F1 title fight to reach fever pitch
Hamilton, Verstappen head into finale tied
The epic title fight between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen could not be closer.
Literally.
Ahead of the 23rd and final Grand Prix of the 2021 Formula 1 campaign, the two championship protagonists find themselves tied with 369.5 points.
The drivers’ championship has not been tied ahead of the season’s finale since 1974.
Safe to say history will be made in Abu Dhabi this weekend, culminating in the finale Sunday at 8 a.m. ET. ESPN will broadcast the race.
Here’s why you should tune in, even if you’ve never watched Formula 1.
What is Formula 1?
Formula 1 is considered among the highest level of professional auto racing in the world. It is the top class of singleseater racing sanctioned by the FIA — the governing body for many auto racing events across the globe.
In Formula 1, 10 teams and 20 drivers — two drivers per team — compete for two championships. The first championship is the drivers’ championship, which is won by the racer with the most points at the end of the season. Points are earned based on your classification in a Grand Prix race.
The second championship is the constructors’ title, which is awarded to the team with the most aggregate points collected by its two drivers. Formula 1 teams include familiar brands such as Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.
Grand Prix events are held from March through December in countries and sovereign states across the world from France to Japan, Canada and Azerbaijan. Starting next season, there will be two races held in the United States.
Why should I watch?
Even if you don’t consider yourself a fan of motorsports, Formula 1 has plenty to offer. There are personalities for fans to connect and there is drama that rivals major U.S. sports.
Still, the actual competition is the bread and butter of Formula 1. Cars drive at speeds exceeding 200 mph on circuits that feature up to 27 turns. Each track is unique and offers its own set of challenges to drivers. Some are even street courses that run through the roads of actual cities. If your only frame of reference to motorsport is NASCAR, you’ll have your mind blown just by the quality and diversity of the tracks.
The actual Grand Prix takes place Sunday, but drivers must first qualify for their track position Saturday. All 20 drivers compete for the fastest lap time in a speed-fueled shootout. It’s an event of its own.
There are so many storylines to follow. Even beneath the championship fight, other teams are battling for places in the midfield that greatly impact their budgets and cost allowances for the next season. Racers on expiring contracts are auditioning for their next drive.
Formula 1 races are also easier to watch in the U.S. than ever before. ESPN has a rights agreement with Sky Sports, which broadcasts Formula 1 in Great Britain and beyond.
Can I catch up before the last race?
You’ve missed a lot, but you absolutely can get up to speed (pun intended) before Sunday.
The biggest thing to understand is the title fight between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. It’s been brewing all season long and the two have come together on the track multiple times already this season, neither willing to yield track position to the other.
Hamilton is the Tom Brady of Formula 1. He has already won seven drivers’ championships, tied for the most in history. Verstappen, meanwhile, is the young buck looking for his first crown.
For much of the season, it looked as though Verstappen had control of the championship. But Hamilton stormed back with a masterclass drive in Brazil last month that shifted the tides.
They clashed again Sunday in Jeddah,with Verstappen clinging to an eight-point lead in the standings. Hamilton crashed his Mercedes into the rear of Verstappen’s car, damaging his Red Bull in the process. Hamilton, who would go on to win the race, ultimately passed Verstappen with six laps remaining in the chaotic race.
Verstappen vas visibly incensed after his second-place finish, walking straight off the podium without taking part in the traditional celebration with Hamilton or Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas.
The emotions will undoubtedly bleed into the Abu Dhabi race.