The Williams driver crashed into the barriers and damaged his car after the unfortunate incident at turn seven.

Russell was the pre-season championship favourite but fellow Mercedes driver Antonelli has won three straight races.

The Italian clinched a third successive victory at the Miami Grand Prix.

Sunday’s race was moved forward by three hours to 1300 local time as F1 bosses fought to beat the forecast thunderstorms later in the afternoon.

The FIA had earlier made a rain hazard declaration ahead of Sunday’s 57-lap race.

The Italian competed in Formula One for five seasons.

Kimi Antonelli has won the last two races to lead the standings by nine points.

Verstappen has been a huge critic of F1’s new rules and hinted at the last round in Japan that he could walk away.

Max Verstappen has led the disapproval, with revisions now made to regulations ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.

Gianpiero Lambiase, known as ‘GP’, is understood to be poised to take up a position with rivals McLaren.

Horner, 52, is exploring a way back to the paddock after he was sacked as Red Bull team principal following last July’s British Grand Prix.

Kimi Antonelli won his second successive race at Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, with Mercedes team-mate Russell in fourth.

Bearman lost control of his Haas as he deployed his boost button to overtake Franco Colapinto at Spoon Curve.

Antonelli took advantage of a safety car period following British driver Ollie Bearman’s 140mph crash in Suzuka to land a free pit-stop.

Verstappen was eliminated in Q2 in Japan and out-qualified by his Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar.

The Australian edged out Kimi Antonelli by 0.092 seconds in Suzuka with George Russell third.

Four-time world champion Verstappen had just sat down for his print duties inside the Red Bull hospitality suite when he spotted the reporter.

The four-time world champion Red Bull driver did not finish the Chinese Grand Prix following an engine failure.

Antonelli delivered a composed drive from pole position at the Shanghai International Circuit.

It leaves F1 with a five-week void between the third round of the new season in Japan on March 29 and the Miami Grand Prix on May 3.

George Russell took second on the grid as Mercedes secured a second straight front-row lockout.

Hamilton had to settle for third as Russell – a winner in Australia six days ago – took the chequered flag 0.6 seconds clear of Charles Leclerlc.

It is highly unlikely that the races in the Middle East will be replaced, leaving the sport with a five-week void between Japan and Miami.

Russell is leading the drivers’ standings for the first time in his career.

It is understood F1 executives have already spoken to the four-time world champion to address his concerns.

Russell traded the lead with Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc five times during a frenetic start.

The British driver, 28, arrived for the new campaign in Melbourne as the bookmakers’ favourite.

The seven-time Formula One champion also outlined his ambition to compete in a grand prix on African soil before the end of his career.

The 41-year-old is the most decorated driver in F1 history but he will head into Sunday’s curtain-raiser in Australia with a point to prove.

The conflict in the Middle East has caused hundreds of staff to re-route or take chartered flights.

Missile strikes continue to rock the region after United States and Israeli forces attacked Iran with several countries closing their airspace.

The seven-time world champion endured a difficult debut season with Ferrari, failing to secure a podium as he finished sixth in the standings.

Horner said he has unfinished business in the sport in his first public comments he was let go in July.

Norris became the 11th British driver to take the F1 crown last year.

Norris is celebrating becoming just the 11th driver from Britain to win an F1 title.

The Dutchman took the chequered flag 19.2 seconds clear of runner-up Lando Norris.

Norris trails McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri by 34 points in the drivers’ title race.

Norris led the way in the concluding running prior to qualifying.

The Briton made an astonishing admission after qualifying 12th for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The seven-time world champion had been due to start 16th after he was eliminated in Q1.

The British driver set a new record around the streets of Monte Carlo to beat local hero Charles Leclerc to pole by 0.109 seconds.

Norris heads into the sixth round of the new season 10 points behind McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri.

The Red Bull motorsport adviser expressed “great concern” over Verstappen’s future after a disappointing weekend for the team in Bahrain.