Lewis Hamilton fears there is a “high chance” that Max Verstappen will win all 10 remaining races this season – and believes the Dutchman’s crushing dominance could last until 2026.

Following a four-week summer shutdown, Formula One fires up this weekend at Verstappen’s home round in the Netherlands.

Verstappen has won the last eight races and he will match Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine on the spin for Red Bull in 2013 if he triumphs in front of his orange-clad Dutch fans here on Sunday.

Such is the dominance of Verstappen’s machine – and the two-time world champion’s supreme form – there is a feeling in the paddock, not only that Red Bull could become the first team to go through a campaign unbeaten, but that Verstappen could be victorious at each of the concluding 10 rounds.

“There is a high chance that he (Verstappen) will win every race,” said Hamilton, 38. “He hasn’t made any mistakes and the team hasn’t made many this year. They might win everything.

“But later on in the year, maybe we will get closer and we are hopeful we can challenge them at some point – whether that is this weekend, or who knows where? If there are any mistakes or mishaps, we will be right there to capitalise.”

Verstappen has dominated since F1’s regulations were overhauled at the start of last season, with his comfortable victory at the concluding round before the break in Belgium his 10th from 12 so far and his 19th from his last 23 outings.

He is a staggering 125 points clear in the standings as he closes in on a hat-trick of titles.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc predicted on Thursday that it would be “very, very difficult” to catch Verstappen and Red Bull before the sport’s next major rule change in 2026.

And Hamilton continued: “The fact is Red Bull are ahead and they have most likely started development on next year’s car a month before anybody else. It is very, very possible that Charles could be right.

“We are working on the steep gradient to develop our car and close the gap. Whether or not we can, next year will be the proof.”

Hamilton’s £40million-a-year contract expires at the end of the season and the Briton said on Thursday that were there was no update on his next deal, despite team principal Toto Wolff claiming – ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix on June 18 – that his star driver’s future would be resolved in “days rather than weeks”.

Hamilton is fourth in the standings, 41 points adrift of Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez who occupies the runner-up spot, while Mercedes are second in the team standings, an eye-watering 256 points behind Red Bull, but 51 points clear of Ferrari.

“It is a huge achievement to be second in the championship and it is something I feel has been overlooked,” said Hamilton. “We want to win but I am really proud of the team and the steps we have taken.

“The guys think this track is not too different to Budapest and our car was good in Budapest. Even last year when the car was not great in Zandvoort, we were closer to the front.

“George (Russell) finished second and at one point I was hunting down the lead so I am hoping we are closer or in shooting range of a podium this weekend.

“We have the belief we will get there. And my goal is to try and keep that second place in the constructors’ championship and hunt down second in the drivers’ standings.”

Frankie Dettori was denied a Group One Knavesmire double by the narrowest of margins, as Free Wind just failed to reel in Warm Heart in the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks.

Just 24 hours on from his heroics aboard Mostahdaf in the Juddmonte International, Dettori was beaten a head by James Doyle on the Aidan O’Brien-trained apparent second-string.

A multiple winner at Group Two level, John and Thady Gosden’s Free Wind was aiming to break her Group One duck at the first attempt and just came up short.

Dettori said: “She’s run a super race. I couldn’t get out when I wanted to so I had to wait an extra half a furlong. That meant James had all the momentum.

“I got to him but I just wish I’d been able to get my filly rolling beforehand, that 9lb (weight for age concession) just took its toll in the end.

“I just think the pocket I got stuck in cost me.”

John Gosden said: “She ran great but it just took her a little time to get out and that meant the winner got first run on us.

“That’s life, but she ran a super race and I’m really happy with her.

“We’ll see what comes next, but Champions Day would be an obvious target for her.”

Bluestocking, who finished fourth, and who had run so well in the Irish Oaks, did not quite reproduce that form and her trainer Ralph Beckett put that down to the faster ground.

“She’s just not quite as effective on that quicker ground as she is on slower ground, that’s all it is,” said Beckett.

“She’s run her race, she’s run well and she’s run through the line but she’s just not quite as good on quicker ground.

“Come the autumn I’d like to think there will be a few nice targets for her.”

Rossa Ryan said of the filly: “She’s run a blinder, but she’s probably more effective on the softer ground where she can use her turn of foot better.”

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will look to bring in experience to fill a central defensive void after his injury situation worsened.

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Maik Nawrocki have both been ruled out for around eight weeks with hamstring injuries after Stephen Welsh was consigned to a similar length of absence with ankle ligament damage.

Carter-Vickers went off halfway through Celtic’s recent league win over Aberdeen, two games into his comeback from knee surgery, and his problem is worse than first feared.

Summer signing Nawrocki pulled up with a similar problem in the final seconds of Celtic’s Viaplay Cup defeat at Kilmarnock on Sunday.

The Celtic boss, who will also be missing centre-back Yuki Kobayashi until after their game against Rangers on September 3, said: “It is obviously disappointing for us in terms of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh, probably about eight weeks.

“Stephen Welsh had an operation just the other day so he has come through that well. The other two we were hopeful would come back sooner, but we sought further scans on them and it puts them probably about eight weeks from now.”

When asked if he would look for reinforcements in that area ahead of next week’s transfer deadline, Rodgers said: “When you are losing three players for that length of time, and knowing the number of games we will have and the importance of every game, then it’s definitely something we have to look at.”

One of Rodgers’ fit centre-backs, Gustaf Lagerbielke, was the club’s oldest of six summer signings at 23 years old, and the Celtic manager admits a new arrival would “ideally” be an experienced player.

“Especially at centre-half, it’s a specialised position and for me experience always helps,” he added.

“We have a lot of young players in the squad but, naturally, to bring those players on, they need to play with players, not just of experience, but players of quality.

“You need to hopefully align both because you will see the best of those players, the guys that are young and developing and dealing with expectation, if they can play alongside the guys that are going to them pull them through and bring out that potential.”

Rodgers backed Swede Lagerbielke to handle the added responsibility he faces in the coming weeks.

“He is a very mature guy for somebody who looks so young,” Rodgers said.

“But he is up to speed in terms of games. He had only arrived in the building a couple of days and he was thrown into a tough away game.

“But I’ve got absolutely no doubt he will prove over time to be an excellent player for Celtic and he is really up for the challenge.”

Former Shamrock Rovers defender Liam Scales could now be set to play his first Celtic game in 18 months after making 39 appearances on loan at Aberdeen last season.

“I said before I really like Liam,” Rodgers said. “There has been a partnership here for the last couple of years and with Carl (Starfelt) leaving and Cam being injured for a lot of pre-season and now, it means there is change there. With the numbers down, of course Liam will play a part.”

There was better news on the injury front for Rodgers with Canada right-back Alistair Johnston training well following an ankle injury and available for Saturday’s cinch Premiership encounter with St Johnstone in Glasgow.

Striker Oh Hyeon-gyu will return to training next week after a calf problem and could be back in the squad for the trip to Ibrox.

Winger Mikey Johnston is also due to return to training next week following a back injury but Reo Hatate’s calf problem will keep him out of the derby clash and the Japanese midfielder will return to training during the international break.

Celtic have been linked with a move for 23-year-old Honduran winger Luis Palma of Aris Thessaloniki and Rodgers is confident he will add an attacking option before next Friday’s transfer deadline.

“I think we will do that before the end of the window,” Rodgers said. “The game last week, we could have been 2-0 up in the first 10 minutes but after that, especially when Kilmarnock were in front, we just didn’t quite have that little bit of finesse and those moments of magic you need to break down teams that are low in the field. So we are hoping we can do that over the course of the coming days.”

Andy Farrell expects Dan Sheehan to be fit for Ireland’s World Cup campaign after revealing his first-choice hooker sprained a foot ligament against England.

Sheehan limped off shortly before half-time in the 29-10 win over Steve Borthwick’s side five days ago to leave his country anxiously awaiting a full diagnosis.

With Ireland’s squad in Bayonne ahead of Saturday’s final warm-up match against Samoa, the 24-year-old remains in Dublin undergoing treatment.

Head coach Farrell, who has selected Ulster rookie Tom Stewart to start at number two this weekend, had been braced for bad news but provided a positive update on Sheehan’s condition.

“He’s good, yeah,” Farrell said. “He’s got a sprain in his foot, in a ligament in his foot.

“That’s better than expected, we expected it to be (more serious).

“As with all injuries, we’ll see how it develops over the period of time but we expect him to be fit for the World Cup.”

Ireland begin the tournament on September 9 against Romania in Bordeaux, with their final 33-man squad scheduled to be announced on Monday.

In Sheehan’s absence, Belfast-born Stewart has been handed a full Test debut for the appointment with Samoa at Stade Jean Dauger.

The 22-year-old won his maiden cap as a replacement in the 33-17 victory over Italy at the start of the month and now has another opportunity to further impress Farrell.

“I like most things that I’ve seen,” Farrell said of Stewart.

“I see a determined young man who is willing to try to understand first and foremost what it takes to thrive in an international environment and it’s tough for a young kid coming in, especially in that type of position. But he’s certainly done that.

“He is a determined kid who quietly goes about his job but he certainly puts a lot of confidence into the coaching staff and the rest of his team-mates by the way that he plays.

“So hopefully that transfers. I suppose that’s the main thing, just being himself at the weekend because he’s a good player.”

Hooker is potentially Farrell’s biggest headache going into the World Cup.

Rob Herring will provide back-up for club-mate Stewart on Saturday in order to prevent taking risks with Ronan Kelleher, while uncapped Munster hooker Diarmuid Barron is also with the group in south-west France.

Leinster player Kelleher has not featured this summer amid a hamstring issue but Farrell remains optimistic.

“As far as Ronan is concerned, he’s doing great, he’s flying around the place this week,” said Farrell.

“If it was say a World Cup semi-final or final, at a push I’m sure we would have got him over the line this week, but there is no need to do that.”

Farrell has made 12 personnel changes from the team which began against England.

Asked about areas for improvement, he replied: “Consistency, isn’t it?

“That’s why we’re playing the warm-up games, to make sure we get a bit of rust out and show some pictures to one another of what’s acceptable and what’s not.

“We’re here to take a step forward in our development as a team.”

Mauricio Pochettino said it is unrealistic to expect Chelsea’s summer recruits to be playing their best football for the club already, despite upwards of £350million having been spent so far this transfer window.

The team is winless after the manager’s first two games in charge with one point on the board in the nascent Premier League table, with flashes of good play having been punctuated by inconsistency as was the case in Sunday’s 3-1 loss to West Ham.

Their plight has been worsened by injuries to goalscorer Carney Chukwuemeka, who was forced off at half-time having equalised for his side and is expected to miss six weeks, and winger Mykhailo Mudryk who will also miss Friday’s meeting with Luton at Stamford Bridge.

The pair join summer signing Christopher Nkunku and defender Wesley Fofana as long-term injury absentees whilst none of Reece James, Benoit Badiashile, Armando Broja or Trevoh Chalobah are ready to return.

On Thursday the club confirmed the £17m signing of Brazilian forward Deivid Washington from Santos, though the 18-year-old may be sent out on loan rather than join the first team straight away.

It leaves Pochettino relying on new faces finding their feet quickly as the team look to win for just the sixth time in their last 32 league matches when newly promoted Luton visit west London.

But after record buy Moises Caicedo, signed from Brighton for a fee likely to rise to £115m, became the latest player to endure a torrid time in blue when he conceded a penalty on his debut at the London Stadium, the manager called for perspective on the pace of change taking place at Chelsea.

“(It’s unrealistic) if we expect today the best of Caicedo, (Romeo) Lavia, (Axel) Disasi, all the players that arrived in the last moments, with only a few days working with us and starting to compete,” he said.

“Of course, if we see the perception of these players and we expect the best of them, yes we should win every single game.

“But at the moment the form of them, we need to provide the tools to improve every day. The way that we are playing, the platform and the structure of the team, gives us the signal that we are in a good way. It’s only a matter of time to put it all together and start to perform.

“With the situation (with transfers) in and out, next week when the transfer window has closed it’s going to be easier also to put it all together. I have no doubt about the quality of the squad.”

With an average age of 23.7 years Pochettino has the Premier League’s youngest squad, following the club’s policy of signing promising players of relatively little experience and tying them to long contracts – in Caicedo’s case up to nine years.

The manager admitted he still needs to sign a goalkeeper, after Kepa Arrizabalaga joined Real Madrid on a season-long loan, and another forward player, but he insisted that any further buys should not bar the path of academy graduates and other young players to the first team.

Albania international Broja, who has been at the club since he was 12, is expected to play a part as a number nine when he is fit to return.

“We need to wait with Armando,” said Pochettino. “He’s close but sometimes the last step is always difficult after the injury that he suffered. He’s training well and we have hope.

“It’s easy to say we need another offensive player. We have offensive players, they need to recover. If you bring in a player that maybe is not fit or needs to adapt to the Premier League, you’re going to spend the same time you need to wait for Broja or Nkunku or for Carney. You’re going to create a mess in the squad.

“We will win, we will succeed in the way that the players will buy into the ideas and the philosophy and the way that we play, it’s only a matter of time. (But) it’s a process we cannot force to go quick. I think it’s about working on the confidence.”

The manager added that nothing has changed regarding Romelu Lukaku’s situation, with the striker still training away from the first team and keen to leave before the transfer deadline, but he refused to fully close the door on a possible return.

“Things can change. This is football. I saw (Jurgen) Klopp said ‘I will not be in the business (if Liverpool spend £100m)’ and then they offered £100m (for Caicedo) and he says, oh I made a mistake, and something changed.”

Caicedo is expected to make his full debut against Luton but fellow new signing Lavia “needs a few more weeks to assess”.

Warm Heart toughed it out to take the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks for Aidan O’Brien in a thrilling finish from Free Wind.

The James Doyle-ridden 9-1 winner was the second string for Ballydoyle, with her Irish Oaks-winning stablemate Savethelastdance the 100-30 favourite under Ryan Moore.

The latter made the running, as Warm Heart travelled patiently in mid-division, eventually making her move around the final bend and smoothly gaining all the way up the home straight.

John and Thady Gosden’s Free Wind had to wait for a gap before going with her and the two battled all the way to the line, with Warm Heart just getting the verdict by a head from Frankie Dettori’s mount.

Savethelastdance was another two lengths back in third.

The highly-popular Ropey Guest claimed a notable victory at York when taking the Clipper Handicap for George Margarson.

The gelding is great campaigner for the stable and has often come within inches of landing a big handicap prize, including second-placed finishes in the past two renewals of the Bunbury Cup at  Newmarket.

At one stage the highest-rated maiden in the country, he has looked like he was due a bit of luck and on the Knavesmire he finally received it under regular rider Tom Queally.

Having started at 40-1, the six-year-old ran gamely and saw off all challengers to come home a head in front of Point Lynas.

Margarson said: “Last time at Ascot he blew the start and before that in the Bunbury he was very unlucky, Sean Levey was devastated, so we knew he was in better form this year than he ever has been.

“The Guest family (owners) live near Ascot and have their business there so he tends to run there a lot and it’s good money there. There is a race at Ascot next week but I said we’d come here and go for the big one, it’s over £70,000 to the winner.

“Fair play to Tom, he said he’d ride him as a stayer, he has won over a mile at Yarmouth but you can’t really count that. He’s done most of his running in sprints. This is great for the yard, especially with the sales season coming up.

“Katie (daughter) is away in Finland competing in a triathlon, she’s devastated she can’t be here but Rosie (daughter) has been riding her out and has obviously improved him!

“That’s his fourth win and he’s won over £200,000 in prize-money. He’s six now yet he was running in the Coventry and Acomb at two so we’ve never shirked anything.”

The highly-popular Ropey Guest claimed a notable victory at York when taking the Clipper Handicap for George Margarson.

The gelding is great campaigner for the stable and has often come within inches of landing a big handicap prize, including second-placed finishes in the past two renewals of the Bunbury Cup at  Newmarket.

At one stage the highest-rated maiden in the country, he has looked like he was due a bit of luck and on the Knavesmire he finally received it under regular rider Tom Queally.

Having started at 40-1, the six-year-old ran gamely and saw off all challengers to come home a head in front of Point Lynas.

Margarson said: “Last time at Ascot he blew the start and before that in the Bunbury he was very unlucky, Sean Levey was devastated, so we knew he was in better form this year than he ever has been.

“The Guest family (owners) live near Ascot and have their business there so he tends to run there a lot and it’s good money there. There is a race at Ascot next week but I said we’d come here and go for the big one, it’s over £70,000 to the winner.

“Fair play to Tom, he said he’d ride him as a stayer, he has won over a mile at Yarmouth but you can’t really count that. He’s done most of his running in sprints. This is great for the yard, especially with the sales season coming up.

“Katie (daughter) is away in Finland competing in a triathlon, she’s devastated she can’t be here but Rosie (daughter) has been riding her out and has obviously improved him!

“That’s his fourth win and he’s won over £200,000 in prize-money. He’s six now yet he was running in the Coventry and Acomb at two so we’ve never shirked anything.”

Oleksandr Usyk kept it short and sweet during Thursday’s press conference ahead of this weekend’s world heavyweight title clash with British underdog Daniel Dubois.

Usyk will take on mandatory challenger Dubois at the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw on Saturday night with his WBA, IBF and WBO belts on the line.

A crowd of up to 43,000 will be able to attend and support for Usyk will be strong given a number of Ukraine natives now reside in Poland since Russia’s invasion of their country last year.

Ukrainian hero Usyk has embraced the role of home favourite during this fight week but took the unusual step on Wednesday of spending some of his open workout by enthusiastically dancing, which delighted his ringside fans.

The 36-year-old continued that eccentricity on Thursday by answering only one question during a short press conference, where his opponent Dubois was largely a bystander until the duo took part in a drama-free face-off.

Usyk started: “Hi everybody, what’s up? I am grateful for my team, my family, my wife, I love you Katerina, my country and Ukrainian soldiers. Thank you so much.

“My preparation is all good. We do a lot of work, with swimming, we play football, we dancing, yeah. Enough?”

Alex Krassyuk, Usyk’s promoter, brought the press conference to a close soon after but only after the former undisputed world cruiserweight champion was honoured on what is Independence Day of Ukraine.

Despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Usyk has continued to live in his home country and has joined the country’s soldiers on the frontline during the past 18 months.

He was given a painting produced by Oleksandr Klymenko after his brief answer two days out from fight night in Poland.

K2 promoter Krassyuk said: “We have a special present for Oleksandr Usyk. His contribution was recognised by the military forces of Ukraine.

“A very special item, the icon of the God Mother painted by the outstanding master Oleksandr Klymenko, whose masterpieces are kept by the Pope, the Swedish King Gustaf and Polish president (Andrzej) Duda.

“The icon is made on the wooden board from the ammunition to the shell that were used by our soldiers defending Bakhmut.”

Usyk and Dubois shared a fist bump after a cordial face-off with both fighting for the first time in 2023.

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Dubois was last in action in December at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium where he recovered from a knee injury and being put down three times in the first round to beat South African southpaw Kevin Lerena by stoppage.

Meanwhile, Usyk will step back in the ring again for the first time since he beat Anthony Joshua by split decision in Jeddah last August.

Talks between Usyk’s team and the camp of WBC belt holder Tyson Fury over a potential unification bout did take place earlier this year but a proposed date of April 29 could not be finalised.

Usyk must now concentrate on adding another British boxer to his win column after previously defeating Tony Bellew, Derek Chisora and Joshua.

Dragon Leader blew his rivals out of the water with a runaway victory in the Goffs UK Harry Beeby Premier Yearling Stakes at York.

The Clive Cox-trained colt had won both career starts going into the race, taking a pair of Salisbury novices and subsequently arriving at York well-fancied as the 7-2 joint-favourite.

Under Ryan Moore he made light work of a big field, surging into an unassailable lead to score by an impressive four and a half lengths from fellow market leader Ziggy’s Condor, in scenes almost reminiscent of Mums Tipple in the 2019 renewal.

Cox said: “We liked him and that’s three from three, so it was no surprise (to see him win), but to do it quite as comfortably as he did was great.

“Ryan got into a really nice rhythm and to see him kick like he did was amazing, so we’re very happy.

“It means a great deal to win Harry Beeby’s race as he was a very close friend.

“Ryan is top drawer and I think our strike-rate is pretty good when he does occasionally dip in, but a lot of thanks goes to John Fahy who worked hard on this horse in the spring as well.

“He’s in the sales race at Doncaster (Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes), which is a jolly nice prize as well. His median value qualifies him really nicely for that, but we’ll just see how we go.

“That was always the intention, but we’ll be thinking about that (Group races) properly as well.”

Dragon Leader blew his rivals out of the water with a runaway victory in the Goffs UK Harry Beeby Premier Yearling Stakes at York.

The Clive Cox-trained colt had won both career starts going into the race, taking a pair of Salisbury novices and subsequently arriving at York well-fancied as the 7-2 joint-favourite.

Under Ryan Moore he made light work of a big field, surging into an unassailable lead to score by an impressive four and a half lengths from fellow market leader Ziggy’s Condor, in scenes almost reminiscent of Mums Tipple in the 2019 renewal.

Cox said: “We liked him and that’s three from three, so it was no surprise (to see him win), but to do it quite as comfortably as he did was great.

“Ryan got into a really nice rhythm and to see him kick like he did was amazing, so we’re very happy.

“It means a great deal to win Harry Beeby’s race as he was a very close friend.

“Ryan is top drawer and I think our strike-rate is pretty good when he does occasionally dip in, but a lot of thanks goes to John Fahy who worked hard on this horse in the spring as well.

“He’s in the sales race at Doncaster (Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes), which is a jolly nice prize as well. His median value qualifies him really nicely for that, but we’ll just see how we go.

“That was always the intention, but we’ll be thinking about that (Group races) properly as well.”

A limited number of replica Mary Earps goalkeeping shirts are finally being made available to buy by England kit manufacturer Nike.

Earps had said prior to the World Cup it was “hugely disappointing and very hurtful” that the replica kits were not available to purchase.

Calls for Nike to put things right have grown louder over the last week – including from former sports minister Tracey Crouch – after Earps saved a penalty for England in Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain, with the Lionesses ultimately slipping to a 1-0 defeat.

And the company has now acted, with a spokesperson saying on Thursday: “We’ve seen and share the unprecedented passion and interest in women’s football this year and remain committed to playing our part by offering the best products and services to athletes and fans.

“We invested more in this year’s World Cup than any other global tournament to date. Nike has secured limited quantities of goalkeeper jerseys for England, (the United States), France and the Netherlands to be sold through the federation websites over the coming days, and we are also in conversations with our other federation partners.

“We recognise that during the tournament we didn’t serve those fans who wished to show their passion and support to the squad’s goalkeepers. We are committed to retailing women’s goalkeeping jerseys for major tournaments in the future.”