Lewis Hamilton vs. Max Verstappen: Timeline of incidents, risks, mistakes in the 2021 Formula 1 season

A race to dominate them all.

The 2021 Formula 1 season is memorable: Young drivers like Lando Norris and George Russell are emerging as the platforms for the future of the circuit, the biggest calendar ever for a race close like every Sunday and Kimi Raikkonen, unfortunately, Still no drinks.

But before all the wonders this season has to offer, the belt war between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen has captured the attention of racing fans around the globe. Although this is not the first time the championship has been decided in the final race, it is likely to be the most intense race.

Heading into the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton and Verstappen are topping the drivers’ championship table, with rivals holding 369.5 points each, as they’ve been trading hay all season. . Of course, not literally, but they can also be.

The pair have provided F1 fans with a great entertainment experience throughout the season: Whether it’s Mercedes and Red Bull trying to strategize for each other or Hamilton and Verstappen colliding on the track, all neither is pretty – and sometimes it’s pretty dirty . But the race for the championship will end this Sunday in Abu Dhabi.

Here’s how the memorable fight between Lewis and Max played out:

Lewis Hamilton vs Max Verstappen 2021

May 9: Spain. At Barcelona, ​​Mercedes turned a one-stop race into a two-stop race, and the strategy worked: Hamilton overtook Verstappen with just six laps in the race and won.

May 23: Monaco. After taking pole position, Charles Leclerc was unable to start the race, resulting in Verstappen starting at pole. He will win in Montecarlo, and it will prove to be a big win: For the first time in his young career, Max Verstappen holds the lead in the Formula 1 championship.

June 20: France. The turning point was fairplay: On the second to last lap in the GP, Hamilton’s tire wear proved too much for a charging Max Verstappen, who overtook Hamilton and won the 2021 French GP championship. Strategy the same thing that destroyed Red Bull at the Spanish Grand Prix, and it suits them against Mercedes now.

July 18: UK. The match that really sparked the movie: Hamilton and Verstappen collided in Round 1 of the 2021 British Grand Prix, Verstappen hit a wall at the Copse corner at 180 mph, with an impact up to 51G incredible.

There is some question as to whether Hamilton initiated the contact: What is certain, however, is that the managers felt Hamilton was slightly at fault in the collision and assessed him a 10-second penalty. Hamilton will still win the British GP, even with a penalty.

Neither Verstappen nor Red Bull director Christian Horner were pleased with Hamilton’s post-race celebration, as Verstappen had to be hospitalized to take precautions. That was just the beginning of the bloodshed between the parties.

“Max got into a 51G accident,” Horner said after the race. “Lewis Hamilton is an eight-time world champion. He shouldn’t be doing moves like that. It’s unacceptable.

September 12: Italy. Sorry boss. You cannot park here.

In the second major, dramatic crash of the 2021 season, Verstappen and Hamilton collided, with Verstappen’s Red Bull nearly landing on top of Hamilton in Monza.

Race managers consider Verstappen at fault for the collision and rate him a three-place grid penalty for next week’s race in Sochi. Hamilton passed with only a stiff neck – but the competition was stiffer for the title.

October 24: USA. In Free Practice 2 before the United States GP, things turned to the test between Hamilton and Verstappen again: This time, Hamilton and Verstappen took the wheel in Texas, and Verstappen called Hamilton a “stupid idiot” over the radio. team bar.

Verstappen will win the USGP and extend his F1 championship lead.

November 14: Brazil. After the 10th start, Hamilton started and challenged Verstappen to finish first in round 48 of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Verstappen, defending against Hamilton, pushed him off the track, while the Red Bull driver followed him. The managers deemed no investigation necessary, and Hamilton then overcame Verstappen to win.

December 5th: Saudi Arabic. The first Saudia Arabian GP made a lasting impression.

The track itself shows speed, danger and drama, and there was a lot of that over the weekend, starting with qualifying: Verstappen, looking to push Hamilton from pole into the penultimate race of F1 2021 season, has incorporated the dazzling fly-round – until the final turn, when he ends up in the wall.

Mercedes will complete the front-door lockout in Jeddah, and Hamilton will win, but not without more drama: Hamilton and Verstappen collide again as Verstappen is instructed to yield his spot to Hamilton. Hamilton didn’t seem clear with the directive, while Hamilton simply touched Verstappen and caused damage to his wing.

(Editor’s note: NSFW language.)

The guards argued that Verstappen’s actions warranted a 10th penalty: It was nothing, because Verstappen came in second and Hamilton first.

After the race, Verstappen did not take part in the usual podium celebrations, instead leaving his Mercedes teammates to celebrate alone.

The race result led to a stalemate at the top of the drivers’ championship table: 369.5 to 369.5.

Lewis Hamilton stats vs. Max Verstappen

Not only are the two equal in points entering the final race of the 2021 season, but the numbers that have led them to this point are eerily similar.

In the rare event that both DNF drivers this Sunday, the championship will go to Verstappen, as he owns another victory over Hamilton in 2021.

Here’s how their head-to-head numbers break down: