Brazil: post-race analysis 2021
Well, I predicted Hamilton would have a great race, and, just like Emperor Palpatine, everything proceeded as I had foreseen. Both bets came off, which was a relief.
Off the line it was the reverse of the sprint race as Bottas got edged out by Verstappen to immediately lose the lead, and dipping a tyre onto the turf slowed him sufficiently that Perez was able to pass him too. Meanwhile, BFFs Sainz and Norris suffered woe when the Briton tried a move that might be politely termed optimistic, putting the Spaniard down a few spots and giving Norris himself a puncture that had him dead last.
Hamilton had a stonking first lap, passing many and aided by Norris’ misfortune to end it all the way up in 5th. He gained another place on the next lap and was then gifted the final podium position by his team mate.
The Red Bulls were still a few seconds up the road but then Tsunoda had a very clumsy passing attempt on Stroll that littered the first corner with debris and brought out the safety car. Naturally, this closed things up and Hamilton was right behind Perez. He soon passed the Mexican but held up long enough that Verstappen had pulled a few more seconds.
In the first pit stops it was Mercedes who acted first with Hamilton (they left Bottas out), severely reducing Verstappen’s lead. The Dutchman duly complained about this and, in the second round, the Red Bull drivers pitted first. However, Bottas passed Perez in the first round, belatedly, when a VSC emerged and he got a cheap gain of time.
When the Red Bulls pitted Mercedes had a choice of going for a second stop and losing track position or retaining the 1-2 and trying to hold on. They ended up pitting, something Bottas felt had thrown away the perfect result. Hamilton was just behind Verstappen but got very close. For lap after lap he was within a second in the DRS zones but struggled in the twisty middle of the lap.
The contentious moment came when Hamilton tried passing Verstappen on the outside at the end of the second DRS zone. Verstappen ran him so wide that the pair of them left the circuit and, for a lap or so, the Briton’s tyres were buggered and Verstappen pulled a small margin away.
The stewards deemed no investigation necessary. I have to say I was very surprised by this. I try to maintain strict neutrality (easier to bet that way), and my take is that Verstappen both ran Hamilton wide and deserved an investigation if not a penalty. But then, I thought Hamilton should’ve had a serious penalty rather than a slap on the wrist at Silverstone…
A few laps later Verstappen defended at the first corner but exposed himself to risk at the second DRS zone and Hamilton made no mistakes, claiming the lead and then cruising away to a particularly glorious victory.
Bottas was catching Verstappen for the last dozen laps but had too much ground to make up. Plenty of free air enabled Red Bull to box Perez with softs and seize the fastest lap point away from Hamilton.
Behind our leading quartet we had the Ferraris in a slightly lonely No Man’s Land, Leclerc just ahead of Sainz. Took a lot of points, though, and handy in their midfield battle with McLaren. Gasly ended up 7th, with Alpine having a good day (Ocon 8th, Alonso 9th). Norris claimed the last point but his team mate had to retire with an engine failure (power loss) which may concern Mercedes.
So, Verstappen’s lead is cut to 14 points with three races left. Still the favourite for the title but the next tracks may well suit the Mercedes. Yet Mercedes will fear engine woe befalling them.
The next race is Qatar, just a week away.
Morris Dancer
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