Formula 1

Turns out Rihanna, A$AP Rocky and a ton of other celebs love cars that go real fast ... especially if they're speeding down the famed Strip for the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The much anticipated glitzy event -- which got off to a very rocky start -- turned into a massive success ... based on the actual racing action, and the A-list talent who showed up for Saturday night's race.

RiRi and her man sat in with Team Ferrari, putting on headphones to hear the drivers during the race ... while the likes of David Beckham, Heidi Klum, Shaquille O'Neal, Paris Hilton, Cara Delevingne, Axl Rose and Patrick Dempsey roamed the track right before the race.

Arguably, Justin Bieber nabbed the best seat in the house for the race ... as he got to wave the checkered flag as Team Red Bull's Max Verstappen crossed the finish line for his 18th victory of the season.

Ferrari's Charles LeClerc, who started in pole position, finished 2nd and Red Bull's Sergio Perez was third.

The race was Formula 1's first in Las Vegas since 1982's Caesars Palace Grand Prix, and it was easily the most talked about race on the schedule this year.

But, it almost turned into a major flop -- locals were pissed about the monthslong construction and traffic delays, spectators railed about sky-high ticket and hotel prices ... and then, during the first practice session, a drain hole cover flew up and damaged a car driven by Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz.

However, in the end, the race itself turned out to be pretty exciting ... making sure normie spectators, and celebs alike, got their money's worth.

A Formula One car turned into a flamethrower during a practice run in Las Vegas Thursday night, spitting out a stream of fire that was caught on dramatic video ... forcing officials to cancel the rest of the session.

Check out the footage, obtained by TMZ Sports ... several F1 cars, including a Ferrari, are zooming around the track built along the Vegas Strip for Saturday's celebrity-studded Formula One Grand Prix. Journey, J Balvin, John Legend, Keith Urban and Steve Aoki are all set to perform at the three-day event.

In the 19-second clip ... Carlos Sainz's Ferrari roars down the track past The Cromwell Hotel and, suddenly a burst of flames shoots out from the back of the race car before it disappears from our view. One stunned onlooker reacts by yelling, "Wooooooo!"

It was later revealed the incident was caused when Sainz drove over a loose drain cover, causing serious damage to his car.

Ferrari was forced to replace Sainz's chassis, engine and battery ... which sparked a 10-place grid penalty for the race.

Thankfully, no one was injured ... and the police and fire departments did not have to respond to the scene.

Sainz sounded off on the track conditions in a social media post Friday morning ... saying, "Eventful and long day. We seem competitive and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

"However, the situation of the manhole damage and the 10-place penalty is not acceptable, but we’ll deal with it."

Formula 1's biggest stars can find out why it's called Sin City this weekend ... 'cause one Nevada brothel is opening its doors and offering each driver free sex ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix!!

TMZ Sports is told ... famous Chicken Ranch brothel workers Addison Gray and Alice Little are really excited to welcome the race to their home turf for the first time since 1982 ... and they want to make sure every driver leaves Vegas happy.

We're told the licensed sex workers are offering a special one-on-one session at no charge for all the guys on the grid ... just in case they want to see some action prior to Saturday's race.

"It’s Formula 1 fever in Las Vegas this month and we’re all psyched up for the big event," Little told us.

"Any driver that wants to get their hearts racing and celebrate the F1 with me and Addison will be treated to 100% complimentary coitus."

Drivers aren't the only ones gettin' perks -- Gray and Little said they're also giving a 50% off deal for anyone flocking to the desert for the festivities.

"Our discount will help Vegas visitors and residents blow off some steam with a couple of generous ladies so that they can chill out during race week," Little said.

"Everyone who made F1 in Vegas possible deserves a break, and we’re here to provide some well-oiled appreciation."

Gray said the Grand Prix also needs a little bit of spice anyway ... especially since they stopped using Grid Girls years ago.

"Since Formula 1 banned their fabulous grid girls in 2018, the events have been overwhelmingly lacking in much-needed sex appeal," Gray said.

"Our discount isn't just a gesture of love for F1; it's an invitation for fans to revel in an experience where sex appeal is celebrated, not sidelined. Because in our world, glamour isn't forbidden; it's the star of the show!"

Machine Gun Kelly es la última celebridad en ser entrevistada por Martin Brundle y el resultado fue bastante bizarro.

El rockero/rapero estuvo en Sao Paulo el domingo para tomarse fotos con todos los carros de carreras que competían por el Gran Premio de Brasil y como de costumbre, Brundle, (el famoso piloto convertido en locutor) estaba allí haciendo lo suyo para Sky Sports F1, caminar por ahí en busca de estrellas para entrevistar.

Finalmente, encontró a MGK y trató de charlar con él de forma improvisada. Fue similar a sus otras entrevistas, algo torpe y algo incómoda.

Mira por ti mismo; está claro que Kels y el músico/rapero no estaban en la misma página, ya que parece que no podía oír a Martin con todo el ruido a su alrededor. Sin embargo, las pocas preguntas que pudo escuchar las respondió de manera extraña, lo cual generó algunas risas.

Definitivamente fue tan hostil como algunas de las otras entrevistas de Martin, a veces, el tipo es directamente desairado por las celebridades, pero no está claro si consiguió lo que quería de MGK.

Machine Gun Kelly is the latest celeb to be interviewed by Martin Brundle -- and just like most of MOTS stop-and-chats go ... this one was equally awkward, if not more hilarious.

The rocker/rapper was out in Sao Paolo Sunday to take in all the race cars zipping by for the Brazil Grand Prix -- and per usual, Brundle -- the famous driver-turned-broadcaster -- was out there doing his thing for Sky Sports F1 ... walking the grid and looking for stars to talk to.

Eventually, he tracked down MGK and attempted to chat him up impromptu ... and it kinda went the way his other interviews go -- very clunky and a little embarrassing for everybody.

Watch for yourself ... it's clear that Kels and MB weren't really on the same page, as it appears he couldn't quite hear Martin with all the noise going on around him. However, the questions he did hear ... he answered a bit oddly, which made for some great laughs.

This one definitely turns as hostile as some of Martin's other interviews -- sometimes, the dude gets straight-up snubbed by A-listers -- but it's unclear if he got what he wanted out of MGK.

Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are taking their on-field chemistry to a completely new sport -- the Kansas City Chiefs superstars are teaming up as investors in the Alpine Formula One team ... part of a massive, $210 million investment!!

Otro Capital announced a star-studded list of sports superstars that are joining its partnership with Alpine on Tuesday ... which includes the pair of two-time Super Bowl winners, golfer Rory McIlroy, boxer Anthony Joshua and soccer players Trent Alexander-Arnold and Juan Mata.

Otro said it hopes the addition of popular athletes from all different parts of the sports world will bring new fans to Alpine ... and help in areas like media, tickets and merch.

Mahomes spoke about the business move ... saying, "I've always had a passion for all sports. The opportunity to lead an investor group with Travis in Alpine F1 alongside Otro Capital was one I couldn’t pass up."

"It's an exciting time for the sport and this is an opportunity to bring our shared values to the world stage. I’m looking forward to being a part of its growth."

Kelce added ... "I am thrilled to lead an investor group and join forces with Patrick and the team at Otro Capital on this exciting venture with Alpine F1. Our shared passion for excellence and innovation forms the cornerstone of this partnership."

"It’s about being able to contribute to a sport that demands precision, teamwork, and relentless pursuit of success. I am looking forward to this new chapter and can’t wait to see what we achieve together."

Alpine -- which also has financial backing from actors Ryan Reynolds, Michael B. Jordan and Rob McElhenney through Maximum Effort Investments -- is currently sixth in the constructor standings thanks to drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly ... so it'll be interesting to see if the Chiefs duo's success can rub off on them.

Max Verstappen's Hungarian Grand Prix trophy has been made whole again -- the F1 superstar was gifted a fixed award after it was destroyed during a post-race champagne celebration last month ... and he's not letting his buddy Lando Norris come near it!!

The 25-year-old Red Bull driver showed off his repaired keepsake in a selfie with the culprit on Tuesday ... and both guys joked about the mishap after Max was reunited with his prize.

""Fantastic, it's in one piece!!" Max said.

"Don't let me touch it," the McLaren star joked ... to which Max responded, "Yeah, Lando's not allowed to touch it."

Of course, Lando knocked Max's trophy off a ledge as the podium finishers celebrated with bottles of bubbly after the July 23 race ... and after he initially joked it off, he later apologized for the accident.

"I obviously had no intention in ever doing such a thing," Lando said days after the race. "I know how much it means to the Hungarians and part of their culture and so forth ... and I did apologize to Max."

Huge bummer for Daniel Ricciardo -- the AlphaTauri driver will not compete in the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend ... after breaking his wrist in practice.

The accident went down during the second round of laps on Friday ... when McLaren's Oscar Piastri crashed into a barrier, which led to Ricciardo wrecking his car as well.

The 34-year-old -- who was visibly in pain -- was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment ... and it was later revealed he busted his wrist in the crash, forcing him to back out of this weekend's race.

Liam Lawson will take Ricciardo's seat for AlphaTauri ... which elected against bringing back Nyck de Vries, who started the season on the grid for the organization.

Ricciardo was slated to make his third start of the season ... and has yet to score a point for AlphaTauri.

DR is beloved in the sport ... and many fans were thrilled when he returned to competition in July. He's racked up eight wins and 32 podiums throughout his career.

Tom Brady is racking up teams like Super Bowl rings -- the retired NFL superstar has become part owner of yet another sports organization ... this time, it's the Birmingham City Football Club.

The G.O.A.T. announced the business move in a hype video on Thursday ... saying "he's officially coming on board" the English Football League Championship squad.

"And maybe you're asking what do you know about English football, Tom?" Brady said in the clip. "Well, let's just say I've got a lot to learn. But I do know a few things about winning, and I think they may translate pretty well."

Brady -- who joins the club's current owners, Knighthead Capital Management LLC -- will also serve as chairman of the advisory board.

"I know success starts with the work put in when the world isn't watching," Brady added. "I know a team is nothing without the city that shows up and stands behind it."

"Most importantly, I know I like being the underdog. The road's been long for Birmingham, but these fans have never stopped believing."

The Blues will hope Brady's winning will rub off on them ... 'cause the team finished 17th in England's second-tier league last season.

Birmingham City also addressed the move in a statement ... saying Brady will work directly with the team's sports science department to share his knowledge on "health, nutrition, wellness, and recovery systems and programs."

"I'll see you at St Andrew's soon," TB12 added. "It's time to get to work."

Brady has clearly found a new hobby in sports ownership after retiring in February -- his collection now includes Birmingham City, the Las Vegas Raiders, the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces, a Major League Pickleball team, and, most recently, an E1 World Championship electric boat racing franchise.

Lando Norris is issuing a mea culpa after accidentally destroying Max Verstappen's Hungarian Grand Prix trophy last weekend ... vowing to be more cautious with his celebrations moving forward.

The 23-year-old McLaren driver -- who finished second in Sunday's race -- went viral when he knocked the reigning champ's new hardware off a platform after slamming down his champagne bottle during their podium party.

Lando initially cracked jokes about the whole mishap ... saying Max should've been more careful with his prize.

But the young star has since had a change of heart ... owning up to his mistake in an interview ahead of this weekend's Belgian GP.

"I obviously had no intention in ever doing such a thing," Lando said Thursday. "I know how much it means to the Hungarians and part of their culture and so forth ... and I did apologize to Max."

Lando acknowledged he probably shouldn't have made funny comments after the incident ... admitting he'd be annoyed if it happened to his trophy.

"I do apologize for it and obviously to the people who put the time and effort into making it, I really didn't mean for it to happen. I'll make sure I'm a lot more careful next time."

Martin Brundle often gets treated like dirt by celebs at F1 races -- but on Sunday ... the shoe seemed to be on the other foot during his interview with one Terry Crews.

The racer-turned-broadcaster was doing his thing during the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Terry was on the grid ... chillin' with the Red Bull crew and taking in the sights. Like he usually does, Martin sorta bum-rushed him and started peppering him with questions.

Good sports that he is ... Terry played along, and gave great, thoughtful responses. Terry talked about the technology of the cars and said he was learning a lot about the sport.

Now, for the most part, TC is getting tons of praise for how he handled himself here. Considering how others in the recent past have dealt with Martin -- namely, kinda giving him the cold shoulder, which often goes viral -- Terry's engagement is getting a big thumbs up.

But watch how Martin ends this impromptu chat ... he quickly cuts it short, without even thanking him for his time or anything. He beelines it to another interview subject and leaves Terry awkwardly hanging. Even during the convo, you can tell MB is barely listening.

Welp, folks at home certainly took notice ... and some are labeling Martin rude in how treated Terry -- which, again, is ironic seeing how he's normally the one being snubbed.

In any case, Terry handled it with grace -- even after Martin bolted away mid-thought ... he still flashed a big smile and the peace sign. Good dude, it didn't really phase him.

The G.O.A.T.'s getting a boat ...Tom Brady just announced he's joining a new electric boat racing league as a team owner!!

The former NFL superstar and the newly formed E1 World Championship league made the move officially official on Thursday morning ... revealing the ex-QB will now compete against teams owned by tennis star Rafael Nadal, Formula 1 star Sergio Perez, former soccer star Didier Drogba and more beginning in 2024.

The league promises to be packed with action ... featuring all-electric ships that move on tight courses at speeds of over 100 kilometers per hour.

"UIM E1 World Championship combines several things l love," Brady said when announcing his ownership stake in the league ... "speed, intensity, being on the water, intense competition, and innovative leaders."

He added, "My message to our competition: be prepared for second place because we are aiming for the top! LFG!!!"

45-year-old Brady also said he was pumped that the league -- which is aiming to have 10 teams with mixed-gender pilots -- will be more environmentally friendly than other racing sports.

As for how Tom got started in the process ... he told CNN this week he fell in love with the boating culture following his move to Tampa Bay in 2020.

And, yes, he did say he plans to get behind the wheel of the boats sometime soon -- even though he won't be a pilot when official races begin next year.

"You're damn right I'm going to be in that cockpit at some point," Brady said. "I love speed! I love driving fast!"

Daniel Ricciardo is getting the royal treatment in his big return to AlphaTauri ... with the whole team welcoming the F1 star back to home base.

The 34-year-old driver was greeted with a big hug from team principal Franz Tost on Friday ... and the front door featured a massive honey pot as a nod to his "honey badger" nickname.

The entire AlphaTauri team was waiting for the man of the hour as he made his way through headquarters ... and erupted in applause and cheers as he addressed the crowd.

Ricciardo even gave a speech ... thanking everyone for the warm welcome.

It's been a long time since Ricciardo -- who has raced for teams like Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri), Red Bull, Renault and McLaren -- has been back in the building ... but it's safe to say they made him feel like he never left.

Of course, Ricciardo's return to Red Bull's sister team comes as the team decided to move on from first-year driver Nyck de Vries ... who didn't meet expectations 10 races into the season.

Ricciardo previously said he was looking forward to taking the full year off ... but was turning heads with his testing laps this past weekend at Silverstone.

But, Danny is beloved in the F1 community ... so it goes without saying fans can't wait to check him out at the Hungarian Grand Prix next weekend.

Martin Brundle fans were NOT happy after Cara Delevingne snubbed him on the grid -- but the model's defending herself ... saying she was just following orders.

The F1 legend-turned-broadcaster was on his usual TV schtick at the British Grand Prix Sunday ... walking around the grid/trying to talk to famous people on camera, for which he's sort of become famous (anew) lately -- especially depending on who he gets.

This time, he wanted a quick one-on-one with Cara ... but he was being rebuked at the door, with some nameless-faceless man blocking him from approaching CD and saying an impromptu interview was a no-go. Martin forged on though, and asked Cara directly.

He tried to be light-hearted about it ... saying it's a "rule" that everyone on the grid has to talk to him, and we're being honest -- yeah, that's kinda the unspoken deal at these events.

Anyway, Cara doubled down in what the guy -- who looked to be part of her team -- said ... namely, she wouldn't be giving any interviews ... saying "no" repeatedly. MB walked away and threw a little dig at her, sarcastically saying he's sure it would've been a fascinating chat.

As you can imagine, F1 Twitter started ripping into Cara ... calling her conceited and full of herself for rejecting what's become a pastime at Grand Prix races -- talking to Martin. But she's come out swinging, responding by saying she specifically was told not to rebuff him.

Folks replied to that by questioning whether she was told this by her agent or PR person, and wondering if she wasn't capable of thinking/speaking for herself -- but she stamped that out too ... claiming it was actually a Formula 1 rep who instructed her not to speak.

The paddock just got a bit more crowded -- Ryan Reynolds, Michael B. Jordan and Rob McElhenney are hopping on Formula One's massive rise in popularity and investing in the Alpine Racing team!!

Renault, Alpine's parent company, announced the news on Monday ... saying Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners and Maximum Effort Investments (which includes the trio of actors) are taking a 24% equity stake in the organization ... which is worth $218 million.

Otro Capital's Alec Scheiner will get a seat on Alpine's board of directors as part of the deal.

This is yet another sports venture for RR and RM, who famously bought Welsh soccer team Wrexham AFC back in 2020. Reynolds was also recently interested in purchasing the Ottawa Senators, although his bid did not move forward.

Alpine couldn't be more thrilled with the deal ... saying the partnership "will bring successful sports & media experience and operational expertise in building high-growth companies."

Alpine is currently fifth in the Constructor standings this season with drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon ... who are notably covered in the hit Netflix series, "Drive To Survive."

F1 has reached new heights in America in recent years ... with the sport adding races in Miami and Las Vegas.

It turns out Max Verstappen's dominant win at the Canadian Grand Prix was even more impressive than it looked ... 'cause the Formula One superstar completed the race with a dead bird stuck to his car!!

The Red Bull driver ran over the poor thing during Lap 11 of Sunday's event in Montreal ... which he hilariously detailed to his team on the radio.

But the animal apparently wanted one last joyride before going to bird heaven ... 'cause it got trapped in the right brake duct of Verstappen's car, where it remained until the checkered flag was waved.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner praised the champ's ability to handle the unique situation ... saying it was "a very, very controlled race by him."

It's not the first time the 25-year-old has had some run-ins with animals mid-race -- he also hit a squirrel at the Italian GP in 2021.

Sunday's win over Fernando Alonso (second) and Lewis Hamilton (third) marked Verstappen's sixth first-place finish in eight races so far in 2023 ... which has him sitting comfortably at the top of the Driver Standings over teammate Checo Perez.