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Monday, August 17, 2020 ‘In a daze’ Hamilton sweeps to record-breaking win in Spain AFP Barcelona Lewis in a league

Lewis Hamilton claimed his of his own, says 88th career vic- I didn’t even know it was tory and, with it, an outright the . Thank you Mercedes boss record 156th podium finish everyone. I was just in AFP on Sunday when he drove his a daze out there - it Barcelona Mercedes to a masterful victo- was good. ry in the Spanish Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton said he was in a It was the world cham- British Mercedes driver “beautiful” trance on Sunday as pionship leader and six- Lewis Hamilton he raced to another record-break- time champion’s fifth win in ing triumph to open up a 37-point Spain and his fourth in con- Spanish Grand Prix results Standings: World Championship lead in this year’s drivers’ champi- secutive years, extending his 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1h 31:45.279, 2. Max Verstappen Drivers: 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 132 pts, 2. Max onship at the Spanish Grand Prix. record run of finishes in the (NED/Red Bull-) 24.177, 3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 44.752, 4. Verstappen (NED) 95, 3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 89 4. His Mercedes team boss points to 39. Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing Point-Mercedes) 1 lap, 5. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Racing Charles Leclerc (MON) 45, 5. Lance Stroll (CAN) 40 Toto Wolff, one of Formula One’s Point-Mercedes) 1 lap, 6. Carlos Sainz (ESP/McLaren-Renault) 1 lap, 7. 6. Alexander Albon (THA) 40, 7. Lando Norris (GBR) greatest pragmatists, agreed, but Hamilton came home 24 Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1 lap 8. Alexander Albon (THA/Red Bull-Honda) 39, 8. Sergio Pérez (MEX) 32 9. Carlos Sainz (ESP) seconds ahead of nearest title 1 lap, 9. Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Honda) 1 lap, 10. Lando Norris (GBR/ 23 10. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 20, 11. Sebastian he put it another way after the six- race rival Max Verstappen of McLaren-Renault) 1 lap, 11. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Renault) 1 lap, 12. Daniil Vettel (GER) 16, 12. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 16, 13. time champion’s unprecedented Red Bull who finished 20 sec- Kvyat (RUS/AlphaTauri-Honda) 1 lap, 13. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Renault) 1 lap, Pierre Gasly (FRA) 14, 14. Nico Hülkenberg (GER) 6, 156th podium finish was con- onds ahead of Valtteri Bottas 14. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 1 lap, 15. Kevin Magnussen 15. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA) 2, 16. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) firmed with his 88th victory. in the second Mercedes. (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1 lap, 16. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 2, 17. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 1 “At the moment, I have to say Hamilton had shared a re- 1 lap, 17. George Russell (GBR/Williams-Mercedes) 1 lap, 18. Nicholas Latifi Constructors: 1. Mercedes 221 pts, 2. Red Bull- that he drives in a league of his cord 155 podium finishes with (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) 2 laps, 19. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas-Ferrari) 2 Honda 135 3. Racing Point-Mercedes 63, 4. own,” said Wolff. laps McLaren-Renault 62, 5. Ferrari 61, 6. Renault 36, 7. Hamilton’s success was his Michael Schumacher whose Fastest lap: Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1:18.183 on 66th lap AlphaTauri-Honda 16, 8. Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari other records for champion- DNF: Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 2, 9. Haas-Ferrari 1. fourth in consecutive years in ships and wins are in the Brit- Spain and fifth in seven years on’s sights this year. at the Circuit de Catalunya - a His victory increased his hazard that persuaded Ham- stops were inevitable with third, adrift by nearly 30 sec- remarkable feat by him and his lead in the drivers title race Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium after ilton to control the lead pace tyre-wear and strategy sure to onds - but on lap 24 Mercedes team after last Sunday’s defeat to 37 points ahead of Ver- the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya in with caution. be critical factors. ‘double-stacked’ their men for by Red Bull and Max Verstappen stappen. Montmelo near Barcelona, on Sunday. (AFP) Bottas was soon back on Albon was the first to blink, mediums in a slower move. at Silverstone. “It was really hard Sergio Perez, back in his pace, passing Stroll into Turn taking a set of hard tyres for his Hamilton was stationary work,” Hamilton said. Racing Point after missing “We didn’t have the speed On another hot afternoon One and then launching his Red Bull as the team sought the for 4.3 seconds and Bottas for “Firstly, the heat is crazy... two races with coronavirus, of Lewis and it was impor- at the Circuit de Catalunya, chase after Hamilton and means for him to make pro- 3.1, a delay that allowed Ver- And then there is everything else was fourth ahead of his team- tant to get past Valtteri at the with a track temperature of 50 Verstappen. gress and opted, in vain, for a stappen to regain second, 4.3 – the start, the tyres... You can mate Lance Stroll and Carlos start.” degrees Celsius and the air at The champion was soon one-stop race. He returned for down on the leader. lose all the hard work that goes Sainz of McLaren. Bottas said: “I lost a place 31, Hamilton made a clean start clear of the Dutchman by 1.5 mediums on lap 43. Behind the leaders, the into qualifying at the start. “Wow, I was in another at the start and that was it - from his 92nd , seconds, but not surging clear By lap 20, a frustrated mixed strategies ensured “I was conscious of that and zone then,” said Hamilton. it’s so difficult to pass around but behind him Bottas made as he backed up Verstappen Verstappen was grumbling plenty of positional battles I practice so much for the start “I didn’t even know it was here.” sluggish progress from second. towards the Finn. about his soft rear tyres. including scraps between – and today it was really sweet the fastest lap. Thank you eve- Four-time champion Se- By lap 12, he was lapping “The tyre is dead,” he Lando Norris of McLaren and I was away off the line and ryone. I was just in a daze out bastian Vettel, in his final sea- ‘Tyre is dead’ faster and reeling off fast- shouted. “I’m losing so much and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc perfectly straight. After that, it there - it was good.” son with Ferrari and linked Both Verstappen and est laps, opening a gap of 1.7, time.” for 10th and the two Racing was about managing the tyres Verstappen was satisfied with a move to Aston Martin Stroll took advantage on the which he increased to four He pitted two laps later Points for fifth. and I had the settings spot on. with his result. next year, finished seventh ‘drag race’ down to the first seconds by lap 15 while Bot- taking mediums in a remark- Leclerc’s hopes ended on “We didn’t know how quick “To split them was the best ahead of Alex Albon in the corner, pushing the Finn tas, third, closed to within two able 1.9 seconds stop. lap 38 when his engine cut out they (Red Bull) would be so in we could do today,” said the second Red Bull, Pierre Gasly down to fourth. seconds of Verstappen. This move enabled Bot- and he spun at the chicane. the early laps I was just trying to Dutchman who won the 70th of Alpha Tauri and Lando All of them were aware of All of the top ten drivers tas to regain second, ten sec- He re-joined in 20th before get the measure of them and let Anniversary Grand Prix at Sil- Norris who was 10th in the the threat of serious tyre deg- had started on softs, the rest onds behind his team-mate pitting and retiring as black things stabilise and let the tyres verstone last week. second McLaren. radation in the conditions, a on mediums. This meant pit- with Verstappen rejoining thunderclouds loomed. last for me.”

Almost killed me: Rossi fumes Dovizioso delivers for Ducati after escaping 300kmh crash AFP at wild Austrian MotoGP Spielberg (Austria) World motorcycling superstar AFP zuki robbed Ducati of a one-two avoided a string of crashes and ply fell as he was challenging Austrian Grand Prix Results said a stray Spielberg (Austria) by clinching second spot from narrow escapes notably for Dovizioso for the lead. bike, travelling at around 320 Australian Jack Miller with a Yamaha’s Franco This was Ducati’s fifth con- MotoGP: 1. (ITA/ kmh (200mph), almost “killed Andrea Dovizioso won an single corner to spare. and Frenchman . secutive MotoGP success at Ducati) 28min 20.853sec, 2. Joan me” in a horrifying near-miss eventful Austrian MotoGP for “That was really strange,” In a two way tangle on lap Spielberg, and their 50th in the Mir (ESP/Suzuki) at 1.377sec, 3. Jack at the Austrian Grand Prix on Ducati on Sunday just 24 hours said the world championship eight at the empty Speilberg cir- elite division. Miller (AUS/Ducati-Pramac) 1.549, Sunday. The 41-year-old Italian, after revealing he would leave runner up in 2017, 2018 and cuit Yamaha’s Morbidelli and The MotoGP standings con- 4. (AFS/KTM) 5.526, 5. a nine-time world champion, was the Italian team at the end of 2019. Zarco hit the deck at high speed. tinue to be led by Fabio Quar- Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 5.837, left badly shaken after Franco the season. “For a whole load of rea- Zarco’s Ducati carried on tararo, Yamaha’s satellite SRT 6. (JPN/Honda-LCR) Morbidelli’s Yamaha flew across Spain’s on a Su- sons,” added ‘Dovi’, who without him, cut a corner and team rider and winner of the 6.403, 7. (ITA/Ducati) the track just centimetres in narrowly missed the veteran coronavirus-curtailed season’s 12.498, 8. (FRA/ front of him. Monster Energy Yamaha Team’s Valentino Rossi, who was clear- first two races in Jerez. Yamha-SRT) 12.534, 9. Morbidelli had collided with Italian rider Valentino Rossi. (AFP) ly shaken by the close shave and The Frenchman finished (ESP/KTM) 14.117, 10. Maverick the Ducati of Johann Zarco who went on to take fifth. eighth in this fourth leg of the Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) 15.276, 11. just seconds before the riders was a very dangerous thing.” The riderless bike exploded campaign. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/) 17.772, slipped through turn four at Morbidelli and Zarco were into pieces at a safety barrier The day’s big loser was Mav- 12. Michele Pirro (ITA/Ducati-Pramac) Spielberg on lap eight of the both declared fit after a visit to scattering debris through the erick Vinales, who had started 23.271, 13. Alex Marquez (ESP/Honda) race. Both men were unseated. the circuit medical centre. air as the race was red flagged. from pole on his Yamaha only 24.943, 14. Bradley Smith (GBR/April- Zarco’s free-wheeling Ducati Rossi insisted that too many Morbidelli was taken away to trail in 10th and lose his sec- ia) 24.868, 15. Cal Crutchlow (Honda- also came desperately close of the younger riders take too on a stretcher but was later ond position in the champion- LCR) 27.435; Moto2: 1. Jorge Martin to hitting Rossi as well as his many risks. “We’re competing able to walk to an ambulance as ship to Dovizioso. (ESP/) 19min 24.723sec, 2. Yamaha factory teammate in a very dangerous sport, you Zarco appeared unhurt. South African Brad Bind- (ITA/Kalex) at 2.195sec, 3. Maverick Vinales who was just have to have respect for those Pol Espargaro of KTM then er, who celebrated his break- Marcel Schrotter (GER/Kalex) 4.782, 4. ahead of him. who run on the track with you,” slid spectacularly into Portu- through MotoGP win last week- Sam Lowes (GBR/Kalex) 7.249, 5. Xavi “Morbidelli’s bike nearly added Rossi after a race won for gal’s Miguel de Oliveira, who end in Brno, took fourth for Vierge (ESP/Kalex) 7.325; Moto3: killed me,” fumed Rossi. the second year in succession pursued the limping Span- home team KTM. 1. (ESP/KTM) 37min “Even Zarco’s Ducati passed by Dovizioso on a factory Ducati. iard to remonstrate beside the Defending champion 25.323sec, 2. Jaume Masia (ESP/ a few metres over me, it was a “Zarco is not new to these wreckage Marc Marquez was miss- Honda) at 0.049sec, 3. John McPhee very dangerous moment.” things, what happened is very of their ing for the third race in a (GBR/Honda) 0.447, 4. Ai Ogura (JPN/ Incredibly, Rossi managed to clear: Zarco overtook Morbidelli bikes. row following surgery on Honda) 0.121, 5. Celestino Vietti (ITA/ compose himself and after the on the straight and then didn’t Alex a broken arm sustained KTM) 0.292 race was restarted came home want to be overtaken by Franco, Rins of in a crash in the sea- Championship standings MotoGP in fifth place. so he specifically went to brake Suzuki son-openinign Span- 1. Fabio Quartararo (FRA) 67 points, 2. “I was so scared. I am in front of him. then sim- ish Grand Prix. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) 56, 3. Maverick shaken, resuming the race was “But at 300 km per hour, The mayhem in Vinales (ESP) 48, 4. Brad Binder (RSA) tough. I took the biggest risk of being a MotoGP, Morbidelli was MotoGP followed a 41, 5. Valentino Rossi (ITA) 38, 6. my career,” Rossi told Sky Italia. unable to do anything. Zarco similar spectacular Takaaki Nakagami 37, 7. Jack Miller “I saw a shadow, I thought braked in front of him, Franco spill in the earlier (AUS) 36, 8. 31, 9. it was the helicopter from couldn’t do anything.” Moto2 grand prix. Joan Mir (ESP) 31, 10. Johann Zarco above, sometimes it happens Earlier, in the Moto2 race, (FRA) 28 during the race that the heli- Malaysia’s also Ducati’s Italian rider Andrea Moto2: 1. Luca Marini (ITA) 78 points, copter passes over and casts a had a narrow escape when he Dovizioso celebrates during the 2. (ITA) 73, 3. Jorge shadow. Instead, two ‘bullets’ crashed into the bike of Italian winner’s ceremony of the Moto GP Martin (ESP) 59. arrived. Enea Bastianini which was Ducati’s Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso leads the pack during the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Moto3: 1. Albert Arenas (ESP) 95 “The saint of motorcyclists lying in the middle of the track Moto GP Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring circuit in Spielberg, Ring circuit in Spielberg, Austria, points, 2. John McPhee (GBR) 67, today did a really great job, it after a fall. Austria, on Sunday. (AFP) on Sunday. (AFP) 3. Ai Ogura (JPN) 65.