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British Grand Prix continued from page 14 largely unconcerned about what fans think of his
In addition to posting the fastest single lap at comments off the track or about the fact that British
the British Grand Prix this year, Lewis Hamilton fans, notably given over to good sportsmanship, have
was also in the news for two other things related taken to booing him, even though he drives for a
to the F1 circuit. British team, Red Bull. Cocky and aggressive are
words that come to mind for both the team manager,
First, Hamilton , who has a variety of body
Christian Horner, himself a former racer, and his
piercings, removed his nose stud for this race.
young protege'.
F1 officials have threatened to ban drivers
wearing jewelry or piercings from sanctioned In contrast, a clipped and low surface temperature
races because of rules related to safety marks Toto Wolff, the Austrian whose Petronas team
concerns. Second, he made news when he urged based in Britain has struggled in 2022 because of
his fans not to boo rival Max Verstappen . bounce problems with the car. Good performances by
Verstappen kept Hamilton from claiming the Britain's George Russell, in his first year with the team,
2021 Driver's Championship by a single point, have been the high point of the team's season to this
depriving Hamilton of a record 8 driver's point. Wolff, however , plays the long game and stands
championships and for some feelings still run fully behind Hamilton even as he has struggled in
hot. 2022. He made the time to agree with the veteran
regarding displays of poor sportsmanship at recent F1
In 2021 Verstappen and Hamilton were involved
events, and was quoted as saying, "I think we shouldn't
in a collision at the Italian Grand Prix which
be booing in any sports. It is unsportsmanlike."
ended with Verstappen's Red Bull car on top of
Hamilton's Mercedes. Both drivers were forced Booing may be unsportsmanlike but accidents and
to retire from the competition at Monza as a incidents are all part of the racing game and this year's
result of this incident. Another collision between British Grand Prix at some points resembled bumper
the two drivers happened again in 2021 at the cars.
British Grand Prix. In other home country racing news, Aston Martin's F1
The rivalry between the two drivers has been team, Cognizant, turned in a 9th place finish with
and remains fierce. Verstappen, the youngest German driver Sebastian Vettel at the wheel.
driver to become an F1 Champion, appears to be Continued on page 18
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