Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Motorsports
  • Tennis

Hamilton chases Schumacher as virus-hit F1 season roars into life

by French Press Agency - AFP

MELBOURNE, Australia Mar 11, 2020 - 8:57 am GMT+3
Despite taking every pole position at Albert Park Circuit since 2014, Hamilton won just once at Australian Grand Prix. (AFP Photo)
Despite taking every pole position at Albert Park Circuit since 2014, Hamilton won just once at Australian Grand Prix. (AFP Photo)
by French Press Agency - AFP Mar 11, 2020 8:57 am
RECOMMENDED
 Red Bull's Max Verstappen ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit, Baku, Azerbaijan, April 27, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

Red Bull's Max Verstappen ponders lifespan of his F1 career

Formula-one

Lewis Hamilton believes his all-conquering Mercedes is even better than last year as he begins his bid to equal Michael Schumacher's record seven world crowns at an Australian Grand Prix given the green light despite coronavirus fears.

The British driver has been the dominant force in recent times, winning five of the previous six titles, including in 2019 when he bettered legendary five-time Argentine champion Juan Manuel Fangio.

"It's been intense, with a huge amount of work from everybody at the track and back home at the factories," the 35-year-old said of preparations overshadowed by concerns about the virus and its impact on the sport.

"The car's feeling like a step forward from last year," Hamilton added after preseason testing.

"But it's clear we've still got a few issues we need to iron out," said the driver who won 11 of last season's 21 grand prix races.

Mercedes heads into the race with a new dual-axis steering system (DAS), which has inevitably sparked complaints from other teams over whether it is legal.

There were fears the Melbourne race may be ditched due to travel restrictions affecting team personnel, particularly from Italy-based Ferrari.

But it is going ahead with ticket sales "very strong," in contrast to the second race in Bahrain next week which will be run behind closed doors to combat the spread of the disease.

The Chinese Grand Prix in April has been postponed.

While Hamilton has taken every pole at Albert Park since 2014, he has won just once in that time, and it was teammate Valtteri Bottas who sizzled at preseason testing.

The steely Finn will be looking for a second successive win in Australia after sweeping to an emphatic victory last year, a massive 20.9 seconds ahead of Hamilton.

"On a good day, when I get 100% out of myself, I feel I can beat anyone. But how to be there at every race weekend – that's the tricky thing," Bottas said.

So dominant were Mercedes in 2019 that Ferrari had to wait until the 13th race at Belgium in September for their first win, courtesy of new boy Charles Leclerc.

Team principal Mattia Binotto said after testing that Ferrari's new engine was "not as strong" as last year, bad news for the Scuderia as they chase a first drivers' title since 2007.

They have a revamped engine after rivals last year expressed suspicions about Ferrari's straight-line speed superiority, though a probe by motorsport's governing body FIA was unable to prove the Maranello team had cheated.

Leclerc, 22, overshadowed teammate Sebastian Vettel in his debut season for Ferrari, with the German four-time world champion looking to reassert himself this year.

RECOMMENDED
 Red Bull's Max Verstappen ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit, Baku, Azerbaijan, April 27, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

Red Bull's Max Verstappen ponders lifespan of his F1 career

Formula-one
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Mar 11, 2020 10:18 am
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    formula 1 australian grand prix lewis hamilton mercedes ferrari motorsports
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan greets supporters outside his house following the second round of the presidential elections, Istanbul, Türkiye, May 28, 2023. (EPA Photo)

    Erdoğan wins Turkish runoff according to unofficial results

    TÜRKIYE-ELECTIONS
    Supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan wait for his address following early exit poll results for the second round of the presidential election in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 28, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

    State leaders congratulate Erdoğan for early runoff victory

    türkiye-elections

    Kılıçdaroğlu clings to CHP seat after election loss 

    TÜRKIYE-ELECTIONS

    Erdoğan wins another Turkish election 

    TÜRKIYE-ELECTIONS
    No Image
    World's 10 most expensive cities for expats in 2021
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021