Race that will make or break F1 title battle

3 years ago 263

When the Formula 1 satellite reminisces connected the archetypal genuine drivers' rubric conflict since 2016 astatine the completion of this year's satellite championship, the United States Grand Prix volition beryllium considered "a important pivot point", racing icon Martin Brundle says.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton had the accidental to regain the title pb successful Texas, having arrived successful Austin trailing Max Verstappen of Red Bull by six points.

And Hamilton's quest to bargain the pb backmost began connected a promising note, with the seven-time satellite champion starting successful 2nd connected the grid but edging past his rival successful the contention to the archetypal turn.

However, aft trading the pb 4 times implicit the 56-lap race, Verstappen yet held disconnected a hard-charging Hamilton to triumph by 1.3 seconds, extending his title pb from six points to 12 successful pursuit of his maiden title.

Verstappen present leads the tract connected 287.5 points and Hamilton, aft signaling the fastest thigh successful Austin, sits 2nd connected 275.5 with 5 races remaining.

"I person nary uncertainty that Sunday's US Grand Prix volition beryllium considered a important pivot constituent erstwhile yet looking backmost astatine this year's outstanding satellite championship," Brundle wrote successful his latest file for Sky Sports.

In airy of a tally location that helium believes volition favour Verstappen, Brundle thinks the Dutchman's widening of the spread has fixed him a large advantage.

"There are 5 races to spell successful six weekends and we expect Lewis whitethorn person to instrumentality different interior combustion motor which volition pull a five-place grid drop," Brundle wrote.

"The adjacent 2 (in Mexico and Brazil) are astatine altitude which tends to favour the Honda portion turbo architecture successful the backmost of the Red Bull. But let's hold and see.

"After that we person 2 caller tracks successful Qatar and a precise high-speed Saudi Arabia layout, which whitethorn good suit the Mercedes.

"The last circular is successful Abu Dhabi, a well-known venue, of course, and dominated by Red Bull past year. But the way has changed and is expected to beryllium 10 seconds per thigh faster."

The 2021 satellite title is playing big to the archetypal genuine drivers' rubric conflict since Hamilton's riveting duel with Nico Rosberg successful 2016.

Hamilton was pipped by his past Mercedes teammate by 5 points, losing 385 to 380.

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