Motorsport

LEWIS HAMILTON is going in search of his 100th victory in Formula One this weekend in Hungary – but there is one man out to stop him.Furious Max Verstappen is out for revenge after he was KO’d at Silverstone while Hamilton’s win reduced his 33-point cushion in the championship to just eight.
Max Verstappen will once again duel with Lewis Hamilton in HungaryCredit: PA
Mercedes star Hamilton has defended his British Grand Prix winCredit: Splash
Hamilton, F1’s most-successful driver of all time, has always said he wanted to battle for his world titles.
In recent years he swatted away the challenge from team-mate Valtteri Bottas and Sebastian Vettel, during the German’s time with Ferrari.
And now, as he bids for a record eighth title to move him clear of Michael Schumacher’s haul, he has got his wish.
This fight between the champion and the challenger has the potential to become one of the sport’s great rivalries.
Wounded from the high-speed crash at the British GP, the Dutchman is down but not out and ready for redemption, openly saying the gloves are off.
He said: “I didn’t know the gloves were on. Who fights with gloves? Nothing changes from my side.
“I didn’t do anything wrong. I fought hard, I defended hard, but not aggressively because if it had been aggressive I would have squeezed him into the inside wall.
“You can say I am an aggressive driver, but I don’t think I am. I am a hard driver. I race hard but I know how to position my car.
“I have not been involved in an accident by running into people, I have zero penalty points and that says quite a bit.”
It is fighting talk from the 23-year-old who was brought up with some tough love from his dad, former F1 driver Jos, who is there to keep his son in line.
They celebrated like it was a world championship win.Max Verstappen
Having been quizzed about Mercedes and Hamilton’s celebrations at Silverstone, the Red Bull driver’s response tells you all you need to know.
He said: “They celebrated it like it was a world championship win.
“If it had been the other way around, I definitely would have deserved a kicking and my dad would tell me that.”
Hamilton is beginning to find that Verstappen is a tough nut to crack this season.
The fact is, Red Bull have a quicker car and Hamilton is having to get his elbows out in a way we have not seen since his fight with Nico Rosberg.
And fans are lapping it up, as the duel for the title has made F1 box office in the hope of this spawning a hatred like Ayrton Senna’s rivalry with Alain Prost.
Flashback to 1989 and the Japanese Grand Prix where the then McLaren teammates collided in a crash that shook the sport.
Then, the following year at the same race, Senna’s first lap collision with Prost that would land the Brazilian driver the most controversial of title wins.
This battle has reminded fans of Ayrton Senna versus Alain ProstCredit: AFP
This has all the hallmarks of another simmering feud that looks to define an era of this sport.
What are the odds of a repeat of another first-lap incident between Hamilton and Verstappen this weekend?
It is certainly not unthinkable and, while Hamilton would not be drawn on his relationship with Verstappen, he admits people will tune in to watch how it unfolds.
He said: “I remember when I first started watching the Senna versus Prost period, at the time it was just exciting.
“I had no idea whether the rivalry was good or bad for the sport.
“Today, I think, just like growing up, wheel-to-wheel racing was always the best, from karting. The most exciting part of motor sport is when you see close racing.
“We’re now seeing two teams incredibly close on performance and – I don’t like to compare it to past champions because it is a new era and period of time – but if there’s more people watching then that tells you all you need to know.”
Verstappen stopped short of calling Hamilton a ‘dirty driver’, adding: “That is the first time I heard it like that. I just think he misjudged the corner.”
In a series of digs and pot-shots at his rival during the pre-race press conference, Verstappen added: “As for the relationship? We are racers so we keep going.
“I am not happy with what happened but we keep on pushing, keep fighting for the championship.
“We will race in the right manner going forward, at least from my side.”
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Hamilton has an impressive record at the Hungaroring with eight victories here – more than any other driver.
Only this year, things are different and there is a real sense within the paddock that this fight could turn nasty.
And, if he is to notch three figures and achieve his tonne, then he might need to do things the ugly way and slug it out.
Dramatic F1 fan footage shows brutal impact of Max Verstappen’s 180mph crash as Lewis Hamilton is blamed for collision More

LEWIS HAMILTON thanked his Formula One colleagues for their support following online racist abuse, saying that he no longer feels alone in the sport.Hamilton and his Mercedes team were subjected to terrible abuse online following his smash with Max Verstappen at the British Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton has spoken of his emotions after suffering online racist abuseCredit: Getty
There was swift action from F1, the FIA, Mercedes and Red Bull to condemn the abuse while several drivers also posted messages of support.
And the 36-year-old, who has led the sport’s anti-racism campaign, says he was grateful for their support.
Hamilton said: “What I would say is that it was amazing to see the support from the sport, from my team, and from some of the drivers.
“I felt for the first time that I didn’t stand alone in the sport.
“Because for the other years, or the other 27 or whatever years I’ve been racing, no-one would ever say anything.
“When it happened in 2007, no-one ever said anything. So it was really amazing to see the steps that we’ve taken.
“Of course we can’t condone that, and there’s no room for that sort of abuse.
“But if I have to be on the receiving end of that in this industry for people to become aware, then that’s part of my journey, that’s why I’m here.”
Meanwhile, Hamilton has also criticised Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, who announced the country will hold a referendum on what it describes as ‘child protection’ issues.
The new legislation makes it an offence to ‘promote or portray’ homosexuality to children.
Ahead of the Hungarian GP, Hamilton pleaded to his Instagram following blasting the “unacceptable, cowardly and misguiding” laws.
Everyone deserves to have the freedom to be themselves, no matter who they love or how they identify.Lewis Hamilton

He wrote: “To all in this beautiful country, Hungary. Ahead of the grand prix this weekend, I want to share my support for those affected by the government’s anti-LGBTQ+ law.
“It is unacceptable, cowardly and misguiding for those in power to suggest such a law.
“Everyone deserves to have the freedom to be themselves, no matter who they love or how they identify.”

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Dramatic F1 fan footage shows brutal impact of Max Verstappen’s 180mph crash as Lewis Hamilton is blamed for collision More

LEWIS HAMILTON’S rivalry with Max Verstappen has all the ingredients of an instant classic.That is according to British former racing driver Damon Hill, who described Hamilton and Verstappen’s feud as a ‘very volatile landmine’.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s rivalry is heating upCredit: EPA
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton crashed at the British Grand Prix
Hill also claims this tug-of-war will mark the ‘changing of the guard’ just like in 1994 when Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna butted heads.
The former Williams driver told the F1 Nations Podcast: “The conflict between Lewis and Max has created a very volatile landmine in the sport.
“The rivalry we are seeing is the changing of the guard for the future of the sport.
“Lewis is hanging on at the end of his career, whereas Max wants to go on and win world championships.
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“Lewis definitely has the mentality of ‘I want to stay and win even more and put the record further out of reach’. But he still hasn’t cracked Schumacher’s total.
“This is what’s going on in the heads of these drivers. This is the clash we see.
“We see a man who won’t let go, who won’t give up on a world title because it’s the last icing on the cake. And Max is going to try and stop him.
“And that’s where we saw Michael Schumacher coming on the trail of Ayrton Senna in ’94.
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” It’s great when you can achieve dominance, but there’s always someone new coming up. That’s worth fighting for, but you know time is against you.
“A new era will be someone else. And actually letting go of your position, your identity as the man, is pretty hard.”
The rivalry between Mercedes’ Hamilton and Red Bull’s Verstappen reached boiling point at the British Grand Prix two weeks ago.
Damon Hill claims Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s rivalry has all the makings of an instant classicCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The two Formula One stars crashed at Silverstone when the Brit tagged the rear right of the Dutchman’s car and sent him hurtling into the barriers at 180mph.
The hefty impact was measured at a G-force of 51G and understandably led to a red flag as he was picked out of the wreckage.
Verstappen was sent to hospital for additional checks and Red Bull boss Christian Horner accused Hamilton, who won the race, of putting his driver’s life in danger with his ‘desperate’ driving.
Dramatic F1 fan footage shows brutal impact of Max Verstappen’s 180mph crash as Lewis Hamilton is blamed for collision More