The talks on Lewis Hamilton winning over Max Verstappen in the Bahrain Grand Prix is going to end soon. The former Ferrari driver, Sebastian Vettel was asked for his opinion on the fight in a recent interview.
The German recently interviewed alongside the seven-time world champion Hamilton in the driver press conference ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Serb mentioned watching the highlights after the Bahrain race, where he felt the battle between the Briton and the young Dutch prodigy was astonishing.
However, the 33-year-old also stated Verstappen was the fastest car on the Bahrain circuit, but Hamilton had an excellent strategy to defeat his faster opponent. Vettel further stated in the interview, “I think Max was faster and I think he had better tyres at the end of the race. But Lewis was smarter and drove well and kept his down and did what he has to do. So in that regard, nothing to lose and everything to win. He came out and won and so speaks for him.
“Max I think had the better chance or should have won, as he was faster. But he didn’t win the race and Lewis won the race and in that case, I think really Lewis won the race.”
Lewis Hamilton in the upcoming Imola race
The 36-year-old Briton proved in the nail-biting season opener, why he is the seven-time world champion. The Mercedes were not the fastest car in the current season but have proper skills and strategies to overcome the hurdle.
Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes F1 celebrates on the podium after the Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit on March 28, 2021 in Bahrain (Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Hamilton won the first race of the season but his Red Bull rival Verstappen gave a tough time in the race. Thus, numerous F1 pundits believe to witness a recap of the Briton vs the Dutch at the Imola Grand Prix again.
The Billion Dollar Man had a few issues with handling the German machinery at the Italian circuit during the two practice sessions on Friday, April 16. The Silver Arrow pilot went out of the track during the turns at the Autodrome Enzo e Dino Ferrari. However, the Englishman managed to finish the fastest lap behind his Finnish teammate, Valtteri Bottas.
Also, Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel finished P14 and P15 in the FP1 and FP2, respectively. While the Red Bull prodigy, Verstappen finished third fastest in the first session, but in the second round, the Dutch racer was a place above Seb.
Lewis Hamilton driving the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes W12 during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari on April 16, 2021, in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Clive Mason – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Lewis Hamilton will go behind the wheels of W12 for the FP3 and qualifying session on Saturday, April 17. We might expect the Briton again to head the podium in the Imola Grand Prix. The 23-year-old Dutch is still a threat to the Brit.
