Should Max Verstappen secure his fifth world drivers championship in Abu Dhabi this weekend, it may evoke a subtle reaction from Lewis Hamilton.
The last instance when Verstappen clinched a world title at the final Formula One race was in 2021, marking the commencement of his four consecutive championship victories, amid a contentious finale.
The culmination was marred by an unusual application of safety car rules by the then race director Michael Masi, who was subsequently relieved of his duties. This allowed Verstappen to overtake Hamilton on the ultimate lap, seizing his eighth world title from the British driver.
The reverberations of that day in Abu Dhabi four years ago continue to trouble Toto Wolff, who was Hamilton’s team principal at Mercedes at the time. Wolff recently expressed his discontent, citing a sense of helplessness not experienced since childhood, attributing it to a single individual capable of jeopardizing the achievements of the esteemed champion.
The subsequent FIA investigation in 2022 revealed Masi’s erroneous application of safety car regulations, citing it as a ‘human error’.
While the standings remained unchanged post the inquiry, Hamilton has since struggled to vie for the championship that would elevate him above Michael Schumacher on the eternal list. Conversely, Verstappen’s dominance has been relentless, positioning him favorably to potentially claim his fifth consecutive title this Sunday, although Lando Norris remains a strong contender.
If his initial triumph was shrouded in controversy, a fifth victory would unequivocally affirm Verstappen’s ascent to the pinnacle of the sport. Becoming only the fourth driver to secure five championships, alongside Hamilton, Schumacher, and Juan Manuel Fangio, Verstappen is already a prominent figure in the Greatest Of All Time discourse.
In 2021, Verstappen’s Red Bull rivaled Hamilton’s Mercedes, but in subsequent seasons, especially 2022 and 2023, it emerged as the premier car on the grid. Despite winning seven of the first ten races last year, his car encountered performance inconsistencies, leading to internal upheavals within the team.
While surpassing the finish line seemed improbable last season, this year presents an even greater challenge, with significant odds stacked against him.
With only nine races remaining from the original 24, Verstappen trailed the leader by 104 points, Oscar Piastri at the time. Currently, McLaren’s Australian driver follows Verstappen closely, with a mere four-point deficit heading into the final race.
The five-time champion lags 12 points behind Norris. A victory in Abu Dhabi coupled with Norris missing the podium would crown Verstappen as the champion. Given the Red Bull’s inferior performance compared to the McLaren for a significant part of the season, such an achievement would undoubtedly mark the pinnacle of his career.
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