There are still two Grand Prix to go this season and never, at least for a very long time, has the suspense to designate the best driver in the world been so intense.
Who will the Dutchman Max Verstappen or the Englishman Lewis Hamilton be crowned?
Very smart who can already say it.
Before the penultimate grand prix of the season in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Red Bull driver (351.5 pts) is 8 points ahead of Mercedes (343.5) who dreams of an eighth world title , which will be a record.
Eight points is very little.
One turn from pole!
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Max Verstappen ends up against the wall and it is finally Lewis Hamilton who will be in the first row!
With such thrilling qualifiers, we can't wait to be tomorrow, we'll have to brush against the walls!
đ #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/fmOhZwoiq8
- CANAL + F1Âź (@ CanalplusF1) December 4, 2021
Max Verstappen can be crowned world champion this Sunday after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. But it would take a big combination of circumstances and above all a hell of a poor performance from the seven-time world champion. If after the first Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in history, Verstappen is 26 ahead of rival Mercedes, he cannot be joined next week in Abu Dhabi. He must therefore take 18 points in this single race from his rival. It is possible, yes and here is how.
Max Verstappen must win, sign the best lap with the bonus that goes with it without Hamilton finishing in the top five.
If he wins without the one-point best lap bonus, Hamilton will have to finish sixth.
If he finishes further and the Dutchman wins, that will obviously be good too.
If both drivers finish on the podium as is often the case, the title will be played in a week.
A difficult urban circuit
What if the Dutchman doesn't win? It may be sacred but it gets complicated. If he's second with the fastest lap and Hamilton doesn't finish in the top nine, it's in the pocket. Ditto without the best lap if the Englishman does not score a point, which rarely happens. To put it simply, if he doesn't win, Verstappen must hope that the Briton doesn't finish. It is possible, especially on a city circuit surrounded by walls, but unlikely.
First interesting lesson: this Saturday after qualifying, Lewis Hamilton (won pole position in front of his Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottasi. Verstappen was in the fight until he hit a safety barrier at the very end of his last lap. Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Mexican Sergio PĂ©rez (Red Bull-Honda) complete the Top 5 of qualifying. Frenchman Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), Briton Lando Norris (McLaren), Japanese Yuki Tsunoda ( AlphaTauri), Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and Italian Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) close the Top 10.
Only 2 GPs left before the end of the season.
And the title could already be played this weekend đ
Our
#SaudiArabianGP
program đžđŠ # RDVauDernierVirage pic.twitter.com/CEoyEuxzHk
- CANAL + F1Âź (@ CanalplusF1) December 3, 2021
What if Hamilton wins this Saudi Arabian Grand Prix?
A victory with the fastest lap would see the Briton from Mercedes equalize in the standings if Verstappen was 2nd or take the lead if the Red Bull driver did less well.
On the contrary, a victory with the fastest lap would allow the Briton from Mercedes to equalize in the standings if Verstappen was 2nd or to take the lead if the Red Bull driver did less well.
The start of the first Saudi Arabian GP will be given at night on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. local (6.30 p.m. French), still live on Canal +.