PITS.. COMING HOME
LEWIS HAMILTON has cleared his diary to support England if they reach the World Cup final.
The Formula One ace has demanded a day off from his driving duties and will be in Moscow if the Three Lions make the showpiece in nine days’ time.
Lewis joked with race bosses FIA about the penalty for missing a press conference that he is scheduled to appear at tomorrow afternoon after the final qualifying session at Silverstone – because it clashes with England’s quarter-final against Sweden.
But he nailed his colours to the mast in patriotic fashion, and said: “I’ve booked next Sunday off – just in case. I want to be in Russia that day, supporting the boys.
“I can only imagine the kind of high they are on. I hope they are eating and sleeping well – that’s a large part of it.
“I had to watch it the other day on my phone – but at least I got to see it.
“There’s so much pressure on them. There’s so much passion for sport. It’s part of our
DNA in this country.
“You see it in stadiums – and here at Silverstone. I played football as a kid. I remember playing with Ashley Young at school.
“I hope the football supporters have a great weekend, then I want to complete it for them. That would be the cherry on the cake. And if I can do it hopefully I’ll be waving the flag a little bit higher.”
Hamilton is chasing a couple of records. He will become the first man to win five British Grands Prix in a row if he emerges triumphant on Sunday. That will be his sixth domestic triumph overall – setting another landmark. However, mechanical issues meant both Mercedes cars failed to finish for the first time in eight years last weekend in Austria. An early pit-stop should also have been called – but wasn’t – leaving a frustrated Hamilton to grit his teeth as Red Bull’s Dutchman Max Verstappen romped home.
Hamilton’s championship rival Sebastian Vettel (below with Verstappen) finished third in his Ferrari, giving him a one point lead in the title race.
Hamilton admitted: “It was a difficult weekend. A painful experience.
“We all would have wished it differently – but the spirit within the team is the strongest it’s ever been.
“As soon as they got the car back that evening a fix was designed and put into test.
“The team was super on it and they have done everything possible to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”