TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 20 Mercedes cautious despite Hamilton’s ‘stardust’ AFP | Singapore

ercedes boss Toto Wolff said it was spe- Mcial to conquer “bogey Singapore has been track” Singapore but cautioned our bogey track for the F1 title race wasn’t over yet several years, so it is after Lewis Hamilton’s “star- a special feeling to dust” propelled him to a poten- come here and win tially decisive 40-point lead over Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel. this race on pace. Hamilton raced to a stunning The entire team pole position which he convert- has worked so hard ed into a dominant victory -- his to understand the fourth in five races -- to leave car and take steps Ferrari, who seem to have the forward, especially faster car, again scratching their since our defeat in heads with just six grands prix to go. Spa, and this result is Team principal Wolff an indication that our said there was no mystery to work is paying off Mercedes’ form, it was all down TOTO WOLFF to sheer hard work back at the factory and the track. Lewis Hamilton “Singapore has been our bogey track for several years, so it is a special feeling to come here and and take steps forward, especial- during the race,” Wolff added. for his fifth Formula One drivers’ team has ever been.” in both championships, but they win this race on pace,” Wolf told ly since our defeat in Spa, and Hamilton also paid tribute to world championship. Wolff warned they had to keep change nothing in the mindset of reporters after Hamilton’s pole- this result is an indication that “the guys back at the factory” “I give quite long debriefs up the intensity to win both driv- this team. to-flag win and team-mate Valt- our work is paying off.” when he spoke to reporters. nowadays and we work to the ers’ and constructors’ champi- “We have six weekends to go teri Bottas’s fourth place gave “It was a weekend of many “We’re hitting the nail on the point that we leave no stone onships this season, starting and we know how quickly the them a 25-point lead over Fer- parts: a stardust lap from Lewis head with the balance of the car unturned -- there’s not a single with the Russian Grand Prix in situation can swing back against rari in the constructors’ cham- in qualifying, a chess game of and really just eking out each lit- stone unturned each weekend two weeks. us. We will take it weekend by pionship. tyre management this evening, tle bit and each weekend we’ve that we arrive and so it’s a real “From our side, we can be weekend, feet on the ground “The entire team has worked and some nervous moments got incredible communications,” collective. pleased with a very solid week- and determined to maximise our so hard to understand the car with traffic and backmarkers said Englishman who is gunning “It’s just the strongest the end,” he added. “We have leads potential every time.” Real more Hazard can be of a team without top-scorer: Sarri AFP | London in attack, Sarri is aware the Stamford Bridge team must den Hazard can score 40 improve their defending. Ronaldo, says Bale Egoals this season and win The Italian boss wants to the Golden turn Chelsea into the best AFP | London such a big player there,” Bale told Brit- Boot, according to Chelsea team in England but says Liv- ish newspaper the Daily Mail. boss Maurizio Sarri after the erpool and defending cham- areth Bale has won “It’s maybe a bit more relaxed, yes. Belgium forward scored a hat- pions Manchester City will be Gfour Champions I suppose there is more of a team, trick to maintain the club’s the league’s pacesetters. Leagues in five years more working as one unit rather than perfect start to the season. “Eight players joined us at Real Madrid, but one player.” Sarri believes Hazard can this summer,” he said. “So I believes the Spanish Fired by his anger at being left out become the best player in Eu- think it’s normal that in this giants can be even of the starting line-up in Zinedine Zi- rope and outstrip even arch period we have some defen- better in their quest dane’s last match in charge of Madrid, poachers and sive problems. We can cope for a 14th Europe- Bale came off the bench to score twice following with the problems with the an crown despite in last season’s Champions League his three goals in a 4-1 victory quality in the offensive phase, the loss of Cris- final to beat Liverpool 3-1. against on Saturday. but not in the defensive tiano Ronaldo. However, it is Ronaldo’s goals that “We have spoken and I told phase. Bale has have led Real to so much success on him he can score 40 goals,” “So I have to organise better shone in the the continent in recent times. said the former Napoli man- the defensive phase and the spotlight The Portuguese has been the com- ager. “He has to improve some players have to understand since Ron- petition’s top scorer for the past six things, but he can do it.” that. I think my opinion in this aldo’s de - seasons. Hazard himself has hailed moment, two teams, Liverpool parture for But ahead of their Champions Olivier Giroud as the world’s and Man- Juventus, League opener against last season’s best target man after the chester scoring in semi-finalists Roma on Wednesday, World Cup-winning striker City, are all of Real’s Bale insists Real can be even better laid on two goals for him. better opening this season. Giroud is yet to find the net than us. three “We can be even better again,” he for Chelsea this season but wins and providing added. “Another start and another already has three assists in five the equaliser for Isco challenge. We’re ready for it.” Premier League games while in a 1-1 draw at Ath- The strained relationship between Hazard has found the net five letic Bilbao on Sat- Bale and Zidane may have led to the times. urday. Welshman looking for an exit this And the 27-year- “Obviously it’s summer had the French coach not de- old paid tribute to going to be a cided to bow out after winning a third the Frenchman for little different straight Champions League in just two creating his first from having and a half years in charge. two goals at Stamford Gareth Bale (L) and Cristiano Bale avoided the question of wheth- Bridge on Saturday. Ronaldo (file photo) er new boss is a better “Olivier’s a target man, manager than the French great, but ac- maybe the best in the world, I cepts Lopetegui’s command of English think so,” said Hazard. has made it easier to communicate. “When he gets the ball he “Obviously it helps,” said Bale. “In can hold the ball and we can go Eden Spanish I can talk but maybe not go in deep with him, so for us it’s Hazard into that amount of detail with them a pleasure to play with him.” that I would need to.” Despite Chelsea’s fluency