Another new circuit, another victory for 7-time Formula One World Champion, Lewis Hamilton but it was damage limitation for Max Verstappen who took second spot and Fastest Lap, leaving the World Championship battle on tenterhooks. It was a fascinating Grand Prix under the lights on Qatar’s F1 debut, so here are 4 things we learned from the inaugural Qatar GP:
1. LEWIS HAMILTON & MAX VERSTAPPEN ARE IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
View this post on Instagram
The Championship battle is raging at the moment in Formula One and the two title contenders are operating on a level that no one else can match. Under the lights in Qatar, Lewis Hamilton raced away out front and had rapid pace all weekend long but Max Verstappen’s charge from 7th to 2nd on the opening laps was extraordinary too, after which it was essentially a two-horse race with both men at one stage lapping 2 seconds a lap faster than anyone on track. Such was the sheer pace from both men that by lap 20, they had essentially built in a free pitstop to 3rd placed Fernando Alonso. With both the Driver’s and Constructor’s titles separated by the narrowest of margins, this battle in all likelihood will boil down to the final Grand Prix of the year in what could be one of the most highly anticipated finishes to a season over the past decade. Both men traded Fastest Laps towards the end too but it was Max that pinched it ahead of the virtual safety car, which means it’s just an 8 point gap heading to Saudi Arabia.
2. FERNANDO ALONSO IS AS FIESTY AT 40 AS HE WAS AT THE AGE OF 20
View this post on Instagram
It’s been SEVEN YEARS between Podium finishes for two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso, meaning the Champagne at the end was certainly much sweeter as he charged his way to a scintillating 3rd place in Qatar. The hunger was apparent from the Spaniard as he looked to hold P3 as he called on teammate Esteban Ocon to defend the Red Bull behind him saying, “tell Esteban to defend like a lion.” Alonso seemed to love the Losail circuit from the offset stating after Qualifying that “If the team had put in enough fuel I could be all night long driving here”. Alonso scored his maiden podium for Alpine and his first in F1 since Budapest in 2014, 105 races ago – a record gap between podiums. The Driver of the Day also became only the 3rd driver over the age of 40 in the last 35 years apart from Michael Schumacher and Nigel Mansell, to finish on the podium…and we think that it might not be his last. VAMOS FERNANDO!!!
3. FIA STEWARDS DECISIONS STILL PLAYING INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT
View this post on Instagram
The incident between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in Sao Paulo, which the stewards decided not to investigate, became the center of attention leading into Qatar with Verstappen accused of forcing Hamilton wide, and several drivers claiming they have been penalized for the same previously. Then more drama after Qatar’s qualifying session with Bottas, Verstappen, and Sainz (who got away unpunished) all at the receiving end of the race stewards for allegedly ignoring yellow flags, dropping Verstappen down to 7th with the title in the balance. The confusion persisted onto the grid where Sainz and Bottas weren’t even sure where they were starting until a few minutes before rolling onto the grid! Red Bull team boss Christian Horner wasn’t amused and said, “To be honest with you, we are really struggling to understand it. It looks like a complete balls-up,” while Red Bull’s Helmut Marko was even more scathing stating, The FIA can’t organize a proper marshaling system and they are hiding their incompetence on the shoulders of the driver. Unbelievable.” We can only hope that the title fight stays on the track from here on for the sake of the drivers and the fans of the sport.
4. MCLAREN LOSING GROUND IN THE BATTLE FOR 3RD VS FERRARI
View this post on Instagram
While Mercedes and Red Bull Racing are in a league of their own, the battle for third has been a tight one between McLaren, who started the season in brilliant fashion, and Ferrari, whose consistency has now given them momentum in this fight. Carlos Sainz had a solid outing in Qualifying to start P5 but Charles Leclerc was a disappointing 13th on the grid with plenty of work to do on Sunday. The race pace was solid from both drivers and the team even managed to pull off a seamless double-stack pitstop to give them a 7th and 8th place double-points finish tighten their grip on 3rd in the championship with a 39.5 point lead now to McLaren where Daniel Ricciardo’s papaya problems still seem to continue. With two races to go, this battle promises to be a great one and plenty of work will have to be done by Lando Norris to bridge the gap and give the British outfit a critical 3rd place finish which comes with millions of dollars in addition to the team.
[Featured Image Credit: Red Bull Content Pool]
Suhail Chandhok
Vertical Head - Sports