Wolff wants a quick fix

MERCEDES have opened an investigation into the blunders which are destabilising Lewis Hamilton’s championship challenge. Toto Wolff, the Mercedes boss, headed directly from their latest capitulation in Austria to the team’s Northamptonshire headquarters on Monday to lead the inquest. Hamilton (above) was knocked off Formula One’s title summit by Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel following Hamilton’s retirement from Sunday’s race. The defending champion has been given three days off by Mercedes ahead of this week’s British Grand Prix, but he has asked to be kept abreast of any developments. THE Los Angeles Lakers are close to being ‘real contenders’ in the NBA again after signing LeBron James. That is the view of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a Laker great and the competition’s highest scorer. After opting to take free agency this summer, James ensured there would be no build up of speculation about his future as he swiftly agreed a four-year, $154million deal with one of sport’s most storied franchises. James’ second exit from the Cavaliers was far more civilised than his first, when jerseys were burned and owner Dan Gilbert penned an acrimonious letter.