German Formula Three driver Sophia Floersch has been forced off her much loved tracks as the coronavirus continues to disrupt global sporting events.

German F3 racing driver swaps tracks for simulator driving

NASCAR team Chip Ganassi Racing has fired it's driver Kyle Larson who used passed a racial slur during the virtual racing event on Sunday. The driver used the n-word during the event.&nbsp;

The race team took to Twitter to announce the news, it read: "After much consideration, Chip Ganassi Racing has determined that it will end its relationship with driver Kyle Larson," the statement reads. "As we said before, the comments that Kyle made were both offensive and unacceptable especially given the values of our organization."

Larson was being live-streamed during the iRacing tournament which was being held on a gaming platform called the Twitch, he lost his communication for a while where he said: "I can't see it. You can't hear me? Hey n****r." This slur was recorded.&nbsp;

This decision to terminate him comes a day after the racing team said it would suspend him without pay.

Chip Ganassi Racing gave a statement on Tuesday, which read: "As we continue to evaluate the situation with all the relevant parties, it became obvious that this was the only appropriate course of action to take. NASCAR has made diversity and inclusion a priority and will not tolerate the type of language used by Kyle Larson during Sunday's iRacing event. Our Member Conduct Guidelines are clear in this regard, and we will enforce these guidelines to maintain an inclusive environment for our entire industry and fan base."

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Larson posted a video message on Twitter in which he was "very sorry" for his actions.

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NASCAR team Chip Ganassi Racing has fired it's driver Kyle Larson who used passed a racial slur during the virtual racing event on Sunday. The driver used the n-word during the event.

NASCAR team Chip Ganassi Racing has fired it's driver Kyle Larson who used passed a racial slur during the virtual racing event on Sunday. The driver used the n-word during the event. The race team took to Twitter to announce the news, it read: "After much consideration, Chip Ganassi Racing has determined that it will end its relationship with driver Kyle Larson," the statement reads. "As we said before, the comments that Kyle made were both offensive and unacceptable especially given the values of our organization." Larson was being live-streamed during the iRacing tournament which was being held on a gaming platform called the Twitch, he lost his communication for a while where he said: "I can't see it. You can't hear me? Hey n****r." This slur was recorded. This decision to terminate him comes a day after the racing team said it would suspend him without pay. Chip Ganassi Racing gave a statement on Tuesday, which read: "As we continue to evaluate the situation with all the relevant parties, it became obvious that this was the only appropriate course of action to take. NASCAR has made diversity and inclusion a priority and will not tolerate the type of language used by Kyle Larson during Sunday's iRacing event. Our Member Conduct Guidelines are clear in this regard, and we will enforce these guidelines to maintain an inclusive environment for our entire industry and fan base." Statement regarding Kyle Larson: pic.twitter.com/5Q06Dhst8V — Chip Ganassi Racing (@CGRTeams) April 14, 2020 × Larson posted a video message on Twitter in which he was "very sorry" for his actions. pic.twitter.com/RPsp7ARIea — Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) April 13, 2020 ×

NASCAR driver Kyle Larson fired by his team after racial slur during virtual event

Lewis Hamilton made the most of a favourable safety car intervention on Sunday to claim a record sixth British Grand Prix victory at a packed Silverstone.

The defending five-time world champion clocking fastest lap on his final lap to finish 25 seconds clear of Mercedes team-mate and nearest title rival Valtteri Bottas after &nbsp;an action-packed contest.&nbsp;

The Briton moved 39 points clear of the Finn behind in the title race, but Bottas was unlucky with the timing of the safety car which effectively gave Hamilton a free pit stop.

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari was third.

Pierre Gasly finished fourth ahead of his Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen, whose race was compromised by a late collision when Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari drove into him, and Carlos Sainz of McLaren.

It was Hamilton's seventh win in 10 races this year and the 80th win of his career. He had shared the British Grand Prix record of wins, on five, with fellow-Briton Jim Clark and Frenchman Alain Prost.&nbsp;

Daniel Ricciardo was seventh for Renault ahead of Kimi Raikkonen of Alfa Romeo, Daniil Kvyat in a Toro Rosso and Nico Hulkenberg in a Renault.&nbsp;

"What a day," said Hamilton. "To all the crowd, thank-you so much for coming out."

Hamilton, who stopped on his slow-down lap to collect a British 'Union Jack' flag, added: "I love you Silverstone. I appreciate everything and the opportunity to be a part of this.

"I couldn't have done this without these guys or without my team."

A glum Bottas said: "Congrats to Lewis...It wasn't my day."&nbsp;

A much happier Leclerc said: "It's probably the race I've enjoyed the most in my career."

The safety car was deployed when Antonio Giovinazzi spun into a gravel trap in his Alfa Romeo – gifting Hamilton a 'free' first, and only, pit stop. The luckless Bottas, on a two stop strategy, had already pitted before the incident. &nbsp;

On an overcast and cool afternoon, Justin Whiting, the 12-year-old son of the late Charlie Whiting, the official Race Director who died suddenly in Melbourne in March, started the race. before a crowd of 141,000 at Silverstone.&nbsp;

As the lights went out, the Mercedes pair pulled clear, Hamilton chasing Bottas throughout the first lap ahead of Leclerc and Verstappen with Vettel fifth.

Oozing confidence

By lap 10, the lead was three-tenths, Hamilton oozing confidence could not pass Bottas slithering to protect his lead. Behind them, Leclerc blocked attacks from Verstappen.

But on lap 17, Bottas came in for a new set of mediums and Hamilton inherited the lead ahead of Vettel, the pair delaying their stops as long as possible. Then Giovinazzi beached his Alfa Romeo at Club.

Hamilton took advantage and pitted for hards, followed by Vettel and Verstappen, making a second stop. Ferrari, reacting slowly, called in Leclerc, who emerged &nbsp;sixth behind Gasly and Verstappen. All this left Hamilton leading Bottas with Vettel third.

Racing resumed on lap 23, the field, backed up by Hamilton, swarming like bees at the re-start.

Bottas, on mediums, traded fastest laps with Hamilton, knowing he had to make a second stop. Verstappen, helped by quick thinking from Red Bull, rose to fourth when Gasly moved over on Hangar Straight and began his pursuit of Vettel.

The Dutchman caught and passed him at Stowe only for the German to ram into the rear end of the 007-branded Red Bull, who had Bond actor Daniel Craig in their garage, both spinning into the gravel but surviving to re-join the fray.

A stewards' investigation followed, but both races were compromised.&nbsp;

Leclerc rose to third and Gasly to fourth. Verstappen regained fifth while Vettel pitted for a new nose, fell to 17th and was then given a 10-seconds time penalty.

With eight laps remaining, Hamilton was told to pit, but ignored the call, persuading Mercedes to bring in Bottas for softs, a tilt at fastest lap and a secure run to the flag.&nbsp;

Lewis Hamilton made the most of a favourable safety car intervention on Sunday to claim a record sixth British Grand Prix victory at a packed Silverstone. The defending five-time world champion clocking fastest lap on his final lap to finish 25 seconds clear of Mercedes team-mate and nearest title rival Valtteri Bottas after an action-packed contest.

Lewis Hamilton made the most of a favourable safety car intervention on Sunday to claim a record sixth British Grand Prix victory at a packed Silverstone. The defending five-time world champion clocking fastest lap on his final lap to finish 25 seconds clear of Mercedes team-mate and nearest title rival Valtteri Bottas after an action-packed contest. The Briton moved 39 points clear of the Finn behind in the title race, but Bottas was unlucky with the timing of the safety car which effectively gave Hamilton a free pit stop. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari was third. Pierre Gasly finished fourth ahead of his Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen, whose race was compromised by a late collision when Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari drove into him, and Carlos Sainz of McLaren. It was Hamilton's seventh win in 10 races this year and the 80th win of his career. He had shared the British Grand Prix record of wins, on five, with fellow-Briton Jim Clark and Frenchman Alain Prost. Daniel Ricciardo was seventh for Renault ahead of Kimi Raikkonen of Alfa Romeo, Daniil Kvyat in a Toro Rosso and Nico Hulkenberg in a Renault. "What a day," said Hamilton. "To all the crowd, thank-you so much for coming out." Hamilton, who stopped on his slow-down lap to collect a British 'Union Jack' flag, added: "I love you Silverstone. I appreciate everything and the opportunity to be a part of this. "I couldn't have done this without these guys or without my team." A glum Bottas said: "Congrats to Lewis...It wasn't my day." A much happier Leclerc said: "It's probably the race I've enjoyed the most in my career." The safety car was deployed when Antonio Giovinazzi spun into a gravel trap in his Alfa Romeo – gifting Hamilton a 'free' first, and only, pit stop. The luckless Bottas, on a two stop strategy, had already pitted before the incident. On an overcast and cool afternoon, Justin Whiting, the 12-year-old son of the late Charlie Whiting, the official Race Director who died suddenly in Melbourne in March, started the race. before a crowd of 141,000 at Silverstone. As the lights went out, the Mercedes pair pulled clear, Hamilton chasing Bottas throughout the first lap ahead of Leclerc and Verstappen with Vettel fifth. Oozing confidence By lap 10, the lead was three-tenths, Hamilton oozing confidence could not pass Bottas slithering to protect his lead. Behind them, Leclerc blocked attacks from Verstappen. But on lap 17, Bottas came in for a new set of mediums and Hamilton inherited the lead ahead of Vettel, the pair delaying their stops as long as possible. Then Giovinazzi beached his Alfa Romeo at Club. Hamilton took advantage and pitted for hards, followed by Vettel and Verstappen, making a second stop. Ferrari, reacting slowly, called in Leclerc, who emerged sixth behind Gasly and Verstappen. All this left Hamilton leading Bottas with Vettel third. Racing resumed on lap 23, the field, backed up by Hamilton, swarming like bees at the re-start. Bottas, on mediums, traded fastest laps with Hamilton, knowing he had to make a second stop. Verstappen, helped by quick thinking from Red Bull, rose to fourth when Gasly moved over on Hangar Straight and began his pursuit of Vettel. The Dutchman caught and passed him at Stowe only for the German to ram into the rear end of the 007-branded Red Bull, who had Bond actor Daniel Craig in their garage, both spinning into the gravel but surviving to re-join the fray. A stewards' investigation followed, but both races were compromised. Leclerc rose to third and Gasly to fourth. Verstappen regained fifth while Vettel pitted for a new nose, fell to 17th and was then given a 10-seconds time penalty. With eight laps remaining, Hamilton was told to pit, but ignored the call, persuading Mercedes to bring in Bottas for softs, a tilt at fastest lap and a secure run to the flag.

Lewis Hamilton wins record sixth British GP, extends F1 lead

How Ayrton Senna's death made Formula One safer

Kimi Raikkonen says Formula One has become something of a 'hobby' for him, now that his Ferrari days are over and as he races towards his 40th birthday and a record number of starts.

The 2007 world champion, whose birthday is in October, told reporters at the Chinese Grand Prix that he was enjoying life at Alfa Romeo.

"I don’t have any special things that I try to motivate myself. It’s become more of a hobby for me lately than anything else and probably that’s why it’s more fun again," said the Finn, who was much more in the spotlight at Ferrari.

"I always try to do the best that I can. Some days it goes a bit better than others – but that’s how it goes when you do a lot of racing. Some days it’s a bit more tricky than others. It’s never really been an issue.

"When I feel that it’s not what I expect from myself, then obviously I try to find a new hobby after that."

Formula One is celebrating its 1,000th world championship race in Shanghai and Raikkonen, who made his debut with Sauber -- the team that is now Alfa -- in 2001 has started 293 of them and won 21.

Retired Brazilian Rubens Barrichello holds the record of 322 starts which means Raikkonen, whose contract runs to the end of next year, is on course to overtake him midway through the 2020 season.

Raikkonen, who joined Alfa from Ferrari at the end of last season, has made a strong start with 10 points from two races and is sixth overall. Team mate Antonio Giovinazzi has yet to open his tally.

Asked whether the performance had changed his goals for the season, Raikkonen shrugged.

"No, it hasn’t. I didn’t really have any goals, so it’s pretty hard to change them. I can’t really talk about last year’s car," he said.

"So from my side it’s hard to say what is better on this car than the one they had last year... but I think in general it’s quite a good, solid package and we understand it pretty OK and they seem to have good guys on all areas to bring new stuff."

With several other drivers set to race with special helmet designs to commemorate the 1,000th race, Raikkonen said he had nothing new.

"I wanted to have an open-face helmet but there were some regulation issues," said the Finn, who has said before he would have liked to race in the much more dangerous 1960s and 70s.

Kimi Raikkonen says Formula One has become something of a 'hobby' for him, now that his Ferrari days are over and as he races towards his 40th birthday and a record number of starts.

Kimi Raikkonen says Formula One has become something of a 'hobby' for him, now that his Ferrari days are over and as he races towards his 40th birthday and a record number of starts. The 2007 world champion, whose birthday is in October, told reporters at the Chinese Grand Prix that he was enjoying life at Alfa Romeo. "I don’t have any special things that I try to motivate myself. It’s become more of a hobby for me lately than anything else and probably that’s why it’s more fun again," said the Finn, who was much more in the spotlight at Ferrari. "I always try to do the best that I can. Some days it goes a bit better than others – but that’s how it goes when you do a lot of racing. Some days it’s a bit more tricky than others. It’s never really been an issue. "When I feel that it’s not what I expect from myself, then obviously I try to find a new hobby after that." Formula One is celebrating its 1,000th world championship race in Shanghai and Raikkonen, who made his debut with Sauber -- the team that is now Alfa -- in 2001 has started 293 of them and won 21. Retired Brazilian Rubens Barrichello holds the record of 322 starts which means Raikkonen, whose contract runs to the end of next year, is on course to overtake him midway through the 2020 season. Raikkonen, who joined Alfa from Ferrari at the end of last season, has made a strong start with 10 points from two races and is sixth overall. Team mate Antonio Giovinazzi has yet to open his tally. Asked whether the performance had changed his goals for the season, Raikkonen shrugged. "No, it hasn’t. I didn’t really have any goals, so it’s pretty hard to change them. I can’t really talk about last year’s car," he said. "So from my side it’s hard to say what is better on this car than the one they had last year... but I think in general it’s quite a good, solid package and we understand it pretty OK and they seem to have good guys on all areas to bring new stuff." With several other drivers set to race with special helmet designs to commemorate the 1,000th race, Raikkonen said he had nothing new. "I wanted to have an open-face helmet but there were some regulation issues," said the Finn, who has said before he would have liked to race in the much more dangerous 1960s and 70s.

Kimi Raikkonen says Formula One has become a bit of a hobby

Michael Schumacher's 19-year-old son Mick has moved a step closer to following his father into Formula One after the Prema team announced that he will race for them in Formula Two next season.

The series feeds into Formula One, and this year's top three finishers - George Russell, Lando Norris and Alexander Albon - have all secured seats with grand prix teams for 2019.

Mick Schumacher won the Formula Three European championship this year with eight wins, seven pole positions and 14 podium finishes. That title means he is already qualified to race in Formula One.

"He is an extremely talented and dedicated racer, working with him is a pleasure and we can't wait to begin this adventure together," said Rene Rosin, principal of the Mercedes-powered team, in a statement on Tuesday.

"This series is not an easy one due to its learning curve for rookies, especially with the introduction of the new car, but we think that Mick has the maturity and skills needed to make it."

The young German said the move was "a logical step" on the ladder and would help him improve his skills and gain more experience.

"I can't thank the Prema family enough for what we achieved together as a team, especially this year, how we continued to develop together," he added.

The young Schumacher will be testing with Prema in Abu Dhabi later this week.

Five times world champion Lewis Hamilton said in October that he expected Schumacher to go all the way.

"There will 100 percent be a Schumacher back in Formula One, partly because of the name, but secondly because he's doing a great job," the Mercedes driver said then.&nbsp;

Michael Schumacher won a record seven Formula One championships, including five in a row with Ferrari, and also holds the record for race wins with 91.

The 49-year-old, whose privacy is closely guarded, has not been seen in public since he suffered severe head injuries in a skiing accident in France in December 2013.

Michael Schumacher's 19-year-old son Mick has moved a step closer to following his father into Formula One after the Prema team announced that he will race for them in Formula Two next season.

Michael Schumacher's 19-year-old son Mick has moved a step closer to following his father into Formula One after the Prema team announced that he will race for them in Formula Two next season. The series feeds into Formula One, and this year's top three finishers - George Russell, Lando Norris and Alexander Albon - have all secured seats with grand prix teams for 2019. Mick Schumacher won the Formula Three European championship this year with eight wins, seven pole positions and 14 podium finishes. That title means he is already qualified to race in Formula One. "He is an extremely talented and dedicated racer, working with him is a pleasure and we can't wait to begin this adventure together," said Rene Rosin, principal of the Mercedes-powered team, in a statement on Tuesday. "This series is not an easy one due to its learning curve for rookies, especially with the introduction of the new car, but we think that Mick has the maturity and skills needed to make it." The young German said the move was "a logical step" on the ladder and would help him improve his skills and gain more experience. "I can't thank the Prema family enough for what we achieved together as a team, especially this year, how we continued to develop together," he added. The young Schumacher will be testing with Prema in Abu Dhabi later this week. Five times world champion Lewis Hamilton said in October that he expected Schumacher to go all the way. "There will 100 percent be a Schumacher back in Formula One, partly because of the name, but secondly because he's doing a great job," the Mercedes driver said then. Michael Schumacher won a record seven Formula One championships, including five in a row with Ferrari, and also holds the record for race wins with 91. The 49-year-old, whose privacy is closely guarded, has not been seen in public since he suffered severe head injuries in a skiing accident in France in December 2013.

Mick Schumacher moves up to Formula Two

Formula 3 driver Sophia Floersch, who <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/young-f3-driver-sophia-floersch-has-spinal-fracture-after-airborne-crash-at-macau-gp-178154">fractured her spine</a> in the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-17-year-old-driver-went-flying-after-high-speed-crash-178046">horrific crash at the Macau Grand Prix</a>, said that she is thankful to be alive.

Her car flew off the track during a race earlier this month, catapulting spectacularly over safety barriers before hurtling backwards into a hut housing media and officials.

The 17-year-old underwent marathon surgery when doctors battled for more than nine hours to repair her fractured vertebra and remove a bone splinter, which was sitting dangerously close to her spinal cord.

Despite her ordeal, Floersch has said she is determined to race again.

"Today I am flying back home. Really happy to see all my family and friends in the next days again," she wrote in a Facebook post Monday, after spending more than a week in a Macau hospital.&nbsp;

"I am still overwhelmed by all the support I got from you fans all around the world," she added.

Doctors at the S. Januario hospital in Macau said that while it may take months for Floersch to make a full recovery, she has already made significant improvement, and expect that she will eventually be able to return to racing.

"It was my first ever big crash, and it took me some while to get over it, but I am over it now, but I think now a new chapter starts", said Floersch at the press conference. She also said that she expected to come back and race again next year.

Formula 3 driver Sophia Floersch, who fractured her spine in the horrific crash at the Macau Grand Prix, said that she is thankful to be alive. Her car flew off the track during a race earlier this month, catapulting spectacularly over safety barriers before hurtling backwards into a hut housing media and officials.

Formula 3 driver Sophia Floersch, who fractured her spine in the horrific crash at the Macau Grand Prix, said that she is thankful to be alive. Her car flew off the track during a race earlier this month, catapulting spectacularly over safety barriers before hurtling backwards into a hut housing media and officials. The 17-year-old underwent marathon surgery when doctors battled for more than nine hours to repair her fractured vertebra and remove a bone splinter, which was sitting dangerously close to her spinal cord. Despite her ordeal, Floersch has said she is determined to race again. "Today I am flying back home. Really happy to see all my family and friends in the next days again," she wrote in a Facebook post Monday, after spending more than a week in a Macau hospital. "I am still overwhelmed by all the support I got from you fans all around the world," she added. Doctors at the S. Januario hospital in Macau said that while it may take months for Floersch to make a full recovery, she has already made significant improvement, and expect that she will eventually be able to return to racing. "It was my first ever big crash, and it took me some while to get over it, but I am over it now, but I think now a new chapter starts", said Floersch at the press conference. She also said that she expected to come back and race again next year.

Determined to race again, says Sophia Floersch after surviving horror crash

German Formula Three driver Sophia Floersch, 17, was hospitalised Sunday following a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-17-year-old-driver-went-flying-after-high-speed-crash-178046">high-speed</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-17-year-old-driver-went-flying-after-high-speed-crash-178046"> airborne crash</a> after she lost control of her car during the Macau Grand Prix.

Van Amersfoort Racing team posted Floersch's medical report to Twitter, which showed she was conscious and her vital signs were stable when transferred to the hospital.

Later, Floersch wrote on Twitter "Just wanted to let everybody know that I am fine but will be going into Surgery tomorrow morning."

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Just wanted to let everybody know that I am fine but will be going into Surgery tomorow morning. Thanks to the <a href="https://twitter.com/fia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fia</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hwaag_official?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hwaag_official</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MercedesAMGF1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MercedesAMGF1</a> who are taking great care of me. 
Thanks to everybody for the Supporting messages. 
Update soon.
— Sophia Floersch (@SophiaFloersch) <a href="https://twitter.com/SophiaFloersch/status/1064122586194485248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The International Automobile Federation (FIA) published a statement on its official Facebook page explaining that Floersch and four others injured in the crash - Japanese driver Sho Tsuboi, two photographers and a track commissar - were all conscious when taken to the hospital.

Amateur video of the accident showed Floersch's car flying into the air at very high speed toward the outside of a sharp right turn, vaulting the barriers and crashing into the outer fences lining the street circuit, but did not show what caused her to lose control.

Red Bull junior driver Dan Ticktum of Britain went on to win the Macau GP after it resumed following the accident.

German Formula Three driver Sophia Floersch, 17, was hospitalised Sunday following a high-speed airborne crash after she lost control of her car during the Macau Grand Prix.

German Formula Three driver Sophia Floersch, 17, was hospitalised Sunday following a high-speed airborne crash after she lost control of her car during the Macau Grand Prix. Van Amersfoort Racing team posted Floersch's medical report to Twitter, which showed she was conscious and her vital signs were stable when transferred to the hospital. Later, Floersch wrote on Twitter "Just wanted to let everybody know that I am fine but will be going into Surgery tomorrow morning." Just wanted to let everybody know that I am fine but will be going into Surgery tomorow morning. Thanks to the @fia and @hwaag_official @MercedesAMGF1 who are taking great care of me. Thanks to everybody for the Supporting messages. Update soon. — Sophia Floersch (@SophiaFloersch) November 18, 2018 × The International Automobile Federation (FIA) published a statement on its official Facebook page explaining that Floersch and four others injured in the crash - Japanese driver Sho Tsuboi, two photographers and a track commissar - were all conscious when taken to the hospital. Amateur video of the accident showed Floersch's car flying into the air at very high speed toward the outside of a sharp right turn, vaulting the barriers and crashing into the outer fences lining the street circuit, but did not show what caused her to lose control. Red Bull junior driver Dan Ticktum of Britain went on to win the Macau GP after it resumed following the accident.

Young F3 driver Sophia Floersch has spinal fracture after airborne crash at Macau GP

Lewis&nbsp;Hamilton&nbsp;took a big step towards clinching his fifth Formula One title after putting his Mercedes on pole position at the US&nbsp;Grand Prix on Saturday with Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel starting fifth.

The Briton, who will be only the third driver to win at least five titles if he scores eight points more than Vettel on Sunday, will share the front row with the German's Finnish teammate Kimi Raikkonen.

Vettel qualified second, and just 0.061 slower than&nbsp;Hamilton, but has a three-place grid drop after failing to slow sufficiently while red flags were being waved in Friday practice.

The pole was a record-extending 81st for&nbsp;Hamilton, his third in a row in Austin and ninth of the season and he did it with a time of one minute 32.237 seconds -- a track record.

"That was very important, that was close," said the Briton as he waved at the throng of fans on an overcast and gusty afternoon at the Circuit of the Americas with rainclouds gathering.

"Once we went into that last run, I knew it was quite edgy between us. It was going to require solid laps. The first one was decent but not good enough. The second one was just that little bit better.

"The Ferraris are obviously really quick."

Ferrari had looked the faster team in the second phase of qualifying, with Raikkonen top of the timesheets and Vettel second.

There was also very little between them in the final shootout, with the top three separated by less than a tenth of a second.

"After the weeks we had I'm pretty pleased we are back in range. Today has been surprisingly close, I don't think we expected it to be that close," commented Vettel, who vented his frustration over the team radio after crossing the line.

Verstappen Stopped

Vettel will have his work cut out on Sunday at a racetrack where&nbsp;Hamilton&nbsp;has won five times in the last six years. The Mercedes driver is also on a roll, with six wins in the last seven rounds.

Another win on Sunday would be&nbsp;Hamilton's fifth in a row, and Vettel -- also a four times world champion -- would have to finish second to keep the championship alive to Mexico the following weekend.

Hamilton's team mate Valtteri Bottas will share the second row with Red Bull's Australian Daniel Ricciardo and neither will be easy for Vettel to get past.

Ricciardo's team mate Max Verstappen would also have hoped to be in the mix but the young Dutch driver will start 13th after suffering suspension damage in the first phase of qualifying.

"Something broke," he exclaimed over the radio.

Force India's Esteban Ocon will start sixth, with Renault's Nico Hulkenberg seventh and Romain Grosjean in eighth place for Haas, Formula One's only US&nbsp;team.

Vettel's future Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc will line up ninth for Sauber while Force India's Mexican Sergio Perez, who has plenty of local support, qualified 10th.

Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne qualified last but will move up the grid thanks to engine penalties applied to the Toro Rossos of Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley, who will go to the back of the field.

Lewis Hamilton took a big step towards clinching his fifth Formula One title after putting his Mercedes on pole position at the US Grand Prix on Saturday with Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel starting fifth.

Lewis Hamilton took a big step towards clinching his fifth Formula One title after putting his Mercedes on pole position at the US Grand Prix on Saturday with Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel starting fifth. The Briton, who will be only the third driver to win at least five titles if he scores eight points more than Vettel on Sunday, will share the front row with the German's Finnish teammate Kimi Raikkonen. Vettel qualified second, and just 0.061 slower than Hamilton, but has a three-place grid drop after failing to slow sufficiently while red flags were being waved in Friday practice. The pole was a record-extending 81st for Hamilton, his third in a row in Austin and ninth of the season and he did it with a time of one minute 32.237 seconds -- a track record. "That was very important, that was close," said the Briton as he waved at the throng of fans on an overcast and gusty afternoon at the Circuit of the Americas with rainclouds gathering. "Once we went into that last run, I knew it was quite edgy between us. It was going to require solid laps. The first one was decent but not good enough. The second one was just that little bit better. "The Ferraris are obviously really quick." Ferrari had looked the faster team in the second phase of qualifying, with Raikkonen top of the timesheets and Vettel second. There was also very little between them in the final shootout, with the top three separated by less than a tenth of a second. "After the weeks we had I'm pretty pleased we are back in range. Today has been surprisingly close, I don't think we expected it to be that close," commented Vettel, who vented his frustration over the team radio after crossing the line. Verstappen Stopped Vettel will have his work cut out on Sunday at a racetrack where Hamilton has won five times in the last six years. The Mercedes driver is also on a roll, with six wins in the last seven rounds. Another win on Sunday would be Hamilton's fifth in a row, and Vettel -- also a four times world champion -- would have to finish second to keep the championship alive to Mexico the following weekend. Hamilton's team mate Valtteri Bottas will share the second row with Red Bull's Australian Daniel Ricciardo and neither will be easy for Vettel to get past. Ricciardo's team mate Max Verstappen would also have hoped to be in the mix but the young Dutch driver will start 13th after suffering suspension damage in the first phase of qualifying. "Something broke," he exclaimed over the radio. Force India's Esteban Ocon will start sixth, with Renault's Nico Hulkenberg seventh and Romain Grosjean in eighth place for Haas, Formula One's only US team. Vettel's future Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc will line up ninth for Sauber while Force India's Mexican Sergio Perez, who has plenty of local support, qualified 10th. Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne qualified last but will move up the grid thanks to engine penalties applied to the Toro Rossos of Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley, who will go to the back of the field.

Lewis Hamilton takes US pole with fifth title in sight

Pakistan is giving finishing touches to its action plan that proposes measures for combating money laundering and terror financing to prevent itself from being placed on the grey list of a global watchdog next month, according to a media report.

A compliance report has been submitted by the Pakistani government to the Asia-Pacific Group (APG) - a sub-group within the Paris-based watchdog Financial Action Task Force - detailing the steps taken thus far and those that will be taken in the future to bring Pakistan's financial, regulatory and legal landscape into compliance with the watchdog's requirements, Dawn News reported.

On Friday, a meeting was convened at the Foreign Office to review the proposed actions which are to be discussed with APG joint working group in Bangkok next week.

This was the last in a series of meetings taking place within the government as officials race to meet the June deadline by when Pakistan will be placed on the FATF grey list.

A senior official in the finance ministry was quoted as saying in the report that a delegation from Pakistan would depart within the next few days for consultations with the APG's Joint Working Group in Bangkok.

That meeting will discuss the steps proposed by Pakistan to be taken after June to exit the grey list. The report has been drawn up by the Financial Monitoring Unit, a department housed in the State Bank of Pakistan, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.

The FATF earlier sent an email to the SBP highlighting its concerns over the amnesty scheme introduced by the government in its last budget.

The email points out that Pakistan is required to inform FATF before announcing any such scheme. To address their concerns, Pakistan included a provision to specify that 'proceeds of crime are not eligible' for the amnesty scheme.

The senior official confirmed that the placement of Pakistan on the grey list was set to commence in June. He said the action plan drawn up by the government would set conditions for Pakistan to meet in a period of one year, the report said.

None of those working on the matter were willing to discuss the details of the action plan.

"Whatever conditions are being finalised, we will implement it administratively," one source said.

The details of action plan remained under negotiation with the FATF and set to be finalised by next month, the official said.

Pakistan was listed as grey in 2012 but was removed in 2015 after strenuous efforts to address the concerns of the group.

The US spearheaded the latest efforts to place Pakistan on the Grey List and was supported by the UK, France and Germany.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was set up in 1989 with a primary aim to set standards to combat money laundering, but in 2001 its mandate was expanded to include countering terror financing.

It can take action against any country by including a country in black or grey lists.&nbsp

This was the last in a series of meetings taking place within the government as officials race to meet the June deadline by when Pakistan will be placed on the FATF grey list.

Pakistan is giving finishing touches to its action plan that proposes measures for combating money laundering and terror financing to prevent itself from being placed on the grey list of a global watchdog next month, according to a media report. A compliance report has been submitted by the Pakistani government to the Asia-Pacific Group (APG) - a sub-group within the Paris-based watchdog Financial Action Task Force - detailing the steps taken thus far and those that will be taken in the future to bring Pakistan's financial, regulatory and legal landscape into compliance with the watchdog's requirements, Dawn News reported. On Friday, a meeting was convened at the Foreign Office to review the proposed actions which are to be discussed with APG joint working group in Bangkok next week. This was the last in a series of meetings taking place within the government as officials race to meet the June deadline by when Pakistan will be placed on the FATF grey list. A senior official in the finance ministry was quoted as saying in the report that a delegation from Pakistan would depart within the next few days for consultations with the APG's Joint Working Group in Bangkok. That meeting will discuss the steps proposed by Pakistan to be taken after June to exit the grey list. The report has been drawn up by the Financial Monitoring Unit, a department housed in the State Bank of Pakistan, according to sources with knowledge of the matter. The FATF earlier sent an email to the SBP highlighting its concerns over the amnesty scheme introduced by the government in its last budget. The email points out that Pakistan is required to inform FATF before announcing any such scheme. To address their concerns, Pakistan included a provision to specify that 'proceeds of crime are not eligible' for the amnesty scheme. The senior official confirmed that the placement of Pakistan on the grey list was set to commence in June. He said the action plan drawn up by the government would set conditions for Pakistan to meet in a period of one year, the report said. None of those working on the matter were willing to discuss the details of the action plan. "Whatever conditions are being finalised, we will implement it administratively," one source said. The details of action plan remained under negotiation with the FATF and set to be finalised by next month, the official said. Pakistan was listed as grey in 2012 but was removed in 2015 after strenuous efforts to address the concerns of the group. The US spearheaded the latest efforts to place Pakistan on the Grey List and was supported by the UK, France and Germany. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was set up in 1989 with a primary aim to set standards to combat money laundering, but in 2001 its mandate was expanded to include countering terror financing. It can take action against any country by including a country in black or grey lists.

Pakistan racing to meet FATF demands before June

Federation Internationale de l&#39;Automobile (FIA) president Jean Todt has said that Ferrari would suffer if it followed through on its threat of quitting Formula One.

Earlier, Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne had threatened to quit F1 racing if its new owner Liberty Media continued to press on over new engine rules.

It should be noted that Liberty Media had announced several changes to the engine regulations aimed at cost reduction.

Though Marchionne agreed with the cost-cutting reasons, he stated that there were other strategic issues that could force Ferrari to think over racing elsewhere.

However, Todt, who led Ferrari through the ultra-successful Michael Schumacher era, insisted that the FIA would not be swayed by the Italian team&#39;s threats to quit F1.

&quot;That&#39;s their choice. We do not want any manufacturers to leave the sport. Ferrari is an icon and it is unique, and it would be very painful if they were not in Formula One anymore. But that&#39;s not my responsibility,&quot; Sport24 quoted Todt, as saying.

The FIA president further believes the decision to sell F1&#39;s commercial rights to Liberty Media a year ago was &quot;right&quot; and that the sport is in good hands now.&quot; Chase Carey is a great CEO and I recognise a structured organisation with real professionals like Ross Brawn and Sean Bratches. The sport is in good hands,&quot; Todt said.

Ferrari is the only team to have competed in the Formula One World Championship continuously since its inception in 1950.

Jose Froilan Gonzalez gave the team its first F1 victory at the 1951 British Grand Prix. Also, it has been established that Monaco Grand Prix and Ferrari are the two central pillars of Formula One racing and that their current share of the revenues reflects that special status.&nbsp;

Earlier, Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne had threatened to quit F1 racing if its new owner Liberty Media continued to press on over new engine rules

Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) president Jean Todt has said that Ferrari would suffer if it followed through on its threat of quitting Formula One. Earlier, Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne had threatened to quit F1 racing if its new owner Liberty Media continued to press on over new engine rules. It should be noted that Liberty Media had announced several changes to the engine regulations aimed at cost reduction. Though Marchionne agreed with the cost-cutting reasons, he stated that there were other strategic issues that could force Ferrari to think over racing elsewhere. However, Todt, who led Ferrari through the ultra-successful Michael Schumacher era, insisted that the FIA would not be swayed by the Italian team's threats to quit F1. "That's their choice. We do not want any manufacturers to leave the sport. Ferrari is an icon and it is unique, and it would be very painful if they were not in Formula One anymore. But that's not my responsibility," Sport24 quoted Todt, as saying. The FIA president further believes the decision to sell F1's commercial rights to Liberty Media a year ago was "right" and that the sport is in good hands now." Chase Carey is a great CEO and I recognise a structured organisation with real professionals like Ross Brawn and Sean Bratches. The sport is in good hands," Todt said. Ferrari is the only team to have competed in the Formula One World Championship continuously since its inception in 1950. Jose Froilan Gonzalez gave the team its first F1 victory at the 1951 British Grand Prix. Also, it has been established that Monaco Grand Prix and Ferrari are the two central pillars of Formula One racing and that their current share of the revenues reflects that special status.

Ferrari can choose to quit F1: FIA president

Attendance at the&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;Grand Prix rose 19 percent in 2017, underscoring the popularity of the race, whose contract was extended last week for four years.

Overall attendance hit 260,400, higher than the event&#39;s 10-year average, event organiserSingapore&nbsp;GP said in a statement on Sunday. The 2016 edition attracted about 219,000 spectators.

The sport&#39;s first night race marked its 10th anniversary this year and has established itself as one of the most popular and glamorous of Formula One&#39;s events. Last week, the sport and race organisers confirmed that the&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;Grand Prix would stay on the Formula One calendar until 2021.

Sunday&#39;s race, which was won by Lewis Hamilton, would otherwise have been the last in the city-state.

Overall attendance hit 260,400, higher than the event's 10-year average, event organiser Singapore?GP said in a statement on Sunday. The 2016 edition attracted about 219,000 spectators.

Attendance at the Singapore Grand Prix rose 19 percent in 2017, underscoring the popularity of the race, whose contract was extended last week for four years. Overall attendance hit 260,400, higher than the event's 10-year average, event organiserSingapore GP said in a statement on Sunday. The 2016 edition attracted about 219,000 spectators. The sport's first night race marked its 10th anniversary this year and has established itself as one of the most popular and glamorous of Formula One's events. Last week, the sport and race organisers confirmed that the Singapore Grand Prix would stay on the Formula One calendar until 2021. Sunday's race, which was won by Lewis Hamilton, would otherwise have been the last in the city-state.

Singapore Grand Prix attendance rises 19 per cent in 2017

Formula&nbsp;One&nbsp;world champions&nbsp;Mercedes&nbsp;announced what they said was a &#39;no-brainer&#39; of a deal on Wednesday by signing Finnish driver Valtteri&nbsp;Bottas&nbsp;for another season&nbsp;alongside Lewis Hamilton.

Bottas&nbsp;joined from Williams in January after Hamilton&#39;s previous team mate, Germany&#39;s 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, decided to retire within days of winning the title last November.

The 28-year-old has won two races so far this&nbsp;season, in Austria and Russia, and is third in the standings with a 41 point gap to championship leader Hamilton.

The extension was widely expected after four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel signed a new long-term deal with Ferrari last month, removing a leading candidate for the job.

&quot;We gave Valtteri a big challenge this year: joining the team at the 11th hour, stepping up to the forefront of F1 and pairing with the sport&#39;s best driver as his team mate,&quot; said team boss Toto Wolff in a statement.

&quot;With that in mind, his results have been probably even more impressive... the balance of his performances and his upward trajectory made it a no-brainer for us to continue with him into2018.

&quot;For our team, the bonus factors are the respect and sportsmanship that have grown between our two drivers. The chemistry and dynamic between Valtteri and Lewis work and are what we need to take the fight to our competitors.&quot;

Bottas&nbsp;joined on a&nbsp;one-year-deal and his new contract still leaves everything open for 2019, when the driver market is likely to go through major upheaval with several top names in the spotlight.

Both Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo are tied to that team for&nbsp;2018&nbsp;but are hot properties while Ferrari are likely to be seeking a replacement for Kimi Raikkonen.

Hamilton&#39;s contract is also up for renewal and expires at the end of&nbsp;2018, although he has said he expects to agree a new deal.

Bottas&nbsp;at least gets a chance to cement his reputation and win more races.

&quot;Together, we continue to grow stronger day by day, and by keeping up our hard work I believe the sky is the limit,&quot; said the Finn, thanking&nbsp;Mercedes&nbsp;for their &#39;leap of faith&#39; in him.

&quot;Since joining the team in January, I&#39;ve enjoyed every day working with them... as a driver, I&#39;ve been able to learn and grow massively, and we have already enjoyed some really good moments this&nbsp;season&nbsp;that I will never forget.

&quot;Partnering Lewis has also been really good, and I&#39;m enjoying the respect we have and the will to push this team forward together.&quot;

Bottas?joined from Williams in January after Hamilton's previous team mate, Germany's 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, decided to retire within days of winning the title last November.

Formula One world champions Mercedes announced what they said was a 'no-brainer' of a deal on Wednesday by signing Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas for another season alongside Lewis Hamilton. Bottas joined from Williams in January after Hamilton's previous team mate, Germany's 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, decided to retire within days of winning the title last November. The 28-year-old has won two races so far this season, in Austria and Russia, and is third in the standings with a 41 point gap to championship leader Hamilton. The extension was widely expected after four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel signed a new long-term deal with Ferrari last month, removing a leading candidate for the job. "We gave Valtteri a big challenge this year: joining the team at the 11th hour, stepping up to the forefront of F1 and pairing with the sport's best driver as his team mate," said team boss Toto Wolff in a statement. "With that in mind, his results have been probably even more impressive... the balance of his performances and his upward trajectory made it a no-brainer for us to continue with him into2018. "For our team, the bonus factors are the respect and sportsmanship that have grown between our two drivers. The chemistry and dynamic between Valtteri and Lewis work and are what we need to take the fight to our competitors." Bottas joined on a one-year-deal and his new contract still leaves everything open for 2019, when the driver market is likely to go through major upheaval with several top names in the spotlight. Both Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo are tied to that team for 2018 but are hot properties while Ferrari are likely to be seeking a replacement for Kimi Raikkonen. Hamilton's contract is also up for renewal and expires at the end of 2018, although he has said he expects to agree a new deal. Bottas at least gets a chance to cement his reputation and win more races. "Together, we continue to grow stronger day by day, and by keeping up our hard work I believe the sky is the limit," said the Finn, thanking Mercedes for their 'leap of faith' in him. "Since joining the team in January, I've enjoyed every day working with them... as a driver, I've been able to learn and grow massively, and we have already enjoyed some really good moments this season that I will never forget. "Partnering Lewis has also been really good, and I'm enjoying the respect we have and the will to push this team forward together."

Formula-1: Mercedes confirm Bottas for 2018

Nico Rosberg set a scorching pace under pressure today to seize pole position, ahead of Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton, in qualifying for his home German Formula One Grand Prix. 
 
Rosberg, determined to take back the championship lead from Hamilton on Sunday after losing it in last weekend&#39;s race in Hungary, lapped the 4.5-km Hockenheim track in one minute 14.363 seconds. 
 
The German had only one flying lap to set his time, however, after being forced to abandon his first attempt in the final pole-position phase of qualifying due to an electronics problem. 
 
&quot;It was a great feeling and just a great lap,&quot; Rosberg said. &quot;I also had extra fuel to make sure that I do have another shot if a mistake or something happens... so I was really satisfied with that one, that was cool.&quot; 
 
Today&#39;s pole was the 27th of Rosberg&#39;s career and fifth of the season. It was also Mercedes&#39;s 47th in the last 50 races. The German team have started all but one race this year from the front. 
 
Hamilton, who escaped a penalty for an unsafe release in the final practice session, was 0.107 seconds slower than Rosberg. 
 
The Briton had trailed the German in each of the three practice sessions in the build-up to qualifying but was quickest in Sunday&#39;s opening two phases before locking up on his final lap. 
 
&quot;I had the pace today, I just didn&#39;t finish it off in the last lap,&quot; said Hamilton, who leads Rosberg by six points heading into Sunday&#39;s race. 
 
Daniel Ricciardo will head an all-Red Bull second row after going third-fastest ahead of 18-year-old Dutch team mate Max Verstappen. 
 
The Australian, who finished third in Hungary, was 0.363 seconds behind Rosberg&#39;s benchmark but was optimistic that a different tyre strategy to the Mercedes pair could put him in the mix. 
 
Kimi Raikkonen was fifth for Ferrari, beating team mate Sebastian Vettel who was a disappointing sixth on his first appearance on home soil in the Italian team&#39;s scarlet colours. 
 
Nico Hulkenberg was seventh ahead of Williams driver Valtteri Bottas and Force India team mate Sergio Perez. Felipe Massa, in the second Williams, was 10th. 
 
Rosberg won at Hockenheim in 2014 and a repeat would allow him to put the brakes on Hamilton, who has won five of the last six races. 
 
(Reuters)

Saturday's pole was the 27th of Nico Rosberg's career and fifth of the season

Nico Rosberg set a scorching pace under pressure today to seize pole position, ahead of Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton, in qualifying for his home German Formula One Grand Prix. Rosberg, determined to take back the championship lead from Hamilton on Sunday after losing it in last weekend's race in Hungary, lapped the 4.5-km Hockenheim track in one minute 14.363 seconds. The German had only one flying lap to set his time, however, after being forced to abandon his first attempt in the final pole-position phase of qualifying due to an electronics problem. "It was a great feeling and just a great lap," Rosberg said. "I also had extra fuel to make sure that I do have another shot if a mistake or something happens... so I was really satisfied with that one, that was cool." Today's pole was the 27th of Rosberg's career and fifth of the season. It was also Mercedes's 47th in the last 50 races. The German team have started all but one race this year from the front. Hamilton, who escaped a penalty for an unsafe release in the final practice session, was 0.107 seconds slower than Rosberg. The Briton had trailed the German in each of the three practice sessions in the build-up to qualifying but was quickest in Sunday's opening two phases before locking up on his final lap. "I had the pace today, I just didn't finish it off in the last lap," said Hamilton, who leads Rosberg by six points heading into Sunday's race. Daniel Ricciardo will head an all-Red Bull second row after going third-fastest ahead of 18-year-old Dutch team mate Max Verstappen. The Australian, who finished third in Hungary, was 0.363 seconds behind Rosberg's benchmark but was optimistic that a different tyre strategy to the Mercedes pair could put him in the mix. Kimi Raikkonen was fifth for Ferrari, beating team mate Sebastian Vettel who was a disappointing sixth on his first appearance on home soil in the Italian team's scarlet colours. Nico Hulkenberg was seventh ahead of Williams driver Valtteri Bottas and Force India team mate Sergio Perez. Felipe Massa, in the second Williams, was 10th. Rosberg won at Hockenheim in 2014 and a repeat would allow him to put the brakes on Hamilton, who has won five of the last six races. (Reuters)

Rosberg on pole for home German grand prix

Red Bull team chief Christian Horner today defended Formula One&#39;s decision to postpone the introduction of cockpit &#39;halos&#39; and said not enough research and development had been carried out. 
 
Horner spoke out after drivers union boss Alex Wurz warned that the move, taken on Thursday by the Formula One Strategy Group, had put business interests before driver safety. 
 
&quot;I disagree with that,&quot; said Horner. &quot;We&#39;ve agreed for a system to come in in 2018, but it needs to be fully researched, fully developed and fully tested.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
&quot;At the moment, other than a couple of installation laps from a couple of drivers, there&#39;s been no (testing) mileage put on this.&quot; 
 
He added that new tyre compounds are always tested intensively and extensively before they are introduced and said the same rigour must be applied to safety components. 
 
News of the rejection of the proposed cockpit protection device came just hours after four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel warned &quot;nothing justifies death.&quot; 
 
The Ferrari driver said: &quot;It would be the first time in human history that we&#39;ve learned a lesson and we did not change.&quot; 
 
The F1 Strategy Group made the decision at a meeting in Geneva where it also decided to make changes in other areas including a near-complete relaxation of restrictions on teams radio communications and the introduction of wet race standing starts. 
 
In a statement sent out &nbsp;today morning, F1 Race Director Charlie Whiting said the lifting of radio restrictions was done to improve content for the fans and spectators. 
 
His technical directive made clear that there would be no limits on the messages sent by teams except during the pre-race formation lap. 
 
He listed the subjects permitted in formation lap messages - including car problems, damage, driver software failures, official race control information and oil or debris on track. 
 
In exchange, he said, teams would no longer be able to use a &#39;privacy&#39; button and keep their radio communications message secret. 
 
This means that in future broadcasters will have access to all the radio traffic, a move taken to boost the entertainment factor at a time when F1 ticket sales are slumping. 
 
Thousands of seats at Hockenheim have been covered by green sheeting because the promoters have not sold them. 
In another move, a proposal for a standing race start after a Safety Car period was agreed. 
 
Horner welcomed the changes, but added that with major technical regulation changes next year requiring new designs for cars, it was likely to be difficult to do all the required work in the limited time available. 
 
Asked about the implications if there was a serious accident, in which the &#39;halo&#39; might have helped protect a driver`s head, next year, he said: &quot;It&#39;s very difficult... 
 
&quot;There are always &#39;what ifs?&#39; 
 
&quot;What if it was introduced and it created an accident or a driver couldn`t get out of the car... There are so many what ifs... We need to do the work and make sure it is what the drivers need.&quot; 
 
(AFP) 
 
 
&nbsp;

Christian Horner insisted system needs to be 'fully researched, fully developed and fully tested'

Red Bull team chief Christian Horner today defended Formula One's decision to postpone the introduction of cockpit 'halos' and said not enough research and development had been carried out. Horner spoke out after drivers union boss Alex Wurz warned that the move, taken on Thursday by the Formula One Strategy Group, had put business interests before driver safety. "I disagree with that," said Horner. "We've agreed for a system to come in in 2018, but it needs to be fully researched, fully developed and fully tested." "At the moment, other than a couple of installation laps from a couple of drivers, there's been no (testing) mileage put on this." He added that new tyre compounds are always tested intensively and extensively before they are introduced and said the same rigour must be applied to safety components. News of the rejection of the proposed cockpit protection device came just hours after four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel warned "nothing justifies death." The Ferrari driver said: "It would be the first time in human history that we've learned a lesson and we did not change." The F1 Strategy Group made the decision at a meeting in Geneva where it also decided to make changes in other areas including a near-complete relaxation of restrictions on teams radio communications and the introduction of wet race standing starts. In a statement sent out today morning, F1 Race Director Charlie Whiting said the lifting of radio restrictions was done to improve content for the fans and spectators. His technical directive made clear that there would be no limits on the messages sent by teams except during the pre-race formation lap. He listed the subjects permitted in formation lap messages - including car problems, damage, driver software failures, official race control information and oil or debris on track. In exchange, he said, teams would no longer be able to use a 'privacy' button and keep their radio communications message secret. This means that in future broadcasters will have access to all the radio traffic, a move taken to boost the entertainment factor at a time when F1 ticket sales are slumping. Thousands of seats at Hockenheim have been covered by green sheeting because the promoters have not sold them. In another move, a proposal for a standing race start after a Safety Car period was agreed. Horner welcomed the changes, but added that with major technical regulation changes next year requiring new designs for cars, it was likely to be difficult to do all the required work in the limited time available. Asked about the implications if there was a serious accident, in which the 'halo' might have helped protect a driver`s head, next year, he said: "It's very difficult... "There are always 'what ifs?' "What if it was introduced and it created an accident or a driver couldn`t get out of the car... There are so many what ifs... We need to do the work and make sure it is what the drivers need." (AFP)

Formula One: Red Bull boss defends 'halo' delay

A flock of pigeons take off from a Lahore roof top at dawn, rising above the city&#39;s Mughal-era minarets before disappearing out of sight. 
 
Rather than being viewed as pests, these birds are champions of endurance who evoke a passionate following across Pakistan. 
 
&quot;It is a love affair,&quot; says Akhlaq Khan, a famous octogenarian pigeon-fancier and author of the only book on the subject in Pakistan. &quot;You don&#39;t see anything there, no difference between the birds,&quot; he says, cradling a plump bird with a white body and coloured head.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;But I can tell the worth of each bird by looking at the eyes and feathers.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
On his rooftop in a leafy district of Pakistan&#39;s cultural capital, hundreds of birds are cooing in massive light blue cages in the sweltering Punjabi summer. 
 
In film and folklore, pigeons, or &#39;kabootar&#39; are associated with love letters destined for harems and for military orders sent to champion warriors by kings of yesteryear. 
 
&quot;Flying breeds in India were introduced by the Mughals,&quot; says Khan referring to the Muslim dynasty that ruled the subcontinent from the early 16th century till the mid-19th. 
 
Pigeon followers broadly class the birds into those known for their competitive flying ability, and those prized for their looks. 
 
Mughal emperor Akbar was renowned for his passion for pigeons, and, according to one scholar of the court &quot;had 20,000 birds of different types&quot;, said Khan. 
 
Millions of fans across the country are enthralled by low and high altitude flying competitions, and races in which opponents attempt to distract each others&#39; birds, etc. 
 
It is a rare pastime that brings together people from different social backgrounds - experts are often illiterate and the owners are rich. A good pigeon can be valued at hundreds of dollars, equivalent to several months salary for many Pakistanis.&nbsp; 
 
Bird cages and enthusiasts can be found on rooftops in the old districts of cities across the country. 
 
Pakistani pigeons and experts have also been taken by Arab royals for tournaments in the Gulf. 
 
For so-called &#39;high-flying&#39; pigeons, the rules are simple: at dawn, each team of seven or eleven pigeons take off from their perches, spend the day flying out of sight, and when they return at nightfall, the flight time of each pigeon is added up and an average is calculated. 
 
The winning team is the one which has the longest average flight time after a total of seven or eleven flights held every two days. 
 
&quot;We fly pigeon around 5 in morning after stamping them, and if the pigeon comes back around 4 to 5 in the evening we consider them good,&quot; explains Syed Mehtab Shah, a participant in the Bahrain Cup, one of a number of tournaments organised in spring and autumn. 
 
&quot;I love beating my competitors, it brings me joy and fame,&quot; explains the pigeon-fancier from Islamabad, surrounded by several friends who have come to see his pigeons land one evening following an endurance flight. 
 
The conversation halts as two birds, which spent the day flying at 3,000 metres and are recognisable by the pink paint daubed under their wings, come in to land.&nbsp; 
 
Grabbing binoculars, the audience admire the birds` precision landing, which was guided by flags.The best champions, capable of flying for more than 12 hours without food or drink in exhausting heat, are showered with luxurious treatment often reserved for humans. The pigeon masters, known as &#39;ustads&#39;, give their birds long massages with a damp towel and special concoctions to boost performance.&nbsp; 
 
In his book, Khan reveals his diet plans for the winged athletes: crushed almonds, cardamom and Indian lotus seed powder, as well a &#39;water of life&#39; laced with cumin, pepper and other spices.&nbsp; 
 
He speaks too of the benefits of port and whisky, illegal in Pakistan, precious saffron and ginseng. 
 
There is no governing body regulating pigeon racing, so other less natural ingredients can creep in to the diet.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Anabolic steroids, calcium tablets and sometimes sedative tablets are used&quot;, says Waqar Haider, a student of Akhlaq Khan, from Rawalpindi. 
 
The victors can take home mobile phones, motorcycles and even cars - proving a winning bird in hand can be worth more than several in the proverbial shrubbery. 
 
In this way, the story of love became a story of money. &quot;It fell into disrepute because people started gambling,&quot; explains Khan. 
 
And it has become necessary to deal with the inevitable jealousy. 
 
Haider&#39;s wife spends long hours peeling almonds and cooking for her husband&#39;s guests during each competition.&nbsp; 
 
She concedes shyly: &quot;He spends more time with his birds than with me.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

Pigeon racing brings together people from different social backgrounds since experts are often illiterate and the owners rich

A flock of pigeons take off from a Lahore roof top at dawn, rising above the city's Mughal-era minarets before disappearing out of sight. Rather than being viewed as pests, these birds are champions of endurance who evoke a passionate following across Pakistan. "It is a love affair," says Akhlaq Khan, a famous octogenarian pigeon-fancier and author of the only book on the subject in Pakistan. "You don't see anything there, no difference between the birds," he says, cradling a plump bird with a white body and coloured head. "But I can tell the worth of each bird by looking at the eyes and feathers." On his rooftop in a leafy district of Pakistan's cultural capital, hundreds of birds are cooing in massive light blue cages in the sweltering Punjabi summer. In film and folklore, pigeons, or 'kabootar' are associated with love letters destined for harems and for military orders sent to champion warriors by kings of yesteryear. "Flying breeds in India were introduced by the Mughals," says Khan referring to the Muslim dynasty that ruled the subcontinent from the early 16th century till the mid-19th. Pigeon followers broadly class the birds into those known for their competitive flying ability, and those prized for their looks. Mughal emperor Akbar was renowned for his passion for pigeons, and, according to one scholar of the court "had 20,000 birds of different types", said Khan. Millions of fans across the country are enthralled by low and high altitude flying competitions, and races in which opponents attempt to distract each others' birds, etc. It is a rare pastime that brings together people from different social backgrounds - experts are often illiterate and the owners are rich. A good pigeon can be valued at hundreds of dollars, equivalent to several months salary for many Pakistanis. Bird cages and enthusiasts can be found on rooftops in the old districts of cities across the country. Pakistani pigeons and experts have also been taken by Arab royals for tournaments in the Gulf. For so-called 'high-flying' pigeons, the rules are simple: at dawn, each team of seven or eleven pigeons take off from their perches, spend the day flying out of sight, and when they return at nightfall, the flight time of each pigeon is added up and an average is calculated. The winning team is the one which has the longest average flight time after a total of seven or eleven flights held every two days. "We fly pigeon around 5 in morning after stamping them, and if the pigeon comes back around 4 to 5 in the evening we consider them good," explains Syed Mehtab Shah, a participant in the Bahrain Cup, one of a number of tournaments organised in spring and autumn. "I love beating my competitors, it brings me joy and fame," explains the pigeon-fancier from Islamabad, surrounded by several friends who have come to see his pigeons land one evening following an endurance flight. The conversation halts as two birds, which spent the day flying at 3,000 metres and are recognisable by the pink paint daubed under their wings, come in to land. Grabbing binoculars, the audience admire the birds` precision landing, which was guided by flags.The best champions, capable of flying for more than 12 hours without food or drink in exhausting heat, are showered with luxurious treatment often reserved for humans. The pigeon masters, known as 'ustads', give their birds long massages with a damp towel and special concoctions to boost performance. In his book, Khan reveals his diet plans for the winged athletes: crushed almonds, cardamom and Indian lotus seed powder, as well a 'water of life' laced with cumin, pepper and other spices. He speaks too of the benefits of port and whisky, illegal in Pakistan, precious saffron and ginseng. There is no governing body regulating pigeon racing, so other less natural ingredients can creep in to the diet. "Anabolic steroids, calcium tablets and sometimes sedative tablets are used", says Waqar Haider, a student of Akhlaq Khan, from Rawalpindi. The victors can take home mobile phones, motorcycles and even cars - proving a winning bird in hand can be worth more than several in the proverbial shrubbery. In this way, the story of love became a story of money. "It fell into disrepute because people started gambling," explains Khan. And it has become necessary to deal with the inevitable jealousy. Haider's wife spends long hours peeling almonds and cooking for her husband's guests during each competition. She concedes shyly: "He spends more time with his birds than with me." (AFP)

Where dreams take flight: Pakistan's pigeon racers

Lewis Hamilton won his home British Grand Prix for the third year in a row today with Mercedes team mate and title rival Nico Rosberg finishing second but under a stewards investigation. 
 
The triple Formula One world champion&#39;s fourth home win, from pole position, was the 47th victory of Hamilton&#39;s career and cut Rosberg&#39;s overall lead to four points after 10 of 21 races. 
 
Rosberg was slowed by a gearbox problem with five laps remaining and crossed the line 6.9 seconds behind and with a question mark over his result after Mercedes seemingly broke the rules on radio advice by telling him to avoid seventh gear. 
 
Red Bull&#39;s Dutch teenager Max Verstappen was third, 1.3 seconds behind Rosberg, in a race that started behind the safety car after heavy rain. 
 
(Reuters)

It was the 47th victory of Hamilton's career and cut Rosberg's overall lead to four points after 10 of 21 races

Lewis Hamilton won his home British Grand Prix for the third year in a row today with Mercedes team mate and title rival Nico Rosberg finishing second but under a stewards investigation. The triple Formula One world champion's fourth home win, from pole position, was the 47th victory of Hamilton's career and cut Rosberg's overall lead to four points after 10 of 21 races. Rosberg was slowed by a gearbox problem with five laps remaining and crossed the line 6.9 seconds behind and with a question mark over his result after Mercedes seemingly broke the rules on radio advice by telling him to avoid seventh gear. Red Bull's Dutch teenager Max Verstappen was third, 1.3 seconds behind Rosberg, in a race that started behind the safety car after heavy rain. (Reuters)

Lewis Hamilton wins fourth British Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton was booed on the podium after a last-lap collision with Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg handed the triple Formula One world champion a dramatic first Austrian Grand Prix victory today. 
 
Championship leader Rosberg, who had been in front with Hamilton in his slipstream, nursed his damaged car over the line for fourth place with his advantage cut to 11 points after nine of 21 rounds. 
 
&quot;I am gutted, it&rsquo;s unbelievable,&quot; said the German, accusing Hamilton of turning in and causing the accident that broke his front wing. 
 
Hamilton disagreed. 
 
&quot;I was on the outside, it wasn&#39;t me that had the crash,&quot; said the Briton, who now has three wins to Rosberg&#39;s five this season, over the team radio. 
 
The stewards appeared to back that up by opening an investigation into Rosberg&#39;s actions. 
 
The German was summoned to answer charges of causing a collision and failing to stop with a seriously damaged car. 
 
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff described the collision as &quot;brainless&quot;, without singling out either of his drivers for blame. 
 
The team revealed Rosberg had suffered a problem with his brake-by-wire system which went into &quot;passive mode&quot; at the end of the penultimate lap as Hamilton closed in. 
 
The crowd, small in comparison to the previous two years with rows of empty seats in the grandstands, made their disapproval evident with whistles and boos as Hamilton was interviewed on the podium. 
 
&quot;That&#39;s not my problem, it&#39;s their problem,&quot; the surprised Briton, who started on pole, shrugged when asked about the noise. 
 
&quot;I left a lot of room on the inside and I guess he locked up and crashed into me. I think he had a problem with his brakes potentially. I&#39;m here to win. That&#39;s all.&quot; 
 
Dutch teenager Max Verstappen finished second for Red Bull at their home track with Ferrari&#39;s Kimi Raikkonen third after teammate Sebastian Vettel crashed out on his 29th birthday when a rear tyre exploded. 
 
Hamilton&#39;s victory was the 250th in Formula One by a British driver since the championship started in 1950 and the 46th of his career. 
 
Australian Daniel Ricciardo was fifth for Red Bull with Britain&#39;s Jenson Button sixth for McLaren. 
 
Frenchman Romain Grosjean was seventh in a Haas ahead of Spaniard Carlos Sainz in a Toro Rosso and Finland&#39;s Valtteri Bottas for Williams. 
 
German rookie Pascal Wehrlein scored his first point in Formula One, and his Manor team&#39;s first of the season, with a remarkable 10th. 
 
(Reuters)

Nico Rosberg was summoned to answer charges of causing a collision and failing to stop with a seriously damaged car

Lewis Hamilton was booed on the podium after a last-lap collision with Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg handed the triple Formula One world champion a dramatic first Austrian Grand Prix victory today. Championship leader Rosberg, who had been in front with Hamilton in his slipstream, nursed his damaged car over the line for fourth place with his advantage cut to 11 points after nine of 21 rounds. "I am gutted, it’s unbelievable," said the German, accusing Hamilton of turning in and causing the accident that broke his front wing. Hamilton disagreed. "I was on the outside, it wasn't me that had the crash," said the Briton, who now has three wins to Rosberg's five this season, over the team radio. The stewards appeared to back that up by opening an investigation into Rosberg's actions. The German was summoned to answer charges of causing a collision and failing to stop with a seriously damaged car. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff described the collision as "brainless", without singling out either of his drivers for blame. The team revealed Rosberg had suffered a problem with his brake-by-wire system which went into "passive mode" at the end of the penultimate lap as Hamilton closed in. The crowd, small in comparison to the previous two years with rows of empty seats in the grandstands, made their disapproval evident with whistles and boos as Hamilton was interviewed on the podium. "That's not my problem, it's their problem," the surprised Briton, who started on pole, shrugged when asked about the noise. "I left a lot of room on the inside and I guess he locked up and crashed into me. I think he had a problem with his brakes potentially. I'm here to win. That's all." Dutch teenager Max Verstappen finished second for Red Bull at their home track with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen third after teammate Sebastian Vettel crashed out on his 29th birthday when a rear tyre exploded. Hamilton's victory was the 250th in Formula One by a British driver since the championship started in 1950 and the 46th of his career. Australian Daniel Ricciardo was fifth for Red Bull with Britain's Jenson Button sixth for McLaren. Frenchman Romain Grosjean was seventh in a Haas ahead of Spaniard Carlos Sainz in a Toro Rosso and Finland's Valtteri Bottas for Williams. German rookie Pascal Wehrlein scored his first point in Formula One, and his Manor team's first of the season, with a remarkable 10th. (Reuters)

Lewis Hamilton booed after dramatic Austrian victory

The Williams Formula One team equalled the record for the sport&#39;s fastest pit stop in Sunday&#39;s European Grand Prix. 
 
The British outfit changed the tyres on Brazilian Felipe Massa&#39;s car in 1.92 seconds, equaling the previous best on record set by the Red Bull team at the 2013 United States Grand Prix, according to statistics gathered for the DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award. 
 
Red Bull turned around Australian Mark Webber in 1.923 seconds at the American race, when pit-stop timings were logged to thousandths of a second. 
 
Williams&#39; speed in the pits has been outstanding this year and they have been the fastest team at every race following a deliberate plan to improve their form. 
 
&quot;I was surprised in the first race that we had such a quick pit-stop,&quot; said Massa. 
 
&quot;We even lost time because it was quicker than you expected, but then I was ready to have a good one, because the team is doing such a good job.&rdquo; 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

They changed the tyres on Brazilian Felipe Massa's car in 1.92 seconds

The Williams Formula One team equalled the record for the sport's fastest pit stop in Sunday's European Grand Prix. The British outfit changed the tyres on Brazilian Felipe Massa's car in 1.92 seconds, equaling the previous best on record set by the Red Bull team at the 2013 United States Grand Prix, according to statistics gathered for the DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award. Red Bull turned around Australian Mark Webber in 1.923 seconds at the American race, when pit-stop timings were logged to thousandths of a second. Williams' speed in the pits has been outstanding this year and they have been the fastest team at every race following a deliberate plan to improve their form. "I was surprised in the first race that we had such a quick pit-stop," said Massa. "We even lost time because it was quicker than you expected, but then I was ready to have a good one, because the team is doing such a good job.” (AFP)

Williams equal F1 pit stop record

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