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Diamars 23 maart 2021

Driving diversity: Hamilton ready to chase 8th F1 title

followed by a superb win at — which is still two years
the Sakhir GP last year. younger than Alfa Romeo
driver Kimi Raikkonen.
Hamilton is wary of Red
Bull's threat, saying "It's go- Alonso won titles with Re-
ing to be a long battle with nault in 2005 and '06. He will
them.” be driving for Alpine, which
is Renault’s rebranded name.
Verstappen was Hamilton's Three drivers will be mak-
main threat on race days ing their F1 debuts, includ-
last season, despite having a ing Michael Schumacher's
slower car. 22-year-old, son Mick, who
won the F2 title last season.
The early signs are that the
23-year-old Verstappen will He will be joined at Haas by
add to his 10 GP wins. newcomer Nikita Mazepin,
while 20-year-old Japanese
“It has definitely been the driver Yuki Tsunoda debuts
best preseason. The car felt with AlphaTauri after replac-
nice to drive, which I think ing Daniil Kvyat.
is always very positive," Ver-
stappen said, referring to Red Perez lost his seat to four-
Bull's reliability issues last time F1 champion Sebastian
year. “But it doesn’t give you Vettel at Racing Point, which
any guarantees. We’ll find out became Aston Martin follow-
through the first race week- ing a takeover.
(AP) — If Lewis Hamilton ter contracting the virus and championships may at last be end where we are."
wins an eighth Formula expending huge energy in under genuine threat. Vettel's Ferrari spot has gone
One title, he will stand the fight against racism, his Valtteri Bottas finished 124 to Carlos Sainz Jr. after he
alone among the sport's push for greater diversity in Red Bull star Max Verstap- points behind fellow Mer- left McLaren. Sainz was re-
greats. And that might be motorsport, and his call for pen picked up where he left cedes driver Hamilton, com- placed by Daniel Ricciardo,
the perfect time to walk better human rights in some off after winning last year's fi- pared with 87 the season be- who quit Renault.
away from the track for countries where F1 goes. nal race in Abu Dhabi in style fore. The margin of defeat
good. and appeared very confident last season was even more ONE TO WATCH
It all started when Hamilton in testing. emphatic considering there Williams driver George Rus-
Hamilton's decision to pen a and most drivers took a knee were four fewer races than in sell showed everyone what
one-year contract with Mer- against racism at the Austrian “I’d say Red Bull are ahead 2019. he can do in a leading car
cedes sparked speculation he GP in July, when the delayed on performance. They are when he replaced Hamilton
may call it quits when the 2020 season began. While the class act. Are we going to The 31-year-old Finn also at the Sakhir GP. A stunning
sun sets on the F1 season at others appeared to fade in have a close season? I would has a one-year deal. performance almost led to a
the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in their commitment, Hamil- say so,” Mercedes strategy victory in a chaotic race and
December. ton continued to hammer director James Vowles said. It may prove to be his last highlighted his potential.
home the need to fight. “Red Bull are a fierce ad- chance to topple Hamilton,
Hamilton will be nearly 37 by versary, they’ve got a strong with Verstappen waiting in The 23-year-old British driv-
then and, if he does success- Hamilton, who was knighted package and clearly came out the wings for a possible fu- er is in his final season with
fully defend his F1 crown, in year-end royal honors, has of the box very, very quick.” ture move to Mercedes. Williams and has been tipped
the British driver will move the same mindset for the sea- for a Mercedes seat in 2022,
one ahead of fellow great Mi- son ahead. Red Bull has a stronger line- OLD AND NEW FACES possibly replacing Hamilton
chael Schumacher. up, too, with Sergio Perez Two-time world champion if he leaves F1.
“That’s my driving force replacing Alex Albon and Fernando Alonso has come
Hamilton would have noth- this year. To make sure that bringing with him nearly 200 out of F1 retirement after This season could see history
ing left to prove, with the we continue to push for ac- GPs and 10 podiums, includ- missing the past two seasons made before a new dawn in
most titles, wins (95 so far) countability, and on top of ing a second place in Turkey and returns at the age of 39 F1.
and pole positions (98) all his. that hopefully I can deliver
good performances," he said.
“Of course, it is the ultimate
dream, but I don’t think nec- F1's ‘We Race As One’ cam-
essarily it will be the decid- paign was among the themes
ing factor for if I stay on and of 2020, he said, "But (more)
keep going," Hamilton said. action is needed this year.
“I think it is more when I put We’ve got to make sure that
that helmet on, I still have we continue to have that con-
that smile when I leave the versation.”
garage. Will that be the case
this year? We shall see. Will I Hamilton said there were
enjoy it as much? We’ll see." positive discussions between
drivers at pre-season testing
The season starts Sunday and F1's president Stefano
in Bahrain after the tradi- Domenicali, who "has taken
tional season-opening GP the time to sit with us all and
in Melbourne, Australia was be open."
postponed until November
because of the coronavirus On the track, preseason did
pandemic. not go well for Mercedes.

As brilliant as Hamilton It gave rivals hope that a dom-
was last year, he ended the inant series of seven straight
season feeling drained af- drivers' and constructors'