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Mick Schumacher, the son of legendary Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher, has opened up about the challenges and inspirations that have shaped his racing career. After his father's life-altering skiing accident in 2013, Mick had to navigate much of his professional journey independently.Growing up, Mick was heavily influenced by his father's competitive spirit and demanding guidance. Michael encouraged Mick to pursue his passion for racing, but also instilled in him the importance of commitment and precision. Mick recalls a karting race where he attempted a bold late brake to save time. Michael's response was not just praise, but a challenge to brake like that in every corner.However, everything changed in 2013 when Michael's accident occurred. Mick was just 14 at the time and was preparing to enter Formula classes. Without his father's guidance, Mick faced new challenges. "I started racing in the Formula classes the year after, and from that point onwards, I had to find my own feet," he said.Mick's talent and resilience eventually led him to Formula 1, where he joined the Haas team in 2021. Over two seasons, he gained invaluable experience but found himself navigating the tough realities of the sport alone. After his stint with Haas, he became a reserve driver for Mercedes, while simultaneously pursuing opportunities in the World Endurance Championship with Alpine.Despite his drive and achievements, Mick's hopes of a 2024 return to F1 were recently dashed when Sauber, now owned by Audi, selected 18-year-old Gabriel Bortoleto over him. However, Mick remains determined to continue his racing career, drawing inspiration from his father's teachings and his own resilience.

Max Verstappen's remarkable comeback victory at the rain-soaked Brazilian Grand Prix has reignited his quest for a fourth consecutive world title. Starting from a lowly 17th on the grid, the Red Bull driver displayed his exceptional driving skills to surge through the field and claim a thrilling victory.The race was marred by treacherous conditions, with heavy rain forcing a red flag suspension. When the action resumed, Verstappen seized the opportunity to make his move. He overtook several cars on the opening lap and continued to climb the order with each passing lap.As the race progressed, Verstappen's rivals faltered. Title contender Lando Norris, who started from pole position, could only manage a disappointing sixth-place finish in his McLaren. Alpine duo Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, who benefited from the red flag, finished second and third respectively.Verstappen's victory was his first since the Spanish Grand Prix in June. It also extended his championship lead to a commanding 62 points with just three races remaining in the season. The Dutchman is now on the cusp of securing his fourth consecutive world title."You know what that is? Simply lovely," exclaimed Verstappen over the team radio as he crossed the finish line.Behind Verstappen, George Russell finished fourth in his Mercedes, while Charles Leclerc took fifth in his Ferrari. McLaren's Oscar Piastri, RB Racing's Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top 10.Verstappen's victory was a testament to his unwavering determination and exceptional talent. Despite starting from the back of the grid, he refused to give up and fought his way to the front. His performance was a reminder of why he is considered one of the greatest drivers of his generation.

Oscar Piastri, the McLaren driver, secured pole position for the sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Friday. Despite his desire to win, Piastri acknowledged that his teammate Lando Norris has a greater need for points in the drivers' standings.The McLaren duo, aided by an updated rear wing, dominated the front row of the grid, raising the possibility of team orders to assist Norris's title bid. Piastri expressed his willingness to relinquish a victory if necessary, recognizing Norris's higher priority in the championship race.However, Piastri emphasized his determination to win the sprint race, stating that anything could happen. He acknowledged that McLaren's performance boost from the new rear wing had given them an advantage.The newly resurfaced track at Interlagos proved to be challenging for the drivers due to its bumpy surface. Piastri described it as "hard enough to see where you're going, let alone try to do a fast lap."Norris expressed surprise at the speed of his car, admitting that he had made mistakes on his final lap. He declined to discuss his prospects of closing in on Max Verstappen in the title race, stating that he was focused on his own performance.Verstappen, who will face a five-place grid penalty in Sunday's Grand Prix for taking a new engine, qualified fourth behind the McLaren duo and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. He attributed his performance to the car's difficulty on the bumpy track.Alex Albon finished ninth for Williams, while Oliver Bearman impressed in place of Kevin Magnussen for Haas.

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, fierce championship rivals, are poised for another thrilling duel in Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix after qualifying second and third, respectively.Verstappen, the three-time champion and series leader, expressed satisfaction with his starting position despite having his first fastest lap in Q3 deleted for exceeding track limits. "I wasn't sure it would be possible to be on the front row," he said. "So, to do it makes me very happy!"Norris, trailing Verstappen by 57 points with five races remaining, was penalized five seconds for running off-track during last Sunday's United States Grand Prix. He remains determined to find a way to overcome Verstappen and claim the title. "Honestly, I'm pretty happy with third," he said. "I feel like I got to the limit of the car quite quickly."Both drivers acknowledged the challenges of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit. "This is probably one of the hardest tracks to get right," said Verstappen. "Low downforce, easy to lock-up and to slide ... it's one of the trickiest ones on the calendar."Norris added, "No one has done long runs on the tires we will be on tomorrow so there are question marks for us all."Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr. secured pole position, while Sergio Perez and Oscar Piastri, the second drivers for Red Bull and McLaren, respectively, failed to qualify in the top half of the grid.Norris hinted at potential changes in his approach to passing Verstappen on track. "I might be more aggressive or I might be less aggressive," he said. "It depends ... Let's see what happens."The Mexico City Grand Prix promises to be a captivating battle between Verstappen and Norris, with both drivers eager to gain an advantage in the championship race.

Carlos Sainz secured a stunning pole position for Ferrari at the Mexico City Grand Prix, outpacing defending champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull. Sainz's time of 1:15.946 was 0.225 seconds faster than Verstappen, who had his first lap in the top 10 shoot-out deleted.McLaren's Lando Norris qualified third, ahead of Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari and George Russell in the Williams. Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton finished sixth for Mercedes.Sainz's pole was his sixth career pole and his third in the last three Mexican events. "I am very happy with that and to be on pole," said Sainz, who is set to leave Ferrari for Williams next year. "I had a great couple of laps and it is very difficult here with lots of sliding. My laps were almost identical and perfect. It is such a tricky circuit!"Verstappen, who had an engine change on his car following problems on Friday, said: "I felt under pressure and I was playing catch-up especially after losing my first lap time."Norris said he was satisfied with third. "Honestly, I'm pretty happy as I struggled to get more in my final two laps. Carlos was very quick all weekend, but I'm happy with third. Ferrari look very strong."Kevin Magnussen was seventh for Haas, the team's best qualifying result in Mexico, ahead of Alpine's Pierre Gasly, Williams' Alex Albon, and Nico Hulkenberg in the second Haas.Sergio Perez, the Mexican driver for Red Bull, had a disappointing qualifying session, finishing 18th. It was his worst starting slot in nine Mexican Grands Prix."It's very difficult with this car - I can't attack the corner into braking," said Perez.The Sauber drivers were first out as Q1 began in warmer conditions than those for final practice. Both Ferraris went top before Norris, and then Verstappen took control. Perez, struggling with his brakes, was 1.5 seconds adrift in 14th.As the track improved, the times tumbled with Stroll briefly fourth and Gasly second ahead of Hulkenberg. Switching to softs, in search of more pace and grip, Piastri, who was fastest for McLaren in FP3, fought to progress and slumped to 19th ahead of Red Bull's Perez with two minutes to go - while Norris leapt to the top of the times.In the final seconds, big improvements by others left Piastri and Perez in the drop zone - a surprise to many and a shock to the Mexicans' huge following at the circuit.Alex Albon led the way for Q2, with Verstappen setting the early pace before Norris took command as RB's Yuki Tsunoda locked up and crashed at Turn 12, bringing out red flags.This meant he and team-mate Liam Lawson were out along with Aston Martin's two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, in his 400th Grand Prix, and Lance Stroll and Sauber's Valtteri Bottas.Verstappen setting the pace in the top-10 final session with a sizzling early lap in 1:16.368, more than half a second quicker than Norris, but the Dutchman's lap was deleted for exceeding track limits.That left Ferrari to take control with Sainz on top in 1:16.055. Fortunately, Red Bull had another set of softs available for Verstappen's second run.In a frantic finale, Sainz improved his time to resist Verstappen's best effort with Norris lining up third, unable to break into the front row.

In a thrilling United States Grand Prix, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz secured a dominant one-two victory, while McLaren's Lando Norris was relegated to fourth after a five-second penalty.Leclerc, starting from fourth on the grid, seized the lead on the opening lap, capitalizing on a gap left by pole-sitter Norris. Verstappen, who had initially challenged Norris, was forced wide and fell to third.Norris, despite a strong start, dropped to fourth as Sainz also overtook him. The opening lap was further marred by Lewis Hamilton's retirement after an off-track excursion.As the race progressed, Leclerc extended his lead, while Verstappen struggled with understeer and defended valiantly against Norris. On lap 53, Norris finally passed Verstappen, but the move was deemed illegal by the stewards, resulting in a five-second penalty.Norris's penalty dropped him to fourth, behind Leclerc, Sainz, and Verstappen. Oscar Piastri and George Russell completed the top six, while Sergio Perez finished seventh for Red Bull.Leclerc's victory was his first in the United States and his eighth career win. It also marked Ferrari's first one-two finish in America since 2006."It wasn't an easy weekend up to now," said Leclerc. "I have been struggling with the feeling with the car, but I had confidence in the race. I am really happy with today, a 1-2 for the team, we couldn't have dreamed for better."Verstappen, despite his podium finish, extended his championship lead over Norris to 57 points. "It was a difficult race for me," said Verstappen. "I never had the pace to attack and defending was quite difficult with understeer. It was a tough battle and tough to keep him (Norris) behind but it's a great result."Norris expressed disappointment with his penalty. "I have my opinion about his move, but I'll leave it to the stewards," he said. "I don't need to say anything here."

Daniel Ricciardo's illustrious Formula 1 career may have come to an end with a bittersweet performance at the Singapore Grand Prix. Despite finishing last, the Australian driver left an indelible mark on the race by securing the fastest lap and earning the coveted "Driver of the Day" accolade.Ricciardo's final lap was a testament to his unwavering determination and skill. Despite his McLaren's lack of pace, he managed to snatch the fastest lap from race winner Lando Norris, potentially handing a crucial bonus point to his former Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen in the title race.Verstappen, who finished second, expressed his gratitude to Ricciardo and the junior Red Bull team for preventing Norris from claiming the extra point. "Thank you, Daniel," Verstappen said over team radio.Ricciardo's departure from Formula 1 will leave a void in the paddock. Known for his infectious smile and witty humor, the Australian has been one of the most beloved drivers in the sport. He introduced the iconic "Shoey" celebration to the podium, guzzling champagne from his sweaty racing boot after each of his eight Grand Prix victories.Throughout his 13-year career, Ricciardo has amassed 32 podium appearances, representing Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Renault, and McLaren. He has scored an impressive 1,329 points, cementing his legacy as one of the most successful Australian drivers in Formula 1 history.In a post-race interview, an emotional Ricciardo reflected on his journey. "Typically, the 'Driver of the Day' thing is not something we drivers look too much into," he said. "But today, I can say it's something I'm appreciative of. So that one means a little something."While the fairytale ending may have eluded him, Ricciardo expressed pride in his accomplishments. "I have to look back on what's been 13 or so years, and I'm proud," he said.

Oscar Piastri has clarified that he will not automatically defer to his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in every remaining race of the 2023 Formula 1 season, despite the team's decision to implement team orders in support of Norris's title bid.Speaking to reporters ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Piastri acknowledged the principle of assisting Norris to bolster both his and the team's standings. However, he emphasized that he would retain the freedom to compete against Norris in certain races and circumstances."It's not going to be a case of me pulling over for Lando at every single race," Piastri stated. "That's not how any of us, including Lando, want to go racing."Piastri explained that the team would need to carefully consider each scenario and reward the driver who had performed better on a given weekend. He stressed that the team's goal was not to simply prioritize Norris in every decision but to maintain a balance that would benefit both drivers and the team as a whole."We're not leading the constructors' championship, so we need to make sure we win that," Piastri said. "It's important we maintain that kind of trust."McLaren team principal Andrea Stella had previously announced that the team would employ team orders in specific situations to support Norris's pursuit of the drivers' championship. Norris currently trails reigning champion Max Verstappen by 62 points.Piastri acknowledged that team orders could be challenging for drivers, but he recognized the broader context and the team's objectives."I race for a team that's given me my opportunity in F1 and a team that has given me the opportunity to win races within 18 months of being here," Piastri said. "I have a lot of gratitude for that. The bigger picture is about more than just me."Piastri emphasized the team's goal of winning both the drivers' and constructors' championships, acknowledging that such an achievement would be a significant milestone for McLaren.

Kush Maini, India's rising star in motorsport, has made significant strides in his Formula 1 aspirations with his second successful test with the Alpine F1 Team. The 21-year-old driver took to the iconic Imola circuit for a two-day test, showcasing his exceptional skills and potential.Maini, who is the sole Indian representative in the highly competitive Formula 2 series, impressed the Alpine team with his performance behind the wheel of the Alpine A522. The test provided him with valuable experience and feedback, as he completed 99 laps and covered close to 500 kilometers.This latest test follows Maini's impressive debut test with Red Bull Racing earlier this year. His consistent performances in Formula 2 and now two successful F1 tests have positioned him as a strong contender for a potential reserve driver role with Alpine for the 2025 season.Maini's performance at Imola was particularly noteworthy, as he demonstrated strong pace in both qualifying and race simulations. The team was impressed with his ability to adapt quickly to the car and provide valuable feedback.After the test, Maini expressed his gratitude to Alpine for the opportunity and his excitement for the future. "Can't thank Alpine enough for this opportunity. Very strong day, both qualification and race pace looked very good. Can't wait for the next one," he said.Maini's success at Imola comes at a crucial time, as the team's reserve driver spot recently became available. With his impressive performances, he has emerged as a strong candidate for the role.As the Formula 2 season resumes this weekend, Maini will return to action at Monza with renewed confidence. His recent F1 test experience will undoubtedly benefit him as he aims to continue his podium-winning streak.Maini's journey in motorsport has been marked by consistent progress and impressive performances. Within a span of three months, he has performed consistently at two F1 tests, represented Alpine at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and secured his first Formula 2 win at the Hungarian GP.As he continues to develop and showcase his talent, Kush Maini is poised to make a significant impact on the world of Formula 1. His determination, skill, and unwavering passion make him a rising star to watch in the years to come.