Max Verstappen seemed to have a firm grip on the 2021 Formula 1 drivers’ championship ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil a few weeks ago. Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes GP had different ideas and fought their way back into the race from a 19-point deficit to be level in the final race of the season.
The momentum may be on Hamilton’s side, but Max Verstappen won’t go down without a fight. The Dutch superstar can win his first world title and wants to prove that he is the best driver in the field. Few riders are as fast and aggressive as Verstappen, but speed alone may not be the path to success. Before a championship shooting, here are three crucial factors for Max Verstappen to win his first championship.
Curb aggression with tactical patience
Max Verstappen from the Netherlands in the (33) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda and Lewis Hamilton from Great Britain in the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes W12 will fight for the track position 05, 2021 | in the restart at the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia in December Mark Thompson / Getty Images
If a single word could define max Verstappen, it could be “aggressive”. Since joining the sport in 2015, Verstappen has made a name for himself with an aggressive driving style. At the beginning of his career this often meant he would either win the race or fall, but as he matured as a driver, that aggression made him one of the toughest contenders on the grid.
If Verstappen is to beat Lewis Hamilton in the 2021 championship, he’ll have to curb that aggression with a calculated approach to wheel-to-wheel racing with the seven-time champion. This by and large goes against his usual racing style, but he cannot afford to be overly aggressive in his approach, which could lead to a DNF.
There is good reason to believe that he will face several challenges in the role of Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen will want to defend, but he has to do so in such a way that he avoids contact, does not drive both cars off the track and avoids penalties. Fernando Alonso is the master at defending a position with a faster car and Verstappen only needs to look at the footage of Alonso’s defense against Hamilton in Hungary to know exactly what to do.
Contact and penalties are the defining characteristics of the 2021 Formula 1 season. Both Verstappen and Hamilton have been guilty of questionable racing moves that have resulted in contact, damage and DNFs. Verstappen needs to be careful not to get fined for driving violations as it complicates his job of defeating Hamilton.
Verstappen’s aggressive driving style often makes touches and penalties inevitable, but the Dutch ace won’t want to win the championship under a cloud of controversy. That could mean a more measured and tactical approach in Abu Dhabi.
He will have the full strength of Red Bull Racing’s excellent strategy and pit crew, but an avoidable penalty can undo even the best pit stop and strategy call. Look for Verstappen to maintain his aggression, but be a little more tactical in his race to avoid contact and punishment.
Turn up the volume to 11
Runner-up Max Verstappen from the Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium at the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on December 5, 2021 | Lars Baron / Getty Images
One of Max Verstappen’s greatest strengths is his speed. He could be the fastest driver in Formula 1 and he has to prove that in Abu Dhabi. In the last three races, Sao Paulo, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have enjoyed a performance lead. Verstappen did well to keep up with the pace of his rivals, but he has to turn up the volume on the Red Bull Racing F1 car to 11 to win.
Few things are as demoralizing to a racing driver as chasing someone on a track you can’t keep up with. That is Verstappen’s strength. If he can light the afterburners in practice, qualifying and the race, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes may have to step outside their comfort zones. Hamilton has to keep up with the Red Bull’s pace so that Verstappen doesn’t come too far forward. When the pace of the race is fast there are more ways to force a mistake or create a situation where the Mercedes breaks.
Lewis Hamilton isn’t lazy, but Verstappen has the talent and skills to make the race 100%. If he can control the pace of the race and build a lead on Hamilton, the advantage shifts to Red Bull. With a deficit on Hamilton, leading the race would allow Verstappen and his team to dictate race strategy and Mercedes to respond to force. The Red Bull was also more tire-friendly than the Mercedes this year, which could give Verstappen everything he needs to win the championship.
Max Verstappen is going into the last race of the season with a chance for the world championship title. He has the speed and skill to take victory but needs to curb his aggression, avoid penalties and get Lewis Hamilton to step out of his comfort zone to be successful. The shoot-out for the title in Abu Dhabi will be one of the best endings of the season that Formula 1 has ever seen.
Similar: Lewis Hamilton’s victory in Saudi Arabia sends the championship fight into a shoot-out in Abu Dhabi. That’s what Lewis has to do to take home the title
The post Max Verstappen achieved points in Abu Dhabi with Lewis Hamilton. That’s what Max has to do to win his first world title first appeared on monter-une-startup.
