The Formula 1 season will close today (Sunday, 15:00) in Abu Dhabi in the most dramatic way possible: the last race of the season will decide who will win the title – Luis Hamilton or Max Verstappen.
On the one hand: Hamilton (36), the first black Formula 1 champion. Who broke almost all the important records of the great racing drivers Michael Schumacher. He has so far achieved 103 Grand Prix and 103 pole position victories, and expects that in 2021 he will sail to another championship, eighth in number – more than any other driver.
From the other side: Verstappen (24), the rising talent. The Dutchman who in 2015 became the youngest Formula 1 driver ever, even before the age of 17 and a half. The senior driver of the Red Bull Honda team, who surprisingly managed to gain nine victories over Hamilton’s eight, but also lost within a month a 19-point advantage in the drivers’ championship.
The two reach the last race of the season with an absolute tie: 369.5 each. The conclusion is simple: whoever finishes in a higher place in Abu Dhabi will win the title. If by chance the special draw is saved, the one who will celebrate will be Verstappen, who won, as mentioned, the most satisfied this year.
These are two drivers who do not really like each other. How much? They have clashed three times this season, an extraordinary interest in Formula One racing where a fair play culture is maintained, with an emphasis on technology and driving level. Verstappen was fined € 50,000 in a race in Brazil for touching Hamilton’s back wing during the rankings, not really hurting anyone who earns just £ 20m a year from the Bulls rebellion.
Still, in the UK they collided at 290 mph, and Verstappen hit the safety fence and was flown for tests – and Hamilton won, even though he was penalized for entering the treatment area because of his responsibility for the accident. And only the new beams on the cab prevented the tires from hitting his head.
Last week, at the Saudi Grand Prix, they clashed again. Verstappen was punished by track referees for unsportsmanlike driving after he caused Hamilton to get off the track, and was instructed to let him overtake. Then he suddenly braked sharply, and Hamilton came in with his back wing. “He’s crazy!” The Briton was heard shouting on the radio, but both continued to compete, with Worstapen being punished again, and Hamilton winning.
Formula 1 now counts the seconds to the fourth unreasonable collision. Verstappen in full position, was 0.371 seconds faster than Hamilton. Therefore, they will both jump from the front row, which only increases the potential for a collision already in the jump. Verstappen even admitted in an interview two years ago that for him this was a legitimate tactic. “If there is to be contact between cars. It should not always be done in the cleanest way. If after I retire I will have five World Cups, but I will not be the favorite driver it does not matter to me. At the end of the day only victory is what matters.”
In the training sessions leading up to the race, Hamilton radiated calm and self-confidence. Maybe also because of the warning issued this weekend by race director Michael Messi. “I was wrong in Brazil,” Verstappen admitted at the press conference ahead of the last race, “but others do exactly what I did and get no punishment.” Hamilton responded diplomatically. “I believe everyone here has come to win, and that everyone wants to do it the right way.”
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