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

The contract is separate to the national broadcaster’s arrangement for taxi services, on which it spends around €45,000 a month

The contract is separate to the national broadcaster’s arrangement for taxi services, on which it spends around €45,000 a month

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.

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

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

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.

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

Hamilton’s Mercedes career will come to an end on Sunday.

Hamilton endured a torrid weekend in his penultimate race for the Silver Arrows.

Russell took the third win of his career under the Las Vegas lights.

Championship leader Max Verstappen will start sixth on the grid in Baku.

The seven-time world champion and Mercedes have been on the backfoot so far this season.

Hamilton was speaking at the federation’s prize-giving gala in Baku.

Verstappen was imperious around the high-speed corner circuit at Suzuka.