Formula 1 Managing Director Ross Brawn believes the title race between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton "keeps on giving", and feels it's "finely poised" with two events to go. Hamilton's victory at the Qatar Grand Prix has cut Verstappen's lead in the Drivers' Championship to eight points. There are 52 points up for grabs in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. Verstappen could win the title next time out, but it would likely need Hamilton to retire from the race. Brawn gave credit for the way Hamilton conducted himself last weekend in Qatar as he delivered by taking pole position and the win. "It was a beautiful weekend for Lewis," Brawn wrote in his column for Formula1.com . "He dialled into the track very quickly and delivered the kind of accomplished performance in qualifying that we have come to expect. "On race day, he didn't put a foot wrong and very much deserved that win. It's left the championship even more finely poised than it was before. "What's great about this championship is we have this ebb and flow. We had a period where you thought Red Bull were going to run away with it and then Mercedes came back. "There are just eight points in it with two races and a maximum of 52 on the table. It's the title race that keeps on giving."
Damage limitation for Verstappen
Verstappen never threatened Hamilton in Qatar as he recovered from his five-place grid penalty with an excellent start, before overtaking Pierre Gasly and Fernando Alonso to move into second place. The Red Bull driver also took the extra point for the fastest lap of the race, and Brawn feels Verstappen did "the best job" possible. "Max had a great race as well," added Brawn. "I had the feeling Lewis had this under control, but who knows? With the start Max made, had that come from the front row of the grid rather than further back, we could have seen a closer contest. "These are the little things at this stage of the championship that are going to tip the balance. "It was damage limitation for Max and he did the best job he could have imagined from seventh on the grid."
Most read
