World champion Lewis Hamilton “stands with” US sports stars boycotting events to fight racism but does not think his missing a race would have an effect. Hamilton said: “It’s a shame that is what’s needed over there to get a reaction. “I don’t really know how us not doing the race is a thing. Hamilton said he saw Verstappen as a genuine threat in the championship. “If you take away Max’s DNF (retirement) in race one away, we would be very close in points,” he said. This weekend’s race is a year on from the death of Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert at last year’s event. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, winner in Belgium last year and another close friend of Hubert, said many drivers would be thinking of him this weekend. “Last year was very difficult on the Saturday night,” Leclerc said.

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