LEWIS HAMILTON has been handed a major boost in his battle with Max Verstappen for the Formula One title after the Dutchman was demoted to the back of the grid. It is a blow to Verstappen and his Red Bull team given Mercedes’ domination of the Sochi circuit where they have never lost. And it puts Hamilton in pole position to overturn Verstappen’s five point advantage in the title race. Hamilton said: “[Max’s penalty] does not really change anything for us. Wolff said: “The change in approach is that Lewis pretty much decided not to bail out any more when he thinks the corner is his. “It’s part of his make-up and I don’t think it’s going to change.”.

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