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Ben Hunt: Calls for Lewis Hamilton to quit F1 are a joke… and Brit is ready to prove doubters wrong at Silverstone

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YOU will have to excuse me, I have only just managed to stop laughing at some of the talking heads calling on Lewis Hamilton to RETIRE.

That’s Hamilton, who just ten races ago was denied a record eighth world title due to a hugely controversial decision we now know to have been incorrect.

Lewis Hamilton showed he’s not giving up yet with an against-the-odds podium in CanadaCredit: Getty
Hamilton can proves the likes of Jackie Stewart wrong at SilverstoneCredit: Getty

The same Hamilton who went from 19th place on lap one to finish fifth in Barcelona and also the one who, only nine days ago, was on the podium in Montreal.

It is with some audacity that Sir Jackie Stewart is also quoted as saying: “Lewis is in that group of the Ayrton Sennas and the Alain Prosts — or even the Jackie Stewarts, maybe.”

That’s Hamilton with seven world titles to his name, not three like Stewart and Senna, or even Prost with four.

With my sides sewn back up, they were promptly split open again when former F 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone claimed: “Lewis doesn’t seem bothered about losing, I don’t think he’s doing anything.

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Hamilton’s chances of winning Brit GP dismissed by ex-Mercedes pal Rosberg

“I don’t think he cares much. He’s not prepared to put the effort into winning that he did.”

They do say that opinions are like — well, you know what — and  everyone has one but these  ‘hot takes’ are laughable.

If they had actually spoken to Hamilton inside the last three or four years, they would know that — while this season has been a struggle — there is no suggestion from Hamilton or Mercedes that he is thinking of quitting.

Sure, he’s not happy he cannot fight for wins — why would he be?

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But to speculate over a perceived lack of work-rate must be some sort of joke.

Whatever their beef is with Hamilton, we can all agree that he’s not going to listen to their advice.

At 37, he still has plenty more years in F 1 ahead of him — if he so wishes.

He still has the pace and, I can assure you, he has the same commitment to helping his team get to the front of the grid.

When we first got to see Mercedes’ problems with their new car, I predicted it would not be until the British GP — coming up this weekend — that they finally got their act together.

I hope I’m correct — and Hamilton silences those urging him to call time on his glorious career.

QUART OUT

MOTOGP championship leader Fabio Quartararo has been dealt a blow for August’s British Grand Prix after being hit with a penalty.

The Frenchman crashed twice in ten laps before retiring from the Dutch TT at the weekend.

He has now been punished with a long lap penalty to serve at Silverstone for causing Sunday’s Assen accident with Aleix Espargaro.

Fabio Quartararo has been penalised after two quick crashes in HollandCredit: Getty

YORKED ‘EM

THE BTCC season keeps on delivering as Yorkshireman Dan Lloyd enjoyed a fairytale weekend by winning two races at his home circuit Croft.

Lloyd, who was taken to hospital for precautionary checks just two weeks ago following an accident at Oulton Park, took the chequered flag twice in his Hyundai. Gordon Shedden, who drives for Halfords Racing with Cataclean, won the final race of the day.

SILVERSTONE claims this weekend’s British GP race  attendance figures will be the biggest EVER.

Tickets for Sunday’s F1 clash sold out in January and there will be a crowd of 142,000 — the circuit’s highest attendance.

Over 400,000 fans are expected over the weekend, where action includes F1, F2, F3, W Series and the Porsche Super Cup.

GOODWOOD’S Festival of Speed was another record-breaker, this time as former F1 driver Max Chilton set a new record for the hillclimb.

Chilton, 31, piloted the McMurtry Speirling — the electric 1000bhp rocket that has special fans to suck the car to the ground — to a time of 39.08sec across the 1.16-mile course.

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I wake up thinking my fiancé is a kidnapper or my dad is pimping me out

DAN BEWLEY has vowed to ride in his PANTS if he wins speedway’s British Grand Prix in Cardiff on August 13.

The Cumbrian, 23, was  top Brit with a third straight semi in Saturday’s fifth round  in Gorzow.

He said: “Anders Thomsen won in Gorzow and rode  in his pants to celebrate winning. I’ll do the same if I win in Cardiff.”

Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk

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