FILE PHOTO: Components One F1 – Qatar Grand Prix – Losail Worldwide Circuit, Lusail, Qatar – November 21, 2021 Purple Bull’s Max Verstappen throughout the press convention after the race FIA/Handout through REUTERS
Max Verstappen could have his first shot at clinching the Components One title in Saudi Arabia in two weeks’ time however Purple Bull’s championship chief might additionally see his benefit disappear totally.
The 2021 title battle stays too near name, with Mercedes’ seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton closing the hole to eight factors with one other dominant win in Qatar on Sunday.
With two races remaining, the prospect of a winner-takes-all shootout within the last spherical at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina may be very a lot alive.
For Verstappen to clinch the title on the inaugural Saudi Grand Prix in Jeddah on Dec. 5, he should end a minimum of second.
But when Hamilton wins that race with a bonus level for quickest lap, and Verstappen is second, the pair will depart stage on factors and the Purple Bull driver forward 9-8 on race wins.
In that state of affairs, the title shall be received by whoever finishes forward of the opposite within the last race, except they take one another out.
Ought to Hamilton win in Jeddah and Verstappen end decrease than second, it will likely be the Mercedes driver main into the ultimate race.
Different present title permutations all contain Verstappen ending second in Jeddah, with or with out quickest lap, however Hamilton failing to win.
A retirement for the Briton would nonetheless require Verstappen to attain 18 factors, a second place, to finish the competition.
If Hamilton is tenth, Verstappen would should be second with quickest lap.
Ought to Verstappen win, with quickest lap, it will likely be throughout if Hamilton isn’t any greater than sixth. With out quickest lap, Hamilton must be seventh or decrease.
There have been loads of ups and downs on this rollercoaster season, however essentially the most possible end result — primarily based on kind up to now — is for the title race to go all the way down to the wire.
Hamilton has failed to attain in two of the 20 races to date, Azerbaijan and Italy, however Verstappen drew a clean in each as effectively — in Italy after they collided.
Verstappen has completed second seven occasions, with Hamilton the winner on six of these events.
The exception was Turkey, the place Verstappen was second and Hamilton fifth.
In Monaco, Verstappen received with Hamilton seventh however the Briton made positive of quickest lap. On the 2 events the place Verstappen has received with quickest lap, Hamilton completed second and fourth.
“It’s going to be a good battle to the top,” stated Verstappen, second on Sunday.
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