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Hamilton remains dominates in Styrian Grand Prix win

2020-07-14T02:05:11+01:00

Lewis Hamilton cruised to a comfortable victory in the Styrian Grand Prix after the World Champion led the majority of drivers in taking the knee ahead of the race - and then raised his fist in a Black Power salute twice after the race, as he stood on the front of his car with his helmet still on, and again on the podium.

The Mercedes driver led from pole as team-mate Valtteri Bottas overtook Red Bull's Max Verstappen late on for second. The Ferraris retired early after colliding with each other on lap one.

His first victory of the year was founded on a stupendous performance in wet qualifying, in which he took pole by more than 1.2 seconds.

A handful of drivers were not present for the moment ahead of the playing of the Styrian regional anthem, but all who were wore ‘end racism’ T-shirts other than Hamilton's, whose said ‘Black Lives Matter’.

Of those who were there, Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, Kimi Raikkonen and Daniil Kvyat chose not to kneel.

With his statesman-like presence coming to the fore throughout the Styrian GP, Hamilton, who has pledged to continue the fight against racism this year in parallel with his quest for a record-equalling seventh world title, was in total control of the race from the start.

The likes of McLaren and Renault said before the race that they were concerned about the pace of Racing Point, and their worries were well founded, with Renault launching a protest at the end of the race.

The six-time world champion converted his pole position into a lead at the first corner, survived an early safety car period following a collision between the two Ferrari drivers, and never looked back.

The fight was all behind him, as Mercedes sought to get Bottas ahead of Verstappen.
The Finn had qualified fourth in the rain, 1.4secs slower than Hamilton, passed McLaren's Carlos Sainz by lap six, but was not able to make much progress towards the Red Bull.
When Red Bull made Verstappen's pit stop for fresh tyres on lap 24, Hamilton was brought in three laps later, while Bottas was left out 10 laps longer than the Dutchman.
The aim was to give him a tyre off-set and greater pace at the end of the race.
And it worked. Bottas crept up on Verstappen and was with him with five laps to go.
Bottas looked to have the move down on the straight towards Turn Four on lap 66, but Verstappen fought back around the outside of the corner and held on to the place.
But his valiant defence lasted only another lap before Bottas was able to storm past to complete a Mercedes one-two.
He retains the championship lead over Hamilton, but it is now down to eight points.

Ferrari had worked flat out to bring upgrades to their car ahead of this race, after showing a dismal pace the week before.
But they did not have the effect they had hoped and the cars could qualify only 10th and 11th. Leclerc started a further three places back after a three-place grid penalty for blocking in qualifying.
But things got much worse in the race. Leclerc made an over-ambitious move up the inside of Turn Three on the first lap as Vettel was hemmed in on the outside and the two cars collided.
Vettel's rear wing was torn off and Leclerc suffered floor damage and both had to retire.
Sergio Perez in particular and Racing Point in general did not have a good day in the wet in qualifying, with the Mexican down in 17th on the grid, but the so-called 'Pink Mercedes' was soon making up ground.
Perez picked off driver after driver in a car that has drawn criticisms because of its likeness to last year's Mercedes - which Racing Point admit they have copied - until he was up into the top six after the pit stops.
He passed Daniel Ricciardo's Renault on lap 48, with just over 20 to go, and set off after Alexander Albon.
Perez was soon with Albon, but while the Anglo-Thai had been having an unremarkable race in the second Red Bull, he picked up his pace and was able to hold Perez back.
The Mexican finally made a bid for the position with two laps to go but came to grief as he tried to pass at Turn Four in a mirror of the collision between Hamilton and Albon at the same point last week.
Perez was alongside Albon, on the inside, but the Red Bull driver tried to hang on around the outside of the turn and tagged Perez's front wing on the exit.
Perez limped around the remaining two laps, but was passed by McLaren's Lando Norris for fifth at the final two corners of the last lap.
Their scrap was part of a hectic midfield battle in the closing laps, as Norris took advantage of Perez's team-mate Lance Stroll racing with Renault's Daniel Ricciardo for seventh and McLaren's Carlos Sainz, who qualified a brilliant third, faded in the race to finish ninth.

Lewis Hamilton's statesman-like presence comes to the fore after Styrian GP

Manchester United just as vulnerable to rogue owners as lower league clubs until regulator in place, says a sports journalism academic

2022-11-25T08:15:25+00:00

Supporters of English football clubs will continue to be at the mercy of rogue owners putting their own interest before that of the club until a football regulator is in place, a leading sports journalism academic has said in response to the news that Manchester United owners, the Glazer family, are preparing to sell the English club after 17 years in charge.

"A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body": Countdown to the ORLEN Prague Marathon

2025-04-29T07:40:20+01:00

The streets of Prague are preparing to welcome the world as the 30th edition of the ORLEN Prague Marathon celebrates a landmark anniversary.

"The Diamond League is like a World Champs" says high jump Olympic champion and world record holder, Mahuchikh

2025-04-23T07:45:34+01:00

The 2025 Wanda Diamond League season kicks off in Xiamen this Saturday, with some of the world's biggest stars beginning their Road to the Final at the Egret Stadium.

"There's talk of me being Ryder Cup captain fir 2027" – says Sergio Garcia

2025-02-08T08:45:28+00:00

Masters Champion Sergio Garcia joined Al Arabiya presenter Micheal Prendergast in a special exclusive chat ahead of LIV Golf Riyadh 2025.

'Proud' Shaw gesture highlights game’s ongoing fight against racism

2025-02-17T08:45:04+00:00

With her opening goal against Liverpool, Khadija Shaw showed her importance to Manchester City, but her actions afterwards were even more important to women's football and the fight against racism.

'Three-peat'-chasing Chiefs set for eager Eagles in Super Bowl 59

2025-01-28T08:45:41+00:00

The Kansas City Chiefs are one win from an unprecedented NFL 'three-peat' after beating the Buffalo Bills to reach Super Bowl 59.

1 Year to Go!

2021-07-29T07:45:08+01:00

As the one-year countdown began, a festival of sport was showcased as many of the events that will be part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games programme – including a boxing ring, basketball court, netball court, squash court and sprint track - was on show in Centenary Square in the city.

1,000 personnel to represent the Armed Forces at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022

2022-07-24T07:30:49+01:00

Around 1,000 Armed Forces personnel will be a part of this year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham –by supporting security, competing for medals, officiating competitions, participating in the opening ceremony and supporting the delivery of a safe and secure event.

Hundreds of Armed Forces personnel will be deployed to Birmingham to support the West Midlands Police Security Operation, the biggest the region has seen.

100 days to go until Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup

2024-06-14T07:40:30+01:00

With 100 days to go until the first Homeless World Cup to be held in Asia, Big Issue Korea and the Seoul 2024 Local Organising Committee (LOC) have announced that former Korea Republic footballer Lee Keun-Ho will take up the role of Chairman ahead of the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup in September.