The first Saudi Arabian Grand Prix should go down in the annals of Formula 1. Obviously for the historical aspect, but above all for its indecisive scenario from start to finish. And in the title roles of this spectacular evening, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, engaged in a fierce fight for the title, once again put on an extraordinary spectacle on the Jeddah track. Return in five remarkable acts.
10th lap: Schumacher crash, Verstappen took the opportunity to change tires and started on pole
Lewis Hamilton, who started from pole position, is leading the race and everything seems to be going according to plan for Mercedes. The German firm has its two cars ahead since Valtteri Bottas controls the leader in the world championship, Max Verstappen, third. But what seemed like a quiet race will suddenly get carried away when Mick Schumacher crashes in the same place as Charles Leclerc on Friday during free practice.
At first, only the safety car was deployed and the two Mercedes took the opportunity to go to the pits to change tires while Verstappen decided to stay on the track, thus taking the lead in the GP. A strategy that paid off since a few moments later, the red flag was announced to clean up the circuit and evacuate Schumacher’s damaged Haas, which came out unscathed. The return to the pits then allows the Red Bull driver to also change his tires when he takes the lead in the Grand Prix.
15th lap: first restart, Verstappen forces Hamilton on the outside in the second corner and another crash at the back
The race then enters another dimension. This second standing start was marked by another spectacular rear crash involving Pérez, Russell and Mazepin, forced to retire. Especially, in front, the Dutchman misses his start, and forces Hamilton on the outside in the second corner. Verstappen is caught in the noose and cuts the line to stay, at all costs, in the lead while Esteban Ocon takes advantage of this contentious maneuver to pass in front of the Briton.
The defense of the position of the Red Bull driver is contentious and the FIA stewards announce in the wake of a first investigation to determine whether Verstappen is at fault or not. At the same time, the race is interrupted a second time.
WHAT A 2ND START
Verstappen forces Hamilton on the outside into Turn 2 to overtake him, as a big crash takes place at the back of the peloton
New red flag #SaudiArabianGP # F1
https://t.co/7plkVVV12v pic.twitter.com/ENr8pAfHhw
– CANAL + F1® (@ CanalplusF1) December 5, 2021
17th lap: negotiations between Red Bull, Verstappen and the race marshals
The radio communication between the FIA, Red Bull and Verstappen is unprecedented. The race marshals offered them an unprecedented deal: either they agreed to start behind Hamilton at the next restart, or Verstappen would receive a penalty. The regulations indeed stipulate that the Dutchman should have let Hamilton overtake him. But in the wake of this dangerous maneuver, it was Ocon who passed in front of the Briton, and therefore found himself second in the Grand Prix just as the race was officially stopped for the second time. The penalty is avoided and Ocon can take advantage of it.
But that’s without counting on Verstappen. Winded up like clockwork, the whimsical Red Bull driver made a superb start, overtaking Hamilton and Ocon from the inside from the first corner, and will not be picked up. Not yet, in any case.
AND IT’S (RE) GET AWAY!
Max Verstappen makes the coup of the century with his divebomb in turn 1 #SaudiArabianGP # F1
https://t.co/7plkVVV12v pic.twitter.com/KEEzgGpXTe
– CANAL + F1® (@ CanalplusF1) December 5, 2021
38th lap: the collision between Hamilton and Verstappen
While we thought that the race would calm down, it is not. On the pit straight, at the end of the 37th lap, Hamilton wants to take advantage of his DRS to overtake his rival after a long mano a mano. But as often, Verstappen does not give in, brakes at the last moment before the turn, naturally propelling the seven-time world champion off the track. A new illegal maneuver on the part of the Dutch, quickly summoned to let his opponent pass at the head of the race.
Verstappen slowed down several times, even moving to the right, to let Hamilton pass who could not avoid the collision after a potential brake application from the Red Bull driver. “This guy is crazy”, will drop also on Hamilton radio. More fear than harm for the latter, who sees the right front wing of his car damaged. But that will not prevent him from staying in the race. Here again, an FIA investigation is launched.
OH THE SNAP BETWEEN LEWIS AND MAX!
But what is this end of GP? #SaudiArabianGP # F1
https://t.co/7plkVVV12v pic.twitter.com/JQeOezN6ih
– CANAL + F1® (@ CanalplusF1) December 5, 2021
43rd lap: 5 seconds penalty for Verstappen, Hamilton takes the lead
A few minutes later, the race marshals announce the sanction: Verstappen receives a five-second penalty (increased to 15 seconds two hours after the end of the GP and following a thorough investigation by the FIA into a fault committed on lap 26). Largely enough to allow his rival from Mercedes to take back the controls of the Grand Prix and go for an eighth success this season. A victory at the end of a mad race, on the night circuit of Jeddah, and which puts Lewis Hamilton at the perfect height of Max Verstappen: the two men indeed have 369.5 points each and will decide for the supreme coronation, next Sunday , in Abu Dhabi. The icing on the cake.
Penalty doesn’t alter Verstappen’s finishing position. Full decision here. We head to Abu Dhabi all square! pic.twitter.com/WCQpzCxWbo
– Rachel Brookes (@RachelBrookesTV) December 5, 2021