Hamilton has advantage on Verstappen: 'He knows how to win'

17:51, 11 Dec 2021
30 Comments

Max Verstappen has the advantage of starting from pole position at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon. Emerson Fittipaldi, however, is convinced that the Dutchman will find it very difficult to keep Lewis Hamilton behind him.

Hamilton seemed to have the best chance to set the fastest time in qualifying, but it was Verstappen who took pole position in Q3. The result was a lot of happiness for the Red Bull Racing team and disappointment for Mercedes. According to Fittipaldi a lot can still happen.

The former Formula 1 driver points to the experience Hamilton brings to the table. The seven-time world champion knows better than anyone what it is like to fight for winning the World Championship and is expected to do the right thing when something happens to him during the race.

Hamilton and Verstappen battle it out in Abu Dhabi

Fittipaldi is sure that this part in the World Championship is going to make the difference. "Lewis always comes back from difficult situations," Fittipaldi stated in conversation with Sky Sports. "He knows how to win. Max, on the other hand, is inexperienced and a very aggressive driver. If he is in a difficult situation, it will be difficult for him to recover."

30 Comments
Uchat 12 December 2021 at 03:32+ 1

Lewis will win... Max pick the wrong time to try it on... when Lewis get the 8 and unless he comes out and say he wants 10...then Max or anyone else can step forward...GET IN THERE LEWIS

User Avatar
Stevesyd 12 December 2021 at 07:38+ 36119

There is no wrong time to be recognised as the best driver in F1 since Senna.
Best driver v best car.
The old man is just the passenger along for the ride.
Max owns him.

User Avatar
Stevesyd 11 December 2021 at 22:34+ 36119

Many astute, long time F1 observers did in fact correctly predict the old man would crumble under the pressure in qualifying regardless of the rocket at his disposal.
Having said that, despite his exposed average skills it will be be a different story on race day with the 30km/h advantage over the entire race. It will be a monumental task even for the brilliant Max to overcome.
Rocket 44 should cruise to a comfortable win with any current F1 driver in the seat.

4Nomenol 11 December 2021 at 21:59+ 5

Simply put, Garbage!

Seejay2 11 December 2021 at 21:07+ 385

The only advantage Hamilton might have is tyre wear. But verstappen must be slight favourite for the championship atmo. Still so close to call tho.

Carolyn Peterkin Woody 12 December 2021 at 07:21+ 7900

I'm going with experience!

User Avatar
Stevesyd 11 December 2021 at 20:42+ 36119

Mercedes SANDBAGGING.
?

Dzeep 11 December 2021 at 19:49+ 539

May the best driver win, on track.

Just remember, Max’ s Belgium “win” was a gift from the very same people Red Bull is bashing every single day?

Prats_1099 11 December 2021 at 18:58+ 588

Lol.. What a joke

Carolyn Peterkin Woody 11 December 2021 at 18:44+ 7900

Lewis is going to win. Don't forget Hamilton won a race where he started from 20th because of the new engine and made it to 5th and further got a 5-second penalty and started the race at 10th. HE WON THAT RACE. Was that Brazil? RBR made a mistake by starting the race on the soft tires. ( they had to) The Mediums as the way to go. He has guaranteed Lewis the win tomorrow. Max front-loads his tricks. Lewis brings it home at the end. We all know that. Hungary 2019 all over again!

User Avatar
Stevesyd 11 December 2021 at 20:45+ 36119

Blah blah blah

User Avatar
kingpeppermint 11 December 2021 at 22:49+ 4404

@Carolyn Peterkin Woody +666211-12-2021 17:44
I wouldn't put my money on that, matter of fact i wouldn't put my money on either, because it is so close.
Peter Windors latest video makes an interesting point saying that Red Bull spend much more time on determining which tires to use etc. so his money is on Red Bull. i guess it's very hard to say. Let's hope is not Hamilton winning by craslington like he did in Silverstone.

Carolyn Peterkin Woody 12 December 2021 at 07:14+ 7900

Nope- Bottas will do the crashing this time. Oops. He has nothing to lose. Just kidding. I don't think there will be a crash and I think Lewis will win. Max has to come in to get rid of the soft. It's a 23-second pit stop so Hamilton will make great strides while he is in front. He will change to softs near the end of the race, It's that simple. Of course, I could be totally wrong, but that's the fun of it. None of us knows what is going to happen. Just enjoy the race!!!

Carolyn Peterkin Woody 12 December 2021 at 07:20+ 7900

Max put his car into the path of a car going extremely fast and he could have used the runoff. Max expects everyone to move for him. Lewis did not and he did not have to. He was in front of Max and he ain't in a Haas.

User Avatar
Lewis HAM-ilton 11 December 2021 at 18:37+ 2726

Even I find this article stupid even though it's about me man

norgen77 11 December 2021 at 18:12+ 998

Should be an easy win for Ham, he has the faster car and the better tire strategy.

User Avatar
kingpeppermint 11 December 2021 at 18:47+ 4404

@norgen77 +31711-12-2021 17:12
Better strategy remains to be seen wouldn't be the first time Mercedes or Red bull messes up. And then we also have the unpredictable thing like how Bottas tire went a few races ago.

pepo109 11 December 2021 at 18:06+ 544

Let's all just agree on the following:
It is because of Max and Max alone that this season has been an absolute gem from start to finish. There has not been one boring race all season and i pity the television makers that have to make a 60-minute highlights show of the 2021 F1 season. It is sheer impossible! Even a 3-hour show would fall short!
Max and Max alone revived F1 while it's been on life support for all these years due to a LouLou in a rocket ship, knitting a sweater for daddy while on cruise control.....
No-one in F1 history has ever deserved that title more than Max; in fact, the FIA should erect a statue of Max outside Silverstone for being the savior of F1 !

Frans Kamstra-2 11 December 2021 at 17:56+ 19904

yeah, because max never had any setback this season in the fight for the championship. and 7 years is way to little experience for doing this

User Avatar
Scissmmm 11 December 2021 at 17:55+ 18252

Lol, what a joke Lewis hasn't fought for a title in years. And Max has plenty of experience in F1 and other series. Why is Lewis never called an agressive rider? He crashed so many times when he was younger and still to this day he takes other drivers out yet a lot more subtile.

Frans Kamstra-2 11 December 2021 at 19:04+ 19904

https://9gag.com/gag/a0ZjDjQ?ref=android

You mean this?

User Avatar
Bret 11 December 2021 at 19:25+ 43891

Omg. That clip is worrisome. Hope lewis wont try his signature move tomorrow.

OnTheLimit 11 December 2021 at 22:47+ 3768

He's got the Pitt maneuver down.

User Avatar
Scissmmm 11 December 2021 at 20:33+ 18252

Something like that. ^^

Seejay2 11 December 2021 at 21:04+ 385

Hamilton has had 9 collisions/accidents in 14 years, verstappen 14 accidents/collisions in 6 years. You make less sense than the article itself.

Wilco Kamminga 11 December 2021 at 22:09+ 576

Rookie Lewis started when he was 23.

In his first 5 years he had >>35

Seejay2 11 December 2021 at 22:57+ 385

Scissm mentioned crashes rather than incidents, verstappens had 14 collisions/accidents ending in dnf in his first 6 years. He's crashed more times than an old Atari. Hamilton had 7 in his first 6 years. I'm not sure why you mentioned Hamiltons f1 debut age. But if Max does win this year who has he actually beaten? A 32yr old Lewis, 32yr old Bottas and a 31yr old Perez.

User Avatar
Bret 11 December 2021 at 17:55+ 43891

Max has the most wins this season. So this article is balony. Max just needs to win this race

DIVERGENT 11 December 2021 at 17:55+ 9887

All I can do is laugh at this article ??.

User Avatar
Bret 11 December 2021 at 17:56+ 43891

Exactly. I did too. Ridiculous article. Sometimes they print anything.