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The Formula 1 paddock heads to Montreal next for the Canadian Grand Prix. Max Verstappen won his third race in a row with a cruise of a victory in Spain last time out, with his lead in the F1 world championship now 53 points from Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez. COMMENT: Ferrari’s F1 flaws all the more baffling after shock success at Le Mans It was an improved weekend in Barcelona for Mercedes though, with their revamped car showing improvements as Lewis Hamilton and George Russell came home second and third respectively. There was disappointment for Fernando Alonso though, who only finished seventh, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished outside the points in 11th. Verstappen won last year’s race in Montreal, seeing off Carlos Sainz in second, while F1 have dismissed speculation that this year’s race could be called off due to the wildfires causing air pollution in nearby regions. Follow live coverage from the Canadian Grand Prix with The Independent - FP1 starts at 6:30pm (BST). Read More F1 commentator sacked from BBC role after ‘inappropriate touching’ Lewis Hamilton plays down talk of imminent new Mercedes deal Ferrari’s F1 flaws all the more baffling after shock success at Le Mans

F1 commentator Jack Nicholls has lost his job at BBC Radio 5 Live after complaints of “inappropriate touching” which led to his dismissal from his lead commentator role with Formula E. An investigation was launched by Formula E after a formal complaint of inappropriate behaviour in March and allegations of “inappropriate touching” were made by three individuals, one of whom had been in a relationship with the commentator. Now Nicholls, who combined his role with Formula E alongside commentating on F1 races for 5 Live, has also lost his job with IMG, who provide radio F1 coverage for the BBC. An IMG spokesperson confirmed to The Independent on Friday: “IMG has decided to part ways with Jack Nicholls in light of the incidents that led to his departure from Formula E.” After losing his job at Formula E at the end of May, Nicholls said: “Although disappointed with the decision, I respect it and accept why it was taken. “I want to take full responsibility for what I did and apologise unreservedly for a couple of isolated incidents that has made those concerned feel uncomfortable. “I never meant any harm and I am committed to making amends and to be more mindful of my behaviour in future.” Nicholls’ voice is synonymous with Formula E with his “and we go green…” intro to races well-known to fans since the championship began in 2014. But since the investigation, Nicholls had commentated on FE races remotely from a base in London, with Ben Edwards replacing him for the double-header in Jakarta two weeks ago and for the remaining five races of this season. Nicholls combined this role with F1 commentary for the BBC, a job he has performed since 2016, but he stepped aside from scheduled appearances at the Monaco Grand Prix three weeks ago after the Formula E investigation had concluded. The commentator has also appeared on Netflix’s popular behind-the-scenes F1 show Drive to Survive. Rosanna Tennant, Harry Benjamin and Oliver Askew will be the team on hand providing BBC’s radio coverage of the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend. Read More Sky suspend F1 pundits after sexist comments live on air Ferrari’s F1 flaws all the more baffling after shock success at Le Mans Sergio Perez ‘under threat’ at Red Bull with young star tipped to replace him Ferrari’s F1 flaws all the more baffling after shock success at Le Mans Mercedes chief predicts performance level at Canadian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen has admitted it is beyond his childhood dreams to draw level with Ayrton Senna’s victory tally ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix. Verstappen heads into Sunday’s race at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve just one victory shy of the great Brazilian’s haul of 41 after winning five of the opening seven rounds in his dominant Red Bull machine. Verstappen was not even born when Senna was killed at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, but a victory here would take the 25-year-old into joint fifth in the pantheon of F1 winners. “When I was a little kid, I would never have imagined being on that list,” said the two-time world champion. “But you cannot compare it. People have different careers and some drivers get into a race-winning car sooner than others and nowadays we have more races than back in the day. “I never look at the numbers, but it is an amazing achievement, that’s for sure.” A sixth victory of a one-sided campaign would leave only Hamilton (103 wins), Michael Schumacher (91), Sebastian Vettel (53) and Alain Prost (51) ahead of Verstappen. Hamilton reached 41 wins to draw level with his boyhood hero Senna at the Japanese Grand Prix in 2015 before going on to surpass Schumacher’s haul five years later and stand on his own as the driver to have won the most races in the history of the sport. However, the seven-time world champion, who has not won a race since his contentious championship defeat to Verstappen at the 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi, admitted that his rival could “absolutely” eclipse his record. But when asked if Hamilton’s record is on the horizon, Verstappen said: “It is very hard to beat. “You need to be in the right car for a long time and we don’t know if we have that. I am just going with the flow and enjoying the moment.” Verstappen has already established a 53-point lead over team-mate Sergio Perez on his seemingly unstoppable march towards a hat-trick of world titles. Lewis Hamilton - 103 Michael Schumacher - 91 Sebastian Vettel - 53 Alain Prost - 51 Ayrton Senna - 41 Max Verstappen - 40 The world champions are undefeated in the opening seven fixtures, winning 17 of the past 18 races, and could become the first team to win every round in a single season. A victory here on Sunday would also be the team’s 100th in F1. “For the sport, I understand people get bored if one team is dominating,” added Verstappen. “But we have seen it at Mercedes, we have seen it at Ferrari, and we have seen it at Red Bull in the past. “For me, it provides me with even more motivation because I know I have a car that can win. “If you look at how we are performing, yes we can win every race, but it is not realistic. As long as I win the championship, that’s the most important thing.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Lewis Hamilton plays down talk of imminent new Mercedes deal On this day in 2007: Lewis Hamilton claims first Formula One victory Susie Wolff urges F1 teams to back initiatives to help develop female drivers

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Lewis Hamilton has knocked back Mercedes boss Toto Wolff’s claim that he is on the brink of signing a new contract. Earlier this week, team principal Wolff said Hamilton’s contract renewal would be resolved “in days rather than weeks”, adding that he was “trying hard” to finalise terms with his superstar driver before this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix. But speaking in Montreal on Thursday, Hamilton, 38, said: “I don’t have a huge amount to say on the contract. “It will get done when it is done. If that is next week, or in a month’s time, as long as it gets done, I am not really bothered.” After the previous round in Barcelona, Wolff said it would take only “half an hour over coffee” to agree an extension to Hamilton’s £40million-a-season deal which expires in six months. Hamilton met with Wolff the day following the Spanish Grand Prix in the hope of rubber-stamping a new deal – which is set to extend the seven-time world champion’s stay in Formula One beyond his 40th birthday – and has also spent time with the Austrian in New York this week. Hamilton added: “I have seen Toto and we have talked several times. We have a great relationship but there is nothing to say at the moment.” Asked if any progress on negotiations had been made, Hamilton replied: “Yes, but there is nothing new to add to it.” Hamilton, who has not won a race since his contentious championship defeat to Max Verstappen at the 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi, is already 83 points off the title pace this year. On Sunday, a sixth victory of the season for Verstappen would put him on 41 victories for his career, equalling Ayrton Senna’s tally, with only Hamilton (103 wins), Michael Schumacher (91), Sebastian Vettel (53) and Alain Prost (51) ahead of him. And Hamilton admitted Verstappen, still only 25, could break his record. “He has got a very long career ahead of him so he absolutely could,” said Hamilton. “Records are there to be broken and he has got an amazing team. “Max has been doing an amazing job and he has had an incredible career so far. “But we have got to work harder to try and continue to extend our record and I hope, with the period of time I have left in my career, I get to have more close racing with him.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live On this day in 2007: Lewis Hamilton claims first Formula One victory Susie Wolff urges F1 teams to back initiatives to help develop female drivers Max Verstappen tops rain-hit final practice for Spanish Grand Prix

Johnny Hebert believes Sergio Perez’s seat at Red Bull could be ‘under threat’ after a couple of poor performances – and has backed Lando Norris to replace him. After winning two of the opening four races, in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan, Perez has struggled in comparison to runaway team-mate Max Verstappen. In Miami, he failed to hold on to first place with Verstappen hauling him in, while the Mexican had weekends to forget in Monaco and Spain where he finished 16th and fourth respectively. It means Perez now trails Verstappen by 59 points in the championship. “In real terms, I would say he is under threat,” ex-F1 driver and former Sky Sports pundit Herbert said, in an interview with OLBG. “As much as Sergio showed in the early part of the season that he was more than capable of mixing it with Max, there was then a point that he wasn’t. “But he is a very good number two. When he is on his game he can win. Even then he would be second of third and that will still enable Red Bull to win the constructors’ championship which is obviously very important.” Herbert then singled out four drivers capable of being a bigger challenge to Verstappen, singling out Norris in particular. “If you want more competitiveness to Verstappen, you either need Russell or Hamilton or Charles Leclerc – or maybe Lando Norris. “Lando Norris has a long-term contract with McLaren and I don’t know if he has a performance clause in it to move from McLaren. “I think it would be a good move for Red Bull. It would add positivity to the team and I think he is more than capable of being able to deal with that position.” Verstappen is going for his fourth win in a row at the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend while Perez is looking to cut the deficit to the irrepressible Dutchman. Read More Ferrari’s F1 flaws all the more baffling after shock success at Le Mans Mercedes chief predicts performance level at Canadian Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton contract update provided by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff F1 2023 calendar: Every race this season Max Verstappen maintains dominance but Mercedes show their teeth at Spanish GP F1 LIVE RESULT: Race standings and latest updates at Spanish GP