Formula 1 could see another record broken at any time now
By Asher Fair
A Formula 1 record could be broken at any time now based on what happened in the 2021 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit.
The 2021 Formula 1 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit featured what many fans had hoped for: an intense battle between Red Bull and Mercedes, particularly between the rising Max Verstappen and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
It was Hamilton who prevailed over Verstappen by just 0.745 seconds following an intense 56-lap battle around the 15-turn, 3.363-mile (5.412-kilometer) road course in Sakhir, Bahrain.
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Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas crossed the finish line a further 36.638 seconds behind Verstappen after pitting late for new tires to secure the bonus point for recording the race’s fastest lap.
In doing so, he helped tie a Formula 1 record, which could now be broken in any race.
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Hamilton, Verstappen and Bottas have now shared the podium on 14 occasions, all since May 2018. That is tied for the all-time record with the trio of Hamilton, four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel and 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg.
After sharing the podium twice in 2018 and thrice in 2019, Hamilton, Verstappen and Bottas shared it eight times in 17 races last year. Among active drivers, the trio of Hamilton, Bottas an Vettel had sat atop this list until late last season with 12 appearances on the podium. That trio is tied for fourth on the all-time list with the trio of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard.
Ranking third with 13 is the trio of Hamilton, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber.
Hamilton, Verstappen and Bottas have finished on the podium together in two consecutive races going back to the 2020 season finale. Their record streak is three.
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Will this record be broken in today’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari? This race is set to be broadcast live on ESPN beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. Hamilton is set to start on the pole with Verstappen in third place and Bottas in eighth.