Hamilton vs. Verstappen - a rivalry unlike any other
JEDDAH – The 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix which took place at newly inaugurated Jeddah Street Circuit saw the two title rivals Sir Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) collided each other once again, in the race that sees Hamilton winning the race and keeps the British driver's title hopes for his eighth world title still alive at the season finale in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit.
The Jeddah clash between these two is not the first time we see this season. Both Hamilton and Verstappen dueled each other for the win since the season-opener in Bahrain GP at Sakhir. More controversially was in British GP at Silverstone, where Hamilton won the race after collided with Verstappen in the opening lap of that race. New engine changes, gearboxes and tires are the key factor of those two rivals to win any race of a season.
- The final showdown
For the first time since 2016, the FIA Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship title will be decided in the season finale in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit. The title decider had been previously occured in Abu Dhabi: first in 2010, when Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) defeated Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) to capture his first of four world titles; then in 2014, when Hamilton beat his teammate Nico Rosberg for his 2nd of seven/eight world title; and lastly in 2016, when Rosberg defeated Hamilton by five points.
The title deciding dramas in the final race of the season are not only happened in Abu Dhabi, but over the past 71 years it also took place like in Brazil, Australia, Japan and Spain. In Brazil at Interlagos circuit for example, it happened several times: in 2007, Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) won the title by one point over both McLaren drivers Alonso and rookie Hamilton; in 2008, Felipe Massa (Ferrari) has the world title in his hands after winning the race, however 30 seconds later, Hamilton overtook both Timo Glock (Toyota) and Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso) on the final corner to clinch his first world title by one point.
In the dramatic 1994's season finale in Australia, Michael Schumacher (Bennetton) leads Damon Hill (Williams) by one point prior to the start of the race. However, the two collided and crashed each other out of the race on lap 35 with Schumacher bumped into Hill to the barrier, leaving the German driver winning the title by one point over the British driver. Similar to what Hamilton and Verstappen did in 2021, both Schumacher and Hill exchanged/swapped race wins each other throughout 1994, the year which marred with the tragic death of Ayrton Senna.
Heading into the final race of 1997 season at Jerez, Spain, Schumacher (Ferrari) led Williams driver Jacques Villeneuve by one point, with the Canadian driver starting on pole after setting up the identical pole lap with Schumacher. Started behind Villeneuve, Schumacher pressured the Canadian throughout the entire race, however on lap 48, Schumacher hitted Villeneuve at sector 2. Villeneuve went on to rejoin the race with the damage suspension, while Schumacher instantly being summoned to race direction for investigating the incident. Villeneuve finished third to clinch his title, and dedicated his title to late father Gilles. Schumacher was later disqualified from the championship for causing a collision with Villeneuve. Villeneuve's teammate Heinz Harald Frentzen became the season's runner-up following Schumacher's disqualification.
In another dramatic season finale in 1976 Japanese GP, Niki Lauda leads arch-rival James Hunt by three points heading to the final race at Fuji Speedway. Under the rain-soaked track, Lauda found himself uncomfortable racing in that treacherous track conditions, and decided to withdrew from the race on lap 10. Mario Andretti won the race with Hunt finished third and clinched the title despite having punctured tires on the halfway stage of the race.
Will it be happen again in Abu Dhabi on December 12, 2021? Only history will tell.....
