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The world tightest in recent years will be decided today (2:00 p.m., DAZN) in a race in which Verstappen will start first thanks to Red Bull’s strategy, which took advantage of teamwork to put the Dutchman in first place. The slipstream offered by
Checo Pérez to the leader of the World Cup In the last round of qualifying it was decisive and surprised Mercedes, who did not know how to react and will have to come back to achieve glory in Abu Dhabi.
The face of Lewis Hamilton when he got out of the car he reflected some disbelief. Until then it had been an almost perfect weekend, with his Mercedes dominating every session and with Bottas as squire a few tenths behind.
Ideal situation that was twisted already in Q2, when Red Bull began its script twist. The Austrian team qualified Pérez and Verstappen on soft tires, anticipating an aggressive strategy for the opening laps of today’s race. The recital of Red Bull, who had very well studied the day. The first to Q3 were launched, with Checo Pérez in front and Verstappen a few meters from him. They both went for their initial pole position aggressively, climbing up the pianos and clawing tenths at every turn. All about logic, until the two of them headed for the back straight. A long kilometer of pure speed in which the Mexican offered his slipstream to the World Cup leader. Decisive advantage for Verstappen to place first, half a second ahead of Lewis Hamilton. The favor cost Pérez the first line, who will finally come out fourth after Norris’s crush on the last turn.
There was no miracle from Mercedes in the subsequent attempt. Hamilton improved somewhat, but not enough to unseat Verstappen from pole, from which he dreams today of his first world champion title. «I am very happy with how things have gone. We made progress on the car that hadn’t done very well during practice. and we were the fastest in qualifying. I am looking forward to the race on Sunday, which is the important day, “explained the Dutchman, wrapped in a prudence unknown to him.
Hamilton and Mercedes tried to see the bright side after the Red Bull hit. «Lewis is sure to be angry and motivated for the race.», He acknowledged Toto Wolff, whose confidence in the British is total. “The race is very long and having Hamilton in the car is a guarantee,” explained the director of the team. The Briton will hit the track on medium tires, allowing him to pursue a more conservative strategy with the end of the race in mind.
Sainz will start fifth
His problem may be just behind, in a second line of the grid where Norris and Pérez will be. Precisely, the McLaren driver recognized his uneasiness about being involved in a battle that is not his, although that will not prevent him from putting pressure on the British. So will Verstappen’s squire, who could play a key role in the title outcome if he manages to pass Hamilton in the early corners.
Behind them Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) confirmed its progression over the weekend, placing fifth ahead of Bottas, the great disappointment of the day in what will be his last race with Mercedes. Things were worse for Fernando Alonso (Renault), eleventh after being hurt by Daniel Ricciardo on the last lap of Q2.
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