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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.
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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.
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“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.
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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.
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“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.
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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.
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“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.
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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.
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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

MERCEDES chief Toto Wolff backed Sir Lewis Hamilton after his X-rated rant at the team’s strategists after the Dutch Grand Prix.Hamilton lashed out at his team as he blamed them for blowing his chance of winning his first GP of season in the Netherlands.
Lewis Hamilton lashed out at his Mercedes team after a blunder at the Dutch Grand PrixCredit: Reuters
Toto Wolff defended Lewis Hamilton despite his x-rated rantCredit: Splash
The British superstar was leading in Holland with team-mate George Russell in second and arch rival Max Verstappen following in third.
But as Mercedes brought Russell into the pits to put fast tyres on, it allowed Verstappen to close the gap.
The Dutch star and Russell eventually overtook Hamilton, who finished fourth and took to the radio to vent his frustrations.
Hamilton yelled: “That was the biggest f****p. I can’t believe you guys f*****g screwed me.”
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However, Wolff defended the Formula One legend’s outburst as he claims it just proves his passion for winning.
The Mercedes chief added that this was just a case of the 37-year-old becoming “emotional”.
Wolff said: “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.”
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However, Wolff also defended Mercedes’ strategists as he described them as the “best guys”.
The Austrian even suggested that there is no need for changes after the recent shortcoming in Zandvoort on Sunday.
Wolff added: “They are the best guys. They did exactly what we discussed – to take risks to try to win the race.” More

LEWIS HAMILTON says he is “dying” to get back competing with Max Verstappen.The Brit got a taste for the action when he led the Dutch GP on Sunday – only for a botched tyre strategy from Mercedes seeing him end up finishing fourth.
Lewis Hamilton is yet to register a GP win this seasonCredit: Getty
His 2021 title rival Max Verstappen has won 10 races already in 2021Credit: Splash
Hamilton fumed to his team “that was the biggest f*** up” after Verstappen himself capitalised to register his 10th win of the season.
Merc man Hamilton meanwhile is yet to get off the mark, having battled the Dutchman at the front of the grid for the entirety of the last campaign.
But the 37-year-old is hopeful the day will come soon, as he targets a spot at the top of the podium for the first time in 2022.
He said: “I’m dying to get back in that race and have the opportunity to fight Max, but the day hasn’t come [yet].
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“There’s so many great things to take [from the Dutch GP]. If this can be the same in the future races, we’re going to be continuing to breathe down their necks and get that win.
“I’m taking all these positives forwards, so grateful for the team and all their hard work because it has been a tough slog for all of them.
“Let’s just not give up.”
Hamilton won eight races last year, before being pipped to the world championship in controversial style by Verstappen.
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The Dutchman has gone from strength to strength since then, and is on course to register his second consecutive title.
He leads Ferrari ace Charles Leclerc by a whopping 109 points in the standings.
And while is targeting further glory, Hamilton is starting with baby steps.
The first thing on the agenda being to registering one GP win before the season comes to an end. More

LEWIS HAMILTON was “aggressive and insulting” in his X-rated outburst to Mercedes at the Dutch Grand Prix, according to F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve.The Silver Arrows opted to pit George Russell and put him on faster tyres with Hamilton leading the race.
Hamilton was furious with his team’s decision to put Russell on SundayCredit: Getty
Villeneuve has slammed Hamilton’s angry outburst at his Mercedes teamCredit: Getty
The move allowed Max Verstappen to close the gap on the seven-time champion – and the Red Bull man went on to win the race, with Russell second and the fuming Hamilton only fourth.
Hamilton told his team: “I can’t believe you screwed me like that, I can’t tell you how p****d I am,” later saying on his radio: “That was the biggest f*** up.”
But Villeneuve, who won the F1 world championship in 1997, remains unimpressed with the Brit’s post-race comments.
Speaking in his Formule1.nl column, he said: “I was amazed by Lewis Hamilton’s outburst in the race and especially the way it was done.
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“He was aggressive, almost insulting. It is good that he has apologised, but this is not befitting a champion.
“After everything the team has done for him, you shouldn’t be speaking to them like that.”
Hamilton later apologised to his Mercedes team, insisting he was on the “edge of breaking point with emotions” and that the team understood it was a sign of his “passion” for the sport.
And he then added to that on his Instagram story, saying: “We are a team Mercedes, we are world champions and we don’t always get it right.
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“I didn’t get it right last week and we didn’t get it right today (Sunday), but we win and lose as a team.
“We have been through worse. Everyone is doing their best and that’s all we can do.
“We will rise and win again. I have 100% faith in this team and where we are heading,” 
Hamilton is yet to win a race this season and sits sixth in the drivers’ championship.
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Meanwhile, Verstappen’s 10th win of 2022 takes him 109 points clear of Charles Leclerc as he closes in on a second successive title.
With seven races remaining, the Dutchman needs to claim four more victories to eclipse Sebastian Vettel’s record of most wins in a single season – which currently stands at 13. More