Author: quyen1

Fernando Alonso believes he is an “attractive” candidate to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes – but has denied holding talks with the Silver Arrows.

Hamilton, 39, is entering his final season with the team which carried him to six of his seven world championships after agreeing a shock move to Ferrari in 2025.

Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes will create a vacancy alongside George Russell, while Max Verstappen’s Red Bull team are also due to have a seat available with Sergio Perez’s contract expiring at the end of the season.

Fernando Alonso believes that he is an ‘attractive’ replacement for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.

Alonso’s two-season deal with Aston Martin is up for renewal in 2025. It is understood the British team are keen to retain the double world champion’s services.

“I am aware of my situation which is very unique,” said Alonso, who won back-to-back world championships with Renault in 2004 and 2005.

“There are only three world champions on the grid and I am the only one available for 2025, so I am in a good position.

“On a move to Mercedes, there has been nothing at all. I know the driver market has started earlier this year, but this will not affect me in terms of preparing for the season.

“If I want to keep racing beyond this year, the first and only talk at the beginning will be Aston Martin. I trust this project and that will be my first priority.

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Lewis Hamilton has agreed a move to Ferrari for 2025 (David Davies/PA)

“But if we cannot reach an agreement I know that I am attractive to other teams. I will not stay in Formula One just to have fun. I am not that kind of person and not that kind of driver. Let’s see what the options are.”

Commenting on Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, Alonso, who drove for the Italian team between 2010 and 2014 but fell short of winning the title, added: “It was a surprise, I will not lie, not because the change itself but from the outside it seemed like he was very linked to Mercedes and very loyal to Mercedes.

“Ferrari is a special team but it is more special when you win. Maybe Lewis can bring that extra fight for the championship because the car is there.”

Alonso finished fourth in last year’s drivers’ championship as his Aston Martin transformed from also-rans to frontrunners.

Alonso scored six podiums in the opening eight rounds and might have ended his 10-year wait for victory had his team’s strategy been more on point at the rain-hit Monaco Grand Prix.

The Silverstone-based team’s form fell away in the second half of the year but Alonso continued to out-perform his machinery, taking further podiums in the Netherlands and Brazil.

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Fernando Alonso finished fourth in last year´s drivers´ championship (Tim Goode/PA)

He ended the year 132 points and six places ahead of team-mate Lance Stroll – son of the team’s fashion billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll – and was voted third, behind Max Verstappen and Hamilton, by his fellow drivers and finished runner-up to Verstappen in a poll of the grid’s team bosses.

Alonso, 43, in July will this season become the first driver to take part in 400 grands prix and the evergreen Spaniard raised the prospect of competing deep into his forties.

He added: “A few years ago I would say 41 or 42 is the limit, but after last year I saw I was motivated, performing well, and I was thinking I could race a few more years.

“Now, this winter, I have exceeded expectations in terms of the physical tests, so if I am motivated and ready to commit, I can race until 48, 49 or maybe even 50.”

Pre-season testing starts in Bahrain a week on Wednesday ahead of the first race, also in the Gulf Kingdom, on March 2.

Lewis Hamilton‘s move to Ferrari is proof that the team are putting together a competitive car, claims Damon Hill.

Hamilton shocked he motorsport world when he revealed he would be departing Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025 after 12 years with the side where he won six of his seven world titles.

Since he missed out on an eighth championship on the last lap of the season in 2021, Hamilton’s Mercedes have struggled to maintain pace with Red Bull, with the Brit not winning a race in over two years.

He hopes he will be able to finally win an elusive eighth championship with the Italian manufacturer, with the years remaining at the top of his game ticking down as he looks to move clear of Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher in terms of titles won.

And Hill has suggested that could well happen. Speaking to Sky Sports, the one-time world champion suggested Hamilton putting faith in his new side suggests they are ready to mount a challenge and win the driver’s championship once again.

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Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari is proof that the team are putting together a competitive car, Damon Hill has claimed

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Hill (left) commended his fellow Brit for ‘trying something different’ in joining the team

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Hamilton will leave Mercedes after 12 years with the side he won six world championships with

‘Lewis has taken command of his career and his direction,’ Hill said. ‘It’s not like Mercedes have said to him, “Oh, we’ve signed someone else”, which is what happened with me. But I think that, [with] this decision, we know it’s a given [regarding] the Ferrari benefits of the brand and all the other things that come with [it], the romance and the history and all of that, it’s a given.

‘But I think there’s more to this, which is [that] I thought there was evidence that Ferrari were starting to solidify as a competitive package.

‘They were starting to put together the components and they were starting to get results. And I think if you had a choice between Mercedes giving you the same equipment and Ferrari, I’d rather go to Ferrari and try something different.’

It seemed Hamilton would see out his career with Mercedes, having signed a new contract with the team late last year to take him through to the end of 2025.

He however activated a clause that would bring that deal to an end a year early, and he will leave them at the end of the upcoming season, in which Mercedes are once again not expected to be competitive.

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Ferrari will almost enter a new era with Hamilton joining the team and Frederic Vasseur leading the team forward

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Hamilton will partner Charles Leclerc (right) at the team, with Carlos Sainz departing

Mercedes did finish above Ferrari in the 2023 constructors championship, pipping them to second in the table by three points after Hamilton pulled clear of Leclerc in the drivers table.

Hamilton will partner the Monaco-born star when he moves to Ferrari, with Carlos Sainz set to depart after five years.

MARANELLO, Italy (AP) – Lewis Hamilton’s arrival will present “a huge opportunity” for Ferrari next year but signing the seven-time Formula One champion involved some uncomfortable phone calls, team principal Fred Vasseur said Tuesday.

Hamilton is joining Ferrari for next season after driving for Mercedes since 2013. He will team up with Charles Leclerc at the Italian team after Carlos Sainz Jr. leaves.

“It´s a huge opportunity for the team, for sure,” said Vasseur, who has known Hamilton since they worked together during the British driver’s path through junior categories in the mid-2000s before his F1 debut with McLaren in 2007. That relationship helped ensure that the agreement was made “naturally,” he said.

Vasseur said the coup of signing Hamilton – a deal which surprised many in F1 – meant some difficult conversations with Sainz and with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, an old friend.

“As you can imagine, it was not the easiest call of my life (with Sainz). One of the most difficult was the one with Toto,” Vasseur said. “I´m fully convinced that (Sainz) is a very professional driver, that he understands that we have a long season in front of us. We had a long discussion, as you can imagine, but I will be fully supporting Carlos. He is fully committed.”

Hamilton’s move was announced on Feb. 1 and he said a few days later that driving in Ferrari red represented a “chance to fulfill another childhood dream.”

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FILE – Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, left, and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco arrive to speak to media ahead of the Formula On Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, March 16, 2023. Lewis Hamilton’s arrival will present “a huge opportunity” for Ferrari next year but signing the seven-time Formula One champion involved some uncomfortable phone calls, team principal Fred Vasseur said Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Hamilton is joining Ferrari for next season after driving for Mercedes since 2013. He will team up with Charles Leclerc at the Italian team after Carlos Sainz Jr. leaves. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

Leclerc said he was looking forward to learning from Hamilton.

“We´ve had discussions with, Lewis, especially when everything was announced and official, we texted each other, of course,” he said. “Lewis is a great champion with a lot of experience and so much success. It is always interesting to have a new teammate as you learn different ways of working, of driving, and even more so when my new teammate is a seven-time world champion.”

Ferrari on Tuesday unveiled its 2024 car, which the team said had been designed with a heavy emphasis on “drivability” – making the car easier for Leclerc and Sainz to drive and more adaptable in a range of conditions than the sometimes unpredictable 2023 car.

Red Bull won all but one of the races last year as Max Verstappen ran away with the drivers’ title. Ferrari struggled for much of the season but was the only other team to take a race victory as Sainz won the Singapore Grand Prix.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

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FILE – Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur walks in the garage the first practice session for the Formula One Miami Grand Prix auto race, Friday, May 5, 2023, at the Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Fla. Lewis Hamilton’s arrival will present “a huge opportunity” for Ferrari next year but signing the seven-time Formula One champion involved some uncomfortable phone calls, team principal Fred Vasseur said Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

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FILE – Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain arrives at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Thursday, March 2, 2023. Lewis Hamilton’s arrival will present “a huge opportunity” for Ferrari next year but signing the seven-time Formula One champion involved some uncomfortable phone calls, team principal Fred Vasseur said Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)

Lewis Hamilton has already been in contact with soon-to-be Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc – as Carlos Sainz, the driver forced to make way for the seven-time world champion, revealed the shock switch came out of the blue.

Hamilton, 39, will leave Mercedes at the end of this year after agreeing a blockbuster move to Ferrari in 2025 – the biggest transfer in Formula One history.

Hamilton is set to make his first public appearance since news broke of his decision to quit Mercedes when the Silver Arrows unveil their new car at Silverstone on Wednesday.

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Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes to join Ferrari in 2025 (Tim Goode/PA)

Hamilton will appear alongside team principal Toto Wolff and fellow Brit George Russell.

On Tuesday, Ferrari took the wraps off the contender they hope will allow them to challenge Red Bull and Max Verstappen when the new season starts in Bahrain next month.

But it was Hamilton’s name which dominated proceedings – despite the Ferrari PR machine attempting to restrict questions about their star signing.

Hamilton will partner Leclerc at Ferrari after the Monegasque signed a new long-term contract, understood to run until 2029, just days before the British driver’s move was announced.

“This kind of deal is not finalised overnight, and I was aware of those discussions (with Hamilton) before I signed my deal so it did not come as a surprise,” said Leclerc, 26.

“Obviously, Lewis is an incredible driver, the most successful in history, and he brings a lot of experience to the team.

“I had discussions with Lewis, especially when everything was announced and official. We texted each other.

“He is a great champion with so much success. It is always interesting to have a new team-mate, because you learn different ways of driving and working, and even more so when my new team-mate is a seven-time world champion.”

Ferrari have not won a drivers’ title since 2007, but they hope Hamilton – a winner of a record 103 races – can fire them to that elusive title. Hamilton will be 40 when he makes his transfer from Mercedes.

“It is a huge opportunity for the team and we are sure that Lewis will bring us a decent step for the future,” said Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, who played a prominent role in Hamilton’s formative career in Formula Two.

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Ferrari have unveiled their 2024 challenger (Scuderia Ferrari/PA)

“I have had a good relationship (with Hamilton) for 20 years, and we were always in contact speaking about different things. It was not the easiest call of my life (to tell Sainz), but one of the most difficult was with Toto.”

Hamilton’s switch leaves Sainz – the only driver outside of Red Bull to win a race last year – scrambling for a seat.

“I was a bit surprised, like everyone in the Formula One world,” said the Spaniard, 29.

“From my side you can understand I got to know the news a bit earlier than anyone else, and I had some weeks to reflect, prepare and get ready for the car launch and the first race of the season. That gave me a bit of time to digest it and to draw my own conclusions.

“I don’t know the identity of my next team. But there are plenty of options out there.

“I am approaching the most important three or four years of my career and I want to make sure that I am in the right place.”

Lewis Hamilton wasn’t there in fact, but he was there in spirit, his name and reputation hanging over Ferrari’s car launch in Maranello on Tuesday.

So obvious was the notion of the seven-time world champion’s impending arrival for 2025 that the highly capable Spaniard Carlos Sainz, whose seat Hamilton will take, did not mention his name once in the media call he did over Zoom.

Sainz, 29, was asked whether he had spoken to his replacement since news broke earlier this month of the Briton’s departure from Mercedes to drive in red, but he tactfully sidestepped the question. Ferrari’s media woman politely insisted that no other reference to the ‘unmentionable one’ – my words, not hers – would be countenanced.

We have a year of this avoidance to go, and it won’t be easy for anyone involved to deal with. Nor will the transfer be easy to smooth over at Mercedes, with 12 months of awkwardness to come as George Russell quietly, or otherwise, transitions from heir to king.

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Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (L), team principle Frederic Vasseur (C) and Carlos Zainz Jr (R) were all pictured ahead of the unveiling of the team’s new car for the upcoming F1 season

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Lewis Hamilton, who will join Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season and take Sainz’s seat, was not in attendance at the unveiling

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The Italian team are hoping that their new car, the SF-24, will help them win their first constructor’s championship since 2008

For Sainz, he has one year to fulfil his dream of winning the title where he is, his future beyond that uncertain. He drove the new car, the scarlet year’s challenger to the mighty world champions Red Bull, earlier in the day around the factory’s adjoining Fiorano test track, which, prior to his death in 1988 aged 90, was within sight and earshot of founder Enzo Ferrari’s cottage.

Five laps for Sainz; three for Charles Leclerc, who may have been as discombobulated as his team-mate by the news that Hamilton was on his way in. Aged 26, Leclerc was singled out as Ferrari’s future, a young talent from Monaco backed by them for greatness.

He has signed a new deal to be with the Scuderia until the end of 2029, a contract long enough, perhaps, to assuage his unavoidable anxiety at Hamilton’s arrival, aged 39. Leclerc, a five-time race winner, remains the long-term hope.

All three men carry weight on their shoulders. For Ferrari has a mystique in Italy, and more widely in the motor-racing world. If you become their world champion – the first since Kimi Raikkonen pipped Hamilton to the crown in his unforgettable debut blaze in 2007 – it would be akin to being a World Cup-winning England manager. That may be a slight exaggeration, but not much of one.

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It was confirmed earlier in February that Hamilton had agreed a deal worth over £40million to join Ferrari from Mercedes

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But Sainz, speaking to the media, revealed he had been given some ‘time to digest’ the news that Hamilton would be replacing him

As a Ferrari star you are taken to the hearts of the tifosi, and should Hamilton get off to a good start, and energises the team to work to his needs as all great champions do, and plays to the sensitivities of the fans with a few words of Italian as he unquestionably will, he might yet be their greatest hero, the man who won his eighth world title at the most fabled of marques.

Of Hamilton’s arrival, Sainz, the only non-Red Bull winner during Max Verstappen’s quick march to title glory last year, triumphing in Singapore, said: ‘From my side you can understand I got to know the news a bit earlier than anyone else and I had some weeks to reflect and prepare and some weeks to also get ready for the car launch and the first race of the season (in Bahrain on March 2).

‘That gave me a bit of time to digest it and to draw my own conclusions and to focus on the 2024 season.

‘I have had a lot of messages of support which I would like to thank the F1 world for and friends back at home. All of them have been very supportive and very encouraging.

‘My next team, I don’t know yet and I have time to decide when that happens next. There are plenty of options out there.

‘I am approaching the most important three or four years of my career and I want to make sure that I am in the right place.

‘I am going to listen to all the options so when I take the decision I have to give myself enough time with enough information.’

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Leclerc (left) has signed a new deal to stay with the Scuderia until the end of 2029

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Leclerc added that he believes Ferrari’s new car is more driveable than last year’s model

Mail Sport revealed Ferrari’s overtures to Hamilton last May, and Leclerc acknowledged: ‘This kind of deal is not finalised overnight. It takes a while and I was aware of those discussions before I signed my deal, so it did not come as a surprise.

‘Obviously, Lewis is an incredible driver, the most successful in history, with a lot of experience which he brings to the team which is a good thing.

‘I have had discussions with Lewis especially when everything was announced and official. We texted each other.’

Pre-season testing comes next week in Bahrain, where we will learn the first clues as to whether anyone can match the Red Bull monsters. For now, Leclerc says the car is more driveable than last year’s. He also points to optimism within the camp. A reason, along with Ferrari’s allure and history and prestige, that Hamilton has signed up.

The final Mercedes car of Lewis Hamilton‘s career has been launched ahead of his move to Ferrari in 2025.

This season will mark the Brit’s final year with the team, who he joined from McLaren back in 2013.

Since then he has won six of his record seven world championships with Mercedes, but will leave to join rivals Ferrari next year after not winning a race since 2021.

Hamilton will hope to end his legendary run with the team on a high, as they hope to close the gap to Max Verstappen and Red Bull.

He will be joined at Mercedes for the third season running by British team-mate George Russell.

Mercedes have launched what will be Lewis Hamilton’s final car racing for the team

The Brit made his first public appearance since his move to Ferrari was confirmed alongside team-mate George Russell and team principal Toto Wolff at Wednesday’s launch

Hamilton said it’s been ’emotional’ to think that this will be his final year with Mercedes

Hamilton’s bombshell move to Ferrari was confirmed earlier this month, and he will race alongside Charles Leclerc for the sport’s most famous team from next year

Speaking at the launch, Hamilton said: ‘It’s obviously been emotional, it’s very surreal to be here. I came here in 2013, 11 years with the team, this is the start of my 12th.

‘The focus through the whole of winter training is getting the team back to where we once were. We have had these difficult couple of years which have been really grounding for us.’

‘It is such a privilege to work with people to see the work they’re doing over the winter.

‘This is the most exciting part of the year. To know everything underneath the hood, that George and I will be able to experience on the track. It’s exciting.’

Hamilton has not won the drivers’ championship since 2020, and has not won a race since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix a year later.

After the controversial ending to his 2021 title battle with Max Verstappen, the Brit has not won a single race since, with the Dutchman dominating the last two seasons to become a triple world champion.

Mercedes took the wrong approach with their car over the past two years, providing machinery that their drivers have often found difficult to drive, or just lacking in pure speed against Red Bull – who won all but one race in 2023.

At the launch, Hamilton, Russell and team principal Toto Wolff spoke about their hopes for the 2024 season – with the latter hoping to give one of the sport’s greatest ever drivers a car that can compete with Verstappen this year.

Hamilton will again drive alongside Russell – who will be promoted to No 1 next season

Mercedes have taken a new approach with their 2024 challenger after their struggles in 2022 and 2023

He said: ‘It has been a very busy winter. It will be our last season with Lewis so we are keen on bringing a quick car.

Wolff added: ‘We got it wrong with the new regulations but we finished first eight times in a row (2014-2021), third and second in the constructors championship.

‘Our aim is to consolidate our position to Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin. At the same time, race at the very front.

‘What is it we got wrong? Why did the virtual world not correlate with the real world? The buzz in the company is something I haven’t seen in years. We know it’s a big mountain to climb. We have the best driver combination, hopefully the best car.’

The team spent much of last year – ever since it realised in the opening race that it shouldn’t have stuck with its 2022 concept – talking about making fundamental changes over the winter to their car for 2024.

Technical director James Allison said: ‘A big focus has been on improving the previous car’s unpredictable rear axle, which the drivers often referred to as spiteful.

‘We have worked on that to try and create a car that is reassuring to the drivers.’

McLaren also launched their car on Wednesday and will join Mercedes on the track for some initial running at Silverstone

Ferrari launched their car on Tuesday – the final one which Carlos Sainz will drive before he is replaced by Hamilton

The Mercedes team talked a lot in 2023 about the need to change the concept of their car for 2024 – after realising they made a mistake with the direction they headed last season

Mercedes join McLaren on the track at Silverstone on Wednesday for some initial running- after they too launched their new car.

Hamilton added: ‘We have to be diligent, maximise practice and even one lap, George and I might get in the rain today will give us a feeling of what is to come.’

McLaren, after a slow start to 2023, improved in the second-half of the season and were on occasion the second quickest car on the grid.

Lando Norris will hope to get his first win this season and he is again joined by Oscar Piastri.

Ferrari meanwhile launched their new car this week which will be driven by Hamilton’s next team-mate Charles Leclerc and the man he will replace, Carlos Sainz.

Lewis Hamilton has hit out at those ‘talking s***’ about his decision to ditch Mercedes and join Ferrari from the start of next season.

The 39-year-old shocked the sport on the eve of the 2024 season by announcing his bombshell departure from the team he has won all but one of his seven world titles with.

Results and performances so far this season suggest Hamilton’s decision was a wise one.

While Ferrari look to be improving each week, cementing their place as Red Bull’s closest, albeit distant, title challengers, there seems to be no end in sight for Mercedes’ struggles following the team’s worst ever start to a season.

Heading into this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, Hamilton clearly has no doubts in his mind over the switch.

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Lewis Hamilton has hit out at those ‘talking s***’ about his move to Ferrari ahead of next season

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The 39-year-old shocked the sport when he announced the switch from long-term constructors Mercedes

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His decision may prove a shrewd one as he currently languishes ninth in the drivers’ standings

‘I don’t feel like I need my decision vindicating. I know what is right for me and that hasn’t changed from the moment I made the decision,’ said Hamilton, who sits ninth in the drivers standings on just 10 points.

‘There’s not been a moment that I’ve questioned it and I’m not swayed by other people’s comments. Even today, there’s people continuing to talk s*** and will continue on for the rest of the year I’ll have to just do what I do.

‘Only you can know what’s right for you and this will be an exciting time for me.’

When pressed on what he meant by people ‘talking s***’, Hamilton said: ‘Just read what’s out there.’

It is thought Hamilton’s comments may refer to his 14-word exchange with print journalists following the Japanese Grand Prix where the Brit was asked whether he was jealous of Ferrari’s strong start to the season.

Hamilton will be 40 by the time he pulls on the famous red of Ferrari next season. But he won’t be the oldest on the grid, with that title belonging to Fernando Alonso, as things stand.

The Spaniard, a two-time world champion and former team-mate of Hamilton, penned a new multi-year contract with Aston Martin this week, which will see him race until he is at least 45.

‘I never thought I’d be racing into my forties. I’m pretty sure I said I wouldn’t race into my forties,’ joked Hamilton.

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Although Hamilton will join Ferrari at 40, his appearance on the 2025 grid won’t make him the oldest driver – that honour will sit with Fernando Alonso (pictured)

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The Spaniard announced a new contract with Aston Martin which will keep him in his seat for two more seasons

‘I think it’s such a crazy trick, life. I don’t feel like I’m nearing 40 years old, I feel like I’m pretty young still.

‘It’s a real positive because it means I’m not the oldest driver here… that’s the best part! But also Fernando is one of the best drivers we’ve had in the sport so for him to continue to be here and continue to have the output that he’s had just shows what’s possible.

‘It just shows the new era of athletes and what the human body can do and continue to do if you nurture it.

‘I’m going to be racing for quite some time still so it’s definitely good he’s still around and keeps going on for a bit longer.’

For now, Hamilton’s attention remains solely on salvaging some positives from his final season with Mercedes.

There are no upgrades to the car in which Hamilton and team-mate George Russell limped to finishes of ninth and seventh-place respectively two weeks ago at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Those results left Mercedes fourth in the constructors championship, already 107 points behind the mighty pacesetters Red Bull.

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Mercedes will hope for a boost after the Japanese Grand Prix, which saw Hamilton finish ninth

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But Hamilton has stressed that little has changed with the car ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix

And while there has been some optimism amongst drivers that the first Sprint Race weekend of the season at a circuit hosting a race for the first time in five years could spring some surprises, Hamilton seemed less hopeful.

‘Nothing has changed with our car so it will be the same car this weekend but we understand it a little bit more,’ he explained.

‘(In Japan) we did make improvements so bringing some of those into this weekend on top of some new direction again. I think if we go back we would have done things differently, that’s the benefit of hindsight and experience.

‘So we’re trying to bring that here this weekend and implement some of those changes that we would have perhaps done in Suzuka and hopefully that can find us a bit of performance.’

Red Bull boss Christian Horner insists the team won’t be rushed into finalising Max Verstappen’s team-mate for 2025 as the silly season of the Formula One drivers market rumbles on.

There has been strong speculation over the future of Sergio Perez, whose contract with the Austrian outfit expires at the end of the season, with Carlos Sainz one of many names being linked with the team.

That move seems unlikely according to Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, who told reporters on Thursday that Audi, who will join the sport in 2026, have made a ‘very lucrative offer’ for the in-demand Spaniard. Sainz is being replaced at Ferrari by Lewis Hamilton at the end of the season.

Horner, though, wouldn’t be dragged into the rumour mill.

‘It’s incredible that we’re at race five and there’s so much talk already about drivers for next year,’ said Horner.

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Christian Horner insists Red Bull won’t rush to finalising Max Verstappen’s team-mate for 2025

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Sergio Perez’s contract with the Austrian outfit expires at the end of the season, but could stay

‘We’re in a situation where we are very happy with our two drivers but we don’t need to make a final decision about our lineup until much later in the year.’

In response to being asked about Audi’s reported bumper offer to Sainz, Horner said: ‘It’s pure speculation.

‘We have no idea if and what Audi have offered Carlos, who’s a key driver on the open market. It’s only natural there is significant interest.

‘I’m sure Audi would be foolish not to consider a driver of his quality amongst others who have seats available.’

There is, of course, the distinct possibility that Perez’s performances this season prove to be too strong for Horner and Red Bull to ignore.

The Mexican endured a difficult 2023 season but has started this year in fine form, locking out the front row alongside Verstappen in three of the first four races of 2024.

While Perez has made it clear he would like to have his future mapped out sooner rather than later, Horner remains in no mood to rush to any decision.

‘Of course he would like to make an announcement tomorrow undoubtedly,’ said the Red Bull boss. ‘We as a team aren’t in a particular rush. We’re in a fortunate position where many drivers would like to drive for the team.

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Audi, who will join in 2026, have reportedly made a ‘very lucrative offer’ for Carlos Sainz

‘We’re happy with the pairing we have, we just want to make sure the little bit of consistency Checo has started this season maintains and in due course we’ll evaluate those options.

‘But at this point in time we’re very happy with the lineup we have so there is no imminent rush to announce the full driver lineup for 2025.’

Lando Norris proved he is the man for all seasons by conquering a treacherous Shanghai International Circuit to claim pole for the first Sprint Race of the season on Saturday.

As his competitors struggled to keep their cars on the straight and narrow around a track which quickly became an ice rink following a heavy downpour late into the second qualifying session, Norris showed great skill and composure to perfect the equilibrium of risk and reward and safely shepherd his McLaren to pole.

Norris’ pole-setting time was initially wiped from the timesheets after he was adjudged by the stewards to have exceeded track limits, handing Lewis Hamilton a shock pole.

But Norris’ mark was reinstated soon after, knocking Hamilton down to second and meaning that it will be the McLaren driver who will lead the British charge on Saturday in China where there will be a maximum of eight crucial Championship points up for grabs.

‘It was (wild). I am extremely happy, big thanks to the team. It was tricky,’ said the 24-year-old. ‘I was nervous. I was quick, I kept catching the Ferrari so had to keep backing off. I got a good final lap. I am happy, sad it is not for a proper qualifying but good enough. It was good fun, it gets your heart going. A nice surprise and a good position for tomorrow.’

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Lando Norris proved he is the man for all seasons by conquering a treacherous Shanghai International Circuit to claim pole for the first Sprint Race of the season on Saturday

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Norris’ pole-setting time was initially wiped from the timesheets after he was adjudged by the stewards to have exceeded track limits, handing Lewis Hamilton (above) a shock pole

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But Norris’ mark was reinstated soon after, knocking Hamilton down to second and meaning that it will be the McLaren driver who will lead the British charge on Saturday

While the skies became gloomier with each and every lap completed, there was finally a ray of sunshine for Hamilton. This was a reminder that he remains a canny operator in all conditions as he delved into a box of tricks compiled from over 17 years in the sport to take his underperforming Mercedes to second.

While the weather was a significant mitigating factor, this was an exceptional performance from the seven-time world champion who had described his car as ‘rubbish’ just hours earlier during the first practice session.

‘It was very tricky conditions. Not a lot of grip for everyone. But so happy, as soon as I saw the rain coming I was getting excited. In dry conditions we’re not quick enough,’ said Hamilton.

When asked to assess his chances of claiming victory in the Sprint Race, Hamilton said: ‘It really depends what the conditions will be like. If they are like they were just now we have a chance of being up there.’

Things were less positive for team-mate George Russell, who succumbed to mother nature and saw his last attempt to make it into the final sprint qualifying session ruined by the rain. As a result, he will start from 11th.

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His competitors struggled to keep their cars on the straight and narrow around a track which quickly became an ice rink following a heavy downpour late into the second qualifying session

Max Verstappen will find himself in the distinctly unfamiliar surroundings of the second row on Saturday morning after he could only post the fourth-quickest time of the session.

The Dutchman ran wide at the last corner of his final flying lap, ending his hopes of toppling Norris and sending out a reminder that Red Bull’s seemingly all-conquering triple world champion and championship leader is fallible after all.

‘It never really switched on for me. It was just like driving on ice, that is why also I think we deserved where we are in qualifying, it isn’t really working for me in the wet but it is not where we are in the dry,’ said Verstappen.

‘It is not ideal to start on the inside here. We have to try and have the best start possible and then I think it will be quite a long stint on one tyres in the sprint.’

Toto Wolff admitted that the right call was made to U-turn a deleted lap time and give Lando Norris pole position for Saturday’s Sprint Race in Shanghai.

The McLaren driver conquered the treacherous conditions in China to claim pole for the first Sprint Race of the season, just ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

Norris’ pole-setting time was initially wiped from the timesheets after he was adjudged to have exceeded track limits, but stewards quickly reversed their decision because the Brit hit some gravel, which slowed him down.

Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of Mercedes, said the right call was made in the end – even though it denied his driver Hamilton pole position.

According to the Mirror, Wolff said: ‘I haven’t seen the detail, just that all four tyres were off track.

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Toto Wolff admitted it was the right decision to give Lando Norris the Sprint pole in Shanghai

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Stewards reversed a decision to wipe Norris’s pole-setting time for exceeding track limits

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Lewis Hamilton, who drives for Wolff’s Mercedes team, would have taken pole if the call stood

‘But, obviously, that was even slower [for Norris]. He could probably have gone faster, so I’m okay with that.’

The Mercedes head was happy Hamilton’s car was in the right window to secure a strong qualifying result, despite the poor conditions in Shanghai.

He added: ‘The driving is most important in the wet, but it showed that it was about tyre preparation. We did the right things on the final run and the tyres were in the sweet spot. Combined with a great drive, that made the time.’

The McLaren driver who will lead the British charge on Saturday in China where there will be a maximum of eight crucial Championship points up for grabs.

Speaking after the race, Norris said: ‘It was [wild]. I am extremely happy, big thanks to the team. It was tricky.

‘I was nervous. I was quick, I kept catching the Ferrari so had to keep backing off. I got a good final lap. I am happy, sad it is not for a proper qualifying but good enough. It was good fun, it gets your heart going. A nice surprise and a good position for tomorrow.’

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Norris said he was ‘extremely happy’ to be on pole after qualifying in treacherous conditions

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Practice at the Chinese GP had to be halted on Friday morning after a trackside fire appeared

Before the Sprint qualifying got underway, the Chinese Grand Prix’s sole practice session was disrupted by an unexplained fire appearing trackside.

Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Christian Horner has insisted the team will not be rushed into finding next year’s team-mate for Dutch driver Max Verstappen, who finished fourth in Sprint qualifying behind Fernando Alonso.