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SPORTS Saturday 15 February 2020

Associated Press
Hamilton sees a 'sign of

weakness' when rivals

doubt him

By JEROME PUGMIRE made of recent comments
AP Auto Racing Writer about him. In this Oct. 6, 2019, file photo, Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman (24) tackles New
Formula One champion "I find it funny seeing that. I England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) during the second half of an NFL football game in
Lewis Hamilton sees "a sign have just always known to Landover, Md. Associated Press
of weakness" when his rivals do my talking on the track,"
start doubting his ability to Hamilton said in a video Redskins release CB Josh
handle pressure. from the team's garage.
aiming for a seventh F1 talking) as a sign of weak- Norman, WR Paul Richardson
The Mercedes driver is "I tend to see that (kind of

title this season to equal ness."
Michael Schumacher's re- Two-time F1 champion Fer- By STEPHEN WHYNO before free agency could thers coach Ron Rivera
cord, and is seven race nando Alonso previously AP Sports Writer pave the way to give cor- taking over wasn't enough
wins away from equaling said rivals were not exploit- ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — The nerback Quinton Dunbar to keep Norman around,
the F1 great's other record ing Hamilton's weaknesses, Washington Redskins on Fri- a raise. Dunbar has said he though the 32-year-old
of 91. Last season, Hamilton but did not say what those day released cornerback wanted to know where he didn't expect that to save
won a third straight title by were. Josh Norman with one year stood with the organiza- his job.
87 points over teammate Mercedes has had the left on the big contract he tion. "You've got to put it on your-
Valtteri Bottas, who led quickest and most reliable signed in 2016, and wide That standing appears self as a person to be better
early before fading. car since winning the first receiver Paul Richardson more prominent in light of within what is happening,
Red Bull driver Max Verstap- of six straight drivers' and after two disappointing, Norman's departure. Wash- and I wasn't," Norman said
pen finished third in anoth- constructors' titles in 2014. injury-plagued seasons. ington has 2017 third-round on locker clean-out day. "I
er impressive campaign. Ferrari was quicker at times Norman struggled to live pick Fabian Moreau and can accept that." Injuries
The 22-year-old Dutch- last year — but on straight- up to the expectations set impressive 2019 seventh- limited Richardson to 17
man won three races and line speed only. And it was by the $75 million, five-year rounder Jimmy Moreland games over two years with
had some close duels with the Honda engine-pow- deal he got after putting on the roster, but Dunbar Washington. After signing a
Hamilton in Monaco and ered Red Bull making the together an All-Pro season — a converted receiver $40 million, five-year deal in
Hungary. Verstappen said biggest leap forward. in Carolina and being re- — is the best player at the 2018 with the aim of replac-
last week he could beat Verstappen is increasingly leased from the Panthers' position. ing the speed threat that
Hamilton with the right car. confident about what he franchise tag. Washington The Redskins benched Nor- evaporated without De-
Hamilton was asked on Fri- could do in a car good saves $12.5 million against man from their defense Sean Jackson, Richardson
day at Silverstone — where enough to push Hamilton the salary cap in 2020 by but kept him active for caught just 48 passes for
Mercedes was testing its over a season, rather than cutting him now. several games late in the 507 yards and four touch-
new W11 car — what he a random race.q Releasing Norman a month season. Even former Pan- downs with the Redskins.q

Sakkari upsets Bencic in St.

Petersburg, Kvitova withdraws

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) matches around,” the the unspecified illness
— Maria Sakkari upset top- Greek player said. bothered her on Thurs-
seeded Belinda Bencic That sets up a semifinal on day during a three-set win
to claim a spot in the St. Saturday against Kazakh- over Alison van Uytvanck.
Petersburg Ladies Trophy stan’s Elena Rybakina, Bertens, who won the St.
semifinals on Friday, while who beat Oceane Do- Petersburg title last year,
Petra Kvitova withdrew be- din 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-2 in their needed nearly two hours
cause of illness. quarterfinal. to win her quarterfinal 6-4,
Bencic was a set and a The other semifinal pits sec- 7-6 (3) against qualifier An-
break up before Sakkari ond-seeded Kiki Bertens astasia Potapova. Bertens Maria Sakkari of Greece returns the ball to Belinda Bencic of
stormed back to win 2-6, against Ekaterina Alexan- was 5-2 down in the sec- Switzerland during the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy-2020 tennis
6-4, 6-3. “I’m really proud drova, who advanced by ond set before winning five tournament match in St.Petersburg, Russia, Friday, Feb. 14,
of the way I’m fighting and walkover after Kvitova’s of the following six games 2020.
the way I can turn these withdrawal. Kvitova said to force the tiebreak.q Associated Press