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SPORTS Dialuna 7 December 2020

Perez stays calm to win chaotic Sakhir GP for 1st F1 win

(AP) – Sergio Perez wait- Stroll. Perez does not even reer podium, while Ocon got
ed 190 races to finally have an F1 seat next year af- his first.
stand on the podium as a ter being replaced by Sebas- “I have no words,” Ocon said.
Formula One winner and tian Vettel. “I was crying on the line.”
end a 50-year wait of its George Russell looked like Russell finished ninth while
own for Mexico. capping a remarkable Mer- Bottas was eighth on a hu-
cedes debut with a confident miliating night for F1 pow-
Perez’s win at a chaotic Sakh- win until his team made a erhouse Mercedes, which
ir Grand Prix in Bahrain was terrible blunder after bring- almost never makes mistakes.
the first by a Mexican since ing him and Valtteri Bottas in The illegal mixed compound
Pedro Rodriguez won the for another change when the tire change for Russell was
Belgian GP in June 1970. He safety car was out on track being investigated by stew-
died one year later, at age 31, with about 25 laps to go. ards after the race.
in a sports car race. Russell’s stop was a bit slow Russell is under contract with
“I’ve heard that he had tre- but nothing compared to the Williams but replaced Lewis
mendous talent ... Unfortu- one for Bottas, which took an Hamilton as the seven-time
nately he died at a very young agonizing 27 seconds as the world champion recovers great start from second and wrong tires went on Russell’s
age,” the 30-year-old Perez mechanics could not fit his from the coronavirus. Ham- overtook pole-sitter Bottas, car, while the front left re-
said. “For Mexicans it’s not left front tire properly. Re- ilton, who sealed the title last while the two Mercedes cars quired an eternity in F1 time
easy to get into Formula One markably, Russell was then month, remains doubtful for bunched up ahead of Ver- to attach on Bottas’ car.
and to succeed in this sport. called in again because the next weekend’s season-end- stappen and this prevented The hiccup put Perez in the
Hopefully we can have an- team had fitted him with tires ing Abu Dhabi GP. him getting through. lead, one week after his en-
other strong Mexican on the belonging to Bottas. The race was halted after a gine blew just laps from the
grid.” It was a rare failure for a Mer- first-lap crash caused by Fer- Drivers again raced at the end with third place in sight
cedes team which has domi- rari’s Charles Leclerc, who Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain.
Perez expects it will be quite nated F1 since 2014 by win- broke too early and clipped in Sakhir, but on a smaller After the safety car moved
some party back in Mexico. ning every drivers’ and con- Perez’s car. That forced Max outer track of 3.5 kilometers away on Lap 70, Russell
“Especially because it’s a good structors’ championship. Verstappen to go wide in or- (2.2 miles) instead of 5.4 (3.3 overtook Bottas with a quite
time in Mexico; normally the Still, even with that mishap, der to avoid Perez and he miles), and with 87 laps rath- brilliant move inside, then
races are six in the morning. Russell roared back brilliant- went off into some gravel and er than 54. zoomed past Stroll and Ocon
This one it’s on a Sunday at ly from fifth to second place crashed into a wall. Halfway through, Russell led into second with breathtak-
11 o’clock, I’m sure right now and was closing on Perez Verstappen kicked the wall in Bottas by nearly three sec- ing audacity that Hamilton
they will be having some nice when his rear tire punctured frustration, then spoke with onds but the drama was just would have admired.
Tequilas,” he said. “It means a with eight laps remaining. Leclerc. starting. He now had 13 laps to catch
lot to me, for my family. Such “I don’t know what to say, “I don’t get it why they have With 26 laps left, Bottas re- Perez, who was only 3.5 sec-
a tremendous day, a historic that was taken away from us to be so aggressive,” an exas- duced Russell’s lead to five onds ahead.
day. You see the amount of twice. I’m gutted, I’m abso- perated Verstappen said. “It’s seconds just as a virtual safety A few laps later a tire punc-
support I get in my country. lutely gutted,” Russell said. like a last lap. I don’t know car came out after Aitken’s ture ended Russell’s chances.
Can you imagine what it’s “I’ve had some victories tak- why Charles thinks he can front wing came off follow- “I dream for so many years
like at the moment?” en away from me, but twice? brake so late.” ing a spin. being in this moment. 10
The Racing Point driver fin- I just couldn’t believe that.” Leclerc was given a three- Yet despite being 1-2 in the years it took me,” Perez said
ished 10.5 seconds ahead of Perez, who made his debut in place grid position drop for race, Mercedes called both after his win. “I said to the
Renault’s Esteban Ocon and 2011, had a clear run to vic- the next race. drivers in for a second tire team the car feels like a lim-
11.9 clear of teammate Lance tory and clinched his 10th ca- Up ahead, Russell made a change. Panic set in and the ousine.”

Leverkusen beats Schalke 3-0 to go 2nd in Bundesliga

penalty, but goalkeeper Lukas his successor Manuel Baum helped to decide the game.
Hradecky reacted well to save has made little headway in his Chong tripped Stuttgart’s
Steven Skrzybski’s attempt. attempt to turn around what Japanese midfielder Wataru
Leverkusen’s third goal fol- was a Champions League Endo in the penalty area and
lowed soon after when Patrik last-16 club as recently as the the referee needed little time
Schick scored off a pass from 2018-19 season. in awarding the spot-kick.
Nadiem Amiri. Wamangituka sent goalkeep-
Schalke’s last win in the WALKING THE BALL er Jiri Pavlenka the wrong
Bundesliga was in the previ- IN way and hit the ball into the
ous season on Jan. 17. Its 26- Silas Wamangituka scored top-left of the net.
game winless run is five short twice — and literally walked
of the record set by Tasmania the ball into the goal —- as Wamangituka made it 2-0
Berlin in the 1965-66 season. promoted Stuttgart contin- in added time when he in-
German fans aren’t allowed ued its impressive return to tercepted a back pass from
inside stadiums amid the the Bundesliga with a 2-1 Ömer Toprak, rounded the
coronavirus pandemic, but win over Werder Bremen. goalkeeper and walked the
(AP) — Bayer Leverku- behind Bayern Munich. Schalke’s supporters made Stuttgart moved to eighth ball into the empty net at a
sen rose to second in the Schalke’s Malick Thiaw put their feelings known. Ahead place with the win, bouncing deliberately slow pace. That
Bundesliga after a 3-0 vic- Leverkusen ahead in the 10th of the game, large banners in back from a 3-1 loss to Bay- earned Wamangituka a yellow
tory over Schalke, which minute when he knocked the the club’s blue and white col- ern Munich last week, and card for apparent unsporting
extended its run to 26 ball into his own net with his ors were hung on buildings kept up its record of scoring behavior and angered Bre-
league games without a shoulder while defending near the stadium lambasting in every league game since men forward Davie Selke,
win. a corner. Julian Baumgar- club officials for “years of its return to the German top who interrupted Wamangi-
tlinger made it 2-0 in the mismanagement.” flight. Bremen dropped to tuka’s celebrations and later
Basic errors by Schalke at 67th with a simple looping Financial problems are bit- 12th. branded the forward’s behav-
set pieces on Sunday put header at the near post after ing, there have been injuries Bremen gave winger Ta- ior “lacking respect” in com-
Leverkusen firmly on track another corner. to key players and dissent in hith Chong, on loan from ments to broadcaster Sky.
for a comfortable win. the squad which led the club Manchester United, his first Selke headed in a goal for
Leverkusen climbed above Schalke had a path to a come- to suspend three players last league start since Oct. 31, but Bremen soon after the game
Leipzig and Borussia Dort- back when Leverkusen’s Dal- month. Coach David Wagner his main contribution was restarted, but there was no
mund to second, one point ey Sinkgraven gave away a was fired in September but to give away the penalty that time to chase an equalizer.