old- F1 news LIVE: Lewis Hamilton shuts down retirement talk as Sergio Perez apologises to his wife

Michael Jones

7 June 2022 at 4:10 am·60-min read

old- F1 news LIVE: Lewis Hamilton shuts down retirement talk as Sergio Perez apologises to his wife

F1 is looking ahead to this weekend’s the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with more intrigue than ever surrounding the 2022 season.

Lewis Hamilton has moved to shut down any talk of him retiring from F1, which has emerged on the back of Mercedes’ struggles and the fact that teammate George Russell is currently outperforming him. “Why should I stop?” Hamilton told Corriere della Ser. “Let’s take this season: I probably won’t win the title, but I feel the same pleasure of competing as when I started. Maybe one day I won’t be able to take the pressure anymore, I’ll be tired, but that day hasn’t come yet.”

Meanwhile, struggling Mick Schumacher has been warned he could face the sack from Haas unless he cuts down on the number of expensive crashes and starts improving to outperform teammate Kevin Magnussen. “He simply has far too many accidents at the moment, all of which cost a lot, a lot of money. If nothing comes, they won’t keep going indefinitely. Formula 1 is brutal and cold,” mused two-time World Rally champion Walter Röhrl.

Sergio Perez is one of the most fascinating characters in the sport, triumphing in a chaotic and thrilling race in Monaco last time out, before immediately extending his Red Bull contract to 202. The good news kept coming for Red Bull when the FIA dismissed complaints against both drivers, Perez and Max Verstappen, from Ferrari. But there is potential conflict in the air if Perez can keep his resurgence going to challenge the world champion’s superiority.

Follow all the latest news, rumours and build-up to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix:

F1 news

Why should I stop? Lewis Hamilton shuts down retirement talk
Christian Horner says there is ‘nothing’ between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in title race
Perez apologises to his wife after dancing with other women at Monaco GP victory party
Mick Schumacher warned he could face sack from ‘brutal and cold’ F1
Toto Wolff seeking compromise on smaller teams’ ‘stubborn position’

Red Bull expecting grid to go in ‘one particular direction’ at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Monday 6 June 2022 20:00 , Michael Jones

Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan has said the team are “open-minded to change” as they look to evolve their RB18 car over the season and get the edge on championship rivals Ferrari.

Red Bull and Ferrari have been closely matched over the first seven races of the season but the momentum is with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez heading into the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku this weekend.

Perez delivered Red Bull’s fourth consecutive victory when he beat Carlos Sainz to win the Monaco Grand Prix, with Verstappen taking the previous three races to build a points lead over Charles Leclerc in the driver standings.

The teams have still been close in some areas of performance, however, with Red Bull excelling in straight line speed and Ferrari having the advantage in slow corners.

Red Bull expecting grid to go in ‘one particular direction’ at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Mick Schumacher could become a victim of ‘brutal and cold’ F1, says two-time World Rally champion

Monday 6 June 2022 19:45 , Michael Jones

Mick Schumacher will be cast aside by “brutal and cold” F1 unless he reduces his number of crashes and starts to outperform Haas teammate Kevin Magnussen, warns two-time World Rally champion Walter Röhrl.

Schumacher is yet to score a point this season - with Nicholas Latifi of Williams the only other regular driver to suffer that ignominy - whereas his fellow Haas driver Magnussen has impressed to rack up 15 points.

The German has also suffered a number of crashes during practice sessions, qualifying and most recently during the Monaco Grand Prix when he ploughed into the barrier at the Swimming Pool section after running wide.

Those high-speed and expensive crashes have left Haas with a hefty repair bill and all those factors mean Schumacher needs to quickly up his game, according to Röhrl.

Mick Schumacher could become a victim of ‘brutal and cold’ F1

Lewis Hamilton sets Silverstone target for Mercedes to fix car issues and challenge for victory

Monday 6 June 2022 19:30 , Michael Jones

Lewis Hamilton has urged his Mercedes F1 team to find the solutions to the problems they have faced this season - within the month.

Neither he nor new teammate George Russell have managed a victory this season, despite Hamilton and former partner Valtteri Bottas winning nine between them last year.

That’s as a result of Mercedes’ new car design and subequent analysis and fixes failing to combat the porpoising and handling issues which have affected them.

While the team have largely remained bullish on the prospects of the car being a front-runner once fixes are found, the fact remains that after seven rounds of the 2022 season, a single third-place finish for Hamilton and a pair of them for Russell is as good as it has got for Mercedes.

Hamilton sets Silverstone target for Mercedes to challenge for victory

‘Why should I stop?’: Lewis Hamilton shuts down F1 retirement talk

Monday 6 June 2022 19:15 , Michael Jones

Lewis Hamilton has again rejected suggestions he could walk away from Mercedes and retire during or after this season.

The seven-time world champion has been unable to recapture form and consistency to engage in another title fight with Max Verstappen, with his team not yet ensuring the new car design for the 2022 season is in perfect working order.

A series of finishes low down the leaderboard has Hamilton only sixth after seven races, with just 50 points accumulated so far - and teammate George Russell 34 ahead of him in fourth.

Martin Brundle claimed after the Spanish Grand Prix that Hamilton’s willingness to exit the race initially was an “alarming” indication of his discomfort this season, while the British driver himself said he was “losing his mind” after more struggles at the Monaco Grand Prix.

‘Why should I stop?’: Lewis Hamilton shuts down F1 retirement talk

When and where is the next F1 2022 race?

Monday 6 June 2022 19:00 , Michael Jones

The Formula One season is in full swing as the drivers prepare for the eighth race of the most extensive calendar in the sport’s history.

Sergio Perez triumphed in a chaotic and thrilling Monaco Grand Prix last time out, before immediately extending his Red Bull contract to 2024.

The good news kept coming for Red Bull when the FIA dismissed complaints against both drivers, Perez and Max Verstappen, from Ferrari. But there is potential internal conflict in the air if Perez can keep his resurgence going to challenge the world champion’s superiority.

Elsewhere on the grid, Mercedes continue to strive for solutions to their performance issues after making a degree of progress, while Lando Norris continues to vastly outperform his McLaren teammate Daniel Ricciardo.

Here is everything you need to know:

When and where is the next Formula One race?

‘Mechanisms’ in place to end Ricciardo’s contract with McLaren

Monday 6 June 2022 18:45 , Michael Jones

Daniel Ricciardo is adamant he has a contract in place until 2023 with McLaren but the team’s management say there are “mechanisms” which could see Ricciardo’s contract cut short as rumours increase about the Australian’s future with the team.

Ricciardo joined McLaren as a high-profile signing in 2021 and was expected to lead the team and younger team-mate Lando Norris, but has struggled to make an impact with during his time at the British outfit.

Norris has outqualified Ricciardo in every race this season with the Austrailian scoring just 11 points compared to the Briton’s 48 and Ricciardo’s form has led to questions about his future.

The eight-time race winner affirmed in Monaco that he does indeed have a three-year contract until 2023 saying: “I have a contract in place. But I don’t want to be 14th. That’s not why I race, let’s put it like that.”

McLaren boss, Zak Brown, previously told Sky Sports F1 that Ricciardo had not hit expectations at McLaren and explained that there were provisions in the contract which could see Ricciardo let go earlier than expected:

“There are mechanisms in which we’re committed to each other and then there’s mechanisms in which we’re not. I’ve spoken with Daniel about it, we’re not getting the results that we both hoped for. But we’re both going to continue to push.

“He showed at Monza [2021 Italian GP] he can win races. We also need to continue to develop our car, it’s not capable of winning races, but we’d like to see him further up the grid.

“We’ll just play it... I don’t want to say ‘one race at a time’ because we’re not going to one race at a time - but we’ll just see how things develop.”

Lando Norris disagrees with Lewis Hamilton assessment of Monaco Grand Prix start

Monday 6 June 2022 18:30 , Michael Jones

Lando Norris has disagreed with Lewis Hamilton and said that it was “not safe” to start the Monaco Grand Prix on time on Sunday.

The race was delayed by more than an hour due to heavy rain showers in Monte Carlo, a decision that has since been criticised by Mercedes’ Hamilton.

The seven-time world champion suggested that weather was not reason enough for such a lengthy delay to proceedings getting under way.

Norris, however, believes the right approach was taken and the race could not have gotten under way on time.

Using the crash of Mick Schumacher, who was fortunate to escape without serious injury after his Haas was split in two during the race, as an example, the 22-year-old McLaren driver stressed that the driver safety must be paramount.

Lando Norris disagrees with Lewis Hamilton assessment of Monaco Grand Prix start

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton ‘insurance policy’ backed by Williams boss

Monday 6 June 2022 18:15 , Michael Jones

Mercedes reserve driver Nyck De Vries has been praised by Williams chief Dave Robson following his outing at the Barcelona Grand Prix amid talk that the Dutchman could be an “insurance policy” for Toto Wolff should Lewis Hamilton retire.

Former Formula E champion De Vries took Alex Albon’s Williams seat in FP1 at the Circuit de Catalunya and Robson was left impressed by the 27-year-old’s performance. De Vries has been on the books at Mercedes since 2020.

“His pace was there. His ability to understand the tyre and do the out-lap correctly, was really impressive,” Williams head of performance Robson told the Formula One website.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton ‘insurance policy’ backed by Williams boss

F1 expected to stand firm over Russian involvement after axing Sochi Grand Prix

Monday 6 June 2022 18:02 , Michael Jones

Formula One bosses are expected to stand firm over any future involvement with Russia after taking the decision to axe the Sochi Grand Prix following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

F1 has confirmed that Russia will no longer stage a race after the grand prix had been scheduled to move to St Petersburg next season. It will not be replaced on the calendar this season.

Along with cancelling its contract with Russia, Formula One has also cut the transmission of races from the country’s TV networks and blocked the streaming of content on the internet in the country.

The cancelled contract with Russia was set to expire in 2025 and according to Alexey Popov, a Russian journalist and F1 commentator, the sport looks set to continue to distance itself from the country for the foreseeable future.

F1 expected to stand firm over Russian involvement after axing Sochi Grand Prix

Perez apologises to wife after dancing with mystery women at Monaco Grand Prix victory party

Monday 6 June 2022 17:54 , Michael Jones

Red Bull driver Sergio Perez has issued a public apology to his wife after being caught on camera dancing with women during a ‘bad party’ after winning the Monaco Grand Prix.

Videos emerged showing the Formula 1 driver celebrating his victory at the Monaco Grand Prix last month with the 32-year-old seen dancing with his arms around two women.

In an Instagram post he said: “I have seen the videos that have been circulating about me and I take responsibility for it.

“It was a bad party that I didn’t know how to control at the height of the person that I am, but it was just that, a very bad party. People close to me know my values and the type of person that I am.

“For those who ask me, we are more united than ever, me and my wife. And for those who just want to hurt us, I wish you the best.

“Thank you all for your love and I apologise to all the people who love me because those videos don’t represent me, not at all. We will not talk about this topic anymore, which only makes us forget the great moment we are living as a family. Thank you.”

Red Bull expecting grid to go in ‘one particular direction’ at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Monday 6 June 2022 17:44 , Michael Jones

Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan has said the team are “open-minded to change” as they look to evolve their RB18 car over the season and get the edge on championship rivals Ferrari.

The teams have still been close in some areas of performance, however, with Red Bull excelling in straight line speed and Ferrari having the advantage in slow corners.

Monaghan has said Red Bull have been looking at Ferrari as they aim to “evolve”, as they first look to prepare the RB18 for the street race in Baku, a race that he believes will pull the grid in “one direction”.

Red Bull expecting grid to go in ‘one particular direction’ at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Sergio Perez crash cost Max Verstappen position, claims father

Monday 6 June 2022 17:35 , Michael Jones

Max Verstappen was denied a place by Sergio Perez’s crash in qualifying at the Monaco Grand Prix, according to the world champion’s father.

Jos Verstappen has criticised Red Bull for their tactics in Sunday’s race, claiming they ‘threw away points’ for his son.

While he also maintains his son would have finished higher up than fourth on the grid had qualifying not been prematurely ended.

“Perez actually won the race because of the earlier pit stop,” Verstappen Sr. said in his column.

“The team can perhaps explain that as a gamble, but they had already seen, with for example Gasly, that the intermediates were the best option at that time.

“I would have liked them to go for Max, but of course, I am not entirely objective. I think 10 points from Max have been thrown away here.

“Especially with the two retirements we’ve had, we need every point. Don’t forget that Ferrari currently has a better car, especially in qualifying.

“Max also had bad luck in qualifying, because in his last run he was significantly faster and on his way to second place, until the crash of Perez. Then everything would have been different.”

Red Bull face Max Verstappen backlash for prioritising Sergio Perez

Monday 6 June 2022 17:27 , Michael Jones

Red Bull face a potential Max Verstappen backlash for prioritising Sergio Perez at the Monaco Grand Prix, according to the world champion’s father.

Jos Verstappen has criticised Red Bull and claimed they ‘threw away points’ for his son.

“Red Bull achieved a good result, but at the same time exerted little influence to help Max to the front,” Verstappen said in his column on the official Verstappen website.

“That he finished third, he owes to Ferrari’s mistake at that second stop of Charles Leclerc.

“The championship leader, Max, was not helped in that sense by the chosen strategy. It turned completely in Checo’s favour.

“That was disappointing to me, and I would have liked it to be different for the championship leader.”

Toto Wolff seeking compromise on smaller teams’ ‘stubborn position’

Monday 6 June 2022 17:14 , Michael Jones

Toto Wolff is looking for a compromise on smaller teams and their “stubborn position”.

The Mercedes boss has been discussing the budget cap increase in Formula 1, with the goal of providing a wage increase for staff members.

Staff wages are included in the sport’s $140million budget cap, which Wolff says could mean little opportunity for pay rises.

“It’s not that we want to generate more profit, it’s literally allowing people to have their salaries compensated for the extraordinary inflation they are suffering from,” Wolff said. “So, it’s not that we suddenly want to have more, but let’s stick to the fact when we entered the year and the premises that we ended the year and then let’s look at the numbers now. And then hopefully we can find a way to adjust.

“I think the worst for the sport is having a stubborn position that some of the smaller teams think that the big ones are trying to gain an advantage and we’re actually going to screw them by not allowing them to do this and us on the other side seeking to lift the ceiling, which we don’t want to do.

“And I can tell you from my position as a team owner, I don’t want to lift the ceiling just to have a cost cap ever increasing and basically outmanoeuvring the initial concept, but I want my people to be well paid especially in such tough circumstances.”

Lewis Hamilton sets deadline for Mercedes to catch Red Bull and Ferrari

Monday 6 June 2022 17:05 , Michael Jones

Lewis Hamilton has urged his Mercedes F1 team to find the solutions to the problems they have faced this season - within the month.

Neither he nor new teammate George Russell have managed a victory this season, despite Hamilton and former partner Valtteri Bottas winning nine between them last year.

That’s as a result of Mercedes’ new car design and subequent analysis and fixes failing to combat the porpoising and handling issues which have affected them.

Hamilton sets Silverstone target for Mercedes to challenge for victory

‘The pendulum will swing’: Lewis Hamilton backed to turn his luck around by Toto Wolff

Monday 6 June 2022 16:56 , Michael Jones

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says the “pendulum will swing” in Lewis Hamilton’s favour after a tricky start to the Formula 1 season for the driver.

Hamilton is currently sixth in the drivers’ standings in a campaign where many expected him to win a record eighth world title. The British star is having trouble with the car and he has had some unlucky spells on the track.

Most recently he had contact with Esteban Ocon at the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday and was then held up by Fernando Alonso so he couldn’t progress higher than eighth place. Wolff says Hamilton’s time will come this season, however.

‘The pendulum will swing’: Lewis Hamilton backed to turn luck around by Toto Wolff

Charles Leclerc told not to criticise Ferrari as ‘he’s screwed up enough himself’

Monday 6 June 2022 16:45 , Michael Jones

Ex-Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher says Charles Leclerc shouldn’t criticise Ferrari for their mistakes as the star has “screwed up enough himself”.

Leclerc was left fuming after the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday as his team told him to pit for new tires before changing their minds. By the time Ferrari told Leclerc that they had reversed their decision, he had already boxed. The moment cost the Monegasque the lead in his home race.

“He’s screwed up enough himself, so he should be meek,” Schumacher told Sky Germany. “Things happen. You win together and lose together. So far, the team has done less wrong than he has.”

Charles Leclerc told not to criticise Ferrari as ‘he’s screwed up enough himself’

‘We cannot do that’: Charles Leclerc angry after Ferrari’s Monaco GP mistakes

Monday 6 June 2022 16:34 , Michael Jones

Charles Leclerc raged at his Ferrari team after their mistakes cost him the Monaco Grand Prix.

The star, racing in his home city, had pole position and led the race until Ferrari told him to pit for a tyre change. However, the team changed their mind at the last moment - but by the time they told Leclerc, who was looking to regain the driver standing lead, he had already boxed.

“No words,” Leclerc said over the radio in reaction after the race. “The season is long, but we cannot do that.” Leclerc finished in fourth with direct rival Max Verstappen claiming third and the defending champion’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez claiming the win.

It sees Leclerc trailing Verstappen by nine points and it compounds on another disappointing result for Ferrari. Leclerc was leading the standings until last Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix where car issues meant he had to retire from the race, which Verstappen went on to win.

‘We cannot do that’: Charles Leclerc angry after Ferrari’s Monaco GP mistakes

Mick Schumacher could become a victim of ‘brutal and cold’ F1, says two-time World Rally champion

Monday 6 June 2022 16:23 , Michael Jones

Those high-speed and expensive crashes have left Haas with a hefty repair bill and all those factors mean Schumacher needs to quickly up his game, according to Röhrl.

Mick Schumacher could become a victim of ‘brutal and cold’ F1

Formula 1 gearing up for Baku

Monday 6 June 2022 16:20 , Michael Jones

Strutting our stuff into another race week like… 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♂️#AzerbaijanGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/y6Pu7FL99k
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 6, 2022

Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari united in opposition to current F1 budget cap

Monday 6 June 2022 16:12 , Michael Jones

Formula 1’s top three teams have shown a united front in speaking out against the sport’s current budget cap, with Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari chiefs all stressing the difficulty of sticking to the imposed limit.

Every F1 team is working with a cost cap of £119million this season, a move that is intended to ensure a more equal level of competition, but drastic inflation and a severe rise in freight costs have put teams at risk of exceeding that amount in expenditure.

“At the time we all agreed to those reductions, nobody could have predicted what was going on in the world and how that is driving inflation in every household globally,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told Sky Sports.

Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari united in opposition to current F1 budget cap

Lando Norris reveals Le Mans ‘goal’ after F1 career ends

Monday 6 June 2022 16:01 , Michael Jones

Lando Norris has followed Max Verstappen in denying he has any interest in Indy500, with safety concerns a familiar point of contention from the pair.

The topic has arisen recently due to the Formula One calendar heading to the Monaco Grand Prix last weekend, which forms one third of the ‘Triple Crown’ of motorsport, along with the Indianapolis 500 and Le Mans 24 Hours in the World Endurance Championship.

Verstappen highlighted that the risk of injury in the Indy500 was “not worth it anymore”, with Norris following suit in appreciating the bravery of the drivers involved - and also hinting he could be tempted to take on Le Mans in future.

Speaking after he claimed sixth place in Monaco on a “magical weekend”, Norris wrote in his Telegraph column that he opted to unwind by watching the feats of other drivers Stateside at Speedway.

Lando Norris reveals Le Mans ‘goal’ after F1 career ends

Max Verstappen admits he ‘might’ quit F1 when Red Bull contract ends

Monday 6 June 2022 15:53 , Michael Jones

Max Verstappen has said that he “might stop” racing in Formula 1 at the conclusion of his long-term contract with Red Bull.

The 2021 world champion signed a new deal earlier this year that will keep him at the team through to the end of the 2028 F1 season.

The 24-year-old has spent his entire career with in the Red Bull set-up, entering the grid with Toro Rosso as a 17-year-old before stepping up to Christian Horner’s team for the fifth race of the 2016 season.

Though the Dutchman will be 31 when the contract comes to an end, Verstappen has now suggested that he is keen to pursue other opportunities in motorsport and may consider leaving F1, though admits he is not certain what the long-term future holds.

“I’m not planning on changing teams. I’m happy here and they are happy with me,” Verstappen said, according to the Daily Mail.

Max Verstappen admits he ‘might’ quit F1 when Red Bull contract ends

‘Why should I stop?’: Lewis Hamilton shuts down F1 retirement talk

Monday 6 June 2022 15:41 , Michael Jones

Lewis Hamilton has again rejected suggestions he could walk away from Mercedes and retire during or after this season.

A series of finishes low down the leaderboard has Hamilton only sixth after seven races, with just 50 points accumulated so far - and teammate George Russell 34 ahead of him in fourth.

‘Why should I stop?’: Lewis Hamilton shuts down F1 retirement talk

‘Nothing’ between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in F1 title race, confirms Christian Horner

Monday 6 June 2022 15:31 , Michael Jones

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez are set to go toe-to-toe in the Formula One championship race this season, according to Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.

Last year it was very much Verstappen as the title fighter against Lewis Hamilton, with Perez largely the second driver often tasked with trying to take points and places off Mercedes wherever possible.

This time around, though, he has started in formidable fashion and the top three - the Red Bull duo and Ferrar’s Charles Leclerc - are separated by just 15 points after seven rounds.

Perez has claimed four podium spots, with one victory in France, while Verstappen has four wins from five top-three finishes. But there will be no separating them from the team bosses and both will be allowed to fight it out, confirmed Horner.

‘Nothing’ between Verstappen and Perez in F1 title race, confirms Horner

When and where is the next F1 2022 race?

Monday 6 June 2022 15:22 , Michael Jones

The Formula One season is in full swing as the drivers prepare for the eighth race of the most extensive calendar in the sport’s history.

Sergio Perez triumphed in a chaotic and thrilling Monaco Grand Prix last time out, before immediately extending his Red Bull contract to 2024.

Here is everything you need to know:

When and where is the next Formula One race?

Norris wants ‘incredible’ Monaco Grand Prix to remain on F1 calendar

Monday 6 June 2022 15:13 , Michael Jones

McLaren F1 driver Lando Norris has added his voice to those calling for the Monaco Grand Prix to remain on the racing calendar.

Formula One’s expansion push, changing car technologies and sizes and the need for greater revenue streams have all led to to new locations pushing their own claims for inclusion, while Monaco’s contract as a circuit expired after last weekend’s dramatic race.

Talks are ongoing over an extension but Mercedes boss Toto Wolff warned that Monaco should not take its place on the calendar for granted and Norris himself acknowledged the tough conditions made it a “scary” race on this occasion - but that’s part of the appeal of the racetrack.

“That is Monaco. And that is why I believe it should stay on the calendar,” he said in his Telegraph column.

Lando Norris wants ‘incredible’ Monaco Grand Prix to remain on F1 calendar

‘F1 owners to won’t ‘blink first’ in Monaco Grand Prix stand-off’

Monday 6 June 2022 15:05 , Michael Jones

Martin Brundle has suggested that the owners of Formula 1 will not “blink first” as speculation continues over the future of the Monaco Grand Prix.

The race in Monte Carlo has been virtually ever-present since F1’s first season in 1950, but no deal has yet been agreed over a return to the principality in 2023.

The tight street circuit has been criticised by fans and drivers in recent years particularly, with suggestions that it is ill-suited to the sport’s continuing evolution.

Liberty Media completed its takeover of a controlling stake in F1 in early 2017 and has since overseen a popularity boom, with the calendar set to again expand next season, and the prestige and history of an event in Monaco perhaps now less necessary.

While Brundle is hopeful that an agreement can be reached to keep the “unique and crazy” race on the calendar, the former F1 driver feels that the sport’s owners will not be afraid to stand firm having allegedly demanded that the Monte Carlo race be prepared to adapt to the sport’s new era.

Martin Brundle doesn’t expect F1 owners to ‘blink first’ in Monaco GP stand-off

Daniel Ricciardo’s time at McLaren is ‘over’, claims Jacques Villeneuve

Monday 6 June 2022 14:57 , Michael Jones

Daniel Ricciardo’s time at McLaren F1 is “over”, according to 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who believes that the team are preparing to move on from the Australian.

Ricciardo has endured a tough and uncompetitive start to the 2022 campaign, sitting outside of the top ten in the Drivers’ Championship standings.

The 32-year-old has scored only eleven points, 37 fewer than teammate Lando Norris, and again finished outside of the points at the Monaco Grand Prix for the fourth consecutive race.

While Ricciardo’s contract runs until the end of the 2023 season, Zak Brown, team principal at McLaren, hinted last week that it may contain a get-out clause that would allow the team to move on from the driver.

And Villeneuve believes that Brown’s reference to potential exit mechanisms may be bad news for Ricciardo.

Daniel Ricciardo’s time at McLaren is ‘over’, claims Jacques Villeneuve

‘Mechanisms’ in place to end Ricciardo’s contract with McLaren

Monday 6 June 2022 14:44 , Michael Jones

Norris has outqualified Ricciardo in every race this season with the Austrailian scoring just 11 points compared to the Briton’s 48 and Ricciardo’s form has led to questions about his future.

“He showed at Monza [2021 Italian GP] he can win races. We also need to continue to develop our car, it’s not capable of winning races, but we’d like to see him further up the grid.

“We’ll just play it... I don’t want to say ‘one race at a time’ because we’re not going to one race at a time - but we’ll just see how things develop.”

Lando Norris disagrees with Lewis Hamilton assessment of Monaco Grand Prix start

Monday 6 June 2022 14:32 , Michael Jones

Lando Norris has disagreed with Lewis Hamilton and said that it was “not safe” to start the Monaco Grand Prix on time on Sunday.

The race was delayed by more than an hour due to heavy rain showers in Monte Carlo, a decision that has since been criticised by Mercedes’ Hamilton.

The seven-time world champion suggested that weather was not reason enough for such a lengthy delay to proceedings getting under way.

Norris, however, believes the right approach was taken and the race could not have gotten under way on time.

Lando Norris disagrees with Lewis Hamilton assessment of Monaco Grand Prix start

F1 expected to stand firm over Russian involvement after axing Sochi Grand Prix

Monday 6 June 2022 14:23 , Michael Jones

Formula One bosses are expected to stand firm over any future involvement with Russia after taking the decision to axe the Sochi Grand Prix following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

F1 has confirmed that Russia will no longer stage a race after the grand prix had been scheduled to move to St Petersburg next season. It will not be replaced on the calendar this season.

F1 expected to stand firm over Russian involvement after axing Sochi Grand Prix

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton ‘insurance policy’ backed by Williams boss

Monday 6 June 2022 14:12 , Michael Jones

“His pace was there. His ability to understand the tyre and do the out-lap correctly, was really impressive,” Williams head of performance Robson told the Formula One website.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton ‘insurance policy’ backed by Williams boss

Martin Brundle calls for ‘root and branch change’ in F1 after Monaco start farce

Monday 6 June 2022 14:04 , Michael Jones

Martin Brundle has called for “root and branch” change to Formula 1 after the delayed start to the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix.

Racing failed to get underway for more than an hour after the scheduled start time in Monte Carlo, with the race directors reluctant to order a start in wet weather.

Significant precipitation fell just before the race was due to begin but had ceased by 2pm BST, though race organisers had already ordered a delay.

Martin Brundle calls for ‘root and branch change’ in F1 after Monaco start farce

Perez apologises to wife after dancing with mystery women at Monaco Grand Prix victory party

Monday 6 June 2022 13:54 , Michael Jones

Red Bull driver Sergio Perez has issued a public apology to his wife after being caught on camera dancing with women during a ‘bad party’ after winning the Monaco Grand Prix.

Videos emerged showing the Formula 1 driver celebrating his victory at the Monaco Grand Prix last month with the 32-year-old seen dancing with his arms around two women.

In an Instagram post he said: “I have seen the videos that have been circulating about me and I take responsibility for it.

“For those who ask me, we are more united than ever, me and my wife. And for those who just want to hurt us, I wish you the best.

Toto Wolff lifts lid on early relationship with Lewis Hamilton

Monday 6 June 2022 13:47 , Michael Jones

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed that the early days of his relationship with Lewis Hamilton involved some stern guidance from the Austrian.

Hamilton won his first Formula 1 title with McLaren in 2008, but since joining Mercedes in 2013, the Briton has become a seven-time world champion – sharing the record with Michael Schumacher.

Hamilton won back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015, before winning four in a row from 2017 to 2020.

And opening up on how the driver’s relationship with the Mercedes team has changed over the years, Wolff told the Daily Mail: “This is Mercedes, we have no place for the genius jerk.”

Toto Wolff lifts lid on early relationship with Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 title defeat left Nico Rosberg in ‘incredible pain’

Monday 6 June 2022 13:37 , Michael Jones

Nico Rosberg has admitted he felt “incredible pain” while watching his former Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton lose the Formula 1 title this season.

Hamilton entered the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – the final race of the year – level on points with title rival Max Verstappen, and the Briton led much of the race to seemingly set up a victory and title win.

However, the emergence of a safety car late in the race led the FIA to effectively allow a final-lap shootout between Hamilton and Red Bull’s Verstappen, with the Dutch-Belgian taking the win to claim his first F1 title.

Lewis Hamilton’s F1 title defeat left Nico Rosberg in ‘incredible pain’

Red Bull expecting grid to go in ‘one particular direction’ at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Monday 6 June 2022 13:26 , Michael Jones

Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan has said the team are “open-minded to change” as they look to evolve their RB18 car over the season and get the edge on championship rivals Ferrari.

The teams have still been close in some areas of performance, however, with Red Bull excelling in straight line speed and Ferrari having the advantage in slow corners.

Red Bull expecting grid to go in ‘one particular direction’ at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Sergio Perez crash cost Max Verstappen position, claims father

Monday 6 June 2022 13:15 , Michael Jones