Lewis Hamilton’s consecutive wins have completely changed the feeling surrounding his championship battle with Max Verstappen.
Just two races ago after a dominant win at the Mexican Grand Prix, Verstappen looked as if he was headed for the championship., So much so that it looks like he might even have a chance to finish it at the Grand. Saudi Arabian Prix in December. 5.
Heading into that event, Verstappen still leads the championship by eight points but that’s much thinner than he or Red Bull would have liked – or predicted – at this stage of the season.
Score ranking:
Verstappen – 351.5
Hamilton – 343.5
Run in:
December 5, year Saudi Arabia Grand Prix
December 12, year Grand Prix Abu Dhabi
F1 score: First, 25 points; second, 18 points; third, 15 points; fourth, 12 points; fifth, 10 points; sixth, 8 points; seventh, 6 points; eighth, 4 points; ninth, 2 points; 10th, 1 point.
There is also an additional point to consider at each event, with the driver who scores the fastest laps receiving bonus points, as long as they also finish in the top 10.
Countdown lanyard tool: Verstappen currently leads the countdown with nine wins to Hamilton’s seven, which will at the moment be used to settle any points draw.
Verstappen can win the title in Saudi Arabia
As the leader in points, Verstappen still has a chance to win the title in the penultimate round. With eight points ahead of Hamilton, the Red Bull driver will win the championship if he is 18 points ahead of his opponent. he claimed maximum points at the finale and Verstappen did not score.
In the context of this year’s season, 18 points is a big move to claim. This is the single-race feat Verstappen has achieved after winning the Monaco Grand Prix in May, while Hamilton struggled for seventh place. Hamilton overtook Verstappen by 26 points to win the British Grand Prix and take the fastest lap, while the Red Bull driver was dropped from the race after their controversial collision.
For the most part, major changes are rare. The pair have shared the podium 13 times this season, with only five instances where one has been on it without the other.
Call for a winner
From this stage, the season seems more nameless than ever. Like Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix, the next race is at a new venue, the Saudi Grand Prix at Jeddah Corniche Circuit, adding an unknown element to that competition. The finale, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, takes place on the Yas Marina track that has been modified from previous years to improve the chances of passing.
Therefore, it is difficult to call which team car will be suitable for which lap. Mercedes was beaten in raw speed in the US and Mexico, only to get more powerful cars in Brazil and Qatar. The achievements that Mercedes achieved at the end of this season have raises Red Bull’s doubts about the legitimacy of the opponent’s rear, but that part of the car passed other FIA tests in Qatar.
Hamilton and Mercedes are clearly keeping momentum at this stage and another win for the seven-time world champion at Jeddah would follow current format guidelines. An interesting prospect that gained traction on social media over the weekend was Hamilton winning and claiming the fastest lap point in Saudi Arabia, with Verstappen coming in second, meaning they go to the title race on points.
The fastest lap score will also play an important role in the final two laps. With the championship in place, those two extra points could be decisive.
Qatar is a prime example of how important they can be. Lewis Hamilton held the fastest lap until Verstappen used a great distance to third to pit the soft tyre, take bonus points from his opponent and claim it for himself. It turned Hamilton with eight points into Hamilton with six, which was significant in the last championship.
