SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX - HAMILTON AND BOTTAS MADE IT A P.1 AND P.3, WITH VERSTAPPEN AT P.2, AFTER ....

 

...The plentiful debris cleared and teams and racers' communication chattering had abated.

so, what is there to be said about the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which was fought out at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit? 

Shall we not declare it, 'the Grand Prix from Hell'? Or, 'the Endurance Grand Prix'? Yes, there were seemingly endless breath-stopping adrenalinised moments, times when we watched the fearless and apparently fearless racers. 

As they rapidly made their way through the undulating corners and valkyrie-inhabited walls surrounding circuit. 

Racing, they were, as if they and their gallant 4-wheeled steeds were programmed to avoid hitting and crashing into this and that opposing shock-absorbing wall. 

Even though there were occasions when glitches did penetrate the symmetry between some of the racers and their cars, team control centres and the circuit, and leading to the race-stopping embrace between car and wall. 

And the ensuing VSCs, and SC and Red Flagging and race re-starting.

And so it was, that while all the racers had to take on the challenging of racing through the gauntlet of endurance and tragedy which is the greater attribute of the Corniche Circuit. 

Hamilton and Verstappen, the two contenders for the 2021 World Drivers Championship, had to fight an additional battle between themselves, for the race win.

And did they, Hamilton and Verstappen, did live up to expectations of the drama, anxiety and excitement to be had from watching them? 

Yes, they surely did deliver that and more, as we watched Max taking the race lead from Lewis, who took the opportunity of the first serious mishap to pit for a tyre change. 

An opportunity which did began to look misplaced, as the race was red-flagged in the same episode, in order to give the marshals the required amount of time to clear the circuit of the debris. 

But there was to follow a seemingly endless number of VSC, SCs and red-flagged incidents which  added more drama and high-anxiety moments and episodes to the 'Grand Prix from Hell.

All of this, coupled with the discomforting aura of smouldering fire between Hamilton and Verstappen, and the latter having incurred a couple of penalties during the race, contributed towards what could be the most chaotic Grand Prix in this 2021 Formula 1 season. 

Even if it has resulted in the setting up of what could be a most thrilling final race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. 

This being achieved by Hamilton having won the SAGP, and, by having achieved the fastest lap of the race, and in so doing, equalling the Championship points between him and Verstappen.

And so, as we look forward to the season coming to an end at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, not knowing whether it is the current World Champion, Hamilton, or the contender, Verstappen, who will leave with the honours at the end. 

Let me say, A Very Big Thank You to all the racers and their teams who have participated in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. 

I know that the Monaco and the Baku Circuits are strong contenders for being 'most challenging circuit', but I suspect that the J.C. circuit might just have the edge over them.