Sykes battles at the double
TOM SYKES boosted his bid to regain the world title with a third winning double in as many years in the British round at Donington Park.
But he knows he has a real fi ght on his hands to overcome the challenge of his Kawasaki team- mate Jonathan Rea.
After this sixth round Rea has a lead of 102 points, but Sykes is sure that he will improve his chances as he has adjusted to a new bike.
Sykes said: “We are getting there. We are back in the ball park.”
He took pole position but Rea led in the opener before Sykes fought back strongly as they traded places several times.
Sykes won by 3.743secs, and Rea was denied the chance of revenge on the opening lap of the second race as his bike bucked out of line, throwing him out of the seat.
But luckily he landed back on it and was able to continue, carving back from seventh place to second.
Sykes, who had again bettered the record led throughout to take the victory by 9.772secs from Rea.
Running 21 seconds ahead with 14 laps to go to win the Monaco Grand Prix at a canter, Mercedes pulled the rug from beneath his feet. He fi nished third. It left one question still unanswered this morning. Why?
Hamilton’s blood must still be boiling through his veins today. But quite how he kept his composure immediately after yesterday’s race, when most would have thrown a tantrum to match even the most diffi cult of two- year- olds, is anyone’s guess.
In short, Mercedes lost Hamilton the Monaco Grand Prix because they pitted him when they did not need to.
He was controlling the race from the start and never lost the lead – until lap 64, when 17- year- old rookie Max Verstappen crashed his Toro Rosso into the wall and the safety car was deployed.
Mercedes thought they had enough time to pit Hamilton for fresh tyres and get him back out ahead of team- mate Nico Rosberg in second and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in third.
They were wrong. “I’ve lost the race haven’t I?” said Hamilton, rejoining in third and not able to overtake because the safety car was still out. “What’s happened?”
That is still being debated today. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said: “We thought the gap to Rosberg and Vettel was different to what it was. A complete misjudgment. I am so sorry. We screwed it up for him.” Of that there is no doubt. Wolff added: “The simple answer is we got the maths wrong. We thought we had a gap which we didn’t have when the safety car came out.”
What was perhaps of equal surprise was Hamilton’s public dignity after receiving such a smack in the face. “It was not the easiest of races. The team has done amazing all year long, we win and we lose together,” he said. “I’m sure we will sit down afterwards and try to think of ways we can improve.
“But I can’t express how I feel right now so I won’t attempt to. You rely on the team. I saw a screen, it looked like the team was out and I thought that Nico had pitted. Obviously I couldn’t see the guys behind so I thought the guys behind were pitting.