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      F1 star Lewis Hamilton flies to Glastonbury in helicopter to watch Elton John with his husband David Furnish

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      LEWIS HAMILTON joined Sir Elton John’s husband backstage to watch the music legend at Glastonbury last night.The seven-time Formula One world champion was flown to the mega Somerset music festival in a helicopter.
      Lewis Hamilton took a selfie with David Furnish as he watched Sir Elton John last nightCredit: Getty
      The F1 star jetted out of Battersea in a helicopter to Glastonbury on SundayCredit: Click News and Media
      Hamilton was all smiles as watched the icon perform from the side of the stageCredit: Getty
      Hamilton joined Elton’s husband and family to witness the stunning headline actCredit: Getty
      Elton was pure gold at Glastonbury on Sunday nightCredit: Getty

      And the 38-year-old Mercedes star was pictured taking a selfie with David Furnish on the edge of the stage as Elton delivered what’s being billed as the finest headline set in Glastonbury history in the final show of his last ever UK tour.
      Guests including actors Taron Egerton, Andrew Garfield and Paul McCartney descended on the Pyramid Stage’s backstage area for the ultimate festival finale — as Britain’s finest songwriter performed his last concert.
      The Rocket Man hit the stage in a gold suit and opened with Pinball Wizard in what must have been one of the most-anticipated shows in the festival’s history.
      He followed this with a stirring rock ’n’ roll rendition of The Bitch Is Back and fans’ favourite Bennie and the Jets.
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      Partner David Furnish as well as pals David Walliams and Spice Girls were among celebrity guests enjoying the performance from the side of the stage — and now photos have emerged of Hamilton enjoying the performance too.
      He was firstly seen taking a selfie with Furnish before he burst into laughter as the latter showed him the result of their snap.
      Then Hamilton, dressed in a grey jacket, waved to those in the crowd that had spotted him as he pulled on his black shades.
      Hamilton had already enjoyed a break from the chaos of Formula One last week by partying with Kim Kardashian and Pharrell at a star-studded Louis Vuitton show.
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      He jetted to France for Paris Fashion Week with England stars Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford and Trent Alexander-Arnold also spotted at the A-List event.
      It comes after he had earlier posted a shot of his incredible abs in a message to suggest he was gunning for Max Verstappen ahead of next week’s Austrian Grand Prix.
      Hamilton captioned the snap: “Sometimes I fall but I always come back.”
      Although current world champion Verstappen claimed Red Bull’s 100th win in Formula One at the Canadian Grand Prix, progress was made by Mercedes and Hamilton.
      Hamilton finished in third, earning a second successive podium finish.
      Those recent results leave him in fourth spot in the leaderboard, behind Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez and Verstappen.
      But, with 13 races to go there’s still plenty of time for Hamilton to claw back Verstappen’s 93 point lead.
      Hamilton was just one of the A-list names in the Pyramid Stage’s backstage areaCredit: Getty
      Festival organisers struggled to contain the masses as more than 100,000 gathered to see the music icon’s farewellCredit: AP
      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      F1 legend strips naked in lake to celebrate summer as fans tell Lewis Hamilton’s old team-mate ‘please stop’

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      VALTTERI BOTTAS gave Formula One fans an eyeful after stripping naked to celebrate summer. The Alfa Romeo driver took to Instagram to share how he was relaxing following the Canadian Grand Prix.
      Valtteri Bottas stripped naked as he dipped into a lakeCredit: Instagram @valtteribottas
      Bottas now drives for Alfa RomeoCredit: Getty
      However, the Finn proceeded go full monty with his look as he went for a skinny dip in a lake wearing nothing but a swimming cap.
      Reacting to the pic on Twitter, the official Mercedes account responded cheekily by saying: “Cracking shot, VB.”
      IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward remarked: “I can tell you’re a skinny dipping fan.”
      On Instagram one fan begged: “Valtteri please stop my mom uses this app.”
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      A second wrote: “Some people are going to wake up to this image 😭.”
      While a third joked: “He’s back at it again 😭.”
      Indeed, Lewis Hamilton’s former Mercedes team-mate has a history of shedding his clothes.
      Last year Bottas shared a post of him preparing for the Singapore Grand Prix with nothing but a reindeer hat on while sitting in a sauna.
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      Bottas also gifted Hamilton a NUDE picture of himself when they reunited at the Monaco Grand Prix last season.
      That pic, which saw Bottas bearing all in a riverbed, raised over £50,000 for charity within the first 24 hours of it being on sale.
      Bottas is no stranger to making fans do a double-take on his looks, revealing a new mullet and moustache combo in February which left fans comparing him to a “porn star”.
      He picked up a point at last weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix after a 10th place finish, but he has found points finishes more difficult to come by this season due to Alfa’s performance issues.
      He currently ranks 15th in the driver standings having scored just five points so far.

      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      Mick Schumacher to drive dad Michael’s Mercedes in emotional event as F1 star looks forward to ‘spectacular’ ride

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      THE Schumacher name will return to the seat of a Mercedes after it was announced Mick Schumacher will drive his father’s old Formula One car.Michael Schumacher made a U-turn on his retirement by joining the Silver Arrows from 2010 until 2012.
      Mick Schumacher will drive his father’s old F1 car at the Goodwood Festival of SpeedCredit: Rex
      Michael Schumacher drove the W02 in 2011Credit: PA:Press Association
      Schumacher raced against Lewis Hamilton, left, in the W02Credit: PA:Press Association
      The car he drove in 2011 – the W02 – is set to return to the track at next month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.
      And it has now been announced by Mercedes that reserve driver Mick will be in attendance at the event for the first time.
      On the chance to drive the car once raced in by his father, he said: “It’s going to be spectacular to run in my dad’s 2011 car, the W02, even if it is only a short run.
      “Just experiencing this generation of cars will be mega. Knowing that he raced this car makes it extra special, and there will be many emotions coming with it.
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      “I have been lucky enough to drive one of his Benetton cars and some of the Ferraris he raced.
      “But this will be the first time behind the wheel of a Mercedes he drove. I am sure I will get out of it with a big smile on my face.”
      Schumacher, 24, lost his place with Haas on the F1 grid last season after scoring just 12 points.
      He drew praise from Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for his work in helping to prepare Mercedes before their first double-podium of the season at the Spanish Grand Prix.
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      And he will likely be in the simulator a lot in coming weeks as Mercedes prepare to bring two new upgrades, including a “big one” at Silverstone.
      The W02 was the second car designed and built by the Brackley-based constructor following their buyout of Brawn – who won the Constructors’ title in 2009 with Jenson Button winning the drivers’ title.
      It was a regular points scorer en route to a fourth-placed finish in the constructors’ standings that season, with Schumacher scoring 76 points and 2016 champion Nico Rosberg 89.
      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      People are just noticing Lewis Hamilton’s bizarre steering wheel technique as F1 mechanic gives explanation

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      FORMULA ONE fans have just noticed Lewis Hamilton’s bizarre steering wheel technique.And a Mercedes mechanic even felt the need to give an explanation.
      Hamilton has a unique technique at the start of racesCredit: Getty
      Mercedes mechanics have explained why Lewis Hamilton holds the steering wheel the way he does at the start of every raceCredit: https://twitter.com/ahmed_baokbah/status/1671788678056751104?s=20
      Most drivers grip their steering wheels with one hand either side, holding onto the handles.
      But eagle-eyed fans on Twitter have noticed that Hamilton does thing differently.
      In a clip, seven-time World Champion Lewis is seen with his left hand OVER the wheel.
      An F1 enthusiast on Twitter said: “I don’t think much has been said about this, but Hamilton’s first lap gear shift holding arrangements are unique.
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      “No other driver adopts this position – not even his team-mate.”
      In response to the tweet, fans who were given a tour of the Mercedes pit showed a video where his unconventional grip is explained.
      The mechanic says: “Do you know why Lewis starts like that?
      “Why? What do you think?
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      “Is he showing you something? Or is he holding [the lower gear paddle] so he can’t go down a gear.
      “If you put your hand there, you can’t go down a gear.”
      Hamilton uses this grip only at the start of races, where shifting up the gears is vital – he then returns to a conventional set-up.
      Hamilton is the only driver currently using this grip, and it is apparently because he favours a much thinner shift paddle compared to other drivers.
      It is a recent change in technique for Hamilton, with the driver only adopting the grip during the 2020/21 season.
      Hamilton placed third in Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix behind Fernando Alonso in second and Max Verstappen in first.
      Verstappen is running away with the drivers championship, sitting 69 points ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez.
      His win in Canada saw him match Ayrton Senna’s 41 race wins. More

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      Lewis Hamilton boost as Mercedes boss Toto Wolff promises F1 star two upgrades to car including ‘big one in Silverstone’

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      LEWIS HAMILTON could be in for a timely boost as Mercedes boss Toto Wolff promised two upgrades to his car.The British driver has struggled to challenge leader Max Verstappen this year and is already 93 points behind the Red Bull star in the F1 standings.
      Toto Wolff has promised two upgrades to the Mercedes F1 carCredit: Alamy
      This could boost Lewis Hamilton’s chances of winningCredit: Reuters
      It has not been much better for team-mate George Russell in the Mercedes.
      The Brit has also struggled for top points as he is currently in 6th place, two spots behind Hamilton on the leaderboard.
      Hamilton has managed to get on the podium three times while Russell has finished in the top three just once, while neither have won a race this season.
      However, there could be an improvement coming for the Silver Arrows as they can still make two upgrades to the car.
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      The car has been slow on the straights and when accelerating out of slow corners, something that Hamilton has commented on.
      He said via Auto Moto Sport: “We need more downforce in the rear, better traction and less air resistance.”
      And Wolff is set to respond by helping his two drivers with making the upgrades to the cars before the summer break.
      He admitted that they are targeting the “big one” at the British GP on July 9.
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      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year

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      He said: “But we’re getting better and better there too.
      “The new platform we have now helps us there.
      “And we have two more races in the next few races.
      “A big one at Silverstone, the other before the summer break.”
      There are four more races until the summer break, including the Austria GP on July 2, the British GP, the Hungary GP on July 23 and the Belgium GP on July 30.
      After the break, the teams will reconvene for the Netherlands GP on August 27 ahead of the final nine races of the season. More

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      How unheralded F1 hero has more titles that Hamilton, Verstappen and Alonso COMBINED as he hints at retirement

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      AMID all the celebration over Red Bull’s 100th win and Max Verstappen equalling Ayrton Senna’s record of 41 victories, there was a wonderful humble interview with Adrian Newey.Much was made about Verstappen being on the podium with fellow multiple champions Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.
      Adrian Newey has designed F1 cars responsible for 200 victoriesCredit: Rex
      Fernando Alonso, Red Bull Racing’s Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey, Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ ace Lewis Hamilton are all legendsCredit: AFP
      Combined they have a total of 11 world titles, but to their right stood a man who has designed cars that have won 13 titles.
      With Red Bull’s victory in Canada, he can now lay claim to having designed F1 cars that have achieved an incredible 200 wins.
      “It’s been an amazing journey,” said Newey. “My dream always from a kid was to be in engineering and motor racing.
      “So when I got my first job in motor racing and got my first salary, that was really the big moment. Everything else has been a bonus.”
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      Newey’s first job in F1 came in 1988 when he was signed as chief designer for the March f1 team.
      But his first win came at the 1991 Mexican GP with Nigel Mansell’s first place for Williams.
      He added: “They’re [the wins] obviously all special. The ones that of course stand out are the first one in Mexico, and then the ones where the championship has gone down to the wire.
      “You can argue that is the end of the championship, so, of course, it’s that race – Abu Dhabi with Sebastian [Vettel] against Fernando, 2010] and then Max against Lewis [Hamilton, 2021].”
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      The crucial part of the interview on Sky F1 came when he was asked about when he would call time on his career.
      Newey is now 64 and he gave a surprising answer, saying the “countdown” to his F1 retirement had “realistically” started.
      He said: “I’m lucky enough to be doing what I have always wanted to do and enjoy the job. I’ve loved it.
      “Of course, my career can’t go on forever, so I think as long as the team want me and I keep enjoying it, I’ll keep going.
      “But that’s got to be…realistically, it’s on a countdown. Exactly when that day is, I don’t know.”
      Put simply, Red Bull – and indeed Vettel and Verstappen’s successes are down to Newey’s car designs – and that makes him in my eyes the most important man in F1.
      To hear him even mention retirement will be a concern for all those at Red Bull.
      But for the rest, and I mean this in the nicest sense, it could be somewhat of a blessing, as others get the chance to win again.
      Another FIArce
      IT would not be a proper F1 race weekend without some bizarre decision from the FIA and in Montreal Lando Norris fell victim.
      Brit Lando Norris picked up a bizarre penalty at the Canadian GPCredit: Getty
      Inexplicably the stewards delved into their unfathomable rulebook to pluck out a five-second penalty for “unsportsmanlike conduct”.
      Only I am not even sure the crime exists within the rules. Surely, they aren’t making it up as they go along again?
      Claws for concern
      THEY say Red Bull “gives you wings” but I am not sure they mean the ones Max Verstappen picked up in Canada.
      On his way to glory, Verstappen struck a bird midway through the race, which got lodged in the cooling ducts for his brakes.
      It had to be removed by one of the mechanics after the race, who pulled out half a bird’s carcass with a wing attached.
      Ricc to what you are best at
      IT really is depressing watching the supremely talented Daniel Ricciardo reduced to performing TV stunts for a living.
      The Aussie, who for reasons unknown to himself, turned down the chance to drive in F1 this season to become Red Bull’s reserve driver and marketing clothes-horse.
      In Canada he was co-hosting a live watch-a-long with the race alongside Canadian actor Will Arnett, which Sky F1 dubbed “Gogglebox for F1”.
      Please, Daniel, get back to racing cars, it’s what you are best at…
      Jor-dropping MotoGP title hunt
      IF you are finding F1 a procession, maybe switch on the MotoGP, for it was another thriller.
      In Germany at the Sachsenring, Jorge Martin crossed the line just 0.064 seconds ahead of world champion Francesco Bagnaia.
      Martin is now just 16 behind Bagnaia in the championship.
      Honda woes rise
      MORE worrying times for Honda after Marc Marquez’s inexplicable crash during warm-up for the German MotoGP.
      The Spaniard slid off track and crashed into Johann Zarco during last Friday’s practice.
      The collision ripped the Pramac Racing bike in two. It has led to concerns about the Honda machinery.
      LCR Honda rider Takaaki Nakagami said: “I couldn’t see anything wrong with his riding. The speed was good. I didn’t see, from behind, that he did anything wrong.
      “But he lost the rear. The bike doesn’t stop that spin. I was scared because we use the same bike!

      “It’s going downhill and I was losing it, a couple of times, having the same feeling.
      “It was difficult to manage. The bike had less grip. We need to find a solution for a safer bike.” More

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      Lewis Hamilton handed brutal warning by F1 rival Fernando Alonso after ‘slow’ jibe leaves pair in hysterics

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      LEWIS HAMILTON received a hilarious warning from Fernando Alonso after their battle at the Canadian Grand Prix.Seven-time Formula 1 champion Hamilton, 38, got the better of ex-team-mate Alonso, 41, with a lightning fast start in Montreal.
      Lewis Hamilton brilliantly mocked Fernando Alonso for his slow startCredit: Twitter

      Alonso took the jibe in good jest and fired back with a remark of his ownCredit: Twitter
      But the Spaniard ended up having the final say as he worked his way back into second place, pushing Hamilton down to third.
      And the pair, who boast nine F1 world titles between them, enjoyed a friendly, competitive exchange while conducting separate interviews after the race.
      An interviewer began by telling Hamilton: “Hi Lewis, another podium and it was a phenomenal start. You immediately overtake this guy [Alonso].”
      Alonso was stood next to Hamilton conducting his own media duties when Hamilton turned to him and said: “Yeah, his reaction’s a little bit slower because he’s a bit older now. It’s an age thing.”
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      Alonso acknowledged the comment, before Hamilton and Alonso broke into laughter.
      The Aston Martin driver then responded: “In Austria, two weeks time.”
      The Austrian GP is the next race on the F1 calendar at the Red Bull Ring on June 30.
      Alonso sits third in the drivers’ championship on 117 points – 15 ahead of Mercedes man Hamilton in fourth.
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      Sergio Perez’s advantage over Alonso has been cut to just nine points following his disappointing sixth place in Canada.
      But reigning world champion Max Verstappen is already running away with the world title after securing yet another victory on Sunday.
      The Dutchman, 25, has now won six of the eight races in 2023 and each of the last four.
      He sits 69 points clear of Red Bull team-mate Perez – who has won the only other two races so far this season.
      Alonso, back, and Hamilton, front, enjoyed a superb battle on SundayCredit: AP More

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      Lewis Hamilton bags podium finish as Max Verstappen puts on Canadian GP clinic to move level with legend Ayrton Senna

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN notched up Red Bull’s 100th Formula One win with yet another crushing display of dominance.Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso traded places in second and third place with the Spaniard crossing the line ahead of the Brit, despite nursing a brake problem.
      Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium at the Canadian GPCredit: AFP
      Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen was victoriousCredit: AFP
      Nevertheless, Hamilton was pleased with third as it marks another step with the team’s recovery as he now has back-to-back podiums.
      He said over the team’s radio: “That was a tough, tough race. Great job today. Great job this weekend. Let’s keep this consistency.”
      He later added: “It has been a great weekend for us, we are slowly chipping away and have some more updates coming.
      “It was quite an honour to be up there with two world champions and I was excited to be in that mix.
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      “Unfortunately we didn’t have the pace. We knew this would not be our circuit as we  are struggling in the low-speed corners.
      “We have a lot of work to do to add downforce to the car, but we will get there. Our pace was closer and we are going in the right direction.”
      It was the 41st victory of Verstappen’s career as he moved level with the great Ayrton Senna.
      He said: “I am very happy right now. It was not a very straight forward race, we were sliding around quite a bit but to win again, the 100th Grand Prix for the team is incredible.
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      “It is amazing, I never expected to be on these numbers myself, so we keep going.”
      The Dutchman was dominant, leading from the start, and held on the first place to make it a hat-trick of consecutive clean sweeps.
      He has now taken pole, led every lap and taken the win in the last three races in Monaco, Barcelona and now Canada.
      It was all so easy that at one point he laughed over the team’s radio saying how he “almost knocked himself out on the kerb”.
      Hamilton made a fantastic start and quickly leapfrogged Alonso into second place going into the first turn on lap one.
      However, the Mercedes man was unable to catch Verstappen, who was also quick off the line to hold his place at the front.
      Further back Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz had a good battle for 11th which forced Kevin Magnussen to take evasive action and dart over the grass.
      But George Russell was not so fortunate as he was launched off the sausage kerbs and into the barriers at turn four on lap 12.
      It was a big impact and saw the race steward deploy the safety car due to the debris on track.
      Somehow Russell made it back to the pits and his Mercedes team patched up his car and sent him back out on track, albeit in last place.
      Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso were involved in a pit lane altercationCredit: Sky Sports
      The safety car period allowed the front-running drivers to make a pitstop for tyres as Verstappen darted in from the front. Hamilton and Alonso also followed.
      But due to a slow stop from Mercedes, the Brit came close to driving into the Spaniard, who was already back on his way down the pitlane.
      Both escaped punishment from the FIA despite the near miss and they set about trying to eat into Verstappen’s lead.
      Alonso’s quicker Aston Martin allowed him to keep close to Hamilton and he eventually made his pass on lap 23.
      With the benefit of DRS he swooped past the Brit in to turn one and into second place as he started opening a small gap over the Mercedes man.
      Hamilton rolled the dice by pitting on lap 40 for medium tyres and Aston responded by calling in Alonso a lap later to cover off the threat of Hamilton getting passed.
      Red Bull also called in Verstappen for new tyres on lap but had such an advantage he kept his place running in first.
      Russell was eventually forced to retire 15 laps from the end when the damage caused by his earlier smash into the barriers caught up with him.

      Verstappen now moves level with Ayrton Senna on 41 Grand Prix winsCredit: Getty
      He trundled down the pitlane and was rolled back into the garage by his mechanics as he apologised to the team for his accident on lap 12.
      Hamilton pressed Alonso late on, as he was struggling with his brakes but he was unable to catch the Aston Martin. More