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      Lewis Hamilton insists Mercedes can close gap on Red Bull despite still blasting car after second at Australian GP

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has insisted Mercedes are capable of catching Red Bull – after a fresh blast at his current car. The seven-time world champion finished an impressive second in a chaotic Australian Grand Prix.
      Lewis Hamilton was back on the podiumCredit: Getty
      He said he was ‘so happy’ to get such a positive resultCredit: AFP
      He and Mercedes team-mate George Russell qualified strongly before overtaking Verstappen on the opening lap to hold a one-two.
      However, the race eventually unravelled as Russell’s car set ON FIRE on lap 18 and Hamilton was breezed past by the Dutchman, who claimed his first-ever win in Australia.
      Following the race, Hamilton praised the efforts of the team back in the Mercedes factory, but described Red Bull as being in “another league”.
      Speaking to Sky Sports he said: “Firstly a huge thank you to everyone back at the factories. I feel so happy right now and grateful to them for continuing to push.
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      “I think we arrived with a car that’s been difficult and for us to be finishing on the podium and getting these points is remarkable, especially at this early phase when we have not actually changed the car.
      “It’s just happened to work this weekend and we have a lot of work to do to catch Red Bull because they came flying past.
      “But I hope this really gives us a boost of hope and energy that it’s so early on in the season [but] we’re there or thereabouts.
      “So I hope this is a message to everyone to just dig deep and keep pushing because it’s not that far away [and] it’s relatively close to reach (a win).”
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      Prior to the safety car caused by Alex Albon spinning off, Russell and Hamilton had been keeping Verstappen at bay.
      However, Hamilton does not believe his team-mate being there would have been enough to thwart Verstappen’s efforts to win the race.
      He added: “Max is in another league, his car is so fast.
      “I mean he passed me halfway down the straight and he was several metres ahead.
      “Like I don’t know how they’re so quick on the straight, it’s insane.
      “They’re in another league and until we pick up speed on straight and have the crazy downforce they have through the corners we won’t be near.” More

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      Max Verstappen wins chaotic Australian GP after huge pile-up in two-lap shootout helps him hold off Hamilton and Alonso

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN won a chaotic and controversial Australian GP – which raised more questions about the FIA’s ability to referee F1 races.The Dutchman was deserving of his victory while Lewis Hamilton took second-place and Fernando Alonso survived a spin to come home in third place.
      Max Verstappen won the Australian Grand Prix for the first timeCredit: Rex
      Lewis Hamilton finished a close secondCredit: EPA
      A huge pile-up occurred late onCredit: https://twitter.com/F1

      Hamilton was delighted with his podium as he was no match for Verstappen’s pace.
      But it was the late drama which drew the attention, as a series of bizarre steward decisions again caused confusion.
      Ironic that former FIA Race Director, Michael Masi, was in the paddock for the first time given it was his bungling of the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP which cost him his job.
      The three world champions all held their nerve but it was heartbreak for George Russell, who had a nightmare.
      After a dream start where he beat Verstappen off the line, the Mercedes man came under pressure from his team-mate.
      He radioed his team saying: “You’re asking me to manage and I am being attacked by my own team-mate!”
      Mercedes responded by calling him in from second place to pit for tyres but it happened at the worst possible time as the race was red-flagged.
      The stop was caused by Alex Albon’s crash and allowed Russell’s rivals to make free pitstops for fresh tyres.
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      It was a controversial decision to stop the race with many drivers feeling that the stewards were too cautious.
      The pitstop dropped him to seventh place when he had been running in first but things soon turned even worse when his engine blew up on lap 18, sending him out of the race.
      It came after George Russell’s car set on fire earlier in the raceCredit: https://twitter.com/F1/status/1642404122967113729?s=20
      Meanwhile, Hamilton, who had inherited the lead from Russell’s pitstop, held off Verstappen at the restart after the red flag.
      But it lasted just two laps as the Dutchman breezed past Hamilton around the outside before turn nine.
      He then set about opening up a staggering TWO SECOND gap over Hamilton, which he made in just half a lap, such is the speed advantage of his Red Bull.
      But for a lock-up late on, Verstappen was untroubled as he maintained his advantage over Hamilton.
      The real excitement was between Hamilton and his old nemesis Alonso, as they battled for second place.
      At one point Hamilton radioed his team saying: “There’s no way I am losing to him!”
      The two sparred over the duration of the race until it was turned on its head just three laps from the end.
      Kevin Magnussen crashed his Haas, sending debris onto the track and, just as they had done with Albon’s crash the stewards again stopped the race.
      It meant that the race came down to the final two laps – just as the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP should have done.
      But Verstappen was furious and radioed his team saying: “What the f***! We don’t need a red flag.”
      It was the third standing start of the race and it sparked even more chaos as a total of SIX cars were all involved in collisions.
      Carlos Sainz clipped fellow Spaniard Alonso, earning himself a five-second penalty, which was hard on the Ferrari man.
      Alonso was spun and dropped back but the FIA decided to re-rack the grid for the THIRD standing start, moving him back into third place.
      “No!” said Sainz as he was told the news. “They need to wait until after the race to discuss it with me.”
      He was livid and it was understandable.
      The two Alpines hit each other too, sending debris all across the track, as they were both knocked out of the race when it had been looking so good for the team.
      Amid the chaos, the stewards again red-flagged the race with just a lap remaining.
      This time, the FIA CHANGED their rules and opted for a finish behind the safety car, so it was a rolling start.
      It was another spell of confusion, and big delay, as the stewards tossed up and thumbed through their rulebook to again decide the outcome of a race.
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      It resulted in a damp squib, as they were told not to overtake and the final lap was a processional finish.
      It was anticlimactic, but this time it was fair – perhaps how the Abu Dhabi race should have ended too. More

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      F1 star George Russell pulls out of Australian GP as car SETS ON FIRE after Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes pal had led race

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      GEORGE RUSSELL was forced to retire from the Australia Grand Prix after his car SET ON FIRE. The Mercedes driver had been enjoying a good race in Melbourne until his afternoon was cut prematurely short.
      George Russell was forced to retire from the Australian Grand PrixCredit: AFP
      His car set on fire while he was in fourth placeCredit: https://twitter.com/F1/status/1642404122967113729?s=20
      And Russell was consequently forced to retireCredit: https://twitter.com/F1/status/1642404122967113729?s=20
      He was having a strong race, leading in the opening lapsCredit: AFP

      Russell had overtaken championship Max Verstappen on lap one after a better getaway off the grid.
      Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton followed him through shortly after, seeing the Mercedes duo hold a one-two position.
      However, this was to be short-lived as Alex Albon lost control of his car and spun into the wall, causing a safety car.
      Merc chiefs opted to pit race leader Russell to give him the optimum tyre strategy upon the restart.
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      But as the race director switched to a red flag, the strategy – and Russell’s race lead – went up in smoke.
      Upon the restart, Russell began his fightback from his newfound position of P7, fighting up to P4.
      But on lap 18 disaster struck as fire and smoke began blowing out the back of his W14.
      The 25-year-old then pulled to the side of the track and vacated his vehicle for stewards to extinguish the danger.
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      Russell has already taken to Twitter to bemoan his bad luck.
      In a short tweet he said: “When it’s not your day, it’s not your day.”
      The Brit became the third driver to retire from the race after Charles Leclerc became beached in the gravel trap upon being tagged on lap one and Albon’s crash.
      Russell’s team-mate Hamilton had inherited the race lead but was unable to hold off Verstappen for long as the Dutchman swept by him thanks to the help of DRS.
      Verstappen held on to win the race despite a huge pile-up at the end of the Grand Prix.
      Hamilton and Alonso shared the podium with him. More

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      I had to get away from Lewis Hamilton when I was young but I’d love to finish our careers in same team, F1 icon reveals

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      FERNANDO ALONSO has revealed that he would like to finish his career at the same team as Lewis Hamilton.The Spaniard partnered the seven-time world champion for one season at McLaren Mercedes in 2007.
      Fernando Alonso is keen to partner Lewis Hamilton againCredit: Alamy
      Alonso stayed for just one year before returning to Renault after having a feud with Hamilton and team chiefs.
      The Brit disobeyed team instructions at the Hungarian Grand Prix 16 years ago and refused to let him past, which led to the veteran blocking his team-mate in the pit lane.
      They again clashed last year when the pair collided at the Belgian Grand Prix and the 41-year-old labelled Hamilton “an idiot”.
      However, in an interview with the Mail, Alonso seemed keen to put the past behind him.
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      He said: “It would be nice to end our careers together. I’d love that.
      “We had a difficult season. But we respected what the other was doing on track and still do.
      “We each consider the other to be a talented driver and one of the toughest competitors we have ever met.
      “The situation that season was not well-managed by our bosses. We were young. We were immature. We were many of the things we are not now, and we needed help from the management that we didn’t get.
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      “I couldn’t continue with McLaren. It was a team with eyes totally one side of the garage.
      “As Ron (Dennis, team principal) said after the penultimate race in China, ‘Our race isn’t with (Ferrari’s Felipe) Massa, it is with Fernando’.
      “When your team says that, you cannot continue. But you learn in a career.”
      Alonso is currently with Aston Martin, enjoying a good start to the 2023 campaign, finishing third at both races so far this season.
      He continued his good form at the Australian Grand Prix, coming fourth in qualifying behind Max Verstappen, George Russell and Hamilton.
      Alonso seemingly has no plans to retire anytime soon, saying: “I don’t imagine I will be tired of driving but the demands of travelling across such a long season can be draining.
      “But for now, with my experience, I’d like to believe I’m better than ever.” More

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      Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in ‘dream’ Australian GP qualifying as Mercedes pair eye shock F1 win

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN clinched pole for the Australian GP while Mercedes were given a huge boost, with George Russell qualifying in second and Lewis Hamilton in third.It was a thrilling session as Verstappen, Hamilton and Fernando Alonso all set provisional poles before the world champion came out on top.
      Lewis Hamilton and George Russell enjoyed a ‘dream’ qualifying sessionCredit: EPA
      However, they were still unable to pip Max Verstappen to poleCredit: EPA
      But it was a nightmare for Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate, Sergio Perez, who will start in LAST PLACE.
      Verstappen, who overcame battery and gear-change problems, took his first pole in Australia and said: “The last run was very good. The whole weekend has been tough but it all worked out in Q3.
      “I think we will have a good race car and it will be a tricky race. I have been on the podium once but I want to be on a different step this time.”
      Russell produced an excellent performance to take second as Mercedes defied the odds after a difficult start to the season.
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      He said: “We wasn’t expecting that, that’s for sure! There is a lot of hard work going on and the car felt alive.
      “If I am honest, I am a little disappointed that I did not get pole. It shows how quickly things can change.
      “We would have been happy with fourth on Friday but we made some changes and the car felt great.”
      Hamilton, who starts third – alongside Alonso – was denied the chance to go even quicker on his final lap after getting caught in traffic and said his goal is now to “get first”.
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      He added: “I am so happy with this! This is totally unexpected. I am really proud of the team and George has done a fantastic job.
      “This is a dream for us. We are all working hard and to be this close to the Red Bull is incredible.
      “I hope we can give them a run for their money. I am super grateful for this position and will look to move forward tomorrow.”
      While Verstappen was P1, it was a shocker for Perez, who spun off in Q1.
      The Mexican, who won the last race in Jeddah, went too quickly into turn three and ended up hitting the wall and being dumped out of qualifying at the first hurdle.
      The session was stopped as his stricken Red Bull was recovered while Perez voiced his frustration to his team over the radio.
      “We need to fix that issue, man,” Perez says. “It was the same f issue again!”
      Williams’ revival continued with Alex Albon qualifying in eighth place after the team showed strong signs of progress in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
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      However, there was more misery for McLaren as their struggles continued with Lando Norris qualifying in 13th and Oscar Piastri in 16th.
      Norris has publicly said he was backing McLaren’s engineering changes but this was another poor showing that will ramp up the pressure on CEO, Zak Brown. More

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      Lewis Hamilton taunted for having ‘short memory’ and ‘getting old’ after F1 star’s comments on Max Verstappen

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has been taunted by Fernando Alonso, who has accused the Brit of having “a short memory”.Hamilton claimed that Max Verstappen’s Red Bull was “the fastest car I’ve seen” as he was passed by the Dutchman in the Saudi Arabian GP.
      Hamilton has spent much of the season shocked by the gap between his struggling Mercedes and the outstanding Red Bull carCredit: Rex
      Verstappen is the favourite for the title this season and his chances have been greatly helped by Red Bull’s expert engineering.Credit: EPA
      Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso has given his take on the pace advantage Red Bull hold over the rest of the gridCredit: Alamy
      The seven-time world champion said Red Bull’s advantage was greater than anything Mercedes had during their eight consecutive constructors’ titles between 2014 and 2021.
      But Alonso has rubbished his claim in an interview with French publication L’Equipe ahead of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix.Alonso said: “I don’t agree at all. Last week [in Saudi Arabia] I finished 20 seconds behind Checo [Perez] and Max. 
      “He and [Nico] Rosberg were a minute ahead in 2014 and 2015… He has a short memory, he’s getting old!”
      Alonso, who famously fell out with Hamilton when they were team-mates at McLaren in 2007, also said that he was now aware of the 38-year-old’s “weaknesses” now he no longer has a superior car.
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      He added: “With a normal car, you can see that he has weaknesses. “Before, he drove alone or sometimes with his team-mate. But look, he is the record holder for poles and George Russell has just [beaten] him a 2-0 in qualifying this season. It just goes to show how much the car is still a key factor.”
      Meanwhile, Merc boss Toto Wolff says Hamilton and Russell cannot expect to receive major upgrades until the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in May.
      Wolff has already committed to redesigning this year’s car after a slow start to the season. 
      The Austrian has promised “visible changes” to the car but they will not be ready for the GPs in Baku and Miami.
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      He said: “We’re doing good steps, good developments, but you’ve got to run them, confirm them, produce them.
      “So, I think we’re not looking for an introduction before Imola. We want to do it right also.”
      Hamilton was not happy with his car’s performance in practice in Melbourne for this weekend’s race.
      He said: “This morning was good, this afternoon wasn’t so good. The car is similar [to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia]. It felt a bit better this morning.
      “We made some changes, didn’t work, so we will revise them tonight. Then it rained so it wasn’t the greatest of sessions.”
      When quizzed for his expectations this weekend, he added: “We won’t be competing with the Red Bulls. I think we have the pace to be around fifth, same as the last race.” More

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      Inside Formula 1 drivers’ luxury car collections – including Max Verstappen’s James Bond car and Hamilton’s £13m garage

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      FORMULA 1 drivers definitely live life in the fast lane – on and off the track.As some of the highest-paid sports stars in the world, they have huge mansions, designer outfits, and an impressive supercar collection to show for it.
      Lewis Hamilton shows off his Mercedes-Benz GLC SUVCredit: LewisHamilton/twitter
      Carlos Sainz with his Ferrari 600 LT SpyderCredit: mclarenautomotive/facebook
      And as many of them have shown, driving for some of the world’s biggest carmakers like Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Mercedes-Benz comes with incredible perks.
      Just ask Lewis Hamilton, whose partnership with Mercedes has netted him some of the manufacturers’ most amazing vehicles.
      Here, we take a peek into the garage of some of Formula 1’s biggest stars to see what they drive when they are not competing on the grid.
      Sergio Perez
      Sergio’s private car collection is said to be worth £4.3millionCredit: Rex
      His Bugatti Chiron cost a mind-blowing £2.5millionCredit: bugatti
      Although Sergio is yet to win a major championship, he’s still one of the most recognisable Formula 1 stars and is the fourth highest-paid driver on the grid right now.
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      The Mexican reportedly has five luxury cars to his name including a Bugatti Chiron, which retails from a mind-blowing £2.5million.
      Other cars in his collection include a McLaren 720S, a Mercedes Benz AMG, a Porsche Panamera, and a BMW X7.
      In total, the Red Bull racer’s cars are said to be worth over £4.3million.
      Charles Leclerc
      Charles Leclerc is one of the richest stars on the grid todayCredit: AP
      His vast collection includes a Rolls Royce WraithCredit: AFP
      Monte Carlo-born Charles is one of the grid’s most talented stars, with an estimated net worth of £42.5million after signing a deal with Ferrari in 2019.
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      He has one of the most impressive collections of private vehicles said to be worth £5.6million, including the powerful Bugatti Chiron and a Rolls Royce Wraith, worth £811,180.
      He also has a Ferrari GTC4 in his garage, which reportedly set him back £689,000, and a McLaren GT, which retails at £649,000.
      But that’s not all – the 25-year-old owns a Ferrari F8, a Land Rover Discovery, and a Jaguar XF.
      Max Verstappen
      Max’s collection is inspired by James BondCredit: Max33Verstappen/twitter
      Max also owns an Aston Martin Valkyrie, said to give drivers an F1 experienceCredit: Reuters
      The Red Bull driver is one of the highest-paid stars in Formula 1 and has a private car collection inspired by James Bond.
      Max owns a 007-type DB11, a follow-up to the DB10, driven by the fictional secret agent in Spectre.
      The Dutchman is reported to have added an Aston Martin Valkyrie to his collection. According to reports, the vehicle is priced at a whopping £2.1million.
      The manufacturer’s website describes the car as the closest anyone will get to having the Formula 1 experience on the road.
      Lewis Hamilton
      The Mercedes-Benz driver has several cars made by his teamCredit: MercedesAMGF1/twitter
      He says he no longer drives many of his supercars for environmental reasonsCredit: Xposure
      As a seven-time champion, it is no surprise that Lewis Hamilton likes to travel in style with a collection of some of the most luxurious vehicles.
      He has owned a 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 and a Ferrari LaFerrari.
      But these days, he prefers to be a bit more low-key as he takes the environment into consideration.
      In 2020, he told Reuters: “I don’t drive any of the cars that I own anymore. I only drive my [electric Mercedes] EQC.”
      It’s been reported that he also has a Mercedes-Benz G63, a GLC SUV, a McLaren P1, and a Pagani Zonda 760. According to reports, his private car collection is worth over £13.8million.
      Carlos Sainz
      Carlos Sainz has proudly shared snaps of his McLaren 720S on social mediaCredit: mclarenautomotive/facebook
      The star also has a McLaren 600 LT SpyderCredit: mclarenautomotive/facebook
      Carlos’ net worth is estimated to be £6.4million, meaning he has the means of securing himself an enviable car collection.
      It includes a Ferrari 812 Competizione, worth nearly £488,000.
      The Ferrari driver also has two McLarens – a 720S and a 600 LT Spyder – and has proudly shared snaps of them on social media.
      At £177,310, his Ferrari Roma is the least expensive vehicle in his possession.
      Fernando Alonso
      Fernando has several supercars including a McLaren
      Before switching teams from Alpine to Aston Martin, Fernando, 41, used to travel around in an Alpine A110 but has since upgraded.
      He now drives an Aston Martin DBX luxury SUV, which Fernando says is his dream car – the car doesn’t come cheap either, with the 2022 version boasting a starting price of £158,000.
      According to Slash Gear, the Spaniard’s garage includes a La Ferrari, a Porsche 918 Spyder, and a McLaren P1, which costs a staggering £895,000.
      Other cars in his collection are a Maserati GranCabrio, and the Ferrari 599 GTB Fernando Alonso Edition, which only had 40 units and typically sells for £244,000.
      Lance Stroll
      Lance Stroll is worth £41.6million and and owns a range of supercarsCredit: Splash
      His Ferrari California set him back a staggering £290,000Credit: Alamy
      Although Lance Stroll is worth £41.6million, his father Lawrence, who is a part owner and executive chairman of Aston Martin has a £2.4billion wealth.
      Lance’s car collection is one of the most incredible and is said to include a Ferrari California, which set him back £290,000.
      The Canadian also owns a Lamborghini Huracan, a Mercedes Benz AMG GT-R, and an Aston Martin Vantage, which is sold for about £131,000.
      His father, on the other hand, has a £50million Ferrari 250 GTO – the world’s most expensive car, and a £200million superyacht.
      Lando Norris
      Lando Norris has been living a glam life ever since swapping the UK for MonacoCredit: Getty
      Lando drives a powerful McLaren 720S, with a £248,800 price tagCredit: Getty
      He was seen driving a Fiat 500 Jolly in MonacoCredit: Norrislandofans/twitter
      He left the UK for Monaco when he got an extension to his McLaren deal last year and has been living the glam life ever since.
      Lando’s supercars includes a £248,800 McLaren 720S, which has the capability to go from 0-60 mph in just 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 212 mph.
      Staying loyal to his team, he also owns a McLaren 570 GT, which comes with a £169,000 price tag.
      He isn’t all about the big cars, however – he has been spotted driving around Monaco in a cute Fiat 500 Jolly, which has sparked a ton of memes and TikTok videos.
      Valtteri Bottas
      Valtteri Bottas has a £25million fortune and a number of carsCredit: EPA
      Valtteri owns a McLaren 765LT, which sells for £310,000
      Vatlterri, 33, who spent most of his career at Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate, has a £25million fortune in his own right and takes home £8.6million a year driving for Alfa Romeo.
      It’s no surprise then that he can afford a car collection that includes a McLaren 765LT Spyder, which goes for £310,000.
      There’s also a Mercedes Benz AMG GT Black Series for nearly £286,000, and an Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifogilo for £74,736
      The least expensive car in the Finnish racer’s collection is a Mercedes AMG C63 for £69,000.
      George Russell
      George Russell with his Mercedes AMG GT that cost £97,000Credit: Instagram @georgerussell63
      He also owns a Mercedes C63 S Coupe and posted a picture on social media of him washing itCredit: Instagram @georgerussell63
      As a driver for Mercedes, George, 25, has an array of supercars he could choose from, including his Mercedes AMG GT, which costs £97,000.
      Powered by a 4.0 litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, it can go from 0-60 mph in just 3.7 and has a top speed of 190 mph.
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      The British racer also owns a Mercedes C63 S Coupe which is on the market for £63,482.
      He has even shared pictures of himself on social media washing the car himself by hand. More

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      George Russell hits back at Lewis Hamilton’s ‘lucky’ Saudi Arabian Grand Prix claim with brutal putdown

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      GEORGE RUSSELL has hit back at Lewis Hamilton’s claim that he had luck on his side during the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. Russell outperformed Hamilton in qualifying before finishing P4, a place above his team-mate, in the race.
      George Russell has hit back at Lewis Hamilton’s claim his P4 finish in Saudi Arabia was luckyCredit: Rex
      But Hamilton insisted there was an element of good fortune about Russell’s pace, given they had opted for different set-ups around the Jeddah circuit.
      Following the race the 38-year-old said Russell’s strategy would “more often than not” be the “wrong one”, and consequently he “could only match his pace rather than be quicker”.
      However, Russell rubbished this claim while firing a sly dig towards Hamilton’s approach to the race while in Melbourne, Australia.
      He said: “I don’t think there’s any luck in it at all.
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      “I think it’s down to the preparation you put in before the event.
      “The changes we made overnight, I knew that was going to be the right direction with the work we did with the team.
      “And I believed it was going to be better than the set-up that Lewis opted for.
      “I think everybody’s got different preferences, I was happy with the direction I took and the work I’m doing with the engineers.”
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      Shortly after Russell’s rebuttal, seven-time champion Hamilton clarified his comments.
      He said: “I think people probably, from my choice of words at the weekend… I want to reiterate how great a job George did on the weekend.
      “I think the thing I was commenting on is that there’s one specific thing that you can change in the suspension that you have to do over Friday night.
      “And when you make that change, once you start P3 (final practice), you can’t change it for the rest of the weekend, so when you make that change, you’re basically rolling the dice – sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
      “I’ve done it in the past, sometimes it hasn’t worked, sometimes it has, and it worked great for George and he did a great job.
      “And the thing that I was lacking in the race was a lot of front end, which that setup gives you, so, in hindsight, that would’ve been great.”
      The pair will be hoping for better fortunes at this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix.
      Although Hamilton’s preparation may not have been helped following a run-in with a SHARK while he was out surfing.

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