The driver controlled his pace out front, matched Lewis Hamilton in every department and showed why he is a prodigious talent with a competitive carIt has been a torrid year for Max Verstappen, who, following pre-season hopes that he would be in a championship fight, were swiftly dashed after seven DNFs. Taking the much-deserved win in Malaysia was a testament to how, despite his sometimes obvious frustration, he has kept his mind on the game. He had said at the Hungarian Grand Prix that he was focusing on making the best of every weekend regardless of the setbacks and when he finally had an opportunity to do so he made it count. Related: Lewis Hamilton: I was lucky to take...
Ending their disastrous relationship with Honda and teaming up with Renault will not make McLaren winners overnight but it may be enough to lay the foundations for the future – especially if Fernando Alonso signs a new dealA return to “normality” in Formula One next season – “to be on the podium and fight for victories” – is Fernando Alonso’s expectation for McLaren after the team formally announced their partnership with Honda would end this year. The relationship has proved to be a very public car crash for the team and the engine manufacturer over the last three years and Alonso has been absolutely clear that he held Honda responsible. His optimism stems from the switch to Renault power units...
The Singapore Grand Prix feels like the moment the F1 title pendulum swung decisively in favour of the Mercedes driver after Sebastian Vettel’s costly blunderThe win in Singapore may prove to be the miracle at Marina Bay Lewis Hamilton had been hoping for but, putting aside divine intervention, the British driver comprehensively earned his victory. The crash off the grid took out his rivals but he still had to execute a perfect race to take the flag. He was on it immediately. Just moments later, aware that Sebastian Vettel’s car was leaking fluid, he went offline out of turn three to avoid it – wisely as it was there the stricken Vettel spun and crashed. Related: Lewis Hamilton cannot be...
Lewis Hamilton leads the Formula One championship by three points from Sebastian Vettel with Mercedes seeming to have the advantage in four of the remaining seven grands prix from Singapore to Abu DhabiSeven races to go and three points in it – Formula One has a finale to the season it has so desperately needed since the turbo-hybrid era began. It has had tight finishes, in 2014 and 2016, but only in a two-horse fight between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in the same Mercedes machinery.It was on occasion gripping but nothing on this season’s struggle between two of the best drivers of their generation at the top of their games, representing different teams. Now Sebastian Vettel’s battle with Hamilton...
Nine F1 drivers took penalties accruing 150 places at the Italian Grand Prix while Ferrari prepare for a dogfight against Mercedes – McLaren merely seek a solutionLong bemoaned by fans, the application of grid penalties for replacing power unit components and gearboxes reached almost farcical levels at Monza. Nine drivers took penalties accruing 150 places and changing the qualifying results to such an extent that Lewis Hamilton on pole and Romain Grosjean, who crashed in the first session, were the only drivers to have retained their original positions. Such was the scale of the movement, Kevin Magnussen, who was knocked out in Q1, found himself in the top 10. Related: Lewis Hamilton out to push harder after seizing the initiative...