Hamilton wins Monaco GP to extend lead over teammate Bottas

Lewis Hamilton won the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday to extend his championship lead over Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas.

Hamilton struggled with grip in the latter stages, and was under constant pressure from Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

But Verstappen had earlier picked up a five-second time penalty. So even though he finished just behind Hamilton, he was fourth overall behind Bottas in third and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel in second.

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco watches from outside after he went out of the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix race, at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Sunday, May 26, 2019. (AP PhotoLuca Bruno)

Vettel's Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc started 15th, after his team bungled qualifying, and retired after 19 laps.

Leclerc damaged his right rear tire trying a bold overtaking move on Nico Hulkenberg's Renault, scattering debris over the track and forcing the safety car to come out.

Earlier, drivers wore red caps for a minute's silence that was held before the race in memory of three-time F1 champion Niki Lauda , who died on Monday at the age of 70.

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco steers his car during the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix race, at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Sunday, May 26, 2019. (AP PhotoLuca Bruno)

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The drivers clap hands around a red helmet on a podest, reading 'Thank you Niki', during a minute of silence to tribute F1 legend Niki Lauda prior the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix race, at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Sunday, May 26, 2019. The former F1 champion Niki Lauda died last week. (Andrej IsakovicPool Photo via AP)

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — A race car veered off the track during a competition in Sri Lanka on Sunday and rammed into a crowd of spectators and race officials, killing seven people and injuring 20 others, officials said.

Thousands of spectators looked on as the mishap took place during a race in the town of Diyatalawa in the tea-growing central hills, about 180 kilometers (110 miles) east of the capital Colombo.

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the mishap.

Police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said one of the cars veered off the track and crashed into spectators and officials of the event. Seven people, including four officials, were killed and another 20 were being treated at a hospital, said Thalduwa. He said three of the injured were in critical condition.

Thalduwa said police have launched an investigation into the accident, which was the 17th out of 24 events scheduled. The race was suspended after the accident.

About 45,000 spectators had gathered at the race circuit at a Sri Lankan military academy. The event was organized by the Sri Lankan army and Sri Lanka Automobile Sports.

People attend to the injured after a racing car crashed into the spectators during the Fox Hill Supercross, a motor racing event organized by the Sri Lanka's army, in Diyatalawa, Sri Lanka, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/STR)

People gather around a car that had crashed into the spectators during the Fox Hill Supercross, a motor racing event organized by the Sri Lanka's army, in Diyatalawa, Sri Lanka, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/STR)