing absolutely everything they can.’
“So I’m able to then bring that into the weekend.”
Hamilton currently sits in third place in the drivers’ standings behind Sergio Perez and defending champion Max Verstappen thanks to five podium finishes so far this season. More

LEWIS HAMILTON’s historic car which he won his first F1 race at Mercedes with has gone up for sale.Hamilton, 38, won the first of his six titles with the Brackley-based constructor in 2014, with his grand total now standing at seven.
The car Lewis Hamilton won his first F1 race with Mercedes in has gone up for saleCredit: The Mega Agency
Hamilton won his first race with the constructor in 2013Credit: Getty
The eye-watering price of the W04 has been revealedCredit: The Mega Agency
But the year before in 2013, Hamilton won his first-ever race with Mercedes in the W04 at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Now the car is going up for sale under auctioneers RM Sotheby’s at the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix.
It is the first Hamilton-driven Mercedes F1 car to be offered for public sale.
However, to buy the car fans will need to reach very deep into their pockets.
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The pre-estimate price of the car is set between £8.2million and £12.3m.
Shelby Myers, Global Head of Private Sales, RM Sotheby’s said: “The Mercedes W196, which sold for $29.6m (£24.3m), remains the most valuable Formula One car ever sold.
“However, it’s the Mercedes-Benz Uhlenhaut Coupe that fetched $142m (£117m), cementing the Silver Arrows’ place in history books as one of the world’s most valuable and recognisable brands.
“Now, adding to the legacy of the Silver Arrows, we introduce the W04 – a car whose significance cannot be overstated.”
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Hamilton won his first race with Mercedes in the W04Credit: AFP
He triumphed in the 2013 Hungarian Grand PrixCredit: EPA
The statement added: “Driven by Formula 1’s most successful driver and sporting icon, Lewis Hamilton, this car delivered his very first win in a Mercedes F1 car, signalling the beginning of the marque’s most dominant period: the Hamilton-Mercedes dynasty.
“This pairing can only be compared to Jordan and the Bulls, Brady and the Patriots, or Messi and Argentina.
“Given the unparalleled lineage and being the sole example outside of Mercedes’ origination publicly available, the pairing of Lewis and the W04 elevates it beyond just a Formula 1 car.
“This undeniable piece could emerge as one of the most coveted collectables in the foreseeable future.”
Hamilton has won 82 races with Mercedes and won 21 with former employer McLaren to take his total to a record 103 wins.
He is back in action at the Qatar Grand Prix this weekend as he remains in the hunt for a first race victory since 2021.
That did not stop the Brit from signing a new bumper £100m-a-year contract at the team for the next two years.
Championship leader Max Verstappen could win the drivers title this weekend after Red Bull won the constructors at the Japanese GP.
Hamilton’s old car will be up for sale at the Las Vegas Grand PrixCredit: The Mega Agency
It has a pre-estimate value of up to £12.3millionCredit: The Mega Agency
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More