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Lewis Hamilton’s dominance should lead to F1 endgame in Mexico | Giles Richards

The Briton was peerless throughout the weekend in Texas and his wait to become Britain’s most successful driver has surely been delayed only one weekUltimately then, after opening with a pre-race ceremony of razzmatazz and showbiz theatrics, the US Grand Prix was not to be the stage on which Lewis Hamilton delivered the dramatic finale of claiming his fourth Formula One world championship. The win he had looked like delivering all weekend was duly secured but Sebastian Vettel taking second place has ensured their title fight will go to the next round in Mexico.Yet Hamilton has as good as claimed the crown with a drive of verve, composure and dominance that he has delivered so often this season. Not content...

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Max Verstappen’s Malaysian Grand Prix win testament to his determination | Giles Richards

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...

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Magnificent seven – how Mercedes-Ferrari battle for F1 title could pan out | Giles Richards

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...

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Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel’s epic battle makes Monza unmissable | Giles Richards

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...

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Eyes down for the run-in as F1’s season reconvenes at Spa | Giles Richards

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...

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