Briton and his team wanted to close it out in Austin but Ferrari’s superior strategy meant his late charge came to nothingHaving crushed any challenge from Ferrari in the second half of the season, Lewis Hamilton might have been expected to complete a simple denouement to secure his fifth title at the US Grand Prix.The fight we were denied for the title, however – which will still surely be decided in Hamilton’s favour at the next round in Mexico – was at least rescued by a thrilling, dramatic race in Austin, racing that would be welcomed at any round, championship decider or not. Related: Kimi Räikkönen makes Lewis Hamilton wait for F1 title with US GP win Continue reading...
A fifth world title would confirm the British driver as not only the best of his generation but as one of the all-time greatsPerhaps, when Lewis Hamilton has his fifth Formula One world championship secured, he might allow himself to reflect on just how far he has come. The boy from Stevenage who loved karting is now a man breathing the rarefied air at the very top of his sport. If he closes out the title at Sunday’s US Grand Prix, the celebrations will be long and loud. He will deserve every moment, his performance this year should be acknowledged as capping one of the great modern sporting achievements. Related: Lewis Hamilton holds off Ferraris to seal pole position for...
Struggling team show determination to climb the F1 ladder with a 20-year-old driver who brings no cash but wads of talentLewis Hamilton’s extraordinary run of success may well reach a glorious finale in Austin on Sunday but at the other end of the grid the US Grand Prix represents the first race since Williams resolved to make a new beginning. The once mighty team made a bold statement last week by signing George Russell for 2019.This season is gone for Williams but they can be optimistic, knowing they have publicly committed to hauling themselves back up the F1 ladder. Taking on the 20-year-old British driver was no small matter for the beleaguered team and should be applauded. Related: F1: British...
The F1 title race comes down to fine margins and the absence of racing knowledge at Ferrari has been evident as Mercedes has taken controlWhen Sebastian Vettel poked the nose of his Ferrari alongside the flank of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull as they hurtled into Suzuka’s Spoon corner on the eighth lap of Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, he was doing what racing drivers do. Or so he claimed later.“If I don’t go for that gap, and the gap is there,” he said, “I might as well stay at home.” Related: McLaren reach their nadir in Japan as Vietnam prepares to welcome F1 | Giles Richards Continue reading...
The Japanese Grand Prix was a miserable one for McLaren, while for Toro Rosso and Red Bull there were positive signsFernando Alonso’s ire at the Japanese Grand Prix after he was penalised for leaving the track and gaining an advantage after being pushed off by Lance Stroll at the chicane might have been the low point of the Spaniard’s weekend. But for the team, qualifying in Japan will be a moment they would rather forget. Suzuka’s magnificent layout is one of the great tests in F1, it rewards a good car and exposes the failings of others. McLaren looked terribly vulnerable. They were comfortably the slowest cars in qualifying – a statement that would have been dismissed as comic a...