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      Lewis Hamilton set to sign eye-watering new Mercedes deal ‘in DAYS’, reveals Toto Wolff ahead of Canadian GP

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      LEWIS HAMILTON is set to sign a bumper new £50million deal “in days”, says Mercedes chief Toto Wolff.The legendary seven-time world champion only has six months left on his current contract, which is thought to be worth around £40m a year, with the Formula One team.
      Lewis Hamilton is set to sign his bumper new Mercedes contractCredit: PA
      Merc chief Toto Wolff says it will be done ‘in days’Credit: Getty
      Ferrari were reportedly interested in snapping up the 38-year-old before that interest seemed to cool.
      Now it seems that Hamilton will commit his future to Mercedes before this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix.
      Speaking on the likelihood of the Brit staying, Merc team principal Wolff said: “It is going to happen soon, and we are talking more days than weeks.
      “We are trying hard. I will see him today and maybe we will talk about it.
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      “We have such a good relationship that we dread the moment that we need to talk about money.”
      However, Sun Sport understands that team insiders say the deal is yet to pass through the lawyers.
      Mercedes are confident that the deal will be struck, but they are loathed to say when, as the negotiations still require some ironing out.
      SunSport understands that the sticking point had been that Merc were only offering a one-year extension to his contract, which expires in December.
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      However, that matter has now been resolved in the form of a new multi-year deal, thought to be worth around £50 million a year to Hamilton, who turns 39 in January.
      These latest negotiations follow Mercedes’ upturn in fortunes at the Spanish Grand Prix.
      Hamilton finished second while his compatriot and team-mate George Russell claimed third.
      Wolff, who was speaking to CNBC’s Squawk on the Street programme, continued: “Lewis is the most important personality in the sport.
      “He is so multi-faceted, not only with the racing, but also off track, so we need to keep him in the sport for as long as possible.
      “From a team’s perspective, Lewis and Mercedes have gone back a long time. He has never raced for any other brand than Mercedes.
      “We both joined the team in 2013 together, and from a professional relationship, we now have a friendship. It has been a wonderful time.”
      Hamilton, who is desperate for a record-breaking eighth world title, was famously pipped by Max Verstappen in the final race of the 2021 campaign.
      He has not recorded a victory since with his car suffering a number of issues and is currently 83 points off the pace this term.
      Read more on The Sun
      Wolff added: “The result in Spain was a well-deserved reward for everyone’s efforts at Brackley and Brixworth. It provides a baseline to work from, but we must also manage our expectations. It was a circuit that suited our car, and expect our direct competitors to be stronger in the next races.
      “The gap to Red Bull is large and it will take lots of hard work to close that down. Nevertheless, we’re up for the challenge.”
      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      Lewis Hamilton posts glitzy selfie for first time since Shakira ‘love triangle’ rumours

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      LEWIS Hamilton posted a glam selfie on social media for the first time since the Shakira “love triangle” rumours began swirling.The Formula 1 legend shared the chic snap with his 33.5million Instagram followers last night.
      The Formula 1 legend posted the glam selfie on InstagramCredit: instagram
      Hamilton had his arm around Shakira while they enjoyed dinner after the Spanish Grand Prix earlier this monthCredit: Instagram – Mustafa
      In the glitzy selfie, Hamilton can be seen with his arm tucked behind his back as he stands casually in what seems to be a lift.
      He is wearing a white button-down cardigan with a sparkling silver chain peeking through the collar.
      The racing star paired the fresh white top with smart black trousers and chunky boots as he appeared to be heading out for a night on the town.
      The glam selfie comes amid rumours that Hamilton and Waka Waka singer Shakira are dating.
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      The Colombian singer was spotted cheering on the Mercedes driver at the Spanish Grand Prix earlier this month.
      The pop star was seen watching the race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, as Hamilton scooped second place following Max Verstappen.
      Wearing a patterned shirt, neon pink sunglasses and a white skirt, Shakira was beaming as she watched her pal on the track.
      The two were then photographed together at a dinner with friends, following Hamilton’s race – and his arm was wrapped around Shakira’s waist.
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      The pair were joined by singer Mustafa and shared snaps of the group on Instagram.
      The singer was also spotted on a boat day with Hamilton and his pals in Miami after he picked her up from the back of her £12million beach mansion late last month.
      He made sure Shakira didn’t have too far to walk as she trotted down her private dock for the day out on the open-top cruiser.
      Shakira’s repeated rendezvous with the F1 star have caused a stir since they enjoyed a dinner together at the lavish Miami restaurant Cipriani in May.
      Smiling at each other, Shakira appeared to join 92-time race winner Lewis and pals at his table in a short video snapped by a fan.
      A source close to the couple told People that the two are in the beginning stages of dating after being spotted together multiple times.
      The source said: “They’re spending time together and in the ‘getting to know you’ stage.
      “It’s fun and flirty.”
      But rumours of a “love triangle” have been taking over the internet as Spanish media reported that Tom Cruise was “absolutely mesmerised” by Shakira when they mingled at the Miami Grand prix last month.
      Sources claimed that Tom was “giddy” after the chat while adding that the interactions were similar to “how he acted” when he first got with his ex-wife Katie Holmes.
      But Shakira reportedly shot down his advances and instead begged the actor to leave her alone and stop flirting with her.
      Shakira has seen some major life changes in the last year, after her bombshell split from ex Gerard Pique and her move to Miami.
      She told the audience at an awards show recently: “It’s been a year where I’ve realised we women are stronger than we think, braver than we believed, more independent than we were taught to be.
      “Because what woman hasn’t at some time in her life forgotten herself because she’s seeking the attention and love of someone else? It happened to me, more than once.”
      The couple split last May after spending 11 years together, as the Spanish World Cup winner ditched the singer for Clara Chia Marti, 24.
      Shakira and Pique confirmed in November they had reached a child custody agreement after a marathon 12-hour meeting with their lawyers.
      Read more on The Sun
      They signed the accord at a court in Barcelona the following month.
      Now the pair’s two sons, Milan, ten, and Sasha, eight, are based in Miami with their mum.
      Shakira reportedly ‘begged Tom Cruise’ to stop flirting with her after pair met last monthCredit: AFP
      Hamilton picked Shakira up from her mansion for a day out in Miami with palsCredit: The Mega Agency More

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      Formula One in negotiations with TV bosses about producing new show after Drive To Survive success.. but there’s a twist

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      FORMULA ONE are in negotiations with TV executives about producing a drama series called “One”.The plot is about a family-owned team competing against the bigger teams, coping with financial constraints and strong egos.
      Drive to Survive has been a huge success for Formula One
      It comes off the back of Netflix’s hit show, Drive to Survive, and a Hollywood movie that’s in production featuring Brad Pitt.

      IT was somewhat fitting that Ferrari’s current F1 driver, Charles Leclerc, witnessed the Italian team winning the Le Mans 24 hour race last Sunday.
      Not only Leclerc but current boss of the F1 team Fred Vasseur was at the Circuit de la Sarthe along with – and somewhat more importantly – Ferrari chairman John Elkann.
      For it will hammer home the message to Maranello that they have been under-perfoming for YEARS in F1.
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      Ferrari won Le Mans for the first time in 65 years on SundayCredit: Rex
      Charles Leclerc was in attendance for Ferrari’s triumph at Le MansCredit: Getty
      Understandably, Elkann toasted their success in the 24 hour race as Brit James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi, and Antonio Giovinazzi won the premier series for Ferrari. Their first Le Mans win since 1965.
      It was an impressive achievement given that it was Ferrari’s debut in the hypercar class, beating the vastly-experienced Toyota team.
      Plus the car was only unveiled in October. And at a fraction of the cost of their F1 operation.
      If he wasn’t already, Elkann must now be wondering what has been going wrong with his F1 team to be so remarkably consistent at failing to deliver success.
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      Somewhat incredibly for their resources and experience, it is nearly 12 months since Ferrari last won an F1 race.
      Leclerc’s victory in the Austrian GP on July 10th was the last time a Ferrari driver won an F1 race.
      And do I need to mention it is 15 years since their last F1 constructors’ championship title?
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      In recent years, Elkann has seen the team recruit two good drivers in Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
      He’s replaced Mattia Binotto with Vasseur but still the Italian team look as fragile, indecisive and inept as ever.
      If ever there was a time for the Scuderia to step up, now is the time, for while their success at Le Mans was all very good, it has also served to highlight their F1 failings.
      A victory in Canada would be a welcome boost to Ferrari. And also F1, but the reality is, we are braced for a Max Verstappen victory in what would be Red Bull Racing’s 100th victory in 355 F1 starts.
      To put that figure into context, since Red Bull achieved their first F1 win at the 2009 Chinese GP, Ferrari have won just 33 times, which is simply not good enough.

      RED BULL’s Christian Horner was at 10 Downing Street last week to speak about diversity and inclusion and F1’s role in economic growth.
      The UK is home to seven of the 10 F1 teams.

      IF there were any lingering doubts about Francesco Bagnaia’s credentials as a MotoGP champion, then surely they were banished on Sunday with his commanding performance in the Italian GP.
      The Ducati rider won both the Sprint and the MotoGP race to open up a 21-point advantage at the top of the championship. He’s now had three poles and three wins in this year’s six races.

      F1 chiefs have announced a £30 million investment package to boost the sport’s appeal across the world in the form of their “arcade” hospitality venues.
      The series opened their first F1 Arcade in London last year, which can be hired for guests to try F1 simulators while enjoying high-end food and drink.
      F1 wants to roll-out the concept to 30 locations by the end of 2027, with discussions on-going with franchise partners around the world, including the UK, USA, Europe, the Middle East and Australia, amongst other territories.
      The first US site in Boston is scheduled to open in 2024. 

      TROUBLED FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem has enlisted the help of South African motorsport journalist, Dieter Rencken to act as ‘motorsport adviser’.
      While the move is yet to be confirmed by F1’s governing body, it has raised eyebrows in the paddock.

      ANOTHER radio meltdown for British Formula E racer Dan Ticktum has come to light after he ran out of battery power in the Jakarta e-Prix and finished 11th.
      He fumed: “No other driver on this grid can do that, I tell you that now! F******let down by it! Boring! F*** sake…Don’t talk to me, nobody talk to me, I don’t f******* want to hear it! Leave me alone!”Roberto, have my taxi ready within fifteen minutes. I’m getting out of here.”
      Sadly Ticktum’s temper resulted in his F1 hopes being cut short. I now wonder how much more his NIO Formula E team will put up with it.

      SINGAPORE GP bosses say they are making their F1 race greener – which is good news.
      The original F1 night race is run under power-hungry spotlights that will now be powered by 1,396 solar panels.
      The GP chiefs are also installing new led-lights with the old versions being “given new life through recycled art”.
      Read more on The Sun
      McLAREN have released details of an impressive list of cars they will be taking to the Goodwood Festival Of Speed next month.
      Fans will get the chance to see Mika Häkkinen drive his 1999 championship-winning MP4/14A, Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 title-winning MP4/23A-05 and Emerson Fittipaldi drive his 1974 M23-05, amongst others. More

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      Lewis Hamilton ‘in love triangle’ with Shakira after ‘denting ego’ of 60-year-old Hollywood superstar

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      LEWIS HAMILTON is reportedly in a “love triangle” with Shakira and Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise.Popstar Shakira, 46, split from ex-Barcelona defender Gerard Pique last year.
      Lewis Hamilton, second right, went out for dinner with Shakira, right, at the weekendCredit: Instagram – Mustafa
      Tom Cruise is understood to be romantically interested in ShakiraCredit: Reuters
      And she has been pictured with seven-time F1 world champion Hamilton, 38, on more than one occasion.
      The pair were seen on a boat together after the Miami Grand Prix, before going to dinner in the wake of Hamilton’s second place in Barcelona last weekend.
      According to PEOPLE, they are understood to be keeping things “fun and flirty”.
      But The Mirror are now reporting that Mission Impossible star Tom Cruise is also romantically interested in Shakira.
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      The 60-year-old is said to have been “flirting” with the Colombian-born singer before she became involved with Hamilton.
      And he believed he had “incredible chemistry” with Shakira, but has now seen his ego “dented” as a result of Hamilton’s approach.
      The representatives of Shakira, Hamilton and Cruise have all not commented on the reports.
      Hamilton and Cruise have been pictured at F1 races in the past, with the Hollywood actor even describing the driver as a “great friend”.
      Most read in Motorsport
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      Hamilton dated Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger until 2015 when the pair split.
      He has endured a difficult start to the 2023 F1 season as Red Bull have dominated all seven races so far.
      Reigning world champion Max Verstappen has claimed five victories, leaving him 53 points clear of team-mate Sergio Perez in the drivers’ standings.
      Hamilton has accumulated 87 points and sits fourth, 12 adrift of third-place Fernando Alonso but 22 ahead of fellow Mercedes man George Russell. More

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      Jeremy Clarkson keeps his word with generous gift to Alpine F1 team after they secure podium at Monaco GP

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      JEREMY CLARKSON kept his word and gifted beer to the Alpine Formula One after their podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix.Esteban Ocon came third in last month’s race around the street circuit.
      Jeremy Clarkson delivered beer to the Alpine teamCredit: Adrian Sherratt
      He kept his word after he promised to buy them all a pintCredit: Adrian Sherratt
      Clarkson delivered the beer on his tractor, making the short trip from his farmCredit: Adrian Sherratt
      Esteban Ocon earned a surprise podium in MonacoCredit: Getty
      And the former Top Gear host has a soft spot for Alpine due to their base being located close to his farm in Oxfordshire.
      He tweeted during the race: “Come on Alpine. I’ll buy you all a pint if you get a podium here.”
      And he stuck to his promise and arrived at the Enstone HQ with bottles of beers on the back of his Lamborghini Tractor, as seen on the show Clarkson’s Farm.
      The 63-year-old carried crates of alcohol down from his vehicle before having a chat with Ocon.
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      Fans loved it, one said: “The GOAT himself.”
      Another reacted: “Delivery via the lambo tractor too, what a guy.”
      A third added: “A true legend.”
      The podium in Monaco was just Alpine’s third since they joined F1 in 2021.
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      Their other success came when Ocon surprisingly won in Hungary two years ago and when Fernando Alonso came third in Qatar later that season.
      Alpine’s duo of Ocon and Pierre Gasly sit ninth and tenth in the driver standings. More

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      Ferrari win Le Mans 24 Hours for first time in 58 years with forgotten F1 star behind wheel but Jenson Button struggles

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      EX-FORMULA 1 star Antonio Giovinazzi has led Ferrari to their first Le Mans 24 Hours victory in 58 YEARS.The Italian racing team had not won the iconic French event since 1965.
      Ferrari clinched victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on SundayCredit: Rex
      It is Ferrari’s first Le Mans victory since 1965Credit: EPA
      Antonio Giovinazzi, left, helped Ferrari to Le Mans gloryCredit: EPA
      But with the help of former Alfa Romeo F1 driver Giovinazzi, 29, Ferrari triumphed on Sunday.
      He was part of a three-man team which also included Britain’s James Calado and fellow Italian Alessandro Pier Guidi.
      Le Mans consists of teams racing without any intervals for a full 24 hours.
      The three drivers in each team take it in turns to drive their respective car around the track.
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      The winner is the team that has covered the most distance at the end of the 24 hours.
      Giovinazzi was on the F1 grid in 2017 and then for three more seasons between 2019 and 2021.
      He drove for Sauber and Alfa Romeo, starting 62 races and claiming 21 points.
      Britain’s Jenson Button, who won the Formula 1 world title in 2009, made his first appearance in Le Mans this year.
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      But he could only manage 33rd place out of 62 teams with Hendricks Motorsports.
      Outside of F1, Le Mans is seen as one of the major races to win to be considered one of the great drivers.
      Fernando Alonso, who has returned to F1 in recent years, has won the day-long endurance event on two occasions.
      The Indy 500 and Daytona Classic are other races in the same bracket.
      And Button has claimed the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen need to quit F1 and compete in Le Mans before they can be considered the best in the world.
      Speaking to The Times, he said: “There’s every possibility that Max [Verstappen] could go down as the greatest but I like the idea that you can’t be the best driver in the world if you haven’t stepped outside of F1.
      “Fernando has done a phenomenal job. He left F1 and came and raced in Le Mans and Daytona, won both, then won Le Mans again.
      “I don’t think his performance has dropped away in his forties.” More

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      Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen need to QUIT F1 to be considered best in the world claims former team-mate

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      LEWIS HAMILTON and Max Verstappen need to leave Formula 1 and branch out if they are to be considered the best drivers in the world, according to Jenson Button.Hamilton, 38, holds the record of seven F1 world titles alongside Michael Schumacher.
      Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are both yet to race outside of F1Credit: Getty
      Jenson Button is competing in Le Mans for the first time this yearCredit: Rex
      Verstappen, 25, has won the last two drivers’ championships and is on course to make it three in a row after five wins from the opening seven races of the 2023 season.
      But 2009 F1 world champion Button, 43, who was Hamilton’s team-mate at McLaren from 2010 to 2012, has now given a surprising take.
      Button is competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time this weekend.
      And he has highlighted that the likes of Fernando Alonso, 41, – who has won Le Mans and the Daytona Classic as well as two F1 world titles – can boast victories that Hamilton and Verstappen are yet to achieve outside of motorsport’s flagship discipline.
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      Speaking to The Times, he said: “There’s every possibility that Max [Verstappen] could go down as the greatest but I like the idea that you can’t be the best driver in the world if you haven’t stepped outside of F1.
      “Fernando has done a phenomenal job. He left F1 and came and raced in Le Mans and Daytona, won both, then won Le Mans again.
      “I don’t think his performance has dropped away in his forties.”
      Hamilton, who has not won an F1 race for 18 months, has claimed he will not retire from the sport until he clinches a record-breaking eighth title.
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      But Verstappen looks more dominant than ever with his Red Bull team.
      Last weekend in Barcelona, he finished 24 seconds ahead of second-place Hamilton.
      Yet despite playing catch-up to his Dutch rival, Button insists he believes the legendary Brit is in a positive head-space.
      He added: “I think he’s in a good place, which is great.
      “The difficult years make you as a driver, and he’s not had so many of them.
      “But he’s still performing unbelievably well, and he seems a more complete human being than he probably was back then.” More

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      Jenson Button ‘doesn’t talk to Lewis Hamilton’ but says ex-team-mate now ‘more complete human’ than time together in F1

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      JENSON BUTTON has insisted that Lewis Hamilton is a more “complete human” now compared to when they were team-mates.The two Brits raced together while at McLaren Mercedes’ F1 team between 2010 and 2012.
      Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton were team-mates at McLaren MercedesCredit: AFP
      However they do not talk away from media dutiesCredit: AFP or licensors
      During their time as team-mates, Hamilton and Button were close competitors.
      Hamilton, 38, picked up ten wins and 22 podiums, whereas Button, 43, won eight races and earned 27 other podium finishes.
      Despite Hamilton’s legacy in the sport, in this period he scored 657 points while his team-mate was able to earn even more with 672.
      The pair had many memorable wheel-to-wheel duals as well as a public fallout when Hamilton tweeted a picture of Button’s top-secret telemetry during the 2012 Belgian GP.
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      According to The Times, the pair do not talk away from media duties, but Button has claimed that Hamilton has grown as a human.
      The retired racer also praised the standard to which his former team-mate is still driving at.
      He told The Times: “I think he’s in a good place, which is great.
      “The difficult years make you as a driver, and he’s not had so many of them.
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      “But he’s still performing unbelievably well, and he seems a more complete human being than he probably was back then.”
      Button is instead closer to Hamilton’s current team-mate George Russell.
      The 2009 Formula One World Championship winner has also praised veteran racer Fernando Alonso but insisted the Spaniard’s longevity has not made him regret getting out of the F1 driver’s seat.
      He added: “I had different ideas. I started a family and I don’t want to miss them all the time and them feel like their dad isn’t around.
      “Motor racing can be very stressful.
      “That’s why I retired from F1 because I felt like I had nothing new to learn.
      “I wanted to do things that I enjoyed. That’s why I’m at Le Mans.” More