After years of tough competition, Formula 1 fans are finally enjoying a gigantic title fight between defending champion Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. So far there has been no shortage of topics of conversation or controversy, with the two protagonists of the championship having competed against each other more than once.
As we are heading for another weekend without Formula 1 races, it is a good time to relive some of the defining moments of the 2021 season so far.
Hamilton fends off Verstappen in Bahrain
Red Bull were the favorites from the start as they dominated the pre-season tests, with Verstappen even securing the fastest lap. The 23-year-old managed the predictions correctly in all training sessions and took pole position ahead of Hamilton.
But the Brit drove a great race when he undercut the Dutchman after the first pit stop. When Verstappen came to his second stop, 10 laps to Hamilton, there was an exciting finale in which the Red Bull ace quickly came closer.
On lap 53, Verstappen tried to bypass the outside of the Mercedes driver at Turn 4, but got off the track to pull the train through. Not wanting to risk a penalty for cutting the track, he gave up the position and Hamilton held on for the win.
Mercedes gets its strategy place in Spain
Mercedes caught Red Bull napping with a clever strategy call to claim victory in Barcelona. After getting his elbows out and overtaking Hamilton on the first lap, Verstappen led for most of the race. Red Bull opted for a single pit stop while Mercedes pursued a two-stop strategy.
Hamilton made his second pit stop on lap 43 and 16 laps later he overtook the Dutchman and took the lead. It was a similar strategy to his team’s at the 2019 Hungarian Grand Prix, where he overtook Verstappen in the closing stages.
Mercedes overtook Red Bull in Barcelona.
Hamilton cannot benefit from Verstappen’s Baku disaster
Tire problems highlighted this year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix when both Verstappen and Lance Stroll crashed on the start-finish straight due to high-speed blowouts. Until then, the Red Bulls were in first and second place, and it seemed that an easy win was in sight for Verstappen. But his accident five laps before the end brought the red flag.
Bull made a brilliant comeback at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Hamilton and Verstappen jumble at Silverstone
The rivalry between the two title contenders, which had been simmering until then, reached its boiling point at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone. In the duel for the lead, Hamilton made contact with Verstappen when the two went into the fast Copse corner and let him be thrown out of the race.
Experts and fans alike were divided, with some saying it was a racing incident and others blaming Hamilton.
Edited by Sandeep Banerjee
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