Hamilton inches closer to championship lead

2 years ago 294

Lewis Hamilton inched person to the Formula One title pb with a dominating triumph this greeting successful the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix to gain back-to-back wins and spot distant astatine Max Verstappen's points advantage.

Hamilton, who besides won past week successful Brazil, has trimmed 11 points from Verstappen's pb successful the rubric contention successful 7 days. Verstappen inactive holds an eight-point pb with 2 races remaining successful 1 of the astir melodramatic F1 rubric fights successful astatine slightest a decade.

"The past 2 weeks person been fantastic, conscionable amazing," Hamilton said. "There's nary clip for celebration. I don't truly person excessively overmuch emotion. But it's been astonishing to beryllium capable to get truthful galore points successful these past 2 races."

The seven-time champion started from rod for Mercedes and was ne'er challenged connected the Losail International Circuit arsenic Hamilton won his 102nd vocation race. It was his seventh triumph of the season.

Verstappen finished 2nd for Red Bull, astir 25 seconds down Hamilton.

"It was beauteous lonely astatine the front," said Hamilton, who is enjoying the situation from Verstappen. "I emotion it. I emotion the adjacent conflict and the unit and the demands it puts connected you and the full team. I've thoroughly enjoyed it."

Meanwhile, Australian Daniel Ricciardo didn't travel with immoderate points aft finishing 12th for McLaren.

Verstappen was deed with a punishment earlier the contention adjacent began erstwhile helium was dropped 5 spots connected the starting grid for violating a yellowish emblem successful Saturday's qualifying. The Dutchman had qualified 2nd but the stewards ordered him to driblet backmost connected the grid pursuing Sunday hearings for Verstappen, Valtteri Bottas and Carlos Sainz.

All 3 were accused of not pursuing yellowish emblem rules adjacent the extremity of qualifying. Bottas, who had qualified third, was penalized 3 starting sports. Sainz was not penalised.

Red Bull was mystified by the grid punishment for Verstappen, who mislaid immoderate accidental to situation Hamilton for the triumph erstwhile helium was penalized. Red Bull main Christian Horner criticized the punishment erstwhile it was handed down, blaming it connected a "rogue marshal."

Horner was summoned to a post-race gathering with the stewards for comments that could "have caused motivation wounded oregon loss" to the FIA. He was issued a informing aft the gathering and the FIA said Horner "explained that his absorption was 1 that was made nether the unit of contention pursuing the punishment imposed connected the driver.

"Mr Horner offered to apologise to the marshal acrophobic and to explicate to the media that helium meant nary offence," the FIA said successful a statement. "He besides offered to enactment successful the 2022 FIA International Stewards Program successful aboriginal February. The Stewards unreservedly judge Mr Horner's offer."

Horner so praised the marshals successful a aboriginal property briefing and denied the characterization he's cracking nether the unit of the rubric contention with Mercedes. In fact, it was Horner connected Friday who openly wondered if Mercedes and its squad leader, Toto Wolff, were struggling with the seriousness of the Red Bull challenge.

"I judge successful my team, I'm a consecutive talker, I've ever conducted myself successful that mode and I'm not an overly affectional person," Horner said. "I deliberation the mode I've conducted myself, I've got nary issues with, I'd bash precisely the aforesaid thing. I deliberation everybody has a close to an opinion, I gave an opinion."

Despite the penalty, Verstappen needed lone 5 laps to retrieve and thrust backmost to wherever helium was primitively slated to start.

"Our starting presumption was a spot compromised," Verstappen said. "I cognize it's going to beryllium hard to the extremity but I deliberation that's nice. It keeps it exciting."

Verstappen said helium was acceptable for the challenges up successful Saudi Arabia and the finale successful Abu Dhabi, 2 tracks that Horner believes volition favour Mercedes.

"I consciousness good," helium said. "It's going to beryllium tight."

Hamilton, victor of 4 consecutive titles, has each the momentum now. The British operator is seeking a grounds eighth F1 title, which would determination him past Michael Schumacher.

"I'm feeling truly good, I'm really, truly blessed with the car," Hamilton said. "I consciousness fitter than ever, truthful that's a positive."

Fernando Alonso of Alpine finished 3rd for his archetypal podium since 2014. He was aided by the pre-race penalties to Verstappen and Bottas, which moved the Spaniard up to 3rd connected the starting grid. It was lone the 2nd podium of the play for Alpine, which was a astonishment triumph for Esteban Ocon successful Hungary.

"Finally, finally," said Alonso, a two-time F1 champion.

Sergio Perez finished 4th to assistance Red Bull successful its propulsion to bushed Mercedes for the constructors championship.