The 2021 Formula 1 season was unforgettable for many F1 fans, as it was the best and most thrilling F1 season after many years of Mercedes' domination. Red Bull challenged Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton for the championship title with Max Verstappen.
The two great drivers were engaged in a neck-and-neck battle all year, and the decider came in the final two races. At the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton secured the pole position in qualifying after an outstanding drive at the world’s fastest Jeddah circuit.
Max Verstappen nearly made it, but he crashed in the third sector. But in the main race, Verstappen charged at the Mercedes driver and overtook him on one of those corners. In doing so, he exceeded the track limits and re-entered the track.
The FIA stewards noted the incident and asked the driver to give back his position to Hamilton. Max Verstappen was called on the radio by his mechanics to give up the position to the British driver. In saying that, they mentioned the word ‘strategically’.
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Watch: The Boiling Point Between Lewis and Max.
The Dutch driver obeyed their order and was slowing down and moving to his right, which is the racing line in that particular sector. He wanted Lewis to overtake on the left, which is a non-racing line. But Lewis, knowing that, wanted to overtake Max on the right so that he could maintain the speed.
Both drivers didn't want to give their racing line, and as Verstappen slowed down, Hamilton touched his rear and damaged the Mercedes’s front wing. The entire Jeddah erupted after seeing the boiling point between the two drivers. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was angry and immediately smashed the microphone on the table and shouted. Lewis Hamilton accused Max Verstappen of brake testing him.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was angry and immediately smashed the microphone on the table and shouted. Lewis Hamilton accused Max Verstappen of brake testing him. The Dutch driver was given a 10-second time penalty for the incident and got two penalty points on his super license.
Finally, Lewis Hamilton finished P1 ahead of Max Verstappen and his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas. Mercedes won the Formula 1 constructors championship with that podium, but Hamilton lost his drivers title in the next race at the Abu Dhabi GP.
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