Formula One’s title rivals are expecting a fight to the finish, which may take its toll on the drivers but is exactly what fans and everyone else wantsLewis Hamilton is a driver who wears his heart on his race suit but after victory at Spa his usual exhilaration was tempered by a somewhat cold detachment. In the Ardennes there was a steely acknowledgement that he had won only a minor battle in what promises to be a long fight.Hamilton knows how tough this season’s title fight is going to be. He does so due to the competitiveness Ferrari showed in Belgium on what was expected to be a Mercedes track and because of how title rival Sebastian Vettel extracted everything...
Mercedes’ title hopeful was in superb form in Spa while the Force India row rumbled on and Max Verstappen had another bad day for Red BullLewis Hamilton was open about how hard the win in Belgium had been, hounded to the flag by Sebastian Vettel. His defence on the opening lap with Vettel almost alongside him going down the Kemmel Straight and into Les Combes was textbook but the second time after the safety car restart was in another league. He admitted he had been lucky in selecting the wrong power mode before the last corner which kept Vettel close to him – an advantage in denying him the car lengths he needed to gain momentum and get a good...
Sebastian Vettel has a 14-point lead in his Ferrari but the second half of the racing year sees the majority of races favouring the Mercedes’ setup and Lewis HamiltonRefreshed, recharged and ready to go again, Formula One enters the second half of the season with the prospect of the remaining nine races proving just as enthralling as the first 11. Where better to reignite the fight than the magnificent challenge of Spa, where Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel will recommence a contest that is likely to go down to the last race?Vettel has the advantage, leading Hamilton by 14 points, but on race wins the pair are even with four apiece. Vettel deserves his lead. He is always at his...
With Audi and Porsche moving into Formula E, Formula One has a decision to make: embrace electrification and a possible future convergence with FE or make clear its distinction from road car technologySummer heralds the silly season in Formula One as the rumour mill goes into overdrive, perhaps more so this year with a variety of seats still to be confirmed for next season. Yet behind the scenes F1 is in the middle of conducting serious business. The task of deciding the future of the sport is under way and the decisions being made will echo long after the sun has set on the summer holidays.In the weeks leading up to Hungary, motor racing was undergoing a seismic shift and...
Mercedes and Ferrari have identified the last race before the summer break as crucial but there will also be scrutiny for those not caught up in the title battleOnly one race remains before Formula One takes its annual rest for the summer – a break that after the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend may weigh heavier on some shoulders than others. The next few days will be potentially as instructive in the fight for the world championship as any we have seen thus far. Only a sliver separates Lewis Hamilton from Sebastian Vettel at the top of the table but Budapest has more import than just who will hold the lead when racing returns at Spa at the end of...