(Motorsport) With only three races remaining in the 2021 Formula 1 season, the rivalry between seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen is more heated than ever before. The British racing driver was at a major disadvantage ahead of Sunday’s race in Brazil, starting from the 10th position due to an engine penalty but showed exactly why he is one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time after finishing first in an epic comeback.
Hamilton had a notably faster car throughout the weekend, largely due to the engine change and it showed as he raced through his competitors in the opening laps while Verstappen went past Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Bottas, who was in pole position after the Sprint race at the start of the race. After that, it was largely a chase by Hamilton, looking to finish in first position at the Interlagos while Verstappen desperately tried to defend his championship lead to ensure another Formula 1 victory.
A controversial moment occurred in lap 48 when Verstappen made a questionable move into turn 4 to deny Hamilton a chance to overtake the Dutch racing driver but the stewards deemed it a legal move which angered the Mercedes camp. However, Hamilton’s patience finally paid off 11 laps later when his car finally went past Verstappen’s Red Bull to reduce the deficit for the Drivers Championship to just 14 points with only three races to go in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.
Speaking after the race, Hamilton said “Coming into this weekend I never ever thought we would be able to close the gap like we had today. Then these things that just kept going against us but it really shows for everyone, never give up. Never, ever stop fighting and that's how I've really approached this weekend.” The British racing driver had failed to win any of his last four races and this was only the 2nd of his 101 Formula 1 victories from a position lower than sixth.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finished fifth and sixth respectively while Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda collided early. McLaren had a disappointing day overall as Lando Norris had a puncture in the first lap and finished in a disappointing 10th place while Daniel Ricciardo was forced to retire in what was a major blow in McLaren’s fight against Ferrari for third place in the Constructors Championship.
