
There's a major problem Monaco must solve if it is to survive on the F1 calendar, writes JONATHAN McEVOY
It is time for Monaco to bend, for once in its proud life, to the overdue requirement to build an overtaking acre to preserve its status as the grand prix venue first among equals.
I speak as one of its friends. And had I never been to a race and could choose which to visit it would be here. It is a place of glamour, redolent of ghosts past, from Princess Grace, Her Serene Highness who added Hollywood glamour to its royal house, to stars such as Sir Stirling Moss and Graham Hill, aka Mr Monaco, and beyond to the cast of today.
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Daily Mail
19 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Lewis Hamilton APOLOGISED off-camera to Sky Sports presenter after terse interview following Spanish GP - where Ferrari star made a brutal admission about his team
Lewis Hamilton issued an off-air apology to Sky Sports presenter Rachel Brookes following his downbeat interview following the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday. The Ferrari driver came home in seventh but was bumped up one place after Max Verstappen careered into George Russell, an incident which saw him demoted down to 10th. Unable to keep up with the two McLarens and Verstappen, Hamilton was told to let Charles Leclerc pass him early in the race, giving his team-mate a leg up as he went on to finish third. Hamilton's frustrations were increased when he was passed by Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg on the penultimate lap of the race. The 40-year-old, who joined Ferrari on a £40million-deal this year, was visibly frustrated when interviewed by Brookes for Sky Sports after the race. Pressed on his comment over team radio that there was 'something wrong' with his car, and for his immediate reaction to the race, Hamilton replied: 'Not particularly, it was not a great day. The strategy was good, the team did a great job. Just, that's it.' Brookes then told Hamilton: 'I hate seeing you in this mood.' Hamilton quickly responded, replying: 'Well what do you want me to say? I had a really bad day and I've got nothing to say. 'It was a difficult day, I've got nothing else to add to it. There's no point explaining it. It's not your fault, I've just not got anything to say.' Brookes admitted she hopes Ferrari will be able to find a fix for his woes, but Hamilton said: 'I'm sure they won't, the answer is probably just me.' Sky Sports commentator David Croft, speaking on T he Fast and The Curious podcast, has now revealed Hamilton had apologised to Brookes off-camera for the nature of the interview. '[Lewis Hamilton] was really down on himself, and no one likes to see that because at the end of the day, whether you're a fan or not, Lewis Hamilton is the greatest racing driver we've ever seen,' Croft said. 'Statistically, he is the greatest. I think he's the greatest even without the stats. He wears his heart on his sleeve and should be applauded for that because it does a lot of good when he wears his heart on his sleeve. 'He did apologise to Rachel Brookes for being so down in the dumps off camera. He said, "I'm really sorry about that, I'm just so down". 'And that just shows the extent that he really was down. He's not putting this on for the cameras, trust me. And once again, it's right after the race. He's not had time for a debrief. He's not had time to have a chat with his race engineer. 'So he probably didn't know the extent of whatever damage the car had at the time he spoke to Rachel. 'And he probably didn't realise that it was the car that was hindering him more so than his driving in that one. 'And look, when you're in a Ferrari and you're overtaken by Nico Hülkenberg, albeit in a Ferrari-powered Sauber, you're going to question, 'Is it me really? Am I doing something wrong here?' Because it just didn't go for him really from the outset.' Reports have since claimed Hamilton had picked up floor damage during the race, which may have impacted his Ferrari in the closing stages on Sunday. Hamilton currently trails Ferrari team-mate Leclerc by 23 points in the drivers' championship, with the seven-time world champion is sixth in the overall standings. Hamilton has finished six of his first nine Ferrari races outside of the top five since making the lucrative move.


BBC News
34 minutes ago
- BBC News
Kirby announces England retirement before Euros
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The Independent
39 minutes ago
- The Independent
Bruno Fernandes ‘wants to stay at the highest level' as he turns down Saudi move
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