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Sergio Perez
Formula 1

WATCH: Sergio Perez’s completely wrecked after suffering massive crash; Carlos Sainz suffers early puncture at Monaco GP

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WATCH: Sergio Perez’s completely wrecked after suffering massive crash; Carlos Sainz suffers early puncture at Monaco GP The Monaco GP got off to a frenzy start, with incidents at the top of the grid, as well as at the back of the grid. Red Bull driver Sergio Perez suffered a massive crash, after receiving some contact from Kevin Magnussen. As a result, both Haas drivers and Sergio Perez’s race ended early, as a red flag was waved just a couple of corners into the first lap. Sergio Perez started the race from the second last row, as Kevin Magnussen’s aggressive intent cause both the drivers, and Nico Hulkenberg’s race to end early. Sergio Perez suffered terrible damage, as his car was completely written off. He lost three of the four wheels on his car, as there was plenty of debris left on the tracks. A wave flag was instantly waved due to the crash, as Sergio Perez went spinning through the barriers. Carlos Sainz suffers early tyre puncture in Monaco Carlos Sainz suffered an early puncture at the Monaco GP, as he had a minor collision with Oscar Piastri, who started the race in P2. The Spanish driver parked his car after the first corner, as Ferrari seemed to have suffered a massive loss in the first lap of the race. However, the red flag has prompted Carlos Sainz back to his original place on the grid. The Ferrari driver managed to get his car back into the garage, as the grid order will be reverted to the original for the restart. This would be a huge relief for Carlos Sainz and Ferrari who will be hoping to have two cars on the podium by the end of the race. Charles Leclerc, who grabbed his third pole position in Monaco in four years got off to a clean start. The Monaco based driver will be eager to claim his first win in his home race in Monaco. Also Read: “Ferrari are miles ahead” : Max Verstappen admits to not even thinking about beating Charles Leclerc at Monaco GP

Charles Leclerc Imola GP
Formula 1

“Ferrari are miles ahead” : Max Verstappen admits to not even thinking about beating Charles Leclerc at Monaco GP

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“Ferrari are miles ahead” : Max Verstappen admits to not even thinking about beating Charles Leclerc at Monaco GP Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in both the practice sessions at the Monaco GP on Friday. The Ferrari driver finished +0.188 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the second session of the day to wrap up a strong start to the weekend. However, both the Red Bull drivers struggled to keep up with their competitors on Friday. After finishing outside the top 10 in the first practice session, Max Verstappen managed to finish P4 in second session. However, he was still +0.535 seconds off the pace to Charles Leclerc, who looks on course to claim his third pole position in four years in Monaco. Max Verstappen admitted that Ferrari and Charles Leclerc are miles ahead of Red Bull this weekend. The Dutchman also admitted that as things stand, they are not even considering to defeat Charles Leclerc given the pace Ferrari have shown on the opening day. “We will try to make it a little better but I don’t expect any miracles. (Ferrari) are miles ahead so I’m not even thinking about that, just want to solve the issues we have,” said Verstappen, as quoted by BBC. Max Verstappen wary of issues troubling Red Bull on opening day of Monaco GP Max Verstappen believes that the issues which Red Bull have faced on the opening day might not have an easy fix, something which could be done a week earlier in Imola. However, he remains optimistic that the team could pull together something which can at least limit the damage. Max Verstappen stated that there have been some changes in the track, which has cost him time during his laps. “Very difficult. It is not something I didn’t expect but it’s definitely at the higher end of the worst possible outcome of the weekend so far,” said the Dutchman. “It’s just very difficult. There are a lot of bumps and kerbs and camber changes in the track and for us that is basically impossible to take. Every time we go over it, we lose a lot of lap time just because the car doesn’t ride well. There is also no really clear direction or solution to try and solve something like that,” he added. On the other hand, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes had a fine day, as the Briton finished second in the final practice session of the day. Toto Wolff hinted at making some progress last week in Imola, as he stated that the true potential would come to life in the next couple of races. The first day of the Monaco GP has set us up for an interesting qualifying day. Max Verstappen has often struggled in the practice sessions this season, however, he has come up with the goods when it matters the most. Also Read: “A race that is unfinished business for him” : Fred Vasseur determined to help Charles Leclerc win home race in Monaco

Charles Leclerc Imola GP
Formula 1

“A race that is unfinished business for him” : Fred Vasseur determined to help Charles Leclerc win home race in Monaco

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“A race that is unfinished business for him” : Fred Vasseur determined to help Charles Leclerc win home race in Monaco Charles Leclerc claimed his second consecutive podium finish last weekend, as he finished P3 in Imola. The Ferrari driver now returns to his home circuit in Monaco, where he had his share of bad luck. Ferrari chief Fred Vasseur believes that Charles Leclerc has some unfinished business in Monaco, and is determined to help him win the race. Charles Leclerc grabbed the pole position in Monaco in 2021 and 2022, however, he could not convert this advantage into a race win. In 2021, he had to retire his car which ended his race early, whereas, he finished P4 in 2022 due to a strategic error from his team. Hence, Fred Vasseur realizes the importance of this race from Charles Leclerc’s perspective. “A few days ago, it was our home race in Imola and this weekend, Charles will be on home turf in Monaco, a race that is unfinished business for him and we’d like to help him put it to bed,” said Vasseur. Charles Leclerc remains optimistic about his team’s progress this year. He believes that if Ferrari can work on their straight line speed, they can compete with the likes of Red Bull and McLaren. Fred Vasseur acknowledges the challenges posed by the Monaco circuit Fred Vasseur acknowledged the fact that overtaking is very difficult on the narrow Monaco tracks. Hence, qualifying will play a crucial role in deciding the fate of the race. He stated that the race is important for Carlos Sainz, as he claimed his maiden podium finish for Ferrari here in 2021. “Carlos also loves racing in the Principality, where he took his first podium at the wheel of a Ferrari, so they are both very motivated. It’s generally accepted that, with the current generation of cars, overtaking is harder here than at any other track,” said Vasseur. Fred Vasseur also spoke about the importance of Saturday’s qualifying, and how they have been preparing for the same. Ferrari currently sit second on the Constructors table, with 212 points with Red Bull leading the pack with 268 points. Charles Leclerc sits on the second place in the Drivers Championship, with 113 points as compared to Max Verstappen’s 161 points. Also Read: “I think we’ve got a real shot of going back on the top step of the podium” : Charles Leclerc optimistic after P3 finish in Imola

Charles Leclerc Imola GP
Formula 1

“I think we’ve got a real shot of going back on the top step of the podium” : Charles Leclerc optimistic after P3 finish in Imola

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“I think we’ve got a real shot of going back on the top step of the podium” : Charles Leclerc optimistic after P3 finish in Imola Charles Leclerc had a pretty decent outing in Imola, as he managed to bag his second consecutive podium finish. The 26-year-old finished P3, when his teammate Carlos Sainz struggled for most of the race, managing a P5 finish. Charles Leclerc offered words of optimism after securing a podium in front of his home fans in Imola. The Ferrari driver stated that he remains hopeful of getting back to the top of the podium if the team can work on the straight line speed. He believes that Red Bull and McLaren have been doing something weird on the straights, which has helped them establish their superiority over the rest of the teams. However, Charles Leclerc remains optimistic about the rest of the season, and a shot at winning races in the coming weeks. “We lost everything in the straights and they are doing something weird with the energy engine wise, McLaren and Red Bull. We’ll look into that. And once we fix that, I think we’ve got a real shot of going back on the top step of the podium,” said Leclerc. “I think today’s race was also a very good advert for Formula 1” : Fred Vasseur Ferrari’s team principal Fred Vasseur was encouraged with what he saw at the Imola GP on Sunday. He believes that three teams were separated by just over 7 seconds towards the end of the race which is a really positive sign for the sport and the viewers in general. “I think today’s race was also a very good advert for Formula 1 as we saw three teams in seven seconds after more than 60 laps, which means the gaps are less than one tenth per lap,” said Vasseur. In terms of Ferrari’s race pace, Fred Vasseur believes that they are almost on par with the likes of Red Bull and McLaren now. He believes that the team is ready to fight for race wins in the coming weeks, and this week was just a small step forward in the right direction. The next race of the season will take place next weekend in Monaco, which is also a home race for Charles Leclerc. “We are definitely on the pace now and we can fight for the top spot, even if we still need to make a small step forward,” Vasseur observed.

Max Verstappen
Formula 1

Max Verstappen joins ‘elite club’ involving Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel after Japanese GP victory

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Max Verstappen joins ‘elite club’ involving Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel after Japanese GP victory Max Verstappen has joined an Elite Club following his comfortable victory at the Suzuka Circuit on Sunday. The Dutchman claimed his third win of the season, as Red Bull also completed their third 1-2 finish of the season, with Sergio Perez bringing his car home to a P2 finish. Following his early retirement at the Australian GP, Max Verstappen stamped his authority over the weekend. The three-time F1 champion bagged the pole position, and claimed his third victory of the season. The Red Bull driver now becomes only the fourth driver in F1 history to have led as many as 3,000 laps. Max Verstappen has established his dominance on the grid over the past couple of years, as he has led most of the races from start to finish. Only Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher have managed to lead more than 3,000 laps in F1. Max Verstappen claims third victory of the season at the Japanese GP Max Verstappen is off to a terrific start in the Championship, claiming 76 points from 4 races. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was delighted after a magnificent weekend for the team, after their one-off outing in Australia. Christian Horner heaped praise on both the drivers for their race management. He applauded Sergio Perez for securing his first front row start in almost a year, and coming through the field in Sunday’s main race. The Chinese GP will take place a couple of weeks from now, as the race returns to the calendar after almost half a decade. “It was a great team performance today; fastest lap, one-two finish, fastest pit stop and first and second in the championship. is a great achievement that we are very proud of, especially in Japan, where our motorcycle partner Honda has its home base. Max managed to control the race beautifully. He was away from the start and really took good care of the tires. Checo has it did very well here too. His qualifying yesterday was good, better than he has done in his career, and then his race was fantastic. He came through the field, was very strong and kept his pace. A brilliant race from the whole team .That’s great to see,” said Horner.

Lewis Hamilton
Formula 1

“Was I robbed? Obviously,” Lewis Hamilton shares his opinion on the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP

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“Was I robbed? Obviously,” Lewis Hamilton shares his opinion on the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen delivered a title fight for the ages in the 2021 season, when the championship was decided in the final lap of the Abu Dhabi GP. In what was turning out to be a comfortable victory over Lewis Hamilton, turned into a first F1 title for Max Verstappen after a controversial FIA call. Lewis Hamilton has not often spoken about the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP publicly, as he came ever so close to his record eight F1 title. Recently, in an interview with GQ, Lewis Hamilton stated that he was obviously robbed of the title. Just a couple of laps before the final lap, Nicholas Latifi had to retire his car after suffering a crash. Former FIA Director, Michael Masi made a controversial decision allowing all the lapped cars to un-lap themselves. This decision unleased Max Verstappen on Lewis Hamilton with a fresh set of tyres, and one lap remaining. The result was inevitable, as the Dutchman got the better of the race leader towards the first turn. “Was I robbed? Obviously,” Hamilton said. “But I think what was really beautiful in that moment, which I take away from it, was my dad was with me. And we’d gone through this huge roller coaster of life together, ups and downs,” he added. Lewis Hamilton describes the defining moment of his life after Abu Dhabi GP debacle Lewis Hamilton stated that his decision to go to the podium, and shake hands with Max Verstappen has to be one of the defining moments of his life. Fans across the world heaped praise on the Briton for his act of sportsmanship despite being a victim of a controversial call. “And the day that it hurt the most, he was there, and the way he raised me was to always stand up, keep your head high. And I obviously went to congratulate Max, and not realizing the impact that that would have, but also I was really conscious of, like, there’s a mini-me watching,” said Hamilton. “This is the defining moment of my life. And I think it really was. I felt it. I didn’t know how it was going to be perceived. I hadn’t visualised it. But I was definitely conscious of: These next 50 meters that I walk is where I fall to the ground and die—or I rise up.” Things have not come gone to plan for Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton since that season. The seven-time F1 champion has failed to win a race since the 2021 Saudi Arabian GP. The Briton did manage to finish third in the Drivers Championship last year, however, he was no where close to the Red Bull duo of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. Lewis Hamilton announced his decision to join Ferrari at the end of the current F1 season, which left F1 fans surprised. The veteran would leave Mercedes after an 11-season stint, which saw him claim six titles. Also Read: Guenther Steiner makes huge Max Verstappen statement : “If Max goes somewhere I guess he’d go to Mercedes”

Max Verstappen
Formula 1

Guenther Steiner makes huge Max Verstappen statement : “If Max goes somewhere I guess he’d go to Mercedes”

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Guenther Steiner makes huge Max Verstappen statement : “If Max goes somewhere I guess he’d go to Mercedes” Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari at the end of the current season has shaken up the driver pairings for the next season. This means that Carlos Sainz is still without a seat for the 2025 F1 season, and his form suggests that he is likely to have an offer sooner rather than later. Former Haas boss Guenther Steiner believes that Max Verstappen would move to Mercedes if he wants to switch teams. The three-time champion has the longest contract in the F1 history, as he has signed to race with Red Bull till 2028. However, there are certain clauses in the Dutchman’s contract which would allow him to exit Red Bull earlier than 2028. In this case, Guenther Steiner believes his next destination could be the Silver Arrows. “It could be Mercedes which obviously they have got a free seat because Lewis is going to Ferrari. I mean Aston Martin as well, it’s a possibility. I think if Max goes somewhere I guess he’d go to Mercedes,” said Steiner in an interview to Sky Sports. What are the chances of Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull at the end of the 2024 F1 season? At the start of the current season, there seemed to be quite a bit unrest at Red Bull given the saga involving Christian Horner. Moreover, disagreements between Jos Verstappen and Christian Horner only added fuel to the fire, as reports suggested that Max Verstappen could well be on his way out. However, things have seemed to settle down now, as the Dutchman is almost assured of continuing with the reigning champions for the next season. Max Verstappen had a great start to the season, scoring two victories in Bahrain and Jeddah. However, he hit a slump at the Albert Park, as he had to retire his car in the opening laps which brought an early end to his Australian GP. Ferrari secured an important 1-2 finish, which brings them right back in the Constructors race. Also Read: “He is making the right decision,” Guenther Steiner backs Lewis Hamilton to win eighth title at Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton
Formula 1

“He is making the right decision,” Guenther Steiner backs Lewis Hamilton to win eighth title at Ferrari

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“He is making the right decision,” Guenther Steiner backs Lewis Hamilton to win eighth title at Ferrari Lewis Hamilton sent shockwaves through the F1 community, when he decided to switch to Ferrari at the end of the current season. The seven-time F1 champion will join the Italian giants in 2025, after spending almost over a decade with Mercedes. Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has backed Lewis Hamilton’s decision, and believes that it is the right thing to do at this stage in his career. He understands that the Briton is in the final stages of his career, and he would certainly want to explore before he hangs up his helmet. “It looks like he is making the right decision. He did it when he left McLaren to go to Mercedes, so maybe he got this one right as well,” said Steiner. “But I think for him it’s more about the new challenge. He has been at the team for 11 years, won six championships, good relationships there. I think it’s just the last step of his career he wants a new challenge. And obviously, your last challenge being Ferrari, it’s a nice thing to have the opportunity to do,” he added. Guenther Steiner does not rule out an eighth title for Lewis Hamilton Guenther Steiner has also not ruled out an eighth title for Lewis Hamilton. The former Haas boss stated that the regulations are slated to be altered in 2026, and if Ferrari are able to build a good car, Lewis Hamilton could well end his career with an eighth F1 title. “I think nothing is impossible. In 2026 there are completely new regulations engine and chassis wise, so the cars are being redone then. And if he gets a little bit luck and is in the right place, if Ferrari produces a good car, it could be possible that he gets his eighth championship“, Steiner continued. Lewis Hamilton was forced to retire at the 2024 Australian GP, as he described his start to the season as the worst he has ever encountered. The Briton finished seventh in the season opener in Bahrain, and ninth in Jeddah, before his DNF in Melbourne. Also Read: “Nobody expected a result like this,” Fred Vasseur makes honest admission after Carlos Sainz’s Australian GP victory

Carlos Sainz
Formula 1

“Nobody expected a result like this,” Fred Vasseur makes honest admission after Carlos Sainz’s Australian GP victory

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“Nobody expected a result like this,” Fred Vasseur makes honest admission after Carlos Sainz’s Australian GP victory Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur admitted that no one expected Carlos Sainz to claim the 2024 Australian GP victory. The Spaniard was still in the process of recovering from his appendicitis surgery from two weeks ago, as he claimed his first victory of the season on Sunday. Fred Vasseur applauded Carlos Sainz for a brilliant drive at the Albert Park, as he helped Ferrari secured their first 1-2 finish since the season opener in Bahrain in 2022. The former McLaren driver is still without a seat for the next season, and has revealed that there are no offers on the table just yet. Fred Vasseur stated that in the months leading up to the season, the goal was to push to the limit until the end of the season. “This winter we agreed together to push until the last lap of the season,” said Fred. “And he did a fantastic job. He was there in Bahrain, pushing the team also, and for sure Jeddah was a tough weekend, a tough weekend for Carlos, a tough weekend for the team.“ “But the recovery is mega. You have to keep in mind that two weeks ago he was in the hospital. I think even Friday he was not 100 per cent sure to be able to drive. And after a couple of laps, he was on the pace, and this was part of the success – because you can’t give up one lap in free practice if you want to perform. For sure, it’s amazing. If you have a look on where he’s coming from nobody expected a result like this today,” he added. Fred Vasseur denies Carlos Sainz having an advantage over Charles Leclerc Fred Vasseur also denied the fact that Carlos Sainz had the advantage over Charles Leclerc at the Australian GP. “We are speaking about plus or minus half a tenth,” he said. “And classification is one thing, the pace is another one. I think during the race the issue is that we had to cover [Oscar] Piastri at the beginning, that was not ideal in terms of race time, for sure,” he added. “We didn’t want to give up the position on track, and we put him in a tough situation. But on the last stint, he knew more about the degradation of the hard, and he was able to be very consistent and it was a good one,” said Vasseur. Ferrari have now cut the deficit to just four points in the Constructor Championship. Three-time World Champion Max Verstappen was forced to retire in the opening laps after issues with his rear break. His teammate Sergio Perez managed to finish only fifth, which meant that Red Bull could score only 10 points in Australia. Red Bull had a near perfect start to the season, finishing 1-2 in the first two races of the season. Also Read: Helmut Marko sends warning to Ferrari after Max Verstappen’s Australian GP disaster

Max Verstappen
Formula 1

Helmut Marko sends warning to Ferrari after Max Verstappen’s Australian GP disaster

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Helmut Marko sends warning to Ferrari after Max Verstappen’s Australian GP disaster Max Verstappen’s near perfect start to the 2024 F1 season came to a halt on Sunday, as he was forced to retire in the opening laps of the Australian GP. The Dutchman started from pole position, and was able to fend off early pressure from Carlos Sainz to maintain the lead after Turn 1. However, towards the halfway mark of the second lap, Max Verstappen complained of his breaks being loose. Carlos Sainz capitalized on the same, and made a quick pass on the reigning champion who could hardly offer any resistance. Just a couple of seconds later, there were signs of smoke coming out from his right rear break which meant that he had to retire his car. Carlos Sainz led a Ferrari 1-2, as the Spanaird claimed his third win in Formula One. Max Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez could manage to finish only P5, as the Italian side has reduced the deficit in Constructors championship to only 10 points. However, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has fired a warning to Ferrari, as the action moves to Japan in a couple of weeks. “The outcome would have been completely different” : Helmut Marko on Verstappen’s retirement Helmut Marko stated that the outcome of the race would have been very different if Max Verstappen was not forced to retire. He stated that the Dutchman was able to match Carlos Sainz’s pace in the second lap despite facing issues with his brake. “I spoke to Max and he said that despite the problems, he kept up with Sainz’s pace relatively easily,” Marko told Sky Germany. “With Max in the race, the outcome would have been completely different.” “We don’t know exactly yet, but already on the lap when Sainz overtook him, the brake didn’t release. In addition, he got slightly sideways and Sainz overtook him as a result. As a result, the brake got completely stuck and we are very glad that not everything caught fire. We need to evaluate the exact cause,” he added. Max Verstappen still sits on top of the Drivers Championship with 51 points in three races. The Dutchman will look to extend his lead at the Suzuka Circuit in two weeks from now. The three-time champion has won the two previous Japanese GP’s, winning by 19 seconds in 2023, and 27 seconds in 2022.

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