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      Lewis Hamilton SIGNS mega £100m Mercedes deal which will see F1 legend continue career into 40s

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has confirmed his future in Formula One after signing a mega £100million contract extension with Mercedes. There had been rampant speculation that Hamilton could call time on his career at the end of the season or make a dramatic team switch to the likes of Ferrari.
      Lewis Hamilton has signed a contract extension at MercedesCredit: Rex
      Hamilton’s new deal will keep him in F1 into his 40sCredit: PA
      However, the seven-time world champion has now confirmed he will carry on into his 40s.
      His new deal with Mercedes, where he has won six titles, has nailed him down for a seat in both the 2024 and 2025 F1 seasons.
      And this deal has also been extended to team-mate George Russell.
      Mercedes announced the British duo will continue as their drivers for both seasons.
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      SunSport understands Hamilton’s deal will see him bag around £50m-a-year.
      On the new deal, 38-year-old Hamilton said: “We dream everyday of being the best and we have dedicated the past decade together to achieving that goal.

      “Being at the top does not happen overnight or over a short period of time, it takes commitment, hard work and dedication and it’s been an honour to earn our way into the history books with this incredible team. 
      “We have never been hungrier to win. We have learnt from every success but also every setback. We continue to chase our dreams, we continue to fight no matter the challenge and we will win again.
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      Mercedes confirmed both Hamilton and George Russell will continue until 2025Credit: PA
      “I’m grateful to the team who have supported me both on and off the track. Our story isn’t finished, we are determined to achieve more together and we won’t stop until we do.” 
      While he is joined by icon Michael Schumacher on seven F1 titles, Hamilton stands first for most race wins, most pole positions, most consecutive seasons with a pole, the most podium finishes and most career points.
      His success on the circuit has allowed Hamilton to break down barriers and cultivate a mouth-watering portfolio.
      He has an estimated net worth of £271m, with properties, fashion brand endorsements and a stunning collection of supercars to boot.
      Hertfordshire-born Hamilton has even extended his reach into film and TV projects, working as a producer in an F1 film starring Brad Pitt.
      Romance has also been a hot topic for Hamilton this season, linked with a budding relationship with music superstar Shakira.
      Hamilton remains in the hunt for a record-breaking eighth drivers title after he was controversially pipped to the crown by Max Verstappen in final race of the 2021 season.
      But Mercedes have struggled in the new era of car designs, with Russell picking up the teams only race win over the last two seasons which have largely been dominated by Red Bull.
      But team principal Toto Wolff insisted the team’s current driver line-up can lead them back to glory.
      He said: “Continuing with our current driver line-up was a straightforward decision.
      Hamilton has an incredibly successful partnership with Toto Wolff at MercedesCredit: PA
      Only Michael Schumacher can match Hamilton in terms of drivers titlesCredit: AFP
      “We have the strongest pairing on the grid and both drivers are playing a crucial role in the team to move us forward.
      “The strength and stability they provide will be key building blocks for our future success.   
      “Our partnership with Lewis is one of the most successful in the sport’s history. It was always a formality that we would continue together – and it’s energising for us all to be confirming that publicly.
      “His qualities as a pure racing driver are illustrated by his remarkable track record; but over our years together, he has grown to become a pillar and leader of our team.
      “Those leadership qualities are crucial as we focus on fighting for world championships again.
      “As F1’s biggest global star, he has also played a key role in shaping our commitments to diversity, inclusion and sustainability, that will be foundations for our success in the years ahead. 
      ”George is a leading light of his generation. He has repaid the faith we showed in him when promoting him to a race seat in 2022.
      “His maiden pole position in Hungary and first Grand Prix victory in São Paulo were standout moments last season. As a driver, he combines razor-sharp speed with the tenacity of a true fighter.
      “But he brings, too, an intelligence and attention to detail that will help him to continue to grow, develop and improve further.
      “He is a natural fit to the team and we are delighted to have extended the relationship for the coming years.”
      Read More on The Sun
      The new deal means Hamilton’s tenure at the Brackley-based constructor will take him up to 13 years with them after leaving McLaren.
      Russell, 25, only joined the team in 2022 after spending his first three seasons in the sport with Williams Racing.
      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      Ferrari are so far off the F1 pace they could be mistaken for amateurs – their mistakes are laughable

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      IT is incredible to think that Ferrari are heading into this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza in an even worse position than they were 12 months ago.In December they replaced long-serving employee Mattia Binotto as team principal with Fred Vasseur.
      Ferrari have made some laughable mistakes during the Formula One seasonCredit: Rex
      But it is clear that any hopes of the Frenchman bringing an immediate upturn in results have been firmly extinguished.
      In fact, it is difficult to see what improvements – if any at all – have been made since Vasseur was installed as the boss of F1’s most famous team.
      Reliability is still a problem. Aerodynamically the car is unpredictable. Operationally, the mistakes are laughable and consequently the team’s drivers are shot of confidence.
      Put simply, Ferrari have been made to look so embarrassingly off the pace by Red Bull Racing, they could be mistaken for amateurs.
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      Look at the numbers. They are currently 339 points behind Red Bull in the championship and find themselves in fourth place in the constructors’ table.
      After last year’s Italian GP they were 139 points shy to Red Bull but still held a credible second-place in the standings.
      Of course, you could easily accuse any team in F1 of not doing well enough at the moment as Red Bull dominates, but this is Ferrari.
      Vasseur is not the problem, the operational mistakes have been plain to see since Ferrari last won a constructors’ championship title in 2008.
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      The issue I have is that I am not too sure he is the solution for Ferrari either.
      Ferrari say they have learned from their mistakes in 2023 and will put them right next season, only we have heard all this before.
      But this time the board of the great Italian car manufacturer must be running out of patience with F1, particularly when they saw their investment at Le Mans pay off handsomely with a win in the 24 Hour race.
      Their performance in the Dutch GP however, was again toe-curlingly bad, with pitstops that would not look out of place in a Benny Hill sketch.
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      Contract talks between Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes appear to be at a stalemateCredit: PA
      Carlos Sainz said they were the “sixth-fastest car” during the race, adding: “I know at some point it looked that we could even fight for a podium, but the reality is that when the race was settled when you look at our pace we were just nowhere.”
      F1’s popularity across the world is booming but so far, Ferrari are just making up the numbers – and for those at Maranello, that is simply not good enough.

      I ASKED Lewis Hamilton about his Mercedes contract in Zandvoort [you may remember his failure to sign a new deal was the subject of last week’s column].
      I asked if there was an update, or any news he could share with us, to which he replied “Nope”. It seems as though they really are at a stalemate and one wonders what impact this is having within the team.

      Zhou Guanyu’s crash proves the current generation of F1 cars is not suitable for rainCredit: Getty
      I HAVE a very serious concern that this current generation of F1 cars is not suitable whenever it rains.
      The Dutch GP was another case in point as the race stewards took another conservative approach when it was wet.
      The red flag when Zhou Guanyu crashed at Turn One was understandable as they needed to make repairs to the barriers and recover his car, however, it was some of their other decision-making which makes me fear wherever we have a wet race.
      The issue is that visibility is now the main problem for drivers, rather than a lack of grip, caused in part by the aerodynamic properties of these cars.
      They are designed to use the floors of the cars, sucking them closer to the ground and subsequently dispelling the air – and in the case of rain standing water – upwards.
      Add in the water already being sent upwards by the tyres and you have a mushroom effect of spray, which is the problem.
      F1 are now considering ways to introduce mugrads over the wheels to reduce the spray thrown up, with tests planned for later in the year.
      I hope it cures the problem because we are being denied the chance to witness the excitement caused by a wet race.

      BBC1’s Jennie Gow is back working in the paddock after overcoming a strokeCredit: Getty
      IT was fantastic to see my friend and colleague Jennie Gow working back in the paddock during an F1 race weekend.
      Gow, who presents the BBC’s F1 coverage as well as appearing in Drive to Survive, suffered a stroke in December.
      She has spent the last eight months learning to speak again. She’s worked so hard and it is wonderful to see her incredible progress.

      FABIO QUARTARARO has delivered his damning verdict on Yamaha’s progress in MotoGP saying his current bike is “practically the same” as the bike Jorge Lorenzo raced to the title in 2015.
      Read More on The Sun
      Yamaha is joint-last in the manufacturers’ championship after another terrible season.
      Unhappy Quartararo, has made it clear he is weighing up his future in the Japanese team as it fails to make progress. More

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      Mercedes driver George Russell’s X-rated blast caught on team radio as he and Lewis Hamilton fume at F1 blunder

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      GEORGE RUSSELL lashed out at his Mercedes team after a major blunder cost him and team-mate Lewis Hamilton at the Dutch Grand Prix.Russell started Sunday’s race in third place and the Formula One team was immensely confident he would finish on the podium.
      George Russell lashed out at Mercedes after a massive blunder at the Dutch Grand PrixCredit: Getty
      Russell’s furious blast was caught on team radio after the horror gaffeCredit: Sky Sports f1
      Hamilton, on the other hand, had a disastrous qualifying that left him P13 on the grid.
      But then it started to rain and the British duo’s rivals were wise enough to immediately put on wet tyres.
      Russell and Hamilton wanted to do the same but were instructed to stay out.
      That bad call led to the former Williams star slipping down the pack and finishing 17th, whereas Sir Lewis fought through and made it to sixth place.
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      Russell was then heard fuming on the team radio: “I was forecast for a podium. F**k! How did we mess this up?”
      The 25-year-old was still seething after he got out of the car claiming the race was “over before it really got started”.
      That was because the Norfolk driver and Hamilton weren’t prepared properly for the rainy Dutch weather.
      Russell said after the race: “The race was over before it really got started.
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      “I think the information we had regarding the weather was totally wrong. So that was a real shame. A podium was missed.
      “As a team we need to review because we’re getting the information coming in to us and it was misjudged, the weather.
      “So, it’s not anything to do with racing or engineering, it was clearly just a weather misinterpretation and that ruined our afternoon.
      “So, we really need to look into what happened, why the others decided to pit, what information they maybe had that we didn’t and make sure we don’t make the same mistake again.”
      Lewis Hamilton also suffered from Mercedes’ bad weather callCredit: Rex More

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      Premier League stars’ luxury cars including Ferrari found in shipping containers on the way to Dubai after being stolen

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      TWO Premier League stars have had their flash luxury cars returned to them after the vehicles were found in shipping containers headed for Dubai.The supercars recovered by the Essex Police’s Stolen Vehicle Intelligence Unit were a Ferrari and a Range Rover.
      The Premier League player has been reunited with his flash red FerrariCredit: East Anglia News Service
      The silver Range Rover has also been reunited with its ownerCredit: East Anglia News Service
      So far this year, the force’s team has recovered 517 cars or parts of vehicles with a combined value of more than £16million.
      The two players, who have not been identified but have more than 100 international caps between them, had their cars stolen in neighbouring counties.
      The SVIU’s PC Paul Gerrish, PC Phil Pentelow and analyst Hannah Gerrish, tracked down the vehicles to shipping containers which were due to travel to Dubai from London Gateway Port in Thurrock.
      As yet, no arrests have been made in connection to the vehicle thefts.
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      It’s thought once a car is stolen, thieves may look to quickly sell it on, even for a price well below its market value, or strip it for parts or even ship the whole vehicle  to areas such as the Middle East or Africa, where it can be sold for two or three times its cost in the UK.
      The thieves or handlers of the stolen vehicles may obtain false or cloned identities before selling it on to an unsuspecting member of the public in the UK or even distribute them to other criminals.
      Essex Police launched Operation Ignition this summer which saw the SVIU, Roads Policing and investigators work together to break up the criminal gangs behind the thefts.
      The SVIU has managed to return vehicles to hundreds of victims from family saloons to supercars.
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      PC Gerrish said: “Every stolen car is important to us and we work as hard as we can to get them back to their owners.
      “When you phone someone up and tell them we’ve got their car with their kids’ car seats and the pushchair in the back, or other personal items, it’s hugely satisfying.
      “We are creating a hostile environment for car thieves. We know what to look for and we know how and where they operate.”
      One of the Premier League footballers went to the SVIU base to be reunited with his car and praised the team’s work.
      PC Pentelow said: “He was genuinely thankful and taken aback by the lengths we had gone to.
      “His car was clearly very dear to him, and he was very impressed with the service he’d had from the police.
      “Even though he plays for one of my team’s biggest rivals, he was a nice guy and down-to-earth. It was good to help him.”
      The SVIU team work with manufacturers including Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, BMW and Mercedes-Benz to improve vehicle security.
      The team recommends drivers learn about their car’s vulnerabilities by watching videos online and check the website Secured by Design to find recommended safety devices for your car and think about getting a Disklok.
      However, they say the biggest vulnerability is people leaving their vehicles unlocked.
      PC Pentelow said: “Double lock it and check it. We still see CCTV where people’s cars aren’t locked.”
      In July this year, the Essex Police’s SVIU team recovered cars and car parts worth £1m, in one of their most successful weeks ever.
      The unit recovered high-end cars including a Rolls-Royce, a Bentley Bentayga, alongside several Range Rovers and BMWs.
      Read More on The Sun
      In recent months they have located and recovered a range of Ferraris and Aston Martins.
      A Rolls-Royce Cullinan recovered during recent operations was worth more than £360,000 alone.
      PC Phil Pentelow and PC Paul Gerrish say they are creating a hostile environment for car thievesCredit: East Anglia News Service More

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      Lewis Hamilton eliminated early as Max Verstappen takes pole for Dutch GP by a landslide

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      LANDO NORRIS was the best of the rest as Max Verstappen took another pole position – and did so by a landslide.The Dutchman only needed one quick lap as he took a comfortable pole ahead of British duo Norris and George Russell.
      Max Verstappen eased his way to pole positionCredit: Getty
      Lewis Hamilton had a tough day at ZandvoortCredit: Rex
      Verstappen, who is going in search of a record-equalling ninth straight win, was over half a second clear from the rest of the field in damp conditions at Zandvoort.
      And Norris admits he has a slim chance of beating the Red Bull ace in tomorrow’s Dutch GP.
      When quizzed if he could fight Verstappen for the win, Norris said: “I’ll try and challenge for two laps and then he’ll probably drive away.
      “Max is always on another level when it comes to race day.”
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      “I’m happy still. P2 was a good result in these kind of conditions.
      “Every now and then you hope Max makes a mistake, but he doesn’t, so it is frustrating in a little way. But I’m very happy. The team did a good job.
      “The first half of the [final] lap was mega but the second half was probably one of the worst second halves I’ve done.”
      Verstappen knows another win will level Vettel’s incredible achievement but says he’s not focused on breaking records.
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      Max Verstappen is hoping to make it three Dutch GP wins in a rowCredit: EPA
      He said: “After five wins in a row, Seb texted me and said ‘you’re doing a good job, keep it going’ but nine in a row is impressive, and to be on eight.
      “If it is possible I will go for it, but it is not in the back of my head. I am not here to break records, just win in the moment.”
      Russell will line up in third place on the grid while his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton had a miserable afternoon and qualified way down in 13th.
      It was a crucial result for Russell, who says he had struggled with his form in Saturday’s qualifying sessions.
      He said: “Qualifying was one of my strengths at the start of the year, but the last few races before the break were a little scrappy.
      “So it was good to have the break with a fresh pair of eyes and to come back back in the groove.”
      Verstappen’s pole came after two delays as some drivers struggled with the drying track after a heavy downpour.
      First there was a wait for over 30 minutes as marshals repaired the barriers after Logan Sargeant crashed his Williams.
      And then Charles Leclerc somewhat-embarrassingly lost control of his Ferrari and slid off into the barriers.
      Meanwhile, Hamilton is hoping he can improve on his poor qualifying performance.
      He only just made it into Q2 after being caught up in traffic.
      The Brit was then a shock elimination from the second session as he failed to reach the top 10.
      The seven-time world champion was stuck behind Yuki Tsunoda’s AlphaTauri and unable to string a lap together.
      He said: “I did two fast laps in the end and the tyres overheated, so I couldn’t improve on the last lap.
      Read More on The Sun
      “Hopefully, when the car is heavier maybe we can progress forward in the race.
      “It’s not an easy track to move forward on, but tomorrow’s a new day and I will give it my best.”
      Alfa Romeo’s Guanyu Zhou’s crashed outCredit: Reuters More

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      Lewis Hamilton contract update with no new deal signed with Mercedes during F1 break as sticking point revealed

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      FORMULA ONE returns this week after the summer break – and a void of news about Lewis Hamilton’s future.After being told that a deal was close to being signed back in June, there has still been no pen put to paper, as the saga rumbles on.
      Lewis Hamilton has huge brand worth to Mercedes so is in a good position to drive a hard bargain over a new contractCredit: Alamy
      Mercedes supremo Toto Wolff remains confident of a deal with HamiltonCredit: Alamy
      At the Hungarian GP, Merc boss Toto Wolff said the two parties had “emotionally” agreed to sign – so why the hold up?
      The likelihood is that the duration of the contract – expected to be two years – has been agreed. As well as the wages of around £50million a year.
      However, the likely sticking point will centre on the amount of time Hamilton will be contractually obliged to be available for Mercedes’ sponsors.
      Hamilton is in the box seat. He knows his worth to Mercedes in terms of his brand and is understandably willing to play hardball.
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      On the other side, Mercedes are stuck in they have not really got an alternative. Mick Schumacher is not in the same league and a legal battle for McLaren’s Lando Norris could be messy.
      Hamilton will be asked about the contract this week, but I am not holding my breath for a resolution just yet.
      Meanwhile, Wolff suffered a fall during the summer break after coming off his bicycle. The Mercedes boss hurt his elbow but it expected to be at this week’s Dutch GP as the season resumes.
      It is not the first time Wolff has hurt himself in a cycling accident. In 2014, he fractured his shoulder, collar bone, elbow and wrist after coming off while cycling along the Danube River.
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      New kid on the grid
      RED BULL RACING are out to catch the next Adrian Newey – after planning a new education centre at the team’s factory.
      In an F1 first, the facility will be based at their HQ and will welcome students between nine and 14 with a goal of attracting them to careers in engineering, such as design whizz Newey, who has won eleven Constructors’ Championships with three different F1 teams.
      In association with the Milton Keynes College Group, Red Bull want to use the popularity of the sport to encourage kids to study STEM [science, technology, engineering and maths] subjects at school.
      Zoe Mills, Red Bull Racing’s Head of Employee Experience said: “The utopia for us is where we have someone come to an interview and we ask them why they want to work for us and they say ‘it is because I went to the education centre and that is what inspired me to continue with my STEM subjects’.
      “All the engineers are keen to get involved. For instance, if you look at our aerodynamics department, they will work with Milton Keynes College, who will break it down into a language that is easy to understand for nine-year-olds.”
      Dutch dampener
      Since returning to the F1 calendar in 2021, the Dutch GP has been blessed by sunshine – but this weekend’s race could be hit by rain.
      Max Verstappen has won at the circuit for the past two years and a third victory would mean he equals Sebastian Vettel’s record of NINE consecutive wins.
      Andretti sweaty as they wait for verdict
      FORMULA ONE hopefuls Andretti expect to discover next month if their bid to join the grid in 2025 has been accepted.
      Andretti teamed up with Cadillac and submitted an application, with F1 and the FIA now considering whether to increase the number of teams from 10 to 11.
      There is currently some stiff opposition from some teams, who are not prepared to give up a share of the F1 prize pot.
      Tile in the Bag as Fran takes it to the Max
      FRANCESCO BAGNAIA dominated the MotoGP race in Austria last weekend and now has a 62-point advantage over Jorge Martin.
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      The Ducati ace looks unstoppable and former MotoGP champion, Fabio Quartararo says the Italian is doing a “Verstappen” by winning everything.
      He said: “No [I don’t see anyone stopping Bagnaia]. I think he’s a little bit ‘Verstappen’ now.” More

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      Lewis Hamilton ‘talks to Ferrari chief EVERY race’, fuelling speculation over sensational F1 team transfer

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has sparked talk of a stunning transfer to Ferrari after it was revealed he speaks to Fred Vasseur at every race. Ferrari team principal Vasseur confirmed he and the 38-year-old speak at every Grand Prix.
      Lewis Hamilton’s contract situation remains uncertainCredit: Splash
      Ferrari team principle Fred Vasseur confirmed he speaks to Hamilton at every Grand PrixCredit: AP
      He also said they have a close bond, owing to when Hamilton raced under Vasseur in his title-winning GP2 season in 2006 – which led the Brit to getting an F1 seat with McLaren in 2007.
      But seven drivers titles later, Hamilton is now one of the faces of the sport.
      Vasseur, 55, places him alongside Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc as the best on the grid.
      And he is not ignorant to Hamilton’s contract situation at current team Mercedes, which is set to expire at the end of the season.
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      Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Frenchman Vasseur explained his relationship with Hamilton, saying: “I talk to him at every GP, he raced for me 20 years ago and we are still close.
      “I helped him when he went to McLaren at the beginning of his F1 career and we talk from time to time. 
      “Clearly if we are seen together in the paddock a fuss comes out, but the relationship has remained.
      “I don’t want to compare him to our drivers, it would not make sense. But the contribution of a top driver is not only driving.”
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      He continued: “It’s also technical, strategy, help in hiring an engineer. And in this case, if you have Hamilton, Verstappen but also Leclerc it’s easier.
      “People who work in F1 are passionate about racing, they like to work with champions.”
      With the mid-season break in full swing, Hamilton has been enjoying some time away from the track.
      And according to some sensational reports, he has been spending some of that time with singer Shakira.
      The pair having sparked dating rumours after being spotted together over the last few months.
      Shakira is claimed to have snuck Hamilton into her luxury Ibiza villa on three separate occasions.
      Hamilton finished P4 at the Belgian Grand Prix almost three weeks ago but must until August 27 before he gets racing again at the Dutch Grand Prix.
      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      I was Lewis Hamilton’s F1 understudy earning more than £1.5m a year… now I’m making drastic change studying at Harvard

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’s former understudy used to rake in more than £1.5million as an F1 Driver.But after losing his seat as an Alpha Tauri driver this season he has embarked on a drastic career change, according to Racing News 365.
      De Vries has swapped the paddock for HarvardCredit: Getty
      Nyck De Vries revealed that he has swapped the paddock for the lecture halls of Harvard as he has gone back to university to complete his education.
      The Dutchman said: “I’ve never studied before in my life, in fact, I didn’t even finish high school.
      “But in September I’m going to take a course at Harvard. Negotiation and Leadership, a little bit of studying. More because I just like it now that I have some time and the interest to learn other things.”
      Many thought the Dutchman was hard done by to lose his seat as an Alpha Tauri driver, with the Red Bull team moving ruthlessly to replace him after results were not up to the required standard.
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      De Vries was replaced by Daniel Ricciardo after just 10 races this season as he was one of only two drivers not to secure a top-10 finish alongside Williams’ rookie Logan Sargeant.
      The decision of Red Bull to bring Ricciardo in dashed De Vries dreams of becoming an established F1 driver having won both the F2 and Formula E Championships before getting his Formula One break aged 27.
      When asked by Racing News 365 if his dismissal was tough to take, De Vries said: “Actually [it was] not.
      “I had a lot of support and it actually went very naturally. I’ve been playing a lot of golf since then.”
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      De Vries was previously a reserve driver for Mercedes where he tested for Lewis Hamilton.
      And Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is an executive fellow and guest lecturer at the Harvard Business School – where De Vries will now study.
      Wolff has helped teach MBA students a case study led by Harvard Business School professor Anita Elberse entitled ‘Toto Wolff and the Mercedes Formula One Team’.
      So it may be the case that while De Vries was dealt with ruthlessly by Red Bull, his former boss Wolff is still looking out for him.
      De Vries is not the only former F1 driver heading back to study.
      Former Williams driver Nicholas Latifi announced last month he was starting an MBA course at the London Business School. More