Lewis Hamilton qualified quickest for the Turkish Grand Prix on Saturday (October 9) but a 10-place grid penalty for the Formula One championship leader meant Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas took pole position.

Hamilton's title rival Max Verstappen, two points behind the Briton with seven races remaining, qualified third for Red Bull and will join Bottas on the front row at Istanbul Park on Sunday.

The pole was a first since Portugal in May for Bottas, and the 18th of his career, but Hamilton was fastest in every phase of qualifying after taking the hit for a new engine that exceeded his season's allocation.

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/photos/lionel-messi-cristiano-ronaldo-best-football-transfers-in-the-summer-of-2021-410010">&nbsp;Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo: Best football transfers in the summer of 2021</a>

Verstappen took a grid penalty at the previous race in Russia and finished second after starting at the back of the field, his progress helped after late rain caused problems for others.

Mercedes will be looking to Bottas, who is leaving the team for Alfa Romeo at the end of the season, to keep Verstappen behind him while Hamilton sets about fighting through from 11th.

Verstappen struggled with the setup in Friday practice, with the track far grippier than last year's slippery surface, but said the team had made "a decent recovery.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc will share the second row with AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly, who will be expected by Red Bull to make life difficult for Hamilton as a driver for their sister team.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/huge-relief-for-cristiano-ronaldo-us-judge-recommends-dismissing-rape-case-against-man-utds-striker-419080">Huge relief for Cristiano Ronaldo! US Judge recommends dismissing rape case against Man Utd's striker</a>

Double world champion Fernando Alonso, for Alpine, and Verstappen's Mexican team mate Sergio Perez line up together on row three and will also be hard to get past.

McLaren's Lando Norris, on pole in Russia and leading until the final laps, was eighth fastest and starts seventh with Lance Stroll alongside for Aston Martin.

Hamilton will also have to get past AlphaTauri's Yuki Tsunoda and four times world champion Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin.

Further back, Mick Schumacher got his Haas into the second phase with an impressive lap and lines up 14th for the only team yet to score a point this season.

McLaren's Australian Daniel Ricciardo, winner of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, qualified 16th with Ferrari's Carlos Sainz keeping him out of the second phase right at the end.

Sainz, who starts at the back of the grid due to an engine change, also gave team mate Leclerc a useful aerodynamic tow to help the Monegasque into the final phase.

Lewis Hamilton qualified quickest for the Turkish Grand Prix on Saturday (October 9) but a 10-place grid penalty for the Formula One championship leader meant Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas took pole position.

Lewis Hamilton qualified quickest for the Turkish Grand Prix on Saturday (October 9) but a 10-place grid penalty for the Formula One championship leader meant Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas took pole position. Hamilton's title rival Max Verstappen, two points behind the Briton with seven races remaining, qualified third for Red Bull and will join Bottas on the front row at Istanbul Park on Sunday. The pole was a first since Portugal in May for Bottas, and the 18th of his career, but Hamilton was fastest in every phase of qualifying after taking the hit for a new engine that exceeded his season's allocation. ALSO READ | Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo: Best football transfers in the summer of 2021 Verstappen took a grid penalty at the previous race in Russia and finished second after starting at the back of the field, his progress helped after late rain caused problems for others. Mercedes will be looking to Bottas, who is leaving the team for Alfa Romeo at the end of the season, to keep Verstappen behind him while Hamilton sets about fighting through from 11th. Verstappen struggled with the setup in Friday practice, with the track far grippier than last year's slippery surface, but said the team had made "a decent recovery. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc will share the second row with AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly, who will be expected by Red Bull to make life difficult for Hamilton as a driver for their sister team. ALSO READ: Huge relief for Cristiano Ronaldo! US Judge recommends dismissing rape case against Man Utd's striker Double world champion Fernando Alonso, for Alpine, and Verstappen's Mexican team mate Sergio Perez line up together on row three and will also be hard to get past. McLaren's Lando Norris, on pole in Russia and leading until the final laps, was eighth fastest and starts seventh with Lance Stroll alongside for Aston Martin. Hamilton will also have to get past AlphaTauri's Yuki Tsunoda and four times world champion Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin. Further back, Mick Schumacher got his Haas into the second phase with an impressive lap and lines up 14th for the only team yet to score a point this season. McLaren's Australian Daniel Ricciardo, winner of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, qualified 16th with Ferrari's Carlos Sainz keeping him out of the second phase right at the end. Sainz, who starts at the back of the grid due to an engine change, also gave team mate Leclerc a useful aerodynamic tow to help the Monegasque into the final phase.

Turkish GP: Valtteri Bottas gets pole as fastest driver Lewis Hamilton takes grid penalty

Lewis Hamilton retook the lead in the Formula One championship with his 100th win in Russia on Sunday but engine concerns are hanging over the Mercedes driver`s bid for a record eighth title. 
 
Team mate Valtteri Bottas took a hit and started 16th on the grid in Sochi after Mercedes replaced some power unit elements in his car. While the Finn is now using his fifth engine, two more than permitted without penalty, Hamilton is still within his allowance. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said there were "some question marks" and decisions to be made regarding the power units, with customer teams Williams and McLaren also experiencing problems in Sochi. 
 
"We are in a phase of assessment how to continue this season in terms of power units," added the Austrian. Adding to the concern, Hamilton`s Red Bull title rival Max Verstappen looks in good shape for the remaining seven races after taking a new engine in Russia and still finishing second after starting last. 
 
The Dutch 23-year-old is only two points behind Hamilton, who may have to take an engine penalty between now and the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi&nbsp; The Briton said at the weekend that was not definite, however. 
 
"I’ve lost one engine, Valtteri’s had several," he told reporters after Saturday qualifying in Sochi as questions were asked about possible penalties. "There’s been others that Mercedes have seen up and down the paddock. 
 
"So right now I’m trying to treat my engines with the absolute care when I’m driving, in terms of how much I`m gassing it and how much just revving the nuts off it, so I`m just really trying to minimise the laps that I do. 
 
"But who knows? I can’t control the future." The concern for Mercedes is that any retirement, with the loss of a potential 25 points, could be a killer blow for Hamilton`s hopes. They could therefore decide to add an engine to the Briton`s pool, at a race where Mercedes` hopes of winning are not so great anyway. 
 
"Reliability versus performance is always the fine line that you need to get right," said Wolff. "Nobody, neither us nor our competitors, can afford a zero-point race weekend."

Lewis Hamilton retook the lead in the Formula One championship with his 100th win in Russia on Sunday but engine concerns are hanging over the Mercedes driver`s bid for a record eighth title.

Lewis Hamilton retook the lead in the Formula One championship with his 100th win in Russia on Sunday but engine concerns are hanging over the Mercedes driver`s bid for a record eighth title. Team mate Valtteri Bottas took a hit and started 16th on the grid in Sochi after Mercedes replaced some power unit elements in his car. While the Finn is now using his fifth engine, two more than permitted without penalty, Hamilton is still within his allowance. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said there were "some question marks" and decisions to be made regarding the power units, with customer teams Williams and McLaren also experiencing problems in Sochi. "We are in a phase of assessment how to continue this season in terms of power units," added the Austrian. Adding to the concern, Hamilton`s Red Bull title rival Max Verstappen looks in good shape for the remaining seven races after taking a new engine in Russia and still finishing second after starting last. The Dutch 23-year-old is only two points behind Hamilton, who may have to take an engine penalty between now and the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi The Briton said at the weekend that was not definite, however. "I’ve lost one engine, Valtteri’s had several," he told reporters after Saturday qualifying in Sochi as questions were asked about possible penalties. "There’s been others that Mercedes have seen up and down the paddock. "So right now I’m trying to treat my engines with the absolute care when I’m driving, in terms of how much I`m gassing it and how much just revving the nuts off it, so I`m just really trying to minimise the laps that I do. "But who knows? I can’t control the future." The concern for Mercedes is that any retirement, with the loss of a potential 25 points, could be a killer blow for Hamilton`s hopes. They could therefore decide to add an engine to the Briton`s pool, at a race where Mercedes` hopes of winning are not so great anyway. "Reliability versus performance is always the fine line that you need to get right," said Wolff. "Nobody, neither us nor our competitors, can afford a zero-point race weekend."

Lewis Hamilton hits 100 but engine concerns hang over title bid

Lewis&nbsp;Hamilton&nbsp;became the first Formula One driver to win 100 grands prix with a dramatic rain-assisted victory in Russia that sent the Mercedes driver two points clear in the championship on Sunday.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished an impressive second at Sochi's Olympic Park, after starting 20th and last due to engine penalties, thereby limiting the damage from his rival's fifth win of the season and first since July.

Spaniard Carlos Sainz was third for Ferrari on a day of hope and ultimate heartbreak for McLaren's Lando Norris as a late downpour dashed his hopes of a first win.

The 21-year-old Briton started on pole for the first time in his career, lost out to Sainz at the start but then passed the Spaniard 13 laps later and was still leading when the clouds burst.

Norris decided to stay out on slicks, after&nbsp;Hamilton&nbsp;had stopped for intermediates on team advice, with the top two comfortably clear of the rest.

He then plunged from first to seventh in the last three laps after slipping, sliding off and eventually having to pit.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
14 years, 108 days after his first win... 
 
Lewis celebrates his 100th in Sochi<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RussianGP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RussianGP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F1</a> <a href="https://t.co/UM0Z7PJP2T">pic.twitter.com/UM0Z7PJP2T</a>
— Formula 1 (@F1) <a href="https://twitter.com/F1/status/1442148123585826820?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"What a race the weather provided. It's taken a long time to get to 100 and I wasn't sure it would come," said&nbsp;Hamilton, who last season passed Ferrari great Michael Schumacher's previous record of 91 wins.

"Max must've done a really great job to come up to second from last. We've got our work cut out," added the Briton, who started the day five points behind Verstappen with seven races remaining after Sochi.

Hamilton&nbsp;had slipped to seventh at the end of lap one, losing out at the start after being fourth on the grid, but made up places as those ahead of him pitted early.

He was still 25 seconds behind Norris after his final stop but the team had read the weather right and the tyres easily allowed him to catch up and overtake his compatriot for a landmark win.

"The team made a great call right at the end. I didn't want to let Lando go and I didn't know what the weather was doing," said&nbsp;Hamilton.

"It would've been tough to get past Lando unless we came up to some traffic or he made a mistake, which he hasn't been doing, so then the rain came and it was very opportunistic."

While&nbsp;Hamilton&nbsp;celebrated a personal century, his Mercedes team maintained their own 100% record in Sochi.

The champions have won every Russian grand prix since the first in 2014,&nbsp;Hamilton&nbsp;triumphant in five of them.

RICCIARDO FOURTH

Australian Daniel Ricciardo, winner of the previous race at Italy's Monza circuit, was fourth for McLaren, with Valtteri Bottas fifth for Mercedes after starting 16th. Both benefited from stopping early for the treaded tyres.

Double world champion Fernando Alonso was sixth for Renault-owned Alpine.

Kimi Raikkonen, returning for Alfa Romeo after missing the previous two races due to a positive COVID-19 test, was eighth and Mexican Sergio Perez ninth for Red Bull.

George Russell, who had started a stunning third for Williams, struggled to 10th -- his fourth points finish in the last five races for a team that had not scored for two years before that.

The only consolation for Norris, and it was a scant one on an afternoon that had offered so much more, was a bonus point for fastest lap.

Mercedes stretched their lead over Red Bull in the constructors' standings to 33 points.

Haas driver Mick Schumacher, son of Michael, was the only retirement from the race.

The next round is at Turkey's Istanbul Park on Oct. 10.

Hamilton&nbsp;won his record-equalling seventh title there last November in a wet and slippery race but this year's championship chase looks like going the distance.

Lewis Hamilton became the first Formula One driver to win 100 grands prix with a dramatic rain-assisted victory in Russia that sent the Mercedes driver two points clear in the championship on Sunday.

Lewis Hamilton became the first Formula One driver to win 100 grands prix with a dramatic rain-assisted victory in Russia that sent the Mercedes driver two points clear in the championship on Sunday. Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished an impressive second at Sochi's Olympic Park, after starting 20th and last due to engine penalties, thereby limiting the damage from his rival's fifth win of the season and first since July. Spaniard Carlos Sainz was third for Ferrari on a day of hope and ultimate heartbreak for McLaren's Lando Norris as a late downpour dashed his hopes of a first win. The 21-year-old Briton started on pole for the first time in his career, lost out to Sainz at the start but then passed the Spaniard 13 laps later and was still leading when the clouds burst. Norris decided to stay out on slicks, after Hamilton had stopped for intermediates on team advice, with the top two comfortably clear of the rest. He then plunged from first to seventh in the last three laps after slipping, sliding off and eventually having to pit. 14 years, 108 days after his first win... Lewis celebrates his 100th in Sochi#RussianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/UM0Z7PJP2T — Formula 1 (@F1) September 26, 2021 × "What a race the weather provided. It's taken a long time to get to 100 and I wasn't sure it would come," said Hamilton, who last season passed Ferrari great Michael Schumacher's previous record of 91 wins. "Max must've done a really great job to come up to second from last. We've got our work cut out," added the Briton, who started the day five points behind Verstappen with seven races remaining after Sochi. Hamilton had slipped to seventh at the end of lap one, losing out at the start after being fourth on the grid, but made up places as those ahead of him pitted early. He was still 25 seconds behind Norris after his final stop but the team had read the weather right and the tyres easily allowed him to catch up and overtake his compatriot for a landmark win. "The team made a great call right at the end. I didn't want to let Lando go and I didn't know what the weather was doing," said Hamilton. "It would've been tough to get past Lando unless we came up to some traffic or he made a mistake, which he hasn't been doing, so then the rain came and it was very opportunistic." While Hamilton celebrated a personal century, his Mercedes team maintained their own 100% record in Sochi. The champions have won every Russian grand prix since the first in 2014, Hamilton triumphant in five of them. RICCIARDO FOURTH Australian Daniel Ricciardo, winner of the previous race at Italy's Monza circuit, was fourth for McLaren, with Valtteri Bottas fifth for Mercedes after starting 16th. Both benefited from stopping early for the treaded tyres. Double world champion Fernando Alonso was sixth for Renault-owned Alpine. Kimi Raikkonen, returning for Alfa Romeo after missing the previous two races due to a positive COVID-19 test, was eighth and Mexican Sergio Perez ninth for Red Bull. George Russell, who had started a stunning third for Williams, struggled to 10th -- his fourth points finish in the last five races for a team that had not scored for two years before that. The only consolation for Norris, and it was a scant one on an afternoon that had offered so much more, was a bonus point for fastest lap. Mercedes stretched their lead over Red Bull in the constructors' standings to 33 points. Haas driver Mick Schumacher, son of Michael, was the only retirement from the race. The next round is at Turkey's Istanbul Park on Oct. 10. Hamilton won his record-equalling seventh title there last November in a wet and slippery race but this year's championship chase looks like going the distance.

Russian GP: Lewis Hamilton goes back on top with his 100th F1 win

McLaren`s Lando Norris seized a sensational first Formula One pole position at the Russian Grand Prix on Saturday after seven- times world champion Lewis Hamilton hit the wall in a damp qualifying session. 
 
Ferrari`s Carlos Sainz joined the Briton on the front row in Sochi with Williams` George Russell, Hamilton`s team mate from next season, completing a top three that nobody would have predicted. 
 
Hamilton, who had been on provisional pole before everyone switched to slicks on a drying track, qualified fourth for Mercedes after a brush with the pit lane wall damaged his front wing at a key moment. 
 
He can still expect to take the championship lead back from Red Bull rival Max Verstappen on Sunday with the 23-year-old Dutch driver starting at the back due to engine penalties. Mercedes have never been beaten in Sochi. 
 
Norris, 21, whooped in delight at what he hoped would be the first of many poles. 
 
"It feels amazing....we made the decision in the end to go slicks. you never think you will get pole until you get it and now I`ve managed to do it. Extremely happy and big thanks to the team. They`ve done an amazing job," said the youngster. 
 
"It was tough. I am going to make myself sound good but it was tricky...The lap before I was two seconds down and I wasn`t very confident we were going to improve on the previous lap...I risked quite a bit and it paid off. I`m a happy boy." 
 
McLaren won the previous Italian Grand Prix at Monza in a one-two finish, and Australian winner Daniel Ricciardo qualified fifth in Sochi ahead of Spaniard Fernando Alonso in sixth for Alpine. 
 
Hamilton, whose team mate Valtteri Bottas qualified only seventh, complained he could not keep heat in the tyres when he returned to the track and he spun on his final flying lap. 
 
"It was just a mistake from myself. I`m incredibly disappointed in myself," said a deflated Hamilton of his pit lane prang. 
 
"Up until then I was in the groove, I was really in the zone. 
 
"I`m really sorry for all the team that are here and back at the factory because obviously that`s not what you expect from a champion. It is what it is and I will do my best tomorrow to try and rectify it." 
 
Verstappen, five points clear of Hamilton after 14 races, made only a brief appearance in qualifying with nothing to achieve. 
 
Mercedes have won every grand prix in Sochi since the first in 2014 and Hamilton can still hope for a record-extending 100th win on Sunday. 
 
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Timothy Heritage and Ed Osmond) 
&nbsp;

McLaren`s Lando Norris seized a sensational first Formula One pole position at the Russian Grand Prix on Saturday after seven- times world champion Lewis Hamilton hit the wall in a damp qualifying session.

McLaren`s Lando Norris seized a sensational first Formula One pole position at the Russian Grand Prix on Saturday after seven- times world champion Lewis Hamilton hit the wall in a damp qualifying session. Ferrari`s Carlos Sainz joined the Briton on the front row in Sochi with Williams` George Russell, Hamilton`s team mate from next season, completing a top three that nobody would have predicted. Hamilton, who had been on provisional pole before everyone switched to slicks on a drying track, qualified fourth for Mercedes after a brush with the pit lane wall damaged his front wing at a key moment. He can still expect to take the championship lead back from Red Bull rival Max Verstappen on Sunday with the 23-year-old Dutch driver starting at the back due to engine penalties. Mercedes have never been beaten in Sochi. Norris, 21, whooped in delight at what he hoped would be the first of many poles. "It feels amazing....we made the decision in the end to go slicks. you never think you will get pole until you get it and now I`ve managed to do it. Extremely happy and big thanks to the team. They`ve done an amazing job," said the youngster. "It was tough. I am going to make myself sound good but it was tricky...The lap before I was two seconds down and I wasn`t very confident we were going to improve on the previous lap...I risked quite a bit and it paid off. I`m a happy boy." McLaren won the previous Italian Grand Prix at Monza in a one-two finish, and Australian winner Daniel Ricciardo qualified fifth in Sochi ahead of Spaniard Fernando Alonso in sixth for Alpine. Hamilton, whose team mate Valtteri Bottas qualified only seventh, complained he could not keep heat in the tyres when he returned to the track and he spun on his final flying lap. "It was just a mistake from myself. I`m incredibly disappointed in myself," said a deflated Hamilton of his pit lane prang. "Up until then I was in the groove, I was really in the zone. "I`m really sorry for all the team that are here and back at the factory because obviously that`s not what you expect from a champion. It is what it is and I will do my best tomorrow to try and rectify it." Verstappen, five points clear of Hamilton after 14 races, made only a brief appearance in qualifying with nothing to achieve. Mercedes have won every grand prix in Sochi since the first in 2014 and Hamilton can still hope for a record-extending 100th win on Sunday. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Timothy Heritage and Ed Osmond)

McLaren's Lando Norris takes first F1 pole as Lewis Hamilton hits the wall

Lewis Hamilton has every chance of celebrating a record-extending 100th Formula One victory on Sunday, but the seven-times world champion can still take nothing for granted at Russia's Sochi circuit.

Hamilton's Mercedes team have won every race at the Olympic Park circuit since the first in 2014, the Briton triumphant in four of the seven and current team mate Valtteri Bottas in two including last year.

Past performance has not been the greatest of indicators this season, however, with Red Bull and championship leader Max Verstappen, 24 next week, pushing harder than ever in an increasingly intense title battle.

Verstappen's task is tougher this time due to a three place grid penalty imposed after he and Hamilton collided and retired at the Italian Grand Prix, with stewards ruling the Dutch youngster was mostly to blame.

Hamilton has not won since his home British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July but Sochi could bring him that 100th win at the fifth attempt.

No other team, not even Ferrari, have ever won the same race for seven years in a row, let alone eight, but Mercedes are still favourites.

"Lewis... is laser focused on what he needs to deliver in the next eight races," said team boss Toto Wolff ahead of the Black Sea resort's penultimate race before the Russian round moves to St Petersburg for 2023.

"As for Valtteri, he's driving better than ever... there's a calm determination about the team right now and the business end of a season, fighting for championships, is exactly what we enjoy the most."

While Red Bull have never been on pole in Sochi, a position only ever achieved by Mercedes and Ferrari drivers, Verstappen has started from the top slot in eight of 14 races so far including seven of the last eight.

None of his seven wins so far in 2021 has come from lower than third on the grid, however.

The Dutch driver, five points clear of Hamilton in the standings while Red Bull are 18 behind Mercedes, was second in Sochi last year.

"We have been more competitive this year and we have a better package at the moment so it will be interesting to see how competitive we can be there this year," said Verstappen.

"It will be of course completely different to Monza and it looks like there might be some rain this weekend... I'm definitely looking forward to going back there and seeing what we can do.

"The penalty is of course not ideal but nothing is lost, that’s how I look at it."

McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo led team mate Lando Norris in a one-two finish at Monza but Sochi was McLaren's only non-scoring race of the 2020 campaign.

They will also be hoping past performance is no guide to current form, with both drivers fired up by the team's first win since 2012 and first one-two since 2010.

Ferrari, fighting McLaren for third place, will also be in the reckoning for solid points with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

Lewis Hamilton has every chance of celebrating a record-extending 100th Formula One victory on Sunday, but the seven-times world champion can still take nothing for granted at Russia's Sochi circuit.

Lewis Hamilton has every chance of celebrating a record-extending 100th Formula One victory on Sunday, but the seven-times world champion can still take nothing for granted at Russia's Sochi circuit. Hamilton's Mercedes team have won every race at the Olympic Park circuit since the first in 2014, the Briton triumphant in four of the seven and current team mate Valtteri Bottas in two including last year. Past performance has not been the greatest of indicators this season, however, with Red Bull and championship leader Max Verstappen, 24 next week, pushing harder than ever in an increasingly intense title battle. Verstappen's task is tougher this time due to a three place grid penalty imposed after he and Hamilton collided and retired at the Italian Grand Prix, with stewards ruling the Dutch youngster was mostly to blame. Hamilton has not won since his home British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July but Sochi could bring him that 100th win at the fifth attempt. No other team, not even Ferrari, have ever won the same race for seven years in a row, let alone eight, but Mercedes are still favourites. "Lewis... is laser focused on what he needs to deliver in the next eight races," said team boss Toto Wolff ahead of the Black Sea resort's penultimate race before the Russian round moves to St Petersburg for 2023. "As for Valtteri, he's driving better than ever... there's a calm determination about the team right now and the business end of a season, fighting for championships, is exactly what we enjoy the most." While Red Bull have never been on pole in Sochi, a position only ever achieved by Mercedes and Ferrari drivers, Verstappen has started from the top slot in eight of 14 races so far including seven of the last eight. None of his seven wins so far in 2021 has come from lower than third on the grid, however. The Dutch driver, five points clear of Hamilton in the standings while Red Bull are 18 behind Mercedes, was second in Sochi last year. "We have been more competitive this year and we have a better package at the moment so it will be interesting to see how competitive we can be there this year," said Verstappen. "It will be of course completely different to Monza and it looks like there might be some rain this weekend... I'm definitely looking forward to going back there and seeing what we can do. "The penalty is of course not ideal but nothing is lost, that’s how I look at it." McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo led team mate Lando Norris in a one-two finish at Monza but Sochi was McLaren's only non-scoring race of the 2020 campaign. They will also be hoping past performance is no guide to current form, with both drivers fired up by the team's first win since 2012 and first one-two since 2010. Ferrari, fighting McLaren for third place, will also be in the reckoning for solid points with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

Russia a real chance for Lewis Hamilton to secure 100th win

From Emma Raducanu to Lewis Hamilton: Sports celebs who graced their presence at Met Gala 2021

Hamilton thanked the halo device as he said, "I feel very, very fortunate today thank God for the halo. That did ultimately save me, you know, and saved my neck." But what exactly is the halo device? Find out here.

Explained: What is the 'halo device' that saved Lewis Hamilton's neck at the Italian GP | WION News

In pics- Lewis Hamilton survives massive scare in jaw-dropping car accident at Italian Grand Prix

Mercedes racer Lewis Hamilton escaped a tragedy, a serious injury that is quite disturbing to even imagine after a terrifying crash with Red Bull's Max Verstappen at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday (September 12).

Mercedes racer Lewis Hamilton escaped a tragedy, a serious injury that is quite disturbing to even imagine after a terrifying crash with Red Bull's Max Verstappen at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday (September 12). During the race, when Hamilton exited the pit lane on lap 26 of 53, Verstappen approached him at 225mph and tried to go ahead of him. However, he ran off the track after the cars ran wheel-to-wheel and made contact at the first chicane, the Red Bull lifting off the kerb and into the air with both ending up in the gravel. Verstappen's car flew over Hamilton's head as he was sent out of control, with the rear-right wheel crushing the top of Hamilton's Mercedes, who was saved by inches thanks to the halo protection device, that absorbed the crushing impact of Verstappen's 750kg machine. ALSO READ | Italian GP: Lewis Hamilton escapes serious injury after a nasty crash with Max Verstappen - Watch Verstappen was penalised as he will serve a three-place grid penalty at the Russian Grand Prix in a fortnight's time for his role in the frightening crash. Hamilton thanked the halo device as he said, "I feel very, very fortunate today thank God for the halo. That did ultimately save me, you know, and saved my neck." The title rivals also collided at Hamilton's own British Grand Prix when Verstappen ended up in hospital for checks and Hamilton took the win. The halo saved Lewis Hamilton’s life pic.twitter.com/9NlHpANluf — 📢 𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙 💬 (@JoshHubama) September 12, 2021 × Max Verstappen has to sometimes use his head man. He wasn't gonna make that corner ahead of Lewis Hamilton. I'll be surprised if there are people out here who will defend this. Costly and stupid mistake.#ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/tEkfNw8l7k — The GLikeCoop 💙 (@ItsKingWanga) September 12, 2021 × Anatomy of a collision 💥👀#ItalianGP 🇮🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/uAgBgzEY4k — Formula 1 (@F1) September 12, 2021 × ALSO READ | Max Verstappen handed three-place grid drop for Russian GP (Above images source: AFP) But what exactly is a halo device? The halo protection device is a curved bar made of titanium and weighed around 7kgs, which is placed around the cockpit that surrounds the driver's head to protect her/him from any serious life-threatening injury. The device is connected by three points to the vehicle frame. It was introduced in 2018 and was made mandatory on every vehicle in Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula Regional, Formula E and also Formula 4 as a new safety measure. It is important to note here that the system is not developed by the teams, it is manufactured by three approved external manufacturers chosen by the FIA. Halo device faced criticism Initially, the device was criticised as it was claimed that the halo device will take away the essence of racing cars and will obstruct the driver's vision. Legendary racer like Niki Lauda was also not in favour of the device and even Hamilton was sceptical as he had called it "worst-looking modification" in the sport's history. However, Hamilton later accepted it. (Image: Lewis Hamilton takes part in the drivers ceremony on the grid before the Italian Formula One Grand Prix. Source: AFP) Who said what? Hamilton also said, "I don't think I've ever been hit on the head by a car before, and it's quite a shock for me." "I'm so, so grateful that I'm still here. I feel incredibly blessed. I feel like someone was watching over me today, he added. "We are taking risks and it's only when you experience something like that that you get the real shock of how you look at life and how fragile we all are." (Image: Lewis Hamilton gets out of his car. Source: AFP) "I made sure I left a car's width on the outside for him, I went into turn one and I was ahead and going into turn two and then all of a sudden he was on top of me," said Hamilton. Hamilton said that he had been surprised to see the title rival Verstappen get out of his car and "just walk by". It's days like today, I am reminded of how lucky I am. It takes a millisecond to go from racing to a very scary situation. Today someone must have been looking down, watching over me! #TeamLH: I'm so thankful for each and everyone of you, you are truly the best. Still we rise! pic.twitter.com/H2sGtXPKrr — Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) September 12, 2021 × Lewis and Max on *that* collision 🗣🗣 #ItalianGP 🇮🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/Pc6Gh0H5BH — Formula 1 (@F1) September 12, 2021 × "He just didn't want to give way today and he knew when he was going into two what was going to happen... but he still did it," he told Sky Sports television. (Image: Max Verstappen walks out of the tracks after a collision. Source: AFP) Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff commented: "The championship was good fun up until now but we saw the halo save Lewis' life today. We don't want to see someone seriously hurt." On Verstappen's penalty, Hamilton added: "I am proud of the stewards. "It sets a precedent and it is important for us moving forwards, for the safety of the drivers, that there are rules in place." Verstappen said Hamilton "just kept on squeezing me. "If he would have left me just a car width we would have raced out of turn two anyway and I think he would have probably still been in front. But he just kept on pushing me wider and at one point there was nowhere to go." After the incident, Verstappen took to his official Twitter as he wrote, "Today was very unfortunate. The incident could have been avoided if I had been left enough space to make the corner. You need 2 people to make that work and I feel I was squeezed out of it. When racing each other, these things can happen, unfortunately" Today was very unfortunate. The incident could have been avoided if I had been left enough space to make the corner. You need 2 people to make that work and I feel I was squeezed out of it. When racing each other, these things can happen, unfortunately #ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/9xOmnqAtd8 — Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) September 12, 2021 × Rival Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who described the crash as a 50-50 accident, said: "It was a very awkward accident and you could see Max's car right up the Mercedes. Above everything, today we are so grateful for the advances in safety of our sport pic.twitter.com/oBgq5DxM91 — Formula 1 (@F1) September 12, 2021 × What happened in the race? As far as the race is concerned, Daniel Ricciardo won it and he was followed by his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in the British team's first win since the 2012 Brazilian GP, while Valtteri Bottas will take third despite starting in last place due to a five-second time penalty for Sergio Perez. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained: What is the 'halo device' that saved Lewis Hamilton's neck at the Italian GP

Formula One world championship leader Max Verstappen will have a three-place grid drop at the Russian Grand Prix after stewards ruled he was mainly to blame for a collision with title rival Lewis Hamilton at Monza on Sunday.

The collision put both men out of the Italian Grand Prix, with Dutch driver Verstappen's Red Bull landing on top of Hamilton's Mercedes.

The Russian Grand Prix is next up on Sept. 26.

Verstappen leads Hamilton by five points in the championship after 14 of the scheduled 22 races.

The stewards also gave Verstappen two penalty points, his first in the current 12 month period.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/italian-gp-lewis-hamilton-escapes-serious-injury-after-a-nasty-crash-with-max-verstappen-watch-412629">Italian GP: Lewis Hamilton escapes serious injury after a nasty crash with Max Verstappen - Watch</a>

Both drivers were summoned to the stewards after the race to review video evidence.

The stewards said in a statement that they had found "the driver of Car 33 (Verstappen) was predominantly to blame for the collision with Car 44 (Hamilton) at Turn Two."

"At the 50m board before Turn One, Car 44 was significantly ahead of Car 33. Car 33 braked late and started to move alongside Car 44, although at no point in the sequence does Car 33 get any further forward than just behind the front wheel of Car 44," it added.

"The stewards observed on CCTV footage that the driver of Car 44 was driving an avoiding line, although his position caused Car 33 to go onto the kerb.

"While Car 44 could have steered further from the kerb to avoid the incident, the stewards determined that his position was reasonable."

Sunday's incident was the second big collision between the two this season, with Verstappen crashing out after contact at the British Grand Prix in July, a race Hamilton went on to win.

Formula One world championship leader Max Verstappen will have a three-place grid drop at the Russian Grand Prix after stewards ruled he was mainly to blame for a collision with title rival Lewis Hamilton at Monza on Sunday.

Formula One world championship leader Max Verstappen will have a three-place grid drop at the Russian Grand Prix after stewards ruled he was mainly to blame for a collision with title rival Lewis Hamilton at Monza on Sunday. The collision put both men out of the Italian Grand Prix, with Dutch driver Verstappen's Red Bull landing on top of Hamilton's Mercedes. The Russian Grand Prix is next up on Sept. 26. Verstappen leads Hamilton by five points in the championship after 14 of the scheduled 22 races. The stewards also gave Verstappen two penalty points, his first in the current 12 month period. ALSO READ | Italian GP: Lewis Hamilton escapes serious injury after a nasty crash with Max Verstappen - Watch Both drivers were summoned to the stewards after the race to review video evidence. The stewards said in a statement that they had found "the driver of Car 33 (Verstappen) was predominantly to blame for the collision with Car 44 (Hamilton) at Turn Two." "At the 50m board before Turn One, Car 44 was significantly ahead of Car 33. Car 33 braked late and started to move alongside Car 44, although at no point in the sequence does Car 33 get any further forward than just behind the front wheel of Car 44," it added. "The stewards observed on CCTV footage that the driver of Car 44 was driving an avoiding line, although his position caused Car 33 to go onto the kerb. "While Car 44 could have steered further from the kerb to avoid the incident, the stewards determined that his position was reasonable." Sunday's incident was the second big collision between the two this season, with Verstappen crashing out after contact at the British Grand Prix in July, a race Hamilton went on to win.

Max Verstappen handed three-place grid drop for Russian GP

Reigning champion Lewis Hamilton escaped a massive tragedy at the Formula One Italian Grand Prix as title rival Max Verstappen's car flew over his head after they took each other out of the race on Sunday (September 12).

Reigning champion Lewis Hamilton escaped a massive tragedy at the Formula One Italian Grand Prix as title rival Max Verstappen's car flew over his head after they took each other out of the race on Sunday (September 12). Both the racers crashed out of the Italian GP after hitting each other halfway through the race as the protective Halo device prevented a serious injury that might have happened to Hamilton. ALSO READ | Daniel Ricciardo wins F1 Italian GP as Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen crash out Red Bull driver Verstappen tried to dart past Hamilton just after the Briton's pit stop but ended up with his back wheel rolling over the top of his rival's Mercedes, narrowly missing Hamilton's head. The drivers then slid into the gravel and were forced to retire from the race, which Hamilton was hoping to make his 100th Grand Prix victory. Watch the video here: Max Verstappen has to sometimes use his head man. He wasn't gonna make that corner ahead of Lewis Hamilton. I'll be surprised if there are people out here who will defend this. Costly and stupid mistake.#ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/tEkfNw8l7k — The GLikeCoop 💙 (@ItsKingWanga) September 12, 2021 × Incredible image from the Grand Prix… without the safety ‘Halo’, that could have killed Lewis Hamilton. pic.twitter.com/lBU8PppSEs — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 12, 2021 × Horner: "make sure you finish on top of Hamilton max" #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/1kPOL2pIEI — Årkady (@Arkady360) September 12, 2021 × Max Verstappen crash: "Race incident" Lewis Hamilton crash: "Lewis fault" - Hamilton haters #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/AmdBsiUpZe — Leo 🔅 (@prayforleonard) September 12, 2021 × After the incident, Verstappen took to his official Twitter as he wrote, "Today was very unfortunate. The incident could have been avoided if I had been left enough space to make the corner. You need 2 people to make that work and I feel I was squeezed out of it. When racing each other, these things can happen, unfortunately" As far as the race is concerned, Daniel Ricciardo won it and he was followed by his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in the British team's first win since the 2012 Brazilian GP, while Valtteri Bottas will take third despite starting in last place due to a five-second time penalty for Sergio Perez. The Honey Badger is back, baby! 😃#ItalianGP 🇮🇹 @danielricciardo pic.twitter.com/rzu3iHif8u — Formula 1 (@F1) September 12, 2021 × (With inputs from agencies)

Italian GP: Lewis Hamilton escapes serious injury after a nasty crash with Max Verstappen - Watch

Daniel Ricciardo won the Formula One Italian Grand Prix on Sunday as the Australian took advantage of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen's dramatic crash which eliminated both championship rivals.

Ricciardo was followed by his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in the British team's first win since the 2012 Brazilian GP, while Valtteri Bottas will take third despite starting in last place due to a five-second time penalty for Sergio Perez.

Red Bull's Verstappen leads seven-time world champion Hamilton by five points at the top of the drivers' standings as they both finished in the gravel following their crash halfway through the race.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Honey Badger is back, baby! 😃<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ItalianGP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ItalianGP</a> 🇮🇹 <a href="https://twitter.com/danielricciardo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@danielricciardo</a> <a href="https://t.co/rzu3iHif8u">pic.twitter.com/rzu3iHif8u</a>
— Formula 1 (@F1) <a href="https://twitter.com/F1/status/1437071595718197248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Ricciardo, 32, promised "total attack" after starting second on the grid and made the most of the most dramatic moment of an eventful race when Hamilton re-entered the Monza track from the pit lane.

Vertsappen tried to dart past Hamilton just after the Briton's pit stop but ended up with his back wheel rolling over the top of his rival's Mercedes, narrowly missing Hamilton's head.

Both drivers then slid into the gravel and were forced to retire from the race, which Hamilton was hoping to make his 100th Grand Prix victory.

Vertsappen was reportedly furious at Hamilton, saying his rival gave him "no space" in a crash which will be investigated by officials after the race.

Ricciardo then powered to victory backed up by his teammate Norris and was ecstatic as the pair earned McLaren's first one-two finish in 11 years.

Daniel Ricciardo won the Formula One Italian Grand Prix on Sunday as the Australian took advantage of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen's dramatic crash which eliminated both championship rivals.

Daniel Ricciardo won the Formula One Italian Grand Prix on Sunday as the Australian took advantage of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen's dramatic crash which eliminated both championship rivals. Ricciardo was followed by his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in the British team's first win since the 2012 Brazilian GP, while Valtteri Bottas will take third despite starting in last place due to a five-second time penalty for Sergio Perez. Red Bull's Verstappen leads seven-time world champion Hamilton by five points at the top of the drivers' standings as they both finished in the gravel following their crash halfway through the race. The Honey Badger is back, baby! 😃#ItalianGP 🇮🇹 @danielricciardo pic.twitter.com/rzu3iHif8u — Formula 1 (@F1) September 12, 2021 × Ricciardo, 32, promised "total attack" after starting second on the grid and made the most of the most dramatic moment of an eventful race when Hamilton re-entered the Monza track from the pit lane. Vertsappen tried to dart past Hamilton just after the Briton's pit stop but ended up with his back wheel rolling over the top of his rival's Mercedes, narrowly missing Hamilton's head. Both drivers then slid into the gravel and were forced to retire from the race, which Hamilton was hoping to make his 100th Grand Prix victory. Vertsappen was reportedly furious at Hamilton, saying his rival gave him "no space" in a crash which will be investigated by officials after the race. Ricciardo then powered to victory backed up by his teammate Norris and was ecstatic as the pair earned McLaren's first one-two finish in 11 years.

Daniel Ricciardo wins F1 Italian GP as Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen crash out

Red Bull's Max Verstappen took pole position for the Italian Grand Prix and surged five points clear of Lewis Hamilton in the Formula One championship after a sprint qualifying race on Saturday.

Hamilton's Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas won the 18 lap race around the fastest track on the calendar but engine penalties sent the Finn to the back of the grid for Sunday's main event at Monza.

While Verstappen is perfectly placed for an eighth win in 14 races, seven-times world champion Hamilton will start fourth and with the championship gap in danger of dropping into double figures.

"The race was better than expected, we scored some nice little points. It is going to be an interesting race tomorrow," said Verstappen, second at the chequered flag.

"I don't expect it to be a very straightforward and easy race because of Valtteri coming from the back and Lewis starting in P4 with a lot of pace. We'll see what we can do against them."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
No one could stop Valtteri today! 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ItalianGP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ItalianGP</a> 🇮🇹 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1Sprint?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F1Sprint</a> <a href="https://t.co/TvCmG4VNnd">pic.twitter.com/TvCmG4VNnd</a>
— Formula 1 (@F1) <a href="https://twitter.com/F1/status/1436717346199162882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

McLaren's Australian Daniel Ricciardo will join the Dutch 23-year-old on the front row for the first time since Mexico 2018 when the pair were team mates at Red Bull.

Bottas took three championship points, Verstappen two and Ricciardo one in an experimental race format being trialled for only the second time after a debut at Silverstone in July.

"It was a good sprint. Everything went smoothly, I had a really good start and the car was really consistent," said Bottas.

"It's been a perfect weekend and then I have the grid penalty. That happens. Anything is possible (on Sunday). You never know. I'll keep pushing."

TEAM ORDERS

Champions Mercedes had planned to impose team orders for their drivers to swap places during the race and maximise Hamilton's points haul but that opportunity never materialised.

Hamilton dropped four places at the start and only reclaimed one when AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly, last year's surprise winner at the Italian team's home race, hit the back of Ricciardo's McLaren at the first chicane and crashed out.

That brought out the safety car until the end of lap three and Hamilton was unable to get close enough to Norris after that to attempt an overtake.

"It wasn't great," the Briton said of his afternoon.

"I've got to try and figure out how I can get by and try to limit the damage.

"You saw the pace of the Red Bull, they are so fast. It should be an easy win (for Verstappen) and I have to try and get past the two guys (Ricciardo and Norris) ahead."

The Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who crashed heavily in final practice, will share the third row at their home track.

Italian Antonio Giovinazzi lines up seventh for Alfa Romeo, with Red Bull's Mexican Sergio Perez alongside and Aston Martin's Lance Stroll ninth. Alpine's Fernando Alonso secured the 10th slot.

Japanese rookie Yuki Tsunoda and Alfa Romeo's Robert Kubica also tangled at the start.

Ricciardo, who has had a tough time since his move to McLaren from Renault at the end of last year, was delighted to be back at the front of the grid with McLaren using the soft tyres when most others opted for mediums.

"It's been a while since a front row," he said. "I guess thanks to Valtteri for that.

"It's cool. First time up here in the sprint as well. We've got the big one tomorrow but I think I've done the job today, ticked the box to get me in a better starting spot... I think it was a smooth Saturday."

Red Bull's Max Verstappen took pole position for the Italian Grand Prix and surged five points clear of Lewis Hamilton in the Formula One championship after a sprint qualifying race on Saturday.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen took pole position for the Italian Grand Prix and surged five points clear of Lewis Hamilton in the Formula One championship after a sprint qualifying race on Saturday. Hamilton's Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas won the 18 lap race around the fastest track on the calendar but engine penalties sent the Finn to the back of the grid for Sunday's main event at Monza. While Verstappen is perfectly placed for an eighth win in 14 races, seven-times world champion Hamilton will start fourth and with the championship gap in danger of dropping into double figures. "The race was better than expected, we scored some nice little points. It is going to be an interesting race tomorrow," said Verstappen, second at the chequered flag. "I don't expect it to be a very straightforward and easy race because of Valtteri coming from the back and Lewis starting in P4 with a lot of pace. We'll see what we can do against them." No one could stop Valtteri today! 👏#ItalianGP 🇮🇹 #F1Sprint pic.twitter.com/TvCmG4VNnd — Formula 1 (@F1) September 11, 2021 × McLaren's Australian Daniel Ricciardo will join the Dutch 23-year-old on the front row for the first time since Mexico 2018 when the pair were team mates at Red Bull. Bottas took three championship points, Verstappen two and Ricciardo one in an experimental race format being trialled for only the second time after a debut at Silverstone in July. "It was a good sprint. Everything went smoothly, I had a really good start and the car was really consistent," said Bottas. "It's been a perfect weekend and then I have the grid penalty. That happens. Anything is possible (on Sunday). You never know. I'll keep pushing." TEAM ORDERS Champions Mercedes had planned to impose team orders for their drivers to swap places during the race and maximise Hamilton's points haul but that opportunity never materialised. Hamilton dropped four places at the start and only reclaimed one when AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly, last year's surprise winner at the Italian team's home race, hit the back of Ricciardo's McLaren at the first chicane and crashed out. That brought out the safety car until the end of lap three and Hamilton was unable to get close enough to Norris after that to attempt an overtake. "It wasn't great," the Briton said of his afternoon. "I've got to try and figure out how I can get by and try to limit the damage. "You saw the pace of the Red Bull, they are so fast. It should be an easy win (for Verstappen) and I have to try and get past the two guys (Ricciardo and Norris) ahead." The Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who crashed heavily in final practice, will share the third row at their home track. Italian Antonio Giovinazzi lines up seventh for Alfa Romeo, with Red Bull's Mexican Sergio Perez alongside and Aston Martin's Lance Stroll ninth. Alpine's Fernando Alonso secured the 10th slot. Japanese rookie Yuki Tsunoda and Alfa Romeo's Robert Kubica also tangled at the start. Ricciardo, who has had a tough time since his move to McLaren from Renault at the end of last year, was delighted to be back at the front of the grid with McLaren using the soft tyres when most others opted for mediums. "It's been a while since a front row," he said. "I guess thanks to Valtteri for that. "It's cool. First time up here in the sprint as well. We've got the big one tomorrow but I think I've done the job today, ticked the box to get me in a better starting spot... I think it was a smooth Saturday."

Valtteri Bottas wins sprint but Max Verstappen on pole at Monza

George Russell was confirmed as Lewis Hamilton's new teammate at Formula One team Mercedes for next season on Tuesday after Valtteri Bottas sealed a switch to Alfa Romeo.

The 23-year-old British driver earned his much-anticipated move to the Silver Arrows, with whom he has signed a long-term deal, after catching the eye during three years with Williams.

He also impressed in a one-off appearance for Mercedes at last year's Sakhir Grand Prix as a stand-in for seven-time world champion Hamilton, who had tested positive for coronavirus.

Russell, who will form an all-British line-up with Hamilton, said it was a "special day".

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't absolutely buzzing," he said in a Mercedes statement. "It's a huge opportunity and one I want to grab with both hands.

"But I'm under no illusions as to the scale of the challenge. It's going to be a steep learning curve."

He added: "I've looked up to Lewis since I was in go-karts and the opportunity to learn from someone who has become a role model both on and off track can only benefit me as a driver, a professional, and a human being."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/michael-schumachers-close-friend-gives-a-rare-update-on-formula-1-legend-411051">Michael Schumacher's close friend gives a rare update on Formula 1 legend</a>

Hamilton, who is currently second in this year's driver standings, three points behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen, welcomed his future teammate.

"Through hard work he has rightly earned his spot," tweeted the 37-year-old reigning world champion, who on Monday paid a warm tribute to the departing Bottas.

"I look forward to seeing him grow as a driver with this great team and working with him to raise @MercedesAMGF1 higher. See you next year."

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said it had not been a straightforward decision, praising Bottas for his contribution to the team's success over the past five seasons.

"Looking forward to 2022, we are very happy to confirm that George will have the opportunity to take the next step in his career and join Mercedes," he added.

"He has been a winner in every racing category -- and the past three seasons with Williams have given us a taste of what the future could hold for him in F1.

"Now, it is our challenge together to help him continue learning within our environment and alongside Lewis, the greatest F1 driver of all time."

Bottas, 32, has spent the past five seasons alongside Hamilton at Mercedes, having replaced Nico Rosberg, who retired after winning the 2016 title.

The Finn has won nine races and claimed 17 pole positions with the team, but has not consistently been able to challenge Hamilton.

Alfa Romeo announced on Monday that Bottas had signed a multi-year deal to join the team from 2022.

George Russell was confirmed as Lewis Hamilton's new teammate at Formula One team Mercedes for next season on Tuesday after Valtteri Bottas sealed a switch to Alfa Romeo.

George Russell was confirmed as Lewis Hamilton's new teammate at Formula One team Mercedes for next season on Tuesday after Valtteri Bottas sealed a switch to Alfa Romeo. The 23-year-old British driver earned his much-anticipated move to the Silver Arrows, with whom he has signed a long-term deal, after catching the eye during three years with Williams. He also impressed in a one-off appearance for Mercedes at last year's Sakhir Grand Prix as a stand-in for seven-time world champion Hamilton, who had tested positive for coronavirus. Russell, who will form an all-British line-up with Hamilton, said it was a "special day". "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't absolutely buzzing," he said in a Mercedes statement. "It's a huge opportunity and one I want to grab with both hands. "But I'm under no illusions as to the scale of the challenge. It's going to be a steep learning curve." He added: "I've looked up to Lewis since I was in go-karts and the opportunity to learn from someone who has become a role model both on and off track can only benefit me as a driver, a professional, and a human being." ALSO READ | Michael Schumacher's close friend gives a rare update on Formula 1 legend Hamilton, who is currently second in this year's driver standings, three points behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen, welcomed his future teammate. "Through hard work he has rightly earned his spot," tweeted the 37-year-old reigning world champion, who on Monday paid a warm tribute to the departing Bottas. "I look forward to seeing him grow as a driver with this great team and working with him to raise @MercedesAMGF1 higher. See you next year." Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said it had not been a straightforward decision, praising Bottas for his contribution to the team's success over the past five seasons. "Looking forward to 2022, we are very happy to confirm that George will have the opportunity to take the next step in his career and join Mercedes," he added. "He has been a winner in every racing category -- and the past three seasons with Williams have given us a taste of what the future could hold for him in F1. "Now, it is our challenge together to help him continue learning within our environment and alongside Lewis, the greatest F1 driver of all time." Bottas, 32, has spent the past five seasons alongside Hamilton at Mercedes, having replaced Nico Rosberg, who retired after winning the 2016 title. The Finn has won nine races and claimed 17 pole positions with the team, but has not consistently been able to challenge Hamilton. Alfa Romeo announced on Monday that Bottas had signed a multi-year deal to join the team from 2022.

George Russell confirmed as Lewis Hamilton's new teammate at Mercedes

Home favourite Max Verstappen snatched the world championship lead from Lewis Hamilton on Sunday as the Red Bull driver claimed a dominant victory at the first Dutch Grand Prix since 1985.

A week after the farcical washout in Belgium, pole-sitter Verstappen controlled the race from the start in bright sunshine at the beach resort of Zandvoort.

His seventh win in 13 races this season turned a three-point deficit into a three-point lead over seven-time world champion Hamilton ahead of Monza next weekend.

Hamilton settled for second, setting the fastest lap on the final lap to earn a consolation bonus point, with Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas a distant third.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A good day to be Dutch 🟠🙌🏆<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DutchGP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DutchGP</a> 🇳🇱 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Max33Verstappen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Max33Verstappen</a> <a href="https://t.co/VxL5R4tGaS">pic.twitter.com/VxL5R4tGaS</a>
— Formula 1 (@F1) <a href="https://twitter.com/F1/status/1434529595626229772?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
CLASSIFICATION: Confirmation of a memorable victory on home soil for <a href="https://twitter.com/Max33Verstappen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Max33Verstappen</a> 🏁<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DutchGP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DutchGP</a> 🇳🇱 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F1</a> <a href="https://t.co/cKpXYThgob">pic.twitter.com/cKpXYThgob</a>
— Formula 1 (@F1) <a href="https://twitter.com/F1/status/1434528633826205702?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"As you can hear already, it's just incredible," said Verstappen, roared on by some 70,000 orange-clad fans at a circuit where the last winner was Niki Lauda for McLaren 36 years ago.

"Expectations were high going into the weekend, I'm so happy to win here. It's such an amazing day, the whole crowd, incredible."

Verstappen, who earned half points for his win over two laps behind the safety car at Spa last Sunday, pulled away on the opening lap here, keeping Hamilton in his rear-view mirror and surging clear.

A narrow track with punishing deep gravel traps made overtaking difficult, prompting Mercedes to use varying strategies for Hamilton and Bottas to ramp up the pressure on Verstappen.

But on a day that began with Verstappen showing Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima around the Red Bull garage, the 23-year-old produced a regal display to dislodge Hamilton at the top.

Home favourite Max Verstappen snatched the world championship lead from Lewis Hamilton on Sunday as the Red Bull driver claimed a dominant victory at the first Dutch Grand Prix since 1985.

Home favourite Max Verstappen snatched the world championship lead from Lewis Hamilton on Sunday as the Red Bull driver claimed a dominant victory at the first Dutch Grand Prix since 1985. A week after the farcical washout in Belgium, pole-sitter Verstappen controlled the race from the start in bright sunshine at the beach resort of Zandvoort. His seventh win in 13 races this season turned a three-point deficit into a three-point lead over seven-time world champion Hamilton ahead of Monza next weekend. Hamilton settled for second, setting the fastest lap on the final lap to earn a consolation bonus point, with Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas a distant third. A good day to be Dutch 🟠🙌🏆#DutchGP 🇳🇱 #F1 @Max33Verstappen pic.twitter.com/VxL5R4tGaS — Formula 1 (@F1) September 5, 2021 × CLASSIFICATION: Confirmation of a memorable victory on home soil for @Max33Verstappen 🏁#DutchGP 🇳🇱 #F1 pic.twitter.com/cKpXYThgob — Formula 1 (@F1) September 5, 2021 × "As you can hear already, it's just incredible," said Verstappen, roared on by some 70,000 orange-clad fans at a circuit where the last winner was Niki Lauda for McLaren 36 years ago. "Expectations were high going into the weekend, I'm so happy to win here. It's such an amazing day, the whole crowd, incredible." Verstappen, who earned half points for his win over two laps behind the safety car at Spa last Sunday, pulled away on the opening lap here, keeping Hamilton in his rear-view mirror and surging clear. A narrow track with punishing deep gravel traps made overtaking difficult, prompting Mercedes to use varying strategies for Hamilton and Bottas to ramp up the pressure on Verstappen. But on a day that began with Verstappen showing Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima around the Red Bull garage, the 23-year-old produced a regal display to dislodge Hamilton at the top.

Max Verstappen wins Dutch Grand Prix to take championship lead

Max Verstappen put Red Bull on pole position for his home Dutch Grand Prix in front of 70,000 ecstatic fans on Saturday, with Formula One rival and championship leader Lewis Hamilton alongside.

Hamilton, three points clear in the standings after 12 races, was 0.038 seconds slower for Mercedes than Verstappen's best effort of one minute 08.885 seconds around the seaside circuit.

The Briton's team mate Valtteri Bottas qualified third with Frenchman Pierre Gasly fourth for Red Bull's sister team AlphaTauri.

The pole was the sixth in the last seven races for Verstappen, and the 10th of his career.

"It's an amazing feeling of course to get pole position here," said Verstappen as his Orange Army let off flares and celebrated.

"The crowd is incredible and today was also very enjoyable. The car was really nice to drive and this track in qualifying, once the fuel comes out, is really cool."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Watch Max's rapid lap of Zandvoort in full 🚀 
 
And listen out for the cheers from the Dutch fans! 🔉<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DutchGP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DutchGP</a> 🇳🇱 <a href="https://twitter.com/pirellisport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@pirellisport</a> <a href="https://t.co/jdD6bqd2q2">pic.twitter.com/jdD6bqd2q2</a>
— Formula 1 (@F1) <a href="https://twitter.com/F1/status/1434197682470465543?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
In the end, just 0.038s separated Max and Lewis! 😮<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DutchGP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DutchGP</a> 🇳🇱 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F1</a> <a href="https://t.co/kq5MNRt06o">pic.twitter.com/kq5MNRt06o</a>
— Formula 1 (@F1) <a href="https://twitter.com/F1/status/1434162283735887876?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Sunday's race will be the first Dutch Grand Prix in 36 years, the return driven by Verstappen's success and huge following.

"He did a fantastic lap and deserves the pole," said seven times world champion Hamilton, as some boos could be heard from the crowd.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz qualified fifth and sixth with Antonio Giovinazzi standing out in seventh for Alfa Romeo.

Alpine's Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso will line up eighth and ninth and Daniel Ricciardo qualified 10th for McLaren.

Williams drivers George Russell and Nicholas Latifi both crashed in the second phase of qualifying and brought out red flags.

Russell, who started on the front row at the previous race in Belgium last weekend after an astonishing qualifying lap, hit the barriers backwards but managed to keep the car running and returned to the pitlane with nearly four minutes remaining.

The Briton took no further part in qualifying and will start 11th, and when the track action re-started Latifi then lost control and smashed into the barriers in a much heavier impact.

"My tyres were going and I was pushing too hard," said Russell. "I just attacked that corner too much and lost the rear. I'm sorry to the team."

The second stoppage, with a minute and 38 seconds to go, meant McLaren's Lando Norris failed to get in a quick enough lap to go through to the top 10 shootout.

Verstappen's Mexican team mate Sergio Perez and Aston Martin's four times world champion Sebastian Vettel were the big casualties of the first phase.

Vettel, who will start in 17th place, was blocked by dawdling Haas drivers Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher, and the three were summoned to see stewards after the session.

Mazepin blamed Schumacher in comments to Sky Sports television.

"He overtook, backed me up, and put me into Seb. I'll have a word with the team to see why that happened," said the Russian rookie.

Poland's Robert Kubica, standing in at short notice for 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo after the Finn tested positive for COVID-19, qualified 18th and ahead of the Haas pair.

Max Verstappen put Red Bull on pole position for his home Dutch Grand Prix in front of 70,000 ecstatic fans on Saturday, with Formula One rival and championship leader Lewis Hamilton alongside.

Max Verstappen put Red Bull on pole position for his home Dutch Grand Prix in front of 70,000 ecstatic fans on Saturday, with Formula One rival and championship leader Lewis Hamilton alongside. Hamilton, three points clear in the standings after 12 races, was 0.038 seconds slower for Mercedes than Verstappen's best effort of one minute 08.885 seconds around the seaside circuit. The Briton's team mate Valtteri Bottas qualified third with Frenchman Pierre Gasly fourth for Red Bull's sister team AlphaTauri. The pole was the sixth in the last seven races for Verstappen, and the 10th of his career. "It's an amazing feeling of course to get pole position here," said Verstappen as his Orange Army let off flares and celebrated. "The crowd is incredible and today was also very enjoyable. The car was really nice to drive and this track in qualifying, once the fuel comes out, is really cool." Watch Max's rapid lap of Zandvoort in full 🚀 And listen out for the cheers from the Dutch fans! 🔉#DutchGP 🇳🇱 @pirellisport pic.twitter.com/jdD6bqd2q2 — Formula 1 (@F1) September 4, 2021 × In the end, just 0.038s separated Max and Lewis! 😮#DutchGP 🇳🇱 #F1 pic.twitter.com/kq5MNRt06o — Formula 1 (@F1) September 4, 2021 × Sunday's race will be the first Dutch Grand Prix in 36 years, the return driven by Verstappen's success and huge following. "He did a fantastic lap and deserves the pole," said seven times world champion Hamilton, as some boos could be heard from the crowd. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz qualified fifth and sixth with Antonio Giovinazzi standing out in seventh for Alfa Romeo. Alpine's Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso will line up eighth and ninth and Daniel Ricciardo qualified 10th for McLaren. Williams drivers George Russell and Nicholas Latifi both crashed in the second phase of qualifying and brought out red flags. Russell, who started on the front row at the previous race in Belgium last weekend after an astonishing qualifying lap, hit the barriers backwards but managed to keep the car running and returned to the pitlane with nearly four minutes remaining. The Briton took no further part in qualifying and will start 11th, and when the track action re-started Latifi then lost control and smashed into the barriers in a much heavier impact. "My tyres were going and I was pushing too hard," said Russell. "I just attacked that corner too much and lost the rear. I'm sorry to the team." The second stoppage, with a minute and 38 seconds to go, meant McLaren's Lando Norris failed to get in a quick enough lap to go through to the top 10 shootout. Verstappen's Mexican team mate Sergio Perez and Aston Martin's four times world champion Sebastian Vettel were the big casualties of the first phase. Vettel, who will start in 17th place, was blocked by dawdling Haas drivers Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher, and the three were summoned to see stewards after the session. Mazepin blamed Schumacher in comments to Sky Sports television. "He overtook, backed me up, and put me into Seb. I'll have a word with the team to see why that happened," said the Russian rookie. Poland's Robert Kubica, standing in at short notice for 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo after the Finn tested positive for COVID-19, qualified 18th and ahead of the Haas pair.

Max Verstappen takes Dutch Grand Prix pole with Lewis Hamilton alongside

Lewis Hamilton said Belgian Grand Prix fans should get their money back after they waited hours in the cold and wet without seeing a competitive lap in the shortest race in Formula One history.

The wet race at Spa-Francorchamps was abandoned after the field, circulating behind the safety car, completed the two laps necessary for half-points to be awarded and commercial obligations to broadcasters and others fulfilled.

"Money talks and the two laps to start the race is all a money scenario," seven times world champion Hamilton, who finished third for Mercedes, told Sky Sports after the podium ceremonies.

"So everyone gets their money and I think the fans should get theirs back too. Because unfortunately they didn't get to see what they paid for."

The Briton said he was really disappointed for the crowd but the conditions were impossible for racing.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messi-makes-his-debut-in-ligue-1-as-kylian-mbappe-steals-the-show-with-twin-strikes-in-psgs-2-0-win-vs-reims-409271">Lionel Messi makes his debut in Ligue 1 as Kylian Mbappe steals the show with twin strikes in PSG's 2-0 win vs Reims</a>

"Obviously we can't control the weather, and I love racing in the rain, but today was something else. You really couldn't see the car ahead, there was aquaplaning, it was unfortunately just a disaster on track," he said.

"But the fans stayed out in the rain. They still had energy, they still created the atmosphere but they were robbed of a race today. I think they deserve their money back."

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said everyone had reasons to be upset.

"It is what it is. I guess you need to take this one on the chin and close the chapter on this race and move on," said the Austrian.

"We must really applaud the fans that have been there for three days in the rain, they have waited for a race to happen."

With no overtaking possible, pole sitter Max Verstappen was declared the winner for Red Bull ahead of Williams driver George Russell.

Hamilton's overall lead was whittled down to three points from eight.

The race was abandoned at 1844 local time, three hours, 44 minutes after it was supposed to start.

Verstappen, who receives plenty of support at Spa from his army of Dutch fans making the short trip across the border to Belgium, also sympathised with the fans.

"I think for today the credit goes to all the fans around the track to stay here the whole day in the rain, in the cold, in the windy conditions, so I think they are actually the bigger winners today," he said.

Lewis Hamilton said Belgian Grand Prix fans should get their money back after they waited hours in the cold and wet without seeing a competitive lap in the shortest race in Formula One history.

Lewis Hamilton said Belgian Grand Prix fans should get their money back after they waited hours in the cold and wet without seeing a competitive lap in the shortest race in Formula One history. The wet race at Spa-Francorchamps was abandoned after the field, circulating behind the safety car, completed the two laps necessary for half-points to be awarded and commercial obligations to broadcasters and others fulfilled. "Money talks and the two laps to start the race is all a money scenario," seven times world champion Hamilton, who finished third for Mercedes, told Sky Sports after the podium ceremonies. "So everyone gets their money and I think the fans should get theirs back too. Because unfortunately they didn't get to see what they paid for." The Briton said he was really disappointed for the crowd but the conditions were impossible for racing. ALSO READ | Lionel Messi makes his debut in Ligue 1 as Kylian Mbappe steals the show with twin strikes in PSG's 2-0 win vs Reims "Obviously we can't control the weather, and I love racing in the rain, but today was something else. You really couldn't see the car ahead, there was aquaplaning, it was unfortunately just a disaster on track," he said. "But the fans stayed out in the rain. They still had energy, they still created the atmosphere but they were robbed of a race today. I think they deserve their money back." Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said everyone had reasons to be upset. "It is what it is. I guess you need to take this one on the chin and close the chapter on this race and move on," said the Austrian. "We must really applaud the fans that have been there for three days in the rain, they have waited for a race to happen." With no overtaking possible, pole sitter Max Verstappen was declared the winner for Red Bull ahead of Williams driver George Russell. Hamilton's overall lead was whittled down to three points from eight. The race was abandoned at 1844 local time, three hours, 44 minutes after it was supposed to start. Verstappen, who receives plenty of support at Spa from his army of Dutch fans making the short trip across the border to Belgium, also sympathised with the fans. "I think for today the credit goes to all the fans around the track to stay here the whole day in the rain, in the cold, in the windy conditions, so I think they are actually the bigger winners today," he said.

Belgian GP fans should get their money back says Lewis Hamilton after Spa 'race' farce

Frenchman Esteban Ocon raced to his maiden Formula One win in a chaotic Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday (August 1), as Lewis Hamilton vaulted back into the championship lead with a second-placed finish after Sebastian&nbsp;Vettel&nbsp;was disqualified.

The 24-year-old Ocon took the flag 1.8 seconds clear of&nbsp;Vettel, but the four-times world champion German was disqualified after his Aston Martin was found not to have enough fuel to provide the mandatory post-race sample.

Rules require cars to have at least a litre of fuel left in the tank at the end of a race to be extracted as a sample. But only 0.3 litres of fuel could be taken from&nbsp;Vettel's car.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-have-to-be-careful-with-our-words-lewis-hamilton-on-being-booed-by-verstappen-fans-402082">'We have to be careful with our words': Lewis Hamilton on being booed by Verstappen fans</a>

As a result, Hamilton, who put in a stirring drive to recover from a strategic misstep that dropped him from first to last, moved up to second having very nearly caught Ocon and&nbsp;Vettel.

The Briton turned his eight-point deficit to Max Verstappen in the standings into an eight-point lead over the Dutchman, who finished 10th but was classified ninth following&nbsp;Vettel's disqualification.

The German's Aston Martin team said they intended to appeal the decision.

Spaniard Carlos Sainz moved into the final podium spot for Ferrari to take his second top-three finish for the Maranello-based team this season.

Starting eighth and 10th respectively, neither Ocon nor&nbsp;Vettel&nbsp;were thought to be remotely in contention for a race expected to play out as a straight fight between pole-sitter Hamilton and third-placed Verstappen.

But carnage on a wet opening lap and a strategy error wrong footed both title protagonists.

McLaren's Lando Norris smacked into the side of Verstappen's Red Bull after being tagged by the slow starting Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas, who went on to collect the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez, putting both cars out of the race.

That incident and a collision between Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Aston Martin's Lance Stroll brought out the safety car before the race was halted on the second lap.

Verstappen's crew tried to repair his car during the interruption but the Red Bull had suffered far too much damage to bring the Dutchman, now in 13th, back into contention.

Hamilton suffered a setback of his own as he lined up alone for the restart on intermediate tyres on a bone-dry grid even as the rest of the field peeled off into the pits.

He pitted a lap later but came out last, scything through the field in a charge that saw him engage in a potentially race-deciding duel with Fernando Alonso, who was voted 'Driver of the Day' by fans and moved up to fourth after&nbsp;Vettel's penalty.

AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly, the last Frenchman to win a race, was classified fifth after&nbsp;Vettel's penalty. He also took the point for fastest lap.

Frenchman Esteban Ocon raced to his maiden Formula One win in a chaotic Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday (August 1), as Lewis Hamilton vaulted back into the championship lead with a second-placed finish after Sebastian Vettel was disqualified.

Frenchman Esteban Ocon raced to his maiden Formula One win in a chaotic Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday (August 1), as Lewis Hamilton vaulted back into the championship lead with a second-placed finish after Sebastian Vettel was disqualified. The 24-year-old Ocon took the flag 1.8 seconds clear of Vettel, but the four-times world champion German was disqualified after his Aston Martin was found not to have enough fuel to provide the mandatory post-race sample. Rules require cars to have at least a litre of fuel left in the tank at the end of a race to be extracted as a sample. But only 0.3 litres of fuel could be taken from Vettel's car. ALSO READ | 'We have to be careful with our words': Lewis Hamilton on being booed by Verstappen fans As a result, Hamilton, who put in a stirring drive to recover from a strategic misstep that dropped him from first to last, moved up to second having very nearly caught Ocon and Vettel. The Briton turned his eight-point deficit to Max Verstappen in the standings into an eight-point lead over the Dutchman, who finished 10th but was classified ninth following Vettel's disqualification. The German's Aston Martin team said they intended to appeal the decision. Spaniard Carlos Sainz moved into the final podium spot for Ferrari to take his second top-three finish for the Maranello-based team this season. Starting eighth and 10th respectively, neither Ocon nor Vettel were thought to be remotely in contention for a race expected to play out as a straight fight between pole-sitter Hamilton and third-placed Verstappen. But carnage on a wet opening lap and a strategy error wrong footed both title protagonists. McLaren's Lando Norris smacked into the side of Verstappen's Red Bull after being tagged by the slow starting Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas, who went on to collect the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez, putting both cars out of the race. That incident and a collision between Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Aston Martin's Lance Stroll brought out the safety car before the race was halted on the second lap. Verstappen's crew tried to repair his car during the interruption but the Red Bull had suffered far too much damage to bring the Dutchman, now in 13th, back into contention. Hamilton suffered a setback of his own as he lined up alone for the restart on intermediate tyres on a bone-dry grid even as the rest of the field peeled off into the pits. He pitted a lap later but came out last, scything through the field in a charge that saw him engage in a potentially race-deciding duel with Fernando Alonso, who was voted 'Driver of the Day' by fans and moved up to fourth after Vettel's penalty. AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly, the last Frenchman to win a race, was classified fifth after Vettel's penalty. He also took the point for fastest lap.

Hungarian Grand Prix: Ocon races to maiden win, Vettel disqualified, Hamilton up to second

Seven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton said he suspects he has long COVID, after suffering dizziness and fatigue in the aftermath of a hard-fought Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday.

"Everything got a bit blurry on the podium," said the 36-year-old, who had to be looked over by his Mercedes team doctor after a flat-out charge from last to third around the twisting Hungaroring.

"I've been fighting all year, really, with staying healthy after what happened at the end of last year.

"It’s still a battle."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-have-to-be-careful-with-our-words-lewis-hamilton-on-being-booed-by-verstappen-fans-402082">'We have to be careful with our words': Lewis Hamilton on being booed by Verstappen fans</a>

Hamilton tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to miss last year's penultimate Sakhir Grand Prix in December.

The Briton was back in action at the final race in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 13, where he finished third after testing negative but reported feeling the after-effects of the disease. On Sunday, he said those effects had lingered.

"I haven’t spoken to anyone particularly about it but I think it is lingering," said Hamilton, who turned an eight-point deficit to Red Bull rival Max Verstappen into a six-point lead with his drive on Sunday.

"I remember when I had it, training’s been different since then, the levels of fatigue that you get, it’s different.

"Who knows what it is today, maybe its hydration, I don’t know. But I’ve definitely not had that experience.

"I had something similar in Silverstone but it's just way worse," added the Briton who took his fourth win of the season at the British track two weeks ago.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/formula-one-sebastian-vettel-and-three-others-reprimanded-for-not-removing-lgbtq-rights-t-shirts-before-anthem-402291">Sebastian Vettel and three others reprimanded for not removing LGBTQ+ rights t-shirts before anthem</a>

The 4.3-kilometre Hungaroring with its constant twists and turns is a physically demanding track. The race is also often hot.

Hamilton's team mate Valtteri Bottas compared his Mercedes cockpit to a Finnish sauna on Friday.

Hamilton said he "gave it everything" in his bid to chase down surprise winner Esteban Ocon, who took his maiden victory, and second-placed four-time champion Sebastian Vettel. &nbsp;

"It was a really hard race in general," said Ocon, sitting alongside Hamilton in the post-race news conference.

"This track with the heat, the humidity, the corners, you don’t have a breather here. I feel flat, I feel completely dead as well. I tell you I will have a good sleep tonight."&nbsp;

Seven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton said he suspects he has long COVID, after suffering dizziness and fatigue in the aftermath of a hard-fought Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday.

Seven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton said he suspects he has long COVID, after suffering dizziness and fatigue in the aftermath of a hard-fought Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday. "Everything got a bit blurry on the podium," said the 36-year-old, who had to be looked over by his Mercedes team doctor after a flat-out charge from last to third around the twisting Hungaroring. "I've been fighting all year, really, with staying healthy after what happened at the end of last year. "It’s still a battle." ALSO READ | 'We have to be careful with our words': Lewis Hamilton on being booed by Verstappen fans Hamilton tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to miss last year's penultimate Sakhir Grand Prix in December. The Briton was back in action at the final race in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 13, where he finished third after testing negative but reported feeling the after-effects of the disease. On Sunday, he said those effects had lingered. "I haven’t spoken to anyone particularly about it but I think it is lingering," said Hamilton, who turned an eight-point deficit to Red Bull rival Max Verstappen into a six-point lead with his drive on Sunday. "I remember when I had it, training’s been different since then, the levels of fatigue that you get, it’s different. "Who knows what it is today, maybe its hydration, I don’t know. But I’ve definitely not had that experience. "I had something similar in Silverstone but it's just way worse," added the Briton who took his fourth win of the season at the British track two weeks ago. ALSO READ | Sebastian Vettel and three others reprimanded for not removing LGBTQ+ rights t-shirts before anthem The 4.3-kilometre Hungaroring with its constant twists and turns is a physically demanding track. The race is also often hot. Hamilton's team mate Valtteri Bottas compared his Mercedes cockpit to a Finnish sauna on Friday. Hamilton said he "gave it everything" in his bid to chase down surprise winner Esteban Ocon, who took his maiden victory, and second-placed four-time champion Sebastian Vettel. "It was a really hard race in general," said Ocon, sitting alongside Hamilton in the post-race news conference. "This track with the heat, the humidity, the corners, you don’t have a breather here. I feel flat, I feel completely dead as well. I tell you I will have a good sleep tonight."

Formula One: Lewis Hamilton suspects long COVID-19 after suffering fatigue, dizziness

Lewis Hamilton tried to tone down the ongoing feud with Max Verstappen as he was booed by the Dutchman's supporters after taking his first pole in almost three months ahead of the Grand Prix of Hungary.

The Mercedes driver was subjected to a chorus of jeers as he attempted to conduct his post-qualifying interview on Saturday.

"We do have to be so careful with our words particularly as there are young kids watching" he said.

A fortnight on from Hamilton's 180mph collision with Verstappen on the first lap of the British Grand Prix, around 10,000 Dutch fans have made the journey across Europe to the Hungaroring, a dozen miles outside of Budapest.

They are creating a hostile reception for Hamilton. One banner here read: "Sir Cheat: Karma is on its way", in reference to Hamilton's 10-second penalty for his collision with Verstappen at Silverstone.

There was also another poster of Hamilton mocked up as a crying baby in his Mercedes overalls.&nbsp;

Lewis Hamilton tried to tone down the ongoing feud with Max Verstappen as he was booed by the Dutchman's supporters after taking his first pole in almost three months ahead of the Grand Prix of Hungary.

Lewis Hamilton tried to tone down the ongoing feud with Max Verstappen as he was booed by the Dutchman's supporters after taking his first pole in almost three months ahead of the Grand Prix of Hungary. The Mercedes driver was subjected to a chorus of jeers as he attempted to conduct his post-qualifying interview on Saturday. "We do have to be so careful with our words particularly as there are young kids watching" he said. A fortnight on from Hamilton's 180mph collision with Verstappen on the first lap of the British Grand Prix, around 10,000 Dutch fans have made the journey across Europe to the Hungaroring, a dozen miles outside of Budapest. They are creating a hostile reception for Hamilton. One banner here read: "Sir Cheat: Karma is on its way", in reference to Hamilton's 10-second penalty for his collision with Verstappen at Silverstone. There was also another poster of Hamilton mocked up as a crying baby in his Mercedes overalls.

'We have to be careful with our words': Lewis Hamilton on being booed by Verstappen fans

Formula One driver Max Verstappen was taken to hospital after his car was careened off the track and crashed into the barrier as Lewis Hamilton tried to overtake him.&nbsp;

Verstappen took to Twitter to provide an update on himself and said that he was okay, however, he also lashed out at seven-time Formula One champion for his "disrespectful and unsportsmanlike behaviour" on Sunday.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-organisers-assure-that-cardboard-beds-are-sturdy-after-anti-sex-reports-399022" hreflang="en">Tokyo Olympics organisers assure that cardboard beds are 'sturdy' after 'anti-sex' reports</a>

"Glad I'm ok. Very disappointed with being taken out like this. The penalty given does not help us and doesn't do justice to the dangerous move Lewis made on track," tweeted Verstappen.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Verstappen and Hamilton collide! 
 
The title rivals come together at Copse, pitching Verstappen into a high-speed crash. 
 
The Dutchman was able to walk away but he has been taken to hospital for precautionary checks<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BritishGP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BritishGP</a> 🇬🇧 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F1</a> <a href="https://t.co/ol1s9dRJoa">pic.twitter.com/ol1s9dRJoa</a>
— Formula 1 (@F1) <a href="https://twitter.com/F1/status/1416796423195070472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"Watching the celebrations while still in hospital is disrespectful and unsportsmanlike behaviour but we move on."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Glad I’m ok. Very disappointed with being taken out like this. The penalty given does not help us and doesn’t do justice to the dangerous move Lewis made on track. Watching the celebrations while still in hospital is disrespectful and unsportsmanlike behavior but we move on <a href="https://t.co/iCrgyYWYkm">pic.twitter.com/iCrgyYWYkm</a>
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Max33Verstappen/status/1416816722200469508?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Lewis Hamilton was handed a 10-second penalty for a brash overtake against Verstappen, however, he still went on to win the British Grand Slam for record eighth time.&nbsp;

The 36-year-old is now only eight points behind Verstappen after 10 races, passed Ferrari`s Charles Leclerc for the lead with two laps to go as a capacity 140,000 crowd rose to cheer him. Hamilton`s team mate Valtteri Bottas was third.

The win was the 99th of seven times world champion Hamilton`s career.

Formula One driver Max Verstappen was taken to hospital after his car was careened off the track and crashed into the barrier as Lewis Hamilton tried to overtake him.

Formula One driver Max Verstappen was taken to hospital after his car was careened off the track and crashed into the barrier as Lewis Hamilton tried to overtake him. Verstappen took to Twitter to provide an update on himself and said that he was okay, however, he also lashed out at seven-time Formula One champion for his "disrespectful and unsportsmanlike behaviour" on Sunday. ALSO READ: Tokyo Olympics organisers assure that cardboard beds are 'sturdy' after 'anti-sex' reports "Glad I'm ok. Very disappointed with being taken out like this. The penalty given does not help us and doesn't do justice to the dangerous move Lewis made on track," tweeted Verstappen. Verstappen and Hamilton collide! The title rivals come together at Copse, pitching Verstappen into a high-speed crash. The Dutchman was able to walk away but he has been taken to hospital for precautionary checks#BritishGP 🇬🇧 #F1 pic.twitter.com/ol1s9dRJoa — Formula 1 (@F1) July 18, 2021 × "Watching the celebrations while still in hospital is disrespectful and unsportsmanlike behaviour but we move on." Glad I’m ok. Very disappointed with being taken out like this. The penalty given does not help us and doesn’t do justice to the dangerous move Lewis made on track. Watching the celebrations while still in hospital is disrespectful and unsportsmanlike behavior but we move on pic.twitter.com/iCrgyYWYkm — Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) July 18, 2021 × Lewis Hamilton was handed a 10-second penalty for a brash overtake against Verstappen, however, he still went on to win the British Grand Slam for record eighth time. The 36-year-old is now only eight points behind Verstappen after 10 races, passed Ferrari`s Charles Leclerc for the lead with two laps to go as a capacity 140,000 crowd rose to cheer him. Hamilton`s team mate Valtteri Bottas was third. The win was the 99th of seven times world champion Hamilton`s career.

'Disrespectful': Max Verstappen lashes out at Lewis Hamilton over British GP crash

Formula One star Lewis Hamilton is the latest sporting icon to be subjected to online abuse after winning the British Grand Prix for the eighth time.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/formula-one-hamilton-wins-home-british-gp-for-eighth-time-398910" hreflang="en">Formula One: Hamilton wins home British GP for eighth time</a>

As per Sky Sports, Hamilton received several racist messages as replies to a post by his Mercedes team on Instagram.

Lewis Hamilton celebrated a record eighth win at the race despite receiving a 10-seconds penalty for a first-lap collision due to which Red Bull's Max Verstappen was off the race and into the hospital.&nbsp;

Lewis Hamilton was very vocal during the 'Black Lives Matter' movement he even joined the protests. He said before the race that he was inspired by the reaction of England soccer players to racist abuse after their penalty shootout defeat to Italy in the European Championship final.

The 36-year-old is now only eight points behind Verstappen after 10 races, passed Ferrari`s Charles Leclerc for the lead with two laps to go as a capacity 140,000 crowd rose to cheer him. Hamilton`s team mate Valtteri Bottas was third.

The win was the 99th of seven times world champion Hamilton`s career.

Formula One star Lewis Hamilton is the latest sporting icon to be subjected to online abuse after winning the British Grand Prix for the eighth time. ALSO READ: Formula One: Hamilton wins home British GP for eighth time As per Sky Sports, Hamilton received several racist messages as replies to a post by his Mercedes team on Instagram.

Formula One star Lewis Hamilton is the latest sporting icon to be subjected to online abuse after winning the British Grand Prix for the eighth time. ALSO READ: Formula One: Hamilton wins home British GP for eighth time As per Sky Sports, Hamilton received several racist messages as replies to a post by his Mercedes team on Instagram. Lewis Hamilton celebrated a record eighth win at the race despite receiving a 10-seconds penalty for a first-lap collision due to which Red Bull's Max Verstappen was off the race and into the hospital. Lewis Hamilton was very vocal during the 'Black Lives Matter' movement he even joined the protests. He said before the race that he was inspired by the reaction of England soccer players to racist abuse after their penalty shootout defeat to Italy in the European Championship final. The 36-year-old is now only eight points behind Verstappen after 10 races, passed Ferrari`s Charles Leclerc for the lead with two laps to go as a capacity 140,000 crowd rose to cheer him. Hamilton`s team mate Valtteri Bottas was third. The win was the 99th of seven times world champion Hamilton`s career.

Formula One: Lewis Hamilton subject to online racism after British Grand Prix win - Reports

Lewis Hamilton won his home British Grand Prix for a record-extending eighth time on Sunday despite a 10-second penalty for a first lap collision that sent Red Bull rival Max Verstappen crashing out of the race. 
 
The Mercedes driver, now only eight points behind Verstappen after 10 races, passed Ferrari`s Charles Leclerc for the lead with two laps to go as a capacity 140,000 crowd rose to cheer him. Hamilton`s team mate Valtteri Bottas was third. 
 
The win was the 99th of seven times world champion Hamilton`s career.

Lewis Hamilton won his home British Grand Prix for a record-extending eighth time on Sunday despite a 10-second penalty for a first lap collision that sent Red Bull rival Max Verstappen crashing out of the race.

Lewis Hamilton won his home British Grand Prix for a record-extending eighth time on Sunday despite a 10-second penalty for a first lap collision that sent Red Bull rival Max Verstappen crashing out of the race. The Mercedes driver, now only eight points behind Verstappen after 10 races, passed Ferrari`s Charles Leclerc for the lead with two laps to go as a capacity 140,000 crowd rose to cheer him. Hamilton`s team mate Valtteri Bottas was third. The win was the 99th of seven times world champion Hamilton`s career.

Formula One: Hamilton wins home British GP for eighth time

Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen crashed out of the British Grand Prix on Sunday after a first-lap collision with reigning champion Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen's Red Bull careened off the track and into the barriers as he was knocked out of the race.&nbsp;

His Red Bull team tweeted that he has been taken to hospital for further precautionary tests.

"Thank god he's walked away unscathed," Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told the race director.&nbsp;

"Full blame lays on Hamilton who should never have been in that position."

"That was a really nasty accident. It's like a professional foul," Horner later told British TV.

Hamilton was handed a 10-second penalty, which he could take during a pit stop.

Roared on by a capacity crowd, home driver Hamilton, who started second on the grid, attacked Verstappen from the start.

He made several attempts to overtake and tried to cut inside on Copse corner. As Dutchman Verstappen turned he hit the front tyre of the Mercedes, and his Red Bull flew across the gravel and into the barriers.&nbsp;

The race was suspended with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in the lead as crews worked to remove Verstappen's car and the stewards reviewed the incident.&nbsp;

Verstappen waved to the crowd before climbing into an ambulance.

"Following an assessment by the trackside doctors at Silverstone Circuit Medical Centre, Max Verstappen has been taken to a local hospital," said Red Bull's tweet.

During the pause in the action the teams and drivers involved lobbied race organisers and the stewards both in person and on the radio.

Team principals Toto Wolff of Mercedes and Horner both visited the officials' room in the pit lane.&nbsp;

Hamilton pleaded his case in a radio chat with his team.

"I was ahead coming in there," he said. "It was my line. I was giving the guy space."

He was backed up by call from the Mercedes pit lane to race director Michael Massey.

"I've had a chance to look at that footage. Lewis was significantly alongside on the inside of turn nine."

Horner argued the opposite in a radio call with Massey

"That corner, he was never anywhere near alongside," Horner said.&nbsp;

"Every driver that's driven this circuit knows you do not stick a wheel up the inside at Copse. That's an enormous accident and it was 100 per cent Max's corner. Full blame lays on Hamilton who should never have been in that position."

"Thank god he's walked away unscathed. I hope you're going to deal with it appropriately," Horner concluded, before repeating the sentiment to the TV cameras in the pit lane.

The stewards eventually settled on a 10-second penalty, almost the smallest penalty they could impose, though they could review the incident afer the race.

Horner told British TV that the penalty was "pretty light, he's still going to finish on the podium with that penalty".

The Mercedes pits responded by radioing Hamilton that their strategy had changed.

"So, you probably need to push on now. Situation has now changed compared to this morning due to the 10-second penalty," they said.

Verstappen had won the last three races to build a 33-point lead over seven-time champion Hamilton.

After finishing second in Saturday's qualifying sprint, Hamilton had repeated his&nbsp;complaint that the Red Bulls were faster.

"It was pretty much the same as the last races -- you had to follow Max," he said, a sentiment which explained his desperate attempt to grab the lead at the start.

Hamilton was involved in another infamous first-lap crash when he collided with team-mate Nico Rosberg in Barcelona in 2016, wiping out both cars. Rosberg went on to win the title.

Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen crashed out of the British Grand Prix on Sunday after a first-lap collision with reigning champion Lewis Hamilton.

Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen crashed out of the British Grand Prix on Sunday after a first-lap collision with reigning champion Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen's Red Bull careened off the track and into the barriers as he was knocked out of the race. His Red Bull team tweeted that he has been taken to hospital for further precautionary tests. "Thank god he's walked away unscathed," Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told the race director. "Full blame lays on Hamilton who should never have been in that position." "That was a really nasty accident. It's like a professional foul," Horner later told British TV. Hamilton was handed a 10-second penalty, which he could take during a pit stop. Roared on by a capacity crowd, home driver Hamilton, who started second on the grid, attacked Verstappen from the start. He made several attempts to overtake and tried to cut inside on Copse corner. As Dutchman Verstappen turned he hit the front tyre of the Mercedes, and his Red Bull flew across the gravel and into the barriers. The race was suspended with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in the lead as crews worked to remove Verstappen's car and the stewards reviewed the incident. Verstappen waved to the crowd before climbing into an ambulance. "Following an assessment by the trackside doctors at Silverstone Circuit Medical Centre, Max Verstappen has been taken to a local hospital," said Red Bull's tweet. During the pause in the action the teams and drivers involved lobbied race organisers and the stewards both in person and on the radio. Team principals Toto Wolff of Mercedes and Horner both visited the officials' room in the pit lane. Hamilton pleaded his case in a radio chat with his team. "I was ahead coming in there," he said. "It was my line. I was giving the guy space." He was backed up by call from the Mercedes pit lane to race director Michael Massey. "I've had a chance to look at that footage. Lewis was significantly alongside on the inside of turn nine." Horner argued the opposite in a radio call with Massey "That corner, he was never anywhere near alongside," Horner said. "Every driver that's driven this circuit knows you do not stick a wheel up the inside at Copse. That's an enormous accident and it was 100 per cent Max's corner. Full blame lays on Hamilton who should never have been in that position." "Thank god he's walked away unscathed. I hope you're going to deal with it appropriately," Horner concluded, before repeating the sentiment to the TV cameras in the pit lane. The stewards eventually settled on a 10-second penalty, almost the smallest penalty they could impose, though they could review the incident afer the race. Horner told British TV that the penalty was "pretty light, he's still going to finish on the podium with that penalty". The Mercedes pits responded by radioing Hamilton that their strategy had changed. "So, you probably need to push on now. Situation has now changed compared to this morning due to the 10-second penalty," they said. Verstappen had won the last three races to build a 33-point lead over seven-time champion Hamilton. After finishing second in Saturday's qualifying sprint, Hamilton had repeated his complaint that the Red Bulls were faster. "It was pretty much the same as the last races -- you had to follow Max," he said, a sentiment which explained his desperate attempt to grab the lead at the start. Hamilton was involved in another infamous first-lap crash when he collided with team-mate Nico Rosberg in Barcelona in 2016, wiping out both cars. Rosberg went on to win the title.

'Blame Hamilton': Verstappen in hospital after British Grand Prix collision

World championship leader Max&nbsp;Verstappen&nbsp;won Formula One's inaugural&nbsp;sprint&nbsp;race&nbsp;on Saturday to take&nbsp;pole&nbsp;position for the&nbsp;British&nbsp;Grand&nbsp;Prix.

The Red Bull driver finished the 100km dash ahead of defending world champion Lewis Hamilton with Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes in third place.

Verstappen&nbsp;went into the weekend with a 32-point lead over seven-time champion Hamilton who is hoping to capture an eighth&nbsp;British&nbsp;Grand&nbsp;Prix&nbsp;triumph on Sunday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/formula-one-verstappen-ready-to-pounce-as-cracks-widen-in-mercedes-armour-393583">Formula One: Verstappen ready to pounce as cracks widen in Mercedes armour</a>

"We were pushing each other hard as the tyres were blistering a lot," said&nbsp;Verstappen&nbsp;who collected three points for his win.

Hamilton took two and Bottas one.

"I am happy to have scored the three points and it is funny to say I have scored the&nbsp;pole&nbsp;position too, but we'll take it," added the Dutchman.

Hamilton started the&nbsp;sprint&nbsp;at the front of the grid having topped qualifying on Friday.

However, he admitted he will face a battle to secure a 99th career win in front of around 90,000 fans on Sunday.

"First&nbsp;of all, let me say thank you to the fans, their energy is amazing," he said.

"I gave it everything today, I'm just sorry I couldn't win it for them. Tomorrow we will fight again, but Red Bull are just so strong."

Saturday's&nbsp;sprint&nbsp;qualifying&nbsp;race&nbsp;was the&nbsp;first&nbsp;of three planned for this year.

Another will follow at the Italian&nbsp;Grand&nbsp;Prix&nbsp;in September with the third venue still to be confirmed.

World championship leader Max Verstappen won Formula One's inaugural sprint race on Saturday to take pole position for the British Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver finished the 100km dash ahead of defending world champion Lewis Hamilton with Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes in third place.

World championship leader Max Verstappen won Formula One's inaugural sprint race on Saturday to take pole position for the British Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver finished the 100km dash ahead of defending world champion Lewis Hamilton with Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes in third place. Verstappen went into the weekend with a 32-point lead over seven-time champion Hamilton who is hoping to capture an eighth British Grand Prix triumph on Sunday. Also read | Formula One: Verstappen ready to pounce as cracks widen in Mercedes armour "We were pushing each other hard as the tyres were blistering a lot," said Verstappen who collected three points for his win. Hamilton took two and Bottas one. "I am happy to have scored the three points and it is funny to say I have scored the pole position too, but we'll take it," added the Dutchman. Hamilton started the sprint at the front of the grid having topped qualifying on Friday. However, he admitted he will face a battle to secure a 99th career win in front of around 90,000 fans on Sunday. "First of all, let me say thank you to the fans, their energy is amazing," he said. "I gave it everything today, I'm just sorry I couldn't win it for them. Tomorrow we will fight again, but Red Bull are just so strong." Saturday's sprint qualifying race was the first of three planned for this year. Another will follow at the Italian Grand Prix in September with the third venue still to be confirmed.

Verstappen wins first sprint race to claim British Grand Prix pole

Lewis Hamilton says he has no plans to stick around in Formula One into his 40s but signed up for two more years because this season`s close competition has been so exciting. 
 
Explaining the thinking behind a contract extension announced at the Austrian Grand Prix on Saturday, Mercedes` seven times world champion told reporters he was loving the challenge. 
 
The 36-year-old said he had considered leaving but felt both he and the sport were entering an interesting new phase. 
 
"I think we are being challenged more than ever this year, which is great," said the most successful driver of all time. "And I love racing. This is what I want to do." 
 
Hamilton said his previous contract was supposed to be for two years but he asked for one because he was unsure whether he would continue or not, with the COVID-19 pandemic also casting uncertainty. 
 
"I had the best and most enjoyable start of the year, enjoyed the roller-coaster ride that we`re having," he explained. 
 
"The start of this season, when the cars were so close in performance -- pretty much equal -- then it was really one of the most exciting times I`ve had for some time. To be able to have this battle with Red Bull. 
 
"I was really hoping that it would continue on like that for the rest of the year but they`ve taken a huge leap forwards," said Hamilton. 
 
The Briton is 18 points behind Max Verstappen after the opening eight races, with Red Bull winning four in a row up to Sunday after Hamilton triumphed in three of the first four. 
 
Hamilton has used his platform to campaign for diversity and equal rights, an important part of his decision to stay, but he said he was also just loving his job. 
 
"I found myself just waking up thinking about racing, so I wanted to continue to race," he said. 
 
"Now we are having this tight battle it`s brought me closer to the team, closer to the engineers, it`s making me dig deeper and I love that. It has reinvigorated the love that I have for this sport and love for what I do." 
 
The new contract will see Hamilton, who has 98 wins and 100 poles, race on until he is 38 -- an age he said "doesn`t actually sound that bad". 
 
He would not stick around just for the sake of it, though. 
 
"There`s going to be a point at which I`m going to want to move on to do different things...I`m not going to do it at 80%, 70% and just trundle along," he said. 
 
"I`m only here to win. So if there`s ever a point that I feel I don`t want to commit the time or the effort, that will be the time for me to stop. I don`t plan to be here until I`m 40. I hope I have something else exciting to do beyond."

Lewis Hamilton says he has no plans to stick around in Formula One into his 40s but signed up for two more years because this season`s close competition has been so exciting.

Lewis Hamilton says he has no plans to stick around in Formula One into his 40s but signed up for two more years because this season`s close competition has been so exciting. Explaining the thinking behind a contract extension announced at the Austrian Grand Prix on Saturday, Mercedes` seven times world champion told reporters he was loving the challenge. The 36-year-old said he had considered leaving but felt both he and the sport were entering an interesting new phase. "I think we are being challenged more than ever this year, which is great," said the most successful driver of all time. "And I love racing. This is what I want to do." Hamilton said his previous contract was supposed to be for two years but he asked for one because he was unsure whether he would continue or not, with the COVID-19 pandemic also casting uncertainty. "I had the best and most enjoyable start of the year, enjoyed the roller-coaster ride that we`re having," he explained. "The start of this season, when the cars were so close in performance -- pretty much equal -- then it was really one of the most exciting times I`ve had for some time. To be able to have this battle with Red Bull. "I was really hoping that it would continue on like that for the rest of the year but they`ve taken a huge leap forwards," said Hamilton. The Briton is 18 points behind Max Verstappen after the opening eight races, with Red Bull winning four in a row up to Sunday after Hamilton triumphed in three of the first four. Hamilton has used his platform to campaign for diversity and equal rights, an important part of his decision to stay, but he said he was also just loving his job. "I found myself just waking up thinking about racing, so I wanted to continue to race," he said. "Now we are having this tight battle it`s brought me closer to the team, closer to the engineers, it`s making me dig deeper and I love that. It has reinvigorated the love that I have for this sport and love for what I do." The new contract will see Hamilton, who has 98 wins and 100 poles, race on until he is 38 -- an age he said "doesn`t actually sound that bad". He would not stick around just for the sake of it, though. "There`s going to be a point at which I`m going to want to move on to do different things...I`m not going to do it at 80%, 70% and just trundle along," he said. "I`m only here to win. So if there`s ever a point that I feel I don`t want to commit the time or the effort, that will be the time for me to stop. I don`t plan to be here until I`m 40. I hope I have something else exciting to do beyond."

Lewis Hamilton says thrilling season convinced him to stay in F1

Max Verstappen won the French Grand Prix on Sunday to extend his lead over Lewis Hamilton in the Formula One drivers' title race.

The Red Bull driver hunted down and overtook the Mercedes world champion with over a lap to go at a gusty Le Castellet to claim his third win out of seven races this season.

"Towards the end I enjoyed it! At the beginning it was super difficult out there with the wind," said Verstappen.

This was a massive statement by the Dutch driver and his resurgent Red Bull team who won their third successive race after Monaco and Baku.

It pushed Verstappen 12 points clear of Hamilton ahead of back-to-back races on Red Bull turf in Austria.

Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull came in third with Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes finishing fourth.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner had said before the race "if we can beat them here we can beat them anywhere" of Mercedes, who were itching to get back onto a regular track like the circuit Paul Ricard after getting lost on the streets of Monaco and Baku.

But things got off to a bumpy beginning for pole sitter Verstappen, who went off the track in a horror start coming out of turn one, Hamilton accepting the unexpected gift to take the lead.

"I couldn't keep the car under control," complained Verstappen.

Hamilton had led 105 of the 106 laps for his wins here in 2018 and 2019, and he set about extending his near total stranglehold at the Provencal track.

Approaching a third of the 53-lap race Hamilton had established a near three second gap back to Verstappen, with Bottas and Perez in pursuit.

With drivers starting to complain of tyre wear Charles Leclerc was the first to come into the pits for a change of footwear for his Ferrari.

Verstappen wasn't far behind, with Hamilton coming in for a slick stop on lap 20, coming out as Verstappen flashed past with Perez, still to pit, the new leader.

The Mexican, winner in Baku last time out, was hauled in on lap 25, leaving Verstappen in the lead and Hamilton half a second behind.

"We can't keep this up until the end of the race that's for sure" Verstappen told his pits over the team radio referring to tyres on lap 29.

And on lap 32 in he came in again, resuming in fourth, 25sec behind Hamilton, but with better grip he was only seven seconds behind in third by lap 40.

With nine laps to go Verstappen muscled past Bottas, the gap ahead to Hamilton just five seconds.

Hunting his prey down it made for an epic end and he duly picked off the Silver Arrows on the penultimate lap to trigger wild celebrations in the Red Bull garage.

"The whole race me and Lewis were fighting each other, so it will be like this the rest of the season," Verstappen said.

Max Verstappen won the French Grand Prix on Sunday to extend his lead over Lewis Hamilton in the Formula One drivers' title race. The Red Bull driver hunted down and overtook the Mercedes world champion with over a lap to go at a gusty Le Castellet to claim his third win out of seven races this season.

Max Verstappen won the French Grand Prix on Sunday to extend his lead over Lewis Hamilton in the Formula One drivers' title race. The Red Bull driver hunted down and overtook the Mercedes world champion with over a lap to go at a gusty Le Castellet to claim his third win out of seven races this season. "Towards the end I enjoyed it! At the beginning it was super difficult out there with the wind," said Verstappen. This was a massive statement by the Dutch driver and his resurgent Red Bull team who won their third successive race after Monaco and Baku. It pushed Verstappen 12 points clear of Hamilton ahead of back-to-back races on Red Bull turf in Austria. Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull came in third with Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes finishing fourth. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner had said before the race "if we can beat them here we can beat them anywhere" of Mercedes, who were itching to get back onto a regular track like the circuit Paul Ricard after getting lost on the streets of Monaco and Baku. But things got off to a bumpy beginning for pole sitter Verstappen, who went off the track in a horror start coming out of turn one, Hamilton accepting the unexpected gift to take the lead. "I couldn't keep the car under control," complained Verstappen. Hamilton had led 105 of the 106 laps for his wins here in 2018 and 2019, and he set about extending his near total stranglehold at the Provencal track. Approaching a third of the 53-lap race Hamilton had established a near three second gap back to Verstappen, with Bottas and Perez in pursuit. With drivers starting to complain of tyre wear Charles Leclerc was the first to come into the pits for a change of footwear for his Ferrari. Verstappen wasn't far behind, with Hamilton coming in for a slick stop on lap 20, coming out as Verstappen flashed past with Perez, still to pit, the new leader. The Mexican, winner in Baku last time out, was hauled in on lap 25, leaving Verstappen in the lead and Hamilton half a second behind. "We can't keep this up until the end of the race that's for sure" Verstappen told his pits over the team radio referring to tyres on lap 29. And on lap 32 in he came in again, resuming in fourth, 25sec behind Hamilton, but with better grip he was only seven seconds behind in third by lap 40. With nine laps to go Verstappen muscled past Bottas, the gap ahead to Hamilton just five seconds. Hunting his prey down it made for an epic end and he duly picked off the Silver Arrows on the penultimate lap to trigger wild celebrations in the Red Bull garage. "The whole race me and Lewis were fighting each other, so it will be like this the rest of the season," Verstappen said.

Formula One: Verstappen denies Hamilton in French thriller

Lewis Hamilton claimed his fifth successive Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen&nbsp;after a Mercedes pit-stop masterstroke.

Hamilton moved on to 98 career wins after a surprise second change of tyres hoodwinked Red Bull to lift him 14 points clear of Verstappen in the drivers' standings.

"It was a really great strategy by the team. What a day!" beamed Hamilton, who was quick to acknowledge the smattering of fans allowed in to watch, a rare occurence in the time of coronavirus.

"It is great to see. I saw a British flag out there which I haven't seen for a long, long time. I feel great after this. I feel like I could go again."

Hamilton had set off from pole for the 100th time but was beaten to the first corner by Verstappen, with Charles Leclerc for Ferrari dishing out the same treatment on Valtteri Bottas on turn two.

On lap eight Yuki Tsunoda's Sunday drive in Catalonia suffered a premature end when his AlphaTauri came to a grinding halt.

"Engine stop" the Japanese rookie lamented as the safety car emerged briefly to remove the immobile obstacle.

Verstappen held off Hamilton comfortably on the restart on lap 11, with Leclerc continuing to split the two Mercedes.

With a third of the race completed the first round of pit stops began, with all eyes on which of the front two with less than a second between them would blink first.

Verstappen it was who came in on lap 25, but the pit stop was slow by a couple of seconds in another minor but potentially critical error by the Red Bull title pretenders.

<h2>- 'Sitting duck' -</h2>

The Mercedes pit wall pulled Hamilton in for a lightning stop a few laps later as they pinned their hopes on fresher medium tyres making the difference towards the finish.

At the midway point Hamilton set the fastest lap to go less than two and a half seconds behind his Dutch rival. The gap was less than a second shortly after.

On lap 43 Mercedes played their ace card.

Hamilton, half a second off the lead, came into the pits for a second new set of mediums.

He reemerged with under 23sec to make up on Verstappen, who with tyre wear was in danger of becoming what he would describe afterwards as "a sitting duck" for the man in pursuit of a record eighth drivers' title.

Hamilton asked his pit wall: "How far have I got to catch up?"

"Currently 22 seconds... we've done it before..." came back the reply.

There was a note of desperation on Red Bull's radio with Verstappen suggesting "I don't know how we are going to make it to the end".

Hamilton moved into second but there was no hint of team orders with Bottas forcing his teammate into full overtaking mode.

Ten laps to go and Hamilton had only three seconds to make up on Verstappen and on lap 60 he did it, surging past the Dutchman on turn one - Toto Wolff, his team boss, punching the air with delight as their masterstroke paid off.

Hamilton said he was in two minds as to whether to obey the order to come in.

"I was about to get a shot to get past him as I pitted. I was really conflicted - 'do I come in or ignore the call?'.&nbsp;

"I did what the team asked because there is a great trust between us. Remarkable job by everyone in this team. What a day."

Red Bull boss Christian Horner was magnanimous in defeat, saying: "In fairness, hats off to Mercedes and Lewis."

Verstappen said: "We're not where we want to be and we still need to push hard and catch up because at the moment we are a little bit slower. But compared to last year, it has been a jump for us."

Bottas took third in the second Mercedes with Leclerc's Ferrari in fourth and Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull completing the top five.

Formula One takes a breather next weekend before returning for the Monaco Grand Prix with Hamilton possibly having a tilt at his century of wins in Azerbaijan at the start of June.

Lewis Hamilton claimed his fifth successive Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen after a Mercedes pit-stop masterstroke. Hamilton moved on to 98 career wins after a surprise second change of tyres hoodwinked Red Bull to lift him 14 points clear of Verstappen in the drivers' standings.

Lewis Hamilton claimed his fifth successive Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen after a Mercedes pit-stop masterstroke. Hamilton moved on to 98 career wins after a surprise second change of tyres hoodwinked Red Bull to lift him 14 points clear of Verstappen in the drivers' standings. "It was a really great strategy by the team. What a day!" beamed Hamilton, who was quick to acknowledge the smattering of fans allowed in to watch, a rare occurence in the time of coronavirus. "It is great to see. I saw a British flag out there which I haven't seen for a long, long time. I feel great after this. I feel like I could go again." Hamilton had set off from pole for the 100th time but was beaten to the first corner by Verstappen, with Charles Leclerc for Ferrari dishing out the same treatment on Valtteri Bottas on turn two. On lap eight Yuki Tsunoda's Sunday drive in Catalonia suffered a premature end when his AlphaTauri came to a grinding halt. "Engine stop" the Japanese rookie lamented as the safety car emerged briefly to remove the immobile obstacle. Verstappen held off Hamilton comfortably on the restart on lap 11, with Leclerc continuing to split the two Mercedes. With a third of the race completed the first round of pit stops began, with all eyes on which of the front two with less than a second between them would blink first. Verstappen it was who came in on lap 25, but the pit stop was slow by a couple of seconds in another minor but potentially critical error by the Red Bull title pretenders. - 'Sitting duck' - The Mercedes pit wall pulled Hamilton in for a lightning stop a few laps later as they pinned their hopes on fresher medium tyres making the difference towards the finish. At the midway point Hamilton set the fastest lap to go less than two and a half seconds behind his Dutch rival. The gap was less than a second shortly after. On lap 43 Mercedes played their ace card. Hamilton, half a second off the lead, came into the pits for a second new set of mediums. He reemerged with under 23sec to make up on Verstappen, who with tyre wear was in danger of becoming what he would describe afterwards as "a sitting duck" for the man in pursuit of a record eighth drivers' title. Hamilton asked his pit wall: "How far have I got to catch up?" "Currently 22 seconds... we've done it before..." came back the reply. There was a note of desperation on Red Bull's radio with Verstappen suggesting "I don't know how we are going to make it to the end". Hamilton moved into second but there was no hint of team orders with Bottas forcing his teammate into full overtaking mode. Ten laps to go and Hamilton had only three seconds to make up on Verstappen and on lap 60 he did it, surging past the Dutchman on turn one - Toto Wolff, his team boss, punching the air with delight as their masterstroke paid off. Hamilton said he was in two minds as to whether to obey the order to come in. "I was about to get a shot to get past him as I pitted. I was really conflicted - 'do I come in or ignore the call?'. "I did what the team asked because there is a great trust between us. Remarkable job by everyone in this team. What a day." Red Bull boss Christian Horner was magnanimous in defeat, saying: "In fairness, hats off to Mercedes and Lewis." Verstappen said: "We're not where we want to be and we still need to push hard and catch up because at the moment we are a little bit slower. But compared to last year, it has been a jump for us." Bottas took third in the second Mercedes with Leclerc's Ferrari in fourth and Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull completing the top five. Formula One takes a breather next weekend before returning for the Monaco Grand Prix with Hamilton possibly having a tilt at his century of wins in Azerbaijan at the start of June.

Mercedes masterstroke in Spain helps Hamilton deny Verstappen

The Formula One circus pitches up in Barcelona this weekend for the Spanish Grand Prix with Red Bull's tantalising tilt at prising the spotlight away from showstoppers Mercedes topping the bill.

Three races in and against pre-season predictions it is Lewis Hamilton who leads Max Verstappen by eight points arriving at the fourth leg of the championship.

Wins last Sunday in Portugal and in the opener in Bahrain leave the seven-time champion in his customary habitat at the top of the F1 drivers' tree.

Barcelona is a track the teams know intimately as the usual venue for pre-season testing, and with its reputation as a circuit where overtaking opportunities are few and far between the onus will be on Saturday's qualifying to command a prime front row seat on Sunday's grid.

Hamilton is seeking his fifth consecutive win in Catalonia, with three of his last four victories delivered from pole.

Should he top the time sheets on Saturday he will celebrate his 100th pole position, after being denied that honour by his teammate Valtteri Bottas last weekend in Portimao.

Verstappen and Red Bull's emergence as serious title contenders not only has F1 fans gripping their sofas' arm rests or smart phones -- Mercedes chief Toto Wolff says he's enjoying the same sensation he felt at the first signs Mercedes could muscle in on the then Red Bull roadshow seven years ago.

"When we were behind in testing and in Bahrain, it's a buzz that I have not felt in the team since 2013 when we had that first sniff that we could be there," said Wolff. "The whole place is excited and continues to be excited. I'd like to be happy after Abu Dhabi at the end of the season but for the time being, we'll take it one step at a time."

While the 2021 Hamilton continues to display all the hallmarks that have turned him into a serial champion - often flawless race craft, consummate professionalism and steely focus, Verstappen this season has changed.

The Dutch driver seems to have his eye on the bigger picture, as F1's managing director Ross Brawn pointed out.

"It's clear that Max Verstappen is approaching this championship in a different way because he finally has a title-winning car," said Brawn.

"And it had to change because when you're a title contender, the focus has to be on consolidating when you're not the fastest and when opportunities such as a mechanical issue for a rival or a Safety Car present themselves, you must be in a position to strike."

Verstappen's boss at Red Bull Christian Horner is like his Mercedes counterpart Wolff lapping up the first proper inter-team title battle for some time.

"The picture is starting to clarify. Red Bull and Mercedes are the two standout teams, and Lewis and Max are the two standout drivers.

"It's incredibly tight. The biggest winner for that is Formula 1 – and if it goes like this for 23 races, it's going to be nip and tuck."

One driver who has special reason to approach this weekend's race with a spring in his step is Fernando Alonso.

The two-time champion is finally finding his feet with Alpine, formerly Renault, after his return to F1, scoring points for the second straight race in the Algarve sunshine.

"It was good, it was fun," said the veteran Spaniard ahead of his home grand prix.

"We were fighting with one McLaren, one Ferrari - things that were unthinkable in Imola or Bahrain. So I think we made a big step forward in terms of the car performance."

Alonso is in 12th in the drivers standings, nine places and 32 points behind Lando Norris, who has enjoyed a sensational start to 2021 for back-in-business McLaren with three top-five finishes.

Sensational is not how even Nikita Mazepin's most loyal followers would describe the Russian rookie's three first appearances in the fast lane.

A lap one crash in Bahrain, spins at Imola, and a dangerous block on Sergio Perez last Sunday suggest the young Haas driver will be just happy to reach Sunday night having crossed the line without any further mishaps.

The Formula One circus pitches up in Barcelona this weekend for the Spanish Grand Prix with Red Bull's tantalising tilt at prising the spotlight away from showstoppers Mercedes topping the bill.

The Formula One circus pitches up in Barcelona this weekend for the Spanish Grand Prix with Red Bull's tantalising tilt at prising the spotlight away from showstoppers Mercedes topping the bill. Three races in and against pre-season predictions it is Lewis Hamilton who leads Max Verstappen by eight points arriving at the fourth leg of the championship. Wins last Sunday in Portugal and in the opener in Bahrain leave the seven-time champion in his customary habitat at the top of the F1 drivers' tree. Barcelona is a track the teams know intimately as the usual venue for pre-season testing, and with its reputation as a circuit where overtaking opportunities are few and far between the onus will be on Saturday's qualifying to command a prime front row seat on Sunday's grid. Hamilton is seeking his fifth consecutive win in Catalonia, with three of his last four victories delivered from pole. Should he top the time sheets on Saturday he will celebrate his 100th pole position, after being denied that honour by his teammate Valtteri Bottas last weekend in Portimao. Verstappen and Red Bull's emergence as serious title contenders not only has F1 fans gripping their sofas' arm rests or smart phones -- Mercedes chief Toto Wolff says he's enjoying the same sensation he felt at the first signs Mercedes could muscle in on the then Red Bull roadshow seven years ago. "When we were behind in testing and in Bahrain, it's a buzz that I have not felt in the team since 2013 when we had that first sniff that we could be there," said Wolff. "The whole place is excited and continues to be excited. I'd like to be happy after Abu Dhabi at the end of the season but for the time being, we'll take it one step at a time." While the 2021 Hamilton continues to display all the hallmarks that have turned him into a serial champion - often flawless race craft, consummate professionalism and steely focus, Verstappen this season has changed. The Dutch driver seems to have his eye on the bigger picture, as F1's managing director Ross Brawn pointed out. "It's clear that Max Verstappen is approaching this championship in a different way because he finally has a title-winning car," said Brawn. "And it had to change because when you're a title contender, the focus has to be on consolidating when you're not the fastest and when opportunities such as a mechanical issue for a rival or a Safety Car present themselves, you must be in a position to strike." Verstappen's boss at Red Bull Christian Horner is like his Mercedes counterpart Wolff lapping up the first proper inter-team title battle for some time. "The picture is starting to clarify. Red Bull and Mercedes are the two standout teams, and Lewis and Max are the two standout drivers. "It's incredibly tight. The biggest winner for that is Formula 1 – and if it goes like this for 23 races, it's going to be nip and tuck." One driver who has special reason to approach this weekend's race with a spring in his step is Fernando Alonso. The two-time champion is finally finding his feet with Alpine, formerly Renault, after his return to F1, scoring points for the second straight race in the Algarve sunshine. "It was good, it was fun," said the veteran Spaniard ahead of his home grand prix. "We were fighting with one McLaren, one Ferrari - things that were unthinkable in Imola or Bahrain. So I think we made a big step forward in terms of the car performance." Alonso is in 12th in the drivers standings, nine places and 32 points behind Lando Norris, who has enjoyed a sensational start to 2021 for back-in-business McLaren with three top-five finishes. Sensational is not how even Nikita Mazepin's most loyal followers would describe the Russian rookie's three first appearances in the fast lane. A lap one crash in Bahrain, spins at Imola, and a dangerous block on Sergio Perez last Sunday suggest the young Haas driver will be just happy to reach Sunday night having crossed the line without any further mishaps.

Hamilton pursues 100th pole as 'nip and tuck' title battle arrives in Spain

Lewis Hamilton delivered a flawless drive in his Mercedes to win the Portuguese Grand Prix on Sunday from his arch title rival Max Verstappen.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton's 97th Grand Prix triumph extended his early season lead over Red Bull's Verstappen in the Formula One drivers' standings to eight points.

In third place in Portimao was pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas in the other Mercedes with Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull in fourth.

"That was such a tough race physically and mentally. I didn't get a good start and also lost out at the restart but it was a great result in the end," said Hamilton.

"Today wasn't all perfect and we need to get ready now for the quick turnaround for Spain."

At a sun-drenched Algarve International Circuit Bottas led Hamilton from the two Red Bulls into the first corner.

By the end of lap one it was the safety car which led after the two Alfa Romeos collided, with Kimi Raikkonen's front wing littered across the straight after clipping Antonio Giovinazzi's car.

Bottas carefully controlled the rolling restart on lap seven but in his rearview mirror he will have seen Verstappen charge past Hamilton and into second.

<h2>- 'Sitting duck' -</h2>

"That a boy" was the pleased reaction on the team radio from the Red Bull pits.

But four laps later and a mistake by the Dutchman on turn 14 let Hamilton regain second, darting past on the inside with Verstappen snapping: "I'm just a sitting duck on the straight. It's unbelievable."

Hamilton hit the front with a superb sweeping move past Bottas at the start of lap 20, quickly establishing daylight between the Mercedes men.

Verstappen was the first of the leading group to pit on lap 36, with Bottas next, followed by Hamilton, with Perez yet to change tyres, in front.

With 13 laps left Hamilton pushed past Perez to regain control of the third leg of the record 23-race season, and from there the race was his to lose.

"I think Max made a mistake at some point and that was perfect. With Valtteri I had to make the move early on before the tyres were destroyed and I just managed to get him at turn one. Right on my limit. Great race," added Hamilton.

"We were not on top of it here but we'll see what we can do in Barcelona," said Verstappen, referring to next weekend's race in Spain.

Intrigue in the closing stages surrounded the question of who would end up with a potentially crucial point for the fastest lap.

Verstappen thought he'd clinched it only for his effort to be ruled out due to track limits with Bottas eventually taking the honours.

The Red Bulls are emerging as serious challengers to Mercedes' supremacy but the world champions have evidently worked hard to redress any imbalance in performance between the two teams.

And after three legs of the season it is Hamilton in his quest for a record eighth world crown that has won twice, adding this to his opening success in Bahrain, with Verstappen the winner in Imola.

Sitting third in the drivers' standings is Lando Norris for resurgent McLaren after the Briton took fifth on Sunday.

He came in ahead of the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, with the Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) and the AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly completing the top 10.

Lewis Hamilton delivered a flawless drive in his Mercedes to win the Portuguese Grand Prix on Sunday from his arch title rival Max Verstappen. Seven-time world champion Hamilton's 97th Grand Prix triumph extended his early season lead over Red Bull's Verstappen in the Formula One drivers' standings to eight points.

Lewis Hamilton delivered a flawless drive in his Mercedes to win the Portuguese Grand Prix on Sunday from his arch title rival Max Verstappen. Seven-time world champion Hamilton's 97th Grand Prix triumph extended his early season lead over Red Bull's Verstappen in the Formula One drivers' standings to eight points. In third place in Portimao was pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas in the other Mercedes with Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull in fourth. "That was such a tough race physically and mentally. I didn't get a good start and also lost out at the restart but it was a great result in the end," said Hamilton. "Today wasn't all perfect and we need to get ready now for the quick turnaround for Spain." At a sun-drenched Algarve International Circuit Bottas led Hamilton from the two Red Bulls into the first corner. By the end of lap one it was the safety car which led after the two Alfa Romeos collided, with Kimi Raikkonen's front wing littered across the straight after clipping Antonio Giovinazzi's car. Bottas carefully controlled the rolling restart on lap seven but in his rearview mirror he will have seen Verstappen charge past Hamilton and into second. - 'Sitting duck' - "That a boy" was the pleased reaction on the team radio from the Red Bull pits. But four laps later and a mistake by the Dutchman on turn 14 let Hamilton regain second, darting past on the inside with Verstappen snapping: "I'm just a sitting duck on the straight. It's unbelievable." Hamilton hit the front with a superb sweeping move past Bottas at the start of lap 20, quickly establishing daylight between the Mercedes men. Verstappen was the first of the leading group to pit on lap 36, with Bottas next, followed by Hamilton, with Perez yet to change tyres, in front. With 13 laps left Hamilton pushed past Perez to regain control of the third leg of the record 23-race season, and from there the race was his to lose. "I think Max made a mistake at some point and that was perfect. With Valtteri I had to make the move early on before the tyres were destroyed and I just managed to get him at turn one. Right on my limit. Great race," added Hamilton. "We were not on top of it here but we'll see what we can do in Barcelona," said Verstappen, referring to next weekend's race in Spain. Intrigue in the closing stages surrounded the question of who would end up with a potentially crucial point for the fastest lap. Verstappen thought he'd clinched it only for his effort to be ruled out due to track limits with Bottas eventually taking the honours. The Red Bulls are emerging as serious challengers to Mercedes' supremacy but the world champions have evidently worked hard to redress any imbalance in performance between the two teams. And after three legs of the season it is Hamilton in his quest for a record eighth world crown that has won twice, adding this to his opening success in Bahrain, with Verstappen the winner in Imola. Sitting third in the drivers' standings is Lando Norris for resurgent McLaren after the Briton took fifth on Sunday. He came in ahead of the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, with the Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) and the AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly completing the top 10.

Hamilton wins Portuguese Grand Prix for 97th career victory

Valtteri Bottas took pole position for the Portuguese Grand Prix with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton completing a Mercedes front-row lockout in qualifying on Saturday.

Hamilton's pursuit of a 100th pole at the track where last year he notched up his record 92nd win was delayed when Bottas earned the 17th of his career.

"It's a good feeling to be on pole," said Bottas after a final qualifying session lap of 1min 18.348sec.

He added: "Feels like it's been a while. It's been a weak point for me in the first two races. The team have been working hard all weekend and we have a good position for tomorrow."

Bottas' performance was well-timed after he had qualified third in the season-opener in Bahrain but then a lowly eighth at Emilia-Romagna.

His time was just 0.007sec faster than Hamilton.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen, one point off Hamilton in the drivers' standings, took third on Sunday's grid with his teammate Sergio Perez alongside him on the second row in Portimao.

Verstappen had in fact bettered Bottas' time but had his 1min 18.209sec run scrubbed out after exceeding track limits.

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz came in fifth ahead of the Alpine of Esteban Ocon, Lando Norris, in a McLaren, and Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari.

Hamilton paid tribute to Bottas "and our team for us both to be on the front row".

"It was not expected. We have to be happy for that, it was not the perfect lap but I gave it everything.

"You can never be satisfied, we exist to keep moving forward but I'm happy with what we're doing and the steps we're taking."

Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff admitted his world champion team is making steady qualifying improvements.

"I'm not sure we had the fastest car but we have improved a lot," he said.&nbsp;

"We are catching up (Red Bull) in qualifying, we are maybe at the same level, and I think we have a good car for racing."

<h2>- Red Bull 'not too far off' -</h2>

Hamilton narrowly leads the 2021 championship after he won the opener in Bahrain before Dutch rival Verstappen hit back at Imola.

"Third is of course not what we wanted but it's not too bad after I had a Q3 lap time deleted, which would actually have put us fastest," said Verstappen.

"We struggled with the balance in Q1 and Q2 because of the track surface, and everyone is chasing grip, but we got to a decent level in Q3 so I don't think we are too far off."

Bottas' last outing at Imola was one to forget as he and Williams driver George Russell collided at 300km/h.

Both cars were wrecked that day and Russell was furious with the Finn before the pair continued their clash off the track with a bitter war of words.

Russell will start on the sixth row on Sunday with Pierre Gasly, in an AlphaTauri, and four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, in an Aston Martin, ahead of him.

"It's our best qualifying position in three years so I'm really proud," said Russell.

"We all have our responsibilities, and as a team we did a really good job.

"Tomorrow we've got to keep moving forward. We have a good race car –- it's fast on the straights, so let's see what we can do."

The Haas pair of Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin start at the back.

Valtteri Bottas took pole position for the Portuguese Grand Prix with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton completing a Mercedes front-row lockout in qualifying on Saturday.

Valtteri Bottas took pole position for the Portuguese Grand Prix with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton completing a Mercedes front-row lockout in qualifying on Saturday. Hamilton's pursuit of a 100th pole at the track where last year he notched up his record 92nd win was delayed when Bottas earned the 17th of his career. "It's a good feeling to be on pole," said Bottas after a final qualifying session lap of 1min 18.348sec. He added: "Feels like it's been a while. It's been a weak point for me in the first two races. The team have been working hard all weekend and we have a good position for tomorrow." Bottas' performance was well-timed after he had qualified third in the season-opener in Bahrain but then a lowly eighth at Emilia-Romagna. His time was just 0.007sec faster than Hamilton. Red Bull's Max Verstappen, one point off Hamilton in the drivers' standings, took third on Sunday's grid with his teammate Sergio Perez alongside him on the second row in Portimao. Verstappen had in fact bettered Bottas' time but had his 1min 18.209sec run scrubbed out after exceeding track limits. Ferrari's Carlos Sainz came in fifth ahead of the Alpine of Esteban Ocon, Lando Norris, in a McLaren, and Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari. Hamilton paid tribute to Bottas "and our team for us both to be on the front row". "It was not expected. We have to be happy for that, it was not the perfect lap but I gave it everything. "You can never be satisfied, we exist to keep moving forward but I'm happy with what we're doing and the steps we're taking." Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff admitted his world champion team is making steady qualifying improvements. "I'm not sure we had the fastest car but we have improved a lot," he said. "We are catching up (Red Bull) in qualifying, we are maybe at the same level, and I think we have a good car for racing." - Red Bull 'not too far off' - Hamilton narrowly leads the 2021 championship after he won the opener in Bahrain before Dutch rival Verstappen hit back at Imola. "Third is of course not what we wanted but it's not too bad after I had a Q3 lap time deleted, which would actually have put us fastest," said Verstappen. "We struggled with the balance in Q1 and Q2 because of the track surface, and everyone is chasing grip, but we got to a decent level in Q3 so I don't think we are too far off." Bottas' last outing at Imola was one to forget as he and Williams driver George Russell collided at 300km/h. Both cars were wrecked that day and Russell was furious with the Finn before the pair continued their clash off the track with a bitter war of words. Russell will start on the sixth row on Sunday with Pierre Gasly, in an AlphaTauri, and four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, in an Aston Martin, ahead of him. "It's our best qualifying position in three years so I'm really proud," said Russell. "We all have our responsibilities, and as a team we did a really good job. "Tomorrow we've got to keep moving forward. We have a good race car –- it's fast on the straights, so let's see what we can do." The Haas pair of Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin start at the back.

Formula One: Bottas denies Hamilton 100th pole in Portugal

lewis-hamilton

Lewis Hamilton, News on Lewis Hamilton, stories on Lewis Hamilton, articles on Lewis Hamilton, Lewis Hamilton stories at Wion, Lewis Hamilton news, Lewis Hamilton latest news

lewis hamilton