Motorsport

LEWIS HAMILTON retired from the Australian GP with an engine failure and declared the opening three races as his “worst start” to a season.The 39-year-old lasted just 15 laps before he pulled over when his power unit shut down.Lewis Hamilton claims he’s undergoing the worst start to a season he’s ever hadCredit: SplashHamilton retired from the Australian Grand Prix with an engine failureCredit: RexHis DNF comes after a seventh-place finish in Bahrain and he was a lowly ninth in Saudi Arabia.On Friday, he declared that Mercedes’ latest pig off the production line “messes with the mind” due to its poor performance.Hamilton has decided to ditch Mercedes and move to Ferrari as he believes the Italian team will present him with the best opportunity to win titles again.And while he wants to go out with a bang with Mercedes, his latest set-back means he is down in ninth place in the drivers’ championship.Read More on F1He said: “This is the worst start to a season I’ve ever had.”When asked if it has been worse than 2022 and 2023 where he went winless, not helped by two poorly-designed cars, Hamilton added: “Oh, yeah, for sure.”Surprisingly I feel pretty good. I think I’m trying to keep things in perspective, you know?”It could be so much worse, I’m really grateful and have really enjoyed my time in Australia.Most read in Motorsport”I’m still enjoying working with the team, of course I’d love to be fighting for wins and finishing races.”It’s never a great feeling when you come all this way and don’t even see half of the race, but what I know is that we will bounce back and will get there, we just have to chip away at it.Inside the top secret Mercedes facility that Lewis Hamilton uses before every F1 race and is adapted to every track “I think it’s tough on the spirit for everyone in the team, when so much work is going on throughout the winter for everybody, you come in excited, motivated and driven, and then you’re with the mindset that you’re going to be fighting for wins.”And then obviously that’s not the case. And then you’re like, ‘Okay, maybe second, third’.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”No, it’s not the case, and it cascades a bit further down. And you just go through the motions. It’s challenging.”But I continue to be inspired by the people I’ve worked with. They continue to put in the effort and show up and that’s the most important thing.”Meanwhile, Hamilton’s teammate George Russell crashed on the final lap after swerving to avoid Fernando Alonso.The accident left Russell’s car on the side in the middle of the track and him calling for the race to be stopped.Both drivers were hauled to see the stewards, who penalised Alonso for “potentially dangerous driving” by lifting off the throttle.The two-time world champion escaped with an incredibly lenient penalty of having 20 seconds added to his total time, dropping him just two places to eighth.George Russell accidentSpeaking before the stewards’ verdict, Russell said: “I’m not going to accuse him of anything until we see further.”I was right behind him for many, many laps. I was half a second behind him before the corner”Then, suddenly he slowed up dramatically and got back on the power. I wasn’t expecting it and he caught me by surprise.”Alonso later added that he felt the penalty was unfair.He said: “In the closing laps, George caught me quickly. I knew that he was coming, then he was in DRS range for five or six laps, so I was just doing qualifying laps to stay ahead.READ MORE SUN STORIES”I wanted to maximise my exit speed from turn six to defend against him. That’s what any racing driver would do, and I didn’t feel it was dangerous.”It’s disappointing to get a penalty from the stewards for what was hard but fair racing. Still, I’m glad that George is okay. It was not nice to see his car in the middle of the track.” More

GEORGE RUSSELL walked away from a huge crash in the Australian Grand Prix unscathed after a dangerous duel with Fernando Alonso.The Mercedes star was sent skidding through the gravel and crashed into the barrier in the final lap of the Melbourne race as he chased down the F1 legend.George Russell crashed out of the Australian Grand Prix in the final lapCredit: AFPThe Brit skidded through the gravel after a high-speed duel with Fernando AlonsoCredit: AFPThe Mercedes star ended up crashing into the barrierCredit: GETTYRussell, thankfully, walked away from the crash without any injuriesCredit: AFPRussell’s car – which left a slew of debris on the track – was left on its side at turns six and seven.F1 fans feared for Russell after the crash but the Brit quickly allayed those concerns in his immediate communication with his team.”I am OK,” he told his Mercedes team via his radio.The crash resulted in the remainder of the race being completed with a safety car.The FIA are set to launch an investigation into the crash due to the suggestion that Alonso could have break-tested the Brit.And Russell believes it was “clear” the Spaniard braked 100 metres before the dangerous turn.He said of the incident: “I mean, my take is I’ve gone off and that’s on me.“But, I was half a second behind Fernando 100 metres before the corner and suddenly he came towards me extremely quick.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSRace chiefs are set to launch an investigation into the crashCredit: AFP“I was right on his gearbox. I don’t know if he’s got a problem or not.“We’re off to the stewards so that’s a bit bizarre in a circumstance like this.The chase for glory: Inside the world of F1 reserve drivers“I got nothing more to say right now, I need to see everything. I’m just disappointed to end the race like that.”He added: “Well, it’s clear that he brakes 100 metres before the corner and then went back on the throttle again and took the corner normally.“We’ve already seen the data of that so I’m not going to accuse him of anything until we’ve seen further.”But, you know, I was right behind him for many, many laps, I was half a second behind him approaching the corner and then suddenly, he slowed up very dramatically and got back from the power.“I wasn’t expecting that and caught me by surprise. “So that part’s on me, but it’s interesting that we’ve been called to the stewards so intrigued to see what is said.”Russell and Alonso weren’t the only drivers enveloped in drama in the race Down Under. Defending champion Max Verstappen saw his bid to equal his record of ten consecutive wins go up in smoke when his rear break CAUGHT FIRE in the third lap and forced him to retire.Carlos Sainz won the Australian Grand PrixCredit: GETTYHis retirement paved the way for returning Ferrari star Carlos Sainz to win the race. The Spaniard said: “It was a really good race. I felt really good out there.”Of course a bit stiff and especially physically it wasn’t the easiest. “But I was lucky I was more or less on my own and I could manage my pace, my tyres, manage everything, and it wasn’t the toughest race of all.”But very happy, very proud of the team, and happy to be in a one-two with Charles [Leclerc]. “It shows that hard work pays off and life sometimes is crazy.READ MORE SUN STORIES”What happened at the beginning of the year, then the podium in Bahrain, then the appendix, the comeback, the win…it’s a rollercoaster. “But I loved it and I’m extremely happy. will recommend all the drivers to take [their appendix] out this winter!” More

CARLOS SAINZ recovered from appendicitis to win the Australian Grand Prix after Max Verstappen retired with a brake failure.The Spanish driver was forced to miss the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and was replaced by British driver Oliver Bearman in Jeddah.Max Verstappen started the Aussie Grand Prix on poleCredit: GETTYBut the defending champion was forced to retire in the third roundCredit: RexVerstappen’s rear break caught fireHis Red Bull was enveloped by smokeCredit: APHowever, despite undergoing surgery just 16 days ago, Sainz was in position to capitalise on a rare retirement from the reigning world champion.Sainz, 29, scored his third win of the season and boosts his chances of earning a seat on the grid in 2025 after Ferrari decided to replace him with Lewis Hamilton, who was forced out of the race with an engine issue.Sainz, who later pointed out he is ‘still jobless for next year’ said: “It was a really good race. I felt really good out there.”Of course a bit stiff and especially physically it wasn’t the easiest but I was lucky I was more or less on my own and I could manage my pace, my tyres, manage everything, and it wasn’t the toughest race of all.READ MORE IN F1″But very happy, very proud of the team, and happy to be in a one-two with Charles [Leclerc]. “It shows that hard work pays off and life sometimes is crazy.”What happened at the beginning of the year, then the podium in Bahrain, then the appendix, the comeback, the win…it’s a rollercoaster. “But I loved it and I’m extremely happy.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSCarlos Sainz celebrates winning the Australian Grand PrixCredit: Getty”I will recommend all the drivers to take [their appendix] out this winter!”Verstappen had started on pole but was passed by Sainz on the second lap as the Dutchman was unable to pull away in his usual manner.Verstappen breaks silence on Christian Horner ‘sexting’ probe as pressure mounts on Red Bull 3 weeks after shock claimsAnd on the third lap, Verstappen was in trouble with smoke coming from his rear right brake.His bid for a record 10th straight win ended when he was forced to retire.He said: “What we can see so far from the data is that as soon as the lights went off the right-rear brake just stuck on.”It just caused the damage and it kept on increasing so it was also basically driving with the handbrake on.”That’s why the car felt really weird to drive in some corners, just very snappy, while the laps to the grid the car was really spot on and I was happy with what we were doing.”But if a brake is stuck on it doesn’t help.”Verstappen’s DNF allowed Norris to take the final spot on the podium ahead of his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri.Norris said: “It was a very good day for us. I’m very happy and proud of the team because P3 and P4 is a lot of points in the championship. So that’s the first thing.”We missed out on [second place to] Charles, I think our pace was a little bit better.”But Ferrari and Carlos did a very good job, so hats off to them, they’ve been fast all weekend.Mercedes’ George Russell had a huge crash on the final lap after making contact with Fernando AlonsoCredit: AFPLewis Hamilton was forced to retire on lap 17 after his engine shut downCredit: Reuters”I felt good, I could manage the tyres very well today, it was a good step. “Probably wasn’t expecting to be on the podium so I’m very happy.”However, it was a miserable race for Mercedes as both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell retired.Hamilton retired on lap 17 when he pulled over when his engine shut down and was left in no uncertain terms as to the poor start he has made to the season.He said: “I mean, this is the worst start to season I’ve ever had. “Surprisingly, I feel pretty good. I’m trying to keep things in perspective, you know, this like, could be so much worse.”I’m really grateful. I’ve really enjoyed my time here in Australia, I’m still enjoying working with a team. “Of course, I’d love to be fighting for wins and actually finishing races.”It’s never a great feeling when you come all this way, and you don’t see even half of the race, but what I know is that we will bounce back, we will eventually get there, we just have to continue to chip away.”READ MORE SUN STORIESMeanwhile, Russell had a big crash on the final lap when he made contact with Fernando Alonso.The clash is now the subject of an FIA investigation with suspicions that Alonso had brake-tested the Brit. More