The sensational, close and near-unprecedentedly tense 2021 world championship is now entering the decisive final rounds in the Middle East. “If Lewis wins the last two races, he’ll win the championship. Indeed, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton is now just 8 points behind his Red Bull nemesis Max Verstappen, but apparently with a now widening performance advantage. Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko recognises the danger, but he is also playing down the reported performance difference between Formula 1’s two top teams. Mercedes’ big straightline speed advantage of Brazil, meanwhile, was suddenly significantly less in Qatar. What is true, however, is that the fresh engine, which was described as a Mercedes “rocket” by Marko after Brazil, was not used by Hamilton in Qatar. Lauda surmised: “That is a strong message to Red Bull.”.

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