Max Verstappen title fight against Lewis Hamilton, Saudi Arabian GP crash, overtaking

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As if the 2021 F1 Championship needs more excitement, accusations still mount between Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and their respective teams.

In an incredible end to the season, the championship leaders are stuck on 369.5 points each, with the winner taking it all in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which ends the season on Sunday night (AEDT).

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Hamilton won a chaotic Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to get closer to Verstappen as the Briton aims for a record-breaking eighth world title.

Verstappen has received three separate penalties for incidents involving Hamilton in Jeddah as latent tensions between the teams that have dominated the season have reached their boiling point.

The main flash point occurred on lap 37 of the 50-lap race when the two drivers made contact. Hamilton accused Verstappen of “testing the brakes”, saying he had no idea race control asked the Dutchman to let his rival overtake due to an earlier infraction.

“Rules do not apply”: Hamilton, Verstappen smoke

What an end of the season. Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / POOL / AFP Source: AFP

Stewards ultimately ruled that Verstappen’s “erratic” braking was the main cause of the crash, inflicting a 10-second penalty on him, in addition to a five-second penalty he received for not leaving Hamilton. overtake him when the two men collided.

The finger pointing goes both ways as Mercedes and Red Bull have blamed each other – a common occurrence throughout the season so far.

“I had to really try to keep my cool which was really hard to do,” Hamilton said of the incident.

“I’ve driven a lot of riders in my life over the 28 years (of racing) and I’ve met a lot of different characters and there are a few at the top who cross the line. ‘don’t apply, or don’t think about the rules.

“(Verstappen) over the limit for sure. I’ve avoided collision on so many occasions with the guy and I don’t always mind being the one to do that because you live to fight another day, which I obviously did.

Stewards shed more light on the incident in question, highlighting that Verstappen was letting Hamilton pass before a DRS area, which would have given the Red Bull driver an advantage and the possibility that he could overtake again.

Verstappen is chasing his first championship. Photo by Lars Baron / Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Verstappen, who stormed the podium after the event, added he didn’t understand why Hamilton hadn’t passed him.

“I was downshifting and braking for him to pass. I don’t understand why… maybe there has been some confusion, ”he told Sky Sports.

Verstappen also pulled his penalty while still driving after being told he had been voted driver of the day.

“Fortunately, the fans have a clear idea of ​​the race because what happened today is incredible,” he replied. “I’m just trying to run and this sport is more about penalties than racing lately.

“For me, it’s not Formula 1.”

Later, Verstappen tweeted that “a lot of things have happened that I don’t fully agree with.”

“Not treated the same”: F1 accused of hypocrisy

The team managers weren’t any better as Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said Verstappen was trying to return to his place and let Hamilton take the lead, as ordered.

But the incident team radio heard Verstappen’s race engineer tell the Dutchman to return him “strategically”.

“He (Verstappen) took off,” Horner said. “I think Lewis even took off, and I’m not sure if he’s bothering the DRS line there, but it was clear we were giving way.

“Lewis is slowing down behind him, it looks like he’s taken off, but it’s like he doesn’t want to pass him because of the DRS.”

Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko was not afraid to take aim, saying Red Bull and Mercedes “are not treated the same”.

“Our engineers are getting ready to prove that Max was consistent in his braking, he didn’t do a brake test like Hamilton said,” Marko told Motorsport.com after the race.

“Then he hit our car, unfortunately he cut the rear tire twice. It was so bad that we couldn’t attack anymore. We had to pick up speed.

“It was the only thing. The next thing was on the second start, Hamilton was over 10 (car) lengths behind. (Sebastian) Vettel was penalized in Budapest when he did. But with this maneuver, he (Hamilton) was better preparing his tire for the start.

“Then he pushed Max, no reaction. We therefore believe that we are not treated in the same way.

Mercedes is once again looking for the dual driver-manufacturer. Photo by Dan Mullan / Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said he believed the data would show Verstappen “testing the brakes” of Hamilton.

The vision of the Mercedes team principal showed him raging on TV coverage and slamming his helmet. He said Verstappen’s driving was “on the line”.

“It’s hard, very hard, maybe over the hard line,” he said. “We just want to have a clean championship – may the best win – and if it’s Max at the end, then I’m fine with that. But it has to be a fair race.

Wolff also warned of a messy end to the season.

“Hopefully (Sunday’s) race will have enough impact for everyone to learn from it and adjust for the final race,” he said.

“Similar conduct, if considered by the marshals to be on the line, then would likely be penalized in Abu Dhabi as well, and it could well end in a messy situation for everyone. I don’t think the championship deserved a result influenced by a collision.

Can you feel the warmth between the pair. Photo by Sam Bloxham – Pool / Getty Images Source: Getty Images

The battle of Hamilton and Verstappen made for incredible viewing throughout the season, although there were some scary moments.

At the British Grand Prix, Hamilton won but was accused of an “disrespectful” act when he contacted Verstappen and sent him into a barrier at 290 km / h.

Verstappen was penalized at the Italian Grand Prix, when Verstappen’s car finished over Hamilton after passing in the chicane at turn two. The two teams also blamed each other for this incident.

The pair also faced off again at the Brazilian Grand Prix in a late-race wheel-to-wheel battle.

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