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      Christian Horner hints at Max Verstappen retirement as he talks about ‘ambitions beyond F1’

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      CHRISTIAN HORNER has hinted that Max Verstappen may retire from Formula One early as he has ‘ambitions beyond racing.’The Red Bull driver sealed his third consecutive world championship after finishing second in the Qatar GP sprint race on Saturday.
      Christian Horner believes Max Verstappen will not carry on for another 10 yearsCredit: AFP
      This came after the Dutchman won his third consecutive title on SaturdayCredit: Getty
      Verstappen, still only 26, became the first driver to wrap up a title during a sprint event, the short-form format introduced in 2021.
      The Dutchman has completely dominated this season, winning 13 of the 16 races and getting on the podium in two more.
      But Red Bull team principal Horner has suggested he won’t continue deep into his thirties.
      Horner told PA Media: “He can go on to achieve so much more.
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      “We are riding a wave at the moment, and we want to continue riding that wave for as long as we can.
      “Will Max be in Formula One for a long, long time? I don’t think so.
      “He has ambitions beyond F1 and beyond racing, and at 26, 36 seems a long way away.
      “We have a long-term agreement with him until 2028, and he has always said he will be happy to start and end his career here, but motivation will be a crucial factor.”
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      He also set a new record earlier in the campaign by racking up 10 consecutive wins, surpassing the legendary Michael Schumacher in the process.
      Sergio Perez’s two early victories and Carlos Sainz’s win in Singapore remain the only blots on Verstappen’s historic record this year.
      The Dutchman now leads his team-mate by a staggering 184 points.
      He became the 11th driver to reach at least three titles and just the fifth to clinch a hat-trick in a row. More

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      F1 on course for chaos next season with staggering 14 drivers out of contract in 2024 including Sergio Perez at Red Bull

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      SERGIO PEREZ is one of 14 F1 drivers out of contract in 2024.The sport is on course for a chaotic summer next season as drivers are dropped and change teams in a major shake-up.
      Sergio Perez is one of 14 F1 drivers out of contract in 2024Credit: Getty
      With six races remaining in 2023, Max Verstappen looks set to win his third straight world title.
      However, the contract situation of more than half the drivers means next year is looking far less certain.
      Whilst Verstappen is tied down to a long-term deal with Red Bull, his team-mate Perez is out of contract in 2024.
      Perez’s situation is expected to impact on much of what happens with other drivers.
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      The Mexican is reportedly unlikely to sign a new deal with Red Bull and could prompt them to secure his replacement early.
      Although McLaren and Mercedes have their drivers contracted beyond the end of next season, the rest of the spots on the grid are seemingly up in the air.
      Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are yet to pen new contracts but are both expected to commit to extensions.
      Fernando Alonso’s future with Aston Martin is not yet finalised, with the constructor hoping their project is enough to keep hold of him.
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      Although the Spaniard has had a good season, Aston Martin’s performances have regressed, causing doubts he will extend his deal.
      Lance Stroll is expected to renew his contract with Mike Krack’s team, though.
      Pierre Gasly is understood to have done enough to earn a new deal with Alpine, but Esteban Ocon could depart.
      The Frenchman has been tipped as a potential replacement for Lando Norris at McLaren if he is snapped up by Red Bull to replace Perez.
      Williams are hopeful they can retain Alex Albon beyond the end of 2024 but he has yet to put pen to paper on an extension.
      His team-mate Logan Sargeant is expected to stay on for 2024, but the rookie will only be handed a one-year renewal, leaving his long-term future up in the air.
      A decision from Haas on their drivers could be one of the last, with both Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg handed one-year extensions for next year.
      It is currently believed that the duo will be retained for 2025, however, with few valuable alternatives available to Haas.
      Formula 2 star Oliver Bearman has been suggested as a potential arrival if Guenther Steiner decides to shuffle his pack.
      AlphaTauri are another team who could be impacted by Perez’s contract situaton.
      Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda have been announced as their 2024 line-up and will both be hoping to replace Checo at Red Bull.
      If one of them can earn that goal then AlphaTauri will join the list of constructors looking for replacements, with reserve driver Liam Lawson a potential target.
      Finally, Alfa Romeo face considerable uncertainty ahead of their 2026 rebrand under Audi.
      Zhou Guanyu is at risk of losing his place on the grid after a cycle of one-year renewals.
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      F2 prospect Theo Pourchaire has been lined up as a possible replacement for the Chinese driver.
      Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas has under-performed since signing from Mercedes and may also slip off the grid if he does not improve.
      Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc are yet to extend their Ferrari dealsCredit: Getty
      Valtteri Bottas could leave Haas at the end of next yearCredit: Getty More

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      F1 legend Eddie Jordan names two drivers Red Bull should consider as Perez replacement

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      FORMULA ONE legend Eddie Jordan has named two potential replacements for Sergio Perez at Red Bull.Perez’s contract expires at the end of the 2024 season and boss Christian Horner has made it clear he will be exploring new driver options.
      Eddie Jordan has revealed Liam Lawson should replace Sergio PerezCredit: Getty
      Jordan also tipped off Oscar Piastri would be another optionCredit: Getty
      And F1 icon Jordan reckons Red Bulls should look at Liam Lawson and Oscar Piastri to fill the Mexican’s seat.
      Perez, 33, has struggled this season and is already a massive 177 points behind team-mate, and runaway title leader, Max Verstappen in the driver’s standings.
      That form has seen Perez’s future be called into question with reserve driver Lawson tipped to take over.
      Lawson, 21, made his F1 debut this month, for Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri, standing in for injured Daniel Ricciardo in Singapore and Japan.
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      His ninth-place finish in Singapore was the team’s best of the season, and he followed it with an 11th in Japan.
      But it wasn’t enough to earn him a permanent seat next season, as AlphaTauri confirmed Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda will return.
      But Jordan was impressed and suggested on his Formula For Success podcast that Lawson would be a perfect fit for Horner’s team.
      He said: “Lawson finishing 11th – and he just keeps doing it – in a car that really shouldn’t be there, scoring points in Singapore, and he’s on the case all the time.
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      “Lawson deserves a chance in Formula 1, you can only win the championship with one driver.
      “And, in my opinion, if you are going to change Checo Perez, I would change them for somebody absolutely new who has a really bright future.
      “I think Lawson because it’s the same kind of feeder team, isn’t it?
      “Where Sebastian Vettel came from and Lawson has that ability. I think he, either next year or the year after, should wind up in Red Bull.”
      While he clearly rates Lawson, Jordan admitted he would go for someone else if he were in charge of Red Bull.
      Former team owner Jordan added: “I think Piastri is the real deal.
      “Full marks to McLaren, they’ve signed him ’til ’26 because they needed to because he will be a very sought-after driver.
      “If I was in Red Bull, and I was thinking of replacing Checo, he’d be the one I’d have in my mind.” More

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      Christian Horner turns barman as his Red Bull team sing Wonderwall to celebrate F1 Constructors’ Championship

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      RED BULL celebrated winning the Constructors’ Championship by putting Christian Horner behind the bar.Max Verstappen clinched victory at the Japan Grand Prix on Sunday, meaning he can win his third world title in a row in two weeks time.
      Christian Horner switched the paddock for the bar as Red Bull celebrated in styleCredit: Instagram
      A member of the Red Bull team got out a guitar to lead the songCredit: Instagram
      The party began on the track at SuzukaCredit: Splash
      It’s Red Bull’s sixth titleCredit: Splash
      But before turning their attention to the race in Qatar, the Red Bull team celebrated winning back-to-back Constructors’ Championships.
      The crew partied in Tokyo as Horner jumped behind the bar to pour pints.
      All involved then belted out Oasis classic Wonderwall as the booze flowed throughout the night.
      Earlier in the day, Verstappen praised the team over the radio as he passed the chequered flag.
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      He said: “You can all be very proud. Everyone here and back in the factory, what a rocketship we’ve built.”
      Meanwhile, Horner added: “It’s a testimony to the men and women in the team, the partners.
      “It’s a collection of everyone doing their bit to help the team.
      “Max is on another level at the moment, today was an incredible performance.”
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      He also wrote on Instagram: “This kind of season would be impossible without the hard work that goes on behind the scenes from all the different departments both back at Milton Keynes and here at track.
      “From the crazy hours that they work through to the relentless pursuit for better, it is a true team effort and one to be immensely proud of.
      “We’ll celebrate tonight and then turn our focus to Qatar.”
      Red Bull sit top of the standings with 623 points with six races to go.
      Nearest challengers Mercedes have less than half their total on 305.
      It is the team’s sixth Constructors’ Championship title. More

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      Frustrated Hamilton only makes seventh as Verstappen produces one of best laps in F1 history to take pole at Japanese GP

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN produced one of the best laps in F1 history to take pole for the Japanese GP while Lewis Hamilton was left criticising his Mercedes after only making seventh.Verstappen had seen his 10-race winning run come to a halt in Singapore but was back to his best after blitzing pole in Suzuka.
      Max Verstappen secured yet another pole as he seeks a 13th win of the seasonCredit: Splash
      Lewis Hamilton was left frustrated after only managing seventh in qualifyingCredit: Rex
      Verstappen was over half a second clear of McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in what was one of the stand-out laps all time.
      Red Bull boss Christian Horner said: “What we have witnessed is something very special.
      “That last lap, the first sector was absolutely mighty. Gianpiero Lambiase [Verstappen’s race engineer] started winding him up before his last run ‘let’s see a 28 [a lap of 1m.28s.] in there’ and I said to GP ‘I would like to see four wheels on the car at the end of it’.
      “That first run looked good enough to get the job done but then he went quicker again.
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      “All his laps have been stunning today. An absolutely mind-blowing performance.”
      Verstappen’s lap was impeccable and former F1 driver Karun Chandhok said: “I’m still breathless watching that. I think that was one of the great qualifying laps in F1 history.
      “He thought about every metre [of the lap] and for me that’s a driver who’s ahead of the car.”
      McLaren continued their impressive resurgence with both drivers turning in mighty laps to start in second and third.
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      But Hamilton was dismayed by Mercedes’ after he was only good enough for seventh while George Russell was eighth-quickest – both drivers were over a second slower than Verstappen.
      Hamilton said: “We as a team really need to when we go back and do the debrief – I hope the team already realise – but a second gap is huge. And it is real.
      “To be two years in and still be a second down to the Red Bulls is not a good showing and we need to make sure we work hard over the winter to get back at least half that gap before next year.
      “We have a very peaky car. It is like trying to balance a knife on its tip.
      “It is never perfectly balanced, it is one way or the other. You try and get it as close as you can to the middle but it is very hard to do each weekend.”
      Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda will continue to drive for AlphaTauri next season.
      Liam Lawson, who has filled in for Ricciardo who broke his hand in Zandvoort, will be reserve and simulator driver for both of Red Bull’s F1 teams.
      Ricciardo, who could be back at the US GP in Austin, said: “I’m stoked to be driving with Yuki again next year and continuing the journey with Scuderia AlphaTauri.
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      “Following the progress we have already made and the plans for the future, it’s an exciting time for the team.
      “We are building and it is a great feeling. There is a lot of work to do, but we are heading in the right direction and there is a lot to look forward to.” More

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      Red Bull boss Horner fires dig at Wolff over ‘Wikipedia’ comment as he closes in on sixth F1 constructors’ championship

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      RED BULL boss Christian Horner has taunted Toto Wolff as his team stands on the brink of winning the F1 constructors’ championship for a sixth time.Merc boss Wolff quipped that Max Verstappen’s record of 10 straight victories after the Italian GP was “irrelevant” and something “for Wikipedia”.
      Red Bull chief Christian Horner has hit back at Mercedes boss Toto WolffCredit: Getty
      Wolff claimed Max Verstappen’s recent success was “irrelevant” and something “for Wikipedia”Credit: Getty
      The disingenuous remark drew criticism and Horner could not resist poking fun at his opposite number as Red Bull edge closer to winning the title in Japan this weekend.
      Reflecting on Red Bull’s rise since the team was formed in 2004, Horner said: “When I first came in it was clear that [Red Bull owner] Dietrich [Mateschitz] had come into F1 because he wanted to compete and had bought what was the Jaguar F1 team which had been a sort of perennial seventh place finisher.
      “It was about then constructing a team and I don’t think anyone of us could have envisaged what lay ahead of us.
      “Within 19 seasons we’ve achieved what we have and it’s been a phenomenal journey so far.
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      “But it’s never a question of looking back, it’s always a question of looking forward.
      “If we can close out these championships in the coming races that again, well nobody looks at Wikipedia these days, but that again is a huge statistic that everybody will be immensely proud of. 
      “I think for us, it then becomes about next year, the year after and, of course, the next chapter for Red Bull, which is with the relationship with Ford in 2026 with producing our own powertrain.
      “Going from zero with a startup company effectively and building a facility. That is the next challenge.
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      “But it’s been quite a journey, and hopefully, there are a few more chapters to go.”
      Verstappen looks on course to resume his place on the top step of the podium after dominating the two practice sessions in Suzuka.
      The Dutchman led the way in FP1 and FP2 as he put his struggles in Singapore behind him.
      He said: “It felt really good today. From lap one the car was enjoyable to drive again.
      “It seems like we had a strong day, on short runs, long runs… There’s a lot of degradation on this track, so it will be quite tough on tyres in the race. But so far we had a good start to the weekend.”
      Meanwhile, Lando Norris has laughed off George Russell’s prediction that the McLaren man is one of the favourites for the victory this weekend.
      Norris, who was third-quickest in both practice sessions, joked: “Has he seen the rest of the season at all? Has he been watching the races?” More

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      F1 driver wages for 2023 with Lewis Hamilton miles off No1 and Max Verstappen earning FIVE TIMES his team-mate’s salary

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN is the highest-earning F1 driver – beating Lewis Hamilton by a staggering £17million.The Red Bull driver is the dominant force in F1 after winning ten consecutive races, and his salary reflects that.
      Max Verstappen is the highest earning driver by a significant marginCredit: Rex
      Lewis Hamilton earns £17million less than his rivalCredit: Getty
      Charles Leclerc is the third-highest earning F1 driverCredit: Getty
      Four drivers earn more than £10m a year
      Verstappen, 25, is on course to claim his third successive championship and he is now one of the highest-earning sportsmen in the world.
      He is paid an eye-watering annual salary of £45m by Red Bull.
      Hamilton is the next highest-paid F1 star but comes in quite far behind at £28m-a-year.
      Verstappen is paid more than five times that of his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.
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      Hamilton also earns significantly than his partner, George Russell, who is the eighth on the list of top salaries.
      The Brit collects around £6.5m a year from Mercedes but could pick up a more lucrative deal when it comes to renewing after impressing since his 2022 arrival.
      Rounding off the top three is Charles Leclerc at £20m-a-year.
      Ferrari’s No1 has been linked to Red Bull with both him and Perez out of contract at the end of the year.
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      Lando Norris takes home a cool £16mCredit: Rex
      Carlos Sainz is the fifth-highest earning driver in F1Credit: Getty
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      Red Bull are believed to be keen but he could prove to be quite an expensive option, with their other target Lando Norris possibly available for a lower salary.
      Norris has an annual wage of £16m, and is one of only four drivers to break the £10m barrier.
      Perez and Russell are joined in the next band of drivers to make £5m or more which also includes Carlos Sainz, Valterri Bottas and Esteban Ocon.
      Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly fall just short at £4m, while Yuki Tsunoda and Red Bull reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo earn less than £1m, as does Williams’ Logan Sergeant.
      Verstappen earns more than five times that of his team-mate Sergio PerezCredit: AFP
      Valterri Bottas rounds off the top ten high earnersCredit: Getty More

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      Lewis Hamilton reveals Red Bull theory as he gets podium and F1 rival Verstappen fails to win for first time in 11 races

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      SO that’s what happens when Max Verstappen doesn’t win.Formula One fans were treated to one of the most exciting finishes in ages as Verstappen’s winning run came to a shuddering halt in Singapore.
      Russell’s late crash allowed Lewis Hamilton to take thirdCredit: Rex
      It was a rare tough race for Red Bull as Max Verstappen finished in fifthCredit: Alamy
      Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris, George Russell AND Lewis Hamilton all slugged it out for the win and were separated by less than two seconds.
      Ferrari’s Sainz took the victory while Russell was left choking back the tears after crashing into the barriers on the final lap, so Norris and Hamilton completed the podium.
      The exciting climax was exactly the stuff F1 bosses had been hoping for as this season had been dominated by the impressive Red Bull team, who had won all the previous 14 races.
      But Hamilton does not expect this shock result to signal the end of their reign at the top, but more of a reflection that they have already downed tools on this year’s car in preparation for next year’s model.
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      He said: “I don’t know why they are far off pace wise, but it is great to see others up there. It is probably a possibility that they have not been developing.
      “Others have brought upgrades and they are working on next year’s car because they are so far ahead and we are still developing this one.”
      Verstappen finished in fifth after starting down in 11th after an unusually poor weekend, but he still managed to increase his lead in the championship over his teammate Sergio Perez, who was eighth.
      However, despite his 151-point lead, it is unlikely he will retain his title next Sunday in the Japanese GP and is more-certain to do so two weeks later in Qatar.
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      And he sent a warning to his rivals that he reckons will be back on the pace in Japan, saying: “I think we will be quick in Suzuka. It’s not my problem, it’s their worries!”
      This race came alive in the final stages as four drivers competed for the victory in the gruelling Singapore heat.
      Smart Sainz kept Norris at arms length – but sticking within a second of the McLaren man to allow him to receive the DRS boost to fend off the threat of Russell and Hamilton, effectively keeping him as a buffer.
      The race went down to the wire and just as Russell tried one last bold attempt to squeeze past Norris, he clipped a wall and ended up in the barriers at turn 10.
      It put him out of the race on the final lap, promoting Hamilton to third behind Norris and Sainz.
      Russell was noticeably upset and said afterwards: “A millimetre lapse of concentration and game over. So just sorry to the whole team.
      “You make a small mistake and you are bitten for it. It’s heart-breaking after such a great weekend. I feel like I let myself and the team down.”
      Hamilton added: “We are all trying to be millimetre perfect and it is easy to make mistakes.
      “George had been driving phenomenally well all weekend and it was unfortunate on the last lap to end that way, but he will continue to grow and improve and if I can help that – I will be here for the next few years.
      “It is about keeping your head down, but I made a mistake last year and crashed into the wall. It can happen to any of us.”
      Meanwhile, Norris was delighted with his second-placed finish after some help from his old McLaren team-mate Sainz – despite hitting the same wall as Russell on the last lap.
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      He said: “Carlos played it smart, there was no reason for me to attack him. George pressured me a lot and then Carlos backed off and gave me DRS, which was helpful. We played it in a smart way to keep the Mercs behind us.
      “I did also hit the wall and damaged the steering so that it was off centre, but nothing more than that.” More