Verstappen Dominates Styrian GP for 4th Win of F1 Season

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the Styrian Formula One Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring racetrack in Spielberg, Austria, Sunday, June 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the Styrian Formula One Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring racetrack in Spielberg, Austria, Sunday, June 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
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Verstappen Dominates Styrian GP for 4th Win of F1 Season

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the Styrian Formula One Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring racetrack in Spielberg, Austria, Sunday, June 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the Styrian Formula One Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring racetrack in Spielberg, Austria, Sunday, June 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen dominated the Styrian Grand Prix on Sunday to win back-to-back races for the first time in his career.

With a clean start from pole, the Red Bull driver denied Lewis Hamilton an early attack and he remained ahead for the entire race, beating his Mercedes rival by more than 35 seconds.

Hamilton's teammate Valtteri Bottas finished third ahead of Sergio Perez as Red Bull and Mercedes occupied the top four places once more.

It was Verstappen’s 14th career win and fourth of the season, increasing his lead over the seven-time world champion in the drivers’ standings to 18 points after eight races. A race win is worth 25 points.

Racing on its home track in the Austrian Alps, Red Bull stretched its winning streak to four races, as Hamilton’s wait for his 99th career victory reached the seven-week mark.

The last time Hamilton went without a win in four straight races came more than three years ago, spanning the last three races of 2017 and the first three of the following season.

Red Bull squandered a potential 1-3 finish with a slow pit stop for Perez, which lasted for nearly five seconds due to an issue with the left-rear tire.

The Austrian GP on the same track is scheduled for next Sunday.



South Korea Complains to FIFA Over Racist Abuse of Hwang

Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan celebrates scoring against Luton Town at Molineux Stadium in April 2024 - AFP
Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan celebrates scoring against Luton Town at Molineux Stadium in April 2024 - AFP
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South Korea Complains to FIFA Over Racist Abuse of Hwang

Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan celebrates scoring against Luton Town at Molineux Stadium in April 2024 - AFP
Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan celebrates scoring against Luton Town at Molineux Stadium in April 2024 - AFP

South Korea's football association has officially complained to the world body about an alleged racist remark directed at Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan despite Italian club Como denying the accusations.

An unnamed Como player was accused of referring to Hwang as "Jackie Chan", a popular Hong Kong movie star known for his martial arts films, during a pre-season match in Spain on Monday.

On Tuesday, Como insisted its player "did not say anything in a derogatory manner" and "the reaction of certain Wolves players has seen the incident blown out of proportion".

The Korea Football Association (KFA) said it sent an official letter to the world body FIFA on Thursday expressing "serious concern about the racist acts suffered by Hwang Hee-chan".

The letter asked FIFA to take action and "eradicate racism on the soccer field", the association said on its official X account, AFP reported.

Earlier this week Hwang said on Instagram that the coaching staff and his teammates said they would leave the field with him "if needed" after the alleged abuse.

"Racism is intolerable in sports and in all aspects of life," he added, with his post attracting more than 143,500 likes.

According to Como, its unnamed player said "ignore him, he thinks he's Jackie Chan".

The Italian Club insisted the remark was in "reference to the player's name, and to the constant references of 'Channy' made by his own teammates on the pitch".

Wolves head coach Gary O'Neil said Hwang had the full support of the Wolves group.

Hwang is not the first South Korean player to experience racist attacks while playing in European leagues.

In 2021, eight men suspected of tweeting racist abuse at Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min were arrested across England and Wales.

Son said in 2022 that he faced "unimaginable" racism as a teenage footballer in Germany, and was happy to get "revenge" when South Korea knocked Germany out of the 2018 World Cup.