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      Lewis Hamilton keeps cards close to chest over ‘top secret’ Mercedes upgrade ahead of Qatar Grand Prix

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      SIR LEWIS HAMILTON is keeping schtum about the “top secret” upgrade to his Mercedes.The seven-time F1 champion will bid to pick up his and Mercedes’ first win of the season at the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday.
      Sir Lewis Hamilton has been left frustrated by the performance of his Mercedes this yearCredit: Getty
      Mercedes have made improvements to the car but Hamilton is refusing to spill the beansCredit: AFP
      Mercedes have made changes to their struggling car during the recent break following last month’s Japanese Grand Prix in a desperate bid to get a first-place finish.
      Hamilton recently visited the’ Brackley factory to see the fruits of the team’s labour but is keeping the details close to his chest.
      The Stevenage speedster told Sky Sports: “I can’t tell you, man, I can’t tell you. It’s all top-secret stuff.”
      When pressed further, the 38-year-old said: “From my experience in all these years, firstly [I’m] not an aerodynamicist.
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      “And you go into the wind tunnel and it’s always mega exciting.
      “No matter what point of the year you go in there’s always new bits coming, there’s bits in the bucket and you know there’s just stuff being tried all the time.”
      Hamilton was left disappointed with his car’s performance at Suzuka, where he finished in a disappointing fifth place.
      But he’s been thrilled by the effort the entire team has put in to try to rectify the issues plaguing his suped-up motor.
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      Sir Lewis Hamilton is currently third in the Drivers StandingsCredit: REX
      He said: “Everyone is unhappy with where we are and where we’ve been for the last couple of years.
      “I know they’re hungry. And that for me, ‘I’m like OK I know these guys.
      “‘I know they’re chasing and they’re doing absolutely everything they can.’
      “So I’m able to then bring that into the weekend.”
      Hamilton currently sits in third place in the drivers’ standings behind Sergio Perez and defending champion Max Verstappen thanks to five podium finishes so far this season. More

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      Lewis Hamilton’s legendary car he drove in first F1 win for Mercedes up for auction with eye-watering price revealed

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’s historic car which he won his first F1 race at Mercedes with has gone up for sale.Hamilton, 38, won the first of his six titles with the Brackley-based constructor in 2014, with his grand total now standing at seven.
      The car Lewis Hamilton won his first F1 race with Mercedes in has gone up for saleCredit: The Mega Agency
      Hamilton won his first race with the constructor in 2013Credit: Getty
      The eye-watering price of the W04 has been revealedCredit: The Mega Agency
      But the year before in 2013, Hamilton won his first-ever race with Mercedes in the W04 at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
      Now the car is going up for sale under auctioneers RM Sotheby’s at the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix.
      It is the first Hamilton-driven Mercedes F1 car to be offered for public sale.
      However, to buy the car fans will need to reach very deep into their pockets.
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      The pre-estimate price of the car is set between £8.2million and £12.3m.
      Shelby Myers, Global Head of Private Sales, RM Sotheby’s said: “The Mercedes W196, which sold for $29.6m (£24.3m), remains the most valuable Formula One car ever sold.
      “However, it’s the Mercedes-Benz Uhlenhaut Coupe that fetched $142m (£117m), cementing the Silver Arrows’ place in history books as one of the world’s most valuable and recognisable brands.
      “Now, adding to the legacy of the Silver Arrows, we introduce the W04 – a car whose significance cannot be overstated.”
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      Hamilton won his first race with Mercedes in the W04Credit: AFP
      He triumphed in the 2013 Hungarian Grand PrixCredit: EPA
      The statement added: “Driven by Formula 1’s most successful driver and sporting icon, Lewis Hamilton, this car delivered his very first win in a Mercedes F1 car, signalling the beginning of the marque’s most dominant period: the Hamilton-Mercedes dynasty.
      “This pairing can only be compared to Jordan and the Bulls, Brady and the Patriots, or Messi and Argentina.
      “Given the unparalleled lineage and being the sole example outside of Mercedes’ origination publicly available, the pairing of Lewis and the W04 elevates it beyond just a Formula 1 car.
      “This undeniable piece could emerge as one of the most coveted collectables in the foreseeable future.”
      Hamilton has won 82 races with Mercedes and won 21 with former employer McLaren to take his total to a record 103 wins.
      He is back in action at the Qatar Grand Prix this weekend as he remains in the hunt for a first race victory since 2021.
      That did not stop the Brit from signing a new bumper £100m-a-year contract at the team for the next two years.
      Championship leader Max Verstappen could win the drivers title this weekend after Red Bull won the constructors at the Japanese GP.
      Hamilton’s old car will be up for sale at the Las Vegas Grand PrixCredit: The Mega Agency
      It has a pre-estimate value of up to £12.3millionCredit: The Mega Agency
      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      Lewis Hamilton CONFIRMS talks with Ferrari over shock F1 move and reveals how close he came to Mercedes exit

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has spoken about his discussions with Ferrari over what would have been a shock move away from Mercedes. The seven-time world champion had been linked with a switch to The Pancing Horse before he put pen to paper on a new two-year deal with Mercedes.
      Lewis Hamilton has lifted the lid on his talks with FerrariCredit: Rex
      Hamilton is earning an eye-watering £50m per year in his fresh terms with the Silver Arrows and the deal came after persistent rumours of a £40m contract at Ferrari.
      But the Englishman has now confirmed that the Italian’s offer never arrived and all talks were purely informal.
      When asked by Swiss outlet Blick if he was ever offered a contract, he said: “Never. Okay, we’ve definitely had a few irrelevant conversations.
      “I know a lot of good people there. But I never felt ready to move to Italy.”
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      Hamilton had previously described a move to Ferrari as a “dream position” back in 2021, but obviously didn’t come as close as many thought to seeing it materialise this summer.
      There has been mounting pressure on the 38-year-old to move away from Mercedes after the team have fallen too far behind Max Verstappen and Red Bull.

      Former F1 star Johnny Herbert even said he thought that Hamilton would be the perfect fit for Ferrari and should have made the move to secure an elusive eighth world title.
      Speaking to The Mirror, he explained: “He may be aware of what may be happening in the future with Mercedes and has been satisfied that is where his future is. 
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      “Still, I would have liked to have seen the final part of his career in a Ferrari. I honestly think he was the right character and the perfect fit for them. 
      “If he is happy where he is, for him, that is the best mental place for him to be. You have got to have belief in where you are at and Lewis does, which is why he re-signed.
      “Based on the last couple of years, I don’t see Lewis getting an eighth title.
      “The car has got better since they changed from the original concept, but they are only as good as the gap behind Red Bull.”
      Max Verstappen has overtaken Hamilton as the dominant force in Formula OneCredit: Alamy
      Johnny Herbert believes that Hamilton has to leave Mercedes to win an eighth world titleCredit: Getty More

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      Inside creepy abandoned speedway track with vintage cars sat gathering rust after nature took over following flood

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      LAYING dormant in rural Minnesota is a flooded former race track that has a fascinating backstory.A testament to the perseverance of the locals throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Wee Town Outlaw Speedway defied nature for the best part of three decades before nature reclaimed the land.
      Inside the creepy abandoned speedway track (pictured) with vintage cars sat gathering rust after nature took over following a floodCredit: Facebook/WeeTown Outlaw Speedway
      An abandoned truck is one of the few remaining signs of where Wee Town Outlaw Speedway’s infield once wasCredit: YouTube/KFJ EXPLORES
      Located almost a three-hour drive from Minneapolis, the track opened in 1962 as the Lake Region Speedway, it originally operated annually from May until Labor Day weekend, as per the Fergus Falls Journal.
      The stock car track was a popular destination for locals until 1969 when it experienced its first closure.
      Reopened in 1976 as the West Central Speedway the site continued to operate until 1986 when nature thought otherwise.
      High water thanks to the neighboring lake began to take hold of the track, forcing it to close its doors once more until 1990.

      Don Eggen, the former co-owner of the facility said in 2007: “We had our last season in 1993, and it was a sad day when things shut down for good.
      “Simply put, we just had too much water to deal with. Little did we know at the time that water levels would get much worse. It’s hard to believe what one sees today.”
      In the years since its closure, the wooden bleachers have been reclaimed by the undergrowth.
      Much of the main straight is still visible, covered in grass and trees while parts of the concrete barriers also seemingly remain, however, the majority of the rest of the oval is underwater.
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      And while the facility could easily be missed by those not in the know, there are one of two telling signs of its history.
      The lights and power cords still appear to circle the track, while the occasional tire pile can be spotted amongst the plant life and water.
      Then there is the rusting truck partially underwater in the infield.
      As for the locals, they are left with happy memories of Sunday nights under the bright lights.
      “Looking back, I appreciate not only the stock car drivers but also the family members and fans who supported us — and stock car racing in general — for so many years,” said Eggen.
      “It was great to see such good turnouts, especially Sunday evenings under the lights.”
      The concrete barriers and some of the fencing appear to still be intact on the old straightCredit: YouTube/KFJ EXPLORES
      The speedway was last used in the early 1990sCredit: Facebook/WeeTown Outlaw Speedway More

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      Lewis Hamilton gives blunt response when asked about having children as Brit lays out F1 retirement plan

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has revealed that he has no plans to have kids.The 38-year-old signed a £100million contract extension with Mercedes in August.
      Lewis Hamilton recently signed a new deal with MercedesCredit: Rex
      Hamilton’s new deal has seen him commit to the Silver Arrows until the end of the 2025 season, by which time he will be 40.
      The British seven-time F1 world champion was asked whether he’s considered having kids.
      But at this point, he feels he is too focused on his career to do so.
      He said: “Not at the moment, no.
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      “I don’t have time for that – I enjoy being an uncle!
      “I haven’t decided on this big step yet. I still have goals with the racing car – and everything has to take a back seat.
      “I want to do my job 100 per cent. Of course, you have to find the necessary balance with your private life and make compromises.
      “But fortunately that day hasn’t come yet.”
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      Hamilton was also asked if he feels he could ever come out of retirement after he eventually gives it up, like Michael Schumacher did.
      He added: “That will not happen to me. When the chapter is over, that’s when it’s over.
      “I can’t imagine standing in the paddock or in the garage – without then getting into a car.
      “But as I’ve said before: never say never.”
      Hamilton is third in the drivers’ championship despite Mercedes’ struggles this season, having overtaken Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
      He is 75 points ahead of his team-mate George Russell, and could even have his sights set on catching second placed Red Bull Sergio Perez.
      The Mexican is 33 points clear of Hamilton, despite his vastly superior car.
      Perez is a staggering 173 points behind his team-mate Max Verstappen, who is on the verge of sealing his third world championship.
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      Hamilton and Co are back in action this weekend, when the F1 roadshow heads to Qatar.
      The Mercedes star won the last time an F1 race was staged in Qatar in 2021, with last year’s event having been axed due to the World Cup.
      Hamilton, 38, has far out-performed team-mate George Russell this seasonCredit: Getty More

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      Lewis Hamilton says F1 is now a ‘love-hate story’ for him and hints he has not read his £100m Mercedes contract

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has hinted that he didn’t read his big-money contract and now has a “love-hate” relationship with Formula One.The seven-time world champion penned a two-year deal at Mercedes worth £100million in August.
      Lewis Hamilton has revealed he has a unique feeling towards F1Credit: Splash
      His improved contract means he will have a place on the grid in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
      Before signing the deal, there was speculation that Hamilton could move to Ferrari or retire.
      But instead the 38-year-old will be racing beyond his 40th birthday.
      Hamilton has revealed that he didn’t realise his passion for F1 but maintained he’s got an odd relationship with competing.
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      He told outlet Blick: “I have to admit that I underestimated my love for this sport.
      “But it’s become a love-hate story. There are days when I would prefer not to get into the cockpit.
      “The duels with my team-mate George Russell also give me motivation. You always have to be wide-awake.”
      Asked if he is aware of what is in his new Mercedes deal, Hamilton replied: “Of course. But it’s over 200 pages or a damn book. And that takes you days.
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      “There are so many details about my promotional activities. 
      “I’m in a fortunate position with Toto Wolff. He is respected and admired by everyone. It’s easy to negotiate with him and that makes him a great leader.
      “This isn’t the first time the two of us have discussed and haggled over details for hours.
      “Always under the motto: From Thursday to Sunday I belong exclusively to Formula One.”
      Hamilton is third in this year’s standings despite not winning a race ahead of this weekend’s Qatar GP. More

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      F1 a huge step closer to getting brand new TEAM as one of the most famous racing families gets green light

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      ANDRETTI’S hopes of making it on to the grid have received a boost after their application was approved by the FIA.However, they now face a waiting game to see if F1 will approve their place on the grid for 2026.
      The Andretti family may have an F1 team by 2026Credit: AP
      F1’s existing teams are secretly not happy about the idea of Andretti, ran by Michael Andretti, the son of Mario Andretti, who won the 1978 F1 title, sharing their prize fund.
      Andretti Racing, which is based at Silverstone, would bring one of the most famous racing families to F1, not to mention another American angle that would suit Liberty Media’s plan to increase the sport’s appeal in the US.
      Their application involved meeting stringent criteria and allows them to progress to the next stage of the process.
      FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “The FIA was very clear in establishing stringent criteria for entry from the outset of the Expressions of Interest procedure. 
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      “Our objective, after rigorous due diligence during the application phase, was to only approve prospective entries which satisfied the set criteria and illustrated that they would add value to the sport.
      “The FIA is obliged to approve applications that comply with the Expressions of Interests application requirements and we have adhered to that procedure in deciding that Andretti Formula Racing LLC’s application would proceed to the next stage of the application process. 
      “In taking that decision, the FIA is acting in accordance with EU directives on motor sport participation and development.  
      “Andretti Formula Racing LLC was the only entity which fulfils the selection criteria that was set in all material respects.
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      “I congratulate Michael Andretti and his team on a thorough submission.
      “I also want to thank all prospective teams for their interest and participation.” More

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      Max Verstappen aiming to make history as first-ever F1 star to win title BEFORE Grand Prix even starts

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN could do an F1 first this weekend in the Qatar Grand Prix – by winning the title on a Saturday.While the previous championships have all been decided on Sunday’s race day, the Red Bull ace has the possibility of wrapping up his third consecutive title at the sprint race.
      Max Verstappen is on the verge of making F1 historyCredit: Rex
      Verstappen has won 13 of the 15 races in 2023 and is 177 points clear of his teammate Sergio Perez, who is second in the championship.
      It means he will be crowned champion on Saturday if he finishes sixth, for three points, even if Perez wins the 30-minute race.
      But does it matter if he wins it on Saturday or not? It has some people divided.
      Given his performances at the start of the season – or to be precise his rivals’ failure to match his own results – it quickly became inevitable that he would win the title.
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      We also knew it was a possibility that it would be done so on a Saturday sprint race, given the structure of the calendar, with sprint races loaded towards the end of the season in an attempt to prolong any potential title fight.
      We have three of the six sprint races remaining in Qatar, Austin and Brazil with all three coming in the space of four races, only Mexico is a usual F1 weekend.
      The whole concept of the shorter sprint races is to sell extra tickets for the Saturday, plus also secure more TV viewers.
      Knowing that he could win the title on Saturday should lead to an increase in both of those numbers, although quite how many will attend in Doha this week remains to be seen.
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      However, I wonder how it fits with F1’s traditional fans, now knowing that the title could be won not during an actual grands prix.
      I appreciate this could be a moot point, but it does matter to some given the historical element. Almost like winning a Test match victory in a T20 match.

      Furthermore, it opens up the debate as to why the races in Azerbaijan, Austria, Belgium, Qatar, Austin and Sao Paulo are worth more than say Silverstone or Monza, for example.
      I respect F1’s decision to introduce the sprint races and understand their rationale for doing so.
      But the prospect of a driver being crowned champion after a 30-minute procession around a car park in the desert, leaves me feeling rather cold.

      TOTO WOLFF is likely to be in Qatar after skipping the Japanese GP after undergoing knee surgery.
      The Mercedes boss skipped the race in Suzuka partly due to the operation – and because he struggles with jet lag, but should be back in the garage in Doha.
      It comes as he faces mounting pressure to turn his team’s fortunes around after Lewis Hamilton claimed in Japan the car was just like last year’s to drive.
      Toto Wolff is likely to return for QatarCredit: Reuters
      RENAULT group chief executive Luca de Meo visited the Alpine team’s factory in Enstone last week to deliver a rallying call after months of upheaval at the team.
      De Meo delivered a rousing speech to the factory, including drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly while staff after the team’s engine division in Viry-Châtillon in France, joined by video link.
      De Meo is hoping to restore some much-needed faith in the team after former Alpine F1 CEO Laurent Rosso was moved on along with team principal Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane.
      Alpine are adrift in sixth place in the constructors’ championship, 88 points behind McLaren.

      MOTO GP are reporting a healthy increase in numbers of fans in the grandstands and watching the sport on TV. The sport’s bosses say TV figures are up 20 percent on 2022.
      What is more impressive is their sprint races have seen attendances on Saturdays increase by a whopping 51 percent in the opening 12 races.
      Moto GP are reporting an increase in attendances and viewershipCredit: Alamy
      CAL CRUTCHLOW picked up TWO long-lap penalties in two days at the Japanese MotoGP.
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      The Brit was entering as a wild-card for Yamaha but looked rusty as he picked up the penalties for exceeding track limits and then turning into his pitbox too early and going the wrong way around the entry sign.
      Crutchow, who was 13th, said: “I’ve done two races and two long laps, so that must be a first!” More