F1 digest: Lewis Hamilton slams Sky Sports pundits after win in Germany

Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has hit out at Sky Sports pundits for not having a “good word to say” about his victory in last weekend’s German Grand Prix.

The Mercedes driver started 14th on the grid at Hockenheim before taking the chequered flag after race leader and title rival Sebastian Vettel crashed out on the 52nd lap.

After the race Hamilton, who now leads Ferrari’s Vettel by 17 points in the F1 championship, posted a message on his Instagram account before later deleting it.

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Quoted by The Daily Telegraph, Hamilton had written: “I never get to watch the races but just got home and [am] watching Sky. I find it amazing listening to the ex-drivers commentating [and] not a single one of them could find a good word to say.

“Whatever the reason is, it’s OK, I forgive you. Positivity and love wins always and no matter what words you use to try and undermine me, I started 14th today and finished 1st. God is good all the time.”

Hamilton will look to build on his championship lead at the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest on Sunday.

Miami Grand Prix plans on hold

F1’s proposal to host a grand prix in Miami next year has been postponed, but a 2020 race is still in the running.

The preferred date for a Miami GP was October 2019, but F1 managing director of commercial operations Sean Bratches says it wouldn’t be possible.

In a statement, Bratches said: “In the last few months we have worked diligently alongside our promoter Stephen Ross of RSE Ventures, the City of Miami and Miami Dade County, to realise our ambition to bring a Formula 1 Grand Prix to Miami, and we have made significant progress: however, these are complicated negotiations.

“Whilst our preference would have been to race in Miami in 2019, there was always a point by which delivering the best possible wheel-to-wheel racing experience for our fans, drivers and teams wouldn’t be possible in the time available. We have now reached that point as far as racing in Miami in 2019 is concerned.

“However, we are taking a long-term view and as a result, we have decided, in consultation with the Miami authorities, to postpone sign-off until later in the summer, with the aim of running the first Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix in the 2020 season.”