GLeichstand on points. For the time being. At the penultimate Formula 1 race on Sunday in Saudi Arabia, the duel between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton for the world championship title was taken to extremes. Hamilton won after numerous interruptions in front of the Dutchman and Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes.
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The final will take place next Sunday (2:00 p.m. CET in the FAZ live ticker for Formula 1 and Sky) in Abu Dhabi. The incidents on the Jeddah course, some of which are far beyond what is reasonable even for die-hard pilots, will, however, have consequences.
Hamilton and Bottas took their places on the grid ahead of Verstappen in the Red Bull. The most unfortunate constellation for Red Bull, the happiest from Mercedes’ point of view. With his mistake in the starting position race, the rival had given the series world champion the best chance of getting away as a team in the first few meters. So it was. Hamilton stayed in front, Bottas only had to spread out briefly, Verstappen put away the mistake from the previous day with a patience exercise at full throttle: Waiting for the opportunity to move forward with tactical skill, perhaps during the pit stop or for a mistake.
This is where Mick Schumacher comes into play. Tenth lap: The Haas is in the lane. In turn nine, the son of the record world champion had lost control of his car on the curb. “Sorry guys.” Driver well, car out of shape and composure. This standstill brought movement into the race. Off to the pit stop, take new tires. That saves time.
Because Mercedes wanted to clear both Silver Arrows in quick succession, Bottas dawdled second behind Hamilton. Drove so slowly that the accruing Verstappen complained, but remained complaining on the piste and took the lead without a fight. Was that so smart after only ten out of 50 rounds? Stopping in the frenzy of the race takes a lot more time. But because the scene of the accident could not be secured again en passant, the race management ordered an interruption of the break until the repair.
Everything at the beginning with a stop in the pit lane, nicely in the new order. So with Verstappen as number one and the right to fresh tires. Then the world champion wailed. “It was a bit of a risk to stop, but we didn’t think there was a red flag,” said Mercedes chief strategist via radio Hamilton. But why didn’t Mercedes share the risk like Red Bull did? Sergio Perez was immediately called to the tire service.
The series world champion should have left Bottas on the slopes to shield Verstappen. Next attempt to get going with the opposite sign. Verstappen loses the sprint from standing to the first corner. Hamilton is already over, but the Dutchman stays on his course, squeezing past the next bend again. Then it crashes – behind the two of them. Red flag, second termination.
Discussions about the maneuver and its criminality. And then negotiations between the race director and the racing team. The offer to Red Bull: The Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Alpine), who scooted past Hamilton in the incident, starts on pole position, Hamilton moves up to second, Verstappen takes third. Otherwise there will be a trial, at least an investigation by the track commissioners with an uncertain outcome. Red Bull agrees. Back from the bazaar to the race.
Third attempt from standing after 17 laps: Ocon hardly moves, Hamilton sees himself in the lead, when Verstappen shoots past him inside as if he were in the bus lane. Daring, narrow, clean. Ocon has to avoid the crowded curves and comes back into the game in second place before the Mercedes man gives him no chance on the straight. In midfield, no one comes too close either, Vettel circles eighth before Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri) clumsily pushes the German off the slopes in the Aston Martin.
The penalty for the Japanese does not comfort the four-time world champion. A contact with Kimi Raikkonen throws him back to 13th place before he drops out. But the fan base of the Formula 1 duel of the year looks at the duel in the river. Hamilton attacks, moves within striking distance. Actually, the man behind has to be 1.8 seconds faster per lap in order to be able to pass relatively safely.
The Mercedes is much more stable on the straights, Verstappen is a pursued, hunted man with a tricky task: to protect the softer tires without falling into the clutches of the hunter. Debris on the route after skirmishes in midfield gives the leader a little relaxation. The dispatch of the “virtual safety car” freezes the gap for a few trips. It doesn’t help much.
After the next clearance, Hamilton sucks in again, appears in the rearview mirror in full format, starts to overtake in the 36th lap, Verstappen defends himself again, takes Hamilton into the run-off zone. “He’s crazy,” shouts the Briton. Verstappen stays in front. But moments later he is instructed to let the rival pass. He slowly slows down before Turn 27, but drives in the middle of the piste. Hamilton throttles, collides with the Red Bull when swerving. The front wing is badly damaged.
The pit crew screams. “It’s a brake test,” complains Hamilton. Memories are awakened in 1998 when David Coulthard took off the gas in the rain at Spa-Francorchamps and Michael Schumacher rushed the Ferrari into the rear. Verstappen receives a five-second penalty for pushing away and lets Hamilton go. The rear-end collision is still being negotiated that evening. What remains is the feeling that most brilliant duels have lost a lot of their dignity at the climax.
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