Formula 1

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton dominated the Belgian Grand Prix to take his fifth victory in seven races this year and the 89th of his career. Hamilton headed team-mate Valtteri Bottas to a Mercedes one-two, from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The victory puts Hamilton 48 points – almost two clear wins – ahead of Verstappen in

This one meant a lot – and for Lewis Hamilton it was all about the context. Not the context of being more than half a second quicker than Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas around Spa-Francorchamps, the archetypal drivers’ circuit. Although that was important. No, it was what it said about the strength of Formula 1’s only

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton set pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix half a second clear of Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas. Hamilton was fastest on both laps in the final session and beat Bottas by 0.511secs. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was just 0.015secs off the Finn. Daniel Ricciardo excelled with fourth place on the grid,

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was fastest in second practice at the Belgian Grand Prix, with Daniel Ricciardo’s Renault also ahead of the Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton was third fastest as the top three were separated by only 0.096 seconds. Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas was down in sixth, behind Red Bull’s Alexander Albon and Racing Point’s Sergio Perez.

Formula 1 is to use a brand new layout of Bahrain’s Sakhir track for the second race to be held in the Gulf state this year. The first will be held on the usual Grand Prix circuit, while the second will be on what is known as Sakhir’s “Outer Circuit”. This shortens the track to

Valtteri Bottas headed Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes one-two ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in first practice at the Belgian Grand Prix. The usual top three in F1 2020 were separated by tiny fractions – Bottas was 0.069 seconds ahead of Hamilton, who had 0.012secs on Verstappen. Racing Point’s Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll

World champion Lewis Hamilton “stands with” US sports stars boycotting events to fight racism but does not think his missing a race would have an effect. Basketball, baseball and football games have been postponed in the US after police shot Jacob Blake, a black man, seven times in the back on Sunday. Hamilton said: “It’s

Renault have decided to withdraw their appeal against the verdict in Formula 1’s “copying” controversy. Racing Point were docked 15 points and fined 400,000 euros (£360,000) for illegally copying Mercedes brake ducts. Renault appealed because they felt the verdict did not make it clear the rules required originality in car design. But on Tuesday, the

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc says it will be “difficult” to return to Spa-Francorchamps this weekend, a year after his friend Anthoine Hubert died. Frenchman Hubert, 22, was killed in a high-speed crash during a Formula 2 race at last year’s Belgian Grand Prix. Leclerc said: “Spa-Francorchamps has a special place in my heart. “While it is

Formula 1 is to ban teams from changing engine performance levels over a Grand Prix weekend. The move, which is coming into force for the Italian Grand Prix on 4-6 September, would prevent the use of high-power modes used in qualifying. Governing body the FIA is making the change so the complex modern turbo-hybrid engines

Formula 1 has named the races that will conclude the 2020 season. Four Grands Prix in three countries – Turkey, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi – will bring the calendar to a total of 17 races, the lowest number since 2009. The Turkish Grand Prix on 15 November marks a return for the Istanbul Park track

Japanese ex-Formula 1 driver Takuma Sato won the Indianapolis 500 as Fernando Alonso’s hopes faded not long after half distance. Alonso was 15th when he lost a lap to a car problem with 75 laps to go. The double world champion, who returns to F1 in 2021, finished 21st. Sato was leading from Scott Dixon

Britain’s Max Chilton is hoping to achieve the highlight of his career on Sunday and win the Indianapolis 500 after coming so close three years ago. Chilton, 29, is one of three British drivers in the legendary IndyCar race – 200 laps and 500 miles. In 2017 he led for 50 laps, including 47 of

Formula 1 team Williams have been bought by US-based investment firm Dorilton Capital. Williams, who were put up for sale in May, will still race under the same name and remain at their English base. “This is the end of an era for Williams as a family-owned team, but we know it is in good

Paralympic champion and ex-Formula 1 driver Alex Zanardi’s health has shown “significant clinical improvements” during his time in intensive care after a road accident in June, doctors say. Zanardi, 53, suffered serious head injuries when he lost control of his handbike in a road race in Tuscany and crashed into a truck on 19 June.

McLaren have become the first team to confirm they have signed up to the new Concorde Agreement which will govern Formula 1 from 2021 to 2025. The contract, which sets out the commercial terms of the sport, was first introduced in 1981. Teams have until the end of August to sign the deal if they

French Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly says his home in Normandy was robbed and ransacked while he was racing in Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix. The 24-year-old AlphaTauri driver posted a message on Instagram asking anyone with information to get in touch on social media. Gasly lost expensive engraved watches, racing helmets, clothes and jewellery in

Lewis Hamilton dominated the Spanish Grand Prix to take his fourth victory in six races so far this year. The Mercedes driver led every lap from pole position and was simply too fast for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who was unable to challenge. Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas took third, failing to catch Verstappen despite Mercedes’