The British Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) prevailed this Sunday in a chaotic Saudi Arabia Grand Prix ahead of the dutch Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and both drivers arrive even on points at the last race of the season Formula 1, within a week in Abu Dabi.
The young Dutchman, 24, and the seven-time world champion, 36, come to the last race tied at 369.5 points in what is the Formula 1 World Cup most exciting in recent years.
For Hamilton, who added the additional point of the fastest lap in the race, it would be an 8th title and would surpass the historic record he shares with the German Michael sSchumacher.
For Verstappen it would be his first world championship and he has a small advantage as he has won more races than his rival (9 to 8): if neither of them scores, the title will go to the Red Bull driver.
Finn Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) completed the podium of the first Grand Prix held in Saudi Arabia, on a very fast and very dangerous street circuit in Jeddah, the scene of multiple incidents, with three starts, two red flags and a final touch between the two contenders for the world title.
Verstappen, who was leading the world championship and with a chance of winning the title at Jeddah, was given a five-second penalty for a braking maneuver that surprised Hamilton and was interpreted as irregular by the race commissioners.
“There was everything, a lot of things happened that I don’t entirely agree with, but that’s what it is. I slowed down, I wanted to let him pass, I was on the right but he didn’t want to overtake and we touched. I don’t really understand what it happened there “, declared after the race a Verstappen who, visibly annoyed, left the podium before finalizing the awards ceremony.
“Unbelievably tough!”
“I’ve been racing for a long time … but this was incredibly tough!” Summarized Hamilton.
“I tried to be as tough and sensible as I could, with all my experience over the years … It was very difficult, but we persevered as a team,” he added.
Hamilton, who started from pole, stayed in the lead until lap 13, when the race was interrupted the first time by an accident by Mick Schumacher (Haas).
The Englishman took advantage of the exit of the safety car to go in to change tires, which Verstappen took advantage of to take the lead before the first red flag.
When resuming, Hamilton tried to overtake Verstappen and the Dutchman left the track to maintain his position, while from behind they touched the Mexican Sergio perez (Red Bull), the Russian Nikita mazepin (Haas) and the British George Russell (Williams), forcing the race marshals to raise the red flag again.
The stewards considered Verstappen’s maneuver illegal and it was the French Esteban Ocon the one that started from the first place in the third exit, with Hamilton second and the Dutch third.
However, Vertappen was back in the lead at the first corner and Hamilton overtook Ocon.
In an exciting heads-up, the Englishman tried to overtake Verstappen, who crossed the path of his rival to avoid him, for which he was ordered to return the position to Hamilton.
Dry braking and shock
And then came the controversial moment of the race: Verstappen stopped short to let Hamilton pass, but Hamilton was surprised by the maneuver and collided with Red Bull and damaged his front wing.
The Dutchman was again ordered to let Hamilton pass and did so, but immediately overtook his rival again.
A lap later, Hamilton again took the lead and Verstappen, with the five-second penalty, could no longer fight for the victory.
The Top-10 was completed by Ocon (Alpine), surpassed by Bottas in the last meters, the Australian Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren), the also French Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), the Spanish Carlos Sainz Jr ( Ferrari), the Italian Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) and the British Lando Norris (McLaren).
Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx