Formula 1
Hamilton has "moved into overdrive" in F1 title battle - Brundle
Lewis Hamilton has "moved into overdrive" in the latter part of the 2021 Formula 1 season, according to ex-F1 driver and TV pundit Martin Brundle.
Pablo Elizalde Oleg Karpov
Edited: Dec 2, 2021, 11:04 AM
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The Mercedes driver took victory in the Russian GP at the end of September before he went without a win in the next three events, seeing championship rival Max Verstappen increase his lead in the standings to 19 points.
But, after fitting a new engine in the Brazilian GP, Hamilton took a superb win despite starting from 10th on the grid after a penalty.
The seven-time champion then went on to dominate the following race in Qatar to reduce the gap to Verstappen to just eight points ahead of the final two races in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.
Brundle reckons that moving up a gear in the second half of the season has always been a Hamilton trait, and that both him and his Mercedes team have done it again this year.
"It's almost like he's moved into overdrive," Brundle told selected media including Motorsport.com. "He used to do that after the summer break, and people just didn't see which way he went when he took his Mercedes titles.
"And I think he's done the same again, probably a little bit later in the day, and Mercedes have done the same thing as Lewis has done.
"And all of a sudden, you wonder if he's not now the favourite for the championship with this kind of momentum.
"But it only needs some kind of trip-up, reliability, contact, puncture, whatever, and Max can take the title next weekend. Probably won't, but could.
"So it's that finely balanced. And I think the ebb and flow of the season is what Red Bull will be very much hoping for."
Hamilton raced with an older engine in Qatar, but will have the more powerful unit he used in Brazil at his disposal again in this weekend's inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, arrives in Parc Ferme
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
Despite that, Brundle doesn't think the British driver will be able to dominate the way he did in Qatar, but he does expect Mercedes to be the team to beat again.
"No, I don't," Brundle said when asked if he expected Hamilton to dominate this weekend. "Because I think they used that engine hard, you know, and Mercedes have had a what they call deg, degradation of their motors.
"Red Bull seemed to have a rear wing that works incredibly well at some tracks and not others and that they seem a little bit two-dimensional in that respect.
"I know there's eight points in it, and the points mean everything. But who would you put your money on? I mean, it is literally the one incident can change it, but I don't think they'll be as dominant as Brazil, but I still think there'll be the car to beat in Saudi Arabia."
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The season finale in Abu Dhabi, which Verstappen won last year, will take place on a revised layout as a result of changes aimed at improving the show, and Brundle reckons the tweaks will benefit the characteristics of Hamilton's car.
"That's changed dramatically," he said of Abu Dhabi. "Red Bull dominated there last year, but you have to remember that Lewis was still recovering from COVID and was not on top form at all. And Max had the run of the place.
"The track's changed a lot, it's much faster, it's about 11 seconds a lap faster.
"When it comes to high speed, high or higher speed circuits, the Mercedes looks to have the upper hand.
"So these next two circuits I'm sure Mercedes is feeling pretty confident there."
Watch the Saudi Arabian GP live, only on Sky Sports F1 in the UK on Sunday 5th December.
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