The final race of the 2021 Formula One World Championship is upon us. Nobody could have scripted the current situation going into the last leg in Abu Dhabi at the start of the season. Many have their hearts set on the incumbent champion while others hope that Max Verstappen can dethrone Lewis Hamilton as the best F1 driver on the globe.
If last weekend’s race is anything to go by, the final instalment of the 2021 World Championship will bring with it yet another twist. The tactics displayed in Qatar have divided both camps to greater extent and have only served to polarize the top two drivers even further going into the last of 23 races.
Equal on points
After an eye-watering edition of the annual Qatar F1 race, Lewis Hamilton has managed to reduce his deficit to 0. With victory and a point for fastest lap going to Hamilton, both drivers find themselves equal on points – 369.5 each. It’s a glorious happenstance for neutral fans the world over. There’s not a hair that separates these two and it all comes down to who can hold their nerve over the final 55 laps of the season.
Of late, Mercedes and Hamilton seem to have the upper hand. They’ve managed to win the last two races and have implemented the right tactics at the right time. The team behind Hamilton have been here many times before and they’ll be looking to provide him with the impetus required to take the checkered flag one more time.
Max Verstappen will be looking to better his third-place championship place in 2019 and 2020 by being crowned the 2021 champion. He is yet to win a championship and at the age of 24, certainly has a lot of gas left in the tank. There is no doubt that he will become the man to beat in future years. But, a last-gasp win against Hamilton will taste extremely sweet to the young Belgian driver.
Does Hamilton unseat Schumacher as the best ever?
There has been much debate in recent years as to which Formula One driver is the best in history. Fans of the early 2000s will be quick to point out that this particular title is reserved for the one, and only, Michael Schumacher. Many current drivers have openly exclaimed that the German will always be seen as the best in the business. However, a new era of British fans may oppose this statement vehemently. If Lewis Hamilton can hold off Verstappen on Sunday, he’ll have as much claim to this title. A record-breaking eighth driver’s championship beckons. It’ll be a historic moment, not only for Briton, but for those drivers looking to break into a sport that has long suffered from a lack of diversity.
There is little that separates Hamilton and Verstappen. One could point to the former’s experience as a key ingredient that may be the deciding factor. However, the young and exuberant Verstappen has proven on many occasions that he is able to handle the pressure that comes with competing at this elite level.
One last showdown
The 2021 F1 season has been exhilarating from start to finish. There is no love lost between the top two drivers – as has been evident over the course of the year. We’ll be hoping for a clean race without major confrontation. We’re sure that both will be looking to do the talking out on the track. Be sure to tune in at 8am ET to catch what will be a momentous race for the ages.
