It lingered on, but the deal had been all but sealed for months. Lewis Hamilton was always extending his stay at Mercedes – where he has claimed six of his seven world titles – and George Russell has joined him in parallel. Particulars of salary and contract length, with Hamilton reportedly receiving a £10m increase to £50m a year, show the gargantuan regard in which he is still held. No barren year or two is going to change that. But Hamilton’s contract announcement came with a message. A series of them, in fact. A press release hammered home the same beat. “We have never been hungrier to win”; “we continue to chase our dreams”; “unfinished business.” Words with substance behind them not just for the fans, but for the Mercedes engineers and mechanics at Brackley and Brixworth. Frankly, it may as well have read: “Give me the car to win – and I’ll make it happen.” But it was a sharp prod in the direction of Max Verstappen, his 2021 nemesis and current runaway leader, which really rippled the currents ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza, where Verstappen is chasing a record-breaking 10th win on the spin. “In my personal opinion, all my teammates have been stronger than the teammates Max has had,” Hamilton said, less an opinion and more a matter of fact. “Jenson, Fernando, George, Valtteri, Nico. Absolutely. Those guys were very strong and consistent. Max isn’t racing against anyone like that.” It is the sort of needle, a vital statement of intent, which has been missing from Hamilton’s repertoire since that infamous night in Abu Dhabi; the night a record-breaking crown was, in his words, “stolen” from his grasp. Mercedes’ hair-raising fall, coupled with Red Bull’s unrelenting ascendancy, has only exacerbated the sheer anger and exasperation which Hamilton must have experienced behind closed doors and, at times, in real time on team radio. Amid the 2022 season, it all inevitably raised bigger questions about his future. Will he retire? Is the fight still there? Can No 8 still be achieved? Throughout rumours which included a fairytale-esque switch to Ferrari, Hamilton’s response has been unequivocal. Despite the to-ing and fro-ing between representatives regarding his contract, his prophecy unmistakable. Mercedes is the place he wants to be – and he’s here to stay. The hard work for Toto Wolff – whose jadedness in the last 18 months has been obvious – and his team starts now. Wolff’s effective second in command Andrew Shovlin this week emphasised that they are targeting “challenging for a championship next year”. He added: “We’re optimistic we can do that… our entire focus is on making sure we can challenge them next year.” “Them” of course means Red Bull. A team – spearheaded by design guru Adrian Newey – who have maxed (no pun intended) out their potential during this ground-effect regulation era, creating the quickest car on the grid and one made in perfect harmony with their leading driver. A team which has won all 13 races – 16 including sprints – this season. A team which will take some catching. But in Formula One, a sport where every minute detail counts against the clock, a hefty deficit can gradually be eroded. Mercedes bungled their car philosophy last year with their unorthodox “no-sidepod” approach, before bungling once again by persevering with it at the start of this season. Only Monaco in May, race six of 2023, saw a more conventional car out on the tarmac. Yet despite brief flirtations with the top of the standings and Hamilton’s first podium in more than 18 months, their W14 remains some way off Red Bull’s RB19. This time, heading into 2024, there can be no excuses. A shift in the boardroom, with ex-Ferrari chief James Allison reverting to a more hands-on role, swapping with Mike Elliott who shifted back to base, is also an indicator of an evolving approach. For the next few months and the off-season, the priority is next year as opposed to short-term progress this season. Even then, 2024 may come too soon. Red Bull’s superiority – not just over Mercedes, but Ferrari, Aston Martin and McLaren too – is so vast that catching them will be unlikely. 2025, the last year of these current set of rules, may be a more realistic prospect. Building sustainable blocks, though, is paramount. No championships can come about without race-winning consistency first. It may explain why Hamilton, who will now race in Formula One to the eve of his 41st birthday, has once again committed to a two-year deal. The past 18 months have also shown that Russell is closely matched with his compatriot: in-house competition which should only help in the car development phase. But Hamilton has set his stall out. The 38-year-old goes by a fundamental motto: “Still we rise.” For every knockback comes a fresh challenge and opportunity to return better than ever before. Fernando Alonso’s renaissance this year, at 42, shows age is no obstacle either. His quest to be the statistical greatest of all time remains very much alive. But first, before any realistic title aspirations, Mercedes must give him the machinery to challenge. We now all wait to see how soon that could be. Read More Fernando Alonso makes Lewis Hamilton claim: ‘I’d stay with him until he’s 80 years old’ Max Verstappen shrugs off criticism: ‘They cannot appreciate dominance’ Lewis Hamilton signs new Mercedes contract Carlos Sainz fastest in second practice for Italian GP but Lewis Hamilton 17th Max Verstappen fastest in Italian GP first practice as he chases history ‘They cannot appreciate dominance’: Max Verstappen shrugs off criticism

Making her first speech at the Invictus Games, Meghan Markle apologised for being late as she was reunited on stage with Prince Harry. Ms Markle addressed 1,600 competitors, friends and family at the event in Dusseldorf, having travelled from the Sussexes’ family home in California. The couple appeared on a stage as the duchess described the Invictus Games as an “amazing event”. The pair were in high spirits as they spoke during the event’s party for friends and family of the competitors. Acknowledging her lateness to the games – she did not attend the opening days of the games as she spent time with her two young children in Los Angeles – she joked about buying them milkshakes and taking her eldest child to school before her departure for Germany. “It’s so special to be here and I’m sorry I’m a little late for the party”, she said. “I had to spend a little more time getting our little ones settled at home and get them to drop off. “Three milkshakes and a school drop-off and I just landed a couple of hours ago, and I am thrilled that the first event I can do for Invictus is here with all of you,” she continued. “It’s amazing and I hear it has got off to a good start so far.” The duchess said she was “thrilled” to be a part of the event, and welcomed competitors and fans as her “Invictus family”. “I’m really proud to be a part of this Invictus family with all of you – I’m grateful for all of you here”, she said, noting that one day she’d like to bring her children to the games. Harry launched the sporting event for wounded military personnel and veterans on Saturday night. The couple famously appeared in public together for the first time at the Toronto Invictus Games in 2017. On Monday, Harry, the founding patron of the Invictus Games, warmly embraced a wheelchair rugby player by kissing him on the head. He then watched an eight-team wheelchair rugby knockout tournament, presenting medals and conversing with players after Team US defeated the UK 21-13. His attendance at the games comes after a brief visit to the UK, where he joined the WellChild Awards and visited St George’s Chapel in Windsor on the anniversary of the death of his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. His wife did not join him. The pair also attended the first night of the US leg of Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour in Los Angeles on 1 September, where they danced from a box at the SoFi stadium. Read More Meghan Markle grabs In-N-Out Burger while Prince Harry is at Invictus Games Harry and Meghan snubbed the Queen on Lilibet’s birthday, former staffer claims Prince Harry cheers as he watches track and field finals at the Invictus Games Prince Harry loses penalty shootout on live TV to German minister What Meghan and Harry could learn from Edward and Wallis Simpson ITV ‘vigorously defended’ Piers Morgan in Ofcom probe over Meghan Everything we learned from the new Finding Freedom epilogue Harry and Meghan will not name person who commented on Archie’s skin

By Indranil Sarkar and Aby Jose Koilparambil BENGALURU U.S. big-bike maker Harley-Davidson and British rival Triumph have revved

Here are the 10 most expensive Brazilian players that have ever played the game.

With Pat Fitzgerald out, it will be up to newcomer David Braun to lead the Northwestern football program for this upcoming college season.In news that shocked the entire college football world, Pat Fitzgerald is out at his alma mater.The allegations that led to his dismissal are serious and ...

According to a source close to Danny Masterson and Bijou Phillips, she is viewing the outcome as an emotionally devastating experience

'The show is back, we’re back to telling monologue jokes, back to making people feel happy,' Jimmy Fallon said

The mayor says he does not think a bedbug infestation will spread across the Tube or bus network.

‘Today’ host Carson Daly shared his experience with panic attacks at the Project Healthy Minds festival at the New York City Gala

The United Nations is rebuking Moscow for allegedly denying its aid workers access to Russian-occupied areas affected by the recent Kakhova dam collapse in southern Ukraine

New Monaco coach Adi Hutter says he has lofty ambitions with the French club after a blistering start to...

At least one Molotov cocktail has been thrown at the Cuban Embassy in Washington, but there was no significant damage and no one was injured