As the F1 World Championship approaches its climax just two drivers remain in contention but who will prevail? Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen?
The 2021 Formula 1 season has seen the best title fight in recent memory. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have spent the last 20 races locked in wheel-to-wheel rivalry, but with just two races remaining and eight points between them, only one can come out as champion of the world in 2021.
Before we look ahead to the final two rounds, let's look back to the pivotal moments that have led us to this point in the season…
Heading into 2021, Mercedes and Hamilton were clear favourites to win their 8th constructors and drivers title in a row, but it was Red Bull Racing who came out of the blocks firing in pre-season testing, the RB16B seeming quicker than its Mercedes counterpart, the W12.
By the time the season opener in Bahrain came around, Mercedes had clearly closed the gap as Lewis Hamilton took his first win of the season. The following rounds saw the pair exchange wins regularly, before Verstappen extended his championship lead to 33 points after the Austrian double header.
The F1 circus then reached Silverstone, and the first major knockout blow was dealt. The pair qualified on the front row, and throughout the opening lap they were wheel banging as Lewis Hamilton attempted to snatch the lead from Verstappen.
As the pair headed onto the old pit straight, Hamilton filed into Verstappen's slip stream, and attempted a lunge down the inside heading into Copse Corner. The pair collided, causing a wheel to come lose from Max's car and he flew into the barrier at 51G.
The pair next came to a head at Monza, during the Italian Grand Prix, as a pit-lane exit battle ended with Max's Red Bull on top of Lewis' Mercedes.
As wins have come and gone for both drivers, that leaves us in the position we are in now, 8 points in it, and the potential for the pair to be level on points heading into Abu Dhabi.
Next up F1 travel to Saudi Arabia to the first time, the Jeddah Street circuit being billed as the fastest street circuit in F1 history. A combination of fast sweeping turns and long straights should suit the Mercedes car better, handing Lewis an advantage. However, only a fool would bet against Max Verstappen, especially with his current championship lead.
If Hamilton takes the win in Saudi, the championship battle will go down to the final round, no matter where Max finishes. It’s so close that if Hamilton takes the win and fastest lap point and Verstappen is P2, the pair are level on points heading into the season finale.
A new track layout in Abu Dhabi will present a challenge for the drivers. The race has so much more meaning than just the championship fight. It is Valtteri Bottas’ last race for Mercedes, Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi’s last race in F1, George Russell’s last race for Williams, and the final race before the dramatic regulation switch in 2022.