The reigning equality between the two title contenders in 2021, Verstappen and Hamilton, means that their garage mates and their teamwork play a fundamental role in the final outcome with few races remaining.
It’s time to go back to the 2018 German Grand Prix to find Lewis Hamilton starting in the race in a position similar to Turkey 2021: for more than 3 years, the British seven-time champion has always been in the top ten drivers on the grid, a streak that has been interrupted because of a penalty for using an internal combustion engine more than what is legally allowed by regulations.
In said German GP, held at the Hockenheim circuit, the # 44 was unable to change gears when testing the exterior of the track with a jump on the grass on his return to the asphalt that wiped out the hydraulic system of his car, which is why the team radioed him to stop a W09 that was useless to push.
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Although then he ended up winning despite starting from 14th place, materializing a book comeback, in Istanbul ‘only’ has been able to recover 6 positions after starting 11th in a race starring the intermediate tires in their attempt to minimize damage in their fight at distance against Max Verstappen.
After Yuki Tsunoda, a rider who managed to retain Hamilton several laps from behind in the rain, ‘Checo’ Pérez was the one who managed to dodge the most bets of the reigning champion. His maneuvers not only served to help your teammate in the title race, allowing Verstappen to come out ahead of Hamilton after his stop, but also led both Red Bull drivers to the podium.
“Lewis was approaching very fast, at that time I had quite a few problems with my tires. He had a good rhythm and I thought maybe I would get ahead of myself, but in the end it ended up being a good fight and I was victorious “, confessed the pilot from Jalisco.