Hamilton slams FIA for rainbow shirt sanction

LEWIS HAMILTON hit out at the decision to reprimand sebastian Vettel for his rainbow T-shirt in support of the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary, calling it ‘bulls**t’ before adding that he will wear the same shirt next time. Vettel, whose T-shirt read ‘same Love’, was summoned by the stewards following sunday’s race at the Hungaroring and the German was one of four drivers reprimanded by officials. FIA rules stipulate that drivers can wear T-shirts pre-race as it pertains to their We Race As One campaign, but those must be removed for the national anthem, something Vettel, Carlos sainz, Valtteri Bottas and Lance stroll failed to do. In a post on Instagram Hamilton, 36, gave his full support to Vettel, who was disqualified after sunday’s race for being unable to provide the required end-of-race fuel sample. ‘super proud of this guy,’ Hamilton wrote. ‘There is no rule that says what colour shirt you can wear and supporting the LGBTQ+ community is not repremandable (sic). This is Bs. Well done seb. I’ll join you next time with the same shirt!’ Hamilton quickly deleted that original post before re-uploading the picture of Vettel with the words: ‘Love to see this seb supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Love always wins.’ Hamilton flew home on sunday to begin a three-week holiday after revealing he is still suffering from the effects of Covid-19, eight months after testing positive. Mercedes will provide any medical personnel Hamilton requires but a period of rest is expected to have him fit for the second half of the season, which starts in spa on August 29. Hamilton has surged ahead in the drivers’ championship from Max Verstappen. His secondplace finish, courtesy of Vettel’s disqualification, puts him ahead by eight points.

AUCHTERARDER’s Craig Menzies and Willie Turnbull edged out father and son David and Mark Riddell for a place in the last 32 of the Daily Mail Foursomes at Baberton. Menzies and Turnbull were relieved when the Baberton pair just missed an extraordinary 80ft putt at the last hole. Instead it was Menzies who went on to sink a 15ft birdie putt for victory at the first extra hole. He admitted afterwards: ‘We just managed to scrape over the line, but a win is a win.’ They are now just one win away from making the grand final at slaley Hall in October. Cardiff’s Elaine Caveney and sarah Jones pulled off an amazing comeback at Machynys Peninsula to become one of the first women’s pairs to book their spot in the last 32. The visitors seemed to be wilting in soaring temperatures when mistakes on the 15th and 16th saw them go two down. But they won the last two holes to take the match into extra time and held on to beat Kathy Clements and Amanda Cole at the first extra hole. ‘It was so hot,’ said Caveney, 76. ‘Fortunately it was only one extra hole.’