The errors Verstappen isn't making when it matters in F1 2021

OPINION: Max Verstappen is challenging for his first Formula 1 world title against a rival in Lewis Hamilton who has seven championships to his name. The Red Bull driver made a string of mistakes early in the year, but now appears to be peaking in high-pressured moments just when it really matters. This could be a key new strength in his quest for championship glory.

Alex Kalinauckas Nov 10, 2021, 1:39 PM

Upd: Nov 12, 2021, 12:55 PM

There was one clear chance to get ahead, but no guarantee he’d get another. The move would require supreme skill and confidence, with a heavily scrutinised track limit marker to worry about. Get it right and a crucial grand prix victory would be his.

Max Verstappen got that exact scenario wrong at the end of the Bahrain Grand Prix, slipping off the road right when it mattered and handing Lewis Hamilton victory in the season opener – against the run of play. But he nailed it at the start of the Mexican GP last weekend, where his double pass on the front-row-sharing Mercedes cars was one of the overtaking moves of the season so far.

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Author Alex Kalinauckas

Alex Kalinauckas is Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, covering every Formula 1 race since the start of 2020. After completing a master's degree in journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London in 2014, he worked for a range of motorsport and technology publications while covering national racing as an Autosport freelancer.

A lifelong motorsport fan - no one in his family can explain quite how or why such a development first occurred - Alex joined the Autosport staff in April 2017 as the magazine’s Assistant Editor covering Formula 2 and GP3, before being made Formula E correspondent and Autosport.com’s Plus Editor in March 2018. He lives in north-east London and is constantly frustrated by the Central Line.