Hamilton and Verstappen battle for championship

As the 2021 Formula 1 season nears its end, two drivers find themselves in the battle for the highly coveted Driver’s Championship Title. With two races left in the season the gap between current points leader Max Verstappen and the reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton is a razor thin eight points. With only two races left in the season and Hamilton taking the last two race victories, the end of the season will be nothing short of exhilarating.

The early rounds seemed to favor Mercedes and Hamilton, leading many to believe that the driver would have a smooth cruise to his eighth Driver’s Championship title.

However, Red Bull driver Verstappen snatched the championship lead in the Monaco Grand Prix, which is considered by many to be one of the most prestigious races in all of motorsports. By the end of the Austrian Grand Prix, Verstappen’s lead was up to 32 points, totaling more than the 25 that are given to an individual race winner.

The following round at Silverstone was disastrous for Red Bull. While the two drivers battled for the lead they collided, resulting in a high-speed crash for Verstappen. Hamilton then went on to win his home race. The event sparked controversy in the Formula 1 paddock as team principals and drivers alike weighed in on the accident. Verstappen’s lead shrunk to only eight points.

In the following race at the Hungarian Grand Prix, a massive pileup in the first corner resulted in five of twenty drivers having their races ended prematurely. The chaos allowed Alpine driver Esteban Ocon to take the lead and hold on to it for his first career victory. Hamilton also regained the championship lead in Hungary with a second place finish.

Verstappen won the next two races, including a home race win at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort. The pair collided yet again in the Italian Grand Prix, resulting in an end to the race for both. Hamilton then won his 100th career Grand Prix in Russia.

The lead changed hands once again in Turkey after Hamilton took a grid penalty to use a new engine. Verstappen then won in both the United States and Mexico. Hamilton shrunk the lead by winning in both Brazil and Qatar, bringing us to the present. Though Verstappen can technically secure the championship in Saudi Arabia by amassing a lead larger than 26 points, it will likely come down to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to decide a winner.

Hamilton has shown significant pace in the last few races, but Red Bull have proven their strength on street tracks like Saudi Arabia in the past. Another thing to watch in the closing rounds of the season are the constructor’s championship standings. Mercedes has a five point lead over Red Bull. What this means is that both teams will need great results from their other drivers, Valtteri Bottas for Mercedes and fan favorite Sergio Peréz on Red Bull. Mclaren have an outside shot at overtaking Ferrari’s third place spot among constructors and their 37.5 point advantage. Formula 1 will also take some time to remember Frank Williams, who passed away this Sunday. Frank served as the team manager of the historic Williams team for four decades. The team won six Driver’s Championships and eight Constructor’s Championships under his guidance. Regardless of who takes the championship home Sir Lewis Hamilton’s legacy in Formula 1 is indisputable, and Max Verstappen’s career is just getting started.