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Sainz Believes Lack of Competition Made Lewis Hamilton Vulnerable Against Verstappen in Bahrain

Published 04/13/2021, 5:43 AM EDT

Lewis Hamilton yet again started off an F1 season with a bang, as he secured an incredible race win at the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend. One might wonder what’s so special about Hamilton winning a race considering it has become a routine in recent years.

However, a silver lining to this race win is the fact that he was not the fastest driver out there. Instead, it was the Red Bull of Max Verstappen, who looked the likely driver to win the race right until the checkered flag was waved.

Ultimately, it wasn’t the dominant Mercedes car that saved Hamilton, as his race-craft and defensive tactics played a much bigger role in this victory.

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So, does this prove that Hamilton is one of the best racing drivers in the history of F1? Well, the recently recruited Ferrari driver, Carlos Sainz, thinks so.

What did Sainz say?

Speaking to Corriere, the Spaniard opined that Hamilton has all the qualities a racing driver would dream to possess.

“He has all the qualities a driver would like to have. He has no weaknesses, I can see him on the track,” the ex-McLaren driver said.

Prior to the rising battle with Max, Hamilton has had many interesting battles in the past. First with his own teammate, Nico Rosberg, who managed to oust the Briton after a three-year wait, which took a massive toll on the team.

The second was with his long-time rival, Sebastian Vettel. The German came close a lot of times, but couldn’t go all the way, as Hamilton’s consistency was too fierce to handle for the ex-Ferrari driver.

Lewis Hamilton would be among the best: Sainz

Sainz acknowledged that Hamilton has been lacking pressure from other teams over the past few years. However, he claimed that Hamilton would lead the way even on a level playing field.

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“Maybe he missed the competition in a few seasons. He had to beat one or two opponents at the most. But if we all got into the same car, Lewis would be among the best. Almost certainly the best,” he said.

The 2021 F1 season has witnessed just one race so far, and the rivalry seems to have already ignited between Hamilton and Verstappen. And amid the approaching race weekend in Imola, expectations are soaring high over the Dutchman’s potential on-track fight with Hamilton.

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Hence, after what has been a rather dull competition-lacking period at the top field, will this season manage to produce the much-needed excitement for the fans?

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Written by:

Rohit Kumar is an F1 author at EssentiallySports. He has been an ardent follower of the racing series since 2007, with his love for the sport coinciding with his love for Kimi Raikkonen. He is also an ardent follower of Sebastian Vettel and Aston Martin Racing.

Sainz Believes Lack of Competition Made Lewis Hamilton Vulnerable Against Verstappen in Bahrain

What did Sainz say?

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Lewis Hamilton would be among the best: Sainz