Formula 1: Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton before decisive duel

Two more races! Formula 1 is about to hit the home stretch and is about to enter a furious finale. The world championship fight between world champion Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen electrifies the fans and is more exciting than what feels like an eternity. At the premiere race on Sunday in Saudi Arabia (live on RTL from 5.15 p.m.), challenger Max Verstappen has the first match ball.

It’s a Formula 1 season that many fans describe as “epic”. Well, the premier class has actually worked hard for the title this year. After years of dominance by Mercedes (since the hybrid era from 2014), the silver and black arrows have to defend themselves against a competitor with all their might for the first time. Red Bull Racing has flexed its muscles since the first test drives in Bahrain in March. Also benefiting from a change in the regulations (underbody), the “cops” have moved closer to the world championship team. After the first races it was clear: This year something is actually going to happen for the Brause team.

Grand Prix after Grand Prix between the record holder and the young challenger developed into a tough duel that Formula 1 has not seen for a long time. Most recently, Hamilton and Nico Rosberg had a spectacular duel up to the final race in 2016 – but in their own team. The last time that two drivers from two different teams were able to ascend the throne in the last race was in 2012 (Sebastian Vettel versus Fernando Alonso).

Already two crashes between Verstappen and Hamilton

In 2021, Hamilton, 36, and Verstappen, 24, are not taking any prisoners. The two World Cup rivals have already come close twice – too close. In Silverstone, Hamilton shot the Dutchman down at 280 km / h, Verstappen thundered into the tire wall and even had to go to the hospital for a check-up. Meanwhile, Hamilton celebrated his home win with the British fans. In Monza, however, the Red Bull driver jerked after a duel over the British and “parked” on his head (or Halo head protection) at the end. The emotions boiled high, verbal poison arrows shot back and forth between the teams. In addition, the two top teams still accuse each other of playing unfairly in the car. Red Bull, in particular, recently viewed the resurgent Mercedes strength critically. Keyword rear wing and engine. However, the racing team refrained from protesting. Both absolutely want the decision to be made on a sporting basis. On the asphalt.

And that brings us to Saudi Arabia. After the F1 debut in Qatar a week and a half ago, the next desert premiere is already taking place on the weekend under floodlights. In record time (eight months) and at the last minute, the organizers punched a city stretch next to the Red Sea with all their might. The course through the coastal metropolis of Jeddah was conceived by the German architect Hermann Tilke, a Formula 1 veteran. And what the 66-year-old reveals in the RTL / ntv interview gives even more hope for an exciting desert race. He compares the GP with an “ultra-fast Monaco” and also sees overtaking maneuvers and wheel-to-wheel duels in the corners as realistic. The top speed in Jeddah: a crisp 350 km / h. Tilke estimates the average speed at 250 km / h. Not bad for a street circuit. “That’s neat,” says the architect.

Saudi Arabia GP on street circuit on the Red Sea

On the 6.175 kilometer route there are “a lot of fast corners” (16 in total) that are simply driven through “at full throttle”, he explains. But then there are again curves that are only “picked up briefly”. Tilke believes it will be a big challenge. The RTL viewers can look forward to exciting duels. Because in some places it will also be possible to “get through the curve in twos”. The track is a stress test for teams, drivers – and the rubbers. “Above all, the tires are very heavily used,” announced Tilke in the RTL / ntv conversation.

One thing is already clear: After the alternative race in 2021, F1 regularly hits Saudi Arabia – the contract has been signed. Despite the great criticism of the human rights situation in the country. To raise awareness of the rights of the LGBTQ community, world champion Hamilton has been driving the last three races (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi) wearing a rainbow helmet. A clear statement.

Mercedes or Red Bull at an advantage?

The ultimate question before the race: which of the two F1 heavyweights is better on the new course? “In terms of paper, the track should be more like Mercedes,” says ex-driver Alexander Wurz. The ORF expert is on duty for RTL on Sunday. “But since no one has any experience, especially with the asphalt, Red Bull might be able to use its tire advantage. In addition, a safety car can suddenly turn the race around on a street circuit.”

The twisty world championship fight may write the next crazy plot twist this weekend. Because about three weeks ago, Verstappen already looked like the winner. He triumphed in the home race of his compatriot and stable colleague Sergio Perez in Mexico – a big Red Bull party with tequila in the finish. The points cushion on Hamilton was 19 points. But just a week later there were long faces at RB. Despite a double punishment and relocation (first in the sprint race and in the main race), Hamilton raced to victory in Brazil with a newly planted engine in the W12 rear. It was a show that was reminiscent of old Hamilton. With greedy dominance and superiority. On the way to title number eight, with which he finally left Michael Schumacher (seven titles) behind. And another week later – in Qatar – the Verstappen lead continued to melt away. The next Hamilton victory reduced the lead to eight points.

Max Verstappen can win the world title in Jeddah

What makes Red Bull sweat more sweat: In Qatar, Hamilton didn’t have the new monster engine in it. So the momentum is on Hamilton’s side – nevertheless, only Verstappen can close the F1 sack in Jeddah. Unrealistically clear, but not impossible. If Hamilton didn’t get into the points at all, a second place would be enough for Verstappen to win the title. Otherwise: If Verstappen wins and takes the fastest race lap, 6th place and down from Hamilton were enough for him. Without the fastest race lap (and the associated bonus point) and simultaneous triumph, the World Cup opponent should not be better than seventh. So much for the theory.

The reality check: Without a pit breakdown, technical defect or accident (both of which were largely spared except for their own crashes), these scenarios are unlikely. If the GP goes without a hitch, the decision will be postponed to the last race in Abu Dhabi (December 12th). Christmas presents in the desert.

Fight between two exceptional pilots

For Wurz, the fight between the two exceptional pilots was “without a doubt the ultimate in the last decade.” Verstappen and Hamilton “drive on a different level than the rest of the field. Both are very gentle with the steering wheel, but tough when fighting.”

Which would have to be proven again in Saudi Arabia. The fans are ready for the final spurt in the desert, a penultimate battle in the World Cup. Yes, the duel has been epic so far, only one epic finale is missing.