HAMILTON’S UNPLUGGED
F1 orders Lewis to scrap video clip
LEWIS Hamilton has been ordered to take down an on- board video clip from social media because it broke guidelines set out by Formula One’s new owners, Liberty Media.
Liberty have encouraged drivers to reach out to fans by posting behind- the- scenes selfies and videos online, with Hamilton (right) one of the keenest to comply.
But footage of his pole lap in China nine days ago was deemed unacceptable by Liberty because on-track action is the preserve of official broadcasters. Sportsmail understands that Liberty representatives spoke to Mercedes and members of Hamilton’ s personal management team to ask they remove it from his Instagram account.
Hamilton immediately agreed to the request.
Liberty said: ‘ Formula One has issued a new set of social media guidelines allowing teams and drivers to film and record their activities to bring the sport closer to the fans.
‘However, F1 does not want drivers posting “international feed footage” as this has been licensed to broadcaster partners, in many cases exclusively.
‘Whenever a mistake is made, teams and drivers are asked to take down any relevant footage.’
It is not the first time Hamilton has had to remove a controversial video. In 2015, Mercedes chairman Niki Lauda told him to delete a recording of him firing a machine gun at a Colorado shooting range on the same day as a gun attack on a train in France.
Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff told Hamilton he needed ‘to be aware of what is happening out there in the world.’
Despite the latest transgression Hamilton resumed videoing around Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix, giving his followers a guided tour of his private driver room in the Mercedes hospitality and engineering area.
He was more concerned afterwards about having lost to Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, partly through a few unforced errors, most glaringly blocking Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo in the pit lane, for which he received a five-second penalty.
Hamilton now trails the German by seven points after three races, with Russia coming up next a week on Sunday.
A huge dilemma awaits Wolff and Lauda. To what extent do they throw their support behind Hamilton at the expense of team- mate Valtteri Bottas and their traditional belief in open racing?
Hamilton, who will take part in testing in Bahrain today, said: ‘We have work to do in the test, trying to strengthen the car, strengthen the knowledge of the tyres, so I can attack and be at a better position in the next race.
‘Ferrari have been the team to beat from the get-go and nothing has changed. Sunday was not an optimum weekend, but if a non-optimum weekend is second and third, we can pull together and have a first and second.
‘People will be, like, “you finished second you should be happy” but that is not why we exist. If anyone thinks I should feel happy with second, I don’t know what to say. I should have easily been on pole. Then I lost position at the start. Solely my fault. Then you get the time lost in the pit lane.
‘You practise and practise and practise. You only have 20 opportunities and when you f*** up, man, it is painful.
‘If I am a V12, perhaps this weekend I was only a V10, so I need to work to make sure I am firing on all 12 cylinders next time.’
ENGLAND stars Joe Launchbury and Jonathan Joseph are set to miss out on Lions call-ups. Warren Gatland will hold a final selection meeting with his assistants in west London this afternoon, when lock George Kruis and centre elliot Daly are expected to be picked ahead of their international team-mates.
Sportsmail understands england rookies Ben te’o and Kyle Sinckler will both be named despite having started only one test between them during the eddie Jones regime.
Combative lock Courtney Lawes is also expected to be named ahead of Launchbury, with Gatland opting to fight fire with fire against the world champion All Blacks.
A squad of 37 players is expected to fly to New Zealand next month, with the official announcement tomorrow.
hookers Rory Best and Jamie George have been pencilled in, leaving a selection showdown between Wales’ Ken Owens and england skipper Dylan hartley, who made a late charge with his star performance during Northampton’s loss to Saracens.
With Maro Itoje and Alun Wyn Jones both selection certainties in the riches of second rows, Gatland is debating whether to extend his squad to 38 to accommodate Ireland’s Iain henderson or Donnacha Ryan in the pack.
Kruis is considered one of the world’s leading line-out technicians, earning him a ticket to Auckland despite playing only one game for Saracens this year.
‘I was pretty happy to get 80 minutes on Sunday,’ said the 27- year- old. ‘ It was always going to be a lung burner. I know there’s a lot of hype about the Lions selection. I have had such a long year being injured I just want to get back playing.’
england flankers Chris Robshaw and James haskell could both miss out after making a limited impact during the Six Nations. Billy Vunipola could be the only english representative
among th the b backk row, with the Irish and Welsh set to dominate because of their superior pace and breakdown expertise.
No 10 George ford is also at risk of becoming a late casualty alongside Bath team- mate Joseph — as both could miss out due to Daly’s versatility.
the 24- year- old Wasp has featured primarily on the wing during Jones’ tenure but is equally adept at centre and fullback, while his long-range place kicking adds further value.
Daly said: ‘the Lions are in the back of everyone’s mind, really, but you can’t do anything but play well for your club.
‘I like playing anywhere on the pitch. Whether that is centre, wing or full-back, I don’t mind. I just want to do the best for whatever team I am in, try to get my hands on the ball and influence the game.’