JEROME PUGMIRE
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, right, celebrates from the podium after winning the French Formula One Grand Prix next to second place Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, left, at the Paul Ricard racetrack in Le Castellet, southern France, Sunday, June 20, 2021. (Nicolas Tucat/Pool via AP)
Verstappen pushing Hamilton hard in thrilling F1 title race

By Jerome Pugmire Jun. 20, 2021 10:48 AM EDT
Lewis Hamilton's wish for a closer Formula One title fight is coming true.

First place Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, right, celebrates on the podium during the Monaco Grand Prix at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Sunday, May 23, 2021. (Sebastien Nogier, Pool via AP)
Verstappen wins Monaco GP, takes F1 title lead from Hamilton

By Jerome Pugmire May. 23, 2021 10:51 AM EDT
MONACO (AP) — Max Verstappen took the lead in the Formula One championship race

Spectators stand over a poster of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco prior to the Monaco Grand Prix at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Sunday, May 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc out of Monaco GP after taking pole

By Jerome Pugmire May. 23, 2021 09:05 AM EDT
MONACO (AP) — Charles Leclerc’s chances of winning his

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Saturday, May 22, 2021. The Formula One race will take place on Sunday. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Hamilton unhappy after poor qualifying effort at Monaco

By Jerome Pugmire May. 22, 2021 01:19 PM EDT
MONACO (AP) — Lewis Hamilton declined to publicly criticize Mercedes after a

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco, center, waves after the qualifying session at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Saturday, May 22, 2021. The Formula One race will take place on Sunday with Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco in pole position. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Ferrari's Leclerc takes pole for Monaco GP, Verstappen 2nd

By Jerome Pugmire May. 22, 2021 07:29 AM EDT
MONACO (AP) — Charles Leclerc won the first pole for Ferrari since 2019 despite

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco steers his car during the second free practice for Sunday's Formula One race, at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Thursday, May 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Ferrari drivers Leclerc and Sainz Jr. impress at Monaco GP

By Jerome Pugmire May. 20, 2021 07:20 AM EDT
MONACO (AP) — On an encouraging day for Ferrari, Charles Leclerc and Carlos

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands attends a press conference ahead of Sunday's Formula One race, in Monaco, Wednesday, May 19, 2021. (Sebastien Nogier, Pool via AP)
Hamilton, Verstappen continue F1 rivalry at Monaco GP

By Jerome Pugmire May. 19, 2021 04:56 PM EDT
MONACO (AP) — After four close races between Formula One champion Lewis

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain stands on the podium after winning the Portugal Formula One Grand Prix at the Algarve International Circuit near Portimao, Portugal, Sunday, May 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Hamilton-Verstappen battle promises thrilling F1 season

By Jerome Pugmire May. 02, 2021 11:49 AM EDT
Three intense wheel-to-wheel races with dogged defending and aggressive

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain attends the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix press conference in Sakhir, Bahrain, Thursday, March 25,2021. (Dan Istitene, Pool via AP)
Hamilton: F1 can't ignore race hosts' human rights issues

By Jerome Pugmire Mar. 25, 2021 02:57 PM EDT
Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton on Thursday urged the global racing series

FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 27, 2020 file photo, Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany arrives at the paddock ahead of the first free practice at the Formula One Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain. The new season starts Sunday March 28, 2021 with the Bahrain Grand Prix and ends in December 2021 at Abu Dhabi. (Hamad Mohammed, Pool via AP, File)
Redemption beckons for Vettel after miserable end at Ferrari

By Jerome Pugmire Mar. 24, 2021 01:03 AM EDT
PARIS (AP) — Sebastian Vettel is feeling optimistic about his new Formula One

FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020 file photo, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates after winning the Formula One race in Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain. Lewis Hamilton is chasing an eighth Formula One title to stand alone among racing greats. The season starts Sunday March 28, 2021 with the Bahrain Grand Prix and ends in December 2021 at Abu Dhabi. Hamilton might see another successful season as the perfect time to walk away from F1. (Giuseppe Cacace/Pool via AP, File)
Bottas targets an improved mindset in latest F1 title bid

By Jerome Pugmire Mar. 23, 2021 01:12 AM EDT
PARIS (AP) — After finishing even further behind his Mercedes teammate Lewis

FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 11, 2020 file photo, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands reacts after qualifying at the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The season starts Sunday March 28, 2021 with the Bahrain Grand Prix and ends in December 2021 at Abu Dhabi. Red Bull star Max Verstappen won last year’s final race in Abu Dhabi in style and looked hugely confident in testing. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, Pool, File)
Driving diversity: Hamilton ready to chase 8th F1 title

By Jerome Pugmire Mar. 22, 2021 01:21 AM EDT
PARIS (AP) — If Lewis Hamilton wins an eighth Formula One title, he will stand

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland in action during the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. (Giuseppe Cacace, Pool via AP)
F1 teams approve qualifying changes, engine freeze

By Jerome Pugmire Feb. 11, 2021 12:46 PM EST
PARIS (AP) — Formula One teams gave their approval Thursday to testing out a

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates wining as Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland ,left, looks on after the Formula One at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec.13, 2020. (Hamad Mohammed, Pool via AP)
Victorious Verstappen offers sign of things to come in 2021

By Jerome Pugmire Dec. 13, 2020 10:01 AM EST
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen offered a sign of things to come next year by

CORRECTS NAME In this undated photo supplied by Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, director of the London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), Ahmed holds his drawing of Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton's racing car with his appeal for help in saving his father from execution. The 11-year old Ahmed is son of a Bahraini man on death row and at risk of imminent execution in Bahrain. BIRD has received letters from alleged torture victims in Bahrain, with pleas for seven-time F1 champion Hamilton to help political prisoners in Bahrain. (Photo by mother of Ahmed/BIRD via AP)
F1 star Hamilton vows to fight to improve human rights

By Jerome Pugmire Dec. 12, 2020 03:17 PM EST
World champion Lewis Hamilton vowed not to ignore pleas to improve human rights

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland in action during second practice at the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Dec, 10, 2020. (Giuseppe Cacace, Pool via AP)
Bottas leads 2nd practice while Raikkonen puts out flames

By Jerome Pugmire Dec. 11, 2020 06:31 AM EST
While Valtteri Bottas enjoyed the fastest time in the second practice for the

Renault driver Esteban Ocon of France competes at the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir, Bahrain, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020. (Brynn Lennon, Pool via AP)
Perez stays calm to win chaotic Sakhir GP for 1st F1 win

By Jerome Pugmire Dec. 06, 2020 02:17 PM EST
Sergio Perez waited 190 races to finally stand on the podium as a Formula One

Haas driver Romain Grosjean of France arrives to paddock to thank the marshals Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, in Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain. Grosjean escaped with only minor burns when his Haas car exploded into a fireball after crashing on the first lap at last weekend's Bahrain GP. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
Grosjean to miss F1 finale, flying home for burns treatment

By Jerome Pugmire Dec. 06, 2020 08:27 AM EST
Formula One driver Romain Grosjean will not race at next Sunday’s Abu Dhabi

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir, Bahrain, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, Pool)
Russell gets chance to shine for Mercedes at Sakhir GP

By Jerome Pugmire Dec. 03, 2020 12:56 PM EST
George Russell has been touted as the future of Formula One by Lewis Hamilton,

Staff extinguish flames from Haas driver Romain Grosjean of France's car after a crash during the Formula One race in Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. (Brynn Lennon, Pool via AP)
Investigation opened into F1 driver Romain Grosjean's crash

By Jerome Pugmire Dec. 03, 2020 07:11 AM EST
PARIS (AP) — An investigation has been opened into Formula One driver Romain