Lewis Hamilton held on to win the British Grand Prix on Sunday despite a puncture on the last lap to clinch an 87th career win and move within four of Michael Schumacher’s Formula One record. The championship leader’s record-extending seventh Silverstone win saw him finish six seconds ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who unexpectedly moved up a place after Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas sustained a puncture with three laps left. With Hamilton so far ahead, Verstappen went in for a tire change in a bid to gain an extra point for the fastest lap but that pit stop ultimately cost him victory because Hamilton’s front left shredded with half a lap to go. Verstappen swallowed up most of the 25-second gap but ran out of time. Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari with Daniel Ricciardo fourth for improving Renault and British driver Lando Norris fifth for McLaren. “It was a very tricky race,” said Leclerc after his second podium of the season.
Manjrekar's plea to BCCI
Former India batsman-turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar, who was removed by the BCCI from its commentary panel in March this year just before the India-South Africa ODI series which was eventually cancelled due to the outbreak of Covid-19, has requested the Board to take him back for the forthcoming edition of the IPL in UAE, which will run from September 19 to November 8. In a short e-mail to the Apex Council members of the BCCI, the former Mumbai captain has assured the Board mandarins that he would “stick to the guidelines laid out” by the BCCI. According to sources, Manjrekar was sacked from the BCCI commentary panel after a few players in Team India complained to the Board about his controversial “bits and pieces” comment on all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja during the Workld Cup in England last year. Manjrekar has already apologised for his comments on Jadeja and sorted out the issue with the concerned player. The final call on this issue will rest with BCCI president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah.
Gavaskar to travel to UAE
Meanwhile, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar is set to travel to the UAE for his TV commentary duties the IPL. It was being speculated that Gavaskar, now 71, may be asked by broadcaster to do “virtual commentary” from Mumbai.
