Author: quyen1

Lewis Hamilton faces an awkward viewing of Netflix‘s new Drive to Survive series after telling their cameras he had ‘so much belief’ in Mercedes to deliver him a championship-winning car and that he couldn’t ever imagine racing for another team… only to announce a plan to leave for Ferrari in this past off-season.

Hamilton will pull on the red overalls of the Scuderia from 2025 after enacting a break clause in the new two-year deal he signed with Mercedes during last season’s nightmare campaign.

But with series six of Drive to Survive being released today, it makes for interesting viewing when Hamilton discusses his ‘leap of faith’ to sign a new contract with the Silver Arrows.

‘OK we’ve had two difficult years but I still have so much belief that Mercedes and all these people in this team have the ability to build a great car,’ Hamilton said.

‘You’ve just got to take a leap of faith.’

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Lewis Hamilton’s decision to re-sign with Mercedes was detailed in Netflix’s Drive to Survive

Despite a winless 2022, Hamilton took a leap of faith in 2023 to sign a new two-year deal as he felt he couldn’t see himself racing in Formula One if it wasn’t with Mercedes

He continued: ‘Toto [Wolff], he’s listened. There never feels a time where I’m not going to be a Mercedes driver. It’s my home, it’s my family.’

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton makes his first public appearance since his move to Ferrari was confirmed at the launch of his final Mercedes car

Viewers get to see a crucial meeting during negotiations between Wolff and Hamilton, where Mercedes’ team boss concedes that sticking to the car concept after a late surge of results in 2022 set the team back.

‘The biggest failure,’ retorted Hamilton.

Wolff does not promise that he will deliver a title-winning car again for Hamilton but does go on to say that Ferrari’s red overalls ‘wouldn’t suit’ Hamilton – which is ironic now his switch in 2025 has been confirmed.

Hamilton’s change of heart means that 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.

Speaking at Mercedes’ recent 2024 car 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.

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One scene shows Hamilton speaking to Wolff in his office where they openly discuss the 2023 car not being good enough to give him an opportunity to chase an eighth world title

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Despite the drawbacks, Hamilton committed to Mercedes – only to later opt to leave anyway

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Hamilton’s bombshell 2025 move to Ferrari was confirmed earlier this month, and he will race alongside Charles Leclerc (right) for the sport’s most famous team from next year

‘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 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.

Nonetheless, Hamilton’s definitive interview in Drive to Survive makes for interesting reading now it is known he has already had a change of heart.

Lewis Hamilton was dressed in Mercedes clobber, but his mind was on life at Ferrari. All the questions, too, came tinged in red.

It was the first time the world’s most successful driver had spoken in public since his move to the Scuderia – for the 2025 season – was announced at the start of this month.

He nodded towards his current team, saying work still to be done. But he talked primarily of writing a sequel in a scarlet car, a quest that encompasses his quest for an eighth world title. And of watching Michael Schumacher rewrite the records he has now matched, (seven world championships each) and beaten (103 wins to 91), and how that rampage lit his imagination.

Speaking at pre-season testing in Bahrain, Hamilton, who signed a new £50million-a-year contract with Mercedes only last August, said: ‘I saw my future with Mercedes then.

‘But an opportunity came up in the New Year and I decided to take it. It was the hardest decision I have ever had to make.

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Lewis Hamilton opened up on his bombshell move to Ferrari, describing it as a ‘new chapter’

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Hamilton will become a Ferrari driver in 2025 after agreeing to join the iconic Italian team

‘I have had a relationship with Mercedes since I was 13. They have supported me, and we have had an incredible journey together, creating history within the sport. It is something I take a lot of pride in.

‘But ultimately I am writing my story, and I felt it was time to start a new chapter.’

Hamilton’s impending move has been greased by an upgrade to his wages of perhaps £20m a year, but it is as much fresh motivation as stratospheric moolah that has drawn him to Italy. He was offered a job there by president John Elkann last summer before penning a two-year deal at Mercedes.

But the undertaking came with a beak clause that granted him freedom to move elsewhere if he wished.

Ferrari’s continued interest won the day, ambushing the Silver Arrows’ hopes of a lifetime affiliation with their star man, an ambition he then equally enthusiastically embraced.

Now he is rhapsodising his next destination, saying: ‘All of us sit in our garages and see a driver in the red cockpit and wonder what it would be like to be surrounded by red.

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The 39-year-old, who joined Mercedes in 2013, signed a two-year extension only last August

‘You go to the Italian Grand Prix in Monza and you see the sea of red Ferrari fans and you can only stand in awe of that.

‘It is a team that has not had huge success since Michael’s days, and I see it as a huge challenge.

‘As a kid I used to play the Grand Prix 2 computer game as Michael in that (Ferrari) car. It is definitely a dream and I am really excited about it.

‘I bought my first Ferrari in 2010. That was my first present to myself, not that I have it anymore.’

He revealed he has never been to Ferrari’s home in Maranello, but he has a friend there before he starts, in team principal Fred Vasseur.

‘I have a great relationship with Fred,’ said Hamilton, 39. ‘I raced for him in Formula Three and we had amazing success, and in GP2, and that is where the foundation of our relationship started.

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He is entering his final season as a Mercedes driver and seeking an eighth world championship

‘We always remained in touch. I thought he was going to be an amazing team manager and progress to Formula One, and it was really cool to see him at Alfa Romeo. So when he got the job at Ferrari, I was just so happy for him and the stars aligned.

‘It would not have happened without him. I am really excited about the work he is doing there.’

The evidence of pre-season testing suggested that Hamilton may well be on to something. He is a shrewd judge, just as he was when he jumped ship from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013. After Red Bull, who stand supreme, Ferrari were second fastest this week. Then it is McLaren and Mercedes. Then, arguably, Aston Martin, ahead of next Saturday’s opening grand prix, again in Bahrain.

And as for learning Italian, he added: ‘In all these years I have not managed to learn other languages but I will definitely try. I remember when I was karting in Italy I was able to pick up a few lines, so hopefully that will come back to me.’

SAKHIR, Bahrain (AP) – Lewis Hamilton will continue to push for more diversity within Formula 1 when the seven-time champion moves to Ferrari next year.

Hamilton, the only Black driver in F1, said Friday at preseason testing that he was proud of the legacy he would leave with Mercedes after he and the team developed diversity initiatives together, and that it would be a priority in his work with Ferrari.

“I´m immensely proud of the work that we´ve done within Mercedes. Since 2020 we´ve made some really great strides in improving diversity within the team,” he said.

“I think we are ahead of every other team in that respect, and there´s still a huge amount of work within the whole sport. I´m speaking to (F1 chief executive) Stefano (Domenicali) constantly and looking to work more with F1.”

“And of course you look at Ferrari, they have a lot of work to do, so I´ve already made that a priority in speaking with (Ferrari executive chairman) John (Elkann) and they´re super excited to get on and work on it also.”

Hamilton won six of his seven world titles with the Mercedes team after joining in 2013, and his decision to leave Ferrari – a move he’s said will be a “childhood dream” come true – shocked the sport.

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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)

During his time at Mercedes, Hamilton set up a commission to investigate ways to improve diversity in the motorsports industry and in the STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Hamilton and Mercedes also jointly created the Ignite partnership, which provides financial grants to organizations which promote diversity and inclusivity in motorsports and STEM.

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

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Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car for a Formula One pre season test at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

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Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car for a Formula One pre season test at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

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Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car for a Formula One pre season test at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he didn’t inform his parents about his switch to Ferrari until the day that the news was announced.

Hamilton stunned Formula One at the start of this month by signing a £40million-plus deal with Ferrari which will come into effect in 2025.

The 39-year-old admitted that the decision was one which he had to make himself.

Asked if it was a ‘gut feeling’ decision, Hamilton told BBC podcast Back at Base: ‘Yeah. You’re gut and your heart. I didn’t speak to anybody.

‘I didn’t tell my parents until the day of it being announced, so no one knew. I really wanted to do it for myself, and ultimately, I had to find out what would be the best for me.’

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Lewis Hamilton didn’t tell his parents about his Ferrari move until the day it was announced

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Hamilton, pictured with his father Anthony, said that he had to make the decision himself

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Hamilton also didn’t inform his mother Carmen Lockhart about his move to Ferrari

Hamilton, who has won a joint-record seven World Drivers’ Championship titles, is now preparing for his final campaign with Mercedes.

His parents, Anthony Hamilton and Carmen Larbalestier, split up when he was two years old.

Like Hamilton’s parents, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff didn’t learn of his decision until late on.

Hamilton had previously claimed that he would see out his career with Mercedes and be a brand ambassador thereafter.

Speaking recently, Hamilton described his choice to join Ferrari as the toughest decision that he has ever made.

Hamilton, who signed a new £50million-a-year contract with Mercedes last August, said: ‘I saw my future with Mercedes then.

‘But an opportunity came up in the New Year and I decided to take it. It was the hardest decision I have ever had to make.

‘I have had a relationship with Mercedes since I was 13. They have supported me, and we have had an incredible journey together, creating history within the sport. It is something I take a lot of pride in.

‘But ultimately I am writing my story, and I felt it was time to start a new chapter.’

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff also didn’t find out about Hamilton’s decision until late on

Formula One fans could be forgiven for low expectations of the upcoming season considering the ease with which Max Verstappen claimed his third straight Driver’s Championship last season.

The Dutchman, on board his Red Bull rocket ship, failed to win just three races all year and only once found himself without a place on the podium.

Pre-season testing did little to raise hopes of a 2021-esque title fight, though that should not detract with the host of intriguing storylines the upcoming season has to offer.

All 20 drivers who finished the last campaign return for the season opener in Bahrain this weekend but it would be a brave person to predict that will remain the case by the year’s end.

Then there’s the changes to the calendar, the expanded schedule and, of course, the analysis of Lewis Hamilton-Mercedes relations in his last season with the team following his bombshell transfer.

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Reigning world champion Max Verstappen is going for his fourth consecutive title this season

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Red Bull are still clearly the team to beat after showing off yet another design philosophy in testing that looks to be head and shoulders above the rest of the field

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Lewis Hamilton will make the shock move to Ferrari from Mercedes for the 2025 season

Bombshell, shock, stunning, whichever adjective is used to describe the seven-time world champion’s switch feels an inadequate descriptor. Some have called the 39-year-old’s move to Ferrari at the end of the upcoming season, the biggest driver switch in F1 of all time.

Hamilton and Mercedes are wedded in the sport’s history as Michael Schumacher is to the Scuderia, Sebastian Vettel to Red Bull and now Max Verstappen is to the Austrian manufacturer.

READ MORE: From a life-long obsession to £40m reality… Lewis Hamilton always dreamed of Ferrari, now he’s used his Mercedes ‘out’ clause for an F1 script Netflix will love

During a 13-year association, Hamilton won six of his seven world titles, dominating the turbo-hybrid era of F1 and establishing himself as one of the all-time greats of the sport.

But with Mercedes failing to get to grips with the new, aero-focused generation of cars, the Brit has seen fit to depart in search of a race win, let alone a record-eighth title.

Seeing Hamilton in the blood red overalls of the prancing horse at the Bahrain International Circuit this weekend would have been a delight, yet all involved must wait an entire year for this reality. In the meantime, though, plenty of attention will be on the dynamics within the team ahead of the high-profile divorce.

Since the arrival of George Russell in 2022, Mercedes have been less overt in decisions that would anoint a No 1 driver in the team, with each man able to point to situations over the past two seasons when it appeared the other’s aims were prioritised.

However, in his final campaign, it would be unrealistic, unwise even, for Toto Wolff and his team to back Hamilton to the same degree as Russell, who, despite a disappointing 2023 campaign, is seen as a future world champion.

The Mercedes team principle and part owner claimed that he ‘holds no grudge’ following the startling news earlier this month, going as far to say that in Hamilton he has found a friend in the sport.

But when tough decisions will need to be made on the allocation of resources or the very real fear some within the team will have in sharing information with the man who will join a title rival next term, it will be interesting to see if niceties remain.

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Hamilton won six of his seven world titles at Mercedes and had expressed his desire to finish his career with the team

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Mercedes are set to have a new look from next season but they must first navigate a potentially awkward final campaign with Hamilton

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Ferrari looked to be the best of the rest after pre-season testing in Bahrain this week

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Hamilton is set to be paired with established Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc from next year

F1 GRID 2024

Max Verstappen Red Bull

Sergio Perez Red Bull

Lewis Hamilton Mercedes

George Russell Mercedes

Charles Leclerc Ferrari

Carlos Sainz Ferrari

Lando Norris McLaren

Oscar Piastri McLaren

Fernando Alonso Aston Martin

Lance Stroll Aston Martin

Esteban Ocon Alpine

Pierre Gasly Alpine

Alex Albon Williams

Logan Sargeant Williams

Daniel Ricciardo Visa Cash App RB

Yuki Tsunoda Visa Cash App RB

Valtteri Bottas Sauber

Zhou Guanyu Sauber

Kevin Magnussen Haas

Nico Hulkenberg Haas

At present, considering last season’s performance and pre-season testing, Hamilton’s decision to move to Ferrari looks astute. The iconic Italian team appear to have a car capable of being best of the rest.

It’s not a position the record Constructors Championship winners are a fan of being in but it marks an improvement from years of gross underachievement. Ultimately, it’s hard to look past Red Bull and their man main Max Verstappen, who could yet lay claim to several of the historic records Hamilton hoovered up in the last decade.

On the track, with the Dutchman, and off it, with the genius designer Adrian Newey, their elite pit crew (I guess that’s technically still on the track) and legion of expert engineers, Red Bull look in decent shape to improve on their extraordinary 21-win season last term.

Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds is so confident Verstappen will win a fourth straight title that he pledged to donate $250,000 if he doesn’t.

However, the investigation into team principle Christian Horner has made for an incredibly uncomfortable build up for the team. Horner, who earns £8million a year, has won 13 world championships since heading the team as a 31-year-old in 2005. He was then the youngest team principal on the grid. He is now its longest-serving.

He has been cleared of ‘coercive behaviour’ by an independent investigation, but it still remains unclear whether he has a future with the team.

Ford, who are entering an engine partnership with Red Bull from 2026, led calls for a swift conclusion to the saga. In a letter written last week, chief executive Jim Farley expressed his displeasure at the ‘unresolved allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Red Bull Racing leadership’.

Those sentiments, demanding clarity at the earliest opportunity, were echoed by F1’s American owners, Liberty Media.

It is impossible to predict the impact his departure would have on the team, though you’d imagine the absence of someone who has been in post for nearly two decades would be keenly felt.

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Christian Horner has been cleared of ‘coercive behaviour’ by an independent investigation

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Adrian Newey, the greatest designer in the history of Formula One is key to Red Bull’s success

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Haas, no longer led by the charismatic foul-mouthed Guenther Steiner, are one of two teams with a new team principle. Ayao Komatsu has already predicted a tough year for the team

F1 CALENDAR 2024

Bahrain GP March 2

Saudi Arabian GP March 9

Australian GP March 24

 Japanese GP April 7

Chinese GP April 21

Miami GP May 5

Emilia Romagna GP May 19

Monaco GP May 26

Canadian GP June 9

Spanish GP June 23

Austrian GP June 30

British GP July 7

Hungarian GP July 21

Belgian GP July 28

Dutch GP August 25

Italian GP September 1

Azerbaijan GP September 15

Singapore GP September 22

United States GP October 20

Mexican GP October 27

Brazilian GP November 3

Las Vegas GP November 24

Lusail GP December 1

Abu Dhabi GP December 8

Should Horner be unable to continue in his role, Red Bull would be the third team on the grid with a new team principle, joining sister team Visa Cash App RB – formerly known as AlphaTauri – as well as Haas in making changes for this term.

No matter the expectations, the requirements of a principle or even that of a member of the pit crew or reporter have increased with the expansion of the upcoming season.

The number of races in a season has steadily increased overtime, beginning with just seven in the inaugural 1950 campaign and peaking at 22 for the first time in 2021. There were supposed to be 23 last season but killer floods led to the cancellation of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in May.

The bloated schedule has led to fears from drivers of burnout, with none other than Verstappen hinting at an early retirement. Russell also sent a warning to the sport’s bosses when the calendar was confirmed last year, that they are reaching a breaking point.

‘It is challenging, we can’t just keep adding more commitments, more races, there’s got to be a point where if you are adding something somewhere, something has got to be taken off,’ he said.

‘Maybe at the moment we’re just adding more races and not having less commitments, so you are just working overtime.’

This year’s increase is on account of the return of the Chinese Grand Prix for the first time since the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020. The campaign begins with two races on a Saturday, due to Ramadan, while the LA Vegas GP will also be held on a Saturday this year.

Notable changes include the Japan GP being moved forward from its usual October date that typically has less favorable weather due to the hurricane season. The marathon concludes in Abu Dhabi on December 8.

While more races gives F1 fans, well, more races, the revamp to the sprint format offers a bit more variety, and cynically, a slightly different audience to mine.

This season the sprint races are undergoing yet another alteration aimed at improving its integration with the traditional race weekend, unfortunately the language used is no less confusing.

There will again be six sprint weekends in China, Miami, Austria, Texas, Sao Paulo and Qatar. Only this time, Sprint Qualifying (also known as the Spring Shootout) will take place on a Friday following free practice.

Last year saw qualifying for Sunday’s full-length race take place in this slot. As a result of this change, the Sprint will be first thing on Saturday before the drivers return to the track for qualifying ahead of race day on Sunday.

It will come as a surprise to no one that Verstappen won four of the six Sprint races last term, with his teammate Sergio Perez winning another. The degree to which the format change can alter that stranglehold remains to be seen, though, you’d guess the outcome is likely to bolster the argument of its opponents.

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The Chinese GP returns to the F1 calendar for the first time since the COVID pandemic of 2020

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Lando Norris and McLaren are expecting to make a better start to this campaign than last year

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Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri were the only none Red Bull drivers to taste a race win in 2023

All 20 drivers who finished the last campaign have returned for 2024, though just seven have contracts for 2025

The format did at least lead to one unexpected winner of the 2023 season. Across 22 full-length races and six Sprint ones, only four drivers tasted a race win; Verstappen, Perez, Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri.

The Australian rookie was at the centre of a feisty tug of war in 2022, leading to Daniel Riccardo’s ousting from McLaren. But Piastri showed he was worth the fuss and at times last season looked a match for Lando Norris.

As previously mentioned, the grid is unchanged this term but there are certainly a few drivers feeling the heat of the gifted batch of young drivers in junior formulas. The likes of Sainz, Esteban Ocon, Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas and Logan Sargeant could all be wary of finding a seat next season.

In total, only seven drivers have contracts until the 2025 season, leaving 13 up for grabs and meaning they’ll be an almighty scramble to ensure personal objectives are met.

Credits: IMAGO PanoramiC

Since the start of the 2022 season, Lewis Hamilton has had a tough time in F1. Ruling the sport at one stage, the 39-year-old has not won a race since winning the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The winless streak is Hamilton’s longest-ever since he joined F1 back in 2007. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has been enjoying life in the front of the grid, racking up win after win. Noting the same, it seems the Dutchman recently mocked Hamilton for his winless streak while on a livestream with his friends.

When the British national anthem started playing on his stream, Max Verstappen encountered a curious affair. Quick to think on his feet, the 26-year-old came up with a statement that could well be perceived as a mockery of his arch-rival, Hamilton.

“Haven’t heard that one in a while.”

Ever since joining F1, Hamilton has enjoyed massive success in the sport. He wanted an incredible rookie season, but he lost out on the championship by a single point. Upon joining Mercedes, Hamilton scored six world championships, taking his overall tally to seven (one title with McLaren). However, the onset of the latest ground-effect regulations has made things immensely difficult for Hamilton and Mercedes.

While Hamilton hasn’t enjoyed similar success to Verstappen, there have been other drivers to push him off the top spot of the podium. Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz are the only drivers with multiple race wins since 2022. Aside from them, George Russell has been the only race winner under the latest regulations. Despite Russell being the last British driver to win a race, Verstappen did not have to listen to ‘God Save the King’ since they played ‘God Save the Queen’ back then. While the sound of the British anthem has been extinct from F1, the Dutch anthem has almost become the theme of each race day.

Has Max Verstappen grown tired of hearing the Dutch anthem?

In December 2023, Verstappen and his friends were logging in the hours on their sim rigs. With Verstappen streaming the session live, his friends decided to pull a small prank on him. Midway through the stream, they started playing the Dutch National anthem, much to the annoyance of the Dutchman. As soon as he heard the music, Verstappen remarked, “Oh, come on! Stop this sh*t.” Notably, Verstappen’s reaction was purely out of jest.

While the Dutch anthem has recently become a familiar sound, the German and the British anthems were once the norm. Michael Schumacher (and even Sebastian Vettel) and Lewis Hamilton stood atop the podium a lot, leading to both their anthems becoming a regular occurrence in F1.

Verstappen once used the same to answer an interviewer asking if he was sick of the Dutch anthem. Opting for a savage yet hilarious reply, Verstappen remarked, “I’ve heard the British and the German ones way too much.” Of course, by saying so, Verstappen imitated the feelings of current F1 fans. Most fans seem to have grown tired of hearing the same anthem play over and over again.

Credits: IMAGO NurPhoto

Three F1 world championships, a record contract with Red Bull that lasts until 2028, and numerous records in F1 make Max Verstappen one of the best drivers in the sport’s history. Currently chasing his fourth consecutive championship win, Verstappen is poised to achieve the feat. While it all seems meant to be, none of it would have been possible if it weren’t for a 4-year-old Verstappen feeling envious of his neighbor and demanding a go-kart from his parents.

Max Verstappen had access to exclusive racing venues growing up in a racing household. Furthermore, his father, Jos Verstappen, wanted his son to become a successful F1 racer and realize his dream of becoming a world champion in the sport. After years of hard work, strict training, and beatings, Verstappen Jr. stands atop the F1 mound.

While all these elements played a significant role in shaping the Dutchman’s career, none of them were as critical as the feeling instilled in him by a neighbor. Quoted on X by user @scuderiafemboy while speaking at the Mobil 1 presentation in China, Verstappen revealed how he got his first-ever go-kart.

“I got my first go-kart at 4 years old. There was a little boy near me who was driving. I envied him, so I asked my parents for a go-kart. I didn’t think it would become my career, and we have been friends for 20 years.”

Once he got his break, Verstappen never looked back. At just 26, the Dutch driver has racked up 57 career F1 wins, putting him in third place among drivers with the most GP wins. Only Michael Schumacher (91) and Lewis Hamilton (103) have more wins than the Red Bull driver. Looking back at his career so far, the stats bear it all. The journey that began when Verstappen was four has taken him to the highest of highs 22 years later.

Max Verstappen was always a racing prodigy

Verstappen’s fascination with vehicles began when he was two and had a quad bike to roam around on. A few years later, a neighbor introduced him to his first-ever go-kart. His father was against the purchase, but relentless pleas and cries convinced Sophie Kumpen to soften up. Hence, the Verstappens bought their son his first kart, setting off an incredible career.

Aged seven, Verstappen won his first race, and two years later, he won his first-ever championship. Winning titles in Belgium and the Netherlands became a habit for Verstappen. At 13, Verstappen secured a hat-trick of WSK titles while still in his rookie year in Europe. Meanwhile, he finished runner-up to Alex Albon in the CIK-FIA World Cup. By the time he was 16, Verstappen was in his final year of Karting, with Red Bull keeping a keen eye on him. He had become the World champion and the European champion, both considered two of the most challenging series in the world of Karting.

The early genius of Max Verstappen was perhaps best told by his CRG team boss, Giancarlo Tinini. He was a crucial figure in shaping Verstappen’s racing life and was there to see a racing genius evolve in real life. Quoted by The Race, Tinini once detailed the one aspect of Verstappen that only a handful of drivers have ever had: “Max has an extraordinary mastery of the vehicle. Few racers can make the difference in the first two laps of a race. He is one of them.”

IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

The line between fashion and sport has always been thin. But in the world of F1, it was a rare feat—until Lewis Hamilton came along. By transcending the limits of the track, Hamilton has become synonymous with both speed and style and now, he’s taking it a step further.

Recently, at the GQ Creativity Awards, Hamilton played coy when talking about something big in the making. “I’m working on some fashion stuff. I can’t say too much yet, but keep your eyes peeled in the coming months.” All while wearing what? Hamilton was bedecked in a striking ensemble from the Dior Men’s Fall 2024 collection. Now that’s hint number one.

Collecting more evidence: Hamilton’s longstanding friendship with Kim Jones was evident during his presence at the Dior fashion show earlier this year. The 7x world champion was even seated among fashion royalty at the Paris show, making a statement.

In a recent Instagram post, Hamilton revealed the final clue to solve the case. While innocently drifting around Tokyo, Hamilton showed off his insane driving skills. Although impressive, the focus was on a subtle yet significant detail: his hoodie emblazoned with the iconic Dior emblem and his racing number 44.

Speculation soared, with all signs pointing to an impending collaboration with Dior. With Hamilton’s meteor rise in the fashion world, fans brace themselves for the inevitable announcement, ready to invest in anticipation of another groundbreaking venture from the style maven.

Lewis Hamilton fans worried about their bank accounts

Fans were excited by this new creative outlet for their driver. And as Lewis Hamilton does, the hype was immediate.

Fans were already in line to cop the essentially high-fashion merch that Hamilton so effortlessly flaunted on his post.

But high-end fashion brands usually mean empty pockets.

However, none of it mattered. The excitement is through the roof as it looks like, once again, Lewis Hamilton will raise the bar, treading on ground no F1 driver has dared to before. The face of F1, the future of fashion- Hamilton has long proved that he doesn’t have to stick to either label. Embracing both, Lewis Hamilton has shown that he is bigger than the sport.

Credits: IMAGO AAP

Fans of F1 were in for heartbreak when news broke of Guenther Steiner leaving Haas before the 2024 season. Following a poor season in 2023, Gene Haas decided it was time to bring about a change within his team. As such, Steiner was no longer a part of the Haas setup. However, there might soon be reason for F1 fans and Steiner to rejoice, with SpeedCafe reporting the possibility of him returning to the grid as a team owner.

Despite staying around the sport of F1 as a TV presenter, Steiner looked for opportunities to come back with a bang in a bigger role. Hence, he pursued this path by buying into a pre-existing F1 team. Given the same, reports also suggest Steiner has recently secured the necessary funding and is now actively looking for a team to invest in.

Currently a bullish market, F1 has very limited options for Steiner to choose from. Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, and Sauber are out of the picture with committed owners. Aston Martin owners have also shown commitment to their project, and it is too soon for them to think about a sale.

Haas is another team Steiner wouldn’t want to consider. Aside from a bitter history, the operations at Haas are way too scattered to materialize into a successful outfit. Steiner even stated that he isn’t interested in running a team even “on the same premise as Haas.”

Having spent a lot of years in F1, Steiner wants to do more than participate in races. He wants to compete with the top teams and build an outfit capable of winning races. As such, Visa Cash App RB, Alpine, McLaren, and Williams remain.

Guenther Steiner will need to put in a lot of effort to realize his dream

A McLaren acquisition will be a tricky thing to pull off for Steiner. The organization extends beyond the confines of just being a racing team, and the Bahraini Sovereign Wealth Fund only recently acquired it all. Divided into two groups, the McLaren organization houses Racing operations as well as a road car business. The latter has struggled a lot, while the former is growing in stature and returning promising results. Hence, it seems unlikely that the new owners would want to sell the more profitable of the two divides.

Meanwhile, Alpine looks like a much more viable option for Steiner. Following a $200 million influx by new investors in 2023, Forbes valued the entire organization at roughly $1.4 billion. Rumored to be on the market for quite some time, Steiner would need to shell out $1.1 billion for a 76% stake in the team. Realistically, the only remaining option is Williams, but it has its challenges.

Currently worth an estimated price of around $725 million, the Grove-based team is owned by Dorilton Capital. Battling with decades of under-investment, the team needs a huge influx of cash and experience to turn things around. On paper, Williams could be the easiest team to purchase for Steiner. However, it is also the team that will require the most work. Moreover, it will also require a lot of time, given the cost cap will halt the developments the team would want to make in a season.

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The Time Magazine has revealed its TIME100: The 100 Most Influential People of 2024 list. Amongst some hefty hitters lies the name of the Kansas City Chiefs QB, Patrick Mahomes, as the cover star of the ‘Titans’ category. And the list is marked off by three-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen.

Time’s senior correspondent, Sean Gregory, lauded the 26-year-old as a confident winning machine. Gregory also charted the Red Bull driver’s winning streak over the most diverse list of continents a sportsperson has ever won on.

On the other hand, Mahomes was coronated by MLB World Series champion Alex Rodriguez. The 2x Super Bowl winner has defined the NFL with his awe-striking performances with the Chiefs in the American Football Conference West division.

Verstappen has been dominating since 2022. He’s won three world titles in a row and almost every race since the 2023 Miami GP, barring the 2023 Singapore GP and the 2024 Australian GP. Naturally, he’s a worthy recipient of Time’s recognition.

Mahomes, who is also a part of the consortium that recently invested a staggering +200 million plus in Alpine F1, has been a record breaker in his respective sport. He has led the Chiefs to two consecutive Super Bowl triumphs based on his stellar performances as their Quarterback.

Patrick Mahomes’ Alpine stuck in a messy situation after multi-million dollar deal

In June last year, the Renault Group announced that its F1 venture, Alpine F1, had sold over 24% of its stake in the team to a consortium of investors. Prime amongst them was Hollywood superstar Ryan Reynolds.

However, as ESPN reported, the consortium had other A-list names, too. Patrick Mahomes was one of the investors, and his teammate Travis Kelce also took a slice of the Formula 1 pie back with him.

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That being said, the team’s start to the 2024 season has been anything but ideal. Amid a sluggishly slow car, internal politics, and discord, the team finds themselves placed last in the Constructors’ championship. News has also been brewing that Renault is inclined to sell the team off of their hands.