Sunday December 12th 2021
Verstappen before Hamilton, but …
Mercedes sees advantage in qualifying defeat
The starting position at the Formula 1 season finale is clear: The first to reach the finish line will be the world champion. Max Verstappen is starting from position one, Lewis Hamilton is from position three. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff sees the defeat in qualifying as an advantage.
After Max Verstappen captured pole position for the Formula 1 showdown in Abu Dhabi, Mercedes motorsport director Toto Wolff spoke of a “clear 1-0 for Red Bull”. Nevertheless, the Austrian has not yet lost faith in the triumph of his top driver Lewis Hamilton in the race that was decisive for the championship. “From our point of view, I hope that Max’s start on the soft is a disadvantage,” said the Austrian. Verstappen starts the race on the softest tire compound (2 p.m. / Sky and in the live ticker at ntv.de). This should give the Red Bull driver an advantage on the way to the first corner and also in the first laps, but the tire degrades faster than the medium with which Hamilton starts the race from second place.
Wolff is not assuming a crash, which has been a topic of discussion recently: “I have no doubt that you will drive hard. But I trust that it will remain sporty.” Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko said: “As soon as Max’s tires break in, we will change. Nothing is lost yet.” Verstappen originally wanted to qualify on the medium, but the set of tires was unusable after a heavy brake. “That narrows the possibilities of the strategy. It would have been better if we had had a choice,” said Marko.
The 78-year-old is hoping for help from the “great starter” Lando Norris. The McLaren driver starts the race from third place and, like Verstappen, initially uses the soft tires. “Maybe he’ll grab the Hamilton, that would be a great cushion,” explained Marko. 22-year-old Norris said he was “a little nervous” about starting right behind the World Cup opponents. He did not want to “cause any controversy,” but added: “If there is a chance, then I want to take it.”
Meanwhile, Hamilton can be sure of the full support of his team-mate Valtteri Bottas. “I am ready to sacrifice my optimal race,” said the Finn Bottas, who will drive for Alfa Romeo in 2022: “We want both titles and I want to help them to both titles before I go.” While Verstappen only leads the World Championship because of one more win of the season (9: 8), Mercedes has a 28-point lead over Red Bull in the constructors’ category. In Abu Dhabi, two drivers of a team can win a maximum of 44 points.