Jeddah, Dec. 5 (BNA): Lewis Hamilton won the Saudi Grand Prix, which stopped twice for Mercedes, on Sunday, leveling points with Red Bull rival Max Verstappen and setting up a confrontation in which the winner of the title wins.
On a chaotic night in Jeddah, the Gulf kingdom’s premiere race took nearly as many twists and turns as an already amazing rollercoaster season — and also left a bitter aftertaste, Reuters reports.
There were accidents and collisions, safety cars, red flags and allegations of dirty driving after seven-times world champion Hamilton crashed into the back of Verstappen’s abruptly slowing car on the Corniche high-speed circuit.
Unusual, and at times angry, radio conversations between race director Michael Massey and the first two teams filled the airwaves.
With an extra point for fastest lap, Hamilton and Verstappen lead the standings with 369.5 points after 21 races.
But Verstappen, who finished second with Valtteri Bottas in third for Mercedes, is leading 9-8 in wins – meaning the 24-year-old Dutchman would be a champion if neither he nor Hamilton score another point.
Mercedes boosted its lead in the constructors’ championship to 28 points, with its eighth title in a row looking more realistic.
The final round of the season will be in Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi next weekend.
brake test
Hamilton started in pole position but lost twice to Verstappen, who started the day eight points ahead and was determined to leave no players behind in the rematch.
The Dutch driver was ordered to retake the lead, having gone too far as Hamilton tried to pass on lap 37, but when Hamilton slowed he ran into his back.
“He tested me on the brakes. I just hit him, man, my wing is broken,” exclaimed the Brit. “Driving was dangerous, dude.”
Both were called to the hosts after the race.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has defended his driver. “I don’t know why he hit your back like that, it just didn’t make sense,” he told Verstappen over the radio.
The Dutchman regained the lead on lap 42 but immediately regained it.
Stewards then awarded him a five-second penalty to leave the track and gain a permanent advantage but Verstappen let Hamilton go again.
We didn’t need to do that, Max,” said his race engineer.
Mercedes were already furious with Massey, saying they had not been given enough time to inform Hamilton that Verstappen had been asked to take the place back, and the Red Bull driver was also furious.
“What happened today is unbelievable and this sport is more about penalties than racing. For me, this is not Formula 1,” he said grumpy.
Verstappen has been named “Driver of the Day” in a fan vote.
red flags
The red flags first appeared on lap 14 after a safety car run by Mick Schumacher and crashed into his Haas in the curbs.
That stoppage played into the hands of Verstappen, who remained outside while pitting Hamilton from the lead to get new tires to take advantage of the safety car’s deployment.
But the feature faded when the re-lead caused even more chaos.
Hamilton got away better, but Verstappen veered off the track to maintain the lead, as Esteban Ocon in the Alps worked his way past Hamilton to second.
“I should have avoided hitting there,” Hamilton shouted. “He cut off the whole pavement. He crossed me outside the white line.”
The race was halted a lap later when Haas star Nikita Mazepin and Williams’ George Russell collided while Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez started off and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was injured.
Massey then offered Red Bull “the opportunity” to join the grid in a third fixed start behind Hamilton, with Ocon in the lead.
“You’ll be back behind Lewis,” said the Australian. “This is my offer.”
“We accept that,” Red Bull team manager Jonathan Wheatley replied.
Verstappen took the lead again, with Hamilton passing Ocon, and the battle was on – punctuated by more virtual safety car stints.
“Go in there, Louis!” Hamilton’s race engineer shouted at the checkered flag. “This has to be the craziest race I can remember, cool heads won that.”