The inaugural Qatar Grand Prix is right around the corner, and with just 14 points separating Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, this weekend’s race might be the most important race of the year.
After what can only be described as a world class drive from Lewis Hamilton at last week’s Brazilian Grand Prix, the battle for the drivers championship is well and truly back on.
The Losail International Circuit is 5.3KM long with the main straight over a kilometre long, which will play into Hamilton’s hands, who’s Mercedes is extremely quick in a straight line, something that Red Bull team principle Christian Horner described as “unraceable”.
No one really knows how the race will play out due to it being the first ever Formula One race in the country, but it’s looking like it will be another track that benefits the Silver Arrows.
If Hamilton is to claim his seventh win of the season, it will see him move within a minimum of seven points of his title rival with just two races left.
Things could go from bad to worse for Verstappen, who’s awaiting the decision from the stewards over a potential penalty for an incident involving himself and Hamilton, after a Mercedes appeal following the release of Verstappen’s on board footage, something not available to the stewards during the race.
Talking about the incident to Sky Sports, Verstappen said: “It was fair and hard racing. As a driver we know exactly what we can or cannot do in the car,” he adds. “We were fighting hard, braking late into the corner, the tyres are hot, and if I had turned more abrupt to the left you’d just spin off the track.”
If he is to get a penalty, not only will it hinder his championship ambitions, but also Red Bull’s quest for their first constructors championship since 2013.
Mercedes currently have an 11 point lead over Red Bull, with the Silver Arrows looking to extend their lead in their bid to win every single constructors championship in the Turbo Hybrid era, before the new era of Formula 1 kicks off in 2022.
Further down the grid, Ferrari will be looking to extend their 31.5 gap over McLaren, who have had some reliability issues with their Mercedes engine, a theme for all the constructors using Mercedes power this season.
The battle for fifth between Alpine and Alphatauri shows now sign of slowing down, with nothing separating the two, both on 112 points after 19 races.
Going into the race, Hamilton and Mercedes are the favourites, with Verstappen looking like he’ll be focusing on damage limitations, but a second place finish isn’t a guarantee. He needs to make sure he finishes above Valtteri Bottas.
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