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ALL SMILES AGAIN, VERSTAPPEN & NORRIS DEFUSE TAPE-GATE TENSION

Tensions flare in F1 as Red Bull is fined for removing a McLaren pitwall marker. The incident sparks a sportsmanship debate, while Lando Norris and Max Verstappen battle for the championship lead.

All Smiles Again, Verstappen & Norris Defuse Tape-Gate Tension
F1 Stars Verstappen, Norris Cool the Heat After Tape-Gate - COURTESY/PHOTO

After one of Red Bull's mechanics disregarded marshals and tore off a piece of tape McLaren had affixed to the pit wall to indicate Lando Norris' grid position, the company was punished. Since then, paddock conversation has mostly focused on issues related to sportsmanship.

Verstappen advised anyone in need of such tape to utilise it. I do not require it.

Carlos Sainz of Williams, who was formerly a member of the Red Bull family, was less understanding. The Spaniard stated, "Clearly, someone perceived a competitive edge and tried to take that away from him."

I will not make headlines here, but I am aware of sports ideals and what I would do if it were me and my team.

On his side, Norris maintains that he only noticed the humour.

"Watching them try and fail to remove it was very funny," he said to Bild. We hung it on the wall as a precaution, even though I did not need it.

The McLaren driver disclosed that they have attempted to remove it previously. That is why we built it so durably, akin to the permanent Formula 1 parking stickers that you can put on your windscreen.

Verstappen's late-season breakthrough in the championship is far more urgent for McLaren. Oscar Piastri revealed that internal repercussions for Norris have been lifted following arguments and finger-pointing in Austin and Singapore.

Piastri stated, "I believe I have some responsibility in the (Austin) sprint." This weekend is a fresh start for us both; we are just going out and competing to see who can win.

Both McLaren drivers are now within striking distance of Verstappen, who maintains that he is handling the run-in calmly.

"We are not very anxious about it," he remarked. All we want to do is have fun and make the most of it till the very end. Fantastic if it works. Even if it doesn't, we can still take great pride in the improvement in our performance.

Additionally, he dismissed Red Bull adviser Dr Helmut Marko's assertion that Verstappen alone has gained two tenths of his speed due to the excitement of the chase.

"No," Verstappen answered, "I disagree with that." Attending race weekends like these is more enjoyable than knowing you have little chance of winning. However, while I am in the automobile, I always strive to make the most of everything.

Verstappen dismissed Marko's additional suggestion that he might be putting his new GT3 racing project on hold to concentrate on Formula One.

He said that it had been arranged long ago. It was only the first chance. My approach to racing weekends has not really altered in terms of professionalism.

Verstappen's title odds are now as high as 40% according to bookmakers, but Laurent Mekies, the manager of the Red Bull team, is not interested in statistics. "These types of computations are not what we do," he stated. It really is that easy.

Fernando Alonso disputes Mercedes manager Toto Wolff's assertion that Verstappen has the psychological edge as the hunter. The Spaniard told reporters, "I do not think so."

"In a second, the championship might alter drastically. Max would not be able to compete for the title again if Lando won a race by 30 seconds.

Without a doubt, Max is driving incredibly well, but in the end, the car will determine the world champion.

KIM KARDASHIAN AND LEWIS HAMILTON SPOTTED ON ROMANTIC EUROPEAN TOUR TOGETHER

Kim Kardashian and F1 star Lewis Hamilton are turning heads across Europe as insiders reveal Kim's "Russell Wilson" nickname.

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Kim and Lewis Hamilton spark a fly in London and Paris sightings

Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton are the latest celebrity duo making waves, and apparently, Kim’s already got a cheeky nickname for him. The two have been spotted out together in the Cotswolds, London, and Paris, just enjoying themselves and turning a few heads in the process.

Word is, Kim’s close friends are spilling a few details about this new romance. One insider claims Lewis isn’t looking to settle down right now, but Kim still has a special name for him—she calls him “her Russell Wilson”. If you know the reference, it’s a nod to NFL star Russell Wilson, who married singer Ciara after her high-profile breakup with rapper Future. Friends say Kim thinks of Lewis as a “sophisticated upgrade” from her ex, Kanye West.

Kim and Kanye—now legally known as Ye—were married from 2014 to 2021 and share four kids. Their co-parenting relationship is famously complicated.

Kim’s reportedly a bit anxious about how Kanye will react to her new thing with Lewis, considering Kanye and Lewis were friends back in the day. One source told the Mail, “They’re both cautious about Kanye’s feelings since he and Lewis go way back. Kim’s living for herself these days, but she doesn’t want to poke the bear. They know this could set Kanye off, so they’re keeping it light and just having fun for now.”

Kim and Lewis first crossed paths years ago at GQ’s 2014 Men of the Year Awards. Back then, they both showed up with their now-exes—Kim was with Ye, and Lewis was with Nicole Scherzinger.

Kanye even had Lewis over for Easter one year. He talked about it: “Lewis Hamilton’s over at my house, and we’re playing some music in my studio. We’re having Easter brunch—my wife’s family, my friends, everyone’s there. And everybody’s like, ‘What is this music?’ and I’m like, ‘It’s Lewis Hamilton’s music.’”

Since splitting from Ye, Kim’s dated Pete Davidson and moved on. Kanye’s remarried, too—this time to Australian architect Bianca Censori.

Those two have been in the headlines a lot, usually for their wild fashion choices. Things got especially wild when Bianca showed up at the Grammy Awards in a see-through gown. She arrived in a black fur coat but ditched it to reveal a sheer dress that left little to the imagination. People at the event were definitely stunned.

FERRARI SF-26 COMPLETES 121 LAPS IN HISTORIC LEWIS HAMILTON-LECLERC BARCELONA DEBUT

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc completed a "productive" 121-lap debut for the Ferrari SF-26 during 2026 testing in Barcelona.

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Lewis Hamilton delivers first verdict on Ferrari SF-26 after "challenging" rain

Ferrari kicked off its on-track work for the 2026 Formula One season with a steady first day at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc split driving duties in the team’s bold new car, and the whole thing felt like the start of a new chapter.

With the 2026 rules shaking up both the chassis and the power unit, Ferrari didn’t chase lap times. They zeroed in on checking systems, making sure their data lined up, and ironing out any reliability kinks. The weather threw a few curveballs—rain, some dry patches—but even so, they got through their plan and stacked up plenty of laps.

Leclerc seemed upbeat after his first taste of the new machine. He said it felt good to get back behind the wheel and start figuring out the car, even if the focus was just on systems and not raw speed. “We came here to understand how everything works,” he said. “With the weather mixed up, today was all about checks. We finished what we set out to do, and the car did what we expected. It’s a solid start and a decent base.”

Hamilton, now officially in Ferrari red, felt the same. For him, it was a busy day—lots of on-track time, plenty of new things to get used to—but he called it productive. “We got good mileage, learnt a lot, and didn’t hit any big issues. That’s what matters with so many changes coming in. This gives us a strong platform for the next few days.”

Ferrari’s Head of Track Engineering, Matteo Togninalli, stressed how important it was just to get through the day cleanly. “Given the conditions, it went well for us,” he said. Rain or not, they racked up the laps and—most importantly—avoided any real reliability problems. That’s the top priority when you’re shaking down a brand-new car and engine.

Performance talk? Still way too early for that. Right now, Ferrari’s just learning how this new car behaves, gathering data, and building up bit by bit as the days go on—keeping their focus squarely on themselves.

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