Mercedes-Benz

RED BULL chief Christian Horner claims Sir Lewis Hamilton has never praised Max Verstappen before… despite records showing the opposite.Hamilton and Verstappen were embroiled in a heated rivalry last season, which ended with the Red Bull star picking up a controversial victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to clinch the Formula One title.
Red Bull chief Christian Horner claims Lewis Hamilton never praised Max VerstappenCredit: Rex
But Sir Lewis Hamilton has indeed recognised Max Verstappen’s talentCredit: The Mega Agency
Max Verstappen was embroiled in a heated rivalry with Lewis HamiltonCredit: Getty
The Brit has been struggling to rediscover his old form this season and that has led the Dutch star fighting it out with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc for the top spot.
Horner believes there is a “mutual respect” between his driver and Leclerc because they have known each other since they were kids.
The Red Bull team principal claims he cannot recall Hamilton ever recognising Verstappen’s ability.
Horner told Beyond the Grid: “You know, there’s a difference, there’s perhaps a different respect with Charles.
Read More on F1
“They raced each other since [being] kids, and there was a mutual respect. I’ve never once ever heard Lewis recognise Max’s ability.
“And so of course, there was just a bit more needle to it and you could feel that, and you could sense that between those two drivers.”
However, the record shows that Mercedes driver Hamilton has indeed praised Verstappen’s skills in the past.
In fact, the British superstar went on record in 2020 as he said the 24-year-old is “such a great talent” that is so hard to beat.
Most read in Motorsport
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS
Hamilton previously told Sky Sports: “He’s such a great talent, he’s so fast and consistent.
“So it’s not easy to beat this young up-and-coming champ.” More

LEWIS HAMILTON has been given hope of a first race victory of the season – despite the seven-time world champion fearing he could end up winless. The Mercedes driver, 37, holds the extraordinary record of winning at least one Grand Prix in every F1 season since his 2007 debut.
Hamilton has had to come to grips with an underperforming car for much of the season but has been given hope of landing a win in SingaporeCredit: Rex
But with his Merc car inconsistent and Max Verstappen dominating the championship, Hamilton’s hopes of retaining his record appear slim.
He also only has six races left to break his duck, starting in Singapore next month.
But his hopes have been given a boost after one Mercedes chief shared a positive update.
Technical director Mike Elliot says the layout of the Marina Bay circuit in Singapore could play into their car’s hands, similar to previous races in Hungary and the Netherlands.
READ MORE IN F1
The twisty-nature of the street track and the lack of long straights could work in favour of Mercedes and allow them to be competitive.
Elliot told Mercedes’ YouTube channel: “I think when you look back at the learning we’ve gathered over the season, we expect Singapore to be a bit more like what we’ve seen in Budapest and Zandvoort.
“It’s a bumpy circuit, which is going to provide its challenges. But in terms of the nature of the corners, we think it will be better for our car. So hopefully we’ll have a good result there.
“As always, we’ll do all the pre-simulation work we need to do, we’ll maximise our learning in the practice sessions and hopefully we can turn that into a good result on the weekend.”
Most read in Motorsport
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Hamilton did not appear nearly as hopeful about the team’s chances as he branded his former title rival Verstappen “almost unbeatable”.
The Dutchman has won the last five races as hopes of another tight championship battle quickly came to be dominated by the Red Bull driver.
The 24-year-old has won 11 of 16 races so far this season and is closing in on another F1 record.
Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher hold the title for joint-most wins in a single season with 13.
Given Verstappen’s form, he will be hopeful he can break the record.
His latest win came with ease at the Italian Grand Prix – but he was helped by a controversial late safety car. More

LEWIS HAMILTON can sleep easy knowing he’ll never lose the Formula One World Championship because of a safety car controversy ever again – thanks to a rule change.Max Verstappen edged the British seven-time champion to the crown in the final race of last year’s season in Abu Dhabi in shambolic circumstance.
Lewis Hamilton is yet to win a race this season following his 2021 heartbreakCredit: PA
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen looks set to make it two titles from the last two seasonsCredit: AP
The 24-year-old overtook the British legend on the last lap after a restart following a crash gave him the chance to catch up.
But under different rules in the Italian GP last weekend, Daniel Ricciardo crashed towards the end of the race.
And a decision was made that there would be no restart in the order the drivers were in – meaning Verstappen remained near the back of the queue behind the safety car after lapping opponents.
He could then not be overtaken by George Russell in second place as he was at the front of the queue of cars stuck behind the safety car.
READ MORE IN F1
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff praised the FIA’s choice not to restart under the conditions seen in Abu Dhabi despite the decision being criticised by fans and other team principles.
He also aimed a dig at ex-race director Michael Masi who was in charge during the controversial end last season.
Wolff told Sky Sports: “I’m really satisfied to see that there is a race director and colleagues that apply the regulations against the pressure of the media and the fans to just be in breach of the regulations.
“So at least Abu Dhabi in that sense gave the FIA more robust confidence to apply the regulations.
Most read in Motorsport
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
“There was a car on track, there were marshals, a crane out there, that’s why they didn’t let anybody overtake and then there wasn’t enough time to restart the race once all cars caught up.
“If one is not happy with the regulations and you want to have a big bang show and two laps of racing and mayhem, I’m absolutely up for it. But then we need to change the regulations.
“So I don’t think we need to complain about anything that happened because this is the rules.
“I think we should all sit down and say ‘is there something we do better?’. But what happened is in the regulations book and that’s why it was applied.”
Hamilton himself commented on the contrast in decision comparing last year’s finale to what happened in Monza.
He said the weekend’s race brought “memories back” of what had happened.
The seven-time world champion also said: “Only one time in the history of the sport where they haven’t done the rules like that today and that’s the one where it changed the result.”
Christian Horner of Red Bull was less happy with the rules despite his man winning in Italy.
He said: “We don’t want to win a race under a safety car. It’s something we’ve talked about for many, many years, that they should finish racing.
“There was enough time to get that race going. I think they picked up the wrong cars, picked up Russell.
“We had the faster car and we would have liked to win the race on the track, not behind the safety car. We share the disappointment of all the fans, because it took away a grandstand finish.”
Daniel Ricciardo’s car caused the issue in MonzaCredit: The Mega Agency More

LEWIS HAMILTON has revealed he secured his brilliant fifth-place finish at the Italian Grand Prix with a damaged car. The Brit started 19th on the grid but battled through to pick up a useful ten points at the iconic Monza circuit.
Lewis Hamilton soaked up the sun at the Italian GP’s Monza trackCredit: Splash
And now the Mercedes star has revealed a “waste of space” part on his W13 car was damaged in the opening stages of Sunday’s race.
The much-maligned vehicle took a small knock on the front after hitting a piece of debris on the track.
After the dust had settled on championship leader Max Verstappen’s latest win, Hamilton explained he was unsure whether the early hiccup had slowed his race pace.
The seven-time world champion also admitted he did even not know what affected part does.
READ MORE IN F1
Hamilton told Sky Sports F1: “I don’t remember having any contact.
“I avoided collision but there was something definitely damaged.
“I think I hit a bit of debris as it came off another car and damaged the little fairing on the tyre.
“I have no idea [if it affected the car’s performance]. I mean the grip didn’t feel that great, it was flapping around.
Most read in Motorsport
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
“I don’t even know what those things are for – waste of space.”
Hamilton has been critical of his new Merc car all season and is now sixth in the overall standings and 167 points behind Red Bull’s reigning world champion Verstappen.
Earlier this month he said the car’s changing level of performance is “like a mood swing” which leaves him with “no idea” how it will fare at every race. More

LEWIS HAMILTON is set to start Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after accepting an engine penalty.The seven-time World Champion has taken a fourth power unit for the season which will result in a huge grid drop.
Hamilton will start from the back of the grid on SundayCredit: AFP
The Mercedes man arrived at Monza this morningCredit: AP
A Mercedes spokesperson said: “We will be fitting PU number four for this weekend for Lewis.
“This is because although we are still working on the recovery plan for PU number three that was damaged in Spa, that unit cannot be run this weekend.
“This will come with associated grid penalties as it’s in excess of the allocation for the season.”
Hamilton crashed out of the Belgian GP two weeks ago after colliding with Alpine driver Fernando Alonso.
Read More on F1
His car sustained severe damage as a result of the 45G impact and Mercedes are still working on a plan to recover the issues.
He bounced back at last week’s Dutch GP to claim 12 points after narrowly missing out on a podium place.
But, he was left furious with his Mercedes team for blowing his chances at a top three finish.
After the race, he said: “I can’t believe you screwed me like that. I can’t tell you how p****d I am.
Most read in Motorsport
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
“That was the biggest f*** up.”
Team principle Toto Wolff has since defended the Brit, arguing: “You get emotional in the race. And when you’re a driver, it just comes out.
“You can’t even stop it. This is how it has always been between a frustrated driver and the pit wall.” More

LEWIS HAMILTON has been handed a boost as his desperate search for a first win of the F1 season continues.The 37-year-old led the Dutch GP last weekend until a bungled Mercedes tyre strategy eventually saw him finish in fourth place.
Lewis Hamilton has been handed a boost as he seeks his first GP win of the seasonCredit: Getty
Max Verstappen has been tipped to take a ‘grid penalty’ in Monza this weekendCredit: Splash
Hamilton saw Max Verstappen surge past and land his 10th win of the season on home soil.
But the Brit has had his chances to claim a first win of the campaign boosted following suggestions Verstappen will take a “grid penalty” in Monza this weekend.
Verstappen was penalised in Belgium two weeks ago for taking on new engine parts.
And racing legend Tom Coronel reckons Verstappen could do the same again next time out.
READ MORE ON F1
He told the RacingNews365 podcast: “In Monza it is low downforce, the least there is on the entire Formula 1 calendar.
“High speeds, difficult to overtake, but with the tyre strategy and the Red Bull car we should still be able to reach P2.
“My feeling is that Verstappen will take a grid penalty there.”
If Verstappen does take on new engine parts, Hamilton will have the chance to build on the progress Mercedes have made this season.
Most read in Motorsport
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS

While the Silver Arrows are yet to get a win under their belts in 2022, they have come on leaps and bounds since the start of the campaign.
Hamilton revealed recently that he was “dying” to get back to competing head to head with Verstappen.
And even if the 2021 world champion does take a penalty for the Italian GP, he is by no means out of the running.
The Dutchman cruised to victory in the Belgian GP – despite starting the race 14th on the grid. More