2021 Formula One Qatar Grand Prix: Hamilton closes championship gap to Verstappen
Following his second win in a row, Lewis Hamilton has again closed to the gap to series leader Max Verstappen in the 2021 Formula One championship.
Reigning champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-AMG) led the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix from start to finish with a dominating performance overnight – reducing the points gap to series leader Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda) for the second race in a row.
The two title contenders were in a class of their own throughout the race, and were ahead of the field by such a margin they were both able to make two pit stops each for fresh tyres without losing their one-two track position.
Verstappen and Hamilton went into the race separated by 14 points and are now just eight points apart with the final two rounds of the 22-race season to be held over the next three weeks.
The fierce rivals have swapped the series lead five times so far this season, and are the only drivers with a mathematical chance of winning the 2021 Formula One championship.
Observers of the sport have described this year’s Formula One season as the most exciting in decades, and while Verstappen still holds onto the championship lead, Hamilton now seems to have momentum.
Four-time Formula One champion Alain Prost, who is now a team manager at Alpine-Renault, told F1 broadcasters: “The world champion this year will be a great champion. They have (had) a fantastic season. They both deserve to be champion. I hope (the title is decided in) the last race in Abu Dhabi. It’s great for our sport.”
Prior to the race, the Red Bull team had queried the legality of the rear wing on Hamilton’s Mercedes-AMG – believing a flexible section was outside the rules and delivered a top-speed advantage – but race officials cleared the vehicle after a technical inspection.
When asked about the concern over the Mercedes-AMG rear wing, Verstappen told F1 broadcasters: “We are fighting for a championship. We are not here to be in a kindergarten.”
The first Formula One race in Qatar – part of a 10-year deal – was held one year to the day before the Soccer World Cup is due to take place in Qatar.
With high winds and dust from the surrounding desert, most F1 cars struggled for grip – and a number of teams succumbed to punctures during the race due to a combination of sharp kerbs – as drivers tried to eke out extra mileage from their tyres to reduce the number of pit stops.
Hamilton had qualified fastest for the race and Verstappen was supposed to start alongside him having posted the second-quickest qualifying time.
However, Verstappen was issued with a five-place grid penalty for disobeying a double-yellow flag that was displayed for a stranded car during qualifying, while Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas was hit with a three-place grid penalty for disobeying a single-yellow flag for the same incident.
The penalty failed to dent Verstappen’s speed, however, making it from seventh to fourth place by the end of the first lap after an epic start – before climbing to second position on the road behind Hamilton on lap five.
Verstappen – who appeared to be struggling with a damaged wing after clipping a kerb early in the race – never got close enough to mount an overtaking challenge on Hamilton, and the pair appeared to cruise to first and second place while the rest of the field struggled.
“It was pretty lonely at the front,” Hamilton told F1 broadcasters. “I can’t wait to watch the replay of the race to see what happened behind me. I’m not really sure why people’s tyres were going, (though) I’m sure it’s the kerbs.”
Hamilton added: “I’m really grateful for these points, it’s been a hell of a year. To be at this point of the year, and have back-to-back wins is a great feeling. It puts us in good stead for the next two (races). I feel fitter than I’ve ever felt, so that’s a positive.”
Verstappen told F1 broadcasters: “Our starting position was a bit compromised. Luckily we had a really good start and I was quickly back into second (place). I know it’s going to be difficult to the end … but it keeps it exciting. I feel good. It’s going to be a tight battle to the end.”
Veteran F1 driver Fernando Alonso (Alpine-Renault) finished third – his first podium result since the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix in 2014 – and was awarded driver of the day, as voted online by race fans during the telecast.
After qualifying 14th fastest, Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo finished outside the Top 10 for the third race in a row after again struggling to come to terms with his McLaren on a circuit with sweeping, high-speed corners.
Ricciardo had slipped to 16th in the early stages of the race but recovered to finish 12th.
Ricciardo’s younger teammate Lando Norris qualified sixth fastest and ran as high as fourth in the early stages of the race – after starting fourth on the grid after benefiting from grid penalties handed to two drivers ahead of him.
But an extra pit stop in the closing stages – to replace a suspected puncture – saw Norris cross the finish line in ninth place.
Interviewed prior to the race about his poor qualifying performance, Ricciardo told F1 broadcasters: “I honestly didn’t have the pace. Trying to carry a little bit more speed through a few corners … couldn’t quite get it to hold on. Not really finding those last few tenths (of a second). Some corners feel pretty good (but) we know this year (racing circuits with) long corners is where we struggle more.”
Verstappen recorded the fastest lap of the 57-lap race on the 5.38km Qatar circuit (1:23.196), which earned him an extra point to go towards his championship tally.
The Red Bull driver was able to take advantage of a virtual safety car two laps from the finish – which had been activated while track marshals recovered a stranded car that had suffered a puncture – to make a pit stop for fresh tyres.
The safety car period was lifted one lap from the end and Verstappen was able to topple Hamilton’s fastest lap time.
The next round of the 2021 Formula One championship is the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on 3 to 6 December 2021.
Data below supplied by F1.com, compiled by Emma Notarfrancesco.
Race results: Round 20, Qatar Grand Prix
| Position | Driver | Team |
| 1 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes-AMG |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing-Honda |
| 3 | Fernando Alonso | Alpine-Renault |
| 4 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull Racing-Honda |
| 5 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault |
| 6 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes |
| 7 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari |
| 8 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 9 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes |
| 10 | Sebastian Vettel | Aston Martin-Mercedes |
| 11 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri-Honda |
| 12 | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren-Mercedes |
| 13 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri-Honda |
| 14 | Kimi R | Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari |
| 15 | Antonio Giovanazzi | Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari |
| 16 | Mick Schumacher | Haas-Ferrari |
| 17 | George Russell | Williams-Mercedes |
| 18 | Nikita Mazepin | Haas-Ferrari |
| DNF | Nicholas Latifi | Williams-Mercedes |
| DNF | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes-AMG |
2021 Drivers’ Championship after
Round 20, Qatar Grand Prix| Position | Driver | Team | Pts |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing-Honda | 351.5 |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes-AMG | 343.5 |
| 3 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes-AMG | 203 |
| 4 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull Racing-Honda | 190 |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | 153 |
| 6 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 152 |
| 7 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 145.5 |
| 8 | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren-Mercedes | 105 |
| 9 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri-Honda | 92 |
| 10 | Fernando Alonso | Alpine-Renault | 77 |
| 11 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | 60 |
| 12 | Sebastian Vettel | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 43 |
| 13 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 34 |
| 14 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri-Honda | 20 |
| 15 | George Russell | Williams-Mercedes | 16 |
| 16 | Kimi R | Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari | 10 |
| 17 | Nicholas Latifi | Williams-Mercedes | 7 |
| 18 | Antonio Giovanazzi | Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari | 1 |
| 19 | Mick Schumacher | Haas-Ferrari | 0 |
| 20 | Nikita Mazepin | Haas-Ferrari | 0 |
2021 Constructors’ Championship after
Round 20, Qatar Grand Prix| Position | Team | Pts |
| 1 | Mercedes | 546.5 |
| 2 | Red Bull Racing-Honda | 541.5 |
| 3 | Ferrari | 297.5 |
| 4 | McLaren-Mercedes | 258 |
| 5 | Alpine Renault | 137 |
| 6 | AlphaTauri-Honda | 112 |
| 7 | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 77 |
| 8 | Williams-Mercedes | 23 |
| 9 | Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari | 11 |
| 10 | Haas-Ferrari | 0 |
The post 2021 Formula One Qatar Grand Prix: Hamilton closes championship gap to Verstappen appeared first on Drive.