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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B
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Opinion

The mistakes Red Bull cannot afford to repeat in F1 2021's title fight climax

OPINION: Red Bull has had Formula 1’s fastest package for most of 2021, but in several of the title run-in events it has wasted the RB16B’s potential. It cannot afford to do so again with Lewis Hamilton motoring back towards Max Verstappen in the drivers’ standings with two rounds remaining

Momentum is critical in motorsport. There's the obvious reason of physics, but it's also a tangible perception stemming from results. It can have positive and negative impacts on competitors. In Formula 1 2021's endgame, momentum has been swinging wildly between the title protagonists.

Just after Mercedes took assured wins in Russia and Turkey (with bit of help from the weather at Sochi), Red Bull's Austin surprise and stunning Mexico domination took Max Verstappen 19 points clear of Lewis Hamilton. But he hit back majestically in Brazil and Qatar – two races that had been expected to favour Red Bull.

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