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Diabierna 21 Mei 2021

Ferrari drivers Leclerc and Sainz Jr. impress at Monaco GP

(AP) — On an encour- great, just feels really cool to ton fifth quickest.
aging day for Ferrari, be back," said Hamilton, who
Charles Leclerc and Car- lives in Monaco. "It's rapid "It's encouraging for the
los Sainz Jr. impressed this track, absolutely mes- team," Sainz Jr. said, adding
in the first two practice merizing every time you get that Ferrari seems to have
sessions for the Monaco the opportunity to drive. I've ironed out some old flaws.
Grand Prix on Thursday. enjoyed today." ""There's some positive signs
that the car in the corners is
Leclerc was fastest in the af- Hamilton was pleasantly sur- actually not that bad."
ternoon's second run, while prised by the improved grip
Sainz Jr. placed second in on the track. Hamilton is 14 points ahead
both of them. of Verstappen in the stand-
"It's got really high grip this ings after they finished 1-2
"It's nice to see at least that we year for some reason, they've in the first four races, with
are closer to the front, that redone the surface for most the British veteran winning
we're actually playing around of the track," he said. "We three of them. Hamilton will
there at the front," Sainz were quicker than last year, be aiming for his 101st career
Jr. said. "We definitely look which was awesome." pole position on Saturday
very close to being a genuine and his 99th win on Sunday.
threat. (But) I think we need Vettel's second outing was far
to wait until third practice, from fun, though, as he got He is also looking to clinch
because things change a lot something stuck in his left a record eighth F1 title this
here." feel quite comfortable in the eye. season to move one ahead of
The last Ferrari driver to win car but that has not come Michael Schumacher, who
Still, it will come as some re- in Monaco was Sebastian Vet- yet." "It wasn't bleeding, but I said won the Monaco GP in 2001
lief for Ferrari after it strug- tel four years ago, but Ham- (on team radio) either I'm to tie the late Graham Hill
gled badly throughout last ilton was impressed by what It was a welcome turnaround emotional, or something else with five victories at F1's
year in qualifying and on race he saw in the two sessions. for Leclerc after he complet- is going on because it was just showcase race. The late Ayr-
day. ed only four laps in the first tears and tears," Vettel said. "I ton Senna holds the record
"The Ferraris look really practice because of a gearbox was blinking the whole lap. with six wins, while Hamil-
Leclerc is from Monaco and strong, surprising to see problem. Not ideal on a track like this." ton's success in 2019 was his
grew up in a flat overlook- them improving so much but third.
ing the sinewy 3.4-kilometer that's great," Hamilton said. Both sessions were held in His Aston Martin team made
(2.1-mile) circuit that snakes "It means more competition. warm conditions as bright him an eye patch to wear. Monaco is the only race that
around the picturesque prin- We've got some work to do." sunlight glittered and yachts has no track activity on Fri-
cipality. bobbed on the waters of the "Probably I'll keep that and it day, which is a rest day.
Red Bull driver Max Verstap- famed harbor, while some will keep me safe for the rest
He had a best lap in P2 of 1 pen was fourth fastest and fans returned to the stands of the weekend," the four- "Luckily we have a free day
minute, 11.68 seconds and Mercedes driver Valtteri Bot- after the race was canceled time F1 champion joked. tomorrow to look at a few
led the Spaniard Sainz Jr. by tas was fifth. last year because of the coro- things to improve," Verstap-
0.11 seconds. World champi- navirus. Earlier Thursday, Red Bull's pen said.
on Lewis Hamilton of Mer- "We were too slow and we re- Sergio Perez was fastest in
cedes was third, 0.39 behind ally need to find some pace," "Everyone loves to drive here. the first run ahead of Sainz Jr. There is a third practice and
Leclerc. Verstappen said. "I usually Great day, weather's been and Verstappen, with Hamil- then qualifying on Saturday.

Vendrame claims 1st Grand Tour stage win, Bernal keeps lead

(AP) — Italian cyclist at the end of the 212-kilo- something indescribable." two-time Giro winner is still sandro De Marchi crashed
Andrea Vendrame held meter (132-mile) route from more than four minutes be- in separate incidents, while
off the rest of the break- Siena to Bagno di Romagna There was also a sprint for hind Bernal. Gino Mader, Kobe Goossens,
away pack to win the 12th that featured four categorized third, with Gianluca Bram- Faisto Masnada and Alex
stage of the Giro d'Italia climbs. billa narrowly beating George Friday's 13th stage is an Dowsett all retired due to ill-
on Thursday for his first Bennett, but only after a entirely flat 198-kilome- ness and injury.
victory in a Grand Tour "What an incredible feeling. late swerve that left Bennett ter (123-mile) route from
and Egan Bernal kept the I can't even speak or find the throwing up a hand in frus- Ravenna to Verona that pays Soler tried to continue before
leader's pink jersey. right words to describe how tration. Brambilla was later tribute to writer and phi- eventually conceding. De
I feel now," the 26-year-old relegated to fourth. losopher Dante Alighieri on Marchi was taken away in an
Vendrame, who rides for Vendrame said. "After a dif- the 700th anniversary of his ambulance.
AG2R Citroën, edged out ficult period where I had an The duo finished 15 seconds death. It will also give the rid-
Chris Hamilton in a sprint injury, this win at the Giro is behind Vendrame. ers a break before hitting the "Dema was taken to hospi-
high mountains the follow- tal and was diagnosed with
All four had been part of a ing day. a broken right collarbone
large breakaway. and six broken ribs," said De
"It was a really hard day for Marchi's team Israel Start-
Bernal crossed the line in everyone so we are happy Up Nation. "He also broke
the peloton to maintain his because we have finished his first and second thoracic
45-second lead over Alek- well, but it was a really tough vertebra.
sandr Vlasov. Nobody else is stage," Bernal said. "It's a
within a minute of the 2019 Grand Tour, and for the GC "He did not suffer any head
Tour de France winner, with guys there is no easy stage, injury, but does have to stay
third-place Damiano Caruso you know, we need to go for in the hospital for at least one
1:12 behind. every day. So for tomorrow night."
we need to be really focused."
Vincenzo Nibali attacked The Giro finishes on May 30
over the top of the final climb A number of riders aban- in Milan with an individual
and finished seven seconds doned the race during the time trial.
ahead of the peloton. The stage. Marc Soler and Ales-