Sunday, December 5th, 2021
Update
F1 madness in Saudi Arabia
Hamilton crashes in Verstappen’s rear end and wins anyway
The Saudi Arabia Grand Prix is a chaos race from start to finish. The penultimate round of the Formula 1 season was interrupted twice after accidents, then World Championship leader Max Verstappen and pursuer Lewis Hamilton had a brutally tough duel. The Mercedes driver wins after several unpleasant incidents.
Strategy poker, bazaar, farce, nasty foul play: Formula 1 has got its heartbeat finale. But how! Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are tied for the final race of the season in the closest World Cup season in history. The circumstances will be talked about for a long time. In a memorable race, the two defining figures of the highly exciting season touched while “trying” to swap places – and touched because Verstappen literally let the record champion come up.
Ultimately, Mercedes star Hamilton won ahead of his rival. The Dutchman could still collect a fine afterwards. Red Bull star Verstappen is still the World Cup leader for the time being because he has one more win to look forward to. For Abu Dhabi, however, the following applies: Whoever crosses the finish line in the points ahead of the others is world champion. Third place went to Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas. Ex-world champion Sebastian Vettel had to park his Aston Martin early after several contacts with opponents. Haas driver Mick Schumacher retired after an accident – with which he set the peculiar dynamics of this 21st race of the season in motion.
After his crash in qualifying, which cost him first place on the grid, Verstappen was spared further bad news before the race: Red Bull was of the opinion that they did not have to change the gearbox in the number 33 race car, so Verstappen was relegated to the race No starting line-up from third to eighth.
Schumacher triggers the first race break
“I’m still here to win,” emphasized the 24-year-old after his mistake, for which he took full responsibility – and with which he gave Mercedes a tactical advantage in starting positions one (Hamilton) and two (Valtteri Bottas) gave. The high-speed street circuit with its many courageous bends, which was completed just in time, is selective, but offers hardly any overtaking opportunities. But the track is dangerous, as several accidents in Formula 2 and in free practice had shown.
This is probably one of the reasons why the drivers reined in at the start, there were no changes in the first five places. The Mercedes plan worked at first: Hamilton pulled away while driving freely, Verstappen could not get close to his “bodyguard” Bottas.
Mick Schumacher radioed the pits after his accident that he was uninjured.
(Photo: imago images / Motorsport Images)
Then, however, Schumacher crashed in the 10th of 50 laps. “I got into the curve too quickly and lost the rear,” he said curtly at Sky. The safety car deployed. Hamilton got new tires, while Verstappen took the risk and drove on. It paid off: According to the race management, the gang was so badly damaged after Schumacher’s accident that the race was interrupted – Verstappen was now able to change his tires without losing time or position. Hamilton was served.
After the restart, the cars didn’t even come a lap: Nikita Mazepin (Haas), Verstappen team-mates Sergio Perez and George Russell (Williams) retired after accidents, but they were interrupted again. Verstappen stayed ahead of Hamilton – albeit by leaving the track.
Verstappen just gets in the way
That is why Verstappen only started from third place behind Esteban Ocon in the Alpine and Hamilton on the third attempt. This was preceded by a haggling like in the bazaar between race director Michael Masi and the Red Bull command post. Had Red Bull not accepted, the race stewards would have been involved. Nevertheless, the “negotiation” on the radio left a smack in public.
From third place, Verstappen sprinted to the top unimpressed, Hamilton was stuck one lap behind Ocon before he went on the hunt for his World Cup rival. Verstappen was able to defend himself for a long time, but in lap 37 no longer with fair means. Then Verstappen literally got in the way when he was supposed to let Hamilton by. The Dutchman made no move until Hamilton passed him on the track.
It was also emotional on the fringes: Formula 1 paid its last respects to Frank Williams, founder of the traditional Williams racing team, who died last Sunday at the age of 79, with lettering on helmets and cars. Before the race, the royal group observed a minute’s silence.