Components One F1 – Qatar Grand Prix – Losail Worldwide Circuit, Lusail, Qatar – November 21, 2021 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the rostrum after profitable the race REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/Pool
DOHA -Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton loved an easy Sunday drive to win the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix for Mercedes and trim Max Verstappen’s Components One result in eight factors with two races remaining.
Purple Bull’s Verstappen was second, after beginning seventh following a five-place grid drop for failing to respect warning flags in Saturday’s qualifying, however took a bonus level for quickest lap.
Again-to-back wins for @LewisHamilton as he takes victory in Qatar 👀🎧
And cuts Max Verstappen’s championship result in eight factors with two races left to go! 🏆#QatarGP 🇶🇦 #F1 pic.twitter.com/9xOMl0m2kx
— Components 1 (@F1) November 21, 2021
Double world champion Fernando Alonso was third for Renault-owned Alpine, the 40-year-old Spaniard’s first podium end since he was second within the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix with Ferrari.
“It was fairly easy, it was fairly lonely on the entrance,” mentioned Hamilton, who led from pole place and was by no means challenged over the 57 laps of the floodlit night time race that completed beneath digital security automotive circumstances.
“In fact, I get pleasure from these races the place you’re battling via however we wanted these factors at the moment, so I feel an actual strong job from the crew… Deliver on the following two.”
Combating discuss from @MercedesAMGF1 on the airwaves after @LewisHamilton received for the second Sunday in succession 🎧👊#QatarGP 🇶🇦 #F1 pic.twitter.com/KDv1ET0qyv
— Components 1 (@F1) November 21, 2021
The win was Hamilton’s seventh from 20 races this season, second in a row, and the record-extending 102nd of his profession additionally continued his robust pedigree at new circuits on the calendar.
The Briton took the chequered flag, waved by Qatar’s Olympic excessive leap champion Mutaz Barshim, a hefty 25.743 seconds forward of Verstappen.
Verstappen, who has 9 wins this yr, carried out one other strong piece of harm limitation as Purple Bull minimize Mercedes lead within the constructors’ standings from 11 to 5 factors.
“In fact, our beginning place was a bit compromised however fortunately we had a extremely good begin,” mentioned Verstappen, who was fourth by the top of the opening lap and as much as second after the fifth.
“I do know it’s going to be troublesome to the top however that retains it thrilling. It’s going to be a decent battle till the top.”
Saudi likelihood
The Dutch 24-year-old can nonetheless win the championship with a race to spare on the subsequent race in Saudi Arabia if Hamilton fails to attain.
Workforce boss Christian Horner must watch his language then after accumulating an official warning from stewards for referring to a “rogue marshal” in a heated response to Verstappen’s penalty.
Mexican Sergio Perez was fourth for Purple Bull with Frenchman Esteban Ocon fifth for Alpine in a race livened up by a spate of punctures late on amongst these making an attempt to make a single pitstop work.
They included Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas, who was the one driver nonetheless to pit when his entrance left deflated after 33 laps.
The Finn, who additionally had a three-place grid penalty, pitted from third place and returned in 14th with a brand new entrance wing and set of arduous tires. He was then informed to retire from twelfth with 10 laps to go.
Lance Stroll took sixth for Aston Martin, forward of the Ferrari pairing of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. Lando Norris completed ninth for McLaren and Sebastian Vettel tenth for Aston Martin.
Williams pair George Russell and Nicholas Latifi suffered late punctures, with the latter parking up beside the monitor and triggering the digital security automotive, rendering pointless a ultimate Verstappen cease for contemporary tires to make sure of quickest lap.
The grand prix was held on the day Qatar and world soccer physique FIFA marked one yr to go till the beginning of the 2022 soccer World Cup hosted by the Gulf state.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino introduced the World Cup trophy with him, exhibiting it off whereas FIA head Jean Todt held the F1 trophy alongside, at a race additionally attended by former England captain David Beckham.
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