Autosport

You can always trust young people to make you feel old… When our Grand Prix Editor Alex Kalinauckas began work on this week’s cover story on Lewis Hamilton’s 10 years at Mercedes, the first reaction was, ‘But it can’t be 10 years!’ Of course, what Hamilton and the team have achieved in that decade – six world titles, and still counting? – is staggering and has set the standard in Formula 1. It’s easy to forget what a risk Hamilton seemed to be taking when he upped sticks from his alma mater at McLaren but, starting on p16, Kalinauckas details exactly what has made the combination such a phenomenon, with insight from Mercedes engineering chief Andrew Shovlin. Kevin Turner follows this up on p24 by ranking Hamilton’s 10 seasons with the…

FORMULA 1 Tensions between motorsport’s governing body and Formula 1’s commercial rights holder grew last week after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem described a suggested $20billion valuation of the series as “inflated”. A report from Bloomberg last month claimed that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund had considered a $20bn bid for F1, only for Liberty Media to show little interest in selling the series. Although it is understood that talks between PIF and F1 were in fact related to sponsorship opportunities, Ben Sulayem (right) took to social media to say he was “cautious about alleged inflated price tags of $20bn being put on F1”. “Any potential buyer is advised to apply common sense, consider the greater good of the sport and come with a clear, sustainable plan – not just a lot of…

FORMULA 1 Haas became the first team to unveil its new livery for the 2023 Formula 1 season on Tuesday, and has ditched the Russian colours of former title sponsor Uralkali. Haas cut ties with Uralkali and its driver, Nikita Mazepin, last February in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but was stuck with the red, white and blue colours of the company for the entirety of the 2022 season. Following the arrival of new title sponsor MoneyGram, it has reverted to its white, red and black colours of old. The team fields a revised driver line-up this season after replacing Mick Schumacher with Nico Hulkenberg, who completes one of the most experienced pairings on the grid alongside incumbent Kevin Magnussen as the team pursues greater consistency. The extra financial boost from…

FORMULA 1 Ford’s head of motorsport has admitted that a return to Formula 1 “requires consideration” as rumours of a potential link-up with Red Bull begin to gather momentum. Following the collapse of its planned partnership with Porsche, Red Bull is understood to be in advanced talks with Ford about a deal that would mean the Blue Oval’s return to F1 after two decades. The agreement would centre on Red Bull Powertrains, the engine arm that is working on Red Bull’s power unit for the new regulations in 2026, and could bring the Ford name back to F1 for the first time since it sold the Jaguar team to Red Bull in 2004. Although Ford head of motorsport Mark Rushbrook would not comment on speculation regarding Red Bull, he told Autosport at last…

LE MANS 24 HOURS Jenson Button is on course to return to the Le Mans 24 Hours in June. It will not be at the wheel of a prototype like last time in 2018, rather the Garage 56 racer based around a Next Gen NASCAR Cup car. The 2009 Formula 1 world champion has been announced as one of the drivers for the bid by Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports for the Le Mans grid slot aimed at experimental machinery. Button was unveiled last week during Daytona 24 Hours week alongside NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson, who drove for Hendrick throughout his illustrious Cup career, and 2010 Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller, who has led development of the Camaro LS1 on the simulator and then on the track. Button, whose previous Le Mans start came…

FORMULA 1 A busy week for the Sauber-run Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team has resulted in a new title sponsor, a new team boss and a first shareholding from Audi, while bidding farewell to Robert Kubica. Alfa Romeo announced last Friday that it had parted company with Orlen, its title sponsor of three years and primary backer of one-time grand prix winner Kubica (right), who served as its reserve driver since 2020. Orlen has been replaced by Stake, a gambling company that has relationships with Canadian rapper Drake and is struggling Premier League side Everton’s shirt sponsor. Although Orlen was swiftly announced as a new principal partner for AlphaTauri, Kubica is not thought to be in line for any role with the Red Bull sister team, meaning his departure from F1 after an…