In three weeks in Abu Dhabi, we will know the name of the great winner of the F1 World Championship, a competition that had not thrilled us so much for a while.
This track drama never ceases to keep us going, as, weekend after weekend, Lewis Hamilton (36) and Max Verstappen (24) engage in a terribly bitter duel.
Outpaced by 14 points by the Dutch at the start on the Arabian Peninsula, the Briton is definitely back to business.
The Mercedes driver, who had confirmed his regain of form by signing an impressive pole on Saturday, concluded this decisive weekend by offering himself the Grand Prix of Qatar, on Sunday, in front of the prodigy Red Bull and Fernando Alonso (Alpine), l 'Spanish author of his 98th career podium.
At the best of times, Hamilton returned to 8 points behind his best enemy, leader without margins of the Drivers' World Championship.
And this at two Grands Prix before the end of the season.
BREAKING: @LewisHamilton wins in Qatar!
He beats Max Verstappen (P2) and reduces Verstappen's championship lead to eight points with two races to go! #QatarGP 🇶🇦 # F1 pic.twitter.com/MFi2rtjiH6
- Formula 1 (@ F1) November 21, 2021
Penalized before the start, Verstappen quickly got back into the game
Pushed back to seventh place, an hour and a half before the start, sanctioned with five penalty places on the grid for failing to respect two yellow flags during qualifying, the Batavian (at) the wheel had caught up again in the fifth lap.
And offered to the followers of this bitter duel a new breathtaking episode, flanked in the rearview mirror of Hamilton.
Despite his efforts and no guilty error, Verstappen was held in check by the seven-time world champion on the Lusail circuit, who in the process validates his 102nd career success.
#QatarGP 🇶🇦
🗨️ "There's no one between Hamilton and Verstappen!"
▶ ️ https://t.co/7plkVVV12v pic.twitter.com/3cUu0UA0Tq
- CANAL + F1® (@ CanalplusF1) November 21, 2021
For Verstappen, it will be necessary to fight again to hope to offer his very first title of champion, a crown which is not yet ready to give up his elder of 12 years, focus on his target: an eighth world title of the pilots, a record .
To our great pleasure, the war will therefore continue between the two ogres of the circuit who, together, have won 16 of the first 21 Grand Prix of the season by monopolizing the first two places on 12 occasions.
Next and penultimate act of this Homeric clash, on December 5 during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
We are already looking forward to it.