F1 - The African Mirror

Apr

2021

World champ Hamilton supports Russell’s apology

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER REIGNING Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has come out in support of George Russell after the McLaren driver tendered an apology following a dramatic high speed crash with Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas. This is what Hamilton said to Russell: " Strength comes from vulnerability. If you don't make mistake you can never learn the lesson. Respect for taking responsibility. On to the next one." Twenty four hours after the crash at the 2021 Emilia Romagna F1 race at Imola, which took both drivers after the race, Russell said he had time to reflect. In a statement,…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Electric Imola qualifying

SPORT

DEFENDING World champion Lewis Hamilton stormed through the final qualifying session claiming his 99th pole position of his illustrious career. Hamilton laid down a tough marker in the opening runs of the qualifying shootout with a provisional pole time of 1:14.411. Hamilton failed to improve on his final run, but the benchmark he set would be enough. Red Bull driver Sergio Perez put together a blistering final run in Q3 to qualify in second for his first-ever front row start. Perez qualified ahead of teammate Max Verstappen, who was out-qualified by a team mate for the first time since Malaysia…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

It’s all systems go for Perez and Red Bull

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO MAN met the machine. The machine was both powerful and colourful. The acquaintances took a few laps and the man pronounced himself ready for probably the biggest challenge of his Formula One career. After his dramatic move to Red Bull, a stunt that shocked F1 fans and saved his career, Sergio Perez finally got behind the wheel of the red, yellow and blue car. And while Perez will race for Red Bull in the newly-built 2021 car, he had to use the 2018 car, one that was driven by the man he replaced - Alex Albon - to…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Hamilton summits to the top of F1 history

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO LEWIS Hamilton won his record-equalling seventh world championship rising from sixth place on the grid. Hamilton’s historic feat spoke to his driving prowess on a day with horrid conditions that tested Mercedes' resolve. Along with drawing level with Michael Schumacher at the top of list Formula One’s greatest, Hamilton feat extended his record to 94 career race wins. “I'm definitely a bit lost for words. A huge thanks to the team. To Team LH for sticking with me for all these years. And to my family, “This is way beyond our dreams” said the Race winner Track conditions…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Red Bull’s roar on the streets marks Formula One’s return to Turkey

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO FORMULA One makes its long-awaited return to Istanbul after nine-years, and Red Bull marked the occasion with an exciting, and discrete, ride through the town to the famous Bosphorous Bridge. F1 drivers Pierre Gasly of Scuderia AlphaTauri and Alex Albon of Aston Martin Red Bull Racing took to the streets of the transcontinental city Istanbul, Turkey with a driving display through the town. https://twitter.com/F1/status/1326942196763942912 Blown away at the beauty of the bridge Gasly said: “Any time you have the possibility to drive a Formula 1 car at an iconic landmark is special. It was incredible to drive on…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Formula 1 announces provisional 23-race calendar for 2021

SPORT

FORMULA 1 has revealed the calendar for the 2021 season, with 23 Grands Prix on the provisional schedule for next year. The season will start in Australia in mid-March, finish in Abu Dhabi in early December, and feature the first-ever World Championship race in Saudi Arabia. The announcement follows an unprecedented year for Formula 1 in which the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a revised 2020 calendar of 17 races, as F1 became the first international sport to resume its season. “The plans for 2021 have involved extensive dialogue with all promoters and their local and national authorities at a time of…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Saudi Arabia to host F1 night race in Jeddah in 2021

SPORT

ALAN BALDWIN SAUDI Arabia will host a Formula One Grand Prix for the first time next year with a night race on the streets of the country's second city Jeddah, the sport and organisers announced on Thursday. The November race -- along Jeddah's corniche facing the Red Sea -- will be the third in the Middle East with Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, subject to confirmation of a 2021 calendar that has yet to be published. Formula One's current season has been restricted by the COVID-19 pandemic to 17 races in Europe and the Middle East but the sport is hoping…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Verstappen claims first win of the season

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO RED Bull’s brave strategy paid off as Max Verstappen stormed past the chequered flag in first place after a fantastic drive from fourth in the British Grand Prix, a race that celebrated Formula One’s 70 years. Both Mercedes’ experienced tyre issues and found themselves responding to the quicker Red Bull, finishing in second and third. A late pit stop from last week’s race winner Lewis Hamilton saw him pass teammate Valtteri Bottas, who started on pole, with five laps to go. Ferrari experienced a mixed outing at Silverstone. Charles Leclerc endured a tough race to come home a…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Bottas pips Lewis Hamilton to 70th Anniversary Grand Prix pole

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO VALTERRI Bottas pipped teammate and defending world champion Lewis Hamilton to 70th anniversary Grand Formula Prix pole in an exciting qualifying, but the talk at the paddock was Racing Point’s Nico Hulkenberg, who stormed to a third spot on the grid. Bottas' excellent drive meant that Hamilton lost out on his 92nd career pole by just six hundredths of a second. Hulkenberg, who did not start last week because of engine problems, caught many by surprise and came hours after his team was fined 15 points for 5 points in the constructors' championship and fined 400,000 Euros, for illegally…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Lewis Hamilton’s drama-filled home win

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER WORLD champion Lewis Hamilton won a drama-filled home F1 British Grand Prix race on three tyres after he experienced a spectacular blow out of his left front, half way through the last lap. Hamilton, who led from pole, brought the car home on a wing and a prayer, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, on fresh tyres, breathing down his neck. Verstappen came within six seconds of snatching victory from Hamilton. Tyre strategy by the teams and management by the drivers, was at the heart of the Silverstone race, with Hamilton, teammate Valterri Bottas and McLaren’s Carlos Sainz…