Ferrari victory DENIED as F1 champion steals...

Ferrari victory DENIED as F1 champion steals…read more

This year’s Formula 1 championship has developed into a thrilling showdown between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, reminiscent of past championship battles. The recent U.S. Grand Prix in Austin highlighted the intensity of the fight. Although Ferrari led for much of the race with a strong one-two finish, the focus quickly shifted to the fierce competition between Verstappen and Norris for the final podium spot.

In the closing laps, Verstappen managed to secure a crucial third place for Red Bull. Norris, who finished just behind him, was handed a five-second penalty for overtaking off the track, a move that stirred up controversy. This penalty ultimately allowed Verstappen to edge out Norris, earning him valuable points. The result provides Verstappen with a slightly larger margin as he looks to defend his title in the remaining five races of the season. Despite his lead, Verstappen and Red Bull have experienced a notable decline in dominance compared to the early part of the season, making the final stretch more challenging.

This season’s “cat and mouse” chase between Verstappen and Norris draws parallels to the 2006 F1 season, which saw another dramatic title defense. Eighteen years ago, Fernando Alonso, who is still racing today, secured his second F1 title in a season that had its own twists and turns. Alonso’s 2006 campaign began with a series of dominant performances, winning six of the first nine races and finishing second in the remaining three. By mid-season, he held a comfortable 25-point lead over his main rival, Michael Schumacher. In today’s points system, that lead would be the equivalent of a 63-point advantage.

However, Alonso’s momentum hit a stumbling block at the U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis, where he finished fifth. This was the start of a challenging period for the Spaniard and his Renault team. The turning point came when the FIA suddenly banned the “mass damper” device on the Renault R26, a component that had been crucial to the car’s success. Renault claimed that the ban cost them around 0.3 seconds per lap, and the impact was immediate. Alonso went on a seven-race winless streak, while Schumacher capitalized, winning five races during that period. By the time they reached the penultimate race in Japan, the two rivals were tied on points, each with 116, after Renault’s mishaps at the wet Chinese Grand Prix.

The tide seemed to favor Schumacher, who dominated the early stages of the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. However, fate intervened when Schumacher’s engine failed, allowing Alonso to seize victory and all but clinch the title. Going into the final race in Brazil, Alonso only needed to finish eighth to retain his championship, and that was assuming Schumacher would win the race. In Schumacher’s final Grand Prix for Ferrari, he faced a series of setbacks: an unexpected car issue in qualifying and a puncture during the race itself, relegating him to the back of the pack. These problems effectively handed the championship to Alonso, who comfortably completed the race to secure his second consecutive title.

The similarities between Alonso’s 2006 season and Verstappen’s current campaign are striking. Both drivers enjoyed a strong start only to face mid-season challenges, with rival teams narrowing the gap. Now, as the F1 season enters its final phase, Verstappen hopes to follow in Alonso’s footsteps by overcoming obstacles and defending his crown amidst fierce competition.