Category: Movie

Posted on

F1 fans claim Schumacher conspiracy as Hamilton beaten to title (VIDEO)

F1 fans have gone into conspiracy mode by claiming that the son of Michael Schumacher played a huge part in Max Verstappen’s thrilling championship win over Lewis Hamilton.

Pipped to the post on the final lap by his Dutch rival, the Brit’s loss in the last race of 2021 in Abu Dhabi meant that he did not surpass Schumacher in all-time world titles.

The pair are tied on seven wins each as things stand, and in the aftermath of what has been widely dubbed the most thrilling season finale ever, detectives have gone to work in trying to ascertain how events unfolded in the way they did. 

READ MORE: Max Verstappen beats Lewis Hamilton to F1 title on last lap

One theory is that Schumacher’s son Mick, in his maiden campaign at Haas, “protected” or “saved” Michael’s record. 

This was done by pushing Nicholas Latifi wide and forcing him into his dirty air, which then caused the Canadian to crash into the barrier with five laps remaining at the Yas Marina circuit. 

With the safety car brought out, Verstappen was able to come to the pits for fresh tires and also took advantage of some confused decision-making by race officials to overtake Hamilton.

The stunning finale handed Verstappen, 24, his first championship while Hamilton denied the chance to clinch his eighth and surpass Schumacher’s record.

“The man was playing 4D chess today,” was a popular assessment of Mick’s move on Twitter.

“Mick Schumacher really said ‘This one’s for dad’ when he took out Latifi,” joked someone else.

But such posts triggered further discussions that inconsistent F1 officiating had influenced events the most. 

This aside, Hamilton’s former arch-nemesis Sebastian Vettel and Mick were the first to console the tearful 36-year-old after he had come up short. 

Last year, Mick also touched Hamilton by presenting him with one of his father’s crash helmets after he equalld Michael’s tally of 91 F1 victories, which is now broken by 103 overall GP triumphs. 

Ahead of Sunday’s race, Mick couldn’t tell the F1 official website how he felt about Hamilton potentially surpassing his father – who is still recovering from a 2013 ski accident that saw him put into an induced coma – in world championships.

“Whoever wins will win,” he said. “I can’t do anything about that.”

Yet plenty believe he did.

READ MORE: ‘Unacceptable’: Mercedes file protest amid outrage over Verstappen F1 title win

Posted on

‘Unacceptable’: Mercedes file protest amid outrage over Verstappen F1 title win

It was one of the most dramatic finishes to a Formula 1 season ever but Max Verstappen’s astonishing last-lap victory against reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi has left a bad taste in the mouths of some fans.

One of the most fractious seasons in recent F1 history got the type of box office climax it deserved when Verstappen took full advantage of the late introduction of the safety car to zoom past multiple-time world champion Hamilton on a dramatic final lap, clinching a maiden world title and breaking the hearts of Mercedes and British racing fans in the process.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen beats Lewis Hamilton to F1 title on last lap

The conclusion promises to be poured over by fans and officials alike, particularly after Mercedes lodged an official protest with the FIA over the decisions surrounding the safety car which ultimately cost Hamilton the title. 

But it isn’t just the higher-ups in the Mercedes camp that are angered by the race’s conclusion, as more than a few angry F1 fans have taken to social media to vent their frustrations at what many are seeing as a ‘robbery’ against Hamilton authored by Formula 1 themselves.

The online allegations include suggestions that the F1 hierarchy engineered the chaotic last lap sequence in a bid to provide a glitzy, Hollywood-style finish to the most contentious campaign in years – and that Hamilton was the unfortunate victim of a conspiracy.

Others, though, just maintain that racing fans witnessed a good, old-fashioned ‘robbery’.

Either way, Twitter seems to be in agreement that all wasn’t quite right in the final stages of the thrilling race in Abu Dhabi.

“THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!!” Formula 1 driver George Russell wrote on Twitter soon after the conclusion of the race.

“Max is an absolutely fantastic driver who has had an incredible season and I have nothing but huge respect for him, but what just happened is absolutely unacceptable. I cannot believe what we’ve just seen.”

“I don’t know what I’ve just watched but it can’t be right. Hamilton’s been robbed, surely?” added controversial British talking head Piers Morgan.

“That was incredible,” added another. “Doesn’t seem fair. Lewis Hamilton will feel robbed, so far ahead, then penalised due to the safety car and seemingly arbitrary decisions (feels a bit like politics right now) Unbelievable.”

“A hint of the constructed reality with Michael Masi’s rule bend to ensure a Hollywood finish to the season. Netflix will be pleased,” came the thoughts of another fan, referring to the popular F1 series ‘Drive to Survive’ on the subscription platform. 

“But either way Verstappen a true champion and Red Bull smart in how they threw the kitchen sink at it, and got the reward from the gods.”

“The FIA’s decision was abnormal and I’d be fuming if I was Hamilton but I absolutely cannot be arsed with the conspiracy theories that the sport wanted Max to win. [FIA race director Michael] Masi and co would’ve done the same thing if the positions were reversed, they just wanted an exciting finish,” said another.

Some, though, weren’t quite so upset at the conclusion.

“Does this mean I won’t have to listen to Lewis Hamilton getting of a private jet and telling me about climate change this winter? I think we are all winners in that case. The horror on Sky is so good,” wrote sports writer Ewan MacKenna, obviously reveling in the result.

“My personal favorite was Hamilton’s comments about racing in Saudi Arabia, if you honestly believe that much in what you’re saying then why didn’t he boycott it, it far more powerful than words,” agreed another. 

Another summed it up much more plainly: “The Hamilton fan meltdown is fantastic.”

Posted on

Germany star Kimmich ‘expresses regret’ as he reverses Covid vaccine stance

Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich has relented in his opposition to the Covid-19 vaccine as he pledged to take the jab as soon as possible after experiencing lung problems following a positive test for the virus.

Kimmich was one of several high-profile holdouts within German football and had initially announced his hesitancy in taking one of the several available vaccines against Covid-19, claiming concerns about the lack of long-term studies into potential side effects of the shots – but had stressed that he didn’t consider himself a so-called anti-vaxxer. 

However, speaking to German outlet ZDF in an interview scheduled to be broadcast on Sunday, the 26-year-old now says he is willing to receive a vaccine, and reportedly indicated that he wishes that he had done so sooner.

“In general, it was just difficult for me to deal with my fears and concerns, that’s why I was undecided for so long,” the German international said.

His change of mind comes after Kimmich’s positive test for the virus in November, after which he experienced debilitating symptoms, including damage to his lungs, which are expected to keep him out of football until next year.

That came after Kimmich was one of several unvaccinated Bayern players to have their wages docked after being forced into isolation after coming into contact with a confirmed positive case.

That was in line with German law, which stipulates that an employer, in this case Bayern Munich, can withhold payments to unvaccinated employees who are forced into quarantine.

The other Bayern Munich players reported to have fallen foul of these rules were  Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Michael Cuisance.

It was reported recently that Choupo-Moting had also experienced severe symptoms when he contracted Covid-19.

Read more

Joshua Kimmich is out until 2022 © Leon Kuegeler / Reuters
Star unvaccinated footballer has a lung problem weeks after catching Covid

“I’m happy my self-isolation caused by the coronavirus has ended,” Kimmich told Bayern’s website after his period of self-isolation came to a close.

“I’m doing very well, but I’m not yet able to train fully due to slight infiltrations in my lungs. 

“I’ll therefore do some rehabilitative training and can’t wait to be fully back in action in January.”

Germany’s Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger has praised Kimmich for announcing his intention to receive the vaccine.

“It’s a good decision,” she wrote on Twitter. “As a professional footballer and national player, he is a role model for many people. More vaccinations are the way out of the pandemic.”

Roughly 70% of the German population are currently vaccinated against Covid-19. Statistics indicate that Germany has recorded in excess of 6.5 million Covid-19 infections since the start of the pandemic, along with 106,00 fatalities.

Posted on

F1 officials reject Mercedes title protest

Formula 1 stewards have rejected protests by Mercedes after their driver Lewis Hamilton lost the world title to Red Bull rival Max Verstappen in controversial circumstances on the last lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Hamilton and Verstappen had started the day level on points at the top of the F1 championship leaderboard, and despite early drama on the first lap when Hamilton left the track in a tangle for the lead with Verstappen, the Brit had seemed set for a record eighth world title as he opened up a big lead. 

READ MORE: Max Verstappen beats Lewis Hamilton to F1 title on last lap

But there was a dramatic twist with five laps to go of the 58 when a crash by Williams driver Nicholas Latifi brought out the safety car.

Chaos ensued as Red Bull first used the opportunity to pit Verstappen for a fresh set of tires while Mercedes kept Hamilton out so that he would not lose track position.

There were five lapped cars between the two title rivals in the line behind the safety car, meaning that Verstappen appeared to face significant obstacles to getting within striking distance of Hamilton.

All that changed when race control issued an order that the lapped cars could join the back of the queue on the penultimate lap under the safety car, meaning the race restarted with one lap to go with Verstappen directly behind his British rival.

The Dutchman took full advantage, streaking past Hamilton on turn five of the last lap and holding off the Mercedes driver to take the checkered flag and a maiden world title with it.

Mercedes were furious at the developments and lodged two protests with F1 bosses about incidents surrounding the use of the safety car. 

However, after a tense wait it was confirmed that both protests had been dismissed.

“We are going to go and celebrate this championship now. Thank you very much,” said Red Bull team principle Christian Horner on being given the news. 

The first protest had focused on whether Verstappen had breached the rules by overtaking Hamilton when the safety car was out.

Ultimately, the stewards determined that although Verstappen did briefly move slightly in front of Hamilton at a time when both cars where accelerating and braking, he had then moved back behind the Brit and was not in front when the safety car period ended.

Regarding the second protest lodged by Mercedes regarding the use of the safety car, FIA officials said: “Article 15.3 allows the Race Director to control the use of the safety car, which in our determination includes its deployment and withdrawal. 

“Although Article 48.12 may not have been applied fully, in relation to the safety car returning to the pits at the end of the following lap, Article 48.13 overrides that and once the message ‘Safety Car in this lap’ has been displayed, it is mandatory to withdraw the safety car at the end of that lap.

“That notwithstanding Mercedes’ request that the Stewards remediate the matter by amending the classification to reflect the positions at the end of the penultimate lap, this is a step that the Stewards believe is effectively shortening the race retrospectively, and hence not appropriate. 

“Accordingly, the Protest is dismissed.”

Race director Michael Masi had come under intense scrutiny for his actions at the end of the race, after appearing to first say that cars would not be allowed to overtake before reversing that order.

Mercedes director Toto Wolff had furiously said on the team radio that the situation was “not right.”

It remains to be seen whether Mercedes will pursue the matter through appeals with the FIA or potentially even the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.

Verstappen, 24, became the first Dutchman ever to be crowned Formula 1 world champion while Red Bull also ended the seven-year stranglehold that Mercedes had on the drivers’ title. 

Hamilton, 36, missed out the chance to win a fifth consecutive crown and move ahead of Michael Schumacher in the all-time title stakes, but was nonetheless gracious in defeat as he congratulated Verstappen.    

Posted on

Manchester United hit by Covid outbreak

Manchester United’s upcoming Premier League clash with Brentford has been thrown into jeopardy after reports of a Covid outbreak at Old Trafford.

Fresh off the back of their 1-0 away win at Norwich on Saturday thanks to a late Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, the Red Devils have registered a number of positive lateral flow tests across players and staff, according to The Sun. 

Ahead of traveling to Carrow Road this weekend, the whole group tested negative.

On Sunday, though, the positive results of some meant they had to be sent home from the club’s Carrington training complex while the unaffected trained outdoors in individual and non-contact sessions. None of the individuals concerned have been named thus far.

The Premier League has reportedly been informed of the development with a Tuesday trip to Brentford on the horizon, which also comes amid the spreading of the Omicron variant in the UK feared to cause disruptions to the sporting calendar ahead of several fixtures over Christmas and New Year. 

After Tottenham Hotspur recently had UEFA Conference League and Premier League ties against Rennes and Brighton respectively postponed due to a Covid outbreak, United’s next match could follow suit.

The ongoings at the Mancunian outfit are not believed to be related to their defender Victor Lindelof leaving the pitch with breathing difficulties during the Norwich win.

Read more

Lindelof came off in the game against Norwich. © Reuters
‘Problems breathing’: Man Utd star becomes latest footballer to face heart fears (VIDEO)

“I don’t know what was going on but it was like he was feeling his breathing,” explained goalkeeper David De Gea afterwards, with interim coach Ralf Rangnick saying the Swede was “okay” in his post-match press conference. 

But this is not the first time that Manchester United have been affected by Covid.

At the start of the season, Dean Henderson was tipped for a run in the first team under former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer until testing positive and then embarking on a battle with Long Covid.

Before that, in preseason, Jessie Lingard had to isolate and England forward Mason Greenwood was also forced to take similar measures in November.