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      Michael Schumacher update as F1 simulator used by legend in his last Ferrari season goes up for sale for £20,000

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      A FORMULA One simulator used by Michael Schumacher in his last Ferrari season has gone on sale for £20,000.The racing legend, who has won a joint record seven world titles, last used the device while training for F1 circuits back in 2006.
      A Formula One simulator used by Michael Schumacher is being sold for £20,000Credit: Jam Press/Gormleys Auctions
      The device was used by the racing legend back in 2006 while he prepared for F1 circuitsCredit: Jam Press/Gormleys Auctions
      Schumacher retired from F1 in 2012, before he suffered a severe brain injury following a ski crash in 2013Credit: Alamy
      Shaped like half an iconic Ferrari F1 car, the Italian manufacturers used the simulators to prepare drivers for various circuits.
      It has now gone up for sale for a whopping £20,000 after being updated with all the circuits from the 2012 F1 calendar.
      The device has been used by a number of drivers, but most notably by Schumacher during his last season driving for team Ferrari.
      Auctioneers Gormleys Auctions says the collectible is a unique slice of history.
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      The listing reads: “This piece represents a rare opportunity to acquire a unique slice of F1 history, affording the opportunity to sit in the same pod that legendary driver Michael Schumacher will have used during simulated race sessions in advance of the 2006 Season.
      “A former team-owned piece of F1 history, this simulator benefits from the particular association with one of the sport’s most celebrated exponents.
      “This piece is a unique addition to the collection of any serious Ferrari F1 fan, and has been updated with ‘R-factor’ software and all of the circuits from the 2012 F1 calendar, among a number of other International circuits used for testing.
      “In addition, it comes complete with a Force-feedback steering wheel by Bob Salisbury Engineering at Silverstone.”
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      The auction for the iconic piece ends on November 14.
      It comes after a stunning collection of the F1 ace’s memorabilia worth £1.4million went up for auction in August.
      Schumacher’s iconic 1994 Bell Benetton Formula 1 helmet was part of the collection along with an Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost signed Formula 1 Moet Champagne Bottle.
      The bottle was signed by the pair during the 1989 Formula 1 World Championship and was set to sell for £7,800.
      Two other special helmets from Schumacher’s career were expected to attract bids of up to £20,000.
      One helmet – with a signed visor – was from the 2001 season, where it was worn during the Australian, Malaysian, and Brazilian Grand Prix events.
      Another was from the following season and was used in the Japanese and Hungarian Grand Prix events when he raced for Ferrari.
      The entire jaw-dropping collection was sold by RM Sotheby’s in Monterey, California.
      An RM Sotheby’s spokesperson said: “Among this treasured collection of artwork and automobilia are more than 75 lots of race-worn clothing and equipment spanning the breadth of Schumacher’s career, including a selection of helmets from his earliest days in karting.
      “Full Throttle ­– The Schumacher Collection offers an unrepeatable opportunity to acquire precious automobilia from the career of one of the sport’s true greats—touchstones from the life of a legendary driver who changed the face of motorsport forever”.
      Also in August, Schumacher’s incredible Ferrari F2001b sportscar went up for sale for a staggering £6million.
      The racing legend drove the 220mph 3.0-litre V10 cherry-red Ferrari when he won the 2002 Australian Grand Prix.
      An RM Sotheby’s spokesperson said: “Amongst the most desirable of any modern-era grand prix cars in existence, chassis 215 played a significant role in the early days of the 2002 Formula 1 World Championship.
      Schumacher’s iconic valuables have been listed at auctions after the driver suffered a severe brain injury during a devastating ski crash accident in December 2013.
      He was on the slopes above Méribel in the French Alps when he hit his head on a rock while crossing an off-piste area.
      Doctors said he would most likely have died had he not been wearing the safety gear, and the world champ was airlifted to Grenoble Hospital.
      He was put into a medically induced coma after suffering what was described as a “traumatic brain injury”.
      The former Ferrari and Mercedes driver was brought out of the coma in June 2014 and was released to go and rehabilitate at his home in Gland, Switzerland.
      The 54-year-old now lives a private life with his family with the tragic ski accident coming just over a year after he retired from F1 in 2012.
      He mounted a brief comeback for three seasons with the new Mercedes team after initially hanging up his helmet in 2006.
      In 2021, his family broke their eight-year silence on the seven-time world champion’s condition in a Netflix documentary examining his illustrious career.
      Read More on The Sun
      His wife Corinna explained in the Netflix interview: “We’re together. We live together at home. We do therapy.
      “We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable”.
      The device has been updated with all the circuits from the 2012 F1 calendarCredit: Jam Press/Gormleys Auctions
      The simulator is shaped like half an F1 Ferrari racing carCredit: Jam Press/Gormleys Auctions More

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      Lewis Hamilton’s ex-trainer reveals biggest challenge of working with Mercedes star and names hardest F1 track

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’S former trainer has revealed what the biggest challenge of training the Formula One great was. Antti Vierula was part of Hamilton’s support crew between 2011 and 2012 while the Brit was still with McLaren.
      Lewis Hamilton’s ex-trainer has revealed what the biggest challenge of working with him wasCredit: Splash
      Antti Vierula was Hamilton’s trainer between 2011 and 2012Credit: Getty
      Since then Hamilton has gone on to rack up a total of seven F1 world titles, six of which have come at Mercedes.
      However, speaking to OLBG, Vierula has now opened up on what the main challenge to working with him was.
      He said: “You try and get the best out of the time you have, and that’s the case for training any athlete.
      “The racing schedule is so demanding, and the biggest challenge is weaving training into that schedule.
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      “The training can’t hurt the athlete or stress them too much. Training also can’t deplete the energy levels. You learn a lot about the athletes you’re training as you spend time with them.
      “The coach has to adapt training to the specifics of the individual, but that’s something you naturally learn as time goes on.”
      Vierula, who now trains Hamilton’s former team-mate Valtteri Bottas, previously revealed the type of training they got up to.
      He told Grosvenor Sport how Hamilton loved running, while Bottas preferred cycling.
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      The workouts also included intense training for the muscles on his backside.
      Hamilton, 38, paired up with Angela Cullen in 2016, with the duo only going their separate ways ahead of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix earlier this season.
      Following the split, Vierula backed Cullen’s comments that Hamilton “got the best out of everyone”.
      He said: “I liked working with Lewis, it was a joy, he’s a passionate guy on the track. He was brilliant in getting everything out of the car and engineers, he pushes people to get the best out of everyone.
      “He would work hard getting answers from engineers, giving his opinion about what he thinks is right. He had a brilliant will to improve.”
      Hamilton is staring down his second winless F1 season in a row, having always managed to win at least one race every season prior to 2022.
      His W14 Mercedes struggled at last weekend’s Brazil Grand Prix, and he admitted Max Verstappen and Red Bull would likely be the dominant force over the next couple of seasons.
      However, Vierula does not believe Brazil is among the hardest tracks to race on.
      Instead, Vierula declared Japan’s Suzuka Circuit was the most difficult track on the calendar.
      He said: “I’d say the hardest tracks are the ones with high-speed corners. There’s a lot of braking involved, and those kinds of tracks are the most demanding.
      “I’d say Suzuka is the hardest for the neck, the high speed corners give drivers a lot of work.
      Read More on The Sun
      “Also Hungaroring is physically demanding, not many straights really, always turning somewhere.
      “Monaco and Singapore are tough as well, there are a lot of corners and not really any straight lines to rest. It requires a high level of focus all the time.”
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      What is George Russell’s net worth?

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      GEORGE Russell is one of Formula One’s rising stars. But what’s his net worth? Here’s what we know about the British racecar driver.
      Norfolk-born George Russell started driving for Mercedes in 2022.Credit: Splash
      Who is George Russell?
      George Russell is a British racecar driver, for the Mercedes F1 team. 
      He was born in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, to father Steve, and mother Alison. 
      His father had a seed and bean company, that he reportedly sold to support George’s driving career. 
      Russell has two older siblings, a sister called Cara, who works as his personal assistant, and a brother, Benjy. 
      Read more ON GEORGE RUSSELL
      Russell grew up in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, and took up karting as a child at the age of 6, following in older brother Benjy’s footsteps, who was also a keen karting driver, often competing — and winning.
      Russell has previously said that his brother “was a brilliant driver”, but despite starting at only 11 years old, it was already too late for him to pursue a career in the sport. 
      The budding driver moved up to the karting cadet class in 2010, becoming the MSA British champion and British Open champion.
      In 2014, Russell participated in Formula Renault 2.0 Alps championship, finishing fourth, and also the BRDC Formula 4 Championship with the Lanan Racing team.
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      After winning the Formula 4 Championship, he became the youngest-ever driver to win the prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, earning a £100,000 cash prize.
      In his debut Formula 3 championship in 2015, Russell scored three podium finishes.
      After winning the Formula 2 championship driving with the French team ART Grand Prix, Russell moved on to Formula 1, debuting with the Williams team in 2019, at the Australian Grand Prix finishing sixteenth.
      His first win came three years later at the 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix after he’d joined the Mercedes team.
      As for his love life, Russell started dating Seychelle de Vries, once linked to Max Verstappen, in 2017. 
      The pair were reportedly together for three years, before a 2020 split. 
      Russell is now dating Carmen Montero Mundt, a finance professional based in London. 
      Carmen shares romantic snaps with boyfriend Russell with her 318,000 Instagram followers, for example, some exotic holiday photos, and a summer trip to Wimbledon. 
      Russell largely sticks to professional driving shots on his Instagram, where he has 3.8 million followers, but posted a photo with Carmen at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. 
      What age is George Russell?
      Russell was born on February 15, 1998 – making him 25 as of November 2023. 
      In 2023 he is driving alongside fellow Brit and F1 legend Lewis Hamilton, born in 1985 and 13 years his senior.
      In an interview with The Times, Russell said of his teammate: “He is so experienced, whereas I’m a 25-year-old who is just totally focused on trying to be the best F1 driver I can be. I’m pretty inspired by what he has achieved.”
      When did George Russell join Mercedes?
      Russell joined the Mercedes F1 team in 2021, replacing Valtteri Bottas.
      In his first race in a Mercedes car, the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix, Russell qualified ninth and finished fourth.
      He took his first podium spot with Mercedes at the 2022 Australian Grand Prix.
      What is George Russell’s net worth?
      Russell has an estimated net worth of $16million, approximately £13.1million.
      His move to Mercedes earned him a £5million payday.
      He previously rented a flat in an affluent part of London, but moved to Monaco, like many other F1 stars before him. 
      Read More on The Sun
      Russell enjoys lavish trips away with girlfriend Carmen to holiday spots St Barts and Santorini.
      Off the racing circuit, the driving star gets around in a  £140,000 car — unsurprisingly, a Mercedes AMG GT. More

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      Fernando Alonso sends classy message to Lewis Hamilton after F1 legend quizzed over possible retirement

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has been praised by Fernando Alonso for inspiring him to carry on in Formula One.Hamilton and Alonso are two of the longest serving drivers on the grid and have nine world titles between them.
      Fernando Alonso gave a classy response when asked about a Lewis Hamilton retirement suggestionCredit: Rex
      Alonso praised Hamilton for inspiring the rest of the gridCredit: AFP
      They had a hostile relationship with one another when team-mates at McLaren.
      However, they have since mellowed out and have a healthy respect for one another.
      Alonso, 42, has not had great luck with many of the cars he has driven later in his career, with few wins to his name despite over-performing in them.
      And when quizzed about whether Hamilton would have retired if he had experienced the same struggles, Alonso was not sure.
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      He told GQ Magazine: “It’s difficult to say. We have different personalities and motivations.
      “Lewis always did really well to stay focused and competitive in the periods of his life when he didn’t have a competitive package.
      “Those periods weren’t many, but he was always performing to a high level.
      “Now he’s not having the best car, Red Bull is dominating, but he’s still fighting always. He’s chasing [Sergio] Perez in P2 and he’s never giving up.
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      “It motivates all of us to see how Lewis keeps the motivation after winning so many titles.”
      Amid Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s domination, Hamilton is staring down a second season in a row without a win after previously winning a race in every season beforehand.
      The next race will come at the Las Vegas Grand Prix next weekend.
      It has been plagued by issues even before the Grand Prix weekend has commenced.
      From furious fans and hospitality workers threatening to strike and scheduling issues and mixed opinions from drivers, it has been far from trouble-free.
      And that is before the weather, which could be as low as 5º C, is taken into consideration.
      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      Christian Horner brutally slams Lewis Hamilton’s ‘selective memory’ after F1 legend criticised Max Verstappen

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      CHRISTIAN HORNER has hit out at Lewis Hamilton following criticism from the British driver over Red Bull’s dominance. Hamilton has publicly spoken out a number of times about the ease with which Red Bull have dominated this year’s Formula One season.
      Christian Horner has hit out at Lewis Hamilton for having a ‘selective memory’Credit: Getty
      Hamilton has been vocal about trying to make F1 more competitive following Red Bull’s runaway successCredit: Splash
      But Red Bull boss Horner has defended his team and suggested that Hamilton’s criticisms are hypocritical.
      The 49-year-old has slammed Hamilton for having a “selective memory” with regards to his own period of prolonged success with Mercedes.
      Speaking on the Eff Won with DRS podcast, he said: “I feel like he’s got selective memory. So you know, some of the winning that they did in that period was just obscene.
      “We’ve had a good run for a couple of years, but the one guy that shouldn’t be saying that I would think, is Lewis.”
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      Hamilton and Mercedes previously breezed past all the competition in F1 for years with the Brit winning six of his seven World Championship titles during the Silver Arrows spectacular run from 2014-2020.
      Mercedes won a record eight Constructors Championships in a row before Red Bull took over in recent times.
      Hamilton has expressed his feeling around making the races more competitive as Max Verstappen won a third consecutive World Championship this season.
      The Dutch driver has been exceptional this year in what has essentially been a season-long procession for him and Red Bull.
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      Verstappen has won 17 of the 20 GPs this year with his team-mate Sergio Perez winning two himself.
      Hamilton has pleaded with the FIA to do what they can to make things tighter in the future, with concerns around fans losing interest in the thrilling sport.
      He said: “I think, within our sport, we have to continue to work on making sure we’re having close racing because I think you’ve seen the social engagement drop a huge amount this year being that.
      “It’s obviously heavily impacted on competition. People want to see that.
      “So, we have to make sure that we’re making the right decisions, or the governing body is making the right decisions, to keep us close and great racing right to the end.
      “We need more grandstands. I don’t know whether we need to lower the cost but maybe, I don’t know.”
      Hamilton has pleaded to prevent the dominance displayed by Max VerstappenCredit: Splash
      Verstappen has already tied up his third consecutive World ChampionshipCredit: Getty More

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      Inside ‘bizarre’ Las Vegas Grand Prix hit by crippling strikes, fans wanting refunds and it could be coldest in history

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      FORMULA ONE will take over Las Vegas for the first time in over four decades next week.Over half a billion dollars has already been spent in a bid to make it the most attractive race on the calendar.
      The Las Vegas Grand Prix is set to take place later this monthCredit: Getty
      Over half a billion dollars has already been spent on the eventCredit: PA
      However, the past few weeks and months have presented conflict and controversy.
      With a crippling strike threatened and many unhappy fans already requesting refunds, the event has been thrown into chaos.
      Even the drivers aren’t entirely enthused by the prospect of racing through the streets of Sin City.
      While the Las Vegas GP has the potential to be the most glamorous race of the year, there is a huge risk that fans could leave disappointed and out of pocket.
      Read More on F1
      And that may leave F1 in a whole heap of trouble.
      Strikes threatened
      Tens of thousands of hospitality workers in Vegas are said to be prepared to strike ahead of the race weekend.
      The Culinary and Bartenders Union have announced that 35,000 of its members across 18 local properties will initiate a strike if an adequate agreement is not reached with the casinos, hotels, and restaurants that employ them.
      The proposed strike by the state’s largest labour union would mark the first time in 10 years hospitality workers have gone on strike in Las Vegas.
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      Some hospitality workers are threatening to strikeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      It could also become the largest hospitality strike in the history of the US.
      According to the Associated Press, a union spokesperson has said that workers currently have health insurance and earn $26 per hour, but didn’t specify their desired pay increase.
      Between 40,000 and 60,000 employee contracts have expired, but they are still working while negotiations continue.
      Although the union has been negotiating with MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Resorts for the past seven months, a deal is yet to be agreed.
      Furious fans
      Some F1 fans are said to be “disgruntled” after analysis revealed huge reductions in Las Vegas hotel prices ahead of the Grand Prix.
      Research by Oversteer48 looked at the 22 biggest hotels on the iconic Vegas strip – where the race is set to take place – and compared recent prices to those from last year when the event was announced.
      Some hotels have dramatically dropped in priceCredit: Getty
      While one hotel has stuck with the same rates, the other 21 have reduced them by an average of 58 per cent.
      Contrary to the expectations of F1 chiefs, tickets for the weekend are yet to sell out which is why hotel prices have been slashed.
      Oversteer48’s Alex Gassman also reports that some fans have managed to secure compensation or have rebooked hotels.
      However, others have been left stuck with non-refundable bookings.
      Schedule issues
      The scheduling of the Las Vegas GP has also come into question.
      For the first time since 1985, the race will take place on Saturday evening as opposed to the standard Sunday format.
      Qualifying is set to start at 12am local timeCredit: Getty
      However, due to the time difference fans in the UK will be able to watch on Sunday morning.
      Qualifying for the Las Vegas GP will take place from 12am until 1am local time on Saturday November 18, while the race will start at 10pm.
      That means in the UK qualifying will start at 8am on Saturday morning, with lights out at the early time of 6am the following day.
      Some fans on social media have branded the timings as “bizarre”.
      The coldest race ever?
      Traditionally, F1 races take place in warm climates – but that certainly won’t be the case in Vegas.
      Due to the season and the late start times, it is set to be one of the coldest races in F1 history.
      Tires could prove to be an issue for all teamsCredit: Reuters
      The temperature will likely drop to between five and 10º C which could present several issues – especially with tires.
      F1 tires are designed to offer optimum grip at high temperatures.
      That means low temperatures will lead to a lack of grip on track, which could see some minor individual errors punished.
      That could prove very costly on a tight street track.
      Mixed opinions
      Not everyone is overly thrilled about the prospect of driving in Las Vegas – especially in November.
      Discussing the race, reigning world champion Max Verstappen said: “A lot colder. Street circuit, new for everyone. I think it will be full of surprises for sure.”
      Read More on The Sun
      Meanwhile, former driver Bernie Ecclestone has heavily criticised the event.
      He said: “I’m not really looking forward to it. It has nothing to do with Formula One.”
      Max Verstappen isn’t too pleased about racing at night in VegasCredit: Getty More

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      Lewis Hamilton reveals he’s quit booze and ‘may never drink again’ as struggling F1 legend slams peer pressure

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has revealed he’s given up alcohol as he looks to transform his fortunes in Formula One.The seven-time world champion has criticised the peer pressure involved with booze despite his vast world experience.
      Lewis Hamilton has revealed he’s quit alcohol for goodCredit: Getty
      The seven-time world champion declared there’s too much pressure involvedCredit: Getty
      Hamilton recently launched a new non-alcoholic tequila drink, with the Brit expanding his empire off the track.
      The 38-year-old has now revealed he’s gone sober as he looks to get back to his best following Red Bull’s dominance over the past two seasons.
      Hamilton admitted he’s seeking “that extra one per cent”, as he continues to perform at the top level of the sport.
      The British legend told Vogue: “I don’t know if I’m going to drink again.
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      “Since I’ve stopped drinking, I’ve just been feeling so much better, so much more clarity.
      “There is pressure to drink within a social setting. You have one shot and feel like ‘Damn, why did I do that?’ when you get home.
      “I was like, wow, that’s kind of crazy how I’m feeling pressured.
      “And I realised, how can I be feeling pressure at 38? Imagine young 18 year olds.”
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      Hamilton has endured another frustrating season with Mercedes, with the British star lying third in the World Championship standings.
      The Silver Arrows’ torrid time was epitomised at the Brazil GP last week, after Hamilton finished eighth and George Russell retired on lap 58 of 71.
      Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has cruised to the world title with the Dutchman leading on 524 points following 17 race wins.
      The penultimate race of the season will see Las Vegas’ debut in the sport on November 18, with the Abu Dhabi hosting the 2023 finale on November 26.
      Mercedes and Hamilton suffered another devastating weekend in Sao Paulo More

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      Lewis Hamilton makes bleak F1 prediction for 2024 season as Mercedes’ struggles go from bad to worse

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has made a bleak Formula One prediction for the 2024 season – as Mercedes struggles go from bad to worse.The seven-time world champion claimed that Red Bull will continue their dominance over the “next couple of years.”
      Lewis Hamilton makes bleak F1 prediction for the 2024 seasonCredit: Splash
      Since the 2022 regulations for F1 cars were introduced Mercedes have deeply struggled to fight for the top position.
      While the Silver Arrows have attempted to close their gap to rivals Red Bull they have only won a single race in the last two seasons.
      Meanwhile, Red Bull has dominated the leaderboards in record-breaking style as leading driver Max Verstappen has achieved the highest win percentage of any driver in a single season.
      With Verstappen’s victories not coming to an end any time soon, Hamilton gave his call on how the next few seasons will turn out.
      READ MORE ON F1
      He said: “The Red Bull, I think, is so far away. I think they’re probably going to be very clear for the next couple of years.”
      Verstappen so far this year has 17 victories from 20 races while accumulating three straight drivers’ titles.
      The Belgian’s victory in Sao Paulo at the weekend was a sharp contrast to the dismal performance of Mercedes.
      Mercedes suffered one of their lowest moments in recent history at the Interlagos.
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      The British racing team have had issues with their cars for a while now but this weekend was a horror show for Toto Wolff’s side.
      Hamilton ended up miles off the podium and finished eighth after being overtaken by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in the final laps.
      While fellow Brit and team-mate George Russell was forced to retire the car on lap 58 of 71.
      But before the race had even begun the 103-time race-winner sensed trouble looming.
      Hamilton continued: “I knew that we would have a difficult day. Nothing changed in the car from yesterday to today, so I knew it would be tough.
      “The tyres were overheating, the car was slow on the straights, no grip in corners. Ultimately, all I can do is try and remain optimistic.”
      Mercedes team-mate George Russell was forced to retire his car at the Brazillian Grand PrixCredit: Splash More