How Max Verstappen’s Jeddah F1 Shunt is Akin to Lewis Hamilton’s 2007 Title Botch-Up

With two more races before the season ends, every move and every position matters. Especially for Max Verstappen, who had a devastating run in the qualifying session yesterday. Although a fragile eight points in the lead, Verstappen’s possible pole position start remains heartbreaking. Although flipping through the pages of the history books, Lewis Hamilton had a very similar fallacy.

While the true weight of Verstappen’s avoidable error will only be known after the championship is declared. However, Hamilton knows the situation all too well. It was the 2007 Chinese GP, the penultimate round of the season; Hamilton had the title within reach, and then it was gone.

As the rookie slid into the gravel and out of the race in China, a historic moment was his no more. And all Hamilton could do was wonder about what could have been.

Reflecting on Lewis Hamilton in the 2007 Chinese GP

Going into the race, Lewis Hamilton had a seemingly comfortable lead on the board. He was 12 points ahead of his McLaren teammate, Fernando Alonso. The Brit had another contender- Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen; Hamilton was 17 points ahead of the Finn.

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With 20 points awaiting him atop the rostrum, even a P3 would have guaranteed Hamilton the title. He had pole position, and he mastered the mixed conditions of the track. Everything was perfect.

Until it wasn’t.

Hamilton’s McLaren machine was harsh on the tires, especially when compared to the Prancing Horses. By lap 26, the struggle began; one that would only end four laps later. His fading, wet tires were beginning to give in. With Alonso behind him, and Massa charging as well, Hamilton’s growing lack of pace was bad news. Soon, he was five seconds slower and had surrendered his lead.

Adding to his misery, the pitlane wasn’t as dry as the track. With bad tires and a wet visor, Hamilton was blinded. The pitlane curved left; Hamilton lost grip and ran wide. The race ended there for the McLaren rookie. It would go on to be a moment that would haunt McLaren and Lewis Hamilton, as the title painfully slipped out of his hand.

Will Max Verstappen bear a similar fate?

Looking at the circuit, anything is possible. There are so many factors weighing in with the nature of the circuit itself. A street circuit with high-speed corners, little to no run-off area, and a narrow playing field- yellow flag and safety cars are expected to happen; let alone a DNF.

If either championship protagonist ends their race ahead of the checkered flag, it will be the end of the championship battle. If Verstappen’s qualifying lap sets a lesson to learn, it’s that it is a very low-risk game ahead of them. While there is all to play for, there is all to lose.

Despite the more scary storylines going into the race, the Saudi Arabian GP promises entertainment. With a season as such and a race as such, a thrilling climax to the battle awaits Formula 1.

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