Motorsport

LEWIS HAMILTON could break a staggering SIX records in the 2023 Formula One season.The Mercedes man, 38, endured heartbreak at the end of the 2021 campaign when he was denied the world championship in ridiculous fashion.
Lewis Hamilton is eyeing up a number of records in 2023Credit: Getty
And then he suffered last year with an underperforming car as he failed to win a single race and watched on helplessly as Max Verstappen claimed back-to-back crowns.
But with the new 24-race season starting next month – the first race is in Bahrain on March 5 – Hamilton is gearing up to wrestle back the top gong in F1.
The Stevenage star already has a whole host of records in the sport, including the most race wins (103), most podiums (191) as well as the most points, consecutive race starts, consecutive points finishes and pole positions in history.
However, the Mirror report there are six more records Hamilton could claim in 2023 to cement his status as the F1 GOAT.
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Firstly, and most obviously, he could take the outright lead for the most drivers’ championships.
Hamilton currently shares the lead on seven with Michael Schumacher, but world title No8 would see him clear at the top.
Hamilton can also claim the record for the most wins at the same Grand Prix.
Schumacher won the French GP eight times – the same number of times Hamilton has won the British and Hungarian GPs.
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So claiming the chequered flag at Silverstone or the Hungaroring would take him on to nine.
Similarly, the Hungarian GP could be the scene of another new record for Hamilton if he claims pole.
The Brit has eight poles in Hungary – and also in Australia – which is tied with Schumacher in Japan and Ayrton Senna in San Marino.
The last of the Brazilian’s poles at Imola was claimed the day before he tragically died in 1994.
Hamilton could also become the very first F1 driver ever to win a race after their 300th race start.
No one has managed this feat yet and with 310 starts already under his belt, a win in 2023 would secure that for the Merc driver.
However, he is not the only man who can achieve this one in the upcoming season, with Fernando Alonso in the same position as he prepares for his debut season at Aston Martin.
Hamilton already holds the record for the most podiums shared with 56 alongside Sebastian Vettel.
That figure won’t be added to following the German’s retirement but it could be surpassed by Hamilton and Bottas (53) but far more likely Hamilton and Verstappen (52).
Lastly, and arguably the most difficult to achieve, is the number of F1 ‘grand slam’ weekends – defined as qualifying on pole, winning the race by leading every lap and recording the fastest lap.
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Hamilton has managed this six times in his incredible career, more than anyone else in the current F1 field.
However, it is still two shy of the all-time record of eight set by Jim Clark so might be a stretch too far for Sir Lewis to level or even overtake that tally in 2023.
The Mercedes man will de desperate to claim victory at the British GPCredit: Reuters
Hamilton and Max Verstappen look set to resume their rivalryCredit: AFP More

THE FIA, Formula One’s governing body, have leapt to the defence of president Mohammed Ben Sulayem after sexist comments on his own website resurfaced.Ben Sulayem was quoted as saying “women who think they are smarter than men, for they are not in truth” in a post on a personal website which appeared to have been published in 2001.
The FIA have been forced to defend Mohammed Ben SulayemCredit: Rex
The website the quote was on can no longer be read online.
But an FIA spokesman has still been forced to come out and say: “The remarks in this archived website from 2001 do not reflect the president’s beliefs.
“He has a strong record on promoting women and equality in sport, which he is happy to be judged on.
“It was a central part of his manifesto and actions taken this year and the many years he served as vice-president for sport prove this.”
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The BBC have claimed Ben Sulayem’s old website and the content on it had been discussed by F1 chiefs following his election win in 2021.
The row comes just days after F1 chiefs slammed Ben Sulayem for speaking out about the sale of the sport.
A report last week by Bloomberg News stated that Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund had investigated a $20bn takeover bid for the sport in 2022.
Neither F1 nor Saudi’s Public Investment Fund, which recently bought Newcastle United, commented on the report.
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However, that did not stop Ben Sulayem from tweeting on Monday that he was “cautious about alleged inflated price tags of $20bn being put on F1”.
He added: “Any potential buyer is advised to apply common sense, consider the greater good of the sport and come with a clear, sustainable plan — not just a lot of money.”
His remarks angered F1, who responded with a legal letter from Sacha Woodward Hill, who has been the sport’s chief legal officer since 2000 and has worked at F1 since she was appointed by Bernie Ecclestone in 1996.
Renee Wilm, chief legal and administrative officer of Liberty Media Corporation, was also been included in the letter, which accused the FIA of acting beyond its remit.
According to Sky News, the letter was sent to F1 teams and warned the FIA that F1 “has the exclusive right to exploit the commercial rights in the FIA Formula One World Championship” under a 100-year deal.
“Further, the FIA has given unequivocal undertakings that it will not do anything to prejudice the ownership, management and/or exploitation of those rights.
“We consider that those comments, made from the FIA president’s official social media account, interfere with those rights in an unacceptable manner.”
Ben Sulayem has also been criticised for revealing plans to expand the number of teams on the grid to more than 10. More