F1 LIVE practice results as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen begin battle
Follow all the latest F1 news and updates as the title races takes another turn at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix where Lewis Hamilton looks to close the eight-point gap to Max Verstappen in Jeddah
It’s almost here, the penultimate F1 race in the calendar, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Today will provide an insight into how Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen get on at Jeddah’s Corniche Circuit.
It’s practice Friday, as the most exciting Formula 1 season in years nears its finale, with the Red Bull star able to knock off his Mercedes rival as early as this weekend, though everybody expects the seven-time world champion to at least survive until Abu Dhabi, if not take another chunk into the Belgian-Dutch driver’s lead, which currently stands at a slender eight points.
While there will be many thrills and spills left in the Drivers’ Championship, there is sure to be drama, too, in the Constructors’ Championship. This will emphasise the drives of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, who both have pivotal roles to play in our their teammates negotiate the final two races of the season.
In terms of track dynamic, there will be long straights at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit this weekend, which ought to favour Mercedes as they gun for a one-two finish. But if Hamilton was to win and collect the bonus point for fastest lap, with Verstappen finishing second, it would create the extraordinary scenario of both drivers having 269.5 points going into the final Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit.
Wolff and his Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner have been involved in back-and-forth encounters too, drawing amusement from some and disdain from others, as the fight goes on for the constructor championship as well as the drivers’ title. Elsewhere outside the big two, Fernando Alonso’s podium finish, the changing team line-ups for next year and even the additions of rules such as sprint qualifying have all been big talking points in Formula One recently.
Here’s all the latest F1 news and reaction as the build-up to Saudi Arabia continues:
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Practice: Valtteri Bottas closes on Max Verstappen
And a response from Lewis Hamilton as the seven-time world champion jumps up to seventh.
He’s 2.321s off the pace set by his title rival Max Verstappen.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Practice: Valtteri Bottas closes on Max Verstappen
That didn’t take long, Verstappen is joined by Valtteri Bottas at the top, with the Mercedes star, on the soft compounds, posting 1:33.014 to go second.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Practice: Max Verstappen goes fastest early on in practice
The new Corniche Circuit in Jeddah has been described by Martin Brundle as “Silverstone, with Monaco’s walls.”
Championship leader Max Verstappen goes quickest with a 1:33.614 following three laps, the Red Bull star is on the hard tyres.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Practice: Red Flags Out
Logan Sargeant, ahead of his Formula 2 debut this weekend with HWA, hammered the wall during practice.
And the same fate met teammate Alessio Deledda, prompting an early end to the Italian’s session.
‘Like Suzuka with walls’: Jeddah’s controversial circuit ripe for drama in first Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
And so to Jeddah. In the north of the city tucked against the Red Sea coast is the home of the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, dubbed the “fastest street circuit in the world”. The Jeddah Corniche Circuit was only completed only last week after an intense eight-month building project, and FIA race director Michael Masi visited to give the track official approval. “The progress that I have seen on each of my visits over recent months has been remarkable,” Masi said. “Jeddah will provide an interesting new challenge for the drivers and teams.”
“Interesting” is one word for it. Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas called it “extreme”. Red Bull boss Christian Horner called it “insane”. Dangerous might be another word: drivers have talked this week about the importance of hugging the apex of its many fast corners, but that means skirting perilously close to the wall. “It’s going to be very high speed and not much run-off,” said Damon Hill this week. “It’s high risk, high jeopardy.”
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will be the season’s second night race, played out over 6km on the second longest track on the calendar after Spa. It will be incredibly fast too, taking a physical toll on the drivers with average speeds of 250km/hr and a top speed of 322km/hr on the back straight, where cars zip along a lagoon past a gleaming new hotel. The circuit itself is reminiscent of another night-time track, Singapore, with low walls and high metal fencing either side of a narrow road lit up by twinkling lights, but it carries the speed of circuits more famous for their relentless adrenaline ride. “It’s like Suzuka with walls,” explained Horner this week.
‘Like Suzuka with walls’: Jeddah’s controversial street circuit ripe for drama
A street track built in just eight months, the high-speed Jeddah Corniche Circuit will be a leap into the unknown for F1 as the title fight between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton goes to the wire
Lewis Hamilton addresses ‘pretty terrifying’ LGBTQ+ laws in Saudi Arabia
Lewis Hamilton is in the midst of the most exciting Formula One title battle in recent memory but insists he is uncomfortable racing in Saudi Arabia highlighting the country’s “pretty terrifying” LGBTQ+ laws.
The inaugural race in Jeddah is the penultimate grand prix of the 2021 season in which reigning champion Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen have tussled for the title.
Verstappen is just eight points clear heading into Sunday’s race in Saudi Arabia but Hamilton has the momentum of winning the previous two races for Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton addresses ‘pretty terrifying’ LGBTQ+ laws in Saudi Arabia
The inaugural race in Jeddah is the penultimate grand prix of the 2021 season
Lewis Hamilton accused of dropping ‘subtle little digs’ in F1 title race
Red Bull’s Christian Horner has accused Lewis Hamilton “subtle little digs” and “provocations” towards Max Verstappen to gain an edge in the Formula 1 title race.
There has been a war of words between Red Bull and Mercedes throughout an engrossing season, which has included the team principals Horner and Toto Wolff verbally sparring in public.
F1 legend Alain Prost claimed the trash talk has gone too far, but Horner maintains the seven-time world champion is trying to use the media to unsettle Verstappen, who holds an eight-point lead over Hamilton heading into the final two races.
Lewis Hamilton accused of dropping ‘subtle little digs’ in F1 title race
The Red Bull team principal maintains Max Verstappen has the mental strength to rise above mind games with his Mercedes rival
Ralf Schumacher outlines Max Verstappen’s ‘pressure’ advantage over Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton has more pressure on him than Max Verstappen heading into the final two races of the season, according to F1 driver Ralf Schumacher.
Verstappen, 24, leads Hamilton, 36, by eight points heading into the final two races of the season in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.
Hamilton has closed the gap with victories in Brazil and Qatar as he looks to surpass Michael Schumacher’s record by winning an eighth drivers’ championship.
Ralf Schumacher outlines Max Verstappen’s ‘pressure’ advantage over Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton trails Verstappen by eight points with two races remaining in the 2021 season
Red Bull confront F1 chiefs over Mercedes battle and ‘one-sided’ decisions
Red Bull boss Helmut Marko discussed “one-sided” decisions in favour of Mercedes with Formula 1 bosses this season.
The two F1 teams have been enthralled in battles due to how close a title race it has been between their respective drivers Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Currently Verstappen leads Hamilton by eight points with just two races to go.
Marko says he spoke to the FIA and Liberty Media about regulatory changes around the rear wing which were implemented after Mercedes complained about Red Bull.
Red Bull confront F1 chiefs over Mercedes and ‘one-sided’ decisions
The two teams have been at loggerheads this season
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