Lewis Nears Victory Record

52 Formula One Irish Daily Mail, Saturday, September 5, 2020 LEWIS JONATHAN McEVOY at Monza LECLERC CAN BE NEARS O fans at Monza might just suit VICTORY Mattia Binotto. The Ferrari team principal is under NEXT SCHUEY! RECORD Nsuch pressure that he won- dered whether to resign. Pressure: By DAVID KENT Usually, spectators crowd the bottleneck at the end of Leclerc was the paddock, pushing their 14th in Spa LEWIS HAmilTON finished autograph books into the palms last weekend fastest on another crushing of the Ferrari drivers as they day for Mercedes ahead of climb into their road cars on the tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix. way to the team’s Hotel de la Ville After team-mate Valtteri retreat down the road. Bottas topped the time charts Covid-19 has put paid to that in opening practice, the all- scene. It’s essential personnel conquering Mercedes cars only here this weekend, and that is some respite when the team traded positions later in the which is a symbol of Italian day at Monza. virility are enduring their worst Hamilton finished 0.262 run since Michael Schumacher seconds clear of Bottas, with delivered the drivers’ title after Lando Norris third in his 21 barren years. McLaren, nine tenths of a Ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, second off the pace. they stand a massive 203 points For Ferrari, it was another behind Mercedes. Their placings sobering day. Charles Leclerc in Spa last weekend, with Sebastian Vettel 13th and Charles finished in ninth, three places Leclerc 14th, were the lowest (in ahead of his team-mate races both cars have finished) for Sebastian Vettel. a decade. As Ferrari’s troubles show few At the top is 50-year-old Binotto, signs of easing, Hamilton’s the long, bespectacled Ferrari- quest for a seventh world lifer, who moved from his purely championship grows stronger engineering role to that of team with each passing round. boss at the start of 2019. Last season, they offered a threat to Ahead of the eighth of 17 races the Mercedes monopoly. But here on Sunday, Hamilton since their controversial engine holds a 47-point title lead. was outlawed in an FIA Michael Schumacher’s win clarification, they have found tally now looks set to fall, with themselves way off the pace. Hamilton on course to move Asked if he felt under pressure to within one of the German’s for his job in Maranello, a place all-time total with a 90th with more evictions than the Big career triumph tomorrow. Brother house, he said: ‘Honestly, never, because I know I have the Hamilton’s closest the podium regularly. But some championship challenger, Max support of my managers. But I of the groundwork has been laid questioned myself. I reflected on with 22-year-old Leclerc signed Verstappen, who crashed in whether I am suitable for the role. up on a long-term deal. Vettel, 33, practice, was in fifth, more ‘I could have done better in Monza 4 111mph Race start: Race than a second off the pace. has been told he is surplus to weather some areas. For example, the requirements, a sudden sacking Laps: 53 CurvaC del Lesmo Curva del Tomorrow Ferrari might be pleased their technical reorganisation could that reflected little credit on Serraglio 2.10pm home race is being played out have been done earlier. But I those who showed him the door 5 124mph Turn before empty grandstands. believe my 25 years in F1 and the having assured the world that 6 8 189mph Leclerc and Vettel both fell off knowledge of the company are they wouldn’t. Carlos Sainz, 26, is Length: 3.510miles 28°C key elements that help.’ coming in from McLaren next Variante Ascari the road during second (5.793km) practice, with the former Ferrari is a complex, political season to replace Vettel. 77mph 8 entity. At the head of it is Leclerc is the anointed heir to 3 5 149mph venting his frustration over Race distance: 211mph president John Elkann, the Schumacher, but even he is res- Curva Turn 9 the radio. ‘This car is so hard Gucci-loafer-wearing grandson of tive. He ran off wide in practice 190.596miles to drive,’ he complained. Gianni Agnelli. Alongside him is yesterday. ‘This car is so hard to 8 Biassono, The 22-year-old finished 1.4 sec (306.720km) Turn 2 Egyptian-born chief executive drive,’ he shouted over the radio. 190mph slower than Hamilton with Louis Camilleri. Binotto backs the young Turn 11 Vettel 1.6 sec down. How long will their faith in the Lap record: Monegasque. He is clearly good, The Alpha Tauri pair Pierre chief boffin endure? ‘I am not but how outstanding while carry- Kimi Räikkönen Start/ alone,’ insisted Binotto. ‘Louis ing all the baggage of history only 2 45mph Gasly and Daniil Kvyat finished (Mercedes) 2018 1:19.119sec finish fourth and seventh. Carlos and I speak several times a day time may tell. 7 Curva and I talk to president John Leclerc is not being undersold 2019 winner: Variante del Sainz was sixth for McLaren. Elkann regularly.’ by his boss. Speaking to Corriere Rettifilo,Turn 2 183mph Parabolica George Russell handed the Elkann called after the Spa della Sera, Binotto said: ‘Charles C Leclerc (Ferrari) keys over to Williams’ reserve misfire. ‘He wanted to under- knows the values of Ferrari. I driver Roy Nissany for the stand why we had gone so badly. often talk to him about Schu- QUALIFYING: today: Live 1.00pm (SKY F1), Highlights 7.30pm (C4) morning session. The Briton He asked if we are regressing macher, who arrived in 1996 and returned later but finished rather than progressing.’ was champion in 2000. He can TV RACE: tomorrow: Live 12.30pm (SKY F1), Highlights 6.30pm (C4) It is a long-term job returning to repeat that path.’ last of the 20 competitors..

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