In a crazy premier race in Saudi Arabia with crashes, safety car phases and interruptions, Lewis Hamilton prevented Max Verstappen from being crowned prematurely and made the ultimate final in the completely poisoned world championship duel of the generation on Sunday in Abu Dhabi perfect . Verstappen had to admit defeat to the defending champion on Sunday after a five-second penalty and multiple uncompromising attacks against the British.
“I’ve been driving for a long time, but that was incredibly tough,” said Hamilton: “With all my experience, I tried to keep the car on the track.” “A lot has happened that I don’t agree with,” said Verstappen .
Hamilton drew on points with the 24-year-old Dutchman with the third win in a row and the fastest lap in the rousing horsepower thriller with extra length in the championship lead – what a Hollywood scenario for the last race of the season. “Great job, guys, that’s how I like it,” said Hamilton after his 103rd career win at the Mercedes box. Verstappen only stays ahead at Red Bull because of the larger number of wins.
With a demolished front wing after an unbelievable collision, Hamilton saved himself to the finish of a more than memorable race on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, in which Mick Schumacher retired early in the Haas and Sebastian Vettel also had to give up in the Aston.
Pure joy and relief: Lewis Hamilton lets his team celebrate
Quelle: Getty Images/Dan Mullan
Everyone had suspected and feared it. And already on the starting grid, where mechanics huddled close to you between the track walls, it became clear how tight this course is. In qualifying, Verstappen made unpleasant acquaintance with the barricades when he struck on his splendidly fast lap. Nerves in the Dutchman? In the psychological duel with Hamilton, the former hot spur and angry actually proved: In his seventh year in the motorsport premier class, Verstappen should be ready for the title. But also completely uncompromising – and that could in turn cost him the title.
A tailor-made start for Hamilton
From lofty heights, the members of the royal family saw a tailor-made start for Hamilton and his teammate Valtteri Bottas, who finished third in the end. Verstappen cannot attack. This time he couldn’t get close to Bottas, who had already made a mistake in his role as a helper, and certainly not to Hamilton. Lo and behold: at the beginning not a single crash despite high speed and little space. Vettel initially drove around in 15th place, Mick Schumacher in 18th place.
But on this day under the floodlights on the Blue Lagoon, all interest was focused only on the duel for the title. It was clear that Verstappen would have to cross the finish line well before Hamilton. He started with just eight points more after the 36-year-old Briton had already caught up with his victories in Brazil and Qatar. There were plenty of scenarios of how Verstappen would become world champion. But after the first few laps, Hamilton would draw level with Verstappen.
“We gambled too much,” grumbled Hamilton
What to do? The risk of a collision and thus a possible end in an attempt to overtake was high and the dangers lurked everywhere: To the chagrin of Mick Schumacher, who demolished his Haas at an early stage. The safety car had to go. Mercedes brought in both cars to change tires. Verstappen stayed outside and took the lead in front of Hamilton and Bottas.
Was that the tactical finesse Red Bull was just waiting for? Now the risk was suddenly more with the British in the Silver Arrow, which was still painted black. And not just rather: Because it took too long to recover the Haas wreck, the race was interrupted. Hamilton radioed: “Does that mean he can change tires?” The Mercedes box replied: “Unfortunately, Lewis, that’s the way it is.” With ‘he’ was meant Verstappen, who now had all the advantages. “We gambled too much,” grumbled Hamilton. His race engineer replied meekly.
The reason for the interruption was the preparation of the barriers that Mick Schumacher had crashed into. “It goes in and of itself, but the pride is hurt,” said Mick Schumacher when asked how he is.
16 minutes after the demolition, the cars started rolling again to the standing start: This time Hamilton got away better from second place on the inside, pulled into the curve before Verstappen, who left the track to successfully counter the attack – a clear violation of the rules because himself Gave Verstappen an advantage.
Hamilton even had to brake so that Esteban Ocon also passed. There was time enough to look at the pictures immediately afterwards: there was a crash at the back, including Mick Schumacher’s team-mate Nikita Masepin, and Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull.
And then it escalated
Another interruption. And now also a top-class radio to-and-fro. Race management to Red Bull, Red Bull to race management, race management to Mercedes with the result: An investigation of the incident and thus a presumed five-second penalty would be waived if Verstappen let Ocon and Hamilton by. Verstappen and Red Bull did that, but put on the slightly faster and softer tires.
Third start in the penultimate race: And the rubber rake opened. Verstappen showed that he is not afraid of the risk in such a decisive race, he got away best and shot past Hamilton inside to first place. But Hamilton put pressure on it. And it escalated. Wolff crashed his headphones on the table in anger. Verstappen had obviously picked up when Hamilton tried to pull past again.
The team had told him to hand over the position. The Dutchman had previously countered another attack and left the track. After the crashes at Silverstone and Monza, the poisoned duel reached a new dimension. Verstappen let Hamilton pass again, but attacked directly again. The race management had enough: He was given a five-second penalty.
Lewis Hamilton caused a lot of tension with his victory in front of Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas: The world championship decision will be made in the last race
Those: AFP / GIUSEPPE CACACE
Verstappen then received another ten-second penalty for colliding with Hamilton. The stewards said he braked in a way that led to the collision. Since Verstappen was second around 16 seconds ahead of third Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes, that didn’t change his position. The 24-year-old also received two penalty points.
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