But Hamilton is catching up in the F1 World Cup: Verstappen limits self-inflicted damage

But Hamilton is catching up in the F1 World Championship
Verstappen limits self-inflicted damage

With the penalty transfer shortly before the start of the race, Max Verstappen threatens greater disaster at the Formula 1 premiere in Qatar. The World Cup front runner solves his problem quickly and sustainably. Nevertheless, Lewis Hamilton continues to shorten his deficit. Fernando Alonso is on the podium for the first time since 2014.

With his new demonstrative rainbow helmet, Lewis Hamilton won the Formula 1 premiere in the controversial emirate of Qatar and, thanks to another demonstration of power, continued his race to catch up in the bitter world championship fight. The seven-time world champion drove an undisputed start-to-finish victory in his Mercedes. At the Losail International Circuit, Hamilton relegated Max Verstappen, who had been penalized before the start, in the Red Bull with a clear lead to second place. “Fantastic job, guys, fantastic,” praised Hamilton over the radio. “We can do it.”

Thanks to an ultimately strong race performance and the fastest lap, Verstappen at least defended his championship lead. Before the next much discussed race in two weeks in Saudi Arabia and the final on December 12th in Abu Dhabi, the lead shrank to just eight points. Third place in the 102nd Grand Prix victory after the 102nd Grand Prix pole in Hamilton sensationally went to the two-time world champion Fernando Alonso at the age of 40 in the Alpine. Sebastian Vettel took a point in the Aston Martin in tenth. Mick Schumacher was 16 at Haas.

Verstappen operated maximum damage limitation against Hamilton, who had regained strength in time for the decisive World Cup phase, after the mood at the former industry leader had already been powerful in the basement. First Sergio Perez missed the top ten in the qualification in the second car and was missing as a tactical assistant in the fight against the Silver Arrows in fourth. And then, almost two hours before the start of the race, Verstappen also received a five-position penalty for disregarding – albeit incorrectly – double-waved yellow flags in the knockout stages. Starting position seven instead of two right next to Pole Hamilton.

“It couldn’t have been worse,” raged Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. “It’s unbelievable. We have a billion-dollar sport,” and the International Automobile Association has no control over the stewards. The signal lights along the course had indicated no danger, but one of the marshals independently waved twice. Verstappen should have seen and observed that anyway, because according to the regulations, flags and light signals are equally valid.

Hamilton can react calmly

So it was not Verstappen but Pierre Gasly who was on the Red Bull (Alpha Tauri) sister team next to Hamilton. Behind Alonso and Lando Norris in the McLaren, because Bottas also had to go back, but only three places because of the disregard for simply waved yellow flags.

Hamilton confidently maintained his pole, while Alonso pushed past Gasly and fought hard against rocket starter Verstappen. The Dutchman rushed past Bottas, who initially fell back to eleventh place, and continued to push, he grabbed Gasly and then Alonso.

Damage limitation optimized after less than a tenth of the race, the gap to Hamilton: four seconds. He should hold that too, the Briton received a radio message from the Mercedes command post. And so little happened at first. How striking the dominance of Hamilton was one week after his famous victory in São Paulo was shown by the time table: Before the first pit stop, Alonso was in third place more than half a minute behind. And so the superstar, who wants to support the LGBTQIA + community on the Arabian Peninsula with his new helmet design, was able to react relaxed to Verstappen’s tire change. He himself didn’t want to and quarreled, but the box brought him in. It didn’t change the order.

The risks involved in a one-stop strategy were shown by Bottas, who bobbed a flat left front wheel through the gravel and hitting sparks back over the track towards the pit and was ultimately eliminated. During the second tire change, Verstappen came in first, and Hamilton was able to react. Now it was only exciting to see who would secure the one point for the fastest race lap. Fernando Alonso, who was completely surprising and for the first time since the 2014 season, at the time still in a Ferrari, was allowed to take part in the award ceremony was then celebrated as driver of the day.

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