Luke Smith
@LukeSmithF1
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Senior Writer covering Formula 1 for @TheAthletic. Pre-order my book ON THE GRID at link in bio! 📚
Joined January 2010
Get ready for ON THE GRID, my new F1 book coming in early 2025! 📚. “Very few titles have covered the stories of the unsung members of the F1 community in this level of detail and with such vibrancy." - Toto Wolff, Mercedes F1 team principal. Pre-order:
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Verstappen accidentally sat in the middle of the sofa (for the winner!) in the press conference 😂 Quickly realises, “sorry guys!” #F1
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Russell: "If you need to compromise my race to help Nicky, do it. Prioritise Nicky" #F1 #HungarianGP.
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Dudes will see this and think “hell yeah”. (it’s me, I’m dudes).
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Haas announces it will be dropping its Uralkali livery for the third and final day of testing - car will test in a plain white livery #F1.
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FIA is now considering next steps. But Ferrari/Mercedes have been clear in their view of need for strict sanctions. Set to be a big political story to close out the season. #F1.
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Lewis Hamilton being a good dude once again in the Insta comments 👏
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Jeremy Clarkson made good on his beer bet with Alpine from Monaco today at the team's factory, bringing Kaleb from Clarkson's Farm along for the ride!🚜🍻. 📸 x @AlpineF1Team
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And just to be clear, Lewis Hamilton does pay tax. He's one of the top 5,000 tax payers in the UK. So please pick another reason to get angry about a British sportsman having his success honoured 💁♂️.
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Verstappen made good on his promise to talk to us outside of the room: big group of us followed down the stairs of the paddock building and through the paddock on his way to the TV pen. very surreal! #F1 #SingaproeGP.
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Statement from Spa-Francorchamps: 18-year-old Dutch driver Dilano van ‘t Hoff has died following an accident in the FRECA race today.
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Netflix has released some teaser images for season five of Drive to Survive today - this duo has the makings for a great road trip show! 😅
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Asked Alonso in the pen what he made of Verstappen's pole lap: "Unbelievable. Honestly unbelievable. He's outstanding" #F1 #AbuDhabiGP.
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Lewis Hamilton is first to the post race press conference. Puts his sunglasses on: “I’m going to take a nap.” 😂 #F1 #SpanishGP
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Leclerc asked about the run to Turn 1 with his 'brother' Piastri tomorrow: "I mean, we are family! Starting on the front row, both of us, we'll have a meeting with my Mum tonight, and hopefully she'll calm us down." Then jokes they can adopt Sainz too 😅.
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Ha, Vettel's post-FP2 interview with Sky is GOLD:. Vettel: "Is marijuana legal in Texas?". Ted: "Did you smell it on track today?". Vettel: "Yes, like crazy! Turn 1 and Turn 11". Ted: "In the pit lane as well. It's weird". Vettel: "It's weed, not weird! I smelt it in the car".
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McLaren has told Daniel Ricciardo it plans to replace him with Oscar Piastri for 2023 and is now in talks to end his F1 contract early. Nothing done yet, but clear what way things are moving. Latest updates here:.
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Sainz to Sky: "I still don’t know why in these conditions we keep risking having a tractor on-track, because it’s just worthless. If you’re going to red flag it anyway, why risk it?" #F1 #JapaneseGP.
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Ferrari says Lewis Hamilton met with Fred Vasseur and Benedetto Vigna ahead of his “first day” photos at Enzo Ferrari’s house. “Even the weather helped to make Lewis feel at home, with some typically British overcast skies and drizzle.” 🤣
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Sebastian Vettel calls for lifetime bans for abusive fans after harassment reports in Austria: "These people should be ashamed of themselves".
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No Nikita Mazepin in today’s F1 press conference. Gunther Steiner set to speak to the media in around an hour #F1.
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🚨 OFFICIAL: Mercedes confirms Lewis Hamilton will leave the team at the end of the 2024 season.
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Bottas sat in the usual 'P3' seat in today's first FIA press conference, turns to Max and says "I've got your seat!" 😅 #F1 #F1Testing
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📻 Sainz radio. "Carlos, looks like a reasonable start to the session, you're the only car out there". Sainz: "OK, but say: 'I am P1'". "You are P1, purple in all three sectors" 😂 . #F1 #ItalianGP.
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📻 Vettel: "OK boys, good session. Oh I really enjoyed it. This track is just so much better than all the other ones. Thank you.". #F1 #JapaneseGP.
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The F1 grid is complete for 2023: Logan Sargeant secures 4th in the F2 championship, meaning he will get an FIA superlicence and race for Williams next year #F1 #AbuDhabiGP.
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Vettel says in the post-race PC he stayed in his car under the red flag. "I'm one of the few who doesn't pee in his car so I could stay in". Gasly: "You know any who pee in their car?". Vettel: "Do you not?". Gasly: "No, disgusting!". Vettel: "I reckon half the grid".
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Lovely moment - Hamilton shares a long embrace with his father, Anthony, upon breaking F1's win record 👏 #F1 #PortugueseGP
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Lewis Hamilton on Instagram speaking out against Hungary’s planned anti-LGBT law referendum 👏👏
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Turns out Russell did that lap on used inters as well, as Williams had used all of their sets! Incredible stuff #F1 #BelgianGP.
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A first outing for @ValtteriBottas with @alfaromeoracing today as well. Spotted him giving a wave to the Mercedes crew as he passed their garage! 👋 #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
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Now official: Lewis Hamilton is awarded a knighthood for services to motorsport in The Queen's New Years honours #F1.
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Haas has confirmed that Laura Müller will be Esteban Ocon’s race engineer for the 2025 season - first female race engineer for a driver in F1 history #F1.
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IndyCar 2021 - where a 7-time NASCAR champion, a 3-time Supercars champion, and an F1 driver of 10 years are battling for "Rookie of the Year" 😂 #IndyCar.
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Vettel after being told Norris crashed at Eau Rouge: "Yep. Well. What the fuck did I say? What did I say! Red flag! It's unnecessary." #F1 #BelgianGP.
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Ocon and Schumacher having a chat before the presser starts, moving the mics away a bit 👀 . Schumacher: “Why did everyone go quiet?”. Ocon: “We were talking about holidays!” 😅😅
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Vasseur on Sainz's car: "We damaged completely the monocoque, the engine, the battery. I think it’s just unacceptable." #F1 #LasVegasGP.
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Can't help but think of Mark Webber's comments in 2014. "I think Seb will do everything early in life. He's got his titles and his results early, he's going to have a kid early and I think he'll retire early. "He'll probably take a blast in the red car, then sayonara".
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FIA stewards dismiss Mercedes' protest about Verstappen overtaking behind the safety car #F1 #AbuDhabiGP.
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Most laps completed in the Barcelona test:. 1. Ferrari 439.2. Mercedes 393.3. McLaren 367.4. Red Bull 358.5. Williams 347.6. AlphaTauri 308.7. Aston Martin 296.8. Alpine 266.9. Alfa Romeo 175.10. Haas 160. #F1 #F1Testing.
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Szafnauer says Alonso told him on Sunday: “Yeah, don't worry, I haven't signed with anybody else.”. Szafnauer: “I haven't talked to him, since he's on a boat, I think, in the Greek Isles somewhere.”.
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Love this from @MercedesAMGF1 featuring all the team member names on the car 👏 New livery as of FP3 for the rest of the weekend #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
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Horner on the radio early to congratulate Verstappen on his national honour:. 📻Horner: "We're not quite sure what to call you, whether it's Sir Max, Lord Max or Super Max, but congrats from everyone in the team!". 📻 Verstappen: "Haha thanks mate, just call me Max, as always!".
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Bottas has received a 5-place grid penalty for Spa after causing the Turn 1 collision #F1 #HungarianGP.
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Ferrari confirms seven drivers will test the 2018 SF71H car at Fiorano next week: Sainz, Leclerc, Shwartzman, Armstrong, Alesi, Ilott and Schumacher #F1.
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Oof. Lots of boos from the grandstands as Hamilton comes to do his interview in parc ferme. "I've never actually felt so great with the booing. If anything, it just fuels me. I don't really mind it.". #F1 #HungarianGP.
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📻 Norris: “What tyre does the Mercedes have on?”. 📻 Engineer: “Hamilton behind you has fitted a used soft, used soft. Same for Verstappen ahead of you. 📻 Norris. “Lovely. Yeah. Wonderful man. ”. #F1 #BritishGP.
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Toto Wolff to continue as Mercedes F1 team principal and CEO for a further three years #F1.
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The FIA has announced a summons for Red Bull and Mercedes to review the Verstappen/Hamilton crash on Thursday in Hungary. Red Bull exercising its right to review the incident #F1.
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Whoops - Alonso’s just come to the TV pen for interviews, not a requirement if you qualify inside the top three! Quickly told he should be in the press conference 😅 #F1 #CanadianGP.
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Vettel asked in the presser what he likes about the track in Montreal: "Well I won last time around here, at least I felt like it…" - then jokes "I’m over it, clearly as you can see!" 😅 #F1 #CanadianGP.
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A first glimpse of #1 on Max Verstappen's car - nice to see it back! This was from a GP Ice Race show run in Austria by @redbullracing #F1
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F1 media sessions in the era of Zoom 👨💻 Ricciardo: "I feel like I'm working in a call centre! 'Hello sir, how may I help you?'" 😅
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Gunther Steiner seen on the world feed thanking Alan van der Merwe. "Thank you. Honestly, I was surprised how you guys fucking reacted" #F1 #BahrainGP.
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Sergio Perez says "no-one told me anything" about his Racing Point exit until yesterday #F1.
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Ricciardo: "Deep down I knew this was going to come. So thanks, thanks for having my back, and for anyone who thought I left. I never left. Just moved aside for a while. Thanks guys" #F1 #ItalianGP.
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Official: F1 confirms Portimao will be round three of the 2021 season, taking place on 2 May #F1.
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Ha, something new from F1: Vettel is informed over team radio by Rosanna Tennant he won Driver of the Day!. "I don't have much time, I've got to get back to my guys in parc ferme. Who gave you my number!?" 😂. #F1 #AzerbaijanGP.
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Kevin Magnussen said it was "bullshit" that Perez didn't get a black and orange flag for the loose front wing endplate. Haas cars have been shown black and orange flags three times this season for the same thing.
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Verstappen on his battle with Sainz: "I think he was on a long run with more fuel, and I was on a shorter run, so I was catching him, and when I caught him, he started using DRS. I think he wanted to fight as well! So we had a bit of a go at it." #F1 #F1Testing.
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Zak Brown responds to Szafnauer's comments about him knowing more about historic racing than F1. "I'd invite him to come and join me. He's got a historic car that he's currently racing." 😳😆. #F1.
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Silverstone has renamed its international pit straight after Lewis Hamilton. The Hamilton Straight is the first part of the track ever to be named after a driver.
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Norris on crossing the line: "I did the best I could. ". Engineer: "I hope you're sitting down. P2!". Norris: "Let's fucking go boys! Awesome job!" #F1 #AustrianGP.
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