Lewis Hamilton described Max Verstappen’s dominance of Formula One as being like “he is having a smoke and a pancake” following the Dutch driver’s eighth straight win at the Belgian Grand Prix. Hamilton finished fourth and trailed Verstappen by 49 seconds at Spa-Francorchamps. During the 44-lap race, Verstappen even goaded his rivals by calling on Red Bull to change his tyres for “some pit-stop training”. And when asked if it was too easy for Verstappen at the front, Hamilton replied: “What do you want me to say? I have not spoken to him,” before adding with an accent: “He is having a smoke and a pancake. You know the film?” The seven-time world champion was referencing the 2002 Austin Powers movie in which Dutch villain Goldmember asks the main character if he would “like a smoke and a pancake”. Hamilton is now 35 appearances without a victory – the longest streak of his career. Across the same period, Verstappen – the man who beat him to the title in the contentious season-ending Abu Dhabi race of 2021 – has triumphed 25 times. Hamilton was demoted to seventh in Saturday’s sprint race after he was penalised by the stewards for tangling with Sergio Perez. He failed to make an impression on the podium places on Sunday. Hamilton also bemoaned the unexpected return of porpoising for Mercedes which last season plagued the grid’s once all-conquering team. “It was not bouncing a little bit, it was bouncing like last year,” said Hamilton. “It was bouncing everywhere. “They (Mercedes) don’t know (what caused the bouncing) and to me it is a concern. I know what I want and I am praying for it. I am just waiting for the day that we get it.” Hamilton is out of contract at the end of the season, and while both he and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, say an extension to his £40million-a-season deal will be struck, it may not be concluded in the near future. Asked if he expected Hamilton’s contract to be signed during Formula One’s four-week summer break, Wolff replied: “I don’t want to give you a date. It is lawyers speaking to lawyers. It is no material thing anymore. We have to give it time. And I don’t want to commit to a date.” Reflecting on Mercedes’ porpoising, the Austrian added: “The car was bouncing on every straight, and even Blanchimont was a corner that Lewis was having to lift, and that is usually an easy flat. “You bounce on the straight, you overheat the tyres on braking, and that is a vicious circle. “It is frustrating to check out for the holidays like this but we will understand more tomorrow.” Read More Max Verstappen taunts F1 rivals with ‘pit-stop training’ offer Lewis Hamilton reveals return of major issue with Mercedes car at Belgian Grand Prix Max Verstappen extends invincible streak with victory at Belgian Grand Prix ‘We should not be deterred’: Lewis Hamilton unhappy with stewards after penalty F1 Belgian Grand Prix LIVE: Race results and times at Spa-Francorchamps Max Verstappen sees off Oscar Piastri to win thrilling sprint race in Belgium

BASEL, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 20, 2023--

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Apple’s latest iPhone is coming. The company announced a new event, titled “Wonderlust”, this week. While it did not explicitly say that it will see the launch of the iPhone 15, it almost certainly will. At the event, on 12 September, it will show off four new variants of the iPhone 15: the base model as well as the iPhone 15 Plus, Pro and Pro Max. It is also expected to launch a new Apple Watch and Watch Ultra, and some new AirPods. The new iPhone is expected to have a relatively modest set of new features, including USB-C ports on the bottom. The iPhone 15 will borrow features from the 14 Pro, including its faster chip and “Dynamic Island”, while the Pro phones will get an improved processor, an action button on the side, and better cameras. Apple will show off all of those new features during the event, which begins at 10am local time, or 6pm in the UK, on 12 September. It will be live-streamed on the company’s website. Apple will not release those products at that event, however. While it will show them off during the event, the company has settled on a fairly regular delay for the actual release date. The company usually waits a week-and-a-half to release the new phones, on the following Friday. That means the launch date will probably fall on 22 September. However, not all phones might arrive on that day. At least some models could be delayed. That has happened in the past. Last year, for instance, the iPhone 14 Plus arrived in October, later than the others, and that has become a common occurrence of recent years. This time around, it may be the iPhone 15 Pro Max that is delayed. That will include new camera “periscope lens” camera technology to allow for a long zoom – but those components are proving difficult to manufacture in enough numbers, 9to5mac reported, which could lead to a wait before the phone is released. Read More Apple is about to reveal the new iPhone – and a lot more Here’s when you will actually be able to get the new iPhone Apple announces major event to reveal new phone

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