Motorsport

MAX VERSTAPPEN has called on the FIA to make a change after Lewis Hamilton was disqualified at last week’s US Grand Prix.Hamilton and Charles Leclerc had finished P2 and P6 respectively before they were disqualified after being found to have run illegal floors.
Max Verstappen called on the FIA to make a change following the US GP disqualificationsCredit: Rex
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were both disqualified for running illegal floorsCredit: Instagram @lewishamilton
Verstappen said more cars should be checkedCredit: Getty
The skidblock, or planks, that run along the centre of the car which are designed to protect it from scraping along the floor have to be a certain thickness.
Hamilton claimed his penalty came after his rear end skidblock failed to make the minimum requirement by 0.05mm.
The seven-time F1 champion fumed ahead of the weekend’s Mexican GP that more cars should have been checked due to his belief that more than 50 per cent of the cars would have been illegal.
Martin Brundle was critical of the FIA ruling following the race.
READ MORE IN F1
And this sentiment was echoed by champion Verstappen.
Speaking to media ahead of the race in Mexico, the reigning champion said: “Of course nobody tries to do it on purpose, but because of the Sprint format, you only have one practice session to nail everything.
“Once you are in the wrong [set-up], there’s nothing you can do, the only thing you can is bump on the tyre pressure – but then you’re driving around on balloon tyres.
“It is not what you want to see for them, but also as a team, we know that dropping the car gives you that performance, but it is because of the whole format that you put yourself in that position because normally, I don’t think anyone would in a normal weekend.
Most read in Motorsport
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
“The problem is that it is just impossible to check everything but the thought process from every team is that no-one wants to be illegal, no-one sets the car up to be illegal.
“With the random checks that get carried out, I mean sometimes it is the top four, sometimes it is in the middle of the field, that is just how it goes.
“You can’t check every car for every single part, otherwise we need 100 more people to do these kind of things, but I think the only thing is that if you check one car, and it is illegal, you should check the other one as well.”
Verstappen, 26, has reportedly been assigned bodyguards during his time in Mexico City owing to fans blaming him for the struggles of Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez this season.
The Dutchman – now a three-time F1 champ – is well known to not be a fan of the Sprint race format.
F1 bosses are considering “radical” new plans to spruce up the weekends when they come around, including a reverse grid race.
However, Hamilton has previously been critical of such an idea, while now-retired four-time F1 champ Sebastian Vettel did not mince his words and labelled it “bulls***” in 2019.
In the week since the US GP in Austin, Texas, Hamilton has thrown a party for his beloved dog Roscoe and announced a new career move with a non-alcoholic spirit called Almave.
Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

FORMER F1 driver Paolo Barilla is now a billionaire in charge of the world’s biggest pasta company.The Italian enjoyed a solid motor racing career before retiring to go into the family business in 1990.
Paolo Barilla was an F1 driver before becoming deputy chairman of the Barilla GroupCredit: 2016 Getty Images
Roger Federer has been in adverts for Barilla pasta
He has since become the deputy chairman of the Barilla Group – the world’s largest pasta producer.
Alongside his brothers Guido and Luca as well as their sister Emanuella, Barilla shares an 85 per cent stake in the company.
As a result, he was listed as a billionaire by Forbes in 2018 with a net worth of $1.1billion (£910million).
Before his success with the family business, though, Barilla competed in both Formula Two and Formula 3000 during the 1980s.
READ MORE F1 NEWS
He later raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, winning in 1985 for New-Man Joest Racing.
Alongside co-drivers Klaus Ludwig and Louis Krages, the trio tasted glory in their Porsche 956B but failed to finish the race the following year.
Barilla then went on to race in F1 with Minardi, but his time in the sport was marred by his habit of not qualifying.
From his 15 race entries, Barilla made just nine starts, with a best finish of 11th coming at the 1990 San Marino Grand Prix.
Most read in Motorsport
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
Barilla competed for Minardi between 1989 and 1990Credit: 2016 Getty Images
He left Minardi later that year and joined the family business, which had been founded in 1877 by his great-grandfather Pietro Barilla Sr.
The company has since been passed down through three generations and now does business in over 100 countries around the world.
Barilla did make a brief return to racing in 2014, winning the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco in the Formula Three class. More

FORMULA ONE chiefs are re-considering the introduction of a reverse sprint grid – a move Sebastian Vettel called “bulls***.”CEO Stefano Domenicali described the idea as necessary to prevent the sport from stagnating.
The current sprint race format was introduced in 2021Credit: Rex
Vettel has previously hit out at the idea of reversing the gridCredit: Getty
This means that drivers would start the sprint race in reverse order.
Using the current standings, Max Verstappen would start last, while Daniel Ricciardo would start at the front of the pack.
F1 bosses are prepared to consider reverse grid sprint races amid growing concerns that the current format has been unsuccessful in creating enough excitement. 
Fans showed a lack of interest in the ‘boring’ United States GP Sprint race as ticket sales suggested a clear drop in demand.
READ MORE ON F1
A report from Autosport explains that team bosses have begun informal discussions about the changes.
It would involve either the top ten being switched or even the entire order being shuffled back to front.
But Vettel has previously hit out at the idea of reversing the order.
He told Motorsport: “I think it is complete bullshit, to be honest.
Most read in Motorsport
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
“I don’t know which genius came up with it, but it is not the solution. It is completely the wrong approach.”
While seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has also been critical of reversing grids.
Hamilton said in 2020: “The people that proposed that don’t really know what they are talking about.”
While Mercedes boss Toto Wolff feels it is a flawed idea, as F1 has long been known for its purity of competition.
Wolff told Autosport: “I’m conservative in racing. I’d rather have no sprint races than meddling.
“Even more with reverse grid races, we are going towards Formula E where sport follows entertainment, while entertainment should follow sport.” More

LEWIS HAMILTON has announced he is launching a new career for when he leaves F1.The seven-time world champion has founded Almave – a unique non -alcoholic spirit.
Lewis Hamilton has launched his own non-alcoholic tequilaCredit: Instagram @lewishamilton
The former world champion is planning for life after F1Credit: Reuters
While he yearns for Mercedes to return to form, Hamilton has unveiled his latest business venture.
He has collaborated with Mexican distillers Iván Saldaña and Casa Lumbre to introduce Almave.
The British ace took to social media to tell fans that the product is the world’s first and only non-alcoholic spirit created from real blue agave – the plant used to make tequila.
The crafting process mirrors tequila-making, omitting only the fermentation stage when the drink becomes alcoholic.
READ MORE ON F1
Hamilton posted on his Instagram: “It’s finally here. Almave is for people like myself, who are always pushing the limits of what’s possible.
“Who enjoy the taste of tequila but are focused on balance, longevity, and living fully.
“When I first met Ivan two things became clear: we both like tequila and something was missing from the market.
“I’m so proud to be a founder and hope you approach it with an open mind.”
Most read in Motorsport
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
And fans have rejoiced at the Mercedes driver’s one-of-a-kind innovation.
One fan wrote: ” I’m loving this direction.”
Another said: “It’s alcohol free? Where can I sign up for a taste test?”
A third wrote: “This is perfect!”
A fourth declared: “Congratulations champ, I can’t wait to try it.”
There had been rampant speculation that Hamilton could call time on his career soon.
But the F1 ace is not giving up just yet, after signing a £100m contract extension with Mercedes in August.
Hamilton will eventually retire as an all time great More