Winner in Jeddah on Sunday, Lewis Hamilton came back up to Max Verstappen at the top of the Formula 1 world championship standings.
The two drivers, neck and neck since March, will battle for the title at the very last Grand Prix next Sunday in Abu Dhabi.
Their rivalry has been built throughout this season, between clashes on the track and tackles well felt outside.
Suspense and a rivalry like we had not seen for a long time in Formula 1. Next Sunday, on the circuit of Abu Dhabi, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will compete for the title of world champion.
Perfectly tied after 21 races, the two drivers will write the final chapter of an absolutely royal season, spiced up by a number of clashes and little phrases.
July 19: Verstappen trapped at Silverstone
The two pilots have been fighting a big battle since the start of the season, in March, but so far not much to say.
The victories were played on a regular basis or in the pits.
Serious things take off in Northamptonshire.
No doubt a little annoyed by the Dutchman's four victories in the last five Grand Prix before this one, Lewis Hamilton is keen to mark the occasion at home. Starting in the front line, the two rivals brawl from the first round. As the Briton tries to get inside in the very fast “Copse” turn, the two cars touch each other, and Verstappen ends up in the safety barriers. Despite a 10-second penalty for this dangerous maneuver, Hamilton won and returned to eight small points in the standings, against 33 before the race.
On the podium, the Mercedes driver exults, which infuriates Verstappen.
“Attending these celebrations while the opposing pilot is still in hospital is disrespectful and unsportsmanlike behavior, but we are moving forward,” plague the Dutchman on Twitter.
"It was a desperate maneuver, it's disappointing coming from a driver seven times world champion", supports the director of the Red Bull team, Christian Horner.
“The greatest rider of all time fights with a machine that might not be as good as the other, driven by a rising star who is trying to make his way.
They collided, but we have already seen that with all the great rivalries in history ”, evacuates Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
We will find him annoyed for less than that a few weeks later.
September 19: Big fright in Monza
Only five points, in favor of Verstappen, separate the two drivers at the start.
The mano a mano is stretched on the track.
After a pit stop on the 26th lap, Hamilton emerges just in front of his opponent.
At the end of the straight line, nobody wants to give way before the chicane.
Mounted on a vibrator, Verstappen sees his car climb on that of the Briton.
The two pilots end up in the gravel and must resolve to retire.
The images are spectacular, and thanks to the halo, this titanium arch made compulsory in 2018 to protect the heads of pilots.
Without him, Hamilton would have literally been run over by the Red Bull.
"He clearly saved Lewis' life," Wolff said after the race, calling Verstappen "at fault" on this one.
Strangely, the person concerned was not of the same opinion, arguing that Hamilton had "squeezed" him without leaving him the slightest place.
"Suddenly I had to take the vibrator and unfortunately, we touched each other, but these are things that happen", he swept away.
He will however be held responsible, receiving three penalty places on the starting grid of the next Grand Prix, in Russia.
October 22: Verstappen cracks in Austin
It is not only in races that the two pilots are warming up.
Free practice and qualifying are also the means to put pressure on the opponent.
In Austin, the tension rose a notch from Friday.
Launched at full speed down the pit straight, Verstappen found himself almost wheel-to-wheel with Hamilton, who did not deviate when he said he should have.
Forced to brake, the Dutchman released a “kind of idiot” to the best effect on the radio, before addressing a middle finger to the Mercedes driver.
Clever, the latter then pretended not to remember the incident.
A good old-fashioned war of psychological attrition.
November 14: Incident in Brazil
Like Michael Schumacher in his time, Max Verstappen gives the impression of being capable of anything when he knows he is on the verge of being overwhelmed. This is what makes him brilliant and unbearable at the same time. At Interlagos, Hamilton is on fire. Penalized twice during qualifying, he managed to come back from the cellar at high speed and found himself second behind the Dutchman on the 19th lap. Attacked, the latter defended a little too aggressively and led his opponent out of bounds of the track a few laps later. Patient, Hamilton returned to the charge and ended up dropping him on lap 59, before flying to victory.
Nothing too dramatic, then, but for the sake of form, Mercedes does not let the opportunity pass by a short letter to the FIA, in which the team asks that the incident be reconsidered.
Without consequences.
The Briton, he appreciated the weapon pass.
"It was difficult to overtake him, but I expected no less," he said.
The final sprint is on.
December 5: The Madness of Jeddah
A lot has already been said about this Sunday's GP in Saudi Arabia.
The race, punctuated by clashes and contentious maneuvers by Verstappen to defend his position between two red flags, was the climax of this rivalry.
Angry against each other - and against the race marshals - the two pilots masterfully ignored each other on the podium and at a press conference.
A tension raised even in the HQ of the stables, and which announces a last weekend of fire.
“I hope it goes more calmly,” said Toto Wolff.
Nothing is less certain, to listen to Helmut Marko, the boss of the pilots sector at Red Bull.
“There is no reason for Max to be less aggressive on the track.
Remember what happened at Silverstone.
"
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Red Bull
Mercedes
Max Verstappen
Lewis hamilton
Sport
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