Lewis Hamilton wins crazy Grand Prix race from Saudi Arabia to…

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The Netherlands has never produced a Formula 1 world champion in 71 years in Formula 1, but it was in Saudi Arabia that Max Verstappen got a chance to become the first. The Dutchman with Flemish roots arrived at the brand new circuit in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) with an 8-point lead over Lewis Hamilton. If he finishes in the top two and Hamilton finishes far enough behind him, Verstappen could take the title.

Before that could happen, of course, the weekend had to be completed on a narrow, fast-paced street circuit in Jeddah. Verstappen had a chance to take center stage on Saturday night and looked ready to do so until he touched the wall in the last corner. Hamilton laughed at his hand: the pole was his, and he allowed his teammate Valtteri Bottas to start second. Verstappen came third.

How did you get started?

Stunningly elegant: Hamilton maintained the lead ahead of Bottas and Verstappen, and everyone behind this trio kept their cars intact. But it will not stop at one start in Saudi Arabia. After a heavy blow from Mick Schumacher (Haas) in the 10th round, the dolls started dancing.

The safety car came on the track while the Haas Schumacher pieces were cleared. Hamilton and Bottas took advantage of this to stop without wasting much time, and Verstappen did not and took the lead. A strategic gamble that paid off big: after a few laps the race was halted when the fence turned out to be in need of repair. Verstappen was allowed to change tires during this break, just like everyone else.

An error has occurred on the restart. Hamilton beat Verstappen, but the Dutchman went off the track and reclaimed the position. Behind the two, the race turned into complete chaos: Sergio Perez (Red Bull) housed after contacting Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, forcing everyone behind them to dock. Nikita Mazepin (Haas) torpedoed George Russell Williams. A new red flag was needed to remove the wreck.

During this red flag, there was a strong consultation between Red Bull and the race management. In the end it was decided that Verstappen would start the second restart in third place, just behind Hamilton. Esteban Ocon, who overtook Hamilton, was allowed to start from pole position. However, this did not matter much: Verstappen outperformed both in the second reboot with a colossal maneuver. Hamilton took Ocon moments later to finish second, allowing for another fight between the title contenders.

How did the victory happen?

Verstappen took the second restart on the medium tyres, and Hamilton on the hard tyres. An important difference in the choices will be made clear in the final stage. Verstappen kept the lead, but it is clear that Hamilton grew in the race as Verstappen’s tires wore out little by little.

Meanwhile, the race has been neutralized several times by a hypothetical safety car, because debris from the track had to be removed regularly. For example, Yuki Tsunoda broke his front wing when trying to overtake Sebastian Vettel, and Vettel also lost some of his Aston Martin pieces moments later in a duel with Kimi Räikkönen.

Because of all those handicaps, the race kept going little by little. Verstappen decided to carry on with his old tyres, and Hamilton got closer and closer. The inevitable showdown followed on lap 37. It could have been a copy of what happened in Brazil a few weeks ago: Hamilton overtook Verstappen before turning the first, Verstappen came back from the inside, and both cars went off track.

After that, the fight turned into complete chaos. After a lap, Verstappen tried to hand the lead over to Hamilton, but was completely surprised. When Verstappen applied the brakes again, Hamilton hit Red Bull’s rear and damaged his nose.

Both gentlemen managed to continue on their way, but the misery was not yet over for Verstappen. The Dutchman continued to advance for a few more laps before deciding to let Hamilton pass again. Verstappen straight back the Briton afterwards, but Hamilton took the lead again after that. Verstappen was also awarded a five-second penalty for the previous incident in the first corner.

After that, the race ended. Hamilton has moved away from Verstappen, who can no longer make a fist on the old tyres. Hamilton won and took the fastest lap, bringing both fighters to the exact same number of points in the World Cup: both counted 369.5 pieces.

What else happened in this race?

Of course, all attention was directed to Verstappen and Hamilton, but behind these two there was of course a lot of squabbling. Valtteri Bottas had fallen behind Albin led by Esteban Ocon and captain Daniel Ricardo McLaren after play resumed. Bottas was able to overtake them only in the final stage: first Ricciardo went for the ax, and Ocon was passed in the last meters before the finish. Bottas finished third. The remaining spots in points went to Pierre Gasly (Alfatore), Ferrari Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz Jr., Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) and Lando Norris (McLaren).

How high is the value of the scene?

We think the length of this report fully answers that question: it was a race for others’ thumbs up.

What do we remember from this race?

This Formula 1 will have the most exciting conclusion in many years in seven days. Max Verstappen is the official captain of the World Cup because he won another race, but he has as many points as Lewis Hamilton. Will it be Verstappen’s first or Hamilton’s historic eighth? We’ll know exactly in a week. In Abu Dhabi this must happen to these two.