The seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton won the first Qatar Grand Prix for Mercedes Sunday and reduced the overall lead to Max Verstappen on the Formula One to eight points with two races remaining.
After starting from pole, Hamilton did not worry about the comeback of Verstappen, who started from seventh place, nor about Fernando Alonso (Alpine), who signed his first podium of the year.
There are only two races left on the 2021 calendar, in Saudi Arabia and in Abu Dabi in December.
This is the second victory in a row, after the one achieved in Brazil, the seventh this season and the 102nd of the career of the 37-year-old Hamilton, who is aiming for an eighth world crown.
“We can do it,” the day’s winner still launched from his car.
Second in qualifying on Saturday, Verstappen was suspended five places on the grid for failing to slow down while Gasly’s car was pinned down on the track on Saturday.
The 24-year-old Dutchman won three places at the start. On lap five he was already second behind Hamilton.
But unlike Brazil, the scene of an anthological battle last week, this time there was no direct duel between the two title candidates.
98th podium for Alonso
Verstappen, who is aiming for a first title this year, finished 57 laps of 5.38 kilometers in 25.7 seconds of the seven-time world champion, but took the point of best lap in the race.
“Our position on the grid compromised the situation, but I made a very good start, we got second fast and in the end it was good with the best lap,” reacted the World Championship leader.
Hamilton, for his part, felt “a little lonely at the head of the race.” “I like when everything goes well, very good team work, I am looking forward to seeing the repeat race to see what happened behind.”
Hamilton will be able to see how Alonso, double world champion in 2005 and 2006, signed his 98th podium, the first for the Asturian since 2014.
“Incredible, seven years … finally … I waited so long for this,” reacted 40-year-old Alonso, voted best driver of the day.
The Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) and the French Esteban Ocon (Alpine) completed the top 5. Pierre Gasly, who started second, could only be eleventh at the finish line.
One year from the World Cup
Exactly one year from the 2022 World Cup, Qatar organized its first Formula 1 Grand Prix, at night on the Losail circuit north of the capital Doha.
Several former soccer stars like David Beckham, Andrea Pirlo, Marcel Desailly, Patrick Kluivert O Cafu they polished the Qatari circuit.
Qatar will not be on the 2022 calendar, but it signed a 10-year contract with F1 starting in 2023, something that sparked criticism from international NGOs that condemn the treatment of the thousands of workers mainly from Asia, in the great works of the World-2022.
Qatar responds to the criticism by claiming that it has done much to improve the working conditions of immigrants.
Hamilton, committed to defending minorities, wore a rainbow-colored helmet this weekend.
“It is important for me to represent this LGBT community, there are situations (in this region of the world) that are not perfect and should be highlighted,” he explained on Saturday, adding that he will wear that helmet in Saudi Arabia (December 5) and in Abu Dhabi. (December 12).
Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx