Max Verstappen - The African Mirror

Nov

2020

Stroll takes maiden pole in Turkey

RACING Point driver Lance Stroll took his first career pole position ahead of the Istanbul Grand Prix in a rain plagued qualifier session. "I can't really put it into words right now, I'm shocked!” said Stroll. "It's one of the biggest highlights of my career for sure, we dream about these moments growing up and it's pretty special!" He added Stroll finished ahead of fellow teammate Sergio Perez and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, in second and third place respectively. "A great result for the team, something we were not really expecting! I definitely prefer P3 to P2, I think tomorrow…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Hamilton scores record-equalling 91st victory

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO WORLD champion has equalled F1 great Michael Schumacher’s record of most victories in the sport after he won the Eifel Grand Prix, a race marked by a myriad of technical problems which forced five drivers to retire. Hamilton, who started in 2nd position, drove a race of his life, registered several lap records to win ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The world champion was forced to bring his best performance with ten laps to go after the deployment of the safety car. His 91st win means he now has 231 world championship points. There was a special…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Bottas takes pole at Eifel Grand Prix

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER MERCEDES’ Valterri Bottas starts today’s Eifel Grand Prix on pole after pipping teammate and world champion Lewis Hamilton by the narrowest of margins. Bottas pole and Hamilton’s 2nd spot means that Mercedes have continued with their dominance on the circuit, achieving 100% pole positioning record for the 2020 season. Bottas was 0.256s ahead of Hamilton with Red Bull's Max Verstappen slotting into the third spot. Bottas was elated with his achievement. “It feels great to be on pole position here and I really enjoyed that session. It’s such a nice feeling when you get it with your…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

Bottas wins as penalties haunt Hamilton in Russia

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO MERCEDES’ Valterri Bottas comfortably won the Russian Grand Prix but his teammate and world champion Lewis Hamilton would feel that the race stewards took away what would have been his record-equalling 91st victory. Bottas stormed past Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, and briefly troubled leader Hamilton, before leading the rest of the way and taking the chequered flag for his second win of the season. Hamilton led the race at Sochi when the stewards dropped a bombshell and docked him 10 seconds for violating the practice start rule twice. The penalty denied Hamilton an opportunity to equal the legendary…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Hamilton dedicates record Belgian GP win to fallen superhero

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO LEWIS Hamilton claimed his 88th Formula 1 Grand Prix win, fourth win at Spa de Francorchomps, equalling a record set by racing legend Jackie Stewart. Hamilton led the 44 lap race comfortably from start to the chequered flag. “No matter how much success we have we keep our heads down. It’s incredible, It felt great to get the win, I really wanted to deliver because he [Chadwick Boseman] made everyone feel like a superhero,” said Hamilton. Teammate Valterri Bottas finished in second place ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen who remained unthreatened for most of the race. Verstappen…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Record-breaking win and 156th podium finish Hamilton

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO REIGNING world champion Lewis Hamilton led the Spanish GP in Catalunya from pole to the chequered flag, to finish finishing ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The win was the 88th of his career leaving him three race wins shy of Michael Schumacher’s all-time record. He has, however, broke Schumacher’s record of 155 podiums and is number one on the all-time list Hamilton managed the race and the tyres well to build a lead that allowed him to finish way ahead of Verstappen. “I'm in a daze. That was amazing out there and we got our strategy spot…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Verstappen claims first win of the season

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO RED Bull’s brave strategy paid off as Max Verstappen stormed past the chequered flag in first place after a fantastic drive from fourth in the British Grand Prix, a race that celebrated Formula One’s 70 years. Both Mercedes’ experienced tyre issues and found themselves responding to the quicker Red Bull, finishing in second and third. A late pit stop from last week’s race winner Lewis Hamilton saw him pass teammate Valtteri Bottas, who started on pole, with five laps to go. Ferrari experienced a mixed outing at Silverstone. Charles Leclerc endured a tough race to come home a…

Jul

2020

By The African Mirror

Hamilton’s historic victory

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER A dominant Lewis Hamilton has won his second race of the season and equaled Formula One legend’s Michael Schumacher’s record of eight successive wins at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Hamilton, the defending champion, led from pole to finish and was never under threat from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who finished in second position, eight seconds behind Hamilton. Hamilton, who surged ahead in the world championship standing, paid tribute to his car and the Mercedes technical team. Gallery: Hungarian Grand Prix “Whilst I was on my own for the race it was a different kind of challenge. We…