Hamilton untouchable, total suspense in the title race
Lewis Hamilton signed a fairly quiet victory this Sunday at the first Qatar Grand Prix in history. Starting from pole position, the Briton has overtaken Max Verstappen and is getting closer to his Dutch rival in the world championship standings. Fernando Alonso returns to the podium after seven years of waiting.
A week after his crazy comeback at Interlagos on the Brazilian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton won again this Sunday in Qatar. Unlike the Brazilian race, the Briton had a relatively quiet day during the first event in history contested in the Gulf country.
Starting from pole position and rid of Max Verstappen, penalized by five places on the grid, the Mercedes driver was not worried and easily won ahead of his Dutch rival and an excellent Fernando Alonso.
Despite the big start of the Dutchman, who climbed from seventh to third place in one lap, Lewis Hamilton took advantage of Pierre Gasly’s failure to take the lead. Second on the grid, the Frenchman from the Alpha Tauri team had a difficult race and was content with a sad eleventh place at the finish. Despite some uncertainties regarding the condition of his tires during the GP, Lewis Hamilton won fairly quietly on the Lusail circuit.
“It was a pretty straightforward race at the end and it was a great job from the team because we really needed the points today,” said Lewis Hamilton after his victory. is a great feeling and it prepares us well for the last two races. «
Hamilton grapples on Verstappen
Obviously, confidence has changed sides if one relies on the calm and relaxed attitude of Lewis Hamilton. Firmly installed at the head of the world championship before the start of the Brazilian GP last weekend, Max Verstappen has just seen his rival string together two victories and sign a big rapprochement in the general classification of the world championship.
At the end of this GP of Qatar where he limited the damage with his second place and the bonus point awarded to the author of the best lap, the Red Bull driver remains at the top of the World Championship with eight points over Lewis Hamilton (351 , 4 pts against 343.4 pts).
Alonso and Ocon in the top 5
And if beyond the fight between Hamilton and Verstappen, this 2021 Formula 1 season offered other great stories like this Sunday in Qatar with Fernando Alonso. Esteban Ocon’s model teammate since the start of the season, the Spaniard had a superb race on the Lusail track. Starting in second row, the Spaniard from the Alpine team held on and landed a magnificent place on the podium. Seven years after his last podium in F1, a second place in Hungary in 2014, Fernando Alonso ignited this GP of Qatar and beat Sergio Perez and the French Esteban Ocon. It was enough to see the joy of the 40-year-old Iberian and all the fans present in this race to understand the importance of this podium.
« It’s been seven years but finally we got there! I’m so happy for the team, exulted Fernando Alonso. The team was excellent and the reliability of the car is excellent at the moment. I’ve been waiting for this for so long. and I am so happy! «
This Sunday, the GP at Lusail gave rise to a great race. Gianni Infantino and football legends David Bekcham, Andrea Pirlo and Marcel Desailly will have appreciated. Just one year from the start of the Football World Cup, Qatar made a lasting impression thanks to Formula 1.
The next two races in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates promise to be spectacular with this fantastic battle for the world title. An eighth coronation for Hamilton or the first for Verstappen? The suspense remains intact before the season finale.
