Titanic Championship Fight Bodes Well For Epic 2021 F1 Season
Not since the 2018 Formula One season have we seen a two-way fight between teams for the top step of the podium. But now, as Christian Horner has said, it’s time for Mercedes to be given “a hard time.”
The last two seasons have seen Mercedes back to their most dominant best but, following Bahrain last weekend, Red Bull showed once and for all that they are fast enough to compete against the seven time Constructors Champions.
The race went down to the wire, with only seven tenths separating Lewis Hamilton from Max Verstappen at the chequered flag.
The hunt and chase from the Dutchman reminded everyone just how epic an F1 title fight can be. It is obviously still early days, but the indication from the opening race of the season is that we’re in store for a close and competitive 23 Grands Prix season.
“It was so tough,” said Hamilton. “For the first race, I was not expecting that we’d be in that position to be able to keep up with them in the first stint so I was really grateful for that.”
Red Bull had looked quickest all weekend, with Verstappen even taking pole position by almost four tenths. This was a world of difference compared to that first race in 2020. Then, the gap from pole position to the Red Bull was 0.538s.
Last time out in Bahrain, Hamilton was 0.414s quicker than Verstappen. That was in November and now, only four months later, the pendulum has swung the other way.
Red Bull gave away the lead of the race after Hamilton was allowed to undercut Verstappen by four laps. The different strategies worked in Mercedes’ favour thanks to Hamilton’s excellent tyre preservation skills.
Horner admitted to Sky after the race that he, at one point, thought Hamilton was on a three-stop strategy such was the distance the defending champion had left to go on his set of tyres.
Instead, Hamilton pulled through to the finish while also managing to keep Verstappen behind him for those closing few laps.
The 23-year old did manage to get ahead on lap 53 at the controversial Turn Four, but he did so while going off the circuit. The advantage he gained was against the rules and thus he was ordered to give back the position.
The inconsistency on the track limits at Turn Four from the stewards all weekend will need to be ironed out by the time the teams all rock up to Imola for race two in three weeks time, but there is no doubt that Verstappen’s move was completed illegally.
“In a way, of course I’m disappointed about today but last year we’d be super happy with a race like this so it also shows just how much we’ve grown. I think it’s still a positive start to the season and it’s still a long season ahead,” said Verstappen post-race.
There was a great maturity to Verstappen’s response that shows how far he’s grown as a driver in the last few years. Bahrain was a lesson for him in how to compete in a title fight. Every inch matters.
The duel was reminiscent of Hamilton’s 2014 battle with Nico Rosberg at this same track, where the Briton once again came out on top. It also evoked the images of Fernando Alonso keeping the seven times champion Michael Schumacher at bay at Imola in 2005.
The parallels between then and now mean this likely won’t be the last time this season reminds us of the great battles from that era.
Despite not taking victory, Red Bull as a whole opted to take the positives from a disappointing result.
“This has been such a strong circuit for [Mercedes], the fact that we’ve been so competitive this weekend, I hope is a good signal for the championship. Toto [Wolff’s] had it far too easy the last seven years. Someone needs to give him a hard time,” said Horner.
Horner was also pleased with the recovery drive from Sergio “Checo” Perez in the second car. The Mexican’s Red Bull stalled on the formation lap, but he managed to get the car going again for a race start from the pit lane.
Checo earned a fifth place finish from that position, to score vital points in the Constructors Championship battle.
“I think his drive today was very mature. He showed his experience. He had an issue obviously on the warm-up lap, but he kept a very calm head.
“We lost all communication with the car, and he took control of the situation. He rebooted the car, effectively, got it going.
“I think his recovery drive was very strong. So it’s very useful for him to get the time in the seat and get more used to the car. And I think his overtaking, his pace was very strong. So that’s encouraging for him.”
Elsewhere, the aforementioned Alonso made his return to the sport after a two year absence. The highlight of the midfield battle was undoubtedly the Alpine driver’s tussle for the final points positions with Carlos Sainz and his old championship rival Sebastian Vettel. Alonso ultimately failed to finish the race after an issue with his brakes.
“I think the race was fun [until the DNF]. The start, first couple of laps, some battles with my old colleagues and I did enjoy [it], but obviously now we are disappointed not to see the chequered flag,” said Alonso.
More midfield battles like those, to go alongside a titanic championship fight, gives everyone hope the 2021 season could be the best of the hybrid era yet.
