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      F1 Austrian Grand Prix LIVE RESULT: Max Verstappen seals dominant win, Lewis Hamilton given penalty

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN has increased his mammoth lead at the top of the Driver’s Standings with victory at the Austria Grand Prix!Charles Leclerc came in second while Sergio Perez was third.
      Lewis Hamilton picked up a five second penalty as he endured an unhappy afternoon.
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      Follow all the action with our live blog below…
      Move that won the race
      Coming out of the pit lanes, Verstappen found himself in third position.
      Both of the Ferraris were ahead of him and he needed to do something about it.

      Lando capitalises on grid position
      Lando Norris started the race fourth on the grid and drove a good race today to finish fifth.
      Throughout the latter stages he put pressure on Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez to try and move into the podium positions.
      Credit: @F1
      Red Bull dominates Austrian podium
      Christian Horner will be pleased with his drivers’ performances today as they occupy two of the three podium places.
      Max Verstappen continues his domination of the F1 season.
      Sergio Perez rediscovers some of his form we saw at the start of the season.
      Credit: Reuters
      Red Bull share victory together
      As he leapt out of his car, Verstappen was straight over to his team to celebrate his win.
      They know that it is a team effort at every venue and they are giving the drivers all they need to succeed.
      No one can seem to touch Red Bull this season.
      Credit: AFP
      Orange wall celebrates Verstappen win
      It was never any clearer who the fans were supporting today.
      As Max Verstappen crossed the finish line, the party officially started.
      Orange flares being let off, they got what they wanted to see today.
      Credit: @F1
      Red Bull have dominant day on track
      With two of the three podium places in the bag, Red Bull now move 199 points clear in the constructor’s championship.
      It is surely an impossibility for them to lose from this position.
      Their pit stops were by far the best today and the finishes of Verstappen and Perez were a real team effort.
      Verstappen moves one step closer
      Not many would bet against Max Verstappen winning yet another world title.
      With each race, he heads closer to that target.
      An army of Dutch fans celebrating, it was another great drive by Verstappen.
      Credit: AFP
      Bold move by Red Bull
      With only two laps to go, Max Verstappen pitted and changed to soft tyres to try and set the fastest lap.
      A perfect pit stop and the plan works as the Dutch driver sets the fastest time on his last lap of the race.

      Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
      Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
      Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
      Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
      Lando Norris (Maclaren)

      Max Verstappen wins the Austrian Grand Prix
      Lap 69/71 – Verstappen leads, Leclerc second
      Lando Norris takes a corner very wide and is likely to see a black and white flag for that.
      The last thing he wants now is a five second penalty.
      Sergio Perez has managed to build a 3 second lead on Carlos Sainz.
      Lap 67/71 – Verstappen leads, Leclerc second
      Time is running out for the drivers looking to take third place from Sergio Perez.
      Max Verstappen is heading towards his fifth victory in Austria.
      That is the most wins he has had at any track.
      Lap 65/71 – Verstappen leads, Leclerc second
      The battle for the final podium place is enthralling.
      Three drivers all have their eyes on it.
      Only four seconds separates Norris, Sainz and Perez.
      Credit: AP
      Lap 63/71 – Verstappen leads, Leclerc second
      Leclerc has a 12.5 second lead over Perez in third.
      Verstappen seems on course for yet another victory.
      Meanwhile, Norris and Sainz are still trying to put pressure on Perez in third.
      Lap 61/71 – Verstappen leads, Leclerc second
      Max Verstappen now has a 20.4 second lead over Charles Leclerc.
      Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz are having some fight for the podium places.
      Eventually, the Red Bull manages to edge his way into third place.
      Lap 59/71 – Verstappen leads, Leclerc second
      The battle for third is really heating up.
      With both Perez and Sainz having DRS available it is a titanic battle.
      Only half a second separates the two drivers.
      Lap 57/71 – Verstappen leads, Leclerc second
      Sergio Perez has clocked the fastest lap of the day.
      As he puts pressure on Lando Norris, the Red Bull manages to take him on the corner and move into fourth.
      Perez will now be targeting Sainz in third place.
      Lap 55/71 – Verstappen leads, Leclerc second
      Hamilton complains to his team about other drivers not receiving penalties for breaking track limits.
      Toto Wolff tells him to “just drive the car” despite the problems they are having with it today.
      Meanwhile, Verstappen has a 16.3 second lead over Leclerc in second.
      Lap 53/71 – Verstappen leads, Leclerc second
      Perez comes out of the pits in fifth position.
      Hamilton has now dropped into seventh place.
      Lando Norris is looking to put some pressure on Carlos Sainz in third position.
      Credit: AFP
      Lap 51/71 – Verstappen leads, Leclerc second
      It has been a while since we saw two Red Bulls leading the race.
      Perez has had a real dip in form, with qualifying being a real problem for the Mexican.
      As he heads into the pits, Charles Leclerc takes second place back.
      Lap 49/71 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
      As Charles Leclerc heads into the pits, Sergio Perez takes second place.
      It is a Red Bull first and second as it stands.
      Leclerc currently sits in third place, seven seconds behind the Red Bull.
      Lap 47/71 – Verstappen leads, Leclerc second
      Carlos Sainz is not messing around as he takes Lando Norris on the corner after serving his five second penalty.
      There are big gaps between the top four drivers now.
      Sainz will be looking to close the gap on Perez in third.
      Lap 45/71 – Verstappen leads, Leclerc second
      Max Verstappen now has a 12.4 second lead on Charles Leclerc.
      The Dutch driver is proving to be more of a machine than his car.
      Lando Norris now moves up into fourth place.
      Lap 43/71 – Verstappen leads, Leclerc second
      Sergio Perez overtakes Fernando Alonso with ease.
      The Red Bull driver moves into fifth but is quickly in fourth as Lewis Hamilton enters the pits and has to serve his penalty.
      Fernando Alonso now sits in fifth place as Hamilton re-enters the race in eighth position.
      Credit: AP
      Lap 41/71 – Verstappen leads, Leclerc second
      Lando Norris will get a warning for track limit violation.
      Max Verstappen now holds the fastest lap of the day.
      Carlos Sainz is in third and try to put pressure on his Ferrari teammate.
      Lap 39/71 – Verstappen leads, Leclerc second
      Max Verstappen looks focussed having to surrender his lead when he came out of the pit lanes.
      Having only just overtaken Leclerc, he is building a bigger lead by each lap.
      The gap between first and second is now 4 seconds.
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      Shocking price Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney ‘paid for stake in F1 team Alpine’ revealed

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      WREXHAM owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney acquired a stake in the Alpine F1 team for the reported sum of £171million.The Hollywood duo were part of an investment consortium that agreed the deal earlier this week.
      Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney joined a consortium investing in AlpineCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      But they have not put any of their money towards the investment, according to the Daily Mail.
      The funds have been provided by investment firms Otro Capital and RedBird Capital Partners, who now own 24 per cent of Alpine.
      While Reynolds and McElhenney have not invested their money, they are expected to leverage their fame to increase revenue, which could include a documentary series akin to ‘Welcome to Wrexham’.
      The owners have built Wrexham into a global brand, reflected by their US tour which will see them take on Manchester United and Chelsea this month.
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      The club also welcomed the world’s biggest airline, United Airlines, as their new shirt sponsor last month.
      Alpine will hope to benefit from Reynolds and McElhenney’s connections, with the former a savvy business outside of his acting work.
      Reynolds, 46, had a stake in gin brand Aviation which sold for almost £500m in 2020.
      He previously invested in mobile phone firm Mint, dating website Match Group, streaming company FuboTV and investment firm Wealthsimple.
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      Alpine chief executive Laurent Rossi said of the investment: “This association is an important step to enhance our performance at all levels.”
      Rossi says that the investment would “boost” Alpine’s media profile as well as support their “performance over the long term”. More

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      Dilano van’t Hoff dead aged 18: Rising star tragically dies after accident on Spa race track as F1 chief leads tributes

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      TEENAGE driver Dilano van’t Hoff has tragically died aged 18.The young Dutchman passed away after being involved in an accident at the Spa racing track in Belgium on Saturday morning.
      Dilano van’t Hoff tragically passed away this morning aged 18Credit: Instagram
      The Spa track is also used for Formula 1Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      The track, which is also used for Formula 1, was hosting a Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA) event in treacherous conditions.
      In a statement, FRECA confirmed: “Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine sadly announces the death of MP Motorsport driver Dilano van’t Hoff.
      “The incident happened during Spa-Francorchamps race 2.
      “We want to express our sincere condolences to the family, team and friends.
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      “Royal Automobile Club of Belgium, the Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps and SRO Motorsports Group join Alpine and ACI in expressing their sincerest condolences to the driver’s family, team and friends.”
      In a further statement, 24 Hours of Spa wrote: “Everyone associated with the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa is devastated by the news that Formula Regional EU by Alpine driver Dilano van’t Hoff lost his life in an accident during this morning’s race.
      “We express our deepest condolences to his family, friends and MP Motorsport.”
      They also confirmed that a minute’s silence would be held before the race, and that all start-line entertainment had been cancelled.
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      Van’t Hoff was in his second season in FRECA.
      During his rookie campaign he achieved a podium finish in Barcelona.
      A minute’s silence was held prior to today’s Formula 2 action in Austria in tribute to Van’t Hoff.
      F1 chief Stefano Domenicali also paid his respects, saying: “We are so sad to learn of the passing of Dilano van ‘t Hoff today at Spa-Francorchamps.
      “Dilano died in pursuit of his dream to reach the pinnacle of motorsport.
      “Along with the entire motorsport community, our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
      Van’t Hoff was in his second season in FRECACredit: Instagram
      Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz added on social media: “Terrible news from Spa. We’ve just learned Dilano Van’t Hoff has passed away after a big accident in Formula Regional.
      “It is an extremely sad day for the entire motorsport family and my thoughts and condolences go to his family and friends.
      “RIP Dilano.”
      Mercedes star George Russell wrote: “I am truly saddened to hear of Dilano’s passing today in Spa.
      “My thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
      McLaren tweeted: “The McLaren Racing Team are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dilano van ’t Hoff in a Formula Regional race at Spa-Francorchamps today.
      “Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the entire MP Motorsport team at this difficult time.”
      And Mercedes posted: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Dilano van ‘t Hoff following today’s tragic incident at the Formula Regional European Championship event at Spa.
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      An FIA statement read: “The FIA extends its condolences to the family and friends of Dilano van ‘t Hoff and to the MP Motorsport Team following the incident today during the Formula Regional European Championship event at Spa-Francorchamps.” More

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      Verstappen blasts F1 officials after team-mate Perez comes 15th in qualifying – but Horner turns on his Mexican driver

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN slammed FIA bosses after claiming their over-the-top VAR officials made F1 stars look like “amateurs”.The reigning world champion swore over the team’s radio as he fell victim to the video refs based at the FIA’s Geneva HQ.
      Max Verstappen was unhappy following Austrian Grand Prix qualifying
      Verstappen took pole position
      A total of 47 laps were all deleted as qualifying for Sunday’s Austrian GP turned into chaos – with Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez particularly suffering at the hands of the officials.
      While Verstappen took his fourth pole in a row, Perez will start in 15th place after THREE laps were expunged for going over the white lines at the final turn here at the Red Bull Ring.
      Verstappen said: “Today looked very silly. It almost looked like we were amateurs out there, the amount of lap times that were getting deleted. 
      “Some of them were so marginal, where even we spoke about it in the briefing before, when it’s very marginal, it’s impossible to judge if it’s out or in. 
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      “They were still getting deleted. I don’t think it was a good look today. Of course people can say ‘yeah well then you stay within the white lines’. 
      “Well if it was that easy, then you can take my car and try, but probably you won’t even get up to speed in time. It is super tricky. 
      “Today showed it’s still not easy to have a clear rule about it. On most tracks, it works really well, but on some tracks, you might need something different.
      “A lot of the tracks we share with MotoGP and they want something else outside of the curbs than we would like.
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      “For us, putting gravel there is fine, but for a bike, it’s a bit different. We need to think about maybe having different solutions.”
      Verstappen clinched pole but was pushed to the wire by Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
      Brits Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton will start in fourth and fifth respectively on the grid in tomorrow’s (SUN) race.
      However, Perez will line up in 15th after he had three lap times chalked off by the VAR officials – much to the frustration of Red Bull boss, Christian Horner.
      Horner said: “He’s got a car that was easily capable to be on the first or second row. He was matching Max’s times… stay in the white lines! 
      “Strike one, strike two, ‘Checo just stay in the white lines’, strike three and that was it. It is hugely frustrating as he could have been there, he could have done it.
      Max Verstappen and Red Bull are leading the way in the F1 standings
      “It is fantastic to have got the pole but it does not feel as complete.”With speculation mounting about the Mexican’s future, despite his disappointment, Horner ruled out the team replacing him.
      He added: “Checo is frustrated but will turn a page and race hard tomorrow. But it’s just annoying because we know he could have been there.
      Read More On The Sun
      “The most pressure he’s under is the pressure he puts on himself but everybody’s fully behind [him]. Anybody talking about replacing Checo is wide of the mark.”
      Perez was not the only high-profile driver to miss out on reaching the top 10 as George Russell could only qualify in 11th after he too had a lap time deleted. More

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      Fans in love with Sky Sports F1 presenter Naomi Schiff’s figure-hugging dress as stunned fans gasp ‘wow’

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      SKY SPORTS Formula One were left hot under the collar after seeing Naomi Schiff. Schiff, 29, is a former racing driver who drove across multiple formats from the age of 16, including the W Series.
      Naomi Schiff was interviewing Alpine boss Otmar SzafnauerCredit: Sky Sports F1
      She is a regular on Sky Sports F1Credit: Sky Sports F1
      Fans were loving her dressCredit: Sky Sports F1
      Schiff joined Sky Sports F1 last yearCredit: Instagram/@naomischiff
      Since stepping out from behind the wheel, she has become a member of the Sky Sports F1 team.
      And while at the Austrian Grand Prix, fans could not help but gasp as they spotted her wearing a figure-hugging dress while interviewing Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer.
      Taking to Twitter, one fan wrote: “@NaomiSchiff looking fabulous in that green dress 🦊.”
      A second said: “Naomi Schiff.. Wow!”
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      “She’s so pretty,” declared a third.
      While another added: “Warra woman.”
      In May, she was seen in a glamorous outfit while donning a stunning F1 necklace.
      Schiff, who has 192,000 followers on Instagram has been quick to shut down vile trolls who have sent her unnecessary abuse.
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      Schiff has 192,000 followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram / @naomischiff
      She is a former W Series driverCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton has lent his voice to her defence, with her later writing: “Thank you to everyone who has come to my defence.
      “I appreciate all the love and support, none of you go unnoticed! Sadly the issue of online bullying, bashing, shaming etc. is one I don’t believe is going anywhere anytime soon.
      “Social media, in some cases, gives voices to individuals who don’t deserve to be heard. So I encourage anyone reading this to not indulge in it or retaliate or seek revenge.
      “Remember that your words do have impact and that therefore we should do something positive with these platforms and be kind to one another.”
      Schiff added that she would not “let anyone turn down my ambition or passion because they are uncomfortable with the volume”.
      Her racing career began at age 16Credit: Instagram / @naomischiff
      She has been the victim of vile abuse from trollsCredit: Instagram/@naomischiff
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      Damon Rees dead at 28: Motorbike star passes away after losing battle with medical condition

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      NEW ZEALAND championship motorbike rider Damon Rees has passed away aged 28 after a sudden medical condition.His wife, Talia Rees, had earlier posted a update on his health as she described him “critical but stable” and hailed him as a “warrior” while stating he was “doing an incredible job at fighting this battle.”
      Motorbike racing star Damon Rees has passed away aged 28
      Now she has confirmed that he has passed away and says that he is “now my guardian angel”.
      Confirming the sad news in a post on social media, she wrote: “I am heartbroken. I love you Damon Rees – you are now my guardian angel.”
      Rees competed for two seasons in the National Superstock 1000 Championship after opting to leave New Zealand at the start of 2020.
      The ex-NZ Supersport champion finished eighth in his rookie season and earned his maiden podiums.
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      He then joined Ashcourt Racing alongside Northern Ireland British Supersport rider Lee Johnston to ride a BMW S1000RR the following campaign.Rees stayed with them during the next season but switched to the Supersport class on a Yamaha R6.
      The ace moved to the Carl Cox Motorsport with Uggly & Co by Binch Racing team on a Yamaha in the Supersport series for this season.
      A Binch Racing statement read: “It is with a very heavy heart that we confirm Damo passed away last night.
      “Despite putting up a fight and battling as hard as he could, he was just too poorly.
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      “Damo meant so much to us all at Binch Racing. We are all absolutely devastated.
      “His passion for motorcycle racing was there for all to see but Damo was more to us than just a racer, he was our friend.
      “His dedicated approach to everything he wanted to do, his infectious personality and his wicked sense of humour made his time with us truly unforgettable.
      “We wish to send our condolences, love and support to his amazing wife Talia, all the Rees family and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him back in his native New Zealand.”
      A British Superbike Championship statement read: ““Our thoughts are with the family, friends and team of Damon Rees this morning.
      “He was a popular rider within the paddock since joining the series and he will be sadly missed after losing his fight with an unexpected medical condition.”
      Rees finished 10th in the British Supersport Feature race at Knockhill in Scotland on June 18 after taking eighth in the Sprint encounter a day previously in his final race.
      He died after a ‘sudden medical condition’ as tributes poured in for himCredit: Rex More

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      Lewis Hamilton lets slip future plans in interview with F1 star’s Mercedes contract running out at end of season

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      LEWIS HAMILTON appears to have revealed the future of his Formula One career after letting it slip in an interview. The 38-year-old is out of contract with Mercedes at the end of the season.
      Lewis Hamilton appeared to reveal his future in F1Credit: AFP
      The seven-time champion is hoping to end his winless streak at the Austrian Grand PrixCredit: AFP
      Speculation has persisted suggesting the Brit could swap the Silver Arrows for Ferrari or retire from the sport entirely.
      However, in an interview ahead of the weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, Hamilton seemingly confirmed he would be continuing with the team next season.
      He told reporters: “We are making progress in the right direction… but I’m not satisfied with the rear end and the downforce.
      “But I hope that next year we will be so far that I can push to the limit again.”
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      It is the biggest indication yet that the seven-time champion will continue his pursuit of a record-breaking eighth world title.
      Team principal Toto Wolff – who recently opened up on the tragic loss of his father when he was just 15 – also previously suggested Hamilton’s new deal was almost done.
      Ahead of the Canadian GP, where Hamilton scored a podium, Wolff said: “It is going to happen soon, and we are talking more days than weeks.
      “We are trying hard. I will see him today and maybe we will talk about it. We have such a good relationship that we dread the moment that we need to talk about money.”
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      His new contract will reportedly be worth an eye-watering £50million a year.
      Hamilton also appears to have reignited his title rivalry with runaway leader championship Max Verstappen.
      He proposed a radical rule change to try and level the playing field, suggesting: “The FIA should set a time when everyone is allowed to start developing next year’s car.
      “Say August 1, so that no one can get an advantage, because that sucks.”
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      Lewis Hamilton reignites rivalry with Max Verstappen as he suggests radical rule change to stop runaway F1 leader

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has suggested a radical rule change to Formula One in order to close the gap to runaway championship leader Max Verstappen. Two-time world champion Verstappen has won six out of eight races this season, with only Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez able to claim race wins over him this season.
      Lewis Hamilton has suggested a radical rule change to bridge the gap to Max VerstappenCredit: Getty
      Hamilton has been chasing the Dutchman’s tail all seasonCredit: Splash
      The dominance of Red Bull since the return of ground effect car designs has been plain to see, but Hamilton has lobbied for a radical change to level the playing field.
      Speaking ahead of the weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix – Red Bull’s home race – Hamilton suggested selecting a set date to allow teams to work on next season’s car development.
      He said: “Red Bull are already focusing on next year because they’re so far ahead and don’t need to change this year’s car.
      “So the FIA should set a time when everyone is allowed to start developing next year’s car. 
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      “Say August 1, so that no one can get an advantage, because that sucks.”
      When Hamilton was quizzed about his own era of domination at Mercedes, which saw him win six world titles from seven, he replied: “We never started as early as them.
      “It needs to change because what we have now is why you get dominance for so long, and they keep allowing it to happen. 
      “Ferrari were ahead and the same thing happened there, the same with Red Bull and Seb (Vettel) back in the day.
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      “They start earlier so they are always ahead.”
      However, Verstappen – who is well on his way to a third title in a row – hit back at the suggestion.
      The 25-year-old shot back by saying: “We were not talking about this when he was winning his championships, right, so I don’t think we should now.
      “That is how Formula One works. When you have a competitive car it is great, but at some point you have to look ahead to the following year.
      “A lot of things in life are unfair. You just have to deal with it.”
      Hamilton, 38, recently made a shock appearance in a Stormzy music video.
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