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      Lewis Hamilton releases new +44 clothing range based on lucky number ahead of Belgium GP as he chases first F1 win

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      SIR Lewis Hamilton has launched his own clothing brand after finally breaking his Instagram following duck – and it involves his lucky number.Fans of the F1 superstar went into a frenzy after he recently followed +44 on the social media app.
      Sir Lewis Hamilton has long used the number 44Credit: GETTY
      And he’s launched a clothing brand with the numberCredit: PLUS 44
      And the account has since revealed it’ll be selling merchandise designed by the seven-time champion.
      Hamilton shared a picture of himself donning a white top with the logo on his Twitter on Friday night.
      His accompanying caption read: “Eye of the storm.”
      Plus 44 is currently selling short and long-sleeved t-shirts and a fluorescent yellow poncho.
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      Forty-four, of course, is Hamilton’s race number – which he’s used since F1 drivers were allowed to have them in 2014.
      But the Stevenage speedster didn’t randomly choose the number.
      He said: “Of course, each year I start, basically it’s a new fresh start for everyone.
      “I always start with the number 44 because that’s the number that I had on my go-kart when I was eight years old.
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      “It was my dad’s car registration number, F44, so each year it’s just a new chance to rise to the challenge.”
      Mercedes superstar Hamilton has yet to taste victory this season, although he’s confident of picking up his first win.
      Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Belgian Grand Prix, he said: “We’ve been improving, we’ve had this consistency of the recent races and great progress that the team is making, everyone pulling together and continuing to push.
      “The car is becoming more of a racing car, which is not particularly what it was at the start of the year!
      “It’s more like a normal racing car in terms of its characteristics so that’s positive.
      “The last race was the best showing we’ve had so far. That for us was a huge boost, that we can close that gap.
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      “It’s naturally going to be tough, we’ll keep our heads down.
      “The other guys are doing an amazing job but I do believe we can close the gap.”
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      F1 Belgian Grand Prix LIVE: Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc to start from BACK of grid, SIX drivers penalised

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      THE Formula One season gets back underway and Lewis Hamilton is looking to salvage his season with a fresh start at the Belgian Grand Prix.The seven-time F1 world champion has been on a trip to Africa to unwind during the mid-season break and has come back refreshed and raring to go.
      Max Verstappen currently leads the standings on 258 points ahead of Charles Leclerc on 178pts and Sergio Perez on 173.
      So there remains a lot to play for in the second half of the season – get set to see how it unfolds as the F1 calendar rolls on once more.

      TV channel: Sky Sports F1
      Live stream: Now
      Friday, August 26: Practice One 1pm, Practice Two 4pm
      Saturday, August 27: Practice Three 12pm, Qualifying 3pm
      Sunday, August 28: Belgian Grand Prix race 2pm

      Stay up to date with all the latest from Spa-Francorchamps…
      Leclerc reacts to Verstappen’s lap time
      He’s told the Dutchman is 0.862 seconds ahead of his best time. “Wow…that is quick”, he says over the radio.
      Verstappen setting the pace
      The world champion is top of the timesheets in an otherwise dull session so far.
      Only Vettel has notched double-figures in the way of laps and he is in 18th.
      FP2 is go
      Second session underway in Spa. The track is damp and we have a 40 percent chance of rain in this sesion.
      Verstappen latest
      McLaren’s Lando Norris, Alpine’s Eseban Ocon, Alfa Romeo’s Valterri Bottas and Haas’ Mick Schumacher are the other four drivers who will start from the back.
      Verstappen to start from BACK of grid
      Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc will start from the BACK of the grid at the Belgian Grand Prix.
      The Red Bull and Ferrari aces are two of six drivers to be penalised for using too many engine parts.
      FP1 is done – Ferrari set the pace
      Sainz and Leclerc top the session in Spa, the two are separated by just 0.069 seconds.
      Verstappen is third quickest 0.217 seconds off Sainz’s best time and Russell is fourth.
      Hamilton down in 9th place and Norris in 13th.
      It is raining
      A wet end to the session at Spa meaning lap times will not improve. Under three minutes to go and it is Sainz, Leclerc, Verstappen, Russell as the top four.
      Green light
      We are going again after a lengthy delay to recover the Haas. Eight minutes on the clock remain in FP1.
      Red flag – Magnussen stops on track
      He has a mechanical problem – says “his engine is out”, and is told to stop the car.
      This session has been stopped for the time being as they recover his car.
      No penalty for Williams
      Pretty mad that Williams have been let off there. Looked a slam dunk penalty to me.
      Ocon has a problem
      He radios his Alpine team to inform them and the ask him to bring the car in to the pits for them to check it over. He was eighth quickest.
      Near miss!
      Verstappen almost wipes out Latifi in the pitlane. What were Williams doing calling him out into the pitlane with the Red Bull man approaching at such speed.
      That’s likely to be a fine for the Williams team due to an unsafe release.
      Green light in the pit lane
      We are go for the Belgium GP – the season is back after the summer break.
      Lots of new parts on these cars, so expect of running – despite the wet conditions.
      New engines on the way for a number of drivers – details to follow once confirmed with the FIA – but the grid on Sunday could see a number of top drivers starting at the back of the grid.
      Lew close to a win
      Lewis Hamilton believes he is finally closing in on his first win of the year as he goes into this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
      Hamilton is on the longest winless run of his F1 career – a streak that stretches back to the Saudi race in December.
      But the 37-year-old, who has won at least one race every year he has been in F1, is confident of breaking his 2022 duck.
      Brit Hamilton, who was second in Hungary last time out, said: “We’ve been improving, some great progress, everyone pulling together.
      “The car is becoming more of a racing car, which is not particularly what it was at the start!
      “The last race was the best showing we’ve had so far. It was a huge boost, that we can close the gap.
      “It’s naturally going to be tough, we’ll keep our heads down now.”
      First practice is minutes away
      Expect the cars to roll out of the pits at 1pm UK time, which is 2pm CET.
      Credit: Reuters
      Max Verstappen is in the building
      The world champ is looking relaxed and even has his knees out in the Belgian sunshine.
      And of course it’s not far for his loyal oranje army of supporters to follow him in Spa.
      Credit: Rex
      Hello and welcome to Spa!
      The F1 season is finally BACK and there are new car upgrades and the drivers have been able to put their feet up.
      Now, Lewis Hamilton is looking to eat into Max Verstappen’s huge lead at the top of the F1 title standings.
      But it would be some challenge, even more so than last season, when he nearly pipped the Dutchman at the post for the title.
      And we all remember what happened in Abu Dhabi.
      Those wounds have clearly taken time to heal for Hamilton – and that is hardly surprising.
      But he will be hoping his garage have their act together and a car that can challenge the dominance of Red Bull and Ferrari so far this year.
      Either way, expect chat about what porpoising is, plenty of aerodynamic talk – but hopefully some great racing.
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      Lewis Hamilton handed huge Belgian Grand Prix boost with Leclerc and Verstappen set to be demoted to back of grid

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has been handed a huge boost ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix with title leaders Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen set to be demoted to the back of the grid. The Brit driver is still looking for his first win of the season and will likely not get a better chance this season with both frontrunners having to fight through the pack.
      Charles Leclerc is looking to turn his fortunes around after Ferrari’s form fell off a cliff in the last few racesCredit: Rex
      Max Verstappen has an 80 point lead in the Driver’s ChampionshipCredit: Rex
      Lewis Hamilton has not won an F1 race since December’s Saudi Arabian Grand PrixCredit: Rex
      Leclerc and Verstappen are just two of SIX drivers set to take penalties, with several teams choosing to take new power units and having to start from the back of the grid as a result.
      McLaren’s Lando Norris, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, Valtteri Bottas of Alfa Romeo and Haas’ Mick Schumacher are the other drivers set to be penalised.
      The penalties have been confirmed by the governing body the FIA after the first practice session.
      Teams are believed to be taking the penalties at this race as it is easier in to overtake in Belgium and make up places than other tracks.
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      It will throw the cat among the pigeons as F1 returns from its mid-season break at the legendary Spa circuit.
      Leclerc and Verstappen have won all but two races between them this season but their low starting positions could open the door to other drivers.

      Lewis Hamilton finished 2nd at the Hungarian Grand Prix and was very competitive at last month’s chaotic British Grand Prix.
      The seven-time World Champion is also on a run of five podiums on the bounce as Mercedes gradually close the gap to Ferrari and Red Bull.
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      His team-mate George Russell may also now believe his first victory is within reach with the Brit snatching his first ever pole at Hungary in the last race.
      Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, both with only a sole win so far this season, may also think their team-mates’ penalties could open opportunities for the race victory.
      After his early season struggles, Hamilton is feeling increasingly positive about his Mercedes car.
      He told the Belgian Grand Prix press conference that the Merc was becoming “more of a racing car” after its uncompetitive showing in the early races.
      The 37-year-old also had an active summer break as he toured Africa to explore his roots. More

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      Who is Charles Leclerc’s girlfriend Charlotte Sine and when did Ferrari F1 star start dating her?

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      CHARLES LECLERC is in full swing at Ferrari as he looks to challenge Max Verstappen for the F1 title.And while promising things are expected of him inside the car, the Monegasque has had a huge charge off the track – boasting a new girlfriend in Charlotte Sine.
      Leclerc and Sine have only recently started dating following his break-up with ex Giada Gianni
      Who is Charlotte Sine?
      Charlotte is a Monegasque resident and current architecture student.
      She has lived in Monaco all her life, with her new boyfriend also hailing from the principality.
      Charlotte was born on September 19, 1999, and speaks French, English and Italian.
      She is on Instagram with nearly 33k followers – regularly posting photos of her travels and with Leclerc.
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      Charlotte Sine regularly posts of her travels around the world on her Instagram account
      Sine is a Monaco native, also home to her boyfriend and F1 star Leclerc
      When did they start dating?
      It’s no secret that the pair are dating, with Charlotte’s Instagram showing posts of the pair together.
      Although the first photo shared was taken 10 weeks back – they have reportedly been dating for a few months.
      Leclerc however, has not yet posted any pictures with his new girlfriend in-sighting a potential ‘secret relationship’.
      Everything you need to know about F1 this season

      Sine is an architectural student
      Who is Charles Leclerc’s ex?
      Charles Leclerc’s ex may be a face more familiar to fans of the Monaco driver.
      Charles dated Italian-born Giada Gianni, spending over four years together and were rumoured to have been engaged.
      But it was reported that the Ferrari star broke up with Giada to focus on his Formula One career – with the Italian stating in an Instagram video: “Charles left me. He wants to devote himself only to Ferrari.”
      But the Formula One driver did not take long to form a relationship with his new girlfriend Charlotte.

      Charles Leclerc was dating Italian bombshell Giada Gianni More

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      ‘I’m in love’ – Lewis Hamilton believes he is closing in on first F1 win of season and hints at snubbing retirement

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      LEWIS HAMILTON believes he is finally closing in on achieving his first win of the year ahead of this weekend’s Belgium GP.Hamilton is currently on the longest winless run of his F1 career – a streak that stretches back to the Saudi GP last December.
      Sir Lewis Hamilton is on the longest winless run of his F1 careerCredit: SPLASH
      But the Brit is confident his drought will soon come to an endCredit: Splash
      But the 37-year-old, who has won at least one race in every year he has competed in F1, is confident of finally breaking his duck in 2022.
      Hamilton, who was second in Hungary, said: “We’ve been improving, we’ve had this consistency of the recent races and great progress that the team is making, everyone pulling together and continuing to push.
      “The car is becoming more of a racing car, which is not particularly what it was at the start of the year!
      “It’s more like a normal racing car in terms of its characteristics so that’s positive.
      READ MORE IN SPORT
      “The last race was the best showing we’ve had so far. That for us was a huge boost, that we can close that gap.
      “It’s naturally going to be tough, we’ll keep our heads down.
      “The other guys are doing an amazing job but I do believe we can close the gap.”
      Hamilton also says he has no plans to quit the sport, despite his soul-searching trip to Africa during the F1 summer break.
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      He added: “There’s still plenty to achieve here, personally.
      “Maybe not that many records, but still a lot of ground to cover with the team.
      “I am still deeply in love with the sport.

      “And I particularly like the direction and the things that we’re doing within it.
      “But of course there’s lots more outside that’s continuing to grow as well. So it’s an exciting time.”
      Meanwhile, F1 chiefs are expected to confirm on Friday that Audi will be coming into the sport in 2026.
      Read More on The Sun
      The German car brand have taken a majority stake in the Sauber team, who are currently badged as Alfa Romeo.
      Audi is just one of the car brands owned by the Volkswagen group, with Porsche also expected to forge links with Red Bull.
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      I don’t see a woman in Formula One in next five years unless a METEORITE hits the earth, says F1 boss Stefano Domenicali

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      A METEORITE would need to hit earth for there to be a woman in F1 in the next five years, says the sport’s boss Stefano Domenicali.While saying that motorsport has taken several steps to include more women, he admits they have a long way to go.
      Stefano Domenicali believes that we will not see a woman in Formula One in at five years for sureCredit: Splash
      Many have been calling for female British driver Jamie Chadwick to receive a seat in at least Formula Two or Formula Three.
      The 24-year-old races in the all-women single-seater championship, the W Series, and has already won the championship twice since her debut in 2019.
      The challenge for women like Chadwick to join the currently all-male series lies in sponsorship and funding for the seat, along with the current male dominance.
      Domenicali claims that motorsport fans will soon start seeing more opportunities for female drivers in Formula Two and Formula Three.
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      But he also admitted that it is highly unlikely that any woman will make it to Formula One in the next five years.
      The F1 CEO said: “We believe that it is crucial in this moment to try to give the maximum possibility to women to come to Formula One.
      “We believe that for girls to be the same level of competition with the guys they need to be at the same, or more or less the same, age when they can start to fight on the track at the level of Formula Two or Formula Three.
      “So we are working on that to see what we can do to improve the system.
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      “And you will see soon some action.
      “Realistically speaking, I don’t see a girl in Formula One in the next five years unless something like a sort of meteorite comes into the Earth.
      “That is very unlikely.
      “But we want to build up the right parameters with the right approach, step by step, for them to start to race against the guys at the right age and in the right car.
      “That’s what we’re working on.”
      So far, there has only ever been two women that raced in F1: Maria Teresa de Filippis in 1958 and Lella Lombardi in 1975 and 1976.
      In 2022, Alpine launched a programme called Rac(H)er in the aim of helping more women make it into F1.
      The programme is spread over a span of eight years and amongst the drivers participating is Jamie Chadwick herself – who also forms part of the Williams drivers academy.
      Alpine want to increase their female workforce to 30 per cent over the next five years from the current 12 per cent.
      They also revealed how only 10 per cent of the F1 British-based teams’ workforce is female.
      Jamie Chadwick told Sky Sports her views on why women are struggling to make it into the sport.
      Among the reasons are the physical demands of Formula One and how naturally some women struggle with that.
      She said: “The ultimate goal is to be in those Championships, ideally Formula Two and then Formula One.
      “I don’t know what is actually possible.
      “To get into Formula One you have to go through the feeder series – Formula Three and Formula Two – and it is extremely physical.
      “Formula One is extremely physical, and we don’t know exactly what women are capable of in the sport.
      “If you are aged 15 or 16, and go into car racing, without power steering and driving big heavy cars, a lot of women do struggle, even though they have been successful in go-karting.
      “We like to think that women can make it – and I am happy to be the guinea pig and will do my best to push and explore the options to Formula One – but we don’t know.
      “There hasn’t been a woman in the recent era that has done it.
      “I am trying to understand whether that is to do with the physical side.
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      “If it is physically possible, and women can compete against men, how do we make that happen?
      “However, if it is physically too hard, but the sport wants women to compete, than we have got to bring it back and understand why.” More

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      What is the F1 halo and how does it save lives?

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      THE HALO cockpit has been part and parcel of F1 for the last few seasons – for good reason.It helped save Lewis Hamilton from serious injury after he crashed out of the Italian Grand Prix last year.
      Zhou Guanyu crashed at the first turn of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone but the Halo saved his lifeCredit: AP
      And it appears to have saved Zhou Guanyu’s life after he crashed during the start of the British Grand Prix in 2022.
      What is the halo cockpit system?
      Safety is paramount in Formula One and sadly down the years, some haven’t been as lucky as Roman Grosjean at the Bahrain GP last year.
      Jules Bianchi was killed after a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, losing control of his Marussia in treacherous conditions.
      And his mother was quick to point out that the halo – which wasn’t a feature of the cars six years ago but was being worked on by the FIA – had ‘saved Romain’s life’.
      The halo was introduced back in 2018 and is an added safety feature now included on all F1 cars, acting as a titanium ring of protection around the driver’s cockpit.
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      It is designed to prevent drivers from getting injuries from flying debris or suffering head trauma like in the tragic case of Bianchi.
      The F1 governing body took a long time to research and test the design, which does slightly impact the field of view for drivers.
      When it was launched there was also criticism from some fans, who believed the hefty new structure around the cockpit meant they couldn’t see the racers properly.
      World champion Lewis Hamilton revealed back in 2018 that he felt it could be the first step towards a closed cockpit around the driver, but that hasn’t yet come to fruition.
      He said: “I think we’re moving towards a closed cockpit, I think that would look better, there’s some really great concepts online of a closed cockpit.
      “It’s a difficult one as when they introduced it, talked about it, they mentioned a 17 per cent improvement in safety and it’s difficult to really ignore that.
      “It definitely doesn’t look good, we know that, we’ve said that.”
      Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen crashed in Monza
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      How did the halo save Grosjean in his Bahrain crash?
      Grosjean’s car snapped clean in half at the force of the crash, with the impact measured at a scarcely-believable 53G.
      Despite the fireball that consumed the wreckage of his vehicle, Grosjean was saved from major burns by his four layers of protective clothing and was able to jump to safety.
      The sturdily-built halo is designed to take the full force of impact first, protecting the drivers’ head from serious injury.
      The halo was still visible after Grosjean’s horror crash
      In this case, it appears to have worked with Grosjean suffering just minor burns to his hands and miraculously avoiding serious trauma to either his body or head.
      Ross Brawn, F1 managing director, was adamant after the race that without the halo we could have been looking at another tragedy.
      He said: “There is absolutely no doubt the halo was the factor that saved the day – and saved Romain.”
      And world champ Hamilton said after winning the race in Sakhir: “It was such a shocking image to see.
      “His car, the cockpit, I don’t know what Gs he pulled, but I’m just so grateful that the halo worked.
      “I’m grateful the barrier didn’t slice his head off. It could have been so much worse.”
      Grosjean was immediately air-lifted to the hospital after the crash and praised the F1 safety system for saving his life.
      He said: “I wasn’t for the halo some years ago, but I think it’s the greatest thing that we brought to Formula 1 and without it, I wouldn’t be able to speak to you today.” More

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      Lewis Hamilton has ‘shot at winning races’ after Mercedes ‘out-develop rivals’ with ‘big, big upgrade’ during break

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      LEWIS HAMILTON and team-mate George Russell now have a shot at winning races.That’s according to Juan Pablo Montoya, who claims that Mercedes have had a “big, big upgrade” during the F1 break.
      Lewis Hamilton will now have a shot at winning races, says Juan Pablo MontoyaCredit: Getty
      The seven-time champ posted a photo on social media to declare that he was back driving after the F1 breakCredit: https://www.instagram.com/lewishamilton/
      There are still nine races left on the calendar this season and Brit racer Hamilton sits sixth in the individual standings.
      The upcoming Belgium Grand Prix on Sunday signifies the end of the month-long break for the drivers.
      Hamilton, 37, whose father Anthony is of Grenadian descent, took the time to travel across Namibia, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania on a self-discovery mission.
      The seven-time champ has not won a race since December last year, but legendary driver Montoya thinks that may change soon.
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      He told Vegas Insider: “The rumour is that Mercedes has a big, big upgrade coming for their cars.
      “And, if that is the case, Mercedes really comes up with a car, which is really cool to see from Mercedes.
      “It is very exciting. Mercedes is still gonna get better, against everybody else, but everybody else in the field is gonna stay very constant.
      “Because they all keep developing and making the cars better to drive, easier to drive.
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      “Everybody is getting a little more comfortable with the new package, and understanding the new package.”
      “So I think the way everybody is developing the cars is going to be very similar, but I still think that Mercedes out-develops everybody else. That is my two cents.” 
      “The question is, is Mercedes’ step so big that they start winning every race, and they are going to win the last nine races, and they are going to do one, two, seven or eight times, and you know, they have a shot at the Constructor Championship, while everybody else fumbles?”
      I see Mercedes might have a shot at winning a couple of races this year if their developing goes wellJuan Pablo Montoya
      “Or their step is, ok, we are starting to fight against Red Bull and Mercedes, and we are just there? That is the more realistic version of what I see coming.
      “I see Mercedes might have a shot at winning a couple of races this year if their developing goes well.”
      Hamilton said he was “transformed” by his trip through Africa.
      And it could prove to be the perfect reset after a tough start to the season where he remains winless – and on the longest drought of his F1 career.
      He has not won a race since the Saudi Arabian GP last December, but said the break was “some of the best days of my entire life”.
      Legend Montoya thinks that Mercedes ‘out-develop’ the rest over the course of the seasonCredit: Getty – Contributor More