Motorsport

CHARLES LECLERC has kickstarted a shock new career in music.The Ferrari F1 driver released his debut single on Tuesday titled AUS23 (1:1).
Charles Leclerc has released a debut singleCredit: Getty
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The four-minute classical song features Leclerc, 25, playing the piano.
And the Monegasque driver has enjoyed a fast start after venturing into the world of music.
According to ESPN, Leclerc spent time inside the Top 10 of the Worldwide iTunes song chart following the release of his song.
The title of the track, AUS23 (1:1) is a tribute to the Australian Grand Prix, where the song was born.
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Leclerc did not start playing the piano until the Covid-19 pandemic, but has “fallen in love with the instrument” after spending time playing it.
The Ferrari star said on his Spotify page: “I’m excited to share with you a piano song that I’ve been working on, born out of my passion for music and created as a way to disconnect from racing and relax in between races.
“I’ve created this song around the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix which is why I called it AUS23 (1:1). This is the way we call the Australian Grand Prix in my Formula One team and thought it would be a nice connection to the racing world.
“After posting a story on Instagram of me playing that piano piece I had composed, I had a lot of positive feedback from the fans that inspired me to record it, making it easier for fans to enjoy my music.
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“My love for music has always been there, but it wasn’t until the pandemic that I started playing the piano.
“With more time at home, I decided to buy a piano and learn to play. Since then, I’ve fallen in love with the instrument and find myself playing it whenever I’m at home.”
Leclerc’s piece has earned raved reviews from fans on social media.
One gushed on Twitter: “Tbh it’s a beautiful song.”
Another added: “What a beautiful song. @Charles_Leclerc You should be so proud, what a masterpiece.”
A third wrote: “This new Charles Leclerc song is fire.”
And a fourth said: “Magic is what this song is. Thank you @Charles_Leclerc.”
Leclerc retired from the Australian GP at the start of the month after spinning out on the very first lap on the race.
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He has completed just one race out of three so far this season, finishing P7 in Saudi Arabia last month.
And Leclerc will be hoping for better luck when he returns to the wheel at the Azerbaijan GP this weekend. More

MAX VERSTAPPEN has been told to LEAVE Formula One if he keeps moaning about sprint races. The astonishing blast comes from Ralf Schumacher ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where a new “Sprint Shootout” format will be used for the first time.
Max Verstappen is not a fan of F1’s sprint racesCredit: Reuters
But Ralf Schumacher has told him to stop moaning or leave the sportCredit: Rex
Reigning world champion Verstappen has been an outspoken critic against sprint races and an increased calendar.
Earlier this month, the Dutchman said: “‘I am not a fan of it at all. When we do all that kind of stuff, the weekend becomes very intense and we already do a lot of races.
“We are heading into seasons where we could have 24 or 25 races and if you then start adding more it is not worth it for me. I will not enjoy that.”
In response, Schumacher, brother of F1 Goat contender and seven-time champ Michael, called out Verstappen’s quit threat.
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The 47-year-old, who won two races in F1, told Sky Sports in Germany: “The past, the present and the future have shown or will show that Formula 1 is much bigger than any one individual.
“Bernie Ecclestone is also gone and without him Formula 1 wouldn’t even exist and yet now it’s more successful than ever.
“So Verstappen should either pack up and leave or just accept it as it is.
“But I do understand his attitude because there are a lot of risks. But still, he gets paid to do it.
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“If he wants to go, then he should go. As much as I love him, it won’t kill Formula 1.”
Earlier this month he also added: “Max’s retirement threat is very unusual.
“It is kind of strange to hear, isn’t it? I mean, what’s he going to do with himself? He should stop now, really. Stop now, he’s done it.
“I think there’s an element of this with Max with him wanting not to waste his time on superfluous things that really are just invented for novelty reasons.”
Verstappen’s concerns regarding an expanded calendar may be felt if plans for a 30-race calendar in 2030 from F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali come to fruition.

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

FORMULA ONE’S ruthless expansion of its racing calendar could end up seeing a staggering 30 races in the 2030 season.F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali hinted at the possibility of this super-sized schedule last year.
F1 could have a 30 race calendar by 2030Credit: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA)
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said there was potential to do 30 racesCredit: Getty
He told Sky Sports: “I would say there is potential to go to 30! In terms of the interest we see all around the world.”
There are currently 23 races, with the current Concorde Agreement between teams and F1 maxing out the calendar at 24 races per season.
However, this deal expires in 2025. So if the calendar is expanded to accommodate 30 races, how might it look?
Assuming such an expansion is viable, it stands to reason that most, if not all, of the current races on the calendar would have room to remain.
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This is despite only seven of the circuits having deals which run up to 2030 and rumours suggesting the likes of Belgium and Monaco could be cut, with the former’s track deal running out after this season.
In terms of new tracks, the aggressive expansion of exposure in the United States – which has three races already – could see new more tracks added to take the total to FIVE races.
The locations of these races could be New York City, who have previously declared their desire to host a race, and a return to Long Beach, California where F1 has not raced since 1983.
In South America, Colombia are a leading candidate to join the calendar, with Marca, via Planet F1, reporting an agreement is close for a ten-year deal for the “Carribbean Grand Prix” from 2024 or 2025.
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Domenicali confirmed F1’s intention to return to Africa at Liberty Media’s Investor call last month.
He declared: “It’s no secret we are still seeing if there’s a chance to go to Africa. It’s the only continent missing.”
South Africa’s Kyalami circuit has been tipped to host this return and its first F1 race since 1993, while the move has also been backed by star drivers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
Asia and the Middle East are other areas where potential expansion could come in, with South Korea and Dubai in the UAE both tipped to host races.
Vietnam, who were forced to cancel their first-ever F1 race due to Covid-19, have returned to the table of trying to host a race, with reports in Vietnam suggesting Domenicali recently visited Hanoi.
F1’s continental home of Europe could also be gearing up for some new venues, with Spain’s capital Madrid also in discussions for its own race.
When speaking at the launch of an F1 exhibition in Madrid, Domenicali said: “They are working to bring a race here and F1 is delighted to have so many contenders, because this way we become more and more popular.
“Two races in Spain of course is very difficult, so we are happy with Barcelona who have a contract and a strong relationship – but it is true that Madrid wants a race so we will see. All of this is good for F1.”
Vietnam’s abandoned Hanoi circuit is in talks to be revisitedCredit: AFP
While New York City have openly stated their desire to host an F1 raceCredit: Getty
South Africa’s Kyalami circuit could also host F1’s return to AfricaCredit: Alamy
Despite the seemingly endless appetite to expand, Domenicali has also erred on the side of caution regarding expansion into new territories.
He admitted: “We need to be balanced, we need to see what are the other opportunities.
“And very soon we are going to tell everyone what is our strategy to develop that market.
“On top of America, on top of China, I think there is a potential also to be in Africa soon.
“There is a lot of interest there. For sure that’s another area that so far is missing in the geography of our calendar…
“It is up to us to try to find the right balance considering what are the venues which would like to be in F1, what are the historical values we need to see on the calendar.
“There are some promoters who have expiring agreements, and probably some of the current Grand Prix will no longer be part of the calendar.”
The 30-race calendar idea has also faced opposition from AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost – who will step down at the end of the season.
He said in October: “We all should be happy that we are in a position to be in Formula 1 and to have 23 races and if someone doesn’t like it then he should go.”
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“For me 23 races is the absolute limit, not from the workload point of view, but because I am concerned that with such a high number of races, in the end it could cause people to lose interest in Formula 1.”
Other legacy tracks may also make a comeback by popular demand, such as Malaysia, Germany, Portugal or Turkey.

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