Motorsport

LEWIS HAMILTON’S showdown with Max Verstappen will take place on a new circuit which could prove dangerous.The reigning world champion is just eight points behind Red Bull’s Verstappen ahead of Sunday’s inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and topped both practice sessions.
Charles Leclerc hit the barriers in his Ferrari at 160mphCredit: EPA
Turn 22 has been described as the most dangerous at the Jeddah circuitCredit: Splash
A win for Hamilton, plus setting the fastest lap to earn a bonus point, and a second-place finish for the Dutchman would see them tied going into the final race in Abu Dhabi.
But first, Hamilton has to conquer the terrifying high-speed street circuit here in Jeddah that has been constructed in just a few months.
There were no test events for this race — where building work is still going on — despite average speeds of 155mph, top speeds of over 200mph and thick concrete barriers all  around. 
Charles Leclerc had a lucky escape when his Ferrari ploughed into the barriers at 160mph at Turn 22 — the one earmarked as the most treacherous.
He climbed from the wreckage unscathed.  But his car was a write-off and will again raise safety concerns about this hastily constructed track.
Alpine executive director Marcin Budkowski had earlier warned: “Fernando Alonso said it was a pretty demanding circuit.

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“Lots of blind corners and high speed between walls, so lots of very high attention at all times to make sure you don’t make a mistake.
“A mistake (…) you are going to pay very severely.  If you crash, you could damage the car badly or even hurt yourself.”
Sky’s F1 pundit Martin Brundle added: “This place will bite. In a way this is brilliant towards the end of the season.
“But if I was Red Bull and  Mercedes I would be thinking, ‘I don’t need the extra jeopardy of this place right now’.
“These guys live off data. They thrive on it and they hate uncertainty. They want to turn up here, having done 1,000 laps on the sim, with the right set-up and the right strategy.
Leclerc thankfully climbed from the wreckage unscathedCredit: Splash
“But we want all the jeopardy and the surprise and I think that is what has made it such a great year — we’ve had that jeopardy this season.”
Verstappen has won nine times this season, while Hamilton has seven victories.
At one point the Red Bull man had a 32-point lead in the championship. But Hamilton has won the last two races and his confidence is sky high, so Brundle says the  outcome of the championship is still too difficult to predict.
He added: “A good football analogy is you’d rather have the points than the games in hand.
“If Lewis carries on at that rate of knots and if Valtteri Bottas can get involved and have one of his on-form days, then who knows?
“One mishap around here from Lewis and Max is the world champion. It is going to end somehow, isn’t it?
“We’ve seen some good wheel-to-wheel action. We’ve seen some shooting from the hip and shooting from the lip from the team bosses.
“We’ve had it all. The high drama, the massive accidents, Max parked on Lewis’ head at Monza.
“It’s had everything — the brilliant moments, the scary moments — but it has to end somewhere.” 
Lewis Hamilton is chasing down championship rival Max VerstappenCredit: AFP
Lewis Hamilton previews the Saudi Arabia GP More

GEORGE RUSSELL is paying a special tribute to the late Sir Frank Williams with an iconic quote stamped on his car at this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.The Williams star has a famous line from the movie Top Gun emblazoned on his halo in Jeddah.
George Russell will race with a Top Gun quote on his car this weekendCredit: PA
The icnonic quote pays tribute to the late Sir Frank WilliamsCredit: Sky Sports
It reads: “I feel the need, the need for speed!”
The words pay tribute to team founder Sir Frank, who sadly passed away after a lengthy illness.
The 79-year-old was a motorsport titan who proudly led his team to nine constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ championships – including the 1996 title with Damon Hill.
Russell and team-mate Nicholas Latifi are also sporting Sir Frank’s name and a special memorial logo on their FW43Bs this weekend.
Other teams are following suit, with the likes of Alfa Romeo, Haas and Red Bull all tweeting images of the logo on their cars in Saudi Arabia.
And lastly Russell will race in a bespoke helmet with the memorial logo emblazoned on the side.
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George Russell is set to move to Mercedes next seasonCredit: Alamy
Teams across the grid are paying further tributes to the F1 legend, while race organisers are understood to be planning a commemoration before Sunday’s grand prix.
The world of motorsport went into mourning last weekend after news of Sir Frank’s death.
Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton led tributes on social media as he wrote about ‘one of the kindest people (he) had the pleasure of meeting’.
He added: “What he achieved in this sport is truly something special. Until his last days I know he remained a racer and a fighter at heart.” More

TOTO WOLFF has offered to meet the survivors and bereaved families of the Grenfell tragedy after a backlash over a sponsorship deal with Kingspan.Mercedes confirmed a partnership with the insulation and building firm ahead of this weekend’s Saudi Arabian GP.
Toto Wolff apologised on behalf of the Mercedes teamCredit: Alamy
However, there was heavy criticism from survivors and those families impacted by the fire in the tower block in 2017, which killed 72 people.
The Grenfell United group sought to speak to Merc while Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, also said he would write to the Brackley-based F1 team.
But Wolff has responded with an open letter saying: “The tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire was beyond imaginable to me, and it should never have happened.
“On behalf of our team, I would sincerely like to apologise to you for the additional hurt that this announcement has caused. It was never our intention to do so.
“The work of the public inquiry to establish the full causes of the tragedy is crucially important.
“Prior to concluding our partnership, we engaged with Kingspan in depth to understand what role their products played in what happened at Grenfell.

“Kingspan have stated that they played no role in the design or construction of the cladding system on Grenfell Tower, and that a small percentage of their product was used as a substitute without their knowledge in part of the system which was not compliant with building regulations and was unsafe.
“I know that this does not change in any way the awful tragedy you suffered, or the deep and ongoing pain felt in your community, and I would like to thank Grenfell United for the offer to meet in person for me to learn and understand better.
“I look forward to coming together as soon as we can.”
Lewis Hamilton reacts to his Brazilian GP victory More

LEWIS HAMILTON says he is not comfortable being in Saudi Arabia for the country’s first ever F1 race due to their poor human rights record.Once again, the sport’s reigning champion was the one who spoke out after making a poignant statement on his arrival at the paddock in Jeddah.
Hamilton has spoken out about Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights recordCredit: AP
His vest featured a design showing multiple hands which, according to designer 3.PARADIS, is a ‘symbolic reference of unity and freedom’, while the doves on his black trousers are also a nod to freedom.
The seven-time world champion is locked in a tense fight with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen as F1 remains in the Middle East for the second of three races.
At the Qatar GP, Hamilton said the country had ‘one of the worst’ reputations and said it needed ‘scrutiny’.
He also wore a distinctive helmet with the Pride Flag in support of the LGBT community, who have extremely limited rights in some Middle Eastern countries.
He said: “I feel the sport, and we are duty-bound, to ensure we try and raise awareness for certain issues, especially human rights in the countries we are going to.
“With the utmost respect for everyone that is here, I have had a warm respect from everyone on the ground.

“I can’t pretend to ever be the most knowledgeable or [have the] deepest understanding of anyone who has grown up in the community here that is heavily affected by so many rules and regimes.
“Do I feel comfortable here? I wouldn’t say I do, but it is not my choice to be here. The sport has taken the choice to be here and whether it is right or wrong, I think while we are here it is important we do try and raise awareness.
“For example, in the last race you saw the helmet that I wore and I will wear that again here and in the next race because that is an issue and is a law.
“If anyone wants to take the time to read what the law is for the LGBT+ community, it is pretty terrifying and there are changes that need to be made, for example women’s rights and being able to drive in 2018 — it is how they are policed.
“Are they really in effect? Why are some of the women still in prison from driving many, many years ago? There is a lot of change that needs to happen and our sport needs to do more.”
Hamilton’s comments should be applauded as he again is the flag-bearer on issues that the sport has promised to address.
The Brit has called on fellow drivers to support his stance and countryman Lando Norris says he will continue to support Hamilton’s stance.
He added: “Lewis is a good guy to have, not leading us, but being the prime guy talking about these kind of things.
“It’s obvious that certain things he’s experienced in the past also help him be able to talk about it. I guess I’m fortunate that I’ve not had these kind of things to be said about me.
“I’m not in such an easy position just to go out and say whatever I want like he can – the problems here and in some of the countries.”
HOW VERSTAPPEN CAN WIN THE TITLE ON SUNDAY

Verstappen is 1st, plus fastest lap (bonus point) and Hamilton is 6th or lower
Verstappen is 1st and Hamilton 7th or lower
Verstappen is 2nd, plus fastest lap (bonus point) and Hamilton is 10th or lower
Verstappen is 2nd and Hamilton is 11th or lower More