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    Red Bull chief Christian Horner wins €500 bet after Max Verstappen’s stunning turnaround in Abu Dhabi GP qualifying

    MAX VERSTAPPEN took pole for the final race of the season – winning his boss Christian Horner a €500 bet in the process.Horner had a wager with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko that Verstappen would qualify on the front row for tomorrow’s race.
    Verstappen’s pole earned Christian Horner €500Credit: EPA
    Horner won the bet with Helmut MarkoCredit: AFP
    The Dutchman had struggled during practice and had complained about the handling of his car.
    During Friday’s practice he was fortunate to escape without even a ticking off for passing Hamilton and Russell in the pitlane.
    However, he blasted his way to P1 ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
    After he crossed the line, Horner said: “Well done mate. You have just won me 500 euros out of Helmut, which is like getting blood out of a stone.”
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    Verstappen replied: “Helmut lost a bet? What world are we living in?”
    He later added: “What a turn around because practice was not looking that good. I was struggling with the balance and made some changes and from lap one, I was a lot more connected and it felt a bit better.
    “It shows that details make the difference because I was not so happy until qualifying and then it turned in my favour.”
    It was Verstappen’s 32nd career pole and 12th of the season and means he is on course for his 19th win of the season in tomorrow’s race.
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    It came after Lando Norris made a mistake on his final run and he qualified fifth.
    However, Lewis Hamilton had another disastrous qualifying session to raise doubts as to whether he will ever be in position to challenge for wins.
    Incredibly, it has been 721 days since his last victory, coming in Jeddah in the Saudi GP on December 5th, 2021.
    Hamilton was eliminated from the second session and qualified down in 11th place while his teammate George Russell was fourth.
    Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz also had a shocker and was a surprise scalp in Q1 and qualified in 16th place in his Ferrari. More

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    Who is Wheeler Dealers’ host Mike Brewer and what is his net worth?

    THE car-lover is best known by petrol-heads as the Wheeler Dealers presenter.But who is Mike Brewer, and what’s his net worth? Here’s what we know.
    Mike Brewer presents Wheeler Dealers on the Discovery Channel, with co-host Marc PriestleyCredit: Alamy
    Who is Mike Brewer?
    Mark Brewer is a British television presenter and car enthusiast. 
    He was born in Lambeth, London, on August 28, 1964.
    Brewer is best known as the host of Wheeler Dealers, the Discovery Channel’s car programme, which he has presented since 2003. 
    The premise of the show is that Brewer and the other presenters have a mission to save old vehicles, fix up old cars on a budget, and sell them to a new owner.
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    Brewer’s co-presenter has changed over the years: Edd China was his first co-host, followed by Ant Anstead, and most recently, Marc “Elvis” Priestley. 
    But Brewer is not only a presenter — alongside his television work, he is still active in the motor industry, and opened Mike Brewer Motors in 2012, a dealership in Sheffield. 
    He also launched the annual Used Car Award for used car dealers in the UK, a black-tie event in London. 
    What is Mike Brewer’s net worth?
    Brewer has an estimated net worth between $1.5 million and $4 million (£1.2 million to £3.2 million), owing to his long presenting career, and other business ventures. 
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    Some sources also indicate that his annual salary is $250,000. 
    Despite his motor industry fame, Brewer is famously down-to-earth.
    Is Mike Brewer married?
    Brewer is married to Michelle Brewer, whom he married in 1992.
    Michelle was born on June 9, 1962. 
    The pair are thought to live in Warwickshire and have one daughter together. 
    In a 2023 interview, Brewer opened up about the impact his career has had on his marriage, saying: “I’ve literally dedicated my life – 26 years actually – dedicated to this craft.
    “And I feel like it’s given me an amazing life but it’s also come at the cost of my marriage.”
    “But there comes a time when I look and I think, maybe I should spend more time with my wife? She drives me mad but I love being with her,” he added.
    Brewer often posts photos of Michelle with his Twitter followers, with captions such as: 
    “Happy Birthday to my beautiful wife  .. life with Michelle is wonderful, I’m so lucky. I love you tons”.
    Michelle, meanwhile, posts on Twitter under the username @MrsMBrewer. 
    In her Twitter bio, she describes herself as “The driving force behind #WheelerDealer”, so it appears the pair work as a team, and Michelle has a lot of involvement in the car industry. 
    What other shows has Mike Brewer presented?
    Brewer started his television career in 1997, on Channel 4’s Deals on Wheels, and ITV’s Pulling Power. 
    In 1999, he presented Driven on Channel 4 for one year. 
    Then in 2003, Wheeler Dealers started, on the Discovery Channel, which Brewer has presented ever since. 
    In 2009, Brewer presented another show on the Discovery Channel — Auto Trader.
    Since 2020, Brewer has also hosted the Wheeler Dealers spin-off show on the Discovery Channel, Wheeler Dealers: Dream Car. 
    For the Discovery Channel, Brewer has also presented Deals on Wheels, Wrecks to Riches, and Frontline Battle Machines.
    In 2020, Brewer took a turn co-hosting a show called The World’s Greatest Cars, on Quest. 
    Alongside television presenting, Brewer launched the Wheeler Dealer Podcast in February 2023, which has so far run for two series. 
    What cars has Mike Brewer owned?
    It comes as no surprise that Brewer has a significant collection of classic cars. 
    Brewer’s first car was a beige Mini 850cc, but he has driven a wide range of cars in the interim period. 
    In 2021, Brewer announced that despite ridiculing electric cars, he’d taken the plunge and bought himself a Porsche Taycan. 
    That same year, Brewer decided to auction off a selection of his own cars, many of which he’s restored and maintained himself, at the Silverstone Auctions at NEC Classic Motor Show.
    In the lot were a 1972 Citroen SM 2.7 four-seat coupé, a 1967 Mini Cooper 1275 S, a 1961 Austin Seven Mini 1961, a 1966 Ford Cortina Lotus Mk1, and a 2002 Ferrari 360 Spider F1.
    Despite his love for his collection of cars, Brewer’s schedule didn’t allow him the time to drive and car for all of them. 
    Brewer has previously said he believes classic cars “are there to be driven. I know that first hand because I’ve got a collection.”
    He said: “Buy something you love, buy something you’re interested in because when you love the car you’re much more likely to be willing to spend time on it, to look after it, to drive it.”
    Brewer also revealed that his Ford Fiesta Mk1 was stolen in June 2023, a car that had been restored by Brewer and Priestly to mark the 20th anniversary of Wheeler Dealers.
    Despite offering a £5000 reward for the card, as of November 2023, it has not been recovered. More

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    F1 to make MAJOR change to 2024 race weekends after Lewis Hamilton’s ‘pointless’ comment and sarcastic Verstappen jibe

    F1 SPRINTS are set to be changed in 2024 in order to make race weekends easier to follow.The format will be refreshed for the new season after complaints from the likes of Lewis Hamilton this year.
    F1 sprint weekends are set to be changed after complaints from Lewis HamiltonCredit: Getty
    Hamilton had claimed the sprint races were ‘pointless’Credit: Splash
    It was confirmed on Friday that the Sporting Advisory Committee will present their final proposal to the F1 Commission in January.
    An FIA statement read: “The Commission gave overall support for an update to the sprint format for 2024 to further rationalise the weekend by separating Sprint activities from those for the Grand Prix.
    “The final calendar for the 2024 sprint events will be published in the coming weeks.”
    Six rounds of this season’s calendar have been sprint weekends, including in Qatar as Max Verstappen clinched his third world title on a Saturday.
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    The current format sees qualifying for the grand prix held on a Friday, with the sprint qualifying and race taking place on Saturday.
    Teams have discussed moving sprint qualifying to Friday instead, with the 100km race held on Saturday morning before GP qualifying.
    The planned changes come after Hamilton had slammed the sprint races at the Austrian GP in July after qualifying in 18th.
    “Sprint race doesn’t really matter anyways,” he admitted. “So today [I’ll] just have some fun from the back and it is what it is.
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    Hamilton and Max Verstappen went back and forth over sprint races last monthCredit: Getty
    “I don’t really feel any way about it to be honest. I wish I was still out there, but not today.
    “There’s nothing really to say. Just that we will focus on our job today and could’ve easily been much further up there, but yeah, I’ll just have a bit of fun at the back.”
    He has an opposing view to Verstappen, who sarcastically said: “Love it. It’s fantastic!” after winning the sprint race at last month’s United States GP.
    During the same press conference, Hamilton later quipped: “Sounds like you’re a bit bored,” in response to Verstappen’s honest views on the sprints.
    This prompted Verstappen to add: “I’m not bored but if I would be a fan, I would just be disappointed because then you more or less know about the picture.
    “If nothing crazy happens, you know what’s going to happen tomorrow so I find that a bit…
    “It takes away that magic of waking up on a Sunday morning or whatever, Sunday afternoon, and you turn on the TV and you’ve had qualifying but you’re not sure which car is going to be quickest in most of the years and yeah, it takes that magic away, I find.” More

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    Lewis Hamilton’s Red Bull F1 saga takes shock twist as it’s claimed his own DAD was in contact with Christian Horner

    SIR LEWIS HAMILTON’S dad Anthony is claimed to have been in contact with Red Bull.It comes after Hamilton was forced to deny suggestions he had reached out to Christian Horner about joining his team.
    Anthony Hamilton, left, is claimed to have spoken to Christian HornerCredit: AP:Associated Press
    Lewis Hamilton denied Horner’s claim he had reached out to the Red Bull chiefCredit: Getty
    Hamilton accused the Red Bull chief of “stirring things” and rejected claims he or one of his representatives reached out to Horner.
    Horner said there was “an enquiry” from Hamilton and a Red Bull spokesperson has now claimed it was Anthony who made the approach.
    SunSport understands Anthony and Red Bull have been in contact – although he is no longer part of Hamilton’s management team.
    Anthony managed Hamilton early in his career but quit that role in 2010.
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    The Brit had been linked with an exit from Mercedes earlier this year but ended up agreeing a new deal with the Silver Arrows in August.
    That will see Hamilton remain at Mercedes until 2025 and the seven-time champion confirmed his commitment to his team by shooting down Horner’s comments.
    He said: “I don’t really know where that story’s come from. I mean I know it has come from Christian [Horner].
    “I don’t really understand what he’s been talking about because no one from my team as far as I’m aware has spoken to him.
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    “I haven’t spoken to Christian, really, in years. However, he did reach out to me earlier in the year about meeting up, but that’s it.
    “I just congratulated them on an amazing year and said hopefully soon I’ll be able to fight against them in the near future – that was it.
    “So I’m not really sure, I think it’s just stirring things.” More

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    Lando Norris’ stunning ex-girlfriend labelled ‘the definition of beauty’ as she flaunts curves in Lisbon

    LUISINHA OLIVEIRA had fans reaching for their dictionaries with her latest social media post.The Portuguese model is no stranger to the glam lifestyle.
    Luisinha Oliveira had fans reaching for their dictionariesCredit: instagram @luisinhaoliveira99
    Luisinha posed up against a window with a sun-lit backgroundCredit: instagram @luisinhaoliveira99
    Luisinha had an all-black look for the photoCredit: instagram @luisinhaoliveira99
    Luisinha was taken the photo in LisbonCredit: instagram @luisinhaoliveira99
    And she showed off a fabulous look in front of a stunning partly red sun-lit backdrop in Lisbon.
    Luisinha, the ex-girlfriend of Formula One star Lando Norris, could be seen sitting up next to a window.
    She could be seen in a blackout look with her top off the shoulders.
    Fans were enamoured by the post and rushed to the comments.
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    One fan said: “I’m in love.”
    A second said: “The definition of beauty.”
    A third said: “You’re so pretty.”
    Another said: “The sunset in the back 🙌🏼.”
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    While a fifth added: “Prettiest human on earth.”
    Luisinha, 23, dated McLaren ace Norris for a year before splitting in September 2022.
    She was often seen cheering him on from the paddock during their time together.
    The pair split on good terms.
    Luisinha has 377,000 followers on Instagram.
    Luisinha works as a modelCredit: instagram @luisinhaoliveira99
    Luisinha dated F1 star Lando Norris for one yearCredit: Getty
    Luisinha has 377,000 followers on InstagramCredit: https://www.instagram.com/luisinhaoliveira99/
    Luisinha is often seen flaunting her curves on social mediaCredit: Instagram @luisinhaoliveira99 More

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    F1 set to trial never-before-seen feature at season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

    ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE will be trialled for the first time at the Abu Dhabi GP this weekend.AI will be used to try to regulate track violations by drivers.
    The Abu Dhabi GP will see AI be trialledCredit: Rex
    This season has seen cars often cross the white line at the edge of the track which has resulted in lap times being lost in qualifying and in the race.
    This weekend will hopefully be different as the FIA will be using “Computer Vision” technology to analyse the edge of the track.
    It will work out the number of pixels going past the edge of the track in Abu Dhabi and judge if the cars have strayed too far.
    The FIA’s head of remote operations and deputy race director Tim Malyon has insisted that Computer Vision has been effective in medicine.
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    He said: “They don’t want to use the Computer Vision to diagnose cancer.
    “What they want to do is to use it to throw out the 80 per cent of cases where there clearly is no cancer in order to give the well-trained people more time to look at the 20 per cent.
    “And that’s what we are targeting.”
    He believes that the use of AI would reduce the number of infringements being looked at.
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    He added: “The biggest imperative is to expand the facility and continue to invest in software, because that’s how we’ll make big strides.
    “The final takeaway for me is be open to new technologies and continue to evolve.
    “I’ve repeatedly said that humans are winning at the moment in certain areas.
    “That might be the case now but we do feel that ultimately, real-time automated policing systems are the way forward.”
    The problems caused by cars crossing the white lines were seen in the Austrian Grand Prix as there were 1,200 potential violations being processed by four people.
    In Qatar, there were eight people processing the violations but due to the amount, there were some breaches that went unpunished. More

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    Lewis Hamilton slams F1 rival Christian Horner for ‘stirring things’ and says ‘I don’t understand what he’s on about’

    LEWIS HAMILTON has accused Christian Horner of “stirring things” after the Red Bull chief claimed he was keen to join them from Mercedes.Horner told the Daily Mail that a representative of Hamilton’s had reached out to him about joining Red Bull to work alongside Max Verstappen.
    Lewis Hamilton has slammed Christian Horner for “stirring things”Credit: Rex
    Horner had claimed that a member of Hamilton’s team had reached out to him about Hamilton joining Red BullCredit: Getty

    But the Brit driver has rubbished the claims in an interview ahead of this weekend’s season closer in Abu Dhabi.
    Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “I don’t really know where that story’s come from. I mean I know it has come from Christian [Horner].
    “I don’t really understand what he’s been talking about because no one from my team as far as I’m aware has spoken to him.
    “I haven’t spoken to Christian, really, in years. However, he did reach out to me earlier in the year about meeting up, but that’s it.
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    “I just congratulated them on an amazing year and said hopefully soon I’ll be able to fight against them in the near future – that was it.
    “So I’m not really sure, I think it’s just stirring things.”
    Hamilton had been linked with an exit from the Mercedes in recent times, but ended up agreeing a new deal with the Silver Arrows this August that will see him stay put until 2025.
    When probed further about the Horner’s claims, Hamilton doubled down on the fact there had been no talks.
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    He said: “There aren’t any confidential discussions. You know Christian, he loves that kind of stuff.”
    The 38-year-old has been struggling at Mercedes over the last two years and is now just one race away from going two seasons without a single win.
    Meanwhile Red Bull have made this year’s competition essentially a nine month long procession due to their dominance.
    Max Verstappen tied up his third consecutive World Championship in Qatar with SIX races still to go.
    The Belgian-Dutch driver has won all but three of this year’s Grand Prix with his teammate Sergio Perez winning two of the races he was unsuccessful in. More

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    Who is Frederik Vesti? Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes replacement in Abu Dhabi

    FREDERIK VESTI has big gloves to fill as he’ll be replacing Lewis Hamilton this weekend in Abu Dhabi.A host of young drivers are set to appear in what is the grand finale of the 2023 F1 season.
    Frederik Vesti will be behind the Mercedes wheel in Abu DhabiCredit: Reuters
    And Mercedes have confirmed that Vesti, 21, will be in the driving seat on the Yas Marina Circuit.
    But who is Vesti and why have Mercedes given him the nod over seven-time champion Hamilton?
    Who is Frederik Vesti?
    Born on January 13, 2002, Frederik Vesti is currently competing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Prema Racing, but he is a member of the Mercedes Junior Team.
    The Dane’s love for racing came from age 10 when he competitively started karting before officially starting his career in Danish Formula Ford, finishing fourth in the championship.
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    Vesti had two respectable F3 campaigns where he finished fourth overall back-to-back which resulted in promotion to F2 during the 2021 calendar year.
    However, the Danish driver’s biggest achievement to date came in 2019 when Vesti impressively raced to the Formula Regional European Championship.
    Why is Frederik Vesti racing at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023?
    An F1 rule introduced last year requires each team to run a rookie for two practice sessions across the season.
    Vesti previously took part during the first Practice in Mexico last month in place of George Russell.
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    And the Danish driver is second in the F2 standings ahead of the final round at the Yas Marina circuit with a huge opportunity to clinch the championship this weekend.
    Vesti will first appear in FP1, though, and told Mercedes’ official website: “Driving in FP1 in Abu Dhabi is another step in my career.
    “Getting my first experience of an official session on an F1 weekend in Mexico was a big moment. I learnt so much, and it was great being able to support the team and work with Lewis and George.
    “I’m looking forward to building on that experience at Yas Marina. It’s a track I know well and that will no doubt make it easier to get up to speed in the one hour of practice.
    “I’m extremely excited to get back behind-the-wheel of the W14 for FP1 and then the post-season test. Once again, I want to say a big thank you to the team for giving me this opportunity.”
    When is the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023?

    The F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will take place on Sunday, November 26.
    It is scheduled to get underway at 1pm GMT – 5pm local time.
    Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi is the allocated track for this final event and it can host approximately 60,000 spectators.
    Max Verstappen finished in pole position during the 2022 edition. More