World champion Lewis Hamilton said Formula One's Coronavirus suspension had left a "big void" in his life as the sport waits to see if it can return in July. Hamilton, who began go-karting as a child and has risen through the ranks of motorsport, said he misses racing daily after the F1 season failed to get underway. "I miss racing every day. This is the first time since I was eight that I haven't started a season," the British Mercedes driver posted on Instagram.

"When you live and breathe something you love, when it's gone there's definitely a big void. But there's always positives to take from these times." The first practice session of the year was just hours away when the season-opening Australian Grand Prix was scrapped in March, triggering a succession of cancellations. F1 bosses are now hoping to start the delayed season at the Austrian Grand Prix on July 5, while fans will be barred from the British Grand Prix on July 19.

However, Hamilton said the virus shutdown—which has all but closed down professional sports and dramatically slowed economic activity—was not all bad news. "Right now, we all have time in the world to reflect on life, our decisions, our goals, the people we have around us, our careers," said Hamilton. "Today, we see clearer skies all over the world, less animals being slaughtered for our pleasure simply because our demands are much lower and everyone is staying in. Let's not come back the same as we went into this tough time. Let's come out of it with better knowledge of our world, changing our personal choices and habits."

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Ferrari star Sebastian Vettel has made his esports debut with the Legends Trophy organised by Torque Esports.

After being supplied with a simulator by Torque Esports company Allinsports, Vettel made his first appearance in esports competition fighting battles with the likes of former F1 racer and two-time Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya and fellow ex-Formula 1 World Champions Emerson Fittipaldi and Jenson Button.

Vettel's Ferrari teammate Chales LeClerc has been active on various esports platforms, participating from his Monaco apartment. LeClerc has won two virtual F1 races and taken part in a variety of other races.

Vettel finished 15th and 12th, respectively, in his two races but the four-time F1 champion was unlucky in both -- getting caught up in incidents that were not his fault on the rFactor 2 virtual version of the former home of the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Montoya finished the day as the Legends Trophy points leader. He led home Button and ex-24 Hours of Le Mans winner Emanuele Pirro in race one while finishing fifth in the reverse grid race, which was won by Fernandez over factory Aston Martin Le Mans winner Darren Turner and Pirro.

The Colombian was able to avoid first-lap drama in the opening race to take the victory.

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Fernando Alonso

McLaren yesterday said they would drop Honda engines in favour of Renault at the end of this season, ending a troubled partnership with the Japanese manufacturer as they bid to return to the top of Formula One.

The celebrated British marque announced a three-year deal covering 2018, 2019 and 2020 with France's Renault, who simultaneously unveiled a split with Toro Rosso — who will now be powered by Honda. Honda's exit is likely to convince Fernando Alonso to stay at McLaren next year.

Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo topped the timesheets by a dominant margin ahead of teammate Max Verstappen, as Red Bull marked themselves out as contenders for victory on the opening day of Singapore Grand Prix practice.

Ricciardo put in a dazzling one minute 40.852 second lap under the floodlights, setting a new record around the Marina Bay street circuit after having already lowered the earlier benchmark with the fastest time in the opening session.

His effort was a massive 0.556 seconds quicker than Verstappen's best. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton meanwhile, chasing a hat-trick of wins this weekend, was third fastest after having been fourth in the opening session.

His title rival Sebastian Vettel, second in the evening, was inconspicuous at night with only the 11th fastest time.

Singapore's tight twists are expected to play to Ferrari and Red Bull's strengths and Vettel briefly lit up the timing screens. Valtteri Bottas, who agreed a one-year contract extension with Mercedes, ended the day fourth-fastest.

Lewis Hamilton

F1's Lewis Hamilton has said that he has gradually moved to veganism over the past two years after TV documentary inspired him to do so to improve his health and avoid harming the planet.

Mercedes driver, Hamilton said he had changed his habits after watching a documentary about the environmental impact of the meat industry.

"It is something I have been going towards anyway. I stopped eating red meat two years ago," he told the BBC.

"This year I stopped eating chicken and then kind of went back to it and now I've stopped again. So I have generally been pescatarian for the majority of the year and then I cut out fish too."

He added: "I have actually eaten plant-based food for the last two days and it has been amazing. So far, I don't feel as if I have been missing out. I don't know how easy it is going to be when I get home. That is going to be a real test."

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Sparks fly off Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari (right) after he collides with teammate Sebastian Vettel's vehicle (left) in the Singapore Grand Prix yesterday. Raikkonen was eliminated immediately while Vettel retired later due to a damaged car. Pics/AFP

Sebastian Vettel pulled out a scorching lap in the dying stages of Saturday's qualifying session to seize pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix.

The Ferrari driver lapped the floodlit Marina Bay street circuit in one minute, 39.491 seconds, the fastest ever set around the 5-kilometer long track, in a dazzling display of speed.

Max Verstappen went second fastest and will start alongside Vettel on the front-row with his Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo third.

A victorious Lewis Hamilton jumps off his Mercedes

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton, Vettel's title rival, was only fifth ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas.

The Briton, seeing a hat-trick of wins this weekend, seized the championship lead with victory at the last race in Monza.

But starting on the third row, with the Red Bulls and Kimi Raikkonen's fourth-placed Ferrari between him and Vettel, Hamilton could well have to drive a race of damage limitation that could cost him his slim three-point advantage.

"I'm still full of adrenaline so maybe whatever I say doesn't make any sense," a breathless Vettel, who let out a loud whoop of joy over the team-radio, said immediately after qualifying.

"The car was tricky but it came alive and it was getting better and better as the night progressed, so really happy that we got it done."

Saturday's pole was the 49th of Vettel's career and an unprecedented fourth at Singapore.

It could prove to be an especially crucial one with seven of the last nine races in the city-state won by the pole-sitter.

But the German, who also has an unprecedented four wins at the twisty track, initially did not seem to have the pace to seize the top-spot.

Red Bull had topped the timesheets in every session over the weekend.

With Verstappen even topping the opening two parts of qualifying, the former champions had looked on course to score their first front row lockout since the United States Grand Prix in 2013.

But Vettel put it all on the line when it really mattered, vaulting to the top of the timesheets during the final 12-minute pole-position shootout.

Nico Hulkenberg was seventh for Renault ahead of Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne, who put both McLaren's in the top-ten a day after the Woking-based squad agreed to swap Honda power for Renault.

Carlos Sainz, set to move to the works Renault team next year, rounded out the top ten for Toro Rosso.

Force India's Sergio Perez was 12th with teammate Esteban Ocon 14th.

British Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton and German Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel praised late Argentine great Juan Manuel Fangio as both racers eye matching Fangio's five Formula One titles.

Hamilton secured his fourth title weeks before the end of the 2017 championship while Vettel won the last of his four consecutive crowns in 2013.

Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton

"Certainly, we will never match him in how successful he had been in such a short time and so little races. Obviously, back then it was different. Racing was different," Vettel told Efe on Thursday ahead of the season-ending race this weekend in Abu Dhabi.

Fangio, who died in 1995, won his maiden world title in 1951 and took four straight crowns between 1954 and 1957.

"To have achieved what he did achieve in that time, where a lot of things needed to come together, the cars were not as reliable and all of that, still he managed to be that successful, I think he's probably the best we've ever had in terms of putting it together, in terms of skill, in terms of how brave they were at the time," Vettel said.

Hamilton echoed Vettel's opinion of Fangio.

"I agree with Sebastian. Naturally, he's just a leading icon in motorsport. To have achieved what he achieved in the time, when danger was really at its worst. I think he's the driver that I think everyone admires most, perhaps being that it was in the most dangerous period of time in motorsport," Hamilton said.

"I think he should be celebrated more for his success. It's not really mentioned a huge amount. Often you hear about Ayrton and Prost, but I feel he's the godfather of the sport in terms of the drivers," he added.

Hamilton said he expected fierce competition from Vettel during the 2018 Formula One season.

"No one is perfect. Even I have things to work on. I expect Sebastian to raise the bar again next year. Ferrari had a great season," the British racer said.

The former F1 driver, alongside Marc Coma, was driving a Toyota Hilux over a sand dune when he lost control of the car. It flipped twice, landing back on its wheels, but the pair did complete the 10th stage.

It's Hot or Not time again as Sportsmail's Riath Al-Samarrai reveals what's been making him feel warm and what's been leaving him cold this week.

New Zealand took a break from preparations for Saturday's Test match with England to try their hand at an F1 pit stop. They visited McLaren's headquarters and changed the tyres on an F1 car.

Lewis Hamilton is on course to secure his sixth world championship at this weekend's Mexican Grand Prix but first the Brit will be hoping to land pole position ahead of the race. Follow qualifying live.

Following the third-place finish of Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas, Hamilton needs just four more points at the United States Grand Prix next week to kick-start his title celebrations.

Formula One bosses have unveiled the first images of the sport's cars for the future. It is hoped that the new machines will provide closer action, and make overtaking easier.

Lewis Hamilton is on the cusp of winning his sixth world championship on Sunday but first he will be hoping to end his qualifying drought which stands at seven races.

Hamilton has not always been a mere dot disappearing beyond the horizon to rivals. He even struggled to win races before learning his trademark driving style from a friend.

Despite a poor qualifying that leaves Hamilton fifth on the grid at the Circuit of the Americas, the Brit is on course to retain his title as he needs just eighth place to secure a sixth world championship.

JONATHAN McEVOY IN AUSTIN: The next chapter of that attempt involves matching - and then beating - Michael Schumacher's record of seven titles and 91 wins. He is nine victories short.

Just a finish of eighth place was needed to secure the four points to land Hamilton out of reach of his last remaining title rival - Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas. The Brit finished in second.

Verstappen has 100 starts and seven wins to his name since becoming the sport's youngest driver and next season he could yet become the youngest champion.

Schumacher clinched his first of seven titles in one of the sport's most controversial incidents when he collided with Hill to pip his British rival to the title by just one point at the race in Adelaide.

He drove spectacularly in the wet here in 2016 but could only finish third on that occasion. Last season he was unlucky to be punted out of contention by backmarker Esteban Ocon while leading.

JONATHAN McEVOY IN SAO PAULO: Verstappen drove spectacularly in the wet here three ago but could only finish second on that occasion after a collision with backmarker Esteban Ocon.

JONATHAN McEVOY IN SAO PAULO: The 89-year-old Ecclestone thinks a clean break would suit the six-time world champion better than seeking a final hurrah with Ferrari.

Former Labour cabinet minister Lord Hain has written to Downing Street calling for Hamilton to be rewarded with an upgrade on the MBE he received after he won his maiden championship in 2008.

Lewis Hamilton is hoping to return to winning ways at the Brazilian Grand Prix as he races for the first time since winning his sixth world championship in the United States. Follow the race live here.

There may be signs that the new wave are starting to make a challenge for Hamilton's throne heading into 2020 already following a thrilling Brazilian Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen leading the chasing pack.

The Chinese Grand Prix has become the latest sporting event to fall victim to the coronavirus after Formula One confirmed that it has been postponed. 

F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel said the drivers are prepared to pull out of this weekend's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne - effectively cancelling the event - due to coronavirus fears.

Red Bull racing chief Helmut Marko has revealed his unusual plan to arrange a 'Corona Camp' in a bid to ensure that the Formula One season is not blighted by the coronavirus outbreak.

EXCLUSIVE BY JONATHAN McEVOY: F1 giants McLaren became the sport's first team to place staff on furlough, with their drivers volunteering to take pay cuts themselves.

EXCLUSIVE BY JONATHAN MCEVOY: Sportsmail understands the inaugural event could be staged as early as next year. An option under consideration is a one-off street race in Jeddah.

The stars were spotted chatting away as they watched the Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday afternoon with their manager Simon Fuller.

On Friday afternoon, a rumour spread like wildfire at the Genesis Invitational that Phil Mickelson was about to be announced as the first face of the proposed Premier Golf League.

EXCLUSIVE BY JONATHAN MCEVOY: Vladimir Putin and Formula One's power brokers are in advanced talks about staging a race in St Petersburg.

LONDON, May 9 (Reuters) - Daniel Ricciardo cannot wait for Formula One to get back to racing in a COVID-19 blighted season, and when it does he reckons the...

By Alan BaldwinLONDON, May 9 (Reuters) - Six-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton says the prospect of a home British Grand Prix without...

PARIS (AP) - Driving around Formula One tracks without fans cheering at Silverstone and Monza would literally feel "very empty" for world champion Lewis...

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Basket case Caterham will go to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after raising enough funds through their ‘crowdfunding’ scheme, a move that has not been met with joy by Bernie Ecclestone.

The Spanish Grand Prix will continue to be part of the Formula One calendar after an agreement was reached to hold the race in 2020.

Karim Benzema has taken a swipe at Olivier Giroud, implying the Chelsea striker who replaced him in the France national team is an inferior player.  The 32-year-old has not played for Les Blues since 2015.

Lewis Hamilton signed off from qualifying in style - ending his nine-race pole drought - by setting the pace ahead of Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He will start alongside Max Verstappen.

Hamilton put in an excellent qualifying lap on Saturday to land his first pole position for nine races and will line up on the front row alongside Max Verstappen. Follow the 1.10pm race live here.

JONATHAN McEVOY AT YAS MARINA: His trainer was hanging Lewis Hamilton's laundered overalls on the balcony railing while inside his boss speculated over a move to Ferrari.

As Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes bask in the glory of a sixth world championship, Sportsmail looks at the good and the bad and hands out its post-season awards for 2019.

A new mural has been unveiled at the Farm Bridge section of Silverstone, depicting the Mercedes driver in front of the Union flag following his sixth world title this season.

Under new rules introduced this year, a digital chequered flag mounted on the starting lights gantry took precedence over the physical flag.

Aston Martin, one of the most iconic names in British motoring, could enter Formula One as the new identity of the Racing Point team.

The 34-year-old racer became just the second driver in the sport's history to win six titles - and needs just one more to match all-time great Michael Schumacher's record.

Charles Leclerc has signed a five-year contract to remain with Ferrari following a successful maiden campaign with Ferrari, rewarding the Frenchman with a new and improved deal.