Lewis Hamilton insists Mercedes need to “level up” in the fight to Red Bull and Max Verstappen in 2024. Verstappen is cruising to a third-straight F1 world title – though cannot secure the crown in Japan this weekend after an underwhelming fifth-place finish in Singapore – while Red Bull are an astonishing 308 points clear of Mercedes in the constructors’ championship. Hamilton, meanwhile, has not won in his last 38 races with his last victory coming in Saudi Arabia in December 2021 – and Mercedes have not won since George Russell’s victory in Brazil last November. Having ditched their ‘no-sidepod’ design at the start of the year, Mercedes have persevered with a more orthodox approach but remain way off Red Bull’s pace. Yet Hamilton, who recently signed a new deal until the end of the 2025 season, has urged the engineers and mechanics at Brackley to come up with the tools to take the fight to Red Bull next year. “I was just asked a question earlier, ‘would you rather take Max out of the equation or take Adrian Newey out of the equation?’” Hamilton said in Singapore. “And I was like ‘neither’. We just have to level up and do a better job. “They have done an exceptional job. You can’t fault them for the amazing work that they collectively are doing and have done. I would just want to level up all of us.” The 38-year-old, though in the midst of the longest winless streak of his career, remains optimistic and referred to a bleak period before his success at Mercedes for evidence that fortunes in Formula 1 can turn around. “I think people just seem to remember the seven years or eight years that we were competitive,” Hamilton added. “Don’t forget the years before that where I had pretty interesting cars at that time. So I’ve had years like last year and this year and, of course, when you are faced with adversity and faced with a challenge like we have, collectively as a team you learn more than you do when it’s smooth sailing up front.” Hamilton, who finished on the podium in Singapore, will be targeting a strong showing at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, a race he has won five times previously. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, however, will not be present in the paddock at Suzuka as he undergoes knee surgery. Read More Ferrari finally find their chief strategist – and it’s Carlos Sainz Mercedes boss Toto Wolff to miss Japanese Grand Prix Max Verstappen makes prediction for Japan after his winning run ends ‘He’s put himself on the market’: F1 pundit tips Liam Lawson for 2024 seat F1 2023 race schedule: When is the Japanese Grand Prix? Ferrari finally find their chief strategist – and it’s Carlos Sainz

A Newcastle United supporter is in hospital in Milan after being stabbed on Monday night. Newcastle fans have flocked to Italy to watch their club play against AC Milan in the San Siro on Tuesday, in what will be their first Champions League match for 20 years. Eddie McKay, 58, was with his son and a friend when they were attacked by a group of men wearing hoodies at around midnight near the centre of the city, before police intervened. He was stabbed in the back and arms after he fell while trying to run away. Photos showed a shirtless man with a Newcastle United tattoo lying on the street in a pool of blood, being treated by medics before being taken away in an ambulance. Police have confirmed that Mr McKay was taken to a city hospital. His condition has been described as “stable” with non-life-threatening injuries. His daughter, Rachel McKay, told Sky Sports News: “My dad is stable and in a bit of shock. He’s gutted he’s missing the match but just wants every other Newcastle fan out here to be aware and be safe. “He has just had two knee replacements so he fell when he was being chased and that is when he was attacked. My brother is OK but is in shock after seeing that happen to our dad. I’m flying out there later. We haven’t slept all night.” A Newcastle statement said: “We are deeply concerned by reports that a supporter was seriously assaulted in Milan on Monday evening and we are liaising with local authorities to understand the circumstances. Our thoughts are with the supporter and their family and we hope for a full and speedy recovery.” Newcastle have a 4,000-seat allocation for the game at the iconic 76,000-capacity San Siro, although it is thought many more fans have travelled to Italy without tickets. The incident took place in the Navigli area of the city, where fans gathered throughout the evening. The Newcastle squad’s flight was meanwhile delayed by adverse weather on Monday, with manager Eddie Howe insisting the situation had not affected his team’s preparations for the match. Read More UEFA Champions League 2023/24 schedule - every game in the group stage The defiant message behind Newcastle’s complicated Champions League return Is Milan vs Newcastle on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch

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