Lewis Hamilton rues poor form after Max Verstappen’s dominant win in Hungary
Lewis Hamilton admitted he has not been driving at his best for over a year after a poor start at the Hungarian Grand Prix allowed Max Verstappen to rack up a record-breaking victory. Verstappen gazumped pole-sitter Hamilton on the downhill run to the opening corner at the Hungaroring before racing off into the distance to score his seventh successive victory of this most one-sided of Formula One seasons. Hamilton finished only fourth after both McLaren drivers also moved ahead of him inside the first two bends of Sunday’s 70-lap race. Lando Norris was runner-up to Verstappen for the second consecutive race, 33.7 seconds behind the dominant Dutchman, while Sergio Perez fought back from ninth to third with Oscar Piastri crossing the line in fifth. Verstappen’s ninth win from the 11 rounds so far sees him move 110 points clear of Perez heading into next weekend’s concluding round before the summer break in Belgium. The Dutchman’s Red Bull team remain unbeaten this season, setting a new F1 record with their 12th consecutive win. For Hamilton, he is now 34 appearances without a victory – the longest streak of his career. “I have not been at my best for over a year,” said Hamilton who has not won since he was denied a record eighth world title at the concluding round in Abu Dhabi in 2021. Across the same period, Verstappen – the man who beat him to the title on that controversial night in the desert – has triumphed 24 times. But the seven-time world champion added: “I am not disappointed. It was obvious that we do not have the quickest car. Max got a better start than me, I got a bit of wheelspin, and I was a bit compromised after that. “I am really proud of myself and the job we did to get pole and outperform the world champion and the other two McLaren cars that are quicker than us. But today is just a reality check. The reality is that we are not fast enough. “I was told in the strategy meeting this morning that I would be five tenths a lap slower than the Red Bull so the fight is not with Max but hopefully that we would be able to fight the McLarens. But then the McLaren was also too quick for us.” Hamilton’s initial reaction to the lights turning green was fine enough, but he lacked traction in the next phase, with Verstappen moving alongside the Mercedes and then ahead under braking for the first corner. Forced wide by Verstappen, Hamilton then lost two further positions. First to Piastri at the same right-hander, before Norris also muscled his way ahead around the outside of the next bend. Hamilton had a nibble back at his countryman on the long run up to Turn 4 but Norris held firm. A contrite Hamilton was straight on the radio. “Sorry about that, guys,” he said. “Don’t sweat about it, Lewis,” came the reassuring response from Hamilton’s ever-upbeat race engineer, Peter Bonnington. As Verstappen did what Verstappen does and controlled the race to perfection, Hamilton appeared rattled. He questioned if his Mercedes team had turned down his engine after falling a dozen seconds back from Verstappen by the time he stopped for fresh rubber on lap 16. Where am I losing all the time? It is just the car is slow. Lewis Hamilton He then expressed his exasperation at being cast more than 10 seconds behind third-placed Piastri, the Australian dropping behind Norris at the first round of stops. “Where am I losing all the time?” he asked, adding: “It is just the car is slow.” Bonnington then called on Hamilton to pick up the pace. But the despondent 38-year-old replied: “This is as fast as it goes, mate. That is what I have been saying.” When he finally stopped for rubber for a second time with 20 laps to run, Hamilton dropped to fifth. He wiped out a six-second deficit to Piastri inside a handful of laps, and at the start of lap 57 he breezed past the McLaren man at the first corner, before taking the chequered flag 39 seconds behind the all-conquering Verstappen. “The Red Bull car is phenomenal,” added an envious Hamilton. The Briton’s Mercedes team-mate George Russell started 18th and finished sixth, benefiting from a five-second penalty to Charles Leclerc who sped in the pit lane. Daniel Ricciardo was a commendable 13th on his first race back. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live I held my breath – Lewis Hamilton enjoys ‘extraordinary’ run to pole in Budapest Max Verstappen gives hope to rivals after coming 11th in Hungarian GP practice Like someone cut my heart out – Claire Williams on sale of father’s F1 team
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Harry Styles is the latest celebrity to be replicated in wax form as Madame Tussauds has unveiled not one, but seven wax figures of the popstar after receiving "thousands of fan requests." The seven waxworks will be on display at museums in London, New York, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Berlin, Singapore and Sydney, each of them sporting some of the singer's iconic looks from recent years. In London, the Harry figure wears a double-breasted hunter green blazer, large flower broach, pistachio green trousers, ivory boots and a bright green handbag, the look is paired with a classic pearl necklace jewellery which references Styles's My Policeman premiere outfit during the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter After it took 10 months for Madame Tussauds’ artists to complete, the public can see the figure for themselves when it premieres on July 27. In New York, the Harry waxwork will sport the memorable sequin rainbow jumpsuit wore during his 2022 headlining Coachella set, while Berlin's figure will wear Styles's another of his Coachella costumes - an oversize faux fur coat paired with a metallic leather waistcoat and trousers. While some of the other figures will don outfits the As It Was singer has previously worn during his Love On Tour concert series. Sydney’s Styles figure dons a pink satin shirt, burgundy trousers and a feather boa, from one of his shows in San Jose, California. A bronze sequin vest with fringe attached originally worn at a gig in Long Island, New York, is what the LA wax figure will have on, while in Amsterdam it will be a a pink double-breasted suit with floral embroidery, similar to a look he wore on stage in Dallas. For Singapore's Styles waxwork, a blue and yellow two-piece from the Glasgow leg of his Love On Tour concert series will be sported. But what do Harry fans make of the waxwork - here are some of the best reactions to the Harry Styles London waxwork: Many were impressed with the images they saw of the figure, describing it as "scary accurate." Though others disagreed, and while they note it isn't the worst waxwork they've seen, they noted how "something is off." While others made some comparisons, from Margaret Thatcher to Princess Diana, Benedict Cumberbatch and Don't Worry Darling co-star Chris Pine... Fans can see the Harry Styles waxwork in person at Madame Tussauds in London from July 27. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
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