The tension is enormous. There are only six races left until the end of the F1 World and Verstappen leads the general by 6 points over Hamilton. And between them, the rivalry is enormous. The Englishman kicked the Dutch off the track in Silverstone and they both collided in Monza. From that accident at the Italian GP, penalties for engine change have prevented them from meeting again in the race. They should do it again this Sunday at the United States GP, on Austin. But in the land of rodeo and cowboys, the gunmen’s duel became even more tense than expected due to the pique they staged when no one expected it.
It was in the second free practice, a session in which there are usually no confrontations. But when things are as red-hot as their struggle is, every moment is part of their incessant psychological battle. It has been clear throughout the year. Their fight for the title starts from Thursday at a press conference, where one shoots and the other responds with another bullet of the same caliber. A mental battle and constant pressure that moved yesterday into the first minutes of FP2.
Verstappen he lifted his foot at the end of the last sector to prepare for his thrown lap. There, the pilots have a gentlemen’s agreement and do not usually overtake. But right behind was Hamilton. And between the two applicants, no trace of the aforementioned unwritten agreement. Lewis did not want to wait and did not hesitate to take the place to launch his turn before Verstappen, thus hurting the Dutch. Max answered from the outside and they got in parallel, accelerating with all their might on the straight, almost touching. Sparks flew. The tension was enormous. No one was loosening up. It seemed more like a race than free ones. And finally, Hamilton, who had the inside, got his way. Meanwhile, Max lifted his foot in resignation and hit the radio button. He would laugh out loud and exclaim without hesitation: “Stupid idiot!”. And in turn, he dedicated a comb to Lewis, who the day before said that he never spoke much to the young pilot. They usually dedicate a simple ‘hello’ in the paddock that yesterday became a finger in bad taste.
This Saturday, both battle for pole after Perez led a second session in which neither Hamilton nor Verstappen could set a time. Hamilton had his time invalidated for exceeding the track limits, a great time with which he would have led the session. And Verstappen aborted both of his attempts to run into traffic. Despite this, they are the two favorites. With Bottas with 5 penalty spots, they are destined to start first and second this Sunday before a first tight corner in which no one will want to loosen. You know how it can end.
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Final classification of the second practice of the United States GP of F1 2021
Bottas, worrying engine change
Mercedes can be satisfied with the pace shown on the first day in USA. Hamilton He seemed to have everything in hand to get the best time yesterday, and if he did not, it was because he exceeded the track limits. However, within the star’s box there could be more atmosphere of concern than joy after it was announced that Bottas would ride his sixth combustion engine of the season in Austin, which will cost you 5 penalty spots on the starting grid this Sunday. The most worrying thing for those of the star is not the penalty itself, that it will complicate things for Valtteri to help Hamilton against Max. It goes further. If the Nordic has had to change this element, it could be a clear symptom of problems in his propeller. Remember that Bottas He has put in 3 new combustion engines in the last 5 races, and that cannot be a good sign for his neighbor in the box. Hamilton.
Lewis debuted this new component in the last race in Turkey, with 7 rounds to go. Now there are six remaining and the doubts about the reliability of the Mercedes engine are great. Another change in one of the next appointments would mean a sanction that could give more wings to Verstappen
Double scare for Alonso and Sainz is 9th
Very difficult day for Fernando Alonso at the wheel of your Alpine on the first day of United States GP. The Spaniard was only able to shoot the final quarter hour of the first free practice after detecting a problem in his car on his first lap. Apparently, a badly placed cuff caused a leak, and luckily for him, the setback could be solved. This prevented him from fulfilling his program on a very bumpy track where it was essential to ride a lot to find the right settings. In FP2, the man from Oviedo was 13th and ended the day with an exit from the track that led him to lightly hit the wall. Two scares on a strange day. This Saturday he will look to be in a complicated Q3 in Austin.
For its part, Ferrari left good feelings and wants to fight to be the best of the rest after Mercedes and Red Bull. The objective of the Italians is complex, to surpass Mclaren that yesterday in FP2 accelerated, with Norris in 2nd position and Ricciardo in the 5th. Leclerc was 7th and Sainz was 9th.
McLaren should be better suited to this track, as was made clear in FP2, however. Ferrari he hopes to be closer to the orange cars this Saturday in qualifying and tomorrow in the race thanks to his new engine. At stake, key points for the third position of the Builders World.