This week’s roundup also features casual lacrosse goalkeeping, how to deal with a high-speed crash and a threatening umbrella at the Tour de France1) The Open is back at Royal Birkdale for the first time in nine years. Some of the greats of golf have conquered Birkdale, which first hosted it in 1954, including Arnold Palmer in 1961, Lee Trevino in 1971 (the 100th Open), Johnny Miller (with Seve Ballesteros co-starring) in 1976 and Tom Watson in 1983. The last time it was held at the Merseyside course, Padraig Harrington won to retain the Claret Jug; here are 10 of the best from the 2008 Open, featuring Harrington’s stunning five-wood approach to the 17th that sealed his victory ahead of...
British driver shoots himself in the foot days before his home grand prix at Silverstone just as he finally seems to be feeling the love he cravesSilverstone will host a legion of fans this weekend revelling in Lewis Hamilton’s skill behind the wheel, yet this master of the Formula One universe still harbours doubts as to how they really feel about him. Willing and wilful, his character is compelling and complex, so it may be little wonder he still feels the need to prove himself to the British public.Hamilton, who trails Sebastian Vettel by 20 points in the championship, has three world titles and one more would make the 32-year-old the most successful British driver of all time. There has...
Decision to give Vettel a slapped wrist after he side-swiped Lewis Hamilton at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has possibly had a more negative effect than the collisionThe FIA might have declared case closed after taking no further action against Sebastian Vettel for his collision with Lewis Hamilton at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix but outside the boardroom it appears to be anything but. The ruling has served only to intensify the spotlight on the incident and its aftermath. Vettel issued his mea culpa to the investigation on Monday and was sent home with a slapped wrist. A decision as surprising as it was at odds with many principles the governing body promotes and which has raised further questions and more controversy.Vettel’s stop-go...
Baku’s incendiary incident provided priceless publicity for the sport but its subsequent judgments need to be more understandable for drivers and fansThe 2017 Formula One season finally reached ignition point in Baku and what a glorious conflagration it has started. Who can not be revelling in the prospect of a championship fight between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel defined not by the buddy movie soundbites of mutual respect that had preceded it but by the edge and needle that characterises F1’s truly great rivalries. What had been a gripping tussle for the title now might just have the ingredients to match the heights of Senna v Prost and Piquet v Mansell.It was, fittingly, a heated moment itself that brought the...
Vettel is on the brink of missing the British Grand Prix, Ricciardo and Verstappen are transforming Red Bull’s outlook and Stroll is proving his critics wrongThere was clear disappointment for Lewis Hamilton after his charge in Baku ended in him dropping a further two points to his title rival Sebastian Vettel but, moving on from it and the acrimonious exchanges between the pair, the British driver emerged looking the stronger and more rounded. It was the loose headrest that had actually cost him the win and he took it on the chin and did not apportion blame. “I know the team will be devastated about the issue with the headrest,” he said. “We all feel that pain but it’s on...