In a video that the F1 Chequered Flag shared,  Verstappen can be seen making his way to the Red Bull motorhomes. There, the group prepared the room with balloons and several photos in his honor, as he just won the world championship. One of the photos showed a young Verstappen, dressed in all red, sporting the Ferrari colors.

As soon as he saw that photo, Verstappen apologized to Christian Horner. Later in another interview, the Dutchman explained why he donned the Ferrari shirt. Verstappen’s father Jos, shared a good friendship with Ferrari and F1 legend Michael Schumacher, which contributed to his childhood fashion choice.

max explaining why he wore a ferrari shirt as a kid to the reporter so annoying (lovingly) pic.twitter.com/Jm5cS2JNjF

— nini (@SCUDERIAFEMBOY) February 20, 2024

He is happy to be at Red Bull, and even though he recognizes Ferrari’s amazing history, and brand value, Verstappen will not be lured away from Milton-Keynes.

Could Max Verstappen choose Mercedes?

Mercedes will now have to look for a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, before the 2025 season commences. Rumor has it that Toto Wolff was even open to having Verstappen drive for them. The reason behind this is simple. Verstappen is the best in F1 at the moment, and has won three consecutive world titles.

However, Red Bull will not be worried about Verstappen ditching them. Speaking about the same to OE24, team chief Helmut Marko reminded everyone of Verstappen’s history with Mercedes.

He said, ” Too much has happened in the past. I just remember Silverstone or the turmoil at the finale in Abu Dhabi. This runs deep.”

What Marko intended to convey is that Verstappen would never forget incidents like the 2021 Silverstone crash, and prejudice he experienced on social media after the 2021 Abu Dhabi Finale.

While winding up, the Austrian made it apparent that Verstappen is very committed to Red Bull. The Dutchman and Red Bull have inked a long-term deal that expires in 2028. The 26-year-old will therefore not be thinking about moving to Mercedes, at least unless Red Bull drop off massively.

The post Baby in Red, Champion in Blue- Max Verstappen Resists the Ferrari Temptation That Lured Lewis Hamilton appeared first on The SportsRush.

The latest installment follows the 2023 season, which turned out to be a record-breaking campaign for Max Verstappen. He aimed to improve his 2022 performance and did an unexpectedly impressive job. However, it looks like the emphasis will be on the smaller storylines this time around.

Formula 1: Drive To Survive Season 6… the official trailer

Full series lands on Netflix on Friday 23 February 2024!#F1 @netflix pic.twitter.com/FktCJMMU11

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 20, 2024

The season opener will focus on Aston Martin and their growing financial issues. Lawrence Stroll wants to do everything in his power to ensure his team’s resurgence, and cameras follow him in his pursuit. The next three episodes capture Nyck de Vries’ axing, McLaren‘s dip, and the battle between Haas and Williams, respectively. Alpine drivers take center stage in episode 5 as their rivalry reaches new heights.

Episode 6 follows Lewis Hamilton as the 7X world champion contemplates his future in F1. The following episodes see a light shine on athletes and celebs investing in Alpine while also focusing on Ferrari bringing Fred Vasseur on board. Episode 9 lays emphasis on Daniel Ricciardo coming back to a driving seat after almost a one-year break. The season finale dives deeper into the rivalry of Mercedes and Ferrari at the end of the 2023 season.

Why isn’t Max Verstappen in DTS season 6?

It is no surprise that Max Verstappen is not the focus of Drive to Survive. In an interview with TIME, he expressed his concerns over the growing marketing-centric moves by the sport’s authorities. He believes the sport is starting to lay emphasis on things that aren’t as important as racing.

Hence, he grows wary of where F1 is headed. With three F1 championships already under his belt, the Dutchman isn’t hungry for any records. Hence, if the dramatization continues, Verstappen will not stick around to experience it.

Max Verstappen says he’s reluctant to get featured frequently in Netflix’s Drive to Survive series:

“Certain things are a bit more private and privacy for me is very important. I like things to be portrayed how they actually are and not with a lot of spice to it”

“I have an… pic.twitter.com/8svQnVMRTu

— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) September 1, 2023

Drive to Survive had a massive impact on the sport’s viewership numbers, especially in America. With the earlier seasons detailing Verstappen’s story, the Dutchman saw a huge fanbase form in the US. However, the 26-year-old isn’t a fan of the dramatization of his story. He doesn’t want to hear his story from someone else’s perspective. Furthermore, given the series is essentially a recap of a season, Verstappen feels it is unnecessary for him to be a part of the narrative since he already knows what will happen.

The post Drive to Survive Goes Beyond Max Verstappen- Untold Underdog Storylines Take Center Stage in Season 6 appeared first on The SportsRush.

That being said, the financial details are all speculated in the media, as no team has confirmed any amount. When prompted about why, team principal Fred Vasseur explained, as quoted on X (formerly Twitter) via Motorsport.com Italia,

“We decided this simply to not provide information that could be useful to other teams,”

While the financials of the deal have been broken out by media reports, the exact duration of the deals offered to both their drivers remains unknown. In any case, the Italian team does not follow a strict salary structure for the duration of their contracts. Both Leclerc and Carlos Sainz received a better paying salary every year of their association with the team.

A final note concerns the decision not to reveal the duration of the contracts, both in the case of Leclerc and that of Hamilton: “We decided this simply to not provide information that could be useful to other teams.”https://t.co/deIlDiSada

— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) February 20, 2024

However, this secrecy is a new for Ferrari. In the past, with both Leclerc and Sainz, the terms of the deal were clear.  This latest Leclerc extension and Hamilton’s signing could start a trend that all F1 teams would want to follow.

After Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, are F1 driver contracts going to become top-secret?

Ferrari isn’t the only team on the 2024 grid to adopt a veil of secrecy with respect to their star driver’s contract. McLaren, too, have been very coy about the latest contract extension signed by Lando Norris.

Even Williams has thrown a spanner in the works this year. Earlier, most outlets believed that Alex Albon’s contract would expire at the end of the 2024 season.  Now, it is being reported that the British-Thai driver is secured till at least the 2025 season concludes.

I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them next year. This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year.

— Oscar Piastri (@OscarPiastri) August 2, 2022

F1 driver agreements are very tricky and complex legal documents. With bonuses, performance-related exit clauses and options, it makes sense why even a small leak could enable a rival to poach a driver. This was apparent in the entire Oscar Piastri Alpine saga that saw him join McLaren instead of the French team.

Hence, it won’t be surprising to see this level of secrecy becoming a norm in the F1 paddock soon.

The post Ferrari Boss Reveals Why They Want to Hide Crucial Details of $130 Million Worth Contracts of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc appeared first on The SportsRush.

According to Windsor, Hamilton choosing Ferrari is not a brave decision but logical. The seven-time world champion isn’t gambling on Ferrari being quicker than Mercedes. In fact, Windsor suggests that Hamilton just wants to enjoy the twilight years of his F1 career, away from all the drama and negativity, which started becoming a norm at Mercedes over the last two years.

On the CameronF1 podcast, Windsor explained,

“He’s thinking, ‘I’m at the backend of my career, I really want to enjoy my Formula 1. I’m really not enjoying it at the moment, even if Mercedes is a quick car, I’ve got all this drama with George [Russell]. I just want a change of scenery, I want to enjoy my life, I want to breathe.'”

Red Bull team principal Horner compared this move to Hamilton’s shock transfer from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013. At that time, the move was thought to be a mistake, but Hamilton ended up winning six titles with the Silver Arrows. The tough decision that Hamilton made, turned him into an F1 legend. Horner feels that this bravery could pay dividends once again.

Windsor on the other hand believes that Hamilton is chasing peace of mind and being more relaxed at Ferrari could also help him perform better out on the track.

Has George Russell forced Lewis Hamilton out of Mercedes?

Windsor is a firm believer that one of the major factors driving Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes at the end of this season is his teammate George Russell. It is widely speculated that Hamilton never really wanted Russell alongside him at Mercedes. Instead, he preferred the companionship of Valtteri Bottas.

That being said, at the end of 2021, the team and especially Toto Wolff believed it was the right time to bid farewell to Bottas. Mercedes thought  Russell was the perfect candidate to shadow and eventually take over the reigns from Hamilton. In other words, from Hamilton’s point of view, Mercedes was probably planning for a future without him.

Toto Wolff has already endorsed George Russell to lead the Mercedes #F1 team once Lewis Hamilton departs for Ferrari in 2025

But that doesn’t change the fact that the coming 2024 campaign is filled with pressure for Russell, as @Nauckas explains

— Autosport (@autosport) February 14, 2024

This may have miffed the seven-time champion to an extent. Additionally, in his very first season alongside Hamilton, Russell beat him in the championship standings. This might as well have started the countdown on Hamilton’s stint with the team.

From 2025 onwards, Hamilton and Russell will go up against each other, suiting up for different teams.

The post “Not a Brave Decision”: Ex-Team Boss Denounces Max Verstappen and Christian Horner’s Praise for Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Move appeared first on The SportsRush.

Even in his junior open-wheel career, Hamilton was a class apart from the field. While reminiscing about Hamilton’s 2005 F3 campaign, the Frenchman narrated, as quoted on X (formerly Twitter)

“His first year in Formula 3 he won 18/21 races, but beyond that I think it’s the high level of how demanding he is of himself and of those who work with him. I think it’s a characteristic of champions.” 

According to Hamilton’s biography authored by Frank Worrall, the Stevenage-born driver wrapped up the F3 title in 2005 with 4 races to go which prompted them to pay a personal tribute to him. They labelled him as the best ever driver in the series. After the season concluded, Autosport Magazine featured him in their “Top 50 Drivers of 2005“ issue, ranking him in 24th.

️| “What did you see in Lewis Hamilton as a junior?”

Fred Vasseur: “His first year in Formula 3 he won 18/21 races, but beyond that I think it’s the high level of how demanding he is of himself and of those who work with him.”

“I think it’s a characteristic of champions.

pic.twitter.com/xBjBgT48WT

— Ferrari News (@FanaticsFerrari) February 20, 2024

Hamilton extended his exploits into GP2 as well. Still being mentored by Vasseur, he won won the GP2 title (equivalent to today’s F2 championship) in his rookie season. Naturally, since then, the Briton has looked up to Vasseur. In 2025, the two of them will finally be reunited.

What prompted the Lewis Hamilton Ferrari move?

When reports and rumors were starting to trickle in that Hamilton was actually leaving Mercedes for Ferrari, many thought the news was fake. However, in a short span of time, F1, Mercedes, and Ferrari confirmed the reports. This sent the entire F1 world into a frenzy. Many even regarded it as the greatest driver transfer of all time.

Neither Mercedes nor Hamilton have divulged the real reason for their split. So, one can only take an educated guess. After suffering two winless seasons with the Silver Arrows, the mere idea of winning his 8th title with Ferrari could have been irresistible for Hamilton. Moreover, this was been probably the last chance for the 39-year-old to drive for Ferrari given he had already expressed that it was his dream to do so.

“If you’ve already achieved so much in the sport anyway, then why not?”

Max Verstappen on Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari for 2025 pic.twitter.com/nE1SqE22kL

— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) February 16, 2024

That being said, his affinity towards Vasseur could have convinced him to join Ferrari. Nonetheless, Vasseur and Hamilton still have a season to go before they can rekindle their once successful alliance.

The post “He Won 18/21 Races”: Fred Vasseur Reminisces Old Glory Days With Lewis Hamilton appeared first on The SportsRush.

Call it keeping their cards close to the chest for gauging future moves like in chess, Ferrari doesn’t wish to lose Leclerc for sure. A talent like him is likely to get any sort of offer he wishes from Ferrari’s rivals.

Besides, Ferrari also signing Lewis Hamilton on a multi-year deal locks in their driver lineup for the next two seasons at least. This shows their futuristic long-term planning with stability as the focus. Certainly, the Prancing Horse needs that, given they wish to fight consistently at the front for the championship.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Frederic Vasseur also gave his thoughts on why they are keeping Leclerc’s contract duration under wraps. He said, “Charles’s contract is long. One strategy is not to communicate the duration detail so as not to reveal it to competitors. It could help them.”

Given how chaotic the 2025 driver market will be, with many drivers out of contract this season, it is good that Ferrari have sorted their lineup. Moreover, Leclerc could become a driver in demand if teams know about his contract expiration. That could leave the Italian team vulnerable to a seismic shock as Mercedes got about Hamilton.

Why is Charles Leclerc so keen to stay put at Ferrari?

While there is no official word on the duration, Charles Leclerc certainly has a long-term deal at Ferrari. With so many missed opportunities and blunders that frustrated him, why has the 26-year-old chosen to pen the extension at Maranello?

The answer is pretty simple – Leclerc wishes to become a champion with Ferrari only. On the realistic side, he did not have any strong prospective team to go to where he would be in a prime position to win. So, as he knows the Italian outfit is the best place he can be, it made sense to extend.

Knowing the team for five years, Leclerc has become the center of Ferrari’s F1 universe. While Hamilton coming on board may dilute his golden boy status, the Monegasque knows that the team will give him as much importance as the Briton.

The #16 driver believes that Ferrari can deliver a title-winning car sooner or later. Despite all the challenges with the failed 2022 title campaign and the extended struggles last season, Leclerc is seeing progress at Maranello. Under Fred Vasseur, things seem to be on the right trajectory.

So, at this stage, switching to any team may be impulsive and a borderline blunder for the 26-year-old. Leclerc stated about his extension, “But most of all, I believe in the project, and I believe we have the best chance in order to become the best car on the grid in the next years. So this is why I renewed with Ferrari.”

The post Ferrari Plays Ultimate Chess With Rivals Over Secret Deal With Charles Leclerc appeared first on The SportsRush.

Valentin Khorounzhiy, of The Race recently wrote a piece, in which he explained how Hamilton’s age could result in Ferrari not getting the rewards that they would expect from a driver of the Briton’s caliber. Khorounzhiy reveals that although Fernando Alonso is a driver who has set a new benchmark, he does not believe that all drivers are capable of achieving what the Spaniard is at his age.

Since Hamilton will turn 40 by the time he begins racing for Ferrari, Khorounzhiy believes that the Briton‘s performances may drop. While only time will tell how Hamilton performs for the Italian outfit, the one thing that is certain is that Carlos Sainz is the biggest loser as a result of this newly formed alliance.

Sainz will now need to seek a seat elsewhere for 2025, which could prove to be difficult. As things stand, Hamilton has signed a 1+1 year deal, which means that he could stay with Ferrari until the end of 2026. On the other hand, Charles Leclerc has signed a new long-term deal with Ferrari.

Lewis Hamilton’s arrival will provide Charles Leclerc his biggest-ever challenge

Over the previous couple of seasons, several experts have claimed that Ferrari’s number one driver is Charles Leclerc. However, with the arrival of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in 2025, things are likely to change.

The Briton is not a driver who would be interested in playing second fiddle to anyone. As a result, it is most likely that the 39-year-old’s arrival could end up hurting Leclerc the most. The Monegasque may no longer receive the benefit of the preferred strategy of the team.

Moreover, if things get heated up between the two drivers because of a dispute over the strategy, Ferrari could have a hard time managing both. The Tifosi will hope that this is not the case and that Hamilton only helps Ferrari return back to the top.

It’s been a crazy few days which have been filled with a whole range of emotions.

But as you all now know, after an incredible 11 years at Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, the time has come for me to start a new chapter in my life and I will be joining Scuderia Ferrari in 2025.

I… pic.twitter.com/ysie0XxAFe

— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) February 3, 2024

Irrespective of whether Hamilton’s move turns out to be a success when it comes to racing results or not, the move will certainly be a commercial success. In anticipation that one of the greatest ever drivers in F1 history will drive for their beloved team, Ferrari fans will rush to the stores to buy the company’s merchandise ahead of the 2025 season.

Moreover, the team is likely to receive a lot more sponsors. As for Hamilton, he will earn a whopping $100 million in salary in the 2025 season alone. He will also get the opportunity to be the brand ambassador for Ferrari for the next 10 years, among several other benefits.

The post F1 Expert Explains the Drawbacks of Lewis Hamilton’s Mega Move to Ferrari in 2025 appeared first on The SportsRush.

While speaking to Sky News Italia about how Leclerc reacted to the news that Hamilton would be moving to Ferrari in 2025, Vasseur said, “Leclerc is an intelligent boy. He understood immediately what he will be able to obtain and learn from this collaboration. He sees it more as an opportunity“.

Similarly to Vasseur, Leclerc himself has revealed why he will welcome Hamilton to Ferrari in 2025 with open arms. The Monegasque said that since professional drivers like him want to compete against the very best, Hamilton would help him do exactly that.

Even though Leclerc has made such claims while speaking to the media, several reports have stated otherwise. These reports claim that the 26-year-old is not happy that Hamilton will replace Carlos Sainz next year.

Leclerc’s entourage was reportedly shocked to hear about Hamilton’s arrival

According to Corriere dello Sport, Charles Leclerc and his entourage are “disappointed” by the news of Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari in 2025. The report adds that the Italian outfit’s decision “shocked” them as they had no idea that the Briton could sign for the team when Leclerc was negotiating his own contract.

Leclerc signed a new long-term deal with Ferrari, just a few days before the team confirmed that Hamilton would join them in 2025. However, there is no clarity available about whether Leclerc signed such an extension with the knowledge of Hamilton’s arrival or not.

On the same lines, another question that arises is whether Leclerc would have decided against signing an extension, had he known that Hamilton would join him at Ferrari in 2025. Although no one can know for sure what the chatter at Ferrari has been in the past few weeks, the only thing that seems certain is that the Prancing Horse are likely to have one of the most formidable driver line-ups next season.

Hamilton is a proven champion with seven titles and 103 race wins to his name. On the other hand, many experts believe that Leclerc is a future world champion, and all that the Monegasque needs is for Ferrari to deliver him a strong car.

The post “He Sees it More as an Opportunity”: Fred Vasseur Reveals Charles Leclerc Was Always On Board to Have Lewis Hamilton as a Teammate appeared first on The SportsRush.

The Spaniard told DAZN, as quoted by F1i.com, “I think it’s a very nice car, very different from the 2023 one. Ferrari’s engineers have innovated, there are things on the car that cannot be seen and which are purely Ferrari ideas which I am sure will give us greater performance.”

Furthermore, Sainz also added how the engineers at Maranello took elements from different teams to put them on the SF-24. He specifically mentioned Mercedes, Aston Martin, and Red Bull’s parts. But the #55 driver also asserted how this is very common in Formula 1. In the end, the SF-24 is purely masterminded by Ferrari, assured Sainz.

The moment you’ve all been waiting for…

The SF-24 is here!! pic.twitter.com/KVEcU5929j

— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 13, 2024

Despite taking the only non-Red Bull victory in Singapore, Ferrari finished in distant third place in the Constructors’ Championship. They had 406 points compared to Red Bull’s 860. This prompted the Italian team to go for a complete overhaul of their last year’s challenger.

Nevertheless, Ferrari believes in the new SF-24 and hopes to reduce the massive gap they had against Red Bull. With Lewis Hamilton all set to arrive next season, they need to be in a really good place to help the seven-time world champion have a shot at the world championship.

Can Ferrari go toe-to-toe against Red Bull in 2024?

2023 saw Red Bull take a massive leap against its rivals when they took 21 wins out of 22 races. Their dominance was so supreme that Mercedes and Ferrari’s points gathered together were not enough to match the Milton Keynes team in the Constructors’ Championship.

2024 is the third year under these regulations. Therefore, experts believe Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, and Aston Martin have a better understanding of the regulations and can close the gap with Max Verstappen and Co. However, matching them or beating them might be out of the question this season.

NEW SEASON, NEW HELMET
Rethinking the pattern!
Sticking to my colors!

–@ScuderiaFerrari #Carlossainz pic.twitter.com/y5WUbg6SGt

— Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) February 13, 2024

Red Bull launched the RB20 recently, and it baffled the fans. Adrian Newey brought in radical changes in the car with a vertical sidepod inlet and experts believe this is a massive jump toward the team’s upcoming dominance. While rivals were busy incorporating and taking inspiration from the RB19, Newey went a step ahead of the rest with RB20.

As for Carlos Sainz, he has to leave the team at the end of this season but remains committed to Ferrari for the time being. Despite proving his worth and being as good as Charles Leclerc, the Spaniard will have to part ways with Ferrari for Lewis Hamilton in 2025.

The post Carlos Sainz Refutes Christian Horner’s 2024 Prophecy: “Purely Ferrari Ideas” appeared first on The SportsRush.

The event began on the 15th of February and ended on the 16th. It was held at the facilities of IFEMA, a quasi-governmental organization comprising the regional administration of the Community of Madrid, the Madrid Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Montemadrid Foundation.

 

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A post shared by F1 GOSSIPP OFFICIAL (@f1gossippofficial)

The 20+ designers gracing the event showcased their fall-winter collections at the show. Donaldson posted a few snaps of the event on her official Instagram account.

During the event, she sported two designer pieces by the luxury fashion brand Lola Casademunt. One was a pink overcoat and the second an elegant green evening dress.

Donaldson was also the showstopper as she walked down the ramp with the designer at the end of the segment. Now, it would be interesting to see if Carlos Sainz follows his girlfriend’s footsteps and forms an allegiance with Mercedes or not in the future.

Who are the other candidates for Lewis Hamilton’s seat at Mercedes in 2025?

The battle to bag that second Mercedes seat is going to be an intense one. As it stands, on the current F1 grid, 12 drivers will run out of contracts at the end of the 2024 season. Naturally, with a vacant seat at Mercedes, there will be a lot of suitors lining themselves before Toto Wolff.

One such name that has been doing the circles of the paddock is Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso. The 42-year-old is a two-time world champion and is highly rated in the F1 paddock. Because of his experience, experts believe that Alonso could be the perfect man to replace the outgoing Lewis Hamilton.

| Mick Schumacher has admitted to being in short contact with Toto Wolff to replace Lewis Hamilton

“I think few people know how good I am.”#F1 pic.twitter.com/LaoSJoS3CC

— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) February 11, 2024

However, Alonso is not the only driver who is vying for that second Mercedes seat. Mercedes junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli is another option. The 17-year-old Italian will be competing in the 2024 F2 season with Prema Racing.

Meanwhile, another driver in the mix is former Haas racer Mick Schumacher – the current development driver for the Silver Arrows. Wolff has himself admitted that he is considering Schumacher and 2023 F2 runner-up Frederik Vesti for that vacant Mercedes seat in 2025.

The post Carlos Sainz’s Girlfriend Makes Showstopper Appearance for Mercedes Amid His Hunt for 2025 Seat appeared first on The SportsRush.