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CARLOS SAINZ won a thrilling Singapore GP as Max Verstappen’s winning run came to an end.The Ferrari driver, who had taken pole the previous day, held off a strong challenge from British trio, Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
Carlos Sainz ended Red Bull’s winning run with a victory in the Singapore Grand PrixCredit: Getty
He celebrated his victory with the fansCredit: Reuters
Lewis Hamilton finished in third placeCredit: Getty
The Mercedes driver was just behind his compatriot Lando NorrisCredit: AFP
A late mistake from Russell cost him a place on the podium as Norris and Hamilton finished in P2 and P3 respectively.
Both Sainz and Charles Leclerc made an excellent start while Hamilton squeezed past Russell and Norris but he left it too late to brake.
Hamilton was forced to take evasive action and ran wide into Turn One and when he re-joined the track he was running in third place – much to Russell and Norris’ frustration.
Both drivers radioed their teams calling for Hamilton to allow them to pass as he had gained a clear advantage, despite his own pleas that he “got pushed wide by George”.
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Eventually the seven-time world champion did yield and allowed both his Mercedes team-mate and the McLaren to pass, dropping him back to fifth.
Meanwhile, Verstappen had made his way up from 11th on the grid to eighth but his progress was soon stopped by Esteban Ocon, as the Red Bull man was held behind his Alpine.
Ferrari opted to protect Sainz’s lead by sacrificing Leclerc and telling him to slow down and block Russell from performing the undercut with the pitstops.
The race was turned on its head on lap 20 when Logan Sargeant duffed his Williams into the barriers, breaking off his front wing.
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Logan Sargeant saw his front wing come off in a collision with the barriersCredit: Getty
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As the American made his way back to the pits, with debris dropping from his car, the race stewards deployed the safety car which threatened to shuffle the pack.
Both Verstappen and Sergio Perez stayed out on track while the leaders all pitted for fresh tyres.
A slow stop for Leclerc hurt the Ferrari man’s track position and when they returned to the track the running order was Sanz, Verstappen, Russell, Perez, Norris, Leclerc and Hamilton.
A slow stop for Leclerc hurt his track positionCredit: AFP
On lap 24, Russell passed Verstappen at turn 16 while Hamilton almost leapfrogged Norris and Perez.
Norris recovered to move into third while Hamilton moved up to fourth-place on lap 27 when he passed Verstappen at turn seven.
The British trio running behind the Ferrari continued to push with Russell keen to remind his team over the radio, saying: “I want to go for this win!”
Russell continued to bide his time, with Sainz doing just enough to hold position out in front.
But there was another twist when Esteban Ocon conked out on lap 43 to mark an unhappy end to his race on his 27th birthday.
His stricken Alpine prompted a Virtual Safety Car and Mercedes decided to pit both Russell and Hamilton for fresh tyres from fourth and fifth with just 18 laps to go.
Both drivers returned to the track in the same position but having lost ground on Leclerc, who was running in third.
However, with their new tyres they were given the all-clear to hunt down the top three, with Russell having to make up a 17.6 second gap to race leader Sainz.
He passed Leclerc on lap 54 with Hamilton next up to pass the Ferrari driver with Norris next in the Merc duo’s sights.
It set up a thrilling finale as the four cars were separated by less than two seconds with Sainz being smart to keep Norris just enough behind him.
He kept the gap under a second so that the McLaren man had the benefit of DRS to fend off the threat from Russell and Hamilton.
Russel slammed into the barriers after a last ditch attempt to squeeze further up the standings
The race went down to the wire and just as Russell tried one last bold attempt to squeeze past Norris, he bit off too much and ended up in the barriers at turn 10.
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It put him out of the race on the last lap, promoting Hamilton to third behind Norris and Sainz.
Leclerc was fourth and Verstappen came home in fifth as his bid to win an 11th straight race was ended.
Max Verstappen has seen an end to his incredible winning streakCredit: Getty
Carlos Sainz wound up as the winnerCredit: Getty
Lando Norris finished in second place with Hamilton thirdCredit: Getty More

MICK SCHUMACHER could reportedly quit Formula One after struggling at Mercedes.The son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher had long hoped to become a regular driver, however he appears to have had a change of heart.
Mick Schumacher could swap F1 for the 24-hour Le MansCredit: PA
He is the son of F1 legend Michael SchumacherCredit: AFP
Schumacher, 24, is a reserve driver for Mercedes but has struggled to get a chance behind Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
He is also a reserve for McLaren.
He has recently admitted that he was looking at alternative options.
However, he seems to have a more specific plan in mind, according to Motorsport Aktuell.
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The report claims that the German driver could join the Alpine group and participate in the 24-hour race in Le Mans, France.
Alpine Motorsport vice president Bruno Famin is believed to have contacted Schumacher about taking a test drive.
Schumacher spent two years at F1 team Haas but left in 2022.
He was replaced by fellow German driver Nico Hulkenberg.
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Father Michael has not been seen in public since his horror ski crash in 2013.
His former team-mate Johnny Herbert suggested that his friends do not hear much “positive news” about the retired driver.
He said: “There’s never any news.
“What we do know is we never hear any positive news.
“That’s the horrible thought that he is still not able to be close to the Michael that we all remember. And that is very sad.” More

TOTO WOLFF says he missed out on signing Max Verstappen as a youngster – because he could not offer the Dutchman a guaranteed seat at Mercedes.Verstappen is poised to win his 11th race in a row at this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix as he closes in on his third successive title.
Toto Wolff says he missed out on signing Verstappen as a youngsterCredit: Rex
The F1 stars could have been team-matesCredit: Getty
However, it could have been a different story had Mercedes boss Wolff managed to sign him up to the Silver Arrows before he joined Red Bull’s junior team in 2014.
Wolff says that back then, Mercedes were happy with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg and without having a second team on the grid, could not promise Verstappen a space.
“Max was very good in karting, was good in F3, and it was clear that there’s a big one that’s growing,” Wolff told F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast.
“We talked to them in the initial phases, and it was a nice discussion with [dad] Jos and with Max involved as well.
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“But it was clear that we couldn’t give him a seat because we had Nico and we had Lewis.
“We offered the support in F2 but, since Red Bull was able to offer them the AlphaTauri seat, or Toro Rosso back in the day, it got Max into the seat.”
Verstappen was offered a drive at Toro Rosso in 2015 while Rosberg unexpectedly quit racing the following year after winning the title.
And Wolff says he can’t be certain if Verstappen would have picked Mercedes had he not already joined Red Bull.
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He added: “Maybe but, you know, if I knew where the stock market is next year, I would decide to invest in it or not.
“We would be very happy and rich people if we would know what happens 12 months on.”
Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo will be in Singapore for this weekend’s GP despite his broken hand.
The Australian underwent an operation after breaking bones in his left hand 20 days ago after crashing at the Dutch GP.
He is now undergoing rehab while helping the team with engineering duties while Red Bull’s reserve driver Liam Lawson fills in at AlphaTauri. More

LEWIS HAMILTON and George Russell gave fans a sneak peek into their preparation for the Singapore Grand Prix.The Mercedes F1 duo, who both recently signed new deals with the constructor, treated fans to a photo of themselves enjoying an ice bath.
Mercedes shared a photo of driver duo George Russell and Lewis HamiltonCredit: PA
But fans spotted a bizarre detail on Russell’s ice tubCredit: Instagram / @mercedesamgf1
Both Brits beamed with smiles while topless in the baths, with Russell also holding a Monster Energy water bottle for the soak.
However, eagle-eyed fans spotted a peculiar detail on Russell’s tub which was missing from Hamilton’s… inscribed initials.
The added detail left fans in hysterics, with one reacting: “George Russell is the type of guy to label his ice bath.”
A second said: “George really had to label his tub to tell which one is his 😭.”
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“I’m so not surprised that George has labelled his ice bucket, he definitely labelled all his stationary at school,” remarked a third.
Another fan joked: “They look like 2 kids playing in the tub 😂.”
A fifth commented: “Lewis Hamilton thirst traps are back 😏.”
While a sixth typed: “With the heat in Singapore, they are going to need more ice!”
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At the Italian GP, Russell and Hamilton finished P5 and P6 respectively.
Their Mercedes W14 has struggled for pace against top dogs Red Bull for much of the season.
But with Ferrari bolting out of the blocks after the summer break, Mercedes are far from secure in the race for P2 in the constructors standings.
A new look Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore awaits the upcoming weekend, with current weather forecasts expecting temperatures on race day to reach as high as 31 degrees Celsius.
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MICHAEL Schumacher should be stripped of one of his world championships, one of his close friends has said.Veteran journalist Roger Benoit took aim at the stricken legend’s on-track record – despite the two being pals.
Michael Schumacher is one of the greatest F1 times of all timesCredit: AP
Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher share a podiumCredit: Getty
The two drivers crashed in 1994 – handing the title to SchumacherCredit: Getty
Benoit – who reconciled with Schumacher in 2011 after years of feuding – said he believes the ace should lose his 1994 F1 title.
Schumacher currently stands alongside Lewis Hamilton as one of only two seven-time world champions.
They are the joint most successful drivers in the history of F1.
The German won his titles in 94 and 95, before going on an incredible five-year winning streak between 2000 and 2004.
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Schumacher has however not been seen or heard since 2013 after suffering a catastrophic injury during a ski crash.
His family maintains strict privacy around his condition.
But for his pal Benoit, Schumacher’s first title is tainted after the racer’s infamous crash with Brit rival Damon Hill.
The two came together in the title decider, with Schumacher appearing to veer his Benetton into Hill’s chasing Williams.
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Benoit gave a wide-ranging interview about his friend to German publication Blick and insisted on calling him a “six-time champion”.
He was often critical of the driver during his career, but the two became pals after Schumacher’s return to the sport in 2010s.
“Of course I know that he was world champion seven times. But the 1994 title should actually be taken away from him because he only won it because of his foul on Damon Hill,” said Benoit.
But despite this, Benoit still hailed him as one of the “greatest of all time”.
“I always had respect for his performance. The way he worked at Ferrari was unique,” he said.
“He was regularly in the box until midnight, an unbelievable work attitude. 
“And he still holds the record of 19 podium places in a row to this day.”
The two spent years not speaking before they reconciled after a chance meeting in the paddock at the Japanese GP in 2011.
“He walked past me. But after two meters he stopped, came back, hit my knee with his hand and said: ‘Let’s forget everything that once was. We’ll start from the beginning’,” said Benoit.
His comments come from ongoing controversy in F1 over retrospective championships.
Schumacher’s protege Felipe Massa is launching legal action to attempt to claim the 2008 title from Lewis Hamilton.
Massa believes he was robbed after the “Crashgate” scandal at the Singapore GP that year – something he believes unfairly cost him the title.
And meanwhile, there is ongoing lobbying from fans and controversy over the ending of the 2021 season, where Max Verstappen passed Hamilton on the final lap to win the title.
F1 bosses admitted “human error” meant the rules were not applied in the correct way during a final safety car period – potentially costing Hamilton his eighth world title.
Schumacher’s pal Benoit’s urging would see Schumacher drop down to six titles – and Hamilton take his place as the singular all-time greatest in terms of stats.
But when asked by  Blick to provide a specific update on Schumacher’s health, he refused and said: “No”.
“There is only one answer to this question and that is what his son Mick gave in one of his rare interviews in 2022: ‘I would give anything to talk to dad’,” he went on.
“This sentence says everything about how his father has been doing for over 3,500 days.
“A case without hope.”
F1 journalist and close friend Roger Benoit called Schumacher “a case without hope”Credit: PA
Following that skiing accident in the French Alps in 2013, Schumacher spent 250 days in a medically-induced coma in hospital.
Even since he was eventually permitted to return home, few have seen or visited him, and reports of the German’s condition are extremely rare.
Some friends and even family members have been kept in the dark by those closest to him in an effort to prevent leaks to the press.
Schumacher’s son, Mick, continued the family’s legacy of F1 drivers when competing for Haas in 2021 and 2022.
He is now a reserve driver for Mercedes.
Schumacher’s wife, Corinna, offered a small but powerful update on her husband’s health during the 2021 Netflix documentary about the German.
An emotional Corinna said: “Michael is here. Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength, I find.
“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.
“And to simply make him feel our family, our bond. And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will.
“We’re trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives.
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“I have never blamed God for what happened. It was just really bad luck – all the bad luck anyone can have in life.
“It’s always terrible when you say, “Why is this happening to Michael or us?” But then why does it happen to other people?” More

LEWIS HAMILTON admits he could U-turn and quit Formula One – despite just signing a new two-year contract.The F1 legend insists he and Mercedes have “never been hungrier” as he dreams of a record eighth title – but adds his feelings “could change” at any time.
Lewis Hamilton is already thinking of his next contract but can’t say for sure if he will continue to feel that wayCredit: Rex
Hamilton, 38, believes he might keep going beyond 2025 as he wants to help Mercedes end Red Bull’s dominance.
But Max Verstappen seems certain to land a third straight crown for himself and RB.
And Hamilton accepts his priorities in life could shift – taming his motivation out on the track.
He told Sky Sports: “The goal within those two years is 100 per cent to be fighting and win a world championship.
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“We are second in the constructors’ championship right now and we want to dethrone those who are at the top.
“I have 100 per cent faith that we can do that.
“In terms of long-term, I’m thinking about my next contract – what that will look like, how long that will be. I plan to be here for a while.
“But it could change. I could come back next year and be like, ‘damn it’. Who knows?”
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Three-time F1 champ Sir Jackie Stewart, 84, has questioned both Hamilton’s desire and his ability to lift another title.
And although the Stevenage star says his fire for F1 still burns fiercely, he added: “You never know where you are going to be in life.
“But right now I’m very focused on staying positive every day. I know that’s not easy for anyone.
“Staying fit and healthy and trying to find that balance of enjoying yourself and your work – balance with family life and all those sort of things.
“I think I’ve got a pretty decent balance right now. That’s enabling me to really love what I’m doing.” More