Reuters
Formula One F1 – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in action during the race REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in action during the race REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
On Sunday, Max Verstappen triumphed at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Joining him on the podium were Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris. With this win, Verstappen is practically breathing down Hamilton’s neck in the 2021 F1 championship. At the last race in Bahrain, Lewis won over the German. In an ideal world, this would mean that they are level on points.
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However, Hamilton managed to snatch the fastest lap at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari. This earned him one extra point and a one-point lead in the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. Meanwhile, poor old Valtteri Bottas endured a nightmare race, which involved George Russell taking him out of the race.
Oh, this is going to be good 🍿😍#ImolaGP 🇮🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/IQkqwahjNK
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 18, 2021
As a result, he dropped from third to fifth in the 2021 F1 championship. At the same time, Norris and Charles Leclerc managed to leapfrog him to third and fourth, respectively. It is also worth noting that Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo are just two points away from Bottas, with Sergio Perez six points adrift.
The battle for the 2021 F1 championship will be fierce
Many predicted that Hamilton and Max Verstappen would be the primary protagonists in the battle. Needless to say, that prediction is slowly coming true, especially given the tight points gap between them. Of course, only two races have passed by and so much can change in the championship. However, it is clear that Mercedes and Red Bull will be the favorites.
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – March 28, 2021 Race winner Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton during the press conference with second placed Red Bull’s Max Verstappen FIA/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
While Scuderia Ferrari seems to have exorcised the demons of 2020, McLaren are improving in leaps and bounds every year. The Woking squad could easily be the fourth-best team on the F1 grid, though they can make a case for third in the constructors’ championship.
Admittedly, Mercedes took a dent in their championship hopes when Bottas crashed out. The Finn collided with Williams driver and Mercedes junior, George Russell, and neither could agree on whose fault it was. Nevertheless, the FIA ignored the blame game and deemed it a racing incident. Now, everyone will be looking ahead to the coming race in Portugal on May 2.
