Live Commentary of the 2021 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

 

Two formation laps due to an issue maybe with the steering wheel of the Sergio Perez, who stopped at the side of the track.

 

HAAS cars are struggling with grip when accelerating.

 

Leclerc shows that Ferrari can handle the top 3 overtaking the Bottas on P3.

 

A little bit later Bottas took back the P3 from Lecrelrc and then Norris went to fight for P4. At the first attempt, both cars of Ferrari and McLaren went head to head and Leclerc managed to keep the P4. When the drivers went on the start/final straight then Norris overtook Leclerc.

 

During the free practice and qualification sessions, Norris showed that he can manage in the top 3.

 

Meanwhile, The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team looked like is hidden in the shadow. As they couldn’t manage to get Pole position both silver arrows started from P2 and P3 respectively with Hamilton and Bottas.

 

During Lap 13 a lot of drivers went to the pit for tires change.

Lewis Hamilton changed the mediums with hard tires on Lap 14. He gets out of the box on P4.

 

After the pit stop, Norris lost his P4 and went on P8.  On Lap 14 he recorded the fastest lap.

 

On Lap 16 Hamilton is already on P3 and recorded the fastest lap.

 

Sainz pit stop time 2.7 seconds on lap 16. He gets out of the box on mediums.

 

Bottas pit stop time 2.2s on lap 17. He also went on hard tires. Mercedes probably will stay with a one-stop strategy. If something is going to happen they might go on soft for the last few laps.

 

Verstappen in the box on Lap 18. He went on mediums and his pit stop time was 2.7 seconds.

 

Due to the right strategy, Hamilton went on P1. Verstappen managed to get out of the box on P2 medium tires and P3 is for Bottas.

 

On Lap 19 Bottas’s tiers are two laps old on P3, Verstappen’s tires are one lap old P2, and Hamilton leads on hard tires 5 lap old.

 

Peres managed to P4 starting from the pit lane. His advance is +7 position. On lap 20 he went on hard tires and went out of the box on P14.

 

 

Lap 21 It’s is nice to see Fernando Alonso on P8 who was the very first driver on the race track during Free Practice  1. And just a few seconds later Sainz overtook Alonso and Vettel also get his chance to overtake Alonso driving on P11. Vettel P10 and Perez P9, Sainz P8, Ricardo P7, 

 

Mazepin had a puncher with a McLaren car and went out of the track at the begging of the race. That made a safety car to be deployed.

 

 

Hamilton went on Hard tires on lap 29 for 2.5 seconds pit stop time. On the exit, he was on P3. Bottas P2 with a strategy to stay long. Verstappen is the leader of the race.

 

Lap 31 Bottas is in the box for 10.9 seconds due to a not-lifted car. The mechanic had to go back and that cost a lot of time. Tire change – a new set of hard tires.

 

Lap 32 Hamilton is already on P2 and on the green time stamp he’s achieving Max Verstappen.

 

Lap 33 Bottas P5 +5. seconds to Norris P4.

 

Lap 34 Fernando Alonso retirement of the race. Rear brakes failure.

 

Norris for 3.9 seconds in the box for tires change on hard. Went out of the box P6.

 

Lap 35 Hamiton is +17.450 behind Verstappen.

 

Lap 36 Verstappen on the radio “if my pace is good – keep me out”.

 

Lap 37 Hamiton is +15.692 behind Verstappen. Does Verstappen’s strategy is going to work?!

 

Lap 38 Hamilton is +14.303. Sainz changed the mediums with hard tires. Get out on P9.

 

Lap 39 Hamilton is +13.606 behind Verstappen. Perez for 2.3-sec pit-stop for new mediums.

 

 

Lap 40 Verstappen in the pit. Time 1.9 seconds pit-stop. He gets out on P2 on hard tires. Hamilton P1. Now, Verstappen is +8.656 seconds. Bottas P3 with time +7.314.

 

Lap 41 Verspapen is +6.604 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton. Max set the best lap time.

 

Lap 42 Hamilton 1^st, Verstappen +5.988, Bottas +10.496.

 

Lap 43 Verstappen is managed to +5.039 behind Hamilton and Max is -0.488 faster than Lewis.

 

Lap 44 Verstappen is +4.866 behind Lewis Hamilton.

 

Lap 45 Yellow Flag - Ocon is hit by Vettel stopping for turn 1. Green Flag both drivers can go ahead.

 

Lap 46 Verstappen is +4.009 behind Hamilton. Max manage to decrease the distance to 3.3 seconds during that lap.

Lap 47 Verstappen is +2.997 second behind Hamilton. Forcast to overtake in 5 laps.

 

Race control Vettel and Ocon accident is under investigation.

 

Lap 48 Max Verstappen is +2.666 behind Lewis. Bottas time is +14.610

 

Lap 49 Lewis Hamiton lead the race but his pace is decreasing. Max is going back with a time gap of +2.307.

 

Lewis was informed that Max is coming. Hamilton said, “leave it to me”.

 

 

Lap 50 Max is +1.640 behind Lewis. 6 laps left. Who will win?!

 

Lap 51 Max is -0.461 faster than Lewis Hamilton. Lewis went wide out of the track. The fight starts here.

 

Lap 52 Max is much closer to Lewis. Verstappen’s time is +0.358. Traffic is going ahead of Lewis and Max.

 

Lewis said “No grip at the rear”

 

Lap 53 Verstappen overtakes Lewis but on very wide and of the tack. Then Max returns the P1 to Lewis. That overtake for sure would be investigated if Max didn’t return the P1 to Lewis.

 

Lap 54 Verstappen is +0.735 behind Lewis.

 

Lap 55 Bottas is going to set the fastest lap of the race changing his tire set on soft. Verstappen is +0.744 and goes slow up to +0.963 at the end of the lap.

 

Lap 56 Final fight. Lewis and Max are so close. Verstappen’s time +.0669. Does Lewis is going to make it?!

 

 

And the winner is Lewis Hamilton P1 1:32:03.897, Max Verstappen P2 +0.745 seconds behind. Valtteri Bottas set fastest lap 1:32.090 P3. Winning constructor – Mercedes. Lando Norris P4.

 

 

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen respectively on P1 and P2 on the final lap on the 2021 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.