Formula 1

Carlos Sainz topped the times ahead of team-mate Charles Leclerc as Ferrari delivered a resounding one-two ahead of Red Bull’s world champion and series leader Max Verstappen in Friday’s opening practice at the Belgian Grand Prix. The Spaniard clocked a best lap in one minute and 46.538 seconds to outpace his Monegasque partner by nearly

Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali says he does not expect a woman to race at the top level of the sport in the next five years. Domenicali said it was “crucial to give the maximum possibility for women to come to F1 – we are totally dedicated to that”. But he added: “Realistically speaking, unless

Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo will leave McLaren at the end of the season a year early than his contract runs to after both parties mutually agreed to it the Formula One outfit announced on Wednesday. The 33-year-old, who joined in 2021, said he will leave “proud of the effort and work I gave McLaren.” Ricciardo

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

PA Media Bernie Ecclestone has denied fraud over an alleged failure to declare about $650m in overseas assets. The 91-year-old former Formula 1 boss indicated a not guilty plea to a charge of fraud by false representation at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. He is accused of failing to declare a trust in Singapore with a bank

Former F1 driver Stoffel Vandoorne clinched the Formula E title for the departing Mercedes team at the season’s final race in South Korea on Sunday. Jaguar’s Mitch Evans needed to win and hope Vandoorne finished no better than eighth but the Belgian made sure of the title by finishing second to Venturi’s Edoardo Mortara in

Turning down a role as a fighter pilot in Tom Cruise film Top Gun: Maverick was “the most upsetting call that I think I’ve ever had”, says Lewis Hamilton. The British seven-time Formula 1 world champion said he accepted a part in the hit sequel to the original 1986 film. However, he had to pull

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has said he could continue in Formula One beyond the finish of his current contract with Mercedes. The 37-year-old Briton won six drivers’ world championships in seven years between 2014-2020 following a maiden title success with McLaren in 2008. But he was denied a record-breaking eighth title last year by

Charles Leclerc admits “emotions have run extremely high” in a tumultuous first part of the season for himself and his Ferrari team. “Whether it was in highs or lows, there was no race with no emotions,” Leclerc says. “It’s either win, or leading and then some problems occur or whatever. So it’s been a first

Williams have retained Alex Albon as their driver in Formula 1 for what they say is next season “and beyond”. The team announced on Tuesday that they had signed a “multi-year agreement” with the British-born Thai driver. Albon said: “The team are pushing hard to progress, and I am really motivated to continue on this

Oscar Piastri says he will not replace Fernando Alonso at Alpine next season – after the team said he would. Alpine announced on Tuesday afternoon that the 21-year-old would race “in line with the commitments made by the team to the young Australian”. But Piastri then tweeted that he had “not signed a contract with

Britain’s seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton has joined the incoming ownership group of three-time Super Bowl winners the Denver Broncos. Hamilton has been brought into the group by Walmart boss Rob Walton, who is in the process of completing a reported $4.65bn (£3.81bn) takeover of the franchise. The Waltons are America’s richest family and

Honda is to continue supplying technical support to Red Bull in Formula 1 until the end of 2025. The Japanese company officially pulled out of F1 last year, but agreed to continue to supply engines and engineering support to Red Bull until the end of 2023. That agreement has now been extended by a further

Alpine have admitted that Fernando Alonso’s decision to switch to Aston Martin caught them by surprise and was caused by a contractual dispute. Team boss Otmar Szafnauer said Alpine offered a deal for 2023 with an option for 2024, but 41-year-old Alonso “wanted something longer”. Szafnauer said Alpine’s concerns were that Alonso’s abilities may wane

Fernando Alonso’s move to Aston Martin to replace retiring Sebastian Vettel next year was the focus of interest in Formula One after the Hungarian Grand Prix. Here AFP looks at five talking points as the world championship heads into its annual summer holiday shutdown: Ferrari’s problems Team boss Mattia Binotto faced increasing pressure on Monday

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso is to drive for Aston Martin from 2023 on a multi-year contract. Alonso, F1 champion in 2005 and 2006, returned to the sport in 2021 after a two-year hiatus racing elsewhere. “I still have the hunger and ambition to fight to be at the front,” Alonso said. “Aston Martin is clearly

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen drove an outstanding race to win the Hungarian Grand Prix from 10th on the grid despite a spin costing the lead. Verstappen passed title rival Charles Leclerc twice raising fresh questions about Ferrari’s race operations. Red Bull’s pit strategy also vaulted Verstappen ahead of pole-sitter George Russell, who lost out on

Axed Formula One race director Michael Masi Sunday revealed he was bombarded with “vile” abuse and death threats after his stunning call that cost Lewis Hamilton an eighth world title. The 44-year-old was removed from the high-profile job over his management of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year and quit the sport’s governing