After a couple of weeks off Formula One finally comes back to the USA after that pesky Corona Virus forced last years race to cancel. And this will be the last time there is only 1 race in America for at least a decade once the Miami GP is on the schedule next year.
Coming into race weekend Max Verstappen holds a 6-point lead in the drivers championship over rival Lewis Hamilton with 262.5 points, followed by Valterri Bottas in 3rd, Lando Norris in 4th and Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull Racing Sergio Perez rounding out the top-5. Mercedes is currently leading the Constructors championship over RBR by 36 points with 433.5 followed by Mclaren, Ferrari and Alpine.
After last nights Qualifying sessions we saw Max and Lewis battle it out again on the track to claim pole position, even going wheel to wheel at one point then Lewis gets in front of Verstappen and Max gave him the ‘ol middle finger salute. I don’t have a dog in this fight because I’m team Mclaren “All day Every Day” but it seems like Hamilton is feeling the pressure a little bit of finally having another driver on the track that can actual beat him. He and Mercedes have been cruising to championships the past few years and with 6 races remaining he is on the outside looking in. Mercedes should be the faster car out there but it was Verstappen who claimed the all important pole position at COTA (Circuit of the Americas) last night. Will we see another Max victory where he leads from start to finish? Will Hamilton, who will start 2nd, be able to beat him off the start or will we see another team try to disturb things again?
The battle for ‘best of the rest’ (or 3rd place) is quickly turning into one of the more intriguing storylines of the season. Currently Mclaren holds a 7.5 point lead over Ferrari. With Lando’s great start to the season he made up the difference while Ricciardo was becoming used to his new car after changing teams the previous year from Renault. And it all came together for the team at Monza when Danny Ric took the checkered flag with Lando finishing right behind him to complete the 1/2 finish. But Ferrari has greatly improved from last year and the signing of Carlos Sainz Jr to come on as the #2 driver for Ferrari has proved to be a great signing. Almost too good.
LETS GOOOOO!
See, Ferrari has signed Charles Leclerc to a very lucrative long-term contract to be the #1 driver. The car is mainly designed to his specifications and to the way he prefers it and he has been with the team for multiple years giving him alot of time to get acclimated to the car. Yet with 6 races remaining on the 2021 schedule it is Sainz with a 1/2 point lead over teammate Leclerc for 6th place in the Drivers Championship. The same Sainz who just joined the team this year because the team made the commitment to Leclerc to be the #1 driver over former World Champion Sebastian Vettel the previous year. The team made that decision for a few reasons: mainly because Charles Leclerc is a young, extremely talented driver who is going to be one of the fastest on the track race in and race out. But also, as the #2 driver for Ferrari at the time, Leclerc was faster and outperforming the #1 driver Vettel. If Carlos continues to out perform Leclerc and finish out the year ahead of his teammate at seasons end will the team focus more and more attention to the Spaniard and take away from Leclerc? Or will the competion and consistency within the team just propel both drivers to be better versions of themselves and go into next season, with all the new regulations, as a real contender with 2 top drivers?
All I know, with Lando/Riccardo racing for McLaren and Leclerc/Sainz racing for Ferrari and the 2 teams are battling it out with each other for that 3rd spot, these last 6 races are going to be must watch.