09/13/2021 17:09
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 09/13/2021 17:09
The fight between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen for the Formula 1 world title was gaining drama with the passing of the dates this season.
What began in March in Bahrain as a "friendly" fight turned into an increasingly intense showdown.
And after what happened on Sunday at the Monza circuit, the battle between the English and the Dutch became red hot.
In the Italian Grand Prix, the two great protagonists of the championship - led by
Red Bull
, with just five points more than
Mercedes
- were involved in an accident that left both out of competition and generated a controversy that many already qualify as one of the "largest in the history of the category".
On lap 26, Hamilton was leading the test and Verstappen tried to overtake him from the inside around the corner, while the seven-time world champion tried to defend his position. When the two made contact, the Dutchman's car - which was later sanctioned by the stewards for considering him responsible - rose and passed over the British, protected by the unsightly but effective halo. Fortunately, none were injured; but the crash unleashed war, which invites us to predict a championship closing with more verbal crossings and more incidents on the track.
"It is clear that both could have prevented it, but I think the crash was another consequence of two drivers facing each other and not wanting to give one iota. I am interested to see what impact this has on their current title fight. We already saw it. that happened in Silverstone, that it was an important and controversial incident ", analyzed
Ross Brawn
, sports chief of Formula 1.
The British engineer made reference to the crash that occurred at the British Grand Prix on the tenth date, in which the Englishman, in a hurry to steal first place from his rival at the start, pushed too hard and at the ninth turn he played hard. behind the Dutchman's car, which ended up hitting the wall sideways, totally destroyed. The Red Bull man was able to get out of the car on his own, but was shocked, and could no longer return to the track. Meanwhile, the Mercedes ended up winning the race, despite receiving a ten-second penalty.
After the darts of the following days - Verstappen complained to Hamilton for his lack of empathy, for having celebrated the victory as if nothing had happened while he was in the hospital - the pilots signed their peace.
But after the new incident in Monza, some claimed that that crossing at Silverstone had been just the first spark of the fight that intensified into an Italian dream and that will animate the rest of the championship.
"I would not say that the dynamic between them has changed. It's just that at that moment you have two roosters in the pen and we are seeing the consequence of it. I don't think either of them will back down for the rest of the year, but I hope that the championship is won on the track and not on the barriers or in the stewards' rooms, "Brawn said.
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A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton)
Toto Wolff
, executive director of Mercedes, described the fight between his driver and
Mad Max
for the first place of the championship as "fierce and intense" and assured that the two drivers "must find a way to compete with each other" to avoid having eight incidents. in the last eight races of the year.
"We don't want to see situations in the future where one loses position and the only way to stop the race or prevent the other from scoring is to simply take him out of competition. The two of them have to give each other space, fight hard. , but avoid accidents. Because until now it was a lot of fun, but at Monza we saw a halo save Lewis's life and at Silverstone, Max was hit very hard. How far can we go? We don't want to end up in a situation where there is to intervene when someone is really hurt, "reflected the Austrian.
Cristian Horner
, executive director of Red Bull, also predicted that in the next few dates there could be another clash between Hamilton and Verstappen.
"They are competitive animals and they are fighting hard for this championship. It is a great rivalry, intense, very fair. There is still a long way to go in the championship and I am sure there will be ups and downs before reaching Abu Dhabi (where the last race will be run, December 12) But I think ultimately there is great respect for each other, "said the Briton.
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A post shared by Max Verstappen (@ maxverstappen1)
Former Italian driver
Paul Di Resta
, who raced in the premier class for
Force India
between 2011 and 2013 and today works as a commentator for the
Sky Sports
network
, assured that the season finale will be "wheel to wheel".
"So did Senna and Prost and all the greats who ever fought for a championship. And I think Silverstone changed the way Hamilton and Verstappen were going to race and race: two very talented guys who want to do whatever they can. They are going to be face to face until the end and it is very good, because this is the championship that we have been waiting for a long time. But I hope they respect each other, because there are many great things to come, "said Di Resta.
"This will be just the beginning. We are going to have a few more bumps and setbacks along the way," said Britain's
Damon Hill
, champion with Williams in 1996 and starring alongside Michael Schumacher in one of the most controversial crashes in the history of the league. Formula 1, in the 1994 Australian Grand Prix, which ended with the German's first consecration in the category.
And he closed: "It is inevitable, and these are two guys who are not going to compromise, they are not going to give an inch to each other."
pic.twitter.com/2akK7foinp
- VideosF1 (@ VideosF12) September 12, 2021
There are eight dates ahead and Verstappen leads the standings with 226.5 points, against 221.5 for Hamilton, who is second.
The next race will be held on September 26 in Sochi, for which Verstappen was suspended with three positions on the starting grid due to the crash at Monza.
The one from Red Bull will then have to be aggressive to prevent the one from Mercedes from taking the opportunity to narrow the gap or, why not, regain first place.
Grand Prix of many emotions, drama and tension are coming.
Neither Hamilton nor Verstappen seem willing to take their foot off the gas and the possibility of more crashes and more controversies continues to spin in the air of Formula 1, with the fight for the title red hot.
Look also
Formula 1 hero halo: saved Hamilton's head from being crushed by Verstappen's car
Formula 1: the FIA blamed and sanctioned Verstappen for the crash with Hamilton at the Italian GP