Formula One teams who spend more than allowed by the rules are effectively cheating and should face stiff sporting and financial penalties, McLaren boss Zak Brown has told the governing FIA.

The BBC reported details of the leaked letter on Monday and McLaren confirmed they were correct. Championship leaders Red Bull, who won the drivers' title last year and this with Max Verstappen, breached the $145 million cap in 2021.

The FIA said on Oct. 10 that it was a 'minor overspend', or less than 5% of the overall cap, but gave no details of how much was involved. Red Bull have said their submission was below the cost cap limit. Brown did not directly name Red Bull or Aston Martin, who were deemed to have committed a procedural breach, in the letter dated Oct. 12 with copies sent to those other teams who complied with the financial regulations.

"The overspend breach, and possibly the procedural breaches, constitute cheating by offering a significant advantage across technical, sporting and financial regulations," he wrote. "The bottom line is any team who has overspent has gained an unfair advantage both in the current and following year's car development. "We don't feel a financial penalty alone would be a suitable penalty for an overspend breach or a serious procedural breach. There clearly needs to be a sporting penalty in these instances, as determined by the FIA."

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Brown suggested a team in breach should have their cap cut in the year after the ruling with a penalty equal to the overspend plus a further fine -- so a $2 million overspend in 2021 would mean $4 million less for 2023. "In addition, we believe there should be minor overspend sporting penalties of a 20% reduction in CFD (computational fluid dynamics) and wind tunnel time," he added.

Brown also suggested changing the rules so any second minor overspend breach automatically became a major overspend, and lowering the threshold from 5% to 2.5%. The American said the cost cap, introduced last year to help level the playing field, had been a key factor in attracting new shareholders and investors to Formula One. "It is therefore critical that we be very firm on implementing the rules of the cost cap for the integrity and the future of F1," he wrote.

Formula One teams who spend more than allowed by the rules are effectively cheating and should face stiff sporting and financial penalties, McLaren boss Zak Brown has told the governing FIA.

Formula One teams who spend more than allowed by the rules are effectively cheating and should face stiff sporting and financial penalties, McLaren boss Zak Brown has told the governing FIA. The BBC reported details of the leaked letter on Monday and McLaren confirmed they were correct. Championship leaders Red Bull, who won the drivers' title last year and this with Max Verstappen, breached the $145 million cap in 2021. The FIA said on Oct. 10 that it was a 'minor overspend', or less than 5% of the overall cap, but gave no details of how much was involved. Red Bull have said their submission was below the cost cap limit. Brown did not directly name Red Bull or Aston Martin, who were deemed to have committed a procedural breach, in the letter dated Oct. 12 with copies sent to those other teams who complied with the financial regulations. "The overspend breach, and possibly the procedural breaches, constitute cheating by offering a significant advantage across technical, sporting and financial regulations," he wrote. "The bottom line is any team who has overspent has gained an unfair advantage both in the current and following year's car development. "We don't feel a financial penalty alone would be a suitable penalty for an overspend breach or a serious procedural breach. There clearly needs to be a sporting penalty in these instances, as determined by the FIA." ALSO READ | Top-ranked Iga Swiatek beats Donna Vekic to clinch WTA San Diego title Brown suggested a team in breach should have their cap cut in the year after the ruling with a penalty equal to the overspend plus a further fine -- so a $2 million overspend in 2021 would mean $4 million less for 2023. "In addition, we believe there should be minor overspend sporting penalties of a 20% reduction in CFD (computational fluid dynamics) and wind tunnel time," he added. Brown also suggested changing the rules so any second minor overspend breach automatically became a major overspend, and lowering the threshold from 5% to 2.5%. The American said the cost cap, introduced last year to help level the playing field, had been a key factor in attracting new shareholders and investors to Formula One. "It is therefore critical that we be very firm on implementing the rules of the cost cap for the integrity and the future of F1," he wrote.

McLaren's Zak Brown says budget cap breach amounts to cheating

Two-time world champion Max Verstappen's Red Bull Formula One team exceeded the budget cap for the 2021 season, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said on Monday, adding that the offence was a "minor violation".

Aston Martin was also found in breach of Formula 1 financial rules, the FIA announced, adding that any punishment would be decided at a later date.

"We note the findings by the FIA of&nbsp;'minor overspend breaches'... with surprise and disappointment," tweeted Red Bull.

The cap came into effect last season and was set at 145 million dollars (currently 149.6 million euros). It is intended to limit spending to make the sport viable and also to close the competitive gap between big and small teams. Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull were particularly affected.&nbsp;

Even so, Verstappen ended the season by edging Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes to win a first world title.&nbsp;&nbsp;The FIA said it was "currently determining the appropriate course of action to be taken".

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A "minor overspend breach", the statement said, is less than five percent of a team's total cap and can "result in financial penalties and/or minor sporting penalties."

Red Bull insisted on Twitter that they had not broken the rules.

"We need to carefully review the FIA's findings as our belief remains that the relevant costs are under the 2021 cost cap amount."&nbsp;

The FIA said its 'Cost Cap Administration' had finished a review of the financial documentation submitted by each team for 2021 and "issued certificates of compliance to seven of the 10".&nbsp;

The third exception was Williams, where there had been a problem with "a previous procedural breach" which the team had "remediated" in a "timely, cooperative and transparent manner".

The statement stressed that because the season under review was the first with a cost cap, the FIA had limited itself "to reviewing the submissions made by the competitors and that no full formal investigations were launched."

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The statement said that the first option for the Cost Cap Administration was to agree a settlement with the team involved.

If the two sides are unable to reach an agreement, or if the team is not in favour of seeking an agreement, it can refer the dispute to a panel of six to 12 judges elected by the FIA general assembly.

"Despite all the conjecture and positioning of others, there is of course a process under the regulations with the FIA which we will respectfully follow while we consider all the options available to us," said Red Bull.&nbsp;

The statement added that "the regulations are highly complex, reflecting the complexity of the sport as a whole". It also said that all the teams "acted at all times in a spirit of good faith and cooperation throughout the process".&nbsp;

Two-time world champion Max Verstappen's Red Bull Formula One team exceeded the budget cap for the 2021 season, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said on Monday, adding that the offence was a "minor violation".

Two-time world champion Max Verstappen's Red Bull Formula One team exceeded the budget cap for the 2021 season, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said on Monday, adding that the offence was a "minor violation". Aston Martin was also found in breach of Formula 1 financial rules, the FIA announced, adding that any punishment would be decided at a later date. "We note the findings by the FIA of 'minor overspend breaches'... with surprise and disappointment," tweeted Red Bull. The cap came into effect last season and was set at 145 million dollars (currently 149.6 million euros). It is intended to limit spending to make the sport viable and also to close the competitive gap between big and small teams. Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull were particularly affected. Even so, Verstappen ended the season by edging Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes to win a first world title. The FIA said it was "currently determining the appropriate course of action to be taken". Also Read: Red Bull's Max Verstappen retains Formula One world title after dramatic win at Japan Grand Prix A "minor overspend breach", the statement said, is less than five percent of a team's total cap and can "result in financial penalties and/or minor sporting penalties." Red Bull insisted on Twitter that they had not broken the rules. "We need to carefully review the FIA's findings as our belief remains that the relevant costs are under the 2021 cost cap amount." The FIA said its 'Cost Cap Administration' had finished a review of the financial documentation submitted by each team for 2021 and "issued certificates of compliance to seven of the 10". The third exception was Williams, where there had been a problem with "a previous procedural breach" which the team had "remediated" in a "timely, cooperative and transparent manner". The statement stressed that because the season under review was the first with a cost cap, the FIA had limited itself "to reviewing the submissions made by the competitors and that no full formal investigations were launched." Also Read: 'The GOAT': Virat Kohli hails Cristiano Ronaldo as Manchester United star completes 700 club goals The statement said that the first option for the Cost Cap Administration was to agree a settlement with the team involved. If the two sides are unable to reach an agreement, or if the team is not in favour of seeking an agreement, it can refer the dispute to a panel of six to 12 judges elected by the FIA general assembly. "Despite all the conjecture and positioning of others, there is of course a process under the regulations with the FIA which we will respectfully follow while we consider all the options available to us," said Red Bull. The statement added that "the regulations are highly complex, reflecting the complexity of the sport as a whole". It also said that all the teams "acted at all times in a spirit of good faith and cooperation throughout the process".

Red Bull found guilty of breaching F1 cost cap, says FIA

Max Verstappen was declared Formula One world champion Sunday after winning a dramatic rain-shortened Japanese Grand Prix.

Red Bull's Verstappen crossed the line first and he was then awarded the title when second-place finisher Charles Leclerc was given a five-second penalty, dropping him to third.

The result gave Verstappen an unassailable 113-point lead in the championship, making him only the third driver after Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel to clinch the title with four races to spare.

Ferrari's Leclerc finished the race second in front of Red Bull's Sergio Perez, but he was hit with a penalty after squeezing Perez wide and leaving the track in a late surge for the line.

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Verstappen was informed he had retained his title midway through the post-race TV interview, and even the driver himself was not sure if he had sealed the deal.

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MAX VERSTAPPEN 
 
TWO-TIME WORLD CHAMPION!!!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/2TheMax?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#2TheMax</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F1</a> <a href="https://t.co/eOlI6B6un1">pic.twitter.com/eOlI6B6un1</a>
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"It's a crazy feeling of course as I didn't expect it when I crossed the line," said a shell-shocked Verstappen.

"Was it going to be half points? I didn't know how many points I was going to get. I was happy with the race we had."

The race got off to a chaotic start in heavy rain, with Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Williams' Alex Albon exiting on the first lap prompting a safety care. A red flag soon followed and forced the drivers to wait for more than an hour before the action restarted, again under a safety car.

Verstappen resumed with a lead over Leclerc and Perez, and extended it as conditions gradually improved. Verstappen has won 12 of 18 races in 2022 and thanked his team for an "incredible" year.

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"The first (championship) is a little more emotional, the second one is beautiful," he said.

"It's been a special year, and you need to remind yourself as these kind of years you don't have very often."

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said Verstappen had "grown" as a driver.

"Carrying that number one this year, he's done it with a lot of pride," he said. 
&nbsp;

Max Verstappen was declared Formula One world champion Sunday after winning a dramatic rain-shortened Japanese Grand Prix. Red Bull's Verstappen crossed the line first and he was then awarded the title when second-place finisher Charles Leclerc was given a five-second penalty, dropping him to third.

Max Verstappen was declared Formula One world champion Sunday after winning a dramatic rain-shortened Japanese Grand Prix. Red Bull's Verstappen crossed the line first and he was then awarded the title when second-place finisher Charles Leclerc was given a five-second penalty, dropping him to third. The result gave Verstappen an unassailable 113-point lead in the championship, making him only the third driver after Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel to clinch the title with four races to spare. Ferrari's Leclerc finished the race second in front of Red Bull's Sergio Perez, but he was hit with a penalty after squeezing Perez wide and leaving the track in a late surge for the line. Also Read: American grandmaster Hans Niemann thoroughly scanned before match amid sex toy cheating allegations Verstappen was informed he had retained his title midway through the post-race TV interview, and even the driver himself was not sure if he had sealed the deal. MAX VERSTAPPEN TWO-TIME WORLD CHAMPION!!!#2TheMax #F1 pic.twitter.com/eOlI6B6un1 — Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022 × "It's a crazy feeling of course as I didn't expect it when I crossed the line," said a shell-shocked Verstappen. "Was it going to be half points? I didn't know how many points I was going to get. I was happy with the race we had." The race got off to a chaotic start in heavy rain, with Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Williams' Alex Albon exiting on the first lap prompting a safety care. A red flag soon followed and forced the drivers to wait for more than an hour before the action restarted, again under a safety car. Verstappen resumed with a lead over Leclerc and Perez, and extended it as conditions gradually improved. Verstappen has won 12 of 18 races in 2022 and thanked his team for an "incredible" year. Also Read: Kylian Mbappe to Lionel Messi: A look at highest-earning footballers in the world "The first (championship) is a little more emotional, the second one is beautiful," he said. "It's been a special year, and you need to remind yourself as these kind of years you don't have very often." Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said Verstappen had "grown" as a driver. "Carrying that number one this year, he's done it with a lot of pride," he said.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen retains Formula One world title after dramatic win at Japan Grand Prix

Briton George Russell set the fastest time ahead of Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton on the opening day of practice for the Japanese Grand Prix at a rain-soaked Suzuka. The 24-year-old lapped the 5.8 km circuit in&nbsp;one&nbsp;minute, 41.935 seconds in the second session on Friday (October 7), beating Hamilton's best time by 0.235 seconds on a cold, rainy afternoon, with Red Bull's championship leader Max Verstappen ending the session third fastest.

Russell and Hamilton had ended Friday's opening practice 18th and 13th on the timesheets in a session led by Alpine's Fernando Alonso. Verstappen had been sixth quickest. The Dutchman heads into the weekend with a 104-point advantage over Charles Leclerc in the overall standings.

With four races remaining after Suzuka, the 25-year-old will be champion for the second year in succession if he leaves Japan with a gap of at least 112 points. Mexican Sergio Perez, winner for Red Bull last week in Singapore, ended the second session fourth quickest, with Kevin Magnussen staying fifth for Haas. Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, second quickest behind compatriot Alonso in first practice, was sixth fastest in the afternoon ahead of the double world champion.

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Valtteri Bottas was eighth quickest for Alfa Romeo ahead of Alpine's Esteban Ocon, China's Zhou Guanyu, with Ferrari's Leclerc only 11th fastest in the second session. Home hope Yuki Tsunoda, 19th in the morning, improved to 14th in the afternoon. Mick Schumacher did not take part after crashing his Haas following the opening session, having carried out a practice start, but that was the only major incident of the day.

With&nbsp;Formula&nbsp;One&nbsp;returning to Suzuka after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some drivers, including Leclerc, Perez and Nicholas Latifi, slithered off the track in the slippery conditions but escaped unscathed. The second session ran for 90 minutes instead of the usual&nbsp;one&nbsp;hour to allow drivers to conduct a test of new dry weather tyres. The rain meant the test had to be abandoned but the session still ran for the full 90 minutes.

Briton George Russell set the fastest time ahead of Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton on the opening day of practice for the Japanese Grand Prix at a rain-soaked Suzuka.

Briton George Russell set the fastest time ahead of Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton on the opening day of practice for the Japanese Grand Prix at a rain-soaked Suzuka. The 24-year-old lapped the 5.8 km circuit in one minute, 41.935 seconds in the second session on Friday (October 7), beating Hamilton's best time by 0.235 seconds on a cold, rainy afternoon, with Red Bull's championship leader Max Verstappen ending the session third fastest. Russell and Hamilton had ended Friday's opening practice 18th and 13th on the timesheets in a session led by Alpine's Fernando Alonso. Verstappen had been sixth quickest. The Dutchman heads into the weekend with a 104-point advantage over Charles Leclerc in the overall standings. With four races remaining after Suzuka, the 25-year-old will be champion for the second year in succession if he leaves Japan with a gap of at least 112 points. Mexican Sergio Perez, winner for Red Bull last week in Singapore, ended the second session fourth quickest, with Kevin Magnussen staying fifth for Haas. Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, second quickest behind compatriot Alonso in first practice, was sixth fastest in the afternoon ahead of the double world champion. ALSO READ | Red Bull driver Max Verstappen feels winning F1 title at Honda's home track would be 'extra special' Valtteri Bottas was eighth quickest for Alfa Romeo ahead of Alpine's Esteban Ocon, China's Zhou Guanyu, with Ferrari's Leclerc only 11th fastest in the second session. Home hope Yuki Tsunoda, 19th in the morning, improved to 14th in the afternoon. Mick Schumacher did not take part after crashing his Haas following the opening session, having carried out a practice start, but that was the only major incident of the day. With Formula One returning to Suzuka after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some drivers, including Leclerc, Perez and Nicholas Latifi, slithered off the track in the slippery conditions but escaped unscathed. The second session ran for 90 minutes instead of the usual one hour to allow drivers to conduct a test of new dry weather tyres. The rain meant the test had to be abandoned but the session still ran for the full 90 minutes.

Briton George Russell and Lewis Hamilton lead F1 practice in soaking Suzuka

A frustrated Max Verstappen failed to clinch his second successive&nbsp;Formula&nbsp;One&nbsp;title in Singapore last weekend but the Red Bull driver has a much stronger chance of getting the job done&nbsp;at Suzuka on Sunday (October 9). Japan is home territory for power unit partner Honda and Verstappen, who made his F1 weekend debut at the circuit in 2014 when he drove in Friday practice, will be champion again if he wins with fastest lap.

The Dutch 25-year-old has a 104-point advantage on Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who finished second in Singapore behind Red Bull's race winner Sergio Perez. The Mexican is two points behind Leclerc. "It would make it extra special to win the championship here because of our relationship with Honda," said Verstappen. "We need a perfect weekend that's for sure."

Leclerc and Perez are now his only mathematical title rivals with five races remaining. Verstappen needs only a 112 point advantage over his closest challenger to be champion at Suzuka, which hasn't crowned a drivers' champion since 2011 when Sebastian Vettel won his second of four titles with Red Bull. Honda, who officially pulled out of the sport last season but continue to assemble Red Bull's power units in Japan, will have an enhanced presence from Suzuka with their branding on Verstappen and Perez's cars as well as sister team AlphaTauri.

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Verstappen's 2021 title was the Japanese manufacturer's first since 1991, when late Brazilian great Ayrton Senna clinched his third and final&nbsp;one&nbsp;with their engines in his McLaren. Honda has not had a home race since 2019, however, with the Japanese Grand Prix left off the calendar for the last two seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company owns the Suzuka circuit and is the title sponsor for this year's event. Red Bull last won there in 2013, the final year of Vettel's era of dominance while Ferrari's last success in Suzuka was with Michael Schumacher in 2004. Mercedes, still chasing a first win of the year, have enjoyed an unbeaten run of success at Suzuka going back to 2014, with the reigning champions even wrapping up their sixth constructors' title at the track in 2019.

With Red Bull winning 13 of this year's 17 races, and Ferrari the others, that could all change this weekend.

A frustrated Max Verstappen failed to clinch his second successive Formula One title in Singapore last weekend but the Red Bull driver has a much stronger chance of getting the job done at Suzuka on Sunday (October 9).

A frustrated Max Verstappen failed to clinch his second successive Formula One title in Singapore last weekend but the Red Bull driver has a much stronger chance of getting the job done at Suzuka on Sunday (October 9). Japan is home territory for power unit partner Honda and Verstappen, who made his F1 weekend debut at the circuit in 2014 when he drove in Friday practice, will be champion again if he wins with fastest lap. The Dutch 25-year-old has a 104-point advantage on Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who finished second in Singapore behind Red Bull's race winner Sergio Perez. The Mexican is two points behind Leclerc. "It would make it extra special to win the championship here because of our relationship with Honda," said Verstappen. "We need a perfect weekend that's for sure." Leclerc and Perez are now his only mathematical title rivals with five races remaining. Verstappen needs only a 112 point advantage over his closest challenger to be champion at Suzuka, which hasn't crowned a drivers' champion since 2011 when Sebastian Vettel won his second of four titles with Red Bull. Honda, who officially pulled out of the sport last season but continue to assemble Red Bull's power units in Japan, will have an enhanced presence from Suzuka with their branding on Verstappen and Perez's cars as well as sister team AlphaTauri. ALSO READ | Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone faces fraud trial in October 2023 Verstappen's 2021 title was the Japanese manufacturer's first since 1991, when late Brazilian great Ayrton Senna clinched his third and final one with their engines in his McLaren. Honda has not had a home race since 2019, however, with the Japanese Grand Prix left off the calendar for the last two seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company owns the Suzuka circuit and is the title sponsor for this year's event. Red Bull last won there in 2013, the final year of Vettel's era of dominance while Ferrari's last success in Suzuka was with Michael Schumacher in 2004. Mercedes, still chasing a first win of the year, have enjoyed an unbeaten run of success at Suzuka going back to 2014, with the reigning champions even wrapping up their sixth constructors' title at the track in 2019. With Red Bull winning 13 of this year's 17 races, and Ferrari the others, that could all change this weekend.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen feels winning F1 title at Honda's home track would be 'extra special'

Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone will stand trial in October next year on charges of failing to declare a multi-million pound trust in Singapore to the British tax services, a judge in London said on Tuesday. Ecclestone, 91, was charged in July over an alleged failure to declare more than £400 million ($453 million) of overseas assets to the UK government, accusations he denies.&nbsp;

He appeared at London's Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday, arriving in the back of a white Range Rover.&nbsp;Ecclestone wore glasses, a dark grey three-piece suit, white shirt and grey tie as he sat in court, unusually taking a position behind his lawyers rather than in the dock due to his hearing difficulties.&nbsp;

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His wife watched from the public gallery as judge Deborah Taylor fixed the trial date for October 9, 2023, saying it could last up to six weeks. The British businessman, whose financial net worth has been estimated at some $3 billion, is widely credited with transforming F1 commercially. His control of the sport developed from the sale of television rights in the 1970s and he was chief executive of Formula One Group until January 2017. The Crown Prosecution Service, which brings charges in England and Wales, said it brought the case for "fraud by false representation" after a "complex and worldwide" investigation by HM Revenue and Customs.

Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone will stand trial in October next year on charges of failing to declare a multi-million pound trust in Singapore to the British tax services, a judge in London said on Tuesday.

Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone will stand trial in October next year on charges of failing to declare a multi-million pound trust in Singapore to the British tax services, a judge in London said on Tuesday. Ecclestone, 91, was charged in July over an alleged failure to declare more than £400 million ($453 million) of overseas assets to the UK government, accusations he denies. He appeared at London's Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday, arriving in the back of a white Range Rover. Ecclestone wore glasses, a dark grey three-piece suit, white shirt and grey tie as he sat in court, unusually taking a position behind his lawyers rather than in the dock due to his hearing difficulties. ALSO READ | Saudi Arabia wins bid to host 2029 Asian Winter Games His wife watched from the public gallery as judge Deborah Taylor fixed the trial date for October 9, 2023, saying it could last up to six weeks. The British businessman, whose financial net worth has been estimated at some $3 billion, is widely credited with transforming F1 commercially. His control of the sport developed from the sale of television rights in the 1970s and he was chief executive of Formula One Group until January 2017. The Crown Prosecution Service, which brings charges in England and Wales, said it brought the case for "fraud by false representation" after a "complex and worldwide" investigation by HM Revenue and Customs.

Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone faces fraud trial in October 2023

Lewis Hamilton will be allowed to keep wearing his nose stud at the Singapore Grand Prix for medical reasons, but his team has been fined 25,000 euros ($24,500) on Sunday for failing to notify stewards.

Mercedes were slapped with the penalty by Formula One's governing body, the FIA, for submitting a self-scrutineering form that said the British driver had removed all jewellery and piercings in line with regulations.&nbsp;

"In recent events, Hamilton had removed the piercing prior to the competition. The team assumed, without enquiring of Hamilton, that he had followed or would follow the same procedure for this event," said the FIA stewards in their ruling.&nbsp;

"The stewards accept that the error in the declaration in this case was not intentional or deliberate. Given these circumstances, we fine the team 25,000 euros."

Seven-time world champion Hamilton told reporters that he was wearing the stud again on the advice of doctors after suffering from an infection when he removed it.

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"I've had my jewellery and my nose stud for years and obviously we had that whole commotion at the beginning of the year," Hamilton said.

"At the time it was soldered in, so it didn't come loose. They gave me for many races an exemption so I could find a solution," Hamilton explained.

"I tried... putting it in and out. It got infected because of that. I got a blood blister and had quite a sore on my nose. This is all stuff I told them before qualifying."&nbsp;

"I put it back in and in the last two weeks it's started to heal and (doctors) asked that I keep it in."

Hamilton was summoned to the stewards' room after qualifying third-fastest for Sunday's race at the Marina Bay circuit.

"Broadcast footage showed Hamilton wearing an item of jewellery in the form of a body piercing (nose stud) during the session," said a statement from the stewards.

Hamilton "explained that he had been advised by his doctors not to remove it for the time being... the team produced reports from a medical practitioner that confirmed Hamilton's explanation.

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"In light of the extenuating circumstances, we have determined to take no further action."

Hamilton said it was "all a bit silly" for his jewellery to become such an issue this season, despite the rule banning drivers wearing it being around for decades.

"One of the best excuses I was given a long time ago was about heat and if you are in a fire metal conducts heat," he said.

"But our zip is metal, our buckle around our helmet is metal, we've got the wires with aluminium metal in them," Hamilton continued.

"It's crazy that we're having to talk about something so small. It's all a bit silly. Hopefully they'll be sensible.&nbsp;

"The stewards should be there to keep us safe most importantly. But this is not a safety issue."

Lewis Hamilton will be allowed to keep wearing his nose stud at the Singapore Grand Prix for medical reasons, but his team has been fined 25,000 euros ($24,500) on Sunday for failing to notify stewards.

Lewis Hamilton will be allowed to keep wearing his nose stud at the Singapore Grand Prix for medical reasons, but his team has been fined 25,000 euros ($24,500) on Sunday for failing to notify stewards. Mercedes were slapped with the penalty by Formula One's governing body, the FIA, for submitting a self-scrutineering form that said the British driver had removed all jewellery and piercings in line with regulations. "In recent events, Hamilton had removed the piercing prior to the competition. The team assumed, without enquiring of Hamilton, that he had followed or would follow the same procedure for this event," said the FIA stewards in their ruling. "The stewards accept that the error in the declaration in this case was not intentional or deliberate. Given these circumstances, we fine the team 25,000 euros." Seven-time world champion Hamilton told reporters that he was wearing the stud again on the advice of doctors after suffering from an infection when he removed it. Also Read: Indonesia stadium stampede: What led to one of world's worst football tragedies "I've had my jewellery and my nose stud for years and obviously we had that whole commotion at the beginning of the year," Hamilton said. "At the time it was soldered in, so it didn't come loose. They gave me for many races an exemption so I could find a solution," Hamilton explained. "I tried... putting it in and out. It got infected because of that. I got a blood blister and had quite a sore on my nose. This is all stuff I told them before qualifying." "I put it back in and in the last two weeks it's started to heal and (doctors) asked that I keep it in." Hamilton was summoned to the stewards' room after qualifying third-fastest for Sunday's race at the Marina Bay circuit. "Broadcast footage showed Hamilton wearing an item of jewellery in the form of a body piercing (nose stud) during the session," said a statement from the stewards. Hamilton "explained that he had been advised by his doctors not to remove it for the time being... the team produced reports from a medical practitioner that confirmed Hamilton's explanation. Also Read: WATCH: Shocking video shows lifeless bodies of football fans lying on floor after deadly stampede in Indonesia "In light of the extenuating circumstances, we have determined to take no further action." Hamilton said it was "all a bit silly" for his jewellery to become such an issue this season, despite the rule banning drivers wearing it being around for decades. "One of the best excuses I was given a long time ago was about heat and if you are in a fire metal conducts heat," he said. "But our zip is metal, our buckle around our helmet is metal, we've got the wires with aluminium metal in them," Hamilton continued. "It's crazy that we're having to talk about something so small. It's all a bit silly. Hopefully they'll be sensible. "The stewards should be there to keep us safe most importantly. But this is not a safety issue."

Lewis Hamilton allowed to wear piercing, but Mercedes slapped with $24,500 fine

In a bid to make racing much more exciting,&nbsp;F1 went ahead with&nbsp;a complete revamp of the technical regulations for the 2022 season. It comprised resorting&nbsp;to ground effect machinery along with&nbsp;a change to 18-inch wheels running less thermally-sensitive tyres.

'I don't think there's a big difference'

After the changes made, the question remains whether the efforts made by F1 have been fruitful or not. In this regard, Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel -- who is set to retire following the 2022 season -- shared his take.&nbsp;Asked by Motorsport.com about the new rules and&nbsp;tyres, Vettel said,&nbsp;'They've always been tricky, but let's say it like this: the big push this year was to make the cars able to overtake and follow a lot closer. But I don't think there's a big difference."

“We follow closer, but we've got less drag, so you need to be closer to also overtake. And on tyres, the big target was to allow racing more, but I don't think it is a big difference either. So I don't want to say it has failed. But certainly a lot of effort had gone in and not all the effort came out, let's put it this way," said the four-time world champion.

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On&nbsp;the tyres?

“I think everybody is exploring or finding the same thing. So as long as you're on the good side of things, then [it’s okay]. But usually, the faster you are in terms of the car package, the less problems you have. So now being at the back of the grid, we do have some surprises and some weekends where it doesn't go right.

“Then, you only get one or two runs maximum in qualifying, which you know, makes it a lot harder. But I would say it's pretty much as it was," the German pointed out.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fia-gives-nod-to-three-more-sprint-sessions-in-formula-one-from-2023-520438">FIA gives nod to three more sprint sessions in Formula One from 2023</a>

What about sprint races?

Along with the&nbsp;changes, it has also brought a bold change to the sport, courtesy of the&nbsp;sprint races. However, Vettel isn't a big fan of sprint race cash.

“I think that from a driving point of view, it's not very exciting to have a sprint,” he said. “I think you are still looking at the main race. You're looking at maybe improving your position, obviously, but mostly not losing. You get some points now, and you get a little bit more [than last year], but I think the main focus is still on the race. I don't want to be the bad guy for just being the bad guy, but I think it is a way to make more money.

“If there is a race, obviously it's more exciting than maybe a practice session. You have more people watching. So I guess it's a question of approach, but then I don't have full access to the numbers. That's what we were told some while ago," he concluded.

In a bid to make racing much more exciting, F1 went ahead with a complete revamp of the technical regulations for the 2022 season. It comprised resorting to ground effect machinery along with a change to 18-inch wheels running less thermally-sensitive tyres.

In a bid to make racing much more exciting, F1 went ahead with a complete revamp of the technical regulations for the 2022 season. It comprised resorting to ground effect machinery along with a change to 18-inch wheels running less thermally-sensitive tyres. 'I don't think there's a big difference' After the changes made, the question remains whether the efforts made by F1 have been fruitful or not. In this regard, Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel -- who is set to retire following the 2022 season -- shared his take. Asked by Motorsport.com about the new rules and tyres, Vettel said, 'They've always been tricky, but let's say it like this: the big push this year was to make the cars able to overtake and follow a lot closer. But I don't think there's a big difference." “We follow closer, but we've got less drag, so you need to be closer to also overtake. And on tyres, the big target was to allow racing more, but I don't think it is a big difference either. So I don't want to say it has failed. But certainly a lot of effort had gone in and not all the effort came out, let's put it this way," said the four-time world champion. ALSO READ | Sergio Perez feels Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen deserves to win F1 championship On the tyres? “I think everybody is exploring or finding the same thing. So as long as you're on the good side of things, then [it’s okay]. But usually, the faster you are in terms of the car package, the less problems you have. So now being at the back of the grid, we do have some surprises and some weekends where it doesn't go right. “Then, you only get one or two runs maximum in qualifying, which you know, makes it a lot harder. But I would say it's pretty much as it was," the German pointed out. ALSO READ | FIA gives nod to three more sprint sessions in Formula One from 2023 What about sprint races? Along with the changes, it has also brought a bold change to the sport, courtesy of the sprint races. However, Vettel isn't a big fan of sprint race cash. “I think that from a driving point of view, it's not very exciting to have a sprint,” he said. “I think you are still looking at the main race. You're looking at maybe improving your position, obviously, but mostly not losing. You get some points now, and you get a little bit more [than last year], but I think the main focus is still on the race. I don't want to be the bad guy for just being the bad guy, but I think it is a way to make more money. “If there is a race, obviously it's more exciting than maybe a practice session. You have more people watching. So I guess it's a question of approach, but then I don't have full access to the numbers. That's what we were told some while ago," he concluded.

I don't think there's a big difference: Sebastian Vettel's take on F1 2022 new rules

Red Bull's Sergio Perez said on Thursday (September 29) the team will try for a one-two finish at the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend, while teammate Max Verstappen deserves to win the championship this year.

The Mexican driver is currently third on the leader board, behind Verstappen and Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc. "I expect Ferrari to be relatively strong so it won't be so easy, but we will try our best," Perez told Reuters on the sidelinea of an ExxonMobil event, where he also took part in a radio-controlled car race against school children.

Verstappen has a shot at securing his second Formula One title. He has won 11 of 16 races, finished off the podium just once and heads into Singapore, a race he is yet to win and where Red Bull have not triumphed since 2013, on a streak of five successive victories.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fia-gives-nod-to-three-more-sprint-sessions-in-formula-one-from-2023-520438">FIA gives nod to three more sprint sessions in Formula One from 2023</a>

“In the beginning of the year we were fighting for the championship. Then Max (Verstappen) has had a pretty good run of races and he disappeared a bit and now it looks like it's just a matter of time before he becomes champion, which he fully deserves to be,” said Perez. He added that he has grown more comfortable with the car and Red Bull could finish the season “on a high”.

The Singapore night race circuit is coming back on the F1 calendar this year after being absent for two seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The race, staged in the heart of the city against a backdrop of glittering skyscrapers, has established itself as one of the sport's most glamorous and popular. A crowd of about 268,000 attended over the whole weekend in 2019 and organizers are expecting a sell-out this year.

Red Bull's Sergio Perez said on Thursday (September 29) the team will try for a one-two finish at the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend, while teammate Max Verstappen deserves to win the championship this year.

Red Bull's Sergio Perez said on Thursday (September 29) the team will try for a one-two finish at the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend, while teammate Max Verstappen deserves to win the championship this year. The Mexican driver is currently third on the leader board, behind Verstappen and Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc. "I expect Ferrari to be relatively strong so it won't be so easy, but we will try our best," Perez told Reuters on the sidelinea of an ExxonMobil event, where he also took part in a radio-controlled car race against school children. Verstappen has a shot at securing his second Formula One title. He has won 11 of 16 races, finished off the podium just once and heads into Singapore, a race he is yet to win and where Red Bull have not triumphed since 2013, on a streak of five successive victories. ALSO READ | FIA gives nod to three more sprint sessions in Formula One from 2023 “In the beginning of the year we were fighting for the championship. Then Max (Verstappen) has had a pretty good run of races and he disappeared a bit and now it looks like it's just a matter of time before he becomes champion, which he fully deserves to be,” said Perez. He added that he has grown more comfortable with the car and Red Bull could finish the season “on a high”. The Singapore night race circuit is coming back on the F1 calendar this year after being absent for two seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The race, staged in the heart of the city against a backdrop of glittering skyscrapers, has established itself as one of the sport's most glamorous and popular. A crowd of about 268,000 attended over the whole weekend in 2019 and organizers are expecting a sell-out this year.

Sergio Perez feels Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen deserves to win F1 championship

Six Formula One grands prix from the 2023 season onwards will have sprint sessions after the governing body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), on Tuesday approved an increase from three events this year. Sprint sessions have become highly popular with fans since it was introduced last year with qualifying taking place on Fridays and Saturday's short sprint race deciding the grid for Sunday's main race as well as awarding additional points.

The 2022 season has had sprint sessions at the Emilia Romagna and Austrian Grands Prix, with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix set to host the final one. The&nbsp;FIA&nbsp;added next year's additions will be confirmed in due course. "The Sprint provides action across three days with the drivers all fighting for something right from the start on Friday through to the main event on Sunday - adding more drama and excitement to the weekend," F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said. "The feedback from the fans, teams, promoters, and partners has been very positive and the format is adding a new dimension to Formula 1, and we all want to ensure its success in the future."

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Earlier this year, Formula One teams had agreed to double the number of sprint events to six in 2023 at a meeting in April before it was sent for approval by the&nbsp;FIA, who sought to evaluate the proposal. The teams had agreed to only three this season for cost reasons and the&nbsp;FIA&nbsp;had stalled on approving the proposal for doubling Sprints to six as the governing body wanted a financial contribution from Formula One.

However, the&nbsp;FIA&nbsp;said there were no changes to the commercial agreements between them and Formula One Management (FOM) with respect to Sprint sessions. "...we concluded a thorough analysis on the impact of additional Sprint sessions, and have adjusted relevant parameters of our work to ensure that they continue to be regulated at the very highest level,"&nbsp;FIA&nbsp;President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said. Azerbaijan's promoter had said they want its Grand Prix in Baku to be one of six proposed Sprint weekends next season.

Six Formula One grands prix from the 2023 season onwards will have sprint sessions after the governing body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), on Tuesday approved an increase from three events this year.

Six Formula One grands prix from the 2023 season onwards will have sprint sessions after the governing body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), on Tuesday approved an increase from three events this year. Sprint sessions have become highly popular with fans since it was introduced last year with qualifying taking place on Fridays and Saturday's short sprint race deciding the grid for Sunday's main race as well as awarding additional points. The 2022 season has had sprint sessions at the Emilia Romagna and Austrian Grands Prix, with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix set to host the final one. The FIA added next year's additions will be confirmed in due course. "The Sprint provides action across three days with the drivers all fighting for something right from the start on Friday through to the main event on Sunday - adding more drama and excitement to the weekend," F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said. "The feedback from the fans, teams, promoters, and partners has been very positive and the format is adding a new dimension to Formula 1, and we all want to ensure its success in the future." ALSO READ | Ducati's Jack Miller wins Japanese GP as Fabio Quartararo extends championship lead Earlier this year, Formula One teams had agreed to double the number of sprint events to six in 2023 at a meeting in April before it was sent for approval by the FIA, who sought to evaluate the proposal. The teams had agreed to only three this season for cost reasons and the FIA had stalled on approving the proposal for doubling Sprints to six as the governing body wanted a financial contribution from Formula One. However, the FIA said there were no changes to the commercial agreements between them and Formula One Management (FOM) with respect to Sprint sessions. "...we concluded a thorough analysis on the impact of additional Sprint sessions, and have adjusted relevant parameters of our work to ensure that they continue to be regulated at the very highest level," FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said. Azerbaijan's promoter had said they want its Grand Prix in Baku to be one of six proposed Sprint weekends next season.

FIA gives nod to three more sprint sessions in Formula One from 2023

Formula One team AlphaTauri has given Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda a contract for next year. Tsunoda is in his second year in F1 with AlphaTauri and has a best finish of seventh this season at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in April . He is 16th in the 20-driver championship with 11 points. His best result for the team overall was fourth at the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP last December.

Having moved to Italy last year, to be closer to the factory, I really feel part of the team and am glad that I get to carry on racing with them in 2023,&nbsp;Tsunoda said on Thursday. "Our season isn't over yet and we're still pushing hard ... So I'm fully focused on finishing it on a high. 
The 22-year-old Tsunoda's teammate, Pierre Gasly, has been repeatedly linked with a move to Alpine as a replacement for Fernando Alonso, who is joining Aston Martin next season after Sebastian Vettel's retirement from F1.

Formula One team AlphaTauri has given Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda a contract for next year. Tsunoda is in his second year in F1 with AlphaTauri and has a best finish of seventh this season at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in April .

Formula One team AlphaTauri has given Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda a contract for next year. Tsunoda is in his second year in F1 with AlphaTauri and has a best finish of seventh this season at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in April . He is 16th in the 20-driver championship with 11 points. His best result for the team overall was fourth at the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP last December. Having moved to Italy last year, to be closer to the factory, I really feel part of the team and am glad that I get to carry on racing with them in 2023, Tsunoda said on Thursday. "Our season isn't over yet and we're still pushing hard ... So I'm fully focused on finishing it on a high. The 22-year-old Tsunoda's teammate, Pierre Gasly, has been repeatedly linked with a move to Alpine as a replacement for Fernando Alonso, who is joining Aston Martin next season after Sebastian Vettel's retirement from F1.

AlphaTauri retains Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda for next Formula One season

Max Verstappen clinched the Belgium Grand Prix on Sunday (August 28) but British driver Lewis Hamilton made heads turn following a crash with Fernando Alonso. Now, the Mercedes driver opened up on the crash and claimed that he was “grateful to still be alive” while admitting he was at fault after&nbsp;hitting Alonso during the opening lap.

The crash launched Hamilton’s car in&nbsp;the air, with the damage prompting him to retire from the race there itself. As per a report in The Guardian, the 37-year-old opined, "Looking back at the footage he was in my blind spot, I didn’t give him enough space. It is my fault. Just, so sorry to the team. I could not see him. I am sorry to the team and I need to recuperate and get back on the treadmill.”

On the other hand, Alonso wasn't impressed with Hamilton's tactics and called him “an idiot” on the team radio following the incident. This, in turn, has led to the seven-time champion Hamilton claiming that he&nbsp;would refuse to interact with the Spaniard with regard to the crash.

Having started the race on a good note before Hamilton's crash, Alonso slammed the former and said, "What an idiot closing the door from the outside. We had a mega start but this guy only knows how to drive and start in first."&nbsp;The Spaniard said added: "Why does he close the door? I just don’t understand."

To this, Hamilton hit back at Alonso and said, "No. I would have until I heard what he said. I know that’s how things feel in the heat of the moment, but it’s nice to know how he feels about me."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/max-verstappen-cruises-to-victory-after-starting-at-p14-at-the-belgian-grand-prix-as-lewis-hamilton-suffers-510979">Max Verstappen cruises to victory after starting at P14 at the Belgian Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton suffers</a>

While Hamilton retired from the race following the unfortunate turn of events, Alonso settled for the fifth slot. However, Hamilton chose to see the brighter side to have walked away injury-free.&nbsp;

“I remember looking at the ground, it was definitely high up. I’m grateful to be still alive and in shape,” he said.

Verstappen clinchs drama-filled Belgium GP

"It was quite a hectic first lap to try and stay out of trouble," said Verstappen in an official statement. "So many things were happening in front of me. But once we settled in after the Safety Car, the car was really on rails, we picked the right places to pass people and we could look after our tyres and that is how we made our way forward," the Red Bull racer opined.

"After that, once we were in the lead it was all about managing everything - but this whole weekend has been incredible. It`s been a weekend I couldn`t imagine before, but I think we want more of them, so keep working hard," he further added.

Max Verstappen clinched the Belgium Grand Prix on Sunday (August 28) but British driver Lewis Hamilton made heads turn following a crash with Fernando Alonso. Now, the Mercedes driver opened up on the crash and claimed that he was “grateful to still be alive” while admitting he was at fault after hitting Alonso during the opening lap.

Max Verstappen clinched the Belgium Grand Prix on Sunday (August 28) but British driver Lewis Hamilton made heads turn following a crash with Fernando Alonso. Now, the Mercedes driver opened up on the crash and claimed that he was “grateful to still be alive” while admitting he was at fault after hitting Alonso during the opening lap. The crash launched Hamilton’s car in the air, with the damage prompting him to retire from the race there itself. As per a report in The Guardian, the 37-year-old opined, "Looking back at the footage he was in my blind spot, I didn’t give him enough space. It is my fault. Just, so sorry to the team. I could not see him. I am sorry to the team and I need to recuperate and get back on the treadmill.” On the other hand, Alonso wasn't impressed with Hamilton's tactics and called him “an idiot” on the team radio following the incident. This, in turn, has led to the seven-time champion Hamilton claiming that he would refuse to interact with the Spaniard with regard to the crash. Having started the race on a good note before Hamilton's crash, Alonso slammed the former and said, "What an idiot closing the door from the outside. We had a mega start but this guy only knows how to drive and start in first." The Spaniard said added: "Why does he close the door? I just don’t understand." To this, Hamilton hit back at Alonso and said, "No. I would have until I heard what he said. I know that’s how things feel in the heat of the moment, but it’s nice to know how he feels about me." ALSO READ | Max Verstappen cruises to victory after starting at P14 at the Belgian Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton suffers While Hamilton retired from the race following the unfortunate turn of events, Alonso settled for the fifth slot. However, Hamilton chose to see the brighter side to have walked away injury-free. “I remember looking at the ground, it was definitely high up. I’m grateful to be still alive and in shape,” he said. Verstappen clinchs drama-filled Belgium GP "It was quite a hectic first lap to try and stay out of trouble," said Verstappen in an official statement. "So many things were happening in front of me. But once we settled in after the Safety Car, the car was really on rails, we picked the right places to pass people and we could look after our tyres and that is how we made our way forward," the Red Bull racer opined. "After that, once we were in the lead it was all about managing everything - but this whole weekend has been incredible. It`s been a weekend I couldn`t imagine before, but I think we want more of them, so keep working hard," he further added.

Lewis Hamilton 'grateful to still be alive', admits his mistake for crash in Belgium Grand Prix

Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali doesn't expect a woman to drive in the series in the near future, even though they are making efforts to make things easier for women. F1 has not seen a woman race in a Grand Prix in the last 45 years. Molly Gambhir explains why.

WION Fineprint | F1 CEO Domenicali: Unlikely to see women F1 drivers in the next 5 years

Daniel Ricciardo and McLaren will split at the end of the Formula One season after a buyout was negotiated with the Australian on the final year of his contract. Ricciardo held the option on 2023 for his seat at McLaren but his performance has been underwhelming through 35 races. Although he did score McLaren's first Formula One victory since 2012 with a win last September at Monza, Ricciardo has been outperformed by teammate Lando Norris nearly every race weekend.

The 33-year-old Ricciardo has just one podium with McLaren and only 19 points this season. Norris has one podium this season and 76 points. It's been a privilege to be a part of the McLaren Racing family for the last two seasons," Ricciardo said in a statement on Wednesday, adding he'd been in talks about his future with McLaren for several months" before reaching a mutual agreement to end the deal a year early.

"I'll be announcing my own future plans in due course but regardless of what this next chapter brings, I have no regrets and am proud of the effort and work I gave McLaren, especially the win in Monza, last season,&nbsp;Ricciardo added. "I've never been more motivated to compete and be a part of a sport that I love so much and look forward to what comes next.

McLaren head Zak Brown in May acknowledged that Ricciardo's seat was shaky and said there were mechanisms&nbsp;in which the driver and team could split ahead of the 2023 season. The mechanism turned out to be a buyout since Ricciardo held the option on next season. Although initial reports suggested Ricciardo was seeking more than $20 million to exit the team early, it is believed McLaren paid $15 million to end the contract.

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McLaren is widely believed to have signed F2 champion Oscar Piastri, also an Australian, for Ricciardo's seat. No announcement has been made by McLaren, but Piastri has declined a promotion to F1 with Alpine. 
Daniel has been a great addition to McLaren, and it's been a pleasure working with him," said Brown. It's no secret that we hoped we could achieve more together but seeing him stand on the top step of the podium as a McLaren driver was a highlight.

Following the Monza victory, Brown and Ricciardo visited a tattoo parlor in Texas so that Brown could commemorate the win with a permanent inking of the Monza circuit on his arm. He also rewarded Ricciardo by allowing him to drive the late Dale Earnhardt's iconic No. 3 Chevrolet stock car in a demonstration at Circuit of the Americas. Brown owns the car and Ricciardo idolized Earnhardt as a child. McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl thanked Ricciardo for his dedication and contribution? since joining the team.

Despite the shared challenges, he has always turned up with a fighting spirit and positivity and helped the entire team to always keep pushing forward,&nbsp;Seidl said. "We will never forget that memorable race win in Monza which was a great boost for the whole team. We still have an important battle in the constructors' championship ahead of us for the remainder of the season and we look forward to battle this out with Daniel and Lando.

Norris and Ricciardo helped McLaren to a fourth-place finish in the constructors championship last season. 
Ricciardo, one of the most popular drivers in F1, is in his 12th season and has eight career victories.

Daniel Ricciardo and McLaren will split at the end of the Formula One season after a buyout was negotiated with the Australian on the final year of his contract.

Daniel Ricciardo and McLaren will split at the end of the Formula One season after a buyout was negotiated with the Australian on the final year of his contract. Ricciardo held the option on 2023 for his seat at McLaren but his performance has been underwhelming through 35 races. Although he did score McLaren's first Formula One victory since 2012 with a win last September at Monza, Ricciardo has been outperformed by teammate Lando Norris nearly every race weekend. The 33-year-old Ricciardo has just one podium with McLaren and only 19 points this season. Norris has one podium this season and 76 points. It's been a privilege to be a part of the McLaren Racing family for the last two seasons," Ricciardo said in a statement on Wednesday, adding he'd been in talks about his future with McLaren for several months" before reaching a mutual agreement to end the deal a year early. "I'll be announcing my own future plans in due course but regardless of what this next chapter brings, I have no regrets and am proud of the effort and work I gave McLaren, especially the win in Monza, last season, Ricciardo added. "I've never been more motivated to compete and be a part of a sport that I love so much and look forward to what comes next. McLaren head Zak Brown in May acknowledged that Ricciardo's seat was shaky and said there were mechanisms in which the driver and team could split ahead of the 2023 season. The mechanism turned out to be a buyout since Ricciardo held the option on next season. Although initial reports suggested Ricciardo was seeking more than $20 million to exit the team early, it is believed McLaren paid $15 million to end the contract. ALSO READ | England midfielder and Euro 2022 winner Jill Scott announces retirement from football McLaren is widely believed to have signed F2 champion Oscar Piastri, also an Australian, for Ricciardo's seat. No announcement has been made by McLaren, but Piastri has declined a promotion to F1 with Alpine. Daniel has been a great addition to McLaren, and it's been a pleasure working with him," said Brown. It's no secret that we hoped we could achieve more together but seeing him stand on the top step of the podium as a McLaren driver was a highlight. Following the Monza victory, Brown and Ricciardo visited a tattoo parlor in Texas so that Brown could commemorate the win with a permanent inking of the Monza circuit on his arm. He also rewarded Ricciardo by allowing him to drive the late Dale Earnhardt's iconic No. 3 Chevrolet stock car in a demonstration at Circuit of the Americas. Brown owns the car and Ricciardo idolized Earnhardt as a child. McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl thanked Ricciardo for his dedication and contribution? since joining the team. Despite the shared challenges, he has always turned up with a fighting spirit and positivity and helped the entire team to always keep pushing forward, Seidl said. "We will never forget that memorable race win in Monza which was a great boost for the whole team. We still have an important battle in the constructors' championship ahead of us for the remainder of the season and we look forward to battle this out with Daniel and Lando. Norris and Ricciardo helped McLaren to a fourth-place finish in the constructors championship last season. Ricciardo, one of the most popular drivers in F1, is in his 12th season and has eight career victories.

Daniel Ricciardo and McLaren to part ways ahead of 2023 after buyout

Former Formula One supremo&nbsp;Bernie&nbsp;Ecclestone on Monday pleaded not guilty when he appeared in court in London on a multi-million-pound fraud charge. Ecclestone, 91, was charged in July over an alleged failure to declare more than £400 million ($473 million) of overseas assets to the UK government. The ex-motorsport boss arrived at Westminster Magistrates Court in central London to a throng of photographers and camera crews. According to the chargesheet, he is accused of failing to declare a trust in Singapore with a bank account containing some $650 million.

In court, white-haired Ecclestone, wearing a dark suit, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and give an address in Knightsbridge, west London. Judge Paul Goldspring granted him unconditional bail until another pre-trial hearing at Southwark Crown Court, south London, on September 19. Ecclestone, a British businessman whose financial net worth has been estimated at some $3 billion, is widely credited with transforming F1 commercially.

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His control of the sport developed from the sale of television rights in the 1970s and he was chief executive of Formula One Group until January 2017. The Crown Prosecution Service, which brings charges in England and Wales, brought the case for "fraud by false representation" after a "complex and worldwide" investigation by HM Revenue and Customs.

Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone on Monday pleaded not guilty when he appeared in court in London on a multi-million-pound fraud charge. Ecclestone, 91, was charged in July over an alleged failure to declare more than £400 million ($473 million) of overseas assets to the UK government.

Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone on Monday pleaded not guilty when he appeared in court in London on a multi-million-pound fraud charge. Ecclestone, 91, was charged in July over an alleged failure to declare more than £400 million ($473 million) of overseas assets to the UK government. The ex-motorsport boss arrived at Westminster Magistrates Court in central London to a throng of photographers and camera crews. According to the chargesheet, he is accused of failing to declare a trust in Singapore with a bank account containing some $650 million. In court, white-haired Ecclestone, wearing a dark suit, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and give an address in Knightsbridge, west London. Judge Paul Goldspring granted him unconditional bail until another pre-trial hearing at Southwark Crown Court, south London, on September 19. Ecclestone, a British businessman whose financial net worth has been estimated at some $3 billion, is widely credited with transforming F1 commercially. ALSO READ | Is Tiger Woods inclined towards the controversial LIV Golf Tour? Here's everything you need to know His control of the sport developed from the sale of television rights in the 1970s and he was chief executive of Formula One Group until January 2017. The Crown Prosecution Service, which brings charges in England and Wales, brought the case for "fraud by false representation" after a "complex and worldwide" investigation by HM Revenue and Customs.

Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone denies fraud charge

Lewis Hamilton is one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time. The seven-time F1 champion often drives at over 200mph on the circuit but has revealed he is terrified of driving on normal roads with traffic. Hamilton said he finds roads 'crazy' and hard to negotiate the traffic as too much is 'going on' on busy roads for his liking.

Hamilton made the surprising revelations in an interview with the Vanity Fair magazine when he was asked if he enjoys as much driving on normal roads as on the circuit. Hamilton, who has represented McLaren and Mercedes in his illustrious career, insisted he doesn't like driving on roads due to the traffic and risk of something going wrong.

“Look, we’re on these roads, anything can happen," Hamilton told the interviewer while driving around busy roads in southern France during the interview.&nbsp;“This is now stressful for me. This road is crazy. So much going on here. I’m going to turn around in a second," he added.

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Hamilton is the most successful driver in Formula One history with seven world titles under his belt. He has not enjoyed much success so far this season but managed to finish on the podium in his last two races. However, the 37-year-old revealed he considered retiring from F1 after the controversial final at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year.

Max Verstappen had pipped Hamilton to the title in controversial circumstances denying him a record 8th Formula One title. Hamilton revealed strengthless after the shock defeat and called it one of the toughest moments of his career so far.

“I don’t know if I can really put into words the feeling that I had. I do remember just sitting there in disbelief," said the seven-time F1 champion.

"And realising I’ve got to undo my belts, I’ve got to get out of there, I’ve got to climb out of this thing, I’ve got to find the strength. I had no strength. And it was one of the toughest moments, I would say, that I’ve had in a long, long time," he added.

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However, Hamilton admitted he loves being challenged and his&nbsp;chase for the elusive 8th Formula One championship is what has kept him going even after the dejection of his last year's loss in the final race. The British driver said he remains on a 'mission' and is not going to give up anytime soon.

Lewis Hamilton is one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time. The seven-time F1 champion often drives at over 200mph on the circuit but has revealed he is terrified of driving on normal roads with traffic.

Lewis Hamilton is one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time. The seven-time F1 champion often drives at over 200mph on the circuit but has revealed he is terrified of driving on normal roads with traffic. Hamilton said he finds roads 'crazy' and hard to negotiate the traffic as too much is 'going on' on busy roads for his liking. Hamilton made the surprising revelations in an interview with the Vanity Fair magazine when he was asked if he enjoys as much driving on normal roads as on the circuit. Hamilton, who has represented McLaren and Mercedes in his illustrious career, insisted he doesn't like driving on roads due to the traffic and risk of something going wrong. “Look, we’re on these roads, anything can happen," Hamilton told the interviewer while driving around busy roads in southern France during the interview. “This is now stressful for me. This road is crazy. So much going on here. I’m going to turn around in a second," he added. Also Read: 'He threw me out of hotel room naked': Ryan Giggs' ex makes shocking revelations during trial Hamilton is the most successful driver in Formula One history with seven world titles under his belt. He has not enjoyed much success so far this season but managed to finish on the podium in his last two races. However, the 37-year-old revealed he considered retiring from F1 after the controversial final at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year. Max Verstappen had pipped Hamilton to the title in controversial circumstances denying him a record 8th Formula One title. Hamilton revealed strengthless after the shock defeat and called it one of the toughest moments of his career so far. “I don’t know if I can really put into words the feeling that I had. I do remember just sitting there in disbelief," said the seven-time F1 champion. "And realising I’ve got to undo my belts, I’ve got to get out of there, I’ve got to climb out of this thing, I’ve got to find the strength. I had no strength. And it was one of the toughest moments, I would say, that I’ve had in a long, long time," he added. Also Read: A look at Serena Williams' greatest achievements over the course of her illustrious career However, Hamilton admitted he loves being challenged and his chase for the elusive 8th Formula One championship is what has kept him going even after the dejection of his last year's loss in the final race. The British driver said he remains on a 'mission' and is not going to give up anytime soon.

‘I find it stressful’: Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton reveals he is terrified driving on normal roads

Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen on Sunday slammed fans who burned Lewis Hamilton-branded merchandise, calling their actions disgusting. "That’s of course not acceptable,” the Red Bull driver, who beat Mercedes rival Hamilton to last year’s title in a controversial season-finale, told reporters after winning the Hungarian Grand Prix. "These individuals, I definitely don’t agree with that because that’s just disgusting.”

Verstappen, Formula One’s youngest race winner and the first Dutch world champion, has a legion of fans dubbed the ‘Orange Army’ that follow him around the world. Footage circulating on social media over the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend appeared to show fans burning Hamilton merchandise.

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It followed reports of drunken males harassing female fans, homophobic chants and racist abuse at the Austrian Grand Prix earlier this month, Red Bull’s home race which was packed with Verstappen supporters. 
The next race in Belgium, where Verstappen was born, is another Orange Army stronghold with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, the 24-year-old’s home race, following the week after.

The incidents in Austria prompted Formula One to launch its ‘Drive it Out’ anti-abuse initiative on Saturday. 
Verstappen, sitting alongside second-placed Hamilton in the post-race press conference, said the majority of his fans were generally respectful. “Overall I think the majority of the fans… which also were cheering a lot throughout the race and also on the podium for every driver, I think that’s how it should be," he said. 
"The video of burning merch, I think that’s disgusting," he said.

Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen on Sunday slammed fans who burned Lewis Hamilton-branded merchandise, calling their actions disgusting. "That’s of course not acceptable,” the Red Bull driver, who beat Mercedes rival Hamilton to last year’s title in a controversial season-finale, told reporters after winning the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen on Sunday slammed fans who burned Lewis Hamilton-branded merchandise, calling their actions disgusting. "That’s of course not acceptable,” the Red Bull driver, who beat Mercedes rival Hamilton to last year’s title in a controversial season-finale, told reporters after winning the Hungarian Grand Prix. "These individuals, I definitely don’t agree with that because that’s just disgusting.” Verstappen, Formula One’s youngest race winner and the first Dutch world champion, has a legion of fans dubbed the ‘Orange Army’ that follow him around the world. Footage circulating on social media over the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend appeared to show fans burning Hamilton merchandise. ALSO READ | Formula One launches 'Drive It Out' campaign to stop abusive behaviour It followed reports of drunken males harassing female fans, homophobic chants and racist abuse at the Austrian Grand Prix earlier this month, Red Bull’s home race which was packed with Verstappen supporters. The next race in Belgium, where Verstappen was born, is another Orange Army stronghold with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, the 24-year-old’s home race, following the week after. The incidents in Austria prompted Formula One to launch its ‘Drive it Out’ anti-abuse initiative on Saturday. Verstappen, sitting alongside second-placed Hamilton in the post-race press conference, said the majority of his fans were generally respectful. “Overall I think the majority of the fans… which also were cheering a lot throughout the race and also on the podium for every driver, I think that’s how it should be," he said. "The video of burning merch, I think that’s disgusting," he said.

Max Verstappen lashes out at fans for burning Lewis Hamilton merchandise after winning Hungarian GP

Formula One on Saturday launched the 'Drive It Out' campaign against abusive behaviour online on social media and at Grands Prix. The campaign has been fronted by drivers calling for all racist, sexist and homophobic abuse to be eliminated not only from Formula One, but all sport worldwide.

The initiative follows outbursts of abusive behaviour at the Austrian Grand Prix earlier this month. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton raised the issue concerning the abuse at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring.

“Disgusted and disappointed to hear that some fans are facing racist, homophobic and generally abusive behaviour at the circuit this weekend,” he wrote at the time on his Instagram page.

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On Saturday, the campaign was launched with a video including linked messages from all of the current drivers, F1’s president and chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali and the ruling International Motoring Federation (FIA) president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

George Russell of Mercedes, who is also a director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA), made clear the position taken by the drivers.

“Abuse of any kind has no place in F1,” he said. 
 
“If you see inappropriate behaviour, report it. If you’re being targeted, reach out. We all love this sport, so let’s look after each other.”

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In their video message, the drivers said: “Formula One is all about competition and rivalry, but also respect. Respect as competitors, respect for our fans, respect for the whole F1 family.”

“Abuse of any kind is unacceptable. If you cannot be respectful, then don’t be part of our sport. We cannot let those who think they can abuse others get away with it.”

“We have a duty to call this out and say ‘no more’. We are acting as a community to block those who abuse others online.&nbsp;We won’t allow abuse at our races, but we also need social media platforms to tackle abuse online head-on.”

“Those who hide behind social media with abusive and disrespectful views are not our fans. We are united and ask you to join us in driving this out of all sport and society. Drive it out together.”

Formula One on Saturday launched the 'Drive It Out' campaign against abusive behaviour online on social media and at Grands Prix. The campaign has been fronted by drivers calling for all racist, sexist and homophobic abuse to be eliminated not only from Formula One, but all sport worldwide.

Formula One on Saturday launched the 'Drive It Out' campaign against abusive behaviour online on social media and at Grands Prix. The campaign has been fronted by drivers calling for all racist, sexist and homophobic abuse to be eliminated not only from Formula One, but all sport worldwide. The initiative follows outbursts of abusive behaviour at the Austrian Grand Prix earlier this month. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton raised the issue concerning the abuse at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring. “Disgusted and disappointed to hear that some fans are facing racist, homophobic and generally abusive behaviour at the circuit this weekend,” he wrote at the time on his Instagram page. Also Read: 'They should be ashamed': Vettel, Hamilton slam racist crowd after fans face abuse during Austrian GP On Saturday, the campaign was launched with a video including linked messages from all of the current drivers, F1’s president and chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali and the ruling International Motoring Federation (FIA) president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. George Russell of Mercedes, who is also a director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA), made clear the position taken by the drivers. “Abuse of any kind has no place in F1,” he said. “If you see inappropriate behaviour, report it. If you’re being targeted, reach out. We all love this sport, so let’s look after each other.” Also Read: Throwback! When 4,000 used condoms clogged drains at sports village during Commonwealth Games 2010 In their video message, the drivers said: “Formula One is all about competition and rivalry, but also respect. Respect as competitors, respect for our fans, respect for the whole F1 family.” “Abuse of any kind is unacceptable. If you cannot be respectful, then don’t be part of our sport. We cannot let those who think they can abuse others get away with it.” “We have a duty to call this out and say ‘no more’. We are acting as a community to block those who abuse others online. We won’t allow abuse at our races, but we also need social media platforms to tackle abuse online head-on.” “Those who hide behind social media with abusive and disrespectful views are not our fans. We are united and ask you to join us in driving this out of all sport and society. Drive it out together.”

Formula One launches 'Drive It Out' campaign to stop abusive behaviour

Sebastian Vettel, 35, has announced retirement from Formula One. In his farewell address, the racing driver spoke about climate change. What explains this growing trend to retire citing woke reasons? Listen in to Palki Sharma.

Gravitas: Sebastian Vettel announces retirement from Formula One

Four times world champion Sebastian Vettel announced his retirement from Formula One at the end of the season, saying on Thursday his goals had changed and he wanted to focus more on family and interests outside the sport.

The 35-year-old German, who drives for the Aston Martin team, won his titles with Red Bull from 2010-13 and also spent six seasons with Ferrari. He made the announcement ahead of this weekend`s Hungarian Grand Prix, the 13th round of the season and last race before the August break.

"I hereby announce my retirement from Formula One by the end of the 2022 season," he said in a video statement explaining his reasons on a newly-created Instagram page. "I love this sport. It has been central to my life since I can remember. But as much as there is life on track, there`s my life off track too. Being a racing driver has never been my sole identity.

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"Next to racing I have grown a family and I love being around them. I have grown other interests outside Formula One," he explained. Vettel, who has become increasingly outspoken on a range of topics from the environment to LGBTQ+ rights, said Formula One was increasingly in conflict with his personal life.

"My goals have shifted from winning races and fighting for championships to seeing my children grow, passing on my values, helping them up when they fall, listening to them when they need me, not having to say goodbye and, most importantly, being able to learn from them and let them inspire me," he said. "I feel we live in very decisive times and how we all shape these next years will determine our lives. 
"My passion comes with certain aspects that I`ve learned to dislike."

Vettel said in May that climate change made him question his job as a racing driver. Asked then whether his position on the environment and global warming made him a hypocrite, considering he was part of a "gas-guzzling" sport in a team sponsored by Saudi oil giant Aramco, he conceded that it did. 
"There`s questions I ask myself every day and I`m not a saint," he said then.

Vettel ranks third on the all-time race winners list, behind seven times champions Lewis Hamilton (103) and Michael Schumacher (91), with 53 victories. His last win was with Ferrari at Monza in 2019.&nbsp; He remains Formula One`s youngest world champion, taking his first crown at 23 years old, but lost his record as the youngest race winner to an 18-year-old Max Verstappen in 2016.

Vettel`s race debut was at the 2007 U.S. Grand Prix as a stand-in for Robert Kubica at BMW-Sauber. The following year he took his first pole position and first win in the wet with Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri) at their home Italian Grand Prix and became Red Bull`s first race winner in China in 2009. 
His last race, in Abu Dhabi in November, is set to be the 300th of his career.

"We made it clear to him that we wanted him to continue with us next year, but in the end he has done what he feels is right for himself and his family, and of course we respect that," said Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll. "He has driven some fantastic races for us and, behind the scenes, his experience and expertise with our engineers have been extremely valuable. He is one of the all-time greats of Formula One." 
Hamilton, 37, said it was an honour to call him a friend. "You`re leaving this sport better than you found it which is always the goal," said the Briton.

Four times world champion Sebastian Vettel announced his retirement from Formula One at the end of the season, saying on Thursday his goals had changed and he wanted to focus more on family and interests outside the sport.

Four times world champion Sebastian Vettel announced his retirement from Formula One at the end of the season, saying on Thursday his goals had changed and he wanted to focus more on family and interests outside the sport. The 35-year-old German, who drives for the Aston Martin team, won his titles with Red Bull from 2010-13 and also spent six seasons with Ferrari. He made the announcement ahead of this weekend`s Hungarian Grand Prix, the 13th round of the season and last race before the August break. "I hereby announce my retirement from Formula One by the end of the 2022 season," he said in a video statement explaining his reasons on a newly-created Instagram page. "I love this sport. It has been central to my life since I can remember. But as much as there is life on track, there`s my life off track too. Being a racing driver has never been my sole identity. ALSO READ | I've got plenty of fuel left in the tank: Lewis Hamilton opens up on Formula One future "Next to racing I have grown a family and I love being around them. I have grown other interests outside Formula One," he explained. Vettel, who has become increasingly outspoken on a range of topics from the environment to LGBTQ+ rights, said Formula One was increasingly in conflict with his personal life. "My goals have shifted from winning races and fighting for championships to seeing my children grow, passing on my values, helping them up when they fall, listening to them when they need me, not having to say goodbye and, most importantly, being able to learn from them and let them inspire me," he said. "I feel we live in very decisive times and how we all shape these next years will determine our lives. "My passion comes with certain aspects that I`ve learned to dislike." Vettel said in May that climate change made him question his job as a racing driver. Asked then whether his position on the environment and global warming made him a hypocrite, considering he was part of a "gas-guzzling" sport in a team sponsored by Saudi oil giant Aramco, he conceded that it did. "There`s questions I ask myself every day and I`m not a saint," he said then. Vettel ranks third on the all-time race winners list, behind seven times champions Lewis Hamilton (103) and Michael Schumacher (91), with 53 victories. His last win was with Ferrari at Monza in 2019. He remains Formula One`s youngest world champion, taking his first crown at 23 years old, but lost his record as the youngest race winner to an 18-year-old Max Verstappen in 2016. Vettel`s race debut was at the 2007 U.S. Grand Prix as a stand-in for Robert Kubica at BMW-Sauber. The following year he took his first pole position and first win in the wet with Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri) at their home Italian Grand Prix and became Red Bull`s first race winner in China in 2009. His last race, in Abu Dhabi in November, is set to be the 300th of his career. "We made it clear to him that we wanted him to continue with us next year, but in the end he has done what he feels is right for himself and his family, and of course we respect that," said Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll. "He has driven some fantastic races for us and, behind the scenes, his experience and expertise with our engineers have been extremely valuable. He is one of the all-time greats of Formula One." Hamilton, 37, said it was an honour to call him a friend. "You`re leaving this sport better than you found it which is always the goal," said the Briton.

Four-time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel announces retirement, says his goals have shifted

Sebastian Vettel has backed friend and fellow German Mick Schumacher to replace him at Aston Martin when the four times Formula One world champion retires at the end of the season. Vettel, 35, announced his retirement on Thursday with immediate speculation about who might be his successor alongside Canadian Lance Stroll at the British-based team.

"I do have my opinion. I mean, I think very highly of Mick," Vettel told reporters at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the last race before the August break. "I`m obviously not entirely objective, because I`m very close to him. But I do think he`s a great driver. And he`s a learner, he keeps learning when others sort of stall, or stop making progress," he added of the 23-year-old.

"So he does have a lot of qualities, but he`s also very young still, and doesn`t have a lot of experience." 
Vettel said that the decision was for the team to make but he would "not hold back" his opinion if asked. The German is close to the Schumacher family, with Mick`s father, the seven times world champion and Ferrari great Michael, a boyhood hero of Vettel`s.

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Schumacher senior has not been seen in public since he suffered serious head injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps in 2013. Vettel has taken on something of a mentor role for Mick since his compatriot joined the Ferrari-powered Haas team in 2021 after winning the Formula Two title.

The Ferrari-backed driver has taken time to open his account, unable to score a point last year but finishing eighth and sixth in Britain and Austria this season. Schumacher is out of contract at the end of the year.

Sebastian Vettel has backed friend and fellow German Mick Schumacher to replace him at Aston Martin when the four times Formula One world champion retires at the end of the season.

Sebastian Vettel has backed friend and fellow German Mick Schumacher to replace him at Aston Martin when the four times Formula One world champion retires at the end of the season. Vettel, 35, announced his retirement on Thursday with immediate speculation about who might be his successor alongside Canadian Lance Stroll at the British-based team. "I do have my opinion. I mean, I think very highly of Mick," Vettel told reporters at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the last race before the August break. "I`m obviously not entirely objective, because I`m very close to him. But I do think he`s a great driver. And he`s a learner, he keeps learning when others sort of stall, or stop making progress," he added of the 23-year-old. "So he does have a lot of qualities, but he`s also very young still, and doesn`t have a lot of experience." Vettel said that the decision was for the team to make but he would "not hold back" his opinion if asked. The German is close to the Schumacher family, with Mick`s father, the seven times world champion and Ferrari great Michael, a boyhood hero of Vettel`s. ALSO READ | Four-time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel announces retirement, says his goals have shifted Schumacher senior has not been seen in public since he suffered serious head injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps in 2013. Vettel has taken on something of a mentor role for Mick since his compatriot joined the Ferrari-powered Haas team in 2021 after winning the Formula Two title. The Ferrari-backed driver has taken time to open his account, unable to score a point last year but finishing eighth and sixth in Britain and Austria this season. Schumacher is out of contract at the end of the year.

Sebastian Vettel backs compatriot Mick Schumacher to replace him at Aston Martin after end of season

Completing the 300th race of his career, Lewis Hamilton said he has enough fuel left in the tank and is open to extending his contract with Mercedes in future. Hamilton finished 2nd in the French GP which was also his best result this season. The British racer still couldn`t match the performance of his rival Verstappen as he clenched French GP but it was his best finish while also continuing the podium streak."What a day and weekend," Hamilton told Sky Sports F1 ."I am so proud of the team, this is an incredible result. Winning races and getting results like this, it`s about the whole package" he continued. Hamilton signed his contract at the start of 2021 year and it will be expiring in 2023.

The 37-year-old said he still has the love for F1 and is looking to continue racing and try to win more titles in future."I firstly just want to be grateful to get to this point. I am still fresh and still feel I`ve got plenty of fuel left in the tank. Of course I want to get back to winning ways and that`s going to take time. I`m sure we`ll sit down at some stage and talk about the future," said Hamilton."I am enjoying what I am doing, and feel really proud working with this incredible group of people. I am also enjoying working with the sport more than ever. We have got some great people leading the sport, we`re having great conversations about the direction we are going in," he added.

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Completing his 300th race he was also asked about if he plans to achieve the 400 race benchmark to which he replied to as that "that`s a lot of races". The seven-time world champion still feels confident as he is enjoying the sport "more than ever." Mercedes boss Toto Wolff also previously talked about how long can the partnership between Mercedes and Hamilton can go, "We talked a few weeks ago about how long our partnership can go, and the number that was discussed was five to 10 years, so I think we can get to 400" said the President.

Earlier in the French GP we saw, Verstappen being in the lead till the very end of the race and cruised to a comfortable victory and extended his championship advantage over Leclerc to 63 points. Verstappen won over Hamilton. Despite that, Mercedes had a great outing, with seven-time champion Hamilton finishing second and Russell finishing at third.

Completing the 300th race of his career, Lewis Hamilton said he has enough fuel left in the tank and is open to extending his contract with Mercedes in future. Hamilton finished 2nd in the French GP which was also his best result this season.

Completing the 300th race of his career, Lewis Hamilton said he has enough fuel left in the tank and is open to extending his contract with Mercedes in future. Hamilton finished 2nd in the French GP which was also his best result this season. The British racer still couldn`t match the performance of his rival Verstappen as he clenched French GP but it was his best finish while also continuing the podium streak."What a day and weekend," Hamilton told Sky Sports F1 ."I am so proud of the team, this is an incredible result. Winning races and getting results like this, it`s about the whole package" he continued. Hamilton signed his contract at the start of 2021 year and it will be expiring in 2023. The 37-year-old said he still has the love for F1 and is looking to continue racing and try to win more titles in future."I firstly just want to be grateful to get to this point. I am still fresh and still feel I`ve got plenty of fuel left in the tank. Of course I want to get back to winning ways and that`s going to take time. I`m sure we`ll sit down at some stage and talk about the future," said Hamilton."I am enjoying what I am doing, and feel really proud working with this incredible group of people. I am also enjoying working with the sport more than ever. We have got some great people leading the sport, we`re having great conversations about the direction we are going in," he added. ALSO READ | Max Verstappen wins in French Grand Prix after Charles Leclerc crashes out Completing his 300th race he was also asked about if he plans to achieve the 400 race benchmark to which he replied to as that "that`s a lot of races". The seven-time world champion still feels confident as he is enjoying the sport "more than ever." Mercedes boss Toto Wolff also previously talked about how long can the partnership between Mercedes and Hamilton can go, "We talked a few weeks ago about how long our partnership can go, and the number that was discussed was five to 10 years, so I think we can get to 400" said the President. Earlier in the French GP we saw, Verstappen being in the lead till the very end of the race and cruised to a comfortable victory and extended his championship advantage over Leclerc to 63 points. Verstappen won over Hamilton. Despite that, Mercedes had a great outing, with seven-time champion Hamilton finishing second and Russell finishing at third.

I've got plenty of fuel left in the tank: Lewis Hamilton opens up on Formula One future

Four-time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel slammed the racist and homophobic behaviour of fans during the Australian Grand Prix last week. There were reports that a group of fans made racist, sexist and homophobic comments against others during the race. Some women were also reportedly harassed by the crowd during the Austrian Grand Prix.

Vettel said there should be zero tolerance when it comes to racism and stated that the unruly fans, who physically and verbally abused others in the stands should be ashamed of themselves. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc had pipped Max Verstappen to win the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday.

"Whoever these people are, they should be ashamed of themselves and they should be banned from racing events for their lives. I think there should be zero tolerance," Aston Martin driver Vettel told reporters when asked about the racist behaviour of fans during the Austrian Grand Prix.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ex-formula-one-chief-bernie-ecclestone-charged-with-fraud-496417">Ex-Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone charged with fraud</a>

Hamilton, who finished third at the Austrian Grand Prix, said he was 'disgusted and disappointed' by the reports of racist behaviour from the fans during the event. Reports of fans' disgusting behaviour at the circuit had gone viral on social media last week prompting several prominent drivers to react.

“Disgusted and disappointed to hear that some fans are facing racist, homophobic, and generally abusive behaviour at the circuit this weekend. Attending the Austrian Grand Prix or any GP should never be a source of anxiety and pain for fans, and something must be done to ensure that races are safe spaces for all," Hamilton wrote on social media.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ferraris-charles-leclerc-beats-max-verstappen-to-win-austrian-grand-prix-revives-title-hopes-496176">&nbsp;Ferrari's Charles Leclerc beats Max Verstappen to win Austrian Grand Prix, revives title hopes</a>

Meanwhile, Formula One released an official statement announcing that they are investigating the matter and such behaviour&nbsp;Meanwhile, Formula One released an official statement announcing that they are investigating the matter and such behaviour will not be tolerated. Formula One said it was made aware that some fans were subjected to &nbsp;"completely unacceptable comments" by the others during the Austrian Grand Prix.

Four-time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel slammed the racist and homophobic behaviour of fans during the Australian Grand Prix last week. There were reports that a group of fans made racist, sexist and homophobic comments against others during the race.

Four-time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel slammed the racist and homophobic behaviour of fans during the Australian Grand Prix last week. There were reports that a group of fans made racist, sexist and homophobic comments against others during the race. Some women were also reportedly harassed by the crowd during the Austrian Grand Prix. Vettel said there should be zero tolerance when it comes to racism and stated that the unruly fans, who physically and verbally abused others in the stands should be ashamed of themselves. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc had pipped Max Verstappen to win the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday. "Whoever these people are, they should be ashamed of themselves and they should be banned from racing events for their lives. I think there should be zero tolerance," Aston Martin driver Vettel told reporters when asked about the racist behaviour of fans during the Austrian Grand Prix. Also Read: Ex-Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone charged with fraud Hamilton, who finished third at the Austrian Grand Prix, said he was 'disgusted and disappointed' by the reports of racist behaviour from the fans during the event. Reports of fans' disgusting behaviour at the circuit had gone viral on social media last week prompting several prominent drivers to react. “Disgusted and disappointed to hear that some fans are facing racist, homophobic, and generally abusive behaviour at the circuit this weekend. Attending the Austrian Grand Prix or any GP should never be a source of anxiety and pain for fans, and something must be done to ensure that races are safe spaces for all," Hamilton wrote on social media. Also Read: Ferrari's Charles Leclerc beats Max Verstappen to win Austrian Grand Prix, revives title hopes Meanwhile, Formula One released an official statement announcing that they are investigating the matter and such behaviour Meanwhile, Formula One released an official statement announcing that they are investigating the matter and such behaviour will not be tolerated. Formula One said it was made aware that some fans were subjected to "completely unacceptable comments" by the others during the Austrian Grand Prix.

'They should be ashamed': Vettel, Hamilton slam racist crowd after fans face abuse during Austrian GP

Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has been charged with fraud over a failure to declare more than 400 million pounds ($477 million) in assets he held overseas to the British tax authority, prosecutors said on Monday.

The Crown Prosecution Service said Ecclestone, 91, faced one count of fraud by false representation. "This follows a complex and worldwide criminal investigation by HMRC`s Fraud Investigation Service," said Simon York, Director at the Fraud Investigation Service of Her Majesty`s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

The first hearing in his case is due to be held on Aug. 22 at London`s Westminster Magistrates Court.

Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has been charged with fraud over a failure to declare more than 400 million pounds ($477 million) in assets he held overseas to the British tax authority, prosecutors said on Monday.

Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has been charged with fraud over a failure to declare more than 400 million pounds ($477 million) in assets he held overseas to the British tax authority, prosecutors said on Monday. The Crown Prosecution Service said Ecclestone, 91, faced one count of fraud by false representation. "This follows a complex and worldwide criminal investigation by HMRC`s Fraud Investigation Service," said Simon York, Director at the Fraud Investigation Service of Her Majesty`s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The first hearing in his case is due to be held on Aug. 22 at London`s Westminster Magistrates Court.

Ex-Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone charged with fraud

Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen set the pace for Red Bull in Friday`s opening practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix. The Dutchman swept around his team`s home track in one minute 06.302 seconds, 0.255 seconds quicker than Ferrari`s Charles Leclerc over the 4.3km long lap. "It`s very tight with Ferrari again," said Red Bull boss Christian Horner. "It`s going to be very tight between the two of us."

George Russell was third for Mercedes ahead of Verstappen`s Red Bull team mate Sergio Perez, who put in a late flyer to drop Lewis Hamilton down to fifth. "I think we`ve been OK, we`re still experimenting with some set-ups," said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. "There`s things we had on George`s car that we`ll probably adopt on Lewis`s now."

Kevin Magnussen was sixth for Haas. Ferrari`s Carlos Sainz, Formula One`s newest winner after racing to his first victory less than a week ago in Silverstone, was seventh. Verstappen leads the standings by 34 points from Mexican Perez and is 43 clear of Leclerc.

Austria marks the halfway point of the 22-race season and the Dutchman is bidding to return to the top of the podium after Sainz`s British win ended a six-race victory streak for Red Bull.&nbsp; Verstappen has won four times at the scenic circuit.

The Austrian Grand Prix weekend is being run to the sprint format with qualifying later on Friday setting the grid for a shorter `sprint` race on Saturday. The result of the Saturday sprint will set the starting lineup for Sunday`s grand prix. The opening hour of practice was therefore the only preparation teams had heading into qualifying.

McLaren lost valuable track time after Lando Norris parked up on the escape road at turn six after reporting smoke coming from underneath his seat. The Briton propped up the timesheets in last place and Australian team mate Daniel Ricciardo struggled with a wildly oscillating drag reduction system flap. 
Norris` stoppage brought out the first of two red flags.

The second halt was called to allow circuit crew to clear up debris from the racing line. The session otherwise ran without incident.

Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen set the pace for Red Bull in Friday`s opening practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix. The Dutchman swept around his team`s home track in one minute 06.

Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen set the pace for Red Bull in Friday`s opening practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix. The Dutchman swept around his team`s home track in one minute 06.302 seconds, 0.255 seconds quicker than Ferrari`s Charles Leclerc over the 4.3km long lap. "It`s very tight with Ferrari again," said Red Bull boss Christian Horner. "It`s going to be very tight between the two of us." George Russell was third for Mercedes ahead of Verstappen`s Red Bull team mate Sergio Perez, who put in a late flyer to drop Lewis Hamilton down to fifth. "I think we`ve been OK, we`re still experimenting with some set-ups," said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. "There`s things we had on George`s car that we`ll probably adopt on Lewis`s now." Kevin Magnussen was sixth for Haas. Ferrari`s Carlos Sainz, Formula One`s newest winner after racing to his first victory less than a week ago in Silverstone, was seventh. Verstappen leads the standings by 34 points from Mexican Perez and is 43 clear of Leclerc. Austria marks the halfway point of the 22-race season and the Dutchman is bidding to return to the top of the podium after Sainz`s British win ended a six-race victory streak for Red Bull. Verstappen has won four times at the scenic circuit. The Austrian Grand Prix weekend is being run to the sprint format with qualifying later on Friday setting the grid for a shorter `sprint` race on Saturday. The result of the Saturday sprint will set the starting lineup for Sunday`s grand prix. The opening hour of practice was therefore the only preparation teams had heading into qualifying. McLaren lost valuable track time after Lando Norris parked up on the escape road at turn six after reporting smoke coming from underneath his seat. The Briton propped up the timesheets in last place and Australian team mate Daniel Ricciardo struggled with a wildly oscillating drag reduction system flap. Norris` stoppage brought out the first of two red flags. The second halt was called to allow circuit crew to clear up debris from the racing line. The session otherwise ran without incident.

F1 championship leader Max Verstappen sets early practice pace for Red Bull in Austria

Chinese driver Guanyu Zhou said Formula One`s halo head protection system had saved him after his crushed car was wedged sideways between a tyre wall and metal fence at the British Grand Prix on Sunday. 
The race was halted after the multi-car opening-lap collision. "I`m OK, all clear," Zhou said on Twitter after a trip to the medical centre. "Halo saved me today. Thanks everyone for your kind messages."

The titanium halo was introduced by Formula One in 2018, initially to some resistance from drivers who disliked the look of the protective ring around what had previously been a completely open cockpit. It has since been credited with saving a number of lives in serious incidents.

Emergency crews were quickly on the scene to extract the rookie, whose car skidded upside down along the track at speed before bouncing across gravel and flipping over the impact-absorbing tyre wall. 
Photographs showed it crumpled on its side, leaning at an angle in the space between the fence and barrier with the halo protecting the driver`s helmet.

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It was the second time on Sunday that the halo had saved a driver from serious injury, and probably worse. 
Roy Nissany was protected by it when Norwegian Dennis Hauger`s car flew and landed on the Israeli Formula Two driver`s halo during a morning race. Williams driver Alexander Albon was also caught up in the grand prix carnage and flown to hospital in Coventry by helicopter for precautionary checks.

Mercedes`s George Russell got out of his stricken car and ran across to check on Zhou. The Briton appeared to have been clipped from behind by AlphaTauri`s Pierre Gasly, the Mercedes` tyre then making contact with the Alfa.

"I got swamped by other cars and next thing I know I got touched, I was in the side of Zhou and that was it," said Russell. Television replays of the crash were not broadcast until it was clear Zhou had been removed safely and was conscious.

Chinese driver Guanyu Zhou said Formula One`s halo head protection system had saved him after his crushed car was wedged sideways between a tyre wall and metal fence at the British Grand Prix on Sunday.

Chinese driver Guanyu Zhou said Formula One`s halo head protection system had saved him after his crushed car was wedged sideways between a tyre wall and metal fence at the British Grand Prix on Sunday. The race was halted after the multi-car opening-lap collision. "I`m OK, all clear," Zhou said on Twitter after a trip to the medical centre. "Halo saved me today. Thanks everyone for your kind messages." The titanium halo was introduced by Formula One in 2018, initially to some resistance from drivers who disliked the look of the protective ring around what had previously been a completely open cockpit. It has since been credited with saving a number of lives in serious incidents. Emergency crews were quickly on the scene to extract the rookie, whose car skidded upside down along the track at speed before bouncing across gravel and flipping over the impact-absorbing tyre wall. Photographs showed it crumpled on its side, leaning at an angle in the space between the fence and barrier with the halo protecting the driver`s helmet. ALSO READ | Formula 1: Ferrari's Carlos Sainz converts pole into first-ever Grand Prix win at Silverstone It was the second time on Sunday that the halo had saved a driver from serious injury, and probably worse. Roy Nissany was protected by it when Norwegian Dennis Hauger`s car flew and landed on the Israeli Formula Two driver`s halo during a morning race. Williams driver Alexander Albon was also caught up in the grand prix carnage and flown to hospital in Coventry by helicopter for precautionary checks. Mercedes`s George Russell got out of his stricken car and ran across to check on Zhou. The Briton appeared to have been clipped from behind by AlphaTauri`s Pierre Gasly, the Mercedes` tyre then making contact with the Alfa. "I got swamped by other cars and next thing I know I got touched, I was in the side of Zhou and that was it," said Russell. Television replays of the crash were not broadcast until it was clear Zhou had been removed safely and was conscious.

Chinese driver Guanyu Zhou claims halo saved him in huge British GP crash

Ferrari`s Carlos Sainz claimed with a scintillating drive to win his maiden Formula 1 Grand Prix, starting from pole position to win a breathtaking race at the British Grand Prix on Sunday. The Spaniard finished ahead of the Red Bull of Sergio Perez and the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton in a race that saw the deployment of a safety car twice. 
 
Key to Sainz`s victory was a late safety car caused by Esteban Ocon retiring his Alpine -- Sainz then attacked teammate Charles Leclerc on fresh tyres at the restart to claim P1 and check out for his first win on his 150th Grand Prix start. 
 
The action was frenetic in the final laps, however, with Perez -- who`d dropped to P16 after a pit stop, having had contact at the early race restart following a red-flag stoppage -- coming out on top in a thrilling fight with Hamilton and Ferrari`s Charles Leclerc to take an unlikely P2.

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Hamilton, meanwhile, delighted the crowd with his second straight podium and 13th at Silverstone -- a record at a single venue -- in P3. 
 
The drama that caused that early red flag came at the original race start, with Alfa Romeo`s Zhou Guanyu and Williams` Alex Albon both taken to the medical centre after separate Turn 1 incidents - with Zhou later released, as Albon was transferred to a nearby Coventry Hospital for precautionary checks, with those two, plus Mercedes` George Russell, forced into retirement following the incidents. 
 
Leclerc was forced to take P4, having led for large parts of the race, finishing ahead of the Alpine of Fernando Alonso and the McLaren of Lando Norris. Championship leader Max Verstappen could only take P7, the early race leader having suffered some form of damage that hobbled his Red Bull, the Dutchman holding off the Haas of Mick Schumacher in the final laps, as the German scored his first points in F1 in P8, said a report on the formula 1 website. 
 
Aston Martin`s Sebastian Vettel and Haas`s Kevin Magnussen rounded out the top 10, with Lance Stroll 11th in the second Aston Martin, ahead of Williams` Nicholas Latifi, McLaren`s Daniel Ricciardo and AlphaTauri`s Yuki Tsunoda -- on what was a red-letter day for Carlos Sainz.

Ferrari`s Carlos Sainz claimed with a scintillating drive to win his maiden Formula 1 Grand Prix, starting from pole position to win a breathtaking race at the British Grand Prix on Sunday.

Ferrari`s Carlos Sainz claimed with a scintillating drive to win his maiden Formula 1 Grand Prix, starting from pole position to win a breathtaking race at the British Grand Prix on Sunday. The Spaniard finished ahead of the Red Bull of Sergio Perez and the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton in a race that saw the deployment of a safety car twice. Key to Sainz`s victory was a late safety car caused by Esteban Ocon retiring his Alpine -- Sainz then attacked teammate Charles Leclerc on fresh tyres at the restart to claim P1 and check out for his first win on his 150th Grand Prix start. The action was frenetic in the final laps, however, with Perez -- who`d dropped to P16 after a pit stop, having had contact at the early race restart following a red-flag stoppage -- coming out on top in a thrilling fight with Hamilton and Ferrari`s Charles Leclerc to take an unlikely P2. ALSO READ | 'No intention of selling him': Barcelona president on Frenkie De Jong amid strong interest from Man Utd Hamilton, meanwhile, delighted the crowd with his second straight podium and 13th at Silverstone -- a record at a single venue -- in P3. The drama that caused that early red flag came at the original race start, with Alfa Romeo`s Zhou Guanyu and Williams` Alex Albon both taken to the medical centre after separate Turn 1 incidents - with Zhou later released, as Albon was transferred to a nearby Coventry Hospital for precautionary checks, with those two, plus Mercedes` George Russell, forced into retirement following the incidents. Leclerc was forced to take P4, having led for large parts of the race, finishing ahead of the Alpine of Fernando Alonso and the McLaren of Lando Norris. Championship leader Max Verstappen could only take P7, the early race leader having suffered some form of damage that hobbled his Red Bull, the Dutchman holding off the Haas of Mick Schumacher in the final laps, as the German scored his first points in F1 in P8, said a report on the formula 1 website. Aston Martin`s Sebastian Vettel and Haas`s Kevin Magnussen rounded out the top 10, with Lance Stroll 11th in the second Aston Martin, ahead of Williams` Nicholas Latifi, McLaren`s Daniel Ricciardo and AlphaTauri`s Yuki Tsunoda -- on what was a red-letter day for Carlos Sainz.

Formula 1: Ferrari's Carlos Sainz converts pole into first-ever Grand Prix win at Silverstone

Brazil`s triple Formula One champion Nelson Piquet apologised to Lewis Hamilton on Wednesday after a video emerged of him using an apparent racial slur in Portuguese when referring to the Mercedes driver. 
Piquet, 69, insisted in a statement however that the "ill thought out" comment made last November had been mis-translated into English.

"The term used is one that has widely and historically been used colloquially in Brazilian Portuguese as a synonym for `guy` or `person` and was never intended to offend," he said. "I would never use the word I have been accused of in some translations. I strongly condemn any suggestion that the word was used by me with the aim of belittling a driver because of his skin colour. "I apologise wholeheartedly to anyone that was affected, including Lewis, who is an incredible driver, but the translation in some media that is now circulating on social media is not correct.

"Discrimination has no place in F1 or society and I am happy to clarify my thoughts in that respect." Seven times world champion Hamilton, the most successful driver in the history of the sport, called for action on Tuesday to change "archaic mindsets" after Piquet`s comments triggered a media storm and drew widespread condemnation.

Formula One sources have indicated that Piquet, who rarely attends Grands Prix, would no longer be welcome inside the paddock. Piquet had been commenting on Hamilton`s British Grand Prix crash with Max Verstappen a year ago, with the Brazilian saying the Briton had "played dirty".

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Piquet`s daughter Kelly is world champion Verstappen`s partner, and the comments resurfaced as the drivers prepare to return to Silverstone. Hamilton, who was recently awarded honorary Brazilian citizenship, is the sport`s only Black driver.

"It`s more than language. These archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport," the Mercedes driver said. "I’ve been surrounded by these attitudes and targeted my whole life. There has been plenty of time to learn. Time has come for action."

Motor racing`s governing body FIA, Formula One and Mercedes have all issued statements condemning racism but without mentioning Piquet by name.

Brazil`s triple Formula One champion Nelson Piquet apologised to Lewis Hamilton on Wednesday after a video emerged of him using an apparent racial slur in Portuguese when referring to the Mercedes driver.

Brazil`s triple Formula One champion Nelson Piquet apologised to Lewis Hamilton on Wednesday after a video emerged of him using an apparent racial slur in Portuguese when referring to the Mercedes driver. Piquet, 69, insisted in a statement however that the "ill thought out" comment made last November had been mis-translated into English. "The term used is one that has widely and historically been used colloquially in Brazilian Portuguese as a synonym for `guy` or `person` and was never intended to offend," he said. "I would never use the word I have been accused of in some translations. I strongly condemn any suggestion that the word was used by me with the aim of belittling a driver because of his skin colour. "I apologise wholeheartedly to anyone that was affected, including Lewis, who is an incredible driver, but the translation in some media that is now circulating on social media is not correct. "Discrimination has no place in F1 or society and I am happy to clarify my thoughts in that respect." Seven times world champion Hamilton, the most successful driver in the history of the sport, called for action on Tuesday to change "archaic mindsets" after Piquet`s comments triggered a media storm and drew widespread condemnation. Formula One sources have indicated that Piquet, who rarely attends Grands Prix, would no longer be welcome inside the paddock. Piquet had been commenting on Hamilton`s British Grand Prix crash with Max Verstappen a year ago, with the Brazilian saying the Briton had "played dirty". ALSO READ | Lewis Hamilton calls for action amid storm over racist comment from Nelson Piquet Piquet`s daughter Kelly is world champion Verstappen`s partner, and the comments resurfaced as the drivers prepare to return to Silverstone. Hamilton, who was recently awarded honorary Brazilian citizenship, is the sport`s only Black driver. "It`s more than language. These archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport," the Mercedes driver said. "I’ve been surrounded by these attitudes and targeted my whole life. There has been plenty of time to learn. Time has come for action." Motor racing`s governing body FIA, Formula One and Mercedes have all issued statements condemning racism but without mentioning Piquet by name.

Amid heavy criticism, Nelson Piquet apologises to Lewis Hamilton for "ill-thought-out" remark

Lewis Hamilton called for action to change "archaic mindsets" after a racist remark about him by Brazilian triple champion Nelson Piquet emerged on social media, triggering widespread condemnation. In a Brazilian interview on YouTube in November, Piquet, 69, used a racial slur when referring to the seven-time world champion, when commenting on Hamilton`s British Grand Prix crash with Max Verstappen.

He also said Hamilton had "played dirty" in the incident. Piquet`s daughter Kelly is Verstappen`s partner, and the comments resurfaced as the drivers prepare to return to Silverstone this weekend. 
Hamilton, who was recently awarded honorary Brazilian citizenship and is the sport`s only Black driver, responded on Twitter.

"It`s more than language. These archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport," the Mercedes driver said. "I’ve been surrounded by these attitudes and targeted my whole life. There has been plenty of time to learn. Time has come for action."

Motor racing`s governing body FIA, Formula One and Mercedes all issued statements condemning racism but without mentioning Piquet by name. "Discriminatory or racist language is unacceptable in any form and has no part in society. Lewis is an incredible ambassador for our sport and deserves respect," Formula One said.

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Mercedes said Hamilton was "a true champion of diversity on and off track", while FIA expressed solidarity and support for the Briton`s "commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in motor sport". Piquet`s press team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Brazil`s former Environmental Minister Carlos Minc called Hamilton a hero and said the driver had helped in the fight against the clearing of a forest to build a circuit in Rio de Janeiro.

Piquet, who won his titles in 1981, 1983 and 1987, has been a vocal supporter of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and drove the presidential Rolls-Royce during a ceremony last year. Hamilton was made an honorary citizen of Brazil after the lower house this month passed a bill proposed by congressman Andre Figueiredo. The Briton, whose boyhood hero was the late Brazilian triple champion Ayrton Senna, unfurled a Brazilian flag after he won last year`s race at Sao Paulo`s Interlagos circuit.

Lewis Hamilton called for action to change "archaic mindsets" after a racist remark about him by Brazilian triple champion Nelson Piquet emerged on social media, triggering widespread condemnation.

Lewis Hamilton called for action to change "archaic mindsets" after a racist remark about him by Brazilian triple champion Nelson Piquet emerged on social media, triggering widespread condemnation. In a Brazilian interview on YouTube in November, Piquet, 69, used a racial slur when referring to the seven-time world champion, when commenting on Hamilton`s British Grand Prix crash with Max Verstappen. He also said Hamilton had "played dirty" in the incident. Piquet`s daughter Kelly is Verstappen`s partner, and the comments resurfaced as the drivers prepare to return to Silverstone this weekend. Hamilton, who was recently awarded honorary Brazilian citizenship and is the sport`s only Black driver, responded on Twitter. "It`s more than language. These archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport," the Mercedes driver said. "I’ve been surrounded by these attitudes and targeted my whole life. There has been plenty of time to learn. Time has come for action." Motor racing`s governing body FIA, Formula One and Mercedes all issued statements condemning racism but without mentioning Piquet by name. "Discriminatory or racist language is unacceptable in any form and has no part in society. Lewis is an incredible ambassador for our sport and deserves respect," Formula One said. ALSO READ | F1 labels Nelson Piquet's racist language towards seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton 'unacceptable' Mercedes said Hamilton was "a true champion of diversity on and off track", while FIA expressed solidarity and support for the Briton`s "commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in motor sport". Piquet`s press team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Brazil`s former Environmental Minister Carlos Minc called Hamilton a hero and said the driver had helped in the fight against the clearing of a forest to build a circuit in Rio de Janeiro. Piquet, who won his titles in 1981, 1983 and 1987, has been a vocal supporter of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and drove the presidential Rolls-Royce during a ceremony last year. Hamilton was made an honorary citizen of Brazil after the lower house this month passed a bill proposed by congressman Andre Figueiredo. The Briton, whose boyhood hero was the late Brazilian triple champion Ayrton Senna, unfurled a Brazilian flag after he won last year`s race at Sao Paulo`s Interlagos circuit.

Lewis Hamilton demands action amid storm over Nelson Piquet's racist remark

Formula One branded a racist term used by three-time world champion Nelson Piquet against Lewis Hamilton as "unacceptable" on Tuesday. The 69-year-old Brazilian, who won the world title in 1981, 1983 and 1987, used a racially offensive term when referring to Hamilton on a Brazilian podcast.

"Discriminatory or racist language is unacceptable in any form and has no part in society," Formula One said in a statement. "Lewis is an incredible ambassador for our sport and deserves respect. "His tireless efforts to increase diversity and inclusion are a lesson to many and something we are committed to at F1."

Motorsport's governing body the FIA also spoke out in "solidarity" with Hamilton. "The FIA strongly condemns any racist or discriminatory language and behaviour, which have no place in sport or wider society," the FIA said in a statement. "We express our solidarity with Lewis Hamilton and fully support his commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in motor sport."

Piquet was discussing an accident between Hamilton and Red Bull's Max Verstappen on the first lap of last year's British Grand Prix when he used the term. His daughter, Kelly, is Verstappen's partner. Hamilton, the only black driver on the grid, has been an outspoken campaigner for greater diversity in the sport.

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The seven-time world champion regularly displayed "black lives matter" on his apparel and took the knee before races in the 2020 season following the murder of George Floyd in the USA.&nbsp;

"We condemn in the strongest terms any use of racist or discriminatory language of any kind," Mercedes, Hamilton's team, said in a statement. "Lewis has spearheaded our sport's efforts to combat racism, and he is a true champion of diversity on and off track. "Together, we share a vision for a diverse and inclusive motorsport, and this incident underlines the fundamental importance of continuing to strive for a brighter future."

Hamilton is back in action on home soil this weekend for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Formula One branded a racist term used by three-time world champion Nelson Piquet against Lewis Hamilton as "unacceptable" on Tuesday. The 69-year-old Brazilian, who won the world title in 1981, 1983 and 1987, used a racially offensive term when referring to Hamilton on a Brazilian podcast.

Formula One branded a racist term used by three-time world champion Nelson Piquet against Lewis Hamilton as "unacceptable" on Tuesday. The 69-year-old Brazilian, who won the world title in 1981, 1983 and 1987, used a racially offensive term when referring to Hamilton on a Brazilian podcast. "Discriminatory or racist language is unacceptable in any form and has no part in society," Formula One said in a statement. "Lewis is an incredible ambassador for our sport and deserves respect. "His tireless efforts to increase diversity and inclusion are a lesson to many and something we are committed to at F1." Motorsport's governing body the FIA also spoke out in "solidarity" with Hamilton. "The FIA strongly condemns any racist or discriminatory language and behaviour, which have no place in sport or wider society," the FIA said in a statement. "We express our solidarity with Lewis Hamilton and fully support his commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in motor sport." Piquet was discussing an accident between Hamilton and Red Bull's Max Verstappen on the first lap of last year's British Grand Prix when he used the term. His daughter, Kelly, is Verstappen's partner. Hamilton, the only black driver on the grid, has been an outspoken campaigner for greater diversity in the sport. ALSO READ | Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina will use Wimbledon prize money to rebuild parents' home after it was bombed The seven-time world champion regularly displayed "black lives matter" on his apparel and took the knee before races in the 2020 season following the murder of George Floyd in the USA. "We condemn in the strongest terms any use of racist or discriminatory language of any kind," Mercedes, Hamilton's team, said in a statement. "Lewis has spearheaded our sport's efforts to combat racism, and he is a true champion of diversity on and off track. "Together, we share a vision for a diverse and inclusive motorsport, and this incident underlines the fundamental importance of continuing to strive for a brighter future." Hamilton is back in action on home soil this weekend for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

F1 labels Nelson Piquet's racist language towards seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton 'unacceptable'

Madrid has officially expressed an interest in hosting a Formula One race, the city`s regional government announced on Thursday. Although there are no Formula One-grade tracks in Madrid and Spain already hosts a race in Barcelona, which has a contract until 2026, the Spanish capital believes it can open talks with Formula One organisers, Liberty Media, about hosting a race.

"I would like to confirm our commitment to you and to this project, as well as our willingness to sign the appropriate agreements to promote the race and offer a great sporting and entertainment spectacle," local government cabinet minister Enrique Lopez wrote in a letter to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.

Further details about the bid were not disclosed. Formula One organisers declined to comment. 
Madrid hosted F1 Grands Prix between 1968 and 1981 at the Jarama Circuit, which is outdated and would need a major upgrade to be able to host a race again.

Last year, the local government of Morata de Tajuna, 36km south of Madrid, confirmed that it was seeking to build an FIA Grade 1 circuit with the ambition of hosting F1 and MotoGP races in the future. There are a record 23 Formula One races scheduled this year and while organisers are keen to expand the sport`s geographical reach, they have looked primarily at adding venues in Africa and the United States.

Madrid has officially expressed an interest in hosting a Formula One race, the city`s regional government announced on Thursday. Although there are no Formula One-grade tracks in Madrid and Spain already hosts a race in Barcelona, which has a contract until 2026, the Spanish capital believes it can open talks with Formula One organisers, Liberty Media, about hosting a race.

Madrid has officially expressed an interest in hosting a Formula One race, the city`s regional government announced on Thursday. Although there are no Formula One-grade tracks in Madrid and Spain already hosts a race in Barcelona, which has a contract until 2026, the Spanish capital believes it can open talks with Formula One organisers, Liberty Media, about hosting a race. "I would like to confirm our commitment to you and to this project, as well as our willingness to sign the appropriate agreements to promote the race and offer a great sporting and entertainment spectacle," local government cabinet minister Enrique Lopez wrote in a letter to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. Further details about the bid were not disclosed. Formula One organisers declined to comment. Madrid hosted F1 Grands Prix between 1968 and 1981 at the Jarama Circuit, which is outdated and would need a major upgrade to be able to host a race again. Last year, the local government of Morata de Tajuna, 36km south of Madrid, confirmed that it was seeking to build an FIA Grade 1 circuit with the ambition of hosting F1 and MotoGP races in the future. There are a record 23 Formula One races scheduled this year and while organisers are keen to expand the sport`s geographical reach, they have looked primarily at adding venues in Africa and the United States.

Madrid officially expresses interest in hosting Formula One race

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