The Last Two
F1 enters the last two races of the highly contended 2021 season. Since 2016, the F1 championship titles were typically resolved at this stage of the season. And the last two races are usually laps of glory for the victors; team and driver alike. This time around, we arrive at the beginning of the last two races with a very slender gap in the constructor’s championship. A mere five points stand between Redbull and the contractor’s title of 2021. And eight points stand between Hamilton and the driver’s title of 2021.
The previous four races have gone with two wins each to both teams. But with Redbull making the most of their two wins by considerably reducing the once thirty points leads of Mercedes in the constructor’s championship fight. Having Perez in the second seat has paid considerable dividends but the tasks remain challenging. In contrast, Hamilton has made the most of his two wins by reducing the once 25 points deficit into a surmountable eight points deficit. But a deficit nonetheless, as any mistakes, imperfection or bad luck would essentially put the driver’s championship out of his reach. But the same applies to Verstappen. The gap remains too narrow for comfort.
This 2021 season has been highlighted by three very defining incidents. Each has shaped the characteristics of the season’s racing in a number of ways. First was the Silverstone crash which sent Verstappen’s Redbull across the gravel into the barriers. On this occasion, the stewards found Hamilton’s defence offensive and penalized him accordingly. Thereby, condoning aggressive attacking at corners as a viable conduct.
The second incident was the crash at Monza. Hamilton had come out of the pits with cold tyres into the path of Verstappen; taking the lead of the race going into the esses just after the pit exit. Verstappen on track-heated tyres try to slip into the inside going into the left hand corner which Hamilton was closing down. Resulting in a crash which resulted in the Redbull going airborne and settling atop the Petronas-Mercedes. On this occasion also, the stewards did not find fault in the attacking manoeuvre by Verstappen. Which was consistent with the Silverstone precedent.
The third was the near-miss incident at Sao Paolo Brazil. On this occasion, Hamilton was attacking. After one failed attempt to overtake, Hamilton picked the optimum location for his next attempt on the short straight where he got ahead at the approach to the corner at the end of the straight. Verstappen defending on the inside to the corner, brakes so late in an attempt to seize the racing line at the apex but was unable to turn into the corner and thus ran wide taking Hamilton with him into the run-off area. Hamilton went on to win that race. But contrary to the previous precedent set at Silverstone and upheld at Monza, the stewards found no fault with Verstappen for defending aggressively to keep the lead.
The steward’s decision at Sao Paolo met with criticism for inconsistency and potential favouritism. But it nonetheless muddies the water in terms of which driving conduct is punishable and which is condoned as we go into the pressure cooker of the last two races. This is particularly problematic for both teams. A crash that results in one of the teams losing a car from the race would essentially hand one or both of the titles in contention to the other team. A crash where both title contenders take each other out, would essentially make Verstappen the new driver’s world champion of 2021.
It is fair to say it is in Verstappen’s best interest to take out Hamilton in a kamikaze move, much like Senna vs Prost in Suzuka 1990.
The Suzuka race was the penultimate round of the1990 season with the title chase finely poised, Senna with the advantage, Prost having to outscore him at Suzuka to keep the title race alive, though crucially, a non-finish for both would see Senna champion ahead of the final race in Adelaide. Senna put his McLaren MP4–5B on pole, then felt aggrieved that pole was on the right-hand side of the circuit, the ‘dirty’ side that was off the racing line. Despite Senna’a appeals to have pole moved to the other side of the track, something he felt had been agreed before qualifying, it stayed on the right for race day.
Just as Senna feared, Prost made the better getaway in his Ferrari 641/2, Senna to the inside, the McLaren touching the rear of the Ferrari as it came across to turn into the first corner and the two cars lancing off into the Suzuka gravel trap. Senna felt Prost had ‘closed the door’ on him, Prost felt Senna had risked injury for both of them with his actions. [Courtesy Historic Racing News]
Does this sound familiar l ask? With Mercedes winning the last two races on sheer pace. And heading to the desert track of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, a street circuit believed to suit the Mercedes car, the pressure is doubly high on Verstappen and Redbull. Verstappen faces the prospect of seeing his final points haul decimated by Hamiton with potentially one point to carry into the last race. Redbull faces the prospect of the gap in the constructor’s championship widening further. Desperation is at its all season-high in the red zone.
All indications suggests that a clean fight on track is not on the cards. We are looking to a bare-knuckle race in Jeddah. A race that is as promising to Mercedes as it is vulnerable for them. They have the onus for a clean getaway and to do their utmost to avoid any tangle with Redbull. The contrary is the case for Redbull. Redbull has nothing to lose and as such is a dangerous opponent. They would come out swinging until the chequered flag is waved. As it should be. All of this with a backdrop of F1 stewarding that is percieved to be fast losing the confidence of fans, teams and drivers; to be consistent and fair.
The last two races are therefore unmissable. As they are the most important races of the season, with the potential of high controversy, carbon fibre carnage and a theatre of human nature. We get to see how far hardnosed racers would go to win. The values and true nature of the contenders are laid bare for all to see. And each side shall have their supporters and condemners, as a demonstration of the products of the human condition.
May the most deserving team and driver win!
