With his dominant victory over rival Max Verstappen at the debut Qatar Grand Prix, the world champion has ensured this gripping and finely poised battle hangs in the balance. Hamilton won with a consummate, controlled run from pole to flag, inch‑perfect with pace that Verstappen could not challenge. Verstappen’s Red Bull simply could not match the pace of the Mercedes but he did at least stay close to Hamilton all race while they left the field far in their wake. “We just didn’t have the pace to match them,” he said. Hamilton was four-tenths up in qualifying and enjoyed a definitive advantage in race pace. The race was Hamilton’s from the off, especially after Verstappen’s penalty meant he could not challenge for the lead going into the first corner.

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