World champion Verstappen displays on ‘insane, intense, and loopy’ season
Lewis Hamilton’s future in Formulation 1 stays a sizzling subject as we enter the low season with the Briton but to make clear whether or not he’ll return with Mercedes following a crushing loss within the title race to Max Verstappen.
The Briton has gone off the radar since defeat on the thrilling Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, sparking hypothesis over whether or not he’ll return as teammate to new Mercedes driver George Russell.
There’s expectation that the seven-time world champion might be again, with Formulation 1 chief Stefano Domenicali adamant Hamilton will “recharge the his batteries and are available again with much more need than earlier than to win an eighth world title.”
However the impression of Russell’s arrival, changing Valtteri Bottas, will show fascinating and should change the dynamic of the title race between Hamilton and Verstappen, with the potential of a 3rd title contender – or extra, ought to the brand new guidelines shift the steadiness of energy.
In the course of the fraught and intense 2021 season, incidents on observe price Purple Bull near an eye-watering €4m, the third-highest determine amongst all drivers behind Mick Schumacher of Haas (€4.2m) and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (€4.1m). Verstappen’s tally is greater than thrice that of his fierce rival Hamilton, who set Mercedes again €1.2m over the yr, in line with Sky Germany.
In fact the Dutchman, who clinched his maiden world title in thrilling however controversial vogue on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, would put a few of that price all the way down to Hamilton himself after blaming the Briton for his or her high-speed incident at Copse Nook throughout the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, one of many quickest turns in Formulation 1 the place the pair made contact and Verstappen was despatched flying throughout the gravel into the obstacles. Observe all the most recent F1 information beneath.
Ferrari loved a productive 2021
Heaps to look ahead to for Ferrari subsequent season, after Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc completed fifth and seventh respectively within the driver standings.
They clocked up 5 podium finishes between them, with Ferrari ending third within the constructor championship.
Karl Matchett24 December 2021 10:35
Lewis Hamilton will return with ‘much more need’ in 2022
Lewis Hamilton could have “much more need” to win a report eighth Formulation 1 title subsequent season, says chief Stefano Domenicali.
The British driver simply missed out on the report this season after he was pipped to the title within the closing race of the marketing campaign. Hamilton was main the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix however was overtaken by Max Verstappen within the final lap to lose out.
The circumstances across the defeat makes Domenicali imagine Hamilton might be again with a vengeance.
“Lewis Hamilton? I’m certain he’ll recharge his batteries and are available again with much more need than earlier than to win the eighth world title,” he informed Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport. Full report:
Karl Matchett24 December 2021 10:17
Lewis Hamilton will return with ‘much more need’ in 2022
Lewis Hamilton could have “much more need” to win a report eighth Formulation 1 title subsequent season, says chief Stefano Domenicali.
The British driver simply missed out on the report this season after he was pipped to the title within the closing race of the marketing campaign. Hamilton was main the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix however was overtaken by Max Verstappen within the final lap to lose out.
The circumstances across the defeat makes Domenicali imagine Hamilton might be again with a vengeance.
“Lewis Hamilton? I’m certain he’ll recharge his batteries and are available again with much more need than earlier than to win the eighth world title,” he informed Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Karl Matchett24 December 2021 10:17
Max Verstappen thought Purple Bull promotion was ‘nonsense’
Max Verstappen’s preliminary response to information of a promotion at Purple Bull within the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix was that it was “nonsense”.
Verstappen’s first full-time drive got here with the junior staff Toro Rosso on the 2015 Australian Grand Prix, earlier than stepping up rather than Daniil Kvyat on the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, making it a memorable debut after snatching victory.
“That’s proper, sure,” Purple Bull’s driver programme boss Helmut Marko informed Motorsport.com when discussing the hearsay. Jos did realise one thing was happening and that Max is likely to be driving for Purple Bull, however Max thought it was sheer nonsense.
“I referred to as Jos early within the morning and informed him we needed to meet in Graz. In the course of the lunch that adopted, I couldn’t get straight to the purpose. On the similar time, there have been all kinds of issues happening in England by way of contracts and preparations, so I needed to discuss round it a bit.
“It was solely on the finish of that lunch that I used to be in a position to get all the way down to enterprise, when Max was already questioning why he was there in any respect.
“Anyway, earlier than Max got here to Graz he may have recognized what would occur, particularly if he had listened to Jos. (Laughs) Coincidentally, we mentioned it over dinner in Austin this yr.”
Jack Rathborn24 December 2021 09:51
Jack Rathborn24 December 2021 09:35
Ian Poulter fixes Carlos Sainz’s golf swing
Carlos Sainz’s different ardour away from the observe is golf.
And Ian Poulter gave him a fast lesson a couple of weeks in the past, because the Spaniard bids to decrease his handicap from 11 to 5.
Jack Rathborn24 December 2021 09:25
Lando Norris beats Max Vertsappen to win Finest Overtake of 2021
Lando Norris has gained Formulation 1’s award for Finest Overtake of 2021.
The Briton beat off competitors from fellow-finalist Max Vertsappen, with 53.8 per cent of the vote.
And the McLaren driver made mild of his victory of the world champion, tweeting: “Wow. My first F1 win.”
Jack Rathborn24 December 2021 09:09
Purple Bull received ‘fortunate’ in F1 title race finale, claims Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya maintains that Purple Bull received “fortunate” of their Formulation 1 title conquer Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes.
“Sure, you’re attempting to race, however racing in a manner the place you actually need to get in the best way, and Lewis is aware of if he goes for it they might crash and name it a racing incident and so they (Purple Bull) had been relying on that,” mentioned the Colombian, who raced in F1 between 2001 and 2006.
“Purple Bull performed all of the playing cards to get it (the title) and in the long run they did – luck was on their facet. Whether or not they made the fitting choices or not is as much as the FIA to analyse.”
Jack Rathborn24 December 2021 08:51
Sergio Perez ‘would have been destroyed 20 years in the past’ for serving to Max Verstappen
Juan Pablo Montoya maintains Sergio Perez’s position in serving to to ship Max Verstappen the Formulation 1 title on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix would have seen him “destroyed” again in his day.
“Oh my God, it’s good that Checo received concerned and helped Max. And I believe he did an excellent job for Max,” the Colombian mentioned.
“Twenty years in the past, if the second driver did that, he would have been destroyed. And if Rubens (Barrichello) ever helped Michael (Schumacher), everybody mentioned ‘oh my God, why are you serving to Michael? You gave up a win, a place?’
“And it was an enormous drama on the time, whereas at present they are saying ‘oh, he helped him, he received in the best way and it was good that he did it’. These are factors of view.”
“I don’t know [what has changed]. It’s fairly loopy.
“Actually, I believe in the event you had been supporting Max you’ll assume what ‘Checo’ did was sensational as a result of it helped him. However in the event you had been supporting Lewis otherwise you had been impartial, you’ll marvel why he received concerned.”
Jack Rathborn24 December 2021 08:35
Valtteri Bottas labelled a ‘failure’ for Abu Dhabi efficiency
Valtteri Bottas has been labelled a ‘failure’ for his Abu Dhabi efficiency and lack of ability to assist Lewis Hamilton safe the world title.
That’s the view of former F1 driver Marc Surer, who maintains the Finn may have accomplished extra, like Sergio Perez to help his teammate as Max Verstappen dramatically snatched the title from the Briton
The Swiss mentioned: “Bottas is definitely a failure in visitors. He at all times will get caught and has an insanely onerous time.
“The man simply can’t overtake different vehicles which can be over a second slower with the quickest automotive within the subject. That’s his weak spot.
“Max wouldn’t have made it. Overtaking two vehicles in a single lap wouldn’t have labored. However Bottas was nowhere.
“He [Bottas] at all times will get it proper on a single lap [in qualifying], and he generally will get it so proper he’s forward of Hamilton. He can try this – and that’s exactly Perez’s weak spot.”
Jack Rathborn24 December 2021 08:20