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      Craig Breen dead at 33: Rally driver killed in horror testing crash as tributes pour in

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      RALLY DRIVER Craig Breen has tragically passed away at the age of 33 following a fatal crash.The Irish racer collided with a pole between Stari Golubovac and Lobora while testing the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 ahead of the Croatia Rally next week.
      Craig Breen has passed away after a horror crashCredit: Getty
      Breen was doing a test drive ahead of next week’s Croatia RallyCredit: Getty
      Co-driver James Fulton came away unscathed, but it has now been confirmed that Breen sadly died.
      The police and Breen’s team, Hyundai Motorsport, are both investigating the incident.
      The authorities have confirmed the accident occurred at 12.40pm local time.
      A Hyundai statement read: “Hyundai Motorsport is deeply saddened to confirm that driver Craig Breen today lost his life following an accident during the pre-event test for Croatia Rally.
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      “Co-driver James Fulton was unharmed in the incident that occurred just after midday local time.
      “Hyundai Motorsport sends its sincerest condolences to Craig’s family, friends and his many fans.
      “Hyundai Motorsport will make no further comment at this time.”
      Tributes for Breen have poured in on social media from the likes of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
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      He said: “On behalf of the FIA, I extend sincere condolences to the family & friends of Craig Breen following his passing during a private testing accident.
      “Our thoughts & prayers are with his loved ones & the Rally community at this difficult time.”
      And the World Rally Championship added: “The WRC family is shocked and saddened to learn of Craig Breen’s passing.
      “Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of Craig at this incredibly sad time.”
      One fan responded: “I’m absolutely devastated that we’ve lost Craig Breen so soon. One of the nicest guys you could meet. This sport is so cruel.
      “I thought I’d share one of the funniest interviews Craig gave at stage end, showing his great sense of humour. Rest in peace, legend.”
      And another replied: “I’m lost for words… such a sad day. RIP Craig Breen.” More

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      F1 chaos as Miami Grand Prix FLOODED less than a month before race as shocking pictures emerge

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      TORRENTIAL rain in Miami caused mass flooding at the city’s newly-minted F1 race track.Downpours for the last three days have left some South Florida roads completely impassable.
      The Miami Grand Prix returns next monthCredit: GETTY
      But there was chaos at the race track this week when severe flooding hitCredit: REDDIT
      The water, however, was eventually drained away from the trackCredit: TWITTER@F1MIAMI
      And the race track for next month’s Miami GP was also badly affected by the biblical rain.
      Images shared on social media showed parts of the track – which is built in the streets around the city’s Hard Rock Stadium – completely underwater.
      The water almost came up to the knees of one of the individuals working at the track – who had to don a full-length yellow jumpsuit to wade through it.
      Staff at the track worked tirelessly to get rid of the water, which, initially, failed to drain away.
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      But the track was once again clear and looking picture-perfect after several gruelling hours for staff members.
      The race’s official Twitter account shared some mesmerising pictures of the track to on Wednesday night.
      The accompanying caption read: “3 weeks until race weekend in Miami.”
      F1 returns to Miami for the second time on May 7.
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      The season resumes a fortnight on Saturday with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which takes place at the Baku City Circuit.
      Defending champion Max Verstappen enters the race top of the pile with 69 points to his name following two wins and three podium finishes.
      His Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez is second in the driver standings following one win and two podium finishes.
      Veteran Fernando Alonso rounds out the top three with three podium finishes.
      Sir Lewis Hamilton is currently in fourth spot following one solitary podium finish. More

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      Formula 1 motor racing apprentice killed on ‘one last ride’ with girlfriend before putting motorbike away for winter

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      A PROMISING Formula 1 racing apprentice was killed during “one last ride” with his girlfriend before putting it away for winter, an inquest heard.Daniel Cracknell, 20, who worked as an engineer for the prestigious racing team Williams, lost control of his bike on a sharp bend in Grove, Oxfordshire, and fell into the path of an oncoming van.
      Daniel Cracknell died after losing control of his motorcycle in November last yearCredit: Hyde News & Pictures
      He worked as an apprentice engineer for F1 team WilliamsCredit: Hyde News & Pictures
      He suffered severe brain injuries and died in hospital on November 13 last year, just over a week after the smash.
      The inquest into his death, held in Oxford, heard that he was a well-respected member of the Williams team, which he joined as an apprentice straight from school.
      Colleagues at Williams paid tributes to him and the team sent a message of condolence at the time of his death.
      The flag at the team’s HQ in Grove flew at half-mast and team members wore black armbands at that year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
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      Daniel’s girlfriend, Lois, who was riding pillion on his Suzuki SCV650 at the time of the fatal crash, said that they had bonded over a shared love of bikes.
      She added that the young engineer told friends he was taking the bike out for “one last ride” before putting it in storage for the winter.
      Senior coroner for Oxfordshire, Darren Salter, heard that the couple took a route that was “normal” for them and were heading for home when the tragedy occurred.
      The driver of the van reportedly swerved to avoid Daniel, but was unable to do so, leading to both Daniel and Lois being “flung off into the verge”.
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      Lois said that she was “fully conscious” but cannot remember coming off the bike, only hitting the ground and trying to find her partner before they were both rushed to hospital.
      Police investigators told the hearing that Daniel’s licence meant he was only qualified to ride motorcycles with up to 30KW of power.
      However, he had removed the restrictor on his machine, which had a power capacity of 50KW, while an app on Lois’ phone suggested that their top speed on the day of the crash was up to 94mph.
      Thames Valley Police concluded in their investigation that the loss of control should be attributed to rider error.
      The coroner returned a verdict of a road traffic collision and said that the medical cause of death was a traumatic brain injury.
      He said: “On the balance of probability a combination of the wet road and the speed, leading to a loss of control attributed to rider error and leading to an accident, a tragic accident, resulting in the loss of Dan and injuries to Lois as well.
      “I have heard that he was generally careful and a very good driver and I don’t doubt that for a moment.” More

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      Lewis Hamilton era is OVER and he won’t break F1 record after something ‘snapped’ in Abu Dhabi, pundit fears

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’S era in Formula 1 is OVER, a top F1 pundit has suggested.The Brit won a record equalling seventh world championship in 2020, going level with Michael Schumacher.
      Lewis Hamilton is currently fourth in the F1 driver championshipCredit: Rex
      He appeared destined to win a historic eighth the following year, only for a botching of the rules in the final race in Abu Dhabi to see the title go to Max Verstappen instead.
      With Sir Lewis, 38, having not won a race since, Dutch F1 pundit Rob Kamphues thinks that his time at the top is coming to an end.
      He wrote in his Formule 1 Magazine column: “Could something have snapped in the great champion?
      “Lewis hasn’t won a race since that day, he hasn’t achieved pole, he’s never even started from the front row.
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      “In 2022 he also finished behind his younger team-mate in the championship and that younger team-mate also won the only race Mercedes won. Not to mention this season.
      “It also seems that the era of Mercedes is over. The idea that the empire is collapsing is also confirmed by the transfer of team boss-designate James Vowles to Williams and the departure of Lewis’ beloved physio Angela Cullen.
      “So in a row it’s clear as a lump, right?”
      Having easily won last year’s championship, Verstappen has already raced out to a 31-point lead over Hamilton this time around.
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      Rob Kamphues has offered up his take on Lewis Hamilton’s future in F1Credit: Alamy
      Kamphues reckons Hamilton will still believe in himself, however, and can point to the examples of Alain Prost and Fernando Alonso.
      He went on: “Lewis himself will probably think otherwise. He will say that although he scored fewer points than George Russell last season, he still beat him when it came to speed.
      “He will remind us of Alain Prost; who left Formula 1 with his tail between his legs in the year that Ayrton Senna became World Champion for the third time.
      “He did not race in 1992, rejoined Williams in 1993 and promptly became champion himself for a fourth time.
      “Lewis will point to Alonso and say ‘How many times have you written him off?’ After his failure at Ferrari, his failed adventure at McLaren and again last winter when he moved from Renault to Aston Martin.
      “And look how he now drives like the stars from heaven again.”
      Fernando Alonso’s renaissance can offer encouragement to HamiltonCredit: Rex More

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      Petition demanding Max Verstappen be STRIPPED of first F1 title reaches 100k signatures in huge Lewis Hamilton boost

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      A PETITION to have Max Verstappen’s first F1 title stripped from him has gained more than 100,000 signatures.Since the Abu Dhabi GP in 2021, Lewis Hamilton fans have been lobbying for a change of decision that would see the British driver given the title.
      Lewis Hamilton missed out on his 8th F1 world title in 2021Credit: AP
      He was controversially beaten to it by Max VerstappenCredit: Reuters
      Hamilton seemed destined to win his eighth career title as he led in the race’s late stages.
      However, Williams driver Nicholas Latifi crashed, causing a safety car to be called onto the track.
      Verstappen drove into the pits and got fresh tires put onto his Red Bull.
      The move seemed to be futile as race director Michael Masi had instructed that cars that had been lapped could not overtake the FIA vehicle, as per F1 regulations.
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      That should have meant there would not be enough time for competitive racing to start again, and Hamilton would – somewhat anticlimactically – win the title behind the safety car.
      But after pressure from Red Bull boss Christian Horner, Masi changed his mind and allowed one lap of racing.
      And Verstappen was able to get past Hamilton on his quicker tires and win his first title.
      Mercedes instantly appealed the decision, but team principal Toto Wolff eventually dropped the objection.
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      However, Hamilton fans have not been so quick to drop the case as a petition has gained traction.
      Patel Gordon-Bennett started the petition on social media with the aim of getting the result overturned.

      On Tuesday morning, ‘Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’ was trending on Twitter following a link to the petition being tweeted.
      The document now has over 82,000 signatures on it.
      However, there is very little chance of the FIA reacting, and Mercedes will have to stay focused on the current F1 campaign. More

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      Petition calling for Max Verstappen to have first F1 title WIPED OUT reaches 80k signatures in huge Lewis Hamilton boost

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      A PETITION to have Max Verstappen’s first F1 title stripped from him has gained more than 80,000 signatures.Since the Abu Dhabi GP in 2021, Lewis Hamilton fans have been lobbying for a change of decision that would see the British driver given the title.
      Lewis Hamilton missed out on his 8th F1 world title in 2021Credit: AP
      He was controversially beaten to it by Max VerstappenCredit: Reuters
      Hamilton seemed destined to win his 8th career title as he led in the race’s late stages.
      However, Williams driver Nicholas Latifi crashed, causing a safety car to be called onto the track.
      Verstappen drove into the pits and got fresh tires put onto his Red Bull.
      The move seemed to be futile as race director Michael Masi had instructed that cars that had been lapped could not overtake the FIA vehicle, as per F1 regulations.
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      That should have meant there would not be enough time for competitive racing to start again, and Hamilton would – somewhat anticlimactically – win the title behind the safety car.
      But after pressure from Red Bull boss Christian Horner, Masi changed his mind and allowed one lap of racing.
      And Verstappen was able to get past Hamilton on his quicker tires and win his first title.
      Mercedes instantly appealed the decision, but Mercedes principal Toto Wolff eventually dropped the objection.
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      However, Hamilton fans have not been so quick to drop the case as a petition has gained traction.
      Patel Gordon-Bennett started the petition on social media with the aim of getting the result overturned.
      On Tuesday morning, ‘Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’ was trending on Twitter following a link to the petition being tweeted.
      The document now has over 82,000 signatures on it.
      However, there is very little chance of the FIA reacting, and Mercedes will have to stay focused on the current F1 campaign. More

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      Max Verstappen hits back at ‘incorrect’ rival Lewis Hamilton after his claims about Red Bull

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN has responded to Lewis Hamilton’s claim that Red Bull’s 2023 car is quicker than any version of his dominant Mercedes.Verstappen, 25, has won two of the opening three races of the season in Bahrain and Australia.
      Lewis Hamilton has claimed Max Verstappen’s Red Bull is faster than any Mercedes he has drivenCredit: Getty
      Red Bull have won all three races at the start of the 2023 seasonCredit: Getty
      And his team-mate Sergio Perez claimed the other Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia.
      Verstappen is seeking a third successive world title after years of Mercedes glory.
      The Silver Arrows claimed seven championships in a row between 2014 and 2020 – with Hamilton winning six of them.
      But after Red Bull’s one-two in Saudi Arabia last month, the Brit, 38, insisted he had never seen a car as quick as this year’s runaway leaders.
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      When asked if Red Bull’s dominance could be bad for the sport, the seven-time champion said: “I don’t know, it’s not for me to say, but I’ve never seen a car so fast.
      “When we were fast, we weren’t that fast. That’s the fastest car I’ve seen compared to the rest. I don’t know why or how but he came past me with serious speed.
      “I didn’t even bother to block because there was a massive speed difference.”
      Now Verstappen has had his say on those comments.
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      And the Dutchman believes the numbers show that Hamilton’s theory is not true.
      He told RacingNews365 NL: “I think if you look at the statistics, then those statements are not correct.
      “But we also do have a very good car. Nothing wrong with that, of course. Still, we are not as dominant as Mercedes has shown some years.
      “I don’t pay much attention to that, that doesn’t get you anywhere.
      “Whatever we have done in the eight years that Mercedes is so dominant, we also tried to close the gap. That’s the only thing you can do.”
      Next up for both drivers is a trip to Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on April 30.
      But Mercedes are not expected to add any significant upgrades to their car until Imola, Italy, in May.
      Hamilton has managed two fifth places and a second place so far this season.
      But Mercedes and the rest of the grid are still a long way adrift of Red Bull’s blistering pace. More

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      MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia ‘even stronger’ as he chases second win of the year following record-breaking season

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      MOTOGP champion Francesco Bagnaia is going in search of his second victory of the year in this weekend’s Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas.The Italian came from 91 points behind to pip Fabio Quartararo last season and looks “even stronger” this season according to former Superbike world champion Neil Hodgson.
      Francesco Bagnaia is being tipped to dominate MotoGP againCredit: AFP
      Bagnaia won the MotoGP season-opener in Portugal and sits in second-place in the championship behind Marco Bezzecchi, who won in Argentina.
      But BT Sport pundit Hodgson says now he has one championship under his belt, he will be confident about adding a second.
      He said: “The hardest thing is to win your first. A lot of people said the hardest thing is to defend the championship but I totally disagree.
      “The hardest thing is to get that first one over the line. And for him, it was against all the odds.
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      “He broke so many records coming from that far back. He was 91 points down at one point, it was bizarre. Nobody thought it was possible.
      “He had the pressure of all of Ducati on his shoulders, the first Italian champion since Valentino Rossi, and he kept calm at that last round. He did what he had to do to win the title.
      “Now, look at what he’s done preseason, he’s been incredible. He was clearly the fastest man and looks really prepared.
      “I think he’s found the final piece of the jigsaw. Has he got the bottle to fight for a world title? And the answer is yes. Now coming into this season, he will only be stronger.”
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      The race also offers another opportunity to see the shorter sprint races, rather like F1 have tried, plus a good opportunity to gauge MotoGP’s popularity in the US.
      Hodgson added: “The sprint race format creates a lot of drama because they are all-action.
      “You can’t save your tyres, there will be no boring tactics, it will be all out in the sprint race.
      “You’ll have to be aggressive. You’ll have to qualify well, so I think we’re in for a right treat!
      BT Sport will show all the live action from every race weekend during the 2023
      MIAMI VICE
      MIAMI GP bosses have done away with their fake harbour and created a new “Sunset Cabana” package.
      That’s by featuring real water for the boats to sit on.
      The VIP area can accommodate 15 people and costs a whopping $67,000.
      Miami first held the F1 Grand Prix last year on a circuit around the Dolphins’ Hard Rock StadiumCredit: Rex
      Last year’s fake harbour has been replaced with real waterCredit: Getty
      WILL I NEVER
      THE Williams F1 team are being pursued by a former title-sponsor for £119 million in damages.
      Rokit claim they were sold on assurances from Williams that they had produced a competitive car for the 2019 season.
      The company says their brand was damaged due to the car’s poor performance as they finished last in the championship.
      The case has been lodged at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
      Williams have already had success in the UK courts in their legal battle with Rokit. At the end of last year, they were awarded a payout of more than £26 million after Rokit defaulted on their sponsorship payments.
      HELLO MOTO
      F1 and MotoGP bosses have discussed the mouthwatering prospect of a joint race weekend.
      The premier classes of car and motorcycle racing have always been kept separate, but Dorna CEO Carmen Ezpeleta, who runs MotoGP, has held discussions with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
      Sadly, there is no room for the joint weekend until at least 2027 due to MotoGP’s existing contracts with circuits but it could be on the cards, and it would be incredible.
      KING CHARLES
      POOR Charles Leclerc is not having much luck on track at the moment.
      And now the Ferrari man is getting pestered at his home in Monaco.
      His address has been leaked on the internet and fans have been congregating outside and ringing his doorbell at all hours of the night asking for selfies.
      He’s now taken to social media to ask them to “please respect my privacy and refrain from coming to my house”.
      TOP GUN
      TOPRAK RAZGATLIOGLU will take part in a private test at Jerez, riding Yamaha’s MotoGP bike.
      The 2021 World Superbike Champion has been linked with a switch to MotoGP.
      Read More on The Sun
      And he will get another opportunity to prove he can make the step-up.
      It’s Razgatlioglu’s second chance to test the M1, however his first opportunity last year was cut short due to poor weather conditions. More