Method One F1- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – December 5, 2021 Basic view at the beginning of the race REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
The possibly title-deciding Saudi Arabian Method One Grand Prix was stopped twice within the first 16 laps on Sunday earlier than Purple Bull’s championship frontrunner Max Verstappen took the lead with title rival Lewis Hamilton shut behind.
The purple flags got here out on lap 15 after a five-lap security automobile interval triggered by Mick Schumacher crashing his Haas into the limitations on Jeddah’s super-fast and unforgiving Corniche avenue circuit.
That first stoppage appeared to play into the fingers of Verstappen, who had stayed out whereas seven-times champion Hamilton pitted for recent tyres from first after beginning on pole place.
Two restarts with two very totally different dramatic outcomes 💥#SaudiArabianGP 🇸🇦 #F1 pic.twitter.com/U58wV9AK6e
— Method 1 (@F1) December 5, 2021
“Why is it a purple flag?” Hamilton requested over the workforce radio. “The tire wall appears to be like effective… It’s unbelievable, man.”
With automobiles returning to the pits, Verstappen’s Purple Bull workforce have been in a position to change his tyres with out the necessity for an additional cease through the race.
That benefit disappeared, nevertheless, when the re-run standing begin additionally introduced out extra purple flags and Verstappen fell foul of the stewards.
Hamilton made the higher getaway however Verstappen went off observe to maintain the lead, with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon forcing his well beyond Hamilton into second place.
“I needed to keep away from a collision there,” exclaimed Hamilton. “He minimize throughout the entire kerb. He simply overtook me outdoors the white line.”
The race was halted when Haas’s Russian rookie Nikita Mazepin and Williams’ George Russell collided at the beginning whereas Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez spun and was hit by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Particles was strewn throughout the observe, bordered by concrete partitions and little in the way in which of runoff.
In a unprecedented sequence of radio exchanges, race director Michael Masi then provided Purple Bull the “alternative” to line up on the grid for the third standing begin behind Hamilton, with Ocon within the lead.
“You’d be again behind Lewis,” mentioned the Australian. “That’s my supply.”
“We settle for that,” got here the reply from Purple Bull’s workforce supervisor Jonathan Wheatley.
Verstappen then seized the lead.
The Dutch driver leads Hamilton by eight factors with just one race remaining after Sunday. The teenager shall be champion if he scores 18 factors greater than the Briton.
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