On Sunday the Grand Prix will award the 2021 championship: track leadership as well as the title is at stake
FROM THE ENCOUNTER TO ABU DHABI. The countdown continues towards the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which will award the 2021 Formula 1 championship to Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton. At the appointment on Sunday 12 December, the two arrive distilling drops of poison. Not only the title is at stake, but the leadership on the track that Hamilton has held since 2017. But why do the two hate each other? When did the rivalry turn into a fight?
The challenge for the title
Waiting for Ferrari and in particular Charles Leclerc, Hamilton identified Verstappen as his natural heir. As long as the Dutch driver was contending for some victory, even on the verge of irregularity, Lewis took it with a smile. Now that every race, indeed every point is very heavy, the result could become a handover, which Hamilton does not accept.
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The generational clash
Verstappen is 24, Hamilton 36. Sooner or later there will be a natural, inevitable handover. The two contenders belong to different generations and have a particular background. Max is the son of a pilot and has undergone a severe upbringing which has made him cold and ruthless. Lewis grew up in a poor family and suffered from racism that made him a champion of social battles against discrimination.
The accidents
After the clashes at Silverstone and Monza, the conflict takes a path of no return. In England Verstappen ends up in hospital (for checks) while Hamilton rejoices (and is held responsible). In Monza, Max flies dangerously in Lewis’s car and leaves the accident area regardless of his rival’s condition. The blame will fall on the Red Bull driver. The two will cover these episodes.
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The Gp of Arabia
Hamilton wins at the end of an insane race and reaches Verstappen at the top of the standings. Some episodes leave their mark: Verstappen is penalized for forcing the Mercedes driver to go off the track. In relinquishing the position, he brakes on a straight line causing a rear-end collision. From the FIA, despite the danger and senselessness of the maneuver, only a formal sanction arrives.
The post-race controversy
As expected, the exchange of accusations continues with the engines off. When the spotlight goes out in Jeddah, the war resumes. Hamilton: «There are top riders who go beyond the limit. It is as if there were no rules, at least for them ». Verstappen: «Penalties count more than races, this is not Formula 1». Final in Abu Dhabi at 2pm on Sunday. Whoever scores at least one point more wins. If neither of them scores points, the title will be awarded to Verstappen because he has won more races.
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