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SPORTS Monday 29 July 2019
Rare sight in F1 as both Mercedes struggle at German GP

HOCKENHEIM, Germany For Bottas, it might prove
(AP) — On what was sup- a turning point in his frag-
posed to be a day of cel- ile Mercedes career. The
ebration, the rarest of sights Finnish driver, who turns 30
in Formula One saw both next month, is trying to earn
Mercedes drivers struggling another one-year deal for
badly at Sunday's dramatic 2020, but Wolff has yet to
German Grand Prix. choose between him and
World champion Lewis 22-year-old Frenchman Es-
Hamilton crossed the line in teban Ocon.
11th — despite starting from Bottas may not wish to
pole position — and Valtteri watch a replay of deci-
Bottas crashed chasing a sion-maker Wolff's stunned
podium finish. disappointment on seeing
"What a crazy race. This the crash. Wolff lurched for-
has been one of the most ward in his seat and just re-
difficult races we've had strained himself from bang-
as a team for a long time," ing down his fist in sheer
Hamilton said. "I'm just glad frustration.
it's over." One thing Bottas has al-
Hamilton was later pro- ways had is honest self-ap-
moted to ninth place and Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland steers his car during the German Formula One Grand praisal and he did not hide.
earned two points after Prix at the Hockenheimring racetrack in Hockenheim, Germany, Sunday, July 28, 2019. "I'm very disappointed ... I
stewards handed post- Associated Press made a mistake which lost
race time penalties to Alfa us a lot of points," Bottas
Romeo drivers Kimi Raik- For the second straight wide and damaged his constructors' championship said. "It's a shame because
konen and Antonio Giovin- year, the skies opened up car's front wing clipping the since 2014. today was a good oppor-
azzi — demoting them from and drenched the Hock- barriers. "We were not prepared tunity for me to make up
seventh and eighth to 12th enheimring circuit on race "It was like ice out there," when (Hamilton) came in some points to Lewis and it
and 13th respectively — for day. This time Hamilton the British driver said. "I and made the wrong calls was my own fault."
an issue relating to their struggled, however, having made a mistake and paid afterward," Wolff said. "Valt- Bottas remains in second
clutches at the start of the won in similar conditions the price." teri crashed like many other place overall, 41 points be-
race. and despite starting from Hamilton was not helped drivers today, which made hind championship leader
Still, what a way for Mer- 14th on the grid in 2018. by his usually slick team, ei- a bad day even worse for Hamilton. But after declar-
cedes to celebrate 125 "I thought I had the race un- ther. us. Our 200th race in F1 has ing himself as a title con-
years in motorsport and 200 der control," Hamilton said. When he came in for re- been the most difficult day tender at the start of the
F1 races. "But we took a risk going pairs, mechanics were we've had in a long time." season, and backing that
"This was our Armaged- out on slick (tires) and the rushing around in a state Mercedes needs a very up with two wins in the first
don weekend," the team's race fell apart from there." of panic. One even sprint- strong response from Bottas four races, Bottas has not
head of motorsport Toto A rare mistake from Ham- ed to get a tire, grabbed in Hungary next weekend. won since.Stroll was driving
Wolff said with Hamilton in ilton also contributed to a it and sprinted back like He crashed while trying to in the third-slowest F1 car,
11th. "This one hurts us to miserable day at the Mer- he was running in a relay overtake the considerably which won't reassure Wolff
the core: it was a disastrous cedes motorhome, where race and the heavy tire slower Racing Point car of much. "I had a good shot
result today ... You add in- celebratory smiles turned was a baton needing to be unheralded driver Lance to get a podium and I was
cidents, crashing out, tricky to frowns and stern faces. passed quickly. Stroll, not the Ferrari of Se- pushing hard to get past,"
conditions, the wrong calls The five-time F1 champion Pandemonium at Mer- bastian Vettel or the Red Bottas said. "Then I sudden-
and in the end you're left with 80 career wins took cedes? This team is the win- Bull of race winner Max Ver- ly lost the rear and just went
with zero points." treacherous Turn 16 too ner of every drivers' and stappen. off."q

Sri Lanka beats Bangladesh in 2nd ODI to win series

Associated Press the 45th over with 32 de- (43) combined for a 84-run
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka liveries to spare. Angelo stand for the seventh wick-
(AP) — Avishka Fernando Mathews made 52 not out et to take Bangladesh to a
scored 82 off 75 balls as Sri and Kusal Mendis hit an respectable score.
Lanka beat Bangladesh by unbeaten 41. Bangladesh Spinner Akila Dhananjaya
seven wickets to take an was 26-0 in the sixth over took 2-39 in his 10 overs.
insurmountable 2-0 lead in before opening batsman Sri Lanka made a strong
the three-match ODI series Soumya Sarkar (11) was start in their reply with open-
on Sunday. trapped lbw to seam bowl- ers Fernando and captain
It was Sri Lanka's first bilater- er Nuwan Pradeep. Iqbal Dimuth Karunaratne shar-
al series win at home since departed for 19, bowled by ing a 71-run stand before
November 2015 against seamer Isuru Idana. Karunaratne was bowled
the West Indies. Mohammad Mithun (12), by spinner Hasan for 15.
Bangladesh scored 238-8 Mahmudullah (6), Sabbir Fernando hit two sixes and
after captain Tamim Iqbal Rahman (11) and Mosad- nine fours in his innings be- Bangladeshi captain Tamim Iqbal congratulates Sri Lanka's An-
chose to bat first. Mushfiqur dek Hossain (13) departed fore being caught by Iqbal gelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis following their loss in the sec-
Rahim scored an unbeaten quickly to leave Bangla- off the bowling of Mustafi- ond one-day international cricket match in Colombo, Sri Lanka,
98 off 110 deliveries. desh struggling at 117-6. zur Rahman, who finished Sunday, July 28, 2019.
Sri Lanka reached 242-3 in Rahim and Mehedy Hasan with 2-50 off eight overs.q Associated Press