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      Lewis Hamilton given huge boost as Mercedes chief confirms ‘no porpoising’ issue on day one of F1 pre-season testing

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      MERCEDES boss Toto Wolff is confident his team have ironed out their bouncing problems from last season.Wolff watched as the W14 took to the track in Bahrain for pre-season testing today when there was no repeat of the porpoising that had plagued their previous model and left drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in considerable discomfort.
      Lewis Hamilton has received a big boost ahead of the new seasonCredit: Rex
      The new Mercedes no repeat of the porpoising in Bahrain todayCredit: Getty
      Hamilton went winless for the first time in his F1 career last season while Russell won just once late in the year in Sao Paulo.
      Wolff had been hesitant to speak about this year’s model until it hit the track but says he was pleased with what he saw.
      He said: “It seems to be balanced in the right way. There’s no bouncing, which is good news.
      “We’re gathering a lot of data because that was important to correlate obviously after last year, and trying different things, so a productive first morning.
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      “We knew that we were in trouble [last year], the car was just bouncing around and we really weren’t able to drive it correctly. So that is very different.
      “I think we have a solid base now to work from and try to optimise the car, which we haven’t done yet.
      “It’s really just finding out are there any areas that could be a real performance hindrance like last year with the bouncing. We’ve just got to work through the programme.”
      Meanwhile, Wolff and his rival at Red Bull, Christian Horner, were unusually aligned when it came to controversial FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem stepping back from his role.
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      After a series of blunders, Ben Sulayem has removed himself from the day-to-day running of F1’s governing body and delegated the duties to Nikolas Tombazis.
      The experienced F1 designer chaired the recent F1 Commission meeting where new rules were finalised, which proved a positive decision for the team bosses.
      Wolff added: “We have a structure now that is very clear. Nikolas chaired the last commission. We have a lot on the agenda, short and long term.
      “What we need to try to achieve is to work together pragmatically. Lots of objectives are aligned  in having the best, robust regulations and policing to put on a great show.”
      Red Bull boss Horner added: “For once, I agree with everything Toto said!
      “It is an evolution. There are big topics that need to be dealt with, particularly 2026.
      “We need to make sure the engine world, the chassis world, and the product of what we want F1 to be all aligned.
      “There is enough time to do that. It needs to be a priority over the coming months.” More

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      Huge Drive to Survive star reveals he never watched a single episode of hit Netflix show ahead of 2023 F1 season

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      NETFLIX’S new instalment of their hit F1 show “Drive to Survive” airs on Friday but one of the stars of the series has never watched a single episode.Haas boss Guenther Steiner was the key character in the first series, which has been responsible for helping propel F1’s success across the globe.
      Drive to Survive is set to be released on Friday, February 24
      Haas boss Guenther Steiner has gained popularity from the seriesCredit: Splash
      The sport’s popularity is booming – three sold-out races in the US, a joint-record 23-race calendar with more circuits clambering to join along with some new teams – F1 has never had it so good.
      Anyone who has watched the show will know that Steiner – and his F-word rants – can lay claim to helping boost F1’s appeal – but as he puts it, he’s still waiting for F1 to provide him with a big cheque to say thank you.
      “I have never watched an episode,” he says. “In the beginning I didn’t want to watch because I don’t really enjoy watching myself.
      “I also didn’t want to get influenced to change when I am doing something. If you are an actor, you learn from your mistakes.
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      “I don’t want to be an actor because maybe everytime I see a camera, it may have an effect on how I behave.
      “It sounds very complex but for me it was a very simplistic thought process and now if I start to watch it, it was OK in the beginning, so why go back and change now?”
      Steiner says he jokes with F1’s CEO Stefano Domenicali and business tycoon, Greg Maffei, who is the CEO of Liberty Media CEO, who own the rights to F1, about his influence in the show.
      The likeable Italian is now an icon thanks to playing himself and his popularity is staggering.
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      He added: “We always joke with Stefano and Greg but you know, they have not reached out and told me they are sending a cheque!
      “Stefano has known me for 20 years and knows I am the same person and nothing has changed. It is part of what we are doing.
      “But I am recognised a lot more. The strange thing is you never know when you are alone or not.
      “You can be sitting somewhere and you’re thinking nobody knows you and you forget about it and then someone says your name, but it is nothing bad, especially in the States, people are well behaved and ask for a picture.
      “For my family, when the first series came out, my daughter was eight and people called your name or stopped me on the street and she would ask me if I knew these guys, and I was like no, but now it is not an issue.”
      Steiner says he is not shocked by just how popular the fly-on-the-wall series has been but he is surprised about how it has changed the shape of F1 commercially.
      His team, and the same of others on the grid, have been able to attract sponsorship they would not have been able to after Liberty Media opened up the sport to a wider audience.
      He said: “F1 gives a lot of interesting things to the fans. To the new fans, it opens it up and they are telling the story.
      “F1 missed out on not telling the story. Can you imagine if it would have started up maybe 20 years ago?
      “Liberty Media understood the entertainment and they came in and realised there is a bigger story to be told.
      “It has been a benefit to teams. A lot of sponsors come in because they want to be seen and it has done well for all the teams.
      “The big teams are not the only ones people are interested in.
      Before, you only saw the big teams on TV but now on normal TV they show the smaller teams as well because people are interested in what they are doing as well.
      “We have been put on the map for sponsors that we are an interesting team, even if we are not winning races yet.”
      Steiner saw his team kick off pre-season testing in Bahrain on Thursday ahead of the season-opener on March 5th.
      He has picked veteran Nico Hulkenberg to replace Mick Schumacher, who is now a reserve driver at Mercedes.
      Steiner was also linked with a move for Daniel Ricciardo, who finds himself as a reserve at Red Bull after turning down Haas.
      It seemed like a backward step for the Aussie to turn down a seat on the grid, but Steiner has no hard feelings.
      He said: “Nico is settling in really well. All the interaction is as expected. There was a plan because he was an experienced person and he is giving guidance to the guys.
      “As for Daniel, I am not disappointed. Everybody can take his decision. If Danny had no interest, I respect that he did not waste my time in speaking with me.
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      “I respect that fully. It was pretty clear when he did not engage that he had no interest and I did not call back to show that I was desperate so it was a fair way of dealing with it.
      “I am very OK with the attitude because he did not waste my time and we can both get on like we did before.” More

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      Michael Schumacher documentary sheds new light on his home life as throwback pic shows him cradling baby Max Verstappen

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      A TOUCHING rare photo of Michael Schumacher has been released showing him cradling future double world F1 champion Max Verstappen. Seven-time champ Michael is seen smiling as he sits in a hanging chair with the baby driver in his lap alongside his own daughter, Gina-Maria.
      Drive to Survive reveals the closeness between the Verstappens and SchumachersCredit: EPA
      Michael Schumacher pictured with Max (R) and his daughter Gina-MariaCredit: netflix
      Michael meets with a very young Max
      The photo was released as part of Netflix’s hit F1 show Drive to Survive and features in episode 4 – Like Father, Like Son? – with the series being released tomorrow.
      In an exclusive preview granted to The Sun Online, Max talks about growing up alongside the Schumacher family – including Michael’s son Mick, who also went on to race in F1.
      The double world champion – who broke Sir Lewis Hamilton’s four-year stranglehold on the F1 title – is the son of Michael’s former Benetton teammate Jos Verstappen.
      And so the Schumachers and the Verstappens became close, with Mick, 23, and Max, 25, sharing a bond which endured as they both rose through the racing ranks into the top flight.
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      The show includes a rare clip showing Jos and Michael discussing if they would let their children became F1 drivers in an interview filmed during the 00s.
      The question prompts a laugh from Michael.
      “I think this could be the first time we have an argument if our two would be racing,” says the German.
      The documentary then shows Max as a toddler hanging out with Michael.
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      “We used to go on holidays when we were little together, the two families, and these kind of memories will stay with me,” explains Max, who is now a 35-time race winner in F1.
      “For both of us to be in F1 is amazing and also for Michael, he’s a very proud dad for sure.”
      Drive to Survive then cuts of a picture of Michael holding Max and Gina-Maria that must have been taken in the late 90s.
      Gina-Maria, now 26, did not go into motorsport – instead following her mum Corinna’s passion and becoming a horse rider.
      The incredibly touching photo – released in full clarity for the first time by Netflix – was revealed as Michael continues his recovery after his horror ski crash in 2013.
      Michael has not been seen in public ever since – with any information about his condition tightly controlled by his privacy-focused family led by wife Corinna.
      Fans are desperate for news – with the tenth anniversary of Schumacher’s accident coming up in December.
      And adding to further heartache for fans of the Schumachers, Mick lost his F1 seat at the Haas team at the end of 2022.
      He was replaced by F1 journeyman Nico Hulkenberg – and will have sit out 2023 as a reserve driver at Mercedes behind Sir Lewis and his hotshot teammate George Russell.
      Max Verstappen is a two time world champion – winning in 2021 and 2022Credit: Getty
      Mick Schumacher lost his seat at the end of 2022Credit: Splash
      Drive to Survive charts Mick’s difficult sophomore season in 2022 – including his horror 170mph accident in Saudi Arabia.
      Mick’s rough year saw him outscored by his teammate, the returning Danish veteran Kevin Magnussen.
      The show outlines Mick’s struggles – and the pressure that came with racing under the name “Schumacher”.
      “Mick has the lineage of one of the greatest driver’s the sport has ever seen,” says F1 journalist Will Buxton.
      “But it remains to be seen if [he] has the same character as his dad.”
      Haas boss Steiner said the Schumacher name explains the name was “blessing and a curse” for Mick.
      But in characteristically non-nonsense fashion, the famously foul-mouthed team principal says at some point the young German will have “stand up” and be his “own man”.
      Mick opens up about his struggles with pressure in the show, including the candid admission that “dreams don’t always come true”.
      His dad Michael is one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, dominating the sport in the early 2000s after rising to power in the 90s.
      He raced from 1991 to 2006, and again from 2010 to 2012 – a second act of his career which saw him become instrumental in setting up the dominant Mercedes team.
      The German won five world championships with Ferrari and two for Benetton.
      Schumacher retired in 2012, but just a year later he was involved in the life-changing skiing accident while on the slopes with Mick.
      He was left in a medically induced coma before being released home and then ever since it has been near silence on the driver’s condition.
      His family, led by wife Corinna, closely protect Michael’s privacy and offer him a quiet life.
      Since then there have only been hints and cryptic rumours about Schumacher’s health with drip fed information from friends and unnamed sources.
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      But the only people who know for sure are Schumacher’s family and his closest pals.
      Mick will be Mercedes reserve driver in 2023 – backing up Lewis Hamilton and George RussellCredit: Twitter More

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      F1 star unveils new unrecognisable ‘porn star’ look as fans go wild for mullet and moustache combo at Bahrain testing

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      THIS Formula One star looks unrecognisable with a new mullet and moustache combo.And he will be hoping the stunning look helps him out at testing in Bahrain.
      This F1 star looks unrecognisable with a mullet and moustacheCredit: Reuters
      Teams across F1 have been unveiling their new cars for the upcoming season.
      And the motors will be put through their paces after three days of testing began on Thursday morning.
      It gives teams a narrow window to put things right if there are any problems, with the new season kicking off with the Bahrain GP on March 5.
      Champion Max Verstappen is hoping for an immediate victory as he aims for three successive titles.
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      But one other driver looks to be approaching the first race with a bold new look.
      Known for his calm mannerisms and selfless driving, he now resembles an Aussie rules player.
      Yes, the F1 star is none other than Valtteri Bottas.
      The Alfa Romeo man is hoping to get off to a fast start after trimming his hair into a sleek mullet.
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      Bottas is barely recognisable with a mullet and moustacheCredit: AFP
      He showed off his sleek new style for Thursday’s first practice in BahrainCredit: Getty
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      The aerodynamic shape could help Bottas get more speed behind the wheel.
      Lewis Hamilton’s former Mercedes teammate also trimmed back his beard to leave just a stylish moustache.
       And fans went wild for the Finnish ace’s latest style on social media.
      One said: “Is there anyone cooler?”
      Another declared: “Dude looks like Capt Jack Sparrow.”
      One noted: “His 1970s porn star era.”
      Another added: “Highlight of the morning.”
      Valtteri Bottas looked completely different last seasonCredit: PA More

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      Lewis Hamilton takes sneaky peek at Red Bull rival Max Verstappen’s car in F1 pre-season training

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      LEWIS HAMILTON took a cheeky peek at Max Verstappen’s new Red Bull car as Formula One’s pre-season testing got underway this morning.The seven-time world champion is looking to wrestle his title back from Verstappen this year to capture a record eighth.
      Lewis Hamilton takes a look at Max Verstappen’s Red BullCredit: Rex
      Hamilton, 38, peers in for a closer lookCredit: Splash
      Red Bull enter the season as the team to beat, having dominated the last campaign on the way to a constructors’ and drivers’ championship double.
      With all 10 teams’ new motors on track together for the first time for the Bahrain session, it’s customary for drivers to have a peek at the opposition.
      And Lewis, 38, couldn’t help but have a little look at what Verstappen has under the bonnet.
      Joined by ex-team-mate Valtteri Bottas, now of Alfa Romeo, and Haas’ Kevin Magnussen – Hamilton checked out the competition.
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      While he wanted to get a closer look at Red Bull’s latest effort during testing, Hamilton seems to be happy with Mercedes’ new W14.
      Upon its launch, he said: “I have been a part of this team for over a decade and the efforts of everyone never cease to amaze me.
      “I find it inspiring how diligently and passionately each person approaches their work.”
      Hamilton also denied that his team would ever try and copy Red Bull… despite what others may be doing.
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      Hamilton checks out the rest of the gridCredit: Splash
      Verstappen later got behind the wheel of his new car for the testing sessionCredit: Getty
      He said: “Of course you can see that some of the cars are approaching what a Red Bull might look like, perhaps with the exception of Ferrari.
      “I don’t think we’ve ever been a team that copied other people.
      “We’ve always had our own mind and have always been a team that’s incredibly creative and innovative and likes to do it our way. And I think that’s worked in the past.”
      Hamilton’s boss Toto Wolff said: “Last year was difficult but it came with lots of learnings.
      “I hope 2023 will be proof that we have understood how to unravel the problems and improve the package of the car.”
      He then continued: “W13 certainly had performance which we never were able to unlock and put all its downforce on the ground.
      “Our car performed very well at the end of the season.
      “However, we still had the famous bouncing at some circuits and the car never gave the drivers good feedback, which limited them in being able to really push.
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      “We have tried to keep all the goodness of the W13 and address its weaknesses.”
      Mercedes fans rejoiced during testing this morning, with the W14 not porpoising at all like its predecessor did.
      Hamilton is ready for another crack at winning an eighth world championshipCredit: AFP More

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      Lewis Hamilton wins right to trim two trees in his garden at £18m townhouse despite ‘neighbour concerns’

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      LEWIS Hamilton has won the right to trim two trees in his £18million townhouse’s garden. Hamilton, 38, had been feuding with his neighbours over changes to his London property – including “pruning” the massive poplar trees.
      Lewis Hamilton has come out in first place after a bitter row with his neighboursCredit: AP
      Neighbours had argued the “magnificent heritage trees” should be preserved.
      But, after submitting 20 planning applications over six years, the seven-time Formula One world champion has come out on top.
      MailOnline reported Hamilton had been seeking permission to tidy up his £18m Kensington property since he bought it in 2017.
      On top of “pruning” the giant trees in his garden, the racing legend also wanted to install metal gate entrances, and demolish and replace an old summerhouse.
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      Hamilton and the neighbours clashed over the summerhouse plans as residents feared their “working and living conditions [would be] seriously disturbed”.
      But they were also feuding over the “pruning” of the two trees that tower over the motorsport star’s garden.
      MailOnline reported the neighbours were outraged by the perceived threat to the trees.
      One local even dubbed them “magnificent ‘heritage’ trees” that are “easily identifiable upon approach to Heathrow”.
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      But the council has now given Hamilton the green light to prune the trees – on two conditions.
      The council said “noisy operations” are avoided on Saturdays “unless essential”, and “no works should take place on Sundays”.
      This isn’t the first time Hamilton has been caught in a row with his neighbours.
      In 2020 his summerhouse plans sparked letters of objection from neighbours.
      One claimed at the time: “It certainly does not need another house at the rear of its garden, which, if the owner ever does move in, will no doubt be used as a ‘party house’ away from the main residence, due to the nature of his lifestyle.” More

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      Lewis Hamilton fans given first glimpse of new Mercedes in action.. but have the team fixed 2022 porpoising woes?

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      MERCEDES have released footage of Lewis Hamilton’s first drive at Silverstone in their new W14 car.The Brit F1 legend is hoping this is the car to deliver him a record eighth world title.
      Mercedes have released footage of Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel of the new W14Credit: Instagram / @mercedesamgf1
      Fans are cautiously optimistic about the car’s chancesCredit: Instagram / @mercedesamgf1
      Fans claimed that they didn’t think the car appeared to be porpoisingCredit: Instagram / @mercedesamgf1
      Hamilton is hoping the car will help deliver him a record eighth F1 world titleCredit: Rex
      The chassis of Mercedes’ car for 2023, which was launched last week, is mainly unpainted carbon fibre in a bid to save grams of excess weight.
      And footage of Hamilton behind the wheel of the car was posted to Mercedes’ Instagram account on Wednesday.
      Fans eagerly watched to see if the porpoising – bouncing in layman’s terms – issues that plagued the team last season were still present.
      Merc supporters will get a better idea of whether they have fixed the problem when testing gets underway in Bahrain on Thursday.
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      But, from the short on-board snippet that was revealed on Wednesday, fans believed there was reason to be excited.
      One wrote in reply to the video: “Bye bye porpoising.”
      Another delighted fan exclaimed: “NO BOUNCING PEOPLE! NO BOUNCING!!!”
      A third added: “Thank god porpoising is now a term I can wipe from my memory
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      And a fourth said tentatively: “I don’t want to be too optimistic but that looks and sound like a championship winning car.”
      Meanwhile, other more cautious fans refused to get carried away until seeing the car in testing.
      Hamilton ended the 2022 season without a win – the first time in his career that he went an entire campaign without finishing P1.
      This season marks his 17th in F1, and he is currently level with Michael Schumacher on seven world titles.
      An eighth crown this year would make him the stand alone record holder. More

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      Inside F1 2023 pre-season testing in Bahrain as Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes aim to bounce back and new racers join grid

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      THE Formula One season gets the green light tomorrow as testing starts in Bahrain.Teams are limited to just three days of running around the 5.412 kilometre Bahrain International Circuit, which is home to the Bahrain Grand Prix.
      Sergio Perez (right) will be hoping to challenge his teammate and world champion Max Verstappen this seasonCredit: Getty
      Lewis Hamilton is targeting a record-breaking eighth world championshipCredit: PA
      Here SunSPORT takes a look at the main talking points as we get to see this year’s challengers hit the track.
      Why does F1 have testing?
      F1 teams have been spending months and many millions developing and building this year’s cars.
      However, they are not run on track at full speed until the designated three days of winter testing.
      Teams do have an allocation of shakedown and a filming days but these are limited to 100 kilometres and the tyres are usually demonstration models.
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      Therefore, it is only when they reach the official test can they run their cars at full capacity.
      It will allow them to test for reliability and performance and gives teams access to vital data, such as fluid temperatures in the engine or even airflow over the bodywork.
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      F1 cars are covered in around 300 sensors and monitored to see just how well they are performing or to spot any potential problems that need resolving.
      The data can then be used to compare with what the teams had been expecting over their winter development.
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      They can see how close the correlation is between their projected figures from their wind tunnels to a real-life scenario. 
      Why is it in Bahrain?
      Traditionally, F1 teams would test in Barcelona, however with the F1 calendar now taking in more races in warmer climates, the testing in Spain during February was not representative to conditions for the rest of the season. 
      The weather in Barcelona was often cold, there was even snow a few years ago, so Bahrain offers more stable, warm conditions so the teams are able to get in more running and tweak their cars’ performance. 
      The Bahrain circuit is also the host to the season-opening race, so logistically it makes sense as teams will bring their equipment for testing and then have it in place for the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 5 a week on Sunday. 
      Staff are likely to stay out too, saving on travel costs. 
      The other aspect is that this year’s F1 test has a sponsor, Saudi oil firm Aramco are the title-partner.
      Why are most of the cars black?
      Mercedes have reverted to the black livery they had in 2020 and 2021Credit: PA
      It is all because of weight-saving. 
      Last year’s new rules, plus the hybrid engines have made F1 cars bigger and heavier. 
      There is a minimum weight requirement of 798 kilograms however, the majority of teams run way over that figure. 
      This season it is about honing last year’s designs and shaving weight wherever possible because a lighter car increases performance and efficiency.
      It is estimated that teams can save around six kilograms in paint by keeping a car unpainted and, given that carbon fibre, which is used for the majority of the car parts is black in colour, teams have simply opted not to paint them.
      Who are the new drivers?
      Much is expected of Alpha Tauri’s Nyck De Vries after his outstanding super-sub performance at Monza last yearCredit: Getty
      There are some new faces – and the return of an old one.Oscar Piastri will make his F1 debut after joining McLaren after a long legal tussle with his former team, Alpine.
      The Australian had a successful junior career and is highly-rated. He’s also managed by former F1 driver, Mark Webber. 
      He replaces Daniel Ricciardo, who is now a reserve driver at Red Bull.
      Logan Sargeant has joined Williams as a replacement for Nicholas Latifi. The American is making his debut too.
      Nico Hulkenberg is returning to F1 and driving for the Haas team. He replaces Mick Schumacher, who is now a reserve driver at Mercedes.
      Nyck de Vries, who filled in at Williams when Alex Albon was ill last year at Monza, has been given a shot with Alpha Tauri.
      Will we find out who is the quickest?
      Not necessarily, no.
      The lap times are rarely an indication as to who will be quickest when the season starts.
      What testing is good for is showing who is reliable, which in fairness should be all of the 10 teams given this year’s rules are stable.
      Therefore, despite however many hundreds of laps the drivers put in this week, we will not know who is quickest until Saturday March 4 and qualifying for the Bahrain GP.
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      This week, expect to see the glory runs for midfield teams looking to impress potential sponsors.
      Similarly, the big teams could be sandbagging in the sense of not revealing their true car’s potential until it matters. More