LEW PUSHED TO THE MAX
LEWIS HAMILTON fears Max Verstappen could wreck his dream of winning a record-equalling seventh world title.
The Briton is in the driving seat to match Michael Schumacher’s trophy haul after romping to four wins in the opening six races of the season.
That near-flawless start has seen the reigning champ open up a 37-point lead over Red Bull’s Verstappen ahead of tomorrow’s Belgian Grand Prix.
But Hamilton insisted: “They’ve had very strong results and they’re getting closer in races, maybe in qualifying we do have the edge but when it comes to the race we’re generally a lot closer.
“We’re not even halfway through the season and so I absolutely keep my eye on them. They still are a title runner, and so we need to stay on our toes.”
Hamilton has 88 wins to his name, and victory tomorrow will see him edge closer to Schumacher’s record of 91.
But his pursuit got off to a slow start yesterday as team-mate Valtteri Bottas and Verstappen topped the practice timesheets at Spa.
ANDY MURRAY has claimed he feels as safe in New York as London before playing the US Open next week.
Top stars like Rafa Nadal, Ash Barty and Simona Halep have decided against travelling to the USA.
Players must stay in a bio-bubble at the media hotel
– or private accommodation with 24-hour security – after leaving the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre.
But the 2012 US Open champion, who will face Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in the first round, said: “I think it’s going to be fine. The USTA will do a good job, and make it as safe as it can be.
It’s a shame that not many of the top women are coming. But it’s difficult. You look at the States as a whole, and obviously the situation is really, really bad.
“But in New York the situation is not any worse than it would be in the UK just now. I think they’re doing pretty well in New York. It’s a difficult one. You understand why players wouldn’t travel but, now that I’m here, I feel perfectly safe.”
The Scot (left) added: “I don’t feel less safe here than I do when I’m going around London. As long as players respect the protocols, and I hope they do, everything should go smoothly.”