Category: News
Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has dismissed as wide of the mark reports that he sprayed Russian President Vladimir Putin with the winner’s champagne after Sunday’s grand prix in Sochi.
“I actually didn’t. I didn’t actually spray him. I think there’s a weird picture but I didn’t spray him. I definitely don’t want anything (to happen),” the Mercedes driver told Sky Sports television on Monday with a smile.
Hamilton, who flew back home to Britain to join the team’s celebrations after they won their second successive constructors’ championship in Russia, has got into trouble previously for his champagne-spraying antics on the podium.
He was criticized and accused of sexist bullying in April for aiming a spray of champagne directly in the face of a Chinese Grand Prix hostess in Shanghai.
That incident, highlighted in photographs that showed the woman flinching, triggered condemnation in Britain and Germany as well as on Chinese social media but the hostess herself played it down.
Putin presented Hamilton with the winner’s trophy on Sunday, with the Briton starting the traditional champagne spraying ritual before the president had left the podium.
Photographs appeared to show dark flecks of champagne foam on the back of Putin’s jacket as he departed.
Some media reports subsequently suggested Hamilton, who is now on the brink of a third drivers’ title, had ‘soaked’ the Russian leader, leading to jokes on social media about what punishment the driver might suffer.
McLaren endured another tough race in Japan last weekend, hampered by a lack of straight-line performance. They did at least, though, have the benefit of recent aero updates to the MP4-30, which narrowly missed out on the points in the hands of Fernando Alonso.
The team confirmed the effectiveness of the new front wing design they introduced in Singapore (previous version inset). The wing pillars have a more twisted outer edge (left arrow), while the endplate now features small winglets on its inner (top right arrow) and outer (lowermost arrow) edges, and a revised rear opening (lower right arrow). All this is to better manage the airflow around the outside of the front tyres.
Bottas and Perez outperforming the first drivers in their teams.
The Red Bull team has arrived in Japan and no better way for the Bulls to start the trip than a bit of Sumo! 🎌 相撲
In Singapore they introduced this totally new shape of front wing turning vane (red arrow), highly twisted to channel air outwards. Other teams have a straighter, more vertical fin.
The area in front of the rear tyres is a crucial focal point for all teams this year as they look to improve rear-end aerodynamics, and in the last few races we have seen many different solutions. For the Marina Bay race Ferrari multiplied the slots in the floor (highlighted in yellow), from three to nine. In addition they added two fins (red arrow) on the sides of the deformable rear crash structure, as Mercedes did in Spain. The car, with its strong rear end, is much more to Sebastian Vettel’s liking now, hence the improved performance.
Daniel Ricciardo:
“I love going to Japan, and I’m absolutely fascinated by Tokyo. I turn into a complete tourist, gawping at the place, the people, the food – it’s just so incredibly cool. Personally, I really like hanging out in the tiny bars: crazy little places maybe only five square meters. It’s a really good experience. I recommend it.”
Daniil Kvyat:
“Japanese fans are very warm and welcoming and the atmosphere there is great. You always get given some odd gifts. Last year I got given a lot of fans – not people, things to, you know, cool you down! You also get a ton of stuff to sign. I really appreciate that the fans make an effort. They are passionate about Formula One and they really show it.”
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