The 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was one of the most action-packed and drama-filled debuts in Formula 1 history.
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About The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was set to be held in Qiddiya. The purpose-built facility was designed to be capable of hosting all FIA categories, including Formula 1, with the first race taking place in December 2021. Project delays instead meant that the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix would take place in Jeddah.
With the Qiddiya project still well underway, Formula 1 has some good options on the table for their future in the Kingdom. The most obvious choice would be to host a second Saudi Arabian race. The second option would be to rotate the circuits so that they host on alternate years.
With a contract that runs until 2030, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit is Saudi Arabia’s home for Formula 1. It’s easily one of the best street circuits out there and has earned the reputation of being the “fastest street track in Formula 1”. Drivers average an eye-watering 250km/h (160mph) as they navigate around the long, twisting circuit.
The 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
As far as debut Formula 1 races go, the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has to be one of the most dramatic. Tensions were rising in the Verstappen vs Hamilton championship battle, and none of the drivers were familiar with the circuit. It was one of the hardest-fought races of the season, with plenty of action from lights out to the chequered flag.
The Race Begins
As the lights went out, Lewis Hamilton retained his lead through the first corner. Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen were not far behind him as the pack piled into Turn 1. It was a clean start with no casualties, and it was somewhat unusually calm for the next 9 laps.
On lap 10, that all changed. The rear end of Mick Schumacher’s Haas stepped out as he went through the Turn 21-22 complex. This sent the young German skidding straight into the barriers. The rear end of the Haas was heavily damaged. The Safety Car was immediately deployed to mitigate the risk of anyone else losing it in the same corner. Mercedes called their drivers in for a pit stop, with Hamilton diving in from the lead. Meanwhile, Bottas held up the pack to allow for a double stack.
Red Bull chose a different tactic, keeping Verstappen out and taking the lead of the race. Hamilton and Bottas fed back out into second and third respectively. On lap 13, Red Bull’s gamble paid off as the red flags were waved, bringing proceedings to a temporary stop. As per the regulations, Verstappen was now able to change his tyres with no possible way of losing position.
The Race Resumes…Briefly
After Schumacher’s car was recovered and the barrier was repaired, the cars made their way out of the pits to line back up on the grid for a standing restart. Hamilton got a better start off the line than Verstappen, as did Bottas (who locked up and almost ran into the back of the Red Bull). As they reached the first corner, Verstappen ran off the track and got past Hamilton. Behind them, Bottas also ran wide, allowing Esteban Ocon past. Ocon slipped his Alpine up the inside of tHamilton to take second place.
Milliseconds later, Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc made contact into Turn 3. The Red Bull went spinning into the barriers and debris scattered across the track. At almost exactly the same moment, Nikita Mazepin’s Haas rear-ended the Williams of George Russell. Both cars went into the barriers and out of the race.
Less than half a lap after the restart, the red flags were out once more. This meant that the race would see a third standing start – something that had only happened on three previous occasions (Austria 1987, Belgium 1990 and Mugello 2020). As the Safety Car led the pack, race director Michael Masi jumped onto the radio to Red Bull. Masi offered the team the opportunity to give the place back, with the proposed order to be Ocon, Hamilton then Verstappen. The move would prevent an investigation into Verstappen’s off-road overtake at the restart. Red Bull agreed to the offer, and the cars lined up on the grid once again.
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The Race Restarts (Again)
As the lights went out for the third time in just 17 laps, Ocon managed to get slightly ahead of Hamilton as they approached Turn 1. At the same time, Verstappen was trying to get up the inside of the Mercedes. As the famous commentator’s line says, three into one doesn’t go. Hamilton and Ocon made contact, forcing the Alpine to cut the corner and rejoin in the lead (although Verstappen passed Ocon two corners later). As they went down the main straight to start lap 18, Hamilton also swept back past Ocon to take second place.
On lap 23, Yuki Tsunoda triggered the Virtual Safety Car as he clipped the rear right of Sebatian Vettel’s Aston Martin in the first corner. Vettel was sent spinning, but he was quickly able to rejoin the race. Tsunoda was less fortunate, having to pit for a broken front wing and being handed a five-second time penalty for causing a collision. Vettel’s woes continued, with contact between himself and Kimi Räikkönen on lap 27 sending yet more debris onto the track. To allow marshals to try and clear it, the Virtual Safety Car made its second deployment of the night.
Fernando Alonso got onto the radio to Alpine on lap 29 to tell them “there is a lot of debris inside of six. And inside of 10, [it’s the] same”. Cue Virtual Safety Car number three to allow marshals to clear debris. Alonso was not impressed, suggesting a full Safety Car would have been better as “the circuit is in the worst condition of the weekend”. The fourth and final Virtual Safety Car made a fleeting appearance with just 15 laps to go as more debris was cleared from the middle of the track.
Late-Stage Drama
With the green flags waving, Hamilton was hot on the heels of Verstappen. The Brit was well within DRS range as they started lap 37. They were wheel to wheel as they reached Turn 1, both running off the track. Verstappen had managed to recover and retain his lead. However, he was now further ahead than when they had gone into the corner. Erring on the side of caution, Red Bull told Verstappen to give the place back to Hamilton. Verstappen slowed to a crawl just before the DRS detection zone to let Hamilton pass. His intention was to then use DRS to immediately try to retake the position.
Mercedes had been given no prior warning about the plan. There was simply no time to communicate this on their driver. Hamilton was caught out in the confusion as the Red Bull put on the brakes, running into the back of his championship rival. In a now iconic scene, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff slammed his headset down in sheer anger and frustration.
The incident was noted by Race Control, who instructed Red Bull to give the place back to Hamilton. On lap 42, Verstappen complied with the order and moved aside to allow Hamilton to cleanly pass through Turn 26. One corner later, and Verstappen retook the lead, but the confusion only continued. The stewards slapped Verstappen with a five second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage at the last restart. This effectively penalised him twice for the same incident (as he had already given the place back).
The Final Push
On lap 43, Hamilton made a lunge down the inside of Verstappen at Turn 27 and snatched the lead from the Dutchman. The Mercedes was setting fastest lap after fastest lap, even with a broken front wing endplate. Meanwhile, Vettel made a late retirement on lap 46 as the damage to his Aston Martin was just too severe.
At the start of the final lap Hamilton had extended his lead to over eight seconds. He took the chequered flag to claim his 103rd career win, with Verstappen claiming second place. The result meant that the championship fight would be decided at the last race in Abu Dhabi (but let’s not open that can of worms again).
After managing to hang on to third place for 32 laps, Ocon was passed by Bottas just as they crossed the finish line. To say it was a tight finish would be an understatement, as Ocon missed out on the final podium spot by just 0.1 seconds.
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Post-Race
The stewards handed Verstappen a 10 second penalty after the race for the lap 37 collision with Hamilton. It transpired that he had braked at 2.4g and was viewed as being “sudden and significant”. The penalty didn’t affect Verstappen’s second place finish, such was the advantage over Bottas and Ocon behind him, but he did also gain 2 points on his super license.
It was the third major collision between Hamilton and Verstappen that season, and Hamilton was quick to make his feelings known. He described Verstappen as being “over the limit” with his driving style and defence tactics.
Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, hit out at Michael Masi’s actions as race director, describing it as “like being at the local market”. However, Formula 1 chief Ross Brawn defended Masi’s approach. Brawn cited it as a pragmatic way of dealing with the situation.
Masi himself said “I wouldn’t call it a deal, as from a race director’s perspective I have no authority to instruct the teams to do anything in that situation”, adding “I can give them an offer, the ability to do that, but the choice is theirs”. Masi also pointed out “The stewards are obviously empowered to give penalties, but I can give them my perspective. That’s why I offered them [Red Bull] to give that position up”.
The 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was certainly a rollercoaster, and it’s a race that is sure to live on as one of the hardest-fought in Formula 1 history.
Which Saudi Arabian Grand Prix do you think is a race to remember? Let us know in the comments!
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