HAMILTON'S SURFING TRIP WITH KIM KARDASHIAN SPARKS HILARIOUS SERGIO PEREZ REACTION

Photo: Race Pictures

With Formula 1 enjoying a week-long break ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton recently delighted fans by sharing footage of himself surfing alongside Kim Kardashian, and Sergio Perez could not help but offer a hilarious reaction to the footage.

The seven-time champion, who has often been seen sharing relatively affectionate moments with the American socialite, despite the pair not openly admitting they were in a relationship, again thrilled his fans and followers when he took to his Instagram to share footage of him surfing.

While the video itself was entertaining, it was Hamilton's perfectly executed 360-degree spin on the wave that really got fans talking. Kardashian was visibly thrilled by the Ferrari driver's display, screaming with excitement as she watched him complete the impressive manoeuvre.

However, amid the several reactions that continued to greet Hamilton's surfing adventure, Cadillac driver Sergio Perez could not help but drop in a cheeky comment. The former Red Bull Racing driver, reacting to the video, simply quipped: "Ai 100% 😂"

Kim Kardashian was present at the Monaco Grand Prix to cheer Lewis Hamilton - Photo: Race Pictures

Hamilton and Kardashian have continued to appear in public together, and the American socialite was present at the Monaco Grand Prix to cheer Hamilton following his second-place finish at the famed Monte Carlo street race.

George Russell pokes fun at Lewis Hamilton over Kim Kardashian

Earlier during the British Grand Prix weekend, George Russell could not resist teasing Hamilton about Kim Kardashian during a fan event at the Silverstone Circuit. The pair, who were teammates at Mercedes, appeared together on stage in front of a lively crowd alongside fellow British drivers Lando Norris, Arvid Lindblad and Oliver Bearman.

The event was hosted by Sky Sports commentator David Croft, who commented on Hamilton's noticeably positive demeanour this season. Crofty noted: "Lewis, on track and off track, you're a much happier man this year, and from everyone here, that is great to see."

Russell swiftly interjected with comedic timing, playfully asking Hamilton: "Is that because of a fast car or a new girlfriend?" The comment drew laughter from the crowd and the drivers on stage. Hamilton took the question in good humour and smiled before saying, "Yeah, that's a good one."

Croft jumped back in on the joke, telling Hamilton, "You know why he's asking? He just needs to know whether Kimi needs two towels."

During the Monaco Grand Prix, at which Kardashian was present, she was seen picking up Kimi Antonelli's towel and using it to wipe her face in the aftermath of the race, a moment that was captured and shared online. Kardashian would eventually gift Antonelli a replacement towel bearing the inscription: "To Kimi from Kim".

- Samson Ero

MOST CAREER POINTS | FORMULA 1

 

SERGIO PEREZ VS. VALTTERI BOTTAS | STATS

 

DAVID COULTHARD DELIVERS INSTANT FOUR-WORD VERDICT AFTER CADILLAC SIGN VALTTERI BOTTAS AND SERGIO PEREZ

Credit: Bryn Lennon - Formula 1/Formula 1/Andrea Diodato/NurPhoto/Simon Galloway/LAT Images for Formula E via Getty Images

Cadillac have finally ended the speculation around their first F1 driver line-up by announcing Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas. Both drivers will make comebacks in their mid-30s.

Perez lost his Red Bull seat at the end of last season via a pay-off. He’d spent four years at Milton Keynes but, while there was always an element of inconsistency, he truly unravelled in 2024.

Bottas, who used to go up against Perez at Mercedes, had already dropped into the lower midfield with Sauber. Both he and teammate Zhou Guanyu were axed at the end of a four-point campaign.

As it stands, Cadillac will have the oldest line-up in Formula 1 next year. Both drivers are contracted for multiple seasons, which indicates that the team don’t see the moves as risky.

David Coulthard calls Cadillac’s F1 driver line-up ‘perfect’

David Coulthard is a Red Bull ambassador, which makes him a former colleague of Perez. He was among the first big names to react when Cadillac announced their line-up on Instagram.

Coulthard wrote that Graeme Lowdon and co. had made a ‘perfect driver line-up’ in addition for their first season. Between them, Bottas and Perez have won 16 Grands Prix.

For reference, only McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes boast two race-winning drivers. Cadillac expect to be at the back next year, but these two drivers can help them operate like a top team.

Coulthard’s counterpart Martin Brundle agrees that Cadillac have formed a ‘great line-up’. He did warn, though, that the veteran duo will have to manage some ‘early frustrations’.

Kimi Antonelli reacts to Mercedes colleague Valtteri Bottas landing Cadillac drive

Like the rest of the teams, Cadillac will make their 2026 ‘debut’ behind closed doors in Barcelona. This will relieve some of the pressure surrounding a brand-new set-up.

Reports have already claimed that Bottas could take part in a TPC run, using an old Ferrari, to sharpen up the team’s mechanics and engineers. Theoretically, there would be nothing stopping the free agent Perez from getting involved, either.

Ferrari will supply Cadillac’s engine for their first few years of their existence. They then plan to introduce their own power unit and become a fully-fledged works team, although their original drivers may have retired by then.

Kimi Antonelli has congratulated Bottas, who has mentored him at Mercedes this season. He wishes the Finn good luck on his ‘next adventure’.

- David Comerford

WHY CADILLAC WILL USE RIVAL'S CAR FOR F1 TESTING DEBUT

The Cadillac team will conduct on-track Formula 1 testing this year using a car supplied by another team as it ramps up preparations for its debut in 2026. 

Sergio Perez, who was officially confirmed today as a Cadillac race driver for next year, says “there are some plans with the team to test [a] Formula 1 car before the end of the year".

Valtteri Bottas, who has also been announced as his team-mate, is under contract to Mercedes, so will continue to conduct reserve driver duties for the rest of the year, meaning it’s Perez who will primarily be available for test running in ’25. 

Cadillac will not have a car of its own available until pre-season testing begins in late January next year, but it is permitted to run a car provided by another team.

Although Cadillac has not confirmed what machinery it will use, it would be logical for it to run a Ferrari under TPC [testing of previous cars, which permits the use of 2022-2024 F1 machinery] regulations. 

While beneficial for Perez, who has been out of F1 since the end of last season, it is primarily of value to help the team’s preparations.

It will be part of what’s internally called the ‘race ready’ programme, designed to get Cadillac as sharp as possible ahead of its debut in Australia next March, which is currently focused on race weekends in terms of simulated running. 

“We don’t have a TPC car or a current car that we can operate, but we are already simulating race events,” said team principal Graeme Lowdon when asked by The Race about testing plans. 

“The next one that we're doing is Monza, and we simulate it as if it is a complete race, from start to finish with full integration of everybody in the team from Thursday all the way through to Sunday.

“We’ve got a very clear plan in our build-up to Melbourne next year and it doesn't involve just simulating races, which is really, really important. The last one we simulated, we probably had 50 or 60 engineering people fully involved over the whole weekend, both in the UK and the US, all getting used to working with each other.

"And we need to be in a position that when we get to Melbourne, we're not in a position where people are hearing voices for the first time, or working with each other for the first time, or anything else like that.

“And we’ll be introducing car testing as well this year. Obviously, we have to work with others to be able to do that, but there's that's perfectly allowable under the regulations.

“We just have a plan to steadily build up so that when we get to Melbourne, we hit the ground running, and the drivers themselves play such an important part in it. And the one thing I can tell you, just spending time with them is, I don't want to put words in their mouths, but there's a huge amount of enthusiasm to get going.”

The extent of the on-track programme is not clear, but in keeping with Lowdon's intention to prepare the team it is likely to involve a full complement of operational trackside personnel, or as close to that as possible, with the intention to simulate parts of the race weekend.

- Edd Straw, Scott Mitchell-Malm

SAUDI ARABIA GRAND PRIX

 

MEXICO GP FACING UNCERTAIN FUTURE FOLLOWING PEREZ F1 EXIT

The Mexican Grand Prix is facing an uphill battle to secure its place on the Formula 1 calendar beyond 2025, with promoters expressing serious concern following the departure of homegrown star Sergio Perez.

With the former Red Bull driver no longer on the grid, the event’s long-term viability is in question, casting doubt over the future of one of F1’s most vibrant and passionate races.

The Mexican Grand Prix has enjoyed a resurgence since its return to the F1 calendar in 2015, drawing record-breaking crowds year after year.

But at the heart of its success has been the country’s unwavering support for Sergio Perez, whose presence has galvanized a fervent home crowd.

Last year, a staggering 404,958 fans poured into the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City over the race weekend, many coming specifically to cheer on their national hero.

However, with Red Bull opting to part ways with Perez at the end of 2024 following a difficult season, the event’s organisers fear a significant drop in interest.

Alejandro Soberon, CEO of CIE, the company behind the race’s promotion, has admitted that Perez’s absence from the grid is a cause for major concern.

“As organisers, we are very concerned about Sergio Perez's absence from the Formula 1 grid,” Soberon stated, quoted by FormulaPassion.it.

“However, we are trying to find a way to extend our contract with the championship.”

Searching for a Future Without Perez

Soberon remains hopeful that the spectacle of the event itself can sustain fan enthusiasm, emphasizing improvements made in recent years.

“We are now able to provide the public with a much better show than we did five years ago, and we believe that the competition between the drivers and the bright colours of our show are sufficient aspects to keep spectators interested,” he said last October, when doubts regarding Perez F1 future emerged.

Yet, he acknowledged that losing a local hero presents a formidable challenge. While having a homegrown star undeniably boosts attendance and engagement, Soberon remains optimistic that the Mexican crowd will continue to find new drivers to rally behind.

“Everything depends on marketing and, although it is always better to have an idol of the local public, in the event that there is not one we are convinced that the fans will still find a hero to support,” he explained.

Fighting for a Spot on the Calendar

The timing of Mexico’s contract expiration complicates matters further. Two other major venues –Imola and Las Vegas – also have contracts expiring in 2025.

However, Las Vegas is widely expected to secure a long-term extension, as Formula 1 itself acts as the event’s promoter, and local authorities have already paved the way for a decade-long commitment to racing in the entertainment capital.

Meanwhile, several other nations, including South Africa and Rwanda, are eager to claim a spot on the F1 calendar. With the increasing globalization of the sport, competition for hosting rights is fiercer than ever.

The Mexican Grand Prix has been a cornerstone of F1’s Latin American presence, but its survival now depends on proving it can thrive without Perez.

If the event fails to maintain its immense draw, Formula 1 may be tempted to move the slot elsewhere.

Soberon’s comments underscore the anxiety surrounding the race’s future, but they also reflect a belief that the passionate Mexican fanbase can keep the event alive.

Whether that optimism translates into a contract extension remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: 2025 could be the most crucial year in the history of the Mexico City Grand Prix.

- Phillip van Osten

SERGIO PEREZ SAYS THANK YOU

 

PEREZ & HAMILTON FUMING AT QATAR SPRINT RACE 👀

MOST PENALIZED DRIVERS SUNCE 2014 | TOP TEN

 

SERGIO PEREZ LEFT RED-FACED BY TWO SACKED F1 DRIVERS AFTER :RAKING UP £3.7M BILL'

Sergio Perez's Formula One season hasn't gone anywhere near as well as his Red Bull partner Max Verstappen's, but the Mexican driver does top another table.

Sergio Perez tops all other F1 drivers when it comes to the cost of damages caused (Image: Getty)

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez is credited with causing the most expensive crash damages in this Formula One season – even ahead of two axed drivers. Despite starting the term strongly alongside peer Max Verstappen, the Mexican star has suffered a monumental drop-off as rival teams upped their game. This has left him eighth on the Drivers’ Championship table and without a podium since April.

To accompany this dip, Perez has also racked up a significant bill for the damages he’s caused his team, with an unofficial table dubbed the ‘Destructors’ Championship’ placing the 34-year-old highest, above Logan Sergeant, the table’s topper in 2023, and Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu- both of whom will be out of a seat come next year.

In fact, Sargeant has already been replaced at Williams by Franco Colapinto, meaning that the dismal Perez’s nearly £4million bill outweighs that of an already axed driver, increasing the mounting pressure on the Austrian team to find a replacement.

Though not an official source, the table reveals that Perez caused costly damages in China, Imola, Monaco, Canada, Austria, Hungary, Azerbaijan and Mexico. The estimated £3.7m in damages Perez accumulated, however, was largely due to his huge entanglement in Monaco, involving Haas drivers Kevin Magnussen and Niko Hulkenberg.

In the first lap, with cars bunching close, Magnussen caught Perez’s rear left and sent him spinning into the barriers. Both Magnussen and his peer Hulkenberg sustained significant damage, too, and their races ended prematurely. The bill assigned to Perez supposedly topped £2m.

"It's another accident in which Magnussen was involved. You should watch the replays carefully. Thank God it turned out well, but it was a very critical situation,” Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko told Sky Germany back in May when asked about the incident - which caused a 40-minute delay to proceedings.

"I was surprised how quickly they put this incident behind them. These are decisions that you can hardly influence. On the one hand, there is the danger and on the other hand, the damage is two to three million [euros]. With the budget regulations, that is a big handicap for us."

Another of Perez’s pricey collisions came in Azerbaijan, when, on the penultimate lap, the Mexican grappled with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, ending both of their races.

“It is a pathetic touch, an absolutely pathetic touch, with serious ramifications!” former F1 driver Mark Webber told Channel 4 when covering Perez and Sainz’s crash.

“Sergio is trying to get across into the tow. At this speed, it’s fine margins. Sergio’s repair bill this year is impressive. He’s got more of the Ferrari in view, when you’re [looking in] the mirror, you’re not quite sure where he should be. Sergio should have given him more room to get down that straight.

Next up on the calendar is the Las Vegas GP, where Perez will look to limit any further damages and embarrassment as his peer Verstappen looks to stamp down a decisive claim on what would be his fourth Drivers’ Championship title.

- BEN CRAWFORD

LIAM LAWSON 'LEARNED LESSON' AFTER MEXICO INCIDENT WITH SERGIO PEREZ

Liam Lawson of RB and Sergio Perez of Red Bull battle for position during the Mexico Grand Prix. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

SAO PAULO, Brazil -- RB driver Liam Lawson says he learned lessons from his collision with Red Bull's Sergio Perez at the Mexico Grand Prix, but will not change his overall approach to racing.

Lawson and Perez collided at Turn 5 while racing for position in Mexico, with Lawson gesturing with his middle finger at the Mexican when he passed him later in the race.

Perez told media after the chequered flag that Lawson, who replaced Daniel Ricciardo at RB two races ago, had the wrong "attitude" for F1, claiming the New Zealander was "out of control".

Lawson, who drives for the Red Bull-owned RB team, said he spoke with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and motorsport advisor Helmut Marko following the Mexico Grand Prix.

"I don't think they want me to race differently," he said. "But obviously the target is not to make contact with another Red Bull car.

"And as I said at the time, it wasn't my intention in the moment. Looking back, maybe I could have avoided it. And clearly that would have been the right thing to do at the time."

Asked if he would maintain the same level of aggression in his racing, Lawson added: "That won't change, yeah. That attitude towards racing and how I approach races in Formula 1 won't change.

"That's how I'll always be, but at the same time there's things in there if I make mistakes I'll always learn from them. And clearly in Mexico I made a mistake and I'll learn from it."

Perez was attempting to pass Lawson for position when the pair collided. The Red Bull driver was squeezed to the inside of Turn 4 and then both ran deep into the corner, with Lawson ending up off the circuit.

Lawson rejoined ahead of Turn 5, which is where the two cars collided, and admitted he could have skipped the inside of the corner to avoid contact.

"Looking back, maybe there were things I could have done differently, I could have cut the chicane and avoided it completely," he said. "But in the moment I'm racing as well, you have a split second to make this decision.

"So it's something I've spoken to the team about afterwards and I've reflected on and I'll learn from going into this weekend."

Lawson said he spoke with Perez after the race and apologised for gesturing at the Red Bull driver with his middle finger.

"Briefly we spoke after the race but at the same time we left the track very early immediately afterwards anyway. So I think it was an on-track fight and I apologised for what I did after the incident.

"But in terms of the fight we had on track, it was deemed as a racing incident and something that was an in the moment battle."

- Laurence Edmondson, F1 Editor

CARLOS SAINZ ON HIS.CRASH WITH SERGIO PEREZ | VIA INSTAGRAM

 

DUTCH GRAND PRIX 2024 | RESULTS

 

CHECO MEME | SERGIO PEREZ VS. MAX VERSTAPPEN

 

VERSTAPPEN TAKES DOMINANT AT POLE AT CHINESE GRAND PRIX; PEREZ SECOND AHEAD OF ALONSO

Max Verstappen takes Red Bull's 100th pole position at the Chinese Grand Prix.

 Max Verstappen continued his run of pole positions with a dominant performance at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Verstappen claimed his sixth straight pole position, and his fifth from five this season, going 0.3s quicker than Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso continued his stellar form by beating McLaren pair Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to third, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz had to settle for sixth and seventh respectively.

Alonso said after the session: "We didn't give up, we kept pushing all the way through the lap and I set a good lap time, I think the car did improve since this morning. We made a few set-up changes, let's see tomorrow if we can translate that into points."

Red Bull has finished one-two at three of the four races so far this year and will look to do so again on Sunday.

The session was red flagged in Q2 as Sainz hit the gravel at the final corner and spun off the track, damaging his front wing. But he returned to the track for Q3 when the session resumed. 

Verstappen and Red Bull's supreme pace was revealed in the sprint race held several hours before qualifying for the grand prix.

Verstappen started that event fourth but made quick work of his rivals, before cantering away to win by 13 seconds.

The Dutchman will look to do the same in Sunday's main event.

He said: "I think after the sprint race it gave us a few more ideas about the car and I think the car worked even better in qualifying now, so definitely very happy with how qualifying went, the car was really nice to drive.

"That final lap in Q3 felt really decent and also very happy to drive here as well in the dry, the conditions were pretty good and it was a lot of fun."

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton provided the biggest shock of the session, failing to make it past the first qualifying session, Q1.

It marked a huge turnaround in fortunes for Hamilton after qualifying second for the sprint event.

He told Sky Sports after qualifying: "We [George Russell & Hamilton] were trying to experiment still with the car, so I went one way and he went the other way -- that's what we need to do at the moment -- and yeah, it didn't work.

"18th is pretty bad. When I was making the set up changes I thought, 'it can't get any worse, surely' and it did so s--- happens."

- Nate Saunders

FERRARI TEEN OLIVER BEARMAN PRAISED 'INCREDIBLE' F1 DEBUT

 JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia -- Ferrari's teen stand-in Oliver Bearman didn't know he would be racing in Formula One when he woke up on Friday, but by the evening his debut qualifying performance was being praised by Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.

As Ferrari reserve driver it was Bearman, 18, who got the call shortly before Friday's practice session to replace appendicitis-stricken Carlos Sainz for the rest of the weekend.

The Englishman had been set to start the Formula 2 support race from pole position.

After an hour of track time in practice, Bearman then narrowly missed out on a place in the Q3 top-10 qualifying shootout, almost eliminating Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton in the process.

He will line up in 11th for Saturday evening's race, when he will become the third-youngest driver to start an F1 event.

"I honestly did not have time to get nervous," Bearman said. "I woke up this morning fully prepared for my F2 race and I got the call late in the day, just a few hours before FP3 that I would be doing it.

"Not the circumstance I would wish to be making my F1 debut. I wish the best to Carlos and I hope he recovers well but this is a great opportunity."

He added: "To make my F1 debut in red, hopefully it is a sign to come."

On paper his Ferrari had the raw pace for a stronger starting position -- Leclerc will line up from second in the other car, behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

But Jeddah's fast and fearsome street circuit is one of the toughest to get to grips with in such a short space of time.

CHECO | POINTS PER SEASON

 

TOP FIVE MOST POSITIONS GAINED | FORMULA 1

 

HOW PEERLESS MAX VERSTAPPEN BROKE SERGIO PEREZ AND F1 RECORD

Getty 

DOHA, Qatar -- Max Verstappen's 2023 championship will go down as one of Formula One's greatest ever.

The sheer dominance the Dutchman has displayed this year has made the outcome of the championship seem like a foregone conclusion months before even the summer break. It's seen him break one record for consecutive wins -- he will likely break his own for most in a season before the year is out.

After a even start, Verstappen's has crushed his only likely challenger, Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.

Looking back over it, there have been several standout moments. There's only been three occasions when the Dutch national anthem has not played after a race this season.

One of those turned out to be a significant moment in defining the season which followed.