Valtteri Bottas
Winner Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain sprays second placed Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, right, on the podium of the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, just outside Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 9, 2021. (Lars Baron/Pool via AP)
Red Bull seeking more race pace to stay close to Mercedes

By Tales Azzoni May. 10, 2021 11:13 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates after winning the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, just outside Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, Pool)
Hamilton wins Spanish GP ahead of Verstappen

By Joseph Wilson May. 09, 2021 10:41 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain reacts after he clocked the fastest time in the qualifying for the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, just outside Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, May 8, 2021. The Spanish Grand Prix will be held on Sunday. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, Pool)
Hamilton tops qualifying at Spanish GP for 100th pole

By Joseph Wilson May. 08, 2021 07:17 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain takes a curve during the second free practice for the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, just outside Barcelona, Spain, Friday, May 7, 2021. The Spanish Grand Prix will be held on Sunday. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Hamilton tops 2nd practice in Spain, Verstappen 9th

By Joseph Wilson May. 07, 2021 06:50 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland takes a curve followed by Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands during the Portugal Formula One Grand Prix at the Algarve International Circuit near Portimao, Portugal, Sunday, May 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Hamilton and Verstappen to resume title fight in Barcelona

By Tales Azzoni May. 05, 2021 06:30 AM EDT

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

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain reacts after he clocked the second fastest time during the qualifying session ahead of the Portugal Formula One Grand Prix at the Algarve International Circuit near Portimao, Portugal, Saturday, May 1, 2021. The Portugal Grand Prix will be held on Sunday. (Gabriel Buoys/Pool via AP)
Bottas takes pole for Portuguese GP, denies Hamilton 100th

May. 01, 2021 08:18 AM EDT

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands takes a curve during the first free practice session ahead of the Portugal Formula One Grand Prix at the Algarve International Circuit near Portimao, Portugal, Friday, April 30, 2021. The Portugal Grand Prix will be held on Sunday. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Hamilton leads Verstappen in 2nd practice at Portuguese GP

Apr. 30, 2021 08:01 AM EDT

Williams driver George Russell of Britain attends a press conference ahead of Sunday's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Imola track, Italy, Friday, April 16, 2021. (Xpbimages/Pool via AP)
Wolff: Russell has lots to learn after crash with Bottas

By Daniella Matar Apr. 18, 2021 04:17 PM EDT

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands follows the safety car during the Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Imola racetrack, Italy, Sunday, April 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Verstappen beats Hamilton in dramatic Emilia-Romagna GP

By Daniella Matar Apr. 18, 2021 11:18 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, top, and Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland, steer their car during qualifying practice for Sunday's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Imola track, Italy, Saturday, April 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Hamilton takes pole for Emilia-Romagna GP ahead of Red Bulls

By Daniella Matar Apr. 17, 2021 06:28 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland steers his car during the second free practice session for Sunday's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Imola track, Italy, Friday, April 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Mercedes one-two in practice at Imola, problems for Red Bull

By Daniella Matar Apr. 16, 2021 06:35 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas, of Finland, inspects the racetrack ahead of Sunday's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Imola track, Italy, Thursday, April 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Hamilton set to resume battle with Verstappen at Imola

By Daniella Matar Apr. 15, 2021 01:28 PM EDT

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands leads at the start of the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Sunday, March 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
Hamilton holds off Verstappen to win tense F1 season-opener

Mar. 28, 2021 12:52 PM EDT

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steps out of his car after the qualifying for the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix, at the Formula One Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Saturday, March 27, 2021. The Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. (Lars Baron, Pool via AP)
Verstappen takes superb pole at Bahrain GP ahead of Hamilton

Mar. 27, 2021 09:24 AM EDT

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the second free practice at the Formula One Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Friday, March 26, 2021. The Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
Verstappen fastest in practice for season-opening Bahrain GP

Mar. 26, 2021 09:05 AM EDT

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

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

Mercedes unveils car for Hamilton's record-breaking F1 bid

Mar. 02, 2021 12:19 PM EST
BRACKLEY, England (AP) — Mercedes has unveiled the car Lewis Hamilton will drive this season while trying to win an unprecedented eighth Formula One title. ...

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