Motorsport

SERGIO PEREZ has failed his COVID-19 retest and will again be replaced by Nico Hulkenberg for this weekend’s 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.
Hulkenberg joined Racing Point for last weekend’s British Grand Prix as a replacement for Perez, who tested positive in a pre-event check.

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Sergio Perez will miss this weekend’s 70th anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone after testing positive for coronavirus again

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Nico Hulkenberg will replace the Mexican again
Perez – known as Checo – later revealed he had flown home to coronavirus-hit Mexico to see his mum, who was not well after an accident.
Astonishingly, yesterday Public Health England gave Perez the green light having served his quarantine period.
But F1’s Covid Code of Conduct means he needed a negative test to enter the paddock – which has subsequently failed.
It means Hulkenberg will get another attempt to race after last weekend a broken bolt prevented his F1 car from starting and he was forced to sit out.

Hulkenberg said: “I’m excited to get going again with the team at Silverstone.
“Last weekend, it was a real step into the unknown having been away from the team for a few years – and driving a car I’d never driven before.

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“I’ve learned a lot in the last week about the RP20, and I am ready to apply my experiences to this weekend.
“Racing at the same track again makes things a bit easier and the team has done a great job in helping me get up to speed.

“I think we can fight for points this weekend, which is definitely my goal. I also want to wish Checo all the best in his recovery.”
Racing Point confirmed Perez is “physically well and recovering”.
And team boss, Otmar Szafnauer, added: “Nico did a really strong job last weekend after receiving a last-minute call to drive for us at Silverstone, and he proved why he was an obvious choice to stand in for Checo.

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“It was a big shame he couldn’t actually take the start of the race last Sunday, but the all that hard work will prove very useful for this weekend.
“We miss having Checo with us, but we wish him well and look forward to welcoming him back into the team in the near future.”
Last weekend was Hulkenberg’s his first appearance at a Formula 1 event since he left Renault at the end of last season.

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SEBASTIAN VETTEL has escaped another ticking off from the sport’s bosses – despite getting in a car with Racing Point boss Otmar Szafnauer.
The German, who was warned about breaching F1’s Covid Code of Conduct in Austria, where he was spotted talking to Red Bull team members without wearing a mask, was seen riding in Szafnauer’s Ferrari.

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Sebastian Vettel has escaped a rap from F1 bosses after his latest coronavirus protocol breachCredit: EPA

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Vettel was seen riding in Racing Point boss Otmar Szafnauer’s FerrariCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Szafnauer’s driver, Sergio Perez, only last week tested positive for Covid-19 and was forced into self isolation.
But Vettel – who has been linked a seat at the team next season – has NOT been warned about his latest blooper and the Ferrari man says he is in the clear because he wore a mask.
He said: “We were heading to the fuel station. After the fuel station he was going home and I continued going somewhere else.
“We were wearing masks… I find it a bit awkward nowadays that people make a fuss out of everything. I don’t see the news in that.”

PEREZ RETURN
Meanwhile, Perez is in line for a shock return to racing – just seven days since testing positive.
Perez failed a coronavirus test ahead of the British GP after admitting he flew home to Mexico to see his mum, who had suffered an accident.
He was placed into quarantine on Wednesday night – just when Public Health England upped the self-isolation limit was increased from seven to ten days.
However, the 30-year-old has been told he only needs to serve seven days in quarantine and can return to compete in this weekend’s 70th Anniversary GP at Silverstone – providing his latest test is negative.

Perez’s return would be a blow to Nico Hulkenberg, who was called up as a late replacement.

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The German rushed to Silverstone and jumped in the Racing Point but was denied a chance to race after a broken bolt lodged in the engine prevented it from turning over.
Hulkenberg said: “Obviously that would be somewhat disappointing, after having been back in the car and getting a taste of it and then this.
“But it was always clear that I come in as a temporary replacement for Checo, not knowing if it’s one race, two races or what.”

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CHARLES LECLERC has lashed out on social media and insists he is not a racist.
The Ferrari driver tweeted his comments following a recent interview where he explained his reasoning for not taking a knee at the start of F1 races.

It is very sad to see how some people manipulate my words to make headlines making me sound like a racist.I am not racist and I absolutly hate racism. Racism is disgusting. 1/3
— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) August 6, 2020

Stop putting me in the same group as these disgusting people that are discriminating others because of their skin colour, religion or gender. I’m not part of them and I never will. I’ve always been respectful to everyone and that should be the standard in today’s world. 2/3
— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) August 6, 2020

And to whoever is using my image to promote their wrong ideas, please stop. I’m not into politics and I don’t want to be involved in that. 3/3
— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) August 6, 2020

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Leclerc was one of seven racers who failed to take a knee before last weekend’s British GPCredit: AP:Associated Press
Leclerc, along with six other drivers, stood while the remainder of the grid all kneeled last weekend at the British GP.
When asked why he refused to kneel, Leclerc told Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport it was due to the violence brought forth by Black Lives Matter protests.
Leclerc said: “I’m against racism, I fight it and I’m glad F1 is using its platform to show the world the right way.
“But I didn’t want to [kneel] because there have been many protests all over the world associated with violence, and I don’t accept any form of violence.

“And I don’t like a civil protest to be used by politicians.”
His comments sparked something of a backlash on social media, with many accusing him of being a “racist”.
But in a strongly-worded statement on Twitter, Leclerc has now hit back at the claims.
In a series of tweets, he wrote: “It is very sad to see how some people manipulate my words to make headlines making me sound like a racist.

“I am not racist and I absolutely hate racism. Racism is disgusting.
“Stop putting me in the same group as these disgusting people that are discriminating [against] others because of their skin colour, religion or gender.
“I’m not part of them and I never will. I’ve always been respectful to everyone and that should be the standard in today’s world.”

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Charles Leclerc finished third in last weekend’s British GPCredit: Reuters
When quizzed about his tweets ahead of this weekend’s GP at Silverstone, the 22-year-old said he wanted to post his comments to get his voice heard.
He added: “I just don’t want to be judged anymore.
“As I’ve said many times I’m active on social media and I don’t accept to be called the way I’ve been called in the last few weeks negatively obviously just because of not kneeling.
“I wanted to make a straightforward tweet just to express my feelings and that’s it.”
Meanwhile, Kevin Magnussen has explained why he did not take a knee ahead of the British GP last weekend – when he had done so in the previous three races.

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The Haas F1 driver said: “In terms of standing or kneeling, I want to make sure that I’m with the messaging of ending racism.
“I support that movement, and not any sort of political organisation that I think the Black Lives Matter movement is.
“I want to separate myself from that, and then push on with ending racism and that messaging, which I think is great that Formula One is doing.”

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SILVERSTONE is due to host its second race for the second weekend running as Formula 1 gears up for the 70th anniversary.
Last week Mercedes dominated even though both cars suffered tyre failures in the closing stages of the race.

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Hamilton will be ready to go again after his victory a week ago
Lewis Hamilton just about managed to cross the finish line in first but Valtteri Bottas dropped out of the points race entirely.
Carlos Sainz and Nicholas Latifi suffered punctures towards the end of the race as well, leading Pirelli to undertake a thorough investigation into their problems.
What is the F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix?
The F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix is a one-off Formula One motor race that’s due to be held at the Silverstone Circuit in Silverstone, UK.
It is a 70-year commemoration of the F1 World Championship’s first ever race, which was held at the same track in May 1950.

Formula One had existed since 1947 while Grand Prix racing is believed to have existed since 1901, but the 1950 race at Silverstone marked the birth of the World Championship.
The race was not initially scheduled in the calendar but has been added after the cancellation of other non-European races due to coronavirus.

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The race will take place with no audience due to government coronavirus guidelines
When is the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix?
The 70th Anniversary Grand Prix is set to go ahead on Sunday 9th August. 
See below for timings.

Practice One: 11:00 BST
Practice Two: 15:00 BST
Practice Three: 11:00 BST
Qualifying: 14:00 BST
Grand Prix: 14:10 BST
Where can I watch it?
Every session of the anniversary race will be shown on Sky Sports F1 channel.
The Formula One dedicated channel will show all of the footage.
If you aren’t already a Sky Sports subscriber, pick up a NOWTV sports pass at £9.98 per day More

F1 is celebrating its Platinum Anniversary after 70 years of high octane action.
Silverstone is the venue once again as Lewis Hamilton looks to make it four race wins out of five this season.

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Lewis Hamilton is looking for another victory at SilverstoneCredit: AFP or licensors
Hamilton heroically held on to beat Max Verstappen despite having a punctured tyre at last week’s British Grand Prix and might be looking for a less wild ride this time around.
What time is the F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix practice?
The F1 race weekend gets underway on Friday, August 7.
Practice one will commence at 11am UK time.
Practice two will then follow at 3pm.

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What TV channel is the F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix on and can I live stream it?
Every minute of the F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix will be live on Sky Sports F1.
To live stream the race, head to your Sky Go account.
Non-Sky Sports subscribers can watch the full race by purchasing a Now TV Day Pass from £9.99.
Unlike last weekend’s British Grand Prix, only highlights will be shown on Channel 4.
Full schedule
Friday, August 7
Free Practice One (11am)
Free Practice Two (3pm)
Saturday, August 8
Free Practice Three (11am)
Qualifying (2pm)
Sunday, August 9

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F1 is at Silverstone for a second week running and Lewis Hamilton will be hoping for a similar result.
The Brit showed incredible calmness in last week’s British Grand Prix to win even after his tire punctured on the final lap.

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ANTONIO FELIX DA COSTA strengthened his grip on the Formula E title after winning two races in as many days in Berlin. 
Da Costa became the second driver to win both races in a FE double header, as he made it three wins on the bounce.

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Antonio Felix Da Costa wins both races as part of first double header in Berlin
The Techeetah driver extended his lead in the title race to 68 points with four races remaining, with the season ending on August 13.
Da Costa said: “It was so hard, [Sebastien] Buemi kept me honest the whole race.
“Yesterday we were a bit quicker, but there was never a moment there where I had to keep looking in my wing mirrors and the engineers kept me under control.”
Ex-F1 driver Buemi finished second ahead of fellow former FE champion Lucas Di Grassi – who secured his second podium of the season for Audi.

Da Costa’s title rivals Mitch Evans and Alex Sims both failed to score points while Stoffel Vandoorne finished fifth.
Da Costa’s team-mate and reigning two-time FE champion Jean-Eric Vergne has had a nightmare return since FE’s restart.
Vergne failed to finish the opening race in Berlin before finishing tenth the following day.
The all-electric series will have one day off before another double header at the historic Tempelhof Airport in Berlin this weekend. 

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The circuit will remain the same, but direction of the race will be reversed and Da Costa expects his rivals to catch up to him on Saturday.
He added: “I think day by day everyone’s going to get closer and closer. 
“We saw that already today, so I’m expecting it to be tough in the next races.”

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LEWIS HAMILTON could be set for a pay-cut following the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The F1 world champion has not started talks over the new deal because he feels uncomfortable speaking about it when people are losing their jobs.

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Lewis Hamilton could be set for a PAY-CUT on his £40million-per-year Mercedes contract
Hamilton’s current contract, believed to be worth around £40million a year, is due to expire in December.
But the Brit’s moral compass has kicked in after last month Merc’s owners Daimler said they needed to cut more than the 15,000 jobs they had previously announced.
He said: “Ultimately, it honestly doesn’t feel like the right time to sit down and talk about it.
“When you think about so many people in the world who have lost their jobs, people unemployed, and to sit down and negotiate a big contract, it doesn’t feel like the most important thing that I need to apply time to at this second.

“I do want to continue with the team and it is not a big effort for us to sit down and get it done.
“It is just right now I don’t feel comfortable about it so I am going to wait a little bit longer.”

At last week’s British Grand Prix, he said he had not even started talking to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff about new terms.
And Thursday, ahead of F1’s 70th Anniversary GP, the 35-year-old said he intends to commit to the team to help see through their increased diversity programme.

He added: “I am not talking to anyone else and I am looking forward to continuing, particularly as we have just started a new chapter as a team in terms of how we educate ourselves, how we understand what we are going to do to help be more diverse and more inclusive.
“I am super excited that what is possible with Mercedes-Benz and this team moving forward. It will get done at some stage so I am not stressed.”

Hamilton now has a whopping 30 point lead in the drivers’ championship ahead of his team-mate, Bottas, who yesterday (THU) signed a new one-year deal.
It is understood that Bottas’s £12million-a year deal with the Silver Arrows has simply been extended until the end of 2021.
Meanwhile, Hamilton says that this season’s title race comes in “the most important year of his life” as he continues to fight to end racism and support the Black Lives Matter movement.
He added: “It is the most important year of my life to date with everything that is going on.

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“It is a different fight, championship-wise to other years. In the past, we have had the years where we fought Ferrari or Red Bull.
“This year, it is different up to this point. But I do think it is a special year and I don’t take that lightly.
“People often ask where we get our motivation from and there are so many things to take inspiration for and to be fighting for a championship in a time like this is empowering and exciting with the thought that there could be change to follow.” More