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      How the 2024 F1 grid could line up with NO Lewis Hamilton, fresh face at Mercedes and new team-mate for Max Verstappen

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      THE Formula One grid in 2024 could look hugely different to what it does now. There are a number of teams who have drivers with expiring contracts.
      Lewis Hamilton may have retired by the start of the 2024 seasonCredit: Getty
      While Sergio Perez may seal a shock move elsewhereCredit: Getty
      It is also not out of the realms of possibility for a team to pick up a driver from an underperforming team.
      So with that in mind, how might the grid look by the start of the 2024 season?
      Red Bull – Verstappen and Tsunoda
      The first big shock would come at Red Bull, where Max Verstappen could be joined by a surprise new team-mate in Yuki Tsunoda.
      A recent report suggested Christian Horner was considering promoting Tsunoda from sister team AlphaTauri.
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      This would naturally lead to Perez’s departure, despite having a contract running to 2024.
      The current relationship between Verstappen and Perez has grown increasingly tense, with the latest from it seeing Verstappen snatch the fastest lap point away from an unhappy Perez in Saudi Arabia.
      Mercedes – Russell and Norris
      In the event Lewis Hamilton decides he has had enough of F1 and decides to allow his contract to expire at the end of the season, Mercedes will need some very capable hands to take his seat.
      There are fewer drivers more capable than McLaren’s Lando Norris, and with his team’s current underperformance, he may be tempted to try and grab a more competitive seat.
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      Indeed, despite being in an inferior car, Norris was the only driver outside of Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari to score a podium in 2022 and break the 100-point mark.
      Despite reports suggesting his contract extension with McLaren could pose difficulties, with Norris the Brackley-based team would keep their all-British line-up as he partners George Russell.
      Ferrari – Leclerc and Sainz
      Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have contracts which run until 2024 and both are performing well despite the team’s performance and reliability issues.
      It is difficult to see any changes coming for the Scuderia before next season.
      Aston Martin – Alonso and Stroll
      In a similar sense to Ferrari, both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are unlikely to leave Aston Martin.
      Alonso has scored three back-to-back podiums this season, and Stroll’s dad Lawrence is the owner of the team. And he is desperate to give his son a car capable of winning titles.
      McLaren – Piastri and Perez
      With Norris gone, McLaren chief Zak Brown could bring Perez back to McLaren for a chance at redemption.
      Perez replaced Hamilton in 2013, but flopped as he was slammed by team-mate Jenson Button for his “unnecessary” aggressiveness.
      However, with a more mature mindset and far more experience under his belt, Perez could be brought back to ensure McLaren maintains a competitive edge over the rest of the midfield.
      Perez was always a consistent performer when with midfield teams as well.
      Alpine – Ocon and Gasly
      Despite having a less-than-desirable relationship in the past, both Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly will likely remain at Alpin for the 2024 season.
      Both have contracts running until 2024, and a French team with two French drivers would be expected to keep the line up barring an exceptional change in stance between now and the season’s end.
      Haas – Hulkenberg and Ricciardo
      Despite rejecting a seat with the team for this year, team principal Guenther Steiner has remained optimistic about potentially landing Daniel Ricciardo.
      He previously said: “Everybody is wanting to speak with Danny after a year off.”
      Ricciardo would be partnering former Renault team-mate Nico Hulkenberg – with the pair shooting to fame on Drive to Survive – as Kevin Magnussen’s replacement.
      The Dane has one year left on his current deal and could be in line for an extension if he performs well, but a big name like Ricciardo may be too tempting to turn down for Haas.

      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
      Alfa Romeo – Bottas and Pouchaire
      If Alfa Romeo opts to drop out-of-contract Zhou Guanyu at the end of the season then their likely replacement will be Theo Pourchaire.
      The Frenchman was second in the F2 championship last year, and is once again sitting in second in the junior formula this year.
      The 19-year-old would represent the natural next choice given how he is already the team’s current reserve driver.
      Valtteri Bottas has a deal running until 2025, so the Finn is not likely to be moving on anytime soon.
      AlphaTauri – De Vries and Iwasa
      Japanese driver Ayumu Iwasa currently leads the F2 championship and is next in line to be given an F1 nod by Red Bull.
      This is likely to see him head to AlphaTauri, where Red Bull send their up-and-coming stars to give them handy experience before potentially making the step up to the main team, as seen with Alex Albon and Gasly.
      Nyck de Vries has a contract running until 2024.
      Therefore, like Bottas he is unlikely to be heading elsewhere before next season.
      Williams – Albon and Schumacher
      Albon could have ANOTHER new team-mate at Williams by the start of 2024 with Mick Schumacher making his return to the F1 grid.
      Schumacher is the current reserve driver at Mercedes, and with Williams using the Mercedes engine it may give them a way to strengthen their relationship further.
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      Schumacher was dropped by Haas after a poor showing in his first two seasons. And in a similar sense the same may happen to rookie Logan Sargeant.
      The American has a one-year contract at the team and unless he performs well he could be cut in favour of Schumacher, who has said it is his “goal” to return to the grid in 2024. More

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      Lewis Hamilton hints at career change as he starts new business venture away from F1 in New York

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      LEWIS HAMILTON appears to have a ready-made career lined up for when he leaves Formula One.The Brit has been lacking in success on track in recent times, but Hamilton is seeing his outside business ventures boom.
      Lewis Hamilton could be looking to move away from racing with a new career in fast-foodCredit: Rex
      One of those ventures is his restaurant chain, which is about to celebrate the opening of a new burger joint in NYC.
      The new eatery is named ‘Neat in Nolita’, and is part of the ‘Neat’ brand, of which the seven-time wold champion is an investor.
      The fast-food chain focusses on plant-based diets, and the latest restaurant in the franchise opens its doors in Manhattan on Monday.
      Hamilton has been a huge advocate for veganism since 2017, and the Neat chain fully shares his principles.
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      One of its marketing slogans is ‘0% Cow, 100% wow’.
      The 38-year-old has often talked about how he feels fitter and stronger after ditching meat for vegetables.
      Hollywood star and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio is also a backer of the fast-food chain, which made the location in Nolita permanent after a six-month presence in Urbanspace on Park Avenue.
      Hamilton teased the grand opening of the eatery on his Instagram stories earlier this week.
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      He had said about the chain previously: “We created Neat Burger to make plant-based eating more accessible to everyone, whether you eat plant-based all the time of just want to add it to your diet every now and again.
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      “The response to Neat Burger since we opened has been incredible.
      “I’m really proud of the boundaries we have been able to push in this space and the plans for expansion are really exciting.”
      Hamilton already has other business ventures to keep himself occupied away from racing, with the F1 icon also part of the ownership group of the NFL franchise the Denver broncos.
      The Neat chain is in partnership with plant-based food company Beyond MeatCredit: Getty
      Hamilton is often seen in New York when he isn’t racingCredit: Getty More

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      Meet 16-year-old Mercedes prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli who’s ‘ticking all the boxes’ to become a future F1 champ

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      TOTO WOLFF has hailed young Italian prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli as one of the sport’s hottest prospects.The Mercedes team principal is adamant that the junior driver has a “bright future” in racing.
      Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been hailed as a future star of F1Credit: Instagram kimi.antonelli
      Toto Wolff has been full of praise for the junior driverCredit: Alamy
      Born in Bologna, just 40km from the Imola circuit, Antonelli is only 16 but already has an impressive array of performances under his belt.
      The young driver won the WSK Euro Series and Super Master Series titles in the OK Junior category in 2018.
      He also finished runner-up in the FIA Karting European Championship and came fifth in the World Championship before moving up to the OK class where he also found success.
      In 2021 Antonelli made his debut in single-seaters for Prema Racing in the Italian F4 Championship, only three weeks after turning 15.
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      There, the youngster rapidly worked his way to the top, bagging podium finishes in the final three races.
      Returning for another year, Antonelli dominated the F4 series in 2022, winning both the ADAC and Italian titles with Prema.
      This year the driver will step up again and compete in the Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA), and is preparing for a potential move up F3 during 2024.
      His string of racing success attracted the attention of Mercedes, and the German team decided to give Antonelli a place on their driver academy programme in 2019.
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      The same programme helped current British star George Russell progress to Formula One, as well as Esteban Ocon, who now drives for Alpine.
      Antonelli will be hoping to make a similar progression to the pinnacle of the sport.
      George Russell made his debut with Williams in 2019, but returned to Wolff and the Mercedes team last yearCredit: Splash
      Antonelli will be hoping to copy the likes of Russell and make his way into F1Credit: Instagram kimi.antonelli
      Speaking to the Italian edition of Motorsport.com, Wolff was full of praise for young driver.
      He said: “Since working together, Kimi has ticked all the boxes.
      “But not only that, I really like him as a boy, and as a personality, and he has a fantastic family environment around him that helps him always keep his feet on the ground.
      “He has a great talent and can count on the important values that come from his family.
      The 16-year-old has impressed with his performances in F4Credit: Instagram kimi.antonelli
      “Kimi is still in the early stages of his journey, and I think he has a bright future ahead of him that will be his if he keeps taking it one step at a time.
      “Besides, it’s just lovely for me to work with him and his father, two people who have their feet firmly on the ground.”
      However, it will be another few years before Antonelli can join the F1 grid, as the minimum age for drivers is now set at 18-years-old. More

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      Lewis Hamilton era is OVER and he won’t break F1 record after something ‘snapped’ in Abu Dhabi, pundit fears

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’S era in Formula 1 is OVER, a top F1 pundit has suggested.The Brit won a record equalling seventh world championship in 2020, going level with Michael Schumacher.
      Lewis Hamilton is currently fourth in the F1 driver championshipCredit: Rex
      He appeared destined to win a historic eighth the following year, only for a botching of the rules in the final race in Abu Dhabi to see the title go to Max Verstappen instead.
      With Sir Lewis, 38, having not won a race since, Dutch F1 pundit Rob Kamphues thinks that his time at the top is coming to an end.
      He wrote in his Formule 1 Magazine column: “Could something have snapped in the great champion?
      “Lewis hasn’t won a race since that day, he hasn’t achieved pole, he’s never even started from the front row.
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      “In 2022 he also finished behind his younger team-mate in the championship and that younger team-mate also won the only race Mercedes won. Not to mention this season.
      “It also seems that the era of Mercedes is over. The idea that the empire is collapsing is also confirmed by the transfer of team boss-designate James Vowles to Williams and the departure of Lewis’ beloved physio Angela Cullen.
      “So in a row it’s clear as a lump, right?”
      Having easily won last year’s championship, Verstappen has already raced out to a 31-point lead over Hamilton this time around.
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      Rob Kamphues has offered up his take on Lewis Hamilton’s future in F1Credit: Alamy
      Kamphues reckons Hamilton will still believe in himself, however, and can point to the examples of Alain Prost and Fernando Alonso.
      He went on: “Lewis himself will probably think otherwise. He will say that although he scored fewer points than George Russell last season, he still beat him when it came to speed.
      “He will remind us of Alain Prost; who left Formula 1 with his tail between his legs in the year that Ayrton Senna became World Champion for the third time.
      “He did not race in 1992, rejoined Williams in 1993 and promptly became champion himself for a fourth time.
      “Lewis will point to Alonso and say ‘How many times have you written him off?’ After his failure at Ferrari, his failed adventure at McLaren and again last winter when he moved from Renault to Aston Martin.
      “And look how he now drives like the stars from heaven again.”
      Fernando Alonso’s renaissance can offer encouragement to HamiltonCredit: Rex More

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      Petition demanding Max Verstappen be STRIPPED of first F1 title reaches 100k signatures in huge Lewis Hamilton boost

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      A PETITION to have Max Verstappen’s first F1 title stripped from him has gained more than 100,000 signatures.Since the Abu Dhabi GP in 2021, Lewis Hamilton fans have been lobbying for a change of decision that would see the British driver given the title.
      Lewis Hamilton missed out on his 8th F1 world title in 2021Credit: AP
      He was controversially beaten to it by Max VerstappenCredit: Reuters
      Hamilton seemed destined to win his eighth career title as he led in the race’s late stages.
      However, Williams driver Nicholas Latifi crashed, causing a safety car to be called onto the track.
      Verstappen drove into the pits and got fresh tires put onto his Red Bull.
      The move seemed to be futile as race director Michael Masi had instructed that cars that had been lapped could not overtake the FIA vehicle, as per F1 regulations.
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      That should have meant there would not be enough time for competitive racing to start again, and Hamilton would – somewhat anticlimactically – win the title behind the safety car.
      But after pressure from Red Bull boss Christian Horner, Masi changed his mind and allowed one lap of racing.
      And Verstappen was able to get past Hamilton on his quicker tires and win his first title.
      Mercedes instantly appealed the decision, but team principal Toto Wolff eventually dropped the objection.
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      However, Hamilton fans have not been so quick to drop the case as a petition has gained traction.
      Patel Gordon-Bennett started the petition on social media with the aim of getting the result overturned.

      On Tuesday morning, ‘Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’ was trending on Twitter following a link to the petition being tweeted.
      The document now has over 82,000 signatures on it.
      However, there is very little chance of the FIA reacting, and Mercedes will have to stay focused on the current F1 campaign. More

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      Petition calling for Max Verstappen to have first F1 title WIPED OUT reaches 80k signatures in huge Lewis Hamilton boost

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      A PETITION to have Max Verstappen’s first F1 title stripped from him has gained more than 80,000 signatures.Since the Abu Dhabi GP in 2021, Lewis Hamilton fans have been lobbying for a change of decision that would see the British driver given the title.
      Lewis Hamilton missed out on his 8th F1 world title in 2021Credit: AP
      He was controversially beaten to it by Max VerstappenCredit: Reuters
      Hamilton seemed destined to win his 8th career title as he led in the race’s late stages.
      However, Williams driver Nicholas Latifi crashed, causing a safety car to be called onto the track.
      Verstappen drove into the pits and got fresh tires put onto his Red Bull.
      The move seemed to be futile as race director Michael Masi had instructed that cars that had been lapped could not overtake the FIA vehicle, as per F1 regulations.
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      That should have meant there would not be enough time for competitive racing to start again, and Hamilton would – somewhat anticlimactically – win the title behind the safety car.
      But after pressure from Red Bull boss Christian Horner, Masi changed his mind and allowed one lap of racing.
      And Verstappen was able to get past Hamilton on his quicker tires and win his first title.
      Mercedes instantly appealed the decision, but Mercedes principal Toto Wolff eventually dropped the objection.
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      However, Hamilton fans have not been so quick to drop the case as a petition has gained traction.
      Patel Gordon-Bennett started the petition on social media with the aim of getting the result overturned.
      On Tuesday morning, ‘Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’ was trending on Twitter following a link to the petition being tweeted.
      The document now has over 82,000 signatures on it.
      However, there is very little chance of the FIA reacting, and Mercedes will have to stay focused on the current F1 campaign. More

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      Max Verstappen hits back at ‘incorrect’ rival Lewis Hamilton after his claims about Red Bull

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN has responded to Lewis Hamilton’s claim that Red Bull’s 2023 car is quicker than any version of his dominant Mercedes.Verstappen, 25, has won two of the opening three races of the season in Bahrain and Australia.
      Lewis Hamilton has claimed Max Verstappen’s Red Bull is faster than any Mercedes he has drivenCredit: Getty
      Red Bull have won all three races at the start of the 2023 seasonCredit: Getty
      And his team-mate Sergio Perez claimed the other Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia.
      Verstappen is seeking a third successive world title after years of Mercedes glory.
      The Silver Arrows claimed seven championships in a row between 2014 and 2020 – with Hamilton winning six of them.
      But after Red Bull’s one-two in Saudi Arabia last month, the Brit, 38, insisted he had never seen a car as quick as this year’s runaway leaders.
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      When asked if Red Bull’s dominance could be bad for the sport, the seven-time champion said: “I don’t know, it’s not for me to say, but I’ve never seen a car so fast.
      “When we were fast, we weren’t that fast. That’s the fastest car I’ve seen compared to the rest. I don’t know why or how but he came past me with serious speed.
      “I didn’t even bother to block because there was a massive speed difference.”
      Now Verstappen has had his say on those comments.
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      And the Dutchman believes the numbers show that Hamilton’s theory is not true.
      He told RacingNews365 NL: “I think if you look at the statistics, then those statements are not correct.
      “But we also do have a very good car. Nothing wrong with that, of course. Still, we are not as dominant as Mercedes has shown some years.
      “I don’t pay much attention to that, that doesn’t get you anywhere.
      “Whatever we have done in the eight years that Mercedes is so dominant, we also tried to close the gap. That’s the only thing you can do.”
      Next up for both drivers is a trip to Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on April 30.
      But Mercedes are not expected to add any significant upgrades to their car until Imola, Italy, in May.
      Hamilton has managed two fifth places and a second place so far this season.
      But Mercedes and the rest of the grid are still a long way adrift of Red Bull’s blistering pace. More

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      Toto Wolff addresses Lewis Hamilton retirement speculation and whether Mercedes chief has ‘Plan B’

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      TOTO WOLFF has insisted that Mercedes does not have a “Plan B” should Lewis Hamilton leave the Formula One team.The British driver’s contract with Mercedes is set to expire at the end of the season.
      Toto Wolff has admitted there is no ‘Plan B’ should Lewis Hamilton leave MercedesCredit: Rex
      However, there appears to have been little progress on renewing the seven-time world champion deal with the F1 giants.
      And Hamilton has recently been hinting that he could retire from racing.
      This is cause for concern for Mercedes as team principal Wolff admitted there is no backup plan should he leave.
      He said: “I think it may sound naive, but I really struggle to think of a Plan B, if my Plan A is still the one that is my favourite.
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      “I don’t want to engage in discussions with other drivers, because I’m happy with the ones that are in the team, that’s for sure.
      “At the moment, there is no Plan B. It’s Lewis.”
      The Austrian also insisted that should Hamilton leave the team then he would be given plenty of notice.
      He added: “I think that he would tell us early enough.
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      “I don’t think that Lewis would say, ‘I can’t do this anymore. I’m out of here tomorrow.’
      “He would always feel the responsibility for the team. He wouldn’t leave the team alone. Drivers can always take decisions [like that], but he wouldn’t let us down.
      “But then, I think if you believe that you’re a team that is attractive for others, you will find solutions.”
      Meanwhile, Mercedes technical director James Allison believes there is reason to be optimistic about the performance, with the team now “quietly” believing they are the second-best car in the field.
      Reflecting on the Australian GP, Allison said: “Overall, [there is] a sense of quiet satisfaction that we have moved the car forward.
      “That, from a performance point of view, we probably got as much as it is able to give right now.
      “That happiness, of course, is tempered by the disappointment that we only got one car to the flag and that George [Russell] was not able to show what he was capable of in the car on race day, having performed very strongly up to that point in the weekend.
      “We didn’t have huge breakthroughs, but we moved forward a little bit.
      “We put a small amount on the leaders Red Bull, and we are starting to get on terms with, and maybe just nose a whisker in front of, the Ferraris and the Aston Martins.” More